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Downtown Bristol Blog

Public input being sought for Long-Range Transportation Plan

City officials and members of the Bristol Tennessee/Virginia Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold two public information meetings regarding the Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan Year 2040. This plan provides an overview of existing transportation systems, public transportation services, and proposed improvements, and also evaluates future transportation needs.

“Input from the public is extremely valuable as we evaluate this long-range plan because they are ultimately the ones who will use and benefit most from its implementation,” said Rex Montgomery, Transportation Planner for the City of Bristol, Tennessee. “The needs of our citizens are what direct the goals and objectives of this plan, so we want to be sure that their voice is heard,” he added. The primary goals outlined in the plan are system efficiency and asset management, economic development, healthy and sustainable communities, mobility options, and user safety and security.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, is the agency designated with facilitating regional transportation planning, and works with related agencies at the state and local level to provide transportation related information and analyses for the Bristol Tennessee/Virginia urban area. The Bristol MPO includes the Town of Abingdon, Virginia, the Cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia, and areas of Sullivan County, Tennessee and Washington County, Virginia.

The two opportunities for the public to review the plan and share insight will be at an Open House on Monday, August 1, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. or at the MPO Executive Board meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Both meetings will be held at the Ewell L. Easley Municipal Annex Building at 104 8th Street in Bristol, Tennessee. A copy of the Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan Year 2040 is available at www.bristoltn.org/136/Metropolitan-Planning-Organization or by contacting the MPO.

For more information, contact Rex Montgomery, Transportation Planner, at 423-989-5519 or email rmontgomery@bristoltn.org.



Downtown Bristol Events

BCM Museum Celebrates Second Anniversary

August 2–7 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Since its Grand Opening in August of 2014, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum has achieved numerous awards, received national and international press coverage, and welcomed visitors from all over the world. Next month the museum celebrates its second anniversary by giving a few gifts of its own to the community in the way of savings on admission and merchandise from The Museum Store.

“We are so pleased with the museum’s awards and honors, which validate the research and effort that went into the museum,” said Museum Director Dr. Jessica Turner. “We continue to work toward building the kind of institution that will lead into the future and which this great community deserves.”

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum celebrates its second anniversary with discounts on admission and other incentives from Tuesday, August 2 – Sunday, August 7, 2016. Next week, admission to the museum will be reduced to $5 for all patrons plus taxes, museum members will receive a 20% discount on their purchase at The Museum Store (exclusions apply,) and if a patron signs up as a new member or renews a museum membership, the museum will give two (2) additional museum day passes.

“As we celebrate the museum’s second year anniversary, it’s amazing to see how far our organization has come in such a short time,” said Leah Ross, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music, the parent organization of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, and Radio Bristol. “We urge everyone to come visit the museum during our anniversary week in August at a reduced cost and learn more about Bristol’s important place in music history.”

4th Annual Bristol Chamber of Commerce State of the Cities

August 3 | Bristol Train Station

Bristol Chamber of Commerce will host its 4th annual State of the Cities event August 3rd from 11:30 am — 1 pm at Bristol Train Station.

Reserved seating (table for 8): $350

Lunch will be provided.

To reserve a table, contact Sarah Hutchinson at 423-989-4862 or ashuttle@bristolchamber.org.

The Nest Featured Artist Meet and Greet

August 4 | Blackbird Bakery

It's that time again, new art has been hatched in "The Nest at Blackbird Bakery." The Nest features art from up-and-coming local artists. Additionally, 25% of sales goes to a local non-profit agency.

This months featured artist is Jeanie Yates. Come by and meet the artist this Thursday, August4th from 6-8 pm, and enjoy live music from Willie and the Wildwood Flowers, a local dulcimer group, from 6:30-8:00 pm.

Full Moon Jam: Billy Crawford

August 4 | Downtown Center

Blues guitar might be associated with Mississippi, Texas and Chicago, but a man of the mid-South has something to say about that. The city of Bristol, smack on the Tennessee/Virginia border, claims itself as the birthplace of country music. But one of its native sons is making a huge blues noise. The common denominator in all of this is Billy Crawford – raised playing bass in church, then gaining an early hard-rock pedigree on electric guitar. But for the past three decades, he has turned his six-string action toward the blues.

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For the 20th year, the City of Bristol Tennessee will be hosting the free concert series "Full Moon Jam" on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Downtown Center (Country Music Mural), 810 State Street. Performances begin at 7 p.m. and continue until 9 or 9:30 p.m. through September 29th.

Bring a lawn chair or come early to grab one of the 350 chairs provided on-site. Refreshments are sold in the concessions area for a nominal fee. Clean, well-stocked restrooms also available.

You are asked not to park in the bank drive-through area adjacent to the venue and please do not to bring skateboards or bicycles into the venue. Parking is available on Shelby Street in the Municipal parking lot or on State Street in designated parking spaces.

Bands subject to change without notice. For more information visit the City of Bristol TN website.

Bike Night w/ Southern Rebellion

August 4 | Quaker Steak and Lube

Quaker Steak & Lube presents Bike Nights! All summer long (through October) Thursday nights in downtown Bristol, VA.

About Southern Rebellion
Southern Rebellion is a high energy country music group founded in the Tri-Cities area of Northeast Tennessee. Their focus is to bring our original music that has the heart of southern rock, the twang of old fashioned country music and the soul of Memphis blues all mixed together with a new age mainstream sound.

Bark in the Park: Big Stone Gap

August 4 | Cumberland Square Park

This week's movie: Big Stone Gap (rescheduled from July 28 due to weather)

FREE Music & Movies in the Park brought to you by BVU, PUSH! Film Festival, and City of Bristol Virginia and the Parks and Recreation Department, plus bring your best furry friend! Bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for live music and a great movie the whole family can enjoy. Concessions available.

Pet Parade at 6:30 pm
Music at 7 pm
Movie at dusk (8:45 — 9 pm)

Photo Booth: Have your dog photographed by Twin City Photo Club for a nominal fee.

Contests
Awards presented for first place, ribbons for 2nd & 3rd. Free t-shirt to the first 35 to register (one shirt per pet family)!

  • Best Trick
  • Largest & Smallest
  • Best Dressed Dog
  • Sit & Speak
  • Most Hair
  • Most Unusual
  • Peanut Butter Lick

All pets must be leashed and have current vaccinations. Rights are reserved to refuse participation if deemed to pose a threat to others or their pet.

The Pickin' Porch Show: Robert Lester

August 4 | Mountain Music Museum

This week's Pickin' Porch Show will feature Robert Lester.

Border Bash: The Grand Shell Game

August 5 | Downtown Bristol

On a beautiful afternoon in May of 2014, in the foothills of Carolina, a handful of gentlemen gathered to play some songs. There was no intention. There was no expectation. There was only music, and from that music brought joy. The next week they met again, with a slight shift. A different drummer. The songs grew, they changed. There was power in the varying renditions. a seed was planted. The week after, still, they met again. This time with both drummers. The influences of the first week met those of the second. The rhythms played off each other. The music continued to grow. The band solidified.

Border Bash, a free summer concert series held annually May through August, celebrates its17thanniversary including children’s activities, arts & craft and food vendors in addition to live music and much more. All the events will be in the 400 & 500 Block of State Street this year, except for June17th, which will be held in the Downtown Center and July4thwhich will be held in Cumberland Square Park.

Border Bash is hosted by Believe in Bristol, Birthplace of Country Music® the Cities of Bristol and Bristol Pediatrics. Border Bash would not be possible without our community sponsors. Our sponsors in 2016 includeBorder Bash is a free community event supported by Anne and Ben Cowan, Bank of Tennessee, Blackbird Bakery,Blakley-MitchellCo., Brown, Edwards & Co., Burke, Powers &Harty, Camellia Digital, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Express AV Productions, New Peoples Bank,RenasantBank, Revolution Curbside Recycling,StrongwellCorporation, The Bristol Hotel: McCall Capital, LLC, Tom and Barbara Smith/ Merrill Lynch, Tri City Tent and Event, Walling Distributing, Wells Fargo and media sponsors Bristol Herald Courier, Radio Bristol, 99.3 The X, Electric 94.9 FM,WCYB-5, andWXBQ96.9 FM.

Border Bash: The Kodiak Brotherhood

August 5 | Downtown Bristol

The Kodiak Brotherhood is a home-grown outlaw country band hailing from Concord, North Carolina. A four-piece made up of longtime, experienced musicians who've played in (and still do play with) the likes of The New Familiars, Sugar Glyder, Solar Cat, and more.

Border Bash, a free summer concert series held annually May through August, celebrates its17thanniversary including children’s activities, arts & craft and food vendors in addition to live music and much more. All the events will be in the 400 & 500 Block of State Street this year, except for June17th, which will be held in the Downtown Center and July4thwhich will be held in Cumberland Square Park.

Border Bash is hosted by Believe in Bristol, Birthplace of Country Music® the Cities of Bristol and Bristol Pediatrics. Border Bash would not be possible without our community sponsors. Our sponsors in 2016 includeBorder Bash is a free community event supported by Anne and Ben Cowan, Bank of Tennessee, Blackbird Bakery,Blakley-MitchellCo., Brown, Edwards & Co., Burke, Powers &Harty, Camellia Digital, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Express AV Productions, New Peoples Bank,RenasantBank, Revolution Curbside Recycling,StrongwellCorporation, The Bristol Hotel: McCall Capital, LLC, Tom and Barbara Smith/ Merrill Lynch, Tri City Tent and Event, Walling Distributing, Wells Fargo and media sponsors Bristol Herald Courier, Radio Bristol, 99.3 The X, Electric 94.9 FM,WCYB-5, andWXBQ96.9 FM.

Wise Old River

August 5 | Studio Brew

Wise Old River shares songs about the human condition, human experience, times of need, times of pain, times of being lost and times of being found, our searching, and finding hope, grace and truth as well as times of spiritual growth. They sing about it all. Their desire is for their music to be stripped down organic, earthy, wires, wood and vibrations from the soul.

Before the Storm

August 5 | Bristol Brewery

Bristol Brewery welcomes Before the Storm to the outdoor stage this Friday, August 5. They will be playing grunge, millennial, modern rock music at 8:00 PM.

With two talented guitarists, three part harmonies, and a tight rhythm section Before the Storm will play that song you love from the 90's and 2000's. Or even last week.

Soulfinger

August 5 | O'Mainnin's Pub

About Soulfinger
We are the keepers of SOUL, those who bare the torch that brings the flame to a new generation to light the fires of FUNK.

Yoga in the Park

August 6 | Cumberland Square Park

Do you like spending time outside? Do you like listening to bird songs? Do you want to meet new friends and take care of your health? Join Wellness Yoga of Bristol in the park for a free yoga practice. Classes will be held every Saturday in June, July, and August, weather permitting. The yoga practices will be taught by Rita Gregory and Nicole Putnam. Enjoy your free yoga practice in the midst of beautiful nature! Practices will be held at Cumberland Square Park in Bristol, VA! See you on the mat!

Iron Horse Bluegrass

August 6 | Piedmont Station

Come see Iron Horse Bluegrass live in concert! Tickets available at door. Cash bar. Food available at Historic Burger Bar, right next door. Come hear songs such as Rocket Man, and Enter Sandman. Few seats will be available, so come early.

Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats

August 6 | Bristol Brewery

Join the Rats atBristol Breweryon Saturday August 6th.Earth By Trainopens the show at 8:00 pm.​ For tickets click here.

About Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats
Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats formed in Asheville NC as a street busking project in late 2011. Revered for their high energy live shows, dynamic musicianship & Scotchie’s larger than life stage presence, the band has continued to craft their hard driving style of rock & blues and are dedicated to building their musical family everywhere they go. Consistent studio recordings, year round touring, earnest songwriting & sharing show bills with legends such as Sonny Landreth, Blind Boys of Alabama, Drivin N Cryin and Bettye Lavette has made Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats one of the industry’s must-watch bands.

Beaver Creek Storytellers

August 7 | Bristol Public Library

Join Beaver Creek Storytellers at Bristol Public Library (use rear entrance) for a fun afternoon of entertaining stories. Admission is $5.

Earth by Train

August 7 | Studio Brew

Earth By Train’s influences include, but are not limited to, making good music with each other, believing in the power of music and what it can do for our hearts and our world. They use drums, guitars, keyboards, hands, voice, heads and hearts to create sound that hopefully is appealing and helps in some way.

Social Media Marketing Class

August 9 | Bristol Chamber of Commerce

A BS in Social (Media) Work
8:30-10 a.m.
Course will include topics such as:

  • Targeting the Right Audience on the Right Platform (If you are targeting Mamaw – Twitter and Instagram are out)
  • What is Engaging (Getting Your Audience to Say Yes)
  • The Changing Landscape of Social Media (It's Pay to Play)
  • Keep It Socially Simple (Tricks to Make Social Media More Manageable)

A Masters in Social (Media) Work
10:30 a.m.–noon
Course will include topics such as:

  • Tricks of the Trade from Top Businesses Utilizing Social Media to Grow Business and Engagement (Bring computers and your social media logins for this course)
  • Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Pack a lunch and stay for a Q&A and/or Hands on Help (12:30-1:30 p.m.)
*Please send questions ahead of time so that High Road Digital can be prepared to answer them.

Also Coming Up

More Upcoming Events »


Community Notice Board

Bristol Office Supply Weekly Specials

Through August 5

Click here to view weekly specials.



Featured Artist Exhibit: Ken Simmelink

September 1–30 | A Work of Art Gallery & Gifts

Featured Artist Exhibit: Ken Simmelink
September 1-30, 2016
A Work of Art Gallery & Gifts
600 State Street, Bristol, TN

Ken first became aware that he could "sketch animals pretty well" when his 4th grade teacher asked if she could frame his pencil drawing of a deer and hang it in her home. Years later while home-bound recovering from meningitis, it was another woman who encouraged him to try oil painting. In college, he took art courses for enjoyment and to boost his grade point average. And finally it was his wife, who just before retirement bought him an easel and paints to get him started on a retirement hobby.

"I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and always had a special affinity for animals. A career in Aviation and missions allowed me to live, work and travel in many areas of the world. Photography was my hobby long before painting replaced it, but the one compliments the other. And both require an artist’s view of the world.My approach to art is this: our world of nature is beautiful and I probably can’t improve on it. But I can depict its beauty in two dimensions on canvass with paint. I work in watercolor, pastels and oils. My favorite media is oils. My style is photo realism and my favorite subject is still animals."

Ken has been retired for the past twenty years and painting is his favorite use of time and talent.