Celebrating New Year’s in Nashville
January 9, 2011 MuseumChick
Nashville wasn’t necessarily on the top of my list of places to go. I’m not really a country music fan. Sure, I like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Taylor Swift (what can I say, I’m diverse) but I knew little about Nashville than country music and BBQ ribs. But when my good friend said she would be there for New Year’s (because her husband is from Tennessee and they were visiting family) I decided that it would be fun to join them…and it was…
We wandered Broadway and did some afternoon bar hopping (it was New Year’s, so noon drinking is acceptable, right?), getting caught between football fans and the random drunk guys spilling out of the bars while trying to sniff out the best BBQ place we could find. Getting a feel for this oh-so-American town was a blast, especially with good friends!
We did silly things, like pose with Elvis and shop for cowboy boots…
I was on a mission to find a cool pair of boots to bring back to NYC. I usually think that I can find ANYTHING in NYC but to tell you the truth, I’ve never seen authentic, good leather cowboy boots.
And no visit to Nashville would be complete without trying on a pair of bright red fringed cowgirl boots!
Right around the corner from the flashing lights and excitement was the famous and original Grand Ole Opry auditorium, the Ryman. The list of performers that stood on this stage and now National Historic Landmark is long and impressive- Patsy Cline, Tori Amos, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Dylan, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Elvis, and Dolly Parton are a few of the famous performers.
And as I rounded the corner of the Ryman, I found an informational sign reading that this was the home of the first bluegrass music in 1945. Now, I seriously know nothing about bluegrass. I don’t think New York even has a bluegrass radio station, but I’m always up to learn something new, especially about my home country.
The Ryman underwent a renovation in 1994, then re-opened to continue shows and its musical traditions.
Comments
Camels & Chocola 01.11.2011
I'm so happy to see Nashville pop up in my feed! Did you manage to get out of the more touristy parts and into the heart of the city, like Hillsboro Village or around the Vanderbilt campus?
Drinking during the afternoon is not only acceptable on New Year's, but also the other 364 days of the year–at least when you're in the South =)
Deb Healey 01.10.2011
Love it. I've heard that Dollyworld is pretty special too.