03 October 2026 · Vol. XXXIV · № 12.328 Get the letterSearchSaved
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The Exchange & The Counter
East Nashville Gets an Otaku Ramen to Call Its Very Own

East Nashville Gets an Otaku Ramen to Call Its Very Own

Otaku Ramen opened its new flagship restaurant in East Nashville on Saturday, August 12 at 747 Douglas Avenue. The new location offers enhanced counter service for lunch and dinner and features the classic Otaku Ramen menu of tonkotsu shio, miso ramen, and tantanmen.

Otaku East has a dedicated walk-up window for pickup and delivery orders along with boba tea orders to-go. The new location offers daily happy hour specials from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a fully air-conditioned patio will be open year around.

Black Rabbit launches lunch service

Black Rabbit in Printer’s Alley officially launched their lunch menu last week with service from Thursday to Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. Dishes include a smoked bologna sandwich, a focaccia grinder with salami, prosciutto, and capicola, and a shaved ribeye and rice bowl studded with kimchi. Black Rabbit’s bar is also jumping into the action with a lunchtime happy hour menu featuring $5 Old Fashioneds, mules, and margaritas.

Arts and crafts + NA drinks = good times

Killjoy, Wedgewood-Houston’s resident booze-free bottle shop, will be hosting their weekly Crafty Hour on August 18 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors can sip on zero-proof craft drinks while indulging in some therapeutic arts and crafts activities to wind down the week. The event (including drinks and activities) is free.

Southern Grist to host Sno Day party

Mark your calendars for August 19 — that’s when Southern Grist is hosting a ‘Sno Day’ party in honor of its Melted Sno Cone can release. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., head to the brewery’s Nations taproom to sample over eight of its Melted Sno Cone flavors, cool off with treats from the Kona Ice Cream truck (the first 50 people get free shaved ice), and let the kids loose on a variety of family-friendly activities. Advanced tickets are $10 and include two discounted beers.

Nashville Cocktail Festival tickets go on sale

The Nashville Cocktail Festival is back against this year, but instead of a multi-day event, organizers have pared down the festivities to one day — September 9. Tickets are now on sale for $65 ($95 for a premium package) and includes unlimited tastings of liquor, wine, and beer from sponsors and vendors. Snack and meals will be available for purchase through various food truck vendors on site. No need to leave the pup behind — the event is dog-friendly.

Key facts
  • Who: Black Rabbit · Otaku Ramen · Otaku East · Southern Grist · Sno Day
  • Money: $5 · $10 · $65 · $95

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