The Pulse » Vol. 8 » No. 42 » Oct. 20, 2011

FREE • NEWS | VIEWS | MUSIC | FILM | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • october 20, 2011 • VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 42 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Chattanooga's Weekly Alternative

NEWSTHINK while club troubles

abound, entertainment district still a bad idea • DIZZYTOWN A HOTTODDY-Y TOO FAR »

DR. RICK

keeps cool under stress and you can,too!

SCREEn

leap from faith AEC independent film series

« Vera farmiga directs,

stars in higher ground

INSIDE»

BE AFRAID. BE VERY AFRAID.

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old NO.

HALLOWEENGUIDE» HAUNTED HOUSES. EVENTS. BARS & CLUBS. SCARY STUFF.

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

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DIZZY TOWN ON THE BEAT FREE WILL ASTROLOGY JONESIN' CROSSWORD LIFE IN THE NOOG

OCTOBER

20 2011

ontent C

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 42 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

MUSIC

ALLOS MUSICA TRIO

Ernie Paik talks with clarinetist-composer James Falzone. The ensemble comes to Barking Legs on Thursday » Page 15

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NEWS & OPINION Chattanooga’s Weekly Alternative President Jim Brewer, II Publisher Zachary Cooper Contributing Editor Janis Hashe Contributing Editor Gary Poole Art Director Bill Ramsey Director of Sales Rhonda Rollins Advertising Sales Rick Leavell, Michelle Pih Contributors Rob Brezsny, Dave Castaneda Chuck Crowder, John DeVore Janis Hashe, Matt Jones Josh Lang, D.E. Langley Kelly Lockhart, Cody Maxwell Robert McCrory, Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib,Gary Poole Bill Ramsey, Alex Teach Editorial Cartoonist Rick Baldwin Editorial Intern Beth Miller Photography Lesha Patterson • Josh Lang • Louis Lee Contact Info: Phone (423) 265-9494 Fax (423) 266-2335 Email Inquiries info@chattanoogapulse.com Calendar Submissions calendar@chattanoogapulse.com The Pulse is published weekly and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse 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. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Letters to the editor must include name, address and daytime phone number for verification. The Pulse reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on culture, the arts, entertainment and local news.

The Pulse is published by

1305 Carter Street Chattanooga, TN 37402

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Here We Are Now, Entertain Us

By Zachary Cooper

2011 has been an eventful year of discussions, ordinances, handwringing and city council discussion about bars, nightclubs and live music venues. Earlier this year, the council approved a change to the fire code, at the urging of the city’s fire chief, to require existing establishments to install fire-suppression sprinkler systems. That fight has been chronicled here in The Pulse and elsewhere to a great extent. It was a big deal. Still is, in the sense that we will have to see how these establishments deal with the requirements as we approach the deadline for installing these systems in 2012.

Then, of course, there is the more recent event of the Beer Board’s revocation of Mid-Town Music Hall’s and 807 Fire & Ice’s beer licenses after both establishments

“The proposed changes equate to a reactionary, even an adversarial, way of addressing a perceived problem.” were locations of disturbances requiring police on the scene and repeat violations.

Responding to the more recent events, some council members brought up the idea of designating an “entertainment district”, a defined area of downtown that would group together certain types of nightlife establishments under specific ordinances and strengthen restrictions on where they can be located.

This patching of city ordinances does not signal progressive planning

Urban League Entrepreneurs When the Multicultural Chamber of Commerce was hit with a barrage of criticism earlier this year, including claims of misuse of funds, the cry went up, “Why do we need it? Can’t its functions just be absorbed by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce?”

However, many in the African American community clearly remain unconvinced.

The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

for growth for businesses like these.

The nightlife and entertainment within a city is something that can, and should be, fostered just like any other type of business. These establishments have a particular purpose and fill the service needs of a city. The proposed changes equate to a reactionary, even an adversarial, way of addressing a perceived problem.

Let’s establish this truth one more time: If Chattanooga desires to make itself a city where a young, talented workforce can be retained and grown, it must have an environment that services their entertainment needs. Many times, these entertainment needs involve eating, drinking alcohol, dancing and live music. The Walnut Street Bridge and our wonderful park spaces don’t provide every opportunity for people to mix, mingle

In September, the Times Free Press noted that “[The Multicultural Chamber] organization [has]...cut costs by moving from its $47,000-a-year office on Chestnut Street to an old school on South Highland Park Avenue that it is using for free.”

And on October 12, the TFP reported that the Urban League of Chattanooga is opening an “Entrepreneurship Center” aimed at developing minority -owned businesses. The new center will use a program gestated at CreateHere, SpringBoard, to aid members of minority communities interested in creating business

and build their social lives. Younger people will live in cities where they can balance work and play. Our public officials shouldn’t make it a tougher choice than necessary with short-sighted regulations. The fact is, being a boring city comes with great risks.

With that in mind, can we have a frank, open discussion between city leaders, business owners and stakeholders in the local entertainment industry here? A more longrange, intelligent idea about what role businesses that entertain our citizens have within our city’s landscape is very seriously needed. This discussion must be conducted with the insight that these businesses exist, that there will be more established in the future and that they are an important aspect of our mix of businesses—not something to be regulated out of existence.

plans.

Applications for first SpringBoard session, which begins October 25, can be accessed at www.ulchatt.net. Cost is $135.

We salute the Urban League’s efforts. The Chattanooga Chamber is a strong, outstanding organization, which serves the city well. But additional, focused attention on the needs of minority businesses, both existing and potential, is vital—and may well be best provided by programs created by, and trusted by, minority communities.

—Janis Hashe

EDITOON rick baldwin

Chuck Crowder & Public Art

My issue has never been with buying or having public art, even the $32,500 price tag wouldn’t be that outrageous... if the art was good. As an artist myself I like to hear of our city supporting local artists and putting cash in their pockets. Obviously this guy put a lot of work into this piece but I don’t think that necessarily makes it good. I think it’s a bright blue eyesore more suited to being displayed in front of a doublewide trailer. And drawing a comparison to past criticisms of the aquarium is laughable. Are they charging an admission fee to see the bull? Does it feature an ever changing assortment of creatures for visitors to learn about? No, it’s a ridiculous looking blue bull.

D. Johnson

Send all letters to the editor and questions to

info@chattanoogapulse.com We reserve the right to edit letters for content and space. Please include your full name, city and contact information.

Urgent Need For Foster Parents

Occupy Chattanooga Needs Adults?

In the article about Occupy Chattanooga, Trish Schild said she hopes “an adult in this community will start an Occupy Chattanooga that is in line with the issues of the rest of the world.”

Trish, maybe if you had stayed you would have found out the true “agenda” was to find out what Chattanooga citizens’ concerns really are.

The main concerns were such things as repeal voter ID, campaign finance reform, corporations are not persons, and many other issues.

Ann Crisp

core reason they are upset is that they are not the ones running the government. But instead of putting their own names on the ballot for the various local elected officers, they would rather piggyback on a real movement to disguise their true intentions. Ms. Schild saw through them, as do most of us who have genuine concerns about the rampant abuses of out-of-control capitalism and how it is destroying true democracy.

Tyler Stevenson

Local Protesters In It For Themselves

I’ve been watching the ongoing “Occupy Wall Street” protests for the past month and read with some amusement that some in Chattanooga were trying to organize a similar protest. What amuses me is that it appears to be the same people who are always upset at what the local government is doing, and I believe the

Youth Villages is looking for caring people in Chattanooga and the rest of Hamilton County to become foster parents to children who have suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment or other issues and need a home. More than 50 children in East Tennessee are currently in need of a home. These children desperately need families who will care for them until they can return to their birth families or an adoptive family is found for them. Candidates should be single or married adults over the age of 25 and living in the Hamilton County area who are interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents. For more information about upcoming open houses or how you can change the life of a child, contact Kristin Stucker, foster parent recruiter at (423) 954-8843.

E. Channing Peeples Youth Villages chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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dizzy

town

politics, media & other strange bedfellows

Curry Todd: Guns & Rosy Cheeks

W

hizzers! Now barreling into DizzyTown all (allegedly) hopped up on booze and totin’ a .38: State Rep. Curry Todd!

You, sir, make us Dizzy for apparently breaking the (dubious) law you championed!

Nashville police arrested and jailed an allegedly drunk (“almost falling down at times,” Rough night, an affidavit reports) Todd on Oct. 11 when his Curry?

GMC Envoy was tracked doing 60 mph in a 40 mph zone, reports the Nashville Scene.

Todd, the Collierville Republican behind the state’s guns-in-bars law, was also charged with possession of a handgun while under the influence but refused a Breathalyzer.

As one wag on the Tennessee Firearms Association website put it, “Thanks Curry for the bad publicity.”

Todd resigned his post as chairman of the special House firearms task force following his arrest and this week resigned his position of chairman of the powerful House Committee on State and Local Government.

State Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey told reporters it would be up to Todd’s constituents—many of whom, we assume, count themselves as law-abidin’ citizens who like to carry guns in bars— whether he should remain in office.

OCCUPYING FORCES

• Chattanooga’s 99 percenters assembled Oct. 14 in Miller Park and Oct. 15 in Coolidge Park after a barrage of battle cries and ALL CAPS calls-to-

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arms followed by exhaustive exclamation points—“Say Hell No!” y’all—on the group’s Facebook page, which numbers more than 1,200 “likes” and posted a lengthy Declaration of Demands in support of the worldwide movement. We “like” you, too, OC—DizzyTown is all about the Working Class! Oh, and that demand for the decriminlization of marijuana?

Nice touch.

PAY ATTENTION!

• While our job-killing, reelectionobssessed failure of a president is busy ignoring the economy in his pimpedout campaign bus, Local Hero of the Common Man, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, is calling Obama out! Our intrepid Congressman scolded Obama recently in a Nooga.com report—under the headline, “In midst of fundraising efforts, Fleischmann tells Obama ‘pay attention and quit campaigning.’”

You tell ‘em, Chuck!

Speaking of paying, Fleischmann’s own reelection campaign will be ramping up behind the scheduled Oct. 27 visit of House Speaker John Boehner, who’s winging into town to help increase Chuck’s $352,000-warchest during a private event at the members-only Walden Club. For a mere $10,000, invited guests—we’re guessing no 99-percenters—can cozy up to Fleischmann and Boehner.

UP IN THE AIR

• Ha! We’re in the wrong business (we sort of suspected this all along)! Instead

The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

of penning pithy projectiles in print, we should have started our own consulting firm and named it Big Communications, because that’s where the Big Bucks are!

Alas, a Birmingham firm of the same name already exists and is milking Lovell Field (aka Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport—does anyone call it that? No. We think not.) for the Big Bucks by dropping such high-dollar ideas as “drop the Metropolitan” (ca-ching!) and use this slogan: “Get on board!” (ca-ching!).

“Meanwhile,” a recent TFP story reports, another consultant (the airport can afford more than one? Boy, do we need to get on this gravy train!) suggested the airport add nonstop service to New York City. “You’re ripe for New York service,” Michael Lum of Sixel Consulting told the airport. Really?

Even though (now departing at Gate 6) CMA president Mike Landguth said the city lost its last CHA-NY connection because the community didn’t “get on board.”

Oops! Better take the Big Money and run before we wind up with CHACHA-CHA-CHING: The Airport.

chattarati not so chatty lately

• Its calendar remains, ticking away events on a daily basis, seemingly on autopilot. But actual posts to the threeyear-old community news website have been at a standstill since mid September.

Whither Chattarati.com? It would be a shame, but not surprising, for the site to dwindle. The site still boasts more

“Things have certainly been a bit slower than we’d like ... but we’re working on a few stories and ideas for the next few weeks.” than 30 contributors, so it’s odd not ot have heard a peep in the past 30 days.

Its Facebook page, which lists 1,447 fans, has also been silent since Sept. 20.

Chattanooga has a fairly vibrant collection of news websites for a city its size, but Chattaratti has always struck us as one of the best. Its volunteer writers and bloggers cover events and news with a particular elan and made relevant, thought-provoking points on pivotal neighborhood, city and regional issues. So what’s up?

“Things have certainly been a bit slower than we’d like,” said editor John Hawbaker in response to our email query. “Our volume goes up and down sometimes since we all have regular jobs, but we’re working on a few stories and ideas for the next few weeks.”

Could competition from newer sites, such as Nooga.com, where we hear writers are paid (!), be contributing to Chattarati’s slowdown?

While Chattarati has all the earmarks of a community collective nonprofit, the site does accept advertising—which simply appears to have never materialized. If you climb aboard the news website train expecting to make a pile

of money—or at least pay for the connection—you’re in for a rude awakening.

Despite these warnings, Nooga, which launched earlier this year with little advertising, is apparently in it to winnit. Founder (and Access American co-founder) Barry Large, has, we hear, deep pockets and is prepared to operate in the red for the foreseeable future.

The allure of pay, however small, is a strong motivator in Chattanooga’s small but talented freelance journalism pool.

Alumnus Bill Colrus, the former editor of this paper, for example, now writes for Nooga, and Technical Director Dan Ryan left to join the Obama campaign in Chicago in August.

help! we can’t do this alone

• As the political season begins to heat up The Pulse is seeking a skilled political writer to analyze this rich landscape with compelling insight, razor-sharp humor and an alternative spin. The successful candidate—a certified political and media junkie—will exhibit sharply honed reporting, excellent writing skills. Got the write stuff? Send three samples (500 words each on local, state and national politics) to zcooper@ chattanoogapulse.com.

why dizzy town?

Many (OK, not that many) have asked us: “Why DizzyTown? Isn’t there a more obvious name for stream-of-consciousness column about Chattanooga politics and media?

“No,” we replied.

Got a tip for DizzyTown? Send it to: dizzy@chattanoogapulse.com

ON THE BEAT

ALEX TEACH

How Not to Occupy This

I

was watching The Gayle King Show on the Oprah Winfrey Network last Friday and saw her attempts at capitalizing on the hype of the “Occupy Wall Street” phenomena like every other news agency in this nation. And again, like most media outlets, they had NO idea what to make of it, and making the protestors the underdog was being made difficult due to a widespread pattern of wearing masks, vandalizing property, effectively shutting down alreadystruggling businesses, and of course shitting on the occasional police car more than at previous Tea Partiers events. (Seriously, I looked it up.)

Personally? I “get it”. It’s not about their backgrounds or political leanings, they’re pissed (as best I can tell) that the country fell on its ass due to greed and excess and no one was punished or so much as had a hand slapped for what happened (and is still happening) through sheer irresponsibility. In fact, they were rewarded in the form of bailouts instead of natural selection…so who wouldn’t be mad? I take it a step further though, and don’t so much blame the dog that gorged itself to the point of vomiting as much as I blame the master that fed it and allowed it to do so, despite the obvious results it would bring. The protesters shouldn’t be dirtying up parks and tying up cops from helping those in need in 17plus cities, they should be in ONE town, dirtying up the steps of Capitol Hill and the White House. But they’re not.

I studied this in its infancy in NYC’s Zuccotti Park with more scrutiny than usual because civil unrest is a hobby of mine. I’m not talking about instigating it, mind you; that would clearly be at odds with my profession and would reflect terribly on my performance evaluations. No, I’m just talking about seeing it first-hand.

People shouting, screaming, accidental injuries as a result (as well as intentional ones), tension so thick you could cut it with a knife (or pithy hand-held sign), people scared and pissed off at the same time…Yeah. There’s something about a shitload of undirected energy looking for an excuse, any at all, to be released. It’s exhilarating.

It’s not necessarily the violence I like, mind you; it’s a social tool, because a riot is a fascinating place to study people and meet ones I

would not have had the chance to otherwise due to the infrequency of police clashes and crowd rushes in this town.

That said, it took a few weeks but I saw that blood was finally drawn. The NYPD had dropped two million taxpayers’ dollars in providing security (or at least containment) so these folks could keep businesses

“Getting yourself arrested to make you feel like you accomplished something doesn’t make you important; it makes you stupid.” closed and continue demanding…whatever it was they hadn’t defined yet to get them to leave, but when asked (not ordered) to leave, here came the passive resistance (pressing your face against a cop’s chest for example), fistfights, and even a pedestrian “accidentally” walking in front of a moving police scooter.

And these protesters were the lucky ones.

In Atlanta’s Woodruff Park, the poor bastards couldn’t even get arrested when they tried.

While inconceivable to some, you are not allowed to live indefinitely in a public park, so when the deadline came, protestors anticipated a showdown. Sadly, however, police never arrived and the city made no effort to remove them.

“I’d love to get arrested,” 21-year-old Sean

Phillips told an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter, “but I feel I can do a lot more from the outside.”

(They’ve since presented Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed a list of demands: They want the park renamed for Troy Anthony Davis, the man executed last month for murdering a Savannah police officer. The protesters also want Mayor Reed to camp with them overnight in the park, and they want assurances that they won’t be arrested. Incredibly, this list of demands is not a joke.)

So what am I getting at?

The movement is one of passionate people lashing out against real injustices, but with no endgame in mind, leaving only short-term solutions like legal martyrdom. Many of the most rabid ones want to be arrested for “street cred”, an idea as asinine as a teenager stealing a car to gain entry into a gang. And being one of the guys that will be on the other side of those barriers should people decide to get stupid in large numbers and lash out at yet another group (police officers) that had no hand in the financial meltdown and irresponsibility that led to it, I’ve got a stake in this too.

Calm yourselves. Relax. Protest, show solidarity and work for a resolution to your very real concerns…but don’t let the Al Sharptons and Joe Bidens of the world hijack you to further their own agendas (as the “right” tried with the Tea Party), and even more importantly, don’t keep cops from answering 911 calls in your own neighborhoods.

Getting yourself arrested to make you feel like you accomplished something doesn’t make you important; it makes you stupid.

When Officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he is an occasional student, carpenter, boating enthusiast, and spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center. Follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alex.teach

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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POLICE BLOTTER • Up till now, we always thought those “ATM skimmers” were just something used by television writers. Turns out, they’re not only real, but have been used here in the region. Dalton police are warning customers of a bank there to monitor their bank accounts. A skimmer device was discovered at the drive-through ATM of the Regions Bank at Walnut Avenue and Tibbs Road. A skimmer is a device inserted over a card reader that reads and then stores card number and PIN information, which can later be used by a hacker. The device was removed, but it’s not known how long it was in place. Police urge everyone who may have used that ATM in the past week or so to monitor their account statements and notify the bank of any unusual or fraudulent activity immediately.

• We have long seen the devastating effects that drugs have on people, but among the more heart-breaking stories are those that involve innocent children. A Chickamauga woman was arrested last week in Ringgold after police say she abandoned her 2-year-old daughter in a local park. Walker County authorities say the 31-year-old mother was hoping that her daughter would be discovered by someone who could take better care of her. The admitted drug addict said she left the toddler in a public park, then went across the street to see who would pick her up. A passerby did, and quickly called police. The baby was safely placed into state custody, but the mother now faces a number of assorted charges ranging from child endangerment to possession of marijuana.

• Sadly, it’s not the only child abandonment story this week. Chattanooga police are looking for a 21-year-old mother of two for abandoning her small children, ages 2 years and 6 months.

Back on April 2, the woman left her 4th Avenue home and was out walking in the area of East Lake Courts when she was seen by her younger sister. When asked about her children, she said they were with a babysitter. However, a check of the home found the children all by themselves.

Child Protective Services was called to the home for the wellbeing of the children, but then were unable to locate the mother. In fact, authorities haven’t seen her since, and are very worried as she is pregnant with a third child, whom officials fear may be in danger of abandonment as well. If anyone has information about the case, they are asked to contact the Chattanooga Police Department at (423) 698-2525. The children are currently in the care of their grandmother.

• And we all know that times have been tough, and there has been a matching rise in the theft of metals to be sold for scrap. But who steals from a highway construction site? Believe it or not, that’s exactly what happened in Bradley County when 65 metal concrete forms used for making curbs were stolen from a Dalton Pike construction project. The loss was reported to be approximately $32,500—almost enough to buy a new city art project. Anyone with knowledge of where the curb formers can be found are asked to contact the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office at (423) 728-7337.

Police Blotter is a weekly roundup of the newsworthy, notable and often head-scratching stories gleaned from police reports from the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department and the Dalton Police Department.

Got the write stuff?

The Pulse is seeking a skilled political writer to analyze the local and national political scene with compelling insight, razor-sharp wit and an alternative spin.

The successful candidate will exhibit sharply honed reporting skills and excellent writing chops. Got the write stuff? Send three 500-word samples to zcooper@chattanoogapulse.com.

Let the games begin!

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

COVER STORY

HOW WE HELP EACH OTHER COPE— AND THRIVE. Keeping your cool BY Dr. Rick

under pressure

PimentalHabib, Ph.d

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

COVER STORY

P

erhaps it is the woman next door who recently lost her only son in the war. She’s grieving deeply, and you may not know what to do to help ease her pain. Perhaps it is a friend who

lost his job of 20 years, and must now, at a later stage in life, face a bleak job market and compete with “kids” with advanced degrees and all sorts of new technology in their heads. Maybe your parent has been diagnosed with cancer, and her new meds don’t seem to be working. She’s depressed, anxious, living several states away and you can’t help but worry about her 24/7.

Or, your child who’s had a hard time in school has just been diagnosed with a learning disorder, and you’re wondering how to prepare him for the challenges that lie ahead.

A dear friend of mine had to wait a long time before she was able to become pregnant, a good bit later in life than many. But finally it happened and she was joyous to give birth to

twins. It was soon discovered that both boys were severely autistic.

Extreme stress is a part of life, and we can all relate to having moments where everything just feels like too much. Or we feel alone with our burdens…angry, disappointed, resentful. We may suffer a health crisis, a financial crisis or a crisis of faith. Maybe it’s

a relationship that’s in peril, hanging on by a thread. We might, for the first time, brush up against feelings of hopelessness, helplessness or feel so overwhelmed that it’s hard to think of anything but our problems. Psychologically we’re stressed out to the max and physically our bodies can’t help but show signs of the wear and tear. These are the chapters in life when we’re most prone to getting sick, and also to having accidents. When I worked full time in bereavement at a Los Angeles hospice, we would tell patients’ friends and relatives to be extra careful behind the wheel of the car, as the deep, mind-numbing heartache of grief can be very distracting. If you’ve ever lost a sig other, you understand what it’s like to stare for hours at nothing.

Coping and Surviving So how do we successfully cope when the going gets really tough? How do we not merely survive the experience, but develop the skills necessary to continue to fight the good fight—with sound mind and body, staying present, still stopping to smell the roses and feeling grateful to be alive? Do we drink more, drug more, sleep more, shut down,

anything to escape? Maybe. There are times when temporary escapes and healthy distractions are helpful. But will these work for the long haul?

When human beings face the really big challenges in life, it is generally understood by healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and others who treat those striving to endure trauma, that there are indeed several characteristics that will help a person make it through the experience intact. For instance: Perspective, or attitude, is a big one.

There’s the person whose house burns down and says, “We’ve lost everything.” And the person who says, “Well, we still have the nails.

We can rebuild.” If your glass tends to be half-full under usual conditions, that attitude will serve you well during hard times. As pioneer automaker Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” A wise (and wisecracking) friend of mine put it this way: “Sometimes life is splendor, sometimes it’s shit. It’s all about how you witness it.” (Finding the right mantra can help, too!)

»»» PAGE 12

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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Fortitude, or internal strength, is another. If you’ve seen your parents—or influential others from childhood—struggle and somehow make it, perhaps stronger and wiser for the experience, then you perhaps have learned some valuable lessons about being stronger than you think, and such lessons will come to your aid later in life. The toughest tests show us who we really are, with others, and within ourselves.

Let’s add sense of humor, and belief in oneself, trusting that somehow you’ll be OK. And while we’re at it, belief in the Universe (or in God, or the Creator or however you understand your Higher Power). Studies show that it matters less which Divine you embrace than that you have a belief in the Divine at all. Go to church, hug a tree, howl at the moon, meditate with drums. It’s all good if it helps you feel connected to something greater than yourself.

Externally, it’s important to have a support system: People who care for you deeply, accept you unconditionally, and provide everything from a shoulder to cry on to practical assistance when needed. “No man is an island,” and your support system might include biological family, and/or your “created family” of good friends, be they from the bowling league or synagogue, from school or the neighborhood. It’s important to not only have a strong (not necessarily large, but strong) support system, but also to know when to reach out to them. Knowing how to ask for help is a valuable and healthy coping tool.

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

A Stress Survivor In my professional life, I continually feel fortunate and grateful to be a part of others’ life journeys, which include their times of happiness and success as well as tragedy and despair. My role is often to help people develop what I call their “Big Bag O’ Tools,” whether for re-parenting, repairing relationships, renewing the self, insight-building or working on creating a happier life. As I was pondering these tools, and how very important they become during periods of extreme stress, I thought about my good friend and colleague, Craig.

Those of you who have followed “Shrink Rap” in this paper over the years might remember Craig, who has helped us all with his attitude, fortitude, spirit and his understanding of the importance of a solid support system. Craig is an occupational therapist, which means that he helps people build life skills and develop practical tools to healthfully survive life’s myriad challenges. He works mainly with veterans who are struggling with psychological and physical issues and limitations.

But his work is not what made me think of Craig. I thought about him because of his per-

sonal life journey. Craig is a survivor extraordinaire. He is a heart transplant patient, as well as an amputee who must use a wheelchair to get around. He takes a truckload of medication daily, and spends a lot more time in hospitals than he’d care to.

He is also one of the most spiritual, loving, upbeat, authentic and generous people I know.

Recently, I found myself calling the hospital after I heard that his kidneys shut down. All his loved ones were pretty nervous about this recent decline. “How are you feeling, Craig?”

I ask. “Well, not too bad today,” he says. And then he tells me a humorous story about an encounter with an uptight nurse and his lack of hospital gown. I figured that if Craig can navigate his challenging life with a positive attitude and mischievous sense of humor, then he probably has a few things to say about what it takes to survive hard times.

So I asked Craig what he feels is our most important survival tool. His answer: Hope.

Craig: When you hear, ‘Go home and take your pills—this is as good as it gets,’ that’s a diagnosis that takes away your hope. Without hope, the major force in your life becomes, “What’s the point?”

With hope, your life becomes more about what you want. What do I want? A cure?

Maybe, but what if there is no cure? I may still want to live life to the fullest. Today is all I’ve got. Hope is empowering. Everything changes with hope. This is true of us as individuals, but also as a society. Society at large needs to feel hopeful.

Dr. Rick: So we all need hope on a daily basis, but it becomes even more important when we receive bad news, or suffer a loss or some sort of tragedy.

Craig: Hope helps us focus on something more positive than the ugliness of our lives.

Our lives can be pretty harsh. This doesn’t necessarily mean hoping for a miracle [to solve your problems]. It means hoping for a positive outcome. That may be just getting a good night’s sleep for a change, or being alive another day so I can say “I love you” to the people in my life. We pin hope on all sorts of things—events, objects, people. When I’m not doing well, I may need to give my hope to someone else to hold for a while, until I get back.

Dr. Rick: What’s it like for you during those times when you lose your hope?

Craig: Not having hope is a kind of emotional fatigue. Everything’s exhausting. It’s a good time to turn to a professional and talk it out. See, I don’t think that happiness is a “state of being” as others say. I think happiness is a decision, a choice. If I wait to be happy, it may not happen, ever. But if I decide not to be bitter and miserable, I can be content. I think

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Dr. Rick: What role does your spirituality play in maintaining hope?

Craig: That’s the great gift from spirituality —hope of something better on the other side, hope of becoming one with the Universe, etc. If your chosen spirituality, whatever form that may take, is not instilling hope in you, it probably isn’t your best choice.

Compassionate Presence I often talk about a person’s “highest self,” his or her most wise and compassionate self. If you know someone who is suffering, and you don’t know how to help, I invite you to focus on just being present with them. “Compassionate presence” is a hallmark of unconditional love, and can often do more good for someone who’s hurting than words can. Don’t know what to say or do?

Just be there. From troubled chess genius Bobby Fischer as he lay on his death bed: “Nothing is so healing as the human touch.” So perhaps your kind presence, your warm smile, the love in your heart, the hand you hold…perhaps this is healing in its simplest, most profound form, undeterred by old wounds, complicated pasts, unfinished business. Work to forgive. Because all you have is right here, right now.

I’ll close by sharing some insights with you about compassion and suffering from Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most respected and recognized Zen teachers in the world, as well as being the author of more than 60 books, a renowned poet, peace activist and human-rights advocate. The following is an excerpt from his book Peace Is Every Step: “Love brings peace, joy, and happiness to another person. Compassion removes the suffering that is present in the other. We all have the seeds of love and compassion, and we can develop these wonderful sources of energy. We can nurture the unconditional love that does not expect anything in return and therefore does not lead to anxiety and sorrow.

“The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves ‘inside the skin’ of the other, and witness for ourselves their suffering. [When we do this], compassion is born in us.”

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HOME DECOR 3 0 1 w. 2 5 T H S T. • T U E - S AT 1 0 - 6 • 2 6 7 . 7 8 4 7 • T H E R U G R AC K . C O M chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

MUSIC

East Meets West in Allos Musica Trio

By Ernie Paik

F

or clarinetist, composer, and improviser James Falzone, a quote from the anti-war protest singer Phil Ochs resonates with him in the post-9/11 world: “In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty.”

Observing the great lack of understanding between the western world and the Arabic world, Falzone created pieces that were inspired by the centuries-old song concept of the lament, recorded and compiled on the 2010 album Lamentations by his ensemble Allos Musica Trio.

A celebrated clarinet virtuoso whose home base is Chicago, Falzone has a strong background in jazz that is enhanced by his studies in Arabic music, and his interest was piqued earlier in his musical life by listening to the multicultural work of Peter Gabriel. While a lament can express grief and sadness, it could also be an expression of concern, and it is not necessarily gloomy music; Falzone’s laments are pensive and fascinating, while also spirited and kinetic, with improvisational moments built into his compositions.

In advance of his Chattanooga show with Allos Musica Trio, Falzone answered some questions for The Pulse.

The Pulse: Did any specific experiences or stories inspire your compositions on Lamentations?

James Falzone: Most of my laments were meditations on time: the slowness of it and the lack of change that can sometimes happen in life or culture, or the never-ending persistence of time—that it refuses to allow us to catch our breath at times. All this was wrapped up in the wars being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and the fact that at the same time I was studying and investigating Arabic music and culture, my country was growing more and more suspicious of the same.

TP: How did you assemble the group? What strengths do the other players bring to the trio?

JF: I have played with Tim Mulvenna since the mid-1990s, mostly in jazz conJames Falzone

“I think there is an aesthetic approach in Arabic music, especially as it relates to improvisation, that encourages a slower pace and a blossoming of ideas.” texts, but I know Tim to be an incredible hand drummer and percussionist and a thoughtful rhythmic accompanist. He has impeccable taste and thinks like a composer. [Oud player] Ronnie Malley is an incredibly diverse musician who is deeply steeped in Arabic music traditions but also open to other styles and synthesizing that tradition with others. Both Tim and Ronnie bring to the ensemble a simpatico with my own views on music making, which is striving for honesty and depth at all levels.

TP: You’ve said that you don’t play strictly traditional Arabic music but you create compositions that indulge this aesthetic. How does this differ from “World Music Soup” as you’ve referred to it?

JF: “World Music Soup” winds up being music that dabbles in various cultural reference points with no real vision for what it is you are trying to do with those references. If you’re trying to play “traditional” music, be that Arabic or bluegrass or Irish, whatever, and your vision/ goal i s

to learn this tradition and play that music in an authentic manner, then great, go for it. Study and steep yourself in the idiom and make it authentic.

But my vision for Allos Musica is to create my own music that has synthesized the references of my studies and interests but is not intending to be “authentic.” Nobody who knows Arabic music well will think Allos Musica Trio is “traditional,” but they would also recognize the allusions to the tradition and that those allusions are honest and studied.

TP: What are your thoughts on improvisation?

JF: I believe an improviser needs to have true command over their instrument so that it is an extension of their subconscious. This takes a tremendous amount of practice time on the instrument and a universal knowledge of theory and history. At the same time, an improviser must remain humble, allowing the moment to dictate what is needed from them. A great improviser is a virtuoso who submits their ability to the needs of the moment.

TP: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned, playing Arabic music with the Trio?

JF: I think there is an aesthetic approach in Arabic music, especially as it relates to improvisation, that encourages a slower pace and a blossoming of ideas rather than the quicker, somewhat explosive nature of jazz improvisation. I think of a favorite Egyptian singer, Oum Kalthoum, and how much time she would take exploring a mode and reaching an emotional climax in her music. I’ve learned to take my time more and allow color and timbre to play as much of a role as notes and harmony.

TP: What do you want audiences to take from your music?

JF: I’d love for them to have a sense of transcendence. That something in my compositions, in my playing, in the playing of my band mates, in the overall sound of Allos Musica, would help them transcend the temporal and move into a space where beauty and time matter.

James Falzone’s Allos Musica Trio $10 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 20 Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 www.barkinglegs.org chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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I’m not a Luddite, but technology has definitely spoiled us; I wonder if it has also made us less patient, and an article in The Atlantic entitled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” comes to mind, about the notion of the Internet causing our collective concentrations to drift.

I also wonder what modern audiences, with their seemingly short attention spans, might think of the new album, Fictions, by the solo project Le Révélateur from the former guitarist of Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Roger Tellier-Craig from Montreal.

In French, “révélateur” can refer to the bath for developing photographs, evoking a complicated, meticulous process that nowadays has been largely supplanted, of course, by the instant gratification of digital photography. Although the name “Le Révélateur” likely is a reference to the French avant-garde film of the same name, another film comes to mind when listening to the glistening, layered synthesizer patterns of Fictions: Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up, and in particular, the lengthy scene where the protagonist tries to unravel a mystery by continually blowing up a photo and isn’t exactly sure what he may have shot—underscoring a theme of visual deception. Half of Fictions is comprised of the 18-minute opener, “Receiving Mirages,” a title which hints at its ambiguity, dealt with measured steps of percolating synthetics somewhat like Raymond Scott’s electronic work, but with cascading sound washes; the listener isn’t sure what’s he’s hearing, nor where he’s going. The track builds gradually, but there is no resolution or climax.

“Age Maze” is more dense and engaging, with high-frequency sparkles and gushing outpourings, like the manner of someone enthusiastic to speak her mind, going through two cycles of dips and peaks, and “Bleu Nuit” is split into an ambient, spacey half and a pulsating half, coagulating then dissolving. Fictions is a time-arresting album that will envelope you if you have the patience, and it’s more about the process and the journey then arriving at a moment of clarity.

Kids On A Crime Spree

We Love You So Bad (Slumberland)

16

The American indie label Slumberland Records has been enjoying a resurgence in interest, with bands such as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Crystal Stilts, but the remarkable thing is that its aesthetic has largely remained the same for mire than 20 years, delivering melodic pop inspired by British C86 sources and/or classic early ’60s American pop, sometimes with an affinity for guitar distortion. The group Kids On A Crime Spree is a perfect fit for Slumberland Records, offering its debut release, the 8-song minialbum We Love You So Bad, packed with concise pop songs that use tried-and-true chord progressions, chugging noisy guitars, and standout guitar melodies.

Front man Mario Hernandez formed Kids On A Crime Spree fueled by a long-standing obsession with the (utterly essential) Phil Spector retrospective boxed set Back To Mono and both its richness and simplicity, and he’s joined by members of one of his other bands, From Bubblegum To Sky, drummer Becky Barron and guitarist Bill Evans. Hernandez sings with his high-pitched, somewhat childlike voice that is reminiscent of like-minded popster Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo, and the mini-album launches with “I Don’t Want to Call You Baby, Baby,” a two-minute burst of Jesus and Mary Chain-esque fuzz-guitar minimalism, with lightness provided by a tambourine and vocal harmonies. “Sweet Tooth” uses the most basic garage rock/pop riff with unabashed handclaps, and “Impasto” slows the tempo down slightly with a reverb-drenched, gloriously muddy tune with flashes of feedback. Those who may point out that Kids On A Crime Spree isn’t particularly original are exactly right, but for lovers of nostalgic pop from various decades, We Love You So Bad is a solid, lean offering with easy hooks and the courtesy to end songs before they get boring.

The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

4

old NO.

SHOCKTOBER 20 • 2011 • THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

CHATTANOOGA’S ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN GUIDE

Crappy candy

And other Halloween disappointments UPDATED WEEKLY

HAUNTED HOUSES BARS & CLUBS

Dingbat by Lesha Patterson

18

CHATTANOOGA’S ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN GUIDE | OCTOBER 20, 2011 | chattanoogapulse.com

night stalker’s notebook

Halloween potpourri Crappy candy, costumes and, oh, Elvira ...

Candy? No. Those are urine cakes.

Don’t come by our house on Halloween, because we won’t be home. We’ll be rockin’ with Dr. Shock at The Honest Pint (see Bars & Clubs, Page 23), but if we were home, we wouldn’t cheat you with crappy candy. No, we’d be giving out the good stuff. But our neighbors aren’t so cool. In fact, they suck as bad as their candy.

They give out the crap unapologetically, the stuff you hated as a kid that makes our list of the Top 10 Crappy Candies of Halloween. Break out the toilet paper when you get this crap in your bag: 1. Good & Plenty: Medicine-covered pieces of tree.

2. Dum Dums: Urine cakes on a stick.

3. Dots: Rubbery, flavorless colored gelatin subtance covered in corn starch.

4. Smarties, Necco Wafers: What fruit tastes like chalk dust?

5. Brach’s Strawberry Bon-Bons: These don’t taste bad, but they often come barely wrapped, as if some psycho in his mom’s basement spent hours dipping these in rat pee.

6. Dubble Bubble: Rock hard molar-breaking mothballs masquerading as chewing gum.

7. Wax lips, bottles: Tastes like your mom.

8. Homemade: We’d rather eat a pound of root beer candy barrels.

9. Butterscotch candy: No scotch, plenty of ass flavor in these Dust Bowl-era “treats.”

10. Candy corn: The king of bad Halloween candies. Horrid, mealy, wax-tasting gerbil droppings.

Dressing up as KISS? Don’t.

Used to be cool — in 1977.

Gene Simmons is a tool and you’ll look like one.

What Elvira looks like without the makeup.

Boo, Radley.

Robert Duvall scared the crap out of us in To Kill a Mockingbird. “Boo Radley” by Kevin Bate.

Yikes.

Hard to believe we found no Michele Bachmann Halloween masks online, but that old scary standby Sarah Palin can be found everywhere.

OK, we’re reaching.

Give us a break. We’ve milked Halloween for all it’s worth and we’re down to Elvira. But this is Elvira, aka Cassandra Peterson, 60, photographed this year by Gage Skidmore. She looks better than Gene Simmons with the makeup.

Click!

That’s all, folks!

HappyHalloween!

chattanoogapulse.com | OCTOBER 20, 2011 |

CHATTANOOGA’S ULTIMATE halloween guide

19

HAUNTED HOUSES & EVENTS Panic! listings are updated weekly. If you operate a haunted house or event and would be like to be listed, or your listed event changes, submit information as formatted here and email to creative@ chattanoogapulse.com.

Key: † New ‡ Family friendly a tale of 4 souls: a haunted spirit ball Delta Queen on the river Hours/Dates: 7-midnight, Saturday, Oct. 29 Tickets: $65-125 Info: (423) 757-5259 Acres of Darkness Haunted Trail†‡ Chattanooga Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Road Hours/Dates: 7-11 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays in October.

Tickets: $15 Web: chattanoogaaudubon.org Blowing Screams Farm 271 Chattanooga Valley Road Flintstone, Ga. Hours/Dates: 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night in October.

Tickets: $15 (Forest of Fear); $15 (Ghost Ride); $25 for both.

Web: blowingscreamsfarm.com CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS 100 Walnut Street Features: Walking ghost tours, ghost hunts with the talking Ovilus X and extended tours with an inside visit to a haunted location.

Hours/Dates: 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night in October.

Tickets: Tour $14 adults, $9 kids; Hunt $20 adults only.

Web: hattanoogaghosttours.com Dreamnight: Boo in the Zoo!‡ 301 North Holtzclaw Avenue Hours/Dates: 5:30-8:30

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CHATTANOOGA’S ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN GUIDE | OCTOBER 20, 2011 | chattanoogapulse.com

Ringgold Hours/Dates: 7 p.m.

Oct. 21-22 and 27-29 Tickets: $5 (Depot); $3 (Hayride) Web: ringgoldhaunteddepot.com

p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 Tickets: Free with reservations Web: chattzoo.org Enchanted Maize‡

271 Chattanooga Valley Road Flintstone, Ga. Features: “Another Y-Ear of Corny Fun.” Hours/Dates: Thursdays-Sundays through Oct. 30.

Tickets: $9 adults, $7 children Web: enchantedmaze. com Halloween Eerie Express‡ Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum 4119 Cromwell Road Hours/Dates: Oct. 20; trains depart at 5:45 and 7:45 p.m.

Tickets: $22 ages 2 and up Web: tvrail.com The Haunted Barn 5107 McDonald Road, McDonald Hours/Dates: 7:30 p.m.midnight, Fridays and Saturdays in October.

Tickets: $15 Web: hauntedbarnchattanooga.com Haunted Cavern Ruby Falls 1720 South Scenic Highway Hours/Dates: 8 p.m.

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October (including Oct. 31).

Tickets: $20 online; $22 at the door; $17 Sundays Web: hauntedcavern. com haunted depot & hayride 155 Depot Street,

Haunted Hilltop 8235 Highway 58 Hours/Dates: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October (including Oct. 30 and 31).

Tickets: $18 for the Haunted House, Haunted Maze and Haunted Hayride. Free parking.

Web: thehauntedhilltop. com House of Horrors 140 Edwards Street. NE, Cleveland Hours/Dates: 7 p.m.midnight, Fridays and Saturdays in October (including Oct. 31).

Tickets: $10 Web: wewillscareyou.com Lake WinnepaSPOOKah‡ 1730 Lakeview Drive, Rossville Hours/Dates: 6-11 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays in October.

Tickets: $24 Web: lakewinnie.com monster barn 4431 Shackleford Ridge Road, Signal Mountain Hours/Dates: 8-10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October.

Tickets: $10; $5 Haunted Hayride Web: monsterbarnfun. com Mystery Dog Ranch 975 Wooten Road, Ringgold Hours/Dates: 7 p.m.

Oct. 21-22 and 28-29 Tickets: $10 Web: mysterydoghauntedranchandhayride.net Sir Gooney’s Haunted Carnival 5918 East Brainerd Road Hours/Dates: Doors open at 7 p.m. every weekend in October through Halloween.

Tickets: $20 Web: sirgooneys.com

chattanoogapulse.com | OCTOBER 20, 2011 |

CHATTANOOGA’S ULTIMATE halloween guide

21

CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS

“One of the top 10 ghost tours in the country”

BARS & CLUBS

— TripAdvisOr.cOm

WAlkiNG GHOST TOURS ANd HUNTS

423.821.7125 chattanoogaghosttours.com Dead Confederate at The Honest Pint on October 29.

Panic! listings are updated weekly. Listings are updated weekly. If you operate a bar or club and are hosting a Halloween-specific event, or your listed event changes, submit information as formatted here and email to creative@chattanoogapulse.com.

the honest pint

35 Patten Parkway (423) 468-4192 thehonestpint.com • Saturday, Oct. 29 12th Annual All Hallows Eve Bash featuring Dead Confederate with The Bohannons. Tickets on sale Sept. 30.

• Monday, Oct. 31 Halloween Variety Show featuring the Shock Theater Orchestra, Odist, Opposite Box, Subterranean Cirqus. Magic from Scott Fillers and horror movies.

JJ’s Bohemia

231 E. MLK Boulevard (423) 266-1400 reverbnation.com/ venue/jjsbohemia • Friday, Oct. 28 The KISSFITS and Rocky Horror Picture Show • Monday, Oct. 31

honest music

local and regional shows

Johnathan Sexton and the Big Love Choir with Soul Mechanic ($3 cover)

Thu, Oct 20

9 pm

Blind Boy Chocolate & The Milk Sheiks The Crow Quill Night Owls • Brody Douglas Hunt

Sun, Oct 23

7 pm

Wed, Oct 26 9 pm Tom Evanchuck · Andrew Combs ($3 cover) 12th Annual All Hallows Eve Bash First Halloween Variety Show • Mon, Oct 31

Sat, Oct 29 • Door: 9pm • Show: 10pm Dead Confederate &The Bohannons Costume Contest • Tickets: thehonestpint.com

22

The Unsatisfied

sluggo’s

501 Cherokee Boulevard (423) 752-5224 facebook.com/sundayslashers Sunday Slashers a lineup of cult, offbeat and blastfrom-the-past horror and slasher movies downstairs at Sluggo’ from 7 p.m. to midnight every Sunday in October. The restaurant is serving homemade vegan pizza, popcorn and $1 Pabst beer all evening.

TRACK 29

Chattanooga Choo Choo Campus 1400 Market Street (423) 521-2929 track29.co The Nim Nims, Glowing Bordis and Tone Harm all playing separate sets

and converging together on stage for a full-album cover of the Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication. Tickets on sale Friday, Sept. 23 for $10. 21+ show.

• Saturday, Oct. 29 9-9:45 p.m. The Nim Nims; 10-10:45 p.m. Glowing Bordis; 11-11:10 p.m.

Costume Contest 11:15 p.m.-Midnight Ill Communicators 12:15 a.m.-1 a.m. Tone Harm

What 35 Patten Parkway was meant to be.

Full food menu serving lunch and dinner.

11am-2am, 7 days a week.

Shock Theatre Orcs, Odist, Opposite Box, Subterranean Cirqus, Horror Movies! $7 Costume Contest $100 First Prize

CHATTANOOGA’S ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN GUIDE | OCTOBER 20, 2011 | chattanoogapulse.com

Nash is back

WEEKDAYS 1 TO 4

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

23

MUSIC

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

October 20

500 Miles to Memphis Deep Sleeze • Strip District

October 21

Blair Crimmins & The Hookers The Corduroy Road

October 22

Villian Family • Megan Jean & The Klay Family Band Sweet G.A. Brown

October 23

Comedy with John-Michael Bond

October 25

Hope for a Golden Summer Comedy with James Adomin

October 26

r Resta i Ba u sh

nt ra

Su

PEELANDER Z

& NIGHTCLUB

409 Market Street Downtown - 423.756.1919

2 Floors! Live music on the 1st floor, dance club on the 2nd floor!

MONDAY: $1.00 Draft & Beer Pong MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TUESDAY: Dubstep Party!

WEDNESDAY: Open Mic Night + 50¢ wings!

Beer Pong Tournament 7:30pm Prizes for Winners

THURSDAY: Thirsty Thursdays SUSHI SPECIALS: $3 Rolls Wed & Thurs FRIDAY: Todd Weaver ($1 Beer 10-11pm) SATURDAY: Critty Upchurch ($1 Beer 10-11pm) SATURDAY, OCT. 29 Halloween Party & Costume Contest

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500 Miles to Memphis, Deep Sleeze, Strip District “Rowdy, insanely catchy, sometimes heartbreaking but always inspiring country punk.”

$5 • 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd., (423) 266-1400 www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

Thursday

Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Table 2, 232 East 11th St. (423)756-8253. www.table2restaurant.com Songwriter’s Night 7 p.m. Sugar’s Ribs, 507 Broad St. (423) 508-8956. www.sugarsribs.com Open Mic Night 7:30 p.m. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. www.thecamphouse.com James Falzone’s Allos Musica Trio 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org Blues Jam with Rick Rushing 7:30 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Summer Hullender 8 p.m. Acoustic Café, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold.

(706) 965-2065.

The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

www.ringgoldacoustic.com Buckner Brothers 8 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Jonathan Sexton and the Big Love Choir, Soul Mechanic 9 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. www.thehonestpint.com Comedy Night 9 p.m. The Office (inside Days Inn), 901 Carter St. (423) 634-9191.

Find them on Facebook.

Will Hoge, Moon Taxi 9:30 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

Friday

Johnny Cash Tribute Band 5 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo Victorian Lounge, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-5000. www.choochoo.com Tyler Melashenko 6:30 p.m. Southside Saloon and Bistro, 1301 Chestnut St. (423) 757-4730. www.southsidesaloonandbistro.com Ben Friberg Trio 6:30 p.m. Table 2, 232 East 11th St. (423) 756-8253. www.table2restaurant.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Kyle Carey and Neil Fitzgibbon 8 p.m. Charles and Myrtle’s Coffeehouse, 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960. www.christunity.org Jeff Coffin and the Mu’tet

8 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org Priscilla and Lil Ricky 8:30 p.m. The Foundry (at the Chattanoogan Hotel), 1201 Broad St. (423) 756-3400. www.chattanooganhotel.com Skin Deep 9 p.m. Sugar’s Ribs, 507 Broad St. (423) 508-8956. www.sugarsribs.com Todd Weaver 9 p.m. Raw, 409 Market St. (423) 756-1919. www.myspace.com/jimstriker DJ and Dancing 9 p.m. Spectators, 8021 East Brainerd Rd. (423) 648-6679.

DJ and Dancing 9 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Blair Crimmons and the Hookers, James Legg, Cordurory Road 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia The Cleverlys, Butch Ross 9 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Pete Boubel 9 p.m. The Office (inside Days Inn), 901 Carter St. (423) 634-9191.

Find them on Facebook.

Karaoke & Dancing 10 p.m. Chattanooga Billiards Club East, 110 Jordan Dr. (423) 499-3883. www.cbcburns.com Bounty Hunter 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar,

The Cleverlys, Butch Ross

Arkansas’ homegrown grassers meld humor and pop for some “pickin’ and grinnin’”.

$12 • 9 p.m.

Rhythm & Brews 221 Market St., (423) 267-4644 www.rhythm-brews.

5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com

Saturday

Johnny Cash Tribute Band 5 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo Victorian Lounge, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-5000. www.choochoo.com Shane P 6:30 p.m. Southside Saloon and Bistro, 1301 Chestnut St. (423) 757-4730. www.southsidesaloonandbistro.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Rookie of the Year 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 412 Market St. www.warehousevenue.com Lucinda Williams 7 p.m. TRACK29 - Chattanooga Choo Choo Campus, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-4323. www.track29.co Dana Rogers 8 p.m. Palms Patio at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com

MUSIC

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

901 Carter St (Inside Days Inn) 423-634-9191 Thursday, October 20: 9pm

Comedy Night

Friday, October 21: 9pm

Pete Boubel

Saturday, October 22: 9pm

Tommy Davis

Sunday, October 23

Sunday Night Football $5 Pitchers

Tuesday, October 25

Lucinda Williams featuring Buick 6

“Raw lyrics and a bluescountry style” come together on her latest album, Blessed, to tell ‘dismal stories with a hopeful ending.’”

$33 advance/ $35 door • 8 p.m.

Track 29, 1400 Market St. (423) 521-2929 www.track29.co Angela Easterling 8 p.m. Charles and Myrtle’s Coffeehouse, 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960. www.christunity.org Robby Hopkins 8 p.m. Acoustic Café, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold. (706) 965-2065. www.ringgoldacoustic.com “Banjo Bob” Stevens 8 p.m. Delta Queen Hotel, 100 River St. (423) 468-4500. www.deltaqueenhotel.net Towe Jam 8 p.m. Palms Patio at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Tommy Davis 9 p.m. The Office (inside Days Inn), 901 Carter St. (423) 634-9191.

Find them on Facebook.

Critty Upchurch 9 p.m. Raw, 409 Market St. (423) 756-1919. www.myspace.com/jimstriker DJ and Dancing 9 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055.

www.thepalmsathamilton.com FillIment 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St., #100.

(423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Priscilla and Lil Ricky 8:30 p.m. The Foundry (at the Chattanoogan Hotel), 1201 Broad St. (423) 756-3400. www.chattanooganhotel.com Skin Deep 9 p.m. Sugar’s Ribs, 507 Broad St. (423) 508-8956. www.sugarsribs.com Megan Jean and the KFB, Villian Family, Sweet GA Brown 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Revival: An Allman Brothers Experience 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

Sunday

Irish Music Session 3 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. www.thehonestpint.com Blind Boy Chocolate & The Milk Sheiks with The Crow Quill Night Owls and Brody Douglas Hunt 7 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. www.thehonestpint.com Bryan Bowers 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org Karaoke with DJ Salt 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com

Monday

Old Tyme Players 6 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St., #100.

(423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Big Band Night 8 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Karaoke with DJ Salt 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com

Tuesday

Open Mic with Mike McDade 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pk. (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com Aaron Lowrance 9 p.m. Acoustic Café, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold. (706) 965-2065. www.ringgoldacoustic.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pk. (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com Hope for a Golden Summer 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Truth & Salvage Co. with Ben Wright 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

Wednesday

Roger Alan Wade 7 p.m. Sugar’s Ribs, 507 Broad St. (423) 508-8956. www.sugarsribs.com Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Market Street Tavern,

Blind Boy Chocolate & The Milk Sheiks, The Crow Quill Night Owls, Brody Douglas Hunt Wood saws and washboards combine with banjos and buckets to bring ’20s and ’30s-style jugband blues.

$3 • 7 pm The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy.

(423) 468-4192 www.thehonestpint.com 850 Market St., #100.

(423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Jimmy Harris 6:30 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Open Mic Night 8 p.m. Acoustic Café, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold, Ga. (706) 965-2065. www.ringgoldacoustic.com Fried Chicken Trio 8 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com PEELANDER Z 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Tom Evanchuck and the Old Money, Andrew Combs 9 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. www.thehonestpint.com Joe the Show 9 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com

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

Nightly Specials

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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NO COVER

Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m.-3 a.m.

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Some Dark, Some Light in Dark of the Moon

By Janis Hashe

“T

he Ballad of Barbara Allen” is a very, very old folk song, with many versions, all telling the tale of the ill-destined love between a boy and a girl. Dark of the Moon, a play written in 1939 by Howard Richardson, and revised for production in 1945

by William Berney, uses a version that makes the girl a beautiful, flame-haired Appalachian gal, and the boy—a witch.

The two meet and make love on Baldy Mountain, and the witch-boy falls so hopelessly under Barbara’s spell that he successfully begs another magical being, Conjur Woman, to make him a human. She does—but with the catch that his love must remain faithful to him for a year, or he’ll change back into a witch.

When he emerges, as a human, into the tiny mountain community, the residents regard him with suspicion, which eventually turns to hatred, with fatal consequences.

The production of this play now on the Main Stage at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre exposes both the strengths and the flaws of the original concept.

On the positive side, director/set/ costume designer Scott Dunlap chose the musical elements of the play wisely and well. Hayley Graham and Janna R. McKinley sing the classic Appalachian folk songs beautifully and with deep feeling. They are well supported by Barrett Taylor, Paul Daniels and Andrew Chauncey on the mandolin, fiddle and

accordion respectively. Chauncey also serves as musical director for the piece, and the scenes in which most of the

cast sing revivalist gospel tunes show detailed care.

The large cast also boasts some ex-

cellent performances, including Graham as the jealous and spiteful Edna Summey and Matt Johnson as smarmy Preacher Haggler. As Uncle Smelicue, Ken Gross drifts in and out of character, but elicits the show’s best laughs with homespun observations. Rocky Resha as Marvin Hudgens, would-be lover of Barbara Allen, invests his character with the perfect physicality and his frustration with Barbara’s indifference and the Witch Boy’s ability to thwart him are very well played. Katie CowleyCarpenter plays Barbara’s mother with a resigned dignity and sparks of humor that resonate truthfully.

The period costumes, designed by Dunlap, are also excellent.

However, Dark of the Moon as a script proves problematic. There simply isn’t enough storyline to support a fulllength play, and this has been pointed out in reviews of the show since its Broadway run in 1945. The scene that undoubtedly was, and in some places still is, shocking—the community’s fundamentalist church’s decision to force Barbara to be unfaithful so that her husband will revert to his witch state— isn’t foreshadowed ominously throughout the play, but instead seems almost tacked on.

The other major difficulty is for a play of this kind, almost a tone poem, is that, to succeed, the leads must be charismatic and the chemistry between them palpable. Unfortunately, that is not the case with Joanna Key as Barbara and Lebron Lackey as John, the Witch Boy.

“The production of this play now on the Main Stage at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre exposes both the strengths and the flaws of the original concept.”

The wild intensity that should captivate us and convince us that their love is worth sacrificing anything for is missing—and missed. Lackey does better in his first scenes as the Witch Boy before the change, but as the human John is strangely subdued. Key needs to make us see that this girl is the controversial and free-spirited belle of this community, and we do not see that girl.

As always, we salute the CTC for making script choices that venture outside the ordinary and safe, and the commendable commitment of the cast, designers and crew. And for those seeking a spooky tale with lots of atmospheric music, Dark of the Moon may chime the witching hour just in time.

Dark of the Moon $10- $25 Through October 30 Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Main Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THURSDAY

CSO Masterworks: Grieg Piano Concerto, Brahms Symphony #1

Pianist Ning An joins Maestra Dan and the CSO. $19 - $79 8 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 267-8583 chattanoogasymphony.org

Thursday

Higher Ground (part of AEC Independent Film Series) Visit www.carmike.com for times.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370.

Art + Issues: Homelessness in Chattanooga 6 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org Photographic Society of Chattanooga Meeting 6 p.m. St. John’s United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Dr. www.chattanoogaphoto.org Hosanna’s Harvest for Hope: Rhythm and Blues 6 p.m. Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.

(423) 266-8658.

Dark of the Moon 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Mystery of the TV Talk Show 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839.

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

FRIDAY

www.funnydinner.com CSO Masterworks: Grieg Piano Concerto 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. www.chattanooga.gov Ricky Reyes 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com

Friday

Restless (part of AEC Independent Film Series) Visit www.carmike.com for times.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370.

Fresh on Fridays Marketplace 11 a.m. Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. (423) 265-3700.

Boo in the Zoo 5:30 p.m. Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. www.chattzoo.org Mystery of Flight 138 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com UTC Opera “The Three M’s” 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center Roland Hayes Hall, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. www.utc.edu/music I Can’t Think Straight 7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, 1918 Union Ave. (423) 987-5141.

Ricky Reyes 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com CSO Masterworks: Grieg Piano Concerto 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. www.chattanoogasymphony.org

Dark of the Moon 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Stand Up Comedy! Stewart Huff 9:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Female Impersonation Show Midnight. Images Cabaret, 6065 Lee Hwy. (423) 855-8210. www.imagesbar.com

Saturday

Oktoberfest Ram Run 8:30 a.m. First Tennesee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.

Chattanooga Oktoberfest 10 a.m. First Tennesee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. www.chattanoogamarket.com Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave. (423) 458-6281.

Downtown Library Book Club Meeting 10:45 a.m. Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad St. (423) 757-5310. lib. chattanooga.gov Restless (part of AEC Independent Film Series) Visit www.carmike.com for times.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370.

Rocktober Fest Noon. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA. (800) 854-0675. www.seerockcity.com Art till Dark Noon. 40 Frazier Ave. (423) 413-8999. www.arttildark.com Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis 1 p.m. Coolidge Park, 150 River St. www.cctakesteps.org/chattanooga

Restless

(part of AEC Independent Film Series)

Terminally ill girl meets boy who encounters the ghost of a kamikaze. Directed by Gus Van Sant.

Check website for showtimes.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 265-5220. www.carmike.com

I Can’t Think Straight 2 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, 1918 Union Ave. (423) 987-5141.

Boo in the Zoo 5:30 p.m. Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. www.chattzoo.org Mystery at the Nightmare Office Party 5:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Aradhna in Concert 6:30 p.m. Tyner Academy Auditorium, 6836 Tyner Rd. UTC Opera “The Three M’s” 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center Roland Hayes Hall, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. www.utc.edu/music Ricky Reyes 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com Mystery at the Redneck-Italian Wedding 8 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Dark of the Moon 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre,

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SATURDAY

Dark of the Moon

A witch boy falls in love with a human girl. $23-$25 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Main Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 www.theatrecentre.com 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Stand Up Comedy! Stewart Huff 10:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Female Impersonation Show Midnight. Images Cabaret, 6065 Lee Hwy. (423) 855-8210. www.imagesbar.com

Sunday

The Chattanooga MarketOktoberfest 11 a.m. First Tennesee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. www.chattanoogamarket.com Restless (part of AEC Independent Film Series) Visit www.carmike.com for times.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370.

Rocktober Fest Noon. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA. (800) 854-0675. www.seerockcity.com 1st Annual Children’s Festival Noon. Coolidge Park, 150 River St. (423) 475-4435.

The Northwest Georgia Wedding & Event Expo 2 p.m. Ringgold Wedding Chapel &

SUNDAY

Event Center, 7683 Nashville St., Ringgold. www.ringgoldweddingchapel.com Dark of the Moon 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com I Can’t Think Straight 6:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, 1918 Union Ave. (423) 987-5141.

Ricky Reyes 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com Movie Night 8 p.m. Sluggo’s North Vegetarian Cafe, 501 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 752-5224.

Monday

Restless (part of AEC Independent Film Series) Visit www.carmike.com for times.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370.

“Burtonesque” Films and Movement Showcase 4:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org Beans & Jeans Social 5 p.m. The Greater East Lake Community Council, East Lake Park, 3108 East 34th St. Mystery at the Nightmare Office Party 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Presidential Concert: CSO - CCR 7:30 p.m. Lee University, 1120 North Ocoee St. (800) 533-9930. www.leeuniversity.edu

Tuesday

Restless (part of AEC Independent Film Series) Visit www.carmike.com for times.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370.

Songwriter’s Line-up 7 p.m. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081.

Film of Esmeralda, featuring the Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow 7 p.m. Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370. www.carmike.com

Wednesday

2011 Spirit of Innovation Awards 11 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001.

Restless (part of AEC Independent Film Series) Visit www.carmike.com for times.

Majestic 12, 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2370.

Main Street Farmers Market 4 p.m. Main St. at Williams St. www.mainstfarmersmarket.com Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic 7 p.m. UTC McKenzie Arena, 720 East 4th St. www.utc.com/McKenzieArena

Ongoing

“Color in Freedom: Journey along the Underground Railroad” Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.

(423) 266-8658.

“Looking Up” River Gallery, 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033. www.river-gallery.com Sandra Mendez Photography Exhibit Southern Adventist University, 4881 Taylor Cr. Collegedale.

Sing, Mahalia, Sing!

Centennial birthday celebration of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. $15 3 and 6 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658. www.bessiesmithcc.org (423) 236-2000. www.southern.edu “Kids Like You, Kids Like Me” Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. (423) 648-6043. www.cdmfun.org “Patterns of Behavior” Sewanee University Art Gallery, 735 University Ave. www.gallery.sewanee.edu “Beverly Semmes: Starcraft” Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org “Vistas and Visages” North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Dr. Ste. 102.

(423) 870-8924.

“The Art of Wood” In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave. (423)267-9214. www.intowngallery.com “Cityscapes & Landscapes” 1800 Main 1800 Main St. (423) 531-7411.

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

SCREEN JOHN DEVORE

Losing Her Religion in Higher Ground

I

n one of the opening scenes of Higher Ground, vacation Bible school is in full swing at a local church. The children are gathered in the sanctuary, listening with rapt attention to the charismatic pastor describing how Jesus is knocking on the door of their hearts, hoping to be let inside. The children are instructed to bow their heads and close their eyes. If they have made the decision to let Jesus into their hearts, the pastor wants them to raise their hands. There is a rustling, a shifting of weight, as various children try their hardest to be pious while straining to see who is raising their hands today. No one wants to be the first; obviously eternal hellfire is secondary when compared to the flames of childhood inhibition. They peek through fingers and listen intently to their neighbors, intensely focused on each other rather than God. I have been in similar rooms on more than one occasion in my life. Once or twice, I even raised my hand. This was more for attention than spiritual conversion. New converts are treated joyously in evangelical Christian services; there are long lines of handshaking, hugging, and tearful congratulations. What 9 year old wouldn’t want to experience it more than once? The conversion is entirely social, however. Children aren’t developed enough to question and understand the mysteries of the soul. Higher Ground looks into the heart of faith, the formation of belief—and the decision to let it go. It tells us that a childlike faith will only take you so far; the rest of the way takes something else entirely.

Corinne (Vera Farmiga) didn’t have much of a chance, really. Her family was broken and poor, especially after the childbirth loss of her brother. She is smart enough, but her faithful flock tries to keep her pure from outside influence.

Her local librarian (and church matron) routinely screens her checkouts. Lord of the Flies is strictly off limits in her community. She remains bookish, however, and writes frequently. She attracts the attention of a young guitarist and gets pregnant and married before she turns 19. What follows is a series of vignettes from Corinne’s life. We see her conversion and acceptance into a grassroots group of “Jesus Freaks,” an evangelical combination of hippie love and Christian reverence. We see the way her faith has woven its way into every aspect of her life, from her friendships to her marriage to her child rearing.

We see the group cling to each other in times of crisis, claiming God’s mercy when an outsider sees the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

And we see Corinne gradually losing her faith,

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through gentle rebukes and spousal ennui.

The film is special in its treatment of Christianity and Christians. Never is the church vilified. Corinne is never ostracized either, despite her “sinful” decisions. The church is clearly full of people who love each other and have chosen a narrow path for their lives. However, a mirror does reveal harsh truths, and at times the characters in this film walk a thin line between deeply spiritual and spiritually obsessed. The beliefs may seem more than simply quaint; the antiquated views on women are especially grating. But actor/director Vera Farmiga could have satirized the church, making them clowns or demons. Instead, she chose to allow the characters to speak for themselves, convincingly and without pretense. There are times that this gets away from her, especially towards the end, as the character of Corinne seems to have sudden qualities and interests that aren’t evident in earlier characterizations. Maybe they were always there, just below the surface. Or maybe they were just expressed in other ways in her church.

The audience is left to guess her motivations, which is a bit frustrating considering how close

we get to understanding her character. But the film succeeds in what it sets out to do; it tells the story with grace and understanding.

Higher Ground struck a peculiar, personal chord with me. I grew up in a Southern Baptist household. I know dozens of people just like those seen in the film. During my high school years, I tried my best to emulate them.

But I wasn’t one. I just merely played the part.

Deep down, I knew that I just didn’t have what they did. That’s why I identified so clearly with Corinne. At the end, I don’t know that she lost her faith. She just realized that it wasn’t as black and white as she wished it could be. I echo her sentiment, however. I really admire that type of faith.

Higher Ground Directed by Vera Farmiga Starring Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, Dagmara Dominczyk Rated R Running time: 109 minutes

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chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

The Pulse His+Hers holiDay GifT GuiDe 2011 The perfect gifts for him+her. No excuses.

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Call 423.242.7680 for advertising information

Dining Out In Chattanooga

Moe’s Knows a Lot More Than Just Burritos

By D.E. Langley, Pulse Food Reviewer • Photography by Josh Lang

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egun in Atlanta in 2000, Moe’s Southwest Grill has taken off astronomically.

Their unique take on Mexican fare (not to mention their laid-back vibe) has garnered them quite a following, both in Chattanooga and across the country.

Walking through the door at a Moe’s ensures you’ll be greeted by a chorus of “Burristos” exclaiming “Welcome to Moe’s!” at the top of their lungs. The warm reception sets the tone for everything else you’ll experience. The items on the menu, from their famous burritos to their fajitas, the nachos to the salads, are often cheekily named. Bright colors abound and the playlist blasts hits from various deceased artists, many of whom are evoked on the walls.

The fresh vibe is omnipresent in the food, as well.

With a no-microwave and no-freezer policy, you know your meal will be crafted from the tastiest of ingredients. Grain-fed and hormone-free meats are a given, and those with dietary restrictions are ensured plenty of options —gluten-free eaters, for instance, have more than 20 ingredients to choose from. Going down the line and choosing exactly what gets added on only further ensures that you’ll be getting exactly what you want.

Forgoing the famous Homewrecker burrito, I tried a limited-time menu item called the Taco Stack—kind of a cross between a taco and a burrito. I chose chicken and black beans, which were placed between two flat, crunchy taco shells, along with the toppings of my choice (jalapenos, black olives, and queso), and the whole bundle was wrapped in a flour tortilla and grilled to steaming perfection. A side of guacamole and sour cream completed the deal.

The result was phenomenal! The crunchy and soft textures battling each other was delightful, and the veggies made the chicken and that addictive white cheese somehow even more delicious.

The guacamole was a delight as well—made inhouse, its slightly chunky texture was accentuated by bursts of garlic. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the chips and salsa that come free with every meal —I’m a sucker for salsa, and three permanent and two rotating choices were each delicious. (I especially loved the Who Is Kaiser Salsa,

“With a no-microwave and no-freezer policy, you know your meal will be crafted from the tastiest of ingredients.” and not only because of The Usual Suspects reference.)

If you work in the downtown area and can’t make it to a Moe’s during your lunch break, you’re in luck. The Moemobile marries the concept of a taco truck with their delicious take on the cuisine, and brings it to Warehouse Row from Monday to Thursday, and Miller Plaza on Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you get tired of having to lug everyone else’s food back along with your own, Moe’s also does some killer catering, from their queso and salsa all the way up to the Fajita Bar, replete with rice, beans, and all the fixings. Furthermore, if you’ve got a big enough crowd, you can book the Moemobile on weekends.

Moe’s also loves fundraisers of all sorts, from the

corporate level, where they donate a dollar for juvenile diabetes causes every time you make your entrée into a meal, to the local level, where they proudly support T.C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. Contact them to arrange a night where your favorite charity gets the proceeds.

As if you need any more reasons to get to your local Moe’s, each location has its own Kids’ Night, where they’ll eat free! Not only will your family love the food, but you can make sure your kids actually listen to some decent music for once, to boot. I just might see you there —I don’t have kids, but I’m jonesing for a fix of that queso already.

Moe’s Southwest Grill, locations in Chattanooga, Hixson, and Cleveland. For more information on catering, call (800) 905-2632 or visit moesonwheels. com

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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Visit StopViolenceGiveHope.org to give hope.

Empowering Families,Children & Adults

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

Search. Eat. Repeat.

Chattanooga’s most complete and comprehensive restaurant guide returns in November!

Call Rhonda Rollins at

423.242.7680 to advertise

Celebrate the spirit of giving 24th Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon Presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southeastern Tennessee Chapter

Please join us to honor:

Fall 2011

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Brewer Media and McDonald’s Chatt-Ad Co-Op

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday • Nov. 2 • 2011 Chattanooga Convention Center

Tickets and a unique opportunity to honor someone at your table are still available. Call 423-468-1122 for details.

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you have been resisting the command to go deeper, now is the time to surrender. If you have been hoping that the pesky little voice in your head will shut up and stop bugging you to get more involved, you’d better stop hoping. If you’ve been fantasizing about how to escape the growing pressure to give more of yourself, I suggest that instead you fantasize about how you could intensify your commitments. The time has come to explore what has been missing and what needs more love.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Did you know it is illegal to break into prison? That was the charge leveled against a Georgia man, Harry Jackson, who was arrested as he tried to sneak back into the jail from which he had escaped only a short time before. During his brief taste of freedom, Jackson allegedly stole 14 packs of cigarettes from a nearby store. Maybe that was his intention from the beginning—to do an errand and return “home.” Please don’t be like him in the coming weeks, Taurus. If you do manage to spring yourself from a trap or bust out of your servitude (and I expect you will do just that), don’t come crawling back later and beg to be allowed back in.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): As I was meditating on your horoscope this afternoon, I gazed out my window at the creek flowing nearby. The tide was coming in, which meant that the current was surging swiftly south. Row upon row of small waves were coursing through the water. Then I spied a lone duck swimming north against the tide. I couldn’t imagine what her motivation was. Why not just relax and float downstream?

She wasn’t in a hurry and wasn’t in the least flustered. Ever forward she went, determined to push on. And then it struck me, as I thought of your current astrological omens, that her approach would also suit you quite well right now. Go steadily and casually against the flow, Gemini.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Herbert Kitchener served as the British Consul-General in Egypt early last century. He wasn’t impressed with the creativity of the ancient nation’s art.

“I can’t think much of the people who drew cats the same for 4,000 years,” he remarked. Is there an equivalent to this lack of development in your own life, Cancerian? Among your own activities, are there any whose history has shown no progression? Did you reach a certain skill level in some area of your life and then stop pushing to improve? This would be an excellent time to identify that knot of excess stability, and then get started on dissolving it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I’m not warning you to cut down on all the leaping and cavorting you’ve been doing lately; I’m just saying that maybe you should add some ballast to your foundation and some gravitas to your demeanor. And I don’t mean to guilt-trip you into toning down your lust to connect with everyone and everything that tickles your synapses. But I do suggest you consider the possibility that beginning very soon variety will not be quite as spicy as it has been; your deft zigzags may need to be carried out with gentler zigs and slightly more cautious zags.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The autocorrect feature sometimes distorts the text messages people send on their smart phones. It tries to fix supposedly misspelled words that aren’t really misspelled, thereby creating awkward variations that can cause a ruckus when they’re received, like changing “I don’t want to leave” to “I don’t want to live.” Damn You, Autocorrect! is a book documenting some of the most outrageous examples, many NSFW. Be vigilant for metaphorical versions of this wayward autocorrect phenomenon, Virgo. Be sure that in your efforts to make things better, you don’t render them worse or weird. Consider the possibility that stuff is fine just the way it is.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Meraki is a Greek word that re-

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The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

fers to the bliss you feel when you’re engaged in a task that’s important to you and that you’re doing really well. It’s your theme right now, Libra. According to my reading of the astrological omens, everything’s in place for you to experience meraki in abundance. Furthermore, that’s exactly what your destiny is pushing for. So please get out there and do everything you can to cooperate: Make this a meraki-filled week.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your nightly dreams provide useful clues about your waking life. They can show you hidden patterns and unconscious motivations that your daytime mind hasn’t noticed. On rare occasions, they may even offer more literal guidance. That’s what happened for David Brown, a British man who one morning woke up from a dream of seeing a mysterious phone number. As an experiment, he sent a text message to that very number: “Did I meet you last night?” Michelle Kitson, the stranger on the other end, responded with a text, and then Brown texted back. More exchanges ensued, followed by a face-to-face encounter, and eventually the two were married. I can’t guarantee anything quite as dramatic for you, Scorpio, but I do expect your dreams will be unusually helpful.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In addition to reading your astrological omens, I did a Tarot reading, consulted the I Ching, and threw the runes. They all gave me the same message: The coming week would be a good time for you to spend quality time mulling over the Biggest Mystery of Your Life. It’s not mandatory that you do so. You won’t cause a disaster if you refuse. Still, wouldn’t it be fun? Life is inviting you to get re-excited about your personal version of the quest for the Holy Grail. Your future self is calling and calling and calling for you to dive into the ancient riddle you’ve been working on since before you were born. The mists are parting.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Sue Allison’s theater piece Lies I’ve Told, two actors take turns telling each other some classic whoppers. Here are a few: 1. “It would be no trouble at all.” 2. “This will only take a second.” 3. “I didn’t get your message.” 4. “I have no idea how that got here.” 5. “I thought you said ‘the 16th.’” 6. “Would I lie to you?” See if you can avoid fibs like those, Capricorn. I’m not asking you to be a superstar of candor—that’s unrealistic -- but I do encourage you to cut back on white lies and casual dishonesties as much as possible. This is a time when you really need to know the whole truth and nothing but. And the best way to work toward that goal is to be forthright yourself. That’s how karma operates.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Last June, Northern California artist Mary Sobrina Kuder did a gallery show of her paintings. She called it “Offerings of Grace and Mischief.”

That would be an excellent title for the story of your life in the coming week, Aquarius. I believe that you will be receiving offerings of grace and mischief, and I hope you will also be making such offerings. For best results, remember this: The grace and mischief are not contradictory or at odds. In fact, they need each other and belong together.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do you realize how many connections to remote places you have? Are you aware of how routinely you are touched by distant events? As science writer David Bodanis reminds us, “We inhale many hundreds of particles in each breath we take. Salt crystals from ocean whitecaps, dust scraped off distant mountains, micro bits of cooled magma blown from volcanoes, and charred microfragments from tropical forest fires.” I urge you to use that as your metaphorical theme this week, Pisces. Let your imagination run free as you renew your connections with faraway sources of nourishment. Revivify your intimacy with departed influences that continue to define you. Dream about the tantalizing future.

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD MATT JONES

180 Degrees—time to pull a crossword uey.

Across 1. Hit the mall 5. Life stories 9. Rat out 13. Common soap opera plot device (as in, “When will they wake up?”)

14. Spine-chilling 15. Cuatro y cuatro 16. In the thick of 17. Boring tool 18. Amanda who came back to the U.S. in 2011 19. They often require you to have a receipt 22. “What else?”

23. “Just as I suspected!”

24. California’s home of the Trojans 27. City founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad 31. CD-___ 34. Billiards table material 36. CNN host Burnett 37. Witherspoon of “Water for Elephants” 39. In order, perhaps 42. Ball 43. Composer Stravinsky

44. How the apathetic feel 45. Bandage brand 46. Response to a knock at the door 49. Medical scan, for short 50. Happy ___ clam 51. Crowd : peaceful :: ___ : angry 53. 1994 #1 hit for Ace of Base 61. Englishman 62. Porn star-turned“legitimate” actress Lords 63. Way back when 64. 24 Hours of Le ___ (auto race) 65. Goad 66. Airport stats 67. Like people with cooties 68. DJ Rick of “Disco Duck” fame 69. Not the highest person on the social ladder Down 1. Cat scratch reminder 2. Away’s opposite

3. Bypass 4. “The Taming of the Shrew” setting 5. Bra size 6. “Aladdin” parrot 7. L.A. Dodgers great Hershiser 8. From Damascus, e.g.

9. Wireless company named after a Finnish town 10. Back spots 11. Sorority letters 12. “Friends” actress 14. He played Canteen Boy 20. Genetic messenger material 21. Spanish actress often seen on “The Love Boat” 24. Norwegian phrase heard in the Upper Midwest 25. Ice column on a glacier (RACES anagram) 26 Make a genetic copy 28. Three, to Trudeau 29. Start of a Danny Elfman band

30. Winning 31. Kingdom 32. Award Richard Burton never won 33. Actor Phifer 35. “Splatterday on Saturdays” station 38. Type of tide 40. Canadian with the hit “1234” 41. “Johnny ___” (children’s book set during the American Revolution) 47. Made lace 48. Postal creed word 50. Unable to sit still 52. Greeted the villain 53. Familiar Halloween character, for short 54. Sound from the pen 55. Need 56. “Blind” emotion 57. Some mil. members 58. Gay Talese’s “___ the Sons” 59. Raleigh’s st.

60. Classroom furniture 61. Fat measure, for short

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: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle #0542

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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LIFE IN THE NOOG chuck crowder

What Would Gene Do?

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“When you’re 10 years old, who cares about the solo? He regurgitated blood from a hole in his heart! Cool!”

rowing up, I can’t really remember a world without the “greatest band in the world”—KISS! They were at the height of their career about the time I was old enough to allocate every penny of my allowance toward procuring as many records (we didn’t call it “vinyl” back then) and memorabilia as my tiny bedroom could hold.

I had the “Spirit of ’76” poster with the guys loosely costumed as Revolutionary War soldiers on top of their existing band-themed make-up. I had the limited edition Love Gun record with the souvenir cardboard pop-gun enclosed. And, I had the comic books printed in ink guaranteed to contain actual drops of the band member’s blood.

My only regret—not joining the KISS Army ($5 was a lot of dough back then).

Just like with the Beatles, everyone had their favorite band member. And there was many an elementary-school recess period spent arguing the finer points of why Ace Frehley kicks Paul Stanley’s ass. Nobody really liked Peter Criss and proclaiming Gene Simmons as your number one was like saying you prefer a Ferrari to a Plymouth. Duh. Gene embodied the mystery

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of KISS. And whether you believed they named the band as an acronym of “Knights In Satan’s Service” or after the lip service of the literally thousands of ladies Gene is said to have conquered (with Polaroid proof), there was definitely a cool factor in everything about KISS, especially when you’re 10 years old. Looking back nowadays, I realize the “God of Thunder” actually bestowed more upon my impressionable mind than I ever imagined.

Gene Simmons taught me that spitting up blood and blowing fire is dangerous, but doable. He taught me that you don’t have to write a good song, or even be able to play an instrument to be a rock star.

And, he taught me that wearing make-up and platform boots wasn’t just for the ladies.

He taught me that no matter

The Pulse • October 20, 2011 • chattanoogapulse.com

how much you lack in actual talent, you can more than make up for in shameless self-promotion. A scary costume, glitzy showmanship and an intriguing character backstory can nicely overshadow one-note bass lines and inane lyrics.

Recently, I casually watched a KISS concert on television (something I would’ve given my left nut to do in person 35 years ago). During the ten minutes of the show I could stomach, Gene performed his infamous bass solo during which he conjures up from the depths of his being “actual” blood (fabled to be from a hole in his heart, if I remember correctly) which flows from his mouth down his chin and over the top of his guitar as he plucks one,

ominous low bass note over and over. When you’re 10 years old, who cares about the solo? He regurgitated blood from a hole in his heart! Cool!

Now that I’m as old as he was when I thought he was God, I understand that Gene (I believe I’ve purchased the right to just call him Gene) is just a guy like you and me.

He’s a lover, a father and an unapologetic businessman.

KISS’s Wikipedia page clearly outlines the band made four times as much money during the height of their career (’76-’80) on merchandising than on music royalties.

Milking everything he could out of kids like me kept Gene going. And we bought the lunch boxes, action figures, posters, patches, comic books and other crap because Gene made it cool to like KISS. And now with a reality show about his current day-to-day, he’s making it cool for us kids who are now middle-aged to still like KISS. In fact, Gene is more like us than

we ever imagined a fire-breathing, blood-spitting, bass-less demon could ever be. He’s going through some of the same life changes during his mid-sixties that I am faced with in my mid-forties.

He’s always on the fence about settling down with the wife and kids (as if he hasn’t already). He’s never really been into the drink and drugs that fuel rock n’ roll, but the women? Gene like da ladies. And why shouldn’t he? He’s got the proverbial cow at home raising his kids while he’s out drinking as much milk as he can. He’s a rock star. Rock stars can get any woman they want, anytime they want—even if they look like they have pubic hair implants and a frying pan face. He’s Gene Simmons, for Pete’s sake!

So I haven’t (intentionally) missed one episode of the new season of Family Jewels. Each week I can’t wait to see what my hero will do next, now matter how self-indulged or pretentious. He was cool back when I couldn’t afford to enlist in the KISS Army and he’s cool now—just maybe not as mysterious.

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.

chattanoogapulse.com • October 20, 2011 • THE PULSE

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