As the country slowly and inexorably moves toward electric vehicles, the City of Knoxville continues to keep pace or better. Yesterday the announcement came that Knoxville is the first city to join Charging Smart. Their website states, “The Charging Smart program assists local governments in setting and achieving equitable and impactful electric vehicle (EV) readiness goals.” The assistance is free and encourages adoption of electric vehicles.
In a statement, Mayor Kincannon said,
The City of Knoxville invests in EV chargers to achieve our sustainability and air quality goals as well as to support infrastructure for residents and visitors who drive electric vehicles. Membership in the Charging Smart community will help us continue to advance our achievements in EV technology, help more people adopt EVs, and serve as a leader for cities across the state.
Funding for the program is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. The Tennessee liaison, Drive Electric Tennessee invited the City to be the state’s first member city.
I’ve been asked and I’ve wondered how widespread city EV chargers are and, according to the press release, there are “40 public EV chargers in 14 City-owned parking garages, public parks and municipal buildings.” Another thirty charging slots will soon be in place in the City County Building garage to service some of the City’s 40 EV Fleet vehicles. Those vehicles are used by “several departments including Fleet Administration, Inspections, Engineering, Fire, Police and Public Service.”
The fleet is managed by Director Nick Bradshaw who added, “Because transportation represents 59 percent of community emissions, the City is motivated to diversify our vehicle fleet and ensure we’re using lower-carbon fuels as much as possible.”
There are several aps and sites designed to help EV drivers find those area chargers, including the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, PlugShare and ChargeHub.
Big Ears News:
As the Big Ears Festival looms on the horizon (March 27 – 30), announcements continue to flow. Movies and panels will be announced in coming weeks and a release yesterday teased the announcement of two new venues. As always, the months leading up to the festival also continue a flow of additional artist announcements. Yesterday, the following names were added to the performance list: Bill Ryder-Jones, Brandon Seabrook, Dougie Bowne and Matt Nelson, Eliza McCarthy, Fred Moten and Brandon Lopez, Hank Roberts, iiisa, Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer, Melvin Gibbs, Sarah Rothenberg, Tashi Wada, and east Tennessee’s own bluegrass sensation, Wyatt Ellis.
It’s only going to get bigger and better. Get your tickets while you can.
Japanese New Year:
I wanted to give you a heads-up on a new celebration. Brought to you by the same people who bring you this Asian Festival, the Japanese New Year will be celebrated Sunday, January 26 (NOTE: NOT THIS WEEKEND). Attendance is limited to 250 people for the indoor portion of the program. It all starts at 1:30 PM on the market Square Stage with a free performance of the Nashville Taiko drums. You’ve seen Taiko at the festival, here’s a taste on Market Square.
After the drumming ends, the party moves the East Tennessee History Center. Tickets for this portion of the celebration are $5 and may be purchased here. At the celebration, you find Japanese Harp, Shamisen, and Traditional Dance (traditional Japanese songs and dances that celebrate the spirit of the New Year), Kids’ Japanese Song Workshop (Children can learn and sing Japanese New Year songs in Japanese), Mochi Tsuki (Rice Ball Pounding) (Mochi tsuki is a cherished New Year tradition in Japanese culture. It involves soaking and steaming special mochi rice, then pounding it into a paste with an usu (bowl) and kine (mallet). Guests can also taste three kinds of mochi, Taiko Drumming Trial (try Taiko drumming for yourself!), and Sake Tasting (Ages 21 and older, IDs required).
As for this weekend:
Of course, you can always pore over the full list of weekend activities on the Ten Day Planner. The ever-amazing list for this week features 89 options over a three-day period. Here are a few highlights from this weekend that caught my attention in this culturally rich city. Just look at the range of possibilities:
Friday, January 17
- Family Owl Prowl, Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, RSVP
- Showing: Anora, Central Cinema, 6:25 pm
- James and the Giant Peach, Knoxville Children’s Theatre, 7:00 pm
- Doc Rock For Health, The Mill & Mine, 7:00 pm – 11:30 pm, RSVP
- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series, Tennessee Theatre, 7:30 pm
- Larry Vincent Trio, Bistro at the Bijou, 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
- Smooth Sailor @ Scruffy City Hall, 8:00 pm
- RB Morris, Laurel Theatre, 1538 Laurel Ave, 8:00 pm
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings, Jackson Terminal, 8:45 pm
Saturday, January 18
- Epworth Old Harp Practice Singing, Laurel Theater, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
- James and the Giant Peach, Knoxville Children’s Theatre, 1:00 pm / 5:00 pm
- The Dinner Detective: Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show! Hilton Knoxville, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, RSVP
- TKD Presents “Dancing at Lughnasa!” 800 S. Central St, 7:30 pm
- Drag-Dolly Birthday Celebration, 621 Lamar St, 8:00 pm
- Kukuly and the Fuego Live at Boyd’s Jig & Reel, 9:00 pm – midnight
Sunday, January 19
- People’s Human Rights March, World’s Fair Park, noon
- Books, Birthday Cake, and Dreaming Big: Celebrating 20 Years of Imagination Library in Knox County, Tennessee Theatre, 1:00 pm, FREE!
- Competitive Romance Novel Reading, 6 Emory Place, 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm (weekly through May 25)
- TKD Presents “Dancing at Lughnasa!” 800 S. Central St, 3:00 pm
- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: MLK Celebration Concert, Bijou Theatre, 3:00 pm
- James and the Giant Peach, Knoxville Children’s Theatre, 3:00 pm
- Bluegrass Jam, Boyd’s Jig & Reel, 3:00 pm
- Rus’ Romper Room January ’25 Edition, 842 Central St, 4:00 pm