2 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 LAGNIAPPE Ashley Toland-Trice CONTENTS Co-publisher/Editor [email protected] December 26, 2013 – January 8, 2014 www.lagniappemobile.com Rob Holbert Co-publisher/Managing Editor [email protected] BAY BRIEFS 8 As the Mobile City Council considers Steve Hall placing a moratorium on oil and petro- Marketing/Sales Director [email protected] leum tanks, the Circuit Court has ruled in favor of Plains Southcap. Katie Nichols News Editor [email protected] 11 COMMENTARY Ashley takes a look back at 2013. Rob Kevin Lee Associate Editor/Arts Editor tells us about Santa’s strange ride. [email protected] CUISINE Gabriel Tynes 17 Web Editor/Reporter Three Flavors offers up Japanese, Thai [email protected] and Vietnamese fare.

Andy MacDonald Cuisine Editor REAL ESTATE/BUSINESS [email protected] 22 The fast-growing C Spire acquires Stephen Centanni Mobile-based Callis Communications. Music Editor [email protected] COVER Mark Bryant 24 Sports Writer For people without homes in Mobile, [email protected] there is help and a second chance.

Daniel Anderson Chief Photographer [email protected] 28 ARTS As 2013 closes, Artifice takes a measure Laura Rasmussen Graphic Designer of artistic progress in Mobile. www.laurarasmussen.com

Brooke Wilder MUSIC Advertising Sales Executive 32 [email protected] Mrs. MoonPie Over Mobile Gretchen Wilson talks to Lagniappe before she Leigh Wright headlines the New Year’s Eve event. Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] 40 FILM The best Christmas film you’ve never Beth Williams Advertising Sales Executive seen is another classic staring James [email protected] Stewart.

Jeff Winters Advertising Sales Executive 42 SPORTS [email protected] Local football players will be playing on

Contributors: an even bigger stage with the college Asia Frey • Brian Holbert bowl games coming up. Jeff Poor • Jennifer McDonald Ron Sivak • Susan Larsson MEDIA Lagniappe is published every other Wednesday, 43 26 issues a year by SOMETHING EXTRA The biggest media stories of 2013. PUBLISHING, INC. Business offices are located at 1102-A Dauphin Street and mailing address is P.O. Box 3003, Mobile AL 36652-3003. Telephone (251)450-4466. Email editor@lagniappemobile. com. Reproduction in whole or in part without express, written approval of the publisher is prohibited. The publication is free, one per reader. After that, papers are $2 per copy. Removal of more than one copy from any distribution point constitutes theft. Violators are subject to prosecu- 46 STYLE tion. All letters sent to Lagniappe will be treated as intended for publication. Publishing history: Boozie has all your celebrity sightings Lagniappe was first published bi-weekly July 24, 2002. and dish from the Lagniappe Christmas On the Cover: Finding a home in Mobile by party. Plus the cougars go wild for the Gabe Tynes sexy meat at Veet’s. 24 32

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Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 3 Going Postal No, he’s not a relative To the editor: I was in town last weekend attending the Pentatonix/MSO concert at the Saenger and picked up a copy of Lagniappe. I have read it cover to cover and want to tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed every page! I used to live in Mobile years ago, and I hold very fond memories of the city – so much so that I think of myself as a displaced native! Your paper helped me “reconnect” with the city, and I commend you and your staff for their zeal and journalistic integrity but most importantly, their obvious regard for Mobile. The articles were just, well, real! I had planned to write and ask about subscription information, but then I found you online – yay! Thanks so much, and happy holidays. I wish you and your staff a safe and prosperous 2014! Eddie Le Gallais Columbus, Ga. Police Blotter Police Blotter: K-9 cop takes real bite out of crime

On Dec. 13, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the 3300 of Alverson Road and then ran into the wooded block of Clearview Drive the victim observed area. Shortly after, he was tracked by a K-9 a man take a utility pole with a power box, Unit and arrested at rear of Academy Sports valued at $550 from her property. Officers (7460 Airport Blvd.). Subject sustained minor responded to the location and located the utility injury due to dog bite but was treated and re- pole and the suspect at his residence a short leased from Providence Hospital. A subsequent distance from the scene. The utility pole was search of his vehicle revealed small inactive returned to the victim and the suspect was ar- meth lab. rested for Theft of Property Second Degree. On Dec. 16, 2013, at 7:01 p.m. at 1910 On Dec. 13, 2013, at 7:40 a.m. at 1302 St. Stephens Road police responded to the Dauphin Island Parkway a man was taken into referenced address for a report of Theft of custody after burglarizing a liquor store and Property and Kidnapping. The male victim taking several bottles of liquor. stated he left his 8-year-old son in his vehicle while he went in the store to buy cigarettes. On Dec. 15, 2013, police responded to Victim stated he left the keys in the ignition Springhill Memorial Hospital on a call of one and as he was paying for his merchandise he stabbed. Police interviewing the victim found noticed his vehicle leaving the parking lot at a that he had been stabbed when a fight broke high rate of speed. The juvenile victim stated a out, which occurred at 12:05 a.m., and that man entered the vehicle and drove off while his he did not see who had stabbed him or with dad was in the store. The juvenile victim was what he had been stabbed with. The victim had dropped off approximately two miles away at a returned to his home, but urged by others to Hart’s Chicken in Prichard. The juvenile victim seek medical help. The injury was minor and approached an unidentified male and female consisted of a small cut to his right arm. at Hart’s and asked them to give him a ride home. The juvenile was unharmed. On Dec. 16, 2013, at 4:27 p.m. at 7460 Airport Blvd. officers conducted a minor traffic On Dec. 19, 2013, at 11:50 a.m. at 5450 stop in front of O’Reilly’s Auto Parts when the Coca Cola Road a guest left the motel with subject attempted to elude on Alverson Road. items belonging to the motel. Warrant forth- He then stopped his truck within the 100 block coming.

4 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 5 Grand Bay VFD board member questions finances BAY BRIEFS

BY GABRIEL TYNES, Web Editor [email protected] he Grand Bay Volunteer Fire District potentially opened “I might have come in with a little chip on my shoulder, but I fire department board an allocation of $3,500 per month, which is a “can of worms” by filing a preliminary injunction also wanted to be an effective board member,” Dozier said. “In deposited into a checking account used for operational expenses against a former firefighter who quietly filled out- pa order to do that, I would have to understand the district’s financial including fuel, light and phone bills and minor repairs. The fire perwork to become a member of the district’s board of situation and every time I asked for records or specifics, I was department also has an unrestricted account, which typically has Tdirectors earlier this year. given some excuse why they wouldn’t provide them.” a balance of less than $2,000 and over a period of two years, ap- According to records, board trustee Janie Sarver, wife of then- Dozier enlisted the advice of Jimmy Paine, an assistant chief peared to be rarely used for minor department purchases. Fire Chief Bill Sarver, questioned whether former Grand Bay in Bayou la Batre who was the fire chief in Grand Bay before This month, the district’s money market account had a balance volunteer firefighter Joe Dozier met the requirement of property Sarver. Based on his previous knowledge of the district and his of $218,374, a number Janie Sarver said was the biggest it’s ever ownership to serve on the board. current relationship with the department’s operations through a been. Besides the $42,000 in annual payments to the department, In a circuit court motion, Sarver sought to disqualify Dozier mutual aid agreement, Paine said he was suspicious of the board’s the district also makes $50,000 in payments toward tanker trucks based on a search of property tax records that came up empty. But animosity toward Dozier. purchased within the past three years, $10,000 for miscellaneous after a trial, Judge Rusty Johnston ruled in favor of Dozier, con- “When people push back on you when you ask where the gear and $4,500 for insurance on two fire stations. cluding that the law stipulates that a trustee simply own property money is going, something ain’t right somewhere,” Paine said. The district’s savings account has increased from $146,267 in in the district, not “real” property. Dozier proved his eligibility “I promised when I was fire chief that this department would fol- Feb. 2012 to $177,874 in Nov. 2013, with the goal of eventually by providing the court with a 2010 bill of sale for a mobile home, low every law and open the books to anyone anytime and today taking care of its truck payments or building a new south station. which he placed within the district on Hamilton Farm Road and they’re not making those promises. All you get is a balance sheet. The board also provided financial statements and receipts, but claims as his primary residence. Maybe there is nothing to it, but why are they pushing back so no independent audit of funds. Dozier, who characterized the injunction as a lawsuit, said as much?” At the board meeting Nov. 21, Bill Sarver defended the dis- a former Grand Bay firefighter, he never felt comfortable with its The Grand Bay VFD is governed by two independent boards, trict’s record keeping, saying “this has always been an open board chain of command. the district board and a fire department board. When Dozier meeting” and “any time [someone] can request information, and “In my opinion, the Grand Bay department didn’t always arrived, the district board was also comprised of Janie Sarver, we’ve got it readily available.” respond to some of the calls it was able to respond to,” he said. Warbington, longtime member John Lansing and Grand Bay busi- Janie Sarver said in her 20 years on the board, no one has ever “You might be on call and have three or four other guys on call, ness owner Tony Baggett. The fire department board consisted of requested records and people rarely even attend the meetings. She then be dispatched to an accident on Highway 90 but be told by Janie and Bill Sarver, their daughter Lela Warbington, firefighters said the department has done “everything it can” to encourage the chief to stand down.” Mike Byrd and Shawna Barron, the daughter-in-law of assistant community involvement, but also stressed the volunteer nature of Dozier said he was invited to work in Bayou la Batre and left chief Michael Barron. the whole operation, conceding there’s only so much that can be Grand Bay after Bill Sarver told him he couldn’t be active at two Paine said although he had little insight into the operations done in one’s spare time. departments simultaneously. Afterward, Dozier said he was look- of the district since he left, with professional experience in At the board meeting Dec. 19, both Janie and Bill Sarver ing for an opportunity to return and serve on the district board. Mobile and Bayou la Batre, he was concerned about how the tendered their resignations, citing 20 years of service and a family He is currently an active volunteer in Fowl River and Dauphin current board members could promote nepotism and cronyism. member’s declining health as reasons for stepping aside. While Island. Dozier and Paine said they contacted Grand Bay resident George both pledged to remain active in the department, each board “My intention was to become a board member so I could ask Jackson, one of the few residents who ever engages in the fire nominated new members and assistant chief Michael Barron was questions and not be told to shut up,” he said. “I thought I’d be district’s meetings, who later filed a written request for records. promoted to acting chief, pending a vote of the firefighters. in a better position to understand how the department is run and “We started that department in the 1950s fighting fires with a Speaking generally about the department in November, Barron possibly recommend some change. So I filled out the paperwork five-gallon bucket,” Jackson told Lagniappe after he filed the -re said it typically has about 10 active firefighters from a roster of in probate court and ran unopposed and when I was elected all quest. “As I got older, I stopped participating, but I started going about 29 available. He said in his experience, the department has hell broke loose.” to the meetings two or three years ago after [the board] proposed responded to anywhere between five and 200 calls a month. He Rebel Warbington, Sarver’s son-in-law, who is also the a tax increase but wouldn’t hand out a yearly budget. I thought characterized it as an “urban interface” fire department, which treasurer of the district board, said the injunction was simply a something really odd was happening with the chief’s wife on both also does a lot of vehicle extrications but is not trained for most question of language and Dozier is “making something out of the district board and the separate fire department board and some EMS response. nothing.” of his other family members on those same boards. I would ask Regarding the situation of Dozier’s appointment on the board, “That was one of the discrepancies of the probate court,” he for records and get shrugged off.” Barron said the department would work with him the same as any explained at board meeting Nov. 21. “The paperwork you sign Jackson’s request was denied because Jackson hadn’t submit- other member. says that you own real property in the district, but the statewide ted the proper form, but in October this newspaper received a “When he applied we said, ‘wait a minute,’ we thought it was bill from the ‘80s says you only have to be a ‘property owner.’ copy of the form and was provided a cursory review of records a joke,” he said. “But the judge ruled in his favor, he’s here and So that’s when it came up that it was between ‘real property’ Dec. 13. he’s an effective member of the board. But the questions about and ‘property.’ So the bill says one thing and the paperwork says Volunteer fire districts in the state of Alabama are permitted the financing goes on and on and it’s burning resources. I’d like another. to levy a voluntary fee on property taxes collected within their to see it end.” “If a mobile home is property, is a car property?” Warbington districts. In Grand Bay, the fee is $35 per year, which provides Rebel Warbington, who remains as treasurer of the district, asked. “What isn’t property and who can’t serve on the board? It the district with an operating budget of less than $130,000 per said beginning in January, he’ll produce a monthly summary really opens a can of worms.” year. Other funds are received from the state and county to offset sheet showing balances, deposits and withdrawals to all accounts. Janie Sarver said it wasn’t a lawsuit, even though the proceed- insurance costs. The fee is collected by the revenue commissioner Meanwhile Dozier, who wasn’t at the most recent board meeting, ings forced the burden of proof on Dozier and Probate Judge Don over nine months and returned to the district every two weeks. says he still feels left out. Davis. Davis was dismissed from the action, but Dozier spent The Grand Bay VFD has at least five financial accounts “Was I invited to the records review?” he asked. “Was a mem- $7,000 to defend himself. After the court decided in his favor, including a money market account for the district, an associated ber of the community? We’re the people you have to be account- Dozier thought he would dive into the board’s finances. checking account and a savings account. The district provides the able to and until I see some accountability, I’m not satisfied.”

6 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 7 8 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Council mulls moratorium on oil and fuel BAY BRIEFS BY KATIE NICHOLS, News Editor, [email protected] he possibility of a six-month moratorium on oil and Proponents of the moratorium championed the council for “They’re not in the business of spillage. If that happens, the petroleum storage tanks in a big part of town brought out “taking a stand” against “big oil,” which they said created “dirty company loses money,” he said. “I don’t understand the need and a large crowd for the Dec. 19 Mobile City Council Rules jobs.” the desire to do this.” Committee meeting today. Opponents argued the “sweeping moratorium” would scare off Tew and Sisson urged a slower approach to the issue saying the TUnsurprisingly the comments offered by the public were businesses and give the sense that Mobile is closed for business. matter should be taken on a case-by-case basis. passionate and the crowd at the meeting was seemingly split 50 Some also said the standards for oil storage tanks are such that it Opponents of the moratorium couldn’t disagree more. percent in favor of the moratorium and 50 percent opposed to it. ensures safety. Susan Schwartz, an attendee at the meeting, likened the mora- Although the Dec. 19 meeting was to hear from the public, it Business leaders and one Mobile County Commissioner urged torium to the pause button on a remote. ultimately came down to what the committee, chaired by Council- the council not to pass the moratorium. Commissioner Jerry “This allows us to make sound decisions and consider all of man John Williams and members are Councilors Bess Rich and Carl said the talk of a moratorium on business is something that the consequences,” she said. “To say this will hurt business or CJ Small, would recommend. frightens him. Airbus dismays me. Airbus isn’t even going to be operational The Rules Committee was much like the audience in that it “This sends fear to my heart,” he said. “We talk about being until 2015.” was split. Rich and Small voted in favor of recommending pas- pro-business. This moratorium is a direct hit to the pro-business Brenda Bolton, a researcher for the citizens action group Tar sage of the moratorium, but Williams said it would not give the attitude. That’s the way it will be viewed.” Sands Oil Mobile, said the city needs to be focused on the plan for impression that Mobile is business friendly. President and CEO of Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce the city and safety. “I think this would send the wrong message,” he said. “I think Bill Sisson also felt it would hurt business development in the “We need to see what benefits the citizens and protects the en- we can delay the vote some. A hasty decision by the government county. vironment, which is what is written in the city’s newest plan,” she is almost never a good decision.” “It sends a message that we are closed for business,” he said. said. “This moratorium, I think, will give us a chance to imple- Councilors Fred Richardson and Levon Manzie sponsored “It can be and will be used against us.” ment these plans the council has voted on.” the proposed ordinance that would temporarily halt the issuance American Tank & Vessel CEO Bill Cutt, Shell Oil Company Many other people spoke out in favor of the moratorium of permits for companies looking to locate oil and/or petroleum employee Fred Wheeler, Michael Tew representing the Associa- including four councilors — Richardson, Small, Manzie and Rich. storage facilities within a designated area of the city. The area that tion of General Contractors and Mobile County Road Builders However, the vote will need five votes to pass. would protected from the storage units runs from north and south and Charles Wilson, who works for Total Safety US, all spoke to The timetable for the vote on the moratorium has not been set of Bay Bridge Road and New Bay Bridge Road, but is bounded stop the moratorium from being approved. just yet. People opposing and supporting the moratorium asked on the east by the Mobile River and Mobile Bay and on the west Cutt said his company makes sure every standard and safety the council to delay the vote from Dec. 31, which is when the by St. Stephens Road to Broad Street and to Interstate 10 to Dau- measure is met. Wheeler noted that no storage tank company council meets again. phin Island Parkway until the city limits. wants to spill one drop of oil. Fairhope to assume entire cost of Dyas Triangle settlement

BY GABRIEL TYNES, Web Editor/Reporter, [email protected] The city of Fairhope is preparing to incur another $5.75 loan from Compass Bank. monthly installments and an interest rate of 4 percent. Essen- million in debt to meet the terms of a legal settlement to “There were a couple of things, we are going to be able to get tially, dealing with the bank will save the city around $200,000 purchase the Dyas Triangle, a 108-acre property at the a much better rate by going to local bank rather than to the Con- over the life of the loan. city’s front door that has been the subject of periodic servation Fund or by financing from the Dyas family and we’re Burrell said Kant’s original plan to secure RESTORE Act Tlitigation for more than 40 years. also eliminating $350,000 in fees,” Burrell said. “For consulting, money for the property is still an option, but the process is mov- In October, Mayor Tim Kant and the Dyas family reached they were going to help us secure grant money for reimburse- ing slower than anticipated. an agreement on a purchase price of $8.75 million, $3 million ment, but since that time we thought that over and the mayor and “The fallback plan was always to get RESTORE Act money, of which was to be paid from the city’s utilities funds with the I have had very lengthy conversation with the Governor and he but as the federal government settled some BP suits, it looks like balance planned to be covered by the Virginia-based Conserva- said he’ll help us look at other avenues of funding.” the RESTORE Act money is going to be much longer in com- tion Fund. The new debt would essentially wipe out $4 million the coun- ing than we originally thought,” Burrell said, adding that Gov. At the time, the plan was for the Conservation Fund to hold cil recently budgeted to erase from its larger $40 million total Bentley suggested the city may be eligible for reimbursement the deed to the property while it also helped the city secure grant debt obligation in 2014, while also adding $1.75 million more. through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants or the money for a complete purchase. On Dec. 9, the city council The city has $7 million in a rainy-day fund, Burrell said, but state’s Forever Wild program. reached a preliminary agreement with the fund whereby the city decided against dipping into reserves to settle the lawsuit. “All of that is in its infancy right now but part of the terms would pay a $150,000 management fee plus 4 percent interest on “Politically it’s a better maneuver,” he said. “It’s hard to ask of the settlement agreement was we had to close (with the Dyas the $5.75 million. The Conservation Fund was also asking for a for grant money if they knew you already wrote a check for it. family) by Dec. 31,” Burrell said. “There was talk of delaying consulting fee of $25,000 per quarter. If we pay for the land, we reduce our chances of getting grant but you can’t delay the inevitable and I don’t know what will On Dec. 19, City Council President Jack Burrell said the money and we would rather be indebted than to wipe out our change with regard to securing grant money.” council ultimately decided the Conservation Fund’s fees were savings.” Meanwhile Burrell said regardless of the new debt, the settle- unacceptable and the city also had indications the fund was Kant said the bank is offering an interest rate of 1.3 percent ment was a positive for city. uncomfortable with terms related to the settlement. Instead, the of closing costs of just $2,500. If the council decides against “For the long-term good of the city it was an excellent choice. council will decide tonight whether to finance the balance from the loan, the terms of the settlement stipulates that the city We’re going to have this land and it’s going to provide enjoy- the Dyas family or take on a $5.75 million general obligation finance the remainder of the purchase from the Dyas family with ment to infinity.” Republican Bradley Byrne wins AL-01 congressional office BY GABRIEL TYNES, Web Editor/Reporter, [email protected] fter emerging from a field of nine Republicans and Byrne, an Eastern Shore attorney who has served in various his campaign. engaging in a contentious primary runoff with a Tea capacities in state government before he was defeated by Robert “Y’all have told us loudly and clearly you want a real con- Party challenger, Bradley Byrne sailed to an easy Bentley in a 2010 bid for governor, becomes just the fourth con- servative reformer in Washington who is there to get real results victory against his Democratic opponent Dec. 17 to gressman for southwest Alabama since Jack Edward’s election in and I’ve heard you,” he said. “You’ve said you want someone Abecome the newest member of the United States Congress. 1965. The position was vacated in May, when Jo Bonner hastily who’s willing to fight for conservative principles and fight hard Despite a fluctuating turnout throughout the campaign that resigned to accept a high-paying lobbying position with the Uni- against the Washington establishment who’s holding our country never exceeded 17 percent, Byrne was able to push his support- versity of Alabama Systems. Byrne, 58, will be sworn in Jan. 7 back.” ers to the polls when it mattered the most and in the end, beat and earn $174,000 annually as a freshman congressman. He has He spoke of “forging partnerships” domestically and around general election challenger Burton LeFlore by more than twice vowed to maintain his permanent residence in the district. the world in an effort to bring more economic development to as many votes, preliminarily 36,040-14,962. Byrne’s victory didn’t come without a price. According to south Alabama and delivered a special Christmas message to his “To the voters who’ve come out over and over and over again finance reports filed late last month, his campaign spent some supporters. in this special election and other special elections thank you for $978,000 on the race, even in its final days, when he was run- “Tonight let’s all enjoy ourselves and celebrate this victory, coming out to vote,” Byrne told supporters at a victory party at ning against a challenger who never raised more than $7,000 in but let’s remember what time of year it is and why we believe Moe’s Bar B Cue in downtown Mobile Tuesday night. “You’ve contributions. Meanwhile, since the new congressman will be this time of year is so important. Let’s hug on one another, showed your patriotism as citizens, you’ve showed how much completing the term abandoned by his predecessor, he may face let’s remember who we are with one another and let’s wake up you care about the issues and we have heard what you are telling a re-election challenge before next November. tomorrow and get back to work.” us. You want a change in Washington and we are going to bring Byrne thanked his campaign staff and family for the victory, that change for you.” before reiterating many of the issues he vowed to tackle during

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 9 BAY BRIEFS Longmire and Latham found guilty of sex on duty

BY KATIE NICHOLS, News Editor, [email protected] Mobile Police Department captain and subordinate is that the demotion is a severe punishment. The control and In an Aug. 31, 2011, memo from Maj. Kara Rose to then-Po- officer have been found guilty of having sexual rela- responsibilities held are majorly cut.” lice Chief Micheal Williams, Rose wrote about several problems tions on duty and now must suffer the consequences. Longmire and Latham have the opportunity to appeal the with the program, including discrepancies in who was attending An MPD disciplinary trial board on Dec. 16 found board’s decision to the Mobile Personnel Board. However, Bar- ski trips and excursions to New York and Washington, D.C., all Aformer Third Precinct Commander Carla Longmire guilty of ber said the parties seemed remorseful. of which used federal money. conduct unbecoming and failure to supervise. The board also Due to the possible appeal, Barber said he could not give Rose laid much of the trouble with the program at the feet of found Officer Bradley Latham guilty of conduct unbecoming, many details about the investigation or testimony at this time. Longmire, who has served as the executive director for the MPD truthfulness during an investigation and disobedience of orders. He did confirm the two did have sexual relations in a private Explorer program. Longmire has a son who attended at least In September, an internal complaint was filed by an officer residence in the Third Precinct. four trips according to records Lagniappe gained after suing claiming Longmire and her subordinate officer Latham were Barber also confirmed that Latham was one of the officers MPD for withholding public records. having sexual relations while on duty. An internal investigation given honors for his role in the March 2012 robbery of the Earlier, Barber confirmed the program is also under investi- found evidence enough to bring the officers up on charges. Catherine Street Winn-Dixie that led to the shooting of Officer gation by MPD, but the results would take some time due to the The trial board, which was made up of three senior officers, Chad Wynn. amount of documents. unanimously found the two guilty of all charges. The board rec- He was also one of five officers who shot 44 times at James Barber’s administration has been off to a very busy start in ommended Longmire be demoted from captain to lieutenant. Hill, who was robbing an RBC Bank in Mobile on July 23, 2009 terms of in-house clean ups. Just yesterday the Alabama At- “She is no longer in charge of the Third Precinct,” Chief with an air pistol. Seven bullets hit Hill after he attempted to flee torney General’s Office also announced the indictment of Cpl. James Barber said during a press conference on Dec. 17. “Of- from the scene and got into a chase with police. Donald Pears on four counts of Willful Attempt to Evade or ficer Latham will be suspend for a total of 240 consecutive When he crashed his car, Hill held his gun out the window Defeat Tax and four counts of Willful Fraud and False State- working hours without pay starting Jan. 6.” and pointed it at officers, which is when the 44 shots rang out. ments. Pears has worked with the department for more than 40 Capt. Paul Prine has assumed command of the Third Pre- The officers were ultimately found to have been justified in years and currently is a homicide detective. cinct. Longmire has been moved to Community Services and their shooting, but were placed on administrative duty for five Barber wanted to stress the vast majority of officers work Latham has been moved to the First Precinct. days after the shooting and were required to undergo psycho- hard and are admirable. Barber noted that the demotion from captain to lieutenant logical evaluation. “I don’t want to have to talk about things like this because means much more than a 10-percent reduction in pay. Longmire’s name has also made the news recently as well. in truth, the department is one Mobile can be proud of,” he said. “It is very significant to be demoted from captain to lieuten- A senior officer named Longmire as part of problems with “Unfortunately, the plane landing is not as spectacular as the ant. Very rarely do you see a demotion,” he said. “What people the Police Explorers program, which has been scrutinized for plane crashing.” may not understand about the structure of the police department possible misuse of money for trips.

A year after the Christmas tornado, things are getting back to normal

BY KATIE NICHOLS, News Editor, [email protected] he unusually warm wind swept around Angela Salter that’s nothing compared to the time it will take to get MHS and but we are looking forward to our Christmas Eve services in the last week as she talked about the event she’ll never Trinity repaired. Parish Hall. We will mark the anniversary of the storm and give forget — the 2012 Christmas tornado. Mobile County Public School System Executive Manager of thanks for our community that pulled together in the days and Salter was at her home on Silverwood, which was Facilities Tommy Sheffield said Murphy High School would not months following the tornado.” Tone of the hardest hit areas in Mobile, when the tornado came be completely repaired for two more years. The church’s Parish Hall was severely damaged by the storm, heading her way. “Murphy High School is back in operation, but there are still a necessitating a new roof and a new front wall, as well as numer- When she spoke to Lagniappe, collapsed porches, downed few buildings not accessible. However, it is fully functional,” he ous repairs inside. The sanctuary, which had just gone through a power lines and toppled trees set the background. Now, a year said. “The band room, auditorium and natatorium, which is the $1.1 million renovation in 2010, is largely being rebuilt. after the storm, life has returned to normal, but there are remind- pool area, are not open, but that’s because they are not prioritized “When the roof was torn off by the tornado, it destabilized the ers of that day. areas of repair.” building,” he said. There isn’t a definitive answer for when the “My brother dropped me and my daughter off just before it The areas deemed priorities are the schoolrooms for classes. building will be finished. The roof is being put on now, but the happened,” Salter said. “I walked into the house and then went As of Dec. 10, MHS students utilize six of the 20 portable repairs will take months. out back to get my dog inside. I walked to my front porch and classrooms, which Sheffield said are mainly for band purposes. Norman and the church’s focus isn’t on the building. Instead, was about to get an umbrella when I saw this huge cloud of whirl- The road to getting MHS just back operational wasn’t short they’re thinking of the people living around the church. ing debris coming. It was shocking to see this tornado heading for or easy. Just after the tornado came through Mobile, Sheffield “Our primary concern was for the people of Midtown,” Nor- us. It was surreal. I got me and my 10-year-old in the bathtub and received a call from his son who is a police officer. man said. “We are thankful that no one was killed or severely told her to start praying.” “My son called me to tell me Murphy had been hit by the tor- injured in the storm. Trinity Church is a joyful place, and we see “So, I’m sitting in the bathtub with my daughter praying nado and I should head there,” he said. “Well, I went from Dau- ourselves as filling a vital role in the community.” everything is going to be OK,” she said. “We heard debris just phin Street to South Street. At first I thought, ‘Wow, we got lucky. Trinity Episcopal Church wasn’t the only house of worship slamming the house. It was so loud. We could feel the whole It missed us.’ Then I walked around the tennis courts and toward hit. Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church received major damage that house just vibrating.” the band room, which is one of the hardest hit areas. That’s when resulted in the church being torn down. When everything finally quieted down, Salter walked outside I knew we had a problem. It was devastating.” Pastor Julius Bryant remembered the day the tornado hit close and was amazed by how the street was transformed. The first The MCPSS has produced an in-house documentary called to the church he had only pastored for four months. thing she saw was Marie Feaster’s house across the street. “Murphy Tornado,” which includes interviews about the night of He was at home that afternoon, watching television, when his The 90-year-old Feaster and her family were on Silverwood the tornado, the damage, the move to Clark-Shaw and more. It wife called from work at Mobile Infirmary to tell him about the Street having Christmas together. The porch roof had collapsed can be seen online at MCPSS.TV. tornado warnings being issued. He then talked to the church’s and there was roof damage as well. Luckily, the family was “After the holidays, we should be ready to get the final plans head trustee, who went to the church immediately and gave the unharmed. approved and then in spring or summer bid out the first repairs,” pastor a report on his cell phone. Now the street looks much like it did before the tornado. The Sheffield said. “The repairs will be in phases to work around the “He literally walked me through what he saw,” he says. “He homes are repaired and the streetlights are bright. students.” told me, ‘Pastor, the roof is gone!’” While Silverwood is nearly back to its original state, just a few While the renovations to MHS will take two years, Trinity’s The shock didn’t wear off especially after he saw the damage, blocks over, Murphy High School and Trinity Episcopal Church repairs should be done in a few months according to Fr. Bailey which not only included the roof being torn off in part, but the are still being repaired. Norman. church’s balcony being thrown into the pews. Silverwood was a little behind schedule in getting its lights “Things definitely look better today than they did just after repaired by the city and didn’t have them until the summer, but the storm,” he said. “We are still not back in the church proper,

10 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 COMMENTARY DAMN THE TORPEDOES St. Nick’s wild Alabama ride BY ROB HOLBERT, Managing Editor, [email protected]

t was the day after Christmas at the North ing that I was against him too and wanted to see him fail too because I’m a racist white guy. Pole and the Big Man was exhausted I tried explaining I’m an elf, but he was ranting, so I just left. That guy might end up on the from his furious efforts the night before. naughty list next year or at least on the crazy list,” Santa said. His reindeer’s tongues hung out and the “Well what else happened?” Mrs. Claus asked as Santa motioned to Jingles for another Isleigh definitely looked like it could use a good round. cleaning. “After that I flew out to Semmes to make the rounds there and had the strangest thing Santa stepped out of the sleigh and started happen,” Santa said. “Near the center of town I got out of the sleigh and there was some taking off his coat, releasing a cloud of coal pretty funky music on the sleigh’s stereo, I think it was that ‘Blurred Lines’ song, and I dust that caused him to cough, as it did Mrs. started to boogie down — you know how I like to drop it like it’s hot, right?” Claus and Jingles, his personal valet elf, both of “Oh yes indeed I do!” Mrs. C said excitedly. whom had rushed in to welcome him back. “So I’m doing a few kicks and twirls and twerking a bit and I’ll be darned if this woman “Oh my! People really need to do a better doesn’t come running up and point her finger right in my face! She said ‘You disgust me! job of cleaning their chimneys!” Mrs. C ex- You ought to be ashamed!’ Then she turned and yelled ‘Hey, them Prancing Elites is back at claimed while waving off coal dust floating in it!’ All of the sudden a couple of guys came running out yelling and waving baseball bats. Of the air. “I’ve never seen you so filthy.” course they saw the reindeer and went crazy. We just barely got out of there. I thought Don- “Jingles, have this thing dry cleaned please. ner was going to end up with this head on a wall!” Santa said. But before you do, pour me a double whiskey, “Oh my!” Mrs. C exclaimed, while Santa caught his breath and pounded another whisky. neat,” Santa said, handing Jingles his dusty “It gets weirder. I flew over to the Mobile Police Department to drop a few things off and coat. ran across this lady cop. And man was she friendly. Kind of too friendly, if you know what “Goodness!” Mrs. Claus said sheepishly. I mean,” Santa said. “You expect that kind of thing when you’re delivering in big cities but “It’s a bit early to be getting into the hard stuff not quiet little Mobile, but it caught me off guard. Next thing I know she’s ‘frisking’ me and isn’t it? How about a nice warm glass of milk telling me I ‘have the right to get busy.’ I’ll tell you I laid a finger aside of my nose and rose or some cookies instead dear?” on out of there quick!” Santa shot her a hard look, patted his “My goodness!” Mrs. Claus said shaking her head angrily and putting a hand on her hip. belly and said “No thanks. I think I’ve hit my “I hope you told her you’ve got everything you need right here!” limit there, dear. I need something to calm my “Um ... yeah, that’s what I told her,” Santa said slowly. nerves.” He started to walk and dust shook off “I suppose if there was any good part about Alabama this year is there were so many his pants and boots. people on my Naughty List that it didn’t take as long. I even bypassed the Governor’s house “Oh Dear! You may have to strip down out this year because he and that RSA guy Bronner are fighting so much. I started to drop them here,” Mrs. C said. “I just can’t remember when off a coupon for couples’ therapy but I thought it’d be a waste of time. you’ve been so dirty. Maybe it’s time to start “I also had to pass over several public officials who quit their jobs early to take other going through dog doors or unlocked windows jobs as lobbyists and made everyone waste tons of money on special elections. I did have a or something.” little fun, though. This year for all the Alabama and Auburn fans who’ve been such jerks to “No, no, there’s nothing wrong with the way each other I left clothing from their most hated team under the tree. I can just imagine their I’m magically getting into people’s homes car- faces.” rying ridiculous amounts of items. Chimneys “Well I’m sorry you had such a rough time in Alabama dear,” Mrs. C said soothingly. are still fine. All this mess came from deliver- “Oh it wasn’t all bad. A lot of people were cheering and clapping for me this year. At first ing down in Alabama. I was flying low over I thought they were just sucking up for presents, but I finally realized most of them thought I Mobile near the river and they’ve got some was in ‘Duck Dynasty.’ I guess I’ll take what I can get.” kind of coal terminal there and the dust was kicking up something awful. I thought reindeer were going to choke out from it and I had to hit my inhaler a couple of times. It was rough!” “Alabama? Isn’t that where they towed our cruise ship in February after the power went The Gadfly out? That was so awful!” Mrs. C said. “Same place — Mobile. Cute town, but man did it give me fits this year. I had some of the strangest requests down there and in Alabama as a whole. Must be something in the water,” Santa said as Jingles delivered his whisky and he downed it quick as a wink. “Like what dear?” she asked. “Well you remember me telling you about that one guy who keeps writing about want- ing me to bring him money for some kind of cookie or ... moonpie, that’s it! He wrote all these letters saying how he is the king of some moonpie festival and it was being ruined by a redneck woman and everybody was out to get him. I didn’t really get it, and you know how I Cartoon/Laura Rasmussen Cartoon/Laura feel about just leaving money. It’s just so tacky, plus I don’t need the elves getting locked up for counterfeiting. So I went down his chimney to drop him off a few boxes of moonpies and a new watch and I’ll be darned if he wasn’t standing right there waiting. Got all upset when I gave him the present too. Started complain- Looks like David Bronner and Gov. Bentley are flying into the danger zone. Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 11 COMMENTARY HIDDEN AGENDA This was the year our pot finally boiled BY ASHLEY TOLAND-TRICE, Editor, [email protected] hey say a watched pot never boils, but I think 2013 We’ve spent a lot time courting outsiders, and it is finally proved otherwise for the city of Mobile. paying off. But now we need to get all gussied up before they As simple discontent with the status quo turned to get here. It’s time to do something with our crumbling streets, outright anger, we watched the same ol’ pot of cold, neglected parks, littered water and roadways and start thinking Tstagnant water we had been staring at for the last 20 years about those bike paths we talked about ad nauseum during the begin to warm, getting hotter and hotter as it was fueled by the campaign. fire of the insatiable need for change. Thousands of tiny little Basically, this is the year we need to become a hottie. bubbles dancing around under the surface, just waiting for one I don’t know how “achievable” this is, but I do feel confi- to break through to the other side. dent our new mayor will be open with us about what can and And one did. And then another and another. can’t be done and the reasons why. And I am looking forward We witnessed one of the most transformative years our local to the beginning of our makeover. government has ever seen. From the school board to the mayor We are also sending a new congressman to Washington. and city council to the state legislature and most recently on After voting in what seemed like 36 special elections to replace the federal level with the election of our next congressman, we Jo Bonner, who left office early to take a sweet gig at the Uni- saw changes on every level. versity of Alabama, Bradley Byrne will head up to the Beltway Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble. to join the least productive Congress in history. 2013 was the year we achieved rapid boil in the city of Though it almost seems like you could send that crackhead Mobile, but 2014 is going to be the year we figure out what we crocodile up there and achieve the same results, I am happy really want and need to add to the pot. Byrne was our choice. I’m pretty sure that other guy would The election of Sandy Stimpson as mayor in August cer- have grabbed headlines for the wrong reasons. tainly had and will have the most impact on our city. With a Photo by Dan Anderson With record low approval ratings, the nation is getting little under two months as the city’s mayor, Stimpson has spent Sandy Stimpson’s election along with restless, and just like our city, discontent is turning to anger. It his short time in office assembling a quality team, learning the seems like Congress may finally be getting the message. ropes, tearing down doors (literally), sorting through what the other big changes sets up an important Though no one from Mobile’s like that hideous Patty Mur- previous administration left behind, and reaching out to indus- 2014. ray (yes, the Democratic senator from Washington who said we try far and wide, as well as to other area leaders. tion was like pulling teeth from a crocodile on crack. But so were too dumb to build airplanes), at least she and Paul Ryan, Although I wish he could snap his fingers and make good far, Stimpson and Barber have been an open book. a Republican from Wisconsin, were able to sit down and craft on all of his campaign promises instantaneously, it will obvi- And really, once you have that, everything else will fall into a budget deal. ously take a little time and prioritizing. place. Hopefully, we will continue to see our leaders in Washing- But one promise he has made good on already is transpar- But what “else” do we want to fall in said place? ton actually work together to get something done, and Byrne ency, not only within his own administration, but also of at the Sure, we’ll take a cruise ship, all of the Airbus suppliers, will contribute to that process. police department under the new leadership of Chief James more Hollywood film productions, whatever you got. If any pot of stagnant water needs to boil, it’s the one up Barber. But as cheesy and self-help bookish as it sounds, I think there. Turn up the heat, Congressman Byrne. With the previous administration and chief, getting informa- 2014 is the year we need to focus on becoming our best self. Bubble. Bubble. Bubble.

12 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 COMMENTARY THE TAO OF JEN Sometimes a hug is just a pickpocket

BY JENNIFER MCDONALD, Columnist, [email protected] appy holidays! I hope everyone is General trends found in the study roughly enjoying the season and indulging divided the country into regions. The average in plenty of eggnog, cheer and lots mood in New England and the Mid-Atlantic and lots of hugs! It seems like the states was found to be temperamental and Hholidays are always full of hugs, and since uninhibited, with the highest overall level of I’m generally a fan of a nice embrace, I kind neuroticism; the West Coast, Rocky Moun- of like it. tains and Sun Belt were relaxed and creative, Most of my family and friends are enthusi- with the highest level of openness; and the astic huggers, and I even got a big smile and vast majority of the South and Midwest were a little one-armed squeeze the other day from friendly and conventional, with the highest a total stranger in Winn-Dixie when I stopped levels of agreeableness and conscientious- to help her pick up a bag of onions she ness. accidentally spilled. Either that or she was Researchers posed geographical and trying to pick my pockets, using a fake hug historical explanations for the trends, includ- as her cover. Or maybe she was just reaching ing the idea that pioneers who moved West around me to grab a new produce bag. At any tended to have open, curious and flexible rate, I took it as a warm gesture of friendly tendencies that were passed down through appreciation and it kind of made my day. generations. By contrast, people with more I’ve always thought Mobile was a pretty conventional temperaments preferred to say huggerific city, and from my observations it closer to their ancestors’ earliest settlements, seems extremely common for friends, casual although the tendency of open-minded folks acquaintances and often even professional to migrate to cosmopolitan areas explained colleagues to greet each other with a friendly the relatively high levels of openness on the embrace, particularly when at least one of the East Coast. parties is a woman. My husband swears he In terms of individual scores, folks in Wis- has never once witnessed two male mechan- consin were found to be the most extroverted, ics exchanging a hug, but I’m not really sure with the least extroverted being Vermont. The I believe him. most conscientious went to South Carolina All in all I’d say we’re a pretty friendly and the least to Maine, and the most and least bunch in Alabama, and really the South in neurotic were West Virginia and Utah, respec- general. Either that or our region is flooded tively. Utah was also the most agreeable, and with would-be pickpockets. All I know is politician-laden D.C. the least. However, D.C. that I’ve been pick-pocketed twice in my life, scored the highest for openness while North once in Boston and once in New Orleans, and Dakota finished last. I certainly didn’t get any hugs in Boston. Alabama scored lower than average in That jerk forcefully plowed into me and neuroticism and openness, but high in con- deftly slipped a package right out of my shop- scientiousness, extroversion and agreeable- ping bag during the confusion that ensued. ness, painting the picture of relaxed, friendly I should have known I’d be marked as a and dependable folks with strong traditional target since I probably stood out like a fried values. shrimp at a lobster boil, sauntering slowly Massachusetts, which didn’t particularly through the bustling city in my tacky pink impress me with its friendliness, scored low Bama T-shirt, smiling at everyone I passed as in extroversion and agreeableness, almost last they averted their eyes and sprinted off to do in conscientiousness, and they rated third in something important. I’m actually a bit shy in the country for neuroticism. I think they just general but this was way out of my league. need more hugs. I received exactly one friendly smile that Perhaps they could take a lesson from seemed sincere, from none other than actor Wisconsin’s Snuggle House, a Madison- Richard Gere, who happened to pass me on based business that offered professional the crowded Boston sidewalk. But that’s cuddling at an hourly rate designed to provide another story for another day. warmth and comfort to affection-starved At least the NOLA thief offered a little customers. The idea might have thrived in warmth with his larceny. He not only offered the highly extroverted and agreeable state a free hug when he approached me, but he known for friendliness, but it’s also one of told me I was pretty just before he snatched the least open-minded states in the country. my wallet and bolted. Somehow, it just went Unfortunately Snuggle House closed its doors down a little easier that way. Friendliness is this month due to pressure from local officials important, y’all. who feared it would lead to prostitution or I recently encountered a pretty interest- sexual assault. ing Time Magazine article that featured a The article also included a personality “mood map” of the country, created through test that guided readers to the state that most a 13-year Journal of Personality and Social closely matches their individual temperament. Psychology study ranking the contiguous 48 According to the test, I belong in Oregon, states and the District of Columbia according based on my specific combination of high to the average temperament of their respec- openness and agreeableness, moderate con- tive citizens. scientiousness, and very low extroversion and Thousands of volunteers from each neuroticism. state were tested and assessed in five basic That sounds about right I guess. I’d love to categories including extroversion (sociability visit some day, but I would miss all the hugs and gregariousness), conscientiousness (self- in the friendly South. Fortunately Portland is discipline and dependability), neuroticism home to Snuggle Up to Me, where profes- (anxiety and anger), agreeableness (compas- sional cuddler Samantha Hess charges $60 sion and cooperativeness), and openness per snuggle. I suppose that might suffice, but (curiosity and a preference for novelty). I’m keeping an eye on my wallet.

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 13 COMMENTARY THE BELTWAY BEAT Ten newsmakers who landed Alabama national headlines in 2013

BY JEFF POOR, Columnist, [email protected] f you worked in a national newsroom in 2013, Alabama Making it to Barbara Walters and Brian Williams’ radars is the IRS’s indiscretion. as a topic had an above average year for a few reasons. no small feat. But since it was done in the storied Iron Bowl 7. School bus kidnapping/hostage crisis: Back in January, Football and politics drove most of the news coming rivalry game, it’ll rank up with Boston College quarterback a very troubled man named Jimmy Lee Dykes boarded a school from the state, but other human-interest stories also made Doug Flutie’s last-second heroics against Miami in 1984 for bus in Midland City in Dale County, killed the driver and took Inational headlines. Here are the top 10 newsmakers who -— a dramatic 47-45 win, and the ending to the 1982 California- a 5-year-old Midland City Elementary School student hostage for better or for worse — brought the national spotlight home Stanford game that gave Cal a 25-20 win in this rivalry as to his underground bunker. to Alabama. Stanford’s band had marched onto the field before the game Dykes was later killed by law enforcement after a nearly 1. Bradley Byrne versus Dean Young: Jo Bonner’s an- completed. seven-day-long hostage crisis ensued, with the 5-year-old being nouncement of his eventual resignation back in May set the 4. Voting Rights Act decision: In June, the Supreme Court freed. stage for southwest Alabama to be the focus of the inside-the- rendered a decision that struck down a key provision of the But that tragedy had come at a time when the country was Beltway media for the first time since 2012 — when a heated Voting Rights Act of 1965. still reeling from the Newtown, Conn., Sandy Hook Elemen- Republican presidential primary forced front-runners Mitt A 5-4 decision in the Shelby County v. Holder case ruled tary massacre as the country was embroiled in a hot-button Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum to invest time and that Section 4 of the law was unconstitutional. Chief Justice debate and the Second Amendment. effort in the Yellowhammer state. John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that the formula in 8. The Alabama Crimson Tide and Nick Saban: This is But this wound up being much grander. Section 4 “is unconstitutional in light of current conditions” still one of the most feared programs in the country and despite As an off-cycle election process played itself out a year and called on Congress to revise the formula based on that. the unlikely loss to Auburn last month, people will still talk before the 2014 midterms, it served as what some thought of as With Congress mired in gridlock, correcting Section 4 as about the prowess of the current national champion University a barometer to gauge the strength of the Tea Party against the Roberts had advised doesn’t seem likely anytime soon. And of Alabama football program. well-funded, better organized so-called Republican establish- without Section 4 defining what areas are held to Section 5, Head coach Nick Saban had made the Crimson Tide’s run ment, after a crowded primary whittled itself down to Bradley the so-called “preclearance” portion of the law, Section 5 was possible. But the rumor mill stayed cranked up through the sec- Byrne, playing the establishment role, and Dean Young, play- rendered inoperable. ond half of the 2013 season as Texas head coach Mack Brown ing the Tea Party role. Now states that were regulated under the Voting Rights Act, looked to be good as gone with the Longhorns’ struggles. While that storyline was overplayed a little by the national which includes almost all of Alabama, no longer are required Eventually Saban put those rumors to rest as he signed a media, when the establishment did decide to step in, Byrne to gain approval from the Department of Justice when drawing new contract with the University of Alabama. cruised to a runoff win and then ultimately a general election the boundaries for districts. 9. Jeff Sessions emerges as the elder statesman of the win. Byrne will be sworn in on Jan. 7, 2014. 5. Katherine Webb: Call his commentary ill-advised, but conservative movement: Most members of Congress turn up 2. “Turdtanic:” Some may like to forget this one, but the when Brent Musburger ogled Alabama quarterback AJ McCar- the rhetoric when they come back to their home base and tone Carnival Triumph cruise from hell is one that Alabama got ron’s girlfriend Katherine Webb and described her on-air, he it down while serving on Capitol Hill. tagged with for none of its own doing. created something of a new national celebrity. But that’s the opposite of Sen. Jeff Sessions. Sessions After an engine fire rendered the Triumph without power, “Wow, you quarterbacks get all the good looking women. had been outspoken conservative champion on some issues, this Carnival cruise ship had to be towed to Mobile, which What a beautiful woman, whoa!” Musburger said as the TV including the federal budget and immigration. And while he added five days to a journey for roughly 4,000 people back in cameras showed Webb in the stands at the Notre Dame-Ala- may not be one of the rising stars like Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, February. bama BCS game on Jan. 7. “If you’re a youngster in Alabama, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., of the movement, he is looked upon National media flocked to Mobile to await the arrival of the start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard by some of the more conservative members as a mentor who ship — an effort some saw as the media going a little over- with pops.” understands the protocol of the U.S. Senate. board in its effort to document the plights of the passengers. After that, the former Miss Alabama lit up social media in 10. The plight of University of Alabama College Republi- But that stop in Mobile was short-lived as many of those pas- an otherwise lackluster contest that Alabama had won. can Chairwoman Stephanie Petelos: When the Alabama Re- sengers were taken to New Orleans before arrangements could ESPN later apologized for Musburger’s remarks, but a star publican Party decided to attempt to crackdown on Petelos for be made to get them home. was born. being open to the idea of same-sex marriage, the party landed 3. Auburn’s late season surge: This may come off as a 6. Becky Gerritson, president of the Wetumpka Tea some serious bad press, not for being so stridently anti-gay, but little homer-ish (as I am a proud Auburn alumnus), but back- Party: Back on June 4, Gerritson testified before the House for a harsh tack aimed at the University of Alabama student, to-back games against Georgia and archrival Alabama with Ways and Means Committee on the heels of the revelations who was also head of the College Republicans Federation of dramatic endings will continue to be talked about regardless that the IRS had allegedly been targeting her organizations and Alabama and had certain voting privileges within the state what the Auburn Tigers do in three weeks as they play for the others for their political beliefs. party. BCS national championship against Florida State in Pasadena, “I am a born-free, American woman – wife, mother and citi- Petelos would ultimately win this minor political skirmish, Calif.’s Rose Bowl. zen – and I’m telling MY government that you have forgotten but it came with some seeing beyond the state a younger The ending of the Auburn-Alabama game last month, with your place,” Gerritson said in the hearing. generation of Republicans open to the idea of legal same-sex Chris Davis’ touchdown run garnered the attention of national- Those emotional remarks were played on Fox News and cir- marriage. ly broadcasted morning and evening news programs… the play culated throughout conservative media over the next few weeks Honorable Mention: Paul Finebaum joins ESPN even caught the attention of the ladies on ABC’s “The View.” and made Gerritson the face of someone directly affected by

14 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Cafe 219 8890 Stevie’s Kitchen ($) Creative salads, sandwiches & potato Lap’s Grocery & Grill ($) Sandwiches, stuffed potatoes, soups, salad to die for. 219 Conti St. 438-5234 (4-44) Casual Seafood & southern classics salads & desserts 41 West I-65 Service Rd. Cafe Malbis surrrounded by sweeping views of Mobile N Suite 150.Tamara’s Bar & Grill ($) Contemporary fare & eclectic spirits. Bay ($) Wings, po-boys, burgers. 210 Eastern 28396 Hwy. 181, Daphne 661-6620 1595 Battleship Parkway, Spanish Fort Shore Center, Hwy. 98 929-0002 Cajun Seafood 251-626-0045 TP Crockmiers ($) Seafood market & deli fresh seafood.408 MGhee’s Grill on the Hill ($) 250 Dauphin St. 251-476-1890. $ under $10/person Dauphin Island Pkwy. 478-9897 $$ 10-25/person ($-$$) Great lunch & dinner. 3607 Old Shell American Restaurant & Bar Camille’s Sidewalk Café Rd. 445-8700 The Blind Mule $$$ Over 25/Person ($) Gourmet wraps, pizzas, & more. 5817 Mama’s ($) Daily specials made from scratch. Old Shell Rd. 343-0200 ($) Slap your mama it’s so good home 57 N. Claiborne St. 694-6853. Camellia Café Business Casual cooking. 220 Dauphin St. 432-6262 The Courtyard at 311 Bonefish Grill ($-$$$) Contemporary southern fare. 61 Section St., Fairhope 928-4321 Mars Hill Cafe ($) Great food and large selection of spirits. ($$) Eclectic dining & space. ($) Great sandwiches, coffee and more. 311 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope 928-2032 6955 Airport Blvd. 633-7196 Cammie’s Old Dutch ($) Mobile’s classic ice cream spot. 2511 Old 5025 Cottage Hill Rd. 643-1611 The Hungry Owl Catch of the Day Mary’s Southern Cooking ($) Burgers, flatbread pizza & seafood. 7899 ($$) Fried, grilled, steamed & always fresh. Shell Rd. 471-1710 ($) 3011 Springhill Ave. 476-2232 Cottage Hill Rd.. 633-4479 3300 River Rd. 973-9070 Carpe Diem Ed’s Seafood Shed ($) Deli foods, pastries & specialty drinks. Mellow Mushroom Three Georges Candy Shop ($$) Fried seafood served in hefty portions. 4072 Old Shell Rd. 304-0448 ($) Great pies & awesome beer selection. ($) Light lunch with Southern flair. 226 3382 Hwy. 98 625-1947 Chat-A-Way Cafe 2032 Airport Blvd. 471-4700 • 5660 Old Dauphin St. 433-6725 Felix’s Fish Camp ($) Quiches & sandwiches in Spring Hill. Shell Rd. 380-1500 Tropical Smoothie ($$) Upscale dining with a view. 4366 Old Shell Rd. 343-9889 Momma Goldberg’s Deli ($) Great smoothies, wraps and sandwiches 1420 Hwy. 98 626-6710 Chicken Salad Chick ($) Sandwiches & Momma’s Love. 3696 in Spring Hill. Du Rhu Dr. 378-5648 Legacy Bar & Grill ($) Sandwich, Chicken Salad, Salad & Soup Airport Blvd. 344-9500 570 Schillinger Road 634-3454 ($$$$) American, Seafood, Steakhouse. 2370 S. Hillcrest Rd. Unit R Montego’s True Midtown Kitchen 9 Du Rhu Dr. S. 251-341-3370 Claudios Springhill Italian Bistro ($-$$) Fresh caribbean style food and craft ($) Gourmet Southern at a good price. 1100 Lucy B. Goode ($) 4356 Suite E. 204-3482 beer. 6601 Airport Blvd. 251-634-3445 Dauphin St. 434-2002 ($$) 200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores 967-5858 Cold Snap Midtown Mostly Muffins Wild Wing Station Lulu’s ($) Carpe Diem Coffee and fabulous Frozen ($) Muffins, coffee & wraps. 105 Dauphin St. ($) 1500 Government St. ($$) Live music & great seafood. yogurt 2425 Old Shell Rd. 479-9500 433-9855. Yak the Kathmandu Kitchen 200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores 967-5858 Cravin Cajun Mudbugs at the loop ($-$$)Authentic foods from Himalayan Original Oyster House ($) Daily specials. PoBoys, salads & seafood ($) Cajun Kitchen & seafood market. 2005 region. 3210 Dauphin St. 287-0115 ($-$$) A great place for kids and seafood. 1870 Dauphin Island Pkwy 251-287-1168 3733 Hwy. 98 626-2188 Cream & Sugar Government St. 478-9897 Rice Asian Grill & Sushi Bar ($) Breakfast, lunch in Oakleigh. Ice cream Mug Shots Cue ($) 3964 Government Blvd. ($$) Bar & Grill. 6255 Airport Blvd. 251-447- ‘ too. 351 George St. #B 405-0003 Backyard Cafe & BBQ The Harbor Room 2514 D’ Michael’s ($) Home cookin’ like momma made. 2804 ($-$$) Unique seafood 64 S. Water St. 438- Newk’s Express Cafe ($) Philly cheesteaks, gyros & more. 7101-A Springhill Ave. 473-4739 4000 ($) Oven-baked sandwiches & more. 252 Theodore Dawes Rd. 653-2979 Big Al’s Bar BQ Shack Tacky Jacks Azalea Rd. 341-3533 D’ Michael’s ($) 4672 Airport Blvd. Mobile 36608. 345- ($-$$) Gulf Shores favorite on the ($) Philly cheesteaks, gyros & more. 7101-A Old 27 Grill Causeway. 1175 Battleship Pkwy. 621-8988 8006 Theodore Dawes Rd. 653-2979 ($) Burgers, dogs and 27 beers & wines. The Bluegill Brick Pit DDQ 19992 Hwy. 181 Old County Rd. Fairhope ($-$$) A historic seafood dive with live ($) A favorite barbecue spot with ($) 1165 University Blvd. 202-0959. Chicken 281-2663 music. 3775 Hwy. 98 625-1998 a unique space. 5456 Old Shell Rd. 343- fingers, salad & sandwiches Panini Pete’s The Compleat Angler 0001 Dew Drop Inn ($) Original sandwich and bake shop. ($$) Caribbean fare & great sunsets. 29249 Dreamland BBQ ($) Classic burgers, hotdogs & setting. 1808 42 1/2 Section St., Fairhope 929-0122 U.S. Hwy. 98, Daphne 621-1086 ($) Ribs, sandwiches & great sides. 3314 Old Shell Rd. 473-7872. 19 S. Conception St., Mobile 405-0031 The Italian Fisherman Old Shell Rd. 479-9898. ($$) Seafood Italian style. 2503 Old Shell Rd. Downtowners Phatheadz ($) 3915 Government Blvd. Moe’s Original Bar B Que 478-2881 ($) Great sandwiches, soups & salads. 107 Queen G’s Café ($) Bar-b-que & music. Bayfront Park Dr., The Little House Bistro Dauphin St. 433-8868 ($) Down home cooking for lunch. 2518 Old E Wing House Daphne 625-RIBS or 701 Springhill Ave., ($-$$) Locally grown cuisine and great Shell Rd. 471-3361 ($) 195 S University Suite H 662-1830. 2212 Mobile 410-7427. brunch. Roma Cafe Dauphin Island Pkwy 479-2021 Saucy Q BarBQue 2351 Airport Blvd. 251-477-2623 ($-$$)7143 Airport Blvd. 341-7217 Wintzell’s Oyster House Fiddlefish ($) Award-winning BarBQue. 1252 Regina’s Kitchen ($-$$) 605 Dauphin St. 432-4605 • 6700 ($) Seafood Cafe´. 3972 Airport Blvd. Government Blvd. 433-7427. ($-$$) 2056 Government St. Airport Blvd. 341-1111 • 1208 Shelton Beach Pinebrook Shopping Center. 414-9949 Whistle Stop 251-476-2777 Rd., Saraland 442-3335 Firehouse Subs ($) Home cookin and BBQ. River Shack Zea’s ($) Hot subs, cold salads & catering. 6300 110 S. Florida St. 478-7427. ($$) Gourmet rotisserie with prime rib Grelot Rd. 631-3730 ($-$$) Seafood, burgers & steaks. 6120 & seafood. 4671 Airport Blvd. 344-7414 Fisherman’s Legacy Marina Dr., Dog River 443-7318. Drop Dead Gourmet ($) 4380 Halls Mill Rd. 660-2736 Roly Poly Completely Comfortable Five Guys Burgers & Fries ($) Wraps & salads. 809 Hillcrest Rd. 607- Alabama Cruises ($) 4401 Old Shell Rd. 447-2393 • 4663 6378 3220 Dauphin St. 479-2480 ($$) Fine dining & sailing from Bellingrath Al’s Hotdogs Airport Blvd. 300-8425 Royal Street Cafe Gardens. Fri/Sat. 973-1244 ($) Classic hotdogs, gyros & milkshakes. Foosackly’s Bay Gourmet 4701 Airport Blvd. 342-3243 ($) Homemade lunch & breakfast. 104 N. ($) Famous chicken fingers. ($$) A premier caterer & cooking classes. Ashland Midtown Pub Royal St. 434-0011 310 S. University Blvd. 343-0047 • 2250 1880-A Airport Blvd. 450-9051 ($-$$) Pizzas, pastas, & calzones. 245-A Old Sage Restaurant ($$) Inside the Mobile Airport Blvd. 479-2922 • 7641 Airport Blvd. Café 615 Shell Rd. 479-3278 Marriott. 3101 Airport Blvd. 251-476-6400 607-7667 • 2558 Schillinger Rd. 219-7761 • Atlanta Bread Company Satori Coffeehouse ($$-$$$) American fare with local 3249 Dauphin St. 479-2000 ($-$$) Sandwiches, salads & more. 3680 ($) Coffee, smoothies, lunch & beers. 5460 ingredients. 615 Dauphin St. 432-8434. Jamaican Vibe Dauphin St. 380-0444 Old Shell Rd. 344-4575 Café Royal ($) Mind-blowing island food. 3700 Aurora’s Serda’s Coffeehouse ($$-$$$) Prime steak & seafood Government Blvd. Ste A 602-1973 ($-$$) Tapas & gourmet pizzas ($) Coffee, lunches, in elegant setting. 101 N. Royal St. 405- Jimmy John’s 14 N. Church St., Fairhope 928-1714 live music & gelato. 3 Royal St. S. 415-3000 5251 ($) Great sandwiches, catering Benjamin’s NoJa & delivery too. 6920 Airport Blvd. 414-5444 Smokey Dembo Smoke House ($) 251-476-6777. 2107 Airport Blvd. ($$-$$$) Inventive & very fresh cuisine. Joe Cain Café ($) 3758 Dauphin Island Pkwy. 473-1401 Bojangles 6 N. Jackson St. 433-0377 ($) Fast-paced restaurant and bar features Spot of Tea ($) Burgers, nachos & other pub fare. 260 Osman’s Restaurant handcrafted pizzas, sandwiches, signature ($) Mobile’s favorite spot for breakfast & Azeala Rd. 251-345-0470 cocktails and frequent live entertaiment. 26 lunch. 306 Dauphin St. 433-9009. ($$) Supreme European cuisine. 2579 Halls Briquettes Steakhouse N. Royal St. 338-2000 Southern Decadence Desserts Mill Rd. 479-0006. ($-$$)720A Schillinger Rd. S. Suite 2. 607- ($) Soups, Salads, Desserts Royal Scam 7200 Kitchen on George ($-$$) 351A George & Savannah St. 436- 1956 B University Blvd. 251-472-6351 ($$) Gumbo, angus beef & bar. 72. S. Royal St. 432-SCAM (7226)

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 15 Far Eastern Fare Guido’s Resort Spa ($) Brews & game on 65 ($$) Fresh cuisine nightly on chalkboard screens. 850 Bayview Ave, Biloxi (888) Banzai Japanese Restaurant menu. 1709 Main St., Daphne 626-6082 946-2847 ($$) Traditional sushi & lunch. 312 ($$) Fresh cuisine nightly on chalkboard High Tide Café at IP Casino Resort Spa Schillinger Rd. 633-9077 menu. 1709 Main St., Daphne 626-6082 ($)Casual & relaxing with an extensive Busaba’s Thai Cuisine La Pizzeria menu. 850 Bayview Ave, Biloxi (888) 946- ($) Thai cuisine in a luxurious setting. 203 ($) 1455 Monroe St. 2847 Dauphin St. 405-0044 Picklefish BR Prime at Beau Rivage Royal Scam Liquid ($$) One of Mobile’s oldest pizza parlors. ($$-$$$) Fine dining establishment of rat ($$) Gumbo, angus beef & bar. 72. S. Royal ($$) Amazing sushi & assortment of Also serving great sandwiches and salads. pack quality. 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (888) St. 432-SCAM (7226) interesting rolls. 661 Dauphin St. 432-0109 5955 Old Shell Rd. 344-9899 952-2582 Ruth’s Chris Steak House Mikato Japanese Steak House Papa’s Place Jia at Beau Rivage ($$$) Exceptional service & taste. 271 ($$) Upscale sushi & specialties. 364 ($$) A Taste of Italy on the Eastern Shore, ($-$$) Exotic Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Glenwood St. 476-0516 Azalea Rd. 343-6622 BYOB. Korean & Vietnamese cuisine. 875 Beach Tamara’s Downtown Rock n Roll Sushi 28691 U.S. Highway 98, Daphne 626-1999 Blvd, Biloxi (888) 952-2582 ($$) Casual fine dining. ($$) Piccadilly Square. 6345 Airport Blvd. Ravenite Memphis Q at Beau Rivage 104 N. Section St. Fairhope 929-2219 (251)287-0555 ($) New York style pizza, Pasta, Salad, ($) Memphis-style Q like funky Beale St. Union Samurai J Calzones Stromboli, Wings 102 N. Section with a Delta twist. 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi ($$$) Premium steaks & burgers. ($$) Best sushi & squid salad. St. 929-2525 (888) 952-2582 659 Dauphin St. 432-0300 1410 U.S. Hwy. 98 Ste. J, Daphne 621- Via Emilia Coast Restaurant at Beau Rivage The Bull 1906 • ($$) Homemade pastas & pizzas made ($) Sports bar-style joint. Pizza, sandwiches ($-$$) N. Mexico / Santa Fe cuisine & Gulf 167 Dauphin St. 433-7644 daily. 5901 Old Shell Rd. 342-3677 & the game. 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (888) Coast flair. 609 Dauphin St. 378-5091 Yen Restaurant 952-2582 The Trellis Room ($) Authentic Vietnamese cuisine. 763 Olé Mi Amigo! LB’s Steakhouse at Grand Casino ($$$) Italian dishes & local flair. Battle Holcombe Ave. 478-5814 ($$-$$$) Fine dining with juicy steak & fine House Hotel, Royal St. 338-5493 Cabo Coastal Cantina wine. Is The Game On? ($) 225 Dauphin St. 441-7685 280 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (800) 946-2946 A Little Vino Dauphin St. Taqueria Cuu Long Super Pho at Grand Casino ($$)Asian noodle soups, bubble teas & Baumhower’s Wings ($) Enchiladas, tacos, & authentic fare. 661 more. Domke Market ($) Famous wings, burgers & steaks. 3673 Dauphin St. 432-2453 280 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (800) 946-2946 Wine, Craft Beer, Gourmet foods, Gift Airport Blvd. 344-2134 • Jubilee Shopping El Charro Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House at Island baskets & more. 2410 Dawes Rd. Ste. D. Center, Daphne 625-4695 ($) Finest Mexican in WeMo. 7751 Airport View Casino ($$-$$$) Kick it up a notch. 375-0559 Buffalo Wild Wings Blvd. 607-0882 3300 W. Beach Blvd, Biloxi (877) 774-8439 Fathoms Lounge ($) Best wings & sporting events. 6341 Fuego C&G Grille at Island View Casino A tapas reaturant with handcrafted Airport Blvd. 378-5955 ($-$$) Outstanding Mexican in exciting ($)Breakfast, lunch or dinner with large cocktails, live daily music and covered Butch Cassidy’s atmosphere. 2066 Old Shell Rd. 378-8621 menu. outside seating with firepits and TVs. Open ($) Famous burgers, sandwiches & wings. Los Arcos 3300 W. Beach Blvd, Biloxi (877) 774-8439 for dinner. 64 S. Water St. 438-4000 60 N. Florida St. 450-0690. ($) Quaint Mexican restaurant & drink Farraddays’ Restaurant at Isle of Capri Gourmet Galley Wines, Callaghan’s Irish Social Club specials. 5556 Old Shell Rd. 345-7484 Casino in Biloxi ($-$$) Steak & seafood. Accessories, gift baskets & beer. 6808 ($) Burgers & beer. 916 Charleston St. La Cocina 151 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (800) 843- Airport Blvd. 343-3555 433-9374 ($) Homemade and authentic Mexican 4753 Red or White Heroes Sports Bar & Grille cuisine. 4633 Airport Blvd. 342-5553 Wahoo’s Poolside Bar and Grill at Palace 323A De La Mare Ave, Fairhope 990-0003 • ($) Sandwiches & cold beer. 273 Dauphin Santa Fe Grill Casino Resort ($-$$) Fresh seafood & 1801 Old Shell Rd. 478-9494 St. 433- 4376. Hillcrest & Old Shell Road ($) Locally-owned, fresh cuisine. 3160 Bel more. 158 Howard Ave, Biloxi (800) 725- Royal Street Tavern 341-9464 Air Mall by Target 450-2440 2239 Trendy downtown lounge with live piano McSharry’s Mignon’s at Palace Casino Resort music, specialty martinis and a light fare ($) Authentic Irish Pub. Brillant Reubens & No Gambling Casino Fare ($$-$$$)Extraordinary wine, steaks & menu. Open for dinner. 26 N. Royal St. 338- Fish-N-Chips 101 N. Brancroft St. Fairhope, seafood. 2000 251-990-5100 ATMoRE 158 Howard Ave, Biloxi (800) 725-2239 Southern Napa The Landing Fire at Wind Creek Casino & Hotel The Den at Treasure Bay Casino Daphne’s Neighborhood Fine Wine Store. ($) From seafood to steaks. 11799 Dauphin ($$-$$$) World-class prime steaks, seafood ($-$$) Intimate & casual with daily specials. 2304 Main Street. Wine bar, WineStation Island Pkwy. 251-973-2696 & wine. 303 Poarch Rd, Atmore (866) 946- 1980 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (800) 747- tasting machines. Bistro plates, craft beers Lucky’s Irish Pub 3360 2839 and pantry. 375-2800 ($) 3692 Airport Blvd 36608. 414-3000. Irish Grill at Wind Creek Casino & Hotel CQ at Treasure Bay Casino Taste pub fare & more. ($)Contemporary & old-fashioned favorites. ($$-$$$)Elegant atmosphere & tantalizing Midtown’s best wine selection & wine bar. The Stadium 303 Poarch Rd, Atmore (866) 946-3360 entrees. 1980 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (800) 2033 Airport Blvd. 479-3435 ($) Catch the games with great food. 19270 747-2839 Scenic Hwy. 98 Fairhope 990-0408 BILoxI Blu at Treasure Bay Casino Falafel? Try Some Hummus WeMos Vibe at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino ($) Stylish lounge with cocktails & tapas ($) Famous wings, tenders, hotdogs & ($-$$) Fine surf, turf, atmosphere & cigars. menu. sandwiches. 312 Schillinger Rd. 633-5877 7 Spice 777 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (877) 877-625 1980 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (800) 747-2839 ($-$$) Healthy, delicious Mediterranean Ruth’s Chris Steak House at Hard Rock Margaritaville Restaurant food. 3762 Airport Blvd. 725 - 1177 Mama Mia! Hotel & Casino ($$$) Exceptional service ($-$$) Featuring starters, soups & sides, Abba’s Mediterranean Cafe & taste. 777 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (877) 877- entree salads, specialties, sandwiches & ($-$$) Beef, lamb & seafood. 4356 Old Benedetto Restaurant, Catering & Market 6256 burgers, decadent desserts, kids’ menu. Shell Rd. 340-6464 ($$) 1716 Main St. Ste. C, Daphne 625- Hard Rock Café at Hard Rock Vegetarian & Gluten free options available Jerusalem Cafe 0345 Hotel and Casino ($) American fare & 160 5th St. Biloxi, 1-855-667-677 ($-$$) Mobile’s oldest Middle Eastern Bentz’s Pizza Pub rockin’ memorabilia. 777 Beach Blvd, Biloxi Feeding Frenzy Buffet(Margaritaville cuisine. 5773 Airport Blvd. 304-1155 ($) Homemade pizza and Italian dishes. (877) 877-6256 Casino) Mediterranean Sandwich Company 28567 County Rd. 13 625-6992 Satisfaction at Hard Rock Hotel and Featuring Gulf Coast Cuisine ($) Great & quick. 274 Dauphin St. 545- Buck’s Pizza Casino 160 5th St. Biloxi, 39530 3161 ($$) Delivery. 350 Dauphin St. 431-9444 ($) Southern favorites & fresh-smoked 1-855-667-677 2502 Schillinger Rd. Ste. 2 725-0126 Gambino Brothers meats. 777 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (877) 877- Marina at Landshark Landing Mint Hookah Bistro ($) Homemade pastas & sandwiches. 873 6256 ($-$$) 4 portable food stations. Roasted ($) 5951 Old Shell Rd. 251-450-9191 Hillcrest Ave. 344-8115 Tien at IP Casino Resort Spa meats, fried chicken, grilled items & snacks Zorba the Greek ($-$$) Pan-Asian cuisine made in front of 160 5th St. Biloxi, 39530 ($-$$) Shawarmah & baba ghanouj. 1222 Gambino’s Italian Grill you. 1-855-667-677 Hillcrest Rd, Ste. D 633-2202 ($) Italian, Steaks, Seafood, 18 Laurel Ave. 850 Bayview Ave, Biloxi (888) 946-2847 Fairhope, 990-0995 Highlights Sports Lounge at IP Casino

16 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 REVIEW THE DISH Cuisine Three Flavors delivers interesting cuisine in TiCo BY ANDY MACDONALD, Cuisine Editor, [email protected] t’s not often that I get out to Tillman’s Corner. I occasion- coconut milk fills me up. Today I have a mountain of food to eat, ally head west for a little grub, but my visits to our western so I went with the sister soup Tom Yum ($4.95). An excellent neighbors are few and far between. Every now and then I choice. I never ask for it too hot. These folks can light you up if discover little hidden gems that make the drive worthwhile. they want to. Leave the tough guy attitude at the door. I love the IThis week I decided to stop by a place I keep hearing folks rave flavor of lemongrass and cilantro in this soup. It comes in chicken about called Three Flavors. or shrimp and I couldn’t resist the shrimp. And nice sizeable Out Highway 90, Three Flavors is across the street from other shrimp they were. famous Tillman’s Corner establishments such as Dick Russell’s My Japanese taste buds were craving a bit of sushi. Spider Barbecue and the Candy Store. I’ve never eaten at the latter, but roll ($12.95) was a good recommendation from my waiter when Dick Russell’s doesn’t disappoint. So Three Flavors is in good I requested something that wasn’t humongous. It was still larger company. than I expected. Slightly gritty, but that comes with the territory Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai make up the tasty triumvi- of soft shell crab and nori. A very enjoyable roll, I was as fond of rate that begat the name. Fans of Asian food should know that the roe as I was the rest of the dish. It is nice they serve both low these folks do each well. The menu is expansive, and researchers sodium and full strength soy sauce. That’s a trend I am enjoying, should not be fooled by limited versions that seem to be the only preferring the lower salt. thing you can find online. So for my first visit I thought it best to For the entrée of the evening I couldn’t resist going Thai again.

hit the high notes and sample some familiar dishes before delving The rice dinner with cashew nuts and seafood ($9.95) was Photo courtesy of Courtney Anthony into anything risky. an excellent value. That sure is a lot of food for a ten spot. The Three Flavors has quality and friendly Thai iced tea ($2.50) was a great way to start off the meal. shrimp and scallops were the star of the show, but the vegetables This one isn’t bad. Sweet and unpretentious is the route they took. came in a close second, notably some delicious chunks of carrot. service. No whipped cream on top or cherries, but definitely requires a I had some of just about everything to take home, and I was price is right. The portions are good. The staff helpful and good stirring with the straw. It’s like having dessert before the stuffed to the gills. Portions are not a problem for those who like friendly. The food was definitely quality. While I didn’t have any meal. leftovers. I was not displeased with anything that day. Service was real complaints there wasn’t much that jumped out at me. It’s hard for me to pass up summer rolls ($6.95 per pair) great, and the food was really good. Good enough to return to try Fans of this place are rabid, and I found my meal enjoyable de- when visiting anything remotely Vietnamese. I must say these are some of the other dishes they may feel are their specialty. spite a lack of award winning dishes. I will recommend it for sure, the largest I have ever eaten. They come in either pork or shrimp. One dish I am kicking myself for not trying is the soft shell but I will be back to try some of the off-the-beaten-path items to Today’s order was shrimp. They are so fat you can hardly fit your crab tempura appetizer. It’s a tower of soft shell goodness and see what all the fuss is about. mouth around them. Heavy on the greenery, I enjoyed them but vegetables. I don’t think I’ve ever had soft shell crab whole in would rather have had a smaller roll. The shrimp were swallowed a tempura batter. I also hear the Katsu is very good. It’s worth by the rest of it. The peanut sauce was very nice, though. mentioning that these guys have a catch of the day, ranging from Three Flavors The Thai side of me couldn’t resist the soup. Tom Ka is a snapper to mahi. There are just so many things to try that it will 5369 Highway 90 W Ste D favorite of mine, but I was still reeling from the sugar buzz of take me a while to get through all I want to sample. Mobile, AL 36619 the iced tea. If I’m eating Tom Ka, I don’t get much else. That The final word on Three Flavors is it has my attention. The (251) 661-5100

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 |17 CUISINE WORD OF MOUTH Sriracha is going big time and has a spicy story

BY ANDY MACDONALD, Cuisine Editor, [email protected] A Thai for a Thai vision problems then you are on my list of “must You lose one, gain another. The bad news is haves.” So long story short they were asked to Mobile’s downtown is done with Thai. Since we shut down a portion of the plant. Not the entire last spoke Busaba’s has shut its doors. I will say thing, just a portion. they outlasted many a downtown restaurant. With Meanwhile, the sauce was already back- 13 years of service and three Nappies for “Best ordered and restaurateurs and fans alike were Ethnic Food,” somebody must have been doing beginning to panic. But the panic escalated when something right. California state health regulators called a halt to A heartfelt goodbye was issued from their the shipping, stating laws that require a 30 day Facebook site Dec. 4. Already I have been get- waiting period for uncooked processed foods to ting emails from folks who miss the place. There ship in order to search for pathogens. is talk of a new Mobile business venture from the Huy Fong Foods is complying and the culi- owners. We will keep you posted. nary world is in a frenzy. People are stockpiling So while you are waiting for a possible Busa- those bottles of “rooster sauce” and making ba move, why not try the new place on Bel Air matters worse. If you have a bottle, don’t panic. Boulevard aptly named Thai. I’m yet to have the I go through maybe one per year. Things will be pleasure, but a friend of mine recently went and back on track before you know it. I remember says she will definitely be back. Her only com- when you could only find it at Food Pak (where I plaints? Lack of female servers and ‘80s music. bought my first bottle). Now it’s in most grocery Hey, you’ve got to let them iron out the kinks. stores, so I think Mobile will be OK. Add some bad ‘90s music and some waitresses If you’d like to learn more about this amazing and they will be sitting on a goldmine. American success story there is a 33-minute independent film available on the internet called Big Al’s burns out “Sriracha”. What began as a Kickstarter cam- Sad to report another one bites the dust. Big paign is now a movie available for $5. Look for Al’s Barbecue at Airport and University has it everywhere. burned its last coal. It wasn’t bad cue, but the breakfast was exceptional. No word on whether Food predictions for 2014 it is a permanent shutdown or a relocation. Either I asked around, mostly friends, and got some way, always sad this time of year. fairly strong opinions about what food trends we could expect to see in the upcoming year. I get Gigi’s getting ready for New Year the feeling these are less prediction and more It’s a new year and a new leaf for Gigi’s Cup- wishful thinking. My personal predictions were cakes. The latest addition to the menu is a variety fairly simple. I predict smaller hamburgers, less of muffins geared toward meetings and gather- hoppy beer and that some restaurant will begin ings of sophistication where cupcakes may be a serving armadillo, calling it possum on the half bit too sweet. But that’s not all. Stuffed cookies shell. Mark my words. Here are some others are also one of this season’s “it” items. And as we from my so-called friends. draw nearer to the Mardi Gras season one can ex- • More ceviche. I’m on board with this. Cevi- pect those cookies to be stuffed with King Cake. che everywhere. Grocery stores, fast food restau- Of course there will be King Cake and Moon Pie rants, ceviche street carts, and with a variety of cupcakes along with the daily selections you’ve fish and shellfish. come to enjoy at 273 McGregor Ave. • Designer popcorn will be huge. Things like chocolate peppermint, butter almond or Bourbon Sriracha is heating up the news flavor could be here before you know it. I cannot tell you the first time I tried Sriracha. • Nut butters. Yes, it sounds funny, but healthy But I was first told about it from a friend at work peanut, cashew, almond, pistachio, and any kind in the late ‘90s. I’ve been a Tabasco man my of nut you can think of. Natural and healthy is whole life, mainly because I know exactly how the way to go. I’ve had some macadamia nut but- much to use, but I don’t even consider Tabasco ter before. It was something else. and Sriracha kissing cousins. Tabasco has the • Hopefully more cow tongue. The lengua at vinegar, salt and cayenne thing going on while the OK Bicycle shop is often sold out due to its Sriracha is a thick puree of red jalapenos and popularity. Where else can we find it? garlic. Different applications, folks. • Pop Tarts will become more designer But in recent years Sriracha has taken on a oriented than cupcakes. Truth is they are on their cult like following. The wonderful red sauce with way. I’m waiting for the frosted margarita flavor a rooster on the bottle is a recent Lay’s potato to hit the shelves. No salt, of course. chip flavor. You’ll find it at Subway restaurants Some predicted more chicken dishes, oth- in a cream sauce. People (that is plural, boys ers predicted folks would go the “udder” way. and girls) are sporting Sriracha tattoos. There’s a Chicken steroids, recombinant bovine growth flavored vodka that I’m sure would make a hell hormone, who can win? Bad things like that can of a Bloody Mary. There are even Sriracha candy even make our ice cream an udder failure. Maybe canes. we will eradicate these practices of tainting our Recently Huy Fong Foods, the makers of the meat and poultry only to find there is some other lovable sauce opened a new plant in Irwindale, ingredient that will harm our children’s children. Calif. Not long after that the townspeople began I’m not condoning anything but I’m sure I’ve to complain because the strong fumes were eaten mountains of steroid-riddled meat. I may irritating people’s lungs and eyes. If your hot not be that bright, but I’m still around. sauce is killer enough to create respiratory and Recycle!

18 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 |19 CUISINE THIRSTY WORK Fizz the season (who needs holly?)

BY SUSAN LARSSON, Contributing Writer, [email protected] n the run-up to New Year’s Eve I should to plant vines after talking to European winemak- write about Champagne, but I’m not going ers who were already growing grapes there. His to. I’m going to write about sparkling wine winemaker son Laurent and daughter Nathalie — or what folks call “champagne” with a then relocated to the state, producing their first Ismall “c,” because no one says “sparkling wine” wines in 1987 and selling their sparklers after two in real life. There are oceans of good sparklers on years of aging, in 1989. The winery follows strict the market — many just as good as Champagne, “Méthode Champenoise” rules — logical, given but costing a whole lot less. the family legacy. What is Champagne, anyway? Well, it starts Gruet’s Non-Vintage (NV) Brut is light, easy life as a still wine (i.e., non-bubbly) made in drinking and easy to find in stores. Made from France’s “la Champagne” province. After bar- the three classic Champagne grapes, it has a faint rel fermentation, aging and bottling, the wine gold color with tiny, chaotic bubbles and sharp, undergoes a second fermentation — which traps citrus aromas (no hint of oak or toast). The taste carbon dioxide in the bottle, to be released as is largely citrus, with fresh pineapple and good bubbles when you pop the cork. Sparkling wines acidity. Light, enjoyable and uncomplicated, made via this process will have words like “tra- this is a good “walk in the door, pick up a glass” ditional method” or “Méthode Champenoise” on bubbly. (Wine shops and better grocery stores; 12 their labels. percent ABV; $13.) Champagne is usually blended from three Gruet’s NV Brut Rosé is a step up, with a gor- grape varieties — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and geous orangey-salmon hue and streamers of small Pinot Meunier — although four other grapes are bubbles. Its aromas are softer than the NV Brut, allowed. The resulting wine is white, or “blanc” with just a hint of strawberry. Strawberry follows in French. A “blanc de noirs” is a Champagne through in the flavor, along with red currant and a made entirely from black grapes — such as tiny bit of toast — richer than the aroma suggests. Pinot Noir — while a “blanc de blancs” is made The finish is dry and palate-cleansing. Overall, entirely from white grapes — usually 100 percent the Rosé is more balanced than the NV, like a Chardonnay. Because of the tannins that a “blanc more mature sibling — classy and refined. (Bet- de noirs” absorbs from dark grape skins, it will ter wine shops; 12 percent AVB; $18.) taste very different from a “blanc de blancs.” Nyetimber 2007 Classic Cuvee is a delicious Champagne and sparkling wines can be vintage vintage sparkler, blending Pinot Noir, Char- (all the juice dates from one year’s harvest, with donnay and Pinot Meunier. It’s produced on a the year on the label) or non-vintage (NV — a 152-hectare estate in West Sussex and Hampshire blend of juices from several harvests, aiming at a in — yes, really — England. Nyetimber’s color is consistent “house style”). deeper gold than other sparklers, with larger bub- Sparkling wine is, basically, fizz made any- bles and fuller body. Deep flavors of ripe citrus where outside “la Champagne,” even in France. and toast mingle with fine acidity and dryness. To Charles de Fère’s Reserve Blanc de Blancs Brut me, it’s more like drinking a rich white wine than (NV), for example, is a sparkling wine made in what most folks think of as “Champagne.” France’s Bourgogne (Burgundy) province. This Nyetimber’s founders planted their first vines blanc de blancs blends three white grapes: Char- in 1988, in sandy and chalky soils similar to those donnay, Ugni Blanc, and Chenin Blanc, giving it of Champagne; today it’s regarded as one of Eng- a much softer taste than a 100 percent Chardon- land’s finest wine producers. Its wines are crafted nay Champagne. (Ugni Blanc is a mild “blending from 100 percent estate-grown, handpicked grape” grown throughout France; it’s possibly grapes, with “Méthode Champenoise” fermenta- the most widely grown grape you’ve never heard tion. The Queen serves Nyetimber to visiting of.) Bold aromas of citrus and toast hit your dignitaries and I enjoy it with almost everything nose as you pour. It’s an ultra-pale gold color, (including potato chips). (Available on line; 12 with tiny, sparse bubbles (but nice effervescence percent ABV; $45.) when you sip). The flavors are mid-tart, with a If you like your sparklers a bit sweet, or definite nutty, caramel note and a dusty dry finish. maybe for dessert, then Ornella Morlon’s NV It softens after opening, with red apple enhancing Moscato Spumante — the Italian word for spar- the flavors. kling wine — is for you. Although sweet, this fizz This sparkler works as either an aperitif or made since 1982 by a husband and wife team in with your first course. Pair it with a pear and the Veneto region of Northern Italy is a layercake endive salad sprinkled with blue cheese and of flavors with a fresh (not sticky) feel. Its color Champagne vinaigrette. You also could use this is palest gold and its aromas are pure Muscat fizz in Mimosas, because its flavors aren’t strong. grape — like cotton candy made from white (Available at Domke Market; 12 percent ABV; stone fruits, or maybe white-grape gummy bears. $14.) There’s a mint leaf hiding among the lemon Next up is a duo of sparklers from New meringue pie (with crust) flavors and a hint of Mexico’s Gruet Winery. I visited this winery in flint on the finish. This amazing wine wants either 2001, after finding a leaflet saying “Discover the sweet or salty partners to match or balance its Wineries of New Mexico” in an Albuquerque sugar. I’m thinking cheesecake, at one extreme, hotel lobby. It sounded like a fine plan, and was! or chicken-pesto pizza (yes to black olives) at the The Gruet (pronounced “grew-ay”) Winery other. A cheese plate with pecorino Romano also began as an experimental vineyard in 1984, when would be fine. (Distributed by A&G Beverages Gilbert Gruet — whose Champagne house Gruet to local wine shops and restaurants; 8.5 percent et Fils had produced fine French Champagnes ABV; $15.) since 1952 — visited New Mexico and decided Happy New Year!!

20 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 21 C Spire acquires Callis Communications BUSINESS THE REAL DEAL

BY RON SIVAK, Columnist, [email protected] Spire announced plans recently to acquire Callis Com- signaling the company’s accelerated and expanded focus on busi- a week before Christmas, the nation’s second-largest discounter munications, a fast-growing provider of cloud-based ness, government, and consumer technology solutions. acknowledged that data connected to about 40 million credit and unified communications as a service for businesses. The In September, the provider launched the nation’s largest state- debit card accounts was stolen as part of a breach that began over merger is still pending regulatory approval, but upon wide initiative to bring ultra-fast 1 gigabit per second fiber-based the Thanksgiving weekend. Ccompletion would expand the provider’s technology footprint Internet access to homes in nine Mississippi cities. The theft marks the second-largest credit card breach in U.S. tremendously in the local area. In November, C Spire broke ground on a new $20 million Tier history, exceeded only by a scam that began in 2005 involving The nation’s largest privately held wireless communications III+ data center in Starkville, Miss., which will power a full suite retailer TJX Cos. (TJ Maxx) and affected at least 45.7 million company, C Spire is headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss., and em- of enterprise cloud services and solutions for businesses across card users. ploys nearly 1,200. They provide diversified telecommunications the Southeast region. “The fact this breach can happen with all of their security in and technology services to consumers and businesses. “Like C Spire, Callis has a highly experienced team with a place is really alarming,” Lee R. Donald, president of local web- Mobile, Alabama-based Callis Communications serves cus- long tradition of serving its customers with excellence, making based organizing company LeeLogic Inc. said.“One thing I try to tomers in key business markets across the Southeast and, for the this a winning combination,” Hu Meena, president and CEO of emphasize to clients is that they should use different passwords sixth consecutive year, was recognized as one of the fastest grow- C Spire said. “In addition to the cloud-based solutions available and not recycle the passwords from month to month. They should ing telecommunications and cloud communications companies on today, we plan to provide a greatly expanded and comprehensive change their credentials on a regular basis. Yes, doing these things the Inc. 5,000 list. suite of world-class cloud-based computing and enterprise ap- can take time and be a bother, but would you prefer to spend time Founded in 1999 as a paging provider, Callis became a plication solutions from our new state-of-the-art tandem of data deal with changing your password on a regular basis or recovering facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier and Internet centers.” losses stolen by a cyber-thief has?” service provider in 2005; delivering private branch exchange ser- C Spire expects final regulatory approval of the merger within Often asked is how frequently someone needs to change login vice and IP based solutions to small and medium sized businesses the next 60 days. credentials, especially on social media. The simplest answer, throughout the Gulf Coast region. PDQ in Alabama Donald said, is to make a determination on how critical and/or In 2009, Callis expanded throughout the Southeast to become Two-year-old, Tampa-based restaurant franchise PDQ (People sensitive the information is to an individual end-user. a cloud-based unified communications company, providing hosted Dedicated to Quality) recently opened for business in the Port Per Donald, changing a password does not automatically en- private branch exchange services, cloud-based telephony, data City. This is their first foray into Alabama (16th store) with new sure your information is safe, but it does deter potential hackers. security, email and collaboration solutions. groundbreakings planned in Auburn, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham “In a meeting with a business owner this week, I was asked if The company is one of the founding members of the Cloud over the next 12 to 18 months. our SaaS could be used to share information internally. I real- Communications Alliance, an industry peer association dedicated PDQ is a fast casual restaurant specializing in chicken tenders, ized that he wanted to create an intranet, which he could use. He to fostering the growth and innovation of cloud communications. salads and sandwiches made popular locally by the likes of Foo- thought for a minute and shared with me that the main reason “For over 25 years, C Spire has built a large and highly loyal sackly’s and Zaxbys, among others. his extended family uses Facebook is to share family photos and customer base with an unmatched focus on providing exceptional Locally owned and operated by Mobile native Chris Pfeiffer, events, but they did not like having all of the children’s pictures service and taking the business needs of its customers personally,” the location is 4,300-square-feet. Realtor Burton Clark repre- on the web, and really didn’t like the spam,” Donald said. Dean Parker, president and CEO of Callis said. “That core value sented the sale of the land located on University Blvd. to PDQ. An “To protect all of the children, they are looking for an alterna- is what has defined Callis, and it’s why this is a great combina- official ribbon cutting with the Mobile Chamber of Commerce is tive to FB. I offered our secure cloud based solution, MobilLogic. tion. We are confident our customers will continue to be in great slated for Q1 of 2014. With many ways to set it up, they can share photos and other fam- hands as C Spire brings its customer-inspired approach to their Christmas Security ily info privately,” Donald continued. business technology and communications needs.” Target’s data-security nightmare threw a massive scare into Happy Holidays, Lagniappe readers. See you in 2014! The acquisition is the latest in a series of moves by C Spire holiday shoppers during the company’s busiest time of year. Just

22 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 23 COVER STORY Moving people from the streets to their own homes

BY KATIE NICHOLS, News Editor, [email protected]

he sun was setting low on Mobile and the afternoon Mobile Mental Health Center. people in housing while helping pay or subsidize the rent. They warmth was turning into a cold night. Charles King What they do can best be told by James Ward. do more than just write a check though. Housing First teaches turned up the collar on his coat as a breeze swept “You have to understand, I’m originally from Chicago so clients life skills like how to balance a checkbook and make a around the parking lot and he looked at the setting when I moved down here, I didn’t have any family,” Ward said. budget. Tsun. “I started doing drugs and ended up going to prison. When I The goal is a to help a client, like Ward, get on his feet again At 54 years old King is homeless, but he isn’t worried about got out, I stayed at a halfway house, but you can’t stay there and then the non-profit can move on to another person in need where he is sleeping on a night when the lows are expected to forever.” of help. hit 43 degrees. Even before Ward went to prison, he began sleeping on the Ward said he would never forget what they did for him. “I don’t get bad until it’s in the 30s,” he said. “Tonight streets, but the memory is fuzzy. “Housing First and the people there are like family now,” he won’t be bad at all. You just find somewhere out of the wind “When you’re doing drugs, no one wants you around,” he said. “I can count on them even now. They gave me a chance. and get your coat or something warm and you’ll be good all said. “When you’re messed up, it’s hard to remember things They gave me hope.” night.” like the first night you slept outside.” Housing First helped Ward out after his stint in prison and King is one of the many faces Mobilians have come to after he started going to Narcotics and Alcohol Anonymous recognize or look past as they drive around the city. They are meetings. Ward got involved in a church and then Housing the men and women who don’t have a regular place to rest their First helped him get into an apartment. head. They are Mobile’s homeless. “The first night was scary. I had been on the streets for so King doesn’t make any excuses or apologies for why he is long that I had to teach myself to sleep on a bed again,” he sleeping out on the streets. said. “It was scary being in my own apartment. I had to teach “Man, I screwed up every way I could. I did things that I’m myself to cook again because I hadn’t in so long.” not proud of and I can’t go back,” he said. “It didn’t get bad Soon Ward was making strides. He got a job at a cleaning until I started to drink and do some drugs, but I don’t do that services company, but now Ward has exceeded that. He now anymore. You just have to stop sometime.” owns his own business — JLW Cleaning Services. The nights when King was hungry and cold aren’t the worst “To be from where I was to having employees is … amaz- part about not having a bed. He said it’s something much more ing,” he said. He tries to help give back by volunteering at simple that bothers him. kitchens and giving people who are ready to change their lives “There are people who have homes that go to bed hungry the same opportunity that was afforded to him. and cold. The difference between me and them is people will Hearing Ward talk about his business being insured and talk to them,” he said. “If I’m walking down a street, people bonded and having contracts with the city of Mobile is what look at me and then look away real quick like. They don’t Housing First is about. want me to ask for money or to even talk to me. I get it, but it Housing First Executive Director Eric Jefferson oversees the doesn’t make it feel any better.” department and said the non-profit wants more success stories But King isn’t alone. He said he has a family of sorts — his like Ward. fellow homeless people. He said there is definitely a commu- “Our goal is to get people to where they can support them- nity of people who look out for each other. selves again by helping them,” he said. “We’re doing some- It isn’t just other homeless people looking out for them. thing for the first time in Mobile that will hopefully help out as Organizations like Housing First are on the frontline helping many people as possible.” people who have fallen on bad times. In March, Jefferson went to Birmingham’s Project Home- Housing First is a non-profit organization that originally Photo/Gabe Tynes less Connect and was blown away at what he saw. began in 1992 with a group of business and church leaders James Ward made his way from living on “On a Saturday in March there was a line at 4 a.m. for Proj- coming together to address the issue of the growing number of the streets to helping the homeless. ect Homeless Connect and the doors didn’t open until 8 a.m.,” homeless. Since that time, Housing First has transformed into he said. “There were more than 900 people helped that day. a task force for the Homeless Coalition of Mobile and finally Being from Chicago and not knowing his way around, Mo- There were dentists, people to help with vision and giving out settled on its current name in 2006. bile wasn’t an easy place for Ward to be homeless. He didn’t glasses, medical screenings and people to talk about housing Since 1996, more than $17 million in Housing and Urban know about 15 Place or Housing First. He slept in parks or availabilities. Development grants have been approved through Housing wherever he could find an out-of-the-way place. “There were even lawyers and judges there hearing small First for various organizations serving the homeless, including “Sleeping on the streets is rough. You eat what you can. cases to help get rid of warrants.” Loaves and Fish, Franklin Primary Health Center, the Service I’ve eaten out of a garbage can because I was so hungry,” Ward Jefferson explained most apartment places would not let Center of Catholic Social Services, Catholic Social Services of said. “You sleep where you can, but there isn’t a place for you anyone sign a lease with an active warrant. Baldwin County, The Salvation Army, Volunteers of America, to shower. Going from that to where I am … it’s amazing.” While Jefferson was amazed, it made him realize how much Dumas Wesley Community Center, St. Mary’s Home, Baldwin Ward didn’t know about Housing First, but they found Mobile’s day of service was lacking. Family Violence Shelter, Penelope House, Family Promise and him. The program, among other things, works to get homeless “When I went, there were people handing out pamphlets,”

24| Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 he said. “That’s not going to really help just after Hurricane Katrina. Following the anyone.” devastating storm there were 880 homeless So Jefferson has modeled Mobile’s day of people in Housing First’s service area. service after Birmingham’s. The day will be “The number of homeless has gone down, Jan. 31 and will have people from the Social but the service calls have gone up,” Dees Security office there to help with claiming said. benefits, people from the Department of Pub- Since the service needs are more, the need lic Safety to take photo IDs, a laundry truck, for counting every homeless person in the the Lions Club will be there helping with vi- area is even more important. sion, the Mobile County Health Department, “That count is what determines our fund- lawyers, pharmacies, people from Bishop ing,” Jefferson said. “It might shock people, State College’s barbershop and even a person but there are over 5,000 kids in the Mobile repairing bikes. County Public School System who are tech- All of this will be at the Mobile Civic nically homeless. They might live with their Center from 8 a.m. until 2 or 4 p.m. There mom and dad with their aunts and uncles or will even be transportation provided from even in the family car. That’s why funding is West Mobile and Baldwin County. important.” The Day of Service will coincide with an- Getting the word out about Housing other very important event for Housing First First’s services is also important and chal- — counting the homeless population. lenging. Local organizations are trying to aid Every year, the Department of Housing in spreading the word by telling the people and Urban Development requires agencies they serve and handing out pamphlets. When that receive money from the government to Charles King was told about the program, he count the homeless population in a certain had no idea about the housing help or the day region. This number is used when deciding of service on Jan. 31. how much a city or region gets from HUD. “I’ll make sure to be there. I know I could At last count, there were between 436 and use help,” he said. 617 homeless people according to HUD’s James Ward knows how King feels … he criteria. The reason the number varies is just needed help. that HUD allowed agencies to count both “I always say, ‘If you can look up, you those without a home and also add people can get up,’” Ward said. “I believe with God, who were “couch surfing” as homeless. So hope and faith you can get up. So for people the larger number adds in people who had needing help, if you can look up, you can get no home but did have somewhere indoors up.” to sleep. Now that is no longer considered homeless. If any local business or practitioner would Housing First Director of Program Opera- like to donate their time and/or services to tions Michelle Krulewicz-Dees said the high- Mobile’s Day of Service, please call Housing est number of homeless Mobile has seen was First at 251-450-3345.

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 25 26 26 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 ART MUSIC FILM SPORTS STYLE 28 32 40 42 46 A E &GUIDE M USI C MoonPie Over Mobile is definitely the biggest celebration in Mobile with tens of thousands of people converging downtown to see the electric MoonPie slide down the RSA-Trustmark building. The night kicks off with musical performances starting at 5 p.m. in Bienville Square and a New Year’s Eve Mardi Gras-like parade at 7:30 p.m. Gretchen Wilson will sing into the New Year with her performance starting at 11 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Gretchenwilson.com AR T S FILM ST Y L E Kevin Lee reflects on his last 10 years as Asia offers up a Jimmy Stewart holiday No, he wasn’t standing outside with a Lagniappe’s arts editor, citing monumental classic. No, not that one. This one has a boombox over his head, but John Cusack changes in some areas, while still hoping for “witchay” woman. Also, two flicks that are was spotted at several local haunts, while in improvement in others. Art Gallery gives you sure to be favorites during the awards show town filming “The Prince.” Also, some ladies the lowdown on the latest exhibits and shows season are headed to The Crescent. get rowdy as they are fight over “man meat” at MAC, JJP, MMOA and OVWCA (other at Veet’s. And the Lagniappe Christmas party venues without catchy acronyms). gets cheesy. Boozie has all the scoop.

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 27 ARTS ARTIFICE A look back shows clear artistic progress

BY KEVIN LEE, Arts Editor, [email protected]

s 2013 fades, so ends my initial increased a notable reputation for engaging, decade as Lagniappe arts editor. varied and provocative exhibits in that time. Inevitably, the question arises: The Mobile Symphony Orchestra has what’s changed in that time? hosted its most renowned guest musicians AIn a lot of ways, everything is different. in the last decade. Names like Joshua Bell, Yet, in smaller but more integral measures, Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman have graced not enough has changed. Mobile audiences with astounding artistry. Ten years ago, there were no monthly Arthouse and independent film have found Artwalks. Now, they’re so well attended the a permanent home at the Crescent Theater, police are experimenting with shutting down a downtown institution that was completely Dauphin Street traffic for an 11-block stretch unforeseeable in 2003. Other film happen- during those monthly gallery strolls. ings have bloomed, such as the annual South In 2003, the Centre for the Living Arts was Alabama Film Festival, the Fairhope Film just putting the finishing touches on a new ex- Festival and Mobile’s inclusion on the South- hibit space in the old Press-Register building ern Circuit of Independent Filmmakers. on Cathedral Square. Now, that spot – Space The Southern Literary Trail has also be- 301 – has premiered as a prime location for come a regular occurrence, popping up every exemplary contemporary art. It has been other year to celebrate our notable natives. expanded to include CLA offices and other Grassroots efforts have escalated. We amenities, all while becoming a true show- gained a yarn bomber with the sobriquet the place for internationally famous artists. Knitting Loon. Local graffiti artist Priest Back then, CLA was running the Saenger created a tempest with his Banksy-influenced and tending to the aging building as best works before cutting out for the Crescent City they could. They have since restored it to its not long ago. former glory via a $6 million renovation and The Rumor Union, an artists’ collective ceded control back to the city of Mobile. seeking to engage and aid the community A decade ago, the Mobile Arts Council while expanding consciousness, was born and was searching for a new director and making established headquarters in downtown. Their do with offices in a downtown cubbyhole. annual Temporal City Festival implements Now, they’ve welcomed a director from our surfeit of empty buildings in a celebration Indiana who brought new energy, found a of contemporary art and their efforts were key highly visible home at street level, opened a in manifesting a three-day festival to avant- gallery, begun more publicized fundraising garde colossus John Cage in 2013. events, started an annual awards program to Though our presentation of dramatic arts is honor the members and organizations of our still represented chiefly by community theater arts community and become a locus of com- groups in Midtown, Fairhope and Chicka- munity engagement. saw, one older company has re-emerged. The In 2003, we saw the first of a new event, South of the Salt Line, specializing in satirical the Arts Alive festival that brought more treatments of our Bay area eccentricities, focus on the various artisans and artistic disci- arose in 2013 and continues with plans for plines living among us. Though it’s mutated a further lampoons. bit, it’s still going on every spring. As expected on life’s roller coaster, The Gulf Coast Exploreum has come not all the changes of the last decade have into its own with a series of record-breaking been good. Fine arts nexus WHIL-FM has exhibits – the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pompeii, remained on the air but is no longer locally Egyptian mummies – over the last decade. produced. With its IMAX theater, it has brought the A contemporary arts showplace, GULF fascination of intellectual discovery to tens of ArtSpace, made a splash in Fairhope but thousand of adults and kids alike. then faded away after a few notable years. The Exploreum’s next-door neighbor, the Likewise, several galleries have opened in History Museum of Mobile, has endured per- downtown Mobile that could never manage sonnel changes. The man currently at its helm to boost sales until they either shuttered their boasts a resume that includes stints oversee- doors or relocated. ing presidential libraries around the nation. Most tragically, we’ve lost patrons like The History Museum’s former locale on Palmer Bedsole, Ann Delchamps, Sam Government Street has become Mobile’s Car- Eichold, former arts editor Gordon Tatum, en- nival Museum, a year-long introduction to our gines of entrepreneurial spirit like Leila Hol- Mardi Gras heritage for out-of-town visitors. loway and William Chesser along with great Tangentially, Mobile native Margaret Brown artists such as Ira Swingle, Lil Greenwood made the annual pre-Lenten festival the focus and David McCann. That much is inevitable of her internationally acclaimed and award- but still hard to swallow. winning film “The Order of Myths,” exposing So while Mobile can often feel like the both good and bad for all it is worth. same ol’ somnambulant town, growth is all The Mobile Museum of Art had just around us. If the last 10 years are any indica- premiered its $15 million expansion in 2003. tion, the next decade can’t pass soon enough. It has since changed directors twice, but has

28 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 29 ARTSGALLERY Running the rails through the Arts Council

BY KEVIN LEE, Arts Editor, [email protected] Some of My Trains of Thought Where: Mobile Arts Council (318 Dauphin St.) When: Through January When Dr. Joaquin Holloway retired from a life of education, he had more time to dedicate to a hobby that had followed him most of his life: his love of trains. Whether it’s his involvement with local model train enthusiasts or his haunting the local railyards, Holloway can be found near the tracks. His combination of this love with his pursuit of photography has brought him attention. Some of his photos were used as basis for paintings at the GM&O Building. More of his photos will be featured in the Mobile Arts Council for January, along with railroad items he plans to display. An opening reception is planned for Jan. 10, 6 – 9 p.m. during the monthly LoDa Artwalk. For more info, call 251-432-9796 or go to www.mobilearts.org. The nose knows at JJP Cyrano de Bergerac Where: Joe Jefferson Playhouse (11 S. Carlen St.) When: Jan. 17 – 26 Edmond Rostand’s tale of chivalry and inner beauty has a firm place in the Western Canon by now, but the story is always ripe for retelling. As a master swordsman and brilliant courtier, Cyra- no de Bergerac has few equals. Unfortunately for poor Cyrano, neither does his sizable sniffer. Smitten with the fair Roxanne, he hides his feelings. But when Cyrano goes so far as to surrep- titiously aid a more handsome dullard in his own pursuit of the lady, things go humorously awry. Directed by Jim Faust, this initial JJP production of 2014 raises the curtain at 8 p.m. for Friday and Saturday shows. Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors and military and $10 for students. For more info, call 251-471-1534 or go to www.joejeffersonplayers.com. Making a joyful noise An Epiphany Procession with Lessons and Carols Where: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (2 S. Claiborne St.) When: Jan. 5, 4:30 p.m. Though it appeared in 2010 as if Musica Sacra was nearing its demise, they have managed to remain a stalwart presence in the Mobile area. Now celebrating its 26th season under the direc- tion of Christopher Uhl, the choir will mark one of the oldest Christian Feasts – predominantly celebrated as Twelfth Night on the Creole Coast – with this traditional program. Joined by organist Jeff Clearman, there will be sacred readings followed by carols to accompa- ny the text. Led by cross and candles, the chorus will travel to various “stations” around the room while singing antiphonally across the church. A similar program will take place Jan. 4, 7 p.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church in Foley. Donations are welcome at the door. For more info, contact Musica Sacra Chamber Choir President, Sally McKenna, at 251-610- 1931 or go to their Facebook page. USA glass show at Kangal

Glass from the University of South Alabama Free film at Museum of Art Where: Kangal Gallery (58 N. Royal St.) When: January and February Margraue by Matthieu Halle Where: Mobile Museum of Art (4850 Museum Dr.) Glass is mesmerizing. Fluid in appearance but fragile in nature, this amorphous (or non-crys- When: Dec. 26, 6 p.m. talline) solid could be described as a liquid that has lost the ability to flow. Its paradoxical nature perhaps explains its singular beauty. Plagued by mental instability, Margraue’s relationship with his students deteriorates until he Kangal’s show for the heart of the 2014 winter highlights the wondrous creations coming from takes solace in an imaginary, post-apocalyptic world. In that fantastic realm, the teacher is revered the glass studio at the University of South Alabama, including faculty and students alike. Those by self-disciplined apprentices eager for knowledge amidst the widespread loss of technology. with work on display include Rachel Wright, Matthew Patterson, Rene Culler, Andrew Lewis, This Canadian film unfolds in three distinct acts that seem at first disparate, but come together Dain Peterson, Danielle Warner, David Wiss, Doug Haywick, Hannan Gold-Vukson, Isabel Kes- to form a singular tale. The movie is brought to Mobile in conjunction with Simple Machine, an sler, Katie Martin, Kevin Landry, Lee Fox, Tera Smith and Tammy Reese. indie film distributor looking to expose more audiences to the proliferation of films popping up An opening reception is planned for 5 – 9 p.m. during the Jan. 10 LoDa Artwalk. with greater frequency. Normal gallery hours are Tues.-Fri.., 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sat.,10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Open Entrance to the film and access to the galleries is all free until 9 p.m. late Thursdays until 8 p.m. For more info, call 251-208-5200 or go to www.mobilemuseumofart.com. For more info, call 251-434-0330, email [email protected], or go to www.kangalgallery.com.

30 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 31 Not just a ‘Redneck Woman,’ Wilson plans to MUSIC add a little rock and blues to NYE FEATURE

BY STEVE CENTANNI, Music Editor, [email protected]

Band: MoonPie Over Mobile, featuring of dictatorship about what songs go on a record. There’s always performances by Gretchen Wilson, Lati- a lot of meetings that you have to have, and everybody has to agree on the songs. They find a formula that works down there more, Worx, I Sing, The Wolf Gambino on Music Row, and they stick to it. I’ve never been much of a Trio, Kyle and Karl and Less than Stellar follower. I like to do new things and try new things and continue Date: Tues., Dec. 31, with festivities start- to grow as an artist. I wanted to do a lot of different styles of ing at 5 p.m. music. I wanted to do things that I hadn’t had a chance to do Venue: Downtown Mobile before on records. We come out to play shows, and we don’t just Tickets: Free play “Redneck Woman” and hillbilly music. We play a lot of rock-and-roll, some blues, some R&B and some jazz, every once nce again, it is time to watch the Azalea City’s elec- in awhile. We’re multi-genre. I just wanted to let the world know tronic effigy to its favorite marshmallow confection that. fall ever so gracefully in celebration of the coming year. Musical entertainment will start at 6 p.m. on SC: You brought back in Blake Chancey as a producer. He’s Othe Riverview Stage with bands such as Worx, I Sing, The Wolf got quite a versatile resume, and he’s worked in all those genres Gambino Trio, Kyle & Karl and Less Than Stellar rocking the that you just mentioned. What’s it like working with Blake? crowd into the night. GW: He produced one song on “Right on Time” called “One At 9 p.m., the soulful sounds of Latimore will bring life to the Good Friend.” He’s actually a great friend. He’s one of those Austal Stage before headliner Gretchen Wilson takes the same guys that’s been pretty true. All the years that I’ve known him, stage. he’s a real music lover. You get to Nashville, and you find out Wilson rose to superstar status courtesy of hits such as that there’s a lot people there for business side of it and not the “Redneck Woman” and “All Jacked Up.” Since then, she has music side. It’s pretty awesome when you meet and find some- established her own record label (Redneck Records) and built body that you can work with that’s also your friend, and they feel her own studio. With the new label and studio, she has been a like you and think about what’s good and real about music. He’s busy woman in 2013, with the release of three albums. “Right on somebody else that enjoys a little space in a track, rather than Time” is a collection of originals. “Under the Covers” is Wilson’s trying to use every button you got in the studio. take on her favorite rock tunes. However, she has been spending her recent shows promoting tunes off of her Christmas album SC: “Right on Time” has been pretty well-received by the “Christmas in My Heart.” For Wilson, this was an album that has fans and critics. After putting three years between studio re- been a long time coming. leases, how does it feel to see this succeed? Photo courtesy of Gretchenwilson.com GW: It feels good just to still be in business. I’ve been here SC: You’ve been out promoting your new Christmas album. long enough now. Not too many artists get to have 10 years in Gretchen Wilson will be headlining the What’s it been like spreading your own brand of Christmas the music business. I’m going on 10 years next May from when MoonPie Over Mobile festivities and starts cheer? “Here for the Party” came out. It seems like just a few years ago, GW: It’s something that I should have done a long time ago. you know. You hear people say that it’s hard to break into this at 11 p.m. I don’t why it took me so long to do it. I guess that I wanted to business, but it’s harder to stay in the business. Most people get have my own record label before I made my own Christmas a good couple of years run, and they just use it up and use every- SC: You’ll be performing at the MoonPie Drop in Mobile on album. It’s the third one that we’ve released this year. We put out thing they got. Plus, people get uninterested. I don’t know what New Year’s Eve. I know you like to have a good time, so what do an original album in April, and we put out a rock-and-roll covers the disconnection is or why people move on. I guess it’s the same you have in store for the crowd? record in May. Then, we put out the Christmas record in October. reason that I said earlier. I’m forward thinking and am always try- GW: Well, we’re known for being kind of rowdy. So, they can I think it was mainly because I built this new studio and really ing to better myself and create the next thing. I guess that’s how expect that. We always have a good time. It’s not like going to just wanted to get in there and use it a lot. So, we ended up with it is for the listener too. It’s hard to stay in mainstream and stay work for us. It’s like going to play. That’s exactly what we do. I three records out of the deal, and it was fun. It was fun to do a relevant. I wake up every day and appreciate the fact that I made think that for people who haven’t seen me before, and I know that Christmas record. It was fun to work a different way in the studio. enough money to be able to put it back into the business and be a lot of people down there have, because I’ve been there a few I’ve always recorded myself pretty dry and in-your-face. With able to open my own record company and build my own studio times, just don’t expect that it will be nothing but honky-tonkin’. these Christmas songs, you can put a lot of reverb on, and it’s and keep doing what I love to do. To me, that’s success. It really We play the hits and the ones people want to hear like “Redneck sweet. I don’t do that very often. doesn’t matter if I have a whole lot of money in the bank. I’m that Woman” and “Here for the Party” and “All Jacked Up.” But kind of person. I’ll always put it back into the business and try to we’ve got a very versatile show. We’ve got something for every- SC: What made you want to give the world a triple shot of continue to make music. It’s just who I am, and I’m appreciative body. There’s some good ol’ fashion rock-and-roll all the way to releases this year? that I still get to do it. Hell, I could be working in a factory. some blues. It’s just a good time, and we’re looking forward to GW: I had a lot to say, I guess. I had a lot that I wanted to get the MoonPie Drop. It’s gonna be fun for us. We’re just looking out there. I spent five or six years with a major label that had a lot forward to having somewhere to party on New Year’s Eve.

32 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 MUSICLISTINGS DEC 26 - JAN 8

Old 27 Grill— Harrison McInnis, 6:30p

THURSDAY DEC 26 SATURDAY DEC 28 TUESDAY DEC 31 Tropics— Rhythm Intervention BlueGill—Les Hall, 6p BlueGill—Matt & Sherry Neese, 6p Alchemy Tavern— DJ Ending Story Veets— The Family Jewels, 9p Blues Tavern—MudBucket Blues Tavern—Johnny No and DJ J-Roc Windmill Market—TBA, 11a// Dale Felix’s—Jeri Courtyard @ 311—Modern Blues Tavern—Johnny Barbato & Drinkard, 6p Flora Bama—Bo Roberts, Mark Eldorados Lucky Doggs DeCuba—Low Maintenance Sherrill and Mickey Springston, 6p Beau Rivage—The Molly Ringwalds Felix’s—Trigger Root Garage—Kyle & Karl Butch Cassidy’s—Jerry Powell Flora Bama— Troy Brannon & James Legacy Grill—Harrison McInnis Daniel, 1p// Jack Robertson Show (aka Big Courtyard @ 311—Brett Lagrave SATURDAY JAN 4 Callaghan’s—PEEK Lulu’s—Adam Holt, 5p Earl), 5:30p//Cornbred, 10p//Hurricane Band Garage—The LifeLikes Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)— Warning, 10p Meacham Motor Co. with Felix’s—Grits N Pieces Hard Rock (Live)—Kool & The Gang YellowHammer, 8p Rebecca Barry, 10p Garage—DJ David Powell Lulu’s— CoConut Radio, 4p Old 27 Grill— Gretsch Lyles and The Hangout—Rhythm Intervention Grand Central—Mob Town Revival Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)— Hard Rock (Live)—Gilbert Modern Eldorados, 6:30p with special guests Yellowhammer Productions, 8p Gottfried//ISIS at the Center Bar Veets—Jerry Avarett, 7p Hangout— Kristy Lee & Dirt Road Old 27 Grill— Jimmy Lee Hannaford, Lulu’s— Jon Cowart, 5p Revival// DJ Tony Skratchere 6:30p Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)— Hard Rock (Live)— Gas Station Veets— The Family Jewels, 9p YellowHammer, 8p DEC 27 Disco at Center Bar Windmill Market—TBA FRIDAY Soul Kitchen—Charlie Muncaster, Alabama Music Box—Elements Gary Stanton and Tyler Hayes, 9:30p Legacy Grill—Johnny Hayes Duo BlueGill—Brittany Grimes, 12p & TP Crockmiers— Chris Powell Soul Kitchen—Zoogma, Beamin & KMAC Attack, 6p Veets— The Family Jewels, 9p Timmy, and Sir Charles, 9p SUNDAY JAN 5 BlueGill—Dale Drinkard Jr., 11a Blues Tavern—Rebecca Barry and Windmill Market— Jimmy Lee TP Crockmiers—Ruff Water Bust Hannaford, 11a Tropics—Midlife Crisis Legacy Grill—Mobile Bay Brass Band Compleat Angler (The Wharf)— Veets—Troy Brannon// The Family Lulu’s— Greg Brown, 1p and 5p Moe’s BBQ (Mobile)— Courtyard @ 311—Raising Karma Jewels, 8p Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)— DeCuba— The Groovenators SUNDAY DEC 29 Old 27 Grill— Mudbug Slim, 11:30a BlueGill—Dale Drinkard Jr., 11a & Les Felix’s—Sugar Cane Jane Windmill Market—TBA Flora Bama—Jack Robertson Show Hall & Friends, 6p WEDNESDAY JAN 1 (aka Big Earl), 5:30p & Lucky Doggs, 10p Blues Tavern—Elmo & Joel HAPPY NEW YEAR Garage—Skinny & The Digs Callaghan’s — Grayson Capps and the Lost Cause Minstrels Grand Central—Chris and Chico MONDAY JAN 6 Courtyard @ 311—Bayne & Grant Gumbo Shack (Fairhope)— THURSDAY JAN 2 Callaghan’s—BCS Championship Felix’s—Brittany Grimes Game Viewing Party Cameron Zion Hangout—Adam Holt Duo Legacy Grill—Ryan Balthrop Hangout—Wes Bayliss Duo Hard Rock (Live)—Adam Lambert// Lulu’s— Adam Holt, 4p Hard Rock (Live)— ISIS at the Gas Station Disco at Center Bar Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)— Center Bar IP Casino— Big & Rich YellowHammer, 8p TUESDAY JAN 7 Legacy Grill—Eric Erdman Legacy Grill—Mobile Bay Brass Band Butch Cassidy’s—Andy MacDonald Lulu’s—Cool Rayz, 5p Lulu’s— Greg Brown, 1p and 5p Courtyard @ 311—Open Mic, 9p Moe’s BBQ (Mobile)— Cornbred Old 27 Grill— Lisa Zanghi, 11:30a Veets— The Family Jewels, 9p FRIDAY JAN 3 Duo, 7p BlueGill—Brittany Grimes, 12p Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)—Brett Windmill Market— Harrison McInnis, 11a DeCuba—Greg Brown, 8p WEDNESDAY JAN 8 LaGrave Garage—Foxy Iguanas Legacy Grill—Brent Loper Record Bar—Adam Doleac, 8p Hard Rock (Live)—Kansas Soul Kitchen—Benjy Davis Legacy Grill—Low Maintenance Trio TP Crockmiers—Chris Powell MONDAY DEC 30 Felix’s—Brett Lagrave Lulu’s— CoConut Radio, 4p —Midnight Ramblers Tropics Hangout—Van Etten Brothers Moe’s BBQ (Mobile)— Julie Ann Veets—The Family Jewels, 9p Hard Rock (Live)— Gas Station Sellers, 6:30p E-MAIL YOUR MUSIC Windmill Market— Marshall Meeker, Disco at Center Bar Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)—The Deluxe LISTINGS TO 11a// Kyle & Karl, 6p IP Casino— KC & The Sunshine Band Trio featuring Stan Foster, Phil Proctor, LISTINGS@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE. Lulu’s— Brent Burns, 5p and Steve Varnes, 8p

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 33 478-1477 All Sports Bar & Grill Lulu’s at Homeport 626-2188 Mellow Mushroom 3408 Pleasant Valley Rd. Marina CLUBDIRECTORY www.mellowmushroom. 345-9338 www.lulubuffett.com Pelican Pub & Restaurant [DOWNTOWN] 208-7261 com Bojangles 200 E. 25th Ave. 1102 DeSoto Ave., Dauphin Alabama Music Box O’Daly’s Irish Pub 2032 Airport Blvd. facebook-theworldfamousbojang 251-967-LULU Island www.alabamamusicbox. 564 Dauphin St. 471-4700 lesbarandeatery Pink Pony Pub 861-7180 net 725-6429 Royal Knight Restaurant 260 Azalea Rd. 345-0470 www.pinkponypub.net Pelican Reef Restaurant 455 Dauphin St. OK Bicycle Shop 3004 Gov. Blvd. 36606 Billiards Club 137 East Gulf Pl., Gulf Shores 11799 Dauphin Island Pkwy. 441-8934 661 Dauphin St. 476-6044 4130 Government Blvd. 978-6371 973-2670 Alchemy Tavern 432-2453 Silver Horse Pub 447-2132 Pirate’s Cove Tacky Jacks alchemy.joltpro.com Pat’s Downtown Grill 151 S. Florida St. Club Casino www.piratescoveriffraff. www.tackyjacks.com 7 S. Joachin St. 271 Dauphin St. 478-7030 7790 Tanner Rd., Ste. B (Old com 1175 Battleship Pkwy. 441-7741 438-9585 Taste Wine Bar Shell & Schillinger) 6600 County Rd. 95, Elberta Spanish Fort The Blind Mule Riverview Plaza (Fathoms 2033 Airport Blvd. 634-3929 251-987-1224 621-8988 57 N. Claiborne St. Lounge) Mobile, AL 36606 Cockeyed Charlies Tacky Jacks Trader’s 694-6853 64 S. Water St. 287-1490 6920 Aitport Blvd. 251-725-1112 www.tackyjacks.com 4015 Battleship Pkwy Boo Radley’s 438-4000 Whistle Stop Bar & Grill Crooked Martini 27206 Safe Harbor Dr, 626-5630 www.booradleysmobile. Royal Knight 110 S. Florida St. www.thecrookedmartini. Orange Beach The River Shack com 3004 Government Blvd. 478-7427 com 981-4144 6120 Marina Dr. S. (under Dog 276 Dauphin St. 476-6044 7639 Cottage Hill Rd. #C Tacky Jacks River bridge) 432-1996 Royal Scam [EASTERN SHORE] 633-5555 www.tackyjacks.com 443-7318 Buck’s Pizza www.royalscammobile. Bay House Pub Flashback Club 249 E. 24th Ave. VFW Post 7320 www.buckspizza.com com 28850 Bayline Dr., Daphne 10071 airport Blvd. Gulf Shores 244 Old Telegraph Road, 350 Dauphin St. 72 S. Royal St. 432-SCAM 626-0158 634-2239 948-8881 Saraland 431-9444 (7226) Club 44 Jag’s Sports Bar and Grill Tacky Jacks 679-1188 Cabo Cantina Royal Street Tavern 28850 US 98, #100, Daphne 5602 Old Shell Rd. www.tackyjacks.com Windmill Market 225 Dauphin St. 26 N. Royal St. 445-8069 725-1102 1577 Alabama 180 www.windmillmarket.org 441-7685 338-2000 Compleat Angler Mellow Mushroom (Fort Morgan Rd.) 85 N. Bancroft St. Callaghan’s Irish Social Saenger Theatre 29249 U.S. 98, Daphne www.mellowmushroom. Gulf Shores Fairhope Club www.mobilesaenger.com 621-1086 com 968-8341 517-5444 www.callaghansirishsocialclub. 6 S. Joachim St. Fly Creek Café 5660 Old Shell Rd. The Wharf Whiskey Blues com 208-5600 www.theflycreekcafe.com 380-1500 4985 Wharf Pkwy., 5791 Swedetown Rd., Theodore 916 Charleston St. 433-9374 Saddle Up Saloon 831 N. Section St. Moe’s Southwest Grill Orange Beach 633-1769 Elixir Lounge 9 N Jackson St. 285-4596 Fairhope www.moes.com 224-1000 Zebra Lounge 101 Dauphin St. www.saddleupmobile.com 990-0902 280 McGregor Ave. S. 2343 Dauphin Island Pkwy. 405-5251 Serda’s Coffee Company Guy’s Gumbo Shack 342-5233 [AROUND AND ABOUT] 473-2997 Dalhia’s Electric Piano www.serdas.com www.guysgumbo.com orleanspoboys.net Bill and Charlie’s Hall 3 S. Royal St. 212 Fairhope Ave. 960 Schillinger Rd. 11470-B Bellingrath Rd., [CASINOS] 258 Dauphin St. 415-3000 928-4100 633-3900 Theodore Beau Rivage 378-5025 Skyview Lounge The Handlebar Orlean’s Café 251-973-0388 www.beaurivage.com Dauphin St. Blues Atop the Lafayette Plaza www.handlebarpensacola.com www.orleanspoboys.net Blue Gill Restaurant 878 Beach Blvd., Biloxi Company 301 Government St. 319 N. Tarragona St., 960 Schillinger Rd. www.bluegillrestaurant. 228-386-7111 or 888-595-2534 & Draft Picks 694-0100 Pensacola 633-3900 com Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 564 Dauphin St. Soul Kitchen (850) 434-9060 Patches 3775 Battleship Pkwy. www.hardrockbiloxi.com 725-6429 www.soulkitchenmobile. McSharry’s 5100 Girby Rd. 625-1998 777 Beach Blvd., Biloxi Gabriel’s Downtown com www.mcsharrys.com 661-8028 Bottoms Up 228-374-ROCK (7625) 55 S. Joachim St. 219 Dauphin St. 101N Brancroft St. Fairhope, Satori Coffee House 2605 Halls Mill Rd. Harrah’s Hotel & Casino 432-4900 433-5958 251-990-5100 www.satori-coffee.com 251-287-7781 www.harrahsneworleans. The Garage Spot of Tea’s Club Moe’s Original BBQ 5460 Old Shell Rd. Briar Patch com 9 S. Washington Ave. Insanity www.moesoriginalbbq. 344-4575 9371 Dauphin Island Pkwy. 228 Poydras Street, 433-2223 or 209-5664 310 Dauphin St. com The Hungry Owl 973-1120 New Orleans Grand Central 375-6772 6423 Bayfront Park Dr., 7899 Cottage Hill Burnout’s Bar & Grill 504-533-6000 grandcentralmobile.com Veet’s Daphne 251-633-4479 7151 Hwy 158 West, Saraland Grand Casino 256 Dauphin St. www.veetsbarandgrill. 625-7427 Stir Mobile 679-9255 www.grandcasinobiloxi. 432-6999 com Old 27 Grill 5821 Old Shell Rd., Ste. D Celtic Irish Pub com Hayley’s Downtown 66 S. Royal St. 19992 Hwy 181, Fairhope 342-9995 4901 Chicot St. 280 Beach Blvd., Biloxi 278 Dauphin St. 694-3090 251-281-2663 VFW Post 49 Pascagoula 228-436-2946 433-4970 Papa’s Pizza 2528 Govt Blvd. 228-938-6800 IP Casino Resort & Spa Joe Cain Café [MIDTOWN] www.papaspizza.com 471-9438 Ed’s Seafood Shed www.ipbiloxi.com 26 N. Royal St. Ashland Midtown Pub 28850 US Hwy 98, Daphne www.edsshed.com 850 Bayview Ave., Biloxi 338-2000 www.ashlandmidtownpub. 626-7662 [THE BEACH] 3382 Battleship Pkwy. 800-436-3000 Liquid com The Pub Flora-Bama 625-1947 Mississippi Coast 661 Dauphin St. 2453 Old Shell Rd. 479-3278 311 Fairhope Ave. www.florabama.com Felix’s Fish Camp Coliseum 432-0109 Blues Tavern 928-2032 17401 Perdido Key Dr., www.felixsfishcamp.com www.mscoastcoliseum. Live @ 360 Jazz Cafe www.bluestavern.com Ravenite Pizzeria 850-492-0611 1530 Battleship Pkwy. com 360 Dauphin St. 2818 Government Blvd. 102 N. Section St., Fairhope The Hangout 626-6710 2350 Beach Blvd., Biloxi 378-5795/Box office 433-4977 479-7621 929-2525 www.thehangoutal.com The Oar House 228-594-3700 Liz’s Haven Butch Cassidy’s Cafe Rosie’s Grill and Record 101 Gulf Ct. 1504 Bienville Blvd., Wind Creek Casino 665 S. Conception St. www.butchcassidys.com Bar 948-3030 Dauphin Island www.windcreekcasino. 433-1221 60 N. Florida St. www.rosiesgrill.com Live Bait 861-4800 com Mobile Civic Center 450-0690 1203 U.S. 98, Daphne www.livebaitrestaurant. 303 Poarch Rd., Atmore www.mobilecivicctr.com Kimberly’s Midtown Bar 626-2440 com Original Oyster House 866-946-3360 401 Civic Center Dr. 2660 Old Shell Rd. 24281 Perdido Beach Blvd. www.theoysterhouse.com [WESTMOBILE] 974-1612 3733 Battleship Pkwy.

34 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 MUSIc BRIEFS Atmospheric sounds to fill The Attic

BY STEVE CENTANNI, Music Editor,[email protected] Band: England in 1819 Date: Sat., Jan. 4 at 9 p.m. Venue: The Attic at The Blind Mule, 57 N. Claiborne St., www.theblindmule.net Tickets: Call 694-MULE for more info ngland in 1819 will have an abundance of fresh, modern sounds when they climb into The Attic at the Blind Mule, a venue that has developed a reputation for bringing eclectic sounds to the Azalea City. With the poetic nature of their music, it seems only natural that this band takes its name from a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley. EBrothers Andrew and Dan Callaway can be found at the heart of England in 1819. Finding their muses in genres ranging from classical to indie rock, this band started at a nine-piece “ex- perimental orchestral” group. The Callaways began to condense their sound and their line-up. Ultimately, England in 1819’s line-up exclusively featured the brothers. Together, they devel- oped their “grandwave” sound. This style characterized by electronic beats and synths accented by Andrew’s vocals and Dan’s French horn. “Fireball Electric Tomorrow” is their latest offering. The Callaways retreated to an isolated cabin in North Carolina to create this album. It is obvious that this duo has made an art out of creating mental images through their music. The atmospheric nature of the tracks found on this album allows the listener to build upon the aural world that England in 1819 has created.

Benjy Davis showcases his latest solo ‘project’

Band: Benjy Davis Date: Fri., Dec. 27 with doors at 9:30 p.m. Venue: Soul Kitchen, 219 Dauphin St., www.soulkitchenmo- bile.com Tickets: $5 adv. / $8 day-of ($10 for under 21) avail. at Soul Kitchen and their website

aton Rouge’s Benjy Davis Project spent a decade traversing the Southeast and establishing a dedicated fan base. In its infancy, this group was a duo infused with acoustic goodness. As the years past, Benjy Davis Project evolved into a six-member powerhouse that employed a variety of instruments. Along the way, they released fourB studio albums and two EPs. In 2011, Davis announced the band would be going on hiatus, and he would be touring and performing as a solo act. Davis’ self-titled solo album is due out in January 2014. Since breaking off from Benjy Davis Project, this songwriter has mainly used his live shows to expose fans to his new solo material. Otherwise, the public has been able to sample the track “Here I Go” through YouTube. Heartfelt lyrics and acoustic strums are a fitting introduction to this song. This song quickly transforms into a full-band experience accented by accordion and rolling drums. Fans of Benjy Davis Proj- ect will not be disappointed by Davis’ latest efforts.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1… New Year’s eve options abound

he MoonPie Drop is just one of the many musical options for local New Year’s Eve cel- ebrations. From LoDa to Gulf Shores, there are a plethora of local venues that are ready to provide the perfect vibe for bidding farewell to 2013 and greetings to 2014. Soul Kitchen will be providing New Year’s Eve revelers with an evening that will Tbegin with a mix-up, mash-up set from turntablist Sir Charles. The show will turn to hip-hop as local rap duo Beamin & Timmy take the stage and submerge the crowd in their verbal goodness. Zoogma will be the evening’s headliner. This four-piece skillfully blends live instrumentation and electronica. This trio of entertainment should keep the party going into the wee hours of 2014. Time to go Coco-nuts at LuLu’s New Year’s Eve will be in full-effect on the beach. First, LuLu’s Homeport Marina will be featuring their annual “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration. This family-friendly gives parents a chance to ring in 2014 with their kids a little early. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with the “Beach Ball Band: Coconut Radio Date: Jan. 3-4 at 4 p.m. daily Drop” happening at noon. In addition to face painting, games and a sand castle contest, musical th entertainment will be provided by Caroline Kole. Kole’s pop country style should be appealing to Venue: LuLu’s Homeport Marina, 200 E. 25 Ave. in Gulf Shores both kids and adults. Tickets: Free There are also options for those wanting something a little more adult. When it comes to New he weather may be chilly (on some days, at least), but LuLu’s Homeport Marina keeps it Year’s Eve, The Hangout has established a reputation for throwing the biggest party on the beach. tropical all year long. This vibe has inspired many of the nation’s best Trop Rock groups to This year, The Hangout will be having their MasqueRAVE to welcome 2014. Ticketholders will make pilgrimages to the Alabama Gulf Coast to perform on the LuLu Buffet’s stage. Coco- get to walk the red carpet into a world of beats and lights, courtesy of DJ Tony Skratchere. The nut Radio should be a crowd pleaser with their original music. Gulf Coast’s queen of soul Kristy Lee will also be on hand to belt out a set of crowd pleasers. T Coconut Radio is comprised of guitarist Steve Reeths and accomplished violinist Sue Kittredge. Free masks will be provided as well as a free midnight breakfast buffet. This duo came together in 1992 and began crafting their original Trop Rock sound. Since then, they For those seeking a more relaxed environment for New Year’s Eve, Fisher’s at Orange Beach have been playing “dumps and palaces” nationwide. Marina will be providing an elegant event with elegant sounds. Ticketholders will begin the din- The band’s most recent effort “Gone Bamboo” is a testament to the relaxed, organic attitude that ner with a handcrafted cocktail followed by a four-course meal with a wine pairing. Gulf Coast keeps pushing them forward. This album contains catchy tunes such as the album’s title track and supergroup Willie Sugarcapps will provide the musical entertainment with a set of homespun “T.E.Q.U.I.L.A.” Overall, the band tends to capture the mellow nature of the tropics with songs such sounds. Tickets are limited to 100, and they will go fast. as “The Hammock” and “Make a Change.”

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 35 THE RUNDOWN Hangout Fest, Wharf and Saenger already making 2014 look bright

BY STEVE CENTANNI, Music Editor,[email protected]

ummer is months tub from Strong Spas. Hangout away, but music lovers Fest will also pay for the hot tub worldwide are already to be delivered to your home. getting ready for the As the world waits patiently for next Hangout Music Hangout Fest 2014’s initial line- Festival in Gulf Shores, May 16-18. up announcement (expected next SThe Christmas season may have month), stay tuned to Lagniappe lightened wallets considerably, for all the latest in Hangout Fest leaving many trying to figure out news. how they can afford to attend this year’s fest. But have no fear, Jason Aldean must have a lot pinchers of the penny! Hangout of fans along the Gulf Coast. Since Fest comes to the rescue with a Lagniappe reported his plans to payment plan for both General perform at The Wharf, Aldean Admission and VIP passes. This has decided to give the Gulf Coast plan breaks down the cost of passes a double-shot of his new school into four easy payments. In no country sounds. Aldean was time, festival enthusiasts can be originally scheduled to perform on their way to Gulf Shores with a on Sat., March 15. But now, they weekend pass in hand. have added an additional night, For those who have already March 14. Aldean will be joined by purchased tickets, finding lodging Florida Georgia Line, which should for the weekend may be the next be a crowd pleaser. This country step. The Hangout Fest website outfit from Monroe, La., just took currently features a list of places home an American Music Award to hose off the sand and relax for “Single of the Year” for their at the end of the day. Turquoise song “Cruise.” Tyler Farr will round Place and Beach Club are even out this trio of modern country. featuring travel packages that Tickets are on sale now at The include admission to the festival. Amphitheater at The Wharf’s Box In addition, these accommodations Office and through Ticketmaster. are also on the Hangout Fest shuttle line. Once checked in, Huka Productions, who recently Hangout Festers will not have to took over booking the Saenger, worry about driving to the festival brought the historic downtown or (even worse) parking. Mobile back to life when the Hangout Fest is also giving Alabama Shakes hit the stage and festival goers a chance to “Hangout performed for a sold-out crowd at Your Place.” Many who have on Dec. 8. Now, with their latest enjoyed Hangout Fest’s VIP announcement, Gov’t Mule and The experience have watched the bands Revivalists playing on Feb. 15, they while lounging in one of their VIP have proven the Saenger isn’t just pools or hot tubs, but now you alive, it’s kicking. Tickets are on can take that experience home sale now, and range from $27.50 to with you. With the “Hangout at $37.50. Check out mobilesaenger. Your Place” contest, those who com for more details. buy tickets before Dec. 31 will be entered in a drawing to win a hot

Gretchen Wilson

36 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 37 NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS C O E In the Port City and beyond, there are Gala is back again for people who love Mardi Gras year around. The night kicks off at 9 p.m. at plenty of New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Alabama Cruise Terminal and goes until 2 a.m. so everyone should be able to find their There will be cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as well as own perfect way to ring in 2014. a grande breakfast with door prizes. Tickets start at $55 per person or $400 for a table of eight. They can MoonPie Over Mobile is definitely the biggest be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ celebration in Mobile with tens of thousands of mamga-2nd-annual-new-years-eve-diamond-gala- people converging downtown to see the electric tickets-9654287233. MoonPie slide down the RSA-Trustmark building. The night kicks off with musical performances starting at 5 Alchemy Tavern will be hosting its Annual New Year’s p.m. in Bienville Square and a New Year’s Eve Mardi Eve “Night of Indulgence” Party that has something for everyone’s favorite vice. Each room will be Gras-like parade at 7:30 p.m. Gretchen Wilson will sing Photo courtesy of Gretchenwilson.com into the New Year with her performance starting at 11 dedicated to enjoying these guilty pleasures before p.m. making those pesky New Years’ resolutions. The noon. Face painting, sandcastles and more will be front room is for beer gluttony. The center for game the background for a performance by Caroline Kole. The Fuse Project New Year’s Eve Party is the place addictions. The back room is for food gluttony and for those looking to dress up and have a DJ and the courtyard is the smokers’ lounge. Upstairs is the The Hangout is for the beach crowd who would rather open bar to go along with their New Year’s Eve. The “sexy dance party.” DJ Ending Story and DJ J-Roc welcome 2014 with a rave than face painting. The inaugural event in 2012 not only brought more than will be there all night long. There is VIP party tickets Hangout will be having their MasqueRAVE to bring in 350 partiers to Space 301, but also raised more than available for those seeking exclusivity. 2014. Ticketholders will get to walk the red carpet to $11,000 for Mobile’s youth programs. With the success the music of DJ Tony Skratchere. Kristy Lee will also be of the first year, Fuse is back at Space 301 from 9 Soul Kitchen is the spot for those looking to bring in the performing. Free masks and a free midnight breakfast p.m. to 1 a.m. Guests can expect food, an open bar New Year to electronica, rap and hip-hop. Mobile’s buffet will also be available. with top shelf liquor open all night, party and dance Beamin & Timmy will be opening for Zoogma, a four- music and a midnight champagne toast. There is also piece electronica group. Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina will begin the shuttle service to and from the event. Prices for the all- evening with handcrafted cocktail followed by a four- inclusive ticket start at $90 and can be purchased at LuLu’s Homeport Marina always gets the jump on course meal with a wine pairing. The night only gets http://thefuseproject.org/nye. Dress is cocktail attire. celebrating New Year’s Eve with their annual “Noon better when Willie Sugarcapps takes the stage. Tickets Year’s Eve” celebration. The family-friendly party kicks are limited to 100 so for a relaxing New Year’s, people MAMGA Second Annual New Years Eve Diamond off at 10 a.m. and even has the “Beach Ball Drop” at should act fast.

December 26 [email protected]. http:// success through dedication Rally/Street party incredible performances Christmas at Oakleigh cathedralsquaregallery. and hard work. These Immediately following by future NFL standouts Tour the Oakleigh Historic blogspot.com. extraordinary individuals the Mardi Gras parade, a LaDanian Tomlinson, Complex, 300 Oakleigh have overcome many fireworks display over the Byron Leftwich and Ben Place, dressed for the December 31 obstacles and have given Mobile River will highlight the Roethlisberger. 8 p.m. Ladd holiday season, view the Fairhope New Year’s Eve a great deal back to the festivities and set the tone Peebles Stadium. antique toy collection, enjoy celebration, Downtown community and country. for the official pre-game a cup of hot spiced tea Fairhope, 7 p.m. Tickets for the Luncheon are pep rallies and street party. January 6 while children attend story $30.00 per seat or $300.00 Following the Spectronics Food for the Birds time and make reindeer January 1 per table. Tickets can be fireworks display, the party Regina Gunn will food from Dec. 26 - 28. GODADDY BOWL GREAT purchased by calling the will move to Water Street demonstrate making a Adults/ $10; children/ $5; SOUTHERN WOOD TEAM GoDaddy Bowl office at 251- and South Plaza for team birdseed wreath using a group discounts. Contact: WELCOMING RECEPTION 635-0011. pep rallies and a street party recipe for a Bundt pan 251-432-6161. www. The GoDaddy Bowl will host Mobile Convention Center, size wreath that all your historicmobile.org. a southern-style shrimp boil Sweet Olive Pizza Night South Plaza, 8 p.m. feathered friends will love. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium with Live Music with Dale Participants will learn how Thursdays at the Museum to welcome the coaches Drinkard, Windmill Market January 5 to decorate and hang a The Mobile Museum of Art, and players of each Bowl Join us for pizza and live GODADDY BOWL GULF birdseed wreath and other 4850 Museum Drive, will team, administration, both music by Dale Drinkard. 6 DISTRIBUTING ALUMNI GOLF possibilities for design using have free admission and conference commissioners p.m. TOURNAMENT the same recipe.. Bring a access to all galleries with and their support staff, Alumni groups and fans from lunch and a friend. Drinks special programs from 10 local and national media January 4 the competing Bowl teams provided. The event will be a.m. to 9 p.m. Contact: representatives, local and GODADDY GREER’S/AL.COM are invited to play in a golf at the Jon Archer Center, 251-208-5200. www. national corporate sponsors, /PRESS-REGISTER MARDI tournament at theRobert 1070 Schillinger Road, N., mobilemuseumofart.com. Mobile city officials, GRAS PARADE Trent Jones Golf Course from noon to 1 p.m. and invited guests. The A Mardi Gras parade will at Magnolia Grove. Cost Contact: Mary Ann Days at December 28 Welcoming Reception is by be held in the streets of per golfer is $85.00, which 251-342-8227 or masdays@ Workshop: Kids’ Studio invitation only. Ladd Peebles downtown Mobile starting at includes breakfast, lunch, comcast.net. Centre for the Living Arts will Stadium, 7 p.m. 6:30 pm. Sixteen Mardi Gras door prizes and tournament have a studio for ages 6 – 12 societies will be represented gifts. Call the GoDaddy January 7 at 11 a.m. at Space 301, 301 January 3 with floats and throws for the Bowl office (251-635-0011) 177th Annual Meeting Conti St. Free. Contact: 251- GODADDY BOWL MAYOR’S crowd. Several local high to reserve a spot in the The Mobile Area Chamber 208-5658 (Brennan Gibson). LUNCHEOn school marching bands will tournament. 8 a.m. of Commerce will host its www.centreforthelivingarts. Special guest speaker, join the parade, as well as 177th Annual Meeting on com. Brett Favre, will address city the bands and cheerleaders GODADDY BOWL from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the officials, media, corporate from each participating A national television Mobile Civic Center. Cost to December 29 sponsors, traveling parties of Bowl team. A huge crowd audience will tune in to ESPN attend is $50 or $485 for a Open StudioArtists at work, each Bowl team and other is expected to pack the on Sunday, January 5th, for group of 10 (members only), complimentary mimosas guests at a special banquet. streets of downtown Mobile the 15th Annual GoDaddy $60 for potential members. and works by more than During the banquet, the for this early rendition of the Bowl. The GoDaddy Bowl For registration and more 60 area artists on display GoDaddy Bowl will present Mardi Gras season. 6:30 p.m. has built a reputation of information visit www. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at “Champions of Life.” The Downtown Mobile. fielding some of the most mobilechamber.com. Cathedral Square Gallery, Champions of Life honor competitive and exciting Contact: 251-431-8606. 612 Dauphin St. is given to individuals who SPECTRONICS FIREWORKS games of the Bowl season. Contact: 251-694-0278 or have achieved great DISPLAY and Al.com Pep The game has featured

38 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Gallery, 1255 Dauphin St., Survivors of Suicide Students with college I.D. $5. (usually) the first and third through Jan. 24. Mon- Fri, 10 S.O.S. (Survivors of Suicide) Public/$10. Members/$7. No Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Mobile Magic Christmas in Lights a.m.- 4 p.m. Works include Support Group, meets every partner necessary. Facebook: Garden Club House, 4850 More than three million puppets, prints, mobile 2nd and 4th Monday of Moonlight Chasse Ballroom Zeigler Blvd. First two classes twinkling lights in nearly 1,000 sculptures and an illustrated every month at 6:30 p.m. in Dance Society. Contact: Cassie are free and then each class displays throughout the 65-acre version of the entire book. Wesley Hall at Fairhope United Fishbein at 251-377-4069 or is $2 with membership in the estate of Bellingrath Gardens, Methodist Church in Fairhope, [email protected]. Chapter, which is $10 annually. 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Futures Project Alabama. This is a New Adult For supplies, notify Mary Road, Theodore, will be on An exhibition that examines Group for family members of On-Going Argentine Tango and Rodning. Contact: (251) 649- display through Dec. 31 except future possibilities for the Gulf loved ones lost to the tragedy Salsa Lessons 8586 or mary@maryrodning. for Christmas day. The lights will Coast, which features work of suicide. Whether it has been Tango and Salsa lessons will be com (Mary Rodning). www. be lit from 5 - 9 p.m. Bellingrath by emerging and established 1 month or 25 years, you are at Southern Edge Dance Studio, sumiesociety.org. Gardens and Home MCIL: visual artists of international welcome. Contact: 251-455- 251 Greeno Road, Fairhope, Adults/ $15; children 5 -12/ stature — 2X4, Candy Chang, 6453 or [email protected]. with Salsa starting at 7:15 p.m. First Friday Artwalk $7; children 4 and under/ free; Dawn DeDeaux, Tom Leeser, (Salsa Lessons begin May 7, Exhibit openings with guest MCIL and Home: Adults/ $24; Xavier de Richemont and The Ultimate Country Dance 2013) and Tango lessons at artists, refreshments and live children 5 - 12/ $13; children 4 Kenny Scharf — at Space Experience 8:30 p.m. No partner required. entertainment at a variety of and under/ free. Contact: 251- 301, 301 Conti St., through Southern Country, 711 Shelton Every Tuesday, except third venues; map of participating 973-2217, 1-800-247-8420 or Jan. 31. Futures Project will Beach Road, Saraland, will Tuesday, dancing at Holiday venues, including specialty 251-973-2365 (24-hour info). also include nine months have Kick’n Cardio Dance Inn Downtown, Skyview Lounge, shops and restaurants, of extensive educational Class every Thursday from 7 to 9 7:00 p.m. Southern Edge Dance available at the Eastern Shore On Display: Sublime Aesthetic, and public programming, p.m. and dance lessons Friday Studio, 251 Greeno Road, Art Center, 401 Oak St., from 6 an Authentic Journey, the community resources and the and Saturday night from 7 to 8 Fairhope. Facebook: Argentine – 8 p.m. in downtown Fairhope. Nature of Grieving and Focus development of an Art Park. p.m. Contact: 251-709-6780. Tango by the Bay. Contact: Contact: 251-928-2228. www. Four exhibitions feature works Contact: 215-208-5671. www. Cassie Fishbein at 251-377-4069 esartcenter.com. by students in Kate Seawell’s centreforthelivingarts.com. Sunset Yoga on the Bluff or [email protected]. Professional Practices class Every second and fourth Friday LoDa Artwalk at the University of South On Display: Eastern Shore Craft of the month is Sunset Yoga on Meeting: Eastern Shore Camera Exhibitions with receptions and Alabama, senior shows by Meg Potters the Bluff overlooking the bay Club entertainment in a variety of Bolton and Haley Franklin and More than 200 pieces of local during sunset, which is around Providing members, from downtown galleries and other drawings by Jerry Roldan will pottery from prehistoric times to 6-7 p.m. Bring your own mat beginners to professionals, with venues on the second Friday be on display at the Mobile the present that show artwork and a friend. Beginner friendly educational and skill building from 6-9 p.m. in the LoDa Arts Arts Council, 318 Dauphin St. for daily use will be on display classes. The event raises opportunities in the art of District (Lower Dauphin Street). through noon on Dec 31 except at the Fairhope Museum money for The Haven. Fairhope. photography; open to anyone Contact: (251) 208-7443. www. from Dec. 23 - 27. Mon - Fri, 9 of History on Section Street Contact: 251-379-4493. interested. Second Thur., 6:30 ncsmobile.org. a.m. - 5 p.m. Contact: 251-432- through Feb 2014 from Tue - Sat, ThriveFairhope.com. p.m. Faulkner State Community 9796. www.mobilearts.org. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free. Contact: College, Centennial Building Tour: Space 301 251-929-1471. Moonlight Chasse’ Ballroom (School St and Fairhope Ave., Tours of the Main Gallery and On Display: Curiouser and Dance Society Fairhope) Fabrication Hall will be Wed. Curiouser Art by Fred Marchman The first and third Monday Contact: 251-401-0008. www. and Sat., 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. An exhibition of works by Todd Works by Fred Marchman will of each month features live escamera.org. at Centre for the Living Arts/ Duren inspired by “Alice In be on display at Courtyard 311 music, dancing, a cash bar, Space 301, 301 Conti St. Free Wonderland” will be on display (formerly The Pub, Fairhope and dance lessons from 7 to Workshop: Sumi-e Studio with admission. at the Alabama School of Ave., Fairhope) through March. 10 p.m. at Fitzpen Place, 11247 Shibui Chapter of the Sumi-e Contact: 215-208-5671. www. Mathematics and Science, U.S. Highway 31, Spanish Fort. Society of America will meet centreforthelivingarts.com.

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 39 FILM THE REEL WORLD The best seasonal movie you’ve never seen

BY ASIA FREY, Film Critic, [email protected] ou’ve endured repeat viewings of what “Arrested fringe scene, straight-laced-but-game Shep shows up, Development” refers to as “Love, Indubitably.” Maybe unfortunately with a snobby, poisonous fiancée in tow. you even took a ride through The Tunnel of Love In- When Gillian realizes the fiancée is also her old college dubitably. But the holiday and holiday-adjacent movie nemesis, she abandons her reservations about trying to Yviewing doesn’t have to stop there. steal a man Come down slowly from the emo-bomb of “It’s a Wonderful who is spoken Life” with another James Stewart movie that also encompasses the for. From her holidays, but offers so much more, like witchcraft, bongo drums, corner in the and a super sultry Kim Novak. Zodiac Club, “Bell, Book and Candle” came out in 1958 and, like “Vertigo” as composed which came out the same year, pairs the lanky and loveable James as a sphinx, Stewart with blonde bombshell Kim Novak. “Bell, Book and she quickly Candle” refers to an incantation to exorcise witches, because that dispatches is what Kim Novak is. From her groovy shop in the first floor of her rival from her Greenwich Village apartment building, Gillian Holroyd sells her territory, primitive and exotic art as her “cover,” but along with her brother, and decides to Photo courtesy of IMDB the sublime Jack Lemmon and her aunt, the magnificently bizarre make a play for Elsa Lanchester, selectively practices witchcraft. Shep. James Stewart stars in another classic sea- Her aunt and brother can barely muster more than a few glori- Gillian gets sonal movie that may be the best you’ve fied witch pranks — Nicky, the brother, uses magic to change all Shep back to never seen. the lights on Fifth Avenue and the aunt picks locks for purposes her place and, of snooping — but Gillian is the real deal, boasting some of the purring in a from a feminist perspective, but it’s still a delightful movie, and greatest powers among the local coven of witches. What makes bedroom voice the soundtrack is fantastic. By now you can probably guess what this movie so much fun is the Greenwich Village beatnik scene that make Kathleen Turner sound like Spongebob Squarepants, television show spun off from it. “Bewitched.” And that’s how I into which the witches mix. Barefoot and mysterious, Gillian plans to use her considerable non-magic gifts to try to snag Shep, feel every time I watch it. passes easily for a kooky chick. but upon hearing of his plan to wed the next day, she summons And speaking of Greenwich Village, the new Coen Brothers When she meets neighbor Shep Henderson (Stewart) on Christ- Piewacket, her feline familiar. They make short work of Shep, and movie about a folk singer from the ‘60s is coming out soon and I mas Eve, he represents the kind of normal life Gillian secretly he is under her romantic spell. couldn’t be more excited if my own kids were in it. The Crescent pines for, and she impulsively invites him to join her and her Antics follow, as Gillian tries to reconcile her witchy and Theater will be showing it in January, after “Dallas Buyer’s Club,” family at the Zodiac Club. In the film’s most memorable scene, womanly sides. A legend warns that falling in love robs a witch the latest film in the so-called McConaissance of golden boy crowds of beatnik witches enjoy quirky French singing, jazz and of her powers, or conversely, that witches cannot truly fall in turned serious actor Matthew McConaughey. Be a part of it Dec. especially Gillian’s brother’s bongo playing. Into this fabulously love. Gillian’s struggles and sacrifices prove a bit discouraging 25 through Jan. 9. It’d be a lot cooler if you did.

40 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 41 Local players come up big in bowl season SPORTS UPON FURTHER REVIEW

BY MARK BRYANT, Sports Writer, [email protected] uburn and Alabama have had tremen- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, McCarron season. to a 17-13 win over Kent State. Ball State, mean- dous success this football season, but was also invited to New York for the Heisman Freshman defensive back Nate Andrews while, will be looking for the school’s first bowl neither school could have produced Trophy event. He finished second in the ballot- (Fairhope) leads the Seminoles with four inter- victory. as many wins if they did not have a ing, trailing eventual winner Jameis Winston of ceptions. He is 10th on the team with 31 total Events for the week start with the Mayor’s Aroster full of talented players. For fans watch- Florida State. tackles, and has a sack and a fumble recovery. Luncheon at noon on Friday, Jan. 3, with Brett ing their television sets this bowl season, many Senior C.J. Mosley (Theodore) was the recipi- Freshman defensive end Chris Casher (David- Favre serving as the guest speaker. The always familiar faces can be seen when the state’s top ent of the Butkus Award, presented annually to son) has 25 total tackles, two sacks and scored popular Carnival-style parade is that Saturday teams take the field. the nation’s top collegiate linebacker. The third on a fumble return. Others on the roster are night at 6:30, followed with a pep rally and fire- • The Tigers had one of the best rushing Crimson Tide player to win the trophy, Mosley sophomore quarterback Jacob Coker (St. Paul’s), works display at 8 p.m. at Cooper Riverside Park. attacks in the nation, with Tre Mason grabbing leads his club with 102 tackles and nine tackles who passed for 250 yards this year, and freshman most of the headlines and an invitation to the for loss. Mosley shared the coaches’ SEC de- offensive lineman Wilson Bell (Blount). NEW LOOK FOR MARATHON Heisman Trophy presentation. Leading the way fensive player of the year honor with Missouri’s • Mobile’s own GoDaddy Bowl will also have L’Arche Mobile has announced a three-year for many of his runs has been center Reese Dis- Michael Sam. a chance to show off some local talent when partnership with ServisFirst Bank to be the title mukes of Spanish Fort. The 6-foot-3, 297-pound In the SEC coaches’ first-team backfield is Arkansas State and Ball State clash on Sunday sponsor for the First Light Marathon. The 13th junior was named a third-team All American and sophomore T.J. Yeldon (Daphne). He finished night, Jan. 5. annual race is scheduled for Jan. 12. selected as a first-team member of the coaches’ third in the conference with 1,163 yards and 13 The Sun Belt Conference co-champion Red The Mobile Sports Authority, which serves as All-SEC squad, and was a finalist for the presti- touchdowns. Wolves (7-5) are back for their third straight post- the presenting sponsor, said that Sunday would gious Rimington Trophy. Others seeing action for the Crimson Tide season contest at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Helping include a 26.2-mile marathon, a half-marathon, a Also in the backfield is senior fullback Jay this year have been junior defensive back Jarrick them to get back have been senior wide receiver 1.2-mile fun run, plus a five-person relay. During Prosch, who played his prep ball at UMS-Wright. Williams (Blount), sixth on the team with 37 Carlos McCants (LeFlore), sophomore offensive the first dozen years, the races have had more Primarily a blocker, he caught a touchdown pass total tackles; junior running back Jalston Fowler lineman Steven Stevens (Baldwin County High) than 19,000 participants, with visitors from all 50 this season. (Vigor), who got one start this year; freshman and freshman Carl Lee Jr. (McGill-Toolen). states and 15 countries. Robert Leff, a redshirt freshman from offensive lineman Alphonse Taylor (Davidson), Ball State (10-2) comes in with a powerful Following feedback from runners, the two Fairhope, played in all 13 games on the offensive who played in eight games; and sophomore tight offensive attack, with quarterback Keith Wenning longest courses have been changed. Participants line. Other players with local connections for end Corey McCarron (Spanish Fort), who caught fifth in the nation with 3,933 yards passing. The will no longer have to cross railroad tracks, while the Tigers are junior defensive back Adam Dyas a pass from his older brother. Joining them on Cardinals have played in the Mobile bowl once, less of the race will be run on Springhill Avenue. (St. Paul’s), sophomore linebacker Daniel Pond the roster for the Sugar Bowl showdown with having fallen to Tulsa in 2008. The event will once again serve as a qualifier for (Spanish Fort) and sophomore defensive lineman Oklahoma on Thursday, Jan. 2, in New Orleans For what has become a common occurrence, the prestigious Boston Marathon. Jabrian Niles (Davidson). are junior wide receiver Spencer Baumhower this will be the sixth straight GoDaddy Bowl Proceeds from the race benefit L’Arche Mo- • The Crimson Tide fell short of its goal of (Fairhope), freshman linebacker Ryan Anderson where a team will be directed by an interim bile, a Christian community where people with winning a third straight national title this season, (Daphne) and freshman defensive back Jonathan coach. In the last three trips, Arkansas State has and without intellectual disabilities share their but senior quarterback AJ McCarron (St. Paul’s) Cook (Spanish Fort). seen Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss), Gus Malzahn (Au- lives together. All race medals are handmade by did everything he could to keep Alabama in the • When the BCS championship game kicks burn) and now Bryan Harsin (Boise State) move members of L’Arche Mobile, which marks its hunt. With a career record of 36-3, he completed off on Monday night, Jan. 6, in Pasadena, Calif., on to new schools prior to the bowl games. 40th anniversary in 2014. 67.6 percent of his passes this year for 2,676 Auburn will not be the only team for whom local As he did last season, defensive coordinator For more information on the race, call Marty yards and 26 touchdowns. fans will be cheering. Several area players have John Thompson will be ASU’s interim coach. He O’Malley at 251-438-2094 or visit www.first- The winner of the Maxwell Award and the produced for No. 1 ranked Florida State. this did well in his first trial, directing the Red Wolves lightmarathon.com.

42 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 MEDIA MEDIA FRENZY Looking back at the year in media news BY ROB HOLBERT, Managing Editor, [email protected] ith this being Mobile’s first full as to whether there are interested parties who year in more than 150 years with- would like to pick up its warehouse and offices out a daily newspaper, there’s in Robertsdale. Like the P-R, GCN is also little doubt what the biggest me- looking for a buyer for it’s 12,000-square-foot Wdia story for 2013 was. The continued changes facility who would be willing to lease back parts at the Press-Register/a.com definitely took up a of the operation. lot of space in this column over this year. • Internet radio took some strides in Mobile But there were plenty of other big media in 2013. The University of South Alabama’s stories over the year, so let’s take a look back at station,º The Prowl, is up and running, offering some of the biggest. a classic college radio experience. And on the • The tragic death of MDi Media President cyber airwaves, ModMobillian Radio started James Ellis on Dec. 27 last year after being up this year. We’ll have to listen up to see how struck by a car while crossing Government these grow over time. Street ultimately led to big changes at one of • The changes since the Press-Register has the city’s best-known advertising agencies and gone to thrice-a-week publishing and the fallout the emergence of a new firm. As Ellis’ widow that has accompanied it has certainly been the Bridgett Murray-Ellis became involved in the biggest media story in this area over the past company, four of MDi’s longtime leaders bailed two years. As the reduced schedule has been out and started their own firm. This included going for more than a year now, some effects Ellis’ partner of 15 years Don Davis, as well as are beginning to show. One of those has been in Meridith South, David Barnette and Ira Patrick. dramatically reduced circulation. Their new firm is called Davis, South, Bar- An Alliance for Audited Media snapshot nette & Patrick and it has already made a name from September showed the paper having for itself. dropped roughly 13 percent of its circulation • After nine years running the show at when non-branded publications were taken out WALA-TV, new director Bob Cashen took off of the mix. Those are primarily the advertis- for a position with WSET-TV in Lynchburg, Va. ing pieces being delivered under the name Yes. in October. Cashen had been one of the longest- Those kinds of declines over a six-month period serving NDs in town and his move seemed to were mirrored in Birmingham and Huntsville come unexpectedly. as well. • More than 11 years after starting La- • Without doubt the single biggest media gniappe, we announced in October it was time event of the year in our area was spawned by the for us to increase our publishing output to once a disabled Carnival ship Triumph being brought week. The decision came as a result of our belief into port after days adrift with no power and the city needs and can support more news. So less-than-hygienic conditions. beginning in April 2014, you’ll be getting twice We were descended upon by legions of as much Lagniappe. Won’t that be nice. national media types, some of whom took time • Definitely one of the stranger media stories while reporting on the disgusting situation of the year involved a blogger named Roger aboard the Triumph to also tell their view- Shuler who has gained either statewide fame or ers some nice things about Mobile. All in all, infamy depending upon your point of view writ- Mobile probably came out ahead from a PR ing under the name “The Legal Schnauzer.” standpoint. Carnival Cruises? Not so much. Shuler has used his blog to nip at the heels of primarily the state’s Republican leadership, and Lucky year some of what he’s blogged about has been pretty When I was a kid playing baseball I always out there. Shuler has written about sordid affairs tried to get the number 13. Maybe it’s a contrar- he claims are being had by Attorney General ian streak, maybe I thought I’d be bad luck for Luther Strange as well as former Gov. Bob the other team or maybe I like the idea of a Riley’s son Rob. He’s named names and made “baker’s dozen” when I’m buying doughnuts. some very salacious claims. As a result, Riley Whatever the reason, I’ve always liked the and others have sued him for libel. number 13. But the strange part is that Shuler has now So I’m kind of sad to see it go as we close been sitting in jail without bond for nearly two down what was by far the best year ever for this months after refusing to respond properly to publication. Now half way through our 11th year Riley’s suit. Circuit Court Judge Claud Neilson publishing in the Azalea City, we have enough has granted Riley an injunction that essentially history to tell when we’ve had a major change, has the state committing what’s called “prior and this year has been one. restraint” by barring Shuler from writing any We’ve had lots of great stories to cover, more about Riley. especially with seemingly dozens of elections. • In 2013, some local newspapers were look- But beyond the editorial side of things, 2013 has ing to lighten their loads from a real estate per- seen a great improvement from a business stand- spective. Both the Press-Register and Gulf Coast point — one that has given us the confidence to Newspapers put their offices on the blocks. In take the publication weekly in April. the case of the Press-Register, it’s relatively new Of course we’re still a small newspaper and complex on Water Street seems to have found a have lots left to do, but we feel like the support buyer in Bishop State Community College. and need are out there for a weekly newspaper Bishop appears to be willing to take over the that will try to fill some of the news gaps that large building and even its huge German-made exist in our community. printing press. The press would be leased back Thank you to all the readers and advertisers to the P-R for use in its printing operations. who have supported us. We hope we’ll continue As for Gulf Coast Newspapers, no word yet to earn your support in 2014.

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 43 A LOADED QUESTION

WhAT IS yOU NEW yEAr’S rESOlUTION? Asked at Callaghans

“To be the Nappie Bachelorette,” -Amy Boone.

“To start drinking light beer,” -Chris McGough.

“Find a hot blonde to date so I won’t be the Nappie Bach- elor of the year,” -Will Dickson.

44 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 STYLE PORT CITY PREmOnITIOnS Taurus: Tattoo removal is in the stars

BY DR. ZODIAC, Astrology Guy

Capricorn (12/22-1/19) — You’ll see snow Cancer (6/22-7-22) —Driving down Air- in Mobile! Yes, the white fluffy stuff. While port Boulevard you’ll lock eyes with a beauty standing in line at a store, you’ll start see- at a red light. You two will drive down the ing the downfall. It will almost be a blizzard. street making eyes at one another until you run Instead of being pleasant, it will be rather into the back of someone turning right at an disgusting. Unfortunately for you, the white excruciatingly slow speed. Your future signifi- stuff you will be seeing will actually be dan- cant other will continue to drive because how druff. The person in front of you in line will be awkward is that? Trying to get in touch with in desperate need of some Head & Shoulders your would-be boo, you will post your story on as soon as possible before snowdrifts start to Craigslist’s missed connections. You probably form. New Year’s Resolution: Fewer Twinkies. don’t want to open the emails with photos attached. New Year’s Resolution: Paying atten- Aquarius (1/20-2/18) — You will drunk- tion while driving. enly stumble into the great masses at the MoonPie Drop. The sounds from “Redneck Leo (7/23-8/22) — That really annoying Woman” will not help your confused state and person your friends love for some reason will you will think you have time traveled nearly a be going out with your group for New Year’s decade earlier. However, you know something Eve. However, you must have been saving is amiss when no one is wearing straw cowboy up karma for a while because that annoying hats or talking about Usher’s song “Yeah” or person will lose their voice. Of course they Hoobastank. It isn’t until you spot a copy of will manage to aggravate you, but it’s so much Lagniappe that you read the date to realize you easier to take if you don’t hear their voice. haven’t time traveled … instead you went to Make sure to yell Happy New Year loudly in the place time forgot. New Year’s Resolution: their direction. New Year’s Resolution: Watch- Body hair control. ing less filthy porn.

Pisces (2/19-3/20) — Every New Year Virgo (8/23-9/22) — Due to the amount starts out with a debilitating hangover, but of alcohol you will consume on New Year’s this year, it just might be different. You aren’t Eve night, your motor skills will be incredibly sure how you aren’t clutching a toilet for dear slowed down. That’s why you’ll get confetti in life. Instead, you will wake up early, go for a your eye during a New Year’s Eve party. Since walk and be pretty productive. It isn’t until you you are so drunk, you won’t notice until some- figure out a younger sibling switched two- one asks if it hurts. Like many things when thirds of your liquor for water or tea. You’ll you’re drunk, it won’t hurt then, but you’ll pay be mad until you see the typically fresh-faced come the next morning. New Year’s Resolu- youngster green and crying from the pain. tion: Wearing underwear. New Year’s Resolution: Fewer than 15 sexual partners. Libra (9/23-10/22) — You will see a shoot- ing star of sorts. You will witness a person Aries (3/21- 4/19) — Once again your trying to shoot a firework out of an orifice this crazy relative who you pretend is not blood New Year’s Eve. Many people have seen the related will give you a terrible present. This videos of complete idiots shooting fireworks year you decide to return it and deal with the from various places, but rarely do you get to consequences of her asking why you don’t see the incredibly stupid display in person. Of have the one-of-a-kind horrible knickknack. course it will go horribly wrong and at least Imagine your surprise after sitting through the two people will go to the hospital, but you’ll Christmas gift return hell only to find out your have a good story. New Year’s Resolution: dear, sweet relative stole your gift! After a Taking the entire round of antibiotics. few hours being questioned by the authorities, you’ll be released. Just remember snitches get Scorpio (10/23-11/21) — A new friend stitches. New Year’s Resolution: Rhymes with will invite you to a New Year’s Eve party and brushing your teeth. it isn’t until you show up that you realize you are not in your typical social setting. Yes, you Taurus (4/20-5/20) — Around New Year’s will accidentally end up in a posh, private Eve you’ll be in a bar and bump into none party. People will be knowledgably talking other than MoonPie Over Mobile headliner about art, opera, etc. You, of course, will be Gretchen Wilson. This might be the last thing googling furiously on your phone. Luckily for you remember because the self-proclaimed you, Wikipedia will only make you seem dumb F “Redneck Woman” and you will have one of once and you can pass that off as a joke. New U the rowdiest nights of your life. For months Year’s Resolution: Stop asking Siri if she loves after that fateful night, you will be greeted by you. T people you believe are strangers. It isn’t until U they start talking about “that night” that you’ll Sagittarius (11/22-12/21) — You’ll be feel- realize how they know you. New Year’s Reso- ing down or under the weather on New Year’s R lution: Getting the “Redneck Woman” tattoo Eve, but cheer up or get some medicine in you! E lasered off your face. NYE is a notorious “amateur hour” for drink- ing. That means it’ll be easy pickings just after Gemini (5/21-6/21) — Don’t cheer for your midnight — fish in barrel, stealing candy from S teams during the upcoming bowl games. You a baby and all that. While there may be people are about to run into a streak of bad luck and who are not quite up to your speed of drinking, H the opposite of everything you want to happen remember to be kind to the poor souls puking O will take place. If you want something on a up MoonPies on Dauphin. New Year’s Resolu- menu, then the restaurant will be out. If you tion: To stop kissing your friends’ spouses. C want to take home a particular person, they will be with their boo. If you want your team to K win, they’ll lose horribly. Try testing the fates and wish for the opposite. New Year’s Resolu- tion: Limiting yourself to 12 drinks a night.

Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 45 STYLE MOBILE MAGNIFIED Christmas booze cruises and Chippendale fights ring in the holiday season

BY BOOZIE BEER NUES, Social Butterfly, [email protected] ell, we had a “Holly Jolly Christmas,” y’all, Movie stars smitten with BBQ, Beignets me, ‘Oh, I was a jumper,’” Stimpson said. but I’ll be honest the Boozester is ready for a With two movies being shot in the area — “The Prince” in Bosworth was a champion equestrian at the age of 14 and “Silent Night” or two. Christmas parties and Mobile and “Somnia” in Fairhope — there have been a few appeared in “The Horse Whisperer.” Chippendales and people dancing crazy on a celeb sightings. Unfortunately for the actress, her contract kept her from Wbus, makes for one exhausted gossip columnist. And I haven’t Lucky for my gossip lovers the stars took to Twitter and joining Stimpson and Barber for their ride down Dauphin. even gotten to the celebrity sightings yet. And I am talking horseback to provide some juicy morsels. about real HOLLYWOOD celebrities, not local TV news John Cusack tweeted on Dec. 16 about his love for Moe’s Things gettin’ chippy at Veet’s anchors, which usually qualify as celebs around here. BBQ saying, “Moes Alabama barbeque is deeeelicious...” His Apparently the Chippendales show at Veet’s Dec. 14 was a But with NYE, GoDaddy, Senior Bowl and then Mardi love for the fare almost brought him back to Moe’s on Dec. 17 big hit, but a couple of the ladies got a little overheated with Gras, there is no rest for the wicked or the gossipy, apparently. until his liberal leanings led him elsewhere. all that manflesh on the stage. So now that your stocking is unstuffed (which sounds kind On Dec. 17, Republican and new District 1 Congressman Our spy tells us everything was going well at the heavily of dirty), time to fill up your cup with all the area’s tastiest Bradley Byrne held his election night party at Moe’s BBQ, attended event when two women decided it was time to brawl. scoop. I’m not even sure if that last sentence made sense, as I which I hear was a great time. Cusack was invited by a local “They were just coming across the table at each other,” our think I’m still drunk for the Lagniappe Christmas party. conservative political columnist to come celebrate the GOP’s spy said. Security intervened but these women did not want Lagniappe Christmas Party gets a little Cheesy win and the actor replied, “Make that take out!” to break it up. Apparently one of the female bartenders finally The Lagniappe crew got together for our annual holiday Sneaky baristas/photogs at Serda’s Coffee on Royal Street got one brawler in a headlock and dragged her outside and the gathering on Friday, Dec. 13 at True Midtown Kitchen. Of also captured Cusack two days in a row enjoying their Peanut show resumed without incident. course, there were a lot of folks drinking too much and talking Butter Pleasure Smoothie, which does sound like a pleasure. One of the performers did need a couple of Band Aids after too loudly. But it wasn’t until we boarded the Cheesewagon Across the bay, Kate Bosworth was working on “Somnia” he tried to break things up and was cut with fingernails. That’s party bus for our annual “Booze Cruise,” or as I like to say, and enjoying Fairhope. The actress tweeted her favorite finds, a brave man to have so much hanging out near all those flash- “Boozie Cruise,” that things got “nasty.” which, if you are wondering, are the following: eats — Panini ing nails. At least one person was making good use of the poles in Pete’s especially for their beignets; threads — Lyonstate; Mariachi my love the bus – we should have let him off at Diamonds or The sparkles — Estate Jewelers; gifts — A Place Remembered and We hear an early morning sales meeting at a local business Candy Store. The Happy Olive; and books — Page & Palette. was recently interrupted by a mariachi band there to bid happy And let’s just say the “Spiderbite” shots at Drifters finished Bosworth did make her way to this side of the bay to shoot birthday to one of the managers. Apparently it was quite the at least one person off. And we’re not sure if they were just during ArtWalk on Dec. 13. Mayor Sandy Stimpson and surprise and really spiced things up. Nothing like mariachi hammered, but many reported they thought the place was Police Chief James Barber, who were riding horses down the before 10 a.m. “swaying.” I think it was just the former. closed Dauphin Street, were asked to stop by the set to say hi George, the Cheesewagon’s awesome driver, delivered to Bosworth. Well kids, that’s all I got this issue. Just remember, whether them all back safely and everyone threw up in the comfort of Stimpson said the actress asked to get up on a horse and rain or shine, dramatic or scandalous, or some plain ol’ dirty their own homes, which was good because it’s $250 if you Deputy Chief Joseph Kennedy obliged. Santa hambone lovin’, I will be there. Ciao! puked on the bus. “I asked her if she was comfortable on a horse and she told

46 | Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 Lagniappe December 26, 2013 - January 8, 2014 | 47