As we all unwrap our Kitten-a-Day 2012 calendars in preparation for replacing the 2011 ones, it’s apropos to ruminate a bit on what’s happened over the last 12 months.
Fortunately, 2011 was chockablock full of memorable moments, so there is no need to scrape desperately for things to discuss.
So, without further ado, don your remembering caps and follow along.
* February: O’Heiney’s Pub opens its doors on Houston Street. My friends and I stumbled upon this faux ethnic drinkery in March, about a month after it opened. At first, we were basically its sole occupants, but judging by the crowds we find there every week, it’s become one of the best places to hang out beneath street level without breaking the lock on a door into underground Chattanooga.
* March/April/September/December: Performances by a quadruple threat of stellar traditional Irish artists Paddy Keenan, Tony DeMarco, Solas and Cillian Vallely. Irish might not necessarily be your cup of tea (or whiskey), but these shows prove that if audiences show up to support artists in a niche genre, other artists and booking agents will pay attention.