First off let me say that there's allot to see, do, and attend in Nashville around the Middle Tennessee area. It's much more than I or one person alone could ever get out and see in a year's time.
Although, I did find a little time to put together a list of some of my favorite places, events, businesses, and people that I've came across in my travels during the past year in hopes that you too will be able to take some time to go out and explore Nashville, a city that I've made my home for over 20 years and one that's just filled with tons of history, diversity, culture, and, of course, music.
Although, I did find a little time to put together a list of some of my favorite places, events, businesses, and people that I've came across in my travels during the past year in hopes that you too will be able to take some time to go out and explore Nashville, a city that I've made my home for over 20 years and one that's just filled with tons of history, diversity, culture, and, of course, music.
Best Annual Event: CMA Fest
The CMAfest (aka Fanfair) is most defiantly my most very favorite annual Nashville event. The Country Music Festival also happens to be the busiest work week of the year for me as well as the one week of the year where I'm almost 100% guaranteed to see and get together with all of my best friends and some of my favorite people from across the country. It's a 24-7 four day adventure filled medley of musical fun, and, in my case, allot work too. Whew, I get tired just thinking about it.
Best Historic Spot: Fort Negley Visitors Center
The 4,605-square-foot Fort Negley Visitors Center opened in the last weeks of 2007 and this new facility features interactive technology, archival photos, restroom facilities, and even a video documentary about Nashville's role in the Civil War. Fort Negley itself was opened back up to visitors only three years earlier, in 2004, after suffering over six decades of neglect.
Best Tour: Opryland Gardens
Year-round the gardens and atrium's of the Opryland Hotel are a joy to walk through whether it is in the muggy summer days of August or on a dreary Winter Nights. It's something that I make a point of doing year after year although this past year I made several more trips to the gardens than I normally do so that I could capture and share it's beauty, through photography, with everyone and most especially for those who have never experienced it's magic.
Best Restaurant: radius 10
Chef Jason Brumm has created an incredible dining venue in radius10 and one that offers one of the best dining experiences to be found in Nashville. My taste buds (and I'm sure plenty of others too) will never experience normalcy again after enjoying one of Jason's masterpieces.
Best Music: Appalachian Christmas
This Indy CD was one of the brightest spots of this Holiday Season for me. It came to me very unexpectedly and reminded me of the many wonders of Christmas that I've yet to discover. I have no doubt that Appalachian Christmas will entertain me for many years and season yet to come.
Best News: Eminent Domain
The well-publicized blight of Joy Fords Music Row Property inspired me to write an entire series about Eminent Domain and it's history in, not only Nashville, but Tennessee as well. I found out that the current eminent domain laws of Tennessee still do very little to protect a property owner.
Best Charity: Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls is the brainchild of local businessman, Wayne Elsey and I found that this organization is not only a joy to donate to but one that anyone can help and anytime of year. I also found their staff and organizational friends to go above and beyond when being asked for help or guidance. Soles4Souls is a very welcomed addition to many Nashville and the Middle Tennessee Area charities.
Best Sport: Jeff Fisher
I've chosen Jeff Fisher as my best Sportsman this year for a couple of reasons. The first and most obvious reason is that he's led the Tennessee Titans in a great year of football and he has done this in his normal, nice, and respectful manner that local football fans have come to admire most about him. My second reason is that Coach Fisher has, over the years, became a staple part of the Nashville Community. You can find him on many occasions helping the less fortunate at various charity functions around town and he even host to his own annual charity event too.
Best Politics: Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson had been out of the political spotlight for far too long so I was happy to see his name thrown back into the political arena, once again, in 2007. While he withdrew from the 2008 Presidential Race in January 2008, this Tennessee Native has had a long history in local and national politics and many Tennesseans, no matter what their political affiliations are, will tell you that they still kinda like this good ole boy too.
Best Book: Miscarriage of Justice
Miscarriage of Justice was based on the true accounts and events that happened in Nashville in the early 1900's that involved plenty of adultery and murder. Author and local Judge, Kip Gayden brings this fictional tale, that most likely would have been lost in the depths of Nashville History forever, to life again.
If I've overlooked your local Nashville Favorite, please feel free to contact me anytime and I'll try to explore it in the upcoming year!
Thanks and I hope you enjoyed my "Best of Nashville"...
Till Next Year,
Jan Duke
