Bonnaroo: What's new for the music festival and the Farm in 2022?

The future of free parking on nights and weekends, a downtown Knoxville amenity that helps encourage people to visit and explore our city, is the subject of a survey that has surfaced some stress among downtown businesses.

The survey on whether free parking is the best strategy moving forward was organized by a handful of downtown business owners, though it has gathered enough steam for the city to take notice and clear up some confusion.

Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka talk about the implications of removing free parking and how the amenity contributed to the renaissance of downtown Knoxville. 

The full story is available at knoxnews.com.

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

From Oct. 30, 2023: Nearly one year ago, we embarked on a mission to create a resource for new residents – something to help people adjust as they settle in their new home or take on new roles in the community.

We’re happy to share with you Knoxpedia, the one-stop shop for all things Knoxville. Whether you’re new to town, looking to become more civically engaged or just a generally curious person, this comprehensive guide is for you!

Looking for the best brewery or music venue in town? Knoxpedia has you covered. Confused about local politics or how to sign up for services like trash and recycling? We have entire sections dedicated to that. Listen to learn more! 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

A viral video of Knoxville native Briston Maroney walking off stage toward the end of his hometown show at The Mill & Mine sparked a conversation among two of Knox News' biggest music fans, downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz and visual journalist Brianna Paciorka. 

Listen as they discuss which Knoxville music venues have the best crowds, what you can do to improve everyone's concert experience and why shouting "Free Bird" is never a good idea. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

Potchke was just named by USA TODAY as one of the top 47 restaurants in the country. While we're stoked to see some Knoxville representation, Knox News started thinking about local restaurants we wish made the list. 

This casual conversation between your host, downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz, and fellow Knox News reporter Keenan Thomas led to a great discussion about the current state of the city's food scene and how success stories from restaurants like Potchke can help shape the future of food in Knoxville. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

Knoxville is growing, and so is our airport. While it might not sound like much, Avelo recently added cheap flights to and from Connecticut, which could open the door for more destinations out of McGhee Tyson. 

Growth and development reporter Daniel Dassow, who specializes in tech and energy, joins host Ryan Wilusz to discuss how the airport is growing and what factors will influence that growth over the next five years. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

It's not too late to make New Year's resolutions. Just blame the delay on the freezing snow and heated election cycle that has everyone talking.

As the downtown growth and development reporter for Knox News, there's not much host Ryan Wilusz hasn't experienced in the center of our city. But with 2024 now upon us, we invited colleague Keenan Thomas to join and discuss  what we hope to accomplish in downtown Knoxville this year.

A lot of what we came up with involves supporting local, whether it's attending more shows or spreading our money around at more local shops and new downtown restaurants. Listen now to hear what we came up with!

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

While Bonnaroo and Big Ears Festival take place three months and 150 miles apart, both events were created by Knoxville native Ashley Capps. Plus, both festivals have become known for their diverse lineups and their unofficial status as music discovery festivals. 

Knox News journalists Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka, who have regularly attended both festivals over the years, dive into the respective lineups to share their top picks from both bills. Listen as they discuss why each of their most anticipated artists are must-sees and why anyone on the fence about purchasing tickets should plan to attend.  

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

Our downtown Knoxville predictions that didn’t happen in 2023 have potential to come true this year: replacing Pryor Brown Garage, building a block-sized development, creating stadium parking and welcoming a nationally known chef to the local culinary scene.

But in the spirit of the new year, we’re starting fresh with a new round of predictions for 2024, from new hotels to new festivals to a new downtown district. 

Read along as you listen to a monumental 200th episode, hosted by Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka. Here's the full story.

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

From March 21, 2023: The waiting period required to demolish downtown Knoxville's most crumbling building is over, so we at Knox News started thinking about what could replace the historic structure.

Listen as co-hosts Ryan Wilusz and Brenna McDermott share their thoughts, and share your own by emailing ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

This year has been full of surprises in downtown Knoxville, from a new Sunsphere paint job to shocking business closings. But a lot of what happened in 2023 was on our radar heading into the year, and we documented those predictions on "The Scruffy Stuff" back in January. 

This week, hosts Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka of Knox News look back to see how we fared and to discuss whether any of our missed predictions could happen in 2024. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by Knox News. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.