LISA DENTON: Barry, it's time to get out your Big Wheel. And your chili recipe. And your art bike. And your dancing shoes. I could go on ... and on ... and on ... because there are some 100 events you can take part in at MainX24, the 24-hour festival on the Southside this weekend.
I especially like the Big Wheel competition. People tend to laugh when I ride my Big Wheel down the street in my neighborhood, but I'd have plenty of company Saturday for this.
BARRY COURTER: Adult-sized Big Wheels. What a great idea.
We went to MainX24 last year with a couple who don't get downtown a lot. They were pretty amazed at the vibe on the Southside. It was a great time. Walked up and down Main Street, watched the Mutt Strut, the Stroller Strut, did some shopping and had lunch at Flying Squirrel.
I spoke with some of the planners last week, and they tell me those events will return, along with some new ones, but the big deal this year is a renewed effort to have kids activities. There will a kids zone with games, music and storytelling from Mrs. Claus.
There are also several live music events for adults planned at Clyde's on Main, Track 29, the Flying Squirrel and the Terminal that will go into the wee hours of the morning. Blue Orleans is doing Mardi Gras on the street, and the Grocery Bar will be open all night.
Better rest up.
LISA: Mrs. Claus must be tag-teaming Christmas with the hubby because she's making lots of appearances these days. The Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department also has her booked for storytelling the next two Fridays and Saturdays at Enterprise South Nature Park.
And she joins Santa for a lot of parades. I don't know for sure which ones she'll be at, but there are parades all over the region in the next week -- at least 15 Thursday through Sunday, plus one in Athens, Tenn., tonight.
Not to brag, but I got to meet Mrs. Claus when I was manning the vendor entrance at the HoHo Expo recently. She was wearing street clothes, so I wouldn't have recognized her. But she came up and asked if she could go in that side door. "My husband is Santa Claus," she told me. I waved her right in. I may wind up on Santa's naughty list, but it won't be for any mistreatment of Mrs. Claus.
BARRY: Shameless name-dropping on her part. I wonder if she gets good tables and discounts at restaurants with that line.
LISA: Let's just be clear that those are your words, not mine. I'm serious about getting on the nice list.
BARRY: The new Ice on the Landing skating rink on the Green near Ross's Landing is up and running, or down and skating. They have several events planned as fundraisers for local charities, and the first one, which takes place Wednesday, benefits Room in the Inn.
From 5 to 9 p.m. at Ice on the Landing, 20 percent of the ticket purchases will be donated to Room in the Inn. The rink will be up until early January and, in December, it also will host a toy drive for Toys for Tots, a food drive for the Chattanooga Community Kitchen and a fundraiser for The Salvation Army and another for the Chambliss Center for Children.
Good stuff.
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 or 423-757-6354.