Nashville

[DJSteve]

We did a tour of the old RCA recording studio. Not sure if it was separate or part of the Country Music Hall of Fame. But I really liked it.

I thought the studio tour was neat/interesting, also. That, and seeing Vince Gill and Time Jumpers at bluebird cafe (this was 8-9 years ago and at that time they had a weekly residency) were easily the highlights. Cash museum was ok.

Bars on Broadway didn't impress me at all... lots of live music, but pretty much all mediocre cover bands who would pull up lyrics on their phones and attempt to play anything you wanted for $20 (whether they remotely knew the song or not).

 

[ClonerJams]

If you like the night life, Nudies and Tootsies were the best bars in my opinion. The food scene is kind of disappointing (unless you're in to hot chicken), but there is a good BBQ place on Broadway.

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

If they wanted to go to a political rally they would have went to a free one. A lot of politics they said.

ok thanks for the warning! We'll see how it goes and I'll report back

 

[JP4CY]

lol what did he say? 75% of the reason we're going is the venue

If they wanted to go to a political rally they would have went to a free one. A lot of politics they said.

I'm not trying to cave this thread but it's spot on:

Had to be 2007 because of elections. John Mellencamp @ Wells Fargo on Des Moines. He stopped the concert to bring out John Edwards and pitch his politics on the crowd. I've never, ever heard more booing in my life.
This isn't about what political party was represented, it was about people spending money to watch John Mellencamp, and get a break from politics, which we didnt.

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

Thank you !!!

The Country Music Hall of Fame is very interesting and features more than "just" country music. It's about the history, the influences, both old and new. Not that pricey and well worth a couple hours of your time.

Hatch Show Print (same complex as the H of F) makes the old-style three-color posters with letterpress printing and hand-carved artwork. We did a tour there a few years back. https://www.hatchshowprint.com/

A definite second on Monell's in Germantown (just north of downtown). Breakfast OR dinner is a great option. I'd vote for breakfast, personally. It really is a great place. Just be prepared to sit with people you don't know at large tables if you aren't already a big group. With all the times I've been there, I've never encountered a table that wasn't friendly with conversation flowing during the meal. Locals will ask you where you've eaten and if you haven't tried any or many places, they'll rattle off a long list of restaurants to try. They don't care what you've seen because everyone pretty much sees and does the same stuff. Nashville is known for country music and FOOD. So, ask the locals for their favorite eating spots, too.

Do be prepared for a lot of traffic in Nashville. It's grown tremendously over the last 20 years, especially: over 700,000 in the city, 2022 estimate (now the largest in Tennessee), with a CSA of just over 2,000,000.

 

[Jeremy]

Biscuit Love...best breakfast around

Watched a movie like that once but they used a pie instead of biscuit.

 

[clonebb]

Been there twice and camping there this summer for a few days after Memphis. As a country fan, I spend most of the time on Broadways. Johnny Cash museum is a must visit.

 

[Dopey]

I don’t drink and generally hate bars but even I had fun in Nashville. We had no plan. Just wandered.

 

[Junejax]

ok thanks for the warning! We'll see how it goes and I'll report back

Hope it’s a good time! I’ve seen him in concert a few times, and he is a talker. But that can be very entertaining, if he’s in storyteller mode. And he still sounded good when I last saw him. Which, ugh, has been more than a few years!

 

[im4isu]

Biscuit Love...best breakfast around

Biscuit Love is solid, I would also recommend that your look at the menu at The Butter Milk Ranch. Quirky hours, but very good. We will check out Monell's next time we visit. Have a daughter in Grad School at Vandy, cheap flights out of CR and Peoria (most flights are $80 -$150 RT) if you are packing for the weekend and can get by with a carry on.

 

[NWICY]

Mellencamp- after what my friends said, no way would I go to his show.

?

 

[NWICY]

I don't know if you'll have a car to get there or any interest in sports cars but an hour away is the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.

Went there before the sink hole collapse a few years back.

 

[CycloneNorth]

~ We're heading to Nashville in May (first time in decades)
Staying downtown, and have a few things scheduled.
Ryman Auditorium show (bucket list)
Zoo
Biking
Johnny Cash Museum
Honky Tonk Central
BlueBird Cafe

We're not country fans per se, but enjoy Bluegrass, Americana, Honky Tonk, Folk, Rockabilly, etc.

Any other places of interest we shouldn't pass up?

Thank you in advance!

I’ve lived here for 10 years and my #1 recommendation is to see a show at The Station Inn. Bluegrass/Americana music. Will be the live music highlight of your trip.

Biking I’d recommend Stones River Greenway, Percy Warner Park, or the Natchez Trace. All very different but one should fit what you’re looking for.

If you haven’t bought tickets for the zoo yet DM me. Annual pass and with the reservation system I can get you up to 4x free.

 

[BurgundyClone]

~ We're heading to Nashville in May (first time in decades)
Staying downtown, and have a few things scheduled.
Ryman Auditorium show (bucket list)
Zoo
Biking
Johnny Cash Museum
Honky Tonk Central
BlueBird Cafe

We're not country fans per se, but enjoy Bluegrass, Americana, Honky Tonk, Folk, Rockabilly, etc.

Any other places of interest we shouldn't pass up?

Thank you in advance!

Our favorite place was The Local, off the strip but had a songwriter round table singing their songs they've written for other pop country stars mostly that you've maybe heard and brand new ones coming on the charts

 

[dmclone]

Went there before the sink hole collapse a few years back.

I went the year after and they had the cars that had fallen in. Pretty sad but interesting.

 

[CycloneBob]

If you like the night life, Nudies and Tootsies were the best bars in my opinion. The food scene is kind of disappointing (unless you're in to hot chicken), but there is a good BBQ place on Broadway.

It's Jack's BBQ

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

Thank you very much for the info, and for the offer.....I'll DM you about this

regards~

I’ve lived here for 10 years and my #1 recommendation is to see a show at The Station Inn. Bluegrass/Americana music. Will be the live music highlight of your trip.

Biking I’d recommend Stones River Greenway, Percy Warner Park, or the Natchez Trace. All very different but one should fit what you’re looking for.

If you haven’t bought tickets for the zoo yet DM me. Annual pass and with the reservation system I can get you up to 4x free.

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

Back from Nashville:

A special THANK YOU to CycloneNorth for his generosity. Much appreciated!

~ Ryman Auditorium. $14 million addition added a few years ago, but the Auditorium itself seems original and intact. Perusing John Mellencamp tickets after booking trip, must of found 2 seats that went back on website to re-sell, as it appeared the floor was sold-out otherwise . Great show, great acoustics, and great 'seats' (in front row). We were 15'-20' feet from the band. Our seats were part of a pew, as this venue was originally a church. The pews are original from the 1890's. Mellencamp a storyteller and no, not once did he mention politics.

~Honky-Tonk Ave, aka 'Broadway' was lively and energetic. Historic bars/venues. All the windows were open all week. Amazing local talent--many bands sprinkled-in some rock as well as country. I'm a little older to party all night-- in by 10pm lol

~ Trolley first day. (Hop on & Off) We wanted to get a feel for the city. Entertaining narrating drivers; Marathon Motors, Music Row, Parthenon tour (thank you keepngoal),Museums, Capitol, etc.

~ Country Music HOF. You don't have to be a country music fan to enjoy this. Viewing PBS's Ken Burns documentary a few yrs ago was very helpful. All sub-genres of country music; Bluegrass, California-western/country, Texas outlaw country, Folk, Americana, Rockabilly were represented. Amazing historical artifacts. We spent 2-3 hours in there. An all-day affair if you really want to read and view everything. Afterward, we visited the Johnny Cash museum---also very good

The Nashville Zoo is unique and well done. A historical mansion on the grounds, latest owned by a 5th generation pair of sisters (think: 'The Sisters' from The Walton's, sans the booze) who were responsible for this zoo to exist.

~ We flew in and then walked everywhere---our downtown hotel was a 1-3 blocks from everything. UBER'd to other areas.
Beautiful skyline, downtown seemed super safe; natives and tourists were very congenial and nice. The city is defying the trends--- it's booming.. High-rise cranes everywhere; Airport, zoo expanding.

If you like to party w/out children in tow, Broadway Ave is for you. If not so much, visit on a weekday/week night. Very active but not suffocating, and a lot of fun.

Thank you all for the recommendations. Much appreciated