by Jessica Burke | Dec 19, 2011 | News Slider
It’s so close to campus, you could walk there; it’s the Bluebird Cafe. A restaurant that personifies Nashville through music. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., but knowing the reputation of the Bluebird, we arrived early. It was only 5:30, but the line was already snaking into the parking lot. Waiting patiently, making small talk with other music lovers, we eventually got to the front and just in time too! My two friends and I were among the last few people to squeeze through the door, into this tiny cafe, leaving many disappointed people still standing outside. Stepping in was a surprise. Pictures of famous artists littered the walls, all who had–at some point before their fame–played in this cafe. Tables and chairs were squeezed into the room almost beyond capacity. People nearly sat on top of each other. We were seated at a table with travelers from Oklahoma, ordered some delicious but expensive appetizers, and soaked up the atmosphere and the music. The night I went was song writers’ night. The show kicked off with a feature band, then had a list of musicians who performed three songs for the eager audience. The rule is “no covers,” meaning the artists only present their own music, which allows for some real gems in the mix. If you are looking for something to do in Nashville that’s different and an incredible amount of fun, this little cafe is a real treat. The only negative note I have is that, though there is no cover charge, there is a minimum $7 food or drink purchase. But in my opinion, it was completely...
by Stewart Williams | Dec 15, 2011 | News Slider, Opinion
Students looking for something different to do can find tangible connections to history within a short drive of the Lipscomb campus. One such opportunity for hands-on learning is just 30 minutes away in Franklin, Tenn. Many of the historical sites in and around Franklin are related to the Battle of Franklin, which occurred within the present-day city limits on Nov. 30, 1864. This was one of the American Civil War’s most bloody conflicts, costing the lives of more than 9,500 men. The Carter House, where some of the most heated fighting took place, is a must for any history-seeker. Walking around the grounds of the brick house, you can touch Civil War cannons and see bullet holes from the battle in the sides of outbuildings. There also is a museum on site which brings the story of the battle home. Just outside the city is the Carnton Plantation. This family home served as a field hospital for Confederate wounded during and after the battle. The floors of the home are still heavily stained with blood from these soldiers. This is history on a very personal level. “What we specialize in here at the Franklin battlefield are tangible hands-on experiences,” said Rob Cross, associate historian for both the Carter House and the Carnton Plantation. These sites make history more than a list of facts to memorize. You can really get a sense of what the people involved in this story were going through. Not only are the sites themselves engaging, but the people involved in the preservation process are passionate about the project. Many of the people involved in the preservation effort, like Cross, have ancestors who fought...
by Stewart Williams | Dec 15, 2011 | News Slider, Opinion
O.K., so I’m sitting there and here comes Keith Urban. And Eric Church … and, well, it’d be easy to lose count after spending the evening of Nov. 9 as a seat-filler at the 45th annual CMA Awards here in Nashville. Freshman Megan Anderson and I were two lucky Lipscomb students, among students from other schools, chosen to be seat-fillers because of our involvement in CMA EDU, a country music program that meets monthly on campus. Several hundred seat-fillers met outside Bridgestone Arena where their IDs were checked, and they were given wristbands and directions for the night. Of course, the purpose of seat-fillers is simple: to fill the seats. Those seats are empty when the stars go onstage to perform or to present awards, so our job was to keep the arena looking filled up for network cameras. A group of aisle-fillers wore pink wristbands, and the seat-fillers wore blue wristbands. Each group was assigned a general area to sit or stand throughout the show unless they were separately asked to go somewhere else. Megan and I sat in the back-upper section of the arena with a clear view of the main stage. About eight rows in front of us was a small stage, where several artists such as Church, Urban, Chris Young and Scotty McCreery performed throughout the night. As seat-fillers, we weren’t allowed to bring phones or cameras to the show to be as professional as possible. Going from watching the CMAs on TV to seeing it live on stage is amazing. Megan and I couldn’t believe our eyes. The biggest country award show I watch every year on TV,...
by Hunter Patterson | Dec 14, 2011 | News Slider, Sports
Thursday night Lipscomb took on the tough task of handing an undefeated Murray State team their first loss. However, turnovers and several missed opportunities led to a Murray State win, 89-65. The Bisons turned the ball over 23 times, giving the Racers more than enough opportunities to take control. Freshman Malcolm Smith led the Bisons with 13 points and four rebounds, while Ed Daniel and Ivan Aska from Murray State led all scorers with 16 points each....
by Jessica Burke | Dec 13, 2011 | News Slider
ROTC cadet Barry Bleuer not only wants to serve in the Army, he hopes to go to the world’s war zones and protect his country while spreading joy and peace. He plans to use his spiritual foundation not to evangelize but to exemplify and lift spirits. “There is a lot of darkness over there,” said the junior engineering major from Texas. “People see a lot of darkness, and I want to be some sort of light Some students may attend universities on ROTC scholarships as a way to afford going to college and will do their military stints and go off into civilian life. Bleuer, though, said he has high military aspirations, hoping to serve the Army in the most troubled regions and to help boost the lives and spirits of his comrades. Of course, that would mean Afghanistan and Iraq now, but he said he would be more than willing if called in the event of war in Iran. “That is exactly where I want to be. I did not join the Army to stay in safety. I need to be where the worst of it all...
by Cory Woodroof | Dec 12, 2011 | News Slider
Hello, Lumination readers! As finals week dwindles down into the semester break, we’ve got you covered on all the must-see movies, television specials, and sports events for this holiday season! THE 5 MUST-SEE MOVIES THE MUPPETS (PG, featuring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Kermit the Frog, and Miss Piggy) Currently in theaters Haven’t gone out to see one of the best films of the year? Want to relive the magic? Go for it! The Muppets will be in contention for my best film of the year, so I fully recommend you give this film a viewing if you already have not. The movie is pure cinema gold featuring some of the most beloved characters of all time. Plus, there’s a great short before the film featuring the characters from the Toy Story series. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL (PG-13- featuring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames) December 16th– IMAX, December 21st– Regular theaters I can just hear theme-music now. Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) takes on the world of live-action cinema with the fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise, once again starring Tom Cruise’s IMF agent Ethan Hunt. Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames also return for yet another go-around. This time, expect plenty of espionage, fights, explosions and a death-defying stunt on the world’s tallest building. The film’s reviews are already shining a positive light on the film, so this new mission should be on the top of your holiday viewing list. Be sure to check the film out at the newly re-opened Opry Mills IMAX, as some of the film was shot...
