Hockey fanatic Steve Williamson (above) has begun a unique quest to see a game in all 30 NHL arenas in 30 consecutive nights, and he’s selected the Preds-Red Wings game on Thanksgiving night for his trip to Nashville. He’s posting regularly about his trek across the NHL landscape, including a missive from Montreal last night. (Hat tip to James Mirtle for the heads up.)

WSMV-TV Meterologist Lisa Spencer performed a soul-stirring rendition of “Stormy Weather” last night at the United Way Media Challenge Talent Show. As I observed during her performance, she can keep her day job, but it might not be mandatory that she do so. I was not able to stay at the Wildhorse Saloon for the whole night, so I’m looking forward to recaps from Ginger and Slarti.

Nashville’s 100 Oaks Mall is about to experience yet another overhaul, but this one is likely to forever change the immediate surrounding area. I like what I’m hearing about this project because it preserves what is working well on the property (major merchants such as CompUSA, Michael’s and the Hollywood 27 theaters) and makes good use of what is not working at all (the all-but-abandoned interior space of the mall).

This blend of medical and retail offerings on the same property seems like a natural fit, and it appears to be an emerging trend elsewhere, too. Note the increasing presence of walk-in clinics at pharmacy chains and other locations.

Another great element to this plan is the possibility for a pedestrian bridge across Thompson Lane to improve access to the growing Berry Hill merchants’ district. I believe that this area of town is in position for a major boom over the next several years: It has (fairly) convenient interstate access in a central part of the city, and it’s gaining high quality medical operations that will likely bring increasing demand for retail with them.

What’s in it for Vanderbilt? A visible, convenient and accessible location and relocation of several high patient-traffic services away from the highly congested campus on 21st Avenue. When completed, this site will be the largest Vanderbilt clinic outside the main campus and the most significant addition, according to hospital officials, since the hospital was constructed in 1980.

I’m pleased to see that the Metro Nashville Police Department has arrested the primary suspect in the two murders committed at Bellacino’s in West Meade Friday night. This is a brutal, horrible act, and I hope justice will be served.*

Note the comments thread that is developing in response to the Tennessean’s breaking news item. I don’t want to include the full text of the hateful and shameful remarks that are being posted, but I have included a screen capture (above; click to see full size). Anonymity doesn’t make joking about an incident where two people lost their lives any less despicable.

*I oppose the death penalty for philosophical reasons, but if convicted, I do hope that the suspect serves a full life sentence for this crime.

Chris at Nashville Daily Photo took a spectacular photo of Nashville’s downtown from the Gateway bridge recently. Nice work.

The Smart Show, a daily Web video program developed by Holiday Inn Express, visited Nashville last Wednesday. The show is dedicated to presenting “clever, witty, innovative and unexpected ideas” as its hosts travel across America and stay at Holiday Inn Express hotels. Besides jokingly mistaking Nashville’s Parthenon for its predecessor in Greece, the hosts tour Lower Broadway and look for ghosts at the State Capitol. It’s short and worth a look.

From a business perspective, this looks like a fairly inexpensive way to drive some publicity for a company. Not a bad idea.

Miami Herald reporter George Richards has great blog posts on the atmosphere at last night’s Preds game and a fun take on Nashville’s night life. He correctly observes that Nashville fans honored Vokoun throughout the night but mistakenly noted that Vokoun did not respond to the video tribute and resulting fan ovation in the first period. I was there, too, and Vokoun did lift his stick in a clear reply to the thoughtful display from the Preds organization and the Nashville crowd. Richards also referred to the Titans as the Oilers, but I still enjoyed reading his posts.

The Preds got another much-needed win last night by downing the Florida Panthers 4-3 in the game’s final seconds. It was a fun, exciting game enhanced by a large and boisterous crowd at the Sommet Center. The team’s two-game winning streak couldn’t come at a better time as the Preds prepare for a road trip to Western Canada, a trek that is traditionally a struggle for Nashville. [Image: Floridapanthers.com]

The highlight of the evening was fan-favorite goaltender Tomas Vokoun’s return to town.  It was heart-warming to witness how the crowd responded to seeing their hero on the ice as an opponent for the first time. Many fans followed tradition in chanting “sucks” after the names of the opposing players announced as the Panthers’ starting lineup, and I was curious to see how they would reply when Vokoun’s name was spoken. The crowd erupted in cheers and the familiar “Vo-koun!” chant and honored their former favorite with a standing ovation. Ever a gentleman, Vokoun had kind words for his former organization even in defeat following the game: “It was really nice on their part. They’re a class organization. It’s nice when people appreciate your hard work.”

It was a moving moment in what has been a long and tough few months for the Predators franchise and its staunchest fans. During a first period timeout, the arena crew played a tribute video that showcased highlights of Vokoun’s career in Nashville. The crowd roared and honored Vokoun with a second ovation, and the humble netminder waited several seconds until he raised his stick in a polite thanks in response. While few in the audience were pulling for the Panthers, it was an emotional and inspiring scene to see the Nashville crowd reach out to an opposing player in such a way. Other Preds bloggers had similar reactions, below:

• PredJoe
• Brandon Felder

Preds coach Barry Trotz isn’t saying which goaltender will start tomorrow night against Tomas Vokoun and the Florida Panthers. Chris Mason, the team’s prohibitive starter going into the season, said the following today about Trotz’s unannounced choice, “Whatever he decides he is doing what he feels is best for the team right now, so that is really all that matters,” Mason said.

Mason is a team player, and I completely agree. That said, I think Trotz should start Dan Ellis, who is fresh off of a 3-0 shutout last night, against the Panthers. It’s not wise to sit a hot keeper.

The Preds ended a brutal six-game losing streak by shutting out the Atlanta Thrashers 3-0 last night at the Sommet Center. It wasn’t a perfect game by any means, but a win is a win when a team is at risk for tying its longest-ever losing streak (seven games during the 1999-2000 season).

• The Preds (3-6) played the style of game they’ll have to play to emerge from the early-season hole they’ve dug for themselves: lots of shots on goal, more muscle than finesse and heavy forechecking. Less flash, more pressure on the other team.
• The role players and grind-line guys, notably Jerred Smithson, Vernon Fiddler and Jordin Tootoo, had a great night. The new line combinations shaked things up nicely, too.
• Dan Ellis looked sharp in goal and played an outstanding game, especially in the first and third periods when he wasn’t facing a lot of shots. Down time in net can be a killer when a team wakes up and starts firing again, but Ellis didn’t blink in the second or late in the game.
• Atlanta (2-8) is taking yet another loss hard, referring to the Preds as “woeful” in their story headline.
• One columnist is even washing his lucky Thrash jersey after the loss in an attempt to turn things around. The comments are full of good quips and other tidbits.

Nashville and Atlanta, separated only by one state line and 250 miles, should play more often than once per year. Since both teams have plenty more losses than wins in the NHL standings, it couldn’t hurt for these poor-performing squads to have more shots at each other during the course of the season, either. It’s a shame that a natural rivalry can’t fluorish because the teams are not only not in the same division, they’re in opposite conferences.

• Catherine is talking about forgiveness and perspective as they relate to Tara Cole’s death, and I think she’s right that forgiveness is critical for all of us, even for the way the recovery of her body was (mis)handled.
• Sam is getting all existential and contrasting big ideas versus meaning and substance, and even though he’s talking about The Bachelor while he’s doing it, I think he’s on to something.
• I confess that I’ve watched several episodes of the show, though with declining interest each season. I have not seen Ninja Warrior yet, but just give me time.
• I’ll also confess that Dr. Travis Stork, Nashville’s own Bachelor (now relocated out West somewhere), lived in my house before I bought it. Yes, I’ve received fan mail for him on a couple of occasions and one handwritten note on my welcome mat.

• It’s interesting to me that two high-profile local incidences of violence happen to be in court at the same time this week: trials for those accused of killing homeless woman Tara Cole and beloved dog Gizmo. Both cases have provoked strong outrage locally and nationally, and I’m pleased to see that justice is being served.
• These trials, along with other local reports of juvenile violence, are a good reminder to all of us that life is a fleeting and fragile possession of ours. We all need to live our lives with more compassion and kindness toward our fellow men and women (and toward all of nature).
• Speaking of nature, local filmmaker Jeff Barrie will host the national premiere for his documentary Kilowatt Ours at the Belcourt Theatre on Thursday night at 6 p.m. The film reveals how electricity is produced and how renewable energy sources can solve our energy challenges and improve our lives. It also features practical solutions for anyone looking to conserve energy at home.
• I agree with William Williams that the Nashville streets in Nashville’s urban core are sorely in need of sidewalks and other improvements. After an emphasis by Mayor Purcell to do just that was reduced from $20 million to $5 million per year in the Metro budget, how can we pay for what Williams describes as requiring “a minimum of 50 years and a dollar figure that would spur Bill Gates to take note”?
• I also think Williams is right that the “Buddy Killen Circle” signs need to go. They add clutter, and they’ve been tacked on to a project that was completed years ago. I’d prefer to find another way to honor Buddy.