By Phil LeMaster
If you are coming to Nashville, Tennessee, for the World Convention of Churches of Christ this summer (July 30″“August 3), prepare yourself for some real Southern hospitality””and much more. “Music City U.S.A.” is in the midst of an amazing period of growth and transition. As a result, Tennessee”s capital, situated on the beautiful Cumberland River, is fast becoming an exciting place to visit and a great place to live.
Don”t take my word for it, however. The “Athens of the South” is getting rave reviews from far and wide that eclipse any prejudiced judgments from this relatively new resident. Black Enterprise, Forbes, and Business Week are just a few of the national publications that list Nashville in the Top 10 among great places for business and living. Kiplinger”s Personal Finance went a step farther, naming Nashville the No. 1 “smart city in which to live” in its June 2006 edition. The low cost of living, high quality of life, and reasonable home prices helped Nashville to outrank all other metropolitan areas in our country as a great place to put down roots.
“Hold on,” you may be saying. “I do not want to move; I just want to visit!” Well, great! Let me give you some tips that will help maximize your Nashville experience.
Listen to the Music
This may be your easiest assignment because everywhere you go in Nashville you will have the opportunity to hear great music. And not just country! Nashville is also known as the Christian/gospel music capital of the world and is now the world headquarters for the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Not your style? No problem! Music City embraces all genres including pop, classical/jazz, Top 40, and rhythm and blues. And it has more than 180 live venues in town.
If you are candid enough to admit you are a country music fan, there are three “must-sees” that should be on your list. Take a night and go to the Grand Ole Opry. It is an experience you will never forget as the world”s longest-running radio show continues to honor country music”s rich history. Schedule a tour or take in a performance at historic Ryman Auditorium, the “Mother Church of Country Music.” Spend an afternoon visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where rhinestone costumes, seasoned instruments, and a plethora of other mementos from stars past and present are on display.
Taste the Food
It is difficult to identify a style of cooking that is uniquely Nashville. The “Meat and Three” (one meat, three side dishes) is quite popular here, but certainly did not originate in Middle Tennessee, being commonly served throughout the South.
Some suggest the region”s pork recipes are its most distinguishable cuisine high mark. Country ham (cured with salt instead of sugar), barbecue, and local breakfast sausage are readily available and almost always scrumptious!
Fast-food chains and family-style restaurants are common in Nashville. With Cracker Barrel headquartered at nearby Lebanon, it may seem like we have one located at every other mile marker on the interstates in Middle Tennessee.
The atmosphere, however, is the most obvious difference in a great Nashville dining experience. The Bluebird Café has been the launching pad for any number of country music”s stars. The food is good, but the opportunity to be a part of a listening room audience hearing the original works of some of tomorrow”s elite is priceless. The Loveless Café is frequented by stars and common folks who simply love down-home country cooking in a relaxed environment. A trip to one of the two Noshville (that”s right!) Delicatessens gives you a little bit of New York City right in the heart of Nashville.
Do you like pizza? Christopher Pizza Company on Music Row is a delightful little restaurant that specializes in California-style gourmet pizza. The recipes are unique and the pepper-rollis are delicious. Looking for something for breakfast? Try Pancake Pantry in historic Hillsboro Village. Better get there early, however, as there is usually a long line of people waiting to be served. The pancakes are that good!
Visit Our Historic Past
As part of the Confederacy during the Civil War, the state of Tennessee was the location of more than 2,300 engagements between the warring factions. The legacy of those momentous years, 1861-65, has been carefully conserved by historical preservationists, especially in Middle Tennessee.
Carnton Plantation in nearby Franklin was used as a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin. A visit today reveals a beautiful mansion, a Confederate cemetery, and an 1847-style garden. You can also visit the Travellers Rest Plantation, the 1799 home of Judge John Overton. A Confederate general used this home, now a popular museum, as his headquarters during the Civil War. Another popular site, the Carter House, serves today as a museum and information center for the Battle of Franklin, referred to by many as the “Gettysburg of the West.”
If you are a real history buff, you will want to visit the homes of two presidents who lived in the Nashville area. The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson, features Old Hickory”s 1,120-acre farm, mansion, and the many historic structures. The James K. Polk Ancestral Home is the only surviving house lived in by our 11th president. It is located in nearby Columbia, Tennessee.
If you are looking for a taste of the Old South, Belle Meade Plantation, with its 1853 Greek revival mansion and colossal carriage house, provides a relaxing afternoon and a choice view of antebellum Nashville.
Experience Our Culture
Nashville is especially proud of its two cultural centerpieces. The $123.5 million Schermerhorn Symphony Center opened in September 2006. The center houses the 1,900-seat Laura Turner Concert Hall and serves as the home of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. This performance center is among the best acoustically in the world.
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is a world-class art center that presents local, regional, national, and international exhibits in a constantly changing fashion. A number of exhibits are slated for this summer, including “American Artists, 1950″“1975″ and “Tiffany by Design,” a special collection of lamps from 1900 to 1925.
Have Some Fun
Regardless of your interests, there is plenty to do every day in Music City U.S.A.! If you like to shop until you drop, then visit one of the 10 outstanding malls located within one hour”s drive of downtown. Opry Mills, CoolSprings Galleria, and The Mall at Green Hills are all nearby and will suit any shopoholic”s fancy (so my wife tells me!).
Looking for something for the kids to do? The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere with its Alligator Cove, Giraffe Savannah, and Gibbon Island is an attractive destination. Nashville Shores is a 385-acre family recreation center just 10 minutes from downtown. The water park includes eight huge waterslides and offers free lake cruises, mini golf, and other activities.
Interested in something more sedate? Visit the Parthenon in Centennial Park, where you will find the world”s only full-scale reproduction of the famous Greek temple. Inside the structure is the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western world, Athena Parthenos, standing almost 42 feet! Or take a 2.5-hour cruise down the Cumberland River on the General Jackson Showboat, a riverboat-style paddle wheeler. You will enjoy a musical treat and a delicious meal as you soak in the picturesque scenery.
At this point, I am probably beginning to sound like the local chamber of commerce. As a disclaimer, let me assure you I am not. I am just one of the nearly 1.5 million Nashville-area residents who feel fortunate to call Music City home. As you make your plans to attend the 17th World Convention this summer, I hope you will pencil in a few extra days, before or after, to really get acquainted with our town. I promise you, you”ll be glad you did!
Phil LeMaster is adult minister with Franklin (Tennessee) Christian Church, outside Nashville.
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