The Dolly Parton sculpture is the first in downtown Sevierville. A second sculpture can be found across the street from that one on Court Avenue, across from the courthouse The second sculpture is rather unique and tells an interesting story with a bit of local history. Come downtown and meet Bertie the dog.
The plaque (pictured above) tells the story according to local historian, Carroll McMahan. In this day and time, it is beyond belief that someone could send bank deposits by dog, but this was a special, trusted pet that always returned with the slip daily.
Bertie sits tall with the bank pouch in his mouth, ready to make a deposit.
I enjoyed reading this article in the local paper so I include a clipping here. The interviews and memories were special.
The Sevier County Courthouse is across the street. You can see the Dolly Parton sculpture in front of the right corner of the building.
Take a look at Bertie the dog next time that you are out and about in Sevierville.
We noticed a new restaurant had opened to good reviews in Pigeon Forge so it was time to make a visit. In fact, I have made 2 visits in the past month with two different groups of friends who were curious and wanted to try it. The Cottage is located at 3215 Parkway in Pigeon Forge and offers breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Come along and see what we ordered on both trips.
The dining room is bright and pleasant in nuetral colors. An inviting space for brunch.
Coffee is good and I enjoyed the individual creamer. I appreciate dish ware and enjoyed the cup as well.
In addition, mimosa options can add a festive vibe to the meal.
Can’t decide? Have a mimosa ‘flight!’ Or, share a flight with friends.
Voila!
Whether an appetizer or a meal, the fried green tomatoes with a generous serving of pimento cheese and pork belly jam is filling—and shareable.
I often order avocado toast so that was an easy decision. It was served on crusty bead with two eggs to your preference. Consequently, you will be full for the next 6 hours.
Someone in your party will probably order Eggs Benedict with home fries. They look so good!
Shrimp and grits are a good choice as well.
When the server brought our plates, my friends gasped when they saw the height of my order: the egg souffle sandwich. It is a show-stopper! You will notice it immediately on the tray.
I asked if there was cheese in the egg to make it so solid. The waiter asked the cooks and they simply whip the eggs and then cook them in a narrow thing to allow the egg to climb and achieve height . It was excellent and I will order it again some day. But to be sure, I could only eat a quarter of it. Definitely be hungry to attempt the egg souffle sandwich!
The brunch menu offers both sweet and savory choices so everyone in your group should be able to find something to suit their taste. But make sure to bring an appetite if you come to the Cottage. We think that it will be nice addition to the local restaurant scene so go and enjoy!
Friends and I recently met at My Little Italy restaurant to have lunch with an Italian flavor. The restuarant is located in the small, former Cheesy Steaks building on Highway 66, but has plenty of parking and dining area. We could smell the wonderful aromas of tomato and garlic as we walked into the door, signaling a good meal to come. Here is what we found.
Within a moment of entering the restuarant, I recognized that the quiet soundtrack playing in the background was correct!
We sat inside the dining area closest to the kitchen and the side door. This is an additional dining area that should accommodate customers well.
I usually like to order lasagna at Italian restaurants so I kept it the same here. There are lots of dishes to choose from and something for everyone. The owner /chef of My Little Italy spent decades working in restaurants in the Little Italy neighborhood in New York City—and you can tell because the flavors really capture that experience.
Here are the dishes that we ordered for lunch.
Greek salad was a starter.
Lasagna with plenty of sauce was excellent.
Of course, spaghetti was very good. The meat sauce was very satisfying.
And the exclamation point at the end of the meal: an order of Tiramisu to share with tablemates.
Wrapping up our meal, I asked the server who was the little boy depicted in the restuarant rugs and signage. The picture of the little boy is the server’s son, the owner’s grandson. Truly, it is a nice representation of a local family business.
You can find My Little Italy restaurant on Facebook to get the latest news. For example, there is a lunch special going on right now between 11:00-3:00 that offers pasta, house salad, drink, and bread for $12.99 . Maybe check Facebook before you visit as they will alert you if there is a repair need and they may have to close, as is the case right now with a kitchen hood repair.
My Little Italy is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. It is closed on Sunday.
My friends and I will return again before the summer is over to have another taste of Italy. Anyone who enjoys Italian food will enjoy dining at My Little Italy on 1758 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. See you out and about in Sevierville.
A while back, I was driving home from the REI store when I realized that I was across the street from the entrance of the Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort. Being a local, I may never stay there so I decided to go and take a peek and maybe see my friend Heidi in the coffee shop. Five minutes later, I was walking into the new resort at Dollywood. Here are the beautiful things that I saw during my quick trip to see the new Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort.
There is a spectacular view when you walk into the front door of the Heartsong Hotel and Resort.
A beautiful photo of Dolly Parton in the entrance area.
Outdoor areas have multiple fire pits and seating areas. Very inviting.
I imagine that this outdoor area is pretty spectacular at night.
There are several lounges for relaxation and meeting friends.
The Acoustic Lobby was the most interesting place on the ground floor and I was attracted to the colors.
Same room, better view!
There is memorabilia in this room that requires some time to examine to appreciate it.
Things to do and open spaces to enjoy relaxing days.
The indoor pool looked rather large through the window and the gift shop had all kinds of amenities.
The coffee shop had a wide variety of treats, snacks, and things to tide you over until meal time.
Pretty things on the walls.
If I get a chance to stay overnight at the Heartsong Lodge and Resort then I will certainly do so because it is a relaxing, inviting place in the Smoky Mountains.
A friend and I decided to meet for dinner at Muchacho Alegre because I had not been there before, but I had noticed ‘a buzz’ online about it. Originally a Ruby Tuesday, it is now home to delicious Mexican cusine. Sevierville has a variety of Mexican restaurants in town and locals have their favorites, but this new entry on the scene has developed a following. Here were some things that I enjoyed during my first visit to Muchacho Alegre.
First, it is located at 630 Winfield Dunn Parkway. The name is upbeat because “muchacho alegre’ means cheerful/happy boy in Spanish.
The foyer is cute and follows the decorative theme of colors and happiness.
The waiting areas will hold a crowd. This is just one area for guests. There were more.
This looks like a nice background for photos. I am sure that the sombreros are in frequent use for birthdays and general merrymaking. We love the little bear carving in the left corner.
Chips and salsa are critical so I was very happy with what was brought to the table. The waiter brought us a larger than usual container of salsa and it was a little thicker than found at some restaurants—which I like a lot! It was nice having a small molcajete of my own in which to enjoy the salsa. Muy bien!
Janet ordered fajitas that were accompanied by…
…this! A generous portion of rice and fixings.
I ordered Birria tacos, which are sometimes hard to find in this area so I was happy to see it on the menu. Muy rico!
I dipped my tacos in the birria, pictured above. Birria is a broth / beef consomme with ingredients that create rich flavor. The sauce may have originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco and is prepared on special occasions like weddings and holidays— which may explain why it is not easy to find on menus. I did not ask for their recipe, but it may have included cumin, chiles, bay leaves, onion, and cilantro, etc. so be ready for rich flavors.
Other specialty sides include plantains and yucca. I want to try that next time.
Alas, there was no room to enjoy dessert, but you may like Pastel de Tres Leches, churros, flan or a banana chime.
The Dia de los Muertos themed custom wallpaper behind the bar area is both modern and eyecatching. In fact, it is visually spectacular. It was my favorite view.
As we were leaving, I think that we spotted a real muchacho alegre.
Muchacho Alegre served good food and the waiters were very attentive. The dining areas are spacious and you don’t feel like you are sitting too close to others. It is a place that you don’t want to be in a hurry; rather, take your time and linger over the meal. I enjoyed Muchacho Alegre and know that I will return muy pronto. But next time, I must invite muchos amigos para la cena.
It was busy for a Tuesday in July so I got lucky and found a parking space across the street, just in time to meet friends for lunch at the still new Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream in downtown Sevierville.
Red’s Soda Fountain is located at 114 Court Avenue, beside the Central Hotel and within steps of the courthouse and the Dolly Parton statue.
Clearly, this place will be a foodies dream!
I love a specialty entrance mat.
There are booths arranged along the left side of the room, extending to the back wall. Tables and stools are to the right. Red’s is a large, open space where you can see good things being made fresh at the fountain.
Anita, Elaine, and I decided on the same thing for lunch: a ‘the Works Hot Dog’ and a Phosphate—a home made soda.They made Anita a Diet Cherry Coke and I had a Cherry Sprite. Very refreshing!
Good hot dog and I really enjoyed my phosphate!
I cannot tell the difference between malts, floats, and ice cream sodas, but the treats are amazing!
My friends opted for single scoop ice cream , which is very generous! They recommend the Espresso Crumble.
An old jukebox plays music for free and lends an authentic feel to your time in Red’s Soda Fountain.
A picture on the wall full of nostalgia.
This is a screenshot that I found in a search for more background on the original Red’s Cafe, containing photos of the original proprietor and the first location downtown. Anita says that the original location is where the piano lessons building is located on Bruce Street.
On a back wall, there are two maps with pushpins to show visitors’ home countries. It looks like Red’s Soda Fountain has made fans from all over the world.
We ended up staying over an hour and a half for our lunch because Red’s Soda Fountain is a place where you want to linger and anticipate special order drinks and treats. We noticed a nice crowd during our visit, especially for a Tuesday, and know that it will be popular for a long time.
As we said our goodbyes, I glanced over at the courthouse and noticed visitors who had just had ice cream in Red’s, now taking photos with the Dolly Parton statue. Truly, the soda shop is in an excellent location in downtown Sevierville.
We enjoyed lunch and treats at Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream and I’ll bet you a single cone of chocolate that I will be back there next week. There are some new things on the menu to enjoy next time. Red’s is certainly a special place to go when you are out and about in Sevierville.
If you have already visited Red’s, leave a comment on what you tried and recommend!
The weather was overcast, but not too cold so it was a good day for the Cocoa Crawl in downtown Sevierville yesterday.
I knew one of the first vendors that we encountered: Tina from Tina’s Delights. She has a trailer that you can enter and shop in all types of weather. I got a pack of the Hot Chocolate cookies. Her banana pudding cookies are a top seller.
Elaine bought some interesting freeze dried treats for her grandchildren to try. They all looked good. I wish that I had asked her how they are made.
These are adorable and I bought one for a niece. Now, I wish that I had bought one for me!
This artist had a variety of things to see and consider for gifts.
This artist had a trailer that you could enter and shop for handmade gifts. I admired the warm hats and gloves from alpaca wool.
This was a favorite vendor yesterday. I bought a bling Vol 4 Life shirt for myself and am looking at one more shirt for someone else.
For your ‘foodie’ friends!
Luke was a very busy entrepreneur and selling lots of hot chocolate.
I love sock monkey crafts. Elaine bought an egg gathering apron for a friend. How clever!
This will make a nice little gift for a colleague. Love the little bag!
Downtown is decked out for the holidays so enjoy a stroll around Bruce Street and Court Avenue. It is a festive time out and about in Sevierville.
(Caution—the pictures in this article may make you quite hungry!)
We saw the announcement on Facebook and knew that a food truck rally would provide a fun lunch meeting. Smoky Mountain Foodie, Elaine, and I met Melinda around 1:15 at the Sevier County Fair Grounds to see what was cooking for lunch. It was quite a task making a choice. Here is what we found during the outing.
A nice crowd was gathering by 1:15, but lines were not too long. Several people had bought food and were tailgating in the parking lot. A good idea!
I was interested in brisket, but we kept walking to see what else was there.
A lady had ordered this extreme funnel cake so I had to take a picture.
I think that I have had a Lobster Dog from this truck before. We were pondering the stuffed avocado.
Elaine and I eventually settled on something from the Pommes Frites truck. I know that means ‘fries’ in French so I tried to make it sound that way when we ordered at the window. We found a table and chairs at the little pavilion and settled in for lunch. Top photo shows a brat with kraut and fries while the bottom photo shows fries with two dipping sauces. Pretty good, but eat them fast and don’t let them cool down.
We will definitely look for this truck next time. Looked really tempting.
A patron let me take a picture of his onion rings—a generous portion that the picture doesn’t quite do justice. I heard that the fried cherry pie (pictured right) was outstanding and had a cream cheese surprise inside with the fruit filling.
The Kettle Corn vendors were quite friendly and working hard. They have free samples too.
After lunch, I saw this food truck advertised ‘real ice cream’ —and it did not disappoint. They said that regular ice cream tends to be 4% milk fat, but theirs is 10% milk fat. In fact, they said that they have to go out of state to get their ingredients. Soft serve chocolate ice cream is a special treat and it may have been one of the best that I have tried in recent memory.
Soon, it was time to stroll back to the car so we could all get home in time for the Vols game. A nice crowd of people enjoyed the sunny weather and a variety of food options, something for every taste. We had a great time and hope to see more food truck rallies so close to home. Next time, we may even tailgate.
Blue Fence Farms is a ‘pick your own flowers’ place featuring several varieties of sunflowers and zinnias. We decided to go and get some stems to brighten up our homes. This local business offers flowers, beautiful photo opportunities, and an overall lovely time. Come along to see the blooms growing there.
Blue Fence Farms is located on 3300 Douglas Dam Road, across the street from Northview Primary School.
The entrance is well marked and there is an abundance of parking.
We visited on a cloudy day so the photos may have a gray tinge; nevertheless, the sunflowers brought color to each photo.
I had never seen so many honeybees in my life—sometimes 3 per bloom! It was OK because the bees never bothered us.
We were fascinated by these fuzzy sunflowers because they look like Dr. Suess flowers. They may be called ‘dwarf sunflowers.’
Anita created small bouquets for each of her daughters. An unopened flower is a good idea because it is easy to transport home and will allow you to watch it bloom at home—a lovely transformation.
Zinnias are the most beautiful colors.
A riot of sunflowers in the distance.
There are several varieties of sunflowers so you can easily spend an hour here.
Follow their Facebook page to stay informed on hours and potential weather closings. Also, you can see beautiful sunflower photos and the different varieties.
We’ll go back to get more flowers soon. See you in the field!
At long last, my friends and I finally made a reservation for dinner at Ristorante Della Santina. This restaurant has been open for a while so I was excited when it was time to go. The dinner at Ristorante Della Santina made for a nice summer evening—Italian style!
The restaurant is located at 2004 Red Bank Rd. so it was only minutes away from our meeting point.
We made a reservation for 6:00 on a Thursday evening because we heard that it can be busy on the weekends. This worked out well because we were seated immediately at a table of our choice.
My friends and I do appreciate a nice tablecloth for a dining experience.
The restaurant offers pasta, seafood, chicken, and other specialities. We decided on our entrees: lasagna and eggplant parmigiana. Spaghetti is always my second choice, but the lasagna was the entree for this first dinner at Della Santina.
We loved the fresh Cesar salad and homemade dressing. Delightful starter.
Anita’s eggplant parmigiana was excellent. I am looking at this picture and want some now.
This picture may not capture the height of the lasagna, but it was a generous portion. Leftovers later!
It is hard to find Spumoni so I had to order it. Spumoni is an Italian milk sherbet with 3 flavors: cherry, pistachio, and chocolate. Ristorante Della Santina serves Spumoni covered in a chocolate shell. Divine!
Always be sure to order Spumoni if you can find it!
Don’t you appreciate a nice to-go container? This is a good one.
We enjoyed our dinner at Ristorante Della Santina very much and plan to return soon to celebrate Elaine’s birthday. I would say that is the nicest Italian restaurant in Sevier County and a good destination for a special dinner. A little more than 5 miles from downtown, it is worth the drive through Dolly Parton Parkway to get your taste of Italy.
Out and About in Sevierville 