Tour de Lights Delights

Tour de Lights, Knoxville, December 2011

What could make this year's Tour de Lights better than last years? An extra thirty degrees and less rain. It was a warm night with a threat of rain, but it held off until after the riders returned to Market Square and melted back into the night.


Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 

Tour de Lights Staging Ground

 

Tour de Lights 2011, Knoxville

 The bicyclists gathered in front of the stage at the Bill Lyons Pavilion on Market Square where many posed for photographs. One young girl groaned when I asked to take here picture and said I was the seventh person to ask. But she smiled. Most people seemed to enjoy having their pictures taken and there were at least as many cameras as bicycles. I suppose given the effort many of them had taken to put together their costumes and trick out their bikes they were happy to show them off. I did have one person decline to be photographed. I think that makes about four people out of the hundreds I photographed.


Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 

Tour de Lights crowd shot pre-ride, Knoxville 2011

 

Happy Santa, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 There were live trees, hats that moved up and down and menorahs. There were single bikes, bicycles made for two, extra tall bikes and hand-propelled bikes. There were people of all ages but, as always, the children were the cutest. Some people came with a theme in mind from the Grateful Dead to the more seasonal wise men and shepherd family. There were many Santas from the conventional to the sexy. Some dressed up and some wore long johns only.

Shepherds and Wise Men, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

Biking Buddies, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 

Automated Hat, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

The gathering left via Wall Avenue and rode to the Fourth and Gill neighborhood before winding their way back into the downtown area via Gay Street, arriving back at their starting point within an hour. Not intended as a race, but more a promenade on two wheels, the group seemed as jovial on their return as when they left. A soft mist fell, but it was lighter than last year and it didn't threaten to freeze on contact, which was an improvement.


Happy Christmas Family, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 

Proud Mama and Cutie-pie of the night, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 

Grateful Dead Christmas Biker

It would be two hours before the threat of rain turned to actual drops downtown. By that time the participants had enjoyed hot chocolate with friends and family and returned to their homes to begin planning next year's costumes and themes. It was another great night in the city.


He's got it all going on, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 

Daddy/Daughter Delight, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011

 

Ho, Ho and Ho, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011



Riders exit Market Square, Tour de Lights, Knoxville, 2011



Christmas in the City 2011

Ice Skating on Market Square, Knoxville

It's hard for me to believe it's here, again. Thanksgiving seems to have become a small blip on the radar with Christmas seeming to have bled past Thanksgiving on its way to Halloween. It's craziness in many ways. I'm not big on the commercialization of every holiday. I noticed at the Fantasy of Trees there were sponsor notes on every mirror on the Merry-Go-Round and on most of the horses the children rode. Of course our downtown event has the word "Regal" with a capital "R" attached to it for a reason.


Fantasy of Trees, Convention Center, Knoxville, November 2011

 

Family Photo-op, Fantasy of Trees, Knoxville Convention Center

But enough humbug, there is still plenty of joy in the city for the child in us all. It officially starts the day after Thanksgiving and it started slowly for the crafts persons on Market Square and Krutch Park. There were people walking about, but nothing huge. Krutch Park extension was empty, but ready for bigger things. Ice skaters trickled onto the rink.
I wandered into a few stores and business looked good. Later I talked to several and their faces ranged from smiles to really big smiles, so I'm guessing some of that shopping madness at least mad it into the stores of the good guys and didn't all go to Walmart, Best Buy and Toys R Us.


Fantasy of Trees: Doesn't that look like an exploding Sunsphere atop that tree?

 

Flamenco dancers at Christmas?

 

Carousel, Fantasy of Trees, Knoxville



Ginger Bread Houses, Fantasy of Trees, Knoxville

 

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"



Polar Bears Rockin' Christmas! Knoxville Convention Center, 2011

The Fantasy of Trees was busy, but it was only about half as crowded when the family went last year. Aside from the sponsor material I mentioned above, it is a great experience for young children and it seemed they had more activities for them than ever before. The music while we were there didn't particularly seem seasonal, but it was good. There were gingerbread houses, photographs with Santa (who must have quickly slipped over to Krutch Park for his other event of the evening), and scenes to illustrate the "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" theme. 

The gang is gathered on stage, the crowd awaits!

The lighting of the Christmas tree drew a large crowd, though again, maybe not as large as last year. A woman whose name I did not catch sang a great version of "O Holy Night," and then a series of people took the stage before the main event. Mayor-elect Rogero was as smooth and polished as ever and went out of her way to make people of all faiths welcome, which is such a breath of fresh air in our part of the country. I just really feel we are in for a great era in Knoxville history with her leadership and that of the others who joined her on the city council.


The tree lights, the fireworks explode, Knoxville 2011

Santa, Ms. Claus, Reindeer and, of course, the Chic-Fil-a Cow crowded the stage and Santa did the deed and the tree lighted much to the delight of the crowd. It also set off a barrage of fireworks that was cool, but also extremely loud for some of the younger children present, not to mention for the residents of the Holston Building. 

The WDVX Ho Ho Ho Down, Market Square Stage, Knoxville 2011

Market Square was packed with ice skaters, families and shoppers. Bluegrass music rang from the Market Square stage as the WDVX Ho Ho Ho Down helped everyone get their groove on. The lights on the trees were beautiful. By all appearances it was a great kick-off to the season. It's only the start, of course. Friday night (Dec. 2) the Christmas Parade starts at 7:00. The next weekend (Dec. 10) is the Jingle Bell Run, which is fun to watch even if you aren't a runner. And then, there is the Tour de Lights bike ride (Dec. 15).

So, come to the city. Bring the family and have fun. As for that matter of shopping, it's been decades since it was this good. With the advent of the downtown gift card you can easily get something for everyone on your list.

Preparing and Repairing the City

Filling the hole at the corner of Summer Place and Locust

There are always things getting repaired or prepared in the city. Generally you might watch your step or you might step into a mess that wasn't there the day before. I also find the opposite: As I walked turned a corner onto Gay Street recently I thought something felt strange and then realized the scaffolding that had been in that location for months was gone.

At least it's a start: The corner of Summer Place and Locust

 

Slowly filling the hole at the corner of Summer Place and Locust, Knoxville

In the "repair" category, I'm happy to say that a step or two has been taken to fill the hole at the corner of Summer Place and Locust. I've discussed this dangerous eye-sore before and I've called the city to no avail. I suppose the owner has decided if it was filled and paved he could make more money parking cars. Or he had some extra dirt he needed to get rid of. It would be great if a beautiful building was going up on the foundation already in place, but a parking lot is better than a hole. Maybe then the sidewalks can be cleared for their intended use instead of providing space for his poorly supported ugly chain-link fence.

One Crane Builds another on Walnut Street, Knoxville

 

The constructed crane from the ground



The Aerial View of the Crane

Just around the corner from that location, Walnut between Wall Avenue and Summit Hill was blocked off recently to allow a multi-crane operation. It seems one crane had to put the other together so that crane number two could lift some equipment onto the top of the TVA Towers to repair a AC/heating unit. It's easy to overlook how many complications come with tall buildings.


Beginnings of an ice rink on Market Square



The ice rink takes form on Market Square

On Market Square a transformation is taking place, of course, as the ice rink is constructed. It appears to be about ready for its November 25 opening. The days of operation have been extended this year to run through Sunday, January 8.

Early Stage Christmas Tree on Gay Street

  

Christmas Tree getting closer


Krutch Park is also prepping for the opening of Christmas in the City. The large Christmas tree on Gay Street is almost ready. Lights are draped in and around the trees. The day after Thanksgiving not only features the opening of the ice rink, it also marks the official lighting of the tree, the Holiday Ho Ho Ho Down on Market Square, free carriage rides and much more.

So, it's true, there is always something being prepared or repaired. And I'm glad. It shows the city is a living breathing organism. When the construction and reconstruction stops it will be time to worry. Enjoy the constant change. It means we're healthy.