Where to Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in July
Embrace the heat this holiday weekend with The Music City Hot Chicken Festival taking place July 4. Celebrate America and Music City’s signature dish this Independence Day! Downtown Nashville hot chicken restaurant Party Fowl is participating in the 11th annual event, among other local Hot Chicken eateries. Hosted by the Nashville Hot Chicken Coalition, the free festival is held in East Park at 700 Woodland Street beginning at 11 a.m. and will feature live music, cooking competitions, cold beer and plenty of Hot Chicken samples.
If you're more in the mood for something with air conditioning and an upscale menu then check out Henley. The modern American brasserie helmed by James Beard Award-winning executive chef RJ Cooper, recently opened its doors to the public. Located in the heart of Midtown at 21st and Broadway, Henley’s menu consists of shareable dishes and innovative communal courses that celebrate the traditions of regional cooking, with a focus on sustainability, such as Smoked Duck Egg Rigatoni, NC Sunburst Trout and the 60-Day Dry-aged Rib Cap. Reservations can be made through Open Table.
Nashville loves its Jack Daniel's whiskey and there's no place more Nashville to enjoy it than the Union Station Hotel. Happening every other Wednesday, the series is open to the public. The next Whiskey Wednesday is July 5. Two Tennessee landmarks, Union Station Hotel and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, have come together to introduce Whiskey Wednesdays with Jack Daniel’s, a free whiskey tasting series in the downtown Nashville hotel’s grand lobby every other Wednesday. Each installment will kick off in the lobby around 5 p.m., no RSVP necessary. The experience includes a tasting tour of the Jack Daniel’s family of brands—Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey—as well as a guided discussion of the history and production of each handcrafted whiskey led by Jack Daniel’s representatives. Attendees can also look forward to Jack Daniel’s heritage trivia questions and prizes, a virtual reality experience that takes guests on a 360-degree tour of the distillery and an open Q&A session toward the end of each tasting.
If you are more of a wine person, The Porch Wine Series hosted by City Winery is just the place for you! July 12 will be Summer's Perfect Pairing: Dry Rosé. Join City Winery for a fun, casual and informative series of tastings and gatherings on their outdoor patio. Learn more about wine as one of City Winery’s sommeliers guides you through featured seasonal varietals that you can continue to enjoy well beyond the summer. Learn more and purchase tickets ($15) here.
Following this on July 13 City Winery will host All Grape Cocktails Think Alike. Learn the recipes of your favorite grape-driven cocktails like the Sidecar, Manhattan, Kir Royal, and more during this interactive class, led by Resident Bar Manager and Mixologist extraordinaire Taryn Breen. One of the most cultivated fruits in the world, the grape has been with us for at least 6,000 years, and wine cocktails have been around since the beginning of civilization. Due to the negative connotation of the wine cooler, wine cocktails have adopted a similar reputation, but the process of mixing wine and spirits to achieve a higher alcohol content has been a practice since wine was first made. Learn more and purchase tickets ($20) here.
On the same day, July 13, Union Station Hotel will host their music series, Riffs on Rails. This event series gets up close and personal with some of the city’s local singers and songwriters. This exclusive music showcase is free and open to the public, and it takes place Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the grand lobby of the downtown hotel. The July 13 Riffs on the Rails will feature a performance by Greg Adams.
If these incredible events above still make you feel like you need a vacation check out the The Blended Burger Project™. Chefs across the country are competing to create an incredibly delicious burger patty that is not only healthier, but also more sustainable for the environment as a part of the James Beard Foundations’ Blended Burger Project™.Winners will be selected through online voting. The five chefs with the most votes will win a trip to the James Beard House in New York City to showcase their blended burgers at an exclusive event, and, by voting, you will be entered to win an all-expense paid trip to the event too! Be sure to try City Winery and Chauhan Ale & Masala House’s Blended Burger and cast your vote for before July 31!
