We put Cris Angsten, our Interior Decorator, to work on Room 20 and she did not disappoint once again. Room 20 received a few touch-ups including new paint, new bedding and decorations, and new chairs.

Room 20 Before Renovations

Room 20 After Renovations

For a city of its size, Chattanooga has a lot happening in the live music scene.  Our largest music event is the 9-day Riverbend Music Festival which takes place along the riverfront in June and draws as many as 100,000 people on the more popular nights.  Chattanooga also offers weekly events and smaller music venues that shouldn't be missed if you enjoy live music.  Below are some of the most notable live music happening in Chattanooga.

Weekly Music Events (Seasonal)

Nightfall Concert Series is a FREE sumertime concert series that takes place each Friday night in Miller Plaza - just a few blocks from Stonefort Inn (May 11 - Sept 7 in the 2012 season).  Headlining acts begin at 8pm with local opening acts starting at 7pm.  Enjoy great live music, food and an ice cold beer at the corner of Market Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard starting at 7pm and going until 10pm.  View Lineup.

"Riverfront Nights" are FREE Saturday night shows (August - mid-Sept)  that bring an eclectic lineup of electrifying performers to the region's softest and coolest "dance floor", just a step upstream from the public pier on our famous 21st Century Waterfront in downtown Chattanooga.  The event focuses on local people and institutions who promote healthy lifestyles, sustainable development/business practices and, of course, an intense love of outdoor, adrenaline producing recreation...widely considered to be the three legged stool that's given our town a step-up and over our neighboring municipalities around the southeast.  Doors open and beer sales begin at 6:30pm. Local opening bands start around 7pm and headliners kick into high gear promptly at 8pm and play till 10-ish.  View Lineup.

The Chattanooga Market features live music each Sunday at the First Tennessee Pavillion (May - Dec).  This was voted one of "America's Best Public Markets) according to Frommer's.  Browse the local artisans' and farmers' exhibits, and enjoy local food and drink - all the while listening to live music.  The market hours are typicallyy 11a - 4p, with live music playing from 12:30 - 3pm.  View schedule.

Upcoming Music Festivals

Southern Brewers Festival - August 25th, 2pm - midnight, Riverfront downtown Chattanooga - featuring Chuck Leavell, Perpetual Groove and Drive-by Truckers (to name a few...) in addition to beers from over 30 breweries.  More info.

3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival - October 5, 6pm - 10pm - celebrates world class bluegrass in Chattanooga for FREE! This year's Friday lineup includes Dismembered Tennesseans, Blue Highway, Daily & Vincent and close your evening with the mighty sounds of Yonder Mountain String Band, oneof Bluegrass' hottest bands and a first time performance in our area.  More info.

Local Music Venues

Track 29 - located in the Southside, this mid-sized music venue can accomodate up to 2000 people and has hosted the best of our local musicians and nationally-known artists such as Lucinda Williams and The Avett Brothers. View Lineup.

Rythym & Brews is a smaller venue (up to 450 capacity)  that features up & coming bands.  View Lineup.

J.J. Bohemia also features live music on a regular basis.  View Lineup.

Barking Legs Theater - one of our favorites with a capacity of approx. 150 people - is one of the best intimate live music settings for miles.  View Lineup.

Chattanooga Onstage works to bring great music and entertainment to Memorial Auditorium and the Tivoli Theater.  View Lineup.

Chattanooga Symphony and Opera

Chattanooga Symphony and Opera is a combined symphony orchestra and opera company in Chattanooga.  Opening night is September 22nd, and throughout the season the events feature world-class musicians.  They CSO occassionaly has special performances such as July 28th when they play with the Indigo Girls.  Most events are held at the historic Tivoli Theater.    View Schedule.

 

It's been so much fun designing these rooms as we go along. The starting point for Room Twenty-Six was the rug, it has great colors like deep rich red and navy in it, and before too long I came across a fabric with much the same feeling and same colors both to edge the draperies with and to contrast with the new white bedding as a luxe pillow.

Rearranging the room allowed for the two natural focal points - the head of the bed, and those marvelous windows - to work together. The linen draperies catch the light and let the room just glow in the late afternoon sun. The antique chair found new life wearing two fabrics – a woven plaid and a great floral with the same colors in them as the rug.

The finished room captures everything we want for the Inn: timeless, gentlemanly, stately, with a few feminine touches.

- written by Cris Angsten, Interior Decorator

 

Inspiration for Room 24, now officially called "The Colonial Room",  came from some of the key elements of the room such as the fabulous fireplace mantel, the four-poster style bed,  the round, black mirror and pair of pewter candleholders which point to  Colonial Williamsburg. Cris Angsten, our Interior Decorator took these classic elements from that period's design style and aimed to make the room decor more comfortable and approachable.  Cris said "The idea isn’t to feel like you just stepped back in time. It’s the look, but updated and more comfortable."  The classic bedside lamps are an unexpected surprise.  Guests will also notice the richer color of the fireplace mantel.

Facebook & Pinterest

We'll be sharing pictures of more redecorated rooms on Facebook and our new Pinterest page.

- written by Jackie Errico, Chattanoogan

Last weekend, seven of my closest friends from Colorado, Florida, and Maryland met me here in Chattanooga and we all stayed at the Stonefort Inn.  My friends loved the charm and personality of the Inn and the Inn's wonderful staff.  Each room is so unique and comfortable, and the limestone dining room is spectacular.  The highlights at the Inn included the wine & cheese hour, chocolate covered strawberries, and, of course, the fabulous breakfast that is included with the room fees.  

Normally, I take our visitors to some of Chattanooga's big attractions such as the Tennessee Aquarium, Southern Belle and the Hunter Museum of Art.  But this group of ladies preferred more low-key activities.

Here are some of the fun things we did in Chattanooga. 

SHOPPING:

• Warehouse Row is just 2 blocks from the Inn,  Some of the shops my friends really enjoyed included Revival - "uncommon goods" for the home, Shadowbox Paperie and Kayce Hughes.  
• North Shore, on the other side of the river, offers some unique shops, restaurants, the world's longest pedestrian bridge and Coolidge Park.  I brought them by one of my favorite shops - Plum Nelly which features the work of artisans around the country.  We also visited Frankie & Julians, and a few of my Colorado friends purchased mood rings at All Things Groovy for kicks and grins.
• Chattanooga has a large artisan community and we celebrate public visual art throughout various neighborhoods in the city - including the Southside, Riverfront area and the North Shore..  We also enjoyed many of the galleries in the city.

DINING & DRINKS

• Public House Restaurant, one of my favorite locally owned restaurants, is a few blocks from the Inn and was the perfect place to enjoy a gourmet southern style meal on the patio.  The Pimento Cheese Appetizer w/Fried Pickles is "to die for" according to one of my friends.  The Petit Filet Wedge Salad and Picket Farm's Trout Entree seemed to be a big hit with everyone, as well.  The Social (tavern connected to Public House) had live music on Friday's after 8pm, and drink & appetizer specials for happy hour. 
• St. John's Restaurant | The Meeting Place is owned and operated by Daniel LIndley who was recently nominated for the James Beard Southeast: Best Chef award.  The Meeting Place shares the kitchen with St. John's restaurant, but is more casual and affordable.  And, recently redecorated, made a favorable impression on the girls.  The Meeting Place also has a bar upstairs that is a fun place to grab drinks.
• Tony's Pasta Restaurant was also enjoyed by the group, as one of my friends requires a gluten-free menu and Tony's offers gluten-free pasta selections.  We stopped at the Back End Cafe to have a drink before dinner, and Renaissance Commons for a little dessert afterwards. 

ADVENTURE

Many of my friends are on the adventurous side, so I had a few outdoorsy things planned for out trip.

• Hiking: Chattanooga is surrounded by some great hiking trails within 20 minutes of the downtown area.  We took the trail from the bottom of Lookout Mountain to Sunset Point with great views of Lookout Valley.  It was about 1.8 miles to the top of the Lookout Mountain and pretty vertical.  It was a great workout for us all.
• Boating:  My husband agreed to rent a boat from Lake Shore Marina and captain the double decker pontoon boat for a few hours.  This was a definate highlight.  It was a realxing, more intimate way to introduce people to the Tennessee River, and we made sure the boat was well stocked with refreshments and snacks.

 Chattanooga is surrounded by an outdoor playground of hiking, water fun and adventures in the air. Check out some of these activities:

LAND ADVENTURES:

Bike Rentals:  Chattanooga is a bicycling town with miles of paths along the river and nearby mountain biking trails.  Trek Chattanooga offers 24 hour bike rentals and StoneFort Inn can help you reserve your rental in advance (requires 3 days advance notice).  http://trekstorechattanooga.com/

Hiking:  There are numerous hiking trails in and around the Chattanooga area.  One of our favorite trails in the warm weather is the North Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness Trail.  The bottom part of this trail meanders along a creek with swimming holes to cool off.    There are some great hiking trails on Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain and through the Chickamauga Battlefield.  Check out these links for more details.  http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/78.htm

Caving & Hiking Tours: Looking for something to do that’s a little out of the ordinary? Then look no further than the Georgia Girl Guides (G3) Wild Cave Tour  of Sitton’s Cave in Cloudland Canyon State Park near Chattanooga.  http://www.georgiagirlguides.com/

Hang Gliding:  The mountains surrounding the Chattanooga area are ideal for hang gliding. The breathtaking views of the lush ridges and valleys and the gentle weather conditions of the Southeast make fantastic conditions for beginners and experts. Tandem hang gliding allows beginners to fly to high altitude with a certified instructor by their side. Tandem flights last about 15 minues and soar at 2,000 feet. http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/96.htm  

WATER ADVENTURES

White Water Rafting:  Nothing compares to the thrill of a white water rafting trip. The Ocoee River is just 45 minutes from the Chattanooga area http://www.ocoeeriverwhitewaterrafting.com/

Stand Up Paddleboarding:  Chattanooga's newest downtown water activity.  It is easy to learn and a lot of fun.  Within 1 hour, you can become very comfortable on your board, enjoy the water and get a fantastic workout!    http://l2boards.com/

Kayaking: Beginners and experienced paddlers can enjoy this two hour trip, which takes participants around waterfront features like Maclellan Island wildlife sanctuary, the Hunter Museum bluffs, Ross' Landing and the Passage.  http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/2989.htm

Fishing:  Did you know that Tennessee has more species of freshwater fish than anywhere in the North American Continent? Chattanooga offers many fishing opportunities in nearby lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers. http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/88.htm

 Enjoy!

Over the past few months, Cris Angsten, Interior Decorator, has been busy assisting the StoneFort Inn with redecorating the Inn.  Here are some of her thoughts:

"The general idea for the redecoration of the StoneFort Inn is to make it a little more balanced between feminine and masculine. It's naturally a masculine building, with its Civil War history, exposed brick and solid timbers. We sought to make it a little more timeless than historic – for example, using classic furnishings and prints, but updating them so they offer that wonderful gathered-over-time feel."

Room 28

   

Room 28 is a bit Gentleman meets Elle Décor – Old World richness, texture and a touch of glamour. The trim on the curtains is a rich, deep green velvet Greek Key, too luxurious not to touch! Green is found in doses throughout the space.

Textures are in all the textiles in the room – from velvet pillows to the almost carpetbagger feeling fabric on the channelback chair. The large gold-framed mirror reflects more light into the room and adds a little drama, and contrast is brought in with wonderful antique and vintage wood furniture.

Chattanooga’s Got Pedicabs!

Getting around downtown Chattanooga has always been easy and affordable.  And now, Chattanooga’s got a new way to tour about the city - Buzz Pedicabs.

Buzz Pedicabs provides green transportation all over the downtown area for tourists and locals alike (from the Tennessee River to Main Street and from AT&T field to the University). Buzz Pedicabs can pick you up here at The StoneFort Inn and take you to the downtown area attractions.  Along the way, you’ll share a unique experience touring parts of the city that otherwise you might miss. The drivers will also give you suggestions and information about area restaurants, shops, attractions, and other things not to miss while visting our scenic city.

The Buzz Pedicab rides are free, but they kindly request that you tip the driver. All drivers are licensed by the city, trained as professional pedicab drivers, and are independent contractors. Because of this, Buzz’s hours are random but mostly drivers take pedicabs out Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Prior arrangements for rides can also be made.  Next time you are in Downtown Chattanooga - Catch a Buzz.  657-777-BUZZ (2899).  http://buzzchattanooga.com

Other means of getting around downtown
Chattanooga include:

•  Free Electric Shuttle buses run about every 5 minutes from the Southside to the Tennessee Aquarium with stops at every block, Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.; Saturdays 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.; Sundays 9:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
• Taxis are easy to come by in downtown Chattanooga, but you need to call ahead.
•  If you like to walk, the Tennessee Aquarium is .87 miles from the Inn and the southside district is .75 miles.  StoneFort Inn is located centrally in downtown.
• And, of course you can drive to your destination – many of the parking lots are  paid parking – but, you can park in metered spaces after business hours during the week and on weekends for free.  Read meters for hours.

 Over the past few months, Cris Angsten, Interior Decorator, has been busy assisting the StoneFort Inn with redecorating the Inn.  Here are some of her thoughts:

"The general idea for the redecoration of the StoneFort Inn is to make it a little more balanced between feminine and masculine. It's naturally a masculine building, with its Civil War history, exposed brick and solid timbers. We sought to make it a little more timeless than historic – for example, using classic furnishings and prints, but updating them so they offer that wonderful gathered-over-time feel."

Room 26
- written by Cris Angsten, Interior Decorator

It's been so much fun designing these rooms as we go along..   The starting point for Room Twenty-Six was the rug, it has great colors like deep rich red and navy in it, and before too long I came across a fabric with much the same feeling and same colors both to edge the draperies with and to contrast with the new white bedding as a luxe pillow.

Rearranging the room allowed for the two natural focal points - the head of the bed, and those marvelous windows - to work together. The linen draperies catch the light and let the room just glow in the late afternoon sun. The antique chair found new life wearing two fabrics – a woven plaid and a great floral with the same colors in them as the rug.

The finished room captures everything we want for the Inn: timeless, gentlemanly, stately, with a few feminine touches.

The Select Registry assures consumers of the absolute quality of its list of inns. This rigorous program vets each inn in the group with a series of anonymous inspections, narrowing down over 20,000 North American venues to one elite membership.

When you stay at an inn on The Select Registry, you can be confident that you are receiving the very best amenities, including:

• An outstanding breakfast
• Luxurious private baths
• Quality fine dining on the premises or nearby

The Select Registry also evaluates inns on whether they have a proven track record, solid management history, and industry endorsements.

Those who enjoy the hospitality of Select Registry members know what a wonderful experience the personal touches can be. From fireplaces to fine wine, from jetted tubs to spa services, from delicious cuisine to doing the utmost to ensure accessibility and comfort for handicapped visitors, being a Select Registry Inn means knowing that the details matter.

StoneFort Inn is proud to stand among the fine inns on the Select Registry.

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