news » the bowl
Dec. 8-14, 2011
rush to judgment? reassessing MATTHEW PALMGREN dizzytown: WESTON WAMP’S WINDFALL
walk of life
Chattanooga’s Weekly Alternative
big man in a kilt
BALLET TENNESSEE AT 25
Knights in white satin
michael whinery ROCKS A MEAN BAG OF pipes BY BETH MILLER
outreach programs bring joy and discipline to CHATTANOOGA children of diverse backgrounds
MUSIC
ARTS
SCREEN
FOOD
holiday hits street stories dark dickens fully fished local showcases abound play probes homelessness inside a christmas carol a guide to seafood
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Contents
CHATTANOOGA’S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
dec. 8-14 • 2011 • ISSUE 8.49
ChattanoogaPulse.com • Facebook.com/ChattanoogaPulse
EDITORIAL Publisher Zachary Cooper Managing Editor Janis Hashe Contributing Editor Gary Poole Art Director Bill Ramsey Contributors Rick Baldwin • Rob Brezsny Dave Castaneda • Chuck Crowder • Michael Crumb John DeVore • Allison Gorman • Sandra Kurtz Rick Pimental-Habib • Matt Jones • D.E. Langley Kelly Lockhart • Ernie Paik • Jim Pfitzer • Bill Ramsey Alex Teach • Tara V Photographers Lesha Patterson • Josh Lang Interns Beth Miller • Bruno Araujo
COVER STORY
ADVERTISING Sales Director Lysa Greer Account Executives Rick Leavell • Michelle Pih
Living Dance
CONTACT Phone 423.265.9494 • Fax 423.266.2335 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com calendar@chattanoogapulse.com Got a stamp? 1305 Carter Street Chattanooga, TN 37402
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WALK OF LIFE
Big Man In A Kilt • Reporter Beth Miller grills local bagpiper Michael Whinery and finds out what’s underneath that kilt. » 9
Ballet Tennessee marks its 25th anniversary and celebrates its 15th year bringing dance to underpriviledged youth in Chattanooga. » 10 MUSIC
Holiday Hits
A bonanza of local music showcases will fill the stage at Track 29 over three days next week. » 19 ARTS
Street Stories
Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga tells stories of the homeless on the streets in Have A Seat. » 24
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Matthew Palmgren: A Rush To Judgment? By Gary Poole
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ing were either ignored or dismissed out-of-hand by Gail’s friends. They went With the sad news of the on radio talk shows, gave television and discovery of missing Signal Mountain newspaper interviews, and wrote nearmother Gail Palmgren’s remains last ly daily letters to the editor wanting to week, a large number of people around know why law enforcement was “dragthe city are being forced to look at an ging their heels” or “failing to follow up” ugly truth: Matthew Palmgren may not on their concerns. have been a faithful husband, but it does Police officials in Signal Mountain not appear that he was a killer, as so and investigators with the Hamilton many had believed and professed quite County Sheriff’s Office did their part. publicly. They searched the homes owned by the Two days after Gail dropped her chilPalmgrens, they questioned Matthew dren off with Matthew and drove off in Palmgren several times, they followed her distinctive Jeep up on every rumor Rubicon, he reported and purported sighther missing. Immedi- Matthew Palmgren ing of Gail. But, in ately, the news media spite of strong urgmay not have been a jumped on the story ings from a number and a number of re- faithful husband, but it of people, they never porters began digarrested Matthew or does not appear that ging into the details even named him as of the Palmgrens’ he was a killer. a suspect, a decision life. What they found that was soundly dewas a sad, but not all rided by many at the that uncommon, story of infidelity and a time. marriage on the rocks. It turns out, at least according to preAs the days passed with no sign of liminary results from the newly discovGail, suspicion began to fall on Matthew ered accident scene that local law enPalmgren. News broke of an affair with forcement was right. Sheriff Jim Hama co-worker that led to both he and the mond told reporters that all evidence so “other woman” losing their insurance far points towards a tragic accident. He company jobs. A “close friend” of Gail’s and his investigators are treating it as a from Alabama began mounting a onetraffic fatality, and nothing more. woman media offensive in which she The real victims in all of this, who did her best to insinuate that Matt was have seemingly been ignored or outright responsible for his wife’s disappearance. forgotten in all the media frenzy, are Some of Gail’s relatives joined in the methe Palmgren children. They’ve lost not dia chorus as well. only their mother, but seen relatives and Matthew did himself no favors with close family friends turn on their father, his subsequent actions—an initial filing painting him as a murderer and even for divorce, an attempt to sell the family trying to remove them from the only home, hiring high-profile lawyers (which parent they have left. in our scandal-loving society now seems What they need now is time to grieve. almost to be an admission of wrong-doHopefully all of us in the media and in ing)—but cooperated with every law enthe community can finally give them forcement agency that became involved. some peace and quiet to do so. It’s truly Yet his steadfast denials of wrongdothe only decent thing we can do.
4 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
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Provinces Prefectures DISPATCHES from the CITY limits
REDBANKISTAN
Really? You want this job?
• You laugh, but Red Bank is serious—it apparently wants no city manager who is actually qualified to run the city. Or at least that would appear to be the case. Underneath the chuckle-inducing headline, “Red Bank Commissioners Wonder Why Prominent NC Official Wants To Tackle Its Problems,” The Chattanoongan website reported on a recent inquisition by city commissioners who repeatedly probed city manager candidate Randall Hemann on why he would want to leave his post as a “highly successful North Carolina downtown development leader” in Salisbury, N.C., for…Red Bank. “I’m not putting our city down,” said Commissioner Ruth Janow, who procedeed to do just that, asking, “but I am really curious why you would be willing to leave Salisbury for Red Bank.” Indeed, Janow and fellow Commissioner John Roberts proceeded to almost discourage Hemann on the idea of taking the job, noting Red Bank’s lack of historic buildings, a police department in chaos and its rundown homes. “You are a well-respected man,” Roberts noted, as if by taking the position his career might be in jeopardy. It well might. All these low points and more—the commissioners seem to be insistent that the next city manager actually live in Red Bank (the last two did not)—confront the city’s next manager, and job security is apparently not among the perks of the job. Although Chris Dorsey, Red Bank’s last city manager, lasted six years in the role, he was unceremoniously axed in the final minutes of an October commission meeting. Seemingly unbothered by the careershattering tempest in a teapot that awaited him if he were hired, Hemann politely invoked a higher authority, noting, “We want to be where God intends for us to be. It will be a matter of prayer.” — Bill Ramsey
Letters
EdiToon
rick baldwin
Say No To The “Church of Rock” • “Ever want to party with a classic rock legend?” No way. Too loud. Do they realize that people with young school children live in this neighborhood? I do not want my neighborhood to turn into the city’s nightlife entertainment district, thank you very much. Myself and a whole lot of other local residents will fight this to the ground. It will not happen. Angela Sweet Chattanooga
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I do not want my neighborhood to turn into the city’s nightlife entertainment district, thank you very much. Myself and a whole lot of other local residents will fight this to the ground. It will not happen. Slipping Through The Cracks • If our country can give billions in aid to countries that hate us, why not give it to genuine organizations that will use the aid in feeding, sheltering, and clothing people that truly and desperately need it? Jonathan Cole Chattanooga
Anti-Gay Bell Ringers? • As Christmas shoppers flock to stores, the familiar sights and sounds of Salvation Army bell-ringers with red kettles will prompt many to toss in their coins and remember the less fortunate. But not everyone is in a giving mood. Some gay activists are urging people to ignore the bell-ringers because the Salvation Army holds Biblical views that the activists claim are bigoted. The Salvation Army adamantly denies that it discriminates against anyone, including LGBT, who seeks its services or programs. The boycott is yet another example of political correctness punishing those who seek to share God’s unconditional love with the hurting. Dob Dacus Pacific Justice Institute
Holiday Charity Gift Wrapping • The rush of the upcoming
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Some gay activists are urging people to ignore the bellringers because the Salvation Army holds Biblical views that the activists claim are bigoted. holiday season is upon the community and with it a seasonal favorite will make its way back to Hamilton Place beginning December 8 at 10 a.m. The 28th Annual Holiday Gift Wrap at Hamilton Place Mall benefits Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block, a United Way Agency. Two locations of custom-made booths, provid-
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Chattanooga’s Weekly Alternative
THE Poor
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YOUR nEigHBOR migHT nOT BE STaRving—YET. BUT THE POvERTY gaP iS wiDEning fOR CHaTTanOOga’S wORKing POOR THE LIST • muSIc
down on maIn STrEET
main x 24 ROCKS THE SOUTHSiDE aROUnD THE CLOCK
ScrEEn REvEngE Of THE ‘STaR waRS’ nERDS CHATTANOOGA’S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
» NEWS • MUSIC • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT » dECEmbER 1-7, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
ing the opportunity to service patrons more efficiently, will be located on the lower level near JCPenney and the upper level near the Tourist Information Booth. Both booths are open every day depending on the mall’s scheduled hours. Sue Ivey Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block
Got an opinion? Of course you do! Email your letter (300 words or less, please, with name and daytime phone number) to : info@ chattanoogapulse.com. chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 5
Dizzy Town politics, media & other & other strange bedfellows
Weston’s $250,000+ Windfall What’s it like, we wonder, raking in a quarter-million dollars in one night? Ask Weston Wamp, the Wonderkid Son of Zach, who hauled in more than $250,000 during his first fundraiser on Dec. 5 at the home of Alexis Bogo. According to the Times Free Press, some 100 supporters arrived at the Bogo Estate to rain down pledges ranging from $500 to $5,000 to Wamp’s campaign, which Young Weston dubbed “the start of a winning congressional campaign.” Maybe. But expect to see quite a bit of Wamp’s smiling and concerned face next year. That money will go a long way in his quest to UpChuck Fleischmann, the Republican incumbent who has himself amassed almost $500,000 for his re-election campaign. We’re impressed but not surprised at Wamp’s fundraising success, some of which came at the expense of Chuck. A few of Fleischmann’s early supporters have jumped camp, it seems—perhaps under
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pressure from Wamp’s Pop, who has been quietly stumping and corraling cash support for his 24-year-old son’s attempt to reclaim his former seat. Chuck, who Wamp calls a “nice man” representing the status quo in Washington, is so far ignoring Wamp, insisting he’s focusing on his day job. We’re glad to hear that, since we’re told there’s quite a mess to straighten out in the Capitol. Meanwhile, in other 3rd District news, Robin Smith, who was narrowly defeated by Chuck in the 2010 Republican Primary for the seat he now holds and was widely expected to run again, wasted everyone’s time during an on-air press conference on a local radio station to confirm that she was not. Other undeclared candidates include attorney J.B. Bennett and perhaps a few others who like seeing their names in print. But Wamp’s Windfall should cure them of any recurring fantasies. It’s obviously going to take a heap of cash to win this race, and the two monied horses most likely to win
are way ahead of the pack. Polls are sort of worthless at this early date, but we’re all about worthless forecasting, so we checked in on recent polls conducted by the TFP and The Chattanoogan.com. Conducted before Wamp’s fundraiser, the Chattanoogan poll had Wamp outpacing Chuck by five percentage points (32.44 percent to 27.44 percent), with the only other declared candidate, Dark Horse Lady J pulling up the rear with 9.85 percent. In an earlier TFP poll, voters gave Chuck the clear edge with more than doubledigit support (39 percent to Wamp’s 26 percent). Lady J held strong at 10 percent. Granted, not many people bothered to vote in these web polls, but not many people actually bother to vote anyway, so, while early, these interesting tabulations say something. At least that more Wamp supporters read The Chattanoogan than the TFP. But seriously, money changes minds, and Weston’s Bogo Bonanza
may convince others that if the Boy Wonder can amass that much cash in one night, maybe he’s got what it takes to go the distance, maybe even steal the seat back for the Wamp Clan. But we also think Wamp’s Big Money Backers are more interested in Zach the Second than Weston’s desire to “break the mold.” “I have enormous respect for Zach Wamp, and that’s why I’m doing it,” M&M Industries CEO Glenn Morris Jr. told the TFP of his $2,500 pledge to the younger Wamp in a Dec. 5 story headlined, “Like father, like son? Wamp donors ponder.” Still, not every Friend of Zach is jumping on the Weston Wagon. In a hilarious quote in the same article, Tom Decosimo, a longtime Wamp supporter, responded to the elder Wamp’s plea for support with mock surprise. “He (Wamp) said, ‘T.D., my son’s going to run for Congress.’ And I said, ‘Gosh, that’s too bad.’” Ha! That’s a good one!
Email: dizzy@chattanoogapulse.com.
On the Beat The Name Drop And How Not To Drop It alex teach
Fathers are a miraculous thing sometimes. I’m not talking about the crazy ones that wake you up with a cigarette burn or use you or your mom as a punching bag, of course, or possibly worse yet, the literal absentees. I’m talking about the ones that are just “there”, the regular (or spectacular) guys that do what they are supposed to and share their life with you, with or without a word needing to be said. The ones that teach by example, and in time can become a friend (though without that sense of “hierarchy” ever really leaving…by choice). I’ve got one and I’m lucky. Very lucky. I know this and that’s why well into my adult life I spend time with him, and that’s where I was when my phone rang. “YEH-low?” I uttered. I very rarely answer a phone (as those that know me can attest) and it was the best I could muster. “Alex? Hey. Uh…do you know a William Tallent?” I paused. “Nope.” “Are you sure—” “Nope,” I interrupted. “Well, I’m out with him here and he says he knows you,” a co-worker named Dawn said to me. It’s what she wasn’t saying that told me whoever he was, he was right there and she was doing this as an extreme courtesy or out of morbid curiosity. I didn’t blame her and make a habit of making calls like these myself. I asked her where it was he knew from, and she relayed his answer: “Cheers. He says he knew you from Cheers.” I laughed. It was a side job I had when we were allowed to work bar parking lots back in the day. We made money after hours by keeping drunk drivers off the streets and preventing and ending fights inside clubs, which struck the city politicians as a horrible idea, apparently, and the jobs were banned (and left to the cars that had been answering your 911 calls), which put this “relationship” at 15 years ago at
best. “Nope. Nothing rings a bell,” and I explained the timeline. “Well, he also said he saw you a few weeks ago at St. Jude.” “Wow! He’s seen me at an extra job 15 years ago, and directing traffic in the middle of the street a few weeks ago,” I thought out loud. “I’ll have to invite him to Christmas dinner. Whatcha out with him for?” “We found him asleep in his Lexus behind a church here in Brainerd,” she said. “It wasn’t the trespassing that got him dropping names so much as the bag of weed in-between the seats, I think.” I laughed out loud, the same as every cop does internally or externally that’s just caught you in a lie on the level of a 3 year old. “Dawn, I’ll be disappointed if you don’t put him on paper. Be safe.” We hung up. Dad was smiling, having overheard the conversation. We rarely talked shop; cops and soldiers have similar jobs, but they weren’t much of a fit and neither was worth talking about without context. Oh, we did, but it was rare and generally a description of horrors unique to our professions (as were our coping methods) and nothing we’d discuss around another soul. “Happen much?” he asked. I relayed the last good story in which I pulled over a car only to be handed a cell phone
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I pulled over a car only to be handed a cell phone as I approached the window. God, the audacity. “This is Chief Cook on the phone,” the offender said. “Thank you,” I said as I took the phone, “but I’m not here to talk to Chief Cook. I’m here to talk to you,” I said as I clicked it shut and set it on the roof of the car.
as I approached the window. God, the audacity. “This is Chief Cook on the phone,” the offender said. “Thank you,” I said as I took the phone, “but I’m not here to talk to Chief Cook. I’m here to talk to you,” I said as I clicked it shut and set it on the roof of the car. (His 85 in a 55 remained as such instead of a review or a discretionary reduction.) Traffic stops and arrests, in general, are done to change behavior. Your behavior, specifically, not mine, so when you do stupid shit, don’t take advantage of a “friend”, because Dawn knew what I and every cop knew: If you’re dropping his or her name and embarrassing them, you’re no friend at all. And if you do drop that name—be prepared to get called on it. Literally. Mr. Tallent chose poorly. I meet thousands of people a year as does every fuzz. I have cousins, girlfriends, pets and plants...I also have a lot of cops that don’t like me either. (Chief Cook really was on the phone, you know; he’s still annoyed at my hang-up.) So maybe the name you use isn’t the one to drop. Whatever the case, this is why I don’t answer phones. But it made my dad laugh, and that’s why I hang out with him. Namedroppers, nozzleheads, “progressives”…not so much. But fathers? Spectacular people. And good names to drop when you DON’T need anything. A unique concept—in my world anyway. When Chattanooga Police Officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he is an occasional student, carpenter and boating enthusiast. Follow him on Facebook at www.facebook. com/alex.teach.
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Shrink Rap
dr. rick pimental-habib
A Recipe for the Holidays All my life I’ve been drawn to the exploration and understanding of different religions and spiritualities. The distinction here between “religion” and “spirituality” is for a couple of reasons. First, because many non-mainstream theologies do not consider themselves religions per se, but spiritual practices. Second, I believe that organized religion and spirituality are actually two very different things. I think of religion as a set of beliefs to adhere to (or, when open-minded and supportive of intellectual debate, to question), and usually includes an organized fellowship of some kind. And I think of spirituality as that part of our inner selves that connects with, and has an ongoing, evolving relationship with one’s Creator, Teacher, Universal Presence, Divine Spirit, etc. (A friend of mine would call this “the God of your understanding.”) One takes place outside, one inside. They might co-exist, they might not. These are my distinctions, however. You may agree, or perhaps have your own definitions. Diverse Divinity That said, I’ve always been grateful that my childhood included support for my diverse spiritual exploration. I remember being invited to a friend’s bar mitzvah when I was a kid, and my family encouraged me to enjoy learning about the ways others worship. And this was in a very Catholic town. (Little did I know this openness would, in later life, lead to my becoming an “honorary Jew” among my L.A. friends. Invite me to a sedar and I’m there. Oy vey.) I’ve also had the pleasure of attending a Buddhist ceremony for a friend’s advancement in her studies. Having a great fondness for Buddhist teachings, I was quite moved by what I heard and saw: a handful of peaceful, attentive, humorous folks coming together in a service led by their sensei, or teacher, whom I found to be wise and very funny. And on Christmas Eve I sometimes attend candlelight services at one church or another. I feel something quite wonderful during these songfilled, inspirational gatherings: a sense of both peace and freedom. Peace to be in the gentle presence of likeminded spiritual beings, and
8 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
“ freedom from the stress that all too often consumes us, especially during the holidays. The Mind/Body/ Spirit Connection There is a strong connection between spirituality and wellness. According to a study in Annals of Epidemiology, people who attend services, be they at a church, mosque or synagogue, tend to be healthier than those who don’t. The research found that prayer and meditation are associated with improved immune systems and lower rates of depression and anxiety. This was found to be true even as a solo activity: prayer and/or meditation has a powerful, positive influence on one’s overall well-being. Food for thought: It has been found that roughly 20 percent of us worry that holiday stress will negatively affect our health and over a third of us turn to food and/ or alcohol to cope. On the
Whether you pray, meditate, or simply relax into the zone, you just may feel better about yourself... and experience a more hopeful, positive outlook. upside, nearly half of us attempt to use exercise and/or spiritual activities to relieve stress. Wellness and spirituality to the rescue again. Some think of prayer and meditation as the same thing, but I find there’s a distinction here, too. When we pray— and there are many forms of prayer—we are talking to our Creator, reaching outward. When we meditate, we are listening, turning inward. Perhaps listening to the Divine within each of us. Or to our highest selves. To the wise and compassionate voice that dwells within. Healing Spirits Everywhere So is a house of worship a
healing place? How about a meditation group? Or a healing circle, or prayer circle? Surely they all are, in their own ways. I think we know this instinctively. But we may not always give ourselves permission to see worship and healing everywhere, and anywhere: in a forest, or at the water’s edge. Overlooking a bustling boulevard, or in the quiet of your own backyard. We can pray and meditate (communicate and listen) anywhere and at any time. The opportunity exists constantly. It’s a matter of being tuned in or not. So to me, I’m in church whether I’m snuggling with Betty Lou the Wonderpup, walking in my woods, or sitting in companionable silence with a good friend. I know this to be true because I feel spiritually connected and emotionally well during such moments. If you believe that you exist in concert with all that is good, then wherever you are is church. So this holiday season, make time. Whether you pray, meditate, or simply relax into the zone, you just may feel better about yourself, reduce your anxiety and depression, and experience a more hopeful, positive outlook on life just by finding your own way to connect. Something to meditate on. Until next time: “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer.” —Albert Camus Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, minister, and educator, in private practice in Chattanooga, and the author of “Empowering the Tribe” and “The Power of a Partner.” Visit his website at www.DrRPH.com.
Walk of Life
Big Man In A Kilt
Michael Whinery Professional Bagpiper Grade 2 Favorite whiskey: “I will have to go with the Dalmore 12-year SingleMalt, a surprisingly full-flavored peaty little number, not for the faint of heart.” Favorite tune to play: “‘The Big Burl.’ It is fast, fun, and I have managed to take the speed limit of it.”
Story & Photo by Beth Miller Choosing between knitting and bagpipes to fulfill a fine-arts requirement your junior year of high school is not, perhaps, a decision faced by most people. But for Michael Whinery this situation seemed fated. He has now been playing the bagpipes for 14 years and teaching others to play them for eight. Whinery’s big personality is obvious, and augmented by the fact that he’s 6’4”. Toss in a kilt and bagpipes and he is nothing less than traffic stopping. The intimidation factor is softened by his smile, and his quick wit and saucy attitude were a welcome reprieve from the stuffy stereotype I had anticipated. The interview began with some fine Scottish weather, but was quickly unclouded by Whinery’s rockin’ tunes. (If you have never heard Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” played on bagpipes, you are missing out.) Whinery wasted no time in setting up and began serenading passersby with bagpipe standards such as “Amazing Grace” and other songs that I recognized from movies like Braveheart. Naturally, I began by asking, “What’s under the kilt?” I could tell by the long pause that he was searching for an appropriate answer. Settling on “shoes and socks”, he resumed playing. I persisted. “Boxers, briefs or commando?”
Bagpipes or knitting? Michael Whinery wisely chose the pipes.
He ignored my taunts and jumped back on the pipes, playing the theme from Star Wars. Yes, I said Star Wars. Whinery grew up in Huntington Beach, Calif. and moved to Tucson in 1989. He chose the bagpipes over knitting his junior year of high school and after diligently practicing and hammering away at the pipes for only one year, he took over the class his senior year and picked up where his former mentor had left off. His performance repertoire is extensive—he’s played in the St. Andrews College Pipe Band in North Carolina, Seven Pipers Society in Tucson and the Duncan McCall Pipe Band in Pensacola, Fla., to name a few. He now plays in the Chattanooga Pipe Band, which placed third out of 16 bands at the Stone Mountain Highland games in Georgia this October. After landing in Chattanooga two years ago, Whinery admits, “I had never been to Chattanooga and it was not at all on my radar, but as soon as I had a chance to visit downtown and see the sights, I was hooked. I pulled anchor and made the move and am glad I did.” He is currently talking with McCallie School about creating a bagpipe program and hopes to offer it with next semester’s curriculum. Aside from instruction, Whinery performs at weddings, funerals, private parties and pretty much anything else. One of the most interesting events he’s played was a Greek Orthodox wedding in which the bride was Greek and the groom was Scottish. He says, “I was the only Scottish element in an otherwise traditional Greek wedding.” I probe with one final question, “Do you regret not signing up for knitting?” He smiles and placing his hand on his chest, proclaims, “I have the heart of a knitter.” chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 9
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l •i •v •i •n•g
DANCE
Ballet Tennessee’s programs put lives en pointe The holidays are a time when people pull together and help those in need feel a sense of community— but with the crippled economy many people are struggling and limited to taking care of their own family’s needs. During this time, it is comforting to hear others’ success stories and find a little light in the darkness. Barry and Anna VanCura of Ballet Tennessee and VanCura Ballet Conservatory have done more than simply provide a sense of community for Lookout Valley. They have created a family atmosphere where students and parents can celebrate as one. »P12
By Beth Miller Photos courtesy Ballet Ten nessee
10 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
The Nutcracker 8 p.m. December 16, 17 2 p.m. December 18 UTC Fine Arts Center, Roland Hayes Concert Hall, Vine & Palmetto Sts. (423) 425-4269. utc.edu/finearts Alondra Gomez, 14, will perform the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy for the first time in The Nutcracker.
chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 11
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Forrest Davis demonstrates at Ballet Tennessee’s Summer Dance Alive program in front of children sponsored in partnership with the City Parks and Recreation department.
T
his year marks the company’s 25th anniversary, and takes them a long way from their humble beginnings on 11th Street at the Farmer’s Market. A major component in keeping them on the road has been the many devoted parents, students, and interns working in personal relations, serving as technical assistants and helping backstage. The VanCuras are perhaps proudest of the company’s multiple outreach programs. Area school residencies, a one-day lecture demonstration on site, and daytime performances presented to home schoolers, public and private school audiences all provide “a new vehicle for learning and art appreciation,” according to the company. A 15-year partnership between Ballet Tennessee and the City Parks and Recreation Department presents the annual Dance Alive sessions of free dance classes to children ages 8-11, culminating in a summer performance at the UTC Fine Arts Center, another Ballet Tennessee partner. A seven-year partnership with the Siskin Children’s Institute integrates learning and dance for children with disabilities and their typically developing peers. And branch classes serve preschool children in community-based settings. Ballet Tennessee maintains two locations for after-school classes at Mountain Arts Community Center in Signal Mountain and
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During annual auditions, 50 children are selected to receive free dance classes for two weeks and then perform at the Hayes Theater at UTC Fine Arts Center. Davis grew up through the Dance Alive Program and now assists every summer.
Good Shepherd School on Lookout Mountain. The Talent Identification Program provides talented and motivated students with scholarship assistance to continue their study of dance throughout the school year and gives them performance opportunities with Ballet Tennessee.
“This year marks the company’s 25th anniversary, and takes them a long way from their humble beginnings on 11th Street at the Farmer’s Market.” Barry VanCura explains the circumstances of the current students: “All three children are in singleparent homes with economic challenges that would make professional ballet training cost prohibitive.” He adds that they all also “display significant talent that is worthy of scholarship assistance and an opportunity to develop professional careers.” The VanCuras’ obvious affection and dedication to these students is clearly reciprocated. When interviewed, they displayed a true attachment, saying that the VanCuras have given not only of their time, but also of themselves. Nia Sanders, 14, a GPS scholar student, began the program five years ago. Sanders notes of her decision to dance, “I definitely wasn’t serious about dancing.
» p13
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chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 13
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Forrest Davis (in front of barre) warms up alongside other company dancers Jonathan McDavid, Joe Lynch, Sarah Long and Laura Voges.
Just did it for fun. It wasn’t really until I started going en pointe that I kind of knew that this was something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.” Supported solely by her mother, Sanders agrees it can be difficult pursuing dance under those circumstances. “It’s definitely a lot different than having both parents there. But here [Ballet Tennessee] is another support system, another family that you can talk to. When my mom can’t be there, I can always come here.” Sanders offers her perspective on her Ballet Tennessee “parents”, saying, “The VanCuras can be hard on us, but it’s because they want us to improve.”
“Ballet Tennessee is another support system, another family that you can talk to. When my mom can’t be there, I can always come here.” Alondra Gomez, a CCA student, entered the program at age 8. Now 14, Gomez admits she was pushed into ballet by peer pressure, “I wasn’t actually thinking of ever being a ballerina until I started and gave it a shot and realized this is really fun.” She went on to explain that Ballet Tennessee students have many opportunities to perform for the community and have appeared on the stages of the Tivoli, the UTC Fine Arts Center, the Memorial Auditorium and several local schools. As a result of the performances in local schools, many new students have joined the Ballet Tennessee ranks. Gomez echoes Sanders’ comment on the VanCuras, adding, “They have made us so strong in our art form it is really incredible.”
14 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
Nia Sanders (far rig) and Forrest Davis (center) during rehearsals for a modern dance work. Other dancers include Megan Gienapp, Breanna Houston and Mai Nakano.
Forrest Davis, 16, a Signal Mountain High School student, had a different story to tell about his initial involvement with ballet. “I’ve had a lot of problems since I was little,” he admits, speaking of a troubled childhood. “And dance has really helped me in school a lot. Since I started dance, I’ve gotten As and Bs. It’s helped me have something to live for.” He got his start with the Dance Alive Program. His first dance camp took place at the Center for Creative Arts, where he was offered a scholarship for nine months to Ballet Tennessee. Davis’ dance roots include break-dancing and hip-hop, but he points out that ballet has greatly enhanced his abilities in these other dance forms. As for his mother’s support, Davis speaks candidly of her reaction to his interest in ballet, “At first she was like, ‘This is gonna be something like baseball or something that he does for a year and he’ll get over it.’” Yet his interest and commitment have been sustained. Davis speaks affectionately of the VanCuras, confirming the familial atmosphere felt by everyone at Ballet Tennessee and the surrounding community. “The VanCuras have given me so much. I feel like I can call them up, and I can say, ‘Financially right now, we cannot afford to pay for this,’ and they will either extend it or they will say, ‘We got it.’ Because they do know that this is a positive thing in my life that needs to be there.” Sanders, Gomez, and Davis along with the rest of the Ballet Tennessee company will perform The Nutcracker for the third consecutive year at the UTC Fine Arts Center. Guest artists this year are former BT student Fredrick Davis of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Sean Hilton of the Northwest Florida Ballet. chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 15
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16 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
CALENDAR
LIST
THE DEC. 8-14
» pulse picks
THUR12.08 MUSIC Manic Bloom, Faretheewell •“Epic melodic rock” with MB plus local faves FTW. $7. 9 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423)468-4192. thehonestpint.com
Take Shelter 12.08 • Majestic 12 See Pulse Picks
EVENT Noam Pikelny and Friends • The 5-string banjo maestro. $15 advance/$18 door. 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. barkinglegs.org
» pulse pick OF THE LITTER
Time For Some Hit ’Em Up Style
FRI12.09 MUSIC Husky Burnette, W.B. Givens • Dig that cracker/swamp vibe with Husky. $5. 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. myspace.com/jjsbohemia.com
EVENT Take Shelter • AEC independent film about a young father with visions. Multiple screening times. Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 265-5220. carmike.com
SAT12.10 MUSIC Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Soul Mechanic • Shakin’ it in time for the holidays. $10. 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. rhythm-brews.com
EVENT Chattanooga Ballet/CSO’s The Nutcracker • Just not Christmas without the Mouse King. $15-$29. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 265-0617. chattanoogaonstage.com
12.08 • Grammy winners Carolina Chocolate Drops drop back in • You loved them at Nightfall, you’ll love them even more as they chug into Track 29. $16 advance/$18 day of. 8 p.m. Track 29, 1400 Market St. (423) 521-2929. track29.co
SUN12.11 MUSIC
WORTHWHILE
MANIFESTING Hope • The Creative Underground will join forces with Christian Collier’s MANIFEST for “Voices of Hope” at the CampHouse, providing an evening of music, spoken word—
and a great chance to bring gifts for kids who can’t afford them. Creative Underground’s Shane Morrow is a powerful singer and musician, and those who’ve heard Collier reading his own poetry know he’s a unique talent. If you show up with a gift (new toy or book for young kids, gift card, sporting goods or beauty supplies for teens) to donate to the Urban
League Young Professionals Association, you’ll get $1 off admission. Get your giving vibe together and be there. Voices of Hope, MANIFEST Showcase. $10. 9 p.m. Friday, December 9. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. thespeakeasypoetry@gmail.com
Molly Maguires • Our local Irish lads proclaim. Free. 7 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423)468-4192. thehonestpint.com
EVENT A Nutcracker Christmas Carol • Every Christmas tale rolled into one wacky whole. $10. 2:30 p.m. Humanities Theatre, Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3113.
chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 17
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18 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
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Music
Make It Local For The Holidays By Dave Castaneda It’s getting cold in TOWN—but that doesn’t mean you have no options for heating up your nights. Since the year is almost over, I would suggest checking out some local music showcases around town. Luckily, you can get a really good feel for what’s going down in the music scene next week at Track29. They are hosting a wide array of local shows—including some of my favorite acts. Here’s a rundown: Dec. 15 • Electronic Showcase with Digital Butter, Flux 208, DJ K7 Dec. 16 • Blues Southern Rock Night with Blueshammer Band, Collins Brothers Band, WTM Band Dec. 17 • Indie Night with Land Camera, Raenbow Station, The Hearts in Light All shows are 21-plus and $10. I’m really glad to see that this venue shining some light on local music. There is such a wide gamut of music evolving and developing in this city every day. The electronic side of things has been getting more buzz in the media lately. There is so much of this type of music coming out right now that it’s hard to filter and find some of the really good stuff. However, Chattanooga seems to be filled with really talented people in this genre. To be completely honest, it takes some serious skill and talent to move a crowd.
honest music
Becky Riberio of Digital Butter.
You have the ones that follow the normal formulas—then you have the ones who use their skills to create something completely new. That’s why I love Digital Butter, because it is not a DJ, it’s a band that experiments with electronic production, blending in a good amount of soul music to create something unique. Digital Butter is Becky Riberio, Adam Stadaucher and Hunter White. The band has been around for a couple years now, but as they grow and grow, so does their sound.
local and regional shows
Star &Micey with Raenbow Station ($3)
Wed, Dec 7
9pm
Manic Bloom with Faretheewell ($3)
Thu, Dec 8
9pm
Kings of the Killerfish ($3)
Wed, Dec 14
9pm
Ian Thomas with Long Gone Darlins ($3)
Thu, Dec 15
9pm
Adam Stadaucher deserves the props for being one of the most technical and skilled producers around. He loves to take samples of soul music classics and turn them into something completely new and exciting. Pair this with Becky’s vocals and Hunter’s amazing drum talent and you have created amazing. Speaking of DJs, Flux and K7 do go beyond the normal skill set to move a crowd. Isaac and Phillip use their sharp insight on the turntables to present music that grabs your attention. The
duo have hosted World Town and Sol Sessions at The Social and love to gather in the crowds to tune them in on some good music. This pair plays everything from world music to hip-hop to reggae to dancehall to dubstep. These guys really have their ears to the ground. Blues & Southern Rock Night should prove to be a fun one for fans of good ol’ country rock—but, please, no requests for “Freebird.” My favorite will be Indie Night watching local favorites Land Camera, Raenbow
Station and The Hearts In Light. If you haven’t been paying attention, Land Camera has been around. Their music is really hard to describe, but it’s an eclectic experimental mix of funk, acoustic, and folk-rock that just sounds really, really good. Land Camera is Bob Stagner, Callie Harmon, Charles Allison and John R Lazenby III. The Hearts in Light is another one of my favorite locals that is finally getting some of the attention they deserve this year. This is a two-piece band that consists of Kyle Malone and Stacey Sausa. They make beautifulsounding pop music that tethers both the experimental and visual aspects. Having attended some of their more intimate shows, I can tell you that the band always thinks of how their music matches up with their visuals. Thus, to me, it will be really interesting to see how this translates onto a bigger stage at Track29. Stacey has really impressed me with her vocal skills, and Kyle has impressed me in the way he takes his psychedelic sounds to levels I couldn’t imagine. I can’t wait to see where they take the sound next year.
What 35 Patten Parkway was meant to be. Full food menu serving lunch and dinner. 11am-2am, 7 days a week.
Live Irish Music following the Irish Session players every Sunday night FREE SHOWS start at 7pm Dec 11: Molly Maguires • Dec 18: The Secret Commonwealth • Dec 25: No show
chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 19
Chattanooga Live Thur 12.08
Friday • December 9 Woody Pines • W.B. Givens New Binkley Brothers Honey Locust Saturday • December 10 Leaving Miss Blue • Black Betty Southern Love Kills Tuesday • December 14 Sons of Tonatiah Unspoken Triumph Friday • December 16 Shovels and Rope • Bohannons Saturday • December 17 Morning Teleportation Cadillac Saints The Black Shades
Sushi Bar Restaurant Nightclub 409 Market Street 423.756.1919
$2 DRAFT M DJ T SPICOLLI Open Mic 50 NIGHT W DUBSTEP T PARTY UPSTAIRS Monday Night FOOTBALL
¢
WINGS $3 SUSHI ROLLS WED. & THURS!
WEEKEND!
FRI sat
1
$ BEER
10-11
PM
LIVE MUSIC WITH
TODD WEAVER
1
$ BEER
Evening With Noam Pikelny & Friends 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. barkinglegs.org Robby Hopkins 7:30 p.m. Sugar’s Ribs, 507 Broad St. (423) 508-8956. sugarsribs.com Brock Blues Band 8 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. thepalmsathamilton.com Scott Warren & The Booze Mountaineers 8 p.m. Acoustic Café, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold. (706) 965-2065. ringgoldacoustic.com Carolina Chocolate Drops 9 p.m. Track 29, 1400 Market St, Choo Choo Campus. (423) 266-5000. track29.co Manic Bloom with Faretheewell 9 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. thehonestpint.com Open Mic 9 p.m. The Office (inside Days Inn), 901 Carter St. (423) 634-9191. Find them on Facebook. Jordan Hallquist, Mark “Porkchop” Holder 9:30 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. rhythm-brews.com
10-11
PM
LIVE MUSIC WITH
THE REGULARS
Party on Two Floors!
1st Floor: Live Music • 2nd Floor: Dancing
Fri 12.09 “Banjo Bob” Stevens 8 p.m. The Delta Queen, 100 River St. (423) 468-4500. deltaqueenhotel.net Roger Alan Wade 8 p.m. Acoustic Café,
20 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
PULSE PICK Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Soul Mechanic 12.10 • Shakin’ it in time for the holidays. $10. 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. rhythm-brews.com
61 RBC Dr., Ringgold. (706) 965-2065. ringgoldacoustic.com Queen B & The Well Strung Band 9 p.m. Bart’s Lakeshore, 5840 Lake Resort Terrace. (423) 870-077. bartslakeshore.com Standing Room Only 9 p.m. Sugar’s Ribs, 507 Broad St. (423) 508-8956. sugarsribs.com Husky Burnette, W.B. Givens 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. myspace.com/ jjsbohemia Todd Weaver 9 p.m. Raw,
409 Market St. (423) 756-1919. myspace.com/ jimstriker Bryan Jones 9 p.m. The Office (inside Days Inn), 901 Carter St. (423) 634-9191. Find them on Facebook. DJ Hammer 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. budssportsbar.com Mother of Pearl 10 p.m. T-Bones Cafe, 1419 Chestnut St. (423) 266-4240. tboneschattanooga.com 5th Annual Butch Ross Xmas Xtravaganza 10 p.m. Market Street
Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. Find them on Facebook. Frontiers 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. rhythm-brews.com
Sat 12.10 Deacon Bluz & The Chattanooga All-Stars Blues Band 7 p.m. Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Rd. (423) 493-0270. jewishchattanooga.com Bailey Mckee, Adam Duggan, Cousin, Apollo, Joey Whited, James Ledford 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 412 Market St. (423) 757-1569. warehousevenue.com “Banjo Bob” Stevens 8 p.m. The Delta Queen, 100 River St. (423) 468-4500.
deltaqueenhotel.net Brody Johnson and the Dirt Road Band 8 p.m. Acoustic Café, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold. (706) 965-2065. ringgoldacoustic.com Standing Room Only 9 p.m. Sugar’s Ribs, 507 Broad St. (423) 508-8956. sugarsribs.com Leaving Miss Blue 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. myspace.com/ jjsbohemia The Regulars Band 9 p.m. Raw, 409 Market St. (423) 756-1919. myspace.com/ jimstriker John Lathim 9 p.m. The Office (inside Days Inn), 901 Carter St. (423) 634-9191. Find them on Facebook. Blake Morrison 10 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pk. (423) 266-1996. tremonttavern.com Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. rhythm-brews.com Pontiac Blue 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. Find them on Facebook. Husky Burnette 10 p.m. T-Bones Cafe, 1419 Chestnut St. (423) 266-4240. tboneschattanooga.com The Power Players Show Band 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. budssportsbar.com
Sun 12.11 Molly Maguires »P22
chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 21
901 Carter St (Inside Days Inn) 423-634-9191
Thursday, Dec. 8: 9pm
Open Mic: Mark Holder Friday, Dec. 9: 9pm
Bryan Jones
Saturday, Dec. 10: 9pm
John Lathim
Sunday, Dec. 11
7 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. thehonestpint.com
Mon 12.12 Southside Casual Classics 8 p.m. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. thecamphouse.com
Wed 12.14 Fried Chicken Trio 8 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. thepalmsathamilton.com Kings of the Killerfish 9 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. thehonestpint.com Hegarty & DeYoung
9 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. budssportsbar.com Warren Zevon Tribute 9:30 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. rhythm-brews.com
Send live music listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@ chattanoogapulse.com.
Regular Gigs
Sunday Night Football • $5 Pitchers
Tuesday, Dec. 13
Server Appreciation Night
$5 Pitchers • $2 Wells • $1.50 Domestics
All shows are free with dinner or 2 drinks! Stop by & check out our daily specials! Happy Hour: Mon-Fri: 4-7pm $1 10oz drafts, $3 32oz drafts, $2 Wells, $1.50 Domestics, Free Appetizers
Facebook.com/theofficechatt
Thursdays Ben Friberg Trio
Irish Music Session
7 p.m. Table 2, 232 E. 11th St. (423) 756-8253. table2restaurant.com
3 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. thehonestpint.comm
Jimmy Harris
7 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. thepalmsathamilton.com
Open Mic Night
7:30 p.m. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. thecamphouse.com
Blues Jam with Rick Rushing 7:30 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St., (423) 634-0260. marketstreettavern.com
Nightly Specials
Fridays Johnny Cash Tribute Band 5 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo Victorian Lounge, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-5000. choochoo.com
Ben Friberg Trio
6:30 p.m. Table 2, 232 East 11th St. (423) 756-8253. table2restaurant.com
Mondays Music Monday 7 p.m. Pasha Coffee and Tea,3914 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 475-5482. pashacoffeehouse.com
Big Band Night
8 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. thepalmsathamilton.com
Tuesdays Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pk. (423) 266-1996. tremonttavern.com
Troy Underwood
8 p.m. Southside Saloon & Bistro, 1301 Chestnut St., (423) 757-4730. southsidesaloonbistro.com
Wednesdays
Jimmy Harris
Jimmy Harris
7 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. thepalmsathamilton.com
6:30 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. thepalmsathamilton.com
Ben Friberg Trio
Johnny Cash Tribute Band
7 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. Find them on Facebook.
5 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo Victorian Lounge, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-5000. choochoo.com
8 p.m. Acoustic Café, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold. (706) 965-2065. ringgoldacoustic.com
Saturdays
Jimmy Harris
7 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. thepalmsathamilton.com
22 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
Sundays
Open Mic Night
DJ ScubaSteve’s Jenntastic Wednesdays
9 p.m. Holiday Bowl, 5518 Brainerd Rd. (423) 899-2695. holidaybowlbrainerd.com
Between the Sleeves
ERNIE PAIK
The London quartet Veronica Falls has a pop duality, combining a shadowy side with a brighter one, each fighting for attention often within the same song. We’ve heard this conflicted nature before in other forms—take the Veronica Falls bubbly Scottish Veronica Falls group Altered Images which turned (Slumberland) from sinister to sweet or the morbid, bipolar jangle-pop of The Smiths—and we know that really, most goths are softies at heart. “Found Love in a Graveyard,” the opener on the group’s self-titled debut album, seems like a thematic sibling to, say, The Smiths’ “Cemetry Gates,” capturing youthfulness with a gloomy undercurrent; though dominated by beefy floor tom beats, the pop side breaks through with a short rhythmic nod to the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” Drummer and band co-founder Patrick Doyle is essential to the group’s sound, using primarily a floor tom beat mirrored with tambourine strikes, bringing to mind some com-
bination of The Velvet Underground’s Moe Tucker with Black Tambourine’s Mike Schulman. Also key to the group’s identity are the girl/boy vocals from Roxanne Clifford and James Hoare and unrelenting guitar strums, reminiscent of The Wedding Present at times, like on “Right Side of My Brain” which sports the confrontational chorus of “Take your hands off me” yet manages to end on a tender note. After the solid one-two punch of those tracks, the listener is likely waiting for the opening salvo to let up—remarkably, it never does. The entire 12-track album maintains a driving momentum and a consistency of quality; every individual track is a worthy candidate for being a single. Various ’60s, ’80s, and ’90s pop/rock hallmark details can be heard at different times, like the bratty garage rock-influenced “Beachy Head,” the irresistible bass line of “Stephen” lifted from the Pixies’ “Debaser,” or the C86 British pop qualities of “Misery,” using the most basic pop chord progression and ending oddly with a vocal round that could have been a Renaissance-era tune. Throughout the album, there’s an invigorating kind of tension—it’s not insecurity, but a sense of comfort, even with the seemingly dual personality, inside the band’s skin.
This writer is a proponent of the “get the most out of what you have” thrifty rocker philosophy, who tries not to get caught up in gear fetish mania and believes that playing ability isn’t necessarily the most vital aspect of a musician (not to say that Torlesse virtuosity doesn’t have its place). New Super Group Zealand guitarist Torlesse Roy Montgomery is Super Group a kindred spirit who (Rebis) often uses a cheap Teisco guitar, whose design flaws (like pickup interference) are transformed into virtues by more experimentally minded players. Regarding conventional playing ability, Montgomery stated in an interview with Perfect Sound Forever, “Whatever people tell you you shouldn’t be doing, you do to see what happens.” This is apparent when listening to his work—often long, entrancing drone-guitar pieces that have given him a solid reputation over three decades in underground circles, as a recording artist for Kranky and other labels and a contribu-
tor to the practically genre-defining drone compilation Harmony of the Spheres. Montgomery’s latest release is with his duo Torlesse Super Group, named after New Zealand rock formations, with Barnard’s Star member Nick Guy, and the twosome is in fine form, creating engulfing, sometimes transcendent abstract soundether pieces. The album begins with the three-part “Erewhon Sentinel” which first teases with sustained tones before sliding into its hypnotic second part, using a modulating low guitar drone, a slow-but-steady drum loop, and crisp, echoing guitar notes with timbre qualities like a cross between a piano and a xylophone. The 12-minute “Torlesse Transect” uses a bed of muffled guitar noise with phaser-treated sound bounces that meander yet eventually gel into a chord progression; Guy provides scattered satellite bloops that intensify and raise in pitch, adding to the slow-burn song payoff. The album closes with “Peninsula Piece,” with Montgomery providing loose rhythm chords that, ten minutes into the song, finally come together with crashing elements to sweep everything up into a sound funnel, ending another engaging, abstract but not unhinged, interstellar sonic voyage from the Montgomery camp.
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chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 23
Art of the City
Probing Homelessness’s Heart By Janis Hashe One of the actors in Have A Seat, Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga’s current show, told me, “We started with five actors and an empty stage.” But the company started with something else as well—a desire to tell the stories of people on the streets, people that they (and we) pass by, sometimes give change or a dollar to—and then forget. The stories that directors John Thomas Cecil and Christy Gallo, along with actors Renee Dempsey, Evie Durant, Jamie Goodnight, Robbye Lewis and Jonathan Nichols have created are both composites and specifics. It’s obvious the company wanted to depict “examples” of the kinds of people who are on the street—domesticabuse victims, the mentally ill, the elderly without family, etc. But they have also crafted individual histories for each character that reach beyond the archetype, and therein lies one of the production’s strengths. On entering ETC’s small, black-box-style space within the St. Andrews Center, audience members are confronted with actors already in character, wandering around the circular staging. “Take a chair,” they suggest, “put it anywhere you want.” Thus seating ends up scattered all over the center of the space, facing many directions. Attendees shift in their chairs to watch as the action changes place constantly. You cannot “settle in.” You cannot become comfortable—and this is intentional. The stories unfold in a series of vignettes. Jinx (Evie Durant) is a young, obviously smart, but damaged woman who takes pride in the cardboard “picket fence” and fake flowers that decorate her house made of boxes. She’s friends with Leo (Jonathan Nichols), a gentle soul who drinks peppermint schnapps and can’t forget a fatal car accident that killed his wife. They are confronted by two newcomers, both also new to the street: brash Arthur (Jamie Goodnight), who claims he was kicked out of his family for revealing he was gay, and snobby Amy (Renee Dempsey), whose story is that she “had it all” but lost it due to her own laziness and sense of entitlement. Then there’s motherly Martha Jean (Robbye Lewis), who, after many years on the street has managed to get into an apartment, and makes it her mission to try and help the younger people. Durant’s Jinx is funny and aware of what she’s doing to herself but still able to feel concern for other people. One of her strongest scenes is the one in which she resists Arthur’s repeated invitations to go and buy drugs. Durant hints at more of a story for this character than she actually tells, and that is very effective, ringing true. Nichols’ Leo is clearly based on real people, possibly one real person, and his speech patterns and physical mannerisms create a real person, one we feel great compassion for. This kind man is lost, and there is not a good possibility that he will ever find his way back. Goodnight is a strong actor, with a commanding physical presence, and his scene in which a high, angry
“
They have also crafted individual histories for each character that reach beyond the archetype, and therein lies one of the production’s strengths. Arthur returns to the camp ready to do damage to everyone there has a vivid edge of danger. Still, I felt a complete connection with his character was lacking. It was still a performance, not an inhabitation. If it’s his character that is performing for
24 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
Photo • John Thomas Cecil
the crowd, we need to sense more of the person underneath. Amy’s story is the least effective of the five, and her character the least sympathetic. It’s difficult to sympathize with someone who has brought her troubles on herself and is cold as ice to boot. This is, in part, a brave choice on Dempsey’s part, and helps create conflict, but leaves her with less audience connection. It’s Robbye Lewis as Martha Jean whose performance is most memorable. This woman really exists for us during the show—Lewis disappears into an old-before-her time, not-very-bright person who still, somehow, contains a big heart. Her mistakes, failings and strengths are all laid before us, in small, human, actions such as offering part of granola bar to the shell-shocked Amy. Have A Seat is not without the faults of most productions developed in this way. It is too long,
and there are too many repetitious scenes. But I salute the company for attempting to enter the real rhythms of these people’s lives. They have no phones or computers. The instant communications of the rest of the world do not exist for them. Their days do consist of long periods of boredom and repetition. This is real—but judicious trimming would make it more theatrical. During the holiday season, however, this offering does credit to the ETC company and its commitment to the community. It is definitely recommended—and could not be more timely. Have A Seat $10. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 16; 2 p.m. Dec. 10, 17; 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 18 Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, St. Andrews Center, 1918 Union Ave. (423) 987-5141. ensembletheatre ofchattanooga.com
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chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 25
Arts & Entertainment
Thur 12.08 Deck The Falls 8 a.m. Ruby Falls, 1720 S Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544. rubyfalls.com Gallery Opening: Rittenhaus 5 p.m. Shuptrine Fine Art Group, 2646 Broad St. (423) 266-4453. shuptrinefineartgroup.com Drawing Demonstration with David Kasson 5 p.m. Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View. (423) 267-0968. huntermuseum.org String Theory 5:30 p.m. Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View. (423) 267-0968. huntermuseum.org Enchanted Garden of Lights 6 p.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA. (800) 854-0675. seerockcity.com Christmas Carol Dinner Cruises 7 p.m. Southern Belle Riverboat,
26 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
PULSE PICK Noam Pikelny and Friends 12.08 • The 5-string banjo maestro. $15 advance/$18 door. 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. barkinglegs.org
201 Riverfront Pkwy. Pier 2. (423) 266-4488. Mystery of TV TalkShow 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. funnydinner.com Celebrate the publication of Am I There Yet? by Alison Lebovitz 7 p.m. Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 N. Terrace Rd. (423) 493-0270. jewishchattanooga.com Cledus T Judd 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. thecomedycatch.com
Fri 12.09 Chattanooga Holiday Market Too! 10 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter
St. (423) 756-0001. holiday.chattanoogamarket.com Eleanor Goodson Annual Fine Jewelry Trunk Show 4 p.m. In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave. (423)267-9214. intowngallery.com North Pole Limited 5:45, 7:30, 9:15 p.m. Chattanooga Grand Junction, 4119 Cromwell Rd. (423) 894-8028. www.tvrail.com. The Royal Family 6:30 p.m. Flo Summit Theatre, First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Ave. (423) 756-2428. oakstreetplayhouse.com Mystery of Flight 138 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. funnydinner.com
Christmas Carol Dinner Cruises 7 p.m. Southern Belle Riverboat, 201 Riverfront Pkwy. Pier 2. (423) 266-4488. The Nutcracker Christmas Carol 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3207. chattanoogastate.edu Choral Arts of Chattanooga: “Seven Joys of Christmas” 7:30 p.m. Second Presbyterian Church, 700 Pine St. (423) 598-3274. choralartsofchattanooga.org Cledus T Judd 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. thecomedycatch.com Beauty and the Beast 7:30 p.m. The Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold GA. (706) 935-9000.
colonnadecenter.org Emperor’s New Clothes 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. theatrecentre.com Have A Seat 7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, 1918 Union St. (423) 987-5141. ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com Behold The Lamb 7:30 p.m. Re:Create Café, Salvation Army, 800 McCallie Ave. (423) 756-1023. csarmy.org Muse of Fire Project Performances 7:30 p.m. Downtown Library auditorium, 1001 Broad St. themuseoffireproject@gmail.com The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 8 p.m. Chattanooga
Ian Gutoskie at the Vaudville Café 12.09-10.
Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. theatrecentre.com Chattanooga Ballet/ CSO The Nutcracker 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. chattanooga.gov MANIFEST: Voices of Hope 8 p.m. The Camphouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. Stand Up Comedy: Ian Gutoskie & Debra Cole 9:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. funnydinner.com
Sat 12.10 Winter Wonders Exhibit 10 a.m. Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. (423) 648-6043. www.cdmfun.org Chatty Crafty Gift Show 10 a.m. Warehouse Row, Market and 12th Sts. Helping Hands Exhibit 10 a.m. Creative
Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. (423) 648-6043. www.cdmfun.org Chattanooga Holiday Market Too! 10 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001. holiday.chattanoogamarket.com Cruise-In For Toys 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. (423) 266-4041 2nd Annual Artist Holiday Home Show 11 a.m. Brick House Studio, 204 Hillcrest Ave. (423) 314-0164. GA Winery Santa’s Wine Workshop Noon. Georgia Winery, 6469 Battlefield Pkwy. (706) 937-WINE. georgiawines.com. Have A Seat 2 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, 1918 Union St. (423) 987-5141. ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com I’ll Be Home For Christmas 2, 6 p.m. Woodland Park Baptist Church, 6735 Standifer Gap
PULSE PICK A Nutcracker Christmas Carol 12.09-11 • Every Christmas tale rolled into one wacky whole. $10. 2:30 p.m. Humanities Theatre, Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3113.
Rd. (423) 899-9185. Emperor’s New Clothes 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. theatrecentre.com
Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 12.09-23.
Mystery at the Nightmare Office Party 5:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. funnydinner.com Holiday Lights at the Zoo 5:30 p.m. Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. 423) 697-1322. chattzoo.org.com. North Pole Limited 5:45, 7:30, 9:15 p.m. Chattanooga Grand Junction, 4119 Cromwell Rd. (423) 894-8028. tvrail.com Holiday Starlight Parade 6 p.m. Market & MLK to Ross’s Landing. chattanoogapresents.com Third Annual Santa Claus Pub Crawl
6 p.m. Downtown Chattanooga, NorthShore, The Southside. Facebook.com/chattanogaantapubcrawl The Royal Family 6:30 p.m. Flo Summit Theatre, First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Ave. (423) 756-2428. oakstreetplayhouse.com Deacon Bluz & The Chattanooga All-Stars Blues Band 7 p.m. Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 N. Terrace Rd. (423) 493-0270. jewishchattanooga.com Scenic City Chorus presents Country Christmas 7 p.m. Notre Dame High School, 2701 Vermont Ave. (423) 624-4618. myndhs.com Christmas Carol Dinner Cruises 7 p.m. Southern Belle Riverboat, 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 27
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28 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
Pier 2. (423) 266-4488. The Nutcracker Christmas Carol 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3207. chattanoogastate.edu Behold The Lamb 7:30 p.m. Re:Create Café, Salvation Army, 800 McCallie Ave. (423) 756-1023. csarmy.org Muse of Fire Project Performances 7:30 p.m. Downtown Library auditorium, 1001 Broad St. themuseoffireproject@gmail.com Cledus T Judd 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. thecomedycatch.com The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. theatrecentre.com Chattanooga Ballet/ CSO The Nutcracker 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.
(423) 757-5050. chattanooga.gov Mystery at the Redneck-Italian Wedding 8 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. funnydinner.com Stand Up Comedy: Ian Gutoskie & Debra Cole 10:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. funnydinner.com
Sun 12.11 Chatty Crafty Gift Show 10 a.m. Warehouse Row, Market and 12th Sts. Holiday English Tea and Open House 1 p.m. Houston Museum, 201 High St. (423) 267-7176. thehoustonmuseum.org The Royal Family 1:30 p.m. Flo Summit Theatre, First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Ave. (423) 756-2428. oakstreetplayhouse.com It’s a Wonderful Life 2 p.m. The Gem Theater, 700 Tennessee Ave., Etowah. (423) 263-3270. Chattanooga Ballet/
CSO The Nutcracker 2 p.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. chattanooga.gov Emperor’s New Clothes 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. theatrecentre.com The Nutcracker Christmas Carol 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3207. chattanoogastate.edu North Pole Limited 5:45, 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga Grand Junction, 4119 Cromwell Rd. (423) 894-8028. tvrail.com I’ll Be Home For Christmas 6 p.m. Woodland Park Baptist Church, 6735 Standifer Gap Rd. (423) 899-9185. Have A Seat 6:30 p.m. St. Andrews Center Theatre, 1918 Union Ave.
Email calendar items to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com.
Ongoing Deck The Falls 8 a.m. Ruby Falls, 1720 S Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544. rubyfalls.com. Winter Wonders Exhibit 10 a.m. Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. (423) 648-6043. www.cdmfun.org Helping Hands Exhibit 10 a.m. Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. (423) 648-6043.cdmfun.org Tropical Holiday Adventure 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496. tnaqua.org Enchanted Garden of Lights 6 p.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA. (800) 854-0675. seerockcity.com
“Wearable Art” 6 p.m. River Gallery, 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033. river-gallery.com Natural Instincts 11 a.m. In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave. (423)267-9214. .intowngallery.com Born to be Wild 3D 12, 1, 3 p.m. IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695. tnaqua.org Tornado Alley 3D 2,4 p.m. IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695. tnaqua.org Polar Express IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695. tnaqua.org
chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 29
Screen
john devore
Chattanooga’s Contribution To A Classic’s 60th If I’m going to watch a holiday movie, I generally avoid the classics. It’s a Wonderful Life, while excellently done and wonderfully touching, is a victim of its own popularity and thus seems overly sentimental during the holiday season. I do have children, of course, so a viewing of Elf is standard fare, but Will Ferrell and company work as much against the genre as they do for it, resulting in a genuinely funny film that is almost good for year-round viewing. Christmas movies are possibly the hardest genre to attempt; there are only so many themes available for the filmmaker. So imagine my surprise when I was recently introduced to a classic holiday film, one that works outside of traditional convention by remaining true to the source material. Filmmaker and Chattanooga Film Society member Daniel Griffith examines the dark undertones of 1951’s A Christmas Carol in his special feature documentaries included on the 60th anniversary release of the film. Ballyhoo Motion Pictures, Griffith’s oneman production company, appears to revel in the obscure. He makes his living creating special features for DVD releases of some of the strangest films in history. His documentaries include films like The Beast of Yucca Flats and Dark Night of the Scarecrow, as well as some of the notoriously laughable horror films that have been featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. “I guess what attracts me to obscure ‘cult’ films is that they are often labeled or misunderstood,” Griffith says. “I found that very few documentarians would step up to the plate and seriously give these productions the benefit of the doubt.” As a filmmaker who has struggled (and filmhistory fanatic), these not-quite-classic cult films endlessly fascinate him. “I often discover that the filmmakers were operating under duress from the producers or under budgetary strains that were beyond their control,” Griffith says. “The fact is, they did the best they could with what they had, and I respect that.” But this respect for impassioned filmmaking isn’t the only draw. Griffith hopes to preserve film history. “I personally love documentaries, especially those delving into subjects such as
30 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
Chattanooga Film Society member Daniel Griffith examines the dark undertones of 1951’s A Christmas Carol in his special feature documentaries included on the 60th anniversary release of the film. the supernatural,” Griffith says. “I also love film history. So, by fusing these elements together, I could visually explore historical subjects that I felt were in danger of being lost to the ages.” While there is little danger of A Christmas Carol being lost to the ages, the film is as curious a creation as anything Ballyhoo Motion Pictures has investigated. Starring Alastair Sim, the film is moody and ethereal, full of wide corridors, empty streets, and deep shadows. The title screens are set to bombastic orchestral brass, music that fits a gothic horror film more than the prototypical Christmas standard. What I enjoyed most about the film was the commitment to the original themes of the Dickens story. Dickens wasn’t writing about the redemptive powers of Christmas as much as he is exploring the consequences of human selfishness. It is a ghost story, a cautionary tale, a commentary on Victorian mores. Director Brian Desmond Hurst’s vision focuses on the suffering that exists in alleyways and the fate of those that ignore it.
In the special feature documentary Dead to Begin With, British film historian and culturalist Sir Christopher Frayling examines the relationship between the film and the parallels found in 1950s British society. The ’50s marked the beginning of the welfare state in Great Britain, a shift in public policy towards alleviating the suffering of the downtrodden underclass. Hurst was keenly aware of his subject matter and subtly referenced the changes surrounding him in small ways, like the personification of want and ignorance under the folds of robes of the Ghost of Christmas Present. The documentary allows Frayling to tell the story, without interjecting or guiding, which enhances the understanding of the film and the time period. The best documentaries are the ones that allow experts to shine. One of the more interesting facts revealed in the documentary is that Alastair Sim was known as a comic actor, one with especially great timing and poise. When I was watching the film, I frequently laughed at his delivery of certain lines; Sim’s characterization of Scrooge was wonderfully sardonic, full of bitter wit and acid. His joyful conversion at the end of the film was even more striking given where the character began. It was a conscious choice by a veteran actor. Griffith believes that this is a film that “[yearns] for rediscovery.” I tend to agree. I discovered it for the first time and may rediscover it on a yearly basis. Maybe you’ll see this version on late-night cable sometime this season. If you do, you should watch it. But it won’t have the story behind the film. It won’t have the passion for the obscure that Daniel Griffith pours into every documentary he does. If you like the film, pick up the 60th anniversary edition. Not only will you gain insight into the minds of the filmmakers, you’ll be supporting a Chattanooga native pursuing his art. You can’t lose.
A Christmas Carol: 60th Anniversary Diamond Edition Two-disc set; $14.99 Blu-ray.com/movies/ A-Christmas-Carol-Blu-ray
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Gary Oldman stars in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Plot: In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6’s echelons. Director Tomas Alfredson’s eagerly awaited follow up to Let the Right One In is being hailed as a magnificent piece of work starring the oftoverlooked Gary Oldman. His performance has been hailed as tour de force, and considering he is sharing screen time with Colin Firth and Tom Hardy, neither of whom can be considered lightweights themselves, the ensemble support might even elevate him into serious consideration for a Best Actor nomination come Oscar time. Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy. Directed by Tomas Alfredson
New Year’s Eve
The Plot: The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year’s Eve. Rom-com director extraordinaire Garry Marshall is apparently determined to make an ensemble film about every holiday on the calendar. And while his Valentine’s Day from earlier this year (for which New Year’s Eve appears to be at least a semi-sequel) was panned by critics, it did well at the box office and quite well on DVD. So, if you are a fan of beautiful people doing romantic things while uttering completely unrealistic dialogue, this is the date movie for you and that special someone (who will never be as witty as those on the big screen, but such is life). Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher and about half of working Hollywood. Directed by Garry Marshall chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 31
FOOD DRINK &
DINING OUT CHATTANOOGA
N’awlins Heats Up South Broad Thankfully, my meal exceeded even my amplified expectations. I started with the gumbo. Tender chicken and medallions of coarsely-ground andouille were interspersed with rice and chunks of juicy tomato in a silky base, with just the right amount of spice to warm up your taste buds.
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A glance at the menu reveals a multitude of specialties straight from the mouth of the Mississippi. By D.E. Langley • Photos by Josh Lang
The cuisine of New Orleans is a unique mélange of influences, sourced from all manner of population influxes that have arrived since the city’s founding almost three centuries ago. Hints of French, Spanish, African, and Native American origins (just for starters) are detectable in various local specialties. The distinctive results of this cultural and culinary blending are a primary reason that the Big Easy holds such a special place in the hearts and palates of those who have visited. For a lot of people, one taste is all it takes, and that certainly holds true for Craig McNamara. After attending Tulane, the Chattanooga native stuck around, absorbing everything he could of Cajun and Creole cuisine, and finetuning his skills in the kitchen. Since his return, he has been providing authentic tastes from the Crescent City to patrons at N’awlins Big Easy Bistro on South Broad Street. A glance at the menu on their website reveals a multitude of specialties straight from the mouth of the Mississippi. Gumbo, po’boys of all sorts, muffalettas, jambalaya—I was intensely excited for my visit.
32 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
For my entrée, I had a split plate of red beans and rice and one of my all-time favorite dishes, crawfish étoufée. Served topped with green onions and alongside “soppin’ bread,” both were exceptional. The red beans were perfectly cooked, with a smooth and almost creamy texture. Accompanied by huge chunks of andouille, the dish is a marvelous example of the magic that can be wrought with simple ingredients when they’re treated the right way. The étoufée was also divine. Its savory sauce, light in spite of its richness, thoroughly complemented the pop of the crawfish. There was not a spot left on my plate. I couldn’t pass up dessert, given how spectacular my meal had been so far. The opulent bread pudding was as beautiful as it was delicious, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside, slowly melting into the rum raisin sauce. The smell, redolent of cinnamon, was intoxicating, and the luscious, buttery bread was studded with apple and walnuts, making for a full flavor experience in each bite. The food is only part of the fun, though. N’awlins looks to bring the atmosphere of its namesake to town as well—the walls evoke Louisiana at every
glance, and with Happy Hour seven days a week from 4 to 7 p.m., it’s easy to get in the mindset. You can’t beat one and two dollar beers! For those looking to indulge even more, Friday nights bring an allyou-can-eat catfish fry. McNamara also brings the good will of New Orleans to our community, though it has a more personal origin. His family lost his sister (also Craig’s best friend) ten years ago, and as a tribute to her, he reserves a table in his restaurant for troubled souls to come in and enjoy a night out just like everyone else. That good will and affability extends to every guest at N’awlins, though. The vibe is completely relaxed and welcoming. As the owner told me on my visit, “I’m not trying to do anything fancy. I’m just giving people the real thing.” The classics I enjoyed were the best I’ve had outside of New Orleans, and better than a lot I’ve had there. Washed down with a cold Dixie Lager, I was reminded of warmer nights, spent in great company, with amazing food. Then I realized all I was lacking was the weather.
N’awlins Big Easy Bistro 3103 South Broad Street Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call (423) 267-1557 or visit nawlinschattanooga.com for more information.
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chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 33
Sushi & Biscuits
MIKE MCJUNKIN
How To Be Fully Fished Last week I was asked, “Where can I get good seafood in Chattanooga?” This person wasn’t looking for a restaurant recommendation, but had a doe-eyed hopefulness that somehow I could direct them to a magical wonderland where seafood was being beamed directly from the fisherman’s line to beautifully arranged cases piled high with crushed ice and glistening fishies. But we live in Chattanooga, TN. This means any seafood that makes it to your plate has to be packed, loaded, shipped, unloaded and unpacked before you will ever get your paws on it. I am fortunate enough to live just blocks away from one of the few dedicated seafood markets in this area, Sirens Seafood and Steak Market at the foot of Signal Mountain. They are locally owned, have an excellent selection of seafood, and they are clean. I mean really clean. If your seafood market smells like the bottom of a fishing boat after a long, hot day on the water, then you need to find another seafood market before your digestive tract turns into an incubator. Yes, Greenlife has a fair selection of seafood, and yes, they can order almost anything, but drive the extra couple of minutes to Sirens and support your neighbors. Most of their fish has only been out of the water for 24-48 hours and comes primarily from day boats as opposed to large commercial vessels. Plus, their prices are as good as or better than anyone else in town.
Buying a whole fish
Why buy a whole fish when I can buy filets instead? For the same reasons you buy whole chickens—when the flesh is cooked while still on the bone, it tastes juicier and is more flavorful. Look for
bright red gills and no fishy smell. Many people believe that if a fish has clear eyes then it’s fresh. That’s not always true. Ask your fishmonger if you are unsure. Eating the whole fish also reduces waste and helps fish populations. Untold pounds of perfectly good fish meat are being dumped into the sea after the fillets are removed from the carcass. With overfishing and the rising cost of seafood, it certainly makes more sense to avoid waste wherever we can.
Cooking a whole fish
If it’s your first time cooking a whole fish, go with something you know you like to eat. Grouper, sea bass, snapper, tilapia, salmon—whatever fish you already enjoy will be even better cooked whole. Ask the fishmonger to scale it, gut it, remove the gills, and remove the fins for you. The best method for cooking a whole fish is however you like it. They are delicious roasted, broiled, pan-fried, poached, or deep-fried. Just Google “how to cook a whole fish” and pick out a recipe that sounds good and don’t overcomplicate it!
34 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
Eating a whole fish
To remove the meat from the bones, take a knife and make an incision along the dorsal fin from head to tail, and then make an incision to separate the top fillet from the head. Carefully slip two spoons under the fillet to loosen it from the bone and move it to a plate. The top fillet may not come off in one whole piece, especially if you have a large fish, so don’t worry if you break it. Lift the backbone from tail to head and move the carcass to the side to be dealt with separately.
The good stuff
The head has some of the best-tasting meat a fish has to offer. Fish cheeks have become a darling of the fine-dining world, but have long been considered a special treat in every culture where whole fish are eaten. The cheeks have a very sweet and an almost scallop-like flavor and texture. The meat above the forehead is scant but also extremely flavorful. Just dig in and root around in the head for all of those tasty little bits. It’s like eating crab legs—a little trouble but worth the effort. For a special treat, fry the fish bones for two to three minutes, until the bones are golden brown. Fried fish bones are crunchy at the thicker parts and crispy at the thin parts, with less of a fishy flavor than you would expect. If you think to leave some of the flesh on the bones when you fillet the fish, that remaining meat will become crispy and brown—a bit like the way the ends of prime rib taste become so wonderfully caramelized.
Hot off the griddle
• A new 5,000-sq.-ft. restaurant is going into the old Northside Lunch location. They are hoping to continue the Northside Lunch tradition with the new business. “We are looking for a modernday Northside Lunch to develop a sitdown, casual restaurant at one of the best locations on the North Shore,” owner Jimmy Hudson told the Times-Free Press recently. • A restaurant/arcade similar to a Dave and Busters is slated to open on Lee Highway in the location of the old Circuit City/America’s Thrift Store. • The River Cafe and Barge restaurant may sink into the river before it ever opens. The owner says he does plan to pump out the water and repair the business for opening at a future date. • Mellow Mushroom will open its second location with a grand opening party at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 12, at 2318 Lifestyle Way near Hamilton County’s largest mall. With an Alice in Wonderland-meets-Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe theme, the new Mushroom will be open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight. • Chattanooga will soon be getting a Ruth’s Chris Steak House in the Hamilton Place Mall area. Get out your wallets and prepare to eat some steak! Mike McJunkin is a foodie, chef, musician and, in his spare time, keeps our computers and networks running smoothly. Got a tip for the column? Email him at mike@chattanoogapulse. com.
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chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 35
Free Will Astrology ARIES (March 21-April 19): What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your life? To answer that question is your first assignment. It’s OK if you can’t decide between the three or four most beautiful things. What’s important is to keep visions of those amazements dancing in the back of your mind for the next few days. Play with them in your imagination. Feel the feelings they rouse in you as you muse about the delights they have given you. Regard them as beacons that will attract other ravishing marvels into your sphere. Now here’s your second assignment: Be alert for and go hunting for a new “most beautiful thing.” TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
“Not to dream boldly may turn out to be irresponsible,” said educator George Leonard. I certainly think that will be true for you in the coming months, Taurus. In my astrological opinion, you have a sacred duty not only to yourself, but also to the people you care about, to use your imagination more aggressively and expressively as you contemplate what might lie ahead for you. You simply cannot afford to remain safely ensconced within your comfort zone, shielded from the big ideas and tempting fantasies that have started calling and calling and calling to you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Researchers at the University of Oregon claim that in certain circumstances, they can make water flow uphill (tinyurl.com/ UphillFlow). I’m not qualified to evaluate their evidence, but I do know that in the coming week you will have the power to accomplish the metaphorical equivalent of what they say they did. Don’t squander this magic on trivial matters, please, Gemini. Use it to facilitate a transformation that’s important to your long-term well-being.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22): “Dear Rob: Is there any way to access your horoscope archives going back to 1943? I’m writing a novel about World War II and need to see your astrological writings from back
36 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
rob brezsny
then.—Creative Cancerian.” Dear Creative: To be honest, I wasn’t writing horoscopes back in 1943, since I wasn’t anywhere near being born yet. On the other hand, I give you permission to make stuff up for your novel and say I wrote it back in 1943. Most of you Cancerians have good imaginations about the past, and you’re currently going through a phase when that talent is amplified. While you’re tinkering with my history, have fun with yours, too. This is an excellent time for members of your tribe to breath new life and fresh spin into a whole slew of your own personal memories.
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22): At Chow.com, food critic L. Nightshade gathered “The 78 Most Annoying Words to Read in a Restaurant Review.” Among the worst offenders: “meltingly tender,” “yummilicious,” “crazy delicious,” “orgasmic,” “I have seen God,” “symphony of flavors,” and “party in your mouth.” I understand the reluctance of any serious wordsmith to resort to such predictable language in crafting an appraisal of restaurant fare, but I don’t mind borrowing it to hint at your immediate future. What you experience may be more like a “party in your head” than a “party in your mouth,” and “crazy delicious” may describe events and adventures rather than flavors, per se. But I think you’re in for a yummilicious time.
VIRGO (Aug.
23-Sept. 22): In “Nan You’re a Window Shopper,” British recording artist Lily Allen sings, “The bottom feels so much better than the top.” She means it ironically; the person she’s describing in the song is neurotic and insecure. But in using that declaration as a theme for your horoscope this week—the bottom feels so much better than the top— I mean it sincerely. What you have imagined as being high, superior, or uppermost may turn out to be mediocre, illusory, or undesirable. Conversely, a state of affairs that you once considered to be low, beneath your notice, or not valuable could become rather interesting. And if you truly open your
mind to the possibilities, it may even evolve into something that’s quite useful.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Emily Rubin invited authors to write about a specific theme for a literary reading she organized in New York last September: stains. “What is your favorite stain?” she asked prospective participants, enticing them to imagine a stain as a good thing, or at least as an interesting twist. Included in her own list were chocolate, candle wax, lipstick, grass, mud, wine, and tomato sauce. What are yours, Libra? This would be an excellent time to sing the praises of your best-loved or most provocative blotches, splotches, and smirches—and have fun stirring up some new ones.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Mickey Mouse is a Scorpio, born November 18, 1928. Bugs Bunny is a Leo, coming into the world on July 27, 1940. In their long and storied careers, these two iconic cartoon heroes have made only one joint appearance. It was in the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. They got equal billing and spoke the same number of words. I’m predicting that a comparable event will soon take place in your world, Scorpio: a conjunction of two stars, a blend of two strong flavors, or a coming together of iconic elements that have never before mixed. Sounds like you’re in for a splashy time. SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Harvey Ball was a commercial artist who dreamed up the iconic image of the smiley face. He whipped it out in ten minutes one day in 1963. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t trademark or copyright his creation, and as a result made only $45 from it, even as it became an archetypal image used millions of times all over the world. Keep his story in the back of your mind during the coming weeks, Sagittarius. I have a feeling you will be coming up with some innovative moves or original stuff, and I would be sad if you didn’t get proper credit and recognition for your work.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22Jan. 19): There are 501 possible solutions to your current dilemma. At least ten of them would bring you a modicum of peace, a bit of relief, and a touch of satisfaction. Most of the rest wouldn’t feel fantastic, but would at least allow you to mostly put the angst behind you and move on with your life. But only one of those potential fixes can generate a purgative and purifying success that will extract the greatest possible learning from the situation and give you access to all of the motivational energy it has to offer. Be very choosy.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18): The quality of your consciousness is the single most influential thing about you. It’s the source of the primary impact you make on other human beings. It changes every situation you interact with, sometimes subtly and other times dramatically. So here’s my first question: How would you characterize the quality of your consciousness? The answer is complicated, of course. But there must be eight to ten words that capture the essence of the vibes you beam out wherever you go. Now comes my second question: Are you satisfied with the way you contribute to life on earth with the quality of your consciousness? It’s an excellent time to contemplate these primal matters.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Some martial artists unleash a sharp percussive shout as they strike a blow or make a dramatic move—a battle cry that helps channel their will into an explosive, concise expression of force. The Japanese term for this is kiai. A few women’s tennis players invoke a similar sound as they smack the ball with their racquet. Maria Sharapova holds the record for loudest shriek at 105 decibels. The coming weeks would be an excellent time for you to call on your own version of kiai, Pisces. As you raise your game to the next level, it would make perfect sense for you to get your entire body involved in exerting some powerful, highly focused master strokes.
Jonesin’ Crossword
ays d i l o n rh e he his seaso k a M kle t spar
matt jones
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“art colony”— wear your work proudly. Across
1. Drum from India 6. In a bygone time 9. Lithuania, once: abbr. 12. Erotic diarist Nin 13. Camera output, slangily 14. Bridge material 16. Demand that Kissinger squeal like a pig? 18. What things could always be 19. Judged 20. Joint 21. Melville character 23. Learn about all things rosy-colored? 25. Lean and muscular 27. Put in one’s piehole 28. Body part that may be “on the line” 29. Time Warner launch of 1996 30. Gross-looking delicacy 32. Where 16-across, 23-across, 46-across and 55-across all got their work done
34. Put (down) 35. Like duos Dharma & Greg or Mike & Molly 36. In a traditional way 37. Rung 40. “___ Poetica” 41. Deep hole 42. Played the horn 43. “The Karate Kid” guy who catches flies with chopsticks 44. Online call service 45. “All right, I get it already!” 47. “___ intended” 48. Sit on the throne 49. Krabappel and Ferber 53. Kitchen gadget and cookware company 55. Singer Corinne Bailey ___ 56. Mark Tatulli comic strip 57. Former “Survivor” contestant ___-Man Chan
38. Finds work for 39. Hill of the Clarence Thomas scandal 41. Cash cow, so to speak 44. Holy folk, for short 45. Shellfish considered an aphrodisiac 46. Do the nasty with Jeter? 50. Flour measurements 51. Rapper’s greeting 52. Japanese historical period that ended in 1868 54. Creed lead singer Scott ___ 55. Ice skating area that’s totally green? 58. Conversational switch 59. Title for a Khan 60. Singer Cruz 61. Noise 62. Printer’s measures 63. “I put a spell ___...”
options 5. Tennis legend Arthur 6. It may cause snoring 7. Braces (for) 8. Acne-fighting brand 9. Bend down low 10. Novak Djokovic’s country 11. Varnish ingredients 14. Said some bad words 15. Shallot relatives 17. One of many for “Mad Men” 20. Put off 21. Cameraman’s certification, for short 22. Help breaking into a puzzle 24. “Save the ___” (breast cancer awareness phrase) 26. Ability to say clever things 30. One’s homies 31. Mimic 33. Show up
Down
Jonesin’ Crossword created By Matt Jones. © 2011 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 0549.
1. Concept embodying yin and yang 2. Folk singer DiFranco 3. Biker’s headwear: var. 4. Favor over other
Tragic.
Magic.
The Pulse His+Hers holiday GifT Guide 2011 sTYLisH & UNiQUe GiFT iDeAs! reTUrNs DeC. 15
chattanoogapulse.com • december 8-14, 2011 • The Pulse • 37
Life in the Noog
chuck crowder
Face Plant Coming Along Nicely “ I recently added a beard to my “look.” I say “look” because you can’t help but notice from several blocks away the grey chinstrap I’m now sporting. And, with the addition of the noggin follicles I’ve also allowed to return, I’ve gone from looking like a cue ball with glasses to some salty old buccaneer or at best, the “most interesting man in the world.” I haven’t had a beard since 1988. My girlfriend back then preferred facial hair on her man. But with our relationship’s demise, my best friend encouraged me to “shave that shit off” with a dull disposable razor in an Italian washbasin on our backpacking journey through Europe that summer. Seems with the return of my beard a month ago, however, my long-gone girlfriend might have been on to something. The ladies seem to like my new look. “How distinguished,” “It’s sexy,” “NOW you look like you know what you’re talking about,” they all say as my boys still lament that I should “shave that shit off.” I don’t know if the guys are as jealous of the generous facial feature I can grow as I am of the full, thick head of hair they so callously take for granted— or if it’s the attention from the ladies—but the dudes are adamant about their feelings towards my razor revolt.
I, on the other hand, turned to the pages of history to remember those deemed intelligent, handsome and respected by the ladies, likely because they brandished a beard. Ernest Hemingway, Abe Lincoln (and nearly every president during the 1800s), the ZZ Top dudes, Santa Claus, Jesus and even Colonel Sanders all famously, and unapologetically, sported beards. My daughter has her own opinion about it. “You look old,” she said. When I informed her that daddy IS in fact “old” by some people’s standards, she quipped back, “not when you shave.” Ah, from the mouths of babes. But she’s right, I do look older—and that has its ups and downs. With the exception of my current jawbone coif, I haven’t had more than three days of lazy, razor-less action since ’88. And when my receding hairline starting looking more like a
38 • The Pulse • december 8-14, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com
beach at low tide, I began sporting the Mr. Clean look up top as well. People said my smooth, bald appearance shaved at least five years off my age. I even started getting carded for mouthwash and maraschino cherries. Life was good. When wintertime came however, the lack of fur on my face and head chilled me to the bone. They say 98 percent of body heat escapes through your head and without hair I could definitely attest. Unless a hat and scarf were within quick reach, I could feel the effects of Old Man Winter worse than the average bear. The chills with each blast of winter air became excruciating at times. And the snow….well we don’t wanna talk about God’s snowcone maker unloading onto the thin skin that gently covers my thinker. Talk about brain freeze. So, with the sad demise of Steve Jobs, a man I admired for his design, integrity and business sense, I decided that the perfect tribute to him (and wintertime preparation) would be to emulate as much as possible his really cool “same-length-allover” beard/hair combo. It took just two weeks to grow out and I’ve found that a Number One guard on my trimmer exercised once or twice a week works nicely to keep the wild hairs at bay.
I’ve gone from looking like a cue ball with glasses to some salty old buccaneer or at best, the ‘most interesting man in the world’.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but by growing my crops after Halloween I’d inadvertently joined the ranks of the “NoShave November” initiative. Thinly disguised as a charity benefit for testicular cancer and various other manly afflictions, this tradition calls for clean-face participants to abstain from shaving any hair growth for the entire 30 days of November. All I know is that I’m constantly pointed to as a participant and continuously asked my charity of choice. I tell them I’m benefiting “male pattern baldness” and leave it at that. Fact is, people in general have a love/hate relationship with facial hair. Moustaches are generally considered cheesy, unless you’re a fireman or Tom Selleck. Soul patches are meant for horn
players. And beards are best when they’re either close to the chin, grown to the ground, or shaved up to split the muttons from the goatee. Bottom line though, if it works—keep it. Changing up your look every now and then keeps people guessing, reinvents you in some small way, and might even generate a new level of attractiveness you might be willing to keep, even when the sun comes back out. Stay thirsty, my friends. Chuck Crowder is a local writer and general man about town. His opinions are just that. Everything expressed is loosely based on fact, and crap he hears people talking about. Take what you just read with a grain of salt, but pepper it in your thoughts.
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