Welcome to Issue Three, y’all!

Y’all, the sun is shinin’, the flowers are bloomin’, and there’s somethin’ in the air that just makes everything feel a little more… possible. Maybe it’s springtime magic, maybe it’s the leftover pollen in our lungs - but whatever it is, we’re leanin’ into it.

And what better time to dream big than National Reading Month? Whether you grew up with your nose buried in books or you’re just now finding stories that feel like home, this month is all about getting lost in the pages - and maybe even finding a few new favorites along the way.

Speakin’ of books, in issue two we took some votes on whether ya wanted to do a book club or not, and we got ten folks + ourselves interested! We’re still workshoppin’ details on this, and we’ll let ya know as soon as we’re ready!

In the meantime, we’ve got a lot of reading ahead (but like, the fun reading) so let’s get started! Today’s issue theme song is When I Grow Up by The Cast of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.

Today's Issue Includes:

• Chattanooga's Upcoming Events

• Community Spotlight: Grown-Up Dreams, Childhood Roots

• Stuff I saw on the internet: The Alabama Leprechaun

• A Yap with Good Soil Theatre Co.

• Clementine's Corner

• Wrap Up

What’s Goin’ On in the Scenic City?

Music & Entertainment

• Tiffany Haddish: The Funny and Fearless Tour
  Saturday, March 15, 2025 @ The Walker Theatre
  If you love comedy that’s bold, brilliant, and downright hilarious, Tiffany Haddish is bringin’ the laughs straight to Chattanooga! The Emmy, Grammy, and NAACP Image Award-winning comedian, actress, and author is hittin’ the stage with her signature fearless humor, and y’all don’t wanna miss it.
  🎟️Snag your tickets before they’re gone - this one’s gonna be a sellout!

• Shamrocks & Shenanigans
  Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 12:00pm-8:00pm (Afterparty until 2:45am!) 📍 Station Street, Chattanooga, TN
  Get ready for a full day of live music, 25+ local vendors, and plenty of games ‘n good times - all thanks to the Chattanooga Firefighters Association & Station Street crew! Try your luck in the Cornhole Tournament, take on the Pub Crawl for prizes, or just soak up the festive vibes ‘til 2:45AM! Grab your green and get to Station Street — it’s gonna be a wild one!
  🎟️If I see ya without green, i’m pinchin’ ya

• Bobby Stone Film Series: 2025 Oscar Nominated Short Films (Animated) Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 7:30 PM @ The Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave
  Lights, camera, animation! ShortsTV is bringin’ the 2025 Oscar-Nominated Animated Short Films to the big screen, and y’all get to see ‘em before the Academy Awards! This 90-minute showcase is packed with whimsical, thought-provoking, and downright stunning short films. So grab some popcorn and make your predictions!
  🎟️Tickets are on sale now—don’t miss it!
  

Outdoors & Such

• Learn to Ride a Bike (Ages 5+) - Chattanooga Outdoors
  Tuesday, March 11, 2025 4:00pm-5:30pm @ Philip Grymes Outdoor Chattanooga Center
  Alright, y’all - if you (or your kiddo) have been meanin’ to learn how to ride a bike without wipin’ out in the first five seconds, this is your chance! Join Outdoor Chattanooga’s free 1.5-hour "Learn to Ride a Bike" class - perfect for anyone who’s ready to trade training wheels for some real-deal ridin’.
  🎟️Sign up here for more information

• Tulip Time: Opening Day Celebration
  Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM @ Ooltewah Tulips, 9626 Ooltewah Georgetown Rd, Ooltewah, TN
  The Ooltewah Tulip Festival is back, y’all! Starting March 15, soak in breathtaking tulip fields, chow down on Dutch-inspired treats, and enjoy farm fun for all ages—from cow feedin’ to gem minin’ (and even a paintball gallery!). Don’t forget to snag a t-shirt and snap some pics!

  🎟️Spring has never looked this good

• 🚨WALNUT STREET BRIDGE CLOSIN’ SOON! 🚨
  Alright, folks — if you ain’t took a good long stroll across the Walnut Street Bridge lately, you better get to steppin’! She’s closin’ down for 18 months startin’ Monday, March 17, so this is yer last call to soak in that river breeze, snag a Clumpies cone, and snap one more golden-hour pic. The ol’ bridge’ll be back better than ever — but for now, go take that walk, Chattanooga!

Shopping & Sales

• Statemint Chattanooga’s Spring 2025 Sale
  March 12-15 @ Mac Avenue Event Space -1304 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN
  If y’all remember from last issue, we gave ya the heads up - Statemint Chattanooga’s massive seasonal sale is finally here! Now’s the time to snag gently used, stylish finds for a steal — clothes, shoes, and more, all at consignment prices that’ll make your wallet happy. Don’t wait! Deals like these don’t stick around long, so head over while the racks are still full. 🛒✨
  Check out the full schedule on Instagram

Community Spotlight: Grown-Up Dreams, Childhood Roots

When we were kids, we dreamed of all sorts of things - becomin’ pop stars, scientists, bakers, maybe even just livin’ in a tree. And somehow, those dreams led us here, buildin’ businesses, creatin’ art, and changin’ our communities.

For International Women’s Day this past Saturday, we celebrated 19 Chattanooga women who turned their childhood wonder into real-world magic. From Olympic champions to bakers who double as scientists (seriously, y’all, cake is basically chemistry), these women are doin’ the dang thing - and we couldn’t wait to share their stories with you! Take a peek at our post on Instagram for a full look at the awesome ladies we featured in this series.

We love doing fun stuff with our community, so whether you’re just a buckaroo wanting to say hi and talk about what yer passionate about, or a business wanting to make waves (while also giggling in the process), then we’d love to hear from ya! I promise we don’t bite (but we will talk yer ear off if you’ll let us.)

Stuff I saw on the Internet: The Alabama Leprechaun

Well, folks, with St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, I set out to find some Chattanooga leprechaun lore this week. While I came up empty-handed on that front, I found something even better - a true piece of Southern history that deserves to be studied in schools. Let me introduce you to the Mysterious Alabama Leprechaun.

Back in 2006, a news station in Mobile, Alabama, ran a story about something truly shocking: a leprechaun sighting. And not just any leprechaun, this one was in a tree. Residents of the Crichton neighborhood swore they had seen a tiny, magical man hiding in the branches, only appearing at night and disappearing the second a light was shined on him.

Now, in any normal situation, a community might shrug this off and move on. But not Crichton. No, these people were ready. A woman provided an official, highly detailed artist rendering of the leprechaun (a true masterpiece). Another man arrived with what he claimed was a “special leprechaun flute” that had been passed down from his great-grandfather. How did this flute work? No idea. Did it matter? Absolutely not. The point is that he tried, and I respect him.

When the footage hit the internet, it changed history. The YouTube video, uploaded on St. Patrick’s Day 2006, now has over 28 million views. The story was so powerful, so culturally significant, that the National Leprechaun Museum in Dublin, Ireland declared the Crichton sighting a “genuine leprechaun encounter.” That is real. That happened. People in Mobile are still obsessed with this. There is a store that sells giant cardboard cutouts of the leprechaun (which, honestly, I now need). And a few years ago, the same news station (NBC 15) did a whole 15-year anniversary piece on it like it was a major historical event. Because, frankly, it is.

So if you see me wandering around Chattanooga this month staring up at trees, do not be alarmed. I am simply doing my part for science. But until I make a discovery of my own, I think we can all agree that the Alabama leprechaun is absolutely real… and he is still up in that tree. 

Where there’s Good Soil, Dreams Take Root: A Yap with Good Soil Theatre Co.

Alright, y’all. Picture this: A stage with no walls. A performance with no curtain. A cast with no limits. Sounds kinda wild, huh? Well, that’s exactly what Emma Witz and Good Soil Theatre Co. are doin’ - takin’ theatre outta the theatre and bringin’ it straight to the heart of Chattanooga (and beyond).

Now, I don’t know about you, but I spent a good chunk of my childhood puttin’ on elaborate productions in my backyard (which usually involved my cousin Holden, a bedsheet for a cape, and one very patient family dog). But Emma? She took that kinda dream and ran with it - from middle school musicals to full-blown artistic trailblazer. And now she’s out here turnin’ forgotten spaces into dynamic stages, provin’ that if you wanna tell a good story, you don’t need a fancy stage - you just need a place to stand, a few folks to listen, and a whole lotta heart.

We sat down with Emma to talk about how Good Soil Theatre Co. got its start, what it takes to bring Shakespeare to the great outdoors, and why theatre (just like community) ain’t just for kiddos - it’s for all of us.

A Theatre Kid Through & Through

So here’s the deal. Emma’s been doin’ this theatre thing since middle school, and if you asked lil’ Emma what she wanted to be when she grew up, she’d probably say on stage forever and ever, amen. She sang, she danced, she took her final bow and thought, Oh frick yeah. This is it.

Then came high school, then college at Brenau University in Georgia (Clemmie’s neck of the woods!), then a transfer to Lee University, where she got to jump straight into productions and sharpen her storytelling chops. Life was lookin’ pretty dang theatrical.

Then? Bing Bop Boom Boom Bop Bam. 2020 hit.

“Graduating in 2020 as a theatre major was... not ideal,” she laughs. “I ended up working in event planning for a while, but it just wasn’t the same. Then one day, I got asked to direct a show, and suddenly I realized: I need this. Theatre’s a part of me.”

Now, most folks at this point would’ve just looked for a local gig. Not Emma. Emma built a whole dang theatre company instead.

How Good Soil Theatre Co. Came to Be

Emma didn’t have a fancy venue. Didn’t have a big budget. Didn’t even have a concrete plan at first. But she had a vision.

“Cleveland doesn’t have a formal performing arts center,” she explains. “But I thought - why should that stop us? We can turn forgotten spaces into dynamic stages.”

And just like that, Good Soil Theatre Co. was born.

• First came their debut production, Daddy Long Legs - staged in a totally unconventional space.

• Then came dance classes, open to folks of all skill levels.

• And now? They’re gearin’ up for their biggest production yet—A Midsummer Night’s Dream… OUTSIDE.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream - But Make it a Little Extra

When Emma says theatre should be for everyone, she means it. And this ain’t gonna be your average Shakespeare snoozefest (sorry Clementine).

“We’re creating a whole experience,” she says. “Think Renaissance Festival vibes - vendors, games, activities for kids. We’re making it immersive, so even folks who don’t know a lick of Shakespeare can still come and have a good time.”

And for the young’uns? They’ve got coloring pages, and interactive fun to keep ‘em engaged. Because let’s be real—Shakespeare didn’t write this stuff just for old dudes in wigs.

Wanna Get Involved? You Don’t Gotta Be a Star

Here’s the thing - when people hear the word theatre, they either think of Broadway or that one time in high school when they tried out for a play and got stuck holdin’ a fake tree. But Emma’s got a different idea.

“There are so many ways to be involved,” she says. “Acting is just one piece of the puzzle. You can help with costumes, set design, lighting, stage management, or just be part of the energy. We want people to feel welcome, no matter their experience level.”

And best of all? Good Soil Theatre Co. pays its artists. Because the arts matter, and folks who dedicate their time and talent to makin’ the magic happen deserve to be compensated for it.

The Biggest Lesson? Just Start.

Emma will be the first to tell you - starting a theatre company is a wild ride. But if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s this:

You don’t have to have everything figured out to start. And that’s the real magic of it all.

Good Soil Theatre Co. is about dreamers gettin’ a chance to dream out loud. It’s about the folks who always wanted to try theatre but never thought they could. It’s about takin’ that leap, grabbin’ the script, and steppin’ onto the stage - whether that’s a park, a storefront, or some wild new spot waitin’ to be transformed!

Sorry, I got a bit too into it there. But if you ask Emma, that’s the kinda storytelling that sticks with ya. Now that’s theatre magic, y’all. ✨

Wanna be part of the story?

Come see A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Good Soil Theatre Co.’s Version)! 

• Location: First Street Square, 220 1st St. NE, Cleveland, TN

• Show Dates & Times:

  • May 30 - 31 @ 7:00 PM

  • June 1, 5, 7, 8 @ 7:00 PM

• Audition or volunteer for a future show - all experience levels welcome! Send an email over to [email protected] with yer information.

• Follow @goodsoiltheatreco on Instagram for updates!

Clementine’s Corner

I love spring, and even though it’s not quite spring yet, I had a vision. I had a beautiful, flower-filled dream where I would plant a garden, watch it bloom, and become the kind of person who wears overalls and a big sun hat unironically. I would grow sunflowers and daisies and zinnias and marigolds and dahlias. Maybe even some okra, because fried okra is delicious and because I believe in aiming high.

So, I scouted locations far and wide and finally picked the perfect spot that I found right in my own front yard. I painted a sign because it is very important to put your name on your work. My teacher taught me that. The next stop? The flower store.

Plot twist: The flower store does not sell seeds. This was my first clue that gardening might be more complicated than I thought. As a professional flower planting expert, I didn't fret. I marched myself over to the gardening store, where I stocked up on seeds, got a little shovel, and left feeling unstoppable. I was ready to make botanical history.

It started off great. I dug my little holes, sprinkled in my little seeds, and felt deeply connected to nature. For a brief, shining moment, I considered whether I had a secret gift for plants. Then two things happened: it got hot, and I got hungry.

That’s about the time I realized gardening isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I watered the seeds like I was supposed to, but nothing was happening. Where were my flowers? Where was the beautiful, magical garden I had envisioned? I am a very patient person (Bubby says this is debatable), but this was just plain ridiculous.

And then came the greatest horror of all - the bee.

A bee tried to sting me before my flowers even grew. How rude! Here I am, just tryin’ to bring beauty into the world, bond with nature, and live my best Secret Garden life, and Mother Nature herself sends in a tiny flying menace to personally attack me??

I took this as a sign. CLEARLY, the universe was just not ready for my garden. Maybe I was not ready for my garden. Either way, I respectfully retired from gardening immediately. But listen, I still put up that sign, ya know? Because it’s my garden, and those seeds are technically still in the ground. Will they grow? Unknown. Will I risk planting anything again? Absolutely not.

Luckily, it’s farmers market season, so I will simply outsource my floral needs to the professionals. And in the meantime… watch your back, Mother Nature. Speaking of flowers (and people who actually know how to grow them) let’s talk farmers markets.

Clementine’s Question of the Week:

Last Issue , I asked for the best places around Chattanooga to relax, and my friend Jenna came through with a fantastic suggestion! She said,

Bubby seconds this choice, which means I absolutely have to check it out.

But this week, I have a new question for you: What is your very favorite local farmers market? Or, if you’re a local maker selling at markets, what do you make and where can we find you?

Bubby and I went to the Chattanooga River Market this weekend, and let me tell you, it was a hoot and a half! So many cool vendors, so much good food, and I considered buying one of everything.

That’s a wrap for this week, folks! If you stumble upon something wild, wonderful, or totally unexpected in Chattanooga, you know who to tell. Until next time… watch out for bees, support your local plant people, and thank the possums.

That’s a Wrap, Y’all!

Whew, what a ride! We’ve talked big dreams, big blooms, and big community magic, and if that don’t scream springtime in Chattanooga, I don’t know what does.

Clem says she’s already got her tulip festival outfit planned, and I reckon I’ll be mourning the Walnut Street Bridge closure with a Clumpies cone in hand. But hey, new beginnings, right?

Til next time, keep dreamin’ big, yappin’ often, and soakin’ up this beautiful city we call home.

— Bubby & Clem

PS: Writin’ a newsletter sure does wear us out like a one-legged chicken in a cornfield, so if you wanna buy us a sweet tea or a Moonpie, we’d be more thankful than a possum at a pie-eatin’ contest!