The Pulse 14.21 » May 25, 2017 by Brewer Media Group

VOL. 14, NO. 21 â&#x20AC;¢ MAY 25, 2017

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

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VOL. 14, NO. 21 • MAY 25, 2017

BRINGING THE AMAZONIAN RAINFOREST TO VIBRANT LIFE

In the Amazon Rainforest, awe-inspiring natural marvels are as varied as they are numerous, and some of the most extraordinary of all hide in plain sight. Literally.

POLITICS IS A VERY DIRTY GAME FOR A REASON

Reflection has been a preoccupation for a majority of the country in the days since the 2016 election. It’s as if the country is reeling from some new and sinister form of terrorism.

CELEBRATING LATINO FLAVORS AND CULTURE

It’s time once again to be swept away by the colors and flavors of Latino culture during La Paz Chattanooga’s annual Sangria fundraising event with Sangria on the Bluff this Thursday evening.

THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS BLOOM IN SOUND

The Cherry Blossoms are one of those bands that, paradoxically, this writer wants the whole world to hear while at the same time keeping them a precious secret to be unsullied by wide fame.

ALSO INSIDE

Focusing on Health and not Disease Health care is defined as “the field concerned with the maintenance or restoration of the health of the body or mind”, according to Dictionary.com. Yet we rarely hear the words health care and think of maintaining or restoring our holistic health. Instead our minds go to catch words and phrases such as “affordable”, “pre-existing conditions”, “insurance”, “co-pay” and so on.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

CONSIDER THIS

MUSIC REVIEWS

AIR BAG

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

NEW IN THEATERS

OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS

ARTS CALENDAR

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

MIXOLOGY

SUSHI & BISCUITS

MUSIC CALENDAR

After bidding farewell to the structure of the corporate world over a year ago, Robyn Wolfe Fogle now spends her days pursuing the things she loves. Among her passions are freelance writing, rock climbing and running.

Album reviewer and music writer Ernie Paik has written about music and film for various publications for over 20 years. As a recording artist, he has created original music for film, radio, television and theater.

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BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

Bringing The Amazonian Rainforest To Vibrant Life

Aquarium’s IMAX 3D theater continues to educate and entertain By Thom Benson

Special to The Pulse BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher & President Jim Brewer II FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors David Traver Adolphus • Adam Beckett Thom Benson • Rob Brezsny Robyn Wolfe Fogle • Matt Jones Whitni McDonald • Mike McJunkin Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Editorial Intern Lauren Waegele Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

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Director of Sales Mike Baskin mikebaskin@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Brittany Dreon Rick Leavell • Libby Phillips John Rodriguez • Logan Vandergriff

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Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com 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 © 2017 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

N THE AMAZON RAINFOREST, AWEinspiring natural marvels are as varied as they are numerous, and some of the most extraordinary of all hide in plain sight. Literally. On May 26, the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater will debut Amazon Adventure 3D. This giant-screen production from award-winning SK Films transports viewers back in time to join naturalist and explorer Henry Walter Bates on what’s been called the most extraordinary scientific adventure of all time. While braving perilous storms and contracting diseases that left him on death’s door, Bates doggedly investigated the astonishing ways animals blend into their environment and protect themselves from predators by mimicking the patterning of more dangerous prey. Filmed on location in the lush Amazon region, Amazon Adventure 3D is a compelling detective story filled with dramatic wildlife footage. Insects and fish that look like leaves, lizards that look like vines, and even birds that appear to be dead branches are only revealed upon closer inspection. When shown using the immersive IMAX with Laser projection system, these natural tricksters appear extraordinarily vivid and almost touchable. Much like the sense of scientific discovery imparted by Flight of the Butterflies 3D, another SK Films production, Amazon Adventure 3D takes viewers places you might not normally go to see amazing creatures you might not otherwise encounter. “Walking in the footsteps of Henry Walter Bates, audiences get to follow the clues and see one of the most import discover-

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ies about life unfold,” says executive producer Sean B. Carroll. “We hope this film shows where curiosity and perseverance can lead and inspires younger and older viewers alike.” The conclusions Bates arrived at during his 11-year expedition in the rainforest had a profound impact on the scientific world. His study of the subtle differences in the patterning of longwing butterflies is a focal point of Amazon Adventure. The discoveries he brought back with him to England provided what Charles Darwin deemed “beautiful proof” for the theory of natural selection. To this day, vulnerable species adapting the appearance of noxious or otherwise dangerous animals is called “Batesian mimicry” in his honor. “The stories behind Bates’ expedition are thrilling,” says Dr. Anna George, the Aquarium’s Vice President of Conservation Science and Education. “If you have a curious nature or exploring spirit, you’re

going to really enjoy seeing how science is an exhilarating living process.” And after you watch Amazon Adventure 3D, you can also visit the Ocean Journey building to view many longwing butterfly species fluttering about in the Butterfly Garden. There, Batesian mimicry is on full display, allowing Aquarium guests to see the evolutionary benefits of hiding in plain sight. Sometimes, this natural camouflage can be so effective it even fools the experts. “We have lots of longwing butterflies in our garden, and they all mimic each other, so they’re hard to identify,” says Jennifer Taylor, the Aquarium’s entomologist. “Some of the longwings will have 140 different color variations, and then there’s another longwing species that mimics all of those variations as well. I have a detailed book that helps me determine which species I’m seeing. They’re a very complicated group of butterflies.”

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon by Rob Rogers

“See the light in others and treat them as if that’s all you see.” — Dr. Wayne Dyer

“Speaking” The International Language Of Soccer Dubbed the most popular soccer team in Mexico by the Chattanooga Football Club (CFC), Chivas U23 squad will be playing an international friendly against the CFC in Chattanooga’s very own Finley Stadium on Saturday night. “It’s really exciting to have a club as historically successful as Chivas come here to play us,” says Sean McDaniel, General Manager for Chattanooga FC. “Our guys will be ready to play, and it will be a treat for them to go up against one of Mexico’s greatest teams.” Making this international connection boasts one of the qualities that the

CFC prides itself on: fostering a strong community in Chattanooga by embracing the diversity that soccer, the world’s game, brings. Just as with American football, soccer creates community and builds a

shared space in which spectators and players alike can communicate through the sport of soccer. Chattanooga FC has furthered its community building by starting the CFC-Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses soccer to develop creativity, discipline, and social skills in economically challenged communities. More than simply talented athletes, the soccer players of the CFC and their opponents demonstrate to their spectating communities the value of soccer as an international language and equalizer. — Lauren Waegele

I was waiting in a long line at the pharmacy. There wasn’t much to do except people-watch. A frail elderly woman came in line behind me with her helper. The elderly woman wore a lovely, peaceful smile, even though she could hardly move on her own. They were buying $1 red noses for the upcoming “Red Nose Day,” and the woman noticed a young girl looking longingly at the noses. The woman softly said, “I’ll gladly buy one for you if it’s okay with your mom.” The girl lit up, the mom gratefully smiled at the older woman and nodded at her daughter, and it was a happy moment for all. As this little drama played out, I thought this is exactly how the world goes ‘round. A random act of kindness from a stranger, which created a happy child, and several of us witnessed it. I looked at the (previously grumpy) folks waiting in line. Every single person was smiling. And then I knew: this is why the elderly woman wore her smile. She understood that simple kindness has the power to change her little corner of the world. — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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COLUMN ∙ AIR BAG

When Design Goes Haywire Modern Japanese car styling has gone almost completely off the rails

David Traver Adolphus Pulse columnist

“S

UCCESS BREEDS EXCELLENCE” is what I’m sure a management consultant once said before chortling along home with five Gs for their day’s work. What actually happens is success usually breeds laziness and the desire for a profit spiral that ultimately extracts anything of value from a company. Sometimes, it also breeds mutants. A successful company can become very inward-looking, finding all the affirmation they need in sales—“If we’re selling a lot of cars, then whatever we’re doing must be right, so let’s do it even more!” Seldom does this lead to greatness. There is no other explanation for what’s happened to Honda and Toyota (Nissan used to be a leader in this category, but their lack of horrible styling innovation has left them looking relatively tolerable). Toyota started the circle of awfulness off in 2010 when the Lexus debuted the “spindle” grille, or what most autowriters have called the Predator grille (as in Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, 1987). They knew it was ugly at the time: “We [previously] tried to please 10 out of 10 people,” said their design chief Tokuo Fukuichi in a 2014 Automotive News interview. “Now we’re trying to please one of ten people out there with Lexus.” The 2011 Lexus CT 200h had a less extreme version of the grille than the 2010 concept car, but that wasn’t what people liked: it was spending money. Sporty pre-

2016 Toyoat Prius

mium hybrids weren’t common and for the year, gas averaged over $3.00/gallon, hitting almost $4.00/gallon nationally in late spring. The relatively affordable $32,000 Lexus sold about 14,000 units over the 10 months it was available in ‘11—not huge, but more than enough for a special interest car like this and 40 percent over their goal. From there it was history. Toyota assumed it was the styling that sold the car, as opposed to engineering that was almost identical to other cars in their lineup, and let the designers loose. Five years later they had the 2016 Prius, a car which literally looks as though it’s been in an accident that shattered the front end. I do mean literally—that’s what I thought the first time I saw one. Archrivals Honda were slow to respond but have more than caught up with the current Civic and surprisingly, Accord, a car once known

“If we’re selling a lot of cars, then whatever we’re doing must be right, so let’s do it even more!” Seldom does this lead to greatness. for understated elegance that now sports a chrome rodeo champion belt and buckle on its nose. Toyota has trickled the spindle down into their Camry and Corolla and like a finch evolving on an isolated island for a half-million years, it’s becoming ever stranger and more ungainly without the constraints of competition. There are those who swim

against the tide. Traditionally gawky Subaru has built a slick and distinctly sophisticated Legacy sedan in the vein of one of the big new Fords or European car. Mazda’s Mazda6 sedan is a symphony of flowing lines inside and out. What they have in common is hunger. Honda sold almost 1.5 million cars in America in 2016, and Toyota had 2.1 million. Subaru had a little under 600,000 and Mazda around 300,000—an eighth of Toyota’s. The little guys can’t afford to sit around looking only at themselves. They have to do everything they can with moderate resources and take a path that makes sense outside their own little world. And sooner or later, they’ll end up eating the big guys’ lunch. David Traver Adolphus is a freelance automotive researcher who recently quit his full time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND new cars. Follow him on Twitter as @proscriptus.

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COVER STORY

By Robyn Wolfe Fogle Pulse contributor

EALTH CARE IS DEFINED AS “THE FIELD CONCERNED with the maintenance or restoration of the health of the body or mind”, according to Dictionary.com. Yet we rarely hear the words health care and think of maintaining or restoring our holistic health. Instead our minds go to catch words and phrases such as “affordable”, “pre-existing conditions”, “insurance”, “co-pay” and so on.

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COVER STORY

“So often we take our health for granted and then scramble to find something to make us feel better the moment we get sick rather than taking regular preventative measures to keep our bodies healthy” Seldom does it seem we consider healthcare’s focus to be on maintaining health (i.e. prevention). Rather, it seems to have become a system of “disease care” —taking care of us only when we’re sick or unhealthy, rather than helping us prevent sickness and remain healthy. I know it’s a delicate topic, especially right now, and I offer no solutions to government reform. However, I do ask you to join me for a moment in looking at what we can do to care for our health. What would it mean for us, as individuals, to focus on prevention? To accept more responsibility for our own health and wellbeing? To find ways to prevent some of our often self-inflicted illnesses and pain? What if we decided to depend less on insurance companies and pharmaceuticals and relied instead on natural alternatives and keeping our bodies functioning well in the first place? So often we take our health for granted and then scramble to find something to make us feel better the moment we get sick rather than taking regular preventative measures to keep our bodies healthy, or relying on natural alternative to restore balance and well-being when we do get sick. The use of medicinal herbs, Ayurvedic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic services and yoga are on the rise and I hope it’s a sign of Americans beginning to take more personal responsibility for their own preventative health and well-being. I am not against physicians or pharmaceuticals; I still think there are occasions when modern medicine, surgeries and other medical procedures are useful, even needed. I understand there are many diseases and health issues that are not preventable and have nothing to do with our lifestyle

choices, and I don’t wish to minimize these. But the reality is that for most of us, our reliance on doctors and pharmaceuticals for every little ache and pain has become overwhelming and costly to all involved. And at the end of the day most doctors are only treating the symptoms and not focusing on the root cause or prevention. If you’re looking to maintain or restore your health through alternative means, Chattanooga has quite a few functional, natural and holistic health care options. Take Chattanooga Holistic Medicine for example. This recently opened clinic provides, as the name suggests, a holistic approach to medical care by providing a full range of healing techniques including acupuncture, Chinese herbs, functional medicine, diet and nutrition, muscle activation technique, personal training, massage, yoga and qigong. Holistic refers to an approach to healing that seeks to treat the body and the mind, the whole person, by taking into account not only physical symptoms of a disease but looking at the mental and social factors as well. Despite the mind’s proven ability to help obtain, or maintain, the well-being of the body, the mind-body connection is one that is often overlooked in modern medicine. Blake Storey, owner of Chattanooga Holistic Medicine and a licensed acupuncturist and nationally certified Diplomat of Oriental Medicine, understands this connection. “I suggest that people think of everything they do in their lives as medicine,” he said, explaining that this encompasses “the food you eat, the exercise you do, your sleep, the thoughts you have, the people you hang out with, and the time you spend with a doctor. continued on page 10

Kelsey Vasileff, owner of Southern Sqweeze, drinks a green juice daily to help maintain her body's health and balance. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 9

COVER STORY If you look at your life from this perspective, you begin to see how everything is interrelated to your overall feelings of wellbeing.” The clinic treats everything from allergies, pain, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, gynecological issues, digestive issues, headaches/migraines and basically every non-emergency ailment naturally. Their focus is not only on the physical symptoms of each patient, but on the mental health of the person as well. Recognizing that there is currently limited coverage by most insurance companies for alternative therapies such as these, Storey has created a community-style treatment of acupuncture at the clinic where treatment can be as low as $15 per visit. He believes we are seeing a return to natural medicine as people begin to take more responsibility for their health care and Chattanooga Holistic Medicine’s low-cost option is a way to make it more accessible. “Nobody is either completely sick or completely healthy, we are all working through different health challenges all the time,” says Storey, who believes that regular acupuncture “is a way of keeping your life well-tuned so that you can better deal with life’s everpresent stressors”.

Blake Storey uses acupunture to help the body reach internal balance and healing from within.

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So what exactly makes Americans so sick? What is the root cause? Even without the research to prove it, you know it and I know it: it’s stress. Stress-related health issues account for approximately 75 percent of doctor’s visits and,

according to Peter Schnall’s book Unhealthy Work (published in 2009), stress has exploded into a $1 trillion health epidemic making it more expensive than the cost of cancer, smoking, diabetes and heart disease combined. Stress is a major health issue, causing problems both mentally and physically—but it’s also preventable. One way to tackle stress is through practicing yoga. Findings from a 2012 survey done by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health showed Americans’ use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is on the rise and the most used mind and body practice was found to be yoga at 9.5 percent of U.S. adults practicing. This is a substantial increase from the 5.1 percent of adults who practiced yoga in 2002. According to the survey, 85 percent of adults who practiced yoga perceived reduced stress as a result. In addition to reducing stress, the meditative movement practice helped people with chronic low-back pain as well as conditions such as arthritis, asthma, anxiety and depression. Mitra Malek, a healthy-living writer and local yoga instructor who has been practicing for 14 years and teaching for the past 11 said that yoga’s proven ability to help reduce stress is all thanks to the breathing. “Deep breathing calms the nervous system and has a calming, centering or focusing effect,” she said. “Just about everything that screws people up has stress or fear at its

COVER STORY core, and yoga is a healthy and empowering antidote to that—that’s what makes yoga great at keeping people healthy,” says Malek. Instead of waiting for the effects of stress to cause major health issues, give yoga a try. According to Malek, yoga is gaining a larger foothold “in large part due to studies from well-known institutions proving its benefit and from people trying it and reaping the benefits, then sharing that experience with others.” She believes that yoga is one of the safest and kindest things a person can try.

ing it easier than ever to access and embrace herbs for health and healing. Kelsey Vasileff, owner of Southern Sqweeze, explains that herbs are “meant to bring your body back to balance no matter what state it’s in”. They offer liquid herbal “shots” of things like oregano, turmeric, wheatgrass and their popular “flu shot” which is a combination of ginger, lemon, oil of oregano and cayenne. Their tastier juices, with 4-6 pounds of produce per 16 oz juice, are great for preventative health-care as well. “I think there is always a holistic approach for everybody,” said Vasileff, though it may not be the same approach for everybody. She sees natural alternatives to health care as a growing trend. “I think we’re reaching a tipping point where people are ready to stand up and make a change in their own lives and their own diet,” she said. The popularity and growth of their business, and other similar juice bars around Chattanooga, may be proof of that.

“I suggest that people think of everything they do in their lives as medicine... the food you eat, the exercise you do, your sleep, the thoughts you have, the people you hang out with, and the time you spend with a doctor.”

Healing herbs are another popular alternative that are gaining momentum. The herbal supplements section at any grocery or drug store is proof of that! Herbs are certainly more affordable and easier to obtain than conventional medicine, and research has shown the beneficial healing properties that natural herbs can offer. Even beyond the modern research, there are written records of the use of herbal medicine that date back more than 5,000 years and Americans are finally starting to focus on herbalism not only for treating diseases or ailments once they arise, but also for overall wellness and prevention as well. Among the top herbs used medicinally are raw garlic, ginger, turmeric, ginseng and milk thistle, each offering multiple health benefits. Buying herbs in capsule form isn’t your only option anymore either, local companies such as Southern Sqweeze are mak-

If you’re as frustrated as I am with the state of this country’s health care reform, may I suggest you stop looking to Washington for solutions, and instead consider what you can do to take control of your own holistic, mind and body, health. Our health is something we should be thinking about every day, not just when we get sick. Make caring for your health a priority, and find your own path to wellness. Your body will reward you for your efforts.

Mitra Malek leads a yoga class focusing on deep breathing and slow flow. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 11

FILM & TELEVISION

Politics Is A Very Dirty Game For A Reason Get Me Roger Stone shows the dark underbelly of politics from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump

Love And Drama In The Commune With the recent opening of the Palace Picture House, Chattanooga film lovers are once again being treated to an overflowing cornucopia of independent films that otherwise would never be seen on the big screen here in town. A perfect example is the latest release from Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg, who first appeared on our film radar back in 1998 with his powerful Dogme 95 drama, The Celebration. His 2012 release, The Hunt, was likewise critically acclaimed and he shows no sign of slowing his output of his intense filmmaking vision. In The Commune, Vinterberg’s latest, which debuts this Friday at the Palace Picture House, Erik and Anna are a professional couple with a dream. Along with their daughter Freja, they set up a commune in Erik’s huge villa in the upmarket district of Copenhagen. With the family in the center of the story, we are invited into the dream of a real commune; we participate in the house meetings, dinners and parties. It’s all friendship, love and togetherness under one roof until an earth-shattering love affair puts the community and the commune to its greatest test. Writing in The Hollywood News, film critic Paul Heath raves. “With an extremely witty script, superb direction of his actors, who give spot-on performances, as well as the use of a great score and accompanying soundtrack... Vinterberg has supremely aced this absolute treat.” The Commune Opens Friday, 7:15 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 www.chattpalace.com 12 • THE PULSE • MAY 25, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

EFLECTION HAS BEEN A PREOCCUPAtion for a majority of the country in the days since the 2016 election. Article after article, panel after panel, people have discussed the outcome in hushed tones, united in concern for the events that transpired and threatened a divided, complex nation. It’s as if the country is reeling from some new and sinister form of terrorism. The burgeoning presidency of Donald Trump has since been plagued with lies and half-truths, Russians and Kellyanne Conway, and in four months the tone in United States has gone from dull CSPAN to dumb House of Cards. Something screwy has happened and everyone is scrambling

to catch up. But the truth is the election of Donald Trump isn’t as aberrant as liberals would like to believe. The wheels for this were set in motion long ago. It’s a pattern that’s easy to follow, if anyone is willing to look. There have been people, mostly in the background, working towards this type of nonfunctioning government for decades. One of those individuals is the subject of a new documentary on Netflix. Get Me Roger Stone is not a hit piece, exactly. It’s subject, Stone, is a willful participant. He is unabashed about his involvement in the dark side of politics, which makes for a fascinating, if unsettling, character piece that should interest anyone wondering just how we got here as a nation. Roger Stone, a self-described agent provocateur

FILM & TELEVISION

“Roger Stone, a self-described agent provocateur and master of dirty tricks, has been involved, one way or another, in almost every major Republican victory of the last 40 or 50 years.” and master of dirty tricks, has been involved, one way or another, in almost every major Republican victory of the last 40 or 50 years. He began early, when around 13 or 14, he was given a copy of Barry Goldwater’s The Conscience of a Conservative. By the time he was 19, he was being called to testify before a grand jury about his involvement in Watergate. As the film begins, he recounts several moments that impacted him as a child. One story is about how when he was in elementary school he was a fan of JFK. He convinced his friends to vote for him in the school election by telling them that Nixon was in favor of Saturday school. He says at that moment, he learned the power of disin-

formation. After Watergate, Stone can be found at the arm of several of the darker GOP candidates, from Roy Cohn to Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. In particular, he was part of the Reagan era lobbying firm Black, Manafort, and Stone, which placed lobbying front and center of our political system. Black, Manafort, and Stone did quite a bit of work at the time for third world dictators. Paul Manafort, co-founder, is currently under investigation by the FBI and was a onetime advisor for the Trump campaign. Stone also founded the National Conservative Political Action Committee, which paved the way for unlimited money in politics, helping to effectively drown out the voice of anyone not rich enough to buy a congressman. Suffice to say, Roger Stone is not without his detractors. But for these things, Roger Stone

is immensely proud. He has a tattoo of Nixon on his back, a reminder of the politics he promotes. The film begins and ends with Donald Trump, drawing lines through time and leading the audience to his victory. Stone himself is endlessly charming, despite his hatred for liberals. He refers to the filmmakers as liberals, pinkos, commies, etc. on multiple occasions, with a smile and a laugh, and disarming and congenial at all times. Given Stone’s background, it would have been easy for the filmmakers to turn the film into an angry partisan warning a la Dinesh D’Souza, fact free and full of hate. But there really isn’t any invention needed. Stone tells his story as he sees it. Anyone that argues with him are losers without two pennies to rub together. He dismisses his enemies with relish, and looking at the state of our current country, it’s hard to fault his outlook. The Roger Stones of the world keep winning elections. Their tactics work. It all reminds me of Spaceballs. Evil will always triumph because good is dumb. Democracy is good. Democracy can be manipulated. Donald Trump is president. Get Me Roger Stone shows why.

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the trident of Poseidon in the latest Pirates extravaganza. Directors: Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg Stars: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Orlando Bloom

Baywatch Devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchanan butts heads with a brash new recruit. Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay. Director: Seth Gordon Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Priyanka Chopra

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrating Latino Flavors And Culture Sipping Sangria on the Bluff at the Hunter Museum

Archie Shepp and John Coltrane

Capturing The Images Of The 20th Century Capturing moments has always been an obsession for humans. In attempts to freeze moments in time, artists painted, and when cameras came along, this obsession and the ability to satisfy the obsession at a moment’s notice increased. This Tuesday, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center will be contributing even further to the capturing of moments by hosting the Chuck Stewart photography exhibit. Chuck Stewart, a New York based photographer and winner of multiple awards, has captured several significant moments that encompass the essence of 20th century social, cultural, and musical history. According to his biography, Stewart, first as a military photographer, was the only African American “cleared to shoot early tests of the nuclear bomb.” Beyond his days as a military photographer, however, Stewart’s most notable photos concern famous musicians such as Stephen Coltrane and The Beatles. In fact, when Stewart joined The Beatles on their first American tour, he was often grabbed by fans despite his crying out, “There are no black Beatles. Why are you grabbing me?” Being The Beatles’ photographer was enough for the fans to treat him like a superstar. Come to the Bessie Smith Cultural Center for a last chance to see the work of a photographer whose photos have graced more than 2,000 album covers and appreciate his captured moments that may define the 20th century for future generations to come. — Lauren Waegele 14 • THE PULSE • MAY 25, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Whitni McDonald Pulse contributor

T’S TIME ONCE AGAIN TO BE SWEPT AWAY by the colors and flavors of Latino culture during La Paz Chattanooga’s annual Sangria fundraising event. Sangria on the Bluff will take place at the Hunter Museum of American Art starting at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday to benefit La Paz’s work in the Chattanooga’s Latino community. Members of the Chattanooga community are invited to experience Latin culture at its finest during this event that many have come to look forward to every year. Sangria on the Bluff will offer a unique display of Latin flare with homemade Latin cuisine provided by Ovalle’s Catering, fresh Sangria from several local restaurants, live mariachi and more! “This event is a perfect example of the Spanish phrase, ‘mi casa es su casa,’ and we’re aiming

to create an environment that feels like a close relative’s party, where everyone is at home,” says Christian Patiño, La Paz’s Director of Business Development and Special Events. “At the same time, there is an intentional plan for immersing guests in a sensory tour of Latin America,” says Patiño “So we’re featuring specialty foods with information about where various dishes and drinks are from, in addition to the classic Sangria competition.” Local artist Olga de Klein already has her ticket. While she’s looking forward to the fun of the event, she feels even more strongly about advocating for the work La Paz does in the Chattanooga community year-round. Teaching art classes for Latina women through La Paz once a week, de Klein has developed a deep respect for the way they reach out to support and create connections for her neighbors who have emigrated here from Spanish speaking

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“This event is a perfect example of the Spanish phrase, ‘mi casa es su casa,’ and we’re aiming to create an environment that feels like a close relative’s party, where everyone is at home,” countries. “This is a party I look forward to every year because it’s so colorful and full of life,” says de Klein. “I enjoy working with La Paz to create more pathways and connections for our neighbors who don’t consider English their first language. I don’t either and can empathize with the way language can either isolate or connect people, just like art. I am also fluent in Spanish, so that has helped my work bringing arts to this fabulous community that La Paz supports and cultivates.” Angela Garcia, Latino Market Manager at Coca-Cola United Bottling Company of Chattanooga says, “Coca-Cola United Bottling is proud to continue to support La Paz through our sponsorship of their Sangria on the Bluff event. Every year this event seems to get bigger and

better, exposing our community to great aspects of Latino culture while also making them aware of the impact that La Paz is making in our community.” Garcia sites the choice to sponsor La Paz’s work as a natural fit saying, “Coca-Cola is committed to efforts made by La Paz to enrich our community through education, entrepreneurial diversity, minority professional development and bilingual social services. La Paz is essential in connecting our Latino community with the people and resources of the region that can offer them assistance and support. Sangria on the Southside has become a signature Chattanooga event and a symbol of the diversity in our city.” Of course, an evening at the Hunter Museum would never lack for artistic flair, and

this event is packed full of a range of experiences and forms of expression. To kick off the event, Chattanooga Ballet will showcase a Latin American themed performance that will surely start the event on the right foot and honor the culture that we’ll have gathered to celebrate. A live painting demonstration by Alex Loza will bring to life a side of painting most of us didn’t know existed, and Aventurero Mariachi will serenade the crowd with Mexican rancheras while DJ Flux 308 will wrap up the night

playing popular Latin dance music. Tours of the Hunter Museum’s exhibit, “Our America: The Latino Presence In American Art” will take place throughout the evening. This cultural exhibit has been on display since February and closes on June 4, so this is close to your last chance to see the wonderfully inspired collection. This event is the perfect capstone setting for viewing this extraordinary Smithsonian collection made up of works by 70 Latino American artists spanning the last sixty

years. Since its launch in 2008, La Paz Chattanooga’s “Sangria” event has highlighted the bold and rich traditions of our Latino community. Guests who join La Paz Chattanooga should come prepared to be swept away to a new climate and culture, enjoying live music, dance performances (and other dancing), authentic Latin food, and, of course, plenty of delicious sangria. Tickets can be purchased for online at lapazchattanooga.org/sangria or by calling (423) 624-8414.

THU5.25

FRI5.26

SAT5.27

Give Back Night

der Vampyr

Red Wolf Feeding and Talk

Breast Cancer Support Services fundraiser to help provide financial assistance to breast cancer patients in the Chattanooga area. 5 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com

Come enjoy this ultraromantic and rare operatic treat composed by Heinrich Marschner. 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org

Learn more about these majestic animals. Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

THURSDAY5.25 Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m. Ooltewah Nursery 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Kitten Shower & Wine Tasting 4 p.m. Humane Educational Society 212 N. Highland Park Ave. (423) 624-5302 heschatt.org Signal Mountain Farmers Market 4 p.m. Pruett’s Market 1210 Taft Hwy. (423) 902-8023 signalmountainfarmersmarket.com Buster’s Mal Heart 5, 7, 9 p.m. The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Give Back Night— Breast Cancer Support Services Fundraiser 5 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Big 9 Book Club: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 6 p.m. Jazzanooga Arts Space 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 402-0452 jazzanooga.org Paddle Smart Chattanooga

16 • THE PULSE • MAY 25, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

6 p.m. Outdoor Chattanoooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Chattanooga Storytelling Circle 6 p.m. Northgate Library 278 Northgate Mall Dr. (423) 643-7785 chattlibrary.org Sangria on the Bluff 6:30 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Auditions for “Deathtrap” 6:30 p.m. Historic Mars Theatre 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA

(706) 621-2870 backalleyproductions.org Brews Over Broad 6:30 p.m. High Point Climbing And Fitness 219 Broad St. (423) 602-7625 highpointclimbing.com 80's Night Out Adult Prom 7 p.m. Splitz Bar and Grill 6241 Perimeter Dr. (423) 710-3530 rileygravesdwtcs.ticketleap.com Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Montgomery Biscuits 7:15 p.m. AT&T Field 201 Power Alley chattanoogalookouts.com Erik Knowles 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St.

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT A Marine veteran, Erik's comedy is refreshing and edgy without being filthy, contrasting his partying past with a witty look at his responsible adult life. Erik Knowles The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

(423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

FRIDAY5.26 Kayak Tour: Coolidge Park to Brown’s Ferry 9 a.m. Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 752-5213 outdoorchattanooga.com Chattanooga Market at Erlanger 10:30 a.m. Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. chattanoogamarket.com Picnic in the Passageways 11:30 a.m. Grass Garden Inversion 730 Cherry St. (423) 265-3700 rivercitycompany.com Cambridge Square Night Market 5 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 531-7754 cambridgesqauretn.com The Commune 5, 7, 9 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com An Evening In Iraq 6 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 702-8081 thecamphouse.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

CFC vs. Chivas U23 Site of The Soul Lecture & Book Signing by Roberto Osti 6 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Chattanooga FC Women vs. Knoxville Lady Force 7 p.m. Finley Stadium 1826 Carter St. women.chattanoogafc.com Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Montgomery Biscuits 7:15 p.m. AT&T Field 201 Power Alley chattanoogalookouts.com Erik Knowles 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Scenic City Opera presents der Vampyr 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Final Friday Flicks 9 p.m. ChattLab Makerspace 100 Cherokee Blvd. (225) 522-2428 chattlab.org

SATURDAY5.27 St. Alban’s Hixson Market 9:30 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Northside Farmers Market 10 a.m. Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-7497 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogarivermarket.com Butts for Mutts BBQ 10 a.m. McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd. (423) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org Brainerd Farmers Market 11 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Red Wolf Feeding and Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Adventure CookingThe Ivory Coast Noon Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Susan's Curves Hike 1 p.m. Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center 400 Garden Rd.

(423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org A Southern Boy in Blue: Marcus Woodcock & the 9th Kentucky Infantry 2 p.m. Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park 3370 Lafayette Rd. Fort Oglethorpe, GA (423) 752-5213 nps.gov/chch The Commune See website for showtimes Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com CFC vs. Chivas U23 7 p.m. Finley Stadium 1826 Carter St. chattanoogafc.com Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Montgomery Biscuits 7:15 p.m. AT&T Field 201 Power Alley chattanoogalookouts.com Erik Knowles 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Scenic City Opera presents der Vampyr 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Memorial Day Contra Dance 7:30 p.m.

Brainerd United Methodist Church 4315 Brainerd Rd. (423) 698-6951 brainerdumc.org

SUNDAY5.28 Chattanooga Market 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com Free Fiddle School 2 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Scenic City Opera presents der Vampyr 2 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org The Commune See website for showtimes Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Rededication of Jack Benson Heritage Park 3 p.m. Heritage House Arts & Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Montgomery Biscuits 6:15 p.m. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 17

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

“Self-Driving Cars & The Future of Chattanooga” AT&T Field 201 Power Alley chattanoogalookouts.com Erik Knowles 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

MONDAY5.29 50th Annual Chattanooga Chase 8 a.m. Riverview Park 1000 Barton Ave. (423) 842-6265 chattanoogatrackclub.org Red Bank Farmers Market 3 p.m. Red Bank United Methodist 3800 Dayton Blvd. (423) 838-9804

TUESDAY5.30 The Commune See website for showtimes Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Conozca SUS Derechos (Know Your Rights) 6:30 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St.

18 • THE PULSE • MAY 25, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

(423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org

WEDNESDAY5.31 Middle East Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Chattanooga Market at Erlanger East 10:30 a.m. Erlanger East Hospital 1751 Gunbarrel Rd. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com The Commune See website for showtimes Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Main Street Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com “Self-Driving Cars & The Future of Chattanooga” 6 p.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Rapid Learning: Intro to Kayaking 6 p.m. Chester Frost County Park 2277 Gold Point Cir. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

FOOD & DRINK ∙ MIXOLOGY

Sippin' In The Southern Style Enjoying the timeless Southern mutability of the classic Mint Julep By Lauren Waegele Pulse contributor

HE KENTUCKY DERBY HAS COME and gone, but the mint julep is here to stay. Though the mint julep became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1983, this icon of Dixie originated in the ancient world of the Arabs, traveled to the Mediterranean, and joined United States culture in 1850 by former U.S. Senator, Henry Clay. Since then, the mint julep has graced the lips of many famous figures including Teddy Roosevelt, who made his own recipe; F. Scott Fitzgerald, who immortalized it in his most famous novel The Great Gatbsy; and even Scarlett O’Hara in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind: “His breath in her face was strong with Bourbon whiskey mingled with the faint fragrance of mint.” Yes, the mint julep has, in fact, survived hundreds of years of cultural change. But this Southern libation has done more than just refresh its consumers. The mint julep, particularly in its 18th Century SouthernAmerican roots, has served as an indicator of the elite. In its very recipe, the mint julep has main class markers. Traditionally, the mint julep has a base in bourbon whiskey, powdered sugar, and crushed mint leaves muddled with water and filled with cracked ice. This drink was often served in silver cups and held onto by the bottom or top edges of the cup in order to allow a nice frost to form on the outside of the cup. The necessity of ice in the drink meant that those drinking or offering it either had to have an ice house or had the money to purchase ice, an expensive commodity at the time. Furthermore, the traditional silver in which the drink was first served was also

an identifiable marker of class. The mint julep was the drink of the Southern elite and continues in perceived upper-class circles, such as many of the Kentucky Derby attendees. However, the beauty of the mint julep, beyond its refreshing taste and despite its elitist history, is that it has become widely accessible not because it has been cheapened but because it has been modernized. Today, the classic silver cup has been replaced with glass and the traditional recipe has been altered and continues to be altered to fit any and every occasion. We have an example of this in our lovely town of Chattanooga. Recognized as Chattanooga’s best cocktail bar in CityScope Magazine, Stir embraces the diversity of the julep by allowing the drinker to choose his or her own spirit for The American South Julep from bourbon to apple brandy to Holland gin. “We offer bourbon, brandy,

cognac, and gin, so we give our customers a choice of liquor,” says Stir’s sales and marketing manager Kyle Welch. “And we add a sugarcane syrup that we make in house.” Dr. Thacher’s Cocktail Syrups, handcrafted in Chattanooga, simplify the classic drink by allowing the creator to, according to their motto, “muddle no more” by including all the necessary flavors in

a bottle of all-natural syrup. Just add whiskey. “It’s a staple to have on your cocktail menu,” says Welch. “It’s one of Stir’s top-selling drinks on the patio.” Whether you crave the classic drink or opt for a more modern twist, the timelessness of the mint julep continues not because it stays the same but because it is always changing.

A Modern Twist on the Mint Julep: Sparkling Blackberry Mint Julep Ingredients • Small ice cubes (pellet ice from Sonic would work) • 1/2 cup blackberries • 4 tablespoons mint leaves torn in half • 2 tablespoons simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar brought to boil just enough to melt sugar, then cooled. • 3 ounces of bourbon

• Prosecco or other sparkling wine • Mint sprigs and blackberries for garnish Directions Fill a julep or small rocks glass overflowing with ice cubes. In a shaker, muddle the blackberries, mint leaves and simple syrup. Add 1 cup of ice cubes and

bourbon to the shaker and shake well. Strain the drink into the glass filling it 3/4 full. Finish filling the glass with the Prosecco, gently stir to combine. Gently press on the mint leaves for garnish to release their aroma before putting a bunch into each cocktail; finish with a blackberry and serve with a short straw. (courtesy creative-culinary.com)

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 19

MUSIC

The Cherry Blossoms Bloom In Sound Underground folk collective headlines Wayne-O-Rama

Chattanooga’s Inclusive Hip-Hop Scene The musical movement known as hip hop has been around since the ‘70s. Since then, the globalization of hip hop has become more than just a movement by adopting various DJs from all over the world. Unfortunately, many of these DJs and emcees, though from varied locations and backgrounds, are rarely female, and in a world so supposedly keen on equality, hip hop’s female problem must be solved. Hip-Hop CHA has made a significant contribution towards solving this problem. In Chattanooga, hip hop has also become more than a music genre or way to dress—hip hop has become a form of inclusion. Hip-Hop CHA has taken a step towards hiphop equality by hosting an all-female talent R&B Dance Party this Saturday night. The all-female talent will include DJ Ayomi, Gina T from Alabama, and Nori Nori. Hip-Hop CHA is a group of hip-hop lovers who seek to use hip hop to promote inclusion in the Chattanooga area by hosting hip-hop-focused events across the city. By reaching out to local artists, Hip-Hop CHA strives to include both its artists and its participants in the hip-hop scene of Chattanooga. Join the ladies this Saturday at the Revelry Room to either chill or party, but probably a little of both. — Lauren Waegele Hip-Hop CHA R&B Dance Party Saturday, 8 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. (423) 521-2929 www.revelryroom.co 20 • THE PULSE • MAY 25, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Ernie Paik

Pulse contributor

HE BELOVED NASHVILLE UNDERGRound folk collective The Cherry Blossoms are one of those bands that, paradoxically, this writer wants the whole world to hear while at the same time keeping them a precious secret to be unsullied by wide fame. The group, with a rotating membership, serves up rough-edged yet gentle-natured songs with a charmingly ramshackle momentum and campfire sing-along qualities that are hard to dislike. Group founders John Allingham and Peggy Snow plus longtime member Allen Lowrey answered some questions for The Pulse in advance of their May 27 show at Wayne-O-Rama with eclectic folk singer/songwriter Josephine Foster, guzheng (21-string Chinese zither) virtuoso Wu Fei and gnome mythologist Red Okra King. The performance will celebrate the vinyl reissue of the group’s album The Hank Tapes (previously self-released on CD-R) on the Violet Times label, and the bandmates recalled fond memories of the

1996 recording session, which included original Lambchop bassist and Chattanoogan Marc Trovillion, who passed away in 2013. Hank Tilbury, who was a member of Lambchop, had downtime in the studio where he worked. “We set up in a circle in the large room,” said Lowrey. “It was a Saturday night, and as I recall, Peggy had brought a large bottle of George Dickel that was passed around; over the course of the session it was pretty much empty by the end of the night.” “I remember Hank Tilbury bringing forth an old old-timey microphone, bottle of whiskey, herb, youth on our side, the feeling of everything, everything party,” said vocalist and guitarist Peggy Snow. “It just came forth all at once—Marc Trovillion started it on banjo, then these zany dooda-doos from John and Anna [Ring], and I just summoned up the lyrics about us music-makers. A lot of my favorite Cherry Blossoms songs have come all at once like that, in a forced moment, often on stage.” “Marc was a really individual musician with his own voice,” said guitarist and singer John Alling-

MUSIC

“The anti-war mentality that shaped the band’s beginning still has its prominent place, along with our love of nature.” ham. “Marc’s banjo is really great on it—a combination of old ‘20s tenor banjo and Jerry Garcia.” Percussionist/multi-instrumentalist and poet Allen Lowrey met Trovillion when they were both in Lambchop and played with him for over 10 years, and they were also members of the instrumental surf group The Gremmies and the “twisted, mostly acoustic” group Slumber Fish. “His upbeat and sarcastic wit entertained everyone who knew him. Being part of the rhythm section with him over the years taught me a lot about playing soulful grooves,” said Lowrey. “When on tours with Lambchop, we spent a lot of the downtime together. We got lost roaming around whatever European city we were playing that night and were called ‘the rhythm section with no sense of direction.’” The venue of the May 27

show, Wayne-O-Rama, reveals several relevant cultural intersections, since its designer, the Chattanooga-raised artist Wayne White, created album art for Lambchop and also worked on the television show Pee-wee’s Playhouse with Alison Mork (the voice of Chairy and Magic Screen), who collaborated with Allingham. “Alison Mork was an important part of the Nashville music songwriter scene that I was part of in the late ‘70s and ‘80s,” said Allingham. “She and I wrote two songs together that we’re going to do at the Wayne-O-Rama show.” One of the consistent members in The Cherry Blossoms is drummer Chris Davis, who met Allingham and Snow through music circles that converged on the outsider open-mic night called the Working Stiff Jamboree at the Springwater Supper Club, where Allingham and Snow originally met.

“We formed as a band in the early ‘90s when various communities were mingling in the same spaces—drum circle people at Centennial Park were drifting into Springwater where the Working Stiff Jamboree would be underway,” said Snow. “Peace activists, environmentalists, music-makers, circledancers, pontificators were all sort of one community— poets too.” “The anti-war mentality that shaped the band’s beginning still has its prominent place, along with our love of nature,” said Snow. “We also have songs about the deterioration and tear-downs of

beautiful old architecture.” Allingham praised his bandmates’ “inventive playfulness” and “no-boundaries openness” which inspire creative experimentation, and he called Davis “a great drummer whose improvising can verge from freestyle tangents to soulful and jazzy beats.” “Now it seems we are more floating along, more accept-

ing of one another and what we’re capable of, still open,” said Snow, reflecting upon the band’s 25 plus year existence. “I think one thing that has kept the Cherry Blossoms thing going this long is the basis of the songs, which I think have fairly strong bones,” said Allingham. “Then going wherever we want to.”

The Cherry Blossoms

with Josephine Foster, Wu Fei and Red Okra King Saturday, May 27, 8 p.m. Wayne-O-Rama · 1800 Rossville Ave., #108 wayneorama.com

THU5.25

FRI5.26

SAT5.27

Bluegrass Thursdays

Ashley and the Xs, Sam Killed The Bear

Preston James

Get your weekend started off early with some hot pickin' on the Southside with some of the city's best players. 7:30 p.m. Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com

Two great local bands strut their stuff on stage, giving everyone a reason to venture into Brainerd. 9 p.m. Mayo's Bar and Grille 3820 Brainerd Rd. (423) 624-0034

A wicked guitarist with a soulful voice, insightful songwriting and a million dollar smile. Oh, and did we mention he's just 16? 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 21

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

The Rad Trads

THURSDAY5.25 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Rick Rushing 6 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic Night with Megan Saunders 6 p.m. Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Prime Country Band 6:30 p.m. Motley’s 320 Emberson Dr. Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 Bluegrass & Country Jam 6:30 p.m. Grace Church of the Nazarene 6310 Dayton Blvd. chattanoogagrace.com Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m. Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. mexi-wingchattanooga.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St.

22 • THE PULSE • MAY 25, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

FRIDAY5.26 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. (706) 820-2531 seerockcity.com Ryan Oyer Band 6 p.m. Cambridge Square Night Market 9453 Bradmore Ln. chattanoogamarket.com Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m. El Meson

2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m. Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 The Rad Trads, Jonny Monster Band 7 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com Jenny & Tyler with Anna Lawrence 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com

PULSE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT Cosmic Southern Funk echoed from the meandering, verdant hills of Central Tennessee. Universal themes and sounds refracted through the Southern vernacular prism. Natchez Tracers Friday, 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com

Instant Replay 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Hap Henninger 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Porch Boy Rebels 9 p.m. Coyote Jack’s Saloon 1400 Cowart St. coyotejackssaloon.com Mat Downer—The Old Time Traveler 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Fly By Radio 9 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Roast of Alex, Michael and Jon + prey manta, sweet talker 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Charlotte Berg, Tessa Lynn Plank, Jake Lemons 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggys 607 Cherokee Rd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Jordan Hallquist & The Outfit 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Danimal Planet Ashley and the Xs, Sam Killed The Bear 9 p.m. Mayo's Bar and Grille 3820 Brainerd Rd. (423) 624-0034 Natchez Tracers 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com One Night Stand 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SATURDAY5.27 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. (706) 820-2531 seerockcity.com Bluegrass Brunch Noon The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com Sabrina Murdaugh 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m. El Meson 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m. Cancun Mexican Restaurant

1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Hip-Hop CHA R&B Dance Party 8 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co The Cherry Blossoms, Josephine Foster, Wu Fei, 8 p.m. Wayne-O-Rama 1800 Rossville Ave. wayneorama.com Instant Replay 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Sullivan Band 9 p.m. Coyote Jack’s Saloon 1400 Cowart St. coyotejackssaloon.com Preston James 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Danimal Planet, The New Schematics 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Chronologist, Myth Of I, Sparrus. 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggys

607 Cherokee Rd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Downright 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Mark Andrew 10 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com One Night Stand 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SUNDAY5.28 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. (706) 820-2531 seerockcity.com The Mailboxes 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Stratoblasters 12:30 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Jalil Muhammad Trio 1 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m.

Fiddler’s Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Mark Kelly Hall 6 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Nathan Mell 7 p.m. The BackStage Bar 29 Station St. (423) 629-2233 Mark Holder and MPH, 20 Watt Tombstone, Maness Bros. 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

MONDAY5.29 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Open Mic Night 6 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 23

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Flux Pavilion puckettsgro.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com

TUESDAY5.30 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 Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY5.31 Noontunes with Husky Burnette Noon Miller Plaza 850 Market St. noontunescha.com Eddie Pontiac 5:30 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonrestaurant.com Toby Hewitt 6 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com No Big Deal 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites

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495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Bike Night with Tyson Leamon 6 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com Old Time Fiddle & Banjo Show 6:30 p.m. Fiddler’s Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Danny Black & Mel Washington 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Joel Clyde 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 Flux Pavilion with Kayzo & Jaykode 9 p.m. Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ADAM BECKETT

The Barry Orchestra Introducing...The Barry Orchestra Vol. 3, Chattanooga Girls Rock Smokin’ in the Girls Room C

The Barry Orchestra Introducing...The Barry Orchestra Vol. 3 (barryorchestra.bandcamp.com)

he Chattanooga music scene is currently in full stride. Local artists are producing amazing music that has a worldwide sound. Introducing....The Barry Orchestra Vol. 3 by the Barry Orchestra is a magical album that has a one of a kind sound and flow, and is limitless with its potential. Being mainly instrumental, it is hard to identify the specific genre classification for the album. Somewhere between hip-hop, electronic, and experimental, sits this

Chattanooga Girls Rock Smokin’ in the Girls Room (chattanoogagirlsrock. bandcamp.com)

dynamite local treasure. The smooth flowing, head bobbing, diversity of the music within the album, mixed with passion, relatability, delivery of sound, and rhythm, makes this perhaps my favorite album to come out of Chattanooga. “I love music, I want to deliver fresh sounds that can be the soundtrack to your life, emotions, experiences, and mine,” says Stephen Barry, the composer and producer for all of the tracks on the album. He really lived up to

his mission statement with the delivery of his third album which was released in April of this year. Where most of the songs on the album are original, there are a couple of renditions of popular songs that are very well re-done. “Nothing”, is a unique version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which is one of those songs that if somebody is going to mess with it, then they better do a really good job due to its legendary status. Stephen Barry killed it. “Gone” is superb adaptation of John Mayer’s “Dreaming With a Broken Heart”, he laces a hip-hop beat with it, and it is magnificent. There is not a bad song on the album, but some of the more notable tracks are “The Falling”, “The Walk”, “Cartoons and Cereal”, and “Wishing”. This is the kind of album that fits a multitude of situations, it is perfect for most settings. Give it a listen, you won’t be disappointed.

hattanooga Girls Rock has recently released a forty song punk rock album titled Smokin’ in the Girls Room that does exactly like their name. It rocks. Chattanooga Girls Rock is a local non-profit organization that is one hundred percent volunteer led. According to their website, they reject the antiquated notion that girls should be seen and not heard, and they provide a platform for girls’ voices and stories to be amplified across Chattanooga and the south. Their purpose is to empower girls in our community to build confidence, and celebrate their individuality through collaborative music education and performance. Smokin’ in the Girls Room has a wide variety of punk rock, and rock and roll styles that makes for a different kind of album. With forty different tracks, the empowered girls and women combine to produce a ferocious sound. It is a fun album that over-

all sounds great. Some of the songs go hard and break into screaming, which is an essential for punk rock style albums. With so many artists being able to unleash themselves into an outlet that will be heard makes it really powerful. This album has very many angles, and reflections of different people, which gives it a lot of heart and soul. Seemingly, the album is broken down into different group names inside of Chattanooga Girls Rock. Dark Rides “Walk the Floors”, Onetimers “Bad Dreams”, Blue River Hex “Just Leave”, Rock Paper Stupid “Flat Earth Society”, and Forced Vengeance “Fuzzy Flag of Fascism” seem to be the standout tracks on the album, but all of the tracks on the album all hold their own weight. Smokin’ in the Girls Room is an album that is excellent on so many levels, and it is one that is awesome for the community as a whole. This is our voice Chattanooga, let it be heard.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY tions: What types of self-development are you “saving for later”? Are you harboring any mediocre goals or desires that dampen your lust for life? Do you tone down or hold back your ambitions for fear they would hurt or offend people you care about?

ROB BREZSNY GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Generation Kill is an HBO miniseries based on the experiences of a reporter embedded with American Marines fighting in Iraq. Early on, before the troops have been exposed to any serious combat, they’re overflowing with trash talk. A commanding officer scolds them: “Gentlemen, from now on we’re going to have to earn our stories.” Although you are in a much less volatile situation right now, Gemini, my advice to you is the same: In the coming weeks, you’ll have to earn your stories. You can’t afford to talk big unless you’re geared up to act big, too. You shouldn’t make promises and entertain dares and issue challenges unless you’re fully prepared to be a hero. Now here’s my prophecy: I think you will be a hero. CANCER (June 21-July 22): In your mind’s eye, drift back in time to a turning point in your past that didn’t go the way you’d hoped. But don’t dwell on the disappointment. Instead, change the memory. Visualize yourself then and there, but imagine you’re in possession of all the wisdom you have gathered since then. Next, picture an alternative ending to the old story—a finale in which you manage to pull off a much better result. Bask in this transformed state of mind for five minutes. Repeat the whole exercise at least once a day for the next two weeks. It will generate good medicine that will produce a creative breakthrough no later than mid-June. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’re being invited to boost your commitment to life and become a more vivid version of yourself. If you refuse the invitation, it will later return as a challenge. If you avoid that challenge, it will eventually circle back around to you as a demand. So I encourage you to respond now, while it’s still an invitation. To gather the information you’ll need, ask yourself these ques-

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Dear Dream Doctor: I dreamed that a crowd of people had decided to break through a locked door using a long, thick wooden plank as a battering ram. The only problem was, I was lying on top of the plank, half-asleep. By the time I realized what was up, the agitated crowd was already at work smashing at the door. Luckily for me, it went well. The door got bashed in and I wasn’t hurt. What does my dream mean? —Nervous Virgo.” Dear Virgo: Here’s my interpretation: It’s time to knock down a barrier, but you’re not convinced you’re ready or can do it all by yourself. Luckily, there are forces in your life that are conspiring to help make sure you do it. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): As long as you keep Syria, South Sudan, and North Korea off your itinerary, traveling would be food for your soul during the next 28 days. It would also be balm for your primal worries and medicine for your outworn dogmas and an antidote for your comfortable illusions. Do you have the time and money necessary to make a pilgrimage to a place you regard as holy? How about a jaunt to a rousing sanctuary? Or an excursion to an exotic refuge that will shock you in friendly, healing ways? I hope that you will at least read a book about the territory that you may one day call your home away from home.

Homework: How could you change yourself to get more of the love you want? Testify by going to RealAstrology.com and clicking on “Email Rob.” lyrical new expressions of intimacy. Will you accept the invitation? Are you willing to transcend your habitual responses for the sake of your growth-inducing relationships? Are you interested in developing a greater capacity for collaboration and synergy? Would you be open to making a vulnerable fool of yourself if it helped your important alliances to fulfill their dormant potential? Be brave and empathetic, Sagittarius. Be creative and humble and affectionate. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “In youth we feel richer for every new illusion,” wrote author Anne Sophie Swetchine. “In maturer years, for every one we lose.” While that may be generally true, I think that even twenty-something Capricorns are likely to fall into the latter category in the coming weeks. Whatever your age, I foresee you shouting something akin to “Hallelujah!” or “Thank God!” or “Boomshakalaka flashbang!” as you purge disempowering fantasies that have kept you in bondage and naive beliefs that have led you astray.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): By now I’m sure you have tuned in to the rumblings in your deep self. Should you be concerned? Maybe a little, but I think the more reasonable attitude is curiosity. Even though the shaking is getting stronger and louder, it’s also becoming more melodic. The power that’s being unleashed will almost certainly turn out to be far more curative than destructive. The light it emits may at first look murky but will eventually bloom like a thousand moons. Maintain your sweet poise. Keep the graceful faith.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “There are no green thumbs or black thumbs,” wrote horticulturalist Henry Mitchell in a message you were destined to hear at this exact moment. “There are only gardeners and non-gardeners. Gardeners are the ones who get on with the high defiance of nature herself, creating, in the very face of her chaos and tornado, the bower of roses and the pride of irises. It sounds very well to garden a ‘natural way.’ You may see the natural way in any desert, any swamp, any leech-filled laurel hell. Defiance, on the other hand, is what makes gardeners.” Happy Defiance Time to you, Aquarius! In the coming weeks, I hope you will express the most determined and disciplined fertility ever!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Life is inviting you to decode riddles about togetherness that could boost your emotional intelligence and earn you the right to enjoy

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I believe it may be the right time to tinker with or repair a foundation; to dig down to the bottom of an old resource and consider transforming it

at its roots. Why? After all this time, that foundation or resource needs your fresh attention. It could be lacking a nutrient that has gradually disappeared. Maybe it would flourish better if it got the benefit of the wisdom you have gained since it first became useful for you. Only you have the power to discern the real reasons, Pisces—and they may not be immediately apparent. Be tender and patient and candid as you explore. ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Sin” is a puerile concept in my eyes, so I don’t normally use it to discuss grown-up concerns. But if you give me permission to invoke it in a jokey, ironic way, I’ll recommend that you cultivate more surprising, interesting, and original sins. In other words, Aries, it’s high time to get bored with your predictable ways of stirring up a ruckus. Ask God or Life to bring you some really evocative mischief that will show you what you’ve been missing and lead you to your next robust learning experience. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Attention, smart shoppers! Here’s a special spring fling offer! For a limited time only, you can get five cutesy oracles for the price of one! And you don’t have to pay a penny unless they all come true! Check ‘em out! Oracle #1: Should you wait patiently until all the conditions are absolutely perfect? No! Success comes from loving the mess. Oracle #2: Don’t try to stop a sideshow you’re opposed to. Stage a bigger, better show that overwhelms it. Oracle #3: Please, master, don’t be a slave to the things you control. Oracle #4: Unto your own self be true? Yes! Unto your own hype be true? No! Oracle #5: The tortoise will beat the hare as long as the tortoise doesn’t envy or try to emulate the hare. 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.

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OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS

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JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES “Snappy Comebacks”

—get your return on investment. ACROSS 1 Horseshoe-shaped fastener 6 Center of attraction, so to speak 11 Like some answers 14 Judge’s place 15 Kazakhstan range 16 Marriage starter 17 Gloss over, vocally 18 Grab a belief? 20 Pizza ___ (2015 meme) 21 Disturbance 23 Low tattoo spot 24 Bar tests? 26 Holes in Swiss cheese 27 “M*A*S*H” character’s cutesy Disney Channel series? 31 Four-award initialism 32 Charmed 36 The whole thing 37 Airwaves regulatory gp. 40 Planetarium depiction 41 Call for Lionel Messi 42 Northern California draw 45 One of four on a diamond 46 Brothel owner on a pogo stick? 50 Word in multiple “Star Wars” titles 53 Neighbor of Morocco 54 Acid in proteins, informally 56 ___ District (Lima, Peru beach resort area) 57 Maggie Simpson’s grandpa 60 Queen of paddled boats? 62 Injured by a bull 64 Ginormous 65 The first U.S. “Millionaire” host, to fans 66 Bring together 67 Part of IPA 68 Having lots of land 69 Ford Fusion variety DOWN 1 Lyft competitor, in most places 2 Bauhaus song “___ Lugosi’s Dead” 3 “Don’t bet ___!” 4 ___ Soundsystem

5 Stanley Cup org. 6 Sailors’ uprising 7 “A Little Respect” synthpop band 8 They get greased up before a birthday 9 A.L. Central team, on scoreboards 10 Schnauzer in Dashiell Hammett books 11 Swear word? 12 “Hello” singer 13 Completely, in slang (and feel free to chastise me if I ever use this word) 19 Calendario starter 22 Slick stuff 24 Frequent chaser of its own tail 25 Mt. Rushmore loc. 27 Make a mad dash 28 Give creepy looks to 29 Tattled 30 “Snatched” star Schumer 33 Word before kill or rage 34 “Let It Go” singer 35 Consider 37 “Learn to Fly” band ___ Fighters 38 Barry Manilow’s club 39 Increasingly infrequent dashboard option 43 Full of complaints 44 Political placards in your yard, e.g. 45 Sheep’s sound 47 Made out 48 Miracle-___ (garden brand) 49 “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” bassist Charles 50 Brand name in the smoothie world 51 Server piece 52 Morose song 55 Gumbo veggie 57 Uninspired 58 B in Greek Philosophy? 59 Genesis setting 61 DOE’s predecessor 63 It comes after twelve

Copyright © 2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per3minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 833.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MAY 25, 2017 • THE PULSE • 29

FOOD & DRINK ∙ SUSHI & BISCUITS

In Search Of The Perfect Curry Our resident chef delves into the history of the Indian-inspired dish

Mike McJunkin Pulse columnist

HAT IS A CURRY? IT SEEMS like a simple enough question, but the concept has been muddied by well-meaning, but mistaken culinarians who wield the word like a linguistic Swiss army knife—it seems like a useful, multi-purpose Indian food descriptor, but it’s never really quite right for the job. For most Americans, especially in the South, there’s an almost inseparable connection between Indian food and curry. But we never stop to ask, what exactly is an Indian curry? Are all of those distinctly different, saucy and spicy Indian foods curries? The word “curry” is simply an anglicized version of the Tamil word kari which means “sauce.” Curry doesn’t describe one particular dish any more than the word “sauce” describes one particular dish—it’s just a term used in lieu of sauce or gravy. Some Indians will use the word “curry” to describe a saucy, spiced (not necessarily spicy) stew when speaking in English. When speaking in their native language, however, these dishes have specific names that do not include the word “curry.” So, when a menu says “chicken curry” in English, it could be referring to murgh kari, koldil aru manxo, murgh makhana, rezala, or any number of dishes, each with their own unique set of spices and ingredients; each with their own very different flavors; but each subsumed under the English moniker of “chicken curry.” A walk down the spice aisle might lead

you to believe that curry is a spice or a standardized combination of spices. In spite of what the corporate shills at Big Spice would have you to believe, there is no single spice or standard spice formula known as “curry,” but rather a wide variety of spice blends that were created as an easy way for the British Raj to get the flavors they fell in love with while stationed in India. The popularity of these Indian spice blends can largely be credited to the British, who became enamored with the spices and flavors of India and wanted to synthesize them into a single, manageable way to bring flavor to their bland, boiled meats. Most Indian home cooks have their own secret, special spice blends that are essential to their cooking. These blends can vary dramatically from region to region and from cook to cook, but cumin, coriander seed, turmeric and cayenne pepper are typically somewhere in the mix. The manufacturers of commercial curry blends have a thing for turmeric and fenugreek. I suppose people associate turmeric’s yellow color and the mildly maple-ish scent of fenugreek with the anglicized concept of curry—but as you probably guessed, neither of these are present in all curries. Most commercial curry blends resemble a spice mix used in north India called garam masala (garam means “hot” and masala means “spice”) but the word garam alone is used to refer to either a single

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spice or a mixture of spices like garam masala or paanch phoron (cumin, brown mustard, fenugreek, nigella and fennel). Making garam masala at home is easy, but you’ll want to experiment with different ratios of spices to get a mix that’s balanced to your liking. Simply toast whole spices like cardamom, coriander, cumin, mustard seeds, peppercorns, cloves, chilies, cinnamon and nutmeg, then grind them into a powder with a mortar and pestle. This mixture will keep for up to a month in an airtight container, but use it while it’s fresh for the best flavor punch. So, what is an Indian curry? At

its most basic, it’s a dish that probably originated in the Indian subcontinent, is usually prepared in a sauce, and typically uses a complex combination of spices. But the key to what makes a curry a curry is the multifaceted interplay of spices. This interplay of aromatic spices is at the root of India’s multifaceted and flavorful cuisine, and a wellmade curry is the perfect symbol of the vast array of possible combinations and interactions of spices that have made and destroyed empires. Mike McJunkin is a native Chattanoogan currently living abroad who has trained chefs, owned and operated restaurants. Join him on Facebook at facebook.com/ SushiAndBiscuits

Bengali Curry Powder Ingredients • 2 Tbsp cumin seeds • 2 Tbsp coriander seeds • 1 tsp black peppercorns • 1 tsp fenugreek seeds • 1 cinnamon stick • 3 dried red chilies • 15 curry leaves • 1 tsp turmeric

Directions 1. In a heavy-bottomed pan, dry roast all the spices except the turmeric on medium heat for about two minutes. 2. Mix in the turmeric and grind in a mortal & pestle or a spice mill. 3. Store in an airtight jar in a cool dry place.

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