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Mark Your Calendar For a Beautiful Spring in Knoxville

Celebrate the arrival of spring and enjoy the Dogwood Arts Festival in Knoxville, taking place the entire month of April 2012. For more than half a century, this unique festival has celebrated the natural and cultural beauty of East Tennessee, featuring a vibrant mix of blooming gardens and trails, visual arts, crafts, theater, dance, music, film, and literary arts.

Residents and visitors immerse themselves in all things Dogwood, including experiencing the 60+ miles of trails featuring some of the most spectacular, well cared for dogwoods of all kinds and colors. The Festival offers a chance to visit and admire beautiful gardens and take part in arts and crafts along with enjoying outdoor concerts and a parade.

Below is a list of Dogwood Festival activities to experience. Please note that most of the Festival’s wide range of arts events, performances, and exhibitions are offered to the public free of charge.

Dogwood Trails and Open Gardens
The Dogwood Trails offer more than 60 miles of beautiful landscapes, flowers and trees for visitors to tour by foot, bike, and car or guided bus tours! These trails and gardens will be open from April 11th until April 30th. Westmoreland is the featured trail of 2012 highlighting gorgeous landscapes, Dogwood trees and beautiful homes in a West Knoxville neighborhood.

For trail and garden maps, along with information about the guided bus tours, visit http://www.dogwoodarts.com/trails-and-gardens/.

Dogwood After Dark
March 29: It’s time to celebrate the Festival! Join us for an evening of fine food, entertainment, and company during this enchanted spring evening at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Ticket required.

NEXUS 2012
April 2-14: A beautiful exhibition of smaller-scale sculptures from all genres and materials. U.T. Downtown Gallery – 106 South Gay Street.

Art in Public Places Knoxville
April 6, 2012-March 8, 2013: A world-class exhibition of large-scale outdoor sculptures enlivens downtown Knoxville and the McGhee Tyson Airport.

Regional Fine Art Exhibition
April 6-27: Progressive emerging and professional regional artists exhibit their work in a variety of genres. Emporium Center for the Arts – 100 South Gay Street.

Student Art Exhibition
April 6-27: Knoxville’s next generation of artists is on display, featuring the work of gifted art students from area schools. Clayton Center for the Arts – 502 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville 37804.

Market Square Art Fair
April 13-15: Downtown Knoxville is transformed into a lively street fair with high-quality arts and crafts booths, demonstrations, entertainment, and festive food.

Rhythm N’ Blooms
April 20-22: Experience East Tennessee’s historical and present role in American Roots music with performances by a who’s who of locally and nationally-renowned musicians. Enjoy Amos Lee, Citizen Cope, The Black Lillies, Darrell Scott and many more at the 2012 Rhythm N’ Blooms Festival. This line-up spans from locally-revered and nationally-renowned artists during this “American Roots” weekend event. Day or weekend passes can be purchased online or at the event.

Pass required – To purchase a festival pass or see the complete line-up, visit: http://rhythmnbloomsfest.com/

*There have also been hints of pianos being scattered around Knoxville throughout the weekend so keep your eyes out for appearing musicians!

Chalk Walk
April 21: Downtown sidewalks become the canvas for professional and student artists during this street painting festival. Bring your chalk, get your hands dirty, and have fun creating chalk art or just bring your eyes and be prepared to see unique creations by trained and novice artists alike. All ages and art levels are encouraged to participate in this event. Registration deadline is by April 1st.

To register please visit: http://www.dogwoodarts.com/chalk-walk-app/

A Very Special Arts Festival
April 24: An inspiring celebration where children with mental and physical challenges celebrate the arts.

Dogwood Parade
April 27: A celebration of art, nature, and community moves down Gay Street with bands, floats, giant helium balloons, and performing arts groups.

Dogwood Mile & Party on the Square
April 27: Walk, jog, or sprint through the streets of downtown Knoxville. After party, complete with live music and a Cornhole Tournament, to follow. Registration required.

Bikes & Blooms
April 28-29: Experience the Dogwood trails the lean, green way – on a bicycle by way of an organized or self-guided ride.

Dogwood Art DeTour
April 28-29: Local artists open their studios and take you behind the scenes of their creative processes.

Diva Luncheon
May 3: A celebratory luncheon featuring a wearable art fashion show and sale at Knoxville Marriott. Ticket required.

Art Source
May 4-25: The talents of Knox County Schools’ art instructors take the spotlight at this exhibition. U.T. Downtown Gallery – 106 South Gay Street

For more information, including a complete Festival Calendar of Events and ticket information, visit www.dogwoodarts.com.

Make sure to enjoy all our city has to offer this April during Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival. Grab your shoes, bike or keys and take in the many views, events, and shows all here in the city for you.

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Categories: Downtown, Entertainment, Family Friendly, Market Square, Outdoors.

By Katherine
— March 22, 2012 at 4:24 pm

Paint Knoxville Green this St. Patrick’s Day!

Are you looking for things to do for St. Patrick’s Day in Knoxville? Make sure you’re wearing green (we cannot protect you from any unwanted pinches) and join the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Knoxville!

Whether a pub crawl around the Old City puts the pep in your Irish step, or a more sedentary stop gets your jig, well… jiggy, Knoxville’s got plenty for locals and visitors to do. Here are some of the top picks of events taking place on this festive holiday:

Old City Pub Crawl – Old City in downtown Knoxville – March 17
For $8.00, guests can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at nine (9) bars during the well-known Knoxville pub crawl. Knoxville participating pubs include favorites like the Crown & Goose, Barley’s, NV Nightclub, Urban Bar, Carleo’s, Old City Entertainment Venue, Southbound, Jig & Reel, and Hannah’s Café.
Get your wristband at any participating pub to start off the night and begin crawlin’!

Four Leaf Peat – The Square Room at Café 4 – March 17th 8:00 p.m.
Four Leaf Peat will share their limited edition EP with Knoxville on St. Patrick’s Day at the Square Room. Only 204 copies have been made, and the group will be signing each record, so make sure to grab a copy while listening to them perform live at the Square Room in Market Square located in downtown Knoxville. For more information, visit http://www.fourleafpeat.com.

St. Patty’s Day Party featuring Tuatha Dea, Cletus Got Shot, Cutthroat Shamrock, and Ian Thomas – Preservation Pub – March 17th 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Preservation Pub is hosting Tuatha Dea, Cletus Got Shot, Cutthroat Shamrock, and Ian Thomas for a St. Patrick’s Day Market Square Block Party. If this mix of singers and bands sounds like a good time, make sure to get down to Preservation Pub in Market Square located in downtown Knoxville to hear it live. For more information, visit http://preservationpub.com.

Logan Murrell – Blue Coast Burrito Grille – Market Square – March 17th
Blue Coast Burrito Grille will have a live performance by local musician Logan Murrell on Saint Patrick’s Day. Head on over for “get your green on” guacamole, grab a green beer and enjoy the live music! For more information, call 865-243-2300.

The Shoe-Shakerz and The Pop Rox – Irish Times Pub & Restaurant – March 17th 9:00 p.m.
The Shoe- Shakerz and The Pop Rox will be performing at the Irish Times Pub & Restaurant for St. Patrick’s Day. Two totally different bands with two ironically misspelled names will perform live. Don’t miss out on this dynamic duo at this West Knoxville location. For more information, visit http://www.irishtimesknoxville.com.

Whether you celebrate with a pint or put on your dancing shoes, the city has many options for the Irish in everyone. So make plans now to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Knoxville!

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Categories: Downtown, Entertainment, Market Square, Nightlife, Old City.

By Katherine
— March 5, 2012 at 2:35 pm

Local and Regional Artists Featured at Knoxville’s Most Creative Shop

What exactly is Rala? Well, they like to refer to themselves as a “shoppery”, part shop part gallery. If you’ve got a creative bone in your body, this is the place to go. No creative bones but you enjoy others work? This is a one stop shop for local and regional arts and crafts options. The store sells everything from pictures, cards, clothes and more. Works are evaluated by a committee before being chosen then sold on a consignment basis for sixty days. Just this afternoon I stopped by the shoppery and found myself surrounded by unique creations that I hadn’t seen anywhere else in the city. My favorite choice among the different options were the vast assortment of unique cards. With a card for every occasion, this is the store I would recommend to visitors looking for a unique creation to take back home with them.

Rala Photo

 

While talking to the sales clerk, I found out about their featured artist on every First Friday of the month, with a new person showing their work each time. My favorite decorative piece was a “Hey ya’ll Tennessee” print that I have down on my current wish list of things I want! Whether you are looking to find some new options to decorate your home, to wear, or give as gifts, get creative and head to Rala! For more information, visit www.shoprala.blogspot.com.

Rala Photo

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Categories: Downtown, Uncategorized.

By Katherine
— February 21, 2012 at 11:16 am

Taste of Knoxville

Want to know where all the locals go to eat? I found the best way to sample a “taste of the town” on a budget was embarking on the Knoxville Food Tour.  Whether you are in Knoxville for a few days, just recently moved to the city, or a long time inhabitant, this tour is the perfect way to sample what the locals eat in downtown Knoxville.  Although I have been in the city for five years, a couple of the places I had never been to and this was the perfect opportunity to find a new favorite local spot to grab a bite with family and friends.

My food tour group ranged from young to old with a mix of visitors and locals in town looking for a favorite spot to eat. I was able to take the Friday tour, stopping at six different spots along the way, although there are Saturday and Sunday tours for those who can’t make Friday.  Each day has a unique route with different stops so attendees who return for a second tour on another day will have a chance to try all new options.

One unique aspect of this tour that my group members and I really enjoyed was the opportunity to hear about some of Knoxville’s history while walking to and from the restaurants.  Guide and creator of the tour, Paula Johnson, fills the time between stops with tidbits about the city’s downtown history.

Each stop has an option that is different than the last, making each sampling unique.  My eyes were amazed by the presentation of sushi at Shono’s and I had to try the birthday cake gelato at Coolato Gelato. I made sure to grab a slice of pizza at Dazzo’s and enjoyed seasonal options at Bistro at the Bijou.  I didn’t just find one new favorite restaurant; I found new dishes at places I had gone to for years.  After the tour, you might find a new favorite spot to enjoy a meal during the rest of your vacation, your next stay in town, or as a returning local customer.

I found favorite restaurants and dishes during my time on the food tour and have already planned to return on a Saturday or Sunday to sample food at all new locations and find a few new dishes to enjoy when I eat downtown.  Learn more about this unique dining experience at www.knoxvillefoodtours.com.

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Categories: Dining, Downtown, Food, Market Square, Old City.

By Katherine
— January 31, 2012 at 2:41 pm

Broadway Sounds and Scenes Captured at the Tennessee Theatre

As the lights dim, the blue lighting along the ceiling makes the artwork and architecture in the Tennessee Theatre pop, so much so that you begin to stare at all the intricate details that adorn each area of this nearly 85 year old historic building.  While your eyes wander from one side of the theatre to the next, you begin to hear the music and eyes immediately shoot forward to the stage as the story begins. For the next two and a half hours, all eyes in the theatre are on the stage watching different characters sing solos and company numbers ranging from songs about love to death and everything in between.

Each character’s voice brought its own unique touch to the performance, from Jean Valjean’s powerful voice to the sweet sounds of the young Cosette. Every voice brought a different sound to the stage while still complementing each other perfectly during different scenes.  One number that attendees will likely get a good laugh out of is “Master of the House,” with its upbeat tune, energetic choreography and more than a few jokes to get the audience laughing.  Whether looking for solos or full company numbers, energetic or slower paced songs and everything in between – this production of Les Miserables has a scene for every taste.  Audience members, ranging from married couples to young children, clapped and cheered after each song concluded.

Not only did the performers steal the show with their voices, but the set and the backdrop screen provided audience members a unique visual aspect that added to the performance.  The screen made it easy to change the background from one picture to the next seamlessly with different projections, and allowed audience members to focus on the performance and not be interrupted by constant set changes.  The background projections showed many locations including a city portrait and then later changed to an underground tunnel.  To really understand the projections, one must see it in the audience to get the full effect of how much it adds to the performance.

This performance truly made the audience feel as though the show was taking place in London or New York with the phenomenal cast members, sets and more, all while sitting right in downtown Knoxville. Les Miserables has performances until January 15, but if interested in other Broadway at the Tennessee shows, make sure to learn more about Shrek the Musical in February, South Pacific in March, and Riverdance Farewell Tour in May.  For more information, visit http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/tickets/broadway-at-the-tennessee/.

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Categories: Downtown, Entertainment.

By Katherine
— January 13, 2012 at 10:03 am

The Haunted Bijou Theatre with The Civil Wars

The Bijou Theatre is HauntedI’ve heard it. You may have heard it, but now I know it’s true. There may or may not be spirits roaming around the Bijou Theatre, but there is definitely an aura after the performance by The Civil Wars.

This isn’t Pitchfork, so I hope you’re not disappointed that this will not be an eloquent dissertation on the duo’s musical genius. No, this is just a rambling about their commanding presence inside a historic theatre that Joy Williams said felt like a large living room. I’m guessing, from a couple of house shows that I’ve been to, that she means intimate. Yes, there were a few hundred people around me at this sold out show but it really felt like I was the only other person in the room. I was privy to their playfulness hidden from the rest of the world that night. It was exquisite. When they sang Barton Hollow the room bellowed along with John Paul’s soulful voice while the first chords of Poison and Wine ushered in an eerie silence. The Bijou was certainly haunted that night but it was by lyrics and passion instead of apparitions and lost souls.

P.S. Not to flame the fire that the Bijou is haunted (it is), but I have a friend whose young daughter called out to him to come down stairs and tell the guy behind him to come too. He turned around and no one was there. He then asked her who and she said “the guy right behind you” and then skipped away. Creepy.

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Categories: Downtown, Entertainment, Nightlife.

By bcollier
— December 13, 2011 at 3:47 pm

A Knoxville Dog’s Life

Dog Parks in Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville is the perfect place for visitors, but did you know that pets can enjoy the city too? Knoxville was named the most dog-friendly city in the Southeast this year and residents aren’t the only ones looking for places to take man’s best friend. Visitors to our city can bring along their furry friends and enjoy a day out at one of the many dog parks in the Knoxville area. From fetching a ball to swimming in a pond to enjoying a run with other canines, each of the dog parks in the city is unique. These parks will have your four-legged friend partaking in activities on natural and manmade areas and give them the opportunity to interact with other dogs. For more information about the Knoxville area dog parks, please visit www.petfriendliestcommunity.com.

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Categories: Family Friendly, Outdoors.

By Robb
— December 7, 2011 at 8:58 am

Rocky Top Tennessee – The UT Football Experience

UT Football Experience in Knoxville, TennesseeAs the leaves begin to turn beautiful shades of orange in East Tennessee, so do the color of peoples’ wardrobe in preparation for football time in Tennessee. The change in seasons from the hot summer months to the pleasant cool fall air makes the perfect backdrop for the Vol nation to come out for games every Saturday. From the Vol Navy on the Tennessee River to the swarms of students, alumni and University of Tennessee fans tailgating on campus, there is nothing like dressing up in your orange and white and making your way to Neyland Stadium for the game. Make sure to get down near the stadium before kick-off for the well known Vol Walk and show your support as the University of Tennessee team makes their way to Neyland Stadium walking through the crowd of fans! Experience one of the largest football stadiums in the nation by getting a snapshot of the Vols mascot Smokey and sing along as the Pride of the Southland Marching Band plays tunes throughout the game. Whether you have been a Volunteer fan your whole life or are in town for a visit and want to experience a game for the first time, any University of Tennessee football game will be a once in a lifetime experience and will have you leaving the stadium shouting Rocky Top.

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Categories: Family Friendly, Sports.

By Robb
— November 30, 2011 at 8:28 am

Old City Offers a Unique Mix of Options for Nightlife

Although some might think the historic Old City in downtown Knoxville is just for old historic buildings and antique shops, this area proves to be the liveliest for Knoxville nightlife. If someone is looking for the best places to go out in the city, the Old City is a section not to be missed. The mixture of old historic buildings with new shopping, restaurant and nightlife makes this the prime spot for those looking to have a fun time with friends or meet new ones.

Start off the night with a group of friends in the Old City for an eclectic mix of bars, pubs and dance venues. If anyone is looking for a easy going location, there are options from Barley’s to Urban Bar and Crown and Goose, that are perfect for sitting down and relaxing. Urban Bar’s patio is the best location for some cool breezes while talking to good friends and people watching along the main street of the Old City. Barley’s always has some good music to kick back and listen to while chatting with locals.

If people are looking to have some fun and dance, the Old City offers a variety of places to let loose. Two new spots include “Old City Entertainment Venue” and NV Nightclub that offer patrons an upscale feel. Many visitors enjoy Southbound which offers a great dance floor and second floor balconies overlooking the main street.

Walk a few blocks down the road and visitors will find themselves walking into Sassy Ann’s. This well known establishment in Knoxville has one of the most unique layouts in the city, being inside of an old house, and the best dancing crowds.

The Old City is a great place to spend hours at night when all the locals and visitors leave their homes and hotels to come out and have a good time. Take a few hours to stop in to all of these establishments and find a favorite new nightlife spot!

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Categories: Downtown, Entertainment, Nightlife, Old City.

By Robb
— November 29, 2011 at 8:36 am

Confederate Memorial Hall – Bleak House

Confederate Memorial Hall (Bleak House) in Knoxville, TennesseeConfederate Memorial Hall provides some of the most beautiful scenery along the Tennessee River. From the antebellum mansion to the gorgeous gardens and the sights of the Tennessee River passing behind the home, the Confederate Memorial Hall is one of Knoxville’s historic homes not to miss. Make plans for your family or group to visit this beautiful home near the University of Tennessee and downtown Knoxville. Learn about the history from the families who occupied the space while walking through each room and then hear about when General Longstreet and his staff stayed at this location during the Civil War. See the homemade blockade anchor and chain that was used to block forces along the Tennessee River during the Siege of Knoxville in 1863. Whether visitors love history or beautiful homes, the Confederate Memorial Hall has both of these options for families and groups to enjoy. For more information, please visit http://www.knoxvillecmh.org/.

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Categories: Family Friendly, History.

By Robb
— November 28, 2011 at 8:24 am