rhythm n' blooms, just what the seasonal affective disorder doctor ordered

Yesterday I went to Rhythm N' Blooms at the Botanical Gardens, and, man, it was exactly what my sun/warm weather/festival deprived soul needed. A good sized crowd came out with blankets and coolers in hand to laze the afternoon away while listening to some good music, and I did the same. 

Here are some photos from the day to give you hope that more days like yesterday are around the bend.













 They moved the stage out into a field, which I thought was a great change.














The view to the right of the stage. Breathtaking.





























Yes, my friend brought her cat.























The Whigs. I don't know if it was the outdoor air or what, but this show suited them better than the one they gave at the Bijou last year. They said it was probably the prettiest place they've ever played, too.













Night fell and out came the Felice Brothers. Here they are playing with Diamond Doves.





























And nothing says outdoor festival like shelter made from sticks.

Well done, Rhythm and Blooms!!!

Octoberpalooza

It's Friday and holy moly is there a lot going on this weekend. I'm having a hard time prioritizing my to-do list, that's for sure.

It's also Oct. 1, so you know what that means -- First Friday!! How beautiful is the weather? And the 100 block of Gay is open. Seriously, there is no reason not to be out tonight. Here are a few things you might want to catch:

• Ashley Maynor's award winning documentary "For Memories' Sake" is being screened at 6p and 7:30p at the East Tennessee History Center. The film is a half-hour long and explores Maynor's grandmother's passion for photography and home videos and a bit on how to preserve and interpret memories captured on film. You can bring your own photos or film for advice from Maynor on how to preserve.
• Also, Abode is possibly closing (more on that later). Catch one of their last First Fridays, where the shop will feature paintings by local artist Lauren Karnitz. You can also get 10% off purchases.
• When you head to Magpies to try out their Pumpkin Spice super deluxe flavor (psych! I'm going to eat them all before you get there!) check out Newisher Works by our friend Dale Mackey in the small hall between Magpies and the Glowing Body.
• And if that isn't enough, swoon over Duckie and indulge in your love of '80s by catching "Pretty in Pink" as part of Movies on Market Square tonight. Starts around 8pmish.

So, that takes us to Saturday, and there's no rest for the weary on Saturday either.

• Kick off Saturday by participating in the the regional bicycle program's 10th annual neighborhood bike ride. The ride starts at 10 a.m. at Central St. and Baxter Ave. in Happy Holler, and you can park at the Knox Central building at 1000 N. Central. There will be snacks from Three-Rivers Market at the beginning and discounts at Magpies, Time Warp and the Freezo after. The ride is for people of all skill levels and ages and will take you through Old North, Parkridge, Old City and Mechanicsville. Lasts about an hour, and BRING YOUR HELMET (can't ride without it).
• After that's done, it's Happy Hollerpalooza time! Things will be going on in the 'hood all day, but N. Central will be closed down from 2p to 8p for this sort of block-party festival. All the Happy Holler businesses will be open during this time as well.

You think you've got Sunday off? Think again. Sunday brings the annual Hank Day, honoring Hank Williams, who possibly died here or at least on his way to Knoxville. WDVX's Red Hickey will host the festival, which runs from 1p to 7 p at the Candoro Marble Building at 4450 Candora Ave. There will be live music, cooking and I hear B will be hawking some salvage wares.

flying biscuits, fast feet and wild and wonderful whites

Today is First Friday, so there's bound to be a bunch of fun stuff going on in and around Downtown. And out in Bearden. I stopped trying to keep up with First Friday a long time ago, since it has grown so much in the past year or so. I just go with the flow; and that way I don't feel pressure to follow an itinerary.

But there is one very fun event I'm planning to attend this evening, and that's the City People Second Annual Downtown Dash. If you haven't heard of City People, it's "a group made up of residents, business people, elected officials, preservationists, activists, and artists working together to address issues concerning Knoxville's center city." It's a group of conscientious citizens who work to make downtown a better, more fun place. Key word: fun. If there's one thing I know about City People, it's that they know how to have fun. (You should consider joining. Membership fees are really low, and benefits are listed at their website).

The Downtown Dash is a very fun 1 mile race that takes place, obviously, downtown. If you haven't already registered, you can still do so. Just show up at Pete's restaurant at 540 Union Ave. between 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The race begins at 7pm for elite runners, and then the rest of us will get started at 7:35. After the race, there is an awards ceremony in Krutch Park. Now hold on to your hats...If you dress in your best biscuit related costume and run the race, you are eligible to win an award for the best biscuit bolt costume! Because, that's right, this weekend is also the highly anticipated International Biscuit Festival!

We mentioned the Biscuit Festival a while back and sure are excited that it's finally here. So Biscuit Festival gives you extra incentive to head downtown for either First Friday, or a fun Saturday, or both. You can visit the website I linked above for a full list of events.

Also, I would be remiss if I did not mention the East Tennessee premier of The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. That's tonight, Friday, at 8:30 at The Shed out in Maryville. If you don't know anything about Dancing Outlaw Jesco White and his wacky family, then you sure are missing out. Dancing Outlaw is a cult classic documentary about Jesco and his family, and this new documentary, produced by Storm Taylor, looks to be awesome. You can get ticket information, directions, and view a film trailer from our buddies Knoxville Films. I think that after I do my dash, I am going to dash on over to Maryville to catch the premier.

Happy weekend, y'all.

Update: Lo has just informed me that his lovely wife is showing biscuit-inspired art at Coffee and Chocolate as a part of the International Biscuit Festival art competition. After you run or stuff your face with delicious biscuity treats, head over to Coffee and Chocolate to check it out!

For the Artist (in you)

Below you will find information on one art show you shouldn't miss and two calls for artists. Scroll down for more details that I've lazily copy and pasted for you.

a) Katie Ries's MFA Show at the Downtown Gallery on Gay Street, now until April 30th
b) a call for entries for the 75th Commemorative Exhibition for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
and
c) a call for entries for the International Biscuit Festival's Art Exhibition

Happy art viewing and making!!!!

a) Katie Ries MFA show: The URBAN LAND SCOUTS will be on display at the Downtown Gallery in Knoxville from April 16th - 30th.


















Gallery hours are as follows:

Wednesday - Friday, 11 am - 6 pm
Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm

Closing reception and "badge ceremony" will be on the 30th, from 6-9 pm.

If you want to get plants...or look at things without a lot of people around, come before the closing reception. That will also give you time to earn a badge before the closing. Hooray.

Link to her Facebook Invitation for an event tonight!!!!

Link to Katie's blog

b) Call for Entries: 75th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville announce a call for entries for the “75th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition,” a juried exhibition developed to display artwork inspired by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (or of a music-related theme) in celebration of its 75th Anniversary season (2010-2011). The selected art will be exhibited at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from October 1-29, 2010 with a First Friday opening.

The postmark deadline for entries is Friday, August 20, 2010.

**Artists may attend a private KSO rehearsal at the Tennessee Theatre on Wednesday, May 19, at 7:30 PM to receive direct inspiration for their artwork. To attend a rehearsal, artists MUST contact Stephanie Burdette at 865-521-2317 or Stephanie@knoxvillesymphony.com.

Artists may submit unlimited entries which must be original works created within the last two years in the following categories: Painting, Graphic Arts, Photography, and 3-D. The nonrefundable entry fee is $10 per entry (Arts & Culture Alliance members pay $7). Juror: Carl Gombert. Prizes include $250 Best of Show with possible display at the Masterworks Concerts in the Tennessee Theatre lobby on October 21-22, 2010. Download a prospectus and application at www.knoxalliance.com (under Artist Calls & Press Releases), or send an SASE to Stephanie S. Burdette, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: (865) 521-2317 or Stephanie@knoxvillesymphony.com.

c) International Biscuit Festival:






Do you love your biscuit, skillet or Memaw so much you want to paint a picture? Then the Biscuit Art competition is for you! We welcome all kinds of art in line with our statement of purpose. It doesn’t even have to be of a biscuit but just something that relates to a biscuit. We’ll be exhibiting in the window display at Reruns, in Coffee and Chocolate and at the Square Room beginning on First Friday June 4th and throughout the month of June. We welcome all kinds of artists from all kinds of backgrounds. Please look over our application if you got some biscuit in you waiting to come out for the world to see. EXTENDED DEADLINE!

Biscuit Art final 2010

Biscuit Art Entry Fee – $15

Scenes from the Dogwood Festival

Greetings all, I hope you made it out to the Dogwood Arts Festival this weekend. Our downtown was packed with locals and visitors taking in the sights, sounds and smells (Kettle Corn!) of this most perfect weekend.

In case you missed it, here are a few shots from yesterday's festivities. Enjoy.


Look! kids that aren't afraid of clowns. Now that's progress.






Bubbles - bringing hippies and children together since the dawn of time.


Hey, is that B with a sweet tat?

This really takes the cake, or biscuit rather

Not long ago, Knoxville had 20 textile mills around town, and, as a result, was known as the Underwear Capital of the World. As sad as it has been to lose this incredible identity, it seems we may have something just as bizarre but much more classy to help put us back on the map.

"What's that?" you sit and think. Biscuits.



On June 5, 2010, Market Square is putting on the first annual International Biscuit Festival. I conducted my first Wigshop interview last week with John Craig, president of the Market Square District Association and founder of the festival. I will share with you what he told me about this festive occasion.

He admits the biscuit idea was not originally his. For at least a decade, there has been talk about creating a biscuit festival in Knoxville because of White Lily Flour's presence, which, some believe, make the best biscuits. But it takes a man like John Craig, aka Mr. Biscuit, to make this kind of thing a reality.

It started with a revolutionary moment when John's biscuit brain cells kicked into high gear. During First Night, the downtown-wide New Year's Eve event he created, he and others were working out in the cold when they came up with a great idea: "Let's do something like this but warm."

I can envision them out in the Square, conjuring up ideas about biscuits and biscuit related events. What better to warm the soul?

After that, the party planning committee formed, known as the Biscuit Brain Trust. Here's a quick rundown of things they foresee happening on June 5. As you read them, think biscuit-themed:

•  music and bands performing at the Square Room, WDVX, and the Market Square stage
• improv performance by Einstein simplified
• a song writing contest
• VIP breakfast
• a film festival, including a documentary
• Biscuit Boulevard (a boulevard of biscuit taste-testing samples)
• a Biscuit Bake off
• a Biscuit Bazaar (where you can buy biscuit accoutrements, i.e. honey)
• the Biscuit Bolt, a 1 mile run (which Mr. Biscuit says will be carbo loading in reverse)
• an art exhibit

and my favorite:

• a Miss Biscuit pageant with an apron fashion show and biscuit baking contest

A little something for everyone. I propose they have a biscuit war, kind of like Spain and their tomatoes.

The underlying goal, as always, is to create something Knoxvillians can enjoy and that potentially draws biscuit enthusiasts from around the globe. Biscuit Mecca. It's definitely something to think about.


The International Biscuit Festival
Downtown Knoxville
June 5, 2010
9am to 7pm

Big Ears 2010: In Conclusion

{Buke and Gass}
When it comes to music, I have a lot to learn. This, in part, is why I decided to buy an Inner Ear pass to this past weekend's Big Ears Festival. Based on my reaction last year to the festival, I wanted to make sure I didn't miss out again this year. Tickets were not cheap, but I knew once the festival rolled around, I'd want to be a part of it all.






















{The Ex}

Living in Knoxville for so many years, I've heard all sorts of opinions surrounding A.C. Entertainment: Bonnaroo is too commercial, Sundown in the City is too trashy, the Big Ears lineup this year is too mainstream.

But, I did go to Bonnaroo for the first time last summer, and it was extremely fun. And I was fortunate to attend Big Ears this past weekend, and it was...














{Vampire Weekend}

What struck me the most was that, during several shows, the artists thanked Ashley Capps and shared how grateful they were to be a part of such an incredible line up.

It's true. It was an incredible line up.















{The xx}

For me, the past three days have conjured up so many thoughts and ideas. I wish I could pin them down before they all float away. I could tell you about the bands that knocked my socks off (The Ex, Buke and Gass, The Dirty Projectors, there are more). I could talk about the shrilling screams of little girls at Vampire Weekend. I could tell you about patting Matt Berninger on the back when he climbed down into the crowd at the Tennessee Theater. There's lots to talk about.


  



















{DJ Rupture}

But right now, while my ears are still ringing, I want to join the many smart, witty, and congenial musicians that were here this past weekend in thanking Ashley as well. He isn't the savior of Knoxville, as I heard someone say a few days ago. We couldn't name just one. (This is sentimental, but) I think if you've bought a cup of coffee on a regular basis downtown, you've become its savior. It's all efforts combined that have transformed Knoxville into a place where world renowned musicians can be received and given beautiful places to play. Our city has become a location where visionaries like Ashley can make their dreams tangible.

And that, my friends, is really something.






















{Joanna Newsom}

Knoxville's got Big Ears this weekend

We want to hear what you think about Big Ears 2010. Are you going? What are you looking forward to? If you're not going, why not? In the meantime, here's another guest post from our friend that we will now refer to as Wild Bill of Knoxpatch.

Hey y’all!

As you know, today, Knoxville becomes the meeting place for multiple influential artists during the second Big Ears Festival. The entertainment kicks off at 5 p.m. tonight!

Big Ears Festival is the brainchild of Ashley Capps, the owner of AC Entertainment (who also books shows all over, as well as Bonnaroo). Last year's was a resounding success. Big Ears is a festival that celebrates diversity and collaboration. The goal of the festival is: "...to offer an exciting and dynamic platform of musical and artistic discovery by artists possessed of singular and unique visions that stand apart from the mainstream.”

The way the festival is organized is a lot like South By Southwest in Austin. Venues all over downtown are incorporated so that multiple shows can take place simultaneously. The venues this year are: The Bijou, Tennessee Theatre, The Knoxville Museum of Art, The Square Room, The Pilot Light, a place called The Big Ears Annex (Catalyst/Blue Cat’s), and one show at the Cox Auditorium.

This year’s festival is being co-curated by the Godfather of Minimalism Terry Riley as well as one of the busiest musicians around Bryce Dessner (The National, Clogs). Some of the other artists include: The National, Andrew W. K., Clogs (a band that features Sufjan Stevens), Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, Matt Beringer, and Bryce Dessner),The Ex, The XX, and Vampire Weekend. There are many more bands playing that will blow you away. The festival also features workshops, lectures, and more collaborations between artists than you can shake a stick at.

There are multiple ways to attend. Individual tickets are on sale for all of the shows, or you could go the more thorough route and get either the Inner Ear pass or the Outer Ear pass. The Inner Ear pass allows you to have priority access to all Big Ears events for $250. The Outer Ear pass allows you into most of the shows for $100. At this point in time I know that there are still a few Inner Ear passes floating around but I know that they are going fast. More info here.

What is it about Knoxville that makes AC Entertainment want to host an experimental music festival here? I would propose that there is just no place like Knoxville. It is a weird and wonderful place that no one can really pin down. There are so many influences crammed into a relatively small space. You have Appalachian culture, a large university, a history of industry, and the suburbs all within a few miles. It somehow created an environment that encourages experimental music. The music scene in Knoxville is unlike anywhere else, all of these influences meld together and make a really interesting music scene. This is definitely helped along by people like Jason Boardman (owner of the Pilot Light) who actively seeks to promote experimental music in Knoxville. Somehow it just fits that this festival should be here. It is comfortable place with all of the venues within a half-mile.

I hope that more locals attend this year, so in conclusion, come out and join me this weekend in the madness because it will be a blast.

-Wild Bill, Knoxpatch

a real jubilee festival

With so many incredible venues to choose from in Knoxville, there's one that always stands out as uniquely Knoxville in my mind. Originally a church and now community art and music center, the Laurel Theater in Fort Sanders was the first place that I heard live music after I moved to Knoxville. Some boast it has the best acoustics of any venue in town. Much of their strength comes from the monthly calendar and programs that the non-profit that his housed there organizes, Jubilee Community Arts. (JCA's mission and reach is really too long to recreate here, so check out all their other projects like a record label, archives, and educational programs) On any given week throughout the year, one could dance in various folk styles (including the popular contradance), and sing shape-note with one of the most enduring groups in the country. I try to tune in to WDVX on the weekends when they host 5 solid hours of programming on Saturdays and Sundays, including lots of live shows from the Laurel Theater. While I really haven't visited as much as I'd like, I'm making a point to get there more often. Example- folk music festival!


This weekend they are hosting the 41st Annual Jubilee Arts Festival with a wide variety of live music acts, both formal and informal. It seems that 41 years could make it the longest running festival of its kind around. I'm going to try to make it to see Mike Bryant on Saturday, but I will definitely be there for the harp sing!

Here's the lineup:

Friday
7:00 Jim Turley & Friends (unfortunately, Jim passed away recently, so the schedule might change up some)
7:30 Matt Morelock, Ian Thomas & Ferd Moyse
8:00 Tom McCarroll & Tammie McCarroll-Burroughs
8:30 Danny Gammon
9:00 Lost Marbles
9:45 The Bearded

Saturday
7:00 Joseph Decosimo & Allison Williams
7:30 John Alvis
8:15 Roy Harper
9:00 Mike & Marcia Bryant
9:30 Jake Leg Stompers
10:15 Mumbillies

Sunday
11:00-3:00 Annual Epworth Harp Singing with dinner on the grounds (that means a potluck lunch for you non-southerners)

So, maybe you haven't heard of any of these folks, except maybe Matt Morelock and Ferd Moyse (the illustrious fiddler of the Hackensaw Boys) and Knoxville's The Bearded. For people who play music to keep it alive, these musicians are kind of big deals. For the rest of you, if you're into discovering new types of music, new or unfamiliar instruments, or even old traditional music recreated, then this weekend's wide variety of musical styles and depth of talent is not to be missed! Don't let the rain keep you inside.

Also- you might also be wondering why the sets are only 30-45 minutes. Well, if its any consolation, there will supposedly be jams all night long in the basement!

Knoxville Twestival haiku winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Knoxville Twestival haiku contest. We had a lot of fun reading them. Now, without further adieu ... the winners.

Back2Pennyrile for the Cas Walker shoutout (by the way, excellent use of many Knoxville icons in your haikuing)
Cas Walker, they said,
would bring us miracle salve!
Duck! It's a chicken!

Radioactiveegan for the Twestival-specific haiku
beer at twestival?
boogying with animals?
you can count me in.

Jim Clark for his Vols football haiku
Wear orange sweatshirts.
Ice beers, light grills, shout, "GO VOLS!"
Prepare for heartbreak.

AND

Discordia gets the Twitter tickets as he both haikued AND tweeted about us (and even attempted to Twitter a haiku, though it didn't work out.)

If you're one of these four people, please e-mail your real name and e-mail address and/or phone number ASAP to themoderngal(at)gmail(dot)com so I can pass it along to the event organizers and they can hook you up. Have fun at the Twestival! I am going to try to make it Thursday, but work may get in the way.

Get your Knoxville Twestival tickets here

Brace yourselves Wigshoppians. We're gonna have a giveaway! But first, a word about the sponsor of this giveaway.

The Knoxville Twestival is taking place Sept. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Knoxville Zoo. What's a Twestival? Glad you asked.

The very first Twestival was organized and promoted through Twitter (hence the Tw- bit) about a year ago. In the past year it's grown into a series of local festivals held around the world during a three-day period. Tickets are sold and the funds raised benefit a local charity, which in Knoxville's case is the local branch of the Salvation Army.

A $25 ticket purchased here will get you access to the zoo that night as well as food and beverages (I do not know if they are of the adult nature), music from acts like Todd Steed (he's my fave!) and Randall Brown, giveaways and a silent auction. Plus you get to meet up with your fellow social media aficionados.

Now the bit about the giveaway. The Wigshop has four pairs of free tickets to giveaway to the Knoxville Twestival! Woo hoo! But we're not just going to hand them out.

We want to see your best haiku about Knoxville, funny or serious. Bonus points for mentions of key Knoxville landmarks and your favorite bloggers (ahem). We're giving you until Friday, Sept. 4, to make an entry after which the Wigshoppers will confer and select the three most creative entries to win. You may haiku more than once, but you only have a chance to win one pair of tickets (unless you're the only one to enter, in which, congratulations!)

Wait, didn't you just say you had four pairs of tix to give away, MG?

You're so observant. Since this is a Twitter+Festival, the last pair of tickets will be given away to someone who tweets (positively or funnily) about @wigsphere on Twitter in the next week. Make sure you're tweeting @wigsphere so we see your tweets. Include the hashtag #knoxtwestival so we know you're trying to enter.

Now go forth and haiku and tweet! Check back here after Friday to find out if you've won.

The fourth (and third) of july

Just before we all head out on this long (though I'm working the third) weekend make sure and note that there are quite a few happenings around our glorious bastion of liberty.

First, tonight is First Friday.

All the usuals should be considered, please reference previous posts such as this and maybe this.

Second, tomorrow is the Fourth.

Of course the city will be doing the usual fireworks and get together on Worlds Fair Park and there will be the farmers market, but there are a few other thing for grown ups to make sure and consider.

HQ, or as some call it the sunsphere, will be putting on 4th festivities starting at 5pm. If you're one of the first 50 there is no cover and you can enjoy the snacks for free and get at the cash bar. After that, it's a $10 cover, but both the 5th and 6th floors will be open for your imbibing pleasure. (Max # of peeps is 158, so come early if you want to watch the show from there)

Also, Crown and Goose is being oh so American by providing cheap beer and BBQ all day. $2 pints of British ale. Go by and give your condolences to those who still live under a monarchy, because hey we won.

rossini festival: downtown knoxville, etc.

Downtown Knoxville has a LOT going on this weekend. It's going to be a beautiful, fun weekend! You've got Sundown tonight, and you can read all about it below.

Friday night is the Dogwood Mile and Party on the Square. Associated with the ongoing Dogwood arts festival, this mile race begins at Summit Hill and Gay St and quickly races south down Gay and across the Gay Street Bridge. Crossing the Gay St. Bridge is one of my personal favorite runs, and it's actually really fun to race and see how fast you can run a mile. After the race, there's a party on Market Square. There will be food vendors and Brendan James Wright and the Wrongs will be playing. Activities begin at 8:30, but I am sure you would want to arrive early to register if you are going to run. I think there's a "Dogwood Parade" before the run begins. Go here for more info.

Then, Saturday the 25th is one of the most fun events of the spring: The Rossini Festival in Downtown Knoxville! The festival takes place all day long (noon to 9) along Gay Street (beginning at the 400 block and heading South) and in Market Square. There's an Italian Street Festival (read: delicious street food...and beer!), which is a really, really good time. The festival is a mix of opera performances, art and craft exhibitions, wine tasting, street food, and music. It's an odd mixed bag of stuff going on, but it is a LOT of fun. Other than the street fair, the Rossini Festival is featuring Pagliacci at the Tennessee Theatre. There are performances on both Friday and Saturday night. You know Pagliacci...it was made (more) famous by Seinfeld. Then there's a fully-staged, costumed UT Opera Theatre production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” (Don Juan)at the Bijou Theatre, running Thursday through Sunday night. The fair is free and the performances are all priced reasonably. Go here for more info.

Remember that the 100 block is closed to traffic and parking, so leave yourself time to find a parking spot (don't take mine!) and plan your route around that block.

big ears in k-town

Early February should be very exciting for the Knoxville music scene. The weekend of February 6 - 8 brings us what is being billed as a boutique music festival, Big Ears Festival.

It's a cross-genre music and arts festival experience, bringing Knoxville some legendary performers as well as up and coming young musicians. The experimental music festival will also include art installations, exhibitions, performance art, seminars and interactive experiences.

And it's hitting up a lot of the downtown venues: The Bijou, The Pilot Light, the Knoxville Museum of Art, The Square Room, The 5th Floor of the Woodruff Building and The Catalyst.

Big Ears is AC Entertainment's newest festival, and I expect that it will have the same energetic feel as all other AC endeavors. And it's pretty cool that this festival is coming to Knoxville. Here's what AC is saying about Knoxville and the festival:

“We wanted to create a ‘getaway’ event, outside of the usual major cultural centers, and Knoxville is a great choice. There are two fabulous historic theaters with extraordinary acoustics (including the 750-seat Bijou which celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2009) along with a variety of other great venues, including the legendary experimental music outpost, The Pilot Light, and the Knoxville Museum of Art; excellent restaurants, and downtown hotels…and they’re all within a short walk of one another…plus, it’s our hometown and we want to show it off!”

It's pretty awesome that Philip Glass is coming for a show and a Q&A. And I'm most excited for Antony and the Johnsons, a cabaret act that I've never had the chance to see but that I've heard are amazing. A complete list of artists and venues is on the Big Ears site.

I guess I'm most excited about Big Ears because it's something new and different for Knoxville. A way for us to show off. And a way for us to see some great shows.

What to do this week

There's a lot of stuff that's going to be going on in the coming week here in K-town. Check out the offerings:

• The HoLa Festival at Market Square, Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. It's a festival to showcase Hispanic culture, traditions and heritage. There will be food, music and children's activities. More information at the Hora Hora Latina website. FYI: There's NO farmers market this weekend.
• The 8th Annual Neighborhood Bike Ride, starts at Market Square, Saturday, 10 a.m. The annual bike ride visits North Knox, including Emory Place, Fourth & Gill, Edgewood Park, Fairmont & Emoriland and Oakwood/Lincoln Park neighborhoods among others.
• Scootin' Around Knoxville, Market Square, Sunday, 1-5 p.m. You can learn more about scooters at Scooter School. New scooters from local businesses will be on display. If you've got a scooter, you can ride in the Scooter Scavenger Hunt. (Anyone got one I can borrow?)
• The Big Read, Wednesday, noon-1 p.m. This is an initiative by the National Endowment for the Arts to make reading a larger part of American culture once again. The Big Read will offer community discussions about a particular book, and this year it's John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. Knox County kicks off its Big Read during Wednesday's farmers market. Local important people will be there, the Tennessee Children's Dance Ensemble will perform and the first 75 people will receive a free copy of the book.

Don't forget that next Friday is First Friday and the Movies on the Town selection will be Napolean Dynomite.

Anything I'm missing that should be included? Let me know in the comment section and I'll update the post.

dogwoods a' bloomin'

Budding trees and white tents on the Square can mean only one thing... the Dogwood Arts Festival is close at hand.

Actually, it's already here. The festival features many cool elements all through the month of April, like last night's jazz concert. But none is as obvious as the literal festival on Market Square, which kicks off this Friday. Come down and see the "art"... aka crafts. What I've seen on the Square in past years was OK, but not really art with a capital A. But anything that gets Knox County down into downtown is fine by me, even if it is to buy a piece of wood with a poem about cats painted on it.

And kudos to the festival for getting the local art galleries to plug in: this Friday will be "Second Friday," ala First Friday, with all the local galleries open in conjunction with the festival. So come on down Farraguttans, Karnsians, Fountain Cittites, et al. Be festive and get ya'll a dose of art.