This week we’ve gotta real simple mission for you: come on out and be a person with other people.

Between Roundabout and Be My Neighbor Day, Chattanooga’s gently tappin’ us on the shoulder and sayin’, “Now’s your chance to come on out and meet the city!”

We spend a whole lotta time scrollin’, plannin’, and thinkin’ about showin’ up, but I think this week’s invitin’ us to actually do it.

No big agenda intended or pressure to be anything other than what you already are: a good neighbor.

Lucky for us, we’ve got a couple real good places to start 😉

As always, we’ve added a fresh track to this week’s issue purely for vibes as you read. Click the radio below before ya start reading if you wanna listen!

This week’s Front Porch Partner is 1440, and they’re kinda like that one friend who always shows up with the full story after everyone else has been guessin’.

Now they ain’t local-local, but every time you give their link a little click, it sends $1.31 straight into the Chattynooga piggy bank. No hoops or sign-ups required. Just a quick tap that helps keep this porch swing creakin’ in the best way.

Alright 1440, take it away!

Remember when the news was about what happened, not how to feel about it? 1440's Daily Digest is bringing that back. Every morning, they sift through 100+ sources to deliver a concise, unbiased briefing — no pundits, no paywalls, no politics. Just the facts, all in five minutes. For free.

Read the newsletter trusted by 4.5 million fact-seekers.

A speaker event featuring four Chattanooga creatives discussing sustainable freelance careers in advertising and marketing. Panelists will share insights on freelancing vs. full-time work, the realities of independent creative careers, and building a living in Chattanooga.

Check it out on Roundabout

An evening of connection, creativity, and community for Chattanooga's creative professionals! Features a special vinyl swap hosted by Dallos Vinyl Love where attendees can trade records, spark collaborations, and meet new people in the local creative scene.

Check it out on Roundabout

A high-energy open mic comedy night featuring local performers from the Scenic City, including Executive Director Kim Jackson and other favorite comedians. Part of Arts Week Chattanooga & Hamilton County, this event celebrates local artists stepping up to the mic in a new way.

Check it out on Roundabout

A vintage market featuring 75+ vintage clothing vendors, handmade goods, shoes, music, jewelry, giveaways and more. Hosted by our pals Ugly Duck Vintage at the First Horizon Pavilion!

Check it out on Roundabout

A fun book swap event featuring Petal Party Co.'s DIY bloom bar and book-themed floral arrangements available for purchase. Attendees can swap books and take home custom arrangements.

Check it out on Roundabout

A networking event for women in business hosted and sponsored by Community Gains. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet other women entrepreneurs, share their work, and build relationships in a supportive, welcoming community!

Check it out on Roundabout

Seven minutes to do whatever you want. That's the event. Enjoy!

Check it out on Roundabout

The Day Out With Thomas: Let's Rock, Let's Roll Tour is pulling into the Tennessee Valley Railroad on April 18! Ride along with Thomas, snap photos, explore the Music Corner, and check out the exclusive gift shop.

Check it out on Roundabout

WTCI PBS is bringing their "Be My Neighbor Day" celebration to the Bessie Smith Cultural Center this year! This all-ages community event, inspired by Mr. Rogers, features character meet-and-greets with Daniel Tiger, Lyla, and Carl the Collector, along with music, discovery activities, and fun for the whole family.

Check it out on Roundabout

Got somethin’ cookin’ that the Scenic City oughta know about? Wanna talk with neighbors about something cool that you’re doing? Or just want to find things to do without scrolling across every website known to man?

We’ve been building Roundabout North Chatt to take care of just that, and have loved every second these past ten months have been. Now, it launches publicly tomorrow!

If you’re reading this and wanna hop in now, you can by clicking any of the links above, or signing up down below if ya wanna know a bit more about what we’ve been cookin’ up behind the Chattynooga curtain.

Happy Tuesday y’all, Clementine here!

Last week, I heard a rumor that the one and only Daniel Tiger was coming to town, and I just couldn’t believe it. That’s right, Clementine McBride is a proud PBS Kid!

Apparently, there’s a shindig going on this Saturday called Be My Neighbor Day and I was intrigued. So, as any smart kid journalist would do, I called my local PBS station for confirmation and information.

They transferred me to Amy Walls, the teacher-family-community-lady at WTCI (and a super good friend of Chattynooga, if you know what I mean). While I had her on the line, I asked the hard questions and got all the answers we need for our dear readers on what they need to know for Be My Neighbor Day.

Q: When and where is Be My Neighbor Day?
A: This year we are hitting the road! Be My Neighbor Day will be Saturday, April 18 from 10AM–2PM at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.

Q: Is it true that Daniel Tiger be in attendance??
A: Yes! You can expect to meet Daniel Tiger along with Carl the Collector and Lyla from Lyla in the Loop! Bring your cameras!

Q: What else can I expect at Be My Neighbor Day?
A: We’ll have a Touch-a-Truck, face painting, a petting zoo, reading, dancing, a drum circle, magic, sweet treats, and more!

We have more than 40 partners joining us to celebrate our community. The Bessie Smith Cultural Center is also celebrating the iconic Miss Bessie’s birthday and will be giving free museum tours all day long! There’s something for everyone at Be My Neighbor Day!

Q: What’s the catch? How much does it cost?
A: Be My Neighbor Day is free and open to all of our neighbors in and around Chattanooga! We hope you’ll join us!

I, for one, can’t WAIT for Saturday. You don’t wanna miss this one. You can check out the event page for all the details here.

We will be there bright and early ready to experience all that Be My Neighbor Day has to offer. Bubby’s excited to get Carl’s autograph and I’m hoping the face painters can do a Chattynooga-themed design on me.

It’s going to be a beautiful day in the neighborhood! See you there!

Meemaw caught me on the computer the other night and gave me that look she saves for when the dog gets into the trash.

"I’m Community buildin’ Meemaw, it’s best if ya just don’t ask" I spat her way before she could even finish her sentence. She rolled her eyes playfully and returned to her post (the couch) for rewatch #529 of Gunsmoke.

To be fair, this ain’t an abnormal occurrence around our house. I’ve always been an internet kid. Not an iPad Kid, an internet kid. Big difference, bucko.

We’re talkin’ forums, Discord servers, subreddits, if there’s strangers talkin’ about things they love together, I prolly got an account on there. The whole planet is connected online, and yet the most neighborly areas I ever felt connection was in some tiny corner of shared interests that folks geeked out and most importantly belonged.

Steve Burns (the Blue's Clues guy) did a podcast episode recently about how those little corners of the internet scratch a real itch. I heard it and was like... you know what Mr. Steve, that's exactly what I was lookin' for this whole time. What Mr. Steve didn’t didn't realize was that you could build the same thing to solve this feelin’ of digital isolation that folks are feelin’ all too well.

That’s why we started Chattynooga, 'cause we wanted Chattanooga to have its own little corner where neighbors could geek out about this city the same way strangers online geek out about stuff they love. Y'all showed up, and this dream got bigger than our teeny porch could handle, but enough to make somethin’ really magical happen that we think might be the answer to social media gettin’ us down in the dumps: Roundabout North Chatt.

We’ve been testin’ and tweakin’ what a real online community hub for Chattanooga could look like with events, real neighbors, and anything you’d need to connect with the city all in one place.

Go make an account, poke around, and find your neighbors. The whole thing only works if folks actually show up, and if Chattynooga has taught me anything, it's that y’all know exactly how to do that.

Last week, Chattanooga did something really cool. It was Burger Week and the whole city got in on the action with deals, special burgers, and even a fancy app. It was every burger lovers dream!

But here’s the deal. I don’t like burgers.

I know Chattanooga does plenty of weeks for plenty of foods - burgers, tacos, pizza… but here’s the one I want to suggest that I think it would be a hit: 

I propose… Chattanooga Ice Cream Week! 

Come on, we know we’re a city with a major sweet tooth! I want sky-high cones and cherry topped delights! I want Clumpies and Scoop Around and Dubs and Mr. T’s! Who do I talk to so we can make this happen???

What do you think? Did you have a favorite burger last week? What food do you think needs a spirit week of its own? Let me know… I’m hungry!

The real good stuff ain’t in this email, it’s out there waitin’ on ya! We just make it a little easier to find it.

Chattynooga, Roundabout, heck even Be My Neighbor Day are all just open doors. Little invitations to step out, look around, and say “Hey uh… whatcha got going on here?” to the folks you’ve been passin’ by all this time.

No need to overthink it, just show up and see what happens.

You might leave with a full heart (or at the very least a story worth tellin’ us next Monday!).

If you see us out and about, don’t be shy and say howdy neighbor!

— Bubby & Clementine