Happy Monday, Charlie Brown Best Friend!

If the last couple weeks have felt heavy, you're not alone. We’ve been sittin’ with a lotta big feelings, big questions, and big ol’ headlines. Sometimes, the only thing to do is… put on a record and dance it out in the kitchen with the dog watchin’ and judgin’.

That’s the spirit we’re bringin’ to this week’s issue. Joy as resistance. Movement as healing. Rebellion through togetherness.

We’ve got a whole lotta goodness on the porch this week — from bluegrass festivals, punk benefit shows and porchlight fundraisers, and one big dance party with Scenic City Burlesque that’s ready to turn the volume up on what matters most: reminding folks they’re not alone.

As always, we’re keepin’ the light shinin; bright for ya. Let’s boogie.

Today's Issue Includes:

• This week’s Front Porch Partner: Trainwell

• Chattanooga's Upcoming Events

• Hand-Picked Community Spotlight: Clementine’s Good News Galore

• Bubby’s Big Invite: A Little Bit of Joy, A Whole Lotta Love

• Clementine’s Corner: The Dog Days of September

• Wrap Up

This week’s anthem comes from our good friend, Kesha! Make sure you crank the volume, and have a listen (and a little dancey dance) while ya read!

This week’s Front Porch Partner: Trainwell

Y’all click, we give. It’s that simple.

The entire month of September, every dollar we earn from ad clicks goes straight to our Fundraiser for the Out of the Darkness Walk Chattanooga. We’re lacing up on October 25, and we’d be over the moon if ya joined or tossed a few coins into the kettle.

Just click this ad from our pals at Trainwell below, and BING-BONG: $1.50 gets tossed into the fundraising pot. That’s one more step toward turning porch lights into lifelines.

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What’s Goin’ On in the Scenic City?

Community

• Clothing Swap with Local Dive Retail & Plant Bar
  September 16 @ 202 Manufactuers Blvd (7–9 PM)
  Bring at least 10 clothing items to swap and refresh your wardrobe for free! Leftover pieces go to local shelters, so you're giving back while leveling up your style.
  👕 Closet Cleanse Me, Captain

• Manchester Park Potluck Picnic
  September 20 @ Rivermont Park (4–7 PM)
  A good old-fashioned community picnic with hot dogs, activities, and playground joy for the kids. Bring a dish and a neighbor.
  🥪 I'll Bring the Deviled Eggs

• There and Craft Again: Hobbit Day Craft Night
  September 21 @ Winder Binder Bookstore (6:30–8:30 PM)
  Celebrate Bilbo’s birthday with a Shire-worthy crafting session. $40 includes supplies and whimsical good vibes.
  🧙‍♂️ Second Dinner Optional, Crafts Required

Music & Entertainment

• The IBMA Bluegrass Festival!
  September 19–20 @ Downtown Chattanooga
  Two days of stacked bluegrass talent, including Sierra Ferrell Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Wood Brothers, and more. Part of the IBMA’s week-long celebration.
  🎻 Pick Me Up, Bluegrass Baby

• Oddtoberfest at OddStory Brewing
  September 20 @ Oddstory Brewing Co.
  A beer-fueled Bavarian bash with steins, contests, costumes, and good cheer. Think mini-Munich, Chattanooga-style.
  🍻 Oompah Me Up, Scotty

• Cassette Skate Shop Benefit Show
  September 21 @ The Boneyard (2 PM)
  All-ages matinee show to raise funds for Pocket Plaza. Arcade games, food truck, and live bands throwing down for a good cause.
  🛹 Punk With Purpose

• Mean Jeen’s Clothing Swap: Girl Dinner Edition
  September 22 @ Mean Jeens (6–10 PM)
  A chaotic combo of fashion, friends, and snacks. Bring clothes to trade and soak in the weird magic of girl dinner.
  🫒 Dress Code: Unpredictable

Outdoors ‘n’ Stuff

• Chattanooga Bike Party
  September 19 @ Location TBD (Wheels down at 7:30 PM)
  Group bike ride with music, lights, and all the funky accessories you can handle. Route and start spot TBD. Follow their Instagram Page for details!
  🚴 Roll Out, Sparkle Up

• Glenwood Block Party
  September 20 @ Glenwood Community Center (12–3 PM)
  This free community bash is packin’ live music, games, vendors, food trucks, and a whole lotta neighborhood love.
  🎉 Bring Your Dancing Shoes & a Lawn Chair

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]!

Hand-Picked Community Spotlight: Clementine’s Good News Galore

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about a lot of things. The news has been full of really heavy and sad stuff lately that everyone seems to disagree about. And it turns out, a lot of grownups aren’t good at disagreeing well.

I didn’t like how I was starting to feel. I realized I was feeling… hopeless.

But Clementine McBride is nothing if not resilient. So, I went on a hunt for some happy things. Because even when the whole world feels like alphabet soup in a blender, there are always things to find joy in. That’s where we find hope!

So, enjoy some good news from around town to start your Monday off right. And remember, even when it feels dark and scary, you deserve to feel joy in the middle of it:

1. Ugly Duck Vintage DIDN’T Close! Nope, they may be closing their old spot, but popped right back up on Frazier Ave in the old Blue Skies space. It’s like, a bajillion times bigger and stuffed with the coolest oldies but goodies.

2. Hoco Pop Up Event at the Downtown Library: This one is really cool because everyone deserves to feel like a prince or princess at the ball. Teens can snag FREE formal wear for homecoming at the Downtown Library’s second floor. You don’t even need a library card!

3. Calliope Got a Major Shout Out: BIG NEWS… Calliope was named one of the New York Times’ top 50 restaurants in the whole entire country. Talk about putting us on the map!

4. The Best of The Best Awards: Chattanoogans like you and me voted and the winners are in! From burgers to nonprofits, the annual Best of the Best Awards celebrated the people and places that make our city shine. Check out the full list of winners here!

5. Chattanooga’s first IBMA World of Bluegrass festival! Chattanooga’s in for a front porch picking party this week as the IBMA World of Bluegrass festival kicks off tomorrow! We’re talking musicians from all over and neighbors two-stepping in the streets right alongside them. If you ask me, this city’s got rhythm in its roots.

Got good news of your own to share? We’d love to hear about it! Just reply to this email and we’ll celebrate with you!

Bubby’s Big Invite: A Little Bit of Joy, A Whole Lotta Love

So I was sittin’ on the couch the other night with Meemaw and Clementine, watchin’ Grease for the umpteenth time. Y’know, the one with all the sangin' and dancin’ and high school drama and leather jackets and… you get the gist. Anyway, somethin’ hit me real hard:

Sometimes, when ya can’t find the right words, you gotta let yer feet do the talkin’.

It also got me thinkin’ of that scene from the first season of The Umbreller Academy. If y’ain’t seen it, I’ll let’cha take a peek at it right here:

And wouldn’t ya know it? That’s exactly what we’re fixin’ to do next Thursday, September 25 from 5pm – 7pm with our new buds at Scenic City Burlesque! We’re throwin’ a lil’ bash we’re simply callin’ the "You Matter!" party.

It's free to attend, but we’re askin’ folks to consider tossin' in a $10 suggested donation toward our team’s fundraiser for the AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk in Chattanooga. Every step, every shimmy, an’ every goofy funky chicken helps provide resources for those who need it most in their dark times.

Bring your dancin’ feet, your tender hearts, and yer fiercest outfits if yer feelin’ it. We’ll have snacks, music, love, and that kinda joy that can’t be silenced.

Because the truth is: Joy is a rebellion. And baby, we’re dancin’ like our lives depend on it. ‘Cause sometimes, when you’re at your lowest and unsure where to move forward, it’s all you can force yerself to do.

So if you’ve been feelin’ heavy lately, or the world’s been too much, just come dance with us and let it fade fer a couple’a hours.

Clementine’s Corner: The Dog Days of September

You guys, I’ve got some amazing news. I GOT A DOG!!! I think that he’s a hound dog, but Bubby says he’s a purebred goober 🙄 We found him while scrounging around for any tossed out toys near Veteran’s park, just vibing with a smile and a need for a bath time. My mom and dad said (after lots of begging) I could keep him!

He’s a really cool dog, and very talented. He caught 9 pepperonis I threw in his mouth. NINE! IN A ROW! I’m excited to take him to all the parks and puppy places around town! Where do pooches go to play around here? Can we do a puppy play date?

We’re also in need of a name for Chattynooga’s first canine intern, and need your help since we can’t decide! Vote for one of the names below, or suggest another if you’re not feeling any of our choices:

Don’t ya worry, we’ll be postin’ photos soon for you to oggle at!

Welp, time to get this show on the road!

Whether you’re catchin’ a local show, swappin’ clothes with a stranger, or just tappin’ your toes under the dinner table tonight, remember this:

Joy counts. Dancing counts. You count.

We’re proud of this little rebellion we’re buildin’ together: one story, a gentle moment, and one community shoutout at a time.

We’ll see ya next Thursday at the You Matter! dance party (save us a spot on the floor!) and back here on the porch next week.

‘Til then, stay kind, stay curious, and keep findin’ your own rhythm.

— Bubby & Clementine