LEISURE
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY CHALLENGE BOWL — University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Ave. Event sponsored by 100 Black Men of Chattanooga, 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1. www.100bmchatt.org.
ARABIAN HORSE FARM OPEN HOUSE — Paradise Arabians Farm, 721 Gowan Road, LaFayette, Ga. Free community event for rare opportunity to see Arabian horses, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 8. 706-217-9507.
ASTRONOMY — UTC Physics and Astronomy Jones Observatory, 10 N. Tuxedo Ave. off Brainerd Road. Lecture and planetarium show on “When Stars Explode: Novas and Super Novas” and the constellation Orion, 6 p.m. Sunday, March 2. Telescope viewing until 8 p.m. www.utc.edu/~jonesobs.
BOATING COURSE — Erwin Marina, 3001 Kings Point Road. Chattanooga Sail and Power Squadron teaches America’s Boating Course on fundamentals of boating, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, March 4-6. $39.95 for three nights of classes and exam March 11. 423-785-6756.
CAMP CHAIR TRAVELER — Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. Hear Ben Friberg tell about his standup paddleboard trip from Florida to Cuba and see photos of his Yukon 24-hour expedition, 6 p.m. today, Feb. 27. Free admission; bring a camp chair for seating. 423-643-6888.
CHATTANOOGA ARBORETUM AND NATURE CENTER — 400 Garden Road. All events require registration: 423-821-1160.
— Friday, Feb. 28: Family Night Hike, for ages 7 and up, 6:45-8:15 p.m. You may bring flashlights, but they will be used on limited basis. $15 member family, $20 nonmember family.
— Saturday, March 1: Red wolf program, 11 a.m.; skull identification class, 2:30 p.m.
— Saturday, March 8: Breakfast in a Bag camping trick, 11 a.m.; Wildlife Wanderland tour, 2:30 p.m..
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS — The Little Curiosity Shoppe, 138 Market St. Walking tours through downtown, ghost hunts through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Citizens Cemetery, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1. $15 adults, $10 ages 12 and under. 423-821-7125.
FASHION SHOW — Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd. Esince Management Services presents “Remembering Versailles: A Fashion Revolution,” marking 40th anniversary of American designers using black models in a pivotal fashion show in France, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. Features designs by Kimara Cox, Giorgio Menswear, hat designer Michel Johnson, Allasso Shoes and Bessie Smith tribute by singer Neshawn Calloway. $25. 423-322-0487.
HIKES — Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619.
— Saturday, March 1: Lula Lake, moderate 4 miles, meet at Red Bank Bi-Lo parking lot, 9 a.m.
— Tuesday, March 4: Camp Jordan to Shallowford Road, easy 5 miles, meet at Highway 153 Target parking lot, 9 a.m.
— Saturday, March 8: Cumberland State Park, slightly strenuous 8 miles, meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy- Daisy, 9 a.m.
HISTORY HIKE — Moccasin Bend Road (follow Special Event signs from Manufacturers Road). Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park presents ranger-guided hike about recovering the historic site along Moccasin Bend’s Brown’s Ferry Federal Road, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1. Free. 706-866-9241, 423-821-7786, www.nps.gov/chch.
INSULATOR SWAP MEET — Daisy United Methodist Church, 9508 Old Dayton Pike. Dixie Jewels Insulator Club hosts insulator swap meet, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. March 8. Collectors from at least six states expected. 423-326-9248.
NORTHWEST GEORGIA SPORTSMAN’S EXPO — Oakwood Baptist Church, 115 Oakwood St., Chickamauga, Ga. Expo includes wild game dinner, gun raffle, hunting supplies, car and motorcycle show and special guests Chris McDaniel, formerly of band Confederate Railroad, and physically disabled professional bass fisherman Clay Dyer, 2-5 p.m. March 8. $10 adults, $5 ages 12 and under; purchase tickets online at www.oakwoodbc.org/woodsandwater. 706-375-5760.
OOLTEWAH FARMERS MARKET — Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main St. Open 3-5 p.m. every Thursday. Free rose care seminar led by Clayton Beaty at 3:30 p.m. today, Feb. 27. 423-238-9775.
RUBY FALLS LANTERN TOURS — Ruby Falls, 1720 South Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain. Ride the 260-foot elevator down into Lookout Mountain and experience the cavern tour in a new light, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays starting March 7. $24.95. Tour group size limited. Reservations required. 423-821-2544.
SHAMROCK CITY — Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain. Get your green on at annual Irish celebration that includes green waterfall, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. March 8-9 and 15-16. $22.95 adults, $12.95 kids. 706-820-2531.
SHINE — The Mill, 1601 Gulf St. Brainerd Baptist School’s 60th anniversary celebration, honoring founder Fonza Miller Barkley, other heads of school, faculty members and staff of the pre-K to fifth-grade private school, 6:30-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. Includes dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions. $50. 423-605-2115.
ST. PATRICK’S PURSE — Stratton Hall, 3146 S. Broad St. Silent auction, music by The Ceilidh Band and CSO Youth Orchestra members, dinner catered by Louella Landreth, 7 p.m. March 17. $40. Benefits Chattanooga Music Club. Reservations required. Purchase tickets at Summitt Pianos, 6209 Lee Highway, or by calling 423-529-0315.
TASTE — Stratton Hall, 3146 Broad St. Sample specialties of more than 20 local restaurants, see cooking demonstrations by local chefs at benefit for Kidney Foundation of Chattanooga, 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 6. $35, includes food samples, two drink tickets. 423-265-0771.
WILDERNESS SURVIVAL CLASS — Desoto State Park, 7104 Desoto Parkway NE, Fort Payne, Ala. Spring survival class teaches basics such as proper clothing, kits, shelter, fire, water and rescue, 9 a.m. Saturday, March 1, to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 2. For adults and youth ages 14 and up; youth ages 14-17 must be accompanied by an adult. $105, $135 and $185, depending on meals and equipment. Reservations required. 256-634-8370.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
BOOK SALE — Northgate Mall in former Pro Golf storefront, outside mall entrance facing new Old Navy store. Friends of the Chattanooga Public Library’s book sale to support projects in Teens and Tweens department of downtown library, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. today, Feb. 27-Saturday, March 1. 423-757-5425.
BOOK SIGNING — Harris Arts Center, 212 S. Wall St., Calhoun, Ga. Calhoun resident Mignon Ballard signs copies of her books, 7 p.m. today, Feb. 27. 706-629-2599, www.harrisartscenter.com.
BOOK SIGNING/RECEPTION — Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave. Parishioner Susan Gregg Gilmore signs copies of “Funeral Dress,” “The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove” and “Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen,” 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. 423-243-3257, office@saygrace.net.
TAKE FIVE SERIES — UTC University Center, Chattanooga Room, Fifth Street on campus. Dr. Clif Cleaveland is featured speaker in Take Five literary series that focuses on Appalachian literature, 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 4. Free. 423-425-4363.
WOMEN WRITERS — Metropolitan YMCA, 301 W. Sixth St. Learn about the writing craft from other Chattanooga females, 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. Free.
DANCES
BALLROOM — The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn ballroom dancing, Saturdays. Group class, 7:30 p.m., $5. Dancing 8:30 p.m., $10. No partner required. Casual dress. 423-394-6428.
BALLROOM — Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. Dance, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays. $10. 423-771-3646.
RHYTHM BALLROOM — The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn fundamentals of rumba, cha cha, East Coast swing, 6 p.m. Mondays, 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Casual dress. No partner required. $5. www.theballroomathixson.com.
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.