
Cowboy Boots and Tight Leather Skirts: I Must Be In . . . Nashville!
Oct 29, 2024
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If you've got to cool your heels, Nashville's not a bad place to do it. On Saturday, Marie Gerrity and her son Henry joined me for lunch at a waterfront spot halfway between my home away from home at the Commodore Yacht Club and downtown. We enjoyed catching up with each other and, it was great getting advice from two Mainah's who spend a lot of time in the Music City.
After that pleasant lunch, I ventured down to Lower Broadway--talk about overwhelming. Between 5th Avenue and the river on both sides of the street, bar after bar after bar playing music at a gazillion decibles line the street. And, music screamed not just from the street level but also from the roof tops and many open-air floors in between. And by the way, the throngs of people made the sidewalks nearly impassable--worse than NYC at rush hour before Covid. Now, I'm a veteran of Key West and have walked Lower Duval Street on New Year's Eve, during Fantasy Fest, and most other times of year. Lower Broadway makes Lower Duval Street look like a sober, quiet, small town backwater. Whew. I tried to imagine myself entering one of these establishments, ordering a glass of Tennessee Whiskey with barbeque, and enjoying some music. Couldn't get there. The Admiral says I'm old; I say I value my hearing, health, and, most of all, my sanity. A rideless Lyft driver trying to beat the system spotted me and drove me back to the Commodore for cash. This harbor never seemed more peaceful.

Sunday, I hung out; did a little laundry; did a little cleaning; did a little consulting and took a short walk around the yacht club grounds. I wasn't alone, the bees were all over the late season asters doubtless making honey for the Nashville winter ahead.

Then, I watched football including the Commander's incredible last second hail Mary pass to beat the Bears. Sometimes you get lucky.
Monday saw me heading early to the Country Music Hall of Fame. A guide for the Studio B tour intercepted me as I entered the museum and talked me into joining him for a short bus ride to go see RCA Victor's famous Studio B. I know nothing about this stuff but, Elvis recorded over 200 songs in Studio B, the birthplace of the Nashville Sound.

He wasn't alone. Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Pride, Willie Nelson, the Everly Brothers and countless others recorded there. Many of them including Elvis played this Steinway Piano which is still used for recordings today.

And since the early days of the studio in the late 50s, the lead vocalist has stood on this X which is the studio's acoustic vocal sweet spot:

After Studio B, I went back to the Country Music Hall of Fame and toured the second and third floor exhibits. As you might imagine, Taylor Swift features prominently and I particularly liked this banjo that she played Mean on at the Grammy Awards in 2012.

After the Hall of Fame, I followed my good friend, Leo Water's, advice and walked over to Peg Leg Porker's where I had BBQ ribs, beans, cole slaw, and a beer. They say it's healthy to have your big meal mid-day! My fingers were too messy for pictures at lunch so I borrowed this from their site on the internet:

After Peg Leg's, I went looking to buy a pound or two of coffee. Didn't find it but I came across this sign. All I'll say is hmmm.

As for the cowboy boots and short, tight skirts, that's a younger man's game. I'm just happy that the Admiral gets home this evening. And, I think the Commander In Chief is looking forward to that too.

Glad Jackie's back (or about to be?) Hope her trip to Key West went well. I think you and the Commander in Chief have the right idea about hanging at the marina.