Nashville Tennessee Living

Nashville Originals 

Discounted Restaurant Gift Certificates One Day Only!

I just received the email from Nashville Originals that Wednesday December 14, 2011 their gift certificates will go on sale for 30 to 40% discount!

Nashville Originals is a collection of 48 Locally Owned Independent restaurants who have joined together to support one another and to increase their overall visibility. They are some of my personal favorite restaurants around town.

These discounted gift cards will sell out quickly. Usually by 8:30am they tell me! Go to their Instagift website and order your cards!

This is you way to support Local Businesses at a discount. It's a win win!

ENJOY!

Free Christmas Events in Nashville TN 

Week of December 12th, 2011

December 13

Merry Tuba Christmas - This is one of my favorite annual FREE events! There will be 2 performances, 11am and 12:30pm at the First Baptist Church at 108 Seventh Avenue in Downtown Nashville. This 45 performance features 45 Tubas playing Christmas Carols. Parking is free in the Church parking lot. The performance is free but they will collect donations for the downtown Presbyterian Church's Homeless lunch program.

December 14

Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert benefiting Room in the Inn at 7pm at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway. This concert will have many local musicians and several surprise guests! One never knows who they will see at this concert. The concert is free, but they are suggesting a $20 donation to Room at the Inn. 255-7729

December 16 December 18

Christmas with Amanda at the Nashville Public Library downtown at Noon. Amanda has been playing the piano since she was 3. Now you can enjoy a break from work or shopping and hear her perform some of her favorite Christmas melodies. 612 Church Street. 862-5800

The Polar Express will be shown on the downtown square in Murfreesboro by the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and lots of warm clothing! This outdoor movie will begin at 6pm.

December 18

Brentwood United Methodist Church's Festival of Carols with the 100 member Chancel Choir and Orchestra of Brentwood. 7pm at 309 Franklin Road in Brentwood. The concert will be conducted by Bill Caldwell and will include many of your favorite Christmas Carols. 327-7249

The Schola Pacis' Festival of Lessons and Carols at Christ the King Church. This spectacular event will start at 3pm. The Church is located at 3001 Belmont Boulevard. www.scholapacis.com

Oktoberfest Nashville TN

Saturday October 8th, 2011 the 32nd Anniversary of the original Oktoberfest will take place in Germantown from 9am to 6pm!

At 9:30, the day will begin with services and tours at two of Germantown's Historic churches, Assumption Catholic Church and Monroe Street United Methodist Church.

Then for the rest of the day you can eat and drink your way through the Booths of Arts, Antiques, Crafts and Specialty Items. The Beer Garden will have live music, Beer and Food.

When you're not hiding out in the Beer Garden, enjoy the Street Performers, try a little Polka Dancing or nibble on the fresh Baked German treats!

There will be special Germantown exhibits, a petting zoo with over 20 animals and Funland for the kids.

Nashville's Oktoberfest will be located two blocks north of the Farmers Market at 7th and Monroe.

If that isn't enough fun for you, head over to the Germantown Street Festival on Jefferson Street.

The Germantown Street Festival starts at 8am with the 5K Bier Run through Bicentennial Mall and the Farmers Market! There will be lots of music, including the "Jazz in the Shade" stage featuring local artists and faculty from the Nashville Jazz Workshop.

There will also be booths of Food, Crafts, and Other items to buy. You might just want to relax in the shaded Wine Garden and just watch the Pooch Parade at 1pm.

You can't help but have a great time this Saturday!

ARTOBER Nashville October 1st to the 31st

 Metro Nashville Arts Commission and NowPlayingNashville.com are hosting Artober to celebrate October as the National Arts and Humanities month

Their desire is that every Nashvillian will experience the Arts in the month of October. There are many events throughout the area including visual and performing arts, music, crafts and film. Below is a list and a link to their site for many more events!

Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival Saturday October 1 at Centennial Park. This is a free event and will feature over 60 music and dance performances at 5 different stages. The World Market will have hand-crafted items from around the world. There will be costumes, food and many things from around the world.

Sideshow Fringe Festival: Music City's Progressive Performing Arts Festival, September 29-October 2nd. Fringe Festivals offer exposure for alternative performers. This is presented by Actors Bridge Ensemble at Belmont University in the Black Box Theatre in Troutte Theatre Complex. This is a new event and sure to entertain will fire-eaters, puppeteers, jugglers and all the plays and musicals!

Regions FREE Day of Music at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Saturday October 1st. There will be free musical performances all day long beginning at 10am. You'll hear everything from Classical to Jazz. The final performance at 9:30pm will be RUMBA!

First Saturday Art Crawl - This is an ongoing event that happens the First Saturday of EVERY month. Multiple downtown galleries open their doors to art lovers and offer drinks and appetizers along the way!

This should keep you busy this month!

Nashville Run/Walk to Raise Money for Charities

Saturday September 24, 2011 There are many opportunities to support your favorite Charities this weekend! Whether you run or walk, everyone can participate!

Walk to Cure Diabetes, 8:30am Bicentennial Capitol Mall - Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served. There will be live music and a kids zone. All proceeds will go to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Nashville Cares AIDS Walk, 10am to 3pm This is the first year the event has added a 5k for those fitness participants. the Festivities will take place at Riverfront Park with American Idol alum Kimberly Locke headlining the afternoon concert!

Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run, It looks like the only thing running will be the Motorcycles! Registration is 9am to 10:30 with a parade beginning at 11am. The cost to enter is $10 and an unwrapped toy. This will be at Lot N at LP Field.

Then if you really just want to exercise hard, there is the 2nd annual Women's Half Marathon and 5K.

If you live in the surrounding counties, there are several more runs available to you. Here is a List of 5K runs for September 24, 2011.

TACA Fall Craft Fair September 23 to 25, 2011

The 33rd Annual Fall Craft Fair presented by the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA) begins Friday September 23 at 10am!

Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Centennial Park will be the home of over 200 fine arts craftsmen from across the United States!

Celebrated Artist, Olen Bryant will do a special Guest Demonstration on Saturday from 1 to 3:30pm for a rare behind the scene look at how he creates his art! Bryant, a founder of the organization has spent over 35 years as an exhibitor and has been a huge influence on the fine craft artists. Some of Bryant's well known pieces include the sleeping stones, clay angels and his wood figures.

The TACA Fall Craft Fair will have something for the whole family. The event is Free and parking is Free! Set in beautiful Centennial Park, it's the perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon enjoying Nashville's marvelous fall weather!

The 4th Annual Great Nashville Duck Race

The Great Nashville Duck Race is Monday September 19, raising money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.

There will be 10,000 cute yellow ducks with numbers on their bottoms, dropped from the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge at 1pm. They will then race down the Cumberland River.

Everyone who adopts a duck will be entered into E-Quack. This is a program that can store all the information.Right before the race, the Duck Mix occurs, shuffling all the numbers and the entries, assigning tag numbers to each entry. All you have to do is stand on the banks and cheer!

All proceeds from the race will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee's After School Programs.

Adopt a Duck today! Ducks are only $5 each.

The winner of the race, the "lucky duck" WINS $10,000! There are lots of other prizes and a great kids zone.

Find a great place at Riverfront Park to watch the race!

Nashville TN Things to Do September 16-18, 2011

Nashville is bursting with things to do this weekend and with this fine Fall Weather we're having, it would be a shame not to pick at least one of them! Not all of these events are in Nashville, but those that are not, are easily done as a fun day trip!

Buchanan Log House Fall Folk Festival- Step back in time and see how they did the chores in the early 19th Century! Enjoy music, dancing and period characters! 10am - 5pm Saturday

Henry Horton State Park hosts Step Back in Time Festival- 1800's craft fair, country petting zoo, games demonstrations and all things from a different time! Sure fun for the whole family! Friday and Saturday!

Greenway Art Festival in Murfreesboro at the Old Fort Park- 10am to 4pm Saturday enjoy Artisans, Music and Children's activities. Call for details 615-893-2141

National Rolley Hole Championships at Standing Stone State Park- This 28th Annual Festival will be a celebration to Marbles! The traditional Marbles Contest draws some of the country's best marble players. This one-of-a-kind event will match wits and skills on a smooth dirt surface! There will be Live Bluegrass Music, a Marble Swap, Marble making and all types of activities!

African Street Festival- This 29th annual event features all types of music and 15 ethnic cuisines! The African American Cultural Alliance hosts this festival at the Hadley Park Band Shell. Shows begin tonight September 16th at 6pm and continue Saturday and Sunday 11am to 9pm.

Dancing in the Park at Long Hunter State Park- Tonight, Friday September 16th is the last of the Dancing in the Park series. there will be Swing/Big Band music, as well as some Jitterbug, Salsa, Bop and Waltz! Begin the evening with some Swing Dance lessons with Ranger Ponda! Dancing starts at 7pm.

The Tennesse State Fair continues through the weekend

The weatherman says we can expect sunny skies and temperature in the mid 70's. There is NO REASON to not get out and enjoy our beautiful fall weather!

2011 Dog Day Festival and Music City Mutt Strutt

Saturday September 17th!

Last year over 7500 dog owners and their four-legged children descended on Centennial Park for a variety of activities all involving pampering their pets!

The Dog Day Festival again will offer a HUGE shopping pavilion that will have the Nashville Humane Association Store, Pet Portraits, Teddy's Wagon, Doggie Arts and Crafts, Great Food and Music!

Throughout the day there will be clinics and contests including:

Best Bark

Cutest Puppy

Prettiest Dog under 40 Pounds

Prettiest Dog over 40 Pounds

Best Trick

Cutest Costume

At Noon the Paws Parade will begin. The Dog Day Spa will be all day, 10am to 4pm, Microchip Clinic 10am to 1pm.

The Music City Mutt Strutt dog walk will take place before all these activities begin.

Registration opens at 8:30 and the Strutt begins at 9:30am. This is a fundraiser for the Nashville Humane Association. Prizes are awarded to the top Fundraisers!

The Top Fundraiser's dog will also win the coveted title of Nashville's TOP DOG!

The Mutt Strutt and Dog Day monies raised allow the Nashville Humane Association to provide care and love to the animals entrusted to us each day.

Grab your leash and your favorite Mutt and come out for some great family fun. There will be plenty of activities for your little TWO legged creatures too!