(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Main Street Meats

Let's talk about burgers.

Burgers in Chattanooga are a serious business.  Who has the best burger has been debated on what I consider to be the definitive Chattanooga food blog, Chattavore.  According to Mary, the best burgers in Chattanooga are found at Tremont Tavern.   And they're good, really good.  I've had the gouda burger and the pimento cheese burger. They're both awesome.  Tremont Tavern trims and grinds their own meat in house, and make their patties by hand every morning. They do a great job.

You want to know what's better than in house ground beef?  Aged, grass fed, local, hand ground beef from Main Street Meats.  That's right, aged hamburger meat.

The guys at Main Street Meats mean business.  The only reason they even have a kitchen is to get your hooked on their butcher shop, and they only serve food from 11am-3pm. They do their burgers up right.  Each patty is made to order.  They cook them on cast iron.  CAST IRON.  It gives the burgers a perfectly flavored crust that you can't get any other way.  Sorry Tremont, these guys have got you beat.

My first (of many to come) burger at Main Street Meats was topped with caramelized onions, a homemade coarse grain mustard, with a homemade pepper mayo underneath, and served on a Neidloves bun.  I've heard there is a version with bacon, but as wonderful as that sounds, this burger was perfectly composed.  This burger was juicy without soaking the bun.  It was meaty, the onions were sweet, the pepper mayo was enough of a hint to be noticed, and the course grain mustard was killer.  Someone from our group asked the chef if anyone had ever asked for ketchup.  We all just laughed. 

If you're not hungry enough now, let's talk about the butcher shop, and while we're at it, cheese.  Just for good measure.

Main Street Meats is the USDA Certified expansion of Link 41, my favorite sausage shop.  (If you don't have a favorite sausage shop, get on it.  Your life will be enriched.)  In a nutshell, Link 41 focused on butchering pigs, and Main Street Meats doesn't discriminate.  Equal opportunity for butchering grass fed/free range local farm animals.

They have great relationships with local farmers, and on top of that, they're great butchers who really know their stuff.  If you have any questions about what you see in the meat case, they will tell you everything you need to know.  If you know what you want to cook, but don't know the right cut, they can help.  There's also some good stuff in their freezer, so look there too.  That's where we found the baconage.  That's right.  Sausage made with bacon.  Breakfast will never be the same.

The freezer is where you will find broths, lard, and a selection of Sequatchie Cove Cheeses.  I shared this fact with my friends from Clemson, and no joke I got a text this week asking for more Blu Cheese the next time I visit.  It's that good.

Main Street Meats is a local butcher shop that happens to have the best burger in town.  And if that's not enough to make you want to check them out, they just hosted a class on sausage making that ended with a sausage and beer tasting.  If for some crazy reason cooking with great meat intimidates you, they have started a new blog where they are posting recipes, photos and information.  Still need convincing that Main Street Meats is for real?  Listen to this interview that recently aired on NPR.

I seriously recommend that you check these guys out, and if you stop by during lunch, grab a burger.  I think it's the best in town. (I still love you Tremont.)

Main Street Meats 
217 E Main Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
(423) 602-9568

Hours:
Monday to Friday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Lunch served daily 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed Sundays
*I haven't looked for them at the Sunday Market yet, but they have had a booth in the past.

website | facebook | @MainStreetMeats

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - How I show off our town

I love Chattanooga.

When I moved back in 2011, the 10 years I spent in Clemson were very good to this town.  It seemed like everywhere I turned, there were new things to see, and the familiar spots had all improved with age.  I was trying to get into blogging, and the (Re)Discover Chattanooga series was born.  There was a time when I considered making the series the main focus of this blog, or it's own thing entirely.  In the end, I decided that I don't have the time to dedicate to doing that job well without getting paid for it.  My posts have shifted to gardening in Chattanooga, but that doesn't mean I don't love my town, or I'm not finding new things to do and see and eat.  I'm just lazy, and have a bad habit of dumping the photos off my phone before I upload them to blogger.  Oops.

Recently, I had company for Riverbend, and I thought I'd share how I showed off the town.

 FYI: My friends had visited once before, and we had already done the aquarium.  I don't care how old your visitors are, that is always the first stop.  We had also eaten at Alleia. Now you know where my priorities are.

I'm not a typical tour guide, and my friends are not typical tourists.  Other than Riverbend (which was the main reason they came) we stayed away from crowds, and only hit up locally owned shops.  In Chattanooga, this is not hard to do.

Here is how our itenerary played out:

Saturday:  First stop, blanket seating for Riverbend.  This is the best kept, unadvertized, secret at the festival.  For an extra $10 you can set out a blanket at the base of the Coca Cola Stage, and actually make eye contact with the main act.  Yes the stage is high, and you can only see the front of the stage, but this is as close as you can get without shelling out some major mulah.  You also have access to your own bathrooms and concessions.  Depending on the show, you'll either have plenty of room to lay out on your blanket, or room to dance around.  If there is a main act that you really want to see, and you want to be around people who are there for the show, not the festival, blanket seating is the way to go.  You get a wristband, so you can come and go as you please.  So we dropped off our blanket, and proceeded to stuff our faces with all sorts of so-bad-it's-good festival food.  Side note: we had a blast in the rain, and the $10 parking in the garage above Hennan's was a great call.

Sunday: This was our most relaxing day.  (Which I needed after a whirlwind trip to Charleston for a wedding.)  We slept in, ate brunch on my porch, lounged for a while, then headed downtown.  We ate dinner at Terra Nostra, and multiple rounds of tapas on their patio perfectly suited our laid back attitude for the day.  Bacon wrapped dates, lobster ravioli, spicy shrimp, and a cheese plate, wine, and a good server were just some of the highlights of the meal.  After the meal, we walked across the Market Street bridge and set out our blanket in general seating for Buddy Guy.  He's 77, and he was great.  I've heard a few musicians live who might be considered past their prime (Bob Dylan), but Buddy Guy was smooth, his voice was clear, and he was having a good time.  Robert Randolph joined him onstage, and it was a fanstastic.

Monday:  This was where my tour guide skills jumped into high gear.  We got up early and hit the road, making a circle around town.  Our first stop was the Barn Nursery (my review) and the Pottery Shoppe.  It just so happened there was a Riverbend Sale going on, and we spent a good amount of time ogling over pots and plants.  My friends are garden lovers, and they left with 5 really cool pots and a shrimp plant.  The next stop was Main Street Meats aka Link 41+more meat (my Link 41 review).  My friends love to cook, and Link 41 was my favorite small business for a long time.  They picked up two types of bacon, some sausage, and a Sequachie Cove Blu Cheese.  We also had lunch, but that's an experience deserving it's own post.  After lunch we headed to the North Shore where we hit up BoneAppetite, Beast & Barrel, Clumpies, and All Things Groovy. My friends really loved BoneAppetite.  I don't think they had ever seen house made dog treats, the fill your bucket kind, or the cookie cutter kind.  The staff was super friendly, and they ended up with treats for their dogs, and their dog sitter's dogs.  My favorite stop was Clumpies, strawberry ice cream for the win!  They wanted to compare Lake Chickamauga to Lake Harwell, so we drove across the dam on our way to Southeastern Salvage.  Southeastern Salvage may sound like an odd choice for Chattanooga tourism, but this was their second trip to Chattanooga and Southeastern Salvage, and this time they brought a truck :)   Monday night was the Bessie Smith Strut, and another favorite of my visitors.  The food is way better than the food at the rest of the festival, and we really enjoyed struttin down MLK.  We also made the mandatory stop at Champy's, and it did not dissapoint.

So there you have it.  This is how I showed off Chattanooga to my friends from Clemson.  The only thing we missed was Seigler's Craft Beer and Cigars in East Brainerd.

If you're hosting guests in Chattanooga, my advice is this: pair something 'very Chattanooga' with something off the beaten path.  There is so much going on in Chattanooga it's easy to share one of your favorite things, or something new that fits your guest's personality and lifestyle.

Need even more help?  Here are some suggestions:

Typical Chattanooga

• TN Aquarium
• Coolidge Park
• Any of the restaurants within 3 blocks of the Aquarium
• Rock City & Ruby Falls
• Incline Railway
• Discovery Museum
• Big River
• Track 29
• Riverbend, Southern Brewers Festival, Wine Over Water
• Chattanooga Lookouts

Off the beaten path

• Happy Hour on the Delta Queen (if it's open??)
• Sushi Nabe - the secret sushi menu
• Main Street-ish - Main Street Meats, Neidloves, Crash Pad, Flying Squirrel, Alleia, The Terminal, Urban Stack, Hot Chocolatier my friends at the new e-bike shop!
• Tony's Pasta, Rembrandts Coffee shop & The Sculpture Garden at Bluff View
• Champy's Fried Chicken
• 1885 Grill
• Rock Creek
• Riverwalk
• Farmers Markets (downtown, or local)
• Chickamauga Battlefields
• Community Pie
• Sluggos
• Nightfall
• Seiglers Craft Beer & Cigars
• A trip up or down the W road.
• Tremont Tavern

Did I leave your favorite spot out?  Let me know!

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Riverbend 2014

Riverbend.  If you're from Chattanooga, you either love it or hate it.  I happen to love it.

So far I've gotten rained on for Widespread Panic, I'm not complaining btw, sat back and relaxed for Buddy Guy and Robert Randolf, and stuffed my face with best BBQ ribs while I strutted down MLK.  It's been a good Riverbend so far, and here are my photos to prove it.

Blanket seating is where it's at people. For $10 you're close to the stage,
& you have your own bathrooms and concessions.

Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic in the rain.  I had a blast.

WSMFP

Buddy Guy with special guest Robert Randolph

The Strut.  Best BBQ ribs EVER!

Champy's for fried chicken and Mississippi Mud Pie.

MLK BLVD

Some would argue that the best part of Riverbend is yet to come....the fireworks! Check out these two albums from my friend Shannon to see some pictures of past Riverbend fireworks.

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Ace is the place

There has been a lot of internet negativity in my life lately, (I'm looking at you 2nd Amendment gun nuts with poor reading comprehension skills) so I thought I would share some love on the interwebs today.

I love my Ace.  There is an Ace in Clemson, but it's not the same.  My Ace is better. It is always well staffed by people who want to help you.  And they've helped me a lot.  They have helped me with paint projects, garden projects, plumbing projects, and they even stock my favorite wedding gift. (A glass oil lamp btw. You always need one, but never think to ask.  And they're pretty.)

Ace is a franchise, and it's up to the owners to make their store stand out.  Mine has a Christmas Shoppe, and solid garden center.  They keep all the bagged mulch, soil, soil conditioner, and mushroom compost that my tahoe can carry, and they never complain about loading it for me.  I'm sure they know what's coming when I walk in the door, and they don't make me feel bad about it.  I appreciate that.

Everything they sell is quality stuff without being too expensive, and there are always options depending on how broke I am when I walk in the door. I've gotten everything from garden hoses and gloves, to roofing nails, to fence posts, to the stuff I needed to hook up my ice maker.  They help,  they're nice, and it makes my life a lot easier.

So if you're ever out in East Brainerd, hit up my Ace Hardware on East Brainerd Road.  They rock.

Ace Hardware
8164 E Brainerd Rd
Chattanooga, TN
(423) 892-0112

Hours	Mon - Sat: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Sun:           10:00 am - 6:00 pm

website | Facebook

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - 1885 Grill

The best part of moving back to Chattanooga has been the food.  I know I keep saying this, but the selection, the diversity, and the quality of the food in Chattanooga is light years ahead of what 18 year old me remembers.

One of the newer restaurants in Chattanooga is 1885 Grill in St. Elmo.  The sign out front says 'Southern Coastal', and after spending 10 years in South Carolina, this made me happy.  I didn't learn to eat seafood until I left Chattanooga, and the idea of Shrimp & Grits made me feel warm & fuzzy inside.

I went to 1885 last weekend for a girls night/reunion, and it turned out to be a perfect choice.  Our waiter set a casual tone, and we were comfortable taking our time and catching up.  We started with drinks, and I tried the Catalina Wine Mixer (Prichards Rye Whiskey, fresh ginger, lemon and Cabernet). It was a really intriguing combination, and when our server said the bartender has never been known to make a bad drink, I went for it.

Catalina Wine Mixer

It comes out all layered and pretty (which I appreciate) but is a little tart to drink out of a straw without mixing first.  Once it's mixed, it was really good.  I don't use ginger a lot, but I feel like I should.  The drink wasn't overly wine-y or too heavy on the whiskey; the ginger and the lemon really balanced it out. 

The executive chef at 1885 is Charlie Loomis, and I absolutely love it that our waiter named him when he was explaining the daily specials.  It means a lot when a chef puts his name on something, and when the people around him are excited and proud of the work he puts out.  Which brings me to dinner, which was surprisingly not Shrimp and Grits.

Dinner was one of the Chef's Specials for the night: lamb over mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted tomatoes and a hearty sauce that I am at a loss for words to describe. When I asked the waiter to help me choose between the special and the shrimp & grits, he recommended the special, since I can always come back for shrimp & grits.  (And come back I shall)  I won't tease you by describing all of the goodness on my plate bite by bite, but I will tell you that the waiter offered to get me a knife for the lamb, but promised I wouldn't need it.  He was right, I barely needed a butter knife.  I rarely eat lamb, and this special was a treat.

The rest of the table seemed to enjoy their meals as well.  The Chef's Special Kale Salad went over really well, as did the macaroni & cheese.  The steaks were well recieved as well.  The one note on the steaks was that the initial reaction is that the portion is small, but with the sides included, the portions were right.  No one left our table hungry, I can say that for sure.

What I think I like best about 1885 is its location and atmosphere.  I really like that it is in St. Elmo and not downtown.  I enjoy going somewhere different, and I imagine people who work downtown don't always want to go back downtown after work or on the weekend.  Its a low key kind of place that seems to focus on quality, and the staff - from the chefs to the waiters - are proud of the food they put out.  It's a relaxing atmosphere that serves good food.  And the kind of place I can see myself going back to.

1885 Grill:
3914 St. Elmo Avenue
Chattanooga Tn  37409 
423.485.3050

Hours:

• Monday–Friday: 4pm – 10pm
• Saturday: 11am – 10pm
• Sunday: 11am – 3pm

website  |  Facebook  |  @1885Grill  |  instagram

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Community Pie's new NY Style Pizza

Mmmmm, Community Pie.  As I've said before, I love Community Pie.  I had never been exposed to Neopoliton pizza before they opened, but my Italian taste buds very much approve of everything I have eaten in my multiple trips to Community Pie.  The warm gooey crust is right up my alley, and it doesn't bother me at all that it is meant to be eaten with a knife and a fork.  The flavor combinations on the menu always have me fighting to make a decision.  Homemade gelato from Milk & Honey is the icing on the top of what is always a good meal.

But there is more to pizza than just Neapolitan style pizza.  There is New York Style Pizza, Chicago Deep Dish, etc etc.  So I was excited earlier this month when I found out that Community Pie was adding New York Style pizza to the menu.  I was even more excited when they sent me a gift certificate thanking me for my previous blog post.  So a trip to Community Pie was in order....twist my arm.

We went last Saturday night to try it out.  There was about a 30 minute wait at 6:30, but we quickly found seats at the bar, and decided to eat there.  The bar staff was friendly, and it looked like our awesome waiter from our first trip to Community Pie is now a manager.  He is on top of things and super friendly, and we were happy to see that he is still around.

The New York style pizza is available by the slice, and also in 14" and 19" pies.  We wanted to try something that sounded cool, and also something basic that would show off the new crust, so we ordered two 14" pizzas: the Drunk Pig ("vodka sauce, Community Pie ricotta, homemade fennel sausage, fresh mozzarella, parmasean cheese, and crushed red pepper"), and the Demarco ("Fresh & Shredded mozzarella, hand torn basil, extra virgin olive oil, and pecorino romano").

Never try and edit a picture on an iphone.

 
The verdict???  Jon Stewart would approve.  (Jon Stewart has strong feelings on pizza crusts.)

The crust: In true New York Style fashion, both crusts were cooked well, easy to pick up, fold, and bite into.  I am not an expert on New York Style crusts, but I liked the crust on both pizzas.  There is no mistaking the New Your crust for the Neopoliton, so I call this a crust win.

The toppings:  The Drunk Pig was good, but the Demarco was amazing.  I'm a cheese pizza fan to begin with, and the Demarco is a grown up version of what what comes to mind when I think of New York Style cheese pizza.  It's got enough fresh mozzarella to be a little greasy, but the mix of hard cheeses means it's not swimming in grease.  You can't go wrong with torn basil and extra virgin olive oil, and the Demarco was the pizza that we attacked...it was that good.  The sausage on the Drunk Pig was a little strong for my taste, but the vodka sauce, ricotta, and other cheeses were all on point.

Of course, we couldn't leave Community Pie without gelato...even in November.  You can try up to three flavors per serving, but I didn't look farther than two:  Mint Chocolate and Milk & Honey.

Thanks for the gift certificate Community Pie, I enjoyed it!   My favorite crust is still the Neapolitan style, but don't be surprised if you see me come in for a slice of New York style cheese pizza sometime soon.  :)

Community Pie
850 Market Street,
Chattanooga TN 37405
423.486.1743

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm
Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm
Website | Facebook | @CommunityPie 
New Menu

a recipe

Creative post title right?  I don't usually do recipe posts, but I made something this weekend that I really liked, and I thought I'd share.

French toast is one of my all-time favorite breakfast foods, but one that I don't usually make for myself.  It's messy, and I can burn grilled cheese, so I tend to stay away.  I've been eyeing some french toast bakes on pinterest, so I combined a few recipes, took a look around my kitchen, and came up with this:

Ingredients:

1. (1) medium loaf/baguette of sourdough bread
2. 4 eggs
3. 1 cup almond milk
4. 2 tablespoons of vanilla
5. 1 tablespoon-ish Alchemy Spice "Wake & Bake" (Cinnamon, nutmeg, good stuff blend)

Prep:
Wisk everything except the bread together in a large bowl.  Slice the bread into 1"-1.25" slices.  (Since I was doing finger foods for brunch, I cut them again into stick size slices.) Gently place the bread into the bowl, folding it once after all the bread is added, and let it soak for about an hour.

This is where I thought I was going to have a pinterest fail.  The bread quickly became mushy, and wanted to fall apart in the bowl, before I even finished adding all the bread.  I think this is because my bread had dried out some, but I had a small freak out.  I ended up with some small-ish pieces, but it came back together as it baked....and they were still really good.

Bake:
Place in a greased (and floured if you feel so inclined) 13"x9" pan, and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 30-45 minutes, or until brown.

ta-da - french toast sticks

This turned out really good.  Good enough for me to type out a post just so I can pin it, and have it for future reference good.

Some notes:  I have started keeping almond milk around because it lasts longer in my fridge.  It's thicker than regular milk, which I think works well here, but you can use whatever you have in your fridge.  Vanilla is always good, and the Wake & Bake Sweet Spice is worth keeping around.   I used it in an apple sangria last fall, and my mom puts it on apples.  A little goes a long way, so use it to taste.  Alchemy is a local Chattanooga Company, so gotta love that too.

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Brix Nouveau

I love wine.  I love cheese.  I love music.  I was very happy on the Brix Nouveau patio this past weekend.

He who takes better pictures than me.

The concept behind Brix Nouveau is giving people a chance to learn about wine.  People who know wine can order by the bottle or by the glass, but if you don't know wine, the staff is very helpful, and you can order tasting groups called fights.  The flights are groups of wines designed to give you a chance to develop your own tastes, and try things you might not have experimented with on your own.  I believe the idea is that the flight offerings are constantly evolving, so that you can really explore the wine list.  (Twist my arm.) This weekend the options included a sparkling wine flight, which made me really excited.

Where there is wine, there is also cheese, and I love how Brix Nouveau sets this up.  They have an amazing list of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments, and you can pick what size tray you want, and each item on the tray.  We're talking everything from dark chocolate wafers & fresh honeycomb, to dried meats & aged cheeses.

They also use oil and vinegar from Olive, an olive oil and balsamic tasting room on the north shore.  Oh my goodness, this was amazing and deserving of it's own picture.  Raspberry Balsamic ohmygoodness.

The atmosphere is elegant, but relaxed.  It's a place I felt comfortable with friends after a casual trip to the market, but would also be well suited for a nice date.

Looking at the Brix Nouveau website and Facebook page, the theme of wine education is played out in a Wednesday night 'Wine 101 Tasting.'  It's priced at $20, and the discussion is geared towards beginners who want to know more.  The wines are rotated every two weeks, and I think this is a great (and affordable) way to learn about wine.

Our server also mentioned that the North Shore Block Party is this weekend, and the First Annual Progressive Dinner is tonight!  It will start at Heaven and Ale across the street, and end at Brix Nouveau.  The cost is $50 (including tax) and "covers food at all restaurants involved – Heaven and Ale, Foodworks, Sushi Nabe, Gigi’s, Milk and Honey, and Brix Nouveau."  You can travel at your own pace, and pick up tickets today at Heaven and Ale.  All I can say is yum, and yes please.

Edit 8/19/13:  Robin Dance at Pensieve.me has just started a "Love Where You Live" linkup, and the first topic is favorite restaurants.   Brix Nouveau is a perfect fit for this list, with Sushi Nabe, Sweet Basil, Typhoon of Tokyo, The Terminal, Alleia, and Foodworks brunch also deserving of some love!  For more of my favorite places to eat in Chattanooga click on the #CHAeats tag.


Brix Nouveau
301 Cherokee Blvd, 
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 488- 2926    
brixnouveau@gmail.com
Tuesday-Thursday:              5:00pm-10:00pm
Friday-Saturday:                  4:00pm-11:00pm
Sunday:                                4:00pm-9:00pm *
*Sundays featuring 25% of all wine bottles and live entertainment  
website | facebook | instagram | pinterest

the President is coming!

Today is the day.  President Barack Obama is coming to Chattanooga to give a speech about jobs and the economy at our local Amazon fulfillment center.  (Not sure how Amazon fits with high paying manufacturing, but I guess we'll find out.)

Teams from the White House have been here since last week, and parts of Chattanooga have gone berserk.   I love Chattanooga, but our little twitter community didn't quite know how to handle the impending Presidential visit.  The debate over what hashtag to use even made nbcnews.com, and if you look closely, you'll see a quote from me that was meant to highlight how ridiculous I thought people were being.

As silly as the immediate reaction was, I expect some pretty awesome online coverage of President Obama's visit today.  If you want to follow along online, here are my tips.  If you have any additional links let me know, and I'll add them as the day goes on!

What Hashtags I'm following:
#POTUSinCHA
#ObamaNooga
#BarackIsInTheHouse [It'll probably just be me, but who knows ;)]

Who to follow:
The main hashtags will be flooded today, so I recommend setting up at group of trusted people to follow.  This is a good place to start, or you can follow my list here, I'll be updating it all day.
@ChloeNooga (from Amazon)
@wrcb
@antwanharris
@Drew_BolleaNC9
@JamesNooga (from the airport)
@ChadHenderson (An on-site, non media perspective from Amazon)
@DanOKennedy (from the airport this morning, lots of photos)

Who not to follow:
I'll only add to this when people get annoying.
My first thought is @Newschannel9 with polls this morning and not actual coverage.

Live Coverage:
TimesFreePress - real time twitter feeds. LINK
WRCB  - Live video stream of their coverage starting at 11am, and including the President's speech. LINK

Twitter ettiquite tips:

• When you're actually following a hashtag, it gets pretty annoying when RTs take over.  If you're not adding anything new to the tweet, switch to the old school RT style, and drop the hashtag.
• Give credit where credit is due.  RT's do this inherently, but if you're linking an article, name the source in the tweet, or add their twitter handle.  Reporters will be working hard today, and they deserve the credit.
• If you want to be RT'd, keep your tweet short.  Leave people room to RT & comment on your message.
• Thank people for RTs.  Please and Thank You go a long way in the online world as well as the real world, and after all, we are in the south.

If you're not interested:
Take advantage of twitter filters to filter out unwanted tweets.  You won't get rid of everything, but it helps a lot!

Riverbend 2013 photoset #2 - festival food

The festival is over, but the food memories live on.  My favorite this year: fried Reese's peanut butter cups!  If you know me in real life, you know I have a thing for 'so bad it's good' food.  (I'm looking at you Cool Ranch Doritos Locos tacos.)  So the theme of my Riverbend food this year was Food on a Stick, and the festival did not disappoint!

I don't know when the last time I had a corn dog was. 

Reece's Cups on a stick & Snickers on a stick...glorious

Cheesecake on a stick, this guy swore it was the best.

The infamous Deep Fried Kool-Aid.  I didn't try it, but it was there.

Other 'on a stick' options

I didn't try them, but I thought noodles at a festival was cool.

Note: this post was supposed to publish sooner, but the photos never loaded.  Sorry for the random outdated post.  Odds are this food will be back next year.

Riverbend 2013 - Photoset #1 - CeeLo Green

I wrote a really long post yesterday about how disappointed I am with Friends of the Festival for how they're handling the CeeLo 'controversy.'  That post is going to sit idle in my drafts until a day when I feel like bitching.  Today is not that day.  Today shall more positive than that.

what's happier than a giant sandcastle?

I had a blast at Riverbend this weekend.  I went Saturday for CeeLo Green & Goodie Mob, and it was even better than I expected.  It's tied for my favorite Riverbend show of all time.  We were in blanket seating, and had plenty of space to dance...which we did for the entire show.  I woke up Sunday morning still grinning from how much fun we had. 

1. CeeLo Green & Goodie Mob, Coke Stage, 2013 (tie)
2. Chattanooga Symphony & The Machine - Pink Floyd, Coke Stage, 2011 (tie)
3. Gov't Mule in the rain, Bud Light Stage, 2012
4. Alabama in the rain, Coke Stage, 2000
5. Dirty Guv'nahs, under the bridge, 2011

The only downside was the fact that no one reads my blog was glaringly obvious.  Blanket Seating remains the best kept secret at Riverbend.   People get there crazy early to make their claim for the 'good' free spots.  We showed up at 8:00pm on Saturday night to set out our blanket, and the section was maybe 1/3 full.  I mean, yay for me, but y'all are missing out.  Blanket seating has bathrooms, beer, tokens, and concessions, and no one bumping into you.  If you're there to see the main act, this is the way to go.

This was taken at 9pm, with the show scheduled to start at 9:30

We had plenty of room to dance, and dance we did.

We rocked out with CeeLo and his black leather shorts.

We threw down with Goodie Mob.

We heard some old stuff, some new stuff, and songs I didn't know CeeLo had written. We had a blast.

I would gladly pay to see CeeLo & Goodie Mob again, and I would love to see him back in Chattanooga.  And seriously y'all, BLANKET SEATING!!

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Riverbend 2013

Is it time for Riverbend already?  I think this mild spring has gotten to me, because I'm not nearly as prepared as I usually am.  This time last year, my pins were purchased, and my list of bands that I wanted to see was complete.

I'm not completely slack though, and for the first time in a long time, there are a good number of headliners that I want to go see.  CeeLo Green for example...how in the world did we get CeeLo?  Have I mentioned that pins for the whole nine day festival are $32 right now??  And only go up to $45 on Friday??  CeeLo is worth $45, and you've also got Lynyrd Skynyrd.  I'm even a little pumped about O.A.R.  Why not?  It's like a free show that you know is going to be fun.  Plus, the main stage is a barge on the river, what's not to love??

So without further adu, or a ton of research, here is my list of what I'm most excited about for Riverbend 2013:

1. CeeLo Green - Saturday, June 8th, 9:00pm Coke Stage (bio)
2. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Thursday, June 13th, 10:00 pm, Coke Stage (bio)
3. O.A.R. - Saturday, June 15th, 9:30 om, Coke Stage (bio)
4. 10,000 Maniacs - Sunday, June 9th, 7:30pm, Bud Light Stage (bio)
5. The Strut - Monday (info)
6. Roger Alan Wade & Sparkle Motion - Wednesday, June 12th, 9:15 pm, TVFCU Stage (bio)
7. Strung Like A Horse (local) - Thursday, June 13th, 9:15 pm, TVFCU Stage (bio)
8. Psychedelic Furs - Wednesday, June 12th, 7:45 pm, Bud Light Stage (bio)
9. Galactic Cowbow Orchestra - Friday, June 7th, 9:15, TVFCU Stage (bio)
10. Florida Georgia Line - Friday, June 7th, 7:45 pm, Bud Light Stage  (bio)
11. FIREWORKS - Saturday, June 15th, 11:00-ish pm, over the Tennessee River (Google image search)

Edit 6/7/13 - Apparently I missed a few bands.  Let me know who you would like me to add : ) 

1. Moon Taxi - Friday, June 14th, 9:30 pm, TVFCU Stage (bio)
2. Steel Pulse - Saturday, June 15th, 7:30 pm, Bud Light Stage (bio)
3. Larry Carlton trio - Thursday, June 13th, 9:30 pm, Unum Stage (bio)

 And last, but not least is the food!  For better or for worse, Riverbend is known for the festival food.  If it's fried, you can find it.  If you want it on a stick, you can get it on a stick.  If you want it coated in sugar, by golly there is powdered sugar to be found.  Last year my favorite find was a Fried Green Tomato Burger & Fried Mac & Cheese from Funny Face Foods near the Bud Light Stage.  I'm crossing my greasy fingers that they'll be back again this year!

One thing I always recommend for Riverbend is Blanket Seating.  I think they're doing it again this year, but I'm not sure.  Its mentioned in the FAQ of the website, but not the admission part where they talk about the different seating options.  I've asked about it via twitter, and if I get a response I'll let you know....Anyway, if there is someone playing on the Coke Stage that you really want to see, the extra $10 per person is 100% worth it.  It has its own set of port a johns and concessions. You're a little below the stage, but you can actually spread out and enjoy the show.

Riverbend Information:

Pins: General Admission Pins can be purchased from May 1 - June 7 at midnight for $32 at local Kangaroo gas stations. Gate price starting June 8 is $45. One night wristbands are $26 and can be purchased at the entry gates. Senior citizen and military one night passes are discounted to $12.
Tokens: Festival tokens are valued at $.50 cents each, and are used for all food and beverage purchases. Token Centers are also located throughout the festival where they are sold at face value. Tokens are nonrefundable, but may be used at the 2014 Riverbend Festival. 
Parking: Plenty of paid parking is available throughout downtown Chattanooga. Shuttle buses will be available for $1 per ride from 6PM-12:15AM every night of the festival, except during the Bessie Smith Strut (Monday, June 13th). Parking is available at Finley Stadium and the Chattanooga Choo Choo. The shuttle will drop patrons off at the corner of 3rd and Bro ad Streets. 
Alcohol: Age verification wristbands are required for all alcoholic beverage consumption. Wristbands are available at all token and beer locations.  All alcohol sales will cease 15 minutes before the final show is scheduled to end. All other concessions will close when the last show is over. 
Blanket Seating: Bring a blanket and stretch out on the lawn in front of the Coca-Cola Stage for only $10 a person (per night) with your Riverbend admission pin. Wristbands available at the Main Gate located at Chestnut and 2nd Street, and at the entrance to the Blanket Seating area. (from 2012 website)
Boaters: Boaters can enter the festival through the Walnut Street Pier Gate, but admission pins must be purchased in advance.

Website | Facebook | @rbfestival

Last Year's Posts: bands & information, photoset 1 (music), photoset 2 (food)

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Flying Squirrel Bar

Today marks one week since Flying Squirrel Bar opened their doors in Chattanooga's Southside neighborhood.  I have a feeling it's been quite a week for them.  I couldn't resist a bar named Flying Squirrel, so last Saturday I went with friends to check it out.  We went for after dinner drinks, and we had a blast.

When we walked up to the Flying Squirrel, the first thing we noticed was all the people milling about.  People were coming in from all directions, congregating at The Flying Squirrel.  All of the bike racks were full, as were the seats on the outside section of the bar.  When I was growing up, this was one of the areas of town where I was told "lock your doors."  The atmosphere has changed though, and it really felt like a neighborhood.

We took a quick tour of the inside, and there is no other word to describe it other than beautiful...ok maybe classy.  It's full of locally hand crafted wood (much of it reclaimed or scrap), and large, modern, glass windows.  There are LED pendent lights, and an array of seating options.  There is an upstairs lounge with couches and chairs, and the main section downstairs has semi private booths, as well as floating bistro height bars for those who like to stand and mingle.  Outside, there are garage style doors that open up to reveal that the bar is actually shaped like U, as well as tables, and a retaining wall that doubles as bench seating.  Even the bathrooms are cool, with neat sinks and european style hand dryers.

Our waiter confirmed that the opening weekend had, as we suspected, been nuts, and that the after dinner crowd was actually a lull for them.  Our table ordered a mix of craft beers and mixed drinks, and I have to say that I really enjoyed my Watermelon Old Fashioned made with Chattanooga Whiskey.  I'll also say that I am not a gin drinker, but the Rare Form (a gin martini with rosemary syrup) was really good.

As the night went on, we saw the crowd shift to a younger dynamic.  Being somewhere between 'young professional' and 'older than I actually feel', I liked the wide range of people who were checking out this new neighborhood bar.  Everyone seemed laid back, even if you could tell they were ready for a night out.  I can see Flying Squirrel as a place I would be comfortable just about any time of day, and I wish there were something like it on my street!

The only thing I can't praise Flying Squirrel for is the food, and that's only because I haven't tried it...yet.  (I'll let you know when I do.  Word on the street is that the garlic fries are on point.)  The staff was knowledgeable and attentive, and the drink menu was comprehensive without being so ambitious that it couldn't be executed well.  The atmosphere is great, and it didn't feel like a place that had only been open a few days.  Everything is finished and in place, and no one was rushing around trying to get used to the setup.  The guys from the Crash Pad do a good job, and The Flying Squirrel is no exception.  I definitely encourage you to check it out the next time you're on the Southside!

Flying Squirrel Bar
55 Johnson Street
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37408
Tues-Sat: 5pm-3am
Sun: 10:30am-2pm  5pm-1am (limited menu)
Closed Monday
Website | facebook | @squirrelbar | Instagram