Metro Pulse

So who is the real “Weird Al” Yankovic? Why, only one of the most devious performers of our time. He may seem inoffensively silly, but in fact he has made a career of deflating our pop-culture hang-ups. Dave Prince has a talk with him. Full story »

When Knox County Commission cut the East Tennessee Television and Film Commission's budget from just over $100,000 to roughly $50,000 recently, reaction in the production community was mixed. Some local filmmakers and TV producers felt the commission never really addressed their needs, while others thought it could have been a vital component in sustaining Knoxville's framework of freelancers and full-timers. Mike Gibson checks in with member of the Knoxville TV/film production scene to see where they think it's heading. Full story »

Rose Kennedy visits a Sikh religious center in West Knoxville. Full story »

We ask local immigrants to tell us what they really think of Knoxville with essays of their experiences here. Full story »

Between the University of Tennessee, ORNL, local IT departments, and the service industry, Knoxville has become an attractive new home for Asian Indian immigrants. Rose Kennedy talks to members of Knoxville's Asian Indian community about assimilation, education, and even a few happily-ever-after arranged marriages. Full story »

Charles Maldonado goes where even angels fear to tread (angels over 17, at any rate)—the Young Adult section of a local bookstore. There, Charles considers some current examples of the genre, with input from his... younger self? We're starting to worry about that boy... Full story »

It's our annual summer reading issue: We've surveyed the hippest of Knoxville's (elusive) hiperati, and asked them what books are on their must-read list this year at the beach or on the lake or in the lawn chair. Be sure to take notes; there'll be a test next week. Full story »

It came to us at a writers' meeting, Shazam-style, like a bolt from the sky: What if we devoted an entire issue to celebrating alternative comics? Full story »

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Thunder Road, the ’50s film about a runaway bootlegger that helped stamp Knoxville's name in the national consciousness, mainly thanks to a single line of dialogue and a like-named theme song penned by star Robert Mitchum. Jack Neely tracks down Mitchum's son and Thunder Roadco-star Jim Mitchum, and chats about bootlegging history, prospects for a remake, and the film's lasting appeal. Full story »

Maybe you've tried to sell a home, or else heard the news on CNBC: Like so many other facets of our post-Bush, post-9/11, post-war economy, the real estate market is in the crapper. But some local professionals claim the bearish housing market hasn't hit Knoxville like it has other cities. Rose Kennedy talks to area builders, buyers, and sellers to get the real scoop on the realty in East Tennessee. Full story »

With AdventureCon 2008 fast approaching, nerds and nerdlets from all over the city (and beyond) will gather for a weekend of comic-book trading, Warhammer playing, and fraternizing with the likes of Kevin Sorbo. But what do these seeming social misfits do when Hercules isn't in town? Charles Maldonado visits the epicenters of Knox nerd-dom and finds the answers to these and other burning questions. Full story »

It is time, once again, for the Manchester, Tenn.-based music festival that has fast become arguably the biggest and best music festival in the country. How big is Bonnaroo? Matthew Everett looks at the tale of the tape. Full story »

Matthew Everett visits our city's sex stores on a quest to find out what's really inside those storefronts. Full story »

Rose Kennedy talks to a genuine University of Tennessee sexpert, and explores the link between good sex and marital bliss. Full story »

Charles Maldonado looks at Knoxville's online sex industry via the dirty window of Craigslist's “Erotic Services” ads. Full story »