Nashville for Free

It’s obviously a huge week for music. I mean, it’s Next Big Nashville weekend, so if you paid for, won, or earned a wristband you’re probably going to be getting your rock on hardcore all weekend. If you didn’t get a wristband you’re probably going to be looking for a free show.

This week’s Live on the Green is the special NBN edition, but it doesn’t have any Nashville bands. That’s okay though, because the lineup will probably bring you way back (in a good way). The performers are Garrison Starr, who I once saw at Grimey’s and throughly enjoyed, Sixpence None the Richer, who you might know for the song “Kiss Me” which was in a Freddy Prince Jr movie (She’s All That, to be specific), and Jars of Clay. I hear that Jars of Clay is quite the big deal.

The show is tonight, Thursday September 30th at the Public Square. Things will get started at 6:30 and will go until about 10pm.

-Emily

I may not go out for ice cream with much frequency, but I really dig Cold Stone. I’m a huge fan of theirs for all the opportunities they give you to get free things. Like any good ice cream shop they have a punch card, and each Tuesday is a double-punch-Tuesday, which is pretty standard fare, but Cold Stone has the tendency to go above and beyond.

I’ve tweeted about their various parties and scavenger hunts in the past, and tonight Cold Stone is having a special party as part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The best part: free ice cream.

According to a tweet I received earlier this morning Cold Stone will be celebrating the Make-a-Wish Foundation with balloons, music, and face-painting and, of course, free ice cream from 5-8pm.

Free ice cream, kid stuff, sounds pretty sweet to me.

-Emily

So, one of my faithful followers send me an email yesterday telling me where free Budweiser could be found yesterday and tomorrow. Sadly, I was way too involved with un-fun stuff to get to it, but there’s still free beer to be had TODAY! There will be a group of people in Midtown, here’s the list of bars they’re going to hit up between 4:30 (really?) and 7:30pm:

• Broadway Brewhouse
• Corner Pub (Midtown)
• Rebar
• Losers

So there you have it. Big thanks to our awesome follower Shane! You rock dude!

-Emily

First of all, I sense a theme with a lot of this week’s blog posts. Lots of alcohol involved this week…

But I digress before I begin! Here’s what’s up: Geeks Who Drink is a weekly pup quiz that takes place at Past Perfect at 8pm sharp. What’s a pup quiz? Well, they don’t really like calling it trivia because it’s not just trivial stuff that you have to be an expert in the subject to know. It’s not a specific subject matter either (like Rock’n'Roll Trivia). Instead it covers a lot of different things, which is great because it means you’re not out the game because you don’t know the subject.

And it’s totally free. With prizes.

Prizes can include a few things. You can win bar cash, free pints, and some really bizarre prizes. And you know how we feel about bizarre prizes (hint: we love that shit).

All you have to do is get a group of up to six friends who know a lot about nothing and show up at Past Perfect on any Wednesday by 8pm. It usually takes about 2 hours to work through a game, but really, why would you go to a pup quiz if you have to be somewhere?

For more info on Geeks who Drink in general check out their website’s FAQ. I found it quite informative myself.

Have fun, and drink up!

Editor’s Note: 2-4-1 Tuesdays is the newest column at N4F. Every week Hilary will tell you where you can get your drink on without being a big spender.

Beyond the Edge is one of my favorite local bars, mostly because there is always a special going on every time I’m there, and I can never pass up cheap booze. Located in East Nashville, on 11^th street right next to 3 crow, Beyond the Edge is a seemingly out of place sports bar, but that’s probably why I love it so much. It’s a sports bar without the annoying people, for the most part.

Every Monday through Friday you can expect Happy Hour to include 2-4-1’s on beer AND wells. Like 3 Crow, and unlike most bars, they bring to you a token with your beer so in case you really only want one, but can’t stand to pass up the deal, you’re given the freedom to indulge on a free beer (with token, obviously) at a later date during the Happy Hour; the wells are just served as a double shot, but if you’re feeling wild, it’s definitely the route to go!

Also, there’s an ALL DAY Happy Hour on Sunday with 2-4-1 on beer! Now that’s what I call “keepin’ it holy,” ha! On Tuesday nights you can get your Yazoo 2-4-1 from 7pm to CLOSE. I might be cheap but I love my Yazoo and I know you do too. For all of you Trivia guru’s (this wouldn’t include me because I suck at Trivia), “Yazoo Trivia Showdown” starts at 7:30 pm on Tuesday nights. Thursday nights you can get your draft beers from 7pm-Close. So if you’ve never wandered into Beyond, now you know when the specials are, so please be like me and indulge yourself.

For all of you who don’t care what I say or how I feel about it,
HERE ARE THE DEALS:

Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 3-7 pm 2-4-1 on beer and wells

Sunday: 2-4-1 Beer 11AM-CL (that is ALL day)

Tuesdays: 2-4-1 Yazoo 7-CL (Trivia @ 7:30)

Thursdays: 2-4-1 Draft 7-Close

Autism is a disorder that affects a lot of families. I’m sure we all know someone who has a family member who has autism to some varying degree. I’d also guess that a lot of us have seen Rain Man, which, as cheesy as parts of it can be, is a great look into the life of an autistic man.

The Horse Boy is a movie about a father and his relationship with his autistic son. Apparently this is the third attempt of a screening in Nashville, as the other two were canceled due to a variety of reasons including the flood. So, it looks like we’re finally going to be able to see this movie.

Even if, actually, especially if autism hasn’t affected your life you should try to get out to see this movie. If you’re the kind of person who wants to be more able to understand the lives of others then this is an event for you.

This movie will screen tonight, September 28th at 7pm in Vanderbilt’s Sarratt Cinema.

-Emily

In order to battle the irony of being a foreign-owned “American” brewer, Anheuser-Busch will be infusing something very American into their Budweiser brand with their latest promotion: FREEDOM! Though like all good American rights, this campaign has its limitations. Mainly, the fact that it’s relatively impossible to find out where—or when—the half-million samples will be dished out. That’s approximately 250k 6oz. and 250k 12oz. samples (which comes out to 4.5 million ounces, or 375,000 beers, if you’re keeping track).

Anheuser-Busch has pledged to distribute these samples through mid-October. And they’re launching the giveaway on Wednesday with the “Budweiser National Happy Hour”, during which everyone—particularly the thirsty, under-30 market—is encouraged to “grab some buds”. So, apparently, somewhere in America, there will be free Budweiser within our grasp. But figuring out where that is has proven to be a unique challenge.

If you hear anything let us know.

In the meantime, Budweiser is throwing a commercial, some slogans and an uninspired Facebook app at a promotion that requires an exceptional case of “right place, right time” in their target market. Frustrating? Sure, but nothing to get bent out of shape over. My suggestion: pick up some PBR. This is Nashville, people! And PBR is practically free anyway.

-Matt

Editors Note: It would appear that local and state laws across the country are preventing any specifics about where you can find free beer from being released. Again, if you hear anything please let us know!

I might have mentioned this earlier, but my mom was in town this weekend. Since my family lives way up in Ohio, I don’t get to see them too often, so when they do come down I’m always racking my brain trying to think of the best parts of Nashville. It’s quite the balancing act, trying to show off your neighborhood and find something you think your parent might enjoy. All I have to say is, thank God I live so close to such a cool area: 12 South.

After much pondering, I decided that my mom might enjoy some live music in the park, and I thought about taking her to Musicians Corner, but I was afraid that Centennial might be a mess with the Craft Fair going on, and by the time I thought of it it was already 5:30. But wait! Musicians Corner isn’t the only free live concert series in town, 12 South Concerts were happening Saturday night too!

I had no idea who was scheduled to play last night, but this is Nashville so I figured the chance of all the acts being God awful was astronomically low, so I suggested we get dinner in the neighborhood then head over when it got dark.

Well damnit, I looked at the schedule too late and we ended up missing Davey Uke for the SECOND time in ONE DAY. Apparently he played at 6 and I had no idea. However, as it turns out we showed up during Janny McClure’s set, just in time to hear her cover OCMS’s “Wagon Wheel” followed by “Look at Miss Ohio,” one of my favorite Gillian Welch songs, so I immediately dug the set. My mom especially enjoyed her, but commented that she’d like to hear more original songs. I, on the other hand, was fine with hearing covers last night. I know it’s picky and not adventurous, but I was just in the mood to hear songs I knew.

Since my mom was planning on heading out really early Sunday morning we ended up leaving before Wrangler Space, the next act, took the stage, so I really only experienced about 1/3 of the night, but I thought it was great. The fact that it was a beautiful night didn’t hurt, but other than that I thought that Sevier Park was a great place for a concert. I have a lot of love in my heart for that park. Though there weren’t vendors like at Musicians Corner there was still a lot of fun to be had. Most people over the age of 15 just hung out with their friends while the young’ns ran around, playing with glow-in-the-dark thingamabobs.

I have to say, it makes me sad that I didn’t get my butt out to the 12 Concert Series sooner. I feel like my friends would love it. At least there’s always next year, and maybe next time David Mead does his children’s project I won’t miss it!

-Emily

Monday

Rock’n’Roll Trivia at the Mercy Lounge – 6:30pm, 21+
What, you think you know more rock minutia than I do? Well, you’re probably right, but if you really want a challenge then you should hit up this event. It consists of three rounds of questions, two rounds of “name that tune,” and the rock and roll-est of final wagers where you can bet (and possibly lose) it all. The prizes are $50, $25 or $10 to be spent at Mercy Lounge. Plus, everyone gets free parking and beer specials all night. It’s about teams, so grab some friends, yo.

8 off 8th at the Mercy Lounge – 8pm
This week’s 8 off 8th is going to be hosted by Tex Rambunctions (I think he’s calling it Tex Big Nashville) and will feature performances by Jeremy Lister, Del Barber, Chris Pickering, Jacob Thomas, Shotgun Lover, The Weeks, and Powerbrrrd.

Belmont Camerata Musicale: The Baroque Imagination at the Belmont Mansion – 7:30pm
If local bands and rock trivia aren’t exactly your thing then you might prefer this event. Enjoy some music from some of the greatest composers ever, including works by Bach, Corelli, Handle and Purcell.

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Oh just kidding, there's no CD in here

The weather reports earlier in the week threatened rain in the morning, but today turned out to be the perfect day for a Grimey’s Outdoor Sale.

As many of you know, sometimes the weather at these outdoor sales can leave a lot to be desired. I remember a few instances of it being incredibly hot and a few times when it was either rainy or grossly overcast, but I have to say, today was PERFECT. Usually I have to give up on digging after 20 minutes or so because of the heat, but this time I was able to stay strong and found about 15 things I was pumped for. Among my incredible dollar purchases were two Dixie Chicks CDs, Ra Ra Riot, the soundtrack from the TV show Parenthood and a record by Richard Marx. Yeah, that’s right. Richard Marx. That used to be my JAM when I was like, 5 years old.

Don’t judge me.

That only really shitty part about the sale was something that Grimey’s had nothing to do with and couldn’t really control. For the first time since I’ve been going to those sales a large portion of the CDs I was interested in didn’t actually have the CDs inside the cases. Yeah, someone stole them. I took my mom to the sale this year, and it seemed like everything she picked up, including two copies of Sticky Fingers, didn’t have the CDs in them.

Seriously people, stealing is not the way to go about getting free stuff.

As much as I would have liked to have stayed around for some of the bands (especially Davey Ukulele and the Gag Time Gang), I didn’t get the chance to. I’m sure it was a lot of fun though, as Grimey’s always picks cool acts.

So, do tell, did you guys find anything good in the dollar bin? I promise not to judge you.

-Emily