I have a very special place in my heart for Nashville. Although I don’t live in Nashville any more, I did grow up here, so sometimes I miss it when I’m gone, because it’s home in many ways. It’s part of who I am, even though I didn’t want to admit that for a long time! When I got out of high school and turned 18, I left and swore I was never coming back! I didn’t want to be associated with anything southern or country music or whatever. But, like most things, absence makes the heart grow fonder! Being away, I finally started to appreciate all of the wonderful music I grew up with, the inherent southern hospitality that nowhere else can seem to replicate, the beautiful architecture, the well-manicured lawns, the city’s history, and my family. After living in many different cities, I realized that every place you live has good things and bad things. I am really happy to come here and visit and take in all of the wonderful things that Nashville has to offer, but I am even happier to get back home to my home, in Portland.

I don’t really know a lot about the Nashville music scene. There really isn’t as much live music as you would expect in «Music City USA». I’m sure there are some really good bands, though. I know lots of really good musicians who live and work here.

I think my favorite building might be the Carter House. It’s in Franklin, right outside of Nashville. It’s where the Battle of Franklin took place during the Civil War. Although the building has a dark history, it’s really amazing how well it has been preserved and they have wonderful tours of the house and the grounds.

There has been a huge influx in East Nashville recently, of hipster kids who have started to gentrify a formerly sketchy area. They have created a circle of bars in an area called «5 Points», filled with kids in skinny jeans. This would definitely be the hip place for a 20-something to hang out. Alas, I am not so hip... so I go searching for other things!There are some ok coffee shops here, if you don’t want to go out drinking. I really liked the «Sportsman’s Grill» on 21st Ave because it is unassuming and you can play pool and they pour stiff drinks, and the bartenders are very friendly. And! Another good recommendation would be «PM» because they make decent sushi to go with your drinks, and it’s very central to where I stay when I am in town, which is nice. I guess I don’t go out very much.

Southern food. Bacon and eggs. Ham. Grits. Fried chicken. Barbeque. Steak. Fried okra. Macaroni and cheese. Mashed potatoes. Collard greens. Biscuits. I would highly recommend eating southern when you’re in the south. It is really good!

Although I grew up here, as soon as I turned 18, I left town and have lived many other places. When I was about 24, I came back to Nashville for about a year and lived with a very good friend out in the country, near the Loveless Motel. It was a really fun place. We had a full studio in the living room, and pretty much every other room was filled with amps and all types of musical instruments. There wasn’t really space for anything else! I remember even the kitchen had a whole PA system sitting right in the middle of the floor, waiting for its next show. But it was great, I felt a wonderful sense of community; there were always people hanging out and playing music or working on cars or having dinner together.

I think the reason why many people move to Nashville is to make a living as a songwriter or musician, so probably the best job you can have is a successful music career, so you don’t have to wait tables forever.

The only movies I can think of filmed in Nashville are by Harmony Korine. I think he made «Gummo» and «Trash Humpers» here. I think those movies were kind of upsetting to some people, I don’t know how I feel about them either way, but I think they won some awards, which is great. There must be something else... «Ernest Scared Stupid» was filmed in Nashville. A classic... haha. Hopefully Nashville will get some better movies soon.

There are so many beautiful parks in and around Nashville, but I think my favorite might be Centennial Park, right in the middle of town, on West End. Oddly enough, Centennial Park hosts an exact replica of the Parthenon, built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition. It’s pretty neat!

One of my best friends ever, Rob McLain. He is the first person I always want to see when I come to visit.

Vanderbilt University has a great radio station on 91.1 fm. They have student DJ’s as well as local ones, and it is a great mix of all types of music.

OK! This is a tie for me! My first pick is a place called «Woodlands Cafe» and they serve amazing vegetarian Indian food. 2nd runner up is in Brentwood (a suburb right outside of Nashville) called «Peter’s Thai Sushi» which I know sounds odd, but they have such wonderful quality fish and the service is great. But those places aren’t very traditional Nashville eateries, so if I was going to take someone from out of town to one of the more popular landmarks: «Dotson’s», «Pancake Pantry» and the «Loveless Cafe» are all amazing.

Maybe this doesn’t necessarily fit Nashville, but who doesn’t love hearing Patsy Cline sing «Tennessee Waltz»?

Crickets. And on that note, fireflies don’t make a sound, but they are so beautiful and I miss seeing them every time I leave Nashville!

Elliston Place. It’s not as cool as it used to be but around that area, there’s some coffee shops, vintage clothing stores, smoke shop, music venues, restaurants. I have a lot of good memories of this area, being a teenager and walking all around and meeting interesting people.