What better place to get outside this week? | Photo of Tharp Trace Trail at Ijams Nature Center, by Scott Basford via Wikimedia Commons
It’s officially 2026, and if you’re one of the third of Americans making New Year’s resolutions, keep reading. Here are some common resolutions paired with local resources to help you stick to your goals.
Get outside more
Have you seen the forecast this week? With a slate of 60º days in our future, now’s the perfect time to jumpstart a goal to spend more time in nature. If you’re unsure of where to begin, check out our guide to the best parks in Scruffy City.
Cook more meals at home
The Cutting Edge Classroom offers adult cooking classes on subjects ranging from Korean BBQ to artisan sourdough. Pro tip: feed two birds with one scone and get in time with the kids by booking a family class.
Give back to get back.
Photo by Seven Islands State Birding Park
Give back to the community
Make Knoxville even better in the way that suits you most: we’ve rounded up volunteering opportunities for those interested in mentoring, promoting culture, feeding others, helping animals, and more.
More than 10,000 sqft in downtown Knoxville? We didn’t know it existed, but you might recognize the origins of this modern home on the market. It used to be Friedman’s Jewelers + still has a 1900s jeweler’s vault door, now revealing a hidden speakeasy inside.
Development
Knoxville Habitat for Humanity broke ground on The Plains, a new development that will house 74 families when completed. The project is the local chapter’s fifth subdivision and will feature twin homes, or houses on separate lots that share one wall. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
Knoxvillian
Hello, Adeline. The newborn was the first baby born at UT Medical Center in 2026, born early in the morning on Thursday, Jan. 1. See other first babies in East Tennessee — including photos. (WBIR)
Answered
Have you undecked the halls yet? When asked, 67% of our readers said they keep festive decorations around after the holiday is over. If you’re ready to ditch the decor, consider donating to a local thrift store like KARM.
Sports
Vols Quarterback Joey Aguilar had surgery last week to remove a benign tumor on his arm. His recovery is expected to last about eight weeks. In the meantime, catch up on what’s next for the rest of the Tennessee Volunteers with the local experts of LockedOn’s daily podcasts. (WATE)
Drink
If you had a few aperol spritzes over the holidays, you sipped through the season the Tennessee way. The Italian cocktail was dubbed the Volunteer State’s most popular festive drink by Mental Floss.
Job
Manifesting a new job for 2026? Let us help. Our Job Board has 240,000 active listings across industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and information technology. Search open jobs now.
The Buy
A long puffer vest with sophisticated quilted detailing. It’s under $20 and available in eight different colors.
With a new year ahead, we’d love to hear what you want to see in the newsletter.
Send us an email detailing an event that you’re excited about in 2026, something you want to see more of in 2026, something you want us to keep doing in 2026, or anything else you want to share.
