Nashville, TN

Over the last few years I have become increasingly aware of all the songs that mention Nashville or Tennessee in the lyrics or title. I have grown quite fond of this phenomenon. Here are a couple of good ones:

Indigo Girls: Nashville
Mat Kearney: Nothin’ Left to Lose
The Wreckers: Tennessee
Amy Grant: Tennessee Christmas
Josh Rouse: Carolina
Bob Dylan: Nashville Skyline Rag
Sugarland: Tennessee
Dolly Parton: Cowgirl The Dandy
Dishwalla: Nashville Skyline
Shawn Mullins: Rockaby
Arrested Development: Mr. Wendal

Can anyone think of one I left out? I know there are probably thousands, so let’s hear about them!

After weeks of hyping it here, I was able to attend the book-signing for the just released Rick and Bubba Code tonight at the Barnes and Nobel in Cool Springs.

It was great to meet Rick, Bubba and Speedy and congratulate them on the triumphant return to the Nashville air waves.

I know there are probably a few of you out there tired of hearing me blather on about the guys and the show…so this will be my last post about them for at least a day or two.

I was dismayed earlier this year when the Titans didn’t bother to re-sign Travis Henry at running back.

But don’t worry all the call-in shows told us–we’ve got LenDale White. He’s ready to step up and be the man for the Titans.

Apparently not so much.

LenDale skipped the first day of mini-camp yesterday. None of his other teammates did. This is a bad sign for the Titans. White has a history of showing up overweight and out of shape…and now to blow off the camp like that. And from what I read, it looks like he didn’t even bother to call in sick or touch base with the coaches or team.

Without a solid running game this year, I am afraid all the progress we made in the second half of last season will be lost and it will be a long season.

And what is it with this epidimic of selfishness over there? Can’t they all take a page from Vince Young, who has done nothing since he got drafted but show up, work hard and put the team above himself?

…well, at least for now.

Something is going on here (more like something is NOT going on here) : either nobody could guess yesterday’s Where in Nashville, or nobody’s reading this blog. I think I know which one it is. It’s ok. My mom reads it. Thanks mom. I hear crickets. Where’s Tina??!! Somebody shake me back into feeling.

Anyways.

Yesterday’s picture came from downtown’s famed Tin Roof on Demonbreun. Tin Roof attracts all of Music City’s most hard-core music-lovers every night by featuring live, local talent just yards from Music Row. It’s absolutely true that you never know who you will run into here, either performing on stage, or just kicking back and enjoying the act. Last week, I saw Jenna von Oy - you know, Six - from Blossom. Did anybody hear me?! She is no longer Six, but a beloved local singer/songwriter, and she wasn’t even performing…nope, just hangin’ out. I sure do heart this town.

Thanks all* for playing last week’s inaugural edition of Where in Nashville.

*And by ‘all’ I mean, my sister, and Tina. Maybe I should have prizes…

Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey will be broadcasting their radio show tomorrow morning from the WLAC studios.

WLAC is 1510 on your AM dial. The live show starts at 6 a.m. CST.

The guys will also be out at Barnes and Nobel on Mallory Lane in Cool Springs tomorrow evening signing copies of their new book, “The Rick and Bubba Code” from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. I’m planning to make the trek to Cool Springs and hope to have photos from the event to post Thursday.

Yes, I know…I’ve posted about this three times in the last two weeks…but you know, I enjoy the show and am kind of excited about them coming to Nashville.

Welcome back from a long holiday weekend! I hope your Memorial Day was great, and I hope you got to take off work and enjoy the beautiful weather. It’s possible, even, that you enjoyed the day at Centennial Park in front of our famous full-scale replica of the ancient greek Parthenon - where our picture from yesterday was taken.

Now on to our last installment of Where in Nashville - at least for a few days. I plan on stopping by this famous ‘dive’ tonight. There’s no telling who you might see at any given night here…

The Vanderbilt Commodores bounced back from their opening game loss to UT and won the SEC baseball tournament Sunday.

Brackets were announced yesterday for the NCAA baseball regionals and Vanderbilt is the top-seed in the country. With the top-seed, Vandy will host an opening round regional tournament this weekend and could host a super-regional next weekend, should they continue to advance. The other three teams in Vandy’s region are Memphis, Austin Peay and Michigan. Vanderbilt opens play Friday against Austin Peay.

Meanwhile, over at the whatever-we’re-calling-it-this-week arena, things are looking a bit more promising for Nashville hockey fans. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said yesterday that the NHL plans for the Predators to remain in Nashville beyond the upcoming season. Last week when owner Craig Leopold sold the team, it was rumored that the new owner might be interested in moving the team after next season.

It’s good news that the NHL wants the team to remain here. But I think we’ll have to wait and see what happens with the new ownership before we stop worrying that the team might leave us.

I understand that no one guessed Friday’s Where in Nashville because you were all out enjoying the beautiful weekend that was beckoning at your doorsteps. I cannot expect you to be inside reading blogs when it’s this nice outside. So good for you.

Friday’s pic was taken at the corner of Battery and Granny White Pike. It is the entrance to the Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Center - Nashville’s Girl Scout headquarters.

Can you guess today’s picture? It’s crazy-easy. Sorry, but is.

I don’t really have anything earth-shattering or life-changing to say here. I just hope everyone is having a restful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend.

And that sometime in between all the trips to the pool, cooking out and spending time with family that we all take a moment to remember the sacrfice of all those brave men and women–past, present and future.

Looking for something fun and free to do on a Wednesday evening now that Lost is done for the season?

Movies in the Park starts up this week and runs for five weeks. The movies are shown at Centinnel Park on West End Avenue. The movies start at sun-set.

Here’s the list of movies being shown.

May 30…Napoleon Dynamite
June 6…Grease
June 13…Over the Hedge
June 20…Singing in the Rain
June 27…Superman Returns

Call the Movies in the Park Hotline (244-7989, ext. 341) each week for movie listings and weather conditions.

Well, I know it’s Friday, and I may have mentioned that I’d be doing this Where in Nashville series for the week, and while I have done that, I’m not so sure I’m done! I think I have a couple more to put out there. And if y’all don’t mind, I may continue on as I run across more Nashville landmarks with my camera in tow.

So as you can tell from the title, yesterday’s Where in Nashville was from Music Row. More specifically, it was a close up shot of the oh-so-scandalous Musica statue in the middle of the Music Row roundabout. Truth be known, the statue is kinda scandalous, but in that ‘but it’s really tasteful’ way. I happen to love it.

Here’s one for the weekend - dedicated to my niece who is turning 7 on Saturday. So, no, Malia & David, you are NOT allowed to guess this one, cuz I’ve already given too many clues. Unless of course you do not know my niece, which most of you don’t - so that clue won’t even help you. “Clue?” you say. Yah, there was a clue in there.

Happy Memorial Day weekending! See y’all on Monday.

The Nashville Predators have been sold. Owner Craig Leopold will make it official this morning that the team is changing ownership.

Leopold told front office staff that the team would be in Nashville for the upcoming season, but there are no definite plans beyond that.

So, Nashville could lose our minor league baseball team and our NHL team in the next year. That is not good news.

Meanwhile, Keyshawn Johnson will not be joining the Titans. He turned down their offer, retired from the NFL and will be an analyst on ESPN’s Sunday and Monday NFL shows. Not sure if this is more good news or bad news for the Titans. I guess we’ll have to wait and see as we get closer to the season (which cannot come soon enough).

Finally, Vanderbilt lost to the mighty Vols in baseball. Way to go UT, knocking off the number one team in the country! GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is one story that cannot get enough play….

I can feel it all around. Your brains are hurting. Yesterday’s game was a little too hard, and now you are despising me. Sorry. It’s not like I didn’t get you warmed up with two easy-sneezy’s on Monday & Tuesday. Come on people!! Think!

Yesterday’s puzzle was the fountain in front of the Gordon E. Inman Center at Belmont on Magnolia. So pretty…

Belmont is one of Nashville’s primo universities - especially for those seeking a degree in music, music publishing, or other related credentials. It’s located within biking distance from other like-institutions such as Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt and boasts beautiful buildings and landscaping, not too mention a few good classes - you know, if you’re in to that sort of thing.

Next up: can you name this one? I’m trying to make up for yesterday being so hard, apparently.

Congratulations to some girl named Malia whom I have never met before in my life for answering yesterday’s Where in Nashville correctly! Oh, who am I kidding. She is only one of 5 confirmed people who read this blog and my only sister. So thanks sis!

The Donut Den is a Nashville institution with retro flare and hometown goodness packed into every pastry. Situated in the heart of Green Hills on Hillsboro Road, it is a convenient pit-stop for the students of Hillsboro High, not to mention shoppers and employees of the Green Hills Mall right across the street! So go get you a donut - and tell owner, Norman Fox I said hi!

Onward to Wednesday’s Where in Nashville. Can you name it?

I think this one’s a little harder, if I do say so myself.

The NFL owners met in Nashville yesterday to finish up some business that wasnt’ concluded during their spring meetings a few weeks ago. Those meetings took place in Arizona, which I’m sure is nice, but let’s face it–if the choice is Arizona or Tennessee, I prefer Tennessee. We’ve just got nicery scenery and you can’t really beat the Smoky Mountains for their sheer beauty.

OK, yes it gets a bit dicey toward Memphis is terms of looking pretty. But I really feel that Memphis is it’s own parallel universe to begin with.

Anyway, back to the NFL…

The biggest item on the agenda was awarding the Super Bowl on 2011….and it went to Dallas. Seems Jerry Jones is building a new monument to his colassal ego and wants the NFL to come to his city for the big game. And he got his wish, which you know, any news that is positive for the Dallas Cowboys I don’t like. I hate the Cowboys with a firey passion that knows no end. If tomorrow a big sinkhole opened up and swallowed up the Cowboys and their stadium and their owner, I’d probably cheer.

It also appears that Adam Jones’ appeal of his year-long suspension won’t be overtuned any time soon. It could be a while before we hear a ruling on it.

Honestly, I think Jones should quit while he’s ahead and use the year off to figure out if he want to play in the NFL or just be another sad story of great talent wasted.