One Month in Nashville

Yesterday marked my one-month anniversary of living in Nashville, and let me tell you — this city lives up to EVERY SINGLE THING SAID!

Music City has seen seen major development through recent years, and all the hard work is starting to pay off. With record tourism stats, raving reviews and tons of fun, Nash is finally growing into the destination it has always meant to be.

Even moreso, it’s experiencing a giant boom in transplants, everyone wants to live in Nashville and I can see why! With a trendy cultural scene, diverse population and a setting surrounded by hilly forests, this temperamental city is truly a great place to be!

Here are a few of my favorite things so far:

Coffee:

• One thing that surprised me about Nashville was the amount of local coffee shop brands. From Bongo Java to 8th & Roast, everyone has their allegiance they swear by. So far, here are my three favorites

1. Three Brother’s Coffee

2. Barista Parlor

3. Bongo Java

• Cleverly hiding their locations inside hotels and old animal shelter (looking at you Fido), Bongo Java is a local coffee roaster in Nashville and brews up some good coffee! If you have to choose a location, definitely go to Fido. Their infamous shop, which was indeed converted from an old animal shelter, inspired the Maple Lattes synonymous with Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’.

Food:

1. Emmy Squared Pizza

• What my friends refer to as “the $25 pizza”, this heavenly Detroit-style pie is descended from the gods. With locations in the Gulch, Germantown, and Green Hills; this Brooklyn born pizza restaurant has taken over the city! A steep price for a personal pizza, I can assure your satisfaction.

2. Chicken Sandwich from The Pub

• In a surprising move, this hole-in-the wall gulch restaurant snagged a spot! The grilled chicken sandwich was DELICIOUS! Served on homemade ciabatta bread, lathered with aioli and all for under $15 — it was everything I wanted!

3. Pancake Pantry Pancakes

• The Pantry has reached somewhat of a legendary status here in Nashville, and for good reason! I tried the chocolate chip and sweet potato (as per Ms. Swift’s recommendation). The chocolate chip are by far some of the best pancakes I’ve ever had! The sweet potato, especially with their special “cinnamon sauce” are good, but nothing to rave for paragraphs about.

Bakeries:

1. Fox’s Donut Den

• There is no dethroning of the greatest Apple Fritters on Earth. I LOVE Fox’s Donut Den over in Green Hills. Nothing there is necessarily bad, but it’d be a crime to choose anything over the perfectly fried Apple Fitters, (which I’m convinced God above sent down). I mean just look at that!! You can SEE the fried exterior matched with the perfectly soft pastry inside.

2. Parlor Donuts

• I had a strong internal debate on whether Parlor belonged above Fox’s. OBJECTIVELY, I have enjoyed more Parlor Donuts than Fox’s, but alas the fritters are too heavenly to not award. Parlor Donuts is a VERY close second, especially in their French Toast and Sandy Beach donuts. Made without a hole in the center, these Nashville staples sell out often, only to be restocked with a freshly fried batch, made by a staff member behind a glass wall.

3. Yeast Nashville

• KOLACHES! You, like me, are probably wondering what exactly a Kolache is (unless you are a pastry god, in which case congrats…). WELL, at Yeast, the best way to describe them would be a donut, but without the fryer, glaze and dough. Catch my drift? Better, they’re like small cakes, usually filled with a delicious fruity compote. Mine was Chocolate Marshmallow, and was as delicious as it sounds. I do want to go back as I’ve heard rave reviews regarding their cinnamon rolls!

Bars:

1. Old Glory

• Just the right amount of gross industrial to become chic, discovering this hidden bar is a jaw-dropping experience. Come for the awe and stay for the drinks, specifically the coffee-infused Panther Panther with rum!

2. Old Smoky Distillery

• Previously raving about this distillery in my Gatlinburg article, I was thrilled to see one steps away. This one complete with a taco shop and beer garden! Shine Fest, a festival dedicated to moonshine, was a good time!

3. L27

• I’m a sucker for a rooftop bar, and Nashville has no shortage! So far L27 atop the Westin hotel has been my favorite. Being on (shockingly) the 27th floor, it has an incredible north view of downtown, and a south view overlooking Music Row and the surrounding hills! There’s also an indoor and outdoor section, for when the south’s unbearable heat overpowers the iced drinks. I love to pop over to grab a cocktail and watch the sunset.

Things to do:

1. Listening to [live] music!!

• Cliche, yes, but is there anything else as quintessential to Music City as music?! You can’t take more than five steps in the city without bumping into a live musician. Whether it’s your favorite artist, some band covering ‘Mr. Brightside’ or the next big thing playing their guitar in a dimly lit room, soak in their sounds — it’s what Nashville does best!

2. Visiting the Sheep at Fort Negley

• My self-proclaimed honorary pets for the summer, these sheep are a mere mile away from my place, close enough to make a visit whenever I need some animal time. There’s also a sheep dog who likes to bark at me, I’m choosing to take it as a signal of adoration.

3. Centennial Park strolls

• It is at this moment the photo below was taken when I truly fell in love with Nashville. God, this city is so gorgeous. Centennial Park has popped up quite a bit in pop culture recently, no thanks to Taylor Swift, but there’s really nothing like watching ducks march by the Parthenon. Like me, grab an iced coffee from Three Brothers, and sprawl on the green grass to read a few chapters in your favorite book!

Stores:

1. Parnassus Books

• Helping fuel the bookstore trend in Nashville, author Ann Patchett opened this Green Hills outpost with Karen Hayes. It represents everything great about bookstores, stocking everything from the complete collection of Wildsam Fieldguides, to the local school’s reading list. I love browsing the aisles, and could do so all day!

2. imogene + willie

• Yee Haw in a nutshell, sustainably made clothing at imogene + willie is the perfect place to buy boots, hats and anything else needed before broadway. For the lesser cowboy people, they also have a ton of really cool “hipster” clothes, like patchwork pants I fell in love with. Quality does, however, come at a price as everything here is considered higher end.

3. Savant Vintage

• This vintage shop is INCREDIBLE! With a soundtrack provided by a record spinning Johnny Cash and hangars overflowing with all kinds of clothes, you’re bound to find something you love here! This is a great place to buy vintage jeans, hats and boots before your adventures on Broadway.

One month gone, two more to go. This city is growing on me and I can already tell it’ll be painful to leave. More to come as I explore every nook of Music City, but for now it’s time to get back to exploring!