As I grew up we traveled alot and I learned to love the feeling of being in the car. Whether I knew where we were going or not, my excitement was off the charts just to be on the road. I always had books, toy cars and trucks, things to color or draw with and stuff like that to keep me entertained but I also was madly in love with "Big Trucks." I always wanted them to blow their horns as they went by and when they would, I would be bouncing off my seat with sheer joy. When we would stop at truck stops to eat and gas, I would want to walk over and by the trucks and kick the tires. Now I didn't do that for just any ol reason, I would do that because I would see the truckers doing that to check the air pressure. I didn't know why they did it but I knew if they did it than I wanted to do it. We had a cb radio and I would get on their and talk to truckers and whoever and they always loved it because I knew how to use the cb and I went by the name "Baby Jaws" cuz it was around the time the movie "Jaws" came out. That joy of traveling has stayed with me and I love to fly but there is still something about getting in the car and going. It is what Americans do and have done for years and years.
Growing up I heard about and read about hobos and the way they would hop on train cars and ride to wherever and I loved the sound of that. I heard stories about my grandparents being visited by hungry hobos, since they lived next to some railroad tracks out in the country and that my grandmother would give them sandwiches or fried pies. I read some books about hobos and the way that would mark areas and begin to understand they had a "language", if you will, of their own. Have a look at this website for more info on their markings. They would mark an area to let you know if you would be welcome, be fed, be hassled or most anything. Back in the early '90's me and a buddy decided that we were going to go hop a train and see what it was really like. He kept putting it off and putting it off and finally it just fell by the way and I never found out what it would be like. I wish that I had gone out there and tried once, just so I knew what it was like and could tell you a really great story about it.
My grandfather hopped a train for a while back during the great depression. He didn't do it because he wanted to but he did it because the only job he could find was about 40 or more miles away and he had to feed the family. I remember hearing the stories of train cars being full of men doing the same thing. In those days many people did it because they had to but there have always been guys who just wanted the freedom to ride around this big ol country and take it all in. You do occasionally hear the horror stories but hobos just want to do their own thing and not harm anyone. It is all about freedom, adventure and comradarie.
Arlo Guthrie, http://www.arlo.net/ , has a song called Hobos Lullabye and it always brought visions of the grand West and adventure and the sadness of being out there on the roads/rails sometimes.
I once had a dog named Hobo simply because he came walking down the railroad tracks to my grandparents house and he was covered with stickers and all kinds of things. My grandfather cleaned him up and named him Hobo and gave him to me. See it was fate for me and him because he was a lonesome little traveler and I lived for the travel, vagabond, hobo thing. It beats within me and I have followed as best I can throughout my entire life. I have met so many wonderful people over the years and some I will see again and others if I see them, it will be a miracle because I don't know where they all went to.
Hobo's Lullaby by Goebel Reeves
Go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Can't you hear the steel rail humming
That's a hobo's lullaby
Do not think about tomorrow
Let tomorrow come and go
Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar
Safe from all the wind and snow
I know the police cause you trouble
They cause trouble everywhere
But when you die and go to heaven
You won't find no policemen there
I know your clothes are torn and ragged
And your hair is turning grey
Lift your head and smile at trouble
You'll find happiness some day
So go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Don't you feel the steel rail humming
That's a hobo's lullaby©1961,1962 (Renewed) Fall River Music, Inc. (BMI)All Rights Reserved.
To see some of the markings hobos used, check out the link
http://www.slackaction.com/signroll.htm
Friday, September 08, 2006
Delighting my taste buds on the flavors of Nashville....
Radius 10
1103 McGavock Street, Nashville
615-259-5105
Appetizer
Lump blue crab salad w/ avocado, watermelon, and key lime curd
Tapas
chef's pie- soppresata, italian sausage, pear tomatoes, feta cheese and basil pesto
Entree
White marble farms pork chop w/ bacon mustard flan, apple soubise and stout honey jus
Dessert
Smoked S'mores
Well, we sat on the patio and the weather was perfect with a big ol full moon that was of the nice orange hue and seemed to be smiling down on us. We had two wonderful servers who always made sure our beverages were always at the right level and our food was just right. We asked them for suggestions from the menu and they had a few and everything they recommended was as good as they said it would be. The ambiance of the place is fun, chic and elegant all at the same time without being snooty. The bar area is an island in the main dining area and looks like the kinda place you wanna pull up and stay awhile.
It was all good but I have to say what made the biggest impression was the S'mores because of the presentation. It is all made at the restaurant, even the marshmellow and it is melted together like any good s'mores would be but where they change the rules is the smokiness of it. They burn wood from an old Jack Daniels barrel that once held some good Tennessee sipping whiskey and they capture the smoke in a fish bowl and bring it to your table like that with the bowl over the dessert with the smoke soaking into the s'mores. Once they sit it on the table they take the bowl off and let the smoke drift around the table and it creates the campfire smell that should accompany any good s'mores. I'm pretty sure they serve this menu in heaven
Pros: Service, Ambiance, Chef/Owner Jason Brumm, Food, View
Cons: Train noise when you sit on the patio, Parking
Loveless Cafe
8400 Highway 100, Nashville
615-646-9700
2 eggs with bacon and homestyle pototoes with biscuits and sausage gravy
This place has been around for years but now they have added a new atmosphere and feel without taking away from the true ambiance it has always had. Great food, service and a down home feeling. My only complaint, besides the long waits on weekends, is the biscuits used to be better. Yes, I know the "biscuit lady" gets a lot of press lately but they arent what they used to be.
Ving-Long
1061 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville
615-399-7582
I don't remember what the dish I had was called but it was so delicious and a very hearty portion. It is hidden in a small strip mall and is very small in its own right but yet it was busy with many people of Asian decent and thus me and my friend were in the minority and we were okay with that because we wanted some authentic food that would knock our socks off and we found it.
My dish was made up of rice noodles, shrimp, beef, lemongrass, mint, cucumber, carrots and lots of spices. I wish I could tell you the name but it wasn't on the menu, my buddy Kevin Doty told me about it and ordered it because he figured I would enjoy it. Right he was
As our dessert/coffee, we had a Cafe Suada which was like drinking the nectar of the gods. It was so delicious and refreshing. It is iced Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk and I'm sure you have to know what you are doing but if you do, it is heaven.
Pros: Food, Service, Cafe Suada
Cons: Limited menu, location
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Wine on the River...
Have any plans for Saturday September 16?
If not, I suggest going downtown for Wine on the River and enjoy a nice variety of wines , approximately 300 selections.Enjoy some really good food provided by local culinary establishments and enjoy the beautiful weather while overlooking our fair city. Don't miss it.
Tickets are only $40.00 before September 16 and $50.00 day of the event. Designated driver tickets are available for $15.00. It will be from 3pm-7pm
There are still some packages left at the downtown Hilton and that will prevent you from having to drive home after the event. Also, if you have any doubts, the Hilton is really nice.
Just for attending you will enjoy wine samples and a souvenir glass. If you would like to volunteer, or need more info call Candace Price...615-664-2484.
If not, I suggest going downtown for Wine on the River and enjoy a nice variety of wines , approximately 300 selections.Enjoy some really good food provided by local culinary establishments and enjoy the beautiful weather while overlooking our fair city. Don't miss it.
Tickets are only $40.00 before September 16 and $50.00 day of the event. Designated driver tickets are available for $15.00. It will be from 3pm-7pm
There are still some packages left at the downtown Hilton and that will prevent you from having to drive home after the event. Also, if you have any doubts, the Hilton is really nice.
Just for attending you will enjoy wine samples and a souvenir glass. If you would like to volunteer, or need more info call Candace Price...615-664-2484.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Friends on the road...
I have worked in the hospitality industry for many years and part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was that it gave me the ability to meet new and interesting people all the time. It would also give me the freedom to plan trips with vacation time or to use two or three days off at the end of one week and two or three days off at the beginning of a week. I have taken road trips all over, flown around the country and even took a Greyhound to a friends wedding in Omaha once upon a time.
The one and only trip on Greyhound and it is a trip that I will never forget. We went through many small towns and picked people up at gas stations, bus stations, KMart and fast food places. There was this one stop that a guy got off and stood next to the bus before suddenly kicking the sides of the bus. Now the bus driver had gone into the McDonald's and missed this little show and before he could come back out, the guy went running towards McDonald's and around it and than chased a car through a parking lot. Then he did one more lap around the McDonald's and back to the bus which he than climbed on went to his seat and acted completely normal. When the bus driver came out a few people met him outside the bus and told him what happened and he talked to the guy to make sure he was okay and since he seemed normal he let him stay on the bus.
Another leg of that trip we stopped at a truck stop for a pickup and the driver said we could get off for a few minutes to get food, drinks, bathroom breaks, etc. One guy goes inside and comes back out with some food and a few things in his pocket and after getting back on the bus started asking anyone and everyone if he could borrow their ticket which of course nobody would do that. Just as we were getting ready to pull off two of the workers ran out and told the driver the guy didn't pay for his food or the other things. So, the driver ask him about it and he denied it and than he finally admitted it and the was kicked off the bus and the police were called. While all this was going on the guy walked across the parking lot and talked to an old man who let him climb into his pickup truck and away they went. We finally had to get back on the road and we heard that they had caught him shortly afterwards and he was still with the old man.
I met a lady who had been riding the bus, with her 4 kids, since Mexico and was actually going somewhere in Canada and I couldn't help but feel sad for her because she was exhausted and still had a very long way to go. The whole trip seemed like we were going through the twilight zone and to top it all off, as we were coming back into Nashville our driver said he had never driven into Nashville and didn't know where the bus station was. Thankfully a few of us knew and we talked him in and gladly got off the bus and headed for home. I'm glad I did it but I don't know if I ever will again.
I used to run around with some great people named Chad, Leslie and their brother Scott, I think that was his name...sorry, who lived in Shelbyville Kentucky and we spent many days and miles going to see the Grateful Dead here and there. We always had a blast while seeing the country or just staying around their house and having fun. One of the trips from their house back to Nashville I picked up a hitchhiker on the road and while talking his experiences while hitchhiking we saw a cop behind us who after a few minutes turned on his lights and sirens, which freaked us out since we both had long hair, beards, tie-dyes, wild eyes and driving a '65 VW Beetle. He suddenly whipped around us and we saw Ky. State Troopers come out of nowhere and stop this car in the middle of the interstate and get the guy spread eagle on the road. Turned out he had lots of cocaine in his car and I'm sure served many, many years for that.
Chad once gave me a rain stick, that I still have to this day, and soon after that we lost track of each other. He had started to make the rainsticks along with didgeridoos and drums while going to shows and was becoming quite the artist the last time I saw him. I recently did a search online for him and came across his website and as it turns out he went on to became an amazing artist, got married and now him and his wife create these amazing pieces of art. I have yet to touch base with them but I will soon and perhaps think back to our adventures and all the good times we shared. I look forward to buying a didgeridoos from him since I had planned on doing that about 13 years ago.
Well, that is not even the tip of the fun times I have had with friends, family and strangers while traveling around this great country of ours and I hope to have more soon with even better stories to tell.
If anyone has a travel story they would like to share, please feel free. I would love to his quite a few.
Chad and Carrie Schott's website for their art...check it out!
http://www.drumzrguruven.com/
The one and only trip on Greyhound and it is a trip that I will never forget. We went through many small towns and picked people up at gas stations, bus stations, KMart and fast food places. There was this one stop that a guy got off and stood next to the bus before suddenly kicking the sides of the bus. Now the bus driver had gone into the McDonald's and missed this little show and before he could come back out, the guy went running towards McDonald's and around it and than chased a car through a parking lot. Then he did one more lap around the McDonald's and back to the bus which he than climbed on went to his seat and acted completely normal. When the bus driver came out a few people met him outside the bus and told him what happened and he talked to the guy to make sure he was okay and since he seemed normal he let him stay on the bus.
Another leg of that trip we stopped at a truck stop for a pickup and the driver said we could get off for a few minutes to get food, drinks, bathroom breaks, etc. One guy goes inside and comes back out with some food and a few things in his pocket and after getting back on the bus started asking anyone and everyone if he could borrow their ticket which of course nobody would do that. Just as we were getting ready to pull off two of the workers ran out and told the driver the guy didn't pay for his food or the other things. So, the driver ask him about it and he denied it and than he finally admitted it and the was kicked off the bus and the police were called. While all this was going on the guy walked across the parking lot and talked to an old man who let him climb into his pickup truck and away they went. We finally had to get back on the road and we heard that they had caught him shortly afterwards and he was still with the old man.
I met a lady who had been riding the bus, with her 4 kids, since Mexico and was actually going somewhere in Canada and I couldn't help but feel sad for her because she was exhausted and still had a very long way to go. The whole trip seemed like we were going through the twilight zone and to top it all off, as we were coming back into Nashville our driver said he had never driven into Nashville and didn't know where the bus station was. Thankfully a few of us knew and we talked him in and gladly got off the bus and headed for home. I'm glad I did it but I don't know if I ever will again.
I used to run around with some great people named Chad, Leslie and their brother Scott, I think that was his name...sorry, who lived in Shelbyville Kentucky and we spent many days and miles going to see the Grateful Dead here and there. We always had a blast while seeing the country or just staying around their house and having fun. One of the trips from their house back to Nashville I picked up a hitchhiker on the road and while talking his experiences while hitchhiking we saw a cop behind us who after a few minutes turned on his lights and sirens, which freaked us out since we both had long hair, beards, tie-dyes, wild eyes and driving a '65 VW Beetle. He suddenly whipped around us and we saw Ky. State Troopers come out of nowhere and stop this car in the middle of the interstate and get the guy spread eagle on the road. Turned out he had lots of cocaine in his car and I'm sure served many, many years for that.
Chad once gave me a rain stick, that I still have to this day, and soon after that we lost track of each other. He had started to make the rainsticks along with didgeridoos and drums while going to shows and was becoming quite the artist the last time I saw him. I recently did a search online for him and came across his website and as it turns out he went on to became an amazing artist, got married and now him and his wife create these amazing pieces of art. I have yet to touch base with them but I will soon and perhaps think back to our adventures and all the good times we shared. I look forward to buying a didgeridoos from him since I had planned on doing that about 13 years ago.
Well, that is not even the tip of the fun times I have had with friends, family and strangers while traveling around this great country of ours and I hope to have more soon with even better stories to tell.
If anyone has a travel story they would like to share, please feel free. I would love to his quite a few.
Chad and Carrie Schott's website for their art...check it out!
http://www.drumzrguruven.com/
I went walking in Nashville...
Patrolling Lower Broadway
Honky-Tonk Heaven
Lawrence Record Shop on Broadway, http://www.lawrecshop.freeservers.com/
Eyes of the Ryman- Beautiful stained glass, http://www.ryman.com/
In the alley- Behind Robert's Western World, http://www.robertswesternworld.com/
Friday, September 01, 2006
Cheese with your whine?
.......
I have been in the hospitality industry since 1988 when I started as a valet and I have seen and heard all kinds of sights and sounds. I'm okay with people who don't travel very often and not sure what to do or where to go but if that is the case than take the time to ask and don't pretend to know everything. The same goes for people who do travel quite often, please don't imply that you know how to do a job better than the person doing it. We don't come to your office and tell you how to do your job, althought we may want to after you talk down to us.
I have read articles in papers and magazines and I've seen people talking on TV about how they have all the answers to your problems. If you don't get what you want, when you want, they recommend getting mad, yelling, demanding things and overall just making a fool of yourself. I will say that with some people that is the only way to get through to them or to get them to understand that you are unhappy with their service or product. It is a shame it is like that but you will find it sometimes. Most people that work in restaurants, hotels and other people oriented businesses like people and want you to be happy. If you are nice and let us know things are wrong....WE WANT TO HELP YOU. It makes it easier for me, you and everyone else.
Don't walk up and just go crazy and start calling my mom names or spitting or kicking the bellman, tell me what the problem is and I will tell you how we can make it right and how I will do that and I will apologize for the inconvenience...no seriously I will. Show me some respect and I will be much happier to give you what you ask for and since you were nice about, I will probably do something more for you. That is just how it works for most of us. Now there are the ones who don't follow this credo but I'm telling you most of us just want to be treated well and in return we will knock your socks off with service.
So please, before you scream at someone or ask them if they "know who you are"...take a moment to breathe and than talk to them. I'm willing to bet that you will be very surprised at the results.
I have been in the hospitality industry since 1988 when I started as a valet and I have seen and heard all kinds of sights and sounds. I'm okay with people who don't travel very often and not sure what to do or where to go but if that is the case than take the time to ask and don't pretend to know everything. The same goes for people who do travel quite often, please don't imply that you know how to do a job better than the person doing it. We don't come to your office and tell you how to do your job, althought we may want to after you talk down to us.
I have read articles in papers and magazines and I've seen people talking on TV about how they have all the answers to your problems. If you don't get what you want, when you want, they recommend getting mad, yelling, demanding things and overall just making a fool of yourself. I will say that with some people that is the only way to get through to them or to get them to understand that you are unhappy with their service or product. It is a shame it is like that but you will find it sometimes. Most people that work in restaurants, hotels and other people oriented businesses like people and want you to be happy. If you are nice and let us know things are wrong....WE WANT TO HELP YOU. It makes it easier for me, you and everyone else.
Don't walk up and just go crazy and start calling my mom names or spitting or kicking the bellman, tell me what the problem is and I will tell you how we can make it right and how I will do that and I will apologize for the inconvenience...no seriously I will. Show me some respect and I will be much happier to give you what you ask for and since you were nice about, I will probably do something more for you. That is just how it works for most of us. Now there are the ones who don't follow this credo but I'm telling you most of us just want to be treated well and in return we will knock your socks off with service.
So please, before you scream at someone or ask them if they "know who you are"...take a moment to breathe and than talk to them. I'm willing to bet that you will be very surprised at the results.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
My Fellow Americans, the hotel is on fire
This was the headline of the story in the Washington Post on February 26 , 2000.
It was referring to a fire at the Wardman Park hotel in Washington D.C. during a visit by President Clinton. The story has long washed away from the archives or at least I couldn't find it anyway. I was working there at the time as the Guest Services Manager and what a day that was. I will never forget it because of all the hoopla going on that day with the president, secret service and so on and suddenly the fire alarms go off. It was controlled chaos behind the scenes but we looked great to the public, which is just how it is supposed to be. "Never let them see you sweat"
www.wardmanpark.com
Here is an excerpt from the news article that I saved.
Written by Washington Post staff writer Petula Dvorak and the Associated Press contributed to the report.
"Though he tried to continue his speech over the blaring fire alarm, President Clinton was ushered out of a hotel ballroom yesterday when officials realized the hotel's laundry room was ablaze. Clinton had just begun his speech at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in the 2600 block of Woodley Road NW, when the alarm sounded.
The president thanked "the noisemaker in the back," then tried to continue his remarks for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards. The is given annually by congress to U.S. companies in the areas of manufacturing, service and small business to recognize quality and performance. Clinton joked that, because of the alarm, "the Marriott is not a candidate for the Baldrige Award." One of the four recipients yesterday was the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
"Maybe they're are telling us it's a fire alarm and I'm to keep you here while the fire burns, I don't know," he said, " Could somebody tell me what the deal is?" Clinton asked. A staff member said it was indeed a fire alarm.
"Are we supposed to leave?" the president asked.
"Not yet," the aide replied
"Not yet?" Clinton asked incredulously. "That's not an encouraging answer. Not yet."
"Well, unless somebody starts singing 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, ' I think...we may just start and go on." he said
Downstairs, firefighters were arriving where the service area was ablaze and the order had been given to evacuate. Three Secret Service officers entered the ballroom and motioned for the audience of about 1,000 to leave. Clinton calmly walked out with Commerce Secretary William Daley. They were taken to a stairwell to Clinton's limousine and driven back to the White House, spokesman Joe Lockhart said.
"Apparently, a contract welder working near the laundry room set off a small fine in the laundry room," Lockhard said. "The fire marshals responded and made the decision to evacuate the hotel. The president evacuated and came back to the White House."
It was referring to a fire at the Wardman Park hotel in Washington D.C. during a visit by President Clinton. The story has long washed away from the archives or at least I couldn't find it anyway. I was working there at the time as the Guest Services Manager and what a day that was. I will never forget it because of all the hoopla going on that day with the president, secret service and so on and suddenly the fire alarms go off. It was controlled chaos behind the scenes but we looked great to the public, which is just how it is supposed to be. "Never let them see you sweat"
www.wardmanpark.com
Here is an excerpt from the news article that I saved.
Written by Washington Post staff writer Petula Dvorak and the Associated Press contributed to the report.
"Though he tried to continue his speech over the blaring fire alarm, President Clinton was ushered out of a hotel ballroom yesterday when officials realized the hotel's laundry room was ablaze. Clinton had just begun his speech at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in the 2600 block of Woodley Road NW, when the alarm sounded.
The president thanked "the noisemaker in the back," then tried to continue his remarks for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards. The is given annually by congress to U.S. companies in the areas of manufacturing, service and small business to recognize quality and performance. Clinton joked that, because of the alarm, "the Marriott is not a candidate for the Baldrige Award." One of the four recipients yesterday was the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
"Maybe they're are telling us it's a fire alarm and I'm to keep you here while the fire burns, I don't know," he said, " Could somebody tell me what the deal is?" Clinton asked. A staff member said it was indeed a fire alarm.
"Are we supposed to leave?" the president asked.
"Not yet," the aide replied
"Not yet?" Clinton asked incredulously. "That's not an encouraging answer. Not yet."
"Well, unless somebody starts singing 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, ' I think...we may just start and go on." he said
Downstairs, firefighters were arriving where the service area was ablaze and the order had been given to evacuate. Three Secret Service officers entered the ballroom and motioned for the audience of about 1,000 to leave. Clinton calmly walked out with Commerce Secretary William Daley. They were taken to a stairwell to Clinton's limousine and driven back to the White House, spokesman Joe Lockhart said.
"Apparently, a contract welder working near the laundry room set off a small fine in the laundry room," Lockhard said. "The fire marshals responded and made the decision to evacuate the hotel. The president evacuated and came back to the White House."
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Sights of Nashville
Cash on the wall
Parthenon Columns
Athena (inside the Parthenon)
Parthenon facade
West End Methodist Church
Schermerhorn Symphony Center and some information about the design and architecture and upcoming events...
Architectural Lecture & Tour of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Thurs, Sept 7.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
4th & Demonbreun.
$60, $25 for students, free for members of ICA&CA.
Lecture by David M. Schwarz, design architect of the center, and a preview tour.
Reception from 5 - 6 pm, tour at 5:30 pm, lecture from 6 - 7 pm.
RSVP by August 31 to 252-4204 or cbbaldwin@bwsc.net.
_________________________________________________________________
Chief acoustician Paul Scarbrough said the design and the acoustics were inspired by three world-class concert halls - the Musikvereinsaal in Vienna, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Boston Symphony Hall.
"The diversity and quality of programming during these opening week events will not only showcase the state-of-the-art capabilities of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, but it will give audiences the opportunity to hear Nashville Symphony and other music ensembles in a fresh and exciting new way," said Alan D. Valentine, President and CEO of the Nashville Symphony.
Upcoming Events...
Schermerhorn Symphony Center to Open with Music, Dedication and Celebration: September 1-11, 2006
Events to Include Ribbon-cutting Ceremony with Mayor Purcell; Nashville Symphony's Opening Gala Performance; Evening with Amy Grant and Friends; and Nashville Chamber Orchestra's Music without Boundaries Gala
August 8, 2006
With the September 9 opening of Schermerhorn Symphony Center quickly approaching, the Nashville Symphony announces details of the opening week's events in their new concert hall, located at One Symphony Place, between Third and Fourth Avenues and Demonbreun Street and Broadway.
Student Preview Concerts: Friday, September 1 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.Middle-Tennessee high school students will be among the first to hear the Nashville Symphony in its new home, Schermerhorn Symphony Center. As part of a special school program, students in grades 9-12 are invited to attend a preview concert conducted by National Symphony Music Director Leonard Slatkin, which will include selections from Aaron Copland's Rodeo and Rimsky-Korsakov's Cappriccio espagnol. For further information, contact Shelby B. Strickland, Nashville Symphony Director of Education, at 615.687.6551 or at sstrickland@nashvillesymphony.org.
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony: Thursday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m.Mayor Bill Purcell will join Nashville Symphony patrons and Nashville community leaders in a private ribbon-cutting ceremony and building dedication on Thursday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m. on the north entrance stairs of Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Brief remarks will be made by Mayor Purcell; Nashville Symphony President and CEO Alan D. Valentine; Nashville Advisory Council President, Kevin Lavender; and community leader Cal Turner, son of Laura Turner, for whom the concert hall is named.Guests will then be invited to explore the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, including the newly dedicated Laura Turner Concert Hall, followed by a reception in the garden courtyard. Guests of the ribbon-cutting ceremony are by invitation only.
GALA Opening Night: Saturday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m.
The official white-tie gala opening of Schermerhorn Symphony Center will take place on Saturday, September 9, with red carpet arrivals and cocktailsbeginning at 5:00 p.m. The Nashville Symphony inaugural concert, led by National Symphony Music Director Leonard Slatkin, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include a world premiere of Triple Concerto for Banjo, Double Bass and Tabla by Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck and Zakir Hussain. Co-commissioned by the Nashville Symphony and Akustiks, Inc., the Triple Concerto is dedicated to the interconnecting musical influences found in Nashville, Music City.The evening will kick off with Shostakovich's celebratory Festive Overture.Other highlights of the gala concert include Samuel Barber's Essay No. 2, Op. 17, a nod to the Nashville Symphony's ongoing tribute to American music, and Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," featuring the Nashville Symphony Chorus, mezzo-soprano Frederica Van Stade, and soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme. Following the concert, gala opening night dinner guests will move to Hall of Fame Park to enjoy a three-course meal by the "Symphony of Chefs:" Sunset Grill/Cabana/Midtown Cafe chef Brian Uhl, Zola chef/owner Deb Paquette, and Park Cafe chef Willie Thomas. The selected main course menu will include Snake River Farms beef tenderloin, seared George's Bank scallops and roasted rack of lamb. Brief remarks and music will occur under the 130 ft round tent-the same tent Elton John uses for his Oscar parties-designed by Production Designer Jim Mees from Los Angeles and flower arrangements by Joe Smith of Ilex. Gala opening night chairs are Julie Boehm and Ellen Martin.Following dinner, guests will return to the concert hall to enjoy one of the Symphony Center's most distinctive features: the convertible flat-floor system. Conducted by Nashville Symphony Director of Pops Albert-George Schram, post-dinner entertainment will include dancing on the converted parquet floor to Strauss waltzes by the Nashville Symphony, followed by dance music from the 11-piece Craig Duncan Orchestra. Desserts and champagne will be served, and dancing is expected to continue late into the night.The gala opening night will raise funds for the Nashville Symphony's future programs and initiatives.
Tickets for the concert and dinner are $2,500 per person. For more information or to request an invitation, contact Stacy Eaton-Carter at 615-687-6531, or at scarter@nashvillesymphony.org.
Individual concert tickets are $100-500, based on availability. Please check nashvillesymphony.org after August 21 for further updates. Nashville Symphony's gala opening night is sponsored by Ingram Industries.
Evening with Amy Grant: Sunday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m.The Sunday gala concert, with six-time Grammy-award winning recording artist Amy Grant, will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 10. Ms. Grant will perform with the Nashville Symphony, led by Guest Conductor David Hamilton, and other surprise pop and country music guests. An elegant cocktail reception will begin prior to the concert at 5:30 p.m., with various food stations relating to five different genres of music that will be performed by Nashville musicians throughout the hall: classical, country, gospel Latin and jazz. Chairs for this event are Barbara Barton and Judy Foster. Ticket prices for both the gala dinner and concert are $200-350, and tickets to the concert only are $50-200. Tickets will go on-sale August 17 and can be purchased by calling the Nashville Symphony box office at 615.687.6565.The Evening with Amy Grant is sponsored by First Tennessee.
Nashville Chamber Orchestra: Music without Boundaries Gala - Monday, September 11 at 8:00 p.m.Classical, country, jazz, bluegrass, folk and gospel will all share the stage at the Nashville Chamber Orchestra's Music Without Boundaries Gala, celebrating the ensemble's first performance as resident orchestra in the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center, on Monday, September 11 at 8 p.m.Hosted by Marty Stuart, the concert will feature performances by stars from the Grand Ole Opry, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Turtle Island String Quartet, singer/songwriter Darrell Scott, Stephen Seifert on the mountain dulcimer, David Schnaufer playing the Tennessee music box, and guitar great John Jorgenson. Led by NCO music director Paul Gambill, the concert will also include the world premiere of Groove in the Louvre by NCO Music Alive Composer-in-Residence David Balakrishnan, Aaron Copland's stirring Appalachian Spring, and the NCO's signature work Blackberry Winter by ConniEllisor. Desserts will be served for the entire audience at intermission.The Gala Reception will begin at 5:30 pm in the Hall of Fame Park and will include hors d'oeuvres representing Nashville's diverse culinary repertory.Tickets for both the reception and concert are $250 to $350. Tickets for the concert only are $100. For more information or tickets call the NCO Ticket Office at 615.256.6546 or visit www.nco.org.
Other Special Events The Schermerhorn Symphony Center opening events continue into October with a Free Day of Music on Saturday, October 7 from 10:30 a.m. until midnight, hosted by the Nashville Symphony and AmSouth bank. The entire Nashville community is invited to enjoy a rich variety of music in the many spaces of the new Symphony Center. More information, including programming, will be available in late August.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Nashville SymphonySchermerhorn Symphony Center, the new home of the Nashville Symphony, will open on September 9, 2006. Designed by David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc., Akustiks, and Fisher Dachs Associates, the 197,000-square-foot Symphony Center will transform Nashville's musical landscape and become the cultural heart of the city's flourishing downtown area.The Nashville Symphony, led by President and CEO Alan D. Valentine, is made up of 82 full-time musicians. Each season, the Symphony performs and presents more than 200 concerts, including classical, pops and Pied Piper children's performances. Founded in 1946, the Nashville Symphony has been a cultural ambassador for the citizens of Middle Tennessee for more than 60 years.
Architectural Lecture & Tour of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Thurs, Sept 7.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
4th & Demonbreun.
$60, $25 for students, free for members of ICA&CA.
Lecture by David M. Schwarz, design architect of the center, and a preview tour.
Reception from 5 - 6 pm, tour at 5:30 pm, lecture from 6 - 7 pm.
RSVP by August 31 to 252-4204 or cbbaldwin@bwsc.net.
_________________________________________________________________
Thanks to Shannon Smith at the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau for this information
Just some general stats...
Chief acoustician Paul Scarbrough said the design and the acoustics were inspired by three world-class concert halls - the Musikvereinsaal in Vienna, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Boston Symphony Hall.
"The diversity and quality of programming during these opening week events will not only showcase the state-of-the-art capabilities of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, but it will give audiences the opportunity to hear Nashville Symphony and other music ensembles in a fresh and exciting new way," said Alan D. Valentine, President and CEO of the Nashville Symphony.
Flooring and the lighting:
One of the most innovative features of Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a convertible seating system that is designed to give the hall unique versatility. The orchestra level seating of the Laura Turner Concert Hall can be transformed from rows of comfortable raked seating at classical performances, to a 5,600-square-foot hardwood, ballroom floor, typically used for cabaret-style events such as pops and jazz concerts. A unique chair wagon motorized system will lower rows of seats into a special storage space below the surface of the ballroom floor. This convertible system will give the concert hall great flexibility for numerous types of events throughout the year. In addition, a system of 102 computerized lights will be able to focus, change color and direct their beams to any part of the concert hall rapidly and in synchronization.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center could very well be the best concert hall in the world. It will bring international renown to Nashville, building on its credentials as Music City.
•An acoustical and design masterpiece, comparable to the greatest halls in the world, including Musikverein, Vienna, Austria; The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Tonhalle, Zurich, Switzerland; and Berlin Konzerthaus, Berlin.
•Neoclassical revivalist design. Limestone exterior
•Only major concert hall in North America with natural light: 30 soundproof windows into the hall
•2” minimum acoustical isolation joint between the performance hall and rest of building to assure no transfer of vibration or noise into hall
•180’ colonnade facing an adjacent large park—responsive to the most public side of the building
•Space for 115 musicians on the performance platform; plus 140 choral seats behind the platform (which will be sold to public when there is no chorus)
•The centerpiece is the $2.5 million pipe organ.
•The hall will be one of few in the world with natural light. Windows within windows will keep noise out.
Who are the Design and Construction Team?
Architects: David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Design Architect; Earl Swensson Associates, Architect; Hastings Architecture Associates, Consulting Architect
Acoustician: Akustiks, Inc
Theater Planner: Fisher Dachs Associates
One of the most innovative features of Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a convertible seating system that is designed to give the hall unique versatility. The orchestra level seating of the Laura Turner Concert Hall can be transformed from rows of comfortable raked seating at classical performances, to a 5,600-square-foot hardwood, ballroom floor, typically used for cabaret-style events such as pops and jazz concerts. A unique chair wagon motorized system will lower rows of seats into a special storage space below the surface of the ballroom floor. This convertible system will give the concert hall great flexibility for numerous types of events throughout the year. In addition, a system of 102 computerized lights will be able to focus, change color and direct their beams to any part of the concert hall rapidly and in synchronization.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center could very well be the best concert hall in the world. It will bring international renown to Nashville, building on its credentials as Music City.
•An acoustical and design masterpiece, comparable to the greatest halls in the world, including Musikverein, Vienna, Austria; The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Tonhalle, Zurich, Switzerland; and Berlin Konzerthaus, Berlin.
•Neoclassical revivalist design. Limestone exterior
•Only major concert hall in North America with natural light: 30 soundproof windows into the hall
•2” minimum acoustical isolation joint between the performance hall and rest of building to assure no transfer of vibration or noise into hall
•180’ colonnade facing an adjacent large park—responsive to the most public side of the building
•Space for 115 musicians on the performance platform; plus 140 choral seats behind the platform (which will be sold to public when there is no chorus)
•The centerpiece is the $2.5 million pipe organ.
•The hall will be one of few in the world with natural light. Windows within windows will keep noise out.
Who are the Design and Construction Team?
Architects: David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Design Architect; Earl Swensson Associates, Architect; Hastings Architecture Associates, Consulting Architect
Acoustician: Akustiks, Inc
Theater Planner: Fisher Dachs Associates
Upcoming Events...
Schermerhorn Symphony Center to Open with Music, Dedication and Celebration: September 1-11, 2006
Events to Include Ribbon-cutting Ceremony with Mayor Purcell; Nashville Symphony's Opening Gala Performance; Evening with Amy Grant and Friends; and Nashville Chamber Orchestra's Music without Boundaries Gala
August 8, 2006
With the September 9 opening of Schermerhorn Symphony Center quickly approaching, the Nashville Symphony announces details of the opening week's events in their new concert hall, located at One Symphony Place, between Third and Fourth Avenues and Demonbreun Street and Broadway.
Student Preview Concerts: Friday, September 1 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.Middle-Tennessee high school students will be among the first to hear the Nashville Symphony in its new home, Schermerhorn Symphony Center. As part of a special school program, students in grades 9-12 are invited to attend a preview concert conducted by National Symphony Music Director Leonard Slatkin, which will include selections from Aaron Copland's Rodeo and Rimsky-Korsakov's Cappriccio espagnol. For further information, contact Shelby B. Strickland, Nashville Symphony Director of Education, at 615.687.6551 or at sstrickland@nashvillesymphony.org.
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony: Thursday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m.Mayor Bill Purcell will join Nashville Symphony patrons and Nashville community leaders in a private ribbon-cutting ceremony and building dedication on Thursday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m. on the north entrance stairs of Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Brief remarks will be made by Mayor Purcell; Nashville Symphony President and CEO Alan D. Valentine; Nashville Advisory Council President, Kevin Lavender; and community leader Cal Turner, son of Laura Turner, for whom the concert hall is named.Guests will then be invited to explore the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, including the newly dedicated Laura Turner Concert Hall, followed by a reception in the garden courtyard. Guests of the ribbon-cutting ceremony are by invitation only.
GALA Opening Night: Saturday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m.
The official white-tie gala opening of Schermerhorn Symphony Center will take place on Saturday, September 9, with red carpet arrivals and cocktailsbeginning at 5:00 p.m. The Nashville Symphony inaugural concert, led by National Symphony Music Director Leonard Slatkin, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include a world premiere of Triple Concerto for Banjo, Double Bass and Tabla by Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck and Zakir Hussain. Co-commissioned by the Nashville Symphony and Akustiks, Inc., the Triple Concerto is dedicated to the interconnecting musical influences found in Nashville, Music City.The evening will kick off with Shostakovich's celebratory Festive Overture.Other highlights of the gala concert include Samuel Barber's Essay No. 2, Op. 17, a nod to the Nashville Symphony's ongoing tribute to American music, and Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," featuring the Nashville Symphony Chorus, mezzo-soprano Frederica Van Stade, and soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme. Following the concert, gala opening night dinner guests will move to Hall of Fame Park to enjoy a three-course meal by the "Symphony of Chefs:" Sunset Grill/Cabana/Midtown Cafe chef Brian Uhl, Zola chef/owner Deb Paquette, and Park Cafe chef Willie Thomas. The selected main course menu will include Snake River Farms beef tenderloin, seared George's Bank scallops and roasted rack of lamb. Brief remarks and music will occur under the 130 ft round tent-the same tent Elton John uses for his Oscar parties-designed by Production Designer Jim Mees from Los Angeles and flower arrangements by Joe Smith of Ilex. Gala opening night chairs are Julie Boehm and Ellen Martin.Following dinner, guests will return to the concert hall to enjoy one of the Symphony Center's most distinctive features: the convertible flat-floor system. Conducted by Nashville Symphony Director of Pops Albert-George Schram, post-dinner entertainment will include dancing on the converted parquet floor to Strauss waltzes by the Nashville Symphony, followed by dance music from the 11-piece Craig Duncan Orchestra. Desserts and champagne will be served, and dancing is expected to continue late into the night.The gala opening night will raise funds for the Nashville Symphony's future programs and initiatives.
Tickets for the concert and dinner are $2,500 per person. For more information or to request an invitation, contact Stacy Eaton-Carter at 615-687-6531, or at scarter@nashvillesymphony.org.
Individual concert tickets are $100-500, based on availability. Please check nashvillesymphony.org after August 21 for further updates. Nashville Symphony's gala opening night is sponsored by Ingram Industries.
Evening with Amy Grant: Sunday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m.The Sunday gala concert, with six-time Grammy-award winning recording artist Amy Grant, will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 10. Ms. Grant will perform with the Nashville Symphony, led by Guest Conductor David Hamilton, and other surprise pop and country music guests. An elegant cocktail reception will begin prior to the concert at 5:30 p.m., with various food stations relating to five different genres of music that will be performed by Nashville musicians throughout the hall: classical, country, gospel Latin and jazz. Chairs for this event are Barbara Barton and Judy Foster. Ticket prices for both the gala dinner and concert are $200-350, and tickets to the concert only are $50-200. Tickets will go on-sale August 17 and can be purchased by calling the Nashville Symphony box office at 615.687.6565.The Evening with Amy Grant is sponsored by First Tennessee.
Nashville Chamber Orchestra: Music without Boundaries Gala - Monday, September 11 at 8:00 p.m.Classical, country, jazz, bluegrass, folk and gospel will all share the stage at the Nashville Chamber Orchestra's Music Without Boundaries Gala, celebrating the ensemble's first performance as resident orchestra in the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center, on Monday, September 11 at 8 p.m.Hosted by Marty Stuart, the concert will feature performances by stars from the Grand Ole Opry, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Turtle Island String Quartet, singer/songwriter Darrell Scott, Stephen Seifert on the mountain dulcimer, David Schnaufer playing the Tennessee music box, and guitar great John Jorgenson. Led by NCO music director Paul Gambill, the concert will also include the world premiere of Groove in the Louvre by NCO Music Alive Composer-in-Residence David Balakrishnan, Aaron Copland's stirring Appalachian Spring, and the NCO's signature work Blackberry Winter by ConniEllisor. Desserts will be served for the entire audience at intermission.The Gala Reception will begin at 5:30 pm in the Hall of Fame Park and will include hors d'oeuvres representing Nashville's diverse culinary repertory.Tickets for both the reception and concert are $250 to $350. Tickets for the concert only are $100. For more information or tickets call the NCO Ticket Office at 615.256.6546 or visit www.nco.org.
Other Special Events The Schermerhorn Symphony Center opening events continue into October with a Free Day of Music on Saturday, October 7 from 10:30 a.m. until midnight, hosted by the Nashville Symphony and AmSouth bank. The entire Nashville community is invited to enjoy a rich variety of music in the many spaces of the new Symphony Center. More information, including programming, will be available in late August.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Nashville SymphonySchermerhorn Symphony Center, the new home of the Nashville Symphony, will open on September 9, 2006. Designed by David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc., Akustiks, and Fisher Dachs Associates, the 197,000-square-foot Symphony Center will transform Nashville's musical landscape and become the cultural heart of the city's flourishing downtown area.The Nashville Symphony, led by President and CEO Alan D. Valentine, is made up of 82 full-time musicians. Each season, the Symphony performs and presents more than 200 concerts, including classical, pops and Pied Piper children's performances. Founded in 1946, the Nashville Symphony has been a cultural ambassador for the citizens of Middle Tennessee for more than 60 years.
Right Now I'm....
Listening: Our relaxing "spa" music in our lobby...I'm sooo relaxed...ahhhhh
Wearing: Suit and tie for work
Feeling: Full and satisfied after a great lunch at Vinh Long, a local Vietnamese restaurant
Reading: "Classical Nashville: Athens of the South"
Wishing: I had a larger income so I could do more things for myself, my family, friends and others.
Deciding: How I want my website to look and feel to get my work and my passion out there and make it interesting.
Listening: Our relaxing "spa" music in our lobby...I'm sooo relaxed...ahhhhh
Wearing: Suit and tie for work
Feeling: Full and satisfied after a great lunch at Vinh Long, a local Vietnamese restaurant
Reading: "Classical Nashville: Athens of the South"
Wishing: I had a larger income so I could do more things for myself, my family, friends and others.
Deciding: How I want my website to look and feel to get my work and my passion out there and make it interesting.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Like a fine wine the Ryman ages so gracefully...
The Ryman Auditorium has been nominated, for the third time in a row, for Pollstar's Theatre of the Year. The category the Ryman is in is, Theatre of the Year Indoor Venue with under 6,000 seats. It is a tough category because all of the other theatres are top notch in so many ways but the voters have been swayed by the history, charm, acoustics and much more for the last two years.
All it takes is a tour or to attend a concert to feel the magic that happens there.
I have had the pleasure of seeing Allison Krauss open for Bill Monroe there, Phil Lesh and Friends, David Grisman and many more at the Ryman and I'm awestruck with each show and how the venue pulls out such great stuff from most anyone that plays there. I've often heard and read where an artist will play there for the first time and be just fall in love with the acoustics, history and overall ambiance.
When I saw Allison Krauss and Union Station play there they did a couple of the songs without using microphones or speakers. It was truly "unplugged" and yet you could hear every word and all of the instruments weaving around each other. I have seen hundreds of concerts over the years and I've never experienced a band try that at any other venue. I think that spoke of the acoustics, of course, but it shows that the Ryman is like an old friend and you felt as though the band and the Ryman were pulling you in to whisper a secret in your ear. That is what it is a true and dependable friend that delights everyone who spends some time with it.
Some of the competition for the award:
Radio City Music Hall (New York, NY)
Dodge Theatre (Phoenix, AZ)
Fox Theatre (Atlanta, GA)
Gibson Amphitheatre (Universal City, CA)
Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)
Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)
The Ryman Auditorium has been nominated, for the third time in a row, for Pollstar's Theatre of the Year. The category the Ryman is in is, Theatre of the Year Indoor Venue with under 6,000 seats. It is a tough category because all of the other theatres are top notch in so many ways but the voters have been swayed by the history, charm, acoustics and much more for the last two years.
All it takes is a tour or to attend a concert to feel the magic that happens there.
I have had the pleasure of seeing Allison Krauss open for Bill Monroe there, Phil Lesh and Friends, David Grisman and many more at the Ryman and I'm awestruck with each show and how the venue pulls out such great stuff from most anyone that plays there. I've often heard and read where an artist will play there for the first time and be just fall in love with the acoustics, history and overall ambiance.
When I saw Allison Krauss and Union Station play there they did a couple of the songs without using microphones or speakers. It was truly "unplugged" and yet you could hear every word and all of the instruments weaving around each other. I have seen hundreds of concerts over the years and I've never experienced a band try that at any other venue. I think that spoke of the acoustics, of course, but it shows that the Ryman is like an old friend and you felt as though the band and the Ryman were pulling you in to whisper a secret in your ear. That is what it is a true and dependable friend that delights everyone who spends some time with it.
Some of the competition for the award:
Radio City Music Hall (New York, NY)
Dodge Theatre (Phoenix, AZ)
Fox Theatre (Atlanta, GA)
Gibson Amphitheatre (Universal City, CA)
Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)
Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Boots and more boots with deals to boot....
Today while out having a delicious meal in my fair city, I met Dave. Dave is the Manager of Boot Corral which is located on Lower Broadway and today is when I heard the news of their daily special of....drum roll please....BUY ONE PAIR OF BOOTS AND GET TWO PAIRS FREE. Now how in the world can you beat that? I'm not really a boot kinda guy but I'm giving some serious thought to going down and buying a pair for me and if I don't want three pairs then I will use the extras as gifts. They also work with the local hotels and conventions for gifts and often sell hats in various colors to help groups stay together and they use boots and hats for table settings as well. They are creative and fun and are more then just your typical western outfitter. They are part of what makes Lower Broadway so much fun and they add charm with a good helping of local flavor.
Boot Country
304 Broadway in downtown Nashville
(615) 259-1691
Today while out having a delicious meal in my fair city, I met Dave. Dave is the Manager of Boot Corral which is located on Lower Broadway and today is when I heard the news of their daily special of....drum roll please....BUY ONE PAIR OF BOOTS AND GET TWO PAIRS FREE. Now how in the world can you beat that? I'm not really a boot kinda guy but I'm giving some serious thought to going down and buying a pair for me and if I don't want three pairs then I will use the extras as gifts. They also work with the local hotels and conventions for gifts and often sell hats in various colors to help groups stay together and they use boots and hats for table settings as well. They are creative and fun and are more then just your typical western outfitter. They are part of what makes Lower Broadway so much fun and they add charm with a good helping of local flavor.
Boot Country
304 Broadway in downtown Nashville
(615) 259-1691
Monday, August 21, 2006
Corey, Nashville's Culinary Concierge is on the loose...
Hermitage Cafe
71 Hermitage Ave, Nashville Tn
615-254-8871
Main dish
Bar-B-Q Beef Ribs
Sides
turnip greens, new potatoes with cornbread
A funky little diner that brings you a real side of Nashville where you will find lots regulars who know each other and come for the good food. You will find alot of starving artists that frequent here because its like a second home with a staff that is like family. Enjoy the breakfast special of biscuits and gravy, sausage and fried potatoes with a couple of eggs and sip on some coffee without breaking the bank. The lunch is equally as good with food that is good and will leave you happy to have found this out of the way place. The staff has fun with everyone and no one is a stranger, for long.
Pros: Food, staff, old school diner
Cons: Worn look in some areas, tablecloths
Star Cafe
429 Main Street, Goodlettsville Tn
615-855-0903
Main dish
Fried chicken breast and Fried Catfish
Sides
pasta salad, green beans and cornbread.
Dessert
naner pudding aka banana pudding
This is such a great local restaurant for a few different reasons. It is in an old house that still has the multiple rooms that are now dining areas. Big windows, wooden floors and mismatched furniture gives the feeling of visiting an eccentric friends house in the sense that is warm and inviting They have a great staff that is helpful and pleasant and each evening they welcome singer/songwriters to come and practice their craft, as long as the schedule a time. Take the time to relax and enjoy and if you dont know what to try ask for a suggestion.
Pros: Janine and Jen because they are so sweet and do a great job. Mouth watering food that is the epitome of Southern/Soul food and the way it satisfies the taste buds and with the nice size helpings it will leave you full.
http://www.starcafenashville.com/
Chef's Market
900 Conference Drive, Goodlettsville Tn
615-851-2433
Main dish
Hot Chicken Salad
Sides
green beans almondine, fried corn nuggets and and herb roll with parsesan cheese dusted on top
This was my first visit and I liked the look of the restaurants interior because once you get inside you would never believe that its in a strip mall and the food smelled delicious. The chicken, corn nuggets and the herb roll were a delight for the taste buds. The green beans were good but they could have had more taste.
Pros: Serving staff were very nice and quick to offer suggestions and describe the food and what was in it. The food was very good
Cons: I saw some workers using their hands to put nachos into bags and they had not washed their hands after using the phone, touching their hair, etc...I didn't like that.
http://www.chefsmarket.com/
Buca Di Beppo
1722 Galleria Blvd, Franklin Tn
615-778-1321
Appetizer
Large garlic bread with mozzerella
Main dish
Macaroni Rosa
Chicken with Lemon
Fresh Salmon with Pesto
Always a fun place to eat with its funky decor that makes you think you stepped into a 3 generations old family restaurant. For a full experience and to see what really goes on in the kitchen make reservations for the kitchen table and watch it all unfold while you salivate. Even though this is part of a chain I still enjoy the quality of food and service. The macaroni rosa was a delicious dish but the lemon chicken and the fresh salmon made love to my taste buds and left them totally satisfied and wanting more. Full of flavor and the helpings are huge so be sure you know how hungry you are before you order the family size dishes, otherwise you will have dinner for a few more nights. Our server was John and he provided not only perfect service but he was witty and fun. He was also the bartender and he has some great bar tricks...*hint* Ask to see the "Full glass of water toss across the bar" and the "Samuari orange trick." You can find him working the bar Wednesday thru Sunday.
Pros: John our server, the food quality and taste, atmosphere, leftovers
Cons: Tablesclothes not shaken or cleaned on two tables we sat at. I found that to be just absurb that they could'nt do a better job of keeping the tables clean
http://www.bucadibeppo.com/
Corrieri's
1110 Caruthers Avenue
615-385-9272
Pros: Staff, cheese, sandwiches, cannoli
Cons: Only one small table on the inside, never enough time to try it all
http://www.cfcheese.com/
Hermitage Cafe
71 Hermitage Ave, Nashville Tn
615-254-8871
Main dish
Bar-B-Q Beef Ribs
Sides
turnip greens, new potatoes with cornbread
A funky little diner that brings you a real side of Nashville where you will find lots regulars who know each other and come for the good food. You will find alot of starving artists that frequent here because its like a second home with a staff that is like family. Enjoy the breakfast special of biscuits and gravy, sausage and fried potatoes with a couple of eggs and sip on some coffee without breaking the bank. The lunch is equally as good with food that is good and will leave you happy to have found this out of the way place. The staff has fun with everyone and no one is a stranger, for long.
Pros: Food, staff, old school diner
Cons: Worn look in some areas, tablecloths
Star Cafe
429 Main Street, Goodlettsville Tn
615-855-0903
Main dish
Fried chicken breast and Fried Catfish
Sides
pasta salad, green beans and cornbread.
Dessert
naner pudding aka banana pudding
This is such a great local restaurant for a few different reasons. It is in an old house that still has the multiple rooms that are now dining areas. Big windows, wooden floors and mismatched furniture gives the feeling of visiting an eccentric friends house in the sense that is warm and inviting They have a great staff that is helpful and pleasant and each evening they welcome singer/songwriters to come and practice their craft, as long as the schedule a time. Take the time to relax and enjoy and if you dont know what to try ask for a suggestion.
Pros: Janine and Jen because they are so sweet and do a great job. Mouth watering food that is the epitome of Southern/Soul food and the way it satisfies the taste buds and with the nice size helpings it will leave you full.
http://www.starcafenashville.com/
Chef's Market
900 Conference Drive, Goodlettsville Tn
615-851-2433
Main dish
Hot Chicken Salad
Sides
green beans almondine, fried corn nuggets and and herb roll with parsesan cheese dusted on top
This was my first visit and I liked the look of the restaurants interior because once you get inside you would never believe that its in a strip mall and the food smelled delicious. The chicken, corn nuggets and the herb roll were a delight for the taste buds. The green beans were good but they could have had more taste.
Pros: Serving staff were very nice and quick to offer suggestions and describe the food and what was in it. The food was very good
Cons: I saw some workers using their hands to put nachos into bags and they had not washed their hands after using the phone, touching their hair, etc...I didn't like that.
http://www.chefsmarket.com/
Buca Di Beppo
1722 Galleria Blvd, Franklin Tn
615-778-1321
Appetizer
Large garlic bread with mozzerella
Main dish
Macaroni Rosa
Chicken with Lemon
Fresh Salmon with Pesto
Always a fun place to eat with its funky decor that makes you think you stepped into a 3 generations old family restaurant. For a full experience and to see what really goes on in the kitchen make reservations for the kitchen table and watch it all unfold while you salivate. Even though this is part of a chain I still enjoy the quality of food and service. The macaroni rosa was a delicious dish but the lemon chicken and the fresh salmon made love to my taste buds and left them totally satisfied and wanting more. Full of flavor and the helpings are huge so be sure you know how hungry you are before you order the family size dishes, otherwise you will have dinner for a few more nights. Our server was John and he provided not only perfect service but he was witty and fun. He was also the bartender and he has some great bar tricks...*hint* Ask to see the "Full glass of water toss across the bar" and the "Samuari orange trick." You can find him working the bar Wednesday thru Sunday.
Pros: John our server, the food quality and taste, atmosphere, leftovers
Cons: Tablesclothes not shaken or cleaned on two tables we sat at. I found that to be just absurb that they could'nt do a better job of keeping the tables clean
http://www.bucadibeppo.com/
Corrieri's
1110 Caruthers Avenue
615-385-9272
Sandwich
Half of a 10K Lira sandwich/ Half of a Sir Signore sandwich
Dessert
Cannoli
Pros: Staff, cheese, sandwiches, cannoli
Cons: Only one small table on the inside, never enough time to try it all
http://www.cfcheese.com/
Poets Day
Today is Poet's Day and a time to celebrate this wonderful art. I thought that the Tennessee Poet Laureate, Maggi Vaughn, had the perfect poem for today and for our state in general.
"Who We Are"
The Bicentennial of Tennessee 1796-1996
The fertile soil of TennesseeGrew more than corn, tobacco, and cotton,
It grew a crop of people who areTrailblazers,
child raisers, flag wavers, soul savers.
Like the roots of the tulip poplar,
Our feet are planted deeply
Into good living, neighbor giving, God fearing.
Like the iris, buttercup and wild daisies,
Our towns have sprung up
In valleys, basins, mountains, plains and plateaus
That house cabins, mansions and hillside chateaus.
We're the one-room schoolhouse in the hollow;
We're the university grad and the front-porch scholar.
We're Davy Crockett at the Alamo,
Sergeant York, World War I hero.
We're Cordell Hull who served Roosevelt;
We're Chief Sequoyah and his Cherokee alphabet.
We're W.C. Handy and the Memphis Blues;
We're Ida B. Wells and Civil Rights news,
And Grand Ole Opry with old wooden pews.
We're "Rocky Top" and "Tennessee Waltz" the same;
We're "Star Spangled Banner" before the game.
We're mockingbirds singing Appalachian folk songs;
We're country church sing-alongs.
We're hand clappers, toe tappers, knee slappers
And Mama's lap lullaby nappers.
We're Jackson, Johnson and James K. Polk;
We're city slickers and poor hill folk;
We're Anne Dallas Dudley and the Suffrage Vote.
We're John Sevier, Don Sundquist and governors galore;
We're congressmen, mayors and Vice President Gore.
We're Wilma Rudolph's run for the goldAnd Sunday golfers' eighteenth hole.
We're Christmas Eve and the Fourth of July;
We're 4-H and homemade chess pie.
We're TVA rivers, creeks and man-made lakes;
We're ruts in dirt roads and interstates.
We're all religions, creeds and peoples of race;
We're Tennesseans who love the home place.
We're the Volunteer State and will always be
Ready to go when someone's in need.
As our trees turn green and our barns turn gray.
We celebrate our two hundredth birthday.
We know we've done our best, stood the test,
And will be laid to rest
In the fertile soil of Tennessee.
Maggi Vaughn
P. O. Box 486Bell Buckle, TN 37020
(931) 389-6878
The inspiration for her work are the people of Tennessee and its rich history. I think she does a fantastic job of showing just who the people of this great state are and what we are like.
This poem was used with permission from Maggi Vaughn. Thank you so much
Today is Poet's Day and a time to celebrate this wonderful art. I thought that the Tennessee Poet Laureate, Maggi Vaughn, had the perfect poem for today and for our state in general.
"Who We Are"
The Bicentennial of Tennessee 1796-1996
The fertile soil of TennesseeGrew more than corn, tobacco, and cotton,
It grew a crop of people who areTrailblazers,
child raisers, flag wavers, soul savers.
Like the roots of the tulip poplar,
Our feet are planted deeply
Into good living, neighbor giving, God fearing.
Like the iris, buttercup and wild daisies,
Our towns have sprung up
In valleys, basins, mountains, plains and plateaus
That house cabins, mansions and hillside chateaus.
We're the one-room schoolhouse in the hollow;
We're the university grad and the front-porch scholar.
We're Davy Crockett at the Alamo,
Sergeant York, World War I hero.
We're Cordell Hull who served Roosevelt;
We're Chief Sequoyah and his Cherokee alphabet.
We're W.C. Handy and the Memphis Blues;
We're Ida B. Wells and Civil Rights news,
And Grand Ole Opry with old wooden pews.
We're "Rocky Top" and "Tennessee Waltz" the same;
We're "Star Spangled Banner" before the game.
We're mockingbirds singing Appalachian folk songs;
We're country church sing-alongs.
We're hand clappers, toe tappers, knee slappers
And Mama's lap lullaby nappers.
We're Jackson, Johnson and James K. Polk;
We're city slickers and poor hill folk;
We're Anne Dallas Dudley and the Suffrage Vote.
We're John Sevier, Don Sundquist and governors galore;
We're congressmen, mayors and Vice President Gore.
We're Wilma Rudolph's run for the goldAnd Sunday golfers' eighteenth hole.
We're Christmas Eve and the Fourth of July;
We're 4-H and homemade chess pie.
We're TVA rivers, creeks and man-made lakes;
We're ruts in dirt roads and interstates.
We're all religions, creeds and peoples of race;
We're Tennesseans who love the home place.
We're the Volunteer State and will always be
Ready to go when someone's in need.
As our trees turn green and our barns turn gray.
We celebrate our two hundredth birthday.
We know we've done our best, stood the test,
And will be laid to rest
In the fertile soil of Tennessee.
Maggi Vaughn
P. O. Box 486Bell Buckle, TN 37020
(931) 389-6878
The inspiration for her work are the people of Tennessee and its rich history. I think she does a fantastic job of showing just who the people of this great state are and what we are like.
This poem was used with permission from Maggi Vaughn. Thank you so much
Thursday, August 17, 2006
My Nashville
I have read a book called "My South" and I love it. If you get a chance to read it, do it because it is a wonderful book that gives you the feel of what makes the South so special.
I would like to create something here called "My Nashville" here and hear how you all feel about Nashville. I want to hear from Nashvillians and people that have visited our great city. I want to know what part of Nashville touches you deep in your heart and why you live here or wish you lived here.
I look forward to hearing your input.
My Nashville is walking around inside the Ryman and imagining the history and wishing the walls could talk.
by Craig McMahon; Robert St John; Bryan Curtis
My south is home. It’s the tall pines under which I played in my youth. It’s the soft red clay that was a key ingredient in my mud pies.
In my South, people still say “please” and “thank you,” “yes, ma’am’ and “no, sir.”
My South is sunset symphonies and fine wines…and southern R&B so alive that you can’t sit still and gospel so good it brings you to tears.
I have read a book called "My South" and I love it. If you get a chance to read it, do it because it is a wonderful book that gives you the feel of what makes the South so special.
I would like to create something here called "My Nashville" here and hear how you all feel about Nashville. I want to hear from Nashvillians and people that have visited our great city. I want to know what part of Nashville touches you deep in your heart and why you live here or wish you lived here.
I look forward to hearing your input.
My Nashville is walking around inside the Ryman and imagining the history and wishing the walls could talk.
by Craig McMahon; Robert St John; Bryan Curtis
My south is home. It’s the tall pines under which I played in my youth. It’s the soft red clay that was a key ingredient in my mud pies.
In my South, people still say “please” and “thank you,” “yes, ma’am’ and “no, sir.”
My South is sunset symphonies and fine wines…and southern R&B so alive that you can’t sit still and gospel so good it brings you to tears.
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