🍨 New ice cream & dessert shops

🏘️ Stories From Nashville's Unhoused Residents

On today’s podcast, we’re taking you inside The Contributor’s Unseen Nashville tour. Guide Shawn Lesley shares his experience of homelessness after getting out of prison, while Contributor columnist Judith Tackett explains how housing, healthcare, and public policy intersect. As we walk through downtown Nashville, we uncover the people, places, and stories hiding in plain sight and learn what it truly takes to help someone find and keep housing. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• The Contributor is an award-winning local newspaper largely written and sold by people experiencing homelessness. [The Contributor]

👮 State Must Take Custody of 149 Inmates

Following a Metro Nashville lawsuit, a local judge has ordered the Tennessee Department of Correction to take custody of 149 state inmates currently housed in Davidson County jails. According to the lawsuit, state law requires TDOC to take custody of the inmates within 14 days of receiving sentencing documents, and its failure to do so has led to overcrowding and financial strain. TDOC has 10 days from the court ruling to complete the transfer. [WPLN]

🚕 Rideshare Drivers Accuse NDOT of Racial Targeting

More than 150 rideshare and taxi drivers have signed a petition accusing the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure of racially targeting drivers and issuing unfair tickets. Petitioners claim NDOT is issuing tickets even when drivers pick up passengers in designated stop zones downtown. The Tennessee Drivers Union is asking for more drop-off zones and for NDOT to fire a specific officer. [WSMV]

• What’s it like to be an Uber driver in Nashville? We asked a veteran driver. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

👶 Nonprofit Expands Amid Childcare Crisis

Fannie Battle Day Home for Children, a 135-year-old childcare center that serves low-income families, is expanding. The East Nashville nonprofit is renovating a YMCA childcare facility that was set to close. While new state and local laws aim to make it easier to open childcare centers, federal funding cuts are leaving low-income families without subsidies and unable to afford childcare. [Nashville Banner]

• Earlier this year, Metro Council passed several bills to eliminate red tape when opening a childcare center. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

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

Hattori Nori

Located inside L&L Market in West Nashville, Hattori Nori is the city’s first handroll sushi bar. After his success with local catering company Ricey & Co., local chef Art Stacks decided to open his first restaurant. The menu and design are an homage to classic Japanese dining.

Nowhere Special

This 21+ restaurant in Hillsboro Village offers craft cocktails and elevated tapas. Designed for a sexy vibe, they ask customers to dress in “stylish, fashion-forward attire.” Menu items include oysters, Caribbean oxtails, and jambalaya. Don’t sleep on their late-night happy hours, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Nosh Desserts

Nosh Desserts has expanded into a second location at oneC1TY, right next to the SandBar. Expect the same delicious grab-and-go desserts you can find at their OG Nashville Farmers Market location, from red velvet cake to fresh fruit tarts.

Famous Friends Bar

Local country musician Chris Young has opened a sports bar in Midtown. Unlike other celebrity-owned bars, Young aims for Famous Friends to be a more casual, neighborhood hangout. The classic bar food menu has corndogs, wings, and burgers, with vegan options. Craft beers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks are also on the menu.

Sarabhas Creamery

We listed this Midtown Indian restaurant as one of our favorite local places for ice cream, and now it’s expanded to East Nashville! Located in Lost & Found’s outdoor hangout space, you’ll find all kinds of delicious cold treats, from masala chai to fig ice cream.

Blue Hound Brew Coffee Co.

Nashville’s first nitrous cold-brew coffee shop is on Music Row. Originally launched at local farmers markets and later at grocery stores, Blue Hound serves cold-brew lattes and specialty coffees. You can also find pastries and a dog-friendly patio.

Culture Club

Just weeks after opening in Wedgewood-Houston, Culture Club, Nashville’s first frozen Greek yogurt cafe, has already expanded to a second location at Chief’s on Broadway. There’s a walk-up window and indoor seating. As a warning, there might be a bit of a line!

Naked Farmer

This farm-to-table restaurant in The Arcade changes its menu depending on seasonal produce, but everything’s always freshly prepared. With locations in Florida and North Carolina, Naked Farmer plans to expand to The Gulch with a second Nashville location later this year.

Zio Matto Gelato

While you’re at The Arcade, stop at this Italian gelato shop for a sweet treat. Originally launched in Memphis, Zio Matto Gelato is also sold at markets around town.