Marvel-ous Movies

There is nothing like escaping the world and immersing yourself in a great film at the movie theater. For most, going to the movies is not the thing to do anymore, but it happens to be one of my favorite past times when I have the time and the funds.

With the evolution of movies has come the evolution of how we experience them. The Regal Cinemas Riviera 8 in downtown Knoxville has the ultimate set up. With its food selection and equipped with its own bar the downtown Regal has plenty to sustain your needs.

Recently I went to see the Captain Marvel movie as I attempt to keep in the loop on all things Marvel as the famed mega movie series is coming to an end this month. The theater was super clean and the staff wonderfully helpful, as we made our way back to our theater.

Because going to see this movie was a last minute, late Tuesday night decision, there were a few questionable characters both in the theater and watching the movie with us, but after alerting the staff there were no issues!

Regal has played such a huge part in the Knoxville community that they often us the downtown theater as a red carpet for the latest flick to hit. Their Instagram (@regalmovies) also shows highlights for the newest trailers, snacks, and tickets on sale! Head downtown for your next movie outing and you won’t regret it!

A big thank you to
https://klausvandenberg.wordpress.com/rivieraregal-cinema/ for this photo!!

Relay for Life and for Wings

Relay for Life is an amazing organization, that has numerous events across the country. However, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Relay for Life is a way for multiple student organizations to give back to the community and dedicate a night to fighting cancer and standing up for hope if a future cure.

But even more meaningful to me, the organization I participate in Relay for Life with has won the “Top Fundraiser” Award consecutively for the past 10 years. While the tradition started well before I came to the University of Tennessee, the past three years of continuing to carry the torch have brought great joy not only to my organization but to my heart.

Relay is spicing up its events this year. In addition to constantly having people on your team walking, the UTK Relay for Life committee has a lot of friendly competition planned for tonight. The list includes a tug of war, and my personal favorite, a wing eating contest.

Friday, April 5^th, 2019 will be my last Relay for Life as an undergraduate and my last one with my dear friend Kate, who survived childhood cancer, and who I couldn’t be prouder of as a captain and person. Kate’s resilient spirit has boosted our organization’s spirit in this event even more and has made a lasting impact on my life.

If you would like to donate to our Relay for Life team, please use the link below as it will be active until midnight tonight! (http://main.acsevents.org/goto/loracateyount)

The super awesome graphic serving as my photo for this event comes from my organization’s social media chair and has been shared all over Facebook these past few months leading up to the event tonight!

Prescription for Ice Cream

This week has been full of disappointments after criticism after rejection that only ice cream can fix. When you have one of those weeks in the Knoxville area, head downtown and in the heart of Gay Street is your ice cream savior, the Pharmacy. Full of old timey vibes, antiques, homemade sodas, other desserts, and a fully functioning medicine pharmacy in the back, the Pharmacy is like taking a trip back in time.

I arrived at this joint on my ice cream escapade because I had seen so many friends post about it on their social media, and conveniently without inviting me, but I digress. And while there are many places that I have visited for this blog that haven’t lived up to the hype, the ice cream here was not a let down. However the menu does need to be a little more clear on the menu when ordering a float, whether you’re receiving their homemade sodas or a brand soda. But seeing as that’s my only complaint (because yes, I can complain about any and everything), I find this spot to be another A+ on the bucket list to check off.

This post unfortunately does not come without a warning label. As many Knoxville residents know, the homeless population is very prevalent downtown. So avid readers, (AKA Mom and Carson) please take precautions when out on Gay Street at night. Use the buddy system, phone a friend, let someone else know your location. With news stories like the past few weeks, you never know, when your ice cream pity party could turn into a real life nightmare.

I took Cyclebar for a Spin…

I am not a #fitperson or even remotely great at fitness. However, hype around this somewhat recent Knoxville obsession was too much for me to ignore. Especially after all the eating I have done since the start of this blog. Cyclebar is a high tech, high intensity, and highly engaging spin class that burns an a lot of calories in only 45 minutes.

This activity is not for the faint of heart but the instructor will encourage you to push yourself at your own pace. However, there are a few class competitions that might make you want to go hard on the bike. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a leg only work out. There are weighted bars to engage your arms in a workout as the instructor guides you through a few basic moves and reps.

Now, if you’re like me, you’re still not getting the hype, but here are a few reasons I bought a membership on the same day, that might entice you to use your “free class” offer and take Cyclebar for a spin.

The staff are super warm, friendly and helpful. Not only do they answer emails at a rapid fast pace, they go the extra mile to make sure all your questions are answered. In addition to the staff, Cyclebar is not a gym. They might provide the equipment, like the bikes and your cleats, but when I walked in I didn’t get the feeling that everyone was watching me like I do every time I’m in a gym. And if you do get that feeling, here’s the good news, the lights in the class are turned off for a majority of the class so no one can see you huffing and puffing, event if they want to. You also get to chose your position in the classroom by reserving your bike so you can chose to not look at anyone else too.

Cyclebar is a national franchise but are locally owned an operated. Due to this the Knoxville area Cyclebar has it’s own Facebook and Instagram which should pull up so long as you indicate Knoxville in the search!

Chick(en)s & Waffles

Chicken & waffles is a classic combo, but one of the newest places in Knoxville has designed their whole restaurants around the meal. Myrtle’s Chicken and Beer has filled a spot in Downtown’s luxe area of Market Square.

Everything on the menu spans many variations of chicken sandwiches, wraps, salads and of course waffles. I honestly ordered a lot more at this restaurant than I have at any other because every item looked SO GOOD.

My dinner date and I started with a basket of cheddar bacon biscuits. They were all gone before our meal came out. While the biscuits might have tasted like a glorified Bisquick biscuit and not as cheesy as my date would have preferred, but still so so good.

Next up was my chicken and waffles meal that is the featured photo of this post. Now I was a person who growing up ordered chicken and waffles anytime I saw it on the menu because, I mean chicken tenders and waffles to a kid was a great invention. I find it a perfect merger of breakfast food with all other times of the day. However, these chicken and waffles were not the best I had ever had. The disappointment was all over my face as my dinner date could tell I was sad.

This does NOT mean that the meal was bad, but I just honestly was not impressed. My dinner date ordered something different than I, and munched on a hot chicken sandwich he believed would give Chick-fil-A a fierce competition. While that is obvious blasphemy, the bite I stole from the sandwich while he was very good, and dare I say better than the chicken and waffles!

The food item I will rave about is actually very surprising. Pimento cheese mac and cheese sounded good when I read it on the menu but my taste buds in no way could have imagined the fireworks about to be consumed. Honestly I plan to go back only to eat copious amounts of it.

If you’d like to try this new restaurant out, Myrtle’s Chicken and Beer can be found on Instagram as @myrtleschickenandbeer and on Facebook as Myrtle’s Chicken + Beer, both providing chicken photos galore.

Food Truck Buff

One rainy afternoon two friends told me we were getting in a car and driving to find a food truck that cooked hibachi. I wholeheartedly agreed as hibachi is always a good idea. When we found the food truck we were greeted by the happy and smiling husband and wife duo that make up Kanzoku Hibachi Express!

To find out where the couple will be for lunch or dinner one must follow their Facebook page. The location schedule for the food truck is uploaded every Monday night to their Facebook page. However, they do have a pattern with a few locations like hitting Central Filling Station on Thursday nights. At this location There are tables and benches where one can sit to enjoy the meal selected.

Kanzoku Hibachi provides many traditional hibachi meals but allow you to pick your meat, and sides. They offer, chicken, steak, tofu and shrimp for meat. The sides range from zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, brown and white rice. These options can be mixed and matched for a personal hibachi masterpiece, but as always should be topped with their homemade yum yum sauce.

If you need a good hibachi fix look up Kanzoku Hibachi Express on Facebook to find out where they will go next!

Uptown Girls Don’t Eat Well

When you want the good eats in Knoxville, Downtown is where you need to be. More specifically, Downtown Grill & Brewery, a staple in Knoxville’s Downtown dinning scene. Perched in the middle of South Gay Street, it is the spot to go after a movie at the Regal Cinemas, a show at the Tennessee Theater or before going to an event in Market Square, like Shakespeare plays or movies on Market Square. The menu boasts many different plates from burgers, pasta, appetizers, salads, and of course a wide variety of beer.

I have a favorite for every course from this restaurant as it has been across the street from the office I have been interning for. Their $5 lunch specials are not only amazing deals, but since they differ every day one can try many things! These lunch specials also include percentages off a meal for different downtown offices. Sundays include a brunch with waffles and mimosas.

My favorite items from this restaurant could be a long list but I’ll spare you and tell you my top two picks! For an appetizer, the beer cheese and pretzels are delicious. In the happy hour version, the pretzels come in mini bites, and when served at other hours, the appetizer comes with whole pretzels. For a main meal, the classic Dan’s Pasta is my absolute favorite meal every time I have it. Dan’s Pasta is a twist on chicken Alfredo, served with grilled chicken, mushrooms, and penne pasta.

If the draw of great food wasn’t enough DGB offers Poker Night ever Monday, Trivia every Tuesday, and a Jazz themed happy hour doing the previously mentioned brunch on Sundays. And to keep up with these events their Facebook is the place to go to stay informed, and see their cool pics like the one posted with this blog. Like them on Facebook to see what’s coming next! (https://www.facebook.com/downtowngrillandbrewery/?epa=SEARCH_BOX)

Foundry Fundraisin’

This weekend I was able to help out a UTK alumnus while having so much fun! Akima is a local group that raises monies for agencies in the Knoxville area. Thanks to Akima’s Casino Night at the Foundry on the Fair Site, so much money was raised to help those in need!

While volunteering at the event I was able to experience the functionality of the event space. The stage was perfect for our raffle give away and announcing silent auction winners, as well as the wine bidding war! Additionally, the event space boasted so much space to spread out, eat, dance, and gamble for tickets.

The Foundry on the Fair Site is also known to host many other events from weddings, award ceremonies and some great fundraising events like the one above! Their website offers an exclusive look into the ways venue can be transformed.

Visit their website to book your next event! http://www.foundonfair.com/

Carnitas, Cantinas, & Celebrations

Celebrating with tacos and margaritas sounds like a great party, right? But it’s made even better when you are celebrating one of the best, local Mexican restaurants in Knoxville, SoKno Taco! This local hotspot threw a house party this past weekend celebrating their two-year anniversary.

The celebrations included house margaritas for $5, taco plate specials and a great atmosphere. And many people showed their appreciation for the restaurant as finding parking took well over 20 minutes, but this is a Knoxville wide epidemic no matter where you go.

SoKno Taco had a great staff that handled the crowd with ease. The wait was supposed to be an hour but actually ended up being about 45 minutes. And once we sat down our waiter was super helpful, as it was my first experience at the restaurant and he very much encouraged the specialty queso and chips.

After receiving the homemade, queso blanco, smoked gouda and meat queso, I knew I was in for a good meal. I ordered a burrito with carnitas with the offered rice and black bean sides. As a fair warning, the portions are on the heavy side as I left the restaurant fuller than I have in my entire life.

(Mom, and Dad, if you’re reading this, we will be making a trip here the next time you all are in town!!)

To keep up with SoKno Taco until their next event, like them on Facebook (SoKno Taco Cantina) and follow them on Instagram (@sokno_taco).

Hunka Hunka Wild Love

If sweets don’t make you happy, we can’t be friends.

I wholeheartedly think without sugar, mass chaos would ensue all over. Whether two packets in your coffee or served in apple tart form, your life is better from it affects. And if you need a place to satiate your sugar needs, Wild Love Bakehouse is THE place.

While I am partial to tea instead of coffee, Wild Love serves multiple cups and qualities. BUT in addition to the coffee that others enjoy, the pastries are where you will find me. Drool and all.

Drooling became such a problem I had to unfollow the bakery on Instagram (@wildlovebakehouse) because of all the delicious and INTICING photos they would post of their food. Cookies, petite cakes, and croissants galore fill their feed. And it was because I rolled across their account on this super busy midterm season, that I finally made the trip.

I picked up two apple turnovers (one for me and one for the bestie) to try later that night. It was super flakey, buttery, and sweet! I can honestly say I’ve never had anything like it. Obviously, everything tastes homemade from a bakery but I cannot stress enough how good it was. So go check it out on N. Central Street!