Nashville By Night

While we only got to spend one full day in Nashville we got to spend full two nights there. There is a good bit of nightlife, as you might expect, and much of it revolves around the local country music. We sampled a little bit or everything.

Marty took us to the Shelby Street Bridge which both Marty and my other friend from TN referred to as the Pedestrian Bridge. It's this giant structure you can walk out on over the river and get a cool view of downtown. They also opened a big park there for kids with this space-age looking elevator that takes you from the bridge down to the park.

We walked down onto Broadway to rub shoulders with the sweaty drunkies. I think this is a Honkey Tonk...or is it a Hootenanny?

Locals dancing in what appears to be a Hoedown. Strange customs.


We went to Bar 308 to close out the evening. They had lots of fancy looking shots named after writers that I did not partake in. I did however partake of the Connect Four tournament we staged as well as kicking back and watching Ghostbusters on the big screen above us.

This moment was awesome. Rachel had quietly won the turn before and Marty, unaware of her victory, was setting up to take his turn. This was a very stressful moment for
Rachel.

For our last evening we went to Mercy Lounge to see Of Montreal. We got there super early so we walked around town a bit and played pool until the show.

If you haven't been to an Of Montreal show then I don't want to totally ruin the experience by posting a million pictures. In short - It's a fun experience full of dancing and strange costumes.

Tomorrow I take off for Atlanta - expect some fun-filled and hopefully food-filled posts when I return!

Nashville By Day

On our full day in Nashville we packed in a ton of sightseeing. Marty grew up in Nashville and has spent lots of time exploring the city so he was a great guide.

We also had a little task we wanted to complete while in Nashville. Rachel had the idea to leave a hidden note somewhere in the city for a friend of hers who spends much of the year on the road performing, but who rests his weary boots back home in Nashville.

We chose to hide the note at the Nashville Public Library in a little whisky bottle she bought at an antique store. Within the next few days we should hear from him to see if the note was still where we left it!

My favorite part of the library - aside from all the books, duh - was the Civil Rights Collection. A whole room full of photographs, books and videos about the Civil Rights Movement! In particular the Nashville sit-ins, organized by the Nashville Student Movement, played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. The NSM created the Ten Rules of Conduct for Civil Rights Movement Sit-ins - which were the behavioral standards written by this group to create an effective sit-in. Those ten rules are etched into the glass tabletops in room.

The library also has an extensive wing dedicated to children's literature and this cool puppet theater room with this semi-creepy giant head.

On the top floor of the library there is a collection of old prints and photographs. I liked this one.

Down on Broadway there is this cool print shop called Hatch Show Print. Hatch Show started in 1879 and is still rolling out new prints - making it one of the country's oldest print shops still producing art. Because much of their work has featured and promoted the country singers of our past like Johnny Cash - they operate within the Country Music Hall of Fame. If you are in Nashville stop in to watch them at work, visit shop kitty, or buy a print or tshirt. Ask about their internships if you want to learn how to press!

Marty also took us to Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles. Now I have to admit, I'm not really a popsicle gal. They drip down your arm and get all sticky and messy. I'm not even really an ice cream cone girl either. I always liked to have it in a cup. BUT - on a hot summer day such as this day I did enjoy these exotically flavored cooling treats.

We also grabbed some sammies at Fido. I found their vegan spicy chocolate cookies more exciting than the sammie but it WAS my first white eggplant sammy - so that's special right?

We really only scratched the surface of Nashville on this trip but I really enjoyed our whirlwind tour. Marty and Rachel are my favorite people to travel with.

One of my favorite places that we went (but I didn't take any pictures of - ugh) was Local Honey. The group of young, self-taught females who outfit this store with creative and beautiful wardrobe pieces really blew me away with their individual styles. They buy vintage pieces and then stitch and embellish them into completely new garments. I bought a few new skirts and shirts and didn't even have to experience any sticker shock.

Look for the Nashville By Night post next!

Where to Drink Vegan: The Coffee Truck - Nashville, TN

After deciding that I do in fact like coffee our next coffee adventure in Nashville had to be The Coffee Truck owned and operated by the lovely miss Juliet and her brother Sutherland. Juliet and Sutherland grew up in Costa Rica on their family's coffee plantation - so they know coffee. They served me up a delicious vegan mocha latte!

They were sweet enough to let me hop into the front of their truck and take a peek inside. While the inside of the truck is cramped - as any truck is - they managed to make it cozy with some personal touches. The seats are garbed in coffee sacks from the coffee that they use on-truck!

You can find them most days (Tuesday- Friday) at 719 McFerrin Street but follow their twitter or facebook to find out when they might be at local events.

Where to Drink Vegan: Barista Parlor - Nashville TN

One of the first places Marty took us in Nashville was a newly opened coffee joint called Barista Parlor. It's a pretty neat space actually. The coffee is brewed and served out of a converted old garage so there are high ceilings, wide open floors and interesting hanging lamps and lights all over the place.

They also use a Japanese style of coffee brewing which includes these fancy, spiraling chemistry set looking pipes and levels. The owner did a cool interview talking about the processes he uses and his vision of the Parlor.

Now truth be told I'm not a coffee drinker. I can get down with a cup of tea leaves but keep those beans out of my hot water. That was until I went to Barista Parlor.

I discovered two marvelous things on this visit.

1: Olive and Sinclair Chocolate.

This chocolate - made locally in Nashville, reminds me a lot of Taza which I discovered in Boston. Stone ground, vegan, delicious. It has a strangely low melting point though. After my first bar melted in my purse I bought a few extra to take home and put them at my feet in the car so they would be in the shade and in the direct flow of cool air. They still melted.

2. I actually DO like coffee if it's in the form of an Almond Milk Mocha Latte. Marty is always thoughtful enough to order things I can photograph and taste too and once I tasted this cup of mocha I was sold. They use the Olive and Sinclair chocolate which makes it that much better.

My only gripe with this place is that they didn't any vegan items to munch on other than the chocolate. Their food menu is very very small - I only saw three items on their little printed clipboard menu and then they have a few baked goods on the counter.

Very fun hangout spot. We liked it so much we went back again before leaving.

All that coffee gave us an attitude.