Knoxville is neat!

Thursday 12/05/2011

Pun! - neat as in "cool" and neat as in "clean and tidy". Very funky and arty! and looks immaculate!

Knoxville is only a 45 minute, 36m drive from Pigeon Forge through Sevierville. It was the original capital of Tennessee. Known for its music, culture, sport, arts entertainment, beauty and Southern hospitality it didn't disappoint - we got a taste of it all in the few hours we were there.

We visited the Visitors Centre at the top of Gay St,  the main street downtown and found it was no ordinary "grab-a-brochure-and-go" kind of place! There was a fantastic gourmet coffee shop called The Parlour with its freshly baked home made goodies, and lots of locally made art and craft on display. While we treated ourselves to a hot chocolate we had the pleasure of being entertained by a very talented young lady with her country and western music and song. There is a free WDVX (East Tennessee's own Americana/roots radio station) Blue Pate Special with a daily, live, noon-time performance of Americana music - a different performer each day -  and we arrived just in time!

After enjoying our hot choccy and the music we headed off with our map we went in for to have a look around town. There are a lot of lovely historic buildings lining the main street and trendy restaurants and cafes also scatter its length. Art is a focus with interesting sculptures in the streets and in the love parks which feature prominently around town.

We visited the pristine park and site of The World Trade Fair which Knoxville hosted in 1982. They were setting up for the Rev 3 Triathlon that is being held here in Knoxville this weekend.

In Market Square, a pedestrian plaza lined with cafes and restaurants, they were setting up a big stage for a weekend of musical entertainment.

Th old pub in Historic Old Town Knoxville

Historic Old Town Knoxville

The Sunsphere in The World Fair Park

Gay Street, the main street

The Tennessee Theatre.
A classical music orchestra / concert was performing there

Lovely historic buildings and architecture

Enjoying the music while we had our hot choccy in The Parlour in the Visitors Centre

Very talented young lady!
At one point she was humming in her song and it sounded like she was playing a harmonica - clever!

"The Cycle"
Sculptures from local artists were all along the main street

Interesting sculpture!

Art in the park

Another interesting work of art
Quite a few musicians sitting around the parks strumming away -
waiting to be discovered? (in the shadow)

I really liked these sculptures - there was a ring of them and each had a different coloured face.

Entrance to park leading up to Market Square

Beautiful od building beside the Bijou Theatre

The amphitheatre in The World Fair Park

Setting up for the REV 3 Triathlon - they finish in the Park

Very peaceful and relaxing strolling through this beautiful park

The pedestrian bridge and waterfall in the park

The sunsphere is a feature in the park and is a skyline feature of Knoxville

The water fall and stream tumbles through the beautiful gardens and lawns

The main lake in The World Fair Park

Gardens and water feature

Getting  organised for the Triathlon

The interactive water fountain and flag poles

Lovely tile mosaic celebrating "music" on the building near Market Square

Woman's Suffragette Monument in Market Square

Market Square

Water fountain in Market Square
Stage at the far end ready or the weekend concert

Crossing the Tennessee River - lots of bridges crossing this river!

Crossing the Gay Street Bridge heading up into town

The Tennessee Riverboat

Knoxville is a big basketball town

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