When I was just a tyke, my parents took us out to California. I don’t know if I’ve been as excited for a trip in my entire life. We went to Disneyland, the La Brea Tar Pits (how that ever got to be a popular tourist destination, I’ll never know). But, for some reason, the Walk of Fame really sticks in my memory. Maybe it’s because when I stood on George Reeves’ star, I felt like Superman for just a minute.
I’ve got to say, I do get the same kind of rush when I’m on Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame, one of Nashville’s best attractions, in my opinion. When I’m surrounded by all the greats—Randy Travis, Martina McBride, Little Richard, Elvis (of course), and so many more—I’m reminded of all the great music I’ve seen in this city of mine over the years.
The Walk is an easy one-mile stroll that connects to downtown’s Music Row, and it’s a great way to while away an afternoon, and start up good arguments about who was the greatest.
One of the only things that makes the end of summer in Nashville less painful is that fall brings October, and October means Oktoberfest – a great event anywhere, but Nashville does it right. The big one is in Germantown, of course, and is hosted by Church of the Assumption and Monroe Street United Methodist Church. It’s free and is one of Nashville’s best.
There’s live music on three stages, including Die Musik Meisters, Music City Swing, Steff Mahan Band, and Ted Guillaum, polka dancing, street performers, arts and crafts booths. There’s “Fun Land” for the kids and a tour of historic churches (for those who like that sort of thing). Last year there were also some booths with some cool German antiques, something I haven’t seen before.
Saving the best for last, there’s all that German food and beer. Give me a grilled bratwurst on a fresh-baked roll with spicy mustard, a stein of pilsner, fresh-baked streudel for dessert, and I got no complaints.
How do you know summer is nearly over? (Sad, I know.) Because a bunch of guys on skates start beating the heck out of each other over at the Sommet Center. That’s right, it’s nearly Predators time!
Get in gear with a little pre-season taste of the carnage to come when our hometown heroes take on the Atlanta Thrashers on Sept. 17. And this is going to be a year you’re not going to want to miss. With maybe the best young defense in the league, things promise to be hot on the ice.
If you’re new to the Preds, here are some players to keep your eyes on: Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Dan Hamhuis. Weber and Hamhuis tore it up at the orientation for the 2010 Canadian Olympic team and Suter did the same with the U.S.
So come on out on the 17th and see the blue-ring brigade in action. I have a suspicion it’s going to be the start of something downright beautiful.
I’ve been going to the state fair since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Never did I think I’d see the day when the fair became hip. OK, I should reserve judgment until I’ve been there, done that, but the hype definitely seems to suggest my fair has modernized some.
I look forward to the usual shenanigans: racing pigs, mule pulling, cow milking, sorghum making, all the cooking competitions. But get a load of what you’ve missed if you haven’t been to the fair in a while: a Family Fun Zone, footprints you can follow all over the fairgrounds to all kinds of surprises; Kid’s country for youngsters; and Game Hype Experience with Wii, Xbox360, and Ps3 games. There’s even a Guitar Hero Competition.
And it wouldn’t be 2009 if the event wasn’t in on the environmental movement, so check out the Greenway Energy Expo. Throw in 4-H, Volunteer Village, ALL-YOU-CAN-RIDE wristbands, and you’ve got yourself a better than fair fair.
September’s tough. Seems like all the good stuff happens just over Labor Day Weekend. Makes sense: Three days, that end-of-summer feeling, the kids heading back to school. So, there’s lots to do, and choices to be made.
But, if you’re a music fan like me, it might be a bit easier. If you head to Riverfront Park on Sept. 5-6, that’s where you’ll find me and Dora: at the Music City Jazz, Blues & Heritage Festival. Held on the banks of the Cumberland River, it’s a great venue that’s also truly family friendly (children under 12 are free).
As usual, there’s a great line-up, including Boney James, Con Funk Shun, Diane Marino, Minister DeWitt Johnson, and many more. Bring your lawn chair and settle in to enjoy the art, food, and drink booths. Oh, and yeah, the music. Thank you, summer. It’s been nice knowing ya.
I applaud any effort made by anyone to bring Shakespeare to the masses. I’ve now seen Shakespeare in the Park in more parks than I can remember, have seen just about every filmed version Hollywood has churned out, and even sat through a version of Hamlet set in a modern day metropolis (you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in three-piece suits).
So, when I hear that there is a trio performing, all in one show, the complete works of William Shakespeare, I say this I’ve got to see. But I wonder, as do you I’m sure, how they will do it?
Well, this is how: It’s three men, 37 plays, 90 minutes. If you go to Centennial Park expecting anything deep, you didn’t do the math right. By all accounts, it’s great fun, and even the Bard needs to be brought down a peg every once in a while. Runs Aug. 27 through Sept. 13.
Seems these days that every city is trying to stay “weird.” First Austin, then Portland, and who knows who else. Well, if we’re trying to keep Nashville weird, too, I think this will help.
In mid-August, if you’re not too scared, check out the 4th Annual International Killer Nashville Literary Conference, Aug. 14-16 (starts today!). Turns out, upon closer examination, that no one actually gets killed at the conference, nor does it feature murderers of any kind. What is does do is celebrate the mystery, thriller, and crime literature genres.
There are three days of panel discussions, writing and promotion workshops, and author presentations. You’ll also have a chance to hobnob with some publishers, so be ready with your killer material.
On August 7, Dora and I headed over to the Frist Center for a night of theater, film, and art. The evening began with a presentation from the Nashville Opera, discussing their production of The Fall of the House of Usher, coming this fall. Soprano Sabrina Warren, followed up the presentation by singing excerpts from the opera.
Next, we took in a screening of the film Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts, chronicling the life of the extraordinary conductor. The documentary was directed by the Academy Award nominated director of Shine, Scott Hicks.
Lastly, we checked out the Chuck Close exhibit. OK, I’ve talked about this one before, but he was a friend of Glass’s and Close is actually featured throughout the film.
And, did I mention that the whole shebang is free?
I saw some of Chuck Close’s paintings about 20 years ago. They totally blew me away and ever since then I’ve tried to sort of keep track of what he’s up to. Can you believe it; Dora had to point out that there’s actually an exhibit going on right here in Nashville!
Let me say that I’ve not been yet, but I don’t feel weird about recommending you go just because I think you’re likely to have the same reaction I did. The pieces are usually big, which makes them dramatic. But they are also brilliantly done and so meticulous and creative they’ll blow your mind.
Most of his work is portraiture (though he calls them “heads”), but the way he does them is unlike anything you’ve seen. Actually, these days we might recognize a sort of digital inspiration in a lot of the pieces. But you just to have to see them up close and in person.
So if you’re visiting our fair city or if you live here, make some time to get over to the exhibit. It’s called Process and Collaboration and is at the Frist until Sept. 13. See you there.
Any guy that owns a banjo (me) is a bona fide member of the bluegrass nation. But even if you don’t, and maybe you just own the “O Brother Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, the Ryman has a great summer series for you.
It’s called “Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman” and runs every Thursday at 7:30 through July. That makes for a total of six great shows, including some really big-name artists like Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, and the Dan Tyminski Band. First up is Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper on June 25th.
The Ryman is a fitting place for the series as it played a key role in the birth of bluegrass. It was there that on a Saturday night in December 1945 a 21-year-old Earl Scruggs stepped to the WSM microphone on the Ryman stage playing a five-string banjo with a three-finger roll. And so bluegrass was born.
