08.27.2025

Today’s Forecast

79º | 3% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 7:10 a.m. | Sunset 8:14 p.m.

🏈 It’s almost football time in Tennessee

A UTC football player in a blue and white uniform dives over an opponent in red and white at the goal line, focusing on intense action and competition.

The Chattanooga Mocs are geared up and ready for a new season. | Photo by Ray Soldano

Whether you’re cheering on the Mocs at Finley Stadium or keeping a close eye on the Vols or the Titans, football season is nearly here.

Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming home openers:

Mocs vs. Stetson

When + where: Saturday, Sept. 13 at Finley Stadium
What’s interesting: The Mocs will take on the Stetson Hatters for the first time.
Times to know: Tailgating starts at 3:30 p.m. and kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Vols vs. ETSU

When + where: Saturday, Sept. 6 at Neyland Stadium
What’s interesting: The last time these teams played was in 2018, when the Vols beat ETSU 59–3.
Times to know: Tailgating starts at 8:45 a.m., the Vol Walk is at 10:30 a.m., and kickoff is at 3:30 p.m.

Titans vs. Rams

When + where: Sunday, Sept. 14 at Nissan Stadium
What’s interesting: This marks the beginning of the Cam Ward era.
Times to know: Tailgating starts at 8 a.m. CT and kickoff time is 12 p.m. CT.

Pro tips + how to watch from home

Asked

Which of these have you noticed most in the past year?

According to new data from PODS, our region is currently one of the fastest-growing in the US.

So whether you’ve clocked new jobs hitting the market, more cranes popping up around town, or fresh “sold” signs up and down your street, tell us what you’re noticing in this quick survey.

A. 🏡 More homes being built or sold
B. 💼 New jobs or companies moving in
C. 🚙 Increased traffic or commute times
D. 🛍️ More restaurants, stores, or services
E. 💸 Rising rents or home prices
F. Other

Let us know

Events

Wednesday, Aug. 27

Thursday, Aug. 28

Friday, Aug. 29

Improv Chattanooga Comedy Show | 7-8 p.m. | Downtown Library | Free | Be prepared to laugh if you attend this unpredictable monthly comedy show.

See our full events calendar

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Eat

From brisket sliders to chocolate babka, toffee matzah, and more, Chattanooga’s Jewish Food Festival offers a delicious taste of tradition. If your mouth is watering, you’ll be glad to know tasting tickets are available for Nosh-a-Nooga, happening Sunday, Sept. 7 at noon at the Waterhouse Pavilion on Market Street.

Civic

Chattanooga is hosting a public roundtable on flooding and stormwater management on Monday, Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the City Council Building (1000 Lindsay St.). The City will share what’s being done to address flooding and what Neighborhood Associations can do.

Development

Hamilton County Schools is considering a partnership with Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise to build affordable housing for teachers and staff on school-owned property in St. Elmo. The proposed development at the former Lookout Junior High site could include 70 units. (News Channel 9)

Feel Good

Tennessee Vol Boo Carter used money from his NIL deals to buy new football uniforms for Brainerd High School, featuring his trademark ghost emblem and No. 23 on the shoulder. Carter only attended Brainerd briefly, but both of his parents are proud graduates of the school. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Does a certain celebrity engagement have you itching to tie the knot? We’ve got a full list of the best wedding venues in Chattanooga fit for even a pop star and NFL player.

Edu

The Chattanooga ACE Mentor Program is accepting applications from high school students interested in architecture, construction, and engineering. Students will get to work with industry professionals on real projects — including what to do next with the Chattanooga Lookouts’ current stadium site.

Mailbag

We’ve been getting some new readers, and they’ve been sharing their favorite Chattanooga restaurants with us. Bill A. says his favorite is Lupi’s Pizza Pies, Gary G. gave some love to Aubrey’s in Hixson, and Lynn G. says his favorite is 1885 Grill in St. Elmo. And now I’m hungry.

Featured Deal

Experience full-body fitness from the comfort of your home with Hydrow. This Labor Day, save $575 on the Hydrow Pro or $275 on the Hydrow Wave with code NOTES. Dive into immersive workouts that engage 86% of your muscles. Stronger starts here — explore more stunning waterways today.*

The Buy

Self-care isn’t all spa days and forest bathing — although we do love a nice hot stone massage. More often than not, it’s the simple things like prioritizing rest, practicing good hygiene, and practicing mindfulness. Elevate your self-care rituals with these five products:

🫧 Treat your skin to a little TLC with a Moroccan exfoliating glove that gently removes dead skin + cleans pores.
💧Elevate your favorite reading or journaling space with an aroma diffuser and lavender essential oils.
🛏️ Look forward to snuggling into bed every night when you score this jersey knit sheet set at up to 75% off.
💤 Pair your new sheets with the Nodpod gentle weighted sleep mask that’s described as “a hug for your head.”
🧥 When you’re craving comfort + relaxation, don this ultra-soft Barefoot Dreams cardigan that’s over 50% off.

More worth The Buy

Games

The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.

Let the games begin

The Wrap

In yesterday’s newsletter, I mentioned that Ooltewah was named the hardest Tennessee town to pronounce and asked for other tricky ones. And boy, did Jeff R. deliver. He wrote, “Gruetli-Laager. Hard to spell and to pronounce. Spell check is perpetually baffled.”

It’s a city in Grundy County, Tennessee, and if you were wondering whether Gruetli-Laager has German ties, you’d be right — it was founded by German-speaking Swiss immigrants in 1869. The more you know.