February’s here with heart-shaped everything and all of that lovey-dovey shenanigans. This week, we’re lookin’ beyond just Valentine’s cards and leanin’ into community for Black History Month also beginning this month!

Quick reminder before we dive in: Chattynooga turns one year old on February 10th 🎉 We’ve got a lil’ anniversary shindig comin’ up soon, and we’d love to celebrate it with you! Send an email if you haven’t already RSVP’d, we’ll be sending out details as soon as tomorrow to your email & on our socials!

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!

Y’ALL GONE LEARN TODAY! This week’s Front Porch Partner is Acadia Learning. They ain’t exactly local-local, but it does help keep this little digital porch light burnin’. It’s also a platform full of cozy, curiosity-sparking courses for folks who like learnin’ at their own pace.

And here’s the fun part: just clickin’ their ad puts $2.60 straight into the Chattynooga piggy bank. No sign-up needed, no hoops to jump through. Just a tap-tap and you’re helpin’ us keep tellin’ Chattanooga’s stories.

Alrighty, Acadia — step on up to the porch!

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Well folks, love is in the air! It’s almost Valentine’s Day and all over Chattanooga, people are getting ready to celebrate. Whether you’re on the hunt for celebrations for Valentine’s, Galentine’s, or even Palentine’s, we’ve got you scattered smothered and covered. Check out my helpful guide below for all the happenings around town during this season of love!

I’ll go ahead and point out the elephant in the room: I am not the expert here. If lived experience came with a color wheel on this topic, mine would be whiter than Casper the Friendly Ghost. So when Black History Month rolled around and I started thinkin’ about what it really looks like to show up with intention, I knew the worst thing I could do was pretend I already understood.

So insteada talkin’ about Black community in Chattanooga, I figured I’d do what ‘ole Bubs does best and pull up a chair for someone who’s actually livin’ it.

That’s how I ended up yappin’ with Bri from @BlerdChattanooga, a local creator and community-builder who’s been creating space for Black nerds, creatives, and culture lovers across the Scenic City. Anime, gaming, cosplay, pop culture, parties, and connection. If you’re lookin’ for it, BlerdChattanooga’s got the deets all wrapped up in a place where folks don’t have to explain themselves in order to belong.

When I asked what Black community in Chattanooga feels like to them, the answer surprised me in the best way: A little family.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to some of that ‘family’ that continues to show up for each other and the rest of the Chattanooga community through their own unique personality and talents:

For me, this conversation was a reminder that Black History Month isn’t only about lookin’ back at how far we’ve come, but also payin’ attention to what’s bein’ built right now. If you’re curious, consider this your nudge. Follow ‘em, show up, and support the work!

Guys, guess what. It’s cold. It’s Groundhog Day. And thanks to one rascally rodent in Pennsylvania, it’s not going to let up anytime soon. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, signaling six more weeks of winter. This is obviously a historically accurate scientific prediction, and I have some feelings about it.

I don’t know if you’ve been keeping up, but I AM SICK OF BEING COLD ALL THE TIME. Since I can’t change the weather, I’m doing the next best thing—writing a strongly worded letter to a literal groundhog. I sure hope he writes me back!

Turns out, love usually shows up quieter than we expect. In shared spaces, familiar faces, and people choosing to show up for one another.

Thanks for spendin’ a piece of your week with us, neighbor. We’re real grateful you’re here and can’t wait to celebrate one year together real soon.

— Bubby & Clementine