Activities & Attractions

ENTERTAINMENT

From quiet listening rooms to high-energy dance floors to live stage shows like those at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, you can experience the true music of Music City all over town. Whatever your choice, you're sure to find the city's nightlife hits all the right notes.

B.B. King's Blues Club & Restaurant
www.bbkingbluesclub.com

Enjoy live music and favorite dishes such as seafood gumbo, fried pickles, "Memphis Style," ribs and southern fried catfish plus delicious desserts.

BlueBird Cafe
www.bluebirdcafe.com

The Bluebird Cafe is Nashville's best loved live music venue, featuring up and coming as well as hit songwriters. We are a listening room where the music is the most important thiing. The food is good, too.

Douglas Corner Cafe
www.douglascorner.com

For over 20 years, Douglas Corner has been one of Nashville's premier live music and showcase venues. An industry haunt where established artists, songwriters and up-and-comers gather. Has in-house studio and production facility.

Fuel
www.fuelsecondavenue.com

Live music nightly. Featuring the best bands and concerts in Nashville. Comfortable atmosphere including the largest tequila bar in Nashville.

Layla's Bluegrass Inn
www.laylasbluegrassinn.com

Layla's Bluegrass Inn is right in the middle of the famous honky tonks of Honky Tonk Highway, offering much more than just Bluegrass music! Layla's is home to country, hillbilly, rockabilly, western, americana, bluegrass, newgrass and many different styles appealing to music fans from all over the world! Many well known performers have graced the stage at Layla's Bluegrass Inn including: BR549, Hank Williams III, Th' Legendary Shackshakers, Drive-By-Truckers, Gail Davies, Chris Scruggs, and Ralph Stanley to name a few.

Legends Corner
www.legendscorner.com

Live music all day and night. Check out the vast collection of music memorabilia including instruments from around the world and hundreds of record albums on the wall.

Paradise Park Trailer Resort
www.myspace.com/paradiseparknashville

A little bit country, a little bit rock, always sure to be a good time, Paradise Park is a great place to relax, sip a tallboy, enjoy the kitschy trailer park decor and rock out to live music all the time. Located on the pulse of Lower Broad, Paradise Park is home of the $6 pitcher of beer and the best burgers in town.

The Big Bang
www.thebigbangbar.com

The Big Bang is a rock & roll duleing piano bar featuring a high-energy, all-request piano show seven days a week.

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge
www.tootsies.net

The legendary Tootsie's Orchid Lounge had famous early customers including Kris Kristofferson, Faron Young, Willie Nelson, Tom T. Hall, Hank Cochran, Mel Tillis, Roger Miller, Webb Pierce, Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline and many more.

Wildhorse Saloon
www.wildhorsesaloon.com

This famous diding and entertainment hot spot features three floors of action packed fun. You'll hear the hottest bands, enjoy delicious dining and learn the latest dance steps on the largest dance floor in town! With five bars under one roof, it's always a party at the Wildhorse.

ATTRACTIONS

The very name evokes vivid images-a single spot-light illuminating a microphone...skyscrapers towering protectectivley over the Mother Church of Country Music... stately Southern mansions... a Greek temple sitting serenely on a grassy knoll. the area's many attractions paint a pitcture of this unique Southern city and leave an indelible impression on all who visit.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
www.countrymusichalloffame.com

Do more than hear the music. See it. Live it. Experience it. This isn't just a museum; it's an experience, an exciting and entertaining destination in Nashville with something for everyone. Rhinestone costumes, seasoned instruments and tear-stained lyric sheets are only the beginning. Add interactive exhibits, films featuring today's top country names, private sessions with professional songwriters, incredible architecture along with our famous southern hospitality, and a day at the museum turns into the memories of a lifetime.

Grand Ole Opry
www.opry.com

What began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 is today a live-entertainment phenomenon dedicated to honoring music's rich history and dynamic presen with a mix of country legends and the contemporary chart-toppers who have followed in their footsteps.

Ryman Auditorium
www.ryman.com

The Ryman Auditorium built in 1892 and designated a National Historic Landmark, offers the best in entertainment opportunities. By day, take a self guided museum tour or guided backstage guided tour. Record your own CD in the new Ryman Recording Studio! In the evening, return for a show or concert at this premier performance hall.

Tennessee State Museum
www.tnmuseum.org

Exhibits trace the history of Tennessee and the nation from prehistoric Indians through the Civil War into the early 1900's. The Tennessee State Museum offers special displays on quilts, silver, weapons, paintings and pottery.

Jack Daniels Distillery
www.jackdaniels.com

The Jack Daniels Distillery is the oldest registerd distillery in the United States and among the most prestigious listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors receive personally guided tours of the distillery and observe the famous whiskey-making process Jack Daniel perfected back in 1866.

Belle Meade Plantation
www.bellemeadeplantation.com

Once a renowned thoroughbred horse farm, Belle Meade Plantation was one of Nashville's largest and wealthiest private estates encompassing 5400 acres. The guided tour of the Mansion, with an abundance of original furnishings, encompasses both the first and second floor of the Antebellum home.

General Jackson Showboat
www.generaljackson.com

Climb aboard the General Jackson Showboat for a unique entertainment experience. This 300-foot paddle wheel riverboat cruises the Cumberland River offerinc fantastic shows and delicious meals. Special event cruises are offered throughout the year. Holiday shows begin mid-November.

PRO SPORTS
Tennessee Titans
www.titansonline.com

The Tennessee Titans play in one of the NFL's most beautiful stadiums, LP Field (formerly The Coliseum), and feature stars such as Kerry Collins and Vince Young. After winning the AFC South a year ago, the Titans look for a repeat, including a Sunday, December 13, home game versus St. Louis.

Nashville Predators
www.nhl.com/predators

The NHL's Nashville Predators look to improve on a last-place division finish a year ago. Scheduled home games during the week of the convention include: Dec. 8 vs Canucks, Dec. 10 vs Blue Jackets, and Dec. 12 vs Red Wings.

AREAS OF TOWN
8th Avenue South

Not far from downtown, antique stores line both sides of Eighth Avenue South. A collector's haven, the area has become known as premier antiques district. Monthly, a local auction house in the center of the district at Douglas Corner opens its doors for one night of auctioning mayhem to a standing room only crowd.

Many diners converge on Eighth Avenue for Southern cooking at Arnold's Country Kitchen. Open for breakfast and lunch, Arnold's serves some of the very best three; this style of restaurant refers to the meals served for one price-a choice of meat plus three vegetables. Proprietor Jack Arnold stands behind the buffet counter and barks your order as you slide through the long line. One caveat: the seating is family-style, so you may have to share a table.

The best comedians in the world frequent Nashville's only comedy venue, Zanies Comedy Night Club, located at Douglas Corner. For more than two decades, Zanies has been making Nashville laugh with headliners like Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Tim Allen, Jeff Foxworthy and Paula Poundstone. Performers appear Wednesday through Sunday. Zanies offers non-smoking shows, is an 18 and older crowd and requires a two-item food or drink minimum.

Across the street from Zanies is Douglas Corner Cafe, one of Nashville's most popular listening venues. The venue boasts live music six nights a week ranging from country to rock to Americana, and many of the early shows have no cover charge. On some evenings, the stage is even disregarded when songwriters pull up chairs and perform "in the round" in the midst of the audience.

12SOUTH

One of Nashville's newest neighborhoods, 12South is the up-and-coming place to live and socialize. With the city investing in sidewalks and street lighting, 12South has begun to take shape over the last several years. You can grab coffee, score some new guitar strings, stock up on garden mulch and grab a bite to eat all in the course of an afternoon on foot. Start a unique shopping adventure at Katy K's Ranch Dressing, a one-of-a-kind boutique, offering vintage Manuel suits and spangled gowns by Nudies of Hollywood. Crammed into this tiny store, customers can look through designer cowboy boots, belt buckles, cowboy hats, and Western shirts - all cleverly called "Ranch Dressing." You know you are there when you see the shapely cowgirl cutout on the buildings stone facade. Shop for electric housewares at Sadie B. and 12th South Mercantile or for music and music accessories at the Corner Music Store. After walking around this charming neighborhood, pamper yourself in one of the chic salons like Trim Classic Barbar or Suite 1.

Not many neighborhoods have as mandy standout restaurants as 12South. Mirror was one of the area's first and has been a leader in martini trends and chic environments. Looking to introduce new foods, drinks, and events to the neighborhood, Mirror continues to cater to the expanding and changing clientele. Rumour's Art & Wine Bar is a full-fledged wine bar with a small but excellent menu that compliments the wine. With an expansive patio and hip ambience, Rumours has been the perfect addition to the neighborhood. Mafiaoza's Pizzeria & Neighborhood Pub is located in the heart of the 12South district, and it fits right into the bustling neighborhood. With the slogan "Welcome to the Family," you know you'll feel at home in this Godfather themed restaurant. In an obscure, unmarked building on the south side of the district, many have found a rare treat: Las Palletas, an authentic Mexican popsicle shop, make fruit and vegetables popsicles from old family recipes. Stripped bare of any accessories, two stand-alone freezers seperate the customers from the two sisters who own the shop, and a chalkboard with the flavors of the day is the only menu in the store. Don't be afraid to try and unusual flavor like avocado.

East Nashville

East Nashville is home to several historic neighborhoods that are finding themselves in the midst of renaissance. Its low-key vibe and neighborly personality make this community a great place to escape without leaving town. Although over 600 structures were destroyed in the great East Nashville Fire of 1916, the area still boasts an eclectic mixture of antebellum buildings. Historic Edgefield is one of only two locally zoned "historic preservations districts," requiring that all new construction, additions, demolition, alterations and fences be approved by the Metro Historical Commission, giving the neighborhood a timeless feel. Additionally, the area has been featured on the HGTV network during Bob Vila's "America" and in HGTV's "Our Place" series. The Lockeland Springs Historic Neighborhood is a turn-of-the-century streetcar suburb two miles northeast of downtown Nashville. The tornado of 1998 ripped through this historic neighborhood destroying or damaging at least 300 homes, but the neighborhood has rebounded stronger than ever with renovations, additions and new construction.

Edgefield and Lockeland Springs are linked by a bustling retail area known as Five Points. Several restaurants, a coffeehouse, hardware store, city library and neighborhood watering hole anchor this thriving area that is seeing more and more commercial investment each month. Within East Nashville, sports enthuiasts frequent the Edgefield Sports Bar and Grille.

A taste of New Orleans and great live music can be found at the French Quarter Cafe. For folks cracing delicious soups or a sandwich for lunch, take a trip to Edgefield's Tolar House Bakery. Radio Cafe, truly an urban pioneer, is open for special music events. For a taste of old Mexico, visit the Rosepepper Cantina, where guests may find themselves being serenaded by a Mariachi band. Goodies are baked fresh each day at Sweet 16th, a great local bakery that makes scones, muffins, cakes, and Mamarangues, a mixture of chocolate and toffee. Margot Cafe and Bar, housed in an antique gas station turned brick-and-timber gourmet restaurant, ahs quickly become one of Nashville's most outstanding restaurants.

Five Points is home to several galleries including the Art & Invention Gallery and adjoining studio, Garage Mahal. Having five to six shows annually, including the Holiday Artisan Show in December.

Elliston Place

Elliston Place is located just west of downtown near the Vanderbilt Univervisty campus and has a variety of options for dining and nighttime entertainment. As one of Nashville's young, trendy neighborhoods, small homes and cafes epitomize the tenants of the area. In the heart of the neighborhood is the Elliston Place Rock Block, a block-long section of Elliston Place that is home to six of the loudest nightclubs in town. The legendary Exit/In has played host to many of today's hit makers since 1971. This cornerstone of Elliston Place shows no signs of slowing down. The legendary Jimmy Buffet got his start at Exit/In shortly after it opened, as did the young comedian Steve Martin. For those with more alternative musical tastes, walk across the street to The End, a club firmly entrenched in Nashville's rock scene and definitely worth a listen.

There are also several bars on Elliston. The Corner Bar is unabashedly basic-good drinks, good pool, and good people. This place is a favorite among locals looking for a low-key night of simply hanging out. The Gold Rush doesn't claim to be a pool hall; actually it doesn't claim to be anything. This no-frills bar is a late-night hangout where many bands have been known to appear after their gigs at larger venues around town.

No trip to Elliston Place is complete without a stop at the Elliston Place Soda Shop. An institution for seven decades, Elliston is a meat-and-three favorite with a 1950's decor. Known for its fried chicken and milk shakes, this authentic old time soda fountain has a faithful following among the locals. A little further up the street is another local favorite with the same down home charm. Rotier's has been serving up the best cheeseburger for decades. Take your waiters' suggestion and try their burgers on French bread.

Germantown

One of Nashville's historic neighborhoods is bringing people closer to town to live and play. Germantown, so named because of the influx of German immigrants in the mid 19th Century, was Nashville's most architecturally heterogeneous neighborhoods, containing a significant concentration of Victorian building styles. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, the neighborhood now is being restored to its original grandeur.

Germantown Cafe specializes in straightforward traditional cooking with a subtle twist. Recently featured in Bon Appetit, this unpretentious restaurant serves bistro fare with the menu changing seasonally. Nearby is a restored Victorian home, Monell's is a staple of the Nashville food scene. A traditional mean-and-three restaurant, meals at Monell's are served family-style. Seated at tables of 10 or 12, patrons pass the bottonless bowls of fried chicken and hot rolls to the diner on their left. Get there early as Monell's doesn't accept reservations. Located down the street from Monell's is the Mad Platter Restaurant. With a menu that changes seasonally, this intimate and inviting restauant was one fo the first local cafes in Germantown. Guests are encouraged to try the signature dessert - Chocolate Elvis, a three layer terrine with dark and white chocolate ganache and Italian milk chocolate buttercream on an almond graham cracker crust.

Green Hills

An area that sports some of Nashville's most desirable homes. Green Hills also has its fair share of exciting destinations for a night out. The Bluebird Cafe has a national reputation as the place to be heard in Nashville if you want to make it as a songwriter. In this intimate setting you can witness a moment "in the round." In this format, three or four songwriters sit in a circle, sharing songs and the inspirations behind the music. This format has become an important part of the Bluebird Cafe's tradition. The audience is given a unique opportunity to hear original material from different points of view in a casual, comfortable environment. It's a chance to discover up-and-coming writers or to hear hits, new and old, from some of the best but interesting menu. The talent that has graced the Bluebird stage includes Garth Brooks, Michael McDonald and Faith Hill.

For the jazz lover, look no further than F. Scott's Restaurant and Jazz Bar. The restaurant has an award-winning menu, wine tastings every Monday and jazz nightly. F. Scott's serves contemporary American cuisine in a setting that combines the comfort and familiarity of a neighborhood restaurant with flair and sophistication. For the ultimate change in scenery, stop by the Greenhouse Bar. This place really is a greenhouse complete with hanging plants, gravel floor and fountain. Try one of thier specialty drinks or step up to the beautifully crafted bar for a beer. A few doors down from the Greenhouse are a couple of watering holes for the sports-minded patron. The Box Seat has TV's everywhere, so you won't miss your favorite team in action. It gets crowded on game days so arrive early.

Hillsboro Village

Conveniently located near Vanderbitl and Belmont Universities, Hillsboro Village is a collection of shops, boutiques and restaurants perfect for a day's stroll. A four-block radius with all the makings of its own village, this quaint Nashville neighborhood has rejuvenated the community and attracted young professionals for living and playing.

If hungry customers are hoping to rub elbows with Music Row execs or simply want to eat something from the extraordinary half-price late night menu, look no further than the venerable Sunset Grill. A long-time staple of Nashville's dining landscape, Sunset Grill offers a great wine menu, inspired entrees and a cool atmosphere. Across the street is the popular Cabana, a versatile restaurant and bar. This mellow restaurant morphs into an upscale hot spot with live music and DJ's in the evening. Behind Sunset Grill is the trendy Jackson's Bar and Bistro. Specializing in French Bistro style food as well as eclectic European fare, this neighborhood bistro encourages patrons to come as they are and be themselves. Across the street is arguably Nashville's most famous restaurant. A Nashville breakfast tradition, the Pancake Pantry boasts a menu with 21 pancake selections. Combining some surprising ingrediants with family flapjack recipes, the ending results are pancakes that melt in your mouth. (Try chocolate chip or sweet potato flavors.) Saturday and Sunday mornings are especially popular at the Pantry, and the waiting line usually wraps around the building down 21st Avenue. For Parisian-style fare, Provence Breads and Cafe offers gourmet sandwiches and decadent baked goods in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere.

In the center of the Village is one of Nashville's local breweries. Boscos brews handcrafted beer and has won many awards for its Tennessee original Flaming Stone beer. There are more beers on the menu, too, suited to every beer taste imaginable, plus a variety of pasta dishes, oven-fired pizzas and great sandwiches. Sam's Place is a fully fuctioning sports bar with great food. A bit younger crowd than at the other Village spots, Sam's is a place where patrons can feel comfortable dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Across the street from Sam's Plae is Fido. This funky coffeehous is the heart and sould of Hillsboro Village. Fido draws a mix of Vandy students, Music Row execs, musicians, and neighborhood locals. Coffee is the main attraction, but large sandwiches and all-day breakfasts are crowd pleasers.

Hillsboro Village may seem small, but unique boutiques and specialty stores abound. From industrial espresso makers to egg timers, Davis Cookware carries a myriad of kitchen items. BookMan/BookWoman Used Books offers more than 150,000 used volumes and a search service to help you find what you need. You can even turn trash into treasure at Nashville Lights, where almost anything can be made into a lamp.

Midtown

Every city seems to have a midtown, and nashville is not exception. The funny is, nobody here ever calls it that. If you were to ask a local where midtown is, you might receive some confused looks. But ask about places like South Street, Bound'ry or Virago, and they'll be able to tell you exactly how to get there. A Nashville favorite for years, South Street Original Crab Shack and Authentic Dive Bar is known by locals as simply South Street. This Cajun restaurant serves large portions, spicy entrees, seafood, and barbecue. With a 'convertible' dining room and an open upstairs called the Treehouse, South Street is perfect for a casual atmosphere on a warm southern night. A few doors down and a world away, the Bound'ry is one of Nashville's most unusual places to spend an evening. Dining at the Bound'ry is a true experience. The upscale global cuisine is delectable, and the restaurant itself is a work of art. The decor is best described as a Salvador Dali Painting gone wild. It is eclectic and beautiful at the same time, combining the five senses into one grand experience. The Broadway Brewhouse is a place for the true beer connoisseur with over 70 beers on tap and another100 or so in the coolers. Attatched to the Brewhouse is the very affordable Mojo Grill. Specializing in Cajun-inspired dishes that will fill your stomach without emptying your wallet.

One of the hottest spots in midtown is Virago. This resaurant is rather upscale with a very contemporary menu. Patrons can choose to lounge around the sushi bar for a more casual dining experience or sit in the main dining room surrounded by Paul McLean's artwork. Part sushi bar, part upscale restaurant, part late night cocktail lounge; Virago plays all of its roles well. Noshville is a New York-style deli that offers a broad menu of deli favorites like the Reuben and corned beef. Try one of the exceptionally large servings of dessert or the sour pickles found on every table. With a second location in Green Hills, Noshville brings a bit of the Big Apple to the Music City.

Sylvan Park

Southwest of downtown Nashville lies the quaint and quiet neighborhood of Sylvan Park, a beautiful setting with homes and businesses that run the gamut from funky to upscale. Here 1920's clapboard homes and 1930's stone bungalows look right at home together.

The neighborhood's namesake restaurant, Sylvan Park Restaurant has been serving Nashville residents old-fashioned Southern cooking for more than 50 years. The restaurant's continuing popularity is demonstrated by the proliferation of Sylvan Park restaurants around the city. Calld a "meat-and-three" this style of restaurant refers to the meals served for one price - a choice of meat plus three vegetables. Across the street, Caffe Nonna is a cozy, neighborhood Italian bistro. The cafe has an intimate ambience with servers who maneuver deftly between wooden tables. Next door is Park Cafe, comfortable and quirky; this fusion eatery serves creative dishes with influences from Asia, India, France and Italy. Known for its upscale dining, Park Cafe has become a top choice for many of Nashville's priminent faces.