Guests can browse the Little Free Library box next to the wind telephone. | Photo by NASHtoday
If you’ve found yourself wishing you had one more opportunity to speak to a late family member or friend, one East Nashville homeowner is posing a solution — symbolically speaking, of course.
This past weekend, Allison Young installed a “wind telephone” in her front yard (1425 Rosebank Ave.) for the Middle Tennessee community. The booth is modeled after a practice that’s been in Japan for several years.
How it works
The wooden telephone booth, designed with help from Young’s father in memory of her grandparents, allows visitors to hold a one-way conversation with the dead via a disconnected rotary phone. It’s an avenue meant to help grieve and process death with the idea that “messages are delivered on the wind.”
Need to know
Visitors are welcome to park in Young’s driveway and use the phone for as long and as many times as needed. A Little Free Library box to the right of the booth contains grief and bereavement books, as well as information about grief support groups from Alive Hospice. Anyone who is interested in supporting the project is encouraged to donate tissues and cleaning supplies. An Amazon wish list has also been created with books about navigating death.
Flogging Molly | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 7:30 | Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave. N. | $39+ | The band will be joined by special guests Anti-Flag and Skinny Lister.
Thursday, Feb. 9
Andrea Bocelli | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 8 p.m. | Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway | $102+ | Andrea Bocelli will perform alongside the Nashville Symphony for this Valentine’s-themed performance.
Dancing with the Stars: Live! 2023 | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 8 p.m. | Opry House, 2804 Opryland Dr. | $59.50+ | See this new production featuring your favorite “Dancing with the Stars” pros, plus special guest stars.
Friday, Feb. 10
Our State Natural Areas Tour | Friday, Feb. 10 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Beaman Park Nature Center, 5911 Old Hickory Blvd., Ashland City | Free | Join State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath for a photo tour and conversation about Tennessee natural areas.
Attitude: Anthology | Friday, Feb. 10-Sunday, Feb. 12 | Times vary | TPAC, James K. Polk Theater, 505 Deaderick St. | $35+ | This production will blend music, spoken word, and dance to tell stories of Music City’s past.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Cupid’s Cocktails Mixology Workshop | Saturday, Feb. 11 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, 4580 Rachels Ln. | $70+ | Learn the art of mixology from J. Jackson Mobile Mixologist, including the flavor wheel and balancing your own cocktail creations, while crafting three drinks.
David Cook | Saturday, Feb. 11 | 8 p.m. | The Franklin Theatre, 419 Main St., Franklin | $43+ | The artist will perform a special acoustic duo with a string quartet.
Sunday, Feb. 12
P1HARMONY | Sunday, Feb. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Opry House, 2804 Opryland Dr. | $60+ | Watch the K-pop group take the Grand Ole Opry stage.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Pandora, a jewelry company known for its customizable charm bracelets, rings, and earrings, will open up shop in Opry Mills this spring. 💍
Open
You can now get your caffeine fix at a third Elegy Coffee location. The brand opened in downtown’s One Nashville — 150 4th Ave. N. The shop is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and food is forthcoming. Pro tip: Elegy is one of 25 shops participating in this year’s Conversation Hearts Crawl.
Biz
Broadway honky tonks and live music destinations have formed the Broadway Entertainment Association. The alliance includes 14 businesses, including Ryman Auditorium and Ole Red, and is designed to market business and be Lower Broadway’s voice to political figures. (The Tennessean)
Eat
New York-based chicken wing chain Atomic Wings plans to open its first Tennessee location in Nashville. Patrons can expect wings, sandwiches, salads, and starters. No opening date or an exact location has been announced yet. 🍗 (Nashville Business Journal)
Award
We’re wild about this feat. The Nashville Zoo is one of 20 zoos nominated for USA Today’s “10Best.” Nashvillians can vote once a day until voting ends on Monday, March 6. Ten zoos will be recognized on Friday, March 17. Cast your vote now.
Number
$2.75 million — the grant In-N-Out Burger will receive from the state for its Tennessee expansion, contract pending. In case you missed it, the burger chain plans to open by 2026, investing $125.5 million in area restaurants and a Franklin-based eastern territory office. (Nashville Business Journal)
Read
Yet another reason to sign up for a free Nashville Public Library card. NPL launched its “Library of Things,” a collection of items you can check out for up to three weeks. Think: instruments, cooking items, tools, games, workout equipment, and more. Browse each category. 🧰
Sports
The Nashville Predators will recognize Black History Month at February home games — which began last night with a performance from TSU Aristocrat of Bands and warmup jerseys designed by TSU professor Eric Jackson. Six organizations will be recognized during this month’s games. (WTVF)
The Tennessee Titans made several additions and changes to the coaching staff yesterday. This included promoting Tim Kelly to offensive coordinator to replace Todd Downing, who was fired in January. The team made four new hires and four coaches will take on new responsibilities. 🏈
Asked
This is getting hard to narrow down. If you could pick just three or four of your favorite Instagram-worthy murals in East Nashville, which ones would they be? Let us know.
Seasonal
Bring the paw-ty to work. The Williamson County Animal Center will offer “cuddlegrams” again this Valentine’s Day. For $150, a staff member will deliver one of six dachshund mixes to Brentwood and Franklin offices for puppy kisses and selfies. Sign-up now. 🐾
Wellness
Not feeling like yourself lately?Talkspace makes getting help easy and convenient. With live chat, video, and audio sessions, starting at $69/week, it’s affordable for everyone to fit therapy into their lifestyle, with or without insurance. Start feeling better today with Talkspace.*
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The announcement comes after much renovation news surrounding The Factory at Franklin. | Rendering provided
Let’s roll back the curtain. Studio Tenn, a professional theater company in Franklin, announced it will call The Factory at Franklin its permanent home.
The multimillion-dollar theater will be named Turner Theater in honor of philanthropist Cal Turner’s donation to the arts program. A tentative opening is set for August before the start of the 2023-2024 season — which will also mark the first time in the organization’s history that all of a season’s performances debut in one location.
What to expect
📍 Location
In and around the area where the Jamison Theater was previously, next to the new Grand Hall and Mojo’s Tacos.
🎭 Amenities
A lobby named in honor of philanthropists Calvin and Marilyn LeHew
Box office, dressings rooms, spacious aisles, gathering areas, and a balcony
Seating for 329 patrons
Permanent lighting and professional-grade sound and acoustics
💰 Funding
The “Make.Believe.” capital campaign aims to raise $3.5 million for construction and management of the theater
Editor’s pick: Gift giving rounds out the bottom of my love languages, so I personally like to take the stress out of risky presents by opting for practical items that my friends already use and love. Our merchandise shop, Six & Main, just added a new Nashville brand called a|dash to the site. They are a wellness company that delivers a daily dash of adaptogens through organic cold brew coffee. Just saying, you can’t go wrong with the gift of caffeine. Check them out here. ☕
Editorial:Dylan Aycock, Skylar Webb, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.
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