East Tennessee coffeeshops find new ways to connect with their patrons
My first visit to South Press Café in South Knox was an eye-opening experience for me. For me, coffeeshops had always been a place to go, acquire my shot of caffeine, and take a few minutes to sit and (try to) relax before getting back to the grind. Coffeeshops as not just a place of business, but as the heart of a community, just did not fit into my model of caffeine acquisition. But South Press Café makes it clear – from the flyers on the wall, the events calendar on their website, and the attitudes of the staff and patrons alike – that coffee isn’t the most important thing you’ll find inside their walls. For them, it’s about building an LGBT-friendly community, fostering a space for people to find like-minded individuals and forging partnerships to create a more inclusive, engaged community.
But South Press isn’t the only place with a mission of community, and each brings their own vision of what that community will be, meaning that chances are, if you’re looking for a coffeeshop community to call home, you can find one that fits what you’re looking for. So I thought I’d open my eyes a bit more today and share a few of the upcoming community events I found in our friendly neighborhood coffeeshops:
Yoga & Coffee
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Where: CommonPlace Coffee & Community in South Knox
Coffeeshops aren’t just a place to wake up; they can also be a place to unwind. And sometimes, after a long day of work at the office, getting up and really unwinding your body can be a necessity. Every week, CommonPlace Coffee hosts a local yoga instructor, and for $10, you can join in and give your body and mind a break from your day. Learn more at commonplaceknox.com.
Veteran’s Coffee & Conversation Hour
When: Every Wednesday, 2 to 4 pm
Where: The Vienna Coffee Company in Maryville
Every week, the Vienna Coffee Company hosts dozens of veterans from around the area. Hailing from all branches and all eras of service, they get together to support each other, as well as other veterans around East Tennessee, and just talk.
Brattie’s Cathartic Karaoke
When: Every Wednesday, 6 to 8:30 pm
Where: South Press Café in South Knox
If you’re in South Knox and have been looking to belt a few notes, South Press hosts weekly karaoke. They also have monthly open mics and other opportunities to share art and performances, especially highlighting underrepresented artists. Whether you want to participate or just have a listen, South Press has plenty of opportunities! Learn more at southpressknox.com.
Mages & Pages + Fanciful Bookclubs
When: Monthly Sundays, 6 to 8 pm (next on May 18th)
Where: Fable Hollow Coffee & Bookshoppe in North Knox
We’ve all been meaning to pick up another book or two, and in my experience, it works a bit better with friendly accountability. Well, it works even better with coffee and friends! Fable Hollow Coffee & Bookshoppe hosts two different monthly book clubs, Mages & Pages and Fanciful, as well as author Q&As and other literary events. Learn more at fablehollow.com.
Or build your own at the Empty Cub!
When: Whenever!
Where: The Empty Cup in Cedar Bluff
The Empty Cup is a nonprofit coffeeshop supporting local adoptions, and as one staff member put it to me, “we’re the Empty Cup; you fill it up”. Every evening, the coffeeshop opens its doors for community events, and all the money it makes from hosting goes right back into its nonprofit mission. So if you’re not seeing the kind of community you want to have in a coffeeshop, here’s a perfect opportunity to make your own! Learn more at theemptycup.org.
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