Things to do in Nashville when you're...well...alive?

In My Humble Opinion
1

So my best friend and I will be in Nashville starting Saturday the 25th. I am coming back Tuesday night (dratted work), but he will be staying through Friday night. Neither of us have been there, and really have no idea what to do - so I turn to you, in hopes of enlightenment!

Things we like, as a rule: dive bars with lots of ambience, BBQ anything, good live music, people watching, and anything fun and relaxed and groovy. We’re also on a bit of a budget, and would prefer not to bring “dress-up” clothes, so let’s keep that in mind too. We will be flying in, and we are staying in a time share right in the middle of downtown Nashville, so I don’t think that not having a car should really be a problem. We are both single and late 20’s (him) and early 30’s (me).

Thanks ever so! This is gonna be fun!

AL

2

I’ve been there once.

They have an “old town” and I think it includes something called music row where there are alot of bars up and down the street that feature live bands. If you like (or can tolerate) country music it’s kind of fun.

3

I’ve been here once, been meaning to go back. I don’t think they’ve got BBQ, but I think everything else on your list is here:

4

Go see the Parthenon. Take the tour (only a couple of bucks) and well worth it.

5

There’s a good 3-4 block stretch of Broadway that is mostly country-western bars, some of which will certainly meet any ‘dive’ requirement you may have. The Hard Rock Cafe, close to the river at the end of Broadway, has a great assortment of memorabilia, even for a Hard Rock. Within a couple blocks of the Hard Rock (i’m a semi-frequent visitor, not a resident) is BB King’s new place, which I may have a dress code. Just down the block from there is a freaking awesome billiards bar - huge place, great tables, shuffleboard, comfy couches and chairs to sit on. As I recall, there are a couple of quaaaaaality bbq joints in this immediate area. You can also check out ‘Printer’s Alley,’ a few blocks away from this downtown/Broadway stretch.

I too will be in Nashville from the 25th thru Oct 1, slaving away. Y’all going on business or just pleasure?

6

Had a friend who went there. He visited a bunch of country western singers houses and such on a tour.

7

As others have said, the music scene is all downtown. Also plenty of good places to eat at reasonable prices down there. You can also take a ride on one of the riverboats along the Tennessee. Be forewarned that if you show up on a football day the traffic is just ridiculous.

8

If you go to tour the parthenon you can get your BBQ AND Dive bar fix at the same time because right next door to the park behind the McDonald’s is Hog Heaven BBQ. Pretty good stuff and they even have good sides, behind Hog Heaven is the Sweetwater which fits every criteria for a dive bar I can think of (they serve Pabst Blue Ribbon for one). :>

9

This is based on a brief vist there about 20 years ago. The best thing to do in Nashville is leave.

10

Thanks for the replies, all. I was offline all weekend, so I apologize for not checking in.

Really the reason we picked Nashville is that we are using his parents’ timeshare, which we swapped for “somewhere we had never been within a 10 hour driving radius that isn’t on a beach”…which ended up meaning Hot Springs, AR or Nashville. I also have a branch of my office there, so I can stop in and shmooze a bit.

Given my normal tourist M.O., we will probably end up just wandering around until we either meet nice people or find good food. So far this tactic hasn’t let me down (though it turns out people in “import-export” from Hackensack, NJ, are very nice yet should probably be avoided. I was young and naive, what can I say).

Thanks again!

11

well theres “printers alley” if your into the whole blues/jazz thing… and that strip club in an old church of you into that S and check out cafe coco if ya want a hot cup of coffe and some real food at anytime 24/7

12

Screech! YOu MUST go the Springwater if you’re into dive bars. It’s the kind of place where your mom would tell you not to touch anything.
Whitt’s Barbeque is the best for traditional pork barbeque. They’re all over the place. Good one on Charlotte Ave. Great ribs on Fridays.
If you want to drive a bit, go to the Loveless Cafe (they just re-opened.)
If you have some time during a weekday, go to the Pancake Pantry on 21st. DO NOT TRY THIS ON A WEEKEND. Trust me on this one.
For coffeehouses, Cafe Coco, Fido’s, and Bongo Java (one on Belmont, one in East Nashville.)
The Belcourt is a good indie theater.
Ask any additional questions you might have…

13

Anise, if I weren’t so agoraphobia, we would be hanging out in all the same places!

AnnaLucretia, you will not have trouble finding funky Nashville things to do on Broadway which is the main drag that cuts through downtown. Restaurant, bars, live music. (Music Row is mostly recording studios and is further away.)

There are also plenty of places to explore on the side streets.

The most famous dive bar is Tootsie Orchid Lounge on Broadway (also referred to as Broad). Every country singer and fan has cried into a beer there.

The best general source of information about Nashville is probably this one:

http://www.nashscene.com/

About a week ahead of time, you should be able to check the Arts column on the left for live music to see what is happening where. They also have dining recommendations. I hear the Patrick’s downtown on Broad is good and the Stockyard too.

Someone mentioned the Parthenon. Most of the exterior is an exact repelica of the original in Athens. It would be an easy taxi or bus ride out West End. I think Springwater is alongside the park where the Parthenon is. If I remember correctly, it is a for real dive and not just a tourist dive.

Other places downtown: The Frist Art Museum, Ryman Auditorium (the original home of the Grand Ole Opry), the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 2nd Avenue, Riverfront Park for a cruise on the riverboat and live music.

People watching can be great on Broadway. Just remember that the weirdest ones are tourists. :wink:

You can always play it by ear. Plenty of places to check out. Do inquire about the special discount coupons on tours of the sequin mines.

You will not need dress up clothes in Nashville unless you want to wear them. Anything goes.

14

Ahhh, that place is famous for being famous. There really isn’t anything to it except that everybody has to go there. I drove my dad past there everyday for a week on our way to Vandy for his post-chemo check-ups. There was a really good brewpub on 3rd street. I forget the name, though.Bicentennial park behind the capitol building is a neat place, and I love the market there.

Vlad/Igor

15

Hey now! I know the owner! David Baldwin. Nice guy. :slight_smile: And that means that I… well… don’t get anything free, and don’t get to jump ahead in line. But anyway. The pancakes really are very good. However, nothing, possibly including the Second Coming of the Messiah, is worth standing in line at Pancake Pantry on a weekend.

16

(aside)
Wow, Anise! You know Mr. Baldwin? I met him in 1964 when I first came to Peabody (Vandy). I was 21 and I think he was probably around 30. He used to cash my pitiful little checks for about $2 for my Carribean pancakes. A few months ago when I was in, he was out back and I went out to say hello. Still the dearest man. Success couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. It’s with good reason that that place is a Nashville institution.

17

Update! I love Nashville!

Thanks to everyone who chimed in on suggestions - Nashville is a great town, even though I didn’t kill myself doing a whole lot of touristy stuff. As I expected, the winging it really paid off, and we met some truly interesting people and saw some truly interesting places. Some highlites:

  • The Davidson Brothers at the Hockey Tonk lounge - man, I have never heard such awesome bluegrass, and they were Aussies! And cute! Fabulous.

  • The Gibson Factory out at Opry Mills Mall - a place I would normally avoid. However, one of my travelling companions is a guitarist, and it was like Mecca for him - they actually make all the bluegrass instruments there. Very cool.b Also right next to the Grand Ol’ Oprey and the Acuff Theater, so I was able to get a t-shirt for Dad - bonus points for me.

  • As mentioned, Tootsies Redneck Orchid Lounge. That was the night we ditched the boys (never EVER travel with 2 huge scary men you aren’t dating if you want to get chatted up by other men…) and hung out with some account reps from Lloyd’s of London who were in town selling “death and disgrace” insurance. Also ran into a guy who was in 3 Para in the English army with my ex bf, and who reinforced that all Scots are completely insane. And good kissers. My friend Claire ran into some strange people she had last seen in a bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

  • After being told by about 20 people that “there is no Sunday brunch in Nashville” we discovered a great little chichi martini bar type place on 3rd where they had just started serving brunch, and I had the best cajun poached eggs I have ever had.

All in all, we had a wonderful time. The people were friendly, the beer was cheap, and even the musicians on the streetcorners were better than the people we pay to see in DC. All of us agree, we will be going back.

Anna