Hello Thursday.
March 28 2024
Remember the heartbreak of Songbirds Guitar Museum closing back in August, and the subsequent excitement when the Songbirds Foundation announced that it was purchasing + reimagining the space?
In case you missed it, the museum + foundation are separate entities, and now the space formerly occupied by Songbirds Guitar Museum is owned and operated by the foundation.
We got the inside scoop + a tour of the space as it undergoes renovations — read on for what’s to come. 🎶
What’s happening
- Songbirds Foundation took over the museum + is revamping it
- There are still a lot of the cool guitars you’re used to (~300 vintage guitars, including BB King’s)
- The goal is to make the space more accessible — essentially, they want to humanize the guitar to show that it’s for everyone
The space will feature displays on well-known musicians like BB King + lesser-known, but just as important musicians like Hank Snow — yes, that was BB King’s real guitar | Photo by NOOGAtoday
What changes are being made
- More color + art
- Tours will be self-guided
- Implementing interactive elements — like a visual feedback simulator, guitar video game, buttons that play a recording of musician Andy Wood on different amps + pedals, and a scannable Spotify code for every song that’s mentioned in displays
The Songbirds graphic designer drew + enlarged the insert artwork from the Allman Brothers Band’s “Eat a Peach” album | Photo by NOOGAtoday
What else you can expect
- A new stage, which will make its debut at Songbird’s first show on Aug. 25
- Exhibits on a variety of musicians + music history (from the Impressions and The Big 9 neighborhood to Hank Snow and Mary Kaye)
- Classes for adults + children — including master classes with well-renowned guitarists like Eric Johnson
The new Songbirds stage | Photo by NOOGAtoday
When to mark your calendar
- Aug. 25 | First show at the new Songbirds guitar museum space
- Sept. 18 | Grand opening of the new, reinvented guitar museum
- March 28 | The first master class with “Cliffs of Dover” musician Eric Johnson (this class was announced yesterday + will likely fill up fast)
- Various dates | A new music series called Songbirds Rising, which will feature artists that Songbirds thinks you should know about
Which aspect of the revamped museum are you looking forward to most?
We're just excited to be back in the space again.
- The interactive elements + artwork
- The classes
- The Songbirds Rising series
- The exhibits about music history + musicians
Dish
- Simple Summer Salads | Tues., July 27 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave. | $35 | Learn to make southwest quinoa and black bean salad with roasted corn and colorful mung bean salad with lemon zest + dressings like mandarin and herb vinaigrette. 🥗
Active
- Joggers and Lagers | Tues., July 27 | 6 p.m. | Chattanooga Brewing Co., 1804 Chestnut St. | Free | What’s better than a 1.5 mile run followed by $1 off pints? We can think of a lot, but then again, we aren’t runners. 🍺
TryThis
- Try Archery | Tues., July 27 | 12:30-2:30 p.m. | Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. | Free | Drop in anytime at this free indoor archery session for anyone age 6 and up. 🏹
- ONE Riverfront Plan Community Reveal | Tues., July 27 | 8:30-10 a.m. or 5-6:30 p.m. | Tennessee Aquarium | RSVP | River City Company will share its final plan outlining the 4 Aspirations and the 8 Strategies for ONE Riverfront with the community.
PlanAhead
- Job Searching 101 | Wed., July 28 | 6-7 p.m. | The Chattery, virtual | $15 | Learn how to search effectively for your dream job + how to set healthy boundaries as you go through the process.
- South Bound with Christian Collier | Thurs., July 29 | 7 p.m. | Sculpture Fields, 1800 Polk St. | $15 | Bask in sculpture art with wine, refreshments, and local artistry from Chattanooga-based poet Christian J. Collier. ✍️
- City Sweat | Thurs., July 29 | 5-8 p.m. | Waterhouse Pavilion | Free | Break a sweat with Onsight Fitness’ Workout + Fitness Expo. 💦
If you’re anything like me (Editor Brianna here), you have lots of celebrations to attend this summer, and you’re also totally lost on where to find good gifts during the holiday shopping “off-season.” 🎁
The (aesthetically pleasing) entrance to Sophie’s Shoppe | Photo by the NOOGAtoday team
Enter: Sophie’s Shoppe, a local business that offers curated gifts created by artists + makers. Read about my shopping experience + discussion with shop lead Zeen Oehmig — and how you can #TryThis.
What we tried:
While speaking with Zeen, I learned that Sophie’s Shoppe has been open for ~18 years, starting out at the former Southside Galleries before moving to its current Northshore location.
Sophie’s Shoppe has an abundance of succulents + cute pots and vases to display them | Photo by the NOOGAtoday team
According to Zeen, the shop prides itself on providing goods created by small artists + makers (including several locals), its customer service, and the shop’s aesthetic environment. Ⓟ
This content was created in partnership with Sophie's Shoppe Ⓟ
Weather
- 91º | Scattered thunderstorms | 40% chance of rain 🌦️
Vote
- The Tennessee House of Representatives District 29 special primary election is today. DeAngelo Jelks is running unopposed in the Democratic primary + Greg Vital is running unopposed in the Republican primary. The candidates will advance to the Sept. 14 general election. Polls are open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 🗳️
Civic
- Yesterday, Mayor Tim Kelly ordered the temporary closure of a third community center, the East Chattanooga Community Center, following a confirmed COVID-19 case at the location. The closure will allow for deep cleaning + sanitization of the center. (News Channel 9)
Community
- Renovations on the last of the 3 Boynton Towers on Chattanooga's Westside have been completed and will soon house residents again. This comes after a $13-million upgrade of the 50-year-old apartments. The restoration replaced stained floors, leaking windows + shabby kitchens with brighter and more energy-efficient units. 🏢(Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Drink
Edu
- Hamilton County Schools and the City of Chattanooga announced their Community Forward Schools Partnership yesterday, which utilizes a holistic approach to provide support + opportunities and remove barriers from student learning and family wellness. ✏️ (The Pulse)
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Rising Chattanooga State Community College students can get a preview of campus before the fall. Think: Walking your schedule, meeting faculty + staff, meeting classmates and more. Register for a Tiger Pawlooza Day online or call 423-697-2689 with questions. Ⓟ
Coronavirus
- Hamilton County Schools will encourage, but not require, students + staff to wear face masks when in-person learning resumes next month. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as of July 15 nearly double the amount of kids around the country got the virus compared to the end of June. 😷(Chattanooga Times Free Press)
- The Hamilton County Health Department will continue hosting free vaccine events this week at multiple locations. You can find the vaccination event calendar in Spanish here.
Arts
- ArtsBuild is requesting breakout session proposals for a regional conference on Sept. 10 on equity in the arts. Local and regional artists + arts organizers and organizations are invited to submit a proposal to present at the workshop sessions — presenters will be compensated. Submit your proposal by Sat., July 31.
Volunteer
- Remote Area Medical — a nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free dental, vision, and medical care to underserved and uninsured individuals — will be in Chattanooga on Sept. 18 + 19 and is seeking volunteers. Those interested can email Mary Brown for more information.
Outdoors
- Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunting and Fishing Academy program is offering free virtual outdoor classes that cover a range of outdoor topics, including hunting and fishing best practices, camping essentials + more. 🎣
Health
- There are 3 basic rules for sunscreen: Choosing one with an SPF of 30+, applying to skin at least 30 minutes before exposure, and reapplying at least every 2 hours (and more often when swimming or sweating). Learn more. Ⓟ
Finance
- These insanely high paying, no annual fee cash back cards feature offers like $200 bonus, up to 3% cash back or 0% interest for 15 months. Shop your categories — everyday purchases like groceries, travel, dining + more — and make the most of your cash back rewards. Ⓟ
FeaturedDeal
- SPENGA Chattanooga is offering new members their first month of unlimited visits for $50 (normally $149). Purchases must be made by July 31. Ⓟ
We told you guys that we’d be on the hunt for any + all Trader Joe’s updates, and we’re here to deliver on our promise — according to an anonymous source, Trader Joe’s Chattanooga will open to the public on Aug. 27.
We got the insider information from someone who has been in communication with some Trader Joe's higher-ups, who also said that the local store’s Head Captain will be Noah Stevens. (Thanks for sending that tip our way).
Speculoos cookie butter, here we come. 😋
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Yesterday, we dove into Chattanooga’s Underground Railroad history in our latest BiblioChatt article.
Since then, we received info from National Park Partners that Moccasin Bend is now designated as an official site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Rangers traced the route Jacob Cummings used to escape from Moccasin Bend in a canoe and find freedom in the North before returning to help others escape. In the past, National Park Partners has sponsored a guided canoe tour that traces his escape route + tells the story, and they hope to offer the trip again in 2022.
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