Founded in 2015 by Steve and Jordan Soderholm, Ranger Station was born when a self-taught perfumer combined two notes no trained nose would think to put together: Leather + Pine, our original best-selling  scent. A decade later, we’re still family-owned,  still proudly hand-making every product in Nashville, Tennessee — and still breaking the rules where we can. Where the traditional fragrance world runs on credentials and gatekeepers, Ranger Station runs on gut instinct, American memory, and the belief that a scent worth wearing shouldn’t just smell good - it should inspire you to Leave Your Trace.

New Nashville Tourism Board Will Help Guide Downtown Tourism Dollars

A new Nashville tourism board is taking shape, and its decisions could help influence how downtown tourism dollars are used in the years ahead.

Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and hospitality executive Colin Reed are among the appointments to the new board, which will oversee sales tax revenue generated inside Nashville’s downtown tourism development zone.

For residents, the story matters because downtown tourism is one of Nashville’s biggest economic engines — but it also shapes daily life through traffic, public safety needs, infrastructure, event crowds, hotel growth, and the ongoing balance between visitors and locals.

The board’s work is expected to connect to tourism-related projects and the broader funding structure tied to Music City Center. That means decisions could affect how revenue from downtown activity is directed, what projects are prioritized, and how Nashville continues managing growth in one of its busiest districts.

As the city keeps drawing conventions, concerts, sporting events, festivals, and weekend visitors, questions about tourism revenue are becoming more important. Residents may want to watch whether future spending focuses mostly on visitor-facing projects or also supports improvements that help people who live and work downtown.

The new board adds another layer to Nashville’s long-running conversation about growth: how to benefit from tourism without letting it overwhelm the city’s everyday needs.

Middle Tennessee Weekend Events: America 250 Kickoff, Music, Markets, and Local Outings

Middle Tennessee has a busy weekend ahead, with early America 250 celebrations, live music, baseball, farmers markets, family activities, and community events across the region.

In Nashville, Live Oak on Demonbreun is hosting an America 250 Party on Saturday with games, drinks, giveaways, a photo booth, live music, and a patriotic run earlier in the day. It is one of the first local events tied to the larger America 250 celebration, which will build toward next week’s Fourth of July activities.

Music fans also have a major stadium event on the calendar. Alan Jackson is scheduled to close out his full-length touring career with a finale concert at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, bringing another large crowd downtown. Anyone heading into the city should plan ahead for parking demand, rideshare delays, traffic, and summer heat.

For families and sports fans, the Nashville Sounds will host the Gwinnett Stripers at First Horizon Park on Saturday evening. It is a strong option for readers looking for a baseball night without the larger downtown concert crowd.

Daytime outings are also available. Cheekwood has a Pollinator Roundtable scheduled Saturday morning, giving garden and nature lovers a seasonal reason to visit. The Nashville Zoo also has live music planned through its Spring Musicians Series, offering families a way to pair animal exhibits with a little entertainment.

Outside Nashville, several suburban events offer lower-key weekend plans. Hendersonville’s Farmers & Artisan Market runs Saturday morning at The Streets of Indian Lake, while Franklin’s Factory Farmers Market gives Williamson County shoppers another local produce and artisan option. In Gallatin, the Antique & Classic Cars Show is scheduled Saturday evening, making it a good community pick for car enthusiasts and families.

With so many events landing on the same weekend, residents may want to choose plans based on pace. Nashville will have the biggest crowds and energy, while Hendersonville, Franklin, Gallatin, Cheekwood, and the Zoo offer easiergoing options for families and weekend explorers.

Bottom line: America 250 events are starting to show up, downtown will be busy, and Middle Tennessee has plenty of ways to get out before the Fourth of July rush begins.

Nashville Pride Festival Brings Parade and Community Celebration Downtown

Nashville Pride returns this weekend with a full day of downtown celebration, entertainment, vendors, food, and community resources.

The Nashville Pride Parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m. on Broadway, bringing colorful floats, community groups, local organizations, and supporters through one of the city’s most visible corridors.

After the parade, the celebration continues at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, where the Nashville Pride Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The festival is expected to feature live entertainment, vendors, food, family-friendly activities, and community resources.

For residents, Pride is both a major weekend event and an important community gathering. It brings people together from across Middle Tennessee while also highlighting LGBTQ+ visibility, local nonprofits, small businesses, performers, and support organizations.

Anyone heading downtown Saturday should plan ahead for parking, street closures, rideshare demand, heat, and possible weather changes. Bringing water, arriving early, and checking the official event page before leaving can help make the day easier.

Whether readers are attending the parade, visiting the festival, or simply planning around downtown crowds, Nashville Pride will be one of the city’s biggest weekend events.

Murfreesboro Advances Stonesbattle Parkway Corridor Plan

Murfreesboro is moving ahead with long-term planning for a major east-west corridor that could help shape how the city grows in the years ahead.

The Stonesbattle Parkway Corridor Plan is designed to guide future transportation and land use along a route that would connect the Lebanon Pike area toward the Blackman side of town, eventually improving east-west movement across a fast-growing part of Murfreesboro.

City officials say the corridor is intended to help relieve pressure on existing roads while giving Murfreesboro a clearer framework for future development. As the city continues adding homes, schools, businesses, and traffic, long-range corridor planning helps determine where roads, intersections, utilities, and nearby land uses may eventually go.

For residents, the key point is that this is a planning step — not an immediate road opening. Projects like this can take years to design, fund, permit, and build. But the decisions made now can influence future traffic patterns, neighborhood growth, commercial development, and how easily drivers move between different sides of town.

The corridor is especially relevant for people who live, work, or commute through growing areas near Blackman, northwest Murfreesboro, Lebanon Pike, I-840, and surrounding neighborhoods. Those areas have seen steady growth, and residents are familiar with the traffic pressure that can come when development moves faster than road capacity.

The Stonesbattle Parkway plan gives the city a way to prepare for that growth instead of reacting to it later. It also gives residents a project to watch as Murfreesboro continues deciding how to balance new development with transportation needs, neighborhood impact, and quality of life.

E3 Chophouse Closure Fallout Continues With Rent Lawsuit

The closure of E3 Chophouse Nashville is continuing to draw attention after a new lawsuit tied to the former restaurant space.

People reports that Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Adam LaRoche are connected to a lawsuit involving more than $1.4 million in alleged unpaid rent following the restaurant’s closure.

E3 Chophouse operated as a high-profile Nashville steakhouse with celebrity ties, making the legal fallout more visible than a typical restaurant closure. The case now adds a business and real estate angle to what had already been a notable change in the city’s dining scene.

For residents, the story is less about nightlife and more about how quickly Nashville’s restaurant market continues to shift. Even well-known names and prominent locations are not immune to rising costs, lease pressures, changing customer habits, and the challenges of operating in a competitive hospitality market.

The lawsuit will have to move through the legal process, and the allegations have not been resolved. Still, the situation is a reminder that behind every restaurant opening or closing is a larger business story involving landlords, operators, investors, workers, and the changing economics of Nashville’s food scene.

Readers who followed E3 Chophouse may want to watch what eventually replaces the space and whether the case reveals more about the pressures facing restaurants in Nashville’s busiest commercial districts.

Cheekwood Offers a Timely Look at Pollinator Gardens

Middle Tennessee gardeners and nature lovers have a timely outdoor option this weekend.

Cheekwood is hosting a Pollinator Roundtable on Saturday, June 27, at 9:30 a.m., giving visitors a chance to learn more about bees, butterflies, native plants, and how local gardens can better support pollinators.

The program is a good fit for early summer, when many yards, patios, and community gardens are in full bloom. For residents trying to make their outdoor spaces more useful for wildlife, the roundtable offers a practical way to think about plant selection, habitat design, and simple steps that can help pollinators thrive.

It also gives readers a slower, more educational outdoor outing than a typical hike or festival. Instead of fighting the biggest downtown crowds, visitors can spend part of the morning at Cheekwood, explore the gardens, and leave with ideas they can use at home.

For families looking for another outdoor option, the Nashville Zoo also has live music planned through its Spring Musicians Series this weekend. The series gives visitors a chance to pair animal exhibits with a little live entertainment, making it a lighter add-on for anyone planning a zoo day.

As always, readers should check event pages before heading out for admission details, weather updates, and any schedule changes.

Quote Of The Day

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

— John Lubbock

Interesting Facts

Three Local Resources Help Older Adults Stay Active, Connected, and Involved

Older adults across Nashville have more local options than many people realize for staying active, meeting others, learning new skills, and giving back.

From Metro Parks programs to library wellness events and volunteer opportunities through FiftyForward, these resources can help seniors build routine, connection, and purpose close to home.

Metro Parks senior recreation programs are a good place to start. Nashville’s senior recreation sites offer activities for adults 55 and older, including arts, dance, crafts, games, fitness, and social programs. For many older adults, these centers provide more than activities — they offer a regular place to see familiar faces, try something new, and stay engaged during the week.

The Nashville Public Library is another useful resource. Branches across the city host adult-friendly programs such as book clubs, computer help, wellness events, gentle movement classes, lectures, creative workshops, and community gatherings. Libraries can be especially helpful for seniors because many programs are free, close to neighborhoods, and open to people who want a low-pressure way to stay connected.

For older adults looking for purpose through service, FiftyForward’s RSVP volunteer program connects adults 55 and older with volunteer opportunities in Davidson and Williamson counties. The program helps match seniors with roles that fit their interests, schedules, and abilities, giving participants a way to support local nonprofits, schools, community groups, and neighbors in need.

Together, these three resources show that staying active does not have to mean doing something complicated or expensive. A weekly class, a library event, a volunteer shift, or a senior center program can make a meaningful difference in health, confidence, and social connection.

For seniors, caregivers, and family members, the best next step is simple: check the current schedule, pick one nearby program, and try it once. A small outing can turn into a new routine, a new friendship, or a new way to feel more connected to the community.

Williamson County Enrichment Center Offers Activities for Adults 55+

Older adults in Franklin and Williamson County have a local resource for staying active, social, and involved.

The Williamson County Enrichment Center at Academy Park offers a wide range of programs for adults 55 and older, including senior bingo, day trips, fitness classes, pickleball, arts and crafts, music, and other social activities.

For many seniors, programs like these can be an easy way to build routine and connection. A weekly class, game, or group outing gives older adults a reason to get out of the house, meet new people, and stay engaged with the community.

The center is also useful for caregivers and family members who are looking for safe, structured activities for a parent, spouse, or loved one. With options that range from active programs to creative and social events, seniors can choose what fits their interests and comfort level.

Residents should check the current schedule through Williamson County Parks and Recreation, since programs, registration details, and trip availability can change.

For Franklin-area seniors, the Enrichment Center is a reminder that connection does not have to be far away. Sometimes the next good routine is right around the corner.

Chris Young Opens Famous Friends Sports Bar in Midtown

Country artist Chris Young has opened a new sports bar in Midtown.

Famous Friends publicly opened on June 24, following a VIP celebration earlier in the week. The venue is designed as a sports-focused hangout, with the ability to show multiple games at once for fans who want a place to watch football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and other major events.

For Nashville readers, the opening adds another option to Midtown’s nightlife and entertainment mix. The area already draws students, visitors, music fans, and locals looking for restaurants, bars, and game-day spots outside the Lower Broadway core.

The name also gives the venue a Music City connection. Young’s hit song “Famous Friends” celebrated hometown roots and familiar faces, and the bar carries that same local-meets-social idea into a sports and nightlife setting.

For sports fans, country music readers, and anyone watching Midtown’s continued growth, Famous Friends is a new place to keep on the radar.

As with any new opening, readers should check the venue directly for current hours, menus, reservations, game-day plans, and event details before heading out.

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