It was just last week I was telling someone I was feeling a little antsy in Knoxville. It happens every now and then. It's nothing a vacation can't fix, but I'm holding out for travels during the holidays, so for now, I've been looking for ways to get my mind to think about Knoxville differently, to look at it in a new way. My city deserves at least that much from me.
It helps when a day comes along that is perfect, and Knoxville offered that last Friday.
My night began with dinner at the Bistro with a group of friends. That place has become a fortress (a refuge, a stronghold) in a lot of ways. Everything about it, the old brick walls, the beautifully crafted bar (Miss Lil's suppleness), brings warmth and comfort in a way that many other restaurant cannot.
Sidenote: I shared the Lipitor Burger with a friend: 2 8 oz. patties, 6 pieces of cheese, and 4 pieces of bacon, and it was delicious.
After dinner, we walked next door to the Bijou for the Sufjan Stevens show. I had not listened to his new album Age of Adz and was told I should prepare myself, but I decided to just dive in head first. It ended up working out for me; it was phenomenal.
I wouldn't typically write about going to see a concert, but for those that weren't there, I thought it appropriate to share one thing in particular about the show. Sufjan Stevens talked about how he was glad to be back at the Bijou after having been here during Big Ears. When they had talked about tour stops, he decided against Nashville, but wanted to come back to Knoxville. He said we should be proud to live in a city that would take on something like Big Ears. I think everyone in the crowd who lived in Knoxville beamed a little more brightly upon hearing his remarks.
After the show, we walked to the grand opening of the Public House, which was icing on the cake. It was packed with people enjoying themselves over beers and nicely portioned plates of food. A couple of people I ran into commented about how they felt like they were in New York, feeling all fancy.
My night felt the same way, but the fact that I was in Knoxville made it all the more sweet.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
These streets will make you feel brand new
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4 comments:
Well done, b. Friday was surely a wonderful night to be in Knoxville.
Sorry to have missed it all, but I do know those nights well where everything comes together. I've been itching for one myself lately.
Sorry to have missed it all, but I do know those nights well where everything comes together. I've been itching for one myself lately.
Having had virtually the same evening (minus opening night @ the PublicHouse), I can attest to how special of a night that was for a native Knoxvillian. After the concert, I met up with a group of friends, one of which had an out-of-town friend visiting him for the weekend. He was shocked to learn not only of the concert, but also of Big Ears and the variety of other events locals tend to take for granted. Thank you for acknowledging the simple pleasures that can be had in our scruffy little city.
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