Love on Lockdown: A Nashville Travel Diary
I’ve always wanted to see the city of Nashville, but I never imagined that it would happen in the midst of a nationwide pandemic and protests. When COVID-19 and layoffs put a dent in my summer plans, I settled into the idea that I would likely spend my birthday weekend in a virtual Zoom party like so many others. However, after spending over 2 months of quarantine and social distancing with my family in South Carolina — away from my Harlem community — my boyfriend Jamel and I decided enough was enough. We opted out of the vacation wardrobe shopping and haircuts that normally come before a trip and decided to come as we were to Nashville, Tennessee and make the best of it. We were greeted with friendly faces, thrift shops worth visiting, and black owned vegan restaurants that I’m still raving about.
After a winding drive through the mountains, we arrived at Infinity Music Row for our stay. Apartment-style amenities made more sense to us during a pandemic than a hotel, and even though the pool and many common areas were closed, we couldn’t have picked a better location. We were an easy walk to Music Row with live music venues, the Gulch (a neighborhood full of plenty of bars and restaurants), and a quick 10 minute drive to downtown.
Our first stop was Superica, where I order veggie enchiladas and admittedly, one too many margaritas (hence, the lack of photos). The food was great and the ambiance was even better. We ate outside and felt comfortable with the distance between us and other patrons, but as the evening approached, the outdoor area became pretty crowded and it was clear that folks in Nashville did not have social distancing on their minds.
The next day, we travelled the city by motor scooter and that was an event in itself! Nashville has these scooters everywhere so we did some sight seeing and ultimately ended up at Vege-licious Cafe. We quickly learned this vegan comfort food spot has a diverse menu and is black owned, operated by a husband and wife. There weren’t the frills of a posh venue, but it felt like ordering from a family member and we loved the familiarity of it all. I ordered the seitan gyro while Jamel ordered the hot fried “chicken” sandwich. We were living in the moment and didn’t capture tons of pics, but if you’re ever in the area I highly recommend this restaurant — even if you don’t have a vegan diet!
If you didn’t know, now you know that Nashville is known for its exceptional coffee shops. We order curbside at Frothy Monkey and my Turtle Latte was one of hands down top 5 lattes I’ve ever had!
The following afternoon, we continued to eat our way through Nashville by treating ourselves to a Sunday brunch. Sure, there was no DJ or overpriced mimosas, but we ordered curbside from The Southern V, sat outdoors at Infinity Music row and created our own vibes. The food from The Southern V was amazing! We soon discovered that it was another black owned, family run, 100% plant based restaurant and we were so impressed with everything about it. I ordered the hot “chicken” salad and a patty melt with green beans, while Jamel had another fried “chicken” sandwich, the crunchiest “chicken” tenders I’ve ever tried, mac n cheese, and an oreo milkshake with a chocolate chip cookie. I know, I know – we pigged out. 10/10!
Next, we shifted our focus to thrifting. Our first stop was Music City Thrift where I found a $25 genuine leather jacket and regretfully walked away from it. I did, however, end up leaving with a cute vintage pink night slip and some brand new summer mules — all for less than $15.
We also racked up at Buffalo Exchange, but our most noteworthy stop was Smack Clothing. Nashville has plenty of vintage shops, and this is one for the true collector. Jamel was on the hunt for the “most Nashville piece” he could find, and I was so excited to find a vintage denim bralette top with red and yellow floral stitching.
On our final night, we explored downtown Nashville on Broadway and found most of the city boarded up. The night before, we’d been outdoors at a local bar and totally oblivious to the peaceful protests turned riots that had taken place just a few blocks away. It was surreal to see the city boarded up and deserted, and our evening was cut short when a citywide 8pm curfew made it mandatory to return back to our apartment.
Even with the social distancing, closed dining rooms, and riots, this trip to Nashville was one for the books. I was reminded of the importance of the little things. What was most important was that Jamel and I were able to spend time together, we were healthy, and we moved slowly enough to truly enjoy the city. This pandemic has shown me that the people I love should take precedent over the business I was once consumed in.
So should you add Nashville to you travel list? Absolutely! You don’t have to travel abroad to have a new experience. There’s something waiting for you in a new city or a new state, so go for it. What American cities are on your radar?
With Style & Soul,