Between the keynote speakers and distinguished lecturers, author presenters, and concurrent sessions, make sure you take time out to experience the local cuisine. Whether you dine at the convention center, or venture into the city, you will find that Nashville offers a wide range of culinary choices.
Convention Center
Old Hickory Steakhouse features a mansion setting and a river view and is located in the Delta Atrium (reservations are highly suggested). Enjoy authentic Italian dishes while dining al fresco at Ristorante Volare, which is located in the Garden Conservatory (reservations are suggested). Wasabi's offers freshly prepared Japanese-style sushi and is located in the Cascades Atrium. For a quick snack, stop by the Conservatory Café at the entrance to the Garden Conservatory. Enjoy the NCAA tourney with your colleagues at Rusty's Sports Bar & Grill in the Magnolia section.
Nashville
If you leave the convention center, sample Nashville's soul food at Monell's Dining & Catering or Swett's Restaurant, both in the city's center. Jack's Bar-B-Que is just north of downtown Nashville, while Sperry's Restaurant, in the Belle Meade section of the city, is Nashville's premier steakhouse.
Wherever you go, don't forget to inquire about the Meat n' Three special, a Nashville favorite that includes a choice of meat and three side dishes, served with cornbread.
Tuning into Nashville
By Vanessa St. Gerard and Kaylen Tucker
Perhaps most well-known as Music City, Nashville has a reputation beyond country music. The city has attracted or produced musicians from all genres, including Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, Paul McCartney, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Jon Bon Jovi, and Nelly, among many others.
Nashville's musical roots date back to the days of Davy Crockett, who became a noted fiddler and buck dancer. WSM radio announcer David Cobb is credited for penning Nashville's musical nickname in 1950. While ad-libbing on the air, he referred to Nashville as "Music City USA" and the name has stuck ever since.
Another WSM radio announcer, George D. Hay, is recognized for coining "Grand Ole Opry," the name of America's longest-running radio show. Known previously as the WSM Barn Dance, the radio show got it's new name after Hay announced to listeners at the beginning of his broadcast, which followed a broadcast of the New York Opera, "Folks, for the last hour, you've been listening to music taken largely from the grand opera ... from now on you're gonna hear the Grand Ole Opry!"
If you want to learn more about Nashville's musical roots, visit these attractions:
Music Mile. This one-mile stretch that connects the downtown area to Music Row is a concentrated area dedicated to the country, gospel, and contemporary Christian music industries. Located just southeast of downtown, Music Row is home to the historic RCA Studio B, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Music City Walk of Fame. Make sure you see the Music Row roundabout and park, which houses the sculpture, "Musica."
Ryman Auditorium. Called, "The Mother Church of Country Music," Ryman Auditorium was home to the Grand Ole Opry broadcast from 1943 until 1974. In 1994, the auditorium was restored and since then it has been operating as a concert hall.
Welcome to Music City, USA
By Kaylen Tucker
In addition to whetting your appetite for country music, Nashville, Tennessee, has something to offer everyone from sports fans to history buffs. Don't leave the convention host city without visiting one of these attractions.
Local Attractions
The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is an all-inclusive property, featuring restaurants, lounges, two swimming pools, a spa, and a golf course.
Opry Mills is just a short walk from the convention center. A bargain shopper's paradise, the facility has restaurants, a movie theater, and 200 stores.
Centennial Park is the home of the Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens. Located west of downtown, near Vanderbilt University, the Parthenon was built in 1897 in celebration of Tennessee's Centennial Exposition.
Adventure Science Center features exhibits about the human body and medical discoveries, and interactive exhibits like the flight simulator and Adventure Tower. Also south of downtown is Greer Stadium, a minor league baseball stadium that has a guitar-shaped scoreboard. The stadium is located on the grounds of Fort Negley, a Civil War fortification.
General Jackson Showboat. Take a cruise along the Cumberland River in this 300-foot-long paddlewheel riverboat. Choose between the northern and southern routes and the midday and evening cruises, which feature a live performance and dinner.
Lane Motor Museum. Visit this homage to unique European cars in nearby Murfreesboro. Featuring vehicles not usually seen in the U.S., Lane Motor Museum exhibits microcars, amphibious cars, and one-of-a-kind vehicles, all organized by country of origin.
Belle Meade Plantation. Tour this well-preserved, historic plantation mansion, which was renowned for breeding championship thoroughbred horses. Evidence of the Civil War's Battle of Nashville is visible on the building's façade.
Day Trips
Jack Daniel Distillery. Ninety minutes from Nashville in Lynchburg, Tennessee, the Jack Daniel Distillery put this small county on the map with its legendary whiskey. After you take the tour, visit the museum, and have lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House Restaurant, make the short drive to Tullahoma to discover the secrets of the George Dickel Distillery.
Cumberland Caverns. Tennessee's largest show cave features daily tours that reveal large underground rooms, waterfalls, and historic saltpeter mining. Visit the Lowdown Dirty Gem Mine and discover semiprecious stones from around the world.
Rippavilla Plantation. This plantation mansion, located 45 minutes south of Nashville, has been restored to its 1860s appearance. The tour will introduce you to plantation life, the Civil War, the reconstruction period, and the Battle of Spring Hill.
Getting Around
By shuttle you can also travel between the convention center hotels, the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Mills, Gaylord Springs Golf Course, Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Wildhorse Saloon, and the General Jackson Showboat. But if you want to get off the beaten path, you can:
Nashville Beyond the Music
By Vanessa St. Gerard
"Music City," "Buckle of the Bible Belt," and "Athens of the South," are but a few of the nicknames associated with Nashville, Tennessee. Here's a bit about the city's history.
Higher Education. As Nashville looked toward the future after the Civil War, the education of the city's youths was at the top of the list. In a span of 25 years following the war, four colleges were founded: Vanderbilt University and Montgomery Bell Academy, as well as Fisk University and Meharry Medical College-colleges established for the higher education of black students. With the opening of these learning facilities, Nashville became known as the Athens of the South.
The Parthenon was constructed in 1897 to honor Nashville's commitment to embodying the moniker, Athens of the South. The building and the 42-foot Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals.
Political Ties. Two of the three U.S. presidents from Tennessee called Nashville their home at some point during their lives. James K. Polk's final residence was a mansion in downtown Nashville that has since been torn down. However, Andrew Jackson's plantation, The Hermitage, still remains today. It is one of the few presidential homes with a majority of the original furnishings on display. While Jackson is buried on his estate, Polk is buried on the grounds of the State Capitol in Nashville.
Printers Alley. Printers Alley, once home to more than 35 printing companies and associated businesses, became the center of the city's nightlife after the newspapers and other print shops relocated during the 1930s. The alley gradually became Nashville's premier destination for nighttime "wine, women and song."
Nightclubs opened here in the 1940s, and the alley became a showcase for the talents of performers such as Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, and Dottie West. This historic district's architecture includes elegant late Victorian styles, Nashville's first automobile parking garage, and the city's first skyscraper. Today, Printers Alley has tamed down, but nightclubs and bars are still the main businesses along this strip.
Rich in history beyond its musical roots, Nashville has plenty to offer convention attendees during their stay in the city.
Memorable Night in Store at Welcome Reception
By Candice Johnson
NAESP just couldn't visit Music City without giving principals a chance to see why Nashville got the name.
Come join your fellow principals on Saturday, April 5, from 8 to 11 p.m. in the convention center's presidential ballroom for the NAESP Welcome Reception and Dance.
Principals and guests can enjoy hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and coffee while making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
Also make sure to take a listen to Nashville's own Gary Jenkins and Thundering Hearts. This high-energy band specializes in classic rock, R & B, and current country hits. They have shared the stage with such greats as Emmy Lou Harris, Martina McBride, and Marty Stuart. Their show combines comedy, music, and audience participation, so get ready to join in on the fun.
Also, check out the band's Tennessee Jukebox Show, highlighting rock 'n' roll and country music originating from the state.
Preview Gary Jenkins and Thundering Hearts on MySpace at http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=16093986.