The Mall at Green Hills Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Gaylord Opryland
Hermitage Hotel
Nashville Getaway
T
he best things in life aren’t necessarily the things that you can buy, but the things you can experience. We know how busy you are during the holiday season, but as the social calendar starts to wind down, we hope you have the opportunity to take advantage of the lighter schedule and spend time with your loved ones. This year, consider gifting your significant other or your best friend with a weekend getaway to Nashville. Bonus? You get to go, too, so this is truly a gift that keeps on giving!
The Romantic Getaway Reserve a suite at Tennessee’s only Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond hotel, the historic Hermitage Hotel. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the hotel boasts spacious, luxurious rooms and one of the city’s finest restaurants, The Capitol Grille, where chef Tyler Brown utilizes fresh ingredients from The Farm at Glen Leven. During the day, visit Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, where each weekend offers holiday concerts in the drawing room at the Cheekwood mansion, elegant afternoon teas, and some of the most stunning Christmas trees you’ll ever see, decorated by the area’s most talented designers. It’s still usually warm enough to wander the grounds at Cheekwood in the winter, but if you’re chilly and need to take refuge in the mansion, be sure to visit the intriguing More Love exhibit, which runs until early January. Another fun holiday attraction for lovers young and the young at heart is A Country Christmas at Opryland. The region’s largest resort and convention center experiences a breathtaking transformation every holiday season, dressed up with more than two million twinkling lights and acres of larger-than-life decorations. Take a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride before watching the main event, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes in the Grand Ole Opry House. For dinner, you can’t top The Catbird Seat, where you’ll have an intimate yet adventurous dining experience in which chef Erik Anderson prepares your meal as you watch. If you can’t get a reservation at Catbird Seat, try the The Patterson House, located just below Catbird Seat, for delightful fare and some of the best cocktails in
The Catbird Seat
town. Located in Midtown, both offer a unique, elegant culinary experience and are true gems of the city. Theater buffs will enjoy an All-American holiday tradition, a production of the hilarious yet poignant A Christmas Story by the exceptional Tennessee Repertory Theatre at TPAC’s Johnson Theatre. TPAC is located conveniently across the street from the Hermitage Hotel, so after the show, pop in for a nightcap at the Oak Bar, and be sure to get a peak in the hotel’s legendary art deco men’s room. Yes, ladies, you too — just make sure there aren’t any gentlemen in there.
The Girls’ Weekend You know the hottest spots in Louisville, so you’ll want to hit the hottest ones in Nashville, too. Book a room at the newest hotel in Nashville, the impressive Omni Nashville, located right across from the shiny new convention center, the Music City Center. If you need to do some last minute Christmas shopping, visit the nearby Mall at Green Hills, where you’ll find something for everyone on your list. Once you’ve checked everything twice, reward your diligent work with a little gift for yourself at Nordstrom, perhaps from the Chanel department? The mall really gets into the holiday spirit, with Nutcracker performances by the Nashville Ballet, roving Victorian carolers dressed in period costume, and pet photos with Santa, so there’s plenty to do in between your trips to Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch and Burberry. After all of that shopping, you might feel like dropping, so hit the Mokara Salon & Spa at the Omni, and indulge in the best in spa services, whether you want a massage or a mani-pedi. Once you’re refreshed and rejuvenated, grab dinner at one of Nashville’s exceptional restaurants, like local favorite City House, or new hotspot The Farm House, which is easily walkable from the Omni. Both offer an incredible farm to table experience, a lively atmosphere and great cocktails. If your feet haven’t given out yet, take a spin through one of the legendary honky tonks on lower Broadway after dinner — you’ll see some authentic classic country and it’s just a short cab ride back to the hotel. Before you head back to Louisville, try to squeeze in brunch. Some local favorites are Marche, The Garden Brunch Café, Copper Kettle, Tavern and blvd Nashville. ABBY WHITE
28 >> DECEMBER 2013 | nfocuslouisville.com