Nashville: A City of Music and Menus

Cynthia Dial

Signage connected the brownish non-descript doorway read, “Grand Ole Opry Stage Door” – the entranceway I walked done during a show of Nashville’s astir renowned philharmonic production. Immediately to the close was an encased-in-glass show – Dolly Parton’s reddish bedazzled pantsuit worn connected March 16, 1974, opening nighttime of this Grand Ole Opry House. Around the country was a slope of numbered Opry-member mailboxes (note: Keith Urban’s PO box, #176, overflowed with the astir correspondence).

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Of the 18 backstage dressing rooms, each were themed differently; but successful those occupied, each had guitars and their cases. Among highlighted quotes recovered connected assorted walls: “My dada ever said, ‘You know, nary substance what awards you win, you haven’t made it until you get to play the Opry.’”– Eddie Montgomery. And from Taylor Swift –“Oh, my God, I’m connected the Opry!”

The last candle connected this one-of-a-kind barroom was lasting successful the wings to ticker the show – live. Only successful Nashville, I thought. So true, lone successful Nashville.

Tip: The VIP Backstage Experience offers an up-close-and-personal Grand Ole Opry brushwood (complete with a idiosyncratic invited from a performer, on-stage seating and more).

Cynthia Dial

A BIT OF BACKGROUND

Nashville overflowed with milestones and superlatives – location to the globe’s longest moving vigor show, the “Grand Ole Opry” (centennial anniversary: November 28, 2025); the world’s astir euphony museums; 1 of the country’s oldest moving letterpress poster shops – Hatch Show Print (owned and operated by the Country Music Hall of Fame) and a 1.2 million-square-foot normal halfway distinguished by its guitar-shaped roof.

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MUSEUM MECCA

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the Smithsonian of Country Music, and overmuch similar the Smithsonian’s imperishable show of First Ladies’ inaugural gowns, were displays of iconic costumes – from Taylor Swift outfits to Hank Williams’ custom-made boots. Advice fixed to maine from a section was to commencement connected the apical level (fourth level), enactment my mode down and leisurely locomotion from 1 accumulation to different – ever to music.

Tip: Don’t miss Elvis’s gold-plated car.

Ryman Auditorium, a National Historic Landmark known arsenic the “Mother Church of Country Music,” was the astir celebrated location of the Grand Ole Opry (1943-1974). Staging much than 200 shows annually, an on-site circuit replicated a sojourn into history.

Tip: To spot the Grand Ole Opry astatine the Ryman, spell successful December.

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While it was a small-ish museum, the Gallery of Iconic Guitars (located connected the Belmont University campus) showcased an awesome postulation of this stringed philharmonic instrument. At $400,000, the astir valued portion was the reddish 1980 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar. Hands-on, the depository offered the accidental to play 1 of six oregon truthful guitars that rotate each 3 to 4 months from a postulation of astir 50.

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The National Museum of African American Music was located little than 2 miles from Jefferson Street, Music City’s long-ago halfway for rock’n’roll and bushed and blues – deliberation specified luminaries arsenic Etta, Aretha and Otis. Dedicated to the galore philharmonic categories influenced by African Americans, interactive exhibits allowed visitors to bask their favourite genre. My pick: Motown.

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MENU, PLEASE

A sojourn to the archetypal Pancake Pantry seemed a blast to the past (specifically 1961, the twelvemonth of the diner’s inception). Known for 23 varieties of scratch-made pancakes (including specified flavors arsenic peanut food with cocoa chips and cinnamon roll), each were extraordinarily airy and fluffy.

Tip: It would beryllium a mistake to place the lukewarm cinnamon pick syrup, adjacent successful the coffee.

“Guys, however we doing? Doing good?” asked Khalil Arnold of customers astatine Arnold’s Country Kitchen. As the astir iconic of the city’s “meat-and-three” eateries (translation: a Southern contented of 1 nutrient accompanied by 3 sides), Arnold shared his champion compliment: “You marque happening we don’t similar sensation good,” successful notation to specified veggies arsenic turnip greens.

Tip: Ask Arnold to stock the communicative of Dolly Parton’s impromptu rendition of “Jolene” for a young lawsuit of the aforesaid name.

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Under the helm of personage chef/James Beard Award semi-finalist, Arnold Myint, the cuisine of International Market has been recognized by the Royal Thai Government. A weekly-changing paper influenced from his mother’s recipes, not to beryllium missed was the matriarch’s Miang Kham Lettuce Wraps. 

Assembly Food Hall, conscionable disconnected Lower Broadway – a postulation of 30-plus casual eateries, 9 uniquely themed bars, 2 full-service restaurants and 3 unrecorded show stages – presented a delicious practice of the city’s assortment of cultures.

Tip: Try the regionally-beloved banana pudding astatine Honeyfire Barbeque Co., the watermelon margarita astatine Agave Maria and for a premier sit-down meal, spell to Sixty Vines (note: the patio features a premium presumption of the Ryman Auditorium).

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Folk – Located successful East Nashville, a vicinity agelong known for its quirky vibe, it’s go the turf of nationally recognized chefs and James Beard recognition. This restaurant’s specialties are pizzas and veggie-forward plates. And the tiramisu (caramel, amaro, java and chocolate) proved an addictive finale.

Henrietta Red, a Germantown treasure headed up by Chef Julia Sullivan has acquired a estimation done designation by specified prestigious pubs as GQ and Food & Wine. It featured a earthy barroom and served up shared plates. Standouts included seared scallops and risotto with Carolina Gold rice, walnut and celeriac.

Tip: A metropolis known for its Nashville blistery chickenhearted (chicken coated successful a cayenne-based condiment and served astatine assorted levels of ‘heat’), the fieriest offering astatine Hattie B’s is named Shut the Cluck Up. Paying homage to the favourite flavor, Poppy & Peep – a handcrafted chocolatier – has the Nashville Hot Chicken cocoa bar, made with the aforesaid seasoning arsenic Prince’s (another noted purveyor of the city’s celebrated blistery chicken).

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ONE SIP AT A TIME

The outdoor, rooftop patio barroom of Rosemary & Beauty Queen, again successful East Nashville – located successful an old, yellowish location – was a existent find arsenic a post-dinner stop.

Tip: To champion enjoy, drawback a ‘swing’ (no typo) spot astatine the bar, bid a House Old Fashioned, sip and twirl away.

Though conscionable blocks from the vigor of the 30-plus Honky-Tonks of Lower Broadway, Nashville Barrell Company Distillery and Whiskey Bar seemed a satellite away. In summation to serving up whiskey, moonshine and vino tastings, each were accompanied by a dose of wit – whether it was the acquisition of a vessel of whiskey with one’s ain photograph connected the statement oregon the saying, successful neon, “Trust me, you tin dance” – Whiskey.

Jackalope Brewing Co. featured astir 30 handcrafted beers (they alteration seasonally), a dog-friendly patio and a amusive vibe (signage astatine the bar: “We I.D. Y’all!”). Under the guidance of co-owner, Bailey Spaulding, this was the city’s archetypal brewery to tin its brew (2013).  

Cynthia Dial

BACK TO MUSIC

After a due instauration to Nashville, reminders of its knack for storytelling appeared similar situation sound. Anthem Entertainment gave the accidental to witnesser the songwriting process of producer/songwriter Phil Barton. As co-creator of the Lee Brice hit, “A Woman Like You” (once described arsenic “what each feline wants to accidental and what each miss wants to hear”), Barton’s penetration – fixed successful his down-to-earth benignant – was straightforward. “Going into an appointment, you ever anticipation idiosyncratic conscionable had their bosom broken.” And erstwhile helium honored a petition to play the award-winning tune, the absorption was applause – from those of america successful the room, adjacent those successful the lobby.

STANDING OVATION!

In the end, my intro to Nashville, a metropolis wherever euphony is here, determination and everywhere, presented a perfecta – toed tapping, wont forming and . . . mouth-watering.

So, bon appétit y’all.