LEISURE

ASTRONOMY -- UTC Physics and Astronomy Jones Observatory, 10 N. Tuxedo Ave. off Brainerd Road. Free lecture and planetarium show on "Brown Dwarfs -- The Orion Nebula" with featured constellation Taurus at 6 p.m., telescope viewing until 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. www.utc.edu/~jonesobs.

BIG BIDS FOR JA KIDS AUCTION PARTY -- Stratton Hall, 3146 Broad St. Auction party to benefit Junior Achievement of Chattanooga, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. $50. 423-892-4488.

CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS -- The Little Curiosity Shoppe, 138 Market St. Walking tours through downtown, ghost hunts through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Citizens Cemetery, 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays until March 1. $15 adults, $10 ages 12 and under. 423-821-7125.

CHATTANOOGA STAMP CLUB -- Hickory Valley Christian Church, 6605 Shallowford Road. Program features stamps of the Falkland Islands, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13; doors open at 6:30 p.m. APS sales books available to choose stamps for purchase. 423-344-7849.

CHICKAMAUGA CIVIL WAR SHOW -- Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, Ga. Militaria show and sale with 400 vendor tables, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. $8; free for children under 12. 770-630-7296, www.mkshows.com.

CIVIL WAR COLLOQUIUM -- Lecture Hall, Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, Ga. Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia presents "The Devil Went Down to Georgia: The Atlanta Campaign," featuring separate programs by four prominent historians, roundtable discussion and book signing, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. 706-272-4452, www.bandyheritagecenter.org.

DAY OF GARDENING -- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave. Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, District III, sponsors seminar for gardeners of all skill levels on various aspects of gardening, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Feb. 15. Registration fee $20 before Saturday, Feb. 8, $25 at door; includes lunch of homemade soups, breads, desserts and drinks. Reservations: 423-618-4244, crymertfgc@gmail.com.

ELDERSCHOLARS -- UTC University Center, Lookout Mountain Room. Program for adult learners; featured speaker is Tom Griscom, director of communications for former President Ronald Reagan and former Times Free Press editor, 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. Optional lunch at noon in University Center; buy own meal and eat with other ElderScholars. 706-937-3748.

FREE STUDIO RENTAL -- KCM Studios, 9619 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy. Professional and amateur photographers and videographers may reserve space and use any of eight sets, with assistance from KCM and sister company Kelcurt Media staff, in 30-minute increments, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. No pets, no boudoir/nudity photos. 423-401-3817, info@kelcurtmedia.com.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT -- Four-day event asks all bird watchers to tally number of individual birds in their yard and enter numbers on website, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb 14-17. birdsource.org/gbbc.

GUN AND KNIFE SHOW -- Alhambra Shrine Temple, 1000 Alhambra Drive off East Brainerd Road. Buy, sell or trade at show with 100 tables of vendors, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Security provided. $8. 423-892-0223.

HIKE, HISTORY -- Moccasin Bend National Archaeological District, Moccasin Bend Road (signs will be posted). "Hampton Place -- Where Worlds Possibly Collided," 1.3-mile, two-hour interpretive hike exploring what life was like for Mississippian Indians at the village site known as Hampton Place before and after European contact, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. Water, appropriate clothing and supportive footwear recommended. 706-866-9241, 423-821-7786.

HIKES, NATURE -- Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619.

* Saturday, Feb. 8: Retro Hughes to Heiss Mountain trailhead, strenuous 10 miles, meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy, 9 a.m.

* Tuesday, Feb. 11: Elsie A. Holmes Nature Park in Ringgold, Ga., moderate 4-5 miles, meet at Highway 153 Target parking lot, 9 a.m.

* Saturday, Feb. 15: Signal Mountain High School to Prentice Cooper Cumberland Trail parking lot, strenuous 8 miles, meet at Red Bank Bi-Lo parking lot, 9 a.m.

NBA LEGEND VISITS -- Southern Adventist University, Iles P.E. Center, Collegedale. Bob Love, who played for the Chicago Bulls from 1969 to 1976 and remains the Bulls' third-highest scoring player, shares story of overcoming stuttering, 11 a.m. today, Feb. 6. Free. 423-236-2814.

ODYSSEY AWARDS LUNCHEON -- Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. Education strategist Ian Symmonds is keynote speaker for Young Women's Leadership Academy Foundation's fifth annual fundraiser supporting Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. $50. 423-468-4105.

OOLTEWAH FARMERS MARKET -- Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main St. Open 3-5 p.m. Thursdays through Feb. 27. 423-238-9775.

POSSIBILITIES LUNCHEON -- Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St. Col. Greg Gadson, who lost both legs in an IED explosion in Iraq, is featured speaker at fundraiser for Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. $75 individual, $1,000 tables of eight. 423-634-1208.

SAVE WATER, DRINK WINE -- The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th St. Place. Talk with local wine and gardening experts as you walk though greenhouses to each station at fundraiser for CaribbeanSEA and TenneSea clean water initiatives, 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. $40 ticket includes wine and cheeses, desserts and chances on door prizes. www.caribbean-sea.org.

STEAK NIGHT -- American Legion Post 81, 227 James Asbury Lane, Cleveland, Tenn. Monthly ribeye dinner with speaker from Smoky Mountain Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans, 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. $13. Proceeds go to sponsor service dog for disabled Tennessee veteran. 423-476-4451.

WILD GAME DINNER -- Middle Cross Baptist Church, 4009 Norcross Road. Antelope, buffalo, deer and other wild game served with homemade dishes and desserts; door prizes and entertainment, 5:30-8 p.m. Feb. 22. $8. 423-877-5742.

ZUMBATHON -- UTC Aquatic and Recreation Center, 601 E. Fifth St. Dance and raise money for American Heart Association's Go Red for Women during three-hour event with giveaways and DJ, 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. $5 UTC students, $10 all others. 423-425-4213.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

BOOK SIGNING -- McKay Used Books, 7734 Lee Highway. Jason and Katie Mitchell sign copies of their autobiographical nonfiction book, "Don't Settle for a Fairy Tale: A True Love Story," noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. dontsettleforafairytale@gmail.com.

CHILDREN/TEENS

SMALL-FRY PROGRAMS -- Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. Drop in between 10:15 and 11 a.m. to participate in activities geared to preschoolers and elementary children, Mondays and Thursdays through Feb. 27. Included in aquarium admission. 800-262-0695.