Knoxville Marathon 2013

Posted on April 12, 2013 Written by 2 Comments
Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

It’s hard to know at the end of this week whether I should continue recounting last weekend or move the focus to the upcoming weekend. I’ll go with last weekend, but I must mention that this weekend is likely the biggest of the Dogwood Arts Festival, with the Arts and Crafts Festival on Market Square and throughout Krutch Park. The artisan works are phenomenal and the food tent, in which chefs prepare dishes with wine pairings, is one of my favorite single events of the year.

Mayor Rogero, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Mayor Rogero, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

American Flag on Clinch Avenue, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

American Flag on Clinch Avenue, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Still, I must give a nod to last weekend’s Knoxville Marathon which drew several thousand people. The race has grown to include a 5K, Half-Marathon, Marathon and Marathon Relay. Urban Son-in-Law backed off to the half-marathon this year and many Urban Friends ran various other races. I think one reason for the massive crowds last weekend was the marathon, as a number of people came in from out of town or simply stayed downtown to enjoy the other events going on.

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists2, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists3, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

I love the fact that a fitness-based event has become so big in the city. It also works beautifully to have so many great activities downtown to greet any out-of-town visitors. There is no way someone visited the city last weekend, encountered the beautiful weather, pianos on the square, Chalk Walk, First Friday, Rhythm and Blooms and came away with anything other than a very positive impression of what is happening here. They also spent time and money in the Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday.

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Runner, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Runner, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

The starting line and staging area always attract me. Nerves jangle about at every turn, runners giddy with excitement warm up maybe a bit too much. Proud families wish their loved ones well. The mayor spoke at this year’s opening and the national anthem makes any sporting fan’s blood reach a quick boil of anticipation. Some are there to win, others to have fun and others simply to finish. Music pounds from a PA system as it will throughout the race as live bands play for the runners.

Entertainment on Market Square, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Entertainment on Market Square, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

John D. Cable and the Empty Bottle Band, Clinch and Locust, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

John D. Cable and the Empty Bottle Band, Clinch and Locust, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

I photographed eventual winner Wojciech Kopec (2:22:15) as he left the start line (red jersey above, number 2), but missed him at the twenty-five mile mark. I did catch Edward Tabut passing the UT Conference Center, heading into the final stretch. He was about three minutes behind first place. He also nearly left the course by not turning onto Locust, but a policeman yelled, pointed and Edward corrected his course.

Second Place Runner (No. 4), Mile Tweny-five, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Second Place Runner (No. 4), Edward Tabut, Mile Tweny-five, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Third Place Runner, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Third Place Runner, Bryan Morseman, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Fourth Place Runner, Mile Twenty-Three, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Fourth Place Runner, Stewart Ellington, Mile Twenty-Three, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Fifth Place Runner, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Fifth Place Runner, Abraham Kogo, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

About four minutes behind him was Bryan Moresman in third and I really felt for the next two guys as I photographed them leaving Market Square. They ran within steps of each other around the twenty-four mile mark and clearly, they would battle to the finish line. In the end, while Stewart Ellington (No. 6) lead by a few yards at that point, Abraham Kogo (No. 3) would pass him in the end to win fourth place. Two seconds separated them at the finish line. You can find complete results here.

Half-Marathon Medal, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Half-Marathon Medal, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Others would pass through downtown on into the afternoon. In fact, Urban Son-in-Law spotted a couple going through around 4:00, well after the official times have stopped. It reminds me of Cake’s awesome song, “The Distance.” All that matters at that point is finishing. And whether anyone else knows or acknowledges the fact, you know. It has to feel good. I never made it to the complete marathon and I admire those who do.

Filed Under: "Day at the Beach", 1 Market Square, 100 Block, 100 Blog, 100 Miles of Wreckage, 11 Cafe, 2 Market Square, 2011 Business Changes, 2011 Business Closures, 2011 Business Openings, 29 Market Square, 30 Market Square, 304 S. Gay, 31 Bistro, 32 Market Square 36 Market Square, 36 Market Square, 37 Market Square, 400 Block of Union, 400 Block of Union Avenue, 409 S. Gay Street, 415 S. Gay, 500 Block of Gay Street, 710 and 712 Walnut St., 9-11 Remembrance Ride, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, A Place for me: Jazz in a Small Southern City, Aaron Shugart-Brown, Abby Hamm, Abode, Abortion, Absentee Landlords, Abstract Impressionism, Accordion, Adam Richman, Adrian Krygowski, AIDS, Aisle Nine, Alabama Supreme Court, Alice Walker, Aliens, Alive After Five, All Saints Day, Alleys, Allman Brothers, Ally, Amanda Childs, Ambrose Burnside, Amelia White, American Civil War, American Heritage Girls, American Idol, Amplification, Amplifier, Amy Black, Amy Greene, Andie Ray, Andy Ferguson, Angel Zuniga Martinez, Angela Howard, Angels, Animals, Animals in the City, Anne, Anne Ford, Anti-immigration, Apocalypso Quartet, Arby's, Arcade Building, Arches, Architecture, Ark, Armature Building, Arnstein Building, Arnstein Building Window Displays, Art, Art District, Art in Public Places, Art in the City, Art Market, Art of Poland, Art Stewart, Artists, Arts, Asheville, Asian Girls on the Square, Ask Doc Knox, AT and T Building, Athenaeum, Atlanta, Attack Monkey, Aucoins, Autumn in the City, Aveda, Aveda Institute, Awards, Aztec Dancers, Bagels, Bakery, Balloon Guy, Balloons, Band of Humans, Banjers, banks, barber shop, Barley's, Barry Sterrick, Beer Hats, Begging, Belinda, Bella Luna, Belly Danciing, Ben Maney, Bessie Smith, Better Than Ezra, Bicycles, Big Ben, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bigotry, Bijou, Bijou Theater, Bill and Jake, Bill Lyons, Bill Lyons Pavilion, Birdhouse, Birds, Birthday Parties, Biscuits, Bistro, Bistro at the Bijou, Black Atticus, Black Cadillacs, Black Keys, Black Lillies, Black Market, Blackberries, Blessing of the Animals, Bliss Home, Bliss Old City, Block Party, blog, Blog Changes, blogging, Bloodroot, Blount Mansion, Blue Coast Burrito, Blue Mother Tupelo, Blue Plate Special, Blue Slip Winery, Blueberry Hill, Blueplate Special, Blues Traveler, Bo Bennett, boats, Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan Birtday Bash, Bob Dylan Birthday Bash, Bob Dylan's 70th Birthday, Bob Dylan's Seventieth Birthday, Bob Wills, Bobbie Ann Mason, Boldure Gifts, Book Store, Book Stores, Books, Boomsday, Born on the Bayou, Boulevards, Boy and Jake, Boy Scouts, Boyd's Jig and Reel, Break Dancing, Brent Thompson, Brewer's Jam, Brian and Briana, Brian Pittman, brick, Brides, Bronze Guy, Brooklyn, Brothers Burn Mountain, Brownie McGhee, Brownies, Brownlow Lofts, Buddy Holly, Buddy Ray, Budrus, Building Supplies, Buildings, bullying, Burwell Building, Bus, Bus stop, Business, Businesses, Buskers, Busking, Buster Williams, Buzz Nabors, CAC, Cafe Du Monde, Cafe Four, Cajun Food, Cajun Music, Calhoun's on the River, Camel, Camera, Cameras, Cannon T3, Canon T3, Car-free living, Carleo's, Carol and Brenda, Carolers, Caroline Carter, Carrie Rodriguez, Carroll Hollow, Casa Hola, Cavanaugh Mims, CBID, Cecilia Miller, Center for Children's and Young Adult Literature, Central Business Improvement District, Chad Boetger, Chalk Walk, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Tolley, Charlotte's Web, Chattanooga, Cheryl Scott, Chess, Chet Atkins, Chevrolet Fleetline, Chicken Dance, Children, Children Downtown, Children's Festival of Reading, Chile, Chilhowee Baptist Church, Chili Cook-off, Chopin, Chris Doody, Chris McAdoo, Christabel and the Jons, Christina Horn, Christmas, Christmas Church Services, Christmas Eve, Christmas Floats, Christmas in the City, Christmas in the City 2011, Christmas Parade, Christmas Parade 2011, Chuck Berry, Church Street UMC, Church Street UMC Bell Tower, Circus, Cities, City Council Meeting, City People, City Skyline, Civil Rights Memorial, Civil War Soldier, Civil Wars, Clifford Curry, Clinch Avenue, Clint Holmes, clocks, Clyde Edgerton, Cobra, Coffee, Coffee and Chocolate, coffee shops, Cold Weather, Columbus, Concert Crowds, Condominium, Conference on Southern Literature, Conspiracy Theories, Construction, Construction Workers, Contests, Convention Center, Coolato Gelato, counter-demonstrators, Country Music, Courtyards, Crass Couture, Crazy Love, Creche, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Creek Indians, Crosswind Farm, Crown and Goose, Crown Court, Crowne and Goose, Crowne Plaza, Crusades, Crush, Cruz Contreras, Cub Scout, Cumberland Caverns, Cutthroat Shamrock, Cynthia Markert, Dale Carter, Dale Mackey, Dan Brown, Dancing, Dancing Children, Dancing in the Parking Lot, Daniel and Bo, Daniel Brown, Daryl Scott, Dave Nichols, Dave's Dogs, Dave's Hot Dogs, Davey Crockett, David Crockett, David Dewhirst, David Dewhurst, David Madden, David Perkins, Davy Crockett, Day of the Dead, Daylight Building, Dazzo's, Death in the City, Delbert McClinton, Deli, Delta Rae, Demolition, Depot, Depot Avenue, Detroit Dave Meer, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Diana Rogers, Dirty Guv'nahs, Disc Exchange, Dishwater Blonde, Diversity, Dixieland Jazz, Dixon's Bar-B-Que, DJ, Dog Park, Dog Show, Dogs, Dogwood Arts Festival, Dogwood Arts Parade, Don't Say Gay, Donald Brown, Dorothy Allison, Doves, downtown, Downtown Blog, Downtown Businesses, Downtown Chattanooga, Downtown Churches, Downtown Dash, Downtown Design Review Board, Downtown Fire Station, Downtown Grill, Downtown Grind, Downtown Grocery Store, Downtown Home Tour, Downtown Home Tour 2011, Downtown Knoxvile Blogs, Downtown Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville Blog, Downtown Knoxville Blogs, Downtown Knoxville Bogs, Downtown Knoxvillle Blogs, Downtown Knxoville Blogs, Downtown Mysteries, Downtown Parking, Downtown Pharmacy, Downtown Population, downtown recycling, Downtown Restrooms, Downtown Wine, Dr. King, Dragons, Drew Bledsoe, Drifting Cowboys, Drum circle, Drums, Dry Soda, Dune buggy, Earl Scruggs, Earth Day, Earthbeats, East Depot Avenue, East Tennesee Woodworkers' Guild, East Tennessee, East Tennessee Historical Society, East Tennessee History Center, East Tennessee History Fair, Eastern Star, Easy Rider Bike Show, Eddie Henderson, Eddie Mannis, Edie Brickell, Edna, Eiffel Tower, Elder Beat Master, Elder Beatmaster, Eleven, Eleventh Street, Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Guru's, Elvis Presley, Emily Mathis, Emmylou Harris, Emporium, Empty Buildings, Energy efficiency, Environmentally friendly, Eric Baker, Erin Donovan, Ernie Henderson, Etta James, Evangelists, Eye contact, Fabulous Ginn Sisters, Facebook, Faith Coalition, Famous Knoxvillians, Fantasy of Trees, Farmer's Market, Father's Day, Fats Domino, Felice Brothers, Ferd, Ferd and Matt, Ferd Moyse, Festival of Lights, Festivals, Fiction, Film Production, Fire Street Alley, Fire Street Lofts, Fireproof Building, Fireproof Storage, Fireproof Storage Building, Fireworks, First Baptist, First Friday, First Friday April 2012, First Night 2012, First Night Knoxville 2011, First Night Knoxville 2012, First Presbyterian, First Tennessee Bank, First Tennessee Plaza, Fizz, Flash Mob, Flatt and Scruggs, Florida, Florida Gator Footbal, Flow Mojo, Flowers, Flowers in the city, Food, Food in the City, Fools and Horses, Foreign Languages, Fort Sanders, Fortunate Traveler, Fountain, Four Leaf Peat, Fourth and Gill Area, Fourth of July, Francis of Assisi, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Fred Eaglesmith, Freddy, Freedom of speech, French Market, Fresh food, Friends, Friends in the City, Friends of the Library, Fund Drive, furniture, Gainesville, games, Gangs, Garbage, Gary Burke, Gay and Lesbian, Gay Street, Gay Street Bridge, Gay-Friendly, General Stores, genocide, George Clinton, George Scott, Get Rowdy, Gifts, Girl Scouts of the USA, Glen Fields, Gloria Nelson, Gloria Ray, Goodnight Nobody, Google Check, Grady Regas, Graffiti, Graffiti Wall, Grand Opening, Grand Opening for Union Avenue Books, Great Dane, Great Danes, Green House, Greg Horne, Greg Tardy, Griffin Cavender, Grinch, groceries, Grocery store, Guess Who, Guitar, Gumbo, hair cut, Halloween, Hank Williams, Hannah Green, Happy Envelope, Happy Holler, Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Hardware, Hardware Store, Harley Chapeau, Harold's, Harold's Kosher Deli, HarperCollins, Harpist, Harry's, Harry's Deli, Hector Qirko, Helicopter, Helio, Henley Street, Henley Street Bridge, Henley Street Bridge Construction, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, hexagonal tile, HGTV, High Gravity Beer in Knoxville, High Kotton, Highland Avenue, Hilary Hawke, Hines Valley Farm, Hip Hop, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Historic preservation, history, Hitler, Hola Festival, Hola Festival 2011, Hola Hora Latina, holiday, Holiday Market, Holidays, Holly L'oiseau, Holston Building, Holston Gas, Home Federal Union Avenue, Home Tour, Homegrown, Homeless, Homelessness, Homelss, Homes, Hoopers, Hotel Oliver, Hotel Saint Oliver, Hotel St. Oliver, HuDost, Hudson K, Hula Hoops, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, i105, Ian Thomas, Ice, Ice rink, Ice Skating, Images from the City, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Immigrants, Independent Record Stores, Indie Grrls, Indigenous People, Interesting People, International Biscuit Festival, International Blues Competition, Iris Kreedle, Italian food, Ivan Harmon, J's Mega Mart, J. Daniel Photography, J.C. Penny Building, Jack Gantos, Jack Neely, Jack Rentfro, Jack Wolf, Jackson Avenue, Jackson Avenue Market, Jackson Street, Jailbox, Jake Bohstedt Morrill, Jake Butcher, Jake Livesay, Jake Winstrom, James Agee, James Agee Park, James Tremble, James White, Janis Joplin, Japan, Japanese Magnolia, Java, Javon Jackson, Jay Clark, Jay's Megamart, Jazz, jazz on the square, JC and the Dirty Smokers, Jeannine, Jeff Barbra, Jeff Scheaffnocker, Jeffrey Nash, Jenna and her Cool Friends, Jenna and the Accidentals, Jenna Jefferson, Jennie Caissie, Jeremiah Taylor, Jest Judy, Jesus, Jethro Tull, JFG Sign, Jig and Reel, Jill Andrews, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Cobb, Jimmy Hyams, Jingle Bell Run, Jodie Manross, Joe Hulquist, Joe Hultquist, John Adams, John Black, John Black Photography, John H. Daniel, John Lennon, John Stancil, John Wesley, John Womac, Johnnie Lang, Jon Byrd, Jon Stewart, Jonathan Sexton, jonny Lang, Judy Digregorio, Julianne Applegate, Julie Apple Handbags, July 4, Just Ripe, Just Ripe Half Birthday, Justin Townes Earle, Justin Vallee, Karen Reynolds, KAT, Katheryn Rouse, Katie and the Bass Drums, Katie Free, Katie Powell, Katy Free, Kaziques, Keegan Luttrell, Keegan Russel, Keeping the Bees Employed, Keith Brown and the Nu-Jazz Fourtet, Kelsey Woods, Kelsey's Woods, Kendrick Place, Kennels, Kerns Building, Kevin, Kevin Abernathy, Kevin Clements, Kevin Gordon, Kevin Grimac, keystone building, Kim Trent, Kind of Blue, King Cake, King Super and the Excellents, Knoville Tennessee, Knox Bike Co-op, Knox County Public Library, Knox Heritage, Knox Ivi, Knox Rail Salvage, Knoxventure 2011, Knoxville, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission, Knoxville Area Transit, Knoxville Blog, Knoxville Blogs, Knoxville Christmas Parade, Knoxville City Council, Knoxville Drum and Pipe Corps, Knoxville Farmer's Market, Knoxville Firemen, Knoxville Idol, Knoxville Jazz, Knoxville Jazz Festival, Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Knoxville Marathon 2011, Knoxville Marathon 2012, Knoxville Marathon Pictures, Knoxville Mayoral Race, Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville Opera Company, Knoxville Restaurants, Knoxville Sports and Tourism Corporation, Knoxville Tennesee, Knoxville Tennessee, knoxville tennessee blogs, Knoxville Tourism Center, Knoxville Writer's Guild, Knoxvillle Tennessee, Kolt Free, KPD, Kristen Faerber, Kristopher Kendrick, Kroger, Krutch Park, Kumba, La Costa, Labor Day, Labor Unions, Laith Keilany, Lance Owens, Lane Kiffen, Larry McMurtry, Larry Willis, Latin Music, Latitude 35, Laurel Avenue, Laurel Theater, Lay's Market, Lee Smith, Left-wing politics, legislation, Leon Russell, Leroy Kautz, Les Miserables, LGBT, Liberty Building, libraries, Library of Congress, Lighting of the Tree, Lincoln Memorial, Linda Ronstadt, Linguistics, Lions, Literature, Little Richard, Live After Five, Live Chicken, Locust Street, London, London Food, London Riots, London Underground, Lonetones, Lord Lindsey, Lost and Found Records, Louisiana, Love and Theft, Lowrider, LSP Productions, Luke Jacobs, Lululemon, Lunch in Downtown Knoxville, Lunchbox, Lynyrd Skynyrd, MaCuba, Madeline Rogero, Maggie Longmire, Magic, Magician, Magnolia Avenue, Magnolia Corridor, Mamapundit, Mamograms, Man v. Food, Manhattan's, Mapelhurst, Marble City Brewing Company, Marble Slab, march, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Mardi Gras, Mardi Growl, Mark Padgett, Market Square, Market Square Art Fair, Market Square Farmer's Market, Market Square Garage, Market Square Holiday Market, Market Square Kitchen, Market Square Knoxville, Market Street, Marquette Marching Band, Marshall Chapman, Martha Boggs, Martha Christian, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, Mary Boyce Temple, Mary Boyce Temple House, Mary Gauthier, Maserati, Masonic Court, Masonic Temple, Masons, Mast General Store, Matt Morelock, Matt Pachetti, Matt Woods, Maya Lin, Mayor Burchett, Mayor Haslam, MBI Engineering, McClung Warehouse, Meat Counter, Megabus, Megan McCormick, Melinda Grimac, Melissa and Scott Carr, Memorial, Memorial Walk, Mercedes, Mercedes Sports Car, Mercury Lounge, Mercury Theater, Metro in Paris, Metropulse, Metropulse Reader's Poll, Metropulse Reader's Poll Party, Mews, Mic Harrison, Michael Crawley, Michael Gill, Michael Knight, Michele Anderson, Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round, Miles Davis, Military, Miller's Atrium, Milo Greene, Missing Tree, Mitt Romney, Mobile Alabama, Money, Montgomery, Montgomery Alabama, Moon Taxi, Morelock Music, Morgan Fitch, Morris Creative, Most Popular Posts, Motorcycles, Movies, Movies on the Square, Moving to the City, Ms. Connie, Mulberry, Mural, Murals, Music, Music in the City, Music Video Shoot, Muslim, Mustapha Moussa, Mystery Business, Nama, Nama Grand Opening, Nate Barrett, National Guard, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Mall, National Public Radio, Natty Lovejoys, Nazism, Neil Young, neo-Nazi, Neo-Nazism, New Businesses, New Familiars, New Orleans, New Residents, New Union Shops, New Year, New Year in Knoxville, New Year's Eve, New Years 2012, New York City, New Yorker, Neyland Stadium, Night Owl, Niña, Nissan Leaf, Noam Chomsky, nostalgia, Nouveau Classics, Nu Jazz 4tet, O'Hanlon, Oak Ridge, Occupy Knoxville, Occupy Wall Street, Odessa Jorgensen, Old City, Old City Buskers, Old City Entertainment Venue, Old City Hall, Old City Java, Old Courthouse, Old Gray Cemetery, Olga Noes, Oliver Hotel, Oodles, Open House, Opera, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, Organized Play, Oscar Mayer, Owls, Paige Travis, Pamela Neal, Pamela Schoenewaldt, Pamela Uschuk, pandhandling, Panhandling, Parade of Nations, Parades, Paris, Paris Food, Parks, Parks and Gardens, Parliament Funkadelic, Parrot on Market Square, Patrick Sullivan's, Paul Karlsson, Pecha Kucha, Pembroke, People in the city, People Watching, Pere Lachaise, Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Pete's Parking Lot, Pets, Phil Pollard, Philanthropy, Phillip Fulmer, Phillip Welker, Phoenix Building, Photograhs, Photographers, Photographs, Photographs of Knoxville, Photography, Pianos on the Square, Pictures of Food, Pilot Light, Pinata, Pinta, Planned Parenthood of East Tennessee, Plaster Woman, Playground, Poetry, Poetry Slam, Police, Politics and Food, Polls, Postcard, Poverty, Preachers in the City, preservation, preservation hall, Preservation Pub, Preservation Pub Rooftop, Preservation Pub Speakeasy, Prestige Cleaners, Pridefest, Private Party, Private Renovations, Prom, protest, Psychotic Behavior, Pub Crawl, Public Art, Public House, QR Codes, Quartjar, R.B. Morris, Race for the Cure, Race relations in Knoxville, racism, Rainbow Row, Rainy Day Brushoff, Rala, rally, Rallying, Random Images, Randy Bradley, Randy Houser, Rayland Baxter, Reader Appreciation Party, readers, recycle, recycle bins, Recycling, Red Hickey, Redeemer Church, Redeeming Hope Ministries, Reflections, Regal Cinema, Regal Cinemas, Regas, Regas Square, Regions Bank, Regions Bank Building, Religion, Relix, Relix Theater, Remedy Coffee, Renovation, Reruns, Residences at Market Square, Restaurants, Restoration, Retail, Retaurants, Revolutionary War Soldier, Rheta Grimsley Johnson, Rhythm and Blooms, Ribbon Twirler, Ribbons on Gay Street, Richard Nixon, Rick's Bread, Robinella, Robinella and the CC String Band, Rock and Roll, Rocky Wynder, Rodney Alexander, Roman Reese, Rossini, Rossini Festival, Rowing Man, Roy Acuff, Royal Albert Hall, RSA, Russell Biven, Rusty Young, Ryan's Row, S and W Grand, Sabrina Brittain, Saint Louis, Saint Patrick's Day, Salon Visage, Salvage Show, San Francisco, Sanders-Pace Architecture, SandW, Santa Claus, Sapphire, Sarah Pirkle, Saxophone, schools, Scott and Bernadette West, Scott Miller, Scream, Scrooge, Scruffy City Hall, Scruffy City Roots, Sculptors, Sculpture, Sculptures, Second Creek, September 11, Serenity Shelter, sex education, Shakepeare, Shakespeare on the Square, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Shoe Art, Shopping, Shortwave Society, Shuck Raw Bar and Ale, sidewalks, Sign Installation, Sky Bar, Skye Bar, Skyline, Slow Blind Hill, SLR Camera, Slutwalk, Smart Car, Smart Cars, Smart Trips, Smarttrips, Snow, Snow in the city, Snowflake, Snowy Day, Soccer, Soccer Taco, Social Media, Solar panels, Solar Power, Solar Powered Garbage Cans, Solin Estrada-Jimenez, Songwriters, Sorrority, Soul Music, Southeastern Glass, Southern Poverty Law Center, Southwestern Books, Soweto Gospel Choir, Spain, Spanish War Memorial, Spiniffy, Spring, Spring in the City, Square Dancing, Square Room, St Louis, St. John's Episcopal, St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Louis Arch, St. Louis Missouri, St. Patrick's Day, St. Patrick's Day Parade, Stacey Campfield, Stars, Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment, Statistics, Steel Drivers, STEM school, Sterchi Lofts, Steve Earle, Steve Hunley, Steve Spurrier, Stolen Recycling, StoryCorps, Strange events, Strange sights in the City, strange van caption, Street art, Street fair, Street Sweeper, strollers, stu cook, Stucco, Stuck Inside of Knoxville, Sudan, Sugarcane Jane, Suicide, Summer, Summer Place, Summer Place and Locust, Summer Suppers, Summit Towers, Sun flowers, Sundown in the City, Sunsphere, Supper Club, Sushi, Suttree, Suttree's High Gravity Tavern, Swagger, Sweat P's, Tania Elizabeth, Tarot Card Reader, Taylor, Teachers, Ten Cent Poetry, Ten Thousand Villages, Tennessee, Tennessee Reiki Connection, Tennessee River, Tennessee Shines, Tennessee Theatre, Tennessee Valley Bikes, Tennessee Valley Kennel Club, Tensions in the City, Terri Karlsson, Thad Brown, Thanksgiving, The Advocate, The Appointment, The Bearded, The Doors, The Drunk Uncles, The Elliot, The Features, The French, The Hillville, The History of Country Music Park, The Junior League Band, The King Bees, The Market, The Market at Union and Gay, The Melungeons, The Public House, The Quary, the Rose Guy, The Square Room, The Theorizt, The Tree and Vine, The Typist, The Underground, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Three Bears Coffee, Three Rivers Market, Tie-dye, tiled entryways, Tim Burchett, Tim Lee, Tim Lee 3, Tim O'brien, Time Travel, Tivoli Theater, Todd Steed, Todd Steed Ampient Sound, Tom Waits, Tomato Head, Toomer's Corner, top Bob Dylan Songs, Top Five, Tour de Lights, Tour de Lights 2011, Traffic, Train Yard, Trains, Transportation, Travel Channel, Travis Singleton, Treaty of Holston Statue, Treble Clef, Tree Gator, Trees in the City, Trinity, Trio, Tube in London, Tupelo Honey, Tupelo Honey Knoxville, Twin Towers, Umoja, Umprhey's McGee, Unarmed Merchants, Uncategorized, Union Avenue, Union Avenue Books, Union Avenue Sidewalk, Union Street, Unions, University of Florida, University of Tennessee, Unorthodox, Upside down car, urban, Urban Anger, Urban Bar and Corner Cafe, Urban Blight, Urban Development, Urban Grocery Store, Urban Living, Urban Mysteries, Urban Mystery, Urban Mystery Picture, Urban Outfitter, Urban Outfitters, Urban Outfitters Controversy, Urban Scenes, Urban Toddler, Urban Trees, Urbhana, UT, UT Architecture, UT Downtown Gallery, UT Football, Vagabondia, Van Eaton, Van Morrison, Vehicles, Veteran's Day Parade, Veteran's Memorial, Veterans Day, Veterens Day, Veterinarian in the City, Victor and Joan Ashe, Victor Schmidt, Video Shoot, Vikings, Vincent Herring, volkswagens, Vols, Volunteer Landing, voting, Wah Lum Kung Fu, Walk to Cure Diabetes, Walking Tours, Wall Avenue, Walnut Street, Walter Cronkite, Warm days in January, Warm Winter Day, Warren Haynes, Washington Square Serenade, waste water, WATE-TV, Water quality, Water Quality Forum, water runoff, Wayne Bledsoe, Wayne Chisholm, Wayne Trapp, Waynestock, Waynestock 2012, Waynestock II, Waynestock II: For the Love of Phil, WBIR, WDVX, We Were Strangers, Wedding, Weird Objects, Welders, Wendel Werner, Wendell Berry, West Jackson Workshops, West Virginia, Westmoreland Condominiums, Westside Daredevils, WFIV, When We Were Strangers, White Lily Building, Whittle Building, Wienermobile, William Ambrose, William Pitt Root, Winter, Winter in the City, Winter Solstice, WNOX, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Women's suffrage, Woody Pines, World Animal Day, World Grotto, World Trade Center, World war, World's Fair Park, worship on the square, Wrestling, writers, WROL, WUTK, Xylophone, Ye Old Steak House, Yee Haw, YMCA, YWCA Gym, Zach Deputy, Zeus, Zoom Lens, Zora Neale Hurston, Zumba Tagged: , , , , ,

New Busker on the Square: Balloon Artist David Perkins

Posted on April 4, 2012 Written by 7 Comments
David Perkins makes balloon art for children on Market Square, Knoxville

We’ve had buskers on the square for a long time. Sometimes they’ve been hassled a bit, but all-in-all Knoxville seems to have made peace with its inner busker. I’ve written about a number of them on this site and I always appreciate what they do. I try to support them as I can because they make our city a better place.

Young guy likes the bird – at a distance
A girl with her balloon flower, Market Square

For the most part our buskers have been musicians and singers. Many of them have professional-level talent while others don’t have so much. Recently we’ve seemed to have an influx of the not-so-much variety, but I’m hoping spring brings  a positive change in that direction.

The bird works the crowd, Market Square, Knoxville
Balloon sword fighting to the clarinet, what’s not to love?

What we do have is a trickle of different types of busking, which I see as a very positive development. I recently highlighted a magician and a bronze guy (who, by the way, no one knows how to contact, do you?). The latest in this line of alternative busking is David Perkins who makes balloon art for passersby for tips. He is sometimes accompanied by a woman who has a parrot that gets almost as much attention.

Holding the bird, Market Square

Children and a parrot, Market Square, Knoxville

David is also a professional musician and is often heard playing clarinet while children sword fight with his creations. Sometimes they get a bit too enthusiastic and attack urban bloggers, but I digress. David also plays a shofar and sometimes includes a small gong in his act. I’d prefer he leave the shofar and gong at home as they are pretty obnoxious from one end of the square to the other, but the children do seem to love it all.

Children, balloons and Market Square, Knoxville

He actually is available for events such as children’s parties at which I’d say he is very good. At the least he adds some pretty cool color to the square. Check him out the next time you are in the city. And tip him when he makes a balloon flower for your child!

Filed Under: Balloon Guy, Balloons, Buskers, David Perkins, Downtown Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville Blogs, Knoxville Tennessee, knoxville tennessee blogs, Parrot on Market Square