Two things are looming large in our minds in the office this week: the fact that we’re almost ready to list the stunning new East Nashville homes of Porter Road Place; and that this weekend is Mother’s Day, and we have some wonderful women in our lives to spoil.
Might as well combine the two, sort of?
We’re excited to share the Porter Road Place properties with you because these six homes were built with exquisite care and style. But also because East Nashville — a neighborhood we all spend a ton of time in — has so much to offer, from its tight-knit community to shopping and food.
To illustrate the latter a little bit, with a few days left before Mother’s Day, we wanted to offer some suggestions on how to spoil your mom, grandmother, wife or other moms in your life in a distinctly East Nashville way, via uniquely East Nashville businesses.
The flowers
New East Nashville business FLWR Shop, near Five Points, isn’t your average floral stop — their arrangements are unique and bold, the blooms they bring in are often local, always special, and the vessels they choose are way more chic than the run-of-the-mill vases you’ll get from your national chains. The moms in our lives deserve more than last-minute Kroger roses, and FLWR Shop creations feel fittingly remarkable. The Mother’s Day special arrangement pictured above, with pretty peonies and ranunculus, is a particularly lovely, big bundle of love. (FLWR Shop, 123 S 11th St.)
The sweets
Few confectioners take candy to artful places quite as completely as Chocolate F/X’s Andrea Smith does. And the hand-crafted chocolate flowers she made for Mother’s Day this year, pictured above, are works of art for sure, the delicate petals shaped into beautiful and delicious and brightly colored blooms. They’re too delicate to ship, so these gorgeous treats are only available to Nashville moms, too. (Chocolate F/X, 1004 Fatherland St., Suite 101)
The pampering
If you have a mom in your life that has a little more of a creative, bohemian way of being, your average spa probably feels a little antiseptic to her. East Nashville’s O.liv Body Bar fits East Nashville’s more low-key vibe, with vintage furnishings and top-notch soundtrack choices (no muzak, no Enya). And the massage Body Bar itself lets your mom tailor things to her taste, choosing “shots” of essential oils and herbal powders to add to the massage oil. A great gift option: the “To Mom With Love” package, which includes a 45-minute massage, mini-facial and either a foot treatment/massage or hair and scalp treatment, for $140. (O.liv Body Bar, 922 Main St.)
The brunch
Not a complaint: Nashville is lousy with good brunches. But if your mom is cooler than most, you might want something low on the predictability scale. Like taking her for Mexican/Asian street-food/fusion brunch at a rock club that has a DJ spinning soul music. You’ll find that at The Pub at The Basement East, which launched their Soul Brunch in March. The food is fantastic, the vibe is friendly and non-precious, and if your mom doesn’t mind starting off a Mom’s Day with something that has a little kick, they make a Pub Mary that’s like no other Bloody Mary you’ve had before — it’s green tomato-based, with wasabi providing the kick, soy sauce and smoked sea salt boosting the flavor to something otherworldly. (The Pub at The Basement East, 917 Woodland, brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
For our money, that’s a perfect recipe for making a mom feel appreciated, East Nashville style. Hope it helps some of you provide a mom with a quality, thoroughly non-boring Mother’s Day!
If you’re in love with East Nashville and searching for the perfect place to call home there, let us know — we’d love to help!