A spectacular new restaurant in Guild, Tenn., will most certainly awaken your senses, both visual and gastronomic. 
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It is the centerpiece for John (Thunder) Thornton’s new development, River Gorge Ranch, in Marion County, just 25 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. 

That scenic drive takes you along the Tennessee River until you begin the ascent up the mountain. The restaurant sits high above the Tennessee River Gorge. “Built on the mountain from the mountain, every element, from the locally quarried stone to the hand hewn timbers, was chosen to honor the land it stands on,” Mr. Thornton said. 

The entrance to the restaurant pays homage to the awe-inspiring view. The Tennessee River Gorge is spectacular as it has as its backdrop the grey-blue mountains of Appalachia. Hand hewn timbers reach for the sky, forming a cathedral effect opening on the breathtaking vista. 

The stone entrance floor of the vast entrance serves as a basis for a recreation of the Tennessee River from Ross’s Landing as it winds along, ending in actual waterway.

Local landmarks are tastefully identified all along the glass ribbon: Walnut Street Bridge; Baylor School; and Signal Mountain, ending with the glass ribbon sculpture literally pouring itself out into the magnificent river itself.

Now, let’s get down to the food. Absolutely delicious! You’ll find everything from pizza and steaks to chicken piccata and seafood. Delicious salads, gourmet sandwiches and fantastic burgers round out the menu. Extravagant brunches are served on the weekends.

Chef Allan Ubas and general manager Jason Miller keep the standards high. Riverdance is the newest link in the chain operated by Chattanooga Square One Holdings, which also runs Stir, State of Confusion, Massey’s Kitchen and Top of the Rock, as well as eight other restaurants in four different states.

Ubas has longtime experience with Square One. In 2016 he started as sous chef at Stir, moving up to executive chef at State of Confusion. Last October, he stepped into his role at Riverdance. He and Bill Heckler developed the menu, so you might say this restaurant is his baby. And he is receiving rave reviews.
Gather a group of friends and treat yourselves to a delightful experience. Lunch is really fun, but dinner (and experiencing the jaw-dropping sunset) is top notch, superb, delicious, delectable, luscious and every other adjective there is to describe perfection in food!

It’s definitely worth the trip, to say the least.

Inside the restaurant itself, which can seat up to 700, you’ll find tasteful leather booths and open tables that again take advantage of the view through a wall of glass, floor to ceiling windows. Choose seating in an outdoor dining room or on the more casual patio with firepits and comfortable chairs. A gigantic painting of an osprey hangs over the main stone fireplace. It was created by artist Carylon Cooper. There is also an event space that is perfect for weddings. How about gathering friends and family to celebrate your “I do’s” on top of the world!

by Judy Rowland

Saya Woolfalk’s Empathic Universe exhibition, coming to the Hunter Museum in mid-May and running through Labor Day weekend, uses immersive digital artwork featuring kaleidoscopic video and sound to explore imagined future realities as well as the power of connectivity to transform individual lives and communities. As only the second venue for the exhibition, the Hunter is excited to bring this one-of-a-kind, mesmerizing experience to the region.
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At the center of Woolfalk’s artwork is a fictional race called the “Empathics.” Drawing on science fiction and fantasy, Woolfalk uses this world and its figures to explore identity and belonging informed by African, African American, Japanese, European, and Brazilian art as well as storytelling traditions. Luminous figures rise from patterned landscapes, their vibrant forms decorated with intricate textiles that feel both ceremonial and futuristic. Visitors will move through environments that feel part laboratory and part dreamscape, where each installation invites you to slow down, look closely, and imagine new possibilities.

Originally presented at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, this exhibition is on view for only the second time ever at the Hunter.

Some Hunter Museum guests may have encountered Woolfalk’s work before, however, since the museum recently acquired one of her immersive video works, currently on display in the contemporary wing. Empathic Universe, the exhibition coming this summer, deepens the relationship many in our community have already begun to build with her practice, expanding and enriching the story that starts here.

Programs related to Empathic Universe will take place throughout the summer. Visitors can check Hunter Museum’s “Things to Do” page, or scan the QR code, for upcoming performances and activities, including the exhibition’s opening reception on Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m.

The Hunter Museum presents an adaptation of Saya Woolfalk: Empathic Universe originally presented at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York, 2025.

by Mackenzie Johnosn

The 52nd Antiques Show and Sale presented by the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts was another grand success! This event brings together exceptional dealers, timeless objects and a shared love of history with the people of Chattanooga. All proceeds from the show fund the mission to educate and inspire followers through art and design.
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This year’s show arrived at a very meaningful time for this beloved museum. The historic 1890s Victorian house that has been home to this collection for many years is nearing the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation.

The Antiques Show and Sale is more than a celebration of beautiful objects; it’s the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts’ most important fundraiser to support its education and outreach programs. Inspired by Anna Safley Houston’s belief that art and craftsmanship should be shared with everyone, the museum houses over 15,000 objects to create a meaningful learning experience for all ages. Proceeds from this weekend event support the museum’s education and outreach programs.

While construction was going on, a pop-up museum and gift shop was located in the former Back In Café near Hunter Art Museum. The Portera family generously provided the space, making it possible for the people of Chattanooga and visitors to the city to enjoy a mini museum. It closed March 1 in anticipation of the grand opening of the new structure later this summer.

by Judy Rowland ​