The Magic City is the most recognized nickname for Birmingham. | Photo by Chris Granger via the Alabama Tourism Department
Still contemplating a summer road trip? If you want to squeeze in a quick getaway before the season slips by, don’t forget we have guides to several destinations within driving distance that make planning easy:
Music City Hot Chicken Festival | 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | East Park | Free+ | Watch the fire truck parade, sample hot chicken from local vendors, and catch the amateur cooking competition.
Rooftop Fireworks Viewings | Times vary | Locations vary | Cost varies | Depending on the rooftop, guests may have access to live music, food stations, and prime views of Nashville’s fireworks show.
Saturday, July 5
“The Fast and the Furious” | Saturday, July 5 | Times vary | Belcourt Theatre | $9+ | Start your engines — ahem, grab some popcorn — for the high-speed film that launched the action franchise.
All You Need is Love Concert | 6-9 p.m. | Cheekwood Estate | $13 | Find a spot on the lawn and sing along to Beatles classics with Forever Abbey Road.
Elvis Costello & The Imposters | 8 p.m. | Ryman Auditorium | $87+ | The rock ‘n’ roller and his band will be joined by special guest Charlie Sexton.
Sunday, July 6
Star Wars Under the Stars | 8 p.m. | Ascend Amphitheater | $32+ | Immerse yourself in music from a galaxy far, far away as the Nashville Symphony performs selections from the “Star Wars” saga.
Independence Day. America has been celebrating this day since the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on July 4, 1776. Round up the kids, friends, or just yourself and head to one of these local events.
Outdoors
Going camping soon? Hipcamp allows you to browse campsites by location, date, and even party size. It looks like Greeter Falls Campground has glamping and tiny home availability this weekend.
Mailbag
When you subscribed to NASHtoday, you may have received an email asking for your favorite nearby restaurant — and yes, we’ve been reading every response. Reader Katie B. said this: “My favorite local restaurant is Calypso Cafe! Love that black bean salad.” We’ll have that and a fruit tea, too.
Film
“Jaws,” often credited as the original summer blockbuster, is now 50 years old. Steven Spielberg’s thriller debuted on June 20, 1975, but it seems a comeback is lurking. The film will return to local theaters this summer starting Aug. 28. (USA TODAY)
Shop
Pre-coffee Costco run? Executive members now have that option, thanks to the supermarket’s extended hours that went into effect earlier this week. Executive members can now access Brentwood, West Nashville, and other area locations at 9 a.m. daily. (Axios)
Pets
If you’re looking to add a dog to the family, a Löwchen will cost you a pretty penny. The little lion dogs were named the most expensive breed, sometimes costing $10,000. A more affordable option would be to find your furever friend at a local shelter like NHA and MACC. (Mental Floss)
The Buy
Coco & Eve’s award-winning hair mask. It’s formulated with clean ingredients like coconut, fig, and shea butter to provide instant frizz reduction and maximum shine.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Here’s something cheesy to look forward to. The Mac Shack is hosting its annual National Mac and Cheese Day celebration on Monday, July 14 at Monday Night Preservation Co. Enjoy specialty mac and cheese and a ‘90s cover band from 5 to 9 p.m.