Watermelon

This is a photo taken by Grey Street Girl (Flickr). In the white apron on the left is my friend Jen. I'm in the black dress and blue apron on the right. We were slicing watermelon on the Fourth of July at the Hot Chicken Festival in Nashville. 

From my garden

I still have yet to sort through my photos from the 4th of July. Maybe later this afternoon. In the meantime, here is another photo taken from my garden. This is a morning glory, up close and personal. 

Give me a beer 'cuz I'm getting thirthy

Every year on July 3 there is a block party in my neighborhood called The Thirth of July party. All night long there is endless food and beer, live bands, friends, and neighbors. This year there were special cups made for the occasion. Stay tuned tomorrow for photos from the 4th!

Mas Tacos, Por Favor

Who doesn't love tacos made and served out of a vintage camper? This bad boy is seen all over town serving up tacos and chips in style.

Staying cool in the pool

How 'bout this one for a good laugh? What can I say? It was hot as blazes outside, there was wine, and there was a kiddie pool. What's a girl to do? 

Sweet sign of summer

I'm having an early crop of cherry tomatoes this year. This photo was taken one dewey morning just when a cluster of tomatoes were ripe enough to be picked. Yum!

This Boot was made for Drinking

There is a honky tonk downtown called Robert's Western World. It is Nashville's most authentic honky tonk for sure. Traditional country, western swing, and rockabilly music can be heard there most any night of the week. If you go, be sure to take advantage of the Recession Special: a hot dog, chips, moon pie, and PBR for only 5 bucks. This boot is a beer coozie they gave me on my wedding anniversary.

Outside the honkey tonks on Broadway...

You never know what you'll find.

I must have a thing for bathrooms...

...or maybe there are just lots of interesting bathrooms in my neighborhood.  This is a mirror in the bathroom at a local bar.  Not much else to say, really.

Tat. Stat. My First Tattoo

This is my first personal appearance on Nashville Daily Photo.  And what a way to make an entrance... getting my first tattoo.  This was taken at Kustom Thrills in East Nashville.  It's a great little shop with talented artists who are as nice as they can be.  

"Werthy" of another post.

Gotta love the mixture of old and new at the Werthan Lofts.  The old industrial mill and the new industrial style courtyard make for an interesting urban habitat.  

PodCamp

Today was Podcamp in Nashville, TN.  It's a gathering of techie types who come together to share knowledge about blogging, podcasting, and social media.  These shirts say it all. 

A Lofty View

This is from the Werthan Lofts, an old mill near downtown that has now been converted to loft-style living space.  The day we were there the sky was overcast and I like the stark contrast of brown and white. 

Spring...

...is coming!  Sorry to have been absent for two weeks.  A dear friend of mine died two weeks ago and then I got the flu.  Down and out!  No worries, because now I'm all better and spring is on the way as evidenced by these trees blooming downtown near the Farmers Market.  I'm looking forward to warm weather, sandals, and sundresses.

One more from the Wash

I love it there.

At the Wash

In my neighborhood there is an old laundromat that's now a restaurant/bar and music venue. It kept its former name, The Family Wash. Mostly it's a great place to go to run into your neighbors, hear your friend's band, and knock back a pint of beer with their specialty, Shepherd's Pie.  

Pretty in Pink

Here's another one I snapped with my iPhone at Rumours, a wine bar in East Nashville.  The light was dim, so the quality is not the best.  This powder room is perhaps my favorite room in all of Nashville.  It's gloriously pink with feminine touches like these sconces with crystals.  

Sushi, Anyone?

I snapped this with my iPhone while having sushi at Ru San's in The Gulch.  The long bar, the pile of plates, and a few strangers enjoying their lunch... why not?

Hello Kitty

This is my cat, Hilary Kitten, catching some rays on the rooftop of the shed in our backyard.   The roof of the shed is one of her favorite places.  The weather in Nashville has been so beautiful and warm that everyone is out soaking up the sun just like Hilary Kitten.

Come Fly With Me

There is a small airport near my house.  In the summer it's fun to sit outside and watch the planes land and take off as they practice their touch and go.  Sometimes I ride my bike by the airport to get a good look up close.  These two planes won't be grounded for long.

Union Station

There's an area close to downtown called The Gulch.  Formerly a rail yard, it's now the land of high rise condos and trendy restaurants.  The northern entrance to The Gulch is marked by Union Station.  Once upon a time it was Nashville's train station.  Now it's a hotel and home to one of my favorite bars, The Flying Saucer.

6th Avenue

Here's another graffiti post and this time it's pretty cool, right?  It's on 6th Avenue, on the side of a downtown building.  A tattoo parlor, I think.  

Hello Dolly

My favorite little Tennessee songbird gets her own Wall of Fame at the Hall of Fame.  Rock on, Dolly.

Wall o' Gold

A wall of gold records at the Hall of Fame.  Notice Johnny right in front there.

They're not blue suede...

But they are Elvis's shoes.  Also on display are his cadillac and his gold piano.  Talk about kitsch!

Smile!

Chances are even if you've never heard of Hatch Show Print, you've seen their artwork at some point in your life.  Hatch is a Nashville original.  They've designed posters for big name music artists since 1879.  This colorful patch-work style piece hangs over the ticket booths at the Hall of Fame.  I love the photographer up in the corner.  I wonder if I'm on his photo blog somewhere...

Hall of Fame

Once a year the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has a day with free admission.  I have never been, so this year I took advantage of the free day and spent the afternoon at the Hall of Fame.  My photos for the next few days will be from my visit.  

TN Electric Motor Co

Cruise through any Nashville neighborhood and you're bound to discover an historic sign like this one.  The TEMC has been in business since 1936 repairing all kinds of electric apparatus.

Graffiti

Saw this colorful graffiti on the side of a train the other day.  I never know how to interpret graffiti.  It can be so beautiful and artistic even if it's used as gang markers.  Looks like this is a mix of both.

So Clean

This is one of my favorite buildings.  The curve is so retro.  It's sitting empty at the corner of Shelby and 10th in East Nashville.  I hope something really cool will go in there one day.  

Ice!

We've had a lot of rain lately.  We've also had temperatures well below freezing.  Those two conditions make for fantastic icicles.  Many of the highways in Nashville sit between beds of rock.  When the water drains out of the rock and freezes, we get these cool icicles along the roadside. 

One Final Photo from Cheekwood

This is one last photo from my visit to Cheekwood.  I just love that little patch of blue sky peeking out from the clouds and how the color blue pops with the red brick of the stable building.  

Creepy Bush

Another image from my walk through Cheekwood yesterday.  This crazy bush caught my attention, so now it makes an appearance on the photo blog.  I should have paid attention to the name of this curly shrub, but I did not.  Now we will forever wonder what it is called.  Do you know?

Splish Splash

These little bathing beauties are at Cheekwood, the estate of the Cheek family who made their fortune on Maxwell House coffee.  Their mansion is now used to display art.  Currently there is a Faberge exhibit.  If you are in or near the Nashville area during the month of January, then please consider a visit to Cheekwood.  Admission is only a dollar this month, down from 10 dollars regular admission. 

Dinner

The kitchen smells so good.  What's for dinner tonight?  In this pot there are 90 meatballs, all rolled by hand.  Someone else did the cooking.  I was busy taking photos of course.  I love cooking and so do my friends. Doesn't that make dinner parties fabulous? 

Russell Street

This little kitty was staring out the window at us partygoers on the deck.  I took this photo in July, but it reminds me of a cold January day, like today, when it's nice to be a kitty all warm on the inside. 

Afternoon Skyline

So here is a little skyline for you.  It was taken by me while driving my car down the interstate north of town about 4 pm.  I do not recommend taking photographs while driving.  Leave it to trained professionals... or at least the fearless and foolish! 

Louis Vuitton

Window displays never fail to catch my attention.  Here's one from Louis Vuitton at the Mall at Green Hills.

Bill's Barber Shop

In the heart of historic East Nashville lives the famous Woodland Studios.  Among the many talented artists who've recorded there are Bob Dylan, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Old Crow Medicine Show. Recently the facade of the building was removed to reveal an entrance with Bill's Barbershop painted on the window. It leaves me wondering who was Bill and what kind of adventures did he have on Woodland Street long ago...

Indulge

Each January, after all the holiday celebrations have ended, friends and neighbors are invited to J's house for one last party to celebrate her birthday.  This year it was an Italian feast featuring butternut squash lasagna and spaghetti with meatballs.  The beef for the meatballs was produced from a family member's pasture raised cow.  Each dish was delightfully decadent. How fitting that "indulge" should be hanging in J's kitchen.