First and foremost, this is a neighborly town. People treat you like they know you. You take them to a local restaurant, and from the time you walk in the door, everybody treats you like you're a favorite cousin at the family reunion. I've never seen her before in my life. Everybody here acts this way.
People here are genuinely kind to strangers.
Most times, when you pass somebody on the street, you'll get not only eye contact, but a little nod, or a even a wave. Speaking of waves, one of the more charming Nashville customs is the motorist's thank-you wave. Unlike most towns with snarly traffic, Nashville is full of people who will cheerfully let you change lanes, or turn left, or pull out onto a busy street. When a fellow motorist does you such a favor, you're expected to give a little wave. Although we're generally courteous to our fellow drivers, we're just plain mean to our pedestrians.