Day two in music city dawned well before I pushed back the
blankets and rolled my lazy backside down to get the free Hampton Inn
breakfast. Nothing special but satisfying anyway. I guess the one twist on the
traditional Hampton Inn breakfast was the option to go with the grits in
addition to the oatmeal.
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| Some of the Honky Tonks on Broadway |
Needing to do something healthy to start the day, we took a
brief walk up to and down Broadway. It’s
not even 11 on a Sunday morning and the bars are beginning to come alive as the
bands set up begin singing.
Aaah. Music City.
A quick stop in the store beside Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville suggests that there's a big sign on my back that says: "Take my money. PLEASE!"
Not only that, you can buy such things as a Beer Belly (a
Camelbak) that slips under your shirt so you can sneak in beer to events you
might not otherwise. Then there’s the Wine Rack (a bra that does the same with
wine or any other beverage).
Patrons are already making their way into the bars such as
the classic Purple Orchid, Layla’s, Second Fiddle and more. Folks can’t get
enough of the country music and I’m still trying to figure out what country
they’re from!
Most of the day was spent just wandering around the area
including a visit to the Barnes and Noble near Vanderbilt. Couldn’t resist
getting a book on making Salumi. Yes I could pick that up in just about any
other B & N but . . .
After watching a little football and relaxing a bit, we went
to dinner at a new-to-me Tex-Mex restaurant called Chuy’s and their should be
famous Chihuahua Bar.
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| With NRM friends Lynn Bogle (VP Development) & Glen Cranfield (CEO) |
Have one near you? Then you know what I’m talking about.
While I don’t usually lean toward chains, this one has a couple of reasons to
not miss. It begins with the jalapeño dip.
This ranch-based dip is to die for. Frankly, it could change
your life. It did mine. Now I have to figure out how to recreate it.
Along with their delicious Mojito I could spend the evening eating chips, salsa
and the jalapeño dip.
But there’s much more available. Including their tortilla
soup. I only wish a franchise was located in the Chicagoland area. I’m sure I
would frequent it too much.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of the evening was keeping the
dip and soup off my shirt. That’s because the whole purpose of the trip was
coming up that evening. One of the organization’s I have the privilege to serve
is the Nashville Rescue Mission.
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| Tracy Lawrence and Dave Innis prior to the show |
This Mission is doing phenomenal things for the Music City
and this fundraising event is not one to be missed. Music with a Mission was
spearheaded by Restless Heart and friends playing alongside the Grammy-winning
Nashville Orchestra.
Now being from Chicago, I’m really spoiled by the quality of
the Chicago Symphony. The Nashville Symphony is just that good. Tonight’s
lineup included a who’s who of the music world from country to jazz.
Besides Restless Heart there was Tracy Lawrence, Larry Gatlin
and the Gatlin Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, Amy Grant, Branford Marsalis, Joey
Calderazzo and many others.
I confess my main interest in the show was Branford.
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| Me with Branford Marsalis after the show. |
Jazz is one of my favorite forms of music but when you’re
listening to a Marsalis family member, they’re equally adept at every form of
music. His classical piece was simply stunning in its orchestration.
The silent auction was filled with all kinds of music
memorabilia. I bid on a couple of items
and almost left with a guitar signed by all the artists. It was just a bit over
my budget for the event.
Amazing. Signed guitars by Vince Gill and others along
with a signed fiddle from Charlie Daniels. I’m not even a big fan but I was
bidding anyway.
The performance?
Phenomenal doesn’t begin to describe the evening. I even
found myself singing along with some of the country tunes. Gratefully the
Mission provided invitations to the pre- and post-event festivities where I had
the opportunity to meet several of the artists.
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| Greg Jennings with my co-worker Denise and me. |
I’m planning on taking a trip to New Orleans sometime yet
this year or early next year with a good friend from there. It’s in one of just
two states I’ve never been in (Hawaii is the other) or through yet. The very
gracious Branford Marsalis not only allowed a photograph but provided a couple
of must see sights in New Orleans.
As I am leaving this incredible town, I’m still not sure I’m
a huge fan of Country music but at least I’ve developed a new appreciation and
won’t just change the channel if it happens to come on the radio.
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