A love letter to Starwood Amphitheatre. | Photo via Starwood Amphitheatre Memories
On this date 18 years ago, you might have been riding a high from seeing Aerosmith and Mötley Crüe live at Starwood Amphitheatre on Oct. 19, 2006. Little did you know, that would be the last performance to grace the stage.
Middle Tennessee’s $10 million outdoor music venue broke ground in Antioch on Nov. 11, 1985. By June 1986, it would be ready to host “One for the Sun,” the site’s first music event.
The fundraiser by WKDF took place on the first day of summer (June 21, 1986) and featured the likes of Blue Oyster Cult, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Lone Justice. Fun fact: Tickets cost $14.50 for reserved seating or $12.50 for general lawn admission.
Budweiser ‘95 Concert Series featuring the Eagles + 2005 Tom Petty concert poster | Image via Starwood Amphitheatre Memories
Setting the stage
The 65-acre amphitheatre was the brainchild of former Country Music Association CEO Steve Moore who wanted to attract major music events to Nashville. The venue could hold 17,000+ people and featured a main stage, covered pavilion, and large grassy area for general admission seating. It even included a small stage at the gate for local bands to greet guests as they entered.
Some of the earliest performers included Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, Duran Duran, and Bob Dylan. Near its end, the stage hosted John Mayer, Goo Goo Dolls, and Coldplay.
Your memory of the venue might be as fuzzy as this aerial, but here’s a look at Starwood’s layout. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Closing the curtain
In 2007, owner Live Nation abruptly announced that the remainder of that year’s season was canceled + the venue would be closing permanently in anticipation of a potential buyer hoping to develop a mixed-use retail and residential development called Starwood Commons. (Spoiler alert: The sale fell through.)
Demolition began in the fall of that same year, leaving the once crowded concert hub in ruins for years.
Verna’s East Nashville Takeover | Monday, Oct. 21 | 5-10 p.m. | Chopper Tiki | Cost of purchase | The forthcoming bar teams up with Chopper, The Fox, Maiz de la Vida, and S.S. Gai for drinks and food collabs.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Nashville Predators vs. Boston Bruins | Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 7:45 p.m. | Bridgestone Arena | $90+ | Get loud and cheer on the Preds at the sixth game of the regular season.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
30 Wild & Spooktacular Years | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 5 p.m. | Rainforest Cafe | $20+ | Expect a special three-course menu, kids buffet, games, a Cha! Cha! meet and greet, raffles, and more.
Opry Goes Pink | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 7 p.m. | Grand Ole Opry House | $59+ | The star-studded show features performances by Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde, Tanya Tucker, and more.
Thursday, Oct. 24
The Price is Right Live | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | TPAC’s Jackson Hall | $42+ | The interactive stage show gives guests the chance to hear the famous “come on down” tagline and the opportunity to win prizes by playing the classic games.
Simmer: Food and Urban Ag in Nashville | Friday, Oct. 25 | 6-8:30 p.m. | The Nashville Food Project | $105 | The Nashville Food Project teams up with S.S. Gai to prepare a four-course meal made with local produce.
Vanderbilt football anchored down a No. 25 placement in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after Week 8. The team, which also ranked No. 25 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, defeated Ball State 24-14 on Saturday. Vanderbilt’s last appearance was at No. 24 in the final 2013 rankings.
Closing
Bitter-sweet news. Gracie’s Milkshake Bar will close its L&L Market shop on Friday, Oct. 25 after five years serving the Nashville community. The biz shared it will hit the road with more recipes and events across cities. Follow Gracie’s on Instagram to stay up to date with what’s to come.
Watch
Remember Fountain Square at MetroCenter? The waterfront space is boasting a new tenant. Noble’s opened its second Nashville location this month, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Take a look at the dog-friendly patio offering views of the Titans’ practice facility.
Concert
Following the release of Ringo Starr’s first full-length album in six years, the former Beatles drummer will take the stage for two nights of performances at Ryman Auditorium — Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Wednesday, Jan. 15. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 25.
Sports
The Titans enter Week 8 with a 1-5 record after Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The team started strong with points on the board under the leadership of quarterback Mason Rudolph, but fell behind in the second half. The Titans will take on the Lions in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Try This
Temperatures are dropping, but you can warm up to The Hot Chocolate Affair at Mason’s Restaurant on Friday, Nov. 1. Head to Loews Nashville Hotel for a twist to afternoon tea service with your choice of hot cocoa and toppings + three tiers of sweet treats. Book your reservation.
Tech
Scammers’ tactics are increasingly sophisticated — OmniWatch offers a groundbreaking layer of identity protection (think: 24/7 monitoring, full-scale identity restoration, and up to $25,000 in scam insurance).*
Category
Seasonal
Say it ain’t snow
All things merry and brrr-ight. | Photo by Digital Love
Holiday pop-ups are rising from the grave before we reach Halloween. The date of Nashville’s first winter-themed activation is here, and you can expect Camp Bobby’s annual return on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The vintage-inspired wonderland 10 stories up takes over Bobby Hotel’s rooftop with private igloo rentals, a mess hall with a live DJ, firepits + campfire bites and libations through Sunday, Feb. 16.
Here are a few FAQs:
Igloos (1-6 people) can be reserved for 90 minutes with a $250 food and beverage minimum.
The vintage cruiser (up to 18 people) costs $50 to reserve for two hours and requires a $500 minimum.
Editor’s picks: Dutch oven brisket chili nachos, fried ice cream, and Up to Snow Good (reposado, grapefruit, orgeat, lemon, and Angostura) — browse the menu before booking.
Plus, don’t miss two specialty shots and three zero-proof options.
The Buy
The Buy
A pair of thermal fleece lined leggings. Made with an elastic waistband and moisture-wicking fabric, they’re perfect for both casual and active wear.
Want to try a Pause Studio class before its Green Hills opening? The forthcoming health and wellness spa is hosting a community flow on Saturday, Oct. 26 at oneC1TY, followed by cold plunges and compression therapy. It’s free, just RSVP.
