COVID-19 Update: 2/17/2021 (State, Local, KCS, UTK)
It’s time for me to come clean. We’ve had snow all around us for weeks, but it was seeing my relative’s wintery photographs from Alabama (!) that convinced me you had to know I bought a...
COVID-19 Update: 2/16/2021 (State, Local, KCS, UTK and Today’s Health Department Briefing)
Today is Mardi Gras. It takes me back to last year, having one last blast in the streets with tens of thousands of people, including Urban Girl and Urban Woman. It was a scenario that would...
How Well Has Knoxville Tourism Survived the Pandemic?
We all remember last March when hotels suddenly emptied and it seemed the world stopped traveling all at once. There was no way to anticipate what awaited in the coming months, but serious changes were clearly...
COVID-19 Update: 2/15/2021 (International, National, Local, KCS, UTK)
Welcome, everyone, to a fresh week and the second half of February. We are fast approaching the anniversary of the point at which we realized something weird was about to happen. A year ago this past...
Downtown Knoxville Ten Day Planner (2/14 – 2/23/2021)
As events are opening up, we’re listing a combination of virtual and live events. The rules are the same – if you want your event included, please make a Facebook event, invite me (Alan Sims –...
COVID-19 Update: 2/12/2021 (State, Local, KCS, UTK)
Happy Frigid Friday! Today might be tailor-made for couples to snuggle up a bit. Thanks to Urban Daughter’s planning, we will have a Valentines party at our house with special plates, games and, of course, lots...
Wicked Chicken Opens at 141 South Gay Street
I was reminded of the Buddhist expression (adapted by Donovan Leitch), “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.” In the case of downtown Knoxville, it might be “First there is...
COVID-19: 2/11/2021 Update (State, Local, KCS, UTK)
I hope you grabbed a little of that warm sunshine yesterday. Urban Boy and I made it to Krutch Park for a little fun. Meanwhile, dreary cold days of winter appear to be good for rising...
Board of Health Meeting (2/10/2021)
The meeting began with the public forum. Betsey Hobkirk, local public educator requested that mask mandates continue and that the board continue work to control the pandemic. She pointed out that the studies indicating schools are...
COVID-19: 2/10/2021 Update (State, Local, KCS, and UTK)
I hope your week is going well. Today is one of those little gifts we get in east Tennessee during the month of February. Grab the sunny 61 degrees and get outside for a long walk...