Even if we can’t quite feel it yet, fall is right around the corner. Host Grace Fuisz, producer Marie Cecile Anderson, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury are here with your guide to the month ahead! They’ve got recommendations for some great kid-friendly festivals and hiking spots — including where to find our best storybook and fairy trails — and a tip on where to find some of the best baklava in town, for one weekend only. And with Spooky Season right around the corner, the...
Sep 03, 2024•20 min
On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Grace Fuisz, producer Marie Cecile Anderson, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are taking your emails! After a listener wrote in to express their frustrations over the transit referendum and the recent handling of the WeGo Access program, we reached out to Mayor Freddie O’Connell for answers. We’ve got his response, as well as info on the framework he laid out this week to provide independent counsel to the Community Review Board — but we also reached o...
Aug 30, 2024•25 min
Anas Saba, the man behind Nashville Hidden Gems — one of the most popular Instagram accounts in town — sits down with host Grace Fuisz to explain how he finds the amazing off-the-beaten-path restaurants and food trucks that he highlights in his feed, discuss the pressures of the content creation economy, and highlight the food tours that started his journey as an important voice for our immigrant and international culinary communities. He’s also got his top recommendations for some iconic Nashvi...
Aug 29, 2024•21 min
Today on City Cast Nashville, host Grace Fuisz sits down with Jason Moon Wilkins , WNXP Program Director and the host of the new podcast Music Citizens , to introduce you to some of the characters that made Nashville’s music scene what it is today. They highlight the owner-operators behind Nashville’s most iconic music venues, how booking has changed for artists with these new corporate promoters, and they make a solid case for a new Five Points statue. This is the fifth and final episode we'll ...
Aug 28, 2024•26 min
The Nashville Scene’s cover package this week is all about the “Choose How You Move” transportation improvement plan that will be on ballots this November, and reporter Eli Motycka joins host Grace Fuisz and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to answer some of our burning questions. What’s in this thing? Why does it need to happen right now? How will it help people who don’t ride the bus? And what is the city doing to ensure disabled riders are included in the improvements? We also get into May...
Aug 27, 2024•26 min
It’s taken years to unravel the unbelievable crime web woven by Erik Maund, heir to a massive Austin auto dealership, which resulted in the deaths of an escort and her estranged boyfriend here in Nashville in 2020. After Maund and his co-conspirators were found guilty in federal court, Texas Monthly contributor Katy Vine got to work with producer Anna Worrell on their now-released podcast series, “ The Problem With Erik .” In today’s very special crossover episode — produced by our colleagues at...
Aug 26, 2024•22 min
Nashville Scene columnist and City Cast Nashville Metro Council contributor Nicole Williams is back for today’s Friday News Roundup! She joins host Grace Fuisz and producer Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about the East Bank Development Authority , the recent protests happening around town — from striking AT&T workers to people with disabilities demanding better transit access — and the criminal mastermind who got arrested this week thanks to surveillance footage of him vandalizing the rainbow...
Aug 23, 2024•20 min
Nashville SC returns to Geodis Park on Saturday after a long (and possibly much-needed) summer break, and we’ve got everything you need to know to enjoy the rest of this season. Pharmaceutical Soccer podcaster and Broadway Sports Media contributor Valair Shabilla sits down with host Grace Fuisz to share his tips and tricks for going to games, plus ways you can get involved with Nashville’s soccer community — from playing pickup to volunteering with the kids of Kickin’ It 615 . He also tells his ...
Aug 22, 2024•22 min
Today on City Cast Nashville, host Grace Fuisz sits down with singer-songwriter Sam Rochford , Marketing Manager for Acme Feed & Seed ’s parent company, Tomkats. They’re discussing why so many musicians feel more comfortable playing at Acme than other Broadway bars, and how Acme uplifts local artists beyond the country music scene. Sam also shares how she won over her camp counselor through the power of song, and the story behind her song “Annie.” Sam plays around town with her band Randy &a...
Aug 21, 2024•23 min
On August 18th, 1920, Tennessee cast the final vote to ratify the 19th Amendment , giving women nationwide the right to vote. It's one of the most significant moments in our country's political history — as explained by Hillary Clinton in her speech to the Democratic National Convention last night — and it happened at the State Capitol right here in Nashville. Official Davidson County Historian Dr. Carole Bucy joins host Grace Fuisz to tell us the story of our city’s role in the suffrage movemen...
Aug 20, 2024•20 min
Thanks to a recent story about the long-running Sunday Gospel Hour at Robert’s Western World , our favorite honky-tonk is back in the news. Producer Marie Cecile Anderson sat down with GRAMMY-nominated musician, filmmaker, educator, and storyteller Smilin' Jay McDowell last month ahead of the bar’s 25th anniversary, and together, they explored the origins and enduring legacy of this iconic Nashville institution in the heart of Lower Broadway. Thanks to Tecovas , our Western wear faves, for being...
Aug 19, 2024•25 min
Nashville Banner reporter and “ Death Row Welcomes You: Visiting Hours in the Shadow of the Execution Chamber ” author Steven Hale joins host Grace Fuisz and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to discuss the Banner’s ongoing series about the tourism-fueled “drunken rodeo” on Lower Broadway and elsewhere. They also weigh in on the male stripper revue moving into a Civil Rights landmark , the disconcerting use of the word “tapas” to describe Asian food, and the mayonnaise-scented cologne just lau...
Aug 16, 2024•22 min
It’s the doldrums of August, and we’re all looking for ways to stay cool and cheer ourselves up until the weather finally turns. Luckily, Summer Ottinger — aka @nashfoodfan on Instagram — is here to tell host Grace Fuisz about the best (and most iconic) frozen dessert shops in town. From simple scoops to extravagant milkshakes, kid-friendly joints to great date spots, she’s got a suggestion for every taste. Thanks to Tecovas , our Western wear faves, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Here ...
Aug 15, 2024•18 min
Today on City Cast Nashville, host Grace Fuisz sits down with songwriter and producer Alex Wong . They’re talking about taking up space, authenticity, and the connection he’s found between cooking and music. Alex is one of the artists who’ll be playing our Nashville In Stereo event at the new Tecovas store in the Green Hills Mall from 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 22nd — come out and join us! This is the third of five episodes we'll be doing this month about the music community in Nashville. And stick around...
Aug 14, 2024•26 min
It’s the Tuesday News Roundup, and host Grace Fuisz is joined by our producer Marie Cecile Anderson, who was in Vienna to see one of the Taylor Swift concerts that was canceled due to a terrorist plot last week. She’s got the first-hand report on what it was like to be there, and how the Swifties rallied to take care of each other in the wake of the scary news. Comedian Cortney Warner is also on the mic this morning to help us talk local news — wait, school nurses can’t give bandaids to kids any...
Aug 13, 2024•21 min
The Defy Film Festival returns to Studio 615 this weekend for its ninth season of highlighting “bold and extraordinary work from around the world.” Host Grace Fuisz sits down with festival director Dycee Wildman to preview this year’s slate, find out why they only give out one award, and get some advice for any aspiring auteurs hoping to find their filmmaking community in Nashville. Thanks to Tecovas , our Western wear faves, for being our exclusive launch sponsor! Find out everything you need t...
Aug 12, 2024•19 min
On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Grace Fuisz is joined by executive producer Whitney Pastorek and one of our favorite contributors, Metro Council expert and Nashville Scene columnist Nicole Williams . We’ve got your update on all the drama from this week’s Council meeting, ways you can step up and get involved locally as a Metro board member or campaign volunteer, and the scoop on why the FBI seized Congressman Andy Ogles’ cell phone . Plus, we debut our newest segment, 1-Star Reviews of Ico...
Aug 09, 2024•22 min
It’s Tomato Art Fest time, y’all! The tomato is a uniter, not a divider, and our executive producer Whitney Pastorek looks forward to this celebration of our local arts community — and our quirky, creative neighbors — every year. She sits down with festival organizer Jack Davis to give you the insider’s guide to the event that Nashville Scene readers consistently rate as the Best Festival in Nashville, from the bands and vendors to the parade and all the pro tips you need to enjoy yourself respo...
Aug 08, 2024•21 min
Host Grace Fuisz sits down with local singer-songwriter Nick Tabron to talk about his conservative upbringing, his mission to use his platform for good, and to swap recommendations for places where new artists can be heard and discovered here in Nashville. Nick is one of the artists who’ll be playing our Nashville In Stereo event at the new Tecovas store in the Green Hills Mall from 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 22nd — come out and join us! This is the second of five episodes we'll be doing this month about ...
Aug 07, 2024•26 min
Our special guest on today’s news roundup is WPLN’s Khalil Ekulona , host of their daily show This Is Nashville . He joins host Grace Fuisz and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to take a closer look at Nashville’s three congressional races now that the ballots are set for November, and to dig into what he’s heard from WPLN listeners about their emotions during this chaotic time for democracy. Plus, we’ve got an update on how our local Olympians fared, as the Games in Paris roll on. Thanks to ...
Aug 06, 2024•24 min
School starts tomorrow, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury — our token parent — grabbed some time with Metro Nashville Public Schools director Dr. Adrienne Battle to ask questions submitted by MNPS parents and get the scoop on the changes, challenges, and opportunities coming with the 2024-2025 academic year. Thanks to Tecovas , our Western wear faves, for being our exclusive launch sponsor! What do you want to know from our local officials? Email us , and we’ll try to get yo...
Aug 05, 2024•20 min
It’s the Friday News Roundup, y’all! Host Grace Fuisz, producer Marie Cecile Anderson, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek have the scoop on two new Asian restaurants making a splash in town, a bunch of super-cute ideas for how to spend your weekend, and a few concerns about all the folks getting arrested for public intoxication at the airport . Plus: A quick look at the results from yesterday’s state and federal primary and local general election . Thanks to Tecovas , our Western wear faves...
Aug 02, 2024•22 min
It’s August in Music City, and the outdoors is steamy! Host Grace Fuisz, producer Marie Cecile Anderson, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury are here with your guide to the month ahead. The next few weeks feature a flock of great fairs and festivals — from Tomato Art Fest to the Tennessee State Fair — plus a ton of options for moviegoers and filmmakers alike. August also means back to school in Nashville, and we’ve got tips for parents as well as college students who might be ...
Aug 01, 2024•22 min
In this special episode of City Cast Nashville, producer Marie Cecile Anderson celebrates the 25th anniversary of Robert’s Western World with GRAMMY-nominated musician, filmmaker, educator, and storyteller Smilin' Jay McDowell . Jay recounts his journey from performing for tips at Robert's Western World with BR549 to touring with legends like Bob Dylan and George Jones. Together, they explore the origins and enduring legacy of this iconic honky-tonk in the heart of Lower Broadway. This is the fi...
Jul 31, 2024•25 min
Host Grace Fuisz is on vacation, so we got the next best thing: Mayor Freddie O’Connell sits in for the Tuesday News Roundup with producer Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek. He’s talking about administrative accomplishments like the opening of permanent supportive housing facility Strobel House and the countywide expansion of Nashville Strong Babies ; we also get updates on the frustrations of our Community Review Board , how he’s handling our neo-Nazi problem , and h...
Jul 30, 2024•21 min
Nashville is a great town for roller skaters and rollerbladers of all skill levels, abilities, and interests. Host Grace Fuisz sits down with Asphalt Beach Skate Shop owner Steve Larios — and his rambunctious shop kittens — to get his tips for where to learn to skate, how to get involved in roller derby or roller hockey, which roller rinks you gotta check out, and how Asphalt Beach got its name. Thanks to Tecovas , our Western wear faves, for being our exclusive launch sponsor! Sign up to play w...
Jul 29, 2024•19 min
The Nashville Scene’s annual “You Are So Nashville If …” issue hit stands yesterday! In today’s Friday News Roundup, host Grace Fuisz, producer Marie Cecile Anderson, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are reading the winners, picking their favorites from the honorable mentions, and celebrating all of our dark-humored and very smart neighbors who submitted great entries this year. In the wake of another missing tourist (she has thankfully been found alive), we’re also talking about how we k...
Jul 26, 2024•22 min
District 17 Metro Councilmember Terry Vo joins host Grace Fuisz to talk about why solving Nashville’s “food apartheid” problem is her top legislative priority. Plus, she reveals her secret identity as an Elite Yelper, and takes us on a tour of some of her favorite Nashville international restaurants and markets. This is the first in what we hope will be a recurring series in which we get to know our 40 Metro Council members . Should we interview yours? Email us at nashville@citycast.fm! Need to ...
Jul 25, 2024•23 min
Vanderbilt student and NCAA discus champion Veronica Fraley is headed to the Olympics, y’all! Before she jets off to Paris, she joins host Grace Fuisz to discuss how it feels to be an Olympian, what (and who!) she’s excited to see at this year’s games, and how someone grows up to be a discus thrower in the first place. Thanks to Tecovas , our Western wear faves, for being our exclusive launch sponsor! Early voting for the August 1 primary election is open now through July 27! Here is a sample ba...
Jul 24, 2024•18 min
It’s the Tuesday news roundup, y’all! We’re digging into local reactions to President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris , what a recent court ruling means for Tennessee’s drag ban, and why Sunday’s “Nashville Together” rally for peace matters in the fight against the neo-Nazis who won’t go away. Plus, why was Bozo the Clown in town? We’ve also got our take on the Tennessean’s list of the best places to eat at the airport , since we...
Jul 23, 2024•21 min
