Joe Sullivan wonders how City Council will react to a budgetary "hostage situation" in Insights, Barry Henderson lays praise on the UT president's proposition to further internationalize the university in Editor's Corner, and Jack Neely rides out of town and into the enduring puzzle of Harvey Logan in Secret History.
Citybeat
Joe Tarr poses the question of how much more student housing the Fort Sanders neighborhood can stand, and Joe Sullivan picks up on the remaining candidates for City Council in this fall's elections.
Cover * SUMMERTIME READING
The Metro Pulse staff canvassed the town for ideas on what this season's reading list should include. Somewhat surprisingly, the readers we talked with had eyes for the old as well as the new. We found recommendations for fiction, non-fiction, poetry and, of course, Potter. Intrepidly, our own Adrienne Martini faced the lines at Borders and Barnes & Noble last weekend for the newest Harry Potter phenom. For a truly eclectic set of suggestions, just peruse the reviews and commentary we collected.
Gamut * A JIGSAW DISPOSITION
Supremely bad judgment—driving while drunk—left Vic Chesnutt wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life, and with what he terms a more "adult" view of life. Over the past decade, to articulate that perspective, the singer-songwriter has spun perplexing, poetic lyrics around a stripped-down guitar-based sound. Joe Tarr profiles Chesnutt and anticipates his upcoming Pilot Light show.
Pulp
In the short story collection, Goodnight, Nobody, local author Michael Knight proves himself one of America's finest young writers, declares Jeanne McDonald.
Music Hot young New York city band A.R.E. Weapons won't tell you precisely what their name means. But Matthew Everett can tell you all you really need to know: Their shows are "manic," they involve lots of "positive energy," and the group's anger means "they care." In an alternative reality, Eye on the Scene looks on in sorrow as Superdrag drags off into the sunset.
Artbeat
Heather Joyner braves the misery that is Gatlinburg traffic to bring back to Metro Pulse readers news of the Arrowmont school's annual "ARTrageous Summer Auctions." Her assessment: Fill the tank, practice your patience, and go see the show.
Movie Guru
Zombies live again!...Er, well, unlive again, in 28 Days Later, an edge-of-your-seat scary movie cum cautionary tale, reveals Lee Gardner. Movie Blurbs, p. 30: The Metro Pulse Movie Blurbs: "The Blurb Homeland Security Advisor: Duct tape will not protect you from zombies."ª
Spotlights
What isn't going on this week? Southern Culture on the Skids and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band get down at Sundown in the City in its new location (the Dogwood Courtyard, back of the ThInQ Tank in the Old City), the annual Kuumba Festival gets going at the KMA with "A Taste of Africa Buffet," plus performances by Second2Last, Spades Jazz Band, Kuumba Watoto Dance and Drum Company, and more, while the Irish in all of us dance a jig to the music of Glen Road and Half Nine at the Celtic Festival in the Laurel Theatre. And that's only the tip o' the entertainment iceberg you'll find in this week's calendar.
News of the Weird by Chuck Shepherd
Crossword by Montford Manassas
Rationally Speaking by Massimo Piggliucci. Don't go to extremists.
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