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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Nashville. Written by Nate Rau and Adam Tamburin.

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Two years ago Wednesday, we sent our first-ever Axios Nashville newsletter.

Why it matters: Since then, we've written relentlessly about a city at a crossroads.

It's been a tumultuous journey, but time and time again, we have found bright spots from a surprising source: our city's burger joints.

Zoom in: Brown's Diner, a Nashville institution established in 1927, embodies the challenges and opportunities of life in New Nashville.

It seems impossible that Brown's Diner is still doing its thing when so many other beloved Nashville dives have cratered.

You know the list. Rotier's. Hermitage Cafe. Arnold's.

When Brown's sold to new owners a few years ago, we all started writing its obituary.

But something surprising happened: Brown's kept going.

New ownership adapted to the city's changing landscape without sacrificing what made Brown's great in the first place.

We were greeted by the same smell of burger grease and spilled beer when we stopped by on Tuesday for an anniversary lunch. The same creaky booths lined the walls.

We even ran into familiar faces. Outgoing Mayor John Cooper and his aides Sam Wilcox and Ben Eagles came in as we headed out the door.

But there were some signs of the times. The menu now includes loaded chili tater tots, and the owners added a handsome outdoor deck with a bar and plenty of seating that would fit right in at any new trendy restaurant.

In a city clamoring to maintain its soul in a sea of bachelorettes and big development, the Brown's burger points a way forward.

Another patty slinger across town shows that new additions enrich our city, too.

Cledis Beer Garden and Burgers opened last year on a blue-collar stretch of Elm Hill Pike.

Like Brown's, Cledis offers reliably great burgers. It also has a pleasant and spacious outdoor dining area.

Instead of catering to tourists, Cledis' mission is to give back to Nashville, especially its unhoused residents. The restaurant regularly partners with a nonprofit to provide free food to the community.

The bottom line: Our city has its share of struggles, especially affordability and quality of life for longtime Nashvillians.

As we enter our third year of Axios Nashville newsletters, we will continue to cover those issues. But we also want to celebrate the places that make Nashville special — from longtime institutions like Brown's to scrappy upstarts like Cledis.

In these two burger joints, we see a city willing to adapt and meet residents wherever they are.

If you've enjoyed following Nashville with us for the last two years, encourage your friends to join in by subscribing for free.

Axios Nashville looks back on two years of newsletters

Nashville's bright spots are our city's burger joints.

Illustration of the Axios logo as a gold balloon. 

Two years ago Wednesday, we sent our first-ever Axios Nashville newsletter.Why it matters: Since then, we&#x27;ve written relentlessly about a city at a crossroads.<ul><li>It&#x27;s been a tumultuous journey, but time and time again, we have found bright spots from a surprising source: our city&#x27;s burger joints.</li></ul>

News

The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly have a deal in place to build a new stadium, slamming the door on speculation the team could relocate to Nashville.

The news could, however, move Major League Baseball one step closer to expansion.

State of play: Whenever a MLB franchise has long-term uncertainty around its stadium, Nashville is regularly mentioned as a relocation possibility.

It happened in 2021 with the Rays. It happened again in 2021 with the Oakland A's.

It happened last year with the Baltimore Orioles.

And it happened earlier this summer with the Chicago White Sox.

Why it matters: The Rays' deal for a 30,000-seat stadium in St. Petersburg seems to solve one of MLB's lingering ballpark problems. The A's are navigating a likely move to Las Vegas.

With those two issues out of the way, MLB could be closer to pursuing expansion. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in July he would look at expansion "pretty shortly" after those two franchises resolved their ballpark disputes.

Zoom in: A local group called Music City Baseball wants to bring an expansion franchise to Nashville.

Yes, but: The election of Freddie O'Connell as Nashville's next mayor complicates the matter. Pro stadium deals often come with taxpayer funding, but O'Connell has expressed reservations about the city helping finance a ballpark.

"I would be delighted to entertain a conversation with anybody who wants to fully privately fund our next public entertainment facility," O'Connell said during a forum at the Nashville Rotary Club last month.

Tampa Bay Rays squash speculation they might relocate to Nashville

The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly have a deal to build a new stadium.

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: A general view during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day at Tropicana Field on March 30, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. 

A general view during a Tampa Bay Rays game in March. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Rays <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reportedly have a deal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/09/18/stadium-gas-plant-district-2028-tropicana-field-stuart-sternberg/" data-vars-content-id="93b1694a-857b-48ac-b6f9-3411bd32f97b" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay Rays squash speculation they might relocate to Nashville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/09/18/stadium-gas-plant-district-2028-tropicana-field-stuart-sternberg/" target="_blank">reportedly have a deal</a> in place to build a new stadium, slamming the door on speculation the team could relocate to Nashville.<ul><li>The news could, however, move Major League Baseball one step closer to expansion.</li></ul>

Sports

Nearly 1 in 5 Nashville area workers did their jobs from home in 2022, according to new Census figures released last week.

Why it matters: Although it was spurred out of necessity by the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home is proving to be more than a fad.

By the numbers: With 19.4% of its workforce working from home, Nashville outpaced the national average of 15.2% last year.

Nashville's percentage of at-home workers dropped slightly from 20.6% in 2021.

By comparison, Axios' Sam Baker and Simran Parwani report that Boulder, Colorado, had the highest work-from-home percentage at 32%.

The other side: Mississippi has the lowest share of remote workers in the U.S., at just 5.5%. The Southeast generally is well below the national average.

Still, every state has more remote workers now than in 2019, before the pandemic began.

And even after two years, the trend line is barely moving. Nationwide, the share of people working from home declined by less than 3 percentage points between 2021 and 2022, according to the Census figures.

Be smart: Read Baker and Parwani's full report, including the impact working from home is having on downtown office hubs.

Work-from-home trend continues in Nashville

Nearly 1 in 5 Nashville workers does their jobs remotely.

Nearly 1 in 5 Nashville area workers did their jobs from home in 2022, according to new Census figures released last week.Why it matters: Although it was spurred out of necessity by the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home is proving to be more than a fad.

Business

Three Tennessee lawmakers will be on hand Friday for President Biden's official announcement about forming a new federal office focusing on gun violence prevention.

Details: State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, state Rep. Karen Camper and state Rep. Harold Love will attend the announcement, according to a press release from Senate Democrats.

Why it matters: Gun control measures face long odds in Tennessee due to opposition from Republican lawmakers.

The legislature recently completed a special session without seriously considering a proposal to temporarily block someone from guns if they are deemed a threat to themselves or to others. Gov. Bill Lee supported the measure, but most conservative lawmakers rejected it outright.

In Tennessee, the focus has been on incentivizing the safe storage of guns and funding programs to address mental health issues.

Zoom in: The new department "will coordinate efforts across the federal government and will offer help and guidance to states struggling with increasing gun violence," according to The Associated Press.

What they're saying: "Tennesseans deserve better than what they're getting from our state government so we are thrilled to play a part in this announcement and we look forward to helping this office realize its potential," Akbari and Love said in a joint statement.

Tennessee Democrats back Biden's gun violence office

The Biden administration is forming a new federal office focusing on gun violence prevention.

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

Tennessee

Three Tennessee lawmakers will be on hand Friday for President Biden&#x27;s official announcement about forming a new federal office focusing on gun violence prevention.Details: State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, state Rep. Karen Camper and state Rep. Harold Love will attend the announcement, according to a press release from Senate Democrats.

Politics

A key fall tradition for many of the basic bros out there is the pumpkin spice latte.

We assure you there are more options: Nate and Adam spent the better part of Thursday exploring the tasty fall-themed drinks popping up on Nashville coffee shop menus.

Zoom in: Let's start at Beck's Farmhouse Coffee in Joelton, an Axios Nashville favorite.

Nate ordered the Happy Camper, an impossibly delicious s'mores latte served with the coffee shop's homemade marshmallow syrup and chocolate. The latte is topped with graham cracker crumbles and whipped cream.

Beck's also makes a hazelnut and clove latte and, yes, a pumpkin spice latte on its fall menu.

What's next: Nate ventured into the bowels of East Nashville with a visit to Weak Coffee Company, located inside a drum shop off of Riverside Drive. Its ever-changing menu is anchored by creative takes on lattes.

Weak Coffee's fall drink is called School Supplies. It's a latte made with molasses, orange, clove and fresh ginger.

That's two fall drinks that featured clove, perhaps signaling an heir to pumpkin spice's autumnal throne.

Adam stopped by 8th & Roast for the seasonal We Were in Paris latte, which has roasted hazelnut, cinnamon and brown sugar simple syrup. It was even better when he popped off the to-go lid to smell the warm cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Other 8th & Roast fall menu items evoke an apple pie, pumpkin pie and rich butter pecan.

Check out last year's fall coffee guide for more options

Nashville fall coffee guide 2023: Push past the pumpkin spice

The Happy Camper latte from Beck's Farmhouse Coffee. Photo: Nate Rau/Axios

A key fall tradition for many of the basic bros out there is the pumpkin spice latte.<ul><li>We assure you there are more options: Nate and Adam spent the better part of Thursday exploring the tasty fall-themed drinks popping up on Nashville coffee shop menus.</li></ul>Zoom in: Let&#x27;s start at Beck&#x27;s Farmhouse Coffee in Joelton, an Axios Nashville favorite.<ul><li>Nate ordered the Happy Camper, an impossibly delicious s&#x27;mores latte served with the coffee shop&#x27;s homemade marshmallow syrup and chocolate. The latte is topped with graham cracker crumbles and whipped cream.</li><li>Beck&#x27;s also makes a hazelnut and clove latte and, yes, a pumpkin spice latte on its fall menu.</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: Nate ventured into the bowels of East Nashville with a visit to Weak Coffee Company, located inside a drum shop off of Riverside Drive. Its ever-changing menu is anchored by creative takes on lattes.<ul><li>Weak Coffee&#x27;s fall drink is called School Supplies. It&#x27;s a latte made with molasses, orange, clove and fresh ginger.</li><li>That&#x27;s two fall drinks that featured clove, perhaps signaling an heir to pumpkin spice&#x27;s autumnal throne.</li></ul>Adam stopped by 8th &amp; Roast for the seasonal We Were in Paris latte, which has roasted hazelnut, cinnamon and brown sugar simple syrup. It was even better when he popped off the to-go lid to smell the warm cinnamon sprinkled on top.<ul><li>Other 8th &amp; Roast <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fall menu items" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwz8YXUuxVT/" data-vars-content-id="ed4cb92d-d630-4f3c-ac7b-275c9f264bd2" data-vars-headline="Nashville fall coffee guide 2023: Push past the pumpkin spice" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwz8YXUuxVT/" target="_blank">fall menu items</a> evoke an apple pie, pumpkin pie and rich butter pecan.</li></ul>Check out last year&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fall coffee guide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/09/30/nashville-tn-fall-coffee-drinks" data-vars-content-id="ed4cb92d-d630-4f3c-ac7b-275c9f264bd2" data-vars-headline="Nashville fall coffee guide 2023: Push past the pumpkin spice" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/09/30/nashville-tn-fall-coffee-drinks" target="_self">fall coffee guide</a> for more options

Nate Rau

Featured stories

Nashville fall coffee guide 2023: Push past the pumpkin spice

Tennessee Democrats back Biden's gun violence office

Work-from-home trend continues in Nashville

Axios Nashville looks back on two years of newsletters

Tampa Bay Rays squash speculation they might relocate to Nashville