Christmas/New Year's

We began winding down the year of 2016 with a month or so of activities focused mostly on the holidays.

Wednesday, 11/23 - We  did some catching-up over a great dinner with our old cruising friends, Wil and Jenna, at Butcher and Bee in East Nashville tonight.  We haven't seen these guys for a few years now and glad we got the chance  as they were in town visiting relatives for Thanksgiving.  We dropped by the modern speakeasy, Bar No. 308, for a round of Mexican Cokes afterwards.

Friday, 11/27 -  We attended the Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular at the Bridgestone Arena tonight along with Lexus Lounge access for all you can eat and drink with our old pal, Wayne. We had a pre-show beer (and took advantage of free parking) at C'zann's Brewing.

Friday, 12/9 - We each had the day off from work today, so we decided to go check out the Christmas decorations at the Tennessee Governor's Mansion, a free event held each season that we just learned about.  The house and the decorations were beautiful and we plan to come back in the spring for a free history tour as well.

Saturday, 12/10 - It was Christmas Party time again tonight at our house and my beer tree (with Zippy's approval) was a big hit as usual as was the hilarious (and rather raunchy) caricature artist we hired.  We had a large crowd who each went home with a "Rob and Ashlee" personalized Coke (along with a shot of JD also if they wanted it) as well.  What a fun, fun night!

Monday, 12/12 - We avoided the movie theaters near the crowded malls tonight to catch a showing of the hilarious (and unapologetic) Office Christmas Party movie at our local independent theater, The Roxy.  

Saturday, 12/17 - We drove over to McMinnville  today to Cumberland Caverns to check out at Christmas concert via Bluegrass Underground where the music is played 333' below the surface in the gigantic Volcano Room.  We attended a show here a few years ago and it was a pretty cool experience.  Today's show was actually not bluegrass but a singer/songwriter opener named Andy Davis who was pretty good, and the main act, Street Corner Symphony, which is an acapella group from Nashville.  Their show was good albeit still not enough Christmas songs infused into it for Ashlee who loves all things Christmas.

Wednesday, 12/21 -  We headed over to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville tonight to check out their beautiful holiday lights displays with our friend, Wayne.  We had dinner before had at the always great Jack Brown's Beer and Burger Joint.  The temps were nice and we enjoyed our more than a mile walk around the grounds.

Saturday, 12/31 -  We got an awesome room at the beautiful downtown Hilton in Nashville thanks to Ashlee's points.  We walked a short ways to see one of our favorite crooners, Dan Layus, and serveral others play at Opry at the Ryman,   It was a fun show and the place was packed.

After the show it was on to the Fireball Ignite the Night New Year's Eve soiree benefiting the W.O. Smith Music School in downtown Nashville.    This was a cool event and the booze was flowing (a little too much for me unfortunately!).  Thanks to Wayne for hooking me up with the cool bow-tie that got a ton of compliments.  Happy New Year!!

2016 was a great year for us.  We did a bit less traveling with the new pool installation, but still had a ton of activities that filled an overflowing new collage.  We are hoping 2017 treats us well as we embark on it with a leader of our country that we do not like or trust.  We will make the best of it and try and focus on the things we can control which is living our lives to the absolute fullest that we can!