Tag Archives: Nashville

The People of PodCamp Nashville 2010 #pcn10

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So Dave Delaney totally beat me to this post… That’s what I get for being “too busy to blog” over the past few days.PodCamp Nashville 2010

I had the privilege of attending Podcamp Nashville this Saturday at Cadillac Ranch. I got to sit in a lot of really enlightening sessions and learn some great things.

Nerdy education aside, I got to meet and learn from some really great people that I think you all should know about.

Gavin Richardson

Gavin is a pastor, social media participant anthropologist, and all around cool guy. I was glad to get to know Gavin and also learn about how social media is affecting human relationships from his presentation entitled Sex, Lies, and Social Media.

Angela DeYoung

Angela is a wonderful interior designer with an impressive portfolio. She loves what she does and is quick to share her enthusiam for designing your space.

LaDonna Bowers

LaDonna knows a lot about a lot. Just ask her about some light bulbs. ;)

Daniel Morris

Super intelligent guy with a sharp mind for business. Look for his up and coming podcast.

Rob Robinson

Rob’s a great guy that I’ve been lucky to meet before, but didn’t get to talk to very much until Saturday. Check out his blog. Rob is very in tune with all things Nashville.

Will Norton

Super cool guy who I hope to never have to call… (Will’s an attorney.)

Dave Delaney

The life of the party, Dave is the social media coordinator at Griffin Technology. He lives with his finger on the pulse of all this new technology we geek-types love to talk about.

Lucas Hendrickson

The man with the plan. Lucas made sure that the day went off without a hitch. Bravo!

Courtenay Rogers

Fearless leader of the volunteer crew. When I got there (at 6:45 AM, boo,) she immediately scooped me up and put me to work. She really got things done… Not to mention she gave a great presentation on Social NETiquette and how not to be a networking shmuck, a topic I really enjoy.

Scott McIntosh

I didn’t get to meet Scott personally, but he taught a down and dirty comprehensive session about setting up your “broadcasting channel”, a.k.a. all your social media stuff. I got a few cool little nuggets of it. I was more impressed by the kind of stuff he’s been working on. Check him out!

Kate Gallagher

Sad to say I didn’t get to meet Kate either. Media director at Paramore|Redd, she taught us all about how she develops social media strategy with new clients such as Backyard Burgers and Chase Amazon. It was a really great primer for people looking to develop a strategy for either themselves or a client.

Justin Davis

Another super cool guy. Justin presented on developing “user experience.” In a nutshell, he taught us how to develop web pages that are simple and attractive. He gave me a lot of nice little ideas for making this website much more usable. Stay tuned for those improvements.

Josh Oakes

Josh offered a contrarian view of social media and how it’s altering human interaction. Really cool stuff with a heavy call to action at the end… Basically, we only get one shot at this, so let’s no fudge it up.

Mitch Canter

Hot-shot website designer who can bend WordPress to his every will. Since I use WordPress, I really enjoyed his presentation and look forward to implementing some of the things Mitch talked about.

Georgia Cross

Marketer extraordinaire/social media butterfly. ‘Nuff said.

Taylor Vick

Really cool girl with a really cool blog. Go on and check it out.

Nate Baker

Nate’s a trip… Search #flashfest2010 and see for yourself… Seriously, though, Nate does some really great things in the community. Check him out and prepare to be impressed.

Scott Stephens

Scott can bang out 10 push ups much more quickly than I can. Physical exercise aside, Scott’s a big thinker and a great guy. He also goes to the same church as I do. (Cross Point shout-out!)

Jessica R. Murray

Jessica can watch Scott do 10 push ups and hand him a prize afterward. In addition to that, she co-founded Social Media Club Nashville and does all sorts of other cool stuff!

There you have it! I’m so sorry if we met and I neglected to put your name on the list! Send me an angry comment and I’ll add you right away ;) .

Open House Sunday 3/7 2-4: 1015 Fatherland St. #207 – $199,900

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Check out this awesome condo right next to 5 points!

1015 Fatherland St. Apt 207 – $199,900

Sunday, March 07, 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Great location just steps from 5 points! features hardwood floors, granite in kitchen and bath, subway tile in bathrooms, jacuzzi tub, crown molding, decorator finish, french doors that open to private terrace w/ view of martin corner.

Interior Details

  • Appliances
    Cooktop, Dishwasher, Disposal, Refrigerator, Wall Oven-Electric
  • Laundry
    Dryer, Washer
  • Flooring
    Carpeted, Tile, Wood

Exterior Details

  • Construction
    Brick
  • Outdoor Areas
    Balcony

Additional Details

Fire Sprinklers
Security
Cats allowed
Dogs allowed
No pet restrictions
Tax Amount: $2,007

Rooms and Dimensions

  • Living Room
    20×16
  • Kitchen
    10×8
  • Master Bedroom
    15×10
  • Bedroom 2
    9×9

School

  • Elementary
    Warner Elementary Enhanced Option
  • Jr High
    Bailey Middle School
  • High School
    Stratford Comp High School

Utilites

  • Heating
    Central Heat, Gas
  • Cooling
    Central
  • Water
    City
  • Security
    Security System

Listed By:

Agent: Allen Perry
Keller Williams Realty
P (615) 425-3600

Wednesday Night in Nashville – Why Life is Cool Here

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So here’s what happened in my world last night.#flashfest2010

I was having dinner with some friends at the 12 South Taproom & Grill, during which I get a tweet from @flashfest2010 about going to Mt. Richmore and assaulting John Rich’s gaudy new palatial estate with a barrage of light…

For more information on why anyone would do such a thing, visit the Nashville Scene.

Juvenile? Maybe. Powerful? Definitely. Before Twitter, how could a grass roots movement arise out of the dust within a matter of hours to combat rampant celebrity shmuckery? I wish I could have went, but I hadn’t seen these friends in quite a while and I didn’t want to leave them hanging.

One of these friends was Jeff Allen,
an amazing artist who you need to check out immediately.

After dinner, we headed over to the Cannery Ballroom to check out Randy Rogers Band featuring Wade Bowen, two of my most favorite Texas artists… You don’t spend the better part of 7 months in a van (like me) driving back and forth through Texas from gig to gig without picking up an affinity for Texas music.

Randy Rogers BandThe show was amazing. Randy Rogers and his band absolutely killed it. I ran in to a few friends I haven’t seen in a while and had a blast listening to some gritty, driving Texas country.

After that, our little crew headed on over to the Bridge Bar at Renaissance Hotel for the usual CRS week festivities. Music biz-types were out in abundance, glad-handing and networking like busy little bees, but it was still a really fun time. I got to reconnect with a lot of musician and business types that I haven’t seen in forever, as well as meet some really cool people (no name dropping allowed.)

CRS is going all week. Here are a few of the artists who will be playing and attending: Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Jake Owen and Taylor Swift. Pretty cool event for all you Nashville music-types to go and check out.View From The Bridge Bar in Nashville, TN

So that was my night in Music City. If you’re not from here, it sounds pretty exciting. If you live in Nashville, then it’s business as usual.

That’s why I love this city so much.

Wanna move here yet?



Open House Sunday 2/28 – Beautiful Condo Right in the heart of Belmont!

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2120 Belmont Boulevard Apt C-1 – $165,000

Come and see this beautiful urban condo!
1920s architecture/Renovated in 2007
571 square feet
1 BR/1 BA

Walking Distance of Belmont, Hillsboro Village, 12th Ave S Area!
Built-in Washer/Dryer Hookups & Dishwasher, Hardwood Floors, Shared Deck, Wood Blinds, All Electric, Custom Paint, Private Front Porch!

Property Listed By:
Allen Perry
The Perry Property Group
(615)425-3600
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd. Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215

Each office independently owned and operated.

Uncle Classic Barber Shop – Say It.

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Yet another review/plug for a local business from your resident Nashville enthusiast…

I ran into Amy Tanksley a few weeks ago at a Young Professionals Nashville event. We didn’t get too much time to talk, but she did tell me about her business, Uncle Classic Barber Shop.

So naturally, when I looked in the mirror and gazed with horror at the shaggy mop on top of my head on Tuesday morning, Uncle Classic was the first thought that popped into my brain; below the forest that was my hair.

I called and made an appointment for this morning at 8:00. JoAnn was there waiting to welcome me in to the shop. Uncle’s has a modern, classy look to it. Sleek furniture, industrial design, and a wide-screen TV or two made me feel right at home. With glass windows all around, it felt like a man cave, minus the cave part.

JoAnn chatted with me the entire time she cut my hair. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in the chair with a hair cutter who would just refuse to carry on a conversation with me. She was a sweet lady, not a robot. 100 points there. She is also a Yankees fan, 1.6 million points. <-Winner!

As for the haircut, it was great! $23 price tag was a little more than I usually pay, but definitely worth it. JoAnn was quick, but deliberate. She made sure she knew what I wanted, and she delivered. Top that off with hot shaving cream and a straight blade and we’re all set. I’m very happy with the results!

I grew up in the same barber shop from age 4 to age 18. After I left my hometown for the Air Fore and the wild blue yonder, I’ve been subjected to all manner of military crew cuts, discount hair cutters, and mini-mall hair tragedies. In my travels, I’ve been wandering, in search of a new barber shop to call home. I think I may have found it.

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How Much Of a Down Payment Do I Really Need?

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I’ve run into this question quite a bit lately. People are wondering how much cash they need to have on hand to purchase a home.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there when it comes to down payment. Some people think you need 20%. Others think you need 10%.

What if I told you 3.5% will get you in to a house?

It really depends on which loan program you go with. If you get an FHA loan, you can put down as little as 3.5%. The disadvantage to that is that you will have to pay an up-front mortgage insurance premium. That amount is rolled in to your total loan balance. Also, you’ll pay a monthly mortgage insurance premium until you build equity in 20% of the house.

Moving up the ladder, there are conventional loans available that allow you to put 5 % down. Using this type of product, you would avoid the up-front premium, but would still have to pay private mortgage insurance until you get to that magical 20% equity mark.

Those are just a few of the various options available to home purchasers. A reputable lender would be able to sit down with you and talk about all of your options and tailor something to meet your needs.

Whichever you choose, make sure that you put enough money down to actually have a stake in your home. 0% financing is what caused all of the trouble in our housing and financial markets. Also, higher down payments = lower monthly payments, less interest paid, more money in your pocket, etc…

Take the time to plan your move. You’ll be glad you did. Contact me and we can sit down and go through your options together.

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Open House Sunday 2/17 2-4 : 512 Chesterfield Ave Apt C3 $154,900

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You’ve got to come out and see this on Sunday! Nashville’s got some great condos to offer. This one is the cream of the crop.

It’s located in Hillsboro Village nears tons of great little shops and restaurants, so why not make a day of walking around the village and popping by the see this gem! I promise,  you’ll be glad you did.

Living Room512 Chesterfield Ave Apt C3
Nashville, TN 37212

$154,900
Condo
2 BR/1 BA
810 sqft
Built in 1954

“Best Value in the Village! Totally renovated Craftsman style condo with all the trimmings. Upgraded lighting, Hardwoods, New Stainless appliances, Upgraded plumbing and fixtures, new HVAC, plus WASHER/DRYER CONNECTIONS INSIDE THIS CONDO!”
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Property Listed By:
Marti Klecka
(615)425-3600
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215
Each office independently owned and operated.

Little Touches Count…

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So I met some new friends at Bar-B-Cutie on Donelson Pike for lunch today. The food was great. I’m a huge fan of bar-b-que, so I was literally in hog heaven. However, the food isn’t what truly stood out for me.

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a friendly little lady by the name of Joan Hodges. I wish I would’ve taken her picture, because you would immediately want to give her a squeeze and call her grandma.

Joan’s only responsibility in this restaurant, one that she has held for quite some time, is to chat up each and every guest in the joint. The people I was with had been in there before, so she chatted with them as if she knew every little detail, because she did!! Joan’s only job is to make sure that each and every person who walks through that door feels like not only a valued guest, but a member of the family.

She doesn’t sell anything or push a product.
Joan creates an atmosphere where you can’t help but feel like you’re at home.

To me, that’s an amazing service touch. Seemingly insignificant, but truly remarkable.

So what do you do in your business that adds the extra “wow factor?” Do you go that extra mile to make your customers and clients feel like family? Do you add little personal touches that no one else thinks of?

Bar-B-Cutie does. Maybe that’s why they had a line nearly out the door at lunch-time today.

How Do We Feel About the Music City Center?

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Background information:
Music City Center Website
Music City Center Construction Begins

So they finally broke ground on the Music City Center project… Where do you stand on the issue?

I’ve been on the fence. I understand that you have to spend money to make money. But, at the same time, can you really justify such a huge expense?

I understand both the arguments for and the arguments against. I’ve included some comments from various sources below that summarize some of the key points on each side. I realize that, with construction underway, the point is moot. Still, I want to know how you all feel about it.

Leave a comment below, tweet @kennysilva, or email me.
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Arguments For:

From Debby Dale Mason at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce:

“A 2002 tourism summit resulted in an intense strategic planning process conducted by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. Out of that process came the goal of growing the hospitality industry from a $3 billion to a $5 billion industry within five years; key to that growth was improving the city as a convention destination and expanding convention facilities. By 2006, a committee appointed by then-Mayor Bill Purcell published a report, The Music City Center for Nashville’s Future, outlining the need for a new center, a recommended location, funding sources and a process to involve the community in the project’s development.

Because hospitality and tourism is the city’s No. 2 industry, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has continuously monitored the hospitality industry and its needs. Upon the release of the 2006 report, the Chamber announced its official support of the project because of the significant economic impact it would have on the Nashville region.”

From Ex-Councilman Stewart Clifton via The Tennessean:

“I don’t believe and have never believed that making decisions for our city is about development vs. neighborhoods, or big-scale vs. little-scale or tourism vs. public services. I believe it is about balance. A part of that balance is an adequate tax base and an adequate jobs base. I believe that Nashville is a tourist center and a center for conventions and other meetings, and I believe we will stay that way. The extent to which that helps our tax base and jobs base depends on whether this Music City Center becomes reality. The fact is that we are at a crossroads of three interstates and in the center of one of the two fastest growing regions of the country. Tourists and convention goers aren’t going away but we need a more adequate convention center to support growth and revenue.”

Arguments Against:

From Metro Council Member Emily Evans’ Blog:

  • The economic impact for this project is estimated at $135 million. For our $7.5 billion economy that is a less than 2% improvement.
  • The estimate increase in tax revenues is about $12 million – a mere .8% boost and not enough to cover the $14 million we will redirect from other activities to the convention center.
  • These low returns on our investment suggest we will not significantly improve our tax base.

From Southern Beale:

“I find it really offensive that we as a city have devoted so much time and energy to talking about the need, nay the imperative, to build a $600 million convention center, when it’s quite obvious we have other needs, and other imperatives. What does it say about Nashville that we can find the time, funding, energy to wage a PR battle, newspaper column inches, and on and on to rally for a $600 million convention center at a time when people in our community are losing their homes and cannot afford to pay their utility bills?”

Leave a comment below, tweet @kennysilva, or email me.
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Sylvan Park's 'The Green Wagon' To Close Its Doors

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The Green Wagon is a cool little organic store nestled in between the Local Taco and Cafe Nonna on Murphy Road in the Sylvan Park neighborhood of Nashville.

I’ve been picking up little tidbits about The Green Wagon from twitter updates and news articles by Nashvillest.

The Green Wagon was in the top 10 for Intuit’s Love a Local Business contest; a competition based solely on nominations from satisfied customers and fans.

Also see:
The Green Wagon: Nashville’s First General Store

Unfortunately, the latest clipping I saw on twitter had to do with The Green Wagon closing on its doors in February. They do have another location in East Nashville, so thankfully, The Green Wagon won’t be disappearing into nothingness. Still, Sylvan Park will be losing its little green general store.

Naturally, I had to get in and check it out before the place shut down.

Jennifer Casale - Founder

The shop was small and intimate with lots of your typical ‘green store’ offerings including assorted lotions, clothes, candles, and so on. I poked around for a bit and ended up finding an interesting greeting card that you can actually plant in the ground! No joke… it grows into wildflowers. With everything in the store deeply discounted, I had to pick it up. My mother’s in for a pleasant surprise next week.

Long story short, The Green Wagon is a great little general store if you’re into keeping your carbon footprint is small as possible. Hint: We should all probably be thinking about that…

Check out The Green Wagon if you can before they shut their doors in February. If you can’t make it in time, the East Nashville location is located in 5 points. That address is 1100 Forrest Ave. Let them know I sent ya!

For information on green home and business consulting, contact Jen at jennifer@thegreenwagon.com.