Jason Thoms hopped in his 1990 Mazda Miata at the first of this month and drove 2,000 miles round-trip from New York to Cleveland, Tenn., to sing just two performances with the new Tennessee Chamber Chorus.

22 Gourmet Guys Competition, First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd., 4-7 p.m., $15.

* The 1963 class of the former Booker T. Washington High School will meet today at 2 p.m. at Mission Ridge Baptist Church, 3778 Wilcox Blvd. For more information, call the Rev. Etta Griffin-Garth, 475-6368.

* Book signing: Lifeway Christian Bookstore, 2200 Hamilton Place Blvd., 1-4 p.m., Rita Carr signs "My Journey Home: Jesus Christ the Rescuer of Wounded Emotions." 423-893-3290.

Frank C. Nolan of Cleveland, Tenn., has been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. He is the 106th Scout to earn Eagle rank from Troop 10, the oldest troop in the Ocoee District.

For the fourth consecutive year, a student from Girls Preparatory School has been elected to one of the two highest offices at American Legion Auxiliary Volunteer Girls State.

If you thought you knew Hans Christian Andersen's story of "The Princess and the Pea," wait until you see "Once Upon a Mattress."

15 Pancake Breakfast, Applebee's, 2219 Battlefield Parkway, 8-10 a.m., $5, benefits 100 Black Men's support of scholarships and leadership development programs at Ridgeland High School. eoglesbyjr@bellsouth.net

* The 15th annual reunion for all Navy men and women who served at U.S. Naval Training Center Bainbridge between 1942-1976 will be held Sept. 25-29 in Chattanooga. For more information, call 423-326-3654.

* Craft fair: Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., free admission.

This time last year, Florida Georgia Line were the new guys opening the Country Throwdown tour, warming up the crowds for Gary Allan, Rodney Atkins and several others.

It's no coincidence that two of country music's hottest acts are opening the 2013 Riverbend Festival in back-to-back shows.

ArtsBuild President Dan Bowers will serve as a presenter at the Americans for the Arts annual convention on June 16 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Chattanoogans will shave their noggins Sunday, June 9, to raise money for pediatric cancer patients at the annual Chattanoggins benefit during Chattanooga Market in First Tennessee Pavilion.

Rosemary Wolff has been growing roses for more than 30 years, so she knew something was wrong when red, broom-like sprouts started popping up on her hybrid tea roses.

“Inside & Out” not only describes where metal sculptor Russell Whiting’s new art is mounted at River Gallery, but also the thought process behind his new collection of surrealistic drawings.

4 Yappy Meower, The Blue Plate, 191 Chestnut St., 5:30-7:30 p.m., $20, hosted by Local 191 to benefit McKamey Animal Center. www.mckameyanimal center.org.

Tossing and turning at night? Staring at the bedroom walls instead of drifting off to sleep? The problem might be the color of your bedroom.

• The 15th annual reunion for all Navy men and women who served at U.S. Naval Training Center Bainbridge between 1942-1976 will be held Sept. 25-29. For more information, call 423-326-3654.

During Wesleyan College's Alumnae Weekend, Jody Bethea Riggs of Chattanooga received the Alumnae Association's Distinguished Service to Wesleyan Award.

Put on your dancing shoes before heading downtown to Chattanooga Market this Sunday, June 2.

Four private gardens, one community garden and a teaching garden will open their gates to visitors Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, as part of the 26th annual Spring Garden Tour.

The class of 2013 carries a notable distinction: This is the first all-21st century class to graduate.

From Tammy Hass' property, tucked into the side of Missionary Ridge, she has an unimpeded sightline of Lookout Mountain.

* Howard High School class of 1963 is holding a planning meeting today in preparation for its 50-year reunion. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at the Veterans Club, 2114 Wilder St. For more information, call 693-7867.

* Decoration Day: Cofer Cemetery, Cofer Cemetery Road, Meigs County, Tenn., 1 p.m. business meeting. readerlady@bellsouth.net

The 36th annual Scouts Honor Veterans Service Project will take place Saturday at Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Devin Kersey, Caitlin Tharp and Kelsey Wofford were named Gold winners of Lee University's 2013 Rymer Scholarship awards.

Ringgold, Ga., is throwing its annual street festival, 1890s Day Jamboree, starting Friday night, May 24, and continuing all day Saturday, May 25.

When Brent Bookwalter and the BMC Racing Team compete in the Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships, the race will be one of 275 events they'll ride by the end of October.

Today. AutoCross and Cruise-In, Eastgate Town Center, 5600 Brainerd Road, gates open 10 a.m., free to spectators, $30 entry fee to show or drive car in competition.

In the 1920s, the art deco period emerged as a reflection of the nation's rapid industrialization. The Machine Age was changing America's culture, and art deco's style captured the luxury, elegance and exuberance of the Roaring '20s.

* Dixie Jewels Insulator Club Swap Meet: Dalton Freight Depot, 305 S. Depot St., Dalton, Ga., 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., free. Glass and porcelain insulators available for sale or trade with collectors from seven states; appraisals available for insulators brought to depot. Tours offered of The Crescent City, a Pullman train car being restored. 423-236-9248.

• Howard High School class of 1963 is holding a planning meeting Saturday, May 25, in preparation for its 50-year reunion. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at the Veterans Club, 2114 Wilder St. For more information, call 693-7867.

Mei Li Margaret Zuber will process through a high-school rite of passage on Saturday: Put on her cap and gown, line up with the 320 seniors in her class and receive her diploma from Soddy-Daisy High School.

Triplets Jonathan, Jeffrey and Jeremy Bell became Eagle Scouts during a Court of Honor held at Brainerd United Methodist church.

Of all the artists to cross the Jukebox Junction Stage at Lake Winnepesaukah each summer, two have proven to be the crowd's favorites: Colt Ford and Confederate Railroad, according to Talley Green, Lake Winnie spokeswoman.

Don't be surprised if a guy drops to one knee and proposes to his date while Kip Moore's onstage at Track 29 on Saturday night, May 18.

At first glance, the corner of Watkins and East Main streets seems to be just another abandoned lot — stacks of discarded tires, concrete blocks, glass bottles sticking out at all angles, piles of dirt, wood chips strewn everywhere.

* Fish Fry Fundraiser: Marcella Center for the Arts and Education, 117 Washington Road, Sweetwater, Tenn., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., $5 for fish sandwich with sides, 75 cents dessert, benefits programs of Marcella Center. 423-337-0075.

* Howard High School class of 1963 is holding planning meetings today and on Saturday, May 25, in preparation for its 50-year reunion.

Lauren Alaina's performance of her new single, "Barefoot and Buckwild" on Thursday night's episode of "American Idol" helped boost the song into iTunes' country Top 20 overnight.

Rena Malone won Best in Show in the first Scenic City Paint Out for her 8- by 10-inch oil, "Gorge Ess."

Tiffany Merritt knows the power of social media.

This weekend's two spring festivals — Who-Fest and HubFest — are each marking their seventh anniversaries.

Lauren Alaina returns to the "American Idol" stage in Los Angeles on Thursday, when she'll perform during the Top 3 results show (Fox, 8 p.m.)

Ella York was looking for a constructive way to occupy her son’s summer break when she signed both of them up for art classes in 1996.

Monday: The Art of Dining, St. John's Restaurant, 1278 Market St., 6 p.m. cocktails, 6:30 p.m. dinner, $150 per person, $275 Chef's Table per person, multicourse wine dinner to benefit WTCI. 702-7804.

• Spring For Life Family Festival: Camp Jordan, East Ridge, 3-6 p.m., $50 walk/run registration. Fundraiser for Choices Pregnancy Resource Center includes Walk for Life, 5K run, bike race, family activities, live music. 892-0803.

• Howard High School class of 1963 is holding planning meetings on Saturdays, May 11 and 25, in preparation for its 50-year reunion. The meetings will begin at 5 p.m. at the Veterans Club, 2114 Wilder St. For more information, call 693-7867.