Flashing neon lights. Blaring country music. Hot (hot!) chicken. The epicenter of Tennessee whiskey… That’s Nashville in a nutshell. Easily the top spot to take in live country music in the U.S.—hence its “Music City” moniker—the budding metropolis has no shortage of live venues, honky tonks and country music bars. But even if you’re not a fan of country, just try not to be moved by the music wafting from each eclectic spot as you mosey down Music Row—aka Broadway (or the people-watching, spirits flowing and general revelry that’ll call to mind another famous Broadway… just Southern style).
Of course, there’s more to Music City than Music Row (though, that’s where you’d find us…). Think creative energy, culture (museums galore!), award-winning restos and swanky bars. NTM the city is situated on a river—making it a dreamy destination alongside the likes of DC and Chicago, to name a few.
Really, the Everly Brothers said it best: “Gotta get back to Nashville… ’cause that’s where the good times are.” Here we tune into our Music Row picks—plus dine, drink and do selects—for a well-rounded and high-energy getaway. Now all we need are some cowboy boots.
EATS & DRINKS
Meat Sweats
When it comes to Nashville barbecue, it’s all about the smoked meats (brisket, ribs, sausage—oh, my!). And there’s a melting pot of barbecue styles for you to go hog wild. For a classic whole-hog pulled-pork sando that all Carolinians can get down with, you’re gonna wanna go to Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint; for beef brisket, look no further than Shotgun Willie’s BBQ; and if you’re curious what the dry ribs are all about, head to Peg Leg Porker. Aye, there’s the rub! martinsbbqjoint.com; sgwbbq.com; peglegporker.com
Hattie B’s
You can’t—we repeat, can’t—go to Nashville without hitting up this uberpopular hot chicken joint that blows all chicken sandos out of the water (we said it). If you’re feeling frisky, go for the Shut the Cluck Up chicken sandwich, Hattie B’s hottest heat level offering; or play it safe with the Southern (no heat). … But as Southerners, it’s about time we show Nashville we can take the heat. hattieb.com
Yee-Haw Brewing Co.
Can we get a yeehaw?! Yee-Haw Brewing calls for an all-day affair, thanks to its shared campus with Ole Smoky Moonshine and White Duck Taco Shop, two large screen TVs, two stages, a beer garden, and a brewery and distillery on-site (!)—NTM live music, watch parties and other fun-filled events. Clear your sched and stick around for awhile… yeehawbrewing.com
Five Points Pizza
Five Points Pizza
Dave Portnoy of Barstool Pizza Review rated Five Points Pizza a 7.5—and that’s an opinion you can crust. You’re gonna wanna grab a slice (or a whole pie) of the New York-style pizzas made from scratch and handtossed with aged-in-house dough. Popular creations include the Vodka Sauce Pie, the T-Rex (topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, sliced meatballs and spicy capicola), and Dave’s Pie (prosciutto di parma, fresh basil, extra pecorino romano). fivepointspizza.com
Butcher & Bee
Butcher & Bee
When the bright lights and even louder sounds of NashVegas start to wear you down, buzz on over to this quaint hidden gem located just on the outskirts of downtown serving up seasonal dishes for brunch and dinner. (Pro tip: Get there early to score a seat on the patio.) butcherandbee.com
Biscuit Love
Son of a biscuit! This lil “Love” will surely steal your heart—and stomach. The beloved breakfast and lunch spot believes in bringing the community together over a shared love of biscuits, whether you’re more of an S.E.C. (sausage, scrambled egg, cheddar) kinda person or an East Nasty (fried chicken, cheddar, sausage gravy) one—and that, well, just butters our biscuits. biscuitlove.com
Attaboy
Don’t ask for a menu at this 2022 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Bar Program—’cause you ain’t gonna get one. The famed East Nashville drinking den is a speakeasy-style iteration of the original NYC location credited with the entire modern craft-cocktail movement. So, yeah, no menu needed because you know whatever one of the bartenders puts in front of you is gonna be good.attaboy.us
OUT & ABOUT
Grand Ole Opry
“The true home of country music” has a myriad of artists hitting its stage in May, including The Gatlin Brothers, Filmore and Maggie Rose. P.S. Olivia Rodrigo is stopping at the Grand Ole Opry’s Opry House venue during her SOUR tour on May 10 (!). Um, good for… us! opry.com
Nashville Predators Game
Watch the Preds put the smash in Smashville at Bridgestone Arena, which is primely located in the center of downtown. (So catching a game is about as easy as ordering a drink from one of the many surrounding bars.)bridgestonearena.com
Pontoon Saloon
Pontoon Saloon
“I’m on a boat!”—er pontoon! Mingle, dance and booze your way down the Cumberland River through Nashville’s only “honky tonk on the water.” Both public and private cruises are offered, and each includes a licensed captain and deckhand, sound system, and coolers for beverages. Yeah, buoy! pontoonsaloontn.com
Ms. Kelli’s Karaoke Bar
Sing it (or just dance!) like you mean it within this tucked away family-owned and -operated karaoke bar in Printers Alley. The jello shooters and specialty cocktails are sure to provide all the liquid courage you need to get up onstage. facebook.com/mskelliskaraoke
Johnny Cash Museum
They don’t call it Cashville for nothin’. “Walk the line” to discover the largest and most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia the world over—from the legend’s guitars and music equipment to his signature looks and more. johnnycashmuseum.com
The Bluebird Cafe
The Bluebird Cafe
Over the past 40 years, this iconic live music venue (dubbed “an accidental landmark that changed music history”) has served as a magnet for Nashville visitors from all walks of life—over 70,000 people visit the venue annually, and countless country stars have graced its stage (think Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks and Faith Hill). Make sure you grab your tickets in advance as they tend to sell out! bluebirdcafe.com
BROADWAY PICKS
Honky Tonk Centeral
Honky Tonk Central
It’s a party on all three stories—complete with live music, bar grub and great times. honkytonkcentral.com
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
A can’t-miss (literally—it’s bright pink) world-famous institution and Nashville honky tonk, nee 1960. tootsies.net
Vintage license plates from around the country cover the ceiling of this funky live music bar that’s always a darn tootin’ good time. laylasnashville.com
It’s time for Raleigh to up its game for big events.
Dorothea Dix Park likely never before saw the mass crowds that graced its green lawns April 2–3—when J. Cole’s second Dreamville Festival (this time taking place over two days) brought in 80,000 attendees from all 50 states, plus 14 countries (!), despite a three-year hiatus. Talk about a fan base.
But while most will say the festival was a great success (Ari Lennox called it “the best festival ever”—and we agree!), it had its shortcomings—the biggest of which was the lack of cell service throughout the festival grounds, and, in turn, the struggle to meet up with friends and/or order a ride home. A less than dreamy situation if you ask us.
Which leads us to our point: Raleigh needs to do better if it’s going to play host to epic events equal to the likes of Dreamville—which of course is what we all want. And it doesn’t stop at cell service. There’s also concerns like lodging, parking, public transportation, etc.
Dreamville is not an anomaly in terms of mass events for which our fair city already plays host. Every year, the City of Oaks attracts visitors from all over for festivals and events such as the NC State Fair, Artsplosure, Hopscotch, IBMA Bluegrass Live! (the largest free urban bluegrass festival in the world) and Brewgaloo—to name a few. Not only do out-of-towners expect (and pay for) an exceptional experience that’ll have them coming back for more, our city is on full display—and we need to act the part.
And not just because we want fun fests (though who doesn’t) or to draw the oohs and aahs of visitors. As a result of the tens of thousands of people Dreamville alone drew to the area, the fest benefits the city financially, providing a huge economic boost for Raleigh businesses. While the 2022 number has yet to be announced, 2019’s festival brought in a whopping $3.8 million to businesses!
So, yeah—a cell tower or two, a new hotel, maybe some better public transportation could really take ole Raleigh to the next level when it comes to hosting future events. Because despite the fact that J. Cole “put my city on the map,” we’ve still got a lot of work to do.
Raleigh, start your engines—er, electric skateboards! Oak City Onewheel’s Oak City Shred Fest—the only head-to-head Onewheel racing event on the East Coast—is coming to town May 13–15 for a stoke-filled weekend of Onewheel (a self-balancing single-wheel electric board-sport) races, live music, camping and much more. Riders from all over the nation will be flocking to Raleigh to compete in the race, which covers two FloatTracks (aka quarter-mile, dirt, triple-track loops) just outside of Downtown. “As a 100% disabled U.S. Air Force veteran, I am so grateful for the medicinal properties of the Onewheel and the Onewheel Community,” says Oak City Shred Fest and Oak City Onewheel Director and President Josh “Supremo” Christensen. “Thanks to the power and capabilities of the Onewheel and Oak City crew, I’m regularly transported to new incredible places, meeting wonderful new people, and discovering new places and possibilities for the future.” More than just Onewheel, the event also allows off-road electric skateboards, unicycles and bikes on the track—or you can ditch the wheels altogether and enjoy brews, food trucks and stand-up paddleboarding at Lakeside Retreats. No matter how you shred it, it’s bound to be a wheelie good weekend. oakcityshredfest.com
Most likely, whenever you’re craving Mexican, you end up at the same two or three spots. As it turns out, there’s a reason they’re your go-tos: All nine of these local faves are interconnected through strong, local families that who maintained a huge influence on the city’s Mexican restaurant scene, taking “keeping it in the family” to a whole new level.
IBARRA
El Rodeo Est. 2000 Owners Jose and Joel Ibarra Some people might think El Rodeo is a chain, but the Mexican mainstay is actually a local family affair. It all started with the first El Rodeo location in Durham (nee 1989, but closed after 32 years of business in 2021), eventually expanding to three other locations in the Triangle, including the remaining uber-popular City Market spot. elrodeonc.com
Jose and Sons Est. 2013 Owners Charlie and Hector Ibarra with Oscar Diaz Here, Ibarra brothers and chef Oscar Diaz celebrate their forefathers’ Mexican roots in the form of traditional Mexican comfort food fused with Southern influences. Originally located in The Depot in DTR, Jose and Sons moved to their father Jose’s (hence the resto name) former El Rodeo location on Pleasant Valley Road in 2020, continuing the family’s then-25-year legacy in the building. joseandsons.com
Chido Taco Est. 2019 Owners Salvador Alvarez and Joel Ibarra Despite the fact that Chido is the first fast-casual sup spot for co-owner Alvarez, it doesn’t skimp on flavor—especially when it comes to fan-fave quesabirria tacos, served with a steamy, flavorful broth you’ll want to drink by the cupful. Also not to be missed are the extravagant margs, served in all sorts of color and flavor combos that always hit the spot. chidotaco.com
La Rancherita Est. 2015 Owners Salvador Alvarez and Joel Ibarra You can’t go wrong with anything on La Rancherita’s extensive (five-page!) menu, which this duo (who also own Viva Mexican Kitchen in Morrisville) managed to pack with a diverse range of Mexicellent dishes—from tacos and enchiladas to burritos and quesadillas to casual authentic faves like chimichangas. And, luckily, there are four Triangle locations to get your fiesta on. laranchnc.com
La Buena Vida Est. 2022 Owner Salvador Alvarez The newest la familia of Raleigh Mexican hot spots to splash on the scene is just-bowed La Buena Vida (aka “the good life”). Alvarez—who, fun fact, is married to Sanford’s Fonda Lupita owner Biridiana Frausto—says the upscale menu is inspired by dishes from his hometown of Jalisco. (And menu items from the uberpopular Fonda Lupita made the cut as well!) @labuenavida_oficial
SALAMANCA
ANGELA SALAMANCA
Centro Est. 2007 Owner Angela Salamanca Angela Salamanca was just 17 when she immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia to work at her uncle Carlos’ Dos Taquitos restaurant. Later, when Carlos was looking to open a new Dos Taquitos in DTR, he paired up with Angela—only Carlos left the country to get married, and Salamanca was forced to open what was then dubbed Dos Taquitos Centro on her own. Centro slowly evolved into Angela’s own unique venture, a fresh take on Mexican food inspired by her visits to Oaxaca. centroraleigh.com
Gallo Pelón Est. 2015 Owner Angela Salamanca Mezcal lovers flock to this mezcaleria above Centro, which is the state’s first mezcaleria and is stocked with one of the largest selections of mezcals in the Southeast (!). Over 35 mezcals grace the menu—order a round of shots or spring for the mezcal flight (served with grasshopper salt!)—while Colombian- and Mexican-influenced food offerings include mole tostadas, flauta and burritos. gallopelon.com
CARLOS SALAMANCA
Dos Taquitos Est. 1991 Owner Pamela Salamanca An institution on the Raleigh scene for over 30 years, Dos Taquitos was born from the heart of Carlos Salamanca, who traveled frequently to Mexico to learn more about its food and culture before ultimately deciding to open his own Mexican restaurant that channeled that same flavor and spirit. Although relocated from its original location in 2015 by Salamanca’s daughter, Pamela, Dos Taquitos still upholds its signature vibrant, colorful energy (and oh-so-delicious dishes) that make it a Raleigh fave. dostaquitosraleigh.com
GONZA SALAMANCA
Gonza Tacos y Tequila Est. 2011 Owners Gonza Salamanca and Carlos Rodriguez Cousins Rodriguez and Salamanca (the latter is also the brother of Dos Taquitos’ Carlos Salamanca) opened the original Gonza in North Raleigh with only $10,000 to their name—but it didn’t take long for the Latin-style Mexican resto to rack up a plethora of regulars. Now with four Triangle locations, Gonza is a go-to for tacos and tequila. gonzatacosytequila.com
Raleigh locals aren’t ready to see Logan’s Garden Shop go.
Before Logan’s was the beloved family-owned garden shop biz it is today, it served as the historic Bagwell Seaboard Railroad Station—nee 1942—a central location in Downtown Raleigh that allowed both Raleighites and visitors alike to gather and connect. Logan’s has occupied the building since 1991, becoming just as much a part of Raleigh’s vibrant history as the railroad station. Now, however, as many Raleigh residents are certainly aware, the Logan’s building is currently being redeveloped by New York-based real estate investment and development firm Turnbridge Equities (who also purchased The Creamery building on Glenwood South) into a multimillion-dollar mixed-use project featuring retail, apartments and a parking deck.
While plans have already been released for the Seaboard Station revamp, some locals aren’t ready to let go of the Logan’s building just yet—which Turnbridge Equities plans to replace with a parking garage to serve two 20-story towers (and in order to build the towers, Turnbridge must rezone the property). To that end, the Oakwood neighborhood sent a letter to Raleigh City Council in March urging them not to grant the rezoning unless it includes the preservation of the train station, as it’s a historic landmark that “informs us about our past and makes our city an interesting place for both residents and visitors.”
Matthew Brown—a historian, former commissioner at the Raleigh Historic Development Commission and past president of the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood—sides with the Oakwood residents. “[The building] can be used in a variety of ways,” says Brown. “Lots of cities—their train stations are repurposed. [In Raleigh], it’s repurposed now as a retail business and a cafe.”
Michelle Bowers
Enter Old House Life’s Michelle Bowers. In an effort to save this important part of Seaboard Station—and Raleigh history in general—Brown recruited the Cary native, who now resides in Virginia and runs Old House Life’s Instagram/Facebook accounts, on which she posts photos and videos of old buildings, abandoned houses, etc. in the hopes that her 120K/701K followers, respectively, will purchase, preserve and/or restore them. “She reaches a lot of people, and she has a lot of energy,” says Brown.
Both Brown and Bowers picture the Logan’s building being preserved as a sort of common area, cafe, restaurant, bar or retail business(es)—even Seaboard Cafe could be maintained. To help save the building, Bowers plans to post about it on her social media accounts and ask her followers to email City Council members in the hopes “they can put a stop to it… or at least rezone where they have to keep the structure and utilize it in some way,” says Bowers. “It would give it a lot more character.”
Adds Brown, “It’s just a lack of imagination on [the developers’] part that they can just tear it all down and build these generic towers and a generic parking deck.” But, while Brown thinks the city will grant Turnbridge Equities the rezoning (which they’ll make a profit on, as the property is currently only zoned for seven stories), he’s unsure if City Council will grant it on the condition of preserving the train station, and it’s not yet on the council’s agenda—but hopefully it will be in May.
“It seems that that’s a very small return favor to insist that [City Council] preserve the train station,” says Brown, “which is an important part of our history and a beautiful piece of architecture—which we are sadly lacking in Raleigh.” And it would be a shame to see such a significant Raleigh landmark go away…
