Off the Couch: Community potluck, percussion concert put food in spotlight

Robby Takac and John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls will perform Saturday at the Tivoli Theatre.
Robby Takac and John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls will perform Saturday at the Tivoli Theatre.

LISA DENTON: Barry, I hope you wore your big-boy britches today. I know you've got them ready for Thanksgiving, but we don't have to wait until Thursday for a feast.

Causeway, a social innovation start-up, is setting up its One Table community potluck downtown today. This is a citywide call to "come and get it" for anyone who wants to partake. The one, long table will be set up from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on M.L. King Boulevard between Miller Park and Miller Plaza. It's free, but those who can afford to are asked to donate what they would have spent on lunch on behalf of a fellow citizen who can't afford to chip in. It's all about being better humans, which is easier for me when my tummy's full.

BARRY COURTER: Oh, those kind of big-boy britches. I thought you were going to hurt my feelings with some tough-love kind of critique. This is a pretty cool event that combines a good idea with a good cause.

Another one happening this week - today actually - is the annual Beat Hunger concert presented by the UTC Percussion Ensemble. Your $2 admission goes to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, and you will get to hear every instrument in the percussion family being played. That's not something you can hear every day. Plus, UTC alumnus Erik Gehrke has composed an original piece for the show titled "November 25, 1863."

LISA: That one was first performed at the dedication of a monument to William Tecumseh Sherman during the Glass Street Live festival last month. It is said to express "the carnage and pathos of warfare." Not to make light of carnage and pathos, but it might resemble the sounds my stomach makes when I'm hungry. What time does that potluck start?

BARRY: Sounds more like you are "hangry."

LISA: I kinda stay that way.

BARRY: You know how I hate to name drop. I think it was Charlton Heston who told me never to do that. But anyway, I had a great interview with John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls last week. They return to town on Saturday for a show at the Tivoli. We talked about his two-year anniversary of being sober, how happy he is, the new album, life in general and how much he is loving the current tour.

I saw both My Morning Jacket and Bob Dylan shows at the Tivoli in the last couple weeks and both were sold out, which is great for the venue and the city.

LISA: It is indeed. Unfortunately, I can't make it to the Goo Goo Dolls show, but I do plan to have a Goo Goo Cluster in their honor.

And one quick Christmas note: If you want your picture made with Santa Mocs - that's Santa in a blue-and-gold suit - you can find him Tuesday night at Hamilton Place and the next Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Northgate Mall. Both photo-ops start at 6 p.m. On Dasher, on Dancer, go Mocs.

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.

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