Andrew Delaplaine - Nashville--The Delaplaine 2020 Long Weekend Guide

NASHVILLE

The Delaplaine

2020 Long Weekend Guide

Andrew Delaplaine

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NASHVILLE

The Delaplaine

Long Weekend Guide

Chapter 1

WHY NASHVILLE?

E VERY CITY HAS ITS own nickname. (Some even have more than one.) New York is the Big Apple. New Orleans is the Big Easy. Chicago is the City of the Big Shoulders.

Nashville is Music City, pure and simple. When you hear the term Music City, you only think of one town, and that town is Nashville.

While Memphis is a larger city than Nashville, Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. I never actually thought about that till I first arrived here. My initial reaction on hearing that Nashville was the capital of Tennessee was to think how odd that sounded. Id only thought of Nashville as the Country Music Capital of the World, which of course it is. Not as the capital of anything else.

Having been raised in South Carolina, I well remember seeing Minnie Pearl on TV in broadcasts from the Grand Ole Opry , which has done weekly shows since 1925, making it the longest continuously broadcast radio show in history.

Nashville is not only the center of the country music business, but for Christian music as well.

They city has outgrown its label as a purely country town. What makes it particularly unique is that it combines the best elements of a small town (people say Hello on the streets, the clerks in the shops are as pleasant as can be) with the sophistication of a big town (the museums are superlative, the galleries cutting edge, the restaurants are world classrepeat the words Catbird Seat and Rolf & Daughters to me).

The restaurant scene has exploded, and now features some of the most original cooking that stands up to the best that New York has to offer. Just look at what theyre doing at the Catbird Seat. I find it particularly interesting that Sean Brock, who so successfully opened Husk and McCradys in Charleston, opted to return to Nashville (where he once worked for 3 years at the Hermitage) with a local version of Husk . If Brocks presence doesnt say something about the food scene in Nashville, nothing does.

The bar scene also has greatly expanded, offering much more variety. As for nightlife, theres never been anyplace with so much music going on. Start at the Bluebird Caf (the location of scenes in ABCs Nashville TV show, though they use a set that recreates the site) and then dig deeper.

The formerly down-and-dirty 12 South District has bounced back big-time with eateries offering sustainable cuisine, trendy shops, a cutting edge atmosphere, making it one of the hotter new areas of town. Meanwhile, in whats now called SoBro (meaning that its directly south of the famous Broadway honky-tonk area), once home to almost nothing, you can experience a whole new neighborhood coming alive as it changes day by day, with famous chefs opening restaurants and craft cocktails being served at new hotspots.

One thing I guarantee: Youll never get Nashville out of your blood.

Chapter 2

WHERE TO STAY

High on the Hog Sensible Alternatives Budget

HOTEL

404 12th Ave S, Nashville, 615-242-7404

www.the404nashville.com

Located in the Gulch neighborhood, this unique urban oasis offers five king rooms with a mix of vintage and custom furniture. Amenities include: gourmet pastries delivered from nearby bakery, and in-room refrigerators stocked with complimentary drinks.

T HE DRAKE INN

420 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, 615-256-7770

www.drakeinnnashville.com

This two-level historic inn features 101 well-appointed guest rooms with modern conveniences. Nothing terribly fancy in this old-time motel. Amenities include: swimming pool, Jacuzzi, cable TVs and free internet access. Conveniently located near Downtown area, Music Row, Country Hall of Fame and other local attractions. While theres no restaurant on site, there are plenty of good ones nearby. Pet-friendly hotel.