Love Is In The Air
Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it!
Picasso. Figures At The Frist Art Museum
What was the one class, high school or college, that shaped you as a person?
For me, that class was art history.
Sunday Brunch At The Patterson House
New year, new me, same appetite! Am I right? While a new year can signify a fresh start for many, I’m over here planning out the most important meal of the weekend, brunch!
The Best Bites Of 2020
When I sat down to plan several of my blog posts for the year, the Best Bites of 2020 was one that I looked forward to writing. This stroll down memory lane allows me to relive some of my favorite and not so favorite dining experiences, all while realizing I’ve consumed a million + calories in the past 365 days. C'est la vie!
My Music City Hit List
As a Nashville native and a food and wine enthusiast, I’m always in pursuit of legendary restaurants and amazing food. If my Instagram and bathroom scale are to be believed, the past few years have been extraordinary.
Weekend Wandering: Mistletoe Farm Alpacas
2020 will be the first year since I’ve entered the workforce where I have an excess of vacation. I know, first world problems, but it’s one that I have yet to encounter during my career. Usually, I am over here adding days to long holiday weekends just to squeeze in one more trip, while many of my coworkers feel guilty about leaving or simply don’t want to deal with the piles of work they will come back to. Regardless of the situation, I’m sure we can all relate to one of these.
Q & A With Courtney
Hi Everyone!
Over the past several months, I’ve noticed a lot of new faces around here. I wanted to take a moment to say welcome and thank you for reading. It’s hard to believe that Blonde Voyage Nashville has been around for four years. FOUR YEARS! I still can’t believe it.
Weekend Wandering: Cummins Falls and Cookeville
Over the past few years, I’ve spent so much time exploring other places that I forgot how beautiful Tennessee truly is. With so many charming towns and breathtaking landscapes, it’s easy to see why people want to visit. A few weeks ago, I had a chance to hike Cummins Falls State Park and explore Cookeville, Tennessee.
The Catbird Seat: The Fifth Iteration
Even though I have found a sense of contentment in my hometown, I miss traveling terribly. There’s something so exhilarating about tasting new food and trying new wines. You can learn more about culture and heritage in one meal than you often can reading a book or wandering through a local museum.
Weekend Wandering: Evins Mill
Until this pandemic is officially behind us, I plan on making the most of this situation or least distracting myself from it. I can’t say that I’m the most outdoorsy person. Call me cliche or high-maintenance for that matter, but camping for days on end without wi-fi, air conditioning or running water is not something I’m excited about.
Alebrije X Bastion
Is it possible to feel normal when nothing is normal?
Let’s face it, we are six months into this pandemic, and living our best life looks and feels drastically different. Pre-COVID-19, all I needed were my keys, cellphone, and the occasional handbag. Now, I am masking up and making sure that I have an arsenal of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and gloves readily available. Hugs and high-fives have been replaced by a friendly social distanced nod and travel seems to be a distant memory as COVID-19 cases continue to spike and more borders close.
Howdy, Y'all! Welcome To The Graduate Nashville!
If someone mentioned the idea of a staycation to me a year ago, I would have quickly dismissed that notion as fast as they recommended it. But, my how times have changed. Like many of you, I’ve been working from home since March. While I adore my home, it’s safe to say I’ve yet to spend this many consecutive days within these walls since I’ve moved in. In desperate need of a change of scenery, and no, I don’t mean moving from room to room, I decided to plan a little staycation at the Graduate Nashville.
Size Matters At Daddy's Dogs
From Coney Island to your favorite baseball stadium or backyard barbecue, hot dogs are indisputably one of the most relished foods in all of American cuisine and no summer gathering is complete without them. In fact, some might argue that they are a quintessential piece of Americana. With hot dog season officially upon us, Nashvillians are celebrating this momentous occasion at gourmet hot dog mainstay, Daddy’s Dogs.
Weekend Wandering: Pinewood Kitchen and Mercantile
Life in Nashville as I once knew it revolved around restaurant experiences, quality time with family and friends, live music and travel, lots of travel. Riddled with a sense of bewilderment, I’m slowly adjusting to what many hate to call the “ new normal” where masks are the newest fashion statement, catch up sessions occur via FaceTime, and travel is almost nonexistent.
Weekend Wandering: Arrington Vineyards
If you know me or have been following Blonde Voyage Nashville for any amount of time, it’s no secret that I LOVE wine. Aside from my weekly wine reviews (TJ Tuesdays), I have total geek-out moments when I open my World Atlas of Wine and learn about a new wine-producing region or a grape varietal that I am unfamiliar with. Given my passion for wine, I travel to Napa Valley and surrounding areas at least once or twice a year to explore new vineyards and revisit some old favorites. Even though the airlines are taking the utmost precautions, I’m just not ready to fly.
Weekend Wandering: Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
We are living in unprecedented times. If I were to describe the mood of most Americans, words like tense, apprehensive, and anxious come to mind. Many of us have been quarantining in our homes for what feels like an eternity, separated from loved ones, family, and friends. Now that city restrictions are lifting, (Nashville continues to remain in Phase 2 during the time of this post), I am more than eager to get out of the house.
Brightside Bakeshop: Baking Days Brighter For Nashvillians
2020, I’d like a do-over.
To say it’s been a hell of a year, is the understatement of the century, especially for those of us who live in Nashville. First, deadly tornadoes swept through Nashville in early March causing severe devastation in East Nashville, Germantown, and other surrounding areas.
How To Host An Effortless Friendsgiving
‘Tis the season for all things family as the holiday season is officially upon us. While many of us have time-honored Thanksgiving traditions like watching the Macy’s Day Parade and making our great-grandmother’s cornbread dressing, others may be a little apprehensive about these so-called family gatherings. Navigating dinner conversation while avoiding topics like politics, religion and your current dating situation can be tricky. Let’s face it, people are often better at passing judgment than the potatoes sometimes, am I right?
The Best Booze And Bites of Music City Food And Wine Festival 2019
Major road closures, football matchups, and multi-stage music festivals did not hinder locals and tourists alike from attending the seventh annual Music City Food and Wine Festival. After all, If there’s one thing Nashvillians love, it’s good food and booze.
An Insider's Guide To Surviving Music City Food + Wine Festival 2019
Back for its seventh year, The Music City Food and Wine Festival returns to Bicentennial Park on September 20-22, 2019. Without question, this is one of my favorite Nashville events as it shines a spotlight on the food and beverage scene in Music City. After all, there’s much more to Nashville than honky-tonks, hot chicken and hockey! This weekend-long festival is filled with culinary demonstrations, seminars, and panels along with tasting tents highlighting food, wine, spirits and beer from Music City and beyond.
Prague is one of those cities that just gets you—like an old friend who knows exactly when you need a beer, a perfectly crafted cocktail, or a cozy corner to sip in style.