To include a listing in the Out & About calendar, e-mail hleber@timesfreepress.com or call 423-757-6391.
a Requires drive time of one hour or more from downtown Chattanooga.
LEISURE
BLUE RIDGE BENEFIT CENTER — Art Center of Blue Ridge, 420 W. Main St., Blue Ridge, Ga. Annual benefit for the Art Center includes silent auction of pottery, basketry, glass art and sculpture; live auction of excursions to Paris and Napa Valley, 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Contact: Sarah Verner, sarahverner@tds.net.
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS — From Walnut Street Bridge (downtown end) to Read House. One- and two-hour tours, with several stops along the way for ghost stories and place histories, 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $13 adults, $8 children under 12. 821-7125. www.chattanoogaghosttours.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. 468-4500, www.DeltaQueenHotel.com. 432-8373. Hamburger and hot dog cookout with the Captain, 6-9 p.m. Thursdays; “bow-b-que dinner on Texas Deck with live entertainment, $13, 6-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER — 40 Ocoee Street, Copperhill, Tenn. Second annual event features live music, hot-dog stand, rabies clinics, costume and other contests, all day June 26. $5 for each contest entry. Contact: Clara Maxcy, cmaxcy40@aol.com.
FESTIVE FRIDAYS — The Office, 1401 E. Third St. Music, dancing, food and conversation for ages 21 and up, 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. every Friday. $5. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy@yahoo.com.
FISH FRY — River Inn, 2130 Suck Creek Road. Catfish and hushpuppies served in benefit for McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center, 4-7 p.m. June 27. $25 ages 13 and up, $12 ages 6-12, free for children 5 and younger. Contact: Jill Allen, 991-4373, jillallen18@gmail.com.
KIDS TIME — Tennessee Riverpark, Shelter 4, near Hubert Fry Center, 4301 Amnicola Highway. Free summer enrichment programs geared toward kids ages 5 and up. Next: Endangered species with Chattanooga Zoo, 10 a.m. Thursday. Parental supervision required. Groups of eight or more must call to reserve, 842-6748.
NATURE OUTINGS, PROGRAMS — South Cumberland State Park, three miles from I-24 Exit 134 (Monteagle) on Highway 41. 931-924-2980. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All times Central. www.friendsofscsra.org.
Today: Meet at Grundy Lakes beach parking lot to learn basics of canoeing while paddling around the lake, 10 a.m. Reservations required.
Saturday
* Meet at Stone Door Ranger Station for nature hike to learn about native trees and wildlife, 9 a.m. Family-friendly 2-mile hike. Bring water and snack.
* Meet at Savage Gulf picnic area for informative talk for beginning backpackers, 2 p.m.
* Meet at the Foster Falls parking lot for sunset hike to learn about creatures that come out at night, 8 p.m.
SWAGGIN’ SATURDAYS — The Office, 1401 Third St. Food, drink, music, dancing and socializing for ages 21 and up, 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Saturdays. $5. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy08@yahoo.com..
THIRSTY THURSDAYS — Elks Lodge 4400, 1211 Dodds Ave. Socializing, music, dance, beer specials, free food for ages 21 and up, 7 p.m.-midnight Thursdays. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy08@yahoo.com.
TRAIN RIDES — 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. Daily departures: 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.
NEW VOICES — Pasha Coffeehouse, 3914 St. Elmo Ave. Improvisational jazz by The Undoctored Originals meets power of spoken word by various local writers, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday.
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. Stories and related programming, 10:30 a.m. Fridays.
CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR — Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Stories and related programming, 11 a.m. Wednesdays.
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 — Books Never-Ending, 2547 Cloud Springs Road, Rossville. Story time for ages 3-8, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Saturdays. 706-891-0774, www.booksneverending.com.
CLASS/WORKSHOP
ASSOCIATION FOR VISUAL ARTS — 30 Frazier Ave. 265-4282.
Register online at www.avarts.org.
* Beginning Digital Photography, 6-8 p.m. Thursdays through July 15. $125 members, $200 nonmembers.
* Photojournalism Workshop, 5-8 p.m. June 25, noon-5 p.m. June 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 27. $300 members, $375 nonmembers.
POTTERY CLASS — John Patten Recreation Center, 3202 Kelly’s Ferry Road. A six-week beginners course on throwing pottery from the Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture, 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 24-Aug. 5. $150 plus $25 for clay. Contact: Carlin Mcrae, mcrae.carlin@gmail.com.
LYRICAL JAZZ FUSION — Barking Legs Theater, 1322 Dodds Ave. Learn expressive dance style based in modern and jazz movements, with a kickboxing cardio warm-up, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Mondays. $10 per class. Contact: Cornelius Heard, corneliuslheard@gmail.com.