🎉 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

🎉 It’s Hispanic Heritage Month!

¡Saludos! The month celebrating the experiences, cultures, and contributions of Latina/e/o/x and Hispanic communities in the U.S. begins Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month was nationally recognized in 1988. Almost 100,000 Hispanic folks live in Davidson County, and it’s a great time to honor their history and support their businesses.

Here are some ways you can celebrate this month in Nashville:

🎵 Listen to the Music

Lucía performs at Vanderbilt’s Ingram Hall on Sept. 18; Rudy’s Jazz Room hosts performances by Hispanic musicians all month long; and Silvana Estrada takes the stage at City Winery on Oct. 13.

🪅 Celebrate All Month at Plaza Mariachi

Plaza Mariachi has free events every day of the week that center Hispanic culture, from salsa nights to lotería to live music and so much more.

💃 The Latin Party (Sept. 18)

Dance the night away with Conexión Américas at the Nashville Farmers’ Market with salsa classes, cocktails, and Latin street food.

⚽ Nashville SC’s Hispanic Heritage Night (Sept. 19)

Nashville SC faces off with Chicago Fire FC at GEODIS Park. Enter to win a bucket hat from Heineken, and cheer on our boys in yellow.

🎡 El Jefé Festival Hispano (Sept. 20)

The Nashville Fair closes with El Jefé Day in the Fairgrounds’ courtyard. The family-friendly celebration will include live music, dancing, food, face painting, animals, and much more.

🛍️ Hispanic Heritage Market (Sept. 20)

Shop at White Limozeen’s market showcasing local Hispanic artisans and vendors, with DJ Pablito providing the music.

🦒 Hispanic Heritage Festival (Sept. 26)

Every year, the Nashville Zoo partners with Conexión Américas for a super fun day of events. This year’s lineup includes numerous folk dancers, live music, pan dulce samples, and a special concessions menu featuring Hispanic foods.

🎥 Monday Movie Nights: “Selena” (Sept. 28)

Head to the Skydeck at the Assembly Food Hall for a cozy rooftop movie night. Make sure to bring some tissues — I’m not the only one who cries when they watch this, right?

🎉 Celebrate Nashville (Oct. 3)

Celebrate Nashville’s diverse communities at this free annual event in Centennial Park, featuring shopping, live music, dancing, food, and family-friendly activities.

🚗 No More Residential Parking Permits, For Now

The 12 South neighborhood isn’t the only one struggling with parking tensions as commercial businesses move into residential spaces. From Midtown to Five Points, Nashvillians are looking for solutions to our parking problem. Metro Nashville has temporarily paused residential parking permits as it conducts a 12 South study, which NDOT plans to use to determine a whole-city strategy. [Nashville Scene]

🎵 Broadway Musicians Push for Better Conditions

In a recent Nashville Musicians Association survey, Broadway musicians spoke about some of the challenges they face, from clubs taking a cut of the band’s tips to last-minute cancellations. The union also asked musicians to rank Broadway bars from best to worst, and awarded the top five with a Fair Trade designation. Robert’s Western World was one of those five Broadway bars. [WSMV]

• Listen to our chat with local bassist Mandy Shucher about what it’s like to be a musician on Lower Broadway. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🏊 YMCA Installs AI Surveillance Cameras in Pools

The YMCA of Middle Tennessee has installed AngelEye, an AI-powered surveillance system, in all 12 of its indoor pools, sparking concerns from some parents and members. YMCA claims the AI cameras will help prevent drowning. However, cybersecurity experts say despite the program’s closed-loop system, there’s still a chance of hackers accessing the system’s data and other types of misuse. “I can’t imagine going into the pool now with my little daughter knowing that there are cameras underneath the water. I mean, it’s very, very uncomfortable,” says Y member Catherine Aisbitt. [WKRN]

• What do you think: Should the YMCA use surveillance cameras in their pools? Take this poll and let me know!

🗳️ The Indie Candidates Running for TN Governor

Tennessee votes for its next governor in November, and two Independent candidates hope to beat their Republican and Democratic opponents in what polls suggest could be a close race. Businessman David Hatley leans conservative, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s campaign has targeted him in its ads. Former Lipscomb University professor Lauren Pinkston aligns with Democrats on many of her views. [Tennessee Lookout]

• We chatted with Pinkston earlier this year about why she’s running as an Independent, and her takes on local issues. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]