...it seems to me that we ought to paint it off-white. Assuming clear blue skies is pretty presumptuous around these parts.

Seriously, though, that's a poor choice of camo color.

Great pic. Besides the fact this monstrosity has been added to the skyline, I will never understand why the L&N wasn't successful for restaurant/retail. Of course, I wasn't in Knoxville when the restaurants and retail stores all finally moved out of the L&N. I think Knoxville just took too much time to develop the WFP.

For the period of time that Ye Olde Steakhouse was forced from it's traditional location by an arson fire, the L&N was hopping. You couldn't hardly get into the joint. While I personally also still have very fond memories of the Jockey Club that was in there for a while, I guess it wasn't a business model that could make it. Anyway, the point is that the L&N has been a successful host location and could easily be so again. Just like every other building downtown, it just needs to land the right business.

I visited when there was a Ruby Tuesday at the L&N, when there was the L&N Seafood, and again when there was a fancier restaurant there (can't remember the name). The few times I visited the Ruby Tuesday it was "hopping". I enjoyed every visit to all of the restaurants. Parking was always an issue, but I did not let it deter me.

Anybody remember the restaurant in the old L&N Hotel building across Western Avenue from the depot? I remember eating there sometime in the late sixties or early seventies. The food wasn't memorable but the atmosphere was one of those if-the-walls-could-talk sort of things.

I was reminded of it the other day when I watched a DVD of "All the Way Home" that I had captured from TCM. There are several scenes shot in that area as well as in Ft. Sanders. There is even a steam locomotive going under the Western Avenue viaduct.

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Anybody remember the restaurant in the old L&N Hotel building across Western Avenue from the depot? I remember eating there sometime in the late sixties or early seventies.

If I remember correctly, the restaurant had an appetizer called spiders on the menu.

There was many a night I spent listening to the live entertainment provided in the bar above the restaurant. A few years early, I think the hotel was a brothel, but that was a little before my time!

Yes, I fondly remember the spiders. After the restaurant was shut down for the worlds fair the proprieters opened Zeke & Dan's in Fourth & Gill.

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Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

Who would have thought we had so many party girls on Knoxviews?

For those who are post World’s Fair, Zeke and Dan’s is now Sassy Ann’s on North Fourth Ave. Not to disagree, but as I recall Zeke and Dan’s predated the L & N Hotel. Not sure that Z was involved in the L & N; I believe it was D’s project. He located an old barn that he tore down and used for the interior. How about the tables, anyone? They were, as I recall, made from solid slabs of finished redwood. In addition to the spiders, there were, as I recall, birdnests, and more than likely spring rolls; great late night snacking food when drinking beer. The restaurant was operated by a Korean couple who added a special touch to their non-traditional oriental food.

As for grade change, the first obviously occurred when they constructed the viaduct. Before that I would assume Asylum sloped down to the level of the tracks, which would have been the level of the Station, the Foundry, the hotel, and the building next to the hotel that burned shortly before or after the World’s Fair.

The intersection would have changed again when the City “redeveloped” the northern end of Downtown from Wall to Jackson to construct TVA Towers and Summit Hill Drive. As Edens mentions, South Broadway sloped down past the east side of the L & N Station and ran behind Miller’s Parking Garage where it was bisected by the KUB substation and then continued on to and across Cumberland.

Lastly, it changed when they widened Henley for the World’s Fair and in anticipation of the post fair “improvements” planned to connect downtown directly to the Interstates. We lost the L & N Hotel, which served as the Folk Life Center during the World’s Fair, when they constructed the tunnels.

Looking at the stupid water tower from Bearden Hill last night following a gourmet meal at Wasabi's, you can see the blinking strobe from the top of the watertower. Don't really understand why they have to put a strobe on top of the water tank, perhaps KUB could enlighten us why the need?

The strobe is for aircraft warning. Don't be surprised to see antennas soon also.

It is my sincere hope that we never build another water tower that requires an aircraft warning device.

Wow, does this bring back memories. Zeke and Dan were about my best friends from 1968 to 1972. I put in a couple of weeks working for Dan on building the tavern. Played music in a band with Zeke and Bob Jordan. I remember what a treat it was to have the L&N up and running compared to the Yardarm down the street. Not that there was anything wrong with the Yardarm, unless you minded when someone would throw up under the ping pong table. Zeke and Dan are still around? I remember Dan's last name (Reinhart?) but not Zeke's and I'm curious if he's still playing old-time music. My e-mail is phil.sollins@orst.edu if anyone wants to reply privately.