V A N D E R B I L T L A W S C H O O L A D M I S S I O N S O F F I C E NASHVILLE GUIDE
LL.M. CLASS OF 2021 Table of Contents
H I E V E R Y O N E ! W E I N T H E A D M I S S I O N S O F F I C E W A N T T O H E L P Y O U P R E P A R E F O R L I F E A T V A N D E R B I L T L A W S C H O O L B Y I N T R O D U C I N G Y O U T O S O M E O F O U R F A V O R I T E P L A C E S A N D T H I N G S T O D O I N N A S H V I L L E . T H I S G U I D E W I L L C O V E R :
I. MUSIC There will be no shortage of music when you move to "Music City." We encourage you to catch a show at a honky tonk on Broadway, from the pews of Ryman Auditorium, or in the beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Hall.
II. SPORTS Sports fans keep busy year-round here rooting for the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, Nashville Sounds, and the Nashville Soccer Club - not to mention our own Vanderbilt Commodores!
III. ARTS & CULTURE For the art-lovers, we recommend you take a trip to Cheekwood Estate and Gardens to see their indoor and outdoor installations, or head downtown to view the newest exhibition at Frist Art Museum.
IV. FOOD Nashville is a foodie's paradise. The restaurant scene is so diverse, there is something to satisfy every kind of craving. We'll give you our top picks for both sweet and savory options!
V. EASY GETAWAYS Aside from the greenways and parks you will enjoy in your own neighborhood, infinite adventures await you just an hour or so away...! "Nashville’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene is the heart of the city. Live music is, quite literally everywhere, with hundreds of venues, large and small, bursting with world-class talent from the Opera to the Opry, from lively Honky Tonks to a world-class symphony, and from headliner stadium shows to intimate listening rooms. There are art gallery crawls downtown and Cheekwood in Belle Meade. Shakespeare and stand-up. The Titans, Preds, Sounds, and SEC. Dozens of parks, miles of greenways, and the natural beauty of Tennessee close at hand. All things considered, it’s hard to imagine a better place for law school!”
-Todd Morton Dean of Admissions TN STATE CAPITOL
MUSIC MUSIC
BROADWAY
You have not truly experienced the music scene here until you've set foot in any one of the honky tonks along Broadway. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Robert's Western World and The Stage are some of the more iconic spots.
Insider Tip: Many establishments along Broadway have rooftops with some of the best views of the city! Not to mention great food & drinks.
RYMAN AUDITORIUM
Also known as "The Mother Church of Country Music," the Ryman is considered hallowed grounds by music fans and musicians alike. Try to see a show during your time in Nashville, or take a tour to learn about its important role in the history of music.
Insider tip: Music fans should also check out the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame
MUSIC
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
Music City is not just known for country music! Nashville boasts a world-class symphony, housed in the beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Hall downtown. The concert hall hosts music events off all genres, from classical to jazz, pop to world music.
Insider Tip: Movie-lovers will enjoy the symphony's Movie Series, where classic films are projected on screen as the full orchestra plays the movie's score live.
OUTDOOR VENUES
Ascend Amphitheater (left) is an open-air event venue that offers a great lineup of shows, not to mention stunning views of the Nashville skyline! Live on the Green (right) is a free music festival held in Public Square downtown in late August/early September.
Insider Tip: You can check NowPlayingNashville for a complete calendar of live music daily. SPORTS
“I knew moving to Nashville I would become a bigger country music fan, but I had no idea hockey would become my second favorite sport! Go Preds. Nashville really rallies around the town’s sports teams from the Titans and Predators to the Sounds and Soccer Club… and of course Vandy!"
-Courtney Kelly Associate Director of Admissions
SPORTS
TITANS & SOUNDS
When you arrive this summer, consider catching a Nashville Sounds baseball game at First Horizon Park. By the fall, it's football season and that means cheering on the TN Titans at Nissan Stadium (or on tv).
Insider Tip: The Band Box at First Horizon Park is an open-air restaurant with great food, cocktails and games like mini golf and ping pong! SPORTS
PREDATORS & NSC
Perhaps the biggest sports fandom here is for the city's ice hockey team the Nashville Predators. In years past, law professors have arranged for group tickets for interested LL.M.s. Go Preds!
Insider Tip: While soccer may have a smaller following than football or hockey here, its fanbase is steadily growing since the founding of Nashville Soccer Club in 2016. ARTS ARTS & CULTURE
FRIST AR T MUSEUM
Nashville's Frist Art Museum brings in world-class art exhibitions, from the masters of the Italian Renaissance and French Impressionism, to young new artists like North Nashville's own emerging muralists. Even the building itself is a piece of art with its art deco architectural features.
Insider Tip: The Frist participates in the First Saturday Art Crawl. Every month, art galleries downtown (and also in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood) open their doors to the public for a free viewing of their current exhibits. Most offer free wine or other refreshments. THE PARTHENON AT CENTENNIAL PARK
In addition to lawns to read on or throw a frisbee across, Centennial Park boasts a full- size replica of the Parthenon, complete with a statue of Athena inside.
Insider Tip: Over the summer, you can find Big Band music and swing dance lessons in the pavillion behind the Parthenon. ARTS & CULTURE
CHEEKWOOD ESTATE AND GARDENS This beautiful estate sits on 55 acres of rolling Tennessee hills. It houses both permanent and visiting art collections inside, as well as botanicals gardens, a sculpture trail and special art installations outside.
Insider Tip: Be sure to visit during the holiday season to see the magic of Cheekwood Lights! FOOD
(Above) HATTIE B'S HOT CHICKEN FOOD
THE NASHVILLE FOOD SCENE
Nashville has always been home to classic Southern cooking, but the food scene has exploded in recent years and now boasts award- worthy fine dining, trendy food trucks and pop-ups, and international fare that represents all corners of the world.
Insider Tip: Visit Eater often to keep up with what critics are calling the best restaurants in Nashville. FOOD
A FULL DAY OF NASHVILLE EATS
Start off with coffee and crepes from Red Bicycle, then Wild Cow for a healthy lunch before getting your sugar fix with a donut from Five Daughters. For dinner, dine over tasty tapas at Butcher and Bee, then end the night with a night cap and Korean bar snacks at Babo. Babo Korean Bar
-Grace Chee Associate Director of Admission
Butcher & Bee
Red Bicyle Coffee
The Wild Cow Five Daughters Bakery
EASY GETAWAYS EASY GETAWAYS
OUT OF TOWN ADVENTURES
Even though there is no shortage of entertainment in town, Harpeth River you might find yourself craving a getaway every once in a while. Lucky for you, TN offers some of the most beautiful retreats! You can go kayaking on the Harpeth River, taste wine while listening to bluegrass music at Arrington Vineyards, or cool down after a long hike at Arrington Vineyards Cummins Falls.
Insider Tip: Gatlinburg, TN is about 3.5 hours away, but to see the Great Smokey Mountains would be well worth the drive!
Cummins Falls EASY GETAWAYS
FEATURED GETAWAY
My favorite weekend getaway is Sewanee, TN. The drive is just 1.5 hours and the setting, once you get there, is so peaceful and picturesque. If you're up for a hike, Fiery Gizzard is challenging but beautiful! You'll pass roaring waterfalls, secret caves and panoramic views of TN hills as far as the eye can see.
~Jennie Stumpf Department Education Coordinator "We hope this guide has given you a sense of why VLS Admissions loves Nashville. We can’t wait to get back out and enjoy our city and look forward to welcoming you here soon." -Cynthia Coleman, Director, LL.M. Admissions & Recruitment
QUESTIONS? We want to hear from you! Please email [email protected]