Our loss is Tennessee’s gain.
You may remember my good friend, Danielle – the one in the Santa dress from the Knights and Knighties party. She and her husband Brandon have gone and broken our hearts by taking a job in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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After raising our boys together for the last 15 years, making hummus for 400 people, babysitting kids, dogs and lizards, resulting in only one trip to the hospital, they’re now off on an adventure away from Fairhope. (The hospital thing was on my watch  . . . oops!)
Here are the ladies when we all got together last week with our husbands for a farewell party. Always loving to dress in theme, I wore orange and white to acclimate Danielle to all the University of Tennessee fans she’s sure to meet. Danielle is in the cutie-pie red dress. Except for time away for college in Auburn, she has always and forever lived in Fairhope.
 Okay, I think the International Biscuit Festival may be reason enough to relocate.Â
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Years ago, when they were 10 years old, our two oldest boys wanted to walk downtown by themselves. I know it sounds crazy, but Fairhope’s a different kind of place where you can do that, and these two kids were as trustworthy as they come. The boys were very excited, and had no idea that even though it’s a safe place, and we knew they would be fine, I was still following them in my car, talking to Danielle on the phone the entire time. “They’re coming to the light. They’re looking both ways. Okay – now they’re on the other side headed to the toy store . . .”Â
Everyone at the party signed a photo frame D & B can put in their new home. With a college, high school and middle school student still in tow, this fun couple will be thrown right into school and civic activities, so I’m sure they’ll make lots of new friends.
So, are any of you familiar with Knoxville? What should they do for fun? Anything they should avoid? I remember going there years and years ago and found it to be gorgeous. I love that part of Tennessee, especially in the fall.
Good luck, and God bless my sweet friends.
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I’ll be eager to hear if you’ve ever been to Knoxville and what you can recommend!
It’s so sad when a longtime friend moves away. I’ve been in Danielle’s position, too. As exciting as the new adventure is, her heart will always be in Fairhope! Luckily she will be close enough for visits!
I think she said it’s about 7-8 hours away, so that isn’t too bad. I’m already planning a little trip in the fall! (I haven’t told Danielle yet!).
So sad for good friends to move on. We just spent time at a wedding in Mobile with lots of our Louisiana friends and it was fun catching up. They look like they will have no problemo making more new friends.
Glad you had a good time in Mobile. It’s such a pretty city and a friendly city too.
Oh how I miss Knoxville! My son spent four years there obtaining his undergraduate degree. (And I had relatives who lived there for ten years but recently moved away.) I so looked forward to visiting my son there each time and thoroughly enjoyed every visit. (Made me long to be a college student again. Crazy, I know. When we toured the campus while my son was still in high school, our student guide told our group that UT football “is like a religious experience”, and IT IS!!! On game days -football, especially-the Cumberland Strip, as it is called in the university area, but is officially Kingston Pike, is crawling with people of all ages tailgating and having a good time. Alumni are very supportive of the school and everywhere you go you see orange. Even senior citizens sport orange t-shirts, caps, etc. all the time I know, I know, your friends are Auburn fans. But, it’s hard not to catch the excitement and electricity of the UT spirit.) Anyway, the city is nice (check out the Farragut area, and if you like older architectural homes, check those off Kingston Pike going east toward the campus). My favorite restaurants include The Copper Cellar, The Sunspot, Calhoun’s on the river (they have another location, but go to the one on the river for ambience and a fantastic river view), and Bravo! As some of the other commenters stated, there are many things to do in the surrounding area- the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, TN (I guarantee you the kids will love this place, adults too); Gatlinburg, TN; Dollywood, the Great Smokey Mountains, etc. After your friends get moved and acclimated, please give us an update to see how they like Knoxville.
Thanks Karen. I think an update in the future may be a great idea. And I think after hearing all these great things about Knoxville, I need to investigate it in person!
We moved to Knoxville from Chicago 3 years ago and love the city and the people. The natural beauty is amazing. Downtown has farmers markets, restaurants and we have not missed a biscuit festival yet. Great Smoky Mountain National park is peaceful and beautiful (just need to pick right times to go.). UT football games, shopping malls, rivers and parks, theater, art museums, sensational weather and more. Only thing missing are friends and family from up north, but we get many visitors. I blogged about coming to Knoxville though am down to annual posts, http://www.smokymountainviews.wordpress.com
Okay, now I want to go to Knoxville!
It’s always sad when a move separates good friends. I’ve been on both sides, moved and left such good friends and I’ve said to many good-byes to friends moving away. I haven’t been to Knoxville in ages! I sure hope when she comes back home to Fairhope for a visit she’s not wearing “orange”!!!!! Never loose touch with dear friends…………
Well, they’ll be in orange, but it will be the Auburn orange!
Knoxville is a fabulous place. My husband and i are actually thinking of relocating there in the next few years and have spent time in the city the last few months. There are a lot of great restaurants on the square, the U of Tennseesee games are great fun and the surrounding area is beautiful.
Good luck to your friends!
Thanks so much. That’s high praise to want to move there!
We visited Knoxville this weekend and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Calhoun’s on the River. I don’t know which to brag on more – the food, the service or the view!
Good to know, since Brandon graduated from the Disney Culinary Institute. These two friends know good food!
Depending on which side of Knoxville, they could be less than an hour from Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, and the great shopping Mecca. Two of my favorite restaurants in K’ville are Smokey Mountain Brewery (try the Chicken Philly) and Calhoun’s. Best of luck on the new adventure.
I didn’t realize Pigeon Forge was that close to Knoxville! I was thinking it was more like two or three hours away. Thanks for the tips on restaurants!