Today was American Consumerism day! We started off the day with a little trip to Tar-jay. Disaster almost struck because the cabbie didn’t know where it was even though it was only 20 minutes away from downtown. Actually, it seems like none of the cabbies know where anything is outside of downtown and Opryland. What up wit dat? We had to bring a map, then we got directions, then he had to call his dispatch. In the end it all worked out and he didn’t overcharge us so we can’t complain too loud.
Tar-jay has many wondrous and varied things: cowboy hats, cheapy-cheapy-almost-free clothes, dog clothes (!!!!), etc. I picked up a cowboy hat, a skirt, a prezzie for Marco and a little sumpin’ sumpin’ for J-dog. Buwahahahaha!
Following the shopping extravaganza, we headed over to our favourite American chain restaurant: the Beloved Olive Garden. It was a sad, dark day when they left Canada. Remember the breadsticks? And the endless salad? Of course you do. Who is not haunted by the gaping void the OG’s departure created? The food lived up to our expectations. I decided to go with a classic, the tour of Italy, while Cindy opted for the more conservative chicken parmesan. Delicious!
After a brief stop back at the hotel, the next stop was the Country Music Hall of Fame. Very well organized museum with lots of interesting pieces, including: Johnny Cash’s guitar, Elvis’ gold-leafed Cadillac, one of Loretta Lynn’s ball gowns, and a special collection featuring Ray Charles that included the electric piano that he toured with and a Braille copy of Playboy (lending some weight to the idea that it really is about the articles???)
After the museum, we were pretty beat so we watched the intellectual equivalent of pre-chewed food: Hogan Knows Best. A reality show featuring Hulk Hogan and his family. Only in America. All I can say is that Hulk Hogan needs to stop wrestling RIGHT NOW before he has to get another body part replaced or another series of injections directly into his spine. Seriously.
Like the trip to Tar-jay, the cab trip to the dinner restaurant did not go so well either. Again, the cabbie had no idea where the restaurant was even though it wasn’t even 10 minutes from downtown. After driving in a circle for a while and calling the restaurant, we finally located the Mad Platter. It was worth the wait. The food was excellent. The restaurant itself is located in an old brick corner store in a historic neighbourhood of restored Victorian houses. Inside, bookshelves filled with books and copies of National Geographic line one of the walls. Right now, it is also displaying works by Hendron (?) one of Nashville’s most famed artists. There were a few of his “flower” works but many more of his “guitar” series.
The best part of dinner was that because it was their slow season, we had the restaurant entirely to ourselves. Very celebrity-esque. We got to get up and walk around whenever we wanted and had the complete attention of the very personable waitress. The food was delicious and the dessert, their famed “Chocolate Elvis,” a chocolate-y cake-like thing, was decadent!
After dinner we met up with a vendor that Cindy knows at B.B. King’s Blues Club. The 8-person live band was amazing and it was really nice to have a break from the country scene. Authentic blues music is awesome live. I got to meet a local guy, John, and two jokers on vacation (one from New Brunswick and one from Ireland) who wanted to know where we were going to be tomorrow and who said my glasses were “cute”… riiiiiiight…
Overall, a very good day in the city where no cabbie knows how to get anywhere.
1 comment:
OG!!!! It was a sad, sad day when they left :( And you had your Tour...excellent choice.
Glad to hear you guys are having such a great time - can't wait to see the pics!
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