A summer for the record books

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 27, 2007 |

It’s been a long, hot summer, and it’s not quite over yet. The relentless heat has toppled records dating back 137 years in Nashville, and there hasn’t been a lot of difference in the “feels like” heat between Nashville and downtown Clarksville.

Sunday marked the 32nd consecutive day of highs over 90, breaking a 53-year-old record, and setting another record — 24 consecutive days of 95+ temps. Middle Tennessee broke five daily high temp records in August.

Fifteen days in August saw temperatures top the 100 degree mark, more than twice as many as ever before recorded, and records have been maintained since 1870. «Read the rest of this article»

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Blondie’s: Franklin Street eatery booming in the heart of downtown

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 27, 2007 |

Whether you want a bit of handmade honey and nut cream cheese on your breakfast bagel or a slice of delectable carrot cake for a midday dessert, a little downtown eatery called Blondie’s is the place to go. Sandwiches and coffees are their specialties.

When thinking deli sandwiches, one often thinks of “Dagwood’s,” those heaping stacks of fillings scrunched between slices of bread. Blondie’s, while serving ample sandwiches, does it with a lighter hand, a delicate touch that is nonetheless filling and satisfying.

Apart from its wonderful food, Blondie’s has a little something extra to offer its patrons: a chance to sit outdoors in a small atrium, a terraced garden spot with cafe tables, plants and a bit of shade, shelter from the summer sun. It’s not big, but it’s enough. It almost classifies itself as one of Clarksville’s best kept secrets.

Inside this year-old dining spot, you’ll find brick walls, high ceilings with dark overhead beams, soft lighting and a ceiling fan pushing comfortable cool air down, and comfortable seating with some tables overlooking Franklin Street and others neatly spaced along the narrow hall that leads to the outdoor patio.

Posters and pictures abound: vintage movie stars, a bit of Norman Rockwell, and a print of that famous World War II era “kiss” photograph celebrating the end of war. There’s a wonderful painting of the bistro itself (pictured above right), done in brick red tones that captures the essence of Blondie’s interior. «Read the rest of this article»

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