The Book & Cover is a cozy spot to grab your next read and a coffee. | Photo by Jeff Dickson
Need a new book to curl up with this fall? The Chattanooga area is home to several charming bookstores. Here are four local spots to explore the next time you’re in the mood to browse.
📕 The Book & Cover | 1310 Hanover St.
This cozy, independent bookstore opened in November 2021 — and if you’re thinking it looks like an old house, that’s because it is. Housed in a 1920s bungalow near the Northshore, it’s filled with books, reading nooks, and a café serving coffee and croissants. Pro tip: The Book & Cover also has multiple book clubs you can join, including classics, fantasy, romance, and horror.
This family-owned bookstore sells coffee + tea and likes to support local authors.
Photo by Jeff Dickson
📘 Rêve Coffee and Books | 1948 Northpoint Blvd.
This Hixson business is part bookstore, part café. Rêve has shelves lined with titles by local authors, plus house-made coffee + tea. While we’re on the subject, the Fireside Mocha latte sounds amazing. If you like murder mysteries, check out their Murder Mystery Book Club coming up on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Book Chatt Connection Downtown | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Downtown Library | Free | Connect with fellow book lovers during this drop-in, no pressure discussion.
Intro to Stop Motion Animation | 6-8:30 p.m. | The Chattery | $45 | Learn the basics of stop motion animation + create your own short film using just your phone.
Thursday, Sept. 11
Plot Twists & Friendships | 6:30-8 p.m. | Winder Binder Book Store | $15 | A speed-friending night for millennials looking to connect over shared stories and 1990s kid memories.
Opening Night at the Symphony: “La Mer” | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Memorial Auditorium | $35+ | Head to the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera’s opening night for Ilya Ram’s first season as Music Director.
Friday, Sept. 12
Owl Odyssey at Reflection Riding | 1-2 p.m. | Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center | $15+ | Meet Winnie the barn owl and uncover the secrets of nature’s ghosts, including what makes them so important to our ecosystem.
“The Crucible” | 7 p.m. | Barking Legs Theater | $25 | Watch this play about fear, truth, and what happens when a whole town turns on itself.
Saturday, Sept. 13
UTC Football vs. Stetson | 6 p.m. | Finley Stadium | $7+ | Cheer on the Chattanooga Mocs during their home opener as they take on the Stetson Hatters for the first time.
That’s how Branch Manager Ciera Wilson and her team treat each customer at SouthEast Bank’s Chattanooga location.
They’ve made it their mission to create a boutique banking experience, with warm welcomes, prompt service, and tailored financial solutions — all backed by the strength and resources of a regional banking partner.
The best part? Reaching a real person every time. No runarounds, no endless hold times.
Chattanooga’s own Calliope landed a spot on the New York Times’ 2025 Best Restaurants list. After tasting 200+ meals across 33 states, the Times picked 50 favorites. Calliope made the cut for its bold, modern take on Levantine cuisine. Haven’t been yet? You can find it on E. MLK Boulevard.
Concert
Fresh off their America’s Got Talent run, Chattanooga R&B trio CitiLimitz will perform at the free FunFair Festival this Saturday, Sept. 13 on the Chattanooga Greenway. Besides their performance, families can expect train rides, face painting, a petting zoo, and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Local 3 News)
Watch
The Lodge Cast Iron Cook-Off returns to the Chattanooga Market this Sunday, Sept. 14. Watch five local chefs — including 2024 winner Sujata Singh — shop the market, cook with a secret ingredient, and compete for the title. It’s happening from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the main stage. (The Pulse)
Kids
An upcoming exhibit at the Creative Discovery Museum will allow Chattanooga’s youngest residents to explore big feelings. XOXO: An Exhibit About Love & Forgiveness opens Saturday, Sept. 20. Through hands-on play, art, and interactive activities, kids can express emotions like love, empathy, and forgiveness.
Sports
The Chattanooga Lookouts played their last regular season game at AT&T Field over the weekend and they’re already looking to their next chapter. Season tickets for the 2026 season at the brand-new Erlanger Park are on sale now. If you’re interested, call the Lookouts Ticket Office at 423-267-4849. (Local 3 News)
Plan Ahead
Dust off those tiaras — Collegedale’s Fairytale Fall Ball returns on Sunday, Sept. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Kids ages 2-10 can enjoy princess meet-and-greets, dancing, crafts, mini horse rides, and more at The Commons. Tickets start at $25 and pre-registration is required.
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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.
Chicagoan Patrick Bertoletti holds the Major League Eating record for most number of 16" pizza slices eaten in 10 minutes: 47. Roughly how much time would it take Bertoletti to eat 340 million slices of Pizza Bros ‘za?
Now, we know we have quite a few math wizards reading this newsletter, because:
40% of voters got the correct answer which was 1.2 million hours
37% voted 2 million hours
23% voted 1.7 million hours
0% voted 955,000 hours
Editor Sarah here: I didn’t produce this particular newsletter, but I am 100% sure I would have gotten this question wrong.
The Wrap
The Wrap
Having grown up in Chattanooga, I was a little sad to see my last Lookouts game at AT&T Field last week. The 25¢ hot dogs and Dippin’ Dots helped ease my pain. But now, I am actually looking forward to seeing a game at the new stadium next year. If you’d like to watch Erlanger Park take shape, there’s a live camera you can keep an eye on while construction crews work their magic.
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