Restaurants are your best. Although most serve alcohol, they aren’t primarily bars. Among them: Acme Feed & Seed, Puckett’s Grocery, Mellow Mushroom, the downtown location of Martin’s BBQ and Commodore Grille. Even the Taco Bell downtown. Assembly Food Hall in the 5th and Broadway complex often hosts musicians; also check out their SkyDeck for special evening events. You’ll find stages in the airport, Freebird Boots on 2nd Avenue, N., and Gibson Garage.
Venues that charge admission or a cover but aren’t especially alcohol-driven include 3rd & Lindsley, The Listening Room, Bluebird Cafe, and City Winery. Often overlooked are the performances on the two stages within the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Warm weather draws us to outdoor stages. Among our special music series are Musicians Corner, Bluebird on the Mountain, Centennial Park Big Band Dances, Warner Park Pickin’ Parties and Cornelia Fort Pickin’ Parties. Alcohol is available at most but the atmosphere is very family-friendly.