New week, new news

And you thought life slowed down in the summer ...
On this week's calendar you'll find Monday's 7 p.m. Planning Commission meeting (sorry, no agenda posted that I can find so I can't tell you what will be discussed);

Monday's kickoff of the Summer Reading Program at the library (www.brentwood-tn.org/index.aspx?page=558);

The last Sabrina Fair performances at Towne Centre Theatre (http://www.townecentretheatre.com/);

Friday night's Mandy Barnett concert being held at Brentwood High School by the Brentwood Morning Rotary Club. http://brentword.blogspot.com/2009/05/patsy-cline-coming-to-brentwood.html

Looking ahead a bit, the first real Summer Concert Theater performance on Sunday at Crockett Park. Since the Nashville Symphony cancelled, this will be the first opportunity to pack the picnic basket, meet up with a few friends and enjoy Riders in the Sky. The singing cowboys are always a favorite. (http://www.ridersinthesky.com/

And I understand Red Mountain Bank opens today. I'll drop in to see the makeover ASAP. I've heard it's an amazing transformation. (http://redmountainbank.com/)

Check back today and during the week for new posts, and please keep scrolling down if you missed reading last week. You'll find out who's opening a new restaurant in Town Center (Chuy's who?), a tribute to Pete Schutt, who received a key to the city last week; coverage of the first Brentwood Future meeting, links to the city's new budget and Capitol Improvements Program and lots more.

If you have BrentWord worthy news to share, please email me at brentword@comcast.net.

Positive thoughts for unsoggy Saturday

It's time for an anti-rain dance. There's too much planned around town and beyond this weekend to let the rain gods interfere for yet another weekend.

First up is the Iroquois Steeplechase, which thousands of Brentwood residents flock to every Second Saturday in May. There should be an unwritten law that it can only be sunny and breezy on Steeplechase day. We always tailgate in the Topside section, a bit removed from the party central area that is the Infield and Midfield but not quite as high brow as the box seats.

I'm taking $1 bets on the weather tomorrow, and trust blue skies will send me home with a handful of green bills.

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If your pantry is stocked full, please consider bagging up some staples for the "Second Harvest Needs Your Help to Stamp Out Hunger" event on Saturday. Just put a bag of nonperishables by your mailbox Saturday for your letter carrier to pick up. The Second Harvest website says the most needed items includ canned tuna or chicken, peanut butter, canned soup, fruit, vegetables, rice and macaroni & cheese. Second Havest estimates that 13 million children face hunger every day.

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We really need to pray for sun for the Brentwood Soccer Club. Its annual tournament is this weekend and can mean thousands, like $20,000 for the city. Unfortunately it's been rained out the past few years and chair Kelly Lee doesn't deserve another. Tournaments like these are one way tourism dollars flow into the city's coffers.

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Everyone's invited to Breakout ’09, a Christian festival for youth, children and families, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday on the rear lawn at New Hope Community Church, 605 Wilson Pike. This free daytime event features inflatables, games, face painting,music and fun for children and the family. There will be three-on-three pickup basketball games on the parking lot with prizes. Picnic food will be available for purchase at minimal prices.

And Saturday night, a teen concert begins at 6 p.m. in church’s Fellowship Hall. Headlining are four of Christian music’s up-and-coming performers, predominantly for teens. Headlining will be Remedy Drive (nominated for Gospel Music Association Dove Awards) and rap artist Grits (who have worked with both dcTalk and Tobymac). The concert is $10 per ticket, which should be purchased in advance.

Parking for both events will be in the church’s parking lot with overflow on the lawn. For ticket info, contact Youth Pastor Josh Huisman at 373-1590.

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Sunday's Mother's Day. Need I say more? Except that if you haven't made lunch or dinner reservations at one of our growing number of great restaurants, good luck. I'd start working those phones now. And if you haven't gotten dear old Mom a gift yet, may I suggest a gift certificate for a whole house deep clean. At least, that's what one mom I know might want.

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Finally, don't forget the Nashville Symphony concert Sunday at Crockett Park's Eddy Arnold Amphitheater. See my previous post for comments from Resident Director Albert-George Schram. The music starts at 7 p.m. but feel free to come early and bring a picnic, weather permitting.

Ah, the weather. I see some sun poking through now, but we're also under a tornado watch. Go figure and hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Symphony set for Crockett Park

The Nashville Symphony opens the 2009 Brentwood Concert Series at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater at Crockett Park. Unfortunately the symphony's new Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, who has settled in Brentwood with his family, is out of town and won't be able to make it. But have no fear, Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram is at the ready and up for the job. I understand he's really fun to watch. Best of all, he's looking forward to it too.

Here's what Schram had to say in a BrentWord exclusive....

The concert is one Brentwood residents look forward to each year. Is this anticipation reciprocated by the symphony?
Most definitely. We love performing at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, but there’s something exciting about performing for people in their own communities – the audience really feels at home, and it’s such a relaxed atmosphere. We have a lot of fans and supporters in Brentwood who come to our concerts, but it’s also gratifying to know that anytime we perform our concerts in the parks, we’re also going to reach an audience who might not have gotten to hear the symphony perform before – especially children, who don’t have as many opportunities to go to concerts.

What do you love about the venue -- the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater?
It’s such a wonderful, family-friendly environment. Compared to downtown Nashville, it has the feel of a small-town gathering, and this time of year it’s always so nice to be outdoors, surrounded by the smells and sounds of the springtime. The weather is just warm enough – but not sweltering.

What are the challenges of playing outdoors?
There are quite a few, actually. Musical instruments can be very fickle and subject to changes in temperature and humidity, so our players have to work extra-hard to make sure their instruments stay in tune. The acoustics are also quite challenging. Even if you have a band shell with some kind of roof overhead, the sound doesn’t travel the same way it does in a concert hall. So my job is to make sure that even if the musicians aren’t hearing everything they’re used to hearing, I can help make sure that they’re all working together. And once we’ve managed to tackle that challenge, then we’re really able to enjoy the rewards of playing outdoors – seeing all those happy faces, enjoying the springtime breezes and the sunshine.

Hope to see you at the park, and don't forget to bring Mom -- it is her day remember!