Monthly Archives: December, 2011
Bright & Early: In Like A Lion, Out Like A Pig Edition
Good morning, Nashville. According to the latest reports, H1N1 rates in Tennessee are on the decline. Unfortunately that doesn’t apply to the other eleventy-billion strains of the flu, which health officials expect to flare up after the holiday season. Moral of the story: You may want to think about getting the flu shot if you haven’t already and thank goodness the pig flu is on its way out.
- More unemployment benefits available. Applications for the latest unemployment benefit extension are scheduled go live on the Department of Labor and Workforce Development website on Friday. If you’ve already exhausted all of your prior benefits, this might be worth checking into.
- Leave Victoria’s Secret alone! The Victoria’s Secret in Murfreesboro was robbed on Friday night for the umpteenth time (actually just the fourth) and the bandit escaped with some expensive perfume, probably because the last three robberies cleaned them out of bras and panties.
- Bits & pieces. The Tangredi family still exists and they are still getting arrested for various shady things … Keith Olbermann named Arlington Mayor Russell Wiseman the Worst Person in the World yesterday … As it gets colder, more folks are leaving their cars running which means more cars are getting stolen. Don’t be next!
Photo by wjb13.
Good morning, Nashville. According to the latest reports, H1N1 rates in Tennessee are on the decline. Unfortunately that doesn’t apply to the other eleventy-billion strains of the flu, which health officials expect to flare up after the holiday season. Moral of the story: You may want to think about getting the flu shot if you [...]
Happy Hour: Here Comes The Rain
- Get ready for the downpour: We’re looking at 1-2 inches of rain tomorrow with some thunderin’ likely. Flurries are possible, but… eh, this is Nashville we’re talking about. [NashvilleWX]
- The town of Arlington, TN has issued a statement shunning their mayor, who made national news last week by posting a Facebook status accusing the President of purposely bumping the Charlie Brown Christmas special off of television because he’s a Muslim. The statement followed Mayor Wiseman’s own attempt at one of those “I’m Sorry If I Offended People With My Sharp Wit” apologies. [Post Politics]
- Speaking of Islam, the Tennessean published an in-depth piece yesterday exploring the anti-Muslim movement in Nashville and across the country. [Tennessean]
- The TVA has announced that it accidentally killed a bunch of fish while working on the Raccoon Mountain reservoir and it will not be cleaning them up. [WZTV]
- We are very sad to pass along the news that one of Nashville’s favorite restaurants, Zola, will be closing its doors next month. Owners Debra and Ernie Paquette will be jetting off to the Caribbean for retirement and we’ll sure miss them, but wish them all the best! [Tennessean]
- The bowl schedules are out and they go like this: Clemson vs. Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, UT vs. Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-a Bowl, and MTSU vs. Southern Mississippi in the New Orleans Bowl. [BCS]
Photo by Grey Street Girl.
Get ready for the downpour: We’re looking at 1-2 inches of rain tomorrow with some thunderin’ likely. Flurries are possible, but… eh, this is Nashville we’re talking about. [NashvilleWX] The town of Arlington, TN has issued a statement shunning their mayor, who made national news last week by posting a Facebook status accusing the President [...]
Fresh Blends Turns To Crêpes To Solidify Juicebar Menu
Our friends over at Fresh Blends, the healthy juicebar concept at the corner of Portland/Belmont Blvd, are taking the plunge and adding crêpes to a menu formerly consisting solely of fresh fruit & veggie juices and smoothies. Fresh Blends’ now-shuttered East Nashville store shelved some tasty t0-go wraps and salads, but this is the Belmont location’s first solid food offering. We weren’t quite sure how crêpes and smoothies would go together, but they’re priced to entice, and enticed we were. The verdict? It works. The Classic (peanut butter or nutella spread with banana and whipped cream) and Fruit (choice of fresh strawberry, blueberry or raspberry topped with matching compote, sweet cream cheese spread and whipped cream) crêpes are decadent enough to treat any sweet tooth, but the Veggie (spinach, mushroom, squash and mozzerella with creamy balsamic vinaigrette) crêpe makes a great light lunch for (moderately) health-conscious folks on the go.
While Fresh Blends’ drinks have traditionally been a bit pricy for our wallets, the new pairings are priced so low that we almost felt guilty ordering. Get a small smoothie & crêpe combo for $5.99 (just to compare, a small smoothie stands alone at $4.19) or add a crêpe to any size juice or smoothie for $2. À la carte, Classic & Fruit crêpes are $2.99 and the Veggie rings in just slightly higher at $3.25. And this week, students with ID get an extra $1 knocked off the price. As Belmont alumni, we’re sort of ticked that we didn’t have Fresh Blends around the corner when we were trudging up the boulevard to Country Line Dancing class (but hey, it looks like we survived).
Photo by qlinart (note: photo not of Fresh Blends’ crêpes).
Our friends over at Fresh Blends, the healthy juicebar concept at the corner of Portland/Belmont Blvd, are taking the plunge and adding crêpes to a menu formerly consisting solely of fresh fruit & veggie juices and smoothies. Fresh Blends’ now-shuttered East Nashville store shelved some tasty t0-go wraps and salads, but this is the Belmont location’s [...]
Bright & Early: Fight Or Flight Edition
Good morning, Nashville. An closer look at the financing plan for the proposed Music City Center has revealed that the current proposal would divert close to $14 million in subsidies way from other tourist attractions including the Adventure Science Center, the Preds, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Farmer’s Market. Mayor Dean made the promise a long time ago that property taxes would not be used for the venture, but the funding source would instead rely on hotel/motel taxes and other taxes that target out-of-towners. Unfortunately $14 million of these tax dollars are already being used elsewhere.
- Getting healthy. Tennessee has jumped several slots on the United Health Foundation’s ranking of the healthiest states to live in, moving from 48th to 44th place. So although we’re still pretty close to the bottom of the list (thank goodness for Misssissippi), we’re not as unhealthy as we used to be.
- More shadiness from Sommet. In the flurry of finger-pointing over the last few weeks regarding the Preds’ ruptured relations with the Sommet Group, the Sommet CEO accused Preds owner David Freeman of having a $3.3 million federal tax lien. Turns out the Sommet group has a $330,000 lien themselves along with an expired business license that should’ve prevented their temporary staffing arm from doing business since the end of July. [via]
- Oh, East Tennessee. An East Tennessee man called the cops on some cows for licking his house. According to the Tennessean, “[t]he deputy’s report doesn’t indicate why the cows found Davis’ home tasty.”
- Bits & pieces. The weather forecast this week isn’t looking so hot … A problematic water main caused four Nashville prison sites to go without water for a few hours on Saturday … Metro Animal Control is seeing an increased number of calls reporting animal owners for neglect for leaving their canines out in the cold.
Photo by James T. Atkinson.
Good morning, Nashville. An closer look at the financing plan for the proposed Music City Center has revealed that the current proposal would divert close to $14 million in subsidies way from other tourist attractions including the Adventure Science Center, the Preds, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Farmer’s Market. Mayor Dean made [...]
Happy Hour: Cold Snap
- In case you didn’t read about it everywhere else on the internet, Arlington, TN Mayor Russell Wiseman was a little upset about missing out on the Charlie Brown Christmas special and had some choice things to say about President Obama, on Facebook. [Tennessean]
- Just a few days after Tennessee capped enrollment in the CoverKids program for uninsured children, AccessTN has opened up its program to children. AccessTN is a high-risk pool for uninsurables. [WTVF]
- A first grade teacher in Clarksville has been suspended without pay after showing up to a school function drunk. [WKRN]
- It’s a slow news day and we must hurry off to the Christmas Parade, so happy Friday and don’t forget about the road closures! [Nashvillest]
Photo by lm*.
In case you didn’t read about it everywhere else on the internet, Arlington, TN Mayor Russell Wiseman was a little upset about missing out on the Charlie Brown Christmas special and had some choice things to say about President Obama, on Facebook. [Tennessean] Just a few days after Tennessee capped enrollment in the CoverKids program [...]
Christmas Parade With Red Noses & John Rich [Road Closures]
Get ready to ring in the holidays downtown tonight, with Nashville’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Rudolph’s Red Nose Run and the Christmas Parade. Yes, it’s only December 4, but as if on cue, Mother Nature has dropped some Christmas-y weather on Nashville, just in time for our most festive holiday weekend (yeah, about that…)! So bundle up tight, and head downtown for a chilly Christmas celebration tonight.
Nashville’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. 6pm, Historic Metro Courthouse Public Square.
- The tree is up, and the lights will go on at 6pm tonight. Join Mayor Karl Dean and the city of Nashville to throw the switch!
Rudolph’s Red Nose Run. 6:30pm, begins at 1st & Woodland Street.
- It’s not too late to sign up for the 29th Annual Red Nose Run, a 5k through downtown Nashville that leads the Christmas parade down Broadway. Today’s registration is from 5:15-6pm in front of the Juvenile Justice Center, and the race starts at 6:30pm.
57th Annual Nashville Christmas Parade. 7pm, begins at 8th Ave N & Broadway.
- The highlight of the evening, our annual Christmas Parade, begins at 7pm, and this year’s grand marshal is Nashvillest favorite, John Rich! Last year, we were fortunate enough to NOT see any gift-wrapped Uhauls posing as floats (as we may or may not have seen in 2007′s parade), and our favorite part is watching them navigate the giant inflatables around the traffic lights. In all seriousness, it fills us with Nashville pride to see the whole city gather downtown for the Christmas parade, even if it is really cold and even if some of the float choices are questionable.
The other highlight of the evening will be navigating through all of the road closures for the aforementioned Christmas fun. Here’s the list, so you can plan your trip. Remember, you’ll be battling Friday rush-hour traffic too!
Downtown Road Closures for Friday, December 4, from 4pm-9pm:
- Broadway from 2nd Avenue to 13th Avenue
- 2nd Avenue North from Broadway to Union
- Woodland Street Bridge
- 9th Avenue North from Broadway to Church
- 10th Avenue North from Broadway to Church
- Interstate Drive from Woodland to Russell
- Russell Street to S 2nd Str
- Victory Ave and Titans Way
Get ready to ring in the holidays downtown tonight, with Nashville’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Rudolph’s Red Nose Run and the Christmas Parade. Yes, it’s only December 4, but as if on cue, Mother Nature has dropped some Christmas-y weather on Nashville, just in time for our most festive holiday weekend (yeah, about that…)! [...]
Bright & Early: Great Guitar Drop Edition
Good morning, Nashville. The Convention & Visitors Bureau has a special trick up their sleeve this year with a free NYC-ish New Years Eve celebration. Since last year’s $250 Lynyrd Skynyrd concert fell flat and had to be canceled last-minute because tickets weren’t selling, they’re trying the free approach in an attempt to drum up some tourism downtown. The event–which will feature a guitar drop (you know, instead of a ball drop?) and some musical acts including Rodney Atkins–will cost the bureau somewhere in the six-figure ballpark.We sure hope it’s worth it!
- Richy Rich. Williamson County came in at a cool #14 on the US Census Bureau’s list of the richest counties in the country according to highest median incomes. Almost all of the frontrunners were located in and around the DC and NYC metro areas, but Williamson managed to make the cut with a median income of $93,166. [via]
- Holding off on convention center hotel. In a meeting with the Metro Council yesterday evening, Mayor Dean announced that the convention center hotel that was supposed to accompany the Music City Center project isn’t going to happen right away. Due to some pretty obvious budget constraints, the city is hoping to find some private funding sources for that leg of the project. If all goes as planned, the hotel should still open alongside the convention center in early 2013.
- Bits & pieces. Martina McBride is now the proud owner of that infamous Peyton Manning jersey that Coach Fisher wore at the Rocketown event when the Titans were still sucking … Hard Rock Cafe is reopening on Monday after a renovation that nearly doubled their size and added an entertainment venue … The state is restocking Tennessee rivers with 82,000 new trout for fishin’ … In case you missed it yesterday, Nashville’s new bike rack designs have been chosen and this one is our favorite.
Photo by cdumo.
Good morning, Nashville. The Convention & Visitors Bureau has a special trick up their sleeve this year with a free NYC-ish New Years Eve celebration. Since last year’s $250 Lynyrd Skynyrd concert fell flat and had to be canceled last-minute because tickets weren’t selling, they’re trying the free approach in an attempt to drum up [...]
Happy Hour: Let’s Get Creative
- The Sommet Center is now officially the Nashville Arena. Or is it? Perhaps we will never know its real name and will instead need to resort to making up our own. [WKRN]
- Nashville’s new bike rack designs have officially been chosen. The Metro Arts Commission has been checking out designs from local artists for months to find the right ones and have narrowed it down to a giant padlock, a microphone, and this one which we promise is worth the click. [City Paper]
- The second kid in a week was left on a Metro school bus this morning after he fell asleep. This kid, however, was not bribed with a hot dog to keep quiet. [WTVF]
- We’re actually officially in the running now to host a World Cup in 2018 or 2022 after lots of speculation. [WSMV]
- It’s probably going to snow on Saturday, just not here. However, we did spy some snow on the forecast for next Wednesday. [NashvilleWX]
Photo by Eventhestreets.
The Sommet Center is now officially the Nashville Arena. Or is it? Perhaps we will never know its real name and will instead need to resort to making up our own. [WKRN] Nashville’s new bike rack designs have officially been chosen. The Metro Arts Commission has been checking out designs from local artists for months [...]
Flatrock Cafe Bringing Caffeine & Community To Nolensville Road [Nashville Newcomers]
Flatrock Cafe, a food-coffee-live music hybrid venture on Nolensville Road in the Woodbine/Flatrock area will have their grand opening this Saturday, December 5 from 8am-2pm, after quietly opening on November 17. Flatrock Cafe serves a simple menu of sandwiches, paninis, salads and soups at incredibly reasonable prices, and we’ve heard reports that the food is quite tasty. They also serve locally-roasted coffee, locally-farmed milk, and our favorite… Locally brewed Yazoo beer. Can’t go wrong there!
Owner Ronnie Haislip is excited about bringing the cafe concept to the neighborhood, and wants Flatrock Cafe to be a place where the community can come together. Bring the dog and enjoy their giant new deck, hole up with a laptop inside, or come sit and enjoy local music. Flatrock Cafe is open from 6am-2:30pm (or later), with additional evening hours for live music performances. You can find them at 2624 Nolensville Pike, or online at flatrockcafe.net.
Already been to Flatrock Cafe? Drop us a comment below, and fill us in!
Flatrock Cafe, a food-coffee-live music hybrid venture on Nolensville Road in the Woodbine/Flatrock area will have their grand opening this Saturday, December 5 from 8am-2pm, after quietly opening on November 17. Flatrock Cafe serves a simple menu of sandwiches, paninis, salads and soups at incredibly reasonable prices, and we’ve heard reports that the food is [...]
12 South Portland Brew Has Some Trouble With The Tax Man
Reports of Portland Brew’s 12 South location being shut down by the IRS began to trickle in several hours ago, and it seems that the news is true – New locks and a set of fresh chains adorn the coffeeshop’s doors this afternoon. We don’t know much more (and neither do they), but we’re crossing our fingers that they’ll be able to reopen soon, as Zavós did after finding themselves in a similar sticky situation a few months ago.
Portland Brew, we’re rooting for you! (And the rest of Nashville is too.)
UPDATE: Twitter user @sonicfedora snagged this Twitpic of the sign on the door, which indicates that Portland Brew was shut down by the state for failure to pay Tennessee state taxes.
UPDATE: Portland Brew has reopened as of 4pm, according to their Twitter account.
Reports of Portland Brew’s 12 South location being shut down by the IRS began to trickle in several hours ago, and it seems that the news is true – New locks and a set of fresh chains adorn the coffeeshop’s doors this afternoon. We don’t know much more (and neither do they), but we’re crossing [...]
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