Hi all … it’s Jenn. So, you have read all about our new adventures in Nashville, the exciting programs that Jeff has been a part of at Vanderbilt over the past 6 months, and the ups and downs of a suburban cat getting used to city living. But what about me? I am sure you have been pondering day and night what I have been doing with my time since moving to Music City in late March? With the threat of being a walking advertisement ... www.nowplayingnashville.com is what I’ve been up to!
While it was my original intent to move to Nashville, take a much-needed break from the working world and become a woman of leisure, that plan went astray in mid-April when I was presented with an interesting opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up!
It was then that I joined The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect generosity with need, to become the Project Director for a new initiative called NowPlayingNashville.com. The website is an all-inclusive arts, entertainment, and events calendar for Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The objective of this project is to be a one-stop shop for locals and visitors to help raise awareness about all that there is to do in this region at a given time.
The past few months have been a huge undertaking for me as I have never been involved in the launch of a brand new website. Not only have I learned a ton about the latest web technology (you’d be impressed!), but this has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me personally. How often do you get to move to a brand new city and jump into a job that forces you to learn all about the fun and exciting things to do in and around that city? It’s pretty amazing! NowPlayingNashville.com launched this past Monday and with each day that passes, the site is becoming a useful tool for Nashvillians and visitors alike. I encourage you to check it out, however, my colleague Denise would want me to warn you that we’re still working out some of the bugs!
Well, that’s all for now. I am off to the latest concert, festival, sporting event, art exhibit, etc.! Hope to see y’all in Nashville soon for a fun-filled weekend!
Anyone that know us for more than 20 minutes knows that wine and vineyards are two things near and dear to our hearts. From our wedding at Vineyard Caterers and regular trips to the North Fork of Long Island to the beginning of our honeymoon in Sonoma and a return visit two years later, we simply enjoy the fruits of the vine.
So, when we heard a few months ago that Kix Brooks (of the legendary country music duo Brooks & Dunn) and a few partners were opening up a vineyard and tasting room 30 minutes south of Nashville, it was music to our ears (no pun intended).
Yesterday, we made the trip down to Arrington Vineyards, which opened just a few days earlier on July 1, and were pleasantly surprised. We were joined by our friends Renee and Damion and came fully prepared to celebrate our new favorite local discovery with picnic basket in tow.
The vineyard, as expected, is still in its infancy, but more than eight wines have been produced with grapes from other local vineyards as well as some from the west coast. We were very impressed with the overall selection of wines available for tasting, with our favorites including: Riesling 2005, Desert Rose, Merlot 2005, Red Fox Red and Syrah. The tasting room is cozy and the wrap-around deck provides breathtaking views of Williamson County. We cannot wait to take our guests to this Tennessee treat when you come to visit!
Until next time ...
We hope everyone had a great 4th of July! While we certainly missed making it three straight years of watching the Jones Beach fireworks show from the channel/inlet (the show was ultimately postponed due to bad weather), we certainly didn't sit around down here and fret about the rain in New York.
Tuesday night, we took in a slice of Americana at Greer Stadium as we caught a minor league baseball game (Nashville Sounds vs. Round Rock Express ... Nashville is the AAA team for the Milwaukee Brewers). There's nothing like minor league baseball -- $20 for two tickets that were 20 rows from the Sounds' dugout, hokey on-field contests and some solid people watching! The fireworks show after the game was also top notch!
On Independence Day, we exercised our independence by working out, getting some sun in a nearby park and throwing back some margaritas in the condo before making a break for the downtown riverfront country concert and fireworks festivities.
We were hooked-up with 3rd row VIP seats from a new friend that Jenn made at work and for two hours, we were a few feet away from country studs Taylor Swift, Rodney Atkins, Van Zant and the incredible Nashville Symphony. GAC (Great American Country) broadcast the event live and I'd say that there's a 124% chance that we were on TV. Following the concert, more than 100,000 of us watched some of the best fireworks we've ever seen (sorry Macy's!), with the Symphony working overtime and playing live in sync as the sky over the Cumberland River became illuminated for 30 minutes -- truly an awesome night!
Thursday meant back to work for us, but we received some great news. Plinko's lab results came back and the growth that the vet removed from his back last week was deemed benign! His back is healing nicely and he continues to be a little warrior!
Until next time ...
P.S. - A sad end to an otherwise upbeat blog entry. I was told tonight that Finn McCool's Public House in White Plains, NY recently shut its doors after many a good time. I join the Robs (Douglass and Foley), Nick, Fitz, Flo and our many other regulars who made this fine place a weekend 'home away from home' for many years. I can still hear the STOLI-O chants, Irish tunes and hours of laughter filling the Westchester Avenue night, even after the sun has finally set. Truly a sad day in the history of WP.
~ Jeff
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