Chattanooga area events calendar

LEISURE

AMERICAN BEAD & JEWELRY SHOW - Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. Wholesale and retail exhibitors offer handmade jewelry and supplies, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, www.americangemexpo.com.

ASIA CONFERENCE - UTC University Center auditorium, on campus beween Vine and Fifth streets. Speakers Dr. Shelley Rigger, Kingsley Brock and Dr. Craig Laing are followed by a panel discussion on travel in Asia and a performance by South Asian dance troupe, 12:15-5 p.m. today, Feb. 14. Free, no reservations needed, www.utc.edu/Outreach/AsiaConference.

COMEDY JAM - Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. Valentine's show features Sheryl Underwood, Arnez J, Tony Rock and J. Anthony Brown, 8-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15. $39.50-$47.50. 423-757-5050.

FLASHBACK PROM - DoubleTree Hotel, 407 Chestnut St. Third annual benefit for Speech and Hearing Center's Achieve Learning Center, presented by Chattanooga Friends, has 1980s theme, 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Feb. 16. Includes munchies, cash bar, door prizes. $25 per person, $40 per couple in advance, $30 per person at door, http://flashback promchatt.eventbrite.com.

GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY LECTURE - UTC University Center, between Vine and Fifth streets on campus. Religious historian Dr. Philip Jenkins speaks on increase of Christianity in continents of Africa and Asia and how global migration is bringing newer styles of Christianity to North America, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, Free, 425-4334.

GO GREEK - The Church on Main, 1601 Rossville Ave. All high-school senior girls invited to free information session on sorority recruitment, no matter what college in the country they plan to attend, with fashion show, food and door prizes, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Sponsored by Chattanooga Alumnae Panhellenic Association.

HANS FLORINE - Rock/Creek Outfitters, 301 Manufacturers Road. Pint Night and chance to meet world's fastest climber, Hans Florine, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21. Free but donations taken to benefit ongoing trail work in area, 423-266-8200.

HIKE - Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville, Tenn. Reservations due by today, Feb. 14, for winter day hike on 2-mile loop from park's Nature Center to see waterfalls and overlooks, 10 a.m. CST Saturday, Feb. 16. Bring water and lunch or snack. RSVP to 615-532-0439 or David.Lincicome@tn.gov.

HIKE - Sewanee Herbarium, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn. Moderate to strenuous 2-mile walk that may include steep rocky section of the trail in the "Hunt for the First Hepatica" and other early wildflowers, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17. 931-598-3346, ygottfri@sewanee.edu. For more events: lad.sewanee.edu/herbarium.

HIKES - Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. 842-3619.

• Saturday, Feb.16: Chickamauga Battlefield trails, moderate 7 miles, meet at Red Bank Bi-Lo parking lot, 9:30 a.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 19: Greenway Farm, easy to moderate 4 miles, meet in parking lot across from dog park, 9:30 a.m.

• Saturday, Feb. 23: Frozen Head State Park, strenuous 8 miles, meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy, 8 a.m.

HISTORY WALK - Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. Meet at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, for two-hour, 1.8-mile walking tour that focuses on the importance of Ross's Landing before and during the Indian removal. Sponsored by Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Bring water. 706-866-9241, 423-821-7786.

MARDI GRAS BALL - Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Imperial Ballroom, 1400 Market St. Chattanooga chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. sponsors formal Mardi Gras dance, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15. $40 per person. 423-698-0029.

NAVY LEAGUE DINNER - Roosevelt Room, Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St. U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Raymond K. Alexander, Civil Engineer Corps, retired, guest speaker for quarterly dinner, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19. 423-326-0839.

NORTHWEST GEORGIA SPORTSMAN'S EXPO - Oakwood Baptist Church, Chickamauga, Ga., campus, 115 Oakwood St. Woods and Water Ministry event includes wild game dinner, gun raffle, hunting supplies, car/motorcycle show, bluegrass music and speaker Jason Cruise, founder of Outdoor Ministry Network, 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. Advance tickets: $7 adults, $3 children 12 and under; at door: $10 and $5. www.oakwoodbc.org/wood sandwater.

PISTONS & FENDERS - Coker Tire Museum, 1317 Chestnut St. Pandora's European Motorsports hosts celebration of vintage luxury classic cars with silent and live auctions, food, music and motorsports icons from around the country, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. $100-$2,500. 423-800-1554.

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN - Michael's Restaurant, 2011 Congress Parkway, Athens, Tenn. Matt Henry, new recreation manager for the Ocoee/Hiwassee District of the Cherokee National Forest, is speaker, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17; if dining, arrive at 5:45 p.m. 423-238-5540.

SUNSET CRUISE - Tennessee Aquarium's River Gorge Explorer, 1 Broad St. Romantic three-hour cruise into Tennessee's "Grand Canyon," with naturalist explaining courtship rituals of animals along the river, plus complimentary appetizers, 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. $36 member adult, $41 nonmember adult. Cash bar. Registration required. 423-267-FISH, www .tnaqua.org.

SWEETHEART DINNER - Cleveland Corps, Salvation Army, 437 W. Inman St., Cleveland, Tenn. Spaghetti dinner for two and after-dinner drink from Inman Street Coffeehouse, plus keepsake photo and flower, 6 and 8 p.m. today, Feb. 14. $20 per couple. Proceeds benefit youth programs. Call 423-790-5687 for availability.

TRAIN RIDES - Departing from Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 894-8028, www.tvrail.com.

• Saturdays: Missionary Ridge Local, 6-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga to TVRM's repair shop, departing at 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15, 2:25 and 3:35 p.m. $16 adults, $10 children ages 3-12.

BOOKS/AUTHORS

BLACK INK POETRY CONTEST - EPB building, corner of Market and M.L. King Boulevard. Read or recite an original poem on any aspect of black history; youth division ages 17 and under, adult division ages 18 and older, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. 423-400-1040.

AUTHOR TALK - Cleveland State Community College, Johnson Cultural Heritage Center auditorium, Cleveland, Tenn. Black writer Daryl Davis, author of "Klan-Destine Relationships," tells of his meetings with Ku Klux Klan leaders and attending KKK rallies, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19. Free, but reservations encouraged due to limited seating. mycs.cc/klandestine.

CHILDREN/TEENS

CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY - 1001 Broad St. (main library) and branches at Eastgate, Northgate and South Chattanooga. For information on preschool story time, Adventure Club for children ages 6 and up, and the teen center, Teen Stack, call 757-5310 or visit www.lib.chattanooga.gov.

• 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. Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. Eastgate Library, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Northgate Library. Saturdays: 11 a.m., downtown branch.

CHILDREN'S STORY HOUR

• Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., 11 a.m. Wednesdays. 893-0186.

• Books Never-Ending, 247 Cloud Springs Road, Rossville, 10:30 a.m. Saturdays for ages 3-8. 706-891-0774. www.booksneverending.com

CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM - 321 Chestnut St. $11.95 adults and children.756-2738, www.cdmfun.org. Current exhibit: "Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice," through May 12.

SMALL FRY FEBRUARY - Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. Themed activities for youngest visitors and their parents, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays in February. Free with regular admission: $24.95 adults, $14.95 children 3-12. 267-FISH, www.tnaqua.org.

• Feb. 19-20: Penguins.

• Feb. 26-27: Working animals from Ranger Rick's Backyard Safari.

CLASSES/WORKSHOPS

ACT-SO ORIENTATION - Center for Creative Arts, 1301 Dallas Road. Rules and categories information for any high school student planning to participate in academic olympics, 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 16. chattanoogaactso@gmail.com.

ART - Townsend Atelier, 201 W. Main St. Registration required for all classes. 266-2712.

• Saturday, Feb. 23: Silk painting for intermediates/advanced students, led by Claire Vassort, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $110.

• Sunday, Feb. 24: Silk painting for beginners, led by Claire Vassort, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., $180.

COMMUNITY GARDEN START-UP - Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Class for beginners or experienced growers. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $50-$100. Saturday, Feb. 16. 493-9155.

POTTERY - EAC Pottery Studio, John A. Patten Recreation Center, 3204 Kelly's Ferry Road. Hours: 6-9 p.m. Mondays, 3-9 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Cost: $10 for three-hour session, $25 for 25 pounds of clay, which includes bisque and glaze firing. 821-9631.

QUILTING WORKSHOPS - Museum Center at Five Points, 200 E. Inman St., Cleveland, Tenn. All classes 10 a.m., except March 2 class at 11 a.m. Registration required. 423-339-5745.

• Saturday, Feb. 16: Making Ruth Hale's quilted trivets, $8 members, $10 nonmembers, fee includes all materials.

• Saturday, Feb. 23: Tips for using a Singer Featherweight sewing machine led by Stan Pegram, plus swap meet to sell, trade or buy Featherweight machines. $8 members, $10 nonmembers,

• Saturday, March 2: Precision quilt cutting led by Susan Hyder, $8 members, $10 nonmembers.

DANCES

FATHER-DAUGHTER - Walker County Civic Center, 10052 N. Highway 27, Rock Spring, Ga. Benefit for Four Points Inc., which serves victims of domestic violence, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15. $5 per person, includes refreshments; additional $5 for corsage. Professional photographer available. Reservations: 706-638-1555.

LINE DANCING - Allemande Hall, 7400 Standifer Gap Road. Dance to music of all genres, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays. $7 per evening, $22 monthly. www.linesinmotion.net.

SHAG - Elks Lodge, Graysville Road at East Brainerd Road. Dance with Choo Choo Shag Club, 7 p.m. Thursdays. $5 members, $7 guests, free to first-time guests. gdelett @epbfi.com.

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