6:30. Dinner with me (I can’t cancel that again) 🤷

The twelve days of Grinchmas in Chattanooga

We love escaping the carols and gifts with a hot bowl of ramen at this dim, cozy oasis. | Photo by NOOGAtoday

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — but what if you’re sick of much mistletoeing, the kids jingle-belling, and especially everyone telling you “be a good cheer”?

Whether the holidays are a difficult time for you, they put you under stress, or you’re just sick of hearing Mariah Carey’s reminder that “it’s tiiiiiiimmmmeee” while scrolling social media, we get that it can be a lot — so today, we’re helping you “get your Grinch on,” sung to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas.

1️⃣ On the first day of Grinchmas, we decided to flee — up the mountain for a hiking spree. (Peep Outshine Adventures’ Winter Hike Challenge.)

2️⃣ On the second day of Grinchmas, we volunteered for free — and admittedly, our hearts grew by three.

3️⃣ On the third day of Grinchmas, we got out to boogie at a disco with the theme of Dolly.

4️⃣ On the fourth day of Grinchmas, we felt pretty hungry, so we grabbed a bite on Street of Cherry. (Readers, we mean Cherry Street Tavern. Rhymes are hard. Anyway — its trivia nights are a perfect escape from the holiday hoopla.)

5️⃣ On the fifth day of Grinchmas, we felt extra Grinchy — we needed FIVE ONION RINGS (from Ankar’s — a nice, classic, no fuss dining option).

6️⃣ On the sixth day of Grinchmas, we tried something risky — bull riding while sippin’ whiskey.

7️⃣ On the seventh day of Grinchmas, we hid from all the glee, underground with a dish of Yakitori ( from Two Ten Jack).

8️⃣ On the eighth day of Grinchmas, we needed some coffee, so we went to Velo Bar and Roastery (another “not too holidays-y” spot to hide away).

9️⃣ On the ninth day of Grinchmas, ‘twas art we wanted to see — we visited Immersion Gallery.

🔟 On the tenth day of Grinchmas, we stayed at home to sleep. This counts, we swear, at least it worked for Bri.

1️⃣1️⃣ On the eleventh day of Grinchmas, we hope that you’ll agree — JJ’s gives off “Rent” vibes perfectly. (An excellent “holidays can be hard” musical, in our opinion.)

1️⃣2️⃣ On the twelfth day of Grinchmas, we gave in to their pleas... and listened to Mariah Carey. (We had to do it.)

Click here to have your event featured.

Today, Dec. 9

Robin Grant & The Standard’s Jazzy Christmas | Friday, Dec. 9 | 7 p.m. | Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga | $25-$35 | Come out for an evening of holiday jazz music by local artist Robin Great and her band The Standard.
“Every Christmas Story Ever Told” | Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 18 | Various times | Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., Chattanooga | $20-$25 | Enjoy a comedic retelling of some beloved holiday tales at this annual production.
Holiday Pop-Up with Ana Guzman | Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 11 | 2-7 p.m., Dec. 9-10; 2-6 p.m., Dec. 11 | GALLERY 1401, 831 Chestnut St., Chattanooga | Free+ | Meet artist Ana Guzman and shop for the perfect holiday gift: original artwork.*

Saturday, Dec. 10

Gingerbread Workshops | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 3:30 p.m. | Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., Chattanooga | $55 | Decorate pre-built gingerbread houses, enjoy cookies and hot cocoa, and more — price includes museum admission.
OddStory Holiday Market | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 12-5 p.m. | OddStory Brewing Co., 1604 Central Ave., Chattanooga | Free+ | Sip, shop, and support local from holiday vendors while enjoying some drinks + treats from OddStory.

Sunday, Dec. 11

Artful Yoga | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 1:30-3 p.m. | Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View Ave., Chattanooga | $5 | Enjoy an afternoon of art-inspired yoga with instructor Leah Dalton.
Crafting with Craft Bevvies | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 6-8 p.m. | Barley Chattanooga, 235 E. MLK Blvd., Chattanooga | Free+ | Make seasonal wreaths at Barley with the Chattanooga library + enjoy a drink.

Monday, Dec. 12

Empanada Making | Monday, Dec. 12 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Taqueria Jalisco Ania, 1639 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $45 | Learn how to make Mexican empanadas from the owner and executive chef of Taqueria Jalisco in this hands-on class.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Calling all pizza aficionadoughs: You knead to hear this 🍕

Neapolitan style pizza from Fiamma Pizza.

Sicilian and Neapolitan-style pizza + drinks in a casual, cozy restaurant — sounds like the perfect event. | Photo provided by Fiamma Pizza

What’s better than a slice of a delicious pizza pie baked to perfection? A pizza party. Enter: Fiamma Pizza.

Serving up heritage-style pizza (along with a full bar), Fiamma Pizza is the perfect venue for a corporate event or holiday party. You and your guests can:

Deep (dish) dive into a Sicilian style pie
Keep it classy + classic by opting for Neapolitan style pizza
Have a celebratory toast with a drink from the bar

No special occasion? No worries, anytime is a great time for pizza — order online or stop in for a slice.*

GET A SLICE OF THE ACTION

Weather

65º | Rain | 70% chance of rain 🌧️

Development

Atlas Organics, a South Carolina-based compositing facility, has plans to build on a 5.5-acre tract located at 1045 E. 23rd St. The company is seeking a permit from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation with plans to begin operation by mid-2023. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Open

After two years of restoration, the historic Carnegie Building at 200 E. 8th St. will re-open its doors as the new home of Cumberland Title & Guaranty Co. The community is invited to tour the office, which is a National Historic Landmark.
Chattanooga Electric Bike Co. has officially opened its doors at 1404 McCallie Ave., offering a variety of electric bikes for sale and rent. The shop’s current winter hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12-5 p.m. + 12-4 p.m. on Sunday.

Arts

The Songwriters Stage — an annual competition for musicians to sing + perform original songs — will continue in 2023 at Gate 11 Distillery. After several rounds, eight contestants will move forward to the finale held on March 3 at The Camp House. Want to compete? Entries open on Thursday, Dec. 15. (The Pulse)

Sports

Kennedy Ball, a Girls Preparatory School athlete, is the first female from Chattanooga to be named Soccer All-American by the United Soccer Coaches. The distinction is given to the best soccer players in the nation for the fall season. Congrats, Kennedy. ⚽ (Chattanoogan.com)

Cause

The East Brainerd + Ooltewah Collegedale Councils of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce will host “Run for Their Future,” a series of races to benefit Hamilton County Schools. Community members can participate in a 5K, 10K, or Jamboree on March 25. 👟

Pets

Play Wash Stay recently started hosting “puppy socials” on Saturdays at 9 a.m. for puppy play + socialization training. The socials are open to puppies that are 2-4 months old and are vaccinated with age-appropriate shots. Those interested can register via email. 🐶

Number

~200. That’s how many Salvation Army angels need to be adopted as part of the Angel Tree program, which aims to aid neighbors in need during the holiday season. You can apply to adopt an angel online.

Active

New Year, new workout plan? Consider taking a class at SPENGA, which combines spin, strength training, and yoga into one workout. See what happened when City Editor Kristen tried it out (hint: she had a great time). 💪 *

Shop

Wanna gift outside the box this year? Opt for an experiential gift from Uncommon Goods. From monthly gift subscriptions (like this Game of the Month Subscription) to hands-on classes taught by expert instructors (like a Raindrop Cake Class or Paint Your Pet Class), there’s something for everyone on your list.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Ener-gee, this is cool

US Department of Energy recognizes Chattanooga for leadership in energy efficiency

Mayor Kelly and City Officials with the Department of Energy's Maria Vargas at Moccasin Bend.

Mayor Kelly and City Officials with the Department of Energy’s Maria Vargas. | Photo provided by the City of Chattanooga

Representatives from the US Department of Energy recently visited Chattanooga to recognize the city for its energy efficiency leadership as part of the Better Buildings Initiative.

Since Chattanooga joined the initiative in 2015, it has reached and surpassed its goal (of reducing energy use throughout its portfolios by at least 20% over 10 years) thanks to energy efficiency advancements like:

New automation systems
LED lighting + solar farm installations
Modifications to wastewater treatment processes — like a new equalization station + biosolids management system

Many of the more recent projects took place at the Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus, where they have reduced the cost to power the plant by $1.4 million annually, making the campus the single greatest contributor to the city’s energy efficiency savings since entering the challenge in 2015.

More by the numbers

27% | Chattanooga’s annual energy savings compared to 2013 levels
24% | Chattanooga’s annual water savings compared to 2013 levels
~$2 million | How much the city has saved in operational costs, thanks to energy-saving efforts

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brianna.

Editor’s pick: I have to admit, I’m feeling the opposite of Grinchy right now. I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful family I’m excited to see soon for the holidays, I’m planning a lights-viewing adventure this weekend, and my ears are not yet burnt out on Michael Bublé. Whether the holidays make you feel meh or excited, I hope you find some cheer this weekend.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? You spin me right round, Nooga, right round.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Brianna Williams, Kristen Templeton, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Sarah Edwards | Advertise with us.

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