Why not celebrate Earth Day a little early this year with the 2008 Run for Clean Air? On April 12th runners and walkers will gather in Sequoyah Hills to raise awareness for clean air work that is going on in our area.

The fifth annual event begins at 9am and you can register on-site before the race begins. There are all kinds of prizes from Dollywood passes to art by Jim Gray.

Get out and celebrate all that East Tennessee has to offer as we work towards preserving it for future generations. It’s a fun event for your whole family and you will even be able to test drive different models of Hybrid cars from several automakers.

www.runforcleanair.org

As a mother of a two year old and four year old I am in the constant pursuit of family friendly places to dine. Most of the time this exasperated, over-worked momma prefers to eat at home in the privacy of her own kitchen where, when asparasgus is not well-recieved, no other diner is disturbed by large quantities of the vegetable being hurled in their direction. That being said, Knoxville is home to many unique eateries that are the perfect place to share with your family. Read the rest »

What do you get when you combine an outdoor ice-skating rink with a cup of hot chocolate, a dash of holiday music, and a pinch of festivities? The recipe for a perfect date night! Holidays on Ice returns for the second year at Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Beginning November 24 and continuing through January 7, Market Square is transformed into a winter wonderland with an outdoor ice-skating rink for children, adults, and groups to enjoy. You can rent skates or bring your own. Get some Christmas shopping done at one of the hip and trendy stores at Market Square. Enjoy dinner at one of the many eateries, ranging from Indian to Italian, and don’t forget to spend some time at the pavilion where you can enjoy the sounds of the season courtesy of the Knoxville Choral Society. Guaranteed to put even the biggest Scrooge in the holiday spirit (not to mention a second date)!

I believe that Thanksgiving gets the shaft in terms of holiday celebrations. My sister’s house is lit up like a runway before Halloween. I rebel against Christmas music played in Pottery Barn in October, and I refuse to try on that Christmas taffeta party dress at Ann Taylor before Thanksgiving (even though they do have my size, and it is gorgeous)…nope, not gonna do it. I want to celebrate Halloween with all the candy and costumes and Thanksgiving with family and friends. However, I have to share a must-do Christmas holiday event now, because it sells out every year before December.

The Three Rivers Rambler becomes the “Christmas Express” where children of all ages experience the magic of a holiday train ride through Knoxville. During this 90-minute, 11-mile train ride, passengers are served Christmas cookies and refreshments while a local celebrity reads a holiday story. Santa and his elves board the train at the halfway point to talk to the children and give each one a special gift. Visit their website for more information and to book your reservation online. My husband and I have taken our four-year-old daughter for the past three years, so it has become a holiday tradition for our family, and I hope it will become one of yours as well. Now start working on those pilgrim hats.

Knoxville Tennessee is a town that punches above its weight. Don’t believe us? With a population of only 170,000 it’s the smallest city to ever host a World’s Fair–putting it in the ranks of Paris, London, New York and Chicago. It’s home to the Tennessee Valley Authority, one of the largest government projects in the world, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory which was instrumental in producing the first atomic bomb. And its impact doesn’t end with cheap electricity, atomic weapons and international events. Where would popular culture be without Quentin Tarantino, Johnny Knoxville, Kenny Chesney and Mountain Dew? Read the rest »