Downtown Knoxville Newsletter
June 2010
Biscuits To Bombard Downtown June 4-5

International Biscuit Festival LogoGet ready to celebrate the most Southern of foods -- the biscuit. A group of downtown supporters have the goal of making Knoxville the "biscuit capitol of the world" through the launch of the International Biscuit Festival taking place June 4-5 in downtown Knoxville.

The first annual International Biscuit Festival will be a celebration of what else? The biscuit.  The event begins at 5 p.m. on June 4 with First Friday Biscuit Art openings and performances. On Saturday June 5, Market Square, Market Street, Clinch Avenue and Krutch Park will be bombarded with biscuit revelry in all forms all day long and into the evening!  The event includes a Biscuit Bake Off, a Biscuit Scavenger Hunt, Biscuit Eating,  Biscuit Songs and high quality entertainment! Join us downtown for this fabulous weekend presented by the Market Square District Association. 

For a complete list of biscuit festival activities, click here.
Downtown Road Closures/Construction
Construction at the 100 Block of Gay Street continues. Concrete is being poured on the sidewalks and roadways and everything looks on track for the scheduled August completion.
100 block

A few road closures may affect the way you get around downtown in early June.

Jackson & Gay: 
The intersection of Jackson Avenue and Gay Street (adjoining the Gay Street Viaduct) will be closed for at least two weeks for utility construction beginning on Tuesday June 1.

Jackson Avenue will, however, remain open to pedestrian traffic during the work, which is part of the ongoing Gay Street Streetscapes Project on the 100 and 200 blocks of Gay Street. The Knoxville Utilities Board is making electrical improvements at the site.

E. Hill Ave.:
E. Hill Avenue (bridge-viaduct) will be closed from State Street to Hall of Fame Drive on June 7 through June 11 for milling out old asphalt and deck repair. Eastbound traffic at E. Hill Avenue and State Street will be detoured to Church Avenue and then to Hall of Fame Drive. Westbound traffic at E. Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive will proceed north to Church Avenue and west towards Gay Street.

Gay Street Bridge:
The Gay Street Bridge is also scheduled to be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on June 7-8 while the Tennessee Department of Transportation conducts its regular scheduled inspection of the bridge.
Aisle Nine Grocery Open in the Old City

100 block Aisle Nine grocery is now open in the Old City, at 112 S. Central Avenue, in the former home of Magpies.  The store offers a host of goods and services, including fresh meat, deli, fruit and produce deliveries daily.  Fresh bread and baked goods are made daily and the full deli offers fresh cut meat and hot lunches.

In addition to stopping in and browsing the store's selection, Aisle Nine also offers convenient pick-up or delivery of your groceries to your home or office. 

Aisle Nine is open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Visit them online at www.aisleninegrocery.com or stop in to see what they have to offer.
CBID Board Approves $50,000+ in Development Grants

The CBID Board of Directors has unanimously approved $56,511 in Development Incentive grants. Designed to continue the momentum of redevelopment, the CBID administers grants for renovation and restoration projects that involve facade improvements. Funding for grants is made payable after all improvements are made. Grants were awarded to three projects including 112 S. Central, 111 E. Jackson Avenue, and 23 Market Square. For more information on these projects and the development incentive grant program, click here.
Downtown Dash One Mile Run: June 4
Downtown Dash The second annual City People Downtown Dash is scheduled for Friday, June 4, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.!  Designed for elite and recreational runners, the flat, L-shaped course never leaves downtown. The course will be certified by the USATF. 

The event will also include the Biscuit Bolt Challenge in honor of the International Biscuit Festival. Dress in your favorite Biscuit attire while you enjoy the one mile run. 

Learn how to commute to Downtown Events and save $5 on your Downtown Dash registration.  Visit http://smarttrips.knoxtrans.org.

For more information or to register for the Downtown Dash, click here.
 
CBID Annual Meeting: June 28
Skyline
The CBID will hold its annual meeting at 11:30 a.m., Monday, June 28 at the CBID/Chamber offices, 17 Market Square, suite 201. All downtown property owners are encouraged to attend.

During the meeting, two new board members will be elected, a year-in-review will be provided, and board members will vote on the 2010-2011 budget, which currently includes funding for the downtown strategic plan implementation, event sponsorships, and more. A full agenda will be posted here as it becomes available.

For more information, contact Michele Hummel, CBID Director, at 865-246-2654 or by e-mail.
Thanks to Lisa Sorenson
Lisa Sorenson, owner of Bliss and Bliss Home, is stepping down as chair of the CBID marketing committee. In addition to her service as marketing chair, Lisa has been an avid supporter of downtown Knoxville and the CBID for a number of years. Although she is stepping down, she has said that her support of downtown will definitely continue - as a business owner! Many thanks to Lisa for her years of dedication to the CBID marketing committee.
Downtown Events
Calendar
Check out upcoming events and happenings in downtown Knoxville on the downtown calendar of events. You can also submit your own upcoming events to the calendar by creating an account here.