COVID 19: 6/24/2020 Update (Including Today’s Health Department Briefing)
As we hit mid-week, I hope you are all well and staying safe. I’ve decided to make a couple of changes in my posts on Facebook. I post a link daily to a couple of groups...
Area Restaurants Open, Close Temporarily, Open Again
I could just as easily have titled this article “Why I Love My Downtown Restaurants,” but I’ll get to that later. A number of downtown bars and restaurants closed temporarily due to various concerns regarding COVID-19....
COVID-19: 6/23/2020 Update
Businesses continue to re-open and new ones are opening. We’re moving around more and we’re making plans for school openings. For this progress to continue, we need to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19....
Babalu to Return Under New, But Very Familiar Management
When Blank News broke the story of the surprising re-emergence of Babalu, it felt a little like Gay Street was saved. It might be hyperbole, but when I learned that Babalu had announced they would not...
COVID-19: 6/22/2020 Update (Including Today’s Health Department Briefing)
Welcome to another week, everyone. Cases continue to rise across the world, country, state and county. Here’s hoping for a better week than last week, which was by many measures the worst week for new infections...
Juneteenth Reflections from Local African-American Leaders
For a number of people, particularly white people in our country, the word “Juneteenth” has only recently become known. In the wake of the George Floyd protests and President Trump’s initial plans to hold a rally...
Downtown Knoxville Ten Day Planner (6/21 – 6/30/2020)
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: 6/20/2020 Special Report
I had no intentions of posting an article today. I’m tired and I value my weekend as a small break. Then the numbers came in and I could not avoid what felt like an obligation. I’m...
COVID-19: 6/19/2020 Update (Including Today’s Health Department Briefing)
Welcome to Friday, everyone. I hope your week was acceptable and your weekend might bring some mild pleasures. How is that for adjusting expectations? Seriously, stay safe and find some joy. Life is too short to...
A Look at the Current State Guidelines For Businesses and Residents of Tennessee
With the pending shift in Knox County from adhering to our three-stage approach to following guidance from the State of Tennessee, many of us are having, for the first time to pay attention to what the...