Metro Pulse/Ear to the Ground

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NooKaBooCa DeJaVuKa

In the Concepts That Refuse To Die Dept., a fourth incarnation of the brewpub on Gay Street is in the offing. Where City Brew, the Great Southern Brewery and the Smoky Mountain Brewing Co. came and went, the old Woodruffs' Building's owners were at work sanding the floors and sprucing up the interior this week for another shot at the specialty-brewing-cum-restaurant trade. John McCord, whose family owns the property, says he has arranged for Mark Harrison, former manager of the Great Southern, to return to manage the new venture. Al Krusen, one of the brothers who turned the tanks at the New Knoxville Brewing Co.'s micro-brewery, is to come on board as the master brewer, McCord says. He says he wants to be open the first week of December, but he doesn't expect the brewing license to be issued by the feds in time for the opening. When that permit is in hand, T. L. Adkisson, the City Brew artisan who turned out its beers and ales before moving on to Greenville, S.C., says Krusen "can certainly brew a fine one."

Call Lamar or Phil, or Van, or Bob

Tell them it's not right to annoy the people of Tennessee.

If you've watched much TeeVee this week, you've had the opportunity to collect a bunch of campaign headquarters' telephone numbers. That's because the major candidates for statewide offices, plus one congressional wannabe, have found a new way to use soft money. Each of these uniquely irritating crop of commercials, usually juxtaposing scary black-and-white shots of the odious opponent against warm color film of the good guy performing wondrous deeds while a sweet feminine voice grows ever more urgent, ends with a phone number and an appeal. They conclude: "Tell Phil Bredesen working families need real health-care fixes;" or "Call Lamar—tell him if he can take $236,000, he can support a higher minimum wage;" or "Call Lincoln Davis—tell him liberal values are wrong;" or "Call Lamar—tell him to come clean on taxes;" or "Call Phil Bredesen—tell him we can't fail our children."

These ads are paid for by political action committees—primarily those of the two major parties—and purport to focus on specific issues rather than on individual candidates.

Exhaust-fume Pols

The Tennessee version of another new crop of political ads features a radio spot by race car driver Darrell Waltrip to endorse his favorite gubernatorial candidate, Van Hilleary, whom he describes as "a good ol' boy." A similar commercial is airing in Florida with Dale Earnhardt Jr. touting Jeb Bush.

Call to Arms

County Commissioner John Griess distributed a letter to his colleagues Monday urging his 5th District seatmate Mike Arms not to step down from his Commission seat in December, as Arms, who has taken a job as chief-of-staff for County Exec Mike Ragsdale, announced last month he would do. Griess is soliciting signatures from other commissioners who want Arms to stay on until 2004, when the next county elections come up, so a successor can be elected—thus relieving the commission of the responsibility of appointing Arms' replacement. By custom, Griess and Craig Leuthold, the remaining 5th District commissioners, would have the major say-so in the appointment, and they have been lobbied heavily. The perceived frontrunner, Frank Leuthold, hasn't lobbied anyone, however. Frank Leuthold (father of Craig) retired from office this year, and the younger Leuthold was elected as his replacement. The elder Leuthold, who was a strong voice for homeowners' interests, is considered the frontrunner for the appointment, should he decide he wants it.