We've found a dozen things to do around Chattanooga in the coming days. Need ideas for romancing a date leading up to Valentine's Day? The first two items are for you. Want to legally, subtly avenge a bad breakup? Check out item No. 3. Simply looking for something, anything to do? Nos. 4-12 are for you.
1. Romantic music: The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will offer two evenings of romantic works performed by small ensembles at Brainerd Baptist Church, 300 Brookfield Ave. "Romantic Strings," performed by the CSO String Quartet, will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 11. "Romantic Winds," performed by the CSO Wind Quintet, will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 12. "Strings" will feature more than a dozen songs from classic composers as well as pop hits from Dolly Parton and Diane Warren. "Winds" will feature classic and contemporary Latin American composers. Tickets to either night are $25. Purchase online at chattanoogasymphony.org.
2. Love stories onstage: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., continues its run of "Almost, Maine," through Feb. 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. Tickets are $25. To purchase, call the box office at 423-267-8534 or visit TheatreCentre.com.
[READ MORE: These Chattanooga-area restaurants are setting a romantic table for Valentine's Day.]
3. Quit Buggin' Me: Not all love stories have happy endings, and Chattanooga Zoo has a classic way to give you closure. The zoo is debuting Quit Buggin' Me, a chance to name a bug after your ex (or your ex-best friend or mother-in-law, doesn't matter). Then the animal caretakers will feed the bug as an enrichment treat to one of the birds and reptiles on Feb. 12. They'll live-stream the feeding frenzy from 2 to 3 p.m. Cost is $8, and you'll get a certificate to share on your social media pages. You can submit names online through 11 p.m. Feb. 11. Find out more on the zoo's Facebook page.
4. Boutique sale: Four downtown boutiques will hold their second semiannual sale from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 13 in the ballroom of the Westin hotel, 801 Pine St. The sale features high-end men's and women's clothing sold at significant savings by Antibes, The Blue Collection, Embellish and K Boutique by Katherine Roberts. Face coverings required; temperature checks at arrival.
5. Fancy fretwork: Barking Legs Theater will present a Facebook livestream of Shawn Perkinson & Jon Steele: Guitar & Bass at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. The two previously played together in the '90s in the indie rock band Kings of the Killerfish. barkinglegs.org
6. Herb gardening: Women Repair Zone will present "Growing an Herb Garden," with advice for choosing, planting and raising herbs, live and online at 6 p.m. Feb. 16. Cost is $25. Tickets are available through 9 p.m. Feb. 14. See the full list of classes at www.womenrepairzone.com.
7. Imax film: "Into America's Wild 3D," the latest Imax adventure by MacGillivray Freeman Films, premieres Feb. 12 at the Tennessee Aquarium's Imax Theater, 201 Chestnut St. The filmmakers say they hope viewers are inspired to embark on their own adventures after this cinematic trip to sites including the Appalachian Trail, the canyons of the Southwest and the Pacific coastline's "Kelp Highway." The 40-minute film will be screened daily. Get showtimes and purchase tickets at tnaqua.org/imax.
8. Jewish films: Virtual screenings of "Chewdaism: A Taste of Jewish Montreal" are available through noon Feb. 11 in the 2021 Chattanooga Jewish Documentary Film Series. "Nobody Was Interested, Nobody Asked," the story of Holocaust survivors' experiences in Canada, will be available Feb. 16-18 (noon Tuesday to noon Thursday). At 7 p.m. Feb. 18, there will be a Zoom discussion of the film with director Max Beer and producer Deena Clusy-Apel. $12 per screening. jewishchattanooga.com
9. Junior Rangers: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present the year's first Junior Ranger program virtually on the park's Facebook and YouTube pages at 2 p.m. Feb. 13. "Do You Have a Flag?" explains the importance of regimental flags, or colors, during Civil War battles and why it was an honor to be chosen as the color bearer. The presentation will be followed by a simple activity for constructing a personal flag. Children who participate in at least three of the four programs in the series will earn an award. To document participation, tag or private-message the park via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, email a photo to chch_education@nps.gov or stop by Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center or Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center (11 a.m.-3 p.m. daily) to share the activity with a ranger. 423-821-7786, 706-866-9241, www.nps.gov/chch
10. Musical boot camp: Chattanooga Symphony & Opera's principal pops conductor Bob Bernhardt will continue his Bob's Bootcamp virtual series with "The Music of Ennio Morricone" on Feb. 17. You've heard the Italian composer's music in film scores including "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Tickets are $25. chattanoogasymphony.org
11. Music video: Chattanooga-based indie band Behold The Brave has released a new single and video, "Doctor," a song inspired by a medical emergency experienced by the band's lead singer. Thinking he was having a heart attack, Clayton Davis began second-guessing everything he had done in his life up to that point. Turned out, he had severe heartburn, but the scare gave rise to the song and "dark yet hilarious" video. "Doctor" is available on all streaming platforms.
12. Radio series: The next installment of "The Ed Johnson Story" on WUTC's "Scenic Roots" airs at 3 p.m. Feb. 11. This week's topic is "Parden and Hutchins Appeal the Case," featuring insight from Ardena Garth and Kathy Gardner with program host Ray Bassett. The series about the lynching of a Black man on the Walnut Street Bridge continues weekly through March 11. edjohnsonproject.com, wutc.org
Contact Lisa Denton at 423-757-6281 or ldenton@timesfreepress.com.