In a city that claims to love music, it seems that it only likes certain kinds (mostly one kind?)…read more The opera has had disappointing crowds each time I've gone, which is really too bad, because the opera here is doing some really interesting things and producing some great productions. This past season, I went to all but one of their operas. In October 2017, I went to Tosca (twice actually). Tosca is Puccini, so this opera was classic and traditional and beautiful (and really sad, of course). In January 2018, I went to Hercules vs. Vampires, which was a 60s cult movie set to a new operatic score and sung before a large screen playing the film - it was wildly fun and funny. And in April 2018, I went to Susannah - a more modern opera, sung in English, and set in East Tennessee; it's described as a "folk opera." For this last opera, I went with a friend of mine who had never been to an opera before, and we both really enjoyed the production! In three operas I saw over the course of a single season, the Nashville Opera blew me away! This past season was a great mix of traditional and modern and playful. It feels very much like they are trying to be a modern opera for a growing, youthful city, so I hope that more people give the opera a try during the upcoming season. It's more varied and interesting and entertaining and beautiful than a lot of people might expect. Keep up the great work, Nashville Opera!

I am sure that this review will be upgraded to 5 stars within the next 6 months as I finally plan…read moreto check out a few of their upcoming events and shows. However, what I can give feedback on is the absolutely beautiful facility they have in Sylvan Park... WOW! I had no idea that this modern HQ was behind Climb Nashville and the Nashville Ballet all this time. Once you turn the corner, you can't miss the large and contemporary offices. I met with their Marketing Manager Andrea Smith who gave me a tour and filled me in on what they have in the pipeline for this season. From light-filled rehearsal space (which can double as an interesting event space, for all of you party planners) to the costume warehouse, I was a kid in a candy store. The most impressive thing for me is that the Nashville Opera yearns to grow their audience by infusing unique and fun elements into their shows such as the Western Wear Contest for the upcoming show of The Girl of the Golden West or Opera @ Dyer Observatory - Opera on the Mountain coming up in the Summer. Picnicking and opera music? Yes. Please. Don't count out the Nashville Opera as a stuffy institution because you'll miss out!

Drew Holcomb and his wife Ellie are the voices of an awesome Nashville-based band - playing tonight…read moreat Eddie's Attic - called Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors. I've been smitten with their sound since a friend introduced me - it's a kind of warm blanket-like swirl of country and blues like Buddy Miller and Al Green, with dashes of modern songwriters a la Jason Mraz or my friend John Pringle in the mix. I find their songs irresistable and the lyrics so engaging. They tour heavily and have opened for a huge variety of acts from Sister Hazel to LosLobos. Not band for a group whose lead singer is only 26. There's also an interesting bio section that gives cool insight into Drew and both his and the group's inspiration. I can't wait to see where they go - check out the website . . . http://www.drewholcomb.com . . . my favorite is that you can listen to a whole bunch of songs as many times as you want!!

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!…read more The Dickens of a Christmas Festival is the largest Christmas Festival in Middle, TN. It is held during the second weekend in December in Franklin, TN and is now in its 33rd year. This festival is a recreation of the Charles Dickens era using historic downtown Franklin's Victorian architecture as the backdrop. You will see several Dickens characters, (Fagin, Scrooge, Oliver Twist, Bob and Tiny Tim Cratchit and many more), come to life and walk among the festival visitors. I really liked the Victorian Mr. and Mrs. Clause because they "slayed" in their Victorian garb. I loved seeing the various characters and appreciated their willingness to pose for photos. There was an endless number of vendors selling everything from holiday décor items to jewelry, food, clothing, unique gift items and more. The most impressive aspect of this festival was the phenomenal talent throughout. There was a main stage that featured dancers but throughout the festival, you would encounter other performers such violinists, a guitarist with his wife as soloist, a guy giving us a soulful perspective of Christmas and more that I just couldn't see because I couldn't be everywhere at once. Curses! The cloggers and Irish dancers were great, the young violinists were spot on and unbelievable but the most emotional and "heart felt" performance for me was by Radio Farm. They performed traditional Christmas music that really spoke to the true meaning of Christmas, (the birth of Jesus), and it was just beautifully done. I really love strings because they represent the purest form of music and they always take me to a place of peace and stillness. It was like listening to a renowned recording artist and reminded me of the woman with one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard: The late Karen Carpenter. It was a very cold day and I really appreciated the vendors, performers, city workers and volunteers who committed to making this a great festival. YES, THIS WAS A NICE FESTIVAL BUT: I would love to have been able to purchase a tee commemorating this year's event. They did have very nice mugs which I purchased but a long sleeve tee would have been great as well. Since it is predictable that visitors will be coming in very early and will want to eat breakfast, it would be nice to see a couple of "breakfast specific" food trucks added to the mix. There were only two breakfast restaurants and they were packed before the festival even started. The few food trucks that were open were selling fried foods and corndogs. No thanks. There is a historic theater in downtown Franklin and I think that it would be the perfect venue for hosting classic movies based on Dickens's stories the week of the festival. It would certainly get me in the mood! If you want to see Historic Downtown Franklin, this is not the time because all of those beautiful historic shops and buildings are blocked by tents and vendors. You also have the crazy crowds that make it impossible to get a real feel for the town. I have added an extra festival-free day to my itinerary so that I can freely explore the downtown area without being impeded. I was able to get a small glimpse of Franklin during the festival and it was enough to get me excited for a more thorough visit. This is a great family festival and a cool way to end the year. I am so glad that we decided to visit Franklin during this time.

We had just moved back to TN and decided to go see this for something to do. It was fantastic and…read moreI'm decidedly upset about missing this years. Ive now learned it's the second weekend in December...every year. There are all kinds of arts and crafts, the costumed performers and carolers were fantastic and had really nice, (expensive) costumes! The stage performer we saw was a lone singer and she was fabulous as well. We also arrived during lunch and inside at an Irish Pub, also fantastic if you didn't mind sharing the table. Franklin is a fairly small town and a lot of people come to see this event of ours. Seating is premium. Lots of good things to see- looms and old time metal working. Great way to spend an afternoon! Dogs welcome! Food trucks a plenty for meals and sweets! Kettle corn, yum!

Could the Festival of Lights at Franklin measure up to the description in the paper? The only way…read moreto find out would be to ride through and see, so that we did. This Christmas light display supports a charity- FrankTown Open Hearts. Once through the gate, we kinda got lost- my wife drove over a traffic cone and killed it. Some creative person put a of thought into this display. For example, an English folk song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, stretched twelve days worth of displays of moving lights along the twisting road. Another, the Elf's Workshop, was an explosion of moving colored parts. Really beautiful. Can't forget the Wise Men and their big, glumping camels. There were these displays and a whole lot more. I recommend that everyone come to the Ag Center to see these lights...just don't kill any traffic cones like we did. Five stars for the Festival of Lights.

wasn't really feeling it yanno…read more not too bad overall I came here Christmas Day around 7p. There were no lines so that's nice. Went to a couple others in TN and in OH, this is going to sound hella snobby lol, they had synced lights, cool tunnels, the whole 9. This one has to up its game for sure.

After a long hard week, I needed comic relief. Music City Improv to the rescue! The cast is…read moreenergetic and quick on their feet with humor. They've worked together long and thus have a chemistry that makes the comedic twists and turns work well - quickly building from funny to hilarious. I was pleased that during the second show I attended they broke into improvised songs in a few sketches. Talent! Music City Improv currently entertains at The Building, which is a small venue tucked in an alley behind Batter'd & Fried in East Nashville. The size is intimate enough that every audience member can participate and yet the energy is still high once the cast and crowd quickly warm up. There's a bar with snacks or you can BYOB to most (all?) shows. Show schedules are on their website, and most of their improv shows occur on the third Friday of the month at the time of writing.

Diffenitly a must.... also the VIP pass is also a must do…read more I am not a drinker at all. As most of the whiskeys I still did not care for but the moonshine where the shining light of this for me. I was amazed of the taste and flavors.. the old Smokey table and there blends like the mango habrnero where way beyond my expectations... Would definitely do this again if I had the chance.

I have to give it to Midtown Wine and Spirits and Rhizome Productions, this was one heck of a…read moreparty. From the setting, the music, the food and the massive amounts of whiskey, bourbon and shine, I can now say, "I know my stuff about these distilled liquids!" The festival was held in TPAC's War Memorial Auditorium. It was a stand out place to have this festival. The outside had a small beer garden and Riff's Fine Foods was there serving up some awesome food. I have to say, the Mac and Cheese paired well with my Jackaloupe Rompo. (I am not even thinking about the calories consumed this day). The inside was set up in a circle for the sampling. It made it very organized and easy to travel from booth to booth. I loved the live music. I thought I had died and went to heaven when I realized I would be listening to Bluegrass Music for 4 hours. Now the best part of this event was the actual tasting of the spirits. I know more about what I like and what is out there and I forsee spending a little bit more money for the ones I really liked! (Sorry Bank Account!) Some of the stand outs that I had not heard of where the following: Wasmunds, Big Bottom and MB Roland Distillery. I was a big fan of all of those. I also liked the showcase of the hometown heros too! I loved Speakeasy Distillery's Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream! I am for sure kicking Bailey's Irish Creme to the curb now. It was great to see Belle Meade, Corsair, and Prichards. Collier and McKeel were also pretty cool, I will have to try them more too! I did miss out on the seminars. I kinda want to kick myself for that, but I was just having so much fun listening to the music. And lastly...some tips: Next year hydrate the crap out of yourself. Drink a ton of water before, after and during. There is a lot of spirits and beer to try. Even though the samples were mini....you will get a little or a lot buzzed (depending on your size/gender/you know all the scientific stuff) Thank you Smile Water for providing the H20 and thank you YELP for the hydration station. That being said....do not drink and drive. More props to the event for making cabs very accessible. That is a huge thumbs up in my book. While I did not utilize a cab service (I opted for a walk downtown to a local eatery), I did see some people using the cabs. Lastly, go to Midtown Spirits and support these distilleries. I want them to come back next year and they all deserve a bump in their sales!

Over the years I've heard jokes about "Community Theater" but this is the first time I've ever…read moreactually been to one. It's a unique, but fun, experience. Imagine coming to a friendly strangers house and watching friendly strangers perform a play for you in their living room. That's the Lakewood Theater experience. The better half and I saw 39 Steps, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. The players do a wonderful job of telling a story with a bare minimum of props and some pretty decent acting. If you are looking for a Broadway experience, you'll probably be disappointed but if you are looking for some fun in an intimate setting I highly recommend it.

STILL SCRATCHING MY HEAD!…read more Let's be honest, Lakewood Theatre is a very small, very old, slightly neglected theater. HOWEVER, this little theatre really delivered when it came to their recent production of A Christmas Carol. My husband and I were simply bewildered by the talent here as it is a very small town and this venue does not exactly scream: Talent resides here! According to one audience member, the theatre has been around for approximately 30 years but the building is quiet a bit older and this is most evident with the seats. The wooden seats are super narrow and somewhat uncomfortable for those that are fluffier than most. They appear to be at least fifty years old. The production was very professional as was the cast. My husband and I both agreed that this group of talented actors and actresses deserve a larger and much nicer space. Regardless of the venue, the play did not suffer one bit. We enjoyed every aspect of it including the singing and instrumental performances. This play was perfect for the entire family and proudly represented the spirit of Christmas. Lakewood is a great little theatre and worth checking out if you are looking for great plays and performances.

My husband and I and a good friend went to the Nashville Repertory Theatre for the first time last…read morenight to see "Inherit the Wind," a classic play about the Scopes Trial in Dayton, Tennessee. The theater is small and intimate, and you have a great view of the stage from the seats. The production was wonderful, the theater intimate, and the experience delightful. I'll certainly be back at the Nashville Repertory Theatre the next time they have a play I'm interested in, which I imagine will be soon!

Turn your AC on in the Polk Theatre, pretty please?…read more I went and saw Spank on Saturday and the musical itself was amazing, but I thought I was going to have a heat stroke sitting there. Shew! I could hear a lot of people around me discussing the same issue too. I've never had any problems with the rest of TPAC though. It's a great place to see live theatre and I've definitely got my eye on some season passes for next year. They always have such wonderful performances. I also love they do Twitter deals for discounted play tickets. My love for TPAC can't be tamed.