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Free Parking in Nashville

Peak Parking If you have lived in Nashville for more than 10 years, you woulda’ shoulda’ coulda’ bought land or another house in the city—whether for a home flip or an AirBnB. Now that Music City is full and the only place to go is up, the debate over parking has reached a tipping point. It’s nearly impossible to park downtown for free (and even the airport is raising parking prices). The mayor is in talks to privatize its own parking enforcement(George Bluth was right - there’s money in the banana stand - er - parking booth). So what’s a motorist to do?

If you’re not taking a rideshare into downtown, then keep in mind these free parking options close to the core (while supplies last and trust us but verify - we aren't paying for your towing):

• After 6pm in the capitol parking lots and on Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd. from 4th-7th.
• After 6pm on Hillsboro Village on 21st
• 12South (until it's all owned by J. Crew subsidiaries)
• In front of Hume Fogg (after school pick up)
• Germantown street parking
• Cumberland Park parking lot at the foot of the John Seigenthaler pedestrian bridge
• Nashville Farmers’ Market (our favorite)

Sewing classes for kids from Elvie Creations

Elvie Creations summer camps are "sew" fun for beginner sewist up to those ready to sew their own flint pants. With themes ranging from the basics of sewing, to stuffed animal design, to Harry Potter and superhero sewing, your little sewer will be on their way to larger projects.

Bluegrass under a Full Moon

The Full Moon Pickin' Party is a chance to enjoy some of Nashville's best bluegrass under the stars and, er, full moon. Join the  Friends of Warner Parks on the next six full-moon adjacent Friday nights starting with May 17th. Pickers with an approved bluegrass instrument get a discounted ticket. Bonus event what: come out to Night Market.

Nashville Murals: Explore Street Art in Nashville

Tourists are flocking to Nashville at an ever-increasing rate (15.2 million visitors in 2018—up +4.8% over 2017) and most of them will wait in line to have their picture taken in front of the #WhatLiftsYou mural in the Gulch. Now that everyone is posting their best life on Instagram, murals are the must-have backdrops. Taylor Swift recently announced that she was going to announce something (warning: autoplay video) in front of a temporary Kelsey Montaguemural in the Gulch. New murals emerge all of the time thanks to local street artists and Nashville Walls Project’s mission to bring street artists to Nashville for mural projects. Surprisingly, there remain “unmuraled” walls (the Farmers’ Market, for instance) for those who want to leave their mark. For aspiring muralists, Metro has put together an in-depth guide for making murals in Nashville.

Need to find a new favorite mural? Here are some helpful maps:

• Kristin Luna has compiled an extensive mural list with photos on her blog.
• This map compiled by Fox17 is an (in)complete list of murals around town (we’re not throwing shade because it’s impossible to keep up with all of them).
• Metro Arts has a web/app/thing called exploreartsnashville.org that shows public art and street art.
• The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp has a collection of Insta mural photos.
• The Y has made two mural runs (eastside or plain) if you choose to get off of your scooter, you can get some exercise while checking out murals.

See how Nashville’s street art scene compares to the 19 of the Best Cities in America for Street Art.

Best Mother’s Day Brunch in Nashville

Weekly What - Issue #3

Nashville What

Is that a catfish in your pocket or are you just happy it’s playoff time? Nashville's current hockey begins their Stanley Cup hunt against the Dallas Stars with Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. tonight at Bridgestone. While trips to the playoffs are becoming as routine asnew downtown construction, Nashville's hockey success really dates back more than 50 years. Nashville's first hockey team, theDixie Flyers, won back-to-back championships in 1965-'66 and 1966-'67 coached by John McClellan from South Porcupine, Ontario. No word if "instruments of crime" were used back then.

Food & Drink What

Local Dynamic Duo, Edley’s Bar-B-Que and Yazoo Brewing Company have created Edley’s IPA, Yazoo’s first beer collaboration with a restaurant. Go to Edley’s to try the dry-hopped, fruity brew, geared towards the IPA-curious drinker. Try it with the Tuck Special, voted best sandwich in Nashville.

Maker What

White’s Elixirs has a new potion just in time for Mint Julep month. And they even weighed in on our blog with some little known mint julep facts.

Event What(s)

What’s so funny? The Nashville Comedy Festival continues through the weekend. With over 35 comedians performing around town, this festival is no laughing matter.

Night club comedy not your what? This Saturday is packed with opportunities to enjoy the spring weather:

• Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival
• Dogs and Dogwoods at Cheekwood
• Annual Herb and Plant Sale
• East Nashville Beer Festival
• Record Store Day at Grimey’s

Bonus What

Order our official shirt of the summer before everyone else does

4 Wild Things You Didn't Know About the Mint Julep

As part of our Spring 2019 rollout of White’s Elixirs brand new, Classically Classy, Mint Julep Mix, we wanted to educate you on four notable nuggets you probably don't know about the Mint Julep.

1 - At the Kentucky Derby...Ummm...Yeah, Leave the Tab Open

If you’re attending the Kentucky Derby, one thing you can safely bet on (other than seeing thousands of giant frilly hats) is seeing patrons downing buckets of mint juleps. In fact, each year, almost 120,000 Mint Juleps are served over the two-day period of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs Racetrack. That’s a feat that requires more 2,250 pounds of freshly harvested mint, 60,000 pounds of ice, and more than 7,800 liters of bourbon!

2 - Calvin Coolidge - How Dare You

President Calvin Coolidge, noted nondrinker and fanboy of Prohibition, permitted chickens to eat up the glorious bed of fresh mint that had flourished at the White House during julep lover Teddy Roosevelt’s tenure.

Because, you know, he was President Party Pooper.

3 - HULK SMASH! (And Then Enjoy a Nice Julep)

The mint julep is sometimes associated with a family of drinks known as “smashes” (such as the brandy smash and the mojito), wherein fresh mint and ingredients are muddled or crushed in order to flavor the finished drink.

4 - We’re Going to Need a Bigger Straw

In May 2008, Churchill Downs debuted the world’s largest mint julep glass. Churchill Downs, in conjunction with Brown-Forman, commissioned the Weber Group to construct the 6-foot tall glass (7.5-foot with the mint sprig counted).

The glass was made from FDA food-grade acrylic, heated and molded into the shape of a Derby glass. It had a capacity of 206 US gallons, and was distributed with an elaborate pumping system concealed within the “stir straw.”

And don’t forget, Mint Julep month is HERE, so make sure you procure the only mint julep mix served in the Winner’s Circle in time for many a grand old celebration!

(That’s White’s Elixirs Mint Julep Mix...just, you know...in case that wasn't obvious.)

This article was written by Brad White, owner of White’s Elixirs and notable carnival barker.

Weekly What - Issue #2

Nashville What

The NFL’s plans for the draft experience in Nashville were tackled for a loss when Nashvillians found out that the city planned to cut down 21 trees to make room for the draft stage at Riverfront Park. With Nashville's Cherry Blossom Festival coming up on April 13 and the cherry trees in full bloom, the mayor tried to call an audible to lessen the controversy by explaining that the trees would be replaced and more planted. While this episode may be resolved soon(?), it’s another illustration of the tension between feeding Nashville’s booming growth and uprooting Nashville’s past.

Food and Drink What

We may have reached peak celebrity alcohol line. Tanya Tucker now has her own tequila.

Maker What

With BNA’s new logo, it’s time to revisit the story behind one of our most popular products - the BNA hat from Aviate. (And you can grab your BNA hat here.)

Event What

Gather your plant-protecting friends and head to the Fairgrounds this weekend. It’s time for the 4th Annual Nashville VegFest. Special guests include competitive powerlifter, Daniel Austin, oxymoronically also known as “The Vegan Meathead.”

Bonus What

Weekly What - Issue #1

Nashville What

For once and for now, we’re here to help settle the history of Nashville Hot Chicken. Here’s one recent take from the New Yorkerabout the first family of Nashville Hot Chicken (which you’ll soon be able to enjoy downtown). A little while back, Nashville native Rachel Martin documented How Hot Chicken Really Happened (Photo by Joe Buglewicz) in the Bitter Southerner. Next step: send a Hot Chicken Gift Batch to a friend who can handle the heat.

Food & Drink What

Martin’s has made all of our midtown BBQ dreams come true. If you don’t want to get caught in line with Belmont kids, overpay for parking downtown, or live in Nolensville or Mt. Juliet, you can now hit the old Logan’s (which is looking super saucy now) on Elliston starting yesterday. 

Maker What

It’s card season (Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, teacher appreciation, graduations, sorry I forgot your birthday) and thankfully Lisa Sarmento and her delightfully cheeky line of stationery can get your recipients laughing and happy to know you. Check out her full interview.

Event What

The Nashville Elvis Festival gyrates into the Franklin Theatre this weekend. Put on your blue suede shoes and watch 20 of the top Elvis tribute artists from around the world compete in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. Stick around on Sunday for a special bonus: John Schneider in concert (John Schneider/Elvis trivia: Schneider's very first hit was 1981’s cover of Elvis Presley’s “It’s Now Or Never,” which reached #4 on the Billboard Country chart. It remains the top charting Elvis cover of all time in any genre to date.).

Bonus What

As the weather warms, we found the perfect mobile party spot.

What Shawn Askinosie Taught Us About Meaningful Work

Last week, I had the chance to sit at the feet of and learn from Shawn Askinosie, the founder and CEO of Askinosie Chocolate.

If you're not in the know, Askinosie Chocolate is a small batch, award winning chocolate factory located in Springfield, Missouri, sourcing 100% of their beans directly from farmers. Since they've been around, a lot of good has happened and Shawn was in Nashville to share lessons from his time in the trenches, most of which he details in his book, Meaningful Work: A Quest To Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, And Feed Your Soul.

While we gathered 'round on a stormy night at Barista Parlor, we ate chocolate while Shawn told stories of impact, meaningful work, and using your profession to make a big difference. Here are just some of the core takeaways:

Your story matters.

Shawn began his talk with sharing about grief and the idea that grief is what sows the seeds for joy to grow. Therefore, whatever your story may be - who you are, where you come from, what challenges you've faced, what inspires you - all of this matters as you begin to think about the kind of work or company you want to create. 

Embrace the bridge.

Shawn left a successful law practice to make chocolate, but not right out of the gate. He volunteered at a hospital. He made a lot of cupcakes and other baked goods. Then the idea of chocolate hit him out of the blue one day. But the hospital work and amateur kitchen adventures provided a bridge between his law firm and Askinosie Chocolate. 

The tough part about the bridge, of course, is that when you're on it, you really just want to get to the other side. You want out of what may seem boring or tiresome at the moment. Resist that urge and instead, embrace where you are. It's the only way to get where you're going.

Start where you are. Like, right where you are. Right now.

Shawn's first chocolate "factory"? His old law office kitchen with (very) rudimentary equipment. He eventually upgraded to professional equipment and a full factory, but not until he'd learned the art of chocolate making. Wherever you are right now, stay put. Cobble together the tools and materials you need to try the next great adventure. Don't keep saying that you'll start once everything is perfect (it never will be). Just start. 

Now.

Don't forget the vision. 

As Askinosie grew, so did the temptation to begin outsourcing some of the company's vision that Shawn birthed. Send someone else halfway around the world to source beans. Don't worry about paying farmers so much. Stop providing meals to schools that the farmers' kids attend. But those all would have disrupted the vision of why the company started. Vision matters at Askinosie, and Shawn and the team make sure everyone remembers it every day.

You don't have to be big to make a big impact.

Askinosie only has 17 full time employees. It's profitable, but not rolling in dough. But they've provided over 1,000,000 meals to kids around the world. They pay farmers 55% better than any other buyer. And they're telling the story of the communities that support them. Any of us - no matter how big our businesses are - can begin to align our work with our heart and give to causes we believe in. 

No matter what you do for a living, Shawn's book is worth checking out. And an Askinosie bar or two is worth nibbling on the next time your need to satisfy your sweet tooth.