Visit Exotic East Nashville

The travel section of the Knoxville News Sentinel takes a look at East Nashville this weekend.

East Nashville's diversity is a big benefit. All manner of income levels, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation and lifestyles can be found here. A lot of free thinkers are in East Nashville's cultural mix, says [Herb] Williams. He lives in the heart of East Nashville with his wife, Amy, and two young children. He contrasts their lifestyle to his childhood spent in a small community in South Alabama. Referring to some of the prejudices of past eras, he says his children won't "have to unlearn something that is backwards. Part of why we love East Nashville is that it is an open and accepting neighborhood," he says. He's proud that his 6-year-old son hasn't grown up with a bias. "He doesn't see any kind of division or class thing. When kids come to school with two mommies or two daddies, it's nothing unusual to him." The family recently attended a neighborhood street festival staged in front of The Lipstick Lounge and Mad Donna's, both lesbian- and gay-friendly establishments. "You are judged more by who you are and what you are doing, than what you look like or what you drive. We have been very happy with that. It's a good place to live."