High School Lunch Menu - Charles City Community School: Fill & Download for Free

I was born in Sulphur, which is only a few miles from Lake Charles, and lived there as an adult for about 20 years, although I currently reside in San Antonio, TX. The only hidden gems, in my opinion, are the privately owned restaurants in the area. I will explain some not-so-hidden facets of the city after I list a few great restaurants.Darrell’s is a local factorite which has a successful bar with a kitchen that makes utterly amazing po-boys. While they are all good, I recommend indulging on the Darrell’s Special, and ask for jalapeño mayonnaise. Delicious. A must have if you stop at only one place.Leonard's is a wonderful restaurant offering great po-boys and a fine selection of cajun and seafood options.If you like pizza you should check out Tony's Pizza. They have the obviously popular po-boy sandwich, all of which are great, but I prefer the meatball po-boy.KD’s is a restaurant which is a favorite among many locals. They used to have a muffaletta that i was addicted to, but I believe they dropped from the menu. The Cajun Roast Beef po-boy is my go-to now. Also, it is the best place you can go to at 4 am after drinking and partying all night (bars can stay open all night except on Saturday unless you are out of city limits) and sit down with fresh eggs, sausage, and toast, or anything else on the menu. While on that 4 am eating adventure, you you might be two tables down from a couple of cops, while a guy dressed in cowboy hat and boots plays the radio, a group of guys with spiked, multi colored hair have a discussion at their booth, and a septuagenarian couple walks through the doors blocking off the video poker machines and has a seat at the bar for a cup of coffee. They're known for having a diverse crowd at pretty much any time, day or night, who get along and, at least while there, look past their differences to enjoy the food and atmosphere. And save room for cheesecake!If you are looking for a place that is a more upscale than these local favorites, you are covered there too.Pat's of Henderson is freaking wonderful. They offer awesome steaks and amazing cajun inspired seafood. While they aren't overly priced when compared to similar establishments in other cities, you will pay more for food than at the places previously mentioned. But, if you get the chance, go there. It comes highly recommended from anyone I have ever known to eat there.The Harlequin is another excellent choice on par with Pat's. I could not say enough nice things about this restaurant. They offer some exemplary steak and seafood, and have a great lunch menu. My personal favorite is the crawfish etoufee, offered year-round.There are quite a few other great restaurants that I will not go in-depth about, but are definitely worth stopping by. A few names that come to mind are Luna’s, Cotton’s Hamburgers, and Mazen’s.Of course, there are some choices that are horribly overrated. The main one that comes to mind is a tourist trap that IH-10 travelers flock to in droves that I am recommending to drive past. It's name is Steamboat Bill's, and I have eaten there a few times, but it has been years. They have primarily Cajun food, but it is awful by Louisiana standards. It likely tastes alright to the untrained traveler, but just do yourself a favor by ignoring the billboards and keep on driving. In fact, a good rule of thumb, at least in the Lake Charles area, is to not go to any restaurants that advertise on the IH-10 corridor. Restaurants in a small-medium sized city like that do not rely on billboards to get the word out that they have good food. That info is always traded via word of mouth.While this is not an extensive list, it highlights some great restaurants that instantly pop in my mind. There are plenty of others out there, so enjoy the food while in the area. Like KDs, many restaurants have video poker machines to contribute to your entertainment value as well as their pocket size.Some locals regularly hit up these machines being that they are allowed in restaurants and avoid the not-so-hidden gems in the community and the surrounding area, the casino industry. While it is not now, or ever going to be, the areas biggest line of business, the casinos are a huge draw for many. Many locals still go on a regular basis, but many patrons are from out of town, namely Houston which is 2 1/2 hours away.There are many other locally owned restaurants that are exceptional, but I have just a couple of other places to mention.My wife and I always loved going to the regularly changing art displays at Historic City Hall. You can find up to three floors of exhibits in various mediums created sometimes from local artists as well as established artists from around the country. They also display exhibits from organizations such as National Geographic which was very good.I have always been fond of Central School Arts and Humanities Center. It has three floors with rooms dedicated to exhibiting local area artists. There is an interesting and colorful Mardi Gras Museum, as well as various tenants such as the Lake Charles Symphony. My favorite tenant, though, is The Children's Theatre Company, directed by Juilliard alumni Kerry Onxley. Mr. Onxley taught my son theatre during his senior year, and later taught my younger daughter for several years at that theatre located in Central School. In addition to all the arts located in the building, you will definitely not miss the architecture of the school itself, which was built in 1912.The final hidden gem that I'll mention ties directly into that architecture. Central School is located in the middle of Charpentier Historic District, which contains many beautiful homes from the 1800s and early 1900s. There are many other beautiful homes in the city as well, many of them located close to the Charpentier District. To see the city's most beautiful and grandiose homes, take a drive down Shell Beach Drive. I have traveled to many cities and seen numerous beautiful housing districts. The homes down Shell Beach, especially the older ones, with their beautiful Southern designs and charm located amongst rows of centuries old oak trees, remain as resplendent as most you will anywhere I can think of.

I agree with another poster that it depends on what you consider a good time, but here, adapted from one of my books on Asheville, are what a lot of people in Asheville do to enjoy themselves:1. Get out and enjoy the outdoors. Asheville is in a valley at around 2200-2400 feet, but it’s surrounded by the highest mountains in the East, including Mt. Mitchell, highest peak east of the Rockies. You can be having a cappuccino Downtown and in 30 minutes be somewhere in nearly 2 million acres of wilderness. Two of the most visited National Park Service units in the country are here – the Blue Ridge Parkway, which gets 14 to 22 million visitors a year, runs through Asheville, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which gets 11 million visitors a year, about an hour away. Plus, there are two huge national forests, Pisgah (513,000 acres) and Nantahala (531,000 acres) and many state and local forests and parks.You can do just about anything outdoors. There are more than 50 golf courses around Asheville, 4,000 miles of trout streams, 1000s of miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, white water rafting on the Nantahala and other rivers, several snow ski resorts, about 400 waterfalls (250 in the Pisgah National Forest alone), many ziplines, mountain biking, gem mining and more.Plus, right in Asheville is the amazing Biltmore Estate – 8,000 acres of gorgeous parkland and gardens, with the largest private home in America, the country’s most-visited winery and two hotels. With a relatively inexpensive annual pass, you can visit and enjoy the estate any day of the year.2. Get out and mingle: An eclectic mix of people creates the Asheville and Western North Carolina vibe – old hippies, young hipsters, retirees, tourists, students, artists, eccentrics, New Agers, gays and lesbians, plus locals and good ol’ boys from the mountains. My daughter told me that when she was in Downtown Asheville one day someone said "Look, there's a giant gingerbread man with dreadlocks walking across the street!" The reaction was, “So what?”3. Enjoy Downtown: Downtown Asheville is active day and night, packed with visitors and locals. On a summer weekend around Pack Square you can hardly walk. Parking lots are full.I grew up here, and until the 1980s Downtown was a dead zone, but in the last 30 or 35 years it’s been transformed into one of the most vibrant small cities in the U.S. with hundreds of restaurants, clubs and bars. And it’s virtually all local and independent – for instance you can walk through Downtown and find a dozen coffee shops but not a single Starbucks. There is only one big chain store Downtown, Urban Outfitters.Downtown has several dozen condominiums developments, with many hundreds of condos priced from the $100s and $200s to well over a million. In and around Downtown, most within walking distance of the heart of Downtown, are vibrant neighborhoods with houses and apartments in all price ranges.There are also plenty of interesting places for visitors to stay – for example, TripAdvisor lists more than 40 bed and breakfasts in Asheville and just 29 in Atlanta, a metropolitan area of more than 6 million people. By our own count there are actually more than 50 B&Bs in and around Asheville, plus many more across Western North Carolina.Downtown Asheville is finally getting much-needed new lodging choices. It started with Hotel Indigo on Haywood Street. Aloft opened in 2013 on Biltmore Avenue, and then there was the renovation of Haywood Park Hotel and the Marriott Renaissance Asheville. Now there’s a new Marriott AC near Pack Square, Cambria Suites across from the Grove Arcade, a new Hyatt Place on Haywood Street, a Hilton Garden Inn, The Foundry, a new Hilton Curio Hotel, and, in progress, a conversion from the 17-story BB&T Building into a mixed use project with hotel, condos and retail space. Other hotels are planned.4. Get creative. Art and especially craft art have been keys to what Asheville has become. Nobody knows exactly how many working artists there are in and around Asheville, but it’s estimated that there are several thousand potters, painters, sculptors, glass blowers, fiber artists and others. They’re concentrated in the River Arts District, in West Asheville and in areas around Asheville such as Penland School near Burnsville, which is perhaps the best crafts school in the country.There are around 50 art and crafts galleries in Asheville alone, about the same number as in Atlanta. Asheville was named the #1 and #2 (in different years) small arts city in American by AmericanStyle magazine -- along with places like Santa Fe and Sarasota.Big Crafty in July and December, RAD Studio Stroll in November and the Southern Highland Craft Guild show in July and October, plus many gallery walks in summer, are good places to see and buy crafts and art.One of the unusual museums here is the Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center, which is dedicated to keeping alive the history and spirit of Black Mountain College, the radical experimental college.From 1933 to 1957 Black Mountain College was a home for artists, writers and thinkers like Robert Motherwell, Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Robert Rauschenberg, M.C. Richards, Josef Albers, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Buckminster Fuller and Charles Olson. There are other creative workers here, too: MovieMaker magazine named Asheville the #1 town to live and work in as an independent moviemaker.5. Dig the architecture: In the South, Asheville rivals Savannah and Charleston for architecture and arguably has a wider variety of building styles than those cities. It was a resort area for wealthy Low Country South Carolina and Georgia planters in the 19th century.Then came the building of Biltmore House in the 1890s with great architects, artisans and many hundreds of skilled workers, who moved on to the construction of thousands of new homes and commercial buildings in the booms of the early 20th century. The bust of the Great Depression stopped building and reconstruction until the 1950s, leaving most of the Art Deco and other architectural masterpieces untouched.Thus, Asheville has a large inventory of interesting historical buildings. Asheville has more Art Deco buildings than any city in the Southeast except Miami Beach. Prime examples are Asheville City Building, First Baptist Church, Asheville High School and the S&W Cafeteria Building.But there also are many other styles such as All Souls Episcopal Cathedral in Biltmore (Romanesque Revival) and Basilica of St. Lawrence on Haywood St. (Spanish Baroque Revival), plus beautiful old homes the late 19th and early 20th century, with hundreds of examples each of Craftsman style (Arts and Crafts), Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and the pebbledash stucco English style of Richard Sharp Smith.Outside Asheville, in the countryside and small towns, you’ll find a surprising selection of fine old houses and log cabins, along with plenty of trailers.6. Do the unusual: Interesting things to do abound. Such as: sip coffee in a double decker London bus (parked on Biltmore Avenue) ... float down the French Broad River on an inner tube and stop at Bywater bar and restaurant for a drink or food ... drink wine and read a book in the Battery Park Champagne Bar and Book Exchange in the Grove Arcade.Or, go to the Drumming Circle at Pritchard Park Friday nights from spring to early fall ... take a LaZoom tour of Asheville -- it’s like a comedy club on wheels ... take an old-fashioned staffed elevator up to the Sky Bar in the 1920s-vintage Flat Iron Building for a great view of the city from the fire escapes.Or, listen to mountain music at Shindig on the Green or the Mountain Dance & Folk Festival (oldest in U.S.) ... watch the chimney swifts migrate through Downtown each year in mid-September ... see the synchronous fireflies put on a flashing show in the Smokies in late May/early June ... visit the Moog facility (electronic synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog lived the last three decades of his life in Asheville).Or, buy a high heel shoe made of chocolate at Chocolate Fetish ... go to the more-than-a-century-old Grove Park Inn (now owned by Omni Hotels and Resorts) and see the room where F. Scott Fitzgerald spent summers in the 1930s, trying to work and kick his booze habit (he switched to beer, which he didn’t consider alcohol, and often drank a 24-botttle case a day) and whose wife Zelda was in a mental hospital here, Highland Hospital, and died in a fire at the hospital in the 1940s.7. Get a liberal fix: If you tire of living with conservatives, get your liberal on in Asheville. Asheville rivals Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Durham as the most progressive city in the state and for its size is arguably the one of the most liberal small cities in the South. It went heavily for President Obama in 2008 and 2012 and for Hilary Clinton in 2016. The local register of deeds, Drew Reisinger, was the first public official in the South to hand out applications for same-sex marriage.PETA once named Asheville the most vegetarian-friendly city in the country. Yoga Journal called it one of 10 “fantastically yoga-friendly destinations.”The local NPR station, WCQS, now a part of Blue Ridge Public Radio, gave away “Cesspool of Sin” tee shirts, proudly celebrating the comment of a Charlotte-area politician about Asheville. Battle Cat coffee shop in West Asheville has a bucket full of free condoms. There has been an Erotic Poetry Slam at the Odditorium, a dive bar and event space in West Asheville, and occasional topless days Downtown.On the other hand, if you’re more on the conservative or libertarian side, you’ll find plenty of like-minded souls in the mountains around Asheville, along with back-to-the-earth organic types. Much of Western North Carolina was settled by the Scots-Irish, who are notoriously independent-minded.Whether you’re left, right or just don’t care, you can find your place in Asheville and Western North Carolina. Fact is, most local residents don’t give a hoot what your politics are, as long as you don’t try to impose your views on them.8. Eat and drink like you’re in a big city: For a small city, Asheville has amazing selection of restaurants, bars and nightlife. A new restaurant opens just about every week. With more than 600 restaurants in the Asheville area, you can eat at a different spot every night for two years, and then you have the food scene at all the quaint mountain towns around Asheville to explore – Hendersonville, Black Mountain, Waynesville, Weaverville, Highlands, Bryson City, Brevard and more.Food is happening in Asheville’s River Arts District, at 12 Bones, Bull & Beggar, Vivian and elsewhere, not to mention other parts of Asheville. Around and near Pack Square and along Biltmore Avenue has become a hot dining area, in part due to the opening of the Aloft Hotel with a big city parking lot under it, along with the Marriott AC. Rhubarb, Blackbird, Wicked Weed and Chestnut are among newer spots there, adding to all the popular places that have been there awhile, like Cúrate, Limones and Posana.The so-called South Slope south of Patton has Buxton Hall Barbecue, Ben’s Tune-Up, Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro, and a growing number of brewpubs. In fact, the South Slope is now known as Asheville’s craft brewing district.Elsewhere in Downtown there’s Red Ginger, Zambra, Table, Bouchon, Strada, Mayfel’s, Salsa’s, Isa’s Bistro, Cucina 24, The Market Place, Hemingway’s in the new Cambria Suites... the list goes on and on.West Asheville is still the hipster district, and lots of restaurants and bars, such as BimBeriBon, Jargon, Foothills Butcher Bar, Isis, WALK, Pizza Mind, The Mothlight at Mr. Fred’s and Haywood Common, plus old standbys like The Admiral, Universal Joint, Sunny Point, Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, Westville Pub, Tastee Diner and many others.North Asheville is seeing a bunch of new spots, from Gan Shan Station (with an outpost in West Asheville) to Chiesa to Ambrozia along with well-established favorites like Nine Mile (also with a West Asheville location), Vinnie’s, Plant, Avenue M and others.Other top restaurants: Dining Room at Inn on Biltmore Estate and Fig Bistro, Corner Kitchen, Red Stag Grill and Rezza in Biltmore Village. For steak, the local outpost of Ruth’s Chris Steak House is red meat leader, but dozens of other restaurants serve up great beef. Speaking of beef, try the big, inexpensive cheeseburgers at Storm Rhum, Farm Burger, Avenue M, Tupelo Honey, Early Girl, Rankin Vault, Foothills Butcher Bar and Pack’s Tavern to name a few.The prevailing food ethos in Asheville is farm-to-table, natural, organic, Southern with a twist, but of course you can also enjoy Korean, Thai, North and South Indian, Cuban, Brazilian, French, German, Italian, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican (there are around 50 Mexican places here, of all varieties and hyphenations), Lebanese, Ethiopian, Nepalese, Mediterranean or whatever your heart and stomach desire.9. Have a beer (or a cocktail, cider or moonshine): Asheville was voted #1 Beer City for four straight years in an online poll by Imbibe magazine and named one of five top beer cities by Forbes.The Asheville area now has about 50 craft breweries and brewpubs (nearly 25 in the Downtown area alone), more than some large cities in the South, and more are coming. Nearly every serious restaurant has a long list of local beers on tap, and increasingly you’ll also find artisan hard cider, sake and even upscale moonshine.South Slope is becoming the “beer district” of Asheville, with about 10 breweries here alone. National craft brewer Sierra Nevada has opened its Eastern brewing center near Asheville (Mills River), and New Belgium located its second national brewery and distribution at the edge of the River Arts District. There are several brews tours and cruises, plus a Pubcycle – 13 people pedal around to various breweries.Asheville is also America’s first BEE City USA, giving a thumbs-up to the organic and natural side of Asheville and the mountains.Here are a few of the bars and clubs in Asheville:Asheville Guitar Bar (122 Riverside Dr., North Asheville near River Arts District, 407-616-4917) is a small music venue for musicians, but it's open to the public. Co-owned by a musician and with an interesting decor, this bar serves moderately priced beer and wine only. Music most nights, with a $5 to $10 cover. Closed Wednesday.Ashevile Yacht Club (97 Patton Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-255-8454, www.ashevilleyachtclub.com.) Tiki bar atmosphere with tropical drinks and live music some nights.Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar (Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-252-0200, www.batteryparkbookexchange.com), relocated to the Grove Arcade from the Battery Park Senior Apartments, is a combination used book store (with some 22,000 titles) and a wine and champagne bar (you also can get beer). Books and wine – what a concept!Bier Garden (46 Haywood St., Downtown Asheville, 828-285-0002, www.ashevillebiergarden.com) offers about 200 different beers, including around 30 on draft, most priced at or under $5 a pint.Broadway’s (113 Broadway, Downtown Asheville, 828-285-0400) is a dive bar with a good jukebox and a pool table and cheap PBR on the first floor. Live music, mostly garage rock, happens on the second floor. This is a private club, so you have to join or sign in as a guest, but it's no big deal.Bywater (796 Riverside Dr., North Asheville, 828-232-6967, www.bywaterbar.com) is a unique combination of picnic grounds, bar and music club near the French Broad River. Bring your own food and cook it on one of the charcoal grills beside the bar, or buy from a rotating food truck. Bywater is set up as a private club, with a $5 membership fee. Live music most nights.Capella on 9 (AC Marriott Hotel, 10 Broadway St., Downtown Asheville, 828-258-2522, www.capellaon9.com) on the ninth floor of the new AC Marriott just north of Pack Square, Capella on 9 is Asheville's best rooftop bar. Beautiful views, sophisticated setting with lots of art, both inside and out, and if you're hungry you can enjoy small plates and a few other items.Casablanca Cigar Bar (18 Lodge St., Biltmore Village, 828-505-0342, www.casablancacigarbar.com) Good spot to enjoy a fine cigar and a cocktail, wine or beer. There is walk-in humidor with a very large selection of cigars for sale. This members only bar, with a large selection of bourbons and Scotches, costs $2 for a day pass or $5 for an annual pass.The Crow & Quill (106 N. Lexington Ave., Downtown Asheville, www.thecrowandquill.com). This bar with a speakeasy atmosphere says it has more than 400 whiskeys/whiskys – it’s especially strong on Scotches, and some are pretty pricey -- and a total of 600 kinds of spirits, not including craft beers. Live music some nights, a dj on others. This is another membership bar. It is not well signed, which is part of the concept.Crucible Bar (140A Roberts St., River Arts District, 828-575-9996). Tucked away in the River Arts District with no sign on the door, Crucible has a sizeable following of locals who like the moderately priced drinks and cozy atmosphere. Since no food is served, you this is a membership spot, but you can become a member for a buck.DeSoto Lounge (504 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 828-255-1109, www.desotolounge.com)was once voted Asheville’s best dive bar by Mountain Xpress readers. Limited bar food, mostly small plates and sandwiches. There’s Ethiopian food on Tuesdays. Jukebox with a lot of indie music, pinball and foosball. oud.The Double Crown (375 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 828- 575-9060). Small bar with lots of bourbons and sometimes live soul and R&B.5 Walnut Wine Bar (5 W. Walnut, Downtown Asheville, 828-253-2593, www.5walnut.com) has added more jazz and other music, so now it’s a place to hear music, not just to have a quiet glass of wine. Lots of brick and wood, and the wines are affordable, most $7 or $8 a glass.Foggy Mountain BrewPub (12 Church St., Downtown Asheville, 828-254-3008, www.foggymountainavl.com) is tucked off the main drag on Church Street. Popular for brews and shots at Foggy Mountain (sometimes locally called Foggy Bottoms). Burgers and sandwiches are good, The beer is cold, service friendly and live music (some nights) is okay.Great Hall Bar at Omni Grove Park Inn (290 Macon Ave., North Asheville, 828-252-2711, www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park) is in the lobby of the centuryplus-old resort, but what a lobby this is! Two 14-foot wide stone fireplaces bookend the historic room, and you can wander out to the Sunset Terrace dining room and take in the views of Asheville. Drinks are fairly expensive -- signature cocktails are $12 to $18 and aren’t big pours, beers are around $5 and wine by the glass averages $10 or ore – but you’re paying for the ambiance and part of the hotel overhead.Grey Eagle (185 Clingman Ave., River Arts District, 828-232-5800, www.thegreyeagle.com) in the River Arts District is a very popular listening room with live music most nights. Mostly this is a rock venue, with national and local bands. Some name artists like Loudon Wainwright III, Chris Smither and Arlo Guthrie have played here. Ticket prices vary but range from around $10 to $25 and usually with no age limitation. There’s contra dancing on Mondays and occasional open mic nights. During the day, Grey Eagle is a taco joint.The Imperial Life (48 College St., Downtown Asheville, 828- 254-8980, www.imperialbarasheville.com), upstairs above Table Restaurant, is a small upscale bar with a good selection of craft cocktails (mostly $9 to $15), wines and beers. Plus, you can get a selection of snacks from pigs in blankets to oysters on the half shell. There's live music some nights, and a dj on others. Steep stairs, no elevator.Isis Restaurant & Music Hall (743 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 828-575-2737, www.isisasheville.com), in a full-tilt renovation of the old Isis Theater, comes alive with music after 10 pm. On the ground level, after you enter under a faux movie theater marquee, there's a dining area in the front of the restaurant and the main music stage at the back (where the movie screen was), with a bar connecting the two areas. On the second level, a more intimate bar/lounge, with a piano and small stage, is ideal for a lounge lizard or jazz trio. Overlooking the main music stage is a standing area for drinkers and music listeners. Music is an eclectic mix of bluegrass, rock and reggae, with jazz or a lounge singer upstairs. Drinks, wines and beers at Isis are moderately priced.Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-252-5445, www.jackofthewood.com) is a comfortable, friendly Celtic-style bar Downtown featuring English ales from Green Man Brewery. The music is mostly acoustic, with bluegrass picking and Irish tunes. You can play trivia here.The Montford (Hyatt Plaza Hotel, 199 Haywood St., Downtown Asheville, 828-505-8750, www.themontford.com), the rooftop bar at the Hyatt Plaza, has really fabulous views. Drinks are a little pricey, and service is not always as fast as you'd like. Food choices are limited. The views are the main attraction here.MG Road Bar & Lounge (19 Wall St., Downtown Asheville, 828-254-4363, www.mgroadlounge.com). This fun, vibrant cocktail bar on Wall Street, associated with chef and restaurateur Meherwan Irani’s Chai Pani a level above on Battery Park Avenue, has a hip selection of craft cocktails, including adult slushies, and craft beers. Prices for drinks are reasonable. This MG Road’s decor, revamped in 2016, with crimson walls and ceiling and a lot of holiday lights year-round, is said to be a nod to the style of a group of Indian hot spots in Manhattan’s East Village. If you get the munchies, a few items from Chai Pani Indian street food menu are available. Even though it’s not a big place, there’s a DJ and dancing on weekends.The Mothlight at Mr. Fred's (701 Haywood Rd., West Asheville ,www.themothlight.com), at the former location of Mr. Fred's Beds, is open daily from 5 pm to 2 am. There's live music three or four nights a week, mainly by local and regional bands, and you can dance. The Mothlight space has brick walls and a West Asheville feel. Street parking is available along Haywood Road; avoid parking on Jarrett Street, which is for local residents only. The Mothlight is a private club. You have to sign in as a member or as a guest.Nightbell (32 S, Lexington Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-575-0375, www.heirloomhg.com/nightbell), Kate Button's sister creation to her famed Cúrate tapas restaurant, has evolved into more of a dining than a drinking spot, but it still serves creative craft cocktails.The Odditorium (1045 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 828-575-9299, www.ashevilleodditorium.com) definitely has an odd decor, with all kinds of strange art, dolls and such. Live music most nights.Off the Wagon Dueling Piano Bar (22. N. Market St., Downtown Asheville, 828-785-1390, www.offthewagonrocks.com). Convivial bar with live music including, yes, dueling pianos. The worst thing about this place is the pickup truck that sometimes drives around town at time advertising it with obnoxious music. Closed Monday-Tuesday.O. Henry’s (237 Haywood St., Downtown Asheville, 828-254-1891, www.ohenrysofasheville.com) is one of the oldest gay bars in North Carolina, usually attracting an older, quieter male gay crowd. The Underground at O. Henry’s is a second bar and dance space at the club. Under new management. A members only club, an annual pass is $7.Orange Peel Social Aid and Pleasure Club (101 Biltmore Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-225-5851, www.theorangepeel.net) is Asheville’s top mid-size venue for live music. In the 1950s the building that now houses the Orange Peel was a skating rink, and then it became a series of R&B clubs. It opened as the Orange Peel in 2002. In 2007, the Smashing Pumpkins played a nine-night gig at the Orange Peel, drawing national attention since this was the group’s first performance in the U.S. in six years. The next year, Rolling Stone named it one of the top five rock clubs in the country. Although it features many local and regional bands, it has hosted a number of big names, including Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, Blondie, Beastie Boys and Modest Mouse. After an expansion in 2009, the club now can handle up to 1,100 standing. And we do mean standing – there’s limited seating at the Orange Peel so be prepared to stay on your feet. The dance floor has springy wood slats. The PULP is a private club below the main level, seating up to 150 and serving drinks. The Orange Peel doesn’t have a parking lot, so you’ll need to park on the street or in nearby lots such as the City of Asheville garage under the Aloft Hotel. (When popular groups are at the Orange Peel, you’ll pay event parking rates at the Aloft garage.) If you don’t have a car or don’t feel you should drive, when you’re ready to leave the club will call a taxi for you. Ticket prices at the Orange Peel vary from around $5 to $40, and more for a few acts.The Prospect (11 Buxton Ave., South Slope, Downtown Asheville, 828-505-0766). This is a no-frills old-school bar with a jukebox and a pool table.Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge (7 Rankin Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-254-4993, www.rankinvault.com) is dark, popular and mostly local, with cocktails moderately priced at around $7 to $10 for most. It does have an actual room-sized bank vault in back. Parking is handy across the street at the City of Asheville’s Rankin garage. The Vault also has a very good burger (it opens daily at noon). You place your food and drink order at the bar, and it's brought to your table.Red Stag Bar at Bohemian Hotel (11 Boston Way, Biltmore Village, 828-505-2949, www.bohemianhotelasheville.com) with its garish decor, heavy on the reds, may put you mind of an old New Orleans bordello, but if you’re in Biltmore Village it’s a convenient place to get an after-dinner drink.Santé Wine Bar & Tap Room (Grove Arcade, Suite 152, 1 Page Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-254-8188) serves both wine and beer out of kegs. There’s also wine by the bottle. In good weather there’s outdoor seating.Sky Bar (18 Battery Park Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-225-6998) in the historic Flat Iron Building is Asheville’s bar with a view. The bar literally is on the fire escapes of the sixth, seventh and eighth floors, with nice views to the west especially at sunset. To get there, believe it or not, you take an elevator with a real live attendant. There’s no cover charge but there is a one-drink minimum, and the drinks are a little on the pricey side ($10 or so).Smokey's Tavern, a gay bar that was a fixture in Asheville for 60 years, closed in 2015 after a lease dispute.Social Lounge and Tapas, formerly Sazarac (29 Broadway St., Downtown Asheville, 828-575-9005, www.socialloungeasheville.com) is one of Asheville’s takes on an adult cocktail bar. There’s bar (and limited table) seating on the main level, and an appealing rooftop bar upstairs.Sovereign Remedies (29 N Market St., Downtown Asheville, 828-919-9518. www.sovereignremedies.com) is in a cozy, elegant but fairly small space in a convenient location Downtown, diagonally across from the Asheville Community Theatre. Bartenders serve up creative craft cocktails at not-too-expensive prices, but if you're more old-school they'll also do traditional drinks like Gin & Tonics, Old-Fashions and such. This bar is a fine place to enjoy a nightcap after dinner Downtown. The bar also is open for lunch, serving a limited menu.Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro (125 S. Lexington, Downtown Asheville, 828-505-8560, www.stormrhumbar.com) is more of a restaurant than a bar, but you can get cocktails ($8 to $10) and a good burger with fresh-ground meat. Fairly dark, and it can be loud.Thirsty Monk (92 Patton Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-254-5470, www.monkpub.com) has a large selection of draft beers on two levels, street level and basement, at its original Downtown Asheville location. Over the course of a year the bar serves more than 1,000 different beers. The bar also has a brew pub in South Asheville at Biltmore Park and a location in north in Woodfin at Reynolds Village. Top of the Monk, upstairs at its Patton Avenue location, is known for creative cocktails. Thirsty Monk also has locations in Denver and Portland, Ore.Timo’s House (5 Biltmore Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-575-2886), on Biltmore near Pack Square, with a DJ and dancing most nights. It bills itself as "Downtown Asheville's Underground Party House."Tiger Mountain Thirst Parlour (103 Broadway St., Downtown Asheville, 828-407-0666) is on the lower end of Broadway near the expressway. Kitschy atmosphere with red lights and velvet paintings. Some consider it a singles spot.The Times at S&W (56 Patton Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-575-9551, opens daily at 5 p.m.)In a wonderful Art Deco building, this bar on the main floor of what used to be Asheville’s best-known cafeteria and meeting space. There’s wine by the glass, craft beers and a nice selection of craft cocktails, some from Prohibition-era recipes. Good Sazeracs.TreeRock Social Cider House (760 Biltmore Ave., Biltmore Village, 828-505-0130, www.treerocksocial.com) in "Upper" Biltmore Village has a large selection of local and other ciders, plus some meads and beers, on tap. It is owned by six women. Closed Mondays.Tressa’s Jazz and Blues Club (28 Broadway, Downtown Asheville, 828-254-7072, www.tressas.com; closed Sun.-Tues.) at one time was a lesbian club, but Tressa’s is now more focused on its jazzy, bluesy music (think New Orleans) though it still gets a significant LGBT crowd. Tressa’s has a full bar. It operates as a private membership club, usually has a cover ($5 or so) and attracts an older crowd than some of the other clubs.Wedge Brewing Co. (125B Roberts St., and 5 Foundy St., River Arts District, 828-505-2792, www.wedgebrewing.com) in the old Farmer’s Federation Building in the River Arts District is one of Asheville’s most popular brewpubs. A kid’s playground and picnic/seating area is outside. The bar doesn’t serve food, except free peanuts, but you can buy Korean BBQ or tacos or other items from food trucks that set up here. In summer, the Wedge shows movies outdoors. The bar is very dog friendly. The new, second location of the Wedge on Foundy Street near 12 Bones, also in the RAD, is cool, too.Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 828-225-9782, www.westvillepub.com) is a popular West Asheville bar with live music many nights. Food is okay but not the main reason to come here.The Whale (507 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, behind Haywood Common restaurant, 828--575-9888, www.thewhaleavl.com). Unlike most Asheville bars that focus on well-known local craft beers and ciders, this one gathers top craft beers from around the country and also the best of international beers. A "whale" in this sense is something that is unusual and hard-to-find, akin to a black swan. The bar has a large whale skeleton (not real) hanging from the ceiling and features the whale theme in designs throughout the bar. The Whale has a rotating selection of 20 draft beers on tap, plus a selection of bottled and canned beers, along with some wines, ciders, meads and sake. Prices are not low. A 5-ounce sampler of most brews is $4, with a 16 oz. class around $8. Bartenders seem knowledgeable. Service is prompt.Wicked Weed Brewing (91 Biltmore Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-575-9599, www.wickedweedbrewing.com), next to the Orange Peel, opened in late 2012 and instantly became one of Asheville’s most popular brewpubs. There’s a good restaurant upstairs, serving pub food and more, including steaks, mussels and trout, in a beautifully built out space with raw brick and a glassed-in open kitchen. The tasting room and brewery are downstairs, and there's a takeout shop beside the pub. Wicked Weed, which was purchased by beverage giant AB InBev, also operates the Funkatorium, which specializes in sour beer.Wxyz Bar at Aloft Hotel (51 Biltmore Ave., Downtown Asheville, 828-232-2838, www.aloftashevilledowntown.com) is on the second floor of the hotel. You can sit at stools at the bar, in chairs in eye-popping colors or sip your drink on an outdoor ledge patio overlooking Biltmore Avenue. Re:mix lounge, connected to Wxyz bar, has free Wi-Fi and a pool table.

Reposted from a blog post I did earlier this year titled A Local's Guide to Nashville 2013.I happened to get carried away recently writing this up for an acquaintance coming to town. Thought I would spread it around instead of letting it go stale in my sent items.If I had four nights to spend in Nashville, I would hit the following. Naturally I don't know what you guys are into, so hopefully some of these will fit.Where to StayBreakfastLunchDinnerDrinksThings to See and ShoppingTake a DriveWhere to StayHutton Hotel - Downtown Nashville Hotels - Nashville Boutique HotelI like this place. It's easy to get in and out of and about as centrally located in Nashville as you can get. Midtown is just a couple of blocks, downtown is a bit farther, but an easy cab ride, and you can easily jump over to East Nashville or head west to Belle Meade if you'd like. It's modern, relatively new (just a few years) and has a good bar and dining option downstairs.Union Station Hotel - Historic Nashville Hotel Offering Boutique Accommodations and Service - Union StationYou can always go 5 star and stay in the Nashville Luxury Hotel, The Hermitage Hotel, Downtown Nashville, TN. Very cool and right downtown. However, I think the Union Station Hotel is pretty cool. Although I haven't been in the rooms in a while, the location is right next door to the Frist Center for Visual Arts - Nashville, TN Community Art Gallery and you can easily walk downtown.BlackBerry Farm Luxury Hotel and ResortWhile not exactly local, this luxury resort sits at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you wanted to have an overnight stay in luxury near the mountains, I'd say go for it. There are lots of great things about this spot but S-E-R-V-I-C-E is second to no place in the world I've ever stayed.You can have just about anything you ask for. If they don't have it, they will arrange to get it right away. Hand shaved truffles on grits, one-on-one fly fishing lessons, a hot air balloon ride - all on a moments notice. You can even hit the private sporting clay range while your significant other is at the spa. After dinner, roast marshmallows for s'mores at the fire pit. First class.My house is pretty good but service and availability is very limited :-)BreakfastThe Pancake PantryIf you like pancakes (get the sweet potato variety) with a side of eggs and toast, then standing in line at this Nashville institution is a must. It's in the Hillsboro Village neighborhood in Nashville between the campuses of Vanderbilt and Belmont and you can check out some of the shops while you are there such as Located in Historic Hillsboro Village – BookManBookWoman is Nashville's Bookstore.Marche Artisan FoodsEuropean style breakfast here. Good stuff.Barista Parlor | Nashville, TNThis is the coffee shop that all of the baristas who work at other coffee shops go to for a fantastic pull of joe. It's in an old transmission repair shop and pours the most flavorful coffees I've ever had from around the world. So if you are a coffee connoisseur, don't miss this joint. It also happens that they serve a mean buttermilk biscuit, made fresh daily, with your choice of egg, sausage, bacon or jelly. Fantastic.Noshville Authentic New York DelicatessenNew York Delicatessen. Been around a long time and is a hopping place for breakfast in midtown.Tavern - http://www.mstreetnashville.com/tavern/Sunday brunch? An absolute must. Great food, lively place.fidoHave to throw this one in. Great place. Lots of people meeting/networking and jittering while staring at their computer. Good breakfast here - that comes out way faster than your drink.LunchBurger Up 12South or Welcome to The PharmacyWhile I cannot argue that either of these is better for a burger than the Nashville shrine http://www.rotiersrestaurant.com or hard hitting Gabbys Burgers and Fries ‹ Living the dream! (giant, melt-in-your-mouth burgers), they are both new, really good options. While Rotier's is one of Nashville's oldest most authentic joints, these two also serve up great burgers. All three have bars while The Pharmacy is the only one with a killer beer garden.If you happen to hit Burger Up, go right next door afterward for homemade and unique popsicles at Las Paletas - Photos - Google+. Mexican Caramel is BAM!Mas Tacos Por FavorIf you happen to hit The Pharmacy in East Nashville for just a beer, across the street you will find Mas Tacos - a can't miss for made-fresh-daily tacos. The owner Teresa started out with one of the first gourmet food trucks in Nashville when that craze hit a few years ago. She has since grown into a cool location and continues to make super-fresh, cheap tacos.arnolds nashville, tn - Google MapsIf you are feeling the meat and three option (aka soul food, aka country cookin'), Arnold's is one of the most popular in town. At lunch the line will stretch to the door and beyond but it's cafeteria style and moves quickly. If you want to be assured a table, just go a little early or after peak hours to beat the mixed crowd of suits and ties, blue collar workers, and college kids alike.Page on ThewildcowVegetarian? This is the place to go. Food is delicious.KalamatasGreat mediterranean on your mind? Look no further. This is it.Page on HotdiggitydogstnSimply the best hot dogs in town in a fun little old house. Done and done.Bella NashvilleIf you do the Welcome to NashTrash Tours! tour, you'll find yourself at the Nashville Farmers' Market. Depending on timing, you can grab some authentic Neapolitan-style pizza at Bella (Did I mention that I LOVE PIZZA!). Or, if you are looking for something a little more spicy, Nashville, and Guy Fiery, rave about the Curried Goat at Page on Jamaicawaycatering - also located inside the farmers market.Monell's - http://www.monellstn.com/Simply a must if you are visiting and want to go for something different. It’s family style so you’ll meet new people and the food is great. You won't regret it. There are lots of locations but the original is in my neighborhood (Germantown). It's the best.Far East Nashville Vietnamese CuisineThere are several good places for Vietnamese in town (Page on Nashvillescene - Kien Giang probably being the best) but I usually end up at Far East for my bowl of traditional Pho. Service could be a little better but the food is good and location is convenient to a bunch of new little artisan shops next door.Prince's Hot Chicken ShackAnother Nashville institution, Hot chicken food that is a Nashville original. This place is slow and molasses during peak lunch hours but if you get to the door first, or go later in the afternoon, you'll enjoy an unusual Nashville favorite.baja burritoNashville's home for the giant rolled burrito. Unlike the chains though, it's REALLY good.The Anatolia Turkish Restaurant ~ Specializing in Shish Kabobs, Seafood and Vegetarian, Nashville, TNDon't let the strip mall setting throw you off. This place is great for lunch or dinner. They have a nice Turkish red wine I get when I'm there having the lamb chops. Ask to "just walk them through the kitchen" to get them nice and rare. The hummus is also really great to start and you have to wrap up with a Turkish coffee.Desano Pizza - Pizza Tradizionale di Napoli - The CrossroadsDid I mention that I love PIZZA!?! Different take on authentic traditional pizza. Dig it.Nashville's Finest DelicatessenI go here all the time for lunch. While I'm sure they have other fantastic menu items, I cannot stop eating the Turkey Avacado and Bacon sandwich long enough to try anything else.DinnerJust as many cities have seen a food renaissance, Nashville has had one of its own. While nothing is new under the sun, these newly-on-their-own, yet experienced chefs, have hit the ground running with good simple food. So, if you want to take a turn at some of Nashville's latest dining experiences, here are my top picks. Good people putting new spins on old classics in a laid back and cool atmosphere.Home | The Catbird Seat Restaurant | Nashville, TNI'll start off with what I consider our current crown jewel of the dining scene. The Catbird seat is that sort of latest foray into fine, interactive, dining where there isn't so much of a menu but rather chef's Josh and Erik preparing a creative meal each evening made up of several delicious dishes.While still a casual setting, the price is not. I guarantee that you will be knocked out by the food and wine pairings but the price might sting a little as well. Although around $400 for a couple, you'll still need to make reservations well in advance.Written up recently Conde Naste among many others, it's a pretty hot thing right now.http://thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com/PDF/2012/November/Conde%20Nast%20Traveler,%20November%202012%20copy.pdfRolf and DaughtersThis restaurant is just down the block from my home in the Page on Historicgermantown neighborhood. Although there isn't much to see in Germantown as a visitor (sort of a gritty reviving neighborhood of homes - Nashville's first 'suburb' in fact), there are several great restaurants. R&D is the newest of those and does very simple yet fantastic dishes. It is located in the ground floor of the old power plant building of the Werthan Mills property (now a condo conversion).CITY HOUSE NashvilleAlso in my neighborhood and just up the block is City House. So much has been written up about this place in the past 2-3 years that I cannot cover it all. Easy place to eat, great food and probably the best Neapolitan-style pizza in town. Simple, Italian farm style food. Highly recommended - ESPECIALLY the Sunday evening menu that is completely different than the regular daily menu and is fantastic.Silo Restaurant | Farm to Fork Dining | Nashville TNYet another newby in my neighborhood, Silo is all about the farm-to-table movement. Good food and offers a really nice brunch on Sunday.Lockland Table - http://lockelandtable.com/To wrap up this particular style of dining options, Lockland Table is in East Nashville - just across the river from my neighborhood and downtown. Really good scene, similar food to those above and really good.The Goose is Loose! - homeKnow that the position in this list has nothing to do with the quality of food and dining experience! I believe The Silly Goose to be the best restaurant in Nashville right now. Period.The Goose is small and also located in East Nashville. It's not "fine" dining but rather VERY fresh, healthy food that is made with care from local, organic produce by the chef and owner, Roderick (aka Roscoe).I watched this guy start out just trying to catch a break a couple of years ago and have supported him and this restaurant 100%. Although great for dinner, lunch is an easy option too. Don't miss it if you are into their menu.And while dessert at the Goose shouldn't be missed (seriously), next door is Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. I don't know what to tell you here about solving the dessert dilemma but even if you have dessert at the goose, you still need some from Jenni's. In the summertime, the Goat Cheese with Cherries is insane.East Nashville Pizza with New York StyleNeighborhood pizza joint with beer options? I love pizza and eat here often. When I’m not in the mood for traditional Neapolitan pizza, this is my go to place.Nashville Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine BarWhile I hate to say a chain is our best steak option, the facts are the facts.DrinksInto beer? You can visit local brew joints Fat Bottom Brewery | Nashville, TN, Jackalope - http://jackalopebrew.com/ or Yazoo - http://www.yazoobrew.com/. These are new ones and little more cool. Some older versions are Blackstone, Boscos, and Big River. Beyond the breweries you can get good beer selections, and good food for that matter, at Welcome | 12 South Taproom and Grill | Nashville, TN.The Tap room is located in a neighborhood called 12 South so, while you are there, you might take a walk down the street. It's mostly restaurants that are all good such as Edley's BBQ, Burger Up and etcetera.Wanna go for a deep dive? Hit SPRINGWATER on Myspace for an old-school Nashville working man's bar. Now it's a bit hip with the young crowd but they haven’t ruined it just yet. Beware - in Nashville you can still smoke in bars designated as 21+ but if they serve food and allow under 21, no smoking.I haven't even been to Santa's Pub yet, but it's rumored to be one of the more interesting joints around - in a trailer - if you feel like exploring!No 308 - About - Google+The speakeasy-style The Patterson House in midtown is nice. Certainly cannot go wrong there. Great drinks - ask for a Bacon Old Fashioned. Cool atmosphere and just downstairs from Home | The Catbird Seat Restaurant | Nashville, TN I mentioned for food. However, if you want to get the same quality drink for less, in a place that was voted Nashville's best new bar in 2011, visit 308. You can even talk to people while standing up!Almost as much I love pizza, I love the Barbarella - a slightly different take on the Old Fashioned. Get it.Speaking of "Best of", you might want to check out http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/best-of-nashville-2011-food-and-beverage-writers-choice/Content?oid=2644437. It's the go-to source for http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/CalendarHome/Page who's playing where and what's fresh and good.Virago - http://www.mstreetnashville.com/viragoThis place moved to a new location a while back and it's pretty cool. For a long time it's been one of the places to see and be seen (if you are into that). Drinks and food are good (especially Sushi) but they aren't giving either of them away for cheap.Whiskey Kitchen - http://www.mstreetnashville.com/whiskey-kitchenJust across the street and owned by the same guy. Cool place with lots of people on certain nights.The 5 Spot Live " Event CalendarSort of a musicians hangout of sorts. I've yet to go actually but I hear good things.Melrose Pub - http://ml-rose.com/Great neighborhood pub with good burgers.Take a DrivePage on CyclemosAs an avid motorcyclist (Nashville Motorcycle Collective), I have to say Nashville, and Tennessee in general, have some of the best roads. You don't need a motorcycle to enjoy them but let's be honest - isn't everything better on a bike?For a nice little trip, with a destination at the end, is one to Cyclemo's located in Red Boiling Springs, TN. (Yes, Red Boiling Springs. Cool name but Bucksnort might have it beat... by a nose!) It's about 75 miles one-way and I encourage you to take the two-lane twisty roads for the full experience - Nashville, TN to Cyclemos Motorcycle Museum - at least one-way there.Lots of popular stops rolled into a single trip - Loveless Cafe, Natchez Trace, Home| Historic Leiper's Fork Village, Downtown Franklin Tennessee, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey.Daytrip alert! If you're not into bikes, but are still into small towns and curvy roads, a trip to the Jack Daniel's Distillery with lots of fun stops along the way might be interesting. If you choose to go, get started early and make it a day by heading over to Nashville's historic Loveless Cafe for breakfast - just yards from the beginning of the Natchez Trace. After that, take the trace for a few miles before jumping off and visiting Leiper's Fork.Leiper's Fork is a very small village but is a big weekend destination for performances, antiques, and art. It’s even known as a spot for celebrity spotting such as Ashley and Wynonna Judd, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, Niki Taylor, Mike Wolfe (of American Pickers) and others who come to hang out like everyone else.There are several little shops and a couple of art galleries there along with the gas station - Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant of Leiper's Fork, TN. Puckett's - that doubles as a spot for writer's nights in the evenings. If you stick around for lunch, don't miss Joe Naturals Farm Store and Cafe if you happen to get hungry after that Loveless Cafe breakfast. My favorite is their killer veggie bowl followed by a homemade cookie.You can then cruise right on over to downtown Franklin and hit the shops there and grab a mid-morning coffee before moving along to the distillery tour. Or, if you are feeling like checking out a genuine plantation tour, stop by Carnton Plantation - http://www.carnton.org/carnton_history.htm - purportedly haunted and complete with bullet holes and blood stains. This is probably http://goo.gl/maps/lX5up the best route for the day if you go.Things to See and ShoppingThe Cupcake Collection | HomeJust a few blocks from my home, this family makes delicious cupcakes. Not only are they best in town, they don't cost $5 each. More importantly, the Francois family is one of the nicest and most genuine families you'll ever meet.You know how some places start out humble and great but then they soon replace the people behind the counter with grumpy souls who never get enough sleep and don't care? Not here. Since my first visit on the first week, they have maintained a pleasant attitude that makes you want to keep coming back.http://thirdmanrecords.com/The Nashville music scene is diverse. Always has been more so than visitors think. Nevertheless, a few years ago Jack White of the White Stripes relocated to Nashville, along with the Black Keys, and pumped some new blood into our music scene. While artists of all genres have recorded in Nashville for decades, these guys choose to keep a place in town with the likes of Kings of Leon and Robert Plant. Anyway, not a very big place (unless you catch a performance in the back), but you can pick up some new bands on vinyl by stopping by here.Lazzaroli Pasta http://www.lazzaroli.com/Also in my neighborhood, this small Italian grocery makes fresh pasta and excellent sauce. You can stop by for some cheese and salami but a CANNOT MISS is their tiramisu. It's the best you'll ever have. I guarantee it.The Carl Van Vechten GalleryLocated on the campus of Fisk University, The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Modern American and European Art includes works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, Auguste-Pierre Renoir, Henri deToulouse-Lautrec, Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Demuth, Marsden Hartley, and Arthur Dove. It's a small but very neat and interesting gallery. Worth a short visit.http://peternappi.com/I know Phillip and Dana personally and love their story. They make great Italian boots. They also have, by far and away, the coolest studio workspace around and can be found back over in my neighborhood (Germantown).Their studio is in the mechanical building of an old slaughterhouse along the Cumberland River. It's a great place to just go browse around at boots and chill but they also have some killer vintage furniture, cool hats, and very nice bags. Don't miss it.http://www.cheekwood.org/This is a great place to take a walk around the gardens to see sculptural art.imogene + willieLooking for some cool, ultra-hip, selvedge blue jeans made in Music City USA? Go here and check out their jeans and other clothing in this small gas-station-turned-jean store. Matt and Carrie are good people and I’m a big fan of what they are doing to bring manufacturing back to the USA.Mike Wolfe | American Pickers | Antique Archaeology | History ChannelSeen the show American Pickers? Visit this place. It's in the old Marathon Motor Works building and is pretty cool. Walk around a bit and then check out the homemade marshmallows from next door at Hand made gourmet marshmallows half dipped in Belgian chocolate, enliven drinks and desserts with our delicious syrups The Bang Candy Company. Flavors change daily but toasted coconut and chocolate chili marshmallow (both chocolate dipped) are my favorites.While you are there, take a tour of the Corsair Distillery and have a drink then stop by Emil Erwin and Page on Otisjamesnashville shared studio to check out really nice leather bags from Emil and custom hats and ties from Otis. Good guys.Hatch Show Print - http://countrymusichalloffame.org/our-work/This is right on Broadway just down from the honky tonks. It's a must see for a souvenir as it is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America. Go pick up a really cool poster from some famous performer and you'll instantly be cooler for it.But if you want something even a little more edgy and not so common from a local guy doing awesome stuff, go visit Bryce McCloud at A Letterpress Print and Design Studio Isle of Printing. Bryce is a creative artist and has some really cool stuff I promise you will enjoy. He's also a really fun guy to talk to.Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumFor obvious reasons.First Saturday Art CrawlIf you are in town on the first Saturday of the month, this is a blast. Free wine (albeit of the cheap variety), interesting art, and good people in some neat spaces. Be sure to check out The Rymer Gallery and say hello to curator and artist Herb Williams.http://fristcenter.org/Depending on what you are into, really good place to check out. Converted from our original Art Deco post office downtown.http://www.schermerhorncenter.com/I have to say that I haven't seen a bad performance here. Ever. This hall is state-of-the-art new so the acoustics are fantastic. I have never gone just for the symphony but rather performers who are sometimes backed up by the orchestra. If you see something you like here during your visit, ya gotta go.Page on RadnorlakeThis is a really nice and easy trail that you can do in less than an hour. If you want more, you can take the ridge trail which is a little tougher and takes about 1.5 hours. I and my wife go here all the time. It's great.Lucchese - since 1883I don't rock the cowboy boots much (not that there's anything wrong with that), but if you want some really nice custom cowboy boots not typical of what's downtown, stop by here for endless options.http://www.capitolgrillenashville.com/oak-bar.aspxAs you know the men's restroom at the Hermitage Hotel is a big attraction (yes, it's okay and generally accepted that women check it out while men are there). It adjoins the Oak Bar which is kind of cool in the oldest and nicest hotel (5 star) in Nashville. A neat place to visit if you are around there.http://http://www.thehermitage.com/Although I'm sure you are all set on early American history, you can check out the home of Andrew Jackson without wondering too far from downtown Nashville. (This is nowhere near the aforementioned Hermitage Hotel.)The Mall at Green HillsThis mall has come a long way since I moved to town. It now has by far the best shopping in town under one roof. Your regular mall stuff like Nordstrom, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry. For less fancy options, maybe the Opry Mills Mall or head over to the Hills Center Green Hills on a nice day.Parthenon (Nashville)The Parthenon has a museum inside and is in Centennial Park right in the middle of town. It's a full scale copy of the original Greek Parthenon with an awesome gold leaf Athena inside.Grimey's New & Preloved MusicThe coolest record store in town with great selections and even more interesting performances.PerformancesGrand Ole Opry - Opry.comCertainly one of Nashville's best known events, so you will need to check their site and book your tickets ahead of time. Sometimes they know who is coming but often there are surprise guests.Ryman Auditorium - Official Website - Nashville, TNAs the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, this is literally the church of country music. However, since it's resurrection and savior from the wrecking ball (all puns intended), this venue has been home to an assortment of acts spanning every musical genre. If someone happens to be playing who you are interested in seeing, and that happens while you are in town, this is a must to put on your calendar. Get your tickets and enjoy.While I haven't recommended any of the places in the downtown tourist district, the Ryman shares and alley between some of Nashville's infamous broadway Honkey Tonks.I believe Nashville's best BBQ is found at http://jacksbarbque.com/ just across the alley. Even if you don't hit the Ryman, some evening you might want to grab a longneck and listen to a band or two (the later the better) at Tootsies World Famous Orchid Lounge in Downtown Nashville, http://robertswesternworld.com/ (known for the "Recession Special" - a fried bologna sandwich, chips, and a PBR for only $5), and The Stage on Broadway. You can even head across the street to Paradise Park for a true trailer park themed bar.Lonnie's Western Room - Karaoke BarWhere better to listen to Karaoke than Nashville? If you find yourself downtown a little later in the night and your expectations are low, head over to The Printers Alley and poke your head into Lonnie's. You can order a bucket of longnecks and watch people make fools of themselves until you have finished enough longnecks to join them.If it's REALLY late, stick your head in next door at Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar to see local studio musicians mixing with aspiring wannabes and trading places on stage playing anything and everything. For some solid blues, head one more door down to Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar. Good stuff there.Nashville Jazz Workshop | HomeIf you want to take in some jazz in a cool basement floor of an old factory building in Germantown, go here. Great performances, really cool venue and nice people. Bring your own bottle of wine.Page on StationinnIf you've ever wanted to at least sample bluegrass, the best is found right here. The Station Inn always has the best from acts like The Time Jumpers and The SteelDrivers. It's a simple place in http://www.nashvillegulch.com/ where condos have replaced empty railcar fields. They serve cans or longnecks, popcorn, and hotdogs with picnic tables for seating.Tennessee Performing Arts Center : TPACDepending on when you come, you might catch a play or comedian at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Good spot.http://musiccityroots.com/If you happen to be in town on a Wednesday night, a new take on the Opry broadcast is Music City Roots. It is live from the Loveless Barn right behind the Loveless Cafe. A good venue.http://douglascorner.com/More country music without the tourist Broadway stuff? Take this one in. Just across the street from our comedy club, Zanies Comedy Clubs, where there are lots of good acts passing through regularly.http://www.3rdandlindsley.com/Very popular spot for performances of all kinds. Local setting and lots of talented bands.The Bluebird Cafe | Nashville, TNYou have to go here if you are doing "the Nashville thing".Believe it or not, that's not all but these are mostly places for adults and for locals... sometimes. I hope you enjoy your trip and if you get into any trouble, give me a call.