My girlfriend and I are leaving Saturday for a week long vacation, most of which will be spent in Nashville.

I've never been there before. Are there any must see bars, clubs, attractions, restaurants, etc. that I shouldn't miss?

Ha!
Mrs. PopTodd is gonna be down there this weekend too!

Oh, but do not miss a show at The Grand Ole Opry. Seriously. There will be several acts you hate, but there is also boud to be a few that are amazing. that is, if you go in for Country music at all. I saw Ricky Skaggs the last time I was there and he was worth it all by hisself. Damn, that boy can play!

there's a coyote ugly that one of my weird co-workers took my boss to.

ugh, i went into the coyote ugly in ybor city. awful.

Go see a show at the Ryman Auditorium. Historic venue.

If you're in Nashville Saturday night, Guster, Ray Lamontagne, and The Fruit Bats are playing there.

George Jones is playing the next night it's pricey.

There's a good local Georgia band playing called The Whigs playing that Sunday also at a place called 3rd and Lindsay.

That's about all I know about Nash-Vegas. I"ve been to Opryland and the Grand Ole Opry but I can't really give my thumbs up on those.

I'll say this, everytime I go I have a blast.

Go shop for records/CDs/DVDs at Grimey's
Go check out some rockabilly an/or crap country depending upon which night you're there at: Tootsie's, Robert's Western World or Bluegrass Inn. All of which are located in tourist central, the Lower Broad area of downtown. While you're down there, go on a ghost tour or try to see a show at the Ryman Auditorium. If you're there during the day, stop by either Jack's BBQ for lunch or Broadway Brewhouse, who just opened a new location downtown. After eating, stop in at Hatch Show Print, the legendary screen printing/poster making facility @ 316 Broadway.

Pick up a copy of Nashville Scene for other goings on.

The Grand Ole Opry is at Opryland, which is 20 minutes outside of Nashville. It fucking blows. Avoid it at all costs.

I 2nd Rick Derris' suggestion of checking out The Whigs at 3rd & Lindsley. Good stuff. They were just signed to ATO Records, home of My Morning Jacket. Trouble is, half the time, I can't even find 3rd & Lindsley (It's at the corner of 3rd Ave. and Lindsley). It's in a weird part of town near the I-40 and downtown.

John Fogerty and Willie Nelson are playing Tues. night at Starwood Amphitheatre in Antioch (15min. South of Nashville).

There are other things to do that don't revolve around music. However, I'd have to know what you and the wifey are into. I can steer you in the right direction if I know what you like to do.

You can get injured, have surgery, do poorly, and come see me in the Vanderbilt Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm sure it's going to be a blast.

We don't have any ambitious plans, just general sight seeing, checking out music, and lots of drinking (or at least I'll be drinking a lot, she may be a little easier on her liver, we'll see).

Neither of us has had a real vacation yet this year and I've been getting slammed at work, so more than anything, I just want to relax and take it as it comes.

The Whigs sounds like a winner (if we can find it, heh.) and I'll definitely pick up a Nashville Scene and any other local weeklies to get a feel for what's happening.

TEH PARTHENON

The Waffle House.

Oh fuck, you should go wait in line at The Pancake Pantry.

Good rec Fu. Pancake Pantry is pretty damn good, but for my brunch, I'd rather hit up Tin Angel on West End Ave. REALLY good stuff there, especially the made-in-house sausages and riccota-cheese stuffed French Toast.

NeZ, in general, I'd head over to the Hillsboro Village on 21st Ave. near Vanderbilt Univ. It's pretty lively with bars, shops, restaurants. That's where Pancake Pantry is. The Belcourt Theatre is also there. It's our local arthouse cinema and one of my favorite haunts. They serve beer/wine/liquor.

East Nashville (across the Cumberland River), is kind of like the Bucktown/Wicker Park of Nashville. Alley Cat Lounge is one of my favorite places in town. It can be a little hard to find for a newcomer. It's nestled behind 3 Crow Bar and Beyond The Edge.

If you like 2-for-1 beers and pizza slices, you can head over on Tuesday night to Mafiosas in the 12th South District. But get there EARLY (6:00pm) because it gets extremely crowded with the after work crowd.

If you're a beer guy like me, you can also check out Flying Saucer Draught Emporium. There are 100 or so beers on tap.

If you want to get outside, check out Centennial Park, Radnor Lake and Warner Parks.

Sounds like there'll be plenty to keep us busy. I'll have to see if I can find the Alley Cat Lounge.

We're staying at Best Western - Music Row which is at 1407 Division Street. Not sure where that is in relation to all the stuff mentioned. We'll have a car though so we'll be able to get around.

You will be across the way from a strip of restaurants and bars that you shouldn't go to after 9pm for fear of feeling REALLY OLD. Mrs. NeZ probably wouldn't want you around all of the scantily clad Twentysomething year-old girls that frequent that strip.

You'll be close to Downtown, The Gultch and Hillsboro Village.

I *might* go to The Whigs show on Sunday. PM me your phone number if you want to meet up.

The botanical gardens at Cheekwood are really nice and currently they are having a photography show at the museum.

http://www.cheekwood.org/art.html/museum_exhibitions

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is in a wonderful art deco building.

http://www.fristcenter.org/site/default.aspx

I’m not a country music person but the Country Music Hall of Fame is pretty good (the exhibits are about the same caliber as the Rock and Roll museum in Cleveland).

http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/

There's also a new Musician's Hall of Fame dedicated to session players on 6th Ave. South.

Hooters on 2nd ave.

Glorious white trash with massive racks at a location that is very sought after by the "waitresses" so you get the creme de la creme.