Cool jazz at Arrington Vineyards

It took out-of-town visitors to bring it about, but we finally visited Arrington Vineyards.

That one trip convinced us that “wow, we have really been missing out.”

Just a quick trip on state route 840, the vineyards are so beautiful, peaceful, but lively. You have to visit to understand what we’re talking about.

To top it off, Music in the Vines is free. Yep, there’s no charge for an afternoon or evening of beautiful music on the rural hillside of little Arrington, a small community between Murfreesboro and Franklin.

And it is not just a one-time, spring event. Arrington Vineyards plays host to Music in the Vines every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through mid December. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sundays rain or shine.

Jim Michie filled the cool spring day with melodic jazz … all beautiful and bright.

We got there early before the lines for the wine tasting got too long. We got to choose four flavors. I selected two white wines and two reds. Betty Lou selected four whites. I liked the Stag’s White 2009 best, while she preferred the May wine of the month, the Riesling 2009.

Naturally, after tasting the wines, we just had to buy a bottle and some other knick-knacks. Hey, after all, we were playing tourists along with Betty Lou’s “auntie” Virginia and her friend Judy who were visiting from Michigan.

It was the perfect end to a day of antiquing.

Because it had been so rainy early in the day, we had opted not to take a picnic meal along with us. So we instead enjoyed some great cheese and crackers along with a bottle of Riesling.

Country music artist Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn fame founded the vineyard. While we didn’t see him, he is often present at Arrington events.

Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are the biggest selling duo in the history of country music with sales topping 23 million records. Earlier this year, Brooks and Dunn announced they were going solo.

We were early enough to land a spot on the winery’s deck, but the area is surrounded by picnic tables and tree swings. All of which are perfect to enjoy an afternoon or evening of music and fun.

For cooler weather, a nice, native stone fireplace heats the deck and there’s a bonfire available in a huge, nearby pit.

With the music and conversation, the vineyard is a tranquil, but fun-filled place that’s perfect for family groups and romantic couples.

Next time, we’re packing a picnic and spending the evening listening to jazz.

Saturday surprise at Center Hill Lake

Hungry? Yes, we were.

Fortunately, we were near Center Hill Lake, a location where we have shared some great meals in the past.

We headed to a lakeside eatery where we had dined upon occasion, but it seemed strangely deserted. Was it closed? Or maybe it was out of business?

Didn’t get a chance to find out because Betty Lou was behind the wheel. She jetted on by as I twiddled with the onboard navigation system. Not too far down the roadway, she spotted a sign advertising Barbara’s Cedar House Restaurant.

“What do you think?” she asked as she ducked down Johnson Chapel Road. “Was that it?” I asked as we whirled past a log and board-type structure. It looked a little too friendly to be just a lakeside tavern.

But she didn’t stop. Betty Lou had spotted the signs for a lakeside park. Ah-ha, she was looking for a public restroom. We found them and they were padlocked. Her need overcame the beauty of the spot which would have been lovely for a picnic. Except….Except we didn’t bring any food.

Suddenly, we were back in the truck and heading back out Johnson Chapel Road.

This time she didn’t ignore the sign on the front of Barbara’s Cedar House, but it looked deserted despite the sign proclaiming that the café was indeed open. We parked the truck and walked up the long porch.

Hmmmm, it was open and we were greeted by a dark-haired woman who we soon discovered was Barbara McHugh. Barbara and her husband John own the restaurant.

Hammerhaid reviewed the menu while Betty Lou dallied. It was amazingly diverse and boasted quite a spred of seafood and a number of unusual items including German (make that Bavarian) dishes.

Beef roulade, sauerbraten, schnitzle, spaetzgle and bratwurst at a rural Tennessee restaurant? It didn’t make sense, so Hammerhaid and Betty Lou ordered a typical of cheeseburgers, fries and onion rings.

While waiting on their orders, Betty Lou took the opportunity to chat with Barbara about her origins.

Come to find out that both Barbara and her husband hail from Chicago where Barbara had been involved in the restaurant business for years. Their chef, inexplicably, comes from New England where he specialized in Bavarian cookery.

Hmmmmm, Hammerhaid was beginning to regret ordering a cheeseburger instead of a Chicago-style hotdog.

However, the regret soon passed with the delivery of his burger. It was a double-decker loaded with cheese. Delicious! The fries were hot and crunchy too. And the onion rings were so good that Betty Lou was reluctant to share.

So-o-o-o-o, we’re ready to head back.

For more information and a map on how to find it, check out barbarascedarhouse.com