Indulge in all the Southeast has to Offer!

1. 1 January 2014
Issue 1
Volume 1
IndulgeSE.com
Rise of the
Scenic City;
Chattanooga

2. A Letter From The Creator
By: Kevin Martin

3. CONTENTS
Rise of the Scenic City
– Chattanooga,
Tennessee’s Sterling Comeback!
18
K. Martin
Run For Your Life – Or Someone
Else’s
28
K. Martin
The Scenic City’s Sunday Market
- The Chattanooga Market.
K. Martin
30

4. CONTENTS
I Reserve the Right to Reserve the Right
- Smart Vacationing!
K. Booker
When It’s Beer-Thirty, What’s Your Flavor?
5
8
K. Booker
What to Wear While You’re There – Packing for the Sweet Sunny South.
K. Booker
The Adventures of Anyone! - Take to the sky for a
biplane ride.
K. Martin
Out & About Southern Sports – Southern Fried Athletics.
K. Martin
12
14
27

5. By: Kevo Booker

6. El Jefe – Kevin Martin
Creator – Editor In Chief
Addicted Traveler, Beer Connoisseur,
Florida Gator Faithful
Wanted for General Debauchery
El Consigliore – Chris Hensley
Vice President – Associate Editor
Ol’ School Beach Bum
Owns one of Smokey’s Relatives
Wanted for Miscreant Behavior
El Biggie – Cam Bell
Photographer- Assistant Editor
Thinks That Those Who Can’t
Play or Write Take Pictures
Berserk For Bulldawgs
Wanted for – Much Too Much
To List Here
Feel free to submit stories to Submissions@IndulgeSE.com

8. By Kevo Bo
•
Beer is one of those drinks with so many different varieties
that it’s hard to believe that it’s all categorized as beer! The 21st
century has provided more beer choices than ever before in
history. And, happily, many of those choices are made locally, in
communities all throughout the south. That is a cause for
celebration!
•
Not a big beer drinker? No problem! I was once a Miller Lite
loyalist. If a beer was any stronger than that, I swore it off. My
wife didn’t like beer at all when we met. Ah, blessed time! We
are both beer enthusiasts, of sorts, nowadays. She likes those
hazy wheat beers served with an orange slice.
I, on the other hand, prefer a dark chocolate or coffee stout. However, we’d both agree that
Oktoberfest varieties may be the best beer on the planet! Whatever your tastes, there is almost
assuredly a flavor of beer out there that you can enjoy.

9. What the ale?
get down to it!
– They are sweeter because they contain more malt. They are
darker; hence the amber adjective.
– These are fruity and sweet and have a high alcohol content.
The colors range from light to dark.
– A pale ale that uses more hops to live somewhat up to its name.
– Commonly called IPA, the flavor is more bitter and these
are typically golden or darker.
– Contains a sweeter taste. These are darker beers.
– Different measurements of hops and barley give a wide array of
flavors to pale ales. These are a light golden beer.
– A crisp tasting beer, porters are dark ales brewed from heavy
roasted malt.
– Chocolate, Oatmeal, and coffee are frequent flavors in stouts. These
are dark ales.
– The thirst quencher is highly carbonated and refreshing. Its color is
likely hazy gold or amber.

10. I’ve never chopped wood but I feel like a lager!
color.
– These vary from malty to hoppy. They have a darker
– Increased caramel and chocolate hops make up the
big brother of the bock. A full bodied, dark lager.
– Often chocolate, coffee, or licorice, this German lager is
a dark beer.
– Typically found in seasonal Oktoberfest styled beers. It
is a full bodied beer that is brown.
– Coffee and malt take over the tastes of this
dark lager.
– Simply, the most popular beer in the world. They
are crisp and highly carbonated and the color of straw. The pale
lager is a decent place for a beer amateur to start their journey.

11. •
Check out BendBrewfest.com for even more in depth information about beer and a beer glossary to keep
your vernacular up to date with connoisseurs!
•
Chattanooga, Tennessee houses five beer breweries and recently added a liquor distiller to the list, as well.
•
The Terminal Brewhouse – Located next door to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, this brewer offers five
permanent beer selections with a variety of seasonal beers brewed throughout the year. They have a full
menu and multiple levels of seating.
•
Big River Grille & Brewing Works – Downtown near the aquarium or in the parking lot of the mall, Big
River is the home of six full time beers and seasonal brews throughout the year. A fully functional kitchen
and large dining room, with outdoor seating, make this an interesting stop.
•
Chattanooga Brewing Company – Located in the north shore section of town and home of four ongoing
brews, the location itself is only open to the public at specific times, but fear not, as their beer is available in
several ‘Nooga establishments.
•
Moccasin Bend Brewing Company – Brewing six beers at any given time, this St. Elmo establishment,
despite having particular hours, offers brewery tours to educate novices, and at times, even helps people
brew their own batches of beer.
•
McHale’s Brewhouse – Stationed in Hixson, McHale’s has six brewed beers at any given time. This brew
house has a full menu, as well as taps that pull the flavors for your own growler!
•
And, that’s Chattanooga’s brewers. Also, don’t forget that each August, ‘Nooga hosts the Southern
Brewer’s Festival where most all of these and other beers can be tasted and tested! Happy discoveries!

12. By:
Kevo Booker
•
•
•
•
While on a hike to an ancient Mayan pyramid in Mexico, a guy from the San Francisco asked me why I wasn't
pouring sweat. "It's so hot here, how can you stand this weather?" With a bit of a smug smile, I said, "Man, this
is just summertime in the South!" The fact is that humidity is the prevailing point of the weather in the
southeastern United States. If you're not ready for that, it is going to take you by horrible surprise!
Likewise, even though the South would indicate warm weather, it is not uncommon during winter months to
have at or below freezing weather and occasionally wintry precipitation.
So how do you plan to stay comfortable on a vacation in the South? Not surprisingly, it is much easier to
prepare than it has ever been before. Many websites offer seasonal averages and monthly averages on
temperatures and precipitation in any given town or state. Therefore, if you're going to Miami in May it’s quite
simple to find average highs and lows for the entire time of your stay. A general rule of thumb is that late
spring, early fall, and all of summer will be muggy. As well, late fall, early spring, and all of winter will be chilly.
There are obvious exceptions to these rules. In Miami, Florida for example, the average low temperature
in January is 59.5°F. Yet, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, even the hottest days in July only average in the
mid-80s. And, in some cases those temperatures may or may not be true to your experiences. It comes back to
the question of humidity. The South is known for humid sticky air, and on days that the wind doesn't blow, it can
truly feel like 98° in the shade.
Let's take the easy seasons first. Through the summer months shorts, tank tops, thin fabric, and sandals
or flip-flops are almost always the best choice of a traveler. In the winter months, layered long sleeves, slacks
or blue jeans, and comfortable shoes with toes on them are definitely in order. Layering is an excellent idea

13. By:
Kevo Booker
since daytime and nighttime temperatures can vary tremendously. Depending on your location, a scarf and
gloves might be nice pieces of apparel to add to your outfit. From there it gets a bit tricky. Springtime in the
southern eight states works hard at shrugging off winter’s cold. It is not always successful. Generally, cool
spring mornings give way to warm spring afternoons. There is a lot of wind in the spring and, on
occasion, plenty of rain, as well. The smart traveler will pack optimistically for warmth, but realistically for cool
air. Pack a heavier jacket, light long-sleeved shirts, slacks or jeans, some comfortable T-shirts or polo’s, a pair
of sandals, a pair of shoes (preferably of the waterproof variety), and definitely an umbrella. Weirdly, that wraps
it up because that is exactly the same way you need to pack in the autumn.
•
Remember, these generalized packing tips are not for people going to extreme areas of the South.
Everywhere can be sticky, but some places are downright rough. Is there snow in Maggie Valley, North
Carolina at Christmas? Probably. Are there people in flip-flops on Anna Maria Island in January? Definitely.
You, the traveler, must be prepared for where you're going in the South. But, for those not seeking snowcovered slopes or Fourth of July fireworks in Key West, this is a good idea of how to pack.
•
There are a few other items to keep in mind for packing. Mosquitoes can be legendary in the
South, so make sure to pack your bug spray. The further south you go, the hotter the sun becomes, and the
more anyone will understand the importance of sunscreen. Of course, be sure to bring an umbrella
(sometimes for rain but sometimes for shade). Some consider baby wipes the saving grace from the heat
while others consider hand warmers the saving grace from the cold. And, as a final thought from the
author, don't forget koozies; particularly if you're headed somewhere hot! There is, after all, nothing worse
than warm beer!
•
The South is a big old melting pot, and in the summertime that's exactly what it can feel like. In
truth, the weather adds to the charm and seductiveness of the southern lifestyle. A visit to this beautiful area
of the country can only be enjoyed more if you're comfortable in the clothes you’re wearing. Wishing you
only convenience and safe travel!
-Booker

14. By: Kevin Martin
Anyone who has ever wanted to be Indiana Jones without
the inherent dangers of running from Nazi pursuers and
restless natives can warm up their excitement! There is a way
to get closer to the action than you think and still wear a
safety belt. While I have still never mustered the courage to
hop in the sidecar of Ural and hang on for dear life, I
have, quite recently in fact, jumped in the open cockpit of a
biplane and soared over the skies of Atlanta in the
grandest, purest form of aviation.
Turning in at 3829 Clairmont Road in
Atlanta, Georgia, I could see the past and
then was quickly surrounded by it, as
well. A meandering driveway works its
way through the pines. World War II era
ambulances and military police vehicles
are abandoned along the sides of the small
lane. Only moments after entering the pine
thicket, there is an antique guard shack
with a gate (nonfunctional) to keep the
enemy at bay. Then, you are in the parking
lot of The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant.

15. The restaurant itself is built to feel like the 1940’s. Sandbags form the bunker wall as you enter through the
bombed out European farmhouse to a cozy yet spacious dining area with WWII memorabilia throughout. Then, out
to the patio where the visitor can enjoy all the action of takeoffs and landings at DeKalb Peachtree Airport.
And, only once you’re on that patio, amongst the schmoozing locals, thirties & forties music, fire pits, umbrellas
and tables can you find Biplane Rides Over Atlanta.

16. Once you climb into the open air cockpit of the biplane, which has been modified to fit as many as four
people in the front section, you are issued earplugs and goggles. The pilot gives some final directions to tell
you what to expect on your flight, hops in the back of the aircraft and begins your taxi to the runway. The
rider goes from parked under a tree to take off in just a matter of minutes.
As the plane begins to roll, the rear end of the
tail dragger leaves the ground followed by the
front wheels and slowly you are airborne. The
plane does not fly out at breakneck speed that
leaves you staring at the sky and wondering
where your stomach went. No, it is a gentle
climb out and before you know it, the sights of
the city are below and you’re snapping pictures
of buildings, trees, trains, neighborhoods, golf
courses, and most anything else that you spy
while your pilot delivers you safely through
Atlanta airspace on what is an absolutely
splendid ride!
The wind pushes and prods at your face, you’re really happy
to be wearing goggles and you may even enjoy a little warmth
from the engine if the winds are in a favorable direction. Take
a light jacket, just in case it is a little chilly up in the sky. Relax
and enjoy the adventurous trip back in time above the skyline
of Atlanta.

17. Are you still a little nervous about flying? The seating of the
aircraft is directly above one wing and below the other. This
puts the passenger directly on the center of gravity. That means
when the plane is turning, you won’t feel it very much at all. The
biplane itself is an aircraft that doesn’t fly anywhere near light
speed! The ride is smooth and not extremely fast. It could be
characterized as a slow stroll through the atmosphere compared
to the modern jets flown today. Even to those who are timid to
fly, a biplane ride offers scenic views from a relatively low
altitude at a reasonable speed. Make sure you take your camera!
Taking a biplane ride is a great way to see the city from another angle, experience the old days of
aviation, feel the wind in your hair, and become a little more Indiana Jones like in your own
storytelling! Take flight in a biplane! Make sure you stick your hand up while you’re in the air to feel
the wind speed without the shielding of the aircraft. Take too many pictures; it’s easier to delete than it
is to regret. Go when it’s warm outside. Look for coupons online. Don’t worry about the weather.
Pilots know more than meteorologists (actually, sightseeing pilots just deal with a smaller area of
atmosphere with more definite time frames to forecast) and will let you know if the ride will have to
be postponed! Finally, once you’re back on the ground, chill on the patio of the 57 th and enjoy a cold
beer, glass of wine, or even a fresh meal from the kitchen, watch the air traffic come and go, and talk to
your cronies about your recent adventure in the skies of Atlanta with the wind in your hair and bogies
on your six!

18. of year, The Tennessee Valley offers the visitor a wonderfully one of a
kind experience!
Throughout the year, the City of Chattanooga hosts,
sponsors and supports loads of entertainment
opportunities for locals and visitors. In the last thirty
years, the modus operandi of the city seems to be
maintaining an interactive community of residents and
visitors. The downtown area, in particular, seems
focused on parking cars and walking, biking or
shuttling around. The city offers a free electric shuttle
between the Tennessee Aquarium and Chattanooga
Choo-Choo and in these fifteen blocks, there are an
abundance of ways to spend a day.
By: Kevin Martin
On the western end of the eastern time zone, nestled
between Lookout, Signal, and Raccoon Mountains, and
sidled up to the twisting Tennessee River, Chattanooga
offers a natural splendor that is seldom found elsewhere.
In the changing seasons of spring and autumn, all the colors
of the spectrum surround and engulf the Scenic City. Any time

19. The city intertwines two free weekly outdoor
musical performances, with the Nightfall Series on
Fridays and Riverfront Nights on Saturdays, plus the
Three Sisters Bluegrass Festival, and the nearly
infamous Riverbend Festival (a 9 night affair that
takes over the riverfront each June), as well as, Wine
Over Water, the Southern Brewers Festival, the
Chattanooga Market on Sundays, Head of the Hooch
Rowing Regatta, and so many other things that there
may not be room to list them all!
A city that was once known to have
some of the worst air quality in the
country just three decades ago is
now becoming a front runner as one
of the greenest cities in all the land.
Chattanooga has taken tremendous
strides towards being a clean, ecoconscious city. In 1992 they added
some of the first electric shuttles,
used day in and out, in the country.
The city government has recognized
their own environmentally friendly
businesses.

20. Then, in 2012, Chattanooga became one of the first midsized
southern towns to add a bike share program; allowing anyone to rent a
bicycle from multiple locations around the downtown area and return
it, at their leisure, to any of the rental locations. Ultimately, modern day
Chattanooga has become a Tree City USA City and continues to improve
its air quality each year.
Being a river city comes with many ways to experience the water. The
Chattanooga Ducks offer an amphibious ride through downtown and right
out into the river. The Southern Belle Riverboat takes daily excursions
and offers dinner, sunset, and fall color cruises. L2 Boards offers paddle
boarding, rentals, and lessons. Looking for a little more speed in water
travel? Fret not, as the catamaran River Gorge Explorer smoothly moves
swiftly around Moccasin Bend.

21. For those not so aqua-prone, hop on a bike and head up river on the Tennessee
River Walk, which stretches from the Chickamauga Dam to Ross’ Landing downtown,
or span the river itself on the Walnut Street Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge in
the country. Set up shop for a picnic, riverside, at Coolidge Park. Ride the elevator to
the 3rd Deck Burger Bar, a restaurant/bar that sits over the water and from the
outside appears to be an old paddlewheel boat. Or, make the trip uphill to the Bluff
View Art District and catch a bird’s eye view of the river from the bluff overlooking the
gorge below.
Family vacation? Ready…Set…Go! Directly across Riverfront Parkway from Ross’
Landing sits the glass pyramid topped Tennessee Aquarium. The world’s largest
freshwater aquarium has a deeply impressive saltwater aquarium just next door. Even
the grounds of the aquarium are fun to explore! The IMAX Theater submerses the
viewer into a 3D environment for a movie while The Majestic projects current
blockbusters on their screens. Ice cream choices are abundant! Sing Take Me Out to
the Ballgame up Power Alley to AT&T Park, home of the Dodgers affiliated Chattanooga
Lookouts. A great souvenir from Chattanooga is a Lookouts hat adorned with Looie
the Lookouts famous eyes! The Creative Discovery Museum offers hours of interactive
entertainment for the entire family.

22. The Vaudeville Murder Mystery Dinner
Theater kills nightly with
food, comedy, and fun! On the north side
of the river, located in Coolidge Park is a
carousel. And, all of this is in a four block
radius! A shuttle ride through the town
will end at the Chattanooga ChooChoo, where a gargantuan model train
runs multiple trains and trolleys with
sounds, lights, and the general layout of
the Tennessee Valley. The Station House
Restaurant hosts a staff of crooners who
will entertain throughout the evening in
grand fashion. Stay at the Choo-Choo
overnight in an old, yet updated Pullman
car!
Not in the immediate downtown vicinity but a short drive away are the
staples of tourism in the ‘Nooga. The Incline Railway’s mile long track reaches a
grade of 72.7% as it carries passengers up and down the face of Lookout
Mountain. At the top, spectacular views of the city and the valley await. Point
Park is a 10 minute walk from the top of the Incline and offers a blend of Civil
War history and beautiful views of the river, city, and valley. The Incline makes
four round trips each hour so there will be plenty of opportunities to get back
down the mountain. Ruby Falls, America’s highest underground waterfall, at 145
feet and located 1120 feet beneath the surface is a special attraction.

23. Rock City, atop Lookout Mountain, is a natural, 14 acre garden of
rocks and colorful foliage. Stroll through the Enchanted Garden and find
fat man’s squeeze, lover’s leap, the thousand ton balanced rock, and of
course See Seven States! Then, meander into Fairyland Caverns, where
fairy tales come to life. Raccoon Mountain Caverns offers some of the
prettiest formations of any cave in the south and is just minutes west of
downtown. Sir Gooney’s Family Fun Center is a great place for crazy puttputt, go-carts, batting cages and video games. Lake
Winnepesaukah, locally referred to as Lake Winnie, is Chattanooga’s
Amusement park, and is a great stop for an afternoon of fun. And, in the
summer of 2013, they added the Soak Ya Water Park, the city’s only water
park! And the kicker is that all of these attractions are located within 20

24. Anyone who knows anything knows that there is nothing like the
great outdoors! This golfer’s paradise is the home to over 15 golf courses,
many of which are open to the public; some have even been designed by
famous names in the world of golfing. If flying high is a better speed,
check out Lookout Mountain flight Park and take a tandem hang glide into
Lookout Valley. If an engine is a must, check out Aviation Specialists for
scenic flights over the city. For those intent on action, but not so sure
about soaring to great heights, zip along the Ruby Falls Zip line
experience; a 700 foot long roundtrip zip! They also have a 40 foot rock
climbing wall with varying degrees of difficulty in the climbs. New to
Chattanooga in the fall of 2013 is High Point Climbing and Fitness, home
of the largest indoor rock climbing facility in the U.S.
The Ocoee River just up the road in Cleveland,
Tennessee was home to the summer Olympics in
1996 and offers some of the best rafting in the
entire southeast. On Saturdays in the fall, head
to the south end of the city to Finley Stadium for
college football starring the Chattanooga Mocs of
the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Spend an afternoon in the Chickamauga
National Battlefield, site of the bloodiest battle of
the Civil War and home to several hiking trails.
And, when it comes to hiking, Lookout, Signal
and Aetna Mountains have extensive trail
networks.

25. Or, for a more peaceful afternoon, grab a line and a lure and head to the
shores of Lake Chickamauga, where the Tennessee River was dammed in
the late 1930’s. If the weather is right, rent a canoe and float down the
peaceful Sequatchie River, just 30 minutes north of downtown.
Wanna learn a little culture? The Hunter Museum of Art is waiting!
Or, if it’s time to dive right into Chattanooga, head for the MoonPie
General Store. Chattanooga has been the home of the MoonPie for a
hundred years. Once full on sweet treats, head for the International
Towing and Recovery Museum.
Chattanooga is a town that loves live music.
The music festivals alone speak volumes
about ‘Nooga’s musical connection.
But, there are many places around the city
to check out a live show almost any night of
the week! Track 29 is located at the
Chattanooga Choo-Choo and is responsible
for bringing mostly regional and national
acts to the stage. Rhythm & Brews, JJ’s
Bohemia, The Honest Pint, and Raw are just
a handful of the places entertaining with live
music; and they’re all located downtown!
The Pulse is the local music rag that gives
show times and artists each week.

26. The Tivoli Theater, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium,
and the UTC McKenzie Arena all host larger shows such as Disney
on Ice, Monster Trucks, nationally recognized musicians &
comedians, and Barnum & Bailey circus. Even the Chattanooga
Market features live music each Sunday.
The city of
Chattanooga, Tennessee is a
vibrant, growing, and ecoconscious city that is using
tourism and green companies
to create a
healthy, entertaining, and
fruitful environment that is a
great place to visit or live.
Chattanooga is a must add on
Exploreplaces to visit.
lists of southeast Tennessee, the city of Chattanooga and its
surrounding communities, and everything that the Scenic City has to
offer!

27. The south is home to a couple of first class NCAA conferences. While all NCAA sports offer excitement, football
rules the south. One of them is the Atlantic Coast Conference, known as the ACC, while the most supported is the
Southeastern Conference, known as the SEC. Both conferences are heavily supported by fans and put forth
national champions in a variety of sports throughout the year.
The ACC has several schools in the southeast. These include Clemson Tigers in South Carolina, Duke Blue
Devils, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and North Carolina State Wolf pack and the University of North Carolina Tar
heels in North Carolina, the University of Miami Hurricanes and Florida State University Seminoles in Florida, and
Georgia Institute of Technology Yellow jackets in Georgia.
The SEC may seem like it is given more credence here. The simple truth is that this is Indulge Southeast not
Indulge Atlantic Coast, so there will definitely be more coverage. The schools of the SEC are the Gators of the
University of Florida, the University of Georgia Bulldogs, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn
University Tigers/War Eagle in Alabama, the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the Vanderbilt University
Commodores in Tennessee, Mississippi State University Bulldogs and the University of Mississippi Rebels in the
Magnolia state of Mississippi, the Gamecocks of the University of South Carolina, the University of Kentucky
Wildcats, the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, the University of Missouri Tigers, Texas Agricultural &
Mechanical University Aggies, and Louisiana State University’s Tigers round out the list.
Each issue will feature articles about the happenings in the world of college sports. The goal at Indulge isn’t to
tell you the score after the game but to give you enough of a heads up that you are at the game itself! So, pick
your colors, grab your stadium cushions, and get ready to tailgate!

28. Holiday turkey and dressing got you feeling like you are the one who was stuffed
instead of that bird? Did you binge from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day and now it’s time to
pay the piper? Perhaps this is just the year that you have decided to turn over that proverbial
leaf and burn off the belly fat. Trotting off to the gym for nine combined days of working out
over the twelve month period of your contract may seem smart in January but by June it is
another bill that you’re paying for no reason at all! Here is the cheap, popularly trending way to
lose the excess pounds gained from the holiday season. The 5K.
5K stands for 5 Kilometers and 5 kilometers is the metric systems way of saying 3.1
miles. 3.1 miles sounds like forever to someone who hasn’t run very often. Here’s the good
news; most 5k’s are done either to raise awareness and some money for disease or people
who need help or for the sheer collective fun of having a run! They are abundant and that gives
options for finding a good time to sign up. That means flexibility for nervous novices. The
wonderful reality is that anyone can train for, and participate in a 5K, with relative simplicity and
very little startup costs. Put on running shoes & maybe some clothes, stretch out and limber
up, and start running. Really, even just start walking! Surprisingly, it doesn’t take but a few
months for a person of average build to work up to being able to make a 5K run. A half hour a
day of practicing, building up speed and lowering your total time will lead to the exciting
fulfillment of completing a race.
On race day, expect a few die-hard runners who are just getting in a “jog” before that
marathon they have in a week. Expect a bundle of “average” runners who are there for fun
exercise and have nothing but personal goals as far as time is concerned.

29. Also, expect to see some people who are nowhere near being in shape enough to run a
complete 5K. These people are either avid supporters of the cause or friends of those people.
A few will finish in less than twenty minutes and a majority somewhere near the half hour mark.
Those who choose to walk most or all of it will finish around the forty-five minute timeframe.
Aspirations can range from finishing first to just finishing. Those who just want a finish in
2014 may try to be under twenty-five minutes in 2015. That’s the beauty of the 5K. It can serve
as a practice warm up for a half marathon or even a full one or it can be a few hours of cardiodriven fun with friends who are happy just to have a number still pinned on their shirt when
they show up at the ice cream shop after the event! Regardless, a 5K is a healthier way to
spend a day than many other options. The pressure of the race is subjective and people can
participate without even thinking of it as a race!
The trend lately has been Color 5K’s. Participants end up painted as handfuls of
rainbows of color fill the air in a colorful explosion that covers participants. Other times, the
races are through the mud, over obstacles, or trying to run from zombies. Regardless of your
preferred event, get out there, help a worthy cause of your choice, and burn off those extra
holiday calories!

31. The cool spring afternoons may bring rain but there is always shelter at
the market. The heat of the summertime is fought away by giant ceiling fans
within the pavilion. Even cool fall afternoons can still be enjoyed with a light jacket
or fifteen minutes of standing near the kettle corn tent! Shade outside the pavilion
is not abundant but it is available for those seeking refuge from the goings on
within. Generally speaking, there is no bad weather at market gatherings, which
happen each week, regardless of Mother Nature’s mood swings.
The Chattanooga Chili Cook-Off, Beast Feast BBQ Festival, the Cast Iron
Cook-Off; with themes like these there is a guarantee of good food at the market.
Local chefs and cooks gather to showcase their food or spices or sauces. The
result is a lucky one for visitors to the market who get a chance to find their
favorites in Chattanooga without spending the money for an entire dinner in order
to experiment. There are always a variety of food choices that will suit taste buds
from carnivores to vegetarians. Hot dogs (even veggie
ones), burgers, BBQ, pizza, veggie sandwiches, and tapas are just a few of the
many choices of food to eat on Sundays in Chattanooga. And, of course, there
must be dessert! Grab some freshly made gelato for flavors that will rock your
taste buds and sweeten the end of any meal.
Not all of the food at the Chattanooga Market is prepared and served at
the location. Artisan breads, seasonal fruits and vegetables, honey, and spices
are all available for the consumer to take home to prepare their own fresh meals.
Everything from goat’s cheese to beef jerky to cake is ready for the taking as the
visitor meanders amongst the tents of local purveyors.

32. For those who want to get even closer to and more involved with nature, farmers sell
blueberry bushes, apple trees, and the like for the shopper to take home, plant, nurse, and
harvest all themselves. These are permanent ways for visitors to the market to have the
freshest of the fresh right outside their own backdoor.
Obviously, as any southerner knows, there can’t be a gathering without music! Each
week offers a different sound. There is a big band market, bluegrass market, classic rock
market, and several other options to appease the eardrums of shoppers in the pavilion.
Artists set up their photos,
Dance to a swing beat or eat a barbeque sandwich while listening to an acoustic guitarist
paintings, sculptures, Cash. The
belt out some Johnny and other music is as diverse as the theme each Sunday.
pieces of art for natives and
visitors to peruse and purchase. As
Sabrina says, “[The market] adds
to the tourist experience and gives
everyone a chance to buy local.”
Many of the items are based on, in,
or around Chattanooga. This offers
Official Logo of the Chattanooga Market
the unique perspective of local
artists and gives the visitor a
Beer is an integral part ofthat can at the First Tennessee Pavilion; some weeks, even
different kind of souvenir Sunday’s
more so than others. Themantle or
be taken home, put on a Chattanooga Brewing Company sets up every week to quench
the thirst of marketa lifelong While there is always a selection of flavors each Sunday,
wall, and serve as shoppers.
there is a of a Chattanooga in the autumn that stands out above and beyond the rest for
reminder particular market visit.
suds lovers. It’s Oktoberfest. Any beer connoisseur will want to migrate to the pavilion on

33. true Oktoberfest experience.
AbiNormal’s is one of many vendors who don’t make traditional art or food. These
unique artists bring a different twist to the market. There are several tents devoted to
candles, bookmarks, pot holders, soaps, lotions, and more. Many organic, natural options
are ripe for the picking to enhance the home or bath; even if it’s a hotel room for the week!
Chattanooga’s market is not only a great place to get local food, fruits, art, and
vegetables; it serves a place for people to learn about the local culture of the Chattanooga
area. Visitors to the area can learn a great deal about what Chattanooga is really based
upon. They can gain a sense of what the people of Chattanooga are like, since there are
plenty of chances to interact and mingle. It is plain to see, based on some of the market
themes, what fruit or veggie is in season in the Tennessee Valley. As mentioned, there are
More important than the theme, flavors,
many Sunday markets based on the ripe fruit or vegetable of the moment of the year. Be
scents, these events! the demand the
early to and sounds ofThe market isinevitably caps the supply and the freshest of the fresh
general camaraderie a vendors, hours
is usually gone within of couple of locals, from the start time, and sometimes even quicker
and that!
thanguests gathering and supporting local
growers and artists. It is an opportunity not
only for shoppers to buy the freshest of
everything local, it is an occasion for the
providers to let people become familiar with
their passion; whether it be the cultivating of
local veggies, the hours of creativity poured
into a painting, or a scented candle for

34. The market in Chattanooga is the collective action
of locals to bring everyone a flair for the best of
what Chattanooga and the surrounding areas
produce and have to offer. This not only spurs
collaboration and interaction, it helps support the
local economy of growers and makers and, at least
partially, sustains continued viability. For some
vendors, the Chattanooga Market is responsible
for at least one day of the week’s income.
Exposure, income, and consistency can be
expected by vendors associated with the Sunday
market.
Honestly, the average visitor has a fifty-fifty
shot at caring or not about the particulars of the
market. The truth is simply, shoppers at The
Chattanooga Market arrive seeking the freshest
and most creative of Chattanooga and that’s
exactly what they get! Every Sunday has its own
special and memorable appeal to offer a fresh,
unique perspective on every trip. The Chattanooga
Market is a standout example of a grassroots
movement and the type of place the entire city of

35. For those who just can’t get enough, the
Chattanooga Market holds the Ringgold
Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The schedule fairly mimics that of the
downtown market but is not covered by a
pavilion and takes up the main street in the
quaint, historic downtown of Ringgold,
Georgia. A smaller, scaled down version of
Sunday’s Market, the Ringgold Market offers
goods from local farmers and craftspeople,
as well. Nestled in the northwest corner of
Information about the Chattanooga Market, its schedules, and events is readily available at
Georgia, the Ringgold Market Weekly
www.ChattanoogaMarket.com.is about themes and activities are listed, as well as all
twenty acts, cook-offs, Chattanooga on
musicalminutes south of and fruit or veggie themes. When visiting Chattanooga, it is nearly
Interstate 75 at exit 348.
essential to head downtown on a Sunday morning and dive straight into Chattanooga’s
pulse-The Chattanooga Market.