Viva Garbanzos

There's a new Cuban restaurant on the 100 Block of Gay Street downtown. I can highly recommend the garbanzos fritos.

Justification

This really is how I spend my time at the Crown & Goose beer garden in the Old City.

Picnic

Although Ijams Nature Center is primarily a natural area with woodland trails, there are a few places for a nice picnic. This little area used to be a homestead. All that's left now is a bit of a stone foundation wall and some steps. But in spring, clumps of dafodils return, planted by the homesteaders so long ago.
These folks are having a picnic on a perfect spring afternoon. Look at the size of that picnic basket!

The Wearing of the Green

Yes, it's St. Patrick's Day, a big old party day here in the US. I hear everyone is honorary Irish today. Even me.

So, not to be too tedious, but the biggest green thing I could think of in Knoxville is the Gay St Bridge. Does this make it officially a series?

And also, lots of beer drinkin' goes on today, including here on the lovely waterfront deck at Calhoun's. If this photo listed any more to port, all those chairs would be virtually sliding across the deck.

Slainte, y'all!

MagPies

Maybe I have cake on the brain, but I always do a double-take when I drive by MagPies new space on Central Avenue. I love their sign. Those life-sized bird ornaments look like they might take flight at any minute. And their motto, "All Butter All the Time", well, I've adopted it as one of my life aspirations. Because life is always better when there's cake.

By Any Other Name

The Holy Land Market on Sutherland Avenue has all kinds of good Middle Eastern food, including feta cheese, kalamata olives, tahini, spices, and fava beans. It's my go-to place for supplies when I'm in the mood to cook a good Middle Eastern or Mediterranean dinner.
But this also caught my eye. They can call it "luncheon meat" if they wish, but I know Spam when I see it.

Drink Down the Moon

We'll drink up the sun,

We'll drink down the moon.

Let the people say little or all.

- traditional folk song

For more skies, visit Sky Watch. It's become a Friday tradition.

Still Life With Cork

This is how you open a bottle of wine, at least when you belong to one of the book clubs I'm in:
1. Put corkscrew into cork.
2. Pull gently.
3. Watch nothing move.
4. Curse creatively at whoever invented plastic corks.
5. Pull harder.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4.
7. Get a pipe wrench and pull top of cork.
8. Hooray! Movement!
9. Rats. It stopped.
10. Repeat step 4.
11. Get a pair of pliers and a hack saw just in case.
12. Pull cork with pliers.
13. Hooray! The cork came out!
14. Repeat step 4 for good measure.
15. Take a photo - it makes such a charming still life tableau.

I Get No Kick From Champagne

It's intermission at the Tennessee Theatre. Time to head to the lobby for refreshments. How do they expect me to choose if everything's upside-down?

Addendum: thank you, Hope, for the lovely BFF blog award. I'm afraid I'd have to pass it on to many more than 5 bloggers - you should see my CDP favorites page - that dance card is full! So I send it out at large to all my favorite photobloggers - yes, that means YOU. And YOU. And YOU too, don't be shy.

Aroma Wheel

So, how do you like your coffee? How about Groundy? Sweaty? Do I hear any votes for Horsey? This aroma wheel in the Knoxville Visitor's Center coffee shop gave me no end of amusement.  

The aroma wheel for wine tasting was developed by Dr. A.C. Noble to help standardize terminology.  Although I think I'd pass on a wine that tasted like "wet dog." I first encountered the aroma wheel in a basic wine tasting class I took a few years ago. The aroma wheel in the coffee shop was not exactly the same as the wine tasting wheel, but it sure was fun to peruse. 

So, for all the coffee drinkers out there, how DO you like your coffee?

No Entry

This Beefeater stands guard at the gate of the Crown and Goose beer garden on a sunny afternoon. He's part of the big wall mural I showed you a few months ago. Not to worry, you can enter through the pub. 

Avast, Mateys

I was just astonished to find out that you can purchase Pirate's Booty at the grocery store. 

I hope they use only organic free range pirates with that aged white cheddar, or I'm not buying it.

Come and Get It

This statue stands outside of the Phoenix Building on Gay Street, advertising for the Downtown Grind coffee shop. 

Don't get me wrong, I love Downtown Grind. Their coffee is fantastic, and I like the friendly staff. But there is just something about this statue that gives me the creeps. I mean, look at him, with that mysterious, self-satisfied smile. He knows things. Dark, secret things that have nothing to do with cappuccinos. 

And why does he have his hand behind his back? What's he got back there that he's not willing to share with the rest of Knoxville? 

What do you think?

Army of Sisters

According to the Sister Cities International organization, Knoxville has seven sister cities. Seven. I kid you not. They are:

Chelm, Poland

Chengdu, China

Kaohsiung, Taiwan/China

Larissa, Greece

Muroran, Japan

Neuquen, Argentina

Yesan County, South Korea

I didn't sign up for theme day since I knew I wouldn't have time to search for images, track down the photographer, and get permission to post the image. But I wanted to post some kind of connection to a far-away sister city despite that. 

So, (work with me here, I'm desperate), I'm posting a shot of the Greek dinner I made last night and dedicating it to Larissa. Hello, Larissa! 

In case you're wondering, that's broiled eggplant with capers and mint, tzatziki (cucumber, garlic and yogurt dip) with pita bread, and some ouzo to make things fun. And no, I am not of Greek ancestry, I just love the food.

Do the Math

Sunny day + Crown & Goose beer garden + fish & chips = Happiness

London Calling

It wasn't so much London calling, it was mostly that pint of stout calling to me. "Meet me at the Crown & Goose beer garden," it said, "The sky is a perfect blue with a single plume of contrail, and London is all crowded onto a brick wall. Oh, and bring your camera. This will be perfect for Sky Watch Friday. And be sure to swing by and visit the other participants."

That was one chatty pint of stout. Cheers, y'all. 

The Wrath of Grapes

I was in the downtown wine store to find a nice bottle of red to have with my eggplant and pepper stir fry, when I saw this sign for Luchador shiraz. I was undecided whether a body slam to my tongue would really be a pleasant experience. And really, I don't think you should put the word "malo" near any product that you have hopes of selling, even if you are referencing a luchador's name. But then I looked at the price and decided that I didn't want a body slam to my wallet either. So in the end, I chose an Italian primitivo with a nice calm line drawing of a farm scene on the label.

Smoothie

It was just a feeling, but something seemed a bit sinister about the peach smoothie that I purchased at the farmer's market. 

Wine Bar

Now that I've taken an interest in photography, I sometimes - oh, who are we kidding, I often - try the patience of my long-suffering companions when I see something interesting. This photo has a few of my favorite things: a patio on the square on a summer night, a glass of riesling, and  interesting things to look at (and a patient companion just out of range of the shot).

The Night Is Young

The evening had just begun at the 4620 jazz club. The bartender was setting up for a busy night. The blue neon bar was serenely empty, but wouldn't be that way for long. I caught the moment from my outpost.