Good morning, Cookeville.

April is here. The fountain at Dogwood Park is back on, Cane Creek is open for the season, and it genuinely feels like spring has decided to show up and stay this time. Today is also April Fool's Day — but there's nothing fake about the news: Cookeville has a brand-new pet spa opening this morning, and it sounds like the kind of place our four-legged community members have been waiting for. More on that below.

Let's get to it.

— The Cookeville Scoop Team

Sake Pairing Dinner at The Putnam Room — Sunday, April 12 — Five Japanese-inspired courses, each paired with carefully selected sake — this is exactly the kind of evening worth putting on the calendar now. The Putnam Room has built a reputation as one of downtown's best, and a dinner like this is a great excuse for a special night out (or a genuinely impressive date). $100 per person. Reservations required: call 931-644-3722 or book online at theputnamroom.com.

WAKA FLOCKA FLAME at Revolver — Friday, April 17, 7:00 PM — The Atlanta rapper brings a live show to Revolver at 565 South Jefferson Avenue. Tickets run $34–$269 and are available through Eventbrite. If you're looking for a Friday night out that's a little different from the usual, this is it.

Bryan Symphony Orchestra: Doreen Ketchens — Sunday, April 26, 3:00 PM — The Bryan Symphony Orchestra hosts world-renowned clarinetist Doreen Ketchens for an afternoon concert at Wattenbarger Auditorium. The program includes Schubert's Symphony No. 2, Pierne's Konzerstucke for Harp, and Kodaly's Dances of Galanta — conducted by Dan Allcott. Tickets are $36.26 (senior) and $43.65 (general admission). Worth grabbing sooner rather than later. bryansymphony.org

Tennessee Central Soda Shop is coming to Cookeville, and if you haven't heard of the dirty soda trend yet, this is a good introduction. The concept — customized sodas built with flavor syrups, cream, and all manner of mix-ins — started in Utah and has been spreading fast. Tennessee Central launched in Monterey and is now expanding to Cookeville's westside. Chamber ribbon cutting is set for April 16. Stay tuned for the address and opening details.

The Putnam Room is doing something excellent on Wednesdays: half off all whiskey, bourbon, and scotch from 5–9 PM. That's every Wednesday, which means tonight. If you've been meaning to try one of the better pours in downtown Cookeville, Whiskey Wednesday is your moment. The weekday happy hour runs 3–5 PM as well. theputnamroom.com

Irrationale Kitchen+Taps runs a double happy hour that's worth knowing about — 2–4 PM and again from 8 PM to close, daily. We're talking $3 draft beers, $6 well spirits, $5 house wine, and half-price appetizers. The two-window structure makes it genuinely useful whether you're coming for an early dinner or a late-night stop. They're at 1227 N Washington Ave. irrationalekitchen.com

Cookeville has a new pet spa, and it opened this morning.

Peachy Clean Pet Spa at 1095 South Walnut Avenue is celebrating with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting today — and the story behind the business is worth knowing before you book your first appointment.

Owner Victoria Davis didn't just open a grooming shop. She put together a team of four certified groomers, herself included, with a clear philosophy about how the work should be done. Davis and groomer Megan Bryanne are both certified dog trainers — which means when your pet arrives anxious or reactive, there's actual training expertise behind how they handle it, not just patience and good intentions. The business is fully licensed, insured, and pet CPR/first aid certified across the team.

The service menu runs from full grooms and nail trims up to what they're calling Pawdicures — a full spa treatment for your dog that sounds a little indulgent and honestly, why not. What stands out most in how Davis describes the business is the "no rushed pickup" policy. If you've ever felt the pressure to arrive at a grooming appointment on a tight clock or worried your dog was sitting in a kennel waiting, that's the problem Peachy Clean is explicitly trying to solve. Dogs are finished when they're finished, and pickup happens when it works for your schedule.

Open Monday through Saturday. For anyone with a pet overdue for a grooming appointment — or just curious about the Pawdicure situation — this is a good local option to know about. Full story at UCBJ.

Easter Bunny at Baxter Branch Library — Today, April 1, 3:00–5:00 PM. A quick reminder in case you missed yesterday's edition: the Easter Bunny is at the Baxter Branch Library this afternoon with a springtime photo backdrop, crafts, and prizes for kids. Low-key, sweet, and free. pclibrary.org

Dogwood Park Fountain Season — The interactive fountain at Dogwood Park is back on for the season and runs through October. It's one of those things that's easy to forget about until the weather turns and suddenly it's the perfect Wednesday afternoon plan — kids splash around, you sit in the rose garden and call it a win. Free. Dogwood Park is at 30 E Broad Street. cookeville-tn.gov

Cane Creek Park Opens for Spring — The concession stand is back, which means kayaks, paddle boats, and canoes are available to rent on the lake. It's also a solid fishing spot for bluegill, largemouth bass, and crappie if that's your thing. Daylight hours, rental fees apply for watercraft. A classic spring Saturday.

Lite Rock 95.9 Easter Egg Hunt — Friday, April 3, 5:30 PM at Cane Creek Sports Plex. Easter egg hunt with candy, prizes, and seasonal fun for kids — just in time for Easter weekend. Check Lite Rock 95.9's social pages for updates.

36th Upper Cumberland Quilt Festival — April 14–15 in Algood, just outside Cookeville. Five hundred–plus quilts and needlework pieces displayed across seven sites — Hope Church, Algood Activity Center, Algood City Hall, and more — with vendors, food, and crafters on site. Thirty-six years in, this is a genuine regional tradition, and well worth the short drive. Contact: 931-252-2755. quilt-festival.com

If you know someone who'd enjoy a weekly heads-up on what's happening around Cookeville, share this newsletter their way — we'd love to grow the community of people paying attention to all the good stuff going on here. Have an event or tip for next week? Reply to this email and we'll take a look.

Thanks for starting your Wednesday with us, Cookeville. Spring is a good season to be here — go enjoy it. 🧡

— The Cookeville Scoop Team