Nashville: Better than Milwaukee

By all accounts our night in Nashville was a successful one. The whole team enjoyed the amenities at the Courtyard, with free parking and breakfast courtesy of Andy's gold status. Good location, too -- it was great to get out of the car and walk around after a long day on the road.

First stop was, of course, food. We put in calls to a number of the dives, BBQ and soul food joints recommended by Roadfood, but we were once again foiled by the holiday. Instead we turned to the list of 10 Best Bars in Nashville, and hit up number two on the list, Broadway Brewhouse (and Mojo). Good call. A sign the front door declared "This is a smoking establishment", and with nearly 40 beers on draft, this was my kind of dive bar.

Anxious to try out the local suds, we ordered from the selection of Yazoo Brewing Company, straight outta Nashville. Both enjoyed the Pale Ale. Andy then stumbled in picking the sub-par Hefeweizen, while I sipped on the tasty Mexican-style Dos Perros.

Turning to food, both were happy with our choices. Andy checked out the Chicken Queso (grilled chicken over rice and -- of course -- cheese). Three of his favorite things on one plate. I ordered up the Sante Fe Chicken Sandwich. Shredded smoked chicken with a bit of a kick and vaguely southwestern pepper sauce on the side. I was impressed with how tender and flavorful the meet was.

This was also, it should be noted, the point in the evening when -- after scoring on their first drive -- it looked like Cincinnati might be able to stick it to VT. Times were good. Alas, the Cincy QB started throwing to Tech as often as to his own team, and it was all down hill from there. Andy did, however, develop a well-deserved crush on the Bearcats' Mardy Galyard. He's a WR; maybe the Lions'll take him in the draft next year.

After our fill of Broadway, we headed out in search of the Tin Roof, which advertised live music 6 days a week. Sadly, this was not one of those days, and the bar wasn't even open.

On the way over to Music Row, though, we ran across Buddy Killen Circle. A warned me to get back -- we better not both be in the circle at the same time or it's anything goes. All kidding aside, we shouldn't make fun of the man's name. He produced a lot of great songs in Nashville, not the least of which is "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (w/ No Big Fat Woman)".

After striking out at the Tin Roof we ended the night at Dan McGuinness' drowning our Orange Bowl sorrows in Smithwick's (me) and Woodchuck Cider (Andy).

On the road again now. Next stop: Memphis.