by Emily Stooks | May 17, 2024 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Lifestyle, Our Writers
WRITTEN BY: Bailey Powell & Emilie Stooksbury
Let’s not beat around the bush – building community as a young adult is hard. Gone are the magical days of living down the hall from college friends. In its place are coworkers you may or may not vibe with – or even physically be with in these #workfromhome days. Maybe you got a plant to befriend. Your pal the sun certainly left you high and dry recently. While prospects may seem dismal, we have hope for you: You can totally make friends as an adult! We’re here to share how to make friends as a young adult in Knoxville, Tennessee.
1.) Bolting Besties
Okay, it may be more of a jog than a bolt, but either way we suggest trying out a local fun run! The concept is simple: Bars and breweries all over town (if you wanted, you could find one literally every day) host them. All you have to do is show up at the allotted time and run/walk about the length of a 5K. Best part? The community is truly awesome. We know because we (the original founders of New2Knox) actually met at a fun run at the Bearden Beer Market! 😍 You can find a bit of the story here. Second best part? Most runs involve a free or discounted beer at the end of your journey – the perfect opportunity to catch your breath, jump in on a conversation, and make a friend. Follow 865 Running to keep up with runs and other activities!
2.) Bike Besties
If you’re more into bolting via biking, we gotchu! The guys behind Two Bikes host rides pretty frequently, usually ending with tacos or coffee or equally enjoyable things. For ladies specifically, Saturdays and Thursdays mean bike rides with SpokesWomen Biking Club!
3.) Bar & Brewery Besties
If running isn’t up your alley, we suggest trying your hand at trivia. Knox Trivia Guys give you the inside scoop on where to find Trivia/Singo almost every day of the week (giving you ample opportunity to make a new bestie!). Access your inner extrovert, show up to a location and see if you can jump in on a team. And while we did name this section “Bars Besties” because we’re obsessed with alliteration, they actually hang out at plenty of restaurants as well.
You know what else breweries are offering lately? Not just lagers, people. Now they’re offering LEAGUES. Here are a couple we think look fun:
⭐️ Pickleball & Corn Hole Leagues at Orange Hat Brewing
💞 Bocce Leagues at Southside Garage
⭐️ Bocce League at Hi-Wire Brewing
Pro-Tip: Knox Brew Hub has some type of activity pretty much every day of the week. Whether it’s chess club, Music Bingo, book clubs, or UT watch parties, these people will welcome you in with open arms and give you something to do with your hands.
4.) Ballin’ Besties
This may seem obvious, but sports are a tried and true way to make friends in adulthood! Here are a few fun options:
- The ultimate frisbee scene in Knoxville is welcoming and awesome.
- If you want a whole slew of options, Knox Sports & Social allows you to sign up as a single-player or with a group of friends for everything from kickball to bowling to volleyball.
- If you want to stay toasty warm, reach out to Craft Axe Throwing about joining one of their leagues.
- Or scroll your eyes back up to some of those brewery leagues 👀
Best part? All of the above encourage ending your evening with drinks and hangs!
5.) Business Besties
Okay, okay, I know we’ve thrown a lot of activities at you, but you can in fact make friends without being Sporty Spice. Young Professionals of Knoxville is a great way to make both business and bestie connections post-college. Professional development is great and monthly Happy Hours are even greater 😉
6.) Bible Belt Bestie
You don’t have to live here long to notice that Knoxville, Tennessee isn’t just the Bible Belt – it’s the gosh darn buckle. There is a church on every corner and usually one in between. If you’re not religious, this can be… a lot 😬 But if you’re down, take advantage of small groups! A few churches with a good chunk of young adults are The Point, City Church, All Souls, Heart & Soul, and Fellowship.
7.) New2Knox Hops
The goal behind every single New2Knox Hop is the same: Make friends while exploring our city. We started New2Knox because making friends as an adult is hard. (I had to start running to make friends when I first moved here, y’all. Running! Did it work? Yes. Did I ever enjoy running? Nope.) Whether you’re brand new to Knoxville or just find yourself in a season where you need more community, we so hope we can provide a space where you can get to know your city and get to know a new friend.
DISCOVER 5 WAYS TO COMBAT LONELINESS IN A NEW CITY RIGHT HERE
by Emily Stooks | May 6, 2024 | All Articles, Downtown, Emilie Stooksbury, Entertainment, Lifestyle
Knoxville, Tennessee is an outdoor-lovers playground. There are endless options. We’re talking mountain biking and paddle boarding and quarry swimming and patio eating. BUT Knoxville also has a tendency to, well, rain… a lot. (In my defense, I moved here after about 5 years of living in a Texan draught so my opinion of “lots of rain” may be skewed but STILL 😂) When the rain comes down, do not fear. You can still have a super fun-filled (not sun-filled) day exploring your new city. Here are 6 ways to spend rainy days in Knoxville!
1.) Ask Me About Axes 🪓
Have you ever been axe throwing? It’s less terrifying than it sounds (trust us), while still allowing you to feel like a complete boss. You can take your shot at hitting the bullseye or mix it up with a handful of other games. Either way, it’s a unique way to get out of the house, stay out of the rain, and intimidate your enemies, hone your survival skills in the case of zombie apocalypses. Check out Craft Axe Throwing for themed days, leagues, and specials!
The Knoxville Art Museum is a great way to spend a rainy day!
2.) Museum Maven
Impress all future visitors with your extensive Knoxville knowledge by spending rainy days at museums! As super fancy folks (clearly), our favorite kind of museum is the freeeee kind which means The Knoxville Art Museum and Beck Cultural Exchange Center easily top the list! We also love catching different displays at the East Tennessee History Museum right in the heart of downtown Knoxville.
3.) Reach for the Skies Ceiling
If you ask us, rain is just an opportunity to bring the outdoors into the air conditioning 😜 Head over to the Climbing Center inside RiverSports in the eclectic Marble City neighborhood to climb in a dry, cool environment all day long. After your rock climbing adventure, pop over to their neighbors Albright Grove Brewing Co. to rehydrate with a beer or The Boocherie for a slew of non-alcoholic cocktails!
4.) Bangin’ Basement Bowling
Why simply get out of the rain when you can forget the outdoors entirely by hanging out in Knoxville’s favorite basement? Maple Hall is a trendy basement bowling alley tucked right underneath the heart of Gay St. Enjoy aesthetic lounging areas, delicious drinks & food (the fried pickles and pretzel bites are our faves 😋), and a day full of bowling with your buddies. (PS. Downtown Knoxville has a few other basement bars for you to check out too.)
5.) Brews & Boards
Let’s not overlook the classic (and ohhh-so-cozy) combo of board games and brews! Plenty of local bars and breweries have a stockpile of board games to help you fully take advantage of stormy evenings. We’re talkin’ full on hygge, y’all. Some of our favorites are Schulz Brau Brewing Co (we usually obsess over their biergarten, but the inside castle + fireplace situation is a dreeeam on rainy nights), Pour Taproom (the bevvy options are limitless – or as Cady Heron would say, “the limit does not exist”), and Crafty Bastard Brewery (we’ve spent many a rainy afternoon playing Sorry with a Hop Candy in hand #memories 🥲).
If you want to advance to the next level, you can hit up the Maple Room (located right above Maple Hall) for larger-than-life board games on the walls. OR go old school and hit up Harrogate’s Lounge connected to Suttree’s Tavern for arcade games (oh HELLOoo Dolly themed pinball!). OOOoor get active at Hi-Wire Brewing Co with games like ping pong, foosball, or soccer pool (yeah, soccer pool is a thing 😂).
6.) Lights, Cobra, Action
Speaking of action, rainy days don’t necessarily have to mean full hygge. While we wouldn’t choose to go on a rainy hike for instance – we do love a relaxing yoga sesh. At Renegade Yoga Center, you can enjoy a zen yoga class while the rain pounds on the roof and outside the big garage door. At Blue Ridge Yoga, you can end your yoga class with snuggles from Theo the insanely adorable French Bulldog. (I mean, C’MON 😍) And at Glowing Body Yoga Studio, savasana can include staring up at the skylight while the rain comes down.
Okay, friend, there’s more where that came from, but it’s high time you get off your device to go splash in some puddles and sing in the rain. TOODELOO 👋
PS. If you’re an Enneagram 9 and the idea of spending a rainy day rock climbing is just incomprehensible, don’t you worry. We’ve got a list of the Coziest Coffee Shop Corners where you can curl up with a book and pray the rain never goes away 😉 Happy Hygge-ing!
by Emily Stooks | Apr 17, 2024 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Food & Drink, Our Writers
by Emily Stooks | Apr 12, 2024 | All Articles, Entertainment, North Knoxville
Written By: Nena Potter
The city of Knoxville is said to have 16 neighborhoods (this is according to a very quick Google search by yours truly). While I don’t know if this is necessarily accurate, I can say for certain that one of my favorite neighborhoods around these parts is the Happy Holler Historic District. Yes, you read that right. The Happy Holler. Yee. To. The Haw. (Coincidentally, Yee-Haw Brewing is located in this area. Fitting.)
If you aren’t familiar, the Happy Holler is in North Knoxville and in the past was known as one of the… scruffier parts of town. In the last decade, however, it has become a sprawling scene of bakeries, bars, breweries, shops, restaurants and even has its own cinema. In addition to the variety of businesses, the Happy Holler just has a certain je ne sais quoi. (I confidently say this after living in the holler myself for several years.) It is a place that while close to downtown is still somehow off the beaten path. It embodies a unique blend of maintaining that bit of scruffiness with a coolness that sets it apart from more polished neighborhoods.
The vibe is truly authentic with a laid-back, unpretentious attitude. In the same vein, the residents and local businesses that call the Happy Holler home embrace their community’s history and character. With all of this (and wayyyy more than I’ve even scratched the surface on), it’s no surprise that this area is hosting what will probably be the coolest street festival that has ever festivaled in the history of street festivals: Holleroo.
Holleroo is the Happy Holler’s inaugural celebration and street festival and will take place this Saturday, April 13th from 10am – 11pm. Equal parts street fair and music festival, Holleroo promises a jam packed day of fun and entertainment for all ages. During the day, you’ll be able to wander around the open streets checking out local vendors for all kinds of baubles and trinkets, watch an actual Soap Box Derby, and then starting at 5pm, you’ll get the opportunity to check out some amazing local musical talent with the likes of Sarrenna, Dos Fuegos, and Dishwater Blonde. And did I mention all of this is FREE!?! No covers. No wristbands required. Just good ole fashioned free fun.
I was fortunate enough to see both Sarrenna and Dos Fuegos at the recent local music fest, WayneStock, and both are acts you seriously do not want to miss. Sarrenna is a true gem in the Knoxville music scene. When you see her live you can’t help but immediately be captivated by her voice. She sings with this self-contained power mixed with raw emotion that is spellbinding. You can feel the truth behind every verse and her own songs are imbued with a sense of vulnerability and authenticity that is so flippin’ refreshing it makes me want to cuss. (I won’t because I am a lady of course, but GOSH DANGIT she is good, y’all.)
Then on top of that, you have Dos Fuegos, the local Knoxville rap duo composed of Darrius Vital-Herne and Yattie Westfield, whose stage presence alone is enough to lure any passerby in and then rock their face off. With their electrifying performances and thought-provoking lyrics, they have carved out a distinct niche for themselves and earned the admiration of fans far and wide. Oh, and did I mention Yattie is literally a one man band and musical genius who plays the guitar and drums on stage at the same time (And I thought I was good at multitasking 😅).
Dishwater Blonde will round out the evening and if I’m being honest, I know nothing about this band besides the fact that their name comes from a line of a lesser known Prince song and they coined themselves as “Knoxville’s Finest, The Southeast’s Funkiest Band”. I can dig that. They’ve added several talented musicians to their line up including one of my favs, Cozmo Holloway, guitarist for The Dirty Guvs and Electric Darling, and I look forward to shakin’ my groove thang to them Saturday night.
All in all, it’s going to be an amazing time for some hootin’ and hollerin’ in the Happy Holler and I can’t wait to see you there!
Tips from your Festie Bestie:
- Bring cash and grab a tasty treat from The Original Freezo while you’re in the area. This place is an iconic eatery right in the heart of the Happy Holler and has been open since 1942 y’all.
- Wear comfortable shoes and plan to stay late as there may or may not be a secret Silent Disco happening after the shows.
- It goes without saying, but with any festival or event where you are hanging out all day outside and possibly imbibing on the local craft beer selections, drink water and use a ride-share option if possible. Your future self will thank you.
- If you DON’T Uber, remember to lock your car as the unofficial tagline for this area for longer than I can remember has been “Love Your Hood, Lock Your Sh*t Up!” 😆
Cheers!
Nena
by Emily Stooks | Mar 25, 2024 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Lifestyle
When it comes to late summer/early fall in East Tennessee, you can count on two things. First, University of Tennessee football will let you down. Second, the weather will lift you right back up🙌 We’re talkin’ temps in the mid-70s, refreshing breezes, even *a little less humidity.* You may find yourself asking, “Am I in California?” No, my friend. You have, in fact, stepped into prime patio season in East Tennessee. Don’t you dare go inside to drink your celebratory “I-Don’t-Watch-Football-So-This-Doesn’t-Affect-Me” beer. In no particular order, we’re here to share five of the best outdoor patios in Knoxville, Tennessee. (This will obviously be a multi-part series. How could we possibly narrow it down to five??)
Patio #1: Merchants of Beer
Neighborhood: Old City A couple years back, we heard Merchants of Beer (otherwise known as “MoB”) was going to renovate their parking lot into a back patio. We were distressed. We love an easy parking situation. WE WERE WRONG. This patio is 100% worth giving up parking (and yes, there is literally a parking lot across the street. We never claimed to be fitness buffs😂) From a permanent food truck to ping pong and other yard games to an ACTUAL BUBBLE MACHINE, this patio easily makes the “best patios in Knoxville” list for plenty of locals. Check, check, check.
Patio #2: Schulz Brau
Neighborhood: North Knox Schulz Brau is hands down the top biergarten in East Tennessee. The German decor gives us Oktoberfest vibes all year long. Just listen to this line-up: fire pits, big screen TVs, a stage for live music (or stein-holding contests if you come at the right time), and an outdoor bar so you literally never have to step foot inside. This German dream is a no-brainer.
Patio #3: Public House
Neighborhood: Old City-ish Tucked off the beaten path and just north of the Old City, Public House feels more like a secret garden than a downtown bar. The ingredients may seem standard – picnic tables, string lights, and vines – but trust us when we say, these things come together to make some patio magic. We recommend this experience with a Bee’s Knees and a good camera because your most-popular-Instagram-post-ever is just itching to be shot in that coveted vine-covered nook.
