🎢 Is Nashville getting a theme park?

🎤 Exploring Nashville’s Karaoke Scene

On today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, Nashville-based writer and Madison branch children's librarian Lisa Bubert shouts out her favorite local karaoke spots, breaks down why third spaces matter, and explains the healing power of drinking cheap beer and belting out the classics alongside total strangers. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• Lisa recently wrote an article about how karaoke bars might be the perfect way to bridge our current societal divides. [Noēma]

🏗️ Construction Begins on Music City Loop

The Boring Company has begun construction on the Music City Loop using a new rock-removal system called a Vertical Cassette and Belt Bender, which can remove more than 33,000 pounds of rock each minute. Excavated rock will become the property of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. [🔐 The Tennessean]

• After two firefighters were permanently injured by toxic chemicals in Boring’s Las Vegas tunnels, Nevada workplace-safety officials fined the company, but the Governor’s office made the penalties disappear. [🔐 Fortune]

🔌 Local Assistance Programs Wait for Federal Funds

While the federal government is back up and running, funds have yet to be dispersed to many local federally funded aid programs. More than 12,000 Tennesseans applied to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in November alone, but the Metro Action Commission hasn’t received communication about when funding will resume, so it can’t process new applications. [WPLN]

🏥 Some Tennesseans Losing Medical Coverage

The federal shutdown ended without a deal to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, which Republicans have agreed to discuss in January, after the credits expire. As many as 225,802 Tennesseans will lose ACA coverage as a result, according to a U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee estimate. [Nashville Scene]

• Many will also lose Medicaid coverage. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

Hungry? Nashville has so many excellent new restaurants and bars opening every month. Here are our favorites!

Sushi-san

This Chicago sushi restaurant recently opened in 12 South. Sushi-san is known for its ultra-fresh fish, sake, Japanese whisky list, and old school hip-hop soundtrack. I appreciate the extensive kids’ menu, including a cat-themed bento box!

Mama Yang & Daughter

After selling their delicious bao and dumplings at the Richland Park Farmers Market for years, the mother-daughter team behind Mama Yang has a storefront in Germantown. Find Taiwanese comfort food and teas, and you can even order frozen bao and dumplings to reheat later.

Aloha Fish Company

Head to oneC1TY to grab a poke bowl and fresh fish at this Hawaiian seafood market. We interviewed the owners last year about how they manage to get fresh fish to Nashville. So glad they have a permanent location now!

Moto Moda

This new Wedgewood-Houston concept is both a pizza place and a vintage motorcycle shop. Beloved local chef The Jewish Cowboy makes the pizza crust. There’s also a full bar menu.

Gordo's Taqueria

Grab tacos, burritos, and margaritas at this new Wedgewood-Houston restaurant, which opened its first location more than 40 years ago in California.

Culaccino

Franklin-based Italian restaurant Culaccino has opened a second location in Nashville Yards. Feast on housemade pasta, tiramisu, chicken liver pate, and much more.

Craig’s

This Los Angeles restaurant and celebrity favorite now has a Nashville location in The Gulch. Menu items include honey truffle fried chicken and a wide variety of vegan options.

All or Nothing Bagels

Buchanan Street is now home to one of only two wood-fired sourdough bagel shops in the nation. The menu changes daily, though it typically includes schmears, salads, coffee, and tea in addition to bagels. All or Nothing Bagels is a woman-owned and operated business.

Dog Haus

East Nashville is getting a new hot dog place. Opening on Nov. 24, this California franchise will have Tennessee craft beer on tap, along with hot dogs and burgers.

Sirocco

This upscale Mediterranean-inspired restaurant has also opened in East Nashville, with “theatrical” cocktails, a cool rooftop lounge, two patios, and live music and DJs on the weekend.