Local Life - Chihuly

The Chihuly "takeover" of Nashville is unfolding. The exhibit and talks at the Frist are already set up, Bluebeard at TPAC is this weekend and Cheekwood opens their part later this month.
I am sooo excited  that this multi location event has finally arrived. I'm holding off on the Frist so I can take the kids. Hubbie and I are going to see Bluebeard :)
Head on over to http://chihulyinnashville.com/ to see some of the stunning works of art.
(photograph taken from the Frist site.)

Local Life - Bellevue Family Picnic

The annual Bellevue Family Picnic is still scheduled for Saturday 15th at the BELLEVUE CENTER MALL parking lot A. (between Dillard's and Macy's) 10.00a.m.-10.00p.m. (don't go to the normal location). Thanks to Sam's Club for sponsoring the event. So take a break from the flood clean-up at some point during the day and go eat good food, visit vendors, enjoy games. New this year -  children's bicycle safety inspection and race. I wonder if I'll still be able to see the fireworks display from my house?

Local Life - Capture Music City

A few years ago there was a big event. Lots of people were to send in photographs to The Tennessean of what they thought represented Nashville and then a public vote was done. The most popular ones (and a few others) were published in a great book, which I happened to find at the library this week :) Thousands of photographs were submitted and I remember at one point seeing a montage done of many of them. It was quite striking.
There's a CD with the book that I am looking forward to viewing.

The front cover (Union Station) is by the grand prize winner Josh Hunter.
My favorites from the book are -
Art Teacher Hands
HEHHHH'LP
Bathtime ... Rural Style
Mr Fox's Paper Hat
Looking Back
Tree Fungi
Hoop Dancing
Reagan
Ready For War
Snow Whirl
Quiet, Listen!
Pipe Organ
Eeyore
Wrigley the Pug (my absolute favorite which surprised me greatly)
Wind-blown Doggy With Shades
Rachel's Garden Path
Stained Glass Barn
Parthenon Pillars
The Carillons
Cumberland Presbyterian Church (stained glass window)
May Your Christmas Be Bright

Scots Corner - Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and over the past 20 odd years has undergone a huge transformation. Enjoy this beautiful video and music from "Scottish Cities & Towns".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIkFZBD6qqA&feature=related

Local Life - Southern Women's Show "Satisfy Your Cravings"

A big annual event that started today and runs through Sunday. I keep promising myself I will go because it sounds really interesting and every year something else gets in the way :( So if you are in Nashville and have some time head on over to the Convention Center. Wear comfortable shoes !!!!!
http://www.southernshows.com/wna/
So what is this event. It's all about shopping, fashion, health, home and cooking with some other fun activities and prizes thrown in for good measure.

Local Life - Hillwood High School 50th birthday Gala and Open House

April 9th and 10th is THE big bash at Hillwood CHS that has been in the planning since last summer.
On the 9th the alumni are having a formal event starting at 7.00 p.m. with wonderful entertainment, food and a silent auction. Cost $50 per person.
Saturday 10th there is a golf tournament early in the morning. Breakfast is being provided for that event.
The school is open to the public on Saturday from 10.00 a.m. thru 3.00 p.m. with each student academy sponsoring a decade. There will be fun activities through the course of the day so come on out and have a good time.
GOOOOOOO TOPPERS !!!!! http://hillwood50.net
(When I can access my file I might post some more info and pictures.)

Local Life - Batman

Not quite but we have a local landmark nicknamed "the batman building" because of the shape of the roofline. Real name the AT&T Building - yep our local phone company. Tis currently the tallest building in Nashville (617ft.), some say also Tennessee, and when you are driving south into the city it's about the first part of the skyline you see. In 2009 "Le Journal de Net" named "the batman" one of the 12 most original office buildings in the world. It definitely adds drama to Nashville's night-time skyline. Daytime it towers over all the downtown historic buildings and changes color from grey-ish blue to bright blue depending upon the weather.

Local Life - Land Between the Lakes

Greetings people, Sleeping Beauty has arisen. I thought my migraines had petered out but nooooooo.

Ever since we moved to Tennessee one of the areas thats been on our "places we have to visit" list is Land Between the Lakes. This scenic and historic area is located about 2 hours North-ish of us.
We have friends that have lived near there and friends that have vacationed there and many that have travelled through. All are in agreement that it's an interesting place to visit. So this evening I brightened my brain a bit by looking at pictures and ooohing and aahing :) (copyrighted so don't feel inclined to "borrow")
Oh joy they have a blog http://www.landbetweenthelakes.blogspot.com/ but their main site is http://www.lbl.org/
If you are of the extreme sporting type nature a triathlon is being held on 23rd. May. Mmmmm, I think my kids are on summer break by then. Maybe we will take our camping chairs, blankets and hot chocolate and go watch :)
One of the "local"quilting capitals is not too far away ........ Paducah. Now there's an interesting town to visit. THE quilt show is happening 21-24 April and is being held in 3 or 4 locations.

Local Life - Cumberland Valley Quilters Association

I unlocked the Family History Center this morning and walked through the gymnasium to the ladies room :) Who should I find setting up but some members of the Cumberland Valley Quilters Association. They are currently making quilts for Haiti. Darn it I don't have my camera with me because the ones already on display are GORGEOUS.
This is a group I have been wanting to visit for a while. They normally meet down the street and round the corner from the Franklin FHC on the1st. Tuesday of every month at The First Presbyterian Church, 101 Legends Club Lane, Franklin at 9.30 a.m.
http://www.cvqa.com/
The ladies participate in Quilts of Valor and have a quilt challenge on the go.

An update - By the time I left the building this afternoon there was a goodly number of large quilt tops hanging on the walls. Looked like a jungle theme in there and the simple designs showcased the fabrics (from Kentucky) very well:)

Local Life - Bonnie Scotland

Now what has Bonnie Scotland got to do with the Nashville area?
If you are a fan of thoroughbred racing you will recognize the name. Originally from England he was 19 years old when he eventually settled at Belle Meade Plantation (founded 1807) which is about 10 minutes from my house. Some of his descendants include Seabiscuit, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Secretariat. All the winners of the Kentucky Derby between 1972 and 1996 are descended from him.
Another great horse from Belle Meade was Iriqois who was the first American Horse to win the English Derby.
There's another Bonnie Scotland as well. I'm not sure if I should encourage this part since I am Mormon and don't drink. However Belle Meade has opened a winery and one of the wines is called "Bonnie Scotland". I hear it's quite good :) http://www.bellemeadeplantation.com/

Local Life - our state Capitol building

I like our state Capitol building. I've gone on a couple of school field trips as a chaperone and had a fun time. The tour guides show and tell the kids all kinds of fun stuff that probably would not be readily apparent on a self guided tour.
It is quite rightly on the National Historic Landmark list and is one of the best Greek Revival buildings in the USA.
There's bodies buried in the walls !!! Specifically the architect William Strickland who died before the building was completed (It took 14 years to build.) and Samuel Morgan who oversaw the construction of the building. Stories abound that these two gentlemen haunt the building and have been heard to fight each other !!!!!
The tomb of President James K. Polk is on the grounds.
The building turned 150 years old in October and sits atop the highest hill in Nashville.
Free tours are Monday through Friday 9a.m. to 3 p.m. and well worth the visit. Farmers Market is just down the hill and would be a great place to go for lunch and pick up fresh supplies for dinner :) It's a bit of a hike down the steps but there's lots to see when you get down there.

Local Life - Christmas Celebrations in Nashville

There's usually plenty for people to see and do in and around Nashville at this time of year. Locals get to act as tourists for a while :)
Take a look at this site for some fun activities http://www.tennesseelife.com/winter/
Some things we like to do involve Christmas lights. We drive around different neighborhoods and often head on over to Gaylord Opryland Hotel to see their displays. (Park in the shopping mall car park and walk.) http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/a-country-christmas/more-things.html
There are enough plantation homes around to get a taste of old style Christmas's which is interesting. We live about 10 minutes from Belle Meade Plantation and may put that on our list of places to visit this year.

Local Life - Expanding

There's a whole lot more to Tennessee than just my little town so I've decided to expand my horizons. Yesterday I was doing some research for a new section at my genealogy blog http://ourscottishheritage.blogspot.com/ "Images of Scotland" which you might like to have a look at.

Any hoo I ran across this fabulous blog http://abritintn.blogspot.com/ which is absolutely gorgeous IMHO. The author, Jo, is originally from Cheshire and has lived in Tennessee for about 35 years. She started her blog last year. Amazing pictures, lovely serene music. If you visit today her posting from yesterday is about the Northern lights in Canada :) The picture is one from her sidebar. She has England and Tennessee intermingled there.

Local Life - Frist Center for the Visual Arts

http://www.hellonashville.com/Articles/Attraction/98/The_Frist_Center_for_the_Visual_Arts_always_something_new_to_see.Cfm
This is a wonderful building that opened in 2001. It is located in what was originally the main downtown post office and much of the original Art Deco detailing has been kept or enhanced.
The kid in you will enjoy the Martin Artquest Gallery which is the children's interactive area :) Personally I looooove it !!!!
The galleries in the center are well laid out and local schools are actively encouraged to take tours (under strict guidelines i.e. no touching the exhibits.) My favorites are usually the smaller ones upstairs.
Current exhibits are Twilight Visions, Georgia O'Keeffe and Her Times, and Thomas Hart Benton in Story and Song.
Main web page -  http://www.fristcenter.org/site/default.aspx

Local Life - The Ryman Auditorium

Nashville is the home of country music - at least that's what we like to think since we have the Grand Ol Opry show. (Downtown Nashville at night time can be funky, loud, and definitely musical.)
This is the building the Opry show was held in from 1943 -1974.
The Ryman was the brainchild of Captain Thomas G. Ryman. It was originally known as the Union Gospel Tabernacle (1892) and was used for religious revivals, operas and lectures. It was renamed the Ryman after the captain's death in 1904. Then in 1963 it became known as the Grand Ole Opry House. The building has been on the National Historic Register since 1971 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 2001. The building did suffer from some neglect for a while but in 2004 it was completely restored.
It's an interesting building to visit. The concert hall area is lovely with it's old dark wood bench seating and subdued lighting. You can feel the ambiance and almost here the music that has gone on within it's walls. You can take a peek back stage and wonder at whose footsteps you are walking in. Upstairs are revolving exhibits, the current one being "Johnny & June at the Ryman." They met backstage at the Ryman in 1956 and thus began what became one of the most enduring partnerships in country music history.
While the Ryman now quietly stands guard like a wise old grandpa over the younger generations of country music it still bursts forth on occasion as host to bluegrass festivals, funerals of departed musicians
and sell out concerts.

Local Life - Catfish Out of Water 2003

In 2003 Nashville had a very fun event called "Catfish Out of Water". 51 7ft. long catfish were decorated by local artists, organizations etc. and displayed throughout Nashville. They were then auctioned off to raise funds for the local greenways and river parks.
We had so much fun that year driving and walking around trying to spot catfish. I don't think we found all 51 but we came fairly close.
Some of them can still be found around town and this one is "Classic Black" sponsored by Vanderbilt University. It's looking a bit worse for wear now because it is still outside. To see photos of all the fish go to http://nashville.about.com/cs/nashvillephotos/l/blcatfishpics.htm
As for the wee fellow in front that was a project John was involved in. He is a member of the NXTMindstorms group and the wee man is on a world tour. When he came to visit us John and Juliet took him out on the town. See http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/Nashville_dest/default.aspx

Local Life - The Warner Parks

I have now officially "signed my life away" as in I am now a volunteer family historian for the Warner Parks and this is where I will be hanging out on a regular basis (The Nature Center at Edwin Warner.) I've already put in a goodly number of hours over the past few days and I have to say that I am really enjoying what and whom I am researching. (Can't tell.) Yesterday I got to see a humming bird up close and personal.

This is the main entrance to the nature center and the path leads to the library, admin building, pond and experimental garden.

The parks cover about 2,684 acres and are split into a number of areas. The main sections are Percy Warner and Edwin Warner Parks.

The land was donated by Percie Warner Lea and her husband Luke Lea and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984.

Local Life - Red Caboose Park

We live in Bellevue, which is about 12 miles south west of downtown Nashville.

We love our park. It is set on a small hill and is used a lot by people of all ages.

There is a walking path all the way round and if you don't feel like tackling the slopes you can use the flat track at the middle school across the street.

Next to the park we have our community center which is housed in what was part of the old Bellevue high school. Right next door to that we have a building that houses the library and fire department. There are plans to build a new library within the defunct Bellevue Mall when it gets re-built.

This is why the park has it's nick-name. We have our very own full size red caboose. We also have a ticket station (public toilets) next to it.

The park has it's own little amphitheater and during the summer it gets used a lot. We have summer family concerts every Friday evening which are almost always well attended. Families bring their blankets, chairs, picnics, games and generally have a good time. The little kids love to stand right up by the stage when the groups are performing. If there is music they will dance even though it's on a slope :)
The local children like to use the amphitheater to act out their own little plays. It's fun to watch them do their thing. Some of them will even burst into song.