LEISURE
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. Weekly events include hamburger/hot dog Cookout With the Captain, 6-9 p.m. Thursdays and “Bow-B-Que” dinner on Texas deck, 6-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 468-4500, www.DeltaQueenHotel.com. 432-8373.
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. Fridays. $5. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy@yahoo.com.
KIDS TIME — Tennessee Riverpark, Shelter No. 4, 4301 Amnicola Highway. Nature crafts and treats for ages 5 and up, 10 a.m. Thursday (final session). Parental supervision required. Groups of 8 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 Savage Gulf picnic area to learn to make a star wheel, then (weather permitting) use it to identify objects in the night sky, 7:30 p.m. Materials provided. Bring headlamp or flashlight.
Saturday
* Meet at Savage Gulf Ranger Station for difficult, 10-mile hike on Mountain Oak Loop, 9 a.m. Pack lunch, plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes. For seasoned hikers only.
* Meet at Grundy Forest parking lot for easy loop hike, 9 a.m.
* Meet at Stone Door Ranger Station to make spider webs and learn about arachnids, 10 a.m.
* Meet at Stone Door Ranger Station for a walk at Laurel Falls to learn about creek critters, 1 p.m. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet.
Sunday
* Meet at Grundy Forest to learn to build a campfire the way old-timers do, 11 a.m.
* Meet at Visitor Center to watch the movie “Fern Gully,” 2 p.m.
Monday: Meet at Visitor Center to learn to make a star chart, 2 p.m.
Tuesday: Meet at Visitor Center for a stroll on Meadow Trail for night sky gazing, 8:30 p.m.
July 16: Meet at Visitor Center to help make paper bats for next day’s Bat Night observation, 3 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. Free. Contact: K-Boogie, smiddy08@yahoo.com.
TRAIL OF TEARS ASSOCIATION — Sautee Nacoochee Community Association Center, Sautee Nacoochee, Ga. Retired U.S. Forest Service archaeologist Dr. Jack T. Wynn speaks on the Unicoi Turnpike Trade Route, 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Free. Contact: Leslie Thomas, 706-635-3864, aeriehollow@ellijay.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 repositioned 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.
WALKING TOUR — Walnut and Fourth Streets. Tour of Fountain Square, based on a section of Maury Nicely’s “Chattanooga Walking Tour and Historic Guide,” 7 p.m. July 20; register by July 16. Guided by Dr. Daryl Black, executive director and curator of Chattanooga History Center. $3. 265-3247.
WASH AND WAG — Legends Hair & Skin Salon, 1930 Gunbarrel Road. Get a wet haircut for $25 and see dogs available for adoption, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds go to McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center. 894-9504.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR — Monterey Station, 164 Monterey St., Cowan, Tenn. Tennessee Antiquarian Booksellers Association expects more than 45 dealers at this extravaganza of antique books, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 17; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 18. Each attendee allowed up to three books for dealer appraisal. $5 admission. Contact: Tom McGee, 615-330-3812; tom@tennaba.org.
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, 1001 Broad St. Meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday. Free. 648-2195. www.chattanoogawritersguild.org.
ROCK POINT BOOKS — 401 Broad St. 756-2855, www.rockpointbooks.com. Classic Lit Book Club reading William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying”; meeting 6 p.m. July 20.
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. every Friday.
CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR — Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Stories, 11 a.m. Wednesdays.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM — 321 Chestnut St. Summer hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Aug. 9. $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 — 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.
DANCE
AMATEUR BALLROOM ASSOCIATION — Allemande Hall, 7400 Standifer Gap Road. Choo Choo City Chapter of USA Dance offers lesson from 7:30-8:30 p.m. today and dancing 8:30-11 p.m. $10. 580-7151. www.chattanoogadanceinc.org.
APPALACHIAN-STYLE CLOGGING — East Ridge Community Center, 1517 Tombras Ave. Session, 6-8 p.m. each Tuesday and Wednesday. $4. 875-2847.
ARGENTINE TANGO — Chattanooga Dancesport Center, 4295 Cromwell Road, Suite 512. Practice, 5-7 p.m. each Sunday. Free. 774-8399
BALLROOM/ALLEMANDE HALL — 7400 Standifer Gap Road. Chattanooga Ballroom Dance Club lesson, 7:30 p.m., general dance at 8:30 each Tuesday. Beginners welcome. $5 members, $8 nonmembers. 238-4518.
BALLROOM/THE DANCE FLOOR — 3733 Ringgold Road, East Ridge. 697-1891. Introduction to ballroom (half-hour lesson followed by practice session), 8 p.m. each Monday and Thursday. $5 per session.
BEACH MUSIC — Chattanooga Billiard Club East, 110 Jordan Drive. Choo Choo Shag Club meeting, 7:30 p.m. each Thursday in Tropicana Room. $2 members, $3 nonmembers. 622-1141.
COMMUNITY CONTRA DANCE — All Saints Academy, 310 E. Eighth St. No dance this Saturday; next dance July 24. www.contranooga.org.
COUNTRY — Troy’s Place, 320 Emerson Drive, Ringgold, Ga. Hopeful Country band, 8-11 p.m. each Friday and 7-11 p.m. each Saturday. $6. No smoking or alcohol. 423-855-9662.
LINE — Allemande Hall, 7400 Standifer Gap Road. Crystal Boots Club leads beginner lessons 6-7 p.m., intermediate lessons 7-8 p.m. Mondays. $6/lesson or $20/month. 706-539-1323.
LINE — St. Jude Parish Hall, 930 Ashland Terrace. Instruction by Jeanette Bowen for beginners and intermediates, 5:30-7 p.m. each Thursday. $3. 580-4879.
LINE — Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church, 1733 Battlefield Parkway. Classes 11 a.m.-noon every Saturday. $3 donation benefits nursing-home patients. 706-866-9008.
LINE — North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive. Boots & Buckles Club holds classes each Wednesday. Beginners 5:30-6:30 p.m., intermediates 6:30-7:30. $4. 580-4879.
LINE & SQUARE — Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, 4131 Ringgold Road. East Ridge Grand Square dances: line, 6:30-7 p.m., and square, 7-9:30 p.m. each Monday. $4. 706-375-1088.
ROUND/ALLEMANDE HALL — 7400 Standifer Gap Road, 899-9913. www.allemandehall.com.
* Chattanooga Rounds, 1:30 p.m. each Sunday. $5. 892-2403.
* Merry-Go-Rounds, at 6:30 p.m. for levels 1-3, 8 p.m. for higher levels each Thursday. $5. 706-226-6806.
* Dixie Rounds, at 6:30 p.m. for levels 2-4, 8 p.m. for levels 4-5, each Saturday. $5 per session.
SENIOR — East Ridge Community Center, 1517 Tombras Ave. Southern Sound provides music for dancing, 6:30-9 p.m. each Saturday. $5. 706-858-0389.
SENIOR — Eastgate Senior Center, 5600 Brainerd Road. Dance, 1-3 p.m. each Monday. Free. 855-9444.
SINGLES — First-Centenary United Methodist Church. Positive Christian Singles dance, 8-11 p.m. Saturday, with free dance lesson at 7. Snack and drinks provided. $8. 756-2021, www.positivechristiansingles.com.
SINGLES — Bourbon Street, 2000 E. 23rd St. Dance to music of ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays. Contact: Diane Saynes, dsaynes@att.net.
SQUARE & LINE — Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 3204 Hixson Pike. Dancing, 7-9:30 p.m. each Thursday. 580-4879.
SQUARE/ALLEMANDE HALL — 7400 Standifer Gap Road, 899-9913. www.allemandehall.com.
* Wrecktangles, 8 p.m. each Thursday. $4. 326-1719.
* Star Twirlers, 8 p.m. each Saturday. $5.50. 899-2725.
SQUARE — Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 3204 Hixson Pike. Dixie Daisies, 8:15-10 p.m. each Thursday. 580-4879.
SQUARE/ROUND/LINE — Ringgold Old Nutrition Center, next to fire hall, Ringgold, Ga. Class at 7 p.m. each Friday, dance at 8. $4 donation. Friday Nite Live Club, 706-937-7544 or 423-508-8367.
WESTERN SQUARE DANCE — Christian Life Center, Ooltewah United Methodist Church, 6131 Relocation Way. Patriotic Squares, 8-10 p.m. each Friday. $4. 706-866-6601.