Though some students were fortunate enough to have early check-in between Thursday and Saturday most returning students checked back into their dorms and on campus apartments on Sunday. New students, almost 4,200 altogether, checked in on Saturday! More than 7,000 students live on campus with all freshman, non-commuters are required to do so. With classes scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 20th, many UT students are taking this time to settle in to college life and acquaint themselves with the 550 acres and 220 buildings that comprise the Knoxville campus. I, along with many area residents would like to say welcome to the freshmen, and welcome back to the upperclassmen.

For those of you who are new to Knoxville , I would like to invite you to explore life beyond campus. It is essential to the formation of your future self that you become part of the Knoxville community to which you now belong. Below are few links to posts about places that may be of interest to you.

Higher Education: University of Tennessee

Cigars & Scotch In The Old City

 The World Grotto Experience!

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

The Official State Theatre of Tennessee

Three Rivers Rambler

 Knoxville Tennessee: Not Just Another College Town

Knoxville is a wonderful city. The University of Tennessee is one of the finest schools of higher learning in the entire country. Your college experience will be an unprecedented time of learning and self discovery. Since you have chosen UT Knoxville, a big part of your fall semester college experience for the next four years will include University of Tennessee football !  Below are the first three posts in a five part series by one of your fellow classmates. Hopefully they can act as a primer to those who are unfamiliar with the current Volunteers football team and a refresher to those of you that bleed volunteer orange and hum Rocky Top in your sleep!

2008 Volunteer Football Preview

University of Tennessee Preview: Offense

University of Tennessee Preview: Defense

University of Tennessee Preview: Special Teams & Coaches

If you are anything like me, when I was a child I used to love to watch the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom hosted by Marlin Perkins . This show actually paved the way for today’s popular shows like Corwin’s Quest and Meerkat Manor. Today there is an entire channel, Animal Planet , that is wildly popular. These shows, and the Animal Planet Channel, give us a look into a more wild world. This world ignites our intellect, our imagination, and our desire to preserve both through the protection of the wildlife in our backyard and around the world.

Zoos play an important role in helping to preserve the natural world through outreach and education efforts in local communities, and through direct conservation efforts. Thanks to zoos all around the world we will be able to protect some of the magical animals and places that helped to fuel our childhood imagination and intellectual curiosity. Not very long ago, when I was still living in Atlanta , Georgia, I did a post on Zoo Atlanta and another post on the Georgia Aquarium . Now that I live in Knoxville , Tennessee, I want to highlight the Knoxville Zoo and their upcoming Feast with the Beasts event.

The Knoxville Zoo is an active member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA ). The AZA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of accredited zoos and aquariums in the areas of animal care, wildlife conservation, education and science. The Knoxville Zoo is an active participant in programs designed to assist in the maintenance of self-sustaining, genetically diverse populations of captive animals for display and education. There are both volunteer opportunities and employment opportunities available at the Knoxville Zoo. Click HERE for driving directions or you can call (865) 637-5331 ext. 300.

Knoxville is home to some very unique haunts for locals, students, and tourists. One such place is called the Knoxville Cigar Company . Please note that this post is not meant to endorse cigar smoking nor alcohol consumption, but if you choose as an adult to indulge in these pleasures, please use mouthwash and cologne! With that little disclaimer out of the way, let me move on to the good stuff!

The Knoxville Cigar Company opened in 1996 in the “Old City ” section of Knoxville. The Old City is characterized by funky shops, some great restaurants, and a diverse nightlife. If you could imagine a miniature Bourbon Street in New Orleans, you can approximate the several blocks that comprise the Old City. There is definitely two different feels to the Old City. During the day you will find a lot of local business people enjoying a great meal or a lunchtime cocktail. In the evening, when the sun goes down and the street lamps are lit, the mood becomes festive with young hip couples and throngs of college students coming and going to the various nightspots.

One of the premier spots, located at 118 S. Central (click HERE for a map), is the Knoxville Cigar Company.  The Knoxville Cigar Company is really a unique mixture of three distinct elements that combine to create a perfect evening. The finest cigars and pipe tobaccos make up the first distinctive element. Next are the top shelf scotches and bourbons that, when savoured will ignite the palate with the flavors only high quality, hand-crafted liquors can. And finally is the food. Whether you are in the mood for a lunchtime panini with a sweet southern iced tea or a casual wood fired pizza with a high gravity beer, the food is the third element that completes this successful triumvirate.

If you are in Knoxville for business or pleasure, or if you are a resident of the Knoxville area, I would definitely recommend giving the Knoxville Cigar Company, and all of the Old City, a visit. The Knoxville Cigar Company can website can be viewed by clicking HERE or you can always give them a call at 865-673-8556.

Hours of Operation

Retail

Monday - Thursday 10:00 am until 12:00 am

Friday - Saturday 10:00 am until 2:00 am

Sunday Closed

 Cigar Bar

Monday - Thursday 4:00 pm to 12:00am

Friday - Saturday 4:00 pm to 2:00am

Sunday Closed

In support of their new internet released CD entitled The Slip , seminal 90’s band Nine Inch Nails will be touring extensively. With numerous dates announced as part of the Lights In The Sky Over North America 2008 and Lights In The Sky Over South America 2008 tours. According to the official website , the tour kicked off on July 25 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Knoxville will proudly host NIN at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum on August 9th at 7:30 PM.

With the release of Pretty Hate Machine in 1989, NIN skyrocketed into the stratosphere of fame and popularity. Trent Reznor, who is NIN, has always maintained control of all aspects of music production. Three years later (1992) saw the release of Broken . And two years after that (1994) saw the release of The Downward Spiral . On The Downward Spiral is perhaps NIN’s most recognizable song entitled Closer . Closer represents perhaps the pinnacle of mainstream acceptance of a loosely categorized industrial sound. Though Closer was heavily censored for radio and television, it received lots of airtime. Below is the actual uncensored video.

Reznor has also produced soundtracks for several movies and teamed up with the likes of David Bowie for the 1997 release of I’m Afraid Of Americans . In addition to being a respected, Grammy Award winning artist, Reznor created his own record label entitled Nothing Records which featured Marilyn Manson. Another show of Reznor’s respected status as an artist is with the haunting remake of his hit Hurt by the legendary Johnny Cash.

August is the final month to enjoy Shakespeare on the Square, Market Square that is. This is the 19th season that The Tennessee Stage Company , a recognized 501(c) 3 non profit professional theater troupe, has produced some of the best written plays the theater world has ever known. This year they are staging Love’s Labors Lost and The Merchant of Venice .

The plays are held on alternating dates at 7:00 PM on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The plays are free of charge, though donations are accepted. Because seating at Market Square is limited, it is recommended that you bring lawn chairs or a blanket. There are several restaurants on Market Square where you can get both food and drink or you could always bring a picnic basket! Click HERE for a map of Market Square!For a fun and FREE evening of theater, check out Shakespeare on the Square!

Over the past several years, the move towards renewable and alternative fuels is undoubtedly a positive development. The growth of the “green movement” is a positive effort by many diverse groups and individuals. Much has been said about the use of corn and soy as a fuel source.

Many farmers who grow these crops have seen an increase in the value as a direct result. An unforeseen consequence of the increased value of these crops has prompted a shift away from supplying cattle and dairy farmers with the grain that has historically been used as nutritional supplements for their herds. The drought conditions that have plagued much of the farming industry has not spared the cattle and dairy industries either. Much of the hay that is grown as the dietary staple has been stunted or simply not grown in recent years. Though the farmers are finally beginning to recover from the past drought conditions, last year Knox County Farm Bureau paid the transportation costs for hay that had to be imported from Canada which saved cattle and diary farmers about $2 per bail in fuel costs.

In a similar effort this year a new nonprofit organization called East Tennessee Farmers Relief was organized this past January. This organization’s efforts will shift as needed but always focus on providing relief to farmers in six local counties: Knox , Grainger , Sevier , Hamblen , Cocke, and Jefferson . The nonprofit has organized a benefit concert to be held on Friday, July 25, 2008 at Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center in Morristown, Tennessee . Click HERE for a map! The event is hoping to raise an estimated $120,000 for distribution to cattle and dairy farmers by an independent board of area farmers selected by the University of Tennessee’s agricultural extension programs agents who represent the counties that East Tennessee Farmers Relief is set up to serve. Scheduled to perform are David Nail , Carolina Rain , and Aaron Tippin (pictured at left). There are still many tickets remaining and starting at $20 each they are a real bargain! Tickets can be purchased online at Lakeway Tickets ! If you are a fan of country music, why not come out and see some of today’s hottest country stars and support a good cause all at the same time!

One of the things that make any community a great place to live and raise a family is the availability of free or low-cost diversion. I have discovered since moving to the metro-Knoxville area that there is a real kinship between residents and the great outdoors. This could be due to the close proximity of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park or the rugged outdoor mountain culture that influences everything from the music to the art or the rich cultural history of the Native American people that continues to this day. Whatever the cause, there is a strong connection between the people of this area to Mother Earth. From free and convenient recycling programs to small organic farmers to the hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts, Knoxville is a wonderful place to celebrate the outdoors.

One such fun park is New Harvest Park! New Harvest Park is located at 4775 New Harvest Lane, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37918. Click HERE for a map! This wonderful park features fun for the whole family! There is a huge playground with modern playground equipment! An inventive and fun splashpad that incorporates dancing waters and spraying fountains! In addition to the numerous covered picnic tables scattered around, there is a large, open-air pavilion that can be reserved and seats up to 78 people! There is also a fully air conditioned Community Building that has a maximum capacity of 110 people available for rent at very reasonable rates! Call 865-215-6600 to reserve either one! On any given day there are a multitude of families gathered all around the park! For your next free family outing or family reunion, I would definitely recommend checking out New Harvest Park! Bring a picnic basket or cooler (No Alcoholic Beverages Permitted). And don’t forget to swimsuit and towels for the young ones who will have a hard time resisting the splash pad.

As a special surprise, every Thursday through November 20th, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM, there is a Farmer’s Market ! The Farmers Market features fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, flowers, plants, herbs, honey, artisan foods, meats, farm fresh eggs, and dairy products. For a complete list of the rules and regulations pertaining to vending, click HERE ! To open the Vendor Application click HERE !

This October 10-12, 2008 the City of Maryville , Tennessee will host the Foothills Fall Festival . This three day event is packed with something for everyone. On Friday, October 10th beginning at noon, the Foothills Fall Festival is dedicated to kids of all ages. The Children’s Adventureland consists of many acres set aside with rides, shows, games, and even bull riding! As day turns to evening there will be a full night of concerts! Gates will open at 5:00 PM.

6:00 PM Slow Joe Crow

6:45 PM TBA

7:30 PM The Dixie Highway Band

9:00 PM Foreigner

Saturday the 11th will see festivities begin at 10:00 AM. This family friendly day will include the a juried Arts and Crafts show in downtown Maryville. There will be local and regional vendors exhibiting and selling their arts and crafts. There will be demonstrations of traditional crafting along with performances of traditional local music. The Children’s Adventureland will continue to operate as well! The musical entertainment will begin at 1:00 PM on Saturday and go into the evening.

1:00 PM John Bledsoe

2:00 PM TBA

3:00 PM Sgt. Jamie Buckley

4:30 PM Road Hammers

6:00 PM Billy Ray Cyrus

7:30 PM Jason Aldean

9:30 PM Josh Turner

The final day of the festival will feature the same arts and crafts setup as the previous day and the same Children’s Adventureland as the previous two days. The big deal for Sunday the 12th is the music! While is was just announced that the headliner for Sunday’s event, Willie Nelson has had to cancel his scheduled performance. With the help of the local country music station WIVK-FM , the search is on for a new headliner. The names that are being both floated by organizers and voted on by listeners are Gary Allan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt, Loretta Lynn, Darryl Worley, Jo Dee Messina, Josh Gracin, Pat Green, Tracy Byrd, The Allman Brothers, Wynonna, and Billy Currington. You can click HERE to cast your vote! The day’s music will begin at 1:00 PM.

1:00 PM Life Wide Open

2:00 PM The Birdsong Family

3:00 PM Seven Day Believer

4:15 PM TBA
5:30 PM Julianne Hough

7:00 PM Jason Michael Carroll

8:30 TBA (Cast Your Vote Above)

If you are in the Maryville, Knoxville, or Gatlinburg area the weekend of October 10-12, 2008, you should really consider checking out this local festival. This is a real slice of Americana!

This is my official first post for today.com I tend to do a lot of local interest and human interest posts so I think you should know a bit about me. Here it is in a nutshell. I recently relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee from Atlanta, Georgia. Knoxville is a short drive to the majestic Smokey Mountains . This is some of the most beautiful country in America, boasting its own unique culture and enterprise. I love hiking in the beautiful mountains, swimming in the cool streams, and taking in the beautiful vistas. I have lived in the Knoxville, Tennessee area on two other separate occasions. It is interesting to note the pull this place has on those who have lived or visited here.

With all of that said, I can say that I have lived in Atlanta , Georgia on three separate occasions as well. While Knoxville offers the abundant beauty of nature, Atlanta offers all the diversion of any major metropolitan city, anywhere in the world. The professional sports teams, the Atlanta Braves , Falcons , Thrashers , and Hawks are well supported both locally and regionally. Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium offer a close up look at some of natures most enthralling creatures. Atlanta is also home to a vibrant theater scene, beautiful parks , and many free attractions to keep visitors and residents just as busy as they want to be. It is hard to beat the pulsating life force of this major metropolitan area.

I work full time as a loan officer on the Thornton Team at Home America Mortgage . I am an avid sports and movie fan. I spend much of my free time gardening and just being outdoors. Music, literature, and art hold special places in my heart. I enjoy writing posts and hope that you might take the time to visit my other Blog on Active Rain ; if you do visit, please feel free to comment on any of my posts there as well! It is my hope that through this Blog you will come to know me as both a person and a loan officer.