St. Patrick’s Day may not have been last weekend, but that did not keep the spirit of the occasion from filling the air in historic downtown Franklin Saturday night. With raised glasses, bright smiles and neighborly conversations, the good people of Williamson County made my first trip to Franklin a merry one.
Originally from the Lone Star State, I recently moved to Manchester to be with my family and to enjoy the great beauty of Tennessee. My wife and I quickly fell in love with the friendly people, the culture, and history and of course the beauty of the landscapes in our own back yard. Upon hearing of the “Franklin Main Street Brew Fest” (formally Féile Franklin) and the cause it supported, I could not resist the temptation to capture the warmth of middle Tennessee. Therefore, I purchased my ticket, packed up my camera and hit the road.
I arrived in Franklin a few hours before the festival began. My early arrival gave me the perfect opportunity to spend the afternoon admiring and photographing the impressive architecture in and around the square. Moved by its charm it was unavoidable to share the importance of preserving the heritage of middle Tennessee. I found myself taking great pleasure in not only by what I saw through my lens, but by talking of Tennessee’s heritage and antiques with locals such as Teresa Powers when I toured the Franklin Market Place on 3rd Ave.
I continued my excursion of Franklin with my special 2010 tasting glass in one hand and my camera in the other. I began by introducing my palate to the smooth “Feckin Irish Whiskey” at the Landmark Booksellers. While there I took a moment to thumb through their vast collection of classics that filled the shelves.
Eventually the smell of pizza, pretzels, brats, nachos, fish and chips seduced me back out into the night air. The sweet aromas lead my taste buds by way of my nose from one vendor to the next. I was held hostage by my cravings and was happily forced to empty my wallet to satisfy them. Thankfully the condition of my wallet did not put a hamper on the rest of my culture and taste testing expedition.
I did not make all twenty two stops listed on my tasting map. Nor did I sample all the forty plus spirits offered. And I ran out of cash before I ran out of food choices. However, I left downtown Franklin with a sober mind, a full stomach, a joyful heart and the anticipation of returning to this beautiful little town many times before Brew Fest 2011.
Thanks for the warm welcome and God Bless!
