Guide Me Home 2 Nashville, TN - Home

East Nashville Brings the Heat!

2012-02-08T11:46:33Z

Food Network has brought another East Nashville eatery national exposure this week on Heat Seekers, where Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking travel across the country looking for foods that you will love to regret eating. This week Mad Donna’s gets the spotlight for their new Habanera Mac & Cheese, a southern favorite with a fiery twist.

When the recipe includes fresh habaneras, powdered habanera, and something called “Hell Fire Crunch” how could you not dig in? Owner Rachel Fontenot makes sure Mad Donna’s lives up to its name, bringing some Louisiana fire to East Nashville’s favorite little dining spot.

Mad Donna’s Restaurant and Lounge has extended hours to please the pickiest of pallets at any time of day or night, including brunch special 2-for-1 mimosas of every tantalizing flavor you could dream up, and a late night menu that covers everything from quesadilla eggrolls to bacon burgers from 11pm to 1am Friday and Saturday. With a convenient location at 1313 Woodland St., and hours to appease, Mad Donna’s makes sure there is no bad time to torture and tantalize your taste buds.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Free Admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame

2012-02-03T14:09:33Z

Tomorrow, February 4th is the Fifth annual Free Admission Day at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. If the word “Free” isn’t enough to get you downtown, the list of events for the day might help out. Hunter Hayes, whose top 15 hit “Storm Warning” will be performing and signing autographs. If you don’t know who Hayes is, ask any pre-teen girl. The 21 year old country music heartthrob has been performing since the age of 4, and wrote his first song at the age of 6. He moved to the Country Music Capitol of the World three years ago. The Oak Ridge Boys will also be signing autographs. With events for the kids such as hands on musical instruction as well as free admission to the museum this is a perfect opportunity to expose your family to the roots of that which we Nashville Natives are so known for: Country Music.

Open from 9am to 5pm the Country Music Hall of Fame has been gathering iconic memorabilia from the lives of Country Music stars since 1967. The visually stunning $37 million dollar building that currently houses the accredited collection was dedicated in May of 2001 and sits just steps away from the historic Ryman Theater and the honky-tonks of Broadway. All these landmarks have helped generate millions of dollars of revenue for the City of Nashville, provided down-home attractions for tourists, and a reminder to never forget what makes this great city of ours so well known.

Hunter Hayes will be performing at 2pm. The Oak Ridge Boys and Hunter Hayes will be signing autographs at 3pm. There will also be an 11am demonstration by the Hatch Show Print Staff, a behind the scenes look into American Letterpress: the Art of Hatch Show Print, the current travelling exhibit on display in the museum. This Saturday, February 4th is a perfect time to experience Nashville through the eyes of a tourist all over again, and do it for free!

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Going Greek in Nashville - Athens Family Restaurant

2012-01-31T11:53:21Z

Just south of downtown Nashville, a family owned Greek restaurant recently filmed a television spot for a small network. Okay… maybe the network isn’t quite so small. Maybe it was the Food Network. And maybe the host of the show is Guy Fieri, the showboating cooking personality we all know and love as the owner of the craziest hair in cuisine. That’s right, once again Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has visited the heart of middle Tennessee to investigate unique and authentic cuisine so good it reached the ears of the Food Network.

Athens Family Restaurant offers Greek cooking like Grandma made it. If your Grandma is Greek that is. Guy Fieri showed up to investigate Chef Adel’s original creation the Bacon Lamb Burger, a “Grilled and lightly spiced ground lamb patty, strips of bacon topped with melted Swiss cheese and a pinch of crushed red pepper.” Offering up long hours to soothe the growling bellies of Nashville, including 24-hours Thursday through Saturday the staff of Athens Family Restaurant guides you on a unique, relaxed journey into the specialties of Greek Cuisine.

Since this episode of Burgers ‘n More will be airing February 13, 2012 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT, this small seat-yourself restaurant might get a whole lot busier very soon… so it might be a good idea to take some time this weekend and explore a menu that brings a little bit of the Mediterranean right here to Nashville. Voted number one breakfast place in the Nashville Scene Writer’s Choice November of 2005, this Nashville gem continues to make you want to smash your plate and yell “Oompa!” Though they state on their website “they would rather you order seconds than charge you for broken plates.”

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Sam Davis Home - History of A Hometown Hero

2012-01-27T17:22:06Z

Remnants of history can be found all over Middle Tennessee and Smyrna is no exception. Like a square in the patchwork quilt of this states’ history the Sam Davis Home is a piece of the Civil War that has survived the passage of time. Built in 1810 on the picturesque banks of Stewart’s Creek the Davis family home is a perfect example of plantation living in the upper middle class of the 1800’s.

The family home of Sam Davis sits on 160 acres, bought by the state of Tennessee in 1927 and opened for tours in 1930. 82 years of guided glimpses into the past have not diminished the natural beauty of the land or the home. The vast majority of items and settings you will see in the antebellum home are from the 1850’s, when the Davis family did extensive renovations to the Greek-Revival house. The original log cabin still sits on the property as well. The historically accurate living-museum showcases many original items from Sam Davis, a Civil War soldier who was captured, accused of spying, and hanged on November 27, 1863. Dubbed the “boy hero of the civil war” Sam Davis was given was last opportunity to reveal the sources of his information and escape the noose. He is said to have stated:

“I would die a thousand deaths before I would betray a friend.”

A popular spot for photographers, weddings, social functions and paranormal investigations this beautiful home does a fantastic job of paying homage to a time our country was changing so vastly it seems astonishing that a perfect example of daily life was able to be preserved. If you visit this piece of history in Smyrna, Tennessee be prepared to long for a time when life may have been harder… but sure seemed simpler.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

The Gulch - Greener Living Goes Glam!

2012-01-24T11:34:48Z

“The Gulch” has become a name in Nashville synonymous with trendy dining, soaring lofts, and downtown living at its finest. A short walk from any location there can bring you from fine art at the Frist to live music at Sambuca, to be followed with cocktails at Virago’s and gazing up at the sparkling lofts that spear the night skies.

Once a bustling railroad center, The Gulch became an industrial wasteland as the hundreds of trains that once roared through the area decreased and then ceased as other modes of transportation became more efficient and cost effective. Run-down and forgotten the area sat largely unused and undeveloped until 1999. Now, gathering steam of a different kind, The Gulch has become a living expanding example of urban redevelopment. Numerous restaurants line the streets and trendy boutique clothing stores pepper the horizon, with unique names such as Bullets & Mullets. The aforementioned lofts such as Terrazzo and Icon offer stunning views and rooftop pool decks, giving you the opportunity to live in the center of a bustling community located mere blocks from downtown Nashville.

Newly certified as a LEED neighborhood, The Gulch offers Green solutions to daily living, such as easily accessible bus routes, thousands of jobs and general amenities such as post offices and gyms within walking distance, as well as five stops for the Music City Star commuter rail shuttle. This unique living and building system provides a positive impact on the surrounding city and involves a much smaller carbon footprint on the environment.

Next time you are looking for a night on the town that includes street parking, dinner, drinks, fine art, shopping, sushi and live music head to The Gulch. It has everything to offer and more.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Diplomat of the Year!

2012-01-20T17:43:55Z

Lynn Tede of Bob Parks Realty has been chosen as Rutherford County’s 2011 Diplomat of the Year by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Dedicated to bettering the lives of Rutherford County Residents since its origination in 1982, the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce will recognize Lynn Tede at the Business at Its Best 2012 dinner and reception.

Lynn Tede has been a member of the Chamber’s Diplomat program since 2009; volunteering her time and efforts for countless hours in an attempt to give back to the community she loves to be a part of. In addition to being the agent council representative for the Bob Parks Smyrna office, Lynn also volunteers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and is a member of the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors public relations committee.

Kelli Beam, Director of Membership for the Chamber is proud to recognize this bustling woman, saying, “Lynn is very deserving of this award because of her dedication and ability to make others feel welcome into the Chamber's membership." Lynn, however, takes a more selfless view of what her efforts mean to others. "I'm thankful to have a job that enables me to help families achieve the American dream of owning a home."

The Rutherford County Business at Its Best 2012 will be February 3rd at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel & Conference Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. Seating for dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Make sure to call and purchase your tickets so you can be there to help honor Lynn Tede for all she has done for Bob Parks Realty and her community.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-17T17:33:23Z

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Just another day off schools, another three day weekend, another day the mail doesn’t run. Just another day attached to a name very few people actually think about. Perhaps it bears a little reminding that Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t just a famous man, a pastor or a leader. He was all of these things and more. He received a doctorate from Boston University. He became a pastor when he was twenty five years old, blending together his acquired knowledge, his innate knowledge and his faith into the words and actions of a non-violent supporter of the civil rights movement.

He was a man that conferred with Presidents, led 250,000 protesters in peaceful demonstration, and headed several organizations that furthered the civil rights movements. He was the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 when he was just 35 years old. He was a man with a dream for all races, who wanted nothing more than a place for his children “where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

He was a man who stood on a balcony April 4, 1968 enjoying the warm Spring Memphis air before he was to lead a protest supporting striking African American garbage workers where he was assassinated. He was a man killed for his passionate beliefs in freedom.

He is now a man that puts a face to the movement of equality. According to Derek Alderman of East Carolina University, as of 2006 over 730 American Cities have a street named after him. Federal Law observes his birthday as the third Monday of January, in effect since its first official observation January 20, 1986. He is still a man that stands for equality and justice and a peaceful approach to obtaining both.

He will always be a man with a dream.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Winter Wilderness Hike in Taylor Hollow

2012-01-13T12:09:20Z

Roughly an hour northeast of downtown Nashville, in Westmoreland, is a 173 acre nature conservancy called Taylor Hollow, one of the last remaining vistas of natural wildlife, flora and fauna untouched by man in middle Tennessee. Saturday, January 21st will provide the novice nature lover a look into the topographic background of the Hollow, unencumbered by the vast amounts of wildflowers that grow in the spring and summer. Taylor Hollow Falls might even be persuaded to showcase some ice formations if the cold holds out.

Roger McCoy of the Natural Heritage Inventory Program will guide the hiking tour along established paths and off-trail in order to experience the winter landscape up close and personal. Winter hikes allow for an off-trail experience not recommended in the warmer months because so many of the rare wildflowers are easily damaged and while most people might not think of signing up for a guided tour outdoors in the dead of winter, it’s a perfect activity to experience yet another side of middle Tennessee and its vast array of beautiful protected land. Tennessee actually has 82 different natural areas protected and maintained by the state as ecological preservations.

Make sure to dress warmly, protect your extremities, and hope that this beautiful dusting of snow lasts long enough to add another dimension to your hike. Reservations must be made by January 18th (call (615) 532-0437 or e-mail ), and the hike will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the 21st at 671 Phillips Hollow Road, Westmoreland, Tennessee. Bring your bottled water, a couple snacks, a camera, and a healthy appreciation for all that Tennessee does to protect the wilderness around us.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

History Alive and Well in Germantown

2012-01-10T21:49:47Z

Buried in the heart of downtown Nashville a commercial and residential gem of a neighborhood breathes life back into the once notorious reputation of Jefferson Street and its surrounding area. A relatively small neighborhood, Germantown is an epic example of faith, determination, and urban revitalization in the face of imminent disaster and economic downturn.

Originally dubbed “Germantown” due to its prominent population of German immigrants and descendants, WWI began a spiral of downward developments for the close-knit community as anti-German sentiments caused residents to flee into the anonymity of the city. In the 1960’s commercial growth and Interstate systems looked to be the death of the historical neighborhood as many of the homes constructed in the mid to late 1800’s stood empty and dilapidated. Finally, in 1979 Germantown was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and renewal began in earnest.

Homes dating back as early as 1830 have been lovingly restored and protected, requiring zoning board approval, keeping the historical ambiance alive and well in the 18 square blocks. Several independently owned restaurants grace the streets, including Monell’s, a Southern Style restaurant located in a home dating back to 1880. Sporting communal tables this is a perfect example of that world famous “Southern Charm.” The Mad Platter also perches on the corner of Sixth Avenue North, a twenty year testament to perseverance and the power of fantastic food.

A Walking Tour, Pooch Parade, and Annual Oktoberfest are just a few examples of the activities that draw crowds from all over Nashville to these once again beautiful streets. So whether its home-cooked fare, family owned businesses or a varied representation of historical architecture lovingly restored to its former splendor Germantown is a perfect place to visit, live, and tell your friends about.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Culture on the Crawl, Free of Charge

2012-01-06T11:40:56Z

It’s the first weekend of the month, the first weekend of the New Year, and time for the First Saturday Art Crawl. A budget friendly foray into the arts that occurs the first Saturday of every month, the First Saturday Art Crawl offers a chance to view local art galleries, artists, sculptures and installments free of charge. This Saturday, January 7th, a free shuttle service will loop between two stops, the Arcade (right next to Printer’s Alley) and the Tennessee Art League (808 Broadway).

Over a dozen galleries occupy the Arcade, a historical landmark in itself. Built in 1903 the Arcade was modeled after an arcade in Italy and still sports a breathtaking glass roof that spans the length of the building. The second floor of this architectural marvel is now dedicated to cubby hole art galleries showcasing some of Nashville’s own artists like Andy Anh Ha, a nationally lauded and awarded artist born and raised in Nashville, TN. His striking Asian influenced mixed media paintings are just a sampling of the stunning pieces available to view on the Art Crawl, and exhibits are rotated out on a monthly basis so you never get bored. Four other galleries, including the Rymer Gallery are also located at this stop on 5th Avenue. The second stop, The Tennessee Art League, was opened in 2005 during the revitalization of downtown, bringing three stories of local artists, sculpture, and installments to the heart of the downtown area. The third floor even offers exhibit space for “non-profit organizations, after-school programs and other community outreach projects.”

All galleries have their doors open from 6:00pm till 9:00pm, with the shuttle service running until 10:00pm. All entry to the participating galleries is free, the shuttle is free, and the wine, cookies and spiced rum punch is free (though tips and donations are appreciated). Remember, the First Saturday Art Crawl takes place the first Saturday of every month, and the opportunity to experience the cultural enrichment available to residents and tourists alike in the heart of downtown Nashville, although free, is priceless.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Zoo Run Run!

2012-01-04T20:20:46Z

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere will be hosting its Annual 5K run January 21, 2012. The “Zoo Run Run” course winds through 200 acres of exhibits, open grass fields, and the historic Grassmere Plantation grounds. Pre-registration is available now until January 20th, at $37.00 for Zoo members and $40.00 per non-member.

Closing to the public at 1p.m. on January 21st, check-in and late registration begins at 1:30 and the race begins at 3:00. “Race” might not be applicable to all participants, so feel free to bundle the kids up into strollers or wagons and walk, waddle, or trot along the concrete paths, letting those mysterious elephant footprints guide the way. This is the perfect opportunity to witness those exotic animals in the winter months, learn about hibernation patterns, and figure out how the Nashville Zoo keeps everyone happy and warm year round!

Costumes portraying your favorite animals are encouraged and awarded so be sure to dress warmly, gather up the family and come to Grassmere on January 21st to support your local zoo. All proceeds from this event will go directly to The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, which has big things in the works! An interactive Dinosaur exhibit opens March 16th, so watch your step for dinosaurs exploring their new homes. Dinner is provided to participants of “Zoo Run Run” and the costume awards ceremony will be held at 4:00 p.m.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Taking Down Without Breaking Down

2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

Organizing your holiday decorations is something none of us wants to do. It is so much easier to throw them back in the plastic bins, lug them up into the attic, and curse the existence of light strands come November next year when you drag them back out to decorate again. Some simple forethought will help save your sanity and your family’s come the following holiday season.

If you plan on keeping some decorations in the attic, some in the garage, or some under the house, make sure you have the appropriate containers. And don’t forget that some decorations shouldn’t go in the attic due to the temperature fluctuations. Candles and chocolates melt in extreme heat, as well as some of the clay or homemade ornaments. Glues also weaken if left in the attic for years on end, so when you finally go to use those ornate greeting cards you bought on clearance four years ago… chances are they might fall apart.

Once you decide which containers will hold what, look in them when you open them. Chances are you have some decorations you never use, or were given to you and you never quite liked them. Don’t keep them. This is the perfect time to purge out things you don’t use, or don’t go with a new theme you have decided to go with. When you buy new decorations on sale after Christmas day, throw away an older version of what you have. If you bought a new tablecloth… liberate the old one. Another option is donation… there are usually people who will find those strange mismatched decorations perfect.

Make sure you wrap the things that really matter the most carefully. Even those handmade decorations made with Popsicle sticks and macaroni deserve special treatment if you really want them to last. Never trust the container to protect the items properly.

Labeling the containers will save tons of time. Be specific with it, just saying “Christmas” isn’t good enough. Specify “outside decorations,” “mantle,” “tree,” etc. This will keep you from having to empty every box at once, and allow you to decorate the next year in a more orderly fashion. Generally this also allows you to know where to store the containers as well, as “outside” can go in the garage or under the house, while “mantle” can go in the attic.

Do a final walk through before you pack the boxes away. Otherwise the soap dispenser with Santa on it will never make in back into the “guest bathroom” box you probably didn’t make. And don’t forget to grab the wreath on the door you don’t use.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Stress Relief After the Holidays

2011-12-27T22:43:22Z

Christmas is over. The wrapping paper has been bagged, the boxes dragged out to the curb, the leftovers packaged and frozen, the cookies consumed, and family from out of town is getting ready to depart. You stand in the middle of your living room and sigh. Even though you are thankful for the holidays, the loved ones, the gifts both given and received, it always seems to overwhelm all the little reasons you plan the dinners, the events, the breakfasts in the first place. Menu planning detracts from quality time. Decorating takes away from the joy of seeing a twinkling tree. Making eighteen of the same presents for your child’s class completely obliterates the joy your child experiences when they hand them out to all their friends. You look at the tree, the lights, the greenery and Santas and you vow – never again.

The holidays are stressful. No matter how much planning you do, the actual week of Christmas is mayhem. Fulfilled but exhausted you can’t even imagine taking down the tree, much less hauling it up to the attic, or unloading the dishwasher, or taking the load of laundry out of the dryer that has been in it for at least five days. In the midst of it all, you have forgotten about taking care of yourself. Here are some tips that will help you regain your equilibrium and your sanity in the wake of the holiday season:

Ask for help. All the family, friends and loved ones that have been orbiting around your house for the past week have two very valuable things: hands. Have someone do the dishes for you, or help you take down the tree. Show how very grateful you are and they will be glad they helped.Take a moment for you. Whatever quiet time you allow yourself all year round is even more important now. Curl up with a book, rent a movie, take a bath and lock the door, drink a glass of wine. Set aside the time and tell the rest of your household they will see you in two hours. Tell them to enjoy their new toys.Take everything out of its box and throw away the packing. Storing boxes for a vacuum you might sell someday, or dishes you will use everyday just clutters up your life and your garage.Do a little something you might not otherwise do. Chances are “Santa” left a little money in a stocking for you. Go get a pedicure, or buy yourself an inexpensive ring. Make sure it is something you always think “yes, I would love that… but….” And then just do it.Order take-out. The thought of cooking after everything you have eaten, prepared and packaged in the past month probably makes you want to break out in hives. Call the Chinese food restaurant just down the road and in 15 minutes you have a stress free meal you didn’t have to prepare at all. And use paper plates.If you can afford it, a massage or a spa day really does make a world of difference.

The most effective thing in recovering from the holidays is truly simply, and it’s free. Sit down and remember the faces of everyone that opened a present from you, ate a cookie, or showed up at your house to wish you a happy holiday. Think of all the cards you got or sent, the lights you saw, and the traditions you diligently preserve year after year. Sit down and look through the photos you took. The joy and happiness reflected back in the faces of those you care about should be more than enough for you to forget the stress, and think “I can’t wait till next Christmas.”

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Susan Gregory

2011-12-27T15:20:00Z

“Buying or selling a home is the largest, most important financial transaction people experience in their lifetime.” The thought of selling a home strikes fear in the hearts of most homeowners, with visions of vinegar soaked cleaning rags, last minute showings, and storage units haunting every waking hour. Once the (potential) horror of getting your house ready for the market is completed… you realize you have to find a new one! So what is the best way to circumvent these problems and allow you a less stressful listing, selling, and relocating experience? Enlisting the help of a veteran real-estate agent, such as Susan Gregory of Bob Parks Realty can make a world of difference.

Susan Gregory has been a full time real estate agent for over 16 years. She joined forces with Bob Parks Realty in 2000 and has been in the Top 3 out of 600 agents at Bob Parks Realty for volume sold every year she has been with the company. Featured consistently among the Top 25 Realtors of Middle Tennessee in The Nashville Business Journal, she also graces the glossy pages of the Business Leader Who’s Who Magazine in the Fall/Winter 2011/2012 issue.

A winning smile and an impressive array of awards aren’t the only thing Susan has to offer. Her dedication to her clients often sends her far away from her Nashville selling zone, and she is happy to do it. “I specialize in the Nashville area and surrounding counties but will and have travelled much farther for the needs of my clients.” This selfless drive to provide the best for her clients is clearly reflected in the words of her comfortably settled clientele.

Mary and Frank Kirkpatrick say, “Susan Gregory impressed us with how she presented herself to us. I cannot imagine a better real estate agent/relocation specialist. She gave generously of her time, and was diligent in working with us to find the right house.”

Whether you are leaving the Nashville area, or choosing an area in Middle Tennessee for the first time, Susan Gregory with Bob Parks Realty “(Provides) unmatched real estate representation for any situation.” She states she enjoys “helping people get out of their current situations. I like to help people move on with their lives.” No matter what phase of your life you are currently in, or about to start, you must have a roof over your head. A professionally recognized, awarded, goal oriented real estate agent like Susan Gregory of Bob Parks Realty is a perfect place to start.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Season of Wishes

2011-12-19T12:04:50Z

Every wish begins with a dream. And every dream has the potential of coming true.

Erin Garcia, of LaVergne, TN had one wish: to go to Disney without the stares and watchful eyes of curious strangers. Nine year old Erin has pulmonary hypertension and has to wear an oxygen mask 22 to 23 hours a day, eliciting the constant stares and whispers everywhere she goes. Bob Parks Realty partnered with the Make A Wish Foundation and sent Erin, A Make A Wish Ambassador during the Season of Wishes, to a magical place specifically designed for children just like Erin, “where there aren't any stares from people and everyone is accepted for who they are.” They stayed in the “Give Kids the World Village.”

In Kissimmee, Florida a very special man has spent his life working towards providing wish fulfillment for children that might not live long enough to see their wishes, their dreams, come true. Henri Landwirth, born in Belgium in 1927, managed to survive WWII and the Nazi death camps with his twin sister. Making their way across the ocean, arriving in America with $20 in his pocket and a dream Henri joined the Army, used his GI benefits to attend school for Hotel Management and launched himself an incredibly successful career from which he retired in 1986. A mere three years later, in 1989, the gates to “Give Kids the World Village” opened.

“Give Kids the World” was founded by Henri Landwirth in order to give children, just like Erin Garcia the opportunity to live out their wishes before the opportunity was taken from them. Working with the Make A Wish foundation, the “Give Kids the World Village” is located in Kissimmee, FL right around the corner from Disney. This very special place allows children with degenerative or malignant diseases to enjoy the magic and wonder of Disney without having to be subjected to the stares, the worries, or the stresses that might otherwise overwhelm the experience. Over 112,000 families have stayed in this 70 acre resort.

“For a glorious five days, we had not a care beyond what we would do to enjoy our time together.” Austin’s family, Ohio

The Make A Wish Foundation hosts the Season of Wishes in order to stimulate individuals and corporations in this season of giving to remember those that might not have many holidays left. A child’s wish might cost upwards of $7,000 each, but every single contribution gives another child, just like Erin Garcia, the opportunity to realize their dream, and forget for a few days the pain and trauma and feel, for a moment, just like any other child.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Home for the Holidays

2011-12-13T12:14:48Z

Neighborhoods all across middle Tennessee are ablaze with holiday light displays, festooned with poinsettias and decked with decorated pine trees. However, if your house is on the market perhaps “ablaze” and “festooned” might not be adjectives you want potential home buyers to use to describe your property. You want people to feel comfortable and energized, complacent and eager, willing to move and at home all at the same time. This is actually not as hard as it seems.

Studies show a mix of Christmas music and Christmas scents, such as pine or fresh baked goods, actually “has been shown to boost people’s attitudes in retail stores and increase their likelihood of wanting to visit them.” If that works for a store, imagine how well it would work for a potential home.

Adding touches of the traditional red Christmas décor is also a good move. The warm color palettes, primarily red, are colors that make people feel energized. A subconscious feeling of excitement is a fantastic thing in a potential buyer. Don’t go overboard on the decorations though. A good rule of thumb is for every decoration you put out, put one thing away. This alleviates clutter, which stresses the eyes and distracts from the home’s true potential. “If it is ‘cute,’ it stays packed,” says Joanne O’Donnell, president and CEO of Chic Home Interiors. Not everyone agrees on “cute” and the snowman made of seven year old macaroni might not be as appealing as you think it is.

The holidays provide an opportunity to decorate the outside of the home during a time of year that generally proves difficult to showcase curb appeal. Evergreen wreaths, poinsettias, and bows offer color and definition that is lacking when your natural greenery is slumbering. Battery operated candles in the windows immediately define the natural light sources and provide a welcoming look. But remember, too many lights outside can overwhelm a buyer at night, as well as provide unsightly tangles of wires, extension cords and timers if they drive past during the day.

This time of year is about family, friends, and home. If someone is coming into your house during these months to view it you have the perfect opportunity to show them just how loving and welcoming this house truly was. Remember all the reasons you stayed as long as you did, and pass those along to the potential buyers with heartfelt touches and holiday cheer. That feeling when you first walk in the door of a new home can’t be packaged… but maybe it can be bought. Make an offer!

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Nashville's Nutcracker Opening Night

2011-12-09T17:41:34Z

December 9, 2011 is opening night for Nashville’s Nutcracker, an original interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Ballet which was first performed in 1892. Nashville’s Nutcracker has been gracing the holiday halls of TPAC since 2008 when Paul Vasterling’s interpretation of the classic ballet was debuted. In Vasterling’s twist on the classic ballet which is based on Alexandre Dumas’ “The Tale of the Nutcracker” written in 1845, the characters attend the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. It is here that Clara is bought The Nutcracker, the central figure of the story, by her Godfather.

The Tennessee Centennial of 1897 celebrated 100 years of Statehood and unveiled the Parthenon, a full scale replica of the Parthenon in ancient Greece, which centered around a 42 foot statue of Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom, war and the arts. During the Centennial celebration of 1897 over 1.8 million people attended the six month long tribute to Tennessee’s Statehood, and it is in the midst of these revels that Nashville’s Nutcracker takes place. Featuring local historical figureheads such as President Andrew Jackson and Vanderbilt University Chancellor James Kirkland this specialized rendition of the classic ballet lends a historian’s touch to a childhood Christmastime story. Over 200 children, actors and actresses from the Nashville area will brighten the stage as the Nashville Ballet brings Dumas’ tale of Sugarplum Fairies and Nutcracker Princes to life in our very own backyard as the Nashville Symphony Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s score each night.

Running from December 9, 2011 to December 16, 2011 at TPAC, Nashville’s Nutcracker provides yet another Tennessee tradition to share with your family. A Victorian style winter carnival will be located outside TPAC for preshow activities and 30 minutes before each show time in the Tier Level Lobby there will be a special story time event for any interested young audience members that will help them to understand the story of the ballet. A list of special details to look for during the show will be provided to help make the experience all the more magical.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Angel Tree

2011-12-07T05:51:03Z

Christmas is best reflected in the joy seen in a child’s eyes when they open the presents left under the tree on Christmas morning. The sheer pleasure of that moment is often enough to get families through months of hardship and strife. In 1979 Majors Charles and Shirley White realized the number of families that couldn't offer that to their children were staggering, and decided to help while stationed in Lynchburg, Virginia. Working with the local mall the White’s organized a program where a Christmas tree was festooned with greeting cards bearing the names and needs of children in the area that otherwise would not have presents to open at Christmastime. These cards bore the likeness of angels… and The Angel Tree program was born.

When the White’s were transferred to Nashville in 1982 WSM radio, which airs the Grand Ole Opry, became the first co-sponsor in the US. Soon national exposure followed and the Angel Tree became a widely recognized and supported Christmas charity. Now the Salvation Army partners with corporations, radio stations and department stores in order to provide more and more children and seniors with no family the Christmas joy they deserve. JCPenney even has online registration for Angels, where you can pick your own “Angel” and if you complete your shopping with JCPenney they will deliver the gifts to the Salvation Army free of charge. Kroger has also gotten into the giving spirit with their Food Angel program. At many Kroger locations you can simply grab a tag off the tree and they will scan it at the register. $25.00 will be added to your total purchase and $25.00 worth of groceries will be purchased for a family in need.

The Salvation Army has also recognized the growing numbers of Angels that aren’t adopted and have done their best to accommodate every single child or senior in need by forming the Forgotten Angels Program. This is a store of basic gifts, categorized by age groups, that covers the needs of an Angel even if they weren’t specifically adopted.

Corporate sponsorship has become crucial in this economy and Bob Parks Realty has done its part to help ensure that the Angels in our area are not forgotten. This year, we had outstanding participation by our Brentwood agents, adopting a total of 40 Angels from the Cool Springs Galleria location.

The Salvation Army has long been a symbol of the giving spirit associated with Christmas, the numerous Santa's accompanied by their bells and red kettles have become ushers to the season. The Angel Tree is just a more specific way you can make sure your donation goes directly to a person in need this holiday season, and provide yourself with the joy that accompanies giving.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Frosty Fun Run

2011-12-01T16:26:22Z

‘Tis the season…. To strap on your running shoes and jog your way to some charitable contributions. Saturday December 10th, 2011 Fleet Feet of Murfreesboro is hosting the Frosty Fun Run to help raise money for CASA (Court Appointed Social Advocates for Children) and Bob Parks Christmas for the Children.

CASA is an organization of trained volunteers that help social workers review documents in order to expedite the cases and placement of children within the social system. These volunteers help reduce the workload of case workers and allow each child a better chance at a closely reviewed case, standing up for the child in court and helping a judge rule on the best course of action to get that child into a safe and permanent home.

Bob Parks Realty Christmas for the Children helps ensure all Rutherford County children will have presents under the tree on Christmas morning.

The Frosty Fun Run, which is just under five miles, winds through the picturesque trails and tracks of the Stones River Country Club Golf Course. Pre-registration with an unwrapped gift is $20.00, $30.00 without a gift. You can register the day of the race for $35.00. T-shirts can be picked up (with pre-registration) Friday, December 9th any time between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Fleet Feet Murfreesboro.

Registration the day of the race begins at 6:45 a.m. and the run begins at 7:30 a.m. Waffle House is sponsoring a post run breakfast beginning at 9:00 a.m to help replace the calories you burned.

All proceeds and gifts collected will go to CASA and Bob Parks Christmas for the Children so come out December 10th to the Frosty Fun Run and run (or walk) for a cause. It is not a timed event and there is no skill-level required, just a big heart and a willingness to contribute to charities that ensure our local children don’t fall through the cracks this holiday season.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

GNAR Member Luncheon

2011-11-29T14:38:22Z

This Friday, December 2nd at 11:30 am The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors will welcome in 2012’s President Kendra Cooke. This membership luncheon will allow Kendra to outline the plans and outlook for 2012, as well as kick off the Habitat for Humanity fundraising drive.

GNAR (Greater Nashville Association of Realtors) has been serving Middle Tennessee for over 100 years. Originally founded in 1891, GNAR has more than 3,400 members and affiliates making it the largest realty association in Tennessee. Offering a wide variety of services and extensive community involvement, the association prides itself on providing support and knowledge to its members, allowing those Realtors to provide the most intensive home-buying knowledge possible to clients.

Our very own Kendra Cooke has over 20 cumulative years in real estate and is the team leader of Cooke Realty Partners. Based out of the Bob Parks Realty Brentwood office, Kendra works diligently to keep all her clients, Facebook page, and Twitter feed up-to-date on her local listings, as well as providing meaningful statistics, helpful networking tips, comprehensive listings and online market analysis tools.

“My family is SOLD on Kendra’s experience! Not only was Kendra professional, her staff was excellent.”

In light of all the positive press out there on Kendra and the Cooke Realty Partners, GNAR is looking forward to a year of her tutelage and diligence in bringing the best of the Real Estate Market of Middle Tennessee to residents and future residents alike. Bob Parks is honored to work with Kendra on a daily basis and adds, “We are extremely proud of Kendra and know she’ll do an excellent job as President of GNAR.” Make sure to attend the luncheon this Friday at the Cool Springs Marriot and welcome Kendra Cooke, kick off the Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser, and say farewell and thank you to President Alice Walker.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Great Thanksgiving Banquet

2011-11-22T17:21:21Z

Thanksgiving is a time for family, a time for gathering together and celebrating the things we have, the people we cherish, and all the things we are thankful for. The week prior to this Thursday is spent doling out grocery lists, assigning dishes to bring, contacting family members we haven’t spoken to since last Christmas, fighting the crowds at the grocery store, throwing elbows over the last turkey on sale for $.59/lb, and mapping out our Black Friday strategies. If you are the one (un)fortunate enough to be hosting the event you get to do all the aforementioned things as well as scouring your home from top to bottom, dragging out china and linen you haven’t used since last year, and polishing silver your Great Grandmother was “thoughtful” enough to give you.

Perhaps in the wake of all this “thoughtfulness” one might give pause and remember there are people out there that no longer have the ability to observe the traditions we all take for granted. While we are knee deep in sweet potato peels and turkey innards there are families that look forward to one thing and one thing only: The Great Thanksgiving Banquet at The Nashville Rescue Mission.

All day on the 23rd and the 24th the Rescue Mission will be staffed with hundreds of volunteers making sure those less fortunate don’t spend Thanksgiving being reminded of all the things they are without. A warm meal, a smiling face, and a helping hand might be the highlight of this person’s holiday season and it wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers that sacrifice those hours of family time, football watching, and grazing the leftovers of Aunt Martha’s homemade cranberry sauce for the rest of the day.

“It’s not just about serving them a traditional Thanksgiving meal,” says Don Worrell, President and CEO of the Nashville Rescue Mission. “This meal may be the first step in reaching a man or woman in the grip of addiction or other life-debilitating situation and guiding them down a new path.”

If you can’t donate your time, you can always donate your resources. The Nashville Rescue Mission has online services ranging from one time donations to monthly recurring payments, and even allows you to see if your employer will match your gift. There is a center for physical donations as well, taking clothing, electronics or food onsite.

This year, in the midst of the mayhem that surrounds the holidays, take the time to think of those without. Without food, without homes, without the support systems to enable them to escape their situations, whatever they may be. Take the time to think of them, and do something about it. Donate a couple hours of your time instead of hitting the stores at midnight, or a couple of dollars instead of that grande latte, and be thankful you made a difference.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

After the Flood

2011-11-18T17:23:30Z

May 3, 2010 was a day most Tennesseans will always remember. The day torrential rainfall shut down interstates, tore houses from their foundations, swept church buildings down newly forged riverbeds and swamped the halls of Opry Mills and the corridors of Opryland Hotel. Devastation was widespread, homes were destroyed, lives were lost, and millions of dollars worth of damages were reported on a daily basis as areas all over middle Tennessee struggled to recover as the receding floodwaters revealed the depth of devastation left in their wake.

Opry Mills, located just off Briley Parkway, was opened on the former site of Opryland Amusement Park in 2000. For 10 years this single level mall employed roughly 3,000 people and grossed sales that generated annual sales tax revenues of $26 million. When the flood hit in 2010 it closed the doors of this institution for two years, locked in litigation with an insurance company and struggling to keep its head above the ghost of the water that had long since left the mall echoing and empty.

Bass Pro Shop was the only independent storefront able to reopen, resuming normal operations September 18, 2010, nearly four months after the flood. Everything else in the mall remained closed, with no definitive timeline available for reopening. Until now.

Last night, November 17th at midnight the Regal Opry Mills 20 officially reopened their doors to coincide with the premier of the newest Twilight installation “Breaking Dawn, Part I.” After a test run of $2.00 movie nights benefiting charities ranging from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to the Second Harvest Food Bank, which collected over $56,000, all 20 screens are now up, running, and operating normal hours. The IMAX screen is back, and the sounds of chatter, crowds, and popping popcorn heralded the reopening of the mall entrances. The remainder of Opry Mills is scheduled to reopen in March of 2012, finally erasing the memories of that day previously broadcasted by empty parking lots and a semi trailer stating “closed for flood renovations.”

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Chili Cookoff Weekend

2011-11-16T16:13:51Z

A week ago, on October 29th, Franklin’s Main Street was closed for the 28th Annual Pumpkinfest. It was the largest ever! Throngs of witches, goblins, super-heroes and princesses were seen everwhere….. and Bob Parks Realty was there! Our office was one of 11 participants in the Chili Cook Off! We had prepared weeks earlier by having our own Chili Cookoff in the office….. six hearty souls brought in their offerings and the rest of us blindly tasted and commented on them all and the concoction artfully crafted by Kathy Hardcastle (agent Loy Hardcastle’s wife) was chosen! After that honor, she agreed to make the full 21 gallons of chili for us!

Can you imagine that undertaking…… The week preceding the Pumpkinfest they bought 80 lbs of ground beef, 120 bags of spices, 160 cans of beans… you get the picture… a ton of hard work. The day before the event, Kathy made it ALL! She then ladled it into huge pots, which various Cookoff team members took home and babied overnight. At 6 a.m. the next day, we all arose and heated our chili for the big event and proceeded down to our tent area by 8 a.m. The town was already bustling! We situated our tent between the Franklin Men’s Club and The Daily Dish and decorated it to match our theme: BAD BOB’S BONANZA CHILI…. And boy, our decorations were outstanding…. Lots of saddles, western blankets, even some cattle horns thrown in. The pictures don’t do it justice!

By 10 a.m. there were vistiors up and down Main Street, and by 11 a.m. no one could move…. The day was spectacular for the event and everyone came out to play! Some of us moved down the way to help Franklin Tomorrow sell tickets to the chili tasting…. and hot dogs for the non-chili eaters in the crowd. I was a hot dog seller. Our area was so popular that we kept running out of plates and cooked dogs… by 1 p.m. we had run out of all the water and drinks we had to sell…. I finally got a chance to break away to go on my own tasting spree and of course to VOTE for BOB PARKS! I mingled with the crown and tried to influence a few in our direction…. throwing out a few loud “ mmmmmm…..GOOD BOB PARKS CHILI” several times, but I don’t know if it did any good….. I heard we didn’t win. Actually I think the Boxwood Bistro won those honors!

Before I finish, I have to name the members of our team who worked so valiantly! Loy and Kathy Hardcastle (of course), Danny Anderson, Reid Anderson, Karen Baker, Darenda Olsen, MaryJane Cochran, Kevin Pellatrio, Fran Damer, Rachel Price, Christie Mullins, Ray and Vicki Lowe, Amy Tarter, Tom Stillman, Ryan Ryforth, and yours truly of course….. And then we also want thank people who provided props for us, Bill Butler and Pam Stevenson. And, of course, our office staff who we would be NOTHING without: Julie and Lisa Benavides, and Gaila Noland. Without the excellent team work that is our office’s Hallmark, none of it would have happened! What a great place to work!

NEXT YEAR WE WIN THAT CHILI CONTEST!

Posted by: Charlene Kimmel

An Evening with Friends - Charity Auction

2011-11-15T12:11:42Z

The Tennessee School for the Blind has been helping visually impaired children since 1844. With a vast staff on onsite nurses, doctors, nutritionists, teachers and certified specialists this school is really a community in its own right, offering cottage style residencies and extracurricular activities geared towards adjusting the children and staffed by trained technicians. Of course, this spectacular organization needs special funding. “Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind” helps do just that.

Through donations, various fundraisers and special events money is raised to help send the students to cultural events, buy recreational equipment, upgrade the technology inherent to the success of these students, and help fund the training necessary to teach them to be independently operative in the modern world.

Bob Parks Realty is hosting the 11th Annual “An Evening with Friends” this Thursday, November 17th at 5:00 p.m. A silent and live auction will be held, featuring donations, gift certificates and vouchers from local services as well as items donated by friends and leaders in Nashville’s business, music, and sports community, in addition to individual donors. An electric guitar from Alabama, signed by all the guys, various autographed CDs, and a guitar signed by both Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow accompanied by the Country Strong soundtrack are just to name a few. The children’s TSB chorus will be performing, hors d’oeuvres and holiday sweets will be provided, and Santa will be there to visit the children from the school.

This event has raised more than $125,500 in the past 10 years, and all proceeds from the event go to the school. So this Thursday, November 17th, please plan on attending a holiday auction with a heartwarming reminder of the true holiday spirit at 5:00pm at 2416 Music Valley Dr, #144 in the Music Valley Event Center (The Opryland Area). For a $10.00 donation at the door you can join Bob Parks Realty as a proud sponsor and remember that everyone needs a reason for the season!

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Fresh Perspectives - Staged to Sell!

2011-11-11T15:01:03Z

It’s time to sell your home. For whatever reason you are looking to relocate, downsize, upgrade, or switch school systems and you decide your best option is to sell your home. You clean the carpets, pick up all the dirty clothes that have accumulated in corners and dust the cobwebs away from the air return you never quite got around to doing before. The fan blades have never looked shinier and the blinds have been returned to their former off-white existence in lieu of the lighter shade of grade they had obtained over the years. You scrub toilets, clean baseboards, and oil hinges.

But no one comes. There are no scheduled showings, you agonize over dropping the price a few thousand dollars, can you afford to absorb that? And then you realize you forgot one very important thing: You didn’t stage your home.

Everyone sees the shows on HGTV on decluttering and taking down family photos but we as homeowners don’t seem to ever be able to complete that step in its entirety. It’s better to hire an impartial third party to spruce up your home and make it the real estate destination it deserves to be, giving you a better chance at a faster, more successful sale. Home Staging is a simple, cost effective way to boost your chances in selling your home.

Statistics say an investment of $300.00 to $400.00 in home staging can increase your home’s listing value by as much as $2,000.00. That’s a return of 586%! In a market where homes can sit, un-shown, for up to 180 days without blinking, can you afford to not do that?

Fresh Perspectives in a homestaging company here in Nashville that does more than just “rent you furniture and then wait for you to call.” They offer services ranging from full remodeling to consultations, for those that want to do it themselves, but need a more hands on approach than HGTV can offer. They even offer “virtual staging,” an option for people that have unfinished projects on their hands and still need to move the property quickly, or just don’t have the funds necessary to finish. Virtual staging allows you to show the prospective buyers the finished project in all its completed glory, giving them a glimpse at the gem they could be purchasing for themselves.

100% of your asking price, 50% faster? Even though they are very honest in saying they can’t guarantee your home will sell, for those types of statistics it seems a nominal price to pay for peace of mind.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Christmas 4 Kids Auction

2011-11-08T17:00:27Z

Christmas trees are sprouting all over the city, lights are being hung, and the stomachaches we all suffer from after Thanksgiving are still just anticipatory pangs of discomfort. And, for the 11th year in a row, Bob Parks Realty is looking forward to its involvement in the Christmas 4 Kids Fundraiser, an annual event that has helped bring joy to deserving children in the area that might not otherwise have anything under that Christmas tree to enjoy come Christmas morning.

November 15th at 5:00 pm the “Christmas 4 Kids Auction” will begin at The Derby Club, located in Kennesaw Farms, Gallatin, TN. A wide variety of items will be available to bid on. There are practical gifts to be purchased such as gift certificates, numbering up to $200.00 in value. Perhaps a case of whiskey for those of you looking to take the edge of the holiday stresses, or those looking to share some bottled cheer. Or maybe a certain someone in your life would appreciate a gorgeous reproduction piece of furniture made by John Garrott, a locally renowned 83 year old man that makes 18th and 19th century furniture reproductions. He has donated a beautiful two drawer table, lovingly crafted by his own well-respected hands. John Garrott is the founder of the Sumner County Museum, and has dedicated his life to learning and reproducing the styles of our forefather’s furnishings.

If unique home furnishings with a story are something that appeals to your aesthetic nature perhaps the barrel top donated by The Jack Daniels Distillery, signed by Master Distiller Jeff Arnett will interest you. Overseeing the entire whiskey making process since 2008, Mr. Arnett is only the seventh Master Distiller named in the 142 years Jack Daniels has been making whiskey. That’s a signature that carries weight, on a barrel that carried history.

Furniture and whiskey isn’t your thing, you say? How about music? And not just any music… how about a beautiful autographed fiddle? Signed by Charlie Daniels, very same man headlining this year’s Christmas 4 Kids Benefit Concert, celebrating their 10th year at the Ryman Auditorium?

No matter your personal interests this auction has consistently raised enough revenue to provide over 350 winter coats to students in our local communities. So come out, gather, eat some food and bid on some items next Tuesday, November 15th and help warm the hearts and bodies of our local children in need. And if you place a winning bid on an item you can’t imagine your Christmas without… all the better.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Cookin' To Build

2011-11-04T14:37:51Z

This Friday, November 4th, Rutherford County begins its drive raising money for the Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity. Working with Habitat for Humanity International since 1989, Rutherford Habitat for Humanity works to build homes for families in need. The families that benefit from this organization are determined by a board of volunteers, and the families chosen are required to pay a small down payment as well as regular mortgage payments, which contribute to future home building costs. They also have to contribute their own blood, sweat, and joy to the building of the home…. 400 hours of blood, “sweat equity,” and appreciation to the cause to be exact. Rutherford County needs the help of its citizens in order to make this happen, and they strive to constantly offer unique ways to raise money. This Saturday is no different.

The Pottery Place paired with the Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity in order to make Cookin’ to Build come to a boil. Community residents painted pottery specifically for this event. These bowls and plates are part of your $15 admission fee and provide the lovingly prepared surface for you to eat all the stew, chili, or soup you desire. This custom crafted piece of art is yours to keep as a reminder of your contribution to a truly needful organization.

In addition to the pottery, the food, the desserts and the drinks there will also be live entertainment in the form of a bluegrass band with a sense of humor to match their skill. The Flea Market Hustlers will be there to liven the atmosphere and apparently continue in their search for “the perfect taco.” With original pieces and lively covers they will introduce you to “jam-grass” at its best.

Dinner, a show, and a cause that gets families off the street that aren’t looking for a handout, just a leg up. What better way to spend you Friday afternoon? So please, anytime from 11:00 am till 1:00 pm at the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza, feel free to stop in, support a family, and eat some chili.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

The Onyx Room

2011-11-02T11:46:00Z

Historic Germantown, lauded as “Nashville’s First Neighborhood” is home to a beautiful building called the Onyx Building, located at 624 Jefferson Street. This elegantly restored building calls itself a “room with a capital view,” and after you climb the gorgeous wrought iron staircase and emerge on the top landing you can see why. The entire downtown Nashville Skyline stretches out before you, glittering and majestic. If you turn and enter the Onyx room, you find yourself in a venue that echoes of its history and one can imagine the myriad of gatherings that have taken place in the room since it became available 23 years ago.

High vaulted ceilings are crossed with wooden beams. The renovated drywall showcases the notable brickwork behind the beams in a unique “U” style that shows the utilitarian function of the original structure. Red carpeting and a parquet dance floor hug soaring walls and towering windows that offer more of the fabulous view. Tiny crimson shades adorn wall sconces and a small adjoining room offers the perfect place for refreshment tables. Available for wedding receptions and private parties this is the perfect intimate setting to host your gathering. Sunday, October 30th the 6th Annual Harvest Masquerade Ball took place, filling the room with creative costumes, laughter and whimsy. The Grilled Cheeserie and PizzaBuds food trucks pulled up outside and a projection screen showed Tim Burton films over the elevated stage while the participants danced the night away in costume.

Acquired as a member of the Historic Nashville, Inc. in 1987 the Onyx Building has seen the end of Jefferson Street’s Golden Era, and the rise of a newer gentrified Germantown, holding court over renovated homes that offer homage to architecture of days gone by, nestled next to modernized lofts. So next time you want to host an event, be it a wedding reception, an anniversary party, or a Masquerade Ball, remember the place that offers a downtown view, residential charm, attended parking, and a historical view and book the Onyx Room.

Photos courtesy of Lauren Athalia, a Nashville based photographer and the host of the 6th Annual Harvest Masquerade Ball.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

2011-10-27T17:15:00Z

Nashville offers a vast selection of entertainment opportunities, and if you head down Deaderick Street, you will find a building that occupies an entire city block and holds the enriching activities you crave. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, or TPAC, is nestled among the office buildings of downtown, and when you step out onto the walkway with your glass of wine during the intermission a glorious view greets your eyes.

All manner of events, from Broadway shows to ballet grace this stage, and sweeping stairways allow you access to beauty, humor, or graceful pirouettes. “Wicked,” an extremely original and beautifully performed musical serving as a prelude to Dorothy’s entrance to the Emerald City is currently showing. With an eclectic audience, ranging from adults to toddlers carrying their Wicked Witch dolls, the Center has been a lauded family outing for the past three weeks.

The Tennessee State Museum can be found on the ground level of TPAC, providing an insight into the history of our great state, housing artifacts and exhibits covering the pilgrimage and frontier life in great depth. Examples of daily life abound, and there is even a life-size stockade for those daring enough to brace your necks in the heavy wooden beams. If you aren’t, your hands slide right in (and out) for the perfect photo opportunity.

So next time you are looking for an enlightening evening, remember the quiet elegance of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, overlooking the city and outlining an icon’s name in simple Art Deco neon lights.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Glass Tiles

2011-10-25T11:56:11Z

The kitchen is a gathering place, where memories are made, parties hosted, families bonded. The bathroom is…well you get ready there. That’s important too. And there is one place that is often overlooked in these two integral rooms, one essential surface that is often ignored while counters and handles get all the attention. While they get granite or solid surfaces and brushed nickel attention the backsplash generally gets a coat of paint. If it’s lucky.

The backsplash is often the hardest working surface in your home (next to the floor of course). Splashed with food, oils, spices, sugars, liquids of every imaginableorigin these paint primed walls can make a kitchen look old and abused. You might think new hardware is the most effective way to update this but don’t ignore the backsplash.

A myriad of easy to install sheet surfaces are available to cover that poor paint, giving your walls the shield they need to endure against our everyday activities. From aluminum sheeting to river rock these choices offer a visual deviation from the standard tile generally selected. Another modern and whimsical choice is glass.

Glass tiles posses a durability and flexibility unrivaled by other surfaces. Often paired with waterproof backing and un-sanded grout the finished surface is stain-resistant, easy to clean, and visually stunning. Immediately modernizing a kitchen and updating the functionality of a previously neglected surface in one of the most important rooms of your house is a win-win for everyone, increasing home value and aesthetic appeal.

Bathrooms are another room that benefit from backsplashes, with glass tiles being a very intelligent choice. Water resistant is an obvious bonus, but what about the make-up, hair spray and toothpaste that previously permeated the primed walls under your mirrors? A wall of shimmering glass tiles solves this problem, reflecting light in a prism of home-improvement success. Enlarging spaces and visually increasing light as well as providing the water resistant surfaces all bathrooms need, glass backsplashes are an ingenious and trendy solution that proves simple and cost effective.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Nashville Farmer's Market

2011-10-20T22:16:00Z

Meet “Harry.” Harry is a flying pig, recently acquired from an outing to the Nashville Farmer’s Market. You see, once a month the Farmer’s Market in downtown Nashville located on 8th avenue opens its stalls to the night air, allowing the stars to co-host an evening of food and fun.

You can find everything here, all types of in-season produce, fruit that glistens and vegetables so crisp you can still hear them snapping off their vines. Home baked goodies that fill the air with the scent of apples, pumpkins, chess pie and fall. Orchids in all their oriental glory, greenery in every shape and size. Gardening tools and lawn ornaments… and yes. Even flying pigs.

If you aren’t tempted enough by the lure of locally grown organic goodness the Market now hosts thirteen restaurants, ranging from Cajun to a newly opened Chinese buffet. All manner of choices are available to tantalize your tastebuds and goad your appetite. The Shreeji International Market has a mind-numbing selection of overseas ingredients to spice up any pantry, and there is even fresh fish.

In addition to all these culinary delights there is a live band for your listening pleasure, as well as a full bar, wine, and flora-infused champagne cocktails, making this one of the only “grocery” stores in Tennessee that sells wine!

So grab a glass, stroll the stalls, and remember… one night a month in downtown Nashville vegetables and fruit dance under the stars to bluegrass music, smelling of apple pie on a stick and watching pigs fly.

Posted by: Jennifer McClarney

Parade of Homes in Brentwood

2011-10-14T18:43:00Z

Brentwood, Tennessee was inundated recently with their own brand of “desperate housewives.” An estimated 15,000 of them actually. And perhaps it wasn’t just the wives, but husbands and mothers and sisters and brothers, anyone looking to purchase a peek into the newest, latest and greatest in real estate evolution on the market, available to those that can afford it. And if you can’t, you might have attended the 2011 Parade of Homes.

Specifically geared to spotlight local builders and all they have to offer, the Homebuilders Association of Middle TN hosted the 2011 Parade of Homes, affording a glimpse into the lavish and luxurious everyday amenities these homes have to tender, and the lengths these esteemed builders will go to give you everything your heart desires. From September 24th to October 9th people flooded the streets of Annandale, a sprawling Brentwood community that has everything you can imagine to offer, including, just maybe, the home of your dreams.

The builders that graced the 2011 Parade of Homes included Carbine Development, Legend Homes, Grove Park Construction, and Hidden Valley Homes. These builders have decided to focus on more realistic visions of grandeur, creating a style of home building based on budgetary and economic concerns in addition to lavish living. Legend Homes' founder and President, Doug Herman says it best when he was quoted as saying “Over the years, I recognized that my clients are my most priceless resource and I am a better builder because I listen to them.” While not all of us can spend a lifetime in one of the gorgeous homes in Annandale’s 221 acre planned community, all of us would be better served by builders that share that mindset.

The 2011 Parade of Homes, returning to its 35 year tradition after a four year hiatus, proffered the public a reminder that the housing communities in Tennessee are still going strong, and have more to offer than you ever could have dreamed.

Connect to our facebook page for more details!

Posted by: Jennifer Mcclarney

Adams, Tennessee

2011-10-11T22:03:00Z

If you are looking for a quiet destination to celebrate fall, as well as experience a little living local history, less than an hour away from the city center of Nashville you will find the sleepy little town of Adams, Tennessee. When you drive through the town with a population of roughly 566 people and historical plaques on most of the home fronts, you normally won’t see much other than stately old oaks blazing with fall colors and white rockers.

The Adams Antique Mall and School House Cafeteria is a wonderful detour from big city life. Built in 1913, and rebuilt in 1920 after a fire ravaged the building, the Bell High School served as the only local school for 55 years. The cafeteria still functions today and serves a fulfilling home cooked lunch five days a week, with an old-fashioned blackboard boasting the daily specials. The Adams museum is in the same building, and there are two floors of antiques for you to browse after you have eaten your fill of southern fare.

If the name “Bell” sounds familiar, Adams is the home of the “Bell Witch of Tennessee.” Actually believed to be an entity nicknamed Kate, sent by a furious neighbor, the Bell’s Witch tormented the Bell family for years. Numerous books have been written, and the legend is widely taught in our public schools. The Bell Witch Cave is still open for tours, and special October tours are available by appointment only. Be prepared for a lively tour through wrought iron gates into a low hanging tunnel, stepping over rocks and trailing your hands along walls festooned with friendly spiders. And make sure you wear footwear you don’t mind getting wet: perched just over the Red River the cave entrance is often swollen with water, and a misstep will put you ankle deep!

Adams is also a popular canoeing destination. With shuttles running daily during the summer and by appointment during the winter you can relax on the Red River for anywhere from three to six hours, traveling up to 12 miles. The slow moving waters make this an easily enjoyable activity for family members of all ages.

Visit our facebook page for more details!

Posted by: Jennifer Mcclarney

Smyrna Tennessee Named Top Retirement Suburb

2011-08-17T16:53:06Z

Forbes Magazine recently named Smyrna Tennessee as one of the top retirement suburbs across the country. Smyrna is only about 25 miles from downtown Nashville with easy access to the country landscape as well. Smyrna has a population of approximately 40,000 residents who enjoy the long history of Smyrna and Rutherford County. The Sam Davis Home is one of the most historic sites in Smyrna, which was the plantation home of heroic Sam Davis. He was famous for offering up his life rather than telling the Union soldiers secret information of the Confederate war efforts.

Smyrna's cost of living and low tax climate for people who have retired is very attractive with easy access to interstates, shopping, churches, downtown Nashville and cities beyond.

Bob Parks Realty is a locally owned and operated real estate firm with eight offices, an auction division, land division and a full service relocation department. Bob Parks Realty has over 400 agents who specialize in single family homes, Condos, land, farms, downtown living and multi family properties. For free relocation information, email: or call: 615-574-7321 and to search for properties go to: www.bobparks.com.

What a great place to live, work and play!! Come visit!

For more information, click here.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

Nashville Ranked #3 Best Value Cities for 2011

2011-08-09T15:53:23Z

Kiplinger ranked Nashville as being the third best city for value for 2011. Kiplingers Personal Finance focused on several industries that put Nashville on the map. Most of the expected growth is to be in education and health care while technology, manufacturing and entertainment and media industries follow close behind. There are approximately 151,000 new jobs expected by 2019 for the Nashville Middle Tennessee area.

Nashville is a modern southern town with a very business friendly environment. It has a large diverse population, affordable housing and a warm environment to live, work and play. Several of the top employers in Nashville include Vanderfilt University, Nissan North America and Hospital Corporation of America. People from across the country have relocated to Nashville and continue to enjoy the southern hospitality offered throughout the region. Total population for Nashville is 1,502,649, unemployment rate of 8.5% and cost of living index of 90.7 and median household income of $51,352.00

Bob Parks Realty, LLC is a locally owned and operated full service real estate firm serving the Metro Nashville area. When looking for single family homes, condos, land, farms or multi family homes ~ visit www.bobparks.com or email: for a free Relocation Guide. Our Relocation Department can also be reached at 615-574-7319.

For more information, click here along with here.

For a walking tour link, follow this link.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

Nashville Welcomes Downtown U.S. Headquarters - IQT, Inc.

2011-07-05T00:00:00Z

Recently an announcement was made by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Mayor Karl Dean and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty and Alex Mortman, co-CEO of IQT, Inc. that they will establish its U.S. headquarters in downtown Nashville. These new jobs for Nashvillians is exciting and offers many opportunities for employment. IQT is a technology-focused company that provides customer relationship management services and e-commerce solutions for Fortune 500 companies in the technology and telecommunications industries.

Bob Parks Realty, LLC Relocation Team can assist anyone wanting to learn more about the Nashville Middle Tennessee real estate market. We service the 10 county Metro Nashville area. For a free relocation Internet Guide - email: Bob Parks Realty, LLC has 6 real estate offices with over 400 Realtors who specialize in each real estate market area - single family homes, condos, multi family, land, farms and commercial properties throughout the region.

For more information, click here.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

Mobile Apps and More!

2011-06-27T19:11:00Z

Recently I have been downloading some apps to me new EVO and it's amazing whats available and FREE! It's fun to navigate the world without even leaving the living room and discover what is happening in every aspect of life with a touch of a finger.

My latest discovery for my professional use is the RealTracs mobile app. It functions like a GPS searching for homes in the vicinity, including price, age and maps the properties for easy identification. This download is available for iphones, droids but not blackberries.

Technology is certainly making it easier for the consumer and Realtor. However, nothing beats the place of sitting down and having a good conversation!

Posted by: Eileen George

Happy Birthday to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport!

2011-06-03T12:39:12Z

"Time flies" and it's already been one year since the grand opening of the new airport in Panama City Beach. The airport celebrated its one year anniversary with a get together looking back to this time a year ago. The unveiling of a huge "rock" that commemorates the sponsors involved in the project was presented. Southwest Airlines is the carrier in every day servicing four locations with eight flights per day which equates to 2,000 seats every day! WOW! This year the airport served 800,000 passengers which is three times greater than the traffic the old airport saw annually.

Click here to read more.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

Gen Y and What They Want When Buying Real Estate....

2011-05-23T07:22:51Z

Who are they? What do they want? How do they work?

People born in the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. They want it NOW! Try text versus phone calls or emails. They are the next group of consumers who will be first-time home buyers. This generation is also know as the Millennials and they number around 80 million U.S. residents. Real state agents need to communicate in the context of providing lots and lots of information. Many times when looking at homes they already know everything there is to know about the property. They want low maintenance, close to social venues, shopping, parks and restaurants. Many Millennials like walk ability.

To learn more click here.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

U. S. Cost Survey and Transfer Volume Report for 2010

2011-05-17T15:20:26Z

Since 2006 the domestic relocation volume has dropped 4 percent. Between 2007 and 2008, transfer activity declined an additional 3.4 percent. For 2010, companies were projecting an overall increase in transfer volume of 4 percent from 2009. The overall response from transferees have at least some minor problems with reluctance to relocate. The difficult housing markets prevalent throughout the country are directly responsible for the outcome of less relocations Family issues are favored as one of the highest and most difficult things to deal with in relocating transferees.

Click here for more information.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

2011 Academics of Nashville Awards

2011-05-17T14:54:23Z

Several awards were recognized with distinction in the following categories recently:

Academy Teacher of the YearAcademy Team Leader of the YearAcademy Partnership of the Year in six industry areasAcademy Students of the YearAcademy Coach of the YearExternship Project of the YearAcademy Assistant Principal of the YearExecutive Principal of the YearCounselor of the YearFreshman Academy of the YearAcademy of the Year

Per Mayor Karl Dean, ch-chair of the Chamber's CEO Champions, "Nashville is making great strides in improving public education," "Through smaller learning communities and the Academies of Nashville, our students are learning critical skills that they will need to succeed in college and a 21st-century career."

Reach the Nashville Academies for more information by visiting their website: www.academiesofnashville.com.

To learn more, click here.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

Music City - Nashville Tennessee A Destination!

2011-05-07T00:00:00Z

Pack your bags and head to Music City! Nashville is has been know as Music City for years and it's still stands true today. People from all over the world head to Nashville every year to be a part of the music world. Every venue of music you would ever want to hear and enjoy is there. Lots of famous people live, work and play in Nashville and call it home...

Click here for more information.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

Nashville Ranks in the 10 Best State for Making A Living!

2011-05-06T07:23:56Z

With an adjusted average income of approximately $38,038.00 per year and a low cost of living, Tennessee ranks among the top ten states that are best for making a living. Based on the average state wages, state unemployment rate, state tax rate ands state cost of living landed Tennessee in this ranking. With no state income tax those living in the state of Tennessee get to keep more of their earned dollar.

Click here to read more.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll

Green Jobs offered by Tennessee for Earth Day!

2011-04-27T07:09:13Z

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released preliminary numbers which shares the states green jobs report. Over 6,000 companies across the state was surveyed.

More than 43,000 jobs between 2001-2013 will be green. Leading the initiative is energy efficiency and sustainable transportation activity.

Click here for more information.

Posted by: Tammy Carroll, CRP, GMS, RCC, WRS

2010 New Year's Eve - What will you do?

2010-12-30T00:00:00Z

Nashville never lacks in live music going on somewhere! So, what will you do New Year’s Eve?

Here are just a few things going on around the city!

Music City’s New Year’s Eve Bash on Broadway. Phil Vassar will be headlining this year and Will Hoge, Heidi Newfield and Damien Horne will be taking the stage as well! There will be music, fireworks, a guitar drop at midnight and much more! The party starts at 7:30 pm!Hard Rock Cafe adds to that with an all-access for $75 giving you a front row view of the Bash on Broadway, premium drink tickets, butler passed Hors d’oeuvres and more!Ryman will be having The Old Crow Medicine Show…. but! it’s already sold out!Opryland Hotel will have a party at Fuse Nightclub. Their room packages are sold out, but there are still general admission and Plush Lounge Seating available. DJ Tyrus will be playing your favorite past and present dance hits.The Nashville Symphony will be celebrating the New Year as well at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Grand Re-Opening! Their tickets are currently sold out but you can get on a waitlist!The Bluebird Cafe will be ringing in the new year with Thom Schuyler, Fred Knobloch, Tony Arata and Jelly Roll Johnson. Just $40.00!3rd and Lindsley will have Kentucky Thunder Jonell Mosser, Vicki Carrico, Sheila Lawrence and Etta Britt performing.Music City Ball will be having a bash hosted by MAI Nightclub in the Gulch district. There will be DJs, VIP packages, multiple bars, entertainment and more! Tickets range from $30 to $75.

So, as you can see.. New Year’s Eve in Music City will be no less musical than any other time in the great city of Nashville! Hope you all have a wonderful time wherever you are and please be safe!!

Guide Me Home 2 Nashville, TN - Home

East Nashville Brings the Heat!

Free Admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame

Going Greek in Nashville - Athens Family Restaurant

Sam Davis Home - History of A Hometown Hero

The Gulch - Greener Living Goes Glam!

Diplomat of the Year!

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Winter Wilderness Hike in Taylor Hollow

History Alive and Well in Germantown

Culture on the Crawl, Free of Charge

Zoo Run Run!

Taking Down Without Breaking Down

Stress Relief After the Holidays

Susan Gregory

Season of Wishes

Home for the Holidays

Nashville's Nutcracker Opening Night

Angel Tree

Frosty Fun Run

GNAR Member Luncheon

Great Thanksgiving Banquet

After the Flood

Chili Cookoff Weekend

An Evening with Friends - Charity Auction

Fresh Perspectives - Staged to Sell!

Christmas 4 Kids Auction

Cookin' To Build

The Onyx Room

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Glass Tiles

Nashville Farmer's Market

Parade of Homes in Brentwood

Adams, Tennessee

Smyrna Tennessee Named Top Retirement Suburb

Nashville Ranked #3 Best Value Cities for 2011

Nashville Welcomes Downtown U.S. Headquarters - IQT, Inc.

Mobile Apps and More!

Happy Birthday to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport!

Gen Y and What They Want When Buying Real Estate....

U. S. Cost Survey and Transfer Volume Report for 2010

2011 Academics of Nashville Awards

Music City - Nashville Tennessee A Destination!

Nashville Ranks in the 10 Best State for Making A Living!

Green Jobs offered by Tennessee for Earth Day!

2010 New Year's Eve - What will you do?

Tax Freeze for Elderly Homeowners

Home Sale Marketing Mistakes

ICE & Snow!

Are you a Last Minute Shopper??

Senior Citizens' Assurance Program

Garth Brooks back in Concert!

Predictions... Who's going to be right?

Bob Parks Auction webisode! Charity Auction!

Who thought of writing about a Pet for Christmas???

Fleet Feet - Frosty Fun Run

Great Websites for Home Owners

Dickens of a Christmas

A Pet for Christmas??

The Story of the Nutcracker

Cheekwood

Gray Line (more than just a bus ride)

Christmas Parade Anyone?

The REAL Thanksgiving Story

Farmers Market?

Christmas 4 Kids

Nashville for the Holidays?

Back to Basics - But how basic?

Bring it on Black Friday!

The Mashable Awards!

Rutherford County Taxpayers have saved some money!

Williamson County rezoning plan approved!

Time Management

Don't Take On A Bigger Mortgage Than You Can Afford

Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition Episode to Air

There's an App for that!

Gaylord Opryland to open soon!

Christmas Village!

Bob Parks Auction Webisode!

National Debt is out of control!