Cookeville has "model downtown" (Algood: rooftop, costs, versus)

[BuffaloHome]

Sunrise this morning over downtown Cookeville, or at least the eastern half of downtown Cookeville. I think the camera is located on a tower by the performing arts center.

[BuffaloHome]

Some pictures from yesterday's annual Cooking on the Square to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Flawless fall weather, a huge variety of delicious Cajun food, and thousands of fun-loving people around the beautiful courthouse square in downtown Cookeville. A good time was had by all.

[JMT]

Not only does Cookeville have a thriving arts scene, but apparently Cookeville also has a growing literary scene. To that end, the new bookstore Plenty on Spring is going to start hosting a series of poetry readings at its Spring Street location downtown.

Tennessee poet Erin Hoover and Plenty On Spring, the new community event space and independent bookstore, have joined forces to bring a free, monthly community poetry reading series to Cookeville’s growing literary scene. Sawmill Poetry Series, named for the beloved Southern breakfast gravy, will feature readings from touring poets who have recently published a collection followed by an open mic reading in which local writers may volunteer to share their original work.

Each event will take place at Plenty On Spring, 35 W. Spring St. Cookeville, phone 931-349-2119, and the store will offer the featured poet’s books and select refreshments for sale.

Readings begin at 7 p.m. on the first feasible (non-holiday) Monday of each month. Local writers who wish to share their work in the open mic are invited to arrive by 6:45 p.m. to sign up for a five-minute open mic slot. Written poetry, performance poetry, song lyrics, flash fiction, and micro-essay readings are all welcome.

“I’ve experienced a lot of love for writing and writers in Cookeville, especially poetry,” said Erin Hoover, who helped bring Ada Limón, the U.S. Poet Laureate, to Tennessee Tech in September through the Center Stage series. “Tennessee is geographically central to the South, and we have so many talented poets living nearby and writing exceptional poetry, plus our homegrown creative voices. I’m excited to gather us all together and to celebrate poetry.”

Read more here behind the H-C paywall:

https://herald-citizen.com/stories/v...-spring,67277?

[BuffaloHome]

GoTab, the app which allows restaurant customers to order from their phones, has featured downtown's Blue Pig to show how GoTab can help restaurants reduce costs. There are lots of excellent restaurants in downtown Cookeville, but Blue Pig is probably my favorite. This video shows off some of their dishes and some of the areas of the restaurant such as the patio and the bar. It makes me want to go there for lunch today.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwJjKFqYlz8

[JMT]

An upscale bar with "speakeasy vibes" is coming to the Square in May. 1854 Cocktail Bar & Lounge says it's coming to the "historic square in Cookeville" in May 2023 but doesn't say where on the square. I don't drink, but it sounds interesting. "Enjoy a uniquely crafted cocktail within an elegant atmosphere."

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088931512581

[JMT]

The newest edition of Cookeville Lifestyles magazine came out last week, and it includes an article about the mysterious cocktail bar coming to downtown this summer.

We’ve all seen them. Immaculate cocktail bars complete with fresh ingredients, moody lighting and mystic bartenders whipping up flashy concoctions. But what if we told you instead of traveling to Nashville, Chicago, New York or a similar bustling city you’ll soon be able to experience the elegance right here in Cookeville?

Your wish will soon be granted. The 1854 Cocktail Bar & Lounge is currently under construction in Cookeville’s historic square with plans to open its doors by June of 2023.

When the owners of the soon to be hip spot had the idea to open a speakeasy, they weren’t sure they could find a space in a great location. Luckily, a building owner in town was quick to jump at the idea and told the 1854 creators he had the perfect space for them.

Located in the heart of Cookeville’s square in an undisclosed location, the 1,000 sq. ft. space will transport you right back to the 1930s. Complete with antique furniture, velvet curtains, a charred wine barrel ceiling, brass fixtures and a custom curved bar, the creators are sparing zero details when it comes to the aesthetics of the space.

They will have non alcoholic cocktails, too, as well as some finger foods. Read more about it here:

https://cookevillelifestyles.com/eve...eR3zzrOQ38IhrE

[tragenvol]

1854 has a Facebook page updating progress; the owner will be at the Home Show this weekend crafting mocktails as part of the Cooking Stage demonstration lineup, Friday at 4:00 pm.

[JMT]

It looks like Taiko is not going to reopen. Instead, the French Cookie of Cookeville is going to take over its space at 125 West Broad. The French Cookie of Cookeville makes absolutely perfect macarons. The owner was an architect and baked macarons only as a hobby and gave them away as gifts. Friends told her she should sell them, so she started selling them out of her kitchen, then as business grew she and her husband moved to a larger house with a larger kitchen, then they converted a vintage 1964 camper into a mobile pop-up, and now they're moving into a brick and mortar location. I suspect they'll have more than just macarons at their shop although they haven't said for sure. They're hoping to open in June.

PS Taiko sushi is available at House of Thai.

https://www.frenchcookieckvl.com/

The new location which is in the heart of the historic WestSide: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1645...7i16384!8i8192

[BuffaloHome]

I heard on 94.1 this morning that the people renovating the 1920's-era old Pepsi bottling building on the SW corner of Spring and Walnut are putting in a brick oven pizzeria in part of the building. The other part will be a new location for Vertical Coffee while the upstairs will be apartments. This will make the 3rd pizzeria on the west side, not including the Pizza Machine food truck (well old school bus). Seems like a lot of pizzerias.

[BuffaloHome]

The new owners of Bobby Q's have announced a grand re-opening for April 11. I don't know that I've ever been more excited for a restaurant opening. The new owners (who also own Nashville's fabled Monell's restaurants) have promised to keep Bobby Q's signature dishes (bbq, baked beans, pool room slaw, banana pudding) and add Monell's famous fried chicken, pot roast, Southern style vegetables, and other dishes. They are also going to be open for breakfast which I bet will be amazing. Nashville Scene has named Monell's breakfasts the best in Nashville, and Playboy named it the best breakfast in America. Their full Bobby Q's menu hasn't been posted but it shouldn't be too much longer.