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9 Things to Do in Knoxville This Christmas

9 Things to Do in Knoxville This Christmas

by | Nov 29, 2024 | All Articles, Downtown, Emilie Stooksbury, Lifestyle, Our Writers

The holidays are a magical time of year. Calories don’t count. Strangers are welcomed into our chimneys just as long as they leave presents. Drinks are garnished with gingerbread cookies & peppermints instead of orange peels & rosemary. And while we’re convinced Christmas would be magical anywhere, we believe it’s particularly wonderful in cute & scruffy Knoxville, TN.

We are truly obsessed with this time of year, so you can trust us with this list (we’ve checked it twice!). Here are 9 things to do throughout the holidays in Knoxville!

1.  The Lights!

We went to the Christmas Tree Lighting last year for the first time ever and our lasting thought was WHAT TOOK US SO LONG?! We’re talking lasers, fireworks, Christmas carols, the works. It happens the Friday after Thanksgiving every year so make sure it’s on your list! Thankfully, there are still plenty of lights to enjoy around the Scruffy City.

The Holiday Festival of Lights sets up shop every year at The Cove at Concord Park out in West Knoxville and it is absolutely delightful. The show is an illuminated three-quarter-mile greenway trail you can walk through with coordinating music. Oh and SOMETIMES SANTA COMES. If you’re into that. Which we are. It’s also freeeee but if you do want to spread a little love, donations can be made to the Love Kitchen.

Since you’re already out west, pop over Honeybee for hot chocolate and then to Founders Park in Farragut for another walkable display of Christmas lights and holiday joy.

Don’t want to leave the car? We get it. The weather outside is frightful and all that. Grab that cocoa to-go-co and drive by this house in West Hills or this house in Fountain City. (Definitely grab that cocoa in case you’re not the only cheery elf with this festive plan. We’ve heard traffic can sometimes be slooow.)

Image from Vagabondary.co

Image from @vagabondary.co

2.) The Markets!

Shopping is an age-old holiday tradition (or maybe we’re just suckers for capitalism but still…) which immediately escalates the Christmas spirit. However, nothing dampens those spirits quite like road rage in parking lots (we’re lookin’ at you, Turkey Creek & West Town Mall). THANKFULLY, Knoxville has a ton of holiday markets where you can shop small, chat with the makers themselves, come away with unique gifts for your loved ones, and essentially hit up many a store with one solitary parking job. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, INDEED.

Some of our favorite markets to hit up each year are the Market Square Holiday Market every Saturday leading up to Christmas, Christkindlsmarkt at Schulz Brau, and the Holiday Barn Sale at RiverView Family Farm but check out the events page for a full list!

Old City Performing Arts Center

Image from @thesparrowseye

3.) The Theat-ah!

Please tell me you read that in a fancy accent, because if there’s one thing we love about Christmas (jk there are clearly one zillion things we love about Christmas), it’s all the excuses to feel fancy. Enter: The Theater.

Catch a classic in December like “A Christmas Carol” put on annually at Clarence Brown Theatre. Other theaters with holiday options are River & Rail Theatre Co in the Old City with “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” ORRR Theatre Knoxville Downtown is also putting on “My Three Angels“. Who woulda thought little ol’ Knoxville would have so many fancy theatre options?!

Finally, speaking of fancy, it may go without saying, but if you can spend an evening at the Tennessee Theatre, omg do it. Whether it’s a Broadway Show or the freaking Nutcracker Ballet, you are clearly incredibly fancy (bravo for supporting the arts!) and by golly, you deserve a drink.

Miracle in the Old City pop up Christmas bar

4.) The Christmas Cocktails!

WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT POINT. A few bars in Knoxville understood the assignment and have decked their halls with all kinds of Christmas cheer and seasonal sips.

The Christmas pop-up bar “Miracle in the Old City” is back with all the nostalgic, tacky, over-the-top holiday decor of your dreams – and a menu of thematic drinks only. They understood the assignment. Head to Brother Wolf to experience all the festive goodness!

Around the corner, down the street, and up a few floors is the Five Thirty Lounge rooftop bar. This classy bar does not hold back when it comes to Christmas. They pulled out all the stops with igloos, a fire pit, seasonal cocktails, and Christmas decor complete with fake snow. FAKE. SNOW.

Finally, over on the north side, Schulz Brau Brewing Co. is bringing the holiday cheer in their charming German biergarten with their Christmas market every single weekend leading up to Christmas. Depending on when you stop by, there could be Santa, fake snow, live music, and definitely igloos & local vendors! Germany is somehow a whole Christmas vibe on its own – so add in our favorite lil scruffy city and some delicious dunkel? We’re cold sold.

BONUS! Knox Farmacy has their own holiday pop-up called “Santa Baby“ with deliciously holiday-themed cocktails like “Prosec Ho Ho Ho” 😂

sloth ornament

5.) The Shopping!

If you can’t make it to a market this year, you’re not out of luck. While markets are obviously adorable, plenty of local stores are holding their own when it comes to Christmas cheer and local makers. Step inside these spots and you might as well be whisked away to the gosh darn North Pole.

Glitterville is an actual Christmas dream. Just trust us on this one. Step inside to a magical fairy land of holiday wonder and whimsical ornaments galore. Jack’s has two locations (one on the 100 Block and one on N. Central) and they both boast cool Christmas vibes. For extra cheer, order a Christmas coffee from the bar before browsing! Finally, Bradley’s out in Cedar Bluff is known for going all out for holiday cheer. Come for the multiple Christmas trees, stay for the Knoxville Chocolates 😍

6.) The Train Rides!

Full Disclosure: We haven’t done this one before. (*gasp!*) But goshdarnit if this doesn’t seem like the perfect December evening🥲 The Christmas Lantern Express is a two hour festive train ride on the Three Rivers Rambler. Their website says to enjoy “festive decorations, holiday treats, storytime with celebrity readers and a special visit with Santa.” We give that description a resounding jingle “BELL YES.”

7.) The Carols!

No youuuu cried when, at the tender age of eight years old, you found out Nat King Cole wasn’t alive and in fact had never been alive at the same time as you. What can I say, Christmas songs hit different, y’all 😂 There are countless festive Christmas extravaganzas to choose from, but here’s some festive live music at the top of our list!

Dave Barnes is back at the Bijou Theatre this year for “A Very Dave Barnes Christmas.” He is both witty and musical so you’re basically getting two shows in one. You can thank us later 😉 Those of you enjoying our fancy options will be positively tickled to know the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is having a holiday concert at the Civic Auditorium. And if neither of those strike your fancy, then the Tennessee Theatre has a whole lineup of goodness, including Lindsay Stirlings Christmas tour!

Image from Cruze Farm

8.) The Theat-ah but Cheap-ah

We’ve already spent a questionable amount of hours consuming the Hallmark Christmas Channel. No shame in our cheesy holiday movie game. BUT if you want to elevate this tradition, plenty of local Knoxville spots make it easy for you!

Cruze Farm’s Asbury location periodically turns their parking lot into a drive-in movie theatre throughout December. Order a pizza from their Pizza Barn to enjoy from the front seat and then tune in to a nostalgic night of cinema! Central Cinema is hosting plenty of holiday movies (including Die Hard, so I guess that settles that?!) on their big screen. Snag a warm drink and some popcorn and settle in for an festive evening. Finallyyyyy, if you don’t want to splurge on a Broadway Show or the Nutcracker Ballet but you doooo want a holi-date at the iconic Tennessee Theatre, you can enjoy a classic Christmas movie on their big screen for just ten dollars.

Downtown Knoxville at Christmas

9.) The Downtown!

If you want your life to look more like the Hallmark movies you literally can’t stop watching (just us?😬), head to Downtown Knoxville in December. Throughout Christmas, the middle of Market Square transforms into a colorful winter wonderland complete with an ice skating rink. $12 gets you unlimited time on the ice ($9 for kiddos) and we think that’s a small price to pay for utter Christmas magic.

Afterward, keep an eye out for the “Peppermint Trail” as you stroll the city. Those little sidewalk peppermints make it easy to figure out who is serving up Christmas treats. While there are plenty of worthy pepperminty candidates, we suggest hot chocolate from Cruze Farm. (They add whipped cream AND marshmallows, so… you get it.) With cocoa in hand, you can walk by the Christmas tree on Gay St., through the beautiful lit up trees in Krutch Park, and all the way down to the candy-cane striped streetlights of the Old City.

 

However you celebrate, we hope your holiday season is full of hope, joy, and wonder! We think these things may help make that happen. If you have any other questions about Christmas in Knoxville, let us know. Merry Christmas, Knoxville!

Sevier Ave Burger Co: A Look Inside

Sevier Ave Burger Co: A Look Inside

by | Oct 11, 2024 | All Articles, Evan Mays, Food & Drink, Our Writers

Setting the Scene

It was a sweltering, sunny Saturday afternoon when I walked up to Sevier Ave Burger Company. A modest but bright building nestled tightly amongst the hustle and bustle of South Knoxville’s growing downtown area, the Burger Company radiates a happy and bubbly energy as soon as you walk in the door and are greeted with a warm hello.

I just missed the lunch rush when I entered the stylish building, but found the remnants of a busy midday hubbub — customers with full bellies and wide smiles signing their checks. That’s when I saw my old friend Jon, Sevier Ave Burger Co’s head chef.

The Conversation:

Jon greeted me with a hug, and we moved outside to the colorful patio. After some catching up, I asked him what led him here. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, Jon worked for Knoxville favorites like SoKno Taco and Cool Beans before taking the reins at Sevier Ave Burger Company. When tasked with running the restaurant, Jon’s first focus was building a menu that wasn’t overwhelming but ensured that every item was a hit. “Essentially I wanted a limited menu that wasn’t too crazy, but I wanted every item to be a winner,” he said. “I didn’t want there to be any fillers. I didn’t want there to be items that were just there to make the menu look more full. If you come to the restaurant and you get anything on the menu, you’re gonna like it.” 

“What’s the one menu item you’d recommend?” I asked. “My favorite is the Definitely Not Kosher,” Jon said. That burger blends cheddar cheese and a house-made bacon jam into a contemporary take on an old favorite. 

While burgers are the main focus, the menu also offers a wide-variety of appetizers! In fact, they run a special on weekdays from 3-6pm called “Appy Hour.” (Get it? 😉) During this incredible deal, the Burger Company offers half-priced appetizers, two-for-one drafts, and $4 wine. 

As we began to dive more into the making of the tasty dishes at Sevier Avenue Burger Company, Jon emphasized the importance of using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The produce used at the restaurant is from Valley Produce in Seymour, while the bread is from Quality Bakers in East Knoxville. “We’re not doing anything crazy, I mean anyone can make a burger,” Jon explained. “But what we are doing differently is using fresh, quality, local ingredients, and I think that, on the base level, makes everything better.”

The Taste Test:

As we wrapped up our conversation, Jon led me inside to try some food and cocktails. In honor of Appy Hour, I sampled a few starters: buffalo chicken rangoons, mozzarella sticks, fried pickles, and deviled eggs.

The rangoons were simply perfect. Fried flawlessly and packed full of buffalo chicken dip, this starter dish balances a light spiciness and a creamy texture that will have your taste buds begging for more. Craving something a little more simple? The mozzarella sticks are a classic but delicious choice—possibly the biggest ones I’ve ever seen. The second you bite into the fried pickles, you can tell they were made with love and made in house. Jon told me that almost nothing is frozen and stored at this eatery, and the fried pickles prove it. The blend of spices used for the breading creates a harmonious wonderland of a flavor palette, and the balance between softness and crispiness is daring and delectable. 

Finally, I was left with the deviled eggs, which I was the most nervous to try. You see, dear reader, my mother makes the best deviled eggs on the planet, so I enter into any new devilish egg adventure as a biased eater. However, these are a very close second to my sweet mama’s recipe. The eggs are cooked flawlessly, the filling strikes the right symmetry of tanginess and sweetness, and the pièce de résistance is the bacon jam. The finely sliced bacon and its sweet coating adds the perfect cherry-on-top to an already wonderful little dish.

Next, I sampled three cocktails: the espresso martini, peach bellini, and Tennessee sunrise. The espresso martini was flavorful, rich, and inviting, while the bellini’s bubbly champagne and peach puree made for a light, refreshing drink. The Tennessee sunrise was the surprising standout. Usually, I hate bourbon. But, with a combination of soda water and grenadine (with an optional lemonade addition, if you’re feeling a little wild), this drink is sweet, warm, and relaxing.  

Need even more reasons to try this new Knoxville spot? A new brunch menu is now being offered with champagne on tap, a limited-run barbeque menu will be offered starting in October, and vegetarian and vegan options like black bean and portobello burgers are also highlights on the menu! 

With great food, drinks, and service in a lively location, Sevier Avenue Burger Company is a must-try! They are open until 10pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends, so grab a burger and drink — and tell Jon I sent you!

-Evan Mays

6 Coziest Coffee Shop Corners

6 Coziest Coffee Shop Corners

by | Sep 27, 2024 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Food & Drink

[UPDATED FOR 2023] When we moved to the Scruffy City, we immediately went on the hunt for the best coffee shops in Knoxville. However, when rain (and temps) started dropping down, we got more specific: coziest coffee shops in Knoxville. (Oh, and pumpkin spiced lattes. Also fleece lined leggings… and cider… and a cute beanie, of course.) Okay, so we went on the hunt for a handful of things, but *one* of those things was most definitely the coziest coffee shop corners. Well, we’re  here to shorten the hunt for anyone wired like we are😂 Without further ado, we present: the very best coffee shops in Knoxville for cozy, rainy days.

#1: LIKEWISE COFFEE

East Knoxville

Likewise Coffee is chock full of cozy nooks. Heck, it’s in a gorgeously renovated old house so the whole thing is basically a cozy nook. If you walk in and land the green armchair corner or the big leather chairs in front of the fireplace, just trust us – you’ve won the freakin’ lottery. 10/10 recommend this place for all cozy days.

#2: FABLE HOLLOW COFFEE & BOOKSHOPPE

North Knoxville

Fable Hollow may technically be located in the Fountain City neighborhood, but it sure feels like you’re in an enchanted literary forest. Not only can you cuddle up with a coffee and a book, you can do so surrounded by other books while sinking into a brown leather couch in front of a magically cozy mantle. NEED WE SAY MORE? Well, speaking of more, there are also plenty of other nooks & corners around the store with whimsical touches for peak cozy coffee vibes.

#3: BACKROADS MARKET

West Knoxville

Located just off Sutherland Ave, Backroads Market is a cozy gem in the Marble City neighborhood. Their space doubles as a perfectly curated home goods store so you know they have the good furniture. Between all the comfy couches, cozy corners, and inspirational wall decor, it’s almost startling how easy it is to spend an entire day hiding out there.

#4: THE BRIDGE COFFEE HOUSE

Seymour

This one is a bit of a drive but it had to make the list because it was so coooozy, people! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a huge space. But with couches to curl up in, a quiet loft space, booths for a lil more intimacy, and even a fireplace (a fireplace automatically gets you on our cozy list, no questions asked 😂)… The Bridge just feels like a cozy cabin escape from town, while still only being about 25 minutes away from Downtown Knoxville.

#5: OLD CITY JAVA

Downtown

Old City Java may not have cozy couches or a fireplace (Gasp! I know!), but it still makes us feel warm and cozy when we step inside. With wood floors and brick walls and painted ceilings, it’s still easily one of our favorite spots to sit down with a book and pen for a cozy afternoon getting overly caffeinated. To the powers that be… if you were to add a fireplace… we truly may never leave 😂

We hope you have the coooziest time checking out these local coffee shop corners 😌 Need more ideas for a rainy day? DISCOVER RAINY DAY IDEAS HERE.

7 Best Spots to Watch a UT Football Game

7 Best Spots to Watch a UT Football Game

by | Sep 3, 2024 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Entertainment

Looking for the best spots to watch a University of Tennessee football game in Knoxville? (Even if you’re not the biggest fan of football?) We got you. If you live in Knoxville, you already know leaves aren’t the only things turning orange when fall hits East Tennessee. No, everything from overalls to menu items get a bright orangey hue. Live here long enough (ie. live here during football season at all), and Vol football will impact your life somehow, we guarantee it. We may not give two hoots about football, but we do give two hoots about Knoxville – so if Knoxville loves her football, we’re happy to play along. Whether you’re a huge fan of football, you’re a huge fan of your friends who want to watch football, or you’re just a good sport who wants to experience something quintessentially Knoxville, here are 7 of the best spots to watch a University of Tennessee football game in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Best Spots to Watch a University of Tennessee Football Game:

#1. Neyland Stadium

Campus

This is obvious, right? There’s nothing quite like experiencing the energy, traditions, and hometown pride of a game at Neyland. If you’re new to Knoxville and just dipping your toes in, we first suggest learning when to say “woo!” during Rocky Top. Second, we suggest going to game against a small school no one cares about. Tickets will be cheaper and, since there is a higher chance of winning, fans will be happier. Win/win! (Pro-Tip: They actually don’t seem to win that often. We suggest not bringing that up to the fans.)

One of the best spots to watching University of Tennessee football games is Merchants of Beer

Image by @mobknoxville

#2. Merchants of Beer

Old City

Merchants of Beer does not hold back when it comes to football time in Tennessee. Mere TVs are not enough for this Old City establishment. No, the game is projected onto the entire gosh darn wall. Get your patio hangs, a selection of over 50 beers, and life size football all in one convenient spot.

one of the best places to watch university of tennessee football is i35 North in Farragut

Image by @35n_farrgut

#3. 35 North

West Knoxville (Farragut)

This spot is technically a local food truck park, but don’t let that fool you. The food trucks hang outside while inside boasts more of an elevated sports bar experience (this is Farragut after all). TVs are hung not just on every wall, but also encircle the entire 360 bar. We dare you to try and sit inside 35 North without having a television in your line of vision. Add in game day drink specials and you’ve got yourself a football watchin’ experience even football non-enthusiasts can enjoy.

Schulz Brau Brewery in North Knoxville celebrates Okotberfest

#4. Schulz Brau Brewing Co.

North Knox

This German biergarten is a good spot to hang any day, so if your friends want to watch the game, we suggest pointing them here. You can enjoy one of our favorite patios (all the tables, benches and chairs were legitimately imported from Germany!) and a delish Hefeweizen while your buddies take in a game on the big screen. And yes, that sucker is big. When the whole biergarten erupts in cheers, you can’t help but cheer along. Prost!

#5. Hi-Wire Knoxville

South Knoxville

Hi-Wire makes football fans happy since they play the game on all their TVs and project it onto the big screen. It’s also loud, so celebratory cheers are even more celebratory (and awkward woops-we’re-losing-again silences are a little less awkwardly silent). However, Hi-Wire also makes non-football fans happy with plenty of other activities and, of course, a great tap wall available!

#6. The Maple Room

Downtown

If you can convince your friends to watch the game here, you’ve truly beaten the system. Over sports bars? Maple Room is the opposite. The fans will be happy to watch the game on a large projector screen and you’ll be happy to be in a highly classy atmosphere with great drinks, board games, and vibes for the afternoon. Still not feeling it? Ditch the game altogether and head downstairs for some bowling!

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