Where can you see racing pigs, diving pirates and flying motorcycles, and go on rides and eat great food and do it with the whole family? The Tennessee State Fair of course! I haven’t been able to go the last couple of years but we’re going next week because my cousins have their cows there this year. And I’m really looking forward to it!

It is one of the main big events of the summer and it’s just so much fun! I love the smell of the hay and the animals and the hotdogs and the snowcones. Everything! And I absolutely love the rides!

If you want to go, it runs from Sept. 5-14 at the fairgrounds, which are close to downtown. Apparently this year there’s even a guy that wrestles crocodiles! That’s a ride I think I can probably skip.

Have fun!
Sabrina

OK, I’ll keep this brief. If you like bull riding (watching at least) then you’ll be looking forward to the end of the month when the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) rides into town.

It takes place over at the Sommet on Aug. 29 and 30 and includes cowboys from all over, including the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and Australia.

I love my Titans, but I’ve got to tell you these guys aren’t messing around. These are some very unhappy bulls. It can get ugly. I’ll just leave it at that.

So if you’ve already seen “Dark Knight,” think about dusting off your cowboy hat.

Dane

Just went to see the craziest group of people the other night! If you’ve seen Whose Line Is It Anyway? Drew Carey’s show? I don’t know if that’s on TV anymore, but it’s like that.

It was for a friend’s birthday and he knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who’s one of the actors. So we went, and I actually laughed till Dr. Pibb almost came out my nose!

I couldn’t believe the stuff they just come up with. I seriously don’t know how people do that. OK, now I just checked their web site (they’re called Fusebox Theater by the way! Ha!) and they’ve got something called Mouth Odyssey on Aug. 9. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll bet it’s good. And it’s free on Mondays!

They also say they teach classes. I’m assuming on improvisation and not algebra.

Bye for Now,

Sabrina

Looking for an unusual and far-out evening activity that even your kids will get a kick out of? Take them over to the Dyer Observatory for their Open House Telescope Night.

Seriously. It goes on once a month from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (this month on Aug. 8th) and they let you use their telescopes to see the sun, moon, planets, and stars up close. Plus it’s free, which you can’t say about a lot of things your kids might be interested in.

Dyer Observatory is part of Vanderbilt University and is located on one of the tallest peaks near Nashville. If it’s cloudy they do tours instead and have one of their astronomers available to answer questions.

You can also bring your own telescope if you want and they’ll help you learn how to see the most with it. Though I’m going to bet their equipment is a little better.

Dane

Have I mentioned that I’m kind of a car nut? If I had a million dollars that’s probably where a lot of it would go. Dora, you didn’t hear that.

Coming up is a pretty cool event if you’re car inclined. It’s over at the Lane Motor Museum which has a great collection of mostly European cars from the 1920s on. Once a year they do this thing called the “Magic of the Machine” where you can ride in some of the cars in their collection.

This year you can try out their Fiat Multipla, Tatra T-87, a 1963 BMW 3200 and a 1964 Amphicar. There are others and demos too like a car I’ve never even heard of called the Faunwerke Kraka Folding Car.

It goes from 11 to 4 on Saturday, July 26.

A folding car? I’ve got to see that.

Dane

I guess they’re expecting about 100,000 people at Riverfront Park for the show, so if that’s not your idea of fun, here are a couple of other options for how to celebrate the fourth:

1. Shores & Stripes — This one’s at Nashville Shores on July 3 and 4. It has a boat parade, a beach concert with the Stretta band, fireworks, and a Dive-In Movie of, you guessed it, “Independence Day.”
2. Music City Hot Chicken Festival — Head over to East Park for some hot chicken. This one runs only 12 to 3.
3. The Nashville Sound vs. Round Rock Express — It’s fireworks night and a big show is scheduled to follow the game (AAA baseball, if you didn’t know). If that’s not enough to get you there, the first 2,000 fans receive a complimentary foam guitar, courtesy of CMT.

Have a good one!
Dane

I love, love, love the fourth of July! I love the picnics, the fireworks, the summer, the whole family feeling! Everyone’s in a great mood. This year’s Nashville celebration is called Let Freedom Sing.

It will happen down at Riverfront Park and is a huge event in the city. There’s going to be all kinds of stuff happening. Festivities start at noon with the free Family Fun Zone. Music starts 3:00 pm and includes The WannaBeatles, Les Kerr and The Bayou Band and The Lost Trailers.

The main stage kicks off at 7:00 pm with Max Q (a barbershop quartet) performing the national anthem. Barry Scott, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Phil Vassar and Michael McDonald will also perform.

It all wraps up with the South’s largest fireworks show at about 9:25 pm! Can’t wait!

Happy fourth everyone!
Dane

Bonnaroo is now officially on! I’m not even sure how to explain Bonnaroo. Last year was my first time and it was crazy! It’s a music festival but there’s also art, movies, comedy, food. Last year’s highlight was definitely seeing The Police.

This year, Bonnaroo (which is even fun to say) runs from June 12-15 out in Manchester. Just about every kind of music is there. Like this year there’s Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Pearl Jam, Kanye West (love him!), Willie Nelson, Chris Rock.

The list goes on. Just look at their web site. Every other place in the country must be empty that weekend! This year, I can’t wait to see Swell Season (the two people from the movie “Once”) and Aimee Mann. She’s great.

See you there,
Jennifer

now we’re talking summer everybody! it’s just a beautiful time to be in nashville! it’s even better coming up too because it’s almost time for the cma music festival!

if i wasn’t from nashville, and i was planning a visit, i’d probably come the first week in june just because everything is starting to happen and it’s one of best events of the year.

the festival runs june 5 through 8 at lp field but there’s just a lot going on. this year it seems like everyone’s playing, including randy travis, faith hill, sugarland, carrie underwood, alan jackson, taylor swift. and there are always shows downtown after. (check out their site for all the stuff going on.)

everything gets going with a huge party downtown on wednesday, june 4. we’ll put a pot of coffee on for you!

♥shea

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