Free Day to Tour the Ryman plus other cheap and free fun
Sunday is Ryman Community Day, with free self guided tours for Tennesseans at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
It is from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and you'll need to show your Tennessee drivers license and enjoy the Ryman without having to pay the usual $20 admission fee. The tour includes the fabulous film “Soul of Nashville,” a movie that highlights the facility’s expansive history from its origins as a tabernacle to a revered and award-winning concert venue. “Soul of Nashville” also includes historic performances from country music icons Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams, Sr. as well as a new collaboration comprised of Darius Rucker, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill.
There will also be live music on the plaza area outside, food and beverages deals at the Café Lula (buy one entree, get another for $1.25), and a 20 percent discount in the Ryman Gift Shop. If you want a guided Backstage tour, you can pay $10 for an upgrade! www.ryman.com
Vanderbilt's Spring Football Showcase, (the new name of what used to be Vandy's Spring Black and Gold game) is 10 a.m. - noon Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium, with fans getting a preview of the team through a "scripted scrimmage", drills, a kids' zone and an autograph session on the field. Admission is free. www.vucommodores.com
Also coming up at Vanderbilt, the spring session of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of classes for seniors, starts this week, with two Osher Steel Drum Band classes, an “Intellectual Sampler”, “A Rhythmic Journey Through the Ages”, “Developing Moral Intelligence”, “Gay Then, Gay Now”. The cost is $40 per class and many of the classes have six sessions. Details, see vanderbilt.edu/olli or call 615-343-0700.
Lipscomb University's Lifelong Learning program is also starting a new session, including "The History and Creation of the Tennessee Bicentennial Mall", "Folklore of the Southern Appalachian" and "How Films Tell Stories." The cost is $60 per person for each class or $100 to enroll in two or more classes in the same session. Details: www.lipscomb.edu/lifelonglearning or call 615-966-6216 or 1-800-333-4358, ext. 6216.
There will be performances of the play "My Father's War" at 7 p.m. on March 24, 25, 31, and April 1, and 2 p.m. on March 26 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 3100 Murfreesboro Pike, in Antioch. The World War II play was adapted from Lt. Herschel Ponder's World War II memoir "Ponder Anew" and is performed by Ponder's daughter Carol Ponder, and Robert Kiefer. Donations at the door will be presented to Room In The Inn, since 30 percent of homeless adults are veterans.
Mr. Bond the Science Guy will be doing a free program at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, 1900 Davidson St. at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The science guys call themselves “edutainers” -and their mission is to show kids that science is fun, cool and exciting through hands on science shows. http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Nature-Centers-and-Natural-Areas/Shelby-Bottoms-Nature-Center.aspx
Saturday is Fossil Hunting Day at Fort Negley. Vanderbilt University's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is partnering with Fort Negley, Metro Parks and Vulcan Materials to put on a day full of fossil fun. There will be presentations about Tennessee's ancient past, an opportunity to see what Middle Tennessee was like 400 million years ago and a chance to learn about dinosaurs, saber toothed cats, frozen mammoth and more. And, of course, plenty of fossil hunting at the fort. The event is free. www.nashville.gov/parks-and-recreation/historic-sites/Fort-Negley.aspx
If you missed the big Nashville lawn and garden show, the Spring Hill Lawn and Garden Show at Rippavilla is 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 for the show only or $10 for the show and a tour of Rippavilla, the 160- year old Maury County home of Nathaniel F. Cheairs. This is a great deal since Rippavilla tour admission alone is usually $12. www.rippavilla.org
Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music has an active week, with the Vanderbilt Percussion Group playing at 8 p.m. Sunday, Blair Brass Quintet playing at 8 p.m. Monday and the Vanderbilt University Orchestra set for 8 p.m. Wednesday. All are free at the Blair School, 2400 Blakemore Ave., blair.vanderbilt.edu.
Some shopping
It is flea market weekend at Fairgrounds Nashville, and this month's theme is "spring fling." Hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, but parking is $5. www.thefairgrounds.com/fleamarket
Western Hills Church's annual Yard Sale is 7 a.m. - noon Saturday at the church at 7565 Charlotte Ave. in Bellevue. Sale proceeds help fund a Honduras mission trip.
Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”