If you’ve ever travelled to a city and wondered, “where do Black folks go?” then look no further than here for the answers to that question here in Nashville. Through a historic lens, I view this article as reminiscent of the historic Green Book, which allowed Black travelers to know where they would be welcomed in the midst of Jim Crow rule. And, even though Black Americans are no longer under the thumb of segregation, highlighting and supporting our own, should always be at the forefront of our activism. With this said, lets get into this month’s hood history highlights with a guide to girl’s day out!
1.Escape the Trap-Nashville
When the popularity of Escape Room style experiences became popular in the 2010’s, most of us jumped on board for out-of-the-box, immersive experiences that took our vacations and weekend outings a step beyond bottomless mimosas and day party-ing. So, it comes as no surprise that when Atlanta-rapper and businessman, T.I. opened his version of the Escape Room with a trap house twist, his fans and followers of the trap music genre were all too pleased. Escape the Trap Nashville opened in May of 2021 and provides a carefully curated, authentic, “out North” experience for those who are familiar with the streets and for those who may be a street-life novice. Either-or, if you’re looking for a unique way to kick it with your people while you’re enjoying all that Black Nashville has to offer, don’t leave this off your list! You can follow them on Instagram at @escapethetraptmm for more information.
2. Shugga Hi Bakery
Nestled in the middle of a busy intersection out East, Shugga Hi Bakery and Café offers some good old fashioned, down home, brunch cooking for those who are looking to for a fresh way to do brunch in Nashville. Owned by sisters Kathy and Sandra who credit their mother, Catherine, for their love of food and hosting, the eatery fosters the type of warmth that only Black mama’s and aunties can deliver. The Chicken and Waffles with the “Henny syrup” and the “Shugga San” will have you and the button of your pants in a chokehold by the time that you leave; but don’t take my word for it, make sure you stop by on their open days, Friday through Sunday to gather your own opinions. You can follow them on Instagram at @shuggahicafe for more information.
3.TCC Salon Studios
Located in the heart of Metro Center, TCC Salon Studios caters to Black Nashville through their various stylists and the services that they provide. From barbers to hair stylists, estheticians, and lash artists, TCC Salon Studios can be a one-stop-shop for all things Black beauty in Nashville. When asked about why it was important to place the salon in North Nashville, owner, Carissa Jo, a stylist herself, believes that since many of the salon suites in Nashville are White owned, she wanted to create a space that is curated specifically for Black beauty. She believes that the individual studios also allow for privacy and intimacy, which genuinely helps many of her clients who may suffer from issues such as hair loss to walk in and leave out with the comfort and confidence that they
Enjoy your guide and our spin on the historic “green book”! Tag us at #urbaanite when you try one out. Also, look out for more stories from The Hood Historian as she makes her way around Nashville.
Hit us up at hello@urbaanite.com if you want to share your experience good or not so great. We always want to make sure we are sending our readers to a welcoming environment.
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