Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
LISA DENTON: Barry, I just checked the schedule of events for the RiverRocks finale Saturday at Coolidge Park, and it reminded me of the "Sesame Street" song "One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others)."
Let's review: There'll be yoga, rock climbing, slacklining, volleyball, disc golf and EPB Fiber Optics streaming "The Big Game." So the sendoff for a festival devoted to body-torquing adventure sports has an "outdoor living room" where folks can sit and watch football.
BARRY COURTER: That ticks off the all-inclusive part of the mission statement. They had to offer something for guys like me - a once-upon-a-time athlete. And it's UT-Alabama week, so
There is plenty of live music to choose from this week as well, including one of the more interesting names ever: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is at Revelry Room on Tuesday. While there are no actual birds playing table tennis, band members have been known to deliver their outlandish dance-funk in costumes.
Also, Bronze Radio Return brings its pop/rock sound to The Camp House on Friday. Country star Chris Young is at Memorial Auditorium on Saturday.
If your tastes run more toward classical, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera is doing Brahms' "Requiem" on Thursday at the Tivoli. If you prefer Sousa, the Pride of the Southland Band will have its biennial pre-Bama show Friday at Miller Plaza.
LISA: If you want to talk "interesting" - when it's in quotes, it means "weird" - you should check out the new art exhibit in the Moon Gallery at Berry College. I know it's a haul to Rome, Ga., but the gallery is showing a collection of photos by Robert Turney that tells "The Real History of the American Civil War." He gives this history lesson with tintype photos of battle scenes using dinosaurs and doll heads and miniature muscle cars. Like I said, it's "interesting."
BARRY: Weird is good in my book. Always has been.
On the not-so-weird scale, Sunday's Chattanooga Market will highlight local buskers. These include jugglers, mimes, puppeteers, magicians and dancers. That's a pretty good idea featuring a festival around the guys you see playing small roles at nearly every festival.
LISA: I should go with my kazoo. Sometimes I wish I'd given more serious thought to what instrument I should take up. I love the buzzing melody of a kazoo, of course - who doesn't? - but it's hard to make a living busking with it. Have you ever tried to throw a donation into a kazoo case? Maybe I should just carry my kazoo in a standup bass case. But I wouldn't want to detract from how serious I am about my music.
BARRY: That's what a giant fedora is for. Lay that at your feet and people will fill it with gobs and gobs of folding money in reward for your skillful playing. I'm sure any of the buskers would tell you the same.
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.