Bearlyhangingon

I live in the Belle Meade area of Nashville. Moved here from NYC in 2006. Before that lived in Austin. Grew up in East Texas I'm biased but think Nashville checks more of your boxes than you think. Like Texas, no state income tax. Percy Warner park has tons of trails for hiking, horseback and mountain biking. There are a lot of state parks within an hour or so, particularly on the Plateau that offer tons of hiking. The food/entertainment scenes are great, as you mention. Remodeled airport opened this year. Direct flights to London now and I'm told Paris and Tokyo soon (Tokyo, because Nissan and Bridgestone's headquarters are in Nashville) I don't spend much time in the Franklin/Williamson county, so I don't see much of the MAGA nonsense, but I know it is heavy there. Seems to me that the Belmont/12th South areas, as you mention, might be good spots to look. I would also throw out my neighborhood and Forest Hills.

A place that does not get much pub here, but is terrific is Gautreau's. Mostly locals, I think.

I have hunted red stags in October between Glenfinnan and Arisaig in the western highlands, which is not far from Fort William. Gorgeous country. Glenfinnan is best known for the Harry Potter viaduct, but it is also where Bonnie Prince Charlie began the Jacobite rising. There is a cool monument there. Just down the road from Glenfinnan is Maillaig. There is a ferry from Mallaig to Invernie, Knoydart, which is where the Old Forge Pub is located. It's the most remote pub in Britain. It's a cool excursion. https://www.theoldforge.co.uk/ And I agree with the above post about Glencoe. It's a beautiful area to drive through. Glenfinnan Monument:

Having spent a fair amount of time in Wisconsin over the last couple of decades, I can confirm that it is a terrific drinking state. It seems there is a bar on every corner, including in the small towns. Once went to a high school baseball game in N. Wisconsin and the concession stand sold beer (and brats of course).

absolutely this. Pulltap is terrific. I've run through a bunch and it's the best by far imo. Ah so is great for the older corks...they are long and often soft (double entendre not intended).

I like Heitz, but I'm I fan of more old school, less extracted style.

The fiddle is tremendous. I great Strait pedal steel song is Nobody in His Right Mind Would Have Left Her. Another timeless song.

I celebrate the entire scotch whisky catalog, though I favor Islay whiskies. One of my non-Islay favorites is from Campbeltown and seems to get little play in the US...Springbank. The Springbank 10 and 15 are not too hard to find. Both are terrific.

I believe this is one of the greatest songs (not limited to country) ever recorded. It seems to get lost in the shuffle, including among Strait's other songs. So, I suggest it should be celebrated: Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone, everything that I've got, is just what I've got on, when that sun is high in the Texas sky, I'll be buckin' at the county fair....

Looks awesome. In my experience, cooking the pancetta for a bit longer to brown and crisp it up some more helps cut down on the salt and richness.

minerals upon minerals are what I taste...though I lack a discerning palate. I have had a number of aligotes and find them refreshing and great to drink with all kinds of food...seafood, chicken, salads and white fishes. Plus, they are a fraction of the price of chardonnay burgundies. Here is a great article about them: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/dining/white-wine-burgundy-aligote.html

I second Google wifi. Very easy to set up and works great. We switched from an Apple airport with several airport expresses and have had no problems using our Apple products on the Google system.

No doubt...a great airport listen. Forgot about Slow Show. Great song.

Great stuff, indeed. They make the chocolate in house. I was raised on Blue Bell, but (heresy perhaps) I think Graeters blows it away.

Good? I love vouvrays and other Loire valley chenin blancs but rarely see savennieres.