The Frist Center for Visual Arts ThestrikingArt Deco structure of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts beckons in downtown Nashville as a highly visible landmark. Originally built as the Nashville post office in 1934, the building now boasts 24,000 square feet of gallery space. The Frist Center offers popular family outings with hands on workshops for kids and an impressive collection of exhibits. The array ofexhibitsand collections dazzle young and old alike but the most constant and popular artwork is probably the building itself. Every first Saturday of the month, architecture tours that explore the building’s Art Deco treasures that were constructed in the heart of the Great Depression provide a great overview of the center. Through May 28, ’Fairy Tales, Monsters, and The Genetic Imagination” will be highlighted. The exhibit presents works by contemporary artists who createhuman like, hybrid creatures that symbolize life’s mysteries, fe...[more »]

Gold and platinum country music records You may think you know country music but you really don’t realize just how much you don’t now until you step into the vast, interactive rooms of Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Sure, you know the iconic Minnie Pearl character from the Hee Haw TV show but did you know that Sarah Cannon, the woman who played her, was a classically trained actor and musician from a wealthy family? That’s just one of the tidbits that you’ll discover as you delve into the museum’s video clips, recordings,memorabiliaandexhibitschronicling the turns of two centuries of country music history. Artifacts from Gene Autry, Tex Ritter ans Roy Rogers Billed as the world’s largest popular music museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum does not take that claim lightly. Walking through the museum, I was overwhelmed with the sheer number of exhibits. Everywhere I turned, there were photos, ...[more »]

An Elvis Guitar outside of Studio B If you’ve never heard of Studio B, you’ve definitely heard the songs produced by this historic Nashville studio. Dubbed the home of 1,000 hits, RCA Studio B pumped out classic tunes from the 50s through today, including Elvis’ “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” The Everly Brothers’ “All I Have To Do Is Dream”, Ray Charles’ “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and Dolly Parton’soriginalversion of “I’ Will Always Love You.” This 30 minute tour is the only historic studio tour in Nashville. You can feel the history oozing out of the walls of the studio as soon as you step through the doors. Large photos of the studios famous recording artists like Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Elivs and The Every Brothers loom over your movements. Elvis recorded 200 songs at Studio B and his presence is perhaps the strongest. The tour guide tells fascinating stories about the det...[more »]