Nashville Neighborhood Guide: Downtown

I've never liked country music. 

I can appreciate the genre at times, with classics like Martina McBride (not that FL/GL Line crap...), but that's not why I moved to Nashville. While seeing the honkey tonk bars can be fun for a few hours just to say you've done it (like Times Square in New York or the Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA), that's not where I like to spend my time downtown. Here's a few favorite restaurants, bars, and places to have fun if you aren't a country music fanatic.

PARKING/DRIVING

There are a number of places you can pay for $10 or more for parking, but here are some more affordable options. 

1 - UBER. Depending on where you're staying, Uber can be super affordable. From our house (about 2-3 miles from downtown), it's $5-$6 one way.

2 - Park at the Titans stadium and walk over the bridge. As long as there isn't a game or event happening, this parking is completely FREE!

EAT/DRINK

Acme Feed & Seed
This has become my favorite Downtown haunt. They have 3 levels and tons to do! The ground level almost always has live music, a bar, and a great food menu (The Hatchery, Down Home Falafel, and Vegetable Garden are my favorite meals!). You order your food and can take it to any level. Level 2 has trivia some nights, sports games on others. They also serve sushi on this level. Top floor is a roof top with a bar and awesome vibes and views of downtown. Check it out if the weather is nice! Check their event calendar to see what they have going on.

The Southern

Great upscale southern food. Make a reservation for sure! Whisky lovers, take note - they have some rare ones available (like Pappy Van Winkle! the only place in town I've seen it available).

M Street

This group of restaurants might technically be considered the Gulch, but I think it's worth going to no matter where you're visiting in the city! Saint Anejo (mexican), Kanye Prime (steak), Virago (sushi), and Moto (italian) are favorites of mine - but they also own Whisky Kitchen and the Rosewall in their complex (and Tavern tucked away in Midtown). Make reservations at any of them, you won't regret it.

Pub 5

Upscale bar food, great vibe. Amazing beer list and really fun rooftop! The perfect place to grab a drink before going to a show at Bridgestone.

Pinewood Social

Pinewood is one of a kind - it serves every meal, has an amazing cocktail menu, serves Crema coffee, has a bowling alley, and a pool. Yes, seriously! You can make reservations for all of the above, and I'd suggest it. No matter what you are looking for, Pinewood has something to offer, and they do it well.

Provence Bakery

The best bread in town. They do great pastry, sandwiches, and breakfast. Additionally, if you are looking for a delicious loaf of bread to bring home this is your place!

Flying Saucer

The best place for beer in the city. Sooooo many beers on tap!

COFFEE

Frothy Monkey

A local favorite, originally on 12 South, but now has a downtown location. They serve great coffee, beer & wine, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not to mention fresh made pastry and breads all day every day! 

Crema

One of the best coffee shops in Nashville. Most locals are fans of the Cuban. I am a fan of their coffee soda at the moment, but they had a mulled coffee option that was to die for! Absolutely worth your time. 

THINGS TO DO

If you aren't looking for honkey tonk bars, country music, or line dancing.... this is what you'll want to do downtown.

Bridgestone Arena

Bridgestone Arena is where all your major players will be - Taylor Swift, U2, Cirque du Soleil, Nashville Predators... you name it, this is where it happens. Check early for tickets, shows sell out all the time!

Nissan Stadium

The Tennessee Titans play here, and sometimes large festivals happen here, too.

Schermerhorn Symphony Center

A beautiful place that puts on amazing events! The Nashville Symphony is extremely talented, and I've been lucky enough to be there for the Christmas show a few years ago. They offer discounted tickets on the regular and have really fun events. Check the calendar for events.

TPAC

Traveling broadway shows, ballet, and other arts will be at TPAC. I've seen Wicked there and it was great!

The Ryman Auditorium 

The "Mother Church" of country music, but really, it hosts great musicians from all around the world. There's something "holy" about being in this space, and musicians live for the day they play the Ryman!

The Frist

A great art museum in downtown Nashville, there are several different types of galleries to see. One of my favorite places. 

Walking Bridge

The walking bridge will always be a favorite of mine.... because Matt and I went their on our first date, and also got engaged there ;) But even if you're not proposing, the bridge is great! You can park at Titans field and walk across to get to downtown, plus its a beautiful walk. Enjoy :) 

Engagement Photos by Abby Beard

Cumberland Park

At the Titans field-side of the walking bridge, there's a great park. If you have kids, definitely bring them here! If you're just looking for a nice walk, this is also a great spot to check out. They did such a great job of making it an urban green space.

Downtown can be really fun, even if it's not country music fun! You can leave your boots at home and enjoy Nashville for its diversity, great food, and awesome events.

xo

Updated September 2015

DIY Accent Wall to Brighten Our Den

Our house turns 90 next year.

She looks pretty good for her age, huh?

Matt bought this house before we met. He spent the first 4 months he owned the house doing a total rehab of the kitchen... including moving multiple bearing walls, installing cabinets & countertops and repainting EVERYTHING. He loves working on this house.

On my side, I lived in one condo (with my roommate, Ashlee!) where I was able to paint my walls, and I only got through my bedroom (and 3 coats of purple paint on ONE wall) before deciding that the bathroom and hallway were fine just the way they were ;)

Before we started the master bedroom project (one that took almost an entire year, I might add) we committed to making the den habitable so we had a nice place to relax. It was the first room we did together and I loved it.

Curtains: West Elm // Rug: Ikea // Couch & Ottomon: American Signature (similar) //
Shelf: Garage Sale // Pillows: Target // Media Cabinet: Pottery Barn (via Craigslist)

Lamp: Ikea // Side Table: Garage Sale

Ignore the seat from our car when I snapped these photos & messy media cabinet! But you get the idea.

Even though I love this little room, I could never figure out what to put around the TV that wasn't distracting. I liked the yellow accent wall but I realized it didn't serve its purpose of lightening this space up. I also felt like it was a little too matchy-matchy and wanted something different. I think being home for the last several weeks has made me look harder at our house.

I started looking online for inspiration and finally found something on A Beautiful Mess.

via

via

Like I said, I am usually trying to avoid doing work on the house, but I was definitely inspired. I showed Matt this blog on Thursday, and we were making a trip to Home Depot on Friday after work.

By Saturday night we were watching a movie in our newly painted room.

I am in LOVE with how it turned out! It looks super bright because I took these photos in the morning... but it brightens the entire space up! Since our wall didn't have windows like the room on A Beautiful Mess, I decided to space my dots further apart. I also wanted to use metallic paint... it just sounded like fun. We did this wall in less than 24 hours. Here's how.

1 gallon Glidden Marshmallow White  
1 quart of Ralph Lauren Metallic Antique Bullion 
1" flat craft brush (like in this set)

Painted 2 coats of Marshmallow White over my goldenrod yellow wall. I painted the 1st coat Friday night and the 2nd coat Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, I was ready to paint my gold spots. 

Now, this was definitely risky -- but I did the gold spots completely free form. 

I decided that life is too short to worry about little gold dots. I did a practice round on our decaying shed out back and just went for it. The key was using the bottom half of the brush and having a fresh dip of paint with every stroke. 

In hindsight, I probably only needed a "sample" size of metallic paint since the dots were single-coat and spaced apart. But I think we'll find a fun way to use it up.

There are a few dots I might erase at some point... but I think it turned out pretty well! Don't you think?

Now I'm searching for a new rug (the $20 Ikea rug is being retired to Matt's office!) and some new pillows. 

Even though I typically avoid working on the house, I really enjoyed this project! I think it might have to do with living here for almost two years now and being ready for a change. Now I'm feeling confident and trying to think of ways to add a fun wall to our guest bedroom/my office.... any ideas? Have you ever painted a free form pattern or accent wall?

xo

Girly Home Office

As of a few months ago, the job I loved so much at Rhetorik was no longer available for me. My friends and co-workers were moving in different directions, and as I was SO HAPPY for them, I was so sad to leave this little office and company I've found so endearing.

But change is life, and it's usually for the best.

I dabbled over what to do with my newfound free time, and wasn't sure if I should find a job or freelance? Were there cool start ups out there? Was I destined for a trousers and a 9-5? Was freelancing an option for me? It's such an interesting place to be at. And my interesting, I mean overwhelming :)

I interviewed at a few companies, but was offered some freelance work by a few different friends, and took them up on it.

Turns out, it works for me. So as of a week ago, I officially am doing Freelance PR, Social Media, Copywriting, Marketing and Producing. Exciting!

With this development, it gives me the need for a home office. Since Matt already works from home and is occupying one room as an office, I get a corner of the guest room (which totally works for me!).

It's this cute little nook with great natural light (a major perk!) with a desk already built in. It has all these shelves above the desk and next to it, but I'm going to take some of them out.

obviously these are high quality iPhone shots ;)

Right now, the "nook" (as I call it), has been a serious catch-all during the remodel process we are going through. It has serious potential but is pretty blah right now! Luckily, we are (FINGERS CROSSED) a few weeks out from being all done with that, so these random items will have a home.... and the Nook will be my little work corner!

Here's what I'm kind of envisioning.

- Less of the shelves/add a few drawers for hidden storage
- Pretty little details
- A better light (i hate that lamp!)
- Simple, well used decor

Here is some of my inspiration I've been found on Pinterest

Love the two shelves and the pin board next to it. Simple, but fills the space nicely.
via The Everygirl

Love these colors. Neutrals with some gold. Also love the plant on the side of the desk! Which leads me to....
via The Everygirl

I love the storage aspect here - two drawers and two cubbies - perfect! Aiming for something practical like this.
Photo via In Honor of Design

Succulents for my windowsill! Indoor plants make me happy. And succulents are hard(er) to kill.
via Pinterest

gold details. Love all of these so much!

Mini Geodesic Table Lamp via West Elm. Dream a Little Bigger print via Counter Co. Desk styling via The Everygirl.

Green accents to go with my succulents, and keep with the neutral pallet. 

candle via Anthropologie. Large teardrop vase via Pinterest.

I'm excited for this project and a space to call my own. I'm also thankful for a handy husband who can actually help me create the kind of space I want! I'm pretty dang lucky.

Any input? Any suggestions of decor that might accent this space? I'm all ears!

xo