Category: Entertainment

art, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Entertainment, Family, History, outdoors

What Goes Around: The Coolidge Park Carousel

Written by Caroline Colvin

The Coolidge Park Carousel makes rounds with its 52 hand-carved animals daily. Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Caroline Colvin)

Settled in the heart of Chattanooga’s Northshore neighborhood is Coolidge Park’s antique carousel. For $1, those of all ages can ride the carousel, taking in its unique design. 

The carousel’s journey to Coolidge park began in Pennsylvania where it was constructed in 1894. Shortly after, it was transported to New York state. Many years later, following an unclear path of transportation, the carousel pieces were brought to Chattanooga by Bud Ellis to be restored. 

The Coolidge carousel is a Dentzel model, thus it follows much of the vintage designs of the famous German carousel builder, Gustav Dentzel. 

Bud Ellis was the owner of Chattanooga’s Horsin’ Around woodcarving school, which is now owned and operated by Larry Ridge. Ridge carves many animals himself, and also has a team and students that he teaches at the school. 

Continue reading “What Goes Around: The Coolidge Park Carousel” →
art, Chattanooga, community, Entertainment, Hugs, LGBTQ+, Love

Drag Diaries

By Maddie Van Horn

Filmed and edited by Maddie Van Horn.

Editor’s Note: The entertainers featured in this story are referenced by their Drag names instead of their real names for privacy reasons. 

Social media manager by day, Chattanooga’s favorite cocktail by night – Gin Von Tonic expresses her creativity through the art of drag and has gained a new community along the way.

“Performing is my favorite thing. I really love just being on stage. I love being the center of attention on my own terms,” Gin said. 

With 15 years of dance experience, Gin has always appreciated performance art, but it wasn’t until she started going to shows at the Palace Theater five years ago that she discovered her passion for drag.

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Chattanooga, community, Entertainment, Halloween, History, UTC

Ghost Tracks

Written by Sarah Chesek

Filmed by Allie English and Taylor Carmody. Edited by Allie English and Taylor Carmody. Narration by Noah Fernandez.

On an unsettling pursuit for the supernatural, guests of Chattanooga’s Ghost Tours are provided all the necessary ghost hunting equipment for a chilling haunt. Parapsychological Field investigator Alice Stephens educates their visitors on Chattanooga’s rich and eerie history while providing an interactive spiritual experience. 

“I’m kind of a skeptical believer. So I believe in it, obviously [otherwise], I wouldn’t be doing it, but, I’m always like, was that a ghost? Did I actually see that, so I questioned myself too,” stated Stephens.

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Chattanooga, community, Entertainment, Family, Sports

Beyond the Ring

Written by Caroline Colvin

Filmed by Cassandra Castillo, Madison Van Horn, and Cassandra Castillo. Edited by Cassandra Castillo.

When Jaden Newman was seven years old, he discovered a DVD at a flea market that would eventually ignite his passion for professional wrestling. The 1997 match between Rey Misterio and Eddie Guerrero revealed to Newman that his love for wrestling was more than a fandom; it was something he wanted to do forever. 

His grandfather, who was with him when he discovered the flea market DVD, was determined that Newman would follow his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. “I wasn’t into sports, but I loved pro wrestling,” Newman said.

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Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Entertainment, History

Tiny Trains

Written By Mason Edwards

Video By Jules Jackson and Seth Carpenter.

For kids, adults and seniors alike, there’s no substitute for the wonder and delight of winding through a model railroad’s path of track and town. The Tennessee Valley Model Railroaders, inc, hand-painted eight real settlements along their custom-made track, which runs passengers and cargo from the rolling hills of eastern Kentucky to its riverside stop near Lookout Mountain. 

The group’s president, Nick Giordano, personally connected miles of wires and assembled dozens of houses. 

“Well, like most kids, as a little boy I was into model trains,” Giordano joked. “And then you get a little older, and you discover girls and cars and model trains go away.”

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art, Chattanooga, community, Diversity, Entertainment, History, Music, women

Heart of Jazz

Written By Ali Lemmons

Lisa Baker is performing at the Barking Legs Theatre with her jazz band, The Knotty Professors. Wednesday, February 8, 2023. (Photo by Kylee Boone)

Lisa Baker’s guitar is an extension of her own body. From the decorative swirls running along its length to the initial “L” sewn on the strap, it’s a tangible display of her love of jazz. And she’s rarely found without it.

“It kind of goes everywhere with me, period,” she laughed. “Going to the beach, take my guitar.”

Baker, a jazz performer and adjunct professor of music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has had a heart for jazz music ever since she can remember.

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Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Entertainment, Family, teachers, women

Rolling Pages

By Cassandra Castillo

A Little Bookish is a portable library truck that’s promoting the benefits of reading to people around the Chattanooga area. Once an elementary school teacher from Michigan, owner Miranda Atkins, is now making a difference in her own unique way—one page at a time.

Often sitting in the driver seat of her white step van, Miranda Atkins flips through the pages of her latest novel, waiting for a customer to walk onto her teal steps in search of a new read. 

Atkins, the owner of A Little Bookish, thrives on selling books simply out of her love for reading.

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Chattanooga, community, Entertainment, Family

Beyond the Screen: Chattanooga’s Board Game Community

Story By Haley Bayer

Derrick Sheets, owner of Game On Chattanooga, works behind the counter of his store.  Wednesday, April 13, 2022 (Photo by Haley Bayer)
Derrick Sheets describes the love he has for his shop and the community he brings in at Game on Chattanooga.

Game on Chattanooga has been a staple in the gaming community for 9 years but there’s a catch: there isn’t a computer or digital console in sight. 

Owner, Derrick Sheets, a man with a love for board games, opened his own shop in 2013.  “I’ve always liked gaming and I didn’t like working for other people and I wanted to do something where people are happy to see me,” Sheets says. 

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art, Chattanooga, community, Diversity, Entertainment, History, Photography, UTC

First Friday

Written by Mark Drinkard

Once a month, art galleries across Chattanooga collectively open their doors to the public for special gallery showings. The event, coined “First Friday” allows local Chattanoogans and tourists to see new art pieces, mingle with artists, and support their local community.

One gallery spearheading the event in Chattanooga is Area 61. Keeli Crewe has been the curator of Area 61 since its inception in 2009. Crewe is the first face one will see when visiting Area 61, and it is clear from her vibrant smile that she is living her dream. 

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art, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Dance, Diversity, Entertainment, Music

Finding the Fire

Written by Olivia Ross

Founding members of the Ember Benders pose alongside fellow performers. Monday, November 15, 2021. (Photo by Olivia Ross)

People will spend a lifetime searching for that one thing that fuels their passion and lights a fire inside of them. For David Ayers and Farah Miller, founding members of the Ember Benders, fire was just that thing. 

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