As a former newspaper reporter, I am something of a skeptic. That’s probably why I became a reporter in the first place. So it’s perhaps understandable that, 18 years ago, when I was selected to be in that year’s Leadership Knoxville class, I had low expectations. I mostly had covered business and government and politics [...]

Filed under: Business, Knoxville | 14 Comments »

OK. Put away that turkey and dressing. Get the dishes in the dishwasher. Maybe take a nap. But then, at some point this weekend, pry the folks away from the football games on TV and get yourself over to the Knoxville Convention Center for the Fantasy of Trees. It’s time to get in the Christmas [...]

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Knoxville | 4 Comments »

When Glenn Laiken moved to Knoxville from California three years ago, it created quite the stir. He is the well-known personal designer/stylist of men’s clothes, remember? His clients have included Dr. Phil, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and L.A. Lakers coach Phil Jackson, among many others. He styled all the clothes for the movie American Gigolo. Jack Neely [...]

Filed under: Business, Downtown, Knoxville | 17 Comments »

The sweetest, most delicious, most non-pressure fundraiser every year is the “Raise the Roots” dinner that benefits Beardsley Community Farm. This is the second year we have attended the scrumptious event held at Tomato Head on Market Square, which donates a lot of  the food and provides cooks and servers who also donate their time. [...]

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Food, Knoxville | 6 Comments »

This is a guest blog post by my friend and client Mary Bogert, the general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center. She wrote it for her own blog, From Inside the Center, shortly after a welcome event that Moxley Carmichael put together last month for Hart at the Convention Center. So, here’s Mary:
I’ve met the [...]

Filed under: Business, Downtown, Events, Knoxville, UT sports | No Comments »

One of the hardest things to get used to after being elected Tennessee governor, according to Gov. Bill Haslam, is not being able to ride in a car alone with his wife, Crissy. “Just think about it,” Haslam commented over dinner recently.

Filed under: Business, Events, Knoxville, Media, Politics | 6 Comments »

The annual Pilot Pumpers fundraiser for the United Way last month raised a record $63,478. Here’s the deal: during the three-day promotion at all area Pilot convenience stores, Pilot donates to United Way five cents for every gallon of gas sold and 10 percent of all in-store sales. To drum up interest in the event [...]

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

On Saturday I told Charlotte Tolley, the manager of the Market Square Farmers’ Market, that I don’t remember seeing this much produce at the market at this time last year. She said I was right. There previously wasn’t this much volume or this much variety this close to the end of the season.
“Why?” I wondered. [...]

Filed under: Business, Downtown, Food, Knoxville | 15 Comments »

I don’t usually get up early on a Saturday to post a blog item. But I just had to pass the word about this great opportunity that is only available today. If you are in the market for some great art — or some great gifts — you have got to get over to the [...]

Filed under: Art, Events, Knoxville, Music | 8 Comments »

It occurred to us a few weeks ago that when you visit Tuscany or Provence, you often go on a little food tour. You know, travel from one artisan food locale to the next, buying a few things at each. And then maybe you put together a dinner using all your new-found ingredients.
Well, thanks to [...]

Filed under: Business, Food | 8 Comments »