We may have just celebrated the arrival of a new decade, but
for those of us who remember a simpler time of VHS tapes and Game Boys, another
year around the sun can bring back feelings of nostalgia. If it hit you hard
this new year, here are a few hotels that will bring you back to your Kris
Kross jumping, VIBE magazine reading,
Lauryn Hill miseducating good old days.
The Curtis Denver — Denver, Colorado
Nothing says throwback like a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of cold milk. Guests are greeted at The Curtis Denver with this timeless indulgence at check-in, but if that doesn’t take you back to your childhood, then the retro video games and Barbie and Marge Simpson-themed rooms surely will. The hotel’s Five & Dime store brims with treats from the past and each guest floor is designed to reflect a pop theme from TV to music to art or sports and beyond.
Arlo Nomad, near Murray Hill, contains 250 thoughtfully designed rooms combining custom furniture with efficient storage spaces and a range of playful touches. In short, this hotel has bunk beds. Whether you loved them or hated them as a kid, bunk beds are certainly a nostalgic and playful touch that brings back memories of a simpler time.
Photo via arlohotels.com
Hotel Preston — Nashville, Tennessee
Pet fish, lava lamps, and board games for the win. Hotel Preston takes playful accommodations to the next level. The hotel aims to give you an experience that is “delightfully uncommon and filled with warm Southern hospitality.” Enjoy the evening in your suite playing your favorite childhood board games with your personal wet bar always within reach.
The June is “a throwback to the good ol’ days.” Targeting millennial women, this Instagrammers paradise is decorated with pastels, floral wallpaper, and neon signage. The super-hip, 16-room, roadside motel is located in Canada’s wine country and features plenty of wine-inspired amenities to go with your nostalgia.
If you can escape this Nashville area haunted house without chickening out, they’re willing to pay you 20 grand.
McKamey Manor has been named the scariest and most extreme haunted house in the world. Before entering, visitors must sign a 40-page waiver, have passed a sports physical, provide a doctor’s note stating they’re cleared to participate and provide a safe word. The waiver process alone can last 3-4 hours, according to McKamey Manor’s website.
McKamey Manor describes themselves as an “Extreme Haunted Attraction,” and a “Survival Horror Challenge” that’s based on each person’s personal fear. The tour can last up to 10 hours and you will be mentally, physically, and emotionally challenged until you reach your personal breaking point. So far, there have been no recipients of the $20,000 prize money.
Apparently, this won’t be the average haunted house you’d expect at a theme park. You can expect wet conditions, physically demanding environments, intense audio, close contact with creatures, extremely low visibility, graphic scenes of horror, and there will be some touching.
Check out the video below. Do you think you would walk away with the $20K? If you’re in Nashville, TN or Hunstville, AL, you may have a chance.
Meet Kayla Phillips, founder of vegan and handcrafted cosmetics
line Foxie. She started in April of 2015
with bath bombs, soaps, skin, body and hair care, and has continued to expand
greatly in all five categories, as well as adding perfumes and home decor to
the line.
An Austin, Texas native who currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, Kayla handcrafts all of her products. Everything in her online store is a reflection of herself, things she loves, and what she wants for her own body.
If you are looking for a spooky gift this Halloween, or a little something for yourself, check out her line of Halloween inspired bath and body products that are aimed at soothing aches and pains. Her products routinely sell out quickly but check back often since she is always restocking items. Here are a few of our Halloween-inspired favorites.
Whacko Jack-o and Jack Black pumpkin bath bombs are super foamy and filled with hidden color. Set the fall mood with pumpkin-scented waters and either a neon bath (Whack-o Jack-o) or a dark and spooky bath (Jack Black).
“Decline” skull bombs are available in four different colors to leave your bath pitch black and scented with tobacco, hints of citrus, spice, black pepper, honey, amber, and notes of cedarwood and sandalwood for an overall amazing woodsy bath.
This product is scented with pure high-quality Rose Absolute and filled with rose petals. It has just the right amount of skin softening raw Shea Butter to keep your skin as soft and glowing as Morticia herself.
Create giant frothy bubbles with this tombstone Bubble Bar that is filled with Grape Seed and Apricot Kernel Seed Oil to hydrate your skin and leave you with creamy long-lasting bubbles.
No matter the reason, sometimes a staycation at a luxurious hotel down the street is just what you need for an affordable getaway. Here are the best options to consider in each state.
Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage is where you can enjoy 4-star luxury right down the street.
Arizona
Enchantment Resort in Sedona is
where you’ll move and be moved through a unique and powerful connection to
nature, exhilarating adventures, deep relaxation, and the feeling of awe and
wonder again and again.
Arkansas
Crescent Hotel and Spa in Eureka
Springs is Perched high above the Victorian village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas
– recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of
America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.
At The Little Nell in Aspen, head straight to the outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi that is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens overlooking Aspen Mountain.
Connecticut
The J House Greenwich in Greenwich boasts high-tech guest rooms, world-class dining, exquisite banquet rooms, and attentive service.
Delaware
Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington is a timeless hotel with refined detail and elegance.
Florida
The Seagate Hotel & Spa in
Delray Beach is where the beauty of the beach meets the sophistication of the
city in a boutique hotel near the ocean and far beyond your expectations.
Georgia
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta is modern luxury steeped in Southern charm. Some of the rooms include deep soaking bathtubs for ultimate relaxation.
The Grove Hotel in Boise is the only AAA Four Diamond full-service hotel in Boise. The Grove Hotel upholds its reputation as the city’s premier hotel by offering luxury without sacrificing comfort.
Illinois
The Langham, Chicago earned the spot of the #1 luxury hotel in the US by TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Indiana
French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick is nestled among the hills of the Hoosier National Forest offering a truly peaceful getaway in nature.
Iowa
Hotel Julien in Dubuque is an elegant boutique hotel that marries modern amenities with historic charm in the heart of the Old Main District.
Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore is a modern, urban retreat, positioned at the edge of Baltimore’s Harbor East, with a host of luxurious amenities such as a five-star spa and a rooftop pool.
Photo via fourseasons.com/baltimore
Massachusetts
InterContinental Boston overlooks the waterfront and the spa has an indoor heated lap pool and a steam room, and you can savor creative cocktails in their stylish RumBa bar.
Michigan
Detroit Foundation Hotel offers evening events and renowned dining in the perfect downtown location.
Minnesota
The Saint Paul Hotel offers comfort, style, and elegance with timeless rooms and award-winning dining.
Mississippi
Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens in Natchez is an early 19th-century antebellum mansion set in 26 acres of manicured gardens. Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens is a National Historic Landmark.
Missouri
The Elms Hotel & Spain Excelsior Springs is an iconic destination. The Elms Hotel & Spa is renowned for its beautifully appointed Excelsior Springs accommodations, lavish amenities, lovely grounds and gardens, and standard-setting service.
Photo via elmshotelandspa.com
Montana
Big Sky Resort located in Big Sky is the perfect place to ski or just relax and stay warm by the fire.
Nebraska
Magnolia Hotel Omaha is designed after a palace in Florence, Italy to make you feel like royalty during your stay.
Nevada
Gold Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast in Nevada City is all about nature and relaxation. The 1861 Victorian home has a private, multi-use, “Zen” outdoor space with relaxing spa-like facilities.
New Hampshire
The Centennial Hotel in Concord offers 4-star luxury. Voted a Top Hotel in New England, Centennial boasts being the most unique historic hotel in Concord.
New Jersey
Borgata in Atlantic City has everything you are looking for in your staycation getaway including luxurious hotel accommodations, an expansive selection of casino and poker games, world-class restaurants, thrilling entertainment and nightlife, an award-winning spa, and more.
Photo via theborgata.com
New Mexico
Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe offers a rooftop pool, spa, and celebrated dining options.
New York
The Knickerbocker in Midtown
Manhattan is the first luxury hotel in Times Square giving you the true New
York experience and an entire world of options right outside your door.
North Carolina
The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary is 5-star luxury with a breathtaking landscape where you can escape the outside world.
North Dakota
Hotel Donaldson in Fargo is a laid back hotel with art-inspired rooms, beds you’ll linger in, artisan cuisine paired with spirited spirits and friendly, experienced staff members that create a memorable experience.
21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City is a contemporary art museum, a 135-room boutique hotel with spacious guest rooms reminiscent of a loft apartment in New York’s Soho neighborhood, a cultural civic center, and the home of Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge.
Oregon
The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg is nestled amidst the lush natural beauty of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The Allison Inn & Spa offers visitors an unmatched resort experience and the perfect escape from reality.
Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton is located along the scenic May River in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Montage Palmetto Bluff. The resort features an extensive nature preserve, two picturesque villages featuring nine Southern-inspired dining options, a riverfront marina, and a golf course.
Photo via montagehotels.com/palmettobluff
South Dakota
The Lodge at Deadwood is where you’ll find the best lodging, fantastic dining, and most entertaining casino experience in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Tennessee
The Hermitage Hotel is Nashville’s
original hotel built in 1910. Where history meets elegance, this hotel is one
of the most cherished hotels in Tennessee.
Texas
Hotel Emma in San Antonio was once a 19th-century Brewhouse. Now, it’s an extraordinary 146-room riverfront hotel.
Utah
The Grand America Hotel is located in the heart of Salt Lake City, making it a convenient option for your staycation away from home.
Vermont
Hotel Vermont in Burlington near the shores of Lake Champlain is both rustic and modern with every detail taken care of to ensure your staycation.
Photo via hotelvt.com
Virginia
The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond will make you feel like royalty. This 5-star hotel is synonymous with elegance and pure luxury.
Washington
Willows Lodge in Woodinville offers the perfect laid-back vibe
for a solo getaway or couple’s trip.
West Virginia
Stonewall Resort in Roanoke offers special events, spa specials, and more to make your staycation just right.
The Edgewater in Madison serves as an urban resort steps away
from eclectic shops and Madison institutions that make the downtown scene so
vibrant.
Wyoming
Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa in Teton Village combines the rustic style and warmth of a grand mountain lodge with modern décor. The hotel features spacious suites with breathtaking views as well as on-site dining with modern cuisine.
Not recommended for children
under 12 years old, Fear Farm in Phoenix offers numerous attractions that are sure
to terrify.
Arkansas
Step inside The Reaper Haunted House, the most intense haunted house in North Little
Rock, and see if you can make it through over 15,000 square feet of horror with
30 scenes of blood, gore and mayhem.
California
The spirit of Halloween
comes to life surrounding helpless victims brave enough to board the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Colorado
Located in Fort Collins, Jack Lantern’s Corn Maze transforms
into a haunted place full of monsters and creatures searching for their
victims.
Connecticut
Wallingford is home to the Trail of Terrors, a 25-year-old maze of horror.
Photo via railofterror.com
Delaware
Frightlandin Middletown is a haunted attraction scream park
featuring 8 unique and terrifying haunted attractions, including haunted
houses, a hayride and more.
Zombie Farmsin Winterville offers a full 3/4 mile walk
through dark and spooky woods filled with scary monsters and creepy characters.
Hawaii
The Haunted Plantationin Waipahuis
Hawaii’s scariest haunted attractions where you will be chased and taunted by spirits of old Hawaii.
Idaho
The Field
of Screams at the Lowe Family
Farmstead in Kuna is said to be haunted by the secrets of generations gone by.
Illinois
Head to Port Byron to
experience the Haunted
Forest, where genetic testing
and scientific experiments have gone terribly wrong in this terrifying maze
through the woods.
Indiana
Indiana’s scariest haunted
hayride and slaughter barn is located at the Indiana Fear Farm in Jamestown.
Iowa
Haunted
Carter Farmsis 4 acres of
twisting paths and haunted corn located in Princetown.
Kansas
Field of Screams, in Maize, lives up to its name. On your walk through the Field of Screams and Clown Town, you will experience the haunted grounds of the Spurlock family and see first-hand where the infamous vigilante murders took place.
Kentucky
Skeleton’s
Lair is a unique outdoor haunted
scream park located on Cemetery Road near Bowling Green, Kentucky. Their themed
attractions include a haunted woods, haunted hayride, haunted house, and
3-D themed house.
Louisiana
One of Louisiana’s scariest attractions is just minutes from downtown Hammond in Tickfaw. RISE Haunted House may just be the most terrifying hour of your life.
Photo via risehauntedhouse.com
Maine
Destination
Haunt in Lebanon was voted the
“most haunted” in Main and New Hampshire.
Maryland
According to their website, Field of Screams located in Olney, is Maryland’s #1 rated scream
park.
Massachusetts
Witch’s Woods at Nashoba Valley Ski Area have been taken over by
the souls of the dead. As you board your hayride, you will notice that your
driver sits in the center of the tractor, far away from the sides where guests
are vulnerable to attacks.
Michigan
Haunted
Farm of Terror is operated on
the old Alongi property in Lenox. The experience was voted #1 most intense
hayride in Michigan.
Minnesota
Venture into the darkness upon The Dead End Hayride to witness unspeakable horror and terrifying scenes which will subject you to cryogenic blasts, explosions, and over the top pyrotechnics as you are mauled by horrific creatures and their converts who have taken refuge in these woods.
Mississippi
Head to Tupelo’s Haunted Hilland enter the haunted house that is “old, rickety, falling down creepy, and chock-full of the unexpected.”
Missouri
St. Louis is home to The Darkness, celebrating its 26th Year of Fear with a total renovation to make The
Darkness longer and scarier than ever before.
Montana
Western Montana’s #1 haunted
attraction is located in Victor at the Field of Screams where you will walk through acres of cornstalks over
your head, with the fear that at anytime, something may jump out at you.
Nebraska
La Vista is home to the Haunted Hollow Scream Park. Opening in 1999, they’ve had the honor of scaring thousands of Nebraskans into sleepless nights and dreadful nightmares.
Nevada
Vegas is known for many
things, but Las Vegas Haunts was named by Forbes as the best haunted experience for
Halloween.
New Hampshire
Head to Lee for Haunted Overload, one of the most creative and unique haunted attractions in New England.
New Jersey
Bloodshed
Farmshas a dark secret. Hidden well within the farm’s sprawling
forest in Columbus, the tiny red shed was revealed to be the gruesome
location related to at least 14 missing people. Take a ride through the
farm and see what you find.
New Mexico
At McCall’s Haunted Farm
in Moriarty, the haunted cornfield is haunted by the many victims of Farmer
McCall and their desire is to add you to their ranks. Can you keep your sanity
and make it out alive?
Clinton is home to the Hollerin Haunts Hayride. The place where they “will scare the YELL out of you”.
Photo via hollerinhauntshayride.com
North Dakota
The Haunted Corn
Maze in Moorhead has been terrifying innocent souls for 20 years.
Ohio
Head to Warren to experience
the Fear
Forest Haunted House and Hayride that includes a drive through a vortex
tunnel, forbidden cornfield, and one of the best haunted hayrides in the East.
People of all ages are
welcome at Acres of Terrorin Leonard, the scariest
haunted attraction in the Red River Valley since 2003.
Tennessee
Nashville
Nightmarelooks like pure
horror. Head here to enjoy a haunted hayride, themed carnival games, and
various attractions.
Texas
There is no other hayride in
the Texas like the Haunted Hayride at Fearshire Farms.
Hop on a tractor and head deep into the woods for a terrifying ride.
Utah
Haunted Forestin American Fork features over 1,000,000, sq. ft. of
pure adrenaline.
Vermont
By day the Gaines
Farm operates as many others do. But when the sun dips below the horizon in the
month of October, it all changes… Vengeance in the Valley rises.
Virginia
Deep in the woods of Spotsylvania County the hills
come alive at The Haunted Hill.
It begins with a terrifying hay wagon ride; dropping you off
deep in the dark woods.
Washington
Brave the Haunted Forest at Grand Farms… if you dare. Your nightmares take shape on the haunted trail as the bone-chill of fall has settled in and distant screams fill the air.
The Dead End
Hayrideis the ultimate horror
experience. They welcome you to venture into the darkness upon hayride wagons to
witness unspeakable horror and terrifying scenes.
Three years ago, Stephen Love Wade participated in a running challenge with his college roommate, 30 miles in 30 days. Each month, he challenged himself to add 25 more miles to his goal, reaching 100 miles a month by September. Now, Wade co-heads the only black running group in Nashville, 6RUN5.
“Getting people to run was the first step. I want to be able to inspire someone that follows on Instagram to run and come out one Saturday morning,” he said. “We’ve created a group, so those people have a support system and someone to run with,” Wade said. Now at least 40 runners meet regularly every Saturday morning at the Farmer’s Market on Rosa Parks Blvd for group runs, some wearing 6run5 merch.
Most people know him as the goal-oriented, semi-funny guy that runs around West End enjoys Whole Foods’ hot bar and has over 100 pairs of some of the dopest sneakers you’ll ever see.
But running had become his peace of mind from his fast-paced-clinical setting career. Despite his strict schedule and working two jobs, Wade still manages to gather a growing community of black runners through weekly group runs. Every morning, its miles for breakfast. “When I run, my mind is like an empty canvas. I gain clarity and ideas begin to come to my mind. That’s really how 6run5 happened.”
It becomes part of his mantra and his lifestyle, setting goals accordingly for what he wants and goes for them. “At work, I’m constantly putting fires out. I’m a problem solver. And it can get mentally exhausting,” he said. “So by the time I leave work, I’m drained. So running has become my therapy. It’s my time inside to challenge myself. I never run to compare myself to anybody; I run to improve myself.”
His passion for running and competitiveness led him to compete in over 14 races and half marathons alongside his college friends and accountability partners, Lance Woods and Micah Wells in Miami, Brooklyn, (his favorite) and in D.C. with the District Running Collective. Wade ran his last half marathon this past summer in Chicago alongside, Woods, shaving 16 minutes off his run time. He knows because he regularly checks his watch, whether he’s at dinner or enjoying a local music show with friends.
Dr. Micah Wells, Stephen Love-Wade, Lance Woods
Woods’ fell into running in a similar way as Stephen. Woods currently works in youth development in the Detroit school system but picked up running in 2015, after participating in a #sweatyseptember initiative with a friend. He went from running 1-3 miles a day to now competing in races and marathons all over the country.
“I started falling in love with running because I was seeing what it was doing for me mentally, spiritually, and emotionally and I saw how fast I was able to improve at something that I consistently did,” he said. Last year, Wood and his partner and fellow runner, Joe Robinson, formed We Run 313, the fastest-growing running group in Detroit. In just a few months, the club has gathered at least 200 people to do something about their health, with 2-Mile Tuesdays and other weekly meetups, acting as catalysts for change. “We’re giving the community what they needed, and serving as a source of encouragement, a source of inspiration, and building connections with people that you might have never met while building the community up at the same time,” Woods expressed.
Inspired by his friend and tired of running alone, Stephen created the #RunYourOwnRace run challenge, while spending most weekends traveling to other cities. He loves the openness of Piedmont Park in Atlanta and enjoys running trails and marathons in D.C. with District Running Club. He had always admired the amount of support and celebration the runners gave each other after competing in D.C. “After the marathon, they would celebrate so hard. I’ve never had so much love in my life, and I didn’t even know those people. It was a different type of feeling.”
Wanting to bring that same feeling of celebration to Nashville, Wade tapped another local runner who had just as big of a passion for running as he did. For school teacher and basketball coach, Emily Fields, life happened when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. They began running together to lose weight, but Emily unknowingly tapped into her new daily devotion. “Every morning no matter what I run and that’s my stress reliever, that’s how I start the day,” she said.
“That’s my daily devotion before I walk in here and build these scholars up so they can be successful in the future.” Like Wade, you were guaranteed to see Fields running before or after work, sometimes both. Fields had started her own Nike Run Club Challenge, helping to lead over 200 people into healthier lifestyles.
Photos by Jovon Wilson
Established in June, 6RUN5 aims to inspire the community in Nashville to challenge themselves and reach their full potential through running. Fields and Woods are mostly proud of being able to unite a group of black runners in one of Nashville’s predominantly black neighborhoods. The design mirrors the iconic AT&T Batman building downtown.
“For the black community, most of us don’t start working out until something happens, which is unfortunate,” she said. “But now you see people, black people running up and down Jefferson Street, up and down Buchanan, its beautiful to see. It lets me know 6RUN5 is way bigger than just us.”
Licensed physical therapist Dr. Micah Wells lends his expertise to Wade from time to time, tackling every element that running composes in the DMV area. He gives tips on carb loading, stretching techniques and conducts running analyses for Injury prevention and recovery. “Overall, I’m getting them back to where they need to be based on my experience with running, but most importantly, with my expertise as a physical therapist.”
He credited his toned physique and strengthened legs to running with the DRC, for strengthening his legs. He also enjoyed being able to fellowship with his fraternity brothers, Stephen and Lance. “It’s really brought us closer together as brothers, that’s how we fellowship,” he explained. “It’s just one more thing we have in common that allows us to tackle our goals and achieve in all aspects of our lives.”
Their unified goal was to get people in the black community acclimated to running and living a healthier lifestyle, which they’ve done. These four individuals are all making their own paths of success within the world of health and fitness.
The opportunities for 6RUN5 are endless, consistently working to grow membership and group participation. They hope to have 40 people run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series in Nashville next year.
“With starting run clubs, they’re bringing that element to our communities, especially a place where African Americans aren’t running as much, it’s an amazing thing,” Wells said. “They’re doing their community a great service by creating that platform to do what they’re doing, and it only leads to an increase of individuals of color running and a decrease of health issues.”
As for Stephen Wade, he’s taking his running shoes international, training his next marathon series in Montreal later this month.
Nashville is home to historic buildings and unique boutique hotels like The Russell boutique hotel in East Nashville. Through their Rooms for Rooms program, one-weekend stay at their hotel is equivalent to 16 nights in a bed, 100 free showers, and 30 free meals for the homeless.
Constructed as a church in 1904, this historic building with beautifully restored stained glass windows was an influential piece of Nashville’s history and served as a space of refuge and safety in the community. The church was converted into a temporary hospital to care for people during Nashville’s Influenza epidemic in 1918. The outbreak heavily impacted the town of Old Hickory, killing over 1,300.
The Russell houses 23 unique rooms designed to inspire every guest with creativity with a modern twist and splashes color and fully equipped podcast studio in the lobby.
Local designers meticulously curated the hotel’s design to conserves some of the buildings original architecture. They maintained the original windows, brick walls, and headboards constructed from the church pews, maintaining the historic ambiance detailing.
The Tower Suite
The vibrantly spacious Tower Suite feature a basket full of local snacks and a unique red-tiled bathroom, surrounded by walls of local art.
The Penthouse Suite has a full living room, kitchen and dining area a claw-foot tub.
The Penthouse
This lively purple room used to be the Pastor’s office, designed around the original fireplace.
Enjoy the sun from the skylight in this Standard Queen interior room.
A city best known for its country music and southern cookin’, Nashville has quickly become a favorite spot for music-lovers and foodies from all over the world. Recently voted one of The South’s Best Food Cities 2019 as well as having one of the Best Live Music Venues in America, “Music City” offers a vacation full of culture, good eatin’, and, of course, Southern hospitality.
If a trip to Nashville is in your future, be sure to checkout some of these flourishing black-owned businesses.
Morning
First stop is The Garden Brunch Cafe for an “upscale” breakfast serving everything from eggs benedict to Southern favorites like fish and grits. This very popular spot does not take reservations, so be sure to get there early and you may even catch some spoken-word poetry or live jazz.
Photo via gardenbrunchcafe.webs.com
Pamper yourself with a morning at the spa. Andante Day Spa has been named “Best of Nashville” for multiple years and you’ll understand why as soon as you enter this oasis in the city. Call ahead and make an appointment for everything from massages to body treatments and facials.
The Southern V is serving up some of the best vegan food in the south. Family-owned and operated, their dishes will make even the most skeptical person take another bite. From sliders to ‘Nashville’ Hot Chick’n Strips, the flavors are so powerful, you won’t even miss the meat.
Jamaican-born, Terri-Ann Nicholls is the owner of Legato Gelato a must-stop spot on the black-owned tour. At Legato, there are no shortcuts. Everything is made fresh daily with the best possible ingredients–without the help of any artificial sweeteners, dyes, or extracts. This is what Nicholls calls, “Legit gelato.” And she ain’t lying.
Before you head to dinner, take some time to check out Leisure and Labels, a consignment/resale boutique dedicated to offering authentic designer handbags, shoes, and accessories priced up to 80% below retail. All products are put through a multi-point, brand-specific authentication process by a trained team of luxury experts before they are accepted for consignment, ensuring that you only get the best.
Prepare for an evening of decadent food and luxury service at Sinema. The historic Melrose Theater opened in 1942, and today is home to the restaurant and bar that aims to take a contemporary approach to classic American cuisine. If you are up for a cocktail, be sure to try one of over 100 selections of rare whiskey or thoughtfully selected wines and craft beers.
Nashville is often overlooked by Memphis and Atlanta when it comes to musical genres outside of country and rock. When I first moved to Nashville from New York in the early ’00s, former G-Unit memberYoung Buck (which I was already a fan of) andStarlito (formerly All $tar) were the first rappers I became familiar with from around the area. Nashville’s hip hop scene has since blossomed into local showcases for independent artists with messages of hope and success, but why is this city still not getting the recognition it deserves?
“This ain’t Country Music City, this Music City, USA baby.”
Let’s take it back. Cashville rap began around the late ’80s to mid-1990s with local artists the Blow Pop Crew, Top Secret,Quanie Cash, Big Lou, South 8 Mafia, and Kool Daddy Freshperforming at freestyle concerts in Hadley Park in West Nashville.
During Kool’s career, he toured with Rakim and N.W.A’s Eazy-E. Also affiliated with Eazy wasPistol, who was one of the first artists in the city to have a major record deal with Eazy’s Ruthless Records. Pistol’s rise to the forefront on the Nashville hip-hop scene began on the streets of the Preston-Taylor projects. He honed his rhyme skills by rapping at talent shows, on the playground, and around the hood. His album Hittin’ Like a Bullet had explosive lyrics that hit hard.
Hardcore gangsta rap music began to fade into the sound of trap music in the 2010s. Memphis artists began collaborating with Nashville rappers, i.e. Starlio’s Stepbrothers mixtapes with Memphis’ Don Trip in 2014. Their music and popularity began to take over every radio station in the south. Nashville has a large number of talented independent artists cultivating the hip hop scene in a way only they could, although you couldn’t tell listening to local radio stations. In cities like Atlanta, New York, or Memphis, music from local artists bleeds out stereos from local radio stations but that not the case in Nashville.
Rapper WayLiko calls Nashville a little/big city full of unique sounds and mad talent.
“There aren’t too many hip hop artists that blew up yet. Meaning most artists here don’t collaborate with one another to help each other grow because everybody wants to be the first,” he says.
Indie artists are taking strides and watching the music scene in Nashville change day by day. Artists like Nashville’s Petty set the tone to push yourself as an artist by stepping out of the box. He discussed Nashville’s sound with NPR, calling hip hop from the city is unique in its own way.
“The Nashville sound is quality. …We’ve gotta be extra creative and go outside the box just to even get respected coming from the country music capital. I feel like fighting through that adversity makes everybody innovative in their own way,” he said.
Nashville’s music scene has the potential to be one of the biggest hip-hop markets in the south with rising indie artists likeBurm. His style is considered more boom bap, however, his deep southern voice, east coast cadence, and strong lyrics about life are evident on his3 To The FaceEP.
Burm took Petty’s advice turning his out of the box creativity into a multifaceted media company, ColorTV 615.
Artists like Burm, and the rest of new rooster of upcoming hip-hop/rap heavy hitters, are captivating the city with progressive messages of hope and motivation.
Caprice is all about making a living doing what he loves on, “Run Up A Check (R.U.A.C).” He says Nashville is only underground because there isn’t enough publicity involved.
“The hip hop scene here is so word of mouth and like a social club type vibe,” he said. “You really only know about things if you know people or those involved in those events. I do believe that the over saturation of the country music sound has caused problems for other genres to not get their shine.”
Artist ColourBlue Leland manages himself and his creative collective Fallow Archive. He refuses to blame Nashville’s music scene on the excuse that the city’s focus seems to be country music.
“We can’t keep sitting here and keep making that excuse. Every city begins somewhere. There is definitely enough talent here, we just need to look out for each other more,” he says.
Being on the lookout also means being where the music is. Events, showcases, festivals, and concerts are the perfect venue to see local talent in Nashville. For example, Boom Bap at the Basement, a monthly hip-hop roundup of local and non-local artists and some of the best DJs in the south, is a perfect way to get hip to new talent.
With a strong music industry infrastructure, as well as a burgeoning scene full of promising up-and-comers like Burm, Caprice, WayLiko, ColourBlue Leland, Lil Trip, and more, the city of Nashville has everything it needs to garner mainstream attention for artists and music outside the genre of country music.
Let art guide you this summer for a quick getaway. Here’s a list of black-owned art galleries across the United States and abroad to check out this season:
Stony Island Arts
Bank (Rebuild Foundation) – Chicago, Illinois
Rebuild Foundation is a platform for art, cultural development, and neighborhood transformation. Their projects support artists and strengthen communities by providing free arts programs and creating new cultural amenities.
Here you will find the archive and artwork from Johnson Library Collection, The Obama Paintings and more.
Gallery staff prides themselves in being a resource center for those looking to learn more about the Gullah Culture through Gullah Art, Gullah Books, Gullah Crafts, Gullah Storytelling, Gullah Spirituals, Gullah Tours, and Gullah Food.
Northwest African American Museum – Seattle,
Washington
Over the years, the
gallery has received recognition from the local NAACP chapter, and the Greater
Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce, and nationally from Decor and Upscale Magazines.
Nike Art Gallery – Lagos, Nigeria
Nike Art Gallery is an art gallery in Lagos, Nigeria owned by Nike Davies-Okundaye. The gallery is arguably the largest of its kind in West Africa. Housed in a five-story-tall building, it boasts a collection of about 8,000 diverse artworks from various Nigerian artists.
Schools out, your girls are coming home from college for the summer, and you’re finally taking a much-needed vacation from work. Now is the perfect time to relax with your girl friends because, let’s face it, we all need a girls trip from time to time.
I take a girls trip at least once a year to bond with old friends and make new ones. It’s quite empowering being around a diverse group of women from various work fields and backgrounds, with varying personalities. We laugh, share experiences, and create lasting moments to look back on. Whether you’re looking for close destinations, exclusive beaches, somewhere with a plethora of food options, or just looking to unwind, here are the best locations for a girls trip.
Atlanta
This historic city is home to a variety of fun-filled, culturally conscious people and events. On any given day, you’ll find an art show, live musicals or concerts at Fox Theatreand outside concerts at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre. There’s never a shortage of things to do in Atlanta.
Austin, TX
Austin has the 3 B’s: BBQ, brunch, and boat rides along the Colorado River. The city is home to trendy shopping spots, chic restaurants, and exciting nightlife. You can also check out theirart scene on 5th Street and surrounding areas.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the perfect destination for those wanting an adventurous getaway with their girls. You can chill with monkeys, zip line over waterfalls and learn how to surf with Witch’s Rock Surf Camp.
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Paris
Paris used to be a place for lovers and it’s still somewhat of a romantic city, however, with your girls, it doesn’t have to be. Go on a shopping spree, grab some pastries and get dolled up and head to the Eiffel Tower for an Instagram-worthy pic of you and your friends.
Miami
Miami is probably my second favorite city in the country. There are endless parties and events. Miami is known for its popping nightlife and beautifully curated art murals all over the city. Any group larger than five will definitely get noticed on South Beach. It’s also the perfect place to catch a celebrity sighting. Reality star Safaree caused roadblocks last time he was on South Beach signing autographs and taking photos.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Grand Palladium Hotel is your one-stop shop, all-inclusive resort with great food and onsight clubs for the ladies who don’t want to leave the hotel to find fun things to get into. There’s also easy access to water excursions like the Dunn’s River Falls waterfall and Blue Lagoon beach.
Here’s a tip: the food is still great late night, made in any style.
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Napa Valley, California
There’s nothing like sipping great wine with your girlies. Napa Valley is the perfect place for a girls trip. Explore wineries in Carneros and Calistoga, go on a Getaway Adventures bike tour, or fly in a hot air balloon for a breathtaking view of San Francisco.
Nashville, TN
Don’t be fooled by the country music and cowboy boots. Nashville knows how to have fun! Nashville Shores is a popular water park that gets pretty packed, especially during the summer. I still go once a year, since it’s the closest thing to an amusement park with rides, funnel cake and other amusement park favorites.
New Orleans
It’s NOLA, baby! Now I can’t promise your experience will be like the movie Girls Trip but imagine 13+ ladies performing Beyoncé’s #beforeiletgochallengeat a day party in denim and white. It got pretty lit, especially with the DJ cheering us on and others joining in. We messed up but we also had fun living in the moment.
New York
In the Big Apple, the fun is endless, especially for a girls trip. Turn heads walking around Times Square, go on a shopping spree, or dine at the cutest restaurant in Astoria, Blend Astoria, right off the water.
Savannah, GA
Savannah is for romantics, but also spa lovers. The Savannah Day Spa offers regular deals and specials on facials, massages and other relaxing services. Selective about your salt scrubs? Create your own at the Salacia Salts workshop.
Toronto
Oprah Magazine listed Toronto as a popular city for a girls trip. It’s a short flight from the east coast and a few hours drive from New York. Stop by one of Drake’s favorite restaurants or hit di road during Caribana.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo is a city dedicated to authenticity: authentic food, authentic music, and authentic Dominican culture. The night tour encompasses all 3; a local gastronomy party, a contemporary/merengue dance show, and food from one of the most authentic restaurants in the city.
The same family has owned Swett’s Restaurant for over 62 years. And the current owner, David Swett, is making sure he continues the tradition established by his parents.
On the menu, you will find country fried steak, grilled pork chops, some of the best fried fish in the city, barbecue chicken, and so much more.
The Garden Brunch Café
Here at the Garden Brunch Café, visitors will have the chance to enjoy southern favorites like fish n’ grits and steak n’ eggs, with a healthy twist.
On occasion, you may catch spoken word or jazz for entertainment.
Instagram | @gardenbrunchcafe
Prince’s Hot Chicken
Your trip to Nashville will not be complete without a trip to Prince’s.
“In the last few years, the hot chicken trend has caught on like wildfire throughout the South, but Prince’s Hot Chicken is the original and remains the gold standard for hot chicken,” a statement reads on the restaurant’s website.
The Southern V – Vegan Bakery
The wife and husband duo that owns the Southern V are serving southern favorites vegan-style. The menu includes“fried chicken,” “chicken and waffles,” and “mac and cheese.”
Instagram| @thesouthernv
The Post Coffee Smoothie + Juice Bar
Located in Historic East Nashville, The Post East specializes in gluten-free, vegan, and organic fare options.
Chugga Hi Bakery and Café
Sisters Kathy and Sandra’s love of food began with their mother, who prepared homemade dinner and desserts for their family. While inheriting their mother’s recipes and adding a little twist of her own, Sandra and Kathy decided to build a family legacy and create an opportunity for all of Nashville to experience a little taste of what they were blessed to have as young children.
Clinton “Clint” Gray, Derrick Moore, and Emanuel Reed are changing their community through pizza. The Nashville, Tennessee natives met in high school and became roommates at Tennessee State University.
The trio sparked their entrepreneurial flame with a small eco-friendly moving business in 2010 and sold it several years later. They knew their next business had to be something they loved and were passionate about. The hospitality and tourism industry was growing in Nashville and they wanted to be able to create a business that would also provide jobs and opportunities within their own community.
Photo courtesy of Slim and Huskies
They sought out their first location in North Nashville, which is a historically Black area rooted in history. Slim and Husky’s Pizza Beeriawas born in March 2017.
“The name was created from our upbringing. Emanuel was a slim guy growing up while Derrick and I were a little on the husky side. Our mom’s would have to shop for our clothes in the boy’s husky section. So that’s how we came up with ‘Slim and Husky’s,'” Clint tells Travel Noire.
Photo courtesy of Slim and Huskies
There are three locations around Nashville currently, with 2 more coming before 2020. The company has 2 locations opening in the Atlanta area in 2019, with many more opening across the nation by 2020.
“We wanted to focus on a hip hop and black culture concept. We play positive hip-hop and R&B in all of our restaurants,” Gray says, explaining the concept of Slim and Husky’s to TN. “Our bathrooms are set up like small art galleries that feature pieces from local artists. We also have positive quotes on the walls.”
Even the menu pays homage to black culture. A few of the top selling pizzas are named: ‘Rony! Rone! Roni!,’ after the popular singing group Tony Tone Toni and ‘The Smoking Herb,’ which can be made with smoked salmon.
Photo courtesy of Slim and Huskies
“We wanted to be able to highlight black culture while also showing that black businesses can be properly ran. So often black businesses get negative stereotypes, for different reasons, and we are looking to change that,” Gray says.
The trio is also creating a movement outside of their stores. They introduced their brand ‘PREAM’ which stands for ‘Pizza Rules Everything Around Me.’ Under this brand, the men go out into the community to reach people using pizza.
Photo courtesy of Slim and Huskies
“We are not just a pizza company. We use it to connect to the community. We started a reading program for kids,” Gray says. “If they read a certain number of books, they can cash in their accomplishment for free pizza. We also started a lunch and learn series where we take around 100 pizzas into a local school. We sit and talk with the kids to just give them some positive influence and encourage them in general.”
“We recently introduced our Pizza and movie series. We team up with local theaters to show popular 90’s classics, while serving our pizzas. We have a discussion after the movie.”
When asked to sum up Slim and Husky’s in three words, Grey proudly says: “Pizza, art, music!”
Two men traveling through Nashville International Airport on Tuesday thought they could get away with smuggling 159 poundsof marijuana. Trung Tieu of Philadelphia and Tihn Van Tran of Texas tried to check their luggage for a flight to Jacksonville, Florida but when the scale read that it was overweight, workers became suspicious.
A German shepherd came to smell the oversized luggage, and it reeked of air freshener. After police opened the suitcases, a total of four, authorities found plastic bags packed with marijuana and wrapped in bedsheets. Tran and Tieu were arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Coming in from California, of course, the two men didn’t make their connecting flight to Jacksonville. Instead, they were booked at the Davidson County jail with a bond set at $50,000. Tieu was being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a detainer and wasn’t eligible for release while Tran was released on Wednesday.
The price of marijuana varies in the United States. However, the amount found at the airport was worth over $50,000 on the streets, according to Nashville police.
It’s good that officials at the airport were prepared to catch these criminals because they typically aren’t so prepared in other spaces. Air traffic controllers in Nashville said they “are not prepared” for the government shutdown. Normally, they are staffed with 39 air traffic controllers. Currently, they only have 36. “Right now we are working six-day weeks and 10 hour days,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association BNA Tower representative Chris Grimes said. “People say, ‘Get another job.’ But how can we, though?”
Dozens of Nashville-area federal workers and union members met at Piccadilly Cafeteria to share their personal stories and how the government shutdown is affecting them.
When Phylicia Kennedy has a craving for southern home cooking, she looks over a list in her phone full of black-owned restaurants and businesses. As a food and travel blogger, she journeys up and down the east and west coast high spotlighting some of the world’s most unique food dishes. In her hometownNashville, she hits up Swetts when she’s craving fried fish, greens and mac n’ cheese. She took so much pride growing up in Nashville at a young age where the communities and neighborhoods were “mostly black.”
African-Americans are the second largest demographic in the music city capital, Nashville. The city has seen much growth within the black community in the last few years, regarding businesses and cultural spaces for black people. For Kennedy, this is the perfect opportunity for black people to be around people that look like them, while still allowing the community to thrive by offering employment to our own.
That’s why it was so disheartening when she saw her city being taken over by new property developments and gentrification, affecting the cost of living and potentially eliminating those spaces for black people.
“Communities that would normally be filled with people of color are now being knocked down, and some people forced out due to investors purchasing the land and landlords selling the property which is then replaced with $500k+ condos and apartments that are not affordable for the people that grew up in the area.”
Business in the Black
Buchanan’s booming arts district has garnered a lot of attention after the sudden emergence of several black-owned businesses in the area. Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, The Southern V and Minerva Avenue Bar are all located less than a mile away from each other on Buchanan Street. Those establishments and a few other businesses are recognized as some of the hottest spots in Nashville shifting the culture and bringing a modernized view of unity and family amongst our people and our businesses by supporting one another.
“I always said if I want to live here I want to go places and see people like myself. There was nowhere,” said culture catalyst and entrepreneur Robert Higgins, Jr. Over the last ten years, he’s worked at pushing the culture forward being involved in business and community endeavors. His latest business venture, Minerva Avenue Bar is another space for black people to come and celebrate themselves. They can enjoy spectacular craft cocktails made from scratch with daily freshly delivered juices.
Jomilla Newsom of the Hubble Bubble Podcast Podcast believes this support comes from the city’s current unapologetic attitude with preserving the culture. She does so herself by featuring local artists, creative, entrepreneurs and the multifaceted leaders in Nashville, discussing topics such as self-care and mental health. “I think Nashville is excited to embrace our culture and take it back,” she said. “So many people of different backgrounds and cultures move here and have to create spaces to see people that look like them.”
Blacks in Art
One of those spaces is theVanguard Art Show. Vibe out to the sound of Afrobeats and soul music while taking in the arts by Preston Mitchell and other local artists. For those interested in spoken word, this is the place to be. Local vendors host pop-up shops by cultural brand Southern Yankeeand more.
@iamkillamilla
“Events like Vanguard make you proud to be Black and that’s important in this climate,” Newsom said. “I was just on an emotional high seeing so many talented and beautiful Black faces all around.”
Jefferson Street is another grand staple in Nashville, connecting the city’s three HBCUs: Tennessee State University, Fisk University, and Meharry Medical College. During its “Golden Years“ between 1935 and 1960, Jefferson Street flourished when it came to Nashville’s elite businesses, houses, and hotels and its deep musical history. Legendary artists such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Etta James and more performed at live venues and recording studios, such as Del Morocco and New Era Club, where Etta James created her first live album and more.
Helping to preserve Jefferson Street’s musical heritage, resident Lorenzo Washington established the Jefferson Street Sound Recording Studio. He recently partnered with Vanderbilt University to educate others about the history of urban environments. Once a month, the Jefferson Street Art Crawlallows residents to control the narrative of their community through various forms of art.
With gentrification taking over Nashville and some of its cultural staples, residents and black-owned businesses are steadily in protecting Nashville’s gems and preserving the city’s history through arts, entertainment and business.
“I still think there is a lot of work to do when it comes to the communities here and having more spaces for black culture to thrive and events for black people to enjoy,” Kennedy said.
