Hey friends, happy Thursday! That color changing bridge everyone keeps talking about is finally ready to walk across again, Hamilton County kids just got a brand new way to explore future careers, and Volkswagen pulled back the curtain on the next Atlas built right here in our city. Add a packed weekend calendar and two spots we cannot stop thinking about for dinner, and we think this might be one of our favorite issues yet.
Let's get to it!
Local Stories
The Walnut Street Bridge's new color changing lights
🌉 Renovated Walnut Street Bridge Reopens With Color Changing Lights This Saturday
Mark your calendar for this one, friends. The Walnut Street Bridge is officially reopening on Saturday, October 3, after being closed since March 2025 for a full renovation. The city originally hoped for a September reopening, but the wait is almost over, and from what we hear it was worth it. The beloved walking bridge now features new color changing lights that will give it a whole new glow after dark.
Join the celebration from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, complete with a celebratory walk, live entertainment and family friendly fun planned for the grand reopening. Downtown and the Northshore are finally reconnected, so lace up and go be part of it. Full details here.
🎓 Hamilton Co. Schools Opens New Career Exploration Center Downtown
Hamilton County Schools just gave its sixth graders a brand new way to dream bigger. The new Career Exploration Center officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, September 29, inside the Franklin Roberts Future Ready Center downtown. Instead of just reading about careers, students get to experience them firsthand through interactive exhibits, real equipment and hands on career simulations.
"Middle school students don't need to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but they do need opportunities to discover what is possible," said Dr. Olivia Bagby, director of Future Ready Students. The center is funded primarily through the State of Tennessee's Innovative Schools Model grant, with support from Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp's office and community partners like Volkswagen and EPB. Full story here.
🚗 Volkswagen Celebrates Assembly of the New 2027 Atlas SUV at Chattanooga Plant
For the first time in four years, Volkswagen opened the doors of its Chattanooga plant to cameras, and the reason is a big one. The 2027 Atlas SUV is officially in production, and Volkswagen says it was built with American families top of mind. "We really, really deeply asked what the needs of the American customers are and how to deliver on them, and we are happy with the result," said Jan Vycital, interim CEO of Volkswagen's North American region.
The new three row Atlas seats seven and comes loaded with upgrades including real wood decor, massaging front seats, Nappa leather and a fifteen inch infotainment screen. Roughly four thousand workers are involved in production, and the unveiling lands right as Volkswagen celebrates fifteen years of building vehicles here in Chattanooga, closing in on 1.8 million vehicles made at the plant. Expect to see the new Atlas at dealerships this October. Full story here.
TOGETHER WITH RESTORATION 1 OF CHATTANOOGA
🏠 That Musty Smell Is Costing You More Than You Think
Hidden moisture damage behind a wall, the kind Restoration 1 catches early
If a room in your house has started smelling a little off, that is not just an annoyance, it is mold telling you it already won. Left alone, it does not stay in one spot. It works into drywall, subfloor, and HVAC ducts, and whole house remediation at that point runs $10,000 to $30,000, plus the health effects for anyone with allergies, asthma, or small kids breathing that air every night.
Catch it early and none of that happens. Restoration 1 of Chattanooga finds hidden moisture behind walls and under floors before it turns into a five figure problem, with a free inspection so you know exactly what you are dealing with before you spend a dollar.
The smell will not go away on its own. A phone call is a lot cheaper than a demo crew.
☀️ Weather Snapshot
Thursday 87° low 59°
Friday 86° low 67°
Saturday 82° low 70°
Sunday 72° low 69°
Summer is not quite ready to let go, but by Sunday you will feel that first real taste of fall sneaking in behind it. Expect warm bright days early in the weekend with a cool snap arriving right on time for Sunday plans, so pack a light layer for later and enjoy the shift.
Friday Wrap
3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival: Two days of traditional and contemporary bluegrass featuring some of the genre's biggest names, kicking off Friday evening.
Pass The Aux: A night of music, nostalgia and nonstop energy takes over Barrelhouse Ballroom with hip hop and R&B all night long. 21 and up.
The Chattery's Night Market: An evening market with more than 20 vendors and a resident DJ, this edition spotlighting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ makers and artists.
OktDuberFest 2026: A Euro inspired car show and festival presented by Village VW and Audi of Chattanooga, benefiting the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center of Excellence.
Saturday Insight
Fall Fest: A full day of free fun including an audiobook walk and run, storytime with author Heather Morris, face painting and a food truck lunch, capped off with the second annual pie contest and an outdoor movie.
Pleasant Garden Cemetery Community Workday: A volunteer workday preparing the cemetery for Beneath These Stones, the October 25 performances honoring twelve individuals laid to rest there. Bring your own tools and come ready to work outside.
Ketner's Mill Fair: Two days of handmade arts and crafts, live music, southern style food and wagon rides through the countryside, with a working mill, petting zoo and artisan demonstrations. $8 cash only, kids 8 and under free.
Tennessee River Rescue: A volunteer driven cleanup of Lookout Creek and Black Creek, with kayaks, canoes and paddle boards welcome and land based cleanup spots available too.
WanderLinger's Annual Beast Feast: A full hog roast complete with lamb ribs, frog legs and smoked sausage, plus mud wrestling and live music from early afternoon into the night.
Zenith Man Author Event: A conversation with the attorney who defended Alvin Ridley and later wrote the memoir behind this CrimeCon finalist true crime book.
Echoes of Chattanooga: Twentieth Century Changemakers: A premiere staged reading honoring twelve remarkable Chattanooga changemakers through original poetic monologues, plus the launch of the companion book by Peggy Douglas. Free admission.
A Night of Unscripted Comedy with Improv Chattanooga: Watch the troupe build comedy gold out of audience suggestions in their debut show at Redbud.
🔮 Look Ahead
🐔 Scenic City Wings
Sunday, October 4 | Chattanooga Market | More Info
A wing tasting competition benefiting the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, with a live hot wing interview series featuring local personalities, come hungry.
♟ Chess Club
Sunday, October 4 | Library | More Info
All skill levels welcome, ages 6 and up, bring your own board if you have one.
🔥 At the Feet of the Elders: A Conversation with Ann Jones Pierre
Sunday, October 4 | More Info
A fireside chat gathering wisdom from the elders alongside distinguished guests.
🕵 Ageless Inspirations: Cold Case Mystery
Monday, October 5 | Northgate Mall | Free | More Info
A new monthly program for ages 55 and up proving you are never too old to learn a new hobby, this month's theme is a cold case mystery. Seating is limited to sixteen so reserve your spot.
📚 Pop Up Library at Heritage House
Tuesday, October 6 | Don Eaves Heritage House | Free | More Info
The library hits the road with books for checkout, card sign ups and an activity, no card yet, no problem, the outreach team will help you get one.
👤 Comic Book Club
Wednesday, October 7 | Myth and Fable: Comics and Cosplay | More Info
A monthly meetup to talk new releases, favorite issues and everything hot in comics right now.
🎷 Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
Thursday, October 8 | The Walker Theatre | $54 to $96 | More Info
New Orleans' favorite musical ambassador brings his ecstatic blend of funk, soul, jazz and hip hop to Chattanooga for one unforgettable night.
Together with The Blade Partners
Closets By Design: If you're constantly rearranging your closet and it still never feels right, it's not you, it's the space. Upgrade your closet.
C&C Nursery and Landscape: Overgrown yard? Schedule a plant installation and get free late season pruning. Get a free quote.
Restoration 1 of Chattanooga: Late summer humidity can bring out mold in places you're not checking. Get a free estimate.
M.B.D Janitorial Services: Local, reliable office and commercial cleaning that keeps your space client ready. Get a quote.
The Sweet and Savory Classroom: Book a class this month and use code KnifeSkills for a free Knife Skills online class.
Where To Eat
J Dubs: Okay friends, we have a new favorite on MLK. J Dubs just opened from the former owner of Conga Latin Food, and it is already pulling its weight. The steak and eggs come out fresh every single time, the burgers are legit enough to brag about, and the fries are cut in house and somehow cheaper than what you would pay at a drive thru. This is the kind of spot you stumble into once and then find yourself telling everyone about for weeks. Go get some amazing bites while it is still our little secret.
📍 750 E M L King Blvd #100, Chattanooga, TN 37403
J Dubs on MLK Boulevard
The Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe: We took a little road trip and stumbled onto what might be the best barbecue surprise of the year. The Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe has that relaxed, come as you are feel, think a sliding barn door entrance, cozy down to earth seating, a fireplace on one end and a nicely heated patio on the other, the kind of place that makes you want to settle in and stay a while.
The banana pudding is hands down the best we have ever had, creamy, dreamy and genuinely unforgettable, and we later found out it has actually won awards, which checks out completely. The stuffed potato comes out absolutely massive and loaded with goodness, and the piggy sliders are smoky, tender and gone way too fast. On top of all that, they even pour local craft brews, so grab a cold one and settle in for the long haul.
📍 4001 St Elmo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37409
The Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe's cozy patio
That is a wrap on this week, friends. From a bridge finally glowing again downtown to a whole new Atlas rolling off the line, this city keeps finding new ways to show up for itself, and we feel lucky to get to cover it. Get out there this weekend, walk the new bridge, grab a plate at Ketner's Mill, swing by J Dubs before the secret gets out. Know someone who is always asking what is going on around town? Forward this their way, they will thank you for it.
Go make some noise in this beautiful little city of ours. Catch you next Tuesday 💛
More From The Blade
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