The Swank Pad's "Best of Knoxville"

I've lived in Knoxville pretty much since 1982. My taste is for the funky and quirky, for the things that are perfectly Knoxville, and timeless. Some of the things I love would make some people uncomfortable, but if you are interested in the off-beat path and the gritty, real and interesting things, and of course, the vintage modern, you'll want to visit these places.

Eateries

Knoxville has its own barbeque tradition which is perhaps the best there is. I was introduced to Brother Jack's barbeque around 1986. I used to hang out with Tip Jackson on Thursday afternoons waiting for the first pigburgers to be ready. For a long while I was there every Thursday, and often Friday and Saturday too. I got to know him and Eugene "Jeep" Jackson and his son Sonny. I had a lot of great nights down there listening to Marvin Gaye and Tip drinkin' his Old Charter and Jeep with his gin. Those were great times. But, that was great barbeque. I'll grant that the health department never went in there and would have given him a zero score, but I also knew Tip was a retired butcher and knew how to handle the meat like the pro he was. There simply was nothing like his sauce, which was his Dad's sauce. When his dad died and he got pneumonia at the funeral and ended up not cooking any longer, it was a real loss. A number of years later I tried Sarge's barbeque and knew I tasted a familiar flavor. And I found that Sarge's name was Jackson too! And then he closed. Recently I discovered that old familiar flavor again at the only great barbeque in Knoxville, Dixson's.

• Dixson's Barbeque is a little place off Magnolia behind the Dixie Tavern. Worlds collide! They are only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. An old tradition as they start cooking on Thursday and the first fruits are ready that afternoon. When they run out, it's all over. They serve the greatest thing Knoxville ever created food-wise, the pigburger. A must. Generally you wanna get it to go as there is really no room to eat there. It's good to call ahead too as you may find they are out of what you want. It's the last of true Knoxville barbeque that goes back 60 years to Tip Jackson's Dad.
  
  1201 Magnolia Avenue - Behind the Dixie Tavern
  865-525-9305 - Call ahead to make sure they hold some pigburgers for you!
  
  

• Down the road a little is Mary's Hot Tamales which is another Knoxville tradition. At the same time I started loving Brother Jack's pigburgers, I met Mr. Green and had his hot tamales from his cart down off Western Avenue. Mary's keeps the faith.
  
  
  1931 E. Magnolia Ave.
  865-637-2033
  
  

• Ali Baba's Time Out Deli on Kingston Pike is the best Middle Eastern food around and darned good at everything else they do too.

• King Tut's is an experience. Their Greek and Egyptian food is awesome, Mo is a memorable host and it's got all kinds of crazy charm. Go with a group for sure so you can ham it up with Mo all night. Truly authentic flavors like their Arabic coffee will impress. A real treat.

• A couple of great meat and three type dinners must be mentioned. Long's Drugstore on Kingston Pike and Sam's Restaurant on Broadway. A great old fashioned feel, staple foods and lively people watching. Just good stuff, especially for breakfast.

• Harby's Pizza off Broadway is a hidden treasure. Pizza? Yes, pizza! Get one of his cheese pizzas and you'll know. It's the best and damn cheap too! I have his number memorized, that's how much I love it. Dining in there is a gas too. Friendly folks make you feel like family and odd eye candy scattered on the walls.

• Sunspot has the best burger in Knoxville, and with Mashers, it's fantastic!

Shopping

What I am talking in terms of shopping is vintage. Antique stores and shops. Not a huge amount to pick from, but there are some good ones.

• Legacy in the Old City. Janice has been bringing in the cream of the crop for over a decade. Good prices and cool stuff.

• Jackson Avenue Antique Mall has some cool booths, primarily upstairs. Although, last time I was down there, they were hauling everything out and said they would open with "better stuff" which bet means new crap furniture and oriental rugs and stuff I wouldn't bother to piss on in an alley. We'll cross our fingers and hope.

• Dorothy's Antiques on Western Ave has some good vintage stuff. Won't knock your socks off and doesn't change a lot, but she gets some gems. Plus there is a thrift store in the same shopping center.

• When you are going out to Dorothy's, stop at the Knoxville Rescue Mission Thrift Store right at the I-640 entrance. This is one of the better thrift stores to me. Less corporate. Less picking for antiques and pricing toward some imaginary market.

• Thelma has been selling clothes in the hood for over 20 years that I know of. She is still at it over on Cherry Street. Go say hello and see if she has anything for you.

• Dutch Valley Antique Mall off Broadway is a newer place with some good booths, although I understand they are losing vendors fast.

Bars, Dives and Nightspots

• Opal's Lounge has been a favorite for a long time. Opal is like a mother to me these days. I hate that she stopped working nights, but she is around 75 years old! She is there days until 7PM, and I advise you go meet her. She is a Knoxville legend and a pro. Makes you feel good. She is mean as a snake too though. Don't bother arguing with her if she gets angry with what you say. Just let it go. She does not hold back her opinions. Great jukebox, pool, darts and damn cold beer. Often the beer has a little slushy ice on top. When I started going there is was always slow and just a few of us around the bar. Dive. The it got very popular when Chris and her massive jugs were behind the bar. After September 11th things got dead and Chris moved on. Now the crowds are smaller. But Opal's has character in spades. The best damned dive in Knoxville, period! I have met some incredible people there. Men who knew Sinatra. A very interesting group come to see Opal. There simply are not many places like this, and only one in Knoxville that I know of.
  
  4952-ish Kingston Pike - Next to Kroger and across from old McKay's site.
  
  

• Long Branch Saloon is an icon. Filthy, smoky and rough as a cob. Every reasonable degenerate in Knoxville for 30 years has been a regular there. It's a lively place with a band of characters most nights. I have taken to going down on Fridays for Happy Hour before 7 and having cheap beer and listening to the juke box (which is awesome) and meeting some cool people.

• Preservation Pub serves some of the best drinks in town. It's just a good place to have a cocktail. Good lighting, good looking bartenders, strong drinks cheap and the well brands for gin are Tanquaray and Bombay! Good stuff! They get good music in there regularly as well.

• Corner Lounge used to be one of the best dives in town. I met a lot of great old timers there too. I have not been much since it's re-opened, but I bet they continue the tradition of the "Home of Con Hunley."

• For great live music, you need to be aware of The Pilot Light. PBR in a can is a plus.

• The Carousel is an institution. It's been a central hive of gay life for decades, and is certainly the single best place to people watch around. Drag shows, of course. It's calmed down a lot over the years. It used to be a place for all sorts of perverts to come out, but it's become more and more main stream as homosexuality is becoming more and more mainstream. It'll still shock the socks off Suzy Vonore. Hey, Devine performed there, nuf said. Go up to Vic N Bill's for eats at 3AM and much of the best show is there.