Potchke was just named by USA TODAY as one of the top 47 restaurants in the country. While we're stoked to see some Knoxville representation, Knox News started thinking about local restaurants we wish made the list. 

This casual conversation between your host, downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz, and fellow Knox News reporter Keenan Thomas led to a great discussion about the current state of the city's food scene and how success stories from restaurants like Potchke can help shape the future of food in Knoxville. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

Knoxville is growing, and so is our airport. While it might not sound like much, Avelo recently added cheap flights to and from Connecticut, which could open the door for more destinations out of McGhee Tyson. 

Growth and development reporter Daniel Dassow, who specializes in tech and energy, joins host Ryan Wilusz to discuss how the airport is growing and what factors will influence that growth over the next five years. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

It's not too late to make New Year's resolutions. Just blame the delay on the freezing snow and heated election cycle that has everyone talking.

As the downtown growth and development reporter for Knox News, there's not much host Ryan Wilusz hasn't experienced in the center of our city. But with 2024 now upon us, we invited colleague Keenan Thomas to join and discuss  what we hope to accomplish in downtown Knoxville this year.

A lot of what we came up with involves supporting local, whether it's attending more shows or spreading our money around at more local shops and new downtown restaurants. Listen now to hear what we came up with!

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

While Bonnaroo and Big Ears Festival take place three months and 150 miles apart, both events were created by Knoxville native Ashley Capps. Plus, both festivals have become known for their diverse lineups and their unofficial status as music discovery festivals. 

Knox News journalists Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka, who have regularly attended both festivals over the years, dive into the respective lineups to share their top picks from both bills. Listen as they discuss why each of their most anticipated artists are must-sees and why anyone on the fence about purchasing tickets should plan to attend.  

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

Our downtown Knoxville predictions that didn’t happen in 2023 have potential to come true this year: replacing Pryor Brown Garage, building a block-sized development, creating stadium parking and welcoming a nationally known chef to the local culinary scene.

But in the spirit of the new year, we’re starting fresh with a new round of predictions for 2024, from new hotels to new festivals to a new downtown district. 

Read along as you listen to a monumental 200th episode, hosted by Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka. Here's the full story.

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

From March 21, 2023: The waiting period required to demolish downtown Knoxville's most crumbling building is over, so we at Knox News started thinking about what could replace the historic structure.

Listen as co-hosts Ryan Wilusz and Brenna McDermott share their thoughts, and share your own by emailing [email protected]. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

This year has been full of surprises in downtown Knoxville, from a new Sunsphere paint job to shocking business closings. But a lot of what happened in 2023 was on our radar heading into the year, and we documented those predictions on "The Scruffy Stuff" back in January. 

This week, hosts Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka of Knox News look back to see how we fared and to discuss whether any of our missed predictions could happen in 2024. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by Knox News. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

Creating “safe spaces” was a selling point in the city's decision to close down the 400 block of Gay Street to vehicles on select weekends in November and December.

But there are two things Gay Street business owners and urbanites are whispering about even if the city isn’t addressing them directly in this effort: That open streets seems like a natural segue to open container and that redirecting traffic would cut down on excessive car noise.

Downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz and visuals journalist Brianna Paciorka discuss their experience trying out the open streets concept, including some suggestions for how to make this concept work longterm.  

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by Knox News. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

If you have tried the PB&J Mixtape sour by Xul Beer Company, consider yourself lucky. This beer doesn't last long in kegs around town and has led to long lines of people waiting outside the brewery just to get their hands on a four pack. 

Perhaps, it's the fact this beer taste exactly like a PB&J sandwich, crust and all. Maybe the funky labels and lack of gluten have something to do with it. Regardless, it's rare to see a single beverage take over a city to this level.

Host Ryan Wilusz is joined this week by Bentley Blackshear, co-owner and director of brewing operations at Xul, to discuss what makes the PB&J Mixtape so special and to let listeners know how they can get their hands on the beer this holiday season. 

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by Knox News. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

No tuxedos, trophies or acceptance speeches required. These are the SCRUFFYs – similar to the Grammys, with a lot less music and a lot more Knoxville. 

As the downtown reporter for Knox News, host Ryan Wilusz has seen plenty of exciting (and sometimes crazy) things happen in the center of our city over the years. But a Sunsphere paint job, Old City street fight, plant vandalism and pirate bar were not on his 2023 Bingo card.

Obscure events deserve obscure categories, though we've included some more traditional honors as well. Listen as Ryan and guest host Keenan Thomas share their picks for the best of 2023.

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by Knox News. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.