Clarksville-Nashville Regional Transit Open House. The Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA) recently kicked off the Northwest Corridor Transit Study to evaluate transit options between Clarksville and Nashville. One of the key components of the project is input from those who live, work and travel along this corridor. A series of Open House style public meetings were scheduled, the last of which takes place today at the Cheatham County Courthouse, 100 Public Square, Ashland City, 5-7 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16

Civil War Sesquicentennial Classes

As the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War draws to a close, Davidson County Historian Dr. Carole Bucy is offering a series of classes for the public in which she will provide an in-depth look at the experiences of Nashvillians and the residents of Davidson County during the decade from 1860 to 1870.

• April 16: The Union Occupation of the City

• April 23: Living and Working in Occupied Nashville & Beyond

• April 30: The Meaning of the End of the War for Nashville

Classes will be held at the Fort Negley Visitors Center, 10:30 a.m.-noon. The $25 fee for this series is tax-deductible with all proceeds going to benefit the Encyclopedia of Nashville & Davidson County project. Information: 615-862-7970615-862-7970.

Real Estate Investors Network

Williamson County Lunch Group – Rehabbers, builders, commercial, mini-storage, wholesalers, private lenders, transaction funders, hard-money lenders, bankers, title attorneys, realtors, and vendors discuss deals, the state of the market, and how they can help each other prosper. 11:30 a.m., The Egg and I, 1000 Meridian Blvd, Suite 118, Franklin.

• Monday, April 20: Landlording Subgroup - Join other REIN members to share ideas and discuss the many areas of landlording and renting property. Tips and tricks, contracts, and policies to run your business better. 6:30 p.m., REIN Center, 4525 Harding Road, Suite 200, Nashville.

• Tuesday, April 21: Deals, Deals, Deals Subgroup – Learn how investors find and sell deals, as well as the mechanics of various deals. 6:30 p.m., REIN Center, 4525 Harding Road, Suite 200, Nashville.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

East Nashville Hope Exchange Wine Tasting

The 13th annual East Nashville Hope Exchange Wine Tasting and Silent auction features wines from around the world, music and food. The event benefits a literacy program for at-risk children in East Nashville. The silent auction will include a stay at a historic Savannah townhouse, a week in a Destin condo, tickets to local attractions, sports memorabilia and more. The event will be held St. Ann’s Episcopal Church at 419 Woodland St., 6-9 p.m. Tickets and information: www.enhopeexchange.org/2015.html.

Highballs & Hydrangeas

Cheekwood’s award-winning event features gardens, music and cocktails. 7-10 p.m. in Cheekwood’s Botanic Hall. It will be an indoor/outdoor, rain or shine event. Musician Annie Sellick will perform. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Information: www.highballsandhydrangeas.com.

April 16-17

TSU Data Sciences Workshop

The event is expected to bring together more than 100 data science researchers from over 20 universities and institutions in the United States and China. The two-day workshop on the theme, “High Dimensional Data Analysis,” is expected to bring experts from national institutions such as Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Memphis, Tuskegee University, the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Vanderbilt University, and China’s Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology. Speakers and participants are also expected from Middle Tennessee State University, Jacksonville University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Information: www.tnstate.edu/computer_science/datascience/index.aspx

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

NashvilleNext Draft Plan Review Session

The first review session for the NashvilleNext draft plan is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Tennessee State University’s downtown Avon Williams Campus, 330 10th Avenue North. The draft is currently available online (www.nashville.gov/Government/NashvilleNext.aspx) for review and comment. More than 17,000 participants have been involved with NashvilleNext, and this draft plan is a result of three years of planning, public meetings and presentations.

Herb Society of Nashville Annual Sale

The Annual Herb Sale is scheduled for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds’ Sports Arena Building. It is open to the public, and admission is free. The sale features rare varieties of annual and perennial herbs, plants for companion planting. Credit cards will be accepted. Information: www.herbsocietynashville.org or 931-224-8947931-224-8947.

April 16-25

Nashville Film Festival

The Nashville Film Festival, presented by Nissan, features more than 280 films, including 32 feature films directed or co-directed by women. All films will be shown at Regal Green Hills Cinema. Information: https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/schedule/

TUESDAY, APRIL 21

Business Studio: Formulating an Actionable Business Plan Workshop

Your business plan is your company’s road map, and unless you’re referencing it regularly, you can easily get off course. This workshop is designed for early-stage and established businesses looking to create long-term growth strategies for their companies. The Chamber has partnered with InPlanSight to develop this workshop. Strategy executive Janet Rives will teach participants how to create the framework of an adoptable business plan with predictable success. Refinery Nashville, 438 Houston Street, Suite 263. 8-9:30 a.m. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 615-743-3060615-743-3060.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

Crafting a Creative City

Briefing and Q&A session examining Metro Arts’ five-year strategic plan. 1:30-2:30 p.m., Nashville Children’s Theatre, 25 Middleton St, Nashville.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

Business Studio: Creating Company Culture

How does a company become one of the “Best Places to Work” in Nashville for five straight years? Ask James Fields. He founded Concept Technology in 2003 with no real investors or potential clients, and has built the company over the past 11 years to a staff of more than 40. Concept created a customer-centric and employee-rewarding culture, focused on hiring for cultural fit and creating a place where people want to come to work every day. His company culture has carried over into company performance; Concept Technology has been on Inc.’s 500|5000 list for four years in a row. The company has also been named to Fortune’s Inner City 100 list of the fastest-growing inner-city businesses in America three times. 5-7 p.m., Concept Technology, Inc., 1009 3rd Avenue North, Suite 200, Nashville. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 615-743-3060615-743-3060.