Plan Now to Attend TASTE: A Benefit for the Nashville LGBT Chamber Foundation

NASHVILLE, November 9, 2017 – The Nashville LGBT Chamber will host TASTE, their sixth annual benefit to raise funds to support the Chamber Foundation's mission, on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Nissan Stadium, West Club Level (1 Titans Way, Nashville) overlooking the iconic downtown Nashville skyline at night. Event proceeds will provide education, resources, and advocacy for LGBT business owners and professionals.

TASTE, sponsored by Nissan, will feature more than two dozen food and beverage vendors including restaurants, bars, brewers, caterers, creameries, distilleries, mixologists, and wineries who are all judged in categories including Best Appetizer, Best Cocktail, Best Dessert, and People's Choice. This year’s emcee is Meghan Linsey of The Voice fame. Meghan recently released her latest album. The event will also feature an exceptional silent auction, sponsored by Dell, with items including local fine art; professional sports, performing arts and theatre tickets; restaurant gift certificates; boutique merchandise; healing and organizing sessions; hotel room nights, and salon services. Items of note include a special edition Cracker Barrel rainbow rocking chair, a signed Reba McEntire guitar, a condo stay in the Dominican Republic, and a laptop/tablet combo provided by Dell Computers. Guests will also enjoy dancing throughout the evening with local favorite Musik4U DJ & Event Service.

“This year’s event is proving to be our largest to date. We have a record number of exceptional vendors!” said Jack Davis, event chair. “Once again guests will enjoy Music City’s best food and drink, an exceptional silent auction and a chance to dance the night away. We call it ‘Nashville's Most Entertaining Night of Tastemakers’.” 

TASTE Vendors include: 312 Pizza, A Catered Affair, And 3 Foods, Avo, Bar Magnolia, Barcelona Wine Bar, Bell's Beer, Big Belly's Food Truck, Big Machine Vodka, Butcher and Bee, Chef Rae's Cuisine, City Farm Co, EiO & The Hive, Hard Rock Cafe, Integrity Catering, Jack Daniels, Jeni's Ice Cream, Linda's Perfect Platters, The Mockingbird, Malfy Gin, OneHope Wine, Pickers Vodka, Que Delicias Colombian Food, Respect The Plate, Salsa Puerto Rican Restaurant, Short Mountain Distillery, Sinema, SomPriya Fine Spirits, The Stiletto Chef, and Tempered Cafe & Chocolate.

Purchase advance tickets at tastenashville.org or make a donation directly to the chamber at  www.nashvillelgbtchamber.org/about This is a 21+ event.

About TASTE

A benefit for Nashville LGBT Chamber, TASTE, is chaired  by Jack Davis, founder and owner of JD Events & Festivals. Greg Cason, Clayton Klutts (Silent Auction co-Chair), Amy Parker (Volunteer Chair), Ron Sanford (Event Design Chair), Jennifer Austin (Competition Chair), Courtney Lawrence, Christopher Lester (Marketing Chair), Donna Drehmann (Silent Auction co-Chair), Terry Vo, Ron Snitker, and Joe Woolley serve on the committee. Michael A. Van Kerckhove serves as the TASTE 2017 Coordinator. Nissan is the presenting sponsor of TASTE; Dell is sponsoring the silent auction. Other sponsors and partners include Alpha Graphics Music City, AMP, Anode, Bar Magnolia, Capital Financial Group, Comcast, Focus Magazine, Inspired Concepts & Events, JD Events & Festivals, M&M Event Rentals, Mantra Artisan Ales, MPack Photography, Medi-Copy, Nossi College of Art, PostMates, and Ron Sanford Productions.

About the Nashville LGBT Chamber

The Nashville LGBT Chamber Foundation educates, inspires, and empowers LGBT people to gain employment, climb the corporate ladder, or build a small business. When the Foundation serves its mission successfully, the result is decreased socioeconomic inequalities, healthcare disparities, food and housing insecurities, unemployment, and poverty rates for LGBT people in middle Tennessee.

Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce leadership and TASTE committee leaders are available for media interviews. Press photos will be available at the event. For more information, please contact Lisa Howe at 615-507-5185 or lisa@nashvillelgbtchamber.org.

About Meghan Linsey

Bold. Powerful. Soulful. These are just a few of the adjectives used to describe the incredible voice and spirit of Meghan Linsey. Linsey was born and raised in New Orleans and proudly blends her southern roots with a soulful pop sensibility to produce a sound she coins as her own genre, “Southern pop”.  

Meghan began her career as one half of the Billboard chart-topping country duo, Steel Magnolia, signed to Big Machine Records. The duo was nominated for major music awards including ACM’s, CMA’s and Teen Choice Awards. Steel Magnolia went on to sell over 1 million downloads and albums. They appeared on national television shows and toured with superstar acts such as Reba, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley and Bob Seger. The duo parted ways in 2011 and Meghan embarked on a solo career.

After recording and touring as an independent artist in 2015 Meghan took her musical journey to a new level as a contestant on NBC’s THE VOICE. "I've always been a risk taker, and as an artist, I want to continue to challenge myself and push the boundaries." she said just before entering the competition. The risk most definitely paid off. During her time on the show Meghan landed a number 1 on the Billboard Christian chart with her rendition of "Amazing Grace" and multiple #1's across all genres of the iTunes chart. She was crowned the Season 8 runner-up and was the first contestant in The Voice history to perform an original song that she wrote on the show’s finale.

Since her success on THE VOICE Meghan has continued to tour throughout the US and abroad.  Her latest album, BOLD LIKE A LION features collaborations with Grammy nominee Aloe Blacc and the legendary Fred Schneider of the B-52’s. 

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