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fresh roasted peanuts, caramel, marshmallow and milk chocolate. Satisfying sweet tooths since 1912, the Goo Goo is still made right in Nashville at the Standard Candy Company,
SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTER
No wonder when I returned to my Opryland room that night, I kept hearing Elvis singing in my ear. Then I awoke the next morning to the sound of Vince Gill. Instead of a standard wake-up call, the Opryland uses recorded voices of country singers to awaken guests with a cheery good morning call.
From country music to classical, I headed to Nashville's new musical masterpiece - the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Opened in 2006, the 1,844-seat center is home to the Nashville Symphony Orchestra as well as a venue for other music and events. Taking up a whole city block in downtown Nashville, the Schermerhorn design was inspired by some of the world's great concert halls. Besides the excellent acoustics, one design aspect I really enjoyed was the 30
RYMAN AUDITORIUM First up on my agenda this sunny Nashville morning was to visit the hallowed halls of the historic Ryman Auditorium, regarded as the "Mother Church of Country Music." A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman was home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. One of the city's most popular concert venues, the Ryman is renowned for its exceptional acoustics and has hosted musicians from all genres. The Ryman also has exhibits and information on the history of the building and country music, including memorabilia and photographs of such Opry stars as Kitty Wells, Hank Snow and Ernest Tubb. Life size bronze statues of Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff greet visitors in the lobby. For some great recordings and T-shirts, I wandered through the gift shop and left with a nice shopping bag filled with music to enjoy at home. Many Nashville gift shops also carry a southern delicacy known as the Goo Goo candy bar. Said to be the first combination candy bar, the Goo Goo is a gooey recipe of
Canadian World Traveller Summer 2012
soundproof windows above the hall. The windows make the Schermerhorn one of the only major concert halls in North America with natural light. It is such a pleasure to sit in one of the comfortable concert seats and hear the talented symphony with soft twilight spreading over the hall.
HONKY TONK ROW After a leisurely dinner at the top-notch Capitol Grille at the historic Hermitage Hotel, I was ready for an evening at Nashville's world famous honky tonks. First, a few words to savor that dining experience at the Capitol Grille. It is pure luxury - think truffles, foie gras, caviar and lobster. The emphasis is on creative Southern cuisine. Chef Tyler Brown uses the freshest and best available local products in what was once a private men's club. The sweet onion bisque with chives, bacon and a brie sandwich covered with the creamy soup was almost a meal in itself. The grilled Tennessee Black Angus beef tenderloin was served with roasted potatoes and carrots but I also got a taste of a friend's truffled macaroni and cheese.
Sure not like the mac and cheese I make from a box at home. Nashville has a treasure of restaurants and I tried several on my visit - Fish & Co. with its tasty seafood menu, Savarino Cucina for homemade breads, pastas and pastries, Jack's Bar-B-Que for authentic hickory-flavored barbecue, the hip Merchants with scrumptious beef short ribs, Cabana for unforgettable Tennessee sliders (mini sweet potato biscuits with Smoky Mountain country ham), and so many more delightful dining spots. Fortified for a wonderful evening of music, I walked to some of the legendary downtown honky tonks, including Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Robert's Western Wear and Legends Corner to see where country music legends got their start. You can't miss Tootsie's. It's the pale purple club where songwriters like Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson gathered to drink and write. Much of the lounge's history is reflected in the photos on the walls. There isn't a cover charge for Tootsie's live entertainment day and night. Take a peek out the back door. An alley leads to the side door of the Ryman Auditorium. Many stars have been known to come out that Ryman door and into Tootsie's for some southern comfort before and after they played the Ryman. To answer my question, it is easy to see why Nashville is known as Music City. I'm sure my father would feel right at home if he could see the city today and hear the talents of long ago legends as well as the stars of tomorrow. For more info on Nashville. Tennessee: Visit Nashville Tourism at www.visitmusiccity.com