The Pulse 15.06 » February 8, 2018

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

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VOL. 15, NO. 6 • FEBRUARY 8, 2018

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A SHINING LIGHT GOES OUT IN THE WORLD

It is with a very heavy heart that I write this memorial this week. For a shining light has gone out in the world, and we are forever diminished by its absence.

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LIVING IN YET ANOTHER DYSTOPIAN FUTURE

With the return of Star Trek and The X-Files to television, 2018 is looking to be a good year for science fiction.

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IT'S AS ELEMENTARY AS ELEMENO PEA

“We [the Theatre Department at UTC] have really made a concerted effort to give voice to plays and playwrights whose voices are not heard enough.

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GENKI GENKI PANIC ROCK IT OLD SCHOOL

We’re not quite six weeks in to 2018 and I’ve already found the first MUST HAVE package of the year. This Saturday, Genki Genki Panic is hosting a special release party at J.J.’s Bohemia.

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Love Off The Beaten Path Love is in the air as Saint Valentine’s Day inches nearer and nearer.

With so many individual ideas, thoughts, and feelings that surround the occasion, the day is often subjected to ridicule and debate, and is widely believed to be a manufactured Hallmark Holiday.

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BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

A Light Goes Out In The World Jim Brewer II was more than a businessman, he was an inspiration

By Gary Poole

Pulse Managing Editor

BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Adam Beckett • Rob Brezsny Matt Jones • Sandra Kurtz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Stephanie Smith • Alex Teach Michael Thomas Editorial Interns Adrienne Kaufmann • Austin M. Hooks Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin

Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Rick Leavell Libby Phillips • John Rodriguez Danielle Swindell • Logan Vandergriff

CONTACT

Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue.

The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

Contents Copyright © 2018 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

I

T IS WITH A VERY HEAVY HEART that I write this memorial this week. For a shining light has gone out in the world, and we are forever diminished by its absence.

James Lee Brewer II, known to his many (many) friends simply as Jim, lost his twelve year battle with oral cancer last week, a battle he fought with grace, dignity and an amazing spirit of will (and a good deal of humor) through thick and thin.

Ten years ago, while having lunch with Jim, he mentioned that he was thinking of buying The Pulse. Knowing that I had been a writer for the paper and had a background in print, he picked my brain about the paper, its purpose, and its place in the community.

He saw a need to keep our voice going, and as a longtime lover and supporter of the city, understood how important it was to keep shining a light on the tremendous talent and people that make Chattanooga special.

The fact that he was one of those people never once seemed to occur to him, but that was part of what made Jim special. He was a tireless cheerleader for the city, supporting worthy causes both large and small, and always looking for ways to help the city grow through both philanthropy and business.

Once he made the decision, he moved quickly. And in the ten years since he brought The Pulse into the Brewer Media family, he became not just our publisher, but one of our biggest fans.

His passing was sudden, and everyone who knew him is still trying to come to grips with our loss. I could write countless words about the many wonderful things he did for people over the years, the many lives he touched, the organizations and chari-

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“He loved challenges, he worked tirelessly for his people, his family, and his business, and he lived each day with both grace and energy.” ties he championed, and the many ways he worked both in public and behind the scenes to make Chattanooga a better place.

But instead, I want to share a simple story.

Several years ago, I invited Jim and a number of friends over to my house for a backyard cookout. Jim was well known for his love of the grill, and he eagerly accepted the invitation.

Unfortunately, while slicing onions, I slipped and cut off the tip of my thumb, to the extent that I needed to go to the emergency room right then, leaving Jim (who had shown up early to help, naturally) to keep things going.

Which he did, greeting my guests with humor, finishing the prep work, getting the grill going, and having everything ready for when I got back a few hours later from the

hospital.

As I write this, I keep thinking of Jim standing over a smoky grill, tongs in hand, gently teasing me about my lack of knife skills. He was in his happy place, in front of a grill, surrounded by friends both new and old.

Jim was my boss, my friend, and my inspiration. He came to work every day brimming with new ideas.

He loved challenges, he worked tirelessly for his people, his family, and his business, and he lived each day with both grace and energy.

He fought cancer for a dozen years, and in that time I never saw his despair. And when it came time to go, he left this world with grace, surrounded by those he loved.

All I know is that if Heaven has a grill, Jim is in front of it now, telling jokes, wreathed in smoke, and waiting for all of us to join him.

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

Developing A Brighter Path Forward In 1999, an engineering student named Ryan Gravel had an idea: take a former railway corridor that wraps around the city of Atlanta, and turn it into a multi-use trail. This idea launched the multi-milliondollar BeltLine, a project that seeks to increase transportation options, add city green space, and spur growth.

Almost twenty years later, the BeltLine is in the early stages of development and is already changing the landscape, both physical and cultural, of Georgia’s biggest city.

Now a famous urban planner

and the recipient of many awards, Gravel has released a book called “Where We Want to Live”, which “investigates the cultural side of infrastructure, describing how its inti-

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

mate relationship with our way of life can illuminate a brighter path forward for cities.”

As members of another rapidly developing and changing city, Chattanoogans have much to learn from visionaries like Gravel. This week, they have a special opportunity to do so. On Thursday, the Chattanooga Design Center is hosting Gravel as part of their quarterly lecture series.

This event is sure to make Chattanoogans think deeply about what they want for their city, its inhabitants, and its future.

— Adrienne Kaufman

“I believe in the kind of love that doesn’t demand me to prove my worth and sit in anxiety. I crave a natural connection, where my soul is able to recognize a feeling of home in another. Something free-flowing, something simple.

Something that allows me to be me without question…”

— Joey Palermo Our true home is inside, but it’s also in our loved ones around us.

When you’re in a loving relationship, you and the other person can be a true home for each other. In Vietnamese, the nickname for a person’s life partner is “my home.”

Engaging in the process of relationship discovery includes attracting and connecting with those people who, all the usual compromises notwithstanding, allow you to be just who you are, and indeed support and celebrate that! The ones who don’t, we learn, will zig when we zag.

Consider this: Sure, we may have to kiss a few frogs. Then, when we’re ready, “home” will appear.

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

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SHADES OF GREEN

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MUSIC CALENDAR

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NEW IN THEATERS

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MUSIC REVIEWS

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DINING OUT

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THE LIST

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ARTS CALENDAR

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

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THE COMIX

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JONESIN' CROSSWORD

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ART OF BUSINESS

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ON THE BEAT

Adam Beckett has been writing professionally for over a decade throughout the Southeast and has produced many articles that have been featured on major news networks, online sites, magazines and newspapers.

Stephanie Smith is a Renaissance woman who has written stories, educated children, acted characters, sung songs, danced swing, cooked original culinary creations, and made people laugh with her ability to put her foot in her mouth.

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COLUMN ∙ SHADES OF GREEN

The Bird Is The Word Birds have an intrinsic and planetary value. Plus they‘re pretty.

Sandra Kurtz

Pulse columnist

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AVE YOU HEARD? IT’S THE YEAR of the bird! In honor of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, National Audubon Society, National Geographic, BirdLife International, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and other partners have launched a yearlong celebration of birds.

In 1918, the United States and Great Britain for Canada entered into an agreement making it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations. This is one of the first U.S. conservation laws ever authorized.

In 1938, Mexico signed on as well.

The MBTA is an important tool. For example, it’s illegal to possess an Eagle feather without a permit for religious purposes.

Thanks MBTA. When the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred killing many birds, Exxon was fined. Thanks MBTA. This act has effectively protected songbirds for 100 years.

Presently a relaxing of enforcement interpretation will allow more bird deaths. For example, industry will be excused from putting protective netting over toxic ponds now causing so-called incidental bird deaths.

Also the Arctic Wildlife Refuge has been approved for oil and gas drilling. More than 200 bird species depend on that land.

As weather warms, spring migration has begun. Our area sits on the Eastern flyway.

Sandhill Cranes have arrived in Birchwood. A Brainerd Levee walk yields views of migrating waterfowl plus some that just think Tennessee is the place to be all year round.

Songbirds show up in their colorful spring plumage. We hear cheery songs as they vie for mates and establish territory. Robins have become subdivision lovers as lawns provide earthworms opportunities.

My granddaughter once asked me while she was helping fill birdfeeders, “Why do you like birds so much?” I answered, “Because it’s a wild thing that you can get to come to you.”

But more than that, birds are indicators of planet health. And they are incredulous marvels of life. A ruby-throated hummingbird, the weight of a nickel, can hover, fly backwards, and make an annual round trip over the Gulf of Mexico to Central America.

The Carolina Wren, 5.5 inches long and weighing in at 1 ounce, produces an amazingly loud sound. The white-breasted nuthatch perches upside down on a tree trunk hacking on seeds it has lodged in bark crevices.

Broadwing Hawks catch thermals along Walden’s Ridge. During migrations one can see warblers and other birds just passing through.

We now find that birds are smart too. Recently PBS aired National Geographic ‘s “Bird Brain”. Research shows that while birds obviously have smaller brains than humans, their neurons are packed

more closely together.

Just as psychologist Jean Piaget identified levels at which children learn behaviors, we find that birds too can delay gratification, respond to eye signals, transfer knowledge, recognize individual faces, have empathy, plan ahead, cooperate in social groups, and solve complex problems. Who knew? Calling someone a birdbrain is a compliment.

Birds do matter. Protect them from threats primarily cats. Collisions with buildings such as UTC’s library glass wall, pesticide exposure, and loss of habitat due to urban sprawl and fragmentation present dangers too.

Set up birdfeeding. Look for birds wherever you venture even if you don’t know their names.

Take up birdwatching. Contribute to bird research by participating in the Audubon Society’s Great

Backyard Bird Count February 1619 for 15 minutes each day. Learn how at the website.

Join the local Tennessee Ornithological Society. Attend their Spring Symposium workshops and walks coming up April 20-22. The evening dinner speaker on April 21 is Dr. Christopher Haney well known for his Defenders of Wildlife blog.

Let’s celebrate birds every year!

They can entertain and teach us.

As a dead canary signaled coal mine danger, so too birds tell us in which ways life is changing and whether it’s exuberant or losing its complexity and sustainability. It’s good to pay attention.

Sandra Kurtz is an environmental community activist, chair of the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance, and is presently working through the Urban Century Institute. You can visit her website to learn more at enviroedu.net

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COVER STORY

Love Off The Beaten Path Make this Valentine's Day something special and memorable

By Kevin Hale

Pulse contributor

L

OVE IS IN THE AIR AS SAINT VALENTINE’S DAY inches nearer and nearer. With so many individual ideas, thoughts, and feelings that surround the occasion, the day is often subjected to ridicule and debate, and is widely believed to be a manufactured Hallmark Holiday.

While it is true that an estimated one billion cards are given and received annually on February 14th to celebrate the holiday, it shouldn’t matter.

Life can get busy for everybody, and it undoubtedly should never be an obligation to express the love that is inside of them for another person, the opportunity should merely be seized.

Frequency, energy, and wavelengths all combine to connect the universe and everything in it. No matter what the individual thoughts or feelings of the masses about Valentine’s Day are, one thing is for certain, the thoughts and feelings about it are there. With everybody having love on the brain, or in their heart, a certain signal is getting sent out: the frequency of love.

Nobody should be compelled to show love. They should just ride the waves and take time out of their ever so “busy” lives to feel the love that is in the atmosphere; and not simply feel forced to go through the motion.

According to the History Channel, there are several belief systems in tact that mysteriously swirl around the origin of Saint Valentine. Legend has it that Valentine was a Catholic Priest who served during the third century in Rome. During that time frame, “the Emperor, Claudius

II, decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.”

The history of Saint Valentine’s Day dates the end of the fifth century, when Pope Gelasius declared that February 14th be celebrated as a day to honor love and the martyred Saint Valentine.

During the Middle Ages it was commonly believed that February 14th was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which sparked the idea that the middle of February, Saint Valentine’s Day, should be spent romantically.

Traditionally, those that do agree to go through the motions cop-out, and a do the “dinner and a movie” thing to accommodate their significant other’s Valentine wishes. There are, however, many more options and things that people can do to celebrate love.

Love is courageous, adventurous, exciting, bitter, sweet, and everything in between. Break the mold, do something off of the beaten path, find something special to do with that person, to re-

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member what it was in the first place that united you. And to help out, here are a few suggestions.

TAKE A ROMANTIC HIKE Chattanooga is known for its glorious trails with endless views and wonders. Trail guide maps are readily available to locate the many different trails. The difficulty is normally marked between Intermediate and Difficult, so you could find one that suits your physical abilities, pack a picnic basket, and spend some potentially magical quality time with your lover.

Signal and Lookout Mountains are both good starting places to look for trail destinations, but there are many in between. Some of the local trails lead to awesome waterfalls (Middle Creek near the bottom of Signal Mountain is highly recommended), so perhaps venturing to one of those would be the move.

“LOVE THYSELF” YIN-YOGA WITH ESSENTIAL OIL, CHOCOLATE, AND WINE Something different for couples to experience together would be to attend “Love Thyself” Yin-Yoga with Essential Oil, Chocolate, and Wine, hosted at Southern Soul Yoga in downtown Chattanooga.

According to their website, couples or individuals can “Soothe the soul and awaken senses in this Yin Yoga Class suitable for all levels (no experience necessary). Essential Oils will be applied topically throughout this class for you to inhale or place on different parts of the body.

Through aromatherapy we awaken the senses, are transcended to past events and memories, and soothe and heal the body. Following your one-hour Yin Class you will be able to relax and enjoy wine and chocolate with your sweetheart or with the

COVER STORY ence on board a restored 1924 dining car. The excursion trains depart from Chattanooga’s Grand Junction Station at 5:30 p.m. and again at 8 p.m.

The train travels at a leisurely pace through portions of urban Chattanooga, passing Warner Park Zoo and Chattanooga National Cemetery. There are many food options to choose from, and available upgrades.

If going out for dinner is an option, you might as well do it somewhere fancy like on a train. It certainly is not a cookie cutter way to take on Valentine’s Day. For more information, please visit tvrail.com.

community as a whole.”

The event is scheduled on February 14th from 4 to 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit southernsoulyoga. com. Just note that you have the option to forgo oils if you are scent sensitive.

ESCAPE CHATTANOOGA While there is not a set Valentine’s day theme to speak of at this adventure, it still would be a very cool activity to do with your person. Solve the mystery of the Inheritance room where “as a contingency plan for his death, your late uncle left hidden clues and instructions in his will for you to find and carry out.” The Inheritance is a clue-like escape room that is part mystery and part mission. Arguably Chattanooga’s most challenging escape room, the details of this experience remain suspiciously vague.

Or you could attempt to save the world from a global pandemic in the post-apocalyptic virus infested escape room (if you dare), in the Vaccine: Search for the Cure Room. For more information, visit escapeexperience. com.

NUDE MODEL DRAWING CLASSES AT THE LIT ART GALLERY The beginner to mid-career artists seeking critical thinking, discussion, and a creative space to engage with their local community of artists.

This a is a great opportunity to break the mold of traditional dates and do something creative and purposeful.

Watch your Valentine come to life as they express their creative selves at this lively art class. For more information, visit their website at litartgallery.com COUPLES MASSAGE WORKSHOP AT STUDIO 59 AVEDA SALON AND SPA This is the Valentine’s Day experience that keeps giving all year as couples learn how to pamper their Valentine by learning the art of massage

“Break the mold, do something off of the beaten path, find something special to do with that person, to remember what it was in the first place that united you.” from a licensed massage therapist.

Megan Stone, will be teaching participants how to perform a therapeutic massage that can ease stress and tension while drawing the two together and deepening their connection through touch. For more information, visit the website at studio59salonspa. com.

ROCK CITY Rock City is a truly spectacular place, and often overlooked by locals. It really is the perfect place to spend with a Valentine. You could spend Valentine's on Lover’s Leap, as part of their Valentine Package, but that is just one part of the glorious grounds. The scenery is unmatched, and it definitely falls under the take a hike category as well, because there is lots to explore.

The Valentine’s Day Package includes admission for two, a slice of special Valentines fudge, two glasses of sparkling wine or cider, and a souvenir photo. Once couples complete the Lovers Leap part of Rock City, they

still have ample things to do. This destination is highly recommended for a place to go feel the love. For more information, visit their website at seerockcity.com ROMANCE AT RUBY FALLS The romantic Valentine’s Day event is a lantern tour of the cave and waterfall. Hear the love story of Leo Lambert, who discovered and named the falls, and named it after his wife, Ruby. Also experience the view from the Lookout Mountain Tower.

While some may think of Ruby Falls as a “tourist trap”, it most certainly isn’t. In fact, it is an incredible place.

Trust me, this place is worth the visit, especially on Valentine’s Day with your special Valentine. For more information, visit their website at rubyfalls.com TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER Take a trip aboard one of the Tennessee Valley’s dinner trains. Trips include a four-course fine dining experi-

There really is no right or wrong answer about what to do on Valentine’s Day with your partner, but hopefully this will help to give you some out of the box activities for ideas. Other off the beaten path things to do would be to rent bikes from bike Chattanooga at one of the many rental locations around downtown and go explore Chattanooga’s hidden fine art. Or try Geocaching, it is loads of fun. Just bring some trinkets to swap in case of successful box discovery. There are multiple apps to download that lets anybody feeling adventurous just jump in and play.

Couples could find a local dance spot that offers training lessons for different dance styles, and learn to Tango, Salsa, or Swing Dance. There are multiple options available at places all over the city. Both individuals in various sets of couples all over Chattanooga would probably be perfectly content with some flowers, card, and chocolate, or dinner and a movie, so don’t stress about it too much.

Although I will say that if they were happy with the cookie cutter Valentine’s Day meh, then imagine how cool you would look if you took charge, and decided to take them to something different this year. Single people, better luck next year, don’t be sad, own it. Do whatever you want. Carpe diem.

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FILM & TELEVISION

Living In Yet Another Dystopian Future Netlix looks to a darker future in Altered Carbon

Valentine's Day With Some Teeth After a short absence, the Palace Picture House is back with a new name, The Palace Theater, and a truly unique Valentine’s Day event.

The Bad Romance: Anti-Valentines Launch Party kicks off next Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the grand opening of the Bazar Odd-itorium. The art gallery is inspired by the concept of a Bazaar, by showcasing mostly femaleidentifying artists from all over the Southeast, facilitating community arts engagement and education, and exploring different forms of curation.

That evening, starting at 7 p.m., musician Lori Button will perform as well as offering tarot and palm readings.

Then at 9:30 p.m., sit back with your date and enjoy a truly odd choice for a Valentine’s Day film, TEETH. Dawn (Jess Weixler) is an active member of her highschool chastity club but, when she meets Tobey (Hale Appleman), nature takes its course, and the pair answer the call. They suddenly learn she is a living example of the vagina dentata myth, when the encounter takes a grisly turn.

Following the screening, there will be a sneak peek at upcoming comedy shows in the bar and the gallery.

Come meet the love of your life or party with fellow lonely hearts. Who said Valentine’s Day had to be normal? Certainly not us. — Michael Thomas Bad Romance: Anti-Valentines Launch Party Wednesday, 11 a.m. - Midnight The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 www.chattpalace.co 10 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

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ITH THE RETURN OF STAR TREK and The X-Files to television, 2018 is looking to be a good year for science fiction. On the big screen, we’ll soon see Natalie Portman in Annihilation and Spielberg’s Ready Player One (with a sure to be underwhelming Solo: A Star Wars Story in between) and hopefully a few smaller films and shows to engage the mind in thoughts of the future and the possibilities held there.

On Amazon, there’s Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams. Hulu will bring back The Handmaid’s Tale in April, although it’s less sci-fi and more dystopian nightmare. Netflix has combined the two in the most recent season of Black Mirror, a show that’s sure ruin your day more often than not.

This week, though, Netflix has released another

original sci-fi show, one that’s more stylized and less preachy. It’s not so much a warning as a reasonable assertion, assuming the technology featured in the show is ever realized.

Altered Carbon is at its heart a detective drama, a whodunit set on a future Earth that isn’t as far off as it seems. The themes presented aren’t especially challenging or thought-provoking, as the show wears its philosophy on its sleeve. But it’s slick and beautiful, thoroughly detailed, and entertaining for the most part. It’s hard to ask much more In the future, man has the technology to live forever. Through what are known as “stacks,” the essence of what makes a person human can be stored forever. These stacks are housed in the spinal column at the base of the neck, in an extra vertebrae that is connected to the body.

Everything a person is and ever was is found in this small disk. As a result, bodies have become disposable. So long as the stack isn’t destroyed,

FILM & TELEVISION

“The themes presented aren’t especially challenging or thought-provoking, as the show wears its philosophy on its sleeve. But it’s slick and beautiful, thoroughly detailed, and entertaining for the most part.” someone can live on indefinitely, cycling through an endless host of “sleeves” or bodies.

Gender and age are no longer a factor—grandma might live inside the former body of a tattooed ex-con or a sevenyear-old girl who suffers an accident can be dropped into whatever body is available at the time.

This, of course, leads to an easily defined class system, with the Meths (short for Methuselahs) at the top. The Meths are the super-rich, the endless, people literally live forever by constantly backing up their stacks and having an unlimited supply of cloned bodies at their disposal.

The show itself is about a man out of time, an elite soldier from another era, who was placed in stasis for 250 years.

He is “respun” into a new body to help one of the world’s richest men solve his own murder.

While the show seems complex,

with a dizzying mythology all its own, the story is straightforward enough to keep the audience from becoming confused.

For Altered Carbon to succeed, this world needs to feel real. It needs to be lived in. For the most part, it is. Obviously, the show borrows heavily from the Blade Runner universe.

At first glance, the cities we see are almost indistinguishable from Ridley Scott’s dystopian Los Angeles. But the more you watch, the more the Altered Carbon world feels unique.

There’s nothing unique about the story itself, or the characters, or the themes behind them. Rampant capitalism is bad and humans are naturally violent and depraved. Ho-hum.

We’ve all been here before.

But given the hurdles needed to understand the world of Altered Carbon, simplicity in story is necessary.

Once the world is established, once the forces at play

are explained, the series will have more room to breathe.

Hopefully, future seasons will show more nuance and stronger writing.

There’s not much to be said for the acting in the series. It’s competent enough to tell the story, doesn’t devolve into soap opera territory, and generally hit all the high notes.

As I said, these aren’t the most complex of characters.

But given the nature of the show, casting is wide open.

If the show is successful, the showrunners won’t be limited to that one guy from The Killing and might potentially reach out for better names.

At any rate, Altered Carbon is a decent binge watch with a significant amount of potential for future seasons, provided the writers are allowed to reach beyond the surface.

Hopefully, there will be a sophomore season that really opens up the possibilities.

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

Fifty Shades Freed Anastasia and Christian get married, but Jack Hyde continues to threaten their relationship.

Director: James Foley Stars: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Arielle Kebbel, Kim Basinger

The 15:17 to Paris Three Americans discover a terrorist plot aboard a train while in France.

Director: Clint Eastwood Stars: Jenna Fischer, Judy Greer, Thomas Lennon, Lillian Solange Beaudoin

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FOOD & DRINK ∙ DINING OUT

Staying Fresh At The Acropolis Chattanooga's long-established Mediterranean eatery continues to innovate

By Brooke Brown

Pulse Assistant Editor

B

ecoming a staple of Chattanooga’s restaurant scene isn’t an easy feat with such stiff competition, but remaining a staple after twenty-three years is an accomplishment few can claim.

Our very own taste of the Mediterranean, The Acropolis has been serving fresh, flavorful dishes, craft cocktails and mouthwatering desserts for more than two decades and haven’t missed a beat yet.

“We underwent a large remodel four years ago and did a relaunch,” says owner Nick Kyriakidis. “We kept some traditional items, but also added a lot of new dishes.”

The Acropolis’ menu ranges from traditionally Greek dishes and desserts like the always delicious baklava, to not-sotraditionally-Greek items like their Greek Nachos, made with house chips and baked with feta, mozzarella, shaved gyro meat, red onion, Kalamata olives, and finished with shredded lettuce, tzatziki sauce, basil pesto, and tomato cucumber relish. If it’s possible to describe a dish as hearty as well as light and fresh, it would be the Greek nachos.

Their style is more than just Greek, it encompasses the flavors of Mediterranean meals as a whole. The Acropolis puts forth classic yet savory Mediterranean dishes you simply won’t find anywhere else in Chattanooga like their Stuffed Grape Leaves,

Acropolis Mediterranean Grill 2213 Hamilton Place Blvd.

(423) 899-5341 www.acropolisgrill.com

stuffed with seasoned ground sirloin, rice and avgolemono (lemon egg sauce).

Their physical remodel has perfected The Acropolis into our own little slice of Santorini with its whitewashed walls and clean, simple atmosphere. It’s the perfect place for a romantic Valentine’s dinner; and with The Acropolis extending Valentine’s Day into Valentine’s Week, those of you who won’t have the opportunity to go out on Wednesday evening can experience a perfect Valentine’s dinner the weekend before the holiday or the weekend after.

Pair your meal with one of The Acropolis’ amazing selections of cocktails, wines, and beer. Try a classic Acropolis cocktail like the Acropolis mule made with Purity vodka, house ginger spiced syrup, ginger beer, lime and mint. Maybe something a little fruity is more your style? A wine cocktail sounds like it would do the trick. Try a sparkling strawberry float or a house made sangria.

Or if you’re more of a dessert cocktail connoisseur, a Millionaire’s Coffee Martini made with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua coffee, Grand Marnier and Frangelico sounds like the sweetest end to a delicious meal.

A meal is never finished without dessert, and certainly not on Valentine’s Day. The Acropolis offers a range of desserts like Key Lime, Peanut Butter Silk and Chocolate Lover’s as well as delectable, sweet

“Those of you who won’t have the opportunity to go out on Wednesday evening can experience a perfect Valentine’s dinner the weekend before the holiday or the weekend after.” cream filled cannolis, baklava cheesecake, and custard eclairs.

The price for each dessert is so affordable you may be tempted to get one of each for the table to share (and we wouldn’t judge you a bit.)

With spring just around the corner, so is patio dining. It’s a relaxed atmosphere that will have the food, drinks, and dessert flowing long into those cool, spring evenings. Known as piazzas, terraces, and verandas in varying European languages, patio dining is an in-

herently European thing to do.

“Al fresco dining is very relaxed,” says Kyriakidis. “It’s a time to just enjoy your meal, and enjoy the company you keep.” It’s a breath of fresh air to enjoy a meal as the sun sets, or under the evening stars.

The Acropolis is still standing tall after twenty-three years of unwavering service and excellence. See for yourself why they are still one of Chattanooga’s favorite restaurants and the only place to find a little bit of the Mediterranean this side of the world.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

It's As Elementary As Elemeno Pea Molly Smith Metzler's intriguing play comes to UTC

Finding The Beauty In The Human Body If you’re into the Chattanooga arts scene, you’ve probably heard about LIT Gallery. Though the gallery is nestled in a corner of St. Elmo instead of the more heavily visited downtown area, some of Chattanooga’s most vibrant, exciting exhibits can be found here.

Owners and working artists Leah Dalton and Adam Kirby have big expectations for Chattanooga, which they believe can be “the next big arts city.” When it comes to LIT, their purpose is simple: providing a space where “anything could happen.”

This Saturday, LIT will open its doors for the gallery’s first exhibition of 2018, “Body,” featuring over ten artists nationally, including Ronald Gonzalez, Andre Rubin, Elaine Quave, Jordan McGirk, Cara Lee Wade, Ruth Pearl, Rosemary Meza, Katie Schwehr, Allison Benincase, and Bryce Speed. The works have been curated to display the ways the various artists “represent their dialogue and exploration of the human body through art.”

The opening night is not to be missed, as patrons can view the new exhibit with live music, wine, and food included. “Bodies” is sure to be an exciting event, showcasing the bold, contemporary art LIT is known for.

— Adrienne Kaufmann Body Exhibition Saturday, 6 p.m.

LIT Gallery 4015 Tennessee Ave. (423) 401-8171 www.litartgallery.com 14 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Stephanie Smith Pulse contributor

“W

E [THE THEATRE DEPARTMENT at UTC] have really made a concerted effort to give voice to plays and playwrights whose voices are not heard enough. Like women playwrights and actresses. To [give audiences a chance to] respond to the journey of a woman whose force is driving the story,” says director Gaye Jeffers.

Thus the story of “Elemeno Pea” by Molly Smith Metzler was selected for the 2017-2018 season.

The story centers around sisters Devon and Simone and what happens when their two very different worlds collide on a sisters’ weekend at Simone’s employer’s house. What Jeffers thinks the play is really about though is “three wonderfully complex women that are really asking us to listen

to choices and stories and reserve judgment until we’ve heard the end of the play.”

The play asks the audience to find some sort of empathy for all sorts of stereotypical people they think they know about. “As the play goes along, we realize we don’t know them at all,” says Jeffers. “[The play is about] the power of really trying to listen to people as human beings and put judgment on hold. Also, I just love stories about women that are beautifully complex - which we don’t hear enough about but are hearing more about lately. I love that we hear that, see that, feel that.”

“Elemeno Pea” was originally written in 2011 and published in an anthology of Humana Festival Plays at The Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. When Jeffers was working on preparations for “Elemeno Pea”, the play had just been produced in November 2017 in Boston and she read the reviews.

It turns out the playwright had made major revi-

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Three wonderfully complex women that are really asking us to listen to choices and stories and reserve judgment until we’ve heard the end of the play.” sions to the script. So of course Jeffers wanted to see them. She reached out and found Molly Smith Metzler on Facebook and asked to see the revisions. The playwright graciously allowed UTC to see the revised script.

This was an unplanned but obviously added bonus to the director and cast’s preparations. “[Metzler had] revisited the relationship of the sisters and gave new meaning to the title,” explains Jeffers. “We knew more about people and understood more about the choices that are made in the play. It’s always interesting when you get to see a playwright’s process and our students were able to see those shifts. It really added things for me and them. It was kind of like working on a play that was a new play. We are extremely grateful to the playwright for allowing us to do the revisions.”

Metzler also writes a lot for television and film, shows such as Orange is the New Black and Shameless. Jeffers thinks

her students need to see the value of working in all different types of entertainment.

She thinks the students need to know that people have different talents and can translate them in whatever medium is needed.

“We had a playwright come in a few years ago that said that sometimes when you have an idea or a story it can sometimes be poetic or a novel or a film.

You need to have an understanding of each of those and what they bring to each audience.” Jeffers continues, “It’s a good thing to know about yourself as an artist.”

Jeffers loves that this play has never been produced in Chattanooga and that audiences will get to see the story play out with her students.

“It is really enriching [to work with college students] in that you’re kind of preparing them to accept vital questions that are part of the world,” she explains. “As they become educated about stories and stories that you want to leave with your

audience, it helps them to take in the idea of sharing. We’re training them to have an artist mind—they need to know themselves and how they respond to and process big questions. It empowers students when they are grappling with truly vital characters who are wonderfully complex.”

UTC Theatre Co. presents “Elemeno Pea” in the Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre located in the UTC Fine Arts Center.

The play runs February 13-17 at 7:30 pm, with an additional matinee at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 17th.

Tickets can be purchased at the UTC Fine Arts Center box office in person or by phone at (423) 425-4269, or by visiting www.utc.edu/theatre-speech/ productions.

Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for students (with proof of student ID) and seniors.

Audiences should be aware that “Elemeno Pea” contains adult language and content.

THU2.8 Young Professionals Afterhours

Eat, drink, and mingle with fellow young professionals in a great way to network with the rising stars of business.

5:30 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott 200 Chestnut St. ypchattanooga.com

FRI2.9 Mardi Gras Gala

Cajun-inspired fare, cocktails, Dixieland Jazz by the Ralph Miller Quartet, late-evening DJ & dance party, and lots of New Orleans-style fun.

7 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org

SAT2.10 Love Letters

A romantic comedy starring award-winning actress Mimi Kennedy and CSO Music Director Emeritus Bob Bernhardt.

7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. theatrecentre.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Bikepacking 101

THURSDAY2.8 Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Nursery 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion: I Am A Innocent Man 3 p.m.

UTC Library 600 Douglas St. edjohnsonproject.com Signal Mountain Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Pruett’s Market 1210 Taft Hwy. (423) 902-8023 signalmountainfarmersmarket.com Ryan Gravel Lecture: Where We Want to Live 5:30 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 702-8081 thecamphouse.com Young Professionals Afterhours 5:30 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott 200 Chestnut St. ypchattanooga.com Terrariums: A Whole Garden Contained 5:30 p.m.

Bees on a Bicycle 1909 Market St. (703) 225-9686 beesonabicycle.com

16 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Bikepacking 101 6 p.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Poetry is LIT 7 p.m.

LIT Gallery 4015 Tennessee Ave. (423) 401-8171 litartgallery.com Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair a Styles 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Mutzie 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch

1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m.

Westbound Bar 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com

FRIDAY2.9 Chattanooga Market at Erlanger 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. chattanoogamarket.com Clogging Happy Hour 5:30 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT Watching Mutzie on stage is like watching the class clown in school, you never knew what was coming next, but you knew it was coming. And it's really, really funny.

Mutzie The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Mardi Gras Gala 7 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658 bessiesmithcc.org Heather Lacy Artist Reception 7 p.m.

Frequency Arts 1804 E. Main St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Mutzie 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Romeo & Juliet 7:30 p.m.

The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com Dearly Departed 8 p.m.

Signal Crest United Methodist 1005 Ridgeway Ave. (423) 763-7219 smph.org Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Nooga! Visit Rock Village 8 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Romeo & Juliet (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Improv Showdown 9:30 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SATURDAY2.10 Cupid’s Chase 5k and 10k 9 a.m.

Tennessee River Park 4301 Amnicola Hwy. (609) 951-9900 comop.org St. Albans Hixson Market 9:30 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Northside Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-1766 ValenPAWS! 10 a.m.

McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd. (42#) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org Soap Making 10 a.m.

Crabtree Farms 1000 E. 30th St.

(423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Farmer’s Market 11 a.m.

Nutrition World 6237 Vance Rd. (423) 892-4085 nutritionw.com Red Wolf Feeding and Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Lincoln’s Absaloms: The Orphan Brigade at Chickamauga 2 p.m.

Chickamauga Military Park 3370 Lafayette Rd. (706) 866-9241 nps.org/chch Body Exhibition 6 p.m.

LIT Gallery 4015 Tennessee Ave. (423) 401-8171 litartgallery.com English Country Dance for All! 6 p.m.

Brainerd United Methodist 4315 Brainerd Rd. (423) 698-6951 brainerdumc.org Mardi Gras on Station Street 6 p.m.

41 Station St. (423) 521-2929 revelryroom.co Save Water, Drink Wine 6 p.m.

The Barn Nursery 1801 E. 24th St. Pl.

(423) 698-2276 barnnursery.com Winter in West Village 6 p.m.

West Village 802 Pine St. westvillagechattanooga.com Love Letters 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Mutzie 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Romeo & Juliet 7:30 p.m.

The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com Valentine Contra Dance!

7:30 p.m.

Brainerd United Methodist 4315 Brainerd Rd. (423) 698-6951 brainerdumc.org Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Dearly Departed 8 p.m.

Signal Crest United Methodist 1005 Ridgeway Ave.

(423) 763-7219 smph.org Week in Review 8 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SUNDAY2.11 Nativity Rising Artists: The Transfigured Flute’s Esprit 10:25 a.m.

The Church of the Nativity 1201 Cross St. (706) 866-9773 nativity.dioet.otg Free Fiddle School 2 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 I Just Want to Be a Zombie 8k 2 p.m.

River Greenway 4301 Amnicola Hwy. (865) 271-7535 endurancesportsmanagement.com Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 17

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Jean Vigo’s “L’Atalante” Romeo & Juliet 2:30 p.m.

The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com Jean Vigo’s “L’Atalante” 6 p.m.

Heritage House 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov Eddie Izzard 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Mutzie 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

MONDAY2.12 New Year Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m.

Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com The Folklore of Plants with Ray Zimmerman 6 p.m. green|spaces 63 E. Main St. (423) 648-0963 greenspaceschattanooga.org Oil Painting with

18 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Mia Bergeron 6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com

TUESDAY2.13 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m.

Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Chattanooga Chamber Expo 10 a.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. chattanoogachamber.com Northside Farmers’ Market 3 p.m.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-1766 Let the Matter Be Settled: Chattanooga’s United States Colored Troops 5:30 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658 bessiesmithcc.org Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com English Country Dance 7 p.m.

Heritage House Arts and Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 Intro To Improv 7 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Elemeno Pea 7:30 p.m.

Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4269 utc.edu/fine-arts-center

WEDNESDAY2.14 Lookout Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Memorial Hospital 2525 Desales Ave. lookoutfarmersmarket.com Middle Eastern Dance 10:30 a.m.

Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com BAZAR Odd-itorium Gallery Grand Opening 11 a.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Chattanooga Rising 11 a.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 755-2822

partnershipfcs.org Main Street Market 4 p.m.

522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Tracee de Hahn Book Reading 6:30 p.m.

Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com Elemeno Pea 7:30 p.m.

Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4269 utc.edu/fine-arts-center Wednesday Night Comedy Improv Show 7:30 p.m.

Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-4400 chattanoogastate.edu Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m.

The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com TEETH 9:30 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

THE COMIX

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 19

20 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

CITY LIFE ∙ THE ART OF BUSINESS

Visiting The Hemp House A comfortable, inclusive community where customers can learn and share

By Brooke Brown

Pulse Assistant Editor

W

hat do the words “CBD oil” mean to you? For those who have yet to discover and understand the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), it probably doesn’t mean much yet, but after hearing the benefits of CBD oil and just a few of the success stories, it may mean a better, more comfortable future for you and your ailments.

Hemp House recently opened on North Shore, tucked back off Frazier with the likes of Aretha Frankenstein’s. They specialize in all things CBD to help manage things like anxiety, chronic pain, even type 2 diabetes.

Owner Dwayne Madden decided to open the shop after he met a group of farmers who were farming and creating CBD oil products, but there wasn’t a brick and mortar establishment to buy them. And since his opening just a few short months ago in October of 2017 he has met a whole host of Chattanooga’s residents with ailments that his products have helped relieve.

“There’s nothing better than someone coming in, and then coming in a second time to tell me how much a product helped them when nothing else would,” says Madden. “I was told an amazing story from one of my customers about his wife who is a type 2 diabetic taking four shots of insulin a day to regulate her sugar. But after a few weeks of dropping 10 drops of CBD

Hemp House Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm 512 Tremont St. (423) 531-4367 www.hemphousechatt.com

oil into her morning oatmeal, she dropped down to one insulin shot a day.”

Now if you’re new to the benefits of hemp oil, this may sound a bit daunting. What are these drops?

Tinctures of CBD oil are taken underneath the tongue to allow for the best absorption and they range in strengths as well as what they treat. (And if you don’t know the difference between Hemp and marijuana, no, CBD oil products will not get you stoned. That is a whole different ball game.)

Things like Crohn’s disease, Fibromyalgia, MS, they’re all daunting diseases that rule the life of their victims, but CBD oil is weakening that rule little by little, and Madden’s success stories are only making him feel better about the strides he is helping to make in CBD oil’s acceptance.

CBD oil has even been known to help treat epilepsy. Drops can be administered when a seizure is noticeably coming or, I’m sure

“You don’t have to be drowned in antidepressants or suffer through digestion issues or live with chronic pain, and we’re here to let people know that.” you’ve seen the Facebook videos of a mother using a roller ball of CBD oil to rub on the bottom of her seizing child’s feet and within seconds, the seizures subside. The massive benefits are something you need to see to believe, or experience yourself.

“Some customers are wary of the drops or taking anything by mouth for the first time,” says Madden.

“So the first thing I want to do when someone comes in with questions is educate them. I want to give them all the information I have so they can make an informed decision themselves. Take it to a doctor, ask their opinion, whatever my customers want to do, I want them to do. I don’t want to just sell them

something to make money, I want it to help them.”

If you’d prefer another avenue besides taking CBD oil orally there is almost anything you can imagine. From lotions to roll-ons, hemp soap, bath bombs, and body butters, there is something for almost any kind of ache or pain you can bring to the table.

“People are suffering and with the opioid crisis we’re facing, CBD oil is a natural alternative to pain.

We want people to know there are ways to be healthy without prescription pain meds. You don’t have to be drowned in anti-depressants or suffer through digestion issues or live with chronic pain, and we’re here to let people know that.”

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 21

MUSIC

Genki Genki Panic Rock It Old School Surf-punkers put together a classic “lootcrate”

Bessie’s Big 9 Revue Valentine’s Show The Bessie Smith Cultural Center is celebrating the spirit of Black History Month with the “Bessie’s Big 9 Revue Valentine’s Show.” The event is highlighted by the musical performance of the Eric Essix Move Trio with featured singer, Courtney Reid.

This entourage of Southern jazz, soul, and R&B begins moving with James Spraggins, acting as the trio’s heartbeat, as he rides and crashes through great drum attacks.

His impressive array of percussive breaks unleashes the freedom that is jazz.

Next, Kelvin Wooten confirms their commitment to R&B with a lot of soul. His sonorous keyboard fingerings and bass guitar spread prove him master of conquering any stiff hips.

Then comes Eric Essix, the cherished, devoted frontman and body to their heart and soul, wielding the guitar with reverence. Sliding, hammering, and dealing out rhythmic solos, he pauses just long enough for the appropriate level of cheering and wooing to fill the void.

This Alabama based trio accomplishes a lot with a three-piece ensemble and it leaves a lasting impression.

As stated by Essix, “My primary goal is to create and share music that I hope will uplift, inspire and MOVE others long after I am gone.” — Austin M. Hooks Bessie’s Big 9 Revue Valentines Show with Eric Essix Move Trio Saturday, 8 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org 22 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

W

E’RE NOT QUITE SIX WEEKS in to 2018 and I’ve already found the first MUST HAVE package of

the year.

This Saturday, Genki Genki Panic is hosting a special release party at J.J.’s Bohemia, backed by the incomparable Elk Milk.

As a standalone show this would be brilliant all by itself, but the release is a very special bit of icing on the cake.

The band is releasing an old school flexidisc recording published by Goblinhaus Records and for nostalgia and coolness, this one goes to eleven. The disc itself contains three of my favorite GGP tracks, “Ghouls on Film,” “Sexy Harambe Frankenstein,” and “Radon Chong.”

All are shining examples of the band’s high energy classic punk/surf sound and wicked sense of humor, but the package itself hearkens back to a bygone era when getting special releases was a matter of sending in box tops, belonging to a fan

MUSIC

The rise of “mystery internet boxes” ala lootcrate and others suggests that what’s old is new again and GGP is the first in a long time to jump headfirst in to the lost art of “fan stuff.” club, using a magic decoder ring or some other set of hoops and hurdles that made fandom that much more special.

Besides the emerald green, translucent 33 1/3 flexi disc the package contains a sleeve with chic original artwork for the same, a band sticker, three cutout paper masks of the sultans of surf, a handy id guide for telling which one is which, and a ticket for a free download of “Litanies of Surf” from BandCamp.

Again, I cannot overstate the coolness of the kitsch, this is how it was DONE back in the day and the collectability of the included goodies is priceless.

The rise of “mystery internet boxes” ala lootcrate and others suggests that what’s old is new again and GGP is the first in a long time to jump headfirst in to the lost art of “fan stuff.”

It’s another sign that one of the most fun bands in the area takes their retro roots very seriously and the dichotomy of a plastic record bundled with a digital download is as gorgeous an embrace of old and new as you could wish for.

Whether you are a collector, die-hard fan, curious onlooker or just a person who likes “stuff,” this package was made for you and, I admit, it makes me feel like a kid again just to see it.

It will certainly be a treasured part of MY collection, and the fact that it’s all being presented at a show featuring two of the most kickass bands in the region just makes it better and better.

Elk Milk’s reputation speaks for itself, as does Genki Genki Panic’s, and the whole thing simply reeks of “rock and roll the way it used to be.”

PLVNET To Land At The Revelry Room Feb. 24th In a couple of weeks, Saturday, February 24th to be exact, PLVNET returns to the Revelry Room with their massively popular Tool tribute show, 10,000 Days.

Once again one of the most skillful and technically gifted bands around is showing the love for one of their personal favorites as PLVNET recreates the entire Aenima album for your listening pleasure.

The performance will also feature a second set of everyone’s favorite PLVNET material and given the success of the last such

performance, this show is quite likely going to sell out so consider picking up your tickets early.

PLVNET’s music stands entirely on its own but the group’s loving dedication to performing the music of Tool is second to none and whether you’re there for the first set or the second set, the whole affair is going to make for a fine night of musical entertainment.

It is an 18+ show, admission is a measly $12 and doors open at 8 p.m. Mark it on your calendar right now. It’s one show you don’t want to miss this month! — MTM

THU2.8

FRI2.9

SAT2.10

Legends of Jazz

The Ghetto Blasters

Battle of Nooga Crossroads

Kick back and surround yourself with some of the best jazz you'll hear this year from MJQ, John Lewis and Jimmy Giuffre.

7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org

One of the city's funkiest arts galleries rocks out this Friday with the GB's, taking the stage along with Kenny & the Jets and Mixed Signals.

9 p.m.

Frequency Arts 1804 E. Main St. facebook.com/frequencyarts

It's the first night of the battle for instrumental supremacy as locals take to the stage to showcase their chops.

7 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Rd. ziggysbarandgrill.net

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 23

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR Steep Canyon Rangers

THURSDAY2.8 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Forever Bluegrass 6 p.m.

Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Dustin Concannon 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com CSA Songwriter Night 6:30 p.m.

Heritage House 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 The River City Sessions 7 p.m.

Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com “The Legacy Show” with violinist Tami Lee Hughes 7:30 p.m.

UTC Fine Arts 752 Vine St. utc.edu/fine-arts-center Legends of Jazz: MJQ, John

24 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Lewis and Jimmy Giuffre 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Jonathan Wimpee’s Album Release 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Mark Andrew 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com KlusterfunK Open Jam 8 p.m.

Trip’s Tavern

4762 Hwy. 58 (423) 803-5686 Open Mic Night 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Bohannons, Richie, Matthew McNeal 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

FRIDAY2.9 Danimal Noon

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT A hot mix of funk, rock and reggae, this Nashville-based foursome is quickly making a name for themselves...and will only get bigger. Catch them will you can.

Charge the Atlantic Saturday, 10:30 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com

Peet’s Coffe & Tea 819 Chestnut St. peets.com Steep Canyon Rangers Noon Rock/Creek 301 Manufacturer’s Rd. rockcreek.com Jimmy Dormire 6 p.m.

Slick’s Burgers 309 E. Main St. slicksburgers.com Lon Eldridge 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Megan Howard 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Overland Express 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Adron 7 p.m.

OddStory Brewing Co. 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Dixieland Jazz Quartet 7 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org Festive Music for Early Brass & Voices

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR Jupiter Coyote

7:30 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 305 W. 7th St. (423) 266-8195 Rick Rushing and The Blues Strangers 7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Kelsea Bellerini 8 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Steep Canyon Rangers 8 p.m.

Walker Theater 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com TWP: Thomas Csorba + Focus Fox + Megan Alford 8 p.m.

The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. thewoodshop.space Emerge, Heartstrings, and Campnormal 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Backwater Still 8 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Willie Watson 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater

1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org The Frazier Band & Winston Ramble 9 p.m.

Clyde’s on Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Mark Andrew 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Pinecone, C Grimey, Melomaniac, Permaculture 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com The Ghetto Blasters, Kenny & the Jets, Mixed Signals 9 p.m.

Frequency Arts 1804 E. Main St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Dr. B & The Ease 9 p.m.

Mayo’s Bar and Grill 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com The P-B-R Band 10 p.m.

The Brew & Cue 5017 Rossville Blvd.

(423) 867-9402 Throttle 21 10 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SATURDAY2.10 Bluegrass Brunch Noon The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com Fisk Jubilee Singers 6 p.m.

Collegedale Church of Seventh-Day Adventists 4829 College Dr. E. collegedalechurch.com Ryan Oyer 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jonathan Wimpee 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Pierce Pettis 7 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Nicholas Horner and Lucas Chohany 7 p.m.

OddStory Brewing Co. 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Battle of Nooga Crossroads 7 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Rd. ziggysbarandgrill.net

Jupiter Coyote 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com EnVaGe and Earl Braggs 7:30 p.m.

UTC Fine Arts 752 Vine St. utc.edu/fine-arts-center Dr. Andrew Zohn 7:30 p.m.

Chattanooga State College 4501 Amnicola Hwy. michaelmccallieguitar.weebly.com Danimal 7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Charlsey Etheridge 8 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Southern’s Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble Pops Concert 8 p.m.

Southern Adventist University 4881 Taylor Cir. southern.edu Toby Hewitt 8 p.m.

The Casual Pint 5550 Hwy. 153 hixson.thecasualpint.com Eric Essix Move Trio with Courtney Reid 8 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center

200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org Diamond Dogs: A David Bowie Tribute 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Mark “Porkchop” Holder 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Genki Genki Panic (record release), Elkmilk 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Throttle 21 10 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com Charge the Atlantic 10:30 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com

SUNDAY2.11 Nativity Rising Artists: The Transfigured Flute’s Esprit 10:25 a.m.

The Church of the Nativity 1201 Cross St. (706) 866-9773 The Von Wamps 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Nancy Westmoreland 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com UTC Symphony Orchestra 3 p.m.

UTC Fine Arts 752 Vine St. utc.edu/fine-arts-center Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 25

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR Marc Broussard

2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 The Wolfhounds 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Mark “Porkchop” Holder & MPH, Lara Hope & The Ark-Tones, Red Mouth 8 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Rd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Maria Sable 8 p.m.

Southside Social 1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com

MONDAY2.12 Open Mic Night 6 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile

26 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

8 p.m.

The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com

TUESDAY2.13 Danimal 6 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m.

Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Accordion Virtuosi of Russia 7:30 p.m.

Lee University 1120 N. Ocoee St. leeuniversity.edu Marc Broussard 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY2.14 The Other Guys 6 p.m.

SpringHill Suites

495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Old Time Fiddle & Banjo Show 6:30 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Lori Button 7 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Gabe & Ashley 7 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Robin Grant and The Standard 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Gabe Jones & Ashley Broockman 7:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com David Walters & Rishard 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Shay & Steven

8 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com Denver Attaway 8 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m.

Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Jazz in The Lounge 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Courtney Holder 8 p.m.

The Casual Pint 5550 Hwy. 153 hixson.thecasualpint.com Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Durty Valentine's Day Show with Ashley and the X's 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK

Genki Genki Panic Svrf Cvlt (Goblinhaus)

T

here’s something inherently and undeniably fun and rousing about instrumental surf rock, from both its peak practitioners in the ‘60s—like Dick Dale and the Ventures—and its revivalists from several waves (pun intended), like Agent Orange’s punk-inflected early ‘80s surf covers, Man or Astroman’s sci-fi jitters and the tsunami of ‘90s bands formed in the wake of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack.

Chattanooga’s own masked surf-rock band Genki Genki Panic is carrying this torch with an understanding of the genre’s tropes, a love of horror movies and a sense of humor (perhaps endearingly groanworthy, occasionally); they do this while making things just a little more gnarly and twisted than one might expect.

The group’s latest physical release is the flexi disc Svrf Cvlt, which reprises three tracks from last year’s Litanies of Surf EP, and it will be unveiled at a record release show at JJ’s Bohemia on February 10.

The “Ultra Deluxe Boomstick Edition”—the Army of Darkness reference is appreciated by this writer—goes nuts with extra artifacts, including cut-out masks, a patch, a guitar pick, a sticker and a digital download code for the vinyl-impaired.

“Ghouls on Film” wastes no time with generating energy with its churning beginning, slipping into organenhanced spy rock and careening into a number of

She Blinded Me With Boxcutters / Furnace Creek Split Tape (Head Destroyer)

curves in under two minutes.

“Sexy Harambe Frankenstein” alternates a surf rock riff with discordant guitar frothing, while disorienting whooping space-age electronic sounds add to the atmosphere.

“Radon Chong” has several notable features, including aggressive bass-thumping (think Bootsy/Flea funk) that duels with Dick Dale-esque pin-prick lead guitar lines; there’s a jaunty mid-song direction change, with mysteriously brief Pink Panther hi-hat tapping and twangy bends.

Shakespeare may or may not have written “Brevity is the soul of surf rock” and Genki Genki Panic know this, with a hit-it-and-quit-it immediacy, never overstaying its welcome with numerous song twists and turns and sly nods to the genre.

I

nspirational speakers and life coaches might emphasize that where you’ve been is less important than where you’re going.

The two disquieting Appalachian duos She Blinded Me With Boxcutters (from Johnson City, Tenn.) and Furnace Creek (from Asheville, N.C.) might agree, but their vision of a future destination is a bleak apocalyptic wasteland, as heard on their split cassette of noisy electronics released on the Head Destroyer label.

Evocations of the mountain South pepper Boxcutters’ side, most prominently

with Southern accents heard on a sample of a cappella folk singing and a woman’s troubling monologue about weird dreams and industrial waste.

Furnace Creek shares its name with the Death Valley village that boasts the highest confirmed recorded temperature on Earth, and among its terror-synth soundtracks are vague suggestions of Native American drum beats.

The Boxcutters side presents itself as a unified 7-track EP with recurring aural themes involving elements violently pulsing and jerking back and forth; noise and static alternate, cutting in and out, and severely distorted beats swap places with motorized industrial slices.

The piercing interruptions and disturbing shouting about armageddon echo the style of Boxcutters member Patrik Dougherty’s solo act, Mannequin Hollowcaust; squealing frequencies, the glitch-sounds of a skipping CD and an interview involving hypnotism and murder add to the dark ride’s ether.

Furnace Creek doesn’t use typical structures of cycles that build to a peak; instead, it leaves listeners guessing, regarding their fate, with foreboding electronics that suggest sprawling, puzzling John Carpenter scores.

The duo’s side starts with gurgling fuzz that gingerly bounces between the left and right channels, and while tension mounts with unease, rather than unloading a sonic crest, Furnace Creek makes an inverted peak by dropping out sound elements for dramatic effect.

For one piece, ringing tones hover in the air while unyielding sci-fi synths and sleigh bells are muddled.

While their sonic geography is jumbled and diverse, these two duos take the listeners on a journey to troubling depths; to alter a phrase from Flannery O’Connor: “Everything that sinks must converge.”

ALL NEW. ALL FOR YOU.

ChattanoogaHasCars.com THE TENNESSEE VALLEY’S MOST POWERFUL AUTOMOTIVE SHOPPING TOOL

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 27

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

The List

field, and also branch out into extraordinary or flamboyant variations on your specialty.

The Scourge Of The Night ROB BREZSNY

Ask just about anyone if they snore and chances are they’ll say they don’t. Or if they admit to it, they’ll say they don’t do it very loudly or very often.

Fact check: unless you record yourself at night or have someone sleeping next to you, you likely have no idea.

Our friends at the Statistic Brain Research Institute put their nightcaps on and braved the overnight hours in the name of science.

• Percent of people age 30 and older who snore: 30% • Percent of people age 40 and older who snore: 40% • Percent of women who snore: 19% • Percent of people who say their partner snores; 59% • Percent of children who snore: 5.6% • Percent of people who snore who also experience sleep apnea: 28% • Average decibel level of a snore: 38 decibels Basically, lots of us snore. And chances are you do, too, Source: statisticbrain.com//snoringstatistics/

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Charles Nelson Reilly was a famous American actor, director, and drama teacher.

He appeared in or directed numerous films, plays, and TV shows. But in the 1970s, when he was in his forties, he also spent quality time impersonating a banana in a series of commercials for Bic Banana Ink Crayons.

So apparently he wasn’t overly attached to his dignity. Pride didn’t interfere with his ability to experiment.

In his pursuit of creative expression, he valued the arts of playing and having fun. I encourage you to be inspired by his example during the coming weeks, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to ancient Greek writer Herodotus, Persians didn’t hesitate to deliberate about important matters while drunk. However, they wouldn’t finalize any intoxicated decision until they had a chance to re-evaluate it while sober. The reverse was also true. Choices they made while sober had to be reassessed while they were under the influence of alcohol. I bring this to your attention not because I think you should adhere to similar guidelines in the coming weeks. I would never give you an oracle that required you to be buzzed. But I do think you’ll be wise to consider key decisions from not just a coolly rational mindset, but also from a frisky intuitive perspective. To arrive at a wise verdict, you need both.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): British athlete Liam Collins is an accomplished hurdler. In 2017, he won two medals at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in South Korea. Collins is also a stuntman and street performer who does shows in which he hurtles over barriers made of chainsaws and leaps blindfolded through flaming hoops. For the foreseeable future, you may have a dual capacity with some resemblances to his. You could reach a high point in expressing your skills in your chosen

28 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When he was 32, the man who would later be known as Dr. Seuss wrote his first kid’s book, And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. His efforts to find a readership went badly at first.

Twenty-seven publishers rejected his manuscript. On the verge of abandoning his quest, he ran into an old college classmate on the street. The friend, who had recently begun working at Vanguard Press, expressed interest in the book. Voila!

Mulberry Street got published. Dr. Seuss later said that if, on that lucky day, he had been strolling on the other side of the street, his career as an author of children’s books might never have happened. I’m telling you this tale, Taurus, because I suspect your chances at experiencing a comparable stroke of luck in the coming weeks will be extra high. Be alert!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A survey of British Christians found that most are loyal to just six of the Ten Commandments. While they still think it’s bad to, say, steal and kill and lie, they don’t regard it as a sin to revere idols, work on the Sabbath, worship other gods, or use the Lord’s name in a curse. In accordance with the astrological omens, I encourage you to be inspired by their rebellion. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to re-evaluate your old traditions and belief systems, and then discard anything that no longer suits the new person you’ve become.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): While serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Don Karkos lost the sight in his right eye after being hit by shrapnel.

Sixty-four years later, he regained his vision when he got butted in the head by a horse he was grooming.

Based on the upcoming astrological omens, I’m wondering if you’ll soon experience a metaphorically comparable restoration. My analysis suggests that you’ll undergo a healing in which something you lost will return or be returned.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The candy cap mushroom, whose scientific name is Lactarius rubidus, is a burnt orange color. It’s small to medium-sized and has a convex cap. But there its resemblance to other mushrooms ends.

When dried out, it tastes and smells like maple syrup. You can grind it into a powder and use it to sweeten cakes and cookies and custards. Ac-

Homework: Describe how you plan to shake off some of your tame and overly civilized behavior. Testify at Freewillastrology.com cording to my analysis of the astrological omens, this unusual member of the fungus family can serve as an apt metaphor for you right now.

You, too, have access to a resource or influence that is deceptive, but in a good way: offering a charm and good flavor different from what its outer appearance might indicate.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A grandfather from New Jersey decided to check the pockets of an old shirt he didn’t wear very often. There Jimmie Smith found a lottery ticket he had stashed away months previously.

When he realized it had a winning number, he cashed it in for $24.1 million -- just two days before it was set to expire. I suspect there may be a comparable development in your near future, although the reward would be more modest. Is there any potential valuable that you have forgotten about or neglected? It’s not too late to claim it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The U.S. Geological Survey recently announced that it had come up with improved maps of the planet’s agricultural regions. Better satellite imagery helped, as did more thorough analysis of the imagery. The new data show that the Earth is covered with 618 million more acres of croplands than had previously been thought.

That’s 15 percent higher than earlier assessments! In the coming months, Libra, I’m predicting a comparable expansion in your awareness of how many resources you have available. I bet you will also discover that you’re more fertile than you have imagined.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1939, Scorpio comic book writer Bob Kane co-created the fictional science-fiction superhero Batman. The “Caped Crusader” eventually went on to become an icon, appearing in blockbuster movies as well as TV shows and comic books. Kane said one of his inspirations for Batman was a flying machine envisioned by Leonard da Vinci in the early 16th century.

The Italian artist and inventor drew an image of a winged glider that he

proposed to build for a human being to wear. I bring this up, Scorpio, because I think you’re in a phase when you, like Kane, can draw inspiration from the past. Go scavenging through history for good ideas!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I was watching a four-player poker game on TV. The folksy commentator said that the assortment of cards belonging to the player named Mike was “like Anna Kournikova,” because “it looks great but it never wins.” He was referring to the fact that during her career as a professional tennis player, Anna Kournikova was feted for her physical beauty but never actually won a singles title.

This remark happens to be a useful admonishment for you Sagittarians in the coming weeks. You should avoid relying on anything that looks good but never wins. Put your trust in influences that are a bit homely or unassuming but far more apt to contribute to your success.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A Chinese man named Wang Kaiyu bought two black-furred puppies from a stranger and took them home to his farm. As the months passed by, Wang noticed that his pets seemed unusually hungry and aggressive. They would sometimes eat his chickens. When they were two years old, he finally figured out that they weren’t dogs, but rather Asian black bears. He turned them over to a local animal rescue center.

I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because I suspect it may have a resemblance to your experience. A case of mistaken identity? A surprise revealed in the course of a ripening process? A misunderstanding about what you’re taking care of? Now is a good time to make adjustments and corrections.

Rob Brezsny is an aspiring master of curiosity, perpetrator of sacred uproar, and founder of the Beauty and Truth Lab. He brings a literate, myth-savvy perspective to his work.

It’s all in the stars.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES

“The Jokers”—it’s freestyle, sobeit.

ACROSS 1 Big meals 8 Abrasive stones 15 Restricted, one way 16 Amount of a minor shock 17 Frazzle 18 Thorny problem 19 Glance of contempt 20 Oprah’s longtime partner Graham 21 They hold onto everything 23 Barnyard noise 24 Give permission 28 Reason for news to interrupt regular programming 36 Roam (about) 37 “Le Misanthrope” playwright 38 Assessment that may determine how well you work with others 40 In a way 41 “411”

43 Fuel-efficient vehicle 50 Tiny organism 54 Lovingly, in music 55 Freeloaders 56 Fallen for 57 First name on Mount Rushmore 58 “Gimme,” in more words 59 Tooth component 60 Egg containers DOWN 1 Early Baseball Hall-of-Famer Edd 2 Film composer Morricone 3 “Bear” that’s not a bear 4 Like ___ in the headlights 5 Fathered 6 “Fiddler on the Roof” protagonist 7 Completely avoid, with “of” 8 Detergent containers that I shouldn’t have to

tell you never to eat 9 Fathom, e.g.

10 “___ Kalikimaka” (Bing Crosby holiday song) 11 Exclamation akin to “Eureka!”

12 Council 13 Jazz trumpeter Ziggy 14 Played terribly 22 Sound of lament 25 Relating to coins or currency 26 Mail delivery site?

27 ___ May Clampett (“Beverly Hillbillies” daughter) 28 Oil additive letters 29 Early start?

30 Food involved in “typewriter eating,” according to tvtropes.org 31 Caption seen early in an alphabet book, maybe 32 NASDAQ newcomers

33 “It comes ___ surprise ...”

34 E-file agency 35 Badminton divider 39 Some capts.-to-be 41 “Grrr!”

42 Mythological weeper 44 Kitchen appliance brand 45 TV weatherman Al 46 Armour’s Spam rival 47 Apartment that’s owned 48 “Lord of the Rings” actor Sean 49 “The Tonight Show” house band, with “The” 51 “Fancy meeting you here!”

52 Rowan Atkinson’s “Mr.” character 53 J.D. Salinger title character

Copyright © 2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 870 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 29

COLUMN ∙ ON THE BEAT

Visiting Old Familiar Places Officer Alex reflects on the ways memory influences the day-to-day

Alex Teach

Pulse columnist

I

WAS IN A RESTAURANT LAST WEEK enjoying a rare lunch that did not involve Tupperware or a hastily constructed hot dog, and I was smiling.

I was with “people.” I was eating comfort food. And I was not in uniform so I was just another customer instead of a set piece or potential target, hence the grin.

The place had actually had many names above its door over the years and as such had been significantly remodeled, but its bones were still there if you knew where to look, and look I did. Novelty items, string lights, antique license plates, and lots of paint. Which was a good thing because of the amount of blood I had seen on the wall that lead to the restrooms the first time I had been inside here years and years ago.

A bartender was standing where a corpse had been, but from no vantage point could I see the deep freezer and I have to say, I was okay with that. (We’ll just skip over that part in case you are reading this while eating as well.)

The smile though? That was real because that was all in the past, and life literally went on. There was talk of razing that building at one point because of the stigma of what happened years ago when I was unrecognizably younger, but honestly? I was glad it had survived and experienced the half dozen or so business licenses that had hung on its walls since then because we just can’t operate like that as a society.

Roadside crosses? Hastily erected memo-

rials constructed from landscaping stones and potting soil? Perpetually faded plastic roses and solar powered garden lights? I get it. I understand the need. But at some point…you have to allow the dead to be buried and move on. Not to forget! But not to linger, not to dwell. And certainly not to wallow, no matter how incomprehensible the loss.

That’s actually what this whole town is to me. A series of crime scenes all smashed together…mile by mile, street by street. Some that made the news—national news, I mean—and others that only I know about.

Across the street I can see a hotel, but I’m the only one that knows which blood-smeared window had to be knocked out and crawled to get to someone who was admirably persistent in trying to end their own lives with what tools they had on-

30 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

“That’s actually what this whole town is to me. A series of crime scenes all smashed together…mile by mile, street by street.” hand. An “intimate” crime scene I guess you could say, as compared to one time being able to identify which speck I was from the aerial footage on CNN of a much larger tragedy that took place on the interstate highway behind that same place.

But! From this same vantage point I can see where I caught my first actual “robber” as a cop. I can see where I pushed a frightened elderly woman’s car off of the roadway on a hot summers day where she had been stranded and living in fear of being hit by a random vehicle. I can see where I reunited

a lost child with a parent at a convenience store across the street, and just out of view I remember taking a child away from an abusive parent.

If I make it to retirement I still think I’ll leave this town to spend my remaining time somewhere with fewer ghosts, but were I to stay? I think I’ve found that balance between Casper’s and Poltergeists.

Either way? Life goes on.

When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 • THE PULSE • 31