Presidential debate triggers seminars, musical events
Nashville City Paper
Nashville, TN
October 3, 2008
by Ron Wynn
Several events are being held next week in conjunction with Tuesday's second presidential debate between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain. These range from forums on energy and civility to a Vesper Service, viewing parties and concerts. All these events are free and open to the public.
A program titled "Tennessee and the Changing American Energy Landscape" is being held today at the Troutt Theater, 1900 Belmont Blvd. It will have top officials from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority, the University of Tennessee's Biofuels Initiative, and the Governor's Energy Policy Task force. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. The event begins at 4 p.m.
Belmont University President Robert Fisher and the Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, will conduct a Debate '08 Vesper Service at 4 p.m. Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway. Bread for the World is a citizens' anti-hunger movement which focuses on hunger education and influencing public policies on hunger and poverty.
Others officiating at the service include the Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church; the Rev. David Pekin, Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Nashville; and the Rev. Dr. Todd Lake, vice president for spiritual development at Belmont University. The Rev. Anne Stevenson of Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral will serve as host, with music provided by Belmont's College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte will be among the participants at a Civility Forum at 1 p.m. Monday at the Troutt Theater. The forum will assess the current race and hopefully set a tone for civil discourse as the campaign winds down. Others participating include former Sen. Howard Baker and the University of Tennessee's Baker Center for Public Policy, The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, Belmont University and the Tennessee Business Roundtable.
A Music Row 4 McCain rally is being held Monday at Douglas Corner Café, 2106 Eighth Ave. S. beginning at 6 p.m. Participants at previous Music Row 4 McCain showcases have included Lee Miller and Tammi Kidd, plus songwriters and performers Monty Chriswell, The Warren Brothers, Bill Luther and Bob Schwartz.
The Official TN Obama '08 Headquarters 2nd Debate Watch Party is being held Tuesday night at their headquarters, 907 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, across from Nashville Farmer's Market. There will be guest speakers and live entertainment starting at 6:30 p.m.
Another event, the "Tuke for Tennessee Official Democratic Debate Viewing Party & After-Party," is being held at the Mercy Lounge, One Cannery Row, beginning at 7 p.m. Such area bands as How I Became The Bomb, Biscuits and Gravy and Frogs Gone Fishin' are performing.
Futureman and the Black Mozart Ensemble are filming a live concert DVD, and Rep. Jim Cooper and Bob Tuke will appear at the event.
At press time, no similar music events were listed on the Tennessee Republican Party Web site.
