Category Archives: Knoxville

Leadership Knoxville success story tastes great!

When you hear about Leadership Knoxville, you always hear about building relationships. In fact, part of the mission statement says the organization is designed to “expand community connections into lifetime friendships.” Well, in the case of the Leadership Knoxville Class … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 11 Comments

‘Mozart in the Garden:’ magical in many ways

“Mozart in the Garden,” a free evening of music by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra held at four locations in the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, was an almost magical experience last week. Quartets each played two sets in three locations … Continue reading

Filed under: Knoxville, Music | 2 Comments

‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’

Although that quote is credited to the late Queen Elizabeth II, last week it rang true here in Knoxville to the many friends of Christy Lee, among whom Alan and I count ourselves. Christy passed away suddenly on July 6 … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Media | 20 Comments

World’s Fair celebration mimics the real World’s Fair — a great party followed by a stormy aftermath

Forty years ago, I was a reporter for The Knoxville Journal. I covered business and city government, which meant, of course, that in 1982, I covered the World’s Fair. The World’s Fair claims to have had 11 million visitors. That’s … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 9 Comments

Even after Selma, a call for new guardians

Noted civil rights pioneer JoAnne Bland was in Knoxville last week and I’m so glad I got to see her. She was at the historic Tennessee Theatre as part of Beck Cultural Exchange Center’s “Eighth of August” celebration. The event … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 8 Comments

Kids get shoes, school supplies — and smiles!

About 6,000 people packed Caswell Park on Saturday for the Knoxville Area Urban League’s annual “Shoes for School” event, which provided local children with new shoes and school supplies and connected families with valuable community resources. The back-to-school bash — … Continue reading

Filed under: Downtown, Knoxville, Media | 5 Comments

Terrible trophy yields good idea!

It’s gotten to be an old — and, frankly, kind of boring — joke among Leadership Knoxville graduates that their class was “the best class ever.” Going into its 33rd class starting later this month, the venerable leadership training organization … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 2 Comments

Elegant evening at Annandale was not a gamble

It was hot as blazes for the second of Knox Heritage’s three Summer Supper fundraisers this season, but the food, drinks and camaraderie were awesome. And there was good music and an interesting restored house. It featured a fantastic poker … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Historic preservation, Knoxville | 7 Comments

What to buy an 80-year-old minister for his birthday?

Rev. Harold Middlebrook, a beloved Knoxville minister who was an icon of the civil rights movement, turned 80 earlier this month and his friends and family threw him a party. Daughter LaKenya Middlebrook, the city of Knoxville’s community safety director, … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 5 Comments

New Police Chief Paul Noel calls Knoxville ‘a great city’ but is surprised by magnitude of homeless problem

Knoxville’s new police chief, Paul Noel, had been on the job just five weeks and two days when he attended a community “meet and greet” gathering last night at All Occasions Party Rentals on Middlebrook Pike. But he seemed totally … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Politics | 3 Comments