BARRY COURTER: Lisa, I’m pretty sure I slid down more than a few downtown streets back in my younger days, but it was usually really late at night, and the streets were moving for some reason. I’ve never done it in broad daylight in my swim trunks on a float, so I’m kind of intrigued by the Slide the City event here on Saturday.
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
LISA DENTON: That apparently made a big splash here last year (sorry, I couldn’t help myself). It’s basically one of those toy Slip’N Slides on steroids – 1,000 feet of wet plastic that will stretch down the hill at Broad and West Fifth streets.
Rednecks have been making their own Slip’N Slides for years with a water hose and plastic and, of course, duct tape and WD-40. I’m not sure what the duct tape and WD-40 are for, but a redneck always has them in the truck for just such occasions.
BARRY: You can do anything with those two items, but what does it say about me that I actually know what they are used for in this instance? Especially the WD-40. Think Chevy Chase on the sled in “Christmas Vacation.”
LISA: I haven’t decided if I’m going to try out this fancy one downtown, though. One of the rules is that you have to keep all your body parts within the slide, and I’m not sure I can do that. When I hit water on a downhill slope, I just get ungainly.
BARRY: I’m picturing you as a frightened Scooby-Doo. Four legs and a tail going in five directions.
LISA: Something like that, except the dog is more graceful.
BARRY: Saturday is also the day that Station Street officially opens. That’s the new name of the revamped street, formerly 14th Street, between the Choo Choo and The Terminal. This is pretty cool since it’s hoped the street will become like a town square or meeting place for outdoor parties and concerts. The event starts at 4 p.m. with drink and food specials and live music from local bands.
LISA: There’s also a new section of the Riverwalk in the Tennessee Riverpark opening this weekend. It’s called the Blue Goose Hollow trailhead, which sounds like it’s out in the boonies, but it’s really on the riverfront at M.L. King Boulevard. There’ll be a ribbon-cutting and entertainment on Friday to kick off a two-day celebration.
BARRY: I think people tend to forget how close both M.L. King and much of St. Elmo are to the river.
And I know you remember my Swedish friends with The Cadillac Band (TCB). They are back in the United States, and it just so happens they will be playing the Choo Choo gardens on Saturday around 6:30 p.m. These guys have ties to Elvis (hence the TCB name), Fleetwood Mac and a bunch of other folks. They come every year and bring a big crowd with them, kind of like a band cruise, but in vans.
LISA: Is this another one of their whirlwind stops? I bet the folks at Sugar’s Ribs overlooking Interstate 24 are still wondering what exactly happened a couple of years ago when they went in, serenaded you with a few songs, then packed up and hit the road.
BARRY: One of the most surreal moments of my life, and I can only imagine how the Sugar’s staff felt. A rogue band of Swedish musicians descending out of nowhere and taking over the patio for a few minutes for a version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Then they were gone. It was great.
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.