City Cast Nashville
🪧 Why Vanderbilt students are protesting
October 10, 2025 · 💌 Margaret Kingsbury
Hooray for Friday! A big shoutout to new members Sarah A. and Andy P.! Sarah says, “I just moved to Nashville. I found City Cast while searching out local farmers markets. It's been great helping me understand the city and everything Nashville has to offer a newbie. I look forward to every newsletter! Thank you for this gift.” 🥺 Thank YOU, Sarah! And welcome to Nashville!
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What's CITY Talking About
🏆 Best of Nashville Goes to …
The Nashville Scene’s 2025 Best of Nashville issue is on stands now, and holy crap, y’all named us the best podcast in town! On today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, Scene editor in chief D. Patrick Rodgers joins us to dig into this year’s winners. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
🪧 Vandy Students Protest Trump Admin Compact
More than 900 Vanderbilt students, faculty, and staff have signed a petition urging the university to reject a 10-page compact from the Trump administration. The compact’s requirements include abstaining from political speech and caps international students at 15% of the student body. Vanderbilt says it’s carefully reviewing the compact. [Tennessee Lookout]
- Students and faculty have also been protesting on campus. [Nashville Scene]
🎨 Artist Grants Announced
The Metro Arts Commission has awarded more than $3.2 million in grants to 80 local arts organizations. While demand for the grants has grown, funding has remained steady. As a result, several organizations that applied for grants, such as the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, didn’t receive one. [🔐 The Tennessean]
- This grant cycle follows last year’s funding chaos. [📰 Hey Nashville]
- The Nashville Shakespeare Festival recently celebrated its 37th year. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
🏎️ Ethical Complaint Moves Forward
Metro Legal has recommended a hearing to consider the ethical complaint filed against Fair Board chair Jasper Hendricks. The complaint alleges Hendricks secretly conspired with the Bristol Motor Speedway to bring NASCAR to the Fairgrounds. [Nashville Banner]
Test Yourself on Nashville Trivia
This week, we talked about Nashville’s weird official seal and flag on the City Cast Nashville podcast. Do you know other official state symbols? Test yourself to find out!
First up, what’s Tennessee’s official beverage?
Furball Friday
Petty (beagle/dalmation mix named after Tom Petty) and Tito (chihuahua mix) are rescues with very different personalities. This is one of the few times Petty let Tito get this close — it was a chilly day, after all. Mostly, Tito tries to snuggle, and Petty grumbles and moves to a different room 🤣
Awe, I’ll snuggle with you both!
Email me your pet pics to be shared on Hey Nashville!
What To Do
Friday, Oct. 10
- 🏓 Pickleball Tournament | Hadley Park | 9 a.m.
- 🛍️ Nashville Music City Sale opens | Fairgrounds Nashville | 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
- 🎨 Fall Tennessee Craft Fair | Centennial Park | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Free
- 🖼️ New African Masquerades opens | Frist Art Museum | 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- 🐐 Goats Music and More Fair | Rock Creek Park, Lewisburg | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Free
- 🍻 Fridays by the River | Shelby Park | 3-8 p.m. | Free
- 🧛 "Sinners" | Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park | 6:30 p.m.
- 🎶 Tyler Childers | GEODIS Park | 7 p.m.
- 🎸 If I Can Dream | TPAC | 7:30 p.m.
- 📚 Stephanie Garber's "Alchemy of Secrets" | Harpeth Hall School | 7:30 p.m.
- 🎤 Ben Rector | The Pinnacle | 8 p.m.
- 🎵 Franz Ferdinand | Cannery Hall | 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11
- 🎵 CaveFest | The Caverns | 9 a.m.-1 a.m.
- 🐄 Farm Day | Bells Bend Park | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Free
- 🎩 Costume Swap | Madison Library Branch | 10 a.m.-Noon | Free
- 🍂 Fall Fun Day | Bowie Nature Park | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Free
- 🧶 Crafts and Crafts | Half Batch Brewing | 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- 🍻 OctoBEARfest | Jackalope Brewing Co. | Noon
- 🛍️ Makers' Market | Riverfront Park | Noon-4 p.m.
- 🥃 Nashville Whiskey Festival | Cambria Hotel | 5:30-9 p.m.
- 🥀 Tempted By Fiction: A Book Lovers Dark Market | Fait la Force Brewing Co. | 6-10 p.m. | Free
- 🌳 Saturday in the Park | Warner Park Nature Center | 6-10 p.m.
- 🎤 Wang Chung | Riverside Revival | 7 p.m.
- 🏒 Nashville Predators vs. Utah Mammoth | Bridgestone Arena | 7 p.m.
- 🎭 Cherry Bomb: An Improvised Musical | Third Coast Comedy Club | 9 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12
- 🛍️ Nashville Music City Sale | Fairgrounds Nashville | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- 🏳️🌈 Queer Book Club | Lipstick Lounge | 10 a.m.-Noon
- 🧱 Brick Fan Event | Nashville Fairgrounds | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- 🎨 Fall Tennessee Craft Fair | Centennial Park | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- 🍝 Provide a Meal for Moms | Dream Streets | 10:45 a.m.-Noon | Volunteer
- 🏠 Southern Nashville Fall Home Show | AgExpo Park | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Free
- 🤓 The Totally Rad Collectors Market | Eastside Bowl | Noon-5 p.m.
- 🐶 Read to a Therapy Dog | Madison Library Branch | 3-4 p.m. | Free
- 👭 Ladies & Tangents: Girls Gone Mild Tour | Zanies | 6 p.m.
- 😆 85 South Comedy Tour | Bridgestone Arena | 7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 13
- 🧥 Ladies of Charity Nashville Clothing Consignment Sale (through Nov. 1) | 2216 State Street | 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- 🎃 Honeysuckle Hill Farm (through Nov. 1) | Springfield | 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- 🀄 Mahjong Monday | Hermitage Library Branch | 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Free
- 🍽️ Chef Yia Vang of Vinai Collaboration Dinner | Bad Idea | 5 & 7:30 p.m.
- 😆 New Material Monday | Zanies | 7 p.m.
- 🎵 Laufey | Bridgestone Arena | 7:30 p.m.
- 💃 Death Drop 2: A Drag Queen Murder Mystery | Play Dance Bar | 6-8:30 p.m.
- 🎶 An Evening with Patty Griffin + Rickie Lee Jones | Ryman Auditorium | 8 p.m.
We’re off Monday for the holiday! Expect the next newsletter in your inbox on Tuesday. I hope y’all have a wonderful long weekend. And happy fall break to the kiddos!
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