Calendar of Events

If your New Year's resolution is to eat better and healthier foods, our Winter Farmers' Market will get you started on the right foot! Every other Saturday, find us at Central United Methodist Church, 201 E Third Ave in the 4th and Gill neighborhood, from 10am - 2pm.

Farmers will have winter produce, including a wide variety of fresh greens, root vegetables, herbs, and winter squash, as well as pasture-raised meat, eggs, honey, and more. Prepared food vendors will offer baked goods, breads, and treats; craft vendors will have a variety of locally produced handmade goods; and food trucks will be set up outside to serve brunch, lunch, and coffee. Let us keep you well fed these cold winter months!

http://nourishknoxville.org/

Ron White, aka Tater Salad, is a Grammy-nominated, cigar-smoking comedian returning to Tennessee to unleash a hilariously unfiltered and scotch-skewed view of the world that you don’t want to miss. Enjoy two performances!

At the Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

We're excited to announce the 2017 Bijou Awards Youth Talent Competition is finally starting up! Talented students from around Knox and surrounding counties will compete for a $1,500 award ($1,000 for the student & $500 for their school) this January!

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com, www.ticketmaster.com

James White's Fort is offering the ever popular Open Hearth Gourmet Cooking Workshop on Saturday, January 14, 2017, 10:00am - approximately 5:00pm at .
James White's Fort, 205 E. Hill Ave, Knoxville.

Cooking on the Open Hearth does not need to mean a dull meal. Come out and learn, through hands on practice, how to make a historically accurate Gourmet Meal. We will cover Baking, Roasting, Broiling, Frying, Sauces and several other styles of cooking, all on the open hearth. We will even make our own butter. Then...THE BEST PART! We will sit down and feast on what we have just created.

Cost is only $20, which covers all supplies. Jim Buckenmyer is the instructor and class size is limited to 20 people.
For reservations call the Fort at: (865) 525-6514 or purchase online at https://www.jameswhitesfort.org/event/open-hearth-gourmet-cooking-workshop/
James White's Fort, 205 E. Hill Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915. Information: 865-525-6514, www.jameswhitefort.org

Old-time String Band, Early Country Harmony

Now based in Mount Airy, North Carolina, the South Carolina Broadcasters are an award winning old-time trio featuring Ivy Sheppard on fiddle, banjo, guitar and vocals; Andy Edmunds on fiddle, guitar and vocals; and David Sheppard on guitar and vocals. Tight harmonies and exceptional instrumentation give the group a powerful old-time sound. They've played with some of the great string bands of the past-Ivy with the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers and Andy with Benton Flippen's Smokey Valley Boys. David is a renowned luthier. They draw their inspiration from the Carter Family and early country duos.

Tickets (discounts apply to advance purchase, JCA members, students & seniors) available through http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/1118485, 800-838-3006 ext 1, by mail, and at the door. At the Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916. For information: 865-522-5851, www.jubileearts.org.

“La Bohème,” Giacomo Puccini’s opera that inspired the 1996 Broadway musical “Rent,” will be presented, in an abbreviated version, by artists from the Knoxville Opera Company under direction of Maestro Brian Salesky on Saturday, January 14, at 11 a.m. at the Blount County Public Library. This education/outreach production will be in costume and in English, and there will be a simple set. The performance, appropriate for all ages, will last 40 minutes and is sponsored by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Families are encouraged to attend and bring school-aged children.

The leading roles will feature Sonja Krenek as Mimi, Brittany Robinson as Musetta, Oswaldo Iraheta as Rodolfo, and Brian Salesky, Knoxville Opera Executive Director and Conductor as pianist and host. “La Bohème” fascinates with unconventional snapshots of the everyday lives of four 17th-century Parisian artists while spotlighting the fated love story of Mimi and Rodolfo who find the “key” to an idyllic love in the lighting of a candle. Timeless themes of the joy of falling in love, the challenges of sustaining a loving relationship, and dealing with the illness and death of a loved one are set against the backdrop of the Bohemian lifestyle. While the full-length original version of the opera is sung in Italian, this performance will be in English and will conclude with a Question and Answer session with the performers. Following is a summary of the story as it will be presented in abbreviated version:
• Scene One – Christmas Eve, 1830
The story opens with Mimi knocking on Rodolfo’s door. She has come to ask that her candle be relit. Mimi almost passes out, but Rodolfo takes care of her and relights her candle. Mimi realizes she’s lost her key, and in the process of searching for it, both characters’ candles blow out. They have a heart to heart talk, admit they are mutually attracted to each other, and decide to celebrate the holiday by going out to a café together.
• Scene Two – Later that evening
At the café Mime and Rodolfo meet his friend Marcello, who is soon joined by his former girlfriend Musetta. She attempts to woo Marcello by singing Musetta’s Waltz, perhaps the most popular and recognizable aria from “La Bohème.” Happily the two couples decide to leave and celebrate Christmas together.
• Scene Three – A Paris bar, February
Rodolfo visits Musetta and Marcello, who now work together in a bar, and tells Musetta that Mimi is very ill and they don’t have the financial resources to seek medical help. Rodolfo finds Mimi, who has overhead the conversation, and they decide they will stay together until spring.
• Scene Four – Autumn
Rodolfo and Mimi separate in the spring, but Mimi (and Musetta) return to Rodolfo’s apartment in the fall. Mimi has developed a terrible cough, and Musetta attempts to comfort her friend and keep her warm. While Musetta prays for Mimi, Rodolfo realizes that Mimi has died and cries out her name.

Bring the whole family to provide exposure to opera by professional artists from the Knoxville Opera Company. Free and open to the public.
Blount County Public Library, 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN. Information: 865-982-0981, www.blountlibrary.org

Tickets are $35 • BYOB. The marriage of traditional Mayan culinary traditions with those of the Spanish along Mexico’s Caribbean coast in the early 1500s created one of the world’s most vibrant and exciting cuisines. Join chefs Dave Thomasson (Farm to Griddle Crepes and Gourmet Street Food) and Nick Harris (Univ. of TN Medical Center) as they host a five course dinner that will bring you bright, wild flavors from the edge of the Yucatan Region of Mexico. They dinner will showcase as many local, fresh seasonal ingredients as practical.

The Central Collective, 923 N. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-236-1590, info@thecentralcollective.com, www.thecentralcollective.com

With the love of art and entertainment it's no wonder that a bottle or two of wine would get involved to create Wine and Canvas! Awesome local artists, great customer service and beautiful surroundings make for an amazing experience that you don't find anywhere else. Sipping your favorite wine or cocktail, letting your inner artist out to create a masterpiece and maybe breaking into song throughout the night is what we have planned for you! Leave your cares at the door and dive in to the paint party! Best part - you take your artwork with you and leave the clean up behind! Local artists in each city inspire and Instruct Wine and Canvas customers step-by-step to create their finished masterpiece. Each location hosts many events monthly with a different featured painting each night. With our step-by-step instruction method customers without a stroke of painting experience are at ease.

Upcoming events:

$35 per session (unless otherwise noted). Wine & Canvas: Knoxville, TN, 865-356-9179, http://www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

Tori Mason Shoes is pleased to present The Alley Cat Series, by Knoxville photographer, Marianne "Ziggie" Ziegler, for January's First Friday! Tori Mason Shoes, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, January 8th from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary treats from Wild Love Bakehouse will be provided and Ziggie's art will be featured for the month of January.

Growing up on the south fork of Long Island, NY, Ziggie spent a lot of her time star gazing on beaches before she discovered her love for backstage theater. She majored in Stage Management and Technical Direction at North Carolina School of the Arts before making the journey over the mountains to wind up in Knoxville, TN. She has been a Knoxville resident now for 14 years.
Photography has always been a passion in her life, but never considered utilizing it as an artistic release till she drifted away from the stage. She has shown works at 8 Shooters Studio before finding her current themed outlet. The Alley Cat series started over three years ago and has since been shown at Wells Fargo formerly on Gay St, Urban Bar, Big Fatty's Catering Kitchen, The Bearden Beer Market, The Red Piano Lounge, Sugar Mamas, Preservation Pub, Crafty Bastard, Ijams Nature Center, Central Flats and Taps, and Broadway Studios and Gallery. She is an avid wanderer and promoter of downtown Knoxville, and promoter of local businesses; always seeking 'the next shot'. Within the last couple years, she has been given the wonderful opportunity of now having both her loves of artistic output in her life; in photography, and finding a home again in the theater. She currently keeps very busy shooting, framing, and loading in touring performances for the Knoxville Stagehands Local Union 197. Artist's Website: www.facebook.com/knoxalleycat

Info: 865.394.6951

"Opportunity Knocks" is the result of an open call art competition in which all participants create a work of art on a full size wooden door. The show will be juried for cash prizes. This show promotes recycling, re-purposing & reusing. This is expected to be a very creative display of local artists ability!

Opening night with refreshments is Friday (First Friday), January 6th, 5-9 PM. Cash prizes and winner will be awarded at 6pm.

Broadway Studios and Gallery, 1127 Broadway St, Knoxville, TN 37917. Hours: Thurs-Sat, 11-7. Information: 865-556-8676, www.BroadwayStudiosAndGallery.com

Meandering Mythologies is a two-person exhibition featuring the work of Knoxville natives, Timothy Massey and Gary Monroe.

Timothy Massey is an Associate Professor of Art and Gallery Director at the College at Brockport, State University of New York. He received his BFA at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Printmaking and Drawing, and his MFA in Printmaking at The Ohio State University in Columbus. He has an extensive national exhibition record, and recently had a solo exhibition titled "Apocrypha and Other Half-Truths," at the Soloman Gallery, Youngstown State University in Ohio.

Gary Monroe is an artist from Knoxville, Tennessee who has exhibited nationally since the 1980’s. Most recently Monroe’s work has been featured in one-person exhibitions at the Estel Gallery, Nashville, TN, in 2011; the Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College in 2011; the Leu Art Gallery at Belmont University, Nashville, TN in 2009; and the Cue Art Foundation, New York, NY, in 2006. Notable group exhibitions include “Art of the South 2015” curated by Wayne White at Memphis College of Art, 2015; “The 7 Borders” at Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, 2013; The Diane and Sandy Besser Collection at The deYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA , 2007/08; Knoxville and Vicinity: Dialogues at UTK Ewing Gallery, Knoxville, TN , 2007; Thresholds: Expressions of Art & Spiritual Life curated by Eleanor Heartney. Multiple venues, 2003-06.

Reception is First Friday, January 6 from 5-9 and is free and open to the public. BECAUSE OF LAST FRIDAY'S SNOW, THE DOWNTOWN GALLERY WILL BE OPEN UNTIL 9PM THIS FRIDAY, THE 13TH. PLEASE COME SEE THE SHOW IF YOU MISSED IT BECAUSE OF LAST WEEK'S WEATHER.

Free admission! UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: W-F 12-5, Sat 10-3. Information: 865-673-0802, http://web.utk.edu/~downtown

By Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield and directed by Keri McClain. All 37 Plays in 97 Minutes!

Three “terrible” actors decide to perform all of Shakespeare’s plays (in comically shortened or merged form) within 90+ minutes. Laden with physical comedy, fast and furious entrances and exits, popular and local references, and the actors changing costumes, characters, and plays at a hilarious pace, this is a wild and fun introduction to Shakespeare’s canon which is accessible to all!

Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.

“PITHIER THAN PYTHON. IRRESISTIBLE.”
– New York Times

“STUPENDOUS, ANCHORLESS JOY!”
– The Times of London

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com