goodbye, knoxville

taking a cue from another former blog writer here at the wigshop, my last post is a list of the best and a some the worst knoxville has given me over the past 7 years. it's a bit long, i know. but permit me a little self-indulgence. or just don't read it.

best overall spot: downtown grill and brewery. its not that its amazing, its just that its pretty good at everything. excellent nachos. the pretzels and pub cheese will leave you fat and happy. i love their beer. sitting on the front porch in fall or springtime will make you never want to leave.

best bar: barley's. i have to agree with lucas on this. the beer selection and sprawling interior are hard to beat. not to mention $2 pints on monday and tuesday. shazam.
worst: hannah's in the old city. "why did you even go there?" you ask. good question. i think what makes it worse is that they have that great space there on the corner and totally ruin it.

best bar to drink a knoxville corona: backroom bar-b-q. who doesn't want to hang out in a hidden back porch and drink cheap pbr on draft with a lemon twist? exactly.

best person to consistently make me laugh when i'm supposed to be working: em

best place for cheap used books, movies, and cds you probably don't need: mckay's. and big surprise...
worst: mckay's--i love and hate it.

best place for good used books: woodwards. enjoy the books and the conversation.

best nice restaurant: by the tracks bistro. they have blue cheesecake--macorni with blue cheese. plus, i never knew fried catfish could taste that good.
worst: regas. they're doing their best to keep us in the last century. and it's not because of their clientèle--they're just lazy.

best restaurant: pasta trio. delicious, mostly italian dishes. it's a little kitschy that you can sign the wine bottle you just drained, but i love it.

best book about life under a bridge in knoxville: suttree.

best type A obsessive blog designer: ck

best place to act older than 50: knoxville cigar company and bar.
worst: liquid on the strip, or whatever its current manifestation...

best hidden gem of knoxville: marie's old towne tavern. everyone must go there at least once. you will not be disappointed.

best place to have your car window smashed: the north end of the gay street viaduct.

best place to sleep under the stars: max patch. i know everyone says this, but it's true.

best shameless self-promotion (even though he's getting my vote): the pol

best closet to listen to music: the pilot light. its true things went downhill when they banned smoking and got rid of their two tables, but i've seen so many great shows there.
worst: blue cats. i know, i know it moved. and i know, it used to be the only place that was really booking anybody, but i never really enjoyed a show there.

2nd best blog according to the metropulse's reader's poll: the sunsphere is not a wigshop

best blog: the sunsphere is not a wigshop