Music City for Dad's 80th birthday

To see the Time Jumpers play on a Monday night in Nashville at 3rd & Lindsley, that was my dad's birthday wish. #thisis80 So off to #musiccity we went in August, the hottest of southern summer months and a time when I would likely be anywhere except the south. But as a planner, we all love that moment when someone actually tells you what they would like for their big occasion, and we jump at the chance to make it happen. Jeff and I drove up and Dad flew in from DC.

We would venture to the mountains later in the trip to cool off, but for now it was rooftop pools, nightclubs, and strolling Broadway and the sites with Dad. He turned 80 in July and Kay keeps him enrolled in the silver sneakers class which makes for an energetic octogenarian. I mean everybody needs an afternoon nap, but otherwise we average 10K steps/day.

So a tour of the Parthenon, Belle Meade, Radner State Park, and all the farms ended with a Pharmacy Burger in East Nashville a block or two from our airbnb bungalow. That night we took a Lyft to the club to see the Timejumpers and the host sat us on the second row of tables with a lone gentleman named Dick. We were a party of 3 and he was a party of 1 at a table up front and they said this will be perfect for you. What they didnt say right off is that it would be a delight to sit with a legend who hadnt missed a show in 17 years, except the week his wife died. He and Dad had a good chat and we felt lucky to have met him and enjoy the show with his anecdotes. We ended up meeting the band too because of course they all came by to check on Dick and see that he was in good company.

The next scorcher of a day we took a quick stroll on the greenway along the Cumberland River in the early humidity of the day. After lunch, we donned panama hats and swim suits and headed for the pool and cabana on top of Hotel Fraye Nashville using #resortpass to buy a day pass which required that we keep ourselves refreshed, so we did. Gin & tonics and lobster dip, followed by Modelo's with chicken tinga tacos, and espresso martinis, are pretty much the only way to cool off on a 95 degree summer afternoon. The pool scene was hip and young, (no kids allowed) hooray! and the cabanas were nap worthy. We rounded out the day with lots of pool time, a game or two of Mandala, a nap, and took a Lyft back to home base.

Dad read that the Hermitage was nearby so we went to have a look at Andrew Jackson's homestead and gardens. Drama students led the informative tour and turned us loose in the gardens to interpret for ourselves. Returning to town we went straight to Broadway to grab lunch and stroll the bars for music. Ole Red (Blake Shelton's place) fed us good grub and the rooftop offered a fine view of all the other rooftops but they booked in a private gig (likely a bachelorette shindig) and cancelled music on all 3 floors so we hit the sidewalk. Luckily Jeff knew about Robert's Western World where we could find a cold PBR and some honky tonk with Paul Graham's crew. Best part of the day right there and too bad we'd already eaten and had no room for a fried bologna sandwich. Next Dad thought we ought to drop into Tootsies as they sponsor some car in nascar which he loves, so we did. Turnpike Troubadors were on the main stage and cant recall the folks on the other 2 floors. But that was the pattern, each bar had music in the window along Broadway, no cover to enter, and 3 floors of music!

A friend had recommended that a great souvenir was a hatch print of a music show or to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame gift shop and see one being printed. We did and both liked the Nashville Music City print which Dad had mailed home. Touring that shop alone was a treat especially when Jeff heard Chris Stapleton's new vinyl on the turntable in the listening room. Music City was fun and well done with a walkable downtown full of tourism assets. We enjoyed the airbnb just across the river in East Nashville as a way to escape the neon for a moment. Dad said he'd never had an adventure like this one, which seems odd as I curate them endlessly, but now he knows where to find it.

Adventurers always, Tracie & Jeff ??