If you’re looking for a great way to end your week, or start your weekend, you could do a lot worse than a Frist Friday.

It’s true that Frist Friday is technically a concert series, but there’s so much more going on, including good food, drinks and the exhibits on display at the Frist galleries at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. And then you add the beautiful summer Nashville nights, and great people watching. Hard to beat.

Things get started today, May 30, and then continue every last Friday of the month through October in the Turner Courtyard from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The first Friday’s musical stylings come courtesy of Tony Joe White.

Afterwards, we like to head over to the Broadway Brewhouse. Come on, 9 is early…

See ya later,
Dane

I have a couple of friends who are almost finished with the culinary arts program at Nashville Tech and I’ve been meaning to mention the upcoming Generous Helpings fundraiser on May 28.

If you like good food then you should definitely make time for it. Plus, it’s for a great cause. It’s basically a big meal and silent auction to benefit Nashville’s Table, a program at the Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund at Nashville Tech.

You pay one set price ($40 in advance or $50 at the door) and then get to try a bunch of different gourmet appetizers, entrees, desserts, beers and wines from more than 25 of the city’s best restaurants, wine shops and breweries.

It’s at the Nashville Convention Center Ballroom. Giving has never been so easy, or so tasty!

Later,
Dane

Hey, we also went to Pancake Pantry after church! Though I went just a few years earlier than you…;-) On the weekend the wait can be long. I’ve actually seen it around the block and down 21st. So go early.

And it’s in an interesting neighborhood called Hillsboro Village, which is worth exploring if you want to walk off your pancakes. It’s only four blocks but it’s full of shops and boutiques and restaurants.

It’s become a popular spot for young working people to live. But because it’s near Vanderbilt and Belmont universities you also have a lot of college kids around the area, which keeps things interesting.

If you get thirsty, I think I’ve already talked about Bosco’s. Stop in for a glass of Flaming Stone beer. Or if you need a caffeine pick-me-up, there’s the Fido coffeeshop, which is really the heart of the Village.

See ya,
Dane

One of the great things about doing our blog is I remember all these places I haven’t thought about in a long time but that I love. Like the Pancake Pantry!

Pancake Pantry is a total Nashville tradition. I don’t know how long it’s been around but when I was a kid we would go there after church sometimes, for mother’s day, and whenever my brother could get our parents to go.

They have your normal breakfast dishes, but their big thing is pancakes. Of course. And you’ve never had pancakes like these! There are like 20 different kinds and flavors to choose from.

I’m a southern girl at heart, so if you’re looking for my advice, I’ve got to say the sweet potato pancakes are the best. My brother always got the apple-walnut ones with powdered sugar and whipped cream. Why not get both?

TTFN!
Jennifer

Hey, everybody. Took a couple of days off. Wish I could say it was for fun. A lot of home projects to do. Mostly painting, which always takes longer than you think.

Anyway, Jenn mentioned East Nashville, and just in case you’re an out of towner, I’d recommend checking out that area. It has some of the coolest, most interesting neighborhoods in the city.

Historic Edgefield is one of only two “historic preservation districts” they call them. This means anything they do has to be OK’d by the Metro Historical Commission, which gives it this great untouched feel.

Lockeland Springs is the other. It’s an old streetcar suburb about two miles from downtown. The tornado in 1998 did a lot of damage, but they’ve rebounded better than ever. Head to the French Quarter Café for a po’boy and some great live music.

Later,
Dane

Looking for something fun to do on May 17? I know that when you’re in town for business it can be hard to get yourself to exercise. So here’s an easy solution: the 2008 Tour de Nash!

It’s an annual Nashville walk/bike event that’s held at the East Bank Greenway right on the river at Titans Stadium. It’s not a race so it’s perfect for families or anyone who just wants to get out and see a bit of Nashville.

You can do the free 6 or 12 mile ride that goes along East Nashville and part of Shelby Bottoms greenway to LP Field. There are also longer routes of 27, 50 miles and up to 67 miles that highlight a lot of Nashville’s bike paths.

The walking option is also free and is a 2 or 4 mile tour of the East Bank Greenway and downtown.

Have fun!
Jennifer

I’d heard about Katy K’s but I’d never been in the store before. All that time I wasted! It’s sort of a Nashville institution and now I know why.

Katy K’s Ranch Dressing is just one of those places that’s totally unique. For a small place it’s full of incredible stuff. They have designer cowboy boots, sequined denim tops, crazy burlesque type dresses, some of the coolest belt buckles and cowboy hats. But their best sellers are their western shirts.

I got a belt buckle with Elvis on it for my Mom’s birthday. She won’t wear it, but I think she’ll like it. It’s the young Elvis in his army uniform. Not the greasy Vegasy Elvis.

So, if you know someone who’d look good in a gabardine western shirt with fake black and white fur, Katy K’s is on 12th Ave. south.

TTFN!
Jennifer

i love the hats at the steeplechase! we used to go out there too when i was kid. my uncle always had a tailgating spot. it was the only time my parents let us drink soda! so i loved it.

speaking of things i love, have ya’ll been to the sunset grill? go! i’m embarrassed to say I just went there for the first time! it was my friend amy’s birthday and she picked the sunset, and even though it’s pretty famous, i just figured, how good could it be?

well, it’s that good! just the pork chops make it totally worth it! also try the calamari appetizers which are fried crispy, a little spicy and crazy delicious. people said the lobster ravioli was really good too. though I don’t know because i don’t eat it things with shells .

shea♥

We don’t have professional baseball down our way. So I guess we’re more a football town. And hockey with the Predators. Or at least I’m just speaking for myself.

But if you prefer to measure your sports by innings rather than halves or periods, head over to LP Field for a Vanderbilt baseball game. They were the SEC champions last year and are third in the division this year so far.

Though you’ve got to get on the stick. I just checked their web site and the last home game is May 11 against Georgia. Georgia is leading the division so that would be a good one to catch.

And then the SEC tournament begins on May 22 in Alabama, if we make it. Do us proud, Commodores!

Later,
Dane

People, I just got word that the Hotel Lucia in Portland, Oregon has officially hit Facebook. For anyone that doesn’t already know, the Hotel Lucia is one of our other Provenance hotels out there on the west coast. I just checked out the page and I must say that they have done a pretty stellar job putting it together. Maps, reviews, streaming blogs. The whole nine yards. Now it’s just gotta get some fans!

So here and now I’d like to declare my support for the Hotel Lucia (and I hope you do too). You can check out the page by searching for the Hotel Lucia on Facebook. Word is that they’ll be running some sort of promo codes on there sometime soon. Way cool!

If my fellow Nashville folk are looking for a trip out west, check out the Lucia Facebook page or either of the blogs from the Hotel deLuxe in Portland and the Hotel Murano in Tacoma. Cool beans if you ask me!

Catch ya on the flip side,
Dane