We’ll be sending you our newsletter for the next five days, but if you’re not feeling it after that, we’ll call it quits — no action required. If you like what you see, click any link in this email, and each morning, we’ll keep sending the most relevant news, events, and updates from around Knoxville. Our newsletters are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Connected to roughly 70 miles of local trails, the new hub sits at the southern end of James White Parkway, tucked beneath the Sevierville Pike Bridge.
The 23,000-sqft pavilion and plaza features:
Adventure-ready play structures with slides and climbing features
Eye-catching murals and bright orange picnic tables
The Zig Zag Bridge on Third Creek Greenway will be closed for roughly a month for renovations. Crews will replace the old decking with new wooden boards featuring safety treads. See the detour on a map.
Development
City officials will break ground on Historic Giffin Square in South Knoxville at 1 p.m. today. The project will preserve the 98-year-old Giffin Elementary School and add 77 affordable housing units, with completion expected by summer 2027.
Closing
Penne For Your Thoughts, the Italian restaurant in Lakeside Village that got its start as a food truck, will permanently close this Wednesday, Feb. 11 after eight years in business.
Sports
New year, new kit. One Knoxville SC has a new regional sponsor for 2026. Regions Bank will take over the spot on the team’s jerseys previously held by KUB Fiber.
Community
Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians has kicked off its 2026 Great Cookie Competition to crown East Tennessee’s favorite cookie. Local celebrities will represent different flavors and compete for votes while raising money through social media and local fundraising events.
Mansion Monday
A Victorian home built in 1899 is up for grabs in the Fourth & Gill neighborhood. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom house features original red pine floors, stained glass details, and updated finishes.
This Valentine’s Day, put your heart into local journalism by supporting 865today. Your contributions will go directly toward creating more of the local stories you love, expanding our coverage, and ensuring we can remain a free resource for all. Give a little love to local news.
Featured Deal
Explore an introduction to psychedelic therapy and how it can help depression or anxiety. Pre-order your book today, February 9, and get bonus access to a live online summit with Michael Pollan, Gabor Maté, Melissa Etheridge, and more.*
Number
240,000+. That’s how many active job listings you can find on our Job Board. Explore openings in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and beyond. Roles for all experience levels are hiring now. Find a new gig for 2026.
Home
Stop settling for gutter guards that barely work and still leave you climbing a ladder every month to clear debris. LeafGuard’s award-winning, one-piece system is designed to make clogs impossible. For a limited time, our readers can get 75% off installation plus an extra $200 off. Get a free assessment.*
Category
Try This
🐦 Let’s wing it
When you have guests, you feed them. It’s only polite. | Joe Myers via Wikimedia Commons
Charge your phones and grab your binoculars, Knoxville. The annual Great Backyard Bird Count takes flight this Friday, Feb. 13 and runs through Monday, Feb. 16.
The community event invites nature lovers and bird enthusiasts from around the world to go outside, watch, count, and celebrate birds. Anyone can participate — all you have to do is go outside and observe for as little as 15 minutes.
Count all of the birds you see or hear using one of the following tools:
Searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Surprise loved ones with these gifts that can arrive by the end of the week.
❣️ Remind them how you feel with a little sign to say I love you that’s the perfect size for desks and night stands.
🧦 You can never go wrong with soft, fuzzy socks that make every step feel like you’re walking on clouds.
📚 The perfect gift for any book lover, a three-month Audible membership is under $50 + provides access to thousands of audiobooks.
🍽️ Spark spontaneity with this set of scratch off date ideas that’s been featured in US Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and more.
✋ This top-rated hand massager can ease sore hands with five intensity levels + two heat settings.
The Tomato Head’s limited-time sandwich for this month looks mighty tempting. Fun fact: It’s my little sister’s favorite restaurant in Knoxville. Hey sis, are you seeing this?
