When Connie’s first opened in the former home of Cafe Coco, Margaret Littman shared that the nouveau dive bar featured “a curated hot dog menu.” Color me intrigued. Well, it turns out that the cook team at Connie’s wants to challenge some of their friends to what they are calling “The Doggon' Dog-Off.” On Friday, Oct. 10, from 5 until 10 p.m., Connie’s will put their dog up against meat tubes from Saap Saap BBQ, Secret Bodega and Pizza Lolo to determine who has the top dog.
Guests can buy a ticket in advance from Eventbrite for $27.45 for the privilege of sampling all four dogs and voting for their favorite. Connie’s intends this to be a quarterly thing, and the winner will be featured as the bar’s first Dog for a Cause for a month, with a portion of sales benefiting Pathways Kitchen — a local nonprofit that provides training and support for youths who have been impacted by the justice system.
M.L.Rose also has a charitable initiative running through the month of October, benefiting a cause that is personal to the business. Beverage director Julie Meirick is a breast cancer survivor, and in her honor, every M.L.Rose location is featuring two special cocktails with a portion of sales donated to the YMCA's ABC (After Breast Cancer) program, which offers hope and guidance for survivors of breast cancer.Â
Meirick is a big fan of the ABC program. “When I found out about the ABC program, I knew it was for me,” she recalls. “The workouts alone were much-needed. Coming back to manage at M.L.Rose, I couldn't bend down to pick up a straw. I was about four weeks out of radiation, about nine weeks out of chemo, and Letrozole was ruining my joints. The workouts through the ABC program helped me rehab my body so that I could function in a busy restaurant. But it was the time with the women in my group — the discussion, camaraderie, tears and laughter — that really healed me. I would not be the person I am without each and every one of the brave women that were part of the ABC program.”Â
In honor of women everywhere, of course the drinks are pink. Here’s what’s on offer, in M.L.Rose's words:
PINK POWER COSMO: Three Olives Vodka, strawberry puree, lime, cranberry juice
HOWDY PINK LEMONADEL Classic lemonade flavor with a splash of pink and 5mg THC. From Bayou Hemp, Houston, Texas
All you have to do to help is visit your favorite M.L.Rose outpost and order a cocktail!
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to learn about coffee from 8th & Roast’s director of shop operations Ben Cureton, you definitely came away from the conversation as a smarter coffee drinker. Starting on Sunday, Oct. 18, Cureton offer classes on the third Saturday of each month.
The first class will be a Coffee 101 at 10 a.m. at 8th & Roast’s roastery at 2637 Grandview Ave. For just $10, you’ll learn about roasting and brewing, featuring two popular 8th & Roast varieties. Students will also discover the commitment that the company has to their farm partners around the globe.
The second class will rotate monthly and is intended for caffeinistas who want to get a little more in-depth and nerdier about specific topics. On Oct. 18, the 1 p.m. class is Home Espresso and Extraction, and students will actually get behind the bar for a little hands-on training. The class is $45, and you can register and pay tuition here.
Finally, tickets are on sale for one of the most fun culinary fundraisers of the year: Big Table Eats Around the World. The annual fundraiser benefits Big Table, an organization that provides much-needed assistance to Nashville’s hospitality industry.
This year’s culinary journey will take place on Monday, Nov. 10, at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs beginning at 5:30 p.m. Each year, Big Table selects two countries to feature, and for 2025 they’re taking you on trips to Ireland and Jamaica! Attendees will receive culinary passports and make their way around the room sampling delicacies and completing secret assignments and mission instructions to engage as an "Agent of Hope" and discover how simple acts of generosity can change the lives of those in crisis within the hospitality industry.
The evening will also feature live music, a raffle and fundraising auction. Tickets are $100, or you can reserve a table for 10 for $1,000. Get yours here today!
