We’ve been meaning to get back to the Parthenon (and Athena, inside) — both full-scale replicas — in Nashville’s Centennial Park for a while now, knowing the boys would get a kick out of it. 
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
From the city’s website:
Originally built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition, this replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece serves as a monument to what is considered the pinnacle of classical architecture. The plaster replicas of the Parthenon Marbles found in the Naos are direct casts of the original sculptures, which adorned the pediments of the Athenian Parthenon dating back to 438 B.C. The originals of these powerful fragments are housed in the British Museum in London.
The Parthenon also serves as Nashville’s art museum. The focus of the Parthenon’s permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists donated by James M. Cowan. Additional gallery spaces provide a venue for a variety of temporary shows and exhibits.
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
The Athena project began in 1982, was unveiled in 1990, and was completely gilded and painted by the summer of 2002.
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
The gold leaf is 23.75 karat gold and three times thinner than cigarette paper. There’s nothing sealing the gold leaf as it would just dull the surface.
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
To keep things easy, we decided before visiting the Parthenon to have lunch at Rotier’s — a Nashville institution, since 1945
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
where they’re famous for their cheeseburger on french bread
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
this hamburger has some serious adherents. I’m not one, but love that this place is still going. And where else can you go that has a Spuds McKenzie lamp and a poster from the 80s with ET telling you to ‘call home’ if you’ve had too much to drink? I don’t need to come back but feel good that they have their own crowd that will hopefully keep the place going even longer.
After we left the Parthenon, it was time to run back down the street, this time to the Elliston Place Soda Shop for a quickie milkshake. Which was great. Like…not like the greatest milkshake you’ve ever had in your life, but this is the kind of retro place that makes it all seem fabulous anyway.
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
They’ve been in business since 1939 and are Nashville’s oldest continually operating restaurant in the original location.
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js 
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
It looks pretty good, but we passed.
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
—
A couple of days later when we were leaving, we decided to stop at the East Nashville Five Daughters for a snack for our trip. Four people, four things. Two got demolished, one barely touched (that choc vegan one), another just meh (the twist, kinda one note). Av’s doughnut with the chocolate icing got four thumbs up.
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
…but I was the genius who got the 100 layer doughnut and everybody declared it fab. It has a light cream on top and completely unnecessary sugar on the outside
//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
but the filling is on the inside too, which is pretty awesome, and all four of us liked that one too, so yeahhhhh
—
P.S. Dominique Ansel shops are celebrating the Cronut® four-year anniversary this week. Every month, they feature a different flavor: May’s is blush peach and elderflower ganache.