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
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...
Central Bottle Opens Today in Happy Holler
Like so many business openings or development projects, this one has taken longer than hoped, but D.L. Bergmeier, general manager and co-owner of the new Central Bottle, is happy to finally swing the doors open today...
Development
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...
Reimagining the Downtown Connection to the Interstates and Reclaiming Human Space
When originally imagined, the Interstate system was intended to connect cities. And it did. Small towns that once enjoyed passersby slowly began to die. Cities that had thriving centers were cut in half, with large swaths...
Events
Old North Knoxville Victorian Holiday Home Tour, Part 2
With all due respect for 14-foot inflatable Grinches, animatronic manger scenes and light displays visible from space, I’ll take a string of popcorn and some paper snowflakes lovingly scotch-taped to a window over grandiose holiday decor...
Old North Knoxville Victorian Holiday Home Tour, Part 1
The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future were out in full force for last weekend’s Historic Old North Knoxville Victorian Home Tour. And I mean that literally—one tour-goer came barreling past me down the creaking...
Downtown Christmas Parade 2024 Continues Tradition of Bringing Holiday Spirit for Nearly a Century
I have to agree with Harry Richman as he crooned the Harold Arlen tune back in 1932: I really do love a parade. Something about the intersection of music, art and pageantry grabbed my attention from...
Downtown Knoxville Ten Day Planner (12/8 -12/17/2024)
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
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...
P Smith Releases “Chronicles and Narratives: Tales from Strawberry Plains & Gay Street”
It was nearly three years ago when Patti Smith (“P” to everyone who ever met her) said one last farewell to the condo on the 100 block of Gay Street where she’d lived for twenty seven-years....
Knoxville Honors Veterans in the 2024 Veterans Day Parade
The 2024 Veterans Day Parade made its way down Gay Street, yesterday. Stepping off at 10:40 in order to arrive at the grand stand by 11:00 am. The 11:00 am marker remains important as the day...
Kincannon Administration Puts Forth Parking Proposal
The latest round of parking conversation ensued yesterday, as Mayor Kincannon presented her proposal for changes to be made to downtown parking. The proposal is the outgrowth of the study commissioned by the city which I...