Monthly Archives: December, 2011
Happy Hour: In The Red Edition
- Tax revenue fell by 11% during the month of July, making this the first full year in the history of Tennessee that revenue collection has been in decline. [Pith In The Wind]
- It wouldn’t be a typical week in Nashville without a truck nearly getting wedged underneath an overpass. [WKRN]
- MDHA director Phil Ryan says that he initially budgeted $900,000 for communications related to the convention center. He says the agency was well aware that PR firm McNeely Piggot & Fox would surpass the initial $75,000 spending cap, but we’re wondering if eating up half of the total communications budget was what he had in mind. [WPLN]
- Speaking of the convention center, the Marriott has been tapped to operate the convention center hotel provided the entire project is approved. [Nashville Post]
- Construction crews busted a gas line outside of People’s Church in Franklin this afternoon, shutting down Highway 96. Though it was expected to open back up around 5pm, you may want to rethink your commute if you’re headed in that direction. [WTVF]
- A judge has ruled that the State of Tennessee can cancel its contract with the Rochelle Center, which has been providing employment training and other services for the disabled. No word yet on whether or not the center will be able to remain open. [Tennessean]
Photo by urbanwoodchuck.
Tax revenue fell by 11% during the month of July, making this the first full year in the history of Tennessee that revenue collection has been in decline. [Pith In The Wind] It wouldn’t be a typical week in Nashville without a truck nearly getting wedged underneath an overpass. [WKRN] MDHA director Phil Ryan says [...]
The Living Dead Rise Again: Nashville Zombie Walk
The Nashville Zombie Walk (quite appropriately) will never die. The semi-annual event is one of our favorite picture-taking opportunities, and we’re happy to hear that they’ve set another date. On September 19 at 4pm, Riverfront Park will be filled with the undead – Zombie children, zombie dogs, zombie ballerinas and probably some zombie protesters thrown in for good measure.
There also appears to be a special zombie event later that evening in order to get some mileage out of those fake wounds and theatrical makeup. For more information about the Nashville Zombie Walk, visit their myspace page.
The Nashville Zombie Walk (quite appropriately) will never die. The semi-annual event is one of our favorite picture-taking opportunities, and we’re happy to hear that they’ve set another date. On September 19 at 4pm, Riverfront Park will be filled with the undead – Zombie children, zombie dogs, zombie ballerinas and probably some zombie protesters thrown [...]
Bright & Early: Keep Your Eye On The Ball Edition
Good morning, Nashville. In light of all the hoopla surrounding the convention center these days, Mayor Dean is forming a new 9-member Convention Center Authority to handle the project since MDHA seems to be lacking a bit in the oversight department. Though the new board has been in the works for a while now, Metro finance director Richard Riebling admitted that News Channel 5′s investigative report did accelerate the process. If the project ever makes it through the Metro Council for approval, we’ll be looking at a groundbreaking in the spring.
- Parking rate increase. Because of the whole revenue shortage thing, Metro is looking at the possibility of raising parking rates for meters by as much as 50 cents. Ouch!
- Back at it. Congrats to the Murfreesboro Boys & Girls Club, which is reopening today for the first time since the tornado on March 28th. The building sustained some pretty serious damage during the storm, so staff and volunteers are excited to give the kiddos a chance to play again and show off the new renovations.
- Bits & pieces. Vanderbilt is starting its swine flu vaccine testing today … The TVA is putting an end to wet ash storage, such as the kind at the Kingston plant … LifeWay found that 1 in 8 people failed the background checks they’ve conducted on behalf of churches … A Tennessee state trooper is resigning after being accused of groping an 18-year old man while off-duty.
Photo by drarkane.
Good morning, Nashville. In light of all the hoopla surrounding the convention center these days, Mayor Dean is forming a new 9-member Convention Center Authority to handle the project since MDHA seems to be lacking a bit in the oversight department. Though the new board has been in the works for a while now, Metro [...]
Happy Hour: Keep It Under Lock & Key
- Vandy has put the kibosh on bottled water, phasing out the usual 20,000 water bottles usually handed out on move-in weekend, and replacing them with “water stations” and reusable water bottles. How green! [Tennessean]
- Over at the Tennessean, it has been deemed homepage-banner-worthy BREAKING NEWS that country duo Brooks & Dunn have called it quits after 20 years of bringin’ the music. WKRN managed to make less of an ordeal about it, so we’ll direct you their way. [WKRN]
- Speaking of the Tennessean, editor & vice president Mark Silverman would like those pesky bloggers to stop picking on them about the whole convention center PR debacle. [Tennessean]
- The latest Metro client data security breach was revealed today, as the Nashville Career Advancement Center admitted it exposed 160 clients’ names and social security numbers via the interwebs. [NPR]
Photo by underwhelmer.
Vandy has put the kibosh on bottled water, phasing out the usual 20,000 water bottles usually handed out on move-in weekend, and replacing them with “water stations” and reusable water bottles. How green! [Tennessean] Over at the Tennessean, it has been deemed homepage-banner-worthy BREAKING NEWS that country duo Brooks & Dunn have called it quits after [...]
Bright & Early: Get On The Bus Edition
Good morning, Nashville. This weekend was a good one for the Titans, who took down the Buffalo Bills 21-18 in their first preseason game of 2009. We hear Kerry Collins put on quite a show until Vince Young took over in the second quarter. The opening game was not without incident, however, as runningbacks Chris Johnson and LenDale White missed the bus to Fawcett Stadium in Ohio because Johnson was too busy tending to his gold teeth and twittering about it. This is why we love you, CJ.
- School’s in. Most of the kiddos head back to school today and Middle Tennessee schools are already laying down the law about handling swine flu outbreaks. Last school year ended with several school systems shutting down during final exams at the recommendation of the CDC.
- More council controversy. Metro councilman Mike Craddock is in some hot water with his constituents after making a statement about Nashville’s new male strip club many folks perceive as sexist: “I’m sick to my stomach – I’m just absolutely sick. It’s different for a man to show himself than a woman. It’s another step in the wrong direction.”
- Bits & pieces. Nashville malls were likened to mosh pits during the tax-free sales this weekend … Everyone’s favorite blogging rep, Stacey Campfield, will be taking a stab at a senate seat … A quick recap of the Tomato Art Fest for those who didn’t make it … Montgomery County might be the next in line to opt out of the new guns in parks law … Tonight’s Def Leppard show at the Sommet Center has been postponed.
Good morning, Nashville. This weekend was a good one for the Titans, who took down the Buffalo Bills 21-18 in their first preseason game of 2009. We hear Kerry Collins put on quite a show until Vince Young took over in the second quarter. The opening game was not without incident, however, as runningbacks Chris [...]
Happy Hour: Sexy Veggies Edition
- Betcha didn’t know we have one of the nation’s sexiest vegetarians living just south of us! Franklinite Helen Newman is one of 10 finalists clamoring for the title of PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Over 50. [Tennessean]
- Great news! The nation’s unemployment rate is now 9.4%, and actually went down for the first time in 15 months. [Tennessean]
- A small plane crashed in a field just north of the ‘Boro this morning, but both the pilot and the sole passenger walked away from the crash unharmed. [WKRN]
- Some cruel, heartless individuals out in Smyrna knowingly robbed a family that was on vacation courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. [WSMV]
Photo by Wonderdawg777.
Betcha didn’t know we have one of the nation’s sexiest vegetarians living just south of us! Franklinite Helen Newman is one of 10 finalists clamoring for the title of PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Over 50. [Tennessean] Great news! The nation’s unemployment rate is now 9.4%, and actually went down for the first time in 15 months. [...]
This Weekend: You Say Tomato, We Say Party
This weekend is Tomato Art Fest Weekend in East Nashville, one of our very favorite annual events (despite one Nashvillest editor’s brutal loss in the 2008 Hot Tomato contest). For a single day, everything in East Nashville turns to tomatoes. Walk into the Pied Piper Creamery, and you’ll find them dishing up tomato ice cream. Saunter over to the Art & Invention Gallery, and you’ll find tomato artwork crammed in every nook and cranny. Cross the street to a gravel parking lot, and you just might see real live Nashvillians parading around in tomato costumes.
The Tomato Art Fest takes place in East Nashville’s Five Points tomorrow, August 8 from 10am-whenever (some events start earlier in the morning). Music, contests, costumes, artwork, food and tomatoes galore will fill the day. In particular, we’re looking forward to Nuvo Burrito’s Wet Burrito Contest, hearing the winners of the Hot Tomato Haiku Contest read aloud, the eclectic Second Line Parade, 3 Crow’s Bloody Mary Competition, and lots of music from talented local musicians. And food. Did we mention food?
The big tomato party does not come without a price, however. Just remember that as you’re navigating around these street closures:
- 5:30AM-8PM: 11th Street between Woodland Street and Holly Street
- 5:30AM-8PM: Woodland Street between 11th Street and 12th Street
- 5:30AM-10AM: Anticipate closures and delays at 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, Woodland, Russell, Fatherland and Grantland Streets in the Five Points area of East Nashville for the Tomato 5K and 2nd Line Parade
What a bundle of fun! Good thing there’s a Tomato Shuttle to cart us around to the tomato-y goodness. The shuttle runs every 10 minutes with a 4 person minimum from First Church of the Nazarene (510 Woodland Street) and Lot B (large lot across from the church), and returns to 10th and Fatherland Street.
Photo by brookage.
This weekend is Tomato Art Fest Weekend in East Nashville, one of our very favorite annual events (despite one Nashvillest editor’s brutal loss in the 2008 Hot Tomato contest). For a single day, everything in East Nashville turns to tomatoes. Walk into the Pied Piper Creamery, and you’ll find them dishing up tomato ice cream. [...]
Caffeinated Birthdays: Have Your Cake And Coffee Too
“And many more” indeed. Two of our favorite new coffee shops are celebrating their first birthdays this week. We can hardly believe that it’s been a year since DrinkHaus’ mango blood orange gelato passed our lips for the first time, and since we parked our butts at Ugly Mugs on what was the first of dozens of trips to come. But time flies when you’re having fun!
Ugly Mugs is celebrating their first birthday with a good, old-fashioned birthday party tonight from 6pm-close. Music is from 6pm-9pm, featuring an assortment of Ugly Mugs patrons and baristas (Tyrus Morgan, Dewveall, Drew Holcomb and Dave Coleman). Expect birthday cake, prizes, a “chamfake” toast and a healthy dose of celebration.
DrinkHaus is celebrating their first birthday by giving Nashville the gifts… any size iced coffee will be just $1 all day this coming Monday, August 10. They plan to party later this month.
Swing by either establishment, drop some dollars and hum a little happy birthday tune if you appreciate them as much as we do. Happy birthday!
Photo by termie.
“And many more” indeed. Two of our favorite new coffee shops are celebrating their first birthdays this week. We can hardly believe that it’s been a year since DrinkHaus’ mango blood orange gelato passed our lips for the first time, and since we parked our butts at Ugly Mugs on what was the first of [...]
Bright & Early: Drama-Rama Edition
Good morning, Nashville. The drama over the convention center and the $450,000 in PR spending escalated at last night’s Metro Council meeting. Councilman Mike Jameson got up at the beginning of the meeting during the time traditionally set aside for minor announcements and delivered a scathing speech which, among other things, accused PR firm McNeely Piggot & Fox of inappropriately lobbying the councilmembers. He also managed to call out the finance department for knowing that the outrageous spending was going on and the Tennessean of deceiving readers by allowing the firm to ghost-write a convention center article. At the end of it, he declared that fighting back against the city’s most influential PR firm would probably mean the end of his career.
- More controversy. The non-discrimination ordinance also came up again at last night’s meeting, stirred up another flurry of debate, and was pushed back while the sponsors are able to answer other councilmembers’ questions.
- New in town. Some folks are upset over a new strip club that will be opening up where Ken’s Gold Club used to be. The club, Arrow Nashville, will be Tennessee’s first male strip club.
- Bits & pieces. The Bruce Springsteen concert has been pushed back to November … The Metro Council came a little closer to opting us out of the guns in parks legislation … Tennessee wants to cut its prison population by 3,000 … Speaking of jails, a Nashville inmate is accusing the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office of stealing his prosthetic leg.
Photo by Ryan2013.
Good morning, Nashville. The drama over the convention center and the $450,000 in PR spending escalated at last night’s Metro Council meeting. Councilman Mike Jameson got up at the beginning of the meeting during the time traditionally set aside for minor announcements and delivered a scathing speech which, among other things, accused PR firm McNeely [...]
Tax-Free Weekend: Recession Schmession
Tomorrow marks the start of Tennessee’s one lonely annual Sales Tax Holiday, also known as Tax-Free Weekend. From August 7-9, the following items are sales tax free:
- Computers under $1,500
- Clothing under $100
- School supplies under $100
So get out there and spend that money you don’t have, because we’re in a recession! Take a tip from us, and squeeze in some shopping on Friday while most of humanity is still chained to a desk, because once 5pm Friday rolls around, we make no guarantees!
For complete information on Tennessee’s Sales Tax Holiday, click here.
Photo by jduggler and brought to you from a real live TN Sales Tax Holiday shopping trip.
Tomorrow marks the start of Tennessee’s one lonely annual Sales Tax Holiday, also known as Tax-Free Weekend. From August 7-9, the following items are sales tax free: Computers under $1,500 Clothing under $100 School supplies under $100 So get out there and spend that money you don’t have, because we’re in a recession! Take a [...]
Active Discussions