Consider this a sign to browse for new books. | Photo via @callieivy
Picture this: Fall weather arrives, but you’re curled up inside reading a good book. This doesn’t have to be a work a fiction, because you can head to one of these seven independent bookstores in the Knoxville area to stock your shelf with new and new-to-you titles.
Located near Market Square, this woman-owned store has been open since 2011. You can find titles across many genres and explore the events calendar for local happenings.
This bookstore may be two stories tall, but you’ll find thousands of books on the shelves. It specializes in used, rare, and old books, but you can also partake in other offerings like its monthly book club.
It started as a book truck, but it ended as a brick + mortar store. That’s the true story of this romance-focused bookstore that debuted this June, and the pink walls are lined with titles that could inspire your own meet cute.
Analog Game Night | 6-9 p.m. | Printshop Beer Co. | Free | Meet other tabletop gamers and bring your favorite board game at this all-levels night of play.
The Jon Stickley Trio | 7-11 p.m. | Yee-Haw Brewing | Free | Watch the bluegrass band from Asheville, NC, perform their music with elements of jazz, folk + punk as part of the WDVX series.
Thursday, September 11
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony | 8:40 a.m. | City County Building | Free | Reflect and memorialize the Americans who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Paper Art | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Burlington Branch Library | Free | Get in the fold as instructor Susan Bernard will demonstrate crafts like quilling, jewelry-making, book folding, and baskets.
Flo Rida | 8 p.m. | Homer Hamilton Theatre | $65+ | Spin “Right Round” at the Tennessee Valley Fair as the rapper takes the stage — Fair admission included with ticket.
Friday, September 12
East Tennessee Homestead Festival | Friday, Sept. 12-Saturday, Sept. 13 | 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Hardin Valley Event Center | $74+ | Get a better understanding of farm life with this two-day experience including workshops, demos, and hands-on activities
Movies Under the Stars: “Where the Wild Things Are” | 7 p.m. | Ijams Nature Center | $12 | Head outside and watch the 2009 film based on the imaginative book — plus, grab food from local food trucks and drinks in the beer garden.
UT’s fall semester is off to a huge start with 40,421 students enrolled, including its largest freshman class to date with 7,143 students. The university will now focus its efforts on retention — this year, UT retained 92.4% of its first-year students. (Knox News)
Watch
ESPN’s “College GameDay” will touchdown at UT this weekend. The pre-game broadcast will film at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13 to provide coverage for the Vols’ game against the Georgia Bulldogs. This is the program’s first time in Knoxville since 2022. (Sports Illustrated)
Georgia-based 3D imaging company TreisD is picturing a future in Knoxville. The startup will open its headquarters at UT’s Research Park at Cherokee Farm, a site that will be near its upcoming manufacturing plant in Mascot. The location will allow the company to teach a capstone course with UT. (Knox News)
Open
Scruffy City has a growing selection of plant shops. Moon Valley Nurseries recently celebrated its opening in Knoxville, selling indoor and outdoor plants. The business also offers gardening and design services for residential and business customers.
Featured
The New York Times has named J.C. Holdway one of the best places to eat in the US right now. The local spot was featured among the 50 picks on “The Restaurant List 2025.” The Market Square eatery was praised for its reliably satisfying menu and stand-out biscuits. (The New York Times)
Outdoors
After two decades, the Claxton Community Park Kids Palace is set to be demolished due to its deteriorating condition. WBIR reporter Emily Crabtree explores how county leaders made the decision and what the next playground offering could be. (WBIR)
Giveaway
Don’t miss your shot at our Tix for Two Giveaway. Subscribe to 865today by Friday, Sept. 12 (existing subscribers, enter here instead) for a chance to win two sets of tickets to St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Molly Tuttle this September.*
Sports
How does Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar stack up against Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton? Analyze the two players before this weekend’s game with local experts on the Tennessee Volunteers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
These brothers are exploring their new habitat together. | Photo via @zooknoxville
Zoo Knoxville is seeing red. Its two red panda cubs made their public debut inside the Boyd Family Red Panda Village.
Spectators have been able to catch glimpses of the two brothers as they explore their habitat and venture outside of their den. Often, the duo is accompanied by their parents: mother Sisu + father Doofah.
The cubs arrived on June 3, but spent their first weeks inside of their den. This was the first time in five years red pandas were born at Zoo Knoxville.
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.
I admit, I’m a huge reality TV fan, and “Big Brother” is one of my favorite shows. Knoxville locals have played the game in the past, including Amber Borzotra on season 16 and Ovi Kabir on season 21.
