Fireworks & Picnics—Nashville is Exploding with Opportunities for Fourth of July Fun!
With America’s Independence Day and National Picnic Month both on the calendar, opportunities abound for members of the Waterford Crossings community to enjoy food, fun, and fireworks this July in and around Nashville, Tennessee! Celebrate With Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th Plan to celebrate our great nation with your family and friends by taking in one of the most powerful fireworks shows in the country over the Cumberland River at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4, 2024. It will be the culmination of a day of food, fun, and entertainment provided by Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th. Before then, there will be live performances in Music City Walk of Fame Park starting at 11 a.m., which is also where the family fun zone will be open from noon to 5 p.m. That’s when the main show at the Jack Daniel’s Broadway Stage at First and Broadway will begin with remarks, patriotic songs, and Color Guard presentation. Multi-platinum global entertainer Chris Young will headline the show at 8:05 p.m. The Nashville Symphony Orchestra at Ascend Amphitheater then will provide the concert soundtrack to the fireworks and drone show. Note: The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and the Woodland Street Bridge will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians beginning at 8 p.m. They will reopen after the event at the discretion of Metro Nashville Police Department. National Picnic Month Sometimes summer sunshine just screams out for a picnic, which is probably why the American Bakers Association picked July as National Picnic Month way back in 1952. The Waterford Crossings Idea Specialists™ did a little research and found that the word picnic comes from the French word piquenique, which eventually came to refer to mid-18th-century al fresco French dining. In today’s world, a picnic can be something as simple as sandwiches and soft drinks on a sun deck by one of the three sparkling Waterford Crossings resort-style pools, or as over the top as an Insta-worthy luxury picnic delivered by companies specializing in creating memorable experiences. Locally, Picnic PopUp offers curated packages for unforgettable gatherings. Picnicking In And Around Nashville There are plenty of places for you to plan your own picnic in this lovely part of Tennessee, including Cane Ridge Park, which is conveniently located to Waterford Crossings. If you want to venture just a little farther afield, Do615 has a great list of suggested locations, including those classics, the Parthenon and the Hermitage (which is dog-friendly!) Grilling & Chilling Of course the Idea Specialists™ are going to have some suggestions for you when it comes to picnic-appropriate food and drink! First, though, check out this awesome Picnic Time combo BBQ Kit Cooler from Target they found. In addition to its large capacity for ice and drinks, it features an eight-piece stainless steel grill set that includes everything from tongs and a spatula to a cutting board and corkscrew. And because of its shoulder strap, it’s imminently portable—thus perfect for a picnic at the community poolside barbecue area. Sweet! Before you head out to wherever you’re going to spread your picnic blanket, whip up a to-go pitcher of this luscious Summertime Rosé Tequila Sangria. And depending on what you’re in the mood for, maybe one—or four, or a lot more—of these Pioneer Woman picnic foods. Cowboy caviar, loaded potato salad, chef’s salad on a stick, and blueberry bars all will go with whatever you decide to grill—ribs, chicken, burgers, YUM. Summer’s Bounty The Waterford Crossings Idea Specialists™ will definitely be heading back to the Nashville Farmers’ Market for some more homegrown tomatoes now that they’ve seen this Garden & Gun article for delicious recipes for everything from tomato pudding to cracker salad. They’ll be taking that salad, and some green tomato chowchow, on their picnic, for sure. And Speaking Of Garden & Gun If you’re not already familiar with this quintessentially Southern magazine, check out their Instagram feed to get a feel for what it’s all about. And maybe have a little fun with their “You Might Be a Southerner If…..” quiz. Enjoy!
June Brings the Joy of Father’s Day & Awareness of Alzheimer’s to Waterford Crossings
June brings the joys of Father’s Day and the summer solstice to Waterford Crossings, an upscale apartment home community in Antioch, Tennessee, just a short drive from Nashville. It also brings the opportunity to join with others in the community and across the country in a show of support of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month with purple ribbons and purple clothes. In fact, a google search about initiatives of the Alzheimer’s Association reveals that one of them—The Longest Day®—encourages people to “outshine the darkness” of Alzheimer’s disease with a fundraiser of their own choice in connection with the summer solstice, the day of the year with the most light. This year that will be Thursday, June 20. Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It is not considered a normal part of aging, but, rather, a progressive disease. There is no known cure. Alzheimer’s Association-Tennessee Chapter provides resources and support to all those impacted by the disease. Sharing Stories Sometimes personal stories can help us understand a medical condition that hasn’t affected us directly. The Waterford Crossings Idea Specialists™ were deeply moved by the 2014 movie Still Alice. Starring Julianne Moore, who won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a linguistics professor with a rare hereditary form of early-onset Alzheimer’s, it’s something you can watch in the privacy and comfort of your luxury apartment home. Another great option for Father’s Day—Sunday, June 16, 2024—is to provide him with the experience of a lifetime. Virgin Experience Gifts has something for every type of dad—foodie, gearhead, adventurer, golfer—you name it! Live, Local & Loud Something else fun to do to celebrate Dad, or the start of summer, would be to enjoy some live music. Of course in Music City it’s kinda hard to pick what to highlight, there are so many incredible choices every night! One headliner in June is Alanis Morissette’s Triple Moon Tour, with special guests Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and Morgan Wade. It will hit Bridgestone Arena full force Sunday, June 23, 2024. And Jamey Johnson—a member of the Grand Ole Opry considered by many a singer-songwriter who hearkens back to country’s golden age–will be bringin’ the twang Friday, June 28, 2024, at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, with special guest Drake White. The U.S. Open Finally, it just wouldn’t be a good June blog without a mention of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, being played at No. 2 Pinehurst outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, June 13-16, 2024. It’s always a memorable experience, whether you attend or watch it with a group of friends at the Waterford Crossings Clubhouse. Father’s Day Fun Sometimes socks just won’t cut it when it comes delighting Dad on his day. The Idea Specialists™ know that they can’t go wrong with the father figures in their lives by giving the gift of a good bourbon, and this year the Master of Malt blog has done a great list of the Top 10 everyone needs to try in 2024. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Whisky is probably a safe bet, but they’re really intrigued by the Charcoal & Cornmeal & Rickhouses & a Decade. (Wouldn’t you be? LOL)
Waterford Crossings in Antioch is Marking Many May Occasions—Especially National Pet Month!
Graduations, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day—there are so many important occasions in May that you might forget to celebrate something just for fun—National Pet Month! It’s a favorite of ours here at Waterford Crossings in Antioch, Tennessee (just 15 minutes outside of Nashville), because we are a seriously pet-friendly apartment home community, complete with two leash-free pet parks! Love Is A 4-Legged Word Our Idea Specialists™, who consider cat hair to be a fashion accessory and never met a dog they didn’t like, spent a little time on the old Google looking for some fun ways to treat themselves and their fur babies. While on the search, they learned that National Pet Week is also a thing, always observed during the first full week of May. It’s sponsored by the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine. Could the theme for 2024 be any better? It’s “Love is 4-legged word.” Hugs and pets all around!! And cupcakes, doggie cupcakes, too! Or should we say pupcakes, LOL. At Miss Kitty’s Dog Resort/Bakery & Boutique. And how much fun is it that they’re so appropriately located on Kenilwood Drive in Nashville? Gifts For Grads & Moms The Waterford Crossings Idea Specialists™ found the perfect combo of pet love and a present for your favorite moms and grads in a custom watercolor painting on canvas. Just upload a photo of your four-legged friend and Texture of Dreams will do the rest! While the traditional gift of cash to graduates might seem boring, it doesn’t have to be if you put it in a pop-up bouncing gift box filled with confetti. Fun!! The Idea Specialists™, some moms themselves, think these packages from Spoonful of Comfort will help the strong feminine presence in your life have a “soup-er” Mother’s Day! (They also understand that you might just be tempted to treat yourself to of their yummy goodies to enjoy in your comfy clothes in the privacy of your own luxury apartment.) Food & Flowers You can’t go wrong with taking Mom out for a special meal on her special day, especially if you’ve given her some flowers first. Nashville Guru has done its always-excellent job of doing a good list of area restaurants with Mother’s Day lunch, brunch, and dinner offerings. Goodness, it’s going to be so hard to pick this year! But right now we’re leaning toward keeping it casual and close to home at The Waffle Taco on Bell Road. You can’t go wrong with their egg and turkey sausage tacos. Followed by a bubble waffle for dessert, of course! Make Memorial Day Memorable The Idea Specialists™ know it might seem a little early in the month to be planning your friends and family Memorial Day gathering by one of Waterford Crossings’ three gorgeous resort-style pools, but advance planning is never a bad thing! This year, they’re for sure including grilled peach caprese salad on the menu, with the freshest of peaches and tomatoes from the always-awesome Nashville Farmers’ Market. There are lots of recipes out there for this spring and summer classic, but our group is particularly fond of this one at How Sweet Eats (and not just because food personality and cookbook author Jessica Merchant says glitter is her middle name, LOL). We’re also fond of a nice sangria by the pool, and Southern Living has a great piece on which wines to use for it. If you don’t already have a favorite way to make yours, check out this white sangria on Dinners, Dishes & Desserts. Honoring Their Memory Watching the National Memorial Day Concert, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra with guest performers, is an annual tradition for the Idea Specialists™. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff also participate in the concert, offering their leadership perspective on the value and honor of military service and acknowledging the challenges that veterans and their families face. Always broadcast and streamed by PBS the Sunday night before Memorial Day, the concert honors our country’s veterans, servicemen and women, and military families, and all those who died in America’s wars. Its goal is to unite the country in remembrance and appreciation of those who gave their lives for our nation and serves those who are grieving through the mission put forward by Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address, “Let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”
