Josh Blue opens up about cerebral palsy, `Last Comic Standing`

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015
SECTION C
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Josh Blue opens up
about cerebral palsy,
‘Last Comic Standing’
BY THOMAS BRUCH
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
PEORIA — One of the best stand-up comedians
in the business, Josh Blue, will be performing at
the Jukebox Comedy Club this weekend.
Blue, 36, won Season Four of “Last Comic
Standing” in 2006 and has since been a staple
on the stand-up comedy circuit. Though he has
earned many plaudits and has been featured
frequently in stand-up specials, he might be best
known for having cerebral palsy — something
he pokes fun at in a self-deprecating manner in
his performances. Yet he also talks about it to
highlight what you can accomplish while living
with the disorder.
Blue will appear at the Jukebox at 8 p.m.
Thursday, and at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday
and Saturday. Tickets cost $20 except for the
Thursday show and the late Friday show, which
are $15. Tickets can be purchased at the comedy
club or online at www.jukeboxcomedy.com.
The Journal Star talked to Blue recently
about his career, “Last Comic Standing” and
another one of his successful endeavors.
Q: In retrospect, what’s your opinion on “Last
Comic Standing” for younger comedians or comedians who haven’t gotten a shot yet?
A:
I have mixed feelings about it. Obviously
it really helped me blow into the scene. But it’s
still a dumb reality show. Any chance a comic
can get to get on TV is huge, so it’s definitely
Please see BLUE, Page C2
BY THOMAS BRUCH OF THE JOURNAL STAR
MAGICIAN
AND ‘AMERICA’S
GOT TALENT’
CONTESTANT
DAN SPERRY TO
PERFORM WITH
‘THE ILLUSIONISTS’
AT CIVIC CENTER
If you go
! What: The Illusionists
— Live From Broadway
! When: 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 21; 7:30
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.
! Where: Peoria Civic
Center Theater.
! Cost: Tickets cost $40,
$57 or $70. To purchase
tickets, visit the box office,
ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or call
(800) 745-3000.
he magician insists that no specific moment precipitated his
career in magic and illusions,
but he tells a tale that pretty
much suffices as one.
When Dan Sperry was very
young — maybe four or five
years old, he estimates — his
grandparents took him to a David Copperfield show. The first
trick was “The Death Saw,” a
big spinning saw blade that
Copperfield must elude before
it cuts him in half. The real premise was far more
harrowing. Instead, the saw “malfunctions” and
the blade drops too early, cutting Copperfield in
half without warning.
The young Sperry couldn’t comprehend the
theatrical illusion and thought he had just seen
Copperfield die. That was the end of the show
for Sperry and his grandparents. They exited the
theater with a mortified Sperry in tow.
As a mode of therapy, Sperry was later given
a magic kit from a toy store, something simple
like a ball disappearing in a cup and then reappearing. It was meant to assuage Sperry’s fears,
to show it wasn’t sinister. “This is normal,” he
remembers being told.
A few decades later, Sperry has established
a living as a touring magician. He will appear
alongside a troupe of magicians at the Peoria
Civic Center Theater for two nights next week in
“The Illusionists” as part of the Illinois Ameren
Broadway Series.
For years, his magic act mirrored the tame
parlor tricks of the toy magic kit from his youth.
He landed a job performing at children’s birthday
parties as a teenager and continued that for a
long time. Though he couldn’t frighten them, he
carefully cultivated a role he would later inhabit
on stage.
“There was a Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka antagonistic element to what I was doing,” Sperry said.
Please see ILLUSIONISTS, Page C2
PHOTO OF DAN SPERRY COURTESY OF “THE ILLUSIONISTS”
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Music
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Wednesdays - Ed & Judy Howard
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Thursdays - Gene Farris
Fridays - Ben & Kate
Saturdays - 3 ½ Men
Comedian Josh Blue will appear at the Jukebox
Comedy Club at 8 p.m. Thursday, and at 8 p.m. and
10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets cost $20
except for the Thursday show and the late Friday
show, which are $15.
5
SEE CALENDAR ON PAGE C6
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
1
The Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222 SW Washington
St., is hosting Wine & Art Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17
featuring painting with Kayla Phillips. Cost is $33 for nonmembers. To register call Taylor Stef at 863-3034. Ages 21
and over only.
The Haunted Infirmary at the Bartonville Insane
Asylum, 4500 Enterprise Drive, Bartonville, is open every
Friday and Saturday night in October from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Event is sponsored by Limestone JFL and Insane Women
Productions. Admission is $15 per person. Tickets available
at http://hauntedinfirmary.org/ or at the gate on haunt
nights until midnight (cash only).
Central Illinois Jazz Society House Band performs at 6
p.m. and The Brazilionaires begin at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 18
at the Starting Gate Banquet Room in Landmark Recreation
Center. Admission: $5/members; $7/nonmembers; free/
students. Call 692-5330 or visit www.cijs.org.
“I Feel a Song Coming On!,” Pride of Peoria Barbershop
Chorus 73rd annual concert will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at
the Northminster Presbyterian Church, 10720 N. Knoxville,
Peoria. $10/advance; $12/at the door. Call 231-2471.
Salsa at CAC: Dance lessons and open dancing will be
from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Contemporary
Art Center of Peoria, 305 SW Water St. Admission: $4/CAC
members; $7/nonmembers. Call 674-6822.
2
3
4
5
DOWNTOWN
110 SW. Jefferson
Peoria, IL 61602
RESERVATIONS
RECOMMENDED
(309) 673-5300
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C2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
HALLOWEEN FRIGHTS Judge’s Chamber is a hidden
AND THRILLS AWAIT lunch spot in Downtown
IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS
BY STEVE TARTER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
PEORIA — Downtown Peoria is not
Central Illinois offers Halloween attractions for all ages
and levels of fear. Here is a listing of some of the events.
! Spider Hill Haunted Attractions,
hosted by Three Sisters Park, every Friday and Saturday evening
in October from 7 to 11 p.m.
(Closed Halloween night). Features a Haunted House, Haunted
Walking Trail and Paintball Zombie Shoot, where participants get
to shoot zombies in the woods.
There will also be vendors, food,
roaming actors, a bonfire and
other entertainment.
! The Haunted Infirmary at the
Bartonville Insane Asylum, 4500
Enterprise Drive, Bartonville, is
open every Friday and Saturday
night in October from 7 p.m. to
1 a.m. Event is sponsored by
Limestone JFL and Insane Women
Productions. Admission is $15
per person. Tickets available at
http://hauntedinfirmary.org/ or
at the gate on haunt nights until
midnight (cash only).
! Spook Hollow with M.C. Manor
& M.C. Nightmare — three horrifying events for one admission
price — will be Oct. 16,17, 23
and 24 in Marquette Heigihts.
Spook Hollow leads guests into
the deep woods of Independence
Park, M.C. Manor is a spine
tingling Haunted Mansion and
M.C. Nightmare will lead guests
through a twisted and run down
Industrial Haunt. Admission
is $25 and $40 for a speed
pass to avoid long lines. Tickets
are available online at: http:
//spookhollow.ticketleap.com/
2015/ and at the gate from 6:30
p.m.-11 p.m. Gate opens nightly
at 7 p.m. The event is located just
off Interstate I-474 Exit 9, look
for the search light (613 LaSalle
Blvd., Marquette Heights). Event
is sponsored by the Marquette
Heights Men’s Club.
! Haunted Peoria area tours,
based on historical documentation, sponsored by Central Illinois
Paranormal Investigative Team:
Springdale Cemetery: 6 p.m. Oct.
13, 17, 23 and 27; French-Native American Burial Ground,
downtown: 6 p.m. Oct. 16; Cole
Hollow Trail, Pekin: 5 p.m. Oct.
20; Chillicothe Cemetery: 6
p.m. Oct. 24. Call 282-6768 for
reservations.
! 27th Annual Witches Walk, a
“not so scary” illuminated walk,
6-8 p.m. Oct. 15-17 and 22-24,
Fon du Lac Farm Park, 305 Neumann Drive, East Peoria. Cost:
$3/adults; $2.50/children ages
1-15. Call 694-2195.
! On Oct. 16-18 and 23-25
Wildlife Prairie Park will transform
into Wildlife Scary Park! The Park
will become a family friendly Halloween party. Ride the Trainsylvanian Express through the woods
and see the fright. Take a walk
down our Giant Trick or Treat Trail,
don’t forget a bag for candy. Or
take a ride on our Not So Scary
hayrack ride. This year will include
a new extra scary event. Hours
are 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 16-17 and
Oct. 23-24 and 4 to 8 p.m. Oct.
18 and 25. For information, call
676-0998. Admission is $10 for
non-members; $8 for members.
! Special Halloween fun at the
Peoria PlayHouse this October
includes a Halloween Costume
Creations workshop for kids ages
8-12 at 10 a.m. Oct. 17. Cost is
$10 per child, $8 per member.
On Oct. 10, the park will be transformed into a haunted forest.
There is no additional charge to
participate in this event. Admission to the PlayHouse is $8 for
ages 1-65, $7 for ages older than
65 and active military personnel,
and free for infants under 1. The
museum is free for members;
membership begins at $85 per
family. For more information, visit
www.peoriaplayhouse.org or call
323-6900.
! Peoria Zoo will present its new
Pumpkin Bash from 11 a.m. to
2 p.m. Oct. 24. Event includes
a mini trick-or-treat trail, games,
crafts, and spooky decorations.
This event is open to the public
and is included with regular Zoo
admission of $6/children 2-12,
$9/adults, $8/seniors and
active military. Zoo admission
also includes free admission to
Luthy Botanical Garden with its
Hogwarts Garden of Botanical
Wonders Oct. 9 - Nov. 8. Call
681-3559 for more information
or go to www.peoriazoo.org.
! Pearce Community Center will
host its 25th annual Spooktacular on Oct. 30. The event
will begin at 4 p.m. with carnival
games and a cake walk. There
will be a haunted house, live
entertainment, costume contest
and a monster mash dance
beginning at 7 p.m. A hot dog
dinner with chips and a drink will
be available to purchase. Game
tickets can be purchased for 25
cents. The hot dog dinner will be
$3 for children 12 and under and
$5 for adults. A large adult meal
with two hot dogs will be available for $7. For more information,
call 274-4209 or visit Pearce at
www.pearcecc.com.
! Peoria Heights Chamber of
Commerce Second Annual Fall
Celebration includes a Halloween
costume contest and parade
at 11 a.m. Oct. 31. An afterparade party will be at Heights
Flowers on Prospect Road with
games and refreshments plus
trick or treats at participating
chamber businesses. Register
for the parade online by Oct.
28. For more information and to
register for the parade visit the
Peoria Heights Chamber website:
www.peoriaheightschamber.com
or call 282-7733.
! The Peoria Magicians Assembly
is presenting “Halloween Magic
Spook-tacular,” a family-friendly
show featuring Spook Magic,
Comedy Halloween Skits, and
plenty of Monster Characters to
give everyone a fun scare just in
time for Halloween! Event will be
at 3 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Exposition Gardens Opera House, 1601
W. Northmoor Road. General admission tickets are $5 for ages 3
and up; under 3 are free. Tickets
available at the door the day of
the show. Doors open at
2:30 p.m.
without its dining options. You know
about the food carts, impending food
trucks and, of course, a number of
long-standing restaurants.
But sometimes we forget — or at
least I forget — that bars serve food,
too. That leads us to the Judge’s
Chamber, 514 Main St., right across
the street from the Pere Marquette/
Marriott hotel complex.
The trail for a Downtown lunch
led me there after learning that
Ulrich’s Rebellion Room, just down
the street, now serves lunch only on
Thursdays and Fridays.
“There’s just not enough business
Downtown to serve every day,” an
Ulrich’s employee said.
But the Judge’s Chamber, right
alongside Hoops, was open this Monday afternoon, so we headed in.
The atmosphere during the day at
the Chamber is pretty much like it is
at night: it’s dark. It was also pretty
quiet. There were two customers at
the bar, plus the bartender, and that
was it.
A battery of video poker machines
sat idle while TVs showered sports
news down on us as we scanned the
Halloween decorations over the bar.
You’re not looking at a big menu at
the Chamber. You have a hamburger
($5), cheeseburger ($5.50), pork
tenderloin ($6.50), fish sandwich ($5)
and chicken strips ($6). As for appetizers such as onion rings, mini-tacos or breaded mushrooms, the price
is $4.75 apiece.
There’s also Butch’s pizza,
Morton’s own, which probably gets
plenty of takers in the wee hours.
But during the lunch hour, I went
for the tenderloin with fries, while
my dining companion settled on a
cheeseburger with onion rings.
The tenderloin was the standard
overwhelm-the-bun job that you
get at a lot of places. It came with
pickles, tomato and onion which
you need to boost the whole tender-
BLUE
Continued from Page C1
something comics look at
as a serious way of getting
out onto the road. The other
side of that is that it doesn’t
mean success. After I won,
I had to work like five times
harder.
Q: Your cerebral palsy plays
a big role in your jokes and
show. When did you become
comfortable with doing that?
A:
I still don’t (long
pause). No, I’m just kidding.
You know, I didn’t really talk
about it much when I first
started doing comedy. I was
more of a storyteller, talking
about experiences. Pretty
early on I realized when I
started getting personal, I
found that people could really relate to it. Not just cerebral palsy but any disability.
I really believe everyone has
some type of disability. I’m
loin experience. I add mustard and
ketchup and anything else I can find
on the table.
The fries at the Chamber were
particularly good — hot, crisp and
tasty. You can also get them as an appetizer, a move that I’d recommend.
The bartender who brought me
my Diet Pepsi ($1.50) was also our
server. He was particularly friendly
and attentive and made our stay at
the Chamber enjoyable.
My partner opted for the burger,
which he devoured hungrily. I
snatched one of his onion rings
(research) and judge them good but
A:
I got to be on the National Team for eight years
in the Paralympics. Before
that, I had very limited play.
I love the sport, but in junior
high I was cut from the team.
Which is pretty heartbreaking. In my humble opinion
in junior high, no one should
be cut. But that didn’t stop
me from kicking the ball
around and playing when I
could. And I’m so happy I did
because I went on to be not
a great soccer player, but a
pretty good one. Lots of caps
and a bunch of international
play and 15 goals scored in
my career.
Thomas Bruch can be reached at 686-3262 or
tbruch@pjstar.com.
But slowly his act and appearance
morphed. He took on a macabre
theme, all black attire and jet-black
hair and white face powder. And his
magic turned dark, too. The trick that
made him famous, in his 2010 stint
competing on “America’s Got Talent,”
not great.
It was a pleasant visit as well as
an enlightening one. After all, who
knew that places that thrive at night
also have something to offer during
the day?
Reminder: The Chamber maintains a cash-only policy, so have
something besides a credit card in
your wallet if you choose to stop
down.
Steve Tarter is Journal Star business editor. Tarter’s
phone number is 686-3260, and his email address is
starter@pjstar.com. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on
pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis set to perform
at Bradley’s Renaissance Coliseum
PEORIA — Grammy Award winning artist Macklemore and his sidekick, Ryan Lewis, will perform at
the Renaissance Coliseum at Bradley
University on Feb. 4.
Tickets went on sale Wednesday
morning for Bradley students only at
the Coliseum ticket office. Tickets for
students cost $11 through Nov. 3 and
$16 after. The pit in front of the stage
will be open only to current Bradley
students.
Tickets will go on sale to the public
MACKLEMORE
for $36 at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 21 online and at
any Ticketmaster location. Bradley faculty and staff can purchase tickets beginning Oct. 19.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won multiple Grammy
Awards on their debut album, “The Heist,” most notably for the hit song “Thrift Shop.” Macklemore’s followup album is forthcoming and the single off that album,
“Downtown,” has once again dominated pop charts
and radio airwaves.
The opening act for the show will be announced at
a later date. Doors to the Coliseum will open at 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 with the show starting at 8:30 p.m. Students
will not be allowed entry to the show without a valid
student ID.
saw him cleaving into his throat with
dental floss to retrieve a Lifesaver
candy he had swallowed. The judges
reacted in screams of fear and moans
of disgust.
“With the Lifesaver bit, I was trying to emulate Quentin Tarantino,”
Sperry said. “I wanted the feeling of
‘this is really messed up but I’m still
watching it.’”
He’ll perform the Lifesaver trick
at the Civic Center shows next week.
He didn’t want to spoil the rest of
his performance, but he mentioned
a small tease of one trick. It involves
audience participation, a quarter and
him acting as a human piggybank.
You can thank David Copperfield if
you end up in the lobby.
Thomas Bruch can be reached at 686-3262 or
tbruch@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasBruch.
Beethoven
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514 Main St., Peoria
(309) 674-5005
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 a.m., Monday to Friday; 6 a.m. to 4 a.m., Saturday and Sunday.
Ratings: ★★★★ is highest
Food ★★★
Atmosphere ★★
Service ★★★★
Prices: Appetizers, $4.75; hamburgers, $5 to $5.50; fish sandwich, $5; chicken strips, $6;
pork tenderloin, $6.50; grilled cheese, $4.
Full bar available. Carry-out available; cash only.
Q: I thought it was cool to
see you were a soccer guy who
competed on the Paralympic
National Team. What was that
experience like?
Continued from Page C1
If your employment status is affected by the recent decision to
reduce the work force, you face tough decisions!
Investment and Insurance Products:
Judge’s Chamber
just lucky that mine is on
the outside.
ILLUSIONISTS
CATERPILLAR EMPLOYEES
Bryce Unruh
Managing
Director Investments
Quick Guide
$35 A DU LTS | $8 STU D E NTS & KI D S
For tickets, call 309 444-8222, buy them at
Kidder Music in Peoria, or go to our website.
heartlandfestivalorchestra.org · 309 339-3943
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JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 C3
Del Toro’s ‘Crimson Peak’ casts a gothic spell
‘Crimson Peak’
★★★
A REVIEW
BY JAKE COYLE
OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The most pressing threat in
Guillermo del Toro’s gothic
horror “Crimson Peak” isn’t the
ooze-filled cauldrons of dead
souls in the basement of the old
Victorian mansion, nor the plotting, black-clad sister (Jessica
Chastain), who serves a bitterly
poisonous tea.
It’s the ever-lurking possibility
that, at any moment, the lush,
ornate tapestry of Del Toro’s
film might swallow its performers whole.
It would be a grand death.
“Crimson Peak” is so lovingly
wrapped in the stylish trappings
of the genre that it’s one of the
few movies you could say is
worth it purely for the wallpaper.
It stars Mia Wasikowska, Tom
Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain
— a fine trio of actors. But the
film’s true above-the-title artists
are more properly cinematographer Dan Laustsen, production
designer Thomas Sanders and
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain.
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro.
Running time: 1:58.
Rated: R.
Opens Friday at: Grand Prairie 18;
Landmark and Sunnyland cinemas; AMC
ShowPlace 14; Willow Knolls 14.
Family guide: Bloody violence,
some sexual content and brief strong
language.
Quick take: In the aftermath of a
family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn
between love for her childhood friend
and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her
past, she is swept away to a house that
breathes, bleeds … and remembers.
costume designer Kate Hawley,
who under the lordly command
of Del Toro, summon an atmosphere gaga with all things
gothic.
“Crimson Peak” casts a spell
that fails to quite hold, but it’s
NEW IN THEATERS
“BRIDGE OF SPIES”: Please see review on Page C4
“GOOSEBUMPS”: A teenager teams up with the daughter of
young adult horror author R.L. Stine after the writer’s imaginary
demons are set free on the town of Greendale, Md.
“(T)ERROR”: (T)ERROR is the first documentary to place filmmakers on the ground during an active FBI counterterrorism sting
operation.
“WOODLAWN”: A gifted high school football player must learn to
embrace his talent and his faith as he battles racial tensions on
and off the field.
NOW SHOWING
BLACK MASS ★★★: The true
story of Whitey Bulger, the brother
of a state senator and the most
infamous violent criminal in the
history of South Boston, who
became an FBI informant to take
down a Mafia family invading his
turf. Rated R. (Richard Roeper)
2:02
EVEREST ★★★: A climbing
expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snow storm.
Rated PG-13. (Richard Roeper)
2:01
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 ★★:
Dracula and his friends try to
bring out the monster in his half
human, half vampire grandson in
order to keep Mavis from leaving
the hotel. Rated PG. (More Content Now) 1:29
THE INTERN ★★★½: 70-yearold widower Ben Whittaker has
discovered that retirement isn’t
all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing
an opportunity to get back in
the game, he becomes a senior
intern at an online fashion site,
founded and run by Jules Ostin.
Rated PG-13. (Richard Roeper)
2:01
THE MARTIAN ★★★½:
Features Matt Damon giving one
of his best performances as a
botanist stranded on Mars and
using all his ingenuity to establish
communications and stay alive.
Rated PG-13. (Richard Roeper)
2:21
MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH
TRIALS ★★★: After having
escaped the Maze, the Gladers
now face a new set of challenges
on the open roads of a desolate
landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Rated PG-13.
(New York Daily News) 2:12
MISSISSIPPI GRIND ★★★½:
As gambling buddies on the road,
Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds look like they know what
they’re doing in the poker room
and at the blackjack table. Rated
R. (Richard Roeper) 1:48
PAN ★★: Orphan Peter is spirited away to the magical world of
Neverland, where he finds both
fun and dangers, and ultimately
discovers his destiny — to become the hero who will be forever
known as Peter Pan. Rated PG.
(More Content Now) 1:51
SICARIO ★★★★: An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by an
elected government task force to
aid in the escalating war against
drugs at the border area between
the U.S. and Mexico. Rated R.
(Richard Roeper) 2:01
SLEEPING WITH OTHER
PEOPLE ★★★½: Jason Sudeikis
and Alison Brie play attractive,
noncommittal people who expend
an awful lot of emotional energy
on remaining friends even though
it’s perfectly obvious they should
be together. Rated R. (Richard
Roeper) 1:35
THE VISIT ★½: A single mother
finds that things in her family’s
life go very wrong after her two
young children visit their grandparents. Rated PG-13. (RIchard
Roeper) 1:34
THE WALK ★★★: This solid
fictionalized version of Philippe
Petit’s illegal 1974 high-wire
walk between the Twin Towers
boasts breathtaking visuals and
a charming lead performance by
Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Rated PG.
(Richard Roeper) 2:03
Rizzi’s
Italian Restaurant
4613 N. Sheridan Rd Peoria (309) 689-0025
• Full Bar
Join us Nov. 3
for Stick A Fork
In Cancer.
Portion of proceeds to
American Cancer Society.
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Serving Dinner daily starting at 4:30pm
• Featuring Pasta,
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Giftcards Available for purchase on our website at rizzisrestaurant.com or at our location
Locally Owned and Operated since 1995
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unquestionably the work of a
man who loves — I mean, really
loves — movies.
It opens with a flashback and
a promise from Edith Cushing (Wasikowska) that “ghosts
are real.” After the death of
her mother, she (or at least a
ghoulish ghostly of her) visits
Edith with a frightful warning:
“Beware of Crimson Peak.” It’s
a message that curiously fails to
impress.
The setting is turn-of-the-century Buffalo, where Edith lives
with her father Carter Cushing (an excellent Jim Beaver).
She wants to be a novelist, but
her manuscript (a ghost story)
is condescendingly rejected,
praised only for feminine
“loops” of her penmanship.
Advised to write a love story,
she pleads that the ghosts are a
metaphor for the past.
Such is the tenor of Del Toro’s
fable, which he wrote with Matthew Robins. You wouldn’t mistake it for Henry James or even
for Hitchcock. The exquisite set
design is more heightened than
the emotions; the grotesques are
too beautiful to be too deep.
From England, Thomas
Sharpe (the splendid Tom Hiddleston) comes to town with his
mysterious sister Lucille (Chastain), in search of a grant for a
contraption of his invention to
mine the red clay beneath their
home. Cushing, an established
business man, quickly rejects
Thomas, but Edith doesn’t.
The Sharpes have clearly
duplicitous motives, but Edith
swoons for Thomas. Just as
they’re departing Buffalo,
Edith’s father is killed. The
scene is a beauty: in the steam
and golden light of a morning
bathhouse, an unseen assailant
sneaks up to Carter and crushes
his scull over a sink, leaving
blood and water flowing from
the cracked porcelain.
Edith and Thomas wed and
the trio returns to the remote
Sharpe family manor in England, Allerdale Hall, where
the movie moves into its more
sedate house-of-horrors second
half. A hole in the roof pours
light and autumn leaves down
the center, red clay bubbles
beneath the floor boards, ghosts
lurk in the closets, the bath
runs blood red and (horror of
horrors) the kitchen could use
granite counter tops. It’s a fixer
upper.
The movie settles into a “Notorious”-like plot where Edith is
slowly poisoned while unearthing the Sharpe family secrets.
The rich atmosphere of
“Crimson Peak” never wanes,
but the story does. Having
summoned the gothic ghosts,
Del Toro never fully unleashes
them. The director’s dark fantasy masterpiece remains “Pan’s
Labyrinth,” but his affection for
gothic romance is infectious;
he’s surely, hopefully destined to
adapt Dickens.
Even as his last film, the kaiju
monster movie “Pacific Rim,”
proved, there may be no better conjurer of color in movies right now. His dreams, and
nightmares, are in technicolor.
Follow AP film critic Jake Coyle on Twitter
at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
CUE
C4 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
‘Bridge of Spies’ a gripping character study
A REVIEW
BY RICHARD ROEPER
In this image released by Disney, Tom Hanks appears in a scene from “Bridge of Spies.”
Enter Tom Hanks, in
full modern-day Jimmy
Stewart mode, as James
Donovan, a genial family man and successful
insurance attorney who’s
almost always the smartest man in the room and
doesn’t mind if others
in his presence perceive
otherwise. Donovan seems
an unlikely choice to defend Abel — but he was a
prosecutor at Nuremberg,
he’s a well-respected legal
presence, and he’ll mount
a capable defense, even
though it will make him
one of the most despised
men in America and of
course there’s zero chance
of actually winning the
case.
The United States government and the great majority of Americans want
Abel put to death — but
Donovan argues passionately and successfully for
an extended prison sentence, arguing Abel could
be of great value in case
an American soldier/spy
is caught by the Soviets
and there’s a chance of a
prisoner swap.
Which is exactly what
happens.
In a heart-thumping
sequence that reminds
us Spielberg is one of the
godfathers of cool action
sequences with cuttingedge effects, American U-2
pilot Francis Gary Powers
(an excellent Austin Stowell) is blasted out of the
skies by a Soviet fighter,
ejecting just in time to see
his plane explode as he
parachutes to safety — and
captivity.
Now the U.S. government has another assignment for civilian attorney
James Donovan. They’d
like him to go to Berlin,
which has recently been
split by a concrete wall,
and negotiate a trade.
We shift from the rainsoaked film noir streets
of New York to bleak,
snow-blanketed Berlin,
where Donovan goes deep
into the rabbit hole in
a series of increasingly
convoluted and sometimes
comically bizarre adventures as he attempts to
secure a trade of Abel for
Powers — along with an
American student recently
detained by the Germans.
(The Coen brothers did
an extensive polish on the
screenplay, and their handiwork seems most evident
in the Berlin scenes.)
Nursing drinks while
stating his case with various Soviet and German
officials who aren’t even
honest about their actual
titles, fighting off a cold,
Donovan keeps telling
everyone he just wants to
get this thing done so he
can go home and crawl
into his own bed. Such fine
and measured work from
Hanks, who is as good
as anyone has ever been
at playing men of great
integrity and warm hearts
who aren’t to be trifled
with when the heat is on.
Don’t mistake the smile
and the friendly handshake for weakness.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark
Rylance, Austin Stowell, Alan
Alda and Amy Ryan.
Directed by: Steven Spielberg.
Running time: 2:22.
Rated: PG-13.
Opens Friday at: Grand Prairie 18; Landmark and Sunnyland cinemas; AMC ShowPlace
14; Willow Knolls 14.
Family guide: Some violence
and brief strong language.
Quick take: Steven Spielberg
has taken the largely forgotten
1960 exchange of U.S. and
Soviet spies and turned it into
a gripping character study and
thriller that feels a bit like a John
Le Carre adaptation if Frank
Capra were at the controls. Tom
Hanks, in full modern-day Jimmy
Stewart mode, stars as the
genial U.S. negotiator.
Beta Sigma Phi’s 37th Annual
CRAFT SHOW
Located at
Galva High School
PE-4513797
You could write brief
descriptions of any 100
relatively significant chapters in American history,
toss ’em all into one of
those hand-cranked raffle
cylinders, pluck out one
entry, and I’ll bet Steven
Spielberg could turn that
event into an Oscar-bait
motion picture experience.
To wit: “Bridge of
Spies.”
Some 40 years into his
career and still a master
of his craft (a few camera
moves and special effects
moments in this film are
simply dazzling), Spielberg has taken an important but largely forgotten
and hardly action-packed
slice of the Cold War and
turned it into a gripping character study and
thriller that feels a bit like
a John Le Carre adaptation if Frank Capra were
at the controls.
“Bridge of Spies” is set
mostly in the mid- and late
1950s, when the Cold War
between the Americans
and the Soviets was heating up — and the East Germans, filled with resentment toward the United
States and loathing for the
Russians, were hell-bent
on finding their own place
at the superpower table.
On some days a global
nuclear war seemed more
likely than not.
We open on the Brooklyn of 1957, where a seemingly meek man of late
middle age quietly goes
about his daily routine,
which involves painting
portraits and, oh yes,
working as a mole for the
Soviets. In a tightly choreographed and perfectly
paced sequence set in the
subway system, the man
eludes a battery of serious
FBI men in serious dark
coats and hats — but only
temporarily, as it turns
out. Eventually they show
up at his door, put him in
cuffs and turn the place
upside down in search of
evidence.
The man is one Rudolf
Abel (played by the British
theater actor Mark Rylance in a performance of
great subtlety, dignity and
droll humor). There’s little
doubt Abel’s a Soviet spy,
but he will be given a trial
so America can show the
world that everyone in the
United States is entitled to
a defense, even an illegal
immigrant working to
help bring the country to
its knees.
‘Bridge of Spies’
★★★★
Spielberg and his superb
cinematographer Janusz
Kaminski deliver some
excellent visual callbacks,
as when Donovan looks
out the window of a train
and sees Brooklyn kids
climbing fences separating
their backyards — and is
reminded of the barbed
wire-crowned Berlin Wall.
The supporting cast,
including Amy Ryan as
Donovan’s wife and Scott
Shepherd as a CIA operative who becomes Donovan’s unofficial partner in
espionage, is first-rate.
Hanks will be in the
conversation for best actor, Rylance will almost
certainly be nominated
for best supporting actor,
and when the titles of the
five-plus films nominated
for best picture are announced, it will be a surprise if “Bridge of Spies”
doesn’t make the cut.
October 17, 2015
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Galva, IL
Admission $2
Food Stand
.00
www.galvacraftshow.info
I l l i n o i s
C e n t r a l
No Strollers - No Pets
C o l l e g e
An E v e n i ng w i th
PatsyCline
This performance
Davis celebrates some
On
Nighe
Only t
!
featuring veteran Branson performer Camille
of the greatest hits and stories behind the songs
of this influential lady of country music.
Friday, October 23 • 7:30 pm
ICC Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $25 general public, $10 students
ArtsAtICC.com
(309) 694-5136
American English will perform Beatles hits in Peoria
PEORIA — Beatles tribute band American English will
perform Jan. 15 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday
starting at $28. Tickets can be purchased at the Civic
Center Box Office or at Ticketmaster.com or by calling
1-800-745-3000.
The band performs favorites such as “She Loves You,”
“Twist and Shout,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Hey
Jude,” “Let It Be” and many others.
Audra
McDonald
An intimate
evening of songs
and storytelling
You’re Invited... Saturday, October
October 17
Doors Open at 5:45pm
Ceremony at 6:30pm, followed by dinner & dancing
Buffet dinner includes traditional Lebanese dishes and
American foods - $40.00 per person
Depending on which family you care to be related to, You may
come in your fanciest Lebanese ensemble or tacky Redneck casual..
Presented in ‘Theatre in the Round’ style, THE LEBANESE REDNECK
CK
WEDDING is an original, interactive, improv comedy in the style of
Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding - a wedding you won’t want to miss!
st
Written by Andrew Driscoll and the Original Cast
For more information, call the Itoo Club - 309.676.9725
Reservations can be made now by sending a check to the Itoo Hall:
4909 W. Farmington Road, Peoria, IL 61604
PE-4471887
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17 • 8PM
Peoria Civic Center
309.671.1096
PE-4494302
CALL 618-883-2578 OR 618-232-1268
PE-4493536_V4
ON SITE TICKET $12
101 STATE STREET, PEORIA, IL 61602
www.peoriasymphony.org
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 C5
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE LYNN JOHNSTON
BABY BLUES RICK KIRKMAN & JERRY SCOTT
BIG NATE LINCOLN PIERCE
STONE SOUP JAN ELIOT
PICKLES BRIAN CRANE
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE STEPHAN PASTIS
HI AND LOIS BRIAN & GREG WALKER
BLONDIE DEAN YOUNG AND JOHN MARSHALL
FRAZZ JEF MALLETT
BEETLE BAILEY MORT, GREG & BRIAN WALKER
GARFIELD JIM DAVIS
CRANKSHAFT TOM BATIUK
ZITS JERRY SCOTT & JIM BORGMAN
JUDGE PARKER WILSON & MANLEY
GET FUZZY DARBY CONLEY
REX MORGAN WOODY WILSON & TERRY BEATTY
FRANK & ERNEST BOB THAVES
CLASSIC PEANUTS CHARLES SCHULZ
BORN LOSER CHIP SANSOM
DINETTE SET JULIE LARSON
DILBERT SCOTT ADAMS
NON SEQUITUR WILEY MILLER
3"/%0.,*/%40''"$5/&44&3*/#"33&55+"$,.*/(0
XIBUTOPXDPOTJEFSFEUIF
C6 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015
LEISURE&ADVICE/CUE
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
NEA BRIDGE
CUE CALENDAR
CROSSWORD
By PHILLIP ALDER
By THOMAS JOSEPH
COMPILED BY MICKEY WIELAND
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Items for the Cue calendar need to be
submitted 10 days prior to publication.
Send information to Mickey Wieland
at mwieland@pjstar.com (preferred
method) or by mail to the Journal Star,
1 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61643.
Riverfront
Museum
The Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222
SW Washington St., peoriariverfrontmu
seum.org or call 686-7000. The Giant
Screen Theater serves beer, wine and
pizza.
Giant Screen Theater: Through Oct. 22
— “The Martian” 3-D, RealD and 2D.
Dome Planetarium: Oct. 17 — The
Lives & Deaths of Stars, 6-7 p.m.,
free; Oct. 19 — Astronomy Night: Join
the White House Star Party!, Donovan
Park, 6 p.m., free. Daily: “Legends of
the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda,” “Back to the Moon for Good,”
“Stars Over Peoria,” “Uniview: Dynamic
Planets.”
Special Events: Oct. 17 — Wine & Art
Night, 7-9 p.m.
Civic Center
The Peoria Civic Center is located
in Downtown Peoria. Call 673-8900;
for box office, call 673-3200; for
tickets, call (800) 745-3000 or visit
PeoriaCivicCenter.com.
Oct. 16: Jeff Foxworthy & Larry the
Cable Guy, 7:30 p.m., arena. Tickets:
$49.50.
Oct. 21-22: The Illusionist: Live From
Broadway, 7:30 p.m., theater. Tickets:
$40-$70.
Oct. 24: Tween Stars Live, 2 p.m.,
theater. Tickets: $21-$62.
Special events
“20 Years of Ford with V8 Flat Head
Engines,” display through October,
Wheels O’ Time Museum, 1710 W. Wood-
side Drive, Dunlap. The museum hours:
noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays.
Admission: $6.50/adults; $3.50/ages
3-11. Visit www.wheelsotime.org.
Historic Trolley Tours, sponsored
by the Peoria Historical Society,
Thursdays-Saturdays through Oct. 31.
For times and ticket information, visit
www.peoriahistoricalsociety.org or call
674-1921.
Halloween events
27th Annual Witches Walk, a “not so
scary” illuminated walk, 6-8 p.m. Oct.
15-17 and 22-24, Fon du Lac Farm
Park, 305 Neumann Dr., East Peoria.
Cost: $3/adults; $2.50/children ages
1-15. Call 694-2195.
Wildlife Scary Park!, Oct. 16-18
and 23-25, a family friendly Halloween
party, Wildlife Prairie Park, Hanna City.
Features the Trainsylvanian Express
through the woods, a walk down the
Giant Trick or Treat Trail (don’t forget
a bag for candy) and a ride on the
Not So Scary hayrack ride. Hours: 5-9
p.m. Oct. 16-17 and Oct. 23-24 and
4-8 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25. Admission:
$10/nonmembers; $8/members. Call
676-0998.
Haunted Peoria area tours, based on
historical documentation, sponsored by
Central Illinois Paranormal Investigative
Team: Springdale Cemetery: Oct. 17, 23
and 27; French-Native American Burial
Ground, downtown: Oct. 16; Cole Hollow
Trail, Pekin: Oct. 20; Chillicothe Cemetery:
Oct. 24. Tours begin at 6 p.m. on weekdays
and at 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 2826768 for reservations.
concert, 2 p.m. Oct. 18, Northminster
Presbyterian Church, 10720 N. Knoxville,
Peoria. $10/advance; $12/at the door.
Call 231-2471.
Dueling Pianos, 6 p.m. Oct. 16, Kickapoo Creek Winery, 6605 N. Smith Road,
Edwards. Cost: $40/person (includes
dinner and dessert). Call 495-9463, Ext. 1
for reservations.
Howlin’ on Water Dueling Pianos,
8 p.m. Oct. 16, the Broadway Lounge,
Maxam building, 316 SW Washington
St. Cost: $38/person for dinner and
show; $10/person for the show only. Visit
HowlinOnWater.com.
Music in the McKenzie, featuring
Pint & A Half, 2-4 p.m. Oct. 18, Peoria
Public Library, North Branch McKenzie
room. Free.
Live at the Five Spot, Contemporary
Art Center of Peoria, 305 SW Water St.:
Oct. 16 — Bill Porter. Music 5:30-7:30
p.m. Admission: $8/CAC members; $12/
nonmembers. Call 674-6822.
Limelight Eventplex, 8102 N.
University: Oct. 21 — Mushroomhead,
Mortiis, Unsaid Fate, Prey for Us, 8 p.m.
(for 16 and over), tickets: $20-$25; Oct.
23 — Rodney Atkins, 8 p.m., tickets: $25$40; Oct. 24 — Here Come The Mummies,
8 p.m., tickets: $25 in advance. Visit
limelighteventplex.com or call 693-1234.
Dance
Salsa at CAC: Dance lessons and
open dancing, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Oct. 16, Contemporary Art Center of
Peoria, 305 SW Water St. Admission:
$4/CAC members; $7/nonmembers.
Call 674-6822.
Music
Central Illinois Jazz Society House
Band, 6 p.m. and The Brazilionaires, 7:15
p.m. Oct. 18, Starting Gate Banquet Room
in Landmark Recreation Center. Admission: $5/members; $7/nonmembers;
Free/students. Call 692-5330 or visit
www.cijs.org.
“I Feel a Song Coming On!,” Pride
of Peoria Barbershop Chorus 73rd annual
Comedy
Jukebox Comedy Club, 3527
W. Farmington Road: Oct. 15-17
— Josh Blue. Call 673-5853 or visit
JukeboxComedy.com.
Mason City Limits, 114 E. Chestnut
St., Mason City: Oct. 16-17 — Vilmos. Call
(217) 482-5233 or visit MCLimits.com.
ANNIE’S MAILBOX
Organ donation is gift
that lives on for others
SUDOKU PUZZLE
Complete the grid
so that every row,
every column and
3x3 box contains
every digit from 1 to 9
inclusively.
Tips for working the
Sudoku puzzle can be
found at pjstar.com
TODAY’S ANSWERS
!
DEAR ANNIE: Several years ago, you
printed a poem about organ donation.
I carried it until it ripped to shreds.
I’m in end-stage renal failure and want
people to be aware of the importance of
organ donation. Please
reprint it. — Not Giving
Up
DEAR NOT: Here it is,
with our hopes for your
recovery:
“To Remember Me” by
Robert Noel Test (19261994)
DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES
Give my heart to a person whose own
heart has pain.
Give my blood to the teenager who was
pulled from the wreckage of his car, so
that he might live to see his grandchildren
play.
Give my kidneys to one who depends on
a machine to exist from week to week.
Take my bones, every muscle, every
fiber and nerve in my body and find a way
to make a crippled child
walk.
Explore every corner of
my brain.
Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so
that, someday, a speechless
boy will shout at the crack
of a bat and a deaf girl
will hear the sound of
rain against her windows.
Burn what is left of me and scatter
the ashes to the winds to help the flowers
grow.
If you must bury something, let it be my
faults, my weaknesses and all my prejudice against my fellow man.
Give my sins to the devil. Give my soul
to God. If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to
someone who needs you.
If you do all I have asked, I will live
forever.
KATHY MITCHELL & MARCY SUGAR
The day will come
when my body will lie upon a white sheet
neatly tucked under four corners of a
mattress located in a hospital busily occupied with the living and the dying.
At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function
and that, for all intents and purposes, my
life has stopped.
When that happens, do not attempt to
instill artificial life into my body by the
use of a machine. And don’t call this my
deathbed. Let it be called the Bed of Life,
and let my body be taken from it to help
others lead fuller lives.
Give my sight to a man who has never
seen a sunrise, a baby’s face or love in the
eyes of a woman.
At the bridge table, a welltimed pause might help you
to make or break a contract,
making you and your partner happy.
In today’s deal, many
players would go down at
the table, but more would
find the winning play on
paper because they would
pause at the right moment.
What should South do in
five hearts after West leads
the diamond ace? Did West
have a more effective lead?
West used the Unusual
No-trump to show at least
5-5 in the minors. Then
East and South bid at the
five-level, unsure who could
make what.
If the defense were
accurate, five diamonds
would go down one, losing
two spades and one heart.
Five hearts is in danger if
West has the club ace. Then
declarer might concede
one spade and two clubs.
Of course, if East has the
club ace, no problem. But if
West holds that card, what
chance does South have?
Declarer can get home if
spades are 3-2 and hearts
are 2-1, if he does not ruff
at trick one, but instead
discards a spade.
Suppose West continues
with a low diamond. South
ruffs, cashes his heart king
and spade ace, plays a spade
to dummy’s king, ruffs
a spade high, returns to
dummy with a trump, and
pitches his two clubs on the
high spades. Five hearts bid
and made with an overtrick.
Afterward, West said that
next time he would lead a
low diamond at trick one.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Jazz musician FREDDY COLE is
84. Singer BARRY MCGUIRE is
80. Actress LINDA LAVIN is 78.
Rock musician DON STEVENSON
(Moby Grape) is 73. Actressdirector PENNY MARSHALL is
72. Baseball Hall of Famer JIM
PALMER is 70. Singer-musician
Annie’s Mailbox is written by KATHY MITCHELL and MARCY RICHARD CARPENTER is 69.
SUGAR, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please
Britain’s Duchess of York, SARAH
email your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: FERGUSON, is 56. Chef EMERIL
Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa
LAGASSE is 56.
Beach, CA 90254.
ASTRO-GRAPH
JUMBLE
By DAVID L. HOYT and JEFF KNUREK
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY: You
shouldn’t hesitate to
travel if it will help
you take advantage of
a lucrative opportunity.
Business conferences,
seminars or conventions
will offer valuable contacts
and increased prospects.
Hard work, flexibility and
determination will bring
you success.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Love
is on the rise. Participation in a philanthropic or
charitable event will bring
you recognition and
respect from an influential individual.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22):
Change is highlighted.
Unanticipated alterations to your home or
property will be beneficial in the long run.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec.
21): Travel and communication delays can
be expected. Resist the
urge to make hasty
decisions or unreasonable promises.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19): Finish projects,
conclude contracts or
finalize deals. Completing your current
plans will show everyone that you mean
business.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
19): Advance preparation will prevent
you from becoming
overwhelmed by your
responsibilities. Romance is highlighted.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20):
Your reputation will
grow if you make
personal changes. Expand your profile and
touch up your resume
in order to give your
confidence a boost.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Fun
and entertainment will
highlight your day. A close
friend or relative will entice you to try something
adventurous. Have a great
time, but avoid taking unnecessary risks.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You
must be clear about how
much you are willing
to do for others. Embarrassment or hurt feelings
could result if those
around you expect more
than you can give.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Holding a grudge is pointless and stressful. You will
cause more harm internally if you harbor ill will
toward others.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Timely information will
accompany a chance for
a new beginning. Hesitation will lead to a missed
opportunity. Be prepared
to act quickly when the
occasion calls for it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your
competitive spirit will
give you an advantage
over your rivals. Others
will be impressed by your
skills, enabling you to
gain support and gather
good advice.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You
may feel generous, but
overindulgence will cause
serious problems when
your bills arrive. Offer
your time or suggestions,
not money, when someone
comes to you for assistance.
FREE COUPON
SEMINAR AT HY-VEE
Presented by Journal Star coupon blogger Jolene Stecken
Who:
Anyone interested in
saving money.
What: How to save money on
household expenses by
using coupons.
When: Thurs., Oct. 29, 2015
6:00 - 7:00pm
Where: Hy-Vee Club Room
Second Floor
4125 N. Sheridan Rd.
Peoria, IL
Why:
SAVE MONEY!
Questions: Call Phil at 686-3026
Limited Seating —
Call Phil at 686-3026 or email pjordan@pjstar.com
SPONSORED BY:
AND
THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015
SECTION C
PLENTY
OF BITE
RICHARD ROEPER: ‘Jurassic World’ is
pure, dumb, wall-to-wall fun. This
is ‘Jaws’ meets ‘Godzilla’ meets the
‘Jurassic Park’ movies. REVIEW, C3
Steamboat
revs up
summer
POP
GOES
PEKIN
‘Bigger, better carnival,’ thematic
performances highlight festival
BY THOMAS BRUCH
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
CRAFT SODA TOUR MAKES
STOP AT RIVERFRONT PARK
T
BY THOMAS BRUCH OF THE JOURNAL STAR
he craft beer boom of recent years has opened the taste
buds of many to bold brews produced around the country and the world. But Pekin will be hosting a different
sort of craft festival this weekend that recalls a simpler
pleasure — craft soda.
The Pekin Insurance Soda Pop Tour will bring more
than 80 varieties of craft soda to the Pekin Riverfront
Park on Saturday, some of which are household names
— Dad’s Root Beer — or other more obscure sodas heralding eclectic
flavors like strawberry jalapeno, apple pie and hibiscus.
“Most are Midwest bottlers, and a lot of them are mom and pops,”
said Annette Begner, president of Plan Ahead Events, one of two
groups coordinating the festival along with Jay Goldberg Events and
Please see SODA, Page C2
Pekin Insurance
Soda Pop Tour
Festival
! When: 10 a.m. to 8
p.m. Saturday, June 13.
! Where: Pekin Riverfront
Park.
! Cost: Admission is
free. Samples cost 50
cents each and unlimited
sampling passes are $20.
For more information,
visit www.sodapoptour.us/
pekin.html.
PHOTO BY PLAN AHEAD EVENTS
Dozens of bottled craft sodas, including the Cicero Beverage Co., are gathered
on a table at last year’s Soda Pop Tour Festival in Dixon.
FINE DINING - STEAKS - SEAFOOD - WINE | LIVE MUSIC - PIANO BAR
SURF & TURF SPECIAL
$20.95
FRESH SALMON
$19.95
JIM’S BAKED CHICKEN
Filet Mignon & 2 Cajun or
Broiled Prawns
All Dinners include Salad & Baked Potato
DOWNTOWN • 110 SW. Jefferson - Peoria, IL 61602
$14.95
Not valid with any other offers. No substitutions.
Must present coupon before ordering. Expires 7-31-2015
PE-4493998
FRI. & SAT. ONLY
ENGLISH CUT
PRIME RIB
$19.95
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
(309) 673-5300
PEORIA — The Steamboat Days
Festival, the riverfront event surrounding the Steamboat Classic
race, will take place for the 45th
year from June 18-20.
“In many ways it’s a kick off to
the summer,” said Ted Sumner,
co-chair of Steamboat Days with
Peoria Area Community Events.
“We see it as a stay-cation where
the family can go down to the
riverfront and have a good time.”
Sumner said the live performances this year will be thematically driven, with a dance
party Friday night featuring The
Unhandsome Devils, Patrick
N Swayze and the Hot Sauce
Committee. Saturday night
will be a “Country Night” with
performances by Cadillac Jack,
Joe Stamm Band and Ryan Ideus
& the Feudin’ Hillbillys, while
Thursday night’s entertainment
will have free admission. All concerts will be held at the CEFCU
Center Stage.
On the other side of the Gateway building, a “bigger, better”
carnival will be held all weekend,
featuring a $20 wristband special
for unlimited rides from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Saturday. A bags tournament will be held Saturday afternoon only this year, a change
from the two tournaments last
year.
Sumner, in his third year as
co-chairman of the event, said
that the support for the footrace
and the surrounding weekend
activities by both participants
and spectators each year makes
Steamboat Days one of the best
central Illinois rituals in the
summertime.
“It’s our 45th anniversary, and
it’s a tradition we hope continues
another 45 years,” Sumner said.
Thomas Bruch can be reached at 686-3262
or tbruch@pjstar.com.
Follow him on Twitter @ThomasBruch.
If you go
! What: Steamboat Days Festival.
! When: 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 18; 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, June 19; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 20.
! Where: Peoria riverfront and the
CEFCU Center Stage.
! Cost: Admission is free all day
Thursday and before 6 p.m. Friday and
Saturday. $5 admission for 12 years
old and up after 6 p.m. Friday and
Saturday. $20 wristband passes for
unlimited rides. For more information,
visit www.peoriaevents.com.
CUE
C2 THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
Hy-Vee Market Cafe checks out
Quick Guide
BY PHIL LUCIANO
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
PEORIA — As a restaurant, Hy-vee is a
good grocery store.
Hy-Vee Market Cafe won’t make you
forget about Jim’s, or even Applebee’s.
But you can find some decent grub. Plus,
there’s a bar, which might be a good thing
if you despise grocery shopping.
Hy-Vee boasts more than 50 cafes, along
with nine Market Grilles, the latter of
which has a bigger menu. The Sheridan
Village Hy-Vee long has sold Chinese
dishes, pizza and salads for take-out or
eat-in. But last month, the sit-down Cafe
opened, with wait service and — says the
sign at the entrance — no grocery carts
permitted. Classy, no?
The restaurant takes the place of the old
eat-in area. Strewn with booths and tables,
the room — best described as upscale cafeteria — is dotted with seven TVs, mostly
tuned to sports during our early-dinner
visit.
Service was decent. Our young waiter
couldn’t get our drink orders very quickly,
as he was too young to serve alcohol. But
my wife enjoyed her glass of Mark West
pinot noir ($6), while I quite liked my draft
($4), which was deemed “local” and “red;”
perhaps Hy-Vee can better tout the notion
that at least two drafts are from the Peoria
Brewing Co., including my Erik the Red
Hy-Vee Market Cafe
4125 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria (Sheridan Village)
686-5920
Hours: Food served 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday.
Ratings: ★★★★ is highest
Food ★★
Atmosphere ★★1/2
Service ★★★
Prices: Appetizers, $8 to $9; salads, $9 to $13;
flat breads, $8 and $9; sandwiches and burgers
(with side), entrees $10 to $23; desserts, $5.
Miscellaneous: Credit cards accepted; carryout
available.
Irish ale. Otherwise, though, the service
was attentive and speedy.
Online, the Hy-Vee menu is extensive. In
Peoria, it’s shrunk down, yet still boasts a
reasonable selection of six appetizers, five
entrees, six burgers, eight sandwiches and
five salads.
From our experience, the apps are the
place to focus. Maybe they’re done well
because of Hy-Vee’s experience with
Asian food. But the bacon jalapeno won
tons ($8) offered a nice creamy bite, while
the Asian trio ($9) involve a solid combo
of “firecracker” shrimp (though it wasn’t
too hot), crab rangoon and spring rolls.
Plus, the food is presented well, arranged
attractively and not just clomped onto a
5
NOW SHOWING
NEW IN THEATERS
ALOHA ★★★: A celebrated military contractor returns to the site
of his greatest career triumphs
and re-connects with a long-ago
love while unexpectedly falling
for the hard-charging Air Force
watchdog assigned to him. Rated
PG-13. (Richard Roeper) 1:45
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
★★★½: This giant superhero
adventure is sometimes daffy,
occasionally baffling, surprisingly
touching and even romantic with
one kinetic thrill after another. It
earns a place of high ranking in
the Marvel Universe. Rated PG13. (Richard Roeper) 2:22
ENTOURAGE ★★: Movie star
Vincent Chase, together with his
boys Eric, Turtle, and Johnny, are
back — and back in business with
super agent-turned-studio head
Ari Gold on a risky project that will
serve as Vince’s directorial debut.
Rated R. (Richard Roeper) 1:44
HOME ★★: An alien on the run
from his own people, lands on
Earth and makes friends with
the adventurous Tip, who is on
a quest of her own. Rated PG.
(Richard Roeper) 1:36
INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 ★★★: A
prequel set before the haunting
bers are often curiously dull. Rated
PG-13. (Richard Roeper) 1:52
POLTERGEIST ★★: A family
“JURASSIC WORLD”: See review
whose suburban home is haunted
Page C3
by evil forces must come together
Also opening at Peoria Cinto rescue their youngest daughter
emas 12 at Landmark is “100after the apparitions take her
year-old Man.” After living a long
captive. Rated PG-13. (Kansas
and colorful life, Allan Karlsson
City Star) 1:33
finds himself stuck in a nursing
SAN ANDREAS ★★: In the afterhome. On his 100th birthday, he
math of a massive earthquake
leaps out a window and begins
in California, a rescue-chopper
an unexpected journey.
pilot makes a dangerous journey
across the state in order to
of the Lambert family that reveals rescue his estranged daughter.
Rated PG-13. (Ed Symkus) 1:54
how gifted psychic Elise Rainier
SPY ★★★: A desk-bound CIA
reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to analyst volunteers to go underhelp a teenage girl. Rated PG-13. cover to infiltrate the world of a
deadly arms dealer, and prevent
(New York Daily News) 1:37
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD ★★★★: diabolical global disaster. Rated
R. (Richard Roeper) 2:00
Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron
TOMORROWLAND ★★: Bound
make one of the best action
by a shared destiny, a teen and
duos ever in a stunningly effeca former boy-genius inventor
tive post-apocalyptic daytime
nightmare that contains a surpris- embark on a mission to unearth
the secrets of a place that exists
ing amount of depth. Rated R.
in their collective memory. Rated
(Richard Roeper) 2:00
PG. (Richard Roeper) 2:10
PITCH PERFECT 2 ★★: Sequel
to 2012’s hit about a cappella
singers has a few funny one-liners
and occasional moments of zany
inspiration, but the musical num-
SODA
the Riverfront Park setting
and possibly engage those
outside of Pekin.
Dixon embraced the
Soda Pop tour last year,
and Begner said organizers
have targeted smaller cities
as an ideal destination. If
the festival doesn’t go flat
Saturday, Begner said there
are big plans in the future
for the tour.
“We’re looking to expand
and travel to all 50 states
eventually,” Begner said.
For now, the pop and fizz
of craft soda will try to imitate the success of its craft
beer cousin at a festival
unlike any other in central
Illinois.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
2
ITOO
Thomas Bruch can be reached at 686-3262
or tbruch@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter
@ThomasBruch.
48th Annual
SHISH-K-BOB
Admission is free.
Jukebox Comedy Club, 3527 W.
Farmington Road, is featuring
comedian Steve-O with shows
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
nights. Steve-O is knows for his
three years of MTV’s “Jackass”
which led to four movies. In 2009,
he made it through six weeks
of “Dancing With The Stars.” In
November of 2012 he became the
host of truTV’s wild competition
series “Killer Karaoke.” For reservations and tickets, call 673-5853
or visit JukeboxComedy.com.
Enjoy a night of Mexican/
Hispanic music and food
during Noches de Baile from 7:
30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Glen
3
Serving 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Adults $13, Children $6
Shish-Ka-Bob, Cabbage Rolls,
Lebanese Salad, Pita Bread
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2015
Noon-10:00pm
FREE
PARKING
309-676-9725
4909 W. Farmington Rd., Peoria
5
he
miss t
Don’t
ome
H
e
m
the
Welco
nt on
ns Eve
m!
a
r
a
e
1
t
Ve
at 1
Stage
CEFCU
CEFCU Center Stage @ The Landing
Peoria RiverFront
Admission: $5 noon-4pm, $8 after 4pm
PE-4467853
DINE-IN
or
Carryout
Oak Amphitheatre. Music will be
provided by Mariachi Campiranos.
Admission is $2 for ages 13 and
older and $1 for children 12 and
younger.
Tremont Turkey Festival will
be Friday through Sunday
in Tremont. Event includes
food, trivia contest, live music,
carnival, craft show, petting
zoo and pancake and sausage
breakfast. For information, go to
www.turkeyfestival.com.
4
Sunday, June 28, 2015
w w w.itoohall.com
Spirit of Peoria
$5 OFF
Featuring 6 regional jazz groups:
Per person*
Any Sightseeing or
Moonlight Cruise
SIGHTSEEING CRUISES:
2015 season only. Up to 4 people. Coupon
required. Not valid with other offers.
MOONLIGHT CRUISES:
Expires 10-31-2015
PE-4492616
Entertainment.
Begner said it’s the only
traveling craft soda festival
in the country. Of course,
the Soda Pop Tour only
visited one place prior to
Pekin, the town of Dixon
last summer. The tour will
head to St. Charles later
this summer, though, with
a few other cities lining up
to host. Part of its appeal is
the self-contained festival
that pops up alongside the
soda samplings. An inflatable playground, a soda pop
mascot, live entertainment,
food vendors and the Coca
Cola mobile museum round
out the ancillary features
of the festival, providing
something for everyone.
The real allure, at least
from Begner’s perspective, will be the callback to
people’s childhoods, where
drinking a soda marked a
special treat.
“We’re trying to bring
nostalgia back,” Begner
said. “This is a multi-generational event that’s
completely family friendly.
There’s no alcohol, just
good old-fashioned fun.”
Admission to the festival
is free with samples priced
at 50 cents each and an
unlimited sample pass
for $20. If attendees are
smitten with a certain
flavor or brand, they may
write down which one and
purchase it in bottles at a
pop-up general store before
leaving. Almost all of the
craft sodas contain natural
sugars and flavors, ensuring the highest quality
beverage.
Besides the unique
attraction of a craft soda
festival, the tour will also
double as an economic
opportunity for the city of
Pekin, which will receive a
portion of the profits back.
City of Pekin Tourism
Coordinator Leigh Ann
Brown said hosting the
Soda Pop Tour was an easy
decision that will maximize
PHIL LUCIANO is a Journal Star columnist. He can be reached at
pluciano@pjstar.com, facebook.com/philluciano or 686-3155. Follow
him on Twitter @LucianoPhil.
SEE CALENDAR ON PAGE C4
The second annual River City
Jazz Festival will be from noon
to 10 p.m. Saturday at the CEFCU
Center Stage at The Landing on
the Peoria Riverfront. Entertainment lineup includes: Central
Illinois Jazz Orchestra at noon,
Laughing Horse Quartet at 1:
30 p.m., Craig Russo Latin Jazz
Project at 3 p.m., David Hoffman
and Friends at 4:30 p.m., Preston
Jackson & Friends at 6 p.m. and
JC and The Redemption at 8 p.m.
Admission is $5 before 4 p.m.
and $8 after 4 p.m.
The German-American Society
will sponsor Sommerfest,
featuring German food, soccer, a
car and motorcycle cruise-in, arts
and crafts and entertainment,
from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday at Hickory Grove Park.
Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra
Laughing Horse Quartet
Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project
David Hoffman and Friends
Preston Jackson & Friends
JC and The Redemption
May – October
Wednesday, Friday – Sunday
May – October
Fridays
Code: PJTV 2015
Visit our website for
a complete schedule of all our cruises
www.facebook.com/riverfrontevents
www.spiritofpeoria.com | 309-637-8000
Sponsored by
Chillicothe
Historical
Society
PE-4493354
ZorroFest
At Claud-Elen Days
Superhero Parade
PE-4468780_V2
Continued from Page C1
1
plate.
We noticed a couple of interesting menu
items, included a peanut butter burger
(with or without bananas). But the entrees
beckoned, and for the price we expected a
solid meal.
My wife opted for the grilled salmon
($15), billed as lightly seasoned yet seemed
too bland for even the most unadventurous
tastes. Ditto for the wild rice blend. For a
side, she chose grilled asparagus, which
was decent.
I went with the ribeye ($23), a 12ounce cut billed as well marbled. Actually, though cooked appropriately to my
medium-rare request, the steak had some
rather chewy moments. The baked potato
was all right, though my side of “gourmet
mac-n-cheese” was rather mundane.
There were several dessert offerings
($5). The orange-chocolate brownie was
a bit dry, while the cheesecake rangoon
tasted like crab rangoon without the crab,
and not dessert-y at all.
We like the idea of a restaurant at
Hy-Vee, which we find to be a delight as
a grocery. But the Market Cafe needs to
ramp up to be on par with the rest of the
business.
Chillicothe, IL
11:00AM Parade • Noon - 3:00PM Fest
Saturday, June 13
Great Gifts For Dad!
Collectible Coins, Currency, & More
Silver & Gold Coins-A Full Line Of Albums-Folders-Supplies
Lineup of 10:00AM at First & Walnut
The New U.S. Marshals Dollars Are Here
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Superhero
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*1964 And Earlier Silver US Coins * Silver Dollars
We Need Your Coins & Currency
WESTLAKE RARE COINS
* The Store You’ve Known For 27 Years! *
Open 10-5 Mon-Fri. 10-1 Sat.
PE-4488586_V2
Honor Flight & Korean War Vets
Face Painting, Drumline, Fencing Demo, Food & Music
New Location!
Mt. Hawley Court Shopping Center
7815 N. Knoxville Ave.
Call (309)693-2541
PE-4481294
Celebrating Johnston McCulley
Creator of Zorro & Chilli. Twp. HS graduate
Call 309-253-1010 for more info
CUE
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015 C3
‘Check your brain at the door’
‘Jurassic World’
★★★½
A REVIEW
BY RICHARD ROEPER
They never learn.
The megalomaniacal billionaire wants to play God
and create life.
The brilliant scientist is
susceptible to greed and
blind ambition.
The wisecracking geek at
the computer keeps saying,
“Something’s not right,”
and “Wait a minute…” but
is ineffectual.
The rigid, numberscrunching administrator in
charge doesn’t care about
the human element in the
profit equation.
The representative of
the military-industrial
complex is interested only
in creating the ultimate
fighting machine.
And nobody ever listens
to the bearded, macho
rogue in the J. Peterman
leather vest — the guy
who keeps warning them
they’re making a BIG mistake by messing with the
natural order of things.
“Jurassic World” is pure,
dumb, wall-to-wall fun.
When they hand you your
3-D glasses, you can check
your brain at the door and
pick it up on your way out.
About 80 percent of the
movie is dedicated to the
thundering action sequences, with the remaining time devoted to the
usual Spielbergian sci-fi
thriller tropes, from the
siblings who bond because
Mom and Dad might be
splitting up to an icy adult
who learns to love in time
of crisis to the obligatory
profit-driven villain who
refuses to shut things down
even as the body count
piles up. (Remember the
mayor in “Jaws”? It’s just
a little fish problem! Let’s
keep the beaches open.)
This is “Jaws” meets
“Godzilla” meets, well, the
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce
Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan and
Vincent D’Onofrio.
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow.
Running time: 2:04.
Rated: PG-13.
Opens Friday at: Grand Prairie
18; Landmark and Sunnyland
cinemas; AMC ShowPlace 14;
Willow Knolls 14.
Family guide: Intense
sequences of science-fiction
violence and peril.
Quick take: “Jurassic World”
is pure, dumb, wall-to-wall fun.
When they hand you your 3-D
glasses, you can check your brain
at the door and pick it up on
your way out. This is “Jaws” meets
“Godzilla” meets the “Jurassic
Park” movies.
Nick Robinson stars as Zach and Ty Simpkins stars as Gray in “Jurassic World.” (2015)
“Jurassic Park” movies,
and I love the way “Jurassic World” pays tribute
to the groundbreaking
original. (A small example:
A Jurassic World staffer
has just scored a vintage
“Jurassic Park” T-shirt on
eBay for $150. The ones in
mint condition go for $300.)
Set on the same island
near Costa Rica that was
home to Jurassic Park,
Jurassic World is a monstrous, sprawling tourist
destination for more than
20,000 visitors every day.
The children can ride
docile Triceratops. You
can roam the lush grounds
in a rotating gyro device
that allows you to almost
become one with a pack of
Stegosauruses. There’s an
enormous aquatic attraction featuring a huge Mosasaurus that nibbles on a
full shark like it’s a cheese
goldfish snack. Everywhere
you look in the aviary,
there’s a flying Pteranodon.
And yet we’re told the
people are bored. As the
no-nonsense executive
named Claire (Bryce Dallas
Howard) puts it, for today’s
generation, a living, breathing dinosaur is no more
exciting than an elephant.
What to do, what to do.
How about creating a whole
new, super-scary species of
dinosaur, containing DNA
strands of dozens of creatures? What could possibly
go right?
Fresh off his “Guardians
of the Galaxy” triumph, a
chiseled Chris Pratt plays
Owen, a former Navy man
who’s now something of a
Velociraptor Whisperer. No
kidding — using just a little
clicker device, a stern voice
and the promise of treats
in the form of mice, Owen
has a special bond with
the Raptors, most notably
the one he calls Blue, who
communicates with Owen
almost as if they’re in a
Pixar movie.
The moment Owen hears
about the 50-foot “Indominus Rex,” and how ol’ Rexy
ate his only sibling when
he was but a lad, he tells
Claire and everyone else
they’ve made a big, big,
big mistake. Think anyone
listens?
Meanwhile, sulking
teenager Zach (Nick Robinson) and his annoyingly
precocious little brother
Gray (Ty Simpkins) have
escaped from Aunt Claire’s
assistant and are separated
from the pack, so to speak,
at just the wrong moment.
Indominus Rex is on the
loose and he’s hunting for
sport!
“Jurassic World” earns
every inch of its PG-13 rating for some bone-crunching violence, numerous
scenes of dinosaurs
munching on humans and
blood spraying here and
there. There’s one fairly
sick and wickedly funny
scene in which a character
is plucked from the ground
by a Pteranodon and then
dropped in mid-air, only
to land in the clutches of
ANOTHER Pteranodon,
Cirque du Soleil-style, and
that’s not the end of her
dilemma.
Director Colin Trevorrow and the team of screenwriters have some fun
turning summer thriller
clichés sideways, producing some major laughs as
we catch our breath from
the action. Howard is wonderful as Claire, who goes
from uptight bureaucrat
to bad-ass action hero, and
Vincent D’Onofrio has fun
hamming it up as Hoskins,
the military strategist who
actually thinks it would
be a good idea for the U.S.
military to use trained Velociraptors as weapons.
I’m a big Chris Pratt fan,
but he’s so focused on playing the action hero with
a smirk on his face and a
hankering for the girl who
can’t resist his charms,
Owen ends up being kind
of a stiff. Also, it’s hard
not to look a little goofy
when you’re pretending to
be squaring off against a
bunch of Raptors who of
course won’t really be in
the scene until post-production.
That said, the special
effects are indeed pretty
special. Rare is the occasion when it doesn’t feel as
if humans and dinosaurs
are sharing the same space.
(It does happen once or
twice.)
It’s great to hear the classic John Williams theme in
a movie theater again. How
can your heart not soar
when the music swells and
the camera swoops over Jurassic World before all the
chaos ensues? You happily
strap on the seat belt and
let the silly greatness of it
all wash over you.
After all, it’s almost summer.
Chris Pratt, the leading man
BY LINDSEY BAHR
OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. — On a
recent afternoon on a Universal
soundstage, Chris Pratt was
regaling a group of journalists
with a story about elk hunting.
Suddenly, a gust of air blew
through the room, toppling a giant fake plant onto a similarly giant speaker before both careened
toward one unlucky reporter.
Everyone gasped but stayed
in their seats. Everyone, except
Pratt, who sprang from his chair
with a gravely serious expression, ready to help however he
could.
There wasn’t much that needed
doing in this case. The shrubspeaker combination missed the
reporter. But there was no missing the instinct.
The perennial goofball turned
leading man wasn’t merely a
hero on screen. Apparently, he
has the right stuff in reality, too.
“That’s who he is. He takes responsibility for the well-being of
those around him,” said Pratt’s
“Jurassic World” co-star Bryce
Dallas Howard.
On set, things were no different.
“He gets funnier and more
charming as things get more
difficult. It comes from a place of
genuinely wanting to make it fun
Bryce Dallas Howard in “Jurassic World.”
for everyone else,” said director
Colin Trevorrow.
Even after crashing his motorcycle on the Jurassic set, Pratt
insisted on reassuring the cast
and crew the show would go on.
“That one really jolted me,”
he recalled in an interview. Off
camera, the bike locked up when
he used the brakes in some mud.
He was thrown 20 feet and had to
dive roll over a prop gun strapped
to his back.
“I was immediately swarmed
by everyone,” he said. “When
you’re on a movie and that much
money is on the line, should your
star get hurt... I’m like, ‘Listen
dudes, you’ve got to back the
(expletive) off for a second. Am I
fine? How could I possibly know
that? Give me a day and I’ll tell
you. It seems OK right now.’”
Howard, through her own career and by proxy of lineage (her
dad is Ron Howard), has been
around the biggest names in the
business for her entire life, and
dislikes the overused and undervalued phrase “movie star.” She
prefers terms like “recognizable”
and “well-known” and believes
that there have only been maybe
15 true movie stars in the history
of cinema.
Pratt, however, makes the cut.
A few years ago, things looked
very different for Pratt. He had
a steady gig as the affable Andy
Dwyer on NBC’s “Parks and
Recreation” and would pop up
in movies here and there, but
usually as a goofy sidekick. Then
everything changed in 2014.
With leading roles in both
“The Lego Movie” and the littleknown, high-stakes Marvel property “Guardians of the Galaxy,”
the year was almost a test. Could
he carry a film? Would audiences
respond?
The answer was an unequivocal yes. “Guardians” became the
third highest earning movie of
the year, and “The Lego Movie”
was the fifth. Both are getting
sequels.
Now, Pratt has another trial
looming: “Jurassic World,” the
fourth installment in the “Jurassic Park” series that Steven
Spielberg launched in 1993, out
Friday.
Pratt plays Owen Grady, a
military man turned Velociraptor trainer at an amusement park
that devolves into dino chaos. If
his ‘Guardians’ character, Peter
Quill, was Han Solo, Owen Grady
is Indiana Jones — a little more
serious, a little less rakish and
definitely not silly.
As he delves into higher profile
projects, Pratt is only concerned
about making movies that don’t
just “aim for the middle.” He
wants audiences to truly feel like
profits aren’t the sole, or most
important, objective. Also, even
in these leading roles, he doesn’t
Chris Pratt
stars as
Owen in
Universal
Pictures’
“Jurassic
World.”
give himself credit for a film’s
success.
Fame and stardom can be
ephemeral, too, and Pratt likes
to keep things light and sincere.
He recently posted a humorous
“apology” on his Facebook page
“for whatever it is I end up saying
during the forthcoming ‘Jurassic
World’ press tour.” He was keenly
aware of the various “gates” and
“scandals” mined out of recent
“Avengers” interviews and others.
“It was a fun way for me to
poke fun at the PC police, but
also, truly to pre-emptively apologize in the likelihood that I would
say something inappropriate,”
he said.
He also stole his Owen costume
from set, telling Howard that he’d
like to wear it to hospitals to visit
kids in character.
There are the usual downsides
of increased fame, but Pratt,
who’s married to actress Anna
Faris, knew the score going in.
“I don’t much like the elements that pertain to my private
life and my personal space
being diminished, but with
that there’s a trade. I’m now
on a short list to have access to
amazing filmmakers and material,” he said. “I’m just hoping
I never get caught complaining
about it.”
C4 THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015
LEISURE&ADVICE
CUE CALENDAR
$3044803%
#Z5)0."4+04&1)
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
COMPILED BY MICKEY WIELAND
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Items for the Cue calendar need to be submitted 10
days prior to publication. Send information to Mickey
Wieland at mwieland@pjstar.com (preferred method)
or by mail to the Journal Star, 1 News Plaza, Peoria,
IL 61643.
Peoria, 305 SW Water St.: June 12 — Marbin. Music
5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission: $8/CAC members; $12/
nonmembers. Call 674-6822.
Limelight Eventplex, 8102 N. University: June
13 — Jon Pardi, 8 p.m., tickets $12-$15; June 16
— Rich Robinson, 7 p.m., tickets $20-$25. Visit
limelighteventplex.com or call 693-1234.
Special events
Riverfront
Museum
The Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222 SW Washington
St., peoriariverfrontmuseum.org or call 686-7000. The
Giant Screen Theater serves beer, wine and pizza.
Giant Screen Theater: June 11 — “Jurassic World;”
June 18 — NASA Astronaut Q&A. Educational films:
“D-Day Normandy 1944 3-D,” National Geographic’s
“Mysteries of the Unseen World 3-D.”
Dome Planetarium: Daily: One World One Sky,
TimeSpace, Stars Over Peoria, Uniview: The Solar
System, Black Holes.
Civic Center
The Peoria Civic Center is located in Downtown
Peoria. Call 673-8900; for box office, call 6733200; for tickets, call (800) 745-3000 or visit
PeoriaCivicCenter.com.
June 18: Velocity Summer Glow Tour, 8 p.m., Exhibit
Hall B. Tickets: $20/at the door.
June 27: River City Fiber Fest, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Exhibit
Hall D & Ballroom. Tickets: $5/door.
Music
Music Variety Show, featuring Jukebox Saturday
Night Band, 7-9 p.m. June 12, Fondulac Park District
Administration Building, 201 Veterans Drive, East
Peoria. Admission: $8/person; $15/couple.
Live at the Five Spot, Contemporary Art Center of
“Cars with Stories From the Past,” display through
June, Wheels O’ Time Museum, 1710 W. Woodside Drive,
Dunlap. The museum hours: noon-5 p.m. WednesdaysSundays. Admission: $6.50/adults; $3.50/ages 3-11.
Visit www.wheelsotime.org.
RiverFront Market, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through
September, River Station parking lot between Martini’s
and New Amsterdam. Music: June 13 — Jim Markum
Dixieland Band.
Festivals
River City Jazz Festival, noon-10 p.m. June 13,
CEFCU Center Stage at The Landing. Admission: $5
before 4 p.m., $8 after 4 p.m. Entertainment lineup
includes: Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra at noon, Laughing Horse Quartet at 1:30 p.m., Craig Russo Latin Jazz
Project at 3 p.m., David Hoffman and Friends at 4:30
p.m., Preston Jackson & Friends at 6 p.m. and JC and
The Redemption at 8 p.m.
Comedy
Jukebox Comedy Club, 3527 W. Farmington Road:
June 11-13 — Steve-O; June 18-20 — Ryan Singer. Call
673-5853 or visit JukeboxComedy.com.
Dance
Square dances: Bachelors ‘n’ Bachelorettes: 79:30 p.m. June 11, caller Curt Braffet, Creve Coeur
Community Center, 586 Groveland Ave., Creve Coeur.
Call 697-4133.
Night life
Bogie’s Bar & Grill, 3000 N. Sterling Ave.: June 12
— Plead the 5th; June 17 — Billy Washburn. Thursdays
— open mic.
Castaway’s Bar & Grill, 1707 N. Fourth St., Chillicothe: Tuesdays — trivia.
Castle Theater, 209 E. Washington St., Bloomington:
June 13 — Sam Bush; June 17 — Saving Abel; June 18
— The Steel Wheels.
Christy’s Place, 1221 Peoria St., Washington: June 13
— Gary is in Trouble Band. Fridays — karaoke.
East Peoria American Legion, 100 Legion St., East
Peoria: June 13 — Timeless, 7 p.m.
Friends Tap, 200 Derby St., Pekin: June 13 — Cosmic
Dice, 8 p.m.-midnight.
Kuchie’s Corner Tap, 4980 Edgewater Drive, Groveland: Fridays — karaoke with Captain Steve & Cathy, 8
p.m.-midnight.
Kuchie’s on the Water, 579 Wesley Road, Creve Coeur:
Wednesdays — team trivia, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Martinis on Water, 212 SW Water St.: June 12 — Vinyl
Tap; June 13 — Fun DMC. Music: 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Oliver’s Pizza & Pub, 1231 E. Samuel Ave., Peoria
Heights: Mondays — team trivia, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays
— karaoke, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Oliver’s Pizza & Pub North, 3300 W. Willow Knolls
Drive: Thursdays — team trivia, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays
— karaoke, 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
Rock’s Bar & Restaurant, 21 Blackjack Blvd., East
Peoria: Thursdays — karaoke, 9 p.m.-midnight; Friday
— live music, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Sky Harbor, 1321 N. Park Road, West Peoria:
Wednesdays and Saturdays — Bob Bishop. Music: 7 p.m.
Call 674-5532.
SoundBar at Limelight, 8102 N. University: Wednesdays — open stage, 7 p.m.
ANNIE’S MAILBOX
Throw the ex a curve
and chummy up to her
Complete the grid
so that every row,
every column and
3x3 box contains
every digit from 1 to 9
inclusively.
Tips for working the
Sudoku puzzle can be
found at pjstar.com
TODAY’S ANSWERS
!
46%0,616;;-&
DEAR ANNIE: I am confused about how
to handle my husband’s ex-girlfriend,
who shows up at his family funerals and
stays three hours at the visitation hanging with my husband and reminiscing
about the past. They discuss things out
loud with no respect for me.
This woman is married, but never
comes to these gatherings with her
husband. And my
husband still does
her taxes, even
though I told him
he shouldn’t. He’s
opening the door to
trouble.
I do trust my husband, but not her.
She definitely is still
attracted to him, and it shows. Is her
behavior normal, or should I tell her at
the next funeral to pay her respects and
leave? — Not Jealous, Just Hurt
DEAR NOT: Please don’t let your insecurities cause you to overreact. If you trust
your husband, it doesn’t matter what
his ex-girlfriend does. And how often
does the family have funerals that you
need to worry about this? We agree that
she is being inappropriately flirtatious,
but it is only a big deal if your husband
responds in a similar fashion. We suggest you chummy up to this ex-girlfriend
at these events. It will totally baffle her,
greatly impress your husband and make
her less of a threat to you.
DEAR ANNIE: You printed a letter from
“Expecting Mom in the Midwest,” who
asked for a response when rude people
ask, “Was it planned?” You suggested,
“Why do you need to know?” I think
a good answer would be, “Of course!
God planned it!” I love your column.
— Bossier City, La.
DEAR BOSSIER CITY: Your response was
by far the most popular one we received.
We appreciate all who sent in their
personal preferences. Here are a few
samples:
NEA BRIDGE
FROM PAT: Your response was masterful. Another retort (not original to me)
would be: “If people ask you, tell them
you don’t know.” And a gentler response: “I’m hurt by your question.”
EL PASO: In my opinion, a better answer to this question is: “Well, I guess
that’s really between my husband and
me. Don’t you agree?”
R.: I would simply say, “Yes, it was
planned, but if we plan another, should
we inform you first?” There seem to
be more ignorant and stupid people in
today’s world, and they have no filters
between their brains
and mouths.
P.: When asked,
“Was this pregnancy
planned,” I would say,
“I give up. Was it?” I
have used this more
times than I can say,
and it always works.
MOTHER OF TWINS: I
would simply ask, “Were you?”
TYLER, TEXAS: Someone could reply, “It
was more planned than the question
you just asked!”
SALISBURY, PA.: I’ve found this response
works: “Why in the world would you
ask such a personal question? It’s rude,
and you’re normally not a rude person.
Are you feeling OK?” Whenever you end
with a question, the other person feels
compelled to answer. So throw it back
in their court, and watch ‘em squirm.
They deserve a little squirming.
DEAR ANNIE: This is in response to “Fed
Up,” who had problems finding clothing
in her large, very tall size.
She should look for a tailor or
seamstress who can make her clothes
to order. Or, she could learn to sew and
make her own. That’s what I do, and
there is an infinite variety of patterns,
fabrics and colors. Knowing how to sew
would also allow her to alter any clothes
she finds in retail stores. — P.
KATHY MITCHELL & MARCY SUGAR
%"*-:$3:1502605&4
Annie’s Mailbox is written by KATHY MITCHELL and MARCY
SUGAR, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please
email your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to:
Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa
Beach, CA 90254.
ASTRO-GRAPH
+6.#-&#Z%"7*%-)0:5BOE+&'',/63&,
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY: Comparing yourself to others
is a waste of time and
energy. You have abilities,
ideas and talents that you
need to develop
and master. Highlight what you do
have to offer and
others will take
note. Self-confidence comes from
doing what you do
best.
GEMINI (May 21June 20): You will
face an unpleasant consequence if people
feel that you have been
misleading. Before you
convince others to join
your mission, check your
facts and leave no room
for error.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Think before you speak.
Your heightened emotions will cause you to
overreact. There is no
need to be defensive if no
one is threatening you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Your charming ways and
humorous mood will have
people flocking to your
side. Accept as many
social invitations as you
can handle. A change of
fortune is imminent.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Before you sign up for
a loan or make a major
purchase, you should do
a realistic assessment
of your financial status.
Consult a banking or
investment adviser, if
necessary, in order to
clarify your position.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23):
You may be overwhelmed
by the demands
being put on you.
Don’t spread
yourself too thin.
It’s perfectly fine
to say no. Take
care of your needs
first and don’t feel
guilty.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22): Surround
yourself with
positive, upbeat people.
Good moods are contagious, and you will feel
your stress falling away
once you loosen up. An
intriguing partnership is
on the horizon.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec.
21): Be self-aware. If your
instincts tell you something is not right, listen
to them. Scam artists are
very convincing, and if
you fall for a sales pitch,
you will have regrets.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19): You will alienate the
people you live with if you
try to force your opinions
on them. Take a step back
and let matters settle down
before you spoil a close
relationship.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
19): Love, harmony and
romance are highlighted.
Plan an intimate liaison
with a special someone,
or get out and meet some-
EUGENIA
LAST
one new if you are single.
Communication will lead
to affection and commitment.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20):
Introduce yourself to the
person you have been
admiring from a distance.
You are likely to find a lot
of common ground once
you compare notes. A
long-lasting partnership
is apparent.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
You are likely to feel
confined and to be easily
upset if you stay indoors
today. Use your energy to
complete outdoor chores
or to engage in some
physical activity.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
A recent quarrel with
someone will stress you
out. Open up the lines of
communication, declare
your feelings and admit
your shortcomings. Clear
your conscience and ease
your mind.
By PHILLIP ALDER
Thomas Fuller, an English scholar and preacher
who died in 1661, said, “All
things are difficult before
they are easy.”
The key play in today’s
deal is very difficult to find,
and even after seeing it
once, many players would
miss it the next time it flew
by, a decade or three later!
South is in five hearts.
What should he do after
West leads the spade king?
The auction went badly
for North. He had hoped
to be able to respond two
diamonds and to rebid four
hearts to describe his hand.
But East made a Law of
Total Tricks raise to four
spades — in a competitive
auction, bid to the 10-trick
level with a 10-card fit.
North considered doubling
that, but eventually plowed
on to five hearts. (Note that
four spades can be made.)
Suppose South wins the
first trick with dummy’s
spade ace, draws trumps
ending in his hand, and
runs his diamond queen.
What happens next?
Here, East takes the trick
and, if in midseason form,
shifts to the club 10. Then
the defenders take one
diamond and two clubs to
defeat the contract.
Declarer must establish
dummy’s diamond suit
without letting East on lead
for that nasty club switch.
South must let West take
the first trick.
Suppose West leads
another spade. Declarer
discards a diamond from
his hand, plays a heart to
his ace, leads the diamond
queen to dummy’s ace,
ruffs a diamond high, plays
a heart to dummy’s jack,
ruffs another diamond,
leads a heart to the king,
and cashes dummy’s three
diamond winners.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Actor GENE WILDER is 82. Rock
singer DONNIE VAN ZANT is 63.
Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE
MONTANA is 59. Actor HUGH
LAURIE is 56. TV personality
MEHMET OZ, M.D., is 55. Actor
PETER DINKLAGE is 46. Actor
SHIA LABEOUF is 29.