This will be a busy weekend, Nooga. The Armed Forces Day Parade will take place tomorrow morning, Kane Brown will perform at Finley Stadium Saturday night, Mother’s Day is Sunday, and on top of all that, it’s graduation weekend for all three of our local colleges + universities.
🎓 UTC | Fri., May 6 + Sat., May 7 | Friday at 2:30 p.m. + Saturday at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. | McKenzie Arena
🎓 Chattanooga State Community College | Fri., May 6 | All day | Main campus gymnasium
🎓 Covenant College | Sat., May 7 | 3 p.m. | Chattanooga Convention Center
Wondering where to escape the graduation crowds? We’ve got you covered.
Morning
This weekend, it’s probably best to skip out on those popular downtown brunch spots — Daily Ration, Rembrandt’s, and Frothy Monkey will likely be packed with visiting family + friends.
Our recommendation: A drive-thru coffee shop like Be Caffeinated, or a breakfast spot that’s a bit further out, like Bread and Butter or Your Local Seitanist.
Bonus: Two local sandwich shops, Mindy B’s Deli + River Street Deli, also serve NYC-style bagels, so you can head in before the lunch crowd to get breakfast sandwiches.
Afternoon
While grads show their families the popular sites, head to an event where only the locals will be. Enjoy the sounds of local musicians like Swayyvo at the inaugural Nooga Noise festival, head to the Red Bank Jubilee for food trucks and vendors, or shop St. Elmo vendors at The Woodshop’s Corner Market on 55th St.
If you’d prefer to be in nature but want to avoid a crowded trail, try a hike ~45 minutes away from the city at Cloudland Canyon or Fiery Gizzard Trail.
Evening
Our favorite low-key, hidden-in-plain-sight evening hangouts? JMac’s wine bar (eye the crowds across the street at Universal Joint with sympathy from JMac’s window), Flora de Mel + Calliope (it’s over the state line, but closer to home than you’d think), Dub’s Place (a Red Bank hidden gem), and The Rosecomb’s homey garden.
