Editorial

IndepenDANCE Day Street Party

Make plans to enjoy a special Nightfall Friday, July 3 with an IndepenDANCE Day Street Party, taking place between Miller Plaza and Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Martin Luther King Boulevard will close at 5 p.m. between Broad Street and Bessie Smith, with special entertainment on the front lawn of Bessie Smith, an antique car show in the street, and kids activities and food vendors tying the two venues together.

The fun will begin at 5:30 on the Bessie Smith lawn with a dance performance by Eclectic Movement. Nightfall will kick in at 7 at Miller Plaza, starting with an opening set by local R&B band Xsklusive. Bluesman Tinsley Ellisat will follow at 8.

Other fun will include: Creative Discovery Museum’s Discovery Mobile; a community paint project with world-renowned mural artist Meg Saligman, who will create a monumental mural on the AT&T building next to Bessie Smith (she is inviting the community to help with a large-scale paint-by-numbers on the sheets of cloth she will later adhere to the wall of the AT&T building); an Art Bike rodeo in the street; and a climbing wall.

Celebrate Independence Day early at Jewish Cultural Center

The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga invites the Chattanooga community to celebrate Independence Day with an indoor, air-conditioned picnic on Friday, July 3 at 11:30 a.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center, located at 5461 North Terrace Road. Deacon Bluz, headliner for the 2015 Bessie Smith Strut, will entertain. Vegetarian meals are available if requested in advance. For ticket prices, call 493-0270, extension 10, or email rsvp@jewishchattanooga.com.

Pops on the River

Pops on the River will take place Saturday, July 4 in Coolidge Park. This popular community celebration will feature a free outdoor patriotic concert by the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera (CSO) at Coolidge Park as well as a large fireworks finale over the Tennessee River. The entertainment will start at 5 p.m.with a tribute to veterans featuring veteran songwriters from Operation Song. At 8 p.m., the CSO will begin its patriotic program featuring Sousa marches, the “Armed Forces Salute,” Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” and “Raiders March” from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The fireworks display, shot from the neighboring Renaissance Park, will begin upon the conclusion of the symphony’s performance at approximately 9:45 p.m.

Food, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks will be available. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Coolidge Park will be closing to vehicular traffic at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the show. There will be free shuttle service running from the Republic parking lots between 4th and 5th Streets from 6-11 p.m. Shuttle pickup and drop off on the north side of the river will be near the Chattanooga Theatre Centre at the intersection of Tremont and River Streets.

ReptiDay Chattanooga

Saturday, July 4 will mark the return of the creepiest, crawliest day of the year: ReptiDay Chattanooga. ReptiDay will feature hundreds of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, spiders, and small exotic animals. Top breeders and vendors will have animals, merchandise, cages, supplies, live feeders, and more on hand. ReptiDay Chattanooga will be held at the Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge. The doors will open to the general public at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Visit www.reptiday.com for ticket information.

Lee Greenwood at Barnes & Noble Hamilton Place

On Friday, July 10 from noon to 2 p.m., country music legend Lee Greenwood will be signing his new children’s book at Barnes & Noble Hamilton Place. “Proud to Be an American” is based on Greenwood’s popular patriotic ballad, “God Bless the USA.” Greenwood’s signing will also be used as a book fair fundraiser for the Want To Foundation, a local organization that works with at-risk teens. The public is invited to attend this free event.

Peach season comes to Warehouse Row

As peach season heads to a peak, Warehouse Row is gearing up for a “peachy” summer celebration with the return of its annual Crafted by Southern Hands event on Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring pony rides, live music, complimentary refreshments, and more. The Peach Truck will also be on-hand with its hand-picked, farm-fresh Georgia peaches.

Guided bicycle tour

The Chattanooga History Center (CHC) and Outdoor Chattanooga will conduct a leisurely bike ride through downtown Chattanooga on Saturday, July 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Participants will learn about the ways people have cycled through and mobilized the city. The tour will begin at Outdoor Chattanooga in Coolidge Park. Space is limited and preregistration is required by Friday, July 10. Participants will wheel from Coolidge Park to the Chattanooga Choo Choo and then cruise back to Coolidge. Along the way, riders will hear stories about the resources and routes that have drawn people to Chattanooga and view historic photos from the CHC collection. Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. This tour is appropriate for ages eight and up. To register, call the CHC at (423) 265-3247 and choose option 1, or visit chattanoogahistory.org. Participants may bring their own bicycle. To reserve a bike and helmet with Outdoor Chattanooga, call (423) 643-6888. All participants must wear a helmet.

First Amendment dinner

The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga invites the Chattanooga community to its eighth annual First Amendment Dinner on Tuesday, July 14 at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center. The event will educate guests about their First Amendment rights and honor local veterans for their service.  The keynote speaker will be Southern Poverty Law Center Founder Morris Dees. For ticket prices, call 493-0270, extension 10, or email rsvp@jewishchattanooga.com. Space is limited.

Creative Discovery Museum’s AmuseUm 2.0

Creative Discovery Museum’s annual fundraiser, AmuseUm 2.0, will feature a full weekend of high-tech amusement. AmuseUm, the party for grown-ups, will be held Saturday, Aug. 29. The party will feature high-tech physical and digital playgrounds by Two Bit Circus, a Los Angeles-based team of artists, engineers, educators, and inventors. Lee Towery Catering will provide the food, and Sound Force Entertainment will perform live dance music. Guests will also be able to bid in silent and “roaming” live auctions for a variety of items, including vacation getaways. AmuseUm 2.0: Kid’s Edition will take place the following day. All of the high-tech amusements from Two Bit Circus will stay at the museum through the weekend so families can bring their kids to experience the digital playground. On Sunday, guests will pay what they wish at the door instead of the standard ticket price for admission. (Sponsorships for AmuseUm 2.0: Kid’s Edition will open the door to all children in the community.) Funds raised from AmuseUm will help Creative Discovery Museum continue to offer programs and exhibits to over 250,000 people annually. Dress for the event is casual. For more information or to make reservations, call (423) 648-6085 or visit the museum’s website at www.cdmfun.org/amuseum.