Welcome to the first edition of 865today — we’re so glad you’re here.Send us an email and let us know what you’d like to see covered in our newsletter.
Editor’s Pick
Did you know that more salamander species call the Southern Appalachian region home than anywhere else on Earth? | Photo by @poynter_photo_co via @knoxnewts
Newt New summertime activity unlocked. Hidden among landmarks in downtown Knoxville are 12 bronze newt sculptures for locals to find this summer through a new scavenger hunt.
How to find them? Grab a passport online or in-person at Mast General Store + use the clues to find these little guys all over town. Happy hunting.
Asked
Asked
What is the average lifespan of an eastern newt in the wild?
A. 5-8 years B. 8-12 years C. 12-15 years D. 15-20 years
Papermaking for Kids | 6-7:30 p.m. | Sequoyah Branch Library | Free | Register your kiddo to learn how to craft paper from recycled materials.
Tuesday, June 24
Band of Horses | 8 p.m. | The Mill & Mine | $47 | The band known for “No One’s Gonna Love You” and “The Funeral” performs live.
Wednesday, June 25
Sip and Spill: UniTEA at Peter Kern Library | 5-7 p.m. | Peter Kern Library | $86 | Your ticket to this boozy Pride Month tea party gets you three small-pour, hand-crafted cocktails, bites, and a guided experience.
The Deltas: Showtime at the Plaza | 6-9 p.m. | Crowne Plaza Knoxville Downtown University | $50 | Revel in the music of this nine-piece R&B, Motown, ‘60s, and ‘70s band.
Fourth of July on Mabry’s Hill | Friday, July 4 | 5-10 p.m. | Mabry-Hazen House | $15+ | Bring lawn chairs to chill on the hill with live music + local food vendors, and head inside for self-guided museum tours.
A new community grocery store that’s taking inspiration from Trader Joe’s is headed to South Knoxville. Old Sevier Market is set to open this fall in the same building as Redbud Kitchen, complete with a patio, bike rack, and dog park on the back side of the building. (Knox News)
Civic
The City of Knoxville recently released renderings for the planned Burlington Fire Station, set to break ground later this year. The new station will replace one located a block down the road that opened back in 1937. (WATE)
Outdoors
Meet Zahra, the newest resident of Zoo Knoxville. The 4-year-old lioness comes from the Buffalo Zoo as a breeding recommendation for Knoxville’s male lion, Maji.
Ranked
Moonshine Mountain Cookie Company made it onto USAtoday’s list of the 10 best cookie shops across the country. The local spot with four area locations serves up small batch gourmet cookies — some of which include a splash of original Tennessee moonshine.
Mansion Monday
Looking for a new house that’s on a property roughly the size of three football fields? This 4,574-sqft home set on five acres of land — which features its own private walking trail and pond — should fit the bill.
History
Last week, UT men’s basketball opened its season with a home game against Mercer, with the Vols winning 80-64. WBIR’s Emilie Rae Cochrane shared via X that the last time UT played Mercer was back in November of 2017.
Sports
Is the SEC the superior conference? Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia seems to think so. Hear what the SEC experts have to say about it with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
This overlook from Tharp Trace Trail offers beautiful views of Mead’s Quarry. | Photo by Scott Basford via Wikimedia Commons
Before we reach the dog days of summer and it gets too hot to take a trek, we’re lacing up our hiking boots + sharing our curated hiking guide for the Knoxville area.
This hike’s difficulty level is worth it thanks to beautiful views of Mount LeConte and the Quarry. It’s technically two trails — Tharp Trace connects with Pink Marble to close the loop. Norris Dam Hootin’ Hollow Trail, West Campgrounds parking lot
Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 2.2 miles out-and-back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Listen to the barred owls that the trail was named after and keep an eye out for plants, mushrooms, and lichens. House Mountain Trails, 9601 Hogskin Rd., Corryton
Difficulty: 🥾🥾
Length: ~1.8-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Combine the West Overlook Trail and Mountain Trail to create an intense — but rewarding — loop with views of the Cumberland, Blue Ridge, and Great Smoky mountains.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
It’s such a pleasure to be sending out the very first edition of 865today. Shout out to all of the editorial team members who helped with its launch. We’ve been hard at work creating content that we think you’ll like, but ultimately, it’s you who knows best.
What are the things you’ve always been curious about, the events you’re dying to keep on your radar, or the neighborhood-specific quirks you think deserve a mention? Feel free to send an email my way with your thoughts.
