About Knoxville's Downtown Knoxville

Ford Motor Company has a director of it, NAR has hired one, Comcast and Knology both use it to get better.

In fact, Frank the Comcast guy helped me get my cable and cable internet bill lowered 40 bucks a month; I like Frank; I even like Comcast better now. ;-)

So what the heck is "Social Media"?

Wikepedia says it is: "umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words"

Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, Magnolia, Digg, and literally hundreds of others websites use and promote it but exactly what the heck is it?

These very creative folk

This past Thursday evening was the second annual "Bloggers Night" at the Knoxville, Tennessee Symphony Orchestra (KSO). The Symphony invited up to 50 area bloggers and a companion to attend a free Symphony concert and attend a reception afterward.

As a bonus the KSO performs most of their concerts in the restored and refurbished Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville. PLUS there's free parking for theatre goers just a block away at the State St. garage!

Sounded like an offer too good to pass up so I went.

The nights fare was Mozart & Mendelssohn with a little Bach thrown in for good measure.

There was a pre-concert chat before the performance with Maestro Lucas Richman who conducts the Orchestra and he was joined by featured pianist Navah Perlman. Maestro Richman was pretty funny when he tried to explain to the audience what blogging was; clearly his forte is music. ;-)

The opening performance was Bach's Brandenburg Concerto for strings featuring the Orchestra's string section; that's the violin, viola, cello, and bass. It was terrific and I enjoyed watching all the bows on stage fly back and forth across the instruments.

Second was Mozart's Concerto No. 24 for Piano and Orchestra. Ms Perlman, the featured performer, was wonderful during this presentation. Her fingers flew back and forth on her keyboard producing beautiful, haunting music.

After a brief intermission the final performance was Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony which was my favorite. Mendelssohn called this his "jolliest" piece. I like the subtle sounds of the Oboes and the occasional Timpani (kettledrums).

At the conclusion we all went downstairs to the Glenn Miller room for the reception. Maestro Richman, Ms Perlman, and several members of the orchestra joined us to hobnob and answer any questions. It was great to meet some fellow area bloggers in person and get to know them a little better offline.

Image via Wikipedia Felix Mendelssohn

KSO Maestro Lucas Richman and Pianist Navah Perlman at the reception following the concert.

I was pleasantly surprised to find one of my fellow Realtors, Jennifer Crake, is a musician with the Orchestra.Jennifer is Second Horn as well as a Knoxville Realtor.

Also Knoxville blogger Katy Gawne is the principal violinist and de facto KSO blogger.

The Blogger's Night organizers linked back to the bloggers that wrote about their night at the symphony so you can read what they wrote. First linkback I've ever had involving wine & cheese. ;-)

Bloggers filing into the Glenn Miller room for a reception following the concert. Unlike the 50 Active Rain paid bloggers we only got free concert tickets and wine & cheese for this gig instead of a check.

“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”

Johann Sebastian Bach, composer, 1685-1750

Mr. Bach I could not agree more.

Thank you KSO for a delightful evening and a wonderful performance.

Last night (Friday, Dec. 5) was Knoxville' annual Christmas Parade. Even though it was around 30 degrees the Saturday news said they estimated the crowds at 35,000.

I think that was a great turnout for such a cold night but.....Santa Claus was there and it is Christmas.

There were lots of kids of all ages. We got there about 45 minutes early and were able to get a good spot right on the curb. That turned out to be a good move because by the time the parade started people were lined up 5 to 6 deep all along Gay Street.

Knoxville city and Knox County motorcycle officers are set to lead the parade.

See the rest of the photos and several videos I made with my new FLIP video camera here

See lots of Knoxville, Tennessee homes & condos for sale at KnoxvilleHomeCenter.com

Knoxville as a city is heavily influenced by it proximity to the Great Smokey Mountains with its rich Appalachian culture. Knoxville, because it is home to the University of Tennessee, is also heavily influenced by the diverse intellectual and artistic curiosity that characterizes any major university. The convergence of these influences have given rise to a number of distinctively diverse hot spots around town. One of the most distinctive of these is the World Grotto!

World Grotto is located at 16 Market Square in Knoxville (click HERE for a map). They are open: Tueday thru Wednesday 5:00 PM until 1:00 AM, Thursday thru Friday 5:00 PM until 3:00 AM, Saturday 8:00 PM thru 3:00 AM, and Sunday varies.

This unique Knoxville hot spot is characterized by an art gallery and marketplace on the main level which highlights art from around the area and around the world! There is also an underground performance grotto! This one-of-a-kind crystal grotto, so called because its walls are adorned with 8,000 pounds of crystals and semi-precious stones, provides the perfect place to highlight some of the best performances in dance, spoken word, music, and world DJs. Additionally, World Grotto hosts classes, seminars, films, private parties, corporate events, art openings, wine and liquor tastings, charitable fund-raisers, and masked balls.

Here is a sampling of some of the upcoming events at World Grotto:

Aug 14 2008 11:45P Bass Block Beats with Mic 1 & Simon Belmont

Aug 15 2008 6:00P Poetry Slam (Every 1st & 3rd Friday of the Month)

Aug 15 2008 10:00P Shadowwax

Aug 16 2008 10:00P Quartjar - Randall Brown Turns __!!

Aug 18 2008 7:00P Grotto Hoop Group (Weekly)

Aug 18 2008 8:00P Salsa Dance Lessons & Free Style (Weekly)

Aug 20 2008 6:00P Girls Night Out: Martinis, Manicures, & Massages (Weekly)

Aug 21 2008 10:00P Zach Deputy

Aug 21 2008 11:45P Bass Block Beats with Mic 1 & Simon Belmont

Aug 22 2008 10:00P Garage A Go-Go: Bitter Pills & The Infidels 45 DANCE PARTY

Aug 23 2008 10:00P Erick Baker

Aug 28 2008 11:45P Bass Block Beats with Mic 1 & Simon Belmont

Aug 29 2008 12:00A Dual Boot

Aug 30 2008 10:00P Bellfield w/Arpetrio

Sep 4 2008 11:45P Bass Block Beats with Mic 1 & Simon Belmont

Sep 6 2008 12:00A International Dancy Party (Weekly)

Sep 10 2008 10:00P TEA LEAF GREEN with Moonalice

Sep 11 2008 10:00P Albannach w/Cutthroat Shamrock

Sep 11 2008 11:45P Bass Block Beats with Mic 1 & Simon Belmont

Sep 12 2008 10:00P Garage Deluxe CD Release Show

Sep 13 2008 10:00P The Coveralls

Sep 18 2008 11:45P Bass Block Beats with Mic 1 & Simon Belmont

Sep 20 2008 10:00P New Riders of the Purple Sage

Sep 25 2008 11:00P Bass Block Beats with Mic 1 & Simon Belmont

Sep 26 2008 10:00P Dubconscious

Sep 27 2008 6:00P Funktion 2.0

Oct 24 2008 10:00P MoonTaxi

About the Author

If you are in the market to purchase a home or even refinance an existing loan and you want a loan officer that will walk with you every step of the way, then contact Danny or Rich of the Thornton Team at Home America Mortgage today. We can have you pre-approval in as little as 4 hours. You can visit our website or send an email to thorntonteam@homeamericamortgage.com or call us @ 865-951-0522.

With all the music history, from Memphis on the western border, Nashville in the north central part, and the Appalachian Mountains forming the eastern border of the state of Tennessee, Knoxville is fortunate to have "The Official State Theatre of Tennessee." The Tennessee Theatre opened October 1, 1928 with almost 2,000 seats. From the Czechoslovakian crystals in the French-style chandeliers to the overall Spanish-Moorish style, the Chicago architects, Graven & Mayger, incorporated a hodgepodge of design elements from all parts of the world. The overall effect is visually stunning and provides an intimate setting in which to see some of the most acclaimed performers from around the world. The theatre underwent a complete renovation lasting from June 2003 until its grand reopening on January 14, 2005. The renovations cost about $25.5 million and was funded through both public and private donations. Included in the renovation was the Wurlitzer which originally cost $50,000 and was part of the theatre when it originally opened. This magnificent pipe organ, termed "The Princess Elenoir, the Jewel of the Great Smoky Mountains" has its very pipes embedded in the theater's walls!

These places, like The Tennessee Theatre which is now a part of the National Register of Historic Places, are more than just old buildings that receive passing glances. These places hold history in the very plaster of their walls. The necessity to preserve historically significant places is an imperative. In this time which sees many of our nation's cultural and historical cathedrals succumb to the brute force of the wrecking ball or explosives, it has never been more important for grassroots efforts to say no! No to the wrecking balls! We live in an enormous country with lots of space. There is no need to demolish these living witnesses to history. If you need a new theatre or ball field, why not renovate those that are already there? The cost to renovate and modernize might be high, but so is the cost of history relegated only to fading photos and memories. While I have always been an advocate of progress, progress does not have to be built on the ruins of history. Progress can be a natural outgrowth of the history's foundation. I do not believe that progress and history are antithetical. I hope you enjoy the picture below that are thanks to The Historic Tennessee Theatre. While you look at the photos, think of the historic places in your town, with the faded murals and stained glass windows that spurred your imagination as a child.

About the Author

If you are in the market to purchase a home or even refinance an existing loan and you want a loan officer that will walk with you every step of the way, then contact Danny or Rich of the Thornton Team at Home America Mortgage today. We can have you pre-approval in as little as 4 hours. You can visit our website or send an email to thorntonteam@homeamericamortgage.com or call us @ 865-951-0522.