Your Daily Guide

📀 The Comeback of Physical Media

For anyone who misses Blockbuster Video, this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking with Joe Bass, owner of Press Play Video, about running his mobile video store, why physical media is making a comeback, and how stores like his are creating community in the age of streaming. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🚸 ICE Releases Local Mother

After nearly three months in custody, a Nashville mother of a nursing infant and toddler with Down syndrome has been released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement from a Louisiana detention center. She is home but required to wear a wrist monitor, which her attorneys argue conflicts with ICE policies concerning postpartum and breastfeeding mothers. The woman, who has no criminal record, fled domestic violence in Guatemala in 2022 and has been complying with immigration process requirements. [NewsChannel 5]

• You can read more about her story on the family’s verified GoFundMe page. [GoFundMe]

🏘️ Does Downtown Have Too Many Condos?

While downtown Nashville added almost 25,000 new housing units between 2020 and 2025, more than any other city in the nation, the type of properties built fails to address the city’s housing crisis. The new properties are primarily luxury condos and market-rate apartments, with 75% of listings failing to sell last quarter. According to Metro’s Unified Housing Strategy, Nashville needs homes affordable to households earning 60% or less of the city’s area median income, which is $64,140 for a four-person household. [🔐 Nashville Business Journal]

💰 Tourists Spend Big, But Some Businesses Aren’t Feeling It

Nashville’s tourism industry saw another record-breaking year in 2025, with $11.6 billion in revenue, a 3.5% increase from 2024. About one-third of visitor spending in Tennessee comes from Davidson County. However, many local restaurants and Lower Broadway honky-tonks say business is down. This could be due to an oversaturation of these types of businesses. [🔐 Nashville Business Journal]

Nashville has so many great events and restaurants to check out; it can be hard to choose what to do! For our September installment of Nashville Nights, local culture writer Toby Rose gives her top picks of restaurants and shows for the month, from outdoor theater to Ukrainian bites.

Croquet Cafe + Shakespeare in the Park

Croquet Cafe is the most delightful restaurant opening of the year. Located in Centennial Park, all proceeds benefit the park and every detail, from the decor to the menu, is uniquely Nashville. Standout items include the Pimento Park panini and the 9 to 5 Affogato Sundae.

You can take your Croquet Cafe order to-go and relax on a blanket to watch “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Bandshell in Centennial Park. If Shakespeare taught us anything, it’s that total fulfillment is a tragic illusion, but sometimes you can get pretty close. City Cast Nashville members can watch the show with the team this month by becoming a member!

Ophelia’s + Josh Johnson

Speaking of old Shakes, head to Ophelia’s, an Italian eatery tucked away in a quiet-ish downtown corner, for a delicious and stylish dinner. Despite a wraparound gallery wall with a circus of over 600 photos and art pieces, the pizza is the focal point here. And don’t forget to add the lasagna and tiramisu!

Afterward, walk to The Ryman to catch “The Daily Show” comedian Josh Johnson on Sept. 25 and 26. He’s usually seen slouching in a well-worn hoodie, casually pontificating on current events. Johnson’s brain must be operating on an espresso level because his jokes are in keeping with our rapid-fire (hellscape) news cycle.

Veselka + MUNA

My group chat has never been more giddy over restaurant news than they were for the Veselka launch at Lakeside Lounge. A flurry of texts were released setting up lunches and dinners, and everyone came back with glowing reviews. The famous Ukrainian restaurant based out of New York City serves pierogies, chicken schnitzel, and latkes. You know, all the staples of friendship. Do not skip the sauces here.

Of course, any person in their right mind would chase a bowl of borscht with a round of dancing. So take a quick drive over the bridge to catch MUNA at The Pinnacle on Sept. 22. The Los Angeles-based indie-pop trio is currently on their “It Gets So Hot” tour, and their show is going to feel like one massive dance party. As their latest single suggests, there will be “Dancing on the Wall.”