City Guide 2024

Nashville

Your field guide to Music City from the folks at the

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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

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welcome First, let us congratulate you on your choice of vacation destinations. You’ve selected

Nashville, aka Music City, a place where folks are friendly, visitors are welcome, and every child exits the womb with the ability to flat-pick. For the length of your stay, you’re not

going to have a disappointing meal, see a bad show, or hear anything less than some of the

best music you’ve ever heard in your life — be it honky-tonk, hip-hop, pop punk, indie rock or classical. All you need is somebody to steer you in the right direction.

That’s where we step in.

At the Nashville Scene — the city’s free alternative newsweekly and guide to the daily

avalanche of musical, cultural and culinary offerings — we’re used to navigating a ton of

options competing every day, around the clock, for limited time, money and attention. You

can only do so much in a day, right? Well, we’re used to testing that theory, and we’re going to help you do the same during your stay in Nashville. Consider this guide our handpicked tour of some of the best Nashville has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a bluegrass

club, a scenic walk, a sharp place to shop, a trip through country music history or a place to

sample our indigenous delicacy, hot chicken — keep a fire extinguisher handy — you’ll find it here.

As in much of the country, here in Nashville, the coronavirus pandemic has made grabbing a bite to eat or checking out a museum a bit trickier than usual. Be sure to check with

restaurants, attractions and venues for their hours of operation and any updated protocol.

Just remember: No matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong. You’re in Nashville now. * Denotes advertorial content STAFF: Editor-in-Chief: D. Patrick Rodgers; Project Manager: Laura Hutson Hunter; Art Director: Elizabeth Jones; Copy Editor: Dana Kopp Franklin; Illustrator: Mary Louise Meadors; Photographers: Angelina Castillo, Eric England and Daniel Meigs; Writer: J.R. Lind City Guide is produced seasonally by the Nashville Scene.

For information on advertising or distribution, please email

Chelon Hasty at chasty@fwpublishing.com or call 615-844-9272.

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L O C AT E D 7 M I L E S F R O M D O W N T O W N N A S H V I L L E .

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NEIGHBORHOODS EAST NASHVILLE CityGuide_24.indd 7

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12South SHOP White’s Mercantile

nash.TN

This gift shop features upscale fashion and accessories along with a good selection of locally made products.

Serendipity

Imogene + Willie Judith Bright

This 12South staple is a modern mom-andpop shop that has something for everyone — novelty T-shirts printed by local favorites Friendly Arctic, jewelry, candles, toys for kids and more.*

Emerson Grace

EAT AND DRINK Epice

Frothy Monkey

Among Nashville’s many great Mediterranean restaurants, Epice stands out by making its Lebanese cuisine elegant as well as delicious.

Ladybird Taco

Locust Chef Trevor Moran’s 12South outpost won Food & Wine’s award for Restaurant of the Year in 2022.

Burger Up Edley’s Bar-B-Que The Butter Milk Ranch

SCENE TIP: At the southern end of the main strip of 12South is Sevier Park, with lots of open grassy areas to picnic or lounge (and plenty of trees that provide shade), a playground and jogging trails.

It’s also the home of Sunnyside, an antebellum mansion. It was built in the mid-19th century

by Mary Benton, the first cousin of first lady Sarah Childress Polk. Her husband Jesse Benton famously engaged in a pistol fight with Andrew Jackson in 1813. The Battle of Nashville raged around the house in December 1864, and the bullet-scarred porch and columns still bear the marks of battle. Sunnyside is now home to the Metropolitan Historical Commission.

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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN 10 MUSIC

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downtown DO Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Nashville Farmers’ Market and Bicentennial Mall

The city’s multipurpose center for the performing arts boasts three separate stages capable of housing everything from national Broadway tours such as Hamilton and The Color Purple to lavish Nashville Opera and Nashville Ballet productions and works from the excellent Nashville Repertory Theatre.

A longtime favorite of green-thumbed locals, Gardens of Babylon’s garden center is a jewel of the Nashville Farmers Market.

Here you’ll find everything from rare houseplants to handmade pottery to expert advice on how to care for your garden. *

National Museum of African American Music

John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

Officially opened in 2021, the National Museum of African American Music — or NMAAM — quickly became a global destination for music lovers. With galleries dedicated to R&B, jazz, blues, gospel and hip-hop, the downtown museum offers something for every generation.

Gardens of Babylon

Historic RCA Studio B Tour Johnny Cash Museum Hatch Show Print Bad Axe Throwing

Country Music Hall of Fame (see p. 61)

Headquarters Beercade

SCENE TIP: Tinney Contemporary on Fifth Avenue hosts rotating exhibitions of artists from all over, including Nashville-based artists Wendy Walker Silverman, Marilyn Murphy and James Perrin. Tinney also curates a world-class exhibition series at Bobby Hotel on Fourth Avenue, where you’ll find works from a variety of emerging and mid-career artists.

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ROBERT’S WESTERN WORLD 12

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downtown EAT AND DRINK Robert’s Western World

The Twelve Thirty Club

Lower Broadway is lined with honky-tonk options, and while many of them are a good time, they pale in comparison to Robert’s, with boots lining the walls and incredible fried bologna sandwiches.*

Hanging out at the rooftop bar at The Twelve Thirty Club is like perching at the top of Lower Broadway — you’re in the middle of things, but you’re also detached enough to actually enjoy yourself.

Internationally inspired small plates and craft cocktails, as well as a wine list curated by a master sommelier, are among the highlights of this downtown spot, co-owned

by Justin Timberlake. *

BetMGM Sports Lounge Restaurant & Bar Bridgestone’s best sports bar is open seven days a week, and you don’t need an event or game ticket to get in. But of course, its best use is as a game-day destination, and you can pre- or post-game with the best of them, and indulge in meals prepared by chef Mark Miller. Find it underneath the gold awning — it’s hard to miss.*

Black Rabbit Martin’s B-B-Que Joint Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant

Assembly Food Hall

Etch

Located inside Fifth + Broadway is this food hall, featuring more than 30 different dining options.

Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges

Skull’s Rainbow Room

Acme Feed & Seed

SCENE TIP: Sure, Lower Broadway has its charms, but there are plenty of hidden gems to discover in the city’s center. A cluster of buildings is influenced by Egyptian Revival architecture, most notably Downtown Presbyterian Church, the sanctuary of which is one of Nashville’s most interesting spaces. The church’s third-floor attic also houses a small colony of local artists who keep studios and run a gallery. The Ryman Auditorium is Nashville’s most venerated venue — except for during the 20 years it was abandoned. Book a tour there to learn about the storied past of the Mother Church. On Rosa Parks Boulevard, look for a historical marker commemorating Nashville’s first gay bars, Juanita’s Place and The Jungle.

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SHOPPES ON FATHERLAND 14

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East Nashville SHOP Shoppes on Fatherland This cluster of locally owned stores offers everything from handcrafted jewelry to quirky gifts, garlicky goods and vintage knickknacks.

nancybgoods and Marigold Home & Gift

The Bookshop

Located next to each other in East Nashville’s Fatherland shopping district, these sister stores offer a wide selection of apparel, handbags, jewelry, artisan gifts and much more.*

Hail, Dark Aesthetics

The Getalong

Five Points Alley Shops

Gift Horse

EAT AND DRINK Margot Café & Bar Lyra Two Ten Jack Xiao Bao The Wash Kisser This Japanese neighborhood restuarant was named Best New Restaurant in the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville 2023.

Shotgun Willie’s BBQ

Dukos

Every Wednesday through Sunday, Shotgun Willie’s provides Inglewood with some of the tastiest live-fire barbecue in town. Order a plate and get a half-pound of meat with two scratch-made sides (dill pickle potato salad and honey poppy seed slaw are two favorites) and all the fixin’s. Save room for bourbon banana pudding for dessert.

Keep an eye out for their new location, which opens in Madison in spring 2024.*

On Dickerson Pike in proximity to some of the area’s best restaurants (Scene favorites Xiao Bao, Folk and Audrey) comes a new pizza and sandwich bar that’s open late and offers classic bites with a loungelike atmosphere. What sets Dukos apart is the details: fresh, handmade dough and specialty ingredients like oxtail and black truffle, as well as a variety of local beers and a curated cocktail menu.*

SCENE TIP: There are scores of small businesses to support in neighborhoods including Five Points, McFerrin Park, Lockeland Springs, Inglewood and more. From Shelby Park, you can catch a glimpse of Tennessee’s only functioning lighthouse. Built in 1889, the 39-foot tower marks the intake for Nashville’s Omohundro Water Plant.

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THE16STATION INN

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The Gulch DO The Station Inn The homey no-frills vibe is part of the charm at this world-famous bluegrass mecca. Your odds of hearing jaw-dropping instrumental and vocal talent any night of the week are roughly 1:1 — this is where tomorrow’s bluegrass superstars hone their chops and today’s drop in and unwind.

Carter Vintage Guitars 16-Bit Bar+Arcade Pins Mechanical Company Puttshack Nashville

EAT AND DRINK Marsh House Inside the Thompson Hotel, Marsh House focuses on seafood — lobster tart, snapper stew ­— with Southern flair. Leave room for dessert, too.

Chauhan Ale and Masala House Milk and Honey The Iberian Pig

Emmy Squared

St. Vito Focacceria

This intimate Gulch spot offers up fantastic Detroit-style pizzas, sandwiches and a contender for the best burger in town.

In addition to the always-superb sfincione (don’t sleep on the potato sfincione, or the Classic Vito), Chef Michael Hanna has been riffing on stracciatella, pastas, salads and a whole lot more — with great success.

Gertie’s Bar (see p. 45) Peg Leg Porker

SCENE TIP: A massive, years-long revitalization project transformed Nashville’s railroad gulch into the Gulch, a bustling neighborhood of shops, apartments, condos, high-end hotels and restaurants. It’s a metaphorical beehive of activity as scooters zip by on sidewalks and cranes reach into the sky.

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ROLF18 AND DAUGHTERS

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Germantown EAT AND DRINK Monell’s

Germantown Pub

Operating out of a refurbished Victorian home, Monell’s is not your typical meat-and-three, but more like Sunday dinner at Grandma’s house. Meals there are served that way, around communal tables with big bowls of fried chicken, pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread and more.

With plenty of drink specials and a classic bar-food menu, the neighborly vibes at Germantown Pub encourage you to relax and take a load off. Check out the brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays, and sip bloody Marys while you watch the game.

Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen Given Von Elrod’s menu of artisan sausages and sandwiches plus a darn fine cheeseburger, the idea of enjoying the midday meal at this spot — accompanied by one of its vast array of craft beers in the convivial atmosphere of a breezy biergarten and expansive patio — is a no-brainer.

Rolf and Daughters Geist Bar and Restaurant Henrietta Red Butchertown Hall The Cupcake Collection

City House

SCENE TIP: Tucked away just north of the Tennessee State Capitol, the gridded streets of Germantown — so named because of early German immigrants who settled in the neighborhood and brought brewing and meatpacking to Nashville —

offer some of the city’s most beloved restaurants. The new Tennessee State Museum shares a block with Bicentennial Mall State Park and the Nashville Farmers’ Market, with the minor league Nashville Sounds tossing around the old horsehide at nearby First Horizon Park. The park stands where Sulphur Dell once did, hosting baseball from the

Reconstruction until the 1960s (and has again since 2015), but long before that was home of an impressive 12thcentury saltworks operated by the Mississppian peoples who once populated the Cumberland River Valley.

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Hillsboro Village DO The Belcourt Theatre Founded in 1925, the Belcourt is one of the country’s leading arthouse cinemas — a movie lover’s magnet for foreign and indie films, repertory tributes and raucous midnight screenings with accompanying drink specials.

Fannie Mae Dees Park Belmont Mansion

Posh Boutique Molly Green Hester & Cook The Hillsboro Village store contains beautiful display platters, golden measuring cups, colorful glassware and all the materials needed to throw a sophisticated party.

EAT AND DRINK The Grilled Cheeserie This is a great place to grab a cheesy, melty, satisfying sandwich, with a side of house-made soup and a milkshake.

Greenery Co. Meet Noodles Pizza Perfect Dumpling House

SCENE TIP: A small but bustling district, Hillsboro Village is a charming spot to shop and grab a drink.

Named for a local civic leader and folk hero, Fannie Mae Dees Park is often called “Dragon Park” by locals because it is home to a 200-foot-long mosaic sea serpent.

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BAG LADY’S FRY JOINT 22

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North Nashville DO Carl Van Vechten Gallery This gallery on Fisk University’s campus is often curated with art by a mix of historic artists of the 20th century, like Aaron Douglas and Greg Ridley, and contemporary ones from around North Nashville. The exhibitions reflect the tremendous range of Fisk’s impact.

Woodcuts Gallery & Framing Elephant Gallery Hadley Park Nisolo

Jefferson Street Sound

EAT AND DRINK The Southern V

Bag Lady’s Fry Joint

This all-vegan “meat”-and-three features crispy seitan-based fried chick’n, hearty mac ’n’ cheeze, BBQ jackfruit nachos and an array of tasty sides. Dining at the V is simple and delicious — just like Southern comfort food should be.

Get hand-cut fries, chips or cauliflowerloaded protein, vegetables, cheese and sauce at Bag Lady’s. The unique menu includes pizza fries, hot chicken fries, Philly cheesesteak fries and gyro fries, plus burgers, gyros, lamb and more.

Ooh Wee Bar-B-Q

Vege-licious Cafe

Slim & Husky’s

Riddim N Spice

Tio Fun!

SCENE TIP: From the hallowed halls of Fisk University to the church basements where civil rights activists were trained in nonviolent protest, historically Black North Nashville has a storied past. Its current residents and small businesses continue the neighborhood’s legacy of artistic engagement, inventive cuisine and civic leadership. A 105-year-old Beaux Arts building houses the North Branch of Nashville Public Library. It is one of six Nashville libraries built as part of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie’s ambitious international philanthropic effort to provide cities and institutions with libraries. Nearby Silver Sands Cafe has been serving soul food to hungry residents for more than a half-century.

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24 RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK

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South Nashville DO Plaza Mariachi

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

With a large number of eateries (including Mexican, Cuban and Greek options and more), a dedicated bar, and constant entertainment from the stage and beyond, Plaza Mariachi is perfect for large groups and curious travelers.

On various nights, bands play, and you can salsa dance, play trivia, watch aerial artists and dancers and more.

Radnor Lake State Park Ford Ice Center

EAT AND DRINK Pupuseria Reina La Bendición At this Salvadorian spot, the pupusas are monsters, big masa cakes filled with cheese and other goodness (pork, chicken, beans, etc.), then griddled into submission until there’s a char on both sides. Served with hot sauce and curtido, it’s a gloriously gooey dish when hot.

Black Abbey Brewing Company Black Abbey Brewing refers to its South Nashville taproom as Fellowship Hall — “a place to gather and chat among friends while enjoying a pint of our unique but approachable brews.” Try out one of the seasonal brews, or the delicious and always-on-tap Tennessee IPA.

Taj

Rosie’s Twin Kegs

Osh

Seoul Garden

Gojo

House of Kabob

SCENE TIP: The history-rich neighborhoods south of downtown still reflect their blue-collar background, though the factories and mills are more likely to be filled with tech companies and hip eateries than workers on an assembly line. There’s auto racing at The Fairgrounds Nashville — as there has been for more than a century — and Nashville SC’s Geodis Park. Nolensville Pike, one of the main drags in these parts, hosts a delightful international amalgam of immigrant-owned shops and restaurants with food from everywhere from Central America to Ethiopia to Nepal.

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HANG OUT AT YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD TAPROOMS

We offer outdoor dining, scratch-made eats, and daily drink specials 2318 12th Ave S 26

704 51st Ave N

West Nashville DO McKay’s A book lover’s paradise, the ground floor of McKay’s is crammed with worn classics, paperbacks, DVDs, cookbooks, Xbox games and how-tos of every description; overlooking it is a balcony ringed with thousands of CDs and records.*

CLIMB Nashville West

The Warner Parks The Barbershop Theater Sylvan Supply L&L Market Able

EAT AND DRINK Hathorne

51 North Taproom

The menu at Hathorne is composed of shareable plates of various sizes created with care and impeccable ingredients. Good drinks enhance the conviviality, as does the patio, an oasis along the Charlotte corridor.

M.L. Rose

Located in the Nations, 51 North Taproom is a family-friendly neighborhood staple.

The craft-beer-focused bar and restaurant includes 30 constantly rotating taps and 75 types of bottled or canned beers and ciders, plus a curated selection of wine and cocktails and a menu that features everything from smoked Gouda queso to a smothered hamburger steak.*

Nicky’s Coal Fired

Miss Saigon

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip

Lucky Bamboo

SCENE TIP: The Tennessee hills start their gentle roll west of downtown, home of long-established neighborhoods like Sylvan Park and Belle Meade, founded as quieter alternatives to more intown locales. You’ll find Nashville’s most famous park, Centennial, home of a full-size replica of The Parthenon, an homage to the city’s status as Athens of the South and a legacy of higher education that includes nearby Vanderbilt University. A renaissance along Charlotte Avenue brought new restaurants and shops, and beer lovers will want to visit the breweries in The Nations, one of the city’s most charmingly — and mysteriously — named neighborhoods.

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SAVOR WINNING FLAVORS AT

Where culinary excellence meets sporting excitement and Broadway nightlife to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

WWW.BRIDGESTONEARENA.COM/BETMGM M O N D A Y - S U N D A Y, 1 1 A M – 1 1 P M 1 3 5 R E P. J O H N L E W I S W A Y, N A S H V I L L E , T N

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food and drink BUTCHER AND BEE CityGuide_24.indd 29

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Taste Italy’s finest with Tutti Da Gio. We are an authentic Sicilian Pizzeria with wood-fired pizzas made with the freshest ingredients and our handmade pasta dishes that are bursting with flavor.

tuttidagio.com 615.622.6078

5851 Old Hickory Blvd

5851 Old Hickory Blvd Hermitage, TN 37076 Hermitage, TN 37076 tuttidagio.com | 615.622.6078

Experience The INCREDIBOWL

From chicken, fish and vegetarian options to glutenfree options, Island Fin Poke Co. has something for everyone in your Ohana!

70 White Bridge Pike Nashville, TN 37205 (615) 678-4493 IslandFinPoke.com 30

Taste Italy’s finest with Tutti Da Gio. We are an authentic Sicilian Pizzeria with wood-fired pizzas made with the freshest ingredients and our handmade pasta dishes that are bursting with flavor.

tuttidagio.com 615.622.6078

5851 Old Hickory Blvd

5851 Old Hickory Blvd Hermitage, TN 37076 Hermitage, TN 37076 tuttidagio.com | 615.622.6078

Experience The INCREDIBOWL

From chicken, fish and vegetarian options to glutenfree options, Island Fin Poke Co. has something for everyone in your Ohana!

70 White Bridge Pike Nashville, TN 37205 (615) 678-4493 IslandFinPoke.com 30

Breakfast The Loveless Cafe

Big Bad Breakfast

Since 1951, this local landmark has been dishing out its famed biscuits, country ham and fried chicken to everyone from struggling songwriters to foreign dignitaries.

For big plates of eggs, taters, bacon and grits, hit up this Charlotte Avenue outpost.

The Pancake Pantry

This Wedgewood-Houston cafe boasts some of the best baked goods in the city. Keep it simple with a cappuccino and an extra-flakey croissant.

The Pancake Pantry is so popular that you’ll see a line winding around the Hillsboro Village building and onto the sidewalk, and for good reason. The eatery boasts a reliably solid breakfast, including a variety of, you guessed it, pancakes — from sweet potato to apple-walnut, blueberry and more, you can sweat out your hangover or get fueled up for a day of sightseeing. As of 2021, The Pancake Pantry also has a downtown location at the corner of Third and Molloy.

Adele’s

Biscuit Love

Serving Southern staples like shrimp and grits and chicken-fried-steak biscuits, Adele’s is a go-to weekend brunch spot.

Pinewood Social

Dose At its two locations, Dose serves up coffee, baked goods and the best breakfast sandwich around.

Dozen Bakery

Redheaded Stranger This East Side taco shop isn’t just great for lunch — its egg-and-cheese-filled breakfast tacos will power you through any day.

Butcher & Bee Proper Bagel Sinema

BEST OF NASHVILLE WINNER: Best Brunch: Lou The only time I left a brunch at Lou disappointed was the time they sold out of their delectable buckwheat, chocolate maple and malt butter pancakes before I arrived. It’s worth making a reservation just to pick up that signature dish, but they change up their menu enough to inspire repeat visits. —COLE VILLENA, ASSOCIATE EDITOR 31

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coffee Steadfast Coffee Drinks are perfectly balanced, from The Rested Butterscotch Latte to The Atlas, in which a thick layer of cool, sweet foam delicately sits upon steaming-hot coffee like a complex, delicious science experiment.

Crema Crema is an artisan coffee pioneer on Hermitage Avenue at the edge of downtown, known for reliable coffee craftsmanship and sharing its knowledge via classes.

Bongo East This East Side establishment delivers a reliable cup of great coffee as well as innovative espresso drinks, fresh salads, panini and breakfast all day long — and you can choose from dozens of board games to play.

The Loading Dock At this delightful nook in Wedgewood-Houston, The Loading Dock’s baristas are constantly inventing new drink specials that feature seasonal and house-made syrups.

8th & Roast With locations in West Nashville and on Eighth Avenue South, 8th & Roast serves up reliably delicious espresso drinks, pour-over coffee and a variety of baked goods and premade sandwiches and salads.

Stay Golden South Nashville’s Stay Golden is a local favorite — in fact, it earned a writers’ pick in the Nashville Scene’s 2019 Best of Nashville issue. Thanks to its tasty and affordable menu items, an inviting space and, most importantly, a really good cup of coffee, it’s plain to see why.

BEST OF NASHVILLE WINNER: Best Micro Cafe: Matryoshka Coffee Matryoshka is a whole world of positive energy packed into one tiny space, and it’s the playful, not-too-serious attitude Nashville’s booming coffee community needs right now.

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STEADFAST COFFEE

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good eats The Horn Coffee In this warmly lit Somali cafe, they offer many delectable foods, including a savory pastry called the sambusa, a Somali variation on the Indian samosa.

Five Points Pizza Big, foldable New York-style slices, tasty salads and garlic knots make for a cheap and tidy lunch. Two locations are conveniently located in East and West Nashville.

Tutti Da Gio The unassuming Tutti Da Gio in Hermitage offers some of the best Italian food you’ll find in Nashville, and possibly anywhere. The menu includes handmade gnocchi and pasta, paperthin prosciutto and thin-crust pizzas baked in a brick oven that we like so much we gave it our Best New Italian writer’s choice in the Scene’s 2022 Best of Nashville issue.*

Music City Crepes La Cucharita Colombian Restaurant Redheaded Stranger Tacos y Mariscos Lindo México Island Fin Poké Co. Offering free samples and a Dole soft-serve happy hour, Island Fin Poké Co. really wants to win you over. That’s great news — the fresh ingredients, whether boat-to-bowl or farmto-fork, make this White Bridge spot the neighborhood go-to for poke.*

Doughbird This family-friendly Green Hills restaurant has built its menu around two foods — pizza and rotisserie chicken. That’s clearly a match made in culinary heaven, but Doughbird’s expansive menu also includes other unique offerings, like Family on the FLY, which includes a whole bird, Caesar salad and choice of two large sides for $40. *

BEST OF NASHVILLE WINNER: Best Uzbek Restaurant: OSH Even if you never travel to Uzbekistan, Osh will deliver a delectable deep dive into the country’s specialties.

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Vegetarian Copper Branch The Nashville location of what claims to be the world’s largest plant-based restaurant chain boasts an entirely vegan menu, from breakfast to dinner. If you are eschewing meat — either on occasion or 24/7 — this is the place to get quick, filling, not-at-all-boring eats downtown, such as smoothies, maple tempeh sandwiches, “wings,” baked goods, salads, soups and more.

Sunflower Cafe Surprise is the order of the day at this sunny cafe in Berry Hill. The food is delivered cafeteria-style, so you can sample bits and pieces of the rotating menu of entrées and sides.

Gluten-free, oil-free and soy-free options are available.

Graze At Graze, you can go pig out on your favorite comfort foods made vegan, like Mac & Chorizo, Nashville Hot Tempeh and even a cashew-based cheesecake.

AVO Check out the signature cocktails and The Wild Nashville — arguably the most filling salad we’ve ever eaten, featuring freshly foraged greens and all sorts of goodness grown right here in Music City.

E+Rose Wellness Cafe You don’t need to lead a plant-based lifestyle to enjoy this chain’s delicious superfood bowls. They start with açaî or dragon fruit as a base, blend them with nut milks and butters, and top them high with ingredients like fresh fruit, nuts and local honey.

Delicious and nutritious.

The Southern V (See page 23.)

The Be-Hive Deli KOKOS Ice Cream

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THE BE-HIVE 37DELI

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Fine Dining Folk With craft cocktails, an extensive wine list and menu standouts like wood-fired pizzas and royal red shrimp, Folk is an East Side staple.

The Catbird Seat The Catbird Seat perches at the pinnacle of memorable upscale dining in Nashville. The food is avant-garde yet delicious, and the kitchen has enhanced the résumés of many brilliant chefs. Plan ahead: The 32-seat culinary-adventure ride has a booking system that’s complex even by big-city standards.

Husk Founding chef Sean Brock has moved on to other projects, but Husk remains a hot destination.

Lunch and dinner menus change every day depending on what local growers have to offer and are cooked in an open kitchen at the center of the Victorian mansion.

Tailor This Germantown supper club offers authentic Indian cuisine with Southern sensibilities. Chef Vivek Surti is known to keep the dining experience lively with his warm personality shining through as he introduces each course and tells the stories that inspired them.

Lockeland Table One of the highest-caliber culinary stops in Nashville as well as one of the coziest neighborhood joints, Lockeland Table makes magic out of fresh local ingredients.

BEST OF NASHVILLE WINNER: Best Chef: Josh Habiger at Bastion At Bastion, there are surprises blended with familiar flavors, comfortable dishes enhanced by technique, but not overpowered by it.

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Mexican Fare Mas Tacos Por Favor From pulled-pork tacos to vegetarian quinoa tacos, fried plantains and its regionally famous chicken tortilla soup, Mas Tacos Por Favor never fails to satisfy.

Fogatas Authentic Mexican Food You can get everything from standard Tex-Mex combos to a breakfast plate of steak and eggs with grilled cactus on the side — and there’s a fresh juice bar, too.

Taquería La Juquilita Ask for whatever the daily soup is, point at a few pupusas and tacos, and get ready to enjoy.

Tacos y Mariscos Lindo Mexico A $20 bill can get an entire roasted chicken with rice, beans, tortillas, pico and toppings, with some cash still left over. Tip big, these people are the best.

Taqueria Andrea Everything on the menu is solid gold — the quesadillas, the burritos, the tacos — but bang-foryour-buck-wise, you can’t beat the $7.75 torta, a savory Mexican sandwich about the size of a cheeseburger-and-a-half.

Carniceria San Luis Superica

BEST OF NASHVILLE WINNER: Best Marg/Queso Combo: El Fuego House margaritas go for $5.99 and pairs well with arguably the best queso in town.

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MAS TACOS POR FAVOR

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Hot Chicken Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack The restaurant that made Nashville hot chicken a world-famous specialty serves it up in four varieties: mild, medium, hot or, for the truly reckless, extra hot. Prince’s is the yardstick by which everyone measures hot chicken in Nashville.

400 Degrees In our book, Aqui Hines’ glorious deep-fried bird rivals the mighty Prince’s for its crackling crust and its proportion of flavor to pain. Thick-cut pork chops and crinkle-cut french fries also benefit from a dash of chef Hines’ hot seasoning powder, but it’s her smile and infectious positive attitude that add extra zest to the experience.

Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish A loyal clientele considers this the equal of Prince’s and some prefer it. It’s just as well known for its hot fish — the distantly related Nashville specialty consisting of fried fish doused in mustard and hot sauce.

Helen’s Hot Chicken Helen’s started in a little trailer on the side of a Nashville road, and it’s expanded to four Middle Tennessee locations and three spots out of state. Offering leg and breast quarters, wings and tenders — as well lobster tails, catfish and more — there’s something for everyone.

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken With locations in Midtown, on Lower Broad, in Melrose, on Charlotte and beyond, Hattie B’s has built an impressive hot chicken empire. They’ve also landed at the top of the Readers’ Poll results in more than one installment of the Scene’s Best of Nashville issue. With heat levels ranging from “Southern” (i.e., no heat) all the way up to “Shut the Cluck Up!!!” — not to mention an array of addictive sides — the popular purveyors of fiery fowl have a little something for everyone. Check out hattieb.com for catering info and more.*

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400 DEGREES

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With an intoxicating atmosphere that will feed your soul, experience The Twelve Thirty Club, a multi-faceted destination that delivers on the city’s promise of music, food, and nightlife.

550 Upper Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 THETWELVETHIRTYCLUB.COM | @THETWEL V E T H I R T Y C L U B 44

With an intoxicating atmosphere that will feed your soul, experience The Twelve Thirty Club, a multi-faceted destination that delivers on the city’s promise of music, food, and nightlife.

550 Upper Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 THETWELVETHIRTYCLUB.COM | @THETWEL V E T H I R T Y C L U B 44

Cocktails Pearl Diver

Chopper

This tropical-themed bar has a menu featuring expertly crafted (and aesthetically appealing) daiquiris, piña coladas and a rum-and-soda concoction known as the Ting Wray.

In a meticulously curated space, Chopper offers its own takes on traditional tiki drinks like the mai tai, the jet pilot and the painkiller.

Henley

Inglewood Lounge

The menu at this Midtown brasserie features some of the most creative cocktails anywhere in town and gives the old standards new twists.

This off-the-beaten-path spot offers a succinct but diverse cocktail menu. Reliably inventive, the menu rotates throughout the year.

Earnest Bar & Hideaway

Gertie’s Bar

The drinks menu features few details, opting instead for snippets of prose. This encourages a conversation between mixologist and customer to discover the perfect cocktail for the mood and the moment.

Located on the first floor of The 404 Kitchen, Gertie’s has a whiskey list that is otherworldly.

The staggering variety includes Orphan Barrel bourbons; more than 75 rye; and hard-to-find Japanese, Taiwanese and French bottles.

The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club

Pushing Daisies

With its 1920s Art Deco influence, velvet booths and warm brass and gold fixtures, The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club has class. It also has an expertly curated menu of craft cocktails and liquors.

Traveling down Lower Broad, it would be easy to miss the sign for Pushing Daisies — the new underground margarita bar from Fox Restaurant Concepts. The hidden-away spot is a huge highlight and has so much to brag about: the carefully crafted cocktails, the hushed ambience, and the attentive service all come together to melt away the realization that you are, unbelievably, still downtown.*

Rice Vice by Proper Saké Co. Attaboy

CBD: Green Treez Company Cannabis Dispensary With its new West Nashville dispensary, Green Treez offers both CBD and THC products, including but not limited to pre-rolls, edibles and cartridges — even pet products and personal lubricant. * 45

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food trucks Maiz de la Vida Making tortillas is an art form at Maiz de la Vida. The food truck serves a variety of delicious offerings — tacos, quesabirria, elote and more — that split the difference between traditional and innovative.

Find it outside of East Nashville’s tiki-themed bar Chopper every Tuesday through Sunday.

King Tut’s King Tut’s has been turning heads and turning people into falafel fans for years, and it stepped up a notch by setting up permanently on Nolensville Pike with a charming shaded patio. It takes a master of techniques and seasonings to make us daydream about sautéed eggplant, creamy-crunchy falafel and tender, flavorful shawarma.

Caracasville Pulling up at the Nashville Farmers’ Market, Caracasville offers a variety of empanadas, cachapas stuffed with homemade cheese and other Venezuelan foods, but the star of the show is undoubtedly the stuffed arepa.

Mac Shack Think you know mac-and-cheese? The Mac Shack will expand your mind. They add pesto, Buffalo chicken, Memphis-style barbecue and more to your favorite comfort food. They’ll also add a hefty dollop to your chicken-and-waffles or hot dog.

Retro Sno The Retro Sno truck takes those snow cones you loved eating as a kid and makes them even better.

The shaved ice is soft, more like snow, and the syrups are made in house so they taste much better than the sugar water of yesteryear. But you’ll have to wait till summer.

Cousins Maine Lobster The main event at Cousins Maine Lobster is, of course, the lobster roll. Served on a toasted New England split roll, the sandwich can be ordered in two varieties: traditional New England chilled with a touch of mayo or Connecticut-style, warmed with butter and lemon.

Steaming Goat Despite the name, this truck serves not goat but steamed sandwiches and appetizers. Among the specialties are spinach balls, made using the chef ’s grandmother’s recipe and served with a dipping gravy that brings the taste of Thanksgiving stuffing to your mouth year-round.

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Beers & Cheers YOUR GUIDE TO LOCAL BREWERIES, WINERIES AND DISTILLERIES

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BREWERIES

BREWING & BLENDING 1 BARRIQUE barriquebrewing.com 2. BASSLINE BREWING COMPANY 2 baselinebrews.com 3. BEARDED IRIS 3 beardedirisbrewing.com 4. BLACK ABBEY 4 blackabbeybrewing.com 5. BLACKSTONE BREWING 5 blackstonebeer.com 6. CRAZY GNOME BREWERY 6 cgbrewing.com 7. CZANN’S BREWING CO. 7 czanns.com 8. DISKIN CIDER 8 diskincider.com 9. EAST NASHVILLE BEER WORKS 9 eastnashbeerworks.com 10. FAIT LA FORCE BREWING 10 faitlaforcebrewing.com 11. FAT BOTTOM BREWERY 11 fatbottombrewing.com 12. GRANITE CITY BREWERY 12 gcfb.com 13. HALF BATCH BREWING 13 halfbatchbrewing.com 14. HARDING HOUSE BREWING 14 hardinghousebrew.com 15. HONEYTREE MEADERY 15 honeytreemeadery.com 16. JACKALOPE BREWING CO. 16 jackalopebrew.com 17. LITTLE HARPETH BREWING 17 littleharpethbrewing.com 18. LIVING WATERS BREWING 18 livingwatersbrewing.com 19. MARBLE FOX BREWING CO. 19 marblefoxbrewing.com 20. MAYDAY BREWING 20 maydaybrewery.com 21. MILL CREEK BREWING 21 millcreekbrewingco.com 22. MONDAY NIGHT BREWING 22 PRESERVATION CO. mondaynightbrewing.com 23. NEW HEIGHTS BREWING CO. 23 newheightsbrewing.com 24. SOUTHERN GRIST (2 locations) 24 southerngristbrewing.com 25. TAILGATE (6 locations) 25 tailgatebeer.com

26. TENNESSEE BREW WORKS 26 tnbrew.co 27. SMITH & LENTZ 27 smithandlentz.com 28. YEE-HAW BREWING CO. 28 yeehawbrewing.com 29. YAZOO BREWING CO. 29 yazoobrew.com

DISTILLERIES 30. BIG MACHINE

30 bigmachinevodka.com 31. CORSAIR

31 corsairdistillery.com 32. HEAVEN’S DOOR

32 heavensdoor.com 33. NASHVILLE CRAFT

33 nashvillecraft.com 34. NEAREST GREEN DISTILLERY

34 unclenearest.com

35. NELSON’S GREEN BRIER

35 greenbrierdistillery.com 36. OLE SMOKY

36 6thandpeabody.com 37. PICKERS VODKA

37 pickersvodka.com 38. PENNINGTON DISTILLING

38 penningtondistillingco.com 39. SOUTHERN COLLECTIVE SPIRIT CO.

39 southerncollectivespiritco.com 40. TENNESSEE LEGEND

40 tennesseelegend.com

WINERIES

41. AMBER FALLS WINERY

41 amberfallswinery.com 42. ARRINGTON VINEYARDS

42 arringtonvineyards.com 43. BELLE MEADE WINERY 43 bellemeadewinery.com 44. CITY WINERY 44 citywinery.com 45. LOVE & EXILE WINERY & BAR 45 loveandexile.com 46. NATCHEZ HILLS WINERY 46 natchezhills.com

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SoundWaves™, the nation’s first truly upscale indoor/outdoor resort water attraction, is the perfect hangout with four acres of thrill rides and chill vibes for adventurers of all ages.

GaylordOprylandLocal.com

more adventure

Tennessee Residents get up to

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SoundWaves Experience Package Promo Code: M16 *Proof of residency required at check-in. Davidson County, TN residents save up to 40% with code L9Z. Offers valid select dates in 2024. Restrictions apply.

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things to do BROADWAY

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top dates Cafe Roze The decor is clean, the cocktails killer, and the food fresh, vibrant and seasonal. To drink, try the Miller High Life with grapefruit ice cubes. To eat, they bring the umami with grilled halloumi cheese, a juicy burger and shaved celery salad in olive brine that’s nothing short of epic.

Flamingo Cocktail Club A hip spot in Wedgewood-Houston, Flamingo has a terrific, creative drinks menu.

It features both lounge-y seating areas and an open dance floor, so you and your sweetheart can opt to either nuzzle up in the corner or cut a rug to whatever the DJ is spinning that night.

Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co. Tennessee’s only bean-to-bar chocolatier, Olive and Sinclair offers a 35-minute tour that takes you through the process — with plenty of nibbles along the way.

Topgolf The high-tech driving range is a chain with more than 50 locations on multiple continents. It’s not exactly locally sourced entertainment — but fun is fun. The best part? It doesn’t really matter if you don’t know how to golf. It’s almost more charming if you don’t.

Vinyl Tap East Nashville’s delightful Vinyl Tap offers two things that go great together: vinyl (new and used!) and craft beer (local and regional!). Pop in to shop records, or to try a beer or cocktail — or do it all.

Bastion Josh Habiger is making some of the most creative food in the city with virtually none of the pomposity, and Bastion has become one of Nashville’s most essential restaurants.

It’s set up to feel like a dinner party at someone’s house, complete with vintage stereo equipment and a great vinyl collection. Also, enjoy a drink in the restaurant’s adjacent bar, which features a more laid-back atmosphere.

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Unique Gifts

World Decor

LOREM I PSUM

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 615.714.7121

1100 FATHERLAND ST EAST NASHVILLE

2024 upcoming Events Iron Fork April 4 Nashville Food Faire April 6 Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair April 20 + 21

Margarita Festival May 10 Movies in the Park June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27 Burger Week July 8-14

Fashion for a Fraction August 17 Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair December 7+8 Taco Week December 2-8

visit fwpublishingevents.com for details 54

Top Retail Destinations Grimey’s New and Pre-Loved Music Grimey’s is one of Nashville’s best independent local record stores, with a knowledgeable staff more likely to nerd out over your purchases with you than sneer at your selections. And it’s even got two floors, with printed material downstairs.

Parnassus Books A great bookstore doesn’t just peddle books. It starts conversations, launches friendships, changes lives, transmits the passions of its staff and anchors a community’s intellectual life. Parnassus, which is co-owned by author Ann Patchett, does all of these things and more.*

Hatch Show Print Need presents for those back home, an outside-the-box wedding gift, or something to distinguish your walls or office cube? This is some of the coolest (and most affordable) art you’ll find anywhere.

Hail, Dark Aesthetics The walls of this East Side outpost are covered with the heads of various taxidermied critters and framed bat and insect corpses. It’s not all about death and bones, though — they also carry gorgeous Victorian-inspired jewelry, crystals, Garbage Pail Kids cards and goofy vintage patches.

The Groove Just a couple blocks north of East Nashville’s buzzing Five Points neighborhood, The Groove has been a must for vinyl-hunting audiophiles for a decade-plus. The independently owned store offers new and used vinyl, cassettes and CDs, and frequently hosts in-store performances and events.

Marathon Village It seems many of the folks who head to Marathon Village are hoping to catch a glimpse of American Pickers star Mike Wolfe, who owns Antique Archaeology. But whether you’re there for antiques or cool old cars, definitely take some extra time to check out the other local shops, including The Bang Candy Company and Grinder’s Switch Winery, which offers wine from the Centerville winery.

Music Valley Antiques and Marketplace This antique mall features inventive furniture, records, knickknacks and memorabilia for every budget, plus a slew of souvenirs worth bringing home.

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3900 Hillsboro Pike Suite 14 | Nashville, TN 37215 | PARNASSUSBOOKS.NET 56

Top Retail Destinations Gruhn Guitars The instrument shop has been around since 1970 and currently has more than 1,000 guitars, basses, banjos and more. Gruhn has furnished guitars for Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, George Harrison and Paul McCartney.

The Great Escape Holding one of the largest used CD and record collections in Nashville, this long-standing shop is a favorite for those willing to dig for their treasure. With locations on Charlotte Avenue and on Gallatin Pike in Madison, it’s a great outpost for comic-book lovers too.

Paddywax Candle Bar Scratch your arts-and-crafts itch at Paddywax Candle Bar, where you can sip on a mimosa and make your very own quality candle. With options like Chamomile & Fig and Pink Pepper Grapefruit, the only hard part is choosing a fragrance. Locations are in Berry Hill and the Gulch.

Soulfolks Records and Tapes The Madison iteration of Soulfolks Records and Tapes offers hard-to-find records with an emphasis on indie hip-hop artists.

Totally Rad Toyhouse Totally Rad Toyhouse is sure to elicit an “I remember that!” from every visitor — from G.I. Joe to Barbie to Marvel, there’s something for everyone. Collectors can buy, sell and trade, or hunt for rare finds.

AshBlue AshBlue is a chic and eclectic Green Hills boutique that also offers workshops, like terrarium building and letter writing. There are plenty of gifts, of course, but what sets AshBlue apart is its elevated home scents and fine jewelry.*

Third Man Records Mecca for fans of Jack White, and the Chocolate Factory to the Nashville-by-way-ofDetroit Last Rock Icon Standing’s Willy Wonka, Third Man Records is unlike any modern musical landmark in the world.

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TWO RIVERS DOG PARK

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top dog-friendly spots Two Rivers Dog Park Open from dawn until dusk in the lovely and expansive Two Rivers Park, this spot is perfect for dog owners who want plenty of room for their little pals to run.

Downtown Dog Park The park on the Riverfront isn’t large, but it’s a lovely little respite from the concrete jungle for downtown pooches. Plus, it’s surrounded by other areas to visit once your pup is back on his or her leash.

TailGate Brewery This West Side brewery’s headquarters sits on more than seven acres, giving pups plenty of room to play. Plus, there’s a semi-secret dogs-only menu with treats made from leftover pizza dough and beer malt.

William A. Pitts Dog Park Half the park is a spacious, well-kept grassy patch with water fountains, shade and plenty of seating. But the other side is a heavily wooded area where your dog can run wild through shrubs and trees while chasing squirrels and birds.

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WITNESS HISTORY These boots—decorated with rhinestones and embroidered stars and stripes— were designed for the Monkees’ Michael Nesmith by Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors in 1967.

From the exhibit Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock, presented by City National Bank artifact: Courtesy of Michael Nesmith artifact photo: Bob Delevante

RESERVE TODAY

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top museums Frist Art Museum Housed in the beautiful Art Deco building that once served as the city’s post office, the Frist Art Museum is Nashville’s finest art institution. Often hosting historical and contemporary art exhibits simultaneously — as well as offering a cafe, monthly live music performances, a wonderful children’s center and regular architecture tours — the Frist goes to great lengths to offer something for everyone.

Tennessee State Museum In its new digs near the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee State Museum holds more than 150,000 artifacts from all over the state, and all of the exhibits are free to the public. The museum is dedicated to educational programming for kids too.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Because the museum’s collections and stories are so well presented, and because the exploration of country music runs so deep, even verging into blues and gospel at times, there’s plenty for all music fans to appreciate.*

The Parthenon Securing our reputation as the Athens of the South, Nashville is home to a full-scale replica of The Parthenon. There’s a museum inside with paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, and just like the Parthenon in ancient Greece, this one holds a 42-foot statue of Athena.

Lane Motor Museum In this unique museum, you’ll find myriad examples of the ever-evolving concept of practical transportation, from tiny bicycles and scooters to capacious people-carriers. Among the 150 or so vehicles on display, there are radical designs from engineers manifesting their visions in metal.

National Museum of African American Music (see p. 11) Nearest Green Distillery Located on a 323-acre property that’s been dubbed Malt Disney World, Nearest Green Distillery is a destination for whiskey lovers, history buffs and families. It commemorates the legacy of Uncle Nearest, who is now recognized as the godfather of Tennessee whiskey — in the 1850s, Nearest, then an enslaved man, was the one who taught Jack Daniel how to distill Tennessee whiskey.* 61

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Nashville’s Vintage Stores COMPILED BY ASHLEY BARRIENTOS

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ANACONDA VINTAGE 1062 E. Trinity Lane, Suite 101 anacondavintage.com Instagram: @anacondavintage

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BABY SNAKES VINTAGE 105A 24th St., Old Hickory babysnakesvintage.com Instagram: @babysnakesvintage

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BACKSLIDE VINTAGE 4606 Gallatin Pike Instagram: @backslidevintage

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BLACK SHAG 1220 Gallatin Ave. blackshagvintage.com Instagram: @blackshagvintage EAST NASHVILLE ANTIQUES AND VINTAGE 3407 Gallatin Pike Instagram: @eastnashvilleantiques GARAGE SALE VINTAGE East Nashville - 747 Douglas Ave. Downtown - 5040 Broadway garagesalevintage.com Instagram: @garagesale_vintage

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GOODBUY GIRLS 1108 Woodland St., Unit E goodbuygirlsnashville.com Instagram: @goodbuygirls

MUSIC CITY VINTAGE

13 2503 Gallatin Ave., Suite 103 musiccityvtg.com Instagram: @musiccityvtg

HIGH CLASS HILLBILLY 4604 Gallatin Pike highclasshillbilly.com Instagram: @hchvintage

14 1114 Porter Road, 37206

OLD MADE GOOD (OMG)

HIP ZIPPER 1008 Forrest Ave., Suite A hipzipper.com Instagram: @hipzippernashville

15 2302 12th Ave. S.

oldmadegoodnashville.bigcartel.com Instagram: @oldmadegood SAVANT VINTAGE Instagram: @savantvintage

16 HORSE GIRL VINTAGE Inside Nelson Drum Shop in East Nashville 1102 Riverside Drive hipzipper.com 17 Instagram: @hipzippernashville LIVE TRUE VINTAGE

11 103 22nd St., Old Hickory livetruevintage.com Instagram: @livetruevintage MADELOW HOUSE

12 2009 Belmont Blvd

STARLAND VINTAGE & UNUSUAL 2110 Eighth Ave. S. Instagram: @starlandemporium STAR STRUCK VINTAGE 604 Gallatin Ave., Unit 109 starstruckvintage.com Instagram: @starstruckvintage TRANSMIGRATION VINTAGE

18 508 Davidson St., Suite 510B

transmigration-vintage.business.site Instagram: @transmigration_vintage

madelowhouse.com Instagram: @madelow

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top music venues Ryman Auditorium There’s a reason they call it the Mother Church of Country Music — with the stained-glass windows, the pews instead of traditional theater seating, and the rich history wafting through the air, concerts at the Ryman feel more like you’re experiencing some kind of spiritual revival rather than just catching another concert. The famed auditorium also offers tours.

The Basement This intimate rock club boasts some of the best sound in Music City, with a full calendar of singer-songwriters, rock ’n’ roll bands and soul outfits — not to mention the friendly staff and full bar — that keeps the place filled to the brim most nights.

The Bluebird Cafe Essentially the CBGB of landmark singer-songwriter haunts, this tiny, no-introductionnecessary hole-in-the-wall is where struggling and established songsmiths alike often woodshed and showcase future big hits for the first time.

City Winery This spacious Pie Town venue hosts a menagerie of events, from live music to trivia to the occasional happy-hour yoga session. The space is broken up into a few different rooms — there’s the restaurant, which serves lunch, dinner and brunch; the lounge, where they have trivia, DJs and happy hours; and the main showroom, featuring both local and touring acts.

Drkmttr Nashville’s only DIY all-ages venue, Drkmttr hosts an array of music from hip-hop to hardcore punk to dance, with local artists and touring acts equally represented.

The Nashville Palace This honky-tonk-style music venue opened in 1977, and has become legendary in the years since. Musicians who have graced the Nashville Palace stage include everyone from Randy Travis and George Jones to Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Current offerings include live music from some of Nashville’s best, and line-dance party nights every weekend. *

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top music venues Grand Ole Opry House The main home of the Grand Ole Opry since 1974, this opulent 4,400-capacity hall is the crown jewel of the Opryland complex. Standing on its stage is a rite of passage for anyone who’s anyone in country music.

Marathon Music Works Located in historic Marathon Village, the spacious 1,500-capacity room features two full bars and hosts pop, rock, hip-hop and country shows.

Play As Nashville’s hottest dance bar, this place has everything: female and male impersonators (known as The Play Mates), DJ nights, themed dance-party nights and much, much more.

Robert’s Western World (See p. 13.)

The Schermerhorn Symphony Center Home of the Nashville Symphony, the Schermerhorn is a gorgeous downtown venue that hosts a variety of classical, pop, blues, jazz and even the occasional comedy performance.

The Station Inn (See p. 17.)

The Basement East The Blueroom at Third Man Records

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ZANIES

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Top Indoor Activities Nashville Public Library A jewel in the city’s crown, the Downtown Branch of Nashville Public Library houses much more than books. With two art galleries, a stunning Civil Rights Room and bright and a playful children’s section, you can while away an afternoon.

First Saturday Art Crawl Nashville’s downtown art galleries have been sharing opening nights for more than a decade.

The first Saturday of every month on Fifth Avenue feels like an arty street festival, with new exhibits, free wine and refreshments available.

Bridgestone Arena The roughly 20,000-capacity home of the NHL’s Nashville Predators turns gold in the winter for hockey with one of the loudest, craziest crowds in the league, but serves up a host of musical performances on a silver platter all year long.

OZ Arts This former cigar warehouse was transformed into a destination for cutting-edge contemporary art experiences, with eclectic programming of performing and visual arts events.

Zanies Nashville’s flagship comedy club hosts a wide variety of shows, from local comic showcases to national headliners such as Aziz Ansari, Bruce Bruce, Janeane Garofalo, Chris Rock, Marc Maron and countless more.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Located near both Opry Mills Mall and the legendary Grand Ole Opry, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center features nine acres of stunning indoor gardens under glass roofs — along with 2,800 guest rooms and more than 750,000 square feet of convention space.*

Grinder’s Switch Winery Located inside the historic Marathon Village car-factory-turned-boutique-strip, Grinder’s Switch has a 22-foot barnwood bar and plenty of its locally made wines to choose from. The original Grinders Switch location in Centerville, Tenn., is nestled inside a hand-built log cabin, but this Marathon Village outpost has all of the original’s Southern charm — the winery is named after Minnie Pearl’s fictional hometown, after all.* 69

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CHEEKWOOD ESTATE & GARDENS

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Top outdoor Activities Centennial Park A 152-acre public park located in the heart of West End, Centennial Park is home to Nashville’s beloved Parthenon museum, and frequently hosts cultural events like Musicians Corner and Tennessee Craft.

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens The city’s elegant longtime home for the arts offers attractions all year round, from quality art exhibitions in the estate’s museum to a woodland sculpture trail and the annual Holiday LIGHTS extravaganza.

Arrington Vineyards Thirty-five minutes south of downtown, not only can you explore the countryside while sipping on some locally made wine, but you can also bring a picnic, order food and attend concerts.*

Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural Area Here, hundreds of riverside acres in what would otherwise be prime residential real estate are set aside forever as a wildlife habitat and gathering places for family barbecues, exercise, birding and more. Check out the Nature Center for educational programming.

United Street Tours This tour company informs visitors — and unaware locals — about Nashville’s impressive and extensive Black history and culture. It offers three different walking tours, each 90 minutes long. There’s a Black history option, as well as tours devoted to the civil rights movement and neighborhood diversity.

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park This tree-lined park and promenade boasts a 200-foot granite map of the state, a Pathway of History measured in 2001-like monoliths, a World War II memorial, a working carillon, and a fountain plaza that fills in the summer with children splashing in the soaring jets of water.

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Top outdoor Activities Redneck Comedy Tour Bus If redneck culture’s your thing, the Redneck Comedy Tour Bus is the sightseeing event for you. Meet them at Scoreboard Bar & Grill on Music Valley Drive, where you can park for free behind Nashville Palace. Featured destinations include Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery — you can find out more at theredneckbus.com. *

Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery Immerse yourself in the history of Tennessee and hospitality at the Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery. You can explore the verdant grounds and Belle Meade Mansion, sample Southern cuisine and an array of wines, and attend educational tours. We especially recommend the Journey to Jubilee Tour, which invites discussion and explores the stories of the enslaved African Americans who were brought to and born at Belle Meade.*

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage The seventh president of the United States’ home has been preserved since his death in 1845, and the estate boasts an extensive roster of attractions. The Hermitage offers several suggested itineraries to make the most of your stay, featuring museum exhibits; tours of the mansion, gardens and trails; the Natchez Hills Winery; and a tour with a historic interpreter about the lives of enslaved people who lived at The Hermitage.*

Cumberland Park Beaman Park Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (see p. 74)

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top family-friendly spots The Adventure Science Center Explore the 15,000-square-foot Space Chase, scale the Adventure Tower or take in a star show at the Sudekum Planetarium, where a GOTO Chiron optical star projector displays more than 6 million stars (!) onto the theater’s 63-foot dome.*

Nashville Children’s Theatre With year-round programming, NCT has provided exposure to the theatrical arts to deserving kids, families and educators across Middle Tennessee for 90 seasons and counting. The production quality is top-notch, and its Rutledge Hill venue also hosts the Nashville Repertory Theatre’s Ingram New Works Festival each spring.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere At the Nashville Zoo you can feed birds while they sit on your hand (or sometimes head), pet kangaroos (which are softer than chinchillas), hang out in a petting zoo filled with goats, llamas and alpacas, and visit more than 300 different species of animals, including red pandas, tigers and so many more.

The Adventure Park at Nashville This maze of ropes, cables, planks and netting is the perfect spot for kids’ day out, a place for your little ones to unleash their inner monkey by swinging, climbing and ziplining their way through the trees.

Red Caboose Park Playgrounds are often full of big kids, and the structures are just a bit too large to set a little one loose on. But at Bellevue’s Red Caboose Park, you’ll find bouncy stuff on the ground underneath the equipment to protect delicate noggins, a zero-entry merry-goround, and some fake trees for climbing fun. Plus, there are a dozen comfy picnic tables, gloriously located under a pleasant stand of wide-canopied trees.

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Transportation Nashville B-cycle Nashville B-cycle is an hourly bike rental service, where you just swipe your credit card at a B-station, grab a bike and go. Take it wherever you’d like — Nashville has a lot of beautiful, mostly flat greenways — then return it to any B-station throughout the city.

Electric scooters Those dockless electric scooters you see on the sidewalk and perched on various street corners?

They’re relatively easy to get around on, and they’re definitely cheap. Just download the app of one of the many competing brands — Lime and Bird, to name just two — find a nearby scooter with some battery life left in it, and hop on. Both Bird and Lime scooters cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute of riding. Riders are encouraged to wear helmets, though they aren’t technically required — but keep the scooter off the sidewalk, or you could land yourself a fine.

Joyride Nashville Want a quick lift from the Gulch to Lower Broad? Just wave down one of the many Joyride golf carts you’ll no doubt see zipping through the streets of downtown. The rides are free, but tips are very much appreciated.

Lyft Lyft is an on-demand personal driver service that you utilize through a smartphone app, but it’s staffed by regular folks so the prices tend to be more affordable than a cab. Watch out for surge pricing, though.

Uber Like Lyft, Uber is an on-demand car service that you can summon from your smartphone. It will take you to and from anywhere downtown and the nearby neighborhoods, and even as far out as Brentwood and Franklin.

WeGo Public Transit If you’re hoping to get to or from downtown, the bus is a great, cheap option. The fare is just $2 (and exact change is not needed), so you can get downtown from the airport for cheap!

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