Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Surf
Check out the newly launched Greener Nashville for all of your green needs.
Visit my own CoolPeopleCare for daily tips on making the world a better place.

Donate
Support organizations doing great environmental work, such as:
Cumberland River Compact
Tennessee Environmental Council
Nashville Tree Foundation
Middle Tennessee Clean Air Partnership
The TMA Group

Socialize
Gather some buddies together and watch Kilowatt Ours by local filmmaker Jeff Barrie.
Check out Green Drinks once a month and meet some cool green folks in the city.

Nashville’s getting greener – leave a comment below and let us know what’s hip in Nashville when it comes to the environment.

As the leaves change color, football gets exciting and hits of cooler weather are in the air, chances for outdoor ice cream enjoyment are coming to a close. Even though Bobbie’s will be open until mid-December, most of us would rather we enjoy our dipped cones when the sun’s shining and we can’t see our breath.

So, Nashville: where do you go for ice cream? Let everyone know do we can spend the next few weeks soaking up our dairy delights before Old Man Winter makes us drink cocoa and hot tea.

Watching Defying Gravity is a bit like watching Titanic or United 93. No matter how nice things seem, we all know how it’s going to end. Defying Gravity is the story of Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher chosen to go into space. She was on the doomed Challenger flight when it exploded 73 seconds into its flight.

The play refers only to McAuliffe’s character as Teacher, and the main character is her daughter, Elizabeth. Other characters, like a retired couple, a NASA mechanic, and a bartender must also come to grips with what happened in the disaster. Elizabeth’s voice wavers back and forth between being a confused little girl and a grownup reflecting back on what happened. Luckily, Claude Monet (yes, the painter) is there to tie things together and help everyone move on.

Ultimately, the central story is about defying the gravity within ourselves. Each of us has so many dreams and hopes which easily have us floating upward and reaching for the stars. But with that also comes a barrage of excuses that keep us grounded and often times prevent us from ever daring to do anything remarkable.

But what we see through the Teacher is that dreaming is mandatory, and defying the gravity of our own (or others’) excuses and restrictions is the only way anything great comes to pass. Sure, things don’t work out as we plan, but the journey to defy our own gravity was really the point all along. Because that’s the journey that leads us to discover ourselves.

If you’ve never had a change to take in local theater, it’s on the list of things you need to go to in your community, along with attending a street festival and a local art opening. Events like Defying Gravity show us that if we want something great – a great marriage, a great career, a great family, or even a great community – we’ve got to go outside our realm of routine to embrace that which is new, daring and different.

And this is exactly what TWTP provides Nashville.

Tennessee Women’s Theater Project is a nonprofit organization that seeks to produce plays that express the human condition in the female voice, provide opportunities for women in theater, and bring live theater to new, underserved audiences. Defying Gravity is their 4th production and runs through October 21 at Looby Theater.

That’s right folks: it’s nearly time for Oktoberfest in Nashville’s very own Germantown neighborhood. If you’ve never been before, get ready for a day of beer, live music, German delicacies, arts and crafts, and lots of people roaming the North End in search of the best German experience in Nashville.

Of course, the festival always needs volunteers, so think about pouring beer, serving up bratwurst, or passing out water to those running the 5k that morning (these kind volunteers will be thanked with a ticket for a free beer since they’ll be getting up early to come lend a hand for the racers).

So, get ready for a good time on October 13. If you’re interested in volunteering, send me an email at sam /at/ coolpeoplecare /dot/ org.

Today, it is with mixed emotions that I have informed the Board of Trust and its Chairman, Mrs. Martha Ingram, of my intention to resign the Chancellorship of Vanderbilt on August 1 of this year. At that time, I will assume the Presidency of The Ohio State University. This was by far the most difficult professional decision that I have ever made. I want you to know that I am not leaving Vanderbilt. Rather, I am following my heart and returning to a place that I consider my home. My decision is that simple and that complex. Over the past several weeks, members of the University Board and the University family have done everything possible to make me feel valued and appreciated. I assure you that I do.

Vanderbilt is a magnificent university with a world-class faculty, remarkable students, devoted staff, and passionate alumni. It is blessed with an extraordinary group of senior leaders. Its future is boundless. It will continue its unprecedented trajectory to greatness. I assure you that I will give Vanderbilt my full measure of devotion until I assume my new duties. And, I will always take great pride in the achievements of the University and the friendships that I have made and will continue to cherish.

Gordon

My grandfather’s coming to town this week. He grew up in Nashville – Hume-Fogg class of ‘36. That’s right.

He moved away in 1957 – that’s right, 50 years ago – and has since only been back to visit here and there. His last trip was in 1999.

So, what do I do for 2 days with a 90-year old man who gets around pretty well, but won’t recognize the city from any other spot outside of his sleepy Mississippi town?

I know for sure that we’ll visit Centennial Park – the train engine there was actually driven by his father and uncle. And we’ll visit Morgan Park, which is where he played baseball growing up. Certainly, the city has changed quite a bit – what highlights do I showcase?

Itineraries in the comments.

I tried to go there a week or two ago and it was closed, but the sign said it was being renovated. However, The Tennessean seems to think it’s doors are shut permanently.

Big deal. I though it kind of sucked anyway. Their coffee and coffee drinks were okay, but there’s better atmosphere elsewhere. Their stuff was a little pricey as well, in my opinion. I was always at the bottom of my list of local joints, and I only went there to meet folks when I absolutely had to.

Personally, I think most of the spots on Demonbreun row are getting played out. I’m not sure if the new lofts nearby will spice things up, but as a local, I pretty much steer clear of this area in terms of food and drink, even though it’s close. It’s so 2003.

Then again, if you read the three-sentence story, it does sort of sound like a renovation. Except for the phone thing. Then again, land lines were so 2003.

Located at the corner of McGavock and Riverside, this cozy coffee spot is a very welcome addition in the area. The shop has a very clean look – it’s very bright and the walls aren’t cluttered with terrible art or flyers for shows. They brew two kinds of beans, out of Portland and North Carolina.

What I think is cool is that you get 20 cents off your drink if you walk/bike there or if you bring your own mug. All in all, this coffee shop is about sustainability.

Jack and his wife opened the place 12 days ago and run the shop. Say hi to them when you stop by. They’re running on limited hours now, until business picks up (M-F, 6AM-12PM; Sat. & Sun., 8AM-2PM).