Skating Nashville Style

This Nashville skate park is a safe haven for young boarders.

Let It Out at the Barbershop

The barbershops and beauty salons on Jefferson Street in Nashville are both a place to get your hair cut and community gathering place.

Guitar 101

Meet one of Nashville’s female guitar technicians at Rock Block Guitars.

The Economics of Biking

Gas prices are driving many Nashville residents straight to the local bike store.

It’s a Jungle Out There

A day at the Nashville Zoo proves there is something for everyone.

Tattoos With A Twist

A downtown Nashville tattoo shop mixes ink with Christian values.

A Day of Reflection

The town of Madison honored their military men and women who died in combat at a Memorial Day service.

Alexander Knight, DI Multimedia Scholar

Some Americans see Memorial Day as a vacation, because most adults are off work and children are out of school; however if you ask the brave men and women who have served, or currently serving in the armed forces, it is a day to pay homage to soldiers who have served this country and give ultimate thanks to soldiers who have died in war.

The people in the town of Madison endured the heat to pay their respects to those who fell in battle, and veterans came to be part of the annual Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Park.

For former Sgt. Earnest D. Sharp, who said he served 21 years in the Army, homecoming was bittersweet. He returned to Madison after a 50-year absence. “I couldn’t miss a day like this, and I’m proud to be here,” he said.

For some, the holiday brought back painful memories that will live with soldiers and their families forever. “It’s ashame that boys have to give their lives for something that they believe in,” said Jack Redden, World War II and Korean War veteran.

Many people said they couldn’t help but reminisce and shed tears for soldiers who have fallen in combat; a grim reminder was wall plaques bearing their names throughout the park.

With the distractions surrounding this holiday, many people have forgotten what the true meaning of Memorial Day is. “Memorial Day is not about picnics and barbeques, but about remembering those who have served our country,” said Lisa Mossier, Madison resident. Sadly, this the only day that we recognize soldiers for their accomplishments and their sacrifices. We need to thank our soldier’s everyday instead of setting aside just one day to honor them.

Memorial Day Blues

Thunderstorms sent the crowd running for cover at the annual Legends of the Blues Music and Arts Festival in Centennial Park.

Angelica Roberts, DI Multimedia Scholar

Spectators and organizers felt the blues from inclement weather during the 7th annual Legends of the Blues Music and Arts Festival in Centennial Park on Memorial Day.

The festival had been underway for an hour under cloudy skies when the band Beat Daddy’s took the stage at 1 p.m. and played for an hour. Within minutes, before the second band played, the festival was cancelled due to the weather.

“Of our seven years, this is our first rainout,” said Mimi Shimmim, the festival coordinator. “We wouldn’t have cancelled it, but the thunder and lightning made it dangerous.”

Laura Parks of Columbia, Tenn., said she lives 40 minutes away and “decided to come out here to hear some good blues, and to hopefully enjoy a fun day.”

The festival, scheduled to end at 7 p.m., was held around Lake Watuga where miniature U.S. flags were displayed throughout the festival area. Many spectators were dressed in traditional red, white and blue colors.

To appease older and younger crowds, two stages were set up, and special performances were arranged for the different age groups.

“I’m excited because now I don’t have to listen to the music with the old people,” said Sharon Wills, 8, of Memphis, Tenn.

Roy Moser of Raleigh, N.C., said he liked blues music and added a somber tone: “Veterans fought for us to enjoy the American life. This festival is allowing us the freedom to do so.”

Even Vendors Get the Blues

Vendors working the annual Legends of the Blues Music and Arts Festival had a case of the blues when rain poured down and cancelled the event.

Erica Morrison, DI Multimedia Scholar

Not everyone is fortunate enough to take off on Memorial Day.
Darlene Davidson was hard at work at the Legends of the Blues Music and Arts Festival celebration at Nashville’s Centennial Park amid tunes to sway the hips, chow to feed the lips and other vendors offering art and fashion tips.
Davidson, owner of Opulent Things, an online store on eBay, showcased her jewelry at the festival for the first time. Her line features beads she molds from clay, African prints, gemstones and tie-dyed beads, for which she uses “rosa clay and colors, and [prints] 10 designs.”
Most of the pieces are one of a kind and limited edition, she said. Davidson referred to her jewelry making as a hobby but said she hopes to make it her main source of income.
Also at the event were Jack and Carol MacDowall, owners of Moose Head Kettle Corn in Nashville, who are living the dream. A former head chef in Colorado, Jack decided to go into business for himself. The couple started Moose Head four years ago and has made it their primary source of income.
Not only do they attend events like the annual Memorial Day festival and movies-in-the-park events, but Moose Head also supplies all popcorn for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, The Produce Place and a specialty basket company based in Nashville.
The MacDowells, who sell their corn online and ship worldwide, said they hope to begin opening franchises within five years. Moose Head’s goal, Jack said is to provide “a consistent superior product that is always going to be the same anytime you see us.”

Wives, Veterans Remember Fallen Companions

Memorial Day is about remembering and the town of Gallatin honored their fallen at the Sumner County Veterans Memorial.

Shivonne Foster, DI Multimedia Scholar

It wasn’t wartime combat that claimed the life of Ann Swaim’s husband. A staph infection and bladder cancer took the life of gun master F.E. Swaim years after he served in one year in the Army and 20 in the Navy.
Swaim spoke proudly today of her husband of 16 years, saying, “He cared about people, and that’s what the military is all about.”
Accompanied by Lynne Seagraves and Viola Jeffers, whose husbands are deceased veterans, Swaim attended the Memorial Day observance at the Sumner County Veterans Memorial in Gallatin. They sat with a crowd of veterans and family members amid U.S. and military flags, a few at half staff and many flapping in a stiff breeze.
Memorial attendee, Randall Mays, an Army veteran who said he served four years, six months and 29 days in combat, beginning in 1963, volunteered to return to service five times during the Vietnam War. “I felt like it was going to take numbers of people to make a difference,” he said. “I’d do anything to save lives.”
The 64-year-old said the names of 57 men he served with are among the 58,195 inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“I wish our government had taken a different political stance,” Mays said. “But regardless, that doesn’t reflect badly on the troops. We went with the intent to do a job.”
According to Mays, the nation still has work to do militarily and “must stomp the living hell out of the next country that attacks us.”
Mays was one of a throng of Rolling Thunder members who gathered throughout the nation on the holiday to remember fellow veterans, to support men and women now serving and to advocate for further searches for prisoners of war.
Dave Peterson, 59, who said he served in Thailand during the Vietnam War, hopes that politicians take notice of Rolling Thunder, an organization of motorcyclists. “We’re not politicians,” he said. “We just want somebody to hear us. I think they heard us. There’s over half a million people in Washington, D.C., this weekend.”
Today, members of Rolling Thunder met with their newest member, President Bush, at the White House.

Military Honors

Thunderstorms delayed official Memorial Day services but many showed up at the Nashville National Cemetery to honor military men and women who died.

Ashley Slayton, DI Multimedia Scholar

Despite thunderstorms that forced the cancellation of a Memorial Day Service, friends and families turned up to honor their loved ones Monday at Nashville National Cemetery.

“We’ve been coming for twenty-five years,” said Terry Coffey, a Nashville resident, who came to visit her father’s grave. “We come rain or shine. We just think about all they went through.”

While the band packed away instruments after the 2 p.m. event was canceled, a Civil War re-enactment group spoke to families who braved the wind and rain to attend the event.

Norman Hill, chair of the Tennessee Historical Commission, was dressed as a sergeant with the 13th United States Colored Troop. Hill said the group was formed in memory of the unit that fought in the Battle of Nashville and the 1,100 troops buried in the cemetery that died in the battle.

“Each Memorial Day, we’re out here and we do this in remembrance for all of them,” Hill said. “Each of us that do this has our own particular reason for doing it.”

Hill added that many of the group had ancestors who had participated in the war and others had family members who were buried in the cemetery.

“It’s both historical and personal,” Hill said.

An Abraham Lincoln impersonator surprised audiences by choosing not to recite the Gettysburg address. He opted instead to recite a letter of condolence Lincoln had written to Fanny McCullough.

As he finished the speech the audience gave him a round of applause. Families asked the group questions as the drizzle began again.

“You know what kills me?” asked Bill Radcliffe, who was dressed as a Sergeant major with the 13th USCT. “Memorial Day Sales. How else can you cheapen life and liberty than to have a sale?”

As the rain began increasing and the crowd began to disperse among the graves, Radcliffe turned to a small group of bystanders.

“These are the real heroes,” he said, pointing at the graves around them. “We’re just trying to keep them alive.”

Happily Ever After

Fairy tales come to life at the Cheekwood Art and Gardens in Nashville.

Whitney Maddox and Thaisi Velasquez, DI Multimedia Scholars

On most days, Cheekwood Art and Gardens seem cool and calm to many of its visitors, but between now and Sept. 7, laughing and screaming children will be there for this summer’s fairy tale theme, “let your hair down.”

Fairy tale art brings to life eight enchanting stories along Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail. Story settings titled “Happily Ever After” offer visual aids of children’s literature.

“It’s good that the exhibits are spread out throughout the park so we can experience the grounds of Cheekwood and get a field of what it has to offer,” said Kim Thomason, 38, of Smyrna, Tenn. “I can’t wait to hear my kid’s at home talking about how they climbed up the wall just like Rapunzel did when she let her hair down. The memories my children will have is going to be great, this has just aided in their memory building skills.”

The slides and bridges featured on the exhibits are easily accessible and safe for all age groups.

“I have a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, so it is good that they both can play together,” said Keith Anderson, 36, of Nashville, Tenn. “I am so glad that the children can come outside and play and learn at the same time. So many children sit in front of the TV all day and forget about the world outside, but today they were able to get out and experience something different.”

Catch the Wave

Wave Country in Nashville is open for the summer with new slides and plenty of customers.

Nissan Shows Off

Each year Nissan shows off it’s cars from the past and present, hoping to make an impact on the Nashville community.

Aziza Jackson, DI Multimedia Scholar

The cars displayed were: the 1970 DATSUN 240ZS, the 1970 DATSUN 240Z Bonneville Salt Flats Car, 1980 DATSUN 280ZX, 1986 NISSAN 300ZX, 1995 NISSAN 300 ZX SMZ Steve Millen Ltd. Edition, and the 2002 NISSAN 35OZ.
A 1974 260Z, owned by Yutaka Katayama, a former top Nissan executive for North America, also is included in the exhibit. Katayama , 98 and living in Tokyo, is known as the “Father of the Z car.”
However, Katayama, was among the naysayers who believed the company was making a big mistake by moving its headquarters from the prestigious Los Angeles, Calif. Market, according to a New York Times article.
The move in 2006 put Nissan’s headquarters closer to its manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
“I was kind of excited about it [Nissan’s move] because my company helped build their building,” said Tony Easley, a Motor Museum visitor celebrating his 30th anniversary with his wife Patty.
“It also gives more places for people to work, so, of course it’s a good thing,” Patty Easley said.

Gospel Start to the Memorial Day Weekend

Fifth Annual Memorial Day Celebration at the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center, East Nashville.

Acquanetta G. Donnell, Jr. & Erica Morrison, DI Multimedia Scholars

Despite the rising gas prices across the nation, more than 400 veterans, family and friends filled the Delta Ballroom for the opening of the annual Memorial Day weekend celebration at the Opryland Hotel.
“We usually average about 2,000-3,000 people in attendance a year,” said Penny Fowler-Smith, who works with Legacy Five entertainment group, the organizers of the event.
The program featured Col. Oliver North, who signed copies of his book, “Heroes,” and spoke on the meaning of Memorial Day.
The Voices of Lee from Lee University also entertained the audience, and Charles Stanley, a world-renowned pastor from Atlanta, offered biblical words of encouragement.
Mike Lewis, who is known as “the Jesus painter,” completed a portrait of Jesus within ten minutes to the astonishment of the audience. “I was really amazed at how fast he was able to paint such an immaculate portrait,” said Glenda Ramsey of Jackson, Tenn., a second-year participant in the celebration.
The event is set to continue for the remainder of the weekend.

Music and Style

Workshop celebrates Marty Robinson and Katy K country costumes at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Ashley Slayton, DI Multimedia Scholar

Kids equipped with glue sticks, glitter and sequins filled the Country
Music Hall of Fame and Museum Saturday for the third annual Country
Costuming with Katy K workshop.

This year’s event centered on Marty Robbins, a country music
recording artist and began with a brief slideshow and history of
Robbins’ life. Often referred to as country music’s renaissance
man,” Robbins was an actor, author and stock car racer. He was also known
as a pioneer of the fashion frontier.

Following the biography, Katy K led the group on a tour of the
museum’s Robbins exhibit.

“I think this will inspire creativity and maybe we’ll get a
designer out of the bunch,” Katy K said, adding that she looked forward to doing
a session on female influence in country western wear.

Next year, the museum plans an exhibit of Kitty Wells and more options for the kids to choose from, such as fringe and paper hats.

Katy K owns a country costuming shop in the city and has designed for
entertainers such as Jack White and Pee Wee Herman.

Michelle Digionvanni said her children were very excited about the
workshop.

“Both are interested in country music and fashion. She
draws pages and pages of bathing suits and designs things,” she said,
pointing to her 9-year-old daughter, Kara. “This just had them
written all over it.”

Footage of Robbins hosting the Grand Ole Opry and music from his hit
records played while kids glued ribbons to paper vests and colored on
paper doll cut outs.

“We really wanted to bring Marty to life,” said public programs
coordinator Ali Tonn. “I like the combination of the education and the
hands on activity. I’m always surprised at what the kids make.
They’re all very unique.”

Although fewer children attended this year, Katy K said this was actually an
advantage.

“This year they’re getting more attention because there are fewer
of them,” she said. “It’s nice to see the parents are participating
too.”

On the Cumberland

Riverfront Park along the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville is a gathering place and a venue for concerts and other events.

(Soundslide by Richard White and Ashley Slayton, DI Multimedia Scholars)

Going Greek in Nashville

Take in a little piece of Greece in Music City. The Parthenon in Nashville’s Centennial Park was built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition.

(Sounslide by Acquanetta Donnell, Jr. and Shivonne Foster, DI Multimedia Scholars)

Music City Homeless

Hear from the unheard, Music City’s homeless. Many of Nashville’s homeless are musicians who did not make it in the music business.

(Soundslide by Geoffrey Cooper and Thaisi Velasquez, DI Multimedia Scholars)

Farmer’s Market

A trip through the Nashville Farmer’s Market in downtown Nashville. The market is open year round.

(Soundslide by Alexander Knight and Whitney Maddox, DI Multimedia Scholars)

Sounds of the Symphony

The Nashville Symphony Orchestra performs on the lawn at Vanderbilt University.

(Soundslide by Fred McGhee and Erica Morrison, DI Multimedia Scholars)

In the Village

Hillsboro Village is an eclectic shopping and dining district near the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

(Soundslide by Angelica Roberts and Aziza Jackson)