JACKSONVILLE

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clap your hands say yeah How many lightbulbs does it take to change a people? • laura street art gallery jacksonville gets • win tickets to see spiderman 3! green • downtown pub crawl entertaining u newspaper free weekly guide to entertainment and more | april 19-25, 2007 | www.eujacksonville.com 2 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper table of contents Cover Photo provided by Solar Energy Inc. feature Downtown Pub Crawl...... PAGE 14 Jacksonville Gets Green...... PAGE 15 Step It Up 2007...... PAGE 16 Green Things To Do...... PAGE 17 Solar Energy...... PAGE 18 Riverkeeper...... PAGE 20 Holistic Pediatrics...... PAGE 21 Exhale Oxygen Bar...... PAGE 21 Farmer’s Market - Organic Produce...... PAGE 22 Healthy Way...... PAGE 22 Earth Day at the Landing...... PAGE 23 Tree Hill Butterfly Festival...... PAGE 23 movies Hot Fuzz (movie review)...... PAGE 6 Aqua Teen (movie review)...... PAGE 6 Movies in Theaters This Week...... PAGES 6-10 Seen, Heard, Noted & Quoted...... PAGE 7 In the Land of Women (movie review)...... PAGE 8 Fracture (movie review)...... PAGE 10 at home Volver (DVD review)...... PAGE 12 Jump In (DVD review)...... PAGE 12 HBO’s Sopranos and Entourage (TV review)...... PAGE 13 Video Games...... PAGE 13 music Pub Ragusa Jam Night...... PAGE 24 Music Calendar...... PAGES 24-28 McCoy Tyner (Jacksonville Jazz Festival)...... PAGE 25 A Slight Breeze (interview)...... PAGE 26 Nekromantix (interview)...... PAGE 27 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (interview)...... PAGE 28 arts / theatre / on stage Laura Street Gallery...... PAGE 30 Dorothy Bishop CD release (The Metro)...... PAGE 31 Arts Calendar...... PAGES 31-32 As Bees & Honey Drown (Players by the Sea) ...... PAGE 32 columns and stuff What’s Eating You?...... PAGE 33 The Jock...... PAGE 33 NASCAR News & Notes...... PAGE 34

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 3 Don’t miss Jeff Foxworthy thisweek this Saturday. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the indie rock group based april 20 in Brooklyn, New York, was named “Best New Music” friday by Pitchfork Media. The band released their second album, Some Loud Thunder on January 30 of this year, however, they are known for playing non-album songs frequently at live concerts. Also playing, Elvis Perkins in Dearland. Read interview with Clap Your Hands on page 28. Freebird Live Info: 246-2473

Latin Palooza This show presented by Joey Medina will feature several hilarious comics including Gilbert Esquivel, Rene Garcia, Brad Williams and Mike Robles. Tickets: $35, $45 and $75 for VIP which entitle you to the exclusive afterparty. Florida Theatre - 8 pm 355-2787 april 20 - 21 1st Annual Big Pineapple Festival Don’t miss the chance to see an assortment of talented local musicians and help out a good cause. This year’s festival’s proceeds will go to Grove House. Apathy Eulogy, Efface, Shawn Fisher and Crystal Stafford are just some of the bands performing. Fuel Coffeehouse-1037 Ahn Trio Park St, Fri. 8 pm - 1 am, Sat. 11:30 am - 1 am. For more info Korean sisters Maria (cello), Lucia (piano) and Angella (violin), call 386-2245. Ahn’s modern approach to presenting classical music has won april 20 - 22 them fans of all ages. Riverside Fine Arts Association. Church of the Good Shepherd, 1100 Stockton Street - 8:00 pm Goodguys Hot Rod & Custom Car Nationals Info: 904-389-6222 Features over 1500 rods, customs, classics, muscle cars and trucks. Vendors & exhibitors, Goodgals Gallery, swap meet & Common, Less Than Jake Common Andre Rieu cars 4 sale, Muscle Car of the year, Family Fun Day - kids free and Joe Gaskin on Sunday. Jax Municipal Stadium- 8 am - 5 pm Friday & Common (formerly Common Saturday, 8 am - 3 pm Sunday www.good-guys.com/events/ Sense) is a native of Chicago’s Andre Rieu and His Johann Strauss Orchestra South Side known for lyrics that World-famous, charismatic violinist André Rieu, known as the focus on love and spirituality. “Waltz King of Europe,” leads his Johan Strauss Orchestra in a Don’t miss one of the best festive program of romantic melodies and classical favorites. Rieu saturday april 21 concerts to hit UNF. Also playing, is known for the brilliant, festive atmosphere that he brings to his Less Than Jake and UNF’s own concerts. He encourages his fans to enjoy the music by getting out 2007 Earth Day Jacksonville Ecology Fair Joe Gaskin. Tickets: $10 for of their seats and waltzing in the aisles. A passionate violinist, Rieu students, $15 military, $20 General Spend a day of family fun at the 2007 Earth Day Jacksonville is a mesmerizing conductor. He presents his concerts with a blend Public. UNF Arena - 8 pm Ecology Fair and learn with your kids about how we can all of humour and irresistible charm. Info: 620.2460 or www. make changes to help preserve the earth. Read more about it Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena- 8 pm Info: 630-3900 ospreyproductions.net on page 23. Jacksonville Landing 10 am – 4 pm. Minkus’ Don Quixote Much Ado about Books Jeff Foxworthy Don Quixote arrives in all its splendor in this charming retelling He may define being redneck as possessing “a glorious lack of Jacksonville’s Premier Book Festival, an annual fundraising of Miguel de Cervantes’ tale of romance, chivalry and bittersweet sophistication,” but the truth is that Foxworthy, for all his regular- event to benefit the Jacksonville Public Library. For the first time emotion with the bravado and excitement of some of classical guy image, is a decidedly sophisticated artist.” Kevin Thomas, LA ever, the keynote luncheon will feature a panel of three New York ballet’s most technically demanding dances. Tickets range in TIMES. This show is presented by Uptown Civitan and will benefit Times best selling authors, Sandra Brown, Brad Meltzer, and price from $27.50 to $47.50. (904) 632-3373 or order online at Seamark Ranch. Luanne Rice. Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center 9 am - 3 pm artistseries.fccj.org. Times-Union Center – Moran Theater - 8 pm Times Union Center Moran Theater - 7:30 pm Info: 633-6110 Ellis Paul Starship starring Mickey Thomas This concert is part of the International Floral Show & Mosaic Ellis Paul is one of the leading voices in America’s thriving singer- Mosaic is an annual MOCA Jacksonville fundraiser that celebrates songwriter folk circuit. He remains among the most pop-friendly Exposition. Starship had a string of hits through the ‘80s and ‘90s. Material covered in live performance range from Mickey’s equality for all people in Northeast Florida. The party will have of today’s singer-songwriters and his songs regularly appear in hit high energy dancing, cocktails, and rotating DJs. The museum’s movie and TV soundtracks. He has bridged the gulf between the tenure with The Elvin Bishop Band and Starship, as well as songs from his solo albums. Tickets: $20 advance, $30 gate. warehouse and second floor galleries will be transformed into a modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody Guthrie and lively backdrop for Northeast Florida’s hippest evening. 366-6911 Pete Seeger more successfully than perhaps any of his songwriting Reynold’s Park Yacht Center, Green Cove Springs 7:30 pm (904) 284-4728 or www.internationalfloralshow.com x208 or x214 or go to www.mocajacksonville.org/event/mosaic. peers. Cafe Eleven Info: 469-9311 MOCA Jacksonville, 9 pm - 2 am

4 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper april 21 - 22 Epic Celebration of Spring Flower & Garden Expo Growers, nurseries and artisans from around the state offer april 22 gardeners everything they need to make spring bloom. St. Johns sunday County Agricultural Center, St. Augustine - Sat. 9 am-5 pm, Sun. 10 am-4 pm. 829.3295 or www.epiccommunityservices.org Hansel and Gretel – Theatre Sans Fil Kenny Chesney Lost in the forest, two hungry children, Hansel and Gretel, discover a gingerbread house. Living inside is an evil witch named Rosina Dainty Mouth. While the children are voraciously eating pieces of her house, the evil witch steps out of her hiding place and puts a spell on the children, transforming them into little gingermen. But beware! Gretel and her brother are far wiser than the evil witch can imagine. Tickets: $11.50. Wilson Center for the Arts – FCCJ South Campus - 6:30 p.m. Info: 632-3373 or artistseries.fccj.org.

Eddie Griffin Eddie Griffin Comedian and actor Eddie Griffin is staying busy these days. This year he’ll appear in four films; The Taming of the Shoe, Norbit, Once Upon A Time in the Hood and Redline. However, april 25 he will probably receive the most press from his recent crash wednesday of a rare Ferrari Enzo worth $1.5 million into a concrete barrier Little Feat while practicing for a charity race to promote his upcoming Kenny Chesney Flip-Flop Summer Tour Little Feat has been around for 38 years playing a mixture of blues, film, Redline, destroying the car but escaping uninjured. EU R&B, country, and rock and roll. They could be considered current The reigning and back-to-back Academy of Country Music and was scheduled to conduct an interview with Griffin but due to rock masters of off-beat musical syncopation with some of their Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year. In addition to all the recent publicity surrounding his accident, his demand to fan-favorite popular classics of the old days, as well as other music triple Grammy nominee and Texas icon Pat Green, Chesney brings be interviewed has become such that he will only do interviews genres that they play currently. Little Feat still tours all over the triple-platinum country upstarts Sugarland out for an encore for money and EU is not in the habit of paying for interviews. world and is regarded by many music critics as a “band’s band” run. The April 21 show sold out immediately but a second show Times Union Center - 8:00 pm 633-6110 and one of the greatest rock bands in history. Tickets: $25 was added for April 22. Tickets: $64.50. Jacksonville Veterans Freebird Live Info: 246-2473 Memorial Arena - 7:30 pm Info: 630-3900

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 5 to watch. This is where you will get little bits of Aqua opening this week Teen Hunger Force and other great cartoons. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters is a FRACTURE Ryan Gosling plays an assistant DA, full-length feature. You will not see anything that has Willy Beachum, who is caught in a twisted mind to do with water or teenagers, but you do get fast food game with a murder suspect, Ted Crawford (Anthony from New Jersey with great personalities. Hopkins). Crawford develops a diabolical plan of I was worried that the characters would be lost playing DA Beachum into making mistakes that might in the movie and would not be as hilarious as they are set him free on technicalities. Rated R in the 25-minute show. Shake is a fast food milkshake who bosses Frylock, a powerful box of flying French HOT FUZZ This British comedy from the team that fries, and Meatwad, a wad of not-so-bright (but very made Shaun of The Dead involves jealous colleagues cute) meat. Together they are misguided “super who conspire to get a top London cop transferred to a heroes” who are up to saving the world. Frylock is small town and paired with a nitwit new partner. While the smart one while Shake, in all of his conceit, has pounding the beat, the pair stumble upon a series of half-baked ideas and the naïve little Meatwad is, well, suspicious accidents and events. beef-brained. The villains include a man-raping dog, a penis- IN THE LAND OF WOMEN Adam Brody (The OC) shaped alien and, my all-time favorite, the smart ass stars as a young man whose girlfriend dumps him. To Mooninites, which look like pixilated geometric shapes cope with this trauma, he travels to suburban Detroit to ala Atari from the 80s. Not only do Matt Maiellaro visit his grandma’s and help her while getting his head and Dave Willis do the voices for the movie but they together. There he meets a housewife (Meg Ryan) and are also the writers and directors of this non-sequitor becomes her friend and confidant. Meanwhile, he is dating her teenage daughter. Rated PG-13 romp. It is perversely entertaining and, even though it is a cartoon, I would leave the kids with the sitter VACANCY A young married couple is stranded at when you go to see it. get ready to laugh Maiellaro and Willis stayed true to the humor an isolated motel. While there, they find hidden video cameras in their room. To their horror, they realize of the series and did not sway from the ambiguous that in this room someone is making real snuff films, format of the show. Although somewhat plotless, and unless they escape they will become the next Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For their mission in the film is to find the missing screw victims. It stars Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson and to the exercise equipment that will save the Universe. is directed by Nimrod Antal. Rated R Theatres movie review Look for racist Lincoln, Rush drummer Neal Peart as himself, a muscular Carl (their obnoxious New Jersey now playing neighbor), a heralded Phil Collins song and other by cassie larue [email protected] ridiculous antics. The movie is definitely bizarre if you 300 Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, this epic are not already aware of ATHF, but regardless of if you film tells the story of the famous Battle of Thermopylae A Rated R 86 min. cess of Adult Swim on Cartoon Network, then please are or are not a fan of the show, get ready to laugh where the King of Sparta, with only 300 soldiers, If you are unaware of the late night cable suc- skip work on Monday and stay up late Sunday night your ass off. held off thousands of advancing Persians at the Thermopylae pass. The battle inspired all of Greece to band together against the Persians and usher in the his cop buddy. The growing friendship between to the world’s first democracy. Rated R two cops reads almost like a romance, complete with Butterman hesitantly asking Angel to his place for cof- AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FILM fee after their pseudo-date. I haven’t seen that much FOR THEATERS The animated big-screen version of straight man-love since the last rerun of Scrubs. the Adult Swim show reveals the mysterious origins Amidst this backdrop, mysterious deaths and of Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake. When an immortal piece of exercise equipment threatens the seemingly gruesome accidents start to take place. A balance of galactic peace, it is up to the Aqua Teen local thespian (David Threlfall) is decapitated in a car Hunger Force to run away from it. Peril escalates when crash and a property developer (Ron Cook) dies when the Plutonians team up with the Cybernetic Ghost of his mansion explodes. Angel begins to suspect foul Christmas Past to strive for ultimate control of the play, especially when a reporter, who was waiting to sinister deadly device. speak to him, dies via falling church stonework. Since Rated R. nothing ever happens in the small village, Angel is the object of derision at the local police station. ARE WE DONE YET? In this Ice Cube produced film, Inevitably, Hot Fuzz will be compared to Pegg Cube plays Nick Persons who takes his family to the and Wright’s previous flick,Shaun of the Dead. There country to buy a fixer-upper house. There he meets are clear similarities. As in Shaun, Nick Frost plays the Chuck Mitchell, (John C. McGinley) a man who wears goofy half of the duo, joking with the more responsible many hats as the real estate agent, contractor, house Angel, played by Penn. Wright also employs some of inspector, plumber, and Nick’s pain in the neck. Soon the same dramatic filming techniques, with ample use the house is nothing but a shell as the inspector finds of whip pans and crash zooms, to make even mun- dry-rot and other major problems. Rated PG dane routines interesting to watch and the writing is applied with a broad enough pen that there are plenty BLADES OF GLORY Two unlikely Olympic ice skating of laughs, even for those of us here in the Colonies. rivals, Chazz and Jimmy (Will Farrell and Jon Heder) Even Hot Fuzz’s flaws are endearing. The leap were stripped of their gold medals and permanently here comes the fuzz from sleepy village to place where even the vicars are banned from men’s single competition. However, the packing heat is jarring and silly, but somehow that two found a loophole in the rules that allow them to made it even funnier for me. Angel did something that compete as a pair. Rated PG-13 Hot Fuzz movie review sold me on it: he pointed out how ridiculous it was. In by Erin thursby [email protected] an action movie, wherein really unbelievable things are continued pg 8 happening, I always feel much better when someone B+ Rated R 120 min. in the movie acknowledges it. Placing the mundanities of British country life small country village of Sandford because “You’re Hot Fuzz is thick with action movie references alongside the crash-and-dash world of an action making us look bad.” that only a real fan of the genre could possibly de- movie does have its perks. In the case of Hot Fuzz, Once situated in Sanford, after arresting every cipher. Pegg and Wright do explain enough to make those perks come in the form of plenty of laughs and minor offender within miles, Angel finds that there it easy, even for the largely uninitiated, but it helps if entertainment. Even the premise is amusing; Nicholas isn’t much to do, aside from chasing down errant you’ve seen at least one action movie in your lifetime, Angel is a London cop who’s the best of the best on swans and buying snacks at the corner store. Bore- so you can recognize the conventions that they poke the force. His arrest record is legendary, so much so dom sets in and he learns the art of “switching off” fun at. If you like action movies and you like over-the- that his superiors feel it’s time to “promote” him to the his cop persona from Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), top comedy, this is definitely the movie to see.

6 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper seen. heard. noted. and quoted.

Madonna Melee at Malawi Malawi police and stone-throwing students blocked journalists from covering Madonna’s Home of Hope orphanage Tuesday, where David, the 19-month-old boy she is in the process of adopting, was slated to be briefly reunited with his biological father for a private visit. The singer has been trailed by hordes of media since touching down in the African nation Monday, accompanied by David and her 10-year- old daughter, Lourdes. Her rep has denied reports that she is looking into adopting another child from Malawi. Not “If” He Did It! Tuesday’s court-ordered auction of the rights to O.J. Simpson’s pseudo-confessional, If I Did It, halted after the surrogate company the former football star set up to collect his $1 million book advance de- clared bankruptcy on Monday, an attorney for Fred Goldman said. Goldman planned to ask a U.S. bank- ruptcy court to sell him the rights to the book in a bid to collect some of the $33.5 million in damages Simpson was ordered to pay in 1997. Drunk and Disorderly Lily Allen canceled most of her U.S. tour dates in May and June, writing on her MySpace page that she’s been “getting really drunk” recently, and has become “so nervous about doing bad shows.” The singer still planned to perform at Coachella on Apr. 29 and Bonnaroo on June 15 and aims to reschedule her canceled dates for this fall. “I am not falling apart at the seams, I am not suffering with exhaustion, I am not pregnant, and I am not going to rehab,” she clarified. Yeah, she can’t drink in rehab! Another Underwood Triumph Carrie Underwood’s Before He Cheats took home three honors, including Video of the Year, at the 2007 CMT Music Awards, for which fans vote for the winners online. Meanwhile, the Dixie Chicks remain winless at award shows with the word “country” in the title. Other winners Monday night included videos from Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, and 17-year-old Taylor Swift Spidey Goes Broadway A musical adaptation of Spider-Man is coming to Broadway in July, with U2’s Bono and The Edge supervising the songbook, according to Playbill. The stage mag reported that a “rehearsed reading” of the musical will take place on July 12 and 13. Go With Inner Elvis With the 30th anniversary of Elvis’death coming up in August, Elvis Presley Enterprises is launching a new ad campaign in a bid to up Graceland’s appeal as a tourist destination. The “Discover Your Inner Elvis” campaign will extend over television, print, radio and online platforms, as well as on billboards and in travel guides, marking the first time the brand has advertised nationally. Litigious Lopez Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony are filing suit against the National Enquirer in Dublin, London and Paris courts after the tabloid published a story linking them to a European drug scandal. The clean- living couple is seeking a six-figure settlement, apol- ogy and a retraction of the article.

A Star for Forest Forest Whitaker received the 2,335th star on the Hol- lywood Walk of Fame Monday. The Oscar winner’s wife Keisha and three daughters were in attendance, along with guests Keifer Sutherland and Angela Bas- sett.

Like a Phoenix Rising from The Ashes It may have gone down, down, down in a burning ring of fire, but former Bee Gee, Barry Gibb is about to raise it again. Gibb has announced plans to build a new home near the Nashville site where Johnny and June Carter Cash’s home burned down last week. Gibb purchased the property in 2006 and was in the process of remodeling it when the fire broke out.

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 7 Bunuel (Elena Anaya) dumps him, he is devastated. DISTURBIA Shia LaBeouf stars as Kale, a kid who He decides that what he needs is a change of scen- punches out his teacher, and consequently, he is ery. So he travels to Michigan to visit his Grandmother placed under house arrest. While confined to his (Olympia Dukakis) and work on a book he intended to house, he gets bored and he becomes a voyeur. write in his teens. First he spies on his beautiful teenage neighbor who comes over to confront him. Then, he sees strange Carter is a handsome guy who attracts women things going on at another neighbor’s house that with his easy going manner and willingness to listen leads him to believe the man, Mr Turner (David to them. The first day he’s there, he meets his neigh- Morse), is a serial killer. Rated PG-13 bor, Sarah Hardwicke (Meg Ryan), a lonely housewife whose husband is cheating on her. Sarah is strangely FIREHOUSE DOG Rex, Hollywood’s top-grossing drawn to Carter. Her teenage daughter, Lucy (Kristen canine, gets lost in a freak stunt and is adopted as Stewart) is also smitten by Carter. Even Lucy’s 11 the mascot of a rundown inner-city fire station. Rated year-old sister, Paige, thinks Carter is cool. PG Before long, Sarah invites Carter on her walks with the dog. This fortysomething wife and mother is GRINDHOUSE Directors Quentin Tarantino and suddenly pouring her heart out to Carter, who is 26. Robert Rodriguez present two full-length movies The walks turn into more than just a friendly stroll with in a new horror double feature. In Tarantino’s the dog. But Carter is careful not to get too entangled Death Proof, Austin’s hottest DJ, Jungle Julia, sets with Sarah. It could blow up in his face. out into the night to unwind with her two friends Lucy gets permission from her mom to go on a Shanna an Arlene. Covertly tracking their moves is date with Carter and Paige tags along. Carter realizes Stuntman Mike, a scarred rebel leering from behind that Lucy is much too immature for him, but he plays the wheel of his muscle car, revving just feet away. along to appease her. Then Lucy drags Carter to a In Rodriguez’s Planet Terror, two doctors find their wild party that further convinces Carter that Lucy is graveyard shift inundated with townspeople ravaged way too young for him. by sores. As the invalids quickly become enraged Lucy feels guilty that she hasn’t always been on aggressors, Cherry and her ex-boyfriend Wray lead good terms with her mom. Curiously, Sarah’s sudden a team of accidental warriors into the night. Starring: illness alienates Lucy from her mom and she feels Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, bad about her feelings. Of course, Carter is caught Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey. Rated R in the middle of this family conflict. Then there is the MEET THE ROBINSONS Lewis is a brainiac kid matter of Sarah’s husband’s infidelity, which is tearing who is a promising inventor. In his travels he meets the marriage apart. a mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson, who To complicate matters further, Carter gets a call whisks Lewis away in his time machine. Together, from Sofia, who thinks she may have made a mistake Lewis and Wilbur team-up to track down Bowler Hat close the lid breaking up with him. Yes, Carter is trapped in the Guy in a showdown that ends with an unexpected emotional turmoil of three females, each going though twist of fate in the future. Rated G a crisis. So he does a wise thing–he starts writing his In the Land of Women movie review book and taking care of his grandma. Olivia Dukakis PATHFINDER A Viking boy is left behind after his steals the movie as the crazy grandma who has been clan battles a Native American tribe. Raised by the by Rick grant [email protected] telling her family that she’s dying for years. Her off- tribe, he ultimately becomes their savior when the the-cuff remarks are hilarious. Vikings return to slaughter the natives. Rated R B Rated PG-13 100 min it’s about a protagonist, who, along with the other The main flaw in this scenario is incomplete characters, is a crossroads in their lives. Adam Brody character development of Sarah’s clan. Viewers could PERFECT STRANGER An investigative journalist, Any similarity to Zach Graff’s Garden State and (O.C.’s heart-throb) portrays Carter Webb, a writer of relate to Sarah and Lucy if they knew more about their Rowena (Halle Berry) quits her job at a big time daily this film is probably intentional. Jonathan Kasdan’s soft porn scripts for video production. lives. But Sarah just pops up out of the blue. The ro- after the publisher kills her story because someone screenplay seemed inspired by Graff’s State, in that When Carter’s girlfriend, supermodel, Sofia mantic development of Carter and Sarah’s characters paid off her corroborating witness. Then she is should have gone further, thus giving the story more given a tip that big time ad executive, Harrison Hill depth. (Bruce Willis), may have killed her friend. Along Still, the interplay between Carter and Sarah is with her researcher and hacker, Miles (Giovanni engrossing. Viewers respect Carter for playing it cool Ribisi), Rowena poses as a temp and gets a job with and not jumping into a sexual relationship with Sarah. Harrison’s firm. She uses her beauty and irresistible Of course, that is where it was headed--a spurned sexual allure to get evidence on Harrison to give to lonely woman who is desperate for attention could not the police. But things are not as they seem in this hooky intrigue thriller. Rated R resist this young sympathetic hunk. Although viewers will admire Carter for his re- PREMONITION Sandra Bullock plays Linda Hanson straint with Sarah, it seems implausible that a young whose husband is killed in a car accident–or is horny man could resist Sarah’s allure. Yet, he did the he? When she goes to bed she wakes up and her gentlemanly thing by trying to understand her dilemma husband is sleeping next to her. Once she realizes and her humiliation at staying with the family while her her husband is still alive, she tries to prevent the husband cavorted with another woman. Will his time accident from happening. Rated PG-13 at his grandma’s give him a new perspective? Ah yes, that is the hook of this drama. PRIDE Set in the year 1973, Jim Ellis, a college educated African-American, can’t find a job. Driven by his love of competitive swimming, Jim converts an abandoned recreational pool hall in a Philadelphia slum into an Olympic sized pool, with the help of Elston, a local janitor. But city officials have marked the building for demolition. Rated PG

REDLINE A gorgeous young automobile fanatic-- and front to the hottest unsigned band on the West coast--finds herself caught up in illegal drag-racing competitions organized for the pleasure of a bunch of bored billionaires. Starring Nathan Phillips, Eddie Griffin and Nadia Bjorlin. Rated PG-13.

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8 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper REIGN OVER ME In a stunning dramatic performance, Adam Sandler stars as Charlie Fineman, a man who lost his entire family in one of the planes that crashed into the twin towers. Don Cheadle portrays his old college roommate, Alan Johnson, who runs into Charlie on the streets of Manhattan. Johnson discovers Charlie is a broken man and has descended into serious mental illness. Johnson rekindles the friendship and tries to help Charlie take the long road to normalcy. Rated R

SHOOTER A former special forces sniper, Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) who is retired living in a remote location is coaxed into becoming an advisor for a covert group of operatives. Instead of giving them advice on the best sniper locations, Swagger is set up as a patsy to take the rap for an assassination of the President. Swagger survives and goes on the run, and while trying to clear his name, he uncovers a shadow agency with their own agenda. Rated R.

SLOW BURN Ray Liotta plays a DA who is involved in a 24-hour showdown with a gang member (L.L. Cool J) At the same time, he is being manipulated by an attractive assistant DA (Jolene Ballock) and a mysterious stranger which leads to intriguing and deadly situations. Rated R

THE HILLS HAVE EYES II The hills have eyes but they need glasses. In this sequel, a group of National Guard trainees find themselves battling against a vicious group of mutants on their last day of training in the desert. It’s Saw in the desert. Rated R

THE HOAX Richard Gere stars as a con artist, Clifford Irving, who sells a bogus biography of Howard Hughes to a top tier publishing house. When the hoax is discovered, a media storm blows up in Clifford’s face and he is forced to go on the lam. Rated R

THE LAST MIMZY In this children’s fantasy, two siblings develop special powers after they find a mysterious box of toys. Soon, the kids, their parents, and even their teacher are drawn into a strange and sometimes terrifying world. Rated PG

THE NAMESAKE Kal Penn stars in the story of the Gangulis, an Indian-American family caught in a lifelong balancing act between two cultures. Rated PG-13

THE REAPING Hilary Swank stars as a former Christian missionary, Katherine Winter, who specializes in debunking religious phenomena. On one of her research projects, she investigates a small town that has fallen victim to the 10 biblical plagues. What she finds is horrifying. Rated R

TEEINAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Those hard back ninjas, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back, and ready to rumble. After the defeat of their old arch nemesis, The Shredder, the Turtles have grown apart as a family. Struggling to keep them together, their rat sensei, Master Splinter, becomes worried when strange things begin to brew in NYC. Tech industrialist, Max Winters, is amassing an army of ancients. Rated PG

WILD HOGS Tim Allen, William H. Macy, Martin Lawrence, and John Travolta play a group of yuppie biker wannabes who seek adventure on the open road continued pg 10

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 9 on their Harleys. The unlikely suburban bikers get more than they bargained for when they tangle with a New Mexico gang called the Del Fuegos. Rated PG-13 failure to convict special showings Fracture movie review Midnight Movie BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON by Rick grant [email protected] A small town serial killer with a curious penchant for self-promotion unleashes a blood-soaked frenzy of more time to find further evidence. Without the con- terror in his violent effort to become the best-known fession or the gun, Beachum’s case dissolves. Yes, slasher in horror history. On the surface Leslie Vernon Crawford is getting under Beachum’s skin with his (Nathan Baesel) is just your average, everyday guy manipulation of the legal system–making him look whose lofty dreams for the future drive him to excel like a fool. at his chosen profession. But Leslie’s chosen career Up until Crawford pulled his legal maneuvers, path is a far cry from that of your typical middle- Beachum was thinking more about his new job. Now class wage earner; his ultimate goal is to follow in he must concentrate on this case or be humiliated by the footsteps of his mentor, notorious serial killer this sinister jerk Crawford. Police detectives search Eugene (Scott Wilson). Leslie has offered budding in vain for the gun. Then Beachum learns that the filmmaker Taylor Gentry (Angela Goethals) and her lead detective on the case, Lt. Rob Nunally (Billy dedicated crew unprecedented access to his life as Burke), had been having an affair with Crawford’s he sets into motion a plan designed make to make the wife. Ah, the plot thickens. With no gun and no con- formidable feats of Jason Vorhees, Freddy Krueger, fession, Crawford will walk. and Michael Myers look like a mere warm-up for the Gregory Hoblit directed this puzzling sce- homicidal hysteria that’s about to unfold. April 20-21 nario skillfully written by Daniel Pyne. The scenario at midnight at the San Marco Theatre. Info: 396-4845. depends on a big twist or gimmick, that, when re- vealed, changes everything. Viewers must watch for Earth Day Film Festival The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater will host the subtle tells through the film to find their way out its first-ever film festival in honor of Earth Day, which of this maze of Crawford’s deceptions. The big twist will run through Sunday, April 22. The Earth Day Film is so complicated not many viewers will figure it out, Festival will feature a collection of the IMAX Theater’s which is okay. It comes down like a hammer, forcing nature and ecology-focused films:Blue Planet, the viewer to rethink the entire scenario. Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West, Deep Sea, Lost Interestingly, Crawford’s field of engineering Worlds, Wild Safari: A South African Adventure, and expertise is fracture mechanics, which enables him the theater’s newest release, Hurricane on the Bayou. to figure out technicalities in his attempted murder Info: 904-940-4123 or www.wgv.com. case. Crawford’s analytical mind helps him con- struct what he thinks is the perfect crime. He then JACKSONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL SEEKING B+ Rated R 115 min. matches wits with Beachum’s calculating mind. The VOLUNTEERS The Jacksonville Film Festival is still In this intricately-woven mystery scenario, story becomes an intellectual duel with Beachum’s taking applications online for volunteers. So, if you Ryan Gosling portrays a young cocky assistant DA, reputation at stake and Crawford’s freedom pending. know of anyone that wants a little behind the scenes Willy Beachum, who has a 97 % conviction rate. It’s a shootout of two quick minds. look at a film festival volunteer by applying on their Beachum is courted by a big prestigious law firm, By now, Beachum has put his career with the website (www.jacksonvillefilmfestival.com). All with which he has accepted a position. In his last law firm on hold. He is determined to win this case. volunteers must attend a one-hour orientation at the two weeks on the job as a prosecutor, Beachum He couldn’t stop thinking about what happened to Jacksonville Main Library Auditorium on Saturday, catches a seemingly open-and-shut-case to pros- the gun Crawford used to shoot his wife. It plays on April 28 at 11:00 AM. If you have any questions, you ecute before he leaves for his new job. his mind. Then, a chance happening causes him to may email Christine Braddock (Volunteer Coordinator) So, all he has to do is dispatch this last case. have an epiphany and the lost parts of the puzzle at [email protected]. A wealthy design engineer, Ted Crawford (Anthony are found and put into place. Crawford thinks he has Hopkins), shot his cheating wife in the head. She gotten away with attempted murder, but Beachum JACKSONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE lived but is in a deep coma. Crawford signed a writ- is in the background laying the groundwork for TALKIES The Talkies is a two night, 35mm series: Crawford’s downfall. the first night the audience gets to view the film. The ten confession. Ah yes, it would be a slam dunk next night the filmmaker joins the audience to provide (Yeah, like O.J.). However, the gun the police re- In this movie, Gosling, who stretched his acting running commentary. On Saturday, May 19th, THE trieved from Crawford’s house had never been fired. chops as a strung out junkie teacher in Half Nelson, TALKIES will be joining with the Jacksonville Film Still, they had the confession, but Beachum wanted again shows his considerable acting skill in this film. Festival for its next event; POLYESTER as it’s never the gun to seal the attempted murder case against Gosling is a method actor who imbued Beachum been seen, made complete not only with Odorama Crawford. with subtle nuances and facial expressions. Hop- cards, but also the commentary of acclaimed director It turns out that Crawford is a devious and bril- kins plays the villainous foil–Beachum’s nemesis. John Waters. Advance tickets are on sale now and liant man who sets up Beachum with a web of tech- Both characters learn to respect each other’s skills, you are encourage to buy early. This show will sell nicalities. Soon a judge throws out the confession and, like Crawford, Beachum has much at stake in out fast. Tickets are $40.00 for the full two-night and Crawford, who is representing himself, partitions this case. Just when one thinks that Crawford out- experience and comes with an Odorama card, $35.00 the court to dismiss the charges against him for maneuvers Beachum, the big twist hook is set into for Saturday night only with John Waters, $8.50 for insufficient evidence. A judge gives Beachum a little Crawford’s psyche. Friday night only. For more info call 633-9399 or go to jacksonvillefilmfestival.com.

10 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 11 new on dvd ing up too fast. Everything comes to a head when Aunt Paula dies and seems to pass on her insanity Freedom Writers (123 min.) to Sole, who now sees and speaks with her dead Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) comes to a southern mother (Carmen Maura), who appears to have some California high school bubbling over with naive unfinished business amongst the living. optimism, but quickly discovers that her unruly The Volver DVD has a decent amount of bonus classroom isn’t easily won over by her good features for a single-disc release. First is an infor- intentions. After a few floundering attempts to mative audio commentary track delivered entirely connect with her students, Gruwell gives them through subtitles with Almodóvar and Cruz. If you the assignment of keeping journals about their don’t speak Spanish, this track could be difficult to own lives- an assignment that the class bites into sit through, but the stories the two share about the with relish, which eventually bonds them together making of the film are well worth the effort. Under and pushes racial rivalries aside. Rated PG-13 the “featurettes” heading, there are five supplements. for violent content, some thematic material and First is an 8-minute look at life behind the scenes, language. set entirely to music, called “Making of Volver.” Next are interviews with Almodóvar, Cruz and Maura, The History Boys (109 min.) each under their own headings. Finally, there is a A group of teenage boys, Timms (James Cor- 20-minute AFI “Tribute to Penelope Cruz,” hosted den), Lockwood (Andrew Knott), Rudge (Russell by Kenneth Turan. The disc is rounded out with ex- Tovey), Scripps (Jamie Parker), Crowther (Sam- tensive photo and poster galleries and a handful of uel Anderson), Akhtar (Sacha Dhawan), Posner previews. (Samuel Barnett), and Dakin (Dominic Cooper) While Volver touches on difficult topics such spend an extra term in preparing for their Ox- as death, murder and incest, the film is surprisingly bridge exams with the help of Irwin (Stephen charming, filled with humor, colorful characters and Campbell Moore), the enigmatic new history settings. It’s obvious that this is a very personal sto- teacher. The unruly class of gifted and charming to return ry for Almodóvar, who has based the characters on teenage boys pursue sex and sport while strug- women who surrounded him when he was a child. gling to get into the best universities. Rated R for Their lives are complicated and messy, but real, a language and sexual content. Volver DVD review testament to just how well this filmmaker writes and connects with women. The cast is fantastic, with The Last King of Scotland (121 min.) by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] each woman embodying her character completely In the early 1970s, Nicholas Garrigan (James Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar teams up to tend to their graves and check in on their aunt and faithfully. The acting is so good that you never McAvoy), a young Scottish doctor, comes to once again with two of his favorite leading ladies Paula (Yohana Cobo), who has gradually been los- feel as though you’re watching a film. Penelope Cruz Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, and gets back to his roots with Volver, which fittingly ing her mind over the years, made clear by the fact in particular is at the top of her game. This is by far he meets up with the new President, Idi Amin means “to return.” The Academy Award-nominated that she constantly acts as though the girls’ mother her best work ever. (Forest Whitaker), who promises a golden age film is now available on DVD. is still alive and well and helps her with the cook- Volver is a fascinatingly funny movie that suc- for the African nation. Garrigan hits it off immedi- Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) and her sister Sole ing. Back at home, things are just as complicated cessfully talks about death and dying without being ately with the rabid Scotland fan, but as the years (Lola Dueñas) lost their parents in a fire four years for Raimunda, with a husband who can’t seem to depressing. The story, acting and cinematography pass, Garrigan cannot help but notice Amin’s ago. The two live in Madrid, but travel to La Mancha keep a job and an adolescent daughter who is grow- are all top notch and well worth checking out. increasingly erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. Rated R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language. National Lampoon’s Pucked (86 min.) another disney hit Frank Hopper (Jon Bon Jovi) is a former lawyer, long-term loser and constant dreamer. When he receives a credit card in the mail, he believes Jump In!: Freestyle Edition DVD review he’s hit the jackpot. It’s not long before he’s working his way toward financing his dream - an all-woman hockey team. He’s also put himself in by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] debt to the tune of more than $300,000. Natural- In an attempt to knock High School Musical extras, but only a couple of them are worth a ly, he winds up in court when his plan backfires. off as king of the Disney Channel Original Movie look. The “Backstage Disney” section houses two Rated R for language and some sexuality/nudity. mountain, Jump In! dominated the Disney Channel supplements. The first is “Learning the Moves” for months with promos, music videos and cast where cast members Corbin Bleu, Shanica Knowles, Notes on a Scandal (92 min.) appearances. As a result, the film broke DCOM Laivan Greene team up with double dutch instructor When Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), an over- ratings records and the soundtrack made it to Chris Emerson to share the basics of the sport and whelmed new art teacher, enters into a rela- #3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold to show off some advanced tricks. The other extra tionship with a 15-year-old student (Andrew in March. Jump In! is now available on special here is “Inside the Ropes: The Making of Jump In!,” Simpson), Barbara Covett (Dame Judi Dench), a edition DVD. which gives fans a brief look behind the scenes frumpy, friendless colleague decides to use the Isadore “Izzy” Daniels (Corbin Bleu) is a with sound bites from the cast, choreographers and affair to her advantage. Rated R for language and teen boxer who is following in his father’s Golden filmmakers. Under the “Music and More” section some aberrant sexual content. Gloves footsteps. His path in life takes a sharp there are two music videos, Keke Palmers “Jumpin” gets kids wanting to go outside and get some turn, however, when Izzy discovers double dutch and T-Squad’s “Vertical.” The stuff under the exercise is a good thing in my book. It was also Smokin’ Aces (108 min.) thanks to a pretty neighbor girl, Mary (Keke “Backstage Disney” banner is by far more interesting nice to see people of color taking center stage on A dying mob boss (Joseph Ruskin) takes out Palmer). When Mary’s double dutch team loses a than the songs but, due to their length, not by much. the Disney Channel. My main gripe with the film is a $1 million contract on the life of his former member, they ask the curious Izzy to be their stand Jump In! is, like most DCOMs, a family friendly that the storyline is a bit too similar to High School protégé (Jeremy Piven), a Las Vegas magician in, whose admiration for the sport drives him to film with a positive message. The acting is decent, Musical, and the message is downright identical. turned gangster who has agreed to testify against accept. As their team prepares for the city-wide though not groundbreaking. While Corbin Bleu I would have also liked to have seen more bonus the mob. Two FBI agents (Ryan Reynolds and Double Dutch Showcase, Izzy begins slacking off shows a lot of promise throughout, it’s Keke Palmer features, given that this is supposed to be a special Ray Liotta) attempt to protect their key witness on his boxing training, a move that concerns and that does the most impressing, not surprising given edition release. as an array of hit men and women (including disappoints his father (David Reivers). It soon her terrific performance in Akeelah and the Bee. It’s no High School Musical, but Jump In! is Ben Affleck and Alicia Keys) descend on Lake becomes clear that Izzy must choose between the What makes this film particularly fun are the high- a cute little movie that the intended audience will Tahoe in a race to take the magician out. Rated R sport his father is convinced he’s destined for and energy jump rope sequences. After watching the enjoy. The DVD leaves a bit to be desired in the for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, the one that he loves. film for the first time, my two small children actually bonus features department, but that won’t stop some nudity and drug use. The Jump In! DVD has a handful of demanded jump ropes of their own. Anything that your kids from putting it on their wish lists.

12 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper sopranos’ last gasp video games will Tony find redemption, prison, or death? by Norm stovall [email protected] by Rick grant [email protected]

When the Sopranos re- turned last week for its last nine episode story arc, savvy viewers were wondering how creator David Chase would send his antihero, Tony Soprano out. Would he seek redemption, which would be difficult since he has murdered people? Would he get whacked? Or, the most likely scenario, would he go to prison? Speculation abounds, but for the discerning fan (like me) one must get inside the mind of Tony, which means analyzing David Chase’s creative consciousness. Chase’s scripts are never dull, always providing viewers unex- NBA Street Homecourt pected surprises and intriguing For PS3 tangents to the main story. also on Xbox 360 The opening episode of the last series of shows gave fans NBA Street Homecourt is a hell of a drug. I say that because the last few times I played it, I felt a significant peek into Tony’s possible future and done Tony’s bidding. Now Bobby will feel the deep like a crackhead who couldn’t get enough. Typically, although I like to watch basketball, I don’t play some insight into Tony’s mind set. Clearly, Tony still guilt which keeps Tony awake at night and sent him too many sports games, so I was a little hesitant to give this game a try. Once I did, however, I was defends his fragile ego from being deflated by his to Dr. Melfi. hooked. With gameplay almost as easy to learn as yesteryears’ NBA Jam, new players will have no underlings, as this segment underscored. Behind Eventually, all Mafia made members face a problem picking this game up. the scenes, forces are working against Tony in both crisis of soul. Some turn rat to seek redemption, Street-style basketball isn’t typically a complicated sport to understand, and naturally, neither is his Mafia family and his nemesis, the FBI. Tony sees others try to prevent their incarceration by killing this video game. Your goal is to score points and make your opponent look bad while doing so. You’ll these things happening and is philosophical about anyone who could turn rat. But in the end, their do this by performing tricks while dribbling, bouncing the ball off their heads and dunking the ball his future. careers end with death or prison. The Italian Mafia is repeatedly. And by repeatedly I mean dunking the ball, catching the rebound mid-air while clinging to “My Estimate? Historically? Eighty percent of an archaic entity in today’s crime world. The Russian the rim, and then dunking again. If it sounds ridiculous to you, that’s because it is. The gameplay is the time it ends in the can (prison) like Johnny Sack. Mafia has emerged as a much more ruthless force completely over-the-top, and can be maddeningly frustrating and exciting at the same time, especially Either that, or the loading dock at Cozarelli’s,” Tony in the underworld, and its “Thieves” oath is enforced when someone scores a double or triple dunk near the end of a close game. Online multiplayer is an states. Yes, he is feeling a deep foreboding that his by blood and fear dating back to Russian prisons. added bonus, which plays smoothly enough, and the graphics are, of course, amazing. The only real gravy train will soon crash into a cement wall. He In this dark world, everyone lives in fear and no one complaint I had with the game is that there weren’t more gameplay modes, which I guess I can look realizes his days of living la doce vita are numbered. dares talk to the police. for in the sequel. Not a deal breaker, though, by any means. NBA Street Homecourt is great just the When he talks to his psychiatrist, Jennifer Melfi (Lo- One thing we know for sure: If Tony can’t count way it is. raine Bracco), deep-down he knows what troubling on loyalty from his captains and soldiers, he is in him. He has killed people and it has darkened his big trouble. Viewers see that his closest captains are soul. How can he possibly be redeemed? Is there a branching out into legitimate endeavors. Christopher secular way of atoning for his sins? As a Catholic, has made his horror flick and is planning to produce Izuna: Legend of the can he be forgiven? other films. La Cosa Nostra, “Our thing” is fracturing Unemployed Ninja In having Tony see a psychiatrist, who is the as more made men are turning rat to get lighter sen- For Nintendo DS gatekeeper of society’s morality, Chase is making tences. Surely Tony sees the handwriting on the wall, the point that there is some good in Tony. His guilt is but has too much at stake to run or turn rat. Besides, Most of the Nintendo DS games currently eating him alive. He loves his family and he has been no one resigns from the Mafia and lives. Yes, some in my rotation tend to consist of simple, pick-up- a good provider. Even his loyalty to the Mafia creed end up in witness protection or jail, but they are and-play puzzlers that take only a few minutes to is almost admirable. With his future uncertain and marked men. play (Brain Age, Tetris, Meteos, etc.). So, when judgement day approaching, Tony must rationalize For David Chase, it was a complex dilemma I got my hands on Izuna: Legend of the Unem- his feelings, which have turned cold over the years how to end this exemplary series. Tony’s facade ployed Ninja, I expected to get bored with it in a of crime and murder. of living an upper class life, while the FBI builds a few minutes and give it a ho-hum review, as the Nonetheless, as the fight with Bobby in episode Rico case against him, was underscored in the last RPG genre doesn’t exactly fit my play style. That one shows, Tony’s ego was bruised when Bobby week’s episode when Tony was arrested for a gun didn’t happen – instead I actually liked it. With an won the drunken brawl. To get even, when Bobby charge. Years before he had dropped the gun in the entertaining and humorous storyline, this RPG and Tony meet with Canadian pharmaceutical black snow. A teenager saw him drop the gun from his starts off in a countryside that happens to be market dealers, one of them mentions a problem–the window. He takes the gun and is caught with it, and disrupted by your character (Izuna) shamelessly deadbeat father of his sister’s child is trying to get it is traced back to Tony. But the local DA drops the bothering the gods and generally bugging the custody of the kid. charges when the Feds intervene, pressuring the heck out of them, making things bad for everyone In a moment of clarity, Tony offers to make his DA by saying their Rico case trumps his trivial gun around. Your goal is to guide Izuna through vari- problem go away (by killing the deadbeat dad) in charge. The gun charge is dropped. ous dungeons, collecting weapons and items, exchange for lowering the price of the goods. They Yes, dark clouds are forming around Tony and progress through the story by interacting agree and Tony assigns the hit to Bobby, who earlier as his kids grow up and he tries to maintain some with various other characters. The gameplay is had confessed to Tony he had never killed anyone. semblance of living the American dream. Chances fun and breaks from the typical turn-based RPG So now, Bobby must commit murder to appease are, Chase will not disappoint his loyal fans who dungeon-crawling formula. You can collect and upgrade weapons; adjusting them so they won’t break Tony. He does the job and instantly knows there is have stuck by the series with great interest. Will Tony is a fun skill to learn and master. If you are looking for a simple-to-play and entertaining RPG for your no going back. He has blood on his hands as a Mafia go out with a whimper or a tumultuous happening? Nintendo DS, pick this one up. It’s a good break from all those brain exercises you are probably doing. captain. The thing is, Bobby is not a cold-blooded Time will tell as we sit riveted as the last nine epi- killer, but he would have been whacked if he had not sodes play out.

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 13 pub crawling through downtown by the eu professional drinkers

This was actually the first pub crawl our professional drinkers ever went on and we did it all together in one night, however John Dooling’s account was lost to time and computer glitches, so you will have to take Katie’s (and Johnny St. Thomas’) word for it. The march from Burrito Gallery to London Bridge to Mark’s to Dive Bar to TSI is a regular one for many locals, but I do recommend stashing twenty bucks and the number to your favorite cabbie deep into your wallet. When you run out of cash, let a professional driver take you home, because the nightlife downtown can leave you pretty sauced. Plus, this being the Jax Gets Green issue, walking to your bars and taking a cab home greatly reduces your carbon footprint (and destroying your liver and dying young also Mark’s helps the environment, so hoorah all around). Address: 315 East Bay Street Type: Bar and Night Club Burrito Gallery Serving: Full liquor, fine wines, domestic and im- ported beers on draft and in bottles. Address: 21 East Adams Street Amenities: Spacious dance floor hidden from the Type: Latin Restaurant and Bar main bar area, separated seating booths, immaculate Serving: Full liquor, great wines, domestic and bathrooms. imported beers. tacos, burritos, salads and Dress code: “casual chic.” more. Drink Specials: Happy hour is 4:30 – 7:30 Amenities: Live music, eclectic DJs, outdoor seating, great art. Next, we stumbled over to Mark’s. This lounge-type Drink Specials: Happy Hour is every weekday bar tends to get pretty popping and pulls in the well- from open until 7pm. $2 domestic drafts, $3 dressed, mid-to-late-twenties professionals. With a import drafts, $4 glasses of wine, $3 well and full bar and a spacious dance floor, people aren’t shy of breaking it down to some hip-hop, pop, and dance call liquor drinks and $4.50 premium liquor music. I personally like this venue because it is up- drinks. scale, but with a pretty relaxed vibe. –Katie Veltri Burrito Gallery is bar none the best bar and restaurant downtown. When they have music, it’s usually cool music (jazz, indie rock or avant-garde) on the patio (which they call an “urb garden”). When you don’t like the band, it’s easy to slip into the bar where the holler of the evening crowd ricochets off of the bare brick walls. The art on the walls often changes, but the “Urban Core” mural on the side of the building will always remain. This urban chic restaurant has excellent fish tacos that they usually serve almost until close. Unfor- tunately closing time is usually ten o’clock, but on weekends they stay open until eleven (later if there’s a show). Enjoy their full liquor bar and great draft beers while you can, but save some sobriety for down the road. Burrito Gallery is only the first stop on the downtown bar strip.–Johnny St. Thomas

TSI Address: 333 East Bay Street Type: Bar and Night Club or “Discotheque” Serving: A great selection of imported draft beers, domestic and imported bottled beers, a fine selec- The Dive Bar tion of wines. Address: 331 East Bay Street Amenities: Pool tables, old school video games, an Type: Bar and Dance Club art gallery upstairs and an outside DJ and bar area. Serving: Full liquor, fine wines, a wide selection of Drink Specials: Their specials change from week to domestic and imported draft and bottled beers. week. This Friday (April 20) is penny PBRs. Check Amenities: Black light room, softcore porn in the out clubtsi.com to find their specials of the week. bathrooms, and a cigarette machine. No night on the town in downtown J-ville is complete until you’ve capped it off at TSI. No one knows for certain Drink Specials: I’m sure they have some, but what TSI stands for, that is to say the acronym changes regularly, but their cover charge is usually reasonable. the bartender was a little too busy to answer my If it seems high, it must be a live music night and they feature some of the best imported beers on draft (and probing questions. You’ll have to go and see for PBR if you’re slummin’). This indie-chic dance club has a round stage (on which they showcase some of the yourself. best local, regional, national and international bands live) the hippest DJs, and a ghetto-fabulous postmodern décor. Play on their pool tables or just slump over their long bar. Although it is a far cry from Mark’s or Dive Bar Our next stop was the Bar. Ironically enough, this (they don’t take credit cards), they are good at welcoming all kinds of people and the haircuts are always fun. bar is too new and clean to be considered anything – Johnny St. Thomas remotely close to a dive bar; however, it does have many themes resonating throughout (mannequins, Mutts & Margaritas black light booth, go carts, etc..). This newcomer to the downtown bar scene has successfully man- Since the Humane Society burned down, plenty of people are looking for a way to help. One unusual way aged to attract a wide variety of people. The music to do something about it is to go to Ole’s Mutts & Margaritas on the 23rd. You can bring your pooch to bounces from 80s mainstream to 90s rock to their porch. Your dog will be able to order from his own menu, while you sip margaritas and eat tacos for techno-pop (booty music). There are comfortable a good cause. Mutts & Margaritas takes place every week, but on the 23rd 25% of all the proceeds go to beanbags, mod chairs, and a semi-enclosed room the Humane Society. Hours for the event will be extended, running from 5-10PM instead of 6-9PM. This with black light posters (like the old back room in week you can expect an extra tent to be set up and a live band to be playing. The participating Ole’s is Caribbean Connection – trippy). This bar is like a located at 9921 Atlantic Blvd. The doggie dishes will be handled by Miss Daisy’s Delights, which makes slice of Disney in Jacksonville’s downtown (with fresh food for dogs as well as gourmet dog snacks. If you’d like to make a direct donation to the Humane more cleavage). –Katie Veltri (et al) Society, just ask at any Wachovia Bank branch.

14 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper And although a large part of our portion of the task at hand is to be vocal to our representatives that the environment is a serious issue to us (because you can bet that industry talks to them a lot about what they want passed, regardless of how that affects your groundwater or air quality). There are a number of small, simple things we can implement into our daily routine to reduce our impact and help sustain ourselves without using excess energy or creating excessive waste that ends up in our river or our soil. To find out what these things are, I talked to James Orth of the St. Johns Riverkeeper and Jennifer McCharen of the Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative (JCNI) to get some tips for the everyday Joe. We also x ge talked to some local people about the viability of solar power in our Sunshine State, ways to recycle and a ts its benefits, local farmer’s markets, organic eating and holistic health. While being an activist might not be j everyone’s gig, being active is everyone’s job, and we have a variety of ways you can do that. Social responsibility is never a focus of this publication, and our objective is not to make you feel guilty or to compel you to change the sort of person you are. EU is Jacksonville’s weekly entertainment newspaper and there are plenty of people around town that choose to make “living greener” their hobby. It is a great way to occupy your energies outside of work. It feels good to recycle and get a little righteous on your friends. From things as simple as turning off lights and putting your home electronics on power strips that you can turn off to reduce your “phantom load” to getting rid of St. Augustine grass in your lawn and replacing it with native plants that are easier to manage while attracting butterflies and birds, there are plenty of things you can do that make a real difference. You can entertain yourself with these activities and feel good about it. Maybe you can’t stop using gasoline, but you could carpool. Maybe you don’t want to stop eating meat, but you could make sure that your meat and vegetables come from a nearby farm. Changes don’t have to be dramatic, but by changing some simple things you can make a dramatic difference. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint interview with Jennifer McCharen of the jcni by jon bosworth

“I’m going to do what I can to help people establish a personal relationship with the facts.” As a photography student in New York, Jennifer McCharen was an unlikely person to return to Jacksonville and become an activist. She has never organized people to this degree and seems rather trepiditious about the idea, and yet she fits comfortably into the role and knows what she’s talking about. She isn’t one of those hairy-armpit activists that thrusts signs into the air and screams her agenda across parking lots, she speaks softly about the facts. She also doesn’t posture as though she has all of the answers, spitting vinegar at corporations and energy companies. She defers to science and published reports by leading experts in green their fields and she works hard to build alliances with the It is chic to talk about “getting green” and reducing your carbon footprint corporations that are making an effort to affect change. The goals of the Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative are lofty and vast. In Jacksonville, a southern town around this time of year, and it is easy to point fingers at the utility companies and not known for particularly active citizens when it comes to environmental issues, Jennifer and her group are faced with the challenge of first convincing people that are interested in the facts surrounding climate change politicians, casting the blame for the state of our environment on others, but what to learn more about the problem. The next step is getting those people to take steps in their own lives toward a lower impact way of living. Then they have to advocate action and convince people that activism is necessary. does “getting green” really mean? The short answer is: living our lives with the least After that, they have to equip these people with the knowledge and resources they need to act. “Even people that are interested don’t know how to be part of a community that is active. Also, people that impact on the environment as possible. In the 1900s it was all about industry and know about environmental issues don’t necessarily know about this one. There is a lot that needs to be done.” production, but these days we are more technologically and scientifically advanced, JCNI is currently operated out of the pockets of its participants. They don’t have any underwriting and they do everything from organizing the Step It Up 2007 campaign to making the food for those in attendance. so we can maintain our way of life, more or less, without flooding our own air and “[Step It Up 2007] is a public dialogue on climate change. There will be five panelists presenting, and they are all experts for the region. They are not environmentalists, they are not politicians, they are not members of water with pollutants and destructive elements. by jon bosworth the media, they are scientific experts. The point is to rake climate change out of the discourse it has fallen into, which is primarily political. It is a scientific problem, it is an environmental problem. It is not an interest group In Florida, we have some very unique opportunities and we also have some of the best reasons to problem and it is not about money. It’s about energy use and our place within the natural systems of the earth.” (Step It Up happened last Saturday, see sidebar on the event on page 16.) make a serious effort to reduce our greenhouse gasses, since the 200-year projection puts our entire state And although it is “not about money,” it turns out that a good deal of reducing your impact actually saves below sea level. According to our governor, Charlie Crist, “...I will bring together the brightest minds to begin you money. It’s an intuitive concept. The electricity you use shows up on your electricity bill. Reduce that use working on a plan for Florida to explore groundbreaking technologies and strategies that will place our state and you reduce your bill while burning less coal to produce that power. This is one of many reasons that it at the forefront of a growing worldwide movement to reduce greenhouse gases. Florida will provide not only makes little sense to group the issue of global warming with any single political party. the policy and technological advances, but the moral leadership, to allow us to overcome this monumental “I’m big on having a conversation with somebody. Not throwing rhetoric out or posting it on the Internet, but getting people to come together and talking to them like intelligent human beings. If you talk to someone challenge.” as an intelligent human being, this issue is very clear. Once people know you are trying to get them the facts Although casting political dispersions and blaming inefficient energy systems for the problem may be and you are not trying to manipulate them, people will make good decisions. That’s the key. People have felt partially accurate, James Orth, of the St. John’s Riverkeeper reminds that “JEA is all of us.” manipulated by the media and politicians on this particular issue. I understand why somebody wouldn’t 4

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 15 The JCNI has ten easy things that you can do for little-to-no investment to reduce your impact on our environment.

1 – Plant a tree. It seems like a trite and quaint gesture, but an average tree absorbs 330 pounds of carbon every year it is alive. 2 – Grow a garden. This saves you money at the grocery store, improves the flavor and health benefits of your meals, is fun to maintain, and means gasoline isn’t being burned to deliver week-old vegetables to your table. 3 – Eat more plants. This is where my father would write this whole thing off as hippy-dippy malarcky, but the truth is that a plant-based diet is better for you and the planet. Time magazine stated that going vegetarian reduces your carbon footprint more than switching to a hybrid car. 4 – Switch to compact fluorescents. These bulbs are so much more efficient than incandescents that some countries are considering a total ban on the latter. 5 – Use power strips. This way you can turn off your electronics chargers and stereo equipment all the way. When a little red “standby” light comes on, that is part of an unused energy mass known as “phantom load.” Unplug anything that draws power even when not in use, or plug it into a power strip that you can turn off. 6 – Change your home’s climate. Adjust your thermostat to temperatures that are just 2 degrees more moderate than usual and you can save one ton of carbon per year. Insulating your water heater and turning it down ten degrees saves another 500 pounds per year. These also save you considerable money on your utility bills. 7 – Use cold water. Run your washing machine on cold water and save another 500 pounds of carbon per year. 8 – Reduce your waste. From recycling beer bottles and re-using to-go containers and water bottles to composting organic waste to benefit your garden, the less you send to the landfill the better. 9 – Consider getting rid of St. Augustine grass, which is difficult to manage and requires mowing, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.. Instead, what about a native plant garden that attracts butterflies and is already indigenous to our area. Go to www.fnps.org for more information about native plants. 10 – Be active in your community. Know what is going on and be vocal about change.

trust Al Gore to tell them what’s true. I understand why someone wouldn’t trust Fox News to be telling them something they really need to hear.” “The more minds you get thinking hard about something, the more creative solutions the community can come up with. Jacksonville is going to have different problems than New York or California, so only our community can really address our problems.” Visit the Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative’s booth at the Earth Day festivities at the Jacksonville Landing on April 21st for more details on what you can do to help Jacksonville become carbon-neutral or visit their website at Jaxgreen.org to get more involved.

photo provided by owen holmes

Step It Up 2007 Step It Up 2007 is a grassroots campaign that organized a national day of climate action on April 14th. The Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative joined in on this event by bringing a group of expert panelists to Riverside Presbyterian Day School on Saturday. The event started off with donated, vegan food (no animal byproducts) and coffee from Starbucks. Then the 150 to 175 attendees enjoyed a thorough education on global climate change, the local effects, what we can do about it, and the importance of accurate information. The panelists included Robert Farmer, a specialist in power technologies and communications for a sustainable future. Stephen Mulkey, the director of Research and Outreach/Extension for the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida. Jeff Martin, the president of the Florida Society of Geographers and an Assistant Professor on the faculty of JU. Pam Dement-Liebenow, a professor of Biological Sciences at FCCJ. Dave McLintock, the executive director of Energy Explorers. After the panel the crowd was entertained by live bands. The bands that played included Airport Factory, Teen Vogue Dot Com, A Slight Breeze, Big Black Joe, and a some solo acts. JEA distributed compact fluorescent light bulbs for free and The Nature Conservancy and Native and Uncommon Plants distributed maple and oak seedlings that participants could take home and plant. The Florida Solar Energy Center also had a display. The event was casual, fun, and informative. Look for JCNI’s next event on jaxgreen.org.

16 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper They will obviously be fresher, and they’ll require in our area. So meanwhile, encourage your area’s less shipping and refrigeration. Also, bring your own waste management service to accept more items for bags to carry your goods. Any type of bag will do, recycling. How Many Lightbulbs Does and they’re stronger and easier to carry than paper or plastic. Read this newspaper online. Save tons of trees by canceling your subscriptions Fill up the blue bins with more stuff. to magazines and newspapers. Begin by calling the it Take to Change a People? These days, food often comes in a package. Buy Florida Times-Union and tell them to stop sending only the stuff that has recyclable packaging. Even if you that T-U Sampler. Every major news and enter- you’re trying to consume more organic foods, you tainment source has a website with a complete se- might have noticed that despite your efforts to clean lection of content (including the paper you’re reading up your body, the packaging is often not recyclable right now), so visit eujacksonville.com.

Local Green Organizations The St. Johns Riverkeeper – stjohnsriverkeeper.org (see story) Jacksonville Carbon Neutral initiative (JCNI) – jaxgreen.org (see story) Green Team Project – greenteamproject.org. This local non-profit focuses on supporting tangible changes on a residential and commercial level through a thorough auditing system. Organize a group of your friends, family, or co-workers and meet every week for six weeks. Your group will go through a workbook and learn together how you can reduce your impact. They provide homework assignments such as weighing your trash or making a list of items that the group can borrow from one another to reduce your impact through sharing. It’s social; people get together and drink some beer and talk to each other about how to reduce their impact.

The Sierra Club - florida.sierraclub.org/Northeast The Jacksonville branch of this national organization is currently promoting the Cool Cities Campaign, which includes the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement (coolcities.us). They host monthly meetings in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, as well as outings that range from kayak trips to nature hikes on Talbot Island and other locations. The Audubon Society – duvalaudubon.org The Duval Audubon Society is dedicated to the enjoyment of birds and other wildlife with a primary focus on preserving a diversity of habitats through education, conservation, environmental leadership and community involvement. Meetings are held in Jacksonville on the third Monday of each month from getting green at home by donald dusinberre September through April.

If, by now, you still don’t realize how important it is to take care of the planet, then you probably never will, and the world will just have to wait until your breed all too slowly dies off. The rest of us realize we have a job to do, especially if we want to compensate for the ineptitude of others. With all the media attention and informative motion pictures decrying our environmental plight, the pressure is growing uncomfortable. What’s most frustrating, though, is the relatively small amount of practical advice on how to do our part. Recycling soda cans is no longer enough, and the answers to the big problems seem just as big. We can’t rely on politicians to force corporations to make big steps. We must promote a culture of conservation, beginning with very small things. People determine their own needs, and when we can prove that we don’t need to waste and pollute, larger groups and companies will do even larger things to help. We have to start somewhere, and each of us leaves our own mark on the environment. In other words, every person alive has changed the environment one way or another. The good news: we can make our impact positive by simply changing our normal patterns of behavior.

Go postal on the Postal Service. ing them, their methane emissions will end up cooking us. Forty-one cents for a stamp? Phooey! Nothing shows you care more than an email. Don’t send let- Air out your dirty laundry. ters and pay your bills online. It saves paper, money, You could probably wear some things twice before time, gas, and tax dollars. washing them. But when you do, wash them in cold water to save the energy it takes to heat up Use those twisty lightbulbs. water. Use a clothesline to dry your clothes. Yes, it They look funny and take a fraction of a second rains here, I know. You will probably have to use the longer to light up, but they’ll last longer and burn dryer for some things, but give it a try with stuff like cheaper. Turn them off when you’re not in the room, sheets, curtains and lingerie. Wash your clothes only duh. In fact, turn everything off if you’re not using it, when you need to. including your computer. Don’t wash your car. Finish your plate. It’s a ridiculous symbol of excess. Cars are some- Prepare your own food, lazy bones. If you insist on times a necessity, but always a drain on money a going to a restaurant, don’t get takeout and don’t and resources. Save the water and prevent cleaning take leftovers home. Avoid using Styrofoam contain- detergents from leaching into the groundwater. Make ers or other packaging. Bring your own mug if you’re a hybrid your next personal vehicle. stopping for coffee. Shop ‘til you drop. Prevent the revenge of the bovine. Make fewer trips to the grocery store by planning a Don’t eat beef. They fart too much. If we keep cook- weekly menu. Buy foods grown and made locally.

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 17 “Solar, at best, is an energy consumption mitigation technology. I don’t know of anybody that truly runs Recycling in Jacksonville their home, business, their country…on solar energy completely. So it’s a way for us to save natural re- I’d rather focus sources and use renewable energy while it’s there.” on the recycling pro- With a good solar water heater, says Newman, grams Jacksonville “most people can get 80% savings, in other words does have rather they can save 80% of the energy that it takes to heat than the glaring need water, on an annual basis.” You might invest as little for something more as $3,000 in a solar thermal water heater, but the in- comprehensive, but vestment return makes it worthwhile. First, JEA and the fact remains that the state offer various tax credits to offset the cost. those who live in Reduced heating bills are a definite plus. Also, when apartment settings do it comes time to sell your home, solar thermal can not generally have the be a selling point and value booster, especially when option to recycle. Even some of the smaller cities it’s used as a way to heat a swimming pool. The in Florida have those brightly colored recycling cost of a heated swimming pool can be enormous bins placed strategically about town. When I when using standard electricity. Solar thermal is the called 630-CITY, a city employee informed me way to go if you want a heated pool in Florida. If that there were no such recycling bins around you’re interested in solar thermal energy, call Energy Jacksonville. Homeowners, or those who have Labs at (904) 786-6600. individual trash pick up have the option to recycle (they can request bins from the city) but those with community dumpsters have to go much further out of their way. The city of Jacksonville, according to the COJ web-site, does not have any municipal drop- Photo provided by Solar Energy Inc. off sites. That’s not precisely true, since there are a few drop-off sites run by the city. The least known to locals is the facility on Commonwealth that will recycle household hazardous waste, including old computers and cell phones. Many The Sunny Side computer repair shops will also take your old computer for recycling, although they most often charge a fee. You can find many of the commer- of living the green life by erin thursby green from the cial locations for other recycling at www.cleanup. org. Be sure to call any commercial organization Solar power is one of the most misunderstood technologies available for those that want to go green. before you travel to them, as the fees vary. There are actually two types of solar generated power: solar electric and solar thermal. Of the two, solar ground up The city’s mobile recycling center will be at thermal is the more practical application. Solar thermal, unlike solar electric, doesn’t work by converting solar the 103rd Street Sports Complex on the 21st and energy into electricity. Instead, as the name implies, the energy is stored as heat, which is then used to heat If you’ve decided to build your house, you at Mandarin Park on May 19th. water, pools and homes. When you use solar thermal, you aren’t actually using any electricity, which means might want to consider making it eco-friendly. It can there isn’t energy loss during conversion. It’s energy stored in its most basic form: heat. Here in Florida there be more cost effective than retro-fitting an existing Household Hazardous Waste Facility are quite a few companies that take advantage of the Florida sunshine, mostly in the area of solar thermal. home and it certainly creates added value when you 2675 Commonwealth Ave. One such company, operating here in Jacksonville is Energy Labs, a research company devoted to de- put your home on the market. Ask if your builder Ph: (904) 387-8847 veloping different ways to harness solar thermal energy. is LEED certified, and check out the U.S. Building Hrs: Tuesday-Saturday 8AM-5PM Company head, Michael Newman, explains what solar energy can do as far as energy is concerned: Council’s website (www.usgbc.org/) on what it You can donate for recycling or reuse of means for your home to be LEED certified, which is your computers, cell phones, cooking oil, tele- just another way of saying officially green. phone equipment and paint donation. solar cooking Of course you’ll want to make sure that your Here are a few of the other materials col- home is well insulated in order to reduce energy lected and services offered here: The majority of the work at Energy costs. Small details like double paned glass and Auto: Antifreeze, Brake Fluid, Car Batteries, Labs involves R & D to make solar thermal design with an eye towards cross-ventilation can Transmission Fluid, Used Motor Oil, Used Oil energy more efficient or to find new applica- drastically cut your energy costs. Instead of using Filters tions for the technology. standard insulation, go with recycled blue jeans or Batteries: NiCad Batteries, Other Batteries, “As a result of research we come up other non-toxic material. Rechargeable Batteries (non-NiCad), Single-use with products,” says Newman “We will In the kitchen, you’ll want your builders to Batteries either build those products or do a technol- install a gas stove; it’s more energy efficient than Electronics: Computer Monitors, Computer ogy transfer.” One such technology transfer an electric range because the energy is burned Recycling, Inkjet Cartridges, Televisions, Toner was the Solar Hot Pot Cooker, developed by right there and there’s no loss. Some of the energy Cartridge the team at Solar Energy and then sold to burned at coal-electric plants is always lost as it is Household Hazardous Waste: Ammuni- Mexico. converted into electricity and as it travels over dis- tion, Degreasers, Explosives, Fertilizers, Fluores- “It was really done in an effort to tance. cent Bulbs, Fungicides, Gasoline and Unwanted help the people that are starving. There are In the bathroom and the kitchen you can also Fuels, Herbicides, Household Cleaners, Insecti- places in the world where they can’t eat get countertops made from recycled material, like cides, Mercury Containing Items, Paint Disposal, because they can’t cook. The wood is all colorful crushed glass or compressed, recycled pa- Paint Thinners, Pesticides, Photographic Chemi- gone, there’s no coal, there’s no gas, there’s nothing. And in places where the people are starving the per. Use easily renewable material such as bamboo cals, Pool Chemicals, Smoke Detectors, Solvents most, they have an abundance of sunshine.” for flooring. For tips on what materials you’ll want Although energy labs sold the tech to Mexico, Americans can still get their hands on a Solar Hot to use, go to the fabulous website greenhomeguide. BFI Municipal Recycling Pot Cooker, through the Real Goods website at www.gaiam.com/retail/gai_shophome.asp. The cooker is com. 7580 Phillips Highway a steep $120 or so, but a portion of the profits from the sales goes towards the effort of distributing the Your water heater should, of course, run on Ph: (904) 731-2515 cooker to those in need, reducing deforestation and helping to combat hunger. solar thermal energy. Depending on the size of the Hrs: 24 hour drop-off site thermal tank you install, you could supplement heat- Drop-off recyclable materials in marked ing your home as well. Most other alternate energy bins in front of the building 24 hours a day. Dur- solar cooking book pick resources aren’t incredibly practical right now, but ing business hours, BFI will buy back Aluminum Cooking With the Sun by Beth and Dan Halacy you can save the planet and save on your energy and Corrugated Cardboard. See BFI Recycling Learn how to make coffee, cook a whole chicken and bake bread, using nothing more than the bill by building green to begin with. Building a home Buy-Back Center. awesome power of that shining disk in the sky. Includes 90 recipes, a history of solar cooking, how to green can raise your building costs by 5% or more, Services Offered: Recycles glass, metal, build your own solar oven and illustrations. but you can cut down on your heating by about 40% paper and plastic. by employing green building solutions.

18 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 19 Top five everyday things people can do to help the St. John’s River.

1 – Keep a river-friendly yard. Our yards represent one of the biggest impacts we have on the river. Reduce the amounts of fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides you put in your yard. Use low-maintenance or native plants instead of turf grass. “We recommend low-phosphorous, slow-release fertilizers. 30% of the nitrogen should be in a slow-release form. If you can find it, we recommend organic fertilizers like Green Edge. It is made from JEA bio-solids, so it recycles our waste, it’s safe, organic and you are recy- cling nutrients from our own community.” 2 - Don’t water too frequently. You can actually build a stronger lawn by not watering too frequently. The rule is, generally, no more than two times a week, but you don’t even have to water that often. “In the summer it rains frequently, people forget that. Pay attention to the weather.” Putting a little thought into Painting by how you use water can make a big difference. Jim Draper 3 – Expect more from your lawn maintenance company. Many residents use a service to take care of their lawns. Does your lawn maintenance company use slow-release fertilizers? Have their employees been trained in Best Management Practices? “The Agricultural Service Extension provides training for lawn care companies in every county that teaches these companies the same standards that we teach Centerpiece: St. Johns homeowners.” Make sure your company will spot-treat infected areas. When it comes to pest control, have them only treat the problem area instead of spraying the herbicides and pesticides across the entire lawn. River 4 – Conserve water. “Water conservation doesn’t require time or money. You can buy low-flow toilets and showerheads that function well and use a lot less water. In the yards there is micro-irrigation. If you an interview with Jimmy Orth of the St. Johns Riverkeeper have an in-ground irrigation system, add sensors that detect the moisture in the soil and shut your sys- by jon bosworth tem off when your yard doesn’t need any more.” There are also simple, intuitive things you can do to help the river. Don’t run the water while you brush your teeth or wash the dishes. Buy low-maintenance plants In 2001 Neil Armingeon took on the task of being the St. Johns Riverkeeper. The Riverkeeper’s mission, and reduce the amount of St Augustine grass you have in your lawn and you’ll use less water. as the name states, is to be an objective advocate for the river. The non-profit organization is privately funded 5 – Find an environmentally-friendly builder or developer. “One of the biggest ways we can reduce and their mission, as stated on their website stjohnsriverkeeper.org, is “to work on behalf of the community our impact is to find a builder or a development community that is more environmentally-friendly.” These for clean and healthy waters in the St. Johns River, its tributaries and its wetlands through citizen-based advo- cacy.” days there are low-impact developments and new technologies are more readily available than ever The organization brought on James Orth as their second fulltime employee to manage the business and before. From green-homes that are more energy-efficient to finding the developers that call their homes public relations side of this massive task, leaving Neil to handle the science and “the work” as Jimmy says. green-built, JEA has created standards that builders must meet to identify themselves as green-built. Any attempt to address environmental issues in Jacksonville without addressing the care of our most beauti- “These homes might not be the best in the country at reducing impact, but they are significantly better ful and precious asset, the St. Johns River, would be ridiculous. We all take great pride in the river, hence the nickname the River City, and in the interest of taking better care of our environment it is imperative that we than the average home.” consider what is required of us to maintain this treasure. I met up with Jimmy Orth at The Fox, appropriately located in Riverside, to talk about how we can help on a daily basis to protect and preserve the St. Johns. “The most important thing people can do is get informed. Use your voice and your vote to help the river. your everyday life to make sure you are not further endangering our river. The elected officials in office need to hear from us and know what we care about. So few people vote to begin “The biggest use of water is just to irrigate our lawns and plants. More than half of our annual water with, then the people that contact their legislator is even less. Stay in touch with your legislator, the lobbyists consumption is used on lawns during the summer.” certainly are.” Just because Scotts Weed & Feed has trained people that more nitrogen is better does not make it true. While being in contact with the people that represent us is obviously important, it is not something many Your lawn only uses so much of us are eager to do. If getting political isn’t your shtick (and being in contact with your representative isn’t nitrogen and the rest runs off and necessarily “being political”) Jimmy did provide some very turnkey suggestions about things you can do in ends up in the river. Take a look at the following suggestions and see how helping the river can help you have a better yard, save St. Johns River Eco-Heritage Boat Trips money, and feel better doing it. The Riverkeeper has events April 24 – 26 Jacksonville to Sanford all year that promote, celebrate April 27 – 29 Sanford to Jacksonville and advocate our river. Go to their website for more tips on The Riverkeeper does cruises twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. They send a how you can help preserve the three-day cruise down river, with a stop-over in some wonderful resorts. They bring speakers on board river. to tell stories about the river and even have historical reenactors on board. These cruises are fun and “Just try to be conscious they will teach you about the culture, science, and history of the St. Johns. You will even discover parts and thinking about your actions. of the river where it is not only safe to swim, but it’s encouraged. If people start thinking about the “People are surprised by the beauty and diversity of the river. If you are familiar with the river in things they do, they’ll choose to the Jacksonville area, where it is urban and developed with bulkheads, you will be surprised by the do the right thing. People don’t natural shoreline. Especially once you get south of Palatka, you can see the river change into what it know that their storm drains looks like where it is completely natural.” ultimately lead to the river. If Take a trip from North Jacksonville down to Sanford and let the shuttle take you back home, or people just think about the out- catch the shuttle down to Sanford and return on the cruise that comes back. Your fee includes catered come of their actions, they will meals, overnight accommodations, entertainment and, of course, a fabulous boat trip. realize where they impact our “Sanford is only a little more than halfway, so there is still a lot of river, but south of Sanford isn’t environment and they will make as navigable. The channel is not as well-defined and it gets shallow. You can go farther south in a changes.” smaller boat, but for our purposes, that’s the end of the line.” Go to stjohnsriverkeeper. Dogs Yukon and Dakota are Sign up for one of these terrific adventures at their website or call (904) 256-7591 to make your org and look under the “How key helpers to the Riverkeeper reservation. You Can Help” tab to learn more about river-friendly yards. Volunteer Patrol Operations.

20 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper thursday nights Natural Medicine Progressive Pediatrics takes the holistic approach by kellie abrahamson Tired of your pediatrician prescribing antibiot- The ever-growing office has truly become a one- pulppulp fictionfiction theatretheatre ics for every little thing? Looking for a more natural stop-shop for parents who are looking for the best approach to your child’s health care needs? Look possible care for their little ones. The practice also Straight from the 30s no further than Progressive Pediatrics, a fantastic has an extremely active Yahoo! Group called Holistic practice that has been caring for Jacksonville chil- Pediatrics, where like-minded parents can share dren for nearly five years. their experiences, ask questions and get valuable Doctors Valerie H. Miles and Carolina Ceron- information about things like aggressive behavior, Canas are board-certified pediatricians who practice eczema, care for colds and flu, approaching fevers “integrative medicine,” meaning they combine and newborn care. The group is open to anyone and Gritty, thrilling and performed mainstream medicine with scientifically proven can be found at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/ holistic approaches. In addition, Dr. Miles is board- group/Holisticpediatrics/. live at Downtown's coolest certified in holistic medicine and Dr. Ceron-Canas I’ve been taking my children to Dr. Miles and is a board-certified lactation consultant. What’s Dr. Ceron-Canas since they were born and have Dinner Theatre. particularly great about the Progressive Pediatrics found that this is a practice that truly cares about is that they encourage parents to focus on ways their patients. They always go above and beyond doors open at 6, show at 8:30 to maintain the whole health of the child through to help me understand what is going on with my education, which means moms and dads have the children and how to fix the problem, not just the tools to be their child’s true “primary care provider.” symptoms. Directly after having both my children, Attachment parenting, which includes breastfeed- the doctors at Progressive Pediatrics not only took ing, baby wearing and co-sleeping, is encouraged care of my children’s medical needs, but also took 5 bucks (CHEAP!) for the and the use of probiotics like acidophilus is strongly an interest in my health and well-being as a new show | full dining | call for recommended to help with common childhood mom. For me and my family, Progressive Pediatrics issues like allergies, thrush, colds and yeast infec- is a perfect fit and we will continue taking our chil- more info. tions. dren there for as long as possible. Over the years, Progressive Pediatrics has Progressive Pediatrics is located at 1539 become more than just a doctor’s office. The facility Parental Home Road in Jacksonville. The practice has expanded to include a store that sells supple- accepts most insurances. For more information, boomtown theatre ments, homeopathics, breastfeeding supplies, please call the office at (904) 338-0434 or visit their slings and books and even has a space for classes. website at www.progressivepediatrics.medem.com/. 140 west monroe street | 632-0099 | http://pulpfictiontheatre.tk/

Where you should be breathing at the beach Exhale Oxygen Bar by erin thursby How fresh is the air you’re breathing? At Exhale in Jacksonville Beach, Dave Reid and Heather Guenther can ensure that you’re breathing 80-90% oxygen. They’ve opened the first oxygen bar in the Jacksonville area. Oxygen bars are part of the landscape in Japan and the West Coast, but here in Florida they’re a rarity. The bar doesn’t keep oxygen tanks, because 100% oxygen tanks require all sorts of permits and are only given to those who are medically prescribed oxygen. This is primarily because of the highly flammable nature of oxygen, which can be used for explosive purposes. Instead of tanks, the bar uses a filtration system that removes carbon dioxide and other impurities, delivering 82-92% oxygen to their clients, a real boost from the normal 21% or less. As the air is filtered, it’s also infused with various scents for a little aromatherapy. The steady hum of the air delivery system forces even the most nervous and high strung person to simply focus on their breathing. For a more social experience you can sit at the bar, but if you really want to relax, ask for a massage chair. Extras included in your oxygen bar experience are a complimentary massage and a warm neck wrap. Although they don’t claim any medical benefits, part-owner Heather Guenther says that “It has been reported to relieve stress and anxiety. It has helped with people who have anxiety and panic attacks.” They’ve gotten everything from retirees to couples to club kidz in the doors. The clubbers like to wear the disposable nose cannuelas as necklaces and the retirees find themselves newly invigorated after a ses- sion. Couples visit the bar as a new and different way to relax. Even though the reasons for going to the oxygen bar are as diverse as the people who come for ses- sions, hangover cures are a popular reason for a visit. “We had a big thing after St.Paddy’s Day. We had several hangover victims…They came in and said they felt 100% better. And that’s actually how we ended up finding out about…[oxygen bars]. We were in Vegas on New Year’s Day feeling very bad. We tried it and we felt great!” Since Jacksonville Beach has its share of partiers driving around on a Saturday or Sunday morning try- ing to work up the courage to eat brunch after a late night, it’s a great fit for a quick-fix hangover cure. Guenther and Reid also offer a mobile oxygen service for parties and corporate events. They will have a certified massage therapist onsite in the next few weeks. You can find Exhale in the shopping center next to Krystals on 3rd Avenue at 212 3rd Avenue South in Jacksonville Beach. Call 249-7114 for more info and hours.

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 21 for the earth, for your Grassroots Market taste buds organic produce by erin thursby Healthy Way Café by erin thursby Native Sun, is of course, my Fruit of the Spirit Organic fast food might not be an entirely new concept on the West coast but it’s still a fairly fresh hands-down favorite source of organic idea here in Florida. That might be why Michael Johnigean, the owner of the Healthy Way Café, has and natural produce. The location in already received 160 applications to open one of his restaurants. The huge response wouldn’t be so Mandarin is smaller than the huge shocking, but the Healthy Way in the St. John’s Town Center is less than six months old, and Johnigean place they’ve got at Baymeadows and hasn’t advertised what he hopes will become a successful franchise. Despite the number of applications, 9A. If you haven’t gone down to take a Johnigean wants to wait so that everything can be done right. gander at their newer locale, it might be The majority of the menu features items that most of us are used to eating: wraps and salads. Taste time to do so, especially if you’ve got a something as simple and straight forward as a Chicken Caesar wrap and you’ll get to experience how hankering for organic bananas. dramatically using organic ingredients can boost the taste of a simple meal. Though they have sauces The relative newcomer to the on hand to pump up the flavor of their wraps, you’ll find that they aren’t necessary. When the basic organic market biz here in Jax is ingredients are this good—why cover it up? Says Johnigean, “Why have carrots, sprouts and all that and Grassroots Market, which recently not be able to taste your vegatables? When I eat salmon, I want to taste the salmon, though we do have opened their doors in Five-Points. It’s organic dressings.” not a huge market, but they do carry The café’s patrons range from health conscious weight lifters to moms looking for a healthy meal just about every popular organic and for themselves and their toddlers or vegetarians looking for a place that respects their needs. green line food you’ll find elsewhere. I sampled a ham sandwich, fashioned with Boar’s Head Organic Ham. It wasn’t even the color of They have a decent fresh produce the ham we’re used to eating because it doesn’t have additives or extra coloring added. It’s a real shock selection and a good variety of organic to the senses when you realize just how unnatural most food is. A notable side item you will love is the cheeses. slaw served on side with most of their wraps and sandwiches. When I attended the Friday I took a few spoonfuls of the peanut butter chocolate protein drink, which amazingly tastes like Farmer’s Market at Hemming Plaza, a Reese’s Cup. It’s no wonder that several of the Jaguars have taken to buying Johnigean’s protein there was only one fresh produce vendor, Fruit of the Spirit, but they did have a wide variety of fruits and supplements. While I was in the café, one of the patrons was looking for something to serve her hung- veggies, some of which were grown right here in the Jacksonville area. Just ask the busy vendors and they over boyfriend. Johnigean suggested one of his protein shakes with an organic banana and a touch of can give you a hint as to what was grown right here in the Sunshine State. chocolate thrown in. Ever had an organic banana? Until I plunged a fork into Healthy Way’s fruit salad, I never had. It was so full of life and flavor that regular bananas will be forever ruined for me. Salmon-lovers simply must try the Healthy Way Wrap, a delicious combination of wild salmon, organic romaine lettuce, tomatoes and spouts. On the dessert menu, you won’t want to pass up the heavenly banana spilt, made from organic ice grow your own food cream, topped with bananas, pineapples, strawberries, organic chocolate sauce and chopped nuts. The food isn’t the whole story here, even the seemingly plastic knives and forks are made of a “potato-plastic” that biodegrades in less than two months in a compost heap. The clear cups are also At the non-organic friendly big chain made of another biodegradable material, derived from corn, though they look and feel like conventional supermarkets, it’s hard to tell what your fruits and plastic. Their biodegradable meal pack containers are made with processed sugar cane stalks. Even veggies have been treated with. One way to go green the water they cook and serve with is treated by a reverse osmosis process. Only one item that the is to grow your own veggies. No gas is wasted in restaurant uses is regular plastic, and those are the little solo cups that they serve slaw in. When I asked transporting the veggies across several states (or Johnigean about it he said that he was unable to find a biodegradable product in that size. Even with this countries) and you’ll know exactly how it was grown. tiny bit of plastic waste, I’ll bet the restaurant has a much lighter non-bio waste footprint than any fast You might be surprised to learn that there are several food joint in Jacksonville. So if you want to do something positive for the Earth, your body and your taste city gardens in Jacksonville. Any resident of Duval buds, get a bite to eat at the Healthy Way. County can use the garden space, provided they don’t use the produce for sale or profit, but as a way to For some other healthy eats here in Jacksonville head to Heartworks Bakery in Five-Points. Home supplement their diet. While there are 5 such gardens of the vegetarian carrot dog, they also serve up wraps, sandwiches and organic coffees. Just a few miles in Jacksonville, the Urban Gardening program is North of St. Augustine, you can find The Manatee Café, a favorite spot for vegetarians and the otherwise always looking for suitable land and a way to pay for health conscious here in the area. They serve a Veggie bugger, Veggie omelet and tofu chili, among other the water used on that land. If you’d like to donate to tasty selections on their menu. the Urban Gardening Program or if you would like to be a part of it, call Mary Puckett at (904) 387-8850.

22 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper Editor Brandy Allport and Tree Hill’s own Bella Butterfly. Meanwhile, mom and dad can learn how to attract butterflies to their gardens and much more from local experts. Musical guests Celinda Pink and the Blues Band, Front Porch Music and SABA will be providing the event’s soundtrack and lectures. Dave McClintock, executive director of Energy Explorers, will be on hand to educate visitors on important environmental issues. Many vendors will be selling their wares at the Monarch Mall. Expect to find handmade jewelry, yard art, na- tive plants and much more. And of course, what festival would be complete without food? Snow cones, hot dogs and French fries were just some of the event’s favorites in previous years. Of course, families are also invited to walk the trails and experience all that Tree Hill has to offer. The festival ends at 5:00 with the main event: the massive release of live native butterflies. The Tree Hill Butterfly Festival will be held on Saturday, April 28 from noon to 5 pm. Admission is just $5.00 per family (free for Tree Hill members) and all proceeds go to the center, which has been supporting environmental education programs in Jacksonville for over 35 years. Tree Hill is located at 7152 Lone Star Road in Arlington. For directions, more information or to find out how you can become a sponsor, please visit their website at www.treehill.org or call (904) 724-4646.

Education Disguised as Fun celebrate Earth Day at the Landing by kellie abrahamson

If you’re looking for a way to introduce your young child to the concept of Earth Day, look no further than the Earth Day Experience Nature’s Jacksonville Ecology Fair, sponsored by the City of Jacksonville, Teacher’s Supply Depot, Duval County School Board, JEA, Vistakon, Anheuser Busch, Comcast, CSX, Fireworks Waste Management Inc. of Florida, First Coast News and Radio Disney. The fair takes over the Landing this Saturday with Tree Hill’s Sixth Annual Butterfly Festival fun activities and events for families all day long. by kellie abrahamson On the Entertainment Stage, The GEMZ, an all-girl pop group heard on Radio Looking for the perfect way to kick off spring? Tree Hill Nature Center, located in the heart of Arlington, Disney, will perform throughout the day. is hosting their annual butterfly festival next Saturday, April 28, an event that perfectly ushers in the warm weather and helps a good cause. Other entertainment includes a demonstration by Karate Tree Hill was established 35 years America and music from Radio 80. The winners of the ago when a group of citizens saved the Earth Day Jacksonville $500 mini-grants will also be property from development. Today, the presented on this stage at 11:50 am. The awards will 53-acre site boasts a natural history be given to groups who are implementing environmental museum, nature trails, a 250 seat amphi- education programs here on the First Coast. theater and gardens filled with plant and Over on the Children’s Stage, animal experts will wildlife. Tree Hill is committed to educa- teach kids all about wildlife and may just bring some of tion, conservation and awareness, goals their furry, feathery and scaly friends along. Presenters they strive to meet by partnering with the include Lesley Royce from the Department of Parks, local schools and offering guided tours, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation, who will animal encounters and scout programs be on hand to talk about snakes, The Jacksonville Zoo, to the public. The facility also provides who will share information about birds of prey, Bob and service training for teachers and retreats Liz Schumaker, who will talk about Reptile Rescue and for companies who want to get out of the Jacksonville Avicultural Society, which will discuss the office. Their major yearly fundraiser, parrots and rainforest conservation. These informative held next weekend, is Northeast Florida’s and entertaining presentations will take place hourly. premiere butterfly festival, an event that To help kids further grasp the message of draws thousands of butterfly enthusiasts conservation and recycling, children can make a to Tree Hill to delight in nature’s wonders number of take-home crafts using recycled materials. and to raise money for this terrific organi- Some of these fun craft projects include painting zation. bookmarks, designing 3-D turtles, making friendship bracelets, decorating binders, creating rain sticks This year’s Butterfly Festival will and much more. Many of these crafts use common household objects such as plastic cups, brown be filled with fun for the whole family. grocery bags, paper towel tubes and aluminum foil, so kids can go home and make more of these easy The event features an enclosed but- projects. They’ll be helping the environment and won’t even know it! Face painters will also be on hand terfly exhibit where guests can interact to give children a fun make over and various exhibitors will be there to share important information one-on-one with the winged beauties. about what your family can do to help heal the planet. Beyond this fascinating exhibit, there’s Best of all, this education-disguised-as-fun day is absolutely free of charge. Earth Day 2007 something at the festival for the entire posters and t-shirts will be available for purchase to commemorate this special day. The 2007 Earth family. Kids will enjoy games, activities Day Jacksonville Ecology Fair is on Saturday, April 21st from 10 am to 4 pm. For more information, visit and storytelling from local author John www.jea.com/earthday. Oberheu, Times-Union Children’s Book

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 23 Thursday night is also Jam Band night. The live music band playing that night was two members of El Toro Loco, Paul Lentz and Steve “The Crazy Bull” Cybul- ski. Later in the night they were joined by Brian Jen- shows calendar kins on the drums. All three are sought-after regulars in the Jax music scene. Lentz, who played some THURSDAY, APRIL 19 damn fine guitar, modestly claimed that he wasn’t really a guitar player. He played on Steve’s son’s Open Mic w/Colleen Murphy Trade Winds Lounge, beginner guitar, making it sing despite the fact that St. Augustine (829-8646) he was playing through a bass system. As for Steve, Silver Lake Drive Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) well, there were times when his hands were a blur This Providence Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) as he worked his strings. At this venue the guys had the freedom to play what they love and do some wild Cashous Clay, Duval Boyz TSI, Jax (635-3024) funk improvisational stuff. Some of the solos, includ- Chuck Nash My Place, Jax (737-5299) ing Brian Jenkin’s drumming, were truly inspired. El Toro Loco Ragtime, Jax Beach (241-7877) Bar patrons shouted out requests and one of my new bar buddies nearly went up to play. Unfor- Yancy Clegg Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) tunately, my drinking bud hadn’t played for a while Catalepsy Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) and he was a little shy because of their obvious skill. Blissed, Skyliner Murray Hill Theatre, Jax (388-7807) Still, that’s the point of the Jam Band Night. Anybody Cloud 9 Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach who wants to give it a go and play with the band (241-8221) can. By my third beer, the band and I were friendly Lorna Bracewell Thrasher Horne Center, Orange Park ladies night enough that I could razz them like Sonny, the propri- Edie Carey European Street, Jax (399-1740) etor of Pub Ragusa. Mariachi Guadalajara Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) “Come on,” I yelled “bring on the cheese!” David Milam Shannon’s Irish Pub, Green Cove Springs Jam Band night at Pub Ragusa And then I asked the band to play all the songs that bands hate to cover, though they are inevitably re- Chroma Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) by Erin thursby [email protected] quested. The drummer, Brian Jenkins, rightly threat- Goliath 95 Cordova, St. Augustine ened to strike at the mention of ‘Mustang Sally.’ After Glitter, Eyeliner The Pearl, Jax It’s a Thursday night; do you know where you need to, since they don’t have a cover. What they do a short standoff and a conference, they opted for should be buying your beer? If you’re a single female have are scads of European men, who, unlike most ‘We Want the Funk.’ Shawn Fisher Wackadoo’s, Jax (620-1000) looking for a non-threatening place to chill with a straight American men, will actually coordinate their While the conference was going on, an entire Blistur Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) great drink special ($1 drinks for the ladies) Pub shoes with their outfits. The Bosnian/Euro contingent kickball team, mostly made up of athletic twenty- Jam Session w/ El Toro Loco Pub Ragusa, Jax (443-7888) Ragusa might be the place to hang on a Thursday is one reason why the bar serves espresso, besides something males, spilled into the bar from the place Sam Pacetti Florida House Inn, St. Augustine night. beer and wine. The beer selection also reflects the next door. That’s when the dancing began, a trend I got there early in the night, hoping to avoid a partially Euro crowd, with Warsteiner, Stella Artois, started by a completely goofy member of the kick Matt Collins Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra cover charge. As I found out later there wasn’t any Guinness and Yuengling on tap. As the night pro- ball team. Since he was enthusiastically dancing, Concerts in the Plaza-Big Pineapple The Plaza, St. Augustine gressed, the Europeans made up about a third of the it was all I needed (and I don’t need much) to get Wes Cobb Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) bar crowd. One thing I did love was that the women me out onto the dance floor. Goofy Kickball Guy’s never came close to outnumbering the men. Slightly Cooler Friend pulled my female bar buddy Parker Roberts Shelby’s, Neptune Beach Two pool tables, a dart board and a few com- onto the dance floor. I punctuated my dances with Big Engine Box Seats, Jax (908-7328) puter games are available for those that like to test swigs of Smirnoff Ice and Tooters that were actually Cornerstone The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) themselves in games of skill after a few beers. As surprisingly good. Glass Camels Ginger’s, Jax Beach for myself, I’m a bad pool player and even worse at I left the bar with regret, hoping I could come darts when I’m sober. I’m afraid I would accidentally back some Thursday night when I didn’t have an Ron Rodriguez Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) peg the barkeep with a pool ball or hit one of those early morning. If you want to make Pub Ragusa your Out of Hand Lynch’s Irish Pub, Jax Beach (249-5181) nice European guys with a dart. (Possible conversa- new neighborhood hangout, it’s on Bowden Road, Little Green Men West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131) tion opener: “I’m sorry, I hit you with my dart. Can I just after the 95 exit. Take a right and it’s in the first buy you a drink?”) shopping center on your left. Billy Bowers A1A Aleworks, St. Augustine (829-2977) Freeze Frame Fionn Maccool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) Sam Pacetti Frisky Mermaid, Fernandina Beach (261-3300) Mr. Natural Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198) De Lions of Jah Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453)

FRIDAY, APRIL 20 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) Nate Holley Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Rip Tide w/Brian Turner Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884) Sol Island Kingfish Grill, St. Augustine (824-2111) Crystal Stafford Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Supe Landshark Café, Atlantic Beach (246-6024) Str8 Up Tom & Betty’s, Jax (387-3311) The Explicits Club Fusion, St. Augustine (829-8333) Blistur Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (249-9595) Stevie Stilletto Spare Time, Jax Beach Livid Castaways, Mayport Dana Salmela Cross Creek, Jax

24 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper H.A.S.H. Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) on bass and Jimmy Garrison on drums. Tyner stayed Anastasia Scarlett’s, St. Augustine (824-6535) with Trane through his most productive years and Narcotic Nation, Grabbag Kountry Tavern, Jax (766-9138) Trane’s most famous recording, A Love Supreme. After over five years with Coltrane, in 1965, Dot Wilder Jazz Duo Village Café, Jax (389-3995) Tyner left the group to explore music as a composer Not the Norm Box Seats, Jax (908-7328) and bandleader. Tyner’s coming out project is still Ellis Paul, Antje Duvekot Café Eleven, St. Augustine a classic album The Real McCoy on which he was (460-9311) joined by Joe Henderson on saxophone, Ron Carter Seccond Wave Latitudes Café, Jax Beach (247-6606) on bass, Elvin Jones on drums. Interestingly, Tyner’s 1972 Grammy nominated Gary Douglas Campbell OC White’s, St. Augustine (824-0808) album Sahara set new standards for Tyner’s ascen- sion as a respected composer and incomparable Johnny Flood Aromas, Jax (928-0515) improviser. In the late 1980s, Tyner toured with his Dave Massey My Place, Jax (737-5299) trio featuring Avery Sharpe on bass and Aarron Scott Little Green Men Brewsters, Jax (223-9850) on drums. In 1996, Tyner recorded a special album with the music of Burt Bacharach. By 1998, Tyner Debra Rider Music in the Courtyard, Neptune Beach changed labels again, recording Latin music featur- Danka CD Release Jax Beach Billiards, Jax Beach ing Stanley Clarke on Telarc. Jager Dave On the Rocks, Jax (685-5268) As Tyner moves forward with his music, he is always absorbing new musical ideas and writing Fighting Forward Happy Stefano’s, Jax Beach creative compositions. Today, after recording 80 Roger That West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131) albums, earning four Grammys and being enshrined Nate Holley Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) as Jazz Master from the National Endowment for the Crystal Bessels Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551) Arts in 2002, Tyner is an American treasure. passionate keyboard mastery Over the years, I’ve witnessed McCoy Tyner Echoes Through Chaos Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) play in NYC at the Village Vanguard and the Bitter Still Life Decay Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850) End back in the early 1970s. It was a real honor for Matt Collins Pauly’s Pizza, Jax (727-9101) McCoy Tyner at the Jazz Festival me to again be taken on Tyner’s magical mystery ride to exciting musical places that only Tyner can visit. He is a spaceship from which one can touch FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 20-21 by Rick grant [email protected] the stars. McCoy Tyner is to jazz what Picasso was to Beatles’ ‘She’s Leaving Home’ or going way outside Big Pineapple Music Fest-Too Many Shoes, Fuel, Jax Frankly, Tyner’s Florida Theater show was over (425-3835) art, in that Tyner paints abstract musical structures on ‘Passion Dance,’ he invents incredible ways to too quickly. He played for over an hour but it seemed which are related to the motif, (theme). He forms all transition into higher figures without losing track of to fly by, like being caught in a dust devil of swirling A Slight Breeze, 14 Other Bands dimensions of the work, taking his intelligently devel- the melody. In some cases, there maybe only one or musical creativity and then, suddenly, its gone. Yes, Jody & the Driveshafts Trade Winds Lounge, St. oped spontaneous compositions into cosmic realms two notes left of the theme, but he has constructed for me, Tyner’s show was a peak experience. He is Augustine (829-9336) of unexplored ideas. Indeed, at 69, Tyner is the mas- an abstract towering musical edifice that could be the Man. Jay Garrett Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) ter of piano jazz, having played with John Coltrane at compared to the most modern architecture, if viewed Steve Beck Band The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) the peak of his creative genius. With Coltrane, Tyner in three dimensions. laid down a vast variety of driving chordal structures Amazingly, Tyner can play with wild abandon Soulo A1A Aleworks, St. Augustine (829-2977) on which Trane could improvise on tenor saxophone, then with great restraint on songs like ‘What the Big Engine Square One, Jax (306-9004) taking the music into a new journey of discovery. World Needs Now’–always building new musical Out of Hand Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park At Tyner’s Florida Theater performance, with structures from the theme’s foundation. The song (269-4198) Gerald Cannon on bass and Eric Kamau Gravatt on will move from the pop melody to the shuffle time Cliff Worrell & the Restless Kind Arnold’s, St. Augustine drums, I allowed Tyner’s improvisations to take me be-bop rhythm, then on to surprisingly new rhythmic on a trip into a higher consciousness. I was mes- ideas. Kickin Lassie Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) merized by his playing, which has never wavered Going back in time, at 17, Tyner began a life- Skytrain New Neighborhood Tavern, Jax (721-5087) from his early years. He is still the most exciting changing relationship with Miles Davis and John The Committee Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) piano jazz artist on the planet. Coltrane. Tyner joined Coltrane for his classic album Whether Tyner is caressing the melody of the My Favorite Things in 1960, along with Elvin Jones Wild Card Shannon’s Irish Pub, Green Cove Springs Retro Kats Lynch’s Irish Pub, Jax Beach (249-5181) Ghostrider Cheers, Mandarin (262-4337) Boogie Freaks Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877) Sidewalk 65 Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) Woody & the Peckers Cliff’s, Jax (645-5162) Mr. Natural Monkey’s Uncle, Mandarin (260-1349) Gutterboy Casey’s Hideaway, Yulee Martha’s Trouble Mill Top Tavern, St. Augustine (829-2329) Pili Pili Caribbee Key, Neptune Beach (270-8940)

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 Less Than Jake, Common UNF Arena, Jax David Milam Bourbon Bayou, St. Augustine Kenhe The Tree Steakhouse, Atlantic Beach (241-5600) Robin Rogers The Frisky Mermaid, Fernandina Beach (261-3300) Yancy Clegg Seven Bridges, Jax (997-1999) Sonoma Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) Trains Followed Us Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884) Dummo Club Fusion, St. Augustine (829-8333) Gary Douglas Campbell San Sebastian Winery, St. Augustine

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 25 Sangria Jarboe Park, Neptune Beach Anders Manga Factory/Eclipse, Jax (387-3582) post-rockers fight off radio rock Still Green Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (249-9595) Me, Myself & Ilene Village Café, Jax (389-3995) interview with A Slight Breeze Radio Moscow Turtles Music, St. Augustine Chaser, The Explicits Landshark Café, Atlantic by jon bosworth [email protected] Beach (246-6024) Two weeks ago, I wrote a review of an album by BH: I guess when we all formed together and real- Ignite the Hour Hooters, St. Augustine an instrumental band called A Slight Breeze. I was so ized what we are capable of. There is more in store Boxrockers Conch House, St. Augustine (829-8646) enthralled with their recording that I spent all week than we originally thought, so we decided to go JW Gilmore Pizza Garden, St. Augustine trying to catch them live. With most local bands, you with it. I started talking to some people I know and are lucky if they play one live show in a month, but it Down Theory Breakers Music Hall, Jax got good response. We were just accepted to the just so happened that A Slight Breeze played THREE Aftermath Florida Music Festival in Orlando, which Robby Schenck Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551) times in the past two weeks. That must qualify them is a big conference and showcase for record labels Effed Brewsters, Jax (223-9850) to be the hardest working band in Jacksonville right and scouts. Strings of Fire Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) now. In spite of their prolific performance regimen, I still missed every show. But since they are A) EU: Other than musical peers, what things influ- Thirteenth Stone Spare Time, Jax Beach performing at the upcoming Big Pineapple Music ence and inspire your writing? Sarah Mac Band Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) Festival this weekend and B) a band that played the BH: The day-to-day grind. Like you said in the re- Scholar’s Word Santa Maria, St. Augustine Step It Up 2007 gathering last weekend, which fits view; to alter someone’s mood or emotions without perfectly into our “Jax Gets Green” feature, I couldn’t words. My dream is to compose scores for films and EU: How did you get involved with the Pineapple PC Synergy MOCA, Jax resist calling them up for an interview. this is kind of along the same lines. Moods inspire Festival? Payton Page Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Although I am somewhat acquainted with the me, relationships, friendships, work, a lot of things. BH: Orlino contacted us via myspace and was in- Plenty Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) former guitarist, now drummer for the band, Jared terested in our sound. He hadn’t heard many instru- Bowser, I have never seen or spoken to any of the Mike Shakelford The Homestead, Jax Beach (249-9660) EU: Are your songs completely created in your mental bands before. He was looking for someone to other members. The other members include Ryan practice space, or do you bring compositions to help him score a film his friend made, and now here Sol Island Conch House, St. Augustine (829-8646) Adams, aka “Mr. Breeze,” on bass, harmonium, lap- the space and evolve them from there? we are. Ron Norris Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra top and keyboard, Jason Wells on guitar, Ben Wallis BH: We don’t practice, really. We have the CD and Daniel Kalisher Mojo’s Kitchen, Jax Beach on “auxiliary instrumentation,” newest addition Joel we videotape every live performance and watch EU: Do you improvise and write on stage? Willis on guitar and guitarist Brandon Highfill, who them to determine what to change and what we like. BH: Our first two shows were a little more that way, Nymph Shantytown, Jax I caught up with early in the morning, making him The advantage of working with good musicians is but now they are pretty solid and set in stone. Chi- Debra Rider Island Girl Cigar Bar, Jax define his band in minced terms. that we don’t have to spend a lot of time yelling at nese Horses [Brandon’s side project] is more of an Andrea Fodor Kingfish Grill, St. Augustine (824-2111) each other in a sweaty practice space, we just go improvisational band. We know our songs now and EU: Jared told me a little while ago that A Slight Dreams Die Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850) show-to-show and use the video as reference mate- play a tight show. We keep it loose enough to mess Breeze was just a project and not necessarily a se- rial. around, but we are post-rock, so we don’t like to Chuck Nash Your Place, Jax Beach (221-9994) rious endeavor, when did it become something you noodle around too much. Stu Weaver Harry’s, Jax Beach (247-8855) all started thinking of as a serious band? EU: How difficult is it to engage an audience with- Red Letter Bullet Murray Hill Theatre, Jax (388-7807) out words? EU: Define post-rock. BH: I don’t find it too difficult at all. We have projec- BH: Ryan is the perfect guy to answer that, he has Nathan Holley Bukkets, Jax Beach (246-7701) tion running and a different stage approach that a long and great definition. It is more about people Open Mic w/Larry Broussard St. Johns Pizza Grill, engages people, because it’s out of the ordinary in contributing as a whole instead of what one person Jax (287-9900) Jacksonville. We have a few more tricks we are go- contributes. Not like modern rock or radio rock. I ing to pull out too. I like to think the music engages don’t like defining a genre, it’s just a name you put SATURDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 21-22 them enough, but it’s not always the case. on something. Call us what you will, post-rock, in- strumental, ambient, who cares, we just play. Kenny Chesney Veterans Arena, Jax EU: So far, who has been you favorite artists to share the stage with? A Slight Breeze performs the Big Pineapple BH: Sparta and mewithoutYou, by far. That was a Music Festival on Saturday. Visit myspace.com/as- SUNDAY, APRIL 22 great second show. lightbreeze to hear a little post-rock for yourself. Those Guys Sunset Grill, St. Augustine (471-5555) Bobby Flynn Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (249-9595) Open Jam & Recording Session San Marco Music, Jax (887-8841) Dan Shepherd Harpoon Louie’s, Jax (389-5631) Soulo Kingfish Grill, St. Augustine (824-2111) 3 Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221) JW Gilmore Gypsy Cab Company, St. Augustine Ron Perry Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877) Boxrockers Casablanca, St. Augustine David Milam Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Elderly Bros. The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) Lower Class Brats Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) Jimmy Parrish Carib Key, Jax Beach (270-8940) De Lions of Jah Conch House, St. Augustine (829-8646) Shadow Agency, Bound Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884) Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646) El Toro Loco Mark’s Downtown, Jax (355-5099) Douglas Campbell Mill Top Tavern, St. Augustine (829-2329) Sheryl Paige Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) 3rd Bass The Casbah, Jax (981-9966)

26 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper Naked Lunch GQ’s, Jax Love Arcade Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) on the lighter side of Colton McKenna Zhanra’s, St. Augustine Big Engine Reni’s Rooster, Jax (880-1111) Spade McQuade Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) death El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004) interview with Nekromantix Tarik Hassan Sahara Café, Jax by Erin thursby [email protected] MONDAY, APRIL 23 Boxrockers Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) What: Nekromantix coffin with the lid on—you’re sup- Charlie Walker Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) When: April 26th posed to be dead…or else you’re in Where: Jack Rabbits deep shit. Sam Pacetti The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) In the past fifteen years, one band that has had Out of Hand Your Place, Jax (221-9994) a tremendous influence on the niche of psychobilly EU: Why is death so damn cool? Billy Bowers Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune is Nekromantix, the brainchild of Kim Nekroman (real KN: I don’t know why you ask me, Beach (241-8221) name Dan Gaarde). Nekroman was playing drums because I never claimed that death Sugar Bear Harmonious Monks, Mandarin (880-3040) in a rockabilly band in ’89, when he decided to form was cool, however, it is a part of life his own band in the psychobilly vein. He took up the and that’s where everything will end Pops and vice versa. Better Half The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) upright bass, fashioning the instrument from a cof- up anyway. So I’m kind of just touching on a subject Band of Destiny Square One, Jax (306-9004) fin. that’s…taboo and I guess that [we] try to show EU: But you get to see your wife. Out of Hand My Place, Jax (737-5299) Later, he taught wife Patricia Day to play the the humor…I love people who are scared of death KN: That’s one of the great things about being in a Nolan Neal Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) upright bass, a skill she used when fronting her and dying…It’s just seeing that from the humorous band with your wife. own band, the HorrorPops. In exchange, Day taught side… Cary Austin Sun Cruz, Jax Beach Nekroman to play the guitar. He plays guitar for the EU: What is it that you like best about the psycho- Stu Weaver Harry’s, St. Augustine (824-7765) HorrorPops when he isn’t touring or recording with EU: You made the coffin shaped bass you play in billy genre? Nekromantix. the Necromantix. How do you build a coffin bass? KN: To me it’s all about having fun, the humorous Nekromantix just released a new CD this year, KN: The first one that I made was built out of a side of it. Especially today. I hate bands that take TUESDAY, APRIL 24 titled Life is a Grave & I Dig it! and the HorrorPops real [child’s] coffin and I just wanted to improve themselves too serious…because to me humor is Billy & Vinnie Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune have been busy recording their newest item since them..[so] I just started building the whole thing such a big part of life. My idea of psychobilly is have Beach (241-8221) their 2005 release, Bring It On! from scratch…I don’t really have any education fun and just kind of escape from everyday boring Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646) I got the chance to ask Kim Nekroman silly with wood work or anything, so I just learned by stuff. questions, a well as a few serious ones, in a phone myself…Every time I build one, it’s because I want Christina Wagner & Friends Mark’s Downtown, Jax (355-5099) interview for EU. to improve it—not the design, not the looks, but little Necromantix will be performing in Jacksonville Steven James Empire Coffee, Jax th things you can feel when you play it. at Jackrabbit’s on April 26 in their usual wild style. Ace Winn Copelands, Jax EU: Have you ever laid in a coffin? KN: Yeah. EU: What’s in your CD player right now? Will Pearsall The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) KN: Nothing really, because when we ended the John Winters The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) EU: And you worked in the Royal Navy for 8 years Nekromantix recordings, I started recording with my Dave Massey Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551) on submarines. other band, the HorrorPops, so I haven’t been listen- Cities Apart Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) KN: Uh-huh. ing to anything… Those Guys Hurricane Patty’s, St. Augustine (827-1822) EU: Submarines and coffins—compare and con- EU: Dividing the time between the bands must be Sean Tarleton Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) trast! difficult. Ron Perry Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) KN: I see a lot of similarities. The term for subma- KN: Sometimes it can be hard to juggle. There’s rines is ‘water coffin.’ You know, it really is just a only 24 hours in a day, and sometimes, that’s not Bill Rice Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) box and you’re locked in. The only difference is in a enough. When everyone else in the Nekromantix is Out of Hand Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach submarine you’re alive and usually when you’re in a relaxing, that means I’m working with the Horror Mike Miller Band St. Nick’s Lounge, Jax Jimmy Solari My Place, Jax (737-5299) Seth Ramsdill Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004)

TUESDAY-WED., APRIL 24-25 Gene Nordan Mackenzie’s, Ponte Vedra (543-9143)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25 Cloud 9 Latitudes Café, Atlantic Beach (247-6606) Mr. Beam Casa Marina, Jax Beach (270-0025) Rebecca Zapen Casbah’s, Jax Dave Massey My Place, Jax (737-5299) Soulo w/Deron Baker Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Joe Santana Unplugged Cliff’s, Jax (645-5162) Gutterboy Snookers, Jax (696-0714) Glass Camels The Homestead, Jax Beach Wes Cobb Band Square One, Jax (306-9004) Crystal Stafford, Aerial Tribe Starlite Café, Jax (356-4444) Rid Tide w/Brian Turner Eddie Bahamas, Jax Beach (241-3138) Conrad Oberg London Bridge, Jax (359-0001) Lisa & the Madhatters Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775)

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 27 Little Feat Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) [the infamous Flaming Lips producer]; we loved the sound of Clouds Taste Metallic. Stu Weaver The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) clap your hands say yeah Eric Dawkins Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) EU: Ok, for you Tyler—Dave Fridmann was himself The Mike Miller Band St. Nick’s Lounge, Jax (396-3396) a bassist for the band Mercury Rev. Did you find him more responsive to you as a bassist; do you El Toro Loco Aromas, Ponte Vedra (280-2525) interview with tyler sergeant and robbie guertin think his perspective changed the sound of your Chuck Nash Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune bass in the recording? Beach (241-8221) by AMY MOORE TS: A little bit, there were a couple of times when I Jimmy Parrish The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) could have used some help and he had some ideas. Pili Pili Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) WHO: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah to play the new songs off the album a different way There were a few little passages where he said, “why WHERE: Freebird Live, Jacksonville Beach live. Even some of the older songs we’ll kind of redo don’t you play it this way” and I did. Dave Massey My Place Bar & Grill, Jax (737-5299) WHEN: Friday, April 20th, at 8:00 p.m. them a little bit. We play about half new and half old Clap Your Hands Say Yeah burst onto the songs, because there’s a great response to the old EU: Your bass line in ‘Mama, Won’t You Keep indie music scene back in 2005, causing a ruckus songs—some of the newer songs, for whatever rea- Them Castles in the Air and Burning’ is very full for actually being genuinely independent. What’s son, you don’t quite get that same kind of response. and takes on the role of carrying the melody. Do notable about this band is that, although their songs you also play guitar? garnered rave reviews from critics and fans alike, EU: Do you think that’s because people don’t know TS: Actually I might have used a guitar for that. upcoming shows most reviews and articles about CYHSY from that the songs as well yet? Which one is that one? (starts humming song) Yeah, time show a single-minded focus on the fact that the TS: I don’t know…it might be because people I did two bass lines there and one of them is a guitar band self-released their album without the help of haven’t heard the new album yet. But also, it’s not that was run through a pedal to make it sound kind Leroy Parnell April 26, Freebird Live, 246-2473 a record label, indie or otherwise. Perhaps this was the same kind of music [As Clap Your Hands Say of deeper. Band Camp 2007 w/Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, Chevelle, because most music writers are themselves musi- Yeah, their eponymous debut album]. A lot of the Puddle Of Mudd, Flyleaf, and Bullett For My Valentine. April 27, cians, which made the most interesting part of the older songs are more immediate and catchy—some EU: So, at least in the indie dance bars of my Jacksonville Equestrian Center, 630-3900 story the possibility that any aspiring indie star could of the newer songs take a little longer to grow on town, the song, ‘The Skin of My Yellow Country Julius Airwave, Shangrala April 28, Freebird Live, 246-2473 experience success without needing a pesky record you, and they’re not quite as dance-y. Teeth’ became a sort of automatic dance jam— Bow Wow April 29, Veterans Memorial Arena, 353-3303 label. But what about the music, man? We sat down like that ubiquitous Of Montreal song that was in last Saturday with Tyler Sargent and Robbie Guertin, EU: So, the first song, what’s the deal? Some re- the Outback Steakhouse commercial—how do you The Toasters May 29, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 CYHSY’s bassist and guitarist to talk about their new viewers suggest that this song demonstrates that guys feel about where your songs end up when George Thorogood May 1, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 album Some Loud Thunder, its production, its art- you guys have deliberately attempted to sabotage they leave your hands—are you ok with them pick- Fishbone May 1, Freebird Live, 246-2473 work, and the response it has produced so far. the listener’s experience with your music. It’s dis- ing up lives of their own? Steel Pulse May 2, Freebird Live, 246-2473 torted to the point of making you wonder whether RG: We knew at the time, writing that song, that it EU: It looks as if you’ve been on the road for the your speakers are maxed out. was something that could be played on a jukebox, Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular May 3, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 better part of the last 3 months—do you enjoy TS: We thought it sounded like some older, lo-fi you know, could be danced to. That one definitely Guitar Shorty May 3, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 touring? How do you keep it interesting when recordings, sort of like Guided by Voices. We did get has its place and it’s put into the set list accordingly. Stephen Stills May 4, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 you’re doing it every night? a lot of emails that said “what was that?” But, a lot It’s one of those older songs that gets the strongest TS: Right now, we’re driving from Montreal to To- of times, you listen to a Guided by Voices album and response when we play it live. Dickey Betts & Great Southern May 4, Freebird Live, 246-2473 ronto. We like playing shows, but sometimes the it’s like that all the way through. You have to wonder Daughtry May 5, Freebird Live, 246-2473 traveling gets a bit tiring. We try to figure out how whether they’ve ever heard that stuff. EU: What has been the general response to the Patty Larkin May 6, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 new album? EU: What about choosing to use this distorted song RG: It seems like an album that musicians really Chicago May 6, Times Union Ctr, 633-6110 to start out the album? like—a lot of our friends are musicians and they’ve Todd Rundgren May 6, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 TS: It kind of stands out as an introduction—it prob- given us a good response. It takes some time to Godsmack May 8, Times Union Center, 353-3309. ably wouldn’t have worked halfway through the al- listen to it. There’s kind of more going on. I hate to The Greyboy Allstars May 8, Freebird Live, 246-2473 bum, but that sound does appear later in the album, use the term “layering,” but there’s a lot more weird kind of trashy. So it’s like a foreshadowing of what’s instrumentation than the first one. I guess musicians Mono May 8, TSI, 424-3531 to come. kind of like it for that. On the other extreme, someone Owen, John Ralston May 9, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 emailed us saying, “What have you done?” This guy The Duhks May 9, Freebird Live, 246-2473 EU: So was the decision to go muddy and distorted emailed us claiming responsibility for selling 100 of a decision made before or after recording? our first album—and was very disappointed in the Billy Bacon & The Forbidden Pigs May 10, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 TS: That’s why we decided to go with Dave Fridmann new album. Otil and the Peace Makers May 11, Café Eleven, 469-9311 Relient K May 12, Freebird Live, 246-2473 Shin Do Kumate XII May 12, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 630-3900 Ours with April Bauer May 12, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 As Cities Burn May 16, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 Kingspade May 21, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 hellogoodbye May 23, Fuel Coffeehouse Pato Banton May 27, Freebird Live, 246-2473 Jonny Lang May 30, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Charlie Louvin May 31, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 Kathleen Madigan June 1, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Tool June 2 , Jacksonville Arena, 353-3309 The Audition June 6, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 Pierce Pettis June 17, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 Steve Miller Band June 21, Florida Theatrre, 355-2787 Railroad Earth June 21, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 Brian Regan June 24, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Drop Dead Gorgeous June 27, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 Street Dogs June 28, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 Morrissey July 17, Morocco Shrine Auditorium, 353-3309 The Fab Four July 31, Florida Theatre, 355-2787

28 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 29 a visit to the laura street

Rhyan Taylor gallery detailed and complicated series of events, the gallery came into being with its founding artists acknowledging two distinct focal points. One is nature and its preservation, while the other is downtown Jacksonville and its rejuvenation. Mulrain’s work is on the walls and ac- by donald dusinberre [email protected] companied by the work of her partners, Jeff Davis and Rhyan Taylor. Located just off Hemming plaza in downtown Jacksonville, the Laura Street Gallery is a small space with Each partner creates artwork that directly ad- big ideas. I recently visited the gallery and spoke with one of the three partners, Joanelle Mulrain. She spoke dresses one of those two focal points. Jeff Davis enthusiastically about the downtown area, the rising art culture in Jacksonville, and the capabilities of their specializes in photographic images of Jacksonville’s own gallery. skyline and prominent physical features. The photos When I asked how the Gallery came to be, she described it as a coming together of people and circum- are black and white images retouched with color in stances that seem eerily connected in a way that could be described as fate or serendipity. As a result of a select areas. Mulrain’s large-scale paintings are close- up studies of nature, including a penchant for cattails and waterfowl. Rhyan Taylor paints nature landscapes in a textural, painterly style reminiscent of Van Gogh. Both Mulrain and Taylor have an intense interest in the natural beauty of our area and are committed to pre- serving it through their work. The Laura Street Gallery is a bastion of de- termination. They are determined to be one of the cornerstones for downtown’s continued economic develop- ment, and they are determined to make Jacksonville a base for successful artists. Mulrain explained that one of the main purposes of the gallery was to help Jacksonville become a city of flourishing artists, not just emerging artists. She likens the presence of construction to the new possibilities for a community. Wherever there are cranes, there is growth. Wherever there is growth, there is a need for art to cover the walls. Artists may apply to rent space to display their own work, and the operating partners plan to execute many ideas to engage their patrons and community. The scene within the gallery will likely change often, so visit often to find out what’s new. At 209 Laura Street, The Laura Street Gallery is just a block from the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). It is sure to be an interesting new spot to visit during Jacksonville’s monthly ArtWalk, and if you’re in the area at any other time, check out what they’ve got on display. There will be times when you can’t go in, as it is open by appointment only, but it’s worth a try. Even if you don’t have an appointment, someone may be there to let you in. You can also visit the Laura Street Gallery online at laurastreetgal- lery.com. To learn more about the individual partners, go to their personal websites: Jeff Davis - legalartworks.com, Joanelle Mulrain - greatblue- Joanelle Mulrain heronstudios.com, and Rhyan Taylor - rhyantaylor.com.

30 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper I have covered her performances in Sweeny Todd and Little Shop of Horrors at River City Playhouse. Dorothy’s life has taken many interesting turns since culture & arts those days. APRIL First she got her BA in Music Theater at FSU, then she went on to Yale University to study opera. 19 Percussion Ensemble JU Terry Concert Hall, Jax The credits that followed this education could fill 19 Art For Two Cummer Museum, Jax several pages, including being a Carnegie Hall Solo- 19 Art For Arthritis Ocean 60, Atlantic Beach ist with Skitch Henderson, performing Off Broadway operas, joining Faye Dunaway in the National Tour 19 Artist Talk-Margaret Schnebly Hodge Karpeles Museum, Jax of Master Class and many more impressive feats. In 19 FCCJ Small & Emerging Business Training & Development 2006 and 2007 Dorothy was the “Diva of the High Program FCCJ North Campus, Jax C’s,” headlining shows for most of the major cruise 19 Por Larranaga Cigar Event Aroma’s, Ponte Vedra Beach lines all over the world. 19 2nd Annual Beaches Broadway Bash Atlantic Theatres, Atlantic Beach I can say, after seeing her dynamic show at the Metro, Dorothy Bishop has reinvented herself once 19-21 “Majigeen” 122 Ocean, Jax again. She is now exploring new and exciting ways 19-22 “Good” DramaWorks FCCJ Wilson Center, Jax to display her remarkable vocal talents. Her press 19-28 “As Bees In Honey Drown” Players By the Sea, Jax Beach release says it best: “she melds everything from 19-30 Celebrating Black History Exhibition MOSH, Jax grand opera to urban dance beats showing off her three-octave vocal pipes and outrageous sense of 19-30 Swarmy Weather Art by Attaboy & Annie Owens The humor.” Gallery at Screen Arts, St. Augustine As I read the cover of her new CD, I was im- 19-MAY 6 Exhibit: The 23rd Psalm Ponte Vedra Presbyterian pressed with the variety of material from such artists Church, Ponte Vedra as Dusty Springfield, Cher, Sara Brightman and Don- 19-MAY 17 Youth Drama Classes ABET, Atlantic Beach na Summer. Bishop sang several of these numbers 19-MAY 24 Planetarium Programs MOSH, Jax at The Metro and had the place rocking. In the first set of the evening, which lasted about one hour, she 20 Minkus’ Don Quixote Performing Arts Center, Jax changed outfits four times into dazzling and distinct 20 Swimsuit Contest – Jax Boat Show Metro Park, Jax costumes that had eye appeal extraordinaire! 20 Andre Rieu Veterans Arena, Jax I have always enjoyed her voice and have her 20 Latinpalooza 2007 Florida Theatre, Jax previous CDs, I often use them as background when I am writing. This new CD will definitely be around 20 FCCJ Choral Concert FCCJ South Campus, Jax when I need some high-energy inspiration. I love 20-21 JU Concert Choir Performing Arts Center, Jax the way Dorothy can shift gears in some songs and 20-21 An Evening With Mark Twain Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine suddenly use her fabulous operatic voice for just a moment and with just a few words to add class 20-22 Builders Care Demolition Derby Equestrian Center, Jax and style. The result is a whole new interpretation of 20-22 Jax Boat Show Metro Park, Jax classic songs. 20-22 The Wiz-Stage Aurora FCCJ N. Campus, Jax Ms. Bishop had a professional video produc- 20-22 Goodguys Hot Rod & Custom Car Nationals Jax tion company taping the show at The Metro and I Municipal Stadium, Jax can guess that some of it will be seen on the Internet through her “MySpace” and “You Tube” sites. I am 20-MAY 5 “Enchanted April” Theatre Jacksonville, Jax sure that the video will also open many doors for 20-MAY 26 Exhibition: Jo Sinclair’s “Twilight Passage” Cultural Dorothy in the nightclub circuit all over the world. Center, Ponte Vedra Beach jacksonville’s dorothy To learn where you can get her CDs and her perfor- 21 Book Signing: Jay Humphreys Inn on Charlotte, St. Augustine mance schedule in the future, go to dotbishop.com. 21 Some Enchanted Evening Thrasher Horne Center, Orange Park In the past four years I have covered two of Dorothy Bishop’s Theatre Jacksonville concerts, but 21 Ecology Fair Landing, Jax bishop this was the first time I had experienced her talents 21 First Coast Opera Cabaret Italian Style Art Association, St. Augustine in a nightclub setting. She is a natural talent who 21 Open Riding & Wakeborading Demo –Boat Show Metro Park, Jax loves to interact with people, and it is apparent that 21 Earth Day Celebration MOSH, Jax releases new dance CD “Diva Tonight” at The Metro the closeness of the audience supercharges her performance. Thanks, Dorothy, from me and your 21 Cummer Ball & Auction Cummer Museum, Jax loyal Jacksonville fans for your visits to your home- 21 17th Annual Earth Day Celebration Washington Oaks State by dick kerekes [email protected] town. We appreciate your incredible talents and we Park, Palm Coast appreciate you. Come back soon! 21 3rd Annual Mosaic Celebration MOCA, Jax Jacksonville native Dorothy Bishop paid a of her new CD Diva Tonight at The Metro, a club in visit to her hometown last weekend for the release Riverside. Ms. Bishop and I go back a long way and 21 Ahn Trio Church of the Good Shepherd, Jax 21 Autograph Signing-Steve Carlton Dans Cardz, Orange Park 21 “Ape-ril” A Celebration of Apes The Zoo, Jax 21-22 Epic Celebration of Spring Agricultural Center, St. Augustine 22 Audition: “Guys and Dolls” 6pm Theatre Jacksonville, Jax 22 Young People’s Concert JU Terry Concert Hall, Jax 22 Hansel & Gretel-Theatre Sans Fil FCCJ Wilson Center, Jax 22 3rd Annual “Love Your Mother” Earth Day Fashion Show Panache, St. Augustine 22 Cultural Center Children’s Chorus With Vox Angelica Cultural Center, Ponte Vedra Beach 22 UNF String Ensemble, Simon Shiao (violin) Main Library, Jax 23 Annual Golf Classic To Benefit L’Arche Harbor House Hidden Hills Country Club, Jax 23 JU Spring Concert JU, Jax 23 Storytime-Dooby Dooby Moo Barnes & Noble/San Jose, Jax 24 Dr. Simon Shiao, Violinist, Dr. Gary Smart, Pianist, Alexei Romanenko, Cellist Library, Ponte Vedra

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 31 learns that, in fact, Alexa is just a small town girl who 24-29 FCCJ Artist Series-Shields & Yarnell FCCJ Wilson Center, Jax invented her current persona to sell Mike’s paintings, but since splitting with him she has set up her own 25 FCCJ Small & Emerging Business Training & Development Program FCCJ North Campus, Jax very successful “business.” Wyler tracked down and organized a reunion for all of her victims, and there 26-27 Murray Bros. Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament are a lot of them. The writer extracts his revenge, but I World Golf Village, St. Augustine will leave details for you to discover when you see this 27 Learn to Compose Classical Music Barnes & Noble/San show. Jose, Jax Jenny Wright has landed the role of a lifetime 27-28 “Majigeen” 122 Ocean, Jax in Alexa and her first lead in community theatre. Most 27-29 Shields & Yarnell-The Reunion Farewell Tour FCCJ of her previous experience was as a student at UNF. Wilson Center, Jax Alexa is a character who speaks at a motor-mouth 27-29 International Gem & Jewelry Show Prime Osborn pace, no doubt to keep her marks off-guard so they Center, Jax are never fully able to think about what is happening. Ms. Wright is razor sharp with her lines and has the 27-29 Comedian Lavelle Crawford Comedy Zone, Mandarin charm and looks to dazzle the audience. She needs to 27-AUG. 26 Impermanence: Recent Works By Andres Michelena double her vocal volume in Act One (as do all of the MOCA, Jax actors) because the set has no walls to reflect sounds 28 Dixie Plantation All Breed Horse Show Equestrian Center, Jax and the black curtains, used as a background, just 28 Beaches Sandcastle Contest Sea Walk Pavilion, Jax Beach absorb the dialogue. Garry Bourgoyne brings extensive stage 28 Junior Ranger Day Kingsley Plantation, Jax experience to the role of Wyler. He is very convincing 28 Book Signing-Ida Jack Barnes & Noble/San Jose, Jax as the naïve writer who turns avenger in a sweet sort 28-29 St. Johns Town Center Spring Fine Art Show St. Johns of way. Players has an excellent supporting cast who Town Center, Jax all turn chameleons and play multiple roles very well. 28-29 National Dance Week Jax Landing, Jax Kudos to Zack Bass, Joel Sumner, Shani Harper and Christine Voight 28-MAY 6 Educator Appreciation Week Barnes & Noble/San Jose, Jax Director Jason Collins has added something unique to this production, five characters playing 29 An Evening of Taste Benefitting Children’s Home Society multiple roles that he calls Paparazzi. Bonnie Hall, Matthew’s, Jax as bees in honey drown Solomon Levine, Danielle Card, Myrna McBroom and 29 Beaches Parade Downtown, Jax Beach Debbie Delgado have no lines, but they do a lot of 29 Jacksonville Children’s Chorus Spring Concert Performing visual acting that certainly makes the scenes more Arts Center, Jax Players by the Sea theatre review interesting, 29 Theatre, Comedy Performer Bobby Norfolk Main Library, The set by Anne Roberts and Ryan Maloney is Jax by dick kerekes [email protected] very minimal and the tall skyscrapers outlined in lights 29 NFDA Schooling Show Equestrian Center, Jax on the black curtains are most impressive. Collins Have you ever been conned? If no, consider artists, that is. In the winter, Florida gets its share of has his actors moving swiftly to restaurants, offices, 30 PAWS to Read With Molly Barnes & Noble/San Jose, Jax yourself lucky because they are everywhere! Con those who roll down from the North and knock on hotel rooms, clothing stores and even onto the Staten your door offering cheap housepainting, roofing, re- Island ferry. You will enjoy to using your imagination MAY paving or whatever they think you need. in this play. Players by the Sea is currently presenting As The many costumes by Kathryn Youngberg 3 FCCJ Small & Emerging Business Training & Development Program FCCJ North Campus, Jax Bees in Honey Drown. Written by Douglas Carter were good and fit the action but I do agree that the Beane, this play was an off-Broadway hit in l997. Its only outfit for Alexa is the black dress. She is a 3 Book Signing-Margaret Hoffman Barnes & Noble, Mandarin central character is a con artist named Alexa Vere mystery woman, and black is a mystery color. The 3 2nd Annual Richard J. McKillop Golf Tournament St. Johns de Vere. Her victims are up-and-coming artists, problem is that Ms. Wright has black hair and wearing Golf & Country Club, St. Augustine musicians or writers who have just had their first a jet-black dress in front of a black curtain tends to 4 50th Anniversary of The Cat in the Hat R. Roberts Gallery, Jax success. Suddenly they are in the spotlight with their make her disappear. I previously saw this play in l999 4 Moonlight Movies Series-Endless Summer II Sea Walk photos in top magazines and their desire to move into and the leading lady wore electrifying and stunning Pavilion, Jax Beach the “in-crowd” makes them even more gullible. clothing (and more than one outfit as well) and greatly enhanced her persona as a high-powered person. 4-6 Springfield Heritage: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Historic Alexa turns her charm onto a young writer, Evan th Springfield, Jax Wyler, who has had his first book published. He falls This play runs through April 28 at Players by for her offer of $1,000 a week to write a screenplay of the Sea in Jacksonville Beach. 4-6 Eddie Carroll as Jack Benny FCCJ Wilson Center, Jax the story of her life. After maxing out his credit cards It is a challenging play that Director Jason Collins 4-29 “GI Jukebox” ABET Adele Grage Center, Atlantic Beach to the tune of $ l5,000 dollars, she takes off. Unlike has chosen to bring to the stage and requires that, 5 Lesbians of Laughter Tour Atlantic Theatres, Atlantic Beach her previous marks, who were too embarrassed to as an audience, you pay close attention. My principal suggestion is for the cast to play more to the audience 5 Auditions: “Oklahoma!” YBAG Fletcher High School, Neptune Beach chase her or to publicly admit their stupidity, Wyler digs into her sordid past. and project louder to present this intriguing, wild 5 Clean Air Day MOSH, Jax His research brings him to Mike (Joel Sumner), adventure into the glitzy world of celebrities. Warning: 5 Open House Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, Jax an alleged ex-husband that committed suicide. Wyler the language is earthy and there are sexual situations. 5 If you give a Mouse A Cookie Barnes & Noble, Mandarin 6 Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Silent Auction & Dinner Ponte Vedra Inn, Ponte Vedra 7 Storytime Fancy Nancy Barnes & Noble, Mandarin 7 Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Celebrity Golf Classic Marsh Landing Country Club, Ponte Vedra 8 Short Story Writers Group Barnes & Noble, Mandarin 10 Sha Na Na Performing Arts Center, Jax 10 FCCJ Small & Emerging Business Training & Development Program FCCJ North Campus, Jax 11 Public Camp In MOSH, Jax 12 Author Dr. Joye Jeffries Pugh Barnes & Noble, Mandarin 12 14th Annual Dine on the Wild Side To Benefit HAWKE The Alligator Farm, St. Augustine 12 Shin Do Kumate XII Fighting Event Memorial Arena, Jax 12-13 Spring Into Bloom The Zoo, Jax

32 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper continuing to show his physi- cal abilities as being below THE 100%, and Shaquille O’Neal is not what we all are used to seeing, either. what’s eating you? JOCK So, look for Dallas and by tom weppel Phoenix to be the teams to by KATIE VELTRI [email protected] beat, as we begin the long, winding road towards the Championship. After much debate with yourself while but also has the benefits of lowering cholesterol The situation involving staring at the menu in Starbucks trying to ignore and preventing cavities. Tim Duncan of the San An- the barista staring back at you, what conclusive Does coffee have these benefits? In one tonio Spurs and NBA referee choice do you arrive at? What is the difference article researchers from Harvard concluded that Joey Crawford is certainly between drinking a tea-based drink and coffee coffee significantly reduces the risk of type 2 interesting in a number of flavored concoction? There are so many teas to diabetes and researchers from Vanderbilt found ways. choose from, including green, black and white, that drinking coffee reduced risk of Parkinson’s Last weekend, Crawford just to name a few, and they all have varying disease. Also, like tea, coffee is said to prevent Random thoughts from a cluttered mind... was officiating a game involv- healthful benefits. Green, black and white teas all cavities. Apparently, trigonelline, which is a ing Duncan and the Spurs. Crawford hit Duncan with come from a plant called Camellia sinensis. What compound that is responsible for giving coffee it’s MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL a technical foul. Duncan then sat down on the bench. makes one type of tea different from another type taste and smell, also acts as an “anti-adhesive” One of the more noteworthy situations so far After a play occurred, Duncan was seen laughing is the condition of the region that the tea plant is in preventing the formation of cavities. But, in these first few weeks, other than the games being over the action, which Crawford didn’t like at all, and grown in and the season in which the leaves are how good is coffee for the heart? In the same postponed because of cold weather, is how many hit Duncan with another technical, which in effect put plucked. Black tea, though, is said to be richer article, researchers stated: “On the other hand, players are on the shelf with slight injuries, espe- Duncan out of the game. in flavoniods. Flavonoids, also called “dietary it is clear that coffee is not for everyone. In cially ‘name’ players. NBA Commissioner David Stern has suspended phytonutrients,” are potent antioxidants that help excessive amounts - meaning more than whatever As an example, we see Cubs OF Alfonso So- Joey Crawford from working any more games thru fight cancer and slow the aging process. They an individual’s body can tolerate - coffee can riano and Dodgers P Jason Schmidt, two key free the playoffs, which is a rather harsh hit. Duncan and are also primarily found in wine, dark chocolate, cause nervousness, jitters, and rapid heartbeat.” agents signed to big contracts in the off-season, are Crawford have had altercations in the past, and so fruit and vegetables. They reduce the risk of heart According to the Heart Disease Health Center, a nursing injuries, and their teams aren’t happy about this is not an unusual situation, pre se. Crawford disease and diabetes, as well as heighten the recent study showed that even moderate amounts it. is highly regarded as one of the better refs in the immune system, according to the article, Black of coffee could increase your risk of heart There are plenty of other deals out there. The league, and so for this to come down as it has is Tea-Possibly One of the Healthiest Beverages disease. What I found most intriguing in a lot of Yankees entire starting pitching rotation has missed making some waves. It is possible that Joey Craw- Around. the research is that tea is found to reduce risk of a start or two. Braves P Mike Hampton is out for ford may not officiate a game again and retire. Unlike black tea, green tea is not fermented, heart disease all across the board, but coffee had the season. Diamondbacks P Randy Johnson hasn’t It is very fair to state that, for a referee to give a a process that can cause tea to lose some of some conflicting results. pitched yet this season. Cardinals P Chris Carpenter player a ‘T’ while he’s sitting on the bench, is rather its antioxidants. Green tea also helps speed the Both tea and coffee have antioxidants, which is out until May. The list seems endless. outlandish. Stern certainly felt that was the case, metabolism. As affirmed by the website, tea-first. can be helpful to the body in several aspects. In Of course, this is the deal every season, but it and so Crawford is no longer on the court blowing com, green tea is the second most popular drink moderate consumption, tea and coffee provide is more pronounced when the marquee names are whistles. in the world today. “Clinical trials conducted by benefits that extend beyond of what you would the ones that are on the shelf. Hopefully they can all the University of Geneva in Switzerland indicate normally think. Tea has a calming effect and still get back into the flow of play so their teams and fans LAST WORD that green tea appears to raise metabolic rates and increases your alertness; whereas, coffee can can see what they got in the tank. I am assuming you are certainly aware of the speed up fat oxidation. Apparently, in addition to make you edgy. So, the next time you’re in a awful incidents at Virginia Tech. Without question, caffeine, green tea contains catechin polyphenols Starbucks, don’t overlook the array of teas they NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION this kind of situation will stay in the conscious of that raise thermogenesis (the rate at which have to offer. It wouldn’t hurt to try something new The NBA Playoffs will crank up, now with the Americans for a long, long time. calories are being burned) and hence overall and to drink what no bold coffee drinker has ever regular season completed. The obvious favorites Unfortunately, that will most certainly be the energy expenditure.” Like black tea, it heightens drunk before, but, of course, coffee has wonderful seem to be the Dallas Mavericks, having the best case when collegiate sports enter the picture. My the immune system and helps to prevent cancer, benefits and endless flavorful blends as well. record overall in the league. The Phoenix Suns are feeling is that a lot of people from now on are go- another squad to be given serious consideration. In ing to think of this incident and these killings every fitness tip: the Eastern Conference, all eyes are on the Detroit single time a Virginia Tech team plays a collegiate Pistons, with their veteran-laden group. sport, whether its football, basketball, baseball, etc. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 Interesting how the Lakers, with Kobe Bryant While the games will continue to be played, everyone scoring 50 points a game, and the Cavaliers, with attending or watching a Virginia Tech Hokie team on glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. superstar LeBron James taking over games, simply TV will be thinking about what happened this past A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy, short-term memory, trouble with basic math, don’t have all the pieces in place to make it all hap- week, wondering how the student/athletes are deal- pen. That’s not to say they can’t do so. But a lot of ing with the events from the past, and how it will and difficulty focusing on the computer screen. One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger people are looking towards teams that have the tal- now follow them wherever they go. pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a university study. So, drink more water! ent and depth to go the distance. Even those that have attended and/or gradu- I think a lot of people would give consideration ated from Virginia Tech are hearing about it. They to the Miami Heat, if it were not for Dwayne Wade are being asked about the situation, as if they were there covering it. People need to think before they speak and realize that just because someone gradu- ated from the school, doesn’t mean they know all the details of this horrible incident. I grew up in Virginia, living about two hours north of the Va. Tech campus. I had a lot of friends from high school that went to that university. I am very aware of the campus and its surroundings, and people are correct in stating that Virginia Tech is a fairly quiet community, and certainly a college town, without question. For this kind of incident to emerge out of that region of our country is certainly a sad state that will linger in the air for a long time. Hopefully, those that are directly affected by the ac- tions will be able to move forward with their lives in a positive manner. My thoughts are with those that click it. were killed. read it all online at www.eujacksonville.com Tom Weppel talks trash with Greg Larson, Ron movies ∙ music ∙ arts Duguay, and Lonnie Marts on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 33 Even with adding two more drivers to the Chase Jr.’s name on the dotted line? To say that she can’t nascar news & notes lineup, he may not make it again this year, and I carry on the legacy of Dale Earnhardt by herself or would really hate that. Tony is a better driver than he without Dale Earnhardt Jr. kind a struck a note with has shown us so far, and unlike last year when he me and I had to send him my thoughts. by RICHARD TEAGUE [email protected] came on so strong the last part of the season, he I don’t usually email other writers, but when needs to get back to business and just do his thing. I read the part where he said: “But Dale Earnhardt Rookies – Respect & Tony. Now, Tony Stewart Some guys seem to bitch and moan about His thing is to be the guy in the #20 Home Depot never intended the greatest part of his legacy to be isn’t a rookie anymore, but it seems to me that he everything while others just race. Again, it’s like my car winning races. how much DEI made from souvenir sales…” well, I once was and I don’t think he raced with the kind of old girlfriend once said, “hide and watch” for an Juan, well the only thing I think he needs is knew it was time to share my thoughts. To me, Joe respect in his first season that he expects from the opportunity to repay the favor. Now Tony said “I’m more races and to stick with his style and to stick to was making all these statements about the ability rookie Juan Montoya. I mean, in his first Twin 125s going to race people how they race me.” Stewart those good drivers and race them! of Mrs. Earnhardt and how Dale wanted things to he fought Dale Earnhardt for a win, but the Intimida- wants respect and says it’s like a couple of kids on I want to share a little episode I had with a be, as if he knew by some insider information. This tor took the race. Perhaps it was a preview of things the playground instead of the race track. Tony has a writer at nascar.com the other day after I read his “Saga,” as I put it, between the Earnhardts is what to come. By taking on Dale for the rest of the season style of racing that has amazed fans for some time, article. This gentleman has joined nascar.com after it is: between them. Everybody writing their opinion he did impress fans with his driving abilities, but, like and I will say that there are not many drivers around a long career in sports journalism, covering sports doesn’t mean squat. But since I am a writer, which he put it after the Texas race, “When you’re a rookie that are his equal. I think Juan said it best with, “I like the NBA and the NFL, but he has also written a is a title I gave myself and one that did come under you do stuff like that, so it’s just part of racing.” Not don’t think Chip hired me to run 20th every weekend, number of books, one being A History of NASCAR grave scrutiny after last week’s article, I will share referring to his rookie year but to another driver, Juan and I didn’t come here to run 20th every weekend.” 2001. I will be at Barnes & Noble in the near future my thoughts. Remember, just as Joe told me “it was Montoya. With Stewart in his ninth season of Cup I like Montoya and Stewart both. Like Tony to locate a copy so that I can ascertain his thoughts a column – an opinion piece. As in my OPINION. I racing and two Cup championships, he feels he is said, Juan ain’t going to learn it all in 6 weeks, but on NASCAR, or rather the history of NASCAR. Any- get paid to offer them.” due respect, and I’ll go along with him somewhat, he’s doing a dang good job of racing as far as I am way, he writes “His Opinions” as I will show you I won’t get a chance to share all I sent him, but a guy’s abilities come from driving his car his concerned. You can bet Ganassi thinks the same with a few excerpts from the column and the email but here’s just a taste of it. Me emailing him: “As for way for his owner and not how Tony tells him to. way. The Chip Man has got a young driver that did he sent to me, so read him and read what I wrote to Mrs. Earnhardt not being able to carry on, it seems There is a form of etiquette accepted among excellent in other forms of racing, just as Tony did, him and how I feel about the “DEI Saga.” I know that she did fairly well with her famous husband driv- NASCAR drivers, and rightfully so since they are in and has started his Cup career much the same way the majority of you will agree with him, but we are all ing for RCR. I think that DEI had a few other people a dangerous sport. They should respect each other. as Stewart. Montoya is earning his pay over at Ga- entitled to our own opinions, so to speak. involved running the show without Junior. Dale Earn- But who decides to what degree they must follow? nassi Racing where there is a group of young drivers Let me call this columnist “Joe” for now and hardt was not a stupid man and if he had wanted for NASCAR does get involved with driver’s style and just waiting to bust out, win races and just possibly maybe you can find the article determine your own Junior to own DEI or any part of it don’t you think actions on the track and off, but just who is really in a championship. Montoya has been criticized a thoughts. He starts off saying that Teresa Earnhardt he would have said so in some form of legal paper charge? Is it Mr. Stewart or Mr. Montoya? You listen bunch so far this season, and even by his Busch “must realize the simple, undeniable truth.” He goes work?” I really kind of unloaded on him and went on to both sides of the equation and then you come up teammate. Look out. When new drivers come along, on to say that with Junior holding the trump cards, with, “Some grown men don’t want their children to with an answer, but you don’t use that: “well he’s my it seems that it is open season on a rookie every she needs to lose if she wants to look like a winner. be pampered through their life. They want them to driver” or “I don’t like that guy.” You use your knowl- race. Lord forbid that the new guy be in the right and He says that Teresa isn’t dumb or stupid, just overly earn what they get just like they did and I believe that edge of the sport and how the guys way-back-when the older more “respectable driver” be in the wrong. protective of DEI, but she is also stubborn. He talks is why Junior hasn’t been in charge of DEI.” would have driven in that situation, as well as the We will see how Tony drives against Juan for of Max Siegel doing the negotiating with Dale Jr. and Well that’s it for this week and y’all know how way things turned out before. You and I have both the rest of the season, if Juan will give Tony the Sis. I see nothing wrong with that, after all didn’t an- to do it at [email protected] and you also watched a driver take on another driver, and one of respect that he seems to require. Stewart looks like other guy do the same thing a few years back to get know that if it ain’t NASCAR, It ain’t s**t!! them may have been your favorite, but what were the he’s off to a weak start so far this year and he needs circumstances for the battle? to be in a racing mood for the rest of the season.

34 april 19-25, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper read it all online at: EUjacksonville.

eujacksonville.com | april 19-25, 2007 35