Hi

Adding on to my other post, any specific advice for the two time gap opportunities we have as follows:

Nashville, a Tuesday in December:

Will finish at Country Music Hall of Fame (incl Studio B tour) at 11:30am. Have to be at the Ryman for 6:30pm for the Grand Ole Opry at 7pm. During this time, we need lunch and dinner (nothing special or time consuming, and no seafood please) and also to do the hour long Ryman backstage tour.

Any ideas on how to best arrange this time?

Thanks in advance!
Rachel

Nashville is known for a southern style meal known as "meat & three." There are several restaurants that serve this type of meal near Vanderbilt U & other places too. Check with citysearch.com for the full list.

Basically, it is a list of entrees that changes daily and a list of side dishes. You choose 1 entree & 3 side dishes. The food is yummy -- we went to Sylvan Park for an early dinner before the Opry.

ttt

Laurieb is right about the meat n' three concept being a favorite in Nashville. Monell's is one place you might want to try. They serve meals "family style" which means you sit around a big table and pass plates/bowls of food around. This can include fried chicken, green beans, okra, biscuits, etc. They're located in Germantown, about seven blocks from the Capitol.

Go to this site for more info.:
http://monellsdining.citysearch.com/...Locations.html

Sylvan Park, which LaurieB mentions, is also really good. They're in a small white building that you could easily drive right by. But the food is great, especially their homemade chocolate pie.

Or if you want to try a differnt Southern favorite, Jack's BBQ is really good. They're right on Broadway and serve both pork and brisket (beef) with a tangy sauce. Rippy's is known for their ribs. They are also located on Broadway.

The Frist museum may be a good idea. Their current exhibit is described at this link: http://www.fristcenter.org/site/cale...l.aspx?cid=145. It is a nice place where you can see some art with no crowds (on Tuesday). If you are coming from somewhere with great art museums, this may not be what you'll want to do.

If you are walking around downtown and just need to pass some time, consider walking over to the Tennessee Capitol building. The interior has been recently renovated, and it is a good example of US State Capitols.

There are plenty of lunch places downtown. Your best bet is probably to go to Provence in the main library. They have great sandwhiches, soup, quiche, salads, desserts and coffee.

Dinner may be a little more difficult, since it will be early and you won't have much time. I would go to Jack's BBQ on Broadway. It backs up to the Ryman, so you will be able to get there quickly afterword. They have some of the best barbecue in town, in my opinion! The staff there is fun and it is an authentic Nashville establishment.

I hope you enjoy visiting Nashville! I'm a northerner by birth, but I love living in Nashville.

KatieL - Thanks! Library lunch idea sounds perfect!

LaurieB - oooh, Sylvan sounds nice. Might try and work this in to the plan.. Thank you!

Atlswan - thanks for those tips, although we might skip the Frist as we have some good galleries here in England but neither of us are that in to art. <hanging head in lack-of-cool-culture shame, lol>

I think Jack's BBQ is going to be our pre Opry dinner. Woo hoooo!!

I'm going to e-mail myself this thread so I can show my husband, and see what he thinks. Now all I need is a time machine to make the next few weeks fly by! We arrive on Dec 10th, and cannot wait!! Yippeeeeeeeee!

Thanks again,
Rach x

Coastergirl,
Don't forget to stop in at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge for a drink before going to the Ryman. You may see a celebrity "hanging out" before the show. Have fun!
Pam

Re: KatieL post - I'm trying to find more info on the 'net about the Provence place for lunch. The only one I can find is on 21st Street S. but it has no mention of a library. Is this the correct one?

We will be driving from Country Music Hall of Fame, having lunch, then going to Ryman - would it possible to park at Ryman and walk to this Provence place or will we need to park twice? (No problem, just best to know in advance if I can.)

And PamT - I am hoping we can call in to Tootsie's after Jack's BBQ right before our Opry show!!

Thanks in advance...!
Rach x

I'm confused too. I live in the Nashville area and am only familiar with Provence on 21st near Vanderbilt, not within walking distance of downtown. It's still an easy drive from there and has lovely sandwiches and pastries.

The Main Library downtown on Church Street has a Provence Cafe. Below is a link listing the Provence locations in Nashville: http://www.provencebreads.com/locations/locations.html. Click on the contact tab for phone number and address.

It isn't as big as the one on 21st, but it is just a good and fresh and much less crowded.

Provence is relatively close to the Ryman. It's about three blocks or so. There is a lot of construction going on right there, which is a pain, but the streets are all open most of the time. The Country Music Hall of Fame is on the other side of Broadway. I would park there, see the Hall of Fame, and then drive to a lot or garage close to the Ryman. From there, walk to Provence for lunch, then walk to the Ryman, Jack's, Tootsie's, or wherever else you want to go downtown.

In case you can't fit Tootsie's in before the show, check it out after!

Thanks KatieL. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't been to the new library yet.

KatieL, KatieL, KatieL - what can I say, such a prompt and helpful reply! Thank you so much; I am going to do exactly that - park and visit Hall of Fame then park at Ryman and wander over to Library, then back to the Ryman for the backstage tour. Then we'll hit Tootsie's and Jack's BBQ before the Opry in the evening. It's cool that the Opry is at the Ryman while we're there, but I am taking some cushions with me, lol!

Thanks again!

Rachel

Coastergirl, if you have time, wander over to the Melting Pot on 2nd Ave. for chocolate fondue. It's a chain but the chocolate fondue is wonderful! I think they take late reservations. Plus, they have the best chocolate martinis.

Oh I am just so hungry now, lol, I could do with chocolate fondue right now!

My husband just pointed out that (in reference to my last post) "I" am not parking anywhere and "I" am not taking cushions... "We" are... Oops, lol! I can get a bit carried away and forget I'm not the only one travelling.

I'm just too excited, lol!

Thanks!

SharonG, the downtown library is beautiful! They have a lovely courtyard that is the perfect place to have a quite lunch and read...when it is nice out, anyway.

Coastergirl, it sounds like you will have a wonderful trip and have everything planned well! I look forward to reading your trip report. (hint, hint).

Trip report no problem! "We" <g> are planning on making a few notes on the way, as well as taking lots of photos and video so that we can edit it all together when we're back. We leave America on Christmas Eve and fly overnight to arrive in London on Christmas Day at 7am! Maybe we'll see Santa's sleigh out of the aeroplane window?! Tee hee!

Thanks again!

Hi again!

Am just trying to plan routes in and around the city for our day in Nashville. We are staying at the Opryland and will drive in on Briley Parkway. AAA Map 'n' Go says to then go on US-31 Ellington Pkway, then US-31 Spring Street, then US-31 James Robertson Pkway and "Stop: you have arrived at State Capitol Building".

Looking at the maps online (my paper one hasnt arrived yet) this sounds like rubbish! Surely we need to come off US-31 and go on to Charlotte Street.

Can any locals shed any light on this?

Thanks!
Rachel

Rachel,

Once you are on James Robertson Parkway, after you cross the river, you will need to turn left on 3rd Avenue. Then you would make an immediate right onto Charlotte. Then you can drive past the Capitol Building. This, of course, is assuming that you want to drive past the Capitol. If you are not interested in that, and just want to get to the Country Music Hall of Fame, contine on 3rd Avenue for several blocks. After you cross Broadway, you will come to Demonbreun. Turn right on Demonbreun and you will drive right past the Hall of Fame on your left. Parking is on the right.

If you want to go to the Capitol, then drive down Charlotte past the Capitol. I think turning on 7th will be your best bet to get over to Demonbreun and the HOF. However, I cannot for the life of me remember if 7th is one-way or two-way....and I just crossed it an hour ago! If you are interested, let me know and I'll pay attention on my way home later.

Katie - I think I need to pack you in my suitcase and carry you around with me so I don't get lost, lol!!

My aim is to drive from the hotel (Opryland) to the State Capitol, get out and take some piccies. Then get back in to car and drive to Parthenon, do a tour around this then get in car and drive to Hall of Fame.

The maps on google, yahoo, mapquest etc are confusing me somewhat.

Hopefully it is just the Capitol that I will have this trouble with - the other places have an actual street address!

If you notice on your way home, about 7th, that would be great. This is awesome - personalised directions!!!

If you ever come to England I can direct you wherever you need to go, lol!

Thanks in advance
Rachel

ttt

Katie - hope you had a nice time on your recent trip, if you have a minute to re-visit this thread ay any time I'd be most grateful!

Thanks in advance
Rachel