by Emily Stooks | Apr 17, 2025 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Holidays
It’s Easter in Knoxville, Tennessee! (Well, not just in Knoxville… but that’s obviously what we’re focusing on here… I digress.) Whether you’re lookin’ for brunch, beers, or some services to check out – Knoxville’s got you. Read on to plan the best Easter ever, you cute lil scruffy bunnies!
KNOX EASTER BRUNCH:
We love a holiday that elevates brunch. Independence Day hot dogs are great, but a mimosa and French Toast? Sign us up. If you’re new to Knoxville and Easter brunch at Grandma’s just isn’t going to happen, these local businesses have got👏you👏covered👏
⭐️ Ancient Lore Village in South Knoxville is hosting brunch in their whiiiimsical village on Easter Sunday! They’ve got a brunch buffet & tours all day.
🌟 Ale Rae’s Gastropub will be open for Easter brunch this Sunday from 10AM-2PM! Come for the brunch but stay for the patio because East Tennessee is (*wipes solitary tear from cheek*) beautiful 🥲
⭐️ Want to hop out west for a casual brunch? Spots like Pointb & Plaid Apron & (both) Cazzy’s should have you covered but Penne for Your Thoughts will have a lil Sunday Brunch Market set up to boot 🙌
🌟Finally, if you want to be a fancy little downtown rabbit, Babalu & Cafe 4 will both be open at for brunch! (If you ask us, Babalu’s soft pink aesthetic and $3 mimosas✨ just scream Easter Brunch and Cafe 4’s patio overlooking Market Square is what brunch dreeeeams are made of.) PS. Check out our fave spots for mimosas around town in generaaal right here.
Image by @pilatesjill
KNOX EASTER BEERS:
If you do happen to be at family brunch and end up needing a getaway, the local beer scene has you covered.
⭐️ The last day of Schulz Brau’s Ritterfest is Easter Sunday! Grab a hefeweizen & enjoy this springy ren faire adjacent festival in the biergarten. We honestly couldn’t imagine a better Easter Sunday afternoon 🥲
⭐️ Speaking of streeetching, Hi-Wire Brewing in South Knoxville will also be open on Sunday and hosting yoga at 11AM! If it’s nice, they’ll do it on the rooftop which feels like an Easter miracle 🤩
⭐️ Around the corner, Crafty Bastard Brewery (both locations) will also be open for Easter beers! Fun Fact: I got engaged on Easter Sunday a few years back – a full week earlier than my now-husband (and all my friends) initially planned. Why? Deep talks over beers at Crafty’s sprung the whole thing into action (much to the chagrin of my BFF who was planning to drive into town for the occasion). Not ooonly will they be open – the Emory Place location will also have brunch from St. Lucille’s during the day & live jazz in the evening!
KNOX EASTER BABES:
Easter in Knoxville means Easter Egg Hunts. But if you’ve got littles and are on the hunt for some events you’ll *both* enjoy, look no further, friend.
⭐️ The Smokies have landed back in the Knoxville & are goin’ all out for Easter Sunday! Enjoy the game & then stick around for an Easter Egg Hunt & meeting a celebrity (the Easter bunny 👀).
🌟 In the heart of downtown Knoxville, First Baptist Knoxville is hosting an EGGSTRAVAGANZA in World’s Fair Park on Saturday, April 19th! Enjoy an egg hunt with the kiddos & then take a cutie spring stroll through the cutest scruffy city in the south.
KNOX EASTER SERVICES:
Yes, yes, “Knox Easter Bibles” would be the better alliteration here but in our defense – it doesn’t quite make sense. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate before all the brunches and beer, here are a few fun spots to check out!
⭐️ Conveniently located to all the beer (cheers to the Downtown North neighborhood😂🙌) The Point Church is having an Easter Sunday service at 10:30am! Don’t let the big ole columns fool you – they’re pretty chill.
🌟 Just down the street from your rooftop yoga, City Church in South Knox is celebrating just a hair earlier at 10am! (Both these guys and The Point are serving up Likewise Coffee, just sayin’ 😋)
⭐️ If you’re wanting to hit up the west side, there are pleeeenty of services to pair with your brunch. Fellowship, First Baptist Concord, & City Hills are all scattered around West Knoxville & have multiple times to choose from!
🌟 Faith Promise is the most ginormous one. They have locations all over the city (and a good chunk of services to choose from all weekend) so you should be able to easily find one near your other Easter activities!
⭐️ Finally, just down the street from The Smokies’ Easter Celebrations, Awaken Old City Church is tucked in the back of Awaken Coffee and will be having a service at 11:15am. We assume their caffeination situation is top tier 🙌
Whatever your weekend entails, we hope you have a loooovely local holiday!
by Emily Stooks | Feb 3, 2025 | All Articles, Downtown, Emilie Stooksbury, Holidays
WHEN THE SCRUFFY CITY IS YOUR VALENTINE…
The Scruffy City is our Valentine 😍 And we mean that, but we also doooo still have a soft spot for our, you know, human Valentines as well 😂 So if you feel similarly, we’re here to help you celebrate both your human AND city loves! Without further ado, here are a bunch of fun ways to celebrate Valentines Day in the Scruffy City:
EAT STUFF ON VALENTINES DAY IN KNOXVILLE:
Sure, sure, we’ll give you plenty more ideas of things to do on Valentines Day but we all know the main event: DINNER. However you feel about Valentines Day, we will never be mad about an excuse to have a bougie meal out on the town 😂 Here are some spots pulling out all the stops for V-Day!
SOUTH KNOXVILLE: Simpl on Sevier is holding down the fort on the south side with a 5-course dinner. Come for the food but stay for the freaking festive pink walls. Instagram-boyfriends, prepare yourselves. Snag your tickets here!
DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE: Feeling Mediterranean? Head to Kopita for 6-courses for $50. Want to avoid the crowds? Check out the 5-course “Caymus Wine Dinner” at The Press Room on February 15th. Want to check out a newer spot downtown? Frothy Monkey is offering a 3 course “Frothy Love Valentines Dinner” for two for $65/couple on the 13th & 14th!
OLD CITY: Osteria Stella is offering a 6-course tasting menu on Valentines Day. You can tack on a wine pairing as well but weeee suggest saving some room for dessert – ie. an espresso martini next door at Brother Wolf. CHEF’S KISS, baby, CHEF’S KISS.
MARYVILLE: Get out of the city completely and take a lil jaunt to Maryville to experience Valentines Day in Diamondjack Wine Bar’s new space! They’ve got a 5-course dinner on the menu just for you.
WEST KNOXVILLE: The Plaid Apron has a dreeeamy 3-course farm-to-table menu for you tucked inside Sequoyah Hills.
LEARN STUFF ON VALENTINES DAY IN KNOXVILLE:
NORTH KNOXVILLE: Xul Beer Co is here for all Rom-Com fans! They’re hosting rom-com trivia on Valentine’s Day and anyone and everyone is invited to impress the masses with their rom-com knowledge. Not to brag but we’ve been preparing our whole lives for this…
THROW STUFF ON VALENTINES DAY IN KNOXVILLE:
NORTH KNOXVILLE: First up, throw some axes! Craft Axe Throwing has a cute lil date night planned for you and “the one” (or, you know, snag a pal and take the opportunity to let off some steam if “the one” turned out to be “the worst”). For $35, you get an hour of axe throwing for two, two beers, a gift, aaand a chance to win a giveaway if you book before 4PM on the 14th!
DOWNTOWN: Or throw some bowling balls in what is definitely Knoxville’s coolest bowling alley! Maple Hall is renting lanes for $45/hour, including shoe rentals and a sweet Valentines treat! (Or make it a double date and split that coooost, baby!)
DRINK STUFF ON VALENTINES DAY IN KNOXVILLE:
SOUTH KNOXVILLE: Alliance Brewing is back with a tradition we can get behind: Valentines Day Chocolate & Beer Pairing! Two of our favorite things in our favorite city 🥲 Each pairing includes four tastings of Alliance beers paired with four different chocolates from Lirio Chocolate. They’ll start at 3pm on Valentines Day and go until their sold out! Down the street and a few days before, Printshop Beer is hosting their own pairing with chocolate, beer, and cheese. It’s going down on Sunday, February 11th and you can get your tickets in advance right here.
MAKE STUFF ON VALENTINES DAY IN KNOXVILLE:
OLD CITY: What says love like making something super fragile and breakable? 😉😂 Pretentious Craft Co. is offering a Valentines Day special for ya! You’ll get 2 drink tickets, 2 workshops (total of 40 minutes), aaaand (of course) you get to take home whatever you choose to make – all for $225. You ALSO get a glass rose which is truly the perfect blend of Cinderella and Belle. We’re here for it. Email info@pretentiousglassco.com for details or to go ahead and book your spot!
BUY STUFF ON VALENTINES DAY IN KNOXVILLE:
Okay, okay these aren’t necessarily ON Valentines Day, but they are Valentines Day THEMED and thus… they’re makin’ the list.
WEST KNOXVILLE: On Sunday, February 11th, head to Hey Bear Cafe for their Valentines Market! As much as we love shopping, you definitely need to try some boba tea off their Valentines Day menu.
That’s all for now, ya lovebirds! What are YOU doing for Valentines Day in the Scruffy City? (PSSSST we’ve got even more date ideas right here.) And should we do a wrap up of Galentines Day tooooo? You know what, yes. We definitely should. K then, see you soon 😘😘
WEST KNOXVILLE: Or move some… pickleballs? The Pickleball Playground in Hardin Valley is hosting a Cupid & Couples Mixed Double Potluck Social on Friday, February 9th! Members AND non-members are invited, so learn more & snag your tickets here! Over in Bearden, Current Cycle will help you move your body on Valentines Day! They’re hosting “Bring Your Boo” rides all day where you can enjoy some treeeeats and fun theeeemes. Oh and EVERYONE WILL GET TO RIDE FOR FREE so that’s caaasual.
