Nashville Neighborhood Guide: Germantown

Germantown! If you would have asked me 3 years ago if I knew some good places in Germantown, I would have told you the only time I'd been there was for a cool New Year's Eve party in a random warehouse. Sounds totally legit, right?

In the last couple of years, Germantown has really taken off. From the cool loft apartments, to the walkability of some of the city's hottest new restaurants, it's really become a hot spot. To be honest, I'm writing this post from one of my new favorite coffee shops, which just so happens to be in Germantown. More on that in a minute.

Germantown is just north of Downtown Nashville, but still on the south side of the river (if that makes sense).

There are so many great spots in Germantown, and it's easily accessible from Downtown and many other hot spots (like East Nashville and 12th South area). Let's talk about what to do in Germantown!

RESTAURANTS

5th & Taylor
Less than a year old (at time of publishing), 5th & Taylor was a fun date night this year. The cheese plate is killer and the low lighting makes you feel like you're in New York City. AND there's nothing I love more than a wait staff that can explain a wine list to you to help you pick a good glass of red ;) Reservations accepted (and suggested).

5th & Taylor lobby via 

312 Pizza
Chicago style pizza lovers, this is your place. Very casual, very delicious. Great beers on tap and they also have thin crust pizza! Please note it's not the place to go if you're hungry and ready to eat right now - the deep dish pizza takes about 30 minutes to cook.... so have a late snack before you dine or perhaps choose one of their appetizers.

Rolf & Daughters
Another beloved Nashville restaurant. This join will set you back quite a few bucks, but is quite popular with the locals. Everything is locally sourced and mostly home made. I'd say it's non-traditional Italian, but that may be a bad explanation. It was one of the first restaurants to put Germantown on the map, so check it out.

Butchertown Hall
One of the new kids in town is Butchertown Hall. They are a unique combo of German meets Tex-Mex (think tacos AND bratwurst).... which sounds strange but completely works - even for this vegetarian. They've got great cocktails and an amazing patio in the summer. They don't take reservations but it's a fun place to get a drink and brave the long wait times.

Butchertown Hall photo via

City House
City House is a Nashville classic. There's something on the menu for everyone, has the vibe of a very upscale restaurant, but the prices aren't insane. The decor is welcoming and vibe-y, and you can't meet a Nashvillian that doesn't love it! Make a reservation if you can.

Garden Brunch Cafe
Ok, so this technically isn't in Germantown - but I don't know what other neighborhood to place it in.... and it's right across the street. So we'll just say it counts :) Garden Brunch is this cozy little house with great southern cooking that meets brunch. Definitely try one of their Eggs Benedicts.... you won't regret it.

COFFEE

Barista Parlor
The newest member of the Barista Parlor fleet, this third store is taking over Germantown. BP is known for their moto friendly decor, airy spaces, and delicious pour overs. What's fun about BP is that they get new coffee from different places around the country all the time. You can find Damn Handsome, Counter Culture, Stumptown, and many more. You can ALSO find the ever popular Five Daughters Donuts at all of the Barista Parlor locations. YUM.  

Steadfast Coffee
Steadfast takes the cake on my favorite new coffee shop this year. With their fresh coffee soda and their delicious drip, I love visiting this space. Heck, I'm here right now. They also serve up some of my favorite brunch in town these days and it's quite possible to find me here on a Saturday morning. :) They ALWAYS play great music (Dr Dre, Haim, Jimmy Eat World) which makes for a winner in my book. They also do beer on tap so it's a great place for happy hour. Park on the street for best results, as their parking lot is a bit of a s**t show. :) 

Steadfast Coffee photo via

The Red Bicycle
The Red Bicycle was probably the first place I ever went in Germantown, other than that warehouse NYE party. I got crepes with a friend and they were pretty dang good! They also do fun coffee drinks if you're into your lattes. The Celiacs in the house can enjoy any crepe us carb-i-vores can, because Red Bicycle has a GF crepe option! They also have a new location in Woodbine, but this is definitely the adorable original.

TO DO

Nashville Sounds 

Have you been to the new Nashville Sounds Stadium yet? It's soon nice! The old stadium was fine, but it could have been any 25 year old stadium. The new place has great lawn seats (for $7 most times!), and a really swanky bar area with fun lounge chairs and craft beers. They also had a nice wine selection. You can choose from your typical hot dog & popcorn from concession, or visit the artisan stands with street tacos and sauvignon blanc. Guess where I ordered from.... :) We really enjoyed going last year and can't wait until games start up again. Oh yeah, and they play baseball there. But it's just a fun night out. 

Farmer's Market photo via

Nashville Farmer's Market
Totally revamped in the last year is the Farmer's Market. Nashville has tons of local markets (like our Sevier Park FM, East Nashville FM, and the Franklin FM, just to name a few), but this farmer's market is set up in a dedicated facility and runs year round (the rest are seasonal, usually April-November). This market has all your local farmers, dairy and meat venders, but also has a great indoor market with some great restaurants. Including but not limited to, Jeni's Ice Cream, Sloco, and B&C BBQ. It's fun to wander, pick up a few veggies and a snack. I love the new farmer's market and am so glad they changed it! Last year, it was basically a run down flea market. Now the rule is you have to home make/home grow 80% of your product in order to be a vendor. It's great. Definitely worth checking out!

I'm loving all the new possibilities that Germantown has to offer. I also feel like there's something new every day! I think it's a great place to rent an Airbnb if you're visiting or at least coming by for a drink or meal. 

Have you been to Germantown since it's started booming? What do you think?

xo

PS - Other Nashville neighborhood guides

12th South Neighborhood Guide

Downtown Neighborhood Guide 

Updated January 2016

Is Everything Bigger in Texas?

That's what I've heard... but I've actually never been! (Unless you count long layover in the Dallas Airport... which I do not).

I'm headed to the San Antonio area for work next week. Only for 3 days, and it will be pretty jam packed with work... not a lot of free time. We'll be staying near the famous San Antonio Riverwalk, which also happens to be near the Alamo, so I'm sure I'll at least drive/walk past these sites. 

We're opting for hotel, after Airbnb for 2 wasn't as readily available for this trip. We are hoping for an Airbnb to work out for our longer trip (and larger group) in the area, as the "Hill Country" is absolutely gorgeous!

via

What I'm really interested in is FOOD. And COFFEE. Please share your knowledge on the subject. I've done some research, and the only city guide (not provided by the City or Lonely Planet) is this one from 2009. I'd love a more current point of view :) 

In search of: the world's best tex-mex, delicious coffee, farm-to-table vegetables, and of course, any local specialties in the least touristy way possible. Texas, what do you have for me?!

If we had more time (which hopefully we will on our next trip there in April), I'd love to rent bikes and try this trail. Looks like fun! I'd also love to be in town for one of the many farmer's markets. Since I've been researching farms in the area for work, all I've seen is beautiful carts of veggies I wish I was eating! Our farmer's markets are a few months from opening in Nashville, and it can't come soon enough for this herbivore (yes, I know biologically I am an omnivore. People love to correct me.)

Here's a few places I have my eye on (according to research & Yelp reviews). Please alert me if I'm making a tiny huge mistake.

Rosealla Coffee - Breakfast also sounds divine.

Local Coffee - Iced Coffee on tap!

Rosario's - I keep reading about it, so they must be doing tex-mex pretty well.

Green - good lookin' vegetarian menu... 

Have a great weekend, and please let me know if you have any suggestions! I'll let you know if everything is as big as they say.

xo

Grounded

I'm grounded for almost a month.

Not like, "I got in trouble and now I can't go to Homecoming", grounded. 

The kind of grounded where I'm not getting on an airplane for a while :) After being gone for 2 solid months, it's a welcome break. Because after all, one of my favorite parts of traveling is coming back home at the end!

In an effort to embrace my down time, I've decided to Tour My Own Town. Try new things, hang out at places I haven't frequented in a while, make lots of plans with friends, and mostly - maximize the time I spend on my relaxing front porch.

Pour your cup of coffee and let's go

Here are some Nashville-y things I'd like to do while I'm home.

Hit up Arrington Vineyards

A view from the winery. Wait until all of those leaves change!

My favorite. Pouring a glass at home isn't too bad either...

I've already been out once to pick up my quarterly portion of wine (best decision I ever made!) but the weather is so fantastic, I'd love to go again. We play cards, bring a picnic, and enjoy the sunshine & the changing foliage.... YAY!

Work the Coffee Circuit

We have so many great coffee shops here, I'd love to make my rounds. 

8th & Roast

Pinewood Social (they serve Crema Coffee!)

I already went to Frothy Monkey a couple of days ago, but definitely need to hit up 8th & Roast, Crema & try out Woodbine Coffee Co. Has anyone been there yet?

Go to a Local Show

My friends band, Neulore, is playing their CD release show this Sunday. I can't freaking wait.

Try New Restaurants

The Sutler just opened down the street from our house, and I've heard good things about Espice & Flipside in 12th South. Anyone been there yet?

Also, I'm probably the worst vegetarian ever.... because I've never been to the Wild Cow in East Nash. If i'm over that way, I just really want to eat at Silly Goose because it's my favorite!!! But I really want to see what Wild Cow is like.

Seasonal Brews

We have two local breweries in town & some fun places that serve craft beers on tap. I like beer, but really only when it's draft. Craft Brewed  is down the street, AND they have a patio. Sold. I know Jackalope Brewery & Yazoo Brewery make seasonal brews, too. Does anyone know which restaurants carries them on draft?

Host Friends

Some of the Nashville favorites. 

I've missed these friends of mine! Really excited to host brunch for some of our favorite people soon. I've been dreaming up all sorts of delicious brunch fare & I'm really excited to use my home made infused liquors for Bloody Mary's! Does anyone have a good recipe?

All in all, it feels really great to be home & in the swing of things. Sometimes being grounded is nice, eh? Am I missing anything, Nashvillians? Any other city folks interested in #TourYourOwnTown? 

While I'm enjoying Nash, here are the trips I'll be prepping for in October & November:

10 Nights in Italy

4 Nights in Chicago

4 Night Cruise

Stay tuned for packing guides!

xo

Wanderlust Wednesday: Seattle, WA

Happy New Year to all! Now that you're one week in, do you still have a resolution? :)

I didn't really make any this year, but in the back of my mind I want to
- continually make  healthier choices
- travel more
- save more money
- finish fixing up this HOUSE

Hopefully I keep up with the first one... and the other three seem to happen easier for me ;)

Now to channel my second hope for my year, I've got a trip to Seattle happening this weekend. Long story short, but the original reasons for the trip are no longer existent, but my ticket was non refundable.... so Seattle, here I come!

This will be my second trip ever to Seattle, and I get to go again in April to assist Sharyn in getting MARRIED, and i'm so glad I can go twice in a short period of time! Because I freaking love it there.

Some places I'd highly recommend:

Using AirBNB.com - We stayed here and it was the best decision. It was about 7 blocks from Pikes Market and right by a major bus line. Not to mention we had a 2br condo for half the price of a 200 sq foot hotel room! Holler.

Portage Bay Cafe - Delicious brunch. They even have a 'toppings bar' full of fresh berries and other treats if you order french toast or pancakes.

Chocolati - Cute little coffee shop/chocolate shop in the Wallingford area.

Bauhaus Books and Coffee - Near downtown Seattle, good coffee, but awesome vibe. Has a wall full of books. I loved it.

Skillet Diner - Definitely not your mamas diner. The atmosphere was perfect and the food was divine. In the Ballard area.

Ferry to Bainbridge Island - it's really inexpensive and a nice 30 minute trip. Bainbridge Island is this cute small town with a bunch of wonderful shops and restaurants. We ate here and had ice cream here. Going there was one of my favorite nights of our trip!

Hiking Poo Poo Point - Besides it's funny name, Poo Poo Point is one of the best views i've ever seen - you can clearly see Mt. Reiner and it's beautiful. It's located in Issaquah, about 30 minutes from Seattle. The trail is moderate (a few steep points for this Florida girl, but nothing you can't handle!) Probably about a 3 hour round trip hike. On our way out, we stopped at the Issaquah Brewhouse, which is a Rogue brewery, which was a lot of fun. And well deserved after our hike!


This time, I know a few things we'll be doing:

Snowboarding at Crystal Mountain - Now let's review... I'm not very good. But it's fun! And I got my very own snowboard for Christmas from my wonderful husband :)

apparently she's a good one. i'll let ya know. via Forum

Dinner at Radiator Whisky for Traci's Birthday - this place looks AMAZING. Grilled Goat Cheese and Tomato Jam sandwich is looking like the winner... plus one of their signature cocktails, please.

Planning Sharyn's Bachlorette weekend in Victoria, BC! This i'm super excited about, because I've had BC on my list for a while now. From what I hear, it's amazing. So i'm pumped.

Drinking more coffee than I could imagine - which is fine with me, because I LOVE IT! I'd like to try here, here, and here (looks like fun!).

Have you been to Seattle? Any tips to offer? Also taking any tips from experienced visitors to Victoria, BC! xo

DIY Almond Milk + Almond Milk Cinnamon Sugar Coffee Creamer + Almond Meal (or almond flour)

I've been drinking almond milk for years, because i've always been weary of too much dairy in my system. And to be completely honest, i'd rather save my dairy consumption for cheese.

I always thought drinking the unsweetened, 40 calories, plain almond milk was healthy, and most likely only included almonds as the ingredients! I also was wondering how to "milk" an almond.......

Turns out my unsweetened almond milk wasn't as healthy as i thought (and i won't lie.... i tried to turn Matt from regular milk to almond milk since i'm kinda convinced he's lactose intolerant and i thought it was better for him!)

i can't say most of those words.

Low in calories, and the fat included is of course good fat from nuts! But what is D-alpha-tocopherol....?


Well, you learn something new every day.

So i decided i was going to milk my own almonds.... somehow.

I did a little research, and learned about something called a cheese cloth. They also make ones for nuts, called nut milk bags. I bought mine here.

The entire process is so easy, you aren't going to believe it. It would actually take you longer to *go* to the store and buy almond milk, except one part that involves time overnight. This recipe makes 2 quarts of almond milk. I chose to make 1 quart of milk, and dffffhhvvvvvvvh1/2 quart of almond milk creamer instead.

Ingredients

1 cup of raw almonds (none of this dry roasted or salted business!)
8 cups of water, additional 4 cups / 2 cups of fresh water.
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Optional ingredients for coffee creamer:
3 tbsp. agave
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions

Almond Milk

First, take your 8 cups of cold filtered water and put it in a bowl (i actually put mine in the blender to soak. Hey, one less dish to do!) Add your cup of almonds. Add your salt. Allow to soak overnight. So do this process right before you to go bed, and you can make your milk in the morning! Or throw them in before you go to work, let them soak throughout the day, etc. But 8-12 hrs of soaking is great, up to 24 hrs is fine.

Once your almonds have soaked, drain and rinse them. You don't want to use that water, because the salt breaks down acids and builds enzymes in your almonds. I don't necessarily know what that means, but everything i've read suggests this is beneficial! Anyway, once you've rinsed your almonds, take half of them and put them in the blender with 4 cups of water. Put the lid on, and blend like crazy for about 2 minutes. Once your almonds are pulverized, take your cheese cloth or nut milk bag and put it over your pitcher or a bowl. Pour the pureed almonds into the cloth, and allow the milk to sift through. Use your hands to squeeze it out, so all the liquid is in the bowl/pitcher, and the dry almond meal is left in the cloth. PLEASE DONT THROW THAT AWAY! Set in a tupperware for later. We'll get there :)

That's it. Put in a pretty jar and enjoy! I'm using a 1 quart mason jar.

Coffee Creamer

Take the remaining portion of almonds and add to blender with half the water you used for your milk (i used 2 cups last time, and i think next time i'll use about 1.5 cups to make it a bit creamier!). Blend water and almonds for 2 minutes.

Same as last time.... strain the milk through the cloth, save the almond meal.
This time, return the milk to the blender and add 3-4 tbsp of agave, and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. Blend for 1-2 minutes until well mixed. continue to sweeten to taste.

This is the flavor combo i used, but the sky is the limit! If you have pure vanilla or pure hazlenut, go for it! I also thought pumpkin spice would be easy to make with pumpkin pie seasoning. My only advice is to add a little less than you think, and just continue to sweeten by adding a little more and blending for another 30 seconds,

Now you have gorgeous, chemical free, gluten free, dairy free, paleo, and did i mention DELICIOUS almond milk and creamer, just waiting for your breakfast.

Almond milk and creamer last about 5-7 days in the fridge.
Note: They will separate in the fridge. Totally normal. Just give it a shake before you use it!

Now, what to do with that almond meal

If you don't have some time to be around the house right now, have no fear - you can put this in an air tight container in the freezer for a few weeks.

Put your oven on 170 while you prep. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle the almond meal over it evenly. Pop it in the oven for about 2-3 hrs, or until it's totally dry. I left my oven cracked just a little to help this process.

Once it's dry, put it in the food processor or blender to make sure its very fine in consistency. Now you're ready to bake with almond meal! Which if you haven't done before, is delicious.

Not to mention, it's crazy expensive in the store. and by using the milk and the meal, you're creating NO waste and totally getting your money's worth!

Do you think i'm crazy? Try it.... way easier than you think! :)

Top 5: How to Pack... and Manage to Keep Your Sanity

As much as i like to travel, change pace, and see what else is out there.... i HATE packing.

and i HATE moving.

I mean really... it might be the absolute worst process in the world. You're taking everything out of it's place.... to put in heavy boxes... to replace stuff in a similar order in a new zip code, state or country.

Every time i have to pack/move, i putting EVERYTHING I OWN in the Goodwill/Trash pile. Because it seems easier to just get new stuff than haul all the rest of this junk around (all my possessions became 'junk' when they didnt all fit in 2 boxes).

and just a little PS - no matter how little stuff yout hink you have... you always have about 10 times more. Don't forget about that top shelf in the closet, under the bed, and hall closet you never look at. The stuff just NEVER. ENDS.

Here are my top 5 things that kept me sane through my packing party.

#1 - Something that always makes you happy

Because you are about to embark on a journey of packing... and will need to be given the will to live and NOT to freak out in T-2 hours. My something-that-makes-me-happy is coffee. If you dont have a "something" picked out... i'd suggest coffee. and i'd REALLY suggest some CB@B. You might think i'm byassed.. but it's amazing!

# 2 - A Killer Playlist

Genius playlist on Kings of Leon "Knocked Up" - it was a great choice for some late night packing!

Whatever music moves you and makes you happy (and possibly makes you focus). Just make sure it's all stuff you feel like listening to... because lets be honest; with your stuff strewn all over the house, the iHome will undoubtedly be on the other side of a huge pile you will not be able to climb over.

# 3 - Packing Tape

This stuff is just absolute magic. Broken box? Fixed. Awkward bookshelves moving around? Done. Two things rattling is driving you crazy? Tape 'em together. Your head is about to fall off? This will hold it into place until you finish packing the kitchen.

# 4 - Approximately 4,000 Storage Containers

Same-size, stackable storage bins in pretty colors - Praise the Lord.

As previously stated, but think you don't have that much stuff - but really, you do. You assume you'll need 4 or 5.... but in reality, you need 20. Save yourself multiple trips to the store, and just buy extras that you can return later.

I liked these kinds by Re:Store for Target. i chose purple and grey (to match my room.... that i'm no longer living in. Dang it.) but they had about 10 colors. But purple and grey also make me happy, so i'll go with it.

Unfortunately any money you have is savings will now go to purchasing plastic storage bins (starting at $10 a pop!). But at least your stuff will be packed. I wouldn't even BOTHER trying to find boxes. I got 15 of the same container (same size) and will restack them and keep them forever. Don't judge me if i use them as end tables in my new house....i'm trying to be practical here.

# 5 - Something else that makes you happy (are you noticing a trend here?)

My new favorite wine. Salvatore Zinfandel! 

I just think you deserve a nice glass of wine after a long day of packing. And every packing party needs a bottle of wine! I picked this up (Salvatore Blue Period Zinfendel) at Target when i went back for my 2nd trip (out of 3 total) for more storage bins.

Now it's time to relax... you made it! Even if you have to get up tomorrow and start the process all over again (just remember - step #1 is important). Happy Packing! If you can put an emphasis on being happy it will all work out :)

Coming soon - the unpacking/redecorating survival guide.

Color Prediction

It dawned on me that i have a new color combo that i love - pink and grey. More specifically, Honeysuckle and Cool Gray (via Pantone).

If done properly, it's GORGEOUS together. If done inproperly, it looks like goth punk argyle from 2002. So be advised :) The pink can't be TOO bright (if this borders on an orangy pink, don't do it!).

But go figure, the color of the year catches my eye once again, and is teamed up with my old friend, slate grey. 

I had this revelation in jCrew today. and i've been thinking about it all evening. 

Before i was looking at my handy dandy Pantone color chart, i was calling this combo slate and salmon - close enough? 

some other great complimentary colors! i've also been digging honeysuckle and that royal blue. so pretty!

I'm not promising this will be the same amazing trend that mustard yellow, dark purple, and grey were in my life (and the lives of many others), but i will say that i'm pretty set on getting some of this combo in my life ASAP. So if it gets really popular, you heard it here first.

Weekend Update

I had a fab weekend. Despite the sickness i developed throughout the week, leaving me with an awful sore throat, i managed to get to see some of my favorite people.

Jonathan, Lindsey, and Emery Frazier. You've heard about them before in Hurrication III and the Top 5 Gifts that Give Back. Or you might have seen some of Jonathan's work.

And now i want to brag on them.

Jonathan and Lindsey are very good friends of mine. Jonathan was one of my best friends in college, and even after he moved to Nashville, we managed to stay very good friends. Once he met Lindsey, she and i became just as good of friends (and my roomie for a summer!).

Circa Fall 2006.

Circa... this afternoon 2011.

So naturally, once they got married and had a baby.... she would be the love of my life. Meet Emery Jayne.

Very hard to be cuter than this little love!!!!

Don't tempt me to post 100 pictures, because i will.

I haven't seen the Frazier's in over a year - quite the amount of time apart. So when i heard they'd be staying in North Redington Beach, FL (a short 2 hour drive away!) i knew a road trip was in order!

In the past 14 months, things have changed - Emery now walks, talks, and says "no" a lot. She doesn't want to let me hold her for hours at a time anymore which is sad for me, but exciting that she's such a bright happy little girl who just wants to explore and play all the time. she is so cute and so much fun! and i'm just completely obsessed with her.

But i was so happy to get even 24 hours with this fantastic couple. They have both come so far in their lives: personally, spiritually, as a couple, and in so many other ways, and i am greatly inspired by them as people. They've always been fantastic friends to me and supported me through a lot of seasons in life.

It is so refreshing to hear what they are doing in life. They have never settled for the norm or what people think you're "supposed to do" at this age. Neither of them are interested in ordinary lives, or ordinary relationships with Christ. They individually and collectively (as a couple) have amazing stories, and i hope one day you get to hear them. They are both very honest and both very transparent. I can't think of any other way to explain them except refreshing,

Lindsey might actually be the most thoughtful person i've ever met in my life. She is constantly thinking of others. And i mean constantly. I don't think she used the word "I" all weekend unless she was saying something she'd done or prayed for someone else.

And Jonathan, my FTC (full time creative) dreamer. Always reaching above and beyond what people tell him he can do, and i just love that he takes dreams and makes them reality. It's so great. Did i mention that he and one other guy Saved Blue Like Jazz with a dream from his garage? 

Yup, that's the Fraziers.

Needless to say, it was a great weekend. And i'm so thankful for being able to see my amazing friends. They're the kind of friends you feel like you only saw last week... and that's the best.

We didn't do anything crazy, but it wast just great for some quality time; Hung out with their families, played some cards, played with Emery, got some sun, and naturally, got some coffee.... some Bad Ass Coffee. Literally. I had to include this.

One for the collection - i couldn't resist.

The coffee was good. But i have to say - this completely blew me away. Iced Coffee.... with coffee ice cubes. Melting ice no longer ruins your flavor?!?!?!

Gotta see it to believe it!

I would love to say that i'd make this the new thing at the CB@B.... but we just don't have a big enough freezer. So maybe one day ;)

Hoping your weekend was just as fab! Here's to a great week xoxo