Grizzlies Guide to Nashville: Midtown

Whether you’re a country music fan or not, Music City has a lot to offer in terms of food, drink, and entertainment, as well as a little culture. And even if you’ve lived in Music City most of your life, you might get a kick out of seeing the best of your home town through the eyes of a man who has truly gotten around this city, the Nashville Grizzlies’ own Jeremy Dykes!

MIDTOWN

Tin Roof

When it’s time to get away from the tourists on LoBro, midtown is where to start. A great strip on Demonbreun St. is anchored by Tin Roof, a laid-back live music joint featuring some of Nashville’s finest musicians and some great food to munch on while you’re there. (The cheese dip is AMAZING!)

Harp & Fiddle

Holding down the other end of the Demonbreun strip is Harp & Fiddle, Nashville’s take on an Irish pub & home of the best shepherd’s pie in town.

Musica

Though well known for our music scene, Nashville is also home to great visual arts as well. In the center of the roundabout at the head of Music Row is Musica, a 38 foot tall bronze sculpture by local artist Alan LeQuire. Occasionally the nine nude figures that make up the sculpture will find themselves clothed in kilts (Harp & Fiddle is right across the street) or in hockey jerseys celebrating our Predators.

Parthenon

Across West End Ave. from Vanderbilt sits one of the gems of Nashville, Centennial Park.  The heart of Centennial Park is the Parthenon, the only full-scale replica of the ancient temple in Athens.  (We like to say ours is better because it’s not falling apart.) First built as part of Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition in 1897, the Parthenon is a nod to our nickname of the ‘Athens of the South’ due to the large number of colleges & universities in the area.

Hog Heaven

On the edge of Centennial Park, in a kinda seedy looking cinderblock building, sits Hog Heaven BBQ, another of Nashville’s best spots for slow-cooked goodness. Get whatever meat floats your boat, just make sure to cover it in their ‘Kickin Chicken’ white sauce.