Did you know that sex therapist "Dr. Ruth" Westheimer is a Holocaust survivor? Or that she trained as a sniper for the Jewish underground army after World War II? The story of her life will be told in a one-woman show Sunday at Mizpah Congregation. The play is among the highlights of the weekend, which also includes a margarita festival and country star Jimmie Allen here for Siskin StarNight.
But there's no Amy Grant concert. Her August concert dates, which included Chattanooga's Walker Theatre on Friday, were rescheduled after the Nashville-based singer was injured in a bicycle accident last month. The show has been rescheduled for April 29.
ARTS
-- Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View Ave., will offer a free virtual Art Wise program with illustrator Tyler Jacobson 6-7 p.m. Thursday. Best known as a fantasy artist, Jacobson has made significant design contributions to Magic the Gathering cards and the Dungeons & Dragons game. Register for the linkat huntermuseum.org
-- AVA Gallery, 30 Frazier Ave., will hold an opening reception for two shows 6-9 p.m. Friday. "Replica" is a solo outing for Heath Montgomery, who earned the privilege as one of the artists who tied for Best in Show at last year's juried member exhibition. "Scenic City Clay Artists Instructor Showcase," on view in the Landis Gallery, highlights the work of six instructors at the community studio. Both exhibits will run through Sept. 30. 423-265-4282
-- Plum Nelly Depot Art Show makes its debut 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Trenton Community Center, 105 Price St., Trenton, Georgia. The Alliance for Dade is among the presenters of the show, which will include paintings, quilts, photography, jewelry, sculpture, body art and gourd art by at least seven artists. Lookout Mountain author Ken Pennington will sign copies of his book, "The Rockeaters," and Trenton author Holt Webb will sign and give away his children's book, "I Know in My Heart." Admission is free. alliancefordade.com
-- ClearStory Arts, 1673 Holtzclaw Ave., will host an opening reception for "Overflow" by Misty Ogle Semanco 2-6 p.m. Saturday. The show combines the Chattanooga artist's bold abstract pieces with her impressionistic paintings inspired by water. RSVPs are appreciated. ClearStoryArts.com
-- Area 61 Gallery, 721 Broad St., has scheduled an "impromptu" open house 4-7 p.m. Saturday to celebrate the end of summer and the closing of a featured exhibit, Bob Fazio's "Tondo, Tondo, Tondo," the Italian word for round. Fazio will be working on a new clay sculpture but taking breaks to lead tours of his works. The change-over to the next exhibit will start Aug. 29. area61gallery.com
COMEDY
-- The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., will host a Next Level Comedy Showcase, featuring a half-dozen rising comics, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $12. The weekend's headliner is Ryan Erwin, a former middle-school teacher who describes himself as "sassy and gassy." Shows start at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $17-$19. thecomedycatch.com
-- Improv Chattanooga has three shows scheduled at the Mountain Arts Community Center, 809 Kentucky Ave., Signal Mountain. "Whose Line Is It, Signal Mountain?," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, is an improv experience similar to the television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" in which the troupe's seasoned performers take audience suggestions and enlist volunteers to improvise skits. It's followed at 9:30 p.m. by 2x4 Improv, in which four teams of two improvisers have 15 minutes to create a series of scenes based on a suggestion from the audience, similar to Netflix's "Middleditch & Schwartz" specials. Tickets for either show are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, or attend both for $20 in advance (students pay $5-$10). A portion of proceeds will be donated to the MACC. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, participants in the latest Intro to Improv class will show what they've learned in a student showcase. Tickets are $5. improvchattanooga.com
FAITH
-- St. Paul AME Church, 2514 Williams St., will celebrate its 133rd anniversary in services at 11 a.m. Sunday. Guest speaker is Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, who presides over the 13th Episcopal district of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The service may be joined virtually via a Praise Link online. stpaulamechatt.org
FILM
— Movie (and More) in the Park: Soddy-Daisy Community Library concludes its Wild Summer of Literacy with a celebration featuring booths by local nonprofits and educators, food vendors and a scavenger hunt 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, followed at 9 p.m. by a screening of "Jumanji" on a 37-foot inflatable screen. Events take place in Veterans Park, 9009 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy. kelcurtfoundation.org/wild-summer-of-reading
MUSIC
-- Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., has three upcoming performances. The first is An Evening With Daniel Champagne, an Australian guitar virtuoso, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $20. Local band Robin Grant & The Standard will present "Hot Summer Jazz" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $20-$30. The weekly Jazz in the Lounge show, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, will feature the Mike Salter Quartet. Cover is $5. barkinglegs.org
-- Nightfall, a summer concert series, continues with the bluesy rock of Magnolia Boulevard at 8 p.m. Friday at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. The Chattanooga-based duo of Kathy Veazey and John Rawlston, known as the TN Ruminators, will open the show at 7 p.m. Artists, games and food vendors will be set up at Miller Park across M.L. King Boulevard. Admission is free. nightfallchattanooga.com
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / People enjoy the opening night of the 34th season of Nightfall at Miller Park and Miller Plaza on Friday, June 4, 2021 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Nightfall will continue every Friday night through September 10.-- The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., will welcome Southern rock group the Cadillac Three at 8 p.m. Friday. Ben Chapman is the opener. Tickets are $22-$45. thesignaltn.com
-- The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham, Tennessee, plans a weekend of shows in the outdoor amphitheater. Greensky Bluegrass, with support from The Wood Brothers, plays at 6:30 p.m. CDT Friday. Tickets are $45-$59. Jam bands Umphrey's McGee and The Disco Biscuits are scheduled Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. CDT both days. Tickets are $49-$79 for either night, $99-$150 for both. Tickets may be upgraded to include cave tours and accommodations. thecaverns.com
-- Songbirds, 35 Station St., has two shows this weekend. Country artist Josh Meloy will play at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Hometown favorite Roger Alan Wade will present "An Evening of Songs & Stories" at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15. songbirdsfoundation.org
-- Siskin StarNight, featuring country star Jimmie Allen, is Saturday at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. The fundraising gala for Siskin Children's Institute opens with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner, a concert by the "Best Shot" singer and an after-party. Tickets are $300. siskin.org/starnight
FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2018 file photo, Jimmie Allen arrives at the 52nd annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Allen has made history as the first black artist to have his debut single reach No. 1 on country radio, and it happened on the same week Kane Brown, who is black and white, has the top country album in the U.S. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)-- Riverfront Nights, a summer concert series, continues with its next-to-last show 7-10 p.m. Saturday at Ross's Landing, 201 Riverfront Parkway. Blues/rock guitarist Jack Broadbent will open the show for headliners Shovels & Rope, a folk duo. Admission is free. riverfrontnights.com
-- Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition will feature country/Appalachian boogie musician Lew Card in a fundraiser 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Walden Club, 633 Chestnut St. The evening also includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction. Staff from the coalition will discuss the recent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the region and what is being done to create new housing opportunities. Tickets are $50. eventbrite.com
OUT & ABOUT
-- Chattanooga Margarita Festival is 6-9 p.m. Thursday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. Partakers will sample 12 mini margaritas to determine which participating restaurant's is the best. Food vendors, local DJs and a photo booth also will be on site. Tickets are $44. chattanoogafestivals.com/chattmarg
-- Rabbit Valley Farmers Market, which sets up weekly at 96 Depot St. in Ringgold, Georgia, will offer Mashburn Touch the Truck Day 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, along with its regular offerings of local produce, arts and crafts. Mashburn Equipment is a Ringgold, Ga., company that specializes in heavy machinery. rabbitvalleyfarmersmarket.com
-- Historical bike tours set off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Chickamauga Battlefield's Wilder Brigade Monument, Tour Stop 6 on Glenn-Viniard Road (get your bearings from the Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia). This is the first in a series of three, free, guided rides presented by Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Outdoor Chattanooga for ages 8 and up. The route is 3 to 4 miles on flat to moderately hilly terrain and takes about 2.5 hours. All riders must wear a helmet. Reservations are required only if you need a loaner bike. bit.ly/outdoorchattanooga
-- Master Gardeners of Hamilton County will present the free monthly gardening class on "Reimagine Your Store-Bought Bouquet" at 10 a.m. Saturday. Participants may attend at the Hamilton County Extension office, 6183 Adamson Circle, or virtually via a Zoom link. Registration is required either way. mghc.org
-- Splash Summer Arts Festival is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Miller Park, 910 Market St. The event, which takes its name from a free, year-round youth arts workshop founded by professional artists Charlie and Iantha Newton, will include art activities, music, dance and vendors. Admission is free. splashyouthartsworkshop.org
-- Throughout the Decades, a series of dinners celebrating the 150th anniversary of the historic Read House Hotel, 107 W. M.L. King Blvd., continues at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Green Room with a cocktail hour and four-course dinner inspired by menus of the early 1900s. Cost is $150 per person. Reservations are required. thereadhousehotel.com
-- Chattanooga Market will salute local sidewalk musicians at a Buskers Festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. In addition to street performers tucked into various corners, the market will feature musicians Eli Lev at 12:30 p.m. and Trailer Hippies at 2 p.m. on the Lodge Cast Iron Sizzle Stage. Admission is free, but vendors of produce, arts and crafts will have merchandise for sale and tips for the musicians are appreciated. chattanoogamarket.com
-- Fitted, a curated auto show featuring high-end, high-performance, new-model sports cars, will take place noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. Fitted, which organizers describe as "the nexus of automotive and culture," has similar shows in Toronto, New Jersey and Florida this year. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. fittedlifestyle.com
SPECTATOR SPORTS
-- Aries Fight Series, a Southeastern amateur and professional combat sports event, starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway. The bill features dozens of mixed martial arts, muay Thai, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors. Tickets are $30; VIP tables are available. fightertix.com
-- Chattanooga Football Club, a National Independent Soccer Association men's professional team, will play the Michigan Stars Football Club at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Finley Stadium, 1826 Carter St. Tickets are $7-$16. chattanoogafc.com
-- Chattanooga Red Wolves, a USL-League One men's professional soccer team, will play the South Georgia Tormenta Football Club at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way. Promotions include a free poster to the first 250 fans to enter, free hot dogs for teachers and $2 beer through halftime for college students (valid ID required). Tickets are $15-$52. chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com
THEATER
-- Scenic City Shakespeare will continue a free monthly discussion of the bard's comedies at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Edney Innovation Center, 1100 Market St. This month's focus is on "As You Like It," which has provided such notable passages as "All the world's a stage" and "too much of a good thing." A Zoom link will be available. Facebook.com/ScenicCityShakes
-- Back Alley Productions will begin a two-weekend run of "The Count of Monte Cristo," a classic tale of betrayal and redemption, at the Mars Theatre, 117 N. Chattanooga St., LaFayette, Georgia. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26-27. Tickets are $12-$15. bapshows.com
-- Tennessee Valley Theatre, 184 W. Jackson Ave., Spring City, Tennessee, will present the final weekend of "Nightfall With Edgar Allan Poe," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The Eric Coble play imagines the origins of four of Poe's masterpieces: "The Raven," "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Tell-Tale Heart." Tickets are $12-$14. tennesseevalleytheatre.com
-- Mizpah Congregation, 923 McCallie Ave., will present Atlanta actress Eileen Koteles in "Becoming Dr. Ruth," about sex therapist Ruth Westheimer, at 2 p.m. Sunday. In addition to frank talk about sex, the 90-minute show details Westheimer's early life, including how she was saved in the Kindertransport, which rescued Jewish children from Nazi-controlled territory before World War II. Admission is $12, payable at the door. Proceeds will benefit Mizpah's Kindertransport Chapel. 423-267-9771
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/events. See a more comprehensive calendar in Sunday's Life section.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.