The Scruffy Stuff

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.

Creating “safe spaces” was a selling point in the city's decision to close down the 400 block of Gay Street to vehicles on select weekends in November and December.

But there are two things Gay Street business owners and urbanites are whispering about even if the city isn’t addressing them directly in this effort: That open streets seems like a natural segue to open container and that redirecting traffic would cut down on excessive car noise.

Downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz and visuals journalist Brianna Paciorka discuss their experience trying out the open streets concept, including some suggestions for how to make this concept work longterm.  

"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.

If you have tried the PB&J Mixtape sour by Xul Beer Company, consider yourself lucky. This beer doesn't last long in kegs around town and has led to long lines of people waiting outside the brewery just to get their hands on a four pack. 

Perhaps, it's the fact this beer taste exactly like a PB&J sandwich, crust and all. Maybe the funky labels and lack of gluten have something to do with it. Regardless, it's rare to see a single beverage take over a city to this level.

Host Ryan Wilusz is joined this week by Bentley Blackshear, co-owner and director of brewing operations at Xul, to discuss what makes the PB&J Mixtape so special and to let listeners know how they can get their hands on the beer this holiday season. 

"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.

No tuxedos, trophies or acceptance speeches required. These are the SCRUFFYs – similar to the Grammys, with a lot less music and a lot more Knoxville. 

As the downtown reporter for Knox News, host Ryan Wilusz has seen plenty of exciting (and sometimes crazy) things happen in the center of our city over the years. But a Sunsphere paint job, Old City street fight, plant vandalism and pirate bar were not on his 2023 Bingo card.

Obscure events deserve obscure categories, though we've included some more traditional honors as well. Listen as Ryan and guest host Keenan Thomas share their picks for the best of 2023.

"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.

Knoxville has delayed the robot takeover for six months.

That is, the Knoxville City Council voted Oct. 31 to enact an emergency moratorium on personal delivery robots. The ordinance, which passed unanimously, will keep companies from deploying the autonomous robots on city streets and sidewalks for six months to buy time for city officials to develop a policy.

Downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz is joined by growth and development reporter Daniel Dassow, who specializes in technology and who experienced these robots firsthand on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus as a student. 

The two discuss whether downtown could benefit from this technology, what the city should consider before allowing robots on city streets and how they could impact Knoxville's identity. 

FULL STORY >> Robots deliver food at the University of Tennessee. They're banned – for now – off campus 

"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.

From Nov. 21, 2022: Downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz and visual journalist Calvin Mattheis return to Knoxville to share what they learned from their trip to Durham, North Carolina, where a downtown baseball stadium opened in 1995 resembles the plans for downtown Knoxville, just east of the Old City. 

As the Tennessee Smokies prepare to move downtown in 2025, visit knoxnews.com for more insight gathered from our trip, including video tours and stories on the lessons Durham Bulls officials learned about their downtown stadium over time. There are lots of takeaways for the Tennessee Smokies, downtown Knoxville stakeholders and taxpayers.

"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.

Knoxville is doing four weekend trial runs that will turn a busy stretch of Gay Street into a pedestrian plaza at night.

Gay Street's 400 block, which runs from Wall Avenue to Union Avenue and is packed with restaurants and bars, will be closed to parking and traffic 7 p.m.-4 a.m. on these dates:

• Nov. 10 and 11  
• Nov. 17 and 18  
• Dec. 8 and 9  
• Dec. 15 and 16

Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka discuss what this change could mean for Knoxville, including how Gay Street businesses could benefit from more pedestrians, how traffic could be more evenly dispersed and where else a similar strategy could be implemented downtown. 

"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.

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 finally 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.

The Knoxville Chamber recently invited downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz to lead roundtable discussions at its 2023 Endeavor Summit, which connected young professionals with each other and with local resources to help advance their careers in Knoxville. 

Throughout the day, young professionals stopped by to connect with Ryan to learn about opportunities to get involved personally and professionally with downtown, as well as to learn about where urban growth is going. 

The conversations recorded at the Endeavor Summit, held Oct. 19 at Bridgewater Place, covered a wide range of topics that included the forthcoming downtown baseball stadium, the best local beer, the most underrated downtown restaurant and development opportunities along the riverfront.

"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.

With the changing of the seasons comes a change in preferences, whether it's the flavors you enjoy, the music you listen to or the activities your participate in. 

Simply put: Some things just hit different in the fall, and that's the focus of this week's podcast. 

Hosts Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka share what they tend to enjoy more as the temperatures lower and the leaves change, from certain breweries to outdoor parks to businesses offering fall-flavored sweet treats. 

"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 "goodbye" but, rather, "see you later" when it comes to the JFG sign. At least, that's what much of Knoxville hopes.

Mayor Indya Kincannon says she is working with city partners to find the Knoxville icon a new home after it was disassembled and removed from its spot on the hill in South Knoxville. The sign's owners want to keep it in the downtown area. 

Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka discuss where the sign should go, from a riverfront park to a South Knoxville roof to a Gay Street block in need of some love. 

"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.