One of the questions Alan and I are most frequently asked by our suburban friends is this: What’s the big deal about living downtown? You can do the same things in West Knoxville as you can do there. Our answer: Not really.
Rexie relaxes at condo - very unladylike!
There is nowhere like downtown to live. It is non-stop fun, fun, fun! I swear I’m not exaggerating. Here’s a look at last weekend, for example. We had so many activities scheduled that we decided to drive in from the ‘burbs Saturday morning and stay Saturday night in our tiny little downtown condo.
We did have one small bone of contention: Alan wanted to bring Rexie, our calico cat, with us. I didn’t. “Can’t we just leave her alone for one night?” I whined. “No,” he said.
Alrighty, then. Into the cat carrier goes Rexie (after a huge battle of resistance on her part). And into the car it goes along with cat food, kitty litter and assorted cat toys. (I swear. I’ve never seen a man so ga-ga over a cat!)
Larry Swaggerty at South College graduation
After depositing Rexie at the condo, we begin our day on Saturday at the Tennessee Theatre where we are tasked to meet and assist Coach Bruce Pearl, who is the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony of South College, one of our clients. He does a fantastic job. Exceeds all expectations. Dr. Bill Synder is great on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ and a young singer named Larry Swaggerty wows with a soaring rendition of “You Lift Me Up.” Happiness all around.
Next, a quick run through the Market Square Farmers Market to buy organic potatoes, followed by a pedicure at Salon Visage on Market Square (for me) and then a meet-up with Alan for lunch at Trio Cafe, the restaurant next door. Then a quick walk to the office to dash off a blog post about Coach Pearl’s speech while Alan writes a news release. Then a two-block walk from the office to the condo to change. There we discover the beautiful hydrangeas our across-the-hall neighbor, landscape architect Sara Hedstrom, has left for us. Such a sweet gesture!
Sweet surprise from our neighbor
Evening holds a “Secret Supper” fund-raiser for Knox Heritage. It is a progressive dinner that takes us from the Phoenix Building on Gay Street, where we meet up with about 50 other folks, and then walk to Fire Street Lofts on Jackson Avenue for the appetizer course and then to Sandstone Court on Clinch for the main course. Camaraderie is terrific, as are the views from the roofs of our hosts’ homes.
We skip the dessert course at Bob and Marie Alcorn’s condo above Mast General Store (which we hear was terrific) because we want to head to the Bistro and hear our friend Maggie Longmire perform. A nice sized crowd is there and Maggie is terrific. She has a voice like nobody else and is in fine form Saturday night.
Main course at Sandstone Court
We sleep like babes (with Rexie) and are awakened Sunday morning by downtown church bells, as we always are when we stay on Church Avenue (natch). We hurry to meet our favorite brunch group at Tomato Head and get caught up on all the downtown gossip. As Alan heads to Holston Hills to meet his golf foursome, I cut through Krutch Park on my walk back to the condo and notice two cool new pieces of sculpture I haven’t seen before. Krutch Park is always changing.
Back at the condo, I can smell that someone is cooking bacon. I love knowing that people I like are around. I text Sara a thank you note, pack up Rexie and head back out west.
As I often say, you just can’t get all this in the ‘burbs. Sigh.
Maggie Longmire at The Bistro
Ditto! Including the part about the kitty. The extensive renovations just starting at our newest place downtown are cramping my style. I’m spending way too much time in the burbs.
Silly girl. Leave a litter box and food at the condo for just such events. That way, you’ll only have to deal with Rexie flipping out!
You are totally right, Susan! That’s what I’ve done. Someone also suggested a soft cat carrier instead of the standard-issue hard one that I have now. Will try that, as well, since hubs is going to insist we always bring her.
After so many years, it still seems interesting that there is a comparison to life in the “city” as opposed to suburban life. What downtown always provided was a sense of community and access to others randomly. You don’t need an appointment when you are downtown, but respecting other’s activities and waiting for the inclusion, if warranted, can only happen randomly in a downtown environment. Often, it takes discipline to go home and be alone. And live music and entertainment are pretty much 24/7 there in that part of Knoxville. Exciting, yes, but sleep is most likely possible from 2:30AM-10:00AM. Cedar Bluff has an earlier bed call time.
The flowers look so nice in your window!!! Now if we could get a garden on the roof…
That would be great, Sara! John: funny about bedtime in Cedar Bluff. Good points about sense of community downtown. Thanks, all, for the comments.
I totally recommend getting a soft cat carrier. Caesar doesn’t exactly hop right in, but once I stuff him in there & zip it up, he seems pretty comfy. Love the photo of Rexie by the way. Kitties get in the craziest poses.
Hi, Cynthia!
This article is such a delight…. I know from your background that you are a writer, but my ‘everyday’ experience of you is one of leader and entrepreneur. It’s a real pleasure to hear your perspective in this and other articles.
Thanks for sharing your voice!
Wynn Saggus
Aw, Wynn. You are so sweet. Thanks!
Just loving this blog. Thank you Cynthia and Alan. While my husband George Scott and I love our acre in Fountain City….Downtown is another world full of urban happy. Heart. Kitty stuff making me LOL too… It’s time we shout out what wonderment we’ve got in Downtown Knoxville. It’s here…
Thank you for sharing,
Mary Leidig.
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