Thursday, April 29, 2010

It's nice when things come full circle



I met Ali Baldwin while working at a veterinary clinic out west a few years ago. She was hired during my last month there, and so it was my duty to train her.

I learned two important things about her during that short stint: one, that she would one day open up a coffee shop in Knoxville and two, that she was very passionate about music.

During my last week at the vet clinic, she let me "borrow" some music from her computer. As I scrolled through, I noticed she had a lot from one musician.

"Who is Josh Ritter?" I asked, to which she replied something to the extent of, "Only my favorite musician."

Today, Ali and her husband Craig run Blackbird Coffehouse in Sequoyah Hills. I finally made it to their new and larger space a couple of weeks ago. It's a great spot with delicious coffee.

As life would turn out, Josh Ritter/Josh Ritter's people have asked Ali and Craig if they wouldn't mind having a listening party for his new album So Runs the World Away which will be released May 4th. The event will take place this Saturday night, May 1, from 7 to 9 pm. They will be giving away a free pair of tickets to his upcoming show at the Bijou, raffling off pounds of coffee, and there will be some goods there from the Plum Baker.

In conclusion, I think it would do you well to grab a six pack of beer this Saturday and stop in at Blackbird to celebrate this sweet Knoxville moment.

Josh Ritter Listening Party
May 1, 7-9pm
Blackbird Coffeehouse
1210 Kenesaw Ave
Knoxville, TN 37919

2 comments:

ck said...

I love that Blackbird has become a neighborhood anchor for Sequoia. Every neighborhood needs a place like this to gather. If I lived there I'd be there all the time!

The Modern Gal said...

I used to go there all the time when I lived in Bearden. It is by far my favorite coffee place in Knoxville for the ambiance and their food service, not to mention Ali and Craig are two of the nicest people. Unfortunately it's a little too far off the beaten path for me to go often these days.