Pointe well made

We've all heard stories about how our grandfathers strived to work for the same company their whole career. It was a really big deal for them to get their 30-year engraved watch etched with the company logo. We don't really hear those stories much any more.

One of the few exceptions is Paul Vasterling. He joined the Nashville Ballet in 1989 as a dancer and has been there since. He's now the CEO and Artistic Director. But he's also one of Nashville's biggest fans and advocates.

The stereotype for Nashville, of course, is "country and western music," which is a huge part of what makes this a great city. But her musical heritage includes rock, folk, blues, Americana, pop and (gasp) classical. The artists and staff of the Nashville Ballet are among the hardest working groups around and they do a stellar job representing Nashville from the tips of their pointe shoes to the tops of their costumed heads. Mostly because of Paul's passion and leadership.

Paul was recently featured in the "Executive Profile" section of the Nashville Business Journal. You can read it here: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/08/10/executive-profile-paul-vasterling.html

You can also support one of Nashville's finest treasures by attending a performance of the Nashville Ballet. It's worth it. And the vision that Paul has had for growing and expanding Nashville Ballet for nearly 25 years has been worth it, too. Nashville is blessed to have both.

And just think... Paul is well on his way to getting that 30-year engraved watch!

Evil bear

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Visitors to Nashville often ask what a "demon bruin" is. Is it some kind of evil bear?

What they're referring to, of course, is Demonbreun Street, which runs from the nearly completed new Convention Center in the LoBro area and ends at the "Musica" roundabout at the northern edge of Music Row (Also known as "them nekkid dancers in the middle of the street," but more on that another day.).

Actually, Demonbreun isn’t pronounced like “demon bruin” at all. We say it more like de-MUN-bree-uhn. It’s French. Well, French-Canadian, actually. One Timothy Demonbreun was born in Montreal, Québec, in 1747. As a teen, he traveled south, eventually becoming a fur trader. At one point he discovered a great source of deer and buffalo along the Cumberland River and settled in a make-shift shack after living in a cave for a few weeks. Therefore, he is known as Nashville’s “first citizen.” There’s no record of him hunting for the furs of evil bears, though.

He later fought as an officer in the American Revolution and even served as Lt. Governor of the Illinois Territory. He again returned to Nashville and became a rather successful businessman before dying here in 1826. Demonbreun fathered several children and his descendants are still all over town, with varying spellings and pronunciations of the name. So we can’t be too hard on visitors who have trouble saying Demonbreun when his family can’t even agree on how to pronounce it.

Welcome to OHB

Music City. Athens of the South. The Third Coast. Home of the Grand Ole Opry. Nashville has a lot of nicknames. I like to call her "home."
     This is a great place to live and work. There is always something going on and always something to do, no matter what you're interested in. It's growing all the time, but keeps that small-town charm. Folks here are full of big-city spirit, but also ooze with sincere Southern hospitality.
     Many years ago, before anyone here can remember, a road was built that completely encircled all of Nashville. It was named Old Hickory Boulevard, an homage to local resident President Andrew Jackson, who was also known as Old Hickory. That singular road has since been broken up, rerouted in sections, partly submerged under Percy Priest Lake, and even renamed in parts. So visitors might be confused that there are now several Old Hickory Boulevards around town.
     This blog is a tribute to all the things -- old and new -- in and around Nashville that make this city what it is. Sorta like OHB.
     Please enjoy!