I love KBrew and I don’t care who knows

Before this blog even starts, I need my loving and loyal fans to know I am not a coffee drinker. I am a firm English tea and biscuits kind of girl. So before the “basic Starbucks drinking white girl” memes come at me, I am standing my ground that tea is the queen of the beverage world. But K Brew is not your average queen.

Alas, everything at K Brew tastes as if it was made with a purpose and for prime cramming for finals brain function. The best part of KBrew is the atmosphere. From the super friendly staff to the relaxing hammock chairs that you can swing your worries away in, everything about this establishment is A1.

I actually heard about KBrew from looking at all the stickers on everyone’s laptops on campus and figured it had to be good. After trying it today, on the most Monday of Mondays where everything I touched went wrong, I can confirm, it is, in fact, the queen of Knoxville coffee shops for this tea drinker.

KBrew has also has an amazing Instagram page you NEED to follow ( @knoxvillebrew) if only for their “doggos” highlight. The artsy photos truly fit their on-trend esthetic, so follow them for your Knoxville coffee loving feed.

(I would also like to give a special ‘thank you’ shout out to the barista that let me take this picture of him and was so kind when I asked. You’re coo.l)

Long Live the King

If you enjoy the arts at all then you probably know the University of Tennessee is well endowed with talent. With master choir ensembles to the Oscar producing theater program, Tennessee has great entertainment options that, for a student, or even a seasoned arts lover, is very affordable for high-quality acts.

I recently went to the Clarence Brown Theater to see King Charles III. The play acted out a possible future scenario where if the current Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, died and her son Charles took the throne.

Full of drama, romance, ghosts and politics, the play did not disappoint. Being a history buff and person who is very much into theater, this play was perfect. The cast was also phenomenal. While Clarence Brown Theater is on UT’s campus, it still provides seasoned actors in its roles. Meaning students are not the majority of the cast but sometimes given minor roles.

For this particular play, it was AMAZING how hard the costume designer and makeup artists worked to make the actors look like the royal family. Everyone was the exact spitting image of their role, except for William (who in my opinion was always the better-looking brother).

Since I don’t want to tell too much about the production I will give away no more hints but still encourage you go see the show! This particular play lasts until February 26, before the next show, Detroit, starts.

If you are a student, tickets to any show at the Clarence Brown Theater is $5. If you are a staff or faculty member, shows are $28, and all other tickets range from $18-$35, a steal if you ask me! To purchase tickets just head to the Clarence Brown Theater website or give them a call to reserve them.

Burger Please

A perfect burger is an art form, and I will protest any other meat eater who disagrees. They can be simple and plain or so so extra when you pile on the toppings. Burgers might be a glorified sandwich, but I still think they are a valuable food group that should be praised.

While Knoxville has a plethora of great burger joints, my favorite is Copper Cellar on Cumberland Avenue (AKA the Strip beside the University of Tennessee’s campus that has horrible traffic). The first time I came to Knoxville my mother drug my family to Copper Cellar because she craved a burger the minute our tour was over. My mom, an alumnus of UTK, remembered her days of being a student and attending #BurgerDay. Copper Cellar still holds to this tradition every Wednesday, because nothing can get you through a hump day better than a $5 burger.

While the line can be super long but I promise it is well worth it. My favorite burger is a build your own with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and cheddar cheese. However, there are some honorable mentions to the Kickback burger with jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and Copper Cellars special kickback sauce.

Hello beautiful 🤤 ❤️ 🍔 #BurgerDay #Vols pic.twitter.com/PniijeEGB0— Copper Cellar (@CopperCellar) November 7, 2018
(view this tweet from Copper Cellar’s twitter, and tell me you mouth doesn’t water)

While burgers are on the menu, there are a lot of other great choices like the BTL sandwich, grilled chicken teriyaki, and the ale pork chop. Another weekly special is the Friday and Saturday night 12-ounce prime rib, served with a potato and additional side for $25. So whether you’re into fine dining or a casual burger, Copper Cellar is sure to have something to satisfy your taste buds.

(The super-high-quality picture up top actually isn’t mine. I got it from Copper Cellars own website https://coppercellar.com/cumberland-copper-cellar/ that you should check out!

I’ll Meet You by the Lakeshore

Lakeshore park has so much to offer the Knoxville community I don’t even know where to begin this blog post. From baseball, and soccer fields, the walking trails, and the old Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, there is plenty to talk about.

My favorite thing about this park has to be the walking trail. As a disclaimer, I will tell all of those who are not very active, like myself, this walking trail has some serious hills to put your heart, calves, and breathing to work. However, the park has some pretty sweet views, from the Tennessee River to the beautiful building that is the old Mental Health Institute (rumored to have lots of paranormal activity #spooky), to Marble Hall or any of the Pavilions around the park.

The history of the park within the city is pretty lengthy with the control of land switching between owners before the city obtained 60 acres in 1993 as a lease from the State of Tennessee. In recent years multiple, big-name donors like Pilot Flying J, the Haslam Family, and Scripps Networks Interactive, have given money to sponsor new facilities, landscaping, and other improvements to the park.

I have visited this park often in my last year in Knoxville and it has quickly come to be my favorite outdoor adventure in town. The photo attached is one I took this past fall and is my favorite little nook in the park to hang out. This nook is equipped with a park bench for when my calves are crying or maybe that’s just me.

It also provides numerous #instagramworthy picture opportunities that would spruce up your profile. Following @lakeshorepark on Instagram will also offer great scenic pictures to your feed compared to selfies your mom posts because she thinks that’s what Instagram is for… #relatable

Merchants of Beer (and Good Times)

Merchants of Beer is quite possibly THE COOLEST building in Knoxville, located at 137 S. Central Street. This retro 1950’s dinner on the outside turned sleek modern bar on the inside, has over 50 taps of wine, cocktails, and beers. The unique venue also is a local hot spot for cigar lovers to enjoy!

Merchants of Beer, or MoB as locals call it, is welcoming from the moment you walk in. The retro bar is still there but has been updated with a glossed wood bar top that I imagine a skilled bartender has slid a pint across. As you sit at the bar, your choices await as all 50 taps are listed on the chalkboard above the massive line of taps that take up the wall behind the bar.

If you are like me and STRUGGLE to find a beer you like, then this is the place to go for experimentation. From lagers, IPAs, stouts, pilsners, and ciders (my favorite), the list of 43 brews MoB offers is not only listed on the chalkboard but on a menu that goes a little more in depth about the products. But if you are as uneducated on beer as I am, then the staff could be your new best friend.

The MoB staff assisted me in finding an adult apple juice the Tailgate Sweet Cider – 9, but also let me sample some local brews like the Shield Series: Imperial Stout- 38, the Tessellation IPA – 24, and the Dunkel lager – 36. With they have a plethora of 38 unique beers as well as a few staples MoB also offers a few select wines and craft cocktails which make up 1-6 on the 50 taps numbered.

Another cool feature to this Knoxville only joint is its market! If you find your new favorite IPA or ale, MoB keeps a walk-in fridge stocked with 6-packs and singles that you can purchase. The walk-in has three walls, with five shelves each, full of the local and staple beers offered.

MoB is active on Facebook, and Instagram rarely going two days without posting about their variety of events, the cool exterior, google reviews, or their amazing customers. They are hot on the hashtag trend and have created one of their own #mobknox. Hosting a weekly Wednesday Wine and Cheese Party, and multiple watch parties from sports like soccer to the currently #1 ranked University of Tennessee Men’s Basketball team, the bar shows their support.

This local spot is soon to be one of my favorite places in Knoxville, and I cannot wait to go back!

Getting into Whiskey Business

The biggest thing that surprised me in my move to Knoxville was how much this town enjoys a good time. Whether that be in the form of sports or beer Knoxville always puts a new spin on things.

This week I headed into the Old City district of Downtown and stumbled upon Knox Whiskey Works. Just off Jackson Avenue, Knox Whiskey Works offers a cheap and educational buzz on the small batch, craft distillery process. For only $10 per person over the age of 21, the Knox Whiskey Works team will take you into their back room, where the magic happens.

On this tour of the facilities, my fantastic tour guide Colin dived into the chemistry of the whiskey making process. While I cannot regurgitate this information, it was fascinating to hear someone passionate about their job explain the process. If you needed any more incentive to support this local business, know that they do too. As they receive all of their corn from Riverplains Farm in Strawberry Plains that sends over about 250 pounds of heirloom corn a week while in season! #businesssupportingbusinesss

After your short chemistry lesson, the fun begins as each tour includes a taste testing of all 12 spirits offered. Typical of taste testings the highest proof comes first, and if you find your self to be a lightweight like me, please call an Uber or designated driver as 12 half shots of straight liquor, in under an hour can be dangerous to your equilibrium.

The 12 spirits range from Heirloom Corn Whiskey, an orange flavored vodka named Tennessee Tailgate Orange, Marble City Gin, the hint of heat DragonTail Whiskey, a Bourbon Whiskey and the favorite of my taste testing group, the Coffee Liqueur that is made from real coffee from Old City Brew just down the street.

If you haven’t been charmed enough head on over to @knoxwhiskey on Instagram. Here they post artsy photos of their beautiful bottles, along with crafty and humorous sign displays.

Pizza is my Happy Place

Rome was once the largest empire in the world, and I wholeheartedly believe it’s because they had delicious and intoxicating pizza.

My personal favorite has always been a traditional New York Style but honestly put extra cheese on anything, and I will eat it. Now, being a student in a college town, I have eaten my fair share of pizza. The usual order was to Papa Johns using the 50% off after a win code and then making the pie last the whole week.

But after a dinner excursion checking another local joint off our bucket list, with my best friend Ashley, I have found the holy grail.

Even though I ordered a calzone, let me tell you, the smell of pizza hits you in the face the moment you walk into Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria. With a placemat menu full of specialty pizzas and toppings list to create your own, it would be impossible to not find something you like. Trust me, the table beside us ordered anchovies…

If the pizza wasn’t enough to entice you out to the Old City, the music scene just might pique your interest with a musical guest taking the stage every day at 9 p.m. Every Monday night the University of Tennessee, student radio station WUTK, broadcasts live from the restaurant, with their specialty show Y’alltentative, an American Folk themed show. Every Thursday night at 6 p.m. WDVX presents their show Swerve with new artists each week.

The next perk to this local hot spot is the weekly trivia night with the Knoxville Trivia Guys. If you have a friend that boasts their knowledge you can put them to the test, starting at 8 p.m. every Wednesday night the questions begin!

Barley’s might be tucked in the back corner of the Old City but don’t miss out on this Knoxville gem!

How It All Started…

My best friend and I are about to finish our undergraduate degrees at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and in doing so, we have decided to take the last three months of our time to check off boxes on our bucket list.

The bucket list happens to include the many places to eat, bowl, sing, dance, and eat some more. These are all of the fun, cool, and trendy places to be in the Knoxville area. While we are neither, cool or trendy, we are pretty fun. And in the name of fun, we have already checked off our first item on the list.

The Mill and Mine is a location in the Old City. This music hall was the scene of the sold out Morgan Wallen concert that genuinely was unlike any other my BFF, and I have experienced. Morgan Wallen’s lights and video set stage was perfectly illuminated by the Mill and Mine’s crowd as Knoxville welcomed the artist home.

Many more ticks will be checked off the bucket list, but for now this spring semester senior needs some shut eye.