City Cast Nashville
📝 What grade would you give the mayor?
January 6, 2026 · 💌 Margaret Kingsbury
Good mornin’! The Tennessee Department of Revenue rejected 871 proposed vanity license plates. Curious why? Here’s a list of some of the rejected plates. Personally, I’m all for more butt references on license plates; it would help keep my kid entertained in the car 💨
What's CITY Talking About
🍜 It’s Soup Season!
While it’s not exactly cold right now, it’s still soup season, darn it! On today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, we’re chatting with contributor Margaret Littman about Nashville’s best soups, from ramen to butternut squash and more. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
🏎️ Labor Union Backs Racing at Fairgrounds
A labor union with nearly 1,000 local construction and service workers has launched a campaign backing renovations to the Fairgrounds Speedway in hopes of attracting NASCAR races. [Nashville Banner]
- The group opposes the Restore Our Fairgrounds coalition, which wants a voter referendum to end racing at the Nashville Fairgrounds in favor of affordable housing and green spaces. [📰 Hey Nashville]
🧑🏻💼 Mayor Gives Himself a B-
In an interview with the Nashville Banner, Mayor Freddie O’Connell gives his administration a B- in 2025, and reflects on how they handled the year’s biggest challenges, like the city’s response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising property taxes, and closing homeless camps. [Nashville Banner]
- O’Connell is also weighing in on economic development in the coming year. His biggest goal is to give Nashvillians pathways to more career opportunities. [🔐 The Tennessean]
📷 Nashville’s Best Photos of 2025
The Banner’s best photographs of 2025 include images of May’s ICE operation, The Boring Company’s construction of the Music City Loop, and Athletes Unlimited taking to the court. [Nashville Banner]
- Tennessee Lookout’s best photos center political campaigns and immigration enforcement. [Tennessee Lookout]
- The Nashville Scene shares images of the aftermath of the Antioch High School shooting, political protests, and local musicians. [Nashville Scene]
What To Do
Tuesday, Jan. 6
- 🐦 Observe Winter Bird Banding Research | Warner Park Nature Center | 8 a.m.-Noon
- 🥫 Volunteer to Deliver Meals in North Nashville | First Community Church | 9-11 a.m.
- 📕 Book Bingo | Bellevue Library Branch | 1-2 p.m.
- 🔉 Lo-Fi Homework Hour | Edmondson Pike Library Branch | 3-5 p.m.
- 🍽️ Free Community Dinner | Trinity Community Commons | 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- 😆 Bussin with the Boys w Jarod Beeman | Zanie’s | 7 p.m.
- 🤠 Honky Tonk Tuesdays | Eastside Bowl | 7 p.m.
- 🎸 An Acoustic Evening of Song and Stories with Los Lonely Boys | City Winery | 7:30 p.m.
- 🎵 Richard Thomas in “Mark Twain Tonight!” | Ryman Auditorium | 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
- 📚 Nature Storytime | Shelby Bottoms Nature Center | 10-10:30 a.m.
- 🦅Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center Open House | Radnor Lake State Park | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- 🥳 Bingo & Snack Volunteer | FiftyForward | 12:45-2:15 p.m.
- 🍿 Teen Movie Matinee | Madison Library Branch | 3-6 p.m.
- 🌕 Moonlight Yoga Class and Sound Bath | Rose at the Joseph | 5:30 & 7 p.m.
- 🎸 TEDx Mixtape | Analog at the Hutton Hotel | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- 🏀 Vanderbilt Men's Basketball vs. Alabama | Memorial Gym | 8 p.m.
- 🎶 Guthrie Trapp Trio | The 5 Spot | 8 p.m.
- 🎷 Regi Wooten & Friends | Rudy’s Jazz Room | 9 p.m.
Nashville’s restaurant scene saw a lot of changes in 2025, and one of the biggest is that we’re now a Michelin city. But what does that mean for Nashville?
And in a less happy change: Pastaria has closed in OneC1ty.
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