A Day with Evan: The Kennedy, The Sunsphere, and Brother Wolf

My fellow Knoxvillians, I must admit: the heat is absolutely killing me. I love the concept of summer, I do, just like some people love the concept of bangs or getting back with your ex. But, in practice? It feels like entering a preheated oven just to get to my car. And yet, on a warm August Saturday, I braved the outdoors to meet my wonderful brother and sister-in-law at The Kennedy on Gay St. 

The Kennedy:

A suave, swanky establishment, The Kennedy is owned by Kennedy Concepts, and the experience is one that truly does feel conceptual. Each piece of decor and every menu item feels as though it has been hand-picked to create a particular atmosphere – and it works. 

After being seated, we started out with some bubbly cocktails. I had the Get Ice’d, a bubbly, citrusy Smirnoff drink that tastes like an elevated take on a Fraternity Basement Classic: the Smirnoff Ice. It was refreshing and light, while also reminding me of some freshman year fuzzy memories. It was almost as if the Smirnoff Ice had grown up, gotten a 9-5, and started wearing tailored blazers. 

Next, over a great conversation about wedding season and married life, we tried some appetizers: the goat cheese croquettes and the mini corn dogs. While I may not know much about married life, nor the conversation at hand, I do know food. The croquettes were a beautiful mixture of sweet and savory tastes, fried to perfection, with a delectable pink vodka sauce. The mini corn dogs were a treat as well, simple but refined – and don’t get me started on the scrumptious dijonnaise served on the side. 

As the starters – and the first round of drinks – were cleared out, it was time for the main course: the spicy rigatoni with grilled chicken, which I paired with the Prickly Pair Affair. 

The spicy rigatoni was melt-in-your-mouth perfection, spiced with an expert hand, and the grilled chicken was the cherry on top. Paired with the Prickly Pear Affair, it was an incredible experience. With dragonfruit tequila, prickly pair, and some citrus flavors to top it off, this cocktail truly wowed me. Looking around the beautifully decorated space, this cocktail seemed popular, and I can definitely understand why. 

As we wrapped up our late-lunch/early-dinner and I bid my brother and sister-in-law goodbye, it was on to the next event of my busy Saturday: an engagement party for one of my oldest friends – who is ironically also named Kennedy.

The Sunsphere:

I have lived in Knoxville for six years now, a fact that always startles me. However, despite my long tenure in our Scruffy City, I had still never been inside the Sunsphere, the beacon of our wonderful home. It was time to change that! 

As the elevator doors opened to the event space atop the Sunsphere, I was taken aback. The view is spectacular – I could actually see my own apartment – and the space practically glowed with charm. The event space feels both homey and elegant, and I was immediately greeted with friends from home. 

This event was a surprise engagement party, and it was some of the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Kennedy, a beautiful woman, talented nurse, and my friend since we were three years old, spent the night hugging friends and family, and sharing in the love of the moment. Between speeches, champagne toasts, and some great drinks, my friends from home and I could agree on two things: it was so wonderful to see each other, and none of us were ready for the night to end. 

To that vein, we decided to cap the night off with some cocktails at Brother Wolf. As the sun set on our Sunsphere evening, we headed off to the Old City and into the cutest little Italian cocktail bar this side of the Atlantic. 

Brother Wolf:

If this is your first time hearing of Brother Wolf, recently named one of USA Today’s Best Bars of 2025, then I’m not sure what rock you’ve been living under. However, you may be unaware of their current limited-time menu, which includes a brand-new take on one of their most popular drinks: the espresso martini. 

My friends, Riley and Katie, their husbands, Kennedy and her fiance Luke, and myself took a seat and gathered around a table with a few of our other Knoxville pals and sampled some tasty Brother Wolf creations. While most of my friends tried the new Cinnamon Toast Crunch espresso martini, I got my favorite classic: the Susano Spritz. It is a great drink if you want to feel like you are lounging on the beach somewhere warm. It is bubbly, with high notes of cucumber and lemon. Refreshing, crisp, and cool. 

I also tried a sip – okay, a few sips – of my friends’ Cinnamon Toast Crunch espresso martinis, and they are to die for! The most wonderful things about the classic cocktail are still there, enhanced by strong hints of sweet cinnamon. You will simultaneously feel like a big grown-up in a fancy bar, and a child sitting at the kitchen table with a big bowl-full in front of you.

As the night wrapped up, my friends and I laughed and loved on one another while we hopped to a few more bars. With sweat dripping down my neck in the August night heat, I realized: sometimes you have to trade in cool air for warm memories, and I am so glad that I did! 

P.S. congratulations Kennedy and Luke <3