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Not Clothed—They're Open!
How many wardrobes must suffer before Reruns in Market Square reopens its doors? If everything goes as planned, the consignment store will open today in time to serve the fall clothing needs of downtown shoppers.
On a Sunday morning in August, construction crews busted a water main under Union Avenue, sending chunks of concrete through the glass windows and door, across the floor and into the air conditioning ductwork. Most of the summer clothes were destroyed, says store owner Nancy Solomon.
If extensive damage has a perk, it's the chance to remodel. The floor's got new retro green tile, and the walls are painted a fresh minty shade—inspired perhaps by Solomon's summer sojourn to France. Set up by a customer, she spent two weeks house-sitting a cat and a rabbit in a Paris flat.
Solomon looks on the bright side: the in-between transition of late summer to early fall transpired while the store was closed. People are ready to trade in their linens for cords and await the crisp weather that dictates denim and twill. Although the store's been closed—its remaining merchandise and racks stowed away next door in the former Brazo space—Solomon has been accepting some fall and winter clothes to fill the racks and outfit the store's ever-stylish mannequins. She expects her stock to be at about 50 percent for the reopening, with plenty of room for incoming pre-loved fashions.
Fark You, Metro Pulse
Web junkies the world over are familiar with Fark, a blog that features a daily compendium of offbeat and ironic items from the global press. In addition to stories on the world's oldest fossilized genitals and a house fire caused by fish, our article on an Iraqi water tower adorned with the Vols logo made it onto one of last week's lists. All of a sudden, visitors from 93 different countries had driven our website traffic up over 20 times its normal load, and we found ourselves fielding calls from CBS Sports, ESPN, and Stars and Stripes. Comments on Fark ran the gamut from "Not a Vol fan, but I think that is hilarious" to "What the hell kind of mascot is the volunteer?"
Want a Shot of Serum Globulin with Those Fries?
We've seen some unfortunate marketing ploys in our day, but the invitation from Rusty Wallace Toyota to come take a test drive that's hitting local mailboxes this week will probably rank right down there at the bottom of next year's "Timing is Everything" awards. The Morristown car dealer is using gift certificates for free restaurant meals in an attempt to induce former customers to take a ride in a new Corolla. Sounds like a deal, eh?
Well, read the fine print: "Enjoy two complimentary dinners valued at $30 at O'Charley's. Simply test drive a NEW TOYOTA at Rusty Wallace Toyota to receive your gift. This offer is by appointment only. Call today to schedule your appointment ...."
O'Charley's, of course, has had a run of bad luck at its Turkey Creek restaurant, where (as of our deadline) some 50 customers have come down with Hepatitis A, and some 5,000 who suspect they may have been exposed have lined up at the health department for shots.
The next election
City elections are upon us, and this means that county elections won't be far behind. It also means that time is growing nigh for longtime City Council member Larry Cox (and others) to take their leave. But Cox, like several of his colleagues who have been forced out by the term limits referendum their constituents passed so overwhelmingly in '96, is reluctant to deprive the citizenry of his expertise.
In his case, this means that he is talking to folks in his neighborhood about running for the District 2 school board seat that is now ably filled by Paul Kelley, a lifelong educator who is one of the most respected members of that body. Kelley has announced he will not seek another term.
September 25, 2003 * Vol. 13, No. 39
© 2003 Metro Pulse
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