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The Mighty Class of 1967 – Nashville “Mega-Mini (April 20 – 23, 2023)Itinerary Our local gurus, Harry and Peg Williams and Bill and Robin King, have literally cooked up a terrific menu of events. Thursday Night. We will have an opening night cocktail party paid for by the class from 6-8 pm at the Thompson in the Goldtop Ballroom. Since the weather should be great, we expect to make use of the Goldtop Ballroom’s outdoor terrace for its views of the city. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. For those of you who would like to go out to dinner afterward, we will soon be supplying a list of good and fun restaurants. Breakfasts. We will have a breakfast buffet set up at the hotel on Friday and Saturday to be served between 7:30-10 a.m. Even if you are not staying at The Thompson, the breakfast will be available both days and will be included in the overall payment to the Class. (Breakfast on Sunday is on your own.) Friday: GET TO KNOW NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE! 7:30-10 a.m. Breakfast at the Thompson 10:30-12:00 Meet at NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Designed by noted architect Robert A.M. Stern, Dean of the Yale’s Architecture School, the library has become the community center for urban Nashville. We will have discussions in the Civil Rights Room concerning Nashville’s leadership role in the 1960s sit-ins and in the Votes for Women Room on Tennessee’s 1920 deciding vote that ratified the 19th Amendment. 12:00-3:30 pm Open time--check out the area. Options: check out the newly renovated Church Street tiny park just outside of the Library entrance; see the Arcade–soon to be renovated; walk down 2nd Avenue to visit the 21c Museum Hotel and visit the galleries filled with 21st century art (all free!); head down 2nd Avenue to the site of the Christmas Day bombing, or to see LOWER BROAD in Daylight; take a self-guided tour of the RYMAN AUDITORIUM, concert venue and former home of the Grand Ole Opry; head to the pedestrian bridge and have a beautiful view of Nashville from the Cumberland River (the Cumberland Park just below the bridge can be seen from the bridge or visited just down the elevator). There are lots of places to find lunch and hear some music on Lower Broad. Or schedule a trip to see Nashville’s Parthenon located in our Centennial Park just west of downtown. Historic Mansions and plantations are also out that way but still close by: Belle Meade Plantation and Belmont Mansion are recommended. 3:30-4:30 pm Meet at FRIST MUSEUM (three blocks walk from 5th). The Frist, with “Art in the Heart of Nashville,” is Nashville’s principal art museum and was the gift of the Frist family, several members of which are Princeton alums. Art staff will be available to discuss the museum. Return to the hotel to rest up… 6:00 pm Rally early to visit LOWER BROADWAY HONKY TONKS. There are great bars owned by various country music stars. 7:00 pm DINNER at MARTIN’S BARBEQUE, one of Nashville’s most popular sites for great local barbecue with musical accompaniment. Lower Broadway, which is nearby Martin’s, is alive with lots of music and lots fun places to experience. Although we plan to walk the few blocks between all these locations on Friday, the distance from the hotel to the main tourist area is about a mile--a good hike. Those with rental cars will find spaces plentiful in the tourist area, and there is an abundant Uber and Lyft presence in Nashville. Saturday: GET TO KNOW MUSIC CITY, U.S.A.! 7:30-10:00 a.m. Breakfast at the Thompson. 10:30 am-noon NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC--just opened and still being discovered even by locals, with high-tech visuals and great sounds! (Rated 5 Stars by Peg and Harry.) 12:00 -3:00 pm Time on your own: Catch lunch if desired at the recently opened Fifth + Broadway restaurants and shops, adjacent to the National Museum of African American Music; catch up on things you might have missed yesterday on Broadway; take a tour of Nashville’s murals; or see the Nashville Symphony Hall on 3rd Avenue South. 3:00 to 5:00 pm COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME. The fall schedule has not yet been released, but there will likely be an afternoon songwriter’s round scheduled for all visitors. We expect a live performance during our visit. 5:00 pm Meet back up with the group at 60 VINES, which offers 60 wine choices at the top of Fifth & Broad Food Court, for a stunning view of the façade of the RYMAN AUDITORIUM. We hope to arrange for group attendance at an afternoon or evening performance. (The Ryman has not yet announced its spring schedule, but there is typically an Opry-type show in the late afternoon and/or evening). Relax and plan your evening: Dinner will be up to you so that “Mini and Micro” reunion groups can make individual plans. One of the wonderful experiences about Mega Reunions is that they also beget multiple Mini and Micro reunions during the Mega. The 150th NYC Mega spawned at least a half dozen Mini and Micro reunions, and we expect that classmates will use the Nashville Mega to do the same … and Saturday night will be a good time. We have intentionally included other open times on the schedule for this so that you can encourage roommates, teammates, clubmates, and other affinity groups to get together. Hotel, etc. The Thompson has re-opened the portal for our reservations (https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group- booking/BNATH/G-91P1) and provided the great discounted rate negotiated by JC. Since we blocked 45 rooms, please book as soon as possible. If you need additional assistance, you can contact the Thompson at 877-803-7534. The cost of class activities is $225 / participant (payable to the class via our treasurer, Art Bowen, 1070 Brush Hill Rd, Milton, MA 02186-1218 |
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