Off the Couch: Dead Phish, used cars and the World's Longest Yard Sale

Chef Eric Fulkerson of Bald Headed Bistro in Cleveland, Tenn., will defend his title at Sunday's FiveStar Food Fight at Chattanooga Market. The returning champion will compete against Michael Blanton of Five Restaurant, Patrick Halloran of Hummingbird Cafe, David Wright of Flying Squirrel and Adam Roe of Broad Street Grille.
Chef Eric Fulkerson of Bald Headed Bistro in Cleveland, Tenn., will defend his title at Sunday's FiveStar Food Fight at Chattanooga Market. The returning champion will compete against Michael Blanton of Five Restaurant, Patrick Halloran of Hummingbird Cafe, David Wright of Flying Squirrel and Adam Roe of Broad Street Grille.
photo Lisa Denton and Barry Courter

LISA DENTON: Barry, it's time for my annual getaway weekend to the World's Longest Yard Sale.

BARRY COURTER: I thought I noted a rise in your aggressive attitude of late. A lot more pushing and shoving than usual and not just around lunchtime.

LISA: No, I think that was normal lunchtime hanger-management issues. Hanger management, of course, has nothing to do with closet organization and everything to do with hunger and anger all rolled up into one cool word. It's also known as being hangry.

I actually try to save my negative energy for Black Friday face-offs. The World's Longest Yard Sale, along Highway 127, is different. Since it happens outdoors in August, it's usually 140 degrees in the shade, so if someone is quicker with a quarter than I am, I can usually shrug it off. It's hard to get your back up when it's soaked with sweat.

Shopping the World's Longest Yard Sale is something I've done for several years now, piling in the car with my relatives and seeing how much junk we can fit in the trunk before we have to turn back. I know you think it sounds like something crazy people do. And it is - you've met my family. But we love these bargain hunts.

My cousin Kim has even found me a sign for the car. It reads: I used to be addicted to yard sales, but now I'm on the road to recovery. Just kidding, I'm really on the road to another yard sale.

BARRY: Crazy is such a strong word. Colorful, maybe. But you are correct that shopping of any sort, except for power tools, is on my list of things to avoid. And what do you mean you fill up the car? I think one year you spent $3. Of course, that was before the grandbaby came along, wasn't it?

LISA: True, but I have a car full of people, and we're all buying - everything from rocking chairs to Christmas trees. There have been times that Hocus Focus has looked like the Beverly Hillbillies' truck when I've pulled back into the driveway.

BARRY: There are plenty of other things going on around town this week. First Draft Productions is hosting a First Monday Improv show at 8 p.m. at Barking Legs Theater. Improv is kind of like what we do here. Just write the first little ol' thing that pops into your head and don't think about it for a second. It takes real talent to not think before you speak and still form a complete hey, a butterfly.

LISA: Yes, I've noticed that many of our conversations go the way of the butterfly.

BARRY: And, for the first time ever, three East Ridge High School graduates will share the stage this weekend when Jim Brick joins longtime friends and comedy collaborators Ken Sons and Les McCurdy. All three have had successful careers in comedy - Sons and McCurdy started The Comedy Catch here years ago - and worked the same clubs, but all three have never performed together. A whole weekend of events are planned to raise money for the football stadium at East Ridge.

LISA: Saturday is Used Car Night at the Chattanooga Lookouts game. Talk about a bargain. You could go home with a new-to-you car for the price of a ticket ($6 to $9 for adults).

BARRY: And if you like a little jam with your music, the Dead Phish Orchestra is the Riverfront Nights headliner. It features a bunch of guys who at one time or another played in either a Grateful Dead or Phish cover band. Somewhere along the line, someone had the bright idea of combining the two influences.

LISA: They should tour with Leftover Salmon.

BARRY: And it's FiveStar Food Fight day at the Chattanooga Market on Sunday. One of my favorite events. Five local chefs go head to head in a cook-off using produce and products from the market.

LISA: The food fight is the culmination of Chattanooga Restaurant Week, which starts today. Thirty-three places around town will be putting an extra emphasis on fresh ingredients and the farm-to-fork connection. The week is billed as a reason to eat out, explore new restaurants and allow a chef to treat your palate to something different.

I see it as 33 ways to manage my hanger.

Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

Upcoming Events