Sunday, May 29, 2005
To mingle with music stars in Nashville, it's all about knowing where to go. Here are a few places in Music City where you just might bump into your celebrity crush.
RESTAURANTS:
· Arnold's Country Kitchen , 605 Eighth Ave. S., 615-256-4455. Cafeteria food was never this good. Grab a tray and wait for a star to stroll in looking for a rib-sticking midday meal.
· Elliston Place Soda Shop , 2111 Elliston Place, 615-327-1090. An iconic American soda fountain, with everything from Southern comfort food to banana splits.
· Brown's Diner , 2102 Blair Blvd., 615-269- 5509. A dive, but it serves great cheeseburgers.
· Bongo Java , 2007 Belmont Blvd., 615- 385-JAVA. Espresso, food and live shows in an upstairs "theater."
· Fido , 1812 21st Ave., 615-777-FIDO. More spacious than Bongo and more of a restaurant.
· Sunset Grill , 2001 Belcourt Ave., 615-386- 3663. A fairly pricey, award-winning restaurant offering New American cuisine. The hip eatery has minimalist decor and a small outdoor patio.
· The Palm Restaurant , 140 Fifth Ave. S., 615-742-7256. Noted for steak, seafood and Italian specialties and for being the place where celebrities can dine discreetly.
· South Street Restaurant , 907 20th Ave. S., 615-320-5555. The triangular-shaped, open-air eatery is one of Dierks Bentley's favorites, and for good reason. Cool breezes, cold drinks, a friendly staff and good food distinguish this casual eatery built around the trees.
· Pancake Pantry , 1796 21st Ave. S., 615-383-9333. Expect a line for breakfast. It also serves lunch.
SHOPS:
· Robert's Western World , 416 Broadway. This honky-tonk was a western apparel store in the '90s, and though it still sells a few pairs of boots, it's more about the booze than the boots.
· Gruhn Guitars , 400 Broadway. This is as much a guitar museum as a retail store, and owner George Gruhn is its historian.
· Cotten Music Center , 1815 21st Ave. S. A smaller neighborhood guitar store with a staff whose kids have grown up with the stars' kids.
· Hatch Show Print , 316 Broadway. If you really want a souvenir, put down the "Nashville Rocks" T-shirt and purchase a piece of living history. The store's motto: "Preservation through production."
STAGE: Performers belt their hearts out on a small raised stage in front of empty beer boxes at Lonnie's Western Room (208 Printer's Alley, 615-251-1122). Even if you don't spot a celebrity, you may find yourself listening to a soon-to-be one.
BARS:
· Tootsie's Orchid Lounge , 422 Broadway. It's mandatory to have a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer -- the official honky-tonk drink -- at this place, where nearly every name in country music has wet his or her whistle.
· Red Door Saloon , 1816 Division St. It's hard to find and easy to miss, but it's one of the best bars in Nashville and a favorite among music professionals, including Bentley and Keith Urban. Peer through the hole in the floor boards for a bone-chilling surprise in this skeleton-themed establishment.
· Bobby's Idle Hour , 1028 16th Ave. S. You're guaranteed to spot a songwriter, music manager or musician.
CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Country Music Association's CMA Music Festival , formerly known as Fan Fair, is scheduled to take over downtown Nashville June 9-12. The festival includes nightly concerts at the Coliseum (home of the Tennessee Titans) by big-name artists -- Bentley, Lee Ann Womack, Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Kenny Rogers and more -- and daytime shows throughout town. Meet-and-greet sessions allow fans to pose for pictures with their favorite artists, and celebrity musicians are known to pop up on stages during the "After Hours" concerts featuring new and local talent at venues along Lower Broadway and Second Avenue. Ticket information: 800-CMA-FEST, http://www.cmafest.com .
INFORMATION: Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau , 800-657-6910, http://www.musiccityusa.com .
-- Nicole Cotroneo