6 days Ago By Ashley Brantley
888 Last week was easily the worst week of the year, and I think we all know why: daylight saving time. (What, did something else horrifying happen?) Most people would rather it be dark at 6 in the morning than 4:40 in the afternoon. Nothing is more depressing than the first day you have to leave your office or pick up your kids from school in the dark.
In fact, studies show that 62 percent of Americans want to see the time change eliminated , and another 17 percent aren’t sure. That means we’re sticking with a system that: Only 21 percent of Americans want Farmers hate Was originally implemented in 1918 to conserve energy during WWI, and Increases sleep problems, traffic accidents and even heart attacks. Democracy, amirite? But not to worry.
Here are five easy ways to instantly increase your serotonin intake. By November, fall tableaux can start looking ratty and rotten. If you live in West Nashville, where squirrels can apparently access both weed and steroids, your gourds won’t even make it to Halloween without a massacre.
Compost Nashville Compost Nashville can help you clean up your stoop by Thanksgiving. What’s more, you can help offset the methane gas from the more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins that end up in U.S.
landfills each year . Reminder : Methane gas is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of warming the atmosphere and destroying the ozone layer — a thing 72 percent of Americans believe is happening despite the Big Cheeto’s claim that it’s “ a scam .” Feel good about turning any (non-painted) pumpkins into nutrient-dense compost by scheduling a one-time bulk pumpkin collection service : For businesses or community organizations At your residence The prices are reasonable — $1-4 per pumpkin by size for individual home pickups — and the service is free to current subscribers .
Simply put the pumpkins next to your bin(s), and they’ll whisk away two each week until they’re gone. Eating pristine raw fish is the fastest way to feel satisfied and sophisticated — especially if you do it in the sumptuous enclave of 888 . Inspired by the jazz kissas of Japan, this place was created by the folks who brought you Bourbon Steak, so swank is part of the pedigree.
While I wish they’d ditch the played-out no-sign “secret” entrance, everything else is pretty spot-on. From the zingy Pacific Fleet cocktail (rum, lime, simple syrup, shiso leaf) to the mushroom-and-chicken yakitori, it all clicks. Add the fact that you never know what record the DJ will play next — Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Daft Punk — and you’ve got a vibe as well as a meal.
Salmon Nigiri at 888 But the truly transcendent thing here is the nigiri. The Sake — made with raw Faroe Island salmon , sushi rice and just the lightest brush of soy sauce — is the best I’ve ever had. Smoky and savory, rich yet delicate, this salmon will make you happy because these salmon live happy lives! They swim around in the cool waters of the North Sea, which gives them a firm texture.
And they’re naturally packed with omega-3 fatty acid — one of two polyunsaturated (aka “good”) fats that your body needs for functions like heart health but can’t make itself. If that’s not good enough for your cardiologist, I don’t know what is. All of this, of course, comes down to knife work.
You know you’re in good hands when the chef has a nickname like “Benny the Blade,” as Deden Bandi does. This man has been making sushi for more than 20 years, worked with chef Nobu Matsuhisa and was the private chef for Mick Jagger, JLo and Cameron Diaz. Two of those people still look 25 and the other should’ve been dead a decade ago, so whatever The Blade is putting in his food clearly has healing powers.
My dog is deeply unwell. Neither trainers nor Prozac nor pet psychics can fix him, yet I have been to Urban Dog Bar (UDB) seven times in a month. Why? Because this is the vibe: Urban Dog Bar While that image is just a rendering, it’s the only one I’ve seen that captures the feeling of being there.
If you don’t have a dog, just walk in, sign the waiver and start soaking up the serotonin. If you want to bring your furry friends, get the app , upload snaps of your dog’s shot records and test it out with a day pass for roughly $13. Urban Dog Bar The 15,500-square-foot outdoor park is outfitted with turf, picnic tables and seating areas so everyone can spread out and run free.
There’s also: A 5,000-square-foot dog-friendly indoor area with TVs, free WiFi, heat and AC Trained “rufferees” that supervise play, keep it clean and refill water Separate spaces for on-leash dogs and small dogs A full bar with local beer, canned drinks, mocktails and cocktails that are far better than I expected a “dog bar” to pull off (just keep it to the ones on the menu) The food is also better than expected, with tasty pretzel sticks, a totally decent burger and very good french fries. (We did get not-entirely-warm cheese curds on one trip, but the Scene wouldn’t even review a restaurant in its first month, so I chalk that up to “give it time.”) But the most fun part is the community they’re already building.
Nothing bonds people like talking about their dogs, and that’s even more fun when you add costume contests , pictures with Santa, adoption events and even a Real Housewives premiere watch party. Urban Dog Bar If you happen to have a friendly dog and you live near UDB, you can get a monthly membership for $45 or an annual one for $450 plus tax. It may sound steep, but judging by how many people I already recognize, it’s easy to make the most of — especially with the members-only perks like free Pilates classes and smart dog collars .
When you’re going to see bluegrass, you want to see two sets of people in the audience: other musicians and senior citizens. These are the folks who know good pickin’, and you’ll find both at the Station Inn’s Bluegrass Jams . Station Inn The musicians are typically harder to spot, except on Sundays when anyone with a bluegrass instrument can join the picking circle; however, the high quality of the players acts as its own quality control.
And that level of talent is why the first 50 chairs will always be filled with AARP card holders. They’ll be in line an hour before doors open at 7 p.m.
, and you better get to steppin’ if you think you can out-early a boomer. That’s because they’ve been around! They know this kind of stuff only happens in Nashville. The cafeteria-style pizza, the fact that kids are welcome, the memorabilia on the walls that outlines the 45 years of history — every element has its place, and everyone is welcome.
Station Inn A couple tips: If you show up after 7 p.m. and they’re sold out, stick around.
There are sure to be some (idiot) tourists who will bounce once they realize Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon don’t actually show up to every concert in Nashville, and you’ll be able to slide right in. Drink beer, preferably Bud Heavy. They may sell other things to drink now, but that doesn’t mean you should order them.
Sundays are a great time to sneak a peek at the green room where legends like Bill Monroe, Allison Kraus and Chris Stapleton all tuned up before taking the stage. Calfkiller Brewing Company If you’re traveling east or south this holiday season, stop at Calfkiller Brewing Company ’s only brick-and-mortar location . Roughly 20 miles south of Cookeville, the funky brewery’s huge front yard is especially idyllic in the fall, with tons of trees and chairs and firepits and games.
They’ve got a small, rustic, deeply cool taproom/gift shop where you can grab unique and discontinued merch along with growlers and pints. And while they don’t sell food, they’ve often got food trucks on site, or you can BYOF. Calfkiller Brewing Company But the best reasons to visit Calfkiller are: The beer is excellent, and These guys are having fun.
Started in 2001 by brothers Don and Dave Sergio, Calfkiller brews seriously good beer without taking themselves too seriously, and they don’t fall back on the crutch of just being so hoppy you can’t taste anything else. My favorite is Sergio's Ole Evil Ass Devil Bullshit Ale, which looks like a light beer but clocks in at an ABV of 6.5 percent.
Made with oats and local honey from Herel’s Half Acre Farms , there’s nothing better than enjoying a beer right where it was made, right down the road from where the ingredients come from. Plus, who doesn’t want to try beers with names like The Scorned Hooker, Cerebral Predator and A Special Kind of Evil? Calfkiller Brewing Company If you can’t make the pilgrimage, find Calfkiller in Nashville ..
