Comments on: How to live in Knoxville http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:23:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Patrick Beeson http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-5421 Patrick Beeson Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:08:37 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-5421 @B Thanks for your comment! My entry was supposed to get folks talking no matter what their take on living in Knoxville. I think we achieved that goal. For what it's worth, I don't think Knoxville is a "horrid city." It's a fine place to live. I do think that folks living here should be free to appreciate, and knock, different aspects no matter how long they've been in town. The city is big enough for that. My wife and I have lived in Knoxville for more than three years now. We own a house in Fountain City. We have friends here. But despite writing this entry more than a year ago, I don't think I've come around to liking any of the things I disliked about Knoxville then. I'm still not a fan of West Knoxville sprawl, imposing commercial developments like Turkey Creek, UT Orange (ROLL TIDE/GO MOUNTAINEERS), or the air quality. I am happy with my neighborhood, my community, my businesses, and my Knoxville. @B

Thanks for your comment! My entry was supposed to get folks talking no matter what their take on living in Knoxville. I think we achieved that goal.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think Knoxville is a “horrid city.” It’s a fine place to live.

I do think that folks living here should be free to appreciate, and knock, different aspects no matter how long they’ve been in town. The city is big enough for that.

My wife and I have lived in Knoxville for more than three years now. We own a house in Fountain City. We have friends here.

But despite writing this entry more than a year ago, I don’t think I’ve come around to liking any of the things I disliked about Knoxville then. I’m still not a fan of West Knoxville sprawl, imposing commercial developments like Turkey Creek, UT Orange (ROLL TIDE/GO MOUNTAINEERS), or the air quality.

I am happy with my neighborhood, my community, my businesses, and my Knoxville.

]]> By: B http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-5414 B Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:11:15 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-5414 I am so disappointed, and hurt. I have grown up here, and I too remember when Turkey Creek was being turned into a commercial area. The protest signs tore up our yard. I understand that you all think that "the mini Pigeon Forge" is a negative, ticky-tacky thing. Please realize that it really boosted the economy for those of us who live here, and it helped Farragut flourish and grow. We attracted lots of people who normally would not have given Knoxville a second chance. No, they might not be the kind of people we wanted to attract, but those people lend to more diversity, which is definitely what the old Farragut needed. That "cultural, artsy" area in Bearden? Downtown? They have not always been that way my friends, those are recent developments. Probably from the diverse population brought in by the college and the sprawling suburban areas around Knoxville. I grew up there, and I love Knoxville with all my heart. I love football weekends. So do about 300,000 other people. I happen to think there's probably nothing better than a Saturday football weekend. Knoxville was a college town that sprawled into a fairly sizable city (no, not NYC, Detroit, or LA-but I would consider it pretty big); and I am so proud of what we have become. We are not old enough to have all that culture you want! Go to the Fort, where all the college kids live--you'll find your old houses you wanted to live in; however college kids tore them to pieces and now they are all dilapidated and rundown. There are many beautiful qualities in Knoxville, and not just in Fountain City. I know you think Turkey Creek is an abomination(even though there are many specialty shops in there that you can't find anywhere else--ie, bath junkie, fleet feet, Connor's, etc), but have you ever been to Campbell Station park? It's gorgeous. I do not really know why all of your posts made me so upset. Maybe because I have grown up here, and I am very partisan. I too, like the OhioVolsFan, wanted to get away, so I went to college in a different state--and I missed Knoxville more than anything. I was glad to move back home to start another degree. Now, I have to move to be able to advance professionally. It hurts me very deeply. I am terrified of moving to Nashville, which is probably where I will end up. I refuse to move anywhere out of the state, however, because this is home to me, and I need to be able to come back here. I need the excitement of football weekends, and the Buddy's Race for Cancer and even my little Farragut parades. I am just as slanted in my view about other places as you are about here, and your post has really made me think. I want to thank you, for helping me to be able to let go of what I think, and I'll try to give Nashville a chance to be my new Knoxville. In the meantime, here's one of the great things about the outlying areas: if you drive for about five to ten minutes in any direction, you are just about guaranteed to find some beautiful countryside. It's not just the stores to go to; remember that you're in the wonderful heart of the Smoky Mountains (if you wanted to see past the smog--we're in a valley dear, the weather stays for at least three days at a time, including the smog!) Again, thanks, and I hope you're able to see what's great about this horrid city I love someday. :) I am so disappointed, and hurt.
I have grown up here, and I too remember when Turkey Creek was being turned into a commercial area. The protest signs tore up our yard. I understand that you all think that “the mini Pigeon Forge” is a negative, ticky-tacky thing. Please realize that it really boosted the economy for those of us who live here, and it helped Farragut flourish and grow. We attracted lots of people who normally would not have given Knoxville a second chance. No, they might not be the kind of people we wanted to attract, but those people lend to more diversity, which is definitely what the old Farragut needed.
That “cultural, artsy” area in Bearden? Downtown? They have not always been that way my friends, those are recent developments. Probably from the diverse population brought in by the college and the sprawling suburban areas around Knoxville.
I grew up there, and I love Knoxville with all my heart. I love football weekends. So do about 300,000 other people. I happen to think there’s probably nothing better than a Saturday football weekend.
Knoxville was a college town that sprawled into a fairly sizable city (no, not NYC, Detroit, or LA-but I would consider it pretty big); and I am so proud of what we have become. We are not old enough to have all that culture you want! Go to the Fort, where all the college kids live–you’ll find your old houses you wanted to live in; however college kids tore them to pieces and now they are all dilapidated and rundown.
There are many beautiful qualities in Knoxville, and not just in Fountain City. I know you think Turkey Creek is an abomination(even though there are many specialty shops in there that you can’t find anywhere else–ie, bath junkie, fleet feet, Connor’s, etc), but have you ever been to Campbell Station park? It’s gorgeous.
I do not really know why all of your posts made me so upset. Maybe because I have grown up here, and I am very partisan. I too, like the OhioVolsFan, wanted to get away, so I went to college in a different state–and I missed Knoxville more than anything. I was glad to move back home to start another degree.
Now, I have to move to be able to advance professionally. It hurts me very deeply. I am terrified of moving to Nashville, which is probably where I will end up. I refuse to move anywhere out of the state, however, because this is home to me, and I need to be able to come back here. I need the excitement of football weekends, and the Buddy’s Race for Cancer and even my little Farragut parades.
I am just as slanted in my view about other places as you are about here, and your post has really made me think. I want to thank you, for helping me to be able to let go of what I think, and I’ll try to give Nashville a chance to be my new Knoxville.
In the meantime, here’s one of the great things about the outlying areas: if you drive for about five to ten minutes in any direction, you are just about guaranteed to find some beautiful countryside. It’s not just the stores to go to; remember that you’re in the wonderful heart of the Smoky Mountains (if you wanted to see past the smog–we’re in a valley dear, the weather stays for at least three days at a time, including the smog!)
Again, thanks, and I hope you’re able to see what’s great about this horrid city I love someday. :)

]]> By: Aaron http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-4132 Aaron Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:29:02 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-4132 Do yourself a favor. Take a trip up to Detroit. It will make you appreciate Cleveland. Do yourself a favor. Take a trip up to Detroit. It will make you appreciate Cleveland.

]]> By: CP http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-4130 CP Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:50:50 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-4130 @<a href="#comment-4128" rel="nofollow">Ohio­Vols­Fan</a>: That has to be one of the best comments ever left on our site. @Ohio­Vols­Fan: That has to be one of the best comments ever left on our site.

]]> By: OhioVolsFan http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-4128 OhioVolsFan Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:06:41 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-4128 I miss Knoxville and wish I was there. I grew up in Powell. I lived a good spell in Johnson City, Tn as well. I've been gone 7 years. I have a good job in the Cleveland, Ohio area and let me tell you, if you haven't lived in the Cleveland, Akron, Canton area, then you'll never appreciate a town like Knoxville. I still make it back for 1 or 2 games every year, see the family and always have my eye open to the job market there. GO VOLS!!! God bless all you lucky bastards who get to live in the Knoxville area. I miss Knoxville and wish I was there. I grew up in Powell. I lived a good spell in Johnson City, Tn as well. I’ve been gone 7 years. I have a good job in the Cleveland, Ohio area and let me tell you, if you haven’t lived in the Cleveland, Akron, Canton area, then you’ll never appreciate a town like Knoxville. I still make it back for 1 or 2 games every year, see the family and always have my eye open to the job market there. GO VOLS!!! God bless all you lucky bastards who get to live in the Knoxville area.

]]> By: Nicole VanScoten http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-3667 Nicole VanScoten Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:30:18 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-3667 People seem to give you a lot of shit for this post, but I have to say my opinion is somewhat the same. I also live in Fountain City and prefer it to out west. Plus, the price of homes in "Old North Knoxville" is MUCH more affordable than out west. And you can't beat the character of a home built 50+ years ago :) One nice thing about west Knox that you missed in the restaurant section though is Roman's Pizza (next to the dollar theater near Cedar Bluff). I'm a Jersey girl so I'm used to good pizza. The guy who owns Roman's is from NYC, so they actually serve REAL pizza...you should check it out! People seem to give you a lot of shit for this post, but I have to say my opinion is somewhat the same. I also live in Fountain City and prefer it to out west. Plus, the price of homes in “Old North Knoxville” is MUCH more affordable than out west. And you can’t beat the character of a home built 50+ years ago :)

One nice thing about west Knox that you missed in the restaurant section though is Roman’s Pizza (next to the dollar theater near Cedar Bluff). I’m a Jersey girl so I’m used to good pizza. The guy who owns Roman’s is from NYC, so they actually serve REAL pizza…you should check it out!

]]> By: Anna http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-3327 Anna Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:09:44 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-3327 Hello, thanks for the post; I agree with most. Unfortunately I have lived in Knoxville all of my life except for a year when I got to escape. I grew up in North Knoxville around the Creamery, Duck Pond, Littons and my friends lived in eclectic, old houses. Check north knoxville and near UT campus (behind the Presbyterian church on Cumberland are amazing apts i discovered last night). Other than that, people here hate knowledge or strong opinions, so naturally, you were flooded with a lot of "you elitist." I guess the comfortable economy traps people in, like me. Hello,
thanks for the post; I agree with most. Unfortunately I have lived in Knoxville all of my life except for a year when I got to escape. I grew up in North Knoxville around the Creamery, Duck Pond, Littons and my friends lived in eclectic, old houses. Check north knoxville and near UT campus (behind the Presbyterian church on Cumberland are amazing apts i discovered last night). Other than that, people here hate knowledge or strong opinions, so naturally, you were flooded with a lot of “you elitist.” I guess the comfortable economy traps people in, like me.

]]> By: Liz http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-3176 Liz Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:51:47 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-3176 I just wanted to self-correct: I am still happy with the crepe place, French Market--it gets better every time I go there. Dazzo's on the other hand...the food is still really, really tasty, esp. the calamari and the eggplant parmisian. BUT the service is TERRIBLE. Absolutely awful and slow and rude. Could be East Coast style, but whatever. Also, no slices after lunch, which is NOT indicated on the menu, which irritates my husband. We do not want a huge pizza for two people. They should make smaller pizzas. My weakness for good italian may keep me going back on occasion, but I am less likely to go out of my way. The goodwill instilled on that first visit is going a long way. In this economy, poor service makes no sense. I just wanted to self-correct:

I am still happy with the crepe place, French Market–it gets better every time I go there.

Dazzo’s on the other hand…the food is still really, really tasty, esp. the calamari and the eggplant parmisian. BUT the service is TERRIBLE. Absolutely awful and slow and rude. Could be East Coast style, but whatever. Also, no slices after lunch, which is NOT indicated on the menu, which irritates my husband. We do not want a huge pizza for two people. They should make smaller pizzas.

My weakness for good italian may keep me going back on occasion, but I am less likely to go out of my way. The goodwill instilled on that first visit is going a long way.

In this economy, poor service makes no sense.

]]> By: CP http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-2928 CP Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:56:57 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-2928 @<a href="#comment-2927" rel="nofollow">Knoxville SEM</a>: I heard the same comment, about L.A., last night. Glad you're in Knoxville! @Knoxville SEM: I heard the same comment, about L.A., last night. Glad you’re in Knoxville!

]]> By: Knoxville SEM http://knoxify.com/how-to-live-in-knoxville/#comment-2927 Knoxville SEM Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:47:44 +0000 http://knoxify.com/?p=1485#comment-2927 I have a love hate relationship with Knoxville at times, but after living here for more than a year, I'll never go back to Los Angeles! I have a love hate relationship with Knoxville at times, but after living here for more than a year, I’ll never go back to Los Angeles!

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