LEISURE
ASTRONOMY – UTC Jones Observatory, 10 S. Tuxedo Ave. off Brainerd Road. Gates open 6:30 p.m., lecture and planetarium show on “Radio Astronomy” at 7 p.m. Telescope viewing until 9 p.m. Featured constellation is the Summer Triangle. Sunday, April 21. 423-425-4518.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON STATE PARK – 5801 Champion Road. Earth Day sunset hike, $5 parking. Meet at Shelter Area 1 parking lot for 2-mile hike; wear hiking shoes, appropriate clothing and bring flashlight. 7:30-9 p.m. Monday, April 22. Must register, no walk-ups accepted. 423-260-0366.
BOOK SALE – Eastgate Town Center, B entrance, 5600 Brainerd Road. Friends of the Public Library’s fundraiser. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday. April 27-May 14. 423-643-7747.
CHATTANOOGA DOLL CLUB SHOW – The Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga. Annual show and sale of vintage and modern dolls; $5 ages 13 and older. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 27. 706-965-4619.
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS – 57 E. Fifth St. Walking tours through downtown, ghost hunts through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Citizens Cemetery. Adults $17.95 plus tax, ages 12 and under $11 plus tax. Tours 8:30 p.m. nightly by appointment. 423-800-5998.
DINNER WITH THE DOCTOR – Chattanooga North River Seventh-day Adventist Church, 949 Runyan Drive. Join Dr. James Marcum, cardiologist, for talk on exercise, diet and your heart at free plant-based meal. 6 p.m. Monday, April 22. Reservations: 423-760-3515.
DRINK & DISCOVER: GET SCHOOLED – Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. It’s teacher appreciation night when the museum will be closed to kids. Adults can take recess with Adventure Sports introduction, attend shop class in Make It Workshop, sew a blanket in home ec, go to science class, learn how to pair wine and cheese in the Teacher’s Lounge. Admission $15, teachers need valid photo ID; Teacher’s Lounge additional $10. 7-10 p.m. Thursday, April 18. 423-756-2738.
ECOFIELD DAY – Miller Park, 900 Market St. Earth Day celebration with games, vendors music, food trucks and beverages 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, April 26; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27. 423-638-0963.
FREE DAY AT POINT PARK – Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain. Entrance fee waived for the day to encourage visits to national park; ranger-guided walking tours at 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. from inside the park entrance gate. Saturday, April 20. 706-866-9241.
HIKES, TENNESSEE – Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. For more information: 423-332-6517 or 423-240-3443.
* Saturday, April 20: Roaring Creek to Gilbreath Branch and return, moderately strenuous 9.2 miles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 8:30 a.m.
* Tuesday, April 23: Ritchie Hollow trail, easy to moderate 4 miles. Hike will begin at the Pot Point Cabin, 17805 River Canyon Road, and end at intersection with Pot Point Loop Trail near top of the Tennessee Gorge. Meet in Walmart on Signal Mountain Boulevard parking lot beside old railroad tracks.
* Saturday, April 27: Frozen Head State Park, Bird Mountain Trail, rigorous 7.1 miles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy Daisy at 8:30 a.m.
HISTORY TALK – Brown’s Ferry Federal Road trailhead, 707 Moccasin Bend Road, follow Special Event signs from Manufacturers Road to trailhead. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park staff present one-hour program on life of Elias Boudinot, first editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, a newspaper printed in Cherokee and English through the early 1800s. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28. 706-866-9241.
HOW TO RIDE A BIKE FOR KIDS – Enterprise South Nature Park, 8015 Volkswagen Drive. REI staff provide personalized and group instruction to overcome children’s fears, teach skills such as starting and stopping and to learn to maneuver around obstacles. Children bring their own bikes (without training wheels) and helmet; child should be able to sit on the seat with feet flat on the ground. For ages 5-11. 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 27. Reservations: 423-485-1249.
LEARN TO KAYAK CLASS – Nickajack Cave Wildlife Refuge, Mapleview Road, South Pittsburg, Tenn. REI instructors teach basics of paddling, gear, clothing, how to launch and basic paddle strokes; $85-$95. Noon-2 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Reservations: 423-708-4754.
LOOKOUTS BASEBALL – AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley. Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Mississippi; fireworks after Friday’s game. Tickets $7-$10 adults, $5 kids general admission. 7:15 p.m. Thursday-Friday, April 18-19. 423-267-4849.
LOW COUNTRY BOIL – Chattanooga Whiskey, 890 Riverfront Parkway. Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga fundraiser includes food from Feed Co. Table and Tavern and beverages from Hutton and Smith Brewing Co.; $25-$43. 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, April 25. 423-756-3891.
OVERNIGHT BACKPACKING CLASS – Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. REI instructors explain how to choose and use equipment, how to load and carry your backpack, campsite selection and cooking methods at overnight trip for new backpackers. Course fee $250-$270 includes all required gear and food. Starts at noon Saturday, April 20. Reservations: 423-708-4754.
PET POP – 5 Points Northshore, 328 Cherokee Blvd. Fundraiser for McKamey Animal Center includes music, hors d’oeuvres, pet-inspired art gallery. Free admission. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 26. 423-634-1030.
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF CHATTANOOGA – St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive. Nature photographer Larry Winslett speaks on “Adventure Abounds! Photographing Water & Nature: Going from Ordinary to Extraordinary” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Boot camp at 6 p.m. with Ted Dickerson teaching camera basics and Jim Pierson teaching converting color to black and white. 423-34-5643.
SUNSET KAYAK TOUR – Chester Frost Park, 2277 N. Goldpoint Circle. Join REI instructors for basic instruction followed by short paddle to watch the sunset. For ages 14 and up, must have completed Learn to Kayak class. $65-$75 includes kayak and gear. 7-9 p.m. Friday, April 19. Reservations: 423-708-4754.
TAILS AT TWILIGHT – The Mill, 1601 Gulf St. Fundraiser for Pet Placement Center includes dinner, drinks, live and silent auctions. Individual $50, couples $85. 6-9 p.m. Thursday, April 25. 423-877-0738.
TRAIN RIDES, CHATTANOOGA – Departing from Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 423-894-8028. Check website for designated weekend train rides such as Chickamauga Turn, Dinner on the Diner and Hiwassee River Rail Adventure. www.tvrail.com.
* Missionary Ridge Local: Six-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga to TVRM’s repair shop. $17 adults, $11 ages 2-12. April schedule: Trains depart every Saturday and Sunday at 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15, 2:25 and 3:35 p.m. Trains also depart Mondays through Fridays at 10:40 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Closed on Easter Sunday, April 21.
VIRGOLA’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY – Virgola Wine & Oyster Bar, 608 Georgia Ave. Birthday bash with specials, games, live music, wine and food. Free admission, regular menu prices. 4-11 p.m. Friday, April 19. 423-771-7773.
WHOOP DEE DOO IN RIVERVIEW – Retailers in Riverview neighborhood. Store discounts, door prizes and food at shopping event hosted by Riverview merchants. 5-8 p.m. Thursday, April 18. 423-265-2007
CHILDREN/TEENS
CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR – Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., 11 a.m. Saturday, storytime. 423-893-0186.
* Saturday, April 20: Local authors signing books, noon, percentage of purchases will be donated to Hamilton County librarians
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM – 321 Chestnut St. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day except Wednesday. $14.95 adults and children. 423-756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.
* Current exhibit: “Native Voices”
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT – First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., 2645 LaFayette Road. “A Dog’s Purpose” inspirational movie shown; free, but donations encouraged. 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28. 706-866-0232.
ROSSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY – 504 McFarland Ave., Rossville, Ga. Ready to Read story hour, crafts and songs for preschoolers. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. 706-866-1368.
DANCES
BALLROOM – Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. $10 per person. 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays. 423-771-3646.
CONTRA DANCE – Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road. Chattanooga Traditional Dance Society hosts dance with music by Orka and calling by Andrea Nettleton. $10 individuals, $7 senior adults, $5 students. 7:30 contra lesson, 8-11 p.m. dance. Saturday, April 27. 423-629-0333.
ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE – Heritage House at Heritage Park, 1428 Jenkins Road. Free introductory class for new dancers that teaches fundamental moves, then several dances from the historical repertoire. Bring soft-sole shoes (sneakers or flats) for dancing. No experience or partner needed. 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 23. 423-855-9474
SHAG, BOP, SWING, JITTERBUG – Elks Lodge 91, 1067 Graysville Road at East Brainerd Road. $5 members, $7 guests. 7-10 p.m. Thursdays. www.choochooshagclub.com.