Culture
New Book, “The Kitty of Knoxville” by Wesley Bennett Highlights the City
A new children’s book, The Kitty of Knoxville, with ties to downtown and the University of Tennessee has been published by Wesley (Wes) Bennett. A long-time friend (and neighbor for ten years), Wes told me several...
A Headless Governor and a Mystery on Gay Street
On a recent Sunday afternoon two families along with others gathered at 601 South Gay Street to unveil a piece of art, a window into Tennessee History, and a mystery all in one sculpture. Is it...
Tuesday Music Sessions at Boyd’s Jig and Reel Brings Appalachian Old Time Music to the Old City
Having grown up in Appalachia from birth, music has been inexorably woven into the fabric of my life (and the culture of East Tennessee). Musicians and fans of music often identify bluegrass as the indigenous music...
Art Dialogues With History in ‘Greetings From Vestal IV’ at Candoro Marble Building
The Candoro Marble Building is a study in contrasts. Nestled in South Knoxville’s proud, idiosyncratic Vestal neighborhood, it’s an unexpected architectural jewel—a 101-year-old Beaux-Arts landmark built as the office and showroom for the Candoro Marble Company. ...
Business
Sage Spa Connects New and Old Friends With a Unique Experience
Sage Sauna opened just a few weeks ago outside Trailhead Beer Market (1317 Island Home Avenue) offering a completely new concept for our area. A popular idea in Scandinavia and some parts of the northern U.S., Sage...
100 Block to South Waterfront: Why Lauderdale Design Group Made the Leap
Meaningful design shapes more than spaces — it shapes how people feel and interact with the world around them. It sparks curiosity, evokes nostalgia, creates a sense of pleasure and belonging. “We’re always looking for the...
Green Valley Dispensary to Open at 323 Union Avenue
Green Valley Dispensary, owned by Alicia Douglas, will soon open at 323 Union Avenue, in the space recently vacated by New2Knox. She hopes to have the shop operational by early December. Originally from South Georgia, Alicia...
2024 Film Fest Knox – It’s a Wrap!
(Article by Robert Farago) According to popular belief, success has many fathers/mothers/gender unspecified caregivers. True that. The second annual Film Fest Knox owes its success to a well-coordinated team of movie-mad mavens, not unlike To Kill...
Development
Underground Knoxville Emerges with The Furnace
Beneath the 100 block of Gay Street lies a hidden piece of Knoxville’s history. You can see it – or imagine it, at least – when you peer down through the “skylights” blocked into the sidewalk....
Land Sold at the Corner of Summit and Central (Former Merchants of Beer); Plans Announced
The sale closed last week which will begin the transformation of the lot at the northwest corner of Summit Hill Avenue and Central Street. Formerly a diner, then Enterprise Car Rental, and most recently Merchants of...
Welcome Center Opens at the Sunsphere
Yesterday, Visit Knoxville and the City of Knoxville unveiled the new Sunsphere Welcome Center, which continues the evolution of the Knoxville icon. Guests (of which there are many) will now be able to walk up and purchase...
I Took a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Andrew Johnson Building – You Can Do the Same
The Friends of the Library and Oliver Hospitality are hosting a behind-the-scenes sneak peek event at the Andrew Johnson Hotel before renovations begin. Meet Me at the AJ is set for 5:00 – 9:00 on Friday, November 15. Tickets...
Events
Downtown Knoxville Ten Day Planner (12/22 – 12/31/2024)
If you want your event included, please make a Facebook event, invite me via the “invite” button on the event page (Alan Sims – you’ll have to friend me), and it will be included. I need...
Knoxville to Host Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® 93rd Regional Conference in 2025
Visit Knoxville announced recently that Knoxville, has been chosen as the host city for the 93rd Regional Conference of the South Eastern Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Incorporated®. The event will take place from...
Gettin’ Lit: The Freewheeling Origin Story of Tour de Lights
Tour de Lights is a Knoxville institution: a slow-rolling, luminous constellation of 2,000 or so bikes parading through the downtown vicinity, flooding the streets with an unapologetic, it-just-keeps-coming deluge of holiday cheer. This year’s edition took...
Downtown Knoxville Ten Day Planner (12/15 – 12/24/2024)
If you want your event included, please make a Facebook event, invite me via the “invite” button on the event page (Alan Sims – you’ll have to friend me), and it will be included. I need...
Life
Downtown Knoxville Christmas Eve Services 2024
Welcome to this year’s edition of downtown Christmas...
Downtown Knoxville Christmas Lights and Decorations 2024, Part Two
As promised, here’s the second part of the annual tour of downtown Christmas lights. I hope you enjoy the effort to make the sparkle for everyone to enjoy. Kudos to the City of Knoxville for making...
Downtown Knoxville Christmas Lights and Decorations 2024, Part One
I recently enjoyed my annual trek around downtown peering into windows and entering a few buildings in search of the pretty holiday decorations so many people enjoy. We’re not New York City when it comes to...
Fascinating Friends Around Us: An Interview with Marcel Holman
On a recent Friday late-night at Bistro at the Bijou a friend and I enjoyed a great jazz combo while sipping beverages. For me, Ben Maney on keyboards provided the main attraction, but my attention was...