This week feels like one big open invitation. We got blankets hittin’ the grass, bookstore doors swingin’ open, and markets hummin’ back to life. Earth Week has us with our hands in the dirt remindin’ us that good things take time… but they don’t have to grow alone.

From picnic tables to page turnin’, there’s a whole lotta ways to gather right now in those small, meaningful moments where you look up with a big ole sigh and realize, “Huh… this ain’t half bad”.

Whether you’re plantin’ or readin’ something, or just wanderin’ into a space you haven’t been before, I reckon there’s a spot for ya somewhere this week! Let’s get on into it.

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 Go-To-Millions, and they’re kinda like that one friend who’s always cookin’ up a new idea… then actually shows you how to make it happen.

Now they ain’t local-local, but every time you give their link a little clicky-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 Go-To-Millions, take it away!

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

When I first heard the words "bookstore crawl," my body involuntarily did that yes celebration thing that Kip from Napoleon Dynamite does. ‘Cause here’s a little somethin’ somethin’ ya might not realize about Chattanooga: we don't have one great indie bookstore, We've got eight of 'em. And this upcomin’ Saturday, all eight are joinin’ hands to celebrate the quirks and uniqueness that each of their shops bring.

The Chattanooga Indie Bookstore Crawl was put together by the good folks at And Then Books, with a simple idea: grab a punch card, visit all eight shops, collect your stamps, and enter to win a prize basket of goodies from each store.

Here's who you can be supportin’ this week across Chattanooga:

Reve Coffee & Books owner Barbara Hyland put it perfectly, “The crawl gives people the chance to explore spaces they might not have discovered yet."

And y'know what? That's exactly it. How many times have we driven past somethin' in this city that caught your eye but ya just… kept goin’ past it'? This crawl gives a formal invitation to stop, walk in, and see what your neighbors are up to!

Independent bookstores are no longer places to grab a book and go, but they intentionally hold space for the communities that they serve. They remember your name, special order books by request, host events with the community, and so much more to make you feel apart of their story too (because you are!).

I've been practicin' what I'm gonna say. Out loud. In the bathroom mirror. Meemaw caught me doin' it last week while I was halfway through gettin’ dressed, she handed me a pair of overalls before barkin, “Ya might need this for the speech too” and walkin’ away.

We've been talkin' about seeds for a while now. When we learnt about the National Park City Seeds campaign back in March, planted our own Roundabout North Chatt seed in April, and asked y'all to show it some love while we yapped about it at the Chattanooga Outdoor Festival!

Welp, this Friday, we're runnin’ it back with the wonderful folks over at Studio Ours.

The Seed Pitch Picnic is happenin' at Studio Ours, and I'm gonna be in that room standin' up next to some of the top seed ideas from the Outdoor Festival's Seed Expo — real ideas from people who are out here stretchin' greenways and solvin' food deserts and buildin' stuff like whole libraries and farms in parks. Even Mayor Kelly is talkin’ about it, y’all!

And y'all, I am thrilled. And I am absolutely terrified. Both at the same time, just lettin' 'em sit next to each other like two kids on a bus who don't know each other yet.

Sometimes I walk into spaces like this and that little voice goes: Bubs, what exactly are you doin' here bucko?

But here's what I keep comin' back to — everybody's seed starts small. Every person in that room started exactly the same way. With a what if. There might be some scared tinges in their voice, but that’s also the excitement of it all too.

The showin' up is the whole point though, pardner.

So this Friday, we’re gonna waddle into Studio Ours and pitch our little seed next to all these big beautiful ideas. Maybe somebody hears it and thinks yeah, North Chatt really do be needing that.

I'll just be glad that I continue to grow no matter the quality of the soil.

Okay everybody, listen up! This is NOT A DRILL! We are officially starting Chattanooga Market Season and you need to be prepared!

That’s right, this weekend, the Chattanooga Market will open again at the First Horizon Pavilion downtown. Shoppers can find all kinds of goodies: produce, candles, tasty treats, handmade art, jewelry, and my favorite, ✨stickers✨. This reporter is a fan of tchotchkes and trinkets, so you better believe I’ve got my market bag ready to go!

Now our reader Cheryl asked me this week if people ever respond to the questions I ask in my corner. I said yes and you should have seen the look on her face! “Well Clementine,” she said, “ you’ve got to publish what people say! I’m always wondering!” Cheryl sure knows how to be persuasive. 

So, here’s my question: Who are you excited to see at the Chattanooga Market this year?

Let me know your favorites, or if you’ll be there let me know so I can stop by and say hi! And don’t worry, I’ll be back next week to let you know what the people are sayin’!

See you at the Market!

Just like that, another week of small moments stackin’ up into somethin’ bigger than they seem.

If you make it out to something this week, we’re mighty glad you did. And if not, gardens require rest too in order to bloom well.

— Bubby & Clementine