In this week's preview of entertainment offerings, stories are being told about social justice, love and Abraham Lincoln, among other topics. Here's what you need to know.
* Local history on the radio: Leaders of the Ed Johnson Project will tell the story of their group's namesake, a Black man lynched in 1906 on the Walnut Street Bridge, on WUTC's "Scenic Roots" starting Feb. 4. The six-week series, airing at 3 p.m. Thursdays on 88.1 FM, will explore the historical story, its modern implications and the importance of the memorial being built.
The series opens with "The Crime, Arrest and Trial," featuring Judge Neil Thomas and Mariann Martin talking with show host Ray Bassett. Future episodes will focus on "Parden and Hutchins Appeal the Case," "Ed Johnson's Conversion," "The Lynching," "The Supreme Court Intervenes" and "Epilogue: The Beginning of the Ed Johnson Project."
Learn more at edjohnsonproject.com or wutc.org.
* Love story: The Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., will introduce the residents of "Almost, Maine" in its next production, running Feb. 5-21. John Cariani's critically acclaimed play is presented in nine fable-like vignettes as the residents of the fictional town on one cold winter night find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways.
Contributed Photo Illustration by Jeremy Campbell and Scott Dunlap / Christian Smith, left, and Lindsey Wills appear in the ensemble cast of "Almost, Maine," a whimsical take on love, opening Feb. 5 at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre."Almost, Maine" is the fourth production the CTC has produced since returning to the stage in September after a five-month absence due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Seating is limited to 20% capacity, and the theater also requires masks, conducts temperature checks, enforces social distancing and performs frequent cleaning and sanitizing.
Tickets are $25. To purchase, call the box office at 423-267-8534 or visit TheatreCentre.com.
* South Bound Lecture: John Cribb, the New York Times best-selling author of "Old Abe," a novel about the last five years of Abraham Lincoln's life, some of the most tumultuous years in the nation's history, will join the Southern Lit Alliance for the South Bound Lecture Series on Feb. 9. The Zoom interview will begin at 6 p.m.
Cribb's book follows Lincoln through his election, his struggle to hold the Union together during the Civil War, the death of a second son in childhood and his stormy yet devoted marriage to Mary Todd Lincoln.
The event is free, but donations are suggested. For more information, visit www.southernlitalliance.org/john-crib. The registration link is on that page; click on the black Registration box.
* Valentine's Festival: Trojan Hall, 10838 Dayton Pike in Soddy-Daisy, will host vendors selling merchandise for Valentine's Day gift-giving Feb. 6. Items will include "food, jewelry, wreaths, paintings, candy, a little bit of everything," said venue owner Carlain Hicks. Hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 423-842-5944 for more information.
* Jewish documentaries: The Jewish Documentary Film Series continues with "Rabbi Goes West," through noon Feb. 4, and "Chewdaism: A Taste of Jewish Montreal," available Feb. 9-11. All films in the series are available from noon Tuesday through noon Thursday during their three-day runs. Cost for Zoom access to each film is $12. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com.
* Club music: The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., has two shows on the books this weekend. Throwdown Thursday on Feb. 4, hosted by Jania and DJ Oompa, features performances by Diddyz, Yung Meady, Hood Bratt, #StreetFunded, BluK and others. The show starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $30-$45. The Breakfast Club, an '80s tribute band, will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 5. Tickets are $20-$30. Get tickets at www.thesignaltn.com.
* Snowy owl photos: Chattanooga photographer Kathleen Greeson, who captured images of the recent rare sighting of a snowy owl's brief visit to the area, is selling prints of her photographs, with 100% of the proceeds going to support the Tennessee Aquarium's conservation programs.
Contributed Photo Illustration by Kathleen Greeson / Chattanooga photographer Kathleen Greeson sold prints of the photos she made of a snowy owl that visited Chattanooga last month, the first documented sighting of the species in Hamilton County. All proceeds were donated to the Tennessee Aquarium's conservation programs.Native to the Arctic, these birds of prey normally travel only far enough to escape the harshest winter conditions of the tundra, perhaps as far south as the U.S.-Canada border. For reasons unknown, a snowy owl spent several days in the area last month, making it the first documented sighting in Hamilton County.
"Seeing a snowy owl in Chattanooga was a once-in-a-lifetime event," Greeson said. "I felt privileged to photograph this beautiful bird and wanted to use my work to inspire others and support the Tennessee Aquarium's nonprofit mission."
Nearly two dozen images are available for purchase on Greeson's website, kathleengreeson.com.
Email Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com.