LookOutdoorNews.com

So I know its not the typical LookOutdoorNews article, but every outdoors person needs some music in their life! And plus, the show is outdoors! So here is a little bit about the Acoustic Nights Series.

The premier of the Acoustic Nights at Coffee Crafters will happen April 9, 2009. The Acoustic Nights series will be kicked off with local singer/songwriter Tarbell Patten. And yes, that is his real name. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and will last till sometime around 9:00 p.m. The artist will perform outside in Coffee Crafters courtyard, so rain will cancel the event until the following week.

This week it looks like we are going to have some great weather, so come by and enjoy some good coffee, good food, and good music! Hope to see you there!

Sample Song by Tarbell Patten - Sycamore Creek

Directions

Chattanooga, TN – Outdoor Chattanooga and Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park will join forces once again to lead a series of free, monthly historical bike tours through Chickamauga Battlefield, beginning this Sat., April 11, at 9:30 a.m.

The public is invited to bring their bicycles and join in the leisurely-paced historical rides, which generally last two hours and cover approximately seven to ten miles of Chickamauga Battlefield. National Park Service interpretive rangers tell stories about the history of the battlefield while Outdoor Chattanooga staff and volunteers provide ride leadership and support.

“The battlefield bike rides were an enormous success for us last year,” says Outdoor Chattanooga Executive Director Philip Grymes. “They offer the public a unique way to view a historically-significant place, as well as a structured way to explore one of our most beautiful public places by bicycle.”

Here are some photos from the Georgia Cup Chattanooga race this last weekend. Photos were taken by Mike Viertel. If you are interested in seeing more of Mike's photos, you can contact him at michaelviertel@gmail.com.

To view the results from the Georgia Cup Chattanooga race, CLICK HERE

The last of the three series TBA Locals Comp is Wednesday, April 1. Although its April Fools Day, this is no joke. Some of the areas best climbers will meet at TBA climbing gym in St.Elmo for a night of sick climbing. There will also be $5 all you can eat pizza, and $5 all you can drink beer. So if your night of climbing is not going the way you want it to, you can always take a seat on the couch and enjoy your pizza and beer!

For more info on the comp, visit TBAgym.com Or you can contact TBA gym by phone at 423-822-6800.

This weekend the Georgia Cup Chattanooga Cycling race is coming to town. I know that having a Georgia Cup race in Chattanooga, TN doesn't make much sense, but hey, Chattanooga is pretty close to Georgia!

Anyway, the race will consist of three events, a time trial Saturday morning in Apison, a criterium in downtown Chattanooga, and a road race in Mountain Cove Farms. Without a doubt, the most interesting of the three races to watch will be the downtown criterium. It's like watching a Nascar race, except that the racers are a lot more fit and the crashes are a lot more painful, believe me! The downtown criterium races will kick off at 2:15 p.m. and the ProAm race will start at 6:30 p.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga’s Outdoor Expo Postponed to Sun. Mar. 29, 12 Noon to 4 p.m. due to Severe Weather

Grand Opening Ceremony to go on as Scheduled Sat., Mar. 28, 11 a.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga’s 3rd annual Outdoor Expo will be postponed due to severe weather until Sun., Mar. 29, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. in Coolidge Park. The event will feature close to 50 exhibitors from a variety of outdoor organizations, gear swappers, and special activities.

The expo is free and open to the public.

Mayor Littlefield’s family walk/bike across the Walnut St. Bridge, which was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Sat., is also cancelled due to severe weather.

The Grand Opening Ceremony for the new Outdoor Chattanooga facility, hosted by Mayor Ron Littlefield, will take place as scheduled on Sat., Mar. 28, 11 a.m. inside the building.

Outdoor Chattanooga to Open New Facility during Outdoor Expo Mar. 28

What: Outdoor Chattanooga’s Outdoor Expo and Grand Opening

When: Saturday, March 28, 2009

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Outdoor Expo (Rain Date: Sun., Mar. 29, 12 to 4 p.m.)
10:30 a.m. Mayor’s Bridge Walk/Bike

11:00 a.m. Grand Opening Ceremony

Where: Coolidge Park, Chattanooga, TN

Outdoor Chattanooga Center, 200 River St., Chattanooga

Who: Outdoor Chattanooga and the City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department

Cost: FREE

Outdoor Chattanooga will host the third annual Outdoor Expo and Gear Swap, and the Grand Opening Celebration of their new facility, at 200 River St., on Sat., Mar. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in north Chattanooga’s Coolidge Park.

The event is free and open to the public.

The EPA has put a hold on 100 pending mountaintop removal mining permits while they take a further look into the impact of mountaintop removal on the environment. This is a huge step in the right direction for keeping our mountains and streams protected and clean. To find out more information from one of the top organizations in environmental protection, visit iLoveMountains.org

Photos taken while on Sam Evans Ride to the White House to protest mountaintop removal. Photo Credit: Matt Richardson

What do you know, another SORBA event! If you are a mountain biker, then you will appreciate all the events SORBA is putting together in Chattanooga! Starting this week, SORBA will host an After Work group ride. The ride will meet at the east overlook at Raccoon Mountain on Thursdays at 6 p.m. Afterwards, many riders will meet downtown for food and beverages. For more info, check out SorbaChattanooga.org.

Volunteers will be preforming routine maintenance on the Raccoon Mountain Trail Network this Saturday, March 21 . We will be addressing trail issues that resulted from the recent freeze-thaw the trail experienced. Meet in the Visitor's Center parking lot, by the SORBA-Chattanooga trailer at 9 am. No experience necessary. All tools provided. We will provide lunch for all volunteers.

Map to Raccoon Mountain Trail parking