During my travel nurse assignment in Nashville, TN, I stayed in the Melrose area. I attended multiple events and visited several different restaurants where I truly enjoyed the food. I cannot wait to share my experiences in the Music City with you!
Now let’s tRavel iN style!
EVENTS/ACTIVITIES:
I attended the Nashville Black Market during Black History Month, which was a free black history expo located at the Fairgrounds of Nashville. This event consisted of black-owned vendors who were selling wonderful merchandise, such as homemade desserts, homemade drinks, clothes, jewelry, hair products, pantings, etc.
Cellar Sessions: The Lucky Few- Private Open Bar Mixer – Shadow Tequila Event was a private cocktail tasting event at The Amsterdamian where people gathered and connected with each other, while tasting five different cocktails and Shadow Tequila shots. Shadow Tequila was a black-owned, premium tequila company based in Tennessee. It was a nice and intimate event.
Black Health Connect was a networking event where different medical professionals connected, talked about the healthcare community, and/or sought career advancement opportunities. It was great connecting with different medical professionals, such as physician assistants, dentists, rehab registered nurses, etc., who looked like me.
Vanguard Art Show was an art show, in which African American art and music collaborated to celebrate the culture. There were beautiful paintings, clothing, and handmade jewelry to purchase at the event. There was also live body-art painting performed right in front of the crowd, which was awesome to witness! It was definitely a great vibe there.
Broadway Street was a neon-lit, tourist spot (aka the Honky Tonk Highway) where people shopped, ate, bar hopped, listened to live music, or just experienced the entertaining strip of Nashville from sunrise to sunset!
Blind Barber was actually a barber shop by day, with a cocktail lounge connected to it that opened for business at night. It was a fun experience, and the music and cocktails were extremely great!
RESTAURANTS:
Pinewood Social was one of my favorite restaurants to dine! I was never disappointed with their service or food. I ordered the flavorful Fried Chicken Plate, served with collards greens, mac & cheese, and slaw with the Lavender Marriage signature cocktail. Pinewood Social also had a bowling alley inside of the restaurant and a beautiful view of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
Velvet Taco had the best tacos that I ever tasted! I ordered three tacos: Chicken & Waffle, Slow-Roasted Angus Beef, and Mexi-Cali Shrimp. They were all so delicious that Velvet Taco became one of my “go-to spots” for a late night snack. I even had them delivered to me for lunch while at work!
Common Ground was a neighborhood restaurant in the Berry Hill area, with a welcoming vibe. I sat at the bar and ordered the Blackened Shrimp Scampi with a rum cocktail and gelato ice cream for dessert. The bartender stated that most of their food came from locals. I love when businesses give back and invest in their communities.
One Love Jamaica Food & Catering was one of the best Jamaican food trucks I’ve ever visited! My favorite Jamaican dish was the oxtail meal. It included oxtails, plantains, steamed cabbage, and a pineapple ginger drink. Those oxtails melted in my mouth like butter! I visited the food truck multiple times and every meal was superb.
Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles was a black-owned, southern cuisine restaurant. It was of the best brunch spots in town. I loved the ambiance, especially the beautiful wall art throughout the restaurant. I ate the delicious Kev N’ Jen’s Catfish & Grits, paired with an Old-Fashion cocktail. The plate was so plentiful that I had to take leftovers home.
Gray & Dudley was a nice restaurant that was part of a hotel on the historic Bankers Alley of Nashville. They had a small menu, but their food was so delicious. I ordered the hot honey, pepperoni stone-fired flatbread, a side of Brussels sprouts, paired with a signature tequila cocktail called the East Side Stumble. As a bonus, Broadway Street was less than a ten minute walk from the restaurant.
Have you ever visited Nashville, TN?! If so, where did you go and what did you do… Let me know in the comments!
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