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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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How a people-loving nerd became Nashville's mayor

Over two decades, Freddie O'Connell went from being a political footnote to a beacon of hope for Nashville progressives

Election

Map: When and where to see peak fall foliage

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places in the country to admire fall foliage.

Things to Do

The celebrity guide to Nashville

Where Hollywood types like to go in Nashville.

Komodo dragons take center stage at Nashville Zoo

The giant lizards are the new featured attraction at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.

Work-from-home trend continues in Nashville

Nearly 1 in 5 Nashville workers does their jobs remotely.

Business

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.

Metro picks firm to lead East Bank development

The East Bank has been underutilized for decades.

The company selected to lead construction of a new East Bank neighborhood has proposed transforming the industrial area by adding more than 1,000 affordable housing units, building four hotels and holding space for a new Tennessee Performing Arts Center.What&#x27;s happening: Metro tapped Boston-based The Fallon Company on Tuesday to serve as the city&#x27;s master developer of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="East Bank" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/08/23/nashville-east-bank-redevelopment-plan-renderings" data-vars-content-id="9dca63a3-6dbd-4f7d-ad72-ca7d174f4abc" data-vars-headline="Metro picks firm to lead East Bank development" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/08/23/nashville-east-bank-redevelopment-plan-renderings" target="_self">East Bank</a> of the Cumberland River.

New eating options landing at BNA

Also opening soon: the fast-casual concept Kitty Hawk.

News

The iconic Portland-based sweets purveyor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Voodoo Doughnut" data-vars-click-url="https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/" data-vars-content-id="e9dd0389-1fcb-416e-8a89-91316da55b04" data-vars-headline="New eating options landing at BNA" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/" target="_blank">Voodoo Doughnut</a> is coming to the Nashville airport along with other new offerings from the Strategic Hospitality team.<ul><li>If you&#x27;ve ever wanted to grab a bacon-blasted donut before catching your flight, take note.</li></ul>

Garage Sale Vintage now open in Highland Yards with cocktail bar

A thrift store and cocktail bar just opened its second Nashville location.

Sift through racks of vintage T-shirts with a hard lemonade in hand at Garage Sale Vintage, a new shop and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/06/02/best-bars-nashville" data-vars-content-id="9ed78a3e-f6ce-41b8-a3f9-b6db9a8b983c" data-vars-headline="Garage Sale Vintage now open in Highland Yards with cocktail bar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/06/02/best-bars-nashville" target="_self">bar</a> in the Highland Yards development in East Nashville.The big picture: The trendy new shopping center continues to add <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="restaurants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/food-and-drink" data-vars-content-id="9ed78a3e-f6ce-41b8-a3f9-b6db9a8b983c" data-vars-headline="Garage Sale Vintage now open in Highland Yards with cocktail bar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/food-and-drink" target="_self">restaurants</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="retailers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/business" data-vars-content-id="9ed78a3e-f6ce-41b8-a3f9-b6db9a8b983c" data-vars-headline="Garage Sale Vintage now open in Highland Yards with cocktail bar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/business" target="_self">retailers</a> like Garage Sale, which celebrated its grand opening Aug. 11.

Southwest Airlines announces Nashville expansion

Southwest selected Nashville to be its 12th crew base.

Southwest Airlines is bringing 1,300 new jobs to the Nashville area, the company and Gov. Bill Lee announced this week.Details: Southwest selected Nashville to be its 12th crew base, which means beginning in 2024, pilots and flight attendant jobs will be anchored here.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft as seen flying

Daddy's Dogs continues rapid Nashville expansion

Sean Porter quit his job in the music business eight years ago to get in the hot dog game.

Food and Drink

Like many entrepreneurs before him, Sean Porter started building an empire out of his garage.Flashback: Weary from years working as a road manager for a slate of touring artists, he decided on a new career centered around another one of his great loves: the hot dog.

Tennessee hits high mark in CNBC business ranking

The ranking is a bragging point for politicians.

Tennessee vaulted to No. 3 in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CNBC&#x27;s 2023 Top State for Business" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32055072.3915/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25iYy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNy8xMS9ub3J0aC1jYXJvbGluYS1pcy10b3Atc3RhdGUtZm9yLWJ1c2luZXNzLWxlZC1ieS13b3JrZm9yY2UtZWNvbm9teS0uaHRtbCZzPTEyNDY2OSZuPWM5ODhjYjcxJnQ9YmE1YTU1OThlNjQ3MDcyYTU4YjIxNmFiZmIxNzU2MGQ0OWU3MWQzZCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX3JpY2htb25kJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/610c4e3224241d4f337f4dd3L32cab26b" data-vars-content-id="5573fb61-084b-4af7-97f9-77dcac5c985e" data-vars-headline="Tennessee hits high mark in CNBC business ranking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32055072.3915/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25iYy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNy8xMS9ub3J0aC1jYXJvbGluYS1pcy10b3Atc3RhdGUtZm9yLWJ1c2luZXNzLWxlZC1ieS13b3JrZm9yY2UtZWNvbm9teS0uaHRtbCZzPTEyNDY2OSZuPWM5ODhjYjcxJnQ9YmE1YTU1OThlNjQ3MDcyYTU4YjIxNmFiZmIxNzU2MGQ0OWU3MWQzZCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX3JpY2htb25kJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/610c4e3224241d4f337f4dd3L32cab26b" target="_blank">CNBC&#x27;s 2023 Top State for Business</a>, which was released this week.<ul><li>The Volunteer State jumped up three spots since 2022.</li></ul>Why it matters: The ranking is a bragging point for politicians as well as economic developers, who are already taking a victory lap. Responses <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="from Gov. Bill Lee" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/GovBillLee/status/1679170995117080576?s=20" data-vars-content-id="5573fb61-084b-4af7-97f9-77dcac5c985e" data-vars-headline="Tennessee hits high mark in CNBC business ranking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/GovBillLee/status/1679170995117080576?s=20" target="_blank">from Gov. Bill Lee</a> and the state&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Department of Economic and Community Development" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/TNECD/status/1678857380333772802?s=20" data-vars-content-id="5573fb61-084b-4af7-97f9-77dcac5c985e" data-vars-headline="Tennessee hits high mark in CNBC business ranking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/TNECD/status/1678857380333772802?s=20" target="_blank">Department of Economic and Community Development</a> suggest they will double down on the state&#x27;s aggressive recruitment efforts.

New rendering: Design revealed for Cumberland River pedestrian bridge

The bridge will connect the new Oracle corporate campus on the east side of the Cumberland River to the Germantown neighborhood.

A rendering of a bike and pedestrian bridge that will connect the new Oracle corporate campus on the east side of the Cumberland River to the Germantown neighborhood was made public Tuesday.State of play: The bridge was one of the new pieces of infrastructure included in a $175 million tax abatement agreement between the city and Oracle.

Revitalization plan unveiled for Rock Harbor Marina

The popular restaurant Blue Moon Waterfront Grille will continue to anchor the marina.

A Dallas real estate firm unveiled plans Tuesday to revitalize Rock Harbor Marina and convert the West Nashville property into a mixed-use waterfront destination.Why it matters: Across Nashville, there&#x27;s been a renewed emphasis on activating the Cumberland River and other waterways. Most prominently, Mayor John Cooper&#x27;s administration is pushing a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="redevelopment plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/08/23/nashville-east-bank-redevelopment-plan-renderings" data-vars-content-id="2d1a6ade-9e1c-4c78-9c22-3b7da01cd0d0" data-vars-headline="Revitalization plan unveiled for Rock Harbor Marina" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/08/23/nashville-east-bank-redevelopment-plan-renderings" target="_self">redevelopment plan</a> for the East Bank of the Cumberland River, anchored by a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new indoor Titans stadium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/04/26/metro-council-approves-funding-for-new-titans-stadium" data-vars-content-id="2d1a6ade-9e1c-4c78-9c22-3b7da01cd0d0" data-vars-headline="Revitalization plan unveiled for Rock Harbor Marina" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/04/26/metro-council-approves-funding-for-new-titans-stadium" target="_self">new indoor Titans stadium</a>.<ul><li>The popular restaurant Blue Moon Waterfront Grille will continue to anchor the marina.</li></ul>

A rendering of the proposed new Rock Harbor Marina

CMA Fest attendance was up in 2023

Organizers said the crowds at the nightly Nissan Stadium shows were up 10% from last year, setting a new festival record.

More than 90,000 people attended this year&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CMA Fest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/06/08/cma-fest-celebrates-50-years-festivals-nashville" data-vars-content-id="20e839d9-6487-4512-b4e0-ed4abe74ee0a" data-vars-headline="CMA Fest attendance was up in 2023" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/06/08/cma-fest-celebrates-50-years-festivals-nashville" target="_self">CMA Fest</a> each day in downtown Nashville, organizers announced Monday.<ul><li>Attendance at the four-day festival grew 12% year-over-year despite driving rain on Sunday that shuttered some of the concert stages and delayed the Nissan Stadium performances.</li></ul>Zoom in: Organizers said the crowds at the nightly Nissan Stadium shows were up 10% from last year, setting a new festival record.<ul><li>The high point came Saturday, when organizers said attendance was 56,072.</li></ul>

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