Chattanooga, TN

St. Elmo is probably the largest residential area of Chattanooga that has been designated a historical district. Both Fort Wood & Ferger Place share that distinction but each of those is a relatively small place. Not so, St. Elmo. Founded in 1885, St. Elmo was at one time it's very own little city on the way from Chattanooga to Chickamauga. It still retains its small town feel today.

Like pretty much every historical area in Chattanooga, the Elmo has suffered from years of decay and urban blight (gee, I really get tired of writing that about all these neighborhoods) but it's on the rebound. About seven years ago, I looked at a wreck of a four square on Alabama Avenue that had been converted into a four-plex (not uncommon with some of these huge old places). When I told the owner - it was a FSBO - that I wanted to make him an offer, he said that they'd had so much interest that they wanted to hang onto it for a few more years. Original egg & dart mouldings, 10 ft tall pocket doors stored in the basement. Ahh, the stuff of historic home legend. I still wonder what might have been if I'd bought it (bankruptcy?)

But this isn't about me.

See that pretty little church over there to the right? That's Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church, named for one of St. Elmo's founding fathers (mothers?), Thankful Whiteside Johnson. Her husband bequeathed the land for the church with the stipulation that it be named for her. Colonel Abraham Johnson founded St. Elmo on land Thankful had inherited from her family and named it for a novel written by a friend of his wife, Augusta Evans. The author said the view of the new community from Lookout Mountain reminded her of the view of St. Elmo castle in Naples.

Besides its gracious old homes, St Elmo also has a thriving 'downtown' district that includes many local business, some owned by residents of St. Elmo. You'll also find 'America's Most Amazing Mile' here, long time Lookout Mountain landmark and attraction "The Incline Railway."

Think you might want to live in St. Elmo? For the adventurous you might have to reference my previous, buying a wreck post but there are also completely updated and gorgeously finished homes. Click here to check them out.

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It has been my pleasure to post frequently the high ratings Chattanooga receives as a top city on the international scene.

This morning I must now post our high ranking as the least physically fit city in the US, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Come one folks - we are better than this.

We have the Riverwalk, bike trails, numerous gym facilities, even some public facilities. 7 area YMCA's. Each community has a walking track with its youth athletic association.

We are better than this.

Let's go for a walk! Today!

Walking Ghost Tours through downtown Chattanooga or Bluff View Art District Friday, October 9, 2009

$13 adults; $8 children under 12; group rates available http://www.chattanoogaghosttours.com / (423) 821-7125

USA Dance: Ballroom Dance Friday, October 9, 2009

The Choo-Choo Chapter of USA Dance Inc. invites you to join us for a fun night of ballroom dancing on a spacious, 4,700-square-foot floor. Admission includes one-hour group lesson and party. Polka lesson with Jeff Sandy: 7:30-8:30 pm. Party: 8:30-11:00 pm. All ages and dance levels welcome. No experience or partner necessary. Fantastic dance music, refreshments and a special door prize drawing for USA Dance members. Join today! Event cost: members $6, non-members $10, under 21 $5, first time free. www.chattanoogadanceinc.org / 423-499-5738

Rock City Gardens Maize Maze All weekend long

Thursday 9 am–8 pm Friday & Saturday 9 am–10 pm Sunday Noon–8 pm Rock City’s Fall attraction in the valley below Lover’s Leap: a cornfield maze that will intrigue adventurers. Challenge your skills with a visit to the Enchanted Maize Maze, now in its 8th year! Enjoy 10 acres of Fall fun as you weave your way through the twists and turns of this amazing cornfield. Also on site: Rock City’s historic birdhouse barn, tractor pulled hayrides, children’s courtyard playground and millet maze. www.enchantedmaze.com / 706-820-2531

Sleep with the Jellies at the Tennessee Aquarium Friday, October 9, 2009

Sleep in the Deep with your family surrounded by a symphony of mesmerizing jellies. You will explore behind the scenes, get up-close with our critters, see an IMAX movie and encounter otherwise shy animals that come out with the dark. At lights out, bed down in the new Jellies: Living Art gallery in Ocean Journey, while drifting jellyfish pulse around you, all without the sting. Includes overnight, IMAX movie, guided tours, special activities, pizza and continental breakfast. For families with children ages 6 and older accompanied by an adult. Pricing: $50/Member; $60/Non-Member www.tnaqua.org/events.aspx / 423-267-FISH (3474)

I was reading a book on astronomy recently and found it difficult to visualize all the various relative motions of the Earth, Sun, Moon, other planets and stars. When I went outside to try to work the motions out, skywatching became much more than interesting. It has become a new hobby.

Seeing the moons of Jupiter is probably what hooked me. When I first saw the planet, I had only guessed it was a planet because of its brightness and its appearance in the telescope. I had heard that the moons were visible, but did not see them the first night. So I did not think it was Jupiter.

Checking the next night though I saw the 4 visible moons. Wow! Neat!

There they are. Watching them rotate from night to night is just too much.

This is a photograph, off the Internet, of Jupiter and its 4 Galilean moons, not my own picture. But it is exacly what can be seen. The moons change positions each night.

I have found Mars, in Gemini. Identified numerous individual stars. Seen Venus. Mercury and Saturn are in the east sky in the morning. I have seen one of them, not sure yet which. I think Saturn, but will watch for confirmation as it moves daily.

Each night and morning there are new things to see and to observe.

We have had several days of rain and heavy clouds which have limited my viewing, (See Julia Odom's post My buyer's house is flooded) but the clouds seem to be leaving this morning.

So a great night to watch the sky. Can't wait.

It is time to visit the Clarence T Jones Observatory, right here in Chattanooga. A place I have never been.

My favorite radio station is the local NPR affilitate, WUTC. The news, the music, the features just make my day, every day. They play the absolutely best music and with great variety. The news I count on is from WUTC, both local and national.

This month is their semi annual fund raiser and it is being conducted in conjuction with their

25th year celebration.

Public radio has long been a consistent and reliable source for balanced and indepth news coverage. Every program is flat up to date. I always learn something new about the bigger stories, but also about the important stories that are not front page.

With so much concern now about the profitability of for-profit news outlets, especially newspapers, the public stations may offer the best business model.

Funding for news is a real concern, especially in light of the free, easy access to news on the Internet. How will it be paid for in the future? Listener supported stations may give the best solution for coverage and information that is indepth and broad.

Add in the music, local news, features. Public radio provides a big bang for the buck. You can make a contribution or a pledge here.

WUTC - one of the great benefits of living in Chattanooga.