Week of Fun 2011: Day 3

9 Fruits

This morning we had a not so fun trip to the mechanic to get the A/C in Billy's car fixed.  But the mechanic is in Franklin and a smoothie place called 9 Fruits is in Franklin, so I was excited.  I had one of these at a girls event at my church last spring and I haven't stopped thinking about it since then.  So good!  Totally beats Smoothie King. *cough* tasteslikechemicals  

9 Fruits only uses fruit, pure juice and yogurt.  What a novel concept.

It's also neat because the name means the  9 “fruits of the spirit” in the Bible: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. 

Ahem...excuse Billy's chest hair and the deeeeeep V.  I usually don't let him wear it in public.  :)

Edgehill Village

Edgehill is a little up-and-coming area of town near Music Row that has new little boutiques, stores, and restaurants.  Super cute.  We stopped into Taco Mamacita's for lunch.

Ryman Auditorium

We've had the privilege of seeing a few shows at the Ryman, but today we took a self-guided tour.  This building has such a neat history.  It was fun to learn about how it began as a church, how it closed for over 20 years and then was remodeled and reopened.  It has such a warm, welcoming vibe inside.  Definitely an awesome venue to see a show.

Bon Iver's crew was setting up for a show tonight.

McKay's Used Books

I could spend hours in McKay's.  Billy on the other hand, does not have the same love....but he'll tolerate going there.  It's like a huge organized garage sale of books, CD's and DVD's.  I love a good bargain.  I scored some sweet deals on some educational books.  $3 for a Schmoker book in perfect condition worth $29.  Come on!

Tayst
Tayst is a fancy pants restaurant that we could only semi-afford because of a Groupon.  It's the first and only certified "green" restaurant because the only get food from small local farmers with no pesticides and they go to great lengths to recycle, compost and all of that good stuff.  That's why they charge the dollah billz, y'all.  Super yummy, though.  It was a fun, romantic date-night.

Week of Fun 2011: Day 2

Coleman Community Center

With all the food we're eating this week, we decided to start the morning off right and work on our fitness.  Around the corner from us is our awesome community center and we use the gym there.  (Only $3!)  Our Woodbine Farmer's Market sets up here on Saturdays.  They also offer Zumba, Yoga, Boot Camp and other great classes.  

Baja Burrito
We cannot get enough Baja Burrito.  It's dangerously close to our house so we eat here often.  OK.  Weekly.  Well, sometimes bi-weekly.  Mexican food is good for us "glutenites".  We order our burritos "naked" with no tortilla.  Hormone-free chicken, grass-fed beef.  Local ingredients.  THE best fruit tea.  There's almost always a line and you may bump elbows with the stranger next to you...but it's totally worth it.

Oh, and we ran into our pal, Micah Smith!  We love that guy!

The Frist Center
Thanks to a cheap Groupon we bought last October, we are members of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.  I'm ashamed to say that this is the first time we've visited.  Silly, right?

Right now there is an Andy Warhol exhibit.  We loved it.  It's a total Pop Culture feast for your senses.  Screenprints, paintings, photos, videos.  If you live in Nashville, it's a piece of history definitely worth seeing.

The Green Wagon
Next, we headed to East Nashville for a little shopping and food.  East Nashville is where the word "artisan" is very much overused.  Lol.  You can expect to see Smart Cars, Dread Locks, Birkenstocks.    I'm a hippie at heart and I love this little "green" store called The Green Wagon.  They have all kinds of wonderful eco goodies.  You know...like if you run out of vegan cranberry dental floss, you can pick it up here.  I'm not kidding.

In the back there is a new little g-free bakery called Aunt April's.  It was closed but I can't wait to go back and try it!

Wantanbe Sushi
Also in East Nashville, is Wantanbe.  Our friends Zac & Erin met us here for some great food. Sushi!

Billy's friend, Jon, is the bartender here.

Patterson House
For little night cap, we headed to Patterson House which is kind of a dark, mysterious, little lounge that feels a bit like a speakeasy.  They make specialty drinks from scratch and Erin claims that she ordered the beverage she's ever had in her entire life.

I was in need of some chocolate so I ordered the S'mores.  Unfortunately I could only eat the gooey middle.  Yes, I  looked extremely classy and lady-like while doing this.   The marshmallows were homemade.  Delish.

They bring your receipt to you in an old book of signatures. Pretty cool.

Week Of Fun 2011: Day 1

The time is here!  It's our 2nd Annual "Week Of Fun".  The last week of summer before I go back to the real world of teaching. The week where we do as many fun things around Nashville as possible.  No responsible, grown-up bizniz like cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, or working allowed.

We made a sign.  We had a plan.  Here's what Day 1 looked like.

*This past year, I have discovered that I have a gluten intolerance.  It creates many health problems for me, so I avoid bread, cookies, cakes, pasta and all yummy, wheatalicious things all costs.  I will probably mention g-free a lot....but don't get annoyed, mkay?  Just embrace it.



A Matter of Taste
After sleeping in past 10:00, since there are no alarm clocks during the Week of Fun, we finally emerged from our house for lunch.  We went to A Matter of Taste on 8th Ave. South.  I found this restaurant online a few weeks ago and have been so excited to try it because they make their own g-free bread and desserts. Score!  It did not disappoint.  Everything is super yummy and made of organic, fresh, local ingredients.  It's very tiny and cute inside.  They're only open weekdays from 11-4.  I'm hoping they'll expand their space and hours soon so I can come back again during the school year.

I shed a little tear of joy when I bit into this bread.  Oh, how I've missed you, my old friend!  

Historic Downtown Franklin, TN

After lunch, we headed to Franklin, which is about 25 minutes south of Nashville.  Franklin is so cute.  It's pretty much Mayberry.  

One of my favorite stores is a cool boutique called Philanthropy.  It is aptly named because it donates at least 10% of it's profits to designated causes.  How neat is that?  It's great to buy a cute scarf or dress and know that it's benefitting someone in need around the world.

The historic Franklin theatre is newly renovated and just re-opened a few months ago.  Unfortunately, there weren't any movies playing today.  I can't wait to see inside! 

Lulu...the cutest shabby chic store.  I would live here if I could.  I need more chandeliers and doilies in my life.

This is a really cool coffee shop called Starbucks.  Ever heard of it??

For dinner we headed to Otter's Chicken Tenders.  We ate a little too much...

After dinner Billy wanted to go to shoe heaven.  A.K.A. the Nike Factory Outlet store.  I managed to get him out of there without buying anything....which is a difficult task.  He's sneaker obsessed.

Redbox
Our last event of the day was hittin' up our old friend Mr. Redbox.  We rented Unknown.  I would call it a little scary.  Billy calls it suspenseful.  Overall a good renter.  Liam Neeson never disappoints!

More fun tomorrow!  :)