They'll be opening the rink in the morning and lighting the tree at night. It's always fun and festive.

All Aboard! The Holiday Express at the UT Gardens.

Ten garden-scale model trains, thousands of lights and a miniature landscape featuring rivers, waterfalls and more than 100 buildings decorated for the holidays will delight visitors young and old at a
new event that kicks off November 26 at the UT Gardens.

Holiday Express at the UT Gardens, an event for the entire family, features the trains running simultaneously on a quarter-mile track that winds through the fictional town of Ravensford. Visitors will wonder at the elaborate landscape, which includes replicas of existing East Tennessee architecture. The hand-crafted display is located on the Friendship Plaza at the entrance to the UT Gardens
off Neyland Drive.

The event opens Thanksgiving weekend and will be open to the public 1-9 p.m. November 26-29 and 1-6 p.m. November 30. After the opening weekend, the Holiday Express will be open 5-9 p.m. Fridays, 1-9 p.m. Saturdays, and 1-6 p.m. Sundays through January 4, 2009. Large group viewings are available and interested parties should call 865-584-7666. Cost is
$5 per person; children under 4 are admitted free.

The Holiday Express is sponsored by the Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR.

Actually, I came up with my own idea...

I'm goin' to Dollywood!

Wednesday, that is. There is no way in Hades I'd brave Sevierville and Pigeon Forge on Black Friday.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat." -- Will Rogers

You could head out to Knoxville Zoo and see the reindeer. Believe it or not, if the weather isn't too chilly, it's a great way to spend an afternoon this time of year.

If MDB is interested, would he and any other KnoxViewers like to meet up for breakfast at the Market Square Kitchen Friday morning? (Not too early, of course).

Maybe hell. We have a quorum!

(I don't know how they compare to Hardees. But you have to ask yourself, is there any such thing as BAD biscuits and gravy?)

But you have to ask yourself, is there any such thing as BAD biscuits and gravy?

Yeah, I've made 'em.

I will be with you guys in spirit but I'll be lucky if I get to go next door for Thanksgiving this year.

Visit us at

The Home

Looks like we have more than a quorum, so we are good to go.

RedmondKR, we will be happy to pick you up and ambulate you to the venue if you are up to it. But no biscuits and gravy for you!

9AM sounds good.

See y'all and anyone else who wants to come then.

Ooooh that sounds like fun, thanks. I can have a fruit salad, some decaff, and lots of fat chewing.

Visit us at

The Home

Sounds like all men speaking up here, but I might be interested depending on a wide variety of weirdnesses.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

I'll be there. What a great way to celebrate "no shopping day".

I could bring my tin foil hat.

____________________________________
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse."

I can't promise that I'll be there. But, I will be on Market Square/Krutch Park later that night. Look for the guy in the red suit...

I'd hate to depend on meeting up with somebody in Knoxville if I were looking for 'the guy wearing the orange baseball cap'.

Now the tin foil hat? While many of us really need them, few have the guts to wear them in public. Besides, I have found they aren't nearly as effective without that cumbersome grounding strap.

Visit us at

The Home

I still have the one Goose Creek made for me. I'll try to remember to bring it.

Sounds like we'll have a good gathering, looking forward to seeing everyone!

My various weirdnesses seem to have worked themselves out, so I'm definitely in.

I don't have a tinfoil hat, but I'll see what I can come up with.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

May I recommend "Tennessee Shines" on Wednesday evening at the Bijou...begins at 7pm and ends around 9:30pm...tickets only $10 in advance...great entertainment for the entire family...this month's show includes Larry Sparks, the Greencards, the Infamous Stringdusters, Maid Rite String band, and Randy Kohrs...along with, of course, host Jim Lauderdale...

It's a real good time.

And it does look as if this one will again sell out in advance, so I wouldn't wait 'til the last minute...especially with a group.

There is also the Fantasy of Trees at the Convention Center.

November 26 - 30, 2008

Wander through a magical forest of more than 300 beautifully decorated trees, holiday accessories, room scenes, fireplace mantels, door designs, table centerpieces, Trees of Faith, wreath stands and "Adopt-a-trees" decorated by local school children.

I'm afraid I'll have to miss breakfast today. There's been a bug going round the family, and I caught it.

Trust me, no one wants to be around me this morning. I doubt I'm going to go much further than Walgreens to pick up some Immodium.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat." -- Will Rogers

Sorry you couldn't make it, MDB.

Great to see everyone. Thanks for the good gossip and fun. We should do that more often, except maybe not so early...

The first annual KnoxViews Black Friday Breakfast And Prayer Meetin' was a rousing success. I enjoyed seeing everybody.

~Russ

I had a great time (even though they ran out of biscuits and waffles dammit!)

Other than the biscuits missing (and Bean, you're right, biscuits is easy), it was great fun. I love being able to put faces and voices with some folks I hadn't "met" before.

Rachel, I completely understand the too early thing. If the world were right and meet (as us Episcopalians have been known to say), I wouldn't talk to other humans until 10 a.m. But I've learned that sometimes you have to bend the rules a tad.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

My cousin isn't opening a restaurant down the square as I told you guys on Friday. Something about banks not being willing to make loans even though he had backers. While he was still trying to figure that out, he got an offer -- chef at Cafe 4, which is part of the Cornerstone Foundation's deal. It opens Dec. 8. He's pretty hyped about the opportunity.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner six days a week. Brunch on Sundays.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut