• “Dear Hip Hop: Poetry & Storytelling of When We Met Hip Hop” | Friday, Aug. 11 | 6-9 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | Free, RSVP | Celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a guided conversation from Velvet Poetry, trivia hosted by DJ MCPRO, and a panel discussion with local creatives.
• “50 Miles Away” | Friday, Aug. 11-Sunday, Aug. 13 | Times vary | Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga | $15-$50 | Watch the journey unfold on the stage as two strangers who meet on the highway are searching for their next destination.
• S’mores and Storytelling | Friday, Aug. 11 | 7:30-8:45 p.m. | Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Rd., Chattanooga | $7-$10 | Enjoy a night around the campfire with s’mores and storytelling from Latta Johnston.

• Pool Pawty | Saturday, Aug. 12 | 1:30-3 p.m. | Carver Recreation Center, 600 N. Orchard Knob Ave., Chattanooga | $20 | Bring the pups to cool down with swimming, pup cups, and fun games. Note: Ticket price is per dog.
• FarleyCon Pop Culture and Comic Book Expo | Saturday, Aug. 12-Sunday, Aug. 13 | Times vary | Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Pkwy., East Ridge | $15-$50 | Experience all things pop culture full of meet and greets with stars from the comic + TV world.
• Titans vs. Bears Watch Party | Saturday, Aug. 12 | 12-4:30 p.m. | TailGate Brewery, 1464 Market St., Chattanooga | Free+, RSVP | Join the Chattanooga Titans Fans for the first preseason watch party as the Titans face the Chicago Bears.

• Buskers Festival | Sunday, Aug. 13 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd., Chattanooga | Free+ | Enjoy street-style entertainment tucked into various corners of the Chattanooga Market while shopping.
• Music in the Fields | Sunday, Aug. 13 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Creekside Flower Farm, 5549 N. Marble Top Rd., Chickamauga | $10-$35 | Pick your own jar of 20+ seasonal stems while listening to jams from local musician Andrew Witherspoon.

• In case you missed it, we made a helpful guide to help you plan the month of August. Check out these events happening throughout the month that you’ll want to add to the calendar (before your next weekend edition).

• August is National Black Business Month + we want to highlight as many locally-owned Black businesses in the greater Chattanooga area as possible in an upcoming newsletter. Are you or someone you know a business owner? Let us know.

• Local investment company Historic Holdings recently acquired four historic apartment buildings in the downtown area. Hardwick Hogshead Apartments, Fitzgerald Apartments, Fort Wood Apartments, and Eight59 Flats were purchased for a total of $26.5 million. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Why go?

• Plan your trip around these upcoming events: Ethos Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 7, or the Holiday Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 2 + the Winter Market on Sunday, Dec. 3.

Act like a local

• Province Park, just steps away from the Franklin College campus, is the perfect spot to take a walk, get some fresh air, and see the fall colors. There’s plenty of space for the kids to run around and play, too. Check out the Franklin Greenway Trail (60 acres) that runs through the park.

Where to stay

• Vrbo: Beautiful Franklin Home — This 3 bed, 2 bath home is just two miles from downtown Franklin, and features a spacious family room, covered porch, and beautiful gardens (complete with a Koi pond). (~$252/night)*

• The latest Kindle model — the Kindle Paperwhite — boasts a glare-free display, warm light options for night, and is waterproof from the beach to the bath.

• Our new must-have for concerts and baseball games this summer: this clear, stadium-approved backpack. Psst — it’s also great for football games in the fall.

• The 2023 Etsy Design Award Winners are here. Check out extraordinary, imaginative items including cactus leather bags, whimsical dandelion lamps, and donut mugs.