YPAC Brunch

Looking to network?

Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga is having a brunch on March 6, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bluewater Grill (224 Broad Street).

Come hang out with other young professionals at this informal get together and enjoy some good food and good times.

Valentine’s Day at The Chattanoogan

The Chattanoogan wants you to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a relaxing, fun and  romantic evening. The upscale hotel is offering an overnight package and intimate gourmet dinner for this holiday of love. The Valentine’s Day package includes deluxe overnight accommodations including a romantic dinner for two at the hotel’s Broad Street Grille, breakfast for two, valet parking and unlimited use of the hotel’s health and recreation facilities.

For additional relaxation and indulgence, couples can enjoy the hotel’s spa. Try a facial, massage, or nail services.  Or how about the couple’s retreat?  Other services include a steam room, indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, fitness center and an outdoor patio overlooking the hotel’s courtyard.

This offer is available on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13.  Rates start at $239 per couple. The Valentine’s Day dinner is also available to guests who are not staying at the hotel at $75 per couple.  Reservations are required.  To make reservations, call 423-424-3700.

For more information or reservations, call 423-756-3400 or visit chattanooganhotel.com

Public Art Chattanooga

Public Art Chattanooga (PAC) has announced a new program called “On the Fence.” This new program is funded by the Lyndhurst Foundation and is a public art competition aimed at enhancing the creative, urban side of Main Street.

The competition invites local artists, architects, designers, schools, teams and/or individuals to submit ideas for temporary art installations.  These installations will then be set up along the Main Street corridor.

For more information, visit onthefencedesign.com or call PAC at 423-643-6096

It's Cookie Time Again!!

Girls Scout Cookie sales start across the Region this Friday and continue through March 21st.

Kicking A Bad Habit

You know they say it takes 21 days to form a habit. At least that's what I've heard. And I have spent the last 21 days eating hearty comfort food, splurging on chocolates and throwing diet caution (and sensibility) to the wind. 

Last night, in fact, I ate an entire package of those delicious Dark Chocolate Emerald Nuts. They remind me of chocolate Teddy Grahams that I used to eat when I was a kid. But even better—they are crunchy. One handful turns into two, and before I know it, I am watching a new episode of "Chopped" on the Food Network (a newfound obsession) and literally holding the container over my head, pouring the remaining crunchy pieces and chocolate dust into my mouth. How did that even happen? Two hours and I managed to down 1,500 calories like a professional heavyweight eating champion without flinching.

This morning, I woke up and whatdoyaknow— those almonds seemed to miraculously appear around my midsection. Or at least it feels that way. I heard on the radio that the average American stops doing their New Year's resolutions right about next week. On one hand, that was truly saddening, but on the other hand, I'm a little excited to see all the newbies clear out of my crowded gym. Mostly, I thought about the fact that I haven't really though very long and hard about any of my resolutions. What are they really? Sure, I want to be a better person...but how? I didn't really set any cut and dry goals. How many pounds do I want to lose? How much of my book do I want to write this year? How much money should be saving? I've been avoiding setting these standards like I do looking at my credit card statements—I really just want to push it off until the last minute, because, well, it's just exhausting. 

But this, like any behavior, is habit-forming. Which makes me realize that all those times we avoid or put off creating new and healthy habits because it's just so much effort to start, we are inevitably generating horrible habits of unmotivated behavior and procrastination.

I've had a few fabulously lax months where I have indulged, enjoyed and celebrated anything that crossed my path, and it's time enjoy the process of working hard again. I forgive myself for getting off track—in fact, I've had a lighthearted laugh about it. And so should you!

And today, I've decided to be clear, be definitive and actually take some accountability for my desire to be resolute. Changes will happen one day at a time. It will get easier. 

So...20 days more of this? That doesn't seem so bad. Check back and I'll let you know what sticks.

—Tova Gelfond

Fill in below if you need a little guidance. 

2010 Resolutions/Goals

Emotional Goals

Spiritual Goals

Physical Goals

Mental Goals

Career Goals

Financial Goals

Ring in the New Decade at the Chattanoogan

Celebrate the New Year with The Chattanoogan for a night you’ll never forget!  This fun night will be full of fine dining and festivities.

The hotel’s Broad Street Grille is preparing the most amazing dinner you’ll ever have!  With delicious items such as an Amuse Bouche of Chilled Butter Poached Lobster Tail with Dill Crème Fraiche and Sturgeon Roe, your taste buds will die and go to heaven before even getting to the entrée, let alone the dessert! 

The Chattanoogan’s New Year’s Eve dinner is $125 per couple, and is served from 6-10p.m.  This also allows access to the New Year’s Eve celebration in The Foundry where there will be live entertainment, dancing and of course a champagne toast as the bells toll at midnight.

For The Foundry celebration alone, tickets cost $15 per person.

For more information or to make reservations, call (423) 424-3700.

 

For those of you who would like to make the most of this celebration, The Chattanoogan is offering great overnight accommodations.  The New Year’s Eve package includes the gourmet New Year’s Eve dinner for two, the celebration in The Foundry and a continental breakfast for two on New Year’s Day for only $254 per couple.

For more information or to make reservations, call (423) 756-3400 or (877) 756-1684, or visit chattanooganhotel.com.

Attention: Air Quality Crime Scene!

Green|Spaces Chattanooga was declared a crime scene this morning by local authorities!  The building has been wrapped in caution tape and surrounded by lit siren lights, bringing attention to the very serious matter—the death and illness of thousand of Americans caused by polluted air.

Many Americans don’t realize how some of the simple household objects can affect our health in negative ways.  As Americans, we spend an average of 90 percent of our time indoors, and with contaminated indoor air, we are at risk to respiratory disorders, heart attacks, strokes, premature births and asthma.  According to The American College of Allergies, half of all illnesses are caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.  The US Environmental Protection Agency says that indoor air pollution levels can be up to 100 times higher than outdoor pollution. 

On average, American homes contain more than 50 synthetic chemical products.  Some of the harmful products could even be paints and furniture containing volatile organic compounds.   Green|Spaces co-director Anj McClain says, “The crazy thing about air pollution, whether indoor or outdoor, is that it is all preventable.”  Green|Spaces would like to remind people “that choices that seem convenient in the moment can create big impacts, and that there are options for better choices.”  So take the first step in cleaning your —and our—air!

To learn more, go to GoodNewsFromGreenspaces.blogspot.com where there is live web feed reporting from the crime scene, or visit 63 East Main Street and see the scene for yourself.

-Dana Zakshevsky