Fill up on this eco-friendly news. | Photo by Upstream Refillery
Sustainability oftentimes looks great on paper but can be difficult to execute if you aren’t sure where to begin. Luckily, Upstream Refillery in nearby Cleveland is there to help.
The shop is owned by Amanda Simmons, who has an extensive background in wildlife biology + a master’s degree in sustainability management. Through the refillery, she is working to connect people with eco-friendly measures that are easily accessible.
Simmons said when she began her own journey into sustainable living, it wasn’t impossible but difficult, making her realize the two main factors that could hold others back are lack of convenience and the price. Acknowledging that everything we do has an impact, she is working to ease this tension for folks.
🫧 Products
Simmons is starting with household cleaning supplies to gauge interest before expanding to personal care (think: hair care products and toothpaste). There are also reusable cleaning tools available like wool dryer balls and spray bottles.
Upstream Refillery works to create easy access to these materials and ways to continue to be eco-conscious.
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Photo by Upstream Refillery
The sustainability efforts don’t stop with just the refill station itself. Simmons has looked to other businesses to source out products that are made with clean materials and produced as environmentally-friendly as possible all the way down to packaging. Upstream Refillery carries:
Green Llama | Made in Johnson City, TN, you can shop dish soap + all-purpose and glass cleaning powders to make your own solutions.
Rustic Strength | This company uses biodegradable and cruelty-free materials for its products — you can find hand soap and laundry detergents in the refillery.
🧴 How it works
Upstream Refillery is located in a booth in Grit & Grace Market at 445 Church St. Customers have two options when using the station:
Option 1 | Purchase an already filled bottle for a set price + bring it back and refill (paying per ounce)
Option 2 | Bring your own bottle to fill, paying per ounce
“I do this because I love my community and because I love Tennessee,” Simmons said.
Events
Thursday, Feb. 1
Vision + Verse | Thursday, Feb. 1 | 6-7 p.m. | Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View Ave., Chattanooga | Free | Learn about the museum’s latest contemporary collection with Neo-soul singer Zowie Boyd and other performers in a call + response discussion.
Self-Care Panel Discussion | Thursday, Feb. 1 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $25 | Attend an interactive Q+A with a panel of local experts.
Friday, Feb. 2
“Seven Guitars” | Friday, Feb. 2-Sunday, Feb. 4 | Times vary | Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., Chattanooga | $22-$27 | This August Wilson play explores the loss of a blues musician + is described as a “bawdy comedy, part dark elegy, and part mystery” — suitable for mature audiences.
Saturday, Feb. 3
Lunar New Year | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 12-4 p.m. | Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., Chattanooga | Price of admission | Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with lion dance performances + martial arts demonstrations.
Mardi Gras Ball 2024 | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 7 p.m.-1 a.m. | The Read House, 107 W. MLK Blvd., Chattanooga | $72.50-$92.50 | Let the good times roll with a Cajun buffet, free beer + wine, and live music by Dixieland Band — proceeds benefit Downside Up, Inc.
Romance at Ruby | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 9:45 p.m. | Ruby Falls, 1720 S. Scenic Hwy., Chattanooga | $94.95 | Take your special someone out for an after-hours lantern tour + take home a professional photo and themed gift.
Sunday, Feb. 4
The Art of Mindfulness | Sunday, Feb. 4 | 12:30-1:15 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $30 | In this class, you will learn mindfulness techniques + how to integrate the practices into your daily lives.
A 232-unit apartment complex is planned for the 11-acre tract of land on Customer Delight Drive (near the T-Mobile call center + Lee Highway). Pending rezoning approval, construction for Ridgedale Flats could start in early 2025. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Community
The Chattanooga Public Library now offers free family passes for the Chattanooga Symphony & Orchestra events. The passes can be checked out with a valid library card at any library location + includes two adult tickets and up to four youth tickets. Learn more.
UTC
Hamilton County has awarded $114,344 from its Innovative Response to Opioids grants initiative to fund a clinical addiction studies certificate program at UTC. Notably, the program will allow for the growth of professionals “trained to provide substance use treatment in the community.” (University of Tennessee Chattanooga)
Try This
TVFCU + The Chattanooga Zoo need help naming the newest member of the Prickles Family (the resident African Cape porcupines). Folks can submit their name for the porcupette until 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5. Bonus: The winner of the contest will receive a year-long family membership to the zoo.
Cause
Folks can register to participate in the 14th annual McKee Southern 6 Trail Race slated for Sunday, Feb. 18. This rain-or-shine event takes place on White Oak Mountain’s wooded trails in nearby Collegedale + benefits the Southern Adventure Program Affinity Fund.
Read
SoLit will host author Halle Hill to speak about her debut short story collection “Good Women” on Thursday, Feb. 22 at ArtsBuild. The event will feature a Q+A session and book signing. Bonus: The Book & Cover will have copies of Hill’s collection available for purchase. Get your free ticket.
Health
Did you know flu season peaks between December and February? Get the care you need at Cempa Community Care’s recently-opened Walk-In Clinic, offering convenient, no-appointment treatment of sicknesses, plus vaccinations and screenings. Bonus: Low-income, uninsured, and underinsured patients are welcomed.*
Home
This Valentine’s Day decor is making our hearts skip a beat and includes heart-shaped wreaths, neon “love” signs, heart-shaped felt garlands, and cozy red blankets.*
Asked
💌 Our readers’ local love stories
Our readers’ local love stories
We hope you love these stories from our readers. | Graphic by 6AM City
Have you found love in Chattanooga? We want to know about it.
This Valentine’s Day, we’re creating a map of places where our readers have made memories around the area. We want to hear about every kind of relationship. Tell us about your meet cute stories, getting advice from a parent, learning to love yourself... we love love stories in all their forms. (But do keep it PG, please.)
Add a story to our map below by clicking the green “add point” button. You have until Friday, Feb. 9 to submit for a chance to be featured in our interactive map (and newsletter).
We’ll go first with a story of our own. Sometimes you just have to be open to second chances + Editor Haley would swear by this. Haley and her partner Jake had a class at UTC together two years before they officially met (and they both secretly had a thing for their mysterious classmate).
A gift from Six & Main’s Valentine’s Day collection for someone you love. There’s colorful chocolates, funny cards, games for couples, and lots and lots of pink.
Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.