Pensacola Is Changing, For Better Or Worse
By IN STAFF

There is a changing of the guard in Pensacola. Over the past four years, we lost many of our movers and shakers of the past century. Vince Whibbs Sr., Jack Fetterman, M.J. Menge and Leroy Boyd. Their successors—Buzz Ritchie, Mike Wiggins, Mort O’Sullivan and Jim Reeves—are being nudged by the 40- and 30-somethings.

The generation gap is widening not just in politics, but in all areas. The Old School is most definitely being challenged by the New School. Let’s see how the best of each matches up head-to-head.

ON THE JOB

Old School:  If you aren’t working for daddy, find a job at BellSouth, St. Regis, Monsanto or Armstrong.

New School: The most secure jobs are with the city or county. After that, shoot for Gulf Power or one of the hospitals. Avoid banks and real estate. Last resort is hospitality. It’s hell to be over-educated, over-worked and underpaid. Go ask our young professionals.

Advantage: duh, OLD SCHOOL

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS

Old School: St. Anne’s Roundup, First Night Pensacola, SpringFest, Pensacola Film Festival

New School: DeLuna Fest, Goombay, Barktoberfest

Advantage: OLD SCHOOL

AFTER WORK

Old School:  Happy Hour at Trader Jon’s, Copeland’s or Rum Runner

New School: Ladies Night at The Fish House Deck, Little Black Dress Night at 600 South, IN Martini Night at The Global Grill and Three Dolla’ Holla’ at Hopjacks

Advantage: NEW SCHOOL—It isn’t even close.

GET OUT OF TOWN

Old School: Greyhound bus or Amtrak train rides to New Orleans

New School: Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport has flights that can take you anywhere…once you get to Atlanta. If you book early, the cost is less than driving.

Advantage: NEW SCHOOL

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

Old School: Brownsville Revival

New School: Pace High School

Advantage:  TIE—We really aren’t the best judges for this one.

GOOD GOSSIP

Old School: Pat Lloyd, Liz Greenhut

New School: DeeDee Ritchie, Facebook friends

Advantage: NEW SCHOOL

BEACHIN’

Old School: Leave by 9 a.m. to beat the traffic and crowd to the beach and be home exhausted by noon, complaining about the sand. Avoid jellyfish.

New School: Hit the beach by noon with a bunch of friends. Drink, worship the sun, break out the Frisbee, drink some more, dance and drink at the same time, catch the Tequila sunrise. Avoid tarballs.

Advantage: NEW SCHOOL

CITY OF PENSACOLA “TO DO” LIST

Old School: Downtown library, Future of Port of Pensacola, Westside redevelopment, Pension costs

New School: Downtown library, Future of Port of Pensacola, Westside redevelopment, Pension costs

Advantage: NONE–At least, the downtown library will begin construction soon.

RETAIL THERAPY

OLD SCHOOL: Sarah’s, Ordon’s, Pensacola Blues, Adorn, Studio b, Liza’s, Gus’ Gifts

NEW SCHOOL: Scout, Lee Tracy’s, Don Alans, Pizzaz, Susan Campbell Jewelry

ADVANTAGE: NEW SCHOOL

BRIGHT IDEAS

Old School: Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency, Pensacola Civic Center, Interstate I-10 interchange, ECUA

New School: Pensacola Promise, Community Maritime Park, Relocate Main Street Sewage Plant, Technology Park

Advantage: NEW SCHOOL

SUNDAY FUNDAY

Old School: Go to Morrison’s Cafeteria after church and go home to watch the New Orleans Saints lose another game, 45-0. Watch “Wonderful World of Disney” and “Bonanzana” before you hit the sack.

New School: Go to early church service. Tune in to ESPN SportsCenter to get the latest on all the NFL games. Decide on your fantasy team line-up. Watch all the games at New York Nick’s, Miller’s Ale House, Will Call or Sidelines. See the Saints win and swear you will never play fantasy football again when your starting quarterback is knocked out on the second play of the game after head-butting his center.

Advantage: NEW SCHOOL

DIVERSITY

Old School: Integrating public schools

New School: Integrating business

community

Advantage: OLD SCHOOL—It has been easier to integrate the public school district than build the number of black-owned businesses in the area.

FINE DINING

Old School: Jamie’s, Skopelo’s, Driftwood, Eat!, Jubilee, Chan’s Gulfside, Frank Bennett’s

These were Pensacola’s fine dining experiences in the 1980s and 1990s.

New School: Jackson’s Steakhouse, The Global Grill, The Fish House

While the choices are fewer, the food and service are consistently excellent.

Advantage: OLD SCHOOL—simply based on wider selection.

MOOD MUSIC

Old School: Watch “Ed Sullivan” to see Elvis Presley or Costello, and The Beatles. If you stay up late on the weekend, you might catch The Doors or Rolling Stones on “The Midnight Special” or “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.”

New School: Go to YouTube, MySpace and Facebook to see any group perform. Download albums and videos to enjoy whenever you want.

Advantage: NEW SCHOOL

CITY HALL/COUNTY COMPLEX/

CHAMBER

Old School: Mike Wiggins, John Jerralds, P.C. Wu, Wilson Robertson, Marie Young, Mort O’Sullivan

New School: Megan Pratt, Larry Johnson, Jr., Maren DeWeese, Grover Robinson, IV, Kevin White, Gene Valentino, Collier Merrill

Advantage: TIE—too early to tell.
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