City Cast Nashville
Where to spend patio season in Nashville
July 16, 2026 · – Elissa Castles
Love to see a little humor triumph over hate. Last week, I mentioned how a hate group vandalized a silo in East Nashville. Now, a local artist has transformed it into a giant Pac-Man mural, gobbling up a line of dots and ghosts painted on top of the graffiti. You have to see it to appreciate it, but I think it's great!
What's CITY Talking About
⛱️ Where to Spend Patio Season in Nashville
Are you ready to find a new spot to dine al fresco this weekend? Will Mondros, chef and co-owner of Turkey & the Wolf Ice House, is on today's podcast to share his favorite patio spots around town. Plus, he's giving listeners a sneak peek inside his current menu. Hint: Ripe heirloom tomatoes paired with a fizzy passionfruit cocktail – yes chef! [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
😦 Zoo Data Center Might Be Bigger Than Planned
New records suggest the DC BLOX data center planned near the Nashville Zoo could require up to 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 80,000 households. That's double the estimated 50 megawatts of power included in its original city planning documents. Nashville Electric Service claims the new number is still an early estimate and expects the project's final demand to be a bit lower. [🔐 The Tennessean]
- This isn't DC BLOX's first rodeo: The Atlanta-based company currently has 23 other data centers built or under construction across the country and has faced community backlash in several of the areas. [🔐 Nashville Business Journal]
💪 Progressive Training Program Puts Citizens in Power
Stand Up Nashville's Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute trains and empowers everyday Nashvillians to serve in Metro Government. Stand Up Nashville is a nonprofit progressive political organization that aims to equip working-class residents to represent marginalized communities and perspectives in local government. In this year alone, four alumni of the program have been appointed to Metro boards and commissions. [Nashville Scene]
🚫 TN Will Pause Reporting Families of Critically Ill Kids to ICE
The Tennessee Department of Health has agreed to a temporary injunction barring it from reporting undocumented families who have children enrolled in the state's Children's Special Services program to immigration authorities. Under the program, low-income children with serious health conditions are provided specialty medical care. The injunction follows a lawsuit brought by three doctors after families received a written notice directing them to disenroll in the program or risk being reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The injunction will remain in effect until there's a trial or the court issues further orders. [Nashville Banner]
What To Do
Thursday, July 16
- 🚿 Shower Service Helper Volunteer | Shower the People | 9 a.m.-Noon
- 💦 Splash Days (through Aug. 30) | Lucky Ladd Farms | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- 🍨 Adult Summer Reading Ice Cream Social | Bordeaux Library Branch | Noon-2 p.m.
- 🥬 Bellevue Farmers Market | Red Caboose Park | 4-7 p.m.
- 💐 Thursday Night Out | Cheekwood | 5-9 p.m.
- 🍴 Nourish 2026 | Marathon Music Works | 5:30 p.m.
- 👑 Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony (through July 31) | Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 6 p.m.
- 🎵 Music in the Cafe: AJ Huang Collective | Frist’s Café Cheeserie | 6-7:30 p.m.
- 🎤 Woven Nashville: An Evening of Music, Art, and Conversation | Frist Art Museum | 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- 🎷 Jazz Jam | Marquee | 6:30-9:30 p.m.
- 😆 Short Ribs Improv | Third Coast Comedy Club | 7 p.m.
- 💬 Skip the Small Talk Night | Love and Exile | 7-9 p.m.
Friday, July 17
- 🥕 Grocery Volunteer | The Store (Belmont) | 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
- 🍻 City Cast Nashville Summer Fridays (through Aug. 7) | East Nashville Beer Works | 2-5 p.m.
- ✍️ Creative Writing Club | Bellevue Library Branch | 4-5 p.m.
- 🎭 Rat Dude: The Improv Group | Shelby Park Community Center | 4-5 p.m.
- 📖 Lauren Tashis: “I Survived: A Historic Celebration!” | Parnassus Books | 4:30 p.m.
- 🎥 Dive-In Movie: “Lilo and Stitch” | Nashville Shores | 5-7 p.m.
- ⚾ Nashville Sounds vs. Norfolk Tides: Christmas in July | First Horizon Park | 6:35 p.m.
- 🧘 Movement, Meditation, & Mocktails | High Y’all Mocktail Bar | 7 p.m.
- ⚽ Nashville SC vs. Atlanta United | GEODIS Park | 7 p.m.
- 🥾 Family Firefly Hikes | Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary | 7-8:30 p.m.
- 👽 Science of Woo: Aliens | Studio 615 | 7-9:30 p.m.
- 🎵 Tori Amos | Ryman Auditorium | 8 p.m.
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