He seems like an open book. But downtown developer David Dewhirst is a man with secrets! At least he was until last Friday when he led about 40 Knox Heritage supporters on the 2010 “Downtown Secret Supper” tour — and spilled the beans about some of his latest plans.
Here’s what we found out:

Behind the buildings [...]

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Historic preservation, Knoxville | 8 Comments »

On Friday, five girlfriends decided to rent a couple of movies, have a couple of drinks and spend the night together. You know, have a slumber party like we did when we were girls.
Dawn Ford volunteered to host. Her husband, Richard, has a fabulous “man cave” with a big screen TV which he (with some [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

Last night was the second annual “Peeling, Eating and Politicking” event sponsored by the Knoxville Chamber. Things worked out much better this year.

Filed under: Events, Journalism, Knoxville, Media, Politics | 1 Comment »

Landscape architect Sara Hedstrom loves downtown Knoxville. That’s where she chose to open her business, Hedstrom Design. But she selected a rustic location this weekend for her wedding, which was both gorgeous and fun. She and Ben Pinnell committed what the minister, the Rev. George Doebler, described as “an irrational act,” by marrying on Saturday evening [...]

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Knoxville | 3 Comments »

Well, THIS was an invitation I couldn’t pass up!
Mary Ellen and Nell Brewington and Sheryl and Lauren Sampson decided to invite 50 women over for a very special cocktail party at the Brewingtons’ Sequoyah Hills home on the lake.
The goal: kick off an effort to raise $100,000 in 10 (more or less) days to benefit [...]

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, New media | 5 Comments »

I guess the theory is that if one Christmas play is successful, maybe we should have two!
In its recently announced upcoming season, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee will produce both the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play.” The two Christmas season chestnuts will [...]

Filed under: Knoxville, Music, Theater, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

I don’t know how I have avoided it, having lived in Knoxville for more than 30 years, but I paid my first visit to the Historic Bleak House (a.k.a. the Confederate Memorial Hall) Friday evening.
The home, located at 3148 Kingston Pike, was built in 1858 as a wedding present for a well-to-do bride and groom [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | 14 Comments »

How does a workaholic artist relax? By making more art, of course!
Julie Bernal, 27, works 40-hour weeks at Moxley Carmichael as a graphic designer. Her clients include Pilot, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Young-Williams Animal Center, Premier Surgical Associates and many other members of our great, high-profile client list. Julie designs

Filed under: Art, Downtown, Media | 7 Comments »

The McCarthys have moved to Loudon County. Andie Ray has sold Vagabondia. Robert Loest has passed away. And I’m afraid we are about to lose another downtown icon: Taylor, the downtown rose guy.
Oddly, although downtown seems to be booming, Taylor says business is down for him. He says he is selling fewer flowers this year [...]

Filed under: Downtown, Knoxville | 4 Comments »

Does this ever happen to you? You have out-of-town guests and suddenly, while taking them around your hometown, you kind of see your own city through their eyes?
That happened to me this weekend — and let me tell you: we looked great!
The occasion was the visit of my brother, Jimmy, his wife, Tess, and her [...]

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Knoxville, Music | 13 Comments »