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Nashville News Roundup: Now 40% More Dystopian! Plus Cute Baby Ferret-Badgers, Oktoberfest & Mayhem Marsha

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Nashville News Roundup: Now 40% More Dystopian! Plus Cute Baby Ferret-Badgers, Oktoberfest & Mayhem Marsha

It might finally be starting to feel like fall! We’re definitely gonna hold our breath. Rain chances increase starting around midday and scattered showers and storms could pop up throughout the afternoon and evening. But things are trending down, so it might not be that big of a deal. It’ll probably be more dry on Saturday and Sunday. Time to get out and enjoy things. [NashSevereWx]

We’ll say it again: It’s just embarrassing that the Symphony in NASHVILLE — Music City — has had to furlough everyone and cancel the entire season. The Grammy Award-winning organization declared a state of “financial emergency,” drawing a range of reactions, from outrage that Music City’s artistic infrastructure hasn’t rescued the Symphony to an outpouring of support from organizations ready to lead a helping hand. [The Tennesseean]

Symphony musicians in Nashville have been put out of a job this week with almost no notice — and they’re reeling. “It’s infuriating and it’s actually humiliating,” said Joel Reist, Nashville Orchestra Committee chairman. Part of Reist’s responsibility is to communicate with management about issues between the organization and the musicians. He said there was no hint that the symphony was in such dire straits. [WPLN]

Across the country, youth prisons are closing but Tennessee is building more. Officials they need more high-security facilities for kids who commit crimes. Experts say this approach flies in the face of crime data and research that shows youth prisons are not rehabilitative. [ProPublica]

In Pittsburgh, a horrific hate crime sparked an effort to ‘eradicate hate.’ Unfortunately, what Phil hints at but doesn’t get into is that the center of all this is antisemitism. Literally antisemitism. It’s out-of-control on social media, raging on both the right and left, and lumping it in with other forms of hate just ignores the root of the problem. [Phil Williams]

Nashville’s biggest Oktoberfest is back! Running through Sunday, it takes place at Bicentennial Mall. This family-friendly festival draws in a large crowd every year! Attendees can expect food, live music, vendors, beer, and entertainment. Some of the activities include a brat-eating contest, a pup parade, and a Dachshund Derby. Tickets start at $10. Children ages 3 and under receive free admission. [Nashville Oktoberfest]

State Sen. Charlane Oliver is suing Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and two other state officials, arguing punishments imposed after she protested the state’s newly redrawn congressional map violated her constitutional rights. Lt. Gov. McNally, the Senate Speaker, called Oliver’s behavior “performative, childish, and beneath the dignity of this institution,” and handed down a series of consequences for Oliver, including reassigning her from the Senate Government Operations Committee, suspending her per diem payments, and eliminating reimbursements for out-of-state travel. [WKRN]

Mocktails & Meet Cutes: A Romance Book Club is an actual thing at the library. Join us for romance novels and themed mocktails inspired by each month’s book selection. We’ll chat tropes, characters, plot twists, and all the moments that made us kick our feet and scream into a pillow. Whether you’re here for the spice, the slow burn, or the happily ever after, all romance readers are welcome. [NPL – Hermitage]

What could possibly go wrong? Vanderbilt Law School announced its new partnership with the experiential legal training platform AltaClaro to introduce depositions powered by artifical intelligence into the school’s curriculum. DepoSim, an AI-powered deposition simulator, will be housed in the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

Does this mean the SUNN is about to start publishing again?! Join Studio NPL and Nashville SUNN for this weekly workshop series (Nashville SUNN Local News Lab for Teens) on student Journalism and community news. Guest speakers every week and valuable training in writing, interviewing and other skills for working in journalism. [NPL – Main Library]

Fisk University has been recognized as Tennessee’s Top Ranking Historically Black College and University in the 2027 U.S. News and World Report College Rankings. This recognition underscores Fisk’s longtime commitment to student success and academic excellence and further highlights the institution’s accelerating upward trajectory. Fisk ranked #20 among all HBCUs nationwide, up from #22 last year, and secured the #10 spot among private HBCUs. The university also jumped 21 spots to rank #14 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. [Tennessee Tribune]

The NOAA flood mapping tool just got a major update and it now covers nearly all U.S. residents. NOAA’s Flood Inundation Map forecasts and maps the heights of rising rivers and streams during heavy rainfall events. It is accessible to the public on the National Water Prediction Service website, so click the clicky. [NOAA Flood Map]

What are we doing, Nashville? Is anyone even awake anymore? Allowing outsiders to buy everything up and drive up costs for locals is killing what makes this city great. Not just because that’s occurring but because state and local government can’t be bothered to live in reality. This growth could be easily managed if they weren’t living in the backwater ideological clouds. [FOX17]

Hale yiss! Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker is still on through this Sunday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This exhibition focuses on turning points in Parton’s life and career through the decades, where she overcame obstacles and ignored naysayers to become one of the most beloved and widely recognized celebrities across the world. Access to the Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit is included with Museum admission. Advance reservations are encouraged. [Get Tickets Here]

Surely Marsha Marsha Marsha wouldn’t do something unethical and misleading when it comes to campaign finance. If you got an email with the subject “CORRECTION REQUIRED” or “Notice of Rescindment,” you may have thought you had some billing issue or that someone was phishing for your personal information. But it may have actually come from Marsha Blackburn. [Nashville Banner]

Can you believe they’re trying to build a massive data center next to this? The Nashville Zoo shared photos of their newest arrivals, 1-month-old Javan ferret-badgers. Skippy and Nutella were born to parents Peanut Butter and Jelly, who live behind the scenes at the Nashville Zoo. [WSMV]

We still haven’t gotten an answer about why it’s a good idea to be digging tunnels under Nashville and that should alarm you. Last year, The Boring Co. expressed interest in developing several downtown parking lots that are at the center of the state’s newly issued request for qualifications. Here’s what the tunnel company (and three other groups which include a prolific Nashville-based developer) proposed to build on the prime downtown sites in a September 2025 request for information. [Nashville Business Journal]

Okay, so we’re not big fans of promoting things that aren’t free but this is fun. The Nashville Predators face the Dallas Stars on Saturday at 7:00 P.M. But the best part? (Come on, we need this because they aren’t doing enough to engage with their Heated Rivalry fandom) It’s Hispanic Music Heritage Night. There’ll be a custom jersey designed by a local artist, auctioned to benefit the Nashville Predators Foundation. [Ticketmaster]

Finally, Some Fall Weather to Enjoy While Watching the Local News & Politicians Unravel

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Finally, Some Fall Weather to Enjoy While Watching the Local News & Politicians Unravel

We don’t wanna jinx it but is this… fall weather?! Like the weather nerds, we can’t remember the last time our weekend weather looked this nice. High temps will be around 80, air will be a little more dry and the temperatures each morning may be low enough for a hoodie if you have to get up to walk the dogs. [NashSevereWx]

For thousands of years, people have ventured into the caves beneath the rolling hills of central Kentucky. More than 426 miles have since been surveyed, making Mammoth Cave National Park the world’s longest known cave system. It’s a landscape so unique that it has been designated both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Region. Now, looming above this ancient world is a behemoth of the future: a $4.8 billion hyperscale data center sprawling across 600 acres. [The Tennessean]

If Republican Marsha Blackburn becomes governor, her longtime political consultant Ward Baker will be one of the most powerful people in the state, according to conservative political commentator Steve Gill. Unlike lobbyists, political consultants are not required to publicly disclose their clients under current law. “So we don’t know if A.I. data centers are paying him or others. We don’t know if Flock cameras are paying him. They have lobbyists, but we don’t know their business consulting clients,” Gill said. [News Channel 5]

We’re itching for the next season of Heated Rivalry and for that reason, we’re gonna drive you insane with Predators hockey stuff. And this particular stuff? It’s free this week. PredsFest 2026 is here and runs Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. all around Bridgestone Arena. There will be live music, player appearances, food trucks, giveaways, a kid zone, tailgating area and more. Someone needs to go wearing a Hollanov jersey and send us photos. [PredsFest]

The presidential home of Andrew Jackson is unveiling plans for what it calls a “generational” transformation at The Hermitage. Leaders at The Hermitage approved a new vision for the historic mansion and grounds on Monday. The Hermitage says it will shift to focus on its landscape to try transport visitors into history, under a vision known as “held by the land.” [WPLN]

Residents in Nashville need to earn more than $18,000 above the U.S. average income to afford a typical home in 2026. A new Redfin report reveals that a household needs an annual income of $109,796 to buy the median-priced U.S. home in June 2026 while keeping housing costs below 30% of its income. [More The Tennessean]

Okay, let’s all take a deep breath before we go down this rabbit hole. A court motion was filed against Dolly Parton’s nephew Tuesday, accusing Bryan Seaver of threatening to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire. Davidson County Chancery Court records show the company managing Dolly Parton’s estate, She’s Alive, filed the request asking a judge to keep Seaver and his security company away from its business dealings and staff. [WKRN]

Did you know the Nashville Public Library makes a ton of its events available on YouTube for free? There are workshops in music production, writing, spoken word, crafts, 3D printing. You can watch author talks, history programs and even Wishing Chair Productions puppet shows. So when you aren’t feeling up to a trip to your local library branch, fire up the YouTube machine and check things out. [YouTube]

A handful of kids are big mad that a movie about Islamist (not Islamic) terrorists exists. These same kids are totally fine with wildly antisemitic films and material, however, and gladly promote it. Vanderbilt’s chapter of the national conservative group Turning Point USA hosted a screening of “Run Hide Fight: Infidels” in Sarratt Cinema Sept. 17. The Daily Wire and Bonfire Legend co-produced the movie, releasing it just one day prior to the screening. Y’all have got to learn the importance of the First Amendment. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

As part of National Preparedness Month, Nashville Electric Service is urging customers to take an important step to strengthen community resilience by making sure neighbors, friends, and relatives who depend on electrically operated medical equipment know about the NES Critical Referral Program. The Critical Referral Program is designed for customers who use electrically powered, life-sustaining medical devices at home. Those enrolled in the program are included in additional critical communications and emergency planning during an outage. [Tennessee Tribune]

Come on, maybe don’t let your kids get into a robot car until they’ve had a lot more development? Yes, we’re telling Waymo to get off our lawn and yelling at clouds. Nashville teens now have a new way to get around town without needing a ride from their parents. Waymo launched teen accounts in Nashville Tuesday, allowing riders ages 13 to 17 to independently use the company’s driverless vehicles. [FOX17]

Oh noes, Marsha Marsha Marsha is mad because someone dared challenge her to take part in the political process. She’s what happens when you let a bad person get worse. The mob has more morals than her and we aren’t exaggerating. Last week, Blackburn’s campaign launched the website DeadbeatDave.com, which details Hatley’s legal troubles and was emailed to reporters to detract from Hatley. Her campaign declined to comment for this story, but did not deny involvement. [Nashville Banner]

We have your lunch plans figured out for today and it involves Dolly. Today, 09/25, is Dolly Day at Friends in Low Places. Every dollar made from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the bar goes directly to Dolly’s Imagination Library. They plan to make it an annual event and showing up will probably mean other businesses will realize it’s a good idea to do the same thing. Mash this info in on yer GPS app: 411 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 and hop to it. [Click this Clicky & Friends]

We heard a rumor that Marsha Marsha Marsha allegedly made her staff yell at AI companies to stop letting them use her likeness. But this is almost as hilarious. An independent candidate for governor is now using a charitable cause to attempt to pressure Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn into a debate. David Hatley said Tuesday in a social media post that he would donate $1 million to charitable organizations if Blackburn, the GOP candidate for governor, agreed to a public debate with him and Democratic nominee Jerri Green. [WSMV]

Y’all are letting this happen in MUSIC CITY USA?! Where are all the rich musicians and writers and greedy transplants to keep this afloat? The Nashville Symphony is in financial straits, lacking the funding to operate at its current size on the heels of the death of its longtime patron saint. [Nashville Business Journal]

Got $25 burning a hole in your pocket and a desire for some spookiness? Just wanna hear a scary story and find out whether that house you like has a haint in it? Then you should probably book tickets (15% off with promo code HALLOWEENGURU, we have no affiliation FYI) for one of ghost tours with Nashville Adventures. It’s all hokey and silly but it’s way better than the outsider bachelorette party nonsense that makes everything insufferable. Maybe you’ll get to see the ghosts of Brother Boy and Tammy Wynette. [Nashville Ghost Tours]

Melting in Music City: Artisan Hay Bales, High-Class Hotdogs and Other Things Keeping Nashville Weird This Week

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Melting in Music City: Artisan Hay Bales, High-Class Hotdogs and Other Things Keeping Nashville Weird This Week

“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]

At Least We’ll Get to Fly Outta Dolly Parton International Airport Sometime Soon…

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At Least We’ll Get to Fly Outta Dolly Parton International Airport Sometime Soon…

Daily showers and storms are possible through tomorrow but relief from the heat might be in sight. Today carries a 40-50% chance of scattered showers and storms in the afternoon and evening. Tomorrow brings a 60-80% chance of the fun. It’s still gonna be hotter than blue blazes next week but we’ll probably stay below heat advisories. And the cooler temperatures may be on their way soon. [NashSevereWx]

Haha, no, Starbucks doesn’t need a $30 Million handout to do business in Nashville. A $30 million state grant to support Starbucks’ Nashville corporate office was scrutinized during an Industrial Development Board meeting Sept. 9, with board members raising concerns about the company’s jobs-creation commitment, contract timeline, treatment of workers and other issues. [The Tennessean]

Nashville’s airport is on the verge of a historic name change. A Nashville International Airport board member told NewsChannel5’s Nick Beres the board will officially vote tomorrow to approve renaming the airport Dolly Parton International Airport. All 7 board members are expected to vote in favor, making the decision unanimous. [News Channel 5]

We hear you on the everything-costs-too-much-money front. So that’s why you need to check out this massive list of free things you can do this weekend at the various Nashville Library locations. We’re talking everything from food preservation to seeing a puppet show to yoga. [Lieberry Funtimes]

In historic downtown Gallatin, it’s easy to step back in time. It’s home to the state’s oldest silent movie theater still standing in its original location. A few doors down is a former drugstore and soda fountain. Noah Arai cuts hair at a barbershop on the square. He fears Gallatin’s identity is threatened by one of its newest corporate neighbors — Meta. [WPLN]

Tennessee has long been one of the Southeast’s biggest players in the electric vehicle industry, helping attract billions of dollars in investments and thousands of manufacturing jobs, but a new report suggests the state’s position may be weakening as major projects scale back, investments are canceled, and companies adjust to changing demands. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s annual Transportation Electrification in the Southeast report found Tennessee lost 3,090 anticipated electric vehicle jobs between July 2025 and July 2026. [WKRN]

Vanderbilt has received $230 million in foreign gifts and contracts since 1986, according to a Department of Education report. $1.2 million of those funds came from “countries of concern” but a whopping $9 million came from the UAE. That’s where a ton of the world’s antisemitic conspiracy theory originates. Other liberals are afraid to talk about it but we’re not. Someone should ask some deeper questions. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

This time of year is tough for those of us who aren’t TikTok kids, so having something wholesome to do is kinda nice. The Nashville Fair runs today, September 11 through September 20 at the fairgrounds. And you know what you need to do. GO TO THE FAIR! There’s everything from livestock to music to midway rides. Axe throwing, balloon sculpting, deep fried foods, more music, all the things. And yet more music. Just go. Ticket prices are tax-inclusive and at $10 for adults, that’s a solid deal in 2026. [Nashville Fair]

Are the kids all right? Is our children learning? Mission accomplished? If you’re affiliated with the SUNN, y’all need to hurry it up and start publishing again. The city is really missing out on student journalism. [Nashville SUNN]

Lonnie Bunch, the first black person to lead the Smithsonian Institution, will retire at the end of the year following months of pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration over how the institution presents American history. Bunch, who became Smithsonian secretary in 2019, announced his decision Tuesday, saying he was leaving with “very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude,” according to The Independent. [Tennessee Tribune]

How on earth is this silly Elon tunnel thing still happening? A plan that could transform more than 10 acres of state-owned land in the heart of downtown Nashville is on hold after the Tennessee State Building Commission deadlocked Thursday over whether to move forward with the next step. [FOX17]

Tennessee is seeking to overhaul how it evaluates school and district performance. There are currently two education accountability systems: the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA); and the state letter grade. The Tennessee Department of Education is considering combining them into one based on the letter grade system. [Nashville Banner]

Might be real cool if we didn’t need a food bank distribution center that’s this large. Second Harvest Food Bank is building a new location along Donelson Pike that will be twice the size of its current warehouse, as the organization works to keep up with a record amount of food distribution. Thousands of Nashville families will eventually be fed every week from the site, which is about a mile south of the airport. Leaders said the 26 acre site will allow them to increase their services and partner with more organizations. [WSMV]

Today, tomorrow and Sunday is the… wait for it… Little House on the Prairie cast reunion. We know you’re excited, meemaw, and so are we. You’ll have the chance to meet the cast in-person, take selfies, collect autographs and hear their stories during Q&A panels. You probably won’t get to push Nellie down a hill in an old timey wheelchair but she might tell you about it. It’s expensive as hell but it’s still cheaper than a trip to the dollar store these days. [Click This Clicky]

Oh, so this is how they’re manipulating and blowing smoke in order to push that silly tunnel. Nashville will see a cut of the Boring Company’s new $3B funding. Allegedly. So they say. Which means it won’t be happening. The transportation tunnel company led by Elon Musk is now valued at $23 billion, quadruple what it was four years ago. [Nashville Business Journal]

Honoring Dolly, Fighting Off the Surveillance Drones & Maybe Pickling Everything Because Produce Is Recalled Everywhere

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Honoring Dolly, Fighting Off the Surveillance Drones & Maybe Pickling Everything Because Produce Is Recalled Everywhere

There’s a heat advisory through tonight so you probably need to hide in a cave or whatever. Honestly, it’s so hot we’re mad just writing about it. This is stupid because it should be feeling like Spooky Season already. It’s gonna be about 300 degrees the next several days, too. COME ON! We’re over it. [NashSevereWx]

Garth Brooks is is ready to honor the late Dolly Parton with her own day. On Aug. 31, the country musician said his Nashville-based Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk will recognize Friday, Sept. 25 as “Dolly Day.” The date choice is a nod to Parton’s iconic hit, “9 to 5.” [The Tennessean]

Not all hospitals use their own pharmacies to prepare surgery drugs like Ascension Saint Thomas did when pharmacy technicians mixed up two very different drugs, causing severe complications in 4 patients. “It’s something that I have never dealt with in my 30 years of practice to see something that bad,” attorney Clint Kelly told NewsChannel5 Investigates. “It’s the worst kind of care. It’s the worst kind of tragedy,” he stated. [News Channel 5]

The divide over license plate readers in Tennessee has grown more intense, with police agencies moving forward with their support for the technology despite a sweeping public backlash. The Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recently went public in favor of license plate readers. That’s in stark contrast to the intensity of pushback from residents at community meetings — as well as a Metro Council in Nashville that has opted not to fund more surveillance for the police department. [WPLN]

What are you doing tomorrow to stay cool? You should probably go check out the Spanish Conversation Club at the Nashville Public Library on Thompson Lane at 12:00 Noon. Maybe you took a Spanish class here and want to keep learning. Maybe you know some Spanish from school or travel and are looking for a way to get more fluent. Our Spanish Conversation Club is here to help anyone who knows some Spanish but wants to learn more! [NPL]

If learning a new language so you can better communicate with your neighbors isn’t your jam? That’s fine. There’s way more to check out! The Green Hills/Madison location has a live music open mic from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. [More NPL]

Still need something a little more calm and low-key? The Seed Exchange program is hosting a food preservation event 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Hermitage location. Food preservation is not a lost art, and can be a great way to reduce food waste and let kitchen creativity shine. Participants learn the basics of pickling, as well as food safety and best practices and can take home samples and recipes to begin canning on their own at home. [Even More NPL]

Who could have predicted other than everyone with sense? Tennessee’s tourism economy took a multimillion-dollar hit last year as international arrivals fell by about 60,000 visitors. While domestic tourism pushed overall state travel revenue to a historic high in 2025, international visitor spending fell by $48 million. That’s according to preliminary findings released Thursday, Aug. 28, by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. [WKRN]

Nashville’s Metro Council voted Tuesday night to approve Vanderbilt’s construction of a 40-acre innovation district in the West End area of Midtown, which is estimated to take up to 30 years for completion. The plan replaces several parking lots and retail locations near the current west side of campus, and is expected to bring more green space, walkability, housing and new retail to the area. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

Wait, what? A safari at the zoo involving the Keebler Elves and Fudge Stripe cookies? You don’t have to tell us twice, meemaw. Something spooky (and delicious) is hiding at Nashville Zoo. Grab your detective hat and get ready to spot some seriously stripey animals during the Spookie Stripes Safari, presented in partnership with Keebler. From September 1 – October 31, guests can explore the Zoo on a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt featuring some of our most stripe-loving residents. [Nashville Zoo]

Well, well, well, if it’s not the governator deciding it’s a good idea to rename BNA for Dolly – just like us! On Friday, just days after the death of country music superstar Dolly Parton, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport®, also known as BNA®, announced their intent to name BNA in honor of Parton, “creating a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world.” [Tennessee Tribune]

A big change could be coming for families across Tennessee who love Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Tennessee leaders just announced a plan to fully fund book and mailing costs for the Imagination Library statewide starting in 2027. [FOX17]

Following a pilot test of a “drones as first responders” program by the Metro Nashville Police Department, the Metro Council on Tuesday passed legislation to regulate the tech. Police back drones for their ability to reach crime scenes faster and provide visibility into ongoing emergencies. But surveillance critics have raised several concerns. The legislation limits police drones to certain especially serious scenarios, while the police department prefers to use them for more types of incidents. [Nashville Banner]

There’s so much static electricity in this room that we pick up everything but boys and money. The city of Brentwood is honoring country music icon Dolly Parton following her death last week. To honor Parton, the city said they will be hosting “Steel Magnolias in the Park,” a community tribute event, at Crockett Park on Sept. 25. The city said it will be showing “Steel Magnolias,” which features Parton, at Crockett Park. The event will also have food trucks and those who attend are being encouraged to wear pink in honor of Parton. [WSMV]

Centennial Park Conservancy’s Musicians Corner returns this fall to celebrate its 17th year with a five-week season of free live music in Centennial Park. Week 2’s event is taking place today through Sunday. The family-friendly and pet-friendly festival will continue to bring together a vast lineup of the city’s finest food vendors, local artisans, and Kidsville activities. [CPC]

Nashville’s largest public company eliminated more jobs this week. HCA Healthcare, which owns and operates TriStar hospitals, confirmed to the Business Journal it has cut “a small percentage” of positions. The national healthcare provider cited rising costs, increases in uninsured patients and changing shifts in healthcare policy for the layoffs. Thomas Frist Jr. and his family have an estimated net worth of approximately $33.4 billion. [Nashville Business Journal]

Beyond the Stacks: Why Nashville’s Public Library System is Wildly Underrated

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Beyond the Stacks: Why Nashville’s Public Library System is Wildly Underrated

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.

Spanning 21 physical branches – from the main library downtown to the hubs in Bellevue and Southeast – the local library has transformed into a massive, free resource for our musical city.

Beyond the traditional stacks, NPL functions as a community workshop, administrative center and creative incubator for everyone. The system equips residents with the tools and specialized services that usually come with steep price tags:

  • Studio NPL & Maker Labs: Designed as digital production spaces, select branches feature 3D printing, podcast recording booths, audio production suites, laser cutters and sewing machinery.
  • Seed Exchange: Several branches host community seed libraries where local gardeners can pick up free open-pollinated seeds for vegetables, herbs and native plants.
  • Notary & Civic Services: Free notary public services are available at multiple branches to handle official paperwork.
  • Research & Consumer Databases: Cardholders gain full, free access to premium online resources including Consumer Reports, standardized test prep and extensive genealogical archives via Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest.

NPL effectively serves as a free alternative to half a dozen paid monthly subscription services. By using your library card, you can stream media directly to your TV, phone or eReader. Really: Libby gives you access to bestselling ebooks, audiobooks and magazines and is available on Kindle, iOS, Android and the web. Kanopy offers award-winning films, indie cinema, documentaries and television programs for kids like Sesame Street. It’s available on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and on mobile or your tablet. Hoopla provides instant-borrow movies, television series, music albums and graphic novels on your smart TV, phone or the web.

The best part is always having access in your pocket if you have a smartphone: The NPL Mobile App. It streamlines how you interact with the library network, featuring:

  • A digital card display with a built-in barcode, meaning you don’t have to always have your physical card on you
  • Barcode scanner so you can scan the ISBN code on any book you see at a store to instantly check it out at the NPL
  • Account management to reserve items, manage holds and renew loans
  • Cultural events and workshop access allows you to browse the calendar for community events, panel discussions and even NPL’s famous World of Puppetry performances.

Operations of this scale are bolstered by the Nashville Public Library Foundation, a non-profit organization that secures private funding for literacy outreach, teen programs and system-wide innovation. So if you have the means and want to keep it incredible? Please chip in. Get your friends to do so, as well.

Whether you need a quiet place to work, high-end production gear or free weekly streaming, the library is the answer. It’s easily one of the best public investments available to local residents. We love it and we’re sure you will, as well.

P.S. The NPL’s free Courtyard Concert Series is returning to the main library tomorrow, September 1 and runs through October 13. A different local artist or band will perform every Tuesday from 11:45 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. in a lineup that includes R&B, jazz, folk and alternative rock. That lineup includes Esi, the Alex Murphy Trio, Elliott Robinson and Walker Burroughs. So don’t miss out.

Everybody Loves Dolly: Bright Skies, Big Tributes & Bigger Energy in Nashville This Hot Weekend

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Everybody Loves Dolly: Bright Skies, Big Tributes & Bigger Energy in Nashville This Hot Weekend

What’s that, you say? An extended stretch of dry weather?! Yep, through the middle of the week, potentially. It’s about to be hotter than words our mom wouldn’t allow us to say if she were still kicking around. Hot enough to sin. So prepare for heat indices nearing 100 and lots of watching how you talk to people in this heat. [NashSevereWx]

Guess this is what everyone is doing on Saturday. The Grand Ole Opry will host a formal tribute to the late Dolly Parton on Saturday, Aug. 29, honoring the iconic Opry member of nearly 60 years. Fans in attendance Aug. 25 witnessed a series of in-the-moment tributes, just hours after she died at 80. [The Tennessean]

Buchanan Arts Center is what North Nashville built itself for and the rest of the city should know about it. There is a building at 1409 Buchanan Street in North Nashville that is doing something quietly extraordinary, and if you have not heard about it yet, that is not a reflection of what it deserves. It is just a reflection of how good things sometimes work. [NVBL]

Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday, August 25, 2026, gave the world countless songs. But one of her most enduring gifts doesn’t come with a melody. It comes in a mailbox. Since 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has mailed free books to children from birth until they turn 5 and start kindergarten — and the program has now gifted more than 332 million books to children across five countries. [News Channel 5]

Yep, this is a Dolly Parton appreciation fest this week. Dolly Parton’s death at the age of 80 on Tuesday marked the loss of an American country music legend. But, it also marked the loss of a major philanthropist. Parton, who grew up in extreme poverty in East Tennessee, has spent decades donating millions to charitable causes that range from early education to healthcare. [WPLN]

Need something air conditioned and calm to enjoy this weekend? Go to this at Cheekwood. 7:00 P.M. Admission is included with a Gardens and Mansion Access ticket. Common Ground brings together, for the first time, paintings from the Hainsworth family collection and Cheekwood’s permanent collection to create a rich visual survey of American painting from the mid-19th to early 20th century. [Cheekwood]

Throughout her lifetime, singer Dolly Parton, who died at 80 in Nashville Tuesday after a battle with cancer, used her fame to invest in the place where she grew up: Sevier County, Tennessee. Her efforts in both tourism and philanthropy were expansive, making the county the state’s third-highest revenue driver for tourism. Parton was honored with the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022. [WKRN]

West End Bagel Company, live music at the Pub and Bang Bang Thursdays are just a few of the many dining changes going into effect this fall. Campus Dining recently unveiled Vanderbilt’s newest on-campus dining offerings, which will go into effect starting fall 2026. Director of Culinary Operations Brian Cochrane spearheaded the changes alongside his chefs, explaining in an interview with The Hustler that the focus was, and always has been, to maintain culinary excellence. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

Welp, looks like locals will have to actually use the platform to be indoctrinated with hate. TikTok is shutting down its Nashville office and eliminating 250 jobs, a move that represents one of the largest recent corporate layoffs in Middle Tennessee and marks a significant change for a company that only recently expanded its presence in the city. [Tennessee Tribune]

You know what? We wholeheartedly think this should happen despite generally opposing naming buildings and roads after people. Make it happen! A petition calling for Nashville International Airport to be renamed after Dolly Parton has gained renewed attention following the Tennessee icon’s death, with more than 54,000 people signing on to the proposal. Note: There are about 100,000 additional signatures since this story was published. [FOX17 & Petition]

Lightning 100 is bringing back Live on the Green after several years off. The local-favorite live music series held its last show in 2022 at Public Square Park. It will return with a kickoff event on Oct. 18 at Ascend Amphitheater before a regular spring series. But it won’t be entirely free as it had been. [Nashville Banner]

Forty-four people were arrested on federal indictments during a multi-agency initiative targeting illegal gun and drug sales in Nashville, federal officials and the Metro Nashville Police Department announced during a Monday morning press conference. The operation, called Operation Last Call, involved the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service and MNPD. [WSMV]

Hoo boy, the Cheekwood confrontation is poised to reach a new level. Metro is investigating additional allegations as Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and a neighborhood group are entangled in a multi-layer fight over issues including zoning, parking traffic and more. We need one of those crazy red string wall webs to figure everything out. [Nashville Business Journal]

Welcome to the Weekend! Weather’s Gonna Be Dry, Politics as Embarrassing as Ever & Waymo’s Maybe Like Flock

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Welcome to the Weekend! Weather’s Gonna Be Dry, Politics as Embarrassing as Ever & Waymo’s Maybe Like Flock

Hold on to your wigs but it’s gonna be kinda dry this weekend! That’s right, meemaw, you can use less wig glue and… Okay, so maybe you shouldn’t use less wig glue. Anyway, no rain all weekend! Go do stuff outside! It’ll be a little humid but temperatures will only be around 90. [NashSevereWx]

Ever wondered how much the far-right is costing Tennessee taxpayers when they fearmonger? It’s at least $54 million. After several years of high taxes and battles to keep many hemp products legal in Tennessee, the state’s new law that more heavily regulates the sale and taxes of several THCA products has led to a loss of more than $50 million in tax revenue. [The Tennessean]

Sixty years ago Gene Roddenberry put Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise on television and changed what science fiction was allowed to dream about. From 1966 to 1969 the original series ran. It got cancelled. And then it became one of the most enduring cultural forces in American popular entertainment, spawning films, spinoffs, conventions, and an argument about the future of humanity that never really stopped. [NVBL]

Sorry for the end of week panic attack but if we had to see this story, so do you. Imagine going in for what is supposed to be routine surgery and being left permanently paralyzed. That’s what several families are dealing with after procedures late last week at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown here in Nashville. [News Channel 5]

Tennessee Republicans outside of Nashville have called for a state intervention into a city tax hike on lower Broadway’s honky-tonks, but Gov. Bill Lee doesn’t seem keen to turn the matter into another special session. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, want lawmakers to return to the statehouse to address higher property taxes for Music City’s biggest tourist draws. [WPLN]

Have you seen this guy? Newly released body camera video is providing a closer look at one of the last known interactions with a Colorado man who disappeared after traveling to Nashville for a work conference. Conor Anderson, 31, arrived in Nashville Saturday and checked into the Millennium Maxwell House hotel around 4:28 p.m. Hours later, he was seen speaking with Metro police officers in East Nashville. [WKRN]

After serving five years as Vanderbilt’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, C. Cybele Raver will be taking on a new role as president of the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan Board of Regents announced that her term will begin Dec. 1, when Raver will assume her title as the university’s 17th president. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

We know school’s just starting but we’re all excited to see what the Nashville SUNN reports on this semester. While we wait for things to get started, you should check out all of last semester’s work. [Nashville SUNN]

Bishop William Barber has announced a national voter mobilization tour. Nationally renowned civil rights leader and Repairers of the Breach President Bishop William J. Barber II announced a multi-state speaking tour in support of his 100 Days; 1,000 Marches to the Polls voter mobilization initiative organized by Repairers of the Breach and the Moral Monday Public Pulpit. [Tennessee Tribune]

Your writer doesn’t have kids and we can’t imagine how tough it is to find fun, safe things to take them to on the weekends. So be sure to check out Pecos Bill, Calamity Jane, John Henry and Johnny Appleseed at the Tall Tale Circus by Wishing Chair Productions. There are a couple different showtimes but it takes place at the main library. [NVPL]

Okay, fine, we’ll talk about this Cheekwood situation for a minute. Cheekwood is calling Thursday’s decision by Metro’s Board of Zoning Appeals a win, clearing the way for its controversial parking garage project to move forward, at least for now. After hours of arguments from both sides, the board determined Metro’s zoning administrator did not make a mistake when issuing a permit for the garage. [WZTV]

It’s not just Flock you need to think about when it comes to privacy, meemaw. Parked Waymo vehicles are recording Nashville neighborhoods, churches, businesses and parks every day without any public guidelines on how long footage is stored, and minimal details on how it is used. Since the company fully launched in Nashville in June, more than 50 white, driverless Jaguars with out-of-state plates and large, spinning sensors shaped like top hats on their roofs have been carting people around Nashville, saturating downtown hotspots like the riverfront, Lower Broadway and Music Row. [Nashville Banner]

Middle Tennessee is now home to the best high school in the country. New rankings from U.S. News and World Report show that Central Magnet High School in Rutherford County has been named No. 1 in the U.S. The ranking is based on state assessment performance and college-readiness. [WSMV]

We can’t be the only ones not on the magic weight loss injection — so hopefully others will be as excited about this as we are. Famous NYC Ukrainian restaurant Veselka has opened its doors in East Nashville! Go check it out ASAP. [Nashville Business Journal, Veselka & Instagram]

The Belcourt Is Celebrating Star Trek’s 60th Anniversary

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The Belcourt Is Celebrating Star Trek’s 60th Anniversary

Sixty years ago Gene Roddenberry put Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise on television and changed what science fiction was allowed to dream about. From 1966 to 1969 the original series ran. It got cancelled. And then it became one of the most enduring cultural forces in American popular entertainment, spawning films, spinoffs, conventions, and an argument about the future of humanity that never really stopped.

The Belcourt Theatre at 2102 Belcourt Avenue is celebrating all of it the right way. Four original films. Four days. September 4th through 7th. Each film paired with a key thematically connected episode from the original television series, shown on the big screen for the first time.

This is not a casual tribute. This is the real thing.

Before the films even start, the Belcourt is kicking things off Saturday August 29th with a seminar called Dilithium Sparks and Recursive Arcs at 10AM. A full hour following the narrative path of human storytelling from 1960s television through the late 70s and early 80s big screen era. Free your Saturday morning and learn something.

Then September begins.

Friday September 4th opens with Star Trek: The Motion Picture paired with the original series episode The Changeling. Admiral Kirk boards the sleekly updated Enterprise and reunites the crew to stop an immense destructive alien construct before it reaches Earth. Robert Wise directed it. The human adventure was just beginning. Screenings at 2PM and 8:15PM.

Saturday September 5th brings the one everyone has been waiting for. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan paired with Space Seed, the original series episode that introduced Khan in the first place. Ricardo Montalban. William Shatner. The greatest villain showdown in the history of the franchise and one of the most emotionally devastating endings in science fiction cinema. If someone in your life has never seen Wrath of Khan on a big screen, September 5th is the correction. 2:30PM and 8:15PM.

Sunday September 6th is Star Trek III: The Search for Spock paired with Amok Time. Khan is defeated and the Genesis planet exists but Spock is dead and McCoy is losing his mind and Sarek shows up with information that changes everything. 2:30PM and 8:15PM.

Monday September 7th closes the run with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home paired with The City on the Edge of Forever, which is widely considered the greatest episode the original series ever produced. The crew time travels to 1986 San Francisco to save mankind. They encounter punk rock, pizza, and exact-change buses. It is funny and warm and completely earned after the weight of the three films that came before it. 2:30PM and 8:15PM.

The full series pass is $40. Belcourt members pay $30. Individual tickets are available at the door.

Star Trek has always been about what humanity could be if it chose to be better. The Belcourt is giving Nashville the chance to sit in a dark room together and remember why that vision mattered enough to survive cancellation and become a sixty year conversation.

Get the tickets at belcourt.org/events/startrek60.

Live long and prosper, Nashville. You have earned this weekend.

Buchanan Arts Center Is What North Nashville Built for Itself — And What the Rest of the City Should Know About

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Buchanan Arts Center Is What North Nashville Built for Itself — And What the Rest of the City Should Know About

There is a building at 1409 Buchanan Street in North Nashville that is doing something quietly extraordinary, and if you have not heard about it yet, that is not a reflection of what it deserves. It is just a reflection of how good things sometimes work. They build something real, they serve the people around them, and they trust that the word will eventually travel.

Consider this the word traveling.

Buchanan Arts Center is a community art space rooted in a simple and radical idea: creativity should belong to everyone, not just the people who can afford to access it. Every class taken, every membership purchased, every donation made feeds a model that keeps art alive and accessible for North Nashville neighbors who would otherwise go without it.

And here is the thing about creativity that gets lost in an era of generated images and AI-produced content. It has to come from humans. Real ones. Hands in clay. Paint on fingers. A neighbor teaching a neighbor something they learned by actually doing it, in a room full of people who showed up because they wanted to make something with their own two hands. That is what Buchanan Arts Center protects. That is what makes it worth talking about.

What They Offer

The class catalog at Buchanan Arts Center is the kind of list that makes people realize they have been waiting for exactly this without knowing it.

Ceramics. The kind of class where people discover that working with their hands is the most meditative thing they have done all year and immediately sign up for the next session.

Painting. Across mediums and skill levels, for beginners who have not touched a brush since elementary school and for people who have been painting quietly for years and finally want a community around it.

Fabric and Textiles. The slower crafts that are having a very deserved moment right now. The kind of work that produces something useful and beautiful at the same time.

Printmaking. One of the oldest forms of making images that exists, still vital, still surprising, still capable of producing work that stops people in their tracks.

New Media Art. Because Buchanan Arts Center is not precious about what art is. They understand that the tools change and the human impulse behind them does not.

Members save on every class. And every class a member takes helps fund free access for someone in the community who needs it. The model is elegant. It works.

The Programs That Make It More Than a Studio

Classes are the beginning. The programs are what turn Buchanan Arts Center into something a neighborhood actually depends on.

The free after-school and summer art education programs reach over 120 North Nashville students every year. These are kids getting real art instruction, not as a luxury, not as an elective that gets cut when budgets tighten, but as a consistent presence in their lives because someone decided it mattered enough to fund it.

The financial aid program is as simple as it gets. Anyone who wants to take a class and cannot afford it fills out an application. To date, over 100 scholarships have been awarded to neighbors who asked. No elaborate qualification process. Just an acknowledgment that the barrier should not be money.

The Emerging Artist Fellowship supports local artists with something they almost never get: institutional support at the beginning of their careers, when it would actually change the trajectory of things.

And then there is the Buchanan Arts Neighborhood Garden, growing produce, herbs, and flowers on site, because a community arts center that understands its neighborhood understands that nourishment takes more than one form.

How to Get Involved

Take a class. The calendar is at buchananartscenter.org and there is something on it for every skill level and interest.

Become a member. Members save on classes and keep the access model funded for everyone else.

Donate. The donate button is on the site and every dollar goes toward scholarships, after-school programs, and keeping the garden growing.

Volunteer. The get-involved page has options for people who want to show up with their time rather than their wallet.

Buchanan Arts Center is supported by Metro Arts, The 37208 Fund, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and others who recognized what this place is doing and decided to stand behind it. Nashville Buy Local is proud to add our voice to that list.

North Nashville built something real here. The rest of the city owes it a visit.

buchananartscenter.org
1409 Buchanan Street, Nashville TN 37208

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