When guys hear the words “baby shower,” they picture a circle of woman sitting around oohing and ahhing over tiny outfits and rattles as they discuss labor tales.While they are not far from wrong, there have been some serious changes and modernizations in this type of gathering. More and more mothers- and fathers-to-be are throwing co-ed baby showers and creating parties that both of the expecting parents can enjoy. Planning a co-ed baby shower is easy and fun.

This co-ed baby shower party features Stewart's Fountain Classic sodas paired with a wedding almond cake with butter cream icing, and wedding almond cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes and red velvet cupcakes with butter cream icing by Oh Snap! Cupcakes and Gourmet Bakery. (Katie King/kking@pnj.com)

First things first. If you are planning a shower for a friend, talk to the mommy-to-be and see if she wants to make the shower co-ed. If she agrees, speak with her parents and make a guest list of couples and friends they want to invite. Once you know how many people to plan for, you can start working on the menu.

When planning the menu, be sure to find out what the expecting mother is craving. Make her happy by providing her favorites.

Since we are throwing a co-ed shower, don’t forget about dad. He is an important part of the mix. To ensure that he has a great time, man up the buffet a little with mini barbecue sliders and grilled hot dogs and brats!

It is not inappropriate to serve alcohol at a shower. The guests are coming bearing gifts and good wishes, and offering them champagne or wine is definitely appreciated. Some great spirits for a daytime shower would include mimosas or white wine spritzers. For the guys, you may pick up some fancy but manly imported beer. And for the mom-to-be, grab a few flavored sparkling sodas.

Now that you have a good idea about the food and drinks, you can start thinking about the games. For example, have couples stand side by side (boy on the left, girl on the right). Let them work together, each using only one arm, to dress a baby doll. They’ll be amazed how hard it is to dress the “baby.”

Another great game is “Don’t Drop the Baby,” using large water balloons. Everyone picks a partner and tosses the balloon back and forth. Last couple standing without dropping the balloon wins a prize. Games are a great way to interact with everyone at the party and are good icebreakers to help the men feel welcome.

Once the games are done, it is time for presents and cake. Most men may not care to see tiny onesies and dresses being passed around like delicate, fluffy bunnies. So to keep them entertained, designate a “man space,” providing an activity such as darts or cards, or just a place to relax and shoot the breeze.

The dad-to-be should be seated next his wife as the presents go around. He can help with keeping up with who gave what so that thank-you cards can be sent.

While the gifts are being passed, remind your guests of the great cupcake tower you picked up from Oh Snap! Cupcakes. This locally owned shop has many varieties.

When the shower is over, a few close girlfriends can stay behind and assist in putting away the gifts in the baby’s room. This will give the girls their girl time and help the mom by getting everything where it needs to be.

Great Southern Restaurant Group, 600 S. Barracks St. 433-9450, or visit www.goodgrits.com.

Trieste Kelly Dunn in a still from Brett Haley's movie "The New Year," which features several scenes at Cordova Lanes. (Special to the News Journal)

Brett Haley lives in Brooklyn, but when it came to making his breakout feature film, the Washington High School graduate — Class of 2001 — looked to more familiar turf.

“I wanted it to be a little bit of a love letter to my hometown,” said Haley, 27, who filmed much of “The New Year” at Cordova Lanes in Pensacola. “It’s fun to see the places you grew up in or still visit in a film. Besides, if I tried to shoot at a bowling alley in Brooklyn, I couldn’t shoot one day for $8,000.”

That $8,000 covered the entire budget for “The New Year,” which debuts locally today at Gulf Breeze Cinema 4 in Gulf Breeze.

It has been screened at more than a dozen national film festivals, and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Sarasota Film Festival in April — the first time the public saw the film.

“I didn’t even think it had a chance,” Haley said. “It was pretty overwhelming.”

Haley, who has been making movies since he was a preteen, said he also chose Pensacola to shoot his film because he knew he would receive support. Local actors worked for free. Establishments such as Cordova Lanes, the Fish House, Seville Quarter, Pensacola Beach and other local spots didn’t charge a fee for the use of their facilities.

The movie is about a girl who returns to her suburban Florida hometown to care for her ill father. She finds work in a bowling alley working behind the shoe counter, disillusioned about her life’s direction.

Haley, who is a graduate of the University of North Carolina’s School of the Arts, still has family and friends in the area, including his father and sister. He expects to see many local faces at today’s premiere.

In fact, a few folks from Cordova Lanes probably will see the film in theaters sometime during its weeklong run, even though Haley sent them copies of “The New Year” after it was completed.

“It definitely touched a nerve, since we’re in the bowling business and live that kind of life,” said Tim Shipman, marketing manager for Cordova Lanes. “It was a very interesting film and a good character study,”

Haley’s next film will be “Project X,” an adaptation of Jim Shepard’s novel about an eighth-grade misfit. Shooting will begin in August. “Project X” will be filmed in Los Angeles.

Clockwise from bottom left, Brett Haley, co-writer and director of the film "The New Year" with actors Carol Kahn Parker, Linda Lee McBride and Lance Brannon are shown at Cordova Lanes, where almost half the movie was shot. (Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com)

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

• Indiewire.com called the film a “note-perfect directorial debut,” despite Haley’s previous low-budget indie movies.

• The New York Times called it a “clear-eyed portrait of serious adulthood waiting to happen,” adding “Mr. Haley” and his cast “appear to have a fine future before them.”

WANT TO GO?

• WHAT: “The New Year,” a film by Brett Haley.

• WHEN: 1, 4 and 7 p.m. The film runs at least through Thursday.

• WHERE: Gulf Breeze Cinema 4, at the Village Live Oak Shopping Center on U.S. 98, Gulf Breeze. Details: www.thenewyearfilm.com.

The spice mix can be a hassle to drum up, and grocery and specialty stores can be quite proud of some of the spices, such as cardamom, so I make a big batch of the spice mix and store it in an airtight jar for later.

Chicken Tikka Masala

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large onion, thin-sliced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
2 ounces minced garlic
2 ounces fresh ginger root, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
1 tablespoon masala spice mix (see below)
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 (26-ounce) box diced tomatoes from Pomi
1 cup water (divided)
1/4 cup sherry
1 cup heavy cream
1 batch cooked basmati rice
Cilantro for garnish

For The Masala Spice Mix

1 tablespoon garam masala
1 tablespoon ground fennel
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon cardamom
4 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon clove
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon coffee powder
2 tablespoons minced ginger
3 tablespoons minced garlic
4 ounces hot water
2 cups yogurt
Juice of 1 lime

First, make the spice mix by stirring all the spices together with the ginger and garlic in a medium-size bowl. Add the hot water to make a paste. The hot water will bloom the spices and allow the flavors to meld more quickly. Add lime juice and yogurt. Mix thoroughly. Dunk chicken into marinade and coat well. Throw all this in the fridge for at least a few hours, or for as long as 36.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

For the sauce, sauté onion in oil over medium heat till onion begins to caramelize. Add garlic, ginger and jalapeño and sauté for a minute or so. Add spices and sauté for a minute more. Add half a cup of water and scrape into a mixer along with the Pomi tomatoes and paste. Blend until smooth, return to pot, and add another 1„2 cup of water and the sherry. Stirring frequently, cook till it thickens, and then add a cup of heavy cream and cook till this thickens also. The sauce doesn’t have a lot of heat. To add, I recommend pepper flakes, a touch of cayenne and some Sriracha hot sauce to give a range of flavors and hotness.

Roast marinated chicken on a nonstick baking pan for fifteen minutes. Yank out of the oven, slice into bite-size pieces, toss into the sauce and simmer for about 10 minutes. Ladle over rice, garnish with cilantro and fall to!

The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St., Pensacola. 470-0003, or visit www.goodgrits.com.

Natalie Stolfi, Development Director, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and Jean Pierre NDione, General Manager of The Fish House

We were so proud to attend the dedication of two new Habitat for Humanity homes that the restaurant sponsored in the greater Pensacola area. The homes are located on 1601 Gary Ave. and 1605 Gary Ave.

As a result of a long partnership with Habitat for Humanity, The Fish House received the National Restaurant Association’s prestigious Restaurant Neighbor Award for the state of Florida. This statewide award honors restaurants that go above and beyond in community service. The recognition is for its work with Pensacola Habitat for Humanity to build more homes and serve more families year after year. The Fish House employees, friends and family volunteer regularly, donating their time and talents in various ways. The restaurant has mobilized volunteers to serve more than 2,000 volunteer hours toward the construction of homes for low-income families. In addition, The Fish House shares its marketing talents and media exposure to spread awareness about Habitat. At home dedications, The Fish House team is always there, helping make the event special for the new homeowners and their families. The Gary Avenue homes were fitted with fire safety sprinklers through a partnership with Escambia County Fire Rescue and several sprinkler system contractors.

The King Family was unable to make the ceremony, but graciously sent us some thank-you drawings made by their children — which we loved very much.

Ms. Kimberly Purifoy owns the second house. Ms. Purifoy is truly a lovely woman. She and her mother posed for some pictures with our Jean Pierre. We asked Kimberly what it meant for her to have a new home. She told us that it meant everything in the world to her. She said if she wanted everyone to know that she was proof that blessings happen to those who are ready to receive them. She went on to say that people shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help, because lots of people in this world are waiting to help out people just like her. She said that she had waited to ask for help because she was afraid it would be too hard, but the truth was, it was easy — with just a little hard work and determination. We felt uplifted by her words, and so thankful that we were able to make a new friend.

We also attended and provided a nice spread for the gazebo dedication for the Summer Lakes Subdivision.  The City of Pensacola awarded a grant to Summer Lakes to add a gazebo as part of the City’s Community Initiatives Program.  The Community initiatives Program (PCIP) was founded in 1996 to provide eligible neighborhood organizations with matching funds for neighborhood projects that improve the quality of life for neighborhood residents.  The Mayor-elect Ashton Hayward, Council members Diane Mack and Larry Johnson attended the ceremony and ribbon cutting.  For more information on receiving a grant for your neighborhood visit the City of Pensacola’s website.

’Tis the season of giving, and we are so pleased that we were able to support the following worthy causes. We are adding them as hot links so you can check them out and lend a hand to them as well:  The United Way, Manna Pantry, Pensacola Motorcycle Society, The Links, The University of West Florida, Ht-28, Vt-86, Toys for Tots, Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Cancer Society, Visit Pensacola, and Visit Florida.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Last August, we had our first-ever Restaurant Week featuring exciting menus from our three restaurants.  It was so well received, and we had so much fun putting on the event, that we decided to do it again!

The Fish House, Jackson’s Steakhouse and Atlas Oyster House presents Winter Restaurant Week, January 25 – 29, 2011. In step with similar events in cities all around the country, Restaurant Week is a culinary celebration that offers residents and visitors alike world-class dining at a great value.

Chefs from each restaurant will prepare a three-course, fixed-price dinner menu utilizing the best in local and seasonal ingredients, showcasing their culinary expertise, for $33.00 per person, per restaurant. Diners are encouraged to try each special menu at all three restaurants during Restaurant Week.  Menus will be available at each restaurant Tuesday, January 25, through Saturday, January 29, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

“We created the GSRG Restaurant Week event to highlight Pensacola as a premier dining destination, providing an opportunity to enjoy a special menu from each of our restaurants,” said Collier Merrill, president of the Great Southern Restaurant Group (GSRG). “This will give everybody another occasion to enjoy a great evening in Downtown Pensacola.

VIEW ATLAS MENU
VIEW FISH HOUSE MENU
VIEW JACKSON’S MENU

By: Grits Girl

Trunk Monkey - Pensacola's hottest new band!

On December 10th, Pensacola’s hot new band, Trunk Monkey, will rock a free show on the Deck Bar at the Fish House. Trunk Monkey consists of: Mark Houston on bass, keyboards and vocals; Steve MacLeod on guitar, bass and vocals; Ken Wallace on guitar and vocals; and Scott Booker on drums and vocals. They are a high-energy band that plays songs that people want to dance to. I recently had a chance to sit down and ask the hard-hitting questions that you want the answers to.

GG: So, the obvious question is: Is that a monkey in your trunk or are you just happy to see us? Seriously though, what’s with the name? Why Trunk Monkey?
TM:  We are always happy to see the staff at the Fish House! And yes, that is a monkey in our trunk!

GG:  How did you guys come to form this band? Have you always been good friends or is this some high-powered marketing strategy conceived by a major music label?
TM:  Steve and I (Mark) have played in bands together since 1993. Scott and Steve have been playing in another band around town for over a year. Ken Wallace has been playing in bands around Pensacola for many years, too. I’ve wanted to play music with Ken for a long time. He is a world-class guitarist. We just decided we wanted to put something together; something different, with an edge. Our goal is to give the audience a fantastic show, not background music!

GG:  What does rock ’n’ roll mean to you?
TM:  It means I have to stay up late on the weekends! Seriously, music has been a part of my life since the age of seven. All of the musicians in the band have been playing for a long time. Music is the universal language. It can evoke a plethora of emotions. Whether it’s rock ’n’ roll, blues, jazz, classical or anything, it means something different to every person. Rock ’n’ roll has a deep soul. I think it is synonymous with having fun! It’s like an escape from reality.

GG:  What type of music does Trunk Monkey love to play?
TM:  We love rock music with an edge. Chili Peppers, Eve 6, Everclear, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Tom Petty, Franz Ferdinand, Cage the Elephant, Aerosmith, and the list goes on and on!

GG:  What’s your favorite thing to eat at The Fish House?
TM:  Grits à Ya Ya, of course.

GG:  What’s on your band’s rider?
TM:  Peanut M&M’s — but only blue ones.

GG:  What’s the last article you have read?
TM:  How to build a deck.

GG:  What’s your favorite song lyric?
TM:  She thinks I can’t see the smile that she’s fakin’ and poses for pictures that aren’t being taken.

GG:  Just to keep the PETA people informed, will there be a live monkey forced to sing or dance on stage at any time during your performance?
TM:  Only the four Monkeys who are a part of the band.

Check out Trunk Monkey live on the Deck bar December 10th.  The show starts at 9:00 p.m.