First Timer Coming In For Florida Game Looking For Advice

#26
#26
SoddyAllVol said:
According to website lonesome dove is closed for renovations. Thought it’s good I think it’s too high for what it is.
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Wow, didn't know that. Terrible timing... I'm sure football season brings a lot of business.

I do agree that it's a bit pricy, but it's the most unique fine dining experience in the area. The smoked Manhattan and the Elk main are unbelievable.
 
#27
#27
DC_Vol said:
I hope you guys have a great time in Knoxville. I think you'll find the majority of our fans hospitable and welcoming.

Here are a few things to consider:

1) Hit up a few tailgates on game day. You can find these all over campus and you should find fans there who will welcome you with open arms.

2) See the Vol Walk. The Vol Walk will happen at 4:45 and will start at the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park on Volunteer Drive. It continues down Peyton Manning Pass before turning left on Phillip Fulmer Way and into the stadium through Gate 21A.

3) Make sure you in the stadium early enough to see the pregame routines, including the Running Through the T.

4) Walk the riverfront and check out the festivities happening in the Vol Navy

A few restaurants / bars to consider:

Pete's Coffee Shop
For breakfast if you are downtown. Great local’s spot.

Stock & Barrel
Downtown Market Square. Great burgers and a large selection of whiskeys and bourbons.

Copper Cellar
For game day, stop by the Copper Cellar on the strip. The main floor is called the Cumberland Grill. Good food options and plenty of drinks. The place will be full of home and opposing fans, and you'll be right in the middle of the action.

Calhouns on the River
The menu is decent, but you cannot beat the atmosphere. You are right on the river and the restaurant has an awesome deck on the water where you can see the river and the stadium. It will be packed out on game day.

Barley's Knoxville
If you get to the Old City (an easy walk or cab from downtown), you can try Barley's for great pizza and a large beer selection.

Hope you guys enjoy the trip.
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Thanks for the great advice. This is exactly what I was looking for. You got my interest with "large selection of bourbon"!
 
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#28
#28
kiddiedoc said:
Wow, didn't know that. Terrible timing... I'm sure football season brings a lot of business.

I do agree that it's a bit pricy, but it's the most unique fine dining experience in the area. The smoked Manhattan and the Elk main are unbelievable.
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Father in law gave me some elk steaks a few weeks ago. Seared in cast iron. They were marvelous
 
#29
#29
ndubvols said:
My personal favorites for the night before game day are balter beerworks and Shulz
brau. Balter is pretty decent food and a good atmosphere, while Schulz brau is a German brewery/beer garden and will have plenty going on with octoberfest that weekend.
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Thanks! Schulz sounds like fun.
 
#30
#30
OldVolMan said:
You really do not have to plan for a great time in Kxville for this event, it happens naturally.
Vol fans are warm and hospitable, but very competitive and loyal so to save any possible negative comments do not wear your Penn State gear, buy a TN Vol item and wear that. On second thought you might wear a PS item but also a Vol item, you might be recognized by members on VolNation.
That could also initiate some curiosity from Vol fans to engage conversation with you.

Vol fans are approachable so don’t be shy, introduce yourself and tell them why your are there.
Just join people in Orange, talk to them, follow them and they will accept you and be your best tour guide. I assure you they will introduce you to other’s, most likely poke some fun at you being a Penn State fan, but flow with it and enjoy the moment. Don‘t take any possible pokes at you serious, some have few more drinks than they probably should have had.

I have been to many games with friends and family members and noticed that the one’s that were usually naturally quiet and shy would be the most fun. Sort of like going with someone to a rock concert and seeing how crazy and fun they are capable of being. A Vol football game, and especially an entire weekend, is a way for us to forget about the crazy serious world all around us and escape it for a short time.

Please come back and share with us your experience, I will be looking forward for it. Maybe start a new thread something like “Results “for my first time coming in for Florida game looking for advise” so we can recognize it. just a thought.

Sorry so long but hope it helps.
Welcome to Knoxville!
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Love the long comment and advice. I generally do wear my PSU jersey...so say Hi if you see me. I may top it off with an orange cap :). I welcome any "pokes"...it's all in good fun. I will try to post my experiences afterward.
 
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#33
#33
SoddyAllVol said:
According to website lonesome dove is closed for renovations. Thought it’s good I think it’s too high for what it is.
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Lonesome Dove is not closed. The Social Dove, which is their little courtyard that rotates concepts, is currently not open; rest assured, you can still dine at Lonesome Dove on Friday night and anyone interested in doing so should make reservations quickly as you won't be able to just get a table.

Friday night: Get dinner at Lonesome Dove or Emilia in Market Square. After dinner, check out bars in the downtown/Market Square area like Suttree's, The Vault, Peter Kern's Library and perhaps the Five Thirty Lounge at the Hyatt Place if you like rooftops and don't mind crowds. There are fantastic bars in the Old City area right next to Lonesome Dove, but they skew a little less refined than the aforementioned options and don't really capture the "spirit" of Tennessee football that well.

Saturday morning/afternoon: If you're staying downtown, try to grab a quick and early brunch at Cafe 4 or Babalu. If you want a livelier atmosphere, it's not Michelin-starred but Downtown Grill and Brewery is a classic and where you'll find me having something to eat and drink before heading over to campus. There are far fewer bars on The Strip adjacent to campus than there used to be, but Copper Cellar and Half Barrel are classics while Cool Bean's on Lake Ave (closer to Neyland) is nice although attracts a younger crowd.

Post game: Saturday's a good bet to do Market Square. It has a few casual dinner spots like Myrtle's and Not Watson's that might not get too crowded, and also boasts Oliver Royale which is a little nicer as well as a Tupelo Honey. There are a bunch of bars there owned by the same guy that feel fairly identical, so you can't really go wrong with Preservation Pub, Scruffy City Hall or even Tommy Trent's if you want to watch the Arkansas/A&M and Wisconsin/Ohio State games.
 
#35
#35
Yankee_Dave said:
Hi all. My buddy and I hit a different college game every year as we try to get to all of the best game day atmospheres in the country. Neyland is high on our list and the schedule worked out for the Florida game. Looking for advice on things we can't read about elsewhere... like traditional places to go Fri night, best places to see the tailgating effort you all put out, where to go after the game, etc. I've already read the game day info about the march in, Vol navy, etc...so I'm looking for things that only you insiders know :). Any help is appreciated. BTW...Penn State fan here...but don't hold that against me.
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If you’re worried about parking, every hotel in the area has a shuttle bus to the games. I think it drops you off 2 hours before kickoff.
 
#36
#36
One type of local Knoxville food is steamed sandwiches. Used to be much more common around campus but the last spot with them is Gus' Good Times Deli on 17th St just off Cumberland, aka the Strip. It's pretty much unchanged for 4+ decades with walls covered with UT player photos, sports section from local newspapers and the like.

Classic college dive with good sandwiches and burgers. If you're looking for that type of experience, it's pretty much the last one. And as odd as a steamed sandwich sounds, it does work.
 
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#37
#37
In my opinion the best tailgating occurs in the lots on and behind the businesses on Cumberland Ave. They will be hoping by 9:00am at the latest with a lot of harassment of Florida fans walking by. Also, traffic is problematic in Knoxville after the game so don’t get in a hurry. If Tennessee wins get ready…post game tailgates will be electric.
Florida always brings a lot of people and will be well represented Friday night at the downtown bars. That will be very fun as a bystander! 😁
 
#40
#40
ftsandersvol said:
I would suggest a pub crawl on the strip for Friday night. Be sure to hit Yosemite Sam’s, The Last Lap, The Longbranch Saloon, The Tap Room, The Old College Inn, The Brewery, Sam and Andy’s, The Roman Room, and The Foxy Lady.

Also, be sure to stop by Eddie’s to stock up on your favorite beverage for the game.
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Lol. You need to reset your calendar. It's stuck on 1972. Thanks for the memories, though.
 
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