Spring has sprung, and as we hit the final week of classes (and subsequent miserable weeks of finals), give yourself a day to get out and about in Nashville with friends. As I sit in my not so comfy chair on Central 8, I think about how easy it is to forget what is right here in our backyard. Nashville is booming, and there are activities at all hours of the day at our fingertips. I know I’m trying to get through the entirety of this list before I head out via BNA.
1. Go on the Yazoo Brewery Tour.
Nashville’s local beer offers weeknight and Saturday tours of its brewery at $8 a person. The Saturday tour is a half hour long, spent mostly indoors, and you get a chance to taste a number of their beers. Yazoo has become a Nashville staple, and getting up close and personal with how it’s made could be a great way to localize yourself. Not to mention, they offer a variety of different blends and brews for all the beer drinkers out there (get me away from that dark looking IPA).
2. Try Shakti's Community Class
Shakti Yoga’s atmosphere is consistently fantastic. It’s filled with dogs and calm, happy yogis, and during finals, this spot would be a great place to unwind. Their community class is a $5 Power Flow class, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great workout sure to eliminate anxieties. Be ready to sweat it all out! You’ll be hooked after your first class — and for new members, they offer a $30 unlimited 30-day package. Like I said, happy place. With dogs. And cute yoga clothes.
3. Grab a drink at The Patterson House
This is my new favorite spot. Speakeasy style Patterson House has a menu full of cool drinks, paired with an even cooler atmosphere. Normally super crowded on weekends, try going on a weeknight. The wait staff is knowledgeable and more than willing to help you find the perfect new drink to try in its tavernesque setting.
4. Late night at Treehouse in East Nashville
Some of my friends and I reserved the tree house room a few weeks ago at this new East Nashville restaurant, and it could not have been cooler. We ate in an actual tree house, separated from the rest of the restaurant by some rickety stairs. The menu changes every day, and it's full of quirky options. We loved our pasta dishes but might recommend staying away from the flounder if it’s still on the menu. It’s open till 3 a.m. and offers a late night menu after a certain point. If you’re willing to make the trek out to East Nashville after a night out, be sure to post-game here.
5. Rent a Pedal Tavern
I also embarked on this journey recently with a group of friends, and I can’t tell you how fun it was pedaling around Broadway on this rickety contraption with hundreds of tourists trying to take pictures of us struggling to make it up a small hill. It’s a great alternative to sitting at Rippy’s with the same group of people, and you get to see a lot more of Broadway than you’d probably like (we stopped at a bar called Wild Beaver… I’m going to stop my description by mentioning the bull-riding machine).
Also, don't be afraid to try some of the off-brand Pedal Taverns -- Country Music Crawler, I'm looking at you.6. Play with puppies at Love at First Sight
You have a paper. You’re stressed. You need an immediate fix—something guaranteed to pick you up out of the dark depths of Central. What could be a better solution (other than finishing the paper) than playing with a puppy at the animal adoption center, Love at First Sight? Who knows, if you’re living off campus next year, you might even find a friend to take home. I included a couple of festive pics of my dog Sandy to commemorate him and get you thinking about cute dogs. He was unfortunately eaten by a coyote in spring of 2013. Clearly not over it.
7. Picnic at the Parthenon in Centennial Park
Pretend you’re still abroad and embark on a picnic in Centennial! A great low-budget option, Centennial is conveniently close to campus and offers calming spring vibes. Find a couple friends, pick up take out somewhere and enjoy Nashville’s few hours of sunshine before it starts thunder storming on you.
8. See a movie at the Belcourt
I had to put this last, because unfortunately the Belcourt is currently undergoing a six-month renovation. I still included it as potential inspiration for next year once it’s back up and running, because often times we forget about this small movie theater right here in Hillsboro. The theater plays independent films and classic favorites with a discount student ticket price. During construction, their website is still posting different screenings of independent films all over Nashville that students should definitely check out. Included is a picture of their planned renovation.
