Hey friends, happy Thursday! The Tennessee Black Caucus is rolling through Chattanooga this week for a town hall that wants to hear from you, a new Italian coffee shop just pulled its first espresso shot over in Rossville, and the historic Tivoli Theatre is about to reopen its doors after months of careful restoration. Add an entire weekend of apple festivals, Oktoberfest, Chattanooga Pride and a Motown night that sells out every single time, plus two restaurants we cannot stop raving about, and this might be our fullest issue yet.
Let's get to it!
Local Stories
TBCSL Chairman Rep. Jesse Chism invites Chattanooga to the town hall
📢 Tennessee Black Caucus Kicks Off Statewide Listening Tour in Chattanooga
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators kicks off its statewide listening tour this Thursday, October 15, with its first stop right here in Chattanooga. TBCSL Chairman Rep. Jesse Chism says the goal is simple, keep Tennesseans in the loop on current Black Caucus initiatives and gather fresh ideas ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
Chattanooga's town hall is free and open to everyone at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E ML King Blvd, from 6 to 8pm. Chism put it this way, "We want to make sure Tennesseans across the state are informed on what's happening in the State Legislature and get their feedback on the issues they face on a daily basis. We're scheduling multiple stops in each of Tennessee's three Grand Divisions." The tour keeps rolling through late October and early November with stops planned in Nashville, Clarksville, Memphis, Jackson, Oak Ridge and Knoxville. More info here.
☕ Caffè Bologna Brings a Taste of Italy to Rossville
Caffè Bologna is bringing real Italian coffee culture to the Rossville area, one espresso and panini at a time. The shop just wrapped its soft opening, giving owner Shyla Gitzing room to keep refining the space while she learns the rhythm of the business.
The idea grew out of Gitzing's time working at a bar in Bologna, Italy, where she started as a server and slowly picked up the craft of pulling espresso from her colleagues. That experience shapes the menu now, Italian style coffee, paninis built on quality cured meats, and pastries sourced locally for now while she works toward baking them in house.
Gitzing uses the same beans she worked with back in Italy, and customers are already noticing, some who stopped by in the first few days have already come back for more. "It's the best feeling! I'd like to think they come not only for the coffee and sandwiches, but also for me and my colleagues," she said. Beyond the food, she is building the kind of welcoming spot where people sit, talk and connect, the same sense of community she found while working in Italy.
Caffè Bologna is open Monday to Friday from 6am to 1:30pm and Saturday from 7am to 2:30pm, closed Sundays. More info here.
📍 802 Chickamauga Ave, Rossville, GA 30741
🎭 Chattanooga's Historic Tivoli Theatre Reopens October 20
Chattanooga's "Jewel of the South" is about to shine again. The Tivoli Theatre reopens Tuesday, October 20, after a lengthy closure for careful, necessary renovations.
The Tivoli shared a look at the restoration work this week, highlighting the detailed craftsmanship from EverGreene Architectural Arts. Bluegrass artist Billy Strings will christen the reopening with back to back concerts on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
The Tivoli already has its 2027 Broadway season locked in, six titles and nearly 40 performances starting in February, with more shows being added to the calendar by the week. Find the full lineup here.
TOGETHER WITH SWEET AND SAVORY CLASSROOM
🍝 Date Night, But Elevated
Date Night Sweets Shared by Two Love Birds
Dinner and a movie had a good run. It's over now.
The Sweet & Savory Classroom hands you and your partner an apron, a chef, and a full menu, then gets out of the way while you cook it together. No small talk over a menu you didn't help make. No watching a screen instead of each other. Just two people, a hot pan, and something worth bragging about by the time dessert hits the table.
Rotating themes keep it from ever feeling like a repeat, think Tuscan Nights, French flirtation, Southern comfort food done right. Show up not knowing how to fold a dumpling, leave knowing exactly how to fold a dumpling.
☀️ Weather Snapshot
Thursday 88° low 66°
Friday 82° low 53°
Saturday 59° low 47°
Sunday 65° low 40°
Hang onto your light layers, friends. We start the week warm and almost summery, then temperatures take a real dive by the weekend. Plan for genuinely cold nights Saturday into Sunday, so grab a real jacket for anything after dark and layer up for anything outdoors.
Friday Wrap
Create & Connect: Friday Night Art Club: A relaxed evening of artmaking in community at The Chattery, watercolors, collage and coloring provided, no experience needed and a suggested donation of ten dollars covers supplies and snacks.
Lake WinnepeSPOOKAH: Lake Winnie turns into Spookah after dark with three haunted houses, roaming scares, live entertainment and the full amusement park running all evening long.
Trunk or Treat with Big Blue Marble Academy Collegedale: Wear your favorite costume and bring your buckets for an early Halloween night of music, candy and family fun from 6:30 to 8pm, everyone in the community is welcome.
Reading Room First Birthday Party: The Reading Room turns one and they are throwing a proper party, new merch, trivia, poetry readings, a special cocktail with a book purchase and a scavenger hunt to keep you on your toes.
The Banshees: This Chattanooga born indie rock band brings its blend of Irish roots and American songwriting to Songbirds for a night of tight harmonies and homegrown energy.
Saturday Insight
Chattanooga Apple Festival: An outdoor fall favorite with craft and commercial vendors, a petting zoo, pony rides, a trackless train, inflatables and entertainment on stage all day long.
St. Elmo Maker's Market: Local vendors take over the Tap House parking lot with free parking nearby, this is one of the last two markets of the year so do not miss it.
Chattanooga Oktoberfest: German inspired eats, a lively biergarten full of local craft brews, Oompah music and the beloved Mr and Ms Chattanooga Oktoberfest contest, lederhosen encouraged and entirely free to attend.
Highland Park Porchfest: Porches become stages and yards become seats for this free neighborhood music festival, the original Porchfest in Chattanooga and still one of the best.
United We Dance: A free, day long celebration of dance at Miller Park honoring 250 years of American movement, from Appalachian contra dancing to a sunset dance floor full of contemporary hits.
Eastdale Community Market: A monthly gathering of Chattanooga's local makers and small businesses at Eastdale Village Church, come shop local and stay for the community.
Chattanooga Pride Parade & Festival: The largest LGBTQ+ celebration in the city returns for its 26th year, and its final time at Ross's Landing before construction begins, come celebrate a river of color with the whole community.
Darryl Van Leer & the DVL Revue Motown Night: A Las Vegas style tribute show packed with Motown, soul and classic rock favorites at The Woodshop, doors at 5pm with barbecue and proper cocktails on hand all night.
TOGETHER WITH C&C NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE
🍃 This Fall Is Going to Be Short, and Your Yard Is Not Ready for What Comes After It
Southern Tennessee does not really do a long fall. A few good weeks of cool mornings and warm afternoons, then winter shows up uninvited and stays. Whatever your yard was not ready for is the thing that does not make it to spring.
Beds that never got cleared trap moisture against your foundation all winter. Shrubs that do not get pruned now carry dead wood right into ice and wind season. Soil that never got turned over just sits there starving until you are fixing it in April instead of enjoying it. None of that waits for you to get around to it.
C&C Nursery and Landscape knows what a Chattanooga yard needs before winter hits, bed cleanup, pruning, plant installation and full redesigns, all done while the ground is still workable. Skip the spring scramble entirely.
Right now winter projects are 10% off, but the ground is not staying soft forever and neither is this deal.
🔮 Look Ahead
🛍 Chattanooga Vintage Market Vol. 10
Sunday, October 18 | Coolidge Park | More Info
Over fifty vendors bring vintage clothing, jewelry, art and handmade goods to Coolidge Park, plus food trucks and five and ten dollar vintage piles for a proper treasure hunt.
🍂 Fall Colors Hike: Shakerag Hollow
Sunday, October 18 | Sewanee | More Info
A guided, moderately strenuous 3.2 mile hike along Sewanee's Shakerag Hollow trail, pack a lunch and take in the changing leaves along the creek.
🎪 Scenic City Sense Circus
Sunday, October 18 | Downtown Chattanooga | More Info
A free, interactive downtown event built around the five senses, with local makers, live performers, circus inspired surprises and a photo booth for the whole family.
🔬 Homeschooler's Science Fair Interest Meeting
Monday, October 19 | Katie Lamb Public Library | Free
A planning meeting for homeschool families interested in a library science fair, participants and volunteers of all ages are welcome.
🚵♂ Learn to Mountain Bike
Tuesday, October 20 | Greenway Farm | $10.00
A beginner friendly class covering balance, braking and bike control in a controlled field setting, perfect for building confidence before hitting the trails.
🎶 In The Pocket w/ Zowie Boyd
Wednesday, October 21 | The Woodshop | $18.44
A curated night of full band music, poetry and deep groove from one of Chattanooga's standout jazz and soul voices, with rotating guest musicians all night.
🎲 Game Club
Thursday, October 22 | Collegedale City Hall | Free
Board games, card games, chess, mahjong and puzzles every Thursday from 1 to 3pm, bring your own game or borrow from the Parks and Recreation inventory.
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
Ollos Chattanooga: Okay friends, rooftop season is not over yet. We caught sunset at Ollos Chattanooga and it might be the best way to end a day in this city right now. The falafel and whipped hummus disappeared in minutes, and the chicken shawarma was seasoned just right, warm and subtle instead of overpowering. We also had a real Greek salad, all vegetables and no filler lettuce, piled with a generous slab of feta, plus warm in house baked bread and dips good enough to steal the show on their own. Owner, chef, every single person on staff, they nailed it. We are already thinking about our next visit.
📍 345 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Whipped hummus at Ollos Chattanooga
Civil Provisions and Bar: This Signal Mountain spot had us at the whipped feta. We started there and honestly could have called it dinner, the portion was that generous, we still took some home. For the main event we split the chicken alfredo and the spaghetti and meatballs, and both earned a completely clean plate. The alfredo came over penne with spinach and sun dried tomatoes for a rich little twist on a classic, while the meatballs, made from veal and pork, were packed with flavor and cooked just right. This one is officially in our regular rotation.
📍 720 Mississippi Ave, Signal Mountain, TN 37377
Housemade pasta at Civil Provisions and Bar
That's a wrap, friends. Catch Pride, polka at Oktoberfest, and grab an espresso at Caffè Bologna. Forward this to a friend, they'll thank you. Catch you next Thursday 💛
More From The Blade
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