Boy Scout blood drive
Blood Assurance and the Cherokee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America will host a week-long blood drive at Chattanooga-area donor centers and mobile blood drives Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 9. Donors will receive a Boy Scout Coupon Card valid at many restaurants and businesses across the region and an “I Bleed” college football t-shirt. Blood Assurance’s downtown donor center is located at 705 East 4th St., across from the UTC McKenzie Arena. Its Gunbarrel donor center is located at 1748 Gunbarrel Rd., near the Target Shopping Center. Its Hixson donor center is located at 1920 Northpoint Blvd., across from Hobby Lobby. To be eligible to donate, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh no less than 110 pounds, and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes. Donors are asked to drink plenty of caffeine-free liquids and eat an iron-rich meal prior to donating. For more information, contact Blood Assurance at (423) 756-0966, or visit www.bloodassurance.org.
Can they really say THAT?
The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga will host its ninth annual First Amendment Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center, located at 5461 North Terrace Rd. The keynote speaker will be Anti-Defamation League Interim Regional Director Shelley Rose. RSVP to (423) 493-0270, extension 10, or rsvp@jewishchattanooga.com. Space is limited. The First Amendment Dinner was started nine years ago as a way to honor veterans and inform the public of their First Amendment Rights.
Gallery Hop 2016
The Association for Visual Arts (AVA) will present the tenth annual Gallery Hop on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 2-8 p.m. The Gallery Hop is a free event featuring galleries and artist studios in and around Downtown Chattanooga. During the event, the public will be able to meet local artists, watch demonstrations, and learn about the artists’ creative processes. Refreshments will be provided at most venues. A map featuring the location of each gallery and studio is available at www.avarts.org.
Pickin’ on Poetry
Southern Lit Alliance, UTC Fine Arts Center, and SoundCorps will host poets Rebecca Gayle Howell and Ansel Elkins for Pickin’ on Poetry, a discussion of poetry in American songwriting, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Camp House, located at 149 E. MLK Blvd. Howell is a senior editor of Oxford American and the author of “Render / An Apocalypse.” Elkins is the author of the poetry collection “Blue Yodel” and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. The conversation will be moderated by UTC English professor Joseph Jordan. This event is free and open to the public. Food and drink will be available for purchase at Camp House. For more information, visit www.SouthernLitAlliance.org. v
Chattanooga Friends Chili Cook-Off
Chattanooga Friends will present its first Chili Cook-Off on Friday, Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Miller Plaza. Teams from local companies, restaurants, and nonprofits will compete to win prizes for the best chili in Chattanooga. Guests will purchase a bottomless bowl for $5, which they can fill with chili from each team. A panel of judges will choose a team to receive Chattanooga’s Best Chili award. Chattanooga Friends is accepting team entries starting at $250, and sponsorship opportunities are available. The proceeds will benefit Siskin Children’s Institute, Northside Neighborhood House, Boys and Girls Club, and Little Miss Mag Early Learning Center.
Run/Walk for Cammy’s Cause
The Mary Cameron Robinson (MCR) Foundation will host its 11th annual fundraiser, A 5K Run/Walk for Cammy’s Cause, on Saturday, Sept. 17, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Ross’s Landing. The event will honor the memory of Mary Cameron “Cammy” Robinson. After losing Cammy 11 years ago to complications stemming from a 14-year battle with eating disorders, her family and friends host the 5K Run/Walk every September. The proceeds will support the programs of the MCR Foundation, which focuses on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Register at www.mcrfoundation.com.
Creative Discovery Museum fundraiser
Creative Discovery Museum’s annual fundraiser, AmuseUm, will be held Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Guests will experience a slow-motion mirror, race robotic spheres through an obstacle course, and enjoy food from Lee Towery Catering, dancing on the roof, and music from Sound Force Entertainment. Silent and roaming live auctions will be held as well. For more information, call (423) 648-6085, or visit the museum website at www.cdmfun.org/amuseum.
Cast Iron Cookoff
The annual Cast Iron Cookoff will take place at the Chattanooga Market on Sunday, Sept. 18. Five of Chattanooga’s top chefs will create sustainable seafood dishes with ingredients sourced at the market. The winner of this year’s event will receive a “golden ticket” to the 2016 World Food Championships. Learn more at chattanooga.events/event/cast-iron-cook-off-2016.
For sculptors and art lovers
Artists and art lovers will have an opportunity to hear a presentation by internationally known sculptor John Henry on Saturday, Sept. 24. ConFab, which is hosted by the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance (MSA), will kick off at 9 a.m. at Chattanooga State, and will feature an address by Henry followed by a discussion between the sculptor and the audience. After a tour of Sculpture Fields and Henry’s studio complex at 2 p.m., the event will culminate with the Masters Award Dinner at Henry’s Southside studio home. During the meal, the MSA will present its Master’s Award for lifetime achievement to Henry, who is known worldwide for his large-scale public works of art. His works are exhibited in many American cities as well as throughout Europe and Asia. To make a reservation, email admin@midsouthsculpture.org, or call (423) 903-5648.