by New2Knox Ghost Writer | Oct 5, 2021 | All Articles, Caitlyn Tate, East Knoxville, Food & Drink, South Knoxville
In our stunning town of Knoxville, Tennessee, we are blessed with our pick of many cozy coffee shops. What pairs best with our favorite Scruffy City shops? Leaves changing and temperatures dropping. ENTER: Sipping on cozy seasonal fall coffee creations around town. (Eek!😍) We all know pumpkin lattes are here to stay (and we are, for the record, all about it), but there’s more to fall than orange gourds. We took a trip around town to find y’all some of the GOODS. Move over, Starbucks PSL. There’s some new fall goodness in town. Without further ado: Here are five of the best fall lattes in Knoxville.
Awaken Coffee: Downtown Spice with Toasted Marshmallows
Old City
We’re starting off strong with Awaken Coffee downtown – specialty lattes are kind of their thing. The Downtown Spice is Awaken’s take of a classic pumpkin spice – but wait! They add a toasted marshmallow syrup🤤 Sipping on this drink makes you want to grab your coziest flannel and stroll down the streets of the Old City, or even kick up your feet inside the shop and stay while. Pro-Tip: Ask for marshmallows on top…. and make it toasted!
Vienna Coffee Roasters: Cinnamon Roll Latte
Old City
Cinnamon, marshmallow and white mocha syrup swirled in with espresso and steamed milk. Now you can have your cinnamon roll AND coffee, and drink it too. Tastes like a Sunday morning if ya ask us. Pro-Tip: This one is even more delicious iced – looking at you year-round iced coffee drinkers!
Likewise: Spiced Apple Latte
East Knoxville
This latte tastes like fall with its subtle hints of apple and made with creamy oatmilk. Add in the fact that you can sip it inside the endlessly adorable Likewise Coffee? It doesn’t get better. Pro-Tip: Ask for it to be made with caramel, which basically makes it a caramel apple latte. Honestly, what more could you even ask for?😍
Treetop Coffee Shop: Pecan Pie Latte
West Knoxville
Who says you have to wait until Thanksgiving to satisfy your pecan pie craving? The Pecan Pie Latte is subtly sweet and not-so-basic. But who’s surprised? Treetop always crushes it with their out-of-the-box house-made syrups 🙌
K Brew: S’mores Mocha
North Knoxville | West Hills | Downtown
Marshmallow syrup, mocha, topped with whipped cream, a baked meringue, and chocolate shavings. Close your eyes and you may forget you’re at K Brew and not actually at a bonfire, especially when the merengue melts into a marshmallowy goodness.
BONUS FALL LATTE:
It’s not technically coffee but the K Brew Harvest Apple Cider is YUM. I mean, look:
by New2Knox Ghost Writer | Sep 27, 2021 | All Articles, Caitlyn Tate, Food & Drink
If you moved to Knoxville longer than, say, a day ago – chances are you’ve heard of K Brew. Known for their hammock chairs and delicious specialty lattes (they rotate with the season), it’s no surprise KBrew quickly made a name for themselves as one of the best coffee shops in Knoxville. Here’s a quick peek inside this local gem!
Where You At?
A Look Inside the Locations:
KBrew originally started in an itty-bitty 400 square foot location off of Glenwood and North Broadway. Just a few years later, KBrew now has three locations absolutely crushing the coffee and bagel game every day: North Broadway, West Hills, and Downtown in Embassy Suites.
If you’ve been lucky enough to visit all three locations, you may have noticed the vibes are unique to their respective part of town.
Located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Gay Street, Downtown’s got the business vibe, with companies like Searay and HT Hackney just steps away.
North Broadway (the oldest of the three and just steps away from the original location) takes on a more chill, peaceful vibe with a large demographic of UTK and Pellissippi students meeting for small groups or study sessions.
When you step into West Hills, you’re met with a vibrant environment of meetings with friends and business partners alike. West Hills also hosts the kitchen that bakes and supplies all locations with their delicious, New York-style bagels and cream cheese. (*drool*)
THE HISTORY:
I got the chance to sit down with Anthony, the marketing manager at Kbrew, to get a closer look inside the shop’s history (which I, for one, was stoked to learn about).
Brothers Pierce and Michael LaMacchia dreamed up the idea of KBrew on a family road trip to the northwest in 2008. It was the beginning of third-wave coffee shops beginning to pop up in little “coffee huts”, and the brothers loved the concept so much, they had to bring the idea back to the south with them.
Flash forward to 2013. The brothers finally bought a tiny shack in Kentucky for the start of their coffee shop… but once they drove by that corner spot in Fourth & Gill, they knew their concept was destined for Knoxville, Tennessee.
A few years later, the *OG* Kbrew opened in that 400 square foot corner spot on Glenwood and Broadway. She was an adorable little shop – emphasis on little. With just a handful of seats available, the original K Brew was a particularly good place to grab to-go coffee. Needless to say, just a couple years later, it was time to expand. They relocated just a few blocks down North Broadway and the rest is (as this section is so eloquently named) history 😉
TO INFINITY AND BREW-YOND:
From the time the first location opened, KBrew made a name for themselves with a new kind of traditional fall coffee drink – the Pumpkin Pie Latte made with actual pumpkin. Holy. Yum.
And of course, the coolest hammock swings ever.
Speaking of hammocks, one could definitely argue the coolest part of the North Broadway location is the open garage. This indoor-outdoor space has hammock swings, heaters, outlets, and (most importantly) is pup-friendly (cue all the heart eye emojis!).
Image by: @knoxvillebrew
2019 brought us many blessings from this cute lil coffee shop – namely the West Hills (and with it, their beloved bagels!) and Downtown locations. They also recently transitioned from their specialty label by Good Folks Roasters in North Carolina to roasting their own beans and expanding their selection of blends. (All their syrups were already made in-house so this has just elevated the experience even more.)
by New2Knox Ghost Writer | Aug 25, 2021 | All Articles, Entertainment, Nena Potter
Knoxville may be sandwiched between two heavy hitters when it comes to cities known for music (one of them is literally nicknamed Music City and the other is known as the birthplace of country music), but our Scruffy City has been making a name for itself when it comes to being a destination for live music for several years now.
For as long as I’ve lived in Knoxville (9+ years… shew, time flies y’all!), my calendar has never been lacking for a chance to fill my ears and my soul with good tunes and good vibes. There’s truly no lack of live music experiences in Knoxville with events like Rhythm N’ Blooms and the internationally known Big Ears Festival as well as WDVX’s Ijams Meadow Lark Music Festival, Waynestock, and coming up in 2022, the inaugural Southern Skies Music Festival (with music curated by local fave The Dirty Guv’nahs). Adding to that, and one of my personal favorite fests, is Second Bell Music Festival, now in its third year (or 4th if you count 2020’s virtual Second Bell Sofa Soiree).
SECOND BELL MUSIC FESTIVAL:
What started as BLANKfest in Market Square (and where the aforementioned Dirty Guv’nahs played a free show back in 2015) has morphed into something bigger and more magical than anything I could have ever imagined would be right in my own backyard. Second Bell Music Fest is the self-proclaimed waterfront celebration in South Knoxville that highlights local and regional entertainment communities. This year Rusty Odom, curator of all the Second Bell entertainment and big man on campus with equally big hair, is bringing the heat with a fire lineup that includes alt-blues band Houndmouth, indie rockers Susto and the feel-good vibes from Neil Francis (insert heart eyed emoji here). This year will be the first year the festival is expanding to two days, Friday and Saturday, and takes place at the lovely Suttree Landing Park in South Knoxville.
Fun Fact: The Park is named after Cornelius Suttree, a character in the first novel written by Knoxville author Cormac McCarthy.
a dreamy sunset evening at Suttree Landing Park
Why Is It a Fave Fest??
Not only can you expect a great lineup of music, but this festival does something that I absolutely love and appreciate as an avid festie-goer. Second Bell doesn’t schedule acts against each other in the same time slot. (WHAT?! Mind.Blown.) When you buy a ticket to this festival, it is entirely possible to actually see all the musical artists on the lineup. This is the ONLY music festival to my knowledge that does this. No FOMO, no problem. The folks behind this fest truly appreciate both the music, artists and entertainers, as well as the community they create – and you see that come to life in all aspects of this festival. On top of all that, a portion of proceeds from the event will go to XHunger, a Scarecrow Foundation initiative devoted to eliminating hunger in America.
So, you may be thinking to yourself, “Nena, this sounds great, and it sounds like you’ve been to quite a few festivals in your day. Got any tips?” My friend, I got you.
Tips from your Festie Bestie:
THE FUN TIPS:
– DO check out the music before you go. It’s always way more fun when you actually know the words to a few songs.
– DON’T skip out on checking out the local acts. My personal pics are Kelsi Walker (who I fell in love with when I saw her sing some of my favorite Dolly Parton covers at Dolly Fest a few months ago), local favorites Thrift Store Cowboys and Good Guy Collective who will knock your proverbial socks off.
– DO spring for the VIP tickets. I would not say this for most festivals but it’s not that expensive and gets you VIP viewing areas. We’re talkin’ multiple tented lounges, private bar access (read: no lines), a Second Bell t-shirt ($20 otherwise) and more!
– DON’T forget about the other bells (😉) and whistles of Second Bell. In addition to having a great lineup of local and regional musical acts, you also have the chance to see a plethora of live standup comedy performers AND go to a dance party. I mean, at my age with these knees I don’t even know if I can handle all of this but you can bet I’m gunna try.
– DO plan on Ubering or PRO-TIP: Park a little farther away (even downtown in a parking garage) and then take a scooter across the river because honestly, and as much as I hate to say it, riding those scooters is a good time and makes me feel like a kid again. Don’t hate.
THE PRACTICAL TIPS:
– And now for the mother in me… DO bring a fan or something to help you stay cool. It’s late August in Tennessee, y’all. It will likely be hotter than a hoochie coochie. (I never thought I would be making an Alan Jackson reference but here we are.) But seriously, stay cool. Drink something other than beer. I’ve done enough years at Bonnaroo to know that nothing will make you more miserable than being hot and dehydrated.
– Last thing since we are living in a new normal these days – if you are planning on attending the late-night dance party, DON’T forget to bring proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 lab conducted within 48 hours of the event.
A pre-COVID crowd gathers at a different Knoxville festival (Rhythm n Blooms)
How to Survive Between Festivals:
If you can’t make it out this weekend, fret not – there are so many other great places to find live music all year round! Some of our faves are the historic Tennessee Theatre and the Bijou, as well as the Mill and Mine, Jig and Reel, Barley’s, Pilot Light, Pretentious Beer, Scruffy City and Preservation Pub, etc, etc. All of these fine establishments bring in local, regional and national acts that are diverse, mega-talented and a lot of the time completely freeee! In the meantime, I’ll see you on the waterfront this weekend, yeah? 😉 Cheers!
by New2Knox Ghost Writer | Jul 27, 2021 | All Articles, Food & Drink, Iliana Rocha
Taco obsession is not a new phenomenon, but regardless if you’ve been in Knoxville a little over a year (like me!) or you’re Knox born and bred, finding the perfect street taco can feel like a never-ending quest (albeit a fun one). Here are three spots I’ve been returning to lately: (Dare we say, the best tacos in Knoxville??)
Fiesta Garibaldi
West Knoxville
Holy frijole (corny pun completely intended), this spot is incredible! We’ve never known a bad taco at Fiesta Garibaldi (or their sister restaurant El Tipico), but the shrimp and pastor are must-haves. Wrapped in two corn tortillas, your choice of meat is served hot off the grill, topped with cilantro and grilled onions, which give these tacos a fajita-like familiarity. You’re in for something special with their crispy tacos hondureños—in fact, head to El Tipico to check out their other Honduran offerings as well. Add some rice and beans and call it good. Try the fried chicken with plantains (pollo con tajadas) and call it real good.
La Esperanza
North Knoxville
Situated in the back of a tienda (store), La Ezperanza has some of the best tacos in the city. Slide into one of their orange booths and pick your favorite—our recommendations are the asada and the tripas. The tripas themselves are light and perfectly crispy around the edges, and adding their famous green sauce will only up the ante on the flavor. Pair with a cold Modelo with lime and don’t forget to grab some Mexican candy on your way out!
El Girasol
West Knoxville
Say hello to the winner of Best Latino Restaurant in the 2020 Centro Hispano de East Tennessee Latino Awards! In their horchata (a rice drink over ice), the vanilla and Mexican cinnamon really come through and perfectly complement the spicy bite of their salsas. We like their traditional take on the street taco and would recommend the asada, pollo, and chicharron, all topped with raw onions and lots of cilantro. At the register, be sure to grab a bag of colorful conchas (Mexican sweet bread) for the perfect dessert.
There are pleeeenty more good street tacos where these three came from, but let us know if you agree that these are the best tacos in Knoxville!
by New2Knox Ghost Writer | Jul 15, 2021 | All Articles, Food & Drink, Katie Williams
600 beers in six years. Just to save you the math: that’s about two beers a week. Two unique beers a week that Crafty Bastard Brewery has put into the world and into our mouths since it opened its doors in downtown north in 2015. Just by the numbers, Crafty Bastard may be the best brewery in Knoxville for experimentation, but there’s no doubt it’s the scruffiest. In its stripped-down nano brew setup, Crafty creates a whole vibe—a celebration of substance over flash (basically the very essence of scruffy).
In all of its brewing, Crafty’s only committed to two mainstays: Hop Candy and Tessellation, both American IPAs. Oh, they have their frequent fliers—Earl Grey Pale Ale, Mayan Chocolate Chili Porter, Big Bastard Double IPA and Imperial Milk Stout to name a few—as well as some unique seasonals like the Picklebier (a Bailey Rose favorite), Pineapple Radler and White Arrow Pine Ale (oh yes, it’s made with real pine sprigs).
But let’s face it, folks. Of 600 beers, there’s less than 20 on repeat. That’s a Whole. Lot. Of. New. Beer. to try on any given week. It’s downright FOMO-inducing. And while that massive number might make it seem like Brewmaster Aaron McClain must be just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, there is a method to his madness.
Photo from craftybastardbrewery.com
“It all works in trials. We often start by muddling ingredients into different beers to see which beer is the best match for that particular ingredient,” Aaron says. “If the flavors work then we begin to dial in the exact proportions and ratios. Generally, once something actually makes it into a keg it’s pretty tasty.”
We made sure to check and this one was indeed tasty.
Aaron says ‘generally’ because there is an infamous pizza beer they still keep a keg of to hook up as a party joke every once in a while. Another wacky experimentation: the Smoky Mountain Shroom Ale, a beer made to mimic a dish of white-wine braised pork tenderloin with chantarelle mushrooms. Apparently, for better or for worse, it accomplished just that.
“Half a dozen people said it was the best beer they’ve ever had. The same amount say it’s the worst,” Aaron says.
Iteration compliments this experimentation, however, as evidenced by their beer Main Squeeze. Originally part of a series called Stratosphere, it took 18 versions before the Crafty crew settled on a New England IPA they were ready to make a serious commitment to and move in with.
“It’s juicy, fruity, hazy, all the things New England IPAs are supposed to be,” Aaron says. “But this particular batch was not just another number. So, Stratosphere 18 became our Main Squeeze.”
