I’m headed to Nashville at the beginning of June, and am in need of recommendations for stuff to do (restaurants, shopping, etc). I’ll be staying in what I guess is called the West End section of town.
I’ve looked at a couple of tourism pages, but I’m not really into country music, which I recognize is the primary business there. So, any thoughts for must-see stuff? I would especially love the lowdown on the city’s used bookstores and anything else that’s eclectic/fun to do.
For a used bookstore close to where you’ll be staying, try Bookman and it’s sister store Bookwoman, both in Hillsboro Village on 21st Ave. Parking is scarce and traffic narrow, but it’s a fun little college (Vandy) area to hang out. There’s a great little knick knack store down there called Pangaea full of kitchy crap.
There’s a restaurant there called Pancake Pantry which a lot of people rave over and will stand outside in line for an hour in the rain in order to get a table. Don’t fall for that. If it’s a 15 minute wait, great. Any longer than that, go to Cracker Barrel. Of course someone will be along shortly to tell me I’m nuts, but I just don’t think a pancake is worth that much time out of my life.
Restaurants I will recommend though are Demos’ Steak and Spaghetti (spaghetti is a side dish with your steak) and Cock of the Walk for some good southern deep fried goodness (try the fried dill pickles…yum!)
For some culture, try the Frist Center downtown, out beautiful inexpensive art gallery. Currently they are having a show with Renoirs, Picassos, Monets, and a few others. And you might visit Centennial Park on West End and see the Parthenon. Art and the nation’s largest indoor sculpture inside.
The Adventure Halls Science Museum is fun…especially if you have any kids.
I think the zoo is pretty nice too.
I visit Nashville at least 3 times a year and I always hit these 2 places…of course I have 2 active children with me. 
I had these links bookmarked, though you may have found them already:
http://nashville.citysearch.com/
(there’s a bookstore link at the bottom)
I had been pondering the zoo, although since I’m from DC, it’s always a shock to have to pay to get in.
Oddly, I am intrigued by the thought of Pancake Pantry, as I do love breakfast food. Plus, I would probably be able to go on a weekday, which I suspect would mean much less of a wait. Bookman/Bookwoman looks like a definite yes—precisely my kind of place!
I believe that fan fare is in the begining of June which is basically a huge fan appreciation thing for country music stars. The place will be teeming with tourists and country music stars and you are not a fan. :eek: I would check the dates you will be there. June 10-13 is fan fare. http://www.go2fanfair.com/ Don’t mean to scare you but seeing the best parts of Nashville will be difficult during this time.
I wish I could spell. Damn.
Anyway the zoo is very nice. Also the West End is a fairly upscale trendy part of town. You will find many eclectic type of things within walking distance as this is where Vanderbilt University is. Most of the country music stuff will be down town and by music row.
I used to live in Nashville, but it’s been about 5 years. Unfortunately, as said before, Nashville is a country music town, and that’s about it. I wouldn’t consider it a great tourism spot for much of anything else. Here’s all I can remember:
Opryland Hotel: Some people love it, but I consider it more of a curiosity than anything else. The best way I can think of to describe it is a mini-indoor forest w/ expensive shops and restaurants sprinkled throughout.
Grand Ole Opry: I know you said you don’t like country music, and I feel the same way. However, the one time I went there I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the show. It’s more old-school pickin’ and strummin’ bluegrass (Think “O’ Brother Where Art Thou”) than modern pop-country, or at least it was when I went. If you decide to go, maybe you should first check who’s playing.
Nashville Sounds: Minor league baseball team, if that’s something you enjoy.
Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC): Where all the big travelling Broadway-type shows play, plus some smaller more eclectic local productions.
A street downtown called something like Printer’s Alley or Painter’s Alley: Where a lot of decent local music bars are located.
2nd Avenue downtown: Where a lot of dance clubs and bars are located.
I second what was said about the Pancake Pantry. I never understood why people stood in line so long just to eat pancakes and eggs. Nothing special.
If you’ve been to a zoo in any large city, you’ll be very disappointed in the Nashville Zoo. Unless it’s changed in the past 6 months, it’s nothing more than an overpriced petting zoo. However, you will see some nice colorful “Comming Soon” banners with pictures of animals they expect to have some day.
I lived in Philadelphia most of my life and have been to zoos in Pittsburgh, St. Louis and several others. I thought Nashville’s was nice.
The Original Nashville Zoo was nice. But people had a problem with the fact that it wasn’t actually in Nashville and you had to drive out in the sticks to get there. The new one is still trying to get established. Maybe it will be nice too.
Ahhhh. That explains it… I have not been to the new one.
So does the old zoo offer petting, or is that the new zoo?
Fortunately, I will miss the fan fare thing, as I’m there from June 2-6 (US Gymnastics Championships 
).
The zoo I’m talking about is the one at Grassmere. Is that the new one or the old one?
The zoo I went to was called Grassmere so it must be the old one. It did not have a petting zoo. The new one I have no idea. I live closer to Memphis. Sorry.
I would suggest Valentino’s for an Italian place although it is expensive. It is located on West End Blvd. I have yet to find a good seafood place. You’ll have to ask someone else about steak places although Demo’s has been suggested to me several times by people who didn’t know I don’t eat much meat.
One of my favorite things to do is people watch on second ave. There is a place called Buffalo Billiards where you can sit in the open air on a comfy couch with a nice drink. Yes it is basically a pool hall but it’s also a bar. Snacks are fairly good as well. Note this place is a total meat market after dark. Afternoons are nice and peaceful.
There used to be two ‘zoos’ in Nashville. Now they are combined into The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, located on Nolensville Road. Actually about 10 miles south of downtown. It’s not an actual petting zoo, but it’s pretty small time. Still I think it’s a nice little day out. Although if you can spare a couple of hours’ drive, Chattanooga’s Aquarium is down the interstate and is incredible.
For retail shopping, you might go to Opry Mills mall. It’s right next to the Opryland Hotel. By June they should have the new Aquarium Restaurant opened. It’s causing quite a stir. Appears to be in the same vein as the Rainforest Cafe (also located at Opry Mills.)
I highly recommend 2nd Ave on Saturday night. Park your car in the Commerce St garage and just take a stroll around downtown. You’ll see some world famous places like the Ryman Auditorium, the Wildhorse Saloon (huge touristy country bar), Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge (very old honky tonk.) There’s a Hard Rock down there too. You can rent a horse-drawn carriage for a mini tour of downtown too.
Go see the Parthenon!!! Pay the money and take the tour inside, the statue of Athena is amazingly huge!
Just dropping by to correct the name of my employer It’s Adventure Science Center. Drop by the planetarium and say hi!
For cheap eats, check out Baja Burrito near 100 Oaks Mall. Yummy stuff, fun atmosphere. A couple good places for microbrews are Blackstone, and Bosco’s, both in the Vandy area.
I hear a lot of people rave about Fido, also near Vandy, for coffee and general people-watching, though I’ve never been there.
Man, we need another Nashville Dopefest. Think we can ever get together more than just me, Tuckerfan and Bosda?
Only been twice, but I had a really great lunch at a diner called Noshville (?). And if you’re into girlie-type shopping, my GF absolutely loves that Pangaea place that Max Carnage mentioned.
The problem with that place, however, is that it’s too crowded, so nobody goes there any more.