yoga, yoga! lululemon athletica and the practice in western plaza

Have you heard about the brand new yoga studio that just opened in Western Plaza? It's called The Practice, and it's next door to KeyFit and just down the way from Runners Market, Bike Zoo and Hard Knox pizza. They have a pretty exciting class schedule including the only 6am(ish) classes offered in town as well as some great power lunch classes daily. They have a limited website that will likely be expanded soon. You can go there to find the weekly class schedule.

And guess what else? lululemon athletica (technical yoga/run/fitness apparel for men and women) is coming to town, and the Knoxville showroom will be opening soon! The Metropulse blogged about this exciting news awhile back, and we've heard that news of the location and opening date is imminent.

Well, in honor of the two above mentioned happenings, lululemon and The Practice are hosting a trunk show this weekend! There are complimentary classes and goodies for sale both Friday and Saturday. The image below has all the deets. Can't wait!! Oh, and the lululemon Knoxville showroom as a facebook page where they've started to announce upcoming events.

Yoga! Yoga!

nourish skin studio

I recently turned 30, and I've noticed some big differences in my skin over the past 8 to 10 months. I guess it really is just like clockwork: My face realized it was 30, and it was time to freak the heck out. I see a dermatologist whom I love, but I go to her for more medical skin issues as opposed to cosmetic ones. Her offices do own a "medi-spa," but the rates are out of my budget beyond the occasional "special treat." I've always enjoyed facials and truly believe in the benefits of customized skincare, but I have a difficult time rationalizing the expense; and most of the facials offered by Knoxville spas are around 75 to 100 bucks. That's just not something I can do every month when I've got hair to maintain and running shoes to buy. So now that I'm 30 and want to make facials a part of my normal routine, I've been wondering what the heck I should do.

I cannot recommend highly enough the fantastic services at nourish skin studio in Bearden. Nourish is a lovely little boutique spa located at The Shops at the Orangery. It's owned and operated by Amanda and Sydney, who have a philosophy I can really stand behind: "Our philosophy is a simple one...we believe that with regular care of your skin, you will see a difference." With that in mind, nourish offers custom facials at an unbelievable price. When I say custom facial, I mean that they'll analyze your skin and devise a treatment based on what your skin needs. Sure, that sounds pretty much like any facial you'll ever get. However, what I really like about nourish is that they make the plan for you. Every time I look at a spa's list of services I get overwhelmed by which service I'm supposed to pick for myself and if it really makes a difference to book the 95 dollar service as opposed to the 70 dollar one, and if I need the collagen mask or the chemical peel, etc. At nourish, they customize the facial for you, and all you have to do is sit back and relax. And the kicker is that each one hour custom facial is only fifty bucks!

Beyond the price, which really is unbelievable and amazing to me, there's the atmosphere. Nourish is a quaint, clean little space that's fun to visit. Amanda and Sydney are both so pleasant and knowledgeable, and visiting nourish is like taking a little escape. From my personal experience, they're willing to work with your scheduling needs, too, and are extremely accommodating and welcoming. The product lines they carry are also affordable. After using some of the products for only a few days, I can already tell a difference.

I travel all the time and lately it seems like I've been home a fleeting few days among 6 weeks of steady travel. I came home from a work trip and had one day to prep for a family wedding out of town. Everything in my life had been neglected, and my day was jam packed with errands and to-dos before I took off again. Amanda completely accommodated me on a short notice and gave me one of the most relaxing and enjoyable hours I've had in 6 weeks before I got back on the road. And, of course, my skin looks amazing.

In addition to the 60 minute custom facial, nourish also offers a number of services including waxing, spray tan and the "ultra nourish" signature treatment, which I want to try next time. It's a place that understands both your skin and your budget, and like I said, I just can't recommend it enough.

nourish skin studio
the shops at the orangery, second floor
5412 homberg drive, nw 37919
865-454-3035

BBQ Quest: Dead End BBQ

I was heading out to West Knoxville on business the other day and looking for lunch on the way when it occured to me that I still had not tried Dead End BBQ on Sutherland Ave. It was a beautiful day, so it seemed like the perfect time to try out Dead End's patio.

The atmosphere is very nice if you're looking for something that isn't the typical BBQ dive. It reminds me a little of the Sticky Fingers franchise in Chattanooga and the Carolinas. There's a fancy-schmancy bar and the patio has a humongous flat-screen TV (though when we were there it was tuned to CNN without any closed-caption, so I'm not really sure the point there).

The menu kind of reminded me of Sticky Fingers too for its sheer variety. I spent probably 10 minutes gazing at the things I wanted to try while reminding myself that this BBQ Quest was focused on pulled pork sandwiches. I really wanted to try the BBQ nachos, BBQ sliders and the cheese dip w/ pulled pork mixed in (you get Fritos for dipping!). But, alas, I only have so much room in my belly so they'll have to wait for another time.

So, about the pulled pork for which I quest. It was good. It wasn't my favorite, but it's enough to satisfy a basic barbecue craving. It was mostly tender. It's already got some sort of seasoning or sauce mixed into it, which I was ambivalent about because while I liked the taste I felt like it masked the flavor of the meat a little too much. (If you accuse me of being picky, you won't be the first one).


Dead End offers three different kinds of sauces with the bottles right there on the table. They seemed to each be a variation of the same thin, vinegary sauce with increasing level of spiciness The flavor was decent, but again, not my preference.


The sides. like the nontraditional pork offerings, all piqued my interest. I ended up going with corn on the cob, which was oozing with butter and delicious -- hard to ruin corn on the cob. I also got the mac and pimento cheese. It was, well, very pimentoey. My dining companion got the beans and smoked sausage as a side. The sausage didn't do much to improve the beans, so I'd recommend going with the standard side of beans, known as the Mayor's Beans.

As I'm reading back over this post, it almost sounds like I didn't like Dead End. Please don't get that impression. Overall it's a nice package, and if I wanted to get barbecue with several friends with diverse tastes Dead End would be a great place to go. The service was solid, and I will be going back to try some sliders and nachos AND the peanut butter pie that's listed under desserts. But if my Memphis tastebuds need a barbecue fix, Dead End just isn't quite my style.

Dead End BBQ (that link has a menu and all the info you could want)
3621 Sutherland Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37919-4309
865-212-5655

The second-to-last First Friday of the year

It's First Friday for November. Can you believe how fast this year has flown by?

I heard a radio spot the other day advertising First Friday in the District in Bearden, the fancy name given to the business district over there. According to the District's website, many businesses over there will offer special deals between 5 and 8 p.m. There aren't any details, but I'm willing to bet you could find some sales at Swagger, maybe the Runners' Market, clothing boutiques and a few art galleries. One of my favorite gift spots, the Southern Market, which features many handmade goods from local artists, is also a part of the District's association.

If you're not in the mood to brave the downtown crowds, this might be worth checking out. If you do, report back here!

Now on to the downtown First Friday goings on ...

-- Abode is celebrating it's birthday, and I'm hoping there will be cake! Rita's is celebrating its birthday too, and there may not be cake, but there will be $1 small cups of Italian ice and $1 small cones of frozen custard.

-- On the second floor of the Bijou through 7 p.m. will be a reception honoring young artists from local elementary schools, and their work will be on display. Familiarize yourself with these budding artists now, since you'll probably see them back in the FF lineup a few years from now.

-- Showing at the Birdhouse are Jessie Van der Laan & Robmat Butler.

-- Downtown wine + spirits = sale. Need I say more? Get $4 off a bottle of organic chardonnay and 10 percent off regularly price wine and beer.

-- Mast General Store is hosting hubcap artist Sarah Brobst, who turns used hubcaps into art.

Here's a complete listing of participating businesses and galleries. And a map too!

A Favorite Shoe Service Shop of Mine

I am one of those types of people who tends to hold onto something they like for quite a while. This is especially true for shoes. I find a handful of pairs of shoes that I like and I wear them, and wear them, and wear them out.

But after the soles are worn I'm still disinclined to give them up. My feet worked so hard to get them to where I want them to be, why should I have to start all over. This is where the genius of shoe repair comes into play....

AND VOILA!!!














"Great Pol, you got your shoes fixed. Sure they look shiny and awesome and wow you've got great taste, but seriously why should we care?"

Because this post isn't about my shoes it's about a great local business that keeps my shoes in good repair...

once again VOILA!!!











Pendergrass Family Shoe Repair up on Bearden hill is where i take my shoes when they need love. You've probably passed it 100 times and never really noticed it. It's in a non-descript strip mall with a couple of other shops that are similarly non-descript.

When you walk in the doors you get overwhelmed by the smell of shoe polish and other chemicals that nearly knocks you over. (Probably gives you brain cancer, but the outcome is worth the risk.)

The surroundings are nothing special, rather haphazard in organization and very much a "family" feel. Just tell them what you need done, or show them the problem, and they'll do the rest. If it can be fixed it will be and you'll soon be reconnected with a re-freshed and re-loved pair of shoes that are ready for another whirlwind tour of Knoxvegas.

Contact info: (No website or email, strictly shoes folks)

Pendergrass Family Shoe Repair
6707 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 588-0384

RouXbarb

RouXbarb is sometimes easy to forget about since it's tucked away in it's unassuming location on Northshore Drive next to Union Jacks, just north of Kingston Pike. Rest assured, The MG will not continue to make that mistake.

blurry photo by the incapable MG.

Chef Bruce Bogartz is a familiar face on the Knoxville restaurant scene, but his Bogartz restaurant in Homberg didn't exactly suit my college student budget back in the day, so this was my first experience with his food, and it was, well, amazing.

Bogartz focuses on using fresh, organic, often local seasonal food and you can taste the difference. His menu of Southern-style items reads like a creative writing assignment, but the unusual combinations seem to work. Between my dining companion and myself, we covered the redneck brioche appetizer (black-eyed pea hummus, pimento and pickles served with foccacia bread), pork tenderloin, king crab-stuffed filet (a special) and bread pudding dessert and would recommend it all.

Don't get too attached to anything on the menu, though. It changes seasonally, and he buys limited amounts of everything each day, so the best things -- like, say, the duck -- are bound to run out before the last guest has been seated for the night. I've seen mixed reviews about the atmosphere, but I loved it. I prefer restaurants that aren't overly pretentious, and RouXbarb has a warm, homey feel to it. The service was great too.

If you plan to go, know these things: reservations: don't leave home without them ... prices: you're going to spend about $25 on one entree, but I assure you it's worth it and you will get a hefty portion ... adult beverages: bring your own.

RouXbarb also does lunch, with a different menu and slightly more affordable prices if you don't quite want to commit to doing dinner. I don't know if you need reservations for lunch, but I would call ahead before going so as not to risk it.

RouXbarb
130 S. Northshore Dr.
212-0024
Lunch: Tues-Fri 11-2 p.m.
Dinner: Tues-Sat 5-10 p.m.
Website (there's a menu there, but it's last season's)

Stay Classy Knoxville

There's a relatively new shop in town that unfortunately I'm just now getting to. Its the understatedly hip men's store, Swagger. 


You've probably whizzed by the Bearden location many a time. It's located at the intersection of Kingston Pike and Lyon's View, just across the street from Fresh Market. Next time you're in the area be sure to stop in for a look-see. If you're on the prowl for some of the immensely popular TOMS Shoes, look no further. Swagger has the largest offering and widest selection in Knoxville. 

While TOMS are fast becoming a mainstay of the popular culture, Swagger also doles out a multitude of sneakers, appealing to a slightly different audience. They have some very hard to find brands, including J-Shoes, Clay and Creative--not to mention customizable Air Force One's, done in-house. Check out their blog for info, including deals and trivia (seriously). 


Following the more urban thread, the owner Jeremy will open a skateboard shop in the downstairs called Menace and Moonshine. Here is a pic of the still very much in progress skate shop, that opens in June. The goal is to offer everything a skater could ever want, and compete with the Knoxville skater standby, Pluto. 


The owner Jeremy is a California educated, Knoxville native, who shares the Wigshop's affection for Knoxville, and is making great strides in bringing forward a different kind of culture to the masses. 

raw knox : sobu

Today we stay out in west Knoxville in our search of sushi, taking a look at a new place: Sobu. It's out on Kingston Pike just past Northshore Dr. Formerly Tao, the restaurant has shifted its attention from Asian fusion to being primarily a sushi restaurant. I'm here to tell you- the results are good.


photo credit: my crappy phone camera

A few weeks ago Alice and I actually ventured out of downtown just to go to this place. We weren't disappointed. The first thing you notice is the "Asian chic" nightclub-like atmosphere. Sobu is not your typical Knoxville restaurant. A wall of bamboo separates the dining room from the bar area, and Buddha himself presides over the extensive liquor selection. The lighting is dim punctuated by bright pink and teal lights. This is not Nama's easy-going chic or Tomo's dive-ish intimacy. Sobu really wants to be cool, and I'm mostly OK with that. Call it Sapphire's big brother in Bearden. Definitely sit in a booth on the bar side of the restaurant for the best dining experience.

The service was great. No waiting for 45 minutes to eat at Sobu. The place is big enough to accommodate quite a crowd, so chances are you'll get seated quickly. The drinks came out immediately and rolls were delivered promptly. Our waiter kept saying "For the lady..." whenever he served Alice, which was a little creepy, but I think he was just trying for a big tip. I have no problem with waiters falling all over themselves to make sure you have a good experience.

I won't tell you about their amazing secret menu, because I don't even know if they have one. I believe best litmus test for a sushi place is their eel and avocado maki roll. On this test Sobu scored upper mid level to high: the presentation was good and the sauce just right, but the eel itself was slightly chewy. The seaweed paper didn't seem very fresh. Overall, I would place the sushi quality just below Nama's rolls, but above most of what I've tried in Knoxville. The prices are way below Nama's inflated level, which tips the value to quality ratio in favor of Sobu.

Em has informed me of a "hot roll" (it's called something else) that has jalapeno peppers in it. Sounds interesting! It may be that Sobu's signature rolls would be the way to go. I'll definitely try it next time.

Sobu is for you if you're wanting good, well-priced sushi, good service, and a chic atmosphere to dine in.

Snow makes everything prettier

Schools got out for this?

Sorry, Sawyer's

So with a glut of places that serve chicken fingers now -- Sawyer's, Zaxby's, Guthrie's, Wishbone's and I'll throw in Chick-Fil-A for good measure -- you'd think that customer service would be high on these establishments' list, you know for fear of losing service to any of the other places.

Not the case, my friends.

The Modern Beau and I had a hankering for chicken fingers one night last week, so we decided to hit Sawyer's at Bearden Hill. When we got to the counter, the first thing the gal at the register told us was that they had just closed the Sawyer's on the Strip and they were in the process of combining all the stuff from the two stores (which would explain the U-Haul that was out back.)

(Let us now pause and mourn the passing of Sawyer's on the Strip. I figured it might not be long for this world considering it was lacking something Zaxby's and Guthrie's had, which was plenty of parking and seating. Still, it was a staple in my college years as I'm sure it was for many of you.)

Everything would have been fine if she'd just taken our order after that. Instead, she proceeded to tell us how upset she was about missing the CMA awards on TV that night, and then she turned around to look at the TV on the wall that was showing the program and swooned about how much she loved Alan Jackson or Trace Adkins or whomever was performing at that moment and how much she hoped Kenny Chesney won performer of the year and how much she loved his concert that she attended and 'Oh, what award are they giving out now?'

I'm not lying. I'm not exaggerating. This went on for at least two and a half minutes.

When she finally got around to asking us what we wanted to order, I decided it was a grilled chicken finger kind of night, so I ordered a grilled chicken salad.

"Oh, we don't have a grill right now."

Even though I was reaching boiling point, I didn't ask her why they didn't have two grills if they were combining the two stores that night.

I tried ordering a wrap, but that didn't work either because those are grilled. I finally settled on just the regular ol' chicken finger snack. At least they still had chicken fingers.

The Modern Beau ordered the meal, the one that comes with Texas toast and slaw, except that it didn't come with Texas toast because there was no grill with which to toast it.

Normally I don't publicly complain about restaurant service. I've worked in the industry. Everyone has a bad night from time to time. But this was the point where Sawyer's lost my business. No Texas toast? Fine, offer us something else ... more fries, more slaw, a free drink, a discount, a coupon for later. The Modern Beau said he would have accepted plain white bread. SOMETHING to atone for the fact that we're still paying full price for a meal and not receiving the full meal. And SOMETHING to atone for the fact that half of your already limited menu was unavailable that night. I wanted to complain to a manager, but there didn't seem to be one available.

The really loud high schoolers who were at the restaurant that night for 'All you can eat chicken fingers' night didn't help. I know Sawyer's has no control over that, and I'm not blaming them, but they annoyed me enough to cause me to seeth through the entire meal.

Sawyer's, you've already lost my business. I'm much happier going to Chick-Fil-A anyway, and it's easy for me to hit up Zaxby's and Guthrie's when I'm around the Strip. But let me suggest you work on your customer service a bit if you want to keep others from following suit.

Feelin' the Vibe

I've been in some serious need of a haircut for some time, and when I called the salon to schedule an appointment with my stylist, I was told he had moved to another place. Which was the third time that's happened to me with this guy, so I decided au revoir. I don't get my hair did often enough to keep up with him.

Many of the ladies out there (and perhaps some of the dudes) will understand that finding a new hairstylist is like finding a new therapist. You've got to find someone you can trust to take care of a very important part of your life who won't make you feel like an idiot. I went on the advice of a friend and called Vibe. I had my appointment today, and now I'm totally hooked on both Vibe and my new stylist Kimmy.

Vibe is the perfect name for the salon, because that's exactly what it has. It's young and fun. The walls are colorful and the stylists all have fun dos. When I walked in today, they were playing a DVD of a Police concert from the '80s. Anyone who knows me knows that '80s music is the way into my heart. (If you hate the '80s stuff, don't worry, they don't have it all the time.)

I told Kimmy that I'm not picky with my hair ... it just needed to be shorter and more flattering. She worked magic on it. I felt 10 pounds lighter and 100 percent better after she was done. The price was reasonable -- $45 for a wash, cut, style and tube of product. Between the great new style and the music, I was dancing on my way out of the salon.

And today is a big day for Vibe too. It's their anniversary! Michael Layne, a former stylist at Belleza opened Vibe exactly a year ago today with the help of Marwan Zauok, the owner of Belleza, as a way to help Belleza grow without having to expand the salon. Certainly anyone who's been to Belleza will recognize some of the stylists at Vibe, but Vibe has it's own flavor.

Vibe is on Kingston Pike in Bearden in the strip with Wok Hay and Hargreaves Books. The phone number is is 584-VIBE or 584-8423. Go and wish them happy anniversary!

Bearden, sushi capital of Knoxville

(Ed. note: Ok, so this post isn't completely about sushi)

I love sushi. I mean I loooooooove sushi, so it's a good thing that Knoxville's got more sushi restaurants per capita than any other city in the South. Ok, I'm making that up, but I'm willing to bet it's not far off. Seriously, five sushi places in a 1.5 mile stretch of Kingston Pike in Bearden?

Tomo is my favorite place to go for fast, cheap sushi. There's nothing too fancy on the menu, but you won't break the bank if you choose to go with an appetizer and multiple rolls. The staff there is super nice, too. [read full review here]

I love Nama just like everyone else, but I don't like having to wait an hour plus just to sit down and wait another half hour to get my sushi fix. I was really jazzed about Nama Bearden because it's close to where I live, it has good parking and the space is so much bigger than Nama v1.0.

The problem is, in a dozen attempts to eat at Nama Bearden, I've failed at 11 of them because I didn't want to do a 45 minute wait when there was plenty of other sushi places to go around. (That 12th time, my friend had the foresight to make reservations. Unfortunately, I was not blessed with such foresight). [read full review here]

I usually ended up going to Tai because it was close and had a pretty good sushi and drinks menu. Not to mention it was never crowded. And then Tai closed, which I'm sure had something to do with the whole never crowded thing.

Well, there's already a new sign on the building: Sobu. It says something about a sushi lounge, so I'm guessing this is going to be a Michaels/Palace/Purada turnover -- different name, same concept. I can't find anything else about this place, except that it already has some problem with its alcohol gross receipts, according to the News Sentinel (I don't know what this means, anyone?). I'm glad to see it making a rebound as a sushi place, but if the first place couldn't make it once Nama moved in nearby, I'm doubting this place will. [read full review here]

And in other Bearden new business news:
1. Dunkin' Donuts is moving into an empty building on the same Kingston Pike block where you can find McDonalds, Dippin' Donuts and IHOP. If I were a betting woman, I would say this probably spells trouble for Dippin' Donuts. I like Dippin's doughnuts, but their coffee is pretty bad, and if there's one thing Dunkin can do, it's coffee.

This sign has been up for a few weeks with a trailer parked out back, yet no construction seems to be happening.


2. Knoxify has the lowdown on the new boardsports shop on Bearden Hill, The Board Room. This looks like a really cool place. I hope it succeeds.

Laura's Nails in Bearden

I was always a nail biter. It's a terrible, disgusting habit; but it was always my vice. After many failed attempts to quit, I finally kicked the habit for good about a year ago. Maybe my nails will never be the prettiest little things (working a very corporate job, it's easy to pick out the sort of manicured and maintained corporate lady with her matching jewelry and sweater sets; that lady is not me), but they are much nicer looking than they've ever been.

I like to treat myself to manicures and pedicures. My runner's feet need some love. And my hands, well, they still need a lot of help. I'm not a fan of super posh salons where everyone whispers and feeds you relaxation elixirs. They make me uncomfortable. Nor am I a fan of mall nail salons, because you never know how clean they are or whether or not you'll lose a toe when you're in there.

So I love Laura's Nail Salon in Bearden, because it is distinctly neither of the two things above. It's a cozy, friendly little salon in the same plaza that's home to a Subway and a cupcake boutique. At Mohican and Kingston Pike, it's right across the pike from new Nama.

I just feel comfortable at Laura's. It's the sort of little place where you could strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone. Laura sets out bagels on Saturdays; I love going there on a Saturday morning for a light breakfast and a pedicure. She's also got very reasonable prices for such high quality services! Who doesn't love a deal? Laura is a small business owner whom I love and respect very highly. She treats her customers with the utmost respect; and she is genuinely concerned about their well-being. She is friendly and fabulous. She's a family woman; and you can tell the second you meet her. And her staff follows suit; those are some wonderful people down there at Laura's.

If you're a runner, you will love Laura's. She's awesome with callouses! She understands that they're there for our protection...so she'll give your feet some love, but she won't file your skin away with that scary file thing!

My friends and I are all regulars at Laura's; I think you should be too.

5201 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 450-9254

Mary in Western Plaza

I'm a girl (it's true). And while I would never qualify myself as a girlie girl, it's fair to say that I like to look good. I'm into hot shoes and high fashion. I'm into paying good money for high quality products (I think fashion is an investment), and I'm also into looking good on a budget.

I hate the mall. Hate it. And I don't tend to like strip malls, and I certainly don't like outlet malls. Sprawl makes me anxious. I cant help it. But this is Knoxville, and we've got to take what we can get. And we're just not going to get the sort of fashion boulevards that cities like LA, Chicago, New York, Atlanta or Austin have. It's not in our cards. This is why you will rarely ever find me in West Town mall, but you will frequently find me hitting up the strip mall (plaza is the fancy word for it) boutiques.

Tulip is out for me. Why? Not really because it's a little too high fashion and too expensive for me (because it is both of those things), but because the people who work there are rude. And I'm not down with that. Kristi is kind of out for me because I don't tend to find items I love there. I do like their Nars makeup counter (Nars is nowhere else in Knoxville), but Kristi and Tulip share ownership; and just based on principles (Tulip is rude) I try to stay away.

I like Bar Denim Blues (a lot, actually), but that's a specialty shop and I force (yes, force) myself to limit my annual denim consumption. I also like the jeans and the staff at Classy Lady, though that's also a specialty shop and I will never in my life need another prom dress (and the shop's name makes me cringe: sorry).

And so Obligato has been the place for me, but I cant commit to being a die-hard fan of the place for two reasons. The first is that I've been there when the staff has been wonderful and accommodating, and I've been there when they've been flat out rude. It's inconsistent. And the thing is, no one want to go spend 200 to 500 dollars somewhere just to be made to feel like shit. It's the Pretty Woman theory. Hey!: high end boutiques! Hey! Be NICE to your patrons! They will actually spend money at your store! I do like what Obligato has to offer brand-wise, but the other issue I take is that the store is stocked almost solely with sizes zero and two. I dont know if we're deluding ourselves here, but not every woman in Knoxville is either a) in a sorority or b) teeny tiny. I wish Obligato would stock more regular sizes (like a 6 or, dare I say it, gasp, an 8). My theory is that about 10 percent of their selection is sized above a 4, and those are the pieces that always go first. Leaving 90 percent of nothing that I (and a lot of us) can wear. Anyway, Obligato is a good store. Don't get me wrong. I bought a great pair of Kasil jeans there before you could find Kasil anywhere other than LA. And they were moderately priced. But those are simply my issues.



And so there's a new favorite in town, and it comes in the form of Mary in Western Plaza (4485 Kingston Pike, (865) 450-9242). This shop is incredible! It's got a huge variety of jeans, including Citizens and Sevens. It's got tons of great labels like Diana Warner, TiBi, Nanette Lepore, CK Bradley, Velvet, BCBG, Theory, Yoana Baraschi, French Connection, Free People, Frenzii, 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent and Morrell Maxie (and two of my favorites - Oh Deer! shoes and Hanky Panky undies). It's got the cutest dresses and tops; it's got regular girl sizes! AND the staff is sooooo very friendly and accommodating. They really are wonderful. Every time I shop there, I leave with a smile on my face even if I dont purchase anything. Mary's tagline is "Collections for every pocketbook," and that could not be more true. If you have a strict budget, you can find something cute at Mary. If you have money to burn, you can find something at Mary. It's a wonderful boutique. Really and truly. I'm about to leave work and head over there right now.

As I prepare to head into retail heaven, I will leave you with the immortal words of Vivian: "You people work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now." Hey Knoxville boutiques, take a hint from Mary: Be nice to your customers!

Bar Denim Blues

Perhaps you've notice a sexy new strip mall on Kingston Pike in Bearden. This would be "Cherokee Plaza at The District of Bearden." I am not making this up; that's the official name.

It's an effort not to call a spade a spade. Who wants to shop at a mucky old strip mall when you can have a plaza? A crisp, clean, fresh plaza with cupcakes! And blue jeans!

I'll admit, I hate strip malls and malls in general; and I avoid them as often as I can. This plaza, however, is rather easy on the eyes. And just looking at it, I dont feel nearly so creepy or wasteful as I might normally. Let's call this Western Plaza 2.0. Cleaner, happier, more productive...

I digress.

Lord I love me some expensive blue jeans. Call it a character flaw, but I just do. I cant get enough Sevens or Citizens. I just feel good in them.


View Larger Map

Enter Bar Denim Blues, at 5508 Kingston Pike No. 130, Knoxville 37919, happily situated in the heart of Cherokee Plaza next to Kristi (new location) and the Cupcakery, a soon-to-open haven of deliciousness with roots in St. Louis, MO.

Bar Denim Blues is a jeans junkie's dream-come-true. I stopped in last Saturday with my girlfriend Jess. We had spent the early afternoon strawberry picking in Madisonville and were severely under-dressed for this shopping experience. But we wanted to see all the jeans! And jeans we saw! Hundreds of them! Brands galore!

We didnt stay long, but we were offered champagne. Had I been interested in trying on some jeans, I would have had a glass. Ladies, I'm sure you'll agree: you've got to feel hot when trying on jeans, and the post strawberry field dirtiness wasn't doing it for me. Believe me, though, I will go back. And jeans I will try on.

I didn't take the time to do my research, so I didnt ask the official price point or list of brands, but by glancing at some tags I know enough to say that we're in the 200 dollar range. Which is high, I admit, for a lot of people. But if you like you some good, fancy jeans (and I know a lot of women and men out there do), you're going to love Bar Denim Blues. I think it's the sort of store Knoxville was looking for.

And that's how you write a post that's not about downtown. (Who gets THIS reference?!).