⁉️ Do we have the nation’s worst DMV?

⛺ A Camper’s Guide to Nashville

Camping is an excellent summer activity, and the Middle Tennessee area is home to many camping spots. Matt Heinly, manager of Nashville’s Patagonia store, joins the City Cast Nashville podcast to share his advice on where to go and what to bring for a night under the stars. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🚗 The DMV Described as “Purgatory”

A recent study places Nashville’s Hart Lane DMV as the third worst in the nation based on Google reviews, citing long wait times, disorganization, and inefficiency. DMVs in Memphis and Charlotte, NC, rounded out the top three with the worst ratings. [The Tennessean]

💰 MNPD Requests More Money

At a recent budget hearing, Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake requested additional funding beyond what’s outlined in the proposed 2025-2026 budget. While the budget increases funding for MNPD, Drake says it fails to include expanding an alternative police unit to respond to minor crimes, and funding for a unit dedicated to patrolling the entertainment district. [The Tennessean]

🏫 Changes to Substitute Teaching

Metro Nashville Public Schools will begin phasing out traditional substitute teachers in favor of full-time classroom associates starting the 2025-2026 school year. MNPS says assigning permanent substitutes to specific schools improves coverage and provides better student support, but some substitutes feel pushed out. [Fox 17]

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!

The Catbird Seat

The Catbird Seat may have changed addresses, but it remains one of Nashville’s most ambitious (and rewarding) places to dine. With skyline views, its new rooftop home in Paseo South Gulch provides more seating and the same front-row chef’s counter experience. The 15-course menu still stuns — shiitake custard, halibut bouillabaisse, lamb neck with Carolina Gold rice — all delivered with precision and ease.

The Patterson House

Like The Catbird Seat, The Patterson House has relocated atop the Bill Voorhees Building. The velvet curtains and hidden entrance are gone, but the signature chandeliers and low-lit charm remain. The expanded space brings two menus: The Short List (rotating experimental drinks), and The Long Menu (a 150-cocktail archive of Patterson’s greatest hits). Think popcorn milk, birdseed cordial, and plenty of surprises. Also new? A full dinner menu from The Catbird Seat featuring dishes like charred leek asparagus, a pork chop with trout roe, and the Bear Creek Burger.

The Salty

What started as a vintage camper in Miami is now a full-blown donut empire — and it just touched down in Nashville. The Salty’s first Tennessee outpost, now open in 12 South, is also their first all-day café. The menu’s setup is like a choose-your-own-adventure: Pick from sections like Breakfast Club, Toasted Favorites, and Savory Mains. Start with the buttery egg and cheese croissant, or go for the brioche avocado toast and the pistachio pesto Caesar. Of course, there are donuts — small-batch brioche beauties like the Mixed Berry Cheesecake, Chocolate Sheet Cake, and classic glazed. Try the cold brew and lemonade — bright, refreshing, and perfect for a hot Nashville afternoon.

SuperNormal

Former James Beard semifinalist Chef Robbie Wilson and his wife Emily are back in Nashville with a fast-casual burger joint in Sylvan Park that’s anything but ordinary. SuperNormal blends fine-dining with American comfort classics: Melty cheeseburgers with smoky pickled shiitakes; a beef hot dog loaded with bacon marmalade and yuzu cream cheese; and the #1 Delicious Burger, a sleeper-hit made with a pork/beef blend, XO mayo, chili crisp, and lemongrass-pickled veggies. For dessert, try the buttercream soft serve in mochi-style waffle cones — rich, dreamy, and reason enough to stop by. Ordering is all self-serve kiosks and mobile pick-up, with a turf lawn, picnic tables, and plenty of space to linger.