Out & About Calendar - Jan. 14-20

Certified public accountant Grady Williams will be awarded the second annual Gordon Street Distinguished Leadership Award during Erlanger Health System Foundations' Dinner of Distinction on Friday, Jan. 15, at The Chattanoogan hotel. Also being honored are Drs. Larry Sargent and John McCravey. Call 423-778-9298 for ticket information.
Certified public accountant Grady Williams will be awarded the second annual Gordon Street Distinguished Leadership Award during Erlanger Health System Foundations' Dinner of Distinction on Friday, Jan. 15, at The Chattanoogan hotel. Also being honored are Drs. Larry Sargent and John McCravey. Call 423-778-9298 for ticket information.

Leisure

ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS - Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St. Cheerleading and dance championships in two-day event, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 16-17. Spectators $20 ages 13-64, $35 for two-day pass; $15 child ages 6-12, senior adults ages 65 and older and military personnel, $25 two-day pass; free for children ages 5 and younger. Cash only at door. athleticchampion ships.varsity.com/Events/Platinum-Chattanooga.

BIRDING TALK - Tennessee Aquarium, lower lobby auditorium of River Journey building, 1 Broad St. Keven Calhoon discusses his travels as a birdwatcher and what it takes to be a birder, 2 p.m. Jan. 23. 423-267-3474. Free for members, $29.95 nonmember adult, $18.95 nonmember child ages 3-12; nonmember price includes Aquarium admission.

BRIDAL SHOW - Chattanooga Convention Center, 1100 Carter St. The Pink Bride brings wedding vendors together in one location to consult with engaged couples, with fashion shows and giveaways, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 24. $10 in advance at thepink bride.com, $12 at the door.

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, 8:30 nightly. $15.95 adults, $10 ages 12 and younger. 423-821-7125.

CHATTANOOGA STAMP CLUB - Hickory Valley Christian Church, 6605 Shallowford Road. Auction of stamp lots submitted by members begins at 7:30 p.m. today, Jan. 14. APS sales books available to select stamps for purchase at 6:30 p.m. 423-238-7406.

DINNER OF DISTINCTION - The Chattanoogan, 1201 Broad St. Erlanger Health System Foundations will honor Drs. Larry Sargent and John McCravey and award certified public accountant Grady Williams with second annual Gordon Street Distinguished Leadership Award, Friday, Jan. 15. Reception at 6 p.m., dinner and program at 7 p.m. $100. Table sponsorships available. 423-778-9298, Christian.Orth@erlanger.org.

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, Jan. 16: Mullins Cove Loop in Prentice Cooper, 12 miles, strenuous. Meet at Food City parking lot in Red Bank at 9 a.m.

* Tuesday, Jan. 19: Cloudland Canyon's Sitton Gulch, 5 miles, easy to moderate. Meet at Food City parking lot in Red Bank at 9 a.m. $5 parking at Cloudland Canyon.

* Saturday, Jan. 23: Flipper Bend, 8 miles, strenuous. Meet at Soddy-Daisy Walmart at 9 a.m.

HISTORY HAPPY HOUR - Museum Center at Five Points, 200 E. Inman St., Cleveland, Tenn. Rob McGowan, owner of Mash & Hops, leads History Happy Hour on basic equipment needed and processes for brewing beer at home, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 21. Must be 21 or older to attend. Free for museum members, $10 nonmembers, $16 nonmember couples; ticket includes wine/beer. 423-339-5745.

ICE ON THE LANDING - Ross's Landing at Chattanooga Green, 100 Riverfront Parkway. Outdoor ice-skating rink, open daily through Monday, Jan. 18. $10 adults, $8 children 12 and younger. Ticket includes skates rental and skating for two hours. www.iceonthe landing.com.

INTRO TO KAYAKING - Southern Adventist University, Hulsey Wellness Center indoor pool, Collegedale. Outdoor Chattanooga program offers instruction on whitewater kayaking for ages 8 and up, 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. Two sessions: 6-7 p.m. or 7-8 p.m. Equipment provided in $125 fee. www.outdoorchatta nooga.com.

LADIES NIGHT: TROPICAL NIGHTS - The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place. Escape into a greenhouse paradise for wine and "tiny bites," plus 20 percent off purchases (some exclusions), 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. Free. 423-698-2276.

NIGHT OF COMEDY - Dalton Distillery, 109 E. Morris St., Dalton, Ga. Comedy show with regional comics, 7 p.m. Jan. 23; doors open at 5:30 p.m. One drink included in $15 ticket. Must be 17 or older to attend. 706-673-2408.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF CHATTANOOGA - St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive. Program on composition by Steven Gustafson, 7 p.m. Jan. 21. Boot Camp begins at 6 p.m. for shooters who want to get their camera off automatic. 423-344-5643.

SANDHILL CRANE CRUISES - Sale Creek Marina, 3900 Lee Pike. Tennessee Aquarium hosts two-hour viewing cruises during peak of sandhill crane migration, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday-Monday, Jan. 15-18. River Gorge Explorer is fully accessible to people of all abilities; marina boarding ramp is not wheelchair accessible. $35 aquarium members, $45 nonmembers. Registration required: 423-267-3474.

TRAIN RIDES - Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Road. 423-894-8028, www.tvrail.com. Missionary Ridge Local, a 6-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga to TVRM's repair shop, departs at 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15 and 2:25 p.m. Saturdays in January. $17 adults, $11 ages 3-12.

WHISKEY TASTING - Back Inn Cafe, Bluff View Art District, 411 E. Second St. Inaugural whiskey-tasting event with culinary pairings, led by Michael Vasta, who will discuss distillation methods, regional flavors and distinct profiles, 6:30 p.m. today, Jan. 14. $37. Limited seating. Registration required: 423-265-5033, ext. 4.

WINTER VISTAS HISTORY PROGRAM - Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. "To the Sound of Guns," a two-hour, half-mile driving and hiking tour of Chickamauga Battlefield, explores terrain of Winfrey and Brock fields, described by a Union general as "bushwhacking on a grand scale," while the views are not obscured by foliage, 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16. Free. 423-821-7786.

WINTER WORKSHOPS - Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. Eight-session series of workshops focusing on winter skills, 6 p.m. Thursdays. 423-643-6888.

* Jan. 14: Bicycle Maintenance 101.

* Jan. 21: Planning a Winter Hike.

Books/Authors

BOOK SIGNING - Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Don Boys signs and discusses his book, "The God Haters: Angry Atheists, Shallow Scholars, Silly Scientists, Pagan Preachers and Embattled Evolutionists Declare War Against Christians" 6 p.m. Jan. 21. 423-893-0186.

SOUTH BOUND LECTURES - Two venues. Southern Lit Alliance hosts author Rick Bragg to kick off its South Bound Distinguished Lecture Series, Jan. 21. 423-267-1218.

' Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd.: Happy hour with Bragg for VIP ticketholders at 4 p.m., book signing at 5 p.m., reading by Bragg at 6 p.m. $50 general admission, $30 student, $75 VIP with happy hour and reserved seating.

' Easy Bistro, 203 Broad St. Southern Lit Dinner with Bragg, 7:30 p.m. $150 for five-course diner, drinks and hardback copy of "My Southern Journey."

Children/Teens

CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY - 1001 Broad St. (main library) and branches at Eastgate, Northgate and South Chattanooga. 423-757-5310, www.chattlibrary.org.

* Lego Clubs: Downtown branch, every Monday, 5-6 p.m., for ages 5-11, free; Northgate branch, first Saturday of each month, 2-3 p.m., for ages 3 and up, free. 423-757-5314.

* Toddler Time: Learning program for ages 18-36 months and parents/guardians, registration not required. Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. Eastgate Library, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Northgate Library. Saturday: 11 a.m., downtown branch.

* Sensory Storytime: Interactive program specifically for schoolchildren with special needs and their families/caregivers, 4:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays, downtown.

* Saturday, Jan. 16: Learn Robotics with Makey Makey circuitry device, 3 p.m., downtown.

* Saturday, Jan. 23: Learn Robotics with Squishy Circuits, 3 p.m. downtown, learn about electrical circuits and how to combine them with Rube Goldberg.

CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM - 321 Chestnut St. $12.95 adults and children. 423-756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.

* Today, Jan. 14: Free Family Night, 5:30-8 p.m.

* Saturday, Jan. 16: "Heart and Seoul: Growing Up in Korea" opens.

DALTON-WHITFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 310 Cappes St., Dalton, Ga. Story time, 11 a.m. Tuesdays. 706-876-1360.

Dances

LATIN SHAKE - Granfalloon, 400 E. Main St. Latin-infused hip-hop and club music with Carlos Colon, Jan. 22. Doors open at 9 p.m.; salsa lessons at 10 p.m. 423-661-3185.

RHYTHM BALLROOM - The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn fundamentals of rumba, cha cha, East Coast swing, 6 p.m. Mondays, 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Casual dress; no partner required. $5. www.theballroomathixson.com.

VINTAGE SWING DANCE - ClearSpring Yoga, 17 N. Market St. Dance, 8:30-10 p.m. Mondays. Intermediate lesson at 7 p.m., beginner lesson at 7:45 p.m. Wear nonmarking shoes; no high heels. $7 includes lesson, $5 students with ID. 931-982-1678.

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