Shackleford’s
by Jarrod F. and Michael E.
****1/2
As we slashed our machetes through thick bamboo, Michael and I
could see the restaurant in the distance. We were only thirty meters
away from the poachers that were after us, but we knew we needed to rest.
I wiped sweat from my brow, listening to Michael’s panting. He was
doubled over. An image of their angry faces flashed into my mind.
They knew we would tell the authorities of their crime, and they wanted
to stop us. I didn’t think I’d be able to make it to the restaurant.
When I saw Michael shoot off towards the restaurant, my muscles involuntarily
flexed, and I began sprinting too. Then my name was called.
Michael stood up. My daydreams quickly faded away, and I followed
Michael and the waitress to the table. We had been waiting for only
twenty minutes, which was a surprise since the hostess had told us there
was about a thirty minute wait.
We were then taken to a booth. The tables were plain, made
of a black wood, and held only the essentials: ketchup, salt, pepper, Tabasco
sauce, and dandelions in a vase. In the back of the restaurant, there
was a large bar, with a TV. Quiet jazz music and dim lighting, along
with the unique paintings decorating the walls, contributed to the relaxing
atmosphere. The diverse menu included appetizers, soups, hot sandwiches,
salads, a kids’ menu, and
a long list of side dishes. The side dishes included mashed red
potatoes, onion rings, and wild rice. There were many different types
of entrees. The entrees were interesting and included
seafood, sandwiches, pastas, pork, chicken, and beef. Don’t worry,
the beef was Angus certified! The menu also had a number of
wines and coffees.
Michael and I decided to split an appetizer. We came to
an agreement on potato skins. The thin slices of potato were topped
with bacon, cheese, and tiny pieces of celery and tomato. In the
middle of the dish, there was a spoonful of sour cream. The potato
skins were very filling, and we both enjoyed them.
I ordered the Shackleburger, which was flame-broiled. It
was served with french fries, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, and a pickle.
Even though I ordered medium-well, it wasn’t dry, and I enjoyed it.
People have the option to add things like cheese, bacon, mushrooms, and
onions for a minimal charge on all of the hamburgers and sandwiches.
Michael ordered the crab and shrimp burrito. The burrito
was a large, red tortilla filled with a mixture of baby shrimp, wild rice,
and small pieces of crab meat in a mayonnaise-based mixture. The
dish was also served with fresh vegetables (zucchini, broccoli, peas in
a pod, and carrots), wild rice, black beans, and chunks of tomato.
Michael’s dish was filling and delicious.
Shackleford’s is a great restaurant and would appeal to many
different tastes. The service is good, but if you go Friday or Saturday
night, be prepared to wait twenty or twenty-five minutes. The prices
range from $7 to $18, and the dining is casual. From fresh fish fillets
to hamburgers with mayonnaise, Shackleford’s food pleases pallets perfectly.
Ever After
*****by Becca B.
Any one who likes a good fairy tale would love this movie. It
follows the basic plot of Cinderella, but there aren’t any fairy godmothers,
pumpkins, or mice. The story is of a girl whose wicked stepmother
and stepsisters are trying to catch the eye of the king. They give Danielle
lots of chores, but there are other servants besides Danielle (Cinderella,
if you please) who are ordered and pushed around harshly. One day Danielle
is in town and meets the soon-to-be-king. He takes a liking to her spunk,
personality, and attitude right away and asks for her address and she only
says she is a cousin of a noble family. She runs into the prince a few
more times and they begin meeting each other and running off together.
They fall in love but are soon found out by Danielle’s stepmother. She
is deprived of the chance of going to the ball. In fact she is locked
in a dungeon. Leonardo da Vinci becomes her hero when he saves her.
She goes to the ball; and no, she doesn’t have to be home by midnight.
In fact, she runs out on her own after the prince finds out that she is
a commoner. He turns her away but soon realizes what a horrible thing
he has done. He then seeks her out and marries her and well, you
should know the rest.
This movie is fresh and a new version of the original story of
“Cinderella.” It is a good movie to see when you’re in the mood for a romantic
comedy. I give this 2 thumbs up and recommend it to anyone.
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Live at Luther College
* * * *by Beau C.
Perhaps the most astounding thing about this two CD set is realizing
that these two friends traveled the entire country with nothing more than
their guitars. No light shows. No sound effects. Not even an opening act.
The only things these gifted musicians packed in their suitcases were their
love for music and a smile. Live at Luther College proves just that.
Dave Matthews, frontman of the creatively named “Dave Matthews Band,” and
guitar virtuoso buddy Tim Reynolds, recorded a live concert at Luther College,
a very small university in Iowa.
Arguably the best songwriter of the ‘90’s, Dave performs old
favorites, unreleased gems, and future hits. Matthews and Reynolds open
the show with an ode to Mother Earth, “One Sweet World.” The kind-spirited
Matthews cracks jokes in between songs. Reynolds, however, steals the show
in my opinion with Stream, an out-of-this-world jam session when he belts
out the most devastating acoustic guitar in a while. Recorded on February
6, 1996, before the EP Crash hit stores, Matthews plays somewhat
of a “Greatest Hits” compilation. If Dave Matthews sticks to his acoustic
folk-rock roots in the future, as in Live at Luther College, then
diehard fans won’t be disappointed.
Sixpence None The Richer
*****by Leora Rothenberg
Most of you have probably heard of this band by name, but if you haven’t you most likely have heard their hit song “Kiss Me” which was the theme song for the teenage movie She’s All That. “Kiss Me” premiered at the #7 slot on the Billboard list, and has been a huge hit since then. But their self-titled album definitely has more tunes for you to listen and enjoy. Their refreshing style in music has a light-heartedness that could get you in the right mood for doing anything from dancing and running to singing or taking a nap. The lyrics are not nearly as corny as the majority of the music to which you are cruelly subjected to today. From rappers who don’t know how to get a hit song without ripping off a classic, to people who think that rhyming lyrics with alternative background music is music, America has been subjected to enough bad music, Sixpence really changes that. It has a nice light romantic rock that both sexes should appreciate. I would buy this album if you listen to rap, classical music, rock and roll, or pop. This type of music just lures fans in and keeps them there.
Unplugged
By Beau C. and Jared B. Everyone has seen or at least heard of the MTV program, “Unplugged.”
When big name musicians put down the electrics, turn off the distortion,
and bust out the acoustics. If you think that sounds good, you should have
heard the VP staff when they went unplugged. With their phat vibes and
hip sounds, they tore it up in H-4 like never before. With editor-in-chief
Brawner Alcorn showing off her distinctive sound, and Jared Baker getting
off with his lively flavor, the journalism class was transformed into an
all out jam session. The lone bass player, Declan Gould, who broke the
rules when she plugged in an amp, felt good about her session. Beau Cribbs,
with his bluesy guitar stylings and his carisma on the harmonica, ripped
up the line in the long lasting concert. If you think you’ve heard great,
if you think you’ve heard better, then come for a listen before you make
a final decision.
Violent Femmes Rock the House
by Declan G. “We are really glad to be here. I know you’re glad to be
here, but we are really, really glad to be here,” lead singer of the Violent
Femmes, Gordon Gano, humbly grinned as the trio made its long-awaited entrance
on stage. The band was so modest that after their delayed entrance,
it took a moment for the already weary audience to realize it was, finally,
the Violent Femmes. The audience welcomed the band with eager shrieks
and an impatient din that grew to a crescendo, echoing off the Robins Center
walls as half the audience clambered down the bleachers, a tidal wave of
college students and young couples, miraculously recessing directly in
front of the stage. Well, maybe not quite a tidal wave; but it certainly
should have been, considering this is one of the greatest real rock bands
still around and one of the best concerts to hit Richmond in quite some
time. At this point the Violent Femmes, a rock trio from Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, had already launched into their phenomenal concert, shooting
it off with “Out the Window” and the hilariously clever miniature number,
“Fat.”
The concert, which was on Friday, April 16 from 8-11:15 p.m.,
continued with such well known songs as “Blister in the Sun”and “American
Music”, a fun, genuine rock song proclaiming “I love American music. Do
you love American music?” “Blister in the Sun” really got the crowd
hopping, and their energy continued throughout the entire concert, not
to mention the band’s constant animation. Lead singer Gano’s facial
expressions were amazing, going from dejected to elated in five minutes.
The bass player was extraordinary, with riffs that not many others could
probably ever learn to play, and an aggressive style that is very rare
in today’s new music.
The topics addressed throughout the concert included songs about
mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer, sitting on the corner waiting for the bus
and of course, women troubles. The enthusiastic crowd sang along to such
songs as “Good Feelings”, a bluesy song highlighting the band’s more sensitive
side, as well as Gano’s likeness to Jonathan Richmond. “Prove My
Love,” a catchy, rhythmic number, was followed by songs including
“The Love is Gone”, in which the bassist banged on a xylophone, something
one very seldom sees at a rock concert. When the concert ended, seemingly
minutes after it began, the small crowd of only 1,500 found themselves
desperately protesting the band’s departure. Finally, the trio reappeared.
They performed one final, toe-tapping song, “Add It Up”, a hit number with
some awesome guitar riffs.
Music fans, you should be ashamed of yourselves for letting such
an amazing rock band play to so many empty seats. The Violent Femmes
put on a great show, with many clever surprises (the horns of dilemma,
etc.), just what we need in today’s dying genuine rock scene.
A Bug’s Life
*****by Jenny B.
A Bug’s Life is definitely a kid’s movie, like most of the other Disney films. I would recommend it to people in the five-to-twelve age span. A Bug’s Life was made on computers, which made it seem more life-like and well-done. The graphics were awesome and the sound effects were pretty good.
When I first got to the theater, I said, “ Yeah, right, this is a movie for my little sister.” I was really, really wrong. Not only were the graphics and sound effects great, but the voices were, too. This is a movie that I recommend everyone see.