Thirsty AF: First Friday

Follow me on one of my favorite Knoxville excursions: First Friday Art Walk. I’m always amazed when even those who have lived here for decades are unfamiliar with it; this just shows that we can get too caught up in our routines. First Fridays - the first actual Friday of each month - is when several galleries, bars, and retail stores change out their artwork and feature something new. Before the pandemic, this was a magical experience. People dressed up cute for the evening. Galleries put out full tables of assorted snacks like chicken salad and hummus. Now we only see a glimmer of this, but the summer months offer the best experience as galleries take advantage of gorgeous weather and try to bring folks in. The art walk usually begins at 5pm downtown and lasts a few hours, but the snacks and beverages only last until they’re gone. Yes, this is an art excursion, but for me it’s heavy hors d'oeuvres. I’m not only thirsty AF - I’m thrifty AF too.

Not every business downtown participates while some that are off of downtown do something for First Friday. Feel free to make your own adventure, but I’m going to give you my route that I take to make the most of this evening. Appropriately, we begin on Gay Street.

The Art Market is my entrance point because it is reliable. Admittedly the art largely remains unchanged here, but you can count on a table in the back of the gallery with boxed wine and probably plates of cookies or fruits. Does boxed Cabernet really pair with off-brand Oreos? This is not the time to be fickle. If you have some cash, leave a small donation. Then walk around the gallery and see how many paintings feature a nip slip. If you’ve been here before, you know what I’m talking about.

Next we move mere feet down to the hallway between Phoenix Pharmacy and Status Dough. Sometimes I need to only peep through the glass door, but sometimes I spy a full folding table with bottles of wine and pulled pork with side dishes or cookies. These are usually self-serve situations when an artist is really excited and goes all out for First Friday. Make a plate and walk up and down the hallway viewing the artwork. Thank the artist and head onward toward Jackson Ave.

You will reach the Emporium Center, which has quite a lot to be frank. It has multiple floors, stairwells, artist studios, and nooks and crannies - all featuring art. They also sell beverages here, so I tend to just stick with the snacks. Begin upstairs to the right. Here you may be fortunate enough to find chicken salad, grapes, and hummus. If not, this is also where some of my favorite art has appeared, like the yellow yarn statue pictured below that I photographed. Yeah, I said it's made of yarn! Snake your way down the far stairwell to make sure you leave nothing unseen. When you are downstairs, you may find a table of Chex Mix and other snacks. I have even spied some individual artists providing fancy charcuterie in their studios. You may have to listen to a Boomer talk about horse paintings, but there may be prosciutto involved.

As you leave the Emporium, look across the street at Nouveau Classics. Is it open? They rarely participate in First Friday anymore, but when they do, they break out the good stuff - I’m talking champagne and a cheese board. Treat yourself, girl! Enjoy a glass of bubbly while sitting on a sofa you can’t afford. From here, Jackson Street offers a few hit or miss spots: Awaken Coffee, the Dogwood Arts office, and other galleries that may still be open this late. Take this time to browse your options and figure out dinner.

First Friday offers amazing people watching and fun art to pretend to be interested in. Some of the art is even by fellow gays in the community. It’s also a great way to trick yourself into walking a city mile, so grab your gaggle and frolic. Ask a new friend to explore. I assure you at least one of these spots will satisfy your thirst.