TRAVEL JOURNAL

TRAVEL JOURNAL MUSIC CITY Maven

Jonathan Savage may be a regular face around town—he has a “marvelous midcentury condo” on Palm Beach and recently opened a Palm Beach outpost of his Nashville–based interior design practice—but he still considers himself “a born and bred Tennessean.” He shares a home with his partner, Brad Wensel, and Artie, their Italian truffle dog, in Belle Meade, a quiet city southwest of downtown Nashville. “All of the stereotypes of the South are being broken as we speak,” Savage says. “It is a time of extraordinary change, much of it long overdue.” Though he’s a self-proclaimed workaholic and spends most of his time with clients, he loves Nashville’s way of life and its connection to history and culture. —Skye Sherman

VIBE Young, hip, and the epicenter of American country music

ESSENTIALS FOR DAY Cartier sunglasses and Cleo Laboratories Sun Ultra gentle sunscreen

HOW TO START THE DAY At Noshville (noshville.com), Nashville’s best Jewish deli. The potato latkes are fabulous.

Nashville, Tennessee

WHERE TO EAT C i t y H o u s e i n G e r m a n t o w n ( c i t y h o u s e n a s h v i l l e . c o m ) f o r t h e w o o d fi r e d p i z z a .

GUILTY PLEASURE A doughnut from Five Daughters Bakery (fivedaughtersbakery.com)

SOUNDTRACK Anything country, but especially Dolly Parton.

EMILY DORIO

The Continental

WHERE TO SHOP Corzine & Company in Green Hills (corzineco.com) for exquisite tabletop items.

UNWRITTEN RULE THE LOCALS LIVE BY T h e o n l y h o n k y - t o n k t h a t l o c a l s g o t o i s R o b e r t ’ s W e s t e r n W o r l d o n B r o a d w a y ( r o b e r t s w e s t e r n w o r l d . c o m ) , a n d y o u c a n n o t g o t o R o b e r t ’ s w i t h o u t h a v i n g a f r i e d b o l o g n a s a n d w i c h .

Bulleit Rye Whiskey old-fashioned

ANDREA BEHRENDS

City House

DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

Five Daughters Bakery

Robert’s Western World

Ryman Auditorium

WHEN TO GO Spring and fall are the prettiest times of year, but Nashville is a good idea any time.

BEST SEAT IN TOWN The Continental by James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Brock (thecontinentalnashville.com). Don’t miss the prime rib cart.

LOCAL DISH TO DREAM Prince’s Hot Chicken (princes hotchicken.com), especially the XXX Hot, if you dare!

SIGNATURE DRINK Bulleit Rye Whiskey old-fashioned. It’s completely different from a bourbon old-fashioned—less sweet and smokier, which I prefer.

A MUST-DO ACTIVITY NOT IN THE GUIDEBOOKS Explore the stunning houses of Belle Meade.

A SOLO EXPERIENCE Grab a seat at the bar at The Bluebird Café (bluebirdcafe.com) and take in a performance.

A CULTURAL OUTING See whoever is playing at the Ryman Auditorium (ryman.com).

HOMETOWN GOOD TO SAMPLE AND STOCKPILE Goo Goo Clusters (googoo.com)