As a transplant myself I've had some of the same thoughts and impressions. The art, literary, and music scene here has really impressed me. So much of it is innovative and individualistic compared to other places. Even my NY friends enjoy tripping through all our galleries here. And WDVX is the bomb.

You're right too about the inevitable future migration. It is bound to happen. I've lived through that in Key West and in Nantasket Beach on Boston's South Shore, small towns that at one time were just local places with a few misfits, but are now the epicenter of million dollar homes.

I guess all we can do is be glad that we came before the wave hits the shore. I love Knoxville like it is now. As a visiting friend recently murmured, "Knoxville is so...well...real. It still has working class people and neighborhoods that feel like neighborhoods."

I took that as a compliment.

I'm glad you like it. We like it to. What we hate are people telling us how they did things where they came from and how much better it was. If it was so great why did they leave? Also, maybe all the churches have something to do with all the nice people.

(1) Likes: I like to go bike riding down there (quiet roads, aforementioned scenery).

(2) Dislikes: I dislike the half hour drive from West Knoxville to get there.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

"What we hate are people telling us how they did things where they came from and how much better it was."

Yep, must be a hard life you've got there, Yankees pounding on your door day and night, telling you how to do things like them and how much better things are up North.

My favorite East Tennesseism so far is the phrase, "I was wantin' to go to the store." It's never "I wanted to go to the store." I've never heard that anywhere else in the South either.

One of my favorite games is to identify non-natives to the area by noticing the incredible disappearing Southern accent after they talk to me for a minute or two. Of course, that'll be me soon enough.

Ultron? I am blessed to live in God's country where I can open a door for a lady and say god bless you to a stranger without wondering if I have offended someone. I like our lack of a state income tax no matter how many yankees get on the radio and decry how we must have one or we will implode. For those that view this area or our country as horrible: There are cars, trains, buses and planes leaving to places all over the world just waiting to provide you with the bliss you could not find here.

Wayne,
That's a pretty ignorant thing to say, don't you think? People who have problems with this country have to leave it? You mean we're perfect and we should never try to improve ourselves? I suppose all those folks who think abortion should be outlawed should move to a country where abortion is outlawed, right? I suppose all those people who want prayer in school should just move to Saudi Arabia or Iran where religion and state go quite well together, right?

As for the income tax, the last prominent Tennessean to push for it was Don Sundquist. He was no Yankee. Phil Bredesen, on the other hand, IS a real Yankee and has not pushed for an income tax. His cigarette tax proposal is, by all accounts, minor. Republicans only want it to be less than 40 cents or offset by a cut in the grocery tax (a progressive position, actually).

Tennessee is a beautiful place with wonderful people. But like every other state, it has real problems and real challenges. Pointing them out doesn't mean you think the place is horrible. Quite the contrary.

And speaking of income tax, some of us do pay an income tax. Look in to the Hall Tax.

Being from Texas, but the child of a displaced New York City jew, I love listening to accents. What I have learned here is that the emphasis is usually placed on the first syllable. Tennessee, for example, is TENN-essee. That is how you can tell a true native.

The first syllable accent rule falls apart on the word thee-ATRE.

I sat here in front of the monitor saying, "Tennessee, Tennessee". Yep, you're right. I was born and raised in Knox County.

I heard a great one on NPR the other day, a Brit talking about persimmons, accent on the "per". My relatives always called them "simmons" or "pasimmons", accent on the "sim".

In my youth we had a serviceberry tree in the woods behind the house. Until I was an adult I heard their wonderful fruit called "sarvices". My great grandmother in Cocke County referred to Sunday church services as "sarvices".

Welcome home, Elrod. Take your shoes off and have some sweet tea, the house wine of the South.

Check out The Heartland Series on Channel 10 from time to time to get a bit more of our quirky history.

The Hill Online

Yes, great writeup Elrod. Welcome to East Tennessee! The Chamber of Commerce says your check is in the mail.

Thanks for the good report, Elrod. For everyone who loves WDVX radio, don't forget to send 'em a little cash every now and again. They can't survive without it. The Blue Plate, 'DVX's free live music show, is the best thing about downtown around lunch time each weekday. And WDVX helps draw artists who play other concert venues in the area, such as The Palace, The Laurel, the Bijou, etc.

Also, maybe all the churches have something to do with all the nice people.

Not one damn thing. IMHO.

alright then, we will get rid of the religion, the rebel, and the politics...but then we would soon be just like nova...but then u would have to go off and find some other place to shit up, but then...etc., etc., ad infinitim, ad nauseum. oh my aching head.

Fact is Blount County people can't lay any claim to the beauty of the place. Dr's and lawyers made up the Maryville system to perpetuate elites and the once strong, now dying agrarian communities explains most of the rest.