I usually talk about the things I’ve done lately and that was my intention for today’s blog, but there are several things happening that warrant a mention. We’ll take them in reverse order:
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| The Market at Union and Gay, Knoxville, July 2011 |
In terms of food, downtown may be reaching a turning point today: The Market (formerly General Store) is opening at noon in the Fidelity Building on Gay Street. I’m slightly ambivalent because I love Just Ripe and I don’t want this to hurt them, but I’m hoping we’re big enough for two small grocery stores. There will be some similarities between the two, but I’m thinking some differences, as well. This will make the second location for The Market which started in Maryville. According to the News Sentinel, they focus on specialty foods, local produce and meats.
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| Interior of The Market at Union and Gay, Knoxville, July 2011 |
The Maryville location has a seafood counter, which would be great to have downtown. So, some of that sounds similar to Just Ripe, but the H.T. Hackney company, which owns the building is a partner in the store and they supply various dry goods to grocery stores, so hopefully, and here is the difference, they will have the other grocery store items we’ve been missing downtown and hopefully those items won’t be convenience store prices.
Downtown Wine has been hosting free in-store tastings each Friday night from 5:30 to 7:30 with specials on various wines or other beverages. Today the party will rock on with free samples of Aperol Spritz and Classic Mojitos. The Aperol and the Don Q rum used to make the drinks are specially priced.
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| J. Daniel Photography, Tomato Head, Knoxville, July 2011 |
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| J. Daniel Photography, Tomato Head, Knoxville, July 2011 |
And then the art: J Daniel Photography has a showing at Tomato Head that has run all month and will finish its run this weekend. I wish I’d gotten down there to see it sooner. Lush, beautiful flowers and scenes from east Tennessee give you just a little taste of rural here in the middle of urban. “J” just happens to be a reader of Stuck Inside of Knoxville and the Urban Nation needs to come out and lend its support.
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| J. Daniel Photography, Tomato Head, July 2011 |
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| J. Daniel Photography, Tomato Head, 2011 |
The photographs pictured here are, of course, poor representations since I had to stand in chairs and do my best to photograph the photographs. To see a better representation go to the website or to the Facebook page. Why not pick out a couple to hang in your loft and remind yourself that the urban jungle only extends so far?
I’m sure there will be much more to do around town from Shakespeare on the Square to great local music, but I wanted to highlight just a few. Have a great, safe weekend, everybody.