This past month offered no shortage of news to get excited about. From the announcement of the Nashville Sounds‘ schedule to museum exhibit openings and even the return of the Music City Food Truck Park, Nashville is heading into spring with swagger. Here’s some of the exciting news that unfolded this month.
What’s New in Nashville: March 2021
The Nashville Sounds Baseball Club Announces its 2021 Schedule
We’re back in the game! Nashville Sounds officially announced the new 2021 season, and delays aside, we’re gearing up for a chance to sit in the stands and enjoy a socially distanced fan experience. Though the season starts on Tuesday, May 4 with an away game against the Mud Hens in Toledo, Ohio, the Sounds will host Opening Day against the Memphis Redbirds on Tuesday, May 11. Until then, fans can schedule private batting practice at First Horizon Park, complete with beer and a live scoreboard. Learn more at milb.com/Nashville.
It’s game on for the Nashville Sounds 2021 season! Image: Nashville Sounds/Casey Gower
Cheekwood Announces its Spring Line-Up
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens recently announced its spring line-up, which is both educational and fun-filled. Included are the Native Plant Sale hosted by the Garden Club as well as “Dogs and Dogwoods,” which is a delightful opportunity to bring your canine companion for an Instagram-worthy stroll through the gardens. While the yearly egg hunt may be on pause due to COVID-19 precautions, you can also check out the Great Spring Art Hunt, during which guests of all ages can stop to smell the flowers and simultaneously search for giant bunnies hiding amongst the blooms! If you’re looking to make your way inside, check out In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870 –1940 | Works from the Bank of America Collection. The New American Impressionism exhibit runs till July 4, and it features over 130 vibrant works that focus on the development of impressionism in the United States. For admission tickets and more information about Cheekwood’s exhibitions and spring schedule, visit cheekwood.org.
Spring looks good on Cheekwood’s Estate and Gardens. Image: Cheekwood
Jacqueline Opens at The Optimist
As if The Optimist doesn’t offer enough of an exquisite culinary experience all on its own, its highly anticipated alfresco bar, Jacqueline, finally opened up — just in time for the warm spring weather! And while its initial intention may have been to accommodate those waiting for tables inside the restaurant, it’s far from a rollover bar; it’s a destination. With bocce ball on the “lawn,” exotic shaved ice cocktails, and a colorful ambiance that lures in tourists and locals alike, Jacqueline is reminiscent of a beach town ocean-side stand. (Not to mention, Wes Anderson fans will appreciate the nod to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.)
In keeping with The Optimist’s seafood-forward menu, Jacqueline’s menu boasts light and delicious snacks such as tuna poke, lobster roll sliders, smoked fish dip and of course, oysters. Fun beverages abound, served in equally fun vessels. Favorites include the tasty frozen hurricane, the tequila-driven A Hundred Highways, and the Instagram-worthy Deep Blue Sea, which is served in a giant fish glass and made with rum, blue curacao, lime, pineapple and coconut. Open seasonally, so long as weather permits, Jacqueline is the perfect place to sidle up to the bar and enjoy the sunny skies. It’s scheduled to be open from Thursday through Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Jacqueline is finally open! Image: Andrew Thomas Lee
Got a Great Business Idea? Pitch It!
A new opportunity for local entrepreneurs was announced this month with the launch of BPH Investment Club. Led by Josh Joseph, of Big Plan Holdings, and Hannah Schneider of HSC Media, BRND House and Kettner Coffee Supply, the initiative offers a monthly “Shark Tank”-like opportunity that invites 10 candidates to present their ideas to a panel of experts for potential financial backing. The first panel will be held Monday, April 26. To submit a pitch or learn more, visit bigplanholdings.com.
The FirstBank Amphitheater Makes Construction Progress
Though it officially broke ground in 2018, we’re finally getting close to enjoying live concerts in the roughly 7,500-seat FirstBank Amphitheater in Williamson County. And while it’s not located in Nashville proper, the highly anticipated open-air event venue at Graystone Quarry will no doubt be a big draw. “The project construction will be complete in the next several months,” says quarry owner Rick McEachern. “We’ll open for concerts when fans feel comfortable gathering and performers feel comfortable performing again. Currently, we believe that will be in the late summer or early fall timeframe.” Surrounded by rock, the venue boasts a stage at the base of a cliff — the ideal setup for great acoustics and a memorable experience. Not to mention, with Live Nation at the helm, one of the world’s leading live event companies, the roster of musical acts and creatives is sure to be top-notch. Bring on the music!
FirstBank Amphitheater is still under construction, but we’re counting down the days until the massive concert venue is in full swing. Rendering: Live Nation Entertainment
ACME Feed and Seed Hosts its Grand Re-Opening
Nashville treasure Acme Feed and Seed and its historic building is a Broadway fixture. Though it’s been closed for the past year due to the pandemic, Acme is re-launching in a big way. The four-floor culinary and live music experience is opening its doors seven days a week! The grand re-opening is scheduled for Thursday, April 1, and it’s slated to be open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
After nearly a year of closure due to the pandemic, Acme Feed and Seed is re-opening seven days a week! Image: Instagram
The Bouquet Bar Pops Up at The Fairlane
It doesn’t get any more spring-centric than the new Bouquet Bar Pop-Up at the Fairlane Hotel. The roughly 1,800-square-foot penthouse suite has been transformed into a retro, floral-festooned space. With petals adorning every surface imaginable, including the ceiling canopy, bar and even your cocktail ice cubes, the scenery is on colorful display while the Nashville skyline offers stellar views from the wrap-around balcony. Tasty snacks balance out the elegant cocktails, and an indoor fire pit adds a touch of cozy. The pop-up runs through the end of May, at which point another seasonally inspired pop-up will take its place. The Bouquet Bar is open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. every weekday and 2 p.m. until midnight on the weekends, and it’s first-come, first-serve. To see the full menu and gear up for a trendy night out, visit fairlanehotel.com.
The penthouse at the Fairlane Hotel just got a fun and flowery makeover. Image: Fairlane Hotel/Jacob Kirschenbaum
The Music City Food Truck Park and Flea Market Returns
What’s better than stumbling upon a food truck on a beautiful day? Stumbling upon an entire fleet of them! Open every Saturday at The Marketplace in East Nashville, the Music City Food Truck Park has recently re-launched in tandem with the East Nashville Flea Market, making it easy to grab tasty fare and flea market finds from any number of local vendors. Open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine), the park hosts up to 10 food trucks each day, including fan-favorites The Tennessee Cobbler Company, Steaming Goat and Music City Brisket. Admission is free, and live outdoor music and cocktails are planned.
The Music City Food Truck Park is back! Image: Music City Food Truck Park
Happy spring!
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