Yes I'm finally getting some time to post all these pictures I've stock pilled in my computer for months.  I have two posts to do on Nashville.  This one obviously is on downtown and the second one will be on Vanderbilt University and Centennial Park.

 

Downtown Nashville

 

This was from my hotel from across the river..

 

The batman building...  I took way too many pictures of this..  What's its real name by the way?

 

Overall Downtown Nashville's Architecture was not blessed with a high stock of historical architecture.  Like many younger southern cities much of its architecture is modern.  There are, however pockets of nice and historic architecture.  They are namely along the river-front on 1st and 2nd street, and along Broadway (the home of all the music clubs).  Most of their historic buildings are mid rise buildings.  I don't remember seeing any historical skyscrapers.  I do applaud Nashville's efforts in building new historically based architecture and preserving what they have  :clap:

 

 

These are some shots from Broadway...

 

The hockey arena..

 

This is further up the street beyond the live music venues..

 

These photos are taken closer to the Cumberland River..

 

The Country Hall of Fame..

 

This is where the Nashville Orchestra Plays.  They did a great job at making this look historic..

 

The Cherry Blossoms where amazing!

 

 

State Capital Building...

 

This is where we had lunch...

 

More Downtown photos...

 

Nashville's Arcade...

 

I love it when dingy alley ways can be converted to this..

 

The city did a great job on the architecture of their new library..

 

 

 

Nice looking downtown. The state capitol is classic both in design and in its setting.

That is one of the most unappealing, uninteresting downtowns I have ever seen, in my opinion. The architecture, for the most part, is completely uninspiring.

 

That, along with most of Indianapolis.

Nice shots!

That's one sexy alley.

^^ Ink, that article refers to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts- The Nashville Symphony plays in the Schermerhorn Center which is new.

-Also, you can see my building in the view from the state house North towards the Farmer's Market.  It's an old warehouse in "Germantown", just North of downtown (its the complex with a watertower)- an area worth visiting if in the area or on your next visit Urbanforever.

^^ Ink, that article refers to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts- The Nashville Symphony plays in the Schermerhorn Center which is new.

 

Oh thank you! The accompanying picture of the Schermerhorn Center confused me.

I didn't know Nashville had an arcade. Looks interesting -- and old. Mid- to late-19th century?

I didn't know Nashville had an arcade. Looks interesting -- and old. Mid- to late-19th century?

 

It was built in 1902.

 

Here's a link to the old arcade with some great photos and info...

http://www.nashvillewebreview.com/automat/nashville/businesses/arcade/TheArcade.htm

Love that alley shot.  Nashville is a place I have yet to visit.

interesting to see nashville today. thx.

 

so far this one kind of reminds me of a stumpy goldman sachs building

 

 

I didn't know Nashville had an arcade. Looks interesting -- and old. Mid- to late-19th century?

 

It was built in 1902.

 

Here's a link to the old arcade with some great photos and info...

http://www.nashvillewebreview.com/automat/nashville/businesses/arcade/TheArcade.htm

 

Thanks. Great historic Arcade tour. Arcades are always hidden gems.

I don't get what all the hype Nashville garners is about.  Other than the alley shot, nothing really seemed appealing to me.

I may visit Nashville this summer but have been unmotivated due to a lack of great city neighborhoods.  Any city can dress up a downtown, and theirs does look nice, but the real soul of a city is in its neighborhoods.

 

Does anyone here know more about Nashville's neighborhoods?

I've heard that the neighborhood around Vanderbilt is pretty cool, but I've never been myself.

I've heard that the neighborhood around Vanderbilt is pretty cool, but I've never been myself.

 

Yes, this is true. Coming from Cincy, you may be a little disappointed, but worth a visit.

That neighborhood is pretty weak, in my opinion.  Vanderbilt is a a top 25 university but it is quite small compared to UC, only about 10,000 students + a hospital.  The street layout in this area is actually fairly interesting, with a few eccentric triangular intersections, but the traffic congestion is well beyond anything in any part of Cincinnati. There is also that wild contrast between strip malls & bungalows and then more recent midrises that is unique to the south.  There are zero Cincinnati-style row buildings in Nashville outside of a few downtown blocks, so there's nothing like Ludlow or Calhoun or Short Vine.       

NashVegas, eh!

There are some interesting naybs around.  I've been in Nashville for 1 year now and do not claim to be an expert by any means about the area, but have been able to enjoy it.  Architecturarly it is very different from the large OH cities, but there are areas within the city that are comparable to.

 

DOWNTOWN-  everybody knows about Nashvegas, but all the life of downtown is located along broadway and 2nd ave.  Some downtown new condos and conversions- but nothing special.

 

EAST NASHVILLE- is any interesting area that has been gentrifying, numerous art galleries, restaurants, boutiques etc.  Probably Nashvilles biggest Gayborhood.  Lots of music venues.  I guess somewhat similar to the Northside vibe.

 

HILLSBORO VILLAGE-  This is the Vanderbilt University and Medical Center Area.  The strip of 21st avenue here is similar to Ludlow in Cincinnati, although slightly more upscale-catering to the rich Southern undergrads that populate the area.  High property values do to the large amount of docs from the Medical Center living there wanting to walk to work or have an easy commute, also rich undergrads again.

 

WESTEND- Just Northwest of Vanderbilt.  Westend is one of the main thoroughfares through Nashville from the Downtown to the Midtown area (Vandy, Demonbreun, Music Row).  This is also the location a relative hotel boom- Marriott, Residence Inn, Lowes, Hotel Indigo, Hutton have all been built relatively recently with an Intercontinental on the way.  Essentially its High Street without the character, and about twice as wide and non-pedestrian friendly.  There are some midrise condos in this area.  All the non-vandy med centers in the area are located close off these streets.

 

DEMONBREUN/MUSIC ROW-  this area is where many of the old Country studios/stars were located.  There are still very many studios, small/medium country/rock labels, and this area is also where the major labels have their Country HQs.  Demonbreun street has recently been converted into a mixed use area of restaurants, condos, and retail.  Like the Gateway area of OSU.

 

BELMONT/12 AVE S-  Popular area amongst the youger crowd, with restaurants, boutiques, and rental and residential areas.  Belmont University students in the area, somewhat more eclectic then there vandy counterparts- nations "best" music production program.  Lots of good bars, music venues.

 

the GULCH- 3 new highrise  condo developments with associated restaurants etc, popular with the young proffessionals.  Newly manufactured, not a ton of character.  But young pretty people.

 

8th AVE S-  more residential, close to vandy and belmont.  More relaxed area.  A few new condos, becoming more popular because of the expense of the Midtown areas.  Think Oakley, but no cool "square area".

 

GERMANTOWN- This is where I live in a converted wearhouse building that looks very similar to the the "Treemont Place Lofts".  Just North of downtown.  Mix of old southern homes, shotguns, and new builds, as well as lowrise condos/ and town homes.  Home of some of the best retaurants in Nashville.  Extremely walkable neighborhood, Kroger, drycleaner, Farmers Market, hardware store, chocaletier easily walkable.  This area is still gentrifying.  Some buildings similar to German Village, although not nearly as quaint.  Farmers Market similar to NorthMarket.

 

Anyway, Nashvilles not all that bad, and in my opinion is definetely worth a visit.  Anyway, can't wait to come back to the OH.

Looks okay, too new for me though.