Some things are so obvious, we sometimes wonder why it took people so long to figure them out. Brussels sprouts, roasted in the oven with a little butter and sliced almonds, for example, are just plain good.
Random I know, but actually I'm thinking more about the idea of cross-pollinating events with the many attractive things we have available in this city. I have commented here, and just about anywhere that I can find a captive audience, that the big changes in our downtown happened first because of the Tennessee Aquarium, but also, and maybe almost as importantly, when the marketing types realized that kayakers and hang-gliding fans also like to eat.
Barry CourterAnd they like music, hiking, biking, shopping and, well, visiting giant fish tanks.
For many years, those same marketing types stayed in their own lanes, focusing on their own events. It made sense, really, but things have changed. Now, they realize that working with other groups increases not only your cool factor, but likely your audience.
The Chattanooga Film Festival, for example, is this weekend. (See story on page 19.) The majority of films will be shown at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. But there are also workshops planned at The Moxy, along with events such as "I'm OK, You're Karaoke, Party Vol. IV" at Chattanooga Brewing Co., a screening of "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" at Miller Park and a special party on the Southern Belle.
This spreading of the love is smart, and we are seeing more and more of it.
» Hindsight being what it is, what would your over-under have been for the combined attendance numbers for Saturday night's Chattanooga Lookouts, Chattanooga Red Wolves and Chattanooga Football Club have been?
If you had taken the over at 12,660, you should buy a lottery ticket. Or two, because you are a genius. The actual announced numbers were 5,008, 4,129 and 3,527, respectively. The popular Zooperstars were at the Lookouts game, which could help explain their numbers being over their 2018 average of 3,206.
CFC was slightly over their 3,900 average since 2009. The Red Wolves reportedly brought in portable bleachers for their game Saturday to enlarge the 2,200-seat Chattanooga Christian School facility.
Who knows what all this means going forward, but for an opening weekend, those numbers are all pretty good.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.