“I’m going to make a quick phone call,” I told my 14-year-old son not long ago, after picking him up from school. “Who are you calling?” he asked. “You’ll see,” I told him. I speed-dialed Dennis Ferrier and put the phone on speaker. “Hello?” Dennis said. “Hey!” I said. “I just wanted to let you […]

Family, Fun, Humor

September 25, 2021

Notes From the Mom of a Teenage Boy

Here in Nashville, weather conditions these last few weeks have been akin to those in… well, Hell. Temperatures have soared into the nineties nearly every day and the godawful humidity here makes it seem even hotter. Unless I’m poolside with a good book, I despise the weather this time of year. I hate the bugs […]

Fun, Humor

August 31, 2021

Fake Fall: For Southerners, It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Old Nashville meets New Nashville at Mother’s Ruin, an NYC-based Germantown hotspot that combines speedy free pour cocktails with next-level bar food.   “I keep hearing about Mother’s Ruin,” I told my husband a few weeks ago. “I think we should go there.” “What makes it so great?” he asked. “Well, here’s what I know,” […]

Nashville Guide, Travel

August 26, 2021

Mother’s Ruin: This Nashville Bar Has Delicious Food, Quick Cocktails, and a Great Local Vibe

A good friend from my past posted on social media recently that a close family member suffering from COVID had been put on a ventilator. She asked for prayers. The next day, she posted anti-vax and anti-mask memes. On Saturday, a well-known local talk show host died of COVID. Although he was a COVID skeptic […]

Deep Thoughts, Fun

August 25, 2021

As Communities Fracture, The Solution is Simple — But So Very Hard.

Hidden deep in the forests surrounding Chattanooga are blue holes — crystal clear blue pools of water fed by underground rivers. Want to see and even swim in one yourself? Read on! We hiked a mile and a half through a forest just outside Chattanooga before arriving at one of Tennessee’s elusive blue holes, a […]

Nashville Guide, Travel, United States

August 11, 2021

These Chattanooga Blue Holes Will Astonish You

Chattanooga Blue Holes

Fruity, rum-filled drinks, a retro Polynesian vibe… and robots. This East Nashville tiki bar has more than a few fun surprises. A few years ago, a man had a dream. “The dream I had last night was so weird,” he told a friend the next day over coffee. “The only thing I really remember now […]

Fun, Nashville Guide, Travel

July 20, 2021

Chopper: This Nashville Tiki Bar is Our New Favorite Hangout

Chopper Nashville Tiki Bar Review

Looking for the best Nashville hikes out there? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve made it my mission over the years to hike all of the Nashville area’s trails and I’m happy to report there are some fantastic ones to choose from. On the trails I’ve listed below, you’ll find amazing scenic views, old […]

Nashville Guide, Travel

July 15, 2021

Here are my 10 All-Time Favorite Hikes in the Nashville Area

I think of Gatlinburg as a rite of passage for every American traveler. Snuggled up against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the bustling town offers a colorful juxtaposition to the ancient mountains beyond. Enter Gatlinburg and you’ll find yourself immersed in a dizzying swirl of pancake houses, souvenir shops, tourist attractions, and hordes of […]

Fun, Travel, United States

July 12, 2021

The 30 Best Things to Do in Gatlinburg

Drive a few hours north from Nashville and you’ll encounter a delightful surprise nestled in the hills of southern Indiana: two turn-of-the-century grand hotels, painstakingly restored to their former glory. ‘We need to go somewhere for our anniversary,’ a friend texted me recently. ‘We need something fun.’ ‘Have I told you about French Lick?’ I […]

Travel, United States

June 30, 2021

The French Lick Resort in Indiana is the Perfect Weekend Getaway

“I can’t believe we’re finally doing this,” I told my husband as we sat in an Inglewood parking lot. In my hands was a plain brown paper bag. We both gazed at it in silence for a few seconds before I took a deep breath and opened it. Two objects rested inside, both wrapped in […]

Nashville Guide, Travel

June 15, 2021

Believe the Hype: Bill’s Sandwich Palace Has the Best Sandwiches in Nashville