Nominate the East Nashvillians Of The Year by Friday, Dec. 3
The Historic East Nashville Merchants Association (HENMA) is now accepting nominations for the East Nashvillian of the year awards.
This marks the 14th year of the annual award highlighting people and businesses who exemplify the best of all the positive aspects of life in East Nashville.
There is one winner in each of two categories: The first is for a business or business owner that in 2021 portrayed the best of what East Nashville has to offer; the second award is for a private citizen who best symbolizes what being a good East Nashville neighbor means.
Last year’s Business Award winners were Dan and Ellen Einstein, owners of Sweet 16 Bakery. Ronald Gooch, Jr. was awarded the Citizen Award for his community outreach and volunteer work.
The deadline to nominate is Dec. 3. Submit nominations here.
The East Nashvillians of the Year winners will be featured in the Jan/Feb edition of The East Nashvillian. Contact sales@theeastnashvillian.com to explore advertising opportunities.
Matters of Development
A permit has been issued allowing construction to begin on a seven-story, 255-unit apartment building at 900 Dickerson Pike, according to the Nashville Post.
Elder’s Ace Hardware, 2622 Gallatin Pike, is now open.
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It’s Record Store Day Black Friday
Head out to your favorite East Nashville record store today to pick up exclusive Record Store Day Black Friday titles. The best way to grab the album you want is to show up early since individual record stores do not release their own RSD list ahead of time. A complete list of RSD Black Friday titles can be viewed on the Record Store Day website.
Vinyl Tap, 2038 Greenwood Ave., celebrates a combined RSD Black Friday and fifth-anniversary party, as well as owner Todd Hedrick’s birthday. Lera Lynn will perform at 3 p.m. (she’s also releasing a live album/stream that was recorded at Vinyl Tap in 2020 during the pandemic). Vinyl Tap will offer $5 drink specials and five percent off of new and used records (RSD Black Friday releases not included) until the bar/record shop closes at 1 a.m.
The Groove, 1103 Calvin Ave., will allow only a certain number of customers at a time in the RSD room. Select non-RSD releases will also be on sale until the shop closes at 7 p.m. (As reported last week, The Groove is facing eviction and has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase the property via GoFundMe).
Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, 1060 East Trinity Lane, is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for RSD Black Friday shopping.
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The CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots to All Adults
Last Friday, Nov. 19, Centers for Disease Control Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expanded recommendations for booster shots to include all adults ages 18 years and older who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months after their second dose.
Per a CDC press release, Dr. Walensky stated, “After critical scientific evaluation, today’s unanimous decision carefully considered the current state of the pandemic, the latest vaccine effectiveness data over time, and review of safety data from people who have already received a COVID-19 primary vaccine series and booster. Booster shots have demonstrated the ability to safely increase people’s protection against infection and severe outcomes and are an important public health tool to strengthen our defenses against the virus as we enter the winter holidays. Based on the compelling evidence, all adults over 18 should now have equitable access to a COVID-19 booster dose.”
For more information, visit the CDC website.
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Metro Planning to Host East Bank Study Meeting Tuesday
Join the Metro Planning Department at Crosspoint Church, 299 Cowan St., Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for a public meeting with updates on the Imagine East Bank Planning Study.
Meto Planning will share progress on the study, including conceptual designs, results of a multimodal transportation survey, and allow participants to review and provide feedback on some early draft concepts. There will also be a Q&A with Metro Planning Director Lucy Kempf and staff.
The study aims to guide the city as it transforms the East Bank from an area characterized by industrial development, sports uses, and parking lots, and auto-oriented streets, into a neighborhood reclaimed for all Nashvillians to enjoy, with a public green along the riverfront for pedestrians and bicyclists, and places for residents to live and work.
“We could add some more transit routes here to help people get around town, or add more greenways or bike lanes,” said Metro Planning Public Information Officer Richel Albright.
One of the primary goals of the study is to design a boulevard that runs north and south through the East Bank.
“Right now it’s technically, but practically impossible to get from one end of the East Bank to the other without getting on I-24,” said Metro District 6 Council Member Brett Withers.
The Metro Planning and global design firm Perkins Eastman, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, Nashville Department of Transportation, and the Metro Development and Housing Authority, are undertaking the first phase of the study focused on future land use, urban design, mobility, open space, and environmental resiliency of the East Bank.
The primary study area is roughly 338 acres, bounded by I-24 to the east and south, the Cumberland River to the west, and Jefferson Street to the north. This is one of the largest and most complex studies undertaken by Metro Nashville.
Since launching the study in February 2021, Metro Planning has held 17 public meetings with more than 400 participants and garnered more than 600 responses to a community survey about the East Bank.
The meeting will also be held virtually via WebEx and Metro Nashville Network’s Facebook for those who do not feel comfortable or are unable to attend in person. In-person and WebEx attendees will be able to submit questions during the question and answer session. Those who cannot attend can submit questions in advance at eastbankinfo@nashville.gov.
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After 20 Years of ‘80s Covers, Guilty Pleasures Return to the East Side
Nashville’s premiere ‘80s cover band, Guilty Pleasures, will play a 20th-anniversary show Saturday at The Basement East.
According to founding member and The Basement East co-owner Mike Grimes, the band started in 2001 with a show at Slow Bar — the pioneering East Nashville venue located at 1024 Woodland St., where 3 Crow Bar is now.
“It kinda was born out of my desire to expand the programming of live music at the Slow Bar. I had a bunch of buds and we just decided to play some ‘80s songs one night,” Grimes said. “This kinda predated the tribute era and all that stuff. I didn’t know anyone who covered ‘80s songs, at all, at that time.”
Initially, the band was called Girls Girls Girls, and only featured women singing ‘80s songs.
“Eighty or 90 people came out that night,” Grimes said. “I thought, ‘Shit, this is cool.’”
The next show was shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, and this time, the guys got to sing too, and the band was renamed Guilty Pleasures. It’s been a party ever since.
“We started doing it every couple of months, and we have continued to do it every couple of months since it started,” Grimes said. “We got to a point, 11 or 12 years ago, where we could sell out the Cannery [Ballroom].”
You never know who might show up to perform at a Guilty Pleasures gig. Once, ‘80s pop singer Tiffany joined the band to perform her hit “I Think We’re Alone Now.” Another time, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain joined for a short set of Journey songs.
But of course, none of this would be possible if not for Guilty Pleasures’ own level of musicianship.
“A lot of the musicians have amazing pedigrees and have played with everyone (from the Dixie Chicks to Prince),” Grimes said.
What’s the difference between playing ‘80s songs in 2001, compared to 2021? Nothing, according to Grimes.
“That music completely stands the test of time, so it’s no different,” he said.
Guilty Pleasures’ “Return To The East Side” Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available here.
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Quick Bits
- Metro will activate an extreme cold weather overflow shelter at 3230 Brick Church Pike for unhoused and unsheltered individuals when the temperature reaches 28 degrees Fahrenheit or below. It will be open today, Friday, Nov. 26, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and a free shuttle will provide transportation from various locations throughout the city. Visit the Cold Weather Community Response website for more information.
- The Belcourt is offering private film screenings for up to 20 people, Dec. 17-30. Time slots go on sale to the general public on Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. More information is available here.
- In recognition of November being Native American Heritage Month, Nashville Public Library has put together a variety of book lists either about or written by Indigenous peoples from North America. Reserve an ebook, audiobook, or a print copy here.
