Knoxville author wants everyone to discover more of what makes Knoxville great
Kristen Combs loved Knoxville for years before she ever moved here.
Originally from Detroit, Combs remembers taking family vacations to East Tennessee as a child. And, as it turns out, many of her forebears are from the area. A Knoxvillian since 2011, Combs did some genealogical research at the East Tennessee History Center. “I have quite long roots going back,” she said.
She’s been director of communications and social strategies at Visit Knoxville since 2018, introducing not only visitors but locals to every aspect of the city, so it’s only fitting that she’s written a book, published last spring: “100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before you Die.”
It’s jam-packed with events like the Tennessee Valley Fair, the Rossini Festival and Greekfest; eateries like Turin of Thailand, Yassin’s Falafel House and Cruze Farm Ice Cream; theaters, stores, parks, breweries, art galleries, museums and more.
But it also includes lesser-known delights of the city, like the Farragut Museum, dedicated to the life of Admiral David Farragut, the Town of Farragut’s namesake. He’s probably best known for saying, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”
There’s also One Knoxville Sporting Club, a member of North America’s top men’s professional soccer league, which hosts coed adult recreational leagues. Or Maple Hall, a “boutique” bowling alley with only 11 lanes, serving local food and top-shelf beverages. It’s downtown, below street level in the historic JC Penney building.
Combs said people may be familiar with a place or an organization, but unaware of how extensive its offerings are.
“Ijams Nature Park is a great example. Maybe you’ve gone for a hike or a paddle, but they have so many programs! Night sky events, bird guides, crafts – their calendar is crazy awesome. I encourage people to go back and keep exploring.”
She also includes itineraries and insider tips. “I want everyone to discover Knoxville!” she said. And no, she hasn’t done all of the “100 Things,” but she’s working on it.
Last year, she led a breakout session at The Maker City Summit, which took place Sept. 8-10 at Maker Exchange on Clinch Avenue in downtown Knoxville. The title was “Save Your Sanity and Your Socials.”
“For any maker – any small-business type of situation – social media is just really overwhelming. So many different platforms, and it’s so involved. Dealing with insights and analytics over the years, and just getting something scheduled! It’s very stressful when you’re trying to focus on making your product and now you’ve magically become a marketer too,” she said.
Her focus was on why scheduling is really important – “best practices, my process. Trying to shift your mindset in thinking positively about the opportunities that social media offers, and at the same time not going overboard.” She added that her goal was “to try to give confidence and reduce the overwhelm.”
Follow Combs on Instagram @sawthisdidthat. For more book info, visit facebook.com/100thingsknoxville and instagram.com/100thingsknoxville.
The Maker City is the greater Knoxville-area community of makers, artists, creatives, and small-scale manufacturers and supporting entities. Led by the Mayor’s Maker Council, it facilitates collaborative partnerships, programming, and opportunities in an effort to create a sustainable creative community. For more info, visit http://themakercity.org/.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville author wants everyone to discover more of what makes Knoxville great
