No matter how much bitterness, resentment, and despair this contest exposes, we can always count on a few stray beams of sunshine from loyal readers. Their memories of Nashville are as vast as their goodwill. In honor of our unashamedly maudlin publisher, Albert J. Del Favero Jr.—who fondly remembers dates at the Belle Meade, sandwiches at Moon Drugs, and those golden days when the Allman Joys played in his garage—we present the nice-guy YASNI entries...the Albies.
...you love prowling through Bari-Mor for that special something because it reminds you of a cross between your grandmother’s attic and the set of a Tennessee Williams play.
...you love music—all kinds, especially country and western. I believe Nashville music has an up to it all. I know it makes my day. I can feel down and blue, sad, whatever, and listen to good music, and it’s a picker-upper. I love being a Nashvillian. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The people here are wonderful!
...you purchase a terrific-looking outfit at a local thrift store for next-to-nothing to wear when you go out for a delicious dinner at one of Nashville’s great restaurants with the super discount coupon you clipped from the Nashville Scene.
...you remember Charlotte Pike being two lanes with potholes that would swallow motorcycles; riding the ferry across the Cumberland River out of necessity; having lunch at Centennial Park on the lawn with different Greek gods and goddesses scattered about; enjoying a night at Fair Park, riding the old wooden roller coaster as you scream toward Fourth Avenue.
...The Charades are still one of your favorite bands.
...you stop at a green light, get out of your car to escort a blind person across the street, get back in your car, and resume your journey.
...you throw bread to the ducks at Centennial Park; eat Goo Goos while checking out Second Avenue and Lower Broad; attend at least one Starwood Concert, Opryland Hotel function, a restaurant where celebrities frequent, and a regular religious worshipping site; know someone in the music business and the city government; know what “Athens of the South,” Cheekwood, TPAC, Hermitage, Belle Meade Boulevard and Iroquois signify; know where there are a fort, three museums, Bicentennial Mall in the city’s heart; been to a Swan or Swine-like ball, Grand Ole Opry or Opryland, Italian Street Fair or Summer Lights, Fan Fair or country-music taping; know how to get on/off 440, 265, 65, 24, and 40. Finally, you are so Nashville if you say “you all” like you’ve lived here all your life.
...you are resettled in Nashville with the opened arms and warm hearts of Nashvillians after long...long years of “hell-treated” in the so-called Re-Education camps under the Communist regime in Vietnam.
...you are loved and understood by the beautiful Nashvillians who are willing to help you looking for a job and a safe place to live with your beloved family. (Writing for hundreds of Vietnamese former POWs in Nashville.)
...you are smart enough to realize that the heart and soul of this city is music!
...you’re a hopeless romantic who enjoys moonlit strolls, candlelight dinners, evenings by the fireplace, and walks in the rain after TPAC.
...you remember Ken Knight, disc jockey at WMAK radio. The station was located in the Maxwell House Hotel in the lobby at Fourth and Church Street. Ken locked himself in the control room of WMAK and played “Your Maw Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night” by Kenny Dino. He was protesting his not getting a raise. Fans came down in support of him and caused a traffic jam. The song played for 18 hours straight.
...you remember Purity Dairy’s kangaroo.
...you remember Bob Lobertini
...you remember shopping on Church Street.
...your mother used to take you to Cross Keys Restaurant for lunch.
...you hung out at Nicks on Highway 70.
...you were at the grand opening of Kmart on Nolensville Road.
...you ate at the Krystal on Church Street.
...you remember when Ciraco’s, now Danzo’s, was a pizza joint.
...you remember when the only restaurant on Murfreesboro Road was the Omni Hut.
...you remember the carousel at Harvey’s.
...your mother always has her hair done at Castner Knott.
...you loved to eat the french fries at Yannie’s.
...you remember when someone blew up Griff’s in Green Hills.
...you remember when Brentwood was a gas station and a restaurant called Nobles.
...you remember when the only place for school shoes was Red Goose in Green Hills.
...you remember when Petway-Reavis was the place for all little boys to buy clothes.
...you remember the Viscaya Restaurant on West End.
...you remember Frank N Steins beer and hotdogs.
...you remember the McClures on 21st.
...you remember when the place for music was the Red Dog Saloon/formerly Maude’s now Trilogy.
...you remember the old library.
...you remember Thoni gas stations.
...you hung out at Sgt. Peppers on 21st.
...you listened to Super Shan on WMAK.
...you remember WENO Radio.
...you remember the nativity scene at Christmas at Centennial Park.
...you remember The Waking Crew.
...you remember making a fallout shelter in your basement.
...you remember the blizzard of 1951.
...you bought clothes at London Bridge.
...you remember when Shoney’s at Harding Place was a hot drive-in.
...you remember the Lemonade Charades and you have a 45 of “San Bernadino.”
...you remember the Night Train show with Noble Blackwell and Jimi Hendrix in the house band.
...you remember Creature Feature with “Sir Cecil Creep.”
...you remember the 291 exchange in Green Hills.
...you remember Ironing Board Sam who played a piano made from an ironing board in front of the old Woolworth’s downtown.
...you remember the Woolco in 100 Oaks.
...you remember an R&B band called Jonah and the Whales a big frat band in the ’60s.
...you remember organist Sharon Lane.
...you remember martial law and tanks on Franklin Road during the Martin Luther King murder.
...you remember dances at Father Ryan High.
...you remember when they built the original guitar shaped pool at Webb Pierce’s house.
...you remember the only jewelry store was Drapers across from Lipscomb.
...you remember 20th Century Billiards above what is now Sportsman Grill in 21st.
...you remember when Bakertown was a real place not part of Antioch.
...you remember when the Everly Brothers attended Peabody Demonstration School.
...you go out of your way to drive by McDonalds and pick up discount coupons to Opryland USA only to hand them out to tourists on your way in the park. You want everyone to love your city as you do!
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