Monday’s shinin’ bright, buckaroo!

Sometimes the world feels like it’s rushin’ by so fast, it forgets to wave at ya when it zooms right past your driveway. This week’s issue isn’t about keepin’ up; it’s about slowing down, lookin’ out for one another, and rememberin’ that just because the world feels loud doesn’t mean you have to shout to be heard.

In honor of Pride Month, Juneteenth, and the small daily acts of care that make our city shine, we’re shinin’ our porch light extra bright. Whether you’re celebratin’, or just tryin’ to make it through the week with a full heart and a cold glass of lemonade, this one’s for you.

From local music to community cleanups, we’ve gathered what’s happenin’ around Chattanooga to help you reconnect with your people, your place, and your peace.

Today's Issue Includes:

• This week's Front Porch Partner: 1440 Media

• Chattanooga's Upcoming Events

• Community Spotlight: Make Music Day Chattanooga

• Stuff I saw on the internet: Letters to Strangers

• Deep Thoughts with Bubby: A Lamp in the Fog

• Clementine’s Corner: Yard Sale Extravaganza!

• Wrap Up

Heads up: Email lookin’ a little weird? Click the ‘view online’ button at the top to read it on our website instead!

This week’s Front Porch Partner: 1440 Media

Together with

Well, well, well — look who’s back on the porch! Yep, our pals at 1440 Media are once again helpin’ us keep this operation runnin’ smoother than a slip-n-slide in June.

Now sure, they ain’t local-local (they probably don’t even know where the Choo Choo is), but they do send out a dang solid newsletter that’s equal parts smart, skimmable, and sass-free. And hey — this repeat partnership helps keep the Chattynooga piggy bank from echoing, so we can keep doin’ cool stuff with y’all!

Even if you don’t sign up, just clickin’ the ad helps toss a little coin in our coffee can ($1.20 to be exactamundo). So if you're feelin' curious (or wanna help us out), give it a tap. We wouldn’t mention it again if we didn’t genuinely think our readers might dig it. Take it away (again) 1440!

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What’s Goin’ On in the Scenic City?

Community

• BBQ Week
  All Week Long @ Select BBQ Joints
  Presented by our pals Nooga Nightlife, there’s $7 BBQ specials all week long at some of Chattanooga’s favorite spots! Try somethin’ new or revisit an old classic. Bring your stretchy pants.
  🔥 See Who’s Slingin’ Sauce this Week

• Pop Up Library Tour
  Tuesday, June 17 @ Glenwood Community Center (9-12) and John. A. Patten Community Center (1-4)
  The Chattanooga Library is hittin’ the road with “Poppy” the Pop-Up Van! Stop by for books, fun, and a full library experience right in your neighborhood.
  🚐 Catch Poppy Near You!

• Juneteenth National Freedom Day Parade and Gala
  Thursday, June 19 @ Peeples Street to Miller Park | 4:00 PM
  Celebrate freedom, heritage, and joy at Chattanooga’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Parade! Music, movement, and a powerful display of unity by The Unity Group of Chattanooga.
  🎉 Celebrate Freedom with the City

Music & Entertainment

• Book Reading and Signing with Bonnie Blue Edwards
  Saturday, June 21 @ Hamilton Place Barnes & Noble | 2:00-4:00 PM
  Join Bonnie Blue Edwards for a cozy afternoon of storytelling, poetry, and warm laughs as she reads from her book Stressed Out & Scatterbrained.
  ✍️ Meet Bonnie + Look at her Picture Book

• Bessie Smith’s Big 9 Music Fest
  Saturday & Sunday, June 21-22 @ East MLK Blvd | Sat. 3-11 PM & Sun. 1:30-6:30 PM
  Two full days of Southern Soul, Trailride Blues, and Gospel in the heart of MLK featuring Jeter Jones, Tasha Mac, local vendors, and all the flavor Chattanooga has to offer.
  🎷 See who’s Hittin’ the Stage!

• Fred Armisen: Comedy for Musicians But Everyone is Welcome
  Sunday, June 22 @ Walker Theatre | 7:00 PM
  Comedy legend Fred Armisen brings his offbeat musical comedy tour to town! You don’t have to be a musician to enjoy it, just bring your giggle bones.
  😆 Snag a Seat and Laugh a Lot

Outdoors ‘n’ Stuff

• Car Show & Vendor Market at Grit & Grace PYOP!
  Sunday, June 22 @ 4421 Hwy 58 Ste 1 | 1:00–5:00 PM
  Chrome, crafts, and community collide at this family-friendly market-meets-car show. Vendors, vintage rides, and good vibes rollin’ in all afternoon.

  🛻 Shine It Up & Show It Off

• Sun Viewing on the Summer Solstice
  Saturday, June 21 @ Greenway Farms | 1:00-4:00 PM
  Celebrate the longest day of the year by safely starin’ at the sun (yes, really!) with telescopes provided by the Barnard Astronomical Society and Outdoor Chattanooga.
  ☀️ Gaze at the Glowy Guy

• Suck Creek Litter Cleanup
  Sunday, June 22 @ The First Pulloff on Suck Creek Rd | 12:00-2:00 PM
  Join Green Steps and Chattanooga Roller Derby in showin’ some love to Suck Creek. Clean up trash, make friends, and help keep this slice of Tennessee beautiful.
  🗑️ Lend a Hand, Grab a Bag

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 fill out our Partnerships form here!

This Week’s Community Spotlight: Make Music Day Chattanooga!

As you know, I love being a full time kid reporter, but one day, I’m going to be a superstar. I’m currently taking piano and oboe lessons, but my plan is to learn enough instruments to be my own band. I’ll figure out a way to play all of them and sing at the same time later. The point is, I LOVE MAKING MUSIC, okay??

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you that MAKE MUSIC DAY IS THIS SATURDAY!!!

If you’ve been around Chattynooga a while, you know we love our local music community. So when we heard about this global event that happens every year on June 21 (and again on December 21!), we were more tickled than a pigeon with a kazoo in a marching band. Come on, you know you’d go see that marching band.

Make Music Day is gonna be even better than that, though, because it’s really happening. And best of all, it’s happening all day on Saturday and all over the whole darn city! I’m serious, this is about to be the biggest thing that’s happened to the Chattanooga music scene since Usher roller skated into the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Make Music Day is sponsored by NAMM, a world-wide nonprofit trade association for the music industry. There’s some crazy-cool, real-life lore about the original Make Music Day (spoiler alert, it started as a French holiday called “Fête de la Musique” and it’s been happening since 1982). Basically it’s a day for anyone and everyone to enjoy free, public music anywhere and everywhere all over the world. It’s coming to Chattanooga and it’s gonna be a BLAST.

There’s something for everyone on Make Music Day in Chattanooga. We’ve got performances happening inside, outside, and even online. Whether you’re into bluegrass and folk, funk and jazz, metal and rock, classical and standards, or hip hop and pop, Chattanooga’s got you covered. There are gonna be tribute bands in the park, unique instruments at the library, and DJ sets spinning. There are even some special classes and events popping up around town. You can check out a complete list of Make Music Day events at their website.

Music has a way of bridging people and communities, and no one does it quite like the ‘Noog. Happy Make Music Day, y’all. May your Saturday be full of sunshine, funky beats, and conga lines.

Stuff I Saw on the Internet: Letters to Strangers

There’s a whole group of young folks out there writin’ anonymous, kind-hearted letters to people they’ve never met, just to remind ’em they ain’t alone. It’s called Letters to Strangers, and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve stumbled on in a dang while.

They believe mental health should be personal, not just big numbers and statistics, and I reckon they’re right.

They’ve reached over half a million people in more than 70 countries, all with the simple power of words on paper. Kinda like how a note in yer lunchbox or a Post-It on your mirror can make your whole dang day.

Clementine said if she joined, she’d write a hundred letters and probably decorate each one with a doodle an’ a sticker of a frog holdin’ a sunflower.

The founder of Letters to Strangers, Diana Chao, said it best in her TEDxTeen Presentation:

So if ya got somethin’ on yer heart, maybe write it down. Someone out there might be needin’ it more than ya know!

Deep Thoughts with Bubby: A Lamp in the Fog

I been thinkin’ a lot this week, sittin’ quiet on the porch while the world hollers.

Seems like every time I turn on the radio or peek over someone’s shoulder at their phone, there’s another story that makes my chest feel tight. Folks bein’ told they don’t belong. Families scared they’ll be taken away. People shoutin’ in the streets just to be heard.

And I know I’m just a kid, but I ain’t dumb. I got ears and a heart, and both of ’em been feelin’ full lately.

See, I been raised on a mountain where folks may not have had much, but they always had enough to share. A plate at supper. A hand when somethin’ broke. A front porch to sit on when the world got too loud.

My Meemaw always says, “If someone’s hurtin’, that’s yer business, too.” So when I see what’s goin’ on out there — with folks tryin’ to live honest lives and gettin’ pushed down instead — I get real still. Then I remember:

Y’ain’t gotta understand everything to care. 
Y’ain’t gotta have the right words to show up.
Ya just gotta love people like they’re your kin.
’Cause in the end, they are.

So if your heart’s feelin’ heavy this week, ya ain’t alone. But instead of lettin’ it harden ya, let it soften you instead. Let it make you gentler. Kinder. Quicker to hug, and slower to judge.

Check on yer people; especially the ones who’ve been told too many times that maybe they shouldn’t be ‘round these parts. Tell ‘em yer glad they’re here.

That might not fix the whole world. But it sure does make your corner of it a lot warmer.

And I reckon that’s how we start.

My question for ya today is just, What’s been on your heart, bud?

If yer open to it, reply to this week’s newsletter (or drop a comment if you’re viewing this on our website) with a quick message on anything that’s been heavy on yer mind lately. We’d love to support ya however we can, even if it’s just a place to let it out. 💌

Clementine’s Corner: Yard Sale Extravaganza!

I’ve got big news for y’all. I’m having a yard sale!

No, really, this is happening. In real life, for real, seriously. I’m having a yard sale this Sunday and I want YOU to come check it out!

We’ve got some really cool things up for grabs, and we are gonna have a little bit of everything. I’ve got a crock pot and a stack of books a mile high. Bubby scrounged up not one, but TWO TVs. I even found a leaf blower I’m willing to part with for the right price. You name it, we’ve probably got it, and we’ll give you a great deal.

But wait, it gets better. MY COUSIN LALA IS SELLING LEMONADE. Oh yeah, LaLa’s Lemonade is setting up shop and I’m telling you, she only makes the good stuff. $1 a cup gets you your choice of ice cold lemonade, strawberry lemonade, or raspberry lemonade. I asked her if she’d tell you guys her secret recipe. She said, “Yeah, probably. Well, possibly. Only if they ask nicely.”

So there you have it, folks, you’ve got plans for Sunday morning. Come check out our yard sale and get yourself a life-changing cup of lemonade while you’re at it. We’ll be out at 8:00 AM on Eveningside Drive in Soddy Daisy behind Kay’s Kastles. Come early and get ready to bargain… It's yard sale time!

Welp, go get ‘em sport.

That’s a wrap on this week’s porch postin’!

If your heart’s feelin’ a little full or your feet a little tired, don’t forget: you don’t have to carry it all alone. Around here, we believe in checkin’ on your friends, lovin’ out loud, and keepin’ the porch light on — just in case someone needs a way back home.

Be kind. Be curious. Be a little bit loud when it counts.

And as always, we’ll see ya next Monday. Same porch, same time.

— Bubby & Clementine