Go West for Nashville Iconic Treats
This is a summertime outing, because Bobbie’ Dairy Dip is opened seasonally, and the closer to the heart of the summer you can make it, the more nostalgia will drip off your soft serve cone and down your arm.
Nashville Hot Chicken! Nashville has developed a signature food, and part of that is a contest for who makes the best Hot Chicken in Nashville. While this dish can be found in restaurants all over town. The two big names in Hot Chicken are Hattie B’s and Prince’s. Today we are going to get our taste of Hattie B’s and walk across the street for a great way to cool down.
Itinerary
This location of Hattie B’s rarely long lines and their food is made as well as the original location in Mid-Town. You are here for the chicken. If you don’t want it to be spicy you need to order Southern Style. As soon as you step up to mild you are taking on a sincere level of spice. From there, I leave it to you and you taste for and tolerance of high heat level. The chicken is really good. They have great sides too! Walk up to the counter, place your order and take your number to the table.
You did it! You had some Hattie B’s? How is your palate holding up? Head on across the street to Bobbie’s Dairy dip. They have a menu filled with options. They can offer a variety of sundaes and shakes. Walk on up to peer at the menu while you are waiting in line. This is a place you don’t want to panic order and get fomo when you see other people walking away from the window with something you wish you ordered. My standard order is a dipped cone. It soothes my inner 12 year old. If I really need to soothe that kid, I get a specialty dip flavor or I get it with sprinkles. Don’t wander off, they come out fast and they melt even faster. Stock up on napkins and pour yourself a cup of water. There it is, your order is up. Stop the conversations and get to the serious business of enjoying your soft serve. Gosh, I love me some Bobbies!!!
By now you are weighted down with two great heavy bites. My suggestion is to walk down 53rd Avenue toward the Richland Greenway at McCabe Park. Ideally it is early evening now. Resume that conversation and go walk off some of those calories and bask in the nostalgia. The neighborhood you walk through is charming. The greenway is a good place to walk. I think it is a great wind down.
Audibles:
In my mind this depends on your time of day. If you are a thrift store or antique shopper, this stretch of Charlotte Avenue has several good shops to stop through. Here is a recent feature posted by a fellow Nashville blogger on that topic. On Saturday, Richland Park holds a Farmers Market during the spring, summer, and fall. Another audible which is darn near another outing is to go in the morning and stop at Star Bagel for a walking breakfast and stroll through McCabe Park for a while. During its peak hours, Star Bagel is very busy because it is an awesome place. I suggest ordering online before you get on the road if you opt for this audible.
And now for something different. Is it HOT?? Do you need to escape it? Or are you in the mood to get off the beaten path for a bit? Or….do you love doing the unexpected? For me, in Nashville, the unexpected is curling! When I am in charge of an outing, I keep something like this in my pocket and just drive the group there. At worst it’s a horrible idea for the group and it becomes a conversation piece. At best the group goes all in and does the whole nine yards of taking a curling course and learning how to use a broom in new ways. Tee Line is unexpected and is enjoyable on several different levels. It is owned by a former NFL quarterback and the signed memorabilia on the walls alone is worth a visit. It is located in a nearby but hard to find area that makes your crew wonder how lost you are before you just plop into their spacious parking lot. The outdoor areas are very pleasant. The indoor area is spacious and very comfortable for hanging out and having a drink and watching curling through the glass. If you are going, and you are sure you will want to be curling, call them ahead of time and arrange it.
Audibles
Antique/Thrift Store Shopping on Charlotte
Richland Park (Especially on Farmer’s Market Day)
Curling, really?
