The Downtown Grill & Brewery has a beautiful and historic copper and mahogany bar, a tempting menu, and fine craft-brewed beers. Located on Gay Street.
Oodles Uncorked is an Italian American Restaurant that makes its own pasta daily. Located in Market Square, they also offer a delicious spinach salad, made even better by adding grilled salmon, chicken, or shrimp.
Tupelo Honey is a southern comfort food paradise in Market Square. Come hungry!
Coffee and Chocolate requires little additional explanation, other than directions for SEAALL Conference attendees: walk toward the end of Market Square and turn left on Clinch Ave. Enjoy your coffee (and maybe a yummy treat?) in the park across the street.
The Crown and Goose is an upscale English pub located in the Old City, owned by the family of a UT Law graduate and patronized frequently by LMU's law librarians. Food and beverages are superb.
Nama, located on Gay Street just off Market Square, has converted quite a few non-sushi consumers into sushi-lovers. Affordable, delicious Asian fusion cuisine - especially the Soy Joy roll.
The Knoxville Visitor's Center calendar is avaiable here.
Highlights from the calendar for Saturday, April 5, include:
® 7th World Autism Awareness Walk – 8:00am
® Handcrafted Jewelry Business Seminar – 8:30am – Jewel School Institute
® Spring Spectacular Plant Sale – 9:00am – University of Tennessee
® 25th Annual River Rescue – 10:00am – Ijams Nature Center
® The Great Llama Race – 11:00am – World’s Fair Park
® WDVX’s Blue Plate Special Free Noon-Time Concert – 12:00pm – The Knoxville Visitor Center
® Knoxville Food Tour – 2:30pm – Knoxville Visitor Center
® WRENS – 7:30pm – Clarence Brown Theatre
® RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES PRESENTED BY THERMOCOPY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS – 8:00pm – Tennessee Theatre
Market Square, conveniently located one block from the Crowne Plaza (walk out the lobby doors, cross the street and the TVA Plaza, and you're there!), is home to many shops, restaurants, and events. The Square is pedestrian friendly and a mecca to all downtown during mealtimes.
The Old City, a renovated warehouse district two blocks east of the Crowne Plaza, is also home to many interesting little shops and restaurants.
The Historic Tennessee Theater on Gay Street is a beautiful 1928 Spanish-Moorish-style venue for concerts and other entertainment.
World's Fair Park is not only home to the Sunsphere, but has a popular park and amphitheater that hosts musical and cultural events in the spring months.
Knoxville Museum of Art offers free admission and is within walking distance from the Crown Plaza Hotel, near World’s Fair Park. The KMA features art and artists from East Tennessee, including a tranquil outdoor sculpture park.
Third Creek Greenway is a scenic stretch of paved trails that wind 4.5 miles through West Knoxville. The nearest entrance to the greenway from the Crown Plaza Hotel is the Tyson Park entrance, located less than a mile away near the UT campus.
Mast General Store is a fun place to shop for all things outdoorsy, especially if you have a sweet tooth. Caution to parents: there are barrels (yes, barrels!) of candy and old fashioned toys on the top floor. Mast General is the place to find all the gear you’ll need to conquer hiking/camping in the Smokies and bring home plenty of souvenirs to remember your trip to Knoxville.
Bliss women’s clothing store offers hip, affordable items and an excellent excuse to spend those hard-earned dollars.
The Casual Pint is a craft beer market & bar located just off Market Square with a wide variety of American and international brews.
Union Ave Books is downtown Knoxville's independent bookstore, a perfect spot to browse new and used books - including books by local authors.
The Peanut Shop in Market Square boasts of a multitude of different nutty configurations you can take home - but more imporantly, you can taste them first for free! Not a bad way to pick up an afternoon snack.