103 - Valley Planet

Transcription

103 - Valley Planet

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
#04300902009
#043009052009
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April 30 - May 20, 2009
IN THIS ISSUE:
WhistleStop Festival Huntsville’s First Beer Fest To Yuno From Yunohoo
Get Lost The Jazz Lounge Party of One Bluebird Café Songwriters
News of the Weird Calendar of Events/Live Music
InThePlanet
Huntsville’s
1st Annual Beer Festival May 8 & 9
T
he Rocket City Brewfest will bring the
widest selection of beer in north Alabama
to the Depot Roundhouse on May 8-9 as
event organizers introduce the Valley to the
variety and complexity of craft beer. Huntsvilleʼs
first beer festival will feature live music, good
food from local restaurants, and, of course,
great beer. Patrons will receive a small souvenir
tasting glass which they may use to sample
from hundreds of different brands of craft beer.
Proceeds from the festival benefit Free the
Hops, a group of Alabama beer connoisseurs
dedicated to bringing better beer to Alabama.
Whatʼs wrong with the beer we have? With
their selection of over 160 ales and lagers, you
might think a beer connoisseur would be able to
find anything at the Nook Tavern in Huntsville.
Unfortunately, this is far from true. Antiquated
state laws dating to Prohibition prevent you
from buying most of the best beers in the world
by restricting the sale of beer with more than
6% alcohol by volume. This means no Imperial
Stouts, no Trappist Ales, no Barleywines. State
law also limits the beer that can be brewed by
Alabamaʼs own breweries like Huntsvilleʼs
own Olde Towne.
Alabama. This yearʼs bill has passed the stateʼs
lower legislative chamber and is currently
awaiting a vote in the state senate.
Free the Hops has hosted an annual Magic City
Brewfest in Birmingham since 2007 with sellout crowds each time. The MCBF has been a
tremendous success for public awareness, and
the Huntsville chapter of Free the Hops hopes
to start a similar trend in the Valley this year.
The brewfest will be held during two sessions.
Session 1 is from 7:00p.m. to 11:00p.m. on
Friday, May 8. Session 2 is from 3:00p.m. to
7:00p.m. on Saturday, May 9. Tickets can be
purchased in advance at rocketcitybrewfest.com.
A beer ticket is $22 online or $30 at the gate. A
beer and food ticket is $32 online or $40 at the
gate. Designated drivers for ticketholders are
admitted at no charge
Mississippi and Alabama are the only two
states that still have these severe restrictions
on beer. For the last four years, Free the Hops
has lobbied for legislation in Montgomery that
would lift the ABV allowed in beer to 13.9% in
On the Cover: Suzan Buckner
S
uzan Buckner is a self taught artist, residing in Northern Alabama. She was born in
Niceville, Florida in the early 1960’s. Suzan has been painting and making art for a
little over a year and a half. She works in mixed media, collage, painting, art dolls and
art journals as her favorite art forms. She enjoys working in brilliant color, and strives for
diversity in her work.
Most of her work is done on a smaller scale --measuring 12 inches or under, though she does
also do larger pieces. She likes to create all of her pieces with a lot of vibrancy and visual
punch.
Suzan’s work was recently published in Stampington’s magazine, “Art Journaling”.
(Premiered January 2009).
You can see her work at suzanbuckner.com or on her blog at
thriftycollageartist.blogspot.com.
Kid’s Good Day 2009 at
Lowe Mill
O
As a parent and Good Day volunteer – I
assure you that it is money well spent. You
will get a day of hanging out with your kids.
Truly hanging out with them. Smiling.
Relaxing. Really – I mean it. No long
lines waiting for rides or tantrums from too
much sugar. Instead – you get green grass,
sunshine, dancing and an artist market (on
the 2nd floor).
Talking with event founder, Evan Billiter,
and you can’t help but feel his enthusiasm
and genuine love for kids.
Why did you start Good Day?
The idea for Good Day came to me one day
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in 2007 when I felt as if I had a void inside
me. For three years I had been involved in a
music festival, with my good friend Monica,
called “The Electrified Farmyard Show”.
When we stopped having them, I felt a need
to start something like it, except focused
toward children, so Good Day was brought
about.
While most kids’ events are filled with bright
lights, fast rides and carnie games - Good
Day has headed in a simpler, more artistic
direction. Why?
If we encourage kids to express their artistic
sides then it is only appropriate that Good
Day be surrounded by decorations and events
that inspire them to be creative.
What can readers expect when they bring
their kids to Good Day 2009?
There will be booths and tables set up with
arts and crafts. Also a wildlife zoo will
be present showing some of their rescue
H
olmes Street Storytelling and
Bluegrass Festival will take place
May 2nd at 7:00PM at 501 Holmes
Street, Founder’s Hall at Holmes Street
United Methodist Church, Huntsville, Al.
Featured performers; Bruce Walker and
Buck P Creacy, storytellers: James Smith
and the Walker Street Opry (Bluegrass).
Bruce Walker will be celebrating the national
release of his storytelling CD-”Good for the
Soul” during the festival. Bruce’s stories
are based on life observations and family
lore. Bruce has appeared at the Three Foot
Festival in Meridian, MS, and at the Black
Warrior Storytelling Festival, Tuscaloosa.
Walker Street Opry is comprised of seasoned
Bluegrass veterans who have played
by Tina Rochester
n Saturday May 9, 12-6pm, Lowe
Mill will be transformed – from a
textile mill turned arts center – to a
child’s wonderland. I’m talking about Good
Day 2009. Think paper chains and origami
decorations. Puppets, parades and animals.
Violins and guitars. All for 5 bucks!
Holmes Street Storytelling
& Bluegrass Festival
#043009052009
animals. Music guests will be “The Golden
Ticket” plus music from the Lowe Mill
“family”. And if that is not enough, we end
the day with a parade and dance party.
You always encourage the kids to dress up.
What is the theme this year?
Because of our specials guests from Mentone,
at the Lookout Mountain Zoo, we have
decided to make this year animal-themed. So
children and parents are encouraged to bring
animal costumes/clothes and don’t forget
those noise makers for the parade!
with Claire Lynch, Iron Horse and other
established Bluegrass acts. They perform
Bluegrass standards as well as songs of their
own composition.
Buck P Creacy is known as the “Working
Man’s Storyteller”, he has appeared at the
NSN Storytelling Conference, Tale Spinner
Festival and has recorded numerous CDs on
the Aslan label.
James Smith is known as the, “Autoharp
Man from Al-la-bam!” James performs
roots music that he describes as, “The music
behind the music we hear today”.
If you would like more information about
this event call 256.658.1735, bruce@Bruce
Storyteller.com
(with adult supervision, of course).
We will have an information table that will
include ways that other organizations and
sponsors can be involved in the future.
As you can tell, Evan and friends put forth
a tremendous amount of effort to make this
truly a GOOD DAY!
For more info email evanbilliter@hotmail.
com.
You are also coming together with a group of
archaeologists. How will this group add to
Good Day and how can other organizations
get involved?
The New South Associates are bringing
an archaeology exhibit along with a spearthrowing specialist. This exhibit will give the
kids a chance to learn about archaeology and
participate in some fun activities including
throwing different kinds of hunting weapons
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
THE VALLEY PLANET
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
#043009052009
April 30 - May 20, 2009
203 Grove Ave., Huntsville Al, 35801, phone 256.533-4613
Publisher
Jill Wood
Sales
Elaine Nelson
Shawn Bailey
Michelle Hilbert
Calendar
Sara Jo Taylor
Joanie Williams
Distribution
Charlotte Griffin
Paper Magician Extraordinaire
Ari
Contributors
Tina Rochester
Brad Posey
Sarah Gorman
D.S.Price
Diana LaChance
Billy Joe Cooley
Raven Woods
Christina Goss
David Daniels
Allison Gregg
Auntie Jen
Jackie Anderson
Jennifer Roberts
Terri L. French
Allen Berry
Sherri Carlee
Bonnie Roberts
Ricky Thomason
Mike Rosenberg
NEXT ISSUE May 21, 2009
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On the Cover: Suzan Buckner
Kid’s Good Day 2009 at Lowe Mill, Tina Rochester
Huntsville’s 1st Annual Beer Festival May 8 & 9
Holmes Street Storytelling & Bluegrass Festival
Soak Your Troubles Away with Theatre Huntsville’s
“Enchanted April”
“Batter Up”: Baseball Musical is A Sure Bet
To Yuno from Yunohoo “the Completely Anonymous Personals”
News of the Weird, Chuck Shepherd
The Jazz Lounge, Jackie Anderson
Get Lost: Canoe the Flint River, D.S.Price
Ellen’s Creative Cakes, Sarah Gorman
What Then Must We Do?, Bonnie Roberts
Free Will Astrology, Rob Brezsny
MUSIC CALENDAR BEGINS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS BEGINS
Auntie Jen’s Animal Crazy, Auntie Jen
Listings: Pubs, Taverns, & Clubs
REGIONAL CONCERTS
Bluebird Cafe Songwriters in Concert at Three Caves
Stretching the Creative Envelope, Bonnie Roberts
WhistleStop Festival Barbeque & Charlie Daniels
The Way I See It, David Daniels
Dr. Anarcho’s Rx for Old Stuff That Don’t Suck
Free Beer! Football!, Diana LaChance
Music Video Artist: My Journey To Where I’m
Meant To Be, Raven Woods
Unchained Maladies, Ricky Thomason
A Few Words About Doubt. . ., Allen Berry
The Naked Vine, Mike Rosenberg
Party of One, Allison Gregg
Listings: Restaurants
Gossip, Billy Joe Cooley
Listings: Galleries, Attractions
Music Exchange, Real Estate & All That Jazz
Letter From
the Publisher
O
nly three weeks ago I wrote of the
dogwoods, tornados and freezing
temps in our fair city…and now, spring
has left us and we are sweating in the humid
80 degree weather! Havoc is being wreaked in
sinuses everywhere in the Valley. Of course,
we natives are used to such chaos and with all
the fun going on this month nothing will keep
us from joining in! Just take a look through the
pages and find something, or several things, to
do! Support our advertisers, they support us!
Remember our paper and calendars are online
at valleyplanet.com.
Jill E. Wood
“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And
when you’ve got it, you want - oh, you don’t quite
know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes
your heart ache, you want it so!”
~Mark Twain
Thank you for reading the fine print of
the Valley Planet. The Valley Planet and
valleyplanet.com are published every three
weeks by J W Publications in Huntsville,
AL. You can pick up the paper free all
over the place or get it free on the web.
Copyright 2003 by the Valley Planet, Inc.
All rights reserved. You can contact me at
jill@valleyplanet.com
Reproduction or use without our permission
is strictly prohibited. The views and opinions
expressed within these pages and on the web
site are not necessarily those of the Valley
Planet or its staff. The Valley Planet is not
responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or
art. Back issues are available for viewing
on our web site www.valleyplanet.com in the
archives section. You may reach the Valley
Planet office @ 256.533.4613 or by mail at
Valley Planet 203 Grove Ave. Huntsville, AL
35801.
Subscriptions to the Valley Planet are now
available for $50 a year in the USA.
256-533-4613
Photo by: Ian McAllister
THE VALLEY PLANET
THE VALLEY PLANET
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
3
Soak Your Troubles Away with
Theatre Huntsville’s
“Enchanted April”
T
he traffic is backed up inexplicably,
in a seemingly never-ending line that
stretches as far as the eye can see. An
intense thunderstorm and a mass procession
of maniacs behind the wheel make you
late for work. You have not had time for
your morning cup of coffee. Suffocating,
unreasonable deadlines must be met at work,
an environment that can best be described as
a bleak landscape of inadequate resources; a
treacherous underworld where demanding,
uncaring bosses seem to lurk around every
shadowy corner. Your cell phone rings in
the middle of the most important business
meeting of the year. Amidst frowns,
mumbling, grumbling, and the disapproving
looks of your business cohorts you learn
that your youngest child is running a high
fever. You scramble around looking for
your car keys, finally realizing that you have
locked them in your car. After a visit from
a locksmith, your wallet fifty dollars lighter,
you make your way through traffic like a
New York City cab driver. While on your
way to pick up your sick child from school,
your cell phone rings and you learn that your
oldest child has been taken to the principal’s
office after being identified as the instigator
of a student-led protest against cafeteria
food. At the end of a long day during which it
seems nothing has gone right, many women
may look for a brief, albeit meaningful
escape. Commercials from days gone by
used to bank on the importance of such an
escape. “Calgon take me away!” This May,
Theatre Huntsville offers a similar escape
onstage with their latest production of
“Enchanted April.”
When two frustrated London housewives
decide to rent a villa in Italy for a holiday
away from their bleak marriages, they recruit
two very different English women to share
the cost and the experience. There, among
the wisteria blossoms and Mediterranean
sunshine, all four women bloom again—
rediscovering themselves in ways that they
could never have expected. Matthew Barber
adapted the play from the novel by Elizabeth
von Arnim. Enchanted April won the 2003
John Gassner Award for Outstanding New
American Play. The 1992 Film version
of “Enchanted April” received three Oscar
nominations, including nominations for Best
Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.
Take a night off from the endless distractions
and the frustrations of your hectic, harried
existence. Pamper yourself in the luxurious
lather that is “Enchanted April.”
Performances are May 8-9 & 14-16 at 7:
30 pm. May 10 & 16, 2009 at 2:00 pm at
the VBC Playhouse. Produced by Special
Arrangement with Dramatists Play Service,
Inc. This show is recommended for Preteens, Teens and Adults. Call 256.536.0807
or visit www.theatrehuntsville.org for ticket
information.
“Batter Up”: Baseball Musical
Is A Sure Bet
O
n May 15, the Renaissance Theater
Mainstage will be transformed into
a baseball field, the setting for a new
musical, “Batter Up”. “Batter Up”, written
and composed by Chuck Puckett, is a musical
retelling of the timeless poem, “Casey At the
Bat” by Ernest Thayer. Everyone recalls the
last two lines in this sad elegy to a heroic
baseball player who meets a tragic end:
There is no joy in Muddville,
Mighty Casey has struck out.
“Batter Up” provides the back story to this
sorrowful event, as well as letting us in on
what happens next. As it turns out, for the first
time in the history of the Muddville Nine, the
team has made it to the pennant series. Casey
Carmichael, the homerun king, is in full
stride on top of the world, and even engaged
to the club owner’s daughter. Things couldn’t
be better for the boy. But not all is peaches
and cream in Muddville. Turns out Casey has
a problem: he’s a gambler. A bad gambler.
And he owes plenty to a local gangster. And
the team is grumbling about a possible strike.
And Casey’s best friend Skipper is having
problems with his girlfriend. And into this
mix, a young waif arrives in town looking
for a job at the ball park, and that may turn
into the biggest surprise of all.
Chuck Puckett as Teddy Bear Owens, Jim
Gillikin as Mr. Fowler, Chip Tomlinson
as Whiskers, Sam Neely as Catfish, Vinny
Paragone as Phillipe, Chandler Horkman
as Joey and Elizabeth Boulet as Sally.
Carol Puckett directs and choreographs the
ensemble, who sing songs with themes that
take full advantage of the baseball theme:
the title tune, “Batter Up”, “Bull Pen”, “No
Place Like Home”, “No Strike Zone”, and
(appropriately enough) “Casey At the Bat.”
This musical has energy and drive, humor
and dance, and lots of singable songs, and
“Batter Up” is imminently suitable for the
whole family. Make plans to attend. Time to
step up to the plate and “Play Ball!”. Tickets
are $14, general admission. Call 536-3117
for tickets. More information is on the web
at www.batterupmusical.com. Renaissance
Theatre is located at 1216B, Meridian Street
in Huntsville.
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
Choice 1.
Choice 2.
Choice 3.
Choice 4.
I Saw you, but you didn’t catch my name
You saw me or you think you were seen
Cheers: Pay your respect to those who deserve it
Jeers: Frustrated? Tell us all about it
To send in your FREE ad
1. Pick a category, word limit is 40 words. No names, just initials if you want.
2. Meet the deadline: Next deadline is May 6 for the May 21 Issue.
3. Get it to us: Put “To Yuno from Yunohoo” in the subject line of an email and send to
Classifieds@valleyplanet.com
I Saw You
I noticed you ~and your aura~ at Garden
Cove on Easter. You were with someone
and may very well be taken, but in case
you’re not, hi, and I dig your style. Stay
green.
An elderly black lady held the door open
for a well-heeled blue-haired lady leaving
Bud’s on 8th St in Decatur on Good Friday,
and she glared at the door-holder like she
smelled bad and didn’t even say “Thanks.”
I’d like for the old bat to know that people
of all races were in the store noticed, and
talked about what a stuck-up, racist bitch
you are.
You wear short shorts and work in your
yard a lot on Chadwell St. in Decatur: lady,
you’re the hottest white woman I’ve seen
in a while. Care to change your luck?
Neighbor, if your black cat leaves tracks
on my black car one more time it will be
its own bad luck. It will be down to eight
lives, and my clip down to eight shells.
You got no idea how sexy you are! You
seem very unaware of the mystique you
create. Blue jeans and a white button down
shirt along with you dark hair and wisp of
premature gray …so hot but yet you are so
easy to talk to. Surely you know!?
You old people who steal extra packets of
Splenda and Equal from local restaurants:
Do you feel like someone is watching
when you do it? We are. We see you, and
the economy will force us to stop you
before you steal again.
I have seen how hard you have been
working out at the Y over the last few
months and wanted to say…it is really
paying off! You have always been very
attractive and even more so now. Maybe I
will get up the nerve to tell you in person.
To the person in our office who thinks that
everyone wants to hear all of your personal
business, shut the F- up! We don’t want to
hear it. You are loud & disruptive. And
that laugh? Who told you that guttural
snort was cute or sexy?
I was introduced to you at the last HYP
event…and was intrigued. Hope you
come to the Wiffle Ball Tournament, I will
be watching!
When you return food to restaurant
kitchens with small complaints, the cooks
really do spit on it. We always have,
always will. You think $8.50 per hour is
enough money for us to hear your gripes?
Eat what we send you and shut up.
Jeers
One of the bartenders at O’Charley’s in
Decatur would make far better tips if she’d
lose half the mouth, and most of the ‘tude.
The world is a far different place at 50 -even a still really hot 50.
To the office personnel making cartoons of
other coworkers in the office please stop.
You are over 40, and have no life and the
little followers that seem to worship you
don’t know the first chance you get you
will ruin both their marriages. You treat
the office as a playground and you are
miserable because you are not the desired
one in the sandbox. You overcompensate
for your inadequate work by being loud,
obnoxious and gossipy. Stop wearing
clothes that look as if you are taking
the dog for a walk. You will act more
professional when you can express that in
your manner of dress and attitude.
I’m glad some local car dealers have
gone bust - particulalry one of the H….
They lied, cheated, stole and their service
sucked. Best of all, I don’t have to hear
their obnoxious, blaring commercials
anymore.
I may have lost my job, but it does my
heart good to have the time off work to
see so many unhappy Republicans in the
world.
To the guy who brags that he has listened
to Rush Limbaugh since he signed on the
air and still listens daily: has anyone told
you that you’re still an idiot?
“Batter Up” has a cast of 40+ people, and the
Renaissance Mainstage will be bursting at
the seams in song and dance. Andrew Velez
plays Casey, Brooke Higdon plays his fiancé
Alice Fowler, James Owens his best friend
Skipper and Danielle Hurst is Skipper’s
girl friend, Wanda May (“Wanda May, and
Wanda May Not”). Others in the cast include
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To Yuno from Yunohoo Send in your random encounters today. Its FREE!!
I’m not gay or nothing, but it’s getting hard
to ignore that a certain waiter at a certain
steak house suggests every Friday night
that I have the extra-large T-bone.
THE VALLEY PLANET
THE VALLEY PLANET
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
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Chuck Shepherd’s
insurance, but a costly, rigorous antibiotics
regimen was subject to a $3,000 co-pay, which
Roberts asked the Department of Veterans
Affairs to take care of, but the agency repeatedly
refused, in that Roberts had gone outside the
“system” to save his war-ravaged leg. Only when
a CNN reporter called the matter to the attention
of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in March did the
agency relent.
baby daughter that resulted in 20 bite marks
(Rusk County, Texas, December).
Least Competent People
Our Elected Leaders:
During an April Texas House committee hearing
(according to a Houston Chronicle report), state
Rep. Betty Brown suggested a solution to the
voter-registration confusion caused by ChineseAmericans’ Anglicizing their names (which
yields nonstandard spellings): “Do you think
that it would behoove you and your citizens,”
she asked a Chinese-American activist, “to adopt
(names) that we (lawmakers) could deal with
more readily here?”
LEAD STORY
In April at a New York City gallery, the
Australian performance artist Stelarc starred
in a video of his surgery in which an ear is
implanted into his left forearm (right now, just
a prosthesis, but to which stem cells will be
added), which will house an Internet-accessed,
Bluetooth-capable microphone. “Post-evolutionary
strategies” are required, Stelarc told The New
York Times, because the current state of the
body is obsolete. Other exhibits at the “Corpus
Extremus (LIFE+)” exhibit included a genetically
modified goat that produces super-strong spider’s
silk. In an earlier project, Stelarc wired half his
muscles to computers in Paris, Helsinki and
Amsterdam, to understand a semi-controllable
“split-body experience.” Stelarc’s self-appraisal:
“(I’m) never in (my) comfort zone.”
When Alcoa Inc. prepared to build an aluminum
smelting plant in Iceland in 2004, the
government forced it to hire an expert to assure
that none of the country’s legendary “hidden
people” lived underneath the property. The elflike goblins provoke genuine apprehensiveness
in many of the country’s 300,000 natives (who
are all, reputedly, related by blood). An Alcoa
spokesman told Vanity Fair writer Michael Lewis
(for an April 2009 report) that the inspection
(which delayed construction for six months)
was costly but necessary: “(W)e couldn’t be in
the position of acknowledging the existence
of hidden people.” (Lewis offered several
explanations for the country’s spectacular
financial implosion in 2008, including Icelanders’
incomprehensible superiority complex that
convinced many lifelong fishermen that they
were gifted investment bankers.)
Things People Believe
Cultural Diversity
LEAD STORY
Baltimore prosecutors were stuck in their case
against cult leader “Queen Antoinette,” 40, whom
they had charged in the starvation death of a
young boy who was being punished for failing to
say “Amen” at meal time. They would need the
cooperation of the boy’s mother, cult member Ria
Ramkissoon, 22, but she was refusing to flip on
the Queen, whom she believed would eventually
resurrect her son from the dead. Finally in
March, the judge announced a breakthrough:
Ramkissoon would cooperate, but prosecutors
would promise in writing to drop all charges if
the Queen eventually brings the boy back.
Can’t Possibly Be True
“You use the toilet every day. Imagine if you
could start pouring a little gasoline into the
toilet bowl and get 50 cents a gallon (as a
tax credit from IRS) every time you flushed.”
According to a hedge fund analyst (quoted
by The Nation magazine for an April story),
that’s the way Congress’ 2005 legislation
to encourage “alternative” fuels has been
exploited by the paper industry. Company
representatives have until now been proud that
the paper industry supplied most of its own
fuel, as a by-product of making paper, but when
it discovered the tax credit, it reworked its
factories to accept a mixture of the incumbent
by-product and ordinary diesel fuel, thus creating
an “alternative” fuel and earning the credit,
which, for example, was worth $71.6 million
to International Paper Co. in March and is not
scheduled to expire until December.
Italian researchers revealed in March that
at least one method of increasing penis size
actually works (but that it would take a highly
motivated man to take advantage of it). Writing
in the British Journal of Urology, a team from
the University of Turin had volunteers attach
weights of from 1.3 to 2.6 pounds for six hours a
day for a six-month period and found that their
flaccid-state lengths increased by an average of
almost 1 inch.
Retired rogue New York City police detectives
Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito, who
were convicted in 2006 of assisting the Mafia
for many years (including with assassinations),
were sentenced to life in prison plus 80 to 100
additional years. However, because the men
retired from the force before they had been
charged with crimes, they are entitled by law to
their lifetime pensions of $5,313 a month and
$3,896 a month, respectively.
Army Sgt. Erik Roberts, 25, was injured in
Baghdad in 2006 by a roadside bomb, and his leg
required 12 surgeries before supposedly healing,
but last year a life-threatening infection was
discovered in the leg. Roberts underwent a 13th
surgery that was covered by his private health
6
Among the lingering sex-based customs in Saudi
Arabia is the restriction on women’s working
outside the home, which forces lingerie shops to
be staffed only with males, who must awkwardly
make recommendations on women’s bra styles
and sizes. The campaign for change, led by a
Jeddah college lecturer, has enlisted even some
clerks, who are just as embarrassed about the
confrontation as the customers, according to a
February BBC News dispatch.
Only in Japan/Only in Sweden:
Sega Toys Co. reported in January that, in just
three months, it had sold 50,000 units of the
Pekoppa, a “plant” consisting of leaves and
branches that flutter when “spoken to,” the
success of which the company attributes to the
epic loneliness of many Japanese.
Advocates for children complained in April
that Sweden’s national library, acting on a
standing order to archive copies of all domestic
publications, has been gathering books and
magazines of child pornography from the years
1971-1980, when it was legal, and, as libraries
do, lending them out.
The Natural Resources Defense Council and
Greenpeace commenced campaigns in February
critical of the peculiar preference of Americans
for ultra-soft or quilted toilet paper. In less-picky
Europe and Latin America, 40 percent of toilet
paper is produced by recycling, but Americans’
demand for multi-ply tissue requires virgin wood
for 98 percent of the product. The activists claim
that U.S. toilet paper imposes more costs on the
planet than do gas-guzzling cars.
Latest Religious Messages
Buddhist monks continue to add to their 20structure compound near the Cambodian
border using empty beer bottles, according to a
February feature in London’s Daily Telegraph.
Their building program, begun in 1984, already
uses 1.5 million bottles, mostly green Heinekens
and brown, locally brewed Chang, both of which
are praised for letting in light and permitting
easy cleaning.
A group of an estimated 10,000 believers is
attempting to reverse American Christianity’s
declining birthrate by shunning all
contraception, in obedience to Psalm 127, which
likens the advantage of big families to having a
“quiver” full of “arrows” (and which calls itself
the QuiverFull movement). “God opens and closes
the womb,” explained one advocate, to National
Public Radio in March, noting that in her own
church in Shelby, Mich., the mothers average 8.5
children. “The womb is such a powerful weapon
... against the enemy,” she said. “The more
children I have, the more ability I have to impact
#043009052009
During a March Florida Senate debate on
whether to exempt “animal husbandry” from
the law against bestiality, Sen. Larcenia Bullard
asked (seriously, according to a Miami Herald
reporter), “People are taking these animals as
husbands?”
the world for God.”
Questionable Judgments
Australian Marcus Einfeld (a lawyer, former
federal judge and prominent Jewish community
leader) was once decorated as a national “living
treasure,” but he suffered a total downfall in
2006 by choosing to fight a (Aus.)$77 speeding
ticket. By March 2009, he had been sentenced to
two years in prison for perjury and obstructing
justice because he had created four detailed
schemes to “prove” that he was not driving that
day. His original defense (that he had loaned
the car to a friend who had since conveniently
passed away) was accepted by the judge, but
dogged reporting by Sydney’s Daily Telegraph
revealed that lie, plus subsequent elaborate
lies to cover each successive explanation.
Encouraged by those revelations, the press later
uncovered Einfeld’s bogus college degrees and
awards and an incident of double-billing the
government.
A high school student in Oakton, Va., was
suspended for two weeks in March when she
inadvertently brought to school her birth-control
pill (her prescription for which was approved
by her mother). It was only then (with two
weeks off to research it) that the girl discovered
that, in comparison, county rules required only
one week’s suspension for bringing heroin to
school. Officials told the Washington Post that
birth-control pills are particularly objectionable
because they countermand the school system’s
“abstinence-only” sex education classes.
Bad Decisions:
Chrysler Corp. may be on its last legs as a
stand-alone company, but that did not stop
its representatives from disrupting a funeral
proceeding in Cranbury, N.J., in March to
subpoena the corpse (which the company
said is relevant to a pending lawsuit over
mesothelioma).
Joseph Milano, owner of Goomba’s Pizza in Palm
Coast, Fla., was in the federal witness protection
program for squealing on Bonanno crime family
members in New York but lost his anonymity
in January when he was arrested for allegedly
pistol-whipping a customer who had dared to
criticize his calzone.
Feral Americans
Recent Human Biting:
Sheila Bolar, 49, was arrested after biting a
transit driver because she wanted to ride only a
“hybrid” bus (New York City, January).
Aleyda Uceta, 30, was arrested for biting
her son’s principal during a parent-principal
conference (Providence, R.I., March).
Curtis Cross was arrested for allegedly biting off
another motorist’s ear in a road rage incident
(New Castle, Ind., April).
Recurring Themes
News of the Weird has noted two previous
instances of “Weekend at Bernie’s”-like attempts
by a relative or friend of a newly deceased
person to dress up the corpse and bring it to
a bank to convince officials that the dead man
is merely frail and to request funds from his
account. Both of those attempts failed, but in
Witbank, South Africa, in March, the Afrikaanslanguage daily Beeld reported success: A post
office supervisor released a government check to
two women who had brought in a dead pensioner
but only after the women promised that the
money would only be used for the man’s burial
expenses.
A News of the Weird Classic (January 1994)
Homeless couple Darryl Washington and
Maria Ramos were injured in 1992 when a
train rammed them as they were having sex
on a mattress on the tracks at a New York
City subway station. The injuries were not
severe, thanks to a quick-acting motorman.
Nevertheless, the couple went on to file a
lawsuit against the Transit Authority for
“carelessness, recklessness and negligence.”
(The outcome of the lawsuit was not reported,
but the couple’s lawyer was, at the time, quite
aggressive in justifying the filing: “Homeless
people are allowed to have sex, too,” he said.)
InformationAgePrayer.com offers, for people
too busy to speak to God themselves, a daily
service of invocations (using voice-synthesizing
software) for Catholics, Protestants, Jews or
Muslims. Starting each day “reciting” the Lord’s
Prayer (or the Islamic Fajr) is $3.95 a month.
Hail Marys are 70 cents a day for 10. A Complete
Rosary Package is $49.95 a month. Each prayer
is voiced individually, according to a March
report on LiveScience.com, with the subscriber’s
name on the screen, and for Muslim prayers, the
computer’s speakers point toward Mecca.
A 2008 report on crime at U.S. colleges listed
the University of California, Davis, as having
the fifth-worst rate in the country, and among
the University of California system, Davis’
rate of sexual assaults was higher than the
other schools’ rates, combined. Nevertheless,
in February, according to Sacramento’s KTXLTV, the school’s Student Judicial Affairs
organization boasted of the record, claiming that
it demonstrates the “openness” of the campus, in
that students feel “comfortable” enough to report
sex crimes.
Send your Weird News to WeirdNewsTips@yahoo.com
or P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, FL 33679.
COPYRIGHT 2006 CHUCK SHEPHERD
DISTRIBUTED BY
UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE
4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111;
(816) 932-6600
Lyndel Toppin, 50, bit down on his fiancee’s
arm, resulting in nerve damage, because she had
arranged the cheese incorrectly on his meatball
sandwich (Philadelphia, April).
Blaine Milam, 19, and Jessica Carson, 18, were
arrested for performing an exorcism on their
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
THE VALLEY PLANET
THE VALLEY PLANET
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
7
Eric: I’m pleasantly surprised, yes! I have to
say thanks to God first for His blessings, and also
to Roger Lifeset who handles radio promotion
for the record. “Birmingham” is distributed
worldwide by EMI, so there are many retail
outlets where it can be found. The FYE stores are
a good bet to have it in stock, or Barnes & Noble
and some Borders stores. Also, you can never go
wrong with iTunes or Amazon.com online for
instant access.
W
elcome to The Jazz Lounge! I’m Jackie
Anderson, with more news from the
world of jazz. You can send me your
information at: teekynyc@yahoo.com. Thanks
for the continued support. Since we last got
together, I’ve been a little under the weather, so
it’s been a bit of a challenge for me.
Let’s get started. Our guest in The Jazz Lounge
has roots right here in Alabama. When we spoke
last September, I told him that I wanted him to be a
guest. He’s smooth jazz guitarist Eric Essix. This
multi-talented artist is a native of Birmingham,
Alabama. He’s got a hot album out simply
titled “Birmingham” (Essential/Lightyear). It’s
album #14 for Eric, but only the third with major
distribution. He personally got me a copy of it
last year. I still feel today, what I did then – that
it’s his best work yet. “Birmingham” has been #1
on the indie charts for well over four weeks now,
which says a lot. Eric is on the move, and we’re
happy to have him spend some time with us.
Jackie: Welcome to The Jazz Lounge, Eric. It’s a
pleasure to have you here.
Eric: It is my pleasure, Jackie. Thanks for the
opportunity!
Jackie: Congratulations. You did such a fine job
with “Birmingham”. I told you how I felt about it
when you first got it to me. I do believe it’s your
best work yet.
Eric: So do I, Jackie! I usually leave it up
to the listener to make that assessment. But,
in this case, I have carefully compared it to
my other recordings and, in pretty much all
respects, I believe it is superior. I feel the songs,
productions, and performances are much better
than my previous efforts. Since the entire album
was recorded very quickly, in less than four days,
it also has more of a sense of spontaneity then my
past projects.
Jackie: What first peaked your interest in music?
Was your family supportive?
Eric: Seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan
Show many years ago as a child, was truly the
initial catalyst for my wanting to play the guitar
in particular. My grandfather bought me my
first guitar and amplifier, and he encouraged me
the most I think. My mother did as well, and
she bought my first acoustic guitar that I wish I
had kept. She would come out to my shows and
sell my CDs at her place of business. She even
catered most of my release parties! She never
stopped helping me at every phase of my career.
Jackie: How did music legends Jimi Hendrix,
West Montgomery, and Miles Davis contribute to
your sound and style as a guitarist?
Eric: When I was about seven years old, I heard
Wes Montgomery’s “California Dreaming”
album, and the sound of his guitar playing
melodies like a singer fascinated me! From there
I loved Jimi Hendrix, who in addition to being
an innovative player, had that style and swagger
that as a teenager I tried to emulate. Later, it
was Goerge Benson, Johnny Guitar Watson, and
a host of other guitarists that had a huge impact
on me as a kid. However, my relationship with
Miles is more of a spiritual one in a sense. I was
always attracted to his fierce individuality and
independence, and that lack of fear that he had
to explore and experiment in the face of criticism
and ignorance. That is what I admired about him
most.
has contributed so much to the greatness of our
country today.
Jackie:
There is a Huntsville, Alabama
connection. Tell us about Kelvin Wooten and
the role he played in helping to make this project
happen. I know he’s worked with Mary J. Blige,
Anthony Hamilton, The Isley Brothers, and Jill
Scott.
Eric: Kelvin and I met in 1998, but my musical
kinship with him really began in 2000, when we
recorded my “Southbound” album, in Muscle
Shoals, Alabama. Since then, he has become
a very integral part of the sound I’m trying to
develop, which has strong gospel and southern
roots music ties. Wooten understands that
direction very well, and has the facility and the
vocabulary to give everything I write that southern
feel and sensibility. I trust him implicitly with the
music, and that’s why I called him to help give my
songs new life on this project. What you hear on
this record is his soul within these songs.
Jackie: Who are the musicians?
Eric: The other players are a part of the same guys
I have been recording with for many years. Sean
Michael Ray on bass, has been with me from day
one, and has played on 13 of my 14 albums. Lil’
John Roberts, who is widely recognized as one
of the premier drummers of our time, has played
with everyone from Miles Davis, to Janet Jackson,
to Jill Scott. Darrell Tibbs, from Huntsville,
played percussion, and has performed with Donna
Summers extensively, as well as Aaron Neville.
Kelley O’Neal, originally from Huntsville, is on
sax, and has performed with Brian McKnight,
Take 6, The Winans, and currently tours quite
a bit with The Temptations. The album was
recorded by Daniel Beard at his studio in Harvest,
Alabama. He also mixed the record.
Jackie: “Birmingham” has 10 tracks. I like the
current single, “Shuttlesworth Drive”, as well
as “Steel”, and “Imogene”. Please share with
us the special significance of “Imogene” and
“Shuttlesworth Drive”.
Eric: “Imogene” is my mother, and I wrote
this song for her shortly after she passed in
2004. I had been waiting for the right project
to use it on, and thought this album would be
perfect. “Shuttlesworth Drive” is dedicated to
the great civil rights pioneer, Reverence Fred
Shuttlesworth, who is often overshadowed in the
history books when talking about the Movement
in Birmingham, but he is a man of incredible
courage who did so much for the cause of equality
in the City of Birmingham. This song is just my
small way of saying thanks for what he did.
Jackie: Are you surprised at how well the album
is doing? Where is it available?
Jackie: On top of everything else, I’m happy to
say that you’re one of the headliners for Panoply
2009, taking place in Big Spring Park, right here
in Huntsville April 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2009.
There are two very special artists coming along
with you.
Eric: Yes, I’m coming with the legendary Phil
Perry and the incredible Joey Sommerville! I’m
very excited about that!
Jackie: Please tell us what we can look forward
to in May, with the Preserve Jazz Festival, in
Hoover, Alabama, which you’re very much
involved with.
Eric: Yes! The Preserve Jazz Festival is an
event I am the co-founder of, and this is our
third year. We have as our headliners the great
Jonathan Butler, Rick Braun, and Richard Elliot,
who are touring together as “Jazz Attack”. I’ll be
performing with my band, featuring Pieces Of A
Dream vocalist Tracy Hamlin, plus a whole lot
more great jazz music, on May 31st. You can go
to the event website at: www.preservejazz.com
to get the full line up, buy tickets, or get hotel
information. We expect it to be our best year yet!
Jackie: Are you working on anything else right
now?
Eric: I always have a project or two in some stage
of development. I am particularly excited about
a jazz event I’ll be performing at in Hungary, in
May, as part of a “Sister City” cultural exchange
program with the City of Birmingham. I have
never been there, and it should be an incredible
opportunity to share music with the people in that
country!
Jackie: Well, Eric, thanks so much for being a
part of The Jazz Lounge. It’s been informative.
Keep putting out that good music!
Eric: I will try my best!
continued support.
Thanks for your
Remember, you can check out Eric Essix’s websites
at:
www.ericessix.com; www.myspace.com/
ericessix; and www.essentialrecordings.com.
JAZZY TIDBITS:
#043009052009
Soon after moving to Huntsville, I got the
itch to get outside on the water. I found
canoeing advice on an outdated website and
set out to explore the Flint River. The river
runs through western Madison County, from
New Market near the Tennessee border to
its dump-out point in the Tennessee River,
upstream from Whitesburg Landing. Most
put-in and take-out points are within 30
minutes of downtown Huntsville, making
it a perfect local adventure. We loaded our
SUV with all the unnecessary crap you think
you need when you haven’t been outside in
too long, plus all the things we did need,
except the critical items, which we forgot to
bring. So we set out, over-packed and underprepared. Typical adventure when you have
two young kids and a desk job.
We drove north on Winchester Road,
turned left onto Oscar Patterson Road, and
proceeded to the first bridge over the river.
(Spoiler: the SECOND bridge is the correct
put-in.) We pulled off and bumped slowly
down to the riverbank and carefully parked
under the bridge. I got out and surveyed the
water. Across the stream, only 30 feet away,
sat a man and a boy in two camp chairs,
staring into a smoldering trash fire in a 5-lb
coffee can. It seemed they were camping out
of a 1980s Chevy conversion van, the type
with carpeted walls, driven by kidnappers in
After-School Specials. I waved; got a head
nod.
Then the unloading process. First the canoe,
which I wrestled to the bank. Then the
kids, then the bags of stuff which contained
enough sundries to get the Von Trapp family
across the Alps, but for which we had only
planned 4 hours of family fun. Then the
paddles, the life jackets, the sunscreen on
everyone, the bug spray, the stern talk about
doing exactly what Daddy says, when Daddy
says to do it. A mission brief. Then the
maps, the camelback full of water, the extra
water bottles, and the waterproof bag, to
keep things dry from all the water we were
bringing with us. We were obviously not
from around here, and so the man and the
boy across the river just watched in silence.
I loaded the kids into the canoe, ensuring
they were properly life jacketed and seated
criss-cross-applesauce (which is the new
way of saying Indian-style, in case you don’t
have preschoolers). My wife climbed in.
Truck – locked. Keys – check. Paddles in
position. Everybody ready. Still the man
and boy looked on, amused. A bit cock-eyed,
as I remember it.
Until next time, keep it cool, and keep it jazzy!
Finally, after all the fuss and attention
normally reserved for the maiden launch
of an aircraft carrier, we shoved off from
shore – glad to be back home in the South,
where waters ran free and the great outdoors
stretched on unfettered. No sooner had the
damned boat stopped rocking, than the boy in
the camp chair piped up. “You know there’s
a dam up ahead.” I couldn’t understand him,
because of the huge wad of tobacco he had in
his mouth. “What’s that?” I asked genially.
“You know there’s a dam up ahead.”
the man spoke: “Ya’ll goin’ be doin’ some
TOTIN’!” Ahh…the Oracle speaks. Thank
you, citizen! Just in time – we were almost
out of earshot. Any further down the river,
and we may not have heard your important
warning. Heaven forbid you tell us BEFORE
WE LAUNCHED. We apparently could
expect to do some toting. I said nothing.
I imagined returning to my truck that
afternoon to find all the windows smashed if
I shouted to him what I was thinking. It was
intentional. He had suckered me in. Virginia
plates had doomed us from the start.
Such clairvoyance; there WAS a dam ahead
and we did, in fact, do some Totin’. But only
after we explored several dead-end canals,
escaped a major incident with an enormous
spider, and after I inadvertently plunged
neck-deep into a putrid stand of stagnant
water and cow piss. It was an inauspicious
start to the day, but we finally cleared the
dam – via the prophesied totin’ - and things
improved remarkably.
The Flint River is swift in places, calm in
others, and lovely throughout. Wildlife
abounds, and an expedition on any part
of the Flint is a great way to explore a
river ecosystem very close to downtown
Huntsville.
Great for canoes and kayaks. Swimmable
waters, but often shallow enough for wading.
Some shady places for picnics. Mostly stony
bottom and rough banks. Put-In and TakeOut locations can be anywhere you find a
road or bridge crossing on the map, however
private property must be respected. Avoid
my mistakes with the below suggestions:
River Condition: http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/
ahps2/index.php?wfo=hun
General Information: www.flintriverconser
vation.org
Upper Flint Trip
Put-In: 34°52’46.77”N 86°28’52.01” W
(Next to Church)
Take-Out (3-5 hr trip): 34°49’21.36”N
86°28’59.97” W (Winchester Rd Bridge)
Take-Out (6-10 hr trip): 34°44’28.19”N
86°26’28.72” W (Hwy 72 Bridge)
Food Tip:
New Market Bar-BQ,
www.newmarketbbq.com.
From Oscar
Patterson Road, go North on Winchester Rd
2.6 mi. On left. Perfect hickory smoked dry
rub ribs and chicken. 5601 Winchester Road
NE, New Market. 256.379.5525
Lower Flint Trip
Put-In: 34°44’28.19”N 86°26’28.72” W
(Hwy 72 Bridge)
Take-Out: 34°41’47.03”N 86°25’20.06” W
(Little Cove Rd Bridge)
Time: 3.5 - 4 Hours (passable year-round)
Chickasaw Canoe Rentals: Rental & shuttle
service on Lower Flint Trip, though service
is TBD for 2009. Call ahead. 256.682.1561,
www.chickasawcanoerental.com.
Yes, of course I knew that, you little turd.
Why else would I spend half an hour loading
my entire family into a boat? “We’ll be
okay,” I offered, knowing my wife was
already formulating a series of objections
to continuing ahead. (It is strictly against my
code to turn around, especially in front of an
audience. It is etched into the man-code. I
could not have turned back if the kid had said
“black death up ahead.”) I had tried to sound
nonchalant about it. Then for the first time,
Eric: “Birmingham” is all about the people,
places, and experiences that have influenced me
in some way growing up in the city. It is a tribute
album in a way, because I have a great respect
for Birmingham’s role in history, and how it
Virginia plates doomed us from the start.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM).
Speaking of jazz appreciation, WJAB 90.9
FM’s “JAZZ-A-THON 2009” wraps up shortly
(April 25th – May 3rd). It’s the 18th year of this
annual fundraiser. You still have time to make
your pledge. This year’s theme is: “Affordable
And Uplifting Entertainment”. The goal is:
$99,909.18. For more information: (256) 3725938 or 1 (800) 845-9746.
Jackie:
What was the concept behind
“Birmingham”? Also, what more does it reveal to
us about Eric Essix the person and his music?
8
Get Lost: Canoe the Flint River
by D.S. Price
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
THE VALLEY PLANET
THE VALLEY PLANET
Ellen’s Creative Cakes
E
llen’s Creative Cakes is one of those
rare gems of a small business I just
haven’t seen enough of in Huntsville
(there’s always a Wal-Mart somewhere,
blocking my line of sight). It stands alone,
a small hut on Jordan Lane and Holmes
and Ellen Coleman is actually inside of it,
baking! Shocking, right? “I make elephants
fit in sardine cans,” she says. The space is
pretty small, but don’t let that fool you—the
quality of the stuff that comes out of that
kitchen well, it is tremendous—elephantine;
it is rich, ambrosial.
After sixteen jobs that just didn’t work out
and a car accident that really should have
killed her she adopted the philosophy that
every failure is an opportunity. “God puts
things in front of us for a reason… it becomes
our job to make it work,” she says. She jokes
and calls herself the “master failure, but I’m
just too damn stupid and stubborn to give
up.” She didn’t, and has been in business
here for eleven years.
She is a self-proclaimed Purist. Nothing in
the building is artificial or synthetic (they
even sieve those pesky seeds out of the
raspberries for the filling). Her children had
food allergies and so she is sensitive and
adept at catering to special dietary needs.
You can get gluten-free, fat-free, diabetic or
vegan cakes there—so nobody is left out in
the cold, cakeless and sad.
Her decorative cakes are beautiful and it
seems like there’s almost nothing she can’t
do. There is a picture of a deer cake she made
on the wall. “God made the antlers, though,”
she says. Consultations are free, and she
provides free samples, so you can taste (and
fall in love with) what you’re getting before
you get it. “The only things I won’t do,” she
says, “are mix lemon and chocolate, carrot
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
by Sarah Gorman
cake and chocolate and I will not willingly
violate the laws of chemistry or physics.”
Fair enough. There is a disclaimer on the
brochure she gives as a guide to the samples
that says, “we are not responsible for fights
over our cakes.” And there doesn’t have to
be a fight! Because each cake is designed by
you, you can please everyone’s taste buds.
She makes wedding cakes and mentioned
a particular one that had twelve different
choices for the guests, including one sugarfree. Grandma Jo and Aunt Patty didn’t have
to go cakeless at that wedding! “And there
were no fights,” says Ellen.
I liked the hummingbird cake the best, “we
caught hummingbirds all day yesterday,” she
joked. Really, it’s got banana, pineapple and
pecans in it. The Pecan cream cheese filling
was amazing and so was the ganache icing;
the Chambord butter cream, the black cherry
fruit filling with the almond pound cake and
almond butter cream— there were so many
choices and everything was so velvety and
rich. “I’m just a different world,” she says.
It’s true—a different and DELICIOUS
world. I asked her to pick her favorite and
she said, “that’s like asking me which is my
favorite hair follicle.”
For the next birthday, wedding, graduation—
or just for the next time you need a damn piece
of cake (we all have those days, and she sells
them by the slice for that very reason) stop
in and see Ellen. She “makes miracles work
for the desperate procrastinator” and makes
castles, ponies, adult cakes and everything
in between for those who like to plan ahead.
“And remember,” she says, “there are no
calories if you don’t swallow!”
Ellen’s Creative Cakes – 603 Jordan Lane
Huntsville, AL 35816 (256) 217-1517, call
for an appointment or just stop in!
9
Free Will
Astrology
by Rob Brezsny
For April 30 - May 20
Sometimes our best art is being.
medium.
Life is our
As the romantic poets Keats and Yeats
approached death, the former as a young man,
the latter as an aging man, both began to elevate
art over life, especially in their poems, “Ode on
a Grecian Urn” and “Sailing to Byzantium,”
respectively. Although some have supposed this
elevation to be a natural response to imminent
loss of life, I find such responses as superficial
as the created art within the poems.
Once in a Creative Writing graduate class, I
said that “if I had to choose whether or not to
have my father back for five minutes or to keep
my poetry-writing ability, I would give up my
poetry in a second flat. No thought required.”
The room was totally silent, mouths agape.
Here was someone whose whole life had been
built primarily around the writing of poetry,
proposing such an heretical, seemingly antivalue-of-poetry thought, an anti-Yeatsian “bird
of gold and gold enameling,” an anti-Keatsian
urn, where the lovers never kiss, but are “forever
fair.”
What some do not understand about my
philosophy is that life is always more important
than art--that art is a reflection of life and that
ultimately, we must always choose the endeavor
of life over the endeavor of poetry. It goes
without saying, of course, that without life, there
would be no art. But this is not my meaning.
I am for live birds that sing; for lovers who
kiss, no matter how old. Yet, we have all heard
a poem in a workshop or at a reading or in a
classroom, when a pervasive silence or moment
of reverence ensues--no one can even applaud.
We are stunned because the poet has captured
something on paper that has made us feel the
burst of a tiny inward nova, that has burned away
our breath. The poet has “captured” or, rather,
“laid a baby’s finger” on some infinitesimal part
of life we have walked around, unaware--at least
on a conscious level--or, until that moment,
it has remained unexpressed or unnamed, but
we recognize its significance at once and our
belonging to it as human beings.
However, we live and are poetry, all the time.
My father is poetry. My daughter. Charlotte
who barks at Larry, the mailman. As is Larry.
And the letters he faithfully carries. If we could
know this, we would be overcome with ecstasy
and would most likely die from the intensity.
Poetry is, in part, a realization of life, a tiny
moment that we have experienced; and, if we
convey it to the listener/reader with skill and
as much of our being as possible, the more it
freezes or melts the listeners’/readers’ tongues
“beyond words.” They can only sit, awed,
knowing anything they say in response will
sound trite or useless by comparison to what the
poet has achieved.
But--here is the paradox--words are not life;
words are not experience. They are one step
removed from it. They are simply the best the
poet can do. One moment of my father, chewing
(and spitting) his tobacco and poking around
with his old golf club in a trash heap, hoping
to find, perhaps, the Holy Grail (?), would be
worth all the poetry ever written. One moment
of anyone’s worst father in the world would
perhaps be worth all the poetry ever written. The
holes in our children’s winter mittens, the hill of
parrots in Peru, and the farm of crazy people,
running about and shrieking for help, are poetry.
The love of the meaning of things, places,
people inhabit our souls. And beyond that, it
is the mystery we try to capture on paper--just
the edge--the searing or the feather-like or the
misty or the corrugated edges or the one blink of
eternity--but never quite can. The unanswerable
the poet slides over, a skater on what feels like
thin ice, but is actually unbreakable images and
visions staring back from a deep white.
It is the human being who, at five, puts her face
against the ice and pretends to swim like a fish,
by doing the breast stroke; or the human being
who falls through the ice and cannot be rescued-these know the mystery, and more than all the
poets.
As a human being, I seek experience. To those I
leave behind, perhaps they will think I have tried
my best to capture bits of my “close-as-possibleto-pure experience” in poems, and can glean
something of life from those. Or not. I have
certainly not been able to stop writing poems.
But, I had rather they lay down my poems, seek
their own experiences of life while there is time,
and write their own poems--only if they wish-in their own precious time, to share with fellow
travelers. Maybe this is reason enough for art.
But give everything for one’s art? No. Give
everything for one’s life, and the art might come.
The art will come. And, if art seeks you out,
the art will certainly come! Or, consider this:
You ARE the art you seek, living life outside
the tower, unlike the Lady of Shalott who sees
life only dimly in the shadows of her mirror; or,
you SHINE the spirit of poetry, which is love
and hope for life--brighter and stronger even
than the arm of the Lady of the Lake which both
gives and takes back Excalibur.
I dedicate this essay to my Poetry-Writing class
at the University of Al, Huntsville, Spring 2009.
10
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
THE VALLEY PLANET
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “It is the greatest
of all mistakes to do nothing because you can
only do a little,” said the writer Sydney Smith.
While this is always good advice, it’s especially
apt for you right now. You’re in a phase when
giant leaps of faith are irrelevant, and fast,
massive accomplishments are impossible. This
is the season of incremental progress; a time
when painstaking attention to detail is your best
strategy. Inch by inch, Aries. Hour by hour.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): An engineering
company has plans to grow flowers on the moon.
Paragon Space Development intends to land
mustard seeds inside a small greenhouse dome
on the lunar surface by 2011. If all goes well,
they will bloom within two weeks, and, thanks
to the marvels of communications technology,
we earthlings will soon thereafter view one of
the most iconic photographs ever seen. Paragon
hopes the inspiring image of yellow blossoms
on the lunar landscape will incite a new wave
of space exploration. Take your cue from this
vignette, Taurus. Come up with a riveting new
personal symbol: some photo or image or object
that thrills your imagination and inspires you to
outdo all your previous efforts in pursuit of an
ambitious future goal.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “A Pain in the
Ash: Volcano Irritates Alaskans.” That was the
headline of a news story about how the people
of Anchorage, Alaska are dealing with the erratic
behavior of nearby Mount Redoubt. As of this
writing, the volcano hasn’t exploded yet, but
it keeps hinting that it might. Meanwhile, it
regularly burps clouds of ash that float around
and wreak a lot of inconvenience. “I would like
it to have a big boom and get it over with,” said
one native. In accordance with your astrological
omens, Gemini, let’s use this situation as a
metaphor for your life. The fact is, there’s no
sense in getting irritated or impatient with the
primal force in your vicinity. Doing so would
be a waste of your precious emotional energy.
Besides, cultivating calm equanimity is the best
way to acquire the grace you’ll need to respond
appropriately when the primal force does go
boom.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): If His Holiness
the Dalai Lama (like you, born under the sign of
the Crab) had a Twitter account, I bet that this
month he’d tweet something like this: “Nothing’s
permanent and we should never be attached to
anything, but wow! -- the goodness rising up now
may send ripples through eternity!” What he’d
mean is that while reality is always in continual
flux, and it’s wise not to cling obsessively to
either its pleasures or sadnesses, the powerfully
healing mojo that’s moving through Cancerians’
lives these days could have long-term positive
consequences.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): America’s Republican
Party has lost a lot of style points lately. Its
national committee chairman Michael Steele
even went so far as to say, “We need to uptick
our image with everyone, including one-armed
midgets.” Your reputation isn’t anywhere near
as in need of rehabilitation, Leo -- in part
because you don’t make references about onearmed midgets -- but it could still use some
work. Fortunately, the coming weeks will be
an excellent time, astrologically speaking, for
you to not only tidy up your stature, but also to
actually enhance your respectability and increase
your influence. Take advantage!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The coming weeks
would be an excellent time to devote extra care
and attention to your home-away-from-home
-- you know, the place that’s second-best at
making you feel like you truly belong here on
this earth. Enhance the ambiance in this alternate
power spot, Virgo. Add beauty to the decor. Let
the people who hang out there know how much
they mean to you. And if you don’t yet have such
a sanctuary, then I suggest you hunt one down.
You need to experience more of the pleasurable
stimulation that comes from going back and forth
THE VALLEY PLANET
between two different comfort zones.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You may not literally
have X-ray vision right now, but you certainly
have a metaphorical version of it. With a little
concentration, I bet you could peer beneath the
surface of anything you want to. My analysis
of the omens suggests that you have the power
to see hidden agendas, invisible frameworks,
and maneuverings that are unfolding behind the
scenes. Please keep in mind that not all of the
secret stuff is corrupt or insidious. Some of it is
quite beautiful, even elevating. Don’t push your
enhanced perceptiveness to search exclusively
for the worst in human nature.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): According to
the legends of the Scottish Highlanders, this is
the anniversary of the fallen angels’ expulsion
from paradise. That’s why, they said, it was so
crucial for humans to be well-behaved at this
time. To blindly indulge in sin and error would
set up a resonance with the malevolent exiles,
making oneself vulnerable to being preyed on
by them. While you and I can chuckle at this
quaint superstition, it does have a grain or truth
for you to meditate on. At this juncture in your
yearly cycle, you tend to be more receptive to
bad influences than usual. That’s why you should
do everything you can imagine to attract good
influences and cultivate experiences that give
you the feeling that this world is a paradise.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): An Arizona
woman was jogging in the woods when a fox ran
out of nowhere, leaped up, and clamped down
on her arm with its teeth. Unable to pry it loose,
the woman ran back to her car, which was a mile
away, with the fox hanging on. She drove herself
to the hospital, where doctors removed the
creature and treated her successfully. I imagine
that right about now you might feel a bit like she
did, Sagittarius: bustling along energetically, in
a state of alert, as some nagging vexation clings
to you parasitically. Now here’s the good news: I
predict that you will get rid of the pest, and will
ever thereafter enjoy an enhanced confidence in
your ability to function well under pressure.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Since it’s
the Capricornian season of romance, I thought
I’d give you some tips on how to thrive in the
mysterious, paradoxical, crazy-making game of
love. 1. Love shouldn’t be a lottery, so don’t
gamble on unlikely odds. 2. Love shouldn’t be a
power struggle, so try to purge any unconscious
yearnings you might have to control people
you care for. 3. Love can’t be a self-sustaining
perpetual motion machine, so I hope you work
on it at least as hard as you do at your job. 4.
Love isn’t an endless vacation in the promised
land, but neither is it a wrestling match with a
three-legged pit bull from hell, so don’t you dare
indulge in all-or-nothing fantasies.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The kitchen
table will be a power spot for you in the coming
weeks. Your own table will be a supreme vortex
for visionary brainstorming, but even those in
other households could be epicenters for brilliant
planning, crucial shifts in attitude, and increased
solidarity among allies. To encourage eruptions
of creative behavior, make sure the tables are
nice and clean. Try to have good food and drink
on hand. I also suggest you keep at least one
notebook and pen lying around.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In April I was
grateful whenever you obeyed all the signs,
stuck to the beaten paths, worked a little harder
than usual, and averted your eyes from the
places where “interesting” bursts of chaos were
unfolding. In May I’d appreciate it if you did
pretty much the opposite: Question authority
rigorously, wander off into less-traveled
regions, play harder than usual, and tune in to
commotions that could be productive learning
experiences. In the past month, Pisces, I was
hopeful that you’d pay your debts to society
before society’s collection agency started making
harassing calls. In the coming month, I invite you
to ask everyone to do you extra favors.
Homework: What’s the best thing you could give
right now to the person you care for the most?
Testify at FreeWillAstrology.com.
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
11
The Valley’s Most Complete
MUSICCALENDAR
Thursday
April30
Bandito Burrito (South Pkwy),
Dave Anderson (6-9) Tim Tucker (9-12)
Benchwarmer, Karaoke
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Robert Keele
Boondock’s (Guntersville), Karaoke
Club Ozz, Karaoke w/ Brandon
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13), Hurt
El Dorado Mex Grill, Raul Mejia
Finnegan’s Pub, Slip Jig
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Chad Reeves
Halftime Bar and Grill, Karaoke w/Jimbo
Hog Wild II, Karaoke w/ David (8pm-1am)
Hooters, Bike Night w/ Hot Rod Otis
Hopper’s, DJ Justin (8-12)
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Pla’ Station
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Dave Anderson
Lee Ann’s, Jason Albert Band
Mac’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse, Open Mic Night
Maria Bonita Grill and Cantina (Decatur),
Karaoke with JD Pollard
Olivia’s Sports Bar and Grill, Karaoke (9pm)
Partner’s (See ad pg.15), Karaoke w/DJ Sweet T
Philby’s Pourhouse, Ant and Andrew
Sandy’s Roadhouse (Guntersville), Karaoke
Sportspage (See ad pg.10), 5ive O’Clock Charlie
The Brick (Decatur), Blagburn
The Docks (Scottsboro), Trey
The Station, Dusty French (Acoustic)
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill,
Open Mic Night w/Ben Trussell
Friday
May1
11th Frame Bar, Karaoke
801 Franklin (See ad pg. 24),
Christina Lynn and Chuck Rutenburg
Bandito Burrito (South Pkwy), Lisa Busler
Benchwarmer, Live Music
Billy’s Sports Bar (Hazel Green),
Karaoke w/ Larry (9pm-close)
Black Water Hattie’s, Trial By Jury
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Straight Forward
Boondock’s (Guntersville), Triple X
Cafe 113 (Decatur), Tim Tucker
Carson’s, Live Music
Casa Montego, Reggae & More with DJ Roger
Club Ozz, Divas of Illusion w/DJ Shell
Coffeetree Books & Brew (See ad pg. 5),
James Smith and the Traditional Music Association
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13), 1st Fridays
El Herradura, Edgar
Elk’s Lodge, Marge Loveday (7pm)
Furniture Factory, South Street
Geno’s Pub (Decatur), Karaoke
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Rodeo Truckers
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Juice
Hog Wild II, Bonafied
Hopper’s, Peter and the Wolf (8:30)
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Crush
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Live Music
Lee Ann’s, Full Circle
Lisa’s Lounge, Karaoke w/Jimbo (8pm-1:30am)
Mac’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse, DJ Chris Slaton
Maria Bonita Grill and Cantina (Decatur), Aclarion
Moody Monday’s, Karaoke
Partner’s (See ad pg.15),
Cabaret Show Girls Dance w/ Dj Sweet T (10:30pm)
Philby’s Pourhouse, Live Music
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Ben Trussell Band
The Brick (Decatur), Tuco’s Pistol
The Docks (Scottsboro), Live Music
The Horse, Karaoke w/ Super Dave (8pm-1:30am)
The Station, Radio Tremors
Counterclock Wise w/ South French Broads
Saturday
May2
801 Franklin (See ad pg. 24), Pete and Noel
Benchwarmer, Down Home Fire
Benchwarmer Too, DJ
Black Water Hattie’s, Ricky Carden
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Radio Tremors
Boondock’s (Guntersville), The Travis Posey Trio
Cazadeores, Live Music
Open Mic Night (7pm)
Coppertop (See ad pg. 14), The Vicious Circle
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13),
Bishop Black and The Hypsies
Elk’s Lodge,
Dos De Mayo Party on the Patio w/ Live Music
Finnegan’s Pub, Dave Merriman
Furniture Factory, Rob Aldridge
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Stop the Car
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Chad Bradford
Hog Wild II, Bonafied
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Old Union
Indigo Joe’s, Karaoke
Lee Ann’s, 4 Door Ramblers
Mac’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse, Left Hand Luckies
Maria Bonita Grill and Cantina (Decatur), Live Music
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#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
THE VALLEY PLANET
THE VALLEY PLANET
Hard Candy Dance Party w/ Mr. Charlie Brown
Sammy T’s Music Hall,
David Allen Coe w/ Special Guest Blackberry Smoke (8pm)
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10),
Angry Native, Bridges Burn, and Vertigo
The Brick (Decatur), 5ive O’Clock Charlie
The Docks (Scottsboro), Ben Trussell Trio
The Station, Live Music
UG Whites/LuVici’s (Athens), Barry Kay (5:30-7:30)
Sunday
May3
Black Water Hattie’s, Green Room
Casa Montego, Live Jazz featuring Devere Pride Trio and
Friends (7-10:30)
Club Ozz, DJ Matt Play
Flying Monkey Arts Center, Rolling Jazz Revue (7pm, $5)
Hopper’s,
Ricky Fargo (Brunch, 11-2)/Karaoke with Lee Kearns (8-12)
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Sunday Blues Jam hosted by
Freddy Earl and the Blues Mercenaries
Partner’s (See Ad pg.15), Karaoke
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Live Music
Monday
May4
Christian James and the Coyotes
Black Water Hattie’s, Karaoke w/ Howie
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Karaoke w/DJ Jeff
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill,
Open Mic Night w/ Ant and Andrew
Kaffeeklatsch @Night,
Acoustic Open Mic hosted by Greg Rowell
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Dave Anderson
Tuesday
May5
Bandito Burrito (South Pkwy), Marge (8-12)
Blue Parrot (Guntersville),
Bike Night w/ Mike and Katherine
Coppertop (See ad pg. 14), HDK Karaoke with Howie
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Wild Ride
Hopper’s, Karaoke with Lee Kearns (8-12)
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Tyler Reeve Band
Lee Ann’s, Rudy Mockabee
Mac’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse, Karaoke w/Doc Rock
Karaoke w/Contest hosted by DJ Sweet T
Philby’s Pourhouse, Chad Reeves
Sandy’s Roadhouse (Guntersville), Karaoke Contest
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Jonathan Carter
The Brick (Decatur), “FLOW” Christian Fellowship (8pm)
Cinco de Mayo w/ Dave Anderson
Wednesday
May6
3rd Base Grill, David Anderson 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Microwave Dave, solo (6-9)
Top Tunes Karaoke w/ Brandon (8pm-12)
Black Water Hattie’s, Open Mic w/ Opie
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Live Music
Cazadeores, Open Mic Hosted by Scott Morgan
Songwriter’s Jam (7pm)
Furniture Factory, Tim Tucker
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Karaoke w/Louis
Hopper’s, Lil’ Ed (8-12)
Cedric Burnside & Lightin’ Malcolm
Lee Ann’s, Johnny Collier
Lisa’s Lounge,
Karaoke w/Jimbo (7pm)/TalentQuest Contest (8pm)
College Night Dance w/ DJ Sweet T
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Pla’ Station
The Brick (Decatur), Pat and his Peeps
The Station, Live Music
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, James Irvin
Thursday
May7
Dave Anderson (6-9) and Tim Tucker (9-12)
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Kevin and Kyle
Halftime Bar and Grill, Karaoke w/Larry
Hog Wild II, Stacy Mitchhart
Hooters, Bike Night w/ JD and the Badboys
ContinuedonPage14
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
13
MUSIC
ContinuedfromPage13
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, The Flatwoods
Lee Ann’s, Crush
Partner’s (See ad pg.15), Karaoke
Philby’s Pourhouse, Rob Aldridge
Sammy T’s Music Hall, Lady’s Night w/ DJ Keibot (9pm)
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), 5 O’Clock Charlie
The Brick (Decatur), 8 Years Later
The Nook, Microwave Dave (6-9)
Monday
May11
Friday
May8
Bike Night w/ Sandy Lynn Lane
Flying Monkey Arts Center,
The Hive Dwellers (featuring Calvin Johnson), Pine Hill
Haints, Chain and the Gang (8pm, $6)
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), MayDay
Cristina Lynn and Chuck Rutenberg
801 Franklin (See ad pg. 24), Kim and Donnie
Bandito Burrito (South Pkwy), Silver Streak
Black Water Hattie’s, The Breakers
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Travis Posey Band
Boondock’s (Guntersville), The Radio Tremors
Jerry and Earl Two Old Men and Some Songs
El Herradura, Edgar
Furniture Factory, Big Stick
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Proton Joe
Hog Wild II, Southern Express
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Microwave Dave and The Nukes!
Lee Ann’s, Ben Trussell Band
Mac’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse, Live Music
Maria Bonita Grill and Cantina (Decatur), Live Music
Cabaret Show Girls Special Guest Jordan Kennedy and
Dance w/ Dj Sweet T (10:30pm)
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Fiddleworms
The Brick (Decatur), Tim Tucker All-Star Jam
The Docks (Scottsboro), Rob Aldridge
The Station, Blackeyed Susan
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, The Reddletters
Saturday
May9
801 Franklin (See ad pg. 24), Humbolt
Benchwarmer, Stiff
Benchwarmer Too, DJ
Black Water Hattie’s, Shawna P and Friends
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Calico Crow
Boondock’s (Guntersville), C.O. Jones
Coppertop (See ad pg. 14), Local Orbit
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13), Jimmy Herring Band
Elk’s Lodge, Fiesta on the Patio w/ Boogafunk (7pm)
Flying Monkey Arts Center, Good Day (noon-6pm, $5)
Furniture Factory, Cliff Darby
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Two Days Gone
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Full Circle
Hog Wild II, Southern Express
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Kozmic Mama
Lee Ann’s, Hot Mixx
Mac’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse,
The Damn Band featuring Trey Morgan
Handshake Promise
Partner’s (See ad pg.15), Pride of Kings Show
Sammy T’s Music Hall, The Molly Ringwalds (9pm)
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), The Uglistick
The Brick (Decatur), Wild Ride
The Docks (Scottsboro), Tyler Cooper and Andrew Pope
The Station, Black Label
Sunday
May10
Black Water Hattie’s, Hot Rod Otis
Casa Montego,
Live Jazz featuring Devere Pride Trio and Friends (7-10:30)
Hopper’s,
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#043009052009
Sportspage (See ad pg.10), Live Music
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Karaoke
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), David Anderson
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, Tim Tucker
Tuesday
May12
Wednesday
May13
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Robert Keele
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Karaoke
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Shane Dwight
Lisa’s Lounge,
The Brick (Decatur), George and Friends
The Station, Susan’s Crush
Thursday
May14
Bandito Burrito (South Pkwy), Dave Anderson (6-9) and
Tim Tucker (9-12)
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Polar Opposites
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13), Noise Organization
Lesser S, Arbitrary, Kick Back Cash, Admission (8pm, $5)
Halftime Bar and Grill, Karaoke w/Jimbo
Hooters, Bike Night w/ Fat Mama
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Simplified
Philby’s Pourhouse, Ant and Andrew
The Brick (Decatur), Live Music
The Nook, Microwave Dave (6-9)
Friday
May15
801 Franklin (See ad pg. 24), Bruce Lyon
Bandito Burrito (South Pkwy), Shametown
Black Water Hattie’s, Lance Almon Smith
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Allyway
Boondock’s (Guntersville), The Red Marlow Band
ContinuedonPage15
THE VALLEY PLANET
MUSIC
ContinuedfromPage14
Randy Duck’s Salute to Police Officers, Fallen and Serving
(7pm)
Rehab with Soul Stash and Almost Kings
El Herradura, Edgar
Elk’s Lodge,
Scottie R. and Tommy Tingle (from Boogafunk)
Jimmy Henderson, Admission (7:30pm, $5)
Furniture Factory, The Scratch Band
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Group 6
Hog Wild II, Calico Crow
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Full Circle
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Don Osborne Trio
Lee Ann’s, Room 240
Maria Bonita Grill and Cantina (Decatur), Crush
Cabaret Show Girls Special Guest Nichole Ellington
Dupree and Dance w/ Dj Sweet T (10:30pm)
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Tin Penny
The Brick (Decatur), The Crawlers
The Station, Proton Joe
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, Ben Trussell Trio
Saturday
May16
801 Franklin (See ad pg. 24), Carson Duvall
Benchwarmer Too, Salsa Party w/DJ
Black Water Hattie’s, Rob and Chris
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Hot Rod Otis
Boondock’s (Guntersville), Ricky Carden
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit with Red Cortez
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Stop the Car
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Booty Shakers
Hog Wild II, Calico Crow
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Bryan Turner
Southern Hauler
Helen High Water Good Time Band
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Black Label
The Brick (Decatur), Gary Nichols Band
The Docks (Scottsboro), The Ben Trussell Trio
The Station, Sons of Sanchez
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, Cashman
Sunday
May17
Black Water Hattie’s, Bob Walters Banned
Casa Montego, Live Jazz featuring Devere Pride Trio and
Friends (7-10:30)
Hopper’s,
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Jason Albert Band
Karaoke w/ DJ Brandon Mac
Monday
May18
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Karaoke w/DJ Jeff
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), David Anderson
Reno Roberts (from Electric Voodoo)
THE VALLEY PLANET
Tuesday
May19
Bike Night w/ Mike and Catherine
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Wild Ride
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Backwater Acoustic
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, Dave Anderson
Wednesday
May20
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Karaoke w/Louis
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Mike Zito
Lee Ann’s, Susan’s Crush
Lisa’s Lounge,
The Brick (Decatur), Shawna P
Thursday
May21
Dave Anderson (6-9) and Tim Tucker (9-12)
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13), Bloodkin
Furniture Factory, Chuck and Christina
Halftime Bar and Grill, Karaoke w/Larry
Hooters, Bike Night w/ The Breakers
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Marge at Large
Lee Ann’s, Crush
Philby’s Pourhouse, Rob Aldridge
The Brick (Decatur), Jason Speegle
The Nook, Larry Woellhart (6-9)
Friday
May22
800 Franklin (See ad pg. 24), Pete and Rush
Bandito Burrito (South Pkwy), Ben Trussell
Black Water Hattie’s, Big Daddy Kingfish
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), Bonafied
Boondock’s (Guntersville), The Travis Posey Trio
The Mohr 4 (Celtic Fiddlers)
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13), Wrong Way
El Herradura, Edgar
Elk’s Lodge, Keroeke (7pm)
Christabel & The Jons, Miss Tess
Furniture Factory, 65 South
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Live Music
Hog Wild II, Backwater
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, FreeWorld
Lee Ann’s, Christian Bradley
Mac’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse, DJ Chris Slaton
Sound of Silence
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VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
15
MUSIC
ContinuedfromPage15
Partner’s (See ad pg.15), Cabaret Show Girls Dance w/ Dj
Sweet T (10:30pm)
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), Full Circle
The Brick (Decatur), Cheesebrokers
The Station, Kosmic Mama
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, The Crackerjacks
Saturday
May23
801 Franklin (See ad pg. 24), Jim Cavender
Benchwarmer Too, DJ
Black Water Hattie’s, Reno Roberts
Blue Parrot (Guntersville), StraightForward
Boondock’s (Guntersville), 5ive O’Clock Charlie
Club Ozz, Male Strippers
Coppertop (See ad pg. 14), Live Music
Crossroads (See ad pg. 13), Nappy Roots
Glass’s Cocktails and Grill (Decatur), Two Days Gone
Calendar of
EVENTS
April 30-May 3
The theatre department at Northeast Alabama Community
College is presenting Miss Saigon. The show will be presented
at the Tom Bevill Lyceum on the campus of Northeast Alabama
Community College in Rainsville. The Wednesday-Saturday
evening performances will begin at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and
Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are only $5.00 a ticket
for a fantastic performance! For more information about this contact
us at (256) 638-4418, ext. 218 or visit the website at www.nacc.edu/
nacctheatre.
April 30- May 5
WJAB 90.9 FM, the Home of Smooth Jazz & Cool Vocals, will be
having a major annual event. The 2009 WJAB Jazz-A-Thon will
run from April 25th – May 5th, 2009. WJAB main format is jazz, with
some blues and gospel. It’s the chance to pick up a phone and make
a pledge for the continued support of jazz. For more information
contact (256) 372-5722. (See Ad pg.13)
April 30
The Huntsville Art League will host artist, Leslie Wood. She will be
teaching how to give non-metallic items the look of silver and rusted
iron, as you create a special angel or jewelry and much more. The
class is from 6-9:30pm. For more information go to
www.huntsvilleartleague.org or call 256-534-3860.
The Whole Backstage Theatre announces the 2009 Take the
Stage Talent Competition. This event is intended to draw from
performers of all kinds from Alabama and surrounding states. The
talent competition will take place in June at the Whole Backstage
Theatre, with preliminary rounds on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
June 4, 5, and 6, with the final competition round on Sunday, June
7. Applicants for the contest have until Saturday, May 9th (which
has been extended) to submit their audition materials. For more
information go to wholebackstage.com or call 582-SHOW.
The Decatur Civic Chorus presents Songs of Alabama -The Pops
Concert at 7:30 pm at the Princess Theatre in downtown Decatur.
Featuring songs written by native Alabama songwriters and songs
about Alabama. Special guests are the Hartselle High Performers
and Ensemble Singers. The tickets are $15 and 12/under are $10
with reserved seating. For more information contact by email
eahobbs@charter.net or phone (256) 350-6887.
April 30-May 2
The Renaissance Theatre presents, Arsenic and Old Lace, directed
by Tony Argo, The performance will be at 8pm on the Main Stage.
All seats are $14.00on the Main Stage at 1214 Meridian Street,
Huntsville. For more information call256-536-3117.
Friday, May 1
The Bag Ladies Luncheon will be at The Carnegie Visual Arts
Center at 207 Church Street, Decatur. Contact Kathryn Silvestri at
256-341-0562 for more information, or go to www.carnegiearts.org.
The Von Braun Civic Center Playhouse presents Jim Parker’s
Songwriters Showcase with, Clair Lynch, Jim Hurst, Janet
McLaughlin and opener Bill DiLuigi. The event begins at 6:30pm. For
more information go to www.JimParkerMusic.com.
The Huntsville Art League announces a class taught by Dr. Frances
Church it will be teaching sculpture with free and inexpensive
materials. The class will be from 4-5:30pm. For more information
contact www.huntsvilleartleague.org or call 256-534-3860.
The Lowe Mill will have Friday Night on the Back Dock with
Microwave Dave, playing his blues from 6 -9 pm. There is no charge
for this event, but donations are appreciated. Adults are welcome to
bring their own cooler. The Lowe Mill is located at 2211 Seminole
Drive, Huntsville. For more information go to www.lowemill.net.
May 1 – 2
Relay for Life of Huntsville Metro, themed “Huntsville Metro
500…Racing to Find a Cure,” will be held from 7p.m. - 7a.m. at John
Hunt Park. For more information on this event or to find out how to
form a team, call 1-800-ACS-2345.
Butler High School presents The Wiz, The Wizard of Oz meets soul
in this musical retelling of Dorothy’s story. The performance times
are Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm and 7pm. The tickets are $8
students/seniors $10 for adults. Call 428-7953 or purchase tickets
online go to www.butlertheatre.org.
The Backstage Theatre Company presents the musical Opal. It is
based on the true story of Opal Whitely, Opal chronicles the life of
a young orphaned girl growing up in an Oregon lumber camp in
1907. The performance will be Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 2:
00pm and 7:30pm. The admission price is $10 for adults and $8 for
students/seniors. Please contact 256-309-0041 or go to backstageth
eatreco@gmail.com for more information.
16
Hard Dock Café (Decatur), Hot Rod Otis
Hog Wild II, Backwater
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Dikki Du and The Zydeco Krewe
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Toy Shop
Lee Ann’s, Hot Mixx
Maria Bonita Grill and Cantina (Decatur), 46 Hush
Karaoke, Dixie Derby Girl After Party
Sportspage (See ad pg. 10), The Abrahams and
Lauderdale
The Brick (Decatur), C.O. Jones
The Station, Outshined
Voodoo Lounge Bar and Grill, The Rooster Blues
Sunday
May24
Black Water Hattie’s, South Street
Casa Montego,
Live Jazz featuring Devere Pride Trio and Friends (7-10:30)
Sportspage (See ad pg. ), Cash
Karaoke w/DJ Brandon Mac
Hooters, Bike Night w/ Hot Rod Otis
The End
The Whistlestop Festival and Rocket City BBQ will be at the
Historic Huntsville Depot in downtown Huntsville. This year’s
entertainment will be provided by the Charlie Daniels Band. The
BBQ event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and
includes a BBQ competition, music, food and beverages. Proceeds
from the event benefit EarlyWorks Star Program which provides
field trips for underserved school children. The event begins Friday
from 4pm-11pm and Saturday 10am-11pm. The presale weekend
admission charge is $16.50, and at the gate weekend passes are $25.
For more information contact www.rocketcitybbq.com.
(See ad pg.19)
May 1-3
The Whole Backstage Theatre presents The Skin of our Teeth, a
Pulitzer prize winning play by Thorton Wilder. The play will be at
1120 Rayburn Drive in Guntersville. Contact 256 582-7469 for more
information or go to www.wholebackstage.com
The BroadWay Theatre League presents Happy Days-A New
Musical. Return to 1959 Milwaukee where Arnold’s, the local malt
shop & high school hangout, is in danger of being demolished. The
event times are Friday at 8pm, Saturday, 2pm and 8pm and Sunday
2pm and 7pm. It will be at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall. For
more information contact 256-518-6155.
The Huntsville Dragway will have an All Harley Drags and
Extravaganza. It will begin Friday, at 6pm, Saturday at 4:30 and
Sunday noon until 5pm. There is an admission charge for this event.
Directions to the Dragway are 502 Quarter Mountain Road, off
Jordan Lane. Contact 256-859-0807 for more information or go to
www.huntsvilledragway.com.
May 2
Sci-Quest is having a Community Free Day at Sci-Quest. To thank
the community for its continued support, Sci-Quest will be hosting
its Community Free Day from 10am-6pm. All visitors will receive free
admission to the museum and enjoy a day of family fun with exhibits,
programs, and a hands-on environment that has made Sci-Quest one
of the most popular attractions in Huntsville. For more information
visit www.sci-quest.org or call 837-0606.
Holmes Street Storytelling and Bluegrass Festival will take place at
7pm at 501 Holmes Street, Founder’s Hall at Holmes Street United
Methodist Church. The featured performers are Bruce Walker and
Buck P Creacy and storytellers are James Smith and the Walker Street
Opry (Bluegrass). If you would like more information about this event
or schedule an interview with Bruce Walker, please call 256.658.1735
bruce@BruceStoryteller.com
The Von Braun Astronomical Society will host a Constellation
Mythology at the Planetarium at 7:30 pm. There will be telescope
observing after the show when weather permits. The admission
is $5 adults and $3 for students and members are free. Go to for
www.vbas.com more information.
Free Comic Book Day is coming to the Huntsville area! Comics
for allages (including some major titles) will be given out while
supplieslast at participating shops: The DeepCollectibles at 2312
S. MemorialParkway, Suite A, and Haven Comics at 1871 South
Slaughter Road, behind Heritage Florist & Gifts. There will be free
Munchkin promotional items available. Games will run from 11am1pm at The Deep Collectiblesand at 2pm -4pm at Haven Comics.
RegionalConcerts
ATLANTA
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow
Bridge.
Give yourself permission to grieve.
When an animal dies that has been especially
close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow
Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our
special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and
our friends are warm and comfortable.
Rest, relax, exercise.
All the animals who had been ill and old are
restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt
or maimed are made whole and strong again, just
as we remember them in our dreams of days and
times gone by. The animals are happy and content,
except for one small thing; they each miss someone
very special to them, who had to be left behind.
Acknowledge your feelings.
They all run and play together, but the day comes
when one suddenly stops and looks into the
distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager
body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from
the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your
special friend finally meet, you cling together in
joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The
happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands
again caress the beloved head, and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long
gone from your life but never absent from your
heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown
Rainbowbridge.com
If you have lost a pet or are faced with a
pre-euthanasia decision, volunteers from the
Huntsville/Madison Pet Loss Support Group are
here to help.
The mission of their group is “to provide people
who are struggling with the death of a beloved
companion animal with somewhere to turn to for
support; to educate the general public about the
depth and importance of the human/companion
animal bond and the grief process; and to help
establish other similar support groups.”
Huntsville/Madison Pet Loss Support Group is
made up of caring volunteers who have been
where you have been. They offer confidential
telephone and email support, monthly group
support meetings, specialized counseling referrals,
and resource materials.
Common signs of grief include crying, shock,
anger, disbelief, guilt, fatigue, denial, depression,
blaming, confusion, and trouble sleeping and
eating.
Surround yourself
understand.
with
people
who
Educate yourself about the grief process.
Allow yourself small pleasures—be kind to
yourself.
BIRMINGHAM
May 5, Death Cab for Cutie with Matt Costa
and Ra Ra Riot, BJCC Concert Hall
June 29, Steely Dan, NIA Academy
Be patient with yourself—don’t expect that
your feelings of loss will be gone overnight.
Give yourself permission to backslide—you
may still have days where the pain sneaks up
on you and you are in tears again. It’s okay
to cry.
Seek professional assistance if necessary.
Get in touch with your higher power.
If you are interested in researching and reading
more about coping with losing a pet, the
Huntsville/Madison Pet Loss Support Group
recommends—amongst others—the following
books and Web sites for both adults and children:
When Only the Love Remains: The Pain of Pet
Loss (Stuparyk)
When Your Pet Dies—How to Cope With Your
Feelings (Quackenbush & Graveline)
Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet
(Anderson)
The Final Farewell: Preparing for and Mourning
the Loss of Your Pet (Tousley)
Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates (Kurz)
www.griefhealing.com
www.petloss.com
www.chancesspot.org/publications.htm
The group is currently holding two meetings per
month—the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at
the Greater Huntsville Humane Society (GHHS)
at 2812 Johnson Road, and the fourth Tuesday of
each month at 7 pm at City Hall in Madison.
If you need assistance, or would like to volunteer
to help others cope with their grief, contact Jamie
Clay at clayj@uah.edu or (256) 883-0393, or
contact the GHHS at (256) 881-8081.
This article is dedicated to the families of Gloria,
Ivy and Daisy.
Please send your comments and ideas to
writers@valleyplanet.com
The following is a list of some coping suggestions
they offer:
Listings
Pubs&Taverns
&Clubs&Bars
The Scottsboro-Word Airport will host the 5th Scottsboro Fly-In
and Air Show from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Aircraft exhibits include P-51
WWII fighter and L-39 jet. Rides in an open cockpit biplane will be
available. Drawings held for free kids flights. Admission is free. For
more information call 256-574-2808 or Jackson County Tourism
256-259-5500.
HOG WILD SALOON
2407 Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-533-7446
HOMEPORT
20076 N. Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-852-8800
HOPPER’S
5903 University Drive, 256-830-0600
HUMPHREY’S BAR & GRILL
109 Washington Square, Huntsville, 256-704-5555.
801 FRANKLIN
801 Franklin Street, Huntsville, 256-519-8019.
KICKERS
8716 Madison Blvd, Madison, 256-772-0701
ALLEN’S GRILLE & GROG
9076 Madison Blvd, Madison, 256-772-8514.
LEEANN’S
415 Church St, Huntsville, 256-489-9300
THE BARN
2510 Ready Section Road, Toney
LISA’S LOUNGE
2313 N. Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-534-9520
B.B. PERRINS SPORTS GRILLE
608 Holly St. NE, Decatur, 256-355-1045
MAC’S SPORTSBAR AND STEAKHOUSE
1733 S. Jefferson Street, Athens. 256-232-6161
BENCHWARMER FOOD & SPIRITS
2998 University Drive, Huntsville 256-539-6268.
MASON’S PUB
115 Clinton Ave., Huntsville 256-704-5575
BENCHWARMER, TOO!
3000 University Drive, Huntsville, 256-489-9600.
MOODY MONDAYS
718 Church St, Huntsville, 256-533-4005
BLACK WATER HATTIE’S
10000 S. Memorial Pkwy. 256-489-3333.
MOONDOGS
2002 13th St. SW, Huntsville, 256-534-8844
BLUE PARROT MARTINI & CIGAR LOUNGE
7001 Val-Monte Drive, Guntersville, 256-582-0930.
NETWORKS LOUNGE
2140 Gunter Ave., Guntersville
BOGEY’S
412 Main St. Guntersville, 256-582-2860
THE NOOK
3305 Bob Wallace Ave. 256-489-0911
BOOMERS
125 Albert Mann Rd., New Hope, 256-723-3029
OLIVIA’S
1009 Henderson Rd, Huntsville, 256-837-4728
BOONDOCKS
Hwy 69, Guntersville, 256-582-3935
OTTER’S
5 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, 256-830-2222.
BUFFALOS CAFE
8020 Madison Blvd., Huntsville, 256-772-4477
PARTNERS
627 Meridian St. , Huntsville, 256-539-0975
CACTUS JACKS
1117 Jordan Ln, Huntsville, 256-721-6384
PHILBY’S POURHOUSE
111 Jefferson Street, Huntsville, 256-512-5858.
CAHOOTS
114 WestMarket Street, Fayetteville, 931 433-1173
PORT OF MADISON
9035 Hwy 20 W, Madison, 256-772-7170
CASA MONTEGO
Jonathan Dr, Huntsville, 256-858-9187 or 714-0155
CD’S PUB AND GRILL
107 Arlington Dr, Madison, 256-773-4477
CHARLOTTE’S PLACE
1117 Jordan Ln. wHuntsville, AL 35816
CHIPS & SALSA CANTINA
10300 Bailey Cove Rd SE Huntsville, 256-880-1202.
ROSEBERRY PUB & GRILL
Hwy 67 Scottsboro, 256-574-4231
RUGGBY’S
RUSS T’S
Hwy 79, Scottsboro, 256-259-0641
SAMMY T’S MUSIC HALL
116 Washington Street, 256-539-9974.
SANDY’S ROADHOUSE
12740 Hwy. 431 S, Guntersville, 256-571-0450.
CLUB OZZ
1204 Posey St. NW, Huntsville, 256-534-5970
SCOOTER’S
Willow St, Scottsboro, 256-575-0800
COPPER TOP BAR & GRILL
200 Q Oakwood Ave., Huntsville, 256-536-1150
THE SHACK
105 Swancott Road, Triana 256-461-0227.
CRICKETS
3810 Sullivan St., Madison, 256-464-3777
SPORTS PAGE LOUNGE & DELI
9009 Memorial Pkwy S, Huntsville, 256-880-9471.
CROSSROADS, THE
115 Clinton Ave, Huntsville, 256-533-3393.
SPORTS ZONE
3429 Hwy 31, Decatur, 256-350-9702
FOCUS BAR & GRILL
2020 Country Club Ave., Huntsville, 256-534-4441
FURNITURE FACTORY BAR & GRILL
619 Meridian Street N, Huntsville, 256-539-8001.
GENO’S PUB
1015 6th Ave. SE, Decatur, 256-355-9998
THE GREEN ROOM
Jordan Lane, Huntsville,256-837-2232
HARD DOCK CAFE
3755 U.S. Hwy. 31, Decatur, 256-340-9234
THE VALLEY PLANET
May 4, Death Cab for Cutie with Matt Costa
and Ra Ra Riot, Ryman Audorium
May 13, James Taylor, Andrew Jackson Hall at TN
Performing Arts Center
May 16, Elton John and Billy Joel, Sommet
Center
June 6, Coldplay, Sommet Center
June 11-14, CMA Music Festival, LP Field (Fan
Fair)
June 11-14, CMA Music Festival, L P Field
June 14, George Jones, Ryman Auditorium
KAFFEEKLATSCH @NIGHT
FINNEGAN’S PUB
3310 Memorial Pkwy S, Huntsville, 256-881-9732
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
NASHVILLE
3rd BASE GRILL (2 locations)
1792 Hyw 72 E, Huntsville, 256-852-9191
7904 S. Memorial Parkway 256-882-9500
HALF TIME BAR AND GRILL
8873 Highway 72 W, Madison, 256-430-0266
#043009052009
June 12, Keith Urban with Sugarland, FedEx
Forum
June 18, Doobie Brothers, Memphis Botanical
Gardens
JESTERS
373 Gunter Ave., Guntersville, 256-293-4307
ESQUIRE CLUB
3701 Governors Dr., Huntsville, 256-534-7303
ContinuedonPage18
MEMPHIS
2nd STREET MUSIC HALL
208 2nd Street, Gadsden 256-547-0010
END ZONE, THE
Rag Tag Recycle Day with Christmas Charities Year Round will be
from 8 am to noon. Join us for a little spring cleaning with Christmas
Charities and Operation Green Team for our Rag Tag Recycling Day.
Christmas Charities will be accepting all clothes and rags in any
condition to put to good use. Bag it up and drop it off from 8 a.m.
to noon, at the Christmas Charities Year Round facilities, 2840 Jordan
Lane. For more information call 837.2373.
May 2, Charlie Daniels Band, Whistlestop
Festival
May 14, Rain-The Beatles Experience, Von
Braun Center Concert Hall
May 13, Gordon Lightfoot, Von Braun Center
Concert Hall
May 16, Sugarland, Redstone Arsenal
May 30, Keith Urban, Von Braun Center Arena
INDIGO JOE’S
7407 Hwy 72 W, Madison, AL 256-489-9393
EMBER CLUB
10131 Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, 256-881-0057
CASA Community Garden Plant Days will be from 8 am to 2 pm at
the CASA Community Garden, located at 4725 Bob Wallace Avenue.
Come help CASA of Madison County kick off the garden season.
Volunteers will be preparing beds, planting, and prepping the garden.
Plant Day is open to individual and group volunteers. Please bring
gloves, sunscreen, and insect repellant. All of the produce harvested
from the garden is delivered to our elderly and homebound clients.
For more information or to sign up call Amber at 533-7775 or email at
amber@casamadisoncty.org.
HUNTSVILLE
11th FRAME BAR
8661 Hwy 27, Madison, 256-722-0015
CLUB MIRAGE
4701 Meridian Street, Huntsville, 256-851-2920.
A Contra Dance with live music by Ed Baggott and Elsie
Petersonwith calling by Jef Hodge will be in the gym of Faith
Presbyterian, corner of AirportRoad and Whitesburg Drive. All ages
welcome; singles, couples and families.The dance will be from 7:30
to 10:30 pm; with a workshop at 7 pm. Admission is $7 for adults
and $4 for students. Children ages 12 and under are free. Go to
secontra.com/NACDS.html for more information or call 837-0656.
May 6, Death Cab for Cutie, Fabulous Fox
Theatre
May 17, Coldplay, Lakewood Amphitheatre
May 24, Heart and Joan Jett, Chastain Park
Amphitheatre
May 27, The National, Variety Playhouse
May 28, Kenny Chesney, Verizon Wireless
Amphitheatre at Encore Park
May 29, Yo-Yo Ma, Symphony Hall Atlanta
June 3, The Decemberists, Tabernacle
June 5, No Doubt with Paramore, Lakewood
Amphitheatre
June 15, Andrew Bird, Cobb Energy Performing
Arts Center
June 26-27, Beach Boys, Frederick Brown Jr.
Amphitheatre
June 28, Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd,
Lakewood Amphitheatre
July 1, Beyonce, Phillips Arena
July 15, Aerosmith with ZZ Top, Lakewood
Amphitheatre
THE VALLEY PLANET
STEM AND STEIN WINE CELLAR AND BAR
1087 County Line Rd. STE. B, Madison, 256-325-3779
THE CREEK
2704 Johnson Rd SW, Huntsville, 256-489-4379
THE STATION
8694 Madison Blvd., Madison, 256-325-1333.
STEVE’S BILLIARDS & LOUNGE
2322 Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-539-8919.
THE HORSE
2021 Golf Rd, Huntsville, 256-881-8820
THIRSTY TURTLE
4800 Whitesburg Dr, Huntsville, 256-881-5079
VINOTINI’S
7143 University Dr., Huntsvile, 256-722-2080
VISIONS
6404 University Dr. NW, Huntsville, 256-722-8247
VOODOO LOUNGE BAR AND GRILL
110 Southside Square, Huntsville 256-534-6116
WINGS SPORTS GRILLE
4250 Balmoral Dr. SW, Huntsville, 256-881-8878.
Bluebird Cafe Songwriters in
Concert at Three Caves
O
n Friday, May 15, Redstone Federal
Credit Union proudly presents the
4th Annual Spring Concert at Three
Caves to benefit the land preservation efforts
of The Land Trust. Songwriters Don Henry,
Vince Melamed, and Jim Photoglo from
Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe will present an
evening of hit songs, storytelling, laughter
and fun for the whole family under the stars.
Local favorite guitarist and singer Jay Clark
will begin the program at 6:30.
The concert venue is The Land Trust’s
popular Three Caves – a former limestone
quarry becoming a natural cave at the base
of Monte Sano Mountain. Individual tickets
are $15. Box dinner selections from 801
Franklin may be ordered for an additional
$15 from The Land Trust. Concert goers are
encouraged to bring their own chairs, dinners
if 801 Franklin dinners are not purchased, and
beverages. Dress is “cave casual.” No pets
or small children. Free parking and shuttle
from Huntsville Hospital’s lots at Lowell &
Adams begins at 6 pm. Concert begins at 6:
30 pm. Tickets may be purchased by calling
The Land Trust at 256-534-5263.
“The Bluebird Cafe is one of the world’s
preeminent listening rooms,” said Land
Trust Concert Chairman Dennis Keim. “The
Bluebird Cafe is known worldwide as a
songwriter’s performance space where the
“heroes behind the hits” perform their own
songs: songs that have been recorded by
chart-topping artists in all genres of music.
Some of the most significant songwriters
and artists of our day have performed on this
stage.” �
“A typical nightly performance consists of
three or four songwriters seated in the center
of the room, taking turns playing their songs
and accompanying each other instrumentally
and with harmony vocals,” Keim continued.
“It is an experience that few forget and we
are glad that Redstone Federal Credit Union
is bringing this experience to Huntsville
to benefit The Land Trust. Historic Three
Caves is one of North Alabama’s most
unique sites and it will be lit from within as
a backdrop for this unforgettable evening of
music under the stars.”
“As Alabama’s first land trust, we continue
to work with landowners and developers
to protect forests, scenic vistas, and water
resources,” stated Executive Director
Cynthia Parker. “Proceeds from our Spring
Concert will help us continue to preserve
precious North Alabama greenspace.”
JayClark
The Land Trust serves 10 counties in North
Alabama. A member-supported non-profit
organization, The Land Trust has preserved
almost 6,000 North Alabama acres valued
at over $17 million. Three nature preserves
– each larger than Central Park and all within
Huntsville city limits - offer 33+ miles of
public trails. The greenspace protected by
The Land Trust remains in its natural state
and, in most cases, properties are open to the
public for recreation such as hiking, nature
study, bird watching and photography.
http://www.jimphotoglo.com/home.htm
http://www.donhenry.com/
http://www.myspace.com/vincemelamed
ContinuedonPage25
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
17
WhistleStop Festival Barbeque
& Charlie Daniels
T
he Alabama Constitution Village
Foundation (ACV Foundation) hosts
the 8th Annual WhistleStop Festival
on May 1st & 2nd at the Historic Huntsville
Depot to raise money for the EarlyWorks
Museum Complex. The WhistleStop
Festival offers fun for the entire family, live
music, kid’s activities and a professional and
amateur barbeque competition.
Festival hours are Friday 4 p.m. to 11p.m. and
Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Charlie Daniels
is the headliner for Saturday night on the
WDRM/WTAK/100.3 the River Stage. Live
music ranging from country to rock and roll
is offered on the Pub Stage featuring local
bands and musicians. The “Kids Zone” is a
free play area with moon bounce, obstacle
course, foam machine, giant slide and more.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to
buy freshly cooked barbequefrom award–
winning cooking vendors.
Tickets will be available for purchase online
after April 7. Pre-sale weekend passes are
only $15. At the gate, a weekend pass is
$25 and a day pass for Friday is $15 and day
pass for Saturday is $20. Children under the
age of ten are admitted free. All proceeds
benefit EarlyWorks Children’s Museum and
educational programs for area children.
For more information/tickets, visit
www.TheWhistleStopFestival.com .
Stretching
the Creative
Envelope
by Bonnie Roberts
he poem below I have written to
commemorate my poetry-writing class
at the University of Alabama, Huntsville,
this spring.
T
Each line represents, in some way, a student or
several students who came to mind as I wrote-but, really, each line is all of us, in a way,
because on the poetry spectrum, no one is one
single aspect, but innumerable aspects, of what
it is to be human.
Everything But Drab Yellow Like Classrooms
and All Things Holy
Apple butter, answers, assurances;
feathered birches that fly;
bonnie meadow dwellers of little boy and little
girl poem children;
miracle healers who heal themselves, rebuild
the old hangout
near the beach, the layered walls of blood,
broken house of glass;
laughter whose secret fire burns, illumines,
scorches;
high flame that “draws down to water,” not to
itself;
tall-prouds who see tomorrow, barely today;
short-humbles who live in the day’s moving
shadows and uncertain light;
quiet-kind; the unspoken; “who are they’s?”
too-good children;
mothers, the worn-out, the weepers, putting
one foot before the other;
rhymers and non, men-kicker-outers, menkeepers (on conditions);
the paradoxes of kitchen ghosts and the
brillance of hands;
the seekers and givers, unconditional lovers;
Langston Hugheses and Sharon Oldses;
the strong who must always be strong,
defended by hard cheekbones, clear pool eyes,
18
Entertainment Schedule On the WDRM/
WTAK/100.3 the River Stage
Friday May 1, 2009
5:30-7:00 p.m. Kozmic Mama
7:30-9:00 p.m. DiscOasis
9:30-11:00 p.m. The Breakfast Club
Saturday May 2, 2009
3:00-4:00 p.m. Jay Clark
4:30-5:30 p.m. KCBS Sanctioned Cook-Off
Awards
5:30-6:30 p.m. Jeff Whitlow & the Old Barn
Band
7:00-8:00 p.m. The Jason Albert Band
8:30-9:00 p.m. Shade Tree Cookers Awards
9:30-11:00 p.m. The Charlie Daniels Band
Entertainment Schedule On the Bill
Penney Pig Whistle Pub Stage
Friday, May 1, 2009
5:30-7:00 p.m. Brad & Clint
7:30-9:30 p.m. Chris Shepard
Saturday, May 2, 2009
12:30-1:45 p.m. Jay Clark
2:00-3:15 p.m. Carter Hamric
3:30-5:00 p.m. Terry McNeal
5:30-7:00 p.m. Toy Shop
7:30-9:30 p.m. Liquid Caravan
but need to rest and trust on another’s
shoulder;
the changing, the moving away, the
metamorphosers;
crows, hawks, domestic budgies, all in a cage;
hound dog growls and Big Mama Thorntons;
the golden ones of other’s truths, beginning
hints of their own;
the heavy-lidded and beaten into forms they
did not choose-like bowls and spoons-when what they wanted was to be women, or
simply young;
the children they do not wish to be, but with
insights of the child who is wise;
beauty and grace present as orange blossom
and pumpkin seeds,
yet unknown to themselves;
sanctified wolves in the basement and silver
dollars in the walls;
children saving children, piggy-back;
Roethke gardens, Dillard moths in candle wax,
Eiseley star throwers;
joy known, out loud, the body sky leap, a
clay key to truth, a sunny place of one’s own,
chocolate drizzles and rose tea cups;
structure cravers, structure breakers;
the children who are ancient; the ancient who
are children, like in Heaven;
fragile boats at sea, with fish troughs and
wooden boxes full of surprises,
life rafts and grace at the very bottom;
anchors of fearless minds that sweep the
unknown sea behind the moving ship;
lives wrapped with care in sparkling webs of
tomorrow;
the mountains--for better or worse, no one will
define them;
the sea, child and crone, speaking in strange
voices only sand can understand;
innocence and art, open as a clear well of soft
water to the bucket;
flawless beauty not to be taken at face value-these have clever wit and maybe knives they
will need;
the ancient forests, burned down, starting over,
growth after moments of torrent,
the steamy new smell of green vines.
--Bonnie Roberts
Calendar of
EVENTS
ContinuedfromPage16
The Athens Opry will have a concert featuring, Jack Greene, Johnny
Counterfit, Brady Clark, Little Happy Dickents, Mike Chapman, Michael
Douchette and the Pure Country Band. Tickets are $10.00 at the door.
The event will begin at 7pm and is at 24861 Airport Road in Athens.
For more information contact George Hill at 256- 216-1151 or email
at GWH228@aol.com
A Contra Dance with live music by Ed Baggott and with calling by
Jef Hodge will be in the gym of Faith Presbyterian at the corner of
Airport Road and Whitesburg Drive. The dance will be from 7:30 to
10:30 pm with a workshop at 7 pm. The price for admission is $7.00/
$4.00 students and free for ages 12 and under. For more information
go to secontra.com/NACDS.html or call 837-0656.
Madison Ballroom Dance Studio at 9076 Madison Blvd, Madison,
hosts a weekly Ballroom and Latin dance party every Saturday
from 8-10pm. The cost is $5 per person and everyone is welcome.
Come at 7pm for the beginners Newcomers class and learn a new
dance every week. Group is $15 per person or couple. See our
website for more details and other group and private class options at
www.madisonballroom.com.
The Mural City Art Fest, will be along Museum Street in downtown
Dothan. Enjoy artists and craftsmen set along a scenic backdrop in
this 4th annual festival. There will be activities for children and live
music all day. It is free admission for all. For more information go to at
www.muralcityartfest.com.
May 2-3
The Native American Festival will be held at Russell Cave near
Bridgeport, AL. This event will be from 10am-4pm each day.
Bring your lawn chair or blanket for the storytelling and dancing.
Other demonstrations of early living and arts include: pottery
making, Cherokee encampment, flute music, archery, flint napping,
woodcarving, and many other activities for all ages. Food vendors
will be available. Admission is free! For more information contact
Sheila Reed 256-495-2672 or Jackson Co. Tourism 256-259-5500 or
visit www.nps.gov/ruca.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will have a Day Out with
Thomas the Train. Take a 25 minute ride with a full size Thomas
the Tank Engine and enjoy storytelling, live music, and much more.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad is located at 4119 Cromwell Road,
Chattanooga. Go to www.tvrail.com for more information.
Huntsville Pilgrimage Association announces Historic Homes
Tour and Cemetery Stroll. Proceeds from the tour and stroll
are used to restore the grounds and grave markers in the historic
sections Maple Hill Cemetery. Six historic homes will be open from
10:00 am until 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 2. Five of the homes are
in Huntsville’s historic preservation districts and one is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Three gardens in the historic
districts will be open. In addition, St. Mary of the Visitation Church,
also listed on the National Register, will be open from noon until 4:00
pm with a free organ recital being presented by Dr. Rolf J. Goebel at
2:00pm. The Voices from the Past Cemetery Stroll on Sunday will be
from 2:00 to 4:30 pm at Maple Hill Cemetery. It will be filled with over
70 costumed volunteers portraying Huntsville notables buried in the
cemetery. For more information contact 1-800-772-2348 or visit the
website www.huntsvillepilgrimage.org.
The Huntsville Community Chorus will be holding auditions for
the King & I. The auditions times for students ages (6-14) at 9:
00am, for dancers at 1:00pm and for adults (15 and up), Sunday at
1:00pm. For further information call 256-533-6606 (office) or email
info@thechorus.org.
May 4
The Big Read Egypt/U.S. presents Lecture Series: Pharaoh’s
Library. Examine the literature available to the Pharaohs of the
ancient dynasties through the mystical written language of the
hieroglyphs. Presented by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Main Library Auditorium, 915 Monroe Street, Huntsville, AL 35801,
10:30 a.m., admission free. Contact 532-5940.
It’s time to get “rollin’ on the river” with the City of Decatur Parks and
Recreation Department’s 2009 Paul Stroud Concerts by the River
series! Our concert series kicks off at 6:00 pm at Rhodes Ferry Park.
All concerts are free and guests are welcome to bring a picnic basket,
lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the abundance of musical talent
found in the Tennessee Valley. For more information, please contact
me at 256-341-4818 or at meldunn@decatur-al.gov.
A Round Dance Class with all rhythms: waltz, foxtrot, jive, two-step,
cha, and swing. It will be from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the Ballroom, 427
Nature’s Way. The cost is $5.00 per person each week. Call Cindy
Hadley 256-642-1024 for additional information.
performance will be at 2pm. It is produced by Special Arrangement
with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. for Pre-teens, Teens and Adults.
Tickets are $15 for Adults $13 for Seniors, Students, and Active
Military. Group Rates are available. Call 256.536.0807 or visit www.the
atrehuntsville.org for more information. (See ad pg.4)
The First Annual Rocket City Brewfest will be held at the Historic
Huntsville Depot Roundhouse. Free the Hops is very excited about
hosting this event. Come join us for the widest selection of craft beer
available in North Alabama & support us in our battle to reform the
archaic beer laws of Alabama. The event will be Friday from 7-11pm
and Saturday 3-7pm. For more information contact 256-527-1948 or
go to www.rocketcitybrewfest.com. (See ad backpage)
The Rocket City Coin Show will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall
at 3053 Leeman Ferry Road. Coin dealers from all over the southeast
will be there to buy & sell rare coins. This event will be Friday from
10 am-6:30 pm and Saturday 10 am-5 pm There is no admission
charged for this event. Contact 256 881-4070 for more information.
May 9
Monrovia Art fest will be in Huntsville. Artisans from the Southeast
will gather for a beautiful day to celebrate the arts and community.
You are invited to be a part of this event! Your application and
information are attached. www.artisticmindsgallery.com.
is $5 adults and $3 for students and members are free. Go to for
www.vbas.com more information.
The 2nd Annual Car Show and Spring Festival is an Event to Raise
Funds for Trinity Volunteer Fire Department. Live country and
bluegrass music, an arts and crafts show, food vendors, and children’s
activities will also fill the streets. Activities will be held at Municipal
Park located on Preston Drive in Trinity. The hours are from 11 am
to 5:30 pm. General admission is $10 per person with proceeds to
benefit the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department. Children 6 years
and under are admitted free. A limited number of advance tickets
at $8 each will be available at Standard Furniture in Moulton and
Hartselle, Home Tec Store in Cullman, and Trinity Municipal Building.
For more information, visit trinityfire.org or contact Scott Owens at
256.303.0609 or jso0824@bellsouth.net.
The 11th Annual Gurley Library Challenge 5K & 1 mile Fun Run
will begin at 8am at Madison County Elementary School. Proceeds
will benefit the Gurley Public Library. Please call 776-4279 for more
information.
The Good Day Kid’s Festival will be at the Lowe Mill, Back Dock
from 12-6pm. This year it’s an animal themed Good Day, with visiting
animals from Lookout Mountain Wild Animal Park and the band The
Golden Ticket playing as well as archaeology exhibit by New South
Associates. The cost for this event is $5. The Lowe Mill is located
at 2211 Seminole Drive, Huntsville. For more information go to
www.lowemill.net.
The Historic Huntsville Foundation presents “Historic Districts
Walking Tours”; it will begin at 10:00am. There is no cost for this
event. The Old Town Historic District Tour will begin at 10:00 am
at 122 Walker Avenue (just off Meridian Street, downtown). The
Twickenham Historic District Tour Begins at 12:00 pm at the Weeden
House, 300 Gates Avenue. The Downtown Tour begins at 2:00pm,
in front of Harrison Brothers Hardware-124 Southside Squaredowntown. The Five Points Historic District Tour begins at 4:00pm at
the corner of Wells and Maple Hill (NE Corner of Maple Hill Cemetery).
Contact Bruce Walker at 256-658-1735 for more information.
May 10
A Spring Garden Tour throughout Decatur’s Historic Districts
and Carnegie Visual Arts Center will launch Arts Aflutter. The
Old Decatur and Albany Historic Districts open their gardens for
tours each Mother’s Day, the second Sunday of May. From shaded
to sunny, these gardens are a delight to all who visit and a great way
to entertain Mom on her special day. The garden tour is from 1:00
pm until 5:00 and the participating gardens are identified by tour
signs in the front yard. The admission is free. For more information
on the Spring Garden Tour, contact the Decatur-Morgan County
Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028.
At 4 pm in Delano Park at 6th Avenue, the Carnegie Visual Arts
Center will unveil Arts Aflutter, a public art extravaganza of more
than 50, 4 ft. metal butterfly sculptures, painted and decorated by
commissioned artists. The butterflies will be on display throughout
historic downtown Decatur until August 14. For more information,
visit www.carnegieartstrail.org.
The Huntsville Art League will host artist, Peter Grant. This is for
professional artists and will free up your style. Classes are designed
specially for the professional artist. This class will be held from 6:30-8:
30pm. For more information go to www.huntsvilleartleague.org or
call 256-534-3860.
A concert by Gordan Lightfoot will be at the Von Braun Center
Concert Hall at 8pm. For more information about this event call 256533-1953 or go to www. vonbrauncenter.com.
May 7-10
The Whole Backstage Theatre presents The Skin of our Teeth, a
Pulitzer Prize winning play by Thorton Wilder. The play will be at
1120 Rayburn Drive in Guntersville. Contact 256 582-7469 for more
information or go to www.wholebackstage.com
The Huntsville Art League will host artist, Peter Grant. This is for
professional artists and will free up your style. Classes designed
specially for the professional artist. This class will be held from 6:
30-8:30pm. For more information go to www.huntsvilleartleague.org
or call 256-534-3860.
Footlights Community Theater and Athens State Drama
will present Fiddler on the Roof at Athens State University’s
McCandless Hall. Tickets are available on campus in student affairs
office and at the gate for $8 for adults, $6 students and $5 seniors.
www.footlightstheater.com.
Thursday Evening Concerts presents the Maple Hill Band featuring
Celtic and American traditional music. It will be in the Main Library
Atrium at 6pm. For more information call 532-5975.
May 8-9
The Backstage Theatre Company presents the musical Opal. It is
based on the true story of Opal Whitely; Opal chronicles the life of
a young orphaned girl growing up in an Oregon lumber camp in
1907. The performance will be Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm. The
admission price is $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors. Please
contact 256-309-0041 or go to backstagetheatreco@gmail.com for
more information.
May 14
The Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table presents a program
on “Civil War Music” with an emphasis on music that was played
during the 1864 Union occupation of Huntsville. It will be presented
by the Olde Towne Brass. The music will come from the band
books of the Union Bands, including the 1st Brigade Band, which
was stationed in Huntsville during 1864. The Olde Towne Brass will
perform at the Elks Lodge at 725 Franklin Street, North entrance, at 6:
30 pm. It is free to the public and visitors are welcome. There will be
chicken dinner buffet available at 5:30 pm for $7.95. Please call 8900890 for more information.
The Von Braun Center presents Rain- A Tribute to the
Beatles. Tickets are available at the VBC box office or go to
www.ticketmaster.com or by phone 800-277-1700.
May 14-16
The Theatre Huntsville presents Enchanted April at the VBC
Fantasy Playhouse. Performance times are at 7:30 pm. It is
produced by Special Arrangement with Dramatists Play Service,
Inc. for Pre-teens, Teens and Adults. Tickets are $15 for Adults $13
for Seniors, Students, and Active Military. Group Rates are available.
Call 256.536.0807 or visit www.theatrehuntsville.org for more
information. (See ad pg.4)
May 8-10
Fantasy Playhouse. Performance times are at 7:30 pm. Sunday’s
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
Country music singer, Randy Travis will be at the Von Braun Civic
Center at 8:30 pm. The price for tickets is $25 box seats and $20
for upper level seats. For more information about this event go to
www.vonbrauncenter.com.
A Spring Concert featuring The Bluebird Café of Nashville
Songwriters will be at Three Caves. Gates to the Historic Three
Caves will open at 6pm and the concert begins at 6:30pm. The cost
is $15 per person or $30 with a boxed dinner from 801 Franklin. Free
parking and shuttles from Huntsville Hospital lots at Lowell and
Adams (no public parking at Three Caves). For more information call
256-534-LAND (5263). (See ad pg.17)
Relay for Life North Madison, themed “Teaming Up to Fight
Cancer,” will be held from 7p.m. - 7a.m. at Hazel Green High School.
For more information on this event or to find out how to form a team,
call 1-800-ACS-2345.
The Huntsville Art League presents artist, Renee Prasil. She will
be teaching how to create and have fun with Brush and Bottle. Each
session will end with a unique and memorable work of art all your
own! Classes will be from 6-8:30pm. For more information go to
www.huntsvilleartleague.org or call 256-534-3860.
Friday Night on the Back Dock at Lowe Mill with Phil and Emily
playing classical guitar from 6 -9 pm. There is no charge for this
event, but donations are appreciated. Adults are welcome to bring
their own cooler. The Lowe Mill is located at 2211 Seminole Drive.
For more information go to www.lowemill.net.
May 15-16
The Renaissance Theatre presents Eric Bogosian’s Play, Sex Drugs
Rock and Roll on the Alpha Stage, 1212 Meridian Street at 8pm.
The tickets are $12. For more information call 256- 536-3117 or go to
www.renaissancetheatre.com.
The TriState BBQ Festival will be Friday May 15 from 5-10 and
Saturday, May 16 from 10 -6. It will be at the NPF Fairgrounds in
Dothan. Children are admitted free, and adults are $10. All paid
admissions receive “Pig Bucks” which can be redeemed for BBQ on
Saturday, no matter what time you arrive. For more information go to
www.TriStateBBQ.com, or call 334.793.9042.
Footlights Community Theater and Athens State Drama
will present Fiddler on the Roof in Decatur at the Church of
Performing Arts. Tickets are available on campus in student affairs
office and at the gate. www.footlightstheater.com.
May 15-17
The Renaissance Theatre presents s musical, Batter Up! This is
a musical about baseball. The performance times are at 7:30pm
and Sunday at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $14 for admission. For more
information about this event call 256-536-3117 or go to www.renn
aissancetheatre.net. (See ad pg. 4)
May 16
Nature crowned Madison’s Rainbow Mountain with beautiful
rock formations, flowers and lovely trees! Hike leader: Jim
ChamberlainDirections: West on Hwy. 72 (University Drive); turn left
onto Hughes Road (in Madison) then left onto Thomas Drive. Left
onto Concord and then right onto Stoneway Trail. At T-intersection
at top of mountain, turn right and follow Stoneway Trail to the water
tower (approx.6 miles). The Land Trust graveled parking area is at the
base of the water tower.
May 13
May 7
The Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment hosts the Grand Opening of
the 3rd floor and the art opening of Marcia’s Freeland’s show, from
5 -8 pm. Nashville’s, The Golden Ticket will be performing on the back
dock from 6 -9pm. The Lowe Mill is located at 2211 Seminole Drive,
Huntsville. For more information go to www.lowemill.net.
The Carnegie Visual Arts Center Carnegie 6th Anniversary
Celebration at 5:00 pm. 207 Church Street, NE, Decatur, AL 35601.
Contact Kathryn Silvestri at 256-341-0562 or www.carnegiearts.org
for more information.
is $5 adults and $3 for students and members are free. Go to
www.vbas.com for more information.
A Zydeco class sponsored by the Cajun Zydeco Connection
(CZC) of Huntsville will be offered at the Eagles on 10th Street,
off Bob Wallace Avenue. The class will be 7 pm, followed by a dance
practice session until 8:30 pm. This event is free admission. For more
information go to czdance.com.
May 15
May 11
May 5
May 8
EVENTS
ContinuedfromPage18
Fantasy Playhouse. Performance times are at 2:00 pm. It is
produced by Special Arrangement with Dramatists Play Service,
Inc. for Pre-teens, Teens and Adults. Tickets are $15 for Adults $13 for
Seniors, Students, and Active Military. Group Rates are available. Call
256.536.0807 or visit theatrehuntsville.org for more information.
(See ad pg.4)
Delta Zeta presents a Walk 4 Hearing Fundraiser at Huntsville
Hospital Walking Trail, Bridge Street - at the Bridge, Huntsville.
Registration starts at 9am and the walk starts at 10am. For more
information or to signup go to
The Senior Expo will be at the Von Braun Center South Hall from
9 am-4:30 pm. Seniors can enjoy free food, entertainment, medical
screenings & door prizes. There is no admission charged. For more
information contact 256 533-1953.
Calendar of
ContinuedonPage19
THE VALLEY PLANET
The Tennessee Valley Tigers will face the Kentucky Nightmare
for “Fan Appreciation and Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Night”.
We would like our fans to bring canned goods to the game to help
the Down Town Rescue Mission. The game will be at 4pm at Milton
Frank Stadium. For more information on the Tennessee Valley
Tigers, please visit www.tigersIWFL.com.
Delta Zetas Walk 4 Hearing Fundraiser at Huntsville Hospital
Walking Trail, Bridge Street - at the Bridge Huntsville, Alabama
Registration: Registration starts at 9am and Walk starts at 10am. For
more information or to signup: hlaa.convio.net
Embracing Art VII: A Coming Together of Area Amateur &
Professional Artists. The Carnegie Visual Arts Center, 207 Church
Street, NE, Decatur, AL 35601. Contact Kathryn Silvestri at 256-3410562 or www.carnegiearts.org for more information.
The Annual Catfish Festival will be held at County Park in
Scottsboro. A great hometown festival will include a catfish
tournament for the adults, catfish rodeo for kids, arts & crafts show,
car show and free concerts. There will be an admission charge. For
more information contact Rob Carlile 256-574-1330.
The 2nd annual HYP Wiffle Ball Tournament will be at UAH. It will
be from 10am-5pm. The team’s slots are starting to fill up but there is
still room for some more teams. Only the first 20 teams entered will
get to play because we are limited on space. Hurry up and get your
team registered by downloading the form at www.gethyp.net and
mailing in with your check.
May 17
The Wildflower Trail: A Beautiful Display will be at 2:00 pm. (One
hour, easy with moderate incline) Join botanist Lynne Weninegar for
a fun tour of The Land Trust trail named for its claim to fame: beautiful
wildflowers. Bring your camera and learn to identify the stars of this
Blossomwood trail.Directions: California to Hermitage Avenue, left
onto Cleermont; Wildflower Trailhead at end of street.
May 18
International Film Series presents “Away From Her” rated PG-13,
2006. It will be at 6pm at the Madison Public Library located at 130
Plaza Blvd in Madison. Please call 461-0046, for more information.
May 19
The Huntsville Christian Women’s Connection Monthly Outreach
Luncheon is from 11 am until12:30 pm. Reservations are due by
Thursday, May14, $15.00 inclusive. The luncheon will be at the
Huntsville Country Club, 2601 Oakwood Avenue. For more
information call Betty @ 837-8286.
May 19-22
NJCAA National Golf Championship will be at Goose Pond Colony
in Scottsboro. Come see the newest and best of the up-and-coming
golfers and teams from around the nation compete for national
honors on Goose Pond’s Championship Course. This is Goose
Pond’s fourth time to host this prestigious tournament. Admission is
charged. For more information contact the Chamber at 256-259-5500
or Goose Pond at 256-259-2884.
May 21-23
The Renaissance Theatre presents s musical, Batter Up! This is a
musical about baseball. The performance times are at 7:30pm and
Sunday at 2:30 pm. The tickets are $14. For more information about
this event call 256-536-3117 or go to www.rennaissancetheatre.net.
(See ad pg. 4)
The Renaissance Theatre presents Eric Bogosian’s Play, Sex Drugs
Rock and Roll on the Alpha Stage, 1212 Meridian Street at 8pm. The
tickets are $12. Special price for the Thursday night performance is
$10. For more information call 256- 536-3117 or go to www.renais
sancetheatre.com.
The Arts Council (TAC) of Huntsville is sponsoring a workshop;
open to attendees from Madison, Morgan, Limestone, Marshall, and
Jackson counties and covering the Alabama State Council on the
Arts’ (ASCA) grant-writing process. The workshop takes place from
10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Von Braun Center Ballet Room next
to the TAC offices (700 Monroe Street, SW in downtown Huntsville).
Attendance for TAC members is free for up to two participants from
each organization. The fee for all others is $15. Pre-registration is by
needed by Monday, 11 May 2009 and includes a free pizza lunch. For
further information and to register, call The Arts Council at 256-5192787 (ARTS), ext. 206 or e-mail jpoff@panoply.org.
May 22
The Daikin Festival will be held from 6:30pm-9:00pm at the Morgan
County Fairgrounds in Decatur. Enjoy Free Japanese Cuisine,
Japanese Folk Dancing, Games, Live Music, and More. For the 15th
year, Daikin America is providing a Japanese-style festival for the
communities in North Alabama. Admission is free. In addition to free
parking around the fairgrounds, free shuttle service will be provided
to the fairgrounds from Decatur Mall and Austin High School. Around
8:45 p.m., the grand prize drawing will be held where one lucky
person will win a new large screen, high definition LCD television.
For more information on the Daikin Festival, contact Forrest Keith
at 256.306.5000. 
May 22-23
The Huntsville Art League announces Egg Tempera Class by
Marcia Leonard. The class will be from 7-8pm and Saturday from
9am to 3pm. The method used before oil mediums were utilized the
most known artist in this medium was Botticelli , American artists
Robert Vickrey and Andrew Wyeth are fine examples of craftsman’s
that searched for the unique luminosity and transparency that such a
medium will make possible. For more information go to www.huntsv
illeartleague.org or call 256-534-3860.
May 23
CASA Community Garden Plant Days will be from 8 am to 2 pm at
the CASA Community Garden, located at 4725 Bob Wallace Avenue.
Come help CASA of Madison County kick off the garden season.
Volunteers will be preparing beds, planting, and prepping the garden.
Plant Day is open to individual and group volunteers. Please bring
gloves, sunscreen, and insect repellant. All of the produce harvested
from the garden is delivered to our elderly and homebound clients.
For more information or to sign up call Amber at 533-7775 or email at
amber@casamadisoncty.org.
Lil Malcolm and the House Rockers - Hard rocking Zydeco Band,
will be at the Southern Elegance Dance Studio located at 3005 L&N
Drive. The time is from 8-11pm. The cost is $12 for members and $15
for non-members. There will be a Zydeco lesson at 7:15. This event
is sponsored by Cajun Zydeco Connection (CZC) of Huntsville. Go to
http://czdance.com for more information, or call 534-2840.
The Worldwide Dungeons & Dragons Game Day will be at
TheBookmark at 11220-J South Memorial Parkway andHaven
Comics at 1871-S Slaughter Rd., behind Heritage Florist & Gifts.There
may be more stores in the area may participate sovisit the official
website, http://dndgameday.com, for a completelist.
May 23
is $5 adults and $3 for students and members are free. Go to
www.vbas.org for more information.
The End
The annual Wings of Thunder Charity Ride and Poker Run will
begin at Hartselle Plaza located on Highway 31 from 8 am-4 pm.
While the Charity Ride and Poker Run takes riders on a scenic journey
through Morgan, Cullman, and Lawrence Counties, spectators enjoy
a day of musical entertainment, vendors and a bike and car show.
Upon the riders’ return, bike games will be held allowing riders’ to
demonstrate their skill and talent. Admission is free for spectators.
The cost to participate in the Charity Ride and Poker Run is $20 per
person. To register for the Charity Ride and Poker Run or for more
information, contact the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce at
256.773.4370 or 800.294.0692.
May 16-17
The McDonald’s Big Bass Splash will be at Goose Pond Colony
in Scottsboro. Join hundreds of Amateur Anglers from kids to
adults as they fish for the chance at $125,000 in cash and prizes.
An Outdoor EXPO with food, fishing items, and entertainment will
be available throughout the weekend. There is a registration fee for
anglers. For more information contact the Jackson County Tourism
at 800-259-5508 or Sealy Outdoors at 888-698-2591.
THE VALLEY PLANET
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
19
THE LAST KISS is the long-awaited
follow-up to Kiss Of Death, the second
album by Jadakiss. THE LAST KISS picks
up where Kiss Of Death left off, with the
albums first official single “Can’t Stop
Me”, guest appearances by Ne-Yo(By My
Side), “Something Else” ft. Young Jeezy,
“One More Step” ft. Styles P. and also
includes guest features from Sheek Louch,
Lil’ Wayne, Pharell, Barrington Levy, Avery
Storm, Jasmine Sullivan, S.I, Ghostface
& Raekwon . Producers on board the new
album project include the Neptunes, Swizz
Beatz, Eric Hudson, The Incredibles,
Buckwild, Denaun Porter, Needlz, Sean C
& LV, and Baby Grande. Honestly, it’s been
a long time since I’ve heard good music like
this. The beginning of the album inspires
you to become more than what you may be
at the time, and Kiss’ gravely-voiced tales
of struggle, strength, growth, progression,
and loyalty is only highlighted by the
stellar production. All around this album is
a definite thumbs-up from yours truly. My
personal favorite on this album is the Luther
Vandross-sampled “The Things That I’ve
Been Through”. The Way I See It, if you’re
not listening to this, you’re not listening to
music.
Album: Love Vs. Money
Artist: The Dream
The Way I See It
by David Daniels
Album: The Last Kiss
Artist-Jadakiss
Legendary rapper Jadakiss, always at the
eye of the storm, puts an end to five years
of speculation about his new album when the
aptly-titled THE LAST KISS arrived in the
physical and digital marketplace April 7th.
The first single “Can’t Stop Me” produced
by Neo The Matrix follows up to the club
banger “By My Side” feat. Ne-Yo and street
smash “Letter To B.I.G”f t. Faith Evans off
the Notorious movie soundtrack. The new
album marks the second release on the megasuccessful multi-platinum Ruff Ryders label.
In the midst of delivering a highly anticipated
album Jadakiss has also been working on a
sneaker lifestyle website as well as upcoming
BET reality show.
20
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
After proving himself throughout 20072008 as a hit songwriter for an slew of stars
including Rihanna (“Umbrella”), Mariah
Carey (“Touch My Body”), J. Holiday (“The
Bed,” “Suffocate”), and Beyoncé (“Single
Ladies”) - to name a few! -The-Dream gives
you his second album, LOVE vs. MONEY.
“Rockin’ That Thang,” the first single
from LOVE vs. MONEY, continues to be
a favorite in clubs and party halls around
the country, even spreading to parodies
and spoofs of the song on the internet
(The popular YouTube Rockin That Thang
Michelle Obama remix-check it out if you
haven’t). The follow up single is “My Love”
which also continues to enjoy growing buzz
and success. LOVE vs. MONEY follows-up
The-Dream’s gold debut album Love Hate
(released December 2007). The album’s
back-to-back hits dominated 2008, including
“Shawty Is A 10” featuring Fabolous (Top
10 R&B); “Falsetto” (#3 R&B); and “I Luv
Your Girl” (#1 Rhythmic, #3 R&B). He even
was nominated for a Grammy for Umbrella.
LOVE vs. MONEY is a futuristic mix of
radio bangin’ hooks that take a little different
approach to the work of his previous album,
however as a welcome change. “`Sweat
It Out’ concerns a night of lovemaking,
while `Let Me See the Booty’ boasts strip
club-ready lyrics while Lil’ Jon provides
his trademark yelling in the background.”
In addition to Lil’ Jon, the only other guests
on the album are Kanye West (“Walkin’
On The Moon”) and Mariah Carey (“My
Love”). The Way I See it, be ready to take
a trip through the mind of a multi-talented
songwriter, but be prepared to hit the fastforward button on a few selections.
s
’
O
H
C
R
A
N
DR A Rx for Old Stuff That Don’t Suck
T
ypically, I don’t like country music. Chief among the reasons is that I have no sisters
to kiss, so listening to country music is extremely frustrating. There’s also the “pedal
steel guitar effect.”
Sociological studies will one day prove that the cats-having-sex squall of a steel guitar
in combination with the right amount of alcohol can awaken some dormant gene in the
twisted helix of the DNA of that all-too-common bird, The Southern Sun-spotted Redneck;
it causes madness, usually exhibited in the form of drunkenly driving the four-wheel drive
pickup into the side of the trailer, kicking the dog on the way inside, then dragging the
pregnant wife into the yard and beating the hell out of her in front of the other six kids
while the neighbors call the law.
The wife-beater undershirt was designed by a pedal steel guitar player.
But I do like some atypical country music, most of that falls under the early “country-rock”
category. I also like bluegrass, a category misplaced with “country” when it should be
misplaced with “traditional folk music.”
Confused? Good. Me too... That’s one reason why I still smoke that stuff on some special
occasions - like Wednesdays -- but we won’t go there right now. I still have a day-job for
another couple of months and I hate to pee in little cups.
Dr. Anarcho’s Rx for Old Stuff That Don’t Suck: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium
Collection: The Best of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
With a title that long, it better be good. And it is. Here’s a little background from
Answers.com.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were among the more popular of mid-’70s country-rock
outfits, slotting in chronologically and stylistically between The Eagles and Firefall. As
exponents of ‘70s country-rock, the group rode a wave of success for five years on A&M
Records and survived in some form into the 1990s, with a following just large enough to
justify occasional record releases in their later years.
(Most of which sucked because they added a steel guitar in the later years.)
If you listen to any classic rock radio you are sure to occasionally hear their classics, Jackie
Blue (their biggest radio success) as well as the catchy If You Want To Get To Heaven (You
Have To Raise a Little Hell). While I like both of those numbers, a couple of the best songs
on this collection are the ethereal Road To Glory, and Spaceship Orion.
Given my penchant for “Live” albums, I’m surprised I’ve never heard one from OMD. I think
I’ll go download one right now. Their entire catalogue is available and reasonably cheap
as MP3 downloads from Amazon.com and CDBaby.
Tracks on 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Ozark
Mountain Daredevils:
If You Want To Get To Heaven
Jackie Blue
Country Girl
Spaceship Orion
Look Away
E. E. Lawson
Leatherwood
You Know Like I Know
Keep On Churnin’
Homemade Wine
Following The Way That I Feel
Road To Glory
Free Beer! Football!
O
k, so this article isn’t about free beer
or football. It’s about a charity bike
ride around Madison County on
May 16th to raise money for the American
Diabetes Association. But I had a feeling
that if this article was called “Charity Bike
Ride,” you probably wouldn’t have given it
a second look. I’m right, aren’t I? But now,
here you are!
Last year kicked off the first annual Tour
de Cure in Huntsville. I cobbled together
a modest team of five to tackle the 30-mile
route around Madison County, though a
great deal of more intrepid (insane?) riders
took on the 60- and 100-mile options.
Good for them. Whatever. At any rate,
the ride began early in the morning at the
Huntsville Madison County Visitor’s Center
and proceeded over Cecil Ashburn, courtesy
of a police escort. I am not kidding when I
say that I was among the last riders over. I
am not a lover of hills and, as we all know,
Cecil is a mountain. Fortunately, we were
regularly nourished throughout the morning
by well-spaced and well-stocked rest stations
manned by encouraging volunteers. When
we finally crossed the finish line, about three
hours later, I was exhausted but exhilarated.
I’d done something good for my community
by raising money for diabetes research, but
I’d also done something good for myself
by finishing a tough ride (without walking
my bike once) and actually burning more
calories than I could eat in one sitting
– which is even more impressive when
you consider how many free pulled-pork
sandwiches I managed to throw down at the
festive, outdoor after-party.
Got a song or album you would like
reviewed? Feel free to contact me @
dbdaniels@live.com
by Diana LaChance
blah. Let me address those excuses one by
one:
Lucky for you, the routes have been changed
this year to 25, 50, 75, and 100 miles. Anyone
even remotely in shape can bike 25 miles if
put to the challenge.
We’re really only talking about three or so
hours out of your Saturday morning, and that
includes chowing down at the after-party.
Unlike many other charity rides that require
a $3000 donation, each rider in the Tour de
Cure only needs to raise $150 to participate.
And I’m going to tell you how to do it!
First, hit up your parents and siblings for a
few bucks each. They have to support you;
they’re related to you. It’s the rule. Then, go
back to every parent whose child has ever
sold you cookie dough, wrapping paper, Girl
Scout cookies, pizza dough, discount coupon
books, etc. and ask for $10. You’ll be up to
$150 in no time!
So what are you waiting for? Like
last year, this year’s Tour de Cure will
start at the Huntsville Madison County
Visitor’s Center and end at Park Place,
located behind Bicycles, Etc. To register
or for more information, simply visit
www.diabetes.org/tour or contact Doris
Lewis at dlewis@diabetes.org.
Now, I know what you’re going to say. “I’m
not in shape.” “My weekends are packed as
it is.” “I don’t like fundraising.” Blah blah
THE VALLEY PLANET
THE VALLEY PLANET
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
21
Music Video Artist: My Journey
To Where I’m Meant To Be
by Raven Woods
W
hen I first accepted the assignment
to write this review, I seriously
thought I was going to be reading
the autobiographical memoir of a successful
music video producer, someone who had
climbed the ranks in the music business to
achieve some pinnacle of success. I imagined
an interesting expose’ of famous musicians
and tales from behind the lens of a music
video producer. And since I’ve always had a
fascination with the medium of music videos
(the in’s and out’s of how music videos come
together and are made) I was looking forward
to this assignment.
But instead I found the title of this selfpenned memoir exceedingly deceptive. Or
so I thought on first impression. Hear me
out on this. Sometimes, as they say, it really
does pay not to judge a book too hastily by its
cover—or by its contents.
Rico’s memoir as of this writing has not been
published yet, though he plans soon to make
it available as a POD book on Amazon. And
skimming the contents, I deduced quickly
that the author is also not a successful
music video producer—yet. But please
bear with me and continue to hear this out
(I am actually going somewhere with this, I
promise).
So it might beg the question, why did I
continue to pursue reading this manuscript,
all 400+ pages? The answer is quite simply
that, while Rico may still be struggling to
realize his dreams, he is one heck of an
engaging storyteller!
What unfolds in this odyssey is not, then, a
music biz expose’ but a very personal and
at times powerfully moving story of a life
(think Forrest Gump; The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button, etc). It’s the life of an
exceedingly driven young man who at every
turn has overcome incredible odds stacked
against him. I think at some point I actually
lost count of his many adversities Rico has
faced down, but let me try to enumerate a
few…a dysfunctional upbringing in a family
that seems to have come straight out of Jerry
Springer, poverty, physical impairments
(including an almost total loss of vision at
one point) and the realization that at every
turn, no matter how big you dream, life has
an uncanny knack for getting in the way.
The key is that you have to find your own
inner strength and dig deep within to make
your own destiny. That, of course, is not a
new concept. But sometimes we all need
reminding
#043009052009
Rico himself is a bit of a puzzle. Despite his
genes and upbringing (or maybe because
of those very things) he makes no bones in
presenting himself as a driven, motivated
individual with a strong and positive work
ethic. Although at times he seems to flit
from ambition to ambition with all the
inherent flightiness of his mom, the one
thing you can’t deny is his sincerity and his
determination to realize his dreams. And you
realize in the end that all of these episodes
were merely stepping stones on his journey
to self-discovery.
The book is episodic in nature, and does
not rush through events, but rather allows
the reader to fully experience them, be it
through good times or bad, ups or downs.
While the prose did at first strike me as a
bit awkward, raw and unpolished, to some
extent this actually became part of the book’s
charm for me. Or maybe Rico’s voice simply
grew on me the more I read. All is know is
that I kept clicking the pages, to see where
this incredible, whacky and sometimes
heartbreaking journey would take him—and
me— next.
This book, then, is not an account of a
successful music video artist. Unless you ask
yourself how you define “success.” There
has to be something said for the idea of
being willing to fight for one’s dreams. For
the notion that with the right work ethic and
will to succeed, one can indeed overcome.
For realizing that the only key to your own
happiness and success is the one that comes
from within. It is not so much about the
achievement of the dream, but rather arriving
at that place where you finally know yourself
enough to say, “This is who I am.”
With that idea always uppermost in mind,
Rico has vowed that upon his first success,
he plans to start something he calls Project
Drive, a program that will help other young
artists and people with talent to get a step
closer to fulfilling their ambitions. As he
describes in the book, it might be anything
from purchasing textbooks for a med student,
to a computer for a struggling writer. Project
Drive is certainly a noble idea in theory, and
I hope that one day soon Rico will be able to
put it into practice.
Ricky Thomason Writes
One of my favorite dating disaster stories
involves a purse - a good place to start
trouble with a woman -- whether it’s a first
date or a 30th anniversary.
Ladies, please allow me to educate the men
a moment, so they can enjoy this (true) purse
story, too.
Guys, since blissful ignorance is encoded in
our DNA, I’ll tell you about women and their
purses.
Simply put: they’re nuts on the subject.
Don’t ever touch one. If a woman asks
you to hand them their purse, do it with
a broomstick. And never mess with the
contents, even if they ask you to get
something out of it for them.
You’d think a damned purse had feet because
they always require matching shoes. Don’t
try to understand, just accept it.
To men, a bag is a bag. If we carried bags I
suspect one from Kroger would do as well
as one from Piggly Wiggly. We might have
a preference for paper or plastic if it was
raining, but other than that it wouldn’t make
much difference. And we’d never worry if
the tennis shoes matched.
Not women: to them, a purse says a lot - a
whole lot - about them as individuals, their
standing in society and -- inexplicably to us
- how they are viewed by other women.
You think your woman dresses for you?
You’re clueless. Women dress for other
women; they couldn’t care what a man
thinks - a straight man, anyway. They might
ask their gay pal, but that’s different, so
different that his opinion weighs more than
any woman’s. He’ll tactfully tell them the
truth. They know women lie to each other
all the time. “Dahling, you look mahvalus,”
then, behind their back they’ll say, “What an
ugly-assed dress. It’s got more gaudy colors
than a Mexican restaurant. I wouldn’t wear
that get up to a dog burying. And that purse?
Judas Priest, it looks like a suitcase you’d
stash a body in.”
artwork by Debbie West
guttering candles between the salt and pepper
shakers.
In the flickering gloom, the woman appeared
to have “a great pair of headlights,” as he
put it, but Tim couldn’t tell if they were
low or high beams because her purse sat in
the middle of the table, between them, and
blocked his view.
See guys? The purse serves many functions:
in this case, a protective barrier.
Some more beers later, she subtly shifted the
purse a bit to the side, a gesture he probably
didn’t recognize as a lowering of the defenses.
All he knew was one headlight was visible
and it was definitely a high-beamer.
Mr. Smooth caught her looking across the
room, and subtly moved her purse himself:
three more inches to the right. Either she
hadn’t seen him move it, or didn’t care. The
view was clear. Things looked great.
Sniff. Sniff. What’s that awful smell?
Poof. Her purse burst into flames.
When Mr. Smooth moved her purse, the strap
fell across the top of that useless candle.
“OH
MY
GOD!
You
dumbass!
You’vesetmypurseonfire! Dosomething!”
Thinking quickly, Tim poured beer all over,
and all in, the flaming purse, and saved the
day. So he thought.
Your clothes don’t matter to a man, it’s what’s
inside that counts. Inside your clothes.
She jumped up, raised more hell than a chain
saw, screamed that he ruined her purse and
everything in it, and owed her $500 because
the purse was some fancy brand he couldn’t
remember. Besides, he didn’t believe any
purse could possibly cost $500 -- and no
woman would be stupid enough to pay that
much if it did.
Now, on to the first date / purse disaster,
which was actually two disasters in one.
He offered her 20 bucks, about what he
figured a good purse should cost.
My friend Tim fancied himself a ladies’ man.
He had it all figured out. First, he spotted
a good looking woman drinking beer, and
caught her eye. If she was friendly, he’d
send a beer over, then introduce himself after
the server pointed out “that gentleman over
there…”
This enraged her further. She cursed him so
badly that flies wouldn’t light on him for a
week, then stormed out.
Of course, as has often been said, every
family to some extent is dysfunctional. There
were many times when I, as a reader, rather
than being shocked by Rico’s accounting of
events, actually found myself identifying
with him more often than not. I’d say to
myself, “Yep, my mom used to do the exact
same thing!” The beauty is that any adult
who has survived an abusive, dysfunctional
childhood can readily identify and
sympathize with Rico and his siblings.
He said if you ask a woman, “May I buy you
a drink?” she quits the beer and goes straight
for top-shelf margaritas, which costs three
times as much.
He picked the target, sent the beer, was
invited over and things were two beers on
track, until…
But for all that, after over 400 pages, you
really start to feel attached to these people.
Even “Mom,” for all her negativity, becomes
The light was low for ambiance. Each table
had one of those pointless (to men) little
That Rico even survived his upbringing
is in itself a testament to his strong will,
endurance and determination. Among the
many things that I eventually lost count of
was just how many moves his single mother
made in the course of his childhood alone
(and that’s discounting the number of moves
he continues to recount even as an adult).
22
a kind of semi-comic, tragic character whom
you end up pitying more than despising.
Unchained
Maladies
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
So if you pick this book up looking for
a music biz expose, spare yourself the
disappointment. But if you want to read
an inspiring story about an incredible life’s
journey, and are willing to brave the rough
spots, this one just might do the trick.
For all my “What the heck is this?” first
impressions, I’m glad I stuck the assignment
out to the end. I’m glad I got to know Rico
and his story. And I’ll be watching eagerly
for his future endeavors.
The truth is, if she isn’t in a hoochie suit, a
man doesn’t care if his date wears sack-cloth
and ashes. We’re deeper than that.
So, he’s in a restaurant bar, picks one he
wants to cut from the herd, and sends the
beer.
“Thank you. Come on over. Have a seat. My
name is…”
THE VALLEY PLANET
THE VALLEY PLANET
A couple of weeks later, he’s fishing the same
hole, again. Men will return to any place
where they’ve gotten lucky.
This madwoman swoops in the door and
marches over to her friend and said, “You
better leave this cheap SOB alone. He’s the
goofball I told about who set my purse on
fire. He ruined my Gucci.”
Tim did the best he could. He manned up to
the purse accident, but vehemently denied
ever touching her Gucci. She got mad and
left before he got anywhere near that far.
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
23
Go for the Pain
A
A Few Words About Doubt. . .
by Allen Berry
F
unny thing about doubt... it’s actually
pretty important. Doubt is what makes
the world go round. Doubt lets us sleep
at night. It keeps us from doing what might
otherwise irreparably damage us. Doubt is
what the justice system is founded on...a
reasonable doubt.
Don’t buy it? Well try this on for size. When
a firing squad is assembled, one member is
issued a weapon containing blanks. The
reason for this is so that no one can say for
sure who fired the lethal shot. This is the
same reason the execution is performed by a
squad rather than a single man. Doubt.
Because no one can say for certain who fired
the lethal shot, doubt allows the members of
the squad to believe their hands are clean,
free from the victim’s blood. Doubt lets
them sleep at night. Doubt: the salve of
the conscience, the all healing, all soothing
balm.
Doubt is important. Doubt is constantly
given a bad rap, think of Doubting Thomas
who wanted proof that this familiar entity
was the Christ he had lived and worked
with, risen from the grave. In my opinion, if
you’re going to go touting someone’s gospel
and Him risen from the dead, you’d better
make sure that he’s the genuine article.
Sometimes doubt is what let’s you start over.
Let’s you believe that you did enough, that
you were who you needed to be, when you
needed to be, and there wasn’t a thing you
could do about it. Doubt is what lets you
start getting out of bed again in the morning
when you think that you’re still a stand-up
guy. Doubt lets you think that you can make
a difference in spite of a lot of what happens
in life being just dumb luck, that you’re
the friend you always wanted to have, and
that you didn’t miss something infinitely
important.
Doubt is the little voice in the dark that lets
you believe what everybody else says is the
big lie-- is actually true. And thank God for
it, because without a doubt, I can’t make it
through a day without it.
s Easter Sunday faded into Manic
Monday, winds howled through
North Alabama. Awoken by the
sounds, I groaned as the windows shook. I’d
gone to bed content with myself for mowing
the yard in record time: just under two hours.
Mowing the yard ranks right up there with
the annual visit to the gynecologist. Hate it,
but has to get done. Last year I had a yard
man, but with the economy the way it is, I’ve
taken the chore over myself. It’s a multi-step
adventure that starts with cleaning up the
debris. With a tree-less yard, you’d hardly
think there would be anything to it. Six pine
trees stand like soldiers in my neighbor’s
back yard. Planted long before I was born
and destined to be here long after I upgrade,
the trees are the bane of my yard work. Their
needles clog my gutters. Pinecones litter my
yard. Limbs lay peacefully in the grass.
I had made the decision to take Monday off
of work to get caught up on life. Mother
Nature had other plans. After my bare feet
hit the hardwood floors, I scurried to the
window. A quick scan of the back yard
revealed pinecones and branches mocking
my work from the day before. I whimpered.
Time in the schedule was already tight. Yard
work pushed a few errands off the list. Out
came the rake and I set to it: creating piles
of pine debris in order to do one fell swoop
of the yard with pick up. With legs still sore
from Saturday’s 10k, I reminded myself to
take it easy. But then that little voice said
no.
I tiptoe on eggshells when it comes to
overextending myself physically. I carefully
plan workouts to make sure I’m never sore
enough to take on any would-be major task,
even if I have no intentions for a would-be
major task, like running. I always tell myself
to make sure I’m never too worn out to take
on more.
they have enough tannin to age pretty well
-- but most are drunk relatively young.
Fiddling with the Sicilians -- Nero
d’Avola
O
ne of the most lasting images of
decadence and detachment is that of
the Roman Emperor Nero allegedly
fiddling while Rome burned. This, of
course, is an apocryphal story. Nero reigned
over the Roman empire from 54 to 68 A.D.
The violin wasn’t invented until the 1500’s.
This doesn’t rule out the possibility of
him doing some mean lyre plucking while
the conflagration raged about him -- but
fiddling…not so much.
What’s this Emperor doing in a wine
column? While I’m all about decadence
(and not so much about pyromania), the
only direct link between our day’s topic and
ancient Rome is the name. Nero, translated
from Italian, means “black.” Nero d’Avola
is a grape varietal. Thus, the name is “The
black [grape] of Avola.” Avola is a small
town in southern Sicily where this varietal
was largely first cultivated.
24
Sicilian wine has had a bad rap for quite
some time. The best known grape from
Sicily is Marsala. Yes, the Marsala that
you’ve probably seen used as cooking wine,
right there next to the sherry on a wellstocked kitchen’s shelf. Sicily made a few
other wines largely for local consumption,
but nothing really stood out on the world
market.
While I don’t think it will replace
Montepulciano or Barbera on my table on a
regular basis any time soon, I’ve tried a few
and was pleasantly surprised:
However, like many other places in the
world, as cultivation and wine making
techniques continued to improve, Sicily
discovered that they could crank out some
decent product. One of the great benefactors
of these improvements was Nero d’Avola.
Dievole “Pinocchio” 2007 Nero d’Avola
-- Dievole Winery itself is not in Sicily, but
in Chianti. They imported grapes from there
and found that they enjoyed the Tuscan soil.
I can’t lie, this is very fruity for a wine from
Chianti. I’m used to wines from this region
having a “chalky” taste. The chalk doesn’t
bother me when I’m drinking Chianti with
food, but I usually won’t drink one on its
own. This wine is easy enough to drink on its
own. It’s soft and fruity, with a little bit of a
floral nose. The finish is medium length and
light. Pork or roast chicken would go well, as
would a spicy fish preparation. $9-13.
Nero d’Avola (also known as “Calabrese”)
was used for a long time as a blending
grape, largely used for its inky color to
add some heft to some of the other local
product. However, cultivated properly, this
varietal produces a very solid wine in and of
itself. It’s now the most cultivated grape in
Sicily. Neros are generally big, fruity wines.
They’re usually very straightforward, and
Arancio 2007 Nero d’Avola -- Feudo
Arancio wines are Sicilian in origin. This
wine is a decent representation of what
the grape has become in its native soil. It’s
not as fruity as the first one -- considerably
earthier, and with a little bit of that Italian
chalk. It’s still pretty fruity, but has a nice
spicy undertone that I liked. It would be a
great pairing with almost any hearty Italian
#043009052009
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
Listings
listings@valleyplanet.com
Cont.from17
Enter Tyrone, my trainer. I’ve got at least
30 pounds and three inches on him and our
philosophy on pain is just as different. One
Wednesday was just a little rough and I
treated myself to a four-mile run before my
appointment with Tyrone. Thirty ab moves
into the workout, I was ready to leave. The
run did me in and pushing it wasn’t an option.
He looked at me and while nothing came out
of his mouth, his eyes simply said, “You’re
not going anywhere.” I stuck with him and
for the next 55 minutes, pushed through the
pain. Two days later I hobbled, limped, and
cringed. Three days later the pain was gone.
Now let’s think about it in terms of emotional
pain. Despite the risk of break-ups and
divorce, we still search for love. Even when
it’s easier to play it safe, we still risk the pain.
Because beyond pain is something great.
Nothing great is ever accomplished when we
intentionally avoid the pain. No great feats,
no great legends are born, no great stories
are written. Physical, emotional, and mental
pain passes. Greatness lingers.
When you come to that place where you must
decide between risking pain or staying safe, I
say go for pain. Embrace it. And when you
meet greatness after be proud you didn’t take
the easy route.
food. We had it with chicken tortellini soup
and it was fabulous. For the price, you can’t
beat it. $6-10.
Morgante 2006 Nero d’Avola -- When
I was a teenage sci-fi/fantasy geek, I read
a series of books by Steven Brust. In this
series of books, there was a type of weapon
called a “Morganti” weapon that would
destroy a person’s soul. This similarlynamed wine didn’t do anything like that, but
it did leave my soul weakened. Available for
$11-18, this was the most expensive of the
wines that I bought, and was by far the most
disappointing. The nose was nice enough
-- lots of fruit. The taste of the wine was
unimpressive, however. No pronounced
character of much of anything, and a finish
that could only be described as flabby.
Perhaps I just got a bad bottle, but I’d snag
two bottles of the Arancio in a heartbeat in
its place.
Dining
801 FRANKLIN
APPLEBEE’S
3150 N. Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256 859-4200
11331 Hwy 72 E., Athens
BEAUREGARD’S (3 Huntsville locations)
1009 N.Memorial Pkwy , 256-512-0074
511 Jordan Lane, 256-837-2433
975 Airport Rd. SW, 256-880-2131
1421 H.Paramount Dr., Huntsville, 256-489-5380
BISTRO LA LUNA
7001 Val-Monte Drive, Guntersville, 256-582-0930.
BISTRO LA VILLE
7914 South Memorial Pkwy, STE E16, Huntsville 256 489-1515
B&J RESTAURANT
Hwy 231 S., Lacey Springs, 256-880-0521
THE BLUE PARROT
7001 Val Monte Drive, Guntersville, 256 582-0930
BONEFISH GRILL
4800 Whitesburg Dr. , 256-883-0643
BUFFALO WILD WINGS
2750 Carl T. Jones Dr., Huntsville, 256-650-4115
CAFE 113
113 Grant St. SE, Decatur, 256-350-1400
CAFÉ MICHAEL
5732 HWY 431 S, Huntsville, 256-539-9113.
CAHOOTS
114 WestMarket Street, Fayetteville, 931 433-1173
CHILI’S (2 Huntsville locations)
2740 Carl T. Jones, 256-882-1230
CHOPHOUSE, THE
109 Washington Street, Huntsville, 256-704-5555.
CLAYSVILLE SNACK BAR
21192 U.S. Hwy 431, Gunterville
CRAWMAMMA’S
5000 Webb Villa, Guntersville, 256-582-0484
CUES STEAKHOUSE
12361 U.S. Hwy 431, Guntersville,
D&L BISTRO
7500 SW Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville,
256-881-7244, located in Main St. South
THE DOCKS
417 Ed Hembree, Scottsboro, 256-574-3071
DOLCE
365 The Bridge Street, Huntsville, 256-327-8385
SOUL BURGER
2900 Triana Blvd. SW, Huntsville, 256-534-8585
Breakfast,Coffee&Lunch
STANLIEO’S SUB VILLA (2 Huntsville locations)
605 Jordan Lane, 256-837-7220
602 Governors Drive, 256-536-6585
ALABAMA BREAD COMPANY
975 Airport Rd., Huntsville, 256-882-2010.
TOMMY’S PIZZA
325 The Bridge St. STE 101, Huntsville, 256-327-8600
ANGEL’S ISLAND COFFEE
7538 S.Memorial Pkwy., Huntsville, 256-319-3424
TONY’S ITALIAN DELI (2 Locations)
119 James Madison Drive SW, Huntsville, 256-772-4448
Airport Rd., Huntsville
CARRABAS
Parkway Place Mall Huntsville, Al 35801
COFFEE CREATIONS
616 HWY 31, S ATHENS, AL 35611
BB PERRINS
608 Holly St, NE, Decatur, 256-355-0980
RICATONI’S ITALIAN GRILL
107 N. Court St., Florence, 256-718-1002
COFFEE AND TEA COMPANY
Madison Square Mall, Huntsville 256-837-7085
BIG BOB GIBSON’S BBQ
2520 Danville Rd. SW, Decatur, 256-350-0404
ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL
5901 University Drive, Huntsville, 256-722-4770
COFFEE TREE BOOKS & BREW
7900 Bailey Cove Rd., Huntsville, 256-880-6464
CLEM’S BBQ & FISHERY
3700 Blue Spring Rd., Huntsville, 256-852-6661
TELLINI’S CAFE & GRILL (2 LOCATIONS)
1515 Perimeter Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-726-9006
CRACKER BARREL (2 Locations)
2001 Drake Ave, Huntsville256-881-4177
120 Cleghorn Blvd., Madison,256-461-7670
DREAMLAND
3855 University Dr., Huntsville 256-539-7427
TERRANOVA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
1420 Paramount Dr., Huntsville, 256-489-8883
GIBSON BBQ (4 locations)
3319 Memorial Pkwy., Huntsville, 256-881-4851
8412 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, 256-882-0841
735 Hwy 72 E, Huntsville, 256-852-9882
1715 6th Ave., SE, Decatur, 256-350-6969
TONY’S LITTLE ITALY(2 LOCATIONS)
7 Town Center Drive, Huntsville 256-721-7629
4800 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, 256 881-2147
ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE
2750 Carl T. Jones Dr., Huntsville
DAILY BREW
2941 St. Mallard Pkwy, Decatur, 256-355-0330
ELK RIVER COFFEE COMPANY
117 Main Avenue North, Fayetteville, 931- 438-9888
JAMO’S CAFÉ
413 Jordan Lane NW, Huntsville, 256-837-7880.
JAVA JAAY CAFE (2 Decautr Locations)
1713 6th Ave. SE, Decatur, 256-351-8555
1801 Beltline Rd. (Colonial Mall), 256-350-6700.
KAFFEEKLATSCH
LAGNIAPPES COFFEE CAFE
119 East Moulton, Decatur
LITTLE DINER (across form Chuckee Cheese)
1219 Jordan Lane Suite A, Huntsville, 256 837-6971
MAMA ANNIE’S
4550 Meridian St. N, Huntsville, 256-489-3275
O’HOULIHAN’S
101 East Market Street, Fayetteville 931 433-0557
OLDE TOWNE COFFEE SHOPPE
511 Pratt Ave NE, Huntsville, 256-539-5399
STEARNS COFFEE
2113 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, 256-534-0513
SUBWAY
14450 hwy 231-431 STE A, Hazel Green
WILD ROSE CAFE
121 North Side Square, Huntsville, 256-539-3658
Cajun
INDIGO JOE’S
7407 Hwy 72 W Madison, AL 256-489-9393
K C’s COYOTE CAFE
410 Old Town St., Guntersville, 256-582-1676
KETCHUP
Bridge Street Town Center, Huntsville, 256-327-8390
LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE (3 Huntsville locations)
4249 Balmoral Drive, Huntsville, 256-881-0584
University Drive NW, Huntsvile
2315 Beltline SW, Decatur, 256-432-2746
MAIN STREET CAFE
101Main Street, Madison, 461-8096
MAMA ANNIE’S
4550 Meridian Street N, 489-3275
MARKET STREET CAFE
475 Providence Main Street, Huntsville, 256-489-6273
NEWK’S EXPRESS CAFE
4925 University Dr, Huntsville, 256-430-9662
THE RESTAURANT
2167 Winchester Hwy, Kelso, TN, 931-433-9946
SCENE AT BRIDGE STREET
370 The Bridge Street, Huntsville,
SHEA’S EXPRESS
415 E Church St, Huntsville AL, 532-5277
TGI FRIDAY’S
4935 University Drive NW, Huntsville, 256-830-2793
TOP O’ THE RIVER
7004 Val-Monte, Guntersville, 256-582-4567
THE VALLEY PLANET
Burgers,Deli,&Pizza
BELLACINO’S PIZZA & GRINDERS
BIG ED’S PIZZERIA
903 North Parkway Huntsville 256-489-3374
C.F. PENN HAMBURGERS
121 E. Moulton St., Decatur, 256-553-1903
CHEEBURGER, CHEEBURGER (3 locations)
300 Hughes Rd, Madison, 256-464-9990
Providence Main, Huntsville, 256-830-4222
DALLAS MILL DELI
500 Pratt Ave. Huntsville, 256-489-4240
#043009052009
I LOVE SUSHI
2000 Cecil Ashburn Dr. ATE 102, Huntsville, , 256-885-1818
MIKATO JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE & LOUNGE
4061 Independence Dr. NW, Huntsville, 256-830-1700.
MIKAWA RESTAURANT
1010 Heathland Dr, Huntsville, 256-837-7440.
BLUE PLATE CAFE
3210 Governors Drive, Huntsville, 256-533-8808
MISO HOUSE
404 Jordan Lane, Huntsville. 256-489-7766
DUFFEY’S
5125 Moores Mill Rd., Huntsville, 256-859-6003
MIWON JAPANESE RESTAURANT
404 Jordan Lane NW, Huntsville, 256-533-7771
G’S COUNTRY KITCHEN
2501 Oakwood Dr., Huntsville, 256-533-3034
MIYAKO
10013 South Parkway, Huntsville, 256-880-9879
MAMA ANNIE’S
4550 Meridian St. N, Huntsville, 256-489-3275
NEW CHINA
PANDA
5000 Whitesburg Dr., Suite 128, 256-880-3220/880-1395
PHUKET
Providence Town, Huntsville, 256-489-1612
ROYAL BUFFET
2003 Drake Ave. Huntsville, 256-883-8998
SKILLET
1605 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, (256) 533-5734
Mexican&Southwestern
BANDITO BURRITO (3 locations)
3017 Governors Dr SW, Huntsville, 256-534-0866
208 Main St., Madison, 256-461-8999
11220 S.Parkway, Huntsville, 256-489-3232
SAIGON VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT
8760 Madison Blvd. Ste. # P and Q, Madison, AL 35758 ,256-772-0202
SHO GUN JAPANESE STEAK & SUSHI BAR
SURIN OF THAILAND (2 locations)
975 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville, 256-213-9866
Hwy 72 ,Madison
CANTINA LAREDO
300 The Bridge Street, STE 100, Huntsville, 256-327-8580
TAI PAN PALACE
2012 Mem. Pkwy, S, Huntsville, 256-539-5797
CASA OLE
13989 Hwy 231-431 Hazel Green,, 256 828-6000
THAI GARDEN RESTAURANT
800 Wellman Ave. NE, Huntsville, 256-534-0122
CASA BLANCA MEXICAN RESTAURANT (4 locations)
7830 Hwy 72 W, Ste 230, Madison 256-864-0360
140 Browns Ferry Rd, Madison 256-464-6044
7900 Bailey Cove Rd, Huntsville 256-883-4447
1802 Hwy 72 E, Ste D, Athens 256-771-0130
TOKYO JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE & SUSHI BAR
1105 Wayne Road, Huntsville, 256-217-1719
German
HILDEGARD’S
EL CAMINO REAL
41782 Hwy 231, Meridianville, 256 828-2942
OL HEIDELBERG CAFÉ
6125 University Drive NW E14, Huntsville, 256-922-0556.
EL MARIACHI (3 locations)
14450 Hwy 231/431 N Hazel Green, 256-828-1466
1836 Winchester Road, Huntsville 256-851-7255
7193 Hwy 72 W, Madison, 256-890-0900
GUADALAJARA MEXICAN RESTAURANTS
11208 S. Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville 256-882-7311
8572 Madison Blvd, Madison 256-774-1401
SAM & GREG’S GELATO CAFE
119 North Side Sq. , Huntsville, 256-533-9030
HYUN’S KOREAN GARDEN
Main Street South Shopping Village
7500 Memorial Pkwy South,Huntsville, 256 489-8888
BILL’S CAFE
111 East Market St., Fayetteville, 931 433-5332
FIREHOUSE SUBS
3022 S.Mem.Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-885-2257
4275 University Dr., Huntsville, 256-971-8989
8572 Madison Blvd.,, Madion, 256-774-8028
RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS
365 The Bridge St., Huntsville, 256-327-8530
EDO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
104 N. Intercom Drive, Madison, 256-772-0360
HomeCooking
EL PALACIO
2008 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville 256-539-6075
McALLISTER’S DELI (2 Huntsville locations)
4800 Whitesburg Drive S, 256-880-1557
1480 Perimeter Pkwy, 256-425-0034.
DING HOW II
THOMAS PIT BBQ
Hwy 72 ,W, Madison, 256-837-4900
DUFFY’S DELI
2324 Whitesburg, Huntsville, 256-533-4179
HOTDOGGIT
6610 Old Madison Pike, Huntsville
CHINA MOON
11700 S Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-880-2626
TAILGATER’S BBQ
5638 Hwy 53, Huntsville 256- 852-3388
ROLO’S CAFE
505 Airport Rd., Huntsville, 256-883-7656
PAPOU’S
110 South Side Square, Huntsville, 256-534-5553
Asian
ASIAN CITY
10871 County Line Rd. STE C, Madison, 256-772-8282
SMOKEY’S BARBEQUE
8073 Hwy 72, W, Madison, 256-721-0300
TIM’S CAJUN KITCHEN
114 Jordan Lane, Huntsville, 256-533-7589.
PAPA GYROS
LA STRADA
524 Gunter Ave., Guntersville. 256-582-2250.
SIMMON’S BBQ
10099 SOUTH MEMORIAL PARKWAY, 256-882-5030
GRILLE 29
445 Providence Main, Huntsville, 256-489-9470.
HUMPHREY’S BAR & GRILL
109 Washington Street, Huntsville, 256-704-5555.
Italian
OLE HICKORY PIT BBQ
5061 Maysville Road New Market, 256-859-2824
MULLIN’S
607 Andrew Jackson, Huntsville, 256-539-2826
JAMO’S CAFE
413 Jordan Ln., Huntsville,
TORTORA’S
182 Old Hwy 431 Suite B, Hampton Cove, AL 35763, 256-536-6100
MERIDIANVILLE BBQ
11537 Hwy. 231N., Meridianville, 256-828-3725
PO BOY FACTORY
815 Andrew Jackson Way, Huntsville, 256-539-3616.
Mediterranean
TERESA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
1906 Gunter Ave., Guntersville, 256-582-5673
BBQ
GAME DAY GRILL
10871 County Line Rd. STE E, Madison, 256 461-8082
HOOTERS
ROSIE’S MEXICAN CANTINA (2 locations)
7540 S. Memorial Pkwy, 256-382-3232
WINGS SPORTS GRILLE
4250 Balmoral Dr. SW, Huntsville, 256-881-8878.
CAJUN CAFE
704 Hwy 231 Lacey’s Spring 256-650-5586
PAULI’S BAR & GRILL
7143-C Hwy 72 W, Huntsville, 256-722-2080.
THE VALLEY PLANET
WILD FLOUR BISTRO
501 Jordan Ln., Huntsville, 256-722-9401
FURNITURE FACTORY BAR & GRILL
HAZEL GREEN FAMILY RESTAURANT
13903 Hwy 231-431 N, Hazel Green 256 828-7959
PHIL SANDOVAL’S MEXICAN RESTAURANTE
SCHLOTZSKY’S DELI (3 locations)
4319 University Drive NW, 256-830-6400
11120 Memorial Pkwy SW, 256-650-6300
8969 Hwy. 20, Madison, 256-464-5300
WEST SIDE COFFEE PLACE & CAFE
2699B Sandlin Rd., SW, Decatur, 256-353-2025
SCHNITZEL RANCH
Caribbean
ISLAND JERK
2501 Jordan Ln, Huntsville,. 256-489-4774
CASA MONTEGO INTERNATIONAL LOUNGE
2117 Jonathan Drive, Huntsville, 256-858-9187.
LA ALAMEDA
3807 University Drive NW, Huntsville, 256-539-6244
LITTLE ROSIE’S TAQUERIA
4781 Whitesburg Dr S, Huntsville, 256-882-0014
LOS MAYOS
322 Sutton Rd. Suite J, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 256-536-1041
MARIA BONITA GRILL & CANTINA
125 E. Moulton St., Decatur, 256-552-1903
PEPITO’S
3508 Mem. Pkwy. S, Huntsville, 256-858-0059
ContinuedonPage26
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
25
Gossip
David
Langley’s
daughter in Houston,
Lana
Michelle
Langley, has married
Cesar
Rodriguez.
Her
granddad,
Dr.
Ralph Langley, tied
the matrimonial knot
while his Eula looked
on. The whole bunch is
back home in Huntsville
today.
by Billy Joe Cooley
Part of the cast of the
new Disney film Hannah
Montana is my daughter,
Conni Heard, and my
grandkids Sarah and
Henry Heard.
Cute collegian Laura
Moran and handsome
Floyd Jordan did their studies the
other evening at the book stores.
Among midday bands performing at
South Pittsburg’s Cornbread Festival
on Saturday was Huntsville’s ‘Old
Timey,’ featuring Karen Falkowski,
Edwin Wilson, Michael DeFosche.
Brooke Allen and Ken Ramsey.
Pastor Steve Wesson is mending from
heart surgery and says wife Sally is an
excellent nurse. At our Life Church
supper table also sat Maybelline
Johnson.
Floyd
Hardin’s
community picnic this year will be
Monday, May 4, from 11 a.m. until the
food runs out. It’s always held on his
Jackson Way Barbershop grounds. It’s
sort of a homecoming and Scottsboro
pawnbroker Jim Green always shows
up, as does all of Huntsville.
Then, the next day (Tuesday, May 5)
is when The Mills Brothers do a free
afternoon concert at Senior Expo in
the civic center.
Tenor singer Calvin Newton, at age
80, spent two days on the roof of his
Lookout Mountain home this month
repairing storm damage.
The fascinating Jean King joined our
bunch at the FBC dinner table the other
evening and told tales of her native
New Mexico.
country. And they do it well. They
even have a publicist: Charles’ pretty
daughter Tracy Oliver.
The Valley Planet Music Exchange is FREE to any individual looking to buy, sell, trade or find bandmates. You get a headline and 3 lines of text for the low, low price of nothing. If you
wish to embellish your ad further, say, with a small photo (add $5) or more words (add $1 per line), it’s up to you. Now, if you are a business, you gotta pay a little something, $12 per
column inch. Please call Jill Wood at (256) 533-4613 if you would like to put your business in the Exchange. Email your ads to classifieds@valleyplanet.com or send them by snail mail to
Music Exchange,203 Grove Ave. Huntsville AL, 35801. NO AD WILL RUN UNTIL PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED!
MUSIC EXCHANGE
The great Dixie Echoes Quartet
will be in a free concert Friday night
(7 o’clock) May 29 at Mable Hill
Baptist Church, just off Highway 53
before you get to Ardmore. The group
Compassion will open the program.
Classical Flute and Voice Lessons – BA in Music graduate from
UAH seeking serious students 10
yrs-adult. I have 19 years experience. $75.00 monthly for 1 hr
lesson per week. Contact Sharla
Grable @256.532.3966 or email
sharlabe@hotmail.com.
Ken Apple Family performed for
a revival last week at University
Nazarene.
Classical Flute and Voice Lessons – BA in Music graduate from
UAH seeking serious students 10
yrs-adult. I have 19 years experience. $75.00 monthly for 1 hr
lesson per week. Contact Sharla
Grable @256.532.3966 or email
sharlabe@hotmail.com.
I had not seen the great Elvis look/
sound alike Charles Markham since
the 1970s, but there he was onstage at
Hog Wild Club the other night with
his band, Bonafide. And playing steel
guitar was the legendary Bobby Street.
Rounding out the band are Kevin
Caudle. Steve Soto, Jeff Sanford and
Jimmy Riggs. The Elvis stuff is long
gone, so the group now plays straight
Guitarist and Drummer looking
for a bass player and singer/
guitar player for a rock/reggae/
funk type band. Must have own
equipment. Style closely related
to 311 and Sublime. Contact
AJ at 520-8352 or email at
dj_krayola@yahoo.com.
Piano Tuner, woman, thirty yrs,
experience, $80 cash to tune any
piano. please call 783-7267
For sale: Hartke Bass Amp,
200 watts, tube pre amp, on/e 15”
speaker, aluminum cone, great
performance amp. paid $650
new, will sell for $325 or best
offer, please call 783-7267
Voice and Piano Lessons – By
note, number and ear. Adults and
children. 16 years experience.
Huntsville area. 318 491-1995
Looking for a drummer for a
band that has been established in
Huntsville for the past 8 years and
still plays regularly. Jazz/Rock/
Jam, open to much else. Aim
to write and record originals
soon. Contact Ben Davis 256-694-2363
Producer looking for rapper/
keyboard to partner up with Email
almurphyii@hotmail.com
Listings
MoreListingsCont.from25
Attractions
MAYES BLACK DANCE THEATRE (M.B.D.T.)
2419 Oakwood Ave. NW Suite #F Huntsville, 256-489-5903
LOWRY HOUSE
1205 Kildare St.,Huntsville, 256-489-9200
RENAISSANCE THEATRE AT LINCOLN CENTER
MONTE SANO STATE PARK
5015 Nolen Ave., Huntsville, 256-534-3757
THEATRE HUNTSVILLE
1701 University Dr, Suite 1, Huntsville, 256-536-0807.
SCI-QUEST
102-D Wynn Drive, Huntsville, 256-837-0606.
THE WHOLE BACKSTAGE THEATRE
1120 Rayburn Avenue, Guntersville, 256-582-7469.
US SPACE & ROCKET CENTER
1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, 256-837-3400.
ALABAMA CONSTITUTION VILLAGE
109 Gates Ave., Huntsville, 256-564-8100.
AMERICAN INDIAN MUSEUM
2003 Poole Drive NW, Huntsville, 256-852-4524.
BURRITT ON THE MOUNTAIN:
3101 Burritt Drive SE, Huntsville, 256-536-2882.
Galleries
VON BRAUN CENTER
700 Monroe St. Huntsville, 256-533-1953.
801 FRANKLIN
THE WEEDEN HOUSE
300 Gates Avenue SE, Huntsville, 256-536-7718
ARS NOVA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
7908C Charlotte Drive, Huntsville, 256-883-1105.
CATHEDRAL CAVERNS STATE PARK
637 Cave Road, Woodville. 256-728-8193.
EARLYWORKS MUSEUM COMPLEX
404 Madison Street SE, Huntsville, 256-564-8100.
GORHAM’S BLUFF
Pisgah, 256-451-ARTS.
HARMONY PARK SAFARI
431 Clouds Cove Road, New Hope. 1-877-7ANIMAL.
HARRISON BROTHERS HARDWARE
124 Southside Square, Huntsville, 256-536-3631. Alabama’s oldest hardware store.
HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN
4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, 256-830-4447.
HUNTSVILLE STARS
Joe W. Davis Stadium, 3125 Leeman Ferry Rd, Huntsville, 256-882-2562.
HUNTSVILLE HAVOC
700 Monroe Street. Huntsville, AL (256) 518-6160.
INTERNATIONAL VOCAL STUDIOS
2358 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, 256-512-5571,
26
THE LAND TRUST TRAILS
Bankhead Pkwy., Huntsville, 256-534-LAND
ARTS COUNCIL, THE
700 Monroe street, Suite 2 Huntsville AL 35081, 256-519-2787
ATHENS ST. STUDENT UNION ART GALLERY
300 N. Beaty St., Athens, Athens State University,
800-522-0272
ART@TAC GALLERY
Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St., Huntsville, 256-519-ARTS (2787)
BROADWAY THEATRE LEAGUE
700 Monroe St. Suite 410, Huntsville, 256-518-6155.
ARTISTIC IMAGES
2115 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, 256-534-3968.
FANTASY PLAYHOUSE CHILDREN’S THEATRE
3312 Long Avenue SW, Huntsville, 256-539-6829
CALVERT STUDIO
627 Gunter Ave., Guntersville,
FLYING MONKEY ARTS CENTER
2211 Seminole Drive, Huntsville, 256-489-7000
THE CARNEGIE
207 Church St., Decatur,
FOOTLIGHTS COMMUNITY THEATER
302 Hoffman St. Athens, 256-216-0903
CAROLE FORET FINE ART
206 West Market St., Athens, 256-232-2521.
HUNTSVILLE BALLET COMPANY
800 Regal Drive SW, Huntsville, 256-539-0961
CORRON STUDIOS
8006 Old Madison Pike #15, Madison, 256-325-7622
HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY CHORUS
3312 Long Avenue, Fantasy Arts Center, Huntsville, 256-533-6606
FOOTLIGHTS COMMUNITY THEATER
302 Hoffman St., Athens, 256-777-0822.
HUNTSVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
North Side Von Braun Center, Huntsville 256-539-4818.
HUNTSVILLE ART LEAGUE GALLERY
3005 L&N Drive, Suite 2, Huntsville, 256-534-3860.
LOWE MILL
2211 Seminole Dr., Huntsville,
HUNTSVILLE MUSEUM OF ART
300 Church Street So., Huntsville. , 256-535-4350
#043009052009
LIVING ART WATER GARDENS
220 Old Hwy 431, Hampton Cove, 256-288-0003
MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIO
3614 Jackson Highway Sheffield Al.
MAYES BLACK DANCE THEATRE (M.B.D.T.)
2635 Bonita Cir.,Huntsville, 256-489-2635
MERIDIAN ARTS
370 Little Cove Road, Gurley, AL, 256-776-4300.
MONDO DE TATUAGE GALLERY
Corner of 6th Ave. and 7th St., Decatur, 256-306-9099.
MVAC FINE ARTS GALLERY
300 Gunter Ave.,Guntersville, 256-582-1454.
PARSONS ART GALLERY
3rd Floor Railroad Station Antiques
315 Jefferson St., Huntsville, 256-520-2360
SIGNATURE GALLERY
2364 Whitesburg Drive S, Huntsville, 256-536-1960.
THE STUDIO
1219 C Jordan Lane, Huntsville, 256 318-0169
UNIVERSITY CENTER ART GALLERY
University of Alabama in Huntsville, 256-824-1000
WILLIS GRAY GALLERY
211 2nd Ave. SE, Decatur, 256-355-7616
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
TheEnd!
THE VALLEY PLANET
Ordo, progressive rock band, is
looking for the best bass player in
Huntsville. Paid position! Call 256
479-8415 or 256 227-6490.
FOR SALE Tama 7pc Drum Set
Amber Gold w/all HDWE & cymbals $1300.00 256-430-0598
Local Artist seeking folk/indie
band or similar. Play intermediate guitar and keyboard; vocals
and songwriting. Email
theravenfliesnorth@gmail.com
Aria Pro Bass for sale: Cherry
Woodstain Red, small gouge on
back from belt buckle. Includes
Epiphone Hardshell case. $200
obo Sharon Grant (256) 734-7129
THE VALLEY PLANET
Do you have talents as a
musician?
Do you have a heart for worshiping God?
Then...you need to be playing
in our Praise and Worship band
at First Baptist in Gurley, AL
(www.fbcgurley.org) Our worship
team is looking for
gifted members with these talents:
-electric guitar
-bass
-percussion
-other (synth/wind instruments)
We practice once a week on Wed.
nights (7-8PM). Please email Norman @ pink_zepp@hotmail.com
For Sale:
Refinished Wurlitzer Upright
Piano, Tropicalized-(256)7774072, $750
Gibraltar Road Series
Multiclamp(sc-grsmc) $12.00,
(256)777-4072
Gibraltar SC-GPRMC Power
Rack Multi-Clamp $10.00,
(256)777-4072
Carbonlite 33” bar $45.00,
(256)777-4072
DW 5000 HiHat Stand in Good
Condition $100.00 (256)777-4072
DRUMMER NEEDED ASAP!!!
Working band looking for versatile
drummer. We play blues, rock,
and folk covers, and some originals. Currently writing material.
Gigs available, just need a
drummer to get it tight!! Call
(256)898-4075 April/Derix Email:
asparks@tvrllc.com
For sale: 15.5 inch Viola. Case,
bow, & headrest. great condition.
$700.00 or best offer. 701-6413
Goth, Metal, Pop Band seeking
female singer
Contact;
Simoneisgone@yahoo.com
Lead singer/rhythm guitar and
keyboard player needed for
established Decatur Christian rock
band Paul Says Hello. Youth,
talent and experience a plus,
but spiritual maturity a must.
Will require reference from your
church pastor. Call Cameron at
256-227-5377 or email uncloudyd
ay@bellsouth.net. View band at
www.myspace.com/paulsayshello.
Band seeking guitarist. Must be
willing to do gigs . Stlyles Hard
rock, Metal. Contact mark @ (256)
616-4275
Rhythm guartist seeking to join/
form alternative/rock band
ask for dave 256-682-7663
Multi-range metal vocalist
who’s creative and fun and open
for suggestions needed for local
thrash metal band Konflyct. Call:
256-694-1055
Singer seeking band: Female, wide range; into alternative or modern rock, open
to other genres. Contact at
runningtherisk@yahoo.com
Wanted someone for banjo
lessons 5 string. Call 652-3791.
Guitarist forming instrumental
Surf band. Need drummer,
bassist, 2nd guitarist/
keyboardist for show on 4/19.
Other gigs to follow. Mix of covers
and original material. Vintage
or reissue gear a plus. email:
Gretschman66@aol.com
Church Looking for Musician
Morris Chapel Church Desperately seeking a musican for
Sunday Services Contact: Mozella
Davis 256-852-8844 Email:
cmd_2425@knology.net
Pianist - Looking for restaurant/
lounge gig in Huntsville with a
piano - oldies, jazz, blues, new
age. 931-433-0565 or
931-625-5101
Violin Teacher Wanted to teach
music classes, contact Ann at
info@ivsmusic.com or
256-512-5571
Singer wanted for original
rock band. Visit myspace.com/
seekingasinger for details.
Professional Drummer Versatile
Styles Chris @ 227-6490
OLDIE SEEKING OLDIES AARP Bassist looking for AARP
drummer to form Prog Rock/
Fusion Jazz cover band. Contact
Andy at andywells2@knology.net
or 256-885-3746.
Rock band needing bassist in
Decatur, 227-2562
Authentic Reggae Band
looking for drummer and
other musicians (keyboard/
back up singer). Contact
leadguitar@knology.net 714-5089
Bass player needed for rock
- metal band contact doom_
popguitarist@yahoo.com or
227-2562
Bass player needed for rock
- metal band contact doom_
popguitarist@yahoo.com or
227-2562
#043009052009
Need a pet sitter? “If
you’re not home to play
Mommy or Daddy, Auntie
Jen will take care of your
furry family.”
Detailed info at
auntiejenpetsitter.com,
or call (256) 566-2020,
5am-9pm, 7 days/wk.
Looking for an English
tutor or editor?
Reasonable Rates
Bonnie Roberts
bonnierpoet@yahoo.com
MUSIC LESSONS
Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Pedal
Steel Guitar, Mandolin, Voice/Singing
Lessons.
256 534-1497
Lead GUITARIST / SINGER:
Searching for experienced female
vocalist/musician or male/female
guitarist that sings or Keyboardist
that also sings for high-tech TRIO
Band. Prefer baby-boomer era
artists with roots in the 60’s, 70’s,
Blues, Motown, Rock, Country
etc., genre. Must be professional,
dependable, focused, reliable
transportation, pro equipment, no
drugs, no alcohol, willing and able
to commit to the mutual goals of
the band. Not a “bar band”, per
se. Will be doing predominately
wedding receptions, Corp. party’s,
special occasions, etc. Rehearse
2X a week. I am a veteran of the
HSV club scene, owed booking
agency and have played in many
Bands. Much equipment & lights
John, 256-468-4233
johnnymack7@mindspring.com.
Musician looking for local working band...
I am a professional guitarist looking for a working Band. I can sing
lead or backup, play rhythm or
lead guitar. I have lots of equipment and know the local club
scene. I’m in my 50’s. I prefer
the classic stuff best... 60’s, 70’s,
80’s, Motown, Blues and Rock.
Call me. Johnny Mack 772-8037.
For Sale:
1985 Fender MIJ Stratocaster,
white, gigbag, ding on bottom.
$600 obo. 2005 SX SPJ-62
Sunburst Bass (Fender P/Jazz
copy) w. T-I strings. $125 obo.
2005 Stellar Mercury 001 (Les
Paul Standard copy) Sunburst.
$150 obo. 2005 Peavey JF1
EX (ES-335 copy) Dark wine
red. $150 obo. 2005 Tech21
Trademark 10 guitar amp $200
obo. 2005 SWR LA10 bass amp
$150 obo. Please call 256-4688136 for more info.
Veteran, professional guitarist
and singer looking to start a
Band or join a Band with mature,
experienced players. Duo, trio or
full band? Prefer Classic Rock,
Blues, Motown, Hard Rock but
not medal. Influences: Clapton,
Hendrix, Allman Bros., Skynyrd,
Led Zeppelin, Grandfunk RR,
Santana, Bad Company, Eagles,
Joe Walsh, Gary Moore to
name a few. I am dependable,
drug free, alcohol free, nonsmoker. Pro equipment
and gear. 35 plus years
experience. Veteran of local club
scene. 256-461-2903. John
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6
27

103 - Valley Planet

Transcription

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