Another day, another month, another week of Nashville fun

As always, the title says it all.  This week is going to be quite epic.  Don’t believe me?  Read on.

Tuesday night, July 2nd, you only need to venture to one spot in town.  At 7pm, at Fat Bottom Brewing Co. (900 Main Street), there will be a FREE event like no other!  I’m talking about another round of East Side Storytellin’ for you and all your friends to enjoy.  You’ll have to try to not get cultured with the talent for this show.  Author Kathryn Williams (author of The Lost Summer and Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous and other stuff too) will be reading on site and then be followed by the always awesome Allen Thompson.  It starts at 7pm prompt so you might want to get there early to get a good seat, something to eat and drink, and enjoy good company in style.  It’s over by 8:30 in case you have other plans later in the evening to attend to as well.  Hope to see ya because I’ll be there for sure.

Turning to Wednesday night, you might think it’s time, especially in this fun, sunny heat, to get some ice cream in a helmet for a good cause.  Are you confused by what I just suggested?  Ice cream in a helmet is a must whenever you Greer Stadium for a Nashville Sounds game.  Need another good reason to attend a Nashville baseball game before the 4th of July?  Two dollars of every ticket purchased (you can get tickets at the gate or http://www.sounds.streamlineticketing.com)  will go towards Notes for Notes.  Notes for Notes is a tremendous organization that provides youth with FREE access to musical instruments, instruction, and recording studio environments so that music can become a profoundly positive influence in their lives.  There will be a pre-game concert by Striking Matches at 6pm, Brinley Addington will play the National Anthem around 7pm, and there will be one heck of an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza following the game!!

Then, on Thursday, July 4th, before you celebrate our country however you celebrate it, why not start the day off working on your own body of art.  What am I talking about now?  You can totally volunteer or run for the party.  See more information here- http://whatdoyourunfor.com/july-4th-something/, but I can’t think of a better way to precede a 2-day concert lineup that culminates with the Nashville Symphony and fireworks on the Cumberland riverfront that partaking in I Run for the Party’s Music City July 5th 5k/10k race.  All ages and fitness levels will love running past landmarks like the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Ryman Auditorium, and Country Music Hall of Fame.  Like I said, it’s perfect start to however you choose to finish the rest of the day.

I’ll skip Friday because I’m sure you will be resting from whatever race you do participate in on Thursday.

On Saturday, July 6th, you can go downtown to experience the First Saturday Downtown Art Crawl per usual.  It should be a wonderful crowd and artwork all around.  Two specific things for that particular art crawl that I’d like to point your attention to are the following updates:

1-  Untitled’s next Pop-Up Art Show will be in the street-facing lobby at Colab Nashville (230 4th Avenue) at 6pm to kick off the crawl and get some fine FREE coffee or wine before feasting your eyes on the variety of art on the walls!  If you are interested in submitting and registering your own art work, the registration closes on July 3rd.  See more at http://www.untitlednashville.org/register/pop-up-art-shows/

2- It’s a very special occasion fro the huge ay and grand opening of the new location for the Tennessee Art League!  It will happen from 6-9pm like all the rest, but be sure to drop by, say hi, and wish them well in their new spot at 219 5th Avenue.

Painting by Tim Kerr

On Sunday, July 7th, since you’ve already had a day of rest on Friday, you will surely have more energy backed up to experience 2 great things on the same day in different locations.  First, go ahead and write it down in your little black book to drive over to Third Man Records for the latest and greatest round of Poetry Sucks!  FREE to attend, at 5pm, the likes of Holly Golightly, Sampson Starkweather, Lee Baines and the Glory Fires, Larry O. Dean, Paige Taggart, Tim Kerr, and the ever-present poet Chet Weise too.  There will be poetry, music, and art!  Be there.  Then, after you get a good feel from Third Man Records, you can head over to Octane! Gallery (1000 Main Street) for another FREE show with refreshments provided at 8pm.  July 7th marks the 6th Annual Sk8board art show featured in tattooed magazines everywhere.  Pretty much anything goes as long as its mounted on a skateboard deck.  It’s an open show, and if you’re interested to get involved- you still can if you submit work with $10 before July 5th.  For more information, click here- http://kustomthrills.com/events/octanegallery/

So there you have it.  You can go to everything above for the high, low, and everything in between culture to become a better person in one week’s time than you are today while reading this (and I think you’re pretty darn swell as is, mind you).  I hope to see you Tuesday night and every day after, but I won’t stalk you like Sting so don’t worry.  Just enjoy your week and be nice to one another.  Thanks for coming and y’all come back, ya hear?!

much love,
chUck

www.eastsidestorytn.com
www.nashvillesheart.com

After the rain

I’m writing this in a brief window from a mountain not too far away, but it doesn’t make it any less worthy than normal. Before I get started on a few things to attend this week around Nashville, here are two things that you really must take advantage of sooner than later. First, and foremost, you need to get your butt over to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to experience “Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles.” It’s an exhibition of Art Deco automobiles (obvious from the title, right?), but it is the collection of all car collections in the world right now. Inspired by the Art Deco building of the Frist Center, it features some of the most spectacular and inspirational automobiles and motorcycles from the 1930’s and 1940’s that relay classic elegance, luxurious materials, and iconography of motion that characterizes vehicles from an epic time period and style. Second, Cheekwood is already smack dab into its hosting of the second-ever North American exhibition of “Light” (a stunning outdoor art installation by acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro. Using hundreds of miles of glowing optic fiber, Munro has transformed Cheekwood’s beautiful gardens into an enchanting, dream-like landscape. Cheekwood is offering extended hours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings until 11pm under the night sky. Don’t miss it!

And speaking of not missing it, you should clear your plans for tomorrow night to be amazed. It’s already time for another round of East Side Storytellin’, but this round will be like no other! Tomorrow, at 7pm sharp (so get there early to get a seat), the featured guests will be Hall of Fame worthy. In fact, I do believe that the featured author, Ralph Murphy, is already in a music hall of fame or two. And, the musicians of the evening will be none other than Ben and Emily Roberts. Together they are married and make up the wonderful sounds of Carolina Story. If you don’t know about them yet, you most certainly will before long. This all goes down at 7pm sharp at Fat Bottom Brewing Co. (900 Main Street), and is FREE to attend! We’ll have merch, music, creative conversations, and much more in store and all you have to do is show up.

Then, Wednesday will give you two great chances to enjoy yourself on the town. First, from 6-8pm, you can get tickets at www.abcnashville.org ahead of time for the Art Immersion 2013 event happening at W.O. Smith School of Music. This summer showcase will include music, acting, dance, film, visual and performance art from some of our finest local talents. There will even be a silent auction at the end featuring everything from co-writing sessions with top songwriters to enticing offers from local businesses. Proceeds from the night benefit Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts, a program of the Arts & Business Council. Also on Wednesday night, at Café Coco (210 Louise Avenue), from 8-11pm, you can witness another DNR Publishing round of their monthly event called “A Night of Free Speech.” It’s FREE to participate. FREE to attend. All you have to do, theme of this post today, is show up and show a little love. Come early to sign up for open mic slots, special note.

 

On Thursday night, you can mark it down on the calendar for months ahead. It’s that time again for UnBound Arts to present: Third Thursdays at The Building (1008 Woodland Street). This month’s is a Solstice Eve Celebration. There will be visual artists on hand (Olivia Hill and Catie Sampson), live music (Tom Mason, Pru Clearwater, Anne McCue, and Zelda and Pal Sheldon), and it only costs you $5 at the door for a great time had by all involved!

I’ll let you search and plan the rest of your weekend according to however LIFE presents itself to you. I just wanted to throw the above your way in case you wanted to throw some love right back to all of these amazing and talented people we live with and around in Nashville that are doing so many wonderful things right in your FRONT yard. Take advantage of it while you can.

Other than that, enjoy your day and week ahead while being nice to one another.

Thanks for reading and sharing.

much love,

chuck

www.eastsidestorytn.com

www.nashvillesheart.com

Life is good, Nashville is good

Before I get started here, I’d like to let you read a great write-up by Peter Cooper last week that stressed the current state of the Nashville Symphony that needs all of our help because it deserves it.

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2013/06/07/peter-cooper-on-music-its-time-to-start-freaking-out-about-symphony-situation/

Sooooo, on a positive note … watch this-

http://vimeo.com/68149702

After you’ve read about the situation with the Nashville Symphony and how you can think of positive ways to help AND watched Ellen Pryor do her thing to introduce something she holds near and dear to her heart and passions, now you can turn your full attention to the traffic that is about to hit the Frist Center starting this Friday.  It is there where you will find Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles opening like no other art show they’ve had there before.  Just to install the exhibit they had to unhinge the doors!  Seriously, I’m not even much of a car man but I’m super excited about seeing these vintage treasures in a very cool spot.  If you are a fan of cars at all beyond getting from point A to point B, this will be THE show for YOU and all of your friends.  I can’t stress how BIG and COOL this show will be.  Just do yourself a favor and make it a point to drive by, park, and see it with your own eyes.

I won’t keep you long here because I need to get back to homework, reading and writing, for yet another fun semester at Sewanee for the amazing School of Letters program I am honored to be a part of in a small way.  That said, Saturday will be a fun day for everyone who gets out on the town besides visiting me at East Side Story.

Metro Arts Nashville would like to invite you to the dedication of Betty and Lee Benson’s “Anchor in the Storm” at 11am at West Park (6105 Morrow Road).  After you pay your respects to the dedication, you can roll over to Barista Parlor on the East Side to join Barista and Joint at 516 Hagan Street from noon to 5pm.  There will be all the bikes and cars that can gather at this public rally that they can muster.  If you are around, show everyone else what you got.  It’s free to attend.

Then, at 7pm, still on the East Side of town at THE Building (1008 Woodland Street), the general public is invited to attend the launch party called “Eye Decay.”  Produced by Panama Red Arts, admission is again FREE to attend another epic social gathering.  Panama Red Arts is an artist collective founded with the goal of bringing avant-garde performance and visual arts to the Nashville forefront.  Dark, dirty, and sometimes offensive poet, Ben Burr, will be reading from his collections as well as presenting a few short experimental films.  Janelle Bonfour-Mikes will be creating a living sculpture composed during the evening.  There will be other art and artists and you don’t need to make any other plans than coming to The Building … seriously.

I think that should take you right into relaxation this Sunday with your dad for Father’s Day.  He might not ask you to come and visit, but you and I both know your presence is the best gift he could ask for on the fly and surprise.

 

But WAIT!  This just in!  I was just made aware that tomorrow night, Thursday, there will be another epic event available for you for FREE in town.  It will be called “Poetry and Music” from 7-9pm at Centennial Park.  Sponsored by Poet Spot, people are encouraged (this means YOU too) to bring your poetry, instruments, cameras, and creativity (food would be cool too).  It should be a great time.

And speaking of a great time next week (it will be here before you know it), why not make plans for making it out next Tuesday, the 18th, to Fat Bottom Brewing Co. at 7pm to enjoy another East Side Storytellin’ show with me and some very special guests.  On hand will be the author and musician Ralph Murphy alongside the music by the almost famous and certainly will be soon enough because they are that great in that of Carolina Story!  It’s free to attend, starts at 7pm, will be outdoors with good weather, food and spirits and merch available, and art prints to enjoy  as well as paying the price of nothing but your time to get more cultured.  For more information, see-

http://eastsidestorytn.com/east-side-storytellin-15-where-mr-mojo-risin-finally-found-a-brain-and-the-watkins-lady-too/

Now, please go forth and have a great week while being nice to one another.

Enjoy your day.

 

much love,

chUck

 

www.eastsidestorytn.com

www.nashvillesheart.com

 

 

I’m BACK!!!!

Ok, so I’m sorry for a taking a week off of reporting cool things to do around town with cool people last week.  I was still trying not to plug back into the grind for as long as possible after a fun road trip down south with friends and loved ones.  That said, I’ve got a fun recap of things to come this week for sure!

Yesterday, aside from meeting baby #3110 Guillet for the first time, I was so excited for another friend to finally bring back her colorful artwork back into the world where we all can appreciate it.  Not only was it perfect timing for this artist to re-introduce Nashville to her artistic talents, but I do believe, although I didn’t tally up the numbers, that she had hands down the most attended opening reception for any artist in Nashville for a solo show … EVER!  Her name is Miranda Crump.  She loves to draw.  You can go see her latest drawings, and possibly buy one of your own from the very limited that are still for sale, at The Sweet Stash (located inside The Market House at the Nashville Farmer’s Market).  Miranda’s first solo show consists of 13 new, original works.  You can drop by and enjoy amazing art AND consume artistic cupcakes and other deserts at the same time!  I can’t think of many things better actually.  Plus, Miranda has a new outfit and it totally rocks!  Plus plus, Miranda is super cool.  Go see for yourself and thank me later.

Then, tomorrow night, I’m glad you’ve saved all your rain checks up to cash in on some sunshine and good times with another round of East Side Storytellin’ over at Fat Bottom Brewing Co. (900 Main Street).  At 7pm sharp, local author Susannah Felts (author of This Will Go Down on Your Permanent Record) will be reading some fresh stories and then be followed by the immensely talented, Renaissance man in that of Joshua Payne.  You can catch a small preview of the outstanding vocals by Mr. Payne here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQhGqkSnAzI.  Trust me, this is not to be missed.  It’s FREE to attend, but get there early to get a good seat for this treat  Seriously, what do you have better to do?

Sticking with one highlight per day here so far, I suggest you get your dancing shoes/boots on for Wednesday night for the best Music City Roots of the year yet again.  It’s Wednesday, June 5^th, at 6pm, when and where you can participate in The Music City Roots Barn dance.  The pews and the dance floor will be available for all.  There will be Swing Dancin’, Square Dancin’, Polka Dancin’, Retro Dancing’ and dancing dancin’!  On tap for the show, aside from the always great and East Side Storytellin’ alum in that of Craig Havighurst, will be Whiskey Bent Valley Boys, Jacob Jones, Spirit Family Reunion, John England and the Western Swingers, and Black Jake and the Carnies.  Spread the word!

On Thursday evening, June 6^th, you can hang up those boots and come relax over at Dinos Bar (411 Gallatin Road) for the 2^nd ever open mic. Night of Poetry Sucks!  Chet Weise, mastermind behind Poetry Sucks! and one heck of a scribe himself, will be on hand to direct a wonderful spoken word  night for everyone to enjoy beginning at 7:45pm.  First come, first read with poetry, essay, fiction, non-fiction, etc.  Each person is limited to 5-8 minutes for the spotlight and then Josh Hedley will be playing 2 sets of music too!  It will end around 10pm.

Friday night, again relaxing and taking in all the beautiful art around town, why not go to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to view The Great Gatsby (1974) on a big screen in their Auditorium.  It is also first come, first seated and FREE for members (a small fee for non-members  …  again, just another reason to get that membership going).  At 7pm, the original Gatsby movie will show and show a lot of vintage vehicles with a sense of nostalgia to perfectly tie in the introduction of the Frist’s upcoming exhibition called “Sensuous Steel:  Art Deco Automobiles” that opens June 14^th with all kinds of wonderful classic cars in the museum.  There will certainly be more on the cars later to come in another post.  Again, not to be missed!

And for Saturday night, other than the obvious that if you are in town you should come by The Idea Hatchery and the 2^nd Saturday Art Crawl at 5 Points East Nashville all day and night (always a party with us over there if you didn’t know yet), you should save your after-hours plans for a 9pm show at 3^rd and Lindsley.  Los Colognes will open the show, but The Smoking Flowers will close it and the weekend off in style.  If  you haven’t ever heard or seen Kim and Scott Collins in person, you haven’t lived yet!  Get your tickets at the door or here- http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3546744&pl=3rdlindsley&REFERRAL_ID=client.  If you are in town, I hope to see you there.  If you are itching to get out of town, you might want to drop by No Egrets Art Gallery at 1128 College Street in Clarksville, TN for a great night of art.  There will be music, treats, and beverages to partake in if you so choose this adventure and that will go from 6-10pm.

And like that, I’m out.  Have a great week and I hope to see you tomorrow night and many other times if you want.  Regardless, be nice to one another.

much love,

chUck

www.eastsidestorytn.com

www.nashvillesheart.com