Remember how waking up on weekend morning used to be when you were a little kid-carefree, bright and sunny, Winnie-the-Pooh pajamas, Saturday morning cartoons and a heaping bowl of your favorite sugar-coated cereal? Yeah. That is how The Knoxville Pearl is except it's two in the morning and I never actually ate Count Chocula as a child, but I wish I had.

The Knoxville Pearl, owned and operated by Joe and Jamie Johnson, is Knoxville's first cereal bar. Located on Jackson Street between Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria and the Pilot Light, the Pearl is certainly giving the Old City a delightful late-night (or anytime that isn't actually breakfast time) alternative.

The Pearl is like walking into an instantly cozy, shabby-chic living room circa 1920 something. A five year-old's imagination has exploded onto the walls and everything fits together with a nostalgic sense of innocence. Yes, the mural of downtown Knoxville in flames at the mercy of a masked tortoise and the hair bazooka-wearing duo makes absolute and perfect sense. So does the fondly-aged hardwood floors, the exposed brick peeking out from behind whimsy, colorful walls, the cushy vintage sofas and chairs and 1970s-esqu television set playing "My Little Pony."  There are board games to play and cereal.

For $4.99 you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat cereal buffet. First you choose between a colorful bowl or a colorful bowl with built in straw for optimal excess milk-drinking. Then you make your way to the cereal bar. There you will find a selection that includes everything from Cocoa Rice Crispi's to Cinnamon Toast Crunch to Fruity Pebbles to Fraken Berry. You can mix and match cereals to create your perfect diabetic coma-inducing concoction or you can be boring. After making your selection, head back to the kitchen to choose from a variety of different milk options. Cereal-bingers can also add toppings like chocolate chips, gummy things, and whipped cream for free.

If eating Barbie Princess cereal isn't your thing, The Pearl offers several different options including granola and organic cereals, teas and juices. The menu offers a variety of yerba mate and boba milk teas (also known as bubble tea and pearl tea). The boba milk tea was delicious, although I didn't really enjoy the "boba" part, the little tapioca balls at the bottom of the glass. I wouldn't let it stop you from trying it, and the blueberry pomegranate juice is definitely something worth experiencing.

Yes, $4.99 may sound a bit pricey for a bowl of cereal but you are going to eat Cocoa Puffs, play Scrabble and have a good time; it's just the natural order of things. Besides all of that, it is all you can eat. All. You. Can. Eat. I urge you not to underestimate the gluttony that is the average American college student. My roommate consumed eight bowls in under and hour. Folks, it can be done; milk it for all it's worth.