Hello Thursday.
March 28 2024
Profile: Erika Roberts is a poet who wears many hats within the community — from serving as a creative strategist for the City of Chattanooga + the development project Westside Evolves, to being a Fall 2021 Community Creatives Fellow with the Chattanooga Design Studio.
A poem Roberts wrote while working on the Westside Evolves project about a tree named "Grace" | Photo by Ben Banks
What is your name, job (or jobs), and 3-5 things you think that people should know about you?
My name is Erika Roberts. All the jobs? Creative strategist for the city for 2020, creative strategist for Glass House Collective, creative strategist under the Westside Evolves project, which was with a company out of Washington, EJP. And now, a fellow at the Chattanooga Design Studio. The only 1 that’s kind of slacked off is probably the city part, but I still am available to do that — I did that for all of 2020.
- I'm left handed.
- I'm a grandmother.
- I love documentaries.
- I'm obsessed with matcha.
You were recently named a Fall 2021 Community Creatives Fellow. What does this mean for you personally + work-wise? What will you be doing as a Fellow?
I get to plan a little bit more — I will still be engaging with the Westside community but will also be engaging with Patten Towers on the Patten Porch Project. 1 of the jobs and 1 of the projects under this fellowship is working with UTK architecture students as they reimagine the James A. Henry building. We’re finding a way to save that building, but also make it purposeful and able to use it. We talked to them about the community, giving them some background information so that they have an informed way of reimagining this building. I will be working with them a couple of times in the next couple of months as they're doing their pitches and their sketches. It's nothing that's set in stone, but it's a great opportunity to see the possibilities. It's been really fun to be able to engage in that way. And then any other projects that come up with the Chattanooga Design Studio, I will be working as an engaging artist on that.
What do you think is special about Chattanooga’s art scene?
That it’s so diverse. And their ability to gravitate toward collaboration. Some communities have all these independent artists and nobody wants to work with anyone, and they just don't want to be bothered. But here, there's a spirit of true collaboration that I think is amazing. So everytime I see someone working together I’m like, “that's really fire.” It's amazing.
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Today
- David Sedaris | Mon., Sept. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave. | $45+ | Humor writer David Sedaris is a “master of satire” who recently released a new book entitled “The Best of Me.”
- Make Your Own Herbal Salves | Mon., Sept. 13 | 6-8 p.m. | The Chattery,1800 Rossville Ave. | $28 | Create 2, 2-oz tins of an herbal salve or balm, choosing from 4 recipes. 🌿
Tuesday
- MX24 Community Planning Meeting | Tues., Sept. 14 | 6-7 p.m. | Heaven & Ale, 342 E. Main St. | Free | This planning meeting for MainX24 (which organizers are hopeful can take place this year), will allow community members to learn more + find out how to participate.
- Paint Night Downtown | Tues., Sept. 14 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Big River Grille, 222 Broad St. | $35 | Your ticket will give you a craft beer or house wine + a 16x20 canvas to paint on. 🎨
- Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Mississippi Braves | Tues., Sept. 14 | 7:15 p.m. | AT&T Field | $6+ ⚾ Ⓟ
Wednesday
- Online Painting Critiques with Mia Bergeron | Wed., Sept. 15 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Townsend Atelier, virtual | $50 | This is a chance to gain insight and feedback on your work, all from the comfort of your own home
- Open Mic Night | Wed., Sept. 15 | 7:30 p.m. | The Comedy Catch | $5 | See regional comedians working on their acts. 🎤
PlanAhead
- Speed Dating | Fri., Sept. 17 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Millennial Nail Bar, 818 Georgia Ave., Suite 118 | $30 | If you’re single and ready to mingle, look no further. 💞
- Paddle for PanCAN | Sat., Sept. 18 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Suck Creek Boat Launch, 1907 Suck Creek Rd. | $35 | This kayak + paddleboard 5K benefits the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. 🛶
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
A few weeks ago, our team got the chance to check out Craft Axe Throwing, and as people are looking for fun + unique activities to participate in, we wanted to share how you can #TryThis.
An axe-ceptional time team building | Gif via 6AM City Team
What we tried (with pricing):
Our group of 8 booked 2 lanes for 1 hour of axe throwing. Axe throwing is $20 per person per hour for up to 8 people. For groups of 8+, a 25% non-refundable deposit (or $150 for facility rental) is required. Craft Axe Throwing made it easy to pick our lanes + schedule our time online. Ⓟ
Weather
- 88º | Partly cloudy | 8% chance of rain ⛅
Announced
-
The Chattanooga Times Free Press will be transitioning to a digital format in the next year. Physical paper delivery will end mid-2022, with the exception of a Sunday edition, and will instead be available digitally. Subscribers will receive a new iPad so they can read the digital replica of the newspaper. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Coming Soon
- The new Songbirds — which will now feature hands-on guitar exhibits, a Celebrity Guitar Room + a custom-built stage — launches this week on Sept. 18. The grand reopening will feature drink specials, live music, a silent auction, and a raffle with prizes. 🎸
Ranked
- We’ll be riding high on this news for a while. The Chattanooga Airport was chosen as the U.S. Airport Winner for Newsweek's Future of Travel Awards, thanks to it being the “first aviation terminal in the world to be LEED Platinum certified and first airport in the US to go fully solar.” ✈️
Community
- In honor of Hispanic + Latino Heritage Month starting this week, La Paz Chattanooga will host a grand opening block party to celebrate the opening of their new offices and community space at 809 S. Willow St. The party will take place on Sept. 19 from 1-5 p.m. at La Paz.
Edu
- District 11 Senator Bo Watson presented at the inaugural Literacy Summit last week. The panel discussion explored how the state of Tennessee, Hamilton County, and other stakeholders can collectively achieve higher literacy outcomes through a strengthened and unified approach executing the state’s literacy plan. (Chattanoogan.com)
Outdoors
- The Crabtree Farms Fall Plant Sale & Festival is on Sept. 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. In addition to plant starts, seeds, and soil amendments, there will also be vendors, music, kid activities, and food. All unsold plants will be inventoried + available to purchase from the online shop. 🌱
Try This
- This Thursday, Brianna + Trista will participate in a Bike and Brew Tour as we write our TryThis article, and we want you to join us. Bike the South will offer free bicycle rentals if you don’t have 1, and helmets will be required and available for purchase. Bonus: NOOGAtoday readers can get 50% off tour tickets with the code NOOGA50. 🚲
- The 6th annual Battle Below the Clouds at Ruby Falls will be on Sept. 25 this year. This free event brings amateur teams together in a cook-off for bragging rights as the best backyard barbecue grill master in Chattanooga while raising money for local nonprofit, Lana’s Love Foundation. ☁️
Volunteer
Survey
- Hey, have you taken our demographics survey yet? We’d love to learn more about you (to better serve you in this newsletter) by having you complete this quick, 2-min. online survey. Thanks in advance.
Bees on a Bicycle’s second Two Leaf Tuesday event will take place on Tues., Sept. 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the Bees on a Bicycle shop.
The event features plant shopping, beverages, and a plant potting party (say that 3 times fast). All you need to bring is yourself, a plant + a planter — but you can also pick up the latter at Bees.
This free event will definitely make the 21st night of September easy to remember. 🪴
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NOOGAcurrent: Where we’re regulars — date night edition
Brianna here, and my now-fiancé and I love to take fancier date nights to Two Ten Jack. The vegan ramen is incredible, the space is super cool, and the crispy brussels are truly out of this world.
Trista here, and a regular date night for Chris and I looks like food from Cashew + a walk in Coolidge Park, a sugar cone of chocolate ice cream from Clumpies, and a night cap at Unknown Caller.
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