Monthly Archives: December, 2011
Bright & Early: When We Think Tim McGraw
Good morning, Nashville. We know winter in Nashville can get a little boring, so we’re glad that Tim McGraw and Gwenyth Paltrow have decided to spice it up a bit by filming a new movie here. We have no idea what this movie will be about and we can’t imagine what sort of convoluted plot could land the two of them on the same screen, but filming is slated for January and February and 80% of it will be happening right here in Nashville. And also, it should be noted that the producers chose us over Austin.
- Nashville’s got talent. A band of Healthways employees out of Franklin brought home the title of America’s #1 Corporate Rock Band after competing in an annual showdown at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame judged by Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee.
- Kidnapping case leak. The TBI is investigating who might have leaked confidential information about the newborn kidnapping case earlier this week, specifically information on the investigation of the family’s alleged attempts to sell the child.
- Bits & pieces. Tennessee’s traffic fatalities are down by nearly 100 compared to last year … Metro is promising to help some of the fairgrounds tenants find new places to set up shop … Dickson County Schools are preparing for a complete shutdown if they can’t pass a new budget … Deadrick Street is finally reopening and it’s a little bit greener … Metro is now allowing church groups of up to 25 meet in public parks regularly without a permit.
Photo by yummiec00kies.
Good morning, Nashville. We know winter in Nashville can get a little boring, so we’re glad that Tim McGraw and Gwenyth Paltrow have decided to spice it up a bit by filming a new movie here. We have no idea what this movie will be about and we can’t imagine what sort of convoluted plot [...]
Happy Hour: Uncorked
- A study by some folks in New York uncovered a significant loophole in gun sales in Tennessee. In many cases, firearms were sold to undercover investigators who told salespeople that they probably couldn’t pass a background check. [WSMV]
- The 9-year old autistic girl who led police on a high-speed chase in her parents’ car a few months ago was back behind the wheel yesterday, this time with her 1-year old sister in the passenger seat. Police blockaded her around 2am and fortunately no one was hurt this time, either. [WTVF]
- Baptist Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center are among the first facilities in Nashville to receive FluMist, the H1N1 vaccine in nasal spray form. It’s still being restricted to healthcare professionals at the moment. [Tennessean]
- The Tennessean has put together a nice collection of photo galleries showing Belmont over the years since they’re really growing up these days. We’re tearing up a little over here. [Tennessean]
Photo by heatherlynn.nashville.
A study by some folks in New York uncovered a significant loophole in gun sales in Tennessee. In many cases, firearms were sold to undercover investigators who told salespeople that they probably couldn’t pass a background check. [WSMV] The 9-year old autistic girl who led police on a high-speed chase in her parents’ car a [...]
Bright & Early: Take Us Out To The Fair Edition
Good morning, Nashville. As of last night, the Tennessee State Fair as we know it is no more. Mayor Dean penned a letter conveying the decision and handed it off to a board member to read to a crowd of 200 angry folks who booed the decision. Metro will be seizing control of the fairgrounds on June 30th of next year, which marks the end of the fiscal year. Mayor Dean has determined that “a truly great State Fair, simply cannot be developed at the current Fairgrounds location. Moreover, it is clear that the current course of the State Fair is not sustainable and continuing to run the Fairgrounds until its reserve fund is completely exhausted is not the responsible thing to do.” So, there you have it.
- New law school in town. Belmont University prez Bob Fisher announced yesterday that they’re unveiling a Belmont College of Law in 2011 and a brand new $25 million building to house it. Tuition is expected to hover around $25,000-$35,000 in the first year.
- Good news for heating bills. Officials are projecting that our gas heating bills could be going down by as much as 20% this winter because of the mild temperatures predicted and the decreasing cost of natural gas.
- Bits & pieces. Wounded Metro police sergeant Mark Chesnut was honored at last night’s Metro Council meeting … Police Cmdr. Damian Huggins is once again calling for the closure of Nashville’s Tent City homeless encampment … Metro Schools are handing out free H1N1 vaccines for students … A West Nashville home was damaged by an exploding tennis ball.
Photo by hereontheroad.
Good morning, Nashville. As of last night, the Tennessee State Fair as we know it is no more. Mayor Dean penned a letter conveying the decision and handed it off to a board member to read to a crowd of 200 angry folks who booed the decision. Metro will be seizing control of the fairgrounds [...]
Happy Hour: Colorful Characters
- The four-day old baby who was kidnapped last week has finally been returned to his parents after being placed in state custody when DCS received reports that the parents were trying to sell him. The parents have been cleared of all allegations. [WKRN]
- 68 hard drives were stolen from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee office in Chattanooga. They’re not sure yet if the drives contain any personal information. Though the burglary alarm went off on Friday night, authorities weren’t notified until yesterday morning. We assume we’ll be hearing more about this later. [WZTV]
- Governor Phil estimates that the proposed healthcare reform bill could cost our state as much as $1.2 billion over the next five years. [WTVF]
- Councilman Eric Crafton is introducing a charter amendment that would leave the convention center project up to the voters of Davidson County. Sounds like the chances of that passing are slim, but Councilman Crafton has never been one to give up easily. [Tennessean]
Photo by fallingwater123.
The four-day old baby who was kidnapped last week has finally been returned to his parents after being placed in state custody when DCS received reports that the parents were trying to sell him. The parents have been cleared of all allegations. [WKRN] 68 hard drives were stolen from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of [...]
Bright & Early: Misty-Nosed Edition
- Memphis is flu-free. The first batches of the H1N1 vaccine began arriving in the state yesterday and were administered to healthcare workers in Memphis. The vaccine, which is actually a nasal spray called FluMist, should be hitting the rest of the state this week.
- Creative solutions. Cumberland County has generously offered to take some of the toxic coal ash from Kingston off of the TVA’s hands, hoping to pile it on top of a mountaintop mine that they currently consider an “environmental eyesore.” Members of the community are a little less gung-ho.
- Bits & pieces. The Uptown YMCA on Church Street (which is not the same as the Downtown YMCA on Church Street) will be closing at the end of November … Our former Senator Fred Thompson is rekindling his acting career with a role in Secretariat … The abducted baby case is officially going to court with allegations of child neglect and the intent to sell the child … Watch out for storms today.
Photo by andreasnilsson1976.
Good morning, Nashville. We’re short on time this morning, so here’s an abbreviated Bright & Early: Memphis is flu-free. The first batches of the H1N1 vaccine began arriving in the state yesterday and were administered to healthcare workers in Memphis. The vaccine, which is actually a nasal spray called FluMist, should be hitting the rest [...]
Happy Hour: Oh, This Is Rich
- In what is obviously the biggest news of the day, the Scene has uncovered John Rich’s plot to convert his non-Love Circle residence into a museum/distillery/microbrewery/retail store/entertainment venue called the Plowhouse Mansion. We only wish we were making that up. [Nashville Scene]
- And you can say a lot about our pedestrians in Nashville, but at least a few of them seem to be made of steel: A man who was running across traffic on I-24 was hit by a Toyotta 4Runner, thrown 20 feet into the air according to a Metro police officer who witnessed it, and landed back on the interstate only to be run over by another truck. None of his injuries were life-threatening. [WSMV]
- Our Titans are calling for an emergency Code Blue all this week before they take on the Indianapolis Colts. We say they’re going to need all the help they can get. [WKRN]
- A wanted felon led police on a two-hour chase through a corn maze in Jefferson County, but thankfully “[a]uthorities were not to be deterred by the labyrinth of corn stalks” and they were eventually caught. Phew. [WZTV]
- Details are starting to emerge in the case of the stolen newborn, who was placed back in DCS custody along with the other siblings. Some inside sources are now saying that the mother is being accused of trying to sell her baby. [WTVF]
- The airport exit on eastbound I-40 will be closed from 8pm tomorrow night until 4am Wednesday morning. If you need to, say, catch a flight or something, you can still use the next exit. [Tennessean]
Photo by cdumo.
In what is obviously the biggest news of the day, the Scene has uncovered John Rich’s plot to convert his non-Love Circle residence into a museum/distillery/microbrewery/retail store/entertainment venue called the Plowhouse Mansion. We only wish we were making that up. [Nashville Scene] And you can say a lot about our pedestrians in Nashville, but at [...]
Collective Buying Power Website Groupon Comes To Nashville
What the heck is a Groupon, you ask? Well, we’re happy to share the info – after all, that’s the whole idea behind Groupon. Birthed in Chicago and now making consumers in 25 cities very happy, Groupon harnesses collective buying power to bring us spectacular, city-specific deals at prices lower than we could even imagine, and they launched their first Nashville deal today. In short (er, long…):
Groupon is a combination of the words group and coupon. Each day, we offer an unbeatable deal on the best of Nashville: restaurants, spas, sporting events, theater, and more. By promising businesses a minimum number of customers, we get discounts you won’t find anywhere else. We call it “collective buying power”!
If you want to get the deal, just click BUY before the offer ends at midnight. If the minimum number of people (20 for today’s deal) sign up by the end of the day, you’ll get a printable gift certificate in your inbox the next morning that you can use whenever you want (well, at least until the deal expires-today’s expires in six months). If not enough people join, no one gets the deal (and you won’t be charged), so invite your friends to make sure you get the discount!
It’s nice to wake up to something new every day. Some people get their daily fix from desk calendars with a cute puppy and a funny caption every morning. Groupon is like a desk calendar, except the puppy is an unbeatable discount and the funny caption is a profound reflection on the flowers and needles growing from life’s cactus. We selflessly share our deep insights, hoping that you will join our mob of consumers, thus strengthening our collective buying power and commanding even better deals.
From the looks of the 182 (and counting) folks who have already cashed in on today’s $20-for-a-$50-gift-certificate-at-Flyte Groupon deal, Nashville was ready for something like this. Sign up for daily deal notifications from Groupon here, and follow @GrouponBNA on Twitter. And as a bonus, Groupon is really, really fun to say. Groupon!
What the heck is a Groupon, you ask? Well, we’re happy to share the info – after all, that’s the whole idea behind Groupon. Birthed in Chicago and now making consumers in 25 cities very happy, Groupon harnesses collective buying power to bring us spectacular, city-specific deals at prices lower than we could even imagine, [...]
Bright & Early: Following The Money Edition
Good morning, Nashville. The Government Accountability Office in Washington is zeroing in on Nashville as one of the 72 cities nationwide that may be getting “overserved” by the Medicare program. That means that they’re seeing some indications that our medical professionals may be performing more services than necessary to reap the payouts from the federal government while not necessarily being efficient about it. This is one of the things that proponents of healthcare reform are hoping is addressed in the coming months.
- Bumpkins. If the rain was good for nothing else, it at least ensured that there will be no pumpkin shortage this year. Get ‘em while they’re hot!
- More money matters. The Tennessean has uncovered some financial records showing that Metro Nashville Public Schools officials have been finding some creative ways to spend the district’s money.
- Bits & pieces. The West End butt-grabber has been caught … Folks in Spring Hill are wondering what they’ll do once the GM plant finally closes down … More complications in the TVA ash spill cleanup … Our Titans lost again but our Preds did not … The kidnapped newborn was found safe and sound in Alabama.
Photo by LindsP.
Good morning, Nashville. The Government Accountability Office in Washington is zeroing in on Nashville as one of the 72 cities nationwide that may be getting “overserved” by the Medicare program. That means that they’re seeing some indications that our medical professionals may be performing more services than necessary to reap the payouts from the federal [...]
Happy Hour: Long Way Down
- ‘Tis the week for chemical spills, it seems: A Chattanooga wastewater plant employee was seriously burned after around one ton of chlorine leaked inside a containment building. [WZTV]
- The TBI has released a sketch of the woman who is being accused of posing as an immigration enforcement agent, stabbing a woman, and stealing her 4-day old baby. If you think you’ve seen anything contact the TBI immediately. [WKRN]
- In order to finish the Emory River dredging ahead of schedule, the TVA is quickening the pace its shipments of the toxic ash to a landfill in Perry County, Alabama by train. [WZTV]
- Nearly 2,900 Clarksville drivers were nabbed for running red lights in September thanks to the fancy red light cameras they installed a few months ago. Unfortunately that number actually increased from August. [WSMV]
- Some folks in Murfreesboro are all up in arms about a certain church sign that seems to call President Obama a nut. [Tennessean]
Photo by elemak.
‘Tis the week for chemical spills, it seems: A Chattanooga wastewater plant employee was seriously burned after around one ton of chlorine leaked inside a containment building. [WZTV] The TBI has released a sketch of the woman who is being accused of posing as an immigration enforcement agent, stabbing a woman, and stealing her 4-day [...]
The Weekendist: Full-Blown Fall Fest Edition
A week of cool autumn temperatures already has us in the mood for bonfires and corn mazes and pumpkin patches. Luckily, Nashville caters to our seasonal moodiness with an assortment of fall festivities, many taking place this weekend. Here are our top picks for enjoying the 75-and-sunny temperatures of this weekend.
FRIDAY
- Al Menah Shrine Circus. Municipal Auditorium, various show times Thursday – Monday. The Shriners are back in town, though we didn’t see any elephants roaming downtown Nashville streets this year.
- Bluegrass Fan Fest. Nashville Convention Center, October 2-4. Topping off World of Bluegrass Week is the Bluegrass Fan Fest down at the Nashville Convention Center. The music goes all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and individual day passes are a bit pricey… But kids up to age 16 get in free, so for the whole bluegrass-lovin’ family it might not be that bad.
SATURDAY
- Free admission at Cheekwood. Cheekwood, Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm, Sunday 11am-4:30pm. Cheekwood’s free this weekend, but you already knew that.
- Celebration of Cultures. Centennial Park, 10am-6pm, free. Enjoy the weather outside at Centennial Park, where there will be performances, food (and lots of it), a world market and global village displays. Last year, your Nashvillest editors even got to dress up in traditional Somali garb and have our pictures made!
- Walden Artisan Market. 1898 Eastland Ave, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-3pm. This is the last neighborhood artisan market in the current location, so don’t think you can just go next month. Support local artisans with beautiful handmade wares on display, and start your Christmas shopping early!
- Rocktoberfest. Grimeys, 10am-8pm. Another one of Grimey’s all-day outdoor sales and concerts, but this time not in 100-degree weather. Catch a lineup of Brooke Waggoner, Oblio, Heavy Cream, Warband, The Shazam and Patrick Sweany with DJ sets in between, and buy some records. You know, what you usually do at Grimey’s.
- First Saturday Art Crawl/Sound Crawl Nashville. Downtown Nashville, 6pm-9pm. Joining the usual first-Saturday art crawl is a new twist: Sound Crawl Nashville. In addition to enjoying fine visual art at most of the downtown galleries on Saturday night (for free, of course), an auditory art component will be interwoven through the experience. Okay, so we really don’t know what’s going on, but the art crawl is fun and we’re sure that the sound crawl will be too.
SUNDAY
- Sunday’s short of fun of its own, but don’t forget that many of this weekend’s events include Sunday too. Browse the Walden Artisan Market, check out Cheekwood or go see the Shrine Circus on Sunday, since we know you won’t be fitting everything in this weekend.
Photo by Allison Stillwell.
A week of cool autumn temperatures already has us in the mood for bonfires and corn mazes and pumpkin patches. Luckily, Nashville caters to our seasonal moodiness with an assortment of fall festivities, many taking place this weekend. Here are our top picks for enjoying the 75-and-sunny temperatures of this weekend. FRIDAY Al Menah Shrine [...]
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