The Salvage Show

Tonight is The Salvage Show, a one night exhibition put on by Knox Heritage. It will feature works that incorporate historic building materials from The KH Salvage Room created by local artists and designers. It's from 6-9pm tonight on the second floor of 36 Market Square- the empty four story building that sits across from Blue Coast Burrito. The owner's of the building, Ken and Brenda Mills, have graciously opened up their building for this event.

flyer by Per-Ole Lind

All proceeds benefit Knox Heritage, and depending on the artist's preference, the artist as well.

It is First Friday, so come out and support local artists at the Salvage Show and all over downtown tonight. It's supposed to be nice out, so that's extra incentive.

The artists of the 2012 Salvage Show are:


Ryan  Burgess
Laurence Eaton
Michelle Garlington
Ethiel Garlington
Christina Geros
Krista Graves
Briena Harmening
Christopher King
Forrest Kirkpatrick
Per-Ole Lind
Dale Mackey
Sara Martin
Beth Meadows
John Phillips
Brian Pittman
Shawn Poynter
Gregory Spaw
Jessie Van der Laan
Brian Wagner

Here's a sneak peak of some of the items you'll see there:

Table by Brian Wagner

Necklace by Jessie Van der Laan

Table by Per-Ole Lind

Writing Lamp by Shawn Poynter

Bow and Arrow Mobile by Dale Mackey

Bargain B: 31 Bistro and Preservation Pub

The warm weather and sunshine have turned Market Square into a magnetic force field, luring me to its patios.

On Monday, I sat in the sunshine at Pres Pub's patio and enjoyed Blue Moonday ($2 pints of Blue Moon). I had a couple of glasses and split a cheese pizza with a friend for a total of about $7 before tip.  Awesome.

Then Tuesday, the same friend and I tried out 31 Bistro's Happy Hour, as their sign out front has been enticing me. I don't really know what the story is with the restaurant that was formerly La Costa, but I've learned they have a killer Happy Hour.

From 4-7pm Monday through Saturday, glasses of sangria, their regular margarita, glasses of house wine, and bottles of beer are $2 each. They also have Happy Hour food, so my friend and I shared a plate of fries with a creamy aioli dipping sauce. We each spent about $6 before tip, having 2 drinks each and sharing the fries. Patio perfection.

Thankfully nicer weather means riding the ole bike around again which I'm going to need to do more if I keep giving in to my Happy Hour addiction. I'm doing this for you, Knoxville, because I care.

(Is it funny that my first post since November is about eating junk food and boozing it up? I've found my muse!)

Royal Bangs TONIGHT!

Tonight the best band in Knoxville, Royal Bangs, will play the pilot light. It's been a while since the hometown heroes played here. Come and support your local scene. It is going to be fantastic. Starting the show is Big Bad Oven (distorted lap steel and saxophone= rock and roll.) This will be followed by anti-comedian Gary Plimpton. It's going to be full of dancing, fun, and great music. The Pilot Light, 10 p.m. 7$ (worth every penny)

Tonight at the Pilot Light

FUTURE ISLANDS



It is going to be great. $8 show at "10" (The pilot light has its own time zone. Kind of like Mountain time.) \\\\//// With Marina Orchestra and Ed Schrader's Music Beat.

Tomorrow Night

Friday night Painted Desert and Natalie Prass at Relix. 8 p.m. $5



Painted Desert



Natalie Prass w/Brent Thompson.

A Memorial

It's been one year since the first of two workers were killed on the Henley St. bridge project and tonight there will be a memorial for those people.

Typically, I might not feel the need to post about this, but the project is literally out my back door. I see these men working everyday and so feel a bit of a connection.

You may recall I wrote a handful of rather damning posts about the company that is running the project, and while there have been lots of improvements, I still feel they should have lost the contract.

Local workers unions, churches, and various interested groups will be meeting at 5PM tonight for a memorial walk from the corner of Henley and Hill Ave. the candlelight vigil will follow on Volunteer Landing at 6PM.

I'm glad this event is happening in order to make sure that Britton Bridge Co. remembers that they put 2 men senselessly in harms way and they died because of it. Hopefully there will be no future need for more vigils like this one.

some great shows

Ok, there are three shows coming up that I am really excited about.

Next week: Friday January the 27th at Relix (on central across from Time Warp Tearoom, in happy holler)




Painted Desert

and



Natalie Prass


Painted Desert is made of two really great songwriters (Austin Manuel and Heidi Feek) who have come together to write really fantastic songs. The Nashville duo's music conveys feelings of longing and love so well. The beautiful melodies will be stuck in your head for day, and that is not a bad thing. Here is a video of them performing at music city roots with Joey + Rory:



or my personal favorite "Take Me Home" (it reminds me of Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark)



Natalie is another fantastic songwriter who really cares about her songs. She crafts beautiful and delicate pop songs that accentuate her ethereal voice. This is a video of her playing in Knoxville last year:



Tuesday January 31st at the Pilot Light



Future Islands

Future Islands are a great band from Baltimore. I have seen them 3 times and every single time was fantastic. The lead singer, Samuel Herring provides an emotional intensity that is hard to beat. He is a crooner who will destroy an audience.



w/Ed Schrader's Music Beat 10 p.m. $8

Monday February 13th at the Pilot Light



Zola Jesus

Zola Jesus is an electro-goth/pop singer with a killer voice. It is going to be awesome.



that voice. w/Talk Normal 10 p.m. $12

Go right to the source and ask...

With my bride, my 16 day old, and the dog in tow today we set off on a bit of an excursion to practice our parenting on the road.

Our journey took us Asheville Hwy (hwy 70) all the way through Newport, Dandridge, Hot Springs and finally to Asheville. If you've never taken that road it's worth it to see once, a beautiful though at times sobering drive.

But that is not the most important part.

Many of you probably saw the news yesterday about Tupelo Honey looking to come to Knoxville. See story here and the follow up here, thank you Josh Flory.

So in Asheville Mrs., baby, and I ate at, where else, Tupelo Honey.

First, I grilled the waitress. I refused to eat my biscuit until she told me everything she knew. Apparently the company is looking at 4 locations, Knoxville being one that is quite likely.

Not being one to take things at first blush I nosed around until I found a manager and I demanded some straight answers. Actually I just round about-ly inquired as to whether anything more had been decided.

Though of course officially unofficial and non-binding and still up in the air and caviated and subject to being changed of course, but he did give me a wink wink that Knoxville is the favored choice. Honestly I got the impression we are the favored choice. I'm just hopeful that the city can work with both the owners of Tupelo Honey and 1 Market Square to make this happen. This would be a great get and would be a delicious addition to the biscuit festival.

Enjoy the pic, we definitely enjoyed the meal.