Where To See Fireworks in Chattanooga in 2014

If your Independence Day celebration usually includes watching a professional fireworks display, here are a few places around Chattanooga you may want to go!

On Thursday, July, 3, you can see fireworks at:

Coolidge Park, as part of Pops on the River

after the Lookouts Game at AT&T Fieldfireworks 2

Camp Columbus, at dark

Lake Winnie, at 10pm

the Outdoor Wilderness Theater in Trenton, GA at 9:45pm

 

Then, on Friday, July 4, there will be displays at:

the Signal Mountain Golf Course

the lake in Soddy Daisy

Heritage Park in Dalton

Jasper Recreational Park

Main Street in Dunlap

City Park in Graysville

Lake Winnie at 10pm

Bradley Square Mall in Cleveland

 

Did we miss any? Please let us know in the comments! 

Coloring Eggs? Try These 5 Techniques

Coloring Easter eggs is fun and easy enough. Nearly everyone has some food coloring and vinegar on hand, and there are all sorts of commercially manufactured kits available. But maybe you Eggsyearn for something a little different. If that’s the case, you may want to check out one of these tutorials!

1. Color eggshells instead of hard boiled eggs. They won’t spoil, and you can use them as decorations or give them as gifts. Here’s a nice, step-by-step guide from firstpalette.com for getting the egg out.

2. Use leaves and twigs to make botanical Easter eggs. These eggs look super fancy, but aren’t all that difficult. Martha Stewart has a great tutorial.

3. Wax your eggs. Eastern European tradition calls for using wax to create complex, beautiful designs on eggs, but you can create a similar effect using crayons. Simply draw a pattern on an egg with a crayon then dip it in dye. The dye won’t adhere to the wax. For a more in-depth and true-to-tradition method, read about how to create Pisanki Easter eggs.

4. Tie them up. Buy old 100% silk ties from the thrift store, wrap your eggs in them, then boil them, let them cool, and unwrap. The pattern will be transferred to the egg. Here are the step-by-step, detailed instructions. You’ll have the coolest eggs at the hunt.

5. Color your eggs with Kool-Aid. They will turn out bright, and you’ll be transported back to childhood by the smell. All you really need is water, Kool-Aid packs, and small cups — check out the super simple instructions here.

There are plenty of resources out there with other amazingly creative ideas for decorating. Do you have a favorite technique? Whether or not you celebrate Easter, dyeing eggs is fun and offers a nice, crafty activity — plus, you get to eat the eggs!

 

Easter in ‘Nooga

Easter dresses -- a lovely tradition!

Easter dresses — a lovely tradition!

Whether you celebrate Easter or simply that spring has sprung, the weekend of April 19-20 promises to be a busy one in Chattanooga.

Last week’s Mega Post of Things To Do in April left out a Chattanooga tradition: the egg hunt in Coolidge Park. Hosted by Stuart Heights Baptist Church, this year is the 6th annual community egg hunt, from 9-11am. Children up to age 11 will search for 100,000 eggs hidden in the park.

Following the egg hunt, there will be an open air worship service. Families are invited to stay later for a picnic, face painting, music, and story-telling.

If your family traditions skew more towards big meals, you might be interested in following Pearl & Associates seasonal board on Pinterest, where they are gathering traditional, southern recipes you may want to try this year.

Regardless of your religious affiliation or traditions, we here at theNoogaLife hope that you are enjoying this beautiful time of year in Chattanooga. With redbuds, dogwoods, tulips, and iris in bloom all over the city, you don’t have to look very far to find colorful beauty!

 

 

Weekend Planner: St. Patrick’s Day Edition

This year, March 17 falls on a Monday, so many of the events and celebrations will be on March 15. It seems like there are more fun activities every week in Chattanooga. Here are just a few for the upcoming week/weekend:

The Rump Run — Be active and have fun while raising money for a great cause. The Rump Run helps to raise awareness of, and funds to research colon cancer. One hundred percent of the proceeds stay local.

Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention — On Saturday, March 15, at noon, at the Lindseay Street Hall, a foot-stompin’ good time will begin! Musicians from all over will converge to compete for cash prizes. Admission is $10 for adults, and free for children under 12. No electric instruments or mics allowed, just old-fashioned fun.Shamrock

St. Pawtrick’s Day Dog Walk & Yappy Hour — Dog lovers in Chattanooga will dress themselves and their dogs in green, gather together in Renaissance Park at 10 am on Saturday, March 15, and take a walk together. Then, they will enjoy some time together in the Whole Foods Courtyard promoting responsible pet ownership. It’s sure to be a barking good time.

St. Chatty’s Day Parade — After the dog walk, you may want to check out a parade being organized by The Chattanooga Shamrock Society on the North Shore. Everyone will meet up at Renaissance Park at noon and the parade will head down Frazier Avenue.

Shamrock City at Rock City — Music, dancing, food, beer…and a green water fall! Celebrate at Rock City for some family fun.

If St. Patrick’s Day = pub crawl for you, there are lots of options. Pints & Pedals will be cycling from pub to pub — with a leprechaun on board! Ride the Chattanooga Double Decker Bus for St Paddy’s on the Parkway with stops at Hair of the Dog, Terminal Brewhouse, and the Honest Pint.

The Georgia Winery will host St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour, featuring $3 glasses of (green) wine, music and fun.

However you choose to spend your weekend, we hope that you have a great time!

 

5 Chattanooga-Only Valentine’s Day Activities

There are lots of reasons you might want to do something big for Valentine’s Day this year. Parents of young children, couples who have overcome some major life obstacle, and singles who prefer to pamper themselves all might find V-Day the perfect time for a little luxury and/or extravagance. Chattanooga is a fun place to live, and local attractions have unique, interesting activities planned for February 14 and 15.

If you are ready to go all out, book a stay at the Mayor’s Mansion to enjoy their Valentine’s Day Package. You get chocolates, rose petals, champagne, breakfast, and more! Your partner will smile.

southernbellelogoFrom a carriage ride to a river cruise, you can get it all in one package with the Southern Belle Valentine’s Package. Get started with a carriage ride around Chattanooga, then enjoy either a lunch or dinner cruise on the Southern Belle, and end your evening at the Courtyard by Marriot downtown.

Have you ever dreamed of traveling across the country in an old-fashioned train car? Well, the Tennessee Valley Railroad trainMuseum isn’t offering that, but you can have a four course dinner aboard a fully restored 1924 dining car as it travels around the area with a ticket to one of the Special Valentine Dinner Trains.

For something uniquely Chattanooga, and also just plain unique, check out Romance at Ruby. The special tour includes lantern light, hot chocolate, a gift, and the romantic story of the man who discovered a beautiful, underground waterfall and named it after his wife.

If the commercialism of Valentine’s Day annoys you, but you still want to do something fun, check into the Broken Hearts Ball presented by the Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults. The ticket price includes drinks and hors d’ oeuvres. Couples and singles are welcome to come, have a good time while doing good for the community. BROKENHEARTSBALL

12 Activities Before Christmas in Nooga

Who needs turtle doves or maids a milking? Here are 12 fun things to do in Chattanooga between now and Christmas. Get out, enjoy the city, and have a very happy holiday season!

1.  December 15-16

Hear the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera: Home for the Holidays at the Tivoli Theater.

2.  Until December 23

See Annie at the Chattanooga Theatre Center.Christmas Lights in Nooga

3.  December 15-16, and 21-22

The Chattanooga Market – Holiday Market at the Convention Center

4.  Throughout December

See the exhibition “Holidays at the Hunter” at Hunter Art Museum

5.  December 20

Hear Sandi Patty and Jason Crabb sing at The Tivoli Theater

6.  December 13

Bundle up and watch shooting stars. The Geminid Meteor Shower will be visible and beautiful!

7. Throughout December

Stroll through the beautiful Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City.

8. Throughout December

Go to the Aquarium for Holidays Under the Peaks

9.  Throughout December

See The Polar Express in 3D at the IMAX Theater.

10.  December 20-21

Enjoy Free Days at the Creative Discovery Museum.

11. December 14-15 and 21-22

See the Chattanooga Zoo transformed into a winter wonderland with their Holiday Lights display.

12. December 14-15 and 21-22 (and 29-30)

Visit Ruby Falls for a Ruby Red Christmas.

5 Ideas for Last Minute Local Shopping in Nooga

Sure, you could stop by Wal-Mart and grab some fancy soap, or some other generic gift, but Nooga is full of independent, locally-owned stores and shops that carry interesting, unique items that make great gifts.

Blue Skies on Frazier Avenue offers an abundance of gifts, from hand-crafted cards to frames to jewelry to calendars. There is really something for everyone in this gorgeous shop, making it perfect for gift exchanges where you have no idea who will end up with your gift.

Buying gifts for children can be especially fun. Chattanooga is home to quite a few shops that specialize in interesting things for kids. A Child’s Garden Boutique, Learning Express, and WiggleWorm are all located in North Chattanooga and have beautiful items for play and wear and learning. When you patronize these places you can be sure you won’t be buying a duplicate gift!

Everyone has to eat, and most of us love a good meal, or a perfect dessert. Gift cards are available at most area restaurants. From the higher end and wonderful Alleia to the more casual but delicious Hill City Pizza, you can give the gift of an excellent meal. If dessert is more your style, no problem! The Hot Chocolatier is amazing, as is Julie Darling Donuts.

Shopping for a pet lover in Chattanooga is not too difficult, either. You can find the perfect treat or toy at whimsical Bone Apetite, or for a more traditional pet store experience, check out the Pet Care Warehouse in Hixson.

When it comes to clothes shopping, Chattanooga has a few locally-operated options. Fit for a Queen carries beautiful clothes in plus sizes, while Retail Therapy has everything from party clothes to casual comfort.

There are many more locally owned and operated businesses in Chattanooga. Check out this spreadsheet to see many of them. You are welcome to add your favorite local business to the list as well!

Santa Comes to Nooga

You can see Santa at the mall, of course, and there are lots of good reasons to do that. But, if you are looking for something a little different this year when it comes to a special Santa visit, check out these five unusual venues:

Santa’s Northshore Workshop

You can visit with Santa at the gorgeous Knitting Mill, enjoy the decorations, and also get a warm fuzzy feeling by bringing in toys for the children served by the Northside Neighborhood House!

Addi and Santa at Northgate

The Chattanooga Choo Choo

Could there be a better setting than the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo to tell Santa your wishes? The decorations are stunning, and there are packages available to “Ride the Rails” with Santa. A Train? With Santa?! Definitely a memory to last a lifetime!

The Chattanooga Zoo

The zoo has a special appeal on any day of the year, but combine sparkling, beautiful holiday lights, and SANTA, and you have a winning combination for sure. Be sure to check the schedule for the date and admission prices so you don’t miss this fun event!

Rock City

Rock City transforms into the Enchanted Garden of Lights for the season, and there are tons of special events, including a Dinner with Santa. A jaunt through this favorite attraction during the holidays is perfect for visiting friends or relatives, or just for a fun family afternoon.

The Southern Belle

Several packages are available that include a cruise on the riverboat, music, food, and SANTA! Be sure to check the dates so that you can reserve a place on the cruise that suits you best.

Hamilton Place

Of course the largest mall in the state has Santa!

Northgate Mall

If you find the thought of Hamilton Place a bit overwhelming this time of year, but seeing Santa at the mall is part of your tradition, you might want to pay a visit to Northgate.