LEISURE
BELLA SERA — Renaissance Park, North Shore, Chattanooga. Kick off summer with Bella Sera, a festival of culinary delights. Sample food and wine from Chattanooga’s fine dining establishments, including Bluewater Grille and Niko’s Southside. The evening includes a silent auction, wine tasting and world music by Ogya. $60, 6-10 p.m., Saturday. Contact: Ann Ball, 265-0771, bellaseraevent.com.
CHAMPAGNE & CHOCOLATES — Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 200 River St., North Chattanooga. Fourth annual evening of champagne, chocolates, beer, wine, hors d’ouevres and silent auction. The sumptuous evening benefits the Little Miss Mag Child Care Center. $50 per person, $90 per couple. 6-9 p.m. Today. Contact: Johanne Albright, littlemissmag@yahoo.com.
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS — From Walnut Street Bridge (downtown end) to Read House. Several stops along the way for ghost stories and place histories. Regular tour is about two hours, shorter circle tour is about 1 hour. $13 adults, $8 children under 12., 8:15 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. Contact: 821-7125. www.chattanoogaghosttours.com.
CHATTANOOGA MARKET — First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. Showcase of home-grown produce and handmade arts and crafts, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each Sunday. This week: La Feria, annual Latin Fair. Monthly cooking classes, every third Sunday, are $15 and require reservations; www.cookinglive.net. Free children’s activities. Free admission and parking. Free concerts on EPB Stage: Carlos Colon, Tropical Swing, DJ K7. Contact: 648-2496, www.ChattanoogaMarket.com.
CHATT STATE BIZ SPEAKERS — main campus of Chattanooga State, room B-102 of the Omniplex building, 4501 Amnicola Highway, Chattanooga. Chattanooga State’s Business and Information Technologies Division presents a semester-long series of speakers to supplement the International Business 202 course. Wednesday evenings, 5:30 p.m. Contact: Kenneth Goldsmith, 697-4795 or kenneth.goldsmith@chattanoogastate.edu
D-DAY MEMORIAL — Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. World War II re-enactors demonstrate war time events. Veterans invited to share stories. $15 adults, $9 children, $7.50 veterans. Trains depart 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15, 2:25 and 3:35 p.m., Saturday. Contact: 894-8028, www.tvrail.com.
DELTA QUEEN — Coolidge Park. Historic, 1920s-era steamboat permanently docked as a floating hotel and lounge. Access is via Fat Cat Ferry/Chattanooga Water Taxi from Ross’s Landing or by foot from Coolidge Park. $8 adults, $4 children 6-12 (includes optional ferry ride). 468-4500, www.DeltaQueenHotel.com.
Weekly events:
* Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament — Delta Queen Texas Lounge. 4 p.m. — close, Sundays and Mondays.
* Speed Dating — Texas Lounge, 7-8 p.m., Wednesdays.
* Open Mic Night — Texas Lounge, 6-9 p.m., Thursdays.
* Bow B-Que — Texas Deck — dinner, live entertainment, $13, $6 for torched tableside — Fridays and Saturdays.
Special Events
DREAMNIGHT — Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, 1254 East 3rd Street, Chattanooga. A VIP after hours visit to the zoo for special needs children and their families. The event includes behind-the-scenes tours, animal encounters, crafts, games and pizza. 5:30 — 8 p.m., Today. Contact: 697-1319.
FESTIVE FRIDAYS — The Office on 3rd St., 1401 E. 3rd St., Chattanooga. Blow off the stress of the week in a mature setting with music, dancing, food and conversation every Friday. 21 and up. $5. 8 p.m. — 1:30 a.m., Fridays. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy@yahoo.com.
FOOD FOR LIFE — Sequatchie Valley Institute, off Rte. 28. Sequatchie Valley. A skill building conference about permaculture, food gathering, organic gardening, food preparation and more. Food made in workshops will be used for meals. Learn all about agriculture. All day, Today-Sunday. Contact: 949=5922, officemanager@svionline.org.
HOT ROD POWER TOUR — Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Highway, Chattanooga. The Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour makes a stop in Chattanooga. Noon — 7 p.m., Wednesday. Join the tour, $80 on site, or one day for $25. Contact: 877-413-6515, www.HotRod.com.
KENNEL CLUB — Golden Corral restaurant, Gunbarrel Rd. Meetings of the Chattanooga Kennel Club are held the second Tuesday of every month. Next meeting: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday. Contact: Mary Menozi, 517-1453.
MOOFEST — downtown Athens, Tenn. National MooFest, the festival that celebrates the dairy industry, includes ice cream eating contests, sundae making and an ice cream recipe contest. Also includes crafts booths, exhibits on the history of the dairy industry and musical entertainment. $3 per day, $5 two-day pass, free under six years of age. 10 a.m. — 7 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m. — 5 p.m., Sunday. Contact: 746-9041.
RIDE 4 SMILES — Ultimate Cycle, 103 Jubilee Drive, Chattanooga. A car and bike show, poker run and fashion show to raise money for adults and children with craniofacial abnormalities. Includes silent auction, door prizes and music. $15 early registration, $25 day of registry. 10 a.m., Saturday. Contact: Stephanie Hale Hodges, stephanie@faces-cranio.org.
SWAGGIN’ SATURDAYS — The Office, 1401 Third St., Chattanooga. Food, drink, music, dancing, adult socializing every Saturday. 21 and up. $5. 8 p.m. — 1:30 a.m., Saturdays. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy08@yahoo.com..
THURSTY THURSDAYS — The Elks’ Lodge #4400, 1211 Dodds Ave. Adult socializing, music, dance, beer specials, free food for the soul. 21 and up. Free. 7 p.m. — midnight, Thursdays. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy08@yahoo.com.
TRAIN RIDES, CHATTANOOGA — Departing from Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 894-8028, www.tvrail.com.
* Missionary Ridge Local: Six-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga and to TVRM’s repair shop where locomotive rotated and reposition for ride back. Resumes Feb. 6: 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15 and 2:25 p.m. $15 adults, $9 children ages 3-12, free to younger kids.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
BICENTENNIAL LIBRARY — All locations of Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library system have programs and activities. Call downtown, 757-5314; Eastgate, 855-2685; Northgate, 870-0636; Ooltewah/Collegedale, 396-9322; South Chattanooga, 825-7237. The central information number for all branches is 757-5310. www.lib.chattanooga.gov.
CHATTANOOGA WRITERS GUILD — Downtown Bicentennial Library, 1000 Broad. 7 p.m., Tuesday. Free. 648-2195. www.chattanoogawritersguild.org.
OWL TOWNE WRITERS GROUP — Resurrection Lutheran Church, 4309 Ooltewah Ringgold Road, Ooltewah. Discussion for anyone interested in writing, regardless of experience, 7 p.m. next date. Facets of building writing skills reviewed. 834-0222.
ROCK POINT BOOKS — 401 Broad St. 756-2855, www.rockpointbooks.com.
* Classic Lit Book Club — Sinclair Lewis’ “Main Street” — 6 p.m., June 15.
CHILDREN/TEENS
BICENTENNIAL LIBRARY — All locations of Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library system have programs and activities. Call downtown, 757-5314; Eastgate, 855-2685; Northgate, 870-0636; Ooltewah/Collegedale, 396-9322; South Chattanooga, 825-7237. The central information number for all branches is 757-5310. www.lib.chattanooga.gov.
CHILDREN’S READING HOUR — Rock Point Books, 401 Broad St. 756-2855. www.rockpointbooks.com. Fun Friday features stories and related programming, 10:30 a.m. every Friday.
CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR — Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. 11 a.m., Wednesdays.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM — 321 Chestnut St. Hours: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. Monday — Saturday, noon-5 p.m., Sunday. Closed on Wednesdays after Labor Day. $10.95 for children and adults. 756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.
* Grossology — Through Sept. 6.
INTERACTIVE SHOW — Vaudeville Cafe, 138 Market St. “Mystery of the Time Machine,” audience-participation, comedy-mystery geared toward children, plus pizza buffet, 1 p.m. each Saturday. $12. 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com.
STORY TIME — 2547 Cloud Springs Road, Rossville. Story time every Saturday morning for children ages 3-8. 10:30 — 11:30 a.m., Saturdays. Contact: 706-891-0774, www.booksneverending.com.
TODDLER TIME — McMinn County Living Heritage Museum, 522 W. Madison Ave., Athens, Tenn. Children 2-6, accompanied by adult, invited to use museum’s artifacts to create art projects, 10-11 a.m. $5 adults, $3 senior adults, free to children. 423-745-0329, www.livingheritagemuseum.com.
CLASS/WORKSHOP
ASSOCIATION FOR VISUAL ARTS
All classes are $125 for AVA members, $200 for non-members; workshops are $45 for members, $90 for non-members, unless otherwise marked. Register online at www.avarts.org. Contact: 265-4282
* Photoshop I — Thursdays, 6-8 p.m., June 8-29.
* Photojournalism Workshop — $300 members, $375 non-members; 5-8 p.m., June 25; 12-5 p.m., June 26; 9 a.m. — 5 p.m., June 27.
* Beginning Digital Photography — Thursdays, 6-8 p.m., June 24 — July 15.
* Photoshop II — Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m., July 6-27.
CANINE CLASSES — Obedience Club of Chattanooga, four miles south of Chattanooga on Highway 193, Flintstone, Ga. Registration for obedience, rally and agility classes for puppies and dogs, Sunday 1-3 p.m. Also: OCC dog/handler teams present demonstrations. Classes begin Monday. Contact: Carol Wetzel, 517-1448, www.chattanoogaobedienceclub.org.