Big Ears: Crush of global guests, many local friends

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

These locals had just as much fun as the legion of out-of-town — and out-of-country — visitors. From left, Jesse Fox Mayshark, Scott Schimmel, Lisa Sorensen, and Alan Carmichael at the Tennessee Theatre last Thursday for the Pat Metheny show.

Everybody talks about the throngs of national and international visitors attracted by the Big Ears music festival and the numbers are quite impressive. You’ve heard the stats, I’m sure, for the amazing annual event which was held in 20 downtown venues last Thursday through Sunday:

  • More than 40,000 guests over the four days of the event attended 250 performances, talks, and art exhibits.
  • This includes 8,000 per day of ticketed, credentialed festival guests plus 1,200 artists and touring personnel.
  • Many more attended 36 free events which were open to the public.
  • And an additional 5,000 to 5,500 people attended the separately ticketed David Byrne and Robert Plant concerts.
  • I was impressed that 183 members of the media attended. That means the word about Knoxville is getting out far and wide.

Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Music | 4 Comments

Knox Symphony hits it out of the park with annual ball

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

Downtown developer David Dewhirst might be wearing a pleated shirt and have suspenders dangling from his cumberbun, but he still took advantage of batting practice offered at the Knoxville Symphony Ball. (Photo by Alan Carmichael.)

When someone says the Knoxville Symphony hit a home run with its annual ball this year, it might be a lot more accurate than you imagine!

The sold-out fundraiser was at Covenant Health Park, the home stadium of the Knoxville Smokies (and the One Knox Soccer Club) and attendees got the chance, for an extra $1,000, to actually participate in batting practice down on the field. A surprising number of formally-attired men — and women! — took advantage of the opportunity.

Ball chair Adrian Jay has built a reputation for thinking outside the box. Instead of the long-standing tradition of holding the event at Cherokee Country Club every year, she’s been coming up with unique venues — and unique themes — for the black-tie affair. In 2024, at the Mill & Mine, the theme was “License to Trill” with a Broadway star coming in to sing tunes from James Bond movies. Accompanied by the Knoxville Symphony, of course. In 2023, with a theme of “Appalachian Spring,” the ball was at The Venue, a beautiful park-like deep west location, and featured renowned mandolinist Jeff Midkiff.

At the ballpark this year, the theme “Stars & Strikes” was a perfect fit for John Phillip Sousa tunes, fireworks, and a little baseball! Check it out! Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Music | 2 Comments

A dozen local chefs join forces to honor Patricia Bible

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

Patricia Bible loved the custom t-shirt she was given during the VIP reception preceeding the main event at the UT Conference Center on Sunday.

Patricia Bible was honored this past Sunday by the Smoky Mountain Chapter of the American Culinary Federation and the University of Tennessee Culinary Institute and, as you might have expected, it was a delicious good time!

Bible is the CEO of wildly successful KaTom Restaurant Supply, the 350,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution space you’ve surely seen at Exit 407 on I-40 just east of Knoxville. It’s the sixth largest company in its industry outfitting everything from restaurants and bars to hospitals and assisted living facilities and providing jobs to about 300 folks.

The purpose of the event, which honors someone in the hospitality industry each year, is to raise money to provide scholarships for aspiring culinary students. And what a fun way to do it. The receptions (there were two!) and dinner showcased the talents of about a dozen local chefs and wine experts as well as a dozen or so culinary students backing them up. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food | 9 Comments

“Symphony Soiree:” A musical and culinary smorgasbord

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

KSO violinist Sean Claire has talents in the kitchen as well as on the stage!

The so-called “Symphony Soiree” was earlier this week in downtown Knoxville and, once again, it did not disappoint. This is the annual fundraising event where musicians of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, as well as Knoxville Symphony League members, bring a smorgasbord of covered dishes for dinner and members of the League bring all the desserts. 

The dining is followed by a series of short performances by KSO musicians. Held at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral‘s community room, it’s casual and fun. (Of course it doesn’t hurt that St. John’s is located in the same block as our downtown condominium!)

The “Soiree” is part of the Symphony League’s “Elegant Dining” series of events. They, along with the annual Symphony Ball, are the main fundraisers for the Knoxville Symphony, bringing in more than $200,000 annually. There are 11 dinners, lunches, and outings remaining this season and some have a few tickets available. Click here to browse the offerings.

In the meantime, browse these photos to see how multi-talented the members of the Knoxville Symphony — and their supporters — truly are! Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 2 Comments

Chef Rick Bayless wows Knox art and wine crowd

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

Featured Chef Rick Bayless with downtown Knoxville resident and foodie Jacque Hawks.

One of the hottest chefs in America was in Knoxville a few days ago and our art and wine lovers were the happy beneficiaries. Chef Rick Bayless, who owns seven restaurants — mostly in Chicago with New York City, Las Vegas, and Orlando thrown in for good measure — was the featured chef at L’Amour du Vin, the premier fundraiser for the Knoxville Museum of Art.

A packed and enthusiastic crowd also welcomed featured artist Tiffany Calvert of St. Louis, and featured vintners Michael and Sarah Browne of CIRQ/CHEV Estate in Windsor, California.

This was the 23rd year for the super-successful and super-fun event, which was originally the brainchild of art lovers Susan and Lee Hyde, who saw what a big deal a wine auction was for the High Museum in Atlanta and helped bring the concept here. Longtime presenting sponsors are Blackberry Farm and Lexus of Knoxville.

Chef Bayless and his wife, Deann, founded Chicago’s famous Frontera Grill in 1987 and received the James Beard Foundation’s highest award, Outstanding Restaurant, in 2007. Their 4-star Topolobampo, which served its first meals in 1991, earned the Beard Foundation’s award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2017 — a unprecedented accomplishment for side-by-side restaurants. At Topolobampo, Bayless also has achieved a different feat: earning and maintaining a Michelin star since the guide first came to Chicago 12 years ago. And he’s won a total of seven James Beard Awards. Continue reading →

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Weather gods smiled upon 19th annual “Mardi Growl”

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

“Best of Show” award went to “Punk Rock in Purple!”

Downtown Knoxville, like the rest of our community, has really been through it with the weather recently. But, on Saturday, the weather gods bestowed a blessing as hundreds of canines and thousands of humans took over downtown Knoxville from the Old City to World’s Fair Park for the 19th annual Mardi Growl parade and festival benefiting Young-Williams Animal Center.

The four-legged participants even made their presence felt on Market Square as their humans took them for breakfast, brunch or lunch on the many outside patios before and after the festivities. The temperature remained in the low 70s throughout the afternoon.

Mardi Growl, in its 19th year, is a major fundraiser for Young-Williams, the official animal shelter for Knoxville and Knox County. Under the direction of CEO Janet Testerman, Young-Williams has maintained its “no-kill” status since 2018, which means sustaining a “save rate” of 90 percent or more for all medically and behaviorally treatable animals.

The organization’s vision: “a home for every pet.” Continue reading →

Filed under: Downtown, Events | 2 Comments

Furrows named “Heroes;” party looks like hootenanny!

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

John Tolsma and his son, John II, were the emcees last week when his in-laws, Sam and Ann Furrow, were designated “Heroes of Southern Appalachia” at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris. 

Sam and Ann Furrow at the Museum of Appalachia prior to receiving the “Heroes of Southern Appalachia Award.”

The award, in its fifth year, recognizes “individuals of Southern Appalachian
heritage who exemplify perseverance, fortitude, self-reliance, and service.”

But John, upon looking around the room, declared, “This just looks like a hootenanny with their best friends!”

He was right! The place was packed with folks there to celebrate the venerable couple, most of whom count the Furrows among their closest companions. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Historic preservation | 8 Comments

Fete toasts Duane Grieve, but don’t use the “r-word”

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

Marsha and Duane Grieve at the reception in his honor last week.

Duane Grieve is leaving his position as executive director of the East Tennessee Community Design Center, a post he’s held for eight years, but don’t call it “retirement,” he insists!

Grieve was the honoree last week at a sweet little reception held at the non-profit’s headquarters behind WATE-TV which occupies the historic Greystone mansion on North Broadway. The little building was packed almost from the time the event started because Duane Grieve is a popular guy!

Grieve, one of Knoxville’s preeminent architects, is probably best known by the general public as an eight-year member of Knoxville City Council, on which he served from 2009 to 2017. He also was the city’s vice mayor for three of those years.

But he has a special place in my heart because one of his passion projects as an architect was the revitalization of the historic Miller’s Department Store building on Gay Street. That’s where the public relations firm that my husband, Alan Carmichael, and I owned — then known as Moxley Carmichael — was happily located for 20 years. The building truly is a beautiful — and functional — treasure. Thanks, in a large part, to Duane Grieve. Continue reading →

Filed under: Business, Historic preservation | 2 Comments

“Cabaret:” An over-the-top blast! Until it’s not.

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

The first theatrical show in the brand new Jenny Boyd Theatre on the University of Tennessee campus opened on Friday night and it is a dazzling production of the musical “Cabaret.”

Curtain call at the Kit Kat Club! Four of “Cabaret’s” stars, from left, Bryce Hagen, Tricia Matthews, Sammy Pontello, and John Cherry.

The music, singing, dancing, acting, staging, costumes, and lighting are all superb. I have seen “Cabaret” on stage and screen in the past, of course. But never has it hit me in the gut the way this version did on Friday. Continue reading →

Filed under: Knoxville, Theater | 9 Comments

Natalie Haslam: “A gift to all of us”

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Cynthia Moxley

Natalie Haslam, right, in 2020 at the Knoxville Museum of Art for the opening of a Beauford Delaney exhibit. With her are her husband, Jim Haslam, and her step-daughter, Ann Haslam Bailey.

A celebration of life was held for Natalie Haslam January 21 at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Knoxville. The some 500-seat sanctuary was standing room only and the services were live-streamed into an overflow space for those who couldn’t even wedge into the standing areas. 

“Today we celebrate a life well-lived and a love well-loved,” said Natalie Haslam’s step-son, former Knoxville mayor and Tennessee governor Bill Haslam from the pulpit during a short and emotional remembrance. “She was a role model to so many people of what love looks like,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many people told me, ‘I want my marriage to be like theirs is.'”

Natalie Haslam was married for 50 years to James A. Haslam, II, the founder of Pilot Company, which today is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America. She supported him in his business and other endeavors, but she also was a community leader in her own right.

“Natalie would have never, ever called herself a feminist pioneer,” Bill Haslam said. “But she was the very first woman to do a lot of things in this community. She did it because she loved this community.” Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 18 Comments