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2008 winter movie preview

The Circus Is in Town | Unity Fest | Bogda Art Show | Interview with Shangrala | Dancing with the Stars

free weekly guide to entertainment and more | january 17 - 23, 2008 | www.eujacksonville.com 2 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper table of contents feature 2008 Winter Movie Preview...... PAGES 6-8 movies Movies in Theaters this Week...... PAGES 9-12 Cloverfield (movie review)...... PAGE 9 27 Dresses (movie review)...... PAGE 10 Savages (movie review)...... PAGE 11 There Will Be Blood (movie review)...... PAGE 12 First Sunday (movie review)...... PAGE 13 home Man vs. Wild vs. Survivorman (TV review)...... PAGE 14 Surviving the Writer’s Strike...... PAGE 14 Netscapades...... PAGE 15 Videogames...... PAGE 15 dish Dish Update...... PAGE 16 Galangal (restaurant review)...... PAGES 16-17 Ingredient Secrets...... PAGE 17 music Music Calendar...... PAGES 19-23 Willie Nelson (Florida Theatre)...... PAGE 18 Shangrala (interview)...... PAGE 19 Cosy Sheridan (interview)...... PAGE 20 Ingrid Michaelson (interview)...... PAGE 21 PacSun Tour (interview)...... PAGE 22 Unity Music Fest (interview)...... PAGE 23 arts / theatre / on stage Ringling Bros. Circus...... PAGE 24 Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy (interview)...... PAGE 25 Art Events...... PAGE 26 Bogda Gallery...... PAGE 26 Dancing with the Stars...... PAGE 27 Dearly Departed (Theatre Jacksonville)...... PAGE 28 The Dead Guy (Hippodrome)...... PAGE 29 columns and stuff Native Foreigner...... PAGE 30 A Better U...... PAGE 30 The Jock...... PAGE 31

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 3 thisweek Roy Clark The Ride Down Mt. Morgan thursday january 17 Monogamy and relationships are the focus of this Tony nominated play by Arthur Miller. An insurance Haste the Day vs. Scary Kids Scaring Kids tour agent with two wives realizes his biggest fear when Christian metalcore 5-piece Haste the Day will face off against his spouses meet after he’s been in a car accident. Arizona’s Scary kids Scaring Kids in a battle to the death live on the Now aware of his duplicity, the women are forced to Jack Rabbits stage… Actually they’re just performing in support reappraise their relationship with him and decide if of their newest albums. Drop Dead Gorgeous and Gwen Stacy will they want to continue living in a marriage built on lies. also be there. Tickets: $15. Jack Rabbits- 7 pm, Info: 398-7496 See this fascinating production performed by ABET January 18th through February 2nd. Adele Grage Cultural Glenn Miller Orchestra Center, Info: (904) 249-7177 What Glenn Miller felt as he and his band went out on the road in 1938 still holds true, which is why the famous Glenn Miller PacSun Tour featuring The Audition Orchestra lives on today. Formed by popular demand in 1956, the Surf/skate/snowboarding retailer PacSun is sponsoring band has been touring consistently, playing an average of 300 live PacTour, a month-long series of concerts headlined dates a year around the globe to millions of fans. Tickets: $33.50. by the Audition. The Audition is touring to support the Wilson Center for the Arts- 7:30pm, Info: (904) 632-3373 band’s sophomore release, Champion. Other acts on the bill include Envy on the Coast, Danger Radio and Kathy Griffin Another Day Late. The Pac Tour comes to Jacksonville America’s favorite D-List celebrity is coming back to the First this Friday. Read story on page 22. Tickets: $12. Fuel Coast to give us all the juiciest Hollywood dirt. Kathy Griffin, who Coffeehouse- 4 pm, Info: (904) 425-FUEL recently won an Emmy for her hit Bravo series My Life on the D- List, is currently shooting season four of her show, so perhaps Roy Clark with Special Guest Junior Jacksonville will get some screen time. Tickets: $41 to $48.50. Brown Florida Theatre- 8 pm, Info: (904) 355-2787 Virginia born, multi-award winning virtuoso, actor, vocalist, philanthropist and all around great human being Roy 13th annual Jacksonville International Horse Malcolm Holcombe Clark will be adding the Florida Theatre to his impressive list Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Show of venues played, which also includes Carnegie Hall, Madison Malcolm Holcombe is being recognized by the contemporary U.S A field of Olympic horse and rider combinations hoping to garner Square Garden, Grand Palace in Brussels and the Rossiya and European folk/Americana community as a performer of national enough points to represent their various countries at the 2008 Theatre in Moscow. He’ll be sharing the stage with fellow stature, and an uncommonly unique guitarist/vocalist. See him live World Cup Finals will be participating in this event. Arrive early for a guitar hero and country singer Junior Brown this Friday. Tickets: this week at the European Street Listening Room in San Marco- children’s carnival, featuring Radio Disney, with music games and $28.50-$38.50. Florida Theatre- 8 pm, Info: (904) 355-2787 8:30 pm, Info: (904) 399-1740 or www.hackingcat.com prizes from 1 pm to 2 pm, and mechanical rides, pony rides and stable tours from 1 pm until 4 pm. Admission JAN 17 - 20 Nicky Click to the horse show and carnival is free with a $5 parking Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy Nicky Click is a producer, donation. All proceeds from the day’s events will benefit Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy is an all-new adventure that takes beat maker, video the Clay County 4H Foundation. audiences soaring into a magical forest through the air and on artist, songwriter and Clay County Fairground- 7 pm, Info: nfhja.com/ stage. Read more on page 25. Tickets: $26 to $54. Times-Union performance artist out Center, Moran Theater, Info: 632-3373 or artistseries.fccj.org. of New Hampshire. Her The Unity Music Festival unique brand of electro This newly minted annual music festival celebrates Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus pop has earned her plenty diversity by bringing over 100 different music acts of Over the Top, a wacky and whimsical circus spectacular of fans and a spot on the varying genres together in one event. Arrive with an where dogs fly, Asian Elephants skip, hop, and groove and one stage with famed girl acts open mind and groove to the sounds of acts like Rabbit courageous man stands eye-to-eye with a pack of powerful like Lady Sovereign, The in the Moon, George Acosta, Ying Yang Twins, Lil Bengal tigers. Read more on page 24. Tickets: $11.20 to $69. Blow and The Gossip. Boosie, Young Cash and many, many more. Read more Jacksonville Arena, Info: (904) 630-3998 Tickets: $5. TSI- 10 pm, on page 23. Tickets: $39.50-$99. Metropolitan Park- 11 Info: (904) 424-3531 am to 11 pm, Info: unitymusicfest.com Nicky Click friday january 18 saturday january 19 Enter the Haggis sunday january 20 There aren’t many groups in North America who could lay claim Katt Williams to possibly 18 different genres of music, but Toronto’s Enter the Known just as much for his permed hair as he is for his animated Love & Reverie With their unique mix of pop, indie and rock music Love & Reverie Haggis is one of them. To engage this quintet is to indulge rock, performances and quick wit, comedian Katt Williams has been has a little something for everyone. Hailing from Richmond Virginia fusion, bluegrass, traditional Celtic fare, agitpop, folk, even Latin making his mark in Hollywood for over 10 years. He makes his this five-piece has managed to break out of the mold to create a flavors. ETH’s live show is a musical feast – viscerally dynamic, mark in Jacksonville this weekend when he performs not once niche for themselves all over the east coast. The band will perform emotionally uplifting and intellectually stimulating. See them live but twice on the Florida Theatre stage. Tickets: $49. Florida this Sunday with Anniston, Red Letter Bullet and Secrets Out. this Friday at Café Eleven. Tickets: $10. Café Eleven- 8:30 pm, Info: Theatre- 8 pm and 11 pm, Info: (904) 355-2787 (904) 460-9311 Tickets: $8. Rebar- 8 pm, Info: (904) 388-6269

4 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper monday january 21 Florida Forever Benefit Concert Celebrated Florida folk artists Amy Carol Webb and The Ashley Gang are donating their time and talents to perform at the Florida Forever Benefit. All proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support Audubon of Florida and Northeast Florida conservation advocacy. Tickets: $30/general admission, $50/preferred seating. Theatre Jacksonville - 7 pm, Info: audubonofflorida.org/ffconcert or (850) 224-7546 ext. 2

MLK Holiday Events The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation of Jacksonville cordially invites you to celebrate and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this Monday downtown. Events begin at 9 am with a fantastic parade featuring nearly 200 area marching bands, floats, horses and more. Then head over to Metro Park where you can experience a Battle of the Bands competition, runway shows, community speakers and more. Metropolitan Park - 9 am to 5 pm, Info: mlkfdn.com tuesday january 22 Dynamite Walls, The Futurists Hailing from San Diego, CA, Dynamite Walls is a young rock force poised to blaze their way to the top of the charts. The band’s sound has been compared to everything from Coldplay to John Mayer, and from the Beatles to Van Morrison and the band has found a growing fan base that continues to demand more of the quartet’s creative works. Ignatius Wryly’s and The Futurists will also perform. Tickets: $6. Jack Rabbits- 7 pm, Info: (904) 398-7496

Soft Scrub® Presents Dancing with the Stars- The Tour The surprise TV hit Dancing with the Stars is taking the show on the road and Jacksonville is just one of their stops. See Joey Lawrence, Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton, Drew Lachey and season five winner Helio Castroneves strut their stuff this Tuesday at the Arena. Read more on page 27. Tickets: $50.50 - $165.00. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena- 7:30 pm, Info: jaxevents.com or (904) 353-3309 next thursday january 24

Flo Rida Flo Rida Flo Rida, unsurprisingly a native Floridian, is an MC who toured as a teenager with 2 Live Crew’s Fresh Kid Ice and began popping up on high-profile mixtapes by 2006 and has appeared with the likes of Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina, and Dre (of Cool & Dre). His album Mail on Sunday, contains the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100, ‘Low,’ featuring T-Pain. If you missed him on MTV’s Tila Tiquila’s New Years Eve Masquerade, you can see him live at Plush next Thursday. Info: (904) 743-1845

In Remembrance of the Dream The 6th Annual “In Remembrance of the Dream” Humanitarian Award will be presented to The Honorable Corrine Brown, Representative of the Third Congressional District of Florida. Come enjoy a magical evening to celebrate the modern day heroes in the African-American community, meet Pulitzer Prize nominee and Ritz Chamber Players’ 2007-2008 Composer-in-Residence Dr. David Baker and enjoy his brilliant chamber masterpieces at Jacoby Symphony Hall-7:30 pm. Info: (904) 354-5547

George Strait George Strait’s latest album, It Just Comes Natural, marks his 25th anniversary as a recording artist and coincides with the announcement that he is the most recent addition to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The legendary Texas troubadour is out in support of that new record and is sure to bring the house down with his long list of country hits. Nashville’s own Little Big Town will also perform. Tickets: $54.50- $64.50. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena- 7:30 pm, Info: (904) 353-3309

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 5 january 25th rambo rambo Incredibly, Sylvester Stallone is back playing Rambo. Now long in the tooth, John Rambo travels to Thailand where he assembles a group of 08 winter mercenaries and leads them up the Salween River to a Burmese village where a group of Christian aid workers are being held hostage by Burmese rebels. Rated R

untraceable FBI Agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) is tasked with hunting down a seemingly untraceable serial killer who posts live videos of his vic- tims on the Internet. Frustrated by lack of leads, Marsh discovers that the killer is targeting her as his next victim. He hacks into the FBI computer system and learns every detail of her life. He’s smart and plays games with the FBI and drives Marsh into hiding. Rated R horton hears a who!

hanna montana/miley cyrus: best of both worlds vive near-death encounters with overzealous bor- der guards, an amorous turkey, flesh-eating fish, murderous natives and a host of other obstacles that more than live up to the name “Strange Wil- movie derness.” Rated R february 8th fools gold Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey preview co-star in this action/comedy/romance about a lost treasure that rekindles a married couple’s by rick grant sense of adventure and their estranged romance. Rated PG-13 Winter in Northern Florida is mostly cool and enjoyable, with a few cold spells that require heavy coats and a sweater on my Chihuahua, Pepe. Take a hike in the country dur- welcome home roscoe jenkins ing the day and catch a newly released movie at night. Michael Clarke Duncan and Martin Lawrence There are many exciting movies to be released this winter. Here are a few of the high- co-star in this comedy about a successful talk lights: show host who leaves Los Angeles to reunite with Fantasy is big this year with such films as The Spiderwick Chronicles and In the Name his family in the Deep South. Rated PG13 of the King. st Incredibly, Sylvester Stallone (“Yo, I’m old as dirt.”) is back with another Rambo. This february 1 th time, Rambo, using a heavily armed walker, saves a gaggle of senior citizens being held february 15 hostage by Social Security protesters (ha!). hanna montana/miley cyrus: Teen and twenty-something viewers can’t get enough of the horror genre with films best of both worlds jumper such as The Orphanage and One Missed Call. This film captures 14-year-old singing sen- A genetic anomaly allows a young man to And, the mainstay of the dating crowd, romantic comedies, is well represented with sation, Miley Cyrus, in concert at several venues teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift such films as The Accidental Husband. February 8th, the adventure romance genre movie, on her 2007 54-city tour. She performs as both a has existed for centuries. Suddenly, he finds him- Fools Gold opens. solo artist and as her popular television character, self in a war that has been raging for thousands In the middle of March, the obligatory Spring Break comedies open, Spring Breakdown Hannah Montana. Rated G of years between “Jumpers” and those who have and College Road Trip. sworn to kill them. Starring Hayden Christensen The ancient past will come to life with the epic 10,000 B.C., opening March 7th. strange wilderness and Samuel L. Jackson. Rated PG13 Fortunately, the writer’s strike has not affected the movie business yet, but if it goes A wilderness-themed TV show is losing on, it could shut down productions. More worrisome, though, the Directors Guild’s con- its ratings, so two animal researchers go to the the spiderwick chronicles tract runs out soon, and they could strike if they can’t come to terms with the studios. Andes in search of Bigfoot. The two hapless This is an elaborate fantasy involving two Everyone loses in a strike, so hopefully it can be avoided. explores get more than they bargained for while brothers, Jared and Simon Grace, who, along with As one would expect, there are movies for every taste along with a few art house indie hunting for the mythical creature. From the start their sister Malloy, find themselves pulled into an films for the few people who will go to see them. the ambitious expedition is beset with disasters. alternate world full of fairies and other creatures. Along the way, the hapless crew will have to sur- Rated PG

6 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper nd shutter february 22 A young photographer and his girlfriend find ghostly images in his photographs as well as be kind rewind around them while on their honeymoon in Tokyo. Jerry (Jack Black) is a junkyard worker who Starring Rachel Taylor and Joshua Jackson. Rated attempts to sabotage a power plant that he be- PG13 lieves is melting his brain. But when his plan goes awry, the magnetic field that he creates acciden- tally erases all of the videotapes in a local video store where his best friend Mike works. To satisfy the store’s most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films, which include Back to the Future, Lion King, and Robocop using cheap sets, poor quality cameras, and bad acting. The films develop a cult following as a goof. Rated PG13 charlie bartlett A rich kid (Anton Yelchin) becomes the self- appointed psychiatrist to the student body of his new high school. His amateur psychology leads witless protection to many comedic situations. Also starring Kat Larry, a small town sheriff witnesses what Dennings and Robert Downey, Jr. Rated PG-13 (continued on page 8) 4

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 7 10,000 b.c. the accidental husband

tional family of New York City Police officers. on interminably, and he’s his boss’ whipping boy. he believes is a kidnapping and rushes to rescue the other boleyn girl The Family’s moral codes are tested when Ray His life changes drastically when he meets a sexy a woman in this comedy starring Jenny McCar- Tierney (Edward Norton) investigates a case that woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie) who recruits thy, Eric Roberts, Joe Mantegna, and Larry the reveals an incendiary police corruption scandal him into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Cable Guy. Rated PG-13 involving his own brother-in-law (Colin Farrell). Wes to avenge his father’s death by unlocking his Rated R dormant powers. Rated R vantage point Forest Whitaker and Dennis Quaid co-star in st run, fatboy, run this intriguing thriller. When there is an attempted march 21 A rotund guy leaves his pregnant fiancée assassination of the President, the story is told on their wedding day only to discover, five years from five different perspectives. Rated meet the browns later, that she is his one true love. Now that he is This is another Tyler Perry vehicle. A single PG13 trim and fit he wants her back but has to compete mom (Angela Basset) takes her family to the fu- with her boyfriend. His belated proclamations of neral of her father – a man she never met. There, th love fall on deaf ears but he’s not discouraged. her clan is introduced to the crass, fun-loving february 29 Rated PG13 Brown family. Rated PG-13 the other boleyn girl 21 Two ferociously ambitious sisters, Mary and drillbit taylor Based on a real-life gambling scheme setup In this comedy, two kids hire a low-budget Anne Boleyn, are rivals for the bed and heart of by MIT students to outsmart the blackjack deal- bodyguard to protect them from the playground the 16th century English king Henry VIII. Starring: ers in Vegas. Six MIT students were trained to bully. But they get more than they bargained for Natalie Portman, Eric Bana and, Scarlett Johans- cides to travel around the country to choose the become experts in card counting and took Vegas when their scheme unravels in many comedic son. Rated PG13 perfect college. Her overprotective cop father casinos for millions of dollars. Starring Kevin ways. Starring Owen Wilson. Rated PG13 decides to accompany her in order to keep her Spacey. Rated PG13 semi-pro on the straight and narrow. She devises a plan to th Will Farrell stars as Jackie Moon, the divert her dad’s attention while she parties. Star- march 28 stop loss owner-coach-player of the American Basketball ring Raven Symore and Martin Lawrence. Rated Back home in Texas, after fighting in Iraq, Association’s Flint Michigan Tropics. He rallies his PG13 wanted a soldier refuses to return to battle despite the teammates to make their NBA dreams come true. th Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is a dis- government mandate requiring him to return to Rated R march 14 affected, cube-dwelling workaday drone. His his unit. His legal battle becomes an unintentional th girlfriend ignores him routinely and his life plods anti-war manifesto. Rated R march 7 spring breakdown drillbit taylor Three adult women vacation together at a 10,000 b.c. popular travel destination for college co-eds on This prehistoric epic follows a young mam- spring break. They get caught up in the chaos moth hunter’s journey through uncharted territory and wild parties. This comedy stars Parker Posey, to secure the future of his tribe. Rated PG13 Missi Pyle, and Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arca- dia). the accidental husband Uma Thurman plays talk radio host Emma horton hears a who! Lloyd who advises one of her listeners to break Horton the Elephant struggles to protect a up with her boyfriend. When the boyfriend gets microscopic community from his neighbors who the brush-off, he’s furious and starts plotting his refuse to believe it exists. Jim Carrey voices Hor- revenge on Emma. Co-starring Colin Firth. Rated ton and Steve Carell voices The Mayor of Who- PG13 ville. Rated PG college road trip pride and glory An over-achieving high school student de- This is a saga centered on a multi-genera-

8 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper in the CGI. It’s actually a pretty brilliant strategy when you think about it and, as long as the audience doesn’t suffer from motion sickness, fans will cer- MOVIES OPENING tainly appreciate it. Like Abrams’ hit TV show Lost, there are plenty 27 DRESSES A single woman who has served of lingering questions that are sure to bug the heck as a bridesmaid a stunning twenty-seven times out of the average moviegoer. Where did the monster prepares to support her sister at the alter on come from? How did the human race stop such a number twenty-eight despite having fallen help- formidable beast? Did New York ever recover? We’re lessly in love with her smitten sibling’s hand- told at the beginning that this is “recovered footage” some husband-to-be. Katherine Heigl stars in a we’re watching, so it’s a given that none of that stuff romantic comedy scripted by The Devil Wears will ever be addressed. This could be seen as a big Prada screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna and issue for some and was a problem for at least a few directed by Anna Fletcher (Step Up). Also star- of the people at the screening I attended. I suspect ring: James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward those who want to know more about the monster’s Burns. Rating: PG-13 origins and the aftermath of the attack will be able to find some answers online, where at least four official CLOVERFIELD The subject of much internet Cloverfield-related sites have been discovered so speculation since its provocative trailer debuted far. If the massive viral marketing campaign Abrams in early July of 2007, producer J.J. Abrams’s used with Lost is any indication, new chapters of the mystery shrouded production finds a powerful Cloverfield story will be available to those with an destructive force descending upon New York Internet connection and several hours to kill. Lazy City. Directed by Matt Reeves, from a script by movie-lovers probably won’t want to deal with the Drew Goddard, the film stars Michael Stahl- extra work, but those willing to put in the time will David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman, amd Lizzy most likely get more out of the film in the end. Caplan. But the real question is “Does it live up to the Rating: PG-13 hype?” The answer is yes and no. If you can get past the camera work, and that is a big “if” consider- MAD MONEY Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) ing I never get motion sickness and my stomach is shocked to learn that she is on the verge of was turning at certain points, there’s a great thriller losing her home and comfortable upper middle to be found. Like all good thrillers the characters class lifestyle when her husband Don (Ted Dan- perfect popcorn cinema make stupid decisions and often time survive the son) is downsized from his job. Armed only with impossible, but we, the viewers, go with it because a decades old English degree and years as a what they’re going through matters to us. In this Clo- dedicated mother and corporate wife, Bridget is verfield succeeds. Yes, there are plot holes, missteps forced into the unfamiliar labor market with no Cloverfield and some seriously shaky logic in this particular job skills. Finally, she accepts the only position tale, but at the end of the day it shocks, startles and she can find—janitor at the Federal Reserve entertains so much that those flaws seem minimal in Bank. Also starring: Queen Latifah and Katie by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] hindsight. Cloverfield is perfect popcorn cinema. Holmes. Rating: PG-13

B+ Rated PG13 90 min (Lizzy Caplan), Rob makes the perilous journey SAVAGES The Savage siblings are firmly co- past the giant monster, its dangerous offspring and cooned in their own complicated lives. Wendy is Internet hype is a funny thing. It worked amaz- several tanks full of military to rescue the woman he a struggling East Village playwright and Jon is a ingly well for 1999’s surprise hit The Blair Witch loves, documenting the events on a camcorder along neurotic college professor writing books on ob- Project but last year’s Snakes on a Plane bombed the way. scure subjects in Buffalo. They are informed that despite the all buzz. It will be interesting to see how The big problem with most modern day mon- the father they have long feared and avoided, the new JJ Abrams-pro- Lenny Savage, is slowly being consumed by duced monster movie dementia and they are the only ones that can Cloverfield fares this help. Now, Wendy and Jon are forced to live weekend. After seeing together under one roof for the first time since the film, I suspect it childhood, rediscovering the eccentricities that will be somewhere in drove each other crazy. Starring: Laura Linney, between. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco, Peter Rob Hawkins Friedman. Rating: R (Michael Stahl-David) is about to leave New NOW SHOWING York City and head to Japan for a big promo- ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS The live-action/ tion. His going-away CGI motion picture event brings together the cel- party is going swim- ebrated history of its beloved characters - Dave mingly until an earth- Seville and singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon and quake surges through Theodore - adding a new comic sensibility and the city causing the edge. Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Cam- power to go out briefly. eron Richardson, Justin Long. Rating: PG The partygoers head to the roof just in time to ATONEMENT In 1935, 13-year-old fledgling witness an explosion in writer Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her the distance. Thinking family live a life of wealth and privilege in their the earthquake is actu- enormous mansion. The warmest day of the ally another terrorist attack, the group rushes out of ster movies is the CGI often looks so out of place the building and into the street where Lady Liberty’s and off that the audience can spot it a mile away. A 4 flaming head is soon hurled. It’s then they realize this film like Cloverfield hinges on its gigantic antagonist is no terrorist attack or earthquake. A massive mon- being realistic and scary and thankfully it is. In fact, ster has made its way to Manhattan and their only nearly all of the effects used in the film, from the choice is to run for their lives. This strategy, howev- monster to its spawn to the destruction they do to er, gets thrown out the window when Rob gets a call the city, are top notch. I think there was only one from his best friend/lady love Beth (Odette Yustman) moment where I spotted the use of green screen and who is trapped in her high-rise apartment. With the the monster wasn’t even in the vicinity. The use of help of his brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and friends the handheld camera helps bring a sense of imme- Lily (Jessica Lucas), Hud (TJ Miller) and Marlena diacy to the audience, but also helps hide any flaws 4

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 9 seen in a long long time. Some of them match the year stokes Briony’s vivid imagination. Robbie funny bone aptitude of such notable comedies as Turner (James McAvoy), the educated son of the Borat and Knocked Up (another Heigl vehicle), but it family’s housekeeper, carries a torch for Briony’s comes as a shocking, pleasant surprise. headstrong older sister Cecilia (Kiera Knightley). One of the best things about Katherine Heigl is Cecilia, he hopes, has comparable feelings. Ce- that she really nails the whole woe-is-me romantic cilia and Robbie declare their love for each other, comedy heroine, but she is downright one of the but he is arrested - and with Briony bearing false funniest actresses around. You just don’t ever expect witness, the course of three lives is changed it. She isn’t the kind of actress that comes to mind forever. Rating: R when you think of female comedians. Her character on Grey’s Anatomy is, once again, a lovelorn, sweet THE BUCKET LIST Jack Nicholson and Morgan and yet incredibly strong woman. It’s a role that will Freeman star as two terminally ill cancer patients hopefully not become typecast, but she surely does who decide to break out of the hospital and live it well. their last days to the fullest. Edward Cole (Nich- In 27 Dresses she is convincing with her olson) is a corporate billionaire who is currently mope-y eyes and her belief that the true sanctity of sharing a hospital room with blue-collar mechan- love is tangible. And she’s gorgeous, which doesn’t ic Carter Chambers (Freeman). With a checklist really hurt things. that includes playing the poker tables in Monte But what really wins this new movie star some Carlo, consuming copious amounts of caviar, credit is that underneath all that Julia Roberts cam- racing the fastest machines on four wheels, and ouflage is a genuine comedian. And it shows. She much more..These two will do their best to fit truly shines in this witty, somewhat satirical film a lifetime of experience into their last remaining about the absurdities of weddings and how much days while forging an unlikely, but truly remark- importance has been placed on them over the past able, friendship. Rating: PG-13 years. Her character even tries on all 27 of the brides- CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR Charlie Wilson (Tom maid’s dresses, giving the film its name. And, in the Hanks) was a bachelor congressman from Texas most hilarious of ways, every single one is hideous. with a deep sense of patriotism and a passion for But as they flashback to the loving moments they the underdog, and in the early 1980s the under- were adorned for, they are as convincing and valid dog was Afghanistan. Charlie’s longtime friend as the kind of dress some delusional bride might and patron and sometime lover was Joanne make her friends wear. Herring (Julia Roberts), one of the wealthiest The film starts with Jane participating in two women in Texas and a virulent anti-communist. weddings in one night, darting here and there in be- She prods Charlie into doing more for the Muja- tween the receptions in an undetectable act of self- hideen. Charlie’s partner in this uphill endeavor sappy and snappy less heroism. It gives the illusion of the bridesmaid is CIA Agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour as some kind of super hero in a wedding, which is Hoffman), a blue-collar operative in a company portrayed as a larger-than-life moment. Yet it is a of Ivy League blue bloods. Together, the three 27 Dresses moment that seems to have lost the significance of of them—Charlie, Joanne and Gust—travel the the original meaning: the joining of two people in world to form unlikely alliances among the arms love. That simple idea, with such bold implications dealers, law makers and a belly dancer. Rating: R by hilary johnson [email protected] about the state of marriage and weddings in our A Rated PG13 107 minutes tressed, disillusioned Jane, played by Katherine Heigl culture, is the backbone of this film. It is brought out FIRST SUNDAY Durell and LeeJohn are best in the new romantic comedy 27 Dresses. by Heigl’s co-star and antagonist, the hunky James friends and bumbling petty criminals. When “I feel like I just found out that my favorite love For a sappy chick flick, this movie packs some Marsden, who plays Kevin. Kevin is a wedding jour- Durell learns that his ex-girlfriend plans to move song was written about a sandwich,” said a dis- of the most hysterical silver screen moments I have nalist for the New York Journal whose cynical views to another state with their son--unless they can on the sanctity of weddings counters Heigl’s idealis- get her $17,000 to pay off a debt--they come up tic obsession with the overblown events. with a desperate scheme to rob their neighbor- Their chemistry is somehow both subtle and hood church. But when the duo fumbles their overwhelming all at once, making this film not only way through the break-in, they discover some- romantic and emotional, but sarcastically funny and one has beaten them to the punch. In order to get totally believable. their hands on the money, Durell and LeeJohn It is safe to say that this film will be a huge are forced to spend the night in the presence of box office hit, while also catapulting the careers of the Lord and his followers--and end up getting both Heigl and Marsden into the next tier of silver a lot more than they bargained for. Starring: Ice screen success, a feat much deserved. 27 Dresses Cube, Tracy Morgan, Katt Williams, Regina Hall. contains all the right ingredients. And even in the Rating: PG-13 moments that are on the brink of being too sugary sweet to bear, they throw in another side-splitting THE GREAT DEBATERS Drawing inspiration moment that brings it down from the heart and into from the true story of a temperamental debate the stomach, which is suddenly, once again, doubled coach who molded the students of a small East over in laughter. Texas college into a formidable team that gave If you are looking for a film that is light, but Harvard’s squad a run for their money in the still thought-provoking then this movie is for you. If 1930s, Denzel Washington’s The Great Debaters you’re looking to make fun of marriage, then here’s features the director himself as the ambitious your chance. If you’re looking to get ideas for an up- educator, and Forest Whitaker as the resentful fa- coming wedding, here are few what NOT to dos (and ther of a student whose loyalties now lie almost a few rather genuinely great ones). And if you’re exclusively with his coach. Starring: Denzel looking for a good date movie, then this movie is Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Denzel definitely the pick of the crop. The guys will probably Whitaker. Rating: PG-13 get a good laugh, while the girls will get the sappy love stories they love so much. Just maybe not a THE GOLDEN COMPASS Based on author first date, as it is about weddings. That could just be Philip Pullman’s bestselling and award-winning awkward. novel,’The Golden Compass’ tells the first story in Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. ‘The Golden Compass’ is an exciting fantasy adven- read it all online ture, set in an alternative world where people’s EUjacksonville.com

10 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper stirred up her guilt about her inability to reach out to him. Jon was more philosophical about the inevitable souls manifest themselves as animals, talking result of Lenny’s dementia–he would need 24/7 care bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-ex- in a nursing home. Both siblings were forced to face ist. ‘The Golden Compass’ stars an ensemble cast long-buried emotions, blocked by years of intellec- that includes Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam tual thought. Elliott, and Ian McShane. Rating: PG-13 Jenkins gradually builds momentum by esca- lating the emotional turmoil as Wendy and Jon face I AM LEGEND Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a hard choices, which force them to look deeply inside brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the themselves and brings them closer as brother and terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable, and sister. Lenny is in and out of lucidity as he seems man-made. Somehow immune, Neville is now the confused by all the changes going on around him last human survivor in what is left of New York City that he can’t contemplate. He thinks he’s in a hotel, and maybe the world. Starring: Will Smith, Alice when in fact, he’s in a nursing home. Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield. In a key scene, Jon tells Wendy that the pleas- Rating: PG-13. ant trappings of the nursing home, such as the landscaping and the decor, are for the relatives to IN THE NAME OF THE KING: A DUNGEON SIEGE ease their guilt, hiding the reality of death going on TALE A simple family man (Jason Statham) is everyday inside. Wendy befriends an orderly who forced to take up arms after an evil sorcerer (Ray tells her they know when death is near because the Liotta) unleashes an army of bloodthirsty beasts patients’ feet curl up a few days before. that destroy his small village and capture his beau- The focus of Jenkins’ script is how the impend- tiful wife (Claire Forlani). Rating: PG-13 ing death of their father changes them, jolting them out of their self-absorption and redirecting their INTO THE WILD Based on a true story and the energy to thinking about their father’s well being. In bestselling book by Jon Krakauer. After graduating so doing, Wendy and Jon see things differently with from Emory University in 1992, top student and more compassion and love. athlete Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) In this masterfully written story, Jenkins sug- abandons his possessions, gives his entire gests that ageism is born from the fear of the un- $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes a problem for the ages to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, known among young people. When forty-something offspring have to make arrangements for their elderly Christopher encounters a series of characters parents, they see their own mortality for the first that shape his life. Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince The Savages time. It’s both shocking and illuminating to see how Vaughn, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt. Directed they commit to this new phase of their lives and it By: Sean Penn. Rating: R by Rick grant [email protected] determines how they will handle their own old age. JUNO When a teenage girl is faced with an unex- A- Rated R 113 min Indeed, we learn from all phases of our lives and facing the death of a parent is a profound lesson pected pregnancy, she enlists the aid of her best friend in finding the unborn child a suitable home Writer/director Tamara Jenkins’ screenplay in humility and understanding of what love really means. in this coming-of-age comedy drama from Thank broaches a sensitive subject in today’s world–aging You for Smoking director Jason Reitman. Juno in an ageist, youth-obsessed society unwilling to (Ellen Page) may seem wise beyond her years, come to terms with the problems of the elderly. Sib- but after sleeping with classmate Bleeker (Michael lings Wendy and Jon Savage (Laura Linney and Phil- Cera), the pregnant teen quickly realizes how little ip Seymour Hoffman) are estranged from their father, she really knows about life. Juno’s parents (J.K. Lenny (Philip Bosco), who is living with a woman in Simmons and Allison Janney) and a best friend Sun City, Arizona. His companion suddenly dies and named Leah (Olivia Thirlby) are willing to help out. he is suffering from dementia, which has caused him Juno soon comes into contact with Mark (Jason to act irrationally. Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) -- an Lenny can no longer stay in the house because affluent suburban couple who are eager to adopt he signed an agreement that if his cohabitant died he Juno’s unborn child. Juno discoves that one bad would not contest the ownership of her home, which choice can have a lifetime of consequences. Rat- the relatives want to sell. So, Wendy and John have ing: PG-13 to interrupt their lives, fly to Arizona, and deal with their father’s rapidly advancing illness. THE KITE RUNNER In a divided country on the Wendy is in her forties and trying to make it verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Has- as a playwright. She has a day job as a temp to pay san, are about to be torn apart forever. Now, after the bills, but literary failure is embarrassing to her 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a because her brother, Jon, is a professor of theater perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted tionship of convenience for both of them. and the author of numerous books. Wendy is hav- rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take Under normal circumstances, Wendy and ing an affair with a randy married man Larry (Peter one last daring chance to set things right. Starring: Jon would have had difficulty communicating with Friedman) who has no intention of leaving his wife. Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi, Zekiria Ebra- Lenny, but his illness exacerbated their bitter differ- She is getting tired of just sex and is secretly desir- himi, Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada. Rating: PG-13 ing a more fulfilling relationship, but Larry satisfies ences and made it extremely awkward to talk with him about his living arrangements and his wishes her sexual desires and she can get rid of him quickly, NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS Nico- concerning his death. For Wendy, her father’s illness so she can be alone to work on her plays. It’s a rela- las Cage reprises his role as artifact hunter and archaeologist extraordinaire Ben Franklin Gates. In this outing, Gates learns of his own family’s impli- cation in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Gates must then locate the 18 missing pages to Booth’s diary, not only to clear his family’s name, but to unearth and connect several secrets, buried within the book, that point to a massive, global conspiracy. Rating: PG

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN Llewelyn Moss finds a pickup truck surrounded by a sentry of dead men. A load of heroin and two million dollars in cash are still in the back trunk. When Moss takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of cata-

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 11 strophic violence that not even the law — namely aging, disillusioned Sheriff Bell — can contain. Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly MacDonald. Rat- ing: R

ONE MISSED CALL The story revolves around a college student whose friends begin receiving cell phone messages from the future in which they hear themselves being murdered. When she receives her own death message, the coed has three days to change her fate. Rating: PG-13

THE ORPHANAGE Laura spent the happiest years of her childhood growing up in an orphanage by the seaside, cared for by the staff and fellow orphans whom she loved as brothers and sisters. Now, thirty years later, she returns with her husband Carlos and Simon, their 7-year-old son, with a dream of restoring and reopening the long abandoned orphanage as a home for dis- abled children. Starring: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Geraldine Chaplin. Rating: R

P.S. I LOVE YOU Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) a surprisingly topical drama is 29, beautiful, smart, and married to the love of her life—a passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry (Gerard Butler). Gerry’s There Will Be Blood life is taken by an illness that also seems to take the life out of Holly. Holly receives a message on her 30th birthday in the form of a cake and, to by Rick grant [email protected] her utter shock, a tape recording from Gerry, who proceeds to order her to get out and “celebrate A Rated R 158 min needed labor for this dangerous work. So he liter- herself.” In the weeks and months that follow, ally created a town around his drilling operations. more letters from Gerry are delivered, each send- In this dark but riveting drama set at the turn In this idyllic setting, Daniel met his nemesis, a ing her on a new adventure and ending with: P.S. I of the 20th Century, writer/director Paul Thomas phony preacher and healer, Eli Sunday, skillfully Love You. Rating: PG-13. Anderson’s adaptation of Upton Sinclair’s novel, acted by Paul Dano. Oil, is a scathing study of a psychopath, Daniel Anderson’s script uses the war of wills be- SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF Plainview. Brilliantly characterized by Daniel Day- tween Daniel and Eli as a subtext to exposing Dan- FLEET STREET Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Lewis, Plainview seeks power by becoming a iel’s true colors. Ironically, Eli was a lot like Daniel. Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Timothy Spall, wealthy oilman through the strength of his will and But he wanted status and power as a religious and Alan Rickman star in this Tim Burton film. hard work alone. His superior persona veiled his icon on the back of Daniel’s hard work. Eli, who Embittered at having been wrongly imprisoned contempt for other people. was bitter that Daniel reneged on his agreement Ex-convict Sweeny Todd (Depp) returns to his Anderson created special formalized dialogue to compensate the Sunday family for taking their hometown and opens a modest barber shop. for Day-Lewis to utter, exposing a deeply disturbed land, needs Daniel’s oil money to build his empire. With a little assistance from his accomplice Mrs. man who could turn on the charm using straight A con man himself, Eli uses his influence with the Lovett (Bonham Carter) - whose popular meat talk with the simple folk to whom he was selling townspeople to punish Daniel, but his scheme pies are proven to have Todd’s most unsavory his ideas for oil-rich communities. In his pitches to backfires. This results in a stalemate between two ingredient. Rating: R the townspeople, he painted himself as family man con men. – a single father who believed in a hard work ethic. By now, viewers see Daniel as a man tortured THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP A It was a ruse to con as much oil-rich land as he by his past but determined to put it behind him. lonely young boy vows to protect the rapidly could out of the landowners. His endgame is unclear, but he has become very growing hatchling that emerges from a mysteri- At first, I admired Daniel’s determination and wealthy. Nonetheless, his mental state is deterio- ous egg found on the shores of a Scottish loch. tenacity as he toiled relentlessly in a self-dug hole rating, exacerbated by his massive consumption of Angus MacMorrow (Alex Etel) will have to do to mine silver nuggets to earn his seed money. whiskey. Day-Lewis skillfully guides his character some seriously quick thinking to keep his new- With his son in tow, Daniel works his first oil rig into madness as he gets older and meaner. Despite found friend out of the hands of research scien- and strikes a large oil field. He surrounded himself his status as a wealthy oil baron, Daniel can’t tists. Rating: PG. with a cadre of handpicked loyal associates who enjoy it. He is harassed by internal voices and his would do his bidding without question. However, descent into mental illness seems profound. SPECIAL SHOWINGS as the story unfolds, Daniel reveals his twisted The haunting score by Radiohead’s Jonny megalomania and psychotic personality. Greenwood serves as a fitting audio backdrop IMAX Daniel’s strategy was to get an oil rig pump- to Daniel’s trip into hell on earth. Greenwood’s The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater will ing $5,000 per week and move on to the next drill- avant-garde symphonic music highlights Daniel’s premiere Walt Disney Pictures’ giant-screen ing site, building rapidly increasing wealth on mas- extreme emotional mood swings as he gradually adventure ROVING MARS on Friday, Jan. 18. sive cash flow. Never satisfied, Daniel exhibited loses control. When Daniel’s faux brother shows The film, which gives audiences an account of dark moods and out-of-control diatribes. His heart up to hang out with him, he brings some peace to the $820-million Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) was cold, driven by greed and a ruthless nature. Daniel’s soul. But when Daniel finds out the man mission and a first-hand trip to the mystifying When crossed, Daniel held a grudge and schemed is an imposter, his true psychotic nature manifests planet that has inspired countless scientific ques- to get even with his enemies, especially other oil- itself. tions, will run at the IMAX Theater through fall men who were working claimed sites nearby. Dan- Day-Lewis’ characterization of Daniel Plain- 2008. The film follows the Lead Science Inves- iel never learned the art of diplomacy even when it view will forever be fused in viewers’ brains as an tigator Steve Squyres and his team of engineers was in his best interest. He had to win at all costs. indelible memory. No one will forget Day-Lewis’ as they conceive and execute a history-making Tipped off that Standard Oil was operating in penetrating performance as this hard-working man project to build and launch two state-of-the-art a certain Texas region, Daniel moved in to grab as who single-handedly carved out an oil empire, but remote-controlled Rovers. For tickets and show- much land as possible. His experience at finding whose mental illness trapped his mind in a prison times, call 904-940-IMAX or visit www.wgv.com. oil served him well. He found a tract of land that of pain and psychosis. All his money and power could produce unlimited amounts of oil, but he could not save him from himself.

12 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper holy high rollers First Sunday by Rick grant [email protected] D Rated PG-13 96 min

Ice Cube has carved out a dynasty for himself by making cheap films that enforce negative Afri- can-American ghetto stereotypes. In this crappola, Cube played a leading role and produced the project. Nonetheless, Cube knows what ordinary blacks want in their comedies. His formula always includes the church, which is an epicenter of black culture, com- plemented by black character cliches, including the street thugs, the church lady, the nutty choir director and the sweet elderly grandmother. In this low rent shoot, Cube played Durell and Tracy Morgan (30 Rock) portrayed LeeJohn–buddies who commit petty street crimes to get by. A heist caper is conjured up by the two goofballs when they hear that the church has raised over $100 grand for a rebuilding project. As motivation, Durell and LeeJohn find out they owe some Jamaican hustlers $17 grand for stolen custom wheel chairs. Yes, the church rebuilding fund seems like easy money. Of course, everything goes wrong that could go wrong, and the two hapless burglars end up taking the minister and the choir hostage. Amid constant and annoying bickering, the two dunderheads find out that someone else got to the money before them. Now, Durell, who is pissed off that his plan went been done to death, audience members in the theater south, threatens the hostages with bodily harm if when I viewed the film seemed to really enjoy it. This they don’t scarf-up the dough. Morgan resorts to proves my case that Ice Cube has his finger on the his tried-and-true shtick to get laughs, and Cube just pulse of the mainstream black consciousness. snorts-out his lines like he does in every role. To me, the movie’s running time of 96 min- Director/writer David E. Talbert orchestrates utes seemed like an eternity as the film plodded on the scenes effectively from his own script, which is with more of the same unfunny setups. To be fair, I loaded with hackneyed dialogue. The premise that noticed that some of the references went right past certain members of the hostage contingent see that me, but the audience immediately laughed. Even Durell is really a decent man wears thin when he factoring in my ignorance of some of the references, acts like a trigger happy killer. The mid-section of the film still didn’t measure up to quality standards of this film is irritating and long, and nothing really hap- writing and filmmaking. pens. Only when the black film audiences get tired of The church pastor (Chi McBride), who spends these poor films will the standards change. Mean- the entire movie tied to a chair, brought some dignity while, Ice Cube and his ilk will continue to build up to his role. His daughter (Malinda Williams) had the their influence and clout in the business because hots for Durell and comic Katt Williams portrayed the their films always make money. The credo is–if you nervous choir director. Michael Beach, who like most make large amounts of money for yourself and other of the cast is slumming in this film, plays the role of high rollers in the biz, you rise to greatness. No one the church embezzler. Even though the formula has cares if you haven’t got talent.

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 13 Man vs. Wild Survivorman surviving the winter writer’s strike online TV and TV extras by Erin thursby [email protected] The writer’s strike has made well-scripted original shows harder to find on TV. News pundits predict that TV will soon be a sea of reality-TV and news magazine shows. That doesn’t mean that you have to be starved for good TV shows. Take the time to learn about your favorite shows online, or just catch up on shows you wish you’d watched from the start of the season. Because of my inability to actually catch any show regularly, I often find myself on the web, desperately trying to catch up with whatever show I’m interested in at the time. Slow connection or a spotty Internet video feed can lead to giving up for the season and just buying it later on DVD. During my Internet travels, I’ve found that the world of online TV extras has expanded considerably. Here’s what I’ve found so far:

CBS (cbs.com) They’ve got full episodes from their various The Heroes series is great because not ev- programs like Shark, How I Met your Mother, and ery detail and person is fully explained. It leaves all the CSI’s currently on the network. I never made viewers with questions, burning questions. Those survival of the fittest it past the commercials for a web video of any viewers go to the site and often join the online show, so I wish you luck on that score. community on the message boards, sounding their Looking at the show menu, I clicked on Num- theories about character’s relationships with each Man vs. Wild vs. Survivorman b3rs, because I thought that this show would be other and their powers. perfect for the web. When I got there it was pretty There’s much more on the site, like Claire’s bare. There was an interesting section on “The MySpace and behind-the-scenes blogs from cre- by Rick grant [email protected] Math Behind Numb3rs” but the web design was ators. My favorite online extra has got to be the Spawned from the popularity of the long-run- out his feet, which are vulnerable to trench foot. Bear clumsy, with far too much scrolling involved. faux PBS series on Takezo Kensei. ning reality show Survivor, two experienced survival- showed viewers that they could siphon the dirty While it’s nice that CBS has something If you’re a fan of the series or if you want to ists compete for viewers every week in some god- swamp water through a T-shirt, boil it, and drink it. online, they aren’t the best network to ever buy know more, the NBC Heroes page is a terrific re- forsaken wilderness with only their survival skills, a The endless swamp with its poisonous snakes and a domain. The site isn’t as user friendly as other source. Even once you explore it fully, you should knife, and a canteen of water. Whereas naturalist and alligators is a foreboding place to be stranded. It’s networks. keep coming back, because they add fresh content former British Special Forces soldier, Bear Grylls of impossible to get your bearings, but Bear showed on a regular basis, and there are always discus- Man Vs Wild is dropped into vast wilderness regions viewers how to navigate this treacherous environ- ABC (abc.com) sions on the boards about the latest episode. with a film crew, Les Shroud, from Canada, is also ment. One wonders, though, that when he yells “cut” ABC is definitely a step up from CBS as far dropped into a wilderness region, but he films him- he may say, “Hey, who’s got a beer,” to the crew. design is concerned. Check out the Ugly Betty Cable or Satellite Online self, which to me gives Les more credibility. Frankly, I like both shows, and Bear knows his site, in all its brightly-colored, eye-popping glory. Maybe it’s because you pay extra, but most of the The allure of these shows is based on viewers stuff, but by far, Les Shroud seems more rugged You’ll have to have a Flash Player installed to view time shows on cable or satellite aren’t available saying to themselves “what if” we end up lost in and authentic. By filming himself, his challenges are many of the videos and extras, but as long as you in their entirety online. Here are just two worthy the woods without any provisions, what would we much more authentic. He is indeed alone, with no do, you should have a fun time on the site. In new picks: do? Of course, chances of that happening are slim help from anyone. Of course, the show’s insurance shows Pushing Daisies is my pick. They also do to none, but it’s fun to speculate. I like to hike on policy insists that Les carry a satellite phone in case pretty decently with Lost and Grey’s Anatomy, with The Daily Show on Comedy Central well marked paths with my cell phone and plenty of he gets injured, he can call for help. But that would a good amount of extras and a link so that you can thedailyshow.com water. Clearly, both Bear Grylls and Les Stroud are be a last resort for this tough outdoors man. Les buy merch. Unfortunately, I can’t watch The Daily Show experienced survivalists who have advanced knowl- grew up in the wilderness of northern Canada, hunt- in its entirety online (not legally anyway). This is edge of where to find water in various regions, what ing and learning survival skills. Les writes, produces, NBC (nbc.com) sad because I can’t pay for a cable package with indigenous plants are safe to eat, and what small and stars in his series. He even wrote and edited the The most web savvy network of the big three Comedy Central, and I love The Daily Show. creatures and insects are nutritious. theme music. is NBC. Even with a comedy series like My Name I can, however, get a mini-fix by watching the In Bear Grylls’ show, Man Vs Wild, the film Renowned as an outdoor adventurer, film- is Earl, they mange to come up with creative online shortened “highlights” from the show. I miss some crew is unseen, which raises the possibility of Bear maker, singer/songwriter, and naturalist, Les has hooks. Earl’s none-too-bright brother Randy even of Jon Stewart’s lighthearted banter, but I get the cheating. The crew could be carrying extra water, 20 years of experience learning survival skills and has his own soul-searching blog. Each show on meaty parts. food, and other amenities to make Bear’s survival in producing films. He singlehandedly produced the the site has an easily accessible design. Thirteen the forest more comfortable. In fact, Bear has been pilot for Survivorman and pitched it to Discovery episodes were completed before the strike struck. Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet criticized for staging some scenes near his hotel. So, International/The Science Channel. They bought it As far as I’m concerned, NBC’s Heroes is the animal.discovery.com/fansites/meerkat/meerkat. next season, Bear’s show will include the film crew on the spot. My favorite Les Shroud adventure was king of online content. The writers and production html and regular people he is teaching to survive. This his trip to Alaska where he battled the brutal weather people have done at least 11 episodes, so it will be Meerkat Manor is one of the few satel- way, the scenes will be above reproach. More impor- and there were only four hours of light per day. a few weeks before they’re affected by the strike. lite/cable TV shows online that you can watch in tantly, the show will be more interesting. The salmon were running, but he had to stay clear In the meantime, explore the site! There’s plenty its entirety. Those that want to catch up with the Undeniably, Bear has the right stuff for hosting of black and grizzly bears who feast on the yearly to see. You can catch up with the series by watch- meerkat saga can watch past episodes. If you need this show. Despite a bad back injury suffered in a salmon run. Shroud built a shelter from rubbish and ing their video of past episodes (this season only) to sort out which family is which, there’s a “Meet parachuting accident on a Special Forces’ mission, used items he found in the environment to help him but that’s not what keeps people coming back the Meerkats” link you can click on. The characters Bear went on to climb Mount Everest. He was only survive, living off rats and other small creatures. to the site. There are links to websites of some of the show are grouped by family, and each family 23 and the youngest person to reach the summit Since Shroud is completely alone, his adventures of the “corporations” and businesses you’ll see has a link to individual meerkat bios. at that time (1998). In 2007, he was also the first are more intriguing. There is no hotel where he could on the show. Dummy sites for Primatech Paper, There are also interactive games and quizzes, person to fly a powered paraglider over the summit have a cocktail, only the relentless bleakness of the Yamagato Fellowship and the casino run by the place to vote for your favorite meerkat, forums and of Everest, ascending to 29,500 feet. In 2005, Bear wilderness. That is not to say that Bear Grylls’ show shadowy Mr. Linderman can all be found. Some of chat rooms. You can adopt your own meekat, buy took a group of young men to the Western Sahara is not authentic, but he has corrected any doubts by them even contain secret “Easter Eggs.” past seasons and meerkat merchandise. Desert to undergo the French Foreign Legion’s basic including the film crew in the show. Even characters (like Hanna aka Wireless) Whatever you do during the writer’s strike, training, which is considered the most brutal training Ah yes, I can only imagine being lost in the that have very little screentime on the actual show don’t resort to lowering your standards. Check out of any armed forces in the world. wilderness. I might remember Bear’s or Les’ advice, can take on a life of their own through the site’s shows you haven’t seen before or couldn’t fit into My favorite Bear Grylls adventure was his but chances are I’m just not tough enough to survive online graphic novels. Through the graphic novels, your schedule before by going online. By the time survival deep in the Everglades, wading through al- for long. you’ll learn about their back stories and you’ll get the strike is over you just might have an addiction ligator infested swamp water and eating insects and Man Vs Wild and Suvivorman are both on The to see flashbacks in the lives of main characters. to a show that’s new to you. frogs. Bear made a camp in a tree with a fire to dry Discovery Channel. Check local listings for times.

14 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper netscapades videogames by brenton crozier

2008 Election – Meet the Candidates Edition the most notable games of 2007

The Internet is an unparalleled tool for amassing information. With virtual libraries, newspapers, articles, essays and opinions at your fingertips, everyone can take just a few minutes a day to become by Norm stovall [email protected] more informed voters. I realize not everyone has the time to read up on the candidates to properly equip themselves with the knowledge needed to make a good decision come voting day, so I took it upon myself Part 1 to gather information about the leading candidates. This way you can feel good about your decision. There were TONS of great games released in 2007, in fact way too many to go over in one month. In light of I don’t have the space to discuss the fringe candidates, but was sure to include the major players. this, I’ve gathered and updated reviews from my personal favorites. Be sure to check back next time for part Make your vote count and remember people, knowledge is power or something like that. 2 of my opinionated list of gaming greatness. www.walken2008.com Skate. For Xbox 360, PS3 You may know that he finds bear suits funny, but where does I don’t often consider games that don’t feature epic storylines, Pulitzer quality writing and amazing he stand on the issues? Ha, who cares? The only thing that you need visuals to be worthy of a perfect score, but as a lifetime skateboarder and enthusiast of videogames, I really to know is how great it would be to listen to Christopher Walken feel that EA hit the nail on the head with this one. Embracing the most legitimate and true aspects of modern deliver anything. That is a State of the Union address that I would skateboarding, EA’s Skate is not only an accurate simulation, but also a great casual game to play with the tune in for. Can you imagine? most innovative, natural control scheme ever. In addition to the gameplay being fantastic, the ability to save “Ladies and gentleman, the President of the United States, and share photos and replays that you can edit in game makes owning this game a no-brainer for skateboard- Christopher Walken!” Then he would come out and say something ers who play video games. like, “People, people, you got me all wrong here.” Can’t a boy Though navigating online can be a bit cumbersome due to the use of EA nation for online play as op- dream? posed to plain-old Xbox live, when it works well, it really is a great experience. Racing down hills, performing technical tricks, and just cruising around and carving pools is all part of the total package, and the replay- ability of the game lasts way beyond the moment that your achievements are earned and the career mode is www.zod2008.com finished.

Kneel before Zod! General Zod is back and Virtua Fighter 5 Online demanding your vote and complete allegiance. He is For Xbox 360 planning to restore our dignity and make us servants It is my opinion that Virtua Fighter 5 is the single best thing to happen to the Xbox 360 so far. worthy of his rule. I noticed that he conveniently left Sure, I am biased toward fighting games, and the series has always been a part of my favorites list, but I the little Superman incident from the 80s off his site! really do think the game is that good. The game runs like a champ both online and off, and I rarely see any Zod’s site is comprehensive and contains a kind of noticeable lag in online matches, which is pretty much the most amazing accomplishment ever, as personal letter stating why he is running (complete far as I’m concerned. I’ve never had online matches run as clean as they do with this game. The gameplay domination), campaign news like his demand for is smooth and deliberate, and using the training tools provided in the Dojo mode can really help you improve $142 million in tribute, an Ask the General section your game. and his platform. Some of his platforms include, “I do As of today, there have been 3 item packs available to download online, giving your character extra not take orders, I give them,” and “Your freedom will items and accessories to wear. With the amount of effort put into balancing the game and perfecting even the be expanded to give your money and lives to me.” smallest of details, VF5 is sure to impress. If you are a fan of 3d fighting games, don’t miss this one, because I don’t know, I was all about Walken, but they certainly don’t get any better than this. Zod’s sounding pretty good. His candor and vicious conviction really strike a chord with me. Super Mario Galaxy For Nintendo Wii www.specialfarm.net/macgyver2008.html With subtle use of the Wii motion controls and classic Mario gameplay, this one really is a lot of fun. The graphics are vivid and really do push the power of the Wii in a good way. The Wii might not be the graphical Macgyver has the hair, sweet leather jacket and mad skills to make a bomb with fingernail clippers, powerhouse that the other next-gen consoles are, but Super Mario Galaxy really does look great. The envi- chewing gum and 7-UP. He’s this cycle’s “smart choice.” Part of his platform includes Swiss Army knives ronments you explore are completely unique. While running around small planets and jumping and launching for every child and he will single-handedly bring the War on Terror to an end, armed only with some yourself from one to the other can be a little dizzying at first, it really will pull you in and have you addicted. household goods. I like him, but am suspicious about his ties to the paperclip industry lobbyists. The music in the game is as dramatic and inspired as ever, and there are even nods to the classic Mario games with familiar tunes updated with a symphonic beauty that you’ll have to hear to understand. Though www.jackbauerforpresident2008.com the game may appear outwardly candy-coated and too cute to be worth your while, the content within is not only engaging and fun; it’s also revolutionary. Jack Bauer is a man that loves his country and will cross the line for it—all within a 24-hour time period! Bold, patriotic, Contra 4 brave, loyal and courageous, Jack will bring an end to terrorism For Nintendo DS and restore world peace, but just don’t ask him how. Apparently, As a true sequel to the side-scrolling NES and arcade games that launched the series into fame, this presidential hopeful has a sense of humor as displayed in Contra 4 stays true to the formula and is as challenging as ever. But let me reiterate- this game is HARD. Not the Jack Bauer joke section of his site. User submitted hilarity hard like “Man, all these levels are gonna take a long time to play through”, but more like “OH MY GOD IF I ensues with such quips as, “Jack Bauer could strangle you with DIE FROM ANOTHER STUPID RANDOM THING I’M GONNA BASH A HOLE IN THE WALL.” But even in light of a cordless phone,” and “On the 7th day, God rested. Then Jack this, it’s a game that really teaches you classic gaming skills such as pattern recognition and reaction timing. Bauer took over.” You could have 8 years of these types of high- As far as the atmosphere of the game, the colors are vivid, the action is constant, and your characters caliber jokes. are total badasses who are obviously on some futuristic steroids of some kind. Which is cool, because when you are hitching a ride by hanging on a rocket launching itself into space while shooting at bad guys, you www.voicesfromspirit.com/president.htm pretty much aren’t taking any crap from anybody. With plenty of unlockables such as older games in the series like Super C and Probotector, Contra 4 is the perfect thing for nostalgic gamers in need of an adrenaline This is the sleeper candidate of the cycle. Internationally known psychic Gerald Polley, has been rush on the go. channeling messages from The Kingdom of God (Heaven) for many years and is “dedicated to helping all The Forces of Good to keep the Earth going.” He’s looking for some sponsors for his incredible ads and Unreal Tournament 3 has a hot new logo (designed posthumously by Jackson Pollock). This guy is on the rise! To spend a few For PS3 and Windows XP/Vista hours laughing, check out his campaign commercials at youtube.com/presidentialelection. Finally, a PS3 game that delivers what first-person shooter fans deserve to have on the console—An action game that not only looks great, but plays great too. Unreal Tournament 3 won’t disappoint, it provides I only hope to inform you, not influence you. I’ve done my part to perpetuate the democratic process great competition for the PS3’s much lauded Resistance: Fall of Man, one of 2006’s mega hits. With the abil- with the most comprehensive, resourceful and trustworthy source of information—the Internet. ity to use either a keyboard and mouse or a PS3 controller to play the game, and the option of importing user- created content in the game (such as new maps, skins for characters), UT3 is a definite standout.

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 15 dish. where to eat, drink and be merry.

SNEAK PEAK: Sequinos will be featured in next week’s DISH. contemporary dining of the asian persuasion Galangal Thais one on in Ponte Vedra

by Erin thursby [email protected] Thai restaurants seem to be popping in every neighborhood around the First Coast these days. Thai food has become one of the most popular ethnic foods in recent years and it shows in the quantity of cuisine available. But quantity has nothing to do with quality. If you’re a Thai food lover, Ponte Vedra has a new hot spot you should taste, it’s called Galangal. Owned page 16 - 17 Galangal | page 17 ingredient secrets: galangal by the same folks that brought us the delicious Lemongrass on Baymeadows and the Thai Room in Jackson- ville Beach, Galangal is worth the drive from wherever you live. Many of the dishes they serve are similar to the ones you’ll find at their other two locales, such as the packed-with-flavor Amazing Peanut Curry. Although significantly/slightly more expensive than Lemongrass, Galangal has a unique dinner atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. dish update With a number of different seating areas, this hip and elegant Asian restaurant is a study in well-wrought Bottega di Bella Sera (919 King Street 904-387-1955) opened this week, selling a selection of to-go design. The walls and accents are done in sinuous curves, contrasting the back wall of the main dining area. meals, wines, cheeses and locally grown vegetables. The name behind them is Catering by Liz, a well- This wall is cleverly lit with soft purple and blue lighting on a frosted glass that looks almost metallic. Very known local caterer. “Bella Sera is now a place where our customers can experience our food and take it cool and futuristic. In front of that wall are long, thick pieces of bamboo, jutting out at different angles. The home to enjoy,” said Chef Liz Grenamyer, owner of Catering by Liz. “We are elated to open the retail section art on the walls is contemporary and abstract and the lighting is softer and more appealing than the standard of Bella Sera to the public.” track lighting. The Village Café and Bakery as well as both locations of Sweet Indulgence Café have closed. I don’t The different dining sections are each designed with their own appeal. The bar is cosmopolitan, the main know if this is a trend, but I hope it isn’t. Support your sweet tooth and your local bakery! dining room has the bamboo lit wall and there are private dining areas that are more secluded, including the Collage (60 Hypolita Street, St. Augustine 904-829-0055) will be holding their first wine dinner of the year on January 22nd. They’ve teamed with Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery to create this five-course spread. At $90 a person, including gratuity and sales tax, this is a full fine dining experience at a steal! The menu is as follows: reception course--wild Mushroom and brie bouchee with Domaine St. Michelle Luxe; first course--onion soup and Swiss cheese flan, with dry riesling; second course--seafood lasagna on a saffron coulis and grilled roasted garlic crostini, with Indian Wells chardonnay; third course-- black pepper crepes, roasted lamb and goat cheese arugula salad, with Canoe Ridge cabernet sauvignon; fourth course-- venison medallions with cranberry port sauce, Yukon Gold mashers & roasted asparagus, with Cold Creek merlot; dessert course-- spiced apple Napoleons with pomegranate caramel sauce vanilla bean ice cream, with Muscat Canelli Mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, February 8, 2008. That’s the date of the 7th annual Chocolates of the World Gala and Dessert Competition. It’s taking place at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach. This year’s event features six competitors, including new chocolate artists and several returning regional chefs. All six compete for prizes in three categories, Best Station, Best Presentation and Best Taste! All prizes are judged by the attendees - you’ll be able to taste each dessert and cast your vote. This event has sold out in the past so get your tickets today! For $75, you can feast on an international dinner buffet, have a taste of all six desserts and then have the ability to cast a ballot to pick the best chefs. You’ll also be able to meet Joy of Cooking author Ethan Becker, and you’ll have the opportunity to win a variety of silent auction and raffle prizes. To buy your tickets go to ivcjax.com, or call the International Visitor Corps of Jacksonville’s office at (904) 346-3942. Remember, if you’ve got any dish on Jacksonville food and drink, do send us an email at [email protected].

16 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper round room with its warm tones. There is also a banquet area where you could hold an event without the traffic of the main dining room. Their full bar has an urban appeal that you won’t ingredient secrets find in most Thai restaurants around town. Utilizing hidden lighting, reticulated curves and contemporary art, the chic eatery transports you to a hip, upscale bar in Manhattan. galangal Besides an extensive wine menu, ranging in price from less than $10 a glass to around $700 a bottle, The local restaurant Galangal is named after a root that is often used in Thai and Eastern cooking. they’ve also got an interesting selection of cocktails and You’ll find it as an ingredient in Thai coconut milk-based soups, curries and wet curry pastes. specialty martinis. With colorful names such as Drunken It’s related to ginger and in home-cooking people often substitute fresh ginger for galangal, but Elephant and 10 Buddhas, they must be good. The spe- galangal has its own distinctive flavor. It has a kick that’s similar to ginger, but it’s more intense and less cialty martinis cost $10 but they use top shelf liquors in sweet, in a unique combination of bitter, spicy and sour. It has a cedar and lemon smell to it that ginger their mixes. doesn’t. I began my meal with some well-plated appetiz- ers. The Chicken Satay is always a savory choice, and In the Middle Ages Europeans used it an aphrodisiac and it’s still used to treat stomach aches and theirs has just a little bit of a kick to it. The Lump Crab and Lemongrass infused Bisque is one soup on the nausea in much the same way as ginger is. menu you shouldn’t miss. Their ahi tuna martini appetizer had the best presentation. It looks gorgeous with a Though I’ve never seen any deep fried galangal flowers, apparently Thais fry them and serve them toasted lotus wafer on the edge of the glass and you get a generous amount of high-quality tuna. However, I with a hot chili sauce. found it to be a bit lacking in flavor. The Coconut and Panko Crusted Prawns made up for that deficit with their Different varieties of galangal have different taste profiles and smells. The two main varieties are delicious Thai golden curry. lesser galangal and greater galangal. Lesser galangal is smaller, sweeter and hotter with a reddish If you haven’t had prawns before, don’t shy away from them. Basically just giant shrimp, they’re often brown flesh. It is more difficult to find. Greater galangal has yellow-toned flesh and is a bit more overcooked and tough, but the prep here is just right. I also sampled grilled jumbo black tiger prawns in a common. vegetable pad Thai served with the golden Malaysian curry. The golden curry is served in a number of dishes Young galangal can look a lot like ginger, but it’s and I highly recommend trying anything that features it. The curry favors flavor over heat and is a terrific paler and more expensive. Most chefs favor young choice for those who don’t like too much of the spice. Spice fiends can get their fix at Galangal, they galangal over older and darker galangal, but some of the just need to remember to ask for it. The dishes are more old-school Thai chefs enjoy the more mature, full well-balanced and delicious, but they’re geared to- flavor and aroma of older galangal. ward an American palate. Most start with a mild heat, At the oriental grocer, you’ll find galangal in three but they’re willing to take it to the limit if you ask for basic forms: fresh, dried and powdered (it is also it. Be careful though, Thai hot is a slow, scorching sometimes pickled in brine). heat that builds and might eventually have you beg- Powdered galangal is the easiest to find. Fresh is ging for more water. But Thai afficianados will tell generally better, but convenience often overrules high you, milk squelches a spicy burning tongue better quality. One teaspoon of powder replaces about half an than water. Thai tea is the secret of the pros! inch of fresh. If you have the option to use fresh, do. If you’ve never tasted a Thai preparation of Chilean sea bass, it might be time. There’s something Dried galangal can be commonly found as well, but about Thai flavors that really makes the lemongrass I don’t recommend it. The flavor isn’t as good as fresh Crusted Chilean Sea Bass even more extraordinary and you have to reconstitute it with hot or warm water. than this fish usually is. The juice from galangal can stain, so be careful when You can finish you meal with style by ordering handling it. one of their sumptuous desserts. Coconut lovers Fresh galangal is more difficult to work with than can’t go wrong with their Chocolate Coconut Tart. As fresh ginger because it’s woodier. The dense root must for chocolate lovers, there’s chocolate decadence to be sliced before it’s crushed and put into recipes. When be had in the deceptively small but oh-so-rich, with a using small matchstick sized pieces in a dish, keep in mind that it must be cooked for a longer time than molten center, Chocolate Soufflé. The intensity of the ginger; otherwise it’s not tender enough to eat. Many chefs actually use it for flavoring and then remove warm chocolate is balanced out by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For something a little different, try their it before serving. It can be stored in the fridge, but it must be kept moist. If you have leftover galangal, it fruit-filled Fried Banana Mango Roll served with berry can be stored in the freezer for more extended periods. Just cut into one inch or smaller slices and store compote and a light caramel sauce. It’s an elegant end to a superb Thai meal. in a zip lock bag. If you haven’t used galangal before and you’d like to experiment with Thai cooking, just head to a local oriental market to buy yourself a new experience in spice. 145 Hilden Rd Suite 110 Ponte Vedra Beach 904-827-1150

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 17 live music & on the road again, shows calendar

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 this time with the Pianist Tim Nold Seawalk Hotel, Jax Beach (249- 9981)

Outlaw Son & the Renegades Brewsters, Jax (223- 9850) kids

Magnolia Possums Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) Willie Nelson brings the next Malcolm Homcombe European Street, Jax (399- 1740) Cloud 9 Twisted Martini, Ponte Vedra Beach (280- generation on tour 8810)

Open Mic w/Colleen Murphy Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646) by jon bosworth [email protected]

Gwen Stacey Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) For a 74-year old outlaw country-fried hippie, than his) or that he shreds like Hendrix, Willie Nelson puts on a helluva show. That’s not fair, but when Willie plinks and slides across Chuck Nash My Place, Jax (737-5299) that makes it seem like I graded it on a curve. As a the neck of that old guitar, you have never Captain Hook Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) 74-year old outlaw and country-fried hippie, Willie heard another person play like that. It Nelson regularly puts on a better live show than any has all of the definition of an acoustic, Brendan O’Hara Sangria’s, St. Augustine artist on the road. Sure, there are rock bands with without sounding too pretty and quaint. Whaleface Landshark Café, Atlantic Beach (246- more theatrics or a livelier tempo. Yes, there are It has all of the power and punch of an 6024) country bands with more fanfare and taller cowboy electric guitar, without getting lost in the hats. Hell, there are even blues guitarists that can volume. I can see why he has stuck with that guitar progressed, Willie had people standing, dancing in Therapy Cecils, Jax (744-5132) bend and slur a twangier guitar, but Willie will still for so long. The road-weary thing still bleeds when aisles, and doing the traditional hat trades. Willie Alexander Seier Ocean 60, Jax Beach (247-0060) always be the best. He has this rare ability to write he squeezes it through those songs of love lost. must have thrown a new bandana to the audience songs that are both timeless and immediately rel- I’ve seen Willie play in Jacksonville five times, every other song in the second half of his show. Lweis Vaughn 9th & Main, Jax evant. Every tune is dripping with heartfelt sincerity, but this was the first I can remember that he brought Although I missed 40 Points’ set, most of the Mariachi Guadalajara Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) and yet he has cranked them out consistently for an opening act. When I was up the street at Burrito band came up to join Willie for at least one song. more than forty years and across more than 100 Gallery getting into my own Whiskey River, getting Lukas and Micah Nelson, two of Willie’s sons, are Lift Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) albums. (I can’t even figure out how he had time ready for Willie’s show (I was glad for the extra the guitarist and drummer for 40 Points. It was hard Mr. Natural Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269- to record any of these albums given his rigorous hour), it never dawned on me to wonder who this to determine Micah’s abilities after Willie’s legend- 4198) touring schedule.) And those only include the songs mysterious 40 Points band was. ary drummer Paul English, but Lukas stood right out that he recorded himself, not the songs he wrote for We walked over to the Florida Theatre, which is front and traded licks with his old man through most Boogie Freaks Square One, Jax (306-9004) other artists prior to getting on stage with his beat up an even greener mode of transportation than Willie’s of the set. Although Lukas could certainly hold his Steve Plays Too Loud London Bridge, Jax (359- old acoustic. biodiesel bus, the Honeysuckle Rose IV. Between own, his would be a hard road without Daddy’s help. 0001) And no one plays like Willie. He makes every the Honeysuckle and the other tour busses for their So just as we thought the show must be wind- song sound exactly like that timeless moment when caravan, there was a wall of vehicles blocking the Colton & Friends The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829- ing to an end (what 70+ could possibly play more you first heard it piping hot out of a country jukebox. street and barricading the people from the theatre. Or than the two hours he had already played?), Derek 2329) It’s not that a seasoned guitar pro would compare so it seemed. Trucks and Susan Tedeschi joined them on stage Ace Winn The Melting Pot, Jax him to Stevie Ray Vaughn (whose short flame Wil- Eventually we made it in and Willie kicked the and suddenly it became Jacksonville’s own little lie’s hometown of Austin seems to celebrate more set right off with ‘Whiskey River.’ The amazing thing Win Win Winter Fuel, Jax (425-3835) Farm Aid up there for another hour. The four guitar- about Willie’s canon is that every song he plays is a ists traded solos and Susan showed all the boys that Blistur Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) classic you’ve known for your whole life (especially she can hold her own on the blues. Matt Still Paco’s, Jax Beach if you grew up in the south), and most of them he Saying that it was a great show does a Willie wrote. Even the ones you think he didn’t (‘Mommas Nelson set no justice. All I can say is, whether you Enter the Haggis Lynch’s, Jax Beach (249-5181) Don’t Let Your Baby’s Grow up to Be Cowboys’ and like country or not, regardless of if you prefer rock Saltwater Grass Spare Time Tavern, Jax Beach ‘Crazy’). Willie rocked his standards for the first half to blues or folk to rock or whatever, no one leaves a (246-8099) of his set to a mostly seated audience (the Florida Willie show disappointed. When he comes back, and Theatre bouncers were in unusually rare form for we all hope he lives long enough to come back many 3 Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877) a crowd of fairly docile over-30s) but as the set times, make it a point to see this living legend. Stu Weaver Coffee Roasters, Jax (260-0810)

Big Engine Box Seats, Jax (908-7328)

Matt Collins Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Beach (280- 5515)

Will Pearsall A1A Ale Works, St. Augustine (829- 2977)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 Roy Clark & Junior Brown Florida Theatre, Jax

Mike Sweet & Friends Mi Casa Café, St. Augustine (824-9317)

Crystal Bessels Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551)

Enter the Haggis Café Eleven, St. Augustine (460- 9311)

18 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper As Brian, Kahle and Bowser layered tracks Shangrala has submitted Clearance to Land and tracks of guitars and electronic noises to their to all of the big websites for review, including NPR, version of ‘Angels We Have Heard on High,’ through- Fader, Absolute Punk, Pitchfork Media and Sputnik out the interview, I tried to grasp how these small Music, which gave them a five star review. chunks of music could resemble the larger composi- “When we first started talking about it we said tion. Much like the time it took to create Clearance to if we get a three star review, that’s pretty good. Sigur Land, it was impossible to see how such a disparate Ros got three stars on Sputnik, so we would have songlist, esoteric assortment of influences, and been happy with that,” said Jerin. remarkable amalgam of talent could coalesce into As the three put the finishing touches (a series the singular dynamic sound of Shangrala, and yet of “Heys” from “Mr. Mouse”) on their Christmas the album sounds as though it was conceived in one carol, the full vision of the song was finally realized songwriting session. and I could sing along. Just as I sing along to Clear- “Musicians will like us. We’re kind of musi- ance to Land. It gets as much play as Modest Mouse cian’s music, to some extent,” said Kahle. and the new Radiohead in my car. There hasn’t been It is true that their songs have dynamics and a locally released record to come out this good since a complexity that could almost be considered math The Cadets released On the Death of Science As a rock, which may make them appeal to musicians, Major World Religion to little fanfare this past sum- but there is a sincere pop ethic that is more borne mer. from bands such a Death Cab for Cutie or Jealous Shangrala has a CD release party booked at Sound. That is not to say they are in any way deriva- Jack Rabbits on February 15th, which is certain to tive. Shangrala has a genuinely unique sound that be one of the best local rock shows of 2008. In the croons through Kahle’s sincere and faltering vocals, meantime you can purchase Clearance to Land from jangles through Jerin’s dreamy guitar, and punches myspace.com/shangrala. out of Mike VonBalson’s crisp drums to alternately lull and pulverize the listener in a cunningly deliberate fashion. From folksy tunes like ‘Time’ to complex rock songs like ‘Zilla,’ the album truly expresses their breadth of abilities and doesn’t pigeon-hole the band into any single genre. The song ‘Race for the Ages’ shows the skilled songwriting that can come from a strong rhythm as drummer VonBalson and bassist Will Hill create a groundwork for a rock song that is exquisitely com- plemented by Walt Hill’s keyboards. The recording is so crisp and each part so distinct, it is impossible to imagine it was recorded in a home studio. “We only had six songs when we decided to go to Vision Sound, we were just going to do a demo EP. We tried to master it ourselves, but it didn’t come out the way we wanted it to. So we went to Vision Sound to master it. It blew our minds how great it sounded. That geared us to do a full eleven song record, since we knew we could go there and make this is how they it sound as good as a record you could buy off the shelf,” said Jerin. Producer Paul Lapinski enhanced the dynamics of the band and made every layer stand distinctly apart. The mastering process also gave the album an audio level that standard albums use. communicate “With all the different melodies we had, it was good to have someone else’s ear listening to it, I interview with Shangrala think it helped us out a lot,” said Kahle. by jon bosworth [email protected] What: Shangrala CD Release Party with Johna- Jared Bowser in Kahle’s home studio. Although cur- than Appleseed, Elevation and more. rently staged in a small corner of Jude’s bedroom, Where: Jack Rabbits in San Marco (1528 Hen- this Pro Tools setup once commanded a better por- dricks Ave) tion of the living room of Jude’s Riverside home, When: Friday, February 15th as did a drum kit, a number of amplifiers, a large sound board and all of the other gear necessary As Jacksonville’s music scene gives the im- for Shangrala to record Clearance to Land. Instead pression of being on the upswing, with Black Kids of dropping thousands of dollars on recording in creating a national buzz and some great homegrown a professional studio with a professional engineer, acts suddenly making a local name for themselves Shangrala trusted their own skills to adequately track (Antarctic, A Slight Breeze, Buffalo Tears, etc) Shan- the album. But listening to it, you’d never know it grala brings their first full length album, Clearance to was their first attempt. Land, to the table. It is easily the best local release “We liked the pace that it gave us to create and of 2007. In fact the album stands up against most of we have the capabilities. And it’s free. All it took was the national releases that have found their way onto time and beer,” said Jerin. my iPod this year. No one in the band had professionally recorded “I’m excited about playing a lot of shows now. a full album before, although all of them have been 2008 is the year to play a lot of shows,” said Shan- part of bands that had. A good deal of the two years grala singer and guitarist Jude Kahle. Clearance to Land took to make can be attributed to EU caught up with Brian Jerin (who also plays them taking their time and care to create the sounds guitar and sings with the band) and Jude Kahle while they knew they wanted. Jerin was contributing to a secret Christmas album “We definitely learned a lot. It was a group side project with sometime Shangrala collaborator effort. We know what sounds right to us,” said Jerin.

eujacksonville.com |january 17-23, 2008 19 Blistur The Landing, Jax The Alps’ is a funny song about Hannibal’s famous trek. Cloud 9 Tom & Betty’s, Jax (387-3311) Researching Cosy further, I discovered her Adam Abouraya The Globe, Jax long list of accomplishments, such as winning the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass King Stout Scores, St. Augustine Festival’s songwriting contests in 1992. Today Cosy Out of Hand Palace Saloon, Fernandina is a big draw at folk clubs and festivals. She never Drunk Horses Make Slow Getaways Crazy Horse stops writing and is always on the way to her next gig. Most importantly, Cosy has passed the test of Saloon, Jax time and established herself as a legendary humor- Alexander Seier Pacos, Jax Beach ist and songwriter. Blue Manatee La Terra Resort, St. Augustine When we talked, I tuned into her wavelength right away as a kindred spirit. So, it wasn’t an inter- Matt Collins Pauly’s, Jax view, per se, but a meaningful conversation with a Baystreet West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131) fellow savvy traveler on this earth journey. “I’m touring with my bassist T.R. Richie and Jim McKaba & the Afterhours Blues Creekside we’re just out on the road doing our thing… I’m into Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) writing songs about women’s mythological stories Inca Maya Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) put into a modern context. It means that in a young woman’s life, she goes down into the underworld, M-Corp Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Beach (280-5515) into the darkness, and she is changed. Then later Pac Tour Fuel, Jax (425-3835) she matures and learns about her inner-self. I sought other mythic figures like Ighigenia who has Alexander Seier Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241- Anorexia. 6453) a wise woman on “It’s a personal Greek mythology as a frame Self Employed Plush, Jax (743-1845) of reference. Like the Barbie Doll myth is ripe for satire. I’ve found that the issue for most women Bottom Feeder Club Fusion, St. Augustine (829- who are hung-up on conforming to the myth of the 8333) ideal stereotype is they think that their body appear- Alexis Cone, Shawn Lightfoot 9th & Main, Jax ance is all they have. As they become illuminated, the mic they learn that they are so much more than just their General Tso’s Fury Club Fusion, St. Augustine body – they have an interior life. And as they get (829-8333) older they become concerned with taking care of Ryan Turk Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) interview with Cosy Sheridan their inner-bodies. Unfortunately, we are bombarded with images of the ideal woman–thin with what is Deron Baker Zhanra’s, St. Augustine by Rick grant [email protected] considered outer beauty. It’s a powerful influence on Big Engine Brewsters, Jax (223-9850) young girls. What: Cosy Sheridan & The Kennedys block and back again. Her songs are biting satires “A poignant example of artists trying to coun- Lone Wolf Running Lillians, Jax (388-4220) Where: European Street in San Marco (1704 San of contemporary American women’s issues and teract these stereotypes is photographer Frank Scholar’s Word Seawalk Hotel, Jax Beach Marco Blvd) observations of her life on the road. And, as I found Cordelle’s The Century Project, (thecenturyproject. When: Thursday, January 24th, 8PM out during our chat, I particularly like her sharp com) which is a photographic essay. It is shot by Laughing Bones Mellow Mushroom, Orange Park sense of humor. Cordelle, who takes nude photos of all types of Busted & Confused Sharky’s, Orange Park Ms. Cosy Sheridan is a veteran songstress. When I listened to her music I was awe-struck women – young, middle aged, and elderly – to let She’s written songs since 1955 and released five by the quality of her voice and songwriting skill. In people see what real people look like and not to be American Attitude Pastime Sports Bar, Jax CDs. In 2003, Cosy created a one-woman show ‘Botox Tango,’ Cosy humorously tells of a woman’s scared of getting old or of other body configura- called The Pomegranate Seed–An Exploration of fascination with possibly getting Botox to smooth- tions. I write songs about these issues,” Cosy said. Appetite, Body Image and Myth in Modern Culture. out her face. The song is an ode to women’s vanity. This wise woman troubadour has much to say FRIDAY-SATURDAY, Today, Cosy is still interested in her own vision of In ‘Ighigenia’ Cosy tells the poignant story of a and a humorous way of saying it through her intel- JANUARY 18-19 mythology, like body image and how women are woman’s struggle with Anorexia. She analyzes the ligently conceived songs and her unwaveringly clear culturally programmed to look like skinny models. woman’s feelings and the powerful negative influ- voice. Catch her live at the San Marco European Spanky Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829- Yes, this spunky woman has been around the ences on young girls to be thin. ‘Hannibal Crossed Street. 9336) Pili Pili Caribbee Key, Neptune Beach (270-8940)

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20 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper an impact on the music business or not, but after talking to her via telephone, I’m convinced Ingrid Mi- Quest Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) chaelson will become a household name very soon. Remaining an independent artist and answering to no one is presently Ingrid’s main goal. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 “I’ve played piano all my life but I went to col- Robby Schenck Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551) lege to study theater. I was going to be an actor, but when I was doing it, I became disillusioned. Since Unity Music Fest Metro Park, Jax I had been writing music, I decided to pursue that Mint Julep Box Seats, Jax (908-7328) as my profession. I had more control and I didn’t have to wait around on directors to decide what to Blue Manatee Sangria’s, St. Augustine do. I just felt that songwriting was more of a calling Out of Hand Black Piston’s Clubhouse, Jax than theater. I started out with a website, Facebook, and MySpace and from there I got a commercial. A Kelanie Gloeckler New Life Fellowship, Jax producer from Grey’s Anatomy heard my music and Long Strange Day Club Fusion, St. Augustine it was just what he wanted for the show’s season finale. Today, it’s a trend for TV shows to use fresh Shawn Fisher Starbucks/CR 210, Orange Park new songwriters for their shows. The Impediments Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine “So, one thing led to another and then I was on (829-6113) the cover of Billboard, and it snowballed from there. Of course, while all this was happening, I was con- McKenna Box Seats (908-7328) tinuing to tour the club circuit, where I was building The Dirty Getcaughts Freebird Live, Jax Beach up my fan base. Being on iTunes really helped be- (246-2473) cause it’s instant gratification, directing the listener to my site to buy the CD. It’s amazing how all three Yankee Slickers Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241- mediums feed off each other creating a buzz. I’ve 6453) become the poster child of the independent Internet Ritmo y Sabor El Taino Restaurant, Jax artist. I’m not opposed to perhaps signing with a label in the future, but now it would be counterpro- Split Tone Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Beach (280- ductive. 5515) “We have had major labels interested in us but Strings of Fire Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) I’m not responding to those offers right now. The slant of the Billboard piece was about me being an The Legendary JC’s Mojo’s Kitchen, Jax Beach independent artist using the Internet. So, I’m going Cannons Doozers Pub, Jax with that as my way of pushing forward. Later, if the Internet is not working effectively, I’ll consider sign- Ryan Turk Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884) no labels needed ing with a label. But, the longer I stay independent, Backrive Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850) the more certain I am that this is the way to go. I have complete control as long as I have fans who Johnny Flood Pussers Caribbean Grill, Ponte interview with independent artist Ingrid Michaelson buy my music. The thing is, I love writing songs and Vedra performing them to live audiences and as long as Mike Sweet & Friends Mi Casa Café, St. Augustine I’m making a decent living, I’m content to be where (824-9317) I am. I’m not sure I want more – what, to have my by Rick grant [email protected] Stu Weaver Harry’s, Jax Beach (247-8855) name in huge lights? My point is–I’ll always do this What: Ingrid Michealson and Matt Nathanson imagination of the twenty-something generation. whether I make money doing it or not,” Ingrid said. Dirty Shannon CD Release Freebird Live, Jax Where: Jack Rabbits in San Marco (1528 Hen- Most of Ingrid’s shows sellout without advertising. When I listened to Ingrid’s music I became Beach (246-2473) dricks Ave) Indeed, Ingrid’s amazing success proves the an instant fan. Her song ‘Keep Breathing’ gave me The Essentialist Shantytown, Jax When: Friday, January 25th power of the rapidly expanding Internet, which en- goose bumps, which never happens to me anymore. ables an artist of Ingrid’s songwriting prowess to Ingrid draws the listener into her songwriting con- Sweet Low Down Fionn Maccool’s, Jax Beach Staten Island, New York native Ingrid Michael- reach out and touch the right people. However, Ingrid sciousness, sharing with them the special feelings Lindsey Lee Murray Hill Theatre, Jax (388-7807) son is a talented 28-year old singer/songwriter who does not take this fast track to the major leagues for that her songs evoke. For that few minutes, the lis- rose from obscurity to prominence by using the granted. She continues to tour and expose her music tener is one with Ingrid’s music. Open Mic w/Larry Broussard St. Johns Pizza Grill, Internet as her only promotional medium. In fact, to live audiences. Clearly, Ingrid’s music speaks for Jax (287-9900) Ingrid is the archetypal independent artist whose itself, as she nightly lays bare her soul through her self-produced album Girls and Boys reached number cleverly conceived songs. More importantly, Ingrid 2 on the iTunes pop chart. Ingrid was contacted by is realistic to know that the public is fickle and her SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 a producer for ABC Television’s Grey’s Anatomy popularity could wane overnight. Yet, she continues Those Guys Sunset Grill, St. Augustine (471-5555) through her MySpace site to write music for the to write personal songs with which young people show’s season finale. Most new artists work for identify. Ralph E & the Jammers Sun Dog Diner, Neptune years to get these major breaks, but Ingrid has the Becoming a pop star is not why Ingrid writes Beach (241-8221) songs. She would do it anyway, whether she made goods – catchy intimate pop songs that capture the Dan Shepherd Harpoon Louie’s, Jax (389-5631)

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eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 21 Jan Crawford & Friends Cortesses, St. Augustine Envy on the Coast the Honda Civic Tour. This time they’re (825-6775) Another Day Late touring with PacSun in support of their Michael Funge Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach debut EP News Said It’s Raining In New (249-9595) York, which comes out in March of this year. The band got together in MONDAY, JANUARY 21 upstate New York, where they all went to college. Most of the band members Spade McQuade Fly’s Tie, Atlantic Beach (246- worked together at a Best Buy. They 4293) began playing together for fun, but got Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine more serious after they won a MySpace (829-9336) contest to play a date at the Taste of Chaos Tour. After a positive audience Freeze Frame Fionn Maccool’s, Jax Beach (242- response, they booked their own East 9499) Coast tour just after graduation. Tobacco Pat Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) “We pretty much went from playing for 40 people…to like a couple Joe Vee Brix, Jax Beach of thousand,” says Hubberman of the Ron Perry The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) sudden transition. Attendees of the Pac Tour can expect to hear Joey Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) edgy screamo, balanced with catchy pop from Willie Evans Jr. CD Release TSI, Jax (635-3024) pac sun shines Another Day late. Three other bands will be on the tour, The Will Pearsall The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) Audition, Envy on the Coast and Danger Radio. Out of Hand Your Place, Jax Beach (221-9994) The headliner will be The Audition, a pop- clothing company rocks into town with the PacSun Tour punk emo band from Chicago. Champion, their Lary Smith Harmonious Monks, Jax (886-3040) sophomore release, comes out on the 22nd of this Band of Destiny Square One, Jax (306-9004) by Erin thursby [email protected] month, although some of the tracks were leaked on the Internet about a week ago. A favorite of fans Nolan Neal Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246- What: PacSun Tour with the Audition, Envy on the brass. at Warped Tour, they’re just 2,000 friends short 4293) Coast, Danger Radio and Another Day Late “I’ve always been intrigued by marketing,” of 100,000 friends on MySpace (myspace.com/ Stu Weaver Harry’s, St. Augustine (824-7765) When: January 18th, 2008 says Hubberman, “Southern California is where theaudition). PacSun headquarters are anyway, so a lot of times Envy on the Coast will rock out with their tunes Chuck Nash My Place, Jax (737-5299) Where: Fuel in 5 Points (1037 Park St) the corporate offers would come into my store…It’s from last year’s full-length release, Lucy Gray. Their No sports have been as associated with rock been an opportunity [for me] to talk to them about music features just a dash of Evanescence, a hint of TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 music more than surfing and skateboarding. Indie how the business is run.” power-pop, a scrap of old school 80s music and a rock currently reigns as the soul of skateboarding Unintimidated, despite his low status on the little indie sensibility. They’ve got catchy hooks, and Stu Weaver The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) and surfer movies, whether they’re professionally retail totem pole, he began talking to the CEO about musical surprises lurking past the chorus. Open Mic w/Outlaw Son & the Renegades made or some DIY production on You Tube. his idea for a tour. For pure power pop, listen to Danger Radio’s Brewsters, Jax (223-9850) The clothing company Pacific Sunwear (aka “It just dawned on me that the foundation of set. You’ll hear punk music, hidden under layers of PacSun) has been catering to surfers, skateboarders skating and surfing is music and it always has been. pop and high voiced vocals that make lead singer Matt Still Caribbee Key, Atlantic Beach (270-8940) and other extreme sports enthusiasts since 1980. A Those are the kids that are out there going to shows Andrew De Torres sound like he’s still in high school. Joanathan Fowler Wackadoo’s, Jax union between PacSun and the type of music their and just loving music. Like some of the best pop, their music is infectious customers listen to seems inevitable, and this year “From the PacSun perspective, it would make and fun to listen to. Southern Wailers Sangria’s, St. Augustine marks their very first sponsorship of the Pac Tour. total sense that you would want your brand to be tied Josh Hubberman chose these bands because Greenness Eclipse, Jax The idea for mounting the tour came from with music. From a band perspective, what better all of them are doing stuff different from the Another Day Late drummer, Josh Hubberman. He place to go to find new, up-and-coming bands than standard, and all of them seem to be on the cusp of Out of Hand Palace Saloon, Fernandina was also an assistant manger at a California PacSun a store that’s already catering to that background being hugely popular. Chuck Nash Your Place, Jax Beach (221-9994) when he wasn’t working with his band. Once he got anyway.” “I envisioned the tour being something where the idea for this marriage between the retailer and Hubberman’s degree in business and marketing you would have bands that weren’t huge…that were up-and-coming bands, he pitched it to the company has been put to good use, both in promoting Another fresh and weren’t doing stuff that everybody was WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23 Day Late and the Pac Tour. He now has the title of doing…..It would be great for PacSun to introduce freelance marketing consultant at Pac Sun while he new music to the kids that are coming into the Dave Massey My Place, Jax (737-5299) organizes and coordinates the tour. store.” Matt Still Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) “I went from being assistant manager to Those searching for fresh music should not basically being in charge of making this thing miss the Pac Tour, because it could launch these Out of Hand Buffalo’s, Orange Park (778-1101) happen.” relative newcomers into a new orbit of fame. It’ll give Victoria Horne Tini Martini Bar, St. Augustine Before they even turned a record deal, Another you indie street cred later to be able to say you saw Day Late played the Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos and a band before they were big. Goliath Springfield Womens Club, Jax

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22 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper Rabbit in the Moon George Acosta The Mike Miller Band St. Nick’s Lounge, Jax (396- 3396)

El Toro Loco Aromas, Ponte Vedra (280-2525)

Chuck Nash Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221)

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Dave Massey My Place Bar & Grill, Jax (737-5299) upcoming concerts

George Strait Jan. 24, Jacksonville Arena, 353-3309 Flo Rida Jan. 24, Plush Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor Jan. 24-27, Moran Theater, 353-3309 Matt Nathanson Jan. 24, Jack Rabbits Cherryholmes Jan. 26, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Tiger Army Jan. 27, Freebird Live, 246-2473 to a huge wakeboard expedition on the river all day long,” Kinesis explained. “Plenty of food vendors and Ring of Fire - The Music of Johnny Cash Jan. 28, Florida music for a message Theatre, 355-2787 beverage tents to keep just about everyone satisfied, and we’re even in talks about adding a few rides David Copperfield Jan. 29, Moran Theater, 632-3373 interview with Unity Music Festival performer/promoter such as the ‘Gravitron’... We’ll have to see how this Miley Cirus as Hannah Montana Jan. 30, Jacksonville one turns out. There will definitely be a lot in store Arena, 353-3309 for everyone that attends this festival.” Jon Kinesis Tim Reynolds Jan. 31, Freebird Live, 246-2473 Tickets for the Unity Music Festival are currently on sale through the event’s website, unitymu- Richie Havens Jan. 31, Café Alcazar by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] sicfest.com, and are available at a discounted rate Tinsley Ellis Feb. 1, Mojos Blues Bar, 247-6636 until the day of the show. General admission tickets WHAT: Unity Fest featuring Rabbit in the Moon, and jail time. Our racially diverse youth population Sister Hazel Feb. 1, Freebird Live, 246-2473 are $39.50 and special VIP passes are $99. What do Bad Boy Bill, George Acosta, Tommy Lee and many needs to be inspired to come together and celebrate the VIPs get, you ask? Classic Albums Live - Led Zeppelin IV Feb. 5, Florida more. life through a greater power- the power of great mu- “VIP Guests will be treated to many exclusive Theatre, 355-2787 WHERE: Metropolitan Park Downtown sic.’” privileges and a chance to rub elbows with the The Pink Floyd Experience Feb. 6, Moran Theater, 632-3373 WHEN: Saturday, January 19, 2008 The festival’s line-up is huge and features a artists,” Kinesis said. “Some of these privileges in- wide variety of artists. The main stage will include Tres Bien Feb. 6, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 clude, but are not limited to, complimentary catered Monday, January 21st is Martin Luther King, Jr. performances by Rabbit in the Moon, George food, comfortable seating and tables, exclusive Donna The Buffalo Feb. 9, Freebird Live, 246-2473 Day, a national holiday honoring the life and legacy Acosta, Webbie, Lil Boosie, Kinesis himself and backstage access, artist meet and greet with auto- Yonder Mountain String Band Feb. 12, Freebird Live, 246- of America’s greatest champion of racial justice and more. The Jagermeister mobile stage boasts Tommy graph signing, separate VIP bars and waitresses, 2473 equality. For some on the First Coast, however, the Lee and DJ Aero, Meat Katie, and local bands like private indoor bathrooms, reserved parking, to the celebration begins on Saturday when the first annual Amaru, Joey Chop and Fed Up, among others. There Trisha Yearwood Feb.14, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 VIP nightclub behind the main stage and more.” Unity Music Festival takes over Metropolitan Park. will also be individual stages set up for drum and Anyone who’s been to a music festival knows The massive event, which boasts over 100 different bass, house, hip-hop and breakbeat. The huge range The B-52’s Feb. 15, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 those are perks worth paying for! bands, singers, rappers, instrumentalists and DJs, of musical acts is sure to bring out an extremely The Unity Music Festival is this Saturday, Janu- Chris Duarte Feb. 15, Mojos Blues Bar, 247-6636 will epitomize Dr. King’s message of unity through its diverse crowd, which is, of course, sort of the point. ary 19th from 11 am to 11 pm. For more information, Van Halen Feb. 16, Jacksonville Arena, 353-3309 diverse musical offerings and, no doubt, the diverse “We are expecting a wide variety of all types a complete line up of all the artists performing or to crowd they are sure to draw. of people,” Kinesis said. “Hip-hop lovers to house- Lalah Hathaway Feb.17, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 get a taste of some of the music you’ll hear at the “The idea behind The Unity Music Festival was heads, drum and bass and breaks fanatics, to rock- event, visit unitymusicfest.com. Coco Montoya Feb. 21, Café Eleven, 469-9311 created by Christopher White of White Nite Inc,” said ers. We are hoping that everyone that attends this The 15th Annual Great Guitar Gathering Feb. 22, Florida Jon Kinesis, local DJ and booking agent/promoter unique festival comes with an open mind and keeps Theatre, 355-2787 for the festival. “Christopher dreamed of bringing the true meaning of this incredible event in mind at a diverse group together for one amazing musical all times … Unity.” Leon Russell Feb. 22, Freebird Live, 246-2473 event in hopes to better the community. I think he While the music is the festival’s main draw, Steep Canyon Rangers Feb. 22, Mojos Blues Bar, 247-6636 said it best in The Unity Music Festival Press release: attendees will have more to see and do as the day Willy Porter Feb. 23, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 ‘The growing epidemic of violent crime amongst the goes on. young people of our community demands creative “Besides seeing some of the world’s top in- Michael Bublé Feb. 24, Jacksonville Arena, 353-3309 solutions which go beyond threats of punishment ternational acts, Asbury Independent will be host Bayside, Straylight Run Feb. 24, Freebird Live, 246-2473 Keb’ Mo’ Feb. 27, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 John Edward March 3, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Dark Star Orchestra March 4, Freebird Live, 246-2473 Celtic Women March 5, Jacksonville Arena, 353-3309 Freda Payne - Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald March 6, Florida Theatre Blue Man Group March 7, Jacksonville Arena, 353-3309 Built To Spill March 8, Freebird Live, 246-2473 Ani Difranco March 12, Freebird Live, 246-2473 They Might Be Gians March 14, Freebird Live Classic Albums Live - Sgt. Pepper March 16, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Moody Blues April 15, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Jake Shimabukuro and Futureman Apr 17, Florida Theatre, 355-2787

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 23 taking it over the top at the circus by Erin thursby [email protected] What: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus When: Jan 16th-20th Where: Jacksonville Memorial Arena

Today’s audience wants extra drama and astonishment, but they also want to be part of the action. To that end, the circus has their Circus Celebrities, audience members who can become part of the action. Not everybody gets to be part of the show, but at least you’ll know you have the chance to pay a little extra to be part of it. The circus has changed a lot since its inception over a hundred years ago, moving from outdoor big tops to indoor arenas. After a lull in popularity, attendance figures have spiked since 2001 and the esteem of acrobatic shows have also upped the crowds. Some things haven’t changed though. You’ll be able to find all the classic circus snacks, both at stationary vendors and from walking vendors. “When you come inside the arena, the first thing you’ll notice is the wafting smell of cotton candy followed closely by popcorn,” says Melinda Hartline, Spokesperson for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Sno-Cones will also be sold, because, as Hartline says, “No matter how cold it is outside, the kids are still wanting a sno-cone, and that kid could be six or he could be an adult…being a kid is a state of mind.” The theme for this run, explains Hartline, is a bit of a tug of war between ideas. “This year’s show is titled ‘Over the Top,’ which is based on silliness, [represented by] star clown Tom Dougherty, and seriousness, [represented by] ring master Chuck Wagner. It’s who controls the ring masters hat. And [depending on who] has the hat, silly things or serious things evolve.” ‘Over the Top,’ means that they’ve designed the show to go one step further than standard circus acts. They’ll have the usual motorcycle rider in the 16-foot globe, but he’ll also be riding his bike over the heads of the audience on a high wire. Even better, at one point there will be seven riders sharing the steel globe, traveling at high speeds just inches from each other and often upside down. Trapeze artists will be working off a double trapeze instead of the standard single trapeze. The Hunan Chinese Troupe will be making astounding leaps from high pole to high pole, but this time the poles will also be swinging. Besides death-defying acrobatics, they’ll also have a number of animals in the ring, not only as separate acts, but also as part of the show. “This year some of the…animals we have are potbellied pigs, who will actually roll out the red carpet. We have a porcupine who is presenting a gift…” Some of the animal acts include tigers, elephants, miniature white ponies and a Frisbee catching dog act. You’ll even get to see goats riding on horses during the show. The audience will also enjoy the Cossack’s incredible equestrian stunts. The handsome Daniel Raffo, one of the world’s leading tiger trainers and a 5th generation circus performer, will present an electrifying exhibition of human-and-animal accord with ten majestic and lively Bengal tigers. Tickets are $69 (Circus Celebrity), $34-44 (VIP), $24 and $14. All seats are reserved and tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at (904) 353-3309. For group rates and information, call (904) 630-3900. For more information on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey visit ringling.com. circus performance schedule

Wednesday, January 16, 7:30 p.m. (Opening Night) Thursday, January 17, 10:30 a.m. (School Show) and 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 18, 7:30 p.m. (Military Night) Saturday, January 19, 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

24 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper sometimes we have to cut some stuff or add some stuff. It’s really to maintain the artistic integrity of the design; to make sure that it’s the same beautiful production every single show.

EU: Are most theaters already equipped with the lighting gear you use in the show or do you need to bring in your own equipment? KJ: The lights that don’t move… are all provided locally and then we travel with all the moving lights and black light. The whole set is painted in UV paint so in the second half of the show we turn that on and it turns into this great psychedelic, black light sort of jungle. It’s really cool.

EU: How important is the lighting in Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy? KJ: Well, actually I think it’s pretty important [laughs]. I think really it just creates a landscape for the performers to be able to do what they do. It creates this great mood and sort of puts a beautiful painting on stage where they can really explore different depths of the jungles in texture and color. I think it enhances the mood of the entire production.

EU: Once you’ve been assigned a show what’s your process? KJ: Well, this particular show was out for a couple of months doing some trial runs, so I already had an actual light plot, like an actual drawing of where the lights go on stage. So when I got hired, I came in and sat down with Neil Goldberg, the Artistic Director of the show, and we sat for 16 hours a day for a week and programmed all the lights and re-cued the show. We worked really hard to make sure everything is perfect and beautiful. So once the programming is down, during the tech stages of the tour, then it becomes sort of a day-to-day challenge of maintaining that original look that we set.

EU: How did you become a lighting director? KJ: I went to Stanton College Prep and did a bunch of theatre there and was really interested in it. The great thing about Stanton is that everyone there says, “You can do whatever you want to do. You have the world at your fingertips.” So I thought if I have to work I might as well do something fun. I was like, “What’s the funnest (sic) thing that I’ve done all year?” and at that point in my life it was going to a concert. So I was like “OK, well, I’m going to do lighting because that way I can go to shows and get paid to work and do something I love to do.” I moved up to Boston for college got a Bachelors in Fine Arts and Lighting Design and then I actually moved back to Jacksonville, because I just love it, and joined the local stagehand union and worked with them for four years. Then I just really wanted to travel, because I’m a travel-a-holic, so touring seemed like the next best step. I’ve just sort of always done it, to be honest with you. I got a degree and just started working professionally. I’m one of those lucky people that the only job I’ve ever had is the job that I love.

Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy can currently be seen at the Moran Theatre at the Times-Union Center until Sunday, January 20. Tickets range in price from $26 to $54 for adults, $30.50 to $20.50 for children. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (904) 632-3373 or visit artistseries.fccj.org. a local spotlight interview with Cirque Dreams Lighting Director Katie Johnston by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] The performers always get the credit, but anyone who has been backstage at a big theatrical production knows it takes a lot of behind-the-scenes hands to make those shows possible. EU caught up with one of those hands, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy Lighting Director and Jacksonville native Katie Johnston, who was kind enough to give us the scoop on her cool gig and how she scored it.

EU: How long have you been with Cirque Productions? Katie Johnston: I’ve been with them [for] about a year and a half.

EU: Is this your first show with them? KJ: Yeah, it is. I started in September of 2006 on this show and we got a whole season and then we took a couple months off and [now] we’re back for year number two.

EU: What are your duties as Lighting Director for Cirque Dreams? KJ: Well, kind of everything lighting. From setting up in the morning to focusing all the lights to making sure that [the show is] consistent from venue to venue, because a lot of times theaters are smaller or bigger,

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 25 art events new this week Art & Soul Presents: Figure It Out, January 17 – March 18, Opening Reception, January 17, from 6 pm – 8 pm The Women’s Center of Jacksonville, 5644 Colcord Avenue, (904) 722-3000 or womenscenterofjax.org

Sean Mahan & Julio Williams, January 17 – March 28, Opening Reception on Thursday January 17, 5 – 9 pm, Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Boulevard, (904) 247-5828 or ci.atlantic-beach.fl.us ongoing Jason Wright AMie MURRAY TONY MILLER Abbas Kiarostami: Photographs and Film, Through January 18 Southeast Museum of Photography, 1200 International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, smponline.org january show at bogda Blurring The Lines: Heather Blanton and Ryan Ketterman, Through January 30 The Haskell Gallery at JIA, jiaarts.org/index.htm by donald dusinberre [email protected] Abstraction and Transition: Charley Harris, Through January 31, Art Center Gallery, 31 West Adams One of the best things about Bogda Gallery is color and catchy images that are likely to tickle most Street, Downtown, blogfromthecenter.blogspot.com that they operate on an easy to remember sched- anyone’s fancy, and they all could look real cool in ule- each month brings a new batch of paintings, any hipster’s living room. Here’s a brief description Labor Show, Through January 31, Bogda Gallery, sculptures, drawings, and crafts. Just when you of a few of my favorites: 1253 McDuff Avenue South, (904) 387-0852 think you’ve seen all the latest exhibitions in town, Steven Tony Miller’s paintings mimic the im- Bogda has faithfully renewed their wall decorations. agery of old horror film posters, but with a painterly Precious Gifts of Asian Art, Through January 2008, So last week, I visited Bogda for the opening of their touch. He demonstrates his drawing skills using a Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside January exhibition. simplified palette of black and one other color. Avenue, Riverside, (904) 356-6857 or cummer.org As it turns out, I used to know one of the art- Jason Wright is fairly well known in Jackson- ists on display this month, but apparently not as well ville for his brand of pop culture paintings. Similar Oh Say Can You See: American Art from the West as I thought. I thought his greatest talent was his in subject to the aforementioned art of Steven Tony Foundation Collection, Through January 2008, enthusiasm for drinking, but he seems to be a pretty Miller, Wright’s paintings are highly detailed and vi- Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside good painter, too. It just goes to show that you rarely brantly colored with an unrestricted palette. Avenue, Riverside, (904) 356-6857 or cummer.org do any good to assume you know someone. Amie Murray shows off her painting skills Although I came late to the party, I knew that with chalky pastel colors and an affinity for birds. Duval County Art Teachers Exhibition, January 10 the crowd would be nowhere near ready to wrap it Her work suggests layer upon layer of paint, some - February 13, JU Photography Gallery Exhibition of up, so I headed down to the gallery for a beer and a translucent and others opaque, adding a depth that is photographs by Kristin Epinasse from 5 pm –7 pm, Alexander Brest Gallery and Museum at Jacksonville gander. pleasing to the eye. University, (904) 256-7345 As they usually do, Bogda had a large selection Shane Douberly, the expert drinker, was the of works on display by multiple artists, twelve by surprise of the evening. As I said before, I have Cutting Edge Show, January 13 – February 10, St my count: Amie Murray, Chad Roberts, Kelly Eason, no recollection of him being an artist, so seeing Augustine Art Association, (904) 824-2310 or staaa. Shane Douberly, Martin Moore, Nick D’Agostine, his work was a unique experience. Not only was it org Jason Wright, Jessica Noel West, Steven Tony Miller, new to my eyes, it was also very well done, dem- Megan Cosby, Brendan O’Rourke, and Shaun Thur- onstrating a strong knowledge of many important Personal Images of War, South Gallery Special ston. aspects of art. He uses a strong sense of light and SHANE DOUBERLY Exhibit, January 13 – February 10 I’ve seen plenty of work from some of the art- perspective to promote higher drama within a simple St Augustine Art Association, (904) 824-2310 or ists, but there were quite a few whose work was new subject. He also expertly mixes his colors to create a maybe even inspiring art show. Bogda Gallery is staaa.org to me. Overall, the show was one of the best I’ve wide range of subtle variances that create interesting located at 1253 McDuff Avenue South. Call (904) seen there, and I was pleasantly surprised by how events within each image. 387-0852 for more information. The January show André Kertész: First and Last Photographs, Through much of it I personally enjoyed. The gallery is full of Start off the new year with an entertaining and will, predictably, run through January 31. February 15, Southeast Museum of Photography, 1200 International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, smponline.org

Steve McCurry: The Path to Buddha, Through February 15, Southeast Museum of Photography, 1200 International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, smponline.org

Joseph Jeffers Dodge: A Passion for Art, Through February 2008, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside Avenue, Riverside, (904) 356-6857 or cummer.org

Art in the House: Collected Works from Children at the Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, Through February 24, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside Avenue, Riverside, (904) 356- 6857 or cummer.org

26 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper celebrities through the dances, showing them the ropes. Jacksonville won’t just be coming out as spectators either. In 1985, the dance movie Girls cultural events Just Want to Have Fun, which starred Sarah Jes- sica Parker and Helen Hunt, featured a local dance competition held to choose local winners to become JANUARY a part of a national dance television show. Jackson- 17 North Beaches Art Walk 200 First Street, Neptune ville residents are being given the same glamorous, Beach while slightly tacky, chance to become a part of our own nationally acclaimed dance craze mania! 17 Kathy Griffin Florida Theatre, Jax The Soft Scrub Dancing with the Stars Local 17 Glenn Miller Orchestra FCCJ Wilson Center, Jax Dance Challenge invited people from all across the 17 Starfish Circus Douglas Anderson School of the city to come out and showcase their own dancing Arts, Jax skills in a qualifying event. From there, ten couples were given the chance to compete before the shows 17 Especially For Seniors Talks & Tea Cummer producer prior to the Dancing with the Stars show Museum, Jax at the Veterans Memorial Arena on Tuesday, Janu- 17-16 Apron Chronicles: A Patchwork of American nd ary 22 . And finally, on the night of the show, two Recollections Cultural Center, Ponte Vedra couples of the ten will be chosen as winners to go on to perform during the show with the rest of the 17-19 “Called Girl” Players By The Sea, Jax Beach Dancing with the Stars celebrities! Who knows, 17-20 The Fantasticks Limelight Theatre, St. PHOTO BY Adam Larkey/ABC four lucky people might get to share the stage with Augustine Wayne Newton, or perhaps even Drew Lachey! The production will be full of glitz and glam 17-20 Circue Dream Jungle Fantasy Performing Arts and is sure to include a few surprises, and even a Center, Jax brief fifteen minutes of fame for some of our very 17-20 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus nd dancing with the stars own. The show starts at 7:30 pm on January 22 , Veterans Arena, Jax doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available. 17-26 “Dearly Departed” Theatre Jax, Jax a television hit takes it to the Jacksonville PHOTO BY Adam Larkey/ABC 17-30 “Blurring the Lines” Photography by Heather Blanton & Ryan Ketterman JIA, Jax stage 17-30 Gil Mayers In Retrospect Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Jax 17-30 Turkish Maps Exhibit Karpeles Manuscript by hilary johnson [email protected] Museum, Jax WHAT: Dancing with the Stars will be making surprise appearances as 17-31 Jay Shoots Now-Photographs & Sculpture PIE WHERE: Veterans Memorial Arena well. Studio, Jax WHEN: Tuesday, January 22nd Wayne Newton won’t just be show- 17-31 Featured Artist: Charley Harris The Art Center, casing his dancing skills, either. He will Jax Dancing with the Stars is ready to get their also be making a few special music per- Cha-Cha on with Jacksonville residents. The ABC formances throughout the tour. And a live 17-FEB. 2 “Come Blow Your Horn” Orange Park show that has been made famous by celebrities band will accompany each of the dance Community Theatre, Orange Park who twist and contort their way back into the spot- numbers, a much loved, crucial aspect 17-FEB. 3 In Stabiano: Exploring Ancient Seaside Villas light through advanced ballroom dance moves and behind the success of the show. of the Roman Elite Cummer Museum, Jax extremely dexterous dance partners, is going on an Never-before-seen rehearsal foot- American tour. age, exclusive behind the scenes inter- 17-FEB. 7 The Maple Leaf: American Civil War Some of the shows most popular celebrities views and outtakes along with many Shipwreck Thrasher Horne Jack Mitchell Gallery, will be rotating on the shows third national tour, other surprise extras will be showcased Orange Park including season five’s big names, such as Wayne on two huge video feeds to the left and 17-FEB. 10 “Breaking Up is Hard To Do” The Newton with partner Cheryl Burke, Marie Osmond right of the stage. It will be a show sure Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Jax dancing with Jonathan Roberts, and Sabrina Bryan to keep viewers on their toes. with Mark Ballas. From season three, Joey Law- But one thing viewers can expect is 17-FEB. 13 Duval County Art Teachers Exhibit JU Brest rence (Whoa!) will be dancing with Edyta Sliwinska some sensational dancing. If you are fa- Museum, Jax and Monique Coleman, along with professional miliar with the show you know the judges 17-FEB. 16 Drama Workshop For Children ABET, dancers Derek Hough, Alec Mazo and Brian Fortuna. have always expected superior quality Atlantic Beach Even Drew Lachey, season’s two celebrated winner, and craftsmanship from the celebrities, will be making surprise appearances throughout the and the dance partners are award-win- 17-FEB. 24 Art in the House-Collected Works from tour. And other performers from the famed TV show ning ballroom dancers who guide their Children at Sulzbacher Center Cummer Museum, Jax 17-FEB. 28 Oh Say Can You See: American Art Cummer Museum, Jax 17-MAR. 9 Joseph Jeffers Dodge: A Passion for Art Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Jax 17-MAR. 31 The Photography of Robert Storm Burks GTM Reserve, Ponte Vedra 17-APRIL 30 Jazz History Course Taught By Landon Walker First Coast Community Music School, Jax 17-MAR. 17 Figure It Out – Dangerous Curves Women’s Center of Jax, Jax 18 Ileana Fernandez, Piano-Latin American Music Friday Musicale, Jax 18 Arbor Day Celebration Francis Field, St. Augustine 18 Mad Cowford Comedy 9th & Main, Jax

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 27 18 Oxygen Fridays-Spoken Word The Dark Room, Jax money, probably because of his sane wife Lucille (Skyla Dawn Luckey). Junior (Kenny Logsdon) is 18 Martinifest MOCA, Jax a no-account who lost his money on a machine to 18 Friday Night Poetry Murray Hill Theatre, Jax clean parking lots and his wife Suzanne (Brandy Allport) won’t let him forget his shortcomings. 18-FEB. 2 “The Ride Down Mount Morgan” ABET, Raynelle’s sister Marguerite (Brook Anne Hayes) is Atlantic Beach a song-singing/Bible-toting widow with a worthless, 18-MAR. 11 Contemporary Visual Translations Bethel lazy son Royce (Michael Fritton). Their scene driving Gallery, Ponte Vedra in a car is one of the funniest moments of this play. Delightful (yes that is her name) is played by 19 Peter Max Special Exhibit & Sale R. Roberts Gallery, Zoe Matthews and is Raynelle’s butterball daughter Jax who eats, and eats and eats all the time. Edward 19 Local Author Edward Baldwin Barnes & Noble/San Kramer makes Theatre Jax debut as Reverend Jose, Jax Hooker, the sincere preacher with a kidney problem. Teresa Arnold-Simmons is the helpful, albeit gossipy, 19 Air Potato Rodeo Fort Mose Historic Park, St. neighbor Juanita. Rachel Clifton is never seen on Augustine stage, but she is the funeral home organist who 19 Jacksonville Herb Society Meeting Glynlea Grace plays religious songs on an organ off stage. United Methodist, Jax Giving a religious overtone to all the feuding 19 2-Day Pottery Wheel Workshop Cummer Museum, and fussing going are the roving Joy of Life Singers, Jax and you never know when they are going to burst into acapella hymns. Director Andrew Dickson has 19 Discovering Art in the Estuary GTM Reserve, Ponte them moving all over the place, including throughout Vedra the audience and orchestra pit. Believing that no 19 Unity Music Festival Metro Park, Jax place is too sacred for sacred songs, they even sing in the restroom at one point. (Heck, this is a redneck 20 Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band Flagler play!) The talented singers include Amber Holland, College, St. Augustine Debbie Hurm, Lisa LaGrande, Jessica Palombo, Neal 21 Dyslexia Expert Susan Barton Free Seminar Thorburn, Chris Valade and Joseph Walz. Hendricks Day School, Jax Death is never a fun subject (unless you go to an Irish Wake) and Director Dickson has chosen to 22 Dancing With The Stars Veterans Arena, Jax soften the visual effect, so instead of using a real 22 A Kiowa’s Odyssey: A Sketchbook From Ft. Marion coffin at the funeral, he has a door across two saw Cummer Museum, Jax horses representing the departed Bud. Watching people pay reverence to a two inch door was pretty 22-MAR. 16 A Kiowa’s Odyssey” A Sketchbook from Fort funny in itself. Marion Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Jax Kelly Wagoner’s set design is mainly an open 23 House of Life JU Terry Concert Hall, Jax stage with some beams high in the ceiling. There are nine scenes in act one and furniture is moved 24 In Remembrance of the Dream Performing Arts dearly departed Center, Jax on and off. Across the back of the stage is a pile of miscellaneous junk stacked about three feet, a 24 Cast Iron Invitational FCCJ South Campus, Jax dig at redneck housekeeping. It is a good start for 25 Performances by Outstanding Young Pianists Friday Theatre Jacksonville Theatre Review the barricade scene in Les Miserables, and maybe Musicale, Jax Theatre Jax can do that next. There are a lot of funeral jokes in this play but th 25 Mad Cowford Comedy 9 & Main, Jax by dick kerekes [email protected] my favorite bit of humor was when Raynelle asked 25-APRIL 6 North Florida Contemporary Collectors “Is there TV in hell?” By golly that this something we MOCA, Jax Theatre Jacksonville opened its first play of old Ben (Fred Gatlin), dies suddenly at the breakfast all need to think about. 2008 last weekend, with David Bottrell and Jessie table with his wife Raynelle reading a very funny Be forewarned there is a small smattering 26 Clay County All County Elementary Chorus Thrasher Jones’ 1991 comedy Dearly Departed. If the opening letter from her sister to him. The remainder of of unnecessary profanity in the script, which may Horne Center, Orange Park night full house audience is any indication, there will the play has his mostly dysfunctional family and offend, but I will concede that cussing is probably a 26 Meet Artist Peter Max 6-9pm R. Roberts Gallery, Jax be much laughter in San Marco until this play closes friends planning the funeral with hilarious results. part of the redneck culture. on January 26th. What follows is a side-splittingly humorous look To the cast: y’all done good play acting and 26 Mikolai Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival Flagler The comedy in Dearly Departed is similar to the at stereotypical redneck topics such as addiction made a believer out me, but I sure would have College, St. Augustine humor found on television shows like The Beverly to food, alcohol, adultery, infertility, illegitimate liked to see someone dipping some snuff. It is said 26 A Day with the Director-Gary Cadwallader of Seaside Hillbillies or Hee Haw or movies such as Smokey children, laziness, unemployment and a few more there is a little bit of redneck in all of us and you Music Theatre People’s First Community Bank, Palm and the Bandit and Dumb and Dumber. Yes, you that slipped by me. can find out how much you have at the Harold K. Coast guessed it, good old boy Southern Redneck humor is Raynelle (Shelly Higgins Hughes) has 3 sons, Smith Playhouse, 2032 San Marco Blvd. Call 396- 4425 for more information. Don’t dress too fancy, 26 Faculty Chamber Music JU Terry Concert Hall, Jax alive and well on the Theatre Jacksonville stage. of which one is in prison. Ray-Bud (Bill White) is The story opens when the head of the family, the most normal and actually has a job and makes mismatched clothing is acceptable. 26 How To Start Your Own Vegetable Garden Duval Co. Extension Office, Jax 26-27 Tribute To Arthur Miller Staged Reading of “After The Fall” St. Johns Cultural Center, St. Augustine 26-FEB. 3 Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Downtown, Gainesville 26-MAY 4 Make It Move Traveling Exhibit The Lighthouse, St. Augustine 27 Meet Artist Peter Max Noon-3pm R. Roberts Gallery, Jax 27 Roman Life Family Day Cummer Museum, Jax 27 US Coast Guard Band Concert Anastasia Baptist Church, St. Augustine 31 Cummer Kiowa Pow-Wow Dinner Ceremony Sawgrass Golf Resort, Ponte Vedra

28 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper the dead guy Hippodrome Theatre Review by dick kerekes [email protected] Do you watch reality TV? If you do, you will want to consider a trip to Gainesville’s Hip- podrome Theatre to see their first play of 2008, The Dead Guy. The show runs through February 3 at 23 SE 2nd Place in the downtown area. If you were offered one million dollars to allow a TV camera man to follow you around and film you for 24 hours a day to create a show about your life, would you do it? Oh, there is a catch. At the end of the week you have to agree to DIE in the manner selected by the viewing audience. The lead character, Eldon Phelps of Lead- ville, Colorado, can’t keep a job, a woman, an apartment and has no skills. He is approached D) cut up by a chain saw? Viewers also have E) by a reality TV producer with this offer. She has make your own suggestion. selected him carefully, she needs a real LOSER. Tim Altmeyer is brilliant as Eldon. You will He accepts and signs a contract to accept the initially dislike this example of poor white trash, money and to die. but he grows on you as he cleans up his act. He gets his money, buys three red trucks You may even find yourself liking him and wish- for his mother, ex-girl friend ing you had a vote on his fate. and his brother and begins Jessica Ires Morris smartly and his week of temporary believably plays the TV producer, wealth and pleasure. He Gina Yaweth. Yaweth is also a takes two prostitutes to Hebrew word for God, and she is Disneyland in California for playing a God of sorts. a day of drinking and fun. The show is basically done Mid week he has second on a bare stage with furniture that thoughts and decides if he is moved to portray the different becomes a good guy and scene locations. As an audience does charitable things, member, I was mesmerized going maybe the audience will like back and forth from the screens him and choose to let him to the action stage. The two act, live. That is enough of the almost two hour show is very plot and I leave the dramatic fast paced under the direction of and surprise ending for you Lauren Caldwell. It is has humor to discover. and interesting characters. It is a This is as play you are not apt to see any- spoof of reality TV. It is the ultimate reality show, time soon at your local community theatre. It since death is final. It is also thought-provoking is very technically demanding and requires five since television brings everything right into our television screens and the ability to show what is living rooms with large screens and high defini- being filmed as it happens. You are sitting there tion clarity. War, sex, and food never seemed so watching the play and seeing the action on the real. screens, just as the home audiences are watch- I hope your New Year’s resolution was to ing. The audience votes nightly on his manner of expand your theatre experience and you will take death, with the grand totals to be posted at the advantage of the excellent work that the Hip- final show on Sunday night when Eldon will die. podrome continues to bring to the North Florida Will it be A) a quiet death, B) run over by a bus, area, and it is only 75 miles away. For reserva- C) shot by a gun with a venom coated bullet, or tions call (352) 375-HIPP or visit thehipp.org.

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 29 a better u becoming a muscle by michael solis

Michael Solis is a trainer, gym owner, and general high achiever that was repulsed by the apathetic approach that was advocated in last week’s article ‘get fit in 08.’ Had we at EU known that someone with such a robust physique was both literate and capable, we certainly would have asked him to write the piece in the first place. After all, most of us at EU are fat and lazy! But his advice was just so heavy-handed and accurate, we felt we should share it with everyone. So start filling your barrels with sand, it’s going to be a bitch of a week!

Chew gum and burn 11 calories? Fidget? Tap your fingers? Carry a basket? I am aware of the circuitous approach that most people in a morbidly obese society take in order to avoid the expenditure of energy, but to actually accommodate the lethargy is even more obscene. My advice is that if mediocrity is your They say the South is not conducive for walking. I don’t exactly know who says this, or what goal then you should certainly follow the evidence they have to prove it, but I can basically vouch for its validity. Everyone in the south drives mediocre prescription. However, will a per- a car. I don’t care if it’s two houses down the street, we are going to drive there. It’s just how our son who chews gum, carries a basket, gets brains have been wired. We’ve also been wired to fry everything from olives to okra so it really isn’t a dog, and performs the other low-energy output tasks truly be considered fit? The surprising no one wants to go for a walk. answer is no. We, in the crossfit commu- The other day I was shopping down in Five Points at this great boutique, Anomaly. I had a nity, know that energy and effort are directly thank you card I needed to mail, but I absolutely hate trying to find a post office or mailbox. I asked proportional to fitness, achievement, and the store worker if she knew where I could find a mailbox in the area. She told me there was one general success in life. It is true that most people take the path of least resistance and down on Park St. Well, considering the store was on Park St. I asked her if I could walk to it. Park is a little effort on your part will go a long pretty long, so the question was valid. She explained to me where it was exactly. Around to the right way. A lot of effort will land you on top of and down a street. But she told me she wasn’t sure if I would want to walk there because I might any endeavor. We all can’t be winners or get tired. high achievers but we owe it to our children and others who may be influenced by our I thought I’d take my chances. It turned out to actually be just around the right at the next behavior and ideas to cultivate a sense of street, which was about a quarter mile away. I laughed out loud. Who in their right minds could pride and progress. possibly think that this would be a suitable distance to deem unwalkable? We crossfitters are good examples, But it’s the South. We walk nowhere. And not to knock the girl from the store. She’s just been that is, products of our effort and reapers of the seeds we sow. We have cut the prover- trained. And granted, most people would have driven. It’s kind of the same drive that makes us bial fat from the usual haphazard approach circle a parking lot for ten minutes waiting for the closest spot when we could have already been in to getting fit, dissected the material, and found the truth. The good news is that it is very simple, that is, it and out if we had just parked in the back. But basically, we are just lazy. requires little to no money, nor advanced scientific knowledge. The bad news is that it requires effort. The Well, living in California kind of altered my perception of the whole walking issue. People walk results however are directly proportional. You have to ask yourself if getting fit or anything in life is worth the effort. Is feeling like a superhero worth having to single-handedly produce enough energy to power a small everywhere there. It’s one of those cities. There is a mass transit system, a much utilized bus sys- town? It is for some people. Most of them are professional athletes. The others are crossfitters and our advice tem, and there is a lot within walking distance. So I guess it just seems natural. Plus, parking there is nothing less than extreme. is an absolute terror. As in, there is no parking unless you want to pay thirty bucks for an hour or finding a spot on the street two miles away, in which case walking from where you started would These are our low-cost suggestions. have been closer anyway. • Instead of just going for a walk, fill up a backpack with sand-filled bottles or lead ingots and march Californians are also, ironically, considered some of the healthiest people in the country, a like a hungry soldier. fact they will never let you forget. Although if you leave the metropolises and enter the valley you • If you are the gambling type, get a deck of cards, shuffle them, draw from the top, and do the cor- will find some of the country’s most morbidly obese people. In fact, on the newest survey that just responding amount of push-ups. Also, do it with sit-ups and air squats. came out of the country’s most obese cities, California had at least four or five cities in the top twenty. • Don’t just take the stairs. Sprint to the top and continue until you feel sick. Regardless, I lived in the city and got used to walking. It was great. It was brisk. (Usually • Find a barrel or keg, fill it with sand and motivation; lift it over your head as many times as you because it was freezing there – and when I say freezing I mean chilly.) I felt more in shape. I liked can. being outdoors and really getting a sense of where I was, not just a butt impression on my car seat. • Find pull up bars or a jungle gym. Do hundreds of pull-ups until your lats grow into wings. And now with the invention of the iPod there is even a portable soundtrack for walking. • Find a wall and do hand stand push-ups until you can walk on your hands. When I moved back to Florida I made sure to move to a place where I could maintain some of • Bear crawl down the beach for one mile as fast as you can. Watch how feelings of envy strike the this walkable culture. So, I moved to San Marco. And I live within walking distance of a thousand peanut gallery dead. great things. Restaurants, bars, shops, cafés, parks. You name it, I can probably walk to it. • Finally, go to crossfit.com and begin your training as a new, improved and, most importantly, fit As my expatriate friend (she currently resides in Barcelona) and I strolled through the streets of San Marco back to my house from lunch at La Napolera she sort of twirled around in the wide human being. open street and said, “You know, you can decide to make your life a walking life. Even in Jackson- The attributes and approaches we bring to the gym, field, ring, or wherever we train, fight, or compete ville.” Then we got to my house, hopped in my car and I drove her home. Come on. She lives a are the same that follow us in our daily lives, work, and family relationships. Effort, energy, enthusiasm, and good three miles away. But you get the point. courage are the pillars to washing our hands of mediocrity and living a life rich in personal and professional accomplishment. If your health isn’t important then what is?

30 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper THE JOCK

by tom weppel

Random thoughts from a cluttered mind... San Diego has a great defense, as evidenced by their leading the NFL in turnover ratio. That is a huge, NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS huge stat they MUST take advantage of. If the Chargers And so it comes down to our final four teams can force turnovers, perhaps they can stay with the playing each other this weekend for a chance to go to Pats. The Chargers also have strong defensive backs Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix. In the AFC, we have the who must do a great job covering the Patriot receiving New England Patriots hosting the San Diego Chargers, corps. While we all know how awesome the Pats are at while in the NFC, we will see the Green Bay Packers throwing the ball, we also saw that RB Lawrence Ma- host the New York Giants. Let’s start out with the NFC, roney can run when called upon. shall we. New England beat the Chargers earlier in the Last weekend, we saw the Packers dominate the season. They are a two-touchdown favorite to win this Seattle Seahawks in a snow storm at Lambeau Field, game. It will take a monumental effort from San Diego which is where the Championship will be played this to come away with a victory. I don’t see it happening. weekend. Green Bay showed us they can pass with For all intents, you can count on the Patriots going to Brett Favre, but we also saw that RB Ryan Grant has Arizona in two weeks. emerged into a very, very good runner. Along with their offensive line, they ran over, around, and through the JAGUARS Seahawks. Meanwhile, their defense also did a great job We all saw the Jaguars lose to the Patriots last in shutting down Seattle. Now they will play against a Saturday night. New England is simply so good, they Giants team that grinded out two playoff wins with their showed the Jags what THEY need to do in order to head coach, former Jaguar leader Tom Coughlin, as become a great team…not just a good one. In fact, their inspiration. the two strengths we all thought the Jaguars had for When you look at the Giants, you see a team that so long, their defense and their running game, almost has a strong running game with Brandon Jacobs and seemed non-existent in that Patriot contest. Ahmad Bradshaw carrying the rock. A decent passing But while we can sit here and analyze and critique game, with Eli Manning throwing to Amani Toomer and the Jags, we also have to accept the fact that NO ONE Plaxico Burress. And a stout defense that has come has beaten New England this season. So far, that has through when needed, in spite of overwhelming injuries. been an absolutely amazing feat. The Green Bay defense has had a great season, When you look at the entire season, you must give and they’ve gotten better late in the season. I think Jack Del Rio and his boys credit for putting together a they can put a lot of pressure on Manning, and it will very good campaign that not many expected. An 11-5 be a key as to who wins this contest. Green Bay has record, along with a playoff win over the Steelers, is a already beaten the Giants this season, which they did strong showing in the NFL and it will certainly be a great early in the schedule at the Meadowlands. We cannot foundation on which to build upon. get much more traditional in a match up than the one Between now and the start of Training Camp in we’ll see on Sunday. Both franchises have long, strong July, there will be changes on the roster, as there al- legacies in the NFL. It should be cold, and it will be fun ways are between every season. There will be a select to watch. The Packers go in as a seven-point favorite. number of veterans that will not be around. OL Maurice Keep in mind, though, that New York is now 9-1 on the Williams feels he can start for a number of teams in road! That is ridiculous! I will say that if the Packers do this league and might want to test the free agent waters. their thing, then they can pull out a victory and head to Same goes for WR Ernest Wilford and DE Booby Mc- the Super Bowl, which will be a great scene, to say the Cray, who are currently NOT signed to long-term deals. least. Both feel the Jags may not be able to afford to bring The first game of the day will feature the stalwart them back. They will very possibly be signed by other Patriots hosting the upstart Chargers. NO ONE expected teams. A few veterans might even retire, such as Aaron San Diego to be here. Everyone was gearing up for a Glenn and Sammy Knight. return match between the Colts and Pats, feeling they So, with all that said, Del Rio, GM James Harris, were the two best teams in the NFL. But San Diego and Scouting Coordinator Gene Smith will now go to shocked most of us by going into Indianapolis and shut- work, looking to see how they want to possibly improve ting down the Colts when it got down to it, winning their this team and have it ready to go for next season. The game and beating Indy for the second time this season. expectations have now been raised as the fans of this Meanwhile, we all saw the Pats take care of busi- city have gotten back into the groove of a winning fran- ness against the Jags, with Tom Brady almost perfect in chise. his play. It seems every time a team is preparing to play Del Rio might have changes to his coaching staff New England, we hear their players and coaches sug- as well. That has happened, it seems, every single year. gest they have to play a perfect game in order to beat This time, we might see his good friend Mike Tice get a the Pats. Since there is essentially no such thing as a Head Coaching job, or maybe we’ll see Mike Shula get perfect game, shall we all assume the Patriots can’t be an Offensive Coordinator position somewhere else. The beat? bottom line here is that teams will be wanting to go after The Chargers go into this contest possibly without the Jags to find good talent, whether it’s on the field or All-Pro RB LaDainian Tomlinson and starting QB Philip off, to become better. It will be very interesting to see Rivers. If they both do play, it will be with hindered what the Jaguars do in the coming months. knees they each lost in the Colts game. Nonetheless, their back ups, QB Billy Volek, and RB Michael Turner, Tom Weppel talks trash with Greg Larson, Lonnie did a great job last weekend. Both could easily see ac- Marts, Eugene Chung, Artis Gilmore, and Ron Duguay tion. on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.

eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 31