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Green Zone

Academy Award® nominees Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum) reteam in this action-packed thriller. Damon stars as Roy Miller, a rogue U.S. Army officer who must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil before war escalates in an unstable region. Also starring Academy Award® nominees Greg Kinnear and Amy Ryan.  Rated R.

Once again, Matt Damon saves the world.  I must admit that I was impressed with him as an action hero in the Bourne movies.  What did you think?  Well, if Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) says that Green Zone is “one hell of a thriller”, that’s a good enough endorsement for me.  I’m going to try and watch it this weekend.

 The closest Redbox kiosks to Stewarts Ferry are at Thornton’s (714 Stewarts Ferry Pike), McDonald’s (5800 Old Hickory Blvd) and Walgreens (4001 Central Pike).

We all know that Stewarts Ferry is one of the best looking apartment communities in the metro Nashville area.  And if you’re a resident, you want the interior of your digs to look just as nice looking as the exterior, right?

One easy (and inexpensive) way to spruce up a room is to hang curtains. It gives the room a finished and polished look and doesn’t take much time at all. If you’re not the handy type, you may be asking, “how do I do that.”  That’s me.  Luckily there are “how-to videos” that show you the steps.  I am so ridiculously visual when it comes to DIY projects. If I have to pick between having something explained to me and watching a how-to video, I pick video every time. Check this one out.

If you didn’t already know, the new Woodbine Farmer’s Market at the Coleman Park Community Center (384 Thompson Lane at the corner of Nolensville Road), could easily become one of the biggest and best markets in Nashville.  Sure, they have your typical produce items that we all expect, but they also carry locally grown and farm-raised meats, artisanal breads, goat cheese, milk, coffee, dog treats and desserts, among other things.

They even have a playground there for the kids and they’re talking about bringing in live music and possibly yoga and dance classes.  Sweet!  Woodbine Farmer’s Market is open on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 7:00  p.m. and continues through Oct. 26.

Woodbine is not far at all from Stewarts Ferry.  Here are directions…

1. Start out going NORTH on STEWARTS FERRY PIKE toward LEBANON PIKE/US-70/TN-24. (0.0 mi)
2. Turn LEFT onto LEBANON PIKE/US-70/TN-24. (1.9 mi)
3. Merge onto TN-155 S. (6.7 mi)
4. 384 THOMPSON LN is on the RIGHT.

(Photo Credit: Woodbine Farmer’s Market)

Who know’s how to spot a really good beer…and I mean reeeealy knows?  There’s an art to it you know. In fact, there are five distinct categories to consider when evaluating a beer, including appearance (is it inviting?), smell (note the beer’s aromatic qualities, taste (note any flavors or interpretations of flavors), mouthfeel (is the beer flat or over carbonated?), drinkability (how likely are you to have another?).

Now that you’re on your way to becoming a beer connoisseur, you are ready for Mafiaoza’s 9th Annual Music City Brewer’s Festival at Hilton Park (121 Fourth Ave. S), only a short 15 minute drive from Stewarts Ferry.  It’s going down on July 31 and tickets ($35/each) are going fast like Memphis BBQ at a Weight Watchers convention!

Admission gets you samples from the best local, regional, national, and import breweries in the world, all in your own handy souvenir mug.  You can even purchase tickets on the event website.  You’ll also enjoy lunch or dinner from some of Nashville’s best restaurants and admission to the official after party.  Come on out and see why this was voted one of the top three festivals in Nashville by Nashville Scene!

Here is a little known fact about the movie Predator (whose sequel “Predators” just hit theatres this weekend): during the filming of the original movie, actor Sonny Landham who played Billy Sole – the crazy soldier alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character - was only allowed in the film if producers would hire a bodyguard to accompany him on set. The bodyguard wasn’t to protect him though…it was to protect the rest of the cast and crew from him.  Apparently he was “unstable.”  Last I heard, he was was working in public office in Kentucky.  Hmmmmm.

If you go check out Predators, stop back and let me know what you think.  Here is trailer.  Also, I have movie times for Regal Opry Mills 20& IMAX, Regal Hollywood 27 and Regal Providence Stadium 14.  Enjoy!

Did you know that today is National Fried Chicken Day?  Neither did I until I saw it on the ‘net this morning.  I can’t tell you how easy that made me decision about what to eat for dinner today (and maybe even the rest of the week…no need to cut such a great holiday short).  I’m always looking for an excuse to down a two piece and biscuit.

My only beef with fried chicken is that I can’t make it.  Fried chicken is extremely hard to perfect.  EVERY time I try (which is at least once every 6 weeks), it doesn’t come out right.  I swear I’ve tried everything.  Gas stove, electric stove, vegetable oil, peanut oil, soaked in buttermilk, soaked in eggs and water…and a million different possible herb and spice combinations.  It just never turns out the way I like.

So my dear friends at Stewarts Ferry, where can I get the best fried chicken in Nashville?  Is it Monell’s (1235 6th Ave. N), Prince’s (123 Ewing Dr.), Southern Bred (1048 E Trinity LN.) or maybe Swett’s (2725 Clifton Ave.)?  What say you?

(Photo Credit: arndog)

Did you know that the Nashville Fourth of July celebration is considered one of the best firework displays in the nation?  Well, it is.  In past years, it has brought over 100,000 people to Riverfront Park and this year should be no exception.

The all-day event kicks off at noon on July 4 with the opening of the Family Zone which includes a variety of food vendors.  At 1:00 p.m., attendees will be treated to live music (after all, we are the Music City) with the official two-hour concert kicking off around 7:00pm.  So far, the musical line-up will include…

• Trace Adkins
• Barry Scott
• Jaci Velasquez
• Julianne Hough
• Ayla Brown (National Anthem)

At 9:30 p.m., the fireworks magic begins, featuring the Nashville Symphony in a live performances of patriotic and classical favorites.  Hope everyone can make it out to celebrate the USA’s 234th birthday!

Can anyone tell me exactly what goes in Trailer Trash?  If you have no idea what I’m talking about, that’s OK.  You’re obviously new to Nashville and by the end of this summer, you’re destined to find out.  If you do know what I’m talking about, you probably know that question is as hard as calculus to a 3rd grader (or a college student in my case).

Trailer Trash is the trademark flavor for Nashville’s premiere ice cream destination, The Pied Piper Creamery (114 South 11th Street in the Five Points district).  Name a candy…any candy…and it’s more than likely used as an add-in ingredient for the flavor.  Not a candy fan, huh?  No worries.  They’ve got about 150 other flavors to choose from.  And if you can’t find a flavor you like out of that selection, well, maybe you should just go suck on an ice cube because obviously ice cream isn’t for you.

Here’s an idea: this Friday (July 2), grab up your favorite person (or maybe even a low-maintenance date that you’d like to impress) and then head over to The Pied Piper Creamery and grab some ice cream.  Once you’ve got your treats, head back this direction and hit up Nashville Shores for the kick-off of their summer 2010 Dive-In Movies Series.  They’re showing Independence Day (one of many Will Smith saves-the-day movies) at 8:30 p.m. on the shores of Percy Priest Lake.

She’s Out of My League

In this outrageous comedy, Kirk, an average guy, can’t believe his luck when the successful and gorgeous babe Molly falls for him. His smart-ass friends, his crazy family, and even his obnoxious ex-girlfriend are just as shocked as he is. Now, see what the critics are calling a “rowdy blast”* as Kirk goes to great lengths – including some hardcore man-scaping – to make the relationship work and prove that she’s not out of his league. (Rated R)

I actually watched this movie with low expectations.  I hadn’t even heard much about it or really heard of any of the stars.  I’m gald I did.  It was hilarious, in a Knocked Up-The Hangover-40 Year-Old Virgin kind of way.  You dig?  If you like any of the Judd Apatow films (Superbad, Get Him to the Greek) then you will like this one.

It’s out on DVD if you’r interested.  Redbox is actually giving away free movie rentals when you “like” their facebook page (once you “like” the page, click the “Redbox” tab and you’ll see the code.  The closest Redbox kiosks to Stewarts Ferry are at Thornton’s (714 Stewarts Ferry Pike), McDonald’s (5800 Old Hickory Blvd) and Walgreens (4001 Central Pike).

Not everyone can cook, but anyone can learn (except maybe my wife…jeesh).  It just takes patience.  Mostly you learn through trial and error.  That’s how my mother taught me.  Everytime you make a dish, you tweak the recipe a little bit more until it turns out exactly how you want it.

If you’re interested in learning, or maybe you just need some pointers as you aim to perfect your craft, catering chef Julia Helton may be just who you need in your life.  Hailing from East Nashville’s Mitchell Delicatessen (1402 McGavock Pike, Nashville, 37216), Helton teaches cooking classes for those “people who know where their kitchen is located but have never really been inside.”

She starts her students off with eggs and then progressively moves up to other proteins.  Pretty smart.  You definitely don’t want to practice cooking on a $30 Filet Mignon.  Helton’s words of wisdom, “Go slow and don’t fret. There’s a pizza man lurking around every corner to give you sustenance if you burn the family meal.”  I can dig it.

Her classes are held every other week on Monday at 7:30 p.m., with a mid-level class starting in September.  Best part: only 25 bucks.  You can reserve your spot by calling 615.426.9517 or emailing catering@juliahelton.com.  Bon apetite!

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