We get a bill every month from EPB--the electric company. One month, it was $300. Now we live at 67 degrees inside, and we've brought it down to $130. I consider that a major accomplishment, and I will use my savings to buy sweaters, slippers, and snugglies.
This month, we received an insert that REALLY bothers me. EPB is begging us during this giving season to donate to needy families to help them stay warm during this cold, hard winter by paying an extra dollar on our electric bill! Does this strike anyone else as odd? This is not a charity asking for money--this is a business asking for us to pay extra this month so that someone else doesn't have to pay what they owe. Or, more truthfully, so that EPB doesn't have to employ someone to send so many accounts to collections!
Perhaps we can pass this idea on to Bi-Lo or Wal-mart so that the "needy" shoppers don't have to pay for their goods. Or maybe Delta Air would be interested in a similar program. I'm sure I'd qualify as "needy" compared to an average jetsetter.=) Oooh, what if everyone who goes to the Hannah Montana concert pays an extra buck to help the less fortunate enjoy an evening of teeny-bopper heaven? Count me in!
Sure, I'll bite. I'll give a buck to a bonified charity. But what I want to know from EPB is this: how do I get on the list??!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Children's Discovery Center--A+
As the days shorten and the wind chills our playgrounds, the kids adopt a certain frenetic approach to life indoors, which means the mommy lives with tight muscles and frazzled hair. Thank goodness for the climate-controlled relief that is the Children's Discovery Center!
We went twice last week, and we still didn't explore the entire center. They have live art shows, science shows, storytime and animal discovery shows, but my five children couldn't tear themselves away from any of the hands-on exhibits they were enjoying to watch a show! We started at the waterworks near the entrance, and although they provide velcro water-resistant jackets, Tyler fought it like a dog, so I let him play without one. That was a mistake! He came away soaking wet from head to toe, after taking a cup in the exhibit and dousing his head. He guffawed then, but the walk home was miserable.
Above the water exhibit is a great indoor playground that rivals the biggest McDonald's! Saja took me to China on a boat ("All Aboard!" she kept shouting.), and even the two-year-olds were able to enjoy the climbing and sliding structure. A posted sign says, "All children under age 5 need a climbing partner," but all my children ARE under age five, and I couldn't partner with them all, so I just hung out with the twins while the older kids wore themselves out.
Then we moved on to a dark room with a strobe-light sculpture exhibit. The kids loved it in there, because the sculpture is moving so fast that it creates quite a strong wind. As the responsible adult, I didn't care for this exhibit so much, because it strained me too much to figure out which of my kids were in there, due to the darkness and the strobe effect. But as an irresponsible adult, I think it's really cool!
On your way to the art area, you can face paint or work on a craft provided by the museum. You'll pass by an exhibit specifically designed for children ages 4 and under, but my kids didn't want to waste time in there. Inside that exhibit, they have another special area just for infants.
We didn't really explore the art area, but I saw two computers--one touch-screen and one mouse-motivated, some masterpiece magnetic jigsaw puzzles, some playdough and sculpture stamps, and some magnetic building blocks. Sounds messy!
We did spend quite a bit of time in the music area. My favorite instrument looked like a massive ball stuck all over with those blue bulb-syringes that all mommies use to relieve their poor little baby's stuffy nose. When you squeeze the bulb, it makes a note. I squeezed and laughed, and the twins laughed and clapped ourselves silly. You can play a piano, or press one of three buttons to make it play itself. You can tambourine your head, as Tyler did, you can sit in a musical chair to feel the vibrations of the strings, you can watch a movie in the theatre room, you can put on a puppet show or a live show, complete with sound and lighting effects, and you can play a cross between a harp and a guitar. It has a name, but this harried mother of five surely does not remember it.
On our second visit, we spent about an hour playing in the sandbox called Dinosaur Excavation. Would you believe my children were genuinely excited to discover a bone under their workspace?! Many times, however, I had to chastise my zealous 3-year-old for slinging the sand in his exuberance to unearth the long-dead behemoths. The superfine sand brushed off easily, and very little of it joined us on the ride home. What did make it, I suppose, had hitchhiked in Kora's shoes, which she took off and filled up.
In the dinosaur exhibit, you'll also be privileged to see Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, African Giant Millipedes (which look just like the tiny baby millipedes that assaulted my house five years ago, by the way. Shivers!), a pixie frog (which is anything but pixie!), a gecko (not Geico), and several geological samples of minerals. Oh, Tyler also enjoyed the pint-sized walk-through cave with a window at just the right height for him to poke out his head and giggle.
We spent the last few minutes before closing-time (5pm) in the electricity and physics exhibit. Tyler just danced with glee when he made a foam ball float in mid-air! A huge race-track occupies the middle of the room, but we couldn't figure out what to do with it. The older kids really enjoyed playing with the magnetic gears and the weights and balances, but I got distracted when two museum employees ran past me, one on the walkie announcing, "Missing Tyler, age 1, in a red jacket." The responsible adult of Tyler looked nonplussed, but I imagine they found him. I almost suggested checking the elevator, which is located just adjacent to the room in which he was last seen, because MY Tyler, age 2, would be there in a heartbeat if he saw it. I actually have lost one of the twins to an elevator in a retirement home, but it only had two floors (as does the Children's Museum), and I could zap him with the mommy stare from the bottom floor because it opened to the second floor where the elevator exited.
We did use the elevator when we had the double-stroller to hit the second floor, where you can find a small library (from which you can actually check out books!), an active area with stationary bikes and a climbing wall, and the entrance to the observation tower. I thought the twins would love climbing the spiral staircase with a million stairs, but since they had not enjoyed a nice long nap before we carted them off to the museum, they could not find it in their hearts to enjoy it. So I carried them. Whew, it was a workout. From the top, you can go outside for about ten feet, and then you can pay to see things up close. I think the workout was the best thing that we enjoyed from the tower. (There's no elevator there!)
Finally, we spent quite a bit of time in the Rooftop Fun Factory, which, as the name suggests, is actually on the roof. The girls played garden checkers, actually enjoying a jump when the opportunity arose. Kora used a pulley to swing herself, David used a lever to pop a ball, and Tyler and Tobias plunged their sleeved arms into the bubble pit, just because they could. We happened to go on a warm December day, but they will close the rooftop in inclement weather. We all had a grand time out there. I slipped back inside to use the restroom and happened upon a complimentary cart of gingersnaps and herbal tea, which I was served with fondest compliments by a museum volunteer. Tobias promptly pitched a fit. I rewarded him with my half-eaten cookie. He thanked me by hushing up. (Hey, this isn't a parenting blog!)
For only $135/year, my entire family (and that's a lot of folks, folks!) can enjoy free admission to this and 135 other children's museums nationwide. The Children's Discovery Center is located on the corner of Chester and 3rd, but it's best to park at a meter on Broad if you plan to stay two hours or less. Otherwise, the museum charges $4 to park all day in the lot behind the building. Do not be misled, as I was, believing you can enter the parking lot from Chester. Alas, if you attempt such foolery, you will find yourself back on Hwy 27 with no recourse until the next exit. Drive around to the back of the building in the lot almost adjacent to the Lookout field. Hey, you could even pick up Lookouts tickets while you're there and enjoy a little Spring Training!
In conclusion, if you're singing the "It's too cold to do anything" blues, then go to the Children's Museum and enjoy a little break from the insanity we call motherhood. You can go everyday but Wednesday from 10am to 5pm (Sunday is only noon to 5pm). On Wednesdays, you'll just have to suffer through your insanity alone... or perhaps go to McDonald's.
http://www.cdmfun.org/
We went twice last week, and we still didn't explore the entire center. They have live art shows, science shows, storytime and animal discovery shows, but my five children couldn't tear themselves away from any of the hands-on exhibits they were enjoying to watch a show! We started at the waterworks near the entrance, and although they provide velcro water-resistant jackets, Tyler fought it like a dog, so I let him play without one. That was a mistake! He came away soaking wet from head to toe, after taking a cup in the exhibit and dousing his head. He guffawed then, but the walk home was miserable.
Above the water exhibit is a great indoor playground that rivals the biggest McDonald's! Saja took me to China on a boat ("All Aboard!" she kept shouting.), and even the two-year-olds were able to enjoy the climbing and sliding structure. A posted sign says, "All children under age 5 need a climbing partner," but all my children ARE under age five, and I couldn't partner with them all, so I just hung out with the twins while the older kids wore themselves out.
Then we moved on to a dark room with a strobe-light sculpture exhibit. The kids loved it in there, because the sculpture is moving so fast that it creates quite a strong wind. As the responsible adult, I didn't care for this exhibit so much, because it strained me too much to figure out which of my kids were in there, due to the darkness and the strobe effect. But as an irresponsible adult, I think it's really cool!
On your way to the art area, you can face paint or work on a craft provided by the museum. You'll pass by an exhibit specifically designed for children ages 4 and under, but my kids didn't want to waste time in there. Inside that exhibit, they have another special area just for infants.
We didn't really explore the art area, but I saw two computers--one touch-screen and one mouse-motivated, some masterpiece magnetic jigsaw puzzles, some playdough and sculpture stamps, and some magnetic building blocks. Sounds messy!
We did spend quite a bit of time in the music area. My favorite instrument looked like a massive ball stuck all over with those blue bulb-syringes that all mommies use to relieve their poor little baby's stuffy nose. When you squeeze the bulb, it makes a note. I squeezed and laughed, and the twins laughed and clapped ourselves silly. You can play a piano, or press one of three buttons to make it play itself. You can tambourine your head, as Tyler did, you can sit in a musical chair to feel the vibrations of the strings, you can watch a movie in the theatre room, you can put on a puppet show or a live show, complete with sound and lighting effects, and you can play a cross between a harp and a guitar. It has a name, but this harried mother of five surely does not remember it.
On our second visit, we spent about an hour playing in the sandbox called Dinosaur Excavation. Would you believe my children were genuinely excited to discover a bone under their workspace?! Many times, however, I had to chastise my zealous 3-year-old for slinging the sand in his exuberance to unearth the long-dead behemoths. The superfine sand brushed off easily, and very little of it joined us on the ride home. What did make it, I suppose, had hitchhiked in Kora's shoes, which she took off and filled up.
In the dinosaur exhibit, you'll also be privileged to see Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, African Giant Millipedes (which look just like the tiny baby millipedes that assaulted my house five years ago, by the way. Shivers!), a pixie frog (which is anything but pixie!), a gecko (not Geico), and several geological samples of minerals. Oh, Tyler also enjoyed the pint-sized walk-through cave with a window at just the right height for him to poke out his head and giggle.
We spent the last few minutes before closing-time (5pm) in the electricity and physics exhibit. Tyler just danced with glee when he made a foam ball float in mid-air! A huge race-track occupies the middle of the room, but we couldn't figure out what to do with it. The older kids really enjoyed playing with the magnetic gears and the weights and balances, but I got distracted when two museum employees ran past me, one on the walkie announcing, "Missing Tyler, age 1, in a red jacket." The responsible adult of Tyler looked nonplussed, but I imagine they found him. I almost suggested checking the elevator, which is located just adjacent to the room in which he was last seen, because MY Tyler, age 2, would be there in a heartbeat if he saw it. I actually have lost one of the twins to an elevator in a retirement home, but it only had two floors (as does the Children's Museum), and I could zap him with the mommy stare from the bottom floor because it opened to the second floor where the elevator exited.
We did use the elevator when we had the double-stroller to hit the second floor, where you can find a small library (from which you can actually check out books!), an active area with stationary bikes and a climbing wall, and the entrance to the observation tower. I thought the twins would love climbing the spiral staircase with a million stairs, but since they had not enjoyed a nice long nap before we carted them off to the museum, they could not find it in their hearts to enjoy it. So I carried them. Whew, it was a workout. From the top, you can go outside for about ten feet, and then you can pay to see things up close. I think the workout was the best thing that we enjoyed from the tower. (There's no elevator there!)
Finally, we spent quite a bit of time in the Rooftop Fun Factory, which, as the name suggests, is actually on the roof. The girls played garden checkers, actually enjoying a jump when the opportunity arose. Kora used a pulley to swing herself, David used a lever to pop a ball, and Tyler and Tobias plunged their sleeved arms into the bubble pit, just because they could. We happened to go on a warm December day, but they will close the rooftop in inclement weather. We all had a grand time out there. I slipped back inside to use the restroom and happened upon a complimentary cart of gingersnaps and herbal tea, which I was served with fondest compliments by a museum volunteer. Tobias promptly pitched a fit. I rewarded him with my half-eaten cookie. He thanked me by hushing up. (Hey, this isn't a parenting blog!)
For only $135/year, my entire family (and that's a lot of folks, folks!) can enjoy free admission to this and 135 other children's museums nationwide. The Children's Discovery Center is located on the corner of Chester and 3rd, but it's best to park at a meter on Broad if you plan to stay two hours or less. Otherwise, the museum charges $4 to park all day in the lot behind the building. Do not be misled, as I was, believing you can enter the parking lot from Chester. Alas, if you attempt such foolery, you will find yourself back on Hwy 27 with no recourse until the next exit. Drive around to the back of the building in the lot almost adjacent to the Lookout field. Hey, you could even pick up Lookouts tickets while you're there and enjoy a little Spring Training!
In conclusion, if you're singing the "It's too cold to do anything" blues, then go to the Children's Museum and enjoy a little break from the insanity we call motherhood. You can go everyday but Wednesday from 10am to 5pm (Sunday is only noon to 5pm). On Wednesdays, you'll just have to suffer through your insanity alone... or perhaps go to McDonald's.
http://www.cdmfun.org/
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Armando's: the best burger in Highland Park
My brother-in-law is visiting this weekend from UT Knoxville. Here's a little shout-out to Josh. Woot!
Chris wanted to show him a good time, so he took him to Armando's, where we once devoured the best (and biggest) bacon cheeseburger and onion rings ever! However, Josh's bus came in at 8:10. Armando's sign says they close at 7pm. Or 6pm. You can't really tell. The number 6 is hand-written in black marker over the printed number 7, so both are visible, and the intent of the communication is lost. "Armando's, open 10am to 7/6 pm." (There isn't a key on my keyboard that has the 6 superimposed over the 7. So, I improvised.)
So, after enjoying a sprinkly game of tennis at Warner Park, we hustled down to Main and Lynbrook, as 6pm was quickly approaching. We maneuvered around several hastily parked cars, landed in a proper parking spot, and waited for Chris to change out of his sweaty shirt into a clean one. It's a good thing, too, because the sign on the door clearly states, "No shoes, no shirt, no service." Do people do that in Chattanooga, too? I thought it was an Arkansas thing.
Well-shod and well-clothed, we entered the unassuming little restaurant, where the chairs were already up on the table and the floor ready to be mopped. I guess it does close at 6! We walked up to the counter, where a sign states, "We cannot be held responsible if you do not make your order correctly."
Whoa! Intimidation. This must be some burger if you have to worry about the WAY you order it.
They offer home-cooked foods as well as burgers, so the cluttered menu offered nothing but confusion and intimidation, considering the pressure I was under to order properly. So I went for what I knew: The Bacon Burger.
"You don't want cheese with that??" the cashier asked.
"Oh, well, yes, I do," I said. (It's listed as a Bacon Burger on the menu, so that's what I said!)
My husband and his brother followed my lead and ordered properly. "I'd like a bacon CHEESEburger, please, with fries and a sprite."
We also ordered the homemade daily special banana pudding, but they were out. They do, after all, close at 6pm.
Armando's deals in takeouts and callins--more, I daresay, than sit-ins. But what an amazing opportunity to eat half a cow for under $5! And the burger truly is the juiciest, tastiest, most satisfying burger I have ever had. And I've had my share of burgers all over the country.
If I didn't think it would clog up my heart, I might eat a half-Armando's everyday. But I would hate to hear the doctor tell me after an MRI of my heart, "Oh, here's the problem, you have a chunk of hamburger in your heart!"
As we slowly savored our meal, I overheard this conversation between employees:
A: "Did you lock the door yet?"
B: "Nope, we have three minutes."
ENTER family of three
A: "I'm sorry, we're all out of burgers."
Family of three looks very puzzled. How does a burger joint run out of burgers, they must be asking themselves. And how are they going to NOT be out of burgers by 10am? Will they be making a run to Sam's Club tonight before they close at 8pm?
A: "We have, um, salad?"
(The question mark is intentional, because she really asked it in the most sheepish, unfortunate, apologetic way.)
Salad. Not the best consolation prize when your mouth is salivating for Armando's burgers.
EXIT family of three.
ENTER Employee C, apparently, the cook.
C: "What, they didn't want any food?"
A: "We're out of burgers!"
C: "What??! We're not out of burgers! I've been cookin' them to order!"
By this time, I am certain the clock had struck 6pm, but no one had moved to lock the door because a flurry of apologies and explanations followed, and the man of the family jested that they walked all the way back out to their car and back in again!
It's just as well. You'll have to do a lot more walking than that to burn off the fat that burger'll put on you.
So we left Armando's and the sheepish employees, fat and happy, clothed and shod, just after 6pm.
We will definitely return... just as soon as I brush my arteries.
Chris wanted to show him a good time, so he took him to Armando's, where we once devoured the best (and biggest) bacon cheeseburger and onion rings ever! However, Josh's bus came in at 8:10. Armando's sign says they close at 7pm. Or 6pm. You can't really tell. The number 6 is hand-written in black marker over the printed number 7, so both are visible, and the intent of the communication is lost. "Armando's, open 10am to 7/6 pm." (There isn't a key on my keyboard that has the 6 superimposed over the 7. So, I improvised.)
So, after enjoying a sprinkly game of tennis at Warner Park, we hustled down to Main and Lynbrook, as 6pm was quickly approaching. We maneuvered around several hastily parked cars, landed in a proper parking spot, and waited for Chris to change out of his sweaty shirt into a clean one. It's a good thing, too, because the sign on the door clearly states, "No shoes, no shirt, no service." Do people do that in Chattanooga, too? I thought it was an Arkansas thing.
Well-shod and well-clothed, we entered the unassuming little restaurant, where the chairs were already up on the table and the floor ready to be mopped. I guess it does close at 6! We walked up to the counter, where a sign states, "We cannot be held responsible if you do not make your order correctly."
Whoa! Intimidation. This must be some burger if you have to worry about the WAY you order it.
They offer home-cooked foods as well as burgers, so the cluttered menu offered nothing but confusion and intimidation, considering the pressure I was under to order properly. So I went for what I knew: The Bacon Burger.
"You don't want cheese with that??" the cashier asked.
"Oh, well, yes, I do," I said. (It's listed as a Bacon Burger on the menu, so that's what I said!)
My husband and his brother followed my lead and ordered properly. "I'd like a bacon CHEESEburger, please, with fries and a sprite."
We also ordered the homemade daily special banana pudding, but they were out. They do, after all, close at 6pm.
Armando's deals in takeouts and callins--more, I daresay, than sit-ins. But what an amazing opportunity to eat half a cow for under $5! And the burger truly is the juiciest, tastiest, most satisfying burger I have ever had. And I've had my share of burgers all over the country.
If I didn't think it would clog up my heart, I might eat a half-Armando's everyday. But I would hate to hear the doctor tell me after an MRI of my heart, "Oh, here's the problem, you have a chunk of hamburger in your heart!"
As we slowly savored our meal, I overheard this conversation between employees:
A: "Did you lock the door yet?"
B: "Nope, we have three minutes."
ENTER family of three
A: "I'm sorry, we're all out of burgers."
Family of three looks very puzzled. How does a burger joint run out of burgers, they must be asking themselves. And how are they going to NOT be out of burgers by 10am? Will they be making a run to Sam's Club tonight before they close at 8pm?
A: "We have, um, salad?"
(The question mark is intentional, because she really asked it in the most sheepish, unfortunate, apologetic way.)
Salad. Not the best consolation prize when your mouth is salivating for Armando's burgers.
EXIT family of three.
ENTER Employee C, apparently, the cook.
C: "What, they didn't want any food?"
A: "We're out of burgers!"
C: "What??! We're not out of burgers! I've been cookin' them to order!"
By this time, I am certain the clock had struck 6pm, but no one had moved to lock the door because a flurry of apologies and explanations followed, and the man of the family jested that they walked all the way back out to their car and back in again!
It's just as well. You'll have to do a lot more walking than that to burn off the fat that burger'll put on you.
So we left Armando's and the sheepish employees, fat and happy, clothed and shod, just after 6pm.
We will definitely return... just as soon as I brush my arteries.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Yellow Deli... not Delhi
Our Sunday School teacher mentioned the Yellow Deli in class, and Chris and I geared up for Indian food. Boy, were we surprised! Those dang homophones get me every time!
The Yellow Deli, located on the campus of UTC in the 700 block of McCallie Ave., has very little parking available. In fact, my friends who attend UTC have skipped class before for lack of a parking spot. We drove the block so many times that it would have been faster for us to actually walk from our house. Finally, a small metered spot opened up, but being after 4:30 pm, we didn't have to fork over the cash to park there. After a fourteen-point parallel park by my dear sweet husband who is all-talented, we finally disembarked and walked a block and a half to the hippie-decorated brick building with an extensive paver patio.
After we entered, we weren't sure what to do. A small carved niche shows a handful of hot drinks available at what looks like a coffee bar. Loaves of bread were also available here. The sign said, "Please seat yourself," but we wanted to sit on the patio and weren't sure this applied to us. So we seated ourselves on the patio. My husband actually asked someone on the patio if this was the right move (a man, asking??!), and we were directed back inside.
It's easy to tell who works at the Yellow Deli because they all belong to a commune, a Christian cult called The Twelve Tribes, and many of the women wore long, billowy, cuffed pants and loose button-down shirts. Those who didn't choose Billow Cuff as their style still wore Billow. From what I gathered by reading the wall, this movement grew out of the "love everybody" hippie movement. The men wore unshaven faces, ponytailed, and headbands.
We flagged down a tribe-member and asked what to do next. He grabbed some menus for us (yellow, of course), and directed us to the smoothie bar, where two barstools awaited us. He told us, "Sometimes, when you're sitting here, you may be blessed with some tea, so be prepared."
We weren't.
We perused and perused that menu. We read the wall, which explains a little bit about the movement. We watched a college student stop himself about a centimeter from banging his face into a wooden post, which had, incidentally, been padded with leather, indicating that he was not the first to meet nose to post.
Still no tea.
Finally, we flagged down a lady with a long gray ponytail and a worrisome look, and asked her if she was the right person to order from. She took our order, ran our Visa, then returned and asked for cash. Chris sits on his wallet and rubs the magnetic strips off of them, so that was no surprise. I managed to break the worried look by making this observation aloud. She smiled ever so slightly.
For $14.75 plus tip, we enjoyed the most delicious lamb sandwich (the lambwich) and Deli Rose sandwich ever. The honey wheat roll just melted in my mouth like cotton candy. I told Chris I wasn't hungry, but he urged me to order anyway, and we'll take it home. I ate the whole thing. Lamb! Can you believe it?!
Two fully-bearded and ponytailed men sanded and shellaqued away at a new handrail for the patio while we munched our deli meal. They seemed normal enough--no strange accent, a normal sense of humor, no strange bonnets on their heads or a million kids running around (as if I can talk about that!). We picked up a free brochure on the way out about the order, but it's awfully wordy, and I haven't had a chance to read it yet.
Apparently, the Deli sustains their way of life financially. It's some good eatin', lemme tell you. If I could afford it, I might eat there all the time. They have free wifi, and they're open 24 hours for 5 days a week. I think they close on Friday night and reopen sometime on Sunday. I'm sure www.YellowDeli.com will give all the details you need.
We toured the building before we left so I could describe it to you. Downstairs, you'll find the coffee bar and smoothie bar, as well as an array of small tables and chairs made of wood seats and iron formed in the shape of large daisies. A very cool spiral staircase leads upstairs, but since spirals are difficult to manage sometimes, they added a traditional staircase in the back. That one leads you right into the lounge, where drinks are allowed, but not food. They have a few couches, and one table in that area. Eventually, they'll open their upstairs balcony. I peeked out the windows and saw a few members of the order chatting out there among mostly disassembled tables and chairs. Additional seating in daisy chairs is available upstairs as well.
When you go to the restroom, choose one of two rooms labeled, "Whatever you are." The handles are fashioned from leather and brass, which lends to the hand-crafted feel of the place. Appropriately enough, the toilet was yellow, or at least looked yellow in the dim light of the brown room. Since you never can tell with religious cults, I was glad to see soap and running water.
This is definitely the most unique restaurant I've visited in many years. While I do enjoy my cookie-cutter Starbucks, I like unique, too. I'll probably go back very soon, if not to the restaurant, to the concession stand at the Sunday Farmer's Market downtown.
Why yellow?
And why is everything decorated with daisies?
No wonder our Sunday School teacher confused it with the Purple Daisy... whatever that is. Maybe we'll head there next time.
The Yellow Deli, located on the campus of UTC in the 700 block of McCallie Ave., has very little parking available. In fact, my friends who attend UTC have skipped class before for lack of a parking spot. We drove the block so many times that it would have been faster for us to actually walk from our house. Finally, a small metered spot opened up, but being after 4:30 pm, we didn't have to fork over the cash to park there. After a fourteen-point parallel park by my dear sweet husband who is all-talented, we finally disembarked and walked a block and a half to the hippie-decorated brick building with an extensive paver patio.
After we entered, we weren't sure what to do. A small carved niche shows a handful of hot drinks available at what looks like a coffee bar. Loaves of bread were also available here. The sign said, "Please seat yourself," but we wanted to sit on the patio and weren't sure this applied to us. So we seated ourselves on the patio. My husband actually asked someone on the patio if this was the right move (a man, asking??!), and we were directed back inside.
It's easy to tell who works at the Yellow Deli because they all belong to a commune, a Christian cult called The Twelve Tribes, and many of the women wore long, billowy, cuffed pants and loose button-down shirts. Those who didn't choose Billow Cuff as their style still wore Billow. From what I gathered by reading the wall, this movement grew out of the "love everybody" hippie movement. The men wore unshaven faces, ponytailed, and headbands.
We flagged down a tribe-member and asked what to do next. He grabbed some menus for us (yellow, of course), and directed us to the smoothie bar, where two barstools awaited us. He told us, "Sometimes, when you're sitting here, you may be blessed with some tea, so be prepared."
We weren't.
We perused and perused that menu. We read the wall, which explains a little bit about the movement. We watched a college student stop himself about a centimeter from banging his face into a wooden post, which had, incidentally, been padded with leather, indicating that he was not the first to meet nose to post.
Still no tea.
Finally, we flagged down a lady with a long gray ponytail and a worrisome look, and asked her if she was the right person to order from. She took our order, ran our Visa, then returned and asked for cash. Chris sits on his wallet and rubs the magnetic strips off of them, so that was no surprise. I managed to break the worried look by making this observation aloud. She smiled ever so slightly.
For $14.75 plus tip, we enjoyed the most delicious lamb sandwich (the lambwich) and Deli Rose sandwich ever. The honey wheat roll just melted in my mouth like cotton candy. I told Chris I wasn't hungry, but he urged me to order anyway, and we'll take it home. I ate the whole thing. Lamb! Can you believe it?!
Two fully-bearded and ponytailed men sanded and shellaqued away at a new handrail for the patio while we munched our deli meal. They seemed normal enough--no strange accent, a normal sense of humor, no strange bonnets on their heads or a million kids running around (as if I can talk about that!). We picked up a free brochure on the way out about the order, but it's awfully wordy, and I haven't had a chance to read it yet.
Apparently, the Deli sustains their way of life financially. It's some good eatin', lemme tell you. If I could afford it, I might eat there all the time. They have free wifi, and they're open 24 hours for 5 days a week. I think they close on Friday night and reopen sometime on Sunday. I'm sure www.YellowDeli.com will give all the details you need.
We toured the building before we left so I could describe it to you. Downstairs, you'll find the coffee bar and smoothie bar, as well as an array of small tables and chairs made of wood seats and iron formed in the shape of large daisies. A very cool spiral staircase leads upstairs, but since spirals are difficult to manage sometimes, they added a traditional staircase in the back. That one leads you right into the lounge, where drinks are allowed, but not food. They have a few couches, and one table in that area. Eventually, they'll open their upstairs balcony. I peeked out the windows and saw a few members of the order chatting out there among mostly disassembled tables and chairs. Additional seating in daisy chairs is available upstairs as well.
When you go to the restroom, choose one of two rooms labeled, "Whatever you are." The handles are fashioned from leather and brass, which lends to the hand-crafted feel of the place. Appropriately enough, the toilet was yellow, or at least looked yellow in the dim light of the brown room. Since you never can tell with religious cults, I was glad to see soap and running water.
This is definitely the most unique restaurant I've visited in many years. While I do enjoy my cookie-cutter Starbucks, I like unique, too. I'll probably go back very soon, if not to the restaurant, to the concession stand at the Sunday Farmer's Market downtown.
Why yellow?
And why is everything decorated with daisies?
No wonder our Sunday School teacher confused it with the Purple Daisy... whatever that is. Maybe we'll head there next time.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Chattanooga Zoo
Where else can you enter a goat pen, sit on the goats, and yank their horns? Tobias, age 20 months, did just that today, under the watchful eye of his father, and escaped unscathed. He did holler out in fright when the aforementioned goat stood up, but his daddy yanked him off before any damage occurred.
While the zoo is small, it entertained our kids for a full two hours. We played with Hank, the chimpanzee, making faces for him to imitate. We howled at the coyote. We spied three red pandas playing in their playground or sleeping. We, of course, sat on the goats. A zoo employee appeared from a barn door shortly after this incident and simply sat in our midst. We hurried along out of there.
A sign outside the petting area identifies one of the animals as a type of sheep, not a goat. "I am not a goat," it says, with a picture of the Mouflan Sheep. As we entered directly behind another couple, the man said to his wife, "Man, that's a big goat!" I thought, "Man, you should learn to appreciate the signs!" Although, come to think of it, the coyote sign says, "Can you hear me know?" Really. K-N-O-W. Even my 5-year-old knows the difference. The same man tried to excite his kid to move along by saying, "Hey, let's go see the tigers!" in the most excited voice he could muster. I don't think there are any tigers. Leopard, yes... tiger, no. And a train called Cougar Express.
We ended the day at the Carousel, for a dollar per person over the age of 2, and we watched Mrs. Clara unsuccessfully attempt to train two other personnel in the use of the "Under 2" discount on the cash register. The organ music is piped in via stereo, but the kids loved it none-the-less. We were able to exit straight out of the carousel without going through the gift shop, believe it or not! (But we did have to enter through the gift shop!)
We bought a membership because we live so close, and this will enable us to visit for short periods all year long without feeling like we have to stay until the tears run dry to get our money's worth.
But I think our video of Tobias riding a goat is worth all the money we have.
While the zoo is small, it entertained our kids for a full two hours. We played with Hank, the chimpanzee, making faces for him to imitate. We howled at the coyote. We spied three red pandas playing in their playground or sleeping. We, of course, sat on the goats. A zoo employee appeared from a barn door shortly after this incident and simply sat in our midst. We hurried along out of there.
A sign outside the petting area identifies one of the animals as a type of sheep, not a goat. "I am not a goat," it says, with a picture of the Mouflan Sheep. As we entered directly behind another couple, the man said to his wife, "Man, that's a big goat!" I thought, "Man, you should learn to appreciate the signs!" Although, come to think of it, the coyote sign says, "Can you hear me know?" Really. K-N-O-W. Even my 5-year-old knows the difference. The same man tried to excite his kid to move along by saying, "Hey, let's go see the tigers!" in the most excited voice he could muster. I don't think there are any tigers. Leopard, yes... tiger, no. And a train called Cougar Express.
We ended the day at the Carousel, for a dollar per person over the age of 2, and we watched Mrs. Clara unsuccessfully attempt to train two other personnel in the use of the "Under 2" discount on the cash register. The organ music is piped in via stereo, but the kids loved it none-the-less. We were able to exit straight out of the carousel without going through the gift shop, believe it or not! (But we did have to enter through the gift shop!)
We bought a membership because we live so close, and this will enable us to visit for short periods all year long without feeling like we have to stay until the tears run dry to get our money's worth.
But I think our video of Tobias riding a goat is worth all the money we have.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Southern Belle Showboat on Riverfront Dr.
Well, as promised, the Wilson family hit the Southern Belle Showboat before the end of August for $5 each, instead of the regular price of $14 each. I'm thankful for the price break, because we braved the rain.
The morning weather fooled me. I chose this outing during a pretty day, saving indoor outings for icky days. However, 20 minutes into our hour-and-a-half tour, the sky opened up. We braved the rain against the white iron rails of top deck, dancing in the droplets, for a brief moment, and then we huddled under the blue metal rooftop, desperately hoping to enjoy the riverview and avoid pneumonia at the same time. The rain found us, a group of about 20, shooting under the roof through the open air. We relented and scooted downstairs, but not before we bought two hot dogs and a pink lemonade, a la carte.
The children enjoyed the second floor. They all squeezed into the ladies' restroom (found on floor 2 and floor 1, as well!) to experience the warmth of the hand-dryer on their wet heads. Then they ran up and down the open aisles to the small stage, jumping up and down, forward and backward. Amidst their squeals of glee, the pop music faded out and a narrative tour began. I remember hearing about massively expensive houses up ahead and an island that has restrooms, walking paths, "and everything you need," but no way to get to it but by canoe. So I'm thinking, if it doesn't have Wal-mart, it doesn't have everything I need! I apologize to those patrons on the second deck with me and my loud children if I ruined the highlight of your trip--the historical narrator. (On their website, ChattanoogaRiverBoat.com, they say they'll customize their narration for the curriculum you're studying in school! Nifty, huh? If only you can get the kids to sit quietly to listen!)
I enjoy letting my children behave as children. I try to choose venues that allow for that, and indeed, the top deck, completely outdoors and secured by an iron fence, provided a wonderful outlet for energetic silliness. The enclosed second deck didn't suit their tendencies all that well, but few people remained there with us, so I allowed their antics while I perused the photographs and drawings of historic paddleboats. They hung a photograph from 1902 labelled simply, "Knoxville," complete with passengers! I reveled in the experience of an actual bit of history--not a movie reenactment. One drawing touted the tin-clad paddleboat of the Civil War era. I bet that was a sight to behold--tin, floating on the water, in 1864!
We exited through the gift shop, which, I am learning, any reputable company insists upon. We viewed our photograph, lovely, which can be yours for $20. I think they green-screened a pretty boat scene behind us. I can't be sure. We had sopping, hungry, irascible children with us, so we made a beeline for the exit.
All in all, I enjoyed this tour for $5 each, ages 3-12 and adults, plus $1 per vehicle for parking for 2 hours. I don't think I would have been that enthralled with the tour at regular price. They request reservations if you decide you want to upgrade to the buffet ticket. They also arrange sleepovers for a minimum of 50 guests at $40 each! That would certainly be memorable.
As for me, entering a Southern Belle Riverboat on a beautiful, sunny, mild day smiling and dry, and exiting said Southern Belle Riverboat on a stormy, dark, angry day sopping wet, hungry, and hurried will be memorable enough.
That and the video of the kids dancing the rain.
The morning weather fooled me. I chose this outing during a pretty day, saving indoor outings for icky days. However, 20 minutes into our hour-and-a-half tour, the sky opened up. We braved the rain against the white iron rails of top deck, dancing in the droplets, for a brief moment, and then we huddled under the blue metal rooftop, desperately hoping to enjoy the riverview and avoid pneumonia at the same time. The rain found us, a group of about 20, shooting under the roof through the open air. We relented and scooted downstairs, but not before we bought two hot dogs and a pink lemonade, a la carte.
The children enjoyed the second floor. They all squeezed into the ladies' restroom (found on floor 2 and floor 1, as well!) to experience the warmth of the hand-dryer on their wet heads. Then they ran up and down the open aisles to the small stage, jumping up and down, forward and backward. Amidst their squeals of glee, the pop music faded out and a narrative tour began. I remember hearing about massively expensive houses up ahead and an island that has restrooms, walking paths, "and everything you need," but no way to get to it but by canoe. So I'm thinking, if it doesn't have Wal-mart, it doesn't have everything I need! I apologize to those patrons on the second deck with me and my loud children if I ruined the highlight of your trip--the historical narrator. (On their website, ChattanoogaRiverBoat.com, they say they'll customize their narration for the curriculum you're studying in school! Nifty, huh? If only you can get the kids to sit quietly to listen!)
I enjoy letting my children behave as children. I try to choose venues that allow for that, and indeed, the top deck, completely outdoors and secured by an iron fence, provided a wonderful outlet for energetic silliness. The enclosed second deck didn't suit their tendencies all that well, but few people remained there with us, so I allowed their antics while I perused the photographs and drawings of historic paddleboats. They hung a photograph from 1902 labelled simply, "Knoxville," complete with passengers! I reveled in the experience of an actual bit of history--not a movie reenactment. One drawing touted the tin-clad paddleboat of the Civil War era. I bet that was a sight to behold--tin, floating on the water, in 1864!
We exited through the gift shop, which, I am learning, any reputable company insists upon. We viewed our photograph, lovely, which can be yours for $20. I think they green-screened a pretty boat scene behind us. I can't be sure. We had sopping, hungry, irascible children with us, so we made a beeline for the exit.
All in all, I enjoyed this tour for $5 each, ages 3-12 and adults, plus $1 per vehicle for parking for 2 hours. I don't think I would have been that enthralled with the tour at regular price. They request reservations if you decide you want to upgrade to the buffet ticket. They also arrange sleepovers for a minimum of 50 guests at $40 each! That would certainly be memorable.
As for me, entering a Southern Belle Riverboat on a beautiful, sunny, mild day smiling and dry, and exiting said Southern Belle Riverboat on a stormy, dark, angry day sopping wet, hungry, and hurried will be memorable enough.
That and the video of the kids dancing the rain.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Playground Passion
Having grown up in Memphis, I'm accustomed to hiding out in the air-conditioned house during the blazing hot summer months of July and August. I was told to expect the same in Chattanooga, but this summer has not scorched us yet!
Not one to waste a beautiful day, and also not one to let the kids drive me crazy inside all day, we hurried off to play immediately after breakfast today--which in reality was about mid-morning. It takes us a while to wake up.
Our first stop was the Pumpkin Patch Playground in Walden, TN on Signal Mountain. I think the town of Signal Mountain claims it as its own, but you have to drive up Hwy 127, past the Spaceship House (which, by the way, we have slept in, complete with life-size Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia staring at you while you sleep. But that's another story for another time.), through Signal Mountain, the town. You turn off just after a Mexican restaurant called Almeda's. A vast, expansive, shaded, incredible, and FREE playground awaits you. They even have a fenced-in area for toddlers 2-5. Of course, MY two-year-olds are desperate to play on the big stuff, and now they have the marks on their faces to prove it.
The Pumpkin Patch stunned me. It is out-of-this-world perfect for our family. More than 50 different structures to entertain their little hearts out while I get some R&R. (Okay, I didn't R&R... I chased twins all day.) They have swings, tire swings, stages, sand pits, play-houses, ziplines, slides, earthquake steps, breaking bridges, firepoles, musical instruments, pixel boards, rock walls, tire gyms, caterpillars, trains, and a massive "waterfall" slide that even you parents can enjoy. It probably falls 40 feet in the safest possible way. They also have a pavillion with bathrooms for your use if it's not rented. My kids tried their hardest to get invited to eat birthday cake in that pavillion.
If you're visiting Chattanooga with your kids, GO TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH. It's free, it's fun, and the weather is nice.
After naps, the kids chose a special event for a Daddy date. Would you believe they picked another playground??! I nearly OD'd on playgrounds today. Seriously.
This time, we went to St. Elmo's community playground, which provides the same type of playground pleasure on a smaller scale. It's off of St. Elmo's St., which turns into Broad St. downtown. They also have a massive metal slide, swings, balance beam, zipline, a toddler section, and shade. The first time we visited, we lost Tyler--and we hadn't even missed him! A stranger brought him to us saying he was wandering toward the street. The playground is set back from the street, and there's a field there for playing ball or whatnot. Tyler must have had his mind on something specific to cross the grassy field to the street. He doesn't even like walking from the back door to the car across the grass!
St. Elmo's is also free, and they have a portable bathroom... which my daughter must use every time we go. Ick. St. Elmo's, while smaller, does have the advantage of seeing all your kids at once. How ironic that we lost Tyler at this playground and not the other one.
All-in-all, we had a great playground day. I'm pooped. See you at our next adventure!
Not one to waste a beautiful day, and also not one to let the kids drive me crazy inside all day, we hurried off to play immediately after breakfast today--which in reality was about mid-morning. It takes us a while to wake up.
Our first stop was the Pumpkin Patch Playground in Walden, TN on Signal Mountain. I think the town of Signal Mountain claims it as its own, but you have to drive up Hwy 127, past the Spaceship House (which, by the way, we have slept in, complete with life-size Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia staring at you while you sleep. But that's another story for another time.), through Signal Mountain, the town. You turn off just after a Mexican restaurant called Almeda's. A vast, expansive, shaded, incredible, and FREE playground awaits you. They even have a fenced-in area for toddlers 2-5. Of course, MY two-year-olds are desperate to play on the big stuff, and now they have the marks on their faces to prove it.
The Pumpkin Patch stunned me. It is out-of-this-world perfect for our family. More than 50 different structures to entertain their little hearts out while I get some R&R. (Okay, I didn't R&R... I chased twins all day.) They have swings, tire swings, stages, sand pits, play-houses, ziplines, slides, earthquake steps, breaking bridges, firepoles, musical instruments, pixel boards, rock walls, tire gyms, caterpillars, trains, and a massive "waterfall" slide that even you parents can enjoy. It probably falls 40 feet in the safest possible way. They also have a pavillion with bathrooms for your use if it's not rented. My kids tried their hardest to get invited to eat birthday cake in that pavillion.
If you're visiting Chattanooga with your kids, GO TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH. It's free, it's fun, and the weather is nice.
After naps, the kids chose a special event for a Daddy date. Would you believe they picked another playground??! I nearly OD'd on playgrounds today. Seriously.
This time, we went to St. Elmo's community playground, which provides the same type of playground pleasure on a smaller scale. It's off of St. Elmo's St., which turns into Broad St. downtown. They also have a massive metal slide, swings, balance beam, zipline, a toddler section, and shade. The first time we visited, we lost Tyler--and we hadn't even missed him! A stranger brought him to us saying he was wandering toward the street. The playground is set back from the street, and there's a field there for playing ball or whatnot. Tyler must have had his mind on something specific to cross the grassy field to the street. He doesn't even like walking from the back door to the car across the grass!
St. Elmo's is also free, and they have a portable bathroom... which my daughter must use every time we go. Ick. St. Elmo's, while smaller, does have the advantage of seeing all your kids at once. How ironic that we lost Tyler at this playground and not the other one.
All-in-all, we had a great playground day. I'm pooped. See you at our next adventure!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tennessee Aquarium--a fishy experience
Today's field trip took us 10 minutes away to the Tennessee Aquarium. We spent just under two hours there with the whole gang... and a double-stroller.
We drove up just past 10 am, which turns out to be the opening time of the Aquarium, and the best time to go with a crowd. AND... the best parking spots. You can, of course, park in the $8 lot, but we parked at a 2 hour meter for $2 today. The meters were booked by the time we left at noon, though.
You can find all kinds of information about the aquarium from its website, www.tnaqua.org, but what you can't find is this:
1. Park at the meters! You can use meters on Chester St., and if they're full, you might be able to find some on Riverside Dr. (also known as Riverfront Pkwy in places), which is the front side of the Aquarium. You will have to walk up a fatal amount of stairs, though, if you park there.
2. Use the restroom before you start your tour. They only have public restrooms on the floor where you start and the floor before you start.
3. Bring swimsuits and towels for after your visit. The kids can splash around in the riverwalk.
4. Be prepared to walk and stand a lot. Seats are available in viewing areas, but they are few and far between. I rested on an informational sign today for a quick break.
5. If you have very young ones, like we do, bring some kind of restraining device, like a backpack or a buckle stroller or a teddy-bear leash. While the exhibits are roped off, they certainly aren't climber-proof, as we found out the hard way today!
6. If you choose to get a membership, don't stand in line at the general public first. Go directly to the building labeled, "Members."
Don't you hate it when you spend 30 minutes with five cranky kids standing in line, just to discover you're in the wrong line, and you have to start over? Don't make the same mistake we did! I recommend the membership--it's $100 for free entrance to both buildings for one year for two adults and all their kids under age 18. You can add a guest for $35. Our family had to pay $85 just for one visit, because kids ages 3 and up are charged for tickets. What I don't like is that the IMAX and parking aren't included. Members get discounts, of course, but hardly anything is free anymore.
If you DO get a membership, you have to go to the Members door every time you go to get tickets printed. You also have to show your ID and tickets like 400 times throughout the visit--so wear pockets to keep them handy.
Don't be confused by the layout--in the Ocean building, you start on floor 4, after, of course, you use the restroom on floor 1 and show your tickets and your ID to the Escalator Guard. If you're lucky, you can then saunter up the 4-story escalator, but in our case, the double-stroller had to use the elevator. (We were nervous to try to sneak onto the escalator with aforementioned Escalator Guard eyeing us suspiciously.) The tour starts on floor 4 where you can touch Manta Rays and view Sting Rays, Eels, Sharks, and other fishy things that you shouldn't touch. They also have Hyacinth Macaws in an open exhibit. Tyler, 20-months, quickly got the idea that we were looking for animals in the water, and it took me 3 minutes of pointing and wildly gesturing to attract his eye from the empty water at his eye level to the two giant macaws up in the tree.
Purell your hands with the handy dispensers, and move on.
Floors 3, 2, and 1 host other nifty ocean life exhibits, the favorite of which in this family is the jellyfish. In a life uninterrupted by the squeals and skirmishes of toddlers, the jellyfish room might be quite relaxing. One mirrored room hosts a lit jellyfish wall tank, accompanied by music, that made me want to build a little bed and curl up for a nap. (Of course, I want to curl up for a nap almost any chance I get!)
When you finish the Ocean building, you must exit through the gift shop (at which members get a discount!). This is a dirty little trick to pull parents with kids into buying something "educational" for their kids as they're hurrying to depart, perhaps, like us, to head to the restrooms again. We resisted and bought nothing! Mwah-ha-ha!
Over to the River building we headed, IDs and tickets in hand to show to Escalator Guard number 2. This exhibit starts on Level A, whatever that is, because all the other levels are numbers. Is it a floor they forgot they were going to have, and then after they labeled all the floors figured it'd be cheaper to just call it 'A' than to re-number and re-print all the labels? Sounds like something I'd do!
But here's the funniest thing! You start at Level A, which I think is Seahorses--VERY cool--which actually IS below level 1, and then you go to the fourth floor? Is there no logic here? My slightly-OCD nature rebelled inside me, but we went with it, in the elevator, of course.
At the top, you have the pleasure of interacting with river otters, if they choose to grace you with their presence, which today didn't happen. The River building is one four-story (I guess) hall with floor-to-ceiling fish tanks on either side guiding visitors throughout on one enormous ramp from top to bottom. Watch for runaway strollers and wheelchairs! At each floor, the ramp exits into a Discovery Hall which houses various exhibits. It's awesome.
When my daughter, Kora, was 2, I took her to the Memphis Zoo, and at the penguin exhibit, a stranger made a comment to me. In the time I turned my head to respond, my child had climbed up the concrete wall and over the iron rail to find herself INSIDE the exhibit. So, I am now on my guard against any type of dividing device that is not completely slick or made of jello. The River building galley area has a rail fence about 4-feet-tall, with a piece of plastic over the bottom rails to keep hands or feet from finding their way through. However, the plastic can be stood upon, and the three rails above the plastic can be climbed. Bring on the leashes! A fall could potentially last four stories in that place!
Overheard in the Galley:
Octogenarian: "That's a {some kind of} catfish. I used to catch those on the bottom of the Mississippi!" They have local fish, too, from Nickajack Lake and the Tennessee River. There's also a room overlooking the Tennessee River.
Again, be on guard as you exit through the gift shop. We whizzed through the bottom half of the Galley to catch our parking meter. I suppose 2 hours isn't quite enough time. I imagine we could have spent the whole day in that area--with the Aquarium, the Riverwalk, the IMAX, and area restaurants. But, that's too much for our kids to handle without succumbing to irascibility. So we came home at noon and had naps.
Here are directions from the website:
From I-24:
I-24 to downtown Chattanooga.
U.S. Highway 27 North
Take exit 1C right on 4th Street
Left on Broad Street (second stoplight)
Go two blocks and you’ll see the Aquarium. Paid parking and free shuttle available.
On our way to our car, we were given $5 coupons to the Southern Belle, a dinner-cruise ship on the Tennessee River. Another adventure on the cheap! Woohoo!
We drove up just past 10 am, which turns out to be the opening time of the Aquarium, and the best time to go with a crowd. AND... the best parking spots. You can, of course, park in the $8 lot, but we parked at a 2 hour meter for $2 today. The meters were booked by the time we left at noon, though.
You can find all kinds of information about the aquarium from its website, www.tnaqua.org, but what you can't find is this:
1. Park at the meters! You can use meters on Chester St., and if they're full, you might be able to find some on Riverside Dr. (also known as Riverfront Pkwy in places), which is the front side of the Aquarium. You will have to walk up a fatal amount of stairs, though, if you park there.
2. Use the restroom before you start your tour. They only have public restrooms on the floor where you start and the floor before you start.
3. Bring swimsuits and towels for after your visit. The kids can splash around in the riverwalk.
4. Be prepared to walk and stand a lot. Seats are available in viewing areas, but they are few and far between. I rested on an informational sign today for a quick break.
5. If you have very young ones, like we do, bring some kind of restraining device, like a backpack or a buckle stroller or a teddy-bear leash. While the exhibits are roped off, they certainly aren't climber-proof, as we found out the hard way today!
6. If you choose to get a membership, don't stand in line at the general public first. Go directly to the building labeled, "Members."
Don't you hate it when you spend 30 minutes with five cranky kids standing in line, just to discover you're in the wrong line, and you have to start over? Don't make the same mistake we did! I recommend the membership--it's $100 for free entrance to both buildings for one year for two adults and all their kids under age 18. You can add a guest for $35. Our family had to pay $85 just for one visit, because kids ages 3 and up are charged for tickets. What I don't like is that the IMAX and parking aren't included. Members get discounts, of course, but hardly anything is free anymore.
If you DO get a membership, you have to go to the Members door every time you go to get tickets printed. You also have to show your ID and tickets like 400 times throughout the visit--so wear pockets to keep them handy.
Don't be confused by the layout--in the Ocean building, you start on floor 4, after, of course, you use the restroom on floor 1 and show your tickets and your ID to the Escalator Guard. If you're lucky, you can then saunter up the 4-story escalator, but in our case, the double-stroller had to use the elevator. (We were nervous to try to sneak onto the escalator with aforementioned Escalator Guard eyeing us suspiciously.) The tour starts on floor 4 where you can touch Manta Rays and view Sting Rays, Eels, Sharks, and other fishy things that you shouldn't touch. They also have Hyacinth Macaws in an open exhibit. Tyler, 20-months, quickly got the idea that we were looking for animals in the water, and it took me 3 minutes of pointing and wildly gesturing to attract his eye from the empty water at his eye level to the two giant macaws up in the tree.
Purell your hands with the handy dispensers, and move on.
Floors 3, 2, and 1 host other nifty ocean life exhibits, the favorite of which in this family is the jellyfish. In a life uninterrupted by the squeals and skirmishes of toddlers, the jellyfish room might be quite relaxing. One mirrored room hosts a lit jellyfish wall tank, accompanied by music, that made me want to build a little bed and curl up for a nap. (Of course, I want to curl up for a nap almost any chance I get!)
When you finish the Ocean building, you must exit through the gift shop (at which members get a discount!). This is a dirty little trick to pull parents with kids into buying something "educational" for their kids as they're hurrying to depart, perhaps, like us, to head to the restrooms again. We resisted and bought nothing! Mwah-ha-ha!
Over to the River building we headed, IDs and tickets in hand to show to Escalator Guard number 2. This exhibit starts on Level A, whatever that is, because all the other levels are numbers. Is it a floor they forgot they were going to have, and then after they labeled all the floors figured it'd be cheaper to just call it 'A' than to re-number and re-print all the labels? Sounds like something I'd do!
But here's the funniest thing! You start at Level A, which I think is Seahorses--VERY cool--which actually IS below level 1, and then you go to the fourth floor? Is there no logic here? My slightly-OCD nature rebelled inside me, but we went with it, in the elevator, of course.
At the top, you have the pleasure of interacting with river otters, if they choose to grace you with their presence, which today didn't happen. The River building is one four-story (I guess) hall with floor-to-ceiling fish tanks on either side guiding visitors throughout on one enormous ramp from top to bottom. Watch for runaway strollers and wheelchairs! At each floor, the ramp exits into a Discovery Hall which houses various exhibits. It's awesome.
When my daughter, Kora, was 2, I took her to the Memphis Zoo, and at the penguin exhibit, a stranger made a comment to me. In the time I turned my head to respond, my child had climbed up the concrete wall and over the iron rail to find herself INSIDE the exhibit. So, I am now on my guard against any type of dividing device that is not completely slick or made of jello. The River building galley area has a rail fence about 4-feet-tall, with a piece of plastic over the bottom rails to keep hands or feet from finding their way through. However, the plastic can be stood upon, and the three rails above the plastic can be climbed. Bring on the leashes! A fall could potentially last four stories in that place!
Overheard in the Galley:
Octogenarian: "That's a {some kind of} catfish. I used to catch those on the bottom of the Mississippi!" They have local fish, too, from Nickajack Lake and the Tennessee River. There's also a room overlooking the Tennessee River.
Again, be on guard as you exit through the gift shop. We whizzed through the bottom half of the Galley to catch our parking meter. I suppose 2 hours isn't quite enough time. I imagine we could have spent the whole day in that area--with the Aquarium, the Riverwalk, the IMAX, and area restaurants. But, that's too much for our kids to handle without succumbing to irascibility. So we came home at noon and had naps.
Here are directions from the website:
From I-24:
I-24 to downtown Chattanooga.
U.S. Highway 27 North
Take exit 1C right on 4th Street
Left on Broad Street (second stoplight)
Go two blocks and you’ll see the Aquarium. Paid parking and free shuttle available.
On our way to our car, we were given $5 coupons to the Southern Belle, a dinner-cruise ship on the Tennessee River. Another adventure on the cheap! Woohoo!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The First Post
Hi, I'm Dorothy.
Hola, me llamo Dorothy.
We moved to Chattanooga 6 weeks ago to be involved in Tennessee Temple University, so we chose a house close to the school. We weren't picky--it just had to be big enough for our family of seven, have a fenced-in backyard, have a social kitchen, and be in a safe area.
Well, in spite of ourselves, the Lord provided a great house in Highland Park, just blocks from the school and our church, Highland Park Baptist Church.
We only plan to be here one year before we move overseas as foreign missionaries, so we plan to make the most of it and enjoy the exclusively-Chattanoogan adventures.
We've enjoyed a few unique things already, and I wished I had a journal of it. Thus, the blog was born.
Hopefully, I'll muster enough energy after our outings to share! And hopefully, you'll enjoy it, too.
Hola, me llamo Dorothy.
We moved to Chattanooga 6 weeks ago to be involved in Tennessee Temple University, so we chose a house close to the school. We weren't picky--it just had to be big enough for our family of seven, have a fenced-in backyard, have a social kitchen, and be in a safe area.
Well, in spite of ourselves, the Lord provided a great house in Highland Park, just blocks from the school and our church, Highland Park Baptist Church.
We only plan to be here one year before we move overseas as foreign missionaries, so we plan to make the most of it and enjoy the exclusively-Chattanoogan adventures.
We've enjoyed a few unique things already, and I wished I had a journal of it. Thus, the blog was born.
Hopefully, I'll muster enough energy after our outings to share! And hopefully, you'll enjoy it, too.
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