karma month at the glowing body

I hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday weekend. I went with some friends out to the Ocoee and had a great time. I love being able to take full advantage of a long, holiday weekend. It's hard to believe it's already July 6th. Then again, I guess I say the same thing every summer.

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to The Glowing Body. They are hosting their annual "karma month" throughout July. This is really a wonderful gift to the community, as the majority of the classes on the month's schedule are being offered at donation rates. From the Glowing Body's website:

Glowing Body has instated July as our annual Karma Month. “Karma” directly translates as “action” and is typically associated with performing service as Yoga, while letting go of attachment to any preconceived outcomes or results. In an effort to make yoga accessible to a wide range of potential students without requiring predetermined compensation, the Glowing Body’s instructors offer selected classes as “Karma” or donation-based classes.

I really like what they say in regards to value: "It is requested that you place value on the classes offered, meaning that you give even just $1 if that is what you can afford..." I truly value my yoga practice but can't always budget for the class rates on top of my gym membership, running gear and race fees. July is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the amazing instructors and courses at the Glowing Body, at even just a few dollars off the regular class price. If you have never been to the Glowing Body, this is the perfect time to check it out. Of course you should definitely swing by Magpies after your class for a delicious cupcake or dozen.

Information and schedule on the Glowing Body's website. The Glowing Body is located on Central Avenue downtown, just west of Broadway.

Utopia near Knoxville

When I was younger, most of our family vacations took place in and near the Smoky Mountains. I am drawn to that area to this day because of the ties I have to it from my childhood, but lately, I've been wanting to branch out and explore (personally) uncharted territories.

One place I've really been wanting to visit is the Big South Fork area. I still haven't officially been, but last week I was close. I went to Historic Rugby (a town en route to BSF) for a work field trip. If you've never heard of it or never been, it's remarkable. I never knew anything like it existed in Tennessee.



Rugby was founded by Thomas Hughes in 1880 to be a class-free, agricultural community for men in England who wanted to start a new life in America. Some call it a Utopian community, and now I know why. The land and buildings are beautiful and seemingly untouched. Today there are regulations that require people to only build where original homes once stood, and they are strongly encouraged to use designs similar to the Victorian architecture of the historic buildings.



There is one cafe in town, and we ate lunch there. The cuisine is English, things like fish and chips and Shepherd's Pie. I ordered the Welsh Rarebit, two English muffins topped with grilled tomatoes, onions, bacon, dijon mustard, Worcestershire, and a cheese sauce. It was delicious, but instead of going on a long walk after eating something like this, I split a piece of home-made peanut butter pie with my co-worker instead.





Rugby really is an incredible place. If you should ever decide to stay there, they have cottages in which you can sleep with hammocks on the front porch. You can go for a swim in the Gentleman's Swimming Hole, formerly for men but now also for gentle-women (progressive). They have a couple of quaint shops featuring local artisans' work and even a print shop with printing press, but they can't afford to pay anyone to set up there. I wonder if Yee-Haw could ever do anything there...



Rugby also has the nation's oldest preserved library, in the sense that it is exactly the way it was when it started. Pretty sweet if you ask me.







Even if it was work that brought me there, I am grateful to have finally spent some time in that area. In early October, I'm going back for the annual East Tennessee Preservation Alliance Conference. It's supposed to be incredible then; the leaves will be at their peak. The theme of the conference, in essence, is how to preserve land and historic buildings in a way that makes them destinations, something people in Rugby seem to know a thing or two about. If you are interested in attending the conference, contact Ethiel at egarlington@knoxheritage.org.



It took about an hour and a half to reach Rugby from Knoxville. Here are directions. Do yourself a favor and check it out. It's worth seeing and learning about for yourself.

pilot fireball 5k

One of the most fun races of the year is this weekend! It's the Pilot Fireball 5k, and it's this Saturday (the eve of our 4th of July) at 9pm. This is the only night time run associated with the KTC , and it really is a fun one. The race begins and ends at the UT Vet School, so you're running out and back on Neyland. This strip of Neyland = flat as a pancake, so it's a good race if you're looking to get your best 5k time. It's a GREAT race if you just want to go out and have some fun. The crowd is big, and everyone is happy and energetic. A lot of people choose to wear 4th themed attire. It's July in Knoxville, so it's going to be a hot one. Drink water before... and plenty of beer after. You can register for the race or find more info here.

I hope our readers have some fun plans for the holiday weekend. Whatever you do, drive safely and call a cab or spend the night if you need to. Happy Fourth!

black market square

Black Market Square opened over the weekend, but I was out of town so I stopped by last night to check it out.

The concept of Black Market Square is really cool. Owner Michelle Simpson wants a boutique that sells trendy, unique and fashionable clothing at an affordable price point. I think all, or nearly all, of the pieces she sells are priced under 60 bucks. That's pretty great considering that the majority of the other boutique stores in Knoxville are a lot pricier. The difference is, I guess, that Black Market Square does not offer designer labels. Think H&M or Forever 21, but more individualized and thoughtful. You can definitely nab a great outfit at Black Market Square and not feel like you're wearing what everyone else is wearing at the moment.

It's a cute place to pick up a party outfit or something to wear out to drinks with friends. Last night I noticed a few fun nautically inspired tops and dresses and some really great cuff bracelets. Simpson said that new arrivals come in constantly, so it's going to be a good place to check out frequently. I should have spent more time looking at the Men's side of the store, but I didn't. So I am sorry I don't have much to report for the guys. For the girls, there is a great selection of tops, dresses and jewelry. My favorite items in the store are definitely the cowboy puddle jumpers that greet you as you walk in. I think I need to go back and get myself a pair.

The store itself is spacious and clean. Simpson did a great job with the renovation. It definitely has a Market Square vibe, and I hope it does well there. With the Bliss shops and Reruns and the addition of other new to the square shops like Rala and Swagger, it seems like Market Square is finally becoming a destination with more to offer than just food. I am excited to see so many new options downtown. Black Market Square is open 10 to 9 Monday through Saturday and 11 to 5 on Sunday. I definitely recommend that you stop by and check it out this First Friday, or sooner. It's at 23 Market Square, over near La Costa.

Bargain B: Magpies

Many people may call me cheap; I prefer to use the word thrifty.

These times call for desperate measures, and I'm not talking about the state of the economy. I'm talking about the transitional period of life called your 20s when you realize you can't live the way you did when your parents were picking up your tab.

The problem isn't so much that I don't make enough money, it's that I am very attracted to the finer things in life (just as Pam, Oscar, and Toby are). It has been difficult, but much to my joy and well-being, I am finding out that, in Knoxville, there are ways to beat the system, to enjoy all the good eats in this city, but for less money.

***

One cannot argue. Magpies is delicious. I have bought cupcakes there a couple of times, but, as much as it pains me to admit, I have never bought a cake from them. From experience**, I know the vast amount of time, energy, and love that goes into making their cakes and completely understand why they are priced the way they are, but I cannot justify purchasing one at this time in my life.

But, alas, Magpies has given me hope. Hope in the amorphous shape of Crum Bums.

What is a Crum Bum? A Crum Bum is the portion of the cake that is cut away in between baking and decorating. And do you want to know a secret? IT IS THE SAME THING AS EATING A REAL CAKE!! but for only $3.

You can also buy a little side of buttercream frosting to go with it.

One day, I plan to be rolling in the dough, and I will buy all of my friends cakes from Magpies for their birthdays, but until then, I love you, Crum Bums.


Photo from Magpies Facebook Page

Magpies
North Central
Knoxville, TN, 37917

** a post about this later...

Picks of the Week

On a typical week I will probably go to a show or two, so I figure that I could start giving the Wild Bill's wigshop pick of the week. This week we have two.

Friday night at the Square Room: Rubik, Dave Bazan, & mewithoutYou.

I can personally vouch for this show since I saw them all play in Nashville last night.

The opening band, Rubik, is a fairly straightforward outfit from Helsinki, Finland. When all seven touring members walked onstage I was skeptical but from the first song I was floored. My friend described fairly accurately as Sigur Ros mixed with Wax Fang. It is epic ethereal postrock that had joyous bursts and wonderful melody.
Make sure that you get there to see Rubik

Next comes Dave Bazan. What can I say about Bazan? For starters he was behind the bands Pedro the Lion and Headphones. Both showcase his songwriting fully and are existential explorations of his beliefs on religion. His last album, and first solo album, Curse Your Branches explores more fully his views on the God of Christianity.The album is despairing and hauntingly beautiful, as is his live show. He serenades the audience by himself with an electric guitar and asks for questions. He creates a beautiful moment that is full of brutal honesty. My favorite moment was his cover of Vic Chesnutt's "Flirted With You All My Life." It is a must see. Here is an eclectic mix of his music.

The last band to play is mewithoutYou. I really don't know what to say about them, but that they have been on a journey similarly to Bazan's and now they are touring together. There were never really a band I listened to much, but a lot of my friends love them, they are worth a look.

all of this goes down tomorrow night at the square room at 8 p.m. for $15. Fifteen may sound like a lot of money, but it is totally worth it.




Saturday a band out of Nashville called Milktooth are going to be playing at Patrick Sullivan's. It will be fun. This is what NPR had to say about them...

"One of the more mesmerizing CDs I've heard in recent months. Milktooth's self-titled debut dabbles in a bit of everything, from noise-rock to glittering indie-pop and gentle folk. If a single theme ties the songs together, it's a surreal kind of creaky Americana, with spare acoustic instruments and sometimes haunting atmospherics, led by the howling voice of frontman David Condos."
-Robin Hilton, NPR's All Songs Considered

Take a listen here: (I would suggest "Your Arrows")

I really like Condos' voice. The show will be a great time. They are also playing with local band The Black Cadillacs

The show is at 10 p.m. on Saturday night at Patrick Sullivan's for $5.

A Saturday Afternoon at the Townsend Wye- 2010

Last Saturday, a friend and I drove to Townsend. We parked in the lot right before the Backporch Restaurant when you enter town and rode our bikes about three miles up to the Wye, where the road forks into the Smokies.

There were people everywhere near and in the river, as it bends out of the park and makes its way toward Townsend. Friends and family were triumphing over the heat and having a wonderful time in the process.

I jumped off a rock into the cold water and looked up. There on a grass-covered bank sat several people; I couldn't help but think of the painting below.- the Smoky Mountain version of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Seurat. We may be more like the man lounging in the lower left corner than the prim and proper men and women scattered about, but in a way, I'm glad for that.

Urban Farming Redux

Year two for Farmer Pol is looking promising.

I have expanded my beds, refined my layout, and timed my planting more appropriately. Lettuce, kale, sugar snaps, snows, brussels, broccoli, okra, tomatoes, and asparagus are on the menu for spring/ summer and I've got more in the works for summer/ fall.

Things I've learned this year:

- You can plant earlier in downtown than elsewhere because of the radiant heat. We likely average a good 3-5 degrees warmer which extends our growing period by a few weeks.

- Peas need a horizontal support, vertical wrought iron sounded like it would work well but the peas prefer something smaller to latch on to.

- One 4 foot row of Kale is enough for anyone.

- Go easy on the lettuce seeds, their germination rate is closer to 90% than 9% like I assumed.

- Small spaces allow for a more targeted and orderly garden. The design is as important as anything as it is a showpiece and a functional space.

I love my garden. It is big enough to produce enough produce to be practical, but not so big as to be a burden and time sink. I like to think that people headed to the city county building or out for a walk are pleasantly surprised to see such and unexpected thing in the middle of town as a garden.

Come by, enjoy, I'm happy to share (especially the kale). There are two pretty gardens on W. Hill at Henley, mine, of course, and Brian Pittmans just up the street. Neither of us mind if you look.