Nashville, TN
#Sorrynotsorry I LOVE MY FREAKING JOB!! #automotivejournalist
That is the main reason for starting this blog and creating my brand. What drives you. Why spend your life doing things that don’t make you happy? Life is too short.
So… Work this week took me to Nashville Tennessee to drive the new Infiniti Q50 – You can check out my review on DrivingTelevision.com or wheels.ca. This blog is going to talk about what a great city Nashville is.
Work paid for my plane ticket there and back as well as 2 nights in an incredible hotel… I wanted to stay longer so I flew down a few days early and slummed it in a hostel.
But honestly, this hostel was far from a slum. The Nashville Downtown Hostel was, you guessed it, right down town. Close to bars, coffee shops, restaurants, shopping and more music than you can imagine! www.nashvilledowntownhostel.com. Clean, quiet and professionally run. I give it 5 stars and other than cheap, thin uncomfortable mattresses. But really, what else would you expect for $25USD a night?
I walked to Acme Feed & Seed for dinner the first night where I enjoyed great food, friendly service and a live band. A couple beer and I headed to BB King’s Blues Club and of course, had to check out Coyote Ugly. I made friends every where I went and was tired when I crept back into my bunkbed at the hostel.
Pintrest and Google gave me several lists of things ‘you must see and experience when in Nashville’ and I did my best to do as much as I could. Breakfast was biscuits at Loveless Cafe and lunch was hot chicken at Hattie B’s and by 3pm the thought of dinner was the farthest thing from my mind. Thank god! Because tonight I hoped into an UBER and made my way to the Bluebird Cafe. I had no idea that it was famous because of a TV show (Nashville, I think it is called?) I only knew that it was the MUST SEE venue for new and upcoming musicians.
I waited in line for almost 2 hours. Some nights you could buy tickets the week before but not tonight. I met some awesome women from NYC and being single, was able to grab a great seat in between two couples. What. A. Night. I am not a music person, don’t get me wrong, I love music but I will admit that I didn’t fully appreciate what I had stumbled onto that night. The reason for the line up was the expectation of a local legend. The Bluebird is small and intimate and though I had no idea who the guy was, I felt like I was in private party for me and a few of friends. #Worththewait
Did I mention all the phenomenal food? The cheap little Sun Diner down the street from the hostel became my nightly stop; fried chicken and waffles (with gravy AND syrup). It looks disgusting but tasted delicious. My second night here and the waitress remembered me.
Now… I had to get work!
Staying at the 21c Museum Hotel was an experience of its own. A 24hour museum with art displayed in the lobby, hallways and even in the elevators. Funky, fun and incredibly helpful staff. I was a bit drunk wandering the art filled hallway one evening and the kind staff humoured me and engaged in great conversations.
Etch Restaurant www.etchrestaurant.com managed to accommodate the large group of journalists and the food was exquisite! My favourites had to be the Roasted Cauliflower with truffled pea pesto, salted almonds and feta dip and desert. As a regular reader to my blog, you will know I have a tiny bit of a sweet tooth (ok maybe a massive sweet tooth) The Chocolate Hazelnut Mouse – dark chocolate hazelnut mouse, milk chocolate crunch, caramelized hazelnut and morello cherry was TO DIE FOR – I had three. Yes. I could have died and been a very happy woman.
I went to bars and shopped and ate more food. I drove the Infiniti through some breathtaking scenery.
Even if you are not a music fan, you will find something in this city attached to music that will mean something to you. For me it was the memories of my dad. He loved country music and was listening to it in his work van and garage every day. From Dolly Parton to Elvis Presley music was a big thing in our home. The music walk of fame directly across from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a free way to enjoy some of Nashvilles biggelst legends.
Nashville is one of the few places I can honestly say I would like to go back. Normally, I say see a city once, do everything you possibly can so that next time you can go someplace else. I think I Nashville is a city that would take a whole month to see, do, listen and eat everything worth enjoying.
From an inexpensive hostel and diner to a 5 start hotel and fine dinning, my experience in Nashville was flawless. I can’t wait to go back.
