This week in the Arts:

Special Events

The Creative Discovery Museum presents "Go Bananas!" on Saturday, June 27, from 1-3 p.m. where guests are invited to enjoy banana inspired crafts, songs and activities. For more information, visit www.cdmfun.org.

A Night with an Artist Gallery Talk and Sculpture Stroll with artist Andrew Crawford will be held Saturday, June 27, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Bluff View Art District. Participants are also invited to dine at the Back Inn Café at 7:30 p.m. To make a reservation, please call 267-0968. The deadline to RSVP is Thursday, June 25.

The Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies presents "What it Takes: Preparing Hamilton County Kids for Early Grade Success" Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the UTC University Center. For more information or to RSVP, visit http://tinyurl.com/rsvpschoolreadinessforum.

A Native American Concert will be held Saturday at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park in Birchwood, Tn. Featured entertainment includes authentic Native American artists, storytellers, and musicians. For more information, please call 322-9334 or visit http://blytheferryfundraiserconcert.blogspot.com.

The Chattanooga Market continues Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at First Tennessee Pavilion. For more information, visit www.chattanoogamarket.com.

Visual Art & Film

"The Untold Story of the Great Black Jockeys" will be on display at the Chattanooga African American Museum through Friday, July 10. For more information, please call 266-8658 or visit www.caamhistory.org.

The AEC Back Row Film Series continues with the showing of Fuel on Saturday at 6 p.m. at green|spaces. For ticket information, visit www.artsedcouncil.org.

AVA and Baylor School present a three-week summer film institute for students ages 9-14 with the first session to be held Monday - Friday, June 22-26, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Baylor School. For more information or to register, please visit www.baylorschool.org.

The Hunter Museum of American Art presents A Glassy Midsummer's Eve with Stephen Rolfe Powell on Thursday, June 25, beginning at 6 p.m. Visit www.tnaqua.org or call 267-FISH to register.

AVA will host a Pure Data workshop Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. For more information, visit www.avarts.org.

The opening reception for A Modern Twist will be held Friday from 6:30-8 p.m. at River Gallery. For more information, please call 265-5033 ext. 5 or visit www.river-gallery.com.

A Lampworking and Glass Blowing Demonstration with Susan Parry will be held at At the Top Three Sisters of April on Signal Mountain Friday - Saturday, with a reception on Friday at 12 p.m. For more information, please contact Sidonna Bright at 596-0365 or sidonnabright@yahoo.com.

The Art 'til Dark outdoor market will take place Saturday at the Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art. For more information, visit www.arttildark.com.

Shuptrine Fine Art & Framing and Gold Leaf Designs presents an exhibition by artist Stephen Scott Young through August. For more information, please call 266-4453 or visit www.shuptrinefineartgroup.com.

Theatre, Music & Dance

Southern Connections, an original play by local playwright Katie Grosvenor, will be presented Thursday - Saturday, at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. For showtimes or more information, call 267-8534 or visit www.theatrecentre.com.

Ring Round the Moon opens Friday at 8 p.m. and continues through Sunday, July 12, at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. Please call 267-8534 for visit www.theatrecentre.com for ticket information.

The Chattanooga Theatre Centre will hold auditions for Almost, Maine Sunday - Monday, June 28-29, at 7:30 p.m. each evening. For more information, visit www.theatrecentre.com.

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles will be held at the Memorial Auditorium on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.chattanoogaonstage.com or call 642-TIXS.

The Rhythm & Noon Concert Series and the Friday Market continue at Miller Plaza Friday from noon-2 p.m. Call 265-0771 or visit www.downtownchattanooga.org for more information.

The Nightfall Concert Series continues at Miller Plaza Friday with a performance by Carolyn Wonderland at 8 p.m. and The Sterchi Brothers Band at 7 p.m. For more information, call 265-0771 or visit www.downtownchattanooga.org.

The UTC Music Department presents the UTC Master Chorale in concert on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. For more information, call 425-4601 or visit http://utc.edu/music.

12 Angry Jurors opens at the Ripple Theater on Friday at 8 p.m. and continues through Sunday, June 28. Ticket may be purchased by calling 642-TIXS or visiting www.destinyentertainment.org.

The judges' recital for Lee University's high school piano competition will be held on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall on the university's campus. For more information please call 614-8264.

Beppe Gambetta will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Barking Legs Theater. For ticket information, visit www.barkinglegs.org/Music/index.html.

Argentine Tango dance classes continue at the Decosimo Rogers Studio each Wednesday from 8-9:30 p.m. through July 8. Call 266-0733 or email studio@elizabethrogers.net for more information.

The Tennessee Valley Theatre will conduct three concurrent theatrical workshops, Acting for Youth, Acting for Adults and Lighting/Set Design, on Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. For more information, call 365-PLAY.

Writing & Literature

The submission deadline for the 2009 "Lookout Heroes-Here I Come" essay contest is Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at the City of Chattanooga's Education, Arts & Culture office. Please call 425-7826 or visit www.chattanooga.gov/eac for an entry form and complete set of contest rules.

Author Eric Barnes will sign copies of his latest novel "Shimmer" on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Rock Point Books. Call 756-2855 or visit www.rockpointbooks.com for more information.

Rock Point Books presents "Fun Fridays," a fun children's reading hour, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Friday. For more information, please visit www.rockpointbooks.com.

A book signing with Jackie Gingrich Cushman, author of the "5 Principles For a Successful Life" co-written with her father, Newt Gingrich, will take place Friday at 7 p.m. at Rock Point Books. Call 756-2855 or visit www.rockpointbooks.com for more information.

Best-selling Young Adult author Mitali Perkins will appear at the Eastgate Branch of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library on Saturday at 10 a.m., the Northgate Branch at 2 p.m., and the Downtown Branch at 4 p.m. where she will conduct a writing workshop and discuss her novels. For more information, visit www.lib.chattanooga.gov or call 757-5310.

Miss Shirley, author of "Miss Shirley's Southern Cooking," will appear at Rock Point Books on Saturday at 7 p.m. for a tasting and cookbook signing. For more information, please call 756-2855 or visit www.rockpointbooks.com.

Local writer Ray Zimmerman will lead a book discussion on Francine Prose's "Reading Like a Writer" on Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. at Rock Point Books. Call 756-2855 or visit www.rockpointbooks.com for more information.