The Third Coast

By Joseph Barry on September 13, 2012

Sure, Nashville, Tennessee, my hometown, is only a six-hour car ride and one-hour plane ride from my new home, Columbus, Ohio. However, I endured much more than just a time change when I crossed the Mason-Dixon line, trading in my Rocky Top orange for OSU’s scarlet and gray.

The gaping hole in my life is the absence of sweet tea. In Tennessee, when you order iced tea, you have to clarify if you don’t want it sweet. Up here, most tea (with the exception of Raising Cane’s and McDonald’s) just comes unsweetened. I have received funny looks just for asking if a restaurant has sweet tea.

Nashville is its own special place. It’s beginning to have the feel of New York or Los Angeles because of its prominence in the music industry, thus giving it its nickname of “the third coast.” Celebrity sightings are by no means uncommon. For example, one morning I was having breakfast at Pancake Pantry, a legend in Nashville known for their decadent pancakes. Then, who should happen to sit down in the booth next to us? Taylor Swift! I feel like it speaks about the type of town Nashville has become, though, that she was not bombarded by fans, but rather left to enjoy her breakfast.The gorgeous Nashville skyline, photo from fineartamerica.com

Nashville has something to peak everyone’s interest.  For one, Broadway is littered with unique bars and great restaurants for those who enjoy bar-hopping and/or grabbing a bite to eat. If visiting during hockey season, I’d recommend catching a Nashville Predators game to witness one of the rowdiest groups of fans in the NHL. If you want a taste of the artsy side of Nashville, definitely take a trip to East Nashville and The Gulch. They are two up-and-coming areas of town that have become booming hangouts for the younger generation.

The Gulch in particular is a part of town I grew to love while living in Tennessee. They have an amazing Mexican restaurant called Cantina Laredo. From their gourmet tacos to the guacamole that they make right in front of you, it really makes Mexican food up-scale!

Now, I can’t write an article about my hometown without talking about the great coffee shops in town. As an avid coffee drinker, I need to get my fix, and while I do enjoy Starbucks, I prefer to visit local coffee shops when possible. Nashville boasts two incredible local shops, Bongo Java and the Frothy Monkey. Both have expanded to multiple shops around town, but for the true experience, you would need to visit the originals. Bongo, constantly voted “best coffee in town,” is located across the street from Belmont University while the Frothy Monkey, server of the best latte I’ve ever had, is a short drive away on 12th Avenue.

In short, Nashville is a great place to visit if looking for a vacation spot!

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