Thankful For 'Nooga

Posted by: Victoria Tropiano

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about how grateful I am for the city that I now call my home. 2014 has been a huge transition year for me. I moved to a city that I didn’t expect to fall in love with so quickly, aka Chattanooga. When I was in college, my university was only 45 minutes away, so I thought I knew a lot about the “Gig City.” However, upon moving here and actually diving into the rich Chattanooga culture, I realized the city had so much to discover. Living in Chattanooga for nearly a year, I’ve had quite an amazing experience. That being said, I thought it would be appropriate to give thanks to my lovely home of Chattanooga.

Here are 5 things in Chattanooga that I'm thankful for:

1. The Drunk Pig Pizza at Community Pie

Rachel, Randi and I fell in love this summer with the Drunk Pig pizza from Community Pie. We decided to go out on a whim and order a large pizza pie without ever trying it. (Best decision we've ever made.) The homemade vodka sauce, Community Pie ricotta, homemade fennel sausage, fresh mozzarella, parmesan cheese and crushed pepper had us devouring the entire large pizza within minutes. It’s without a doubt our guilty food pleasure that we are most thankful for. When you venture over to Community Pie, I highly suggest trying the Drunk Pig! You’ll thank me later.

2. Never Love a Wild Thing at St. John’s Meeting Place

Meeting Place has a phenomenal happy hour and a trendy lounge that I love visiting. My absolute favorite drink there is “Never Love a Wild Thing.” Fitting for the season, this drink has just the right amount of spice with Chattanooga Whiskey reserve, Richland rum, pumpkin spice syrup, and foggy ridge cider. Every time I order it with a group, they always say mine tastes the best! This crowd favorite has left me being nothing but thankful each time I go.

3. Tennessee Aquarium water steps

I’m very proud of how much Chattanooga appreciates art and the outdoors. Every time someone visits from out of town, I always love show them my favorite spot in the city: the Tennessee Aquarium water steps. Especially during the summer months, everyone is out and able to enjoy this interactive piece of art. It’s not only fun for me to dip my toes in and splash around, but it makes me happy to watch the families and children make memories and enjoy it as well.

4. River City Apparel

Located right around the corner from my house, I’m thankful for being able to spend Saturdays looking at River City Apparel’s assortment of cute, colorful, affordable, and trendy clothes. I can safely say I’ve never walked inside and found something I didn’t like. This black and white delicate Aztec print is one of my staple dresses that I’ve bought from the boutique. I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve worn it!

5. Chattanooga Riverwalk

Whenever I need to clear my mind or want to go for a walk without a large crowd, I can always count on the Riverwalk. The concrete trail that leads to some of Chattanooga’s most gorgeous views always leaves me being more thankful for the city. Whether you like to jog, walk, or bike, it's the ideal spot for all outdoor enthusiasts. Not to mention, the Riverwalk provides some great locations for a picnic!

These are only a few out of many things that I'm thankful for in my lovely city. What about Chattanooga are you most thankful for?

#lifestyle #charismachatt #chattanooga #nooga