Go see...

Shovels and Rope tonight at Barley's.

It's pint night, there's no cover, and they're great. As far as I know, there's an opener that starts at 9pm.

July First Friday Highlight: Brigid Oesterling

Photo by Shawn Poynter

Last First Friday (July 6), Magpies, where I usually begin my evening, wasn't holding their usual tasting event, so with a stomach void of mini cupcakes, I went to the 100 Block earlier than usual. At 6pm, it was pretty steamy outside and there weren't many people out yet.

Photo by Shawn Poynter

I went to a couple of shows that I'll write about soon, ones you should check out before the month ends, but since things were pretty slow at that point, my friend talked me into grabbing a beverage at the Crown and Goose.

Photo by Shawn Poynter

On our way back down Jackson Avenue, we passed a crowd gathering outside of the Heuristics Workshop on Jackson Avenue by the Gay Street Viaduct around 8:15ish.

I had heard Brigid Oesterling was having a fashion show and discovered this is where it would be happening. A few minutes later, Three Man Band began playing, and her models came out, walking along the loading dock outside the warehouse.

Photo by Shawn Poynter

I was fortunate to have seen another Brigid Oesterling fashion show recently in Nashville. We were both part of a show put on by RAW Nashville last month, and she and her mostly Knoxvillian models looked great on the runway set up in Mercy Lounge. (View photos here.)

Photo by Denise Sanabria

I was excited to see her designs, however, on Jackson Avenue in Knoxville, sauntering to the tunes of Three Man Band. It all seemed very... fitting (pun intended).

Hair was done by Kim Woods from Belleza Salon, and makeup by Lara Duren and Brynn Gonzales (left) of Lox Salon. Photo by Shawn Poynter

It was just the type of thing I like to see on a First Friday.

Brigid. Photo by Shawn Poynter

Brigid Oesterling

artist. curator. costumer. seamstress. sewing machine collector.  specializes in re-creating with recycled/re-used materials, especially inner tubes and rubber.

brigid.ko@gmail.com

www.brigidoesterling.com

Video by Matthew Amudsen

Gettin' Jig & Reel-y Wit It

The other night a few of your fearless bloggers tackled the newest themed venue in the old city Jig & Reel. All said not a bad experience. Here, in brief, are a few thoughts from those who ventured deep in to the Gaelic heart of the Bowery.

[the Pol]

A cozy feel, though the fake fireplace is a bit kitsch even for that place. Nice server, even if she did talk me into purchasing a "boo-yay" bourbon. (10 points to the person who figures out what she meant) Yes my mistake, it is a scotch bar predominately. Anyhow, I'd go back especially during the winter. A nice place to hole up and forget for a while.

[Wild Bill]

The idea is a bit cliche, but it works. Everyone who is employed wears a kilt, they don't serve any whiskey (so I was told, only Scotch or Bourbon) and the menu is expansive. If you look at the bottom of the attached picture you can get 2 oz. of Scotch for only $130! I, admittedly, know nothing about Scotch, but that seems a bit steep. If anyone from the Jig and Reel reads this post a menu that explains the differences would be nice. The front room is cozy. The middle room reserved for "jam sessions" is a bit awkward. The back room just feels empty. They have two felt dart boards but would really benefit from having a whole room so that Knoxville could have a real darts bar.

Overall I would give it a B-, with editing (particularly the darts because I love darts) they could move up to a B+.



[B]

To be honest, I wasn't so sure about the place considering the name, the logo, and the fact that they painted the whole building red, but after our visit, my cynicism has subsided.

I entered the bar that Saturday night after Doc checked my ID (very glad he's still kickin' it down there), and took a seat in the first booth with The Pol, Mrs. The Pol, and Wild Bill. The doors were open as it was a lovely evening. There was good music coming from the second room (I forget who played). The cover was $10 to sit and see the band in the second room, but we opted to just hear it for free.

Our server was very attentive throughout the evening, asking us several times if we needed anything. Maybe we didn't look drunk enough for her (I blame Mrs. The Pol for that.)

All of the servers wore "kilts," though I would just call what the females wore teeny plaid skirts. Being a woman myself, I appreciated the tameness of their attire, as it would be easy to slut that uniform up in order to compete with the other fine establishments in the vicinity.

There was lots of Scottish paraphernalia scattered across the wall, but the icing on the cake was a Braveheart poster in the women's restroom.

I figure I'll definitely go back, but only if there is vacancy in the first room, as the second and third rooms lack ambiance. I look forward to sitting in the wingback chairs in front of the faux fireplace with a loved one some cold winter evening in the future. I also am very tempted to try their menu soon. Yummers.


Boyd's Jig & Reel
101 S. Central St
Knoxville, TN 37902

Lights out for an old friend

How does one say goodbye expost?

Two weeks ago I was enjoying the Big Fix, a side of deep fried corn on the cob, and a cold Knoxville Corona, not a care in the world and without any hint of there being trouble in paradise.

Backroom BBQ is dead, and along with it my hopes for a quadruple bypass by the age of 30.

I've tried to come up with poetry, perhaps write a dirge or an aria, maybe some grand bit of prose to be worthy of the place that captivated my tastebuds imagination for so long.

No more horseshoes, no more bad pinball machines, no more watching socially inappropriate man-tv in mixed company. Backroom was a place I could go on a budget and be filled. It also had the best brisket in town. (No arguing that point here, it's impolite to speak ill of the dead.)

I'm really going to miss Backroom BBQ, it was a go to place for visitors in Knoxville and now its gone. If anyone has some words of encouragement this sad and hungry blogger covets them.

Cue Semisonic.





(Apparently Patrick Sullivans is also closed, honestly i only sat there to eat backroom when the bar side was closed and apparently the guy who ran it was a crook, at least in conjunction with the musical acts. Or so I hear.)

A unique way to experience Knoxville

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember my completely embarrassing post where I shamelessly gushed about Jack Neely. I'm not going to link to it, so if you're curious you'll have to find it, but it was about my first encounter with him at the Knox Heritage Art and Architecture Tour, where he was a walking tour guide.

That was about three years ago (omg) and I am happy to report that since then I have grown from blindly obsessed to a sensible admirer/ acquaintance of him. This is good because this Friday night is the 5th Annual Knox Heritage Art and Architecture Tour, and Jack will be leading the walking tour once again.















Above: A photo from last year's tour by Phil Savage

I love this event because it encapsulates so many great things. It begins a few months prior to the actual tour when a call for entries is released asking photographers to take photos of historic buildings in a particular area of town. This year, the perimeters are in and around the Old City.

The photographs are looked over by seven judges who choose winning photos based on the image as well as what would be a suitable stop on the walking tour.























Above: A photo from last year's tour by Sharon Wright Cottrell

The event this year will begin at 6pm with a reception which includes food, drink, and the winning photos at the headquarters of Attack Monkey Productions, 117 South Gay Street. Then at about 7:15 begins the tour.

Along with Jack, David Dewhirst, a key player in the revitalization of downtown Knoxville with projects like the Holston, JFG, and the Daylight Building, will also be leading a tour. It's going to be fun as well as educational, and what could beat that combination? I'd argue that this a quintessential Knoxville event, one that shouldn't be missed.

Would you like to come? You are invited.

If so, go here.

Marble City Update

So some of you may have read a little tweet that leaked out a few weeks ago hinting that something was awry at Marble City. That blogger has since been fired and his family exiled to Siberia.

I had a chance to revisit our friends with the dream of delivering more delicious libations for our city not long after that snafu and let me just say that things are humming. I'm not a beer expert, manufacturing that is, so I had some fairly unrealistic expectations about when they would be ready to put out a product. Apparently the first keg takes something close to 18 months to produce, the second about 18 seconds.

The biggest hang up has been the permits, which just recently got in order.

Please see the story here.

I did have some of "their product" though. I put that in quotes because it is all small batch and not produced on site just yet. Let me just say that they will have a wonderful product to offer if the preview holds true.

The closer everything gets to opening the more details I'll have, but be prepared to see Marble City beer very soon, and get excited.

Change in the old city

Greetings internet friends!

I wanted to let you know about a change in the Old City that has been developing for a while. LOX Salon has moved to a much larger space on the corner of Jackson - next to Urban Bar. You may remember the previous tenant in their spot (I can't recall the name) but they also were a salon, and unfortunately, had to close up shop.



While its always a bummer to see businesses fade into the distance (J's Mega Mart ... you were a part of our city and we will miss you), LOX's move into this incredible space is truly something to celebrate.

Brynn started LOX a while ago, and has been occupying the humble spot on North Central between the law firm and Crown & Goose ever since her doors opened--a place that fit the understated salon. A place to seek out. From the beginning, Brynn had a vision of creating community in the Old City. LOX sold clothes and whatnot (jewelry, stationary and a little bit of everything), and they were always a destination spot for First Fridays. The LOX art scene was always inspired and the atmosphere there on a Friday night was always genuine.


In moving to the new location, I think LOX is more formally becoming a larger part of the Old City. The new location, with its huge windows and expansive storefront commands presence, and its great to think of LOX occupying this spot.




At their grand opening this past First Friday, LOX was packed (See B's earlier post and pics). Patrons and friends crowded the salon to celebrate their host in her new space, and to recognize the enormous journey she and the rest of the LOX girls have made since their initial opening.


The new space expands on themes present since the beginning, only now there's plenty of room to do it. The apparel offering is much larger, and will only continue to grow as Brynn sources more locally made/ found pieces, and with all the extra room, LOX can now more formally play host to events in the future. There already is a consignment fashion show in the works for January.

So, the next time you're in the area drop by and say hello. If you're not already familiar, now is the perfect time to meet Brynn and her talented stylists, grab a PBR and see what all LOX has to offer our fair city.

wait, what happens at first friday

Around 9:30 or so this past Friday, I found myself at Aisle 9 in the Old City. I bumped into a friend of mine in traffic, who informed me that he was headed there, and I followed suit.

Once there, I ran into some friends, and saw several Knoxvillians who I've seen around town. Some of the usual folks who make the rounds at 1010 and Fluorescent, and many others. There was a DJ spinning in the front, and there were people hanging out - talking, laughing, dancing, drinking.



After a while, I noticed that a couple uniformed men had come in. They were fire marshals, and they were looking to see if there were too many people inside. It was then that I realized that I'd spent the past 45 minutes in a grocery store on a Friday night, and that I was having a great time.




This, my friends, is the beauty of First Friday. How incredible is it that once a month, you can't find a parking space downtown, and that the streets are filled with folks from all over. How great is it that every gallery, shop and restaurant are filled with new art for your experiential pleasure.



I recently tried explaining First Friday to an artist friend of mine who lives in Nashville. Needless to say, it took a few tries for her to get the picture.

her - "Wait, wait, wait, you mean that one store has new art and an opening every month?"

me - "No, like I said, it's the whole town. Basically every place that has walls in downtown, has new art and an opening ... every month."

her - "Huh ... Knoxville is a lot cooler than I've ever wanted to give it credit for (her words, not mine)."

So, thanks Fire Marshals for giving me enough of a reality check to realize what a great city we've got. Here's to a great October and an even better November.

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.

Jive Junket 2010: Southbound

The summer is almost gone and I have not fulfilled my duty to find the best dance place in Knoxville. I'm sorry I've failed you. If I can offer any excuse, it's that recently I've opted to go to bed by midnight on the weekends rather than going out dancing. The thought of any superfluous sweating after a hot summer day hasn't been very appealing.

I'm done whining. I finally went out dancing somewhere new Saturday night.

I decided I would try Southbound first because there's a billboard on my way home that keeps reminding me it's the place to be on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night. At least the two girls portrayed on it seem to think so.

I had to muster up all of my nerves on this one. I asked a friend to join me, one of my only friends who doesn't dance like a close relative of Elaine Benes. She's what one might call a sexy dancer, exactly who I needed with me on this endeavor.

We arrived at 11:30 pm. There wasn't a line, and when we entered, males were being directed to the left where they paid a cover. My friend and I were directed to the right, where we were NOT asked to pay a cover.

It was packed, not uncomfortably, but we weaved through to the bar and got some drinks. Once I had beverage in hand, I found myself immediately looking for the dark corner of the room where I could warm up. Sassy Ann's has such a place, and I have grown accustomed to it, as it helps me build up my dance moves in my own timing.

Southbound does not have said corner, at least not one that I saw, so I followed my friend smack dab in the middle of the dance floor where I had no other option than to start dancing cold turkey. Lucky for me, Get Low began to play and my born-and-raised Memphis bones followed suit.

The ambiance. The main level is a large, open room. The lighting was on the brighter side of dim, which at first made me nervous, but I got over it quickly. They have TV screens around the room displaying the appropriate music video for each song. Girls who worked there danced on tables in front of the TV screens ((so hottt)). Most songs were shortened and faded quickly into the next, which my attention deficit-ness enjoyed. The mix was mostly hip hop, rap, or pop: Ludacris, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus (??), etc.

We were dressed appropriately, I in my jeans and black shirt, my friend in a black dress. Some girls wore dresses while others were more casual. There certainly were a lot of dudes in button up shirts and ties. People of all ages were there, ranging from young to, say, 50's.

So you better understand my stance on dancing...  I typically don't go to a club to dance with men I have just met. Instead I'll go with a group of girls, kind friends who create buffers for one another to ward off the lurking, creepy male.

But as I said, I was with my sexy-dancing friend.

My night at Southbound, in a nutshell, felt like this: 'Round about the middle of the third song, my friend lured in a very fine looking gentleman. From there, it took me about 45 seconds to return to the bar for another drink. A minute later, I threw away my unfinished drink and left.

Yes, I left my friend to fend for herself. She appeared to be in it for the long haul, and I had no intention of finding anyone else to dance with, so I fled.

As I left, the DJ announced that the second and third floors were opening. For research sake, for you, I wanted to go up there, but my short-lived attempt at dancing led me out the front door instead.

I looked at my watch. 12:00 am. Good, B. A solid 30 minutes.

There are a lot of morals to this story (I think) one being that Southbound is not as bad as I always imagined. Not really at all. I'll probably go back. Another moral is I need a posse the next time I go there. And now, if I ever get the hankering to grind with a strange older man wearing a tie, I know exactly where to go.

With these lessons learned, I commit myself to keep Jive Junketing... 2010.

Southbound
106 South Central Street
Knoxville, TN 37902-1009
(865) 474-1038

Aislenine + Glowing Body =

First, let me say again, how grateful I am to have a grocery store in downtown. Last night, I needed laundry detergent and bacon, hopped on my bike, and had it in moments at Aislenine in the Old City/ Bowery.

While there, I was offered one of The Glowing Body's newest offerings in their food line up. They are unofficially called Readymade's, i say unofficially because they dont's have a label or anything as of yet. This is all in its infancy and so could have a different name soon.

So the Readymade is a raw, organic, uber-healthy, grab and go dish. The one I had consisted of quinoa (had to wiki that one), feta, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, mint, something else, and a vinaigrette. It is a hearty and satisfying dish that carries easily and eats on the go.

Swing by Aislenine, ask about them, try one out, and see for yourself. The bacon I got is delicious as well.

The reality of downtown living just got a lot more real-er

As many of you have heard, Knoxville recently got a grocery store downtown. This is a huge step forward for Knoxville, and is indicative of the type of downtown life many people have envisioned and striven for for many years.

>In a city our size, its one thing to have bars downtown. Most do. Restaurants that stay open past lunch is another step. Even further, to have people living downtown owning and renting is another sign of progress - to reclaim downtown as a center for community.


The one catch with this downtown living reality is that we are still lacking the necessities, namely - a grocery store.


When I first moved back to Knoxville for grad school, people asked how I liked it and I told them that it was incredible being back (granted, when I was here for undergrad, I lived in Maplehurst, so I already saw the city through rose-colored glasses). But for Knoxville 2.0 I lived in downtown proper, and I walked or biked everywhere - except to the grocery. Yes, there is the Farmer's Market, but its seasonal ... and they don't sell toilet paper.


Being able to walk down the street and get a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk is highly underrated, and I think that's why having a downtown grocery is so significant - downtown is no longer an outpost of our westward-spreading city, it is a place to live.

Aisle 9, located on North Central across from The Night Owl opened for business in May, and is phasing in its inventory over the next couple months. As it stands, they have an enormous selection of beer as well as many other City Market items--from granola bars to cleaning supplies. Soon they will have produce, meats and cheeses, and come fall, the deli will be open for business (and delivery).


The next time you're in the area stop by and say hello. The friendly staff are more than happy to give you the rundown of what the place will look like in a month or even in a week--they're about to double the amount of shelf space, so things are changing quick.

We're living in a community, people, and those nostalgic scenes of walking down the street for a quart of milk are now reality.

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.

The Night Owl Cafe

After your First Friday festivities are through stop by the Night Owl Cafe for a bite to eat and some sort of hot beverage to warm up those fingers.

I stopped by for the first time last night with my girlfriend and got a burger. We got "the burg" which consisted of fried onion, gouda, arugula, grass fed beef and mustard on a home made roll. Mmmmmmmmm. I made a point to tell the people working there that it was the best dang burger I had in a long time. Oh and it comes with home made waffle chips. I left wanting more. That is coming from a guy who won't allow himself to buy a bag of potato chips because he'll eat the whole thing.



From what I was told, the drinking vessels are all hand made by the chef. I like the homey / non-sterile-restaurant-supply-store feel to the mugs. Even the water was really good. They must filter it or something. Or Old City tap water is just that good.

The pricing was a little high for a daily routine for me, but you get what you pay for and it is worth every penny. You are getting freshly prepared everything (for the most part, but not the mustard) and in good sized proportions. I mean, look at the size of that burger people.

Before we left, my significant other bought curried split pea soup and rosemary potato bread for lunch today. Score more delicious points for the Night Owl. We plan on going back soon to try the other stuff.



Now The Pol's turn.

Unbeknownst to either of us Max and I both went to Night Owl at different times yesterday. I’ll echo his sentiments on the feel, very comfortable, homey, and welcoming. Now for the important part.

I had the Shitake sandwich. It was a joyous vegetable and bacon combo on great bread that provided a light, but satisfying end to a night that started with bowling alley nachos. Mrs. The Pol ordered the Butternut Squash Hummus which came with some sort of homemade focaccia bread that was great, though a touch oily. What struck me though was the quality of the offerings. There is a Fennel and Orange salad that comes with either shrimp or… wait for it… Pork Belly. It’s great that a low key grab and go would offer gastronomic delicacies like this without all of the fuss of a sit down dinner.

I’ll definitely be back and I recommend everyone swing by this evening. Tell them the Wigshop recommended it.

Night Owl is located on Central Ave. near Crown and Goose. Think former Pasta Trio location. Night Owl roosts in half of it.

Something new in the Old City

It's a special day today here at www.wigsphere.com. We have, not one, but two special guests to show and tell you about a new enterprise in the Old City. I haven't been yet, but after reading Will Farley's review below, I'm going to have to make it a priority. All photos are by the illustrious Katherine Campbell. I know, I know! So much Hotness today, I can barely handle it.

Without further ado...

In the fall I was asked by a friend, “If you could open a business in the Old City what would it be?” My reply was that, being an audiophile, I would open a vinyl record shop. Then I talked to Jason Boardman (owner of the Pilot Light/manager at McKay/Knoxville musical hero) and he told me that he had just bought the space that the short-lived Woodward Books had occupied to open a record store.























The name that he chose to call his store was Hot Horse. Initially it was going to be full of used vinyl and some music equipment so if a band playing at the Pilot Light had any instrument problems they could just go next door and get parts to fix it. Then Jason approached Janice of Legacy Vintage and it became a whole different beast. Now it is a self described “experiment in collaborative retail.” The stores that are represented in Hot Horse are the Pilot Light, Raven Records, Lost & Found Records, Legacy Vintage, and Music Room Guitars.

The store that has resulted is a wonderful place to pick up obscure vinyl or some musical instruments. The staff is very friendly and willing to help the customer find anything you might need. I have been in there a few times now since they opened and have found it to be a great place to pick up my musical needs. They have a lot of interesting old vintage items in the back, and they sell cigarettes. It is worth going down there and checking it out, especially if you love records.



Hot Horse
108 E Jackson Ave, next to the Pilot Light
open noon to 10pm daily

A long love letter, in some fashion, to one of my favorite places in Knoxville

I used to work at the Panera in Bearden. There, I climbed the corporate ladder from washing dishes to (wo)manning the cash register. To most, this kind of promotion would seem desirable. For me, it was an adjustment, as I am slightly uneasy around people I don't know well.

It's sad, but my biggest source of social anxiety while working there came from seeing the same people over and over again, what you would call regulars. I'm bad with small talk, therefore when given two minutes to speak to someone on a regular basis that I don't know at all, well, let's just say it's not my cup of tea.

When I'd ask any one of them, "What side item would you like?" I was really thinking, "Why are you here all of the time? What goes on with you when you leave this place?" (and, "I hope you know how foolish I feel in this flare-encrusted Panera hat.")

I have a sister who worked at Starbucks for a while. She used to talk about how Starbucks aspires to be people's "third place," their first being home and their second being work. The "third place" functions to take one away from the stresses of the first and second place.

This idea has always intrigued me, being a regular or making some random place your home away from home. I was never able to imagine having a place like that, or even more so, needing a place like that.

***

Last Saturday, early in the evening, I was bored staying inside due to the slush on the ground, so I went down to Old City Java. I expected the place to be fairly empty, but when I walked in, the line almost reached the front door and patrons filled the seats. I decided to walk into the second room to find a seat while the line died down.

I saw a friend who pulled out his earphones and invited me to sit with him. We talked for a while, one of those unexpected conversations that flows smoothly and provides unforeseen encouragement.

I took in my surroundings as we talked: a boy with a guitar on the couch behind me, playing softly for a few minutes, across from our table, a smartly dressed couple sitting with a girl whose religious affiliation requires her to wear a head covering, a couple of cool looking dudes in the window playing backgammon, and on the other side of us, five or six attractive Spanish speaking students, having a discussion that, to me, sounded pretty intelligent.

I finally went back to the counter to find the guy working delicately make a leaf out of latte foam. I ordered a cafe au lait and he went on about what that meant and names of other drinks that are in different languages. I was happy for him to enthusiastically carry the conversation, as I nodded up and down in return.

I went back to my table where my friend had his earphones back in, reading his book. I pulled out my sketchbooks and accomplished more in 30 minutes than I could in a few days at home.

I finished my coffee with milk and gathered up my things. On my way out the door, another Java employee who was not currently working called me by name and wished me a good night.

As I walked to my car while evening set in, it dawned on me. It was the fourth time I had been to Java that week.

I may not be as regular as a regular, but I think I found my third place.


photo from Java's Facebook page

Old City Java
109 S. Central Ave.
Knoxville, TN, 37902

Snow Day & Haiti Relief

Tonight Beardsley Farm is hosting their second annual fundraiser "Snow Day" at Barley's in the Old City. It starts at 7 and there is a $5 cover. You can eat soup and bread for a mere $3 more. There will be bands, there will be beer, and there will be good people.
You may go to their website to learn more about the work they do. I have yet to go visit them. I think I just made another new year's resolution.

Also, if you know of ways in Knoxville to provide aid to earthquake victims in Haiti, please leave a comment on this post to share how we all can help. I know life doesn't stop here when disaster hits somewhere else, but I'm urging you (and mostly myself), to stop and consider all the ways we can be of service to them.

a sad day for ck

Well, it's the end of an era in the Old City as well as my life. A place I've come to love is shutting down. It's not news to most of you since Knoxnews broke it a few weeks ago. Even Jack Neely wrote a lovely little eulogy for it last week. What is this place arouses so much furor?

The Knoxville Cigar Company.

Few places in this city offer a place to get out of the house, sit down, and really relax. Not in a perched on a bar stool drinking too much beer talking loudly to friends over the band relaxing (which is needed sometimes too) but a comfortable leather chair reading The Economist blowing smoke rings in the afternoon sunlight listening to jazz kind of relaxing.

Knox Cigar has been a fixture in the Old City since the 90s, surviving the bust of the original Centennial revitalization well into the current upswing. I first got into fine tobacco after college, and found the shop one happy evening while walking through town. Back then they only sold tobacco, but after a few years they moved a few doors down and opened bigger shop with a conjoined bar. Now one could have a Boddington's with his afternoon smoke. So much the better.

There were missteps on how the new venture was set up, but seeing the shop and bar full of people every night assured me things must be alright. Apparently they weren't. Even though the owners would have you believe the current economy is the cause of the closing, word on the street is that the business was run into the ground. I suppose that one can do whatever one wants with one's business ventures, but this just seems like a stupid waste to me.

Luckily, management issues aside, there is a demand for a fine tobacco establishment in Downtown. Down in Knox Cigar's old shop space a sign has gone up. "Old City Cigar Coming Soon." The venerable Smokin' Joe's (on Papermill) is trying its hand in the downtown market. As some of you may know, Joe's is a converted gas station with a good selection but short on atmosphere (as in none). We'll see if they can set up a more sophisticated business with the je ne sais quoi to make it work. Also in the wings is another tobacco shop venture which I'm not at liberty to write about here right now, but if it moves forward you'll likely find me down there on sunny afternoons. Here's hoping.

Well, Knoxville Cigar, thanks for the memories. Thanks for teaching me to slow down and smell the cigar smoke. I'll miss ya.

Coffee and conversation

When I was in college, I used to complain about the lack of cozy coffee houses in Knoxville. Sure, there was the Golden Roast and Old City Java, but for a decent-sized college town that didn't seem like enough. A few more have popped up lately and the newest addition, Remedy Coffee, is open and it is awesome!

photos by ck and max.

The owners have put a lot of work into creating a beautiful, cozy space for 'coffee and conversation,' as the logo says. There are beautiful exposed brick walls, big leather couches, big sunny windows and a really cool private-ish loft space. There's a back room, similar to the set up at Cafe 4 / the Square Room, but on a smaller scale, for music, open-mic nights and meetings.



the loft area

Remedy is owned by Knoxville Life Church, which meets in the back room at Remedy, and the church plans to return all of its after-tax proceeds to the downtown Knoxville community.

The coffee is organic, direct-trade certified and always freshly roasted, and y'all, it is delish. There are also a variety of baked goodies available for purchase. I indulged in one of their brownies today, and while I hardly ever meet a brownie I don't like, this one was especially tasty.

Remedy is really focused on trying to create a cozy atmosphere that will not only draw people to the coffee house but keep them hanging around for a while. To help with that, there's free wi-fi and a library of books and games to get cozy with.

David and Jodie want you to love coffee as much as they do.

The hours are 7ish a.m. to 10ish p.m. for now, though they expect to be open later on Fridays and Saturdays (they're feeling it out for now).

Remedy Coffee
125 W. Jackson Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37902

(You can Twitter Remedy too!)

BBQ Quest: Back Room BBQ

I was a little worried for Back Room BBQ because all I'd heard about the food there from my friends was 'Texas style, Texas style,' and here B and I -- the two Memphis natives who reside here at the Wigshop -- decided we were going to have dinner there. I figured that meant Back Room was screwed from the get go. I was wrong.

As it turns out, Back Room, despite having a menu full of beef briskety options, also offers a few pulled pork sandwiches, which is what B and I both ordered. Holy smokes, that pork was tasty and thick. Exactly what was missing last week at F.A.T.S. You have the option of ordering your meat on either Texas toast or a kaiser bun. I love Texas toast very much, but it seems to suit chicken fingers better than barbecue so I stuck with the bun. The bun came soaked in butter and toasted, which was a nice touch EXCEPT the butter totally overwhelmed the tomato-based sauce, which was pretty runny and flavorless, even though I dumped nearly half the bottle on my sandwich. Back Room also offers vinegar sauce, if you like that sort of thing.

They have most of the traditional sides, like beans and slaw. B and I both got the country style green beans, which had a sort of sweet kick to them but were really good. I got the traditional Patrick Sullivan's fried corn on the cob, and oh my goodness. It was fried bits of heaven, but it will stick with you for a while.

Like the good Old City establishment that it is, Back Room has a bar, pool table room, darts and a patio. And because it's a bar/pool table/darts/patio kind of establishment, Back Room is the place to go if you just want to chill with a super-cheap PBR and catch up with your friends. It is not the place to go if you want to be waited on hand-and-foot.

B and I grabbed a spot on the patio just as dusk was approaching and the Christmas lights were being plugged in. There were basically two people working -- one at the bar, one floating around everywhere else -- and we had to keep stalking them out. It wasn't too bothersome since we were just chatting the evening away and there was always someone at the bar, but just keep that in mind.

So recommended? Absolutely, though if you're a snob about your sauce, you may want to sneak some with you in your purse (or that of your lady friend's). There's a cuban-style barbecue pork sandwich that has piqued my interest, and CK is already trying to get me to try something forebodingly called 'The Fix.' I gather I'm going to have to fast for three days before I tackle that one.

Back Room BBQ
100 N. Central St., Knoxville
(865) 637-4255