[Surrounding Counties - Cheatham, Dickson, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson, Williamson, Maury, etc.]

22 hours ago, tragenvol said:

I am out of kolaches, stopping by Buc-ees Tuesday for sure.  Kolaches are available in Lebanon at both local donut shops and several places in Middle Tennessee; however, they're nonexistent in Cookeville.

Being 1/2 Czech and loving my heritage and kolaches, great to know tragenvol about Buc-ees and Lebanon. Not any Czech/German food or pastries that I know of in the Spring Hill/Columbia area. Tried some kolaches at Yeast Nashville but imo not traditional as very doughy.  Whenever I’m in Omaha I buy dozens, individually ziplock them and bring home to freeze.  Where are the several places  you mentioned in TN? Think someone here said Buc-ees is coming to the Boro. 

[Surrounding Counties - Cheatham, Dickson, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson, Williamson, Maury, etc.]

1 hour ago, Nathan_in_DC said:

I remember going there when I was in high school, just after it opened, for planetarium shows and science discussions (an actor playing Michael Faraday discussing electricity was particularly memorable). Not to get into a deep political discussion, but there aren't many opportunities for exposure to the fine arts and sciences outside of Nashville. To see it evolve into something that peddles pseudoscience in the clothing of a real museum is disheartening.

You try to cover yourself saying you won’t get into a deep political discussion then immediately start a political discussion.  Just bc you state this “peddles pseudoscience”absolutely  does not make it so. Your political statement is disheartening. I actually come on UP to learn about metro/area economic development period. To quote Joe Friday, “Just the facts, ma’am”.  

[Surrounding Counties - Cheatham, Dickson, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson, Williamson, Maury, etc.]

I hear ya Titanhog!!  I grew up in Omaha and sw Iowa and HyVee was our store! I have fond memories of my parents and Grams buying Hy Vee pan burger partner (their take on Hamburger helper) and other HyVee brands as a kid bc they didn’t  have much money. Of course they have all the higher end brands too. Hy Vee has  been huge in IA/NE/MO/SD for decades.  I remember taking my Dad out to eat in our small Iowa farm town when Mom was sick, and he wanted to eat at HyVee bc it was so good.  In Omaha (the big city) they had much larger stores - working as a Super Value grocery bagger/stocker while at a juco in Creston, IA and later putting myself through Univ of Nebr Omaha as front end mgr at Bakers (now Kroger) this is great news!!  I was wondering where in this big Nashville metropolis those  first 2 stores would go - wouldn’t ya know, the first is going to be in June Lake just abt 7 miles north of our home?! Granted in Omaha we didn’t think of HyVee as upscale even though Fox 17 just billed it that way. It is not a Whole Foods, but customer service was and hopefully  is still king at Hy Vee.  Crazy getting psyched over a grocery store coming to Nashville?  Yes esp since my parents and other relatives I grew up with took me there all the time.  A retirement job waiting for me in abt 4 yrs when I leave corporate life - Y E S!!!! 

Like the old song played on the radio, “Shop HyVee - Where there’s a helpful smile, in every aisle” 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

And there are people who are in real need who find temporary shelter there, esp during harsh weather months.  Also Room in the Inn nearby recently expanded and they also provide shelter, nutrition to those in need, educational classes on becoming independent including temp living quarters for those who earn it through classes and sometimes working multiple jobs. I  have heard both are maxed out and the mission has been for years esp during winter months.  I frequently volunteer at a mobile food pantry in Spring Hill and have met people with tears in their eyes who have been temporarily laid off from GM, etc., who are in real need just until their circumstances change.  Or an elderly man who just lost his wife and just wants someone to talk to. There are also a few who I have no doubt take advantage of free stuff and are too lazy to earn it, so they leach off the good hearts and resources of others..  There are always bad apples taking advantage of charitable organizations.  That doesn’t mean you just throw the baby out with the bath water, right?  New management maybe - close up shop to people in need where they need it, no. You may say why not over in east or south Nashville? Well then you will have to set up daily shuttles from downtown back and forth. And many are not in any condition physically or mentally to even ride a bus., and you will have to have security screening b4 anyone gets on the bus, as well as security on the bus.  Are a lot of homeless folks  addicts, former cons,  lazy bums?  Sure, but I’ve also met people at the mission who are down on their luck who just need a helping hand. Now can we please get back to economic development? 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

Killer burgers and tots too - my fave was a patty melt, tots and a cool Budweiser. 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

5 hours ago, Bos2Nash said:

If Metro Parks wants to include this as part of Wharf Park, be my guest and have slip/dock fees that boaters making use of the docks have to pay in a way to pay back having to build the slips. I'm sorry if there are boaters on the board, but the land directly adjacent to downtown and the riverfront is just too valuable to dedicate a large are to docks and security for the docks and all these "loopers" are clamoring for. 

Being an avid boater for decades I’m very glad the decision isn’t solely up to you : )  I am trying very hard to keep my unsolicited negative opinions to myself so as not to unnecessarily offend or upset someone. I get enough negativity at work, etc. and like sports, want all the politics, personal opinions, name calling  and negativity on this site to to stay at home and off UP.  My apologies if my comments upset you, however I’ve visited UP almost daily for the past 12 years to learn about all that is proposed and happening to our rapidly  growing downtown and this fantastic metro area we call home.  I have loved economic development,  commercial building design and constructional of tall buildings  for decades, and that is the reason I am an avid UP fan. All that has happened since we relocated here in 2010 simply fascinates me. Ron and Mark are the reason I keep coming back.  Why? They pretty much stick to the reason I think this site was created in the first place. “Just the facts, ma’am” . I just wish we all would do the same. Including myself. 

[Nashville Bits and Pieces]

I grew up with Hy-Vee in Omaha and southwest Iowa.  Back in college I was a front end mgr at Bakers Supermarkets which dominated the Omaha market.  It then I think was bought out by Kroger and Hy Vee then became the most popular and remains so decades later.  The original jingle  goes, “Shop Hy-Vee, where there’s a helpful smile, in every aisle”.  The definitely pride themselves on customer service, and the bakery, deli and meat departments are at a high level. They also have restaurants in most Hy-Vees, even the one in my small town in IA of about 6k. My Dad wanted me to take him there, he loved it.  Hy-Vee also has their version of generic products with the Hy-Vee brand on them, much like Kroger.  They also are known for carrying local brands of many products, so  expect the same here.

Kroger and Publix definitely have their hands full, and I guarantee anyone familiar with Hy-Vee that has relocated from the Midwest (heartland) to Nashville including yours truly will remain loyal and drive miles to shop there. 

[Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, 40 stories, 542', $400 million]

Long time follower (almost daily for about 10 years), first time responder. Ahh Des Moines my old neck of the woods. I relocated my family from Omaha to Spring Hill 11 years ago, and used to live in DM out of college back in the late 80’s. The skywalk system there is very cool for the size of the city (less than 1/2 Nashville metro) and years ago they used to have putt putt tournaments, races, dog walks, you name it through their extensive skywalk system.  Keep in mind downtown Des Moines is flat which is a factor. I used to compare it to its larger competitor Omaha where I lived 140 miles to the west, and wondered why it didn’t have the taller cooler buildings like Des Moines, and all those skywalks!  It gets frigid in the winter, and that’s a major reason why I and my family are now happy Spring Hillians. Omaha is similar to downtown Nashville in that their both river cities, and as you head west from the Missouri River and the streets #s increase, you’ll start to walk/drive up hill.   I do love Omaha as it’s stepped up quite a bit with development over the past 11 years since we’ve left, however nothing holds a candle in my view to the Nashville area.  Downtown Nashville could definitely benefit from a skywalk system (improved security, less traffic on the roads, bad weather not keeping you from going out to several places on the system). However much like downtown Omaha, several blocks from the river heading west you’ll have problems due to that big hill.