Nashville Needleworks event today
The extent of my needlework career is one ill-fated Girl Scout cross-stitch project about 40 years ago. So I am no expert on what makes a good needleworks store.
However, my friend Debbie Heibert does beautiful needlework so when she tells me about something she's excited about, I take it as a full-on endorsement.
And she had lots of great comments about Nashville Needleworks, the latest new business to open in Town Center. It's tucked beside Sweet Pea's at 7020 Church Street.
An open house and ribbon cutting are planned today, with festivities beginning at 4 p.m. So drop by, introduce yourself and check it out. I'm hoping to be there, too, so look for more information on the shop to come.
Showing posts with label town center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label town center. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Think green and much more...
Big day for BrentWord Communications yesterday, so big in fact that it kept me from blogging (not to mention that two-hour nap late in the afternoon). So today I hope to redeem myself. Let's get started:
Calling all citizens to take survey
If you have not completed the Brentwood environmental committee's citizen survey, please take a minute now to do so. Here's the link to make it super easy:
www.brentwood-tn.org/greensurvey
And if you have questions, concerns, ideas on how the city can be more environmentally savvy and progressive, please consider attending next week's June 9 public forum hosted by the committee. It's at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 5211 Maryland Way.
Today's Brentwood Journal featured a story on the committee and its work. In case you missed it, here's a link:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090603/COUNTY0903/906030303/0/COUNTY09/Brentwood+seeks+green+ideas
Happy Birthday Madame Mayor
Rumor has it that Friday is Mayor Betsy Crossley's birthday. Hope she takes the day o
ff of city business to enjoy herself. For instance, she could have lunch with me. And pay for it, since she stood me up when I was going to treat her to a high-dollar treat a while back.
I'm not bitter, though. Really.
See, as I walked on that 90-plus degree day with my elderly dog five miles and barefoot to the restaurant where we were supposed to meet, it came to me that a priority for the city must be sidewalks on Centerview Drive and Wilson Pike Circle. Over the past few days and weeks I've met several prominent businesspeople who work in and around those roads who agree with me.
Truly, if people could walk to the Brentwood Post Office without risking life and limb, it would really cut down on the traffic jams there. And with our new "restaurant row" at Brentwood Place, and the growing number of neat retail and eateries in Town Center, all the folks who work in the Synergy Center buildings could enjoy a shady stroll up or down Centerview if only there were sidewalks.
But in the meantime, you have two days to get your card in the mail to our new mayor. She tells me she's 72 and looks fabulous. I don't believe her (about the 72 part, that is). I think she's closer to 38 like me.
Calling all citizens to take survey
If you have not completed the Brentwood environmental committee's citizen survey, please take a minute now to do so. Here's the link to make it super easy:
www.brentwood-tn.org/greensurvey
And if you have questions, concerns, ideas on how the city can be more environmentally savvy and progressive, please consider attending next week's June 9 public forum hosted by the committee. It's at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 5211 Maryland Way.
Today's Brentwood Journal featured a story on the committee and its work. In case you missed it, here's a link:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090603/COUNTY0903/906030303/0/COUNTY09/Brentwood+seeks+green+ideas
Happy Birthday Madame Mayor
Rumor has it that Friday is Mayor Betsy Crossley's birthday. Hope she takes the day o
ff of city business to enjoy herself. For instance, she could have lunch with me. And pay for it, since she stood me up when I was going to treat her to a high-dollar treat a while back.I'm not bitter, though. Really.
See, as I walked on that 90-plus degree day with my elderly dog five miles and barefoot to the restaurant where we were supposed to meet, it came to me that a priority for the city must be sidewalks on Centerview Drive and Wilson Pike Circle. Over the past few days and weeks I've met several prominent businesspeople who work in and around those roads who agree with me.
Truly, if people could walk to the Brentwood Post Office without risking life and limb, it would really cut down on the traffic jams there. And with our new "restaurant row" at Brentwood Place, and the growing number of neat retail and eateries in Town Center, all the folks who work in the Synergy Center buildings could enjoy a shady stroll up or down Centerview if only there were sidewalks.
But in the meantime, you have two days to get your card in the mail to our new mayor. She tells me she's 72 and looks fabulous. I don't believe her (about the 72 part, that is). I think she's closer to 38 like me.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Amazing day in downtown Brentwood
What an amazing day it's been.
Had incredible meeting with web designer. Then had lunch at Sweetpea's Cafe (formerly Maggie's) just off Church Street in the little strip mall just east of Pewitt Drive. Not only was the catfish great, we were told that business has really begun to pick back up after a slow spring.
I'm taking that as a positive sign the recession is slowing.
Next it was on to Tom Jones' State Farm insurance office where I gazed across at the new Red Mountain Bank. Who would have thought the downtrodden building at that corner could be rejuvenated and landscaped to look so wonderful? Paired with the framing going up on the Pinnacle Bank building at Franklin Road and Town Center Way and the amazing facelift to the building that now houses The Perch coffee and crepe house, we have some real-world examples of how Town Center can improve right now.
See my previous post about the new restaurant renovating the sad Church Street Pub building and you'll agree we're really on a roll here.
Did I mention Spruce, my new favorite gift and home accessories store? If you haven't stopped in, do it. After eyeing it for months, I finally went in today. Wow. No need to head to downtown Franklin and redo or any of the other stores there. Combined with existing businesses like Hot Pink, Gabriel's Garden and the other boutiques that call downtown Brentwood home, we're looking good.
Cheerleading for Brentwood? Sure. But why not. Anyone who knows me knows I don't give feint praise.
So get out this weekend and start exploring yourself. And if you're hungry, I thoroughly recommend the catfish at Sweetpea's.
Had incredible meeting with web designer. Then had lunch at Sweetpea's Cafe (formerly Maggie's) just off Church Street in the little strip mall just east of Pewitt Drive. Not only was the catfish great, we were told that business has really begun to pick back up after a slow spring.
I'm taking that as a positive sign the recession is slowing.
Next it was on to Tom Jones' State Farm insurance office where I gazed across at the new Red Mountain Bank. Who would have thought the downtrodden building at that corner could be rejuvenated and landscaped to look so wonderful? Paired with the framing going up on the Pinnacle Bank building at Franklin Road and Town Center Way and the amazing facelift to the building that now houses The Perch coffee and crepe house, we have some real-world examples of how Town Center can improve right now.
See my previous post about the new restaurant renovating the sad Church Street Pub building and you'll agree we're really on a roll here.
Did I mention Spruce, my new favorite gift and home accessories store? If you haven't stopped in, do it. After eyeing it for months, I finally went in today. Wow. No need to head to downtown Franklin and redo or any of the other stores there. Combined with existing businesses like Hot Pink, Gabriel's Garden and the other boutiques that call downtown Brentwood home, we're looking good.
Cheerleading for Brentwood? Sure. But why not. Anyone who knows me knows I don't give feint praise.
So get out this weekend and start exploring yourself. And if you're hungry, I thoroughly recommend the catfish at Sweetpea's.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Public-private partnership key to "Future"
A healthy crowd attended the Brentwood Future information meeting Thursday hosted by Brentwood architect Walter Kiskaddon. Among those attending were architects, commercial and residential real estate professionals, Town Center redevelopment advocates, a landscape architect, an environmental expert, small business owners, chamber officials and several citizens.
No city officials, professional or elected, attended though many were invited.
Franklin attorney Julian Bibb presented an overview of Franklin Tomorrow, a non-profit, public-private organization formed in that Historic city less than 10 years ago. Since its inception, the organization has helped provide a focus and consensus to how Franklin should grow into its future while respecting its past.
"In the late '90s, there was a tremendous amount of bumping into each other of the preservationists and developers," Bibb told those gathered at the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber office. "There was a notion that this could be done better than butting heads."
Two key ingredients combined in Franklin Tomorrow's recipe for success: First, they had to discover "what the community wants it to be" and second, they had to "do it in a neutral stance."
A steering committee studied cities that had already put "visioning programs" in place, among them Chattanooga, the "Tri-Cities" of Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport (in anticipation of the slowdown at Kodak, one of the area's main economic contributors), and several in Ohio.
Bibb said the committee discovered that in all locations where these programs were successful, "the city doesn't control it but is part of the program." The same is true of local chambers, he added.
To start, Franklin Tomorrow asked the city and local businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide funding, participation and support. Later a consulting firm hired.
Public input was vital, Bibb said, to the point that the city agreed to close down Main Street around the Historic Franklin Square for six hours. During that time, anyone could come and identify their personal priorities for the city's future.
The final result: A living, breathing plan and process for implementation that allowed for growth and change.
Franklin Tomorrow's vision and input is now reflected in city decisions on park plans, environmental plans and codes, Bibb said.
Throughout his talk, Bibb came back to the notion that Franklin Tomorrow's success was possible only through the public-private partnerships formed at the very start of the process.
"(Franklin) totally gave us access," he said of the steering committee.
Kiskaddon said his hope is that Brentwood can have a similar organization, one that can help determine "what Brentwood wants to be and where we want it to grow from here."
Kiskaddon had copies of both the Franklin Tomorrow and Brentwood 2020 plans and was asked how the two differ. Community input was key to the creation of Brentwood's comprehensive planning guide when it was adopted in 1999. A major update took place in 2006.
The general consensus of those attending was that the two could complement each other, but that an organization such as Brentwood Future would be a living, breathing entity that could enhance what the city is already doing.
"I feel passionate about this," Kiskaddon said, noting he is committed as a professional and a citizen to the project. He called those attending "ambassadors" and noted that while no city officials were there, he had heard from Mayor Betsy Crossley and Vice Mayor Rhea Little and anticipated interest from others as well.
"It really needs to be a public and private partnership," he said.
What's Next: A formal meeting in June or July.
In the meantime, here are links for background...
Brentwood 2020 Plan: www.brentwood-tn.org/index.aspx?page=171
Franklin Tomorrow: http://www.franklintomorrow.org/
No city officials, professional or elected, attended though many were invited.
Franklin attorney Julian Bibb presented an overview of Franklin Tomorrow, a non-profit, public-private organization formed in that Historic city less than 10 years ago. Since its inception, the organization has helped provide a focus and consensus to how Franklin should grow into its future while respecting its past.
"In the late '90s, there was a tremendous amount of bumping into each other of the preservationists and developers," Bibb told those gathered at the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber office. "There was a notion that this could be done better than butting heads."
Two key ingredients combined in Franklin Tomorrow's recipe for success: First, they had to discover "what the community wants it to be" and second, they had to "do it in a neutral stance."
A steering committee studied cities that had already put "visioning programs" in place, among them Chattanooga, the "Tri-Cities" of Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport (in anticipation of the slowdown at Kodak, one of the area's main economic contributors), and several in Ohio.
Bibb said the committee discovered that in all locations where these programs were successful, "the city doesn't control it but is part of the program." The same is true of local chambers, he added.
To start, Franklin Tomorrow asked the city and local businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide funding, participation and support. Later a consulting firm hired.
Public input was vital, Bibb said, to the point that the city agreed to close down Main Street around the Historic Franklin Square for six hours. During that time, anyone could come and identify their personal priorities for the city's future.
The final result: A living, breathing plan and process for implementation that allowed for growth and change.
Franklin Tomorrow's vision and input is now reflected in city decisions on park plans, environmental plans and codes, Bibb said.
Throughout his talk, Bibb came back to the notion that Franklin Tomorrow's success was possible only through the public-private partnerships formed at the very start of the process.
"(Franklin) totally gave us access," he said of the steering committee.
Kiskaddon said his hope is that Brentwood can have a similar organization, one that can help determine "what Brentwood wants to be and where we want it to grow from here."
Kiskaddon had copies of both the Franklin Tomorrow and Brentwood 2020 plans and was asked how the two differ. Community input was key to the creation of Brentwood's comprehensive planning guide when it was adopted in 1999. A major update took place in 2006.
The general consensus of those attending was that the two could complement each other, but that an organization such as Brentwood Future would be a living, breathing entity that could enhance what the city is already doing.
"I feel passionate about this," Kiskaddon said, noting he is committed as a professional and a citizen to the project. He called those attending "ambassadors" and noted that while no city officials were there, he had heard from Mayor Betsy Crossley and Vice Mayor Rhea Little and anticipated interest from others as well.
"It really needs to be a public and private partnership," he said.
What's Next: A formal meeting in June or July.
In the meantime, here are links for background...
Brentwood 2020 Plan: www.brentwood-tn.org/index.aspx?page=171
Franklin Tomorrow: http://www.franklintomorrow.org/
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Busy Thursday and beyond
It's time to get out your calendar, Blackberry, whatever and mark down some important times and dates. For starters, here are a few opportunities you may want to consider on Thursday:
Looking further out, at 6 p.m. June 9, the Environmental Quality Coordinating Committee is hosting a "public input session" designed to gather input and ideas from people like you and me interested in environmental issues affecting the Brentwood community. In the meantime, please go ahead and participate in an online survey the committee has designed to help get feedback from city residents. You'll find it at www.brentwood-tn.org/greensurvey. I'll have more on this meeting closer to the actual date.
And finally, Mayor Betsy Crossley tells me she's asked City Manager Mike Walker to schedule a meeting on June 18 for Town Center land and business owners as well as any else interested in the area's redevelopment. While she cannot attend Thursday's Brentwood Future meeting (she had already committed to volunteer at The Martin Center), she tells me "I don't want to stop any dialog about Town Center. Let's keep the dialog moving forward."
Should have more details on this meeting next week if not sooner.
- Want to hear the nitty gritty about what the city commission will discuss at its next meeting? Then the 9 a.m. City Commission Information Meeting is for you. It takes place at the Brentwood Municipal Building's board room, 5211 Maryland Way. And a gentle reminder that the regular commission meeting has been moved to next Tuesday, May 26, because of Memorial Day.
- Another informational meeting, this one to discuss the possible formation of "Brentwood Future," a group that reportedly is shaping itself after the non-profit Franklin Tomorrow (http://www.franklintomorrow.org/), is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Organized by local architect Walter Kiskaddon, AIA, this one takes place at the opposite end of the municipal building in the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce offices. I've put out emails to several people on the invite list and hopefully will have more information and thoughts about it soon.
- After the Brentwood Future meeting, you can switch gears and have a little fun at the Music and Memories at the Martin benefit concert featuring the WannaBeatles (see yesterday's post for details and the Top 10 reasons you should go).
Looking further out, at 6 p.m. June 9, the Environmental Quality Coordinating Committee is hosting a "public input session" designed to gather input and ideas from people like you and me interested in environmental issues affecting the Brentwood community. In the meantime, please go ahead and participate in an online survey the committee has designed to help get feedback from city residents. You'll find it at www.brentwood-tn.org/greensurvey. I'll have more on this meeting closer to the actual date.
And finally, Mayor Betsy Crossley tells me she's asked City Manager Mike Walker to schedule a meeting on June 18 for Town Center land and business owners as well as any else interested in the area's redevelopment. While she cannot attend Thursday's Brentwood Future meeting (she had already committed to volunteer at The Martin Center), she tells me "I don't want to stop any dialog about Town Center. Let's keep the dialog moving forward."
Should have more details on this meeting next week if not sooner.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Town Center Mole Fest volunteers needed
Franklin's biggest party, the Main Street Festival, is this weekend. Did you know Brentwood's having a party this Saturday too?
That's what I was afraid of.
I learned about "A Day in Brentwood's Past' last night from Sandy Noble -- who, by the way, should never be referred to as "wife of City Commission Alex Noble." Sandy and her family will bring goats and chickens to the event.
The city's updated website, http://www.brentwood-tn.org/, lists only a time and date, no details.
The celebration marking the city's 40th birthday got three lines in today's Brentwood Journal story on the city's history without a breakout box on details.
For now, we know it's at Crockett Park and starts at 10 a.m. Check back here later for the complete scoop!
"Brentwood is built on volunteers," Paul Webb (who I have endorsed) said. Efforts like this "need to start with volunteers." Those in the forum audience heard that over and over from the candidates.
"The city stands ready to assist," Joe Reagan stated.
Let's take them at their word. I'm ready to take a leadership role in coordinating and planning a new festival in Brentwood. Who says we have to wait until Town Center is redeveloped to throw a party there? Several people have already expressed interest in helping with such an event. Spread the word, and if you want to be involved -- or even better provide some big bucks to get it started -- send me an email.
I want to call it The Town Center Mole Fest. Don't discount the idea. Here's why:
Brentwood used to have a Pear Fest. Then all the now-despised Bradford Pears started blowing down limb by limb and, thankfully, are disappearing from our fair city.
Just think what might come from a Mole Fest!
That's what I was afraid of.
I learned about "A Day in Brentwood's Past' last night from Sandy Noble -- who, by the way, should never be referred to as "wife of City Commission Alex Noble." Sandy and her family will bring goats and chickens to the event.
The city's updated website, http://www.brentwood-tn.org/, lists only a time and date, no details.
The celebration marking the city's 40th birthday got three lines in today's Brentwood Journal story on the city's history without a breakout box on details.
For now, we know it's at Crockett Park and starts at 10 a.m. Check back here later for the complete scoop!
***
Speaking of festivals, expanding the number of city-sponsored events was a hot topic at last week's candidates forum at Ravenwood High School. What we kept hearing from the incumbents was "bring us an idea.""Brentwood is built on volunteers," Paul Webb (who I have endorsed) said. Efforts like this "need to start with volunteers." Those in the forum audience heard that over and over from the candidates.
"The city stands ready to assist," Joe Reagan stated.
Let's take them at their word. I'm ready to take a leadership role in coordinating and planning a new festival in Brentwood. Who says we have to wait until Town Center is redeveloped to throw a party there? Several people have already expressed interest in helping with such an event. Spread the word, and if you want to be involved -- or even better provide some big bucks to get it started -- send me an email.
I want to call it The Town Center Mole Fest. Don't discount the idea. Here's why:
Brentwood used to have a Pear Fest. Then all the now-despised Bradford Pears started blowing down limb by limb and, thankfully, are disappearing from our fair city.
Just think what might come from a Mole Fest!
***
It's book sale days again at the Brentwood Library and the Friends of the Brentwood Library are always in a happy daze when they come around.
Not only can you snatch up some great bargains, it will give you a chance to check out all the construction. Hours are noon-1-7 p.m. today; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday.
Next Wednesday at 3 p.m., plans for the new children's area will be unveiled. I can't wait to see them!
Have BrentWord worthy news to share or want to help plan the Mole Festival? Contact me at brentword@comcast.net
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