Hello, denizens of Nashville! My name is Patrick and I am a 30 yr old musician/videographer/website guy in Columbus OH. Though I'd never heard of The Features before today, I like the music, and this seems like an active and fun message board. In particular, the Mix CD Swap is a fantastic idea, one that I will try to institute on a Columbus board in the future.

My reason for writing today is that my wife and I will be flying in to Nashville on Thursday, January 19th and leaving that Sunday, January 22nd. We just wanted a weekend getaway and I found a great price on a flight, and seeing as my beloved (yet pathetic) Blue Jackets would be playing the Preds that Saturday night, we went for it.

So, that being said, where's the cool part of town? What area should we try to find a hotel in that has walking distance to some cool rock&roll bars? Any awesome museums or exhibits or rock shows that weekend that I shouldn't miss? I'm not into country music so much...my favorite current bands are Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, and Beck. Are you in a band, and is there a gig that weekend? Can you link me some mp3s or a website? Basically, what's a guy and his gal to do for fun in your town?

Do you know of an awesome hotel that has great rates? My budget is ...on the cheap. Location is way more important than plush digs on this trip. Plus, the more money I save on a hotel, the more money I'll have left for beer. What time do bars close?

Thanks in advance for hooking me up with the info and some options!

Patrick

ps. I know that this is, like, 50 days away. I just wanted to start getting some feedback so I could plan this trip, and get better rates at hotels. I will bump this post when the trip gets nearer.

(Edited by plong at 1:00 pm on Nov. 29, 2005)

Josh Rouse is playing the belcourt theater on Jan 20th. He's really good if you're into the pop singer-songwriter thing. He used to be a Nashvillian, but apparently now he's a Spaniard.

Another good source of info is www.nashvillezine.com

Welcome to the board.

I'll get back to you on this.

Thanks, Jamie and Carl. I'll be here.

You should skip that game and go see the Features/Clutters/Feeble Weiner show on January 20th at MTSU (30 minutes from Nashville)!!!

Dude, you are sooooooooooo lucky.

I've got it, plong. Do you like college basketball? Vanderbilt vs Mississippi State is that Saturday (1/21) at 2:45pm at one of the most unique and storied venues in all of college athletics - Memorial Gym. I think it'd be a great experience, but then I'm kinda biased. And if you're really interested, perhaps I could let you have my pair of tickets, because it looks like I'm gonna be out of town that weekend.

As far as where to stay, I'd recommend somewhere downtown or in the West End area, if you can find a good deal. There's lotsa stuff within walking distance in those areas.

I don't know that there is any rock venue that I would recommend you going to just based on the venue alone. It's all about WHO'S playing that night, you know? As it gets closer to that weekend, we can fill you in on some good shows that might be happening. Yes, there is a Features show in Murfreesboro, but I don't think you'll be skipping the game to go to it, because that game is the whole reason you're coming. I would always recommend that you see a show at the Ryman Auditorium, but at this point, I don't see anything booked for that weekend. I think it's a lot of fun, especially for out-of-towners, to hang out at the honkytonks on lower Broadway, but that's right next to the arena, so you'll probably do that after the game Friday night.

If you're interested in any particular kind of cuisine, we'd be happy to recommend some restaurants.

The BJs (and everyone, for that matter) are going to kick the Predators asses if they don't get that goalie back.

Your "pathetic" Blue Jackets will probably beat the Preds if they're still playing a 3rd stringer at goalie.

If everyone returns on schedule (and no one else gets hurts), the Predators will be completely healthy for this game.

Thanks for the input, you guys rock.

Seeing as how my "pathetic" BJ's just got WHUPPED 7-3 Saturday night in Nashville, I would say that it doesn't matter if you put the pads back on your grandpa, we ain't puttin it past him. Argh. Even with Rick Nash back, we suck. I'm going to see the Jackets-Preds this Friday night at the NWA (NationWideArena) to see if we can get some revenge. This will be the third time I've seen Nashville play this year, and when I come down there it'll be the 4th. What's up with that? I don't know.

I might be interested in seeing the basketball game there on saturday afternoon. I'll let you know about that, it's awful nice of ya to offer me tickets, Jamie. Now if you just had some hockey tickets, you'd be the man! We're gonna try the scalpers, because I can't imagine the BJ game in January is gonna be a big sell-out!

I will check out the West End area and see what's there. What street boundries would you suggest, so I can look at my map and see what's up?

thanks again
plong

ps - My wife and I just found out today that she's pregnant with our second child. Ta-da! So it probably won't turn into an allnight drinkfest this go-around.

(Edited by plong at 9:33 pm on Dec. 18, 2005)

congrats!

OK - false alarm. Not pregnant. Whew. Thanks for the congrats, Elk, but let the drinking commence!

So, the trip is three weeks away, and we're still not booked for a hotel. Soon, I hope. Any new shows to report for the weekend of the 20th?

I think this is one of the funniest things I've ever read on this message board. A pregnancy scare? Ha.

OK, it's gettin to crunch time. I found this map...
The best hotel deal I found so far is the Best Western Music Row, on that sliver of Division St that's to the right of the purple Music Row area but before the highway. is that a good spot? Would it be worth it to you to pay a little more for a more advantageous spot?

Thanks for helping me out, if we hook up, first round's on me
patrick

My guess is that it's a crappy hotel, and besides a few bars on Demonbreun, Music Row is dead at night...

Buddy, I hate to say this, but I think you could do better. I know that hotel, and it's a bit rough. Plus, with the Demonbreun Street Bridge closed, it's not even real close to the GEC. At the same time, though, if you're on a budget, you're on a budget, and Demonbreun Street is certainly better than, say, Donelson.

A lot of people swear by those bars, though. Plus, just a few blocks south (in the gray area between Vanderbilt University and Music Row) is the Midtown area, where you have great places to eat (Noshville Deli!!!and Panera), cool places to shop for music (Great Escape and CD Warehouse) and some of my favorite more laid-back bars (Red Door Saloon West, Blue Bar and Rack Room, and Broadway Brewhouse). Of course, it's also Vandy country-- so hopefully you can deal with that.

That hotel is in a pretty shady area, though. I wouldn't recommend it.

(Edited by carligula at 10:37 am on Jan. 4, 2006)

That's why you guys rock. So, if you were gonna stay downtown, on this here map, what streets WOULD you recommend? I don't mind a cab ride a couple of blocks to get to a hockey game. And I'm OK with Vandy country, as some of my favorite haunts are in the OSU campus area. BUT...they are in the older "grad-student-north-campus" area, not so much with the beer swilling frat area.

So, is this Mid-town area the best bet? What is the prime street of this area?

Or would I be better off in "the district", which your tourism office tries to talk up like it's the best?

(Edited by plong at 11:28 am on Jan. 4, 2006)

The super-touristy area is 2nd avenue northwest of Broadway.

The best honky-tonks (a must-see in my opinion) are on broadway from 2nd avenue to the arena (a popular post-hockey game activity).

Midtown (Broadway AVE) and Elliston Place (which shoots off of west end and continues to 21st ave) are where I spent most of my time when I went out. Both are relatively safe, although some blocks are better than others. West End has probably the most options for hotels and all are probably decent.

Elliston is home to the world famous Exit/In as well as the End music venues and at least one good bar (the Gold Rush). There's a Tower Records and Borders Music and Bookstore near the intersection of west end and elliston.

I'd say most any hotel between I-65 and the Cumberland River (downtown) will be decent and safe. Hotels on West End can be found, especially in the Vandy area (which isn't that far from DT anyway) but they are usually really pricey (Loewe's) or your basic "Mom and Dad are in for the weekend and need a place to crash after the football game".

Another area that is close to DT and has some decent rooms is Metro Center. It's North of DT and safe (also a boring business park) the drawback there is just across the interstate is bad bad news. You don't want to be out walking in North Nashville.

And if you want definitely safe comfortable, etc. try Maryland Farms area of Brentwood. A quick 10 minute jaunt down I-65 from DT.

My general rule of thumb for hotels, you get what you pay for. And never ever ever stay in the Knight's Inn Motel in Texarkana, TX.


(Edited by Peace Frog at 12:43 pm on Jan. 4, 2006)

Here are some acceptable options that I found online:

Days Inn Vanderbilt/Music Row
1800 West End Avenue
$62/night on priceline.com

Courtyard By Marriott Vanderbilt-West End
1901 West End Avenue
$104/night on priceline.com

Holiday Inn Express Nashville Downtown
920 Broadway
$108/night on priceline.com

And damn if you can't stay at the Vanderbilt Marriott for $139/night or Loew's Vanderbilt for $159/night! Those are not bad prices for really, really good hotels.

Wow, Jamie, and everyone else who has posted. I am humbled by your hospitality. I will look at all of those options and make a decision tomorrow, because it's way past bedtime (tired from the football watching). What a freaking game! Vince Young is the Antichrist Hero of the Future!

(Edited by plong at 3:47 pm on Jan. 5, 2006)

i woke uip a couple of weeks ago with some messatges saying
(myfriends) had called my phone and a clerk from tha courtyard marriott had answered and they were super nice. courtyard marriott on west end. wonderful

hey, nice staff counts for a lot at a hotel. i was staying at a Hilton in LA for a business conference, and I was unsure of where my meeting room was. The desk clerk took the time to walk me to exactly where I needed to go, rather than point down a hallway. i was duly impressed.

you should visit my bff gretowsk. She's the best thing in nashville.

Buddy, if you want those Vandy-MissSt tickets, just holler. Or if you don't want em, anyone else is welcome to em. I don't want any money for em, just want someone to use em. I'll be out of town.

jamie, check your PMs.

Also, who's go a show to speak up for on Thursday or Saturday night? I'm staying on Broadway at the Vanderbilt Days Inn. Walking distance a plus:)

plong

It's a few miles away, but the Fluid Ounces are playing the Basement (below Grimey's Record Shop) Thursday night. About a decade ago, they were on the same local label (Spongebath Records) as The Features. Check 'em out!

OK, I'm back from Nashville. Excellent time. Good stuff. Except for the 7-2 drubbing we took (I told you we sucked), I had a great time.
Recap:
Thursday night: airport to rental car to Days Inn Vanderbilt on West End (cheapest hotel in the whole city, and for a reason, falling apart and not for the squeemish). Wander down the block to some bars on Elliston. Dinner at the Gold Rush. OK food, but I ordered a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and it was $6. Totally unacceptable for a dive-type restaurant. We went across the street to Ombi (?) kind of a upscale/pretentious bar/restaurant deal. Nice Martinis from bartender named Miah. I spilled mine. After we got that out of the way, we went across the street to a crap hole called The End. Awesome place. I drank PBR and saw two rock bands. Openers came from TX i think they were called Midnight Towers or something. It was a totally inspiring performance, and not in a good way. It made me think of what NOT to do with a band. In this case, it's sound exactly like a radio-friendly blend of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Hello? It's 2006. The singer was awesome, all the instruments were on-point, and yet they still sucked. sucked hard. Nashville's My Beautiful Disaster (totally contrived band name) came next and they were OK by comparison to the last band, but fairly unremarkable. Oh well. Staggered home to the hotel and passed out.

Friday: drove to Memphis to see family. Perfect weather for a drive, family's awesome, everything is awesome.

Saturday: Got back from Memphis and went out to dinner at the brew-house called Blackstone a block down from my hotel. Good food, awesome corn chowder, good beer, all set. Take a cab down to the arena and get scalped tickets (Row B, center ice, $50ea-not bad). Then we made alot of friends at the arena. we were wearing our BJ jerseys, and everyone is real nice to us, especially because the game's not even close. After the game I met some guy who I think is on the news down there named Steve Wrigley and we went to get beers with him and his girlfriend (who looks like Heather Locklear, it must be noted). Turns out he went to OSU. I was not surprised, there was Ohio connections everywhere i turned in Nashville. It's like that everywhere. We went upstairs to Wolfy's and got free beers (after every Preds win, who knew?). Then we went to the Honkey Tonk bars. Went in Legends (crowded) Tootsie's (couldn't move) and finally settled in to Robert's Western World after being drawn in by a large green stand-up bass (i'm a bass player). It was Brazilbilly, and they were seriously fantastic. I bought one of thier CD's and danced the rest of the night there, until I needed food and we went nexdoor to some lame ass irish bar called bailey's i think. There i ate me some nachos, and if it weren't for the heroic efforts of the Mrs., I would have passed out at the bar.

Sunday: flew home.

All in all, good times.
Thanks to everyone who gave tips on where to stay/what to do, you've been great.
-plong

(Edited by plong at 4:25 pm on Jan. 25, 2006)

shhhhhhhhhh carligula might read this

It's OK to LIKE Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. It's NOT OK to form an "all-originals" band and sound just like them. Especially in 2006.

(Edited by plong at 5:24 pm on Jan. 25, 2006)

I forgive you.