Endless water supply
Posted by Beth Alexander
(07.30.07, 6:24 PM)
I can only assume Metro has an endless supply of water, since from morning until evening (and maybe through the night, who knows?), 8 to 10 huge sprinklers are at work spewing water over the new Warner Park Sports Field at the corner of Old Hickory Blvd and Highway 100. First, we paid half a dozen bull-dozers to move some perfectly good dirt around. Several times. Sometimes with little mounds that made you think, Hm, maybe it'll be a baseball field. But no, now I think it's becoming a soccer field. Rapidly. Day after day for going on two weeks now, while your lawn and mine have dried to bitter crispiness (I turned away the mowers today for the third time—there's nothing to cut!), our new soccer field is busy growing brand new, fledgling sprigs of bright green grass. Soon, it'll look like Ireland over there. Somebody must have pots of money to spend. I guess I can send my mowers over there, the next time they show up.
How did this happen?
Posted by Anne Clayton
(07.30.07, 6:17 PM)
I was recently traveling down Old Hickory Boulevard coming from Brentwood. As I got closer to Hillsboro Road, I began to see these horrible, huge metal power poles that have been installed. I have never seen any worse eyesore, anywhere. How did this happen? Who let these oversized metal monsters be erected? These are not your usual size power poles. They are so huge they are mounted with giant bolts onto concrete pads. The poles are in peoples front yards and in the front yard of an area church. What's wrong with wooden poles? Why on earth weren't the power lines buried? Believe me, if you hit one of these poles, you will not be worried about paying NES for the pole...Your family will be paying for your funeral. There is nothing pretty about the way electricity, phone and cable service is distributed across our city. Utility poles are just a part of the landscape and generally are not even noticed. I understand the need for the really big high voltage lines one sees from time to time. They are not pretty either. As a child, I imagined them as erector set giants marching across the country. There was and still is something wondrous about those metal titans that deliver power to every corner of this country. There is nothing wondrous about these grossly oversized utility poles in a residential area. NES, those poles must go!
Move in
Posted by Beth Alexander
(07.30.07, 08:55 AM)
Three years ago, we were paying $1,700 per month for rent on a generic two-bedroom, two-bath apartment for our sons, both students at Vanderbilt, with rent in the area going up every year. Driving around the midtown area in the summer of 2004, Dave and I were taken with a series of handsome brownstones that was going up on 31st Avenue North. We stopped the car and moseyed around the building, discovered the builder on site on a Sunday and asked for a cook’s tour of The Row at 31st. Even under construction, the units were fabulous—windows everywhere, spacious rooms, creative master baths and these wonderful, oversized mantles in every unit. There were three discreet buildings, each with six condos—the two at the basement level each had an lower level for an office, and the two on top had lofts—so a total of only 18, each with a different floor plan.
I'm a Barbie Girl
Posted by Mandi Coleman
(07.25.07, 02:07 PM)
Recently I've been in the market for a new house. In fact, it will be my first purchase for a home so I want to make the best decision. There was a time in the not too distant past when I couldn't see many differences in each little area of town. That was when I started doing my research and found the Nashville Barbies. While I'm sure they have been around awhile, I found them amusing but badly mistaken in some cases.
Leftovers in the break-room… help yourself
Posted by Julie Eskind
(07.23.07, 05:39 PM)
Darn the homemade sugar cookies that lady in the marketing department brought in to the office! Sure, all that Splenda might have a positive effect on my energy level for the tail end of the day (never mind the pending subsequent crash). But that stuff sure don’t help my “tail end”! For some reason, “free food” means “must eat.” So if it’s there, it must be tasted. I have no willpower when it comes to monitoring the stuffing of my face. And anything to put off doing work. (Don’t get me wrong, my job’s pretty sweet, but every post has its dull moments.) No one ever brings in healthy snacks to share either.
August issue coming Friday
Posted by Beth Alexander
(07.22.07, 05:19 PM)
We put our August issue to bed this week, and I had ample opportunity to feel grateful to work with a handful of professionals who can turn on a dime, remain upbeat in the face of unreturned phone calls and steadfast under deadline. Can’t wait for you to see the annual Players & Rainmakers feature. Senior photographer Eric England encouraged us to profile fewer and make the photographs more memorable; they are gorgeous and span an array of fascinating Nashvillians who’ve made a huge difference in the life we are able to live here.
Word on the Street
Posted by Mandi Coleman
(07.11.07, 12:34 PM)
As most people have probably noticed, the Cool Springs area has been growing at an incredible rate for the past year. Corporate buildings keep going up, among them being the new US headquarters for Nissan. This is great for the area, but what interests me most are the businesses I'll be opening my wallet for on an ongoing basis. Mainly, retail and dining.
A bright light went out for a quarter of a million people last night
Posted by Julie Schoerke
(07.10.07, 02:18 PM)
Last night one of the most amazing people, from one of the most incredible families I've ever met, died. His name is Jonathan and he was just five years old. Little Mighty Marrow Man, as he was known, fought Leukemia ferociously for almost half of his life. Although I only knew him and his family for the last three weeks of his life, he has had an amazing impact on my life. This little guy, with the funniest, sweetest little voice, was interminably happy. He loved everything and everybody. His version of getting cranky was to say in a soft voice, "I'm sorry, I'm all out of hugs right now." That said a lot, because he hugged and was hugged constantly. He never met a stranger. He loved unconditionally.
Bad behavior, redux
Posted by Nan Parrish
(07.05.07, 12:00 PM)
Neil and I have a cousin we adore and when she sees or hears something that shocks her she says, "I have just lived too long." Men lighting cigars at the dinner table while people around them are still enjoying their dinner has floored me for years not to mention the constant chatter—make that roar—while the likes of Walter Annenberg, Red Grooms and others have tried to say a few words as they received the Swan Award.
No change here!
Posted by Anne Clayton
(07.05.07, 08:26 AM)
It really takes a lot to make me mad, really it does. And this did it in a big way. As most of you know, I work at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art as manager of food and beverage services. Today is Tuesday, July 3, and I had the happy problem of a full restaurant with loads of tourists in for the holiday week. They were all using big bills and I needed some change fast. I jumped in the car and ran to the closest bank—US Bank on Harding in Belle Meade. I walked in and asked for 100 ones, 100 fives and two rolls of quarters, nothing big. The teller asked me who I worked for, and I said Cheekwood. He looked at me and said they do not make change for non-bank customers. I thought he was joking and laughed and said okay, but today I need change. He told me he was serious, and I stood there just steaming. I had to drive all the way to Bank of America in Bellevue to get the change, where I was greeted kindly and given change, no questions asked. I told them what happened and they were appalled as were all of the customers who heard this.
Mayoral criteria
Posted by Beth Alexander
(07.02.07, 3:19 PM)
Ever a fan of Gail Kerr, I have to refer you to her column in The Tennessean today. It lists a series of questions she recommends asking about the mayoral candidates to help a voter decide which one will be the best mayor for Nashville's future. Like: Who truly wants to be mayor and is not running just because he needs a job or is bored and wants something to do? Who would be most likely to make us proud versus the most likely to embarrass us with stupid gaffes? Who would you want to see represent Nashville on national television when the Titans win the Super Bowl? Sort of puts the election in perspective. We're on our way to being a world class city. Let's pick a mayor who is a leader of national stature, with intellect, clear thinking and a fresh and honest way of speaking. Just gotta figure out which one that is. I have my candidate.
Sparkle and Awe
Posted by Mandi Coleman
(07.02.07, 12:35 PM)
Growing up, the Independence Day tradition for everyone I knew was to go downtown in the big city of Florence, Alabama and watch the fireworks display on the river. We did this every year that I can recall, up until I started college and went out of town for this occasion. My first year in Nashville, I watched the show from the top of the Titan's stadium. That was a blast, except for the debris falling into my face. I no longer have my stadium access, but I am not sure that I want to be a part of the masses that will be downtown Wednesday evening. In fact, I'm pretty sure there are many things I would rather do. Are there other traditions besides oohing and aahing to the tune of "Proud to be an American"? Having a cookout sounds perfect to me, and sunbathing by the pool will also be a nice mid-week switch. Perhaps I'll catch a glimpse of some glitter in the sky. It would be great to view the benefits and not have to experience the hot, cramped conditions.
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