Insights & Highlights

OPEN CHORD MUSIC SHOP

Taylor 912ce WHB Builder’s Edition Acoustic Guitar blends the style and sound of a rosewood/spruce Grand Concert with inviting, player-friendly features. Available at the Open Chord Music Shop, 8502 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, 865.281.5874, www.openchordmusicshop.com.

DECORATING DEN INTERIORS

Casually elegant, this charming end table and its complementary collection features quartered and straight cut white oak veneers in an Alabaster finish paired with soft brushed gold. Available at Decorating Den Interiors | Kozar Design Team, 521 Lovell Rd., Suite 205 in Knoxville, 865.392.6222, www.SandyKozar.DecoratingDen.com.

WELLON CRAFT

Unique “diaper cake” creations to welcome the new member of the family! These masterworks make an unforgettable baby shower centerpiece and will be the most memorable gift new parents will receive. Based here in Knoxville, Wellon Craft has designs to delight every new mom! Available at www.welloncraft.com and www.etsy.com/shop/WellonCraft.

NOUVEAU CLASSICS

BDI USA's standing, sitting, and everything-in-between height adjustable desk, along with more sizes and finishes, is available at Nouveau Classics Contemporary Furniture & Interior Design, 101 S Gay Street in Knoxville, 865.525.4755, www.nouveauclassics.com.

THE TOWN FRAMERY & GIFTS

Fabulous lanterns just in time to light up your deck for the fall! Two designs, three sizes of battery operated lanterns are available at The Town Framery & Gifts, 12814 Kingston Pike in Farragut, 865.671.6627, www.thetownframery.com.

MEADOW VIEW GREENHOUSES & GARDEN CENTER

Sloggers® Rain & Garden Shoes - waterproof comfort proudly made in the USA! Featuring “all day comfort” insoles and deep-lug tread for great traction. Many patterns and sizes - comfortable, durable, and cute! Available at Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center, 9885 Highway 11E in Lenoir City, 865.986.7229, www.meadowviewgreenhouse.com. THE LILY PAD BOUTIQUE

This easy, breezy shape by PLANET features drop shoulders, swingy curved hems, ribbed sleeves, and faux pockets. One size fits all... available at The Lily Pad Boutique, 209 N. Main Street in Sweetwater, 423.337.5537, www.lilypadboutiqueonline.com.

YOUR FULL-SERVICE PHARMACY WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO YOUR HEALTH

Now Offering Halotherapy - Dry Salt Therapy

Halotherapy comes from the Greek word Halos, meaning Salt. In this therapy, salt is fed through a halogenerator to heat, crush, and grind it into fine particles. Those particles are then dispersed using a dry spray aerosol to be inhaled by the nose and mouth - expelling pollutants and opening breathing passages - or absorbed topically to penetrate skin conditions. This therapy kills bacteria, reduces inflammation, and expands airways to benefit those struggling with: • Breathing issues from allergies, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, sinus infections, cough, and sinusitis. • Skin conditions including dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, and eczema. • And chronic ailments like ear infections, cystic fibrosis, rhinitis, and ENT issues.

BY CARRIE MCCONKEY, WWW.CARRIEMCCONKEY.COM

MANY OF US choose the DIY route when it comes to garage storage and organization. We spend a lot of time looking for just the right components that will fit our space and hold everything, and often we come up short. What if all of your garage needs could be solved at once, saving you money and time? It’s possible, with a professionally designed garage from Knoxville’s own Designer Garages.

Get Slatwall Savvy

If pegboard is the granddaddy of garage storage systems, slatwall is his in-the-know grandson. Attractive and effective, slatwall offers sleek wall storage with dozens of accessories to hold everything big and small.

Toss the Tool Chest

Quality tool storage cabinets can be costly and take up space. Instead, use custom-designed drawers that will keep your valuable tool collection clean, organized, and close at hand.

Put Your Workbench to Work

Workbenches are perfect for hobbies, but the DIY version is often too basic. Install custom-designed counter space, power outlets, and task lighting with drawers and cabinets underneath for a useful and enjoyable workspace.

You can spend days putting up pegboard, shopping for shelves, and buying bins for garage storage and organization. What might save you cash will cost you valuable time, and the results, while practical, may not be perfect. Call or visit the Designer Garages showroom in West Knoxville today, and let Chris McKenry and his team show you the attractive and practical options that will supply your dream garage in no time!

Designer Garages

201 Center Park Drive, #1070 Knoxville, TN 37922 865.268.4868 www.DesignerGarages.com

Inside Your Closet: Think Outside the Box!

BY CARRIE MCCONKEY, WWW.CARRIEMCCONKEY.COM

YOU’VE DECIDED to have your closet professionally designed. Congratulations! But before you dive into the details, review your current storage system and daily routine of getting dressed. Are they really working? Ditch your old way of doing things, starting with these five suggestions: 1. Move items from the bedroom: Tired of hunting for your jewelry in the dark? Add partitioned drawers to your closet to easily see and organize your collection. 2. Don’t hamper your reputation: When it’s time to change after a long day, avoid streaking through the house to your laundry room and include a clothes hamper in your closet. 3. Give yourself a once-over: Only seeing your upper half in the bathroom mirror? Try a tri-fold mirror in your closet that you can leave open or tuck away. 4. Make ironing convenient: Iron as you go with a handy ironing board in your closet that folds out of the way when not in use. 5. Celebrate the seasons: Instead of toting your seasonal clothes up and down the basement stairs, install a motorized clothing rod in your closet that will easily move items out of the way.

Chris McKenry and his experienced team of designers at Closets by McKenry help customers like you every day with closet storage strategies. Get their good advice at the Closets by McKenry showroom in West Knoxville, or schedule a virtual appointment. With their help, you will avoid doing the same old thing in your brand new closet!

Closets by McKenry

201 Center Park Drive, #1070 Knoxville, TN 37922 865.249.6382 www.ClosetsbyMcKenry.com

Quality Workmanship + Attention to Detail = A Very Satisfied Customer

WHEN LIFELONG KNOX County residents, and husband and wife of 48 years, Jerry and Cheryl Hickman retired, it was time to make some needed repairs and updates to their home.

“We first learned about the quality work of European Fine Hardwood Floors when our son and his wife purchased an existing home three years ago,” said Cheryl. “They decided to pull out some carpet to add more wood flooring. The rest of the main level flooring was already wood. They sanded and refinished the existing wood floors, then stained and finished the new flooring. The completed work was beautiful!

“So when it was time to replace the flooring in our 27-year-old family home, we knew who to call!” continued Cheryl. “We met with European Fine Hardwood Floors owners, and husband and wife team, Valera and Svetlana Tomescu, and discussed a variety of options. They provided us with an estimate, the timeline to complete the work, the costs, the products they would use, and answered all of our questions. We were at ease knowing what to expect as the job progressed and found they did exactly what they said they would do.”

European Fine Hardwood Floors removed the existing wood floors and carpeting in Jerry and Cheryl’s home, removed the existing trim work, installed 1,900 square feet of new hardwood flooring, stained and finished the new flooring, and installed all new trim throughout.

“Valera prides himself on his work,” said Cheryl. “He pays attention to the smallest detail, and he wants the finished product to meet his high standards. He was willing to work long hours to complete any particular task. I also appreciated the fact that he never left a mess anywhere! The finished product is beautiful and exactly what we wanted for our home.

“Since our floors have been finished, we have had friends, painters, movers, and many others into our home. ALL have commented on the beautiful floors. The quality and detail are evident in Valera’s work, and we couldn’t be more pleased! My husband and I were also impressed with Valera’s and Svetlana’s character - in addition to being hard workers, we also found them to be honest, trustworthy, and polite. Those qualities are hard to find!

“In this day and age, it is difficult to find workmanship of this quality. We have already recommended them to several others.”

To discover the European Fine Hardwood Floors difference for your yourself, call them at 865-640-3680 today.

European Fine Hardwood Floors

865.640.3680 www.knoxvillehardwoodrefinishing.com Certified Craftsman by Bona

SUCCESS

We receive more comments from Everything Knoxville readers than any other form of advertising. Homeowners pull out the articles and keep them! I just had a customer tell me she had 14 years-worth, so she could take them with her if she moved!

Fewer people are reading newspapers, radio and TV advertising are very expensive, and as small business owners it’s hard to target specific demographics. Even when times were lean, our participation in Everything Knoxville was the one thing I refused to cut in our budget because we knew how much it helped our business grow.

We have been advertising in Everything Knoxville since 2007, and it continues to be the best way to get our information in the hands of the people we want to reach.

Lisa Grugin

Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center

9885 Highway 11 E Lenoir City, TN 37772 (865) 986-7229

Inside and Outside We’ve Got You Covered!

BY CHRISTINA FITZWILLIAM, CO-OWNER OF SURFACE DOC, INC.

MOST PEOPLE know us for our exceptional tile and grout services, as well as all other hard surfaces inside the home. A lesser known fact is that we also specialize in most outdoor surfaces that also need attention. Back in 2018 we started offering soft-washing for your home’s exterior: Brick, vinyl siding, and stucco. Soft wash is the only way to safely clean your home’s exterior face using a perfectly formulated cleaning solution, safe heat, and pressure. Washing a home’s exterior is not a “one-size-fits-all.” Each home presents its own distinctive challenges and requires professional knowledge and service so damage can be prevented.

Many of us have dealt with algae, mildew, or mold streaking the outside of our homes. Even gutters can become dull and stained throughout the years and need refreshment. Black streaks on the roof are unsightly and must be dealt with before permanent damage occurs. It is impossible for the homeowner to simply rinse off algae and mold, and scrubbing many areas of your home’s exterior can be dangerous and futile. Traditional pressure washing can actually cause harm, and a proper mixture of the correct cleaning chemicals, appropriate heat, and adequate pressure are a must to get real results.

Sidewalks, driveways, and decking each have a unique set of challenges: • Sidewalks damaged by algae or topical debris inevitably become slick and must be dealt with before accidents happen. Even if your sidewalk does not get slick with moisture, you may be dealing with stains from foot traffic or vegetation. I can’t tell you how many well-meaning homeowners inadvertently destroy their own sidewalk while trying to pressure wash them. • Driveways, on the other hand, can lose their luster over time or accumulate ugly oil stains. Traditional pressure washing can pock-mark your entire surface and cause expensive repairs. Concrete driveways that are white pose even more challenges and can be stained from deeply embedded grime from vehicles’ hot tires. • Wood and composite decking can become dangerous as algae embeds deep within the pores of the wood, inviting a slip accident! Alternatively, it can become dry, brittle, and faded if it has not been properly cleaned and sealed.

Each problem requires a unique solution, and Surface Doc is specifically qualified to tackle each element and the challenges they present. Please give John and his team a call today, and see the difference they will make for your home tomorrow.

Surface Doc

865.567.1986 www.surfacedoc.com

Rethink Your Garage Flooring

GONE ARE THE DAYS of a dirty, oil-stained and cracked garage floor. Today’s garage floor coatings leave the garage looking like a true extension of your home.

Garage floors have a hard life. They are subject to constant pressure from the car and hot tires as you drive over them, as well as temperature extremes and abuse from oil drips and substances brought in on your tires. As a result, the concrete often ends up cracking and crumbling.

There are a few flooring options to protect your concrete, however not all floor coatings are created equal. The decision usually comes down to a choice between a standard epoxy or PremierOne’s polyurea coating, developed and installed by PremierGarage.

“There have been many improvements in coating technology over the past 20 years and the preferred garage flooring is our polyurea coating,” explained Brain Falls, co-owner of PremierGarage of Knoxville “Polyurea is a hard wearing coating that’s widely specified in commercial settings where failure is not an option and floors are designed to last the test of time.”

Polyurea flooring systems present the most-advanced, fast-curing and hardening system in concrete flooring technology. It withstands more abuse and impact than any traditional epoxy coating. It also provides better protection against harmful agents like oils, chemicals, and gas, and it doesn’t stain, crack, or peel. PremierGarage’s polyurea floor coating will look new for years to come.

While do-it-yourself epoxy kits are widely available, the down side is many things can go wrong when applying the coating - it may not set properly or have a weak bond to the concrete - it also takes a long time to dry. And while the cost is initially less expensive, epoxy also quickly delaminates when a vehicle’s hot tires bond to the surface and peel it away from the concrete.

For the longest lasting concrete floor coating in the market, PremierGarage technicians diamond-grind the floor to the ideal surface condition to achieve a permanent chemical bond. Other benefits of PremierGarage’s professionally installed flooring coating over epoxy are: • Superior finish that cures two times harder, eliminating unsightly marks, peeling or blistering from hot tires and abrasions • Chemical, UV, stain and slip-resistant • Commercial-grade product that is guaranteed for 10 years • Easy to clean • Available in a variety of colors, the flooring system is also perfect for concrete flooring in basements and retail stores.

Call PremierGarage and discover the affordability of transforming your garage floor. Home really does begin in the garage.

PremierGarage powered by Tailored Living 865.947.8686 www.TailoredLivingKnoxville.com

BY RANDY PATTERSON, BOOMEROCITY.COM

KNOXVILLE IS FULL of fans of the legendary group Chicago. We’ve supported their concerts in the past - not only in Knoxville, but in other cities within easy driving distance from here.

With the pandemic somewhat lifting and music lovers getting to attend concerts again, what a thrill it is to see that Chicago is performing at Knoxville’s historic Tennessee Theatre this month (October 15th). The band will be playing in Chattanooga’s Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium on December 14 and in Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House the following night.

Everything Knoxville readers have enjoyed interviews with two of Chicago’s members in the past: Jimmy Pankow (co-founder/ trombonist) in the May 2018 edition and Keith Howland (band guitarist for 25+ years) in the June 2020 edition. With the band hitting Knoxville this month, it was only fitting to chat with their co-founder/trumpeter, Lee Loughnane (pronounced “Lock Nane”).

Lee connected with me during the band’s stop in Cincinnati with the topic being, of course, the pandemic’s impact on their shows. His response was positively upbeat.

“We’ve been playing all of the venues like the first show and people are hungry for it. I have heard of no negative effects as a result of any of our shows. And we’re having a great time, they’re having a great time. It’s really nice to be back.”

Lee describes getting back into the whole concert thing this way:

“The initial feeling that I had was like we were coming back from an injury - like a sports guy coming back to the game, and the game was a little bit faster than us the first couple of shows! And then it started slowing down again - we’re now into the groove that we’ve always been in. I think when you set up a show the way we have learned to do and just go with it - go with the flow of the show - the audience comes along with us. It becomes that ‘give and take’ thing where we play music for them, they send us the reaction and it keeps bouncing off of each other to the end of the show. It’s just like it’s always been.”

His closing thought on playing live music again, Lee added: “This stuff has always remained interesting for us, and the music has never gotten any easier, so we have to keep practicing to keep the chops up, just to be able to make it through the show. It is not a struggle at all. It’s part of my life - understanding the preparation for the shows and playing the shows. That’s what I do. I don’t do anything else.”

Lee shared how he made the pandemic become an opportunity to be productive. After putting a recording studio in a nearby house, he and sound engineer, Tim Jessup mixed and mastered all of the shows Chicago played at Carnegie Hall in 1971.

Explaining more about the project, Lee said, “We played eight shows in six days at Carnegie Hall. We’re the first American band to play Carnegie Hall ever. Rhino Records approached me and asked if we would mix and master all eight shows - not just the one that came out as our fourth album, which was the four-record set. By the time we get to Knoxville, the Carnegie Hall project will be out - all eight shows, 16 CDs.”

Classic rock still enjoys a worldwide appeal across most all age groups. When asked why he feels that Chicago’s music - as well as that of their peers - still resonates today, Lee said: “I’m not sure exactly why, but for some reason, the music that came through us does resonate with different generations of people. And it doesn’t matter the age group anymore, or ever has. But we didn’t know that when we originally wrote it and started performing that. We were just developing songs as they went. It was pretty much organic. We went through the years, and all of a sudden, decades start going by and you realize that that same music that you wrote way back when resonates the same way with the new group of people that are coming up, and it’s really cool to see. You have no idea when you write it that that that’s even possible. You would hope that something like that would happen, but you don’t know until here we are.”

And Knoxville can’t wait to see them!

You can watch the interview with Lee in its entirety at www.Boomerocity.com where he talks more about the Chicago documentary, inspiring new musicians and how it is “nice to be back!” At press time, tickets for Chicago’s show at the Tennessee Theatre were still available. To order yours, visit www.TennesseeTheatre.com.

UPCOMING CONCERTS October 15 - Knoxville Tennessee Theatre

December 14 - Chattanooga Memorial Auditorium

December 15 - Nashville Grand Ole Opry

Randy’s first interview was at the tender age of 13 with none other than Col. Tom Parker. Thirty-six years later he founded the webzine, Boomerocity. com, and has conducted close to 200 interviews with some of the most interesting people in music.

Open Chord Music Shop

Your Place for All Things Music™

YOU ARE probably already aware that the Open Chord is a great place to see live music, but did you know that the Open Chord Music Shop is also a great place to pick up new guitar strings, find the perfect guitar strap, or try out some of the coolest pedals?

As the largest Taylor Guitar dealer in our area, Open Chord Music Shop is a full-service music store offering a great selection of all things stringed - electric and acoustic guitars from Taylor, Fender, Gibson, D’Angelico, Cordoba, in addition to electric basses, ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, and more!

Open Chord Music Shop is your one stop shop for All Things Music! The staff are also musicians so they can help answer your questions, direct you towards the best accessories, and even perform repairs - all right in the store! Whether you are looking for a capo, picks, cables, amp tubes, new strings or a repair, Open Chord Music Shop has it.

Need a gift for the musician or music lover in your life? Open Chord’s knowledgable staff can help with suggestions and recommendations. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. When you stop by, be sure to check out their selection of Vinyl LPs - from recent releases to classic and rare finds from the 60s and 70s.

Open Chord Music Shop

8426 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919 865.507.3857 www.OpenChordMusicShop.com

8426 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37919 865-507-3857