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.