Follow The Yellow Brick Road: July

We finally get the chance to go down my favorite road in America! As much as I would love to jump right into all of the wonderful things I love about Gay Street, we have to talk about Brad Renfro first.

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn team up to find a treasure and save a local man from being framed or a murder he did not commit. 

Brad Renfro is a Hollywood cautionary tail. There really isn't all that much that I really found out about him. Not that I am digging super deep for all of these stories but what I could find is that he lived with his Grandmother in Knoxville. It doesn't really even say where. Not sure where he parents were, or if they were in his life at all. He was discovered when he was 11, Tom and Huck was he second movie. The thing is that he died when he was 25 due to a drug overdose. He was in about 20ish movies and was friend with James Franco. Again not really sure how because not a lot of info. However, it seemed that didn't have the best life before he got into movies and it didn't seem to help him either. While he performance in this Disney film is funny and sweet, it seemed like he real acting role was trying to hide his pain. 

Now for the most well known street in Knoxville, Gay Street. 

Bijou Theatre and Lamar House

1909 may have been with the Bijou Theatre came to life but the building that it's connected with has a much broader history. The Lamar House was originally a hotel built in 1817. It's seen it many shares of changes to our history over the years. It has been rumored to be haunted for many years. Two Civil War General died within it's walls. The theatre came about during the prime of Vaudeville and because of that we have record of many of greatest acts to come here. One being The Marx Brothers. In the 60s it started to decline and ran as a porno movie theater for a few years and then was threatened to be torn down. However, the place was saved an renovated in the 70s. Since then it has been a venue for several world class performers and part of the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville. 

Tennessee Theatre

I could write pages and pages on the great Tennessee Theatre. However, I will keep it short. The Tennessee came to life on October 1, 1928. The original idea for the theatre was to be a movie house and have silent movies there. However, it was around that time when pictures started to talk and so did the theatre. Movies were shown there all they way up until about the 70s with everyone started to move away from Downtown. 2005 everything changed for the Tennessee. A huge renovation took place and changed the movie palace into a true to life theater. It still hosts movies when it's not taking on world famous singers or Broadway shows! 

Andrew Jackson Hotel

At the taking of this picture, the Andrew Jackson Building is not a hotel. However, an article released earlier this year that the once great hotel, now office building, is going to become and hotel once more! This building has a very interesting history. It was completed in 1929 right before the Smokies became a National Park. However, the fact that Amelia Earhart stayed here a year before he disappearance is something that is very rarely mentioned. The best story I have learned though it the fact the Hank Williams Sr. spent his last night of his life here. There are speculations that the building is haunted and it's by Hank Williams ghost. There are reports that say that he died in the hotel and was put in the back of the cab, others say that he was alive and got into the cab. Tennessee Williams also stayed here when he was in town for his father's funeral and Duke Ellington stayed here as well. 

Blount Mansion

Home to the first Governor of Tennessee, Blount Mansion is actually a rather small home located here in Knoxville. It seems that the name mansion is used because it homed several Governors and Mayors in it's years here. The house was built in the late 1700s and then by the early 1900s came around it was largely forgotten. in 1925 the house was saved from demolition and has since been turned into a home museum. 

Plaza Tower

The tallest building in East Tennessee was built in 1978, and has been a banking building pretty much since then. The building got some national recognition when United American Bank crashed and the president was arrest for Fraud.  

Journal Arcade Building 

Once of the headquarters of a newspaper of the same name in 1924.

Farragut Hotel/Hyatt Place 

I have mentioned before that Knoxville is a big sports town. However, not everyone knows how much of college sports we owe this building. In 1932, the SEC was created in the ballroom of the hotel. The Yankee's baseball team was also here in the 30s for some exhibition games and some of the greatest players to ever live stayed here, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. 

Oarsman

The Oarsman came shooting out of the brick laid ground in 1988. However, locals know at "The Rowboat Man". I didn't even know that it had any other name until I read the book. Some believe that it's a depiction of one of Cormac McCarthy's characters in his book. However, that has neither been confirmed or denied. 

East Tennessee History Center 

This lovely museum has so much stuff! I went for the first time a few years ago, and from the outside you think that it's only going to take you maybe and hour. I was there for almost five. I am also the person that wants to read and listen to everything. It's so much fun though! You learn so much about Knoxville and the surrounding areas. ETHC has been founded since 1834 but was not a museum until 1874. The building expanded in 2003 to better display the wonderfully amazing history of East Tennessee. 

Mechanics Bank and Trust Building 

Radio and murder is what this building is known for. In 1888 a gun fight happened right outside the building. The fight ended up having the same body count as the O.K. Carrol did not long before. The three main shooters were all killed simultaneously. The building also held and radio station and the site of the first television broadcast in the 50s. 

Miller's Department Store

A 70 year old Department store building the survive the biggest fire in Knoxville's history. 

Tailor Lofts Building

Knoxville's oldest building. Also survived the fire. 

Century

The last building to survive the fire on Gay street. 

Phoenix

The Phoenix was built after the fire and name was chosen to represent the rebuilding efforts after the fire. 

Holston

Originally the tallest building in Knoxville, The Holston hosted the FBI when bootlegging was getting out of control. The building was originally a bank, then a radio station. The building was turned into condo in 2007, and recently added two wonderful restaurants in the basement and ground floor. 

S&W Cafeteria 

The S&W once a luxury cafeteria that was on 4 floors of the building. The cafeteria closed int he early 80s but most of the beautiful structure is still there. It's now the home of Aveda Beauty School. 

Thank you for joining me down this wonderful walk of my city. I think next month we are going to get out of the Downtown area a little bit! It won't be too far but it will be nice to visit some new places!  

Let The Joyous News Be Spread: July

 The month of July has been very busy. The celebration I picked is also very odd. However, I am glad that I got to do the celebration with Alain and I am so glad that she does not judge me for some of the weird things I have to do. 

Paddington the Bear comes to England after he looses his home in Peru. He is looking for an old explorer who came and visited his family before he was born. When he gets to England he meets a family that are all very different form each other and they end up on a wild adventure. 

I think that this movie is the one I have been most excited to have Alaina watch. The reason being is because there are so many people form Doctor Who in it and it's just hilarious. 

Why Paddington? 

National Teddy Bear Picnic was one July 10th. I was going to try and do this outside but it was a very rainy weekend that weekend and that would not have ended well. Alaina and I had plans to hang out this weekend and we just decided to make another TCM Meal and watch a movie. So, we combined the two and got this weird thing. We had a wonderful time though! 

No Place Like Movies at Home: The Big Sleep

We are halfway through the Bogie and Bacall Movies! The next one on our list being one I talked about a few years ago The Big Sleep.

When a private detective is hired to figure out who is blackmailing their family, everyone's world gets turned upside down.

Look, I am not going to even try and say that I liked it. I understood it better the second time of watching but this is not my favorite movie. I have a really hard time with the slow pace and with all of it. I really want to like these more. I am hoping that with time I will like them, or that One of the last two in this set will be something great to love it a lot more. 

Best Picture Challenge: Coda

 In the last few years you really can see a pattern of what movie the studios think are going to get them an Oscar. The last few years there have been a lot of civil rights movies. History, fictional, maybe a little bit of both? It was no a shock last year when the 2021 Best Picture was Green Book. I thought that we were going to get another movie winner that was about civil rights. I think lots of people were very shocked that Coda won this year. I can understand why when I watched it this past weekend.

Ruby is a unique individual with a unique family. Her family is deaf, and she is the only person in her family. She has grown up basically being the interpreter for family being the only one who can speak. She has done everything with her family but also doesn't fully feel like she belongs with her family because she is different from them. Her family being so different from the rest of the community she is in she doesn't really fit in with community either. There is one place where she feels like herself, that is when she is singing. She doesn't think much about what she is going to do with her life because she never things that she is going to leave. That is until her new Choir teacher see her potential and works with her to get into Berkley School of Music. At the same time her family fishing business is being threatened and Ruby is torn to what she needs to do.

Coda was nominated for lots of awards at the start of the year. The only other award that really stuck out to me was that fact that Troy Kotsur won Best Supporting Actor. I haven't heard of this movie until the nominations came out. It was until Mr. Kotsur won the award that is even knew that the movie was about a family that was deaf. Then I realized that Marlee Matlin was also in the film and I have seen her in other things, and I believe that she has won an Oscar in the past as well, and I really wanted to see this movie. Other than these things, I went into this movie blind. I had no clue what the plot was, I didn't know what was going to happen, but it was such a great movie! Growing up is hard, and you never feel like you fit in. I can't even imagine what it was like for Ruby. Then to have this incredible singing talent that your family just doesn't understand, and a family that the rest of the world doesn't understand, has got to be incredibly hard. 

This movie is charming, funny, sad, heartfelt, and just overall wonderful. This movie is going to stay with me for a while. It's beautiful in so many ways and I think everyone not only should see it, but I think everyone who sees it will enjoy it for many different reasons. 

Tom Hank Hustle: Elvis (2022)

 The last few years I have constantly looked at what movies Tom Hanks was going to be doing next. Since I started this project, IMDB has listed an "untitled Elvis Project" has been listed. Knowing how much Tom Hanks loves Elvis I was so excited to see what he was going to be doing, and when it was going to come out. With how often that I looked, I was really shocked the this movie snuck up on me a little bit. 

Let me tell you.... it was well worth the wait....

Elvis. The number one most sold solo artist in history. Everyone has a story of him, or they have told the story of him. However, there is no story of Elvis that doesn't include the Story of Colonel Tom Parker. Parker was Elvis's manger, for most of his life and career. Col. Parker is know as crook, and scoundrel, and to some, as the man who killed Elvis Pressley. We get the chance to hear the story of Elvis from the name to brought him to the world. The man the made him a legend, and the man that used Elvis to get ahead in life. 

Have you ever experienced anything that you thought would be good and then just in the middle of it you knew that you were watching something truly special? It doesn't have to be a movie but like a concert, or a play? That like you knew this was going to be a big deal? Like maybe not now but in the future it was going to be something of legend? I have seen this movie twice. I haven't seen anything like this movie. 

I have talked in the past about the fact that Mr. Hanks so so good in his roles that I can forget that he is playing a role. This is no exception. I totally forget that Mr. Hanks is playing Col. Parker. He is that good. The first like few seconds of seeing him, and hearing his voice, I was shocked and then got over it. Austin Butler as Elvis.... is insanely good. Like it's the closest I will ever get to experiencing the "mania" over Elvis. I like Elvis! I great up with his music, I own it myself. I have seen many of his films but I have never gotten what it was like when Elvis was the biggest thing ever. Watching it in a movie, a very well done movie.. I get it. 

This movie is hard to explain with you just going to see it. It's like an Elvis Pressley Comic book come to life. I mean, if this movie is not nominated to a bunch of awards at the Oscars I will loose my mind. 

I will even go a step further. This will a movie to look back on. I would not be surprised if this movie became a classic film one day.   

Tom Hanks Hustle: Finch

 It's been a very long time since we have gotten to talk about the incredible Tom Hanks! Covid really did, and still has in many ways, pushed back lots of movies. I know that there are two movies that were supposed to come out that now don't have release dates. This movie was supposed to come out in like 2021, I think. However, it was never released in theaters. It's only on Apple TV. I really didn't want to get Apple TV for a month just so I can watch one movie, but 2021's Best Picture Winner is also only on there so I got it and this movie surprised me.

Finch is a man that is doing something that is impossible.... surviving in the apocalypse. This scientist turned survivalist is about to run out of luck. The Ozone layer is basically gone and being in the sun will burn you to death. Finch spends time outside to find food, and other things needed for survival. One of the things he is looking for is food for her beloved pet. When we meet Finch in his lab we learn he is trying to make a machine, that can learn, so it can help him take care of the dog. Finch is dying from radiation poisoning. He doesn't have much time left and has no one to take care of his dog for the rest of his days. Thus, Jeff is created and comes to life. We join Jeff on what it like to be human and how to deal with life and death, no matter the circumstances. 

This movie has been in the works for a while. I thought that I was going to be a crazy action movie that would deal with zombies or something like that. However, Tom Hanks is the only person seen in the whole movie. He was a wonder to watch and see how he really can carry a movie alone, and how it made these inanimate objects a personality, and rally make you think they are really leaning what is means to be human. 

Is it my favorite Tom Hanks movie? No, but if someone was interested in watching it I would tell them it worth it to watch. I don't think I would tell someone to go out of their way to watch it but if they have Apple TV and a few hours to kill, yeah go for it! 

  

What Ought To Be: June

1. Closer in Faith:  Not much better the the past month

2. Lose 50 Pounds: I don't even want to know. I will get back on this, I don't think that I will loose the 50 pounds by the end of the year. If I could just get to the gym and eat better by the end of the year I would be happy. It hasn't helped that the very few times that I tried to get myself to the gym it's been closed. I have also been on vacation and haven't not cared about diet or exercise so I have to get back on it this month. However, as part of my Discovery project I did a lot of walking on the UT Campus. 

3. Cook Better: I have really only cooked the meals from the cookbook and a meal for Small Group. I will say that I have been looking more forward to cooking the meals. So, I guess that's improvement.

4. Dress for Success: This has been back and forth this month. 

5. Speak up: So, I have learned something this month about this. Last month was insane, mainly emotionally insane, but insane. So, this month was really just trying to get back to feeling normal. This stress, and the fact that I have been way off track in a lot of areas. So, I didn't have much I wanted to speak up on, or really felt like it at all. However, saying "yes" and that's all could be speaking up. I was asked by one of the ladies at our church to take over a monthly event that we have for our women's group. I told her I would do it. Now, I didn't say much but what I did say mattered.

6. Own the Room: This one I'm still working on. I am not sure how I will know when I felt like I have owned the room. I really need to stop letting this little crazy shy person inside of me that tells me to hide, control me. Like when I am uncomfortable I feel like I want to hide. I need to say something more. 

7. Look People in the eye more: This one I feel like I have done better one. Handing out docs to people at work I know who will look me in the face now when I am being intentional about looking at them. 

8. Building Relationships: I have talked to all of my friends this month, I have not been the best out it. I do need to adjust this as this month goes one.

9. Style: 

So, a funny about this shirt. I say it three months ago when I was buying the last set of shirts. I hated it. I justified not buying it then because it was cold. It was still there when I went back this month to get it. I bought it and took it on vacation. I sent a Marco Polo to my group of friends, about nothing related to this shirt, and Alaina was like "That shirt is cute! Is that you uncomfy shirt for this month? I love it". I didn't tell her, or anyone, that this was a new shirt and she knew right away. I will say the one thing I love about the shirt is that it show my bow tattoo in the back. 

10. Creativity: So, I did read. I read like 3 1/2 books by Francine Rivers this month. I think that is something that helped me during this month. Reading is something I love to do but never make an effort to really do it. I have really enjoyed my reading time this month and I hope I continue to do it.

11. Spoiling: So, the one thing that I really wanted to do this month is redo by bathroom so I did. 

IT'S SO PINK!!! 

12. Peace: So, I am at peace for the most part. I know I can improve but seeing where I was at last month I am doing way better, even it it's was just back to where I was at the month before. I know that I will get better, and that I will learn from what I have been through. I just have to keep going. 

So, this month's classic movies from the cookbook are lots that I have already talked about. However, even the Confidence movie this month is a true classic. One that I have never seen before.. Dead Poet Society. 

John Keating is a teacher that loves to challenge the people he is teaching. He loves to show people how to think for themselves, and how to look at thinks differently. This kind of teaching is something that is ground breaking for the teachers and students at the boarding school where Keating grew up. When he gets a job there he meets a great group of boy who are just ready to get into the world, but also want to be the adults that their parents want them to be. We see just how wonderful, and tragic, their lives are with their family and with their peers at the school. 

I was really not ready for the heartbreak that came with the movie. The reason that I added it to the list is because I saw the seen where Robin Williams is telling the boys that the reason that they use words is to whoo women. That words can give them confidence that they never thought about before. The looking at words in a different way can make for a different mindset. I think I need to really that. I need to stop speaking stuff over myself, and speak more life. That I need to say "I can" more rather than "I Can't". 

This love story is set during World War II. It's about an American Cafe owner in Morocco who runs into the woman who got away. He husband, who she thought dead when they were together, is trying to escape to America to help put an end to the war. 

We have talked about this movie many, many times before. However, the last time I watched the film, was a few years ago at the Tennessee Theatre. I have seen this movie dozens of times in my life. I will say that it wasn't until that last time the I got the movie. I understood why it's so endearing, why it's so loved, and why people are drawn to it. What I finally got out of it was this. You can have a life that looks like is everything wonderful from the outside. You can be slick, and smooth and sly, but you still have to do something with your life. Bogart's character put his life on hold for a number of years after the love of his life didn't show up at the train station. Everyone in Morocco looks at him like he is the coolest thing since sliced bread but he really isn't happy. When he find that, yes, he does love this woman, and will always love her, but he had to live again. You can't be stagnate. 

This wonderful meal is called Roasted Eggplant Tagine with a French 75 to drink. Now, as you can totally see, I have put way too much sour cream in this bowl. It was a lot of different flavors that I have tried in the past and never really liked. This also had some stuff that I have never tried before. Eggplant is something that I have only ever cook once before this. I also think that my eggplant was not the correct ripe. I am not sure it it was over or under ripe, it's was not right I can tell. I have never really liked chickpeas. However, they were good. The one ingredient that I didn't know how to feel about, but ended up loving, was couscous. I loved all of these flavors put together. I would probably make this again, however, I might not do the eggplant, and add some sort of protein to the meal. The French 75 drink was strong but good. So far I haven't really had any of the drink in this book blow my socks off. I really hope that there will be at least one in here! 

This Alfred Hitchcock thriller is about two men who try to pull off the perfect murder. One the is so perfectly planned that they are able to hold a dinner party over the body, without any of the guests knowing. 

This movie is one that is amazing to watch every time that I see it. It's the movie that really inspired me doing any of the projects I am doing now, and writing this blog. What I love the most about this movie, besides the story of course, is how it's filmed. It's filmed in almost one continuous shot, with the exception of two cutaways. That is a feat in the time when everyone was on film and you had to shoot in 20 minute increments.

This was the most carb loaded meal so far. There was so much bread and cheese! We have Camembert in a Coffin and Parmigiano Rope Twists. The drink was called Art of Choke. Look, I'm not going to spend too much time here.... it's bread and cheese.... of course it was good! The drink..... let's just move on....

  When an unsuccessful script writer accidentally finds himself in the life of a washed up movie start, his life is turned upside down. Not knowing if it's for better or for worse, we watch the events of his life unfold when they both try to climb back into the limelight. 

 Smoked Oyster Waldorf Salad in Avocado Shells is THE WORST MEAL I HAVE MADE THUS FAR! I do not like apples, oysters, not fond of avocados, and really don't like mayo. All of that is in there. Never again! Not in a million years! The Ritz Cocktail, probably will not make that again either. 

 

We are here, again, with An American in Paris. Let's go over it again real quick. An American G.I. is living in Paris as a painter who falls in love with a girl who is engaged to one of his friends. 

I love this movie. Gene Kelly is always fun to watch, and Gershwin tunes are always good. When you watch it you know why it won best picture. 

This was the easiest meal to make... it's a charcuterie board. So, I just got some port wine cheese (I got the one with almonds to be fancier), some nuts and raisins from other meals that I had left over, and some of  my favorite crackers. I was so thankful that this was the last meal on the last month because catching up I need a break. Throwing stuff on a plate and calling it a meal was great. The An American In Paris Cocktail was really good!

Alaina came over to make another meal with me. I didn't have all of the ingredients for the drink when I made the meal, however, we got to try it and it was really good! I might want it with a little less bourbon next time but I was really surprised!

Let The Joyous News Be Spread: June

Trying to find a thing to celebrate in this month was really hard. It would easy if it was me just doing a bunch of food stuff. However, I don't want to do that. So, I picked National Typewriter Day on June 23rd. 

The movie to go with it was that called Trumbo

Based on the true story of Dalton Trumbo, the movie follows Mr. Trumbo as he is being blackballed from Hollywood for being a communist. 

This movie is so good. It really shows you what it was like for the 12 men the were jailed for being a communist. How they had to fight back when they came back. They had to write under different names, and do a bunch of crazy stuff to get scripts out without it being known that they were the ones who were writing them. Trumbo actually won two Academy Awards during this time but was not allowed to claim them because the truth that it was him writing would have been exposed. The reason I picked this movie for National Typewriter Day is because Trumbo took his typewriter in the bathtub and wrote in there. It's shown several times in the film. It's a very memorial part of the movie. 

So, I have a typewriter and I wrote on it in honor of the day. If you want to read it go ahead. However, if not that is fine too.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road: June

 This month of exploring has been one I have not been looking forward to. There was so much to look for in one area and that fact that the area is so populated I just had to do it. However, it was really enjoyable. The movie that I watched for this month was also enjoyable. 

All of the kingdom is invited to celebrate the birth of the child of their king and queen. However, one person was left off of the guest list, Maleficent. She places a curse on the new born princess that she will die on her 16th birthday. However, the good fairies are there to help. They can't stop the curse but they can stop her from dying. If she does prick her finger on her 16th birthday the princess will only be asleep until true loves kiss wakes her up. In an effort to still keep her safe from the witch, the fairies take her to live with them until she is 16. Is this enough to keep her safe?

Mary Costa was born in April of 1930 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She went to Knoxville High School, and her family relocated to California when was still in high school. She went to many performing arts schools, and she has always been involved with opera. She sang with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in a few specials, and she was on several radio shows from 1948-1951. In 1952, She went to a party and met some people who got her to audition for the role of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. She did so well the Walt Disney himself called her and told her she got the part within hours of doing the audition. She would go on to do Operas, shows movies, and even worked with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.. When she was 70 she retired and would continue to get awards and make appearances and reply to fan mail. When she was 86 she said that she could not longer reply to the fan mail in person but would still meet people and sign autographs. She still around and still lives in Knoxville at the age of 92. 

I have no gotten the pleasure of meeting her, I would love to, but I have not been able to. However, one of the best gifts I ever got was on my 19th birthday I got a signed Lithograph from her. 

 My friends step dad was actually doing some work on her house years ago and told my friend about who she was. He someone convinced his step dad to ask for an autograph from her and this is the gift. I have had it hanging on my wall ever since. Disney princess has always been something that I loved growing up so finding out that one of them is born, and still lives, in Knoxville, and I have an autograph, is something that I will never be able to get over. 

So, where is the world did I go in Knoxville that I was dreading? 

The University of Tennessee Campus.

I always hate driving through campus. I have no idea where anything is. There is always so many people, and I really didn't want to walk around looking like a goofball not knowing where I was going in front of so many people. I am so used to people always being down there but I forgot that summer break is a thing. Not a whole lot of people there during the summer, and not on a Sunday either. So, I had a wonderful walk with no one really on the campus but me. I had a much more wonderful time than I thought that I would. 

There is a lot of ground to cover to let's get started. 

The Hill

UT's original campus was actually where The Tennessee Theatre is now. It started out as Blount College in 1794. However, it was moved, and renamed, around the 1820s to The Hill. The whole campus used to only be on the hill, and daunting to go up (Trust me). There are over 200 steps to get from the bottom to the top. The 1928 Alma Mater reverences the hill in it's song. When they broke ground to start building for the campus they found that a forgotten cemetery was there. The original building that stood of top of the hill saw some battle in the Civil War and the building was scarred with bullets and cannons. However, after the war that campus was a wreck. Years later the President of UT wanted the places to finally be straightened up. Students were called to get shovels and fill in the trenches and in 1919 the Old College building was demolished. 

Ayres Hall

Ayres Hall was the building that replaced the Old College Building in 1921. It's named after UT President Brown Ayers, and physics and engineering scholar. The hall got a small bit of Hollywood frame when it was in the back of one of the shots in the Ingrid Bergman film A Walk in the Spring Rain.

South College

This building, used as dorms nowadays, is the oldest building on the campus. It was built in 1871, and it has earthquake bolts in it's design. It's the only building of UT campus in it's first 75 years. 

Austin Peay

This building was originally a library in 1911, but in the 30s was turned into office buildings. In the 70s and crazy incident happened when administrators were caught inside the building. There was a new President coming in, Boling was the last name, and Mr. Kami did not like the the students had no say and called for a protest. Kami called for Hand to Hand combat with Mr. Bolding, and when this did not happen they threated to go into the building. The police were called and 22 people were arrested. Kami eventually skipped bong and fled the county. According to the the book I am working with on this project, his fate is unknown. According to the UT website, he was last heard from in 1990 and was doing charitable in London but that is the last we have heard from him. 

Alumni Memorial Hall

 This building has a lot going inside it's walls. It was originally built to be a gymnasium. However, UT really wanted to get people who were in school to come and enjoy the campus, this hall because a place of entertainment right from the start. It was a dance hall fro anyone to come and see great performers, one of them being Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra! The Men's basketball team originally started playing here but got popular and could not longer fit here. Women's basketball wasn't as popular, yet. Coach Pat Summitt, the winningest college basketball coach in history, had her very first wins of her career in this building. 

Hoskins Library

 It was once the mainly library for the campus. Today it holds many historical references. It the headquarters for many project like the Andrew Jackson Papers.

Circle Park and the Volunteer Statue

Circle Park is lovely little greenway that was created to also have people not in school come and enjoy the campus. It's more than likely Knoxville first public park. 

The volunteer statue, or the torchbearer, was installed here in 1968 and the flame and almost always been burning since. 

McClung Museum 

Near Circle Park , The McClung Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate that has a range of different exhibits. Coving a lot of different subjects. One of the permanent collections talking about Knoxville during the Civil War. 

Neyland Stadium and Neyland Statue

One of the 5 largest football college stadiums in the country, Neyland has seen it's fair share of history. Named after General Robert Neyland. Neyland was the UT coach for 9 season and five of those season the team was undefeated. The stadium was named after him weeks before he passed away in 1962. General Neyland is laid to rest in the Nation Cemetery in Downtown Knoxville. The stadium hasn't had many people come in, beside football players. In 1970 Bill Graham was here for a crusade, that also brought President Nixon along with him. The other one to mention is that in 1984 The Jacksons (Michael Jackson and family) performed here for three nights as well. The stadium was also one of the sets for the movie The Last Movie Star was filmed here in Knoxville in 2018. 

If you look very close you can see the statue of Gen. Neyland inside the gate. The statue was placed there in 2010.

Thompson Boling Arena and Pat Summitt Statue

This building has hosted many a concert that this girl has been do. However, the real reason that this place is so famous is because this is where Pat Summitt and the Lady Vols got moved to for Basketball games! 

The Pat Summitt Statue was placed here in 2013, after her retirement in 2012. She is a legend of a Knoxvillian if there has ever been one. She was very well involved with Knoxville, and I have heard so many wonderful stories of this woman my whole life. I didn't really like basketball but I got to see one game of the Lady Vols while she was still and couch. I do also have an autograph of hers that mom got for me when she met her will she was at work. This lady is a real role model and I am glad that I got to share this city with her.

Art + Architecture Building 

This building was labeled at Ugly when it was built in 1981. However, when you go inside it's supposed to be an interesting place inside. There is an art wing in the building the whole lots of local work as well.

Natalie Haslam Music Center

Known simply as "The Natalie" on campus, is the host of the UT Jazz Program. The building also hosts lots of recitals and and brought in musicians from all around. 

Carousel Theatre

This building is believed to be oldest "theater in the round" in the the country. It doesn't look like something that impressive on the outside, but it was supposed to be an open air theater. The theater and gotten some memorable people performing here such as John Cullum and Collin Wilcox. 

Clarence Brown Theater

Named after the UT Alum, and MGM Director, Clarence Brown, this theater has been entertaining for many years. Brown attended several shows here later in his life. The theater has been here since 1970, and other Knoxville actors have performed here as well such as David Keith and Dal Dickey. 

McClung Plaza and Europa and the Bull Statue

The plaza is part of the Tower Complex and it's most notable feature is the Statue.

This statue was created in 1924.

Hodges Library

This building hold many historical documents that include Great Smoky Mountains Reginal Project and papers from Clarence Brown and local author James Agee. 

Baker Center for Public Policy

This building has been used to lectures and exhibits for many years. Named for Howard Baker, where he kept an office later in life. 

Tyson Alumni House

The former home to a Spanish-American and WWI vet, later turned US Sneator, Col Lawrence Davis Tyson, and his wife, Bettie. This building was a Victorian style home that was remodeled for other uses. The family donated the house, and a park in honor of their Son McGee. In exchange for the donation the new airport being built she wanted it named after her son. 

Hopecote

This house launched the inspiration to many home designed after it won a nation award from House Beautiful magazine. It was designed by Franz Stubb, most famous for his Houston Mansion. The house was home to Albert and Emma Hope. Emma willed the house to UT in 1977 after her death and it's now used as a guest house for the university. 

Morgan Hall

Morgan Hall is a companion piece to Ayers Hall on the main part of campus. The hall was named after Prof. Harcourt Morgan who was chosen by President Franklin Roosevelt to be one of the three directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

UT Gardens

 UT Gardens was, and still is, an outdoor laboratory. It's been revamped so the public can enjoy it. It's hosted wedding and other events. 

War Dog Memorial 

This statue honors the military dogs that served during the war. It's a copy of the War Dog Cemetery in Guam. It's sits just outside the Student Vet Hospital on Campus and it's more than likely the only war dog memorial that is not associated with a military facility. 

Indian Mound

The oldest structure on Campus was constructed in 7th Century. Believed to built by Woodland Indians it's believed that this is a burial mound. 

It took several hours and 5 miles of waling to complete the task. I am still tired! However, it's one of the longest visits I had to take and I'm glad that I have it under my belt and I am excited to see what will be next.