Mattie Bush, owner of Amelia’s Flowers. | Photo via Amelia’s Flowers
Picking out a bouquet from Amelia’s Flowers has been part of the Nashville experience since 2016. Since then, the florist has flourished into a fleet of three trucks, three local flower shops, and even expanded to Raleigh, NC (hey, RALtoday).
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we caught up with owner Mattie Bush to dive into the world of floral arrangements and what goes into planning for the busiest day of the year in the flower business.
What is your approach to Valentine’s arrangements?
Our online collection offers a twist of the classics. We do an assorted arrangement and then a bouquet that has multiple size options with pinks, reds, pastels, and more neutrals. We don’t do the classic dozen red roses, just because it’s a little too traditional for us. When we mix them all together, it really caters to everyone’s taste. In the stores, we’ll have all the classics … the red roses, our classic Quicksand [roses], which is a blush pink, and a few more reds than normal.
What tips do you have for Valentine’s Day flower shoppers, whether they plan ahead or wait until the day or week of?
The best prep is doing delivery because you can order it, not worry about it, and we deliver it to the door. If you want something that’s different or unique to someone specifically, I would say just come into the shops because we’ll be building bouquets on the spot ... I would event suggest coming the day before, or even two days before, because we’ll have Valentine’s flowers all week.
Lunar New Year with the Nashville Symphony | Wednesday, Feb. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 1 Symphony Pl. | $16+ | In addition to the concert, the public spaces will be filled with craft tables, traditional calligraphy demonstrations, a market curated by API Middle Tennessee, and more.
Dine Nashville: The Music City Way | Wednesday, Feb. 7-Sunday, March 3 | Locations vary | Cost of purchase | Experience Nashville’s diverse food scene through collaborative chef experiences, cocktail specials, Restaurant Week, and deals and discounts.*
Thursday, Feb. 8
Gallery Talk: Carving a New Tradition | Thursday, Feb. 8 | 6:30-7 p.m. | Frist Art Museum, 919 Broadway | Cost of admission | This gallery talk explores “Carving a New Tradition: The Art of LaToya M. Hobbs,” where you’ll learn about the artist and deep dive into her work.
The Twisted Wool Lounge - Happy Hour | Thursday, Feb. 8-Friday, Dec. 5 | Times vary | The Twisted Wool, 223 Rep. John Lewis Way N. | Cost of purchase | A new Happy Hour experience awaits at the Twisted Wool Lounge, Thursdays + Fridays, 5-7 p.m. Enjoy tasty small bites, $5 well, beer and wine, and a discounted specialty cocktail menu.*
Friday, Feb. 9
“Butterfly in the Sky” | Friday, Feb. 9 | 7-9 p.m. | Global Education Center, 4822 Charlotte Ave. #3 | Free+ | The film tells the story of the beloved PBS series “Reading Rainbow” and its host LeVar Burton.
Saturday, Feb. 10
Black History In Music: Work, Worship, and Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 1-4 p.m. | Jefferson Street Sound Museum, 2004 Jefferson St. | Join the museum on Saturdays in February to see this art exhibit honoring the businesses that made Historic Jefferson Street a musical haven.
Galentine’s Day Charcuterie Workshop | Saturday, Feb. 10 | Times vary | The Mall at Green Hills, 2126 Abbott Martin Rd. | $95 | Learn how to build a charcuterie board at this hands-on workshop, plus enjoy sugar cookies, cocktails, and festive backdrops.
Sunday, Feb. 11
I Love You a Brunch | Sunday, Feb. 11 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Loveless Barn, 8400 Hwy. 100 | $45 | Tickets include a full brunch buffet, including red velvet pancakes and a biscuit station — 10% of proceeds benefit the Friends of MACC.
The Dessert Wheel features nine exquisite pastries and desserts — plus a take-away dessert box for later. | Photo provided by JW Marriott Nashville
How do you set the stage for a romantic Valentine’s evening? You head to The Sweet Spot, a pop-up dessert parlor nestled in JW Marriott Nashville’s sophisticated cocktail lounge, The Duke.
Complimented by a 10-foot chandelier, elegant decor, and a stately fireplace, The Sweet Spot is specially opened from Friday, Feb. 9-Saturday, Feb. 17, and features:
An exclusive nine-dessert Dessert Wheel, created by renowned Executive Pastry Chef Daniel Mangione
Curated cocktail menu with expert pairing recommendations
Work is expected to begin later this year on a 22-story mixed-use tower near the Music Row Roundabout — 118 16th Ave. S. The concept plans approved this week note the building will offer 333 units and ~10,000 sqft of retail. (Nashville Post)
Opening
Local pop-up Talk Nice is opening a permanent location in East Nashville — 730 Mcferrin Ave. Shop vintage T-shirts, sweaters, and other items during the soft opening, which begins Wednesday, Feb. 14.
Biz
It appears a new Cook Out location is in the works. The fast food chain known for its burgers, shakes, and tray combos is planning a South Nashville outpost — 10 Harding Mall Dr. — according to plans submitted to Metro. The site was last home to Fazoli’s.
Eat
Otaku Ramen opens at The Factory at Franklin on Saturday, Feb. 10. The new location will offer its classic ramen menu, snacks like hot chicken buns, and a new drink menu that includes frozen drinks and boba, among other sips.
Announced
Ryman Auditorium announced new shows yesterday, including Portugal. The Man (May 3), The Marshall Tucker Band (May 8), The Decemberists (May 24), Dave Barnes (July 10), and The Beach Boys (Sept. 23). Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Concert
If you’ve got a need for more Creed — good news. Not only is the rock band playing Ascend Amphitheater on Tuesday, Aug. 13, they will circle back to Bridgestone Arena on Friday, Nov. 8 due to “overwhelming demand.” Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Sports
The future of Titans football is bright, and you can be there for every memorable moment. Join Coach Callahan and the team at the brand-new Nissan Stadium by securing your place on the official waitlist. Learn about the three waitlist options + see more of the jaw-dropping stadium this way.*
Finance
Get trusted financial advice with Money Pickle, the service that connects you directly with experienced financial advisors to help with your investment + retirement planning needs (all through a complimentary video meeting). Take control of your financial future in 2024 by scheduling a free consultation.*
Drop off items at the Entry Village — no admission required. | Photo via Nashville Zoo
The Titans may not be playing in the 2024 Super Bowl, but there’s still a way to show some team spirit for our community.
This year, the Nashville Zoo partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to host a Souper Bowl Food Drive leading up to the big game. Here’s how it works:
Drop off donations on Friday, Feb. 9 + Saturday, Feb.10 (9 a.m.- 4 p.m.) in the Entry Village.
In exchange, visitors who donate four or more eligible items will receive complimentary admission tickets — max two per household and redeemable through Tuesday, April 30.
All donations must be in a sealed container and no less than one month from the expiration date.
Did you know? The 2023 Souper Bowl Food Drive had 5,802 pounds of food donated and provided 4,835 meals throughout the Middle Tennessee community.
I love a good band tee, and this “Famous Albums Recorded in Nashville” shirt from Music Valley Archive is the one of my dreams. Y’all know I love Bob Dylan, but if I could choose which album to be a fly on the wall in the recording studio, I’m going with Leonard Cohen’s “Songs From a Room.” Learn more about his connection to the area in this WPLN story.
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