
City Cast Nashville
✈️ A local’s guide to BNA
July 17, 2025 · 💌 Margaret Kingsbury
Happy Thursday! Where are my fellow Trekkies? I was absolutely delighted by this interview with Captain Pike — er, local actor Anson Mount — about the third season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” I had no idea we grew up in the same Middle Tennessee town and had the same teachers! Hit reply and tell me about your favorite Star Trek episodes 🖖
We’re in the final 48 hours of our campaign to launch City Cast Nashville Neighbors. If you haven’t joined yet, there’s still time for you to be a founding member! Let’s boldly explore what makes Nashville great together (sorry / not sorry). Support Hey Nashville today!
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What's CITY Talking About?

🎉 Have a Great Weekend in Nashville
From Friday happy hour to the Sunday scaries, we’re discussing our picks for the perfect Nashville weekend on today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, including suggestions for entertaining out-of-town friends. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
✊🏿 John Lewis Remembered
Renowned Civil Rights activist John Lewis died five years ago today. His pivotal role in Nashville’s Civil Rights movement will be celebrated in a march this Saturday, following Fifth Avenue North from Jefferson Street to downtown. [Axios Nashville]
- Thanks to Lewis and other student activists, Nashville became the first major Southern city to begin desegregating public areas. [📰 Hey Nashville]
- Lewis attended American Baptist College, which recently celebrated its 100th year. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
📰 Family Faces Charges Due To Lack of Medical Care
A Nashville family that adopted an abused foster child with complex psychological needs faces child abandonment charges. The couple requested and were refused medical aid from TennCare and the Department of Children’s Services, and cannot care for the child without it. [Tennessee Lookout]
- Related: Foster children across the state are living in office buildings. [NewsChannel 5]
🏙️ Downtown Improvement District Expands
On Tuesday, Metro Council approved an expansion of the Central Business Improvement District to bring extra services to the Gulch, after a lengthy public hearing. [Nashville Banner]
- Opposition to the expansion centered on the Nashville Downtown Partnership, which has been accused of arresting unhoused people in a partnership with off-duty Tennessee State Highway Patrol Officers, improperly storing gas tanks in the library garage, and failing to submit financial reports. [{Rich Text}]

Neighborhood Shoutouts

Every week, we’re gonna highlight neighborhood recommendations from City Cast Nashville Neighbors. Here are some local favorites from our founding Neighbors!
😻 Dominique M. shouts out Madtown Coffee for being “a safe space with great food — you can add ‘open seat’ placards to your table to welcome others.”
😻 Ana S. shouts out Kübox (said like Q-Box), “a local small business building affordable, custom, reusable, eco-friendly packaging solutions for moving and shipping of all kinds!”
😻 Judith T. shouts out The Contributor, which “offers our unhoused neighbors immediate access to income and helps them rebuild their lives.”
Want to shout out your Nashville faves? Become a Neighbor!

What To Do
Thursday, July 17
- 🎥 "The Goonies" with Members of the Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
- 🍽️ Nourish 2025 at Marathon Music Works
- 🍿 "Pirates of the Caribbean" ('03) at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Amphitheater
- 🛍️ The Gulch Summer Market at Noble Park (Free)
- 👃 The Perfumery Workshop at Secret Garden Botanica
- 🎤 Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan at City Winery
- 🏁 Ride-Along at Nashville Superspeedway
- 🎤 Three Dog Night and Little River Band at The Pinnacle
- 🧑🎨 Assist with Arts & Crafts at Nashville FiftyForward (Volunteer)
- ✏️ Library Lab: A STEAM Program at Hermitage Library Branch (Free)
- 🌭 Tinis & Weenies at Liquor Lab Nashville
Friday, July 18
- ⚾ Nashville Sounds vs. Indianapolis Indians at First Horizon Park
- 🎸 The Head And The Heart: Aperture Tour at Ascend Amphitheater
- 🎤 Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Jack Lawrence at Ryman Auditorium
- 🦉 Family Firefly Hikes at Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary
- 🐟 Riverside Fish Fry featuring Chuck Mead at Riverside Revival
- 🍎 Grocery Volunteer at The Store (Volunteer)
- 🎵 July Summer Singalongs at Hermitage Library Branch (Free)
- 🎥 "The Goonies" with Members of the Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
- 💋 Drag Race: Onya Nurve at Play Dance Bar
- 💿 Taiki Nulight at Eastside Bowl
Don’t forget: We need your support during our City Cast Nashville Neighbors launch campaign, and you need the City Cast Nashville Neighbors tote bag! Only a few more days to get the bag!
And a BIG thank you to our newest City Cast Nashville Neighbors: Jenny A., Michael M., Judith T., and Megan B.!
Jenny says, “On days when I think I can’t stomach one more walking pod of pink cowboy hats and daisy dukes, you remind me there’s more to Nashville than penis straws. God Bless You.” God bless you too, Jenny! There really is so much more to Nashville than our bachelorette parties.
I can’t wait to hang out with y’all at a members-only event. Sign up to become a Neighbor today!
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