What to do in Knoxville, TN
May 19, 2007 10:45 PM Subscribe
So what is there to do in or around Knoxville on a Sunday? Can you buy booze?
Oh! And of course, if you've got time, you can drive about forty minutes either way to Smoky Mountains National Park. Don't go through Pigeon Forge (unless you feel like giant arcades and massive bumper car rinks. If you do, totally go through Pigeon Forge.)
posted by frobozz at 11:07 PM on May 19, 2007
posted by frobozz at 11:07 PM on May 19, 2007
Tennessee has some of the most restrictive liquor laws in the nation — and that's just the way the state's powerful liquor lobby likes it.
The liquor stores close on Sunday, the grocery stores can't sell wine, liquor stores can't sell beer and anybody who tries to order a bottle of Merlot over the Internet is flirting with a felony.
http://michie.lexisnexis.com/tennessee/lpext.dll/tncode/1c21c/1c47f/1c4e6/1c4e8?
(b) (1) No alcoholic beverage within the scope hereof shall be sold between twelve o’clock midnight (12:00) and six o'clock a.m. (6:00 a.m.). No such beverage shall be sold between twelve o’clock midnight (12:00) on Saturday and eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. (11:59 p.m.) on Sunday. No such beverage shall be consumed, or opened for consumption, on or about any premises licensed hereunder, in either bottle, glass, or other container, after twelve fifteen o'clock a.m. (12:15 a.m.). Any county by resolution of the governing body may extend the hours for the sale of beer; provided, however, that the hours for the sale of beer in “clubs” as defined in § 57-4-102, shall conform to those hours for the sale of liquor by the drink as provided in chapter 4 of this title.
Sorry! No booze on Sunday
posted by dnthomps at 11:16 PM on May 19, 2007
The liquor stores close on Sunday, the grocery stores can't sell wine, liquor stores can't sell beer and anybody who tries to order a bottle of Merlot over the Internet is flirting with a felony.
http://michie.lexisnexis.com/tennessee/lpext.dll/tncode/1c21c/1c47f/1c4e6/1c4e8?
(b) (1) No alcoholic beverage within the scope hereof shall be sold between twelve o’clock midnight (12:00) and six o'clock a.m. (6:00 a.m.). No such beverage shall be sold between twelve o’clock midnight (12:00) on Saturday and eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. (11:59 p.m.) on Sunday. No such beverage shall be consumed, or opened for consumption, on or about any premises licensed hereunder, in either bottle, glass, or other container, after twelve fifteen o'clock a.m. (12:15 a.m.). Any county by resolution of the governing body may extend the hours for the sale of beer; provided, however, that the hours for the sale of beer in “clubs” as defined in § 57-4-102, shall conform to those hours for the sale of liquor by the drink as provided in chapter 4 of this title.
Sorry! No booze on Sunday
posted by dnthomps at 11:16 PM on May 19, 2007
Tennessee is an astonishingly bad place to visit for social drinkers. There are a ton of archaic liquor laws, that regulate the retail distribution and ownership of liquor stores, and the hours and conditions of operation. These laws, in aggregate, generally result in liquor in Tennessee selling for 20 to 30% more than it does in similar regional jurisdictions.
In Knoxville, it's generally illegal to buy booze at retail on Sundays, except for liquor by the drink (liquor by the ounce in local parlance) in licensed establishments after (I think) noon hour, but bootleggers operate with imputinty, if you know where to look. I no longer know where to look.
As for what to do, you can visit the picturesque campus of The University of Tennessee. Neyland Stadium is particularly impressive, especially if you imagine filled to its ever expanding brim with orange enveloped supporters of Knoxville's best. The Tennesse River is not to be missed, if you've got a boat. It would be better if it was a football weekend, but you take it in season, as you've time, I guess. The Old Gray Cemetery is nice on a Sunday, if the weather is good. Bleak House is overrated, to my taste, unless there is a spring Sunday wedding going on, in which case, it's not to be missed. The Zoo? I dunno. How bored are you?
You could call for special interest destinations, I suppose.
posted by paulsc at 11:33 PM on May 19, 2007
In Knoxville, it's generally illegal to buy booze at retail on Sundays, except for liquor by the drink (liquor by the ounce in local parlance) in licensed establishments after (I think) noon hour, but bootleggers operate with imputinty, if you know where to look. I no longer know where to look.
As for what to do, you can visit the picturesque campus of The University of Tennessee. Neyland Stadium is particularly impressive, especially if you imagine filled to its ever expanding brim with orange enveloped supporters of Knoxville's best. The Tennesse River is not to be missed, if you've got a boat. It would be better if it was a football weekend, but you take it in season, as you've time, I guess. The Old Gray Cemetery is nice on a Sunday, if the weather is good. Bleak House is overrated, to my taste, unless there is a spring Sunday wedding going on, in which case, it's not to be missed. The Zoo? I dunno. How bored are you?
You could call for special interest destinations, I suppose.
posted by paulsc at 11:33 PM on May 19, 2007
You could always retrace some classic moments from The Simpsons' Bart on the Road, where Nelson chucks rocks at (and toppels) the Sunsphere. Maybe pick up a wig or four!
Nothing's worse than finding yourself in some Southern town, driving around looking for beer, and coming to the realization that there's no over-the-counter sales in your region. I spent a fruitless hour driving around in a godawful Arkansas town looking for hootch last year before I realized this...
posted by porn in the woods at 8:39 AM on May 20, 2007
Nothing's worse than finding yourself in some Southern town, driving around looking for beer, and coming to the realization that there's no over-the-counter sales in your region. I spent a fruitless hour driving around in a godawful Arkansas town looking for hootch last year before I realized this...
posted by porn in the woods at 8:39 AM on May 20, 2007
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You can look at the Sunsphere too. There's a nice park around it. It's got fountains.
I ought to be able to think of something else, since I live here, but since to me 'going out' involves sitting in public parks and reading books, I really don't know what to recommend. Although I hear good things about Barley's Taproom.
It's got a very tiny downtown that you can walk all the way around in about forty-five minutes. There are several smallish parks tucked here and there, and one or two interesting shops in Market Square and the Old City. Unfortunately, the street market was today.
posted by frobozz at 11:02 PM on May 19, 2007