Be Seen in the Pages of The East Nashvillian!
The new issue of The East Nashvillian is now in the works. It’s our 10th anniversary, and this special issue will be taking a look back at a decade of the best in music, arts, and culture done the East-Side way! To place your ad in our new issue, contact our sales team today at sales@theeasnashvillian.com.
And speaking of issues, our supply of our most recent is down to just a few copies, so if you see one in the wild, you’d better grab it fast. Or you can place an order for any of the deluxe merch we’re now offering through our webstore and get one of the few remaining copies as a bonus. Place your order today!
Early Voting Continues in Tennessee
Early voting is now underway in Tennessee and will run through Thursday, October 29, with the General Election taking place on Tuesday, November 3. Record turnout for early voting has been reported since it began October 14; nevertheless, early voting is still your best way to avoid the even longer lines that may be present on Election Day proper. Two additional Early Voting locations have been added for this election — The Margaret Maddox East YMCA at 2624 Gallatin Pike and Friendship Baptist Church at 1109 32nd Ave. N. So don’t miss out!
A complete list of early voting locations and hours is available from the Election Commission’s website. For more information, visit the Davidson County Election Commission.
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Planning Transportation — Join the Summit!
Wanna hear people complain in Nashville? Just bring up the topic of public transportation! Here’s a chance to express yourself. As the Mayor’s office works on a new transportation plan, they want feedback from neighborhood leaders. A summit will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to solicit feedback from neighborhood leaders regarding the Mayor’s proposed transportation plan. Faye DiMassio, Senior Advisor for Transportation and Infrastructure, will be on hand with other Cooper administration members to receive feedback.
Key areas of focus include:
- Upgrading the bus system
- Modernizing Nashville’s traffic management system
- Investing in neighborhood infrastructure including sidewalks, bikeways, and greenways
- Improving safety and advancing the Mayor’s Vision Zero Action Plan
- Exploring the creation of a Nashville Department of Mobility and Infrastructure to enhance efficient, effective management, performance, and accountability
In compliance with Metro Health Orders, the summit will be held online Tuesday, October 27, at 6:30 p.m. A dial-in option will be available for those without access to a computer. Anyone interested in participating in the summit is asked to register in advance, and each participant will receive a unique access code to the meeting. FOr more information and to register, visit the Mayor’s Transportation Summit Registration Page.
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Elegy Coffee Now Open
Elegy Coffee recently opened their doors at 2909A Gallatin Pike. Sandwiched between Mickey’s Tavern and Walden, the slightly gothic java bar is the latest endeavor of Andrew Cook, Bryan and Lindsay Rushton, and Patrick Hayes — the same team that responsible for The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club.
Currently offering coffee, tea, pastries, and plants (for growing, not eating), they’re open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. For more info and photos, follow them on Instagram @elegycoffee or check them out online at elegycoffee.com.
Barnes Housing Trust Fund Back in Business
On Wednesday, Mayor John Cooper announced the Regions Foundation of Tennessee had donated $250,000 to the Barnes Housing Trust Fund. The first major private-sector donation in the Barnes Fund’s history, the money follows a commitment of $10 million by Mayor Cooper in Metro’s FY2020-2021 budget to support affordable housing efforts.
Established in 2013, the Barnes Fund makes competitive grants to nonprofit housing developers to increase Nashvillians’ affordable housing options. Previously funded for $9.5 annually, the fund’s budget was cut to just $5 million in December 2019 for FY2019-2020 due to emergency budget reductions ordered by the State Comptroller to balance Metro’s budget. Several homeless advocacy groups criticized the cuts.
In a press release, Mayor Cooper said, “The Regions Foundation of Tennessee’s donation is proof of Nashville’s thriving philanthropic spirit and a community-wide commitment to affordable housing.“While my administration remains committed to supporting the Barnes Fund through the operating budget, we welcome increased investment from our community partners. The Regions Foundation of Tennessee’s generous donation will hopefully be the first of many from the philanthropic and private sectors.”
More information on the Barnes Housing Trust Fund is available at nashville.gov.
Black Lives Matter Mural Damaged
Less than 24 hours after volunteers completed the Black Lives Matter mural on Woodland Street Saturday, the mural was defaced by unknown persons. Located between Interstate Drive and First Avenue, the 350-foot mural was defaced by vehicles “peeling out” and leaving visible tire tread marks through some of the letters.
Niti Sharan, one of the organizers behind the mural, spoke to WTVF NewsChannel5 about the damage. “I think it’s really sad that not even 24 hours could go by without racism showing its ugly face. This is exactly why this is here. This actually spearheads and shows the racism that people feel on a daily basis.”
Metro Police have not confirmed if the damage is considered vandalism or if there is an open investigation into the incident. Paid for by private contributions, the mural is planned to remain in place through January. Contributions for the repair and maintenance of the mural may be made through the Tennessee Alliance for Progress.
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Out of the Basement
While The Basement East continues to rebuild with no reopening date announced as of yet, the original location, The Basement, is returning to live shows but not exactly in the venue.
The Basement is now staging afternoon shows in the parking lot, outside the venue at 1604 Eighth Ave. S. for masked, socially distanced audiences with advance ticket sales only. Nashville music scene veterans will recall The Basement’s parking lot was once a frequent location for concerts when Grimey’s New & Preloved Music shared the building with the popular nightclub.
Upcoming shows by Katie Pruitt and The Josephines have sold out, but tickets are still available for shows by Stephen Wilson, Jr. and Ron Gallo scheduled for November. For a full list of the shows’ safety measures, an updated schedule, and to purchase tickets, visit thebasementnashville.com.
Renew Entrepreneurs, Renew Nashville
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center launched Renew Nashville last week, a citywide initiative to address the challenges facing entrepreneurs and small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Renew Nashville will support 500 small businesses with weekly seminars, workshops, panel discussions, and the opportunity to schedule one-on-one sessions with seasoned advisors (lawyers, accountants, tech support) — all free of charge.
For more information and to apply for Renew Nashville, visit the Renew Nashville website.
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Friends of Shelby Gotta Have a License (Plate)
Display your love and support of Shelby Park and Bottoms with your purchase of a specialty license plate. The proposed plate is available to anyone with a vehicle registered in Tennessee with proceeds benefiting Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms.
But the catch is 1,000 preorders are required by December 2020 for the plates to be approved. For more info and to reserve your plate, visit the Friends of Shelby website today!
Keep Shelby Green — Plant a Tree!
Show you love for a greener East Side by showing up to plant trees in November! On November 14 and 15, the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps will be planting 290 trees along Shelby Avenue for the first installment of Shelby Avenue’s Arboretum. They need your help to do it!
To find out more, learn how to plant a tree correctly, and find out the precautions they’ll be following to protect volunteers’ health, visit the NTCC’s Shelby Avenue Fall Planting signup page. And be sure to invite a friend — the more the greenier!
Quick Bits
- The much-anticipated Eastside Bowl complex at 1508 Gallatin Pike has announced a tentative opening date of February 2021. The latest project from Family Wash founder Jamie Rubin and Mercy Lounge founder Chark Kinsolving was previewed in our November-December 2019 issue, and we’ll have a more detailed look at what’s in store for the combination bowling alley/diner/arcade/bar/music venue soon, so stay tuned!
- East Nashville-based real estate investor March Egerton recently purchased the former Inglewood Rite-Aid building at 3407 Gallatin Pike for $2.05 million. Constructed in 1998, the 10,900 square foot building sits on a site was once home to the Inglewood Theater, a neighborhood landmark from the 1950s to the 1970s. Egerton has not yet announced any plans for the property.
- Hot Chicken lovers should be on the lookout for the soon-to-be-opened Flamie’s Chicken. While we haven’t been able to find an online presence for the new eatery yet, their signage/design at 3231 Gallatin Pike looks interesting. Stay tuned!
- In addition to the Rosepepper Cafe’s always changing (and always entertaining) sign and their classic Mexican dishes, be sure to check out their newly constructed rainbow-colored outdoor deck. And while you’re at it, peruse our feature story on this neighborhood classic.
