It’s been a hot minute since I talked about my friend, Otis James. Life gets busy, ya know? And with my recent move to LA, I have been even more distracted than ever. Now, though, that I’m settling into my new surroundings and the apartment hunt is over and I’ve pretty much purged all my passable clothing and I have secured a gig with a new denim company, I can relax and start over.
It’s been a long, long, long time coming, but I am finally making it out to Nashville, TN. I’ve been talking about this trip for, oh, going on four years or so, as it was actually one of my choice destinations to which to move had I not gone with NYC. This year is the year of new beginnings, people. I have a feeling it’s going to be 12 months the likes of which not a single one of us will forget. Whether that means yours will be good or bad, I cannot say. Regardless, kicking off my year with a trip to Nashville (Franklin, to get specific) has already made January the opposite of the usual lackluster bitch of a month. On top of the terrific sounding plans my “tour guide” has lined up for the long weekend, including dinner Friday night at the Red Pony (the seared scallops beckon), I have been invited to visit the Johnston & Murphy corporate offices to have a peak at their Spring line.
Seeing as how I got a ‘D’ in high school geography, it surprises me little that I will be faced with temperatures in the 20′s for the duration of my trip. I thought Tennessee was a southern state. Go figure. Donning the wool coat and thermals are in order to stave off the high chance of getting a cold. And, if J&M has a pair of their Rabbit Gloves lying around, that would be all the better. Coming from Denver, I am used to the colder weather, though the air here is dry which makes lower temperatures much more bearable than in the humid states. Honestly, though, I am more focused on new experiences, new friends, and a long-overdue vacation to the home of the Country Music Hall of Fame, which I am told I will get the VIP treatment. Does that mean Jack White will personally guide my tour?
As I have wanted to visit Nashville for some time now, going on a good four or five years, I have yet to actually finalize plans to do so. The lure of Chicago and New York have alwasy had the southern city playing second fiddle. Well, no more, I have decided. Finally establishing a connection there, too, has played a big part in making January my target month for getting there. Am I excited about possibly running into or merely seeing Jack White around town? Definitely. Country Music Hall of Fame? You better believe it. This morning, though. the icing on the cake came via instant message from my Nashville friend, notifying me of the “Malibu of Tennessee” and, among the lot of amazing bars and restaurants, F.M. Allen being there.
I’ve been a fan of the brand for quite sometime, hoping to strike it rich, preferably in oil, and being about to outfit myself in their goods. Though hitting pay dirt via the bubblin’ crude would be nice, perhaps gettin ginto the ivory trade would be more fitting, as Allen deals largely in Safari-themed items, whether it be zebra bow ties, hunting jackets, and/or deluxe travel bar sets. Having added this store to my list of “must sees,” I hope to have money leftover to patronize after hitting the distilleries, going on a ghost tour, and finding vintage music shops around town. Though my leftover money will probably only score me maybe half of one cufflink, it will be something to set foot in the shop. Now, how does one get into the ivory trade?