archilove

Will the thistles have to go? They add so much color.

Does anyone know of any plans regarding the Neuhoff Slaughterhouse in Germantown?

This is in response to the grid layout comment-as a matter of practicality grid layouts on flat terrain are a good thing. But from an aesthetics point of view they are very boring. Maybe its because I've lived here a long time, but Nashville's streets don't affect my sense of direction.

I miss the old Watkins on Church Street also. When I was 19 years old I took art classes at night there from a charismatic teacher named Gus Baker. The old building had no air conditioning and the students would open the windows and sit øn the ledges during break, trying to catch a breeze. Or we would go down to Candyland for a treat and watch Gus demonstrate his cross-hatch technique. He had a beautifully furnished apartment above Emma's Flower Shop where he invited us for a party. In my young life I had never seen anything like it. He played classical music on his baby grand, recited poetry from memory and showed us his paintings which were all over the walls. I was not into alcohol, so he fixed me a drink which looked like it could be an alcoholic drink and told me not to tell anyone. And Florence was there. 61 years ago I was in love with Florence.

When I moved to Nashville the L&C was being built. I always liked to take company up to the observation deck for a view of the town. In later years my brother-in-law, who was head of the state water quality control department, had an office on the 31st floor with 30 floors of bureaucrats under him.

It gives a much needed rhythm to the all 30 story everywhere you look skyline. Looks nice.

That's a nice area around the Schermerhorn, good shady place to sit with entertaining views. I like European vibes.

These are some sickening losses. The old Jewish Temple was a real jewel. People pay thousands of dollars and travel thousands of miles to see old Paris, France. If old Paris were not there, no one would pay to see La Defense. Here is a small suggestion for lovers of the antique: On a pretty sunday, go to 5th and Madison and park your car curbside. Enter the Tempered European Chocolate Shop and have something chocolate with coffee, wine, a sandwich or maybe a crepe. Walk up 5th to numbers 1215 and 1217 and stand facing them along with the empty lot-garden to the right. Stare at the houses, the yards and the garden. You are in a time warp and it gives you a pleasant, nostalgic feeling. Now drive slowly up 6th avenue, noticing such treasures as the Germantown Inn, Monell's and the old Mad Platter building. Continue to 7th, park, and enter the Church of the Assumption. Sit down in a pew and feel the sacred ambiance. Meditate, or pray for the Titans. When dinner time comes, go to the Germantown Cafe, get a table with a south-facing window and enjoy a meal with wine and dessert while viewing the Nashville skyline. Next, go to First Tennessee Park for a Sounds game and then continue home refreshed and ready for a new week.

I just recently discovered Germantown. I go there now to have a pleasant stroll on the brick sidewalks and enjoy the old houses, or maybe to drop in on the chocolate shop or visit the Church of the Assumption. There does seem to be a limited supply of older houses and a very high rate of new development, so I am concerned that if any more of the old places are torn down it will loose the character and charm that it presently has. It reminds me of an old cartoon I once saw where two developers were standing on a bluff overlooking a valley and one says to the other "this is beautiful, let's develop it."

Good idea!

A lot of people seem to want a "crown" on the 505 building. This can be done later, as was done in Mobile. Since there is no money within the project for this, is it a practical idea to raise public money for it (with Mr.Giarratana's approval). I think a crown would make a significant difference in the skyline and in the building, and might even give us a new "tallest."