After staying in for snow days at the beginning of the week, it's time to get out this weekend. BrickUniverse, a Lego fan event, is taking place at the Chattanooga Convention Center, and the Chattanooga Public Library is hosting a Dolly Parton-themed celebration for the singer-songwriter's birthday. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Martin Luther King Jr. Day will feature a conversation with the daughters of civil rights activists King and Malcolm X.
Please note, weather may affect operating hours for businesses and events; check online before attending. Otherwise, here's this weekend's chronology.
ARTS
— Photographic Society of Chattanooga continues its holiday show at the Gallery at Blackwell, 71 Eastgate Loop. Society members will have their work displayed, and prints will be available for purchase. Gallery hours are 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The show will run through Feb. 1. Learn more at chattanoogaphoto.org.
— Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road, continues its exhibition, "Vessel," featuring the works of 25 local and national artists. The exhibition showcases a variety of vessels, including ships, buildings, vases, the human body and more. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The exhibition will run through Feb. 23. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com.
— North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive, Suite 102, Hixson, continues its exhibition, "Fine Art of the West," featuring the works of artist David Fishman that depict "the energy and emotion of the timeless American West." Civic center hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday. The exhibition will run through April 1. Learn more by contacting the civic center at 423-870-8924.
— In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave., continues its January exhibition, "Blank Canvas: Make Your Mark!" The exhibition is an interactive experience, featuring a large canvas and various art supplies for visitors to express themselves. Throughout the month, as more people contribute, the collaborative work will continue to grow. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The exhibition will run through Jan. 31. Learn more at intowngallery.com.
— Association for Visual Arts, 30 Frazier Ave., continues its exhibition, "Outside/Inside: Paintings, Drawings and Multimedia Works." The exhibition features the works of artists Tom Farnam and Judith Mogul. Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, noon-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The exhibition will run through Feb. 23. Learn more at avarts.org.
— Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View, will host a Vision and Verse session from 6-7 p.m. Thursday. The session will feature neo-soul singer Zowie Boyd accompanied by Mia Treadwell and Tom Matthews, and poet Erika Roberts will respond to the museum's contemporary collection in a call and response with audience participation. This is a free and public event. Learn more at huntermuseum.org.
— ClearStory Arts, 1673 S. Holtzclaw Ave., will host an opening reception for its Fiber Arts Showcase from 6-8 p.m. Friday. The exhibition features more than 25 local artists working with a variety of textiles, including fabric, yarn and wool. Gallery hours are by appointment Tuesday-Friday. The exhibition will run through Feb. 10. Learn more at clearstoryarts.com.
— Institute of Contemporary Art will host an opening conversation and reception for its exhibition, "The Dutch House," featuring works by artist Becky Suss inspired by Pulitzer Prize finalist Ann Patchett's 2019 novel of the same name, on Saturday. The conversation, featuring Suss and Patchett, will be from 2-3 p.m. in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Benwood Auditorium inside the Engineering, Math and Computer Science Building, 735 Vine St. The reception will follow until 5 p.m. in UTC's Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday. The exhibition will run through March 16. Learn more at icachatt.org.
MUSIC
— Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St., will have several shows through the weekend. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, the ballroom will host Wubs-a-Month, an electronic dance party, featuring some of Chattanooga's best electronic artists and producers and an elevated visual experience with the DeBussy Bus; tickets cost $10 at the door. At 8 p.m. Friday, Lew Card with Roger Alan Wade will perform; tickets cost $15 in advance or $18 the day of show. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Jordan Rainer and Bias will perform; tickets will cost $20 in advance or $25 the day of show. Learn more at barrelhouseballroom.com.
— Chattanooga Symphony and Opera will have two performances through the weekend. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave., conductor Kalena Bovell will lead the symphony in a performance of compositions by Leonard Bernstein, Zhou Tian and Antonín Dvořák; tickets cost $15-$90. At 3 p.m. Sunday at Rise Creative Community Hub, 2901 Taylor St., the symphony will present a family concert, featuring an opening mini-concert and a storybook performance, narrated in English and Spanish, set to the music of composer Gustav Holst with life-sized puppetry performances; doors open at 2 p.m. with an instrument petting zoo and crafts; this concert is free. Learn more at chattanoogasymphony.org.
— Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer will be at 8:45 p.m. Friday at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 N. Moore Road. The concert will feature a string quartet performance of film composer Hans Zimmer's works, including select pieces from the films "Inception," "The Lion King," "Interstellar" and "Dune." The concert will be illuminated by thousands of candles, providing a unique ambiance for a performance setting. Tickets cost $36-$70. Learn more at feverup.com.
— American Spiritual Ensemble, hosted by Southern Adventist University, will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, 4829 College Drive E. The performance combines vocal music with texts from Eileen Guenther's book, "In Their Own Words: Slave Life and the Power of Spirituals." The performance will offer an overview of the many subjects found in spirituals with the music and spoken words shining a light on the past and offering hope for the present. Learn more at southern.edu/southernevents.
— MacDowell and Chattanooga music clubs will celebrate the new year with a free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 N. Moore Road. The concert will feature members and guests from both clubs. There will be a reception honoring the performers following the concert. Learn more at chattanoogamusicclub.org.
— Chattanooga Bach Choir continues its 2023-24 season with a concert at 5 p.m. Sunday at Christ Church Episcopal, 663 Douglas St. The concert will feature a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata, "Lord, Do With Me as You Will." The choir will also perform other music, including an organ prelude to open the concert. Admission costs $20; students get in free with ID. Learn more at chattanoogabachchoir.org.
— Chattanooga Girls Choir will host an open house from 5:30-6 p.m. Monday at Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road. Girls in grades 2-11 are invited to attend the open house with their parents to visit each choir, watch their rehearsals, learn about the girls choir and ask questions. Learn more at chattanoogagirlschoir.org.
— String Theory continues its 15th season with a performance by the Goldmund Quartet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View. At 5 p.m., the pre-concert bar opens; at 6 p.m., there will be an artist interview with Gloria Chien; at 6:30 p.m., the concert begins, featuring performances of works by Alexander Borodin and Ludwig Van Beethoven. Tickets cost $10-$45. Learn more at stringtheorymusic.org.
OUT & ABOUT
— Ice on the Landing continues with hours from 2-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 2-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. Tickets cost $12-$14 for adults, $10-$12 for children. Admission includes skates. Ice on the Landing will be open through Jan. 28. Learn more at iceonthelanding.com.
— Photographic Society of Chattanooga will host a meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive. At 6 p.m., Maury Griffith will present a boot camp focused on spaces. At 7 p.m., Donna Bourdon will present on wildlife photography. Bourdon is a former health care executive who left corporate life to pursue a career in wildlife photography. Learn more at chattanoogaphoto.org.
— Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, 201 Chestnut St., will have screenings of "Queen: Rock Montreal" at 6:15 p.m. Thursday and 6 and 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday. The film, digitally remastered for IMAX, follows the rock band Queen as they perform some of their greatest hits at a live concert in 1981; the film is rated G. Tickets cost $13 for aquarium members and $15 for general admission. Learn more at tnaqua.org/imax.
— Chattanooga Public Library and Signal Centers will host a Dolly Parton-themed celebration for the singer-songwriter's birthday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday at various library locations. The celebration includes a reading contest, free books from Parton's Imagination Library program, crafts, storytime, karaoke, movie screenings and more. While most activities are for all ages, adults can enjoy Parton's films, including "Steel Magnolias" (rated PG) and "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (rated R), as well as Parton-themed trivia in the auditorium at the downtown library, 1001 Broad St. For a full itinerary of activities, visit chattlibrary.org.
— UTC Martin Luther King Jr. Day will feature a discussion and Q&A with Bernice King, minister, attorney and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., and Ilyasah Shabazz, author, educator, producer and daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X, at 12:15 p.m. Friday at the Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave. UTC's Vice Chancellor for Engagement Stacy Lightfoot and Student Government Association President Chamyra Teasley will serve as moderators. All attendees are required to RSVP for the event. For more information, including links for registration, visit the Office of Muticultural Affairs page at utc.edu.
— Chattanooga Audubon Society will host a brickmaking class with Booker T. Washington State Park at 10 a.m. Saturday at Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Road. Attendees will learn the history of brickmaking, how bricks are made and make their own. Attendees will mold and decorate their bricks and will be able to take them home at a later date. Cost is $10 per member and $15 per nonmember. Learn more at chattanoogaaudubon.org.
— POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 11-12 due to weather: BrickUniverse, a Lego fan event for all ages, will be from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. The event will feature professional artists, creations and exhibits, a Lego brick market and more. Attendees will be able to engage in interactive building challenges and collaborative projects in several creative building zones at the event. Tickets cost $15 online (not including fees) or $18 at the door. Learn more at brickuniverseusa.com.
— Jewish Documentary Film Series, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, continues its four-week run Sunday. The films will screen virtually from noon Sunday-noon Friday each week and will screen in-person at 3 p.m. Sunday each week at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road. This Sunday, "Spinoza, Six Reasons for the Excommunication of the Philosopher," about the Dutch Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza, will begin screening. The in-person screening includes free popcorn and a drink. Tickets cost $12. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com.
— Signal Mountain Police Department will host a blood drive with Blood Assurance from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday at 1111 Ridgeway Ave., Signal Mountain. The Bloodmobile will be at Town Hall in the parking lot behind the gym. Donors are advised to eat a good meal, drink additional water and avoid energy drinks prior to their donation. Learn more at bloodassurance.org/signalmtn.
THEATER
— "Come From Away," a musical about the 7,000 travelers stranded in a small town in Newfoundland following the grounding of flights on 9/11, will have touring performances at 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. Tickets cost $49-$97. Learn more at tivolichattanooga.com.
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/cnevents.
Contact Sam Still at sstill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6579.