Spotlightlight: Nashville
What do you think when you first hear the name Nashville or see it up in lights? Well, the Music City, of course! For decades, Nashville has strongly held first place with country, bluegrass, southern gospel, and classic blues music. What is remarkable about being here is not needing to only go to large venues like the Grand Ole Opry or the Ryan Auditorium. You can find some of the best music ever written and performed in the heart of downtown Nashville on the exemplified Broadway Street with music pumping through open doors and windows in the local honky tonks, bars, and lounges. And, because so many musical celebrities like Blake Shelton, who raises the roof with live music at his Ole Red Stage and Grill, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, and even Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler now call Nashville home, you never know whom you may come across. My appreciation has happily developed more each time I travel there. Hard to believe this former country town in the middle of Tennessee has also become a Cosmopolitan center with neighborhoods like The Gulch showing off boutique hotels and ongoing construction of high-rise buildings built for new transplants or second residences for those wanting the taste of big-city living while feeling at home with fabulous shopping and restaurants in between.
Nashville has become one of the country’s most thriving convention centers and the go-to destination for popular bachelorette parties! It’s hard not to walk anywhere day or night without hearing the gleeful singing and whooping of soon-to-be brides and their bridesmaids pedaling through the streets in open streetcars. My last trip there proved great people-watching as everywhere you looked, there was unbridled excitement for Taylor Swift’s ERAS concert tour. Suppose you were lucky enough to secure a seat at the Nissan Stadium, where she recently performed nightly to 80,000 screaming fans. Two of her four consecutive nights were filled with raging storms, and I thought for certain she would cancel, disappointing those Swifties. But, she came on very late those two nights, performing past 1 a.m., and poured herself into a 4-hour show. I have to say I paid great respect to her professional commitment after that.
Don’t be afraid to show off your boots in Nashville . . . any boots! Whether you’re a newbie trying to break them in or they’ve become a second skin on your feet, the variety was never ending and show-worthy. It doesn’t matter where you are going or coming from. The show just goes on and on and on. And, then, on some more! I’m a boots collector, so I enjoyed the continuous assortment and diversity of folks wearing them. I have my unique pair; read to the end to see them.
Hungry? You’ll find a foodie scene next to none with Southern flavors throughout all city areas that will satisfy any craving day or night. Choices include fried chicken from the famous Hattie B’s, fried fish fixed with extra spicy cayenne pepper and no-joke hot sauce at Bolton’s in East Nashville, long-established local diners like the famous Sun Diner or joints like Jack’s serving bar-b-q sauce-covered finger-lickin’ ribs. Finish it all off with a creamy, delectable banana pudding. Catch some downtime at Tootsies Orchid Lounge to hang out and have a beer; Nashville has established itself as a thriving craft brewing community. If you are not in the mood for down-home cooking, go indulge in incredible fresh, flown-in fish for sushi and designer cocktails at Virago.
Do you enjoy drinking varietal brews? I took an afternoon to sample the many offerings at Southern Grist, voted one of the top breweries in Nashville that offers traits of classic hops to trendy infused styles with distinct characteristics. Here’s a place to find beer aficionados sampling many, making comparison notes out loud. Besides a good brew, admittedly, I am a whisky and bourbon fan. Sipping a Jack Daniel’s Tennessee single-barrel whiskey while sitting at a bar is a great way to break the ice and meet other travelers or chat with the locals. While Jack Daniel’s is distinguishable to Tennessee, other distilled spirits are found here and are well worth experiencing. Long-established Belle Meade bourbon is a pre-prohibition whisky produced in Tennessee since the late 1800s and the choice of the discerning whisky lover. Worth mentioning is the distinctive brand George Dickel, a producer of whisky celebrating Bottled in Bond expressions. Because of the tasteful variety of whisky here, you may wonder what took so long to sit down and enjoy the experience. Cheers to Nashville!
Because music has always been in my genes (or was it jeans?) I eventually performed in a jazz band in Chicago, another mecca for music. Growing up, I loved so many genres. I admit country still is on the newer side of the listening/enjoyment spectrum for me. Still, I get fully immersed in hearing it live and loud with talented musicians, passionate catchy melodies, and storytelling. I go full-on boot stompin’ hip swayin’ to the music dancing with everyone else on the floor. I can’t help myself! Don’t miss the opportunity to watch bands who may have made their professional mark here long ago. Or drop in and listen to musicians you may have never heard of who can make a steel Gibson guitar sing, watch drum sticks slice the air to keep the rhythmic tempo, a sweet violin swoon with dancing notes, and plucky banjo picking you won’t be able to take your eyes away from. They are passionate about being on stage, putting in their time, and making hopeful lasting impressions on the public. They never know, maybe recording executives are viewing and taking notes with the rest of us. Famously, now world-renowned artists such as Dolly Parton, Reba McIntire, and Garth Brooks started their careers and flourished here. It’s not just a country music scene here. You can treat your ears to the distinctive sound of bluegrass combining blues, jazz, gospel, fiddling, and old-time mountain music. I realize one of my favorite genres is the Nashville Smooth style producing artists like Darius Rucker and Jimmie Allen, changing the twangy sound of yesterday. I think I do love this music scene!
Besides the exuberant global mark the music industry has made on Nashville, which is inescapable, I promise this is one of the most pleasant, laid-back and gracious cities I’ve ever spent time in. The hospitality oozing from every block is warm and welcoming, making you feel like you fit in without even trying. Chance encounters like passing good friends catching up at a bus stop to minutes later walking into the naturally warm smile of a weekend workman on the sidewalk gives true reason to feel good! This city overpours with happy vibes and culture. The sprawling urban Centennial Park shows off Nashville’s art museum featuring the incredible full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon, built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Inside you’ll view plaster replicas cast from the original sculptures from 438 B.C. For a few moments, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into ancient Greece. Returning to ‘real time’, If you’re here in August, don’t miss the lively Tomato Art Fest for a large garden party venue filled with entertainment, seasonal food, and drinks! And, all around town, you’ll come across the many painted outside murals ready for picture posing.
Wow! Now that I’m at the end of this blog, I realize I need to look at my calendar and find an opening to return to Nashville SOON! My takeaway: great music, great people, great food, and great vibes. This city is made for boot-stompin’. There’s so much Nashville offers you may be unable to fit it all in for a long weekend. But I guarantee your return trips will be something to look forward!
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