Honky Tonking

When we realized this year our wedding anniversary was on a Friday, Hubby Tony decided to take a vacation day so we could go on an adventure. He came up with a list of places we could get to in the car within 5-6 hours. We talked it over, and decided on Nashville.

"Music City" was a natural place for us to go.  Tony and I like to listen to a wide variety of music.  Country is one of them, specifically classic country and bluegrass. It's hard to find them performed live around here, but if we went to the country music Mecca there'd be plenty to see.

Mapquest said the drive from St. Louis to Nashville could be done in as little as 6 hours, but our trip took a couple of hours more than that.  We went out of the way for lunch, then took scenic, but lower-speed state roads across Illinois to Paducah.  Once we headed south on Interstate 24 we encountered road work which slowed us down even more.  We finally pulled into Nashville about 5:00 

Our first stop after we parked the car was a visitor's center.  We came out of the center with maps, tourist information, and restaurant recommendations, collected our suitcases from the car, then walked to our condo, which was in a converted warehouse building right in the middle of everything we wanted to do.   After we unpacked our bags we read the visitor information and made our evening plans.

Crowds on Broadway

For dinner we went to Demos' Restaurant , which was recommended by the clerk at the visitor center.  Their specialties were spaghetti and steaks.  We sampled both, along with salads and fresh-from-the oven rolls.  Everything was good, and I walked out of there feeling like I wouldn't need to eat again for a very long time.

After dinner we walked up and down Second Avenue and Broadway, where there are dozens of places to hear music.  They all had their doors open (and none had a cover charge). If we heard something we liked from the sidewalk we'd go in, then move on to the next place as the spirit moved us. Most places were playing "new" country or rowdy country party music, and both the bands and the audiences were having a good time.

Each block also had street musicians who'd set up shop on the sidewalk. Sometimes we'd stop and listen and sometimes we'd walk right by; I had a stash of dollar bills in my pocket to tip the ones I liked best.

I knew it was time to call it a night when I started falling asleep sitting on a barstool while loud music played around me.  Tony and I listened to the last of the night's music as we walked past the honky tonks on the way back to our condo. 

Five years ago today: New Thing #207--A Preview