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78º Sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:13 a.m. | Sunset 8:10 p.m.

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🪶 One for the birds

Feed Chattanooga birds

When you have guests, you feed them. It’s only polite. | Photo by @hunterwhite_photography

Our local skies house everything from bluebirds to warblers. So how can you invite them to your garden?

Feed them, of course. Late winter to early spring is a crucial time for putting out birdfeeders, as natural food sources may be depleted. Let’s fly through some need-to-knows to keep you popular with the local birds.

Feeder types 🪶

There are three basic types of feeders: seed, suet, and nectar.

Seed feeders are the most versatile. Black-oil sunflower seeds appeal to the greatest number of birds, according to the Audubon Guide to Bird Feeding. They’ve also got homemade recipes that everyone will be chirping about.
Suet (or beef fat) is a high-energy treat for bug eaters, and you can make a DIY feeder from an onion bag. Be warned: Warmer weather turns suet cakes rancid, which keeps birds away.
Nectar feeders give hummingbirds and orioles a sweet treat. Opt for a low-capacity feeder to make sure you’re cleaning it regularly.

Browse Wild Birds Unlimited to get a feel for the different types. Then, mix and match to make your home the flock of the town.

The perfect setup 🪶

You want to give songbirds an easy meal — not squirrels, cats, or birds of prey — so set up the perfect perch.

The magic numbers for a feeder pole are 30 ft from any windows and 10 feet from cover, particularly native plant cover. In fact, you can even spruce up your garden with bird-friendly plants.

Maintenance 🪶

Monitoring your feeders is key to keeping the local ecosystem healthy. Clean seed feeders every two weeks, and keep an eye out after rain.

To avoid avian diseases (and connect with other birders), keep tabs on the local Audubon Society. Call the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and take down your feeders if something seems amiss.

Events

Wednesday, April 12

Fleet Feet + Oddstory Pub Run | Wednesday, Apr. 12 | 6 p.m. | Oddstory Brewing Co., 1604 Central Ave., Chattanooga | Free+ | Run a 5k route through downtown Chattanooga + enjoy pint night prices at the brewery after the run — runners meet at 5:45 p.m.
Women & Wealth: Foundations of Building Your Financial Plan | Wednesday, Apr. 12 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $15 | Dive into the fundamentals of personal finance + key concepts such as budgeting, saving, investing, and retirement planning.

Thursday, April 13

Explore Chattanooga by Bike: St. Elmo to Coolidge Park | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 1-4 p.m. | Wheland Foundry Trailhead, 1599 Middle St., Chattanooga | $65 | Join Outshine Adventures for a fun day pedaling bikes along the Tennessee Riverwalk while learning about local history + art.
BLAH BLAH BLAH: Artist Talks April | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Stove Works, 1250 E. 13th St., Chattanooga | Free | Get to know Stove Works’ April artists + all about their practices.
Free Family Fun Night | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., Chattanooga | Free, RSVP | Enjoy a free night at the museum after hours.

Friday, April 14

SouthWord Literary Festival | Friday, Apr. 14-Saturday, Apr. 15 | 12-6 p.m. | Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter St., Chattanooga | $45-$95 | Come out for the 40th literary festival featuring author talks, book signings, and plenty of books for sale.
“Creative Hands” | Friday, Apr. 14 | 6-9 p.m. | Association for Visual Arts, 30 Frazier Ave., Chattanooga | Free | Enjoy the opening reception of SCCA’s newest member exhibit and celebrate the featured artists.
Fireworks Friday: Lookouts vs. Braves | Friday, Apr. 14 | 7:15-11:30 p.m. | AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley, Chattanooga | $8-$11 | Watch the Lookouts take on the Braves and enjoy a fireworks show after the game.

Events calendar here

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Home

👀 6 home improvement scams and 10 ways to avoid them

Questions about financing your next home improvement project? Contact Scenic Community Credit Union or your financial institution. | Photo provided by Scenic Community Credit Union

Your home is your most valuable asset, so finding a qualified professional who can help you tackle your home improvement to-do list (at a fair price) is important.

Unfortunately, there are scammers who promise to do the work, but end up damaging your home + your wallet . How can you tell a trustworthy contractor from a con artist?

Scenic Community Credit Union shares:

Six types of home improvement scammers
Six red flags to watch out for
10 ways to protect yourself*

Spot the scam

News Notes

Tech

ChattState will kick off the “Gig City Goes Quantum” initiative on Friday, April 14 — which is World Quantum Day — with Dr. Duncan Earl, the founder, president, and CTO of Qubitekk. This special event will discuss the power of quantum networks.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will also host three experts to discuss the quantum initiative on Monday, April 17, Wednesday, April 19 + Friday, April 21. All sessions will be free and open to the public. Learn more about the speakers. (University of Tennessee Chattanooga)

Biz

Furniture Row, located along Highway 153, recently finished renovating its 61,673-sqft storefront. The buildings that formerly housed Sofa Mart, Oak Express, and Bedroom Excursions have been replaced with Furniture Row’s Living, Dining, and Bedroom areas. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Community

The Chattanooga Market will brew up a good time at the Chattanooga Beer Fest on Saturday, May 27. Enjoy local food and craft beer from 30+ breweries — they will also have ciders and seltzers if beer isn’t your thing. Get tickets online.
Through a community-wide partnership, folks can donate non-perishable items to Lupi’s Pizza Pies locations during the month of April. Donations to the downtown, Hixson, and Brainerd locations will go to the Chattanooga Community Fridge. Check out more ways to donate.

Cause

Applications for the Young Professionals of Chattanooga Advisory Board are currently open now through Friday, April 14. The board seeks to network and invest in young professionals’ careers. Apply online.

Arts

Calling all poetry writers and lovers. The city of Collegedale will host its Poetry in the Park event on Monday, April 24. Bring a chair or blanket, and enjoy open mic performances + food vendors. (Chattanoogan.com)

Watch

Last month, we announced the filming of “The American Dream, Selling Chattanooga,” a local TV show about real estate in the Scenic City. Filming has now wrapped + the episode will air on Sunday, April 16 on ABC. Get a sneak peek of the six hosts.

Drink

Sample beverages (alcoholic + non-alcoholic) from around Central and South America during the final weekend of Rock the Riverfront this Saturday. Rock the Riverfront is free and tickets to “Sips of Latin America” are $20. Plus, enjoy food trucks, artist vendors, and open play on Los Trompos.*

Travel

Planning a spring or summer getaway? Enter: Greenville, SC, an affordable and fun destination. From self-guided tours to museums, check out 18 Free Things To Do In Greenville.*

Shop

We’re firm believers in spoiling the ones we love — especially our pets. That’s why we’re adding these two things to our shopping carts: this customizable velvet collar and this durable bed that features a removable slipcover. Don’t forget the treats. We love these soft chews for doggos and these freeze dried snacks for cats.

Correction

In Monday’s newsletter, we shared a reminder about Lula Lake Land Trust’s 2023 Tails & Trails 5K Fun Run. We mistakenly said the run would take place on Sunday, April 22 — April 22 is actually a Saturday.

Eat and Drink

🧀 [Insert cheesy pun here]

Grilled cheese sandwich spots in Chattanooga

NOOGAtoday | Grilled Cheese from Rosecomb

Today is dedicated to this nostalgic treat. | Photo by @rosecombbar

Today is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, and whether you like yours as simple as it comes or slightly elevated, this beloved snack just hits the spot.

Here are five local spots where you can satisfy your cravings:

Rosecomb Bar, 921 Barton Ave. | This spot’s grilled cheese comes with Tallegio, Monterey Jack, cheddar, fig jam, caramelized onion + RC sauce on Niedlov’s sourdough bread.

Bleu Fox Cheese Shop, 324 E. Main St. | Make a grilled cheese your way with choices like pimento cheese, French onion, goat cheese + more.

Common House Chattanooga, 1517 Mitchell Ave. | Try out this elevated grilled cheese that comes with mozzarella, onion jam + chimichurri on focaccia.

Rembrandt’s Coffee House, 411 E. 2nd St. | The “Say Cheese” sandwich comes with mozzarella, cheddar, Swiss + truffle oil on wheat or sourdough.

River Street Deli, 151 River St. | The “South Carolina Grilled Gooey” is made with housemade smoked cheddar pimento cheese + ham or turkey.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kristen Templeton

From the editor

On Monday, we asked our readers to share their Chattanooga “life hacks” with us + we’ve received some pretty great responses so far. One of my personal favorites is “Take allergy medicine every morning” from Elea A.

Share your Chattanooga life hacks.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? It’s almost International Dark Sky Week.

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