LISA DENTON: Barry, a few years ago, the experts at Consumer Reports picked the best and worst home-improvement shows on TV. Their favorites were three I know you and I like: “Rehab Addict,” “Property Brothers” and “Ask This Old House.”
BARRY COURTER: Are you kidding me? The “This Old House” franchise taught me everything I know about home improvement to the point that I can not only change a light bulb, I know how a three-way switch works.
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
LISA: As you well know, when you own a home, there’s a never-ending list of improvement projects and multiple television shows that make you think it’s possible to do it all yourself. But if you’ve ever reached a point where you know that’s not true, then I would say a trip to the Tri-State Home Show is in order this weekend.
BARRY: I’ve had occasion to attend the show for the last several years, and it is interesting to consider the changing trends over that time. From giant jetted tubs are in to giant jetted tubs are passe. Hot right now are all the various technologies that let you do everything from see who is ringing your doorbell to close your garage door with your phone from anywhere in the world.
LISA: Yes, that’s cool and a little creepy. I’ve thought about getting Alexa or Siri, but I wonder if they could understand my twang. When I was at the doctor’s office for a sinus infection last week, the physician assistant said, “You sound a little nasally.” And I thought, “You should hear me sing ‘Rocky Top.'”
Um, where were we? I’m still a little doped up from the meds.
BARRY: That twang is gold in certain circles. And, speaking of Alexa, there is not much funnier than watching a grandchild start talking to the ceiling telling it to play music. We don’t have Siri or Alexa, but her parents do. We thought she had become possessed until we figured out what she was doing.
LISA: That’s a laugh-out-loud moment right there. Just not until later, when there’s a good explanation for why she’s talking to the ceiling.
BARRY: The Road to Nightfall continues this weekend – Thursday through Saturday – at Granfalloon. Eighteen more local acts will compete for the chance to headline Nightfall on June 21. It’s a chance to see a lot of local music all in one place.
LISA: It’s good to keep your music options open. Two concerts coming in early March have already sold out: the Black Jacket Symphony’s version of Queen’s “A Night at the Opera” on Sunday and Heart Strings for Hope, the annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on March 5. Tickets to both are gone.
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.