Page 22 - Vol40 No3 Sept-Oct2022

STATEWIDE By Lisa Hood Skinner
Downtown Knoxville Attractions

Music, Food, Adventures Around Every Corner

With Downtown Knoxville as the site Though this is promoted as a “Young
of this fall’s TCAPWA/SWANA Annual Professionals Event” everyone is welcome
Conference, attendees will find an exciting – no matter your age.
variety of choices for nearby entertainment, As you come out of Maple Hall’s front
restaurants, shops, and more. door onto Gay, check out Suttree’s High
Since the conference is in the Marriott Gravity Tavern right across the street.
Knoxville Downtown (on the edge of the While Downtown has dozens of bars, this
World’s Fair site), walkable adventures one is a popular spot for its craft beer,
from the hotel are accessible everywhere homemade ramen and nostalgic array of
you look. (While there are some tourist arcade games (remember foosball?).
spots near the hotel on the fair site, The large and multi-storied Mast
including the Sunsphere and the military General Store on Gay Street is a couple
memorials, you must cross Henley Street stores down from Maple Hall, on the
to access the bulk of diverse entertainment same side of the street. It carries on the
options and restaurants comprising the tradition of the old American general
Downtown business district.) mercantile, offering old-fashioned candies
The Waterfront, Market Square, Old by the barrel and folding Buck knives, yet Scruffy City Hall rooftop and Bernadette’s
also features modern Southern wares such
City and More as Yeti coolers and Tennessee Volunteer Crystal Gardens rooftop are accessed
The Downtown Knoxville Visitors football tailgating gear. It’s located in from the Square. On nearby Gay Street,
Center, 301 S. Gay Street (corner of a building constructed in 1898 and is the FiveThirty Lounge is atop the Historic
Summit Hill Drive) is a great first stop to known as the only Mast General Store Farragut Hotel/Hyatt Place (Starbucks is
get your bearings. Bike or run all along outside the Carolinas and Virginia. in its lobby).
the vibrant Downtown Waterfront, amble Funky stores are no longer simply For the most extensive vistas and sunset
through the streets to the shops and clustered on Market Square (although views, take the elevator up to the Embassy
restaurants in Historic Market Square or there are a good variety of shops on the Suites’ Radius Rooftop Bar (men must
stroll down Gay Street into the Old City Square, nestled between the various wear a collared shirt during heavy volume
where the former bowery atmosphere restaurants). Gay Street’s small businesses nights). Check out the beautiful pool and
has been transformed into trendy shops in this “Made in Tennessee” city boast cabanas on that top deck, right outside the
and bars. There’s free trolley service everything from homespun memorabilia bar’s spectacular architecture. Embassy
throughout the streets, with more than 90 to vintage books to stylish women’s wear Suites is at the edge of Krutch Park, just
restaurants within one square mile. and men’s high-end business and casual off the Square, and fronts Gay Street. And
We’ll start our conference Tuesday wear. it’s home to Ham & Goody’s and K-Brew
afternoon with a tour of the World’s on its lower level.
Fair Site and the iconic gold Sunsphere. Shopping, Buskers and Rooftop Bars
Charge up your cellphone for photos Shopping runs the gamut throughout Dolly Mural Up Close and Personal
from the Sunsphere. It offers a 360-degree Downtown and the Old City. From Earth If you have a spare hour or so, take in
panorama views of Downtown Knoxville, to Old City’s tie-dye wearables to Bethie some urban downtown art on a strolling
the Tennessee River, the University of Lou’s Fabulous Gift Store’s zingy cards and mural tour. Find the murals in alleyways
Tennessee and even the Great Smoky collectibles, you can easily pick up fun on both sides of Market Square, in
Mountains. items to remember the conference. stairwells and on the sides of buildings
Market Square is situated two short and parking garages. Local artists
Gathering on Gay Street blocks west of South Gay Street, between showcase their latest works here, and
The next evening, our Young Wall and Union Avenues. The Square’s many paintings change with the season.
Professionals Event takes place at popular lively bustle of commerce is frequently The infamous Dolly Parton mural is
Maple Hall on Gay Street. We’ll enjoy accented by nightly buskers playing located on the Wall Avenue corner end
tasty food, signature drinks and energetic everything from violins, saws, and steel of the Art Alley (directly behind Tommy
bowling in Maple Hall’s lower level. Maple drums. The eclectic mix of spontaneous Trent’s Sports Saloon across from TVA).
Hall has another connected bar and music and restaurants attracts locals and That alley, running behind an entire side
outdoor patio out back and just above the tourists alike to shop, eat and socialize. of Market Square restaurants, usually is
bowling alley, providing a respite for those Some of Downtown’s best rooftop bars well lighted at night, offering great photo
folks who might have “ringing in the ears” are located here, as well as on the fringes: opportunities.
or who just want to shoot the breeze. continued on page 25
22 TPW September/October 2022