Few retailers in the country can boast 160 years of nonstop service. But the milestone comes naturally to Levy’s, a fifth-generation clothing store in the heart of Green Hills. “We’re not about fast fashion, x93 says David Levy, who currently helms the family business. “Rather, we appreciate the emotional connection that our customers feel when they’re wearing properly fitting attire. x93 Having delivered on-trend styles for generations of Nashvillians, Levy says his family “respects the past and embraces the future. x93 Raise a glass to the local institution on October 29, from 5 to 9 p.m., during an in-store benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank. 3900 Hillsboro Pk, Ste. 36, Nashville, TN 37215;levysclothes.com
Back in 1925, Nashvillians could catch a silent move at the Hillsboro Theater complete with a Kimball organ and their own leather covered seat. Fast forward to 2015, and the Belcourt Theatre is still passionate about the power of film showcasing the best foreign, independent and cinema classics. The nonprofit movie house is one of only a few venues selected for by the Sundance Film Festival USA Program to screen specially selected films in Nashville. Most recently, the historic theatre is undertaking a restoration and preservation campaign to meet the needs of current generations and those who will be impacted by film for years to come. 102 Belcourt Ave, Nashville, TN 37212; belcourt.org
Like any 90-year-old, the Grand Ole Opry, which officially reaches that milestone on November 28, has witnessed a lot of change in its lifetime. Launched as the WSM Barn Dance that a fiddle player named Uncle Jimmy Thompson broadcast on the then-new WSM radio station, the Opry predates even the Great Depression. The “show that made country music famous x93 has evolved from broadcasting locally to streaming to international audiences. “It’s unpretentious, it’s accessible, it’s not about one artist, x93 says Pete Fisher, vice president and general manager of the Opry, “The Grand Ole Opry is the star of the show, and every artist who performs here knows that they’re one ingredient in the soup. x93 Ninety years in, the Opry is proves its relevance daily. The show can be heard online, though mobile apps, on satellite radio, and, of course, still at its original home, WSM-AM. It walks a fine line, satisfying old-timers and nostalgia fans while wooing those who never heard of that sacred wood circle until they watched Deacon Claybourne stand there on their TV screen. 2804 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214; opry.com
War Memorial has served the city in so many different ways: as a concert hall, performance space, civic auditorium, wedding venue, and film site. “This 90th anniversary, I am proud to recognize this beautiful iconic building which suitably reflects Tennessee’s proud past and is beloved for its historic relevance, cultural impact, as well as the memories it evokes, x93 says Commissioner Bob Ogelsby. The neoclassical gem was dedicated in 1925 as a monument to the 3,400 Tennesseans who fought and died in World War I, and has since been home to the Grand Ole Opry (1939-1943), the Nashville Symphony (1926-1980), and a stop for the African American Theatre Circuit (1950s). War Memorial Auditorium and Plaza have hosted some of the most significant military, political, and musical events including visits from Franklin D. Roosevelt, Minnie Pearl, and Jack White. 301 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37243; wmarocks.com
Since its debut in October of 1925, 650 AM WSM is still known best for its most famous broadcast, the Grand Ole Opry. Putting country music on the map, this class 1-A clear-channel is still dialed into country, bluegrass and Americana music and sharing throughout Middle Tennessee and around the globe. Sending airwaves from its diamond-shaped antenna just south of Nashville, the broadcasts continue for modern audiences ninety years later including favorites like Station Inn Sessions, the Dailey & Vincent Radio Show, and Coffee, Country & Cody. 8012 Concord Rd, Brentwood, TN 37027; wsmonline.com
If those light lavender walls could talk they’d tell you that the now signature purple was actually an accident! The painter’s mistake became part of Broadway’s legendary honky-tonk brand along with Hattie Louise “Tootsie x93 Bess who took over the lounge in 1960 and renamed it after herself. Years of sharing an alley with the Ryman Auditorium, Tootsie’s has been part of Music City history, fostering artists like Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson all the way to Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. 422 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; tootsies.net
While the call letters WRLT-FM have been broadcasting through Middle Tennessee since 1961, it took “Radio Lightning x93 debuting in 1990 to irrevocably change Nashville’s radio culture. The Lightning 100 independent stream has hopped homes, landing at their current space in Marathon Village all the while championing local musicians and making a place for non-country acts to build a following in Nashville and beyond. In addition to their uber popular shows Music Business Radio and Indie Underground Hour, the station is all about community impact with live segments at local venues (Nashville Sunday Night, The 615) and their cherry on top—the Live on the Green music series drawing big acts and even bigger crowds to Music City. 1310 Clinton St, Suite 215, Nashville, TN 37203; lightning100.com
