Walk Eat Nashville Founder & CEO Karen-Lee Ryan, left, guided NBC’s 3rd Hour Today show hosts Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer around East Nashville in Nov. 2019.
The 3rd Hour of the Today Show broadcast live from Nashville, and Walk Eat Nashville was featured during the show.
Karen-Lee Ryan, Founder & CEO of Walk Eat Nashville, had the opportunity to guide NBC’s 3rd Hour Hosts Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer around East Nashville.
“It was such a pleasure to introduce Sheinelle and Dylan to East Nashville,” Ryan said. “I started my walking food tour company in East Nashville five years ago, and I love introducing folks to this historic neighborhood packed with small business and chef-driven restaurants. It was wonderful that 3rd Hour focused on so many small businesses around Nashville, and it was an honor to be part of it.”
The group started out at Hunters Station, home to several local eateries, including The Grilled Cheeserie. Everyone savored gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and a milkshake, courtesy of Chef and Co-Owner Crystal De Luna-Bogan, before Sheinelle hit the mark during a quick game of corn hole.
Next, Ryan led them to the mother-daughter-owned businesses Vroom Vroom Balloon and Harlan Ruby. The tandem store is packed with whimsical cards and party supplies, and Sunny Becks-Crumpton and daughter Fiona Flaherty can do just about anything with balloons. In addition to creating a 3rd Hour Today confetti-filled balloon, they also created a large-scale balloon installation at Pinewood Social on display throughout the broadcast.
The 3rd Hour Today from Nashville also featured a segment with several local chefs and Walk Eat Nashville partners, including Chef Deb Paquette of Etch, Bryan Lee Weaver of Butcher & Bee and Pat Martin of Martin’s BBQ Joint. Others showcasing delicious dishes included Julia Sullivan of Henrietta Red, Maneet Chauhan of Chauhan Ale & Masala House, and Matt Bolus of 404 Kitchen.
“The show truly captured the spirit of the amazing restaurants and small businesses in Nashville,” Ryan said.
The neighborhood segment focusing on small business in 12 South, East Nashville and The Gulch can be viewed at this link, and the segment featuring a half-dozen Nashville chefs can be viewed at this link.