It’s the people swapping stories and socializing that make the Market Square Farmers’ Market so cool.

I was long overdue for a visit to one of the area’s best farmers’ markets — or so I’ve heard it’s the best – right downtown in Knoxville’s Market Square.  I marked off this Saturday for my inaugural visit just to see what all the talk was about and to bring home some veggies from the Market Square Farmer’s Market!

My husband and I dined at Pete’s first thing — French toast, eggs over easy, sausage, and piping hot black coffee.  Love this little diner.

But we could have had a biscuit and coffee at any number of places, even at the Cruze Farm Milk Bar set up on Union Avenue.  It’s all good, or at least looked to be.

Folks having breakfast at the Cruze Farm Milk Bar — a make-shift tent set-up right beside the truck.

It didn’t take me long to realize that our Farmers’ Markets have definitely kicked it up a notch.  What I saw that morning were white tents, for the most part; uniquely designed backdrops announcing names, locations and websites (Yes, they now have websites!) of area farms and businesses; ID tags for veggies and fruits with varietal names of produce locally grown; business cards with Facebook pages and Twitter names!

Not like the old days of open truck beds with turned-up baskets spilling the pickin’s of the day.  No sirree.  This market is first class all the way.

Adam Colvin of Colvin Family Farm told me to check out their Facebook page. And he’s not the only farmer Facebooking! “My pleasure,” I said. Who wouldn’t like to see these pop-in-your-mouth summertime ‘maters from Bledsoe County?

One customer, Donna Redwine, told me that she and her husband come every Saturday — and bring the dog.  It’s just the greatest way to end the week.  We love it here, she said.  And so did others, judging from the shoppers, casual coffee drinkers, and big-time talkers.  Dogs do too!

Some folks admit to sampling everything first, then making a return visit to buy their favorites. Like this shopper/sampler at Sherie’s Garden Salsa.

Even Elvis showed up, charming the breakfast crowd at Cafe 4!

It really was a great experience all around.  The produce was at its most colorful, the baked goods at their freshest, and the farmers, vendors, and creative crafters –ready to share information with anyone willing to listen.

Here’s what makes Market Square Farmers’ Market so good.

Mountain Meadows Farm won my prize for picture-perfect red peppers — you had to touch ‘em!

7 – S Farms teamed up with Log Yard Dogs, bringing cedar planks for cooking salmon on the grill, baskets of shallots, and a mountain of yellow grape tomatoes that wouldn’t fit into the picture!

Mushrooms — more than I knew existed — were in the next booth over!

Who knew mushrooms could be downright artsy?

One farmer asked me if I thought he should photograph his produce and sell the pictures. I said, “Why not?” With this color and composition, just add a simple white mat and black frame. East Tennessee art, for sure.

“Or,” I said, “look at these fabulous peppers! Naturally beautiful!” I think I’ve talked him into this photography thing. Look for pics AND peppers when you go.

Bob Due of Terraced Garden Farms told me all about how his soil — about 12″ of magnificent loam — produces these All Blue potatoes and Rose Finn Apple fingerlings. Another vendor down the way confirmed: “Bob has the BEST root vegetables, but you need to try his butternut squash, too!”

For fabulous color, my favorite booth was this one: Jim Smith’s chilies from Rushy Springs Farm in Talbott. Look for his website at the end of this blog for his Kickstarter project.

A basket of sunny yellow Trinidad Seasoning peppers from Rushy Springs Farm. Where’s that Southern Living cameraman when I need him?

My vote for prettiest booth goes to Spring Creek Farm for its artful arrangement of produce — and Shelby’s pretty smile, too!

Couldn’t resist a close-up of Spring Creek’s picture-perfect squash — or are these gourds? I should have asked!

This booth offered just what it says: hand-poured coffee — one cup at a time! Cute cups, huh?

Log Yard Dogs piled a table high with sunflowers more than a foot in diameter!

This man drove more than 2 hours from McMinnville to set up his booth and design this bouquet– that I eventually took home!

Anthony Carter brought his Junk-a-New Birdhouses made of recycled materials. Loved this one with the old horseshoe hung upside down for good luck!

Elizabeth Ethridge of A Thrifty Girl winds strips of fabric into rosettes for pinning on a blazer, gluing onto a mirror, or clamping into your hair! Clever! (Her Etsy site is listed below.)

Shyan Strunk of Soy 2 Joy candles told me their best-selling fragrances are Butt Naked and Monkey Farts, but I thought French Vanilla would be just fine at my house!

Sheila sold me two flavors of Ms. Cock-a-Doodle’s Gourmet Chicken Salad: Tarragon and Curry Cranberry Pecan. Their new store in North Knoxville has just opened, so you don’t have to wait ’til Saturday for great chicken salad!

Breads and pastries, too, were in abundance from cinnamon buns to cupcakes to hand-made multi-grain loaves.  Perhaps my favorite booth — not for their showiness or for their vast array of offerings — was this simple one from Red Hen Breads.

This mother of two bakes her squshy soft rolls of milled wheat berries, flax seed, honey, free-range eggs, and yeast in a commercial kitchen owned by another vendor on Fridays and then brings them to market.  During the week, she home-schools her sons who help her in their booth near Krutch Park.

Selling baked goods from Little Red Hen Breads of Knoxville.

And I guess that’s what I love about this Knoxville Market.  It’s families working to bring us their most creative, very best products.  And it’s friends helping friends find a place to bake or set up a booth or just talk about their products.  The market has become a family unto itself – both to those who work there and for those of us who visit whenever we can.

Hope you get to any one of the Farmers’ Markets before they close.  You’ll be glad you did!

The Market Square Farmers’ Market

Wednesdays from 11 AM to 2 PM

Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM

May through November on historic Market Square

Website: http://marketsquarefarmersmarket.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mktsqfarmersmkt

Mentioned in this blog:

A Thrifty Girl

Elizabeth Ethridge

Website: athriftygirl.etsy.com

Colvin Family Farm

1045 JB Swafford Road, Spring City, TN 37381 (1-866-865-8329).

Email: Customer Support@ColvinFamilyFarm.com

Website: http://www.colvinfamilyfarm.com/index.html

Cruze Farm

3200 Frazier Road, Knoxville, TN

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CruzeFarm

Junk-A-New Birdhouses

Anthony Carter, 10770 Carpenter Run Lane, Knoxville, TN 37932 (865.230.1630).

Email: junkanewbirdhouse@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.junkanewbirdhouses.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Junk-A-New-Birdhouses/110598519011039

Little Red Hen Breads

Knoxville, TN

Email: redhenbreads@gmail.com

Mountain Meadows Farm

Anderson County near Norris, TN

Website: http://www.mountainmeadowsfarmtn.com/

Ms. Cock-A-Doodles

1008 E. Woodland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917 (865.525.9384). Also in Knoxville Visitor’s Center, 301 S. Gay St., Knoxville, TN 37902

Website: http://www.mscockadoodles.com/#!home/mainPage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/mscockadoodles

Rushy Springs Farm

230 S. Rushy Springs Road, Talbott, TN 37877 (865.674.7004). http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rushysprings/rushy-springs-farm-world-class-chile-sauces

Sherie’s Garden Salsa

Website: http://sheriesgardensalsa.com/

Soy 2 Joy Candles & Gifts

Email: Soy2Joy@comcast.net.

Website: Soy2Joy.com

Spring Creek Farm

668 Red Cut Road, Pioneer, TN 37847 (865.406.1398).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/springcreek.farm.7

Terraced Gardens Farm

Bob Due, Owner, New Tazewell, TN (865.789.5285)

Email: rototiller2@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.terraced-gardens-farm.com/

My second foray into Knoxville’s Grocery Wars occurred this past weekend when I ventured forth to the West Knox Trader Joe’s in Suburban Plaza Shopping Center!  I had to go there.  After all, I’d heard about Trader Joe’s since I took my mom to California to see the Rose Parade years ago.  In fact, we ate snacks from the TJ’s in Pasadena in our hotel at night.

Not only that, I’ve had more hits on my blog for the post on the new Publix than for any other post to date.  That fact alone tells me something: grocery stores really are destinations, not just places for hunter gatherers like myself to grab whatever I can find for dinner that night (although I’ve been known to do just that)!

So it was that my husband Bert and I entered the colorful, quirky world of Trader Joe’s. And, first thing, we did what we thought we should, being responsible bloggers, you know.  We headed to the manager’s station in the far left corner and asked David at the desk if we could have permission to take pictures for the blog.  He smiled and kindly replied, We don’t allow inside pictures.  Sorry.

I’m sure he read the telltale signs of real disappointment on my face, but he just shrugged and said Sorry again and added, That’s corporate policy. 

Good thing I asked, I thought, because I really, really wanted to show you, my readers, the inside of a Trader Joe’s, especially this one with its UT Orange-and-White-Go-Vols theme! But I can’t. That corporate policy thing.

So, join us vicariously as we share our impressions and a few pictures of our purchases with you.  We still had fun (and that’s one of the takeaways for Trader Joe’s — you CAN have fun) — we just can’t show you what’s inside.

First impression:  Trader Joe’s is small, but intimacy is part of the charm.  Selected items, many of which are store brands, stack nicely on the waist-high shelves and fill the chest-high frozen food bins.  There are only a couple of aisles, and you can see the whole store over the low displays. We liked that.

Don’t go in expecting to fill your cart for the weekly stock-the-pantry kind of shopping, though.  This is niche marketing at its best.  Fewer items — unusual, too– uniquely packaged.

Second impression: Trader Joe’s really is colorful, funky, and fun!  Ceiling-high murals of Neyland Stadium and UT activities let you know that the owners paid attention to what turns us on in Big Orange country.

Just for fun (and information!), a guy hoisting an 8-foot pole topped with tiki sign on one side, question mark on the other, moved willy nilly through the store helping newbie customers like us. We couldn’t help wanting to chat with that affable fellow, and he wanted to talk to us, too!

Employees were decked out in hybiscus T-shirts or the ubiquitous Hawaiian Trader Joe’s shirt.  I guess there’s one in every store!

Also fun are the store samplings we’ve come to expect with all these grocery store openings! A smiling young lady (who said she’d be a UT student in a couple of weeks) dished out little cups of mac and cheese from the free sample booth in the back of the store.  What’s not to like about that?!

We liked the free samples of Mac ‘n Cheese enough to take home a package. It’s microwaveable!

And third impression:  The food is different!  Way different.  Artsy packaging and  clever names abound. Like Gone Bananas for chocolate covered frozen banana slices!  Varieties of the “same old, same old” in other stores seemed downright enticing at TJ’s — like cereal they call Clusters and an entree called Reduced Guilt Pizza Primavera! We had fun just reading labels and packages!

Some of the Trader Joe’s foods we brought home: Almond Butter — Creamy with Sea Salt, Organic Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Schoolhouse Cookies, and Omega Trek Mix with Omega Fortified Cranberries.

Here’s what else we saw. (Prices accurate as of August 17 , 2012.)

Bread: So many varieties and choices.  Harvest Cranberry Scones (2.99). Brat Buns for your brats, of course. (2.49 for 6). British (not English) muffins (1.99). Tandoori Garlic Naan — we lived for this stuff when we traveled in Nepal! (3.69). And Trader Joe’s brand Whole Grain Bread (2.99).

Frozens: Meals in a bag, desserts, you name it.  Sweet Potato Gnocchi (2.99). Pasta with Sockeye Salmon and Asparagus (5.99). Trader Giotta’s (not Joe’s!) Eggplant Stacked Parmesan (3.49). Trader Jose’s (Mexican Joe, I guess!) Chicken Taquitos (3.99). Palah Paneer — Spinach & Paneer Cheese seasoned with curry and chili (2.99). Trader Joe’s Carbonara Stuffed Cheese Ravioli (3.49). And Trader Joe’s Perline Pasta & Prosciutto (2.99).

A friend of ours, Cecile, who works the evening shift was going on break, stopped to talk to us.  Since she was not technically working at the time, we snapped her picture.  She raved about her favorite frozen meal, an entree that she says keeps flying out the door: Mandarin Orange Chicken (4.99). (We’ve since tried it, but wasn’t as impressed as Cecile was.  May have to give it a go again some time.)

Grains, Oats, & Stuff: Lots of granola like Pecan Praline Granola (2.49). Trader Joe’s Just the Clusters (cereal) with great combinations: Maple Pecan Granola Cereal, Banana Nut, Vanilla Almond, Raisin Bran, etc.

Soups in boxes: Butternut Squash, Creamed Corn & Roasted Peppers, Carrot Ginger, Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper — most were around $2.79 a box.

Ice Cream & Frozen Delights: Mini Hold the Cone Ice Cream Cones (2.99), Soy Creamy Mini Chocolate Sandwiches (2.99 for 8), The Best (Bar None) Ice Cream Bars (2.99 for 4), and Fruit Frenzy Bars in Rasperry, Lemon, and Strawberry (1.99 for 4).

And other stuff:  Dried fruits like mangoes, Turkish figs, pineapple rings, flattened bananas, and bing cherries.  Lots of yogurts — some you’ve heard of and some I’ll bet you haven’t.  Coffees from around the world: Ethiopian, Kona, Costa Rican and Joe’s brands — Dark, House Blend, Bay Blend and more. Cookies like Vanilla Meringue and Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies.  Whoopie Pies, too!

More purchases from Trader Joe’s: Traditional French Brie, Trader Joe’s Vanana Organic Lowfat Yogurt, and Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter.

When we got home, we checked out Trader Joe’s website.  As you would expect, it’s just as creative as this new West Knox store!  Lots of moving pictures, clever drawings, photos with captions, and a great little newsletter, Fearless Flyer.

Found out it all began in 1958 under the name of Pronto Markets, but in ’67, the original Trader Joe (yep, that was his name), changed the store name and opened the first Trader Joe’s in Pasadena.  And that Pasadena store is the same today —  same spot, same parking lot — but probably with newer foods and more organic offerings.

We also read that, in 2002, the first bottles of Two Buck Chuck were sold. Maybe you’ve heard of these Charles Shaw wines that cost only two dollars a bottle.  We, of course, don’t have ’em in Knoxville, since we don’t sell wine in grocery stores, but, as you travel, look for the famous brand in other Trader Joe’s.

Bert said he’d try a beer he hadn’t heard of — just for the sake of the blog, of course!

I love the Trader Joe’s website if for nothing else the great recipes.  Click here for my favorite (well, so far): Peanut Butter Brownies! Yum!

So, would we go back to Trader Joe’s?  Sure.  But not for our routine grocery list, of course.  We’d go back for something unusual. Something different. The stuff you just can’t get anywhere else.

And prices aren’t bad.  At least we didn’t think so, for the amount and variety of the offerings.

Are we glad to have Trader Joe’s in Knoxville?  Of course.  It’s all about choices, variety, and a taste of the world — and that’s what TJ’s has brought us!

We’re still apologizing, however, for no pics.  You’ll just have to go see Trader Joe’s for yourself!

Trader Joe’s

8001 Kingston Pike

Knoxville, TN 37919

865.670.4088

Monday to Sunday: 8AM to 9PM

Got a comment?  Let us know what your favorite purchase at Trader Joe’s has been.  We just might want to try something new the next time around!

This week, the much-anticipated Publix (people-oriented, upscale, classy) exploded onto the scene at Northshore Town Center complete with signature green balloons, free samples, and employees bending over backwards to make good on their slogan: Where shopping is a pleasure!

Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins in Winter Haven, Florida, Publix is one of the fastest-growing, employee-owned supermarket chains in the U.S. The corporate offices are now in Lakeland, Florida, and, according to the website, Publix has 1,055 stores in the nation with 31 of them in Tennessee. One of the employees, however, proudly told me, We’re about to explode in Tennessee! 

The Publix at Northshore Town Center is a hybrid store:  more organic foods and natural products.  It even has a cafe, hot food bar, salad bar, coffee shop, and (something I loved) a gelato and sorbet section!

In keeping with their regular hours, Publix opened at 7:00 AM to lines of people spinning a wheel to win prizes or waiting patiently for a free carnation.

Shoppers were then directed to stations offering free samples and tiny tastings. I headed straight for the loaves, rolls, flatbreads, etc., (one of my many weaknesses) and found Valhalla!  Purchased a round of Shicaccia Bread with onion, olive and parmesan cheese — supper, for sure!

Nearby, pretty cakes called for a closer examination. Because I frequently cook for two, the site of smaller versions made me smile: Tiny, made-for-two sweet treats sat beside the larger versions carefully piped with frilly icing and topped with crushed nuts, swirls of chocolate, or raspberry dollops!

Boar’s Head had a powerful presence — their own section in the store and a sampling stand offering tidy rolls of ham and cheese. During the opening, if you buy a pound of anything Boar’s Head, you’ll get a trio of mustards.  Free. While supplies last.

I’ll have to come back.  Lots of folks lined up for that one! (Click here for great Boar’s Head recipes on their website!) 

Nearby, a young man presented me with a couldn’t-resist platter of tasty hors d’oeuvres.  They were made with three simple ingredients: thin rounds of 34° Sesame Crispbread topped with a slice of Spanish Manchego cheese (on special), drizzled with Savannah Bee Company Cheese Honey. Delicious! Bought all three. 

Meat selections were overwhelming. And all were well-packaged.  As you would expect, there were the usual roasts, ground beef, chicken, pork, sausage, cold cuts, etc.  Nicely arranged. But Publix offers prepared entrees, too, ready for cooking at home.  (Opening special on shish-ka-bobs: $5.99!)

The seafood counter was a mini Pike Place: fresh fish, shrimp, and other creatures of the sea laid out ready for purchase. One offering amazed me:  already veined shrimp with easy-to-remove shells. What a boon that will be when I’m getting ready for a family gathering! (And if you’re a sushi fan, you’ll be happy to know there’s a whole section waiting for you!)

Colorful, carefully-lined-up produce enticed shoppers and kept the man replenishing the displays busy all morning!  Look also for the organic section at Publix — Greenwise Market. It’s clean, fresh, inviting and BIG!

New to me (well, everything about Publix is new to me — this is my first!) was a section called Apron’s Simple Meals. Two days a week, you’ll be treated cooking demos showcasing recipes anyone can prepare.  Free recipes are available along with three-ring binders ($4.99) for safe keeping.  Picked up Praline French Toast today.  Will be back for more!

And Publix has flowers.  From orchids to mums, you should be able to find the right bouquet for anyone. Or maybe yourself.

Store brands shared shelves with commercial brands.  Nicely packaged. Nicely displayed. Publix labels are understated and tasteful, but still keep nutrition info out front.  It’s a look that’s modern yet classic.

So, Publix is a grocery store complete with meat, canned goods, dairy, and produce. But many things set it apart from others:

• Displays are clean, neat, and full. Most of all, they’re interesting — products not usually found in Knoxville.
• Offerings are in tune with what people are eating today from organic produce to gluten-free selections. Publix Greenwise Market offers appealing, healthy foods we need.
• Publix puts an emphasis on wellness from the website to the in-store pharmacy and the extra services they offer. (Like shingles vaccine for us over-50 folks!)
• Special events draw people in: cooking demos, brand sampling, Coffee and Dessert Night, and Kid’s Fest Day.
• Announcements can be found via Social Media.  Check out their Facebook page for more info! Heck, you may even want to be their friend!

Something else stood out for me.  Every aisle I visited had helpful, knowledgeable employees.  Yeah, yeah, I know they’ve been trained for the opening. 

But something special — possibly pride — set these folks apart from so many other store employees.  I think you’ll notice it, too.  The best thing about this store just may be the people of Publix!

From the employees who took the time to help a family find the right section . . .

 to the helpful man at check-out. . .

to Elizabeth, a West High 11th grader who carried my free tote bag (Yes, I was one of the first 1,000!), to the car and chatted with me about AP English, no less!

It’s the people who are going to make the difference in your experience at Publix!

Welcome to Knoxville, Publix!

Publix

Northshore Town Center

2012 Town Center Blvd.

Knoxville, TN 37922

865.470.0720

Store Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, 7 days a week

http://www.publix.com/

Have you been to Publix?  Or any of the other new West Knoxville stores? Post a comment. Would love to know what you think.

Bluff View Art District is the epitome of quiet elegance in the heart of the city.

My husband and I left Knoxville on July 3rd in time to position ourselves on the Walnut Street Bridge for Pops on the River in Coolidge Park and then watch colorful, dramatic fireworks burst and dance to the music of the night.

A view of the Tennessee River from Bluff View Art District

 But the Fourth was ours for exploring on our own, so we headed to the District.

Near the Back Inn Cafe, a tall whirligig-like sculpture let us know this is no ordinary shopping area.  This is as artsy a place in Tennessee as you can find.

This sculpture almost says “lift off”!

Our first stop? River Gallery, in the former Dr. Edward Newell home.  We spotted suspended glass orbs beckoning us inside to take a closer look.

Hand-blown glass catching the sunlight from a window in River Gallery

Known for showcasing the creative art of some of the area’s finest craftsmen, the gallery offers variety in form, function, and medium.

Colorful scarves on display at River Gallery

Ceramist Kelly Jean Ohl created “11 Piece Wall Installation” — unique wall art.

We couldn’t resist touching these hand-turned, burled wood bowls.

We were pleasantly surprised to see this oil on canvas “House in Biltmore Village” by Knoxville artist Joe Parrott!

Wall hanging of colorful, contemporary quilting: “New Paths” by Marquetta Johnson

River Gallery is celebrating 20 years in business with a special exhibit, Collecting Thoughts.  Although it runs from August 1 to 31 this year, we were privy to some of the art that day by Nancy Kubale, Roelna Louw, and Susan Parrish.  (Here’s where the viewpoints part of this post comes in: It’s not just art . . . these pieces make statements!)

The sign with Nancy Kubale’s “Stand Still” reads “a reminder to stop and stand still and be fully present.”

Roelna Louw’s ceramic sculpture entitled “Us” features two people leaning in for conversation.

Susan Parrish’s mixed media pieces are a testament to her creativity as they express her views on people, politics, and the vagaries of life.

Parrish’s “Holy Man” uses metallic washers, a sink stopper, and a blue cleaning brush!

We left River Gallery and walked past other buildings like Renaissance Commons, a stately building now used for private events and the District’s holiday buffets. Originally this was a quadruplex, then a duplex, and now one of the area’s most tasteful examples of urban renewal.

Renaissance Commons

The Bluff View Inn is really a conglomerate of three turn-of-the-century homes repurposed as Bed & Breakfast Inns: the Maclellan House, the T. C. Thompson House, and the C. G. Martin House.  An 1889 English Tudor, The Maclellan House offers seven guest rooms, a honeymoon suite, and several original furnishings.

Bluff View Inn: The Maclellan House

You can see a view of the river from the breakfast room at The Maclellan House.

Period furniture graces the sitting room.

The Bocce Court Terrace, named for the game of bocce brought to America by Italian immigrants, offers unparalleled views of the river and a place to relax.

Built with salvaged architectural elements on the site where another home previously stood, Rembrandt’s Coffee House sells paninis, soups, artfully packaged chocolates, and gourmet desserts. It was definitely abuzz with activity on the Fourth.  We took time to relax, have lunch, and meet some of the people out and about that day.

Lili talked to us about the varieties of tea and coffee at Rembrandt’s.

We weren’t the only ones having trouble deciding what to order! Sandwiches, salads, desserts, fresh brewed coffees . . .

But Dava said my choice of chicken salad was a good one and tea would make a great, relaxing after-shopping drink!

I was tempted — very tempted — to take home this beautifully wrapped box of chocolates — just for myself!

We even struck up a conversation with Christina Neighbors who wants to be a teacher, if she can get a job in Chattanooga! Anyone hiring?

Listed in the Smithsonian Institute’s Archives of American Gardens, the River Gallery Sculpture Garden fascinates young and old with creative pieces that grace the courtyard and the bank below, leading to the river. It’s not unusual to see people looking closely at the sculptures or relaxing in this urban setting so removed from busy city life.

This sculptural figure seems suspended in flight on the banks below the garden.

A stack of heads seems as tall as the bridge from this perspective!

A walking, winged sculpture seems almost in motion.

The Bluff View Bakery occupies my favorite structure, the former Powers & Condon building.  Even on the Fourth of July, workers baked fresh bread in Chattanooga’s oldest artisan bakery and hand twisted pretzels for the restaurants and B & B’s in the area.

My favorite building in the District houses the Bluff View Bakery.

Rolling and shaping pretzels by hand

We asked Sharon why they were working on the Fourth, and she replied, We have to get the bread ready to sell at Blue Cross, Blue Shield tomorrow.  To the employees.

Sharon explained why they were working on the Fourth!

And so it was, that we, too, had fresh bread to take home that afternoon as one last souvenir from the Bluff View Art District.

It was hard not to pinch off a hunk of fresh bread on our way back to Knoxville!

You can see Bluff View Art District in a day, including a quick tour of the Hunter Museum, but you may want to spend more time than that.  It’s easy to get caught up in the shops, open air sculptures, and the fascinating architecture of the district.  So much to see. So many view points.

For a historical overview of the Bluff View Art District and a timeline of the district’s development, click here.

For more on the Hunter Museum of American Art, click here, and be sure to check out my next blog.

Bluff View Art District

411 East Second Street

Chattanooga, TN 37403

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