BARRY COURTER: Lisa, I don't know if you noticed while looking at the calendar, but this is a big week for the pollinators of the universe. We're covered up in it.
LISA DENTON: I believe that's called a Bee Alert.
BARRY: The Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones is holding an event called "Save the Pollinators, Save the World" at GreenSpaces tonight, while the Hickory Valley Garden Club is hosting a discussion on bees at Heritage House on Wednesday.
LISA: And alternative folk band Honeyhoney is playing at The Camp House on Friday. Sweet.
As long as we're getting back to nature, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will present "Carnival of the Animals" in its Thursday Masterworks concert at the Tivoli. The musical ode includes a cat, Nora, who will sing along to a "Catcerto" composition via a YouTube video. There will also be works people might have heard of, such as "Thurber's Dogs," "The Story of Babar" and the program's theme music, which was written by Saint-Saens in 1886. Though it's well-loved now, it was such a whimsical work for the time the composer asked that it be published after his death so it wouldn't detract from his more serious compositions.
BARRY: The work has movements titled The Elephant, Tortoises, The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods, Hens and Cocks and Wild Asses. Whimsical indeed.
There's more cool stuff this week. On Saturday, the Hunter Museum transforms its basement into a nightclub for Hunter Underground, a chance to buy real art for less cash. Fandom convention Con Nooga also is this weekend, bringing all things anime, horror, science fiction, cosplay, gaming, comics, etc., etc.
And the event with one of my favorite titles ever is Saturday; "Spay-ghetti No Meatballs" is a fundraising dinner and auction at The Venue for Wally's Friends, which offers spaying and neutering of pets at a low cost; local comedian Karen Mills is performing.
LISA: But if you have tickets for Don Williams' show Friday at the Tivoli, hold onto them. The 76-year-old country singer had to have a hip replaced earlier this month and has canceled his tour. Those 21 dates are supposed to be rescheduled, but there's no word on that yet.
BARRY: Shane Morrow has been busy this month, scheduling all kinds of concerts, films, talks and gatherings celebrating all things jazz as part of Jazzanooga, which takes place in its digs at 431 E. M.L. King Blvd. They are showing the documentary "The World of Nat King Cole" on Thursday and, on Friday, Nabil Ince, a student at Covenant Collefge, will play in the Jazzanooga Art Space as part of the Jazz: Next Generation Project. There also is a Gospel & Soul Brunch with Sounds of Unity on Sunday.
Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.