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🥐 What’s taking over the old Donut Shop on Broadway?

🥐 What’s taking over the old Donut Shop on Broadway?

Also inside: Knox County's back-to-school prep, CreepyCon horror convention, and a 40-year downtown diner favorite.

July 30, 2026

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August always feels like a month of fresh starts.

For some, it means the first day of school is around the corner. For others, it is a chance to squeeze in one more weekend trip, one more patio dinner, or one more morning lingering over coffee before life speeds up again.

We're sharing a few great ways to enjoy the season, along with some helpful reminders for families getting ready for the school year. Let's make the most of what's left of summer!

🥐 A 40-seat French bistro debuts on Broadway

The Gist: Au Bon Coin, the new French bistro from Potchke owners Laurence Faber and Emily Williams with partner Ryan Strutz, makes its official debut August 6 at 724 N. Broadway. It fills the small blue wedge-shaped building that was home to The Donut Shop until 2024, with room for just 40 guests and a prix fixe menu.

Why It Matters: It is another sign of momentum along the Broadway and North Central corridor, and one of the more intimate dining rooms to open downtown in a while. Dinner service runs Thursday through Sunday, 5:30 to 9 p.m.

🎒 Knox County's first bell rings August 10

The Gist: Knox County Schools begins the 2026-27 year on Monday, August 10, with a half day of classes. Student schedules and teacher assignments go live on the Aspen Family Portal starting Thursday, July 30, and general supply lists are posted on individual school websites. Teachers report for in-service days the week prior.

Why It Matters: With more than 60,000 students across the district, a little lead time helps. Checking schedules and bus stops now beats sorting it out the night before.

What's Next: Families can find their child's bus stop using the district's online stop locator and set up meal accounts through LINQ Connect.

🥞 Oversized diner classics meet genuine Knoxville soul

540 Union Ave, Knoxville

Pete’s Restaurant & Coffee Shop has served downtown since 1986 on a simple promise: generous portions and familiar faces. Mornings start over steaming mugs, fluffy scratch biscuits, and blueberry pecan pancakes that spill past the plate edges.

Come lunchtime, regulars swap stories over warm, crispy Reubens and classic blue-plate specials. It is an easy morning ritual that turns a quick bite into a weekly staple.

📖 Proof that printed pages still hold space

517 Union Ave, Knoxville

The Daylight Building has housed Union Ave Books since 2011. Staff guide visitors directly to the shelf for East Tennessee titles, young adult picks, or journals.

August brings a busy schedule, beginning First Friday with a 4-author reading prior to the 8pm open mic down the block. Author Yancy Wood visits next for his military thriller, followed by the 21+ Hellmouth Magazine Salon on August 14.

Click here to be the business everyone hears about next week!

Meet Ninja, a young Domestic Short Hair mix

Weighing in at a medium seven to eleven pounds, this shy fellow takes a little time to settle in, but patience rewards you with a companion who genuinely loves being held, receiving gentle pets, and enjoying special treats.

To learn more about this handsome boy,

🎤 Summer Stages: The Bijou Broadway Revue! | Bijou Theatre | 07/31 | More
Broadway showstoppers belted live for one glittering night.

🥁 Kuumba Festival | Market Square & Chilhowee Park | 07/31-08/02 | More
Celebration of African and African American culture with music and a marketplace.

👑 Knoxville Princess Day | Knoxville Convention Center | 08/01 | More
Fairytale character meet-and-greets, royal photo opps, and storybook games.

🏎️ Harper Auto Square's Cars & Coffee | West Town Mall | 08/02 | More
Vast showcase featuring hundreds of classic and modern automotive marvels.

🎭 & Juliet | Tennessee Theatre | 08/04-08/09 | More
A joyful pop-infused musical comedy reimagining a classic romantic tale.

📖 Story Thyme | Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum | 08/04 | More
Free toddler storytime among the garden paths, perfect for little ones.

🎪 Kerbela Shrine Circus 2026 | Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center | 08/07-08/09 | More
Classic big-top spectacles and acrobatics delivering timeless family entertainment.

🎃 CreepyCon Halloween & Horror Convention | Knoxville Convention Center | 07/31-08/02 | More
Tennessee's largest horror convention with guests, cosplay, and 200-plus vendors.

🎸 Dreams: A Fleetwood Mac Experience | Schulz Bräu Brewing Co | 07/31 | More
Tribute performance honoring iconic seventies harmony-rich soft rock classics.

🎗️ Paint the Park Pink | Covenant Health Park | 07/31 | More
Pink-jersey night benefiting cancer research, capped with postgame fireworks.

🤠 An Evening With The Mavericks & Friends | Bijou Theatre | 08/02 | More Eclectic blend of neo-traditional country, rockabilly, and Latin rhythms.

😎 NITE with Echos | Open Chord | 08/05 | More
Darkwave and synth-pop soundscapes driving a moody nighttime entertainment.

🎶 A Tribute to Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Recording | Bijou Theatre | 08/06 | More
Gritty outlaw country revival honoring a legendary prison concert.

🍸 Lemon Drop Festival | World's Fair Park | 08/08 | More
Daytime gathering with specialty vodka cocktails, food trucks, and live music.