Dora and I had a great dinner right here at the hotel the other night, at Café Isabella (Dora said it was the best Chicken Parmagiana she’s ever had). While we were eating, Dora asked me if we’d had many weddings, or things like that, at the hotel. If she was asking, I realized people needed to know what a great place we have for a big wedding event like that.

In the first place, the hotel caters the event, and the food is first-rate. The hotel itself looks great, the grounds are really cool. And if you’re like me, I need a place to wander off to during any big shindig, and the Pink Slip (our bar) is perfect for that. And, of course, at the end of the party, you can just stumble upstairs to your room. Can’t beat it.

Dane

Did you know that you and I, your average Joe and Jane, can attend the Country Music Awards? Until today, neither did I. I knew the show was coming to the Sommet Center on November 11, and thought I should brush up on the details in case hotel guests asked me about it. When I went to the site, I saw that tickets are available to the public.

And it looks like it’s going to be a great show, hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, with a great line-up of some newer names, and some of the old greats. Tim McGraw will perform with Vince Gill and Daughtry, and Daughtry’s band will make their debut appearance at the awards. There will be performances by Randy Travis, Brooks & Dunn, Reba, George Strait, Melinda Lambert, and on and on.

If you can possibly swing it, buy tickets now. I didn’t say they were cheap (cuz they ain’t), but what a night.

Dane

Just in case you think that all I listen to is country music and honky tonk, I’m here to tell you that my tastes are far broader than that. That’s right; Dora and I are going to see one of the old masters at Andrew Jackson Hall (a great venue, BTW) on the fifth of November. I’ve been listening to Leonard Cohen for decades, can’t believe he’s coming our way.

I bought Songs of Love and Hate in my teens, after a girl broke up with me, and I knew Leonard knew how I felt. I defy you to listen to “Hallelujah,” one of his all-time bests (off of Various Positions), and not choke up a bit. And, Cohen isn’t just an amazing singer/songwriter—the guy writes poetry, novels, even spent a long time at a Buddhist monastery. Hey, he’s everybody’s man.

Dane

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.

Dane

Years ago when Dora and I had been married just a few years, we (she) decided that we needed to start having a “date night” each week. We took turns. When it was my choice, we ended up at a Titans game or honky-tonk or whatever. When Dora was making the plan, we checked out a new restaurant or gallery. It was always something interesting.

Recently, Dora mentioned starting it up again. I shocked her by offering to go first, knowing exactly what I’d do. The hotel has this “Do Not Disturb: Romantic Notions Package.” We’ll head out to dinner, and then I’ll tell her I need to stop by the hotel for something. Instead, I’ll take her to the room, where there will be a bottle of wine, chocolate-dipped strawberries, bath salts and an aromatherapy candle waiting. The next morning we’ll get breakfast and a late check-out. I want to see how she’ll top that!

Dane

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.

Dane

I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned this green Nashville music event yet, and now there are only two more nights (Oct. 1 and to check it out. On Thursdays, at Public Square Plaza, you can listen to great music, FREE, at Live On The Green. If you haven’t seen Public Square Plaza yet, it’s worth going for that alone.

The Plaza is as green as they come. It’s a 2.25-acre green roof on top of a five-level underground parking garage. It has its own irrigation system, using 50,000+ gallons of collected rainwater. In keeping with the theme, the concert series has incorporated several environmentally conscious elements: Nothing is sold in plastic bottles, a free bike-check is available, leftover food is being composted—you get the picture.

And, oh yeah, the music. October 1 is Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Maureen Murphy and October 8 is Citizen Cope, Ricky Young, Next Big Nashville. It’s never been so easy to go green.

Dane

OK, I’ve never planned a bachelorette party, that’s true. But I’ve had my hand in few bachelor parties in my day: hired buses, done the pub crawl thing, traveled into, ahem, what I’ll call exotic territory. One time we even raced Go-Karts. That was fun.

But lucky for me, when Dora’s niece recently got engaged and started talking bachelorette party, I knew exactly what to do: I booked them into the Preston for the special “Raising Hell before the Wedding Bell” package.

If you’ve got someone in need of some pre-wedding distraction, be the hero and suggest the same. Here’s what they’ll get: The package includes a great workout—pole-dance fitness lessons actually—followed by a limo ride to dinner. It also includes a scavenger hunt. And they can stay out as late as the bars will have them—they get a late check-out. So now I guess I can say I have planned a bachelorette party.

Dane

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.

Dane

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.

Dane