Day 4 already! Second to last conference day.
It was another great day of presentations but oof, my brain is kinda starting to go to mush at this point. Like I already said, these have been FULL days of information overload.
Lunch today had an extra “lunch and learn” session option that my boss wanted us to attend. It was fine, but also… I kind of needed an actual brain break!!
Conference ended at 5. Then I spent 5-5:30 sending a couple emails, then a little decompressing before meeting my coworker downstairs at 6:30 to go out. My boss had other plans, and our 4th coworker bailed at the last minute.
But that’s ok- at least I had someone to go out with!
We took the hotel shuttle to Broadway with the plan to check out Rippy’s for BBQ (a friend recommended).
It was busy – everywhere was way busier on Thursday today vs the previous days. We got an awesome table though right by the band and next to a big open window where we had fun watching all the people go by.
The band was good and the place was super lively! I really liked it.
We got food- I had a BBQ pork sandwich with a side of mac n cheese. And a beer.
Eventually we moved on. We said we wanted to walk the whole strip and check out several places!
Next we went to Jason Aldean’s, which has a lower level restaurant (with music) and a huge rooftop area with a separate band.
The upstairs was WAY more bumping so we went up there.
Also had great views of the city.
We lucked out and snagged a 2 top little table near the band.
We stayed here for quite a while! Our table was off to the side and was great.
Views from behind me:
Liked the wall decor:
They played a nice mix of rock and country.
Finally we decided to move on again.
It was really busy everywhere!! The most popular places had lines to get in. Music was EVERYWHERE!! So cool. I loved it!
For our last real stop we went to Robert’s. Before getting out of our shuttle on the way there, I asked the young man driver: what’s your favorite honky tonk? He said, “I really like Robert’s.” So, we went to Robert’s.
Robert’s was cool!! I loved the vibe. The band included a big standing bass and the whole vibe was more “old school Tennessee country”.
The musicians were SO GOOD! These guys were true artists.
It was really crowded there too, but after standing for a bit a couple left and we snagged their table.
This band played until 10. Another would come on, but we decided to head out as it was getting late.
We briefly wandered around the little outdoor mall area by the Assembly Food Hall, but the area was generally closed. Cool spot, though.
Snapped a pic of the old iconic Ryman Theater (the original Grand Ole Opry and where people like Johnny Cash and Elvis played back in the day).
Tried to get an Uber but the prices were super high… so we said we’d walk a bit and then get one. Well, long story short, we ended up just walking all the way back again. It had been more deserted the other night, so now that there were only 2 of us, we weren’t planning to walk.
But there were way more people out and about, and given the Uber prices (which never really seemed to come down), we finally just walked the whole way.
I was happy to get a good “honky tonk hopping” experience tonight, especially since I was a little bummed we kind of missed a night experiencing Nashville last night. (Still was a nice night, but with only a few nights, I wanted to get out there to enjoy.)
It was a bit humorous that my 34 year old coworker was the one who stayed in alone to just chill, whereas my 61 year old coworker was the one who went bar hopping with me! Haha.
I liked her attitude: she said, I can stay in and read at home. I only get so many heartbeats in this life… I need to live while I still can! ❤️
Amen, J!
One more conference day tomorrow before I head home tomorrow evening.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for that great table at Rippy’s. It was such a beautiful, warm night, and I really enjoyed sitting there.
GRATEFUL KAE 
I’m so glad you were able to fit in this “night out on the town” and had a companion.
Once again, your outfits are amazing!!!
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Yes, me too! I was not really comfortable with the idea of going out on the town totally on my own, though if I had Ubered back and forth, I think it likel would have been fine. (There is a very wide range of people in Nashville, and many older people actually out in the bars too! Like 60s+ age range.)
And thanks! It was fun to “dress up” this week. I tend to feel better/ enjoy myself more when I feel like I sort of look the part of where I am, or have something that I feel looks nice on me, etc. So for travel I do try to give some thought to what I’ll wear, vs just grabbing any old thing.
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I really like J! My attitude is that I know what a hotel room looks like. If I’m in a cool place I want to be out on the town and drinking it in. BTW I really love that dress.
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Yes! Exactly. Maybe if I had been to Nashville a bunch of times I would have felt differently, but I’ve always wanted to go to Nashville, and here I finally was….. you’d best believe I’m not just sitting in my room!
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Ha ha… I initially thought Birchie’s comment said “I want to be out on the town and drinking in it.” Oh wait- DRINKING IT IN. But drinking in the town is fun too. I’m so glad you got this night! It sounds like exactly what you wanted.
I’ve found that the older I get, the more I feel like your 61 year old coworker. Our days are numbered- might as well live it up.
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Haha, yes- drinking it in is a good way to approach it! I feel like I’m sort of a nice in between type person- I like to have fun and am willing to “buck routines” and just go with the flow and “live it up some” when it makes sense, but I’m also someone who enjoys some quiet and downtime and can appreciate solitude. I feel like I’m pretty good at being able to sort of lean to either side, depending on the situation! Some people I think can get VERY stuck in their patterns. Which, I guess is not bad- people should do whatever works for them! But I personally am glad that I’m able to be a little more flexible and that I do okay going with the flow at times.
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What a perfect last night!!
I saw Kacey Musgraves at Ryman Auditorium!!! It was epic. (love her! I THINK you know who she is right? since she’s country?)
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lol, yes I have heard of her! I would love to see a show at the Ryman sometime! I really want to go back and go to the Grand Ole Opry too.
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Absolutely wonderful night (and trip!) and I am happy for you! I have not seen much of this country at all and I hope one day to visit TN and the surrounding states… Dollywood is on my list!! Your table was perfect, what a wonderful warm, night/
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I was thinking of that recently- your kids are at such great ages to enjoy so many of the wonderful spots in the U.S.! Of course all your international travels are amazing too, but you might consider looking into planning some trips around the U.S. while they’re younger right now! There are SO many great places right here not even that far away.
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Love your dress! Sounds like you had a really fun night! The city views are very pretty and it’s nice to hear that things are still nice and lively there even in a post-covid world! I know the vibe of some cities has really changed but Nashville seems to be doing well!
I think I would have come out with you guys if I was on this trip. Certainly if I worked with someone as fun and delightful as you I would have!
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Awww, I hope you would have! I replied to you on another comment, but this trip was very different from all your frequent work trips I think! I am sure if you were also on a sort of “once in a long time” trip like this was for me, I could have easily convinced you to come out with me for a bit! haha.
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Wooo! bar hopping for music, look at you, so much fun spirit! I wouldn’t have ventured out as you did but maybe because I don’t have a colleague like you that pull me out of the lazy/comfort zone?
I will be more adventurous next time I go for work trip! sounds fun.
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I think… it’s ok to push yourself to “go out” or “stay up a little” etc from time to time! Depends on the situation, of course, but for me this was a rare/ not likely to happen again soon trip. That’s why I especially wanted to make a point to not only really connect with my coworkers, but to enjoy Nashville as much as I could.
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What a fun day… and even more fun night! 😉
And please tell me, how many outfits did you bring to the conference? I think I have to rethink my packing for my work travel next week 😉
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Hahaha- I packed 2 outfits for each day basically. One “business” type outfit, and then a more country style dress/outfit for evenings. Then I threw in maybe 1-2 extra “just in case” things, plus a set of exercise clothes in case I had time for a walk outside or the gym (which I really only used one morning to run out to the store….).
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From your description of a hotel near Vanderbilt, I’m guessing you were at the Loew’s hotel? I went to multiple legal conferences there and had a great time. The 34 y/o probably has little kids at home and decided that room service would be a treat. I’m in my 60s and absolutely would hit the music venues after hours, too! During one trip, I saw that the Decemberists were playing at the Ryman the night of my arrival and booked tickets via StubHub while awaiting my departing flight to Nashville that afternoon. You’ll have to go back!
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Yes, it was Loew’s! Great hotel! I really enjoyed it! And you’re spot on- the 34 y/o has I think a 2 + 5 year old at home. So I don’t blame her at all! She’s also very introverted and just not really into the bar/ loud music scene. I am not typically a big “bar person” either, but the music venues in Nashville have a different vibe and with all the live music, etc they don’t feel like just typical bars! I really enjoyed them!!! Can’t wait to go back. I am dying to go to some shows at either Ryman or Grand Ole Opry… but the timing didn’t really work with the conference this time. (And there were no shows for some reason these few days at Grand Ole Opry- not sure if related to the recent hurricane?? The first show this was slated to be Friday, but that was the day we left.)
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