Good morning, Cookeville.

Tuesday has some actual things on it. Grade-A Catering's 35th anniversary ribbon cutting is this morning at 8:30 AM, the CPAC spring dance concert is tonight, and there's a solid lineup at the library for kids and book club readers alike. Let's get into it.

-- The Cookeville Scoop Team

Grade-A Catering 35th Anniversary Open House. This morning, April 7 from 7:30–9:30 AM at 1570 Brown Ave, with the Chamber ribbon cutting at 8:30 AM. If you've ever had catered food at an Upper Cumberland wedding, graduation, corporate event, or community fundraiser, there's a reasonable chance Grade-A had something to do with it. Thirty-five years of that is worth celebrating. Tour the facility, grab some breakfast, and say congrats to a local institution. Free. More at UCBJ

Spring Concert 2026: INDIGO SHOW at the CPAC. Tonight, April 7 at 6:30 PM at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center. Students ages 3 and up from the Cookeville Leisure Services School of Dance perform in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. If you have a young dancer in your life, this is their night. (The VIOLET SHOW follows on Thursday, April 9, also at 6:30 PM.) Tickets through the CPAC box office: call 931-528-1313, Monday–Friday from 9 AM–5 PM, or visit cookeville-tn.gov/cpac.

Irrationale Kitchen+Taps runs Tuesday happy hour in two windows: 2–4 PM and 8 PM to close. Specials include $3 select draft beers, $6 well spirits, $5 house wine, and half-price select appetizers. Good option before an evening event or after the dance concert wraps. irrationalekitchen.com

Drake's happy hour is worth a reminder since it runs Monday through Friday: 3–6 PM with specials from $2, including mini burgers, chips and queso, and Busch Light. Second window is 9–11 PM on weeknights. Located at 1010 S Walnut Ave. drakescomeplay.com

Behind a lot of Cookeville's biggest moments over the past 35 years, there's been a catering crew from Grade-A.

Weddings at the Venues on the east side. Corporate luncheons downtown. Graduation parties, retirement celebrations, non-profit galas. The kind of events people spend months planning and want to actually go right. Grade-A Catering, based at 1570 Brown Ave, has been the behind-the-scenes constant for a lot of that.

Family-owned and operated since 1991, Grade-A has built its reputation on a straightforward model: good food, reliably executed, at events that matter to people. That's a harder thing to sustain over 35 years than it sounds. Vendors come and go in the Upper Cumberland, but Grade-A has been a consistent presence through multiple generations of Cookeville families.

This morning's open house is a chance to see the operation up close. The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is on hand for the official ribbon cutting at 8:30 AM, and the open house runs 7:30–9:30 AM. There's a facility tour, breakfast, and what should be a genuine community celebration for a business that's earned it.

If you're a longtime customer, it's a chance to say thank you. If you've never connected with them directly, it's worth knowing who they are and what they do. Free to attend, no registration needed. Just show up.

Grade-A Catering: 1570 Brown Ave, Cookeville. Questions at 931-372-8540 or [email protected].

Picture Book Putt-Putt at the Putnam County Library, through Saturday April 12, Monday–Saturday from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Kids ages 5–12 check in at the Children's Desk for a putter, ball, and rules, then play a round of picture-book-themed mini golf around the library. Drop-in, no registration. Still a few days left to catch it. Free. pclibrary.org/events

Story & a Craft: National Bee Happy Week at the Putnam County Library — today, Tuesday April 7 from 10:00–11:00 AM. A bee-themed story and craft activity for kids, timed to National Bee Happy Week. Short and sweet for younger ones. Free.

First Tuesday Book Club: Yellowface at the Putnam County Library — today, Tuesday April 7 from 3:00–4:00 PM. The April pick is Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. Borrow the book and join the discussion. A good way to spend a Tuesday afternoon. Free.

TTU Baseball: Golden Eagles vs. Austin Peay at Bush Stadium — tonight at 6:00 PM. Tech baseball hosts a former OVC rival for a Tuesday evening home game. Free admission. ttusports.com

Live Music at Hix Farm Brewery — tonight, estimated 7:00 PM at 54 S Cedar Ave. Hix Farm does Tuesday evening live music with Myster Dahctor and Alan Benest in regular rotation. Food starts at 5:30 PM. A low-key Tuesday night if you need one. Free, no cover. hixfarm.com

Know something we missed? If there's an event or story worth sharing with Cookeville, hit reply and let us know. And if someone in your life would enjoy the Scoop, forward this their way.

That's a full Tuesday, Cookeville. Enjoy it.

-- The Cookeville Scoop Team