Visitors to the beautiful city of Nashville will find an array of GLBT owned and friendly businesses catering to the community not only during the Pride celebration but year round as well.
For overnight accommodations, you’ll probably want to check out the host hotel for Nashville Pride - the Radisson Hotel Nashville Airport, 1112 Airport Center Drive. This upscale hotel is located one mile from Nashville International Airport. Pride Festival guests of the hotel will enjoy convenient access to downtown Nashville and a shuttle to and from the festival. Call (615) 889-9090 for more information.
You might also consider the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Ave (615) 320-1700, just down the street from Centennial Park. It is also conveniently located near some fine eateries and bars.
If dancing to the latest mixes and sweating with the hottest bodies is your style, then you’ve got to check out PLAY, 1519 Church Street. Also available in the gay district for drinking and dancing are Blue Gene's and Blu Bar & Nightclub, 1713 Church Street. All locations are great places to dance, socialize and usher in the early morning hours.
If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat, go where the locals go - Red Restaurant. Red offers a succulent variety of dining choices from steak to pasta. Soups, salads and sandwiches are also favorite items on their menu. Prices range from $8-$20 per plate with a full bar for drinks. Red Restaurant can be found at 1517-A Church Street. And DO NOT miss their Sunday morning brunch buffet with made-to-order omelet bar and specials on mimosas and bloody marys! It’s the perfect way to recover from your Saturday night out.
If casual drinks are on your agenda at some point during your visit, well you’re in luck. Tribe is a music video bar and it is directly connected to Red Restaurant. So you can drop in for a bite, then walk over and pull up a bar stool and enjoy the latest dance hits while relaxing in their casual and hip atmosphere.
These are just a few of Nashville's many welcoming and supportive GLBT bars, clubs and restaurants. Check out O&AN's community resource section online for a full listing of places to see and be seen.
If shopping is on your “To-Do” list, well you’ve come to the right place. Nashville is chock full of trendy and hip shopping locals. Stop in at Joe at 1513 Church St., Smack Clothing at 2201 Elliston Place, or Posh Boutique in “The Village” at 1813 21st Ave South.
And no visit to Music City would be complete without a stop at Nashville's spacious GLBT book store Outloud! Books and Gifts, 1703 Church street. Check out their Website www.outloudonline.com before you stop to shop.
Don’t forget to check out many of Nashville’s not-so-gay attractions while you are here as well. If you are a country music fan, don’t miss the mother church of country The Ryman Auditorium, located at 116 Fifth Avenue North, or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at 222 Fifth Avenue South. Both will get you in touch with your country roots. Oh, and be sure to take a stroll through the Opryland Hotel’s vast indoor gardens and conservatory, it can be very romantic after dark!
If you find yourself in the mood for some art and culture, The Frist Center for the Visual Arts will be right up your alley. Located at 919 Broadway, The Frist boasts approximately 24,000 square feet of gallery space, dedicated to presenting the finest visual art from local, state and regional artists, as well as major U.S. and International exhibitions. It's truly a must-see while in town.
There is so much more to see and do while visiting Nashville, these are just the highlights. Part of the fun of Pride, or any trip to Nashville, is getting out and exploring the beautiful city and finding your own hot spots.
Good luck, good times and happy Pride!