❄️ How to prepare for winter

❄️ How To Prepare for Winter

Winter is coming, and we’re getting prepared with Nashville’s weather experts: The NashSevereWx team. On the City Cast Nashville podcast, they tell us how to get ready for cold weather, and how Nashville can become more weather-resilient as we approach the anniversary of last year’s deadly Dec. 9 tornados. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

👮 CRB and MNPD Finally Reach an Agreement

The Community Review Board (CRB) and Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) have finally reached a memorandum of understanding formalizing procedures during investigations, more than a year after the CRB was established. [Nashville Banner]

• What does the CRB do? We spoke to CRB chair Alisha Haddock. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🏚️ Nashville’s Nine Endangered Historic Homes

Historic Nashville, Inc.’s 16th annual list of nine endangered properties includes Colemere Manor (formerly home to Monell’s), Day-Morgan Cemetery, the Belle Meade Theatre, Merritt House, and small music venues. They also list 15 Nashville Nine success stories. [Historic Nashville, Inc.]

• I have many childhood memories of going to Bookstar in the Belle Meade Theatre before it closed. Anyone else?

💵 Stats on Nashville’s Poverty Levels

For National Hunger and Homelessness Week, Metro Social Services has released a report to help raise awareness. For the past decade, Nashville has had higher poverty rates than peer cities, with 1/3 of Metro Schools’ students being economically disadvantaged, and half of Nashville’s workers earning less than a living wage. [Nashville.gov]

• Here’s a list of food banks and pantries. [Hey Nashville]

Looking for weekend trip ideas over the winter holidays? Nashville’s favorite weekend getaway is to the Smokies, specifically Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The area is especially magical this time of year, with millions of Christmas lights and plenty of holiday-themed festivities. Here’s how to spend the perfect weekend — or week — in the mountains.

🎄Where To Go

• Anakeesta’s Enchanted Christmas runs until Jan. 15. Besides their rollercoasters, zip lines, and bridges, enjoy carollers, a hot chocolate crawl, Santa, and holiday lights.
• SkyLand’s Festival of Lights at The Ranch has a beautiful chairlift ride over holiday lights.
• Gatlinburg’s Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade is Dec. 6, or go to their free New Year’s Eve celebration.
• The Island in Pigeon Forge is decked out for Winterfest. It’s a great place to shop and eat, and kids will love the smaller rides.
• It might not be holiday-themed, but the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is always beautiful, no matter the time of year. Take a scenic drive, or go on a hike. The Gatlinburg Trail is a very easy nearby trail that I’ve hiked with kids. More seasoned hikers might like to try portions of the Appalachian Trail, which I’ve also partially hiked sans children. Pay attention to road and trail closures, especially in winter.

🎅🏽 Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas

Dollywood during the holidays is so magical. With more than six million lights, every corner of the theme park is a Christmas wonderland. It has several holiday-themed performances in addition to comfort foods. Christmas activities end Jan. 5. Pro tip: Buy souvenirs from the gift shop when you arrive. They’ll hold your items, and at the end of the day, you can just swing by and pick them up while everyone else is making a mad rush to buy theirs.

🏨 Where To Stay

• The Inn at Christmas Place. Could there be a more perfect place to stay for Christmas?
• I’ve stayed at The Resort at Governor's Crossing in Pigeon Forge, which has special Christmas activities, indoor pools and an indoor splash pad, and two playgrounds. Plus, the rooms have kitchens.
• If you want to stay close to Dollywood, their two resorts are fully decorated, and you can shuttle to and from the park.
• Rent a cabin! Make sure to check amenities, especially if a soak in the hot tub after a day spent looking at holiday lights outdoors sounds nice.