“Nashville Hot” is most certainly not exclusive to fried chicken and there’s a heat advisory through Saturday. Because it is hotter than blue blazes and everyone is struggling to keep their wig on tight. Will we make it through it? The world may never know. Anyway, it’s hot, it’s gonna remain hot, that’s the weather. [NashSevereWx]
Two Nashville restaurants have landed on the New York Times’ 50 best in America list. The TL;DR: They’re Junior, from chef Philip Krajeck, built inside an old Piggly Wiggly. And Cauponor, a restaurant with just seven tables from chef Jake Howell and the team behind Peninsula. [The Tennessean]
Heard about the Todd County Bale Trail? Well, this tradition is returning and it celebrates hay bale creations. *Dwight Schrute sounds* Elkton, Kentucky is home for Ashley Francis. Turns out, her home is really good at decorating hay bales. This has been a tradition for more than a decade. Businesses and residents decorate hay bails into big works of hay art. It goes beyond Elkton. This is the Todd County Bale Trail. 56 stops are running through Oct. 31. [News Channel 5]
The fight over traffic and zoning around Cheekwood expanded further this week. A lawsuit filed in June against Metro has now added the botanical garden and museum as a defendant. It’s all part of an ongoing effort by a group of Cheekwood’s Belle Meade Highlands neighbors. [WPLN]
The 9th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards will take place on Tuesday at the Ryman. The event begins at 6:30 P.M and tickets are on sale now. The performance-filled ceremony will recognize dozens of songwriters including Vince Gill, Riley Green, Blake Pendergrass, and Paul Williams, with many other winners to be revealed night-of. [Ryman]
Taxing groceries is dumb as hell and we will stand on that regardless of politics. Tennessee lawmakers hosted a community forum on Wednesday night to end the state grocery tax. Right now, Tennesseans pay a 4% sales tax on groceries, but some lawmakers say new legislation could change that. [WKRN]
Someone should probably explain to the MSA that the First Amendment protects them from government retaliation, not private entities. They’ve spent three years spreading some of the most atrocious antisemitism you can imagine – going so far as to cheer the slaughter of Jewish people, making thousands of social media comments targeting Jewish students and whitewashing documented history. So it might be a good idea for them to figure out how to actually welcome that freedom of speech they profess to love. We loathe TPUSA but trying to silence them is beyond hypocritical. The student paper should also come to terms with reality that it’s not Islamophobic to criticize Islamist (not Islamic) terrorists. Because it’s not. [Vanderbilt Hustler]
Hey, Nashville SUNN oversight adults, let’s get poppin and make a new edition of your citywide student newspaper happen! We’ve been waiting since May and that’s a really long time for some news nerds who appreciate everything you’re doing with the project. [Nashville SUNN]
The NAACP applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to preserve access to mail voting and reject efforts to restrict a voting method relied upon by roughly one-third of American voters. The Court’s decision protects access to a longstanding, safe and trusted part of the United States’ electoral system and ensures that millions of voters – including elderly Americans, voters with disabilities, rural communities, military families, and working people – can continue to exercise their right to vote during the upcoming midterm elections. [Tennessee Tribune]
A holiday show that dazzled audiences last year is set to light up the stage again at Gaylord Opryland Resort. Starting Nov. 24 and running through Dec. 31, POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance brings its mix of circus acts, magic and one-of-a-kind costumes back to Music City as part of Gaylord Opryland’s 43 annual A Country Christmas celebration. [WZTV]
You probably need to go check out the African Street Festival in Hadley Park this weekend. It runs today through Sunday. The African Street Festival is an annual celebration of African culture with live music, dance, art, food, and fashion. Enjoy vibrant performances, unique vendors, and family-friendly activities that highlight the rich diversity and traditions of African and African-American communities. [African Street Festival]
In Nashville, resources and resettlement services for immigrants and refugees are dwindling due to policy changes and funding cuts. Data obtained by The Associated Press shows more than 40,000 people who crossed the southern border between 2018 and 2025 set their sights on Nashville — but since President Donald Trump took office, local resettlement resources have started to run dry and protections have been rescinded amid increased enforcement. [Nashville Banner]
The Tennessee Department of Education’s civil rights division has opened an investigation into allegations of academic dishonesty at Stratford High School and Metro Nashville Public Schools. The investigation will review the actions of Stratford High School and the district from 2022 through the end of the 2025-26 school year, according to a state letter. [WSMV]
Yes, we’re going through Heated Rivalry withdrawal, why do you ask? The Nashville Predators unveiled new renderings of the $750 million overhaul of Bridgestone Arena. It includes a massive amount of new retail space, a rooftop bar and more. But the best part is we don’t hate it and that’s saying a lot. [Nashville Business Journal]
Just a reminder that the Nashville Public Library system is freaking awesome. Every city worth its weight has a public library but Davidson County has quietly built an absolute powerhouse of learning, entertainment, high-tech tools and daily public utility. If your perception of the library is still stuck on quiet study desks and dusty paperback racks, the Nashville Public Library might completely shatter your expectations. [NVBL]
