There’s nothing quite like going to a bluegrass concert in a trailer park to welcome someone to the South. :) We trotted over to Market Square for a late lunch earlier in the day. It was really hot but they had a tent and it wasn’t so bad in the shade. We got there at like 6:30 and once the sun went down, it was fairly pleasant.
There’s a lot to like about Knoxville. We’ve only been here for a few months, and frankly, we haven’t had time to “get out much” because of my bar-exam study and all our subsequent traveling all around, but even so, one thing that became instantly clear when we moved here is that the notion, expressed repeatedly on this blog, that Knoxville is somehow equivalent to South Bend — and that because Becky didn’t like SB, she necessarily wouldn’t like Knoxville — was completely, utterly, objectively retarded.
Knoxville is an actual, legitimate city, with an actual, legitimate metro area, and an actual, legitimate cultural and civic lifeblood separate and apart from the university. It has “college town” elements to it, to be sure, but it’s much, much more than that. It is a place that’s very easy to love (as reflected by its high ranking in various “best cities to live in” lists and such). It is NOTHING like South Bend, and only the most myopic mindsets, blinded by either overzealous love of ND or prejudiced dislike of the South, or both, could possibly think otherwise.
In sum, anyone who would equate Knoxville with South Bend reveals themselves as an utter boob.
P.S. I honestly don’t remember whether you were one of the people who made the SB/Knoxville comparison. So I don’t mean to jump down your throat — this is just something that’s been periodically on my mind as we’ve gotten accustomed to our new home, and your comment reminded me of it.
Brenners,
Yes, I did. But as you see, I am glad that my expectations were not borne out. Unhappiness in a strange town is fit for no one, not even Beckles :-)
“It is NOTHING like South Bend, and only the most myopic mindsets, blinded by either overzealous love of ND or prejudiced dislike of the South, or both, could possibly think otherwise. ”
I’ve never been to Knoxville, but as one who a) loves the South and b) hates ND (except the law school :) ), I would nevertheless consider South Bend to be “an actual, legitimate city, with an actual, legitimate metro area, and an actual, legitimate cultural and civic lifeblood separate and apart from the university.” I’ve never understood why the Bend gets such a bad rap in that respect. It’s got restaurants, local bands, a symphony, a broadway theater series . . . what more does it take?
August 25th, 2007 at 7:05:35 pm
Sounds like fun…except for the oppressive heat…
August 25th, 2007 at 11:37:21 pm
There’s nothing quite like going to a bluegrass concert in a trailer park to welcome someone to the South. :) We trotted over to Market Square for a late lunch earlier in the day. It was really hot but they had a tent and it wasn’t so bad in the shade. We got there at like 6:30 and once the sun went down, it was fairly pleasant.
August 25th, 2007 at 11:53:01 pm
Well, you certainly have the whole “barefoot and pregnant” thing down pat.
August 25th, 2007 at 11:56:19 pm
LOL! You are SO right about that. :)
August 26th, 2007 at 3:07:33 am
Good one J! Beckles, I am very glad to see that you have found the cultural offerings of Knoxville to your liking.
Best to you and Brenners.
August 26th, 2007 at 8:05:35 am
Wobbly, thanks for the best wishes.
There’s a lot to like about Knoxville. We’ve only been here for a few months, and frankly, we haven’t had time to “get out much” because of my bar-exam study and all our subsequent traveling all around, but even so, one thing that became instantly clear when we moved here is that the notion, expressed repeatedly on this blog, that Knoxville is somehow equivalent to South Bend — and that because Becky didn’t like SB, she necessarily wouldn’t like Knoxville — was completely, utterly, objectively retarded.
Knoxville is an actual, legitimate city, with an actual, legitimate metro area, and an actual, legitimate cultural and civic lifeblood separate and apart from the university. It has “college town” elements to it, to be sure, but it’s much, much more than that. It is a place that’s very easy to love (as reflected by its high ranking in various “best cities to live in” lists and such). It is NOTHING like South Bend, and only the most myopic mindsets, blinded by either overzealous love of ND or prejudiced dislike of the South, or both, could possibly think otherwise.
In sum, anyone who would equate Knoxville with South Bend reveals themselves as an utter boob.
August 26th, 2007 at 8:21:14 am
P.S. I honestly don’t remember whether you were one of the people who made the SB/Knoxville comparison. So I don’t mean to jump down your throat — this is just something that’s been periodically on my mind as we’ve gotten accustomed to our new home, and your comment reminded me of it.
August 26th, 2007 at 8:49:13 am
Thanks Wobs. Knoxville and the Smokies have a lot to offer.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:34:55 pm
Brenners,
Yes, I did. But as you see, I am glad that my expectations were not borne out. Unhappiness in a strange town is fit for no one, not even Beckles :-)
August 26th, 2007 at 7:13:33 pm
“It is NOTHING like South Bend, and only the most myopic mindsets, blinded by either overzealous love of ND or prejudiced dislike of the South, or both, could possibly think otherwise. ”
I’ve never been to Knoxville, but as one who a) loves the South and b) hates ND (except the law school :) ), I would nevertheless consider South Bend to be “an actual, legitimate city, with an actual, legitimate metro area, and an actual, legitimate cultural and civic lifeblood separate and apart from the university.” I’ve never understood why the Bend gets such a bad rap in that respect. It’s got restaurants, local bands, a symphony, a broadway theater series . . . what more does it take?
August 27th, 2007 at 2:38:46 am
. . . what more does it take?
[Insert rip on Notre Dame here…]