Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
LISA DENTON: Barry, if there's one thing I've learned from watching Hallmark Christmas movies is that I watch too many Hallmark Christmas movies. What can I say - I'm a sucker for implausibility.
BARRY COURTER: My wife teases me because I'll turn on Hallmark and announce it's time for a little cry.
LISA: I can see why she teases you.
BARRY: Why do I suspect you mean more than just the Hallmark thing?
LISA: Maybe, but let's stick with the Hallmark thing. Because if there's two things I've learned from watching Hallmark Christmas movies, then the other one is that all the pivotal events happen on Christmas Eve - the town's Christmas tree lighting, the community play, the unveiling of the department store's Christmas windows, the life-changing business deal. Seriously, who puts such time-suck events on their Christmas Eve to-do list?
BARRY: It's like watching "Gilligan's Island." Don't ask where the clothes and stuff come from and you are better off.
LISA: I mention this because, in real life, at least here in Chattanooga, there was a Christmas play that finished its run before Thanksgiving.
BARRY: If it makes you feel any better, apparently I will be doing all of my time-sucking stuff, like shopping, on Christmas Eve. Too much Hallmark for me, maybe?
Part of the reason is that there is so much to do, including a 12-band benefit tonight at The Camp House to raise money for the homeless.
LISA: That's the one organized by local musician Tyler Martelli, who is gathering in one place all 12 bands in which he has been a member to celebrate his 23rd birthday. It's today, by the way, so maybe they'll all join in for a bluegrass/jazz/funk version of "Happy Birthday."
BARRY: On Wednesday, the Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" is at the Tivoli, and John Kadlecik, who founded Dark Star Orchestra and also toured with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, is at Revelry Room. Kind of a neat thing because he announced on social media that he had an open date that night and would be interested in playing Chattanooga. The venue saw it and reached out.
LISA: And there are still three more nights to see "Miracle on 34th Street" at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. That's the musical based on the 1947 Academy Award-winning film about people who doubted that Santa is real. Heresy, I say.
There are still tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, but if you go Tuesday, you could also attend the Kringle Mingle buffet dinner before the show. Who could resist a Kringle Mingle - you know how I love witty wordplay.
BARRY: Almost as much as you love a buffet dinner.
And, shameless family plug, but my music-playing brothers, the ones with actual talent, will be doing their David Bowie tribute show again at Revelry Room on Friday. And they will also be a part of a very special holiday edition of Music Wednesday on our Facebook page live at noon. We'll have special guests Dennis Haskins, Nick Lutsko and several local musicians. It will be a lot of fun.
Get event details every Thursday in Chattanooga Now 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.