Latest news with #Nashvillian
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sophie Cunningham tried to clarify her unpopular comments about Cleveland and Detroit
Fever wing Sophie Cunningham offers clarifying thoughts about her comments on WNBA expansion from earlier this week: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is attempting to clarify her controversial comments about the WNBA returning via expansion to Cleveland and Detroit. After Cunningham alluded that WNBA players wouldn't want to play in either city as opposed to more tourist-friendly cities like Nashville and Miami, Cunningham said she was more referring to the "off-court lifestyle" options that cities like Nashville and Miami offer. She also said she appreciates the history that Cleveland and Detroit both bring to the league. "I'm thankful for what they've done for our history of the sport," Cunningham mentioned about Cleveland and Detroit, per Indiana reporter Tony East. "I think it would be fun to kind of get some teams outside the NBA market." One quick note: Cunningham specifically mentioned Broadway, Nashville's popular entertainment district, as a draw to WNBA players. Any longtime Nashvillian will tell you is the city's honky tonk Elephant Graveyard, only frequented by tourists and college students. If WNBA players moved to Nashville, they'd soon learn to avoid Broadway at all costs. Cunningham is certainly well within her right to prefer the WNBA to expand to other cities, but her mentioning Kansas City the other day as a better destination than Cleveland or Detroit kind of nullified her point. We're sure some players would love to move to Nashville and Miami, but the goal there is more expansion in a reasonable timeline to join those cities without taking away from Cleveland and Detroit. However, with the new CBA looming, the W should prioritize its own players first before worrying about adding more teams.
Style Blueprint
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Style Blueprint
A Famed Nashville Chef's STUNNING Indian Wedding
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit If you're a culinary enthusiast, a Nashvillian, or both, the name Vivek Surti likely rings a bell. As the acclaimed chef and founder of Tailor, Vivek is a James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast, with The New York Times naming Tailor among Nashville's 25 best restaurants. But beyond accolades in the kitchen, Vivek recently stepped into an entirely new role: newlywed! Vivek tied the knot with podiatric surgery specialist Sheela Chockalingam in the fall of 2024. From swiping right on Hinge to an exquisite four-day wedding celebration, we got an inside look at Vivek and Sheela's love story. Pin The couple's story began in a thoroughly modern way: swiping on Hinge. But the romance that followed was anything but ordinary, and before he knew it, Vivek was planning a proposal during a trip that included stops in Baton Rouge and Los Angeles. 'As I was discussing plans with my sister, we decided on surprising Sheela during a day trip to Malibu on the beach,' Vivek recalls. However, nature had other plans. 'On the morning I was going to propose, the tide was so high that it flooded the beaches to the street.' His sister quickly organized a backup plan at Point Dume, a scenic overlook above the Pacific Ocean. 'There was a point where Sheela had to climb a few steps before she saw a ring of flowers — marigolds, magnolias, and roses — as the sun was just starting to set,' Vivek describes. 'As I led Sheela to the flowers, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said, 'Yes! I will!' Almost immediately, two dolphins jumped out of the water below us.' How picture-perfect is that? Pin Then, in November of 2024, Vivek and Sheela would embark on a four-day series of events that blended rich cultural traditions with personal touches — and a stunning array of wardrobe changes. The celebration began with a Ganesh Puja and Mehndi in Brentwood, TN, followed by the Pithi ceremony the next day. Each ritual was steeped in tradition, leading up to their wedding day and culminating in a grand reception. Vivek kicked the celebrations off in style by riding in on a horse. Pin Pin Pin Pin Pin Pin According to Hindu tradition, planning began with a carefully chosen date. 'Our first steps were securing a date that was suitable for our families,' Vivek explains. 'In Hinduism, there are holy and auspicious days on the calendar, with certain days being ideal for weddings. Luckily for us, November 8, 2024, was such a date.' Once the date was set, they enlisted Premier W.E.D. to help bring their vision to life. The wedding ceremony itself took place at the Sri Ganesha Temple. 'This temple has been one that Vivek's family has been going to for over 40 years, and it's also the place where our parents met for the first time,' Sheela shares. Pin For her wedding attire, Sheela honored her family by wearing her mother's Kanchipuram wedding saree, an heirloom her mother originally wore 45 years ago. 'This saree, a stunning deep yellow adorned with intricate gold zari designs, embodies the artistry that makes these silks India's most captivating and timelessly beautiful,' she tells us. Pin The morning of the wedding reflected their personalities: Sheela's began at 5 a.m. with hair, makeup, and a heartfelt handwritten letter to Vivek. Meanwhile, Vivek enjoyed a champagne breakfast with his groomsmen, featuring his favorite Krug and breakfast sandwiches from FatBelly Deli. Pin The wedding's aesthetic was a love letter to their heritage. 'We wanted to highlight the traditional beauty and romance inherent in a Hindu wedding,' Sheela says. 'Our inspiration stemmed directly from the rich cultural heritage, the timeless rituals, and the deep symbolism that define these sacred ceremonies.' The floral arrangements were equally thoughtful. 'During the wedding ceremony, we had garlands made of roses and baby's breath, which were shipped from Madurai, India, which is where Sheela's parents grew up,' Vivek says. The mandap was adorned with marigolds, roses, and jasmine flowers. Pin The reception was held at OZ Arts Nashville, chosen for its versatile space and stunning sound and lighting capabilities. 'For the reception, we kept true to having a cocktail hour, announced entrances, a first dance, speeches, and a cake cutting,' Vivek tells us. Guests enjoyed a lively cocktail hour, though rain forced them indoors. The cocktail hour featured a vibrant array of flavors: Pani Puri, lamb Mamana kebabs, black-eyed pea salad in watermelon radish cups, and Lata's (Vivek's mom) catfish. Pin Pin Pin Naturally, Vivek was intimately involved in the planning of the seated dinner. 'I was so excited to work with my friends on this menu — including Molly Martin of Juniper Green and Patrick McCandless of Rambler — two people who I knew I wanted to cater from the beginning,' says Vivek. 'The most important aspect of the food for me was making sure we had something that was a nod to our Indian heritage, while showcasing the bounty of amazing produce and community that we have built at Tailor,' he adds. The meal included fall squash salad, grilled chicken roulade, and vegetable biryani. 'Our wedding cake was the best ever because it was made by the supremely talented Rebekah Turshen, pastry chef at City House,' Vivek gushes. 'The base was a carrot cake, infused with chai masala. The cream cheese and yogurt frosting was accented with boondi (crispy chickpea balls), mamra (crispy rice), and nuts for texture.' Pin While the ceremony was guided by tradition, the reception was more modern. 'With the decor, we tried to modernize the feel of this event versus the wedding,' explains Vivek, 'installing an amazing vinyl wrap as the dance floor, having many chandeliers in the space, as well as some late-night chicken sandwiches from S.S. Gai.' Pin Pin Though a sparkler exit was planned, a torrential downpour meant a spontaneous indoor send-off instead. Guests cheered the happy couple down the hallway before they dashed into their getaway car. Pin Congratulations, and thank you for sharing your special day with us! RESOURCES Ceremony Venue: Sri Ganesha Temple Reception Venue: OZ Arts Nashville Photographer & Videographer: Jim & Ilde Cook, SheHeWE Photography Planner: Katy Pena, Premier W.E.D. Florals: T Villager Designs Catering: Nawabi Hyderbad House (wedding lunch), Juniper Green Catering (reception), Rambler Events (reception), S.S. Gai (late-night eats) Cake: Rebekah Turshen of City House Invitations, Programs, & Menu Cards: Sheela Bride's Makeup & Hair: One10 Beauty Bridal Gown: Custom Groom's formalwear: Custom DJ: DJ iLLEST Rentals: Please Be Seated, White Door Events, BBJ la Tavola STYLEBLUEPRINT RESOURCES: Planning a wedding? Check out StyleBlueprint's two Wedding Resource Guides. (More to come!): ********** Discover more fabulous wedding inspiration in our archives HERE! About the Author Jenna Bratcher Jenna Bratcher is StyleBlueprint Nashville's Associate Editor and Lead Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville 17 years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘This is not a monarchy': Nashville protest targets Trump, military parade
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As protests against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement have spread across the country, Middle Tennessee demonstrators have shifted their focus to President Donald Trump. As the Army gears up for a major parade in Washington D.C., a national organization with a group in Nashville is pushing back, saying it looks more like a show of force than celebration. They're calling it 'No Kings Day.' 'This is not the America that any of us grew up in,' volunteer with Nashville Indivisible, Jennifer Brinkman, said. 'I am a native Nashvillian. I am blown away that this is where we are- it's wrong.' 'No Kings' protest planned in Murfreesboro On Saturday, the Army will celebrate its 250th anniversary with a parade in Washington D.C. The event also falls on Trump's birthday, but not everyone is celebrating. Participants with the 'No Kings' movement have called the parade a 'spectacle made to look like strength.' 'This looks more like a military parade that you would see like in North Korea or Iran, China or Russia and it's costing a lot of money and it seems to be a big distraction,' Brinkman expressed. Jennifer Brinkman, a volunteer coordinators for the Nashville 'No Kings' demonstration told News 2 that distraction pulls attention from what she calls urgent issues like immigration enforcement, civil rights concerns and cut to public programs. 'The cuts to Medicaid and then the trade off is give ultra wealthy more tax cuts,' Brinkman said. In May, Nashville was the center of a joint ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol operation which led to the arrest of 196 undocumented immigrants, according to ICE. Brinkman told News 2 tactics used during those arrests raise major red flags. 'Deporting people without due process that is not American,' Brinkman expressed. 'ICE agents that we don't even know if they are ICE agents, I mean literally they are not wearing the same uniforms. They don't have their names on their vest. They are not being held to any kind of accountability.' As cities like Los Angeles enact curfews amid ICE protest tensions, Brinkman said over 2,000 Nashvillians are already registered to gather with the focus on keeping things peaceful with designated peace keepers. 'Stay with the group, chant together, support one another,' Brinkman said. 'Also we ask our participants that are showing up to document don't confront. If something concerning happens quietly take a photo or a video and alert your organizers or your peacekeepers.' Organizers say they are working with the Metro Nashville Police Department and State Park Rangers. 'The biggest tip is do not escalate,' Brinkman said. 'So we tell them no matter what others say or do not respond with anger, threats or physical actions, escalation undermines our message and puts others at risk.' 'No Kings' protest to be held in Gallatin Saturday afternoon Brinkman encouraged people to register online and show up at Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park with signs and a shared message: 'This is not a monarchy. We have a say in this. We are raising our voices please listen to the voices that are being raised. These are your constituents.' MNPD said they're aware of this weekend's gathering and support the right to peaceful demonstration. THP said they are prepared to assist as needed. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will help manage traffic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Tennessee's boozy history inspired speakeasy culture in Nashville neighborhoods
DAVIDSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Speakeasy-style bars may be a hot trend in Music City, but their roots trace decades back into Tennessee's past of Prohibition. The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club on Gallatin Pike in East Nashville is one of dozens of speakeasies nestled in neighborhoods across Nashville. 'I think the first thing you're going to notice is, we're tricky to find,' explained Brandon Archilla, beverage director at The Fox. 'We're in a basement, essentially. Very similar to speakeasies of old that would've been in places that are most clandestine, out of the prying eye.' Archilla said the hideaway is one of the neighborhood's original cocktail bars. The intimate space has a tight-knit staff and seats just 40 people for drinking and dining by candlelight, about the smallest footprint you can have legally. 'We leaned on local companies to do the Art Deco styling you see in the metal work and the woodwork beneath the bar. The tables were handmade,' Archilla said. With hundreds of bottles of liquor from all over the world, and an exotic cocktail menu embracing a wide variety of flavor profiles, word of The Fox travels fast — although this talk of the town is more like a whisper. 'A lot of our regulars will tell me they do still 'speak easy' of us, and only tell certain people about this bar,' said Caleb Young, the speakeasy's head bartender. News 2 On Tour | Explore the communities that shape Middle Tennessee Speakeasies like The Fox are an ode to the Prohibition-era history of Tennessee. 'Tennessee was the first state to pass state-wide Prohibition in 1909. So, 11 years before the federal government did away with the sale and manufacturing of alcohol, Tennessee did. And that caused a controversy at first,' explained David Ewing, historian and ninth-generation Nashvillian. Ewing said in Nashville, the crackdown really came in 1915 when the mayor who didn't believe in enforcing Prohibition was thrown out of office. That was the start of what Ewing described as a 'cat-and-mouse game' between police, bar owners and whiskey makers. 'While you could not technically sell alcohol, they created locker clubs, where you could kind of bring your own and have your bottle stored in a locker,' Ewing said. Then, when Prohibition was repealed in 1934, Congress gave the power to write alcohol laws back to the states — so Tennessee put wine and beer back up for sale, but not liquor. 'Legally, you could not have a mixed drink in Nashville at a bar or restaurant until 1967,' Ewing said. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Ewing explained Nashville's growth stalled with few developers wanting to invest in hotels and restaurants that couldn't sell mixed drinks. But, letting liquor flow in the 1970s and '80s led Nashville's nightlife to becoming what it is today. 'I guess it's kind of one of those things where it's like 'don't touch the cookie jar' — you want to touch the cookie jar!' Young said with a laugh. It's a time bartenders at The Fox can hardly imagine, but they keep that speakeasy spirit alive in every sip. 'The way that I embrace that Prohibition-style history, and that legacy, is making people feel special when they're here. That's the most important part of service for me,' Archilla said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Wanted Nashville teen stopped for speeding in Mt. Juliet school zone
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — Law enforcement reportedly stopped a driver for speeding in front of Mt. Juliet Middle School Wednesday morning, only to discover that he was wanted out of Nashville. According to the Mt. Juliet Police Department, an officer stopped a 19-year-old Nashville man for driving 51 mph in a 25 mph school zone on Wednesday, May 21. Mt. Juliet police recover stolen motorcycle with help of Guardian Shield Authorities said they learned the man had four active warrants out of Nashville, including felony evading, driving without a license, driving an unregistered vehicle, and simple possession of unlawful drugs. In addition, he was reportedly unlicensed at the time of the stop. 'Each day, our officers are on the front lines, working with strength and compassion to protect Mt. Juliet from outside criminal activity. Their focus remains clear: keep our city safe, preserve our strong quality of life, and ensure our community can live in peace—free from fear, free from crime,' MJPD posted on social media. 'We're thankful for their dedication and relentless efforts to protect one of the safest communities around.' No additional details have been released about this incident, including the identity of the wanted Nashvillian. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
