Squonk show all about air
BARRY COURTER: Lisa, you and I both take great pride in sharing information with people. Some might call us gossips, and others might say we have a keen sense for the banal, but we both prefer the term journalist.
Anyway, did you know that a Squonk is a mythical creature that supposedly lived in the hemlock forests of northern Pennsylvania? It was so ugly with loose-fitting skin and warts that it stayed hidden from sight and spent its time crying, according to my deep research.
LISA DENTON: My dealings with Squonk usually occur during allergy season. Perhaps you’ve heard me call out, “Sqqquuuoonnnkkk,” muffled, of course, by the dainty hanky at my nose.
So it’s cool that the Squonk Opera will be here Tuesday for “Pneumatica.” The Squonkers say it’s a show about air, made of air and powered by air. I am familiar with similar “air shows,” but I have it on good authority that this performance will not in any way use the phrase “Pull my finger.”
BARRY: I had a feeling you might go there. I was trying to keep things all informational. As if … We both have the maturity level of a 9-year-old. Squonk Opera is really very cool. It takes place at Engel Stadium and is actually the final show in this year’s inSight Patten Performance Series. In addition to the musical portion of the day, there will be all sorts of businesses and groups involved in wind- and solar-powered energy on-site to talk to people about what they do.
There will also be inflatables, food trucks, a silent auction and a light show. It’s called Earth, Wind & Solar, and Squonk Opera will perform at 4, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
LISA: Don’t forget that Sunday is Easter, so there are a lot of church worship events and egg hunts this week. You’ll want to have your basket ready. Plus, the Chattanooga Zoo will have HugA-Bunny Day on Friday and Saturday. Like other things that are rabbit-related, Hug-A-Bunny Day has multiplied to two days this year. That’s because the zoo set a one-day attendance record at Hug-A-Bunny last year with 6,072 visitors. Those poor bunnies must have been exhausted … you know, from all the hugging.
BARRY: Also this week, and this is pretty exciting, Jazzanooga is honoring the Original Funky Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield, on Wednesday. Some local drummers, including Darrell Kelly, Johnny E. Smith and Jonathan Susman, will be performing. Leading the house band will be David Anthony. Stubblefield drummed for James Brown and created a lick that has been borrowed by others more times than any other.
I know you got to talk to Clyde a few years ago. Sweet.
LISA: Talking to living legends is probably the best part of the job. That and sitting by you.
BARRY: Pull my finger.