There have been so many announcements of new hotels that will be built in the future. New restaurants are opening so many new options and bringing new ideas and flavors into our fair city. I hate to see the old ones leave but I love the vibrancy our city has right now. I love all the creativity blossoming everywhere and in all facets of our city.
Some examples of the changes in our city.....
We lost:
Vandyland
West End Hardware
Belle Meade Cafeteria
Belle Meade Hardware
We added:
Marché Artisan Foods
Flyte World Dining and Wine
Past Perfect
Bricktop's
Stoney River
SteakhouseCabana
The Viridian (condos)
Vinea (wines and spirits)
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Time For A Road Trip
I'm aching to do a big road trip in the next few months. I am thinking cross country would be fun and there is a highway in Montana that is currently two lanes and crosses the entire northern half of the state. It is going to be widened and changed so before that happens I would love to make the drive across Highway 2 and meet people, take some pictures, eat some good food and whatever elses crosses my path.
I know there are areas all over the country that I would like see and drive across and I want to also do more of that in my own great state of Tennessee. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts about a special road trip? I want ideas, places and anything else you can offer. I would even consider having a sponsor if the offer was right. Anyone know a someone that would pay me to drive around, meet people take pictures, get recipes, eat good food and report back to the masses?
I know there are areas all over the country that I would like see and drive across and I want to also do more of that in my own great state of Tennessee. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts about a special road trip? I want ideas, places and anything else you can offer. I would even consider having a sponsor if the offer was right. Anyone know a someone that would pay me to drive around, meet people take pictures, get recipes, eat good food and report back to the masses?
Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame is home to many artifacts from the history of music. If you look at the building closely you can see all sorts of things that pays homage to music. Can you see them?
Outside the Arena on Game Night
Time for a little Hockey-Tonkin on Broadway, inside the Gaylord Entertainment Center. The NashvillePredators defeated the St. Louis Blues.
House of Pizza, part 1
House of Pizza storefront in the Arcade
Manny, the owner of House of Pizza.
An original New York style pie that is delicious
Thanks to John Hylton and J. Keith for pointing me towards this place.
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge is located on lower Broadway in downtown Nashville. These were taken at that fun time of the day between day and night.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Nashville during the holidays
Jack's Bar-B-Que in the Christmas spirit
The Arcade- a true Nashville treasure
Looking in from the 5th Avenue entrance
Looking in from the 4th Avenue entrance
The Arcade- a true Nashville treasure
Looking in from the 5th Avenue entrance
Looking in from the 4th Avenue entrance
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Traveling at Christmas
Just a thought of traveling during this season to see family.
Click the link to read.
Webbspun Christmas Travels
Click the link to read.
Webbspun Christmas Travels
Nice quote
One thing about trains, it doesn't matter where they are going; You just have to decide to get on.
-Conductor, "Polar Express"
-Conductor, "Polar Express"
Water Bridges in Belle Meade
Water bridges are where you cross through a stream of water to get to the other side. You pass through the water instead of over it.
Can you tell where the edge of the bridge is in these pictures?
Can you tell where the edge of the bridge is in these pictures?
2006 Full Moon Tattoo & Horror Festival-Guys
Sideshow Bennie- eats fire, lays on a bed of nails, lets you throw darts at his back and more odd and interesting stuff.
Sid Haig- Devil's Rejects and many more movies. Nice guy in real life but crazy in the movies.
Enigma- Now this was a weird guy. Tattooed to look like a puzzle and than he "sang" and sucked Windex through his nose. Uhh, yeah..
Sid Haig- Devil's Rejects and many more movies. Nice guy in real life but crazy in the movies.
Enigma- Now this was a weird guy. Tattooed to look like a puzzle and than he "sang" and sucked Windex through his nose. Uhh, yeah..
More from the 2006 Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival
Some of the ladies seen working at the Tattoo and Horror Festival
Jungle Gym Kim-another hot one
Tiffany Shepis- Many horror and "B" movies but the best thing.....she's hot!
I don't know what this is, but it is part of the Panty Raid show.
Is she looking straight at me?
Jungle Gym Kim-another hot one
Tiffany Shepis- Many horror and "B" movies but the best thing.....she's hot!
I don't know what this is, but it is part of the Panty Raid show.
Is she looking straight at me?
Friday, December 22, 2006
Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival, March 2006
This was held in March 2006 at the Nashville Airport Marriott. It is held every year around the same time and will be held at The Maxwell House Hotel, May 11-13 of 2007. They are a great convention for any hotel who gets them. Fun people to work with and very kind to all they come in contact with. I didn't know the horror genre very well until I met these guys but some people who knew their work were kinda freaked by them until the realized they aren't truly like the characters they play in the movies.
Gunnar Hansen- Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Edwin Neal- Hitchhiker in Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Ken Foree- Peter in Dawn of the Dead
Michael Berryman- Pluto in The Hills Have Eyes and the principal in "Smokin in the Boys" by Motley Crue
Gunnar Hansen- Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Edwin Neal- Hitchhiker in Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Ken Foree- Peter in Dawn of the Dead
Michael Berryman- Pluto in The Hills Have Eyes and the principal in "Smokin in the Boys" by Motley Crue
Sunset Grill Wine Classes
Sunset Grill has conducted a Basic Wine Class for the past 12 Years. The originator of this wine class is Craig Clifft and he, along with the wine director of Sunset Grill John Woodard, will teach this year's classes
Make your reservations now at SunsetGrill or call 386-3663. Wine class reservations accepted by phone the day of the class only.
Basic Wine
January 9
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 92
Chardonnay
January 16
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 95
Sauvignon Blanc
January 23
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Pinot Grigio
January 30
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 94
Alternative Whites
February 6
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 95
Pinot Noir
February 13
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Shiraz/Syrah
February 20
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Zinfandel
February 27
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Cabernet Sauvignon
March 6
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Merlot
March 13
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Alternative Reds
March 20
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Port/Dessert Wine
March 27
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Champagne & Sparkling
April 3
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Showcase
April 10
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Make your reservations now at SunsetGrill or call 386-3663. Wine class reservations accepted by phone the day of the class only.
Basic Wine
January 9
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 92
Chardonnay
January 16
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 95
Sauvignon Blanc
January 23
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Pinot Grigio
January 30
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 94
Alternative Whites
February 6
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 95
Pinot Noir
February 13
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Shiraz/Syrah
February 20
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Zinfandel
February 27
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Cabernet Sauvignon
March 6
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Merlot
March 13
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Alternative Reds
March 20
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Port/Dessert Wine
March 27
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Champagne & Sparkling
April 3
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Showcase
April 10
Price: $10.00
Quantity: 96
Travel and Outdoor Photographers
Please take the time to delve into the websites of these gentlemen and see the magic they create.
There are so many wonderful photographers but there are some that just always seem to stay with you and you never forget their work. Of course, the master of the outdoor photography is Ansel Adams. All you have to do is look at his work and you will see why he is so revered and photographers use him as the goal to reach, to know you are able to get "that" from your camera.
Thomas Mangelsen is someone that I found out about while in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on a ski trip and while checking out the town square we stumbled across his gallery. I was sold and hooked on his work since that day. One of the first, if not the first, to get a picture of the salmon jumping straight out of the water and into a bears mouth. You can find books, cards and all sorts of stuff that showcase his work.
Peter Lik is someone that I found out about while in Las Vegas a few months ago. He is the type of guy that goes out to find a shot that he wants and gets a few pictures with a "standard" camera. This allows him to see what time of day he wants to get the shot, what he wants to see when he truly goes out to get the shot with his "real" camera. His prints are expensive but worth it and play off the amount of light you put them in. You can see different things in bright lights and something else in less light. Truly magical stuff here.
Tom Murphy: I heard about him for the first time just a few days ago while he was on NPR discussing photography and being out in the wild. I was struck by the way he looks at things and how he is able to pull that across for us to see. Just a great way to get the great outdoor shots while also finding the abstract and fun in the outdoors.
All of these men leave me yearning to be better at my photography and to want to get "out there" and see what shows itself to me or allows me to see it. They are all different in their styles and the outcome of the shots yet they all seem to have a magical touch and while they are out on a trek for shots I think it is a type of communion for them. It is more than just going out with a camera and seeing what you can get to sell. I know it is a really good business but I think it is a spiritual thing for them as well.
There are so many wonderful photographers but there are some that just always seem to stay with you and you never forget their work. Of course, the master of the outdoor photography is Ansel Adams. All you have to do is look at his work and you will see why he is so revered and photographers use him as the goal to reach, to know you are able to get "that" from your camera.
Thomas Mangelsen is someone that I found out about while in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on a ski trip and while checking out the town square we stumbled across his gallery. I was sold and hooked on his work since that day. One of the first, if not the first, to get a picture of the salmon jumping straight out of the water and into a bears mouth. You can find books, cards and all sorts of stuff that showcase his work.
Peter Lik is someone that I found out about while in Las Vegas a few months ago. He is the type of guy that goes out to find a shot that he wants and gets a few pictures with a "standard" camera. This allows him to see what time of day he wants to get the shot, what he wants to see when he truly goes out to get the shot with his "real" camera. His prints are expensive but worth it and play off the amount of light you put them in. You can see different things in bright lights and something else in less light. Truly magical stuff here.
Tom Murphy: I heard about him for the first time just a few days ago while he was on NPR discussing photography and being out in the wild. I was struck by the way he looks at things and how he is able to pull that across for us to see. Just a great way to get the great outdoor shots while also finding the abstract and fun in the outdoors.
All of these men leave me yearning to be better at my photography and to want to get "out there" and see what shows itself to me or allows me to see it. They are all different in their styles and the outcome of the shots yet they all seem to have a magical touch and while they are out on a trek for shots I think it is a type of communion for them. It is more than just going out with a camera and seeing what you can get to sell. I know it is a really good business but I think it is a spiritual thing for them as well.
Airports
Step back with me in time for a little while, not that many years ago. Do you remember how airports used to be? Remember the fun days of seeing someone off at the gate and watching them walk out of sight? Remember how sometimes you would stand there and wait to see if you can see them in one of the windows of the airplane? I remember doing that many, many times and I remember my heart aching when family member, a friend or girlfriend would be the one getting on that plane and I hated to see them go or wanted to go with them.
I remember going with friends out to the airport just to have dinner and than walk around the concourses watching people come and go. We used to wonder why one person would be leaving and the other staying behind or we would wonder where someone had been and how long they had been gone when we would see someone so excited to see them and occasionally have a sign saying welcome home. It was always fun to see.
We would sometimes drive our cars out to observation areas where we would sit near the runways and watch the planes come and go. There was one spot where you could sit at the end of a runway and the planes would go up and over you. It was always fun to watch something that big and just looks like it shouldn't fly go right over you with a roar.
Those days seem like they were decades ago and yet they feel like they were just a couple of years ago. I miss them and wish we could go back to those days. I'm not sure they were days of innocence for us all but I sure prefer to the way it is in the airports now. Please understand that I still love to travel and love to walk into the airport knowing that I am going somewhere for a great time or to work or whatever because as long as I'm getting on a plane...that is all that matters.
We have so much more craziness today to deal with and it makes people upset, nervous, tense and all sorts of feelings. That is why in airports around the world we are beginning to see things and businesses created to help deal with that. All airports are different but some now have sleeping pods where you can go for a nap when you have a long layover. Your legs will be outside of the pod but your upper body is in it and it keeps it nice and quiet and allows you to sleep without hearing all the noise that is really going on around you. I have read about airports in parts of Asia that are putting in pools, spas and places that I don't know if I could truly relax in because every little bit I would wanna know that status of my flight. Wait, maybe I wouldn't because I might want to just make that my destination.
So as things continue to pop-up to cater to our stressed out lives and to help us enjoy our times in the airports I am grateful but I think I would really just as soon go back to the days gone by and not have the travel stress we do now.
I know that the airlines don't help with the stress levels though because they don't keep a staff like they used to and we have to do self check-in and than we are fortunate enough to talk to someone and get our bags checked. I know keeping track of all the luggage that is checked in with them on a daily basis is a huge issue but if FedEx and UPS can track packages like they do than why can't the airlines? I have been very fortunate over my years of traveling that I have only had issues with my bag being lost or misdirected a couple of times but I still see how often it happens all the time.
While at work the other day I had a lady tell me about how she was hoping to get out a little early and asked if there was a chance she could switch to an earlier flight. They told her seats were available on a different flight but that it would cost an additional $600. She said there was no way she could pay that much of a difference and and she asked again if there were any unsold seats on the earlier flight. They told her again that there were seats available and that for an additional $600 she could be on that flight instead. Since it was a direct flight to Nashville and that was her destination she asked why she had to pay that much to get on an earlier flight and they told her that was just what they had to do. She ask them if they would rather let that plane fly out with empty seats before letting her on without the additional cost and they said yes, they would have to do that. I was stunned myself to hear this but in due respect to the airlines, I wasn't there but I hear horror stories about the airlines all the time as I talk to guests in our hotel.
I just long to be able to travel for a reasonable rate, know my luggage will arrive with me and keep there in a timely manner. If that doesn't happen, well than where can I find a massage therapist or a sleeping pod in the airport?
I remember going with friends out to the airport just to have dinner and than walk around the concourses watching people come and go. We used to wonder why one person would be leaving and the other staying behind or we would wonder where someone had been and how long they had been gone when we would see someone so excited to see them and occasionally have a sign saying welcome home. It was always fun to see.
We would sometimes drive our cars out to observation areas where we would sit near the runways and watch the planes come and go. There was one spot where you could sit at the end of a runway and the planes would go up and over you. It was always fun to watch something that big and just looks like it shouldn't fly go right over you with a roar.
Those days seem like they were decades ago and yet they feel like they were just a couple of years ago. I miss them and wish we could go back to those days. I'm not sure they were days of innocence for us all but I sure prefer to the way it is in the airports now. Please understand that I still love to travel and love to walk into the airport knowing that I am going somewhere for a great time or to work or whatever because as long as I'm getting on a plane...that is all that matters.
We have so much more craziness today to deal with and it makes people upset, nervous, tense and all sorts of feelings. That is why in airports around the world we are beginning to see things and businesses created to help deal with that. All airports are different but some now have sleeping pods where you can go for a nap when you have a long layover. Your legs will be outside of the pod but your upper body is in it and it keeps it nice and quiet and allows you to sleep without hearing all the noise that is really going on around you. I have read about airports in parts of Asia that are putting in pools, spas and places that I don't know if I could truly relax in because every little bit I would wanna know that status of my flight. Wait, maybe I wouldn't because I might want to just make that my destination.
So as things continue to pop-up to cater to our stressed out lives and to help us enjoy our times in the airports I am grateful but I think I would really just as soon go back to the days gone by and not have the travel stress we do now.
I know that the airlines don't help with the stress levels though because they don't keep a staff like they used to and we have to do self check-in and than we are fortunate enough to talk to someone and get our bags checked. I know keeping track of all the luggage that is checked in with them on a daily basis is a huge issue but if FedEx and UPS can track packages like they do than why can't the airlines? I have been very fortunate over my years of traveling that I have only had issues with my bag being lost or misdirected a couple of times but I still see how often it happens all the time.
While at work the other day I had a lady tell me about how she was hoping to get out a little early and asked if there was a chance she could switch to an earlier flight. They told her seats were available on a different flight but that it would cost an additional $600. She said there was no way she could pay that much of a difference and and she asked again if there were any unsold seats on the earlier flight. They told her again that there were seats available and that for an additional $600 she could be on that flight instead. Since it was a direct flight to Nashville and that was her destination she asked why she had to pay that much to get on an earlier flight and they told her that was just what they had to do. She ask them if they would rather let that plane fly out with empty seats before letting her on without the additional cost and they said yes, they would have to do that. I was stunned myself to hear this but in due respect to the airlines, I wasn't there but I hear horror stories about the airlines all the time as I talk to guests in our hotel.
I just long to be able to travel for a reasonable rate, know my luggage will arrive with me and keep there in a timely manner. If that doesn't happen, well than where can I find a massage therapist or a sleeping pod in the airport?
Thursday, December 21, 2006
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