Nashville and Environs, an idiosyncratic Guide

by Diamond Proudbrook

First thing: Actually, Elvis was from Memphis. To take the (extremely interesting) tour of Graceland, you will need to plan a side excursion to that city, three or four hours away. However, if Country Music is your interest, I recommend seeing at least the outside of Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, an intriguing old building (self-guided tour available) and "the Mother Church of Country Music." [www.ryman.com] Elvis did fulfill his ambition to perform here in the Grand Ole Opry, but was not a hit. Since his time, the Opry has moved to a big new theatre at the Opryland complex, to my mind much too big, too tourist-y. I do recommend the striking new downtown Country Music Hall of Fame. [www.halloffame.org / 615-416-2096]

For live music, not necessarily country music, by up-and-coming singers and songwriters, a traditional and enjoyable Nashville venue is the Bluebird Café. [www.bluebirdcafe.com/ 615-383-1461]

War Between the States: There is little to see in Nashville itself. Stones River National Battlefield Park [http://www.nps.gov/stri/] is in Murfreesboro 30 miles away. About 20 miles from Nashville is the site of the bloody and decisive Battle of Franklin. The Carter House has an excellent museum, film, and tour of restored house around which the hottest of the battle raged. [www.carter-house.org/ 615-791-1861 Fax 615-794-1327] Not far away at Carnton Plantation [(615) 794-0903] you can see another restored house, with the bloodstains where injured soldiers were tended and the graveyard (on land donated by the McGavock family) where hundreds of the Confederate dead were buried. Gift shop at both.

Art Museums: Well worth seeing is the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, especially the loan exhibit "Treasures of Faith," and above all the building itself, a loving restoration of a dazzling piece of 1930's Art Deco, Nashville's old Post Office. There's a café and a gift shop. [www.fristcenter.com/ 615-244-3340]

Cheekwood, "Home of Art and Gardens," is a beautiful estate/museum with lovely gardens, a fine lunch room, and a gift shop. Most interesting: the extraordinary primitive sculptures of William Edmondson (d.1951). [www.cheekwood.org (615) 356-8000]

The Tennessee Fox-Trot Carousel. This is art? Yes, it is, by Red Grooms. [www.artsnashville.org/pubart/grooms_tenne.html]

Ante-Bellum Mansions

Belmont, the Italianate villa of an original Steel Magnolia, Adelicia Acklen, a rare woman who had money before the War, during the War, and after the War ñ due to her own pluck and grit and a couple of rich husbands. [www.belmont.edu/about/mansion.cfm 615 - 460-5459]

Belle Meade and Travellers' Rest are also frequently visited.

[www.travellersrestplantation.org/ 615.832.8197]

[www.bellemeadeplantation.com (615) 356-0501 800-270-3991]

Presidential Homes

The Hermitage, in Lebanon, home and burial site of Andrew Jackson and his beloved Rachel. Includes museum and cafeteria. They say it's pure coincidence that the main drive was laid out in the shape of a guitar. [www.thehermitage.com / 615- 889-2941]

The Polk Home: A half-day trip to Columbia, TN. The mansion in Nashville, Polk Place, was (sadly) demolished. But in Columbia you may tour the Polk Family Home [www.jameskpolk.com 931-388-2354] where the future President and his wife lived, and see the museum and film.

Nashville Zoo is top-notch, and we have a friend there; we might be able to get you a special tour. [www.nashvillezoo.org 615- 833-1534]

The Museum of Beverage Containers, Goodlettsville TN. How can you resist? Don't bottle up your curiosity! (No, I haven't been there.) [www.gono.com/vir-mus/museum.htm 1-800-826-4929]

Bear in mind, for nearly all of these, you'll need a car. To receive a general tourist leaflet & map before coming, please contact stolzi@aol.com. Here are some links which may also be useful:

http://www.nashvillescene.com/

http://nashville.citysearch.com/

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Mythcon 34 Directions

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO SCARRITT-BENNETT CENTER

Map at http://www.scarrittbennett.org/Images/about/sbccitymap.gif

From the north: I-65 and I-24 join up above Nashville. Keep the city on your right; admire Nashville's other mythological structure, the Batman Building, as you curve around downtown and join I-40. Follow I-40 West to Exit 209A (Broadway). Turn left onto Broadway. Stay in left-hand lane. Broadway will fork at the second light. Stay to the left. This keeps you on Broadway. Broadway will turn into 2lst Ave. Continue on 21st Ave. approximately 1/4 mile. At the intersection of 21st and Edgehill Ave. (Vanderbilt Bridge over) turn left onto Edgehill Ave. At the second stop sign (intersection of Edgehill Ave. and 18th Ave. South) turn left. After approximately 5-6 houses, Scarritt-Bennett Center's large, open parking lot will appear on the left. Mythcon registration is in the Laskey Building, whose side adjoins this lot.

From the west: I-40 East to Exit 209A (Broadway). Turn right onto Broadway. Stay in left-hand lane. Broadway will fork at next light. Stay to the left. This keeps you on Broadway. Broadway will turn into 21st Ave. Continue on 2lst Ave. approximately 1/4 mile. At the intersection of 21st and Edgehill Ave. (Vanderbilt Bridge over) turn left onto Edgehill Ave. At the second stop sign (intersection Edgehill Ave. and 18th Ave. South) turn left. After approximately 5-6 houses, Scarritt-Bennett Center's large, open parking lot will appear on the left. Mythcon registration is in the Laskey Building, whose side adjoins this lot.

From Knoxville, Chattanooga, Atlanta: I-440 West to I-65. Go north (towards Nashville) on I-65 to the Wedgewood Ave.exit (exit 81). Turn left on Wedgewood and continue; you will cross 8th Ave. and 12th Ave. at major intersections. Turn right on 18th Ave. Proceed through two stop signs. After the second stop sign at Edgehill Ave. there will be approximately 5-6 houses on the left and Scarritt-Bennett Center's large, open parking lot will appear. Turn left into the parking lot. Mythcon registration is in the Laskey Building, whose side adjoins this lot.

From I-440 East: Go to I-65 intersection and turn north towards Nashville on I-65.

From Birmingham etc., take I-65 and pick up these same instructions here: Go north (towards Nashville) on I-65 to the Wedgewood Ave. exit (exit 81). Turn left on Wedgwood and continue; you will cross 8th Ave. and 12th Ave. at major intersections. Turn right on 18th Ave. Proceed through two stop signs. After the second stop sign at Edgehill Ave. there will be approximately 5-6 houses on the left and Scarritt-Bennett Center's large, open parking lot will appear. Turn left into the parking ot. Mythcon registration is in the Laskey Building, whose side adjoins this lot.

PARKING: Scarritt-Bennett Center has two parking lots located on 18th Avenue South; parking is on a first come, first served basis. Several events may be taking place simultaneously; therefore space is limited and parking is not guaranteed. Recreational vehicles and buses are discouraged.

ARRIVING BY AIR

Ground transportation:

Gray Line Express - (615) 275-1180
$11.00 one way; $17.00 round trip
Hours of operation 6:00am - 11:00pm daily

Reservations are not necessary from the Nashville International Airport to Scarritt-Bennett Center. The Gray Line Express counter is located one level below baggage claim. For your return trip to the airport, reservations are required. It has been requested by Gray Line Express that the time for pick up be 2 1/2 hours prior to your flight time. Dropoff and pickup is in the Laskey parking lot off 18th Avenue, South.

Checker Cab - (615) 254-5031, 24 hours a day
$20.00 each way

If renting a car, take I-40 West from airport. Follow I - 40 West to Exit 209A (Broadway). Turn left onto Broadway. Stay in left-hand lane. Broadway will fork at the second light. Stay to the left. This keeps you on Broadway. Broadway will turn into 2lst Ave. Continue on 21st Ave. approximately 1/4 mile. At the intersection of 21st and Edgehill Ave. (Vanderbilt Bridge over) turn left onto Edgehill Ave. At the second stop sign (intersection of Edgehill Ave. and 18th Ave. South) turn left. After approximately 5-6 houses, Scarritt-Bennett Center's large, open parking lot will appear on the left. Mythcon registration is in the Laskey Building, whose side adjoins this lot.

CHECK-IN

Guest Housing check-in is located in the Laskey Building. Check-in for housing begins at 3:00 pm Central time. If you will be arriving after midnight, please contact the security office at (615) 340-7480 after 2:00 pm Central time on the day of arrival to make arrangements. There are no elevators in the residence halls, so let us know if you require a first floor room for health reasons. First floor rooms are subject to availability.

WEATHER

It will be hot and humid, with daytime highs averaging in the upper 80's. Afternoon or evening thundershowers are possible. However, the long summer evenings can be quite pleasant outside from about 7 to 9 p.m. , with fireflies. (Golfimbul, anyone?)

Bring a light jacket or sweater if air-conditioning sometimes bothers you. Otherwise, dress for warm summer weather, bearing in mind that Scarritt-Bennett's official dress code is "business casual."

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