Enjoy First Friday the Market Square District & other downtown areas on Friday, December 1st from 5-9 p.m.

In conjunction with the popular First Friday downtown gallery and shopping tour, KAT will operate a trolley route to connect downtown visitors with the galleries and shops along Gay Street, Market Square and the Old City.

The First Friday trolley will travel down Gay Street and through the Old City every 5-7 minutes from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The First Friday trolley is Fare-Free! To catch it, just watch for the sign on the front of the trolley that says "First Fridays."

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT:

Ice Skating on the Square is back once again!

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Art Gallery of Knoxville
The Art Gallery of Knoxville is proud to present the work of artist Max Neuhaus. Max is a pioneer of artistic activities with sound. In the early sixties, he toured America as a percussion soloist first with Boulez, and then with Stockhausen, and gave solo recitals at Carnegie Hall and in European capitals. Neuhaus went on to become the first to extend sound as an autonomous medium into the domain of contemporary art.

Emporium
Holiday Extravaganza

The Arts
& Culture Alliance is delighted to sponsor the third annual Emporium Holiday Extravaganza on December 1 & 2: a two-day celebration of handmade gifts by nearly 30 local artists, museums, and historic homes. The Extravaganza continues until 9pm Friday evening with live performances by "The Delights" String Trio of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, vocal stylings of Emily Shane, and holiday caroling by the Knoxville Chamber Chorale. Joins us for sweet treats and warm drinks before and after the Christmas parade down Gay Street passing in front of the Emporium Center. Free parking is available in the Jackson Avenue lot (just around the corner from the Emporium) on Friday and Saturday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance, (865) 523-7543, or visit our website at www.knoxalliance.com.

UT Downtown Gallery
The UT Downtown Gallery will feature the exhibit "Polska Farba / Polish Ink' which offers a window into contemporary fine art printmaking in Poland. Many of the works in this exhibition are by students and faculty from the Academy of Fine Art, Pozna', Poland. The UT School of Art has had an exchange program in printmaking with the Academy since 2003. A variety of refreshments will be served!

Ironwood Gallery
The Ironwood Gallery will be a showing of 50 Peace on Earth designs from the local AIGA Holiday Card Competition & the 4 winning designs will be available for sale. Proceeds will benefit 2 local non-profit organizations. 50% to Second Harvest Food Bank and 50% to local chapter of AIGA (the professional association for design) 119 Jennings street, just off of Central near the Broadway / Central intersection

Vagabondia
For the 3rd year in a row, Vagabondia will be hosting local jewelry artist Karen Plum. Karen's work features freshwater pearls in a wide array of colors and hues set in sterling silver. Her jewelry is a big hit for those searching for the perfect holiday gift for their Vagabondivas!

Village Marketplace
Our featured artisan this month is Raja Bannoura. In a village near Bethlehem, Raja and his family hand carve nativities from pruned olive tree branches. Since Raja started the workshop in 1974, olive wood nativities, ornaments and carvings have provided hope and harmony as neighbors have worked together in a community unsettled by civil violence. The decline in the tourist market over the past years means that work is slower today, but Raja still involves six other carvers in his work, providing employment three days a week and much needed income. For Raja, carving nativities brings deep satisfaction. Raja says "This is more than a job... this is part of our heritage."

Three Flights Up Gallery
Three Flights Up Gallery invites you to an evening of art, food and music. All participating artists will be in attendance and include: Neranza Blount, Starr Cline, Annie Fletcher, Tovah Greenwood, Amanda Henry, David Klieman, Ruth Koh, Beth Meadows, Allyson Virden, and Tracy Warren. Three Flights Up Gallery is now located at the Emporium, 100 S. Gay Street.

Downtown Grind & Phoenix
Lauren E. Boyd, UT senior in studio art, presents Gli ha lasciato il cuore in Italia, her photographic journal of one glorious month traveling around Italy. The Knox County Art Educators annual exhibit will showcase talented Art Specialists in Knox County School throughout the walls of the Phoenix Building.

Art Market Gallery
The Art Market Gallery is hosting a First Friday reception, 6-9 p.m., for featured artists Patricia Sprouls, watercolor and oil paintings, and Pat Fitch, decorative painted furniture. There will be a special collection of holiday gift items, as well as great fun, good conversation and live music.

Tomato Head
Tomato Head offers fantastic First Friday Wine Special, past editions have included discounted tasting flights and the soon-to-be-famous $12 a bottle sale.

La Costa
La Costa's will feature $2 beers, $3 premium margaritas and half price bottles of wine.

Preservation Pub
The Pub hosts Trevor Hall and Gabe Dixon free Pizza from 5-6:30.

Downtown Grill & Brewery
The Brewery will extend their happy hour until 10:00. FREE popcorn in the bar.

World Grotto
The World Grotto presents the Streamliners.

bliss
bliss will host "Transcendental Jewels" a show of pearls, semi-precious stones, and sterling silver jewelry by local jewelry artist Tracy Kramer.

bliss Home
bliss Home will host a reception for Jennifer Brickey. Her interests are in systems of organization. Most of which involve viewing maps from an overhead perspective. Suburban maps that contain both simplified and complex areas of space, primarily interest me. Combining organic and formal structures with delineated lines, results in a composition that is both restful and chaotic. This composition represents a multifarious world of wonder that is reminiscent of the suburban topography of her childhood.

This highly successful First Friday event, now downtown-wide, began in October of 2003. On the first Friday of every month the Market Square District, Gay St including the 100-Block and Old City merchants offer something special for all downtown residents and visitors. Promotions include artist receptions, gallery openings, special food and drink offerings and more.