The sun shines bright on our ol' Kentucky Derby party

Matting rocking the blues at our Derby party

A colorful day for the Derby

Garrett Parris at the Derby party

We had some amazing music played at the Ky. Derby party

Thanks to Garrett, Jennifer, Ronnie and Justin.

Bourbon, Beer Cheese and a homemade Derby pie...oh my

Three things needed for a party to really be good.

Nashville Restaurant Health Scores April 30-May 6

HIGH SCORES:

Nick’s Famous BBQ
2817 Clarksville Hwy
Date Inspected: 4-24-08
Score: 91

Istanbul Restaurant
2631 Nolensville Road
Date Inspected: 4-22-08
Score: 92

Nashville’s Most Wanted Pizza
207 Woodland Street
Date Inspected: 4-23-08
Score: 95

LOW SCORES:

Jersey Mike’s
5506 Old Hickory Blvd
Date Inspected: 4-21-08
Score: 58
Major Violations:
· Meatballs in sauce, in the warmer, is out of temperature
· Unlabeled chemical spray bottle of blue liquid on floor in sandwich prep area
· Employee did not wash hands before preparing food, after touching clothes.

China Star Restaurant
630 S. Gallatin Road
Date Inspected: 4-24-08
Score: 55
Major Violations:
· Sweet-n-sour chicken, in trays, are out of temperature
· Eggs in bowl are out of temperature
· Employee wipe hands on apron and continued to prepare food without washing their hands

UPDATES:

Seoul Garden
4928 Edmondson Pike
Passed Reinspection

Baskin-Robbins has 31 Cent Scoop Night tonight

Ice cream marketer Baskin-Robbins will hold its second annual 31 Cent Scoop Night to raise money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the company said on Wednesday.

Canton, Mass.-based Baskin-Robbins will hold 31 Cent Scoop Night on April 30 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at all of its 2,700 stores, according to the company. During the event, the company, known for its long running branding platform touting its 31 flavors, will reduce the price of its 2.5 oz. ice cream scoops to 31 cents.

For the event, Banskin-Robbins will partner with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and donate $100,000 to the organization. The two organizations will also honor 31 firefighters from across the country who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to community service through the newly created America's 31 Firefighting Heroes program.

Nashville Restaurant Health Scores April 23-29

HIGH SCORES:

El Chico Restaurant
1132 Murfreesboro Road
Date Inspected: 4-16-08
Score: 95

Deli Burrito
5324 Mt. View Road
Date Inspected: 4-18-08
Score: 95

Nero’s Grill
2122 Hillsboro Road
Date Inspected: 4-10-08
Score: 97

Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant
15560 Old Hickory Blvd
Date Inspected: 4-18-08
Score: 96

LOW SCORES:

Seoul Garden
4928 Edmondson Pike
Date Inspected: 4-17-08
Score: 59
Major Violations:
· Employee rinsed-off tongs and did not wash rinse or sanitize them
· Ground beef in cooler is out of temperature
· Employee touching nose and handling food without washing their hands.

UPDATES:

Mambu
1806 Hayes Street
Date Inspected: 4-10-08
Passed Reinspection

Upcoming events in Nashville

May 2 -May 4
Nashville, TN
Tennessee Crafts Fair
Celebrating its 37th anniversary in 2008 this juried crafts festival features more than 170 contemporary and traditional artists, continuous demonstrations, live music, and food. more

May 10
67th Annual Running of the Iroquois Steeplechase
Nashville's original "Rite of Spring." more

May 17
Nashville, TN
A Toast To Tennessee Wine Festival
Eventful day of festivities, fine wines, delicious food, and live entertainment. more

May 17
Nashville, TN
Robbery Mystery Train
Ride the 90-mile mystery train and try to solve “who did it.” more

Mint Julep recipe from Webbspun Ideas

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Kentucky Bourbon
Silver Julep Cup or just a nice glass

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Kentucky Whisky or Bourbon. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

City Hall is moving out of the Gulch

City Hall Entertainment Space, a music venue in the Gulch, will close in mid-September, after being asked to leave their lease to make way for an Urban Outfitters retail store.

Urban Outfitters will bring its funky apparel and home furnishings to The Gulch in early 2009 in the 12,000 square foot space vacated by City Hall. This will be its first store in Tennessee.

MarketStreet Enterprises, principal developer of The Gulch and owner of the building leased to City Hall, approached venue owner Austin Ray and Benjamin Goldberg about vacating their lease early, and they accepted. They will look to establish a similar venue elsewhere in Nashville.

"This deal got brought to us by the landlords. It was great for all parties involved," Goldberg says.

City Hall filled a niche in Nashville's live music venues because of its size. Goldberg says he loves the name so he hopes to keep it at the next location. He doesn't expect much affect at his Gulch bar Bar23 after City Hall is gone, but he does think certain bands won't come to Nashville anymore.

Read the entire article in the Nashville Business Journal.

X Marks the Test Room

It is known simply as the X-room.

Set up last November at the Courtyard by Marriott in partnership with the University of Delaware in Newark, it is a test guest room. It is equipped with everything from waterproof mattresses to the experimental technology of wireless electricity (no plugs) to a specially designed Nintendo Wii game console for travelers. There is also a digital door display that lets guests see who is in the corridor.

Nor is Marriott the only chain with what the lodging industry calls test rooms or room labs. From a hotelier’s perspective, a test room helps demonstrate what is working and what is not, before huge amounts of money are spent on the latest technology or new light bulbs are acquired.

“In the last five years there’s been more research on what the consumer wants than at any time during my 40 years in the industry,” said Joseph McInerney, chief executive and president of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Read the entire article in the New York Times.

Trace is gone

A longtime Nashville restaurant that went out of business is coming back with a new name and a new owner. The Trace in Hillsboro Village closed last month, but the owner of Tangredi's Italian Kitchen on Elliston Place has opened a new restaurant in that space.

The new establishment will be called T's Tuscan Bar & Grill.

The Trace, the longtime fine-dining spot in Hillsboro Village, has closed its doors permanently.

Entrepreneur and wine collector Ken Perry has owned The Trace since late 2004. Its history includes time under corporate owners from the Southern Restaurant Group. The restaurant's previous incarnation, Faison's, was a pioneering business on the Nashville dining scene starting in the early 1980s.

Some of this story came from WSMV Channel 4.

Garrett Parris, Shawn Flarida and some reining horses

This is a compilation from a the Cabin Fever Classic horse show in Murfreesboro. The song is "Western Son" and Garrett Parris is the one singing. Be to visit Garrett's website to hear more great music.