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JACKSONVILLE
the king has arrived
Disney’s
The Lion King
entertaining u newspaper
free weekly guide to entertainment and more | march 8-14, 2007 | www.eujacksonville.com

2 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper

table of contents
feature
Spring Break .............................................................................................PAGES 18-19
movies
Wild Hogs (movie review) .................................................................................. PAGE 6
Movies In Theaters This Week .....................................................................PAGES 6-10
Venus (movie review) ......................................................................................... PAGE 7
Seen, Heard, Noted & Quoted ............................................................................. PAGE 7
300 (movie review) ............................................................................................ PAGE 8
Playtime Drive-In Theatre ................................................................................... PAGE 9
Midnight Movies At The San Marco Theatre ...................................................... PAGE 10
at home
Peter Pan (DVD review) ................................................................................... PAGE 12
Tideland (DVD review) ..................................................................................... PAGE 12
The Black Donnellys (TV Review) ..................................................................... PAGE 13
Video Games ................................................................................................... PAGE 14
food
Mezza Luna....................................................................................................PAGES 15
Salvation Army Celebrity Chefs ......................................................................... PAGE 20
music
Chad Jasmine (Landshark Cafe) ....................................................................... PAGE 21
Music Calendar .........................................................................................PAGES 21-25
Sam Pacetti (interview) .................................................................................... PAGE 22
Cadillac Sky (interview) .................................................................................... PAGE 23
Von Barlow (interview) .................................................................................... PAGE 24
JSO Masterworks Series .................................................................................. PAGE 25
Tishamingo (album review) .............................................................................. PAGE 25
arts / theatre / on stage
Art Along The Way ........................................................................................... PAGE 26
On The Rocks (Ocean Club) ............................................................................. PAGE 27
High School Musical (Stage Aurora) ................................................................. PAGE 27
Lion King (interview) ........................................................................................ PAGE 28
Arts Calendar ............................................................................................PAGES 28-29
Pack Of Lies (Theatre Jacksonville) ................................................................. PAGE 29
First Baptist Of Ivy Gap (Orange Park Community Theatre) ............................... PAGE 29
columns and stuff
What’s Eating You? .......................................................................................... PAGE 30
The Jock .......................................................................................................... PAGE 31
NASCAR .......................................................................................................... PAGE 31
COVER PHOTO: “Lion King” courtesy FCCJ Artist Series
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 3

thisweek
thursday march 8 friday
Taste of chaos
Rock your brains out with The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars, Senses
Fail, Aiden, Saosin and others.
Morocco Shrine Auditorium - 5:30 PM
Larry the cable Guy
Before Larry hooked up with the
Blue Collar Boys, he made regular
radio appearances on programs
such as the Ron and Ron Show
with his trademark Redneck-style
humor, recounting bizarre stories
about his “family” and using the
now famous phrase “Git-R-Done!”
He recently sold out two solid
nights at Radio City Music Hall in
New York (not exactly a Blue Collar
city). His new movie, “Delta Farce”
will be coming out soon.
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial
Arena - 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Ticketmaster 353-3309
maria Taylor (azure ray) w/ apollo Sunshine
From glistening piano pop to melancholy acoustic gems, Maria
Taylor has come into her own as a solo artist. She is a master story
teller with a flare for perfect, harmony-soaked melodies. Apollo
Sunshine has thrilled audiences with their unique and eclectic
sound - from avant-garde noise experiment to ultra-melodic pop,
to rock, to punk, sometimes all within one song. You will wonder
“How the hell does he play bass with his left hand, keyboard with
his right and sing lead vocal?” Cafe Eleven – 8:30 Info: 469-
9311
moe
Moe is Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan and Gram Parsons, from hard
rock to melodic country, Moe can write songs and they can play
the bejesus out of them live. By not limiting their songwriting to
preconceived genres, Moe are a rarity in today’s pop music culture.
Freebird Live Info: 249-(BIRD) 2473
Disney’s ThE LION KING
It’s finally here! They have been
teasing us with it for over a year
but I don’t think anyone will be
disappointed when they experience
the phenomenon of Disney’s
THE LION KING. Marvel at the
breathtaking spectacle of animals
brought to life by award-winning
director Julie Taymor, whose visual
images for this show you’ll remember
forever. Running through April 15.
Tickets: $21.50 to $125 for VIP.
Times-Union Center – Moran Theater
Info: (904) 632-3373 or online at
4 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
march 9
John Gorka, Sam Pacetti
mEDESKI, marTIN aND WOOD
This Friday at Freebird.
This show with folk singer, John
Gorka and St. Augustine resident,
Sam Pacetti, is SOLD OUT. However,
Pacetti plays the Milltop Tavern in
St. Augustine regularly and will be
performing at Suwannee Springfest
on March 23 plus a slew of other
festivals this summer. read interview with Sam Pacetti on
page 22.
Cafe Eleven Info: 469-9311
The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
New Orleans Jazz Orchestra with Irvin Mayfield
One of the newest stars to come out of the legendary New
Orleans jazz scene, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield founded the 16piece
New Orleans Jazz Orchestra in 2002. Together they make
beautiful music, whether performing the music of the masters—
Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Thelonious
Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus—or their own hot new.
Tickets: $37.50, $32.50
The Florida Theatre - 8 PM
Info: 355-2787
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
JSO presents “Where Have You Been, Haydn?” Often called
“The Father of the Symphony,” we pay tribute with Haydn’s
Lord Nelson Mass (Mass in Time of Fear), which, seemingly
unrelated to the title, evokes joy and feelings of hope.
Times Union Center for the Performing Arts - 8pm
Info: 354.5547
medeski martin & Wood
Medeski Martin & Wood were born out of New York City’s
downtown experimental music boom of the early 1990s, Jazz’s
premiere funk-prov ensemble, made their Blue Note debut
in 1998 with the best-selling Combustication, a finelycrafted,
groove-heavy studio album. John Medeski, Billy
Martin, and Chris Wood, plus guitar guru John Scofield
on their new release OUT LOUDER, make music not of
this world, yet rooted in the earth tones of jazz, funk, and
blues. Freebird Live Info: 249-(BIRD) 2473
The Static age w/ madison Fadeout,
claire Gonwa
The Static Age has their own sound -- one that infuses
melody, atmosphere, and a pulsating back beat to
bring forth an unmistakable urgency and honesty in
their songs. The result is an emotionally resonant and
danceable collection of songs that sounds like nothing
else before it.
Thee Imperial – 7 pm Info: 475-0488
march 9 - 11
26th annual Lions club Seafood Festival
Sample the yummy seafood from the area, hear live bluegrass
and country music, see the arts & crafts show & more. Overflow
parking shuttle from Downtown plaza area is available on Saturday
and Sunday. Admission: $1. read interview with cadillac Sky
on page 23. Francis Field on Castillo Drive in St. Augustine,
Fri. 2 -10 pm, Sat. 10 am -10 pm and Sun. 10 am - 5 pm. Info:
904.825.0850 or lionsfestival.com
Jacksonville International car & Truck Show
The Jacksonville International Car & Truck Show is an annual
showcase of the newest model year import and domestic vehicles
-- cars, vans, crossovers, hybrids, light trucks and sport utilities.
Prime Osborn Convention Center 630-4000 or paragonexpo.com
saturday march 10
annual Dog Lovers Day
This free outdoor, family-fun event will entertain several thousand
First Coast families and dogs, create awareness of the ongoing
overpopulation of pets, and hopefully provide many homeless dogs
with a permanent home through the Dog Adoption Fair. Events will
begin at 8 am with Breakfast with Scooby Doo ($9.99-$12.99) then
a free Meet-and-Greet w/Scooby.
Adventure Landing, Beach Blvd. Info: 246-4555
ThrEE mO’ TENOrS
Boasting a repertoire with extraordinary breadth these classically
trained multi-talented tenors display incredible versatility as
they take the audience on a journey of numerous musical styles
including opera, jazz, gospel, soul, Broadway, hip-hop, Motown and
blues—all beautifully staged in one delightfully entertaining night.
Lazzara stage UNF Fine Arts Center - 7:30 pm
Info: 620-2878 or www.threemotenorsontour.com
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys’ sunny vocal harmonies are one of the signature
sounds of the modern era. An American musical institution, the
Beach Boys parlayed a repertoire of songs about surfing, cars and
girls into the basis for one of the country’s longest lasting success
stories. Performing all their original hits, The Beach Boys take The
Florida Theatre stage Saturday, at 8 PM. Info: 355.2787

calvin Newborn
He played on B.B. King’s first recordings, taught Elvis how to dance, and tore up the Big Apple in the
heyday of bop. Memphis blues/jazz guitarist and living legend, Calvin Newborn will be featured on
guitar along with other locals, Debra Rider, vocals, Von Barlow, drums, Lawrence Buckner, bass, Mike
Spottswood, piano/trumpet, and Mark Gibson, guitar. Come out and support your local musicians.
Actually you should come early and enjoy some awesome barbeque. read interview with Von Barlow
on page 24. MoJo Kitchen BBQ Pit/Blues Bar, 1500 Beach Blvd., Jax. Beach – 10:30 pm
Info: 247-6636 www.mojobbq.com
cracker (unplugged)
Cracker may be considered a somewhat traditional rock band, yet singer/guitarist David Lowery’s roots
were anything but traditional since he fronted the ‘80s alternative outfit Camper Van Beethoven. Shortly
after Camper Van Beethoven called it quits in 1990, Lowery and his new group began going by the name
Cracker. Cracker’s best-known album, Kerosene Hat, spawned the hit Low. They have stayed busy since
then putting out at least 8 more albums. They will perform an acoustic show this time around. Also
performing, Railbender. Jack Rabbits Info: 398-7496
Band Of horses
Things must really be cookin’ down at Café Eleven
because this show is also SOLD OUT.
Cafe Eleven Info: 469-9311
Toots and The maytals
The legendary reggae group will have the house
jumpin’ with their unique and original combination of
gospel, ska, soul, reggae and rock music. Tickets:
$20 Freebird Live Info: 249-BIRD (2473)
sunday march 11
Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring concert
First-rate young musicians provide a program of music under the baton of Music Director Scott C. Gregg.
Times Union Center for the Performing Arts - 5pm Info: 354.5547
The Thermals, The Big Sleep, Dirty on Purpose
Sub Pop now brings The Thermals to you, in all their “no-fi” glory. Distorted guitars, distorted drums,
distorted bass, and distorted vocals all collide into perfect, distorted pop songs. The sound is classic
Sub Pop, with a “twist.” The Thermals’ debut is called More Parts Per Million, and we think you will find
this title very fitting, as this record pays absolutely no heed to any laws or generally accepted principles
of sound recording. You will be please to know that there are still tickets available to this show.
Cafe Eleven
moneen
Working on their latest album The Red Tree, Moneen had a new awakening. The process was both
refreshing and painful, but the frustration that came from continually analyzing their work turned into
determination to make the best album they could. The payoff is a mature and diverse record where each
song is epic, not in length but in scope. Also playing Pistolita, Damiera, and Sonoma.
Jack Rabbits Info: 398-7496
monday march 12
PEPPEr
TOOTS
Pepper
Pepper is three young innovative minds mixed
with divine inspiration from the Hawaiian
Islands. Over the past few years Pepper has
been able to hone their skills as songwriters
and recording artists. As harder influences
such as Nirvana, Black Sabbath, and Pantera
are incorporated into their already well
developed reggae-rock roots, Pepper is
beginning to explore new ground stylistically.
Freebird Live 246-BIRD
Explosions in the Sky (aT ThE aLcaZar)
An amazing band at an amazing location but unless you already have tickets, yep, you guessed it, SOLD
OUT. Info through Café Eleven – 469-9311
tuesday
march 13
ZZ Top
One of the few rock groups still composed of its
original members after more than 35 years. Bearded
members, Gibbons and Hill are famous for their
nostalgic guitars, many of which were co-designed
with master luthier John Bolin of Bolin Guitars.
Unfortunately for non-ticket holders, this show is
also SOLD OUT. Florida Theatre - 355-2787
adrian Legg, Tony Smotherman
Impossible to categorize as a player, Adrian Legg
incorporates virtually every genre on his guitar in a
virtuosic instrumental style with effects. He brought
electric approaches to acoustic playing, creating a
modern cross-over amalgamation in the tradition of
eclectic folk playing that goes back to the 1960s.”
Cafe Eleven 469-9311
wednesday march 14
John Edward
Psychic medium, author, lecturer and host of the new WE hit series Cross Country, John Edward
has helped thousands with his uncanny ability to communicate with those who have crossed over
to the Other Side. Deeply compelling, often startling and occasionally humorous, John’s down-toearth
approach has earned him a vast and loyal following. If you do not have a ticket you will not
be communicating with the other side this time around because the show is SOLD OUT.
The Florida Theatre - 7 PM
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 5

opening this week
300 Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, this epic
film tells the story of the famous Battle of Thermopylae
where the King of Sparta, with only 300 soldiers,
held off thousands of advancing Persians at the
Thermopylae pass. The battle inspired all of Greece
to band together against the Persians and usher in the
world’s first democracy. Rated R
THE LIVES OF OTHERS Florian Henckel von
Donnersmarck’s movie debut involves the horrifying
and sometimes unintentionally funny East German
system of spying on every citizen during the Cold War.
In the early 19870s, a successful dramatist Georg
Dreyman and his longtime companion Christa-Maria
Sieland are stars in the socialist state. Government
agents observe every aspect of the couple’s lives
because a high ranking secret agent is interested in
Christa. Rated R
THE ULTIMATE GIFT When his wealthy grandfather
dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big
inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a
crash course on life: twelve gifts designed to challenge
Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey
of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is
most important in life: money or happiness. Starring:
Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigail Breslin,
Lee Meriwether. Rated PG
VENUS Maurice and Ian are a pair of veteran actors
who never quite hit the big time. Now in their “golden
years” they continue to work, though the jobs are
far from glamorous. But their comfortable routine
and witty banter over breakfast in a favorite cafe is
disrupted by the arrival of Ian’s grand-niece, Jessie.
Starring: Peter O’Toole, Leslie Phillips, Jodie Whittaker,
Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Griffiths. Rated R
now playing
AMAZING GRACE In this British period piece, Ioan
Gruffudd stars as idealist William Wilberforce who
maneuvers his way through Parliament in 18 th Century
England lobbying to end slavery in the British empire.
Directed by renowned filmmaker Michael Apted Rated
PG
BECAUSE I SAID SO Diane Keaton stars as Daphne
Wilder, and overbearing mother who pampers her
three grown up daughters Maggie (Lauren Graham) a
psychologist, sexy and rebellious Mae (Piper Perabo),
and insecure but adorable Milly (Mandy Moore).
Keaton’s Daphne tries to spare Milly her mistakes with
men, but Milly is on the wrong path. Rated PG-13
BLACK SNAKE MOAN This is filmmaker Craig
Brewer’s follow up to his award winning Hustle &
Flow. In this provocative Southern Gothic tale, Samuel
L. Jackson portrays a bitter old bluesman Lazerus
who finds a young girl, Rae (Christina Ricci) beaten
and left for dead on the side of the road. He takes her
in and helps her heal. When he finds out that she has
“spells” of sexual mania, he chains her to the radiator
for her own good. He plays the blues to soothe her
soul and starts performing again. Her boyfriend
Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) has anxiety attacks and is
discharged from the Army. The premise involves three
broken people finding each other. Rated R
continued pg 8
6 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
get your motor
running
Wild Hogs movie review
by Rick gRant rickgrant01@comcast.net
C+ Rated PG-13 99 min
The concept of hiring A-list actors in a populace
comedic road picture has been around filmdom since
“talkies” hit the screens. Likewise, biker shtick has
also been done countless times. So, it came to pass
in Hollywood, where everything old is recycled, a new
dawn rose when moguls were playing it safe with
proven material.
Thus, director Walt Becker (Van Wilder) and
writer Brad Copeland pieced together this medium
cool comedy to cash in on the weekend warrior
biker craze–that is: Middle aged men going through
male menopause seeking fun and adventure on the
open road atop a Harley. In the past, these workaday
suburban dullards seeking excitement bought sports
cars. Now it’s Harleys.
Of course, this film has all the earmarks of a
blockbuster hit, and judging by the sold out sneak
peak and the huge crowds at the opening, this picture
should go into the $100 million plus box office revenue
on its star power alone. Although my expectations
were low, I was surprised by how much I was
laughing at the knee jerk slapstick gags.
Still, the ensemble of John Travolta, William
H. Macy, Martin Lawrence, and Tim Allen pulled off
a respectable job of clowning around and probably
having more fun between takes than anyone on the
set thought possible. In other words, they had a good
time making the film and passed that joy on to the
audience. It’s pure unadulterated fun!
This buttoned-down wild bunch includes Doug
Madsen (Allen) a dentist who hasn’t taken a vacation
in years. Even is wife (Jill Hennessy) encourages
him to take the trip with his weekend biker buddies
– Dudley Frank ( Macy), who is a computer geek and
ready for action, Woody Stevens (Travolta), a stock
trader whose trophy wife left him and he just found
out he’s broke, and Bobby Davis (Lawrence), who is
hen-pecked and miserable.
BILL MACy LEARNS TO STRADDLE HIS HOG
Before the story of Wild Hogs could roar
to life, the cast would first have to learn to ride
the roaring chrome machines with which their
characters are so in love. But riding a Harley is
no quickly acquired skill and comes with a big
risk—as all experienced riders know, it’s not a
matter of if you’ll ever wipe out, it’s just a matter
of when.
To make things even more complicated,
each of the film’s four stars started in completely
different places—John Travolta was an experienced
rider who knew Harleys like a pro, Tim
Allen had ridden sport bikes but not Harleys,
which have a flavor all their own, while Bill Macy
was a gung-ho novice, and Martin Lawrence had
never so much as straddled a bike in his life and
had no idea what was in store! To get everyone
Initially, for the Wild Hog “gang,” the trip is
about reclaiming their manhood and escaping the
tensions of the real world. Viewers know that before
long these clueless biker dweebs will find trouble.
Things start going wrong almost immediately. They
accidentally burn up their camping gear and have
to sleep on a blowup mattress on the ground. A gay
cop (played by Scrubs’ John C. McKinley) thinks
they are having an orgy and offers to join in. This
sends the Wild Hogs racing off on their bikes filled
with homophobic angst. Then they decide to go
skinny dipping in a small lake. Soon, a family arrives,
and to their horror, discover the men are not wearing
bathing trunks. Perverts on Harleys–or, hapless yuppies
on a jaunt?
Inevitably, the fake bikers encounter the real
deal–a ruthless criminal gang, the Del Fuegos at their
biker bar headquarters. The gang is headed by Jack
(Ray Liotta) who delights in harassing these biker
posers. Jack and his gang steal Dudley’s bike and
chase off the Wild Hogs. But, Woody is outraged
and goes back to get Dudley’s bike back. This leads
to a major conflagration, wiping out the bar. Woody
realizes that the real biker gang will stop at nothing to
get even, so he and the Hogs go to the nearest town
to hideout. The thing is, Woody hasn’t told his buddies
what really happened back at the Del Fuego’s
bar.
It’s about this stage in the shoot that Becker
pulls out the stops on the biker stereotypes and
launches a series of shots that savvy viewers know
are blatant cliches, but cause involuntary laughter.
Yes, the audience is having fun, but not as much fun
as the cast who got paid plenty for their grab-ass
good time.
Once in the town, the Wild Hogs convince the
townspeople they are harmless and they are welcomed
by the unarmed police. Dudley is smitten with
a diner waitress, Maggie (Marisa Tomei), and he is
invited to a barbecue party in the town square. Unbeknownst
to the Wild Hogs, two Del Fuego scouts
have located the Hogs’ position, and reported back
to Jack. As certain as there is always a bar fight in a
biker picture, viewers know that the big showdown is
coming between the Del Fuegos and the Wild Hogs.
Although this is Brad Copeland’s first big
screen credit, he has enjoyed success with his
writer/producer TV gigs, penning My Name is Earl,
Arrested Development, and Grounded for Life. For
this feature film, Copeland played it safe with a
script with broader appeal. With big bucks at stake,
financial assurances of profit for Touchstone were
more important than experimentation. Happily for all
concerned, this comedy has already gone ballistic
and everyone goes home happy.
equally up to speed, the filmmakers brought in
stunt coordinator Jack Gill to run a pre-production
training camp. Gill started the crew out on dirt
bikes to hone their handling skills, then moved up
to cruising Harleys around the twisting roads of
Malibu Canyon, which served as a testing ground
for the rookies. Like his cast-mates, the newbie
Macy quickly discovered just why so many men
develop a Harley habit.
“They’re big motorcycles, but Lordy, what a
feeling. Only people who have ridden understand
that feeling of freedom and lawlessness and living
on the edge... It’s legal and non-narcotic and
fun as all get out,” he enthuses. “I am seriously
hooked.” Indeed, Macy regrets not putting in his
deal memo that he be allowed to keep his ultracool
bike!

may/december
Venus movie review
by Rick gRant rickgrant01@comcast.net
A- Rated R 95 min
The premise of Venus, a delightful film by Roger
Michell deals with bridging a fifty year generation
gap with love, compassion, and understanding. The
story shows that a man in his eighties, Maurice (Peter
O’Toole), an icon of British theatre, can communicate
with his pal Ian’s 19 year old niece’s daughter Jessie
(Jodie Whittaker), winning her respect and a greater
understanding of his generation.
Maurice and his best friend Ian (Leslie Phillips)
are successful theater actors who meet daily, have
a drink, and talk about their theater triumphs and
complain about the aches and pains of being over 80
years old. Ian thinks he is going to die any minute, so
he agrees to let his grand niece, Jessie, move into his
flat to care for him. Jessie is a teenage alcoholic with
a potty mouth. She’s rude, and completely disregards
her responsibility to care for Ian.
Although Jessie is incorrigible, Maurice is rejuvenated
by her youth and sees himself as her mentor.
Having been a ladies man all his life, Maurice is infatuated
by her rough edges. He is determined to bring
culture into her life and soak up her youthful essence.
Jessie becomes his next big project.
As time goes on, Jessie actually becomes fond
of Maurice. However, her youthful angst leads her
further astray into the arms of a young punk, who
schemes to rob Maurice. In one scene, Jesse’s new
beau roughs up poor Maurice. But, Jesse feels real
remorse and goes to Maurice’s side. He finally gets
her a job modeling nude for an art class. This gives
her some pride and she begins to change.
Michell’s real premise explores the dichotomy
between the elderly and today’s alienated young generation.
The story shows that the younger generation
and the elderly can learn important lessons from each
other if they will only try to meet on common ground.
Of course, Maurice is a lecherous old man who delights
in copping a feel, which Jesse allows to a cer-
tain point. At first, Jessie is going along with Maurice
to see how much she can get out of him. Then, she
develops a close bond with him. He takes her to the
theater and the pub where the theater crowd hangs
out. He doesn’t judge her, but when she gets drunk,
he takes her home and puts her to bed.
As a subplot, Maurice visits his ex-wife and
the mother of his three children, Valerie (Vanessa
Redgrave). Although they have lived apart for many
years, they are still close friends. Redgrave practically
steals the picture in her short sequence. She is made
up to look years older, but her spark of beauty and
intelligence shines through. O’Toole’s and Redgrave’s
scenes together remind viewers of their past glories.
Considering their illustrious past in films and television,
they’ve still got scene-stealing charisma, especially
together.
As Ian’s life starts to fade away, he gets terribly
grumpy and complaining. Still, Maurice never loses
his patience with him, but spends more time with
Jessie. Both Jessie and Maurice are benefitting from
the strange relationship. When Jessie feels generous
she lets Maurice touch her in private places, but only
for a moment. Maurice lights up with long repressed
passions and it jolts his heart to keep pumping.
Whether Jessie is all that Maurice sees in her is
moot. His relationship with her has given him a new
lease on life. Jessie seems to have benefitted greatly
from Maurice’s wisdom and exposing her to culture.
One could say Maurice is living out his My Fair Lady
fantasy. But what’s the harm, he’s a lonely old man
with only memories to help him get through the day.
Jessie comes along and gives him a reason to live.
Yes, Michell’s direction and Hanif Kureishi’s screenplay
make a strong point about keeping the lines of
communication open between generations and not
embracing stereotypes. The film does this without
being preachy and with compassionate grace. It was
a great showcase for O’Toole’s talents, even as an
elderly man of 80.
seen. heard. noted. and quoted.
K-FED IN VEGAS--BABy
While Britney Spears wiled away her few hours in rehab
last weekend (she left before unpacking), Kevin Federline
took their two sons to Las Vegas where he was scheduled
to make a paid appearance at the Mirage Hotel & Casino,
People reports. The would-be rapper is also traveling with
an entourage that includes his mother, brother, a nanny
and two bodyguards. Clearly, Britney is not responsible
enough to have the baby!
MONEy FOR NOTHING AND LAUGH TRACK
FOR FREE
Zach Braff cut a one-year deal with Scrubs producers
guaranteeing him about $350,000 an episode, provided
NBC renews the medical sitcom for a seventh season,
according to the Hollywood Reporter. The deal would
make Braff one of the highest-paid actors on television.
However, he’s nowhere near Charlie Sheen who earns
somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 million an episode
for Two and a Half Men.
EAT THIS ALBUM
American Idol runner-up Elliott Yamin partnered with Dole Salads and Yahoo! Music for a promotion
offering free downloads of tracks from Yamin’s upcoming album with every purchase of a ready-to-eat
Dole salad bag. That’s one way to force it down people’s throats, we suppose. Yamin’s self-titled album
will arrive in stores on Mar. 20.
DIPPy DIDDy SUIT
Sean “Diddy” Combs denied a real estate broker’s
claim that the rapper assaulted him at a post-Oscar
party last month. Gerard Rechnitzer sued Combs for
an undisclosed amount exceeding $25,000, alleging
that the rapper punched him in the face outside
the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Feb. 25. Police
continued to investigate the incident; no charges have
been filed. The guy allegedly called him Dippy so
Diddy allegedly smacked him.
TOKyO CAUGHT IN WEB FIRST
Spider-Man 3 will make its worldwide debut in Japan
on May 1, three days before swinging into domestic
theaters, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced.
The film’s stars and director are expected to attend an
April 16 premiere in Tokyo. The man in tights swings
into Japan ready to rumble.
SHAq GETS REAL
Shaquille O’Neal starred in a summer reality series for ABC focusing on his efforts to help obese Florida
schoolchildren lose weight, Daily Variety reports. No air-date has been set for the as-yet untitled series.
JACKSON TICKETS SELLING AT A SNAIL’S PACE
Tickets for Michael Jackson’s VIP party and fan art competition in Tokyo this week are still available,
promoters said Tuesday. Tickets to the VIP event on Thursday are going for $3,500 a piece, which
includes the privilege of 30 seconds of face time with Jackson. Tickets to the art show on Friday are
selling for $130. Promoters declined to say how many tickets were left, or how much Jackson was paid
for the appearances. Hey, he lets little boys in for free!
BEASTIE BOyS SO OVER
The Beastie Boys wrapped up their first new album since 2004’s To the 5 Boroughs, due out this
summer, Billboard reports. The rap trio planned to showcase some of their new material in a series of
dates in North America and Europe this summer. Those in sounds will be way out!
POTTER GOES BONKERS AND TURNS INTO FROG
Daniel Ratcliffe signed on for the last two Harry Potter movies, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Warner Bros. said Monday. No release dates for the films
have been announced. This time he keeps his wizard duds on and there’s no horse.
NO SEx TAPE BUT FITNESS VIDEO
She may not be willing to sell her sex tape, but Kim Kardashian apparently has no problem hawking
an online fitness video. The stylist released a five-minute downloadable program titled The Kim
Kardashian Workout…For Your Mind, Body and Spirit through her newly launched production company,
Kimsaprincess Productions.
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 7

BREACH Based on the true story of Robert Hansen,
who, for sixteen years, was a spy for Russia. In this
story, Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) is a young agent
who gets into a power play with his boss Hansen
and is recruited by Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney) to
help bring him down. Rated PG13
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA Jesse Aaron is a fifth
grader who has hopes of becoming the fastest
runner in his class. His hopes are dashed when a
new girl, Leslie Burke, outruns everybody, including
him. However, Jess and Leslie become friends and
discover a magical kingdom in the forest where
they reign together as king and queen. Starring
AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson. Rated PG
DADDy’S LITTLE GIRL In this Tyler Perry comedy
a successful female attorney falls in love with a
janitor, the single father of three daughters, over the
objections of her father. Starring: Gabrielle Union,
Idris Elba, Louis Gossett Jr., Tasha Smith, Gary
Anthony Sturgis. Rated PG13
EPIC MOVIE In the spirit of Scary Movie and
Date Movie, a parody that spoofs recent megablockbusters.
The comedy centers itself around
four orphans who visit a chocolate factory and are
transported to the wonderful land of Gnarnia, after
stumbling upon an enchanted wardrobe. There they
battle pirates, encounter earnest wizards and attempt
to defeat Gnarnia’s dastardly White Bitch. Rated
PG-13
GHOST RIDER Based on a Marvel comic book
character, a motorcycle stunt man named Johnny
Blaze who gives up his soul to become a hellblazing
vigilante to fight against the power hungry
Blackheart, the son of the devil. Starring Nicolas
Cage. Rated PG-13
HANNIBAL RISING So what was Hannibal Lecter
like as a kid through his teens? This movie answers
that question. The young genius learned many
scientific fields such as medicine and chemistry.
He also was a talented artist and musician as well
as a forensic expert. The story opens in WWII in
a medieval castle in Lithuania built by Hannibal’s
forebear, Hannibal the Grim. The budding serial killer
survives the horrors of the war and escapes the
Soviet aftermath to find refuge in France. His horrific
memories of the war combined with his psychopathy
drive his future murder lust. Rated R
MUSIC & LyRICS Hugh Grant stars as a washed
up rock singer who is given a couple of days to
compose a chart-topping hit for an admiring teen
sensation. The only problem is, he has never written
lyrics, so he teams up with a younger woman (Drew
Barrymore) who has a flair for words. Together they
make great music. Rated PG-13
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM A hapless security guard,
Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) accidently invokes an
ancient curse that causes the animals and insects on
display to come to life. Also starring Dick VanDyke
and Mickey Rooney. Rated PG
NORBIT Eddie Murphy plays multiple roles as
Norbit, Rasputia, and Mr. Wong in this nutty comedy.
A mild mannered guy (Murphy) is engaged to a large
figured woman (Murphy). In his dreams, he meets
his ideal woman (Thandie Newton) and schemes to
find a way to be with her, not his bulbous fiancée.
But she has other ideas. Rated PG-13
RENO 911!: MIAMI The goofy cops from the TV
series have made a feature film of their loopy brand
of police comedy. Set in Miami, the Reno cops
continued pg 9
8 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
blades and babes
300 movie review
by kellie abRaHamSon KAbrahamson1@aol.com
A- Rated R 117 min.
Nearly everyone I know has been dying to see
300 since the very first trailer was unveiled. As with
any film that is highly anticipated by large numbers
of people, I for one always find myself a bit weary.
How can any movie meet such high expectations?
Well, I’m pleased to report that 300 is, in fact, one
that does just that. The film will be in theaters nationwide
this Friday and I predict it will be a runaway hit
at the box office.
Spartan King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) is forced
to go to war with Persia after the wicked, self-proclaimed
God-man, King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro)
threatens to destroy their way of life if they don’t
pledge their allegiance to him. Unable to get approval
from the council to send their army into battle,
Leonidas rounds up 300 of his most loyal men to go
up against Persia’s one million-strong soldiers. As
they march toward their battlefield, they soon realize
they are being followed by a hunchback named
Ephialtes (Andrew Tiernan) who is desperate to be
a Spartan solider. When he is rebuffed by Leonidas,
Ephialtes turns his back on them and gives the Persians
everything they need to take down the Spartans.
Meanwhile, a crooked politician named Theron
(Dominic West) is wielding his influence with the
council, prompting them to deny Leonidas’ aid and,
consequently, condemning them all to death. Queen
Gorgo (Lena Headey), Leonidas’ wife, is given the
uphill task of convincing the council to overturn their
decision.
Like the first film to be derived from Frank Miller’s
work, Sin City, most of the film was shot with
the actors standing in front of bluescreens. Using
CGI, Snyder and his team created a stunning version
of Sparta that feels as gritty and dreary as it must
have been. The film is a shot-by-shot adaptation of
Miller’s graphic novel and at times you can really
take notice of it, even if you’ve never picked the book
THE SCA GOES SPARTAN
At the preview showing of 300, several
members of the Society for Creative Anachronism
showed up in full Greek, Roman or Spartan garb.
If you haven’t heard of the SCA, you’ve probably
seen one of their members if you’ve ever been
to a Medieval Faire. The organization, which has
chapters worldwide, is dedicated to researching and
recreating the Middle Ages in the present. They will,
however, seek to include anything in Western Culture
prior to 1600A.D. They re-create ages past “as
they ought to have been.” Wearing near Hollywood
versions of Roman legionnaire outfits, Medieval
wench frocks and the more comfortable versions
of Elizabethan era garb, they meet and socialize,
often holding jousts and dances. Authenticity isn’t
the watchword of the society, though it does seek to
educate people about the past.
The SCA traces its origins to a theme party
organized in Berkeley, California circa 1966. It went
from a party to a parade down Telegraph Avenue as
a “protest against the 20 th Century.” The partygoers
had such fun that they decided it was something
they wanted to do again, and in a more organized
fashion. By ’68 the first official chapter of the SCA
was founded. Since then, the idea has spread and
people have started chapters around the world.
The organization of the SCA is Feudal in nature,
with each area representing a fiefdom under
up before. The film is rated R for good reason. The
violence is non-stop and there is some nudity, so try
and keep young kids away from this flick.
At the screening I attended, the stakes were
high for 300. The second the lights went down,
people were cheering, anticipating a truly great film.
Luckily for everyone, the movie delivers what the
audience hoped: lots of cool fight scenes, plenty
of blood and an intense underdog story that never
once disappoints. A less-than-sappy love story
gives viewers a break from all of the gore, which is
a nice distraction from all that CGI blood. Speaking
of which, with any film that relies heavily on CGI,
people tend to worry that the digital images may
look out of place. Turns out, those people worried
for nothing. I was never once distracted by the computer-generated
scenery or characters. The story
itself, which is based on the Battle of Thermopylae
in 480 BC, is incredibly engrossing and well paced,
allowing the viewer to be drawn in and stay drawn in
for the film’s entire 117 minutes.
Each and every actor did an exceptional job
with their roles, perfectly personifying their hardshelled
characters with just enough subtlety to make
them appealing. While a handful of the characters
felt a bit over-the-top, Butler’s Leonidas in particular,
given the film’s graphic novel roots it’s more than
understandable, it’s expected. The Ephialtes character
is, admittedly, a tad unintentionally funny, and not
just because of his grotesque appearance. The role
is just a bit too similar to Gollum from the Lord of the
Rings films. His appearance does manage to take
you out of the story somewhat, but the diversion
can be easily overlooked, given the rest of the film’s
overwhelming positives.
I rarely find myself reaching for my phone to
recommend a movie to my friends moments after
seeing it. After seeing 300, I did just that. Fans of Sin
City and Frank Miller and those the slightest bit curious
about this gritty period piece should make their
way to the theater this weekend. This is a film that
really delivers in every possible category. The reaction
at the prescreening is proof of that. As the final
credits began to roll, the entire theater clapped and
began singing 300’s praises as they made their way
out. I never heard a single negative comment from
anyone around me. That really says it all.
a larger kingdom. “Knowne World” of the SCA is
divided into eighteen kingdoms, each with a King
and Queen, a Prince and Princess, and a council or
Curia of Great Officers who handle the day to day
business of running the kingdom.
The local chapter of the SCA is The Shire of
Castlemere, which serves the Duval/ Jacksonville
area. If you’d like to join, or want more info, go tocastlemere.org

have yourself a retro fun time
at the Playtime Drive-In Theatre
by eRin tHuRSby scopes1925@msn.com
The number of drive-ins in Florida had always
been higher than other states, perhaps because of
the sunny weather, and Florida was one of the first
states to have a drive-in movie theater. Although
Florida experienced the same peak years as the rest
of the country (1955-1959), the numbers never
declined as much as the rest of the states. As late as
’79, when the majority of the theaters in other states
had gone bust, Florida still had over 100 drive-in theaters
operating. Many were located in small Florida
towns as well as bigger cities.
Many of the drive-in theaters here in Florida
have had to do double-duty in order to stay in business.
Our lone drive-in here in Jacksonville is the
Playtime Triple Family Drive-In, located between
Connecting Road and Wesconnett Blvd on Blanding.
This theater has had some interesting times in different
capacities. In the ‘90s, according to owner Frank
Birchfield, it served as a drive-in church. “A local
minister used to hold the service through the PA system
car radio…He would stand up front and preach
with a microphone that picked everything up.” says
Birchfield. Although the drive-in hasn’t been a church
since around ’95, it still does double duty as a flea
market on Wednesday-Saturday from 6AM-3PM on
Wednesday and 7AM-3PM Thursday-Saturday.
Info: Playtime Triple Family Drive-In (904) 771-
2300, 6300 Blanding Blvd - Jacksonville, FL 32244
PLAyTIME TRIPLE FAMILy
SHOWINGS
Norbit 7PM
Reno 911 8:30PM
Abandoned 7PM
Ghost Rider 8:40PM
Wild Hogs 7PM & 8:30PM
THE RIGHT TO BARE BUTTS
Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville
Did you know that the University Drive-In Theatre
(since closed) was involved in a First Amendment
case that went all the way to the Supreme
Court in 1975? Apparently, the theater was running
an R rated film known as Class of ’74 AKA Gabriella,
Gabriella, which violated a city ordinance for exhibiting
a motion picture, visible from public streets,
in which “female buttocks and bare breasts were
shown.” The Supreme Court upheld the right of the
theater and theater manager Richard Erznoznik to
show some T & A on the drive-in screen. The case
brief for this ruling is often required reading for law
students, even today.
DRIVE-INS OF THE PAST: WHAT
ARE THEy NOW?
University Drive-In became a Public Library (near
Farah’s on University)
The Southside Drive-In became a Gentleman’s Club.
The Midway on Beach Blvd. and The Fox on Normandy
was sold to Wal-Mart.
The Atlantic, which could be found at Atlantic and
University is now a Publix.
WHy DRIVE-IN? FLy IN!
The drive-in craze was so huge that there were
all sorts of variations on the basic drive-in model
we’ve come to love. In ’48 Ed Brown’s Drive-In and
Fly-In of Asbury Park, New Jersey opened to accommodate
500 cars and 25 airplanes. Planes were lined
up in the back row because they were too high for
people in cars to see over and the owner provided
towing back to the airfield next to the theater.
DRIVE-IN HISTORy
It was 1933 when Richard M. Hollingshead
combined his love of movies and cars by hanging a
sheet in his backyard and projecting movies onto it
with a 1928 Kodak projector mounted on the hood of
his car. With just $30,000, Hollingshead opened the
first drive-in on Tuesday June 6, 1933 on Crescent
Boulevard in Camden, New Jersey. The price of admission
was 25 cents for the car and 25 cents per
person.
Hollingshead had several bugs to workout,
namely how to park the cars so that they could see
around each other and how to transmit the sound to
all the cars. The first commercial drive-in movie theater
simply had very large speakers. This proved to
be problem to the neighbors, who found it too loud,
too late and the people in the cars in the back row
had trouble hearing the dialogue. They eventually
solved the problem with speakers for each car and
later local radio frequencies the cars could tune to.
By the 1940s drive-ins were gaining in popularity,
with only a small slowdown during WWII as a
result of rationing. With the advent of the family oriented
baby boom in post-War America, there were a
staggering five thousand drive-ins across the U.S. by
the end of the 1950s. To put the number in perspective,
if you replaced all the Wal-Marts in the country
right now with drive-in movie theaters, you’d still
need to add 22 more per state (over a thousand) to
get to the number of drive-ins we had in the 1950s.
The largest drive-ins could host about three
thousand cars, with shuttles or golf carts to take you
back to your car from the concession stand or other
activities. Doors would sometimes open 3 hours in
advance for things like talent shows, pony rides and
other kid-friendly activities. Since concessions were
the big money maker, they made sure to include
intermissions, which upped concession sales.
The glut of drive-ins began stagnating and
then declining in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Fewer and fewer
families were coming to the drive-ins, so they began
to cater to the exploitation movie crowd as well as
to teenagers looking for something to have on in the
background as they made out. By the ‘80s VHS and
Cable sounded what seemed like a death knell for the
drive-ins. More and more drive-ins were sold or left
abandoned.
In the 1990’s a taste for nostalgia brought a
slight upswing in the number of drive-ins, with some
of the theaters that survived adding screens because
of demand. The number still dropped over the
decade, but the market for drive-ins is much more
stable than it was over the past three decades.
Today, though we’re still losing drive-ins to
development and lack of profits, communities are
more likely to see them as the treasures they are and
work for their preservation.
are called in to save the day after a terrorist attack
Lawrence, disrupts a and national John police Travolta convention play a group in Miami of yuppie Beach
biker during wannabes spring break. who seek Rated adventure R on the open road
on their Harleys. The unlikely suburban bikers get more
than STOMP they bargained THE yARD for A when troubled they 19 tangle year with old step a New
Mexico dancer gang loses called his younger the Del brother Fuegos. in Rated Los Angeles. PG-13 His
grief turns him to minor crime. But in court, he is
ZODIAC able to bypass Based jail on Robert by enrolling Graysmith’s in Truth book University,an
which all-black chronicles college the in Atlanta exhaustive where search his dance for the talents self
proclaimed are sought Zodiac after by serial two killer campus who fraternities terrorized to San win the
Francisco national step during show the competition. 1960s and 1970s. Rated The PG-13 story is
told through the eyes of the detectives working the
case SWEET and LAND a journalist When who Lars becomes Torvik’s obsessed grandmother with Inge
the dies case. in 2004, Despite he the is faced intense with publicity a decision--sell the Zodiac the was
never family caught. farm on Rated which R she lived since 1920, or cling to
the legacy of the land. Seeking advice, he turns to the
memory of Inge and the stories that she had passed
special on to him. Starring showings
Alan Cumming, Ned Beatty, Lois
Smith, Tim Guinee, Elizabeth Reaser. Rated PG
THE WIZARD OF OZ
The THE 1939 ABANDONED classic, The An Wizard American of Oz, woman written searching by L.
Frank for her Baum birth and parents starring learns Judy she Garland, has inherited Frank Morgan, a house
Ray in the Bolger, middle Jack of Haley a forest and in Bert a remote Lahr, area will be of Russia. shown
throughout She meets the a mysterious week at AMC man Orange who claims Park 24 to Theater be her
as brother, part of a the twin Wizard she never of Oz knew. Week at Together Orange they Park find the
Mall. house I have holds heard secrets rumors to a that past one they of don’t the Munchkins, remember.
Minhart Together Rabbi they will are be forced making to relive a special a series appearance of horrifying
this events Saturday, and shocking 3/10, at murders the mall. that For occurred movie times just call after
904.264.3888.
they were born, in the place they were supposed to
die. Rated R
MOCA Jacksonville Film Series
Film THE Fatales: ASTRONAUT A Celebration FARMER of Billy Independent Bob Thornton Women stars
Directors as a NASA astronaut who is forced to retire so he can
MOCA save his will family be paying farm. tribute However, to female his dream filmmakers of going into
each space Wednesday still burns throughout in his soul. the And month so, he of begins March. the
This impossible stellar sampling dream of of building captivating his own independent rocket despite films
explores the governments contemporary threats filmmaking to stop him. by women Rated PG from
around the world. Wednesday, March 14
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND A Scottish doctor
travels to Uganda to do humanitarian work. In a
chance meeting with Idi Amin, the new strong
man of Uganda, he develops a friendship with the
dictator, who invites the doctor to be his personal
physician. The money is great and he lives large, but
as Amin goes mad with power, the doctor is trapped
and desperately tries to escape the country. Forest
Whitaker received a Golden Globe for his performance
as Idi Amin. Rated R
THE MESSENGERS The Solomon family move from
Chicago for the wide-open-spaces of a North Dakota
farm. As the family enjoys the tranquil life of the farm,
Jess 16, finds out there is something strange in the
field of sunflowers when she and her brother Ben 3,
begin seeing ominous apparitions. Rated PG-13
THE NUMBER 23 Jim Carrey stars as Walter
Sparrow, a man who becomes obsessed with a book
titled The Number 23, that appears to be based on his
life but ends with a murder that has yet to happen.
The more Walter investigates the premise of the book,
relating it to his life, the crazier he becomes. Rated R
THE qUEEN A revealing, witty portrait of the British
royal family in crisis immediately following the death
of Princess Diana. The setting for this fictional account
of real events is no less than the private chambers
of the Royal Family and the British government in the
wake of the sudden death of Princess Diana in August
of 1997. The result is an intimate, yet thematically
epic, battle between private and public, responsibility
and emotion, custom and action - as a grieving nation
waits to see what its leaders will do. This movie won
a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and Helen Mirren
won a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Starring: Helen
Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms,
Helen McCrory. Rated PG-13
WILD HOGS Tim Allen, William H. Macy, Martin
th THE STORy
OF THE WEEPING CAMEL will be screened. This film
is Directed by Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni
and filmed in Mongolia/Germany, in Mongolian with
English subtitles; 2003, rated PG. Combining drama
and documentary, The Story Of The Weeping Camel
is a lovingly observed and fascinating journal of dayto-day
survival in the Mongolian Gobi desert. For a
family of herders who happily eke out their living in
this remote dustbowl, crisis comes in the shape of
an all-white newborn camel rejected by its mother
after an agonizing birth. The family undertakes the
rearing of the calf by hand, but the longer he’s denied
his mother’s milk, the more likely it is the little camel
will die. Tickets are $6 for members and $8 for nonmembers.
If you are not already a MOCA member, take
advantage of our Film Series membership special – join
the Museum the night of the movie and then watch the
show for free! Info: 366-6911
Midnight Movie
EL TOPO March 23,24 at midnight at the San Marco
Theatre. After not being screened in North America for
over twenty years due to some disagreement between
the rights owner and the filmmaker we finally get to
see this and The Holy Mountain on the big screen with
brand new 35MM prints. El Topo seems to come from
another dimension - a spaghetti western that goes off
the deep end. Once seen who could ever forget the
“Master” gunslinger with arms but no legs strapped on
another gunslinger with legs but no arms! The game
of Russian roulette that leads to a small tot taking a
shot to the noggin. The sheer otherworldliness of the
mountain freaks descending on the town to be blown
to smithereens. One viewing of El Topo will result in
images being burnt into your brain for the rest of your
years - the images are that powerful. A frustrating,
nervy, wonder of a film. Info: 396-4845
SPIDER-MAN 2 will be playing at the World Golf Hall
of Fame IMAX® for a Special Engagement - In Spider-
Man 2, two years have passed since Peter Parker
(Tobey Maguire) walked away from his longtime love
continued pg 10
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 9

Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) and decided to take
the road to responsibility as Spider-Man. Peter must
face new challenges as he struggles to cope with “the
gift and the curse” of his powers while balancing his
dual identities as the elusive superhero Spider-Man
and life as a college student. The relationships Peter
holds most dear are now in danger of unraveling as
he clashes with the powerful, multi-tentacled villain
“Doc Ock” (Alfred Molina). Rated PG-13, approx. 127
min. For info and tickts: 904-940-IMAX or visit www.
wgv.com.
HURRICANE ON THE BAyOU The World Golf Hall
of Fame IMAX® Theater is showing Hurricane on the
Bayou, MacGillivray Freeman’s newest and powerfully
moving giant screen film which will run through
June 1, 2007. Narrated by acclaimed Oscar-winning
actress Meryl Streep, Hurricane on the Bayou carries
audiences on a journey throughout Louisiana before,
during and after the unprecedented and unexpected
devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Streep introduces
viewers to four New Orleans musicians through which
the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina unfolds. Legendary
singer and songwriter Allen Toussaint; Cajun blues
guitarist Tab Benoit; 14-year-old fiddling prodigy
Amanda Shaw and zydeco accordion master Chubby
Carrier relay first-hand accounts of their survival
while entertaining viewers with their traditional New
Orleans sound. Tickets for are $8.00 and a portion
of the proceeds will benefit the Audubon Institute of
New Orleans. The film runs 42 minutes. For info and
tickts: 904-940-IMAX or visit www.wgv.com.
JACKSONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE
TALKIES The Talkies is a two night, 35mm series:
the first night the audience gets to familiarize itself (or
reacquaint itself, as the case may be) with the film.
The next night the filmmaker joins the audience to
provide running commentary. This experience takes
the “Director’s Commentary” component of a DVD
one step further, giving the filmmaker an opportunity
to skip on down memory lane while surrounded by a
captive audience, both enjoying this unique cinematic
experience. On Saturday, May 19th, THE TALKIES
will be joining forces with the Jacksonville Film
Festival for its next event; POLYESTER as it’s never
been seen, made complete not only with Odorama
cards, but also the commentary of acclaimed director
John Waters. Advance tickets are on sale now and
you are encouraged to buy early. This show will sell
out fast. Tickets are: $40.00 for the full two-night
experiece and comes with Odorama card, $35.00
for Saturday night only with John Waters, $8.50 for
Friday night only. For more info call 633-9399 or go to
jacksonvillefilmfestival.com.
SUBMISSIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR
2007 JACKSONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL The 2007
Jacksonville Film Festival, held in downtown
Jacksonville May 17-20, 2007, will feature a broad
spectrum of independent features, documentaries,
international, experimental and short films, as well as
panels and workshops. Event organizers are especially
interested in new voices and unique perspectives that
will enlighten and entertain JFF audiences. Selected
films will be eligible for Audience Awards for Best
Documentary, Best Narrative Feature and Best Short.
The official “Call for Entries” has been announced
and interested filmmakers should submit their films
via Without a Box. Go to www.withoutabox.com
or directly to the JFF website. For details and more
information, please visit www.jacksonvillefilmfestival.
com.
10 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
the goonie buzz
midnight movies at the San Marco
by eRin tHuRSby scopes1925@msn.com
With their two screenings of The Goonies out
performing five screenings of Ghost Rider, the #1
film in the country, Midnight Movies at the San Marco
Theatre are once again building a buzz. EU speaks
with Tim Massett, Manager of the San Marco Theatre,
to ask about the current and upcoming Midnight Movies.
EU: Why did you choose the line-up you did for the
current Midnight Movies?
TM: There is really no rhyme or reason to the films
I program. Sometimes it’s because I know folks are
fond of them, sometimes it’s because it’s simply that
I enjoy the film and want to see it on the big screen
again in 35mm, the way films should be seen, and
then, for example, we have AIR GUITAR NATION [due
to play the first weekend in May] and BEHIND THE
MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON [see below]
coming up which are two super great titles that won’t
hit this market theatrically and it’s the only way I can
get them on the screen here in Jacksonville is by programming
them at midnight.
EU: Were you surprised that Goonies did as well as it
did? Why do you think it did so well?
TM: Um...yeah I was surprised that it could practically
sell out two nights and why the others do well but not
this well. I have no idea why this did so well....JACK-
SONVILLE LOVES THE GOONIES.
EU: What made you choose Mulholland Drive? What
do you think makes it a great film?
TM: I like it a lot.
EU: Will you be showing any black and whites in the
EL TOPO
March 23, 24 MIDNIGHT
Because of legal troubles related to ownership
rights, the movie has only been available in
bootleg form since opening at the Elgin Theater in
December of 1970, becoming an underground hit.
El Topo seems to come from another dimension
- a spaghetti western that goes off the deep end.
Once seen who could ever forget the “Master” gunslinger
with arms but no legs strapped on another
gunslinger with legs but no arms! The sheer otherworldliness
of the mountain freaks descending on
the town to be blown to smithereens. One viewing
of El Topo will result in images being burnt into your
brain for the rest of your years - the images are that
powerful. A frustrating, nervy, wonder of a film.
THE HOLy MOUNTAIN
March 30, 31 Midnight
After a series of trials and tribulations, a
Christlike thief meets a spiritual teacher who introduces
him to seven wealthy and powerful individuals,
each representing a planet in the solar system.
future?
TM: um. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is black and
white.
EU: Do you have a favorite film, or does it depend on
your mood?
TM: I have many films I enjoy. NIGHT OF THE HUNT-
ER is one my favorites.
EU: Will you be showing any Sci-Fi stuff or having any
sci-fi marathons?
TM: Is CONAN THE BARBARIAN considered a scifi?
If so, then yes. That one is headed to us the first
weekend in April.
EU: Have any of the films you wanted to show been
hard to find in 35mm?
TM: Sure. Studios dump their prints after the theatrical
run. Heck, there are only two prints left of THE BIG
LEBOWSKI so finding a print like, say, LAST HOUSE
ON THE LEFT, is really hard, you have to be tapped
into the world of the 35mm print collector and the
various archives.
EU: Do you take requests or suggestions? Is there a
way for the general public to suggest particular films?
TM: Hellz yeah! I am always up for suggestions. You
can contact me at tim@sanmarcotheatre.com
EU: Is there anything else people should know about
the series?
TM: Well...there are some great titles coming up
and one in particular, AIR GUITAR NATION [playing
this summer]… is going to be a fun one. [It] covers
the national and international air guitar competitions
which ends in Finland.
SAN MARCO MIDNIGHT MOVIES UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Together they begin a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain,
in order to displace the gods who live there and
become immortal.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN
First weekend in April, Midnight
This early ’80s kitsch cult classic will be
shown in all its full screened glory. If you haven’t
seen it on TV as the movie of the week, you’ll need
to know that it’s all about Arnold Schwarzenegger
in a low fantasy setting wearing a loincloth in his
prime, while speaking little and wielding broadsword
in revenge.
BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON
2nd week in April, Midnight
A mockumentary inside look at the villains in
slasher movies, answering all the questions never
thought to ask. How do the killers keep coming back
to life? How do they know just where to hide the
gory parts for screaming girls to find? Behind the
Mask hilariously answers all those questions and
more.
For other upcoming info visit www.sanmarcotheatre.com

eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 11

new on dvd
Borat: Cultural
learnings of
ameriCa for make
Benefit glorious
nation of kazakhstan
(86 min.)
Kazakhstani TV personality
Borat is dispatched
to the United
States to report on
the “greatest country
in the world.” With a
documentary crew in
tow, Borat becomes
more interested in locating and marrying Pamela
Anderson than on his assignment. Rated R for
pervasive strong crude and sexual content including
graphic nudity, and language.
Confetti (99 min.)
In this completely improvised mockumentary,
Confetti magazine is running a competition for the
most out-there wedding, the prize being a house.
Various entrants apply and the film follows the
three selected finalists during their preparations
for the big day. Rated R for nudity and language.
fast food nation (113 min.)
Richard Linklater teams up with author Eric
Schlosser to illustrate his non-fiction exposé of
the fast food industry as a series of vignettes
with cast featuring Greg Kinnear, Wilmer Valderrama,
Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Ann Claudia
Talancon, with appearances by Patricia Arquette,
Bobby Cannavale, Luis Guzman, Ethan Hawke,
Kris Kristofferson, Avril Lavigne, and Bruce Willis.
Rated R for disturbing images, strong sexuality,
language and drug content.
let’s go to Prison (90 min.)
John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard) is a Career criminal
who has been in and out of prison so many times
he knows the entire population of both staff and
cons by their first names. When the heartless
judge who has been behind most of his sentences
dies, John decides to ruin the man’s legacy by
having the judge’s only offspring, Nelson Biederman
IV (Will Arnett), thrown in the slammer along
with him. Rated R for language, sexual content,
some violence and drug material.
the looP- Season One (192 min.)
Set in Chicago, this Fox series centers around
Sam (Bret Harrison) a young professional trying
to balance the needs of his social life with the
pressures of working at the corporate headquarters
of a major U.S. airline. This DVD includes all
seven episodes and is not rated.
requiem (89 min.)
Based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, who
was also the subject of The Exorcism of Emily
Rose, an epileptic young woman from a religious
family seeks the help of a priest to attempt an exorcism
to drive out the demons she is convinced
live inside her. This film is not rated.
Walkout (111 min.)
Based on a true story, student activist and Mexican-American
Paula Crisostomo (Alexa Vega),
tired of being treated unequally, decides to take
action and stage a walkout at five East Los Angeles
high schools in 1968, to protest educational
conditions and complain of anti-Mexican educational
bias. This film is not rated.
12 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
pan, hook & tink
Peter Pan special edition dvd review
by kellie abraHamSoN KAbrahamson1@aol.com
One of the most beloved Disney films ever
made, Peter Pan, has gotten the Platinum treatment
and is now available on two-disc DVD. The exciting
adventures of Peter, Wendy, the Lost Boys and Tink
have been digitally restored and the sound has been
enhanced to create the best possible viewing experience.
But, the big news here is the wealth of bonus
features this latest release has to offer.
Like all Platinum Edition DVDs, Peter Pan
boasts two discs loaded with interesting and entertaining
extras. Disc one has the film itself and a
terrific audio commentary hosted by Roy Disney,
who introduces excerpts from interviews with folks
like Leonard Maltin, John Canemaker, Ollie Johnston
and even Walt Disney himself. Next is a virtual storybook
called “Peter’s Playful Prank,” which allows
young readers to “Read-Along” (a more interactive
approach) or “Read-to-Yourself” (fancy graphic and
sound effects not included). Kids can also experience
most of their favorite Peter Pan songs in the
“Disney Song Selection” section. Finally, a sneak
tideland
Never one to shy away from controversy or
down-right weirdness, Terry Gilliam’s latest film,
Tideland, shows that the man who gave us the
brilliantly bizarre Brazil is just a quirky as ever. Tideland
is now available on 2-disc special edition DVD.
Jeliza Rose (Jodelle Ferland) is an imaginative
little girl attempting to cope with her troubled
life. After her mother (Jennifer Tilly) and father (Jeff
Bridges) overdose, leaving the little girl in the middle
of nowhere to fend for herself, Jeliza Rose retreats
into her fantasy world where four doll heads
are her best friends and the miles of golden grass
around her is a great sea filled with adventures.
Dell (Janet McTeer), an eccentric neighbor, and her
lobotomized brother Dickens (Brendan Fletcher)
become part of Jeliza Rose’s world.
Bonus features on this special edition DVD include
interviews with Gilliam and producer Jeremy
Thomas, a 45-minute documentary on the making
of the film, deleted scenes and much more.
Tideland is an incredibly powerful, thoughtprovoking
film that manages to repel and captivate
dvd review
peek at the upcoming CGI Tinker Bell movie, which
is loosely slated for release in 2008, made it to the
disc. Much has been made of the news that Brittany
Murphy will provide the voice for the long-mute pixie.
Relishing in the buzz, the fairy continues to hold her
tongue during the 2½ minute trailer.
Disc two is where the magic really happens.
The “Music and More” section has a deleted song
called “The Pirate Song,” which is accompanied by
storyboards, and a featurette about a recently discovered
tune called “Never Land.” Here, songwriter
Richard Sherman discusses the sixty-seven year old
tune and presents it to the viewer with songstress
Paige O’Hara. A music video for this song is also
available for viewing. The section is rounded out by
teen pop group T-Squad’s video for their too-hip-foreveryone
cover of “The Second Star to the Right”. If
you happen to watch the Disney Channel, you have
most likely seen it before, and if you’re anything like
me, you’ve had quite enough of it, thank you very
much!
by kellie abraHamSoN
all at once. Like a car crash, you want to look away,
but your eyes won’t allow it. The film’s story is one
that will polarize audiences. Much of what is shown
to us is so strange and grotesque and disturbing
that as an adult you just want to step in and help
this little girl because no one around her will take
her away from these horrors. But the real purpose
behind the film is to show the resiliency of children,
to show that they can handle a lot more than we
think. In a world where the only thing we see on the
news about kids is how they’ve been victimized, this
message may be hard for many people to swallow.
The cinematography is absolutely stunning and the
acting is some of the best you’ll find. Young Jodelle
Ferland acts circles around the Dakota Fannings of
Hollywood. As you watch her you often forget she’s
reciting lines. She will one day be a huge star.
Tideland is tough to watch but well worth the
effort. Any fan of Gilliam’s work will be proud to
add this release to their DVD collection. Rated R for
bizarre and disturbing content, including drug use,
sexuality, and gruesome situations.
The next section is “Games and Activities”
where viewers have the chance to become honorary
Lost Boys by completing three set-top games. There
is also a screensaver-like fly-though of Peter Pan’s
world (Peter Pan’s Virtual Flight) and a chance to see
the film all over again with English subtitles (English
Read-Along: Peter Pan). I’m not too clear as to how
the latter got dumped here, but I suppose it’s got to
be of use to somebody somewhere as long as they
can find it.
“Backstage Disney” is, as always, the best
section on the disc. Here lies a 16-minute look
behind-the-scenes with “You Can Fly: The Making
of Peter Pan,” a reading of an article written by Walt
himself in the aptly titled “In Walt’s Words: ‘Why
I Made Peter Pan’,” a promo piece from the 50’s
called “The Peter Pan Story,” and a piece on our
favorite pixie called “Tinker Bell: A Fairy’s Tale”. The
most fascinating supplement in this section is “The
Peter Pan That Almost Was,” a 21-minute look at
some of the abandoned concepts that were originally
considered when the film was being fleshed out.
The final section is an art gallery boasting over
400 stills from the films production and beyond.
Peter Pan is a Disney classic and this Platinum
release really does it justice. The extensive digital
restoration has truly brought this beautiful fairytale
to life and the superb supplements make this release
something special.

iveting plot, hip actors
The Black Donnellys tv review
By Rick gRant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Oscar winning filmmaker Paul Haggis (Million
Dollar Baby) created this drama about four Irish
brothers–the Donnellys–Tommy, Jimmy, Kevin, and
Sean–tough street kids who grew up on the wrong
side of the law. Now young men, the brothers are
on the brink of making a critical decision as to
whether they become law-abiding citizens, or move
up to serious crime.
The premise involves how the brothers manage
to graduate from petty crime into a full-fledged
organized crime family through a set of fortuitous
events. Haggis’ prime directive for this scenario is
based on the old adage, blood is thicker than water.
In other words, the brothers protect each other,
even if it means committing murder.
Like Haggis’ noteworthy films, this gritty
drama is complex and well written, featuring a stellar
cast of experienced young actors. In the Donnellys’
world, things escalate quickly as their impulsive
acts backfire and they have to take a stand. The
brothers’ youthful indiscretions and propensity for
screwing up work against them, often putting them
in jeopardy. In the Donnellys’ case, every decision
they make affects their future. Unfortunately, they
have a knack for making the wrong choices.
Tommy (Jonathan Tucker) is the eldest and
the leader of the sibling gang. He has taken on the
role of protector and fixer of his brothers’ messes.
At first, he is the least likely to end up head of
a crime family, but his brothers’ misdeeds have
forced him to make life-changing decisions that solidify
his position as his brothers’ keeper and boss.
As a child, the hothead, Jimmy (Tom Gury),
was hit by an out-of-control car that crushed his
leg, leaving him with a limp. As he grew up, he
developed a serious drug habit. He won the Firecracker
Lounge in a card game, but discovered it
was heavily in debt with liens against it. The Lounge
has become the Donnellys headquarters and he
struggles on to pay its bills.
Sean (Michael Stall-David) is the baby of the
family. His good looks attract the ladies, consequently,
his brothers keep their girlfriends away
from him. He’s always in trouble and Tommy has to
bail him out to save him. In the pilot episode, Sean
is beaten almost to death for kidnapping a rival gang
member. This leads to big trouble for the gang.
Compulsive gambler, Kevin (Billy Lush), is
always in someone’s debt for his gambling losses.
Like all addicted gamblers, he believes that one big
score will make him even, but he always loses. His
position in the gang is between Tommy and Jimmy,
but his loyalty is never in question. When push
comes to shove, Kevin will do anything to help his
brothers.
Jenny (Olivia Wilde) is a close friend of the
Donnellys. She is in love with Tommy but she
married a schoolteacher who went missing. Deep
down, Jenny knows that her husband is not coming
back, but she maintains hope. However, her love
for Tommy keeps her close to the Donnellys’ daily
crises and her hope that her husband will return is
fading.
The show is narrated by Joey “Ice Cream”–a
jailhouse snitch who is telling the cops about his
lifetime relationship with the Donnellys. In this respect,
the series is reminiscent of Goodfellas.
As kids, the Donnellys were protected by a
sympathetic cop and a neighborhood gangster.
But when Sean and Jimmy kidnapped one of the
gangster’s soldiers for ransom, all hell broke loose.
The gang beat up Sean and put him in the hospital,
barely alive. When Kevin heard about the beating,
he killed their hostage and they took his gun. Things
escalated rapidly out of control. To save Kevin and
Jimmy, Tommy ends up murdering their rival gang,
including the patriarch. That act instantly put the
Donnellys in another league of capital crime, and
there was no going back. They are accessories in
a multiple murder and now they have to stay out of
jail and make their crime business pay the bills.
The pilot was riveting and setup the drama to
come. Haggis is a master of this foreboding streetlevel
action. His pilot script was masterfully written
and directed, which hooked me right away. This
could develop into another Sopranos-like series
with infinite story possibilities.
The young actors are hip and portray their
characters with a savvy understanding of their close
family ties and their individual character’s motivations.
As kids, the Donnellys survived the streets.
Now they face an uncertain future as full blown
gangsters. The Black Donnellys runs Monday
nights at 10:00 pm ET on NBC. It replaces Studio
60 on The Sunset Strip, which is temporarily off
the air shooting new shows.
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 13

14 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
video games
by Norm stovall normstovall@gmail.com
Teenage MuTanT ninja TurTles
Xbox 360/Xbox live arcade
Just in time for the upcoming feature film TMNT,
Ubisoft and Konami have teamed up with Digital
Eclipse to bring us the original 4-player arcade hit,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While many Xbox live
subscribers may be too young to remember what made
the arcade original so great, most of us remember
spending many a token on this classic game. Featuring
the same quarter munching gameplay (ok, not really
“quarter-munching” anymore), Turtles supports up to
4 players at any given time. Simply pick up a controller
and jump right in, the controls are simple to learn
and fun to use. As one of the four Ninja Turtles, your
goal is to save April O’Neil and Defeat the Shredder,
adventuring through 7 levels of beat-‘em-up action. Players can jump into your game at any time over
Xbox live, or in person, and this game also features Live Achievements and Leader boards.
ConTra iii: The alien Wars
nintendo Wii/ nintendo Virtual Console (originally a super nes release)
Contra III is the well-received sequel to the NES hits, Contra and Super C. (or Super Contra). As
descendents of the original Contra Heroes, Your goal is to rid the planet of the wicked alien race known
as the Red Falcon once and for all. As far as action games are concerned, Contra III is one of the best
remembered on the Super Nintendo, and for a good reason. The onscreen action was constant, and the
enemies ranged from small to huge, filling the entire screen. For quick arcade style action, Contra III is
one of the many reasons I love the Wii’s Virtual Console feature, and I put this game right up there with
Gunstar Heroes as one of my favorite classic shooters.

making the ordinary
extraordinary
Mezza Luna
by Erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
I’m always searching for another fine dining
spot in the Jacksonville area. More often than not,
I end up at the Beaches. This past week I visited
Mezza Luna in Neptune Beach, where Chef Tony Pels
whips up some of the finest food in the area. It’s not
hard to find, as it’s located in the Town Center, which
straddles the Atlantic and Neptune Beach line. Both
sides offer up some fine food choices, with Ocean
60 on the Atlantic Beach side and Mezza Luna on the
Neptune Beach side.
While much of the menu pays homage to the
Italian roots of Mezza Luna, with a sure focus on
Mediterranean-style cuisine, there are plenty of
dishes that make a nod toward the fusion or world
cuisine that has become popular in the last ten
years. Wine aficionados ordering dinner at Mezza
Luna will love the extensive wine list and those who
enjoy mixed drinks will be glad for the full bar..
Chef Tony Pels has an impressive resume to
back up his stellar cooking. Before purchasing the
Mezza Luna and revamping the menu with more of
a global bistro twist than the formerly more Italian
menu, he was the executive chef of The Augustine
Grille at the Marriot Sawgrass. Prior to that, he
worked in the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam, and
helped open three Moscow hotels for the Marriot
group.
He’s worked with renowned chefs such as Julia
Childs and Wolfgang Puck. Besides the numerous
culinary accolades and awards he has amassed, this
year he took home the prize from the World Chocolate
Gala.
The atmosphere of Mezza Luna is both cozy
and upscale, with low lighting and a pretty little
courtyard. We sat inside for our dining experience,
amidst candlelight and warm colored walls. The only
thing that took away from the atmosphere was the
paper laid over the tables. It makes for easy clean
up, but it takes away a little from the experience.
The dividing center of the restaurant features a brick,
wood-burning stove which the Chef uses to cook
up the delicious specialty pizzas and all of the lovely
bread they serve.
We began our meal with three appetizers: the
Crispy Vagabondo Calamari, Italian Croquettes and
the Ahi Tuna Tartare. Each of these are distinctive
and tasty, with attention to presentation and juxtaposition
of flavor. We brought a friend who considers
himself an authority when it comes to calamari.
The look on his face when he tried the calamari appetizer
was enough to sell me, and that was before
I even tasted it. The sharp saltiness of the calamari
is mitigated by soaking it in milk before it is battered
and fried. It tasted utterly fresh, without a trace of the
rubbery texture calamari can sometimes get when
it has sat in a freezer for too long or is overcooked.
If you love the taste of deep fried cheese, but are
bored with the standard mozzarella sticks that you
can find from here to New York, consider ordering
the Italian Croquettes. Filled with creamed risotto and
mozzarella, this enchanting appetizer has an unmistakable
tang lent to it by whole grain mustard. Fans
of raw tuna simply should not miss a chance to taste
the Ahi Tuna Tartare, which is set apart by a ginger
aioli and a sweet soy sauce. Choosing a favorite
appetizer between the three was difficult, since each
had its own uniquely delicious flavor profile.
Ahi aficionados might also want to dive into the
Szechuan Style Ahi Tuna as an entrée. This salty oriental-style
treasure gets high marks for presentation
and it packs a powerful flavor. My husband chose
the Paella from the specials. I was impressed that
it was served properly, in a Paella pan, and it was
closer to what you might find in an upscale Spanish
restaurant. The dish was also mainly seafood instead
of mainly rice, so we felt that we got more for our
money. If ordering Cuban Paella, be prepared for
information
110 North First Street, Neptune Beach (249-5573)
RATINGS (1-5)
Atmosphere 5
Service 5
Food 4 1/2
Cost varies
something a little different in flavor. I also sampled
the stuffed veal chop special, which was pan seared,
lovingly stuffed with prosciutto and fontina cheese,
then baked and topped with an astoundingly good
wild mushroom sauce, for a savory symphony of
flavors.
Despite all these temptations, I saved room for
dessert, knowing that Chef Pels has won numerous
awards for his sweet culinary confections. They
serve classics like crème brulee and tiramisu. The
tiramisu is called a tiramisu tini and is served in a
martini glass for a very lovely presentation. I ordered
the Hot Chocolate Caramello Cake, a sweet contrast
to the vanilla bean ice cream and fresh strawberry
served on the side.
If you want to eat at Mezza Luna, keep in mind
that they are only open for dinner and that they get
crowded on the weekends. Although they accept
walk-ins, reservations on the weekend are the way
to go.
After eating at Mezza Luna, I can’t imagine
anyone ordering an item they won’t like. The menu
items aren’t made up of incredibly exotic fare, most
of the items can be found at restaurants of midrange
price; the difference here is the extraordinary
quality and the dining experience.
COST GuIDE
$ = under ten dollars for a single person
$$ = over ten to twenty for a single person
$$$ = over twenty to thirty-five for a single person
$$$$ = thirty-five and up for a single person
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 15

16 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper

eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 17

spring break
one tank trips from Jacksonville
by Erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
While there will always be those who use Spring Break’s week off to saturate themselves with alcohol and
other, less legal avenues of pleasure, the party hard mentality of the ‘80s and ‘90s has been left behind. Lately,
students are using their breaks to be part of nature and go on more educational trips, sometimes organized
by schools and clubs.
Go naTural
If nature’s your thing, there’s just no shortage of parks and nature spots here in florida. Here are a
few destinations that you can drive to on a tank of gas or less:
TalboT Islands sTaTe Parks
All of these parks are just a hop from Jacksonville’s city center. They include: Pumpkin Hill Creek
Preserve State Park, Amelia Island State Park, George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park, Little/Big Talbot
Island State Parks, Fort George Island Cultural State Park, and Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park. Each of
these parks features the water environments that make Northeast Florida unique.
Some of these parks, such as Big Talbot Island State Park, are considered to be part of Jacksonville. Big
Talbot is only about 20 miles from the city’s Downtown center.
Activities like hiking and picnicking are the norm, and the vistas are spectacular, with fallen oaks and
other trees tangled along the windswept beach. You can even tour the salt marshes and estuaries in a kayak
for a guided or non-guided tour (call (904) 251-0016 to reserve). Unusual for Florida are the bluffs that overlook
that beach. Hikers and nature enthusiasts love the strange landscape of Black Rock Trail and the rest of
the park.
Info: (904) 251-2320
Hours: Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year. The boat ramp area is open
24 hours a day.
admIssIon fees: $1.00/person to access the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier; $2.00/vehicle entrance fee
to access the Bluffs picnic area; and $3.00 to use the boat launch. When going to any State Park in Florida,
it’s smart to have about $10-20 dollars in cash per person in case there are small fees and they can’t run a
18 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
card.
sIlver sPrInGs
Nothing says Florida like the glass-bottom boats of Silver Springs in Ocala, Florida. While it’s still an old
time Florida destination, leftover from the 1950’s, the park has been updated and has been attracting more
crowds in recent years. The nature park showcases Florida wildlife, crystal clear springs, gardens, shows and
even a few rides. Check out their concert series if you get a chance. The Beach Boys play there on the 10 th .
It’s about a two hour trip, just past Ocala into Silver Springs. You can either make the trip there and back
in a day, or you can get a nearby hotel. None of the accommodations in that immediate area are really luxe,
but you can always stay at the Seven Sisters Inn in Ocala if you crave pampering. Also worth visiting if you
enjoy water parks is Wet &Wild.
Info: (352)-236-2121 www.silversprings.com
admIssIon fees: General Admission $33.99 (with a Wet & Wild pass $36.99), Children from ages 3-10
$24.99 (plus $3 for a Wet & Wild pass), Children under 3 are free at both parks, and Seniors pay $30.99
lookInG for THe HIsTorIcal, THe PIcTuresque or THe
sPooky sPrInG break TrIP?
Three destination cities can give you a taste of the spooky, the historical and picturesque: st. augustine,
savannah and cassadaga.
Because St. Augustine is just down the road for Jacksonville, it’s a very popular weekend or day trip
destination. It’s definitely got a great mix of history, the weird and the beautiful. There are the Ghost Tours that
run year round, giving you a taste of the spooky and the historic. You can go to Ripley’s for a little weird and
quasi-historical fun or you can head to the beach to take in some natural beauty. The trip to St. Augustine will
take you from about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic; just take I-95 South.
Savannah has more than its share of Southern charm. While it’s a bit short on beaches, the city more
than makes up for it with antique stories and river views. An excellent shopping district along the River and
some great Southern food at Food Network’s Paula Dean’s restaurant (The Lady and Sons) is ample reason to
take the trip. It’s a little over a two hour drive to Savannah from Jacksonville. Take 1-95 North to I-16 East.
The city of Cassadaga isn’t in vogue for Spring Break at the moment, making it one of the less crowed
and quieter destinations. On a scale of one to weird, this city is most definitely one of the stranger places
you’ll find in Florida. In 1875 the city was founded by a medium George Colby, who followed the advice of an
Indian guide on where to place a Spiritualist Camp. Since that time, it’s become a magnet for healers, mediums
and psychics. You can attend a séance, get a reading or get a picture of your aura. The trip takes a little
less than 2 hours. There are a few hotels in the area, should you want to stay overnight, but make sure you
check in before it gets too late in the day. From Jacksonville you’ll need to take I-95 South, then I-4 west to
the Cassadaga exit.
one Tank or less To THe ParTy!
dayTona: THe beacH THaT sPrInG break forGoT
Daytona used to be the Mecca of Spring Breakers that really wanted to party. They became the Spring
Break Capital after Fort Lauderdale, tired of the damage Spring Breakers did to their city, passed ordinances
to discourage the breakers in the mid-eighties. In mass numbers, the partiers moved on to Daytona, peaking
at 200,000 partiers and the cycle repeated itself. Local government did what it could to discourage the sort of
hard drinking and public girl-on-girl action that made Daytona a destination for partiers.
Daytona did learn a thing or two from Fort Lauderdale’s mistakes. Lauderdale experienced a recession
because they shunned the party-goers, who brought an enormous amount of money to the city’s economy.
Daytona has worked hard to attract event based crowds like NASCAR and their two bike weeks to replace the
income the party-hardy students brought.
As long as you aren’t flashing passing motorists, Daytona is still a great beach destination. Since it has
dropped in popularity with students, it’s far less likely that someone may be puking at your feet as you attempt
to stroll along the boardwalk.
This year’s Bike Week lasts from March 2 nd through the 11 th . If you’re a bike enthusiast or just curious
about bike week, now’s the time to make your way down to Daytona.

30 things to do
this spring break
by kElliE abrahamson KAbrahamson1@aol.com
Spring break is right around the corner and most of us will not be flocking to Panama Beach
to drink too much and get caught “going wild” at some sketchy club. For most people, spring
break is a chance to relax and do things they don’t get around to doing in their day-to-day
lives. To help you make plans for the upcoming holiday, we at EU have come up with 30
things you can do to make your spring break more memorable, productive or just relaxing.
While some of these tips are more adult-oriented, many of them are for people of all ages,
including bored kids who may need some entertaining. Use our list as a starting point and
put together the perfect spring break for you!
1. discover some local music
Jacksonville has hundreds of terrific local bands
of all genres looking to share their music with
the world. Thanks to websites like MySpace and
Purevolume, you can give these hometown heroes
a listen 24 hours a day. Local musicians play at
venues all over town every week and spring break
will be no exception, so try to take in a show or two.
You may just get end up seeing the next big thing.
Imagine the bragging rights.
2. be a museum hopper
Skip the bars and binge on some culture. The River
City is home so some of the best museums in the
Southeast and it’s a shame more people don’t take
advantage of that. From the Cummer to MOCA,
each has something unique to offer. Parents of
small children will also be happy to know that each
museum has an area that caters specifically to kids.
See for yourself by taking a day or two to visit each
one.
3. explore Jacksonville
Many people tend to stick to their side of town.
Boring! Why not see what the rest of this great city
has to offer by visiting a different side of town every
day. Embrace our buzzing downtown or explore the
laid back beaches. Each and every neighborhood
has something different to do. Sample what they
all have to offer and you’ll have an even greater
appreciation for this ever-growing metropolis.
4. Take a class (seriously)
I know, I know. You just got out of school, why
would you want to go back? Because there are
plenty of truly fun classes and camps offered during
spring break to give you a chance to delve into
something you may actually like (i.e. anything but
Calculus). Most of our art museums hold classes
to help you make a masterpiece or you can try your
hand at Yoga at one of the many studios in the area.
Just get out there and try something new. You may
learn more about yourself in this one week than
school has ever taught you.
5. Have a Tv on dvd marathon
With your busy schedule, I’m sure you’ve all but
given up TV. Take this week to catch up on what
you’ve been missing. Low rated but critically
acclaimed shows like Veronica Mars and Arrested
Development are available on DVD for your viewing
pleasure. Use that Blockbuster membership and rent
a few of the shows you’ve missed out on.
6. Take in some theater
We have an eclectic mix of theaters in and around
Jacksonville from the Alhambra to Boomtown.
Musicals and plays can be seen and enjoyed all
over town. Check out a few sensational stage
performances during your week-long vacation.
7. start your spring cleaning
OK, OK, this one may be a little outrageous for
some, but a lot of people like their spring breaks to
be more productive. For these, I’m certain very few,
I propose that you get your living space spic and
span. Dust the ceiling fans, clean the stove, clear
the rain gutters. Imagine how nice it will be to come
home to a clean house your first day back at school.
Heavenly!
8. Have the world on a plate
A week isn’t enough time to take a trip around
the world, but you can experience the cuisine
of other cultures without ever boarding a plane.
From Japanese to Greek to Ethiopian, Jacksonville
restaurants let your taste buds travel to far away
lands without the heavy price tag. Let each meal be
another stamp on your culinary passport.
9. read a book for fun
My kids absolutely love hearing bedtime stories and
I’m a little envious. So many of us grown ups have
forgotten the joy of curling up with a good book. Let
this vacation be your opportunity to get that love of
reading back. Start with a collection of short stories
or be ambitious and tackle a big, fat novel. Either
way, allow yourself to be submerged in the author’s
world and enjoy your visit.
10. Take a day trip
There are some fascinating places nearby that
you may have never truly explored. Fernandina
Beach, Daytona, St. Augustine and Gainesville are
reasonably close by and have very different things
to see and do. Take the time to get to know these
interesting cities while you have the time.
11. cruise the st. Johns
While a fancy Caribbean cruise may be out of your
budget, you can still spend some time on the water
this spring break with the locally owned S.S. Marine
Taxi. In addition to taking people from bank to bank
downtown, the water taxi service also provides
parties of 10 or more the chance to take day or
sunset cruises on the St. Johns. For less than $30
per person, you and your friends can learn a little bit
of Jacksonville history while taking in the beautiful
views. Reservations are required. Please call 904-
733-7782 for more information.
12. Have a picnic
One of my fondest high school memories is when
a group of friends and I had a massive picnic to
celebrate spring break at Mandarin Park my junior
year. Everyone brought something to eat or drink
and we spent the entire day playing games and
grilling out and just enjoying the time away from the
classroom. Pass out flyers to all your classmates
like we did or have something more low key to
celebrate your week of independence.
13. Two words: body modification
Getting a tattoo or piercing is painful and puffy for
a little while. Use this spring break to recover from
your procedure in the privacy of your own home.
That week will make a world of difference.
14. sleep in
Most of us never get enough sleep. Think of spring
break as a chance to full recharge. Take a lot of
naps, sleep ‘til noon and never change out of you
pajamas. You deserve it.
15. visit a theme park
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of Mickey Mouse
beckoning you to Orlando. Visit the Magic Kingdom
or one of the many theme parks nearby. A spin on a
roller coaster is a great cure for whatever ails you.
16. Go fishin’
It sounds kind of lame, but busting out the old rod
and reel is a great way to relieve some stress and
reconnect with nature.
17. create some art
Whether it’s taking pictures of the Jacksonville
skyline or painting a landscape or penning a poem,
take the time to do something creative this spring
break.
18. Get physical
Have you been too busy to use that gym
membership you got at the beginning of the year?
Quite throwing away your hard-earned money and
hit the gym a couple of times during your vacation.
Or take evening walks while the weather is still nice.
Give your body the gift of some real exercise and try
to make it a habit. You and your waistline will be glad
you did.
19. laugh
They say laughter is the best medicine. Our local
comedy clubs must be saving lives left and right.
Head up to the Comedy Zone in Mandarin or the
Atlantic Theatres Comedy Club at the Beaches and
get the giggles with some terrific local and touring
comedians.
20. shop ‘til you drop
If you’ve been saving your pennies for a rainy day,
it’s time to break open that piggy bank and have a
little shopping therapy. Jacksonville has become a
real retail hot spot with the opening of the St. Johns
Town Center. Take advantage of our good fortune
and spend some time and money at some of the
areas newest stores.
21. Get unplugged
We live in a very technological world. Most of us
can’t go a day without pick up our cell phones or
checking our email. Try living “off the grid” for a
couple of days to get back in touch with the world
around you. It may be difficult, but the quiet may just
do you and everyone around you a world of good.
22. volunteer
There are plenty of deserving charities that need help
year round, not just during Christmas time when
most people usually have a surge of good cheer.
Help fill the need by volunteering for a charity you
care about. Read to underprivileged kids, work at a
soup kitchen or visit the elderly. Putting others before
yourself is an extremely rewarding way to spend
your days off.
23. People watch
Sometimes I like to go to a mall or a crowded
restaurant and just watch the all the different people
going about their day. No, I don’t find it the least bit
creepy. It’s actually a lot of fun to imagine what their
lives are like, what they like to do, where they may
be going. Sometimes it really helps get the creative
juices flowing (see idea 17)
24. make some sweet moolah
Use this time away from your studies to earn a
little extra cash. Do some odd jobs around the
neighborhood or sell some of your old stuff on eBay.
You’ll never know when and extra $20 may come in
handy.
25. save the world
It sounds like a hefty request, but doing a few small
things can make a huge difference. Plant a tree, pick
up litter, take public transportation, switch to highefficiency
light bulbs, and be more diligent about
recycling. Every little bit helps. Strive to do your part.
26. make a movie
In this digital age anyone with a camera can be a
filmmaker. Bust out the old video camera, get your
friends together and make your own movie. Once
you’re done, show it off for the whole world to see
on YouTube.
27. Go camping
Answer the call of the great outdoors. Take a trip to
one of the area’s fantastic campgrounds and pitch a
tent. Camping is a great way to spend some quality
time with the family. Just don’t forget the s’mores!
28. Have a double (or triple) feature
Spend an afternoon at the movie theater catching up
on some of the blockbusters you might have missed.
29. Go to the beach
As cliché as it sounds, going to the beach during
spring break is a tradition that is still highly regarded.
Instead of heading south, visit our local beaches for
a quieter, less obnoxious vacation. Even if it isn’t
quite as warm as the typical spring break hot spots,
the wealth of clubs, bars and beautiful views make
Jacksonville Beach a great place to unwind.
30. count the days until summer is here!
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 19

thursday nights
pulp fiction theatre
Gritty, thrilling and performed
live at Downtown's coolest
Dinner Theatre.
5 bucks (CHEAP!) for the
show | full dining | call for
more info.
doors open at 6, show at 8:30
boomtown theatre
20 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
Straight from the 30s
140 west monroe street | 632-0099 | http://pulpfictiontheatre.tk/
eating for a good cause
by Erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: Salvation Army Celebrity Chefs Luncheon
& Silent Auction
When: March 15 th @ 11AM-1PM
Where: The Jacksonville Fairgrounds
Among food events, the Salvation Army
Celebrity Chef’s Luncheon & Silent Auction is one
of the most unique and longstanding food events
you’ll find in Jacksonville. Most of the “chefs”
you’ll find manning the tables at this event aren’t
local celebrity chefs but are simply celebrities or
important people in the Jacksonville area. You’ll
find Jacksonville Jaguar Joe Zelenka, City Councilman
Lad Daniels, local philanthropist Betsy Lovett
and Peterbrooke President Peter Behringer all at
booths, serving one of their favorite dishes to the
public. TV and Radio personalities will also be in
attendance. Two newsworthy meteorologists will
be at the event. Mike Buresh of Fox 30/CBS 47 will
be serving a Derby Pie and John Gaughan of WJXT
will be serving a Korean barbeque known as Khal
Bi. Dee Davenport of 93.3 Rooster Country will be
ladling out some Rooster Country Chicken Corn
Chowder.
HoW THe Food iS CHoSen
First, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Salvation
Army begins organizing the event by asking local
celebrities to participate. Once they’ve gotten a
commitment, they then ask for three favorite family
recipes from each celebrity in different categories,
i.e. dinner, dessert and a side item. Each of those
recipes are then cooked by one of the catering
companies hired for the event. This year they’ve
hired Genesis Café, Anthony’s Gourmet Catering
and Catering by Liz. Once the items are cooked,
they are then presented to the Tasting Committee
(something that sounds like a great job!) Based on
their collective taste buds, as well as the recommendations
from the caterers about the viability of
the dish on a buffet line, they choose the best dish
of the three from each celebrity. Another factor that
determines what is served has to do with filling
category slots; they don’t want to serve all desserts
or side items, so if all the deserts are fantastic,
they can only choose a few of the best because
they need an equal variety.
HoW iT ALL goT STArTed
It’s year 21 of an event that has become a
Jacksonville tradition. It began two years after
the Jacksonville Ladies Auxiliary of the Salvation
Army was formed. Committee co-chair Sally Evans
says that the “Ladies Auxiliary needed a reason
for being… Darleen Unger had seen the concept
elsewhere, so we decided to do it.” The event has
grown considerably, going from only 9 sponsors to
41 sponsors in this year’s events. Their first year,
they earned ten thousand dollars for the Salvation
Army; as of last year they pulled in a staggering
one hundred two thousand.
WHere THe ProCeedS go?
Every year, this event does more than amuse
and feed the participants; the proceeds go to
projects within the community to help the less
fortunate. “All of the money stays right here in the
Jacksonville area,” says committee co-chair Sally
Evans. The majority of these projects are very
practical and concrete, such as a washer dryer
set for the Adult Rehabilitation Center, office supplies
as well as computer upgrades for the local
administrative staff and toiletry items, like towels
and wash cloths, for the local shelter. Money from
the benefit lends a hand to young and old alike.
Top on the list of projects are a code-approved
bus and scholarships for homeless children at the
Child Development Center. For the Salvation Army
Senior Center, money is allocated towards an audio
center.
WHAT To exPeCT
This year, the event has been moved from
the Prime Osborne to the Exhibition Hall at the
Fairgrounds. Food booths will be set up along the
perimeter of the event. Each booth will be manned
by a local celebrity who will be serving in a chef’s
hat and apron. Food items range from the Peterbrooke’s
Chocolate Fountain to Spinach Squares
or Rustic Lasagna. In the center of the event will
be the Silent Auction, which can be approached for
the majority of the festivities. Items on the silent
auction block include travel, fine dining, art and
antiques. Hundreds of beautiful plants from Trad’s
Garden Center, used for decoration at the event,
will be available for purchase. 20% of plant sales
will be donated to The Salvation Army.
The Master of Ceremonies will be Shotgun
of Rooster Country. Parking is blessedly free, and
you’ll receive a cookbook featuring all the recipes
of the event. Tickets are only $30 each, available
from any Auxiliary member or by calling 301-4841.

musical changeling
Chad Jasmine at Landshark Café
by Rick gRant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Chad Jasmine is a musical chameleon who is
always changing, evolving, and writing new music,
not limited by any musical genre. For two years I’d
lost touch with Chad, so it was timely indeed to
catch up with his latest musical incarnations at the
Landshark Café.
For the Landshark gig, Chad brought in his frequent
musical collaborator, Kip Kolb on keyboards,
pennywhistle, and harmonica, Chris Gibbs on bass,
and Brian Jenkins on drums. Chad Jasmine, as
usual, was on lead vocals, guitar, saxophone, and
harmonica. Chad’s ad hoc gig ensemble actually
makes-up Kip Kolb’s own band called Kolb. He just
released an album called Missing Link, featuring
Kip’s catchy, hook-heavy compositions.
This Sunday the gig included a fusion of Kolb’s
own music and Chad’s eclectic material, performed
with Chad’s usual off-kilter swagger and accented by
his witty quips. Undoubtedly, Chad is in a category
all his own. After seeing some mediocre posers on
Jay Leno, my wife asked me a pertinent question,
“Why is Chad not on Jay Leno?” Why, indeed.
Some artists like Chad are just not adept at
self-promotion. Chad is a brilliant singer/songwriter
and free thinker who is so into his music he hasn’t
the time or inclination to hire a manager or seek a record
deal. He is an artiste laboring in local obscurity.
However, the word is getting out that someone with
connections in the biz should come to Jax to witness
Chad Jasmine perform. Something so extraordinary
just can’t be kept secret forever.
Aside from Chad Jasmine’s Landshark gig,
Chad’s main project is The Bath Party, with Chad
doing his thing, Sagi on bass, Greg on drums, and
Pars on trumpet and electric piano. The Bath Party’s
new self-titled CD is a wonder to behold. It features
music in the tradition of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen,
and The Clash with Chad’s distinctive mojo mix.
Clearly, this music is commercially accessible
but distilled by Chad’s cynical and progressive philo-
sophical viewpoint. The title cut declares
“My favorite thing to do is to take a
bath.” featuring interesting changes in
rhythm and melody. The song conjures
up images of the Beatles meet Frank
Zappa. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“We ain’t afraid...we’re happy in the
USA,” opens the second cut ‘USA.’ Par’s
avant-garde trumpet comes in and out
with a frantic rhythm. Cynicism reigns
supreme in the lyrics of this song.
‘Be Free’ expresses Chad’s angst
at getting older and realizing that things
are more screwed up than he thought.
“Be free, be free, be free” is the mantra,
No matter what, be free. “I used to think
the world was revolution every night,
now as I get older, I realize... yeah, yeah,
yeah” It’s clear, Chad is saying “be free.” The song
is a cool breeze on a hot summer day when all one’s
worries are negated by the striking beauty of the day.
Then I realize that Dr. Phil is still on TV, and the image
is broken.
On ‘The Bomb,’ an alarm-like guitar riff segues
into a hooky refrain, “Why don’t we drop the bomb!”
Again, the song is dripping with biting satire expressed
musically and in brazen lyrics. “TV sucks...
you wonder why the world is alcoholic.....why don’t
we drop the bomb!” The song speaks for itself as an
ultimate cynical anthem. Hello Dr. Strangelove!
“You ask me why I stick around when you and
I can’t be found...because you excite me, yeah you
do!” So goes the lyrics of this little love song, ‘You
Excite Me,’ with Pars’ trumpet mixed way back in
the spectrum. It’s jazzy and jumpy, like a vivacious
young woman who hasn’t yet been beaten-up by
life. The seven other cuts are equally as intriguing
and raise questions which have no answers, except
in the context of the songs. On ‘How Insane,’ as we
travel on our way “...we’ll surrender what we have....
in the end we’ll celebrate...funny how that works,
how insane, how insane.” And so on and so on. This
album is a joyous, thought-provoking collection of
Chad’s most excellent songwriting.
Yes, Chad articulates one’s thoughts with a
surprise package of musical goodies that “will make
you free.” This album will get heavy rotation on my
car stereo as I travel the dark streets of this city,
wondering about how I reached this point in my life’s
journey. It’s a miracle.
live music
shows calendar
THURSDAY, MARCH 8
Taste of Chaos Morocco Center, Jax
Open Mic w/Colleen Murphy Trade Winds Lounge,
St. Augustine (829-8646)
LeMonde Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775)
Undertones Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611)
Maria Taylor Café Eleven, St. Augustine
Aerial Tribe Layla’s, Jax
FunKtion Po Boys, Atlantic Beach (246-4121)
Nathan Holley Bukkets, Jax Beach (246-7701)
Lisa & the Mad Hatters Reni’s Rooster, Jax (880-1111)
Something Distant, Big 10-4 Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
Chuck Nash My Place, Jax (737-5299)
Yankee Slickers Sun Dog Steak & Seafood,
Neptune Beach (241-8221)
Target X Lynch’s Irish Pub, Jax Beach (249-5181)
Blistur Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999)
Mariachi Guadalajara Jimadores, Jax (739-5828)
Boogie Freaks Square One, Jax (306-9004)
Spade McQuade Seven Bridges, Jax (997-1999)
Intelect, Dirty Digitals TSI, Jax (635-3024)
David Milam Shannon’s Irish Pub, Green Cove Springs
Nimble Jim & the Ointment Brewsters, Jax (223-9850)
Steve Plays Too Loud London Bridge, Jax (359-0001)
Bennett Michaels Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra
Sam Pacetti Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113)
Wes Cobb Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293)
Jam Session w/Jason Anderson Band Pub Ragusa,
Jax (443-7888)
Cornerstone The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329)
Switch Back Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877)
Ron Rodriguez Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Little Green Men West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131)
Freeze Frame Fionn Maccool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499)
Rough Mix Blues The Frisky Mermaid, Fernandina
Beach (261-3300)
Blues Merchants Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park
(269-4198)
Moe Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473)
Those Guys The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424)
De Lions of Jah Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453)
Crystal & Trey Starlite Café, Jax (356-4444)
THURSDAY-SAT., MARCH 8-10
The Committee A1A Aleworks, St. Augustine (829-2977)
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
Dana Salmela Cross Creek Restaurant, Jax
Medeski, Martin & Wood Freebird Live, Jax Beach
(246-2473)
Roger Hurricane Wilson The Frisky Mermaid,
Fernandina Beach (261-3300)
The Last Guardian, Sworn To Silence Murray Hill
Theatre, Jax (388-7807)
Nate Holley Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Jennifer Chase Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra
The Static Age Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488)
Dawn Patrol Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach
(249-9595)
Aaron Tippen, Rhett Akins The Landing, Jax (353-1188)
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 21

Flip Radio, Gunwitch Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
Hipp Street Box Seats, Orange Park
John Gorka Café Eleven, St. Augustine
Lisa & the Mad Hatters Cheers, Mandarin (262-4337)
Brad Payne All-Stars Sports Bar, St. Augustine
(827-9842)
Aerial Tribe Ocean 60, Jax Beach (247-0060)
Don’t Tell Anne Chicago Pizza, St. Augustine
Johnny Flood Aromas, Jax (928-0515)
Crash the Satellites House of Jam, Mandarin (262-3377)
Wes Cobb Pub Ragusa, Jax (443-7888)
Helioseye, Liquid Limbs TSI, Jax (635-3024)
Chris Miller San Sebastian Winery, St. Augustine
General Tso’s Fury FCCJ Courtyard, Jax
All Well is Broken Fuel, Jax (425-FUEL)
Claire Gonwa Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488)
Jager Dave On the Rocks, Jax (685-5268)
Dead Man’s Waltz CD Connection, Jax Beach
Quest West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131)
Sly Poonce Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850)
Mid Life Crisis Tom & Betty’s, Jax (387-3311)
Ace Winn Copeland’s, Jax
Tom Reese Po Boys, Atlantic Beach (246-4121)
Yancy Clegg My Place, Jax (737-5299)
Chuck Nash Latitudes, Jax Beach
Dave Massey Your Place, Jax Beach (221-9994)
Cliff Worrell & the Restless Kind Arnold’s, St. Augustine
Matt Collins Pauly’s Pizza, Jax (727-9101)
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 9-10
Little Green Men Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198)
Cheshire Cats Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-9336)
Blistur Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221)
Don’t Tell Anne Chicago Pizza, St. Augustine
Twisted Lemon Brewsters, Jax (223-9850)
Roger That Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999)
Livid Cap’n Odie’s, Mayport (241-8848)
Steve Beck Band The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424)
Boxrockers Zhana’s, St. Augustine
Spade McQuade Shannon’s Irish Pub, Jax
El Toro Loco Lynch’s Irish Pub, Jax Beach (249-5181)
Ghost Rider Monkey’s Uncle, Mandarin (260-1349)
Mr. Natural Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775)
Boogie Freaks Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877)
Driven Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611)
Ron Perry Connection Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499)
Gutterboy Casey’s, Yulee
Jim Essery & Friends Mill Top Tavern, St. Augustine (829-2329)
Pili Pili Caribbee Key, Neptune Beach (270-8940)
McKenna Champs, Ponte Vedra Beach (285-7777)
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 9-11
26 th Annual Lions Seafood Festival-Smoked Mullet,
Francis Field, St. Augustine
The Driftwoods, Ernie Evans, Wilson Family,
Valerie Smith, Cadillac Sky
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
The Beach Boys Florida Theatre, Jax
Kenhe The Tree Steakhouse, Atlantic Beach (241-5600)
Strings of Fire Jimadores, Jax (739-5828)
Soul Release-Salakida Boomtown, Jax (632-0099)
Anastasia Scarlett’s, St. Augustine (824-6535)
22
march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
a folk legend
interview with Sam Pacetti
by Rick gRant rickgrant01@comcast.net
WHO: Sam Pacetti with John Borka
WHEN: Friday, March 9th
WHERE: Cafe Eleven, St. Augustine
Sam Pacetti is an established folk singing legend
who is a renowned fingerpicking guitar wizard
and intelligent songwriter. His 1997 debut album
Solitary Travel was critically acclaimed. “This guy
is very good indeed,” said the highly respected UK
magazine Folk Roots and Dirty Linen gushed “Although
the woods are full of young guitar virtuosos,
few have developed the style, technique, and artistic
wisdom of Sam Pacetti.”
Sam grew up in North Florida and at age 13 he
saw Chet Atkins on TV. That served as his inspiration
to learn a fingerpicking style of playing. Then he witnessed
Gamble Rogers play and Sam was hooked.
Eventually, Gamble became Sam’s mentor. The
master and student then played together for a year,
which served as Sam’s Gamble University degree.
When Gamble tragically died in 1991 trying to save
two tourists in the ocean, Sam carried on Gamble’s
legacy, but with his own original music.
Martin Simpson, Leo Kottke, and the late Merle
Travis have playing styles similar to Sam’s artistry.
Indeed, Sam is devoted to American roots music applied
to his original style. He has traveled to numer-
ous folk festivals and plays the
regional scene in St. Augustine
and Northern Florida. Sam
also travels to Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan,
New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, and Wisconsin
spreading his original songs,
which are little stories that
grab the listener with catchy
hooks and well-written lyrics.
When I chatted with
Sam via cell phone, he said
he would continue performing
and has a new album in
the works. However, he is
exploring a new paradigm of
consciousness and living.
“Music is still a sacred
experience for me, yet I’ve
become involved with learning
body therapy, that is healing–
spiritual and holistic, which,
in turn, expands my musical
horizons. There are many important things going on
in the world that require a higher level of thought and
study,” Sam said.
Within the national folk scene, Sam is well
known as an exceptional picker and songwriter that
draws inspiration from American grassroots traditions.
From tapes and CDs passed from friend to
friend, Sam’s popularity continues to grow exponentially.
His music and words spread from folk festival
to folk festival. Through it all, Sam is comfortable
with his status as a folk legend. Now he’s learning
new ways of thinking and living which broaden his
musical scope and stay true to his roots music traditions.
“I am busy with other things, but I’m keeping
up with my music and writing new songs, which are
within the realm of my grassroots style. Yet as I go
further into my studies, my music expands. It’s new
way of looking at my world and music, which is very
exciting and fulfilling,” Sam said.
Since Gamble Rogers died, Sam distilled
Gamble’s spirit into his own style, finding his niche
in the folk scene. Sam’s upcoming tour dates in
Florida include his gig at Café 11 in St. Augustine,
the Florida Folk Festival, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival
in St. Augustine, Magnolia Music Fest in Live Oak,
Hilltop Tavern, South Florida Folk Festival and the
Spirit of the Suwannee Festival.

modern bluegrass
interview with Cadillac Sky
by Rick gRant rickgrant01@comcast.net
WHAT: The Lions Seafood and Music Festival
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, March 10th and 11th
WHERE: Francis Field, St. Augustine
In 2002, mandolin avatar Bryan Simpson
formed a modern bluegrass band called Cadillac Sky
that paid homage to the roots bluegrass of Flatt &
Scruggs and Bill Monroe, but included a more modern
sound that crossed over into rock with plenty of
room for improvisation. Bryan’s idea was to build a
solid foundation of traditional bluegrass and then add
the other elements, like spices in a gumbo. The band
would play all original music expressing Bryan’s
creative lyrical and musical ideas.
Along with banjo wizard, Matt Menefee, Bryan
was beginning to have success as a mainstream
country songwriter. However, he had other personal
material that he felt deserved a new forum. So Matt
and Bryan became the core of Cadillac Sky. Soon
Simpson added Mike Jump on guitar from Southern
Union, Ross Homes on fiddle, and Andy Moritz on
bass. Cadillac Sky was born with a new sound and
vision. The old and new had melded in a new sound.
To probe deeper into the Cadillac Sky project, I
called Brian to chat about the evolution and present
state of Cadillac Sky.
“My vision for this band was to combine traditional
bluegrass with modern songs and new rhythmic
ideas and craft a new sound. Matt Menefee and
I put the band together in 2002 and we were very
fortunate to find top-tier players who gelled together
musically and personally, which is important out on
the road.”
“Everyone in the band comes from such different
musical backgrounds, but we all bring our own
concepts to the group. You can hear a lot of classical
and jazz influences that I have cultivated. Mike grew
up with 1970s rock. A lot of his harmony singing
and rhythm playing reflect that. Above all, we aim
to play more progressive grass and span the gap
between old and new. By having such diversity of
musical backgrounds, the blend of players does that
through ESP on stage. We work on unusual ways of
presenting the material to make it different. In other
words, we endeavor to keep it fresh.”
“We finally released our new record titled Blind
Man Walking and we are touring to support it. Lately
we have been inviting guest artists to our shows to
keep it interesting for us and the audience. We had
Ricky Skaggs perform at our CD release party on
Jan. 23, 2007. And, at another gig, we invited a local
gospel choir to perform with us. The wildest guest
artist was an 8 member clogging troupe who danced
to our faster material.”
“In a nutshell, we just want to progress and
keep moving our music forward, expanding on the
traditional bluegrass sound with new songs. Yes, it’s
difficult to write new material on the road, but I do it
for the future of the band. We already have enough
material for two new albums and when we take a
break from touring, we’ll be back in the studio to
record. I know of bands that toured and never wrote
new material. They didn’t last long. You can’t keep
playing gigs with the same old material. People expect
new material. And that is what we intend to give
them.”
“We definitely have progressive leanings, but
we are trying to find our own voice and not be flimsy
retreads of the New Grass Revival or Nickel Creek,
even though we love their stuff. I like acoustic music
for its honest energy. We have the talented musicians
and the will to establish our band’s sound in
the national arena. And so we are making it happen,”
Bryan said.
At that point, we ended our conversation. The
mighty Cadillac Sky will be performing at the Lions
Seafood and Music Festival in St. Augustine Mar.
10 & 11, 2007 . The band will be featured on a Sirrius
Bluegrass Satellite Radio show titled, Getting to
Know Cadillac Sky Feb. 23 rd .
Good Journey Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488)
Dot Wilder Jazz Quintet Orange Park Country Club,
Orange Park
Big Al & the Kaholics Gate River Run, Jax
Will Neal Aromas, Jax (928-0515)
Irving Clements Quartet Starbuck’s/Town Center, Jax
Colton McKenna San Sebastian Winery, St. Augustine
Worser Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850)
On the Rocks Art & Music-Shadow Agency Ocean
Club, Jax Beach (242-8884)
Brian Turner Band Cliff’s, Atlantic Beach (249-2777)
Chain of Fools, go Ask Alice The Landing, Jax (353-1188)
Bluestone London Bridge, Jax (359-0001)
Bennett Michaels Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra
Cracker Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
Toots & the Maytals Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473)
The Cruxshadows Factory at Eclipse, Jax
Don’t Jump Pub Ragusa, Jax (443-7888)
Matlock, The Love Affair Murray Hill Theatre, Jax
(388-7807)
Aerial Tribe Po Boys, Atlantic Beach (246-4121)
Payton Page Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Band of Horses Café Eleven, St. Augustine
Mike Shakelford The Homestead, Jax Beach (249-9660)
Stu Weaver Harry’s, Jax Beach (247-8855)
The Early November Fuel, Jax (425-3835)
The Impediments The Frisky Mermaid, Fernandina
Beach (261-3300)
Box 543 Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (249-9595)
Yancy Clegg Seven Bridges, Jax (997-1999)
Nathan Holley Bukkets, Jax Beach (246-7701)
Open Mic w/Larry Broussard St. Johns Pizza Grill,
Jax (287-9900)
SUNDAY, MARCH 11
Those Guys Sunset Grill, St. Augustine (471-5555)
Dan Shepherd Harpoon Louie’s, Jax (389-5631)
Box 543 Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune
Beach (241-8221)
The Fabtones The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424)
JW Gilmore Gypsy Cab Company, St. Augustine
Ron Perry Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877)
David Milam Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Jimmy Parrish Carib Key, Jax Beach (270-8940)
Calico System Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488)
Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646)
Moneen Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
The Thermals Café Eleven, St. Augustine (460-9311)
John & Caleb Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park
(269-4198)
El Toro Loco Mark’s Downtown, Jax (355-5099)
Colton McKenna Mill Top Tavern, St. Augustine
(829-2329)
3rd Bass The Casbah, Jax (981-9966)
Spade McQuade Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499)
Bobby Flynn Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach
(249-9595)
El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004)
MONDAY, MARCH 12
Boxrockers Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775)
Charlie Walker Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Sam Pacetti The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329)
Vinny Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach
(241-8221)
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 23

Chris Siefferman The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424)
Sugar Bear Harmonious Monks, Mandarin (880-3040)
Band of Destiny Square One, Jax (306-9004)
Nolan Neal Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293)
Goliath The Casbah, Jax
Pepper, Mad Caddies Freebird Live, Jax Beach
(246-2473)
Effed Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850)
Out of Hand Your Place, Jax Beach (221-9994)
Stu Weaver Harry’s, St. Augustine (824-7765)
TUESDAY, MARCH 13
Second String Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune
Beach (241-8221)
Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646)
Christina Wagner & Friends Mark’s Downtown, Jax
(355-5099)
Dr. Dog Café Eleven, St. Augustine (460-9311)
Steven James Empire Coffee, Jax
Ace Winn Duo Copeland’s, Jax
Will Pearsall The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329)
Dave Massey Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551)
Bush Doctors Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775)
Ron Perry Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499)
The Handshake Murders Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488)
Bill Rice Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Adrian Legg Café Eleven, St. Augustine
Out of Hand Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach
Mike Hart The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424)
Jimmy Solari My Place, Jax (737-5299)
Steve Sebby Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
Seth Ramsdill Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach
(246-4293)
El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004)
TUESDAY-WED., MARCH 13-14
Gene Nordan Mackenzie’s, Ponte Vedra (543-9143)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14
The Cover Band Spare Time Grille, Jax Beach (246-8099)
Mystic Dino Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884)
Cloud 9 Latitudes Café, Atlantic Beach (247-6606)
Hey Hollywood Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850)
Dave Massey My Place, Jax (737-5299)
John Waters The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424)
Ron Norris Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra
Glass Camels The Homestead, Jax Beach
Nimble Jim, Hey Hollywood Brewsters, Jax (223-9850)
De Lions of Jah Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473)
Wes Cobb Band Square One, Jax (306-9004)
Crystal Stafford, Aerial Tribe Starlite Café, Jax (356-4444)
Conrad Oberg London Bridge, Jax (359-0001)
Stu Weaver The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329)
Viscious Rumors Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
Eric Dawkins Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
The Mike Miller Band St. Nick’s Lounge, Jax (396-3396)
El Toro Loco Aromas, Ponte Vedra (280-2525)
Livid Snookers, Jax (696-0714)
Bruce in the USA Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473)
Chuck Nash Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune
Beach (241-8221)
Pili Pili Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293)
Dave Massey My Place Bar & Grill, Jax (737-5299)
24 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
inducted into the jax jazz
festival hall of fame
von barlow interview
by Rick gRant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Deservedly, my friend and master drummer,
Von Barlow, was just inducted into the Jacksonville
Jazz Festival Hall of Fame on Tuesday, February 27 th .
It was a great honor for this musical titan, whose
star lineage goes back to Ray Charles’ recording
studio, hanging out with Redd Foxx and playing
Woodstock with the late great O.C. Smith.
Over the years I’ve lauded Von Barlow’s stellar
drumming in many different playing situations. Yes,
as Dizzy Gillespie would say, Von has bull chops,
and he is the first drummer anyone thinks of if they
need a substitute traps man. I talk to Von frequently
just to chat, so it wasn’t a stretch to call him about
his induction ceremony. Von was humbled by the
honor and a bit befuddled as to what he would say.
During the Jazz Festival events, Von will be
playing at the Piano Competition with Noel Friedline
during the time the judges are deliberating. Regularly,
though, Von pops up with various groups like
Longineu Parsons at Simons, where I last crossed
paths with him. Unequivocally, I consider Von to be
the best drummer I’ve ever heard. And believe me,
I’ve heard a representative sample of the best stickmeisters
in music. Von can hold his own with all of
them.
“The Mayor’s office called me Thursday before
the event on that next Tuesday at City Hall. I went
numb and I had no idea what to say. So after a day
of reflection, I pulled myself together to write a little
acceptance speech. It was a great honor and, although
I never get nervous before a gig, this caught
me off guard and stopped my circulation. Man, I was
flabbergasted.”
“Receiving this honor made me nostalgic
about the past when I lived in Los Angeles from
1962 through 1972, and hung out with Ray Charles
and Redd Foxx at a recording studio near where I
lived. I used to go to Redd Foxx’s club and hang out
with Redd. When I traveled to NYC to play gigs with
groups at the Apollo Theater, I’d run into Bill Cosby
and Redd Foxx. Cosby used to joke with me and
try to get on my drum set. Bill plays drums, but not
seriously. He’d be smoking his cigar and joking with
me. At the time, it was funny, but after a while I got
annoyed with him. But later, when he became such
a big star, I felt honored that he took the time to joke
with me.”
“I knew Lou Rawls, who was on the bill with
the groups I was playing with at the time. I guess
you could say my big break was joining O.C. Smith’s
band right before his big top ten single God Didn’t
Make Green Apples hit big. That put him in a dif-
GET YOuR MOJO WORkiN’
Von Barlow Joins Blues Master Calvin Newborn, March 10
ferent league and his record company, Columbia,
booked him all over the world on a bill with Lou
Rawls, Bill Cosby, Herb Albert’s Tijuana Brass and
Richard Prior, plus other comics like Redd Foxx’s
rival Slappy White. As fate would have it, I ended up
at Woodstock with O.C. Smith and met Jimi Hendrix
and the other luminaries playing at what turned out
to be a legendary event. I had never seen so many
people in one place before. It was literally a sea of
humanity. So it was a memorable gig. The pot smoke
was so thick backstage, I couldn’t see anything.”
“Later we went on to play the Monterey Jazz
Festival, Madison Square Garden, and the Apollo
Theater. I toured the world with O.C. riding that one
hit for ages. But O.C. had a whole catalogue of his
original material that people loved. So, he was able
to capitalize on the one hit and expose his other
material to vast audiences. For some years I played
with Ben Tucker, who brought in renowned guest artists
at Hannah’s in historic Savannah. I also played
with the Hilton Head Jazz Society. Lately, I’ve played
many gigs with my friend Longineu Parsons’ Tribal
Disorder ensemble. I’ve traveled to Morocco with
Longineu to play for the King. I’ve played many gigs
with Longineu in France, Spain, and Italy. So, life is
good and I’m grateful to all those who have helped
me including you, Theresa O’Donnell-Price, who has
always gone to bat for me, and many other journalists
and friends,” Von Barlow said.
Indeed, Von is a man for all seasons. In music,
he has been everywhere and done everything. Von’s
nuanced playing is always musically interesting, and
in context with the focus of the ensemble in which
he is playing. Von plays the drums with sensitive
dynamics and creative improvisations. Von is one of
a few top drummers who treat the drums as a melodic
musical instrument, making the traps sing with
sweet vibrations.
Von Barlow joins Memphis blues living legend, Calvin Newborn for an unparalleled performance
at MoJo Kitchen Barbecue Pit and Blues Bar at 1500 Beach Blvd. MoJo is known for serving
some of the best barbecue in town and featuring some of the finest blues-centered, original folk
paintings in the area on their walls. Add live blues by legendary performers to that list of things
MoJo brings to Jacksonville and you begin running out of reasons not to check out their new location
at Jacksonville Beach.

the symphony goes west
the Masterworks Series features
American composers
by jon boswoRth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
Does it make me base and pedestrian when
a live performance by the Jacksonville Symphony
Orchestra reminds me of a Tom & Jerry cartoon? At
times I couldn’t get the cartoon images out of my
mind’s eye. I was trying to be sophisticated. Some
of the symphony-goers around me closed their eyes
and deeply contemplated the notes being played
without the distraction of other audience members
or the conductor’s gestures four beats ahead of
the music, but when I tried all I could see was Tom
and Jerry in their Western duds, chasing each other
around.
The symphony seems like a drastically new
and vibrant mission to me each time EU sends me
to review a performance. Usually I sit in one of
the balcony seats, because I enjoy watching the
individual players step out of the cascading rhythm
of bows and shoulders as the sections of music
diverge and collide. From this vantage-point. The
symphony is more than an aural experience, it has
a visual element. It is an enormous dance of unintentional
choreography that perfectly matches the
music, obviously, since it is solely the creation of
this complex music that causes the actual movement
of the performers during any musical movement.
This time our seats were on the floor, so I
learned to watch the symphony in a new way. And
I learned to devote more attention to the tonality of
the performance. We were also right next to a seated
volunteer usher who was incredibly excited about
the music, but persistent about the correct times to
clap. Early in the second movement, Serenade, from
Plato’s Symposium, composed by New York’s own
Leonard Bernstein, featuring Israeli transplanted,
Ukrainian violinist Vadim Gluzman, soloing in front
of the Fabio Machetti-conducted Jacksonville Symphony.
His deep grasp of the energy latent in each
tishamingo
album review
Artist: Tishamingo
Title: The Point
Release Date: 02.15.2007
Label: Intrepid Artists
Listening to Tishamingo’s newest release you
can’t help but think: Damn! That there’s some hard
Southern rockin’ blues! As a band their sound has
coalesced and aged since the band formed, over
piece was matched by his apparent enthusiasm
while perfectly executing each note, nuanced and
sculpted, as he teetered and pitched before the
musicians in the symphony. He would turn, while
frenetically engrossed in the solo, and look to the
symphony as they seemed to play orchestral responses
to his solo. It was a dynamic conversation
with no words spoken.
Everyone burst into applause after the fourth
movement, Agathon, and we eagerly joined them,
clapping polite golf claps when the urge was to
yelp and belt out a painfully loud clap. He should
know how amazing we think he is! But the usher did
not want the rules broken and so she waved and
motioned for us to stop clapping. Leaving us sitting
there watching everyone else in the auditorium clapping
appreciatively, while we sat with our hands in
our laps as though it wasn’t good enough for us.
My mother insists that the inappropriate applause
is a good thing, it shows that a new, younger
audience is filling in seats, and that means the JSO
has new blood and culture in this city. Personally, I
would rather impulsively applaud when something
moves me (as long as it is not over a piece in progress)
then memorize a set of stodgy old rules. On
the other hand, the sophistication of the symphony is
part of what makes it the tradition it is, so maybe we
shouldn’t Happy Gillmore it.
Vadim Gluzman played his 1690 Stradivarius,
on extended loan to him from the Stradivari Society
of Chicago, with a mastery that I couldn’t even
fathom. This was old world skill. Mr. Gluzman not
only intricately understands his craft, he is intimately
aware of the entire composition within the piece he
is performing. Having studied under many of the
world’s finest virtuoso’s, he has earned a place
among world-class musicians that is impossible to
comprehend until you hear him.
the past five years and the three records they’ve
released. They’ve been consistently musically solid,
but they seem to have found their identity on this record.
You’ll be reminded of early ZZ Top, the Allman
Bros., Aerosmith and Zeppelin. The blues tinged, jam
band sound is just the thing for dirty neighborhood
bars and rock ‘n roll parties. These boys formed
their band right here in Northern Florida, though
they’ve moved on to Athens, GA and are now based
there. Their Southern roots definitely show on this
album with more than a smattering of soul, Deep
South blues, hard driving rock and country.
Setting the tone for the album is the gritty
‘Get on Back.’ Their label of a neo-hippie jam band
is stretched as they flex their collective musical
muscles, though I’d say that the label still sticks.
‘Tennessee Mountain Angel,’ touted as the most
Skynyrd-esque, was the weakest of the tracks with
a fairly derivative sound that veered a little too far
into the area of country music for my taste. (Not
that I don’t love a good country album, but this isn’t
a country album). It’s redeemed somewhat by the
last verses, when it picks up a bit and comes back
a bit to a straight ahead rock sound. The last track,
‘Devil’s Love Song’ was a fun, gimmicky, song but
in some way it seemed slightly out of place on this
album. Listen for Jess Franklin’s contributions on
While the American media parades young
hipster violinists, such as Joshua Bell, before us to
provide a new spin on an ancient craft, we can look
at a performer such as Mr. Guzman and appreciate
the value of a lifelong pursuit of mastery, and a sort
of mastery that transcends concert halls and fits into
a larger, timeless category. And yet, in spite of this
transcendence, the piece was wrought with identifiable
country-Western, almost bluegrass, tones and
sensibilities. That is to say that this amazing classical
player was still able to bust out an almost fiddle
style amidst all of the complexity of this symphony.
Which perfectly matched the theme of the
overall performance. Featuring three pieces by three
American composers, the opening piece Bright Blue
Music was composed by Michael Torke, a Midwesterner,
and the final piece was The Grand Canyon
Suite by Ferde Grofe`, a Californian when he passed,
so the presence of a Western theme presided. The
Grand Canyon Suite is the piece that made me feel
pedestrian. I certainly don’t mean to berate either the
work or the musicians who performed it, obviously
they executed it at least as well as whichever orchestra
recorded the piece that the Tom & Jerry cartoon
used. Again, my mother comes to my defense
in this concern. She always let me watch Looney
Tunes and Tom & Jerry. She said she didn’t mind the
exaggerated violence, as long as it was exposing me
to Brahms and Tchaikovsky.
The Grand Canyon Suite articulately painted
five scenes for the listener that was not wracked
with Tom & Jerry guilt. The opening movement was
Sunrise. This piece eeked in gently and lead to The
Painted Desert, which was a jovial piece with a light
spirit. From the desert we enjoy a frolicking gallop
On the Trail, then on to the gentle but foreboding
Sunset. The piece concluded with the dramatic and
explosive piece called Cloudburst, which presented a
violent thunderstorm complete with wind and lightening,
but every dramatic moment was told in music.
As usual, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
plays so perfectly that you leave without a doubt
in your mind about the quality of the show that you
observed. The JSO is still the best buy for live music
in town, because they are not only professional,
showcasing their ability to perform with world-class
talent, they are also gracious and patient with those
of us just ignorant enough to clap when we feel it,
but still interested enough in a great show to attend.
his electric piano, which rocks nearly as much as
Cameron Williams and Franklin’s guitar lines.
Tishamingo is well on their way to stardom,
or at least some measure of fame. Like Mofro,
they headlined the third annual Down on the Farm
Festival in Quincy, Florida. Not only that, they recently
toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special and
Sister Hazel on the “Gimmie Three Days” cruise.
They’ve been all over the tour circuit, hitting Europe
twice and cinstantly touring the U.S. They played at
Bonnaroo in Tennessee, playing to a capcity crowd
despite a time slot against the very popular Radiohead.
As Tishamingo proves on The Point, they
just play damn fine music. It doesn’t do anything
ground breaking and pays homage to a ton of
bands, but it does distill some of the things we like
about Synyrd, AC/DC and classic jam bands. It’s
simple, and more importantly, it’s fun to listen to.
Their live shows are what built their enthusiastic
fan base, and you can catch them live on
March 17 th at the Great Atlantic Seafood Festival
in Jax Beach. If you can’t catch them live and you
like a great jam band and Southern rock, pick up a
copy of their latest CD and rock out!
- BY ERiN THuRSBY
upcoming shows
The Emotron March 16, TSi
Hoods March 16, Thee imperial, 475-0488
Lucinda Williams March 16, Florida Theatre, 355-2787
The Templars March 17, Thee imperial, 475-0488
The Temptations and The Four Tops March 18, Florida
Theatre, 355-2787
Alabama Thunderpussy March 20 Jack Rabbits
Tom Rush March 21, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311
Cold War kids March .22, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311
The Futurists March 23, Thee Imperial, 475-0488
Astronautalis March 23, TSI
Anoushka Shankar March 23, Florida Theatre, 355-2787
Shangrala March 23, 9 th & Main
Bonde do Role March 23, TSI
Vince Gill March 27, Florida Theatre, 355-2787
The Duhks March 28, Freebird Live, 246-2473
Leo kottke March 29, Florida Theatre, 355-2787
Antigravity March 30, Lazzara Hall at UNF, 620-2878
I Survived a Shark Attack March 30, Thee Imperial, 474-0488
Lamb of God March 31, Plush
Comeback Kid April 1, Thee Imperial, 475-0488
Of Montreal April 1, Freebird Live, 246-2473
Tres Bien April 6, TSI
Tom Jones April 9, Florida Theatre, 355-2787
Plain White T’s April 10, Freebird Live, 246-2473
The Cadets April 15, TSI
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah April 20, Freebird Live, 246-2473
Ellis Paul April 20, Café Eleven, 469-9311
kenny Chesney April 21, Jacksonville Arena, 630-3900
Julius Airwave April 28, Freebird live, 246-2473
George Thorogood May 1, Florida Theatre, 355-2787
Patty Larkin May 6, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311
Mono May 8, TSI
Relient k May 12, Freebird Live, 246-2473
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 25

Sean Mahan
26 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
Tacos and art - two great tastes that go
great together. This week, I visited the Burrito
Gallery for some mahi tacos (possibly the best
fish tacos this side of the Rio Grande) and happened
to see some impressive works by two
artists, Dan May and Sean Mahan. Although the
choice of subject matter and color palettes used
by May and Mahan differ greatly, they both have
a sharp ability to draw the viewer into each painting’s
story. Rarely does one find such impressive
artistic skill outside a gallery or museum (or
inside them, for that matter).
I also paid a visit to the Cultural Center at
Ponte Vedra Beach, where I was treated to the
drawings and prints of Donald Martin. He, too,
is an artist who exhibits a degree of illustrative
quality in his work, focusing primarily on landscapes
and other scenes.
It’s always a pleasant surprise to discover
interesting works of art in unexpected places,
and I’ve always believed that it’s often more
effective to take art to the people instead of trying
to lure people to the art. It is by no means
the best idea for every style or medium, but
many artists can benefit greatly from displaying
their work in unorthodox places like restaurants
or stores. If the artwork is well executed, a new
context for viewing often heightens the impact
on a viewer while adding an extra level of quality
to the establishment.
Dan May
The first works I saw were acrylic paintings by
Dan May. Painted in an illustrative style reminiscent
of classic, weird children’s books and the cartoon
art of Spongebob Squarepants, most of his works
are very small, yet finely detailed, bringing his fictional
subjects to vivid life. Looking something like
microorganisms under a microscope, May’s oddly
shaped monsters are expressive, humorous, and
often engaging. He displays an enormous amount of
technical skill with each painting, filling the surface
with bright, unique colors.
While May’s paintings clearly present a fantastical
world filled with strange little beings and
uncommon forms, many also contain a thread of
allegory to keep your brain talking while your eyes
examine the heavy flow of new images. The thought
of them living in my eyebrows and clothing gives me
the willies, yet I welcome the drama and excitement
they might bring to my skin cells.
Dan May (below)
art along the
way
Donald Martin, Sean Mahan and
Dan May
by DONALD DUSINBERRE Iimartsyfartsy @ gmail.com
Discover more about Dan
May and his illustrative works
by visiting his website at www.
mayillustration.com.
Sean Mahan
Apparently, the Burrito Gallery was having
a two-for-one special on artwork from
highly skilled painters. Across the room from
May’s colorful microorganisms were the sublime
works of Sean Mahan. Complete with an
aged appearance, his pastoral portraits recall
a time long since passed, but still readily recognizable.
They’re comfortable and interesting
at the same time.
Skillfully painted on 2x2 wooden panels,
Mahan’s portraits usually depict a lone person
undertaking a singular task (or no task at all)
with virtually no background information. His
depiction of the human form is masterful.
He possesses an impeccable sense of light
and dark and a sophisticated palette of color,
and they are mixed together in his works in a
unique process. All of Mahan’s works balance
the informational qualities of drawing while
utilizing the depth-finding qualities of color.
Although that may not sound particularly
interesting at first, many of the subjects look
straight at us, through the picture plane, with
an unusual expression that begs us to inquire.
Check out more paintings by Sean Mahan
at his website, www.seanmahanart.com.
DonalD Martin
Just inside the doors of the Cultural Center
at Ponte Vedra Beach were the large drawings
and relatively small prints of professor
Donald Martin. With their generous size, the
charcoal drawings are capable of communicating a
great deal of information without appearing too detailed.
Primarily through the use of black as well as
white sticks of charcoal, Martin was able to capture
the sense of light and dark so essential to landscape
art.
In addition to the large-scale drawings, Martin
displays his small prints, each of which consists
of a small group of images, including detailed renderings
of a few of the larger works. Since I have
a habit of looking very closely at artwork, I found
that the prints were far more visually stimulating
than the charcoal drawings. The prints appeared
more crisp and authentic, as if plucked from the
pages of an old Audubon book.
What I found most interesting about the work
of Donald Martin cannot be seen with the naked
eye. Unlike many artists, he willfully recognizes
an inextricable link between nature’s essence and
his place within it, citing a theologian noted for his
existential Christian philosophy. Particularly in the
world of landscape art, it has always surprised me
that so many artists are reluctant to acknowledge
any spiritual basis for their work, yet Martin seems
to delight in the esoteric qualities of the natural
scenes around him.
DonalD Martin (below)

on the rocks
an art showcase at the ocean club
by eriN tHurSby scopes1925@msn.com
WHAT: Vestal’s On the Rocks Art Showcase
WHEN: March 10, 2007 from 2pm – 2am.
WHERE: the Ocean Club, 401 North First Street
and The Atlantic, 333 North First Street in Jax
Beach.
This Saturday the Ocean Club and The Atlantic,
neighbors on the Boardwalk at Third Avenue
North in Jacksonville Beach, will be hosting local
promoter Joe VanDyke’s art and music fusion
event, the Vestal’s On the Rocks Art Showcase.
In July of 2006 Joe VanDyke held his first art
show at the Seawalk Hotel in Jacksonville Beach.
With 15 celebrated exhibitors, it drew a crowd of
about 450 patrons. With such a great response to
begin with, a second art show was staged at the
same venue over Halloween weekend, garnering
more than twice as many visitors for a crowd of
about 1,000 with 55 exhibitors. Each show has
gotten larger and drawn a bigger crowd. The On
the Rocks Showcase will feature more than 70
artists from the area and live music throughout the
day.
VanDyke and co-promoter Patrick Carter,
who has done all the flyer art for the three shows,
are pumped for the March event. “When attending
one of these shows, it becomes obvious that the
beaches area of Jacksonville needs more events
like this, to show more appreciation for the arts
in our community.” VanDyke divulges, “…music
and art are my life… and with the help of Vestal (a
cutting-edge watch/clothing company out of L.A.),
I plan on doing these events in some other cities
soon.”
Among the numerous exhibitors and performers,
headlining the March event will be Jacksonville-based
artists Zac Freeman and Shaun
Thurston plus live music from Shadow Agency,
Christina Wagner and Kings of Hell, among others.
But not all of the artists at the show will be
known in the Jacksonville community. For Kyle
Cannon, a local artist inspired by artists such as
Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein,
and Blaine Fontana, it will be his first show. On the
Rocks gives locals the opportunity to discover new
area artists while grooving to dance music and
drinking tequila shooters (depending on their age,
of course).
All ages welcome from 2pm – 10pm, ages
21 and up after 10pm. $5 cover for 21 and up, $8
under 21. For more information on Vestal go to
www.vestalwatch.com
from disney to the stage
Stage Aurora presents High School Musical
by kellie abraHamSoN KAbrahamson1@aol.com
Stage Aurora is a nonprofit organization that
was founded in 1999 by Darryl Rueben Hall, a
professional actor from the First Coast who wanted
to bring the theatre to the Northside, where he was
raised. Since its inception, Stage Aurora has brought
countless shows to the area and has introduced
thousands of kids to the stage. Their latest production
is a stage version of the exceedingly popular
Disney movie High School Musical, which Hall
directs. I had the opportunity to sit in on a couple
of their rehearsals and speak with some of the extremely
talented kids who will bring the show to life.
The show tells the story of Gabriella Montez
and Tory Bolton, two teens from two very different
worlds- Tory is the captain of the basketball team
and Gabriella is the backbone of the school’s Scholastic
Decathlon Team- struggling to earn parts in
their school’s musical despite their clique status.
As the two try and figure out how to break free from
their stereotypes, the reigning queen and king of the
drama club, Sharpay and Ryan Evans, do everything
in their power to keep the newcomers from stepping
on their turf.
The cast of Stage Aurora’s High School Musical
consists of about 75 kids ranging in age from 8
to 18. Upwards of three different people will get to
perform as each principle during the show’s run.
Many of the actors have seen the movie version of
High School Musical dozens of times, while some,
like Nathan Brown, who plays Zeke, a jock who secretly
loves to bake, have only seen it enough times
to get to know their characters.
“My mom made me watch the movie,” he explains.
“(She said) ‘Get your part right’. So I had to
watch it over and over.”
Sitting down with 21 of these extremely bright
young performers was a bit overwhelming but a lot
of fun. The kids were outspoken, articulate and at
times downright hilarious. They are also really glad
to be a part of this show.
“We’re all happy with the roles that we have,”
said Sherrod Brown, a 17-year-old who also plays
Zeke. “Honestly, I feel I’m the exact opposite of my
character. But that’s what makes it so fun: to be-
come somebody else. I think that’s the whole point
of theater.”
The talented ensemble has been rehearsing
for three weeks and is gearing up for opening night
this Saturday. While memorizing their lines, songs
and dance moves, these young actors also have to
contend with school, homework and other commitments.
“I have 100 Voices with Stage Aurora and I
have this and I’m in another play at school,” explains
Rakita Dozier, who plays Taylor McKessie, Gabriella’s
brainy friend. “It’s just a lot.”
Still, these teens have worked incredibly hard
to nail their roles so that they can give the best possible
performance.
“I really hope- and I think it’s every actor’s
hope- to have someone walk out and just be like
‘Wow, that was an amazing show’,” said Katy Jacobson,
who plays the eccentric drama teacher, Ms.
Darbus. “That’s our purpose, we’re here to entertain
people and you want people to come out with a
smile from ear to ear.”
The kids I talked to also hope that the audience
embraces the message behind the play.
“(The message is) that everyone’s not the
same and that everyone should try something different,”
explains 15-year-old Kristen Arteaga, who
plays Sharpay. “There’s cliques (sic) in every school
and it shouldn’t be like that.”
Sherrod Brown knows what it’s like to feel the
pressure of fitting in.
“It was a struggle having to deal with the peer
pressure of other students talking about me being
different. I had to come to a point where I was just
like ‘I don’t care what you think. I’m going to continue
being myself because that’s who I am’,” he said.
“Be yourself, be innovative. There’s nothing wrong
with that.”
Stage Aurora’s production of High School
Musical will be performed at the Ezekiel Bryant Auditorium
on FCCJ North Campus on Friday at 8:00 pm
and on Saturday, March 9-25 at 2:00 pm and 8:00
pm. For more information or to purchase tickets visit
stageaurora.org.
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 27

culture & arts
8 Other Worlds: The Landscape in Contemporary Art Museum
of Contemporary Art, Jax
8 Larry the Cable Guy The Arena, Jax
8 Second Skins: Sculptural Soundsuits & Tondos by Nick Cave MOCA, Jax
8 Free Salsa Class Twisted Martini, Jax
8-11 Celebrating Black Hisotry Exhibit MOSH, Jax
8- 14 Workshop-Don Martin “Ground of Being” Cultural
Center, Ponte Vedra Beach
8- 15 The Art of Collage Workshop Cummer Museum, Jax
8- 15 Abstraction of the Real Exhibit Raymond Yeager JU
Alexander Brest, Jax
8-17 “Pack of Lies” Theatre Jacksonville, Jax
8- 18 Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art Cummer Museum, Jax
8- 18 “Crime & Punishment” Shakespeare Festival UCF, Orlando
8- 24 “Really Rose’ Shakespeare Festival UCF, Orlando
8-24 “First Baptist of Ivy Gap” Orange Park Community
Theatre, Orange Park
8- 30 Youth Actors Classes Theatre Jacksonville, Jax
8-30 “Bright Young Things” Art Show Jane Gray Gallery, Jax
8-APR. 1 “Shendoah” Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Jax
8-APR. 7 A Cruise Ship Crime Professor Plum’s Playhouse, Jax
8-APR. 15 “Disney’s The Lion King” FCCJ Artist Series
Performing Arts Center, Jax
9 JSO-Music of Joseph Haydn Performing Arts Center, Jax
9 Bless My Soul-Poets, Painters, Singers, Artists, Dancers
TaMerry’s Sports Café, Jax
9 Lecture:So You Want To Be a Performer Scott JonesSchool
of Dance, Jax
9 Hollywood Producer Frank Pace JU, Jax
9-17 “Durang 6” Players by the Sea, Jax Beach
9-24 “Fat Pig” Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre, Atlantic Beach
10 Dog Lovers Day Adventure Landing, Jax Beach/Jax
10 Sanctuary Tour & Nighttime Feeding Catty Shack Wildlife Sanctuary, Jax
10 Making the Next Hit The Marriott, Jax
10 Dog Day Afternoon Adventure Landing, Jax
10 Audition: G.I. Jukebox Atlantic Beach Experimental
Theatre, Atlantic Beach
10 Three Mo’ Tenors Lazzara Hall, Jax
10-18 Stage Aurora-Disney’s High School Musical FCCJ North Campus, Jax
11 Piano Sundays-Donna Wissinger Thrasher Horne Center, Orange Park
11 Lecture: So You Want To Be a Performer Fred Astaire
Dance Studios, Jax
11 JSO Spring Concert Performing Arts Center, Jax
12 Preserving Our Special Places Lakewood Presbyterian Church, Jax
12 Audition: G.I. Jukebox 7pm Atlantic Beach Experimental
Theatre, Atlantic Beach
12 Lecture: So You Want To Be a Performer Debbie’s Dance
Company, Jax
12-26 Art & Music Appreciation Series Acrylic or Oil Painting
Workshop Cultural Center, Ponte Vedra Beach
14 “Do You Have What It Takes To Make It in Showbiz?” WJCT Studios, Jax
14-16 Sugar Bean Sisters DASOTA, Jax
15 Amateur Night Ritz Theatre, Jax
15 Free Salsa Class Twisted Martini, Jax
15 “Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know” Limelight
Theatre, St. Augustine
15 The Jazz Age & Harlem Renaissance Main Library, Jax
15 Coctails & Creatives for Local Designers Fionn McCool’s, Jax Beach
16 JSO A Tribute To The Beatles Performing Arts Center, Jax
28 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
the lioness speaks
interview with Chauntee´ Schuler
from The Lion King
by kellie abraHamSoN KAbrahamson1@aol.com
The stage production of Disney’s The Lion King
finally roars into town this week, giving Jacksonville
a chance to see the Tony-winning show that we’ve
been seeing ads for for so long. EU intends to bring
you the full details of this historic event. From interviews
with the actors you will see on the stage during
the engagement, to detailed descriptions of the
elaborate staging, to reviews of the performances by
theatre critics and young children alike, EU is here to
help you vicariously experience the thrill and hopefully
enhance the suspense for when you and yours
attend a performance.
The Lion King; The Broadway Musical is based
on the same story you may remember from the
Disney feature film, but live on stage, this production
is a totally different animal. From Jacksonville locals,
like Izell O. Blunt, to Broadway regulars from New
York, this show brings the whole world of Broadway
to our own Moran Theatre in the Times-Union
Center for the Performing Arts. I got to speak with
Chauntee´ Schuler, the actress who plays adult lioness
Nala in the show
EU: Kids everywhere know The Lion King.
What is it like to be a part of such a recognizable
show?
CS: Well, it’s an absolute honor. It’s so funny.
You always think of the kids knowing it, but sometimes
the parents know it even better than the kids.
It’s really cool to be characters that the kids know in
a different way and have them see you and say “Oh,
that’s Nala. That’s Simba or Scar,” but in a human
form. So, it’s pretty neat.
EU: How is the stage production different
from the film version?
CS: It’s extremely different from the movie. A
lot of the stage version has South African elements
to it, so on top of the music that you might have
heard in the movie version, we have a lot of new
music that actually has more South African flair. And
in the stage version, we take all of the characters
to a different level. All the characters in the cartoon
are animals and in the stage version we’re… making
them half-animals/half-people and using a lot of
different techniques with scenery and costumes and
lights to create that.
EU: What does your costume consist of?
CS: My costume consists of a skin-toned leotard,
silk hand-painted pants, boots and a 10-pound,
hand-beaded corset, which is pretty cool and heavy.
[Laughs] And my headpiece is pretty light, but it’s of
a lion.
EU: Is it difficult to move around in that 10
pound corset?
CS: At first it was. I definitely had to get up
my stamina going from rehearsals to the show. It
definitely was a slight change, but you get used to
it. It makes you feel different. It gives you more of
an essence of the character. Of how you stand, of
how you move, of being grounded. So it’s an added
bonus.
EU: What’s a typical day on tour like for you?
CS: Our day pretty much starts at around 7:00.
You start warming up… By 7:30 you’re at the theater
and by 8:00 you’re in the show and you do the show
and you don’t get out until 11:00… Because it’s the
beginning of your night, some people make after-theshow
a late night event and some people go to bed
soon after. So, our days start quite late.
EU: What’s been the toughest part of playing
Nala?
CS: I’d say the toughest part of playing Nala is
bringing out her strength as well as her vulnerability,
because as strong as she is and as powerful as she
is, and [she’s a] risk taker to go out and try and save
her home, she’s still a young teenager. She’s still a
woman, and she still falls in love. So it’s kind of a
difficult task to play a woman who’s vulnerable and
falling in love and also a strong, powerful and driven
character.
EU: Switching gears, I did a bit of Googling…
And discovered that you and your significant other,
Joshua, participated in the “Today Throws a Wedding”
competition last year.
CS: Yes we did, we did.
EU: What was that like?
CS: It was so much fun. We had such a great
time. We did it on a last minute whim… We’ve lived
together for almost 6 years now and we’ve been trying
to get married for almost two and our schedules
are crazy. So we entered it knowing that other people
would have to do it for us. [Laughs] So it turned out
to be an awesome thing. We came in as runnersup
and we actually ended up getting married two
months later. It was great.
EU: Do you think you’ll try to make the leap
from the stage to television or film at some point?
CS: I think I probably will, but the stage is my
home and I don’t think I’ll ever leave it. The thing I
love about the theater is that it’s something that you
can’t get sitting on your couch at home. That energy
and the excitement, even the mistakes [laughs], the
wonderful experiences. I mean, it’s live. It’s as close
as you can get to your reality TV. It’s real and it’s in
front of your face, so I think at a certain point in time
I’ll probably give TV and film a try, but I’ll never leave
the stage.

pack of lies
Theatre Jacksonville review
by dick kerekeS dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Theatre Jacksonville opened a three-week run of
Hugh Whitmore’s Pack of Lies adapted from a reallife
spy case of the l960s and set in a London suburb.
Just suppose a very official looking government
man knocked on your door and asked to place an
“observer” to spy on the neighborhood for the good
of the country.
This is what happens to Bob and Barbara
Jackson and their teenage daughter Julie. But what
is supposed to only last a couple of days, turns into
weeks and stretches the fabric of the family, as they
must “hide” the presence of the guests. Their best
friends for five years, Canadians Helen and Peter,
are suspected of aiding a KGB agent who has stolen
NATO secrets. There you have the basic plot of this
suspense yarn.
Before the plot really gets going, there is about
30 minutes of chit-chat, so I want you to take a visual
tour of the wonderful set that Scenic Designer Kelly
Wagoner and Technical Director Jeff Wagoner have
created. First you will notice bits of furniture that look
very British and l960s. I especially liked the pop-open
bar on the far right.
A large bay window looks out over the neighborhood,
and directly above it, in Julie’s unseen
bedroom, the lookouts observe the neighbors. There
is a lovely foyer to the rear of the set and on the right
is a small, but functional kitchen with a pantry. I was
enthralled by the back door that looked old and European.
It is a great set and certainly one of the stars of
this show.
The only thing missing technically, in my opinion,
was some scene change music for the numerous
blackouts. I personally would have selected the
theme music from Alfred Hitchcock’s TV show, but
some eerie music would have added suspense.
Shirley Sacks and Jean Tait shared the directing
chores for this play and I can understand why, since
both had other projects demanding their time. Mrs.
Sack’s directing Thoroughly Modern Millie at Stanton
and Ms. Tait is Director of Programming for the upcoming
Jacksonville Film Festival.
Dawn Button is excellent as Mrs. Jackson,
which is the most demanding role since all the lying
has turned her into a nervous wreck as she contemplates
out loud “What is the difference between one
lie or another?” Geoffrey King plays a perfect Mr.
Jackson with his English accent (He is English) and
is quite good as the devoted husband.
You may be seeing a lot more of Kristin Alexander,
who played the rebellious daughter Julie. She
hopes to be accepted into Douglas Anderson and has
been home-schooled. She was believable in this role
and projects well.
Terence Wolfe is a newcomer to Jacksonville,
and is very impressive as Stewart, the government
man who recruited the Jacksons for the spy adventure.
His credits include musical theatre and I am
looking forward to seeing him again on stage as a
singer. He would make a great Jud in Oklahoma.
Chanel Martin and Jennifer Barrett play Stewart’s
assistant spooks and they interact with the fam-
first baptist of ivy gap
Orange Park Community Theatre review
by dick kerekeS dickkerekes@yahoo.com
I want you to promise me, right now, that you
will consider going to see the current Orange Park
Community Theatre production First Baptist of Ivy
Gap before it closes on March 24 th . Don’t be put
off by the title and think that this show is just about
religion. I found it to be a wonderful mix of pathos
and humor and a very delightful evening of theatre.
The play opens during WWII in the fellowship
hall of the First Baptist Church of Ivy Gap, Tennessee.
Six women gather to roll bandages and plan for
the church’s 75 th anniversary.
The six women are all very distinctive characters.
Edith, the pastor’s wife, dispenses wisecracks,
advice and Red Cross aprons and hats. Julie Myers
is delightful as Edith. She is believable, likable and
quite good in her stage debut (her first and only
other time on stage was 23 years ago at age 6).
Andi Ciccotelli as the widowed Luby is the most
serious of the women, and rightfully so since her
son Norman is a soldier in a war zone.
Brenda Cohn is Vera, who has a rich husband
with political connections and family secrets of her
own.
Kristen Walsh, a student at Ridgeview High
School, is wonderful as Olene Wiffer, a young
woman who wants to go to Hollywood to be a star.
Rhodie Jackson, as Mae Ellen, is the church
organist, who also wants to leave Ivy Gap to lead a
more exciting life where she can expand her musical
talents and ideas. Ms. Jackson’s role provides a lot
of the humor in the show.
Crystal Dawn Banks is Sammy Porter, the only
woman who is not a member of the church. This shy
and demure lady has a secret of her own concerning
Luby’s soldier son.
Act II; same place, but the fellowship hall has
been remodeled and there is a different war: the Vietnam
War. It is 1970 and the church is celebrating its
l00th anniversary.
All the ladies come back, with three played by
new actresses and three repeating their roles, only 25
years older. Ms. Ciccotelli is back as Luby, her son
now dead from war wounds, and she looks older with
white hair and wrinkles. Brenda Cohn is back as Vera,
with gray hair, but otherwise looking the same (moral:
you can fight the aging look if you have enough
money). Organist Mae Ellen Rhodie Jackson is back,
sporting an Afro and new clothing; she has not had a
new career but has had a lot of boyfriends.
Lisa Johnson plays the l970 version of Edith,
the preacher’s wife, and like Ms. Myers, she is
new to acting, but you would not believe it from her
performance. She is animated and very witty. Kala
Hinton is the l970s Sammy and does as remarkable
job of portraying the same personality traits as Ms.
Banks had in l945.
Christy Baker is the l970s version of Olene,
and she made it to Hollywood, but not to the motion
pictures, and now she is now in show business (well
sort of, but I won’t tell since it is quite a surprise).
ily as they come through the house to go up to the
lookout post.
Both looked right for the parts, but they need
to project better since English accents are difficult
enough for audiences even when they are heard loud
and clear. When the young ladies were back by the
sink, I could not understand them, and I was sitting in
the third row.
Veteran performers Amy Noel Johnson and
Kenny Logsdon are the two jolly but suspected neighbors,
Peter and Helen. They performed well but both
were a bit young for the roles. Logsdon mentions
he went to a Communist cell meeting in 1932 but
the play is set in 1960 and he looks to be in his late
30s.
Ms. Johnson’s Helen is a chattering, cheerful
motor mouth, sort of like “Auntie Mame”, who likes to
drink. (Was this a part of her cover?)
She also likes to swear and her choice of words
involves slandering the Deity. It may offend some
patrons since this is considered part of the Bible belt.
Had I been directing, I would have substituted SOB,
and that would have made the point.
This play is a bit on the “talkie” side and demands
that you pay attention. The fact that it is a true
event that occurred during the Cold War years of the
60s makes it more interesting.
Costume Designer Sally Pettegrew coordinated
the costumes, which were in period. I do think Mrs.
Jackson needed a couple more changes to help the
audience feel the passage of time. The character
Stewart wore the same suit for his several appearances
in the home. Adding a raincoat would have,
again, given us a scene of time passing. It certainly
would have been appropriate since I hear it occasionally
rains in London.
This third production of TJ’s 87 th Season continues
through March l7. All performances are at the
Harold K. Smith Playhouse in lovely San Marco. Call
396-4425 for reservations or visit their website at
www.theatrejax.com.
There are a number of subplots that make this
a very interesting play but I will let you discover
them when you see the show.
Director Barbara Wells has done a remarkable
bit of casting and each woman seems just right
for the role they are playing. The resemblances
between the three women playing the l945 and the
l970 versions of the same person are uncanny.
Director Wells has added something very
unique to facilitate the scene changes. She has
radio news reporters in front of the curtain reading
news items. Sure beats sitting there looking at a
closed curtain. Although there are three reporters,
Steve Cohn, Richard Sheffler and Kristoffer Knapp,
only Knapp was there last Saturday. The “news”
chosen was human-interest items (such as Picasso
disinheriting his son and daughter, and something
about Tolstoy). They were somewhat interesting,
but I was disappointed as I expected hard news
about the war or stories that would have given the
audience a better picture of the periods involved.
Barbara Wells and her husband David designed
the very appropriate and neat set with David
handling the lighting design. I liked the change from
l945 to l970, which consisted of adding paneling to
the wall and some other decorations.
Blynn Stevens coordinated the costumes,
and Act I was a 40s fashion show for the ladies.
Erin Silas and Sue Pope provided some expert assistance
with the makeup and the hairstyles as well,
no doubt.
There is lot of funny lines in the show, I loved
preacher’s wife’s line: “You don’t have to know how
to swim to be a Baptist.” The play is also about loss
of life, relationships and dreams. Overall it is upbeat
with a happy ending. A very different kind of play
that I highly recommend you check out.
16-18 Orange Park Chorale-Music For Lent Our Lady Star of
the Sea, Ponte Vedra
17 Tale Tellers of St. Augustine “Civil War Stories, Part 1” The
Lighthouse, St. Augustine
17 JSO Classical Madness Performing Arts Center, Jax
17 Auditions: “The Wiz” Stage Aurora Jax Centre of the Arts, Jax
17 The Walter O.Evans Collection of African American Art
Cummer Museum, Jax
17 Auditions: “State Fair” 1pm Orange Park Community
Theatre, Orange Park
18 Gary Smart/Piano Main Library, Jax
18 Law Enforcement Day Celebration w/John Rutherford &
Angela Cory Coral Ridge Ministries, Jax
18 JSO Pipe Organ Concert Series Performing Arts Center, Jax
18Auditions “State Fair” 5:30pm Orange Park Community
Theatre, Orange Park
19-23 “Spring Into Science” Camps MOSH, Jax
21 Glass Filigree Suncatchers & Glyphs Workshop Cultural
Center, Ponte Vedra Beach
22 The Jazz Vocalists Main Library, Jax
22 Free Salsa ClassTwisted Martini, Jax
22 JSO-John Williams Greatest Hits Performing Arts Center, Jax
23 The Acting Company’s Jane Eyre FCCJ Wilson Center, Jax
23BlessMy Soul-Poets, Painters, Singers, Artists, Dancers
TaMerry’s Sports Café, Jax
23 Cantus Church of the Good Shepherd, Jax
23-24 JSO John Williams Greatest Hits Performing Arts Center, Jax
24 Sanctuary Open House/Tour Catty Shack Wildlife Sanctuary, Jax
24 Spektrum Florida Ballet, Jax
24-25 The Human Figure Open Studio Workshop Cultural
Center, Ponte Vedra Beach
25 Auditions: “Steel Magnolia’s” 7:30pm Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine
26 Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society Pablo Creek Library, Jax
26 Auditions: “Steel Magnolia’s” 7:00pm Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine
29 The Swing Era Main Library, Jax
29-31 JSO Russian Splendor Performing Arts Center, Jax
30 Pirates of Penzance Thrasher Horne Center, Orange Park
30 Art After Dark Florida Theatre, Jax
31 Easter Breakfast & Egg Hunt World Golf Village, St. Augustine
31 Book Signing: Linda Brandt Hot Shot Bakery, St. Augustine
APRIL
1 The Blessing of the Fleet Downtown, Jax
4 Jazz Innovators Main Library, Jax
5 Latin Jazz Main Library, Jax
7 A Guide To landscaping Your Lawn The Zoo, Jax
14 Jaguars Concours d’Elegance World Golf Village, St. Augustine
14 Swinging With the Stars Celebrity Dance Contest FCCJ
South Campus, Jax
14-15 St. Augustine Art Association Art & Craft Festival Francis
Field, St. Augustine
14-15 Blooms Galore & More Garden Club of Jax, Jax
14-15 San Marco Spring Fine Arts Show The Square, San Marco
17 Free Cone Day to Benefit Special Olympics Ben & Jerry’s,
Orange Park
20-MAY 5 “Enchanted April” Theatre Jacksonville, Jax
21 Some Enchanted Evening Thrasher Horne Center, Orange Park
21 Earth Day Celebration MOSH, Jax
21 3 rd Annual Mosaic Celebration MOCA, Jax
21 Autograph Signing-Steve Carlton Dans Cardz, Orange Park
21 “Ape-ril” A Celebration of Apes The Zoo, Jax
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 29

30 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
what’s eating you?
by katie veltri kjvelch@aol.com
They say the only thing constant is change.
I was walking from my car to write this week’s
column, wondering what health topic I was going
to pursue, and then realized that what was eating
me was this persistent, annoying voice in the back
of my head echoing, “…and then I will have the
perfect body.” I had a minimal epiphany, and proceeded
to ponder, “How silly that I place so much
importance on something that’s never going to be
constant.” And, then I thought, “When did I start
this ritual of critiquing everything about myself
and thinking that once I hit the image I wanted for
myself that this would make me fully content?” I
guess what I’m getting at is that eventually getting
to this state of perfection, whether it be mind or
body, is an illusion, a fabrication we create to have
something to work towards, and can be both anticlimatic
and destructive. I think most of us want
to mold ourselves into something more beautiful
and appealing, but when it becomes an obsession,
it acts as a distraction from finding genuine
contentment. I hope this does not sound like my
neurosis spilled all over the place. My intent here
is to take a deeper look into the idea of perfection.
I find it interesting that the definition of perfection
is, “the condition, state, or quality of being free
or as free as possible from all flaws or defects,”
simply because the word “free” is put in there so
nonchalantly, as if to suggest that being free was
not possible with flaws.
Moreover, how do we free ourselves
from the pressure of wanting to look, act, and be
perfect? We meditate or contemplate. We transcend
past the ego and ask ourselves, “What is
it that will make me happy, content, or satisfied?
What will bring me peace?” In Yoga, they say that
perfection is recognizing and accepting yourself
in the moment. I have to admit, even though I
exercise tip:
teach Yoga, sometimes I start bursting out with
laughter because I’m like, “What does that mean;
this leads me nowhere but back to square one.”
It’s like a matrix of crazy mysticism and cult-like
followers. On the other hand, I think about how
wonderfully refreshed I feel after practicing for an
hour. I find that I enjoy it that much more when I’m
with others because we are here trying to improve
or search for something together, but each in our
own way. Yoga means “union”, or “to yoke” in
Sanskrit, and has the potential to bring you back in
the moment by relaxing your senses, letting go of
rationalization for a moment, and provoking internal
awareness by becoming in touch with your raw
emotional state. Yoga can be used for a plethora
of things, whether it be soothing lower back pain,
finding clarity of mind to work more efficiently, or
embarking on just plain exercise to burn calories.
Yoga is flexible, and that’s why it’s so mainstream
and popular these days. There is not only Yoga,
and some people just don’t like it, there is Pilates,
Tai Chi, kickboxing, dance cardio, step, and body
sculpting classes you can try. The point is, to get
acquainted and to see what works for you. And, of
course, find an instructor that moves you.
The only thing that will set you free is the
truth. Be real. If you don’t buy into something fully,
ie. Yoga, then ask yourself what positives you take
from it and what negatives you can learn from.
Accept it for what it is whatever endeavor it may
be, and maybe then it will become easier for us
to accept whom we are, without having to resort
to obsessive and potentially destructive thought
patterns. Remember, perfection is a state of mind,
and our mind is always changing. Now that I have
enveloped you in as many clichés as I could think
of off the top of my head, allow me to leave you
with a “delightful” tip.
Make a V-shape with your body by pushing your palms shoulder-length apart and feet
hip-width apart on the floor. Extend the hips (butt) toward the ceiling. Keep the head in
alignment by keeping it neutral and look in toward your navel. Then, lift the right or left
leg up with a flexed foot and make small circles out slowly. Inhale through the nose and
exhale through the mouth while repeating this motion rhythmically for 1½ minute. The
only thing moving is the leg. Lower the leg, and repeat the exercise with the opposite leg.
This will tone your butt and abdominals, and since your abdominals are stabilizing the
exercise, you are also working on balance.

Random thoughts from a cluttered mind...
THE
JOCK
BY TOM WEPPEL
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
This weekend we will have a plethora of college
basketball, with major conference tournaments ongoing.
We will see the Florida Gators in the SEC Tournament
in Atlanta, while the Florida St. Seminoles go
to the granddaddy of them all, the ACC Tournament,
which this year is being held in Tampa, instead of
Greensboro or Charlotte.
While we know the Gators are in the NCAA
Tournament, and it will be simply a matter of what
Regional, what seed, and who their opponent will be,
the Seminoles are very much on the ‘bubble’, needing
one and likely two wins in this tourney to get into the
Big Dance. Perhaps, with the ACC Tournament being
here in their home state, the ‘Noles will benefit. We
shall see.
On Sunday evening, CBS will give us the pairings,
showing us who’s going where, and when they
will play. We will also see who didn’t get in, with some
teams feeling they got the shaft. The ‘leftovers’ will go
to the NIT.
And then of course we get into the serious business
of the NCAA Tournament, where teams we’ve
pretty much never heard of will go up against major
college ‘name’ schools we see all the time on ESPN.
This year, I believe there is more parity than in past
years, although that sounds like such a cliché’. I
believe we will see plenty of upsets, with lower seeds
getting some wins in all regional games on Thursday
and Friday.
In a few weeks, though, you can bet that powers
UCLA, Kansas, or Ohio State will be in the Final Four,
and maybe all three will make it. We shall indeed see
how things shake out.
NFL
Free agency is off to a rousing start, with many
teams doing a lot of shopping. What they are finding
is a bunch of players ready to go, and a lot of money,
as always, is being doled out.
Its so funny how we always hear about teams
losing money and being tight in so many financial
respects, yet when the time comes, they shell it out
with no problem, mainly out of pure greed in wanting
to get to the playoffs and Super Bowl.
The Jaguars have not done much,
mainly because it seems they have not
needed much. They picked up offensive lineman
Tony Pashos, the former Raven, and WR
Dennis Northcutt, to bolster their receiving
corps. I don’t expect much else, and then
we’ll see what happens come draft time.
NASCAR
After a week off in NASCAR, as the
boys rested while the Busch guys raced
south of the border, we’ll see things crank
back up in Las Vegas. There will be plenty
to discuss as all teams get back into the
groove. The big story will be in seeing what
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will do, now that he has
been so down and out after only two races.
He definitely needs to come through with a
strong finish, if he has any plans at all in getting involved
in the points race.
NBA
The Dallas Mavericks are tearing up the NBA
this year, and it seems no one will be able to compete
against them as they march into the playoffs and
Finals, especially in the East. While the Detroit Pistons
have a decent team, there’s no way they can go up
against the Mavs for a seven game series. The Heat
will not be able to emerge, either, it seems, as Shaq
isn’t his usual self, and Dwayne Wade will not be able
to recover and be 100%, either, after his shoulder
injury.
Tom Weppel talks trash with Greg Larson, Tom
McManus, Ron Duguay, and Lonnie Marts on SportsAvengers.com
24/7.
nascar news & notes
by RICHARD TEAGUE TINyNASCARS@yahoo.com
You know, last week NASCAR officials seemed
to relay the message that the teams were enthusiastic
about the Car of Tomorrow, with the testing
they were doing at Bristol, and in fact they said that
the COT will most likely be full time by 2008, a full
year earlier than forecasted. The Cup Series Director,
John Darby, did say that the original three-year
period was what the owners wanted, but since they
now feel it would be easier and cheaper to start the
2008 season with the new cars, it just may happen.
Sure, the owners want to go ahead and get this
going so they don’t have to build two different types
of bodies for two whole years. Their beef before was
that putting together so many cars this season and
then again next year (not to mention the facilities
and transportation of the two types) was going to be
very costly. Like I said, that was mid-week and Ward
Burton and Clint Bowyer hadn’t made their test runs
yet, and to hear what kind of tunes they sang could
make ya wonder about the COT. With Dale Jr. saying,
“It has exceeded my expectations at this point, as
far as how the car is driving,” on Wednesday. Then
Ward hit the wall that night.
For a driver that can finish the Daytona 500 on
his roof and then flip back over and catch fire, Clint
Bowyer sure had a few things to say about his COT
test as his car hit the wall harder than he thought.
Darby said there was only a “little bit of interest”
from the teams about the crash. Clint said a few
choice words about the car. He said it had a stronger
body when it comes to racing, getting into the walls
off a turn and, my personal favorite, “I’m afraid it
won’t be much racing.” These guys have not been
side-by-side trying to win a race just yet, and like
Clint said, there will be a bunch of car with the radiator
showing. “As soon as it got sideways I wasn’t
able to correct it.”
Nonetheless, NASCAR is bringing the Car of
Tomorrow to the races and there ain’t nothing anybody
can do about it. Or is there? Now, if I could win
the Mega Millions this week and want to really start
some s**t (or if I had a bunch of lawyer friends, and
I do really, but not many of them are NASCAR fans,
I don’t think) here’s what I would do. First off, let’s
go back a few years, like fifty or more, to the formation
of the National Association for Stock Car Auto
Racing. Let’s see how good ole Merriam-Webster
defines that. National: “of or relating to a Nation.”
Association: “an organization of persons having a
common interest.” How about STOCK CAR: “a racing
car having the basic chassis of a commercially
produced assembly-line model.” Auto racing: this
one is really simple and self explanatory, I think,
“cars in a contest of speed.”
You must think I’m going nuts here, but I am
building to a real big finish, so pay attention. What
I am saying is that NASCAR needs to change its
name. It should be NAAR, The National Association
of Auto Racing, because there isn’t a dad burn
thing about a “Car of Tomorrow” that is STOCK, and
you can’t buy one at the local dealer, now can you?
Yeah, I know they have not run a stock car body for
years, but remember when there was a rule that if it
was going to race on the track, at least so many had
to be produced by the manufacture. What about that
ole saying, “Win on Sunday, Sell them on Monday”?
Well we all know that’s not true, but it used to be. If
my driver wins in a COT and I want to go buy one,
where can I get it?
I still for the life of me cannot figure out why
the automakers have let NAAR get away with the
lack of car definition and all of them looking like the
same type of bodies, except for a name on the front
or some small difference between makes. Just like
the open wheel cars or the sprint cars, where can I
buy one of those on Monday? I’m sorry, but I don’t
watch Formula or Indy racing or road course racing,
I got better things to do, like watching paint dry.
But NAAR is betting that fans will continue to watch
and go to races with the Car of Tomorrow, and I just
don’t understand how they can think that will happen.
OK, here’s the big finish. Like I said earlier, if I
had the money or the lawyers I would file a class action
lawsuit in the Federal Court nearest Bristol this
week against NASCAR. I would claim that NASCAR
has violated its agreement with the fans, sponsors
and teams by forcing the development and use of
the Car of Tomorrow in its sanctioned racing. I would
demand that the COT not be used until it is available
on the open market, or that NASCAR change it’s
name to the National Association of Auto Racing
(NAAR) and all rules about “only stock car bodies”
be removed from their by-laws. I further would require
that, until they comply, no races be held of any
form at any tracks here in the United States.
Well I better not go any further for this week. If
NAAR needs to contact me, or if y’all do, it can be
done at tinynascars@yahoo.com, and, in accordance
with new names, I have come up with a new
last shot, as I call it. If It’s NASCAR It’s S**T!
eujacksonville.com | march 8-14, 2007 31