📚 Fun facts

Though raised in Buffalo, NY, Reed was born here in Chattanooga.
His work extends beyond poems — he’s also published prose, essays, plays, and even song lyrics.
Maybe we’re a bit biased, but our favorite Ishmael Reed poem is titled “Chattanooga,” and we’ll let you guess (or read for yourself) the subject matter.
In fact, Reed published a whole book of poems under the title “Chattanooga.”
He even has a daughter named Tennessee, who is also a writer.

1 of our favorite quotes about the Chattanooga-born writer | Photo via NOOGAtoday, article via the Chattanooga Library

📚 Background + accolades

Known for his satirical work that often comments on race + politics, Reed grew up in Buffalo, NY, where he also attended college before dropping out his junior year. Despite leaving college before graduation, Reed received an honorary doctorate from the University of New York-Buffalo in 1995, and another from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte in 1998.

Throughout his career, Reed has earned various awards, founded or co-founded numerous writing + publishing groups and organizations, and worked at multiple prestigious universities.

Some of the highlights (but only some — this guy has seriously done a lot) among these 3 overarching feats include:

Winning the L.A. Times Robert Kirsch Lifetime Achievement Award, the Phillis Wheatley Award, the Langston Hughes Medal, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Poetry Association.
Co-founding the “East Village Other,” an underground NYC newspaper that achieved a national reputation; founding the Before Columbus Foundation, an organization that promotes original + neglected writing from the Americas; and co-founding Reed, Cannon & Johnson Publishing Company.
Holding positions at Yale, Harvard, and UC-Berkeley — where he taught for 30+ years.

#MUSTDO

Today

FIRESIDE: Outdoor Concert Series | Thurs., Oct. 7 | 7-9 p.m. | Greenway Farms | Free | This family-friendly outdoor music series will take place ‘round a campfire, with tonight’s music coming from Lou Wamp and The Bluetastics. 🎶
Fall Mocktails 101 | Thurs., Oct. 7 | 6-7 p.m. | The Chattery, virtual | $20 | Learn how to make a concentrated syrup that combines fruit, sugar, and vinegar + how to combine flavors to create the perfect fall mocktail. 🍸
Music for the Mind Fundraiser | Thurs., Oct. 7 | 7-11 p.m. | Wanderlinger Brewing Co. | Any donation | This family-friendly night of music benefits the Alzheimer's Association of Chattanooga.

Friday

Westbound & Down: Two Steppin' and Music under the Stars | Fri., Oct. 8 | 5-9 p.m. | Common House | $15 | An evening of dance and music, specialty goods + a curated drink menu. 🌟
Laine Hardy with Kylie Frey | Fri., Oct. 8 | 8 p.m. | The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St. | $25+ | 2019 American Idol winner Laine Hardy is headed to Chattanooga for a night of country music.

Saturday

Artists in Transition - Marketplace | Sat., Oct. 9 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Edwin Hotel | Free | This artist showcase features currently or recently homeless artists as part of the Artists in Transition program.
Dare to Drag | Sat., Oct. 9 | 9 p.m. | The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St. | $40+ | This event benefiting the Chattanooga Kidney Foundation will feature amateur + professional Drag Queens, plus a special guest — RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11 Queen Silky Nutmeg Ganache.
Chattanooga Oktoberfest | Sat., Oct. 9-Sun., Oct. 10 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. + 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | First Horizon Pavilion | Free | Put on your German garb and enjoy a selection of over 100 seasonal + local beers. 🍺

Sunday

Food Truck and Fun Fest | Sun., Oct. 10 | 1-4 p.m. | Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga, 1184 Baldwin St. | $35 | Enjoy live entertainment, 4 gourmet food trucks, and prizes at this festival with proceeds going towards ending homelessness. 🚚
Drink Up, Game On | Sun., Oct. 10 | 12-5 p.m. | Oddstory Brewing Co., 336 E. MLK Blvd. | Free+ | Bring your own game or take part in the board games, cards, and chess sets available.

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.

MORE OCTOBER EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

77º | Rainy | 80% chance of rain ☔
The flash flood watch that went into effect yesterday ends this morning, and the weather forecast shows a sunny weekend ahead.

Civic

A proposal to change the city's curfew passed the first meeting, with a final vote occurring next week. Currently, curfew begins at midnight for those 17 and under, but the proposal suggests conforming to state law, which requires a curfew of 11 p.m. for those 18 and under + 10 p.m. for 16 and younger. (NewsChannel 9)

Development

A $4-$5 million townhouse project is in the works in Chattanooga’s South Broad District. Property owner Mark McGraw envisions 13 to 15 multi-level homes, each with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths + a rooftop deck and 2-car garage. Work on the project could start in mid to late 2022. 🏠 (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Community

CO.LAB announced that veteran entrepreneur James Chapman will kick off Startup Week with a fireside chat. There will also be a special guest — Chattanooga tourism specialist Stephanie Hays, who is on a worldwide adventure — all on Airbnb’s dime. Register for Startup Week here .
The Noontunes lunchtime concert series returns to Miller Plaza on Thurs., Oct. 14. In addition to in-person, the shows will also be live-streamed on the Chattanooga Fun Facebook page + later aired on WUTC 88.1FM. Food trucks and vendors will be in Miller Plaza each Thursday at 11 a.m. 🎶

State

Gov. Bill Lee unveiled Tennessee’s new license plate design after state residents voted for their favorite. The winning blue plate received 42% of the vote among the 300,000 residents who voted. The design will be available starting on Jan. 3, 2022. 🚗 (News Channel 9)

Watch

Chattanooga-based couple Ellen and Omayya Atout will soon be featured on “Shark Tank'' for the business they launched during the pandemic, Songlorious. The episode will air on October 15. Who’s watching with us? 🦈

Coronavirus

According to the Hamilton County Health Department, 50% of Hamilton County residents are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You can receive a COVID-19 vaccination or booster shot for free via the health department on various dates + locations.

Noogan

Local horticulturist Christine Hunt won the 2021 Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award. Christine is the former horticulturist for the Tennessee Aquarium, where she worked for 30 years. Read more about her life and the award here. 👏

Tech

WiFi lagging or cutting out during Zoom meetings? It’s time to fix that. EPB can get you the high-speed Internet you need to WFH (and binge watch in peace). Learn more. 🙏 Ⓟ

📸 @lupitanyongo

Lupita Nyong’o was in Chattanooga, and — while it’s no surprise — she was pretty obsessed with Proof’s tenant Neutral Ground + local Chef Kenyatta Ashford.

In fact, she even created a whole Reel highlighting her experience at the restaurant and shared it on her Instagram page, and when we say obsessed, we aren’t exaggerating — she called it an “immersive culinary experience” and a “journey of flavor.”

What we’re saying is, if you haven’t been to Proof yet, this video is yet another reason why you should.

#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?

Just use #NOOGAtoday on social media.

THE WRAP

Where we’re regulars: taco edition 🌮

In case you missed it, Monday was National Taco Day. Brianna here, and Trista and I will often find ourselves walking to Taqueria Jalisco for lunch — I'd never had cactus tacos before eating there, and I'm so glad I tried them. I also have to mention Taco Mamacita, though, because they have a whole (delicious) vegan menu.

It’s Trista, and as Brianna mentioned, we find ourselves at Taqueria Jalisco a lot — the breakfast tacos at the Miller Plaza location are fire. I’d be remiss not to also mention Cart & Seoul and the absolutely delicious potato + screamin’ vegan tacos. I dream of them.

💭 Say Hello: What do you want to know about your city?

✏️️ Want to write an article for us? Find out how here.

👀 Want your business featured in our newsletter? Learn more about advertising opportunities here.

📖 Check out our Editorial Ethics Policy here.