Tag Archives: Finbarr Saunders

It’s Big Ears time in Tennessee!

The Big Ears Festival opened on Thursday and thousands of folks flooded into downtown Knoxville. They came from 48 states — including Alaska and Hawaii — and 21 foreign countries. (The only states not represented: Idaho and Nebraska.) It was … Continue reading

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

90th anniversary cocktail party: the bees’ knees!

“Party Prohibition style!” the invitation said. And a sold-out crowd threw on their pearls and feather boas and shelled out a bunch of clams to do just that! It was not your average night in downtown Knoxville as folks in … Continue reading

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

Stuart’s ‘Summer Supper’ astounds!

Tables on the terrace overlooking the Tennessee River. A scrumptious dinner prepared by one of Knoxville’s celebrity chefs and a committee of volunteers under his supervision. A beautiful and unique house that encompasses salvaged vestiges of Knoxville’s past. You know … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Historic preservation, Knoxville | 10 Comments

Coach Pruitt scores with Knox leaders

With the University of Tennessee football season starting in about a month, you can feel the excitement growing in the Knoxville air with each passing day. I see more people wearing orange. And I definitely hear more discussion of the … Continue reading

Filed under: Business, Downtown, Events, Knoxville, UT sports | 3 Comments

Get hitched – and everything else – at the Mule Barn

The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is a 47-acre public garden in East Knoxville just two miles from downtown. If you’ve never been, you definitely need to go. Admission is free, and every visit is unique because of the sheer … Continue reading

Filed under: Food, Historic preservation | 3 Comments

Knox chefs shine at Big Ears

Of course, folks came to the Big Ears Festival, held last weekend in downtown Knoxville, for the music. And, this year in particular, for the films and poetry. But we had another great asset on display, as well: our food … Continue reading

Filed under: Art, Downtown, Food, Media, Music | 2 Comments

Urban League Gala — still one of year’s best parties

Playing catch-up here! The Urban League Gala happened during a flurry of other great events toward the end of last year, and I wanted to be sure it got the attention it deserved. It’s actually called the Knoxville Area Urban … Continue reading

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Knoxville, Music | 7 Comments

What an impact – Natalie Haslam lauded for life’s work

Every year, the East Tennessee Community Design Center recognizes a local leader with its Bruce McCarty Community Impact Award, named after its founder. “It is presented with the goal of celebrating and perpetuating both the quality of life in East … Continue reading

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Knoxville | 8 Comments

‘The Final Season’ captures essence of Pat Summitt

I was lucky enough to receive one of the first copies of “The Final Season,” the new book about University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball Coach Pat Summitt’s last season coaching the legendary Lady Vols. The early copy was a gift … Continue reading

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Food, Journalism, Knoxville, Media, Public Relations, UT sports | 9 Comments

‘Dinner on the Bridge’ beguiles

What a great idea this was! To celebrate Knoxville’s 225th birthday, the Arts & Culture Alliance hosted a dinner on the Gay Street Bridge Sunday night complete with keyboard music by Carol Zinavage Shane of the Knoxville Symphony and a … Continue reading

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Food, Historic preservation, Knoxville | 13 Comments