LEISURE
ASTRONOMY – UTC Physics and Astronomy Jones Observatory, 10 N. Tuxedo Ave. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. April 10; planetarium show on “The Big Red Spot” at 7 p.m. with featured constellation The Summer Triangle; telescope viewing until 9 p.m. Free. www.utc.edu/physics-geology-astronomy/observatory.
BARTENDER BRAWL – Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. Bartenders compete to mix the best drink, 6-9 p.m. April 15. Judges will choose Spirit of Chattanooga Award; guests will vote on People’s Choice Award. Presented by Chattanooga Friends to benefit four local nonprofits. Standard ticket with two drink tokens is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Premium ticket with 10 drink tokens is $40 in advance, $45 at door. 423-802-3620.
BBQ & HOEDOWN – Spring City United Methodist Church, 245 Church St., Spring City, Tenn. Grandview Twirlers host barbecue dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 8, followed by square and round dancing with callers Johnny Chambers and Robbin Carrington at 7:30 p.m. $10 dinner/dance, $8 dinner. grand view.twirlers.tn@gmail.com.
BRA-VO – Track 29, 1400 Market St., Fashion show celebrating life after breast cancer benefits Breast Cancer Support Services, 2 p.m. April 10. $40 in advance, $45 at the door. 423-629-2445.
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, 8:30 nightly by appointment. $15.95 adults, $10 ages 12 and younger. 423-821-7125.
CHATTANOOGA SIDEWALK TOURS – Choice of Dynamo of Dixie tour, 10 a.m. daily, or Bluff and Bridges Tour, 6 p.m. daily. $15 adults, $7 children 12 and younger. Reservations required. 423-228-0448, www.chatwalktours.com.
CHATTANOOGA STAMP CLUB – Hickory Valley Christian Church, 6605 Shallowford Road. Program is one-page exhibition competition, 7:30 p.m. April 14. APS sales books available to select stamps for purchase at 6:30 p.m. 423-838-6292.
CITY SWEAT: YOGA FOR ALL – Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. Free, city-wide, beginner-friendly exercise sponsored by Lululemon, 6-7 p.m. April 14. 423-265-3700.
CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK – 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. 706-657-4050.
* April 8: Night hike, 7-9 p.m., 2-mile hike on one of the best trails at the park for ages 10 and older. $10 plus $5 parking. Registration required: 706-913-7170.
* Saturdays through April 30: Nature Arts ‘n’ Crafts, 1:30-2:30 p.m., kids join park naturalist to learn about plants and animals and make something to take home. Different activity each week. $5 parking.
CUMBERLAND TRAIL SPRING FESTIVAL – Ivy Academy, 8520 Dayton Pike. Charter school’s first family festival offers guided hikes, interpretive programs, craft and food vendors, 9 am.-4 p.m. April 16. Requested donations: $5 per person, $10 per family. 423-566-2229.
DESOTO STATE PARK – 7104 DeSoto Parkway, Fort Payne, Ala. 256-997-5025.
* April 9: Outdoor Survival Adventure, fundamentals of survival skills for ages 14 and older, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT, $30 plus $2 parking. Registration required: 256-634-8370.
* April 15: Enchanted Botany: Plants of the Pocket, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT, $10, bring sack lunch, plenty of water and wear appropriate footwear. Registration required: 256-782-5697.
DINNER AND A MESSAGE – Standifer Gap Seventh-Day Adventist School, 8255 Standifer Gap Road. Free cooking show by celebrity chef Mark Anthony, who lost 80 pounds on a plant-strong lifestyle, 6-8:30 p.m. April 11. 423-402-0211.
DOLL CLUB SHOW AND SALE – Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga. Chattanooga Doll Club’s annual show and sale of antique, composition, fashion dolls, Barbies and G.I. Joes, doll clothing and accessories. 9:30-3 p.m.April 16. $5 ages 13 and older. 706-965-6031.
ELDERSCHOLARS – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University Center, Signal Mountain Room, East Fifth Street. Presentation on “What It’s Like To Be a Muslim in Tennessee,” 1 p.m. April 12. Free and open to ages 55 and up. 51jelmore@gmail.com.
FAIRYTALE NIGHTS – Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain. Storybook characters abound on paths of Rock City, have tea with Alice, learn to sword fight with a knight, see birds of prey shows, 6-8 p.m. daily through Sunday, April 17. 706-820-2531.
FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK – 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tenn. 1-800-250-8610. Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, with hikes, workshops, driving tours and slide shows, April 9-10. Come for a day or reserve a room to stay the weekend.423-881-5708 event details; 1-800-250-8610 room reservations.
GANDHI VISITS – Gold’s Gym, 6933 Lee Highway. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, visits to promote Be The Change initiative, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. April 18. Free but tickets required for entry due to limited space. bemagazine1111.ticketleap.com/gandhi-visits-chattanooga-2016.
GARDEN EXPO – Camp Jordan Arena, Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. Hamilton County Master Gardeners sponsor Master Your Garden with vendors, live demonstrations, gardening lectures, children’s activities and door prizes, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 9; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 10. $5 ages 13 and older. www.mghc.org/garden-expo.
GARDENING WORKSHOPS – Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co. Inc., 5829 Main St. Kat McGraw teaches soil amendments, pest and disease prevention, crop rotation, 3:30 p.m. April 14. 423-238-9775.
GARDENING WORKSHOP – St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 7555 Ooltewah-Georgetown Road, Ooltewah. Landscaping for pollinators is topic of workshop led by Trailhead Nursery staff, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. April 9. Registration required: 706-278-3979.
GARDENING WORKSHOPS – The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th St. Place. 423-698-2276.
* April 9: Perennials for shade gardening, 10 a.m., $10.
* April 16: Growing and Using Herbs, 10 a.m., $10.
GO GREEK: SORORITY 101 – First Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 554 McCallie Ave. Free information session for high school seniors and their mothers interested in learning more about college sorority recruitment, 2-4 p.m. April 10. Sponsored by Chattanooga Alumnae Panhellenic. chattpanhellenic.com.
GREEK BAKE SALE – Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 722 Glenwood Drive. Spring bake sale features Greek pastries and some new items, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (or sold out) April 8. 423-629-2364.
GYM MASTERS SHOW – Southern Adventist University, Iles P.E. Center, Collegedale. SAU acrobatic team presents annual home show, 9 p.m. April 9; 3 p.m. April 10. $5. 423-309-9109.
HARRISON BAY STATE PARK – 8411 Harrison Bay Road. 423-344-6214. Barnard Astronomical Society hosts Star Party, 8 p.m. April 9. Begins in observation field in large parking area next to Recreation Hall. Telescopes provided.
HIKES – Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619.
* April 9: Cumberland Mountain State Park, moderate 8 miles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 9 a.m.
* April 12: River Walk at South Chickamauga Creek, easy 6 miles. Meet in Highway 153 Target parking lot at 9 a.m.
* April 16: Rock Creek to Retro Hughes Road, strenuous 8 miles. Will stage vehicles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 9 a.m.
HOUSTON HISTORY HUNTERS – Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, 201 High St. Make and take a textile craft at “American Textiles, A Quilting Bee Is Math Fun for Me,” which shows how quiltmaking tells stories, shares history and is a form of recycling, 1-3 p.m. April 9. $9 adults, $3 children. 423-267-7176.
MONEY SCHOOL 2016 – Brainerd Crossroads, 4011 Austin St. Free financial education day featuring 30 seminars for adults and youth by financial professionals and nonprofit representatives, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 9. info@cneinc.org.
MS WALK – Tennessee RiverPark, Hubert Fry Center, 4301 Amnicola Highway. Participants in annual MS Chattanooga walk can choose 1-, 2- or 4-mile route in fundraiser for National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 10 a.m. April 16; registration starts at 9 a.m. www.walkms.org.
PLANT CONSERVATION TALK – GreenSpaces, 63 E. Main St. Tennessee Valley chapter of Wild Ones host David Lincicome, who gives overview of State Natural Areas Program, highlights a few rare plant recovery projects in progress and discusses the idea of starting a Plant Conservation Alliance in Tennessee, 6 p.m. April 11. tnvalleywildones@gmail.com.
RIVALZ POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL – Girls Preparatory School, 205 Island Ave. RivaALZ, formerly Blondes vs. Brunettes, powder puff football game to raise money for Alzheimer’s Association, 3-5 p.m. April 16. 423-265-3600.
SLAWBURGER FESTIVAL – Downtown Fayetteville, Tenn. Food, music, games, kids zone, dog show and slawburger-eating contest, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. April 16. www.slawburgerfestival.com.
SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE – Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road. Sale of native plants with variety of workshops and wildflower walks, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 15-16. 423-834-1160.
SPRING PLANT SALE AND FESTIVAL – Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Sale of vegetables, flowers and herbs with free gardening workshops, music, food, farm activities for kids and handmade items for sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 15-16; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 17. 423-493-9155.
STEAMPUNK EXPO AND GOTHIC CONVENTION – Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St. Vendors, panels and workshops, April 15-17. Includes Friday night electro-swing and Saturday costume contest. Three-day pass $40, one-day pass $20, evening events starting at 8:30 p.m. will be $10 at door for those without pass. www.steampunkexpo.org.
SWISHES FOR WISHES – Maclellan Gym, corner of Vine and Oak streets on UTC campus. Basketball tournament to raise money for Make-A-Wish, 5-8 p.m. April 8. $5 spectators. 423-443-5152.
TASTE & SOUND – Mountain City Club, 729 Chestnut St. Silent auction, dollar auction, Italian dinner, dancing, entertainment by Robin Grant & The Standard at fundraiser for Chattanooga Girls Choir, 7 p.m. April 9. $65. 423-296-1006.
UNBOUGHT & UNBOSSED AWARDS – Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. Girls Inc. honors 10 female role models at fundraiser, 11:30 a.m. April 13. $65. 423-265-0771.
WHOOP DEE DOO IN RIVERVIEW – Spring open house at 14 retailers in the Riverview neighborhood with discounts, specials, door prizes and other treats for shoppers, 5-8 p.,m. April 7. 1307hanover@gmail.com.
WILDFLOWER HIKE – Sequatchie Valley Institute, 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, Tenn. Join SVI staff for choice of moderate or rugged spring wildflower hikes, tours of permaculture landscape, solar homes and art gallery, 1-5 p.m. CDT April 16. Bring lunch or snacks to eat before hikes; wear long pants, hat, sturdy shoes, be prepared with rain gear, journals and camera if desired. svionline.org
YELP FOR BUSINESS OWNERS – Edney Innovation Center, 1100 Market St. Free workshop shows how to maximize Yelp website and app for your business; participants receive free Yelp swag, wine and more. 6 p.m. April 14. 423-413-8978.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
BOOK SIGNING – Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Deborah Levine signs her new historical memoir, “The Liberator’s Daughter,” 2 p.m. April 16. 423-867-3941.
CHILDREN/TEENS
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM – 321 Chestnut St. $12.95 adults and children. 423-756-2738, www.cdmfun.org. Free Family Night, 5:30-8 p.m. April 14.
DANCES
CONTRA DANCING – Brainerd United Methodist Church, Lundy Hall, 4315 Brainerd Road. Contraplicity band with caller Janet Shephard, 8 p.m. April 9; with beginner lesson at 7:30 p.m. $8 adults, $5 students and senior adults, $20 maximum per family.
SINGLES DANCE – First-Centenary United Methodist Church, Mohney Hall, intersection of Houston and Oak streets behind church sanctuary. Sock hop sponsored by Positive Christian Singles, 7-10 p.m. April 9. $8 and bring snacks to share. 423-756-2021.
SPRING SALSA SPECTACULAR – Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road. USA Dance hosts salsa dancing, 8:30-10:30 p.m. April 8; lesson by Nelson Rodriquez at 7:30. $10 nonmembers, $5 students under 21 and first-time guests. www.chattanoo gausadance.com