Nashville’s ‘little’ Thanksgiving tradition: Eleven years ago, some people I admire started a little five-mile Thanksgiving Day run-walk down the main thoroughfare of the neighborhood I’ve lived in for the past 25 years. I understand that nearly 6,000 people have already registered for tomorrow’s “little” race, the Boulevard Bolt. The event, while called “bolt,” is more a slow-moving celebration than a serious competition (well, some people are serious). In addition to being a wonderful way to start off Thanksgiving (a brisk exercise while saying hello to everyone you’ve ever known — last year, I jogged along with folks ranging from a guy dressed up as a Pilgrim to one of the best-known country music stars to the majority leader of the U.S. Senate), the Boulevard Bolt has become a major fundraising event for many organizations who serve the Nashville-area’s homeless. Over $100,000 is expected to be raised by this year’s race. Tomorrow morning’s weather in Nashville looks a little chilly (temperature in the 30s with the threat of snow flurries) for the 8 a.m. start, but thousands of us will still brave the cold to celebrate the day and to express our thanks to some wonderful, visionary Nashvillians who thought of a small way to make Thanksgiving a day to reach out to their neighbors in need — a small way that has become one of Nashville’s biggest expressions of joyful and heartfelt sharing — and whole lot of fun. It’s just one more thing about Nashville that makes me feel lucky to be able to call it home.

Update: The weather turned out to be perfect. A beautiful sunny morning that feels good to a jogger and bundled-up walkers. My time was, to the second, what I was aiming for, so I’m pleased with that, also. “The Bolt” was followed by a very special day with family and dear friends…indeed, a wonderful day.

Not a turkey sandwich, they hope: Just saw this press release about the launch of The Deli magazine that will cover the local music scene in New York (Oh, and as always, it’s “the first” of something). Maybe some of the PR folks who visit the rexblog can answer this better, but isn’t it rare to see a press release for something positive issued on the day before a holiday? I typically expect to see bad magazine news on days like today, not this good stuff.

Quote:

A new magazine focused on the New York City music scene will be launching on December 2nd. The Deli will focus on the underground rock, pop and folk bands that fill the city’s bars, clubs and concert venues as well as the studios, producers, promoters, equipment retailers and manufacturers who help bring the NYC indie sound to the wider public. The first magazine of its kind focused wholly on New York City, The Deli will be made available free of charge at music-oriented locations across the city. The brainchild of Editor-in-Chief Paolo De Gregorio, The Deli provides news and in-depth interviews with local bands, analyses of where the scene is headed, CD and equipment reviews and features, as well as classified advertising space for bands, studios, and others.