Porch Pals, Assemble! Happy Monday, y’all!

What is UP Chattanooga! This issue is packed with adventure, from a Free Comic Book Day celebration at Infinity Flux to an inside look at a real-deal swordfighting class at Dojo Chattanooga. We’re also sharing a fun internet find called Hatch Canvas and a Braves-flavored porch chat straight from Clementine. It’s all about big dreams, new starts, and finding a little magic wherever you are.

Today's Issue Includes:

• This Week's Front Porch Partner

• Chattanooga's Upcoming Events

• Community Spotlight: Infinity Flux's Free Comic Book Day Event!

• Stuff I saw on the internet: Hatch Canvas

• A Yap with Sensei David Schleifer of Dojo Chattanooga

• Clementine's Corner: The Braves

• Wrap Up

Sound like a fun time? Well don’t forget to crank up today’s diddy below and get to readin’! Heads up: Is yer email lookin’ odd? Try viewin’ it in your browser instead by clickin’ the “Read Online” button at the top!

Front Porch Partnerships

In partnership with

Every so often, we team up with a buddy outside the Chattanooga city limits through what's called a Front Porch Partnership. It’s our way of keepin’ this digital printing press clackin’ while introducing y’all to something we genuinely think is worth a peek.

This week’s partner? Rundown AI, a free daily newsletter that rounds up the biggest stories in AI and tech in a way that’s short, smart, and mighty easy to follow (even if you don’t speak "techie"). If you’re curious about how AI is changin’ the world, or just want to sound impressive at your next cookout, this one’s for you.

Even just clickin’ on the ad helps toss a few coins into the ol’ Chattynooga piggy bank, so thanks for supportin’ the porch by takin’ a look! As always, we only share somethin’ if we think our buds would enjoy it too.

Now, let’s give a big front porch "Howdy!" to Rundown AI!

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What’s Goin’ On in the Scenic City this week?

Community

• Lego Night with Bricks & Minifigs

  Friday, May 2 @ Ruddle’s Bread & Book | 5:00 - 7:00 PM
  Bring your best building skills for a night of LEGO games, trivia, and prizes! Plus, grab a LEGO-themed treat while you’re there. Tickets required, don’t miss out!
  🧱Grab Your spot to build

• Parking Lot Bash
  Saturday, May 3 @ Crafter’s Emporium & Book Exchange |10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  Shop ‘til you drop with 130+ small businesses, live music, and food trucks! Plus, come see their newly expanded space, more treasures await.
  🚗 Shop small, dream big

• Red Bank Jubilee
  Saturday, May 3 @ Red Bank City Park | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  Live music, bike giveaways, food trucks, and the famous Moon Pie Move kickoff! Plus: Beer garden, vendors, and a full day of hometown fun.
  🌷Party down the block

Music & Entertainment

• St. Elmo Porchfest
  Saturday, May 3 @ St. Elmo Community
  Celebrate the first-ever Porchfest with music, food, yoga, and family fun, all right from the front porches of St. Elmo!
  🎶 Pull up a chair and read the deets

• Spring Chicken Art Market
  Saturday, May 3 @ ClearStory Arts | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  Over 40+ art vendors, live music, food trucks, open studios, and free parking! Come spend the day soaking up Chattanooga’s creative spirit.
  🐣 Cluck your way to ClearStory

• Book Signing + Local Art Showing with Mallory Huff

  Sunday, May 4 @ Golden Hour | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  Art prints, exclusive merch, and a special latte collab with Summer Sun Coffee - plus, a limited-edition flavor made just for this day! Come support an awesome pal’s book release!
  📖 Pop in for a golden day

Outdoors ‘n’ Stuff

• Nightfall Concert Series
  Friday, May 2 @ Miller Park Stage | 6:00 PM
  Chattanooga’s favorite free concert series is back! Enjoy live music, food trucks, and an art market under the stars downtown.
  🎸 Dance the night away

• Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Fest
  Saturday, May 3 @ Townsend Event Center | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  Live music, food trucks, epic competitions, and maybe even a Yeti sighting! Bring the whole family (and your furry pals) for a day of cryptid fun.
  👣 Catch Bigfoot (if you can!)

• Spring Party with South Chattanooga Community Center
  Thursday, May 8 @ South Chattanooga Community Center | 4:00 - 5:30 PM
  Celebrate spring with freebies, live music, snacks, Mother's Day crafts, and garden goodies—fun for the whole family!
  🌼 Grow some good times

Don’t Forget!

If ya been readin’, ya know we’ve already shared some real good events ya don’t wanna miss!

• Frazier Festival | Saturday, May 3

• Chattanooga Vintage Market (Finally!) | Sunday, May 4

Got somethin’ cookin’ that the Scenic City oughta know about? Wanna talk about how cool your weekend was? Tell us all about it! We’d love to yap it up and holler all about it from the porch! Just reply to this message, or send a separate one to [email protected]!

Community Spotlight: Infinity Flux's Free Comic Book Day Event!

If you ask me, every day could use a little more magic… and on Free Comic Book Day, it’s like the whole world agrees. This annual event happens all over the world, but it’s extra special at Infinity Flux in Hixson. They’re Chattanooga’s local favorite for all things comics (and games and collectibles and all the good stuff).

Lemme tell ya, If Spider-Man was looking for free comics, you can bet he’d swing by Infinity Flux, 'cause they do it right! I caught up with the IF crew to find out what’s happening and how to make the most of the adventure on Free Comic Book Day in Chattanooga.

Infinity Flux is the real deal, y’all. They give away more free comics than anybody else around! The IF team explained the event like this:

Here’s a pro-tip for you: if you wanna save time on the day of and make sure you snag your favorites, IF’s got you covered. You can make a wishlist ahead of time on their website, and they’ll use a digital line system to keep things organized while you wait.

Bubby’s got Speed Racer and Spider-Man on his list. I’m eyeballin’ Minecraft and Archie! They’ve even got titles like Batman, the Energon Universe, Black Mirror, and Dr. Stinkin’ Seuss! The list just goes on and on and somehow keeps getting better the more you look.

But wait... there’s more! Bubby’s nerdy little heart just about exploded when he found out there’s gonna be a real live comic book artist at Infinity Flux on FCBD. That’s right! Andy Duggan, the artist for Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (one of this year's official free titles!), will be there signing copies from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM!

It’s gonna be an epic Free Comic Book Day over at Infinity Flux. Keep an eye on their social media for updates on FCBD deals and beyond. Oh yeah, they’re partying into Sunday too... May the 4th be with you, y’all.

It’s all happening this Saturday, May 3, at Infinity Flux in Hixson. Trust us, you don’t wanna miss it!

Stuff I Saw on the Internet: Hatch Canvas

Ever wish you could dream up ideas on a blank canvas, but with the help of a big ol’ creative brain right beside you? That’s the vibe over at Hatch, a new tool that feels part playground, part idea workshop. Using your own content, you can convert a logo and an idea into a full-blown concept of an app, an Instagram Carousel template, or whatever else your little head can think of to elevate your creative side.

Instead of just talking to AI in a little chat window, Hatch lets you drag, drop, doodle, and build out your thoughts across a freeform space, kinda like if a whiteboard and a creative assistant had a very smart baby.

It's early days for Hatch, but it’s already got our gears turnin’ about how tech could feel a whole lot more playful (and a whole lot less like work).

A Yap with Sensei David Schleifer of Dojo Chattanooga

Friday Night Lights (But Make It Swords)

Last Friday, instead of strollin’ downtown like usual, I found myself cross-legged on the floor of a real-deal dojo, watchin’ robed warriors stretch, yell, and swing swords around like it was the coolest thing in the world (because it was.)

Sensei David Schleifer and his crew at Dojo Chattanooga are keepin’ the ancient art of Japanese swordfightin’ alive right here in town, and buddy, it’s somethin’ mighty special. (And yes, I took real notes - stick figures and all.)

First Things First: Rituals and Respect

Before any swords got swung, the class opened with a bowing ceremony - a show of respect for yourself, your teacher, and the tradition. Then came the warm-up: a mix of stretching and kata (pre-planned movements) that felt kinda like yoga for warriors.

Whole thing was calm but electric. Like a river just before a flood.

Swords, Yells, and a Whole Lotta Focus

After stretchin’, it was sword time.

Each student had an Iaito, a practice sword made from zinc-aluminum, and lined up to follow Sensei David’s lead through consistin’ of the following:

• Suburi (striking drills)

• Postures like Iwakizuchi Ni, the Boulder Splitting technique.

• And Maki Tombo (a side posture, "dragonfly stance," which I reckon makes you light on your meet and steady in a storm)

There were stances low, high, and sideways, and when they hit just right, you could hear the blade whoosh through the air and the sharp crack of a kiai!
Gave me goosebumps the size of river rocks.

Lessons from Sensei David

Between drills, I got to yap with Sensei David himself, who’s basically the Daimyo of Northshore, if you ask me.

Here’s some stuff he shared:

• He got hooked on swordfighting thanks to Star Wars and Highlander - same as any of us who ever dreamed of wieldin' a saber.

• He teaches Ryushin Shouchi Ryu, the "Heart of the Willow Tree", where ya learn to stay strong, bend when needed, stay rooted through storms.

• His sword’s name is Jade Steel: fast, sharp, and a lil’ bit mysterious.

• Funniest dojo moment? Hakama pants fallin’ down mid-swing. (And no, I couldn’t keep a straight face either.)

Biggest lesson he’s learned (and teaches): Resilience.

"Frustration is just a stage in learning," he said, soundin' like every good porch-sittin’ Pappaw who ever handed out life lessons after watchin' you fall off your bike.

The Spirit of the Dojo

If the Tatsumaki Study Group had a spirit animal, Sensei says it’d be a waterspout: strong, swirling, and full of hidden power.

And after watchin’ them train, I’d say he’s right. It ain’t just about swingin’ a sword. It’s about movin’ with purpose, breathin’ through the hard parts, and stayin’ humble whether you win or lose. Sword lessons or life lessons? Both, if you ask me.

Ready to train the Spirit and the Sword?

If you’ve ever dreamed about learnin’ swordwork, now’s your shot. Tatsumaki’s lookin’ for folks 16 and up: no experience needed, just a good attitude and a little grit.

Classes meet Fridays from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at Dojo Chattanooga on Cherokee Boulevard. You’ll learn Iaido, part sword swingin’, part movin’ meditation, and maybe find a little more strength inside yourself than you knew was there.

And if your hakama pants fall down your first day, don’t worry, it’s basically a rite of passage.

Clementine’s Corner: Talkin’ Sports

Bubby told me we were talking about 'brave' stuff today. I think he wanted me to talk about valor and strength or something, but I heard 'brave' and, well, I love the Braves. So today, my corner is all about baseball. Because there’s something special happening in Braves baseball this year!

I know this because I’m from Chestnut Mountain, right outside Atlanta, and Chattanooga? Well, that’s definitely Braves Country. I grew up watching greatness from the nosebleeds at the Ted. I'm a real expert, too. I did school projects all the greats, from Chipper to Niekro to the one and only Bobby Cox. DEDICATION, y’all.

But I’m not here today to tell you about the heroes of seasons’ past. I’m talking about the 2025 Braves because buddy, it has already been a heck of a season. They really had me sweating there in the beginning, and these eighth-inning comebacks are going to give me a heart attack, but you can bet your britches the boys are back and better than ever.

I’ve been noodling long and hard and have officially picked my favorite player on the Braves roster this year. It wasn’t easy since every single one of them is a powerhouse. Spencer Strider with his 500th strikeout. Sean Murphy knocking it out of the park in his first at-bat of the season. Jesse Chavez back at the Braves party for, what, the fourth time? And he’s ready to take us back to the World Series like it’s 2021 all over again.

But alas, only one can claim the number one spot in my heart: MICHAEL HARRIS II. He’s the total package. First, he’s got a suffix in his name, which is obviously just super cool. He understands the art of celebratory dancing, and man, he can flat-out play baseball. Center field belongs to him now; if it stays in the park, he’s catching it. They call him Money Mike for a reason. This guy’s always gonna come through!

Bottom line, the first few games weren't it... but that’s why we play 162 games, y’all! And not gonna lie, I say a little prayer every night that Acuña’s gonna be back sooner rather than later. Get well soon, buddy! The second he’s on the field, it’s over for you clowns.

Win or lose, my rally cap’s staying on. And hey, I heard the All-Star Game’s coming to Truist Park this year! If you need a totally awesome sports reporter, MLB, I’m your girl. Have your people call my people.

Until then, chop on! Let’s go Braves!

Time to venture onward, young Samurai.

Thanks for swingin’ by the porch, bud. Whether you end up flippin' through comics, learning a new stance, or dreamin' up big ideas on a canvas, just remember: Every adventure starts small. We’ll see ya next week. Until then, stay curious, stay kind, and holler if you need a buddy to practice your sword moves with!

— Bubby & Clementine