Visiting Nashville: BookManBookWoman

penny on October 2, 2012

There is something about the chaos of a used bookstore (the exception is Powells wonderful organization). I love the unexpected — even with computerized inventory you never quite know what you’ll find. When we visit a new city, we try to leave room for a new book or two. We also try to find local independent bookstores, and try to find time for a used bookstore.

We stepped into Nashville’s BookManBookWoman not totally sure what to expect.

I can’t speak for many sections of this extraordinary store… I skimmed through the children’s books, fiction, history, new books, crafts, religion… and then found THE aisle: bookshelf upon bookshelf of double- and triple-stacked sci-fi and fantasy. Books are shelved in rough alphabetical order but beyond that you do not know what gems you may find. There were paperbacks I didn’t even know existed and in the back was quite the selection of anthologies. I didn’t really get a chance to go through everything but did come home with a few titles that I look forward to. It was overwhelming. It was wonderful. I’ve had dreams of this aisle and in the weeks since our visit and think it is the ultimate cross between BookOff, (pre-renovation) Strand Books, and Smith Family Bookstore.

BookManBookWoman is a must-see for any serious book lover.

BookManBookWoman
1713 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN

ps What are you reading in honor of Banned Books Week?

Visiting Nashville: Tennessee Central Railway Museum

penny on September 25, 2012

On a recent trip to Nashville, we stopped in to visit the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. This is a cozy museum, housed in the former Mechanic’s office of the TC. It is filled with historical artifacts and staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. We spent a lovely afternoon talking with our guide, learning the history (and geography) of central Tennessee, and spending a short bit of time in the rail yard. They are actively restoring rolling stock and on weekends offer passenger excursion trains.

The Tennessee Central was a freight and passenger line that ran East-West across the state. The other two lines ran North-South. TC had a difficult history due to animosity from the other companies and was comprised of patchwork of lines purchased from other defunct railroads, at its height it ran from Harriman to Hopkinsville in Kentucky. Its heyday was prior to WWII when it ran freight from the mines and during the war when Troop trains and war equipment gave it some added life. It went into final bankruptcy and was dissolved in 1968. A nice history is written up at Tennessee History for Kids

Today, Nashville has a Commuter Rail.

Tennessee Central Railway Museum
220 Willow Street
Nashville, TN 37210
See website for hours.
There is a hobby shop housed within the museum stocking N and HO scale models. (Note: this doesn’t interest me so I didn’t peak into the shop.)