The Pulse 17.11 » March 12, 2020

AGATHA'S AT IT AGAIN • PIERRE BENSUSAN • SKATING OUTSIDE THE BOX

YOU, TOO, CAN BREW THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A BEER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER VOLUME 17, ISSUE 11 | MARCH 12, 2020

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BREWER MEDIA GROUP President & Publisher James Brewer, Sr. THE PULSE Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jessie Gantt-Temple

Contents

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 11 • MARCH 12, 2020

8

AGATHA'S AT IT AGAIN

14

YOU, TOO, CAN BREW

24

ANOTHER GUITAR GREAT

Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Art Director Kelly Lockhart Editorial Interns Halley Andrews Lindsey Clute Senior VP of Sales Lisa Yockey-Rice lisay@brewermediagroup.com Office 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse Founded 2003

by Zachary Cooper & Michael Kull THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

Contents Copyright © 2020 by Brewer Media.

All rights reserved.

Almost every person undoubtedly has some sort of space in their heart they need to fill; it’s one of the reasons we have hobbies, passions, relationships, and more. For most people, figuring out how to fill that void is not too difficult nor does it normally result in murder.

One cold, bright Saturday, members of Barley Mob Brewers, a large homebrewing club in Chattanooga, sit around a long table at Hutton & Smith. The ambience is half April-colored sunshine, half cavecozy. Around the table, beers stand in various states of half-full to half-empty.

Pierre Bensusan, you know him, or you don’t. If you know him, there’s nothing I can add to the wonder and respect you already feel for the man who is consistently referred to as one of the world’s greatest living guitarists. If this is your first time hearing the name, well, take off your coat, relax, and sit a spell.

4 CITY LIFE

11 SPRING DRINK GUIDE

29 ART OF BUSINESS

5 EDITOONS

21 SUSHI & BISCUITS

30 FILM & TELEVISION

7 SHADES OF GREEN

26 MUSIC CALENDAR

31 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

28 MUSIC REVIEWS

31 JONESIN' CROSSWORD

10 ARTS CALENDAR

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CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES

Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “Just love.” — The Dalai Lama It’s one of those cool schoolyard playgrounds, where the community had a say in its design.

I was with my friend, Jillian, who had her four-yearold daughter, Gracie, with her for the afternoon. The ethnic make-up of the loud, happy gaggle of kids was not terribly diverse—mostly White with a few Black, Hispanic and Asian children among them.

Suddenly Gracie came running over to us, out of breath, and said to her mom, “I made a new best friend!” Don’t you love how a kid can make a new best friend every ten minutes?

“Who?” asked her mom. Gracie pointed to the swings. There were six kids on the swings. “Her. Her name’s Shana.”

“Which one is Shana, Honey”?

“The one in the green dress.”

Gracie could have said, “the black girl”, Shana being the only black girl on the swings. But instead she referenced her green dress.

Jillian beamed. I smiled with her and said, “You’re bringing that girl up right.”

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

Skating Outside The Box

I

Gear guru adds color and excitement AM HONORED TO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO WRITE ABOUT ROLLER DERBY and the skate park but this feature is probably one of the coolest, most colorful skate stories I have ever had the pleasure to cover.

By Jessie Gantt-Temple Pulse contributor

“

His clients range from beginners, usually gifts to themselves or others, to experienced skaters like those with the Chattanooga Roller Derby.”

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On an absolutely beautiful Sunday afternoon, Our Lady of Perpetual Motion hosts their third Outdoor Roller Skate Church, where anyone is welcome to adorn skates and rejoice in the breezy conversation as you lap the two-mile loop at Camp Jordan.

Skaters of all levels, from all backgrounds, gather in the parking lot by the baseball fields to gear up and prepare to skate the trail. Some find peace as the self-propelled wind clears their thoughts. Others converse and cackle like big hat wearing ladies catching up post sermon.

“This is how we worship,” says Danny Reyes, owner and sole employee of Our Lady of Perpetual Motion (OLOPM), a custom quad skate shop. Describing his product as “custom” doesn’t do justice to his unique business. Danny has crafted leopard print and magenta high-top

Vans, black glittery Converse, Nike Air Force Ones, knee-high Doc Martens, and more into functional and formidable skates.

He officially went full time with OLOPM four months ago and the orders have not stopped. He designs every stitch from the custom plate that supports the foot to the toe stop or lack thereof.

For anyone wanting a custom build, he requires a consultation which may last anywhere from fortyfive minutes to several days depending on the customers’ needs.

His clients range from beginners, usually gifts to themselves or others, to experienced skaters like those with Chattanooga Roller Derby, Chattanooga Chicks In Bowls, and the Moonlight Roller Lounge.

With a turnaround time of about two weeks, a custom sneaker skate creation starts around $280. In my

EDITOONS

opinion, priceless.

His passion for designing one-ofa-kind skates expands beyond the boot as he has one patent pending for slide blocks (which are useful for skate park rails) and just this week, he locked down his patent for a unique high heel skate design and he will start taking orders.

Even as a one-man operation, he wants to “be involved with every aspect of skating in this town” and there is no doubt that he won’t be with his big heart, small shop and massive talent.

Originally from Peru, Danny’s says he’s a traveler and fell in love with this city when he visited so he moved here in 2000. With a background in archaeology, experienced in EMS work, and after owning a home remodeling business for years, Danny was diagnosed with an auto immune disease in 2007 and began to have complications working in his labor-heavy professions.

After a really rough patch two years

ago, Danny decided to pursue a less labor-intensive career path and take control of his health. Thus began the mentally stimulating hobby of piano and the physically invigorating hobby of roller skating. The passion for piano never stuck but the skating took on a life of its own.

PerpetualMotionSkates.com is more of a gallery of his works “made with devotion” where customers can be inspired to schedule a consultation.

SkateBlessings.com is for quick orders of prefabricated items like wheels, bearings, candles and other logoed merchandise. As if Danny couldn’t get any more creative, he screenprints the tees himself with a rig he designed using parts from an exercise machine and pallet truck which is attached to a stove so he can cure/broil the shirts.

Follow the OLOPM Facebook page and mark your calendars to visit his booth at the Chattanooga Roller Derby’s season opener on Saturday, April 4th and for the next Outdoor Roller Skate Church on April 12th.

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COLUMN · SHADES OF GREEN

Digging In The Needed Dirt A call to action of environmental awakening

E Sandra Kurtz

Pulse columnist

“

Destruction of wetlands and rural land leads to loss of birds, insects, and myriad species in water not to mention food on lands that sustain humankind.”

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

NVIRONMENTALLY SPEAKING IT’S hard to know what to write about in this column. There’s the election. There’s the tornado destruction in the Nashville and Putnam County areas.

There’s the coronovirus threat now here in Tennessee.

There’s extra rain bringing floods to our area plus the sewer consent decree remedies that may or not be working at great taxpayer expense. There’s the steep slope and floodplain filling controls or lack thereof. Urban sprawl is causing the loss of forests and their carbon sequestration abilities.

Destruction of wetlands and rural land leads to loss of birds, insects, and myriad species in water not to mention food on lands that sustain humankind.

Sale of big gas combustion vehicles is increasing. We are driving them further for purchase of unneeded items that came cheaper due to child labor abuses and resource degradation. Thus, we increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Chattanooga is named as the sixth fastest warming city in the nation.

Then, on the Federal level, there are the cutbacks pending for the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, and National Environmental Protection Act bolstered by the science and climate change deniers in office. TVA is dragging its feet on alternative energy use for electricity production in favor of unsafe nuclear power with no satisfactory waste solutions.

Chattanooga is downwind from all TVA nuclear plants. At least TVA is shutting down its coal-burning plants. Coal mining overall is diminishing, so one wonders why Tennessee is establishing a coal mine permitting office that has been a Federal responsibility.

What’s an environmentalist to do?

Weep? Whine? Retire to a cave? Take revenge? Leave the planet?

Before any of that happens, it’s time to reassess and regroup in the face of

changing times remembering that nature/Gaia Earth is in charge perhaps to human species detriment.

Looking at all the concerns above, they come from our own doing which means there are solutions. Much of our trouble derives from climate change repercussions.

Climate scientists have long predicted more catastrophic storms with both drought and flooding from rising temperatures; hence our more frequent tornadoes and flooding destruction with sewer overflows and lost homes from steep slope collapses.

Let’s face it: Overuse of natural resources, overconsumption and overpopulation fuel our situation. It’s coming back to bite us health wise. It appears that many viruses are now transferring from wild animals to humans. Early research indicates the coronavirus may come from endangered pangolins whose meat is considered a delicacy with their scales desirable to treat arthritis. Maybe there’s a carrier bat in the picture too.

David Quammen writes in his new book “Spillover” that farms and pastures are encroaching into wilderness, disrupting ecosystems and supplying meat from disease-carrying wild animals. Land management, population control, food access, and urban sprawl are culprits here.

Locally, South Chickamauga Creek escapes it banks regularly popping its sewer manholes at Brown Acres, East Ridge and other places downstream.

During high flood levels we see water pollution with toilet paper and sludge in trees and on soil. Is the sewer consent decree working? Where are the floodplains and wetlands that used to hold floodwater?

Case in point: a new soccer stadium is now being built along I-75 in East Ridge. It has destroyed 14 wetlands on 61 acres, cut hundreds of trees, lost several rare plant species and eliminated habitat for the numerous birds, amphibians and wetland macroinvertebrates that represent the base of the aquatic food chain. The fill dirt has taken away the flood water storage area and threatened the surrounding neighborhoods with flooding as storms become more frequent and intense.

Now a local hospital has bought the naming rights for the stadium. Wonder how much they paid for that? Given diseases due to climate change threats, can they really think they should have their health brand connected to this stadium? Here’s a stadium name suggestion to consider: Fill Dirt Stadium.

Or how about Lost Wetland, Neighbor Flood Zone, No Birds Flyway, or Zero Forest? There are more, but they are unfit to print.

It’s more than time to get serious about the risks associated with ignoring climate. Our current ways of living don’t contribute to a supportive planet for us and future generations. Stop digging. In this election year, make some noise and of course vote. Rest assured the environmental community will keep working but it will take all hands—or should we say fist bumps?

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Agatha's At It Again Feelings hollowed out by murder mystery

Dive In To The Darkroom If you’ve ever had the opportunity to work with film photography, you know there’s nothing in the creative world that quite compares to the satisfaction of producing that perfect photo.

From adjusting the camera to the correct settings, to venturing into the dark to develop the film, to transferring them onto paper and watching the results solidify as you put them into the chemicals. The entire process is a labor of love.

Starting this Sunday at 2 p.m., Carrie Pendergrass will be at Safelight District to share her passion for and knowledge of photo development using film negatives in a threepart class that gives you the chance to dive into the darkroom and develop some photos of your own.

While you won’t be processing film in this class, you’re welcome to bring your own preprocessed negatives. If you don’t have any, you will be provided with all the materials you need to participate.

The remaining two classes will take place the following Sundays on March 22nd and 29th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

You don’t need experience to participate, so come out and gain an appreciation for a truly underrated and satisfying art form as you experiment with black and white in the darkroom. — Lindsey Clute

A

LMOST EVERY PERSON UNDOUBTEDLY HAS some sort of space in their heart they need to fill; it’s one of the reasons we have hobbies, passions, relationships, and more. For most people, figuring out how to fill that void is not too difficult nor does it normally result in murder.

By Addie Whitlow Pulse contributor

However, for one extended British family in the late 1940s, that’s a different story and you’ll see the murder mystery unfold right in front of you with the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s upcoming production of Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow”, opening this Friday at 8 p.m.

“The Hollow” is a 1946 novel by British crime author Agatha Chris-

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tie, who is also the best-selling novelist of all time. It was adapted for the stage in 1951 and, while it may be one of Christie’s lesserknown plays, it’s extremely rich in character development and has several comedic elements, making it arguably one of her more intriguing ones.

This murder mystery tells the story of a romantic love-tag of sorts in the English countryside at the Angkatell home, The Hollow, that

results in a surprise murder. John Cristow finds himself in a bit of a bind when his wife, mistress, and ex-lover are all in the same place.

There are also the hosts, Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell, visiting Angkatell cousins, Dr. Cristow, his wife, an inspector, his assistant, a maid, and a butler, only making the list of possible suspects—and romantic interests—grow longer and more confusing.

The Theatre Centre’s production is directed by guest director Bob Willie and features a cast of twelve, who started rehearsals on February 4th. They’ve been extremely dedicated to the production, so much so they’ve been rehearsing six nights a week to perfect their characters and the story development.

“Those are the things that re-

ally grabbed me in the play—the history, Christie, and the development of the characterization is so perfect.

The language is incredible, and it’s a joy for actors to jump into the meat of these relationships. As a director, finding these relationships, blending them, bringing them out further, and how they’re all tied in; that advances the story in so many ways,” Willie explained.

When given a new theater assignment, Willie performs as much research as he can to understand the storyline and what encouraged the playwright to craft the performance.

He said Christie is really an amazing person with a fascinating history.

He explained that Christie worked in a hospital pharmacy during World War I, which is one of the reasons she knew so much about poisons. The concept of infidelity was also not foreign to Christie as her first husband left her for another woman.

Additionally, the show is set during the collapse of the British empire, and Willie explained Christie was quite progressive when it came to her opinions on where England was headed.

“To me, what really grabbed me about this play is the difference between ‘The Hollow’ and so many of [Christie’s] other works. This is less known but I think it’s probably, from an actor and a director’s standpoint, by far the most interesting because

“

As a director, finding these relationships, blending them, bringing them out further, and how they’re all tied in; that advances the story in so many ways.” the characterization, the relationships between all of the characters are so clearly defined and it’s a brilliant work even without the mystery and the whodunit,” said Willie.

Because the bulk of the show is focused on solving the mystery of who committed the murder, and almost everyone present may have some sort of motive, the set is essentially a living room in the Angkatell estate. While it is a murderous weekend at a country estate outside of London, the costumes are a bit extravagant, even for the 1940s.

“The name of the play is ‘The Hollow’ and, to me, there is a hollowness in the heart of just about everyone in this play that they’re trying their best to fill. They each have a yearning for peace, for a return to normalcy, and to keep the traditions of the English empire alive, and for happiness, selfsatisfaction, love,” Willie explained.

“And it relates to today. Everyone has a hole in their heart they need to have filled. So that’s another relation to to-

day’s audience; everyone will see in the characters, a bit of themselves.”

“The Hollow” features both CTC veterans and slight newcomers, and Willie said one of the things he loves most about community theater is it allows him to teach as well as direct.

He strives to help the cast be the best they can be, and he said that wouldn’t be possible without the help of stage manager Rodney Strong and assistant stage manager Brittany Rogers.

The CTC’s production of “The Hollow” opens Friday at 8 p.m. and will be performed through March 29th, with evening shows Thursdays through Saturdays and matinees on Sundays.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the classic whodunit murder mystery of Agatha Christie on stage, which will have you on the edge of your seat trying to guess the culprit, then you definitely don’t want to miss the Theatre Centre’s riveting performance of “The Hollow”.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR THURSDAY3.12 Alla-Prima Portrait Workshop with Sean Cheetham 10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Miller Park Farmers Market 11 a.m.

Miller Park 910 Market St. millerparkmarket.com Extract Brewing Class: IPA 5:30 p.m.

Brew Market & Beer Garden 1510 Riverside Dr. (423) 648-2739 brewmarketchatt.com Vision + Verse: I Am Somebody 6 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org River Runners 6 p.m.

Basecamp Bar and Restaurant 346 Frazier Ave. (423) 803-5251 basecampcha.com Life Drawing Open Studio 6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Cloud Weaving 101 6:30 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Open Mic Poetry & More 6:30 p.m.

Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Open Bead Night 7 p.m.

Bead Therapy 1420 McCallie Ave, (423) 509-1907 bead-therapy.com Erik Griffin 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch

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ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT Fans of the hit Comedy Central series “Workaholics” instantly recognize Erik Griffin as the show’s iconic series regular Montez. He most recently starred as Ralph on Showtime Network’s ‘I’m Dying up Here’.

Erik Griffin The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Alcoholics Not Anonymous Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m.

Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com

FRIDAY3.13 Alla-Prima Portrait Workshop with Sean Cheetham 10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Friday the 13th Humane Society Benefit 11 a.m.

The Moxy 1220 King St. (423) 664-1180 moxy-hotels.marriott.com Home Organizing 101 2 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org An Evening with the Artists 6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Erik Griffin 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow” 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m.

Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Chatt Talk Tonight: Music 9 p.m.

Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com

SATURDAY3.14 Beginner Cookie Decorating: St. Patrick’s Day 10 a.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (423) 243-3250 saygrace.net Charcoal Portrait Drawing with Kate Zambrano

10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Pruning Intensive Workshop 10:30 a.m.

Crabtree Farms 1000 E. 30th St. (423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Chain Magic with Emilie Cole 11 a.m.

Bead Therapy 1420 McCallie Ave, (423) 509-1907 bead-therapy.com AVA Critique Workshop Noon AVA Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282 avarts.org March Stamping Class 2 p.m.

Hobby Lobby 5450 B. Hwy. 153 (423) 875-3727 hobbylobby.com Photography 101 Workshop 2 p.m.

W Road Collection 748 Overbridge Ln. (423) 605-1959 wroadcollection.com Author Event with Corey Green, Rose Opengart, and Thornton Parsons 2 p.m.

Barnes & Noble 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.

(423) 893-0186 barnesandnoble.com Healthy Treats 2 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Erik Griffin 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow” 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534

DRINK

SPRING 2020 courtesy of The Chattanooga Pulse

12 • THE PULSE • MARCH 12, 2020 • SRPING DRINK GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr.

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jessie Gantt-Temple Art Director Kelly Lockhart Contributors Halley Andrews Lindset Clute Mike McJunkin Jenn Webster

ADVERTISING Senior VP of Sales Lisa Yockey-Rice lisay@brewermediagroup.com

CONTACT Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse THE FINE PRINT Chattanooga Drink is published biannually by The Pulse and Brewer Media. Chattanooga Drink is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. Chattanooga Drink is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publishers may take more than one copy per weekly issue, please. © 2020 Brewer Media

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

Spring 2020 Drink Guide Cover Story ..................................................... 14

Bantam & Biddy ............................................ 19

Mike's Tavern .................................................. 17

Beast + Barrel ................................................. 20

The Tap House ............................................... 18

Sushi & Biscuits ............................................. 21

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DRINK SPRING 2020

You, Too, Can Brew There’s nothing like a beer to make things better

O

NE COLD, BRIGHT SATURDAY, MEMBERS OF BARLEY MOB BREWERS, A LARGE homebrewing club in Chattanooga, sit around a long table at Hutton & Smith. The ambience is half April-colored sunshine, half cave-cozy. Around the table, beers stand in various states of half-full to half-empty: Hutton & Smith’s Promenade IPA, a couple of Pilsners, a German-style Altbier, and a richly colored Schwarzbier.

By Jenn Webster Pulse contributor

Generous with their time, a half dozen folks from Barley Mob have gathered to enjoy a cold one and discuss the joys of home brewing. Chris Arnt, current Barley Mob president, came to brewing as a rugby player for Tulane in the late 1980s. He started drinking craft beers in New Orleans when such drinks were difficult to find, and thought to himself, “How do I get more of these?”

The obvious answer was to brew them himself.

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There weren’t a lot of resources at the time, adds Brian Bender, past vice president and current unofficial IT director of Barley Mob. There was the famous Charles Papazian’s Complete Joy of Home Brewing, but nowhere to buy equipment. Early home brewers converted things they found around their house or garage into brew pots, fermenters, siphons and the like.

And while today you can purchase fancy home brewing kits online or in boutique stores, you can still handtool what you need.

“Brewing is as expensive or as inexpensive as you want to make it,”

Brian says. He goes on to explain that the American Homebrewers Association was one of the earliest groups to support home brewing.

“Barriers started to break down,” he says. “The Homebrewers Association was building teams, hosting panels, funding grants for minorities and women in brewing…it’s starting to open up, and I love seeing that in brewing. There’s more to be brought to the table.”

Meanwhile, Chris Arnt and his wife, Tracy, had started a homebrewing club in Atlanta before moving to Chattanooga. With their kids grown

and out of the house, they started looking for the larger brewing community. It was quick to find and embrace them. Barley Mob Brewers, started as a drinking club in 2002, was “working to expand the craft beer scene in Chattanooga,” Chris says.

“In those days it was just Big River [serving craft beer]. Now we have a dozen breweries in the area, over a dozen breweries and taprooms.”

“We’re trying to educate people,” adds Martha Gregory, who’s sitting beside her husband Mark Gregory.

“We want to teach people that anyone can brew.”

Nowadays, home brewers, even in a small city the size of Chattanooga, have multiple events a year, from street fairs to judged competitions.

Barley Mob does charity work too with a bottomless cup event at Mainx24 where proceeds are donated to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank as well as the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club Brew Skies event.

There’s a lot of collaboration between local breweries and home brewers too. Hutton & Smith hosts a home brew competition, with the prize being to have your beer brewed on a large scale by the brewery. While you won’t earn any money, you’ll get your own tap handle to take home plus, of course, the joy of taking friends to a taproom for a drink of your own beer.

“The brewery may set a parameter, such as asking for a farmhouse style or a spiced beer,” Chris explains. “The

brewery will taste it and pick the winner and that person will get to brew their beer. What’s super cool is their beer is on tap at that place.”

Brewing clubs judge each other’s competitions, allowing for better feedback and continuous improvement. Together, the state homebrewing associations compile points from local wins and announce a brewer of the year. Barley Mob members dominate recent winners’ lists, with Chattanooga’s Mark Gregory often finishing high and Barley Mob Brewers vying with the Music City Brewers for the state’s best brewing club.

HOW TO START My favorite description of a bad beer comes from the intro to one of

Caitlin Kiernan’s book: “weasel piss.”

And, like a lot of uncrafty people, I’m afraid that if I make beer, it’ll be skunky or just plain icky. But it isn’t hard to start, the Barley Mob folks explain. Just let the brewing community know that you’re starting to brew, and they’ll reach out to help you.

You can begin with a stove, a pot and just $100 worth of equipment, finding instructions online. Your next step: find a brewing club, join the email list or follow the web page, and start learning. You can also visit a club meeting where there will often be food on the grill and a swarm of folks eager to help you get started. Chattanooga’s Barley Mob meets every third Tuesday at rotating locations. They trade equipment and advice and, of

course, eat and drink together.

And don’t worry if your beer doesn’t taste quite like anyone else’s. Style guidelines, Chris explains, help define particular types of beer, such as a Pilsner or an Altbier; they don’t take the place of individual taste.

“There are legitimate ‘off’ flavors, but it’s largely subjective,” Brian says.

“Our senses are so different.”

That said, everyone wants to improve, and a brewing club is the right place to do that.

“We have people at all levels,” Chris says. “We have an email system in place [where people can turn for help]. For instance, today someone might be brewing and reach out, ‘I thought I had the hops I needed but I don’t have them; anyone got some to spare?’ Or, ‘Could someone taste this and give me some feedback?’”

With help close at hand, it’s easy to feel confident that things will turn out all right and, if they don’t, there will always be a chance to start over again, a little wiser than you were before.

FIND YOUR PEOPLE First, Tracy Arnt tells me, there is no one kind of craft beer aficionado. Brewers are lawyers and stay-athome parents, wealthy professionals and working-class folk, college students and retirees. Some are drawn in because they take an interest in engineering their equipment. Others love the cooking aspect. Some are

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DRINK SPRING 2020 process-minded and keep a note of every aspect of a batch, resulting in stacks of ledgers with enough information to recreate a specific beer exactly.

Some like to make hand-drawn bottle labels. Others just brew because they like good drinks. Some like the garden-to-glass aspect; for instance, as Martha says, her family grows their own hops and raspberries for their beer. Men brew and women brew; young people and elders brew; people from every heritage brew.

An image of a mug in the hand of a lusty Viking or pint glass on the table in an Irish pub may have some accuracy to it, but it’s woefully incomplete. Brian explains that ancient Egyptians made beer; some enthusiastic brewers have recreated some of their beverages.

However, I do detect one characteristic that sets this hands-on community of beer lovers apart: their solid commitment to fellowship, fun and mutual aid.

“Barley Mob and brewing clubs in general have a kind of funky culture to them,” Tracy says. “We may not agree to anything else, but we like to make beer.”

“If anything unifies us it’s that we are fun-loving,” Brian adds. “You’re in it for the fun of it.”

“That spills into the brewing in-

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dustry, too,” Chris says. “When new breweries start, it’s not cutthroat competition. The community asks, ‘How can we help you?’”

Martha explains that some local commercial breweries, such as WanderLinger, started out as club members. Similarly, when Hutton & Smith came to town, the owners reached out to Barley Mob for help moving.

With gear too, it’s share and share alike.

“Someone might email the group, ‘I need a CO2 tank,’” Martha says.

“Mark will say, ‘I’ve got one,’ and someone will show up to get it. They always bring it back.”

“I can’t think of a story where it

went wrong,” Brian adds. That in itself might be testimony enough: what’s better than a group of people who share what they have and return what they borrow?

To find home-brewed beer and meet home brewers near you, start with these events: • Chattabrewga at The Signal on March 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Big Brew on National Homebrew Day, the first Saturday in May, location to be determined.

Or, you can visit a Barley Mob meeting. They rotate locations, so check in on their website at barleymob.com or their Facebook group at facebook.com/barleymob.

DRINK SPRING 2020 Mike’s Tavern

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here’s nothing that hits home quite like some good comfort food. Now combine that with excellent service and staff that care about their guests.

If it were possible to plug that into your GPS, you’d end up at Mike’s Tavern off Hwy 153 in Hixson.

Coming up on their one-year anniversary on April 15th, Mike’s Tavern, although just starting to get established in the community, has already set the bar high for service and dining excellence. The customers are what they’re all about, and they believe they deserve the best.

Known for their fresh craft food, great drinks, and amazing service, the experience is all around superior, with a clean and modernized, yet comfy, interior.

Best of all, they have a different drink special almost every day of the week: Monday is Margarita Monday, with $5 house margaritas all day. On Tuesday from 4 p.m. to close, all well drinks are $3. Wednesday from 4 p.m. to close is half-priced wine night—perfect for a girls’ night out! Finally, Thurs-

day from 4 p.m. to close is a dollar off bottled beer.

To top that off, Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. is Happy Hour—enjoy a dollar off wine by the glass, house cocktails, and all draft beers.

While you’re there, be sure to take advantage of their cocktail of the week, with a different flavor each week that coordinates with the season.

Let’s not forget everyone’s favorite meal: brunch! Offered Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy $2 mimosas and the $5 Bloody Mary Bar where you can “build your own liquid masterpiece,” as mentioned on their menu.

Their brunch menu changes seasonally, and they’ll be switching from the winter menu to the spring menu soon, so get there before it’s gone!

With one year down and many more to go, Mike’s Tavern is just getting started. Keep an eye out for announcements to see how you can help them celebrate one year of good food and satisfied customers.

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DRINK SPRING 2020 The Tap House

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alking into The Tap House feels a bit like walking into an old friend’s house. After ordering a drink, you can sink into one of the large, soft couches to chat and curl up, hands wrapped around your glass.

In the corner, there’s a stack of board games you can play with friends (or soon-to-be friends). They host trivia nights, vinyl nights, and the ever-popular SINGO nights—anything that brings the Chattanooga community together for a night of family-friendly fun.

The open space and large, communal tables encourage patrons to mingle and share stories with other visitors, which is exactly what owner Chris Calhoun had in mind when he designed it.

The Tap House is a true pub, so instead of an elaborate, restaurant-style menu, they offer a lighter snack-style menu filled with delicious pub food, including the popular, locally made trout spread.

If you do want something a little 18 • THE PULSE • MARCH 12, 2020 • SRPING DRINK GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

more substantial to munch on, the menu offers a selection of sandwiches, all of which are paired with a suggested style of beer.

And by the way, beer is the Tap House’s true pièce de résistance.

“Our focus in on the beer,” Calhoun says, and he means it. The Tap House has over 30 different varieties to sample and they rotate them regularly so there’s always something new to try.

A customer favorite is the Triple Jam cider, which is described on the Tap House website as, “the perfect balance of ripe sweetness with bold fruit aromatics.”

And if you just can’t decide on a drink, try Chattanooga’s only local beer flight, which includes beer from six different local breweries.

Not a fan of the amber brew? The Tap House also has an assortment of wine and kombucha for you to choose from.

With a friendly, welcoming staff and an array of regulars, the Tap House is truly the community’s pub.

DRINK SPRING 2020 Bantam & Biddy

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very year, St. Patrick’s Day brings a lot of green, a lot of leprechauns, a lot of drinks, and a lot of celebrating.

While we can’t promise the leprechauns, the good news is there’s plenty of green and plenty of drinks to go around, which is certainly cause for celebration.

This year, Bantam & Biddy is making St. Patty’s Day a special one for you and your friends and family. The downtown restaurant that you all know and love is going all out for the holiday.

On Monday and Tuesday, you can snag one-of-a-kind cocktails made specifically with the popular Irish holiday in mind: Jameson Apple Tea (whiskey, honey, apple juice, sweet tea), Gin Blossom (OJ, honey, sweet vermouth), Top O’ the Mornin’ (whiskey, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, peppermint, espresso), and The Massey (whiskey, gin, sweet vermouth, chartreuse, sour).

If you're trying to be healthier, they’ll also be serving the Green Monster Mule, which is their signature Green

Monster health juice blend transformed into a cocktail. Matcha Latte and Irish Coffee? Yeah, they’ll have that too.

As if that wasn’t enough, they’ll also be serving good ‘ole Green Beer on draft for those wanting to keep it simple, but still festive.

While you’re there, be sure to grab a bite to eat. Select from four Irishinspired dishes: Corned Beef & Cabbage, a House Reuben, Cottage Pie, and Potatoes O’Brien.

If you can’t make it into the restaurant for the holiday, good news! While some of these specials are only available for two days, the drinks—excluding the Green Beer—are always available.

To top off all the fun Bantam & Biddy is be offering new Glutenberg Blonde Ale beer, which is 100 percent gluten free. Based out of Ontario, Canada, this new brand will soon be available in American Pale, Goose, India Pale Ale, and Stout.

Don’t miss out on the festivities!

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DRINK SPRING 2020 Beast + Barrel

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hattanooga’s finest gastropub is the locally owned and operated Beast + Barrel, located across the river in North Chattanooga, conveniently right on the free electric shuttle route.

So whether you're traveling by car, on foot, on via the shuttle, you'll want to stop in and sample their incredible variety of cocktails, beer, wine, and fantastic food.

All of their draught beers are brewed right here in Tennessee, with a great variety to choose from. The bar also boasts an impressive selection of wine and whiskey, with six types of wine on tap.

If you’re not a fan of beer or wine, don’t worry—you can try one of their lovely cocktails; they have over 25 on the menu, and the bartenders often work their magic to create their own specialty drinks.

And when it comes to food, Beast + Barrel is unmatched in their originality and delectability. Their menu is chef-driven, and owner Matt Lewis describes it as a “modern twist on traditional American food.” The charcuterie 20 • THE PULSE • MARCH 12, 2020 • SRPING DRINK GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

board with artisanal cheese and meats smoked in-house is a guest favorite, as well as their famous bison meatloaf.

Beast + Barrel also has chef-prepared seafood, expertly cooked steaks, and burgers made with local beef.

They’re open for dinner daily, but on Saturdays and Sundays they also serve brunch starting at 10 a.m. where you can get new takes on classic favorites, like the Overnight Cinnamon French Toast served with hot buttered rum syrup or a Louisiana-inspired version of eggs benedict made with crab cakes and creole hollandaise.

The ambience of Beast + Barrel can be described as casual class, perfect for a first date or an outing with friends.

The restaurant’s design is clean, yet indulgent; the open-air dining combined with the dark wood of the booths, tables, and bar will make you feel both cozy and refined.

As we move into the warmer spring season, ask for a table on the patio where you can enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Chattanooga’s Northshore.

DRINK SPRING 2020

No Confusion On Infusion How to put the “your own” in “bring your own booze”

Mike McJunkin Pulse columnist

“

My kitchen shelves are dotted with glass decanters and bottles labeled with tempting names such as lemongrass and Thai basil vodka, ginger infused whiskey, and coconut sugar syrup. ”

Mike McJunkin is a native Chattanoogan who has traveled abroad extensively, trained chefs, and owned and operated restaurants. Join him on Facebook at facebook.com/SushiAndBiscuits

Enjoying a cocktail is a sensuous experience. Not “Nigella Lawson eating ice cream” sensuous, I mean that we enjoy cocktails with our senses—the feel of the glass, the presentation of the drink, the sound of the shaker and most importantly—the taste.

There’s no clear indication of when people first started flavoring spirits simply for taste, but it’s not hard to imagine that it didn’t take long for someone to throw some fruit or herbs into a bowl of daddy’s “medicine” to help it go down.

Before long, every culture had its own tradition of distilled spirits, each with its own unique flavors and characteristics.

The first flavored spirits weren’t mass produced but were infusions made in homes, bars and taverns using ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, bison grass, black currant, cherry, apple and lemon.

Fast forward to today’s well-tended, modern bar and you’ll see many of these same flavors back at work, along with some surprising, if not challenging new flavors.

In the ‘70s, my experience with flavored spirits was a lot like dating a stripper, plenty of fun at first but things can get ugly really quick. I immediately learned that sloe gin and cherry vodka may have been friendly and approachable to my teenage palate but the poorquality produced consequences ranging from skull-crushing headaches to heartwrenching walks of shame.

In the ‘80s, Captain Morgan spiced rum made a huge splash in the market but vodka pushed back to reclaim its title as the OG infusion medium. Flavored vodkas were produced as early as the fourteenth century, initially to mask the harshness of these primitive vodkas then later as a way to indicate the distiller’s skill. These days, you can’t swing a copy of the Miller’s tale around a liquor store without hitting a flavored vodka.

The ‘90s brought in a host of flavored spirits that led to the exotic and sometimes ridiculous flavors we see lining the shelves of liquor stores today. The same impulse that led bartenders in the ‘80s to put on their best Ted Lange smile and whip together outlandish and innuendo laden concoctions like the Slippery Nipple or Sex On The Beach, is the same impulse that has given us terrifying combinations such as Swedish Fish vodka and blueberry pancake liqueur today.

I’ve been making my own infused spirits for years. My kitchen shelves are dotted with glass decanters and bottles labeled with tempting names such as lemongrass and Thai basil vodka, ginger infused whiskey, and coconut sugar syrup.

The oldest and most common method for creating an infusion is to pick a liquor you love, insert an interesting ingredient to infuse, and let it sit (or steep) for a period of time. Not so long ago, bartenders figured out they could utilize pressure and heat to help move this original infusion process along.

Devices such as vacuum sealers and hot infusion siphons have given mixologists more flexibility to create quick infusions that otherwise, would not be practical in a bar environment. Whereas

steeping could take as long as five to six days to achieve flavor, putting those ingredients under pressure with a vacuum sealer can create a flavorful infusion in as little as three to four hours.

For the amateur infuser, this lab equipment might be a bit much, but a simple immersions circulator (a sous vide machine) can do the trick. Set the temperature at 140°F, place the liquor and your flavoring components into a jar then submerge in the water bath for one hour. Cool, strain and enjoy.

In spite of the chemistry lab components and exotic flavor combinations, at the end of the day, the most important thing is that the cocktail tastes good.

There is no substitute for quality ingredients and artful preparation, even when making the simplest of drinks.

If you’re the DIY type, you can easily make basic infusions at home. But I’ll warn you, once you start making your own, it becomes hard to stop. Before you know it, you’ll be up late at night trying to order fresh Buddha’s hand from India because you just have to make gingercitron vodka for your sister’s wedding because she loves citrus drinks. Have fun, drink responsibly, eat consciously, and invite me over if you need help taste testing your latest infusion. Cheers!

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide when Rainbow is Enuf theatrecentre.com

SUNDAY3.15 13th Annual Irish Festival 8:30 a.m.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA (706) 820-2531 seerockcity.com Charcoal Portrait Drawing with Kate Zambrano 10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com An Introduction to Alternative Photographic Techniques in the Darkroom 10 a.m.

Safelight District 1804 E. Main St. safelightdistrict.com Books & Brunch Chatt Series 1 p.m.

Food Works 205-C Manufacturers Rd. (423) 752-7487 foodworksresaurant.com Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow” 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide when Rainbow is Enuf 3 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater

1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Crafting with Beers 5 p.m.

Barley Chattanooga 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Confession: Comedy Open Mic with Briana Adams 5 p.m.

Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com The Sunday School Dropout 7 p.m.

UTC UC Auditorium 710 E. 5th St. (423) 425-4455 utc.edu G. R. Goodwin’s Comedy Showcase 7:30 p.m.

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

MONDAY3.16 Winter Belly Dance Session 6 p.m.

Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Glaze Chemistry Workshop with Lauren Howard 6 p.m.

Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758

sceniccityclayarts.org Joggers & Lagers 6 p.m.

Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. (423) 702-9958 chattabrew.com

TUESDAY3.17 Chattanooga Self Improvement Meetup 8 a.m.

The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Sew What 4 p.m.

Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Beginner Beading 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m.

The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Chess K-night 7 p.m.

Mad Priest Coffee Roasters 1900 Broad St. (423) 393-3834 madpriestcoffee.com Drew Morgan and D.J. Lewis Comedy Show 8 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com

WEDNESDAY3.18 David Greenberger – Good Perspective 1:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Main Street Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Introduction to Public Speaking – Two Part Workshop 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Open Mic Comedy 7 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Open Mic Comedy Night 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 12, 2020 • THE PULSE • 23

THE MUSIC SCENE

Another Guitar Great Honors Us With A Show Musical ambassador plays the small scene Rhythm And Lyricism Thomas Csorba returns to Chattanooga this Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Woodshop on St. Elmo Avenue. Csorba brings classic Americana into 2020 with a country-tinged folk sound that’s exactly what’s been missing from the modern music scene.

Csorba’s voice is filled with Southern drawl and a handful of gravel, which perfectly complements the music he creates. His music fills you with all the bittersweet feelings that life itself brings, with a lyrical depth that’s on par with the likes of Leonard Cohen and Hank Williams.

People are often surprised to learn the artist behind such deep and meaningful songs is only twenty-two years old but, with lyrical inspirations like Walt Whitman and Mark Twain, it’s really no surprise. In fact, Csorba often gets inspiration from the literature he reads; more recently, he cites award-winning Irish playwright Conor McPherson as an influence.

In the aftermath of the devastating storms in middle Tennessee, Csorba says, “All proceeds from the show are going to help with Tornado Relief in Nashville. Hoping to bring together folks in Chattanooga to help out our Nashville friends.”

Tickets are just $10 at the door, so bring your friends and come see a fantastic performance to help benefit our Tennessee family.

— Halley Andrews

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IERRE BENSUSAN, YOU KNOW HIM, OR YOU don’t. If you know him, there’s nothing I can add to the wonder and respect you already feel for the man who is consistently referred to as one of the world’s greatest living guitarists. If this is your first time hearing the name, well, take off your coat, relax, and sit a spell while we get caught up.

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

Born in French-Algeria in 1957, Pierre began his formal musical education (on piano) in Paris at the age of seven. Enamored by

24 • THE PULSE • MARCH 12, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

the folk revival in Western Europe and America, Pierre would go on to teach himself guitar a few years later, sign his first recording deal at seventeen, and release his first album a year later, winning the Grand Prix du Disque at Montreux.

His career has been on a perpetually upward trajectory ever since.

The list of accolades and awards Pierre has claimed worldwide is expansive, including the title “Best World Music Guitar Player” from Guitar Player magazine and numerous “Album of the Month/Year” designations. In 2013 his album Intuite came in second place as “Best Acoustic Album of All Time” in Spain.

There’s more, much more, but the point is made that Bensusan has, with grace and humor, earned his place as one of the greatest of all time which brings an extra level

“

Bensusan’s style is variously described as classical, jazz, traditional, folk, even Celtic, but at the end of the day the fairest description is that Bensusan’s style is an amalgam of all of that and more.” of excitement to his March 13th performance at Barking Legs Theater here in Chattanooga.

This would be a “get” in L.A., Chicago, or New York. The fact that it is happening here in the Scenic City is astounding and yet increasingly par for the course as our humble mid-sized home continues to gain credibility as a music destination.

To make the point directly, as concerts go, this is a big deal both as an opportunity for music lovers and as a badge of prestige for the city.

The person responsible for booking deserves an enthusiastic pat on the back and the gratitude of everyone who wants to see Chattanooga’s cultural and artistic reputation blossom.

Bensusan’s style is variously described as classical, jazz, traditional, folk, even Celtic, but at the end of the day the fairest description (and I am aware that this borders on cliché) is that Bensusan’s

style is an amalgam of all of that and more.

He, like so many others who have achieved a level of mastery, incorporates elements of the various traditions, combining them in a way that is distinctively his. YouTube is rife with examples of his live performances which, in a word, are mesmerizing and Azwan, his latest album and the promotional point of his current tour, is no exception.

On a personal level, he’s one of the nicest, most instantly likable people you’ll ever meet. Generous and supportive of various charitable causes, he is as sublime a person as he is a performer.

Musical ambassador, world treasure, Bensusan is one of the “must not miss” acts of the year. Tickets to Friday night’s performance are still available via the Barking Legs website at barkinglegs.org The show is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Don’t be late; you don’t want to miss a note.

Kickin’ Up Your Kilts St. Paddy’s Day is upon us and there’s more to do than you can shake a shillelagh at…

This Saturday, SoundCorps and the Honest Pint present the 7th annual Paddy’s on the Parkway celebration, one of downtown’s favorite parties of the year. Music starts at six and the lineup includes Luke Simmons & The Lovestruck, Magic Tapestry Belly Dance Troupe, Lenox Hills, Fire Cabaret, The Communicators, Behold The Brave, Stringer’s Ridge, WalkOrRow, The Molly Maguires, Slim Pickins, and The 9th Street Stompers.

The 2020 Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention, under the expert curation of Matt Downer (one of Chattanooga’s finest musicians and human beings), will also be on Saturday, beginning at noon at historic 901 Lindsay Street.

The next two weekends see the return of another Chattanooga favorite, Rock City’s “Shamrock City” celebration with four days of music, arts, crafts, dancing,

and food. A full lineup is available on the Rock City website, seerockcity.com Other events this weekend include the West Village Paddy’s celebration, Hi-Fi Clyde’s annual party, and the all-new Irishfest celebration on Station Street including performances from the Chattanooga Highland Pipe Band and the Joey Winslett band.

Then on Tuesday, OddStory Brewing is sponsoring a pub crawl, and The Honest Pint celebrates “Paddy’s Day Proper” with live music starting at noon, including Fractious Cats, Matt Downer the Old Time Traveler, Stringer’s Ridge, Tri-Selkie, the Wolfhounds, and The Molly Maguires. Just remember to drink responsibly. And keep your Uber app updated. — MTM

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 12, 2020 • THE PULSE • 25

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY3.12 Bailey Bigger + Meagan Tyler Alford 7 p.m.

The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. thewoodshop.space Chattanooga Song Circle 7 p.m.

Pax Breu Ruim 516 E. Main St (423) 648-4677 Emilee Plum, LOU, Ally Grace Thomas 7 p.m.

Heritage House Arts Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. chattanooga.gov Them Dirty Roses 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Toby Hewitt 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Amber Fults 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com New Grass Express 7:30 p.m.

The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Marc Broussard, Jamie McLean Band 7:30 p.m.

Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Ariel 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Keeping Composure, The Levitical Task, and Wither Without You 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Tyson Leamon 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd.

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thepalmsathamilton.com

FRIDAY3.13 Tyler Martelli 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Callista Clark w/ Rachel McIntyre Smith 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Casey Dean Smith 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. chattabrew.com Nicholas Edward Williams 7:30 p.m.

Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Tre Powell 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Harry Connick Jr. 8 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Stringer’s Ridge 8 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Pierre Bensusan Official CD Release Celebration 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Frontier Folk Nebraska w/ Bohannons 8 p.m.

The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. (423) 475-6569 Yonder Mountain String Band 8:30 p.m.

Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Maya Trippe 8:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 Aquarium Way

puckettsgro.com Hit Town 9 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Taverns, Shakeys Bad Knee, Charles at Large 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com David Ingle & Friends 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Coathanger Abortion, Koza, Awaken the Ancient 9 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 265-8711 Courtney Holder 9 p.m.

The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Larry Fleet 9 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Gino Fanelli w/ Fast Eddie 10 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Mind Modes w/ Vibe Emissions and Spinchilla 10 p.m.

Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. stonecupcafe.com Jon Wimpee & The Militia 10 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Rick Stone 10 p.m.

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

SATURDAY3.14 Danimal 10:30 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St.

flyingsquirrelbar.com Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention 2020 Noon 901 Lindsay St. 901lindsay.com Misfit Toyz, Sleazy Sleazy, Oweda, Josiah & the Greater Good 1 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Chattanooga Girls Rock 3 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Red Rogues 4 p.m.

Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com No Big Deal 6 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com St Paddy’s Party on the Parkway 6 p.m.

The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. facebook.com/TheHonestPint The Etowah Jacks 6:30 p.m.

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

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jimmy Dormire 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Paul Smith & Sky High Band 8 p.m.

Eagles Club 6128 Airways Blvd. foe.com Michael Johnathan 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Drive Train 8 p.m.

Doc Holidays Bar and Grill 742 Ashland Terrace docholidaysbarandgrill.com The Daly Special 8 p.m.

Bode 730 Chestnut St. bode.co The ExLaws 8 p.m.

Mayo’s Bar and Grille 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com Highlander Pipes & Drums 8 p.m.

Sing It or Wing It 410 Market St. singitorwingitchattanooga.com Thomas Csorba 8 p.m.

The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. thewoodshop.space Nicholas Edward Williams 8:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Derelict Saints, Field Hockey, Good Grief, Lewis and Clark 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Evan Kennedy 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Midnite Rollercoaster, Ransam, GYPT 9 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 265-8711 Mark Andrew 9 p.m.

Big River Grille 222 Broad St. bigrivergrille.com The Pearloids, Ancient Ethel, Caramore 9 p.m.

The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. (423) 475-6569 The Afternooners w/ Ryder Pierce and Dolphin Group 9 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St.

songbirds.rocks Gleewood 10 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Rick Stone 10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY3.15 Gleewood 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m.

Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com 9th Street Stompers 11 a.m.

STIR 1444 Market St. stirchattanooga.com Jerry Fordham Noon 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Ben Stephens 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com E.T. 3 p.m.

Wanderlinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Celtic Harp: Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson 5 p.m.

Southside Studio 1431 Market St. southsidestudio.co Other Brothers 6 p.m.

Wanderlinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Mother Legacy 8 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Changers, Brower, Josephine

9 p.m.

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

MONDAY3.16 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Blues Night Open Jam 7 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Chattanooga Slow Session Players, Stringer’s Ridge 7 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497

TUESDAY3.17 Soggy Daisies 5 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Barron Wilson 5 p.m.

River Drifters 1925 Suck Creek Rd. riverdrifterschatt.com Stephen Busie 6 p.m.

1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Nick Williams 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Danimal 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Fiddler Andrew Finn Magill & Square Dance 7 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Gino Fanelli 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St.

westinchattanooga.com The Red Rogues 7:30 p.m.

Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Jeff Bailey 8 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Nordista Freeze, Keem the Cipher 9 p.m.

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

Friday, March 13 Taverns, Shakeys Bad Knee, Charles at Large, Chainsaw Comedy Saturday, March 14 Derelict Saints, Field Hockey, Good Grief, Lewis and Clark Sunday, March 15 Changers, Brower, Josephine Tuesday, March 17 Drew Morgan Comedy

WEDNESDAY3.18 David Greenberger-Good Perspective 1:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Gino Fanelli 6 p.m.

1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Andrew Duhon 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Dexter Bell 7 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Dustin Concannon 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Blue October 8 p.m.

Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com

Wednesday, March 18

Open Mic Comedy JJ’s Bohemia • 231Blvd.

E MLK Blvd.

JJ’s Bohemia • 231 E MLK 423.266.1400 • jjsbohemia.com 423.266.1400 • jjsbohemia.com

Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 12, 2020 • THE PULSE • 27

CHAD RADFORD'S MUSIC REVIEWS

Human Impact Human Impact (Ipecac Records)

I

n David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return, Special Agent Dale Cooper traverses time, space, and an abstract dimension to break free from the Black Lodge, where he’s been trapped in limbo for twentyfive years. The twisted and unsettling journey back to Earth concludes in a disarmingly new terrain. When he emerges, all that was once familiar has changed; the whole world is not as it should be.

Lynch’s beautifully perplexing vision makes a ready comparison with Human Impact’s self-titled debut LP. From the crackle of electricity and brooding ambiance that clears the way for the album’s opening number “November” to the paranoid grind of “E605”, Unsane singer and guitarist Chris Spencer leads an expansive amalgamation of some key noise rock and post-industrial musical luminaries.

Flanked by Swans’ rhythm section—drummer Phil Puleo and bassist Christopher Pravdica—and Cop Shoot Cop’s keyboard player Jim Coleman, Human Impact sharpens the intensity of the group’s collective resume while revealing a fresh new chapter for everyone involved.

The same is true of producer Martin Bisi. Bisi, who has worked with all the abovementioned acts, as well as Sonic Youth, Foetus, Rhys Chatham, and more, has long played a role in hammering in the rusty nail scrape of New York City’s darkest outsider

28 • THE PULSE • MARCH 12, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Christoph Heemann Perception & Association (Robot Records)

dirges.

The result of this collaboration is a scathing and melodic hell ride across scorched earth. In songs like “Respirator”, “Protester”, and “This Dead Sea”, Spencer’s voice leaves plenty of room for listeners to absorb the history, creativity, and chemistry that’s on display here.

“E605” illustrates the subtle, though no less confrontational, nuances of Spencer’s voice when he’s not screaming fullthrottle a la Unsane. However, the measured approach with which he tackles these songs sacrifices nothing in terms of style.

The album’s dissonant, driving arrangements allow for space and interplay between instruments. Pravdica’s bass and Puleo’s rhythms barrel along in a glorious rush. The mass of disembodied voices swelling in “Consequences” create a chilling backbone for an album that is as muscular as it is creepy and cathartic— despite its apocalyptic imagery.

D

rop a needle on “Time and Again”, the A-side of Christoph Heemann’s latest album, Perception & Association, and prepare to experience the slow build up to full sensory engagement, teeming with quiet power. A motorik bead of sound— tapes and electronic manipulation that melded together between 2012 and 2018—drifts in as a subtly pulsating drone.

It comes on softly at first.

So much so that the staccato grind of a ceiling fan wobbling overhead, the faint hiss of traffic outside, or a cat leisurely walking along the floorboards compete with the subdued oscillations that grow slightly louder with each revolution on the turntable. Heemann’s slow hand guides the sound with eternal patience.

Change, however, is never fully imperceptible. The natural human sway of Heemann’s moving pitch is plain as day, moving faster, then slower, gaining intensity in an ebb and flow of meditative ease and subconscious anxiety. The result of this tension is the gradual formation of rich auditory hallucinations.

Sometimes it’s just a perceived texture. During other moments, the music can induce a dreamlike state. Soon it’s clear that the sounds of the natural world intruding upon the record aren’t coming from the natural world at all. A new pulsating rhythm reveals itself, like a distant moon orbiting a much larger body in space.

Heemann is a master of sculpting these inward journeys that have been dubbed “cinema for the ear.” From his mid-‘80s time as one-half of German duo Hirsche nicht aufs Sofa (H.N.A.S.) to ‘90s collaborations with Japanese noise artist Merzbow, and with guitarist Jim O’Rourke and the Legendary Pink Dots in Mimir, Heemann revels in expanding upon the subtle nuances of sound, time, and their relation in space.

On the B-side, “The Trains” invokes the same synesthetic drift as “Time and Again”, with a more tumultuous presence.

It’s impressive to see just how much Heemann stirs up using very few moving parts. His style is akin to minimalism, but the composed nature and determination of these two works places them in a universe of their own.

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To be honest, I learned more about the fashion business than I ever believed possible, walking in and chatting with the super friendly staff.

Located at the corner of Hixson Pike and Dorchester Road, right across the street from Tremont Tavern, this fashion outfitter has made a name for itself for over 20 years, by dressing the women of Chattanooga in the hottest fashion trends.

Owner Sherry Shipley Gravitt is a lady of razor-sharp wit, distinction and refinement. She walks me around her unconventional boutique with beaming pride. Every article and stitch on the racks and shelves are meticulously inventoried and organized by type, size, color, brand and seasonal relevance.

Designer handbags with upscale brands are suspended, neatly, in full presentation, and the gloss of highquality boots gleam from the shelves.

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These colorful, exotic wonders stole my attention, with their alluring beauty, as if they were spirited away from the Himalayas and brought to Chattanooga by way of Indiana Jones. If you fancy the haunting glow of turquoise, Encore definitely has a feast

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"We don't just sell clothes. We dress people and take pride in our clients looking and feeling good," Sherry said.

Sherry has been in the fashion industry since she was sixteen. It was at her first job, a boutique called The Vogue on Brainerd Road, where she was bitten by the fashion bug. Although she pursued a career in advertising, she always found her way back into the industry.

With all the buzz and kinetic flurry that comes with managing a boutique consignment store, she takes her careful time with the intake of con-

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Consignment items are taken by appointment only, and the Encore team carefully inspects everything from strap to seam. They guarantee that all designer items are one hundred percent authentic.

The heart and soul of Encore is the combination of life-long passion for fashion and a love for taking care of people. Sherry and her staff's dedication to the time and research that goes into keeping up-to-date with the latest trends is what sets her store apart from others. Staying on top of what's hot and trendy every year, season to season, is a monumental feat that Sherry and staff guarantee with iron-clad resolve.

They are currently working hard to get the Spring line on the racks at the same time as the major department stores, yet what you will find at Encore won't be found at the mall. You will find the unique, the trendy, the stylish and sleek...all the great, in-demand designers and all at reasonable prices. If you require a seasonal update to that basic wardrobe or desire to dress-to-impress and haven't a clue where to start, Encore has a Fashion Forward stylist to take care of your needs.

Encore Consignment Boutique may have everything you need to be the best-dressed on either side of the Chickamauga or Tennessee River, with a personable and professional team, ready and able to deck you out in some of the finest designer clothing, without the need to jet off to New York or Los Angeles. Check them out at encoreconsignmentonline.com.

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CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 12, 2020 • THE PULSE • 29

FILM & TELEVISION

Filmmakers With A Cult Following Returning sci-fi on the big screen generates more love for the craft

W

E’RE A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AWAY FROM the best annual event in the Scenic City: The Chattanooga Film Festival. I’ve been singing the praises of the CFF since its inception. There’s not another local event like it. In fact, there’s not another festival like it in the region.

You’re not going to find better films, better workshops, or better people anywhere in the Southeast.

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

Every year, it’s a struggle for funding. Every year, festival director Chris Dortch has to fight for sponsors and dollars. And every year, as if by magic, the festival happens. And it’s happening once again this year on April 16th through 19th.

One of my favorite things about the film festival is the relationships built with filmmakers. Some of the strongest working directors in the world bring their films to the festival, year after year. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are such filmmakers. This year, the pair are bringing their new film

Synchronic to the festival.

The film stars Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie as New Orleans paramedics who encounter a series of deaths linked to a designer drug. For those familiar with Benson and Moorhead, the film promises to be yet another deep dive into strange and otherworldly sci-fi. For those who haven’t seen one of their films, The Endless (shown at last year’s CFF) is currently streaming on Netflix.

Some of the best in sci-fi and horror asks the simple question: “what if?”

Questions are what drives the story of The Endless, both internally and externally. Aaron (Aaron Moorhead) and Justin (Justin Benson) are former

30 • THE PULSE • MARCH 12, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

members of what they call a “UFO Death Cult”. They were adopted into the cult as children after their mother was killed in a car accident.

Growing up in the cult (known as Camp Arcadia), their basic needs were accounted for however Aaron, the older of the two boys, soon began to feel something was off. He eventually convinced Justin to leave with him and the two became something of a sensation, drawing unwelcome attention to the group and making headlines around the world.

Their lives afterwards were largely mundane. They work together cleaning apartments and other menial jobs, and Justin begins to long for the security of the cult. Aaron admits that finding friends and stable work has been a struggle, but he attributes this to their former lives in the cult.

When Justin receives a package from the camp, announcing their ascension, he begs Aaron to return once more. Aaron is understandably concerned about visiting the camp again, what with “ascension” usually being code for suicide. Justin, however, feels

like they’re simply leaving. He convinces his brother to return to Camp Arcadia for one day.

The major question this film asks is this: What if the cult isn’t really a cult? What if their beliefs are based on something real?

The film starts with a quote by H.P. Lovecraft and there is certainly something Lovecraftian about The Endless.

Time plays tricks on the people at Camp Arcadia and there does appear to be something, somewhere, that is directing the actions of the group.

What it is exactly is never explained.

This is one of the film’s strengths—it doesn’t need heavy special effects or giant CGI monsters to unsettle. Often, the scariest part of a story is what isn’t seen. In another nod to Lovecraft, what we do see is difficult to process or understand. The indescribable is just that. Moreover, the film is competent and well-acted, with a good amount of humor to alleviate the tension of being entrapped in a secretive cult.

The fact Benson and Moorhead have a new film with more star power is a testament to the filmmakers. Their films have always had interesting ideas and excellent execution, but adding to that a few well-known actors can only increase their renown and hopefully help fund future projects. The pair appear to have no shortage of great films in them.

We need more filmmakers who are interested in making original films rather than franchise films. Still, if they do manage to make more success, there’s no doubt Disney will snatch them up to make another Star Wars.

At least for now, the Chattanooga Film Festival will bring us their films.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I suspect your fantasy life will be especially potent in the coming weeks.

Your imagination will have an enhanced power to generate visions that could eventually manifest as actual events and situations. On the one hand, that could be dicey, because you can’t afford to overindulge in fearful speculations and worried agitation. On the other hand, that could be dramatically empowering, because your good new ideas and budding dreams may start generating practical possibilities rather quickly.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Giacomo Puccini’s famous opera Tosca premiered in 1900. It featured a heroine named Tosca. In 1914, Puccini’s favorite Tosca, a soprano singer named Maria Jeritza, was performing in a production at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. As she got ready to sing an aria entitled “I Live for Art,” she stumbled and fell.

Rather than struggle awkwardly to rise, she pretended that this was all quite natural—called for in the script. She sang the entire piece while lying on the floor. Puccini loved it! Ever since then, most of the singers who have played the role of Tosca have sung “I Live for Art” while prone. I suggest you regard this as an inspirational teaching. What lucky accidents could you make into permanent additions or enhancements?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus poet Gary Snyder said, “Threefourths of philosophy and literature is the talk of people trying to convince themselves that they really like the cage they were tricked into entering.” Personally, I think that many of us, not just philosophers and writers, do the same thing. Are you one of us? Your first assignment during the next four weeks will be to explore whether you do indeed tend to convince yourself that you like the cage you were tricked into entering.

Your second assignment: If you find that you are in a cage, do everything you can to stop liking it.

Third assignment: Use all your ingenuity, call on all the favors you’re owed, and conjure up the necessary magic so that you can flee the cage.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Your body is not a temple,” declared author and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. “It’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.” I half-agree with him. I’m deeply devoted to regarding the body as an amusement park. It should be a source of endless fun and enjoyment. We have the right—indeed, I’d say a duty—to wield our bodies in ways that immerse us in the mysteries and miracles of pleasure. But here’s where I disagree with Bourdain: I believe the body is also a temple that deserves our reverence and respect and protective tenderness. Your assignment in the com-

ing weeks, Gemini, is to raise your commitment to treating your body as both an amusement park and a holy temple.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Early in his career, Cancerian painter JeanBaptiste-Camille Corot (1796– 1875) sold only a few paintings.

But eventually his luck improved.

Once he was financially successful, he became very generous. He wielded his influence to get jobs for other artists, and mentored many artists, as well. Sometimes he added a few dabs of paint to the finished works of younger, struggling painters, then signed the canvases with his own name so that the works could more easily be sold. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to adopt your own version of Corot’s approach toward those around you who could benefit from your help and support.

(P.S. It’s in your selfish interest to do so, although the reasons why may not be clear for a while.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Composer Brian Eno has testified that African music underlies and influences much of his work. He exults in the freedom and unpredictability it encourages. Why? Here’s one reason: In African songs, there are often multiple rhythms. And they’re not locked together; they float freely in relationship to each other. Eno says this is different from Western music, whose salient quality is that all the rhythmic elements are contained “in little boxes”—locked into a tyrannically mechanical clockwork pattern. According to my reading of the astrological omens, dear Leo, the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to experiment with Eno’s insight. How? Escape mechanical clockwork patterns and activate the “multiple, free-floating rhythm” metaphor in everything you do.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Are you interested in enhancing your mastery of togetherness? Are you open to my suggestion that you should seek out practical education about the arts of intimacy?

Would you be willing to meditate on how you might bring additional creativity and flair into your close alliances? If you answered yes to those questions, the next six weeks will provide you with ample opportunities to dive in to all that fun work. “Collaboration” and “cooperation” will be words of power for you. “Synergy and symbiosis” should be your tender battle cry.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): As you come to the climax of your Season of Good Gaffes and Lucky Bloopers, I’ll remind you of folk singer Pete Seeger’s definition of a “productive mistake.” He said it had these five qualities: “1. made in the service of mission and vision; 2. acknowledged as a mistake; 3. learned from; 4. considered valuable; 5. shared for the benefit of all.”

Let’s hope, Libra, that your recent twists and turns fit at least some of these descriptions!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Would you consider making one more push, Scorpio? Can I coax you to continue your half-confusing, halfrewarding quest? Are you willing to wander even further out into the frontier and take yet another smart risk and try one additional experiment? I hope so. You may not yet be fully convinced of the value of these forays outside of your comfort zone, but I suspect you will ultimately be glad that you have chosen what’s interesting over what’s convenient. P.S. In the coming weeks, you could permanently expand your reservoir of courage.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A traditional astrologer might say that you Sagittarians typically spend less time at home than any other sign of the zodiac. Some of you folks even rebel against the idea that having a stable home is a health-giving essential. You may feel that you can’t be totally free unless you always have your next jaunt or journey planned, or unless you always have a homeaway-from-home to escape to. I understand and appreciate these quirks about your tribe, but am also committed to coaxing you to boost your homebody quotient.

Now would be a perfect time to do that. You’re more open than usual to the joy and power of cultivating a nurturing home.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The more crooked the path, the faster you’ll get to where you’re going. Every apparent detour will in fact be at least a semi-valuable shortcut. Any obstacle that seems to block your way will inspire you to get smarter and more resourceful, thereby activating lucky breaks that bring unexpected grace. So don’t waste even a minute cursing outbreaks of inconvenience, my dear, because those outbreaks will ultimately save you time and make life easier. (P.S.: During the coming weeks, conventional wisdom will be even more irrelevant than it usually is.)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When I was a young adult, I was unskilled and indigent. Many restaurants exploited my feeble prowess at washing pots and pans and dishes, but the meager wage they paid me barely kept me fed and housed. You will perhaps understand why, now that I’m grown up, I am averse to cleaning pots and pans and dishes, including my own. That’s why I pay a helper to do that job. Is there an equivalent theme in your own life? An onerous task or grueling responsibility that oppressed you or still oppresses you? Now is a good time to find a way to declare your independence from it.

“Dangerous Curves”—every capital letter in the theme has curves.

ACROSS 1 School that won 10 NCAA basketball championships in 12 years 5 Planetarium projections 10 Section of music that’s repeated 14 Thing on stage 15 Banned practice?

16 Earth Day subj.

17 *Bowlful on the specials list 19 “Trapped in the Drive-___” (Weird Al song) 20 Beaker’s spot 21 Goose formations 23 Nursery schooler 24 “Grown-up” cereal ingredient 27 *Italian veal dish 29 “Deep Space Nine” constable 30 Tap takeover unit 33 Hypnotic state 34 Mess up 36 Aragon-born artist 39 “So help me!”

40 *”I Am the Walrus” refrain 43 Even so

45 24-karat, gold-wise 46 Tabby tooth 49 Believer of sorts 51 It takes night deposits 53 Arthur of “Maude” and “The Golden Girls” 54 *Department of Labor training program 57 Seemingly bottomless pit 59 Gold, to Cortez 60 Christmastime 61 Addr. on a business card 62 Accumulation 64 *Bands like AKB48 and Babymetal (but not BTS--that’s a different letter) 69 Cop on a bust 70 “... to fetch ___ of water” 71 1952 Winter Olympics city 72 Laundromat lather 73 Mary Poppins, for example 74 Late infomercial pitchman Billy DOWN 1 “What can Brown do for you?” company

2 ___-Magnon man 3 Actor Diamond Phillips 4 iPad Pro maker 5 Ticket souvenir 6 Blues guitarist ___ Mahal 7 From the beginning, in Latin 8 Rakish sorts 9 Most in need of a massage 10 Terrier treater 11 1991 U2 album featuring the song “One” 12 Fez’s country 13 Demoted (like a former planet) 18 Nightfall 22 Kevin who played Hercules on TV 24 Driving visibility problem 25 “___ believe ...”

26 Wave rider’s accessory 28 ___ Pigs Invasion (1961 event) 31 Quail ___ omelet 32 Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand 35 B vitamin acid 37 TTYL part 38 “Slumdog

Millionaire” city 41 Kaitlin of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” 42 Hot tub nozzle 43 Capital of Newfoundland and Labrador 44 “Walden” writer 47 “Duck Hunt” platform 48 Oxygen, for one 50 One fooled by a wooden horse 52 Ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny 55 Pig blamed for causing American kids to affect British accents 56 Alfred P. ___ Foundation (NPR benefactor) 58 Result in flowers 61 Unpleasant, as a situation 63 Laptops or desktops, e.g.

65 Alley figure 66 Home of Rome and Moscow 67 What the P in TP doesn’t stand for 68 Oceanic distress signal

Copyright © 2020 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 979 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 12, 2020 • THE PULSE • 31