Hey everyone! I hope you had a marvelous week right before the Christmas Holiday! It feels kind of weird having Christmas and NYE on a Monday (and honestly kinda sucks), but it’s always a super fun time to be with those you care about.
I know I’ve spent countless times in these intros absolutely ripping into the Saints and fantasy football (both of them lost in the last week), but I’m going to refrain from that for now and get onto the blog so you don’t read an entire tirade of mine. So, let’s dive into my 12th installation of city reviews.
Overview
As always, we’ll ask Chat GPT to provide us with a quick overview of Nashville:
Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee, is renowned as the heart of the country music industry, earning it the nickname "Music City, U.S.A." Home to the famous Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and numerous honky-tonks, Nashville attracts millions of music lovers each year. The city's vibrant music scene is deeply woven into its cultural fabric, featuring live performances, recording studios, and music festivals that celebrate its rich musical heritage.
Beyond music, Nashville boasts a diverse and dynamic cultural landscape, characterized by its historic landmarks, such as the Hermitage, the estate of President Andrew Jackson, and the full-scale replica of the Parthenon. The city is also known for its culinary scene, including its signature hot chicken, bustling arts community, and numerous parks and greenways. With its blend of southern tradition and modern innovation, Nashville continues to thrive as a center for music, culture, and artistic expression.
Activities: 9/10
Favorite Activity: Live Music, Predators Game
As I’ve mentioned twice in this blog already, Nashville is THE place for live music in the U.S. of A. Thus, naturally, going to concerts and music festivals is one of the most popular things to do, and it ranges from going to see a country music star in Nissan Stadium (Stapleton is my preference) to seeing a local artist at your neighborhood restaurant or bar. The only band I would not recommend is the Futurebirds who I went to see while I was in Nashville (nothing terrible, but I just think they’re very mid…sorry Adele and any other SEC girl who thinks they’re incredible).
Sports are also a hot commodity in Nashville, with the city boasting NFL (Titans), NHL (Predators), and MLS (Nashville FC) teams. The city rallies behind their NHL and MLS teams in particular. Even amidst the Preds going down 5-0 after just two periods, the city of Smashville (which is a big Preds term) still supported them. Furthermore, while I wasn’t able to attend a game as their season was over, I have a friend (shoutout to Colton) who works for the club and says that the Nissan stadium gets remarkably full for the games.
Similar to New Orleans, I would say that while Nashville is a fairly small city in the grand scheme of things, you’ll never find yourself without something to do. Thus, if you’re looking to go to a city that feels a little more homey while still giving you a plentiful amount of activities, Nashville is a great spot for you.
Landmarks/Neighborhoods/Areas: 7.5/10
Most Iconic Landmarks: Parthenon, Ryman Auditorium
In terms of landmarks, there are tons of places on Broadway that are famous for a myriad of reasons (mostly famous performances or obscene alcohol consumption). The most famous landmark is probably the Ryman Auditorium, which has been open for more than a century and has hosted almost every big name that has come through the city. Right next to Broadway is the Batman building (or AT&T Building), which is perfect as the drunk citizens and tourists on Broadway always know they have their watchful protector just overhead.
My favorite landmark though is the Parthenon, which is a full-scale replica of the one located in Athens, Greece smack in the middle of Centennial Park, which is right next to Vanderbilt’s campus (I’m a big Greek mythology fan, and recently bought Disney+ solely to watch the new Percy Jackson TV show).
In terms of different neighborhoods and areas of town, I stayed in The Nations, which is a pretty fast-growing area with lots of young adults and families moving there, prompting a bunch of restaurants and bars to open up nearby. Other areas I enjoyed included The Gulch & East Nashville, but my favorite was probably 12 South, which is very similar, but much shorter, than Magazine St. in New Orleans, for any NOLA or Tulane kids reading the blog.
Food: 7/10
Favorite Restaurants: Hattie B’s, Assembly Food Hall
Local Delicacy: Nashville Hot Chicken
One of the first recommendations I got while on my travels happened back in January when I was told I had to try Hattie B’s for their Nashville Hot Chicken (the local delicacy). Even with lots of expectations and anticipation for almost an entire year, the dish delivered, and was one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life.
My favorite place to go eat in Nashville though was Assembly Food Hall, which is located on Broadway. It’s an upscale food court with a bunch of local restaurants, such as the Pharmacy Burger. Just to get a good idea about how big the Assembly Food Halls is, there is literally a sky bridge within the place.
However, that’s about where it ends in terms of food in Nashville. While I had some other great meals, including great pizza (Midnight Oil) and even good ramen (Bearded Iris) in Nashville, Nashville is far from what I would consider a foodie city. While I never had a bad dish, it was mostly just good, and not spectacular.
Nightlife/Social Scene: 9/10
Favorite Venues: Printer’s Alley
Similar to New Orleans, Broadway nightlife is generally classified by one place, and one place only: Broadway St. I have to say, that Broadway is one of the most ridiculous (in a good way) places that I have ever been to in my entire life. There are bars with escalators in them…like what? My favorite part about Broadway (and nightlife in Nashville generally) is the sheer amount of live music that you’ll find everywhere you go. For someone who is not a fan of the club vibe, and doesn’t drink, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sticking with the New Orleans analogy, Printer’s Alley was also one of my favorite places I checked out, which I consider sort of the Frenchman St. of Nashville (aka, close to the main attraction, but more local and less touristy feeling). Also, this was very particular to the time of year, but I did go to this event called Martinis & Mistletoe which raised money for a charity and was basically just an event for young adults to dress up and get crunk. I stuck more to the donuts and peppermint bark than the free drinks, but still loved it.
Lastly, as mentioned earlier, you can find a concert to go to almost every night of the week in Nashville, so you can easily spend any night of the year doing that. Overall, I fully understand why Nashville seems like the bridesmaid’s capital of the country: cause it’s really fun.
History & Culture: 8.5/10
Having been founded in 1779 and made the permanent capital of Tennessee in 1843, Nashville boasts a deep Southern history with it being the first significant location to fall under Union control in the Civil War, and being one of the centers of the Civil Rights movement in the 50s and 60s. The only main historic place I visited was the Country Music Hall of Fame, which outlines how Nashville became the hub of Country music with the establishment of the Grand Ole Opry in 1925.
In terms of the culture, Nashville has the Southern hospitality vibe that I know and love, but similar to Austin, has felt the impact of tons of people from the North East and West Coasts moving there. Not saying this is a good or bad thing per se (although some locals would probably have a strong opinion on it), but it’s a change.
Natural Beauty and Outdoor Spaces: 8/10
Out of all the places I’ve been to this year, this category will be the toughest to judge for Nashville since I was there in December, and people weren’t necessarily itching to go outside in the cold. Nonetheless, we will persevere.
Within the city, there are a solid amount of parks to visit and walk around, such as Centennial Park which boasts the Parthenon, as mentioned earlier. There’s also the Cumberland River, which runs through the middle of the city and offers a bunch of fun activities like paddleboarding and kayaking. Further outside the city, there are also state parks with a bunch of hiking locations created by the rolling hills.
There’s also plenty of golf courses in the area for any of the Alliance Bernstein finance bros (shoutout Harrison) or anyone else who enjoys getting their golf on. Overall, it Nashville doesn’t come close to a city like Denver, but you can still get your fill of outdoorsyness in Nashville if your heart and soul requires it.
Transportation: 8/10
Given its relatively small size as a city, there isn’t much to boast about Nashville in terms of public transportation, and it’s a place where a car is needed unless you’re a bridesmaid on Broadway helping operate one of the pedal bars. However, driving in and around the city wasn’t much of a hassle for the most part, and I felt that even a drive from The Nations (West side) to East Nashville was fairly easy.
However, one funny conversation I will mention was one with my Uber Driver after I arrived back in Nashville from NYC (work trip), where he mentioned that the quality of driver over the past few years has went down significantly with a bunch of new people moving in. While it’s been a joke of mine this year that every city says they have the worst drivers, I’ll give the driver props that he accurately predicted three times that a car was going to merge lanes without their blinker on. Game respects game.
People: 8.5/10
As mentioned, the Southern hospitality that the people of Nashville shows is fantastic, and is one of my favorite traits in any person I meet. Aside from just the locals, you’ll also find a ton of people from other areas of the South in Nashville. Specifically for young adults, there are tons (and I mean tons) of SEC kids from UGA, Bama, Vandy (obviously), etc. and other Southern school who are there.
If you’re someone who went to a Southern school, it’ll be incredibly easy to meet people, and it feels like you almost always have one mutual friend with someone. However, if you did not go to a Southern school, such as Tulane (it’s in the South but not a Southern school), you will need to work harder to meet new people to be honest.
As mentioned (again…fell like I’ve done that a ton in this blog), there are also a bunch of people from other areas of the country who are starting to move to Nashville, which some of the locals aren’t fans of, but typically, these “outsiders” that I met were pretty nice and fun people.
Overall: 8.2/10
It's clear why this city has garnered affection and admiration from visitors and locals alike. Nashville isn't just a city; it's a vibrant tapestry of music, history, and culture, seamlessly blending the traditional charm of the South with the dynamic buzz of modern urban life. Whether it's the soul-stirring rhythms of country music, the sizzling taste of hot chicken, or the picturesque beauty of its parks and rivers, Nashville offers an experience that resonates deep and lingers long. It's a city where every street, every venue, and every face has a story, inviting you to become a part of its ongoing narrative. As the city continues to evolve, embracing new trends while honoring its roots, one thing remains constant: Nashville's warm embrace, ready to welcome all who wander into its melody-rich, history-laden, and hospitality-heavy fold.
Thanks for reading the 12th and FINAL city review as part of my 12 Cities, 12 Months journey! This isn’t my final sign off yet, as I plan to write a more comprehensive blog reviewing my past year next week. I may eventually write one about NOLA just to see if it stacks up (lmk if you’d like to see that). Otherwise, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Holiday filled with presents, friends & family, and most importantly, Pillsbury santa & Christmas tree sugar cookies.
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