Time to catch a breath and enjoy a weekend. I hope you have some fun plans for you and your family. We’ll stick close to home, of course, but I suspect there will be movies, junk food for the young ones and hopefully some chill time for the grown ups. We’ll listen to some music, probably put something on the grill and maybe take an urban hike.
I’m including some photos from about four weeks ago of a couple of developments around town, in case you haven’t had a chance to check them out recently. Both are coming along rapidly and seem headed toward finishes this year, providing new condos on the south side of the city and new apartments on the south side of the river.
The Overlook on Hill Avenue is a project including ten condos, eight of which are sold, according to the website. The units are designed to orient toward the river or toward the city and are located on a lovely, leafy city street just out of the main hustle and bustle. You can see floor plans on the website and the contact information to make an inquiry if you are interested. The units are represented by Kimberly Hamilton Dixon, whose ad you can click on the right of this article to contact her directly.
The second development pictured here is located at 726 Sevier Avenue, on the corner of Sevier and Davenport. City South, upon completion, will offer 118 studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments will all the amenities. It will also line that stretch of Sevier Avenue with commercial space.
There is no question that the face of Sevier Avenue is changing and, with change some will be happy and others not as much. I do appreciate that these have brick on street-level and included commercial spaces along Sevier Avenue. It will be an attractive spot for many, with the easy access to the river and to downtown.
As for art, I have a couple of things for you. First, a heads up for a new place to check out art on Jackson Avenue. Colour Trails Art Alliance is hosting an open house and grand opening tonight. Located at 127 West Jackson Avenue, the business blends a realty company, Exit Realty, and an art gallery. The event is presented with safety measures in place and they’d like you to RSVP. You can do that here (as well as read the details).
In other art news, I’m really enjoying a new CD by Tenn Pan Alley, a Maryville/Knoxville-based band that includes long-time Inside of Knoxville reader Don Neary, along with bandmates Marc Larsen, Billy Raye Smith and Breck Lemons. The album could be called Americana with blues, folk and straight up pop blended into their own mix.
Small delights slip in to each song, whether muscular or delicate guitar licks or sweet harmonica over a rock-solid beat. I feel like I’ve found a little gem from the late 1960’s (which is a big compliment in my world). It’s melodic, joyful and a perfect antidote for the times. I’m including one of my favorite tracks here. You can find them on their Facebook Page or website. You can also hear them tomorrow night at Calhouns on the River. They are available on Spotify, Apple Music, I Tunes, and Amazon Music. https://tennpanalley.hearnow.com/
Here’s what my friend Steve Wildsmith had to say about them some time back, ” . . . there’s a delicate interplay between the two men who make up the duo known as Tenn Pan Alley. Larsen’s Chicago background adds some muscle to the music, and he often plays electric; with his whiskey-soaked vocals, he’s the battle ax to Neary’s fencing sword, both men finding respective pockets where Neary’s delicate playing and Larsen’s restrained power create similar harmonics as a pair well-matched for singing vocals.”
Finally, for a little democracy in action. I hope you voted yesterday (or earlier) and were pleased with the results. It was our first foray into mail-in voting and we liked it. I missed the communal experience a bit, but it seemed the best choice for us. If you would like to vote via mail-in ballot for this November’s election (it is for president and other stuff, if you haven’t heard 🙂 ), those ballots may now be requested.
There are different ways to get there, but one way is here. Special shout-out to Just John who pointed out the ballot requests began being accepted this week. Unfortunately, those allowed to do so may not be quite as wide for the fall election, so stay tuned. Our state leaders sued to restrict access and (thank you Compass, I missed this), the state Supreme Court stopped the wider access on Wednesday (albeit temporarily and it did not impact this election.
Here’s that song I promised. I think this should get your weekend off to a great start.