Having just learned about a free concert in Nashville we attempted the impossible...and somehow managed to make it work.
Starting off in Bardstown, KY we took the first tour of the day at the Barton 1792 distillery. The property is historic (the buildings haven't been updated since the 30's) and deserves some bragging and the hour and a half long tour proceeded to do so, describing the Bourbon distilling process in excruciating detail. Since Isaiah and I had already gotten a good overview on previous tours and time was in short supply, it was almost painful.
The Kentucky heat and unusual outdoor fermentation tanks meant that the distillery was already shut down for the season but we did get to see the bottling process in all its glory, which set this tour apart from the others. Even though Barton itself is on hold until cooler weather re-appears they still bottle for many different companies year round.
After finishing the tour with samples of Bourbon in both liquid and chocolate form we then hurried over to the Oscar Getz Whiskey Museum. Comprised of a dozen or so small rooms, this collection of bottles, posters and miscellaneous artifacts followed the history of Whiskey through its humble beginnings when Father Elijah Craig (yep, that kind of Father) stored it in charred barrels which were supposedly struck by lightening thereby turning it into Bourbon, to when Carry Nation rallied those in Congress to support Prohibition after losing her first husband to the bottle. (she lost the second for being a killjoy)
At Mammoth Cave we were thrilled to learn we had traveled back in time...to the Central time zone. We subsequently gained a precious hour which we certainly needed to tour the world's longest cave. Earning this title in 2012, the 300 plus mile long cave is still hiding many surprises, including potentially 600 more miles. Descending down 14 different narrow shafts with water raining from above, it was not an easy journey. The majority of the cave we visited was made of shale which is almost immune to the force of water, so it wasn't until the last 300 feet when we entered the limestone section where the true treasures revealed themselves. As we descended we saw cave "bacon," "popcorn," and "draperies" lining the ceiling. It was all incredibly beautiful.
We at last pulled into Nashville, took a bus downtown and arrived at the Music City Center grand opening party just as the music began. Starting the evening was the Fisk Jubilee singers, a group of very talented spiritual singers who sang a few gospel numbers to kick things off. Next was the Time Jumpers who had a very special guest playing with them...Vince Gill. Unbelievably Vince was unannounced and sat quietly playing accompaniment until the last song, when he finally took center stage and rocked out in full. Mikkey Eko was next and though every hot topic teen girl's fantasy he was a little too dramatic for our tastes (like more dramatic than Jeff Buckley, with a little bit of Jim Morrison smoldering, without any of the danger). He also took the Eko a bit too literal, with every song involving looping his vocals and harmonizing with himself until he sounded like a choir of broody monks. Though he did have some nice, big choruses.
His band was a sight. The drummer had a flat top and a Pompadour (I know you're thinking "but that's impossible!" yet I assure you it was real) and the D.J. was wearing what I affectionately dubbed a "Where's Waldo outfit" while being so intensely turning nobs and staring at his computer monitor that you couldn't help but smile. And last by certainly not least was the headliner...Sheryl Crow. Still as fantastic looking as always, Sheryl treated us to her older hits inter spliced with some of her new country songs and it was excellent.
For most of her career, I've thought I was too cool for pop music, but listening to all her hits back to back it makes me think she's the best pop/rocker since Tom Petty. I really can't think of any of her contemporaries, female or otherwise, that has consistently had hits for as long as she has. She doesn't hide her influences well, but its not like Tom Petty invented southern rock either. It was a fun show.
Starting off in Bardstown, KY we took the first tour of the day at the Barton 1792 distillery. The property is historic (the buildings haven't been updated since the 30's) and deserves some bragging and the hour and a half long tour proceeded to do so, describing the Bourbon distilling process in excruciating detail. Since Isaiah and I had already gotten a good overview on previous tours and time was in short supply, it was almost painful.
The Kentucky heat and unusual outdoor fermentation tanks meant that the distillery was already shut down for the season but we did get to see the bottling process in all its glory, which set this tour apart from the others. Even though Barton itself is on hold until cooler weather re-appears they still bottle for many different companies year round.
After finishing the tour with samples of Bourbon in both liquid and chocolate form we then hurried over to the Oscar Getz Whiskey Museum. Comprised of a dozen or so small rooms, this collection of bottles, posters and miscellaneous artifacts followed the history of Whiskey through its humble beginnings when Father Elijah Craig (yep, that kind of Father) stored it in charred barrels which were supposedly struck by lightening thereby turning it into Bourbon, to when Carry Nation rallied those in Congress to support Prohibition after losing her first husband to the bottle. (she lost the second for being a killjoy)
At Mammoth Cave we were thrilled to learn we had traveled back in time...to the Central time zone. We subsequently gained a precious hour which we certainly needed to tour the world's longest cave. Earning this title in 2012, the 300 plus mile long cave is still hiding many surprises, including potentially 600 more miles. Descending down 14 different narrow shafts with water raining from above, it was not an easy journey. The majority of the cave we visited was made of shale which is almost immune to the force of water, so it wasn't until the last 300 feet when we entered the limestone section where the true treasures revealed themselves. As we descended we saw cave "bacon," "popcorn," and "draperies" lining the ceiling. It was all incredibly beautiful.
We at last pulled into Nashville, took a bus downtown and arrived at the Music City Center grand opening party just as the music began. Starting the evening was the Fisk Jubilee singers, a group of very talented spiritual singers who sang a few gospel numbers to kick things off. Next was the Time Jumpers who had a very special guest playing with them...Vince Gill. Unbelievably Vince was unannounced and sat quietly playing accompaniment until the last song, when he finally took center stage and rocked out in full. Mikkey Eko was next and though every hot topic teen girl's fantasy he was a little too dramatic for our tastes (like more dramatic than Jeff Buckley, with a little bit of Jim Morrison smoldering, without any of the danger). He also took the Eko a bit too literal, with every song involving looping his vocals and harmonizing with himself until he sounded like a choir of broody monks. Though he did have some nice, big choruses.
His band was a sight. The drummer had a flat top and a Pompadour (I know you're thinking "but that's impossible!" yet I assure you it was real) and the D.J. was wearing what I affectionately dubbed a "Where's Waldo outfit" while being so intensely turning nobs and staring at his computer monitor that you couldn't help but smile. And last by certainly not least was the headliner...Sheryl Crow. Still as fantastic looking as always, Sheryl treated us to her older hits inter spliced with some of her new country songs and it was excellent.
For most of her career, I've thought I was too cool for pop music, but listening to all her hits back to back it makes me think she's the best pop/rocker since Tom Petty. I really can't think of any of her contemporaries, female or otherwise, that has consistently had hits for as long as she has. She doesn't hide her influences well, but its not like Tom Petty invented southern rock either. It was a fun show.
Barton 1792
Oscar Getz Whiskey Museum
The original boot leggers
Mammoth Cave crickets
Mammoth cave bacon
Nashville The Time Travelers
Vince Gill
My man Waldo
Sheryl Crow
Fireworks
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