Jammin’ in the Alley Concert Series to Begin this Friday

From Clarksville Parks & Rec Report:


The City of Clarksville together with U.S. Bank will soon be Jammin’ in Strawberry Alley once more. Join us on Friday, May 21st to kick off Jammin’ in the Alley’s third year in downtown Clarksville.

This month’s free concert features the McAllister’s Crossroads band. This band is a local favorite in Clarksville, with members coming from all different backgrounds. They enjoy nothing more than rocking out to some classic rock or getting down with a little bit of funk. The concert begins at 7:00 pm, come ready to eat, dance and have fun!

Live Music and Really Good Food

We just found a great local restaurant that we can't wait to revisit.  It's Richard's Cafe in the White's Creek area (between Joelton and Nashville, just off I-24) - about 20 minutes south of Pleasant View.  Yummy New Orleans/cajun food, great prices, and live music.  Great for family night or date night.  They also have a cute little patio for dining.  We visited with the owner for a little while & watched him chime in to play drums with some of the performing artists.

Call ahead for reservations on the weekend, because it will be packed! 

Dinner & music: Tues - Sat  5-9pm

Sun Brunch with Light Jazz and Blues:   11am - 3pm

Richardscafe.com
(615) 299-9590

Strattons & Jukebox Games

My friend Mary & I took our kids on a spontaneous lunch date today. We went to a great little local diner called Strattons in Ashland City. Because it was spontaneous, we didn't have anything to entertain our 5 children under 6 years old. So we invented a game.

After the children finished pushing buttons on the mock jukebox, we used the letters (A-K) to play a game. We took turns around the circle, as I asked each child to pick the letter that started a word. After I said 'hat', they said 'h' and pushed the 'h' button on the jukebox. One of the boys (age 3) is just learning his letters, so we focused on words that started with the same letter as his name (it's easier for a child to hear words that start with the same letter of their name, because their name is one of the first words they learn to spell).

Then we switched to another word game. The youngest boy pushed a letter in the alphabet, and the other 3 boys thought of words that started with the same letter. Then we proceeded down the alphabet to the last letter on the jukebox.

My baby (age 2) just sipped water in her straw (a big thrill for her!)

Then our hamburgers and curly fries finally arrived, and they were wonderful. Well, not quite as wonderful as the hot fudge milkshakes!!

Cajun food on the northside

I just stumbled upon a really cute looking restaurant in White's Creek (just south of Joelton, but only 10 minutes north of Nashville).

Richards Cafe is a cajun restaurant only open for dinner. In addition to yummy food, they host songwriters that sing while you eat. I can't wait to try it out! Read this review.

Dinner Tues - Sat (music included) 5:30 - 9:00
Sun Brunch - Mostly Light Jazz and Progressive Christian 11:00 - 3:00

(615) 299-9590
4420 Whites Creek Pike
Whites Creek, TN 37189

Sango Mills

Visit the bakery and restaurant for homemade fried pies, sorghum, fresh ground cornmeal, and apple cider. See working beehives, sorghum demonstrations. Apples for sale.

Open Tuesday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m September through November.
Call ahead for school tours and farm tours.

154 Towes Lane in Clarksville
Phone: (931) 358-2637
E-mail: sangomills@aol.com

Coffee and Gas?

I'm not a big fan of gas station coffee, so I never would have stopped at the Horizons market near the corner of I-24 and Hwy 49. One of my friends drives 15 minutes to get their coffee every Sunday, so I thought I should try it.

The Horizons coffee shop is actually a little gourmet coffee shop tucked into the side of the gas station. They make yummy mochas, lattes, and anything you might order at Starbucks. They have a dining area, or you can run by the drive-through window to pick up your order.

Great coffee at a gas station - who would ever guess?

615-746-3335
2301 Highway 49 E
Pleasant View, TN 37146

Feasting in Ashland City

Riverview Restaurant in Ashland City has an all-you-can-eat buffet with fried catfish, fried chicken, hushpuppies, side dishes, homemade banana pudding and drinks. The special is on Fridays and Sundays for $9 and $10 respectively. They have tables outside where you can eat deck overlooking the Cumberland River.

Location: 110 Old River Road
Phone: 792-7358

Meat & Threes in the Area

Abednego's
4101 Highway 70 E. in White Bluff
797-2222
According to Ms. Cheap, the best deal is the home-cooked meat-and-two lunch for $5, plus tax, and there are usually two or three meats and four or five veggies to choose from. Hours are 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., Sunday–Thursday, and 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m. on Fridays, when you can get a catfish dinner for $5.

Shadrach's
next to Harpeth Plaza in Pegram
673-0634
It is the same $5 deal, offered by the same two owners.

Shake It Up

Shake It Up is a cute little local shop that serves coffee, milkshakes and sandwiches. It has a great coffee shop menu and yummy treats! The staff is friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was clean and they have free wi-fi.

Granted, I can't hang out too long in a coffee shop with 3 kids (!!!!), but with coloring books and cars, I might have time to grab coffee with a new friend!

Best of all, it's only 5 minutes from our house on Highway 49!