Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
LISA DENTON: Barry, one of my favorite spring events is coming up this weekend: the Tennessee Strawberry Festival in Dayton. Actually, there are a few preliminary activities all week, but the big event, the parade through downtown, is Saturday. Arts and crafts and food vendors will be set up around the Rhea County Courthouse, and there’ll be music and lots of strawberries.
True story: One year when my church was running a concession stand, a young woman walked up and I asked if I could get her anything. She said, “No, I just got here from Soddy.” I said, “Hey, that’s where I live.” She rolled her eyes and said, “Not Soddy-Daisy. Saudi Arabia.”
I guess the camouflage she was wearing should have been a hint, but come on. If you’re in Dayton, Soddy (20 miles down the road) makes more since than Saudi (an ocean and a sea away).
BARRY COURTER: And camo is Sunday-go-to-church attire there, too, right? I actually saw a guy using camo duct tape the last time I was up there in Soddy. I can totally see where you made that assumption. Incidentally, Kelley and I had a ball at the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg last weekend. These festivals are just good old-fashioned fun.
LISA: Yes, and sometimes the carnies let me on the rides for free. So there’s that.
BARRY: Not at all surprised you are popular with carnies.
Track 29 again has a couple of shows this week, including Yelawolf on Tuesday, and I’m really looking forward to the Marilyn Manson concert there Saturday night. I’ll be there. What to wear? What to wear?
LISA: Do you need to borrow some makeup? I would go to the show just to see what you come up with, except, darn, it’s sold out already.
Manson has generated plenty of controversy in his career, but he’s also made some notable music — six gold and platinum albums, two that hit No. 1 on the charts, and he’s had four Grammy nominations. His latest album is “The Pale Emperor,” which spawned this Hell Not Hallelujah Tour. It had the band’s highest opening-week sales since “Eat Me, Drink Me” in 2007. Some critics have called it his best album in over a decade.
BARRY: I’m seriously torn between painting up or going against type and wearing a nice seersucker suit with maybe a straw hat and some wingtips. I think it would make a statement. In any case, I don’t get into the hype or the controversy; I like the sound.
LISA: Don’t forget that sports fans have two opportunities to cheer on favorite teams. The Tennessee Titans Caravan will be at Academy Sports + Outdoors in Hixson on Saturday. Players Karl Klug and Chance Warmack will be along. And Tuesday of next week (May 13), the Big Orange Caravan will be at The Chattanoogan. That’s a ticketed event with dinner, so folks need to register ahead of time at volsconnect.com.
BARRY: And it’s Week Two of Nightfall. The Dusty 45s headline this week. Good name, by the way. They’ve got a cool rockabilly/Dick Dale surf sound that is pure rock’n’roll.
And, of course, Sunday is Mother’s Day. I know you think that means it’s your day, but I have a feeling your daughter and the new grandbaby will get most of the attention. As they should.
LISA: I don’t mind a bit. You can’t have moms without kids.
BARRY: For those folks who forgot to buy Momma flowers or a card, or if you just want something fun to do, the Chattanooga Market is celebrating moms with a selection of wines and chocolates, in addition to the usual produce and arts and crafts they always have. This is always a big day at the market.
LISA: It’s hard to argue with wine and chocolates (or strawberries). Whether you’re coming from Soddy or Saudi.
Get event information 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.