🥊 Which side of Nashville is best?

🤼 And the Best Side of Nashville Is …

For generations, Nashville has been consumed by a singular debate: Which side of the Cumberland River is the best? On today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, we’ve got two councilmembers representing East and West Nashville duking it out. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• Who won the debate? Send me an email with your pick and why!

🏫 Vanderbilt Gives Noncommittal Response to Compact

Vanderbilt University has issued a statement neither accepting nor rejecting President Trump’s compact sent to nine universities, which would give those schools federal funding advantages. The compact had an Oct. 20 deadline, and seven universities rejected it. [Nashville Scene]

💸 Working Without Pay

Due to the government shutdown, Nashville’s federal public defenders and court staff have been working without pay since Oct. 17, and some haven’t received a paycheck since July. Federal public defender Dumaka Shabazz says this will have a “devastating” impact on his office staff. [🔐 The Tennessean]

• One Generation Away is giving away free food boxes to federal employees. They’re also in need of volunteers. [One Generation Away]

🚗 Musicians Oppose Metered Parking Proposal

The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure has proposed adding paid meters to 209 free parking spaces along side streets in the Music Row area. Almost 1,000 musicians have signed a petition opposing it. The Traffic and Parking Commission will consider the proposal in November. [WSMV]

• Many Nashvillians are frustrated by the lack of free parking in downtown, and predatory paid parking lot practices. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

When BNA Cheap Flights, aka Andrea Giordano, told us that out of the 39 countries she’s visited, Iceland was her favorite, I knew I had to go! So I took a direct flight from BNA to its capital, Reykjavík, but I only had 24 hours to visit. Could I do it on a budget? Absolutely. Here are my tips for making the most of your time in Iceland while spending the least amount of money.

🚙 Airport Transportation

The funny thing about flying direct from Nashville to Reykjavík is that you actually land in Keflavik Airport, which is about 30 miles from the city center and a 45-minute bus ride away. Everyone told me to rent a car and chase waterfalls for the day, but I went with the cheaper option: The Flybus. For $42 (ticket purchased on arrival), it took me straight into town.

🥐 Budget Friendly Meals & Accommodations

The food there was outstanding — the prices, not so much. Still, I managed to find a few spots that were fairly affordable and oh so delicious.

• $20 Breakfast: BakaBaka was the perfect cozy first stop in Iceland. The servers promptly brought me coffee and a glorious traditional cardamom bun with caramelized sugar edges.
• $5 Lunch: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur lived up to the hype. This local hot dog stand has been all over my social media as a must-try, and it absolutely was.
• $40 Dinner: Sushi Social was happily serving late. On my server’s recommendation, I tried the Iceland salmon roll with creamy dill sauce and pumpernickel on top, paired with a local beer.
• Hotel: Þingholt by Center Hotels came highly recommended by City Cast Nashville contributor Amelia Edelman. As a solo female traveler, feeling safe and comfortable is my top priority, and this hotel delivered on both. I even saved money by booking with credit card points.

💦 Geothermal Pools

I wanted to visit the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, but after seeing those price tags, I decided to go where the locals go. For just $18, I spent the afternoon at Laugardalslaug, Reykjavík’s beloved neighborhood pool, and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

To respect the locals, I followed every rule to the letter. If you go, please don’t tell them I sent you. Be quiet, be polite, and for the love of Iceland: Wash your entire naked body with soap before putting on your swimsuit and entering the pools.