ImTwentySomethingIsh

NOT SO OLD.

Although the historic Old City in downtown Knoxville might turn someone my age away with the word “old,” this area of the city is very popular with the twentysomething crowd.  I have just recently begun to make my way down there on a Saturday night and am excited to keep trying new places each time I go out with friends. 

If you are looking for the best places to go out on the weekend in Knoxville, my first recommendation would be the Old City.  The mixture of old historic buildings with new shopping, restaurant and nightlife occupants makes this the prime spot for those looking for a good time.

Whether you are walking around shopping at one of the unique stores, sipping on a drink from the coffee shops or starting off your night out with a group of friends-the Old City cannot be beat for its ecclectic mix.

For the more laid back crowd who likes the bar setting more than the upbeat dance clubs, there are many options for you and your friends.  From Barley’s to Urban Bar to the Crown and Goose, these options are best for those who want to enjoy a tall drink and a good conversation with friends.  I love Urban Bar’s patio on a breezy spring evening and Barley’s for some good music.

Ready to go dancing?  The Old City offers a variety of places for you and your friends to let loose.  The new “Old City Entertainment Venue” offers an upscale feel along with the brand new NV nightclub and Carleo’s.  Don’t feel like having to deal with VIP sections or long lines?  I bet you would enjoy Southbound which is known for its great dance floor and second floor balconies overlooking the main street of the Old City.  Although much different than the streets of New Orleans, those balconies always remind me of a much tamer version of Bourbon Street!

Want to venture out from the Old City?  A few blocks down will get your group over to Sassy Ann’s.  This well known establishment in Knoxville has one of the most unique layouts in the city (it’s in a house) and the best Thursday night dancing.

The Old City is a great place to spend a few hours walking around during the day while shopping and grabbing a bite to eat…but my favorite time to see the scenery is at night when all the twentysomethings come out to mingle!

Next week I want to talk about an area that is starting to become a great place to hang out called “Happy Holler” here in Knoxville!

BACK.

I haven’t updated my blog in quite a while and I feel so out of the loop with it.  From starting my new job to getting ready to move, my life has been a little more hectic than usual.  However, I am excited to say that I have been brainstorming some new topics to write about.  Everyone knows I live in Knoxville and want to focus my efforts on writing about the city from the eyes of a twentysomething.  I will also sometimes throw in posts about public relations (my major) and things in general I see and like!

I am sorry for not posting in so long, however I am going to be back in the swing of things this week and will hopefully have many posts for you to read and enjoy!

Here are just a few of the many topics I plan to blog about:

1. Neighborhood Profile: Historic Old City

2. Neighborhood Profile: Market Square

3. Neighborhood Profile: Main blocks of Gay Street

4. Best Boutiques in Knoxville

5. Best Unique Shopping Finds in Knoxville

6. Best markets in Knoxville (at LEAST 4 new ones have opened this past year!)

7. Best pet friendly spots (Knoxville was just name the most pet friendly city in the Southeast, so I am excited to write about this topic)

Those are just a few to start, I have plenty more in mind!  Keep your eye out this week for my return to the twentysomething life!

LOCAL.

After working weekends for the past three years, I finally now have Saturdays and Sundays off-something that I am not used to! I had two days of free time and I thought, what could I do this weekend in Knoxville?  I remembered that one event that I had not been able to go to in quite a while was the Market Square Farmer’s Market.  Packed with local farmers and artisans, this is the best way for any young Knoxvillian to spend their Saturday morning.  Not only are you out and about not wasting away your Saturday morning sleeping, but you are seeing and learning more about the Knoxville community and local products in one place.

Around 9 in the morning on Saturday, I hopped out of bed and made my way downtown to peruse the tents filled with fruits and vegetables, flowers, meats, homemade food items, clothing, jewelry, artwork, sculptures, and other interesting items in the Market Square area.

I found two tents filled with jewelry by Sarah Brobst and ForYouByQ that I loved and ended up purchasing this unique necklace with an antique key attached.  I was ecstatic since this type of necklace had been something I have been searching for years, and the price was a steal at $15!

(Above) Sarah Brobst watch necklaces and bracelets

(Above) ForYouByQ necklaces

I saw large bundles of sunflowers for $5 and was excited to buy some to spruce up my flowerless apartment.  I also managed to get some locally grown vegetables for my first attempt at veggie stir fry.  Afer walking around for about an hour, I left with my hands full of great treats for a fantastic price—and knew I had just made some great purchases because they were supporting the local community.

Ever wake up on a Saturday morning and wonder what to do?  The Market Square Farmer’s Market is the event to check out to get some great products, see some wonderful Knoxville faces, and walk around one of the most unique and happening areas of the city.  Want to join me next time?

TRAVELIN GIRL

With things changing in my work schedule, I will now enjoy the ability to take weekend trips through out the year. For the past three years, I had worked weekends and am now excited to have an opportunity to have my Saturday and Sundays free to roam around Knoxville and take the occasional weekend getaway trip with friends or family members.  I have narrowed my options down to my top five weekend (or long weekend) getaways:

1. New York City - this is one city I have always wanted to visit and have never had the opportunity to travel to in the past few years.  I hope to take a friend with me for a four day weekend and enjoy the sights and sounds!

2. New Orleans - I love every aspect of New Orleans and have traveled down a few times in the past to visit friends.  I hope to travel down for a special event or just to stroll around the beautiful neighborhoods in the city.

3. Atlanta - I just went to Atlanta to pick up my little sister who was down there for a trip and my mother and I loved the shopping!  However, we only had three hours to walk around the whole city!  Hopefully next time I go I can schedule enough time to make stops at every place I want to see and shop.  My top places to stop in and buy things will be IKEA and H&M since Tennessee does not offer either options.

4. Charlotte, NC - One of my good friends from high school currently lives in Charlotte and I had an opportunity to visit her last summer.  I loved every part of Charlotte including the NoDa neighborhood.  I want to go visit her again soon and be able to revisit many of the places I enjoyed the last time I was there!

5. Chattanooga - This city would be the perfect place for my boyfriend and I to take an overnight sightseeing trip as our first “grown up” vacation.  From the aquarium to the Chattanooga Choo Choo to Lookout Mountain, this city is perfect for a small trip with low costs for a young couple to take!

These are just a few of the many places I would love to travel to over the next couple of years, if anyone would like to join let me know!  I am an awesome traveling companion!

WORKING GIRL.

I apologize for not updating this the past few weeks, I had been driving around Knoxville and surrounding areas interviewing for over ten jobs in the past two weeks.  Although it got hectic and at times seemed like the work was for nothing, I kept pressing on and finally was offered an amazing opportunity for a job in the Knoxville area!  All the months of searching have finally paid off and I am very excited to start my professional career with a leading corporation in the Knoxville area.

With a new job comes new choices, new responsibilities, and new contacts.  I have begun to make some big decisions in terms of my personal life (what bank to choose, buying more professional clothes, deciding what organizations I should join) however I wanted to take some time to think about what this new job meant for me on a professional level.  My three biggest realizations about getting a full time job are:

1.       Keep writing—This seems silly because most people will write on a daily basis at their jobs, but I think it is also very important to keep up personal writing on your own time.  Whether it be blogging, freelance writing work for a non-profit or small business that needs the volunteer help, or even writing in your own personal journal—these writing options will help keep you in check and help you stay simple and to the point when you have to write at work

2.       Keep up with your networking contacts—Yes you have a job and will be working with your co-workers everyday but don’t feel like you need to stop building and maintaining relationships outside of your office.  People at other businesses, fellow group members, and people in your community that have similar interests as you will be an important asset to helping you while you are working and in future projects.  Keep up with the random person you met at the Social Media Club meeting with a simple tweet saying hello or a quick FB post…even a nice email is worth the time and will keep that connection going strong!

3.       Don’t settle for doing basic work—Now you feel safe since you landed the job.  Do what they ask and you will be fine. No!  I think it is VERY important to not settle for doing basic work at your job.  Always be striving to do better than the bare minimum.  Showing that you are willing and ready to do more and put in that extra effort will impress your boss and hopefully lead to great things during your career.

As I start my professional journey, I look forward to learning new and exciting aspects of the industry while improving my public relations skills each and every day.

COOL OFF.

As the summer heat sizzles me every day while babysitting two young children, I thought about finding the best water places to beat the heat in the Knoxville area.  I was able to find some places that are great for you and your friends, kids you are babysitting, or just by yourself when you need some alone time.

1. World’s Fair Park Fountains

These fountains are a part of the 1982 World’s Fair Park located just west of downtown Knoxville. Along with the Sunsphere, candy factory, and museum of art-these fountains in the park serve as a good place to cool off when walking around downtown.

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2. Splash Pad at Carl Cowan Park

This splash pad is located inside Carl Cowan Park located down Northsore Drive in the West Knoxville area.  This is the perfect place to bring the kids when you don’t want to deal with life jackets and being in a pool or lake all day.  The kids are free to roam around without the fear of them not being able to swim.  Even though I am 23 years old, I still get out there and splash around with the kids every time we go.

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3. Cove at Concord Park

The Cove at Concord Park is perfect if you want a day at the beach without having to drive to the coast.  Along with the sandy beach along the lake, there are places to play and eat with family or friends.  Plenty of places to sit in the shade or get a tan!

Whether with friends or kids, Knoxville has plenty of places to relax, swim and splash around, and enjoy time with your favorite people! 

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SUMMER LOOK.

In preparation for the summer season, I have begun researching products that I would like to invest in to get myself looking and feeling like a summer girl.  If you have used these products before, let me know what you think of them before I purchase them.  I always like to have someone else’s opinion of a product before trying it out myself.

Summer Hair Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray $23 www.sephora.com

Summer Skin Kate Somerville Somerville360 Tanning Towlettes $10-48 Philosophy Shelter Sunscreen for Face and Body SPF 30 $25 www.sephora.com

Summer Face Mario Badescu Skin Care line, Drying Lotion, Skin Care Kit, and Drying Cream $20-80 www.mariobadescu.com

Summer Nails Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Gamma $14 www.sephora.com

LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION.

Ever wondered what areas to look at when searching for a place to live in the Knoxville area?  I had that same question as I left the University of Tennessee campus area last year to move into a place outside of the walls of “Vol” land.  Although I currently live right past downtown in a historic area known as Parkridge, I have always wondered what other areas I might like to live in if I ever decide to move.  Here are some of my top picks, hopefully they will help you on your search of the perfect home.

Sequoyah Hills area

This area is known for its big homes with families living side by side.  However, if you turn on the right back street you can find some great apartment complexes nestled in wooded areas.  Specifically, Cherokee Boulevard area provides the perfect area for those who love to walk or run, have a pet, or want to enjoy the scenic river view mixed in with large mansions.  The apartment complexes on the back roads are in a quiet area which is perfect for a young couple or a working professional.  I would love to move here someday and adopt a pet so I can go walking up and down the boulevard while people and house watching.

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Old North Knoxville/Fourth and Gill area

Although these two areas are considered different, the way they easily combine together from one street to another makes me consider it one big area.  Right past downtown heading North, I feel like this part of town provides an ecclectic and diverse style that can’t be found in other parts of Knoxville.  From old victorian to bungalow style homes, this provides the perfect area for those who love the old time feel of a city with a young and fun atmosphere.  Many friends I have live in this area and enjoy the pricing of the older homes along with the convenience of being just a bike ride or a walk away from downtown and the night life of the historic Old City.  There are a few greenways to walk around on or just strolling up and down the sidewalks of these neighborhoods will show you a great view of the homes and people. 

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Downtown Knoxville

Downtown Knoxville is one of my favorite places to be and I hope to one day be able to live in the Market Square or North Gay Street area.  The great thing about downtown Knoxville is that there is always something going on without it being too overwhelming.  There are always people out and about but never to a point where a downtown resident would feel too crowded walking outside of their loft apartment or condo.  Within walking distance of great music, art galleries, stores, and some of the best food in the city—downtown is an area that you can’t beat if you are looking to be a part of it all.  When looking, specifically focus your search on Market Square and the historic Old City.  Although there are many other options downtown, these two sub-areas are my favorites.

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Happy house hunting everyone!