Italian-inspired summer feast, free family-friendly gardening class, comet and meteor show, and more. 
Happy Friday, Knoxville. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Knoxville Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Italian-inspired summer feast, a pregnant lobster returned to the ocean under a historic rule, and a church gym reborn as a bouldering hub — catch up here.
State-level stories: Fayetteville factory expansion to add jobs, Tennessee’s first baby box sees its first surrender, and a Mt Juliet astronaut concludes his NASA career — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Federal judge orders fresh review of gray wolf safeguards, OPEC+ output increase pushes oil under seventy dollars, and a mislabeled pasta recall — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Attend Knoxville’s Neighborhood Resource Fair
- Savor Italian vegetarian cuisine with wine
- Get free job help every Monday
- Gain confidence navigating your Medicare options
- Compare home equity loans for free
🫶 We got your back
Gardening: Forget sad gas station succulents. Discover plant nurseries in Knoxville, from quirky boutiques to legacy growers that make any green thumb proud.
Cuisine:Signature bites born from Cherokee farming smarts, African American soul food mastery, and Scots-Irish mountain know-how show Tennessee dishes that hit every craving. There’s more to Volunteer State eats than you ever imagined.
Organization: You spend a weekend lining up matching containers only to find chaos three weeks later. Sustainable organization tips deliver real-life hacks that fit your messy, beautiful life.
Florist: In need of a last-minute gift, a romantic gesture, or just some color in your life, Crouch Florist arranges petal-powered masterpieces that speak volumes without saying a word.
Family: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
Own or manage a local business? Thousands of your future fans read our emails — advertising your products, services, listings, and events with us is easy.
You can advertise with us or submit an event for free.
📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
😭 Cry Baby – Janis Joplin Experience @ The Open Chord | Friday (8/8) at 8:00pm – Think your shower concerts could fill a stadium? This Janis Joplin tribute night is your chance to hear real bluesy wails without scaring the neighbors. Twenty bucks in advance, $25 at the door, and seating’s strictly first-come, first-served, so hustle.
🎸 Senie Hunt @ The Pirate Tavern & eVape Dispensary | Friday (8/8) at 9:00pm – This self-taught singer-songwriter squeezes djembe rhythms out of an acoustic guitar, mixing West African grooves with Stevie Ray swagger. His live looping sets feel like a passport stamp for your ears, no passport required, just an appreciation for something fresh and authentic.
This weekend
🚗 Hillbilly 66 Car and Bike Show@ Knoxville Harley – Davidson | Saturday (8/9) at 11:00am – Swap your neighbor’s lawn gnome for gleaming chrome at the HillBilly 66 car and bike show, where rusty rods, custom bikes, and curious locals converge. Expect homemade lemonade, that guy selling chili dogs, and enough horsepower to rattle your recliner.
👣 Appalachian Legends and Lore: Bigfoot and Friends @ Karns Branch Library | Saturday (8/9) at 2:00pm – Fire up your laptop for an online deep dive into Appalachian Legends and Lore, where Bigfoot and cranky hill trolls await. Grab a snack, and nerd out on homegrown myths.
🔍 The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ Hilton Knoxville Hotel | Saturday (8/9) at 6:00pm – If Netflix-and-chill has lost its thrill, pull up a chair at Knoxville’s newest interactive murder mystery dinner. You’ll feast on a proper meal, quiz suspects incognito, and wonder if your cousin Earl is the killer before you’re the prime suspect yourself.
🍝 St. Cugino Day @ The Mill & Mine | Sunday (8/10) at 4:00pm – Whether you’ve sworn off meat or just need an excuse to carb-load, St. Cugino Day is your ticket to an Italian-inspired veggie bash, complete with stretchy pasta, inventive plant-based bites, and three drink tickets for vino or keg-fresh Peroni. All proceeds help our local farms.
🧠 Sunday Night Trivia @ Boyd’s Jig and Reel | Sunday (8/10) at 6:30pm – Think you can outwit the bartender before he pours your pint? Round up your smartest pals or that know-it-all cousin and swing by Boyd’s Jig & Reel for Sunday trivia. The top three teams snag gift cards, bragging rights, and at least one celebratory round.
Next week
🎉 KAULYP Kick Off Mixer @ The Design Center by Design AF | Monday (8/11) at 6:00pm – Picture yourself in a sea of name tags, but with better snacks and zero awkward water-cooler silences. The KAULYP kickoff mixer is all about energizing conversations, genuine connections, and that satisfying buzz you only get when a crowd actually clicks, not just clicks ‘like.’
🌱 Skill School: Season Extension–Fall and Winter Growing @ The Bottom | Tuesday (8/12) at 6:00pm – The frost line isn’t a finish line, folks. This free, family-friendly class from Rooted East’s Home Garden Program shows beginner growers how to coax carrots and kale through fall’s chill and winter’s whispers. Prepare to outsmart Jack Frost, one seed at a time.
🌠 Steam: Comets and Meteor Showers @ Carter Branch Library | Tuesday (8/12) at 6:00pm – Calling all Grades K–8 stargazers! Dive into the wild world of comets and meteors, learn pro tips for spotting the Perseid meteor shower, then blast off into crafting with take-home comet and meteor art—all materials provided. Register online before this rocket takes off!
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/8 Mike McGill and the Refills @ Boyd’s Jig and Reel – 9 pm
- 8/8 Senie Hunt @ The Pirate Tavern – 9 pm
- 8/9 Brothers Revolt @ Visit Knoxville – 12 pm
- 8/9 Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: Magic & Moonlight Tour @ Tennessee Theatre – 8 pm
- 8/10 Shayla McDaniel and more @ Pretentious Beer – 5:30 pm
- 8/10 Brit Floyd: Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary Tour @ Tennessee Theatre – 7:30 pm
- 8/12 Comedy Deception – Knoxville’s Degenerate Game Show @ Central Cinema – 7 pm
- 8/12 The Dirty Dougs Trio @ Brackins Blues Club – 7:30 pm
🏠️ Price is right – Knoxville edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Janet DeBusk Hensley (Gables & Gates, REALTORS)
Stone, brick, and serious curb appeal come together in this 7,300+ square foot knockout in The Cove at River Sound, where high architectural standards are just the beginning. Inside, soaring ceilings, domed and coffered details, and a two-story great room set the stage for everything from epic parties to cozy nights in. The chef’s kitchen is a gathering magnet, and the main-level owner’s suite brings spa-day energy with a sunken tub and vaulted ceilings.
Downstairs, the fun continues with a full bar, rec room, future wine cellar, and even a sauna and hot tub for the ultimate wind-down. Multiple decks and patios spill out to a level, fully fenced backyard that’s practically begging for a pool. All this, plus a brand-new 50-year roof and a third-floor walk-up attic, in one of West Knoxville’s most coveted lakefront neighborhoods.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
We may receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter. Content marked with an * is paid advertising. These companies may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter. You received this email because you signed up for our list.
Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here
© 2025 BaseLocal
220 W. Congress Street
Detroit, MI 48226, United States of America
