Meet celebrity chefs and celebrated Nashville songwriters |
Jackson Sun - Jackson, TN, USA - NASHVILLE - It would take several days to sample all of the entertainment and sights available during SummerFest at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville.
From unique musical experiences and tours to upscale cooking classes and celebrity chef cook-offs, the resort offers several options for a vacation getaway.
Some activities and shows on the nine-acre resort last through Sept. 29. Others run year-round. Here's what's new and notable:
"Cooking Under Glass," 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 29 : Classes that have the feel of a celebrity cooking show star Gaylord Opryland's master chefs. They prepare some of their most exquisite dishes and then plate samples for participants to enjoy. Chefs share their expertise on preparing dishes in a bright garden setting underneath The Delta Atrium.
Themed classes such as Date Night Dinners and Tuscan Traditions also are available. The best part: Participants get to help out.
Admission is $35, or $45 for the VIP experience, which includes priority seating and a standing cookbook, seen at left, of recipes by chefs at Gaylord's resorts.
Celebrity Chef Series, Aug. 18 and Sept. 29: The Food Network's Alton Brown, host of "Good Eats" and cookbook author, hosts a cooking seminar at the resort Aug. 18. Barbecue guru and Iron Chef Bobby Flay hosts a seminar Sept. 29.
"Fiddlin' Brewin' Bar-B-Q'n Cook-Off," Sept. 28-29: Iron Chef Bobby Flay will host the third annual Tennessee state championship event. Guests can cook or taste food. Bobby Flay will display his tricks of the trade. You'll find rates and times at gaylordopryland.com.
"Campfire Cafe Cookin' Camp," July 6-7 and Sept. 21-22 : Pamela Alford and Larry Wiseheart, hosts of satellite television's Campfire Cafe, will tape shows during live outdoor demonstrations of gourmet meals cooked over an open fire in a wooded area. Alford is author of "Over the Open Fire."
"Songwriters Under the Stars," from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 29: A short walk into a wooded area takes guests to an evening with some of Nashville's hottest songwriters. They will perform songs they've written that have catapulted country and contemporary Christian artists to stardom.
Here's a sampling of chart-topping hits you may hear: Keith Anderson's "The Clothes Don't Make the Man," Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy," Emerson Drive's "Moments" (they recently performed at Humboldt's Strawberry Festival); "Walk On" by Reba McEntire, The Oak Ridge Boys' "It Takes a Little Rain" and "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins.
One featured songwriter has written 11 No. 1 songs for contemporary Christian artists such as Avalon, Point of Grace and The Crabb Family.
Lawn seating is free. VIP seating is $5. Performances are weather permitting. To access a schedule of songwriters' appearances throughout the summer.
"HydroponiX," at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays year-round, except at Christmastime. Members of this living garden band have already made their debut at the resort. The musicians were handpicked to play relaxing music that rises above the sound of rushing waterfalls and suits the lush, green surroundings of the Cascades Atrium.
Band members are separated from one another, positioned on "lily pads" among dancing waters and atop rock-like formations that rise high above walkways and guests seated at open-air restaurants.
The musicians use several different instruments to perform songs that are arranged only for Gaylord Opryland. And as the natural light dims from above, their flashy neon duds - created by an Atlanta designer - keep them visible among the plants with special lighting.
Performances are free. Some guests can watch and listen from their private balconies.
"Music City Hitmakers," July 20-22. Mingle with some of Nashville's top songwriters during this weekend workshop that includes pool parties, writers rounds and concerts. The events include writers that have produced hits for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride.
Sessions include lyric writing, do's and don'ts of Music Row and writing a song with a hit songwriter.
Two-night packages are available. Guests may also pay separately for workshops and other events.
Opry Plaza parties, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturdays from May 26 through July 28. Some of Nashville's favorite artists perform outside the Grand Ole Opry House. Performances are free. And you may get a chance to talk with Minnie Pearl.
"DiVine," seen throughout the day Wednesdays through Sundays. This actress, who is 7 feet tall on stilts, blends in with the resort's indoor gardens as a vine, taking guests by surprise as she comes alive and quietly winds through the Delta Island.
Resort and garden tours, Saturday afternoons : Learn about the architecture, art and grounds, including what it takes to maintain the 60,000 plants, flowers and trees that fill the atriums and adorn the resort inside and out.
Wildhorse Saloon SummerFest concert series: The Wildhorse, on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville, offers live music and dance lessons seven nights a week. Admission is free for resort guests by presenting your room key. Special concerts also are available throughout the summer. For an updated concert schedule and ticket information, visit wildhorsesaloon.com.
Southern gospel festival : Hosted by Legacy Five, this festival is Sept. 1-3.
Friendliness and humor were two hallmarks of the former Opryland theme park in Nashville, where Opry Mills mall now spans 1.2 million square feet and houses 200 stores.
A quick shuttle ride to the mall from Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center kind of felt like old times at Opryland. That same friendly theme park demeanor was passed down to the shuttle driver, and between tidbits about the mall and shuttle times, there was no shortage of humor on his part.
As the bus rolled away from the shuttle stop, a lady in a crowd of about 15 chuckled about some comment from one of her companions.
But then she kept on laughing in fits and starts, so much so she had the bus driver - and everybody else - wondering out loud what was so funny.
After a minute or two he quipped over the intercom, 'Lady with the napkin over her mouth, come up here and tell us that joke.'
Shuttle service is free to visit the mall and departs several times a day.
There's a $12 historical shuttle tour of the complex, including highlights of the Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson and Opry Museum.
If you're up for a game of golf at the resort's Gaylord Springs course, a golf shuttle departs from the resort as well.
Another shuttle takes guests to the Wildhorse Saloon on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville and also to the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Here's a sampling of some restaurants and stores at the mall that are popular with Nashvillians:
Aquarium Restaurant: The under-the-sea interior of this circular eatery features a 150,000 gallon saltwater tank in its center. There's not a bad seat in the house for watching sharks, fish and stingrays zoom around the tank as you nibble on your own seafood.
Patrons can watch a diver enter the tank a couple of times a day. where you'll need to click on 'Select a location' to find out more about this particular restaurant. You can book a birthday party or take a tour on weekdays.
And there's also information about a program for elementary, middle school and high school students called 'Marine Biologist for a Day.'
Students dissect a squid, talk to a diver and learn about the aquarium's sea creatures.
Across from the Aquarium Restaurant is Stingray Reef , where stingrays can be touched and fed. The reef also has other exhibits. Call (615) 514-FISH.
Rainforest Cafe: This restaurant with a jungle atmosphere comes alive several times during a visit with animated gorillas who beat their chests and elephants who surprise guests with trumpeting trunks. There's also a gift shop.
Food court : The large food court caters to families on a budget who want a quick bite away from the resort.
Sun & Ski Sports: Not far from the Aquarium Restaurant, this outdoors store sells camping equipment and everything you'll need for a day on the lake. Most notable: The store houses a rock climbing wall for ages 5 and older with varying levels of difficulty.
Fee: $5. It's staffed from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and sometimes during the week from 4 to 9 p.m. You'll need to call ahead for a weekday visit at (615) 514-3300.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World : This huge outdoors store can be accessed inside the mall, and it also has an outside entrance. As with the store that's situated on the outskirts of Memphis, it houses a freshwater aquarium stocked with big bass, bream and catfish and sells fishing, camping and watersports equipment, canoes and kayaks and all the accessories.
In the mood for a movie? An IMAX theater is housed here and features films just out.
The Gibson Showcase : Learn about the history of this famous guitar maker and peruse rows of guitars and other equipment.
Shopping: Here's a list of some notable spots in the mall: The Apple Barn Cider Bar and General Store, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Harry & David and Yankee Candle, along with outlets and factory stores such as Banana Republic, G.H. Bass, The Children's Place, Guess?, Bible Factory, Bose and Kirkland's.
From unique musical experiences and tours to upscale cooking classes and celebrity chef cook-offs, the resort offers several options for a vacation getaway.
Some activities and shows on the nine-acre resort last through Sept. 29. Others run year-round. Here's what's new and notable:
"Cooking Under Glass," 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 29 : Classes that have the feel of a celebrity cooking show star Gaylord Opryland's master chefs. They prepare some of their most exquisite dishes and then plate samples for participants to enjoy. Chefs share their expertise on preparing dishes in a bright garden setting underneath The Delta Atrium.
Themed classes such as Date Night Dinners and Tuscan Traditions also are available. The best part: Participants get to help out.
Admission is $35, or $45 for the VIP experience, which includes priority seating and a standing cookbook, seen at left, of recipes by chefs at Gaylord's resorts.
Celebrity Chef Series, Aug. 18 and Sept. 29: The Food Network's Alton Brown, host of "Good Eats" and cookbook author, hosts a cooking seminar at the resort Aug. 18. Barbecue guru and Iron Chef Bobby Flay hosts a seminar Sept. 29.
"Fiddlin' Brewin' Bar-B-Q'n Cook-Off," Sept. 28-29: Iron Chef Bobby Flay will host the third annual Tennessee state championship event. Guests can cook or taste food. Bobby Flay will display his tricks of the trade. You'll find rates and times at gaylordopryland.com.
"Campfire Cafe Cookin' Camp," July 6-7 and Sept. 21-22 : Pamela Alford and Larry Wiseheart, hosts of satellite television's Campfire Cafe, will tape shows during live outdoor demonstrations of gourmet meals cooked over an open fire in a wooded area. Alford is author of "Over the Open Fire."
"Songwriters Under the Stars," from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 29: A short walk into a wooded area takes guests to an evening with some of Nashville's hottest songwriters. They will perform songs they've written that have catapulted country and contemporary Christian artists to stardom.
Here's a sampling of chart-topping hits you may hear: Keith Anderson's "The Clothes Don't Make the Man," Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy," Emerson Drive's "Moments" (they recently performed at Humboldt's Strawberry Festival); "Walk On" by Reba McEntire, The Oak Ridge Boys' "It Takes a Little Rain" and "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins.
One featured songwriter has written 11 No. 1 songs for contemporary Christian artists such as Avalon, Point of Grace and The Crabb Family.
Lawn seating is free. VIP seating is $5. Performances are weather permitting. To access a schedule of songwriters' appearances throughout the summer.
"HydroponiX," at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays year-round, except at Christmastime. Members of this living garden band have already made their debut at the resort. The musicians were handpicked to play relaxing music that rises above the sound of rushing waterfalls and suits the lush, green surroundings of the Cascades Atrium.
Band members are separated from one another, positioned on "lily pads" among dancing waters and atop rock-like formations that rise high above walkways and guests seated at open-air restaurants.
The musicians use several different instruments to perform songs that are arranged only for Gaylord Opryland. And as the natural light dims from above, their flashy neon duds - created by an Atlanta designer - keep them visible among the plants with special lighting.
Performances are free. Some guests can watch and listen from their private balconies.
"Music City Hitmakers," July 20-22. Mingle with some of Nashville's top songwriters during this weekend workshop that includes pool parties, writers rounds and concerts. The events include writers that have produced hits for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride.
Sessions include lyric writing, do's and don'ts of Music Row and writing a song with a hit songwriter.
Two-night packages are available. Guests may also pay separately for workshops and other events.
Opry Plaza parties, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturdays from May 26 through July 28. Some of Nashville's favorite artists perform outside the Grand Ole Opry House. Performances are free. And you may get a chance to talk with Minnie Pearl.
"DiVine," seen throughout the day Wednesdays through Sundays. This actress, who is 7 feet tall on stilts, blends in with the resort's indoor gardens as a vine, taking guests by surprise as she comes alive and quietly winds through the Delta Island.
Resort and garden tours, Saturday afternoons : Learn about the architecture, art and grounds, including what it takes to maintain the 60,000 plants, flowers and trees that fill the atriums and adorn the resort inside and out.
Wildhorse Saloon SummerFest concert series: The Wildhorse, on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville, offers live music and dance lessons seven nights a week. Admission is free for resort guests by presenting your room key. Special concerts also are available throughout the summer. For an updated concert schedule and ticket information, visit wildhorsesaloon.com.
Southern gospel festival : Hosted by Legacy Five, this festival is Sept. 1-3.
Friendliness and humor were two hallmarks of the former Opryland theme park in Nashville, where Opry Mills mall now spans 1.2 million square feet and houses 200 stores.
A quick shuttle ride to the mall from Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center kind of felt like old times at Opryland. That same friendly theme park demeanor was passed down to the shuttle driver, and between tidbits about the mall and shuttle times, there was no shortage of humor on his part.
As the bus rolled away from the shuttle stop, a lady in a crowd of about 15 chuckled about some comment from one of her companions.
But then she kept on laughing in fits and starts, so much so she had the bus driver - and everybody else - wondering out loud what was so funny.
After a minute or two he quipped over the intercom, 'Lady with the napkin over her mouth, come up here and tell us that joke.'
Shuttle service is free to visit the mall and departs several times a day.
There's a $12 historical shuttle tour of the complex, including highlights of the Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson and Opry Museum.
If you're up for a game of golf at the resort's Gaylord Springs course, a golf shuttle departs from the resort as well.
Another shuttle takes guests to the Wildhorse Saloon on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville and also to the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Here's a sampling of some restaurants and stores at the mall that are popular with Nashvillians:
Aquarium Restaurant: The under-the-sea interior of this circular eatery features a 150,000 gallon saltwater tank in its center. There's not a bad seat in the house for watching sharks, fish and stingrays zoom around the tank as you nibble on your own seafood.
Patrons can watch a diver enter the tank a couple of times a day. where you'll need to click on 'Select a location' to find out more about this particular restaurant. You can book a birthday party or take a tour on weekdays.
And there's also information about a program for elementary, middle school and high school students called 'Marine Biologist for a Day.'
Students dissect a squid, talk to a diver and learn about the aquarium's sea creatures.
Across from the Aquarium Restaurant is Stingray Reef , where stingrays can be touched and fed. The reef also has other exhibits. Call (615) 514-FISH.
Rainforest Cafe: This restaurant with a jungle atmosphere comes alive several times during a visit with animated gorillas who beat their chests and elephants who surprise guests with trumpeting trunks. There's also a gift shop.
Food court : The large food court caters to families on a budget who want a quick bite away from the resort.
Sun & Ski Sports: Not far from the Aquarium Restaurant, this outdoors store sells camping equipment and everything you'll need for a day on the lake. Most notable: The store houses a rock climbing wall for ages 5 and older with varying levels of difficulty.
Fee: $5. It's staffed from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and sometimes during the week from 4 to 9 p.m. You'll need to call ahead for a weekday visit at (615) 514-3300.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World : This huge outdoors store can be accessed inside the mall, and it also has an outside entrance. As with the store that's situated on the outskirts of Memphis, it houses a freshwater aquarium stocked with big bass, bream and catfish and sells fishing, camping and watersports equipment, canoes and kayaks and all the accessories.
In the mood for a movie? An IMAX theater is housed here and features films just out.
The Gibson Showcase : Learn about the history of this famous guitar maker and peruse rows of guitars and other equipment.
Shopping: Here's a list of some notable spots in the mall: The Apple Barn Cider Bar and General Store, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Harry & David and Yankee Candle, along with outlets and factory stores such as Banana Republic, G.H. Bass, The Children's Place, Guess?, Bible Factory, Bose and Kirkland's.
Categories : Celebrity News
Posted 6/27/2007 12:06:31 AM | Permalink
| SHARE IT: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
