Shopping in Music City
Music City, USA may be the term most associated with Nashville , but if visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame, taking in the Opry or searching for the next big Nashville star in the honky-tonks on Broadway isn't your thing, then what's a girl to do?
Shop, of course.
Not to be sexist or to exclude you boys we'd love to have y'all come along to fetch and carry.
Shopping in Nashville is as indulgent as a two-scoop ice cream cone; the wide variety of locally-owned shops is the perfect complement to the neighborhoodcentered shopping districts. From the luxury of Belle Meade to the urban funkiness of 12 th Avenue South , simply pick your favorite flavor and savor some Nashville shopping treats.
12 th Avenue South , a.k.a 12South
A collection of boutiques ranging from hip home décor to décolleté-revealing ranch wear and a manicurist's shop housed in an old gas station.
Where It Is:
12th Avenue , between Wedgewood Avenue and Gale Lane .
Be Sure to Hit:Katy K's Ranch Dressing for custom western wear and vintage naughty girl dresses; The Grove for up and coming designers, and Local Honey for vintage clothing and house wares.
Refresh Yourself At:Las Paletas, 2907 12 th Avenue South . 615-386-2101. Luscious handmade Mexican popsicles of exotic combinations like cucumber-chili pepper are just desserts for an afternoon of shopping.
Hillsboro Village
True, Hillsboro Village is only four blocks long, but it is jam-packed with boutiques and shops, restaurants, home décor stores and galleries. It's manageably packed on the weekends, and wonderful when the weather is pleasant, which is about every month except December February, as the cafes spill over onto the sidewalks.
Where It Is:
21 st Avenue South , just south of Vanderbilt University .
Be Sure to Hit:Social Graces for fancy stationary and wonderful gifts (even for yourself; Fire Finch for primitives; Bookman / Bookwoman for that first-edition classic you've been searching for, and Pangaea for funky imported clothing and quirky gifts.
Refresh Yourself At: Cabana Snag a table at cocktail hour and plant yourself for an evening of scrumptious Southern cuisine at Cabana. The décor screams hip and sleek, with cozy, curtain-enclosed booths (hence the Cabana name) and cushy seating scattered throughout the block-deep restaurant that features open air dining in the warmer months. But the food is all about comfort, with a menu that features entrees like buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes and smoked pork chops with traditional greens. Even better, there's a list of yummy $5 martinis offered daily.
Belle Meade
Darlings, Belle Meade is high society and Southern charm, estate homes and also home to the historic plantation for which it is named, a stunning Greek Revival Antebellum home that's open for touring. Around Belle Meade, one finds fabulous antique stores, boutiques and hip kiddie clothing stores.
Where It Is: Between Belle Meade Boulevard and Harding Road, southwest of downtown.
Be Sure to Hit: Chancery Lane Antiques for a quaint selection of specialties from the British Isles ; Gallery One for contemporary fine art (both display and sale) and Bodacious Books for a fabulous selection of reading material. Pick up a little something for the tykes at the 60-plus year old Phillips Toy Mart , and hit the gift shop at Belle Meade Plantation for hand-crafted gifts.
Refresh Yourself At: Sperry's, white-tablecloth wining and dining, or for a more casual meal, try Bread & Company for luscious sandwiches at lunch or dinner.
Where to Stay As always, where to stay depends on your budget and your star preference. Here are our picks in every price range.
Best Bargain Holiday Inn Select Vanderbilt a great location and excellent pricing.
Middle ground Marriott Vanderbilt , just up the street from the Holiday Inn, with a view over the Vandy football stadium you can literally see the game from your window.
Decadent: The Hermitage Hotel This lush retreat sandwiched between government buildings and the Broadway honky-tonks offers deep tubs for soaking exhausted limbs after a day of shopping, a generous supply of Moulton Brown products and star sightings on a regular basis. Be sure to check out the black and green glass splendor of men's room next to the Oak Bar (knock first!), background to many a fashion photo shoot and music video.
