JULY 5, 2018
CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
The Future Of Food Trucks WILL THE CITY SUPPORT OUR CULINARY DIVERSITY? By Alex Curry
TRAINING YOUR BRAIN • A GUITARIST'S GUITARIST • GRAPPLING WITH BELIEF
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 15, ISSUE 27 • JULY 5, 2018
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 Rob Brezsny • Alex Curry Kevin Hale • Matt Jones Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Alex Teach • Michael Thomas Jenn Webster Editorial Interns Libby Gillies • Olivia Haynes Design Intern Kenzie Wrightsman Cover Photo Lesha Patterson Cartoonists Max Cannon • Jen Sorenson Tom Tomorrow
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ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • Danielle Swindell
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.
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The Future Of Food Trucks Mobile food ventures have been part of the international culinary world for as long as civilizations have existed. Busy Bangkok intersections are the poster child for hustle and bustle with innumerable carts slinging delicious bites, eclectic smells, Thai Tea, and fresh local scrumptious yummies du jour.
GETTING INTO A PICKLE
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A GUITARIST'S GUITARIST
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If you’re from the south and of a certain age, you probably remember mom-and-pop filling station-grocery combos, and especially the pickles they stocked.
Whether you heard it from an elder musician, read it in a book, or learned about it from Ralph Macchio, the legend of Robert Johnson selling his soul at the crossroads in exchange for his guitar playing skills is a resonant bit of folklore.
7 SHRINK RAP
TRAINING YOUR BRAIN
Summer is a great time for barbeques and baseball games, but it’s also a time when schools and scholars alike release their summer reading lists.
GRAPPLING WITH BELIEF
Social progress and religion has always been problematic. As the world changes and becomes more accepting, things that were once viewed as sinful are later viewed as inherent.
18 MUSIC REVIEWS
22 ON THE BEAT
12 ARTS CALENDAR
19 ART OF BUSINESS
23 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
16 MUSIC CALENDAR
21 NEW IN THEATERS
23 JONESIN' CROSSWORD
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 3
BEGINNINGS · CITY LIFE
Getting Into A Pickle The once-lamented pickle is making a tangy comeback By Jenn Webster Pulse contributor
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Pickling is experiencing a DIY resurgence. Foodies are finding upscale uses for old-school pickles, such as a pod of pickled okra as garnish for a Bloody Mary.”
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F YOU’RE FROM THE SOUTH AND OF A CERTAIN AGE, you probably remember mom-and-pop filling station-grocery combos, and especially the pickles they stocked. Pickled eggs, weirdly pink. Pickled pigs’ feet, looking like lab specimens. Pickled okra and watermelon rinds and beets and even cucumbers (you know, what we call “pickles”).
It makes sense that people used to pickle everything, because pickling, like brewing and canning, is one way of preserving your valuable produce. A batch of pickles will last indefinitely without refrigeration, explains Shelly Nicole Ayers. She’s been making pickles ever since she can remember—first helping her mom in their East Ridge kitchen, and now pickling her own produce. And since Ayers can make up to 18 quarts of pickles in a batch, that’s a lot of experience.
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Pickling is experiencing a DIY resurgence, she tells me. Foodies are finding upscale uses for old-school pickles, such as a pod of pickled okra as garnish for a Bloody Mary. Asian pickles, such as kimchi, are also making an impact. We examine two jars of pickles Ayers has made—traditional cucumbers, and watermelon rinds pickled with cloves and cinnamon. They look impressive with their jewel-like colors. But Ayers tells me they’re simple to make. First, she says, you cut your vegeta-
bles, then place in water and lime—not the citrus fruit, but calcium hydroxide. You can buy food-grade pickling lime at Walmart. Next, let your pickles sit in lime for 24 hours before rinsing them thoroughly. “Then I sit them in cold water to shock them,” Ayers says. “After that, I boil them with flavoring—white vinegar plus seasonings. I like to get them a little tender.” Ayers experiments with seasonings, such as garlic and dill combinations, and makes notes of her successes, she says. Then the canning jars must be boiled and filled, and the lid and ring, also sterilized, placed on. “You have to leave room for air,” Ayers says, indicating the gap at the top of the pickle jars we’re looking at. “You may find a ‘full’ jar of commercial pickles, but you won’t find home-made pickles without that gap.” Finally, the filled jars are heated in boiling water, then cooled. This process creates an air-tight seal, helping keep bacteria out. “As the pickles cool, it sucks the air out,” Ayers says. “You can hear the ‘pop’ of the lid.” She indicates the red jar in front of us, still slightly warm to touch. “Five of the jars in this batch popped in their heat bath,” she says. “One didn’t, so I put it in the fridge.” Want to start making pickles? “Start small,” Ayers counsels. “Don’t start with dill pickles—homemade ones don’t taste like commercial ones! And don’t be afraid of making one you don’t like. Start with a sweet pickle, get down how to seal it, then branch out into savory ones!” If you’re in a hurry, refrigerator pickles are also an option, but remember that they aren’t preserved like traditional pickles—they’ll spoil if they don’t stay in the ‘fridge.
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick
“My philosophy is: It’s none of my business what people say of me and think of me. I am what I am and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything.” — Anthony Hopkins
How Beneficial Are Bats? Learn all about our nocturnal little flying furry friends Did you know that there are 1,100 different species of bats in the world and 40 different species just in the United States alone? Many of which are considered endangered since they’re losing their habitats and the fact that they can only give birth to one pup a year. Dracula and other vampire stories have kids growing up thinking bats are scary creatures, but in reality, they really can’t hurt you. They are
actually helpful in keeping the bug populations in order by consuming around their own body weights in insects. They can eat about 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour. The Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center wants people to learn more about bats and realize they aren’t some scary animal that will suck your blood or get tangled up in your hair. They’re holding an event to teach about bats and
go into the Nickajack Cave to witness these creatures during feeding time. If you’re interested in learning more about bats and want to join The Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, fly on over to their event on Friday at 7:15 p.m. If you want more information, they can be reached at (423) 821-1160 and reflectionriding.org. — Libby Gillies
What freedom! To understand that the path you walk is not subject to the approval of others. To take full responsibility for your life means that the journey you are on is all yours. And the journey of others’ is just that: theirs. No guilt from the past, no anxiety about the future. If you need to make amends for past mistakes that hurt others, you do so. And if you are low on compassion, forgiveness and patience with yourself, you work on that. Expect nothing. Accept everything. Consider this: Stop and breathe. Take stock. Be rigorously honest and own your stuff. Sort out your priorities. And know, deep in your soul, that you are a worthy and vital human being. — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
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COLUMN · SHRINK RAP
12-Steppin’ Your Way To Wellness There are many paths to wellness, as long as your take the first step
T Dr. Rick
Pulse columnist
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90 meetings in 90 days” often begins the healing, and if a person can muster the internal fortitude for that, then they are off to a great start.
Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, minister, and educator in private practice in Chattanooga. Contact him at DrRPH.com, visit his wellness center at WellNestChattanooga.com
HERE ARE MANY PATHS TO wellness, and many ways to embark on those paths. I encourage people to go in the direction that feels right to them, and having the input or guidance of a professional to help discover that direction can be an invaluable first step. For instance, depending on a person’s concerns—be they psychological, physical or spiritual—they might find that the most healing route for them is a tailored combination of psychotherapy, support groups, couples’ work, utilizing “alternative” modalities—meditation, yoga, Reiki, massage, acupuncture, etc. Sometimes medication needs to be considered. The possibilities are many, and one of the most promising, when addiction is in the picture, is a 12-Step group. I remember having an assignment in grad school to attend several 12-Step meetings. This was a new experience for me then, and I was blown away by what I heard. The raw pain, rigorous honesty and overwhelming battles within…as well as the fellowship and commitment to helping each other, non-judgmentally. I was humbled and filled with respect for these journeys. These days there are many types of 12-Step meetings, as we become more enlightened to the myriad of addictions: AA (alcohol), NA (narcotics/opiods), OA (over-eating), GA (gambling), SCA (sexual compulsivity), ACA (adult children of alcoholics) and Alanon (dealing with an addicted loved one.) These are perhaps the best-known, and there are more. Let’s face it: we can become addicted to just about anything. Even the remote control!
I’m not advocating that these anonymous groups are for everyone; they’re not. However, if given a chance, they can be truly life-saving for many. “90 meetings in 90 days” often begins the healing, and if a person can muster the internal fortitude for that, then they are off to a great start. Having been so impressed back when I was in school, you can rightly assume that I have several friends in my life now, and many patients throughout the three decades of my work, who are active in their recovery, and count one or more types of 12-Step meetings as helping them to be who they are today—alive, clean, sober and hopeful. So I want to share with you a few brief passages from my friend Chris’ writings. He just hit 10 years sober, and his reflections offer further insight. CHANGE CAN BE SCARY “Times are changing and I have to change with them...we all change and that’s good, just as long as we don’t forget all the people we used to be. I ask my Higher Power to help me to be malleable yet strong and to live thru change with contentment. “This disease of addiction is so destructive and can warp us, the addict and the person affected by the addict. Life is simpler and more serene when there is a peace treaty between the squirrel convention and the flying monkeys in my head.” STARTING THE JOURNEY “The first night I stepped into the rooms, I remember the desperate need to begin learning how to live a different way than the road set before me by my family. So I shut up and listened; I
did for many meetings. Because of that, I learned to listen for my Higher Power’s words in others and to remember them when pieces of a plan fell into place. “After about two months, I began to talk more about my own walk in sobriety. I came from a family where insecurity and being afraid all the time was the norm. In the meetings I’m given the tools to overcome this fear: the serenity prayer, living in the present, working the steps, making gratitude lists, and staying close to my created family. “These days I’m grateful that my Higher Power can use me to reach others who are suffering.” THE HEALING POWER OF SERVICE WORK: HELPING OTHERS “I have felt guilty at times cuz I haven’t felt I’ve been of service to others, i.e. sponsoring, chairing a meeting, cleaning up afterwards. Yet, I still do service work in my own way, outside of meetings. A lot of times via late night texting a friend who has been struggling; sharing experiences with a loved one who is taking steps toward recovery; even in my daily contact with customers. Yes, I will get more involved at meetings, but I cannot discard the service work I do that keeps me out of my head while helping others. I hope this illustrates how the process is both internal and external, and that 12-Step meetings may be just what’s needed…perhaps for yourself, or a loved one who’s hurting. Until next time: “Shout out to everyone trying to get their life together. Working on yourself is the hardest part of life. Keep going, no matter where you are.” — the goodquote
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 7
COVER STORY
The Future Of Food Trucks Will the city support our culinary diversity? By Alex Curry Pulse contributor
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Over the past several years, the Scenic City has struggled to nurture a strong food truck scene due to immensely restrictive regulations from the local government.”
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OBILE FOOD VENTURES HAVE BEEN PART OF THE international culinary world for as long as civilizations have existed. Busy Bangkok intersections are the poster child for hustle and bustle with innumerable carts slinging delicious bites, eclectic smells, Thai Tea, and fresh local scrumptious yummies du jour. But wait a second, I’m not in Thailand. Can this really be Chattanooga?
The Chattanooga Street Food Festival is an annual gathering of the city's roving culinary institutions. As I walk down the corridor, it starts to feel like our beautiful city is catching up to the hype of one of the world’s greatest ways to eat. Cities like Austin and New York have long followed the trend of food-on-the-go, filling the bellies of hungry business folk and blue-collar Americans alike. Over the past several years, the Scenic City has struggled to nurture a strong food truck scene due to immensely restrictive regulations from the local government. This festival is one of the few places where they are em-
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braced and celebrated. It isn’t just the early mornings, treacherous and erratic weather, competition, or the myriad other issues that make life hard for these gastronomic road warriors. In Chattanooga, it’s a battle to even exist as a legitimate business. In 2012, the Chattanooga City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting food trucks from parking or operating on any city streets (with the exception of some key special events). Trucks were forced to close up shop and move from locations that they had occupied for their entire existence. The only remaining option was to find a
private piece of land to vend from. On May 29, an article from The Chattanoogan surfaced claiming that a new ordinance will be considered by the city council on July 10th, just a few days from now. After six years of prohibition, could a solution finally be on the table for our city? Or will we continue on a dull path of retrogression, a food scene restricted to brick-and-mortars? Executive Chef Rebecca Barron of Chattanooga’s famed St. John’s Restaurant is a strong advocate for more inclusive regulations: “I think we are really missing out on potential cultural opportunities for our city. I would love to see more variety in our food scene and I hope the city is willing to review its current ban.” Despite intensively prohibitive regulations, the food trucks of Chattanooga have found ways to survive and to follow their dreams to savory greatness. One truck, in particular, stands out in the fight to operate a successful drifter. Spill the Beans is a gourmet coffee truck and one of the longest running in the city. Since 2013, the establishment has offered up coffee, espressos, smoothies, chai teas, and more. Their partnership with the Chattanooga Coffee Company ensures locality and deliciousness. Proprietor Lisa Dunny decided to move from a stationary stand to a mobile cart in 2015. After years of successful enterprise on Lookout Street, the city suddenly pulled the plug and required Spill the Beans to vacate the spot. “It became rough when the city enforced their code stating food trucks weren’t allowed on the street. I used to park on Lookout Street every Wednesday for over two years in the same spot and no one ever bothered me.” Lisa started a petition to show the communities stance on food trucks. Within a week she had 3,800 signatures. It now sits at over 4,700 signatures and is steadily climbing. “Apparently the citizens of Chattanooga wanted food
trucks too!” exclaims Dunny. Another of Chattanooga’s carts, The Green Tambourine, is Chattanooga’s only vegan focused mobile eatery. The word “vegan” is off-putting for some eaters, but rest assured, it is not a tofuonly club meant to exclude the carnivorous. The cart offers up delicious and healthy creations that celebrate seasonality and locality. A rotating selection of fresh hummus, smoothies, and kombuchas are always available. Think dishes like waffles with berry compote, almond ricotta and mint, or organic rice bowls with quinoa, sesame slaw, avocado and chickpeas with tahini ginger sauce. There’s no need for meat when you’re eating this good. The Tambourine is a communityminded establishment which offers “Feed It Forward” meals. You can anonymously purchase a meal for someone who can’t afford one. The cart will then travel to different food deserts around town and provide the needy with healthy, substance-based meals. Recently, Mindful Market Chattanooga (operated by Conscious Community Coordinators) raised enough money to purchase 125 meal vouchers. The Green Tambourine will be setting up a huge event to give away the meals to people in need, but as with nearly every mobile eatery in the city, the Tambourine struggles to find places to set up their business. “We would absolutely set up more frequently if we were allowed to park on city streets. I would love to be able to serve the downtown working crowd during lunch,” says Chelsey, the cart’s owner. But with the current regulations, serving that crowd remains a pipe dream. To put a somewhat different twist into the mix, Petunias Silver Jalapeno throws a wrench in the proverbial definition of a “food cart”. A valid argument exists against them being in this
article at all. They are not mobile, nor a truck. The silver airstream trailer has given up its wheels to settle in a permanent location on Chattanooga’s bustling Main street. It’s now a permanent structure that merely has the appearance of being a food cart. Stringently regulated building permits, permanent plumbing, and ground anchoring straps have ensured the structures immutability. One thing that is not in dispute is the quality of their menu. The trailer offers up delicious options with southwestern flair including my menu highlight, the fish tacos with roasted red pepper sauce, black beans, corn relish, pico and seasoned cabbage. Their pork and beans bowl is not to be missed. The jalapeno corn cake topper elevates the meal-in-a-bowl to exquisite levels. Virginia Cofer, chef-proprietor of the eatery, has continually developed the soul of the restaurant over the years. “The best stuff comes from mistakes. Mistakes are the most fun,” says Virginia. I’m trying to listen, but I can’t stop shoving my chicken quesadilla into my face. Her passion for food is apparent within minutes of meeting her. “I like to make people stop and think about their food. It’s all about the love that you put into your cooking!” exclaims the chef, smiling widely.
A newer truck on the block, How We Roll, offers a ridiculous selection of mouthwatering creations. They focus on gourmet egg rolls with both savory and sweet options to please any mood. Grab a Jack Daniels bacon cheeseburger or a pork eggroll and then transition your taste buds to a delicious Reese’s or peach pie roll. No matter your choice, they all grab the olfactory appeal, making it near impossible to pass up the bright pink truck. The rolls come out freshly hot and packed with piquancy. The Reuben is my personal favorite, the amalgamation of corned beef and sauerkraut dripping down my chin inflicts a floating state of euphoria. But you won’t find How We Roll parked on Chattanooga streets during normal business days. Without a spot to post up and sell outside of the Chattanooga Market, the truck usually travels around to other surrounding towns with more accepting regulations. “The main struggle is having a place to do business. We have the customers, just not the location! I receive call after call regarding where we will be set up in Chattanooga. We would love to have a semi-permanent area to set up on a schedule,” says Ginger, the chef-owner. It’s glorified, the simple life of owning a nomadic eatery, opening shop
whenever you see fit, answering to nobody but yourself. It’s a romantic ideal, a world of ease and empowerment and singularity. Reality has a different point-of-view. Chattanooga has the potential to be one of the greatest food cities in the region, but that goal is often blockaded by overreaching regulations and outdated rhetoric. “The food culture in Chattanooga is growing and has the potential to be something special within not just the region, but the entire country,” says chef Mike McJunkin, one of the leading voices for cultural diversity in Chattanooga’s culinary scene. “Reasonable rules that balance the concerns of brick-and-mortar businesses, residents, and mobile food enterprises are certainly possible. It’s done in other states and countries with great success,” he adds. The glory here is shrouded, hidden deep underneath momentous piles of plain ol’ hard work, elbow grease, and excessive red tape. Want to see more mobile food in your community? Call your representatives and tell them how you feel. Show up at the meeting on July 10th to show your support for food diversity in your community. Help support our local mobile food scene at the Chattanooga market, follow the trucks on Facebook and talk about them with your friends. Search the petition on change.org and let’s get these small businesses back on our streets. Together we can transform Chattanooga’s culinary potential into reality. Alex has explored the world as an entertainment technician and traveler. During his threeyear stint working in Asia, he fell in love with the cultural and culinary delights of the world. Alex spends his spare time studying food and travel.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Where Sculpture And Light Meet Have you ever wished that lizards were much bigger, and that they glowed in the dark? What about dragonflies? If this sounds like a dream and not a nightmare to you, perhaps you should check out the opening for Charlie Yowell’s “Light Play” at the InTown Gallery this Friday starting at 5 p.m. Charlie Yowell creates sculptures that are meant to be delightful (pun intended), whimsical and fun. His pieces, crafted from stained glass or acrylic and wires, include Dogs and A Bonus Pig, and Solar Lizard Gecko Salamander. Yowell employs solar power to give light to his creatures, and wind, vibrations, touch, and other forces of nature cause them to flutter, shimmy, shake, and move in ways that are sure to make people of all ages feel a little fluttery themselves. Yowell made his first sculptures out of wire coat hangers, quickly switching to other materials to avoid rust. He now participates in art shows around the region, as well as in the Midwest from which he hails. If Yowell’s lovely, award-winning sculptures aren’t quite enough to spark your fancy, the opening reception at InTown will also feature free food and beverages. Come out, play, and be delighted by “Light Play.” — Olivia Haynes
Training Your Brain Helping to improve your core cognitive functions By Kevin Hale Pulse contributor
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New research shows reading and brain training is becoming ever more important to stay sharp in our fast-paced society.”
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S
UMMER IS A GREAT TIME FOR BARBEQUES AND baseball games, but it’s also a time when schools and scholars alike release their summer reading lists. Even Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, recommends reading at least five books when you’re cooling off by the pool.
And while not everyone finds the time to read no matter the season, new research shows reading and brain training is becoming ever more important to stay sharp in our fast-paced society. Now I know what you’re thinking. I don’t have time to read. Well those of you who have young children can start reading aloud to them now. A new report from Scholastic, the educational conglomerate, suggests that reading out loud to kids throughout their elementary school years may inspire them to become frequent readers—meaning kids who read five to seven
days per week for fun. “Brain training is a hot topic,” says Michelle Davis of Learning RX, a national franchise with a location at Hamilton Place. The company has been around since 2010 but it wasn’t until the Federal Trade Commission ruling in 2016 against Lumosity, a similar “brain training” company, did the industry start to change. “Lumosity preyed on consumers’ fears about age-related cognitive decline, suggesting their games could stave off memory loss, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s disease,” said Jessica Rich, Director of
the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “But Lumosity simply did not have the science to back up its ads.” “We as a company had to start conducting randomized control trials to back up our research,” says Davis. Just jump on the company’s website and you be inundated with a plethora of science-based research not tied to specific results. While the company acknowledges it can’t cure disease, brain training looks to strengthens core cognitive skills the brain uses to think, learn, read, remember, reason, pay attention, and solve problems. The company says brain training has helped those clients with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Dyslexia, learning disabilities, Autism, traumatic brain injuries, and both kids and adults who are having memory issues. “We’ve helped military folks reconnect their neurological pathways and also those people who have had cancer and a stroke,” says Davis. “These are the mental processes we use every day, in every area of life.” Each of your cognitive skills plays an important part in processing new information. That means if even one of these skills is weak, no matter what kind of information is coming your way, grasping, retaining, or using that information is impacted. In fact, most learning struggles are caused by one or more weak cognitive skills.
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If even one of these skills is weak, no matter what kind of information is coming your way, grasping, retaining, or using that information is impacted.”
Targeting these deficiencies in cognitive skills is really the name of the game when it comes to brain training. These skills include sustained, selective and divided attention, long-term and working memory, logic and reasoning, auditory and visual processing and finally and processing speed. The cognitive skills assessment is the first step in developing an individualized plan for each client. This all sounds like it’s just for kids and that adults are sort of stuck with the brain they have, which couldn’t be further from the truth. “I remember a couple of years ago, we had a local CEO as a client who wasn’t remembering information as quickly,” says Davis. “He trained three times a week for three months.” It all paid off for the busy executive who gained longer mental endurance, could recall information quicker, and used visualization techniques to remember small details. “People always ask me how they can improve their cognitive skills at home,” says Davis. “Start by ditching the list.”
Next time you go to the grocery store, try remembering everything you need from memory. “If you end up forgetting something, it’s no big deal.” “Another great game you can play with just about anybody is mental tictac-toe,” explains Davis. “Just assign the numbers one, two and three to the top row. From there, assign the number four, five and six to the middle row. Finally, assign numbers seven, eight and nine to the bottom row.” The game utilizes both sides of the brain by mentally visualizing the board and recalling which numbers each player uses to win. The great part about brain training is that the brain is never too old to change. Forget about the old adage, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” If you dedicate at least 20 minutes, three times a week to improving your cognitive function, chance are you will more richly enjoy things like reading. “We have helped children as young as five and their grandparents as well,” says Davis. “You can practice brain training your whole life.”
THU7.5
FRI7.6
SAT7.7
Blue Heart Movie Premiere
July Cruise-In
Author Event: Debra Yates
This new movie documents the battle for the largest undammed river in Europe—Albania’s Vjos. 7 p.m. Barley Chattanooga 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com
Share your love of German engineering with the local Volks Folks crew for an evening of fun cars and automotive fellowship. 7 p.m. Sonic Drive-In 7420 E. Brainerd Rd. volksfolks.org
"Woman of Many Names" is the story of Nancy Ward and her influence on American history. 2 p.m. Barnes and Noble 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. barnesandnoble.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Aerial Introductory
THURSDAY7.5 Sew What: Sunglasses Cases 4 p.m. Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Introduction to Calligraphy 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 chattanoogaworkspace.com Artists in Residence: Jiemie Lin & Joe Hedges 6 p.m. En root House 1206 Duncan Ave. (423) 504-4408 enroothouse.com Make-Create Night 6 p.m. Heritage House Arts Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov Blue Heart Movie Premiere 7 p.m. Barley Chattanooga 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 Jerry “Critter” Harvey 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m. Westbound Bar
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24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com
FRIDAY7.6 Shorts Stack Vol.80: "What's Eating Pee Pee Wong" 5 p.m. Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Light Play 5 p.m. In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com Out On 8th 5 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. (423) 424-1831 westvillagechattanooga.com July Exhibit Opening Reception 5:30 p.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (800) 374-2923 river-gallery.com Cambridge Square Night Market 6 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 648-2496 July Cruise-In 7 p.m. Sonic Drive-In
7420 E. Brainerd Rd. (423) 894-2699 volksfolks.org Salsa Night with Carlos Colon 7 p.m. Ceniza 9454 Bradmore Ln. (423) 760-4198 cenizalounge.com Beneficial Bats 7:15 p.m. Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org The Floor Is Yours 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Jerry “Critter” Harvey 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “Shrek the Musical” 8 p.m. Signal Mountain Playhouse 301 Rolling Way (423) 763-7219 smph.org Improv Movie Night: ’70s Horror! 8 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m.
Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Improv Showdown 10 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SATURDAY7.7 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Farmer’s Market Red Wolf Feeding and Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Author Event: Debra Yates 2 p.m. Barnes and Noble 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. (423) 893-0186 barnesandnoble.com Aerial Introductory Workshop 2 p.m. Chattanooga Aerials 2315 Cannon Ave.
Frank Caliendo (423) 582-2437 chattanoogaaerials.com Summer in West Village 6 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. westvillagechattanooga.com Jerry “Critter” Harvey 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Week in Review 8 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com “Shrek the Musical” 8 p.m. Signal Mountain Playhouse 301 Rolling Way (423) 763-7219 smph.org Movies in the Park 8:30 p.m. Coolidge Park 150 River St. (423) 267-5383 firstthings.org Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SUNDAY7.8 Chattanooga Market
10 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us Guitar Chattanooga 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1801 Carter St. (423) 266-4041 Free Fiddle School 2 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 In Sonitus Lux: An Evening of Eclectic Sound 7 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Jerry “Critter” Harvey 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY7.9 Summer Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Beginner Handlettering 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St.
(423) 413-8978 chattanoogaworkspace.com
TUESDAY7.10 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m. Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Tour 4 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute 175 Baylor School Rd. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Finding New Clients & Booking Business 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 chattanoogaworkspace.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com
WEDNESDAY7.11 Middle Eastern Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270
jewishchattanooga.com Main Street Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Drinking Liberally 6 p.m. Universal Joint 532 Lookout Ave. (423) 468-3725 ujchattanooga.com No Pressure: Instant Pot 101 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 chattanoogaworkspace.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com One Night Only with Frank Caliendo 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Open Mic Comedy 8 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 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 13
THE MUSIC SCENE
Shrek Comes To The Great Outdoors Shrek was a classic movie back in the early 2000’s. I’d be lying if I said I still didn’t watch it every now and again. The cast alone made the movie great. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are all big names still in the entertainment industry, and they portrayed their characters perfectly. Not to mention the music in the film. “I’m A Believer” and “All Star”—both by Smash Mouth—were a couple of my favorites. It’s funny for children and adults to watch, so it hits all audiences. Watching an ogre become best friends with a donkey, then falling in love with a princess that just so happens to also be an ogre from a curse is a perfect spin on the usual fairytales. With that in mind, get ready because “Shrek: The Musical” is coming to the mountain, this time with even more music, since (obviously), now it is indeed a fullfledged musical If you’ve grown up with the Shrek movies, and want some unusual outdoor summer fun, make sure to go to the Signal Mountain Playhouse on Friday or Saturday at 6 p.m. If you want more information, you can call the Playhouse at (423) 763-7219 or visit their website at smph.org. — Libby Gillies
A Guitarist's Guitarist Make plans to see Michelle Malone at Songbirds By Marc T, Michael Pulse Music Editor
“
For my money, a much better story involves a young girl, raised by her mother and grandmother, both professional singers.”
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W
HETHER YOU HEARD IT FROM AN ELDER MUsician, read it in a book, or learned about it from (lord help me) Ralph Macchio, the legend of Robert Johnson selling his soul at the crossroads in exchange for his guitar playing skills is a resonant bit of American folklore.
Of course, there is a much older tale of the great violinist Niccolò Paganini making the same Faustian pact for his own legendary talent. They are colorful stories, but just stories, all the same. For my money, a much better story involves a young girl, raised by her mother and grandmother, both professional singers. Her childhood was so steeped in music that she started performing at age
four, mastered multiple instruments within a few years, and formed her own band at age twelve. It’s a much better story because it is a true story, Michelle Malone’s story, and it involves no supernatural bartering, just pure talent, drive, and a passion for music in general and blues in particular. To list all the accomplishments and accolades of the Atlanta native’s thirty-year career would take
“
Straight out of school she was signed to a major label, a couple in fact, but eventually eschewed that to start her own label in 1992 and has since produced a staggering catalog of work.”
three times the space we have here, but a small sampling includes collaborations with Little Feat, Steve Earle, James Taylor, ZZ Top, John Mayer, Drivin’ and Cryin’, and Gregg Allman. The Indigo Girls owe her a few favors (she has the gold and platinum records to prove it.) Straight out of school she was signed to a major label, a couple in fact, but eventually eschewed that to start her own label in 1992 and has since produced a staggering catalog of work. On top of it all she has found the time for a wide range of philanthropic work including founding a college scholarship program for girls in need. Better folks than I have sang the praises of her music (Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Guitar World) and so my goal
here is less about adding my own descriptive verbiage to the lot and more about making local music lovers aware that this virtual goddess of guitar and voice is coming to town. On Thursday, August 9th, Songbirds Guitar Museum will proudly present Michelle Malone in support of her latest album, Slings & Arrows. The album, her fifteenth to date, was released in March and debuted at number eight on the Billboard Blues Chart. The critical response has been phenomenal with many hailing as it her best album to date, no mean feat given the superb quality of the fourteen preceding entries. “Love Yourself” is southern funk in the best Dr. John/Little Feat tradition. “Sugar on My Tongue” suggests not that she has drawn influence from the
Rolling Stones, but rather that the Rolling Stones drew their inspiration from the same sacred sources as Malone. “Beast’s Boogie,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” and “Civil War” demonstrate a range and depth that spans blues, Americana, roots, soul, and rock and roll without ever losing the thread of continuity that binds them all together as a family. Every song is a perfect example of what it is, every song is Michelle Malone, and hats off to Songbirds for once again hosting an artist whose presence elevates the scene to a whole new level of respectability and cool. You owe it to yourself to see this show, and in the meantime there is no shortage of this tremendously talented artist’s music for you to treat yourself with.
THU7.5 Bands on the Bluff: Psychedelic Summer
Come out and enjoy live music, art activities and a neon experience with Charlie The Head. 6 p.m. Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org
FRI7.6 Albert Cummings
An extraordinarily talented blues musician who has played alongside B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy. 7 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com
SAT7.7 Milele Roots
Chattanooga's legendary reggae funk rock masters take the stage for a hot summer night, along with C-Grimey. 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 15
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY7.5 Kofi Mawuko 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Bands on the Bluff: Psychedelic Summer 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org John Carroll 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Flattop Boxers 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Courtney Holder 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic Night 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
FRIDAY7.6 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens
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Courtney Holder ft. Hive Theory 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Julie Gribble 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Dr. B & The Ease 6 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. publicmarkets.us The Other Brothers 6 p.m. Edley's Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com John Carroll 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Amber Fults 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Albert Cummings, Mark "Porchop" Holder 7 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com Rick Rushing and The Blues Strangers 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Stolen Faces 9 p.m.
HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Dance Party w/ Clerks, Dokter 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Courtney Holder ft. Hive Theory 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Outlaw 45 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY7.7 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Michael Jacobs 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us One Night Stand Band 5 p.m. The Georgia Winery 6469 Battlefield Pkwy. georgiawines.com Preston Ruffing 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar
801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Megan Howard 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Danimal 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Breakfast Club 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Milele Roots, C-Grimey 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Lola Montez 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Outlaw 45 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY7.8 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com
Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Salute Your 90s 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
WEDNESDAY7.11
Lola Montez Kyle Nachtigal 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Marcus White Piano Brunch 11 a.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Guitar Chattanooga 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. publicmarkets.us Melissa Ellis Noon 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com The Do Rights 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Dovetail 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Year of the Locust ft. Silver Tongued Devilz & Antle 6 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com
Mathis & Martin 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Zigetrbra, El Bandito, Ester Rose 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Mike McDade 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
MONDAY7.9 Zach Bridges 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.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 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Mark Andrew
8 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Genki Genki Panic, Crimson Ghost 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Open Mic Night 9 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com
TUESDAY7.10 Danimal 6 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Gino Fanelli 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Eric Kirkendoll 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.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.
Matt Downer 4 p.m. Collegedale Market 4950 Swinyar Dr. publicmarkets.us No Big Deal 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Corey Evitts 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Dustin Concannon 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Maria Sable 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Jazz In The Lounge 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com
Used Books, CDs, Movies, & More
7734 Lee Highway • McKayBooks.com Mon-Thu 9am-9pm • Fri-Sat 9am-10pm • Sun 11am-7pm
Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 17
ERNIE PAIK'S RECORD REVIEWS
Tryezz The Space After (tryezz.com)
L
ocations have always been important for solo artist Tryezz—the moniker adopted by Chattanooga keyboardist Jonathan Fowlkes—who delivers what he calls his “Scenic Grooves” (partially named as a tribute to our Scenic City) as a way to evoke vivid scenery, often inspiring mental images of modern cityscapes. For Tryezz’s latest self-released album, The Space After, locations also have a second layer of meaning, as various locations for gigs have provided direct inspiration, and the album is entirely comprised of pieces that were composed during live performances in Chattanooga. For each track, Tryezz even
Jack Wright & Evan Lipson Careening Down the Left Coast (Spring Garden Music) lists the specific place where the track was created, including Coolidge Park, LIT art gallery, Frazier Avenue and the Majestic 12 Theater, among others. The Space After is also Tryezz’s first release on vinyl, in addition to being available on CD and as digital downloads, and it serves as a personal milestone for Fowlkes, capturing the vibes from the last two years that have been especially fruitful, out of his prolific 14year career. The instrumentals on The Space After are simultaneously modern and nostalgic, immediately bringing to mind particular funk, jazz and dance-pop styles from the ‘80s along with
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carefully selected sounds and synth timbres. While certain vaporwave purveyors/revivalists evoke a sort of ironic detachment, that’s not a case here; the tunes are upbeat and playful, but the proceedings are very much sincere with an embrace of shiny artificiality, heard on numerous moments, from beat-box tomtom runs to bendy, wavering synth chords. Tryezz’s mellifluous solos use nimble sprints, born from technical chops, and choice pitchwheel bending, and while approachable, there’s an undercurrent of sophistication both with melodic counterpoint and sound selection, from velvety synths to choice piano accents. The Space After presents Tryezz in the stylistic space where he is most cozy, balancing comfort with a warm energy viewed through a nostalgic and earnest lens, serving as a perfect introduction to Tryezz’s Scenic Grooves.
I
n saxophonist Jack Wright’s fascinating book “The Free Musics”, he poses the question, in the context of improvised music, “What sound or silence would we make if no music
existed, nothing even highly trained players know how to do?” Wright calls this approach “free playing,” which “does not depend on audience, critic, or posterity...and is not mediated by score, genre, code, one’s secure habits, or the music world.” Instead, it’s the result of performer’s decisions or a “momentary whim, based on commitment to the love of playing.” The new, live album from Wright and Evan Lipson (on double bass), Careening Down the Left Coast, is many things: stimulating, challenging and often maddening. But Wright points out an aspect that is often overlooked, as it can be compulsory to frame things— even in the realm of art—in terms of utility or progress or doing something that hasn’t been done: the aspect of love. Among the unrelenting strangeness, one can’t deny that there’s an intense love for performance that’s heard, driving and pushing the musicians. It can be mutual respect, it can be partially narcissism, but there’s an ardent desire for play, in all its glorious messiness.
The album features two long tracks: a 34-minute set recorded at Canessa Gallery in San Francisco and a 15-minute set at Turn! Turn! Turn! in Portland with Doug Theriault on electronics. The proceedings erupt with staccato fragments and sharp sonic slivers, perhaps the equivalent of preliminary shoves before brotherly fake-fighting, and one question that comes to mind when considering improvised music is whether or not it transcends simply being a catalog of sounds. Beyond the individual pieces—wisps, squeaks, squawks, splatters, bow thwacks, piercing tones, and countless others—is the experience worth revisiting? For this writer, it’s both thought-provoking and mindarresting music; with its frequent changes, a total concentration is needed or else it’s pointless to listen. It is the complete opposite of commercial music and easy pleasures. Many may find it hostile, but it simply exists as it is. Like an invitation to a warm embrace from an enticing stranger, one can think about the motives behind it, or one can simply enjoy it.
THE ART OF BUSINESS
The World Of Huck And Peck Furniture, rugs, lighting, and decor with Southern hospitality and style Brooke Brown
Pulse Assistant Editor
“
Huck and Peck has been open off Broad Street for a short two and a half years and in that time, they’ve made homeowners (and interior designers) furnishing dreams come true.”
The Scoop Huck and Peck 1251 W. 31st St. (423) 212-5421 Wed-Sat: 11am-6pm Sunday: 1pm-6pm Mon & Tues: Closed huckandpeck.com
I
T’S UNFORTUNATE FOR ADULTS that we spend the majority of our lives at work. Whether you like your job or not, work is work and coming home from a long day to a warm, inviting homestead is something we all strive for. Owning a home that is filled with your personality is a dream, a dream brought nearly to life through HGTV and Pinterest. But seeing it online or on your television is an entirely different ballgame from furnishing your own home to perfectly suit you. Luckily, Chattanooga features a mid to upscale furniture store that will have your Joanna Gaines-inspired heart skipping a beat. Huck and Peck has been open off Broad Street for a short two and a half years and in that time, they’ve made homeowners (and interior designers) furnishing dreams come true all while slowly becoming branded as Chattanooga’s Friendliest Furniture Store. “We have a culture now where you can see an Instagram photo, or a Pinterest post and know that’s what you want, but where do you get it?” says owner Michael Turner. “I have customers showing me a mirror or a couch on their phone that they just have to have, and more often than not, we find them an almost identi-
cal piece, if not the same one.” And you’ll find the prices just perfect for the incredible quality furniture Huck and Peck carries. From dining and living room sets to mirrors, rugs, throw pillows, mattresses, chandeliers, knick knacks, and so much more, the showroom floor is brimming with beautiful pieces, all available for immediate purchase and can even be delivered the same day. One thing Huck and Peck takes pride in is keeping their inventory as local as possible by seeking out Tennessee-crafted pieces, such as their rocking chairs or their mattresses that come from a 120-year-old mattress company in Nashville. And whether you live in a multi-thousand-something square foot home or a downtown apartment, Huck and Peck features furniture of all shapes and sizes to ensure every customer can find a piece to their size specifications. “We sell furniture that is suited from apartment dwellers up to the largest homes in Chattanooga,” says Turner. “We’re trying to be as helpful as possible in a day and age where you can order furniture off the internet without ever having sat on it, touched it. Putting together a cheap chair for a two-hundred-pound
adult male to sit on repeatedly isn’t going to go well in the long run. We’re selling quality at a fair price every day.” Selling quality at a fair price every day means there are no gimmicky holiday sales coming and going, just fair prices each day to try and be your favorite furniture store. And with one look at their collection, you’ll be in interior design heaven. “I want to carry some things in the store that have a story because we have a story,” says Turner. “Everybody has a story. And you want your home to have a story. It’s your dream home! Your dream has a story; you know what your dreams are. So we’re just here to help you tell it.” Before stopping in, “like” Huck and Peck on Facebook and follow them on Instagram because they’ll be doing weekly events starting July 11th. How does sip and shop sound? Snack on wine and cheese while you peruse the collection. Or maybe a discount day for apartment owners? Keep your eyes open for news and information as we enter into July. And until then, Huck and Peck is currently giving away a $300 gift certificate on July 30th and August 30th to a lucky winner who likes their Facebook page.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 19
FILM & TELEVISION
Return To Babylon One of the most influential of all sciencefiction television shows, Babylon 5, has returned to the small screen. Amazon Prime has made all five seasons available, including several of the longer “movie” type episodes. Created and almost entirely written by J. Michael Straczynski, the show broke new ground in long-form storytelling and special effects, and is credited by many as changing the way television shows since have been written and presented. Straczynski said he conceived of the entire five-year story arc before he wrote the first episode, which had only previously been done in limited-run “miniseries” type shows. To conceive, much less pull off, a five-year self-contained storyline was something that had never before been tried. And oh, what a story it was. An enormous space station located in a neutral star system where the various major and minor alien races could come together and attempt to diplomatically solve their various issues was Shakespearean in both scope and scale, and anchored by excellent acting, especially from Peter Jurasik, Andreas Katsulas, Mira Furlan, and Bruce Boxleitner. While the then-groundbreaking special effects have aged rather poorly, and both the sets and lighting are not up to modern standards, these become superficial when contrasted with the incredible storytelling. It was our last best hope for peace. And well worth a lengthy binge-watch. A very lengthy binge-watch.. — Michael Thomas
Grappling With Belief Believer takes a long hard look at social progress By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
“
The more experience a person has with a group of people, the more likely they are to come to an understanding.”
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S
OCIAL PROGRESS AND RELIGION HAS ALWAYS been problematic. As the world changes and becomes more accepting, things that were once viewed as sinful are later viewed as inherent. This is especially apparent now, when people are connected to each other more than ever before. Acceptance comes from familiarity just as fear comes from the unknown. The more experience a person has with a group of people, the more likely they are to come to an understanding. But, as I said, this can become problematic when religion is involved. Religions offer answers to difficult questions around the world. These answers provide comfort and security to billions. The answers are to be universal and unchanging. So when a religion condemns a certain person or behavior, billions take it as truth. But these foundations aren’t necessarily divine. Instead, they are sometimes rooted in the fears and
misunderstandings of humans trying to create a functioning society through tradition and ritual. Anything outside of those traditions are a threat to the order that was created in the centuries prior. Change happens slowly, if at all, because the religion of a people must be infallible by necessity. Question one aspect and all aspects become suspect. At least, that’s the idea. True believers tend be a little more selective. Believer is a documentary film by Dan Argott about this intersection of faith and progress. It follows Dan Reynolds, Mormon front man for the band Imagine Dragons, as he tackles his beliefs about the LDS Church
and their policies regarding the LGBTQ community. Mormons were staunch supporters of California’s Prop 8, which asserted that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, and were a large part of successfully in outlawing same-sex marriage in California in 2008. Of course, the same-sex marriage issue was later solved by the Supreme Court, but like most evangelical Christian churches, the LDS church remains opposed. Interestingly, the church accepts homosexuality as a reality—it’s not a sin to have gay thoughts, it’s only a sin if a person acts on them. LGBTQ Mormons have two options. They can enter into a heterosexual relatiownship and ignore that side of their personality, or they can continue to be gay but celibate. It’s no wonder that Utah has one of the highest rates of teen suicide in the country. Through his wife, Reynolds gradually became aware of the issue and sought to change a few minds. His plan is the same as any wellmeaning rock star: raise awareness through a concert. He teams up with another Mormon rock star— Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees. Glenn is openly gay and very frankly discusses his experiences. His anger at the church is apparent—in
“
The LDS church does not come across well in this documentary, despite what seems like genuine care and reflection on the part of Dan Reynolds”
fact, he no longer self identifies as a Mormon. Reynolds is not quite ready for that, however. The film is almost more interesting for the denial that seems prevalent in the Reynolds family. They are almost quintessentially Mormon: frustratingly nice, successful, and happy. But there’s a blindness to them as well. Dan and his wife Aja recount their early relationship—how Aja was not a Mormon and there for Dan could not date her, despite their obvious attraction and compatibility. It was only after Aja agreed to convert that the two were allowed to be together. This would seem oppressive to anyone, but it is played as almost a meet/cute for the two. To her credit, Aja was immediately bothered by the church’s stance on same-sex marriage, but not enough to keep her from joining, despite having two lesbian roommates. It’s a fascinating example of the
hoops people will jump through for love and a belief system. Aja does serve as a window to the injustice LGBTQ people face at the hands of the LDS church and leads Reynolds to new way of thinking. It’s just that his new way of thinking doesn’t go quite far enough. The LDS church does not come across well in this documentary, despite what seems like genuine care and reflection on the part of Dan Reynolds. He believes his religion and loves his church and is making a stand, using the platform his has available to him. This is to be commended. But the harrowing stories of suicide and depression caused by this LDS policy are hard to parse. The LDS has long wanted to be accepted as mainstream offshoot of the Protestant tradition in the United States. They’ve succeeded, it seems, but perhaps not for the reason they wanted. They have an opportunity to do better, though. That’s what Believer is all about.
✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
Ant-Man and the Wasp As Scott Lang balances being both a Super Hero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past. Director: Peyton Reed Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Walton Goggins
The First Purge The film is a prequel to the long-running film series that focuses on the events that lead up to the very first Purge event. Director: Gerard McMurray Stars: Y'lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Steve Harris
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 21
COLUMN · ON THE BEAT
Rioting By Regions: What's Different? Office Alex compares and contrasts current and past violent uprisings
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Alex Teach
Pulse columnist
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When it happens it’s like seeing a wildfire from space: You can’t do much about it so you might as well appreciate the beauty despite the damage it’s doing.”
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.
T THE TIME OF THIS WRITING there are still people in jail and there is still blood on the ground in Portland, Oregon after another stunning street battle played out in the news. People using the forcible suppression of opposition in order to fight…the forcible suppression of opposition (Antifa), and a right-wing group that attracts white nationalists getting pelted by rocks and bottles, thus allowing them to also forcibly oppress the people opposed to them. I mean that makes for a hell of a weekend right there. Let me tell you something about civil unrest: what a heart thumper. People running around screaming, smoke and mace in the air, glass breaking, dogs barking, traffic grinding to a halt as our thin veil of civilization disappears into thin air much like the C.S. gas being ejected into it by handheld launchers and grenades…wow. Just “wow.” And nobody does it better than our brothers and sisters in the Pacific Northwest. (Do I support civil unrest? God no. But when it happens it’s like seeing a wildfire from space: You can’t do much about it so you might as well appreciate the beauty despite the damage it’s doing.) Events like this go way back with me. You see, much like the Columbine High School tragedy affected my generation of po-po, so did the 1999 Seattle World Trade Organization (WTO) protests—or as we prefer to call it, “The Battle of Seattle” (BOS). This past weekend’s buffoonery in Portland involved roughly 100 marchers being attacked by “a little more than a hundred” protesters of said march. But the BOS? There were an estimated
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40,000 protesters there without even the convenience of supporters of what they opposed to attack. This just found the first Starbucks they could find and commenced to smashing the bejesus of anything they felt like. These were a combination of labor unions, student-groups and environmentalists rioting on behalf of “labor standards, fair trade, and a massive mobilization of globalization” who felt violence and anarchy was the path towards “equality, justice, and enlarging the choices of all.” Which, yes, is kind of weird. In short? Students and environmentalist types have always been prone to violence and in 1999, they didn’t even have “Bush Lied” or “Because, Trump” as an excuse. Bill Clinton was still in office and they were still pissed. The scenes of lawlessness and pillaging were captured in sepia-toned pictures used for propaganda “against the police state” when they showed a cop in riot gear putting hands (or a stick) on what the news called an “activist” and what we call a “rioter,” without the convenience of also showing that those officers hands (and sticks) were being used in response to the bottle of piss or rock that was used on him/her seconds be-
fore. That’s how propaganda works. 1999 Seattle of 2018 Portland though, with the exception of the fracas in Charlottesville in 2017, it seems they have cornered the market on rioting. Is it because folks have more sense in the other corners of the country? Is it because most Southerners are armed and therefore a less desirable target to pelt with rocks in the name of “equality”? I honestly don’t know, but I wouldn’t rule out a lack of commitment that I seem to be seeing displayed with great regularity (if not alacrity) in the damp confines of our Northwestern U.S. We can get along. We need to get along. Stop insulting survivors of the Holocaust and post-WWII Europe with “fascism, Nazi, and concentration camp” rhetoric. Don’t throw rocks at racist assholes using a permit to exercise free speech; they need flowers, not masonry. Organize yourself politically. Get your message out to get the vote out. Or maybe pop a Xanax? Because I’m telling you, you and your less-sane friends are one tossed bottle of piss away from being a propaganda poster yourselves, and then no one wins. Peace, my brothers and sisters. (Literally.)
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY CANCER (June 21-July 22): An open letter to Cancerians from Rob Brezsny’s mother, Felice: I want you to know that I played a big role in helping my Cancerian son become the empathetic, creative, thoughtful, crazy character he is today. I nurtured his idiosyncrasies. I made him feel secure and well-loved. My care freed him to develop his unusual ideas and life. So as you read Rob’s horoscopes, remember that there’s part of me inside him. And that part of me is nurturing you just as I once nurtured him. I and he are giving you love for the quirky, distinctive person you actually are, not some fantasy version of you. I and he are helping you feel more secure and well-appreciated. Now I encourage you to cash in on all that support. As Rob has told me, it’s time for you Cancerians to reach new heights in your drive to express your unique self. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The ghost orchid is a rare white wildflower that disappeared from the British countryside around 1986. The nation’s botanists declared it officially extinct in 2005. But four years later, a tenacious amateur located a specimen growing in the West Midlands area. The species wasn’t gone forever, after all. I foresee a comparable revival for you in the coming weeks, Leo. An interesting influence or sweet thing that you imagined to be permanently defunct may return to your life. Be alert! VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The ancient Greek poet Sappho described “a sweet-apple turning red high on the tip of the topmost branch.” The apple pickers left it there, she suggested, but not because they missed seeing it. It was just too high. “They couldn’t reach it,” wrote Sappho. Let’s use this scenario as a handy metaphor for your current situation, Virgo. I am assigning you the task of doing whatever is necessary to fetch that glorious, seemingly unobtainable sweet-apple. It may not be easy. You’ll probably need to summon extra ingenuity to reach it, as well as some as-yet unguessed form of help. (The Sappho translation is by Julia Dubnoff.) LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Is there any prize more precious than knowing your calling? Can any other satisfaction compare with the joy of understanding why you’re here on earth? In my view, it’s the supreme blessing: to have discovered the tasks that can ceaselessly educate and impassion you; to do the work or play that enables you to offer your best gifts; to be intimately engaged with an activity that consistently asks you to overcome your limitations and grow into a more complete version of yourself. For some people, their calling is a job: marine biologist, kindergarten teacher, advocate for the homeless. For others, it’s a
hobby, like long-distance-running, bird-watching, or mountain-climbing. St. Therese of Lisieux said, “My calling is love!” Poet Marina Tsvetaeva said her calling was “To listen to my soul.” Do you know yours, Libra? Now is an excellent time to either discover yours or home in further on its precise nature. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Have you entertained any high-quality fantasies about faraway treasures lately? Have you delivered inquiring communiqués to any promising beauties who may ultimately offer you treats? Have you made long-distance inquiries about speculative possibilities that could be inclined to travel in your direction from their frontier sanctuaries? Would you consider making some subtle change in yourself so that you’re no longer forcing the call of the wild to wait and wait and wait? SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If a down-to-earth spiritual teacher advised you to go on a five-day meditation retreat in a sacred sanctuary, would you instead spend five days carousing with meth addicts in a cheap hotel? If a close friend confessed a secret she had concealed from everyone for years, would you unleash a nervous laugh and change the subject? If you read a horoscope that told you now is a favorable time to cultivate massive amounts of reverence, devotion, respect, gratitude, innocence, and awe, would you quickly blank it out of your mind and check your Instagram and Twitter accounts on your phone? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A typical working couple devotes an average of four minutes per day to focused conversation with each other. And it’s common for a child and parent to engage in meaningful communication for just 20 minutes per week. I bring these sad facts to your attention, Capricorn, because I want to make sure you don’t embody them in the coming weeks. If you hope to attract the best of life’s blessings, you will need to give extra time and energy to the fine art of communing with those you care about. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Allergies, irritants, stings, hypersensitivities: sometimes you can make these annoyances work in your behalf. For example, my allergy to freshly-cut grass meant that when I was a teenager, I never had to waste my Saturday afternoons mowing the lawn in front of my family’s suburban home. And the weird itching that plagued me whenever I got into the vicinity of my first sister’s fiancé: If I had paid attention to it, I wouldn’t have lent him the $350 that he never repaid. So my advice, my itchy friend, is to be thankful for the twitch and the prickle and the pinch. In the com-
JONESIN' CROSSWORD ing days, they may offer you tips and clues that could prove valuable. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Are you somehow growing younger? Your stride seems bouncier and your voice sounds more buoyant. Your thoughts seem fresher and your eyes brighter. I won’t be surprised if you buy yourself new toys or jump in mud puddles. What’s going on? Here’s my guess: you’re no longer willing to sleepwalk your way through the most boring things about being an adult. You may also be ready to wean yourself from certain responsibilities unless you can render them pleasurable at least some of the time. I hope so. It’s time to bring more fun and games into your life. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Twentieth-century French novelist Marcel Proust described nineteenth-century novelist Gustave Flaubert as a *trottoire roulant*, or “rolling sidewalk”: plodding, toneless, droning. Meanwhile, critic Roger Shattuck compared Proust’s writing to an “electric generator” from which flows a “powerful current always ready to shock not only our morality but our very sense of humanity.” In the coming weeks, I encourage you to find a middle ground between Flaubert and Proust. See if you can be moderately exciting, gently provocative, and amiably enchanting. My analysis of the cosmic rhythms suggests that such an approach is likely to produce the best long-term results. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You remind me of Jack, the nine-yearold Taurus kid next door, who took up skateboarding on the huge trampoline his two moms put in their backyard. Like him, you seem eager to travel in two different modes at the same time. (And I’m glad to see you’re being safe; you’re not doing the equivalent of, say, having sex in a car or breakdancing on an escalator.) When Jack first began, he had difficulty in coordinating the bouncing with the rolling. But after a while he got good at it. I expect that you, too, will master your complex task. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): From the day you were born, you have been cultivating a knack for mixing and blending. Along the way, you have accomplished mergers that would have been impossible for a lot of other people. Some of your experiments in amalgamation are legendary. If my astrological assessments are accurate, the year 2019 will bring forth some of your all-time most marvelous combinations and unifications. I expect you are even now setting the stage for those future fusions; you are building the foundations that will make them natural and inevitable. What can you do in the coming weeks to further that preparation?
“You Are Correct”—some well-known pairings. ACROSS 1 “Silicon Valley” co-creator Mike 6 Bacon portion 10 Duck out of sight 14 “News” site with “Area Man” headlines, with “The” 15 Military assistant 16 Cain’s brother 17 Sudden shocks 18 Shred 19 Film spool, back when that was still a thing 20 Capital served by Gardermoen Airport 21 Classic Nickelodeon game show with a 2018 reboot 23 Redolence 25 Delivery people made obsolete by refrigeration 26 With 44-Across, getting punished for one’s actions 31 Singer/actress Grande 32 Anise-flavored liqueur 33 Z, in New Zealand 36 Wilder’s “Young Frankenstein” costar 37 One of the
Kardashians 38 Dungeons & Dragons equipment 39 Brewhouse brew 40 Unfavorable audience reaction 42 “I Would Die 4 U” singer 44 See 26-Across 46 Attack 49 No greater than 50 Fleetwood Mac’s last Top 10 song 53 NFLer Warren who competed on “Dancing With the Stars” 57 Designer Cassini 58 High-quality 59 Hidden stash 60 “___, Brute?” 61 Ego-driven 62 Disney film set in China 63 Pt. of CBS or CNS 64 Ambulance team, briefly 65 Word that’s considered an alternative to the last word of each theme phrase DOWN 1 Mojo ___ (“Powerpuff
Girls” villain) 2 Ones, in Juarez 3 Salmon seasoning 4 Overdo it 5 Funny duo? 6 Enlightenment, to Zen Buddhists 7 “In ___ of flowers ...” 8 Just ___ (small amount) 9 Language instruction company with a “Method” 10 Fast-food chain founder Wilber 11 Letter-shaped girder 12 Big name in farm machinery 13 Pompeo of “Grey’s Anatomy” 21 She has a singing backpack 22 Canyon effect 24 Relaxation room 26 “Beowulf,” for one 27 ___ Mountains (dividers of Europe and Asia) 28 It may be created in a pit 29 Background distraction 30 Candy aisle stuff
that’s not actually eaten 33 Element in electrodes 34 “Behold!” to Caesar 35 Deejay Rick 37 Bout enders, for short 38 “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” extra 40 Fix eggs, in a way 41 Away for a while 42 Itty littermates 43 Out of commission (abbr.) 44 Tennis racket string material, once 45 Borough for JFK Airport 46 Sunburnrelieving plants 47 Overly sedimental? 48 Rescinds a deletion, in proofreading 51 Claylike soil 52 J.K. Rowling attribute, for short? 54 Rights-defending org. 55 ___ Farm (clothing line founded by Russell Simmons) 56 Phnom ___, Cambodia 59 Network that airs reruns of “Reba”
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. 891 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 23