Chattarati Articles in Culture

Get Lost in the Wilderness on New Year’s Eve

2011-12-08T09:00:00Z

The Features performing ‘All I Ask’ at Lake Fever in Nashville, Tenn.Lake Fever Sessions via Vimeo

If you’ve already made plans for New Year’s Eve, then you might want to change them. If you haven’t, then you’re in luck. The Features are coming back to Chattanooga, and they’ll be playing at the Honest Pint, ringing in the New Year.

Originally hailing from the tiny town of Sparta, Tenn., the band has become a fixture in the southeast, cultivating an ever-growing group of fans and is huge in the United Kingdom.

Supporting their new album, Wilderness, the Features have recently been featured on the original motion picture soundtrack of Breaking Dawn: Part 1.

The Features are one of those underappreciated bands that continue to be on the very cusp of superstardom, but for some reason can’t break free from their southern roots grasp. The band, however, has garnered a huge following in Europe. And not in a Hasselhoff kind of way. But in a very real, “these guys are good” way.

“We are excited to have the best show in town for New Year’s Eve,” said Matt Lewis, owner of the Honest Pint. “Their albums are grea,t but to see them live is something else entirely. It puts their sound on a whole other level.”

The Features are reminiscent of the 1980s southern rock darlings Drivin' 'N' Cryin'. Not so much in their musical style, but in the bands’ fanbases.

Kevn Kinney and friends toured extensively in the '80s and '90s. Their music was played religiously on college radio. With hits like “Fly Me Courageous” and “Straight to Hell,” it seemed inevitable that the band would reach national superstardom, possibly becoming as big or bigger as fellow Georgia-based band R.E.M. They even were featured on the soundtrack of the Brad Pitt film Kalifornia.

But, alas, they never made it, which is not to say they weren’t successful in their own right. They still maintain a loyal following. But does the same fate await the Features? Go. Buy your tickets. See the band. Find out for yourself.

Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. The show starts at 10 p.m. with the Bohannons as the opening act.

Like (20) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter

The Civic Forum as Urban Catalyst

2011-11-08T15:30:00Z

Photo courtesy of River City Company.

When you're looking at 1001 Market St., the word "energy" probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. The Civic Forum was razed in 2003 and turned into a parking lot. Since then, it's sat underutilized and devoid of much activity. But given the block's size, long-term vacancy and neighboring energy companies, the former home of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce does have something going for it: potential.

For the past two and a half months, architect Steve Haase and a team of urbanists have been thinking about that potential. The team, calling itself the Big Gig, will present a new design concept for the Civic Forum block on Thursday, Nov. 10. Their presentation will be the second one in the Urban Design Challenge, a year-long series sponsored by River City Company in which teams of architects, planners and designers rethink and draft designs for select sites throughout the downtown area.

Two aspects of the Civic Forum block made it a compelling site to design for, Haase said. "It's one whole block that's empty in the central business district. So one, there's a big void. And two, there's a lack of energy in the central business district after 5 or 6. With those two things, if you're going to energize the central business district, the bigger the project the better."

The Big Gig sees the block as a connecting point between the riverfront and Main Street, Haase said, and a catalyst for the central business district itself. One of their goals was figuring how to tie those elements together.

Before putting pen to paper, the team spent several weeks discussing the site amongst themselves and with other developers. "We concentrated a lot on the actual urban design part of the challenge," Haase said. "I think we've got a great idea for the block, but the idea is kind of secondary to the urban design portion."

"The urban design portion is the first two floors and how the pedestrian accesses the site. So we concentrated a lot on that aspect of it. I think our presentation will reinforce the fact that we were thinking a lot about what happens when you walk by. And in our particular case, as you walk through."

"The permeability of the site was important. The friendliness to the pedestrian was important," he said of the design.

In all, six sites will get similar treatments throughout the Urban Design Challenge. The sites tend to come in pairs, said Christian Rushing, who is a consultant on the series along with Ann Coulter*. The complementary site for the Civic Forum block is 700 Market St., which was presented in August.

"What they share in common is the fact that they're both undeveloped vacant lots in the central business district. But they're different in that one is that one is a very narrow, confined smaller site. And the other one is a full city block," Rushing said. "So we get the opportunity to compare and contrast what you can do in similar places on different sites."

Like the Civic Forum block, many of the sites are vacant. And the teams are encouraged to approach them in a variety of ways. "When I'm briefing the teams, my advice to them is that this is a blank slate. This is a chance for you to be as creative, as innovative or as conservative as you think is necessary to show what your team's vision is for the future of downtown and this site," Rushing said.

One important aspect of the Urban Design Challenge is to start a conversation about urban design, architecture and the built environment. At the end of the series, the designs will be compiled into a portfolio that will serve as a point of reference for future development.

"With the Urban Design Challenge, we’re looking in a new way at future opportunities for high quality development downtown,' Kim White, president of River City Company, said in a news release.

The challenge is a competition too. An outside panel of planning experts will review the designs and select a winning team for a $3,000 award at the series' end.

Haase sees his team's design, and the broader challenge, as a way to show what's possible in Chattanooga's urban landscape. "I would hope that our project will benefit River City Company when it comes to them talking about what people can do in downtown," he said. "Whether it's on this block or somewhere else."

The Big Gig tried to showcase what could be done with the Civic Forum block, Haase said. "But you could also take those same principles and apply them to other places in town."

* Christian Rushing and Ann Coulter contribute commentary on urban planning and design to Chattarati.

Like (22) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Back Row Film Series Concludes With ‘Truck Farm’

2011-09-14T14:30:00Z

Trailer for ‘Truck Farm.’wickedelicate

Arts & Education Council:

"How do you grow your own food in the city if you ain’t got no land?" NYC-based filmmaker Ian Cheney's solution was to plant seeds directly in the bed of his grandfather's old pickup truck. True, you don’t usually think "1986 Dodge Ram" when you think “green vehicle," but Cheney's truck with ripe rows of arugula, lettuce, broccoli, herbs, tomatoes and habaneros thriving right in its flatbed, is definitely an exception. His Truck Farm even has its own CSA plan!
Screening tomorrow night at Greenspaces, the whimsical, 50-minute documentary Truck Farm will inspire a new, improved way of thinking about how we get our food in the concrete jungle. Through a quirky series of musical, lyric-accompanied, video shorts ("The recession was upon me, my health was slipping away. I decided what I needed, was more vegetables everyday."), the film uses humor to explore creative solutions to urban farming — from rooftops to barges to porches and more. Come see the film and experience the launch of Chattanooga's own truck farm!

The Back Row Film Series screening of Truck Farm will be at Greenspaces on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m.

Like (9) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Brewhaus to Bring European Flair to Hill City

2011-09-07T13:00:00Z

David Morton

Brewhaus, the North Chattanooga gastropub, opens Thursday, Sept. 15, on Frazier Avenue.

Germany may be celebrating its world-famous Oktoberfest this month, but Hunter Hart and Mike Robinson plan to bring the event here to Chattanooga, and keep it running year-round.

Brewhaus, a new gastropub run by the local entrepreneurs, is opening Thursday, Sept. 15, on the North Shore. With 12 beers on tap and nearly four times that being offered in bottles, Brewhaus aims to add a German pub atmosphere to the Scenic City.

"Even though Oktoberfest is technically from mid-September to the end of October, we want our patrons to feel like every day is Oktoberfest," said Tiffanie Robinson, PR representative for Brewhaus. "We'll have an atmosphere that will portray this with German bar songs, new German beers on tap each month, and special brew club incentives and events."

Brewhaus takes their approach to bringing this atmosphere to Chattanooga a step further, however, by sourcing several menu items from local businesses. With breads from Bluff View Bakery, rotating offerings on tap from Chattanooga Brewing Company, and local produce and pastries, the brewpub plans on truly integrating the German experience into our local culture.

"Our vision is to bring awareness of German culture and flavor to the downtown scene along by mixing in local Chattanooga ingredients to stay in line with the local food movement Chattanooga is so proud of," said Robinson. "This is a passion of ours, and we have chosen to center our careers around the art of good food and good drinks."

Brewhaus will be running special food and drink offerings coinciding with Oktoberfest to celebrate its grand opening.

Like (33) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Michelle Rhee, Michael Pollan to Bookend Lecture Series

2011-08-14T12:00:00Z

Buoyed by high attendance and an overwhelming response in the recent past, the George T. Hunter Lecture Series returns with a lineup of nationally renowned experts for 2011-2012. Michelle Rhee, Armando Carbonell, Robert Pinsky and Michael Pollan are speakers for the series that begins Sept. 20, the Benwood Foundation announced today.

During the next eight months, each of the speakers will visit Chattanooga, discuss his or her personal experiences, and challenge residents to pursue positive, long-term change in their communities.

The series, now entering its fourth year, has become the preeminent event for bringing creative thought and new ideas to the city.

“The Hunter lecture series has always maintained a focus on bringing the nation’s foremost thinkers and leaders to Chattanooga,” said Corrine Allen, executive director of the Benwood Foundation. “By doing so, we hope to generate meaningful dialogue around big ideas and how they apply to community issues within Chattanooga.”

The first and final lectures with Rhee and Pollan will be at the Tivoli Theater. Lectures by Carbonell and Pinsky will once again be held at UTC's Roland Hayes Concert Hall.

The change in venue is one indicator of how the lecture series has grown in popularity, said Benwood's Lori Quillen. "We have received an overwhelming response to past lectures, and we wanted to provide an opportunity for even more people to be able to attend."

But it also reflects the caliber of expertise the series brings to town. The upcoming lineup includes Rhee, an educator who has helped institute significant (and sometimes controversial) reforms in education; Carbonell, a leading voice in smart growth and land-use policies; Pinsky, the celebrated U.S. poet laureate; and Pollan, an activist who is at the fore of a national conversation on food.

Named after George Thomas Hunter, the Chattanooga businessman who founded the Benwood Foundation in 1944, the lecture series correlates to the foundation's four focus areas: public education, community development, arts and culture, and the environment.

Dates and topics for the speakers are listed below. The lectures are free and open to the public.

About the Speakers

Michelle Rhee is an educator with an 18-year career in teaching, administration and advocacy. Her lecture, "Putting Students First in Public Education Reform," will be at the Tivoli Theater on Sept. 20.

Rhee was chancellor of DC public schools from 2007-2010. Upon her appointment, the system was one of the worst performing in the country, and it was entrenched with special interests and political division. She became a lightning rod for criticism due to her willingness to challenge teachers unions on merit pay and tenure. However, test scores and the overall graduation rate showed marked improvement during her administration.

Rhee later appeared in Waiting for Superman, a documentary film about educational reform inspired by the work of Geoffrey Canada. She recently founded the advocacy group StudentsFirst, which pursues reform through state governments. She lives in Nashville, Tenn.

Armando Carbonell is a senior fellow with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. His lecture, "Planning for Increased Growth, Livability and Economic Vitality in the Chattanooga Region," will be at the Roland Hayes Concert Hall on Nov. 1.

With almost 30 years experience in professional planning and urban growth policy, he has emerged as one of the country's top voices on smart growth.

In 2009, Carbonell became a co-chair for America 2050, a national initiative to prepare the United States for explosive population growth in the next four decades. The organization develops research and policies for 11 mega-regions — systems of metropolitan areas connected through their economies, natural resources, and transportation systems. (Chattanooga is part of the Piedmont Atlantic System.)

Carbonell has co-edited three books on regional planning. He teaches at Harvard University.

Robert Pinsky is a writer, literary critic and former U.S. poet laureate — the first to serve three consecutive terms from 1997-2000. His lecture, "Placing Value on the Arts in Tough Economic Times," will be at the Roland Hayes Concert Hall on Feb. 7, 2012.

Pinsky has published 27 books, including his acclaimed translation of Dante's Inferno, and his writing has appeared in The New Yorker and The Atlantic magazines.

In 1998 the poet laureate created the Favorite Poem Project, a one-year call for Americans to submit their favorite poems. Though he initially expected a modest response, more than 18,000 people contributed to the project. The submissions became the subject of several well-attended public readings, and many of the poems were collected into two anthologies, Poems to Read and Americans' Favorite Poems.

Pinsky is the poetry editor at Slate and teaches in the graduate writing program for Boston University.

Michael Pollan is a journalist, activist and author of four New York Times best-selling books. His lecture, "How to Eat: Making Food Choices That Nourish Your Body and Your Community," will be at the Tivoli Theater on April 19, 2012.

In the past decade, Pollan has been at the fore of a national conversation on food. Time magazine named him one of the world's most influential people in 2010.

His 2008 book, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, challenges the often-complicated theorems of nutritionism with a simple maxim, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." The same year, he starred in Food, Inc., a documentary film based on his work that examines the industrial production of food, its effects on personal health and the environment, and the powerful interests that shape agribusiness.

His writing has also appeared in the New York Times Magazine and the New York Review of Books. He teaches at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.

Pollan's lecture is co-sponsored by Gaining Ground.

About the Series

Started in 2007, the George T. Hunter Lecture Series has quickly emerged as a must-attend event. Past speakers include Madeline Albright, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Brooks, Geoffrey Canada and Malcolm Gladwell.

The series is sponsored by the Benwood Foundation in partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies, and CreateHere.

Chattarati is a media sponsor of this year's lecture series.

Like (28) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Weekend Deals for Aug. 6-7

2011-08-06T10:30:00Z

Resident bargain hunter Adrienne Royer lists some of the best deals in Chattanooga and from around the Web. Cross-posted from Modernbelleblog.com.

In case you've missed the news, it's a tax-free holiday in Tennessee. Clothes and school supplies up to $100, and computers up to $1,500, are tax free. For more details go to the state's official page on it.

Also, don't forget the Junior League of Chattanooga's liquidation sale of the Bargain Mart and the Warehouse Boutique Sale at Loose Cannon.

This weekend also marks the World's Longest Yard Sale, which swings through parts of Hamilton County. This sale is fabulous, and I've furnished two apartments (almost all vintage from 1920s through the '60s) from it alone. If you need furniture, this is the absolute best time and place to buy it.

Since time is short this morning — I've gotta get to the Bargain Mart! — these are the best deals to take advantage of this weekend.

Misc. Deals

The focus this weekend is on clothes, computers and school supplies, but there are some other offers:

Rimmel: Print off a $2 off of one item coupon from Facebook. Some blogs are reporting cosmetics as low as 24 cents with this. (via This Frugal Life)

Denizen Jeans: I just won a free pair of jeans! If you like Denizen Jeans by Levi on Facebook, you can enter to win either a free pair of jeans or discounts.

Download a free audio version of the complete Chronicles of Narnia. Love this deal! I'm a big C.S. Lewis fan, so this is exciting. (via Mojo Savings)

Restaurants

O'Charleys: $5 off of a purchase of $20 with this coupon. (via Mojo Savings)
Ruby Tuesday: Get a coupon for two free mini burgers and fries when you like them on Facebook. (via Totally Target)
If you want some deals on fast food including Quiznos, Little Caesar's, Dairy Queen, Baja Fresh and KFC, The Krazy Coupon Lady has deals and coupons.

School Supplies

Time2Save Workshops has the ultimate wrap-up on pencils, paper, backpacks, glue and any other school or office supplies you could need. Go there to find deals on these items.
If your just going to Target, here's a list of discounts from Mojo Savings. Also, Don't forget to look at Target coupons.
Crayola has some rare coupons available right now on Facebook. (via Hip2Save)

Retail

Hip2Save has a great round-up of retail offers. Check it out before you go shoppping. I'll be using the Ulta coupon.
Clipper Girl also has some retail deals highlighted.
Sam's Club: This weekend is an open house for non-members. That means there's no 10% surcharge for non-members. For members, that just means Sam's Club is even more crazy. (via Moneywise Moms)
Kohl's: Print off a shopping pass to take off an extra 20% your entire purchase. This includes sale and clearance items. (via Coupon Cravings)
Gap Outlet: If you live near a Gap Outlet in Tennessee (remember Georgia isn't doing a tax holiday this year), save 20% off of a purchase of $75 or more with this coupon. Valid only at Gap Outlets. (via Coupon Cravings)
Express: Save $15 off a purchase of $30 with this coupon. (via Fantabulously Frugal)
Old Navy: Deals on jeans starting at $10 for the kiddies. The Old Navy Super Cash deal is still going on, so you get back $10 with every $20 you spend. (via Time2Save Workshops)
Shoe Carnival: Print off a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $39.98 or more. (via The Krazy Coupon Lady)
Ann Taylor and Loft: The Friends & Family Sale is still going on, so take 30% off of your entire purchase.
Michaels: Starting tomorrow, there's a coupon for 40% off of one item.

Like (12) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Weekend Market Menu: Aug. 6-7

2011-08-05T11:00:00Z

It's National Farmers Market Week, so celebrate by stopping by a market near you. Scroll down to see what's happening at the Chattanooga Market, the Brainerd Farmers Market, and the Hixson Farmers Market.

Brainerd Farmer's Market

Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
20 Belvoir Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37377
Facebook page

This week at the Brainerd market:

Link 41: Sizzling sausage sandwiches
Cloudcrest Farms: Hamburger and sausage
Heirloom Catering: Cooking demos
Sequatchie Cove Farm: Veggies, blueberries and eggs
Circle S Farms
Bama Breeze Farm: Organically grown tomatoes, alpaca fertilizer (Alpaca Gold), greenhouse-grown using sustainable methods
Dixie Soaps: Goat milk soaps, lotions, lip balms, felted soaps and eggs
Fresh Green Farms: Heirloom tomatoes, a variety of Cherokees, and other heirlooms
Lowes Family Farm: Tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, bell pepper, eggplant and corn (conventional, uses chemicals)
Palma Ceia Honey: Wildflower honey from the bees at Reflection Riding at the foot of Lookout Mountain
Pocket Farm: Corn, pink-eye peas, green beans, heirloom tomatoes, Italian heirloom zucchini and yellow squash, sweet and hot peppers, fresh basil and a special sale on Roma tomatoes for canning or making sauces — a 7-pound bag (50-60 tomatoes) for just $7
Walden Farm: Arugula, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapenos, collard greens, basil, cilantro, mint, and oregano grown through organic/sustainable methods
Williams Island: Tomatoes (Sungold, Rutgers, Pink Beauty, Paul Robeson), peppers (both hot and sweet varieties), eggplant, beets, zephyr and pattypan squash, cucumbers, and potatoes
White Oak Mountain Farm: Sunflowers, gladiolus, cabbage, beans, purple hull peas, okra, butternut squash, lemon cucumbers, zucchini and cucumbers. Organic/sustainable methods, though some crops require non-organic fertilizer
Dean Towers: Peach, blueberry, apple and blackberry pies. I'm going to make a couple of chocolate pies to see if folks like those. We'll have our selection of jams, jellies and pickled items too. And I also have a few conainers of fresh pesto. I'll also have a few jalapeno cornbreads, fresh garden salsa and fresh whole dill pickles. From the garden, we'll also have a few cukes, sweet peppers, green onions and tomatoes
Buffalo Brad's Beef Jerky: Buffalo and beef steak jerky and turkey jerky
Niedlov's Breadworks: Artisan breads from local and organic flours
423balm: Handmade soaps and Madeline's lemonade stand will be there
Steel-Wool Designs: Handwoven scarfs, bags, hats and unique wrapped headbands. Chainmaille and beaded jewelry. Come try out the loom or spinning wheel
Hilltop Farm: Soap, handmade items

Hixson at St. Alban's Episcopal Church

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
7514 Hixson Pike, Hixson TN

Per their email, here is a list of vendors this week:

My Family Dinners: You may pre-order your dinners for pick-up, or stop by and see what we have in the coolers. In addition, we prepare a variety of fresh foods you can enjoy for lunch or pick up to enjoy later. Lisa's special recipe smoked barbecue is very popular, as are our fresh grilled vegetables, sesame skewered chicken strips, curry chicken salad, three-cheese pimento cheese, and much more. Just look for the smoky grill, where we are cooking on site
Brady's Farm Direct Meat: Ground beef, all the normal steaks, roast, stew meat, brisket, also mild and extra hot sausage
Buffalo Brads' Steak and Turkey Jerky: Top round beef, top round bison and breast meat turkey jerky, all natural
Phoenix Farm: Flowers, kale, herbs, tomatoes (cherry, heirloom, paste, etc.) and produce
The Country Garden Apiary: Local honey, honey products (soaps and cremes), and local squash, green beans, okra, corn, and tomatoes
Cedar Lane Farms: Free-range eggs, tomatoes, herbs and flowers
Lowes Family Farm: Produce, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and jams and jellies
Young's Farm: Squash, beans, cantaloupes, okra, potatoes, watermelon, cabbage, tomatoes and peppers
S & S Creations: Custom embroidery and free-range eggs
Circle K Farm: Produce

Chattanooga Market

Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
First Tennessee Pavilion
Facebook page

It's National Farmers Market week, so Gaining Ground is sponsoring the Chattanooga Market on Sunday. From the website:

It’s National Farmers Market Week! This Sunday, Aug. 7, the folks from Gaining Ground will be at Chattanooga Market to show you more ways to eat well, buy right, and go local (look for their Harvest Here program). Gaining Ground will give away 10 bags of fresh, locally grown produce. Anyone bringing either non-perishable or fresh food items will be eligible to win. The food drive will support the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Also that day, many of our food vendors will have specials highlighting local ingredients. Other community partners will be on hand showcasing their commitment to support local food.

Entertainment will include Bucktown Kickback and Summertown.

For a list of vendors, check here.

Like (9) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Terrence Malick’s Shining ‘Tree of Life’

2011-08-05T09:15:00Z

Promotional Still via Fox Searchlight

Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain star in ‘The Tree of Life,’ a new film written and directed by Terrence Malick.

You don’t see a film like Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life very often. In fact, you rarely see a film by Terrence Malick at all. Odds are if you’ve seen any of his other films on the small screen you may have been puzzled by the allure they hold for critics and devotees. They are lavish affairs — intensely image-driven, poetic, reflective and finely edited masterpieces that have a way of polarizing their audiences, a way of either opening eyes in wonder or closing them in sleep. As one critic has said, Malick’s films don’t have fans: they have disciples, partisans and fanatics.

Much of The Tree of Life is set in suburban Waco, Texas, in the 1950s, where we see the O’Brien family navigate the paths of Nature, represented by The Father (an aging Brad Pitt), and Grace, The Mother (a luminous Jessica Chastain). Three sons come from this marriage, and the film’s primary focus is on the eldest, Jack, played in the past by newcomer Hunter McCracken and in the present by Sean Penn.

The Tree of Life begins with a prelude composed of fragments of family life for the O’Briens, a kind of Cliffs Notes introduction to the whole. In characteristically Malick-ian voiceover, The Mother explains the ways of Nature and Grace as we see crystalline vignettes of the O’Brien family story set to John Tavener’s rich, gothic Funeral Canticle. “Grace doesn’t try to please itself,” Mrs. O’Brien says. “It accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked. Nature only wants to please itself and get others to please it too. It finds reason to be unhappy when all the world is shining around it.”

This conflict is visible in the O’Brien family dynamic. The Father, a failed musician turned engineer, insists on being called "sir" by his sons; his touch makes them recoil. The Mother, always wise, loving and gentle, is subdued under the weight of her husband’s pride and arrogance. One of the film’s most joyous sequences commences when her husband leaves on a business trip and she and her sons are free to run, to enjoy each other and the world shining around them to the soaring strings of Smetana’s Moldau.

For all his faults, there are jarring shreds of goodness in Mr. O’Brien. The war inside of him is imputed to his son Jack, and the boy carries the weight of the Nature-Grace clash like a burden on his back even into his adult years where we see him as a wealthy, emotionally drained architect trapped in corporate skyscrapers of glass and concrete. The Tree of Life pictures the genesis, development and majestic resolution of this struggle. Most affecting are the first flickerings of sexual awakening and the guilt it entails for Jack, his cold treatment of his gentle young brother who takes after their mother in the way of Grace, and a beautiful sequence that juxtaposes his bedtime prayers — “Help me not to sass my dad. Help me not to tell lies. Help me to be thankful for what I got.” — with the ineffable petitions trapped in his mind — “I want to know who you are. I want to see what you see.”

This is a film of remembered moments, and Malick captures the fleeting passage of memory with the same precision that Federico Fellini captured the logic of dreams. Some of the vignettes last for only seconds, and some supporting characters only appear in prolonged flashes. Malick’s camera sweeps, swings and soars with total freedom around, over and under his characters and through outdoor landscapes and indoor sets meticulously designed by longtime Malick collaborator Jack Fisk. Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography is bathed in nothing but pure, natural light, his finest work in a stately oeuvre of beautiful films. The soundtrack is charged with the holy, employing the finest sacred choral works of Preisner, Berlioz, and Tavener. It should come as no surprise that Malick elicits searing, heart-wrenching performances from all of his actors, with whom we never fail to feel a deep intimacy. Even the minutest bit parts seem essential.

Since Badlands, Terrence Malick has been unveiling his philosophy of human existence through showing the natural world and all of its own glories through his eyes. The Tree of Life offers a kind of climax to that philosophy. After the death of a son, the O’Brien family cries out to God with questions of why. As Malick focuses on Mrs. O’Brien, his camera follows her through the woods at dusk as she directs her questions to the heavens. “Lord, did you know?” she asks as Malick pans upward to a vast expanse of trees and sky. “Who are we to you? Answer me. We cry to you. My soul, my son. Hear us.”

The answer comes in the form a 20-minute sequence in which Malick pictures the creation of the world. From the gradual growth of the cosmos to the age of the dinosaurs to the present day, Malick has plotted a meticulous display of the origin of everything. This sequence figures into the film's epigraph, a quote from the mouth of God as communicated to the biblical character of Job: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation ... while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" The immortal spirit of God, represented by a mysterious glimmering orange light against the darkness, appears at the film’s beginning, middle, and end: alpha, omega, and all the rest.

The question has been raised whether the final scenes of The Tree of Life, which I dare not detail here, hold together dramatically, emotionally and spiritually. I question it, but that does little to change the perfection that comes before, which is nothing less than a reinvention of the nuclear family drama. While many of the best films dealing with the same subject matter have striven to detail the spiritual dynamics of existence, The Tree of Life captures spirit in a manner altogether foreign to even the greatest American cinema.

It would seem as if we are living in the age of Terrence Malick. After making Badlands and Days of Heaven in the '70s, he took a 20-year hiatus from filmmaking. He returned with The Thin Red Line in 1998, The New World in 2005, and now, The Tree of Life. His next film is rumored to be finished already, and another is in the midst of principal photography right now. I can only hope that his clear and beautiful eyes — eyes that cause viewers to open their own to a world with “all things shining” — continue to serve audiences so well. Cinema, an art form that at its best teaches us how to see, is better because of him.

Like (35) | Comments (2) | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Daily Deals for Aug. 2

2011-08-02T14:30:00Z

Resident bargain hunter Adrienne Royer lists some of the best deals in Chattanooga and from around the Web. Cross-posted from Modernbelleblog.com.

After a chaotic day, which happens on occasion, Daily Deals are back.

Freebies

Starbucks: How about $2 off of a Frappuccino? Like Starbucks on Facebook and print a coupon. Note: these are for the pre-packaged bottles of Frappuccinos or Double Shots. (via Mojo Savings)
Freschetta: On Thursday, go to FreeFreschetta.com for a coupon for free pizza. They'll be giving away 5,000 coupons each hour. (via Fun and Frugal)

Chattanooga Deals

Groupon Chatt: $15 for a four-hour electric bike rental from Chattanooga Electric Bikes. Pedaling bikes takes work, especially around hilly Chattanooga. With this special, you can give the appearance of being an uber-fit Chattanoogan without actually doing any work!
ChattaDealz: While you're not pedaling your electric bike, you can ride over to Coolidge Park and try Crepe-A-Delic. Get a $16 gift certificate for $8. I do confess a love of crepes, so I'll be indulging in this special.
Living Social Chatt: To work off those crepes, use the one-month of unlimited circuit training sessions for $20 at 9Round.

Online Deal Sites

Plum District: We all know how I feel about adhesive wall decor, but here's another special on it from Lot 26 Studio. Get $40 worth for only $20.
Plum District: Football season is almost here, so buy your munchkins some cute sporting clothes and accessories from Kids Are Fans Too through Plum District. Get $30 worth of stuff for $15.
Dealster: $29 for a teeth-whitening pen from Whitening Lightening
Mamasource: $30 worth of personalized labels and tags for only $15 from Kiddo Tags. School starts soon. Your kids need to label stuff.
Mamasource: $40 worth of lingerie and sleepwear for $20 from Biatta Intimates.
DealPulp: $25 to spend on $80 worth of handmade jewelry from JoCoCo Jewelry.
Living Social: $20 to spend on $40 worth of baby and kids stuff from Ecomom.
Housewares Deals: Get a six-piece KitchenAid barbecue set for $49.

Retail

New York & Company: Today only, take 40% off of everything.
Last Call: Take an extra 50% off of women's and men's sportswear and all women's sandals.
Ann Taylor & Loft: The Friends & Family Sale started today. Take 30% off of your entire purchase online or in stores and get free shipping with orders over $100.
Old Navy: Spend $25 and get $5 off your purchase with this Facebook coupon. Now through Aug. 18, you'll also get $10 in Old Navy Super Cash for every $20 that you spend.
Land's End: Save 20% on all sale and clearance items with the code AUGUST and the PIN 9034. (via Coupon Cravings)
Athleta: Take an extra 20% off of sale items at Athleta with the code SUMMER20. Per Fantabulously Frugal, this is their big semi-annual sale.
Paper Coterie: Get a $40 off coupon from Paper Coterie now through Aug. 31. With this deal, you can easily get a personalized calendar or photo book. Just pay shipping.
Staples: Print out a coupon for 100 free black and white business cards. (via It's Hip to Clip Coupons)

Like (10) | Comments (1) | Email | Facebook | Twitter

Weekend Deals for July 30-31

2011-07-30T08:00:00Z

Resident bargain hunter Adrienne Royer lists some of the best deals in Chattanooga and from around the Web. Cross-posted from Modernbelleblog.com.

Freebies & Don't Miss Deals

Arby's: Get a free small drink and free curly fries when you purchase an Angus Cool Deli sandwich with this printable coupon.
The Thrifty Mama has a list of weekend restaurant deals and freebies.
Clipper Girl also has a restaurant deal post up.

Deal Sites

Groupon Chatt: $20 for a three-hour scooter rental from Scenic City Scooters.
Moolala: $45 for $98 worth of accessories from Apartstyle.com.
ChattaDealz: $10 for a $20 gift certificate to Nooga-Q Smokehouse on Signal Mountain Boulevard.
Living Social Chatt: $45 for a 30-minute hot stone massage with chemical peel, $45 for one body wrap, or $125 for three body wraps from Epiphany Salon and Day Spa.
Plum District: $25 for two orders of custom hair color from E-Salon. I have no idea if or how this works. Anyone try this?
Mamasource: $15 for a three-month subscription to DebtGoal, an online service to help you get out of debt. There are free resources to help with this, so do some research before wasting $15.
Dealster: $47 for $111 photo canvas from CanvasMyPix.

Retail & Online

J.C. Penny: Save $10 when you spend $25 or more today and tomorrow.
Overstock: There's a summer liquidation sale going on now.
Spiegel: Up to 80% off at their final clearance.
Nordstrom: Remember that the anniversary sale ends Aug. 1.
Talbots: Teachers save 20% on full-price purchases now through Sept. 30
Loft: 40% off of blouses through tomorrow, plus take 50% off of all sales items.
Michaels: Print off a coupon for 20% off your entire order including sale items. Coupon is good starting Sunday.
Old Navy: Pick up adult and kids swimwear, graphic tees and shorts starting at $4 this weekend. Also remember to use the $5 of a $25 purchase coupon on Facebook. (via My Frugal Adventures)
Bath and Body Works: Print off a coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase. (via The Krazy Coupon Lady)
Belk: Remember to print off a coupon for 20% off of sale items and 15% off of shoes on sale before you go.
Outnet: Don't forget this awesome sale (if there's anything left)!

Magazines

Best Deal Magazines: Take an additional 17% off with the code MONTHEND.
Shape: $3.73 for a subscription at Best Deal Magazines with the code PXCJ731.
Harper's Bazaar: $3.76 with the code WKLYSPEC at Best Deal Magazines.
Family Fun: $3.76 with the code WKLYSPEC at Best Deal Magazines.

Like (7) | Comments | Email | Facebook | Twitter