"Artsy", funky smaller towns in Tennessee?

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by groovamos

Well I certainly wouldn't want anyone to find "too much". This is the first time I've ever read an overall diss of Franklin. How can you have a town in the hills with this much dramatic and tragic history, soldiers dying, a plantation house which was a makeshift hospital for that war, and come up with a ridiculous adjective like "bland"? You next should explain why people from the coasts are pouring into the town and surroundings. And while you're at it you might have a reason why the town was less than 5000 population in the '60's and what is the population now? I think more than 60,000.

Posts like the above basically have a message: check me out I'm cool. I can shock you with out of the ordinary pronouncements. In other words -- lemme knock your socks off and pay attention.

Franklin has great history - no doubt about it (I have a BS in history from MTSU - just FYI). But the thing is, Franklin is expensive. Not everyone can afford to live there. It's grown a lot over the years and traffic can be terrible. And it's also pretty conservative and family oriented. It's not a funky, arty kind of place overall.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by groovamos

Well I certainly wouldn't want anyone to find "too much". This is the first time I've ever read an overall diss of Franklin. How can you have a town in the hills with this much dramatic and tragic history, soldiers dying, a plantation house which was a makeshift hospital for that war, and come up with a ridiculous adjective like "bland"? You next should explain why people from the coasts are pouring into the town and surroundings. And while you're at it you might have a reason why the town was less than 5000 population in the '60's and what is the population now? I think more than 60,000.

Posts like the above basically have a message: check me out I'm cool. I can shock you with out of the ordinary pronouncements. In other words -- lemme knock your socks off and pay attention.

I fail to understand what the historic events of 150 years have to do with the day-to-day living of today. Also, the hordes descending on a place isn't what everyone wants, so although that may seem attractive to you, it can send others running for the exits.

You need to read more carefully next time. Jab says he has different tastes than most but thought the OP may have similar ones, based on what they wrote. I agree. I know a couple of people that love Franklin, it is a great town but it is not overly artsy and I don't find it funky at all.

Regarding his character, I personally know Jab and he is very kind and humble, never striving to be "cool," as you put it. In fact, he laments hipsters a few times in the posts on this thread. He does know his stuff, though. He's also been to the places that you think he hasn't. He's actually a Tennessee native. He has his masters in city planning. But, as he says, it comes down to personal opinion. You may not have meant to do so but your post sent this message: knee-jerk butt hurt.

[creeksitter]

Here are some towns I think have character:

Dandrige is well located and has a cute downtown - ripe for improvement with well-off retirees living nearby.

Cumberland Gap is out of the way but I seem to recall a bit of funky character in this tiny town.

Jonesboro is more established with a famous storytelling festival and a historic downtown.

I love the Victorian houses in Harriman - there seems to be a move afoot to renovate the downtown but it's in the early phases. And hey, they are planning a renaissance faire - is that considered funky?

These are good places to visit and check out but my sense is if you want a funky hippie vibe you might have to work on creating it yourself.

[dfjycxiao]

Are there any smaller, "funky" towns in Tennessee? Id