the social history of an urban node

In urban design parlance, a "node" is a concentration of activity in a city, usually dining, shops, and higher density residential. Most development doesn't spread out evenly- entrepreneurs tend to bunch together and create a critical mass to attract customers. It must be something in our psychology from living in cities for thousands of years. Even in decentralized suburbia we made artificial nodes called, you know, "malls."



What is our best known node? Market Square. Imagine if we took all the restaurants on the Square and spread them out through the city. Would they do nearly as well? Urban nodes tend to form organically, usually with a pioneer (e.g. Tomato Head) forming the nucleus and gradually spreading out with a mix of successes and failures. Often they form hermit crab-like in historic nodes of yesteryear (Old City, Happy Holler).



More exciting to me, new nodes are forming elsewhere in the city. But always, ALWAYS, people say "That will never work." They're the same people that say "There's too many homeless around there for a restaurant." They forget that fifteen years ago Market Square had bums sleeping on all the benches. Did we "clean up the rifraff" and THEN the restaurants and shops moved in? Emphatically, NO. Brave souls came downtown and put a lot of there own money on the line to open up shop. Only after it was moderately successful did the police get tough on aggressive panhandling and vagrancy. The point is, people went and supported those businesses before it was "safe."



So I'm skeptical when I hear the same criticisms of new nodes. We see the pioneers, predict failure, and ensure their failure by returning to our familiar places. Not all new things will be good. Some nodes will fail. But I feel it's our civic duty to make ourselves aware of what's going on and go out there and try it out. Supporting the pioneers of today means we're helping build the urban nodes of tomorrow.


View Nodes in a larger map

let's talk about trees, baby

(the title is reference to your blog reading soundtrack, which you will find here)

Trees are a huge part of a cityscape. And as you may have found out during the hot months, a walk across downtown is a lot more pleasant in dappled shade.

Urban trees have a hard lot in life. They grow up in little patches of dirt, surrounded by concrete. It takes careful design and planning to get a tree to thrive in the hot, crowded city. Luckily for them, the city does this and lovingly maintains them. Right?



I can't tell you how much the empty patches of dirt on Market Square bother me. We spent millions of dollars renovating the Square and we can't even make the effort to get new saplings in there? And the dirt itself... after a few attempts at a little monkey grass, the city gave up on landscaping. Part of the problem is that everyone cuts across these patches and tramples anything planted there. Perhaps raised planters like the ones down Market Street could help prevent this:



Or if we can't bring ourselves to make that much effort, let's just put in some tree grates so that they don't remain little doggie litter boxes full of steaming poo.



Meanwhile, around the corner, the cities newest tree planting strategy is off to a smashing start:



Dirt: 3, Trees: 2

Given how long we've waited for replacement trees on the Square I'm not holding my breath for Wall Ave. P.S. Does it bother anyone that the brick paver strips don't align with the planting areas?! Maybe it's just me.



On the other side of the Square the trees that were not planted to the city's spiffy new design are doing just dandy. Coincidence?

And now for the last travesty. The end of Market Street closest to the Courthouse just got rebuilt. I loved that narrow little block, with its old brownstones and tree overhanging the street... I looked forward to seeing it get a little TLC. I was distressed to see the tree get cut down, but I figured the placement of the old trees didn't work with the new plan. I saw the brick pavers go down, same as Wall Ave... and they just kept going. Where are the trees?!!




That block of Market is now the hottest on my route to the City County Building. I might have believed them if they told me the street is too narrow for trees, except for, you know, THE BEAUTIFUL TREE THAT HAD BEEN GROWING THERE FOR DECADES.



C'mon Knoxville, let's get it together.

UPDATE:
As the commenter below indicated, there WILL be trees on Market Street. I went back and looked at the other side of the street and found these:



I can't wait to see this block after the Fall planting season. I've never been so happy about being wrong!

it's grown from home

Annnnddd..... it's First Friday!

If you're reading this blog, I probably don't have to explain the basics of First Friday in Knoxville. Art, cheese, wine, people watching...etc.

April's First Friday is usually the first time weather permits for a really good turnout, and the galleries around downtown usually put on their A Game. Tonight is no exception. In a sort of double explosion of creative coolness, concurrent to FF we also have Rhythm N' Blooms Festival this weekend. Definitely check it out.

On the Art end of things, I'd like to suggest two very Knoxville things to go see. Tonight at the Fluorescent Gallery a show called HOMEGROWN is going on. If, like me, you're interested in the way objects are made, or like to explore the fuzzy boundary between design and fine art, or wonder if the South can have as vibrant of a creative scene as either coast... then HOMEGROWN might just be the show for you.


Some art shows here try to be as Brooklyn or San Francisco as they can get, so that you forget you're in Knoxville, Tenn. We aspire to be "as good" as those idolized "creative centers". HOMEGROWN is not one of those shows. Instead of trying to transplant an outside design attitude to the South, HOMEGROWN is trying to show the creativity that's already here... with objects that could only be from here.


I think that soon the draw of "creative centers" like New York will diminish and that the arts and design scene will be more grassroots oriented, spread out across the U.S. in second and third tier cities. HOMEGROWN is a harbinger of that.

Second, also filed under "only in the Knoxville", is the Knox Heritage Salvage Show. Basically, artists (and the occasional economist) are making objects out of Knox Heritage's pool of architectural salvage pieces, and a portion of the proceeds goes to help Knox Heritage's very important work. Thrifty artistic re-purposing of architecture into regional contextual art? Uhhh yes please!


So if you want to see some creativity that will make you proud of our town and region, this First Friday is a must. See you out there!

we heart happy hour

Things are in the mix for a theme week similar to our Raw Knox Week (two years ago!) but this time it will be a theme even dearer to our hearts than sushi: Happy Hour. More specifically, which ones are the best? You know, that magical combination of getting out of a long day of work, heading to your pub where the bartender knows your name, and getting an insane deal on you favorite drink just because the sun is still up... HAPPY HOUR

As we prep for the hard task of going out and drinking (for you, dear readers, don't forget) I thought it would behoove us to ask for any suggestions. Cause even though we've scoped out a lot of places to drink, some the hundreds of you might be holding onto some secret gem we have to go to.

So, let us know what YOU think the best Happy Hour in town is and we might just check it out and spread the word...

lets get (graphically) classy, vols

I don't usually spend too much time thinking about the Vols- I watch their games and wish them well, but I don't fully immerse myself in Volunteer Mania. So it was strange that I was thinking about the image of Big Orange this weekend. What exactly are we? Back in college I mainly saw a big Disney Dog on the sidelines, but there was a real one too (usually with a little orange sweater) which was pretty cool. And every now and then I was a guy in a frontier garb.

Coming from a another part of Applalachia with a similar mascot, I was intrigued. Who was this guy with a musket getting upstaged by Goofy's backwoods cousin? What exactly are we volunteering for?

Learning more about the history of my adopted state, I found out it basically was all about this guy:


And all of of the other cool Tennesseans who went to war (1812, Spanish-American, Civil) back in the day. Even though we didn't start applying it to our sports until 1905.

I remember seeing a cool old logo around campus-


But it was going extinct quickly. UT's strong point has never been graphics (or architecture or campus design either) but it's getting worse:


I mean, unless they officially change us to the "Tennessee Hound Dogs," let's get back to our roots and celebrate the bad ass dudes who gave our state it's nickname. It's time to get back to the real Volunteer symbol... not his hunting dog.

While nothing will probably supplant the ubiquitous


I respectfully submit a new design that embraces our heritage:


Graphic Designers: Have a better idea than that piece of crap above? Enter CK's Unofficial VOLS Logo Contest! Post links in the comments section. It'd be cool to see what we could come up with.

holiday kickoff!

Even though they lit the trees and opened the ice rink last week, starting the official city sanctioned Christmas season, I always need a buffer zone between Thanksgiving and Christmas muzak thats longer than one hour. So now that I've had a week to prepare myself, I'm ready to dive in. And this month's First Friday is a really great way for a Knoxvillian to get into the holiday spirit. Here, for your viewing pleasure, are the not to miss things going on this weekend:

CHRISTMAS PARADE!
If you've ever had the desire to see every children's dancing troupe in the metro area this is your golden opportunity. At first it may seem a little cheesy, but standing along Gay Street with thousands of genuinely excited people is enough to melt the most cynical heart. It's long, it's random, but it's awesome. See you there tonight!

LESSONS AND CAROLS!
Getting together to sing all the old carols is something Knoxvillians have been doing almost as long as there's been a Knoxville. But most kids today probably only recognize them as the elevator music they hear in Best Buy while they shop. In the old tradition you can get together with your neighbors and, you know, actually sing about peace on earth together. This concert is particularly Knoxville-ish: described as "earthy and folksy" with "more flannel, less traditional choir and more like a hymn-sing"... and this is your opportunity to sing carols with Matt Morelock on banjo! It all goes down this Sunday at Redeemer Church (17th and Highland in Fort Sanders) at 5 and 7.

MORE MUSIC!
Speaking of Mr. Morelock, he'll be hosting Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks at his shop on Gay Street tonight. If you haven't been there, Morelock Music has become in my mind one of Knoxville's unexpected gems (on the magnitude of Yee Haw or Magpie's) and this may be the best way to see it- with good live music and lots of beer.

HANDMADE HOLIDAY TRUNK SHOW and EMPORIUM HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!
OK, so I don't like the way we mix consumerism and Christmas, but you have to buy gifts sometime, right? Instead of heading to the mall and giving your money to huge corporations, how about buying some local arts and crafts? You have two opportunities this weekend: the always interesting Handmade Holiday Trunk Show at Abode's former space on Market Square and at the Emporium on the 100 Block of Gay Street. Support local artists and artisans and get gifts that are like no other!

OLD NORTH VICTORIAN HOLIDAY HOME TOUR!
Finally, what's Christmas without decorations? Now you have a chance to walk through one of Knoxville's most beautiful neighborhoods and actually go up and into it's beautiful houses and see them in all their holiday splendor- by candlelight! What is more old skool Christmas than that?

Basically, this is a great city to spend the Christmas season in. Go check some of this stuff out, stay warm, and we hope you have a Merry Christmas!

they can't tow us all, can they?

In the independent spirit of our town, I came upon the above scene of civil disobedience. Parking is a fluid, instinctual game downtown, particularly in the "1 Hour" areas and "Commercial Loading" zones. The city has put up nice little yellow signs taking even more parking away for some reason, and our fair citizens have responded with an overwhelming "Meh." One thing that you can take comfort in is that there's more of us than them- when I look around and see dozens of cars with the same laisseze-faire attitude towards parking laws it warms and emboldens my heart. Surely an upswell of popular practice makes it OK? They can't tow us all away, can they?

Happy Holidays, Knoxville. Remember, buy local... and beware the meter maids.

suddenly, there were trees

Trees! An instant instant forest has risen on the 100 block of Gay Street (much like a bunch of walking trees did outside a fortress in a certain epic fantasy trilogy that I'd reference here if I was a raging nerd). Anyways, they look good even though we won't get to see them in their full splendor until spring. It kinda makes you wish it was like this all the way down Gay Street, doesn't it?

lose some weight, fatty

Hey Fifth Avenue! Why don't you go on a diet? You're WAY too big. Do you really need those extra lanes? You look like a road that goes somewhere, but really you just link some neighborhoods together. Not that I can fault you for that, Fifth Avenue. I use you everyday to circumnavigate downtown. But why do you have to be so fat? You could easily be a svelt two driving lanes with a turning lane and bicycle lanes! If only you'd lose some weight...


Fifth Avenue is an essential part of the Knoxville bicyclist's strategy to get around the inner neighborhoods around downtown. For our purposes here, I'll call it the Great Northern Transverse Bicycle Route. No other cross street works quite so well and crosses all the major routes into downtown- Broadway (Homeless Dodge 'em Course), Central (clever name TBD), and Hall of Fame (The Senor Taco Expressway). The Great Northern Transverse Bicycle Route provides a good way for the not-so-inner neighborhoods of Mechanicsville (where I live) and Parkridge to connect into downtown via the Grand Hipster Bicycle Meridian (aka Gay Street). If you want to get to a friend's house in another neighborhood and don't want to have to handle downtown traffic, it acts as a good inner bypass for bicyclists.

The Great Northern Transverse Bicycle Route

So why is it a four lane?! No traffic I've ever scene on the Great Northern Transverse Bicycle Route would warrant this Middlebrook Pike-esque streetscape. As the Regional Bicycle Program looks for roads to put on a "road diet" let me respectfully submit this huge fatty. It's just screaming for bicycle lanes. Let's get the paint truck out there and make this happen.

preserving what?

This has to be the most ironic street in Knoxville. "Historic Preservation" Drive is a little one-way collector road that goes parallel to the biggest waste of space in Downtown (James White Parkway) and goes by the loading dock of the Coliseum. Scenic right? Right through the part of town that was completely destroyed for "urban renewal" in the 60s. Is the name some kind of joke? I heard a rumor that it was an Ashe era up yours to preservationists. Does any one know the story about it? It's rare to see something so utterly mismatched, so I thought I'd put here here for you, dear readers, to find out what the hell is going on.

artists return to their roots

Two UT alumni are back in town, looking around at how much has changed since they studied here. Not an unusual scene in a university city. But these guys (former roommates) are back for a gallery show in their old stomping grounds- bringing paintings, sculpture, and LED light arrays.

Bill FitzGibbons and Creighton Michael met here in Knoxville back in the turbulent days of the late 1960s, becoming part of the counterculture art scene on campus. Together they started a clandestine magazine "The Druid" highlighting poetry, writing and art from students. After college, FitzGibbons ended up in San Antonio, via stints in St. Louis and Alaska. Micheal now resides in New York. Even though they haven't lived in the same city in decades, they have continued collaborating through the years, notably at the LAB Gallery in New York with "EELight" (pic above). Now their newest collaboration is coming back to where it all began.


Starting tonight, the Ewing Gallery (on campus at the A+A Building) is hosting "Filament" showcasing the latest endeavors of Fitzgibbons and Michael. Michael is the painter of the two, with a series of canvases exploring tension of texture and "mark making". FitzGibbons, the sculptor, has a huge steel piece (an abstract wormhole) and a series of "fire drawings"- basically using an welding torch to draw on canvas. In addition, he has set up a huge light sculpture using LED lights on the north wall of the KMA. If you're in downtown during the evening in the next few days, it's well worth a visit to watch the shifting color patterns. Probably the most interesting piece is the direct collaborative effort of the two... but you'll have to go tonight and experience it for yourself. They will lecture at 7:00 (lecture hall 109, just down from the gallery) with a reception to follow at the Ewing Gallery.

Knoxville launched the diverse careers of these two very interesting artists, and it's very fortunate to have them back sharing their talent with it.

the new old kind of concert

I've been thinking about buildings. This wouldn't surprise anyone that knows me. Lately its been theaters. Places where two of my favorite things, architecture and music, combine for amazing experiences. Since the BIG EARS festival, how the two interact has been on my mind.

I won't get into any theory, but what I'd like to bring up is a trend I've been seeing lately: artists and music listeners have been demanding better quality digs to have concerts in. Often smaller venues too, sacrificing selling more tickets for a better quality experience.

Case in Point: I was looking through The Black Keys tour schedule and it looks awful. Not because of the music, but because of the venues. Places like "Time Warner Amphitheater" and "Verizon Wireless Music Center" fill the list. Interestingly, the Orange Peel in Asheville (one of the few venues I would be interested in) was already sold out. Probably because it's smaller, and probably because it will be one of the best concerts on the tour. Why? The quality of the venue.

Second Case in Point: On Friday there was much excitement shivering through ranks of indie kids when Sufjan Stevens' tour tickets went on sale. On his site it said that Sufjan "personally structured this tour around some of the most historic theaters and venues in the country." Our little Bijou made the cut, presumably because of BIG EARS (it also sold out in hours). I'm betting that this tour could have made a lot more money playing big outdoor amphitheaters with corporate names. But an emphasis was placed on the architecture the music will happen in- something I think more musicians are considering. The 90s model of mega concert, where Dave Matthews was a little moving spec so you watched the jumbotron screen and paid $10 for a Coke, seems to be slowly being subverted by the intimate concert experience.

Knoxville is lucky in this regard. Somehow, we managed to not tear down the last few historic theaters. And we have desirable venues of all sizes- big Tennessee, medium Bijou, smallish Square Room, and micro Pilot Light. Perfect places for tours of all sizes. I'm seeing Knoxville pop up on more and more tour lists (shout out to AC). It's worth noting that our "Music City" neighbor is often missing from the lists that we're on. A musical critical mass is developing in our city. And, I would theorize, the wonderful architecture (and the musical experiences it facilitates) of our venues has a lot to do with it.

goose creek wreck

Yesterday, exploring the urban wilderness areas of Riverside Drive and Cherokee Trail with Mr. Jobe, we came upon this scene: the surprisingly picturesque, surprising bad smelling Goose Creek in the Scottish Pike neighborhood. What attracted our attention though is in the middle of the photo (squint your eyes against the bad phone camera pixelation) is the fairly large wrecked boat lodged up against those old concrete piers. What happened?! Is anyone missing a boat? How did it manage to get in Goose Creek? Shipwrecks have always been fascinating to me since watching Swiss Family Robinson as a kid. I might go back to get a closer look and see is she's salvageable. Salvage rights apply on big rivers, right? Maybe she'll become the S.S. Wigshop.

sunlight on old brick

The 100 block is the best place to be during a summer sunset.

Just so you know.

trees please

The 100 Block of Gay Street is rapidly approaching completion, and as much as I love concrete, what really got me excited are all the planter spaces waiting for trees to be planted. Later that day, I was waiting for my wife at the corner of Wall and Gay, sweating profusely. It was HOT. Like many Knoxville summer days, it was tolerable in the shade, but direct sunlight was to be avoided. Alas, most of Gay Street was severely in short supply of shade. As I stood there getting sweatier and sweatier, I had a vision of paradise:


So what's it going to take for something like this to happen? I applaud the city for the great design of the 100 block, and for replacing all the limb-dropping Bradford Pears for more elegant maples on Union and Wall. But Gay Street is our showpiece, the main impression (aside from Market Square) that we leave on visitors. There are a few trees by the Bijou, and the 100 block will soon be shady. All I'm saying is let's start planning on getting a little more good shady green-ness in the middle. Who's with me?

city chickens

C'mon, everyone likes chicken. I know I do. And eggs! I could eat dozens of those amazing morsels in all the multitude of ways they can be fixed. But in this post-Food Inc. world, I often take a hard look at those chicken breasts and cartons of eggs in the store. Where did they come from? Am I supporting an inhumane system of industrialized agriculture? If only there was a way I could know where my food came from.

Oh wait, there is! Right now in my back yard a multitude of plants are working to give me delicious vegetables and berries. I know exactly where they came from. I was there from seed packet all the way back to composting the soil for them. If I was a vegetarian, I could pat myself on the back and stop right now. But chicken.... delicious chicken.

So I can fork over more money for "organic" chicken (trusting that the farmers followed the the intent of the certification) or I can raise some myself- a few delicious egg-laying, succulent meat-bearing pets. Much more useful than my lazy, good-for-nothing dogs. Alas, I cannot. Yet.

Knoxville does not allow citizens to raise chickens inside the city limits. And culturally it's unacceptable to eat dog meat, so... what to do? A new proposed ordinance is up for a vote tonight at the city council that will allow those who want to to raise a limited number of hens (no roosters! I promise) on their property in the city. Here's the deal- read below and if you agree, copy it or paraphrase it into an email and send it to your city council member:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to express my full support for the Animal Control Board’s proposed ordinance change to allow residents to keep a small number of domesticated chickens. This change characterizes growing interest among our residents to expand urban gardening. This includes the keeping of small animals to support healthy, local food choices. I believe the ordinance is drafted in a manner to sufficiently protect property integrity, property value, and neighborhood aesthetics, as well as increase community interactions through gardening and pet companionship.

If supported by a fully staffed Animal Control force, I believe the currently proposed ordinance for domesticated chickens will benefit the community. Knoxville is not approaching this practice alone. Seattle, Portland (OR and ME), San Francisco, Denver, Fort Collins, Madison, Cedar Falls, and our neighbor Asheville, NC have recently passed similar code amendments. The main themes throughout these ordinances (and addressed by our city’s Animal Control) relate to limiting the number of hens, banning of roosters, and specifying that hens be confined within coops of specific design and construction.

Regards,

[YOU]

Better yet, join Lo and I at the council meeting tonight at 7:00. Hopefully we can make a big step forward for the urban gardening and organic movement in Knoxville. Thanks!

knoxville from afar

"Now is the night one blue dew..."

In the world of literature, Knoxville is represented admirably by two works: Cormac McCarthy's Suttree and James Agee's Pulitzer-winning A Death in the Family. Agee's work (and Agee himself) has been much celebrated our town in recent years- he now has a street and a park dedicated to him in his old neighborhood. Few Knoxvillians, however, have taken the time to read the book that made him such a notable native son.

It's a good book, particularly compelling if you've ever experienced the loss a family member. I know many of you don't have the time or desire to read the whole thing, but I think that everyone that loves this city should read the prologue "Knoxville: Summer, 1915". Not forced to in a high school classroom (which has made far too many people hate literature in general), but on their front porch in the early evening, listening to crickets. Because, that's exactly what the passage is about.


I was recently out of the country sitting in a bizarre tropical airport with a copy of A Death in the Family. I reread the prologue thinking about coming home. I doubt many other scruffy little cities have been so lovingly described. Sitting in the tropical heat, I was suddenly homesick for my porch swing. I wanted cool breezes and tall maple trees.

It occurred to me that the hundredth anniversary of that immortalized summer is coming up in a few years. The first time I read that passage a while back I was mainly stuck by what Knoxville had lost. Somewhere in the eighty years after 1915 our town had lost its charm, its pleasant character, its "Knoxvilleness". I think it's noteworthy that the passage was written in 1935 in New York City by a man who had left here. For a long time you had to leave Knoxville to love it.

Rereading "Knoxville: Summer, 1915" now, I realize that we have gained back something. I realize that my little house could have been one of those described by Agee. Market Square is filled with people again. One could walk through one of a half dozen neighborhoods this evening and see near the same scene as 1915 presented. I realize that Knoxville: Summer, 2015 might be the most like Agee's 1915 than it has been in a century. It makes me glad to be home.

beware the buses

So yours truly is typing this sentence in a wheelchair. Never fear, dear readers, I'll be back on two feet in six weeks or so. Pelvises take a while to mend. What happened? I've done got a case of "KAT scratch fever" on Friday.

I was riding my usual bicycle commute to downtown on Western Ave. The traffic was light and I was going fast down a hill. I hear rush of wind and look over my shoulder and a teal KAT bus was RIGHT THERE. Moving fast (over the speed limit) and filling the whole lane we were supposed to be sharing. To avoid getting hit I tried to move as far to the right as I could. With the roar of the engine right beside me I hit the curb, hit an awkward drainage vent, and jackknifed my front wheel. I went flying and hit the street hard, and broke my f'ing pelvis.

I feel fortunate that I didn't get hit. I'm an experienced cyclist and have ridden that route hundreds of times in all weather and traffic. All kind of cars have passed me, some cussing at me, but most doing the right thing. This bus driver, who ought to be one of the best drivers around, dangerously disregarded the rules of the road. Is this a trend?

Let's get this straight: bicycles are allowed on the road. They are legally considered vehicles. Cars (and busses) have to slow down to pass bicycles and give them a three foot buffer zone when they do. If a car can't pass safely, they have to remain behind the bicycle until they can. This is similar to how tractors on the road are treated in rural areas. If you have a problem with the current rules, contact your state representative have them try to change it. Until then, this is the law.


Those of you who drive out there, be careful around cyclists- especially Downtown. One feature of our recent urbanization is that there are are more people using bicycles to get around our town than ever before. So please watch out for us.

And for those of you who are bicycling out there to get to work, go to a show, or do your errands- don't let your guard down. Even places you bike everyday can suddenly become dangerous if one yahoo driver is added in the mix. Assume they're going to not see you. Get blinky lights for nighttime. Get a good helmet. And watch out for huge streaks of orange, teal, and silver.

where's the old city? in the bowery

photo credit: blurbomat.com

I've been reading Metro Pulse's "Ask Doc Knox" blog and I've been fascinated by the arcane history of this town. And it's brought something to mind.

First off, I love downtown. I work on Market Square, I love my neighborhood Mechanicsville. But... if I have a free sunny afternoon you'll find me heading down to the Old City for a cigar and a pint. I think that sitting in the corner booth of Patrick Sullivan's is maybe as close to the spiritual center of "Knoxvilleness" as one can get. It is the oldest building in the city, after all. The Old City vies with some of the best urban neighborhoods I've been able to find in other cities.

photo credit: blurbomat.com

I could go on about the charm of the district, but let's get to the point- as I've grown to love the Old City, I've tried to learn more about it. Jack Neely and "Doc Knox" (if they aren't truly one and the same) have helped me get a feel for its rough and tumble history. And, it it's proper name: The Bowery.

Back in the small original urban renaissance of Knoxville in the 1980s, the Bowery needed sprucing up. Perhaps longer than anywhere else, the "Suttree version" of Knoxville survived at the intersection of Jackson and Central (rumor has it that this area is where you'll be most likely to run into Cormac McCarthy when he's in town). It was a somewhat dangerous place, like the New York neighborhood it was probably named after. I've heard stories of prostitutes keeping shop above the old saloon, dragging half drunk winos up the stairs for business. Most of the gunfights in our city's history happened down there.

You can see how the early urban revivalists wanted to distance themselves from the Bowery's reputation. What better than a new name for the district? So, as I understand it, "Old City" was born. Never mind that near the river is the oldest part of the city. Out with the old, in with the new jazz clubs and lofts.

I'm not knocking the Kendrick and the preservationists. They did what they had to. Under it's new moniker, the Old City has risen, fallen, risen, fallen, and risen again. It has become the neighborhood I love. But it's been twenty years and "Old City" seems to me a bit contrived like "Happy Meadows" is for a subdivision. We need to embrace our past, even the gritty parts, and celebrate it. It's time to have a Bowery again.


From now on I'm calling the district around Jackson and Central The Bowery. Maybe I'm pseudo-nostalgic for a time when I'd probably have been murdered down there. We'll see if it catches on.

a concert under the trees

Last night a fairly large contingent of the Wigshop went out see Ben Sollee perform at the Knoxville Botanical Garden. It was, simply put, wonderful. The Garden encourages you to picnic and BYOB/V at its concerts, so in typical Wigshop fashion we came well equipped with wine and assorted cheeses. (I also found out that I LOVE candied bacon, but that's another post)

Sollee is a cellist- but if you're not a classical buff don't let that stop you... neither is he. Combining an eclectic acoustic sound that could be called "indie folk," Sollee plucks, strums, and bows his cello to get a sound that lies somewhere between jazz, Americana, and Bach. It was great music. I'd definitely catch him when he comes to the Bijou later this year.

But, music aside, I'd like to talk about the venue.

The Botanical Garden is becoming one of my favorite places in Knoxville. I remember several years ago going to Chandler's on Magnolia and seeing a sign for our "Botanical Garden." Knoxville had a Botanical Garden? That was news to me. After lunch I drove up and was surprised by the elegant stone walls, quirky round guardhouses, and the sloping orchards that seem to come from a different era. In fact it is from a different era- this land was given to David Howell in 1786 for his service in the Revolutionary War. After 217 years of serving the Howell family's nursery and horticulture business, the land is now open to the public to enjoy. And one of the best ways to enjoy the Garden is to attend one of the increasingly frequent concerts there. Held on a stone terraced hillside under a canopy of huge trees, you can watch the sun set slowly on the distant plateau while listening to beautiful music. Or, as I preferred, lay on the soft grass and watch the sky darken through the silhouetted leaves overhead. Wonderful.

I would heartily recommend the Garden as one of those not-to-miss experiences in Knoxville. Like most of the good things in this city, it's a little hard to find and not well known, but it will surprise you and keep you coming back.

Now for some more pictures:


The stone terraces.


Mrs. The Pol enjoying the music, if not the chilly weather.


Mr. Sollee and his cello, with accompanying fiddle.


As well as being a politcal iconoclast, The Pol can put out quite a spread.