The 10 Things You Must Do Before You Call Yourself a Nashvillian!

OK, so I'm from Hendersonville, but if I was anywhere else in the world and someone asked me where I am from my answer would be Nashville. Hendersonville was incorporated in 1952 and is a fine place to live, but let's face it, we are first and foremost a Nashville bedroom community.

I personally am not bothered by Hendersonville's split personality because I love Nashville "Music City". For a city of it's size Nashville has a distinctive personality and so much going on that a week does not pass that my wife and I do not make the 30 minute drive to experience it's pleasures. So I offer up 10 things that you should do before calling yourself a Nashvillian.

1. Attend the Ryman Auditorium for a performance of the Grand Ole Opry.
The Opry is first and foremost a radio show. In the 30's the 50,000 watt WLAC radio tower was constructed. It broadcast music to most corners of the USA and contributed greatly to not only the exposure of country music, but also R & B and Rock and Roll building audiences and influencing countless future musicians from around the country. The WLAC radio tower was the spark that started Nashville's reputation as "Music City".

2. See the Athena at the Parthenon.
Centenial Park dates back to the 100 year anniversary of Nashville which was celebrated with a Worlds Fair. Canals were formed for Venice, pyamids were were erected to potray ancient Egypt, and an exact replica of the Greek Parthenon was built. There are lots of free art fairs and events held at Centential park, but not so many people pay the admission to see the very nice art gallery in the basement of the Partheon and see the incredible statue of Athena by Nashville sculptor Alan Le Quire.

3. Go see the Time Jumpers Monday night show at the Station Inn .
The Station Inn is one of the country's best venues for American Music, and it doesn't get any better than on Monday nights when the Time Jumpers perform. Yes, there are famous people in the band like Vince Gill, but the group is made up of the top sessions players in Nashville and the level of musicianship is incredible. The only place you might ever get to see them will be Monday nights at the Station Inn.


4. Take in a TPAC performance.
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center hosts a variety of entertainment options. Three theaters host Broadway touring plays, the Tennessee Repertory Theater and the Circle Players. You can also catch many concerts, comedy and other touring events.

5. Parks on the East side of the Cumberland River walk over the Pedestrian Bridge and hit Tootsies, Roberts Western World and all the honky tonk bars on Broadway.
Tootsies and Roberts Western World are the most noted venues on Broadway, but a great evening can be had on a walk around Broadway, up 2nd Avenue and through Printers Alley to see and hear the music of Nashville.


6. The Frist Center for Visual Arts.
Nashville now has a fabulous Arts Center with the conversion of the art deco Post Office into a great space for touring art events. Be sure to take the architectural tour, then stop off at Union Station or the Flying Saucer at the end of the day.

7. Attend a Titans or Predators game.
Nashville has always been a good town for minor league baseball, but the addition of the Tennessee Titans football team and the Nashville Predators hockey team has brought a new enthusiasm for sports to Nashville. The community is not jaded about their new teams, and a game is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon of football or an evening of hockey action.

8. Take in a local Festival in East Nashville or Germantown.
A vibrant rebirth of life has returned to the historic neighborhoods of East Nashville and Germantown. The special events like the St. Patrick Pub Crawl and festivals like the Tomato Fest are great fun, but searching out the fine independent restaurants, bars and music venues while taking in the charm of the neighborhood is a great time in any season.


9. Check out a Pat McLaughlin once a month show at Douglas Corner.
You may wonder about this obscure event, but this is just one of many musical events that you can only see in Nashville. It could be a pop performance at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center or a writers night at the Blue Bird Cafe, but with a little inside information you an find incredible performances of original material that you can't find any where else but Nashville.

10. Tour the Opryland Hotel.
Anyone living in their home town can get jaded to the wonders around them, but recently I toured the Opryland Hotel after the renovations from the 2010 flood and once again was impressed by the area of tropical paradise under the three stories of glass canopy.

Many residents of Nashville would have their own take on the 10 things that make Music City unique. I have left out many of my own favorites like Cheekwood. But for a city of its size I cannot think of a more enjoyable place to spend time than our own Nasville, Tennessee.

Day Vacations from Sumner County #2

At the end of the coldest winter season in many years my wife and I needed to escape the sofa and experience the out of doors. In the last week of January the sun reappeared, the temperatures soared to the 50's, and we decided to take a thirty minute drive to Nashville for a trek around Radnor Lake.

Radnor Lake is an unexpected jewel inside of Nashville/Davidson County. Radnor is not a natural lake. Located in a deep hollow surrounded by high ridges in southern Davidson Co., the lake was built in 1913 by the L & N Railroad.

Built at a high elevation the reservoir offered a gravity flow of water to fill the many steam locomotives and water for livestock at the Radnor Yards just south of 100 Oaks Shopping Center. The beautiful lake surrounded by forest was also a great hunting and fishing preserve for L & N officials and guest.

During the ten years after construction the lake became a haven for indigenous wildlife and migratory birds. Hunting was suspended at the request of the Ornithological Society, and the lake became a wildlife sanctuary.

The land had a quiet existence for sixty years while the areas of south Nashville and into Brentwood became the most sought after residential destinations in the greater Nashville area. The quiet existence ended when in 1962 a construction firm purchased the 747 acres around Radnor Lake for a luxury residential development. The public outcry was immediate. This started an eleven year battle to preserve the lake as a protected area. Through government, private sector and enlightened conservationists the land was preserved as Tennessee's first natural area and protected ecosystem.

It is events like this that make our country great. The beautiful area is now available to everyone during daylight hours to stroll around the lake or hike the rigorous ridge trails, to enjoy the natural beauty and observe the abundant wildlife.

On our late January hike, water foul were fishing the waters, turtles were baking on the first high 50 degree sunny day of the year, and beavers were rearranging the environment. My best memory of the day was the wind blowing across the lake and breaking up the ice which sounded like a thousand glass wind chimes.

This is a beautiful area in every season of the year. Radnor Lake can be accessed from both Granny White Pike and Franklin Road (Hwy 31) and turning on to Otter Creek Road. So take a little time, disconnect from the phone, television and computer and rest your mind and spirit in the beautiful surroundings.