VENDOR CITY GUIDE: PAUL

INTERVIEW BY HANNAH HERNER

A Michigan transplant, Nashville has certainly grown on Contributor vendor Paul. From his spot at Church and Rep. John Lewis Way, he gives his take on parks, bars and beyond.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT LIVING IN NASHVILLE?

Just the people. The majority, they’re all good people. You get some people that ain’t cool, but Nashville to me is like moving out of hell and moving into heaven.

Weather has a lot to do with it, because you don’t get as much snow in the wintertime as you do in Michigan.

BEST TOURIST SPOT:

The Ryman because it's a historical landmark. They are giving tours. The art museums are good. I ain’t been in the Ryman and I keep on telling myself I’m going to go there. And 5th and Broadway. I haven’t been in.

BEST PLACE TO EAT:

Puckett’s. I like the biscuits and gravy. I like the pulled pork. I like the blackened catfish. The meatloaf is good. They’re costly to go in there and eat, but it’s worth it. Varallo’s, they got good food in there too. (Editor’s note: Varallo’s has closed.) I haven’t been in there much so I don’t know much about it but I hear people talking about it a bunch and I go by what other people tell me. And they’re fairly reasonable.

BEST PLACE TO SEE LIVE MUSIC:

I go to Ole Red’s, which is right there at 4th and Broadway. That’s a nice place to go. Robert’s Western World ain’t bad. They serve hamburgers and stuff like that, and that’s not too terribly expensive. Find a spot that you like and stick with it. Margaritaville ain’t bad — that’s owned by Jimmy Buffet.

BEST PLACE TO SIT OUTSIDE:

Down at the park, right there by the library. Church Street Park. They have entertainment. When I’m down there selling the paper on Thursdays they have musicians. It’s all good! Most of it is young people trying to cut their teeth. They’re out there trying to get exposure.

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A WALK:

Probably at the Bicentennial Mall. It’s a good quiet atmosphere. It’s relaxing. I can kinda get into it.

INSIDER TIP:

Explore your city and see what you do like. Because I like everything. Living here for the last three, going on four years, I’m still learning the city. People need to get out and see what we really do have. I’m not putting down the Convention Center or the visitor’s bureau, but people need to see what we really do have in and around Nashville other than what other people are saying. Get out and explore Nashville. Nashville is worth it.