Nashville for Free

Ever since Davis-Kidd closed its doors Nashville’s been missing something. Well, actually it’s been missing several things – an awesome book store with a friendly and knowledgeable staff and a place for authors to come and talk to the community.

Luckily the library has taken up the slack left by the loss of big book stores in the area and has been bringing great authors, many of them local, to the downtown library to speak to anyone who wants to come and hear them. The series is called Salon @ 615 and they do at least one a month.

Tonight the library brings Will Kaufman, author of Woody Guthrie, American Radical, which just came out last month. According to the event description, Kufaman is “a singer, instrumentalist and Professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of Central Lancashire, England” as well one of the world’s foremost Woody Guthrie scholars. His books will also be there, so he’ll be signing after he speaks about Woody for awhile.

The event gets started tonight at 6:15 (see what they did there?) and you can park for dirt cheap in the lot attached to the library. Get there early and bring questions and a song in your heart.

-Emily

Due to my completely insane work and school schedule, I don’t get to read as much as I would like. I especially don’t get to read anything that was written in the last 20 or 30 years that isn’t a text book or about the music business.

I have, however, gotten the opportunity to read a few of Margaret Atwood’s books over the last couple of years, most notably The Penelopiad, which is the Odyssey told from Penelope’s point of view, and Year of the Flood, her latest. I enjoyed both, and was incredibly excited to hear that she would be speaking at Belmont. One of my professors even made it a requirement to go, but in all honesty I would have gone even if that hadn’t been the case.

Let me tell you, this woman was funny, and in a very dry, sarcastic way (my personal favorite). Hearing her read passages from Year of the Flood made me realize the humor she injects even into the darker passages. When I was reading it the absurdity of “Mole Day” or the “Anooyoo” products wasn’t completely lost on me, but hearing them out loud made me smile in amusement.

After she talked a little bit about her most recent works and read a few passages from them she took audience questions, some of which were good, some of which were rambling, but man was she quick-witted about all of them. When asked about being a feminist writer she rattled off a few old, incredibly outdated thoughts about women, and once again she pointed out absurdity in a way few people can. She never answered the question outright, but I think she was implying that if writing about women as if they were human beings with souls made her a feminist writer, then so be it. She also took questions about things from references to finger-sucking in her novels and literary theorists who might be way off base but make up theories that are incredibly flattering and make her seem like an even more impressive writer than she already is.

If you didn’t make it out to see her tonight then don’t fret, you have two more chances tomorrow. She’ll be at Belmont’s Massey Board Room at 9am and will be in the Lila D. Bunch Library’s Bunch Multimedia Hall (on the second floor) at 11am.

If there’s any way you can get out to see her I highly recommend it. As one of my friends said after we left the building, “I want her to be my best friend.”

-Emily

October 8-10, 2010, celebrates the annual Festival of the Written Word here
in Nashville.  Free and open to the public, but get there quickly!!! Seating
for special events is on a first-come basis.  The festival, held at War Memorial Plaza, welcomes more than 200 authors in nearly every genre imaginable.  No matter what your tastes, there is sure to be something to please everybody.  Hours of the festival are Friday, October 8th from noon-6pm, Saturday the 9th from 9am-6pm, and Sunday the 10th from
noon to 5pm.

The festival will be marked by several special events, such as live music at
The Café Stage, an event where chefs will prepare and discuss recipes from
their cookbooks, and children’s events highlighting children’s authors such
as Tracy Barrett and Tom Angleberger.  Local authors from Nashville will
also be available to meet and discuss their works.  Come out and enjoy three
days of music, arts, and above all, great literature, with this awesome
opportunity!!

-Abbie

Today at the Main Public Library in downtown Nashville Alex Heard, a Vanderbilt alum, will be speaking about his new book, a work of nonfiction called The Eyes of Willie McGee: A Tragedy of Race, Sex and Secrets in the Jim Crow South. This work follows the trial of Willie McGee, an African-American man accused of raping a married white woman, who he might have just had an honest relationship with. His trial lasted one day and the all white jury only took 2 and a half minutes to find him guilty. He was eventually executed.

If this sounds a lot like To Kill a Mockingbird to you, then you’re not alone. The similar plot points were obviously not missed on Heard, as the book’s publish date coincides with the 50th anniversary year of the Harper Lee classic. The Eyes of Willie McGee is for fans of Mockingbird and historical nonfiction.

This event will take place tonight at the Main Public Library at 5pm.

Monday

Rock’n'Roll Trivia and 8 off 8th at the Mercy Lounge – 7 & 9pm
Test your crazy rock knowledge with others and compete for prizes from the bar and the Groove Record Shop. If you have a Twitter follow @rocknrolltrivia for clues. After that stick around for an 8 off 8th featuring David Olney, Jonell Mosser, Tommy Womack, Peter Cooper & Eric Brace, Rachel Loy, Sweet Eastern Saint, Jacob Jones, and Derek Hoke. Both are 21+ events.

Best Selling Author Jason Wright signs and discusses The Cross Gardener at Davis-Kidd Books – 7pm
Jason Wright is a NYT Bestselling author and he’s in Nashville with his new book which is about hope or some crap like that. I don’t know, I don’t read fiction.

Clean Drips: An Urban Art Experience at Rocketown – 6pm
WorkForce is bringing in a lot of their friends in to show work for the Clean Drips show. 20 Clean Drips prints will be given out to the first 20 people who ask about them, so first come first serve. DJ KidsMeal (really? that’s really the DJ name he picked?) will be providing the musical atmosphere.

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Monday

Rock’nRoll Trivia & 8 off 8th Road to Bonnaroo at the Mercy Lounge – 6:30pm & 9pm
Okay, I think it’s officially been established that the Mercy Lounge is the place to be on a Monday night in Nashville if you are 21+ and poor/hip/both. First it’s Rock’n'Roll Trivia with prizes from the bar and The Groove record shop. Hey, you might even see some N4F’ers there, who knows? After the trivia it’s 8 off 8th Road to Bonnaroo. Of all the bands who play these special 8 off 8ths one will be selected to play at Bonnaroo. Last year it was Heypenny and though I didn’t see them at either I was told it was great. The winner will be decided through a fan and judge vote. Anyway, this week features, Born Empty, Kyle Andrews, Moon Taxi, Mona, The Non-Commissioned Officers, Parachute Musical, Ponderosa, and The Privates.

Master Classes with the West Point Academy Wind Quintet at Blair School of Music – 4-6pm
Master classes are always great. I used to go to them all the time for jazz guitar. I know, right? Call 615.322.7651 for more info. Here’s where’s what:

• Flute Master Class with Julie Williams Ditzel, Room 2190.
• Oboe Master Class and Reed-Making with James Mullins, Room 2192.
• Clarinet Repair Workshop with John Parrette, Room 2109.
• Bassoon Master Class with Christian Eberle, Room 1167.
• Horn Master Class with Troy Messner, Instrumental Rehearsal Hall.

Belmont Camerata Musicale: Celebrating Schumann’s Bicentennial at the Belmont Mansion – 7:30pm
Belmont Camerata Musicale will feature music celebrating the bicentennial of German composer Robert Schumann. The program will include Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44, Fairy Tales for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Op. 132 and selected songs.

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Monday

8 off 8th at the Mercy Lounge – 9pm
Well, well, well, if it isn’t everyone’s favorite weekly free show. This week it’s more like 9 off 8th (10 if you count the afterparty with Coach, who will be DJing). Have fun with  Peter Barbee, Keegan Dewitt, Jeremy Lister, Kyle Andrews, Madi Diaz, Majestico, Space Capone, Slick, and Heypenny. I don’t see any mention of Rock’nRoll Trivia, so my guess is that it’s not happening this week. Does anyone know for sure?

Eric Schlosser Live at Belmont Heights Baptist Church – 7pm
Ever heard of a little documentary called Fast Food Nation? Well, that’s Eric Schlosser. He’s going to speak about the health, security and sustainability of our food supply. As an investigative journalist, Eric Schlosser tries to explore subjects ignored by the mainstream media and give a voice to people at the margins of society. His aim is to shed light on worlds that are too often hidden. Schlosser’s first book, Fast Food Nation (2001), helped start a revolution in how Americans think about what they eat.

Tracy Rapp discusses and signs Simply Southern with a Dash of Kosher Soul at Davis-Kidd Books – 7pm
Well, it’s a big night for food events. This cookbook will solve those “what’s for dinner?” requests you get each day. It also shares fascinating stories about Jewish life in the South. Inside, you’ll find nearly 300 recipes from fabulous cooks who show you how to add kosher soul to Southern cooking. I mean, it helps if you actually buy the book, but I’m sure Ms. Rapp will be happy to tell some stories and chat it up with you.

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Monday

Rock’n'Roll Trivia and 8 off 8th at the Mercy Lounge – 6:30 & 9pm
The Mercy Lounge sort of owns Monday Nights when it comes to free stuff. Rock’n'Roll trivia offers prizes that involve gift cards and bar money, so grab your music nerd friends and come on down. After the trivia it’s time for 8 off 8th at 9pm, which features Luna Halo, Mother Father, Nite Nite, Will Holland, Tesla Rossa, and The Hollywood Ten this week.

Leticia Wolf in-store at Grimey’s – 6pm
Here’s what Grimey’s has to say about her:

Celebrating the release of her brand new album The Fire And The Flood, Leticia Wolf will offer a full-band performance here in the record store, with strings! Having grown up heavily influenced by punk and grunge, Wolf’s songwriting jones eventually led her to the singer-songwriters of the ’70s and The Beatles. She’s fronted rock bands, punk bands and all-girl metal bands but was always ready to throw down with a solo acoustic show at a moment’s notice. Of her new album she says, “The album is dark, but it’s soft and delicate, even hopeful at times. The stories explore a meandering path that is green with acoustic guitar, piano, rhodes, organ, strings and even a few euphoniums. The production is dry, warm and at times playful, but never over-done.”
Leticia Wolf myspace

Michael Webb’s Monday Night Jam at Douglas Corner Cafe – 8:30pm
This is a weekly event that I don’t really cover, but I thought I’d let you guys know about it. Michael Webb hosts the Monday Night Jam w/appearances by Bruce Wallace, Ward Stout, Craig Wright, Jolene Kay, Dave Webb, John Carroll, Dave Roe, and more.

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*This is another article that was entered to win the Vampire Weekend 7″. He didn’t win, but we liked it, so we have decided to post it. If you want to get published on N4F write an article about something free or cheap you did and send it to nashvilleforfree@gmail.com

Nostalgia is a pleasant aroma. Much less pleasant is the aroma of an empty wallet. Unfortunately, it is sometimes hard to indulge in the prior aroma without the latter sneaking in as well. Whether looking for or stumbling upon a classic album from your childhood or a book from your teenage years, the price tags that come with them are sometimes nauseating. Fortunately for cheapskates like myself, McKay Used Books, CD’s, DVD’s, Movies & More on Charlotte Avenue eliminates that.

Walking into McKay for the first time was, for a book and music lover like myself, overwhelming. Shelves and shelves of books, and more than a few CD’s and vinyl records as well. I made my way down the aisles of books, finding many books that I love for $2 or less. Some of them I already own, but the prices were so cheap I had to buy them to give away. Exercising restraint to not buy them all is a legitimate struggle, because the selection was fantastic.

The music section was quite pleasing as well. Not only are many CD’s just a few bucks, but the scratched section (note: none of the CD’s I got in the section were very scratched at all) offers many fun CD’s for about 50 cents. I walked out with a few books, and a bag full of CD’s – present favorites like Gillian Welch and Radiohead, artists I’ve wanted to check out ice Islands, and nostalgic favorites like Sixpence None the Richer and Yellowcard, and more. Total number of books: 3. Total number of CD’s: 9. Total price: About $20. I walked out with a bag full of literature and music and a wallet (mostly) full of money. WIN!

-Stephen Capps

*This is another article that was entered to win the Vampire Weekend 7″. He didn’t win, but we liked it, so we have decided to post it. If you want to get published on N4F write an article about something free or cheap you did and send it to nashvilleforfree@gmail.com

Nostalgia is a pleasant aroma. Much less pleasant is the aroma of an empty wallet. Unfortunately, it is sometimes hard to indulge in the prior aroma without the latter sneaking in as well. Whether looking for or stumbling upon a classic album from your childhood or a book from your teenage years, the price tags that come with them are sometimes nauseating. Fortunately for cheapskates like myself, McKay Used Books, CD’s, DVD’s, Movies & More on Charlotte Avenue eliminates that.

Walking into McKay for the first time was, for a book and music lover like myself, overwhelming. Shelves and shelves of books, and more than a few CD’s and vinyl records as well. I made my way down the aisles of books, finding many books that I love for $2 or less. Some of them I already own, but the prices were so cheap I had to buy them to give away. Exercising restraint to not buy them all is a legitimate struggle, because the selection was fantastic.

The music section was quite pleasing as well. Not only are many CD’s just a few bucks, but the scratched section (note: none of the CD’s I got in the section were very scratched at all) offers many fun CD’s for about 50 cents. I walked out with a few books, and a bag full of CD’s – present favorites like Gillian Welch and Radiohead, artists I’ve wanted to check out ice Islands, and nostalgic favorites like Sixpence None the Richer and Yellowcard, and more. Total number of books: 3. Total number of CD’s: 9. Total price: About $20. I walked out with a bag full of literature and music and a wallet (mostly) full of money. WIN!

-Stephen Capps