Be sure to check out all the great holiday events we have in the month of December — a ton of holiday magic!

charlie southerland and ron sherrill have opened the doors to their all-new, retro-styled downtown phoenix pharmacy, which they hope will evoke memories of the typical old corner drugstore. after opening in october in a temporary space in gay street's phoenix building, the business partners shuffled the pharmacy closer to the front of the building on feb. 3, revealing an authentic-looking vintage pharmacy.

ice cream as it was meant to be served. downtown knoxville is getting another sweet treat. open since last october, the phoenix pharmacy and fountain (418 s. gay st.) recently moved to the front of the phoenix building (from their old space along the promenade). and that means they’re finally unveiling their much-anticipated, old-timey soda fountain, which can be glimpsed through the window from gay street.

the grub spouse and i will rarely pass up a dessert opportunity, so when I realized that the new phoenix pharmacy and fountain was just a few doors down from the slightly less new maple hall bowling alley, i knew we had an intriguing evening ahead of us on gay street.

i might be high. but i’m pretty sure that the phoenix soda fountain is one of the best things going on in downtown knoxville just now. as current slang would have it, this place is lit. i have experience with sugar highs and plenty of exposure to the euphoria that comes from eating well, but i don’t know that i have had those two elations mingle with such intensity and longevity as they did following my visit to the phoenix. the buzz lasted for hours.

as 2016 winds down, i’m taking my annual look back at the 50-something establishments i visited throughout the year and sharing the highlights with readers. as always, i will point out that this is not a list of the overall top 10 restaurants in knoxville but simply my favorite 10 of the ones i reviewed this past year. in the order they were visited:

not many people remember old time drug stores that were a spot for medicine and sweets. the phoenix pharmacy and fountain in downtown knoxville is like a trip back in time to those good old days. the family-run phoenix pharmacy has a 1920s feel with old medicines and nostalgic sweets that line the walls.

the phoenix pharmacy and fountain is making a crowd favorite on their summer menu. the biscuits and berries biscuit includes a house made buttermilk biscuit with a strawberry compote and vanilla bean ice cream. it is topped with whipped cream.