Out & About Calendar - Feb. 20-26

LEISURE

ANIMAL PRESENTATIONS -- Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road. Red-Tailed Hawk, 11 a.m.; Snakes of the Southeast, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Free with regular admission: $10 adults, $7 seniors 65 and older and children 4-11. 423-821-9582.

ASTRONOMY -- UTC's Jones Observatory, 10 N. Tuxedo Ave. Planetarium show on "When Stars Explode: Novas and Super Novas" and constellation Gemini, 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23; telescope viewing until 8 p.m. www.utc.edu/~jonesobs.

ASTRONOMY SHOW -- Smith Planetarium, 409 Pond Springs Road, Chickamauga, Ga. "Cowboy Astronomer" show follows star tales and American Indian legends combined with constellation identification and easy-to-find stars, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 25. Free. 706-375-8001.

BLACK HISTORY TALK -- UTC University Center auditorium, East Fifth Street on campus. Civil-rights leaders of Chattanooga featured in documentary "9 United for Equality: Reflections on the Struggle of Civil Rights in Chattanooga," 5:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24. Free. 423-425-5314.

BLACK HISTORY TALK -- Chattanooga State Community College, 4501 Amnicola Highway. Margaret Block presents "Freedom Songs and the Civil Rights Movement," 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. Free. 423-697-2424.

BREAK OUT THE BUBBLY -- Back Inn Cafe, 412 E. Second St. Bluff View wine director Michael Vasta leads informative evening of sparkling wine tastings, 6:30-8:30 p.m. today, Feb. 20. $37. 423-265-5033.

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 in February. $15 adults, $10 ages 12 and under. 423-821-7125.

CIVIL WAR LECTURE -- Catoosa County Library, Benton Place campus on Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga. Jim Wade, George Davenport and Chris McKeever present free lecture, "The 6th Cavalry Exploits of 1863 at the Battle of Brandy Station and History of the Medal of Honor," 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. 706-861-2860.

COCKTAILS FOR CONSERVATION -- Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and animal encounters to raise funds for zoo conservation efforts, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 28. $20 in advance; $25 at door for zoo members, $30 nonmembers. Must be 21 to attend. 423-697-1319.

CORK & CANVAS -- Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, The Art Center, Galleries on West Main, Blue Ridge, Ga. Wine samplings, live music, silent auction and food to benefit Blue Ridge Art Center, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. $25-$30. 706-632-2144.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3067 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, Ooltewah. Classes and exhibits on preparing for natural disasters, solar power, water purification and related topics, plus blood drive, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Event schedule on Facebook.

FAIRY TALE NIGHTS -- Rock City, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain. Family fun based on favorite fairy tales, March 1-5. Included in regular park admission of $21.95 adults, $11.95 kids. 5-8 p.m. 706-820-2531.

FAMILY DAY AT POT POINT CABIN -- 17804 River Canyon Road. Free day of hikes, crafts, snacks for families sponsored by Tennessee River Gorge Trust, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22; hike begins at 11 a.m. Reservations requested. 423-266-0314.

FRIENDS OF SCOUTING LUNCHEON --Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St. Mike Schlappi, Eagle Scout, four-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion in wheelchair basketball, is featured speaker at fundraiser for Cherokee Council of Boy Scouts, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26. $300. 423-892-8323.

GO GREEK -- The Church on Main, 1601 Rossville Ave. Chattanooga Panhellenic Alumnae Association hosts free information session for high school seniors and their moms about sorority rush in college, 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23. RSVP on Chattanooga Panhellenic Alumnae Association's Facebook page.

HEART SMART -- Erlanger East, 1751 Gunbarrel Road. UT Erlanger Cardiology specialists lecture on women and heart disease, sudden cardiac death, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Heart-healthy lunch provided. Free but registration required. 423-778-5465.

HIKES -- 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. 22: Little River, moderate 11 miles, meet in Red Bank Bi-Lo parking lot, 9 a.m.

* Tuesday, Feb. 25: Cedar Mountain, moderate 4.5 miles, meet in Red Bank Bi-Lo parking lot, 9 a.m.

* Saturday, March 1: Lula Lake, moderate 4 miles, meet in Red Bank Bi-Lo parking lot, 9 a.m.

HOME SHOW -- Bradley Square Mall, 200 Paul Huff Parkway, Cleveland, Tenn. Expo sponsored by Ocoee Region Builders Association, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 21-22. 423-790-7600, 423-716-3330.

MOM PROM -- McMinn County High School, 2215 Congress Parkway, Athens, Tenn. Girls Night Out charity event for females of all ages, 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. $40 roaring singles, $75 flapper duo. Benefits American Red Cross. www.redcross.org/news/eventMom-Prom-2o14.

OOLTEWAH FARMERS MARKET -- Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main St. Open 3-5 p.m. Thursdays. Free rose care seminar, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 27. 423-238-9775.

PHOTO MEETING -- St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Road. Photographic Society of Chattanooga presents program by commercial photographer Ron Lowery on his latest book about the Tennessee River, 7 p.m. today, Feb. 20. Boot Camp, 6 p.m., focuses "F Stops and Shutter Speed: Artistic Considerations." 423-344-5643.

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN -- Shoney's Restaurant, 2616 Decatur Pike, Athens, Tenn. Meeting, 6:30 p.m. today, Feb. 20. Visitors welcome.423-745-8804.

TRAIL OF TEARS LECTURE -- Berry College, Krannert Center, Rome, Ga. Alan Garrison, history professor at Portland State University, gives free lecture on Remembering the Trail of Tears, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24. 706-236-1716.

TRI-STATE HOME SHOW -- Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St. Annual home show sponsored by Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga and EPB Fiber Optics, Feb. 28-March 2. 423-624-9992.

WILD GAME DINNER -- Middle Cross Baptist Church, 4009 Norcross Road. Event set for Saturday, Feb. 22, is sold out. 423-877-5742.

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL CLASS -- Desoto State Park, 7104 Desoto Parkway NE, Fort Payne, Ala. Spring survival class teaches basics such as proper clothing, kits, shelter, fire, water and rescue, March 1-2. For adults and youth ages 14 and up; ages 14-17 must be accompanied by an adult. $105, $135 and $185. Reservations required. 256-634-8370.

WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IMPACT DINNER -- Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St. Television journalist Connie Chung is featured speaker at Chattanooga Women's Leadership Institute fundraiser, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. $65. 423-394-8173.

BOOKS/AUTHORS

POETRY READING -- Bryan College library, 721 Bryan Drive, Dayton, Tenn. Authors Bruce Majors, Helga Kidder, K.B. Ballentine and Finn Bille give free readings of poetry and short stories followed by question-and-answer session, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24. 423-775-2041.

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 admission. 800-262-0695.

DANCES

BALLROOM DANCING FOR SENIOR ADULTS -- Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. Ten weeks of group class for ages 55 and older who already know ballroom basics, 10 a.m. Wednesdays, starting Feb. 26. $70. 423-771-3636.

Upcoming Events