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Chattanooga, TN

Drops of Jupiter fall on Chattanooga - Train comes to Riverbend 2009

Richard Smith  Mortgages Home Loans FHA TN GA AL: Loan Officer in Chattanooga, TN

Day Two of Riverbend 2009 brought Train, with Calling All Angels and a favorite song of mine, Drops of Jupiter in her hair. I really want to meet the lady who inspired that song, as well as Virginia.

Train of course is a well known group, but I was not expecting how good they are in concert. A great concert band. They played to the audience, even twice bringing people on stage and letting them sing and dance along. Their show got better as it went, and it started very good.

Drops of Jupiter

Meet Virginia

Calling on angel opens concert

Train Sand Sculpture

 Train sand sculpture

The Train sand sculpture by Team Sandtastic. And I caught one of the artists at work - almost one grain at a time.

 Team Sandtastic at work

 

Playlist for Train


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Here is a link to the Day One post

Chattanooga welcomes Willie Nelson to the Tennessee River - Riverbend 2009

Richard Smith  Mortgages Home Loans FHA TN GA AL: Loan Officer in Chattanooga, TN

Willie Nelson was on the road again, this time to the Chattanooga Riverbend Music Festival.

 Since the announcement that Willie Nelson was coming to Riverbend, I have just not been able to wait. Friday's opening act for the main stage did not disappoint. The crowd was ready and so was Willie.

 Opening night crowd for Riverbend 2009

Crowd gathers for Willie Nelson and Riverbend 2009 Opening Night.

Willie Nelson opens with Whiskey River

On the road again and a Hank Williams medley

Willie Nelson Playlist


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The Riverbend Music Festival is a 9 day event with a wide variety of music acts.  Chattanooga has held the festival since 1981, and it seems to get better each year. A first this year the Riverbend Beach, featuring expert sand sculpturing. The crowds are able to watch the artists and to see the progress each day.

 Willie Nelson sand sculpture by Team Sandtastic

Willie Nelson Sand Sculpture

 Tennessee Valley FCU sand sculpture

Tennessee Valley FCU, Riverbend Festival and Riverbend Beach sponsor

Sand sculptures by Team Sandtastic of Sarasota, Fl

 Riverbend Festival is 9 days of live music with continuous acts performing on from 5pm on, on 4 stages. These are in addition to the main stage act, on the Coke Stage, from 9:30 to 11. Every night you are treated to some of the best new acts and some more established acts, all in very intimate settings.

Friday my treat was Infinite Orange. This is a local phenomenon with 3 young men from Soddy Daisy, a neighboring community to Chattanooga. Folks, I had not heard of them before. But I was by myself in not knowing this group.

It is special to see talent at the beginning. Infinite Orange is that.They have a huge following, and they added one old man Friday night.

 

 Infinite Orange Riverbend 2009

Infinite Orange has a new CD coming out this fall, titled Dig it. Their next performance is Nightfall on June 26. I will be there. Here is a link to a playlist. Take time to visit.

 

Art 'til Dark sponsored by Winder Binder Gallery

Richard Smith  Mortgages Home Loans FHA TN GA AL: Loan Officer in Chattanooga, TN

Visited Art ‘til Dark this afternoon. It is a regular outdoor art showing sponsored by Winder Binder Gallery. Some talented folks. Sculpture, painting, glass blowing, handicrafts. The originality of these artists always amazes me.

Today I met Charles McFarland, a local sculptor. He has worked in steel for over 2 decades, but had only recently turned his skills into creating art. His pieces are both large and small. He works both freelance and by commission. His customers include many corporations in Chattanooga, but also individuals.

Charles McFarland sculpture

Charles McFarland sculpture

Here are two of the larger pieces by Charles McFarland being displayed at the Art ‘til Dark show.

Today I also met Gypsy Hundley, a painter from North Carolina. As we talked, I mentioned that last week at the Who-Fest I met another artist whose work used the bright colors and imaginative drawing. Gypsy said, "Yes, my sister, Kim."

Two very talented ladies. With striking use of beautiful colors.

Gypsy's Folk Art

Visit Gypsy's Folkart on myspace.

Kimberly Dawn's art at Art 'til Dark

Gypsy's sister, Kim, was here today also, but I missed her. From her booth at Art ‘til Dark.

David Smotherman runs Winder Binder Gallery on Frazier Avenue, where the regular Art ‘til Dark shows are held. He also sponsored the Who-Fest last weekend.

Give him a visit and see these great and inspired pieces. The next show is June 6, at the start of Riverbend.

Winder Binder Gallery
40 Frazier Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: 423.413.8999

Chattanooga Market - Beast Feast BBQ Cookoff

Richard Smith  Mortgages Home Loans FHA TN GA AL: Loan Officer in Chattanooga, TN

The Chattanooga Market had a first last Sunday with its Beast Feast BBQ Cookoff. Some of the best BBQ chefs in the area set up shop. Despite the weather, the crowds came and stood in line to taste the best. We could buy a plate or a ticket to sample all.

Beast Feast at the Chattanooga Market

The crowd gathers to taste the best of the best BBQ in Chattanooga.

The categories and results were:

People’s Choice

v Southern Smokehouse

v Hillbilly Willy’s BBQ & Catering

v Big Ben’s BBQ

Best Chicken

v Hillbilly Willy’s BBQ & Catering

v Moss Place BBQ &Catering

v Lockhart’s Fire & Smoke BBQ

Best Beef

v Hillbilly Willy’s BBQ & Catering

v Southern Smokehouse

v Kenny’s smokehouse BBQ

Cooking at the Beast Feast

Cooking at the Beast Feast

Best Pork

v Kenny’s Smokehouse BBQ

v Hillybilly Willy’s BBQ & Catering

v Dixie BBQ

Best Beast

v Hoss’s (Almost Famous) BBQ by Terry

v Kenny’s Smokehouse BBQ

v Southern Smokehouse

Strawberries in season at the Chattanooga Market

Always music at the Chattanooga Market

And strawberries are in season at the Market

Always great music

This Sunday is Big Band Day. As part of the EPB CFL Day Electric Power Board (EPB) will give away 3,000 free CFL (compact fluorescent light bulbs) bulbs. You can also return used CFL bulbs. Also come and learn from the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County "to give you the "dirt" on gardening and answer any questions you may have about your plants and gardens at home."

It is great to live in Chattanooga.

Tax credit downpayment. Is it back in play with new HUD announcement?

Richard Smith  Mortgages Home Loans FHA TN GA AL: Loan Officer in Chattanooga, TN

The tax credit down payment is back. Well maybe not so much.

HUD announced today the details of the "new" program that have been much anticipated and in the news recently with a lot of false information. I expect that today's announcement will add to the dissemination of false information.

The policy allows certain entities to offer tax credit advances with second liens. This is the approach already taken by THDA for Tennessee purchases. Other states have similar programs.

The purchaser may not receive cash back as a result of the tax credit advance.

The second lien may not exceed the total amount needed by the borrower for down payment, closing costs, or prepaid escrows.

As an alternative to a tax credit second mortgage, approved entities may PURCHASE the anticipated tax credit refund.

More information is available in the reissued Mortgagee Letter 09-15.

News articles are already out on this HUD announcement, but in actuality I cannot find very much in the mortgagee letter that is new. There seems to be more in the headlines than in the details.

Maybe someone else can find more. It looks to me like the last paragraph in the announcement is almost a threat. "FHA will monitor the purchase of tax credit transactions closely." The primary concerns are overcharges for the tax credit advances and use of this program by entities involved in the transaction. This last is a nod to the former seller funded down payment programs that were discontinued this past fall.