Inmates challenge lethal injection procedure

🎉 Celebrate Spring With Holi at Cheekwood

Holi at Cheekwood is this Saturday, celebrating the Indian festival of spring. We’re chatting with Cheekwood Indian Advisory Committee members on the City Cast Nashville podcast about their memories of growing up Indian in Nashville, and what Holi means to them today. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🏀 Local Teams Make NCAA Tournament

The Vanderbilt Commodores and Lipscomb Bison made the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket, joining the Tennessee Vols and Memphis Tigers. [WKRN]

• The Vandy women’s team also earned a bid to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, joining the Vols and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. [WKRN]
• Why Nashville’s basketball scene rocks [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🧑‍⚖️ Challenge to State’s New Lethal Injection Protocol

Nine men on Tennessee’s death row filed suit in Davidson County Chancery Court challenging the state’s lethal injection protocol adopted in December. TN uses the barbiturate pentobarbital, which multiple studies show is “excruciatingly painful,” according to the suit. [Nashville Banner]

🏥 Metro Legal Director Suffers Stroke

Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz suffered a stroke Monday at his office and, according to a spokesperson, is in the hospital and “doing well.” Later this week, the city is due in court to fight against a state law that would reduce the size of our Metro Council by half. [Nashville Banner]

Hungry? Every month, Jenn Harbin, the creator of The Hungry Loner, curates this list of the best new restaurants and bars in Nashville, just for you. Here are her favorites!

Skinny Dennis x Little Miss Mao

Brooklyn’s rowdiest honky-tonk just landed in East Nashville, just south of Grimey’s and American Legion Post 82. With a dance floor, game room, and a musician-friendly setup, Skinny Dennis delivers honky-tonk nostalgia while Little Miss Mao flips bar food on its head. Sister concept to New Orleans’ famous Mister Mao, Little Miss Mao, led by Cambodian-American James Beard semifinalist Sophina Uong, serves adventurous “inauthentic” takes on global dishes like garlic noodles, prahok ktiss (Khmer curried pork and fermented seafood dip), and grilled Alabama oysters.

Dukos

Dukos isn’t your typical pizzeria — it’s a community-driven take on Italian food from Nashville chefs Billy Hughes and Maurice Edmondson, blending wood-fired pizzas with Southern ingredients and modern techniques. Inspired by the success of their tequila bar Makeshift — right next door in East Nashville — their new concept features beloved classics like slow-cooked meatballs or cacio e pepe, while pushing boundaries with dishes like oxtail pizza with crispy collard greens. The vibe is laid-back yet high-energy, with a cocktail menu that’s just as thoughtful as the food.

Koshō by Tabu

Created by California restaurateur Jeff Chon and Nashville-based chef Nick Aguilar, Koshō by Tabu, located in SoBro, specializes in grilled skewers, shareable small plates, umami-packed dishes alongside inventive cocktails, and interactive shabu shabu dining in a lively, communal setting. The menu showcases shareables like the crispy chicken karaage with a fiery yuzu koshō aioli and Korean-inspired manila clams. Customizable shabu shabu allows diners to choose from rich sukiyaki, aromatic kombu dashi, or punchy spicy miso paired with Wagyu short rib, prime New York strip, or buttery king salmon.

Kase x Noko

Kase x Noko makes top-tier sushi accessible and exciting, blending fine dining with East Nashville’s hip-hop energy. Created by the team behind Noko, this intimate, 14-seat omakase serves high-end sushi at an unbeatable price — $75 for 14 courses. Led by Chef Dung “Junior” Vo, the menu features nigiri and hand rolls with seafood sourced from Japan, Hawaii, and Spain, served in a wabi-sabi-inspired space adorned with handmade ceramics and Gyotaku fish prints. Highlights include a toro hand roll, A5 Wagyu with foie gras, and scallop with yuzu-pepper paste, with optional à la carte add-ons. The experience is interactive and immersive, with sake pairings and cocktails (including spirit-free).