Nashville, TN

…and I kinda wish I hadn’t.

Four words: Most. Boring. Movie. EVER.

Not quite four hours long as previously led to believe. That may have had something to do with the fact that after 2 hours and zero plot development, I skipped to the last chapter. That may be cheating, but at least I won back an hour of my life that would have otherwise been sucked down this very dark, boring hole.

Only bright spot of the movie: Jeff Goldblum. Whom my sister somehow missed. And even in the credits, he’s only known as ‘tricycle man’. He deserved to be credited as ‘only bright spot of this film’. Shelly Duvall and Lily Tomlin were not so bad either. Local blogger Paul Chenowith, also makes a semi-appearance. Though I cannot corroborate this as I have never seen the man.

Worst part of this movie: the first two hours

Seriously though, I did enjoy hearing local places being name-dropped throughout. Some that I have not totally forgotten as I work to block this movie from my memory are: Franklin High school, Exit In, Opryland, Vanderbilt Hospital, and Baptist Hospital.

The irony of it all: I was reminded by Will Thompson over at Automotive Blogger that a movie called The Thing Called Love was also filmed in Nashville. I hopped on over to Hollywood Video, and 0 for 2 - they did not have this one either. So I tried Blockbuster. Blockbuster also did not have it, BUT they did have Nashville, which I erringly stated in a previous post, that they probably would not. So I was wrong. Apparently, I was also wrong about needing to see this movie. Good news is, it was only $1.59.

Consider yourself warned about this movie. Not worth your time or $1.59.

The Belcourt Theater is hosting a Hitchcock in the 50’s celebration all this month. The festival started last weekend and continues every Saturday and Sunday in June at noon

You can head to the Belcourt and see some of the definitive works of one of the greatest directors of all-time.

Here’s the schedule of films:

June 9, 10 - Dial M for Murder (12:00, 4:00)
June 16, 17 - To Catch a Thief
June 23, 24 - Vertigo
June 30, July 1 - Pyscho

All of these are great examples of Hitchcock’s work, though I’d argue the best two are at the end of the month. (Last weekend kicked off the event with one of my favorites Strangers on a Train).

Sure, these films are all out on home video and DVD, but there’s just something about seeing them on the big-screen from a film print that can’t be beat.

And let’s face it–all of these films are going to be far more satisfying than most of the stuff that passes as summer blockbusters–esp. that silly Pirates movie…

If you’re comin’ in from out of town for this weekend’s main event, take heed:

Oh, and one last thing. To all the redneck freaks in town for CMA fest: PLEASE REMOVE YOUR COWBOY HATS. Unless you plan to wrangle cattle up and down Broad it is so incredibly cliche. Real Nashvillians do NOT wear them. Or cowboy boots. We’re seriously just normal people with normal jobs, bolos not required. I will probably have a body count of boot-scooters to share with you guys on Monday once all the dust has settled because they are apparently unfamiliar with traffic and how one should not walk out in front of it. I guess that’s to be expected when you spend most of your time out on the ranch.

Personally, I happen to like Cowboy hats and boots…so if you’re gonna wear them, just stay out of her way.

Enjoy!

If you love country music, there’s only one place to be this weekend - the CMA Music Fest (also known to the old-schoolers as FANFARE, baby!)

There may be nothing nicer this time of year than kicking back in Section 1 of LP Field at twilight and watching all the stars align, not only above you in the beautiful young summer sky, but also in front of you on stage. Ok, nicer might be kicking back on the field right in front of the stage, but hey - who has that kind of cash? Well…some people do. Some people who are not me. I’m just happy to be going.

I only have admission for Friday night (reason again, not a rich a girl, just happy to be going). Last year I was fortunate enough to be in the good graces of a friend with extra tickets and got to enjoy all three nights for the price of general admin. Sweet! But I doubt that will happen again. Friday night will be enough for me. I will get to see Sugarland, who I missed last year due to performance rain-out, and also get to see Carrie Underwood again! Little Big Town will be a first time for me and I really love them, so that’s bound to be worth the price of admission alone. Sara Evans will be performing as well, and I feel like I’ve seen her before, but honestly can’t remember. Sorry Sara! If it’s any consolation, I am really looking forward to seeing you…either again or for the first time!

Honestly, last year I saw so many performances I really can’t keep them all straight in my memory. And that’s really what FanFare is like - there are so many people there, and so much opportunity to see great artists, it can be a bit overwhelming. So whether your a lawn ticket-holding VIP or packing Kleenex for the nosebleed section, getchur patooty out to LP Field this weekend and catch a glimpse of Nashville’s stars.

My favorite fast-food restaraunt is offering FREE root beer floats today! Sonic is offering anyone who stops by this evening from 8 p.m. to midnight a complimentary small root-beer float.

Of course, this means every Sonic on the planet will be hopping and packed….so you may want to get there early and expect to wait.

But then again–it is a free root beer float.

If you’re not sure where your closest Sonic is, you can find that vital information here.

Looking for something interesting to do this summer? Here’s a list of events happening this summer at various public library branches around Nashville.

Bordeaux Branch Library, 4000 Clarksville Pike, 862-5856
10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, Pardners Are Prepared

Preschoolers – 2nd Grade

Join our friends from the Nashville Fire Department and Flashy the Fire Dog for a special program on safety that includes delightful books, upbeat music and cheerful puppets. Everyone will take home a fire hat and a coloring book.

1 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, Native American Craft Day

Grades 2 - 5

Play games and make crafts inspired by various Native American traditions and learn about a rich part of our nation’s heritage at this special craft session.

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, Mad Science Roundup

Preschoolers – 6th Grade

Saddle those ponies and join us for a whoopin’, hollerin’ good time as we lasso some wild West experiments. You may just strike it rich and walk away with fool’s gold.

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 26, Daring Desert Dwellers

All Ages

Robin Harkins from the Nashville Zoo will be our guide on a visit to the fascinating desert environment. Prepare for a sun-baked wild animal adventure.

1 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, Papermaking

5th Grade and up

Create a piece of real handmade paper and learn about the many benefits of paper recycling.

Goodlettsville Branch Library, 106 Old Brick Church Pike, 862-5862

2 p.m., Monday, June 11, Reading Rodeo

All Ages

Cool your spurs, hang up your bandana, sit back a spell and prepare to be amazed and bamboozled by Mr. Bruce Amato’s flying feats of Western magic.

2 p.m., Monday, June 18, Rompin’ Stompin’ Reading Fun

All Ages

Stop by for some exciting cowboy fun with Lori and Christian Kissinger, who will present Western stories and songs using musical instruments that would have been heard in the old wild West.

2 p.m., Monday, June 25, Once Upon a Garden

All Ages

Once Upon a Garden is an outdoor exhibit of beloved children’s stories told in landscape, now showing at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Join Lisa Ward-Smith of Cheekwood as she reads from one of the featured stories, and create an art project related to this exhibition.

Hadley Park Branch Library, 1039 28th Ave. N., 862-5865

1 and 2 p.m., Thursday June 7, Rompin’ Stompin’ Fun

School Age

Janice Hayslett of the 4-H Club brings a Western-themed craft to this rompin’ stompin’ storytime.

10 a.m., Monday, June 11, Sign Language Storytime with Mr. Andrew

Preschoolers

Learn some signs, sing some songs and enjoy a story of the Wild West with Andrew Thompson from Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

11 a.m., Tuesday, June 12, Wild About Wildlife

Preschoolers

Meet a special critter and learn about the animals you might find on your urban home on the range with Denise Weyer of Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Joelton.

11 a.m., Thursday, June 14, Clowning Around with Ronald McDonald

Preschoolers

Ronald makes a visit to the library to read a book and dazzle us with magic tricks.

1 and 2 p.m., Thursday, June 14, Fire Truck

School Age

Sirens will be wailing and lights will be flashing when a real fire truck from the Nashville Fire Department appears at the library.

10 a.m., Monday, June 18, Flashy & Friends

Preschoolers

Don’t miss Flashy the Fire Dog driving his very own fire truck through the library. The new Nashville Fire Department mascot and his puppet friends will teach fire safety through stories and songs.

11 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, Cool Off with SnowBird

Preschoolers

SnowBird, Channel 4’s weather mascot, visits the library with a penguin story and other cooling surprises.

11 a.m., Thursday, June 21, Once Upon a Garden

Preschoolers

Once Upon a Garden is an outdoor exhibit of beloved children’s stories told in landscape, now showing at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Join Lisa Ward-Smith of Cheekwood as she reads The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and create an art project based on the exhibition.

10 a.m., Monday, June 25, A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

Preschoolers

Mary McClean from the Metro Public Health Department shows children how to take good care of their teeth.

11 a.m., Tuesday, June 26, Batter Up

Preschoolers

Ozzie, the Nashville Sounds mascot, reads a book about summer’s best-loved sport, baseball.

11 a.m., Thursday, June 28, Recycling Roadshow

Preschoolers

Learn all about reading and recycling with Julie Berbiglia from Metro Beautification.

1 and 2 p.m., Thursday, June 28, Paper Pizzazz

School Age

Make a piece of homemade paper and learn about the many benefits of paper recycling with help from Julie Berbiglia from Metro Beautification.

Looby Branch Library, 2301 Metro Center Blvd., 862-5867

10 a.m., Thursday, June 7, Clowning Around with Ronald McDonald

All Ages

Join us in the Looby Recreation Center Gym, where Ronald McDonald will use his special brand of magic to tell us a story.

4:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, Crafty Little Wranglers

Preschoolers

Cowboys and cowgirls need to look the part. Get ready for ropin’ on the range by making cowboy vests and ten-gallon hats in this crafty program for little wranglers.

4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 19, Tall Tales and Happy Trails

School Age

Join us as we spin yarns around the “campfire” and tell stories and sing Western songs.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, Sheriffs of the wild West

Preschoolers

Every Western town needs a lawman, and every lawman needs a badge. Make your own sheriff’s badge with all materials provided at this special craft time just for young ‘uns!

Madison Branch Library, 610 Gallatin Pike, 862-5868

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, Summer Reading Kickoff

All Ages

It’s time for the Rompin’ Stompin’ Reading Roundup: Summer Reading 2007 at the Madison Branch Library. Be the first to sign up for the reading program that awards cool prizes, and bring your friends. Enjoy treats and special guests.

10:30 a.m., Monday, June 11, Ropin’ and Readin’ with The Singing Cowboy

Preschoolers/Early Elementary

Joel Reese, the Singing Cowboy, and his puppet sidekick, Buster Bronco, lead little wranglers down an imaginary trail for some rip-roaring musical adventures. Grab a hat and get ready to sing along, laugh and dance.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, Wild About Wildlife

All Ages

Meet a special critter and learn about the animals you might find on your urban home on the range with Denise Weyer of Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Joelton.

6 p.m., Thursday, June 14, Step Show

All Ages

Stepping is the exciting, high-energy dance form featured in the movies Stomp the Yard and Drumline. Don’t miss this step show performance by amazing, talented, inspiring MTSU students.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, Flashy and Friends

Preschoolers/Early Elementary

Children will learn about fire safety through puppets, stories and songs with the Nashville Fire Department and its new mascot, Flashy the Fire Dog. Each child will take home a fire hat and a coloring book.

2 p.m., Monday, June 25, Reading Rodeo

All Ages

Cool your spurs, hang up your bandana, sit back a spell and prepare to be amazed and bamboozled by Mr. Bruce Amato’s flying feats of wild West magic.

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, Peter Rabbit in the Garden

Preschoolers/Early Elementary

Once Upon a Garden is an outdoor exhibit of beloved children’s stories that come to life in the meadows and trees at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Join Lisa Ward-Smith of Cheekwood as she reads The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and create an art project related to this fabulous exhibition!

2 p.m., Thursday, June 7, Vintage Button Rings

Teens

Make a cute and completely unique ring out of a selection of colorful vintage buttons at this simple, fun craft session. Snacks and all materials provided.

2 p.m., Thursday, June 14, Do You Stack Up?

Teens

It’s been featured on The Tonight Show and it’s in the Guinness Book of World Records. Find out how you stack up in our mini cup-stacking tournament. Winner takes the prize and snacks will be provided.

2 p.m., Thursday, June 21, Mexican Popsicles

Teens

Challenge your taste buds and cool off on a hot summer afternoon with authentic Mexican Popsicles in traditional flavors.

2 p.m., Thursday, June 28, Bottle Cap Necklaces

Teens

Recycle old bottle caps by turning them into necklaces in this eco-friendly craft program with all supplies provided.

Inglewood Branch Library, 4312 Gallatin Road, 862-5866

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, Cowboys Love Their Hats

Preschoolers/School Age

Wear your favorite hat to this special storytime about cowboys and their distinctive hats.

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, Home On the Range

Preschoolers

Let’s pretend we’re out West, and sing a few cowboy songs.

1 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, Ropin’ and Readin’ with The Singing Cowboy!

Preschoolers/School Age

Joel Reese, The Singing Cowboy and his puppet sidekick, Buster Bronco, lead little wranglers down an imaginary trail with some rip-roaring musical adventures. Grab a hat and get ready to sing along, laugh and dance.

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, wild West Dinosaurs

Preschoolers

Did you know that dinosaurs lived out West, too? We’ll explore that ancient time on earth, and may even find a few dinosaurs ourselves.

I may be one of the few who are actually happy about the proposed ban on cigarette smoking in Tennesee.

I woke up this morning with smokers cough, and I promise I’ve never put a cigarette to my lips in my whole entire life. I’ve been frequenting Tin Roof lately on Tuesdays with some friends. As I scanned my 6-foot radius for the smoker that was invading my lung capacity last night, I got to thinking about the ban, and how strange (and yet relieving) it would be to not see anyone smoking in a place like that. I won’t be delusional to assume that the smell would immediatley die with the outting of the final butt. Cigarette smoke has a way of wafting from the air and settling sticking, permanently, to any inanimate object in it’s path. The tars and other byproducts become a daily coat of new paint to the walls that inhabit the smoking populace.

I know there’s another side to this coin though. There are those that cannot picture their favorite dives without that endearing smoke screen that reduces cross-room vision. There are those that think this ban is ridiculous and will injure the charm and relaxation-factor of our local restaurant flavor. I say to them, with my newly lowered second-hand smoker’s voice, ‘get over it!’. Go smoke at home. Go smoke outside. You want local flavor? Once smoke has been banned from the restaurants, you’ll actually be able to taste your food….and so will I. Finally.

What’s ridiculous is not this ban, but this diversion people are creating about the negative impact it will have on them if the ban passes. I’m so sorry that it will decrease your frequency of lighting up whenever and whereever you want, even if it is 6 inches from my face. I agree that you have the right to smoke if that is what you want to do. But please don’t forget that my right to breathe is just as valid. We all have the right to be in public places too. So let’s find a compromise that honors all of our rights. We can all enjoy fried shrimp quesadillas at Tin Roof. And you can enjoy your cig - outside.

So what say YOU, Nashville? Who’s coughing with me, and who’s smoking against me?

It was a good run at number one for the Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team, but it all came to an end last night in the 10th inning. Ace pitcher David Price gave up a home run and lost his first game of the season last night, all when it counted the most and the Commodores lost 4-3 to Michigan.

The Commodores had trailed most of the game, before tying things up in the bottom of the eighth. The Commodores stranded several baserunners in the game, a problem that has plagued them in games they’ve struggled in or lost this year.

Obviously, the team and fans are devestated by this loss. Vanderbilt had been ranked the number one team in the country for most of the season. Coach Tim Corbin said the team had put out goals for themselves–win the SEC regular season, win the SEC tourney, win their regional, win their super regional and win the Collge World Series. Only two of those goals were met.

That said, the team had a great season. They helped Nashville host its first ever regional tournament and I’m sure they got a lot of local fans buzzing about the team, esp. yesterday with the do or die nature of the single elimination game.

It may take a while for the sting of this one to wear off, but I bet in a few days or weeks, Vanderbilt fans will look back on this as a special and memorable season.

And I’m sure a DVD of the season will be hitting the Commodore bookstore any day now…

That thing I am referencing would be grease.

Sure, I know it’s a southern staple, but does it HAVE to be Tennessee’s sixth major food group? And does it HAVE to make everything taste better? I don’t know about the former, but unfortunately, the latter is absolutely true.

Last weekend I helped celebrate a friend into his 31st year by sharing all-things-fried at Cock of the Walk. When I say “all things fried”, I am not exaggerating. Fried pickles. Fried catfish. Fried shrimp. Fried chicken. Fried fries (of the french kind). I had a brown dinner. There was nothing green (sure, the pickles started out green, but who could tell under all the tempura?), there was nothing red. There wasn’t even anything slightly yellow. All brown. All fried. All the time. Mmmm…

Don’t get me wrong. It was gerd (an emphatic ‘good’; so good it needs to be pronounced differently). But I’m a healthy kind of girl, and fried foods make my belly sad. So I can only take so much when it comes to southern cooking.

Oh, and if you’re wondering if there’s a seventh southern food group, the answer is yes.

It is sweet tea. And they have that too. Brown, again. But of course.

After stumbling Saturday night (in a game that ended extremely late due to a three-hour rain delay), the Vanderbilt Commodores are still alive in their quest to reach Omaha and the College World Series.

Vandy lost Saturday night to Michigan, then came back yesterday and eliminated Austin Peay (who gave them a heck of game Friday night) and then beat Michigan in the night cap. Michigan and Vanderbilt square off today in the ultimate elimination game at 6 p.m. CST at Hawkins Field. It should be interesting to see how this unfolds.

Meanwhile, over to the east, the UT Lady Vols softball team has reached the finals of the Women’s College World Series. The Lady Vols are undefeated so far in the competition, with pitcher Monica Abbott doing a brilliant job as usual. The Lady Vols are just two wins away from claiming their first national title in softball.

Should the Lady Vols win and Vandy win the College World Series, do you realize that pretty much all of the national titles in major college sports would reside with SEC teams? And that there would be three of five reigning champions right here in the Volunteer State? (Shoot, you can add a fourth in there since Vandy won a national title in bowling earlier this year.)

If nothing else, this just shows the superiority of SEC sports to the rest of the nation. No if’s and’s or but’s.

After the big hit that was last Thursday’s post on Songs About Nashville, I got to thinking… maybe I should do a post on movies made in Nashville. So I googled “movies filmed in Nashville”, and much to my chagrin, I got nothin’. Well almost nothing. I got one hit.

Apparently there was a movie made in 1975 called…none other than…Nashville. It was filmed in Nashville and features, what I’ve read to be, a great climactic ending, on the lawn of Centennial Park’s Parthenon. I found this a couple of days ago, and only just now thought anything about renting and watching it. So I swung by Movie Gallery yesterday, and not too surprisingly, they did not have it. Not completely defeated in my search, I conceded to try Hollywood Video - they have EVERYTHING! Right? Wrong. At this point I was getting really hungry for my lunch which was taunting me in the passenger’s seat of my car (Emily…you are sooo hungry….and I am sooo gooood and yummy….), and even though Blockbuster was right across the street, I opted to postpone my quest in favor of satisfying my urge to survive. Besides, Blockbuster wasn’t going to have anyways. Probably.

So here’s my question for anyone who can help me: Where can I find this movie?? Is it out of circulation? Or is it just so popular that it happens to be unavailable at two major rental locations on the same day?

Also, has anyone seen this movie? And if so, is it worth searching for on an empty, cranky, growly stomach? Emily….you must find this movie….it is soooo goood and you need material for your blog soooo baaad….

I saw in the paper today that there is another potential theme park looking to move into the middle Tennessee area. This begs the question–how many theme parks does middle Tennessee really need?

I understand that these parks will bring in revenue from tourism dollars as well as jobs to the local community. And I’m all for that.

But it seems to me that having two located close together in Rutherford County is going to be counterproductive. Not to mention how it’s just going to snarl the traffic patterns in and around the county.

I like growth, but I think it should be growth that is planned and though through.

I realize that this isn’t necessarily an issue that will directly impact the lives of everyone in Nashville, but it will have a definite impact on the lives of many people living here in middle Tennesse.

y’all: Used to address two or more people at once. Contraction; literal translation, “you all”.

Used properly in a sentence, “Do y’all want to eat here or go out?”

Questionable usage of the word, “Thank y’all for all these nice gifts!”

Y’all have a nice weekend now!

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.