1. Best Place to Sing/Get Shot: Laser Quest 166 2nd Ave. N, Suite B
Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams promises “endless fun” at this combination laser-tag-karaoke spot. “I go with my friends every Saturday I’m in town,” she gushes. But watch out for pint-size assassins: “Last time we went I got second-to-last place—there are always little kids who go every night, and they nail you.”
2. Best Singer-Songwriter Spot: The Bluebird Cafe 4104 Hillsboro Pike
With past performers including Garth Brooks and Faith Hill, this hole-in-the-wall singer-songwriter haven has birthed many a Nashville superstar. It’s also where new-school country darling Taylor Swift was discovered in November 2004, at the age of 13. And visitors may be in for a surprise if they stop by on the right night. “I think I’m gonna pop in and do a secret show soon,” Swift says. “It’s such a huge piece of Nashville history.”
3. Best Club for Raunchy, Multi-Partner PDA: Ménages 615 7th Ave. S
This long-standing swingers’ club gives exhibitionist couples a place to swap partners and, er, hold exhibitions. “You have to have an old lady to get in,” advises Hank Williams III, who frequented the place in his youth. “The guys who work there turn their heads and let some interesting stuff go down in the corners.” What interesting stuff, exactly? “You’ll have to show up yourself to find out.”
4. Best Underground Rock Club: The Muse 835 4th Ave. S
This tiny venue is a haven for local punk and hardcore bands. Hayley Williams touts its “kinda trashy but totally homey” vibe. And if you’re not quite ready to rock, there’s room to kick back
on the comfy couches up front.
5. Best Grub: BrickTop’s 3000 West End Ave.
Recommended by twangy young bombshells Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler, this bistro offers a unique mix of high-class atmosphere and down-home cooking. “If you go there, you have to order the barbecue-chicken flat bread,” Swift raves. “It’s the best food you’ll ever have in your life.”