The extended concourse leads to what the airport calls a “record node,” which is a rotunda with access to BNA’s first outdoor terrace, offering views of the airport and downtown Nashville.
There are also three new pieces of art.
“Twine with my Mingles” by Nashville-based artist Elizabeth Williams of New Hat Projects, is a 180-foot-long piece that lines the moving walkway. The artwork is created by loom-style weaving of custom-printed wristbands.
“A Thread Without End” by Los Angeles-based artist Benjamin Ball of Ball-Nogues Studios is made with 620 stainless steel spheres.
And “Our Radiant City” by Nashville-based artist Brenda Stein depicts some of Nashville’s most recognizable buildings and locations in the terrazzo floor that encircles the center of the rotunda.
All images courtesy Nashville International Airport
`The completion of the Concourse D extension at Nashville International Airport (BNA) adds eight new dining, shopping and live music venues to an airport already teeming with great options for passengers and for non-ticketed guests who get a guest pass via the BNA PASSport program.
New Heights Cantina & Taqueria (pictured above) offers award-winning local New Heights beer, a Taco Truck for orders on the go and a space for live music.
The other new additions include 3rd & Broadway (local and regionally made gifts), Sandella’s Flatbreads, The Castle ( “where soccer and great food collide”), Daniel Diamond (rhinestone products, fringe jackets, etc), Martini (bites, brews, beers, cocktails and coffee) and several others.
The petition calls Parton a “national treasure” and a Tennessee legend and points out that Dolly Parton is not only a celebrated artist “who encourages love, acceptance, and goodwill through her music,” but she is also a philanthropist “known for her countless contributions to society.”
Therefore, the petition reasons, “it is only fitting that an institution as significant as Nashville International Airport carries the name of such a remarkable woman.”
If the petition succeeds, the organizers point out, “We could all be Departin’ from Parton.”
More – much more – live music at Long Beach Airport
Long Beach Airport (LGB), which has proclaimed itself “America’s coolest airport,” is getting cooler.
The airport’s LGB Live! music series is expanding from 40 to more than 160 live performances a year.
The expanded LGB Live! program kicks off Thursday, March 27, with a performance by Acoustic Soul Express and will feature performances from professional artists and acclaimed youth performers.
LGB Live! performers are vetted and paid. Performances are typically held post-security for ticketed travelers from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays, with additional shows during busy travel seasons. Exact showtimes, along with information about bonus pre-security performances can be found on LGB Live!
The hotel is on the plaza between the terminal and the covered parking garage. Just outside the hotel is an aviation-themed playground, a large fenced area for dogs, chair swings and other spaces to hang out before or after a flight.
Our corner room was super comfy and quiet. And it provided a great perch to watch airplanes coming and going from the gates.
The hotel has a lovely restaurant and a lobby bar that features occasional live music. On the 9th floor, there’s a well-equipped fitness center with views of downtown and the airport. And, on the 10th floor, the hotel’s best feature: the BNA Sky Pavilion. The rooftop has a pool, a fire pit, indoor and outdoor seating, a bar and great views of the runways, the downtown skyline and the surrounding area. While we were there, we even spotted fireworks off in the distance.
The BNA PASSport program
BNA debuted its guest pass program, called BNA PASSport, on July 1 and is issuing 75 visitor passes a day to non-ticketed passengers.
We used our pass on Friday evening to explore the airport’s restaurants, bars and shops.
We had dinner and stopped to listen to live music on at least four stages in various airport restaurants and bars. The airport’s ‘drinks to go’ policy meant we could easily mosey with our cocktails from one stage to the next. And the fact that bottles of really great Tennessee whiskey are sold in seemingly every airport gift shop made us a wee bit sorry we were traveling with only carry-on luggage.
Stay tuned for the story of the surprise in-store event some passengers were treated to during our BNA visit.
The BNA Passport guest pass program allows a non-ticketed guest to go through the TSA security checkpoint like a ticketed passenger into the secure side of the airport.
No more than 75 visitor passes a day are being issued. But those who do get them can greet an arriving passenger at the gate, hang with a friend or family member until they need to board their plane or take the opportunity to explore the art, shops, and dining at the airport without lugging around a carry-on bag or worrying about catching a flight.
The Stuck at the Airport team has already applied for a pass and will be touring the airport on Friday. So stay tuned for our report.
In the meantime, here is a list of other airports with guest pass programs. Each program has its own rules, but for BNA’s guest pass program and those below, you’ll need to fill out an online form and give some personal information, usually name, birthdate and gender.
If the TSA clears you, you’ll get instructions for getting through the checkpoint without a ticket to fly.
And the tunes start right at Nashville International Airport (BNA). There, live performances featuring all manner of musical styles, from traditional and contemporary country to rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, gospel, and bluegrass are presented on stages located near the A/B Waiting Lounge, the C/D Waiting Lounge, and in the Concourse C Food Court (beyond security).
If you’re headed that way, check out the BNA events calendar filled with live performances. And be sure to take a moment to listen up when you land.
(Photo above: Singer-songwriter Joe West, dubbed the “house band” for Nashville International Airport)
Fresh Art at Nashville International Airport
(Artist: DeShawn Lewis)
While you’re at Nashville International Airport, look for the art as well.
The Spring/Summer installment of the Flying Solo series at Nashville International Airport is on view through June 23, 2024, showcasing the works of talented Nashville artists including Daniel Arite, Sarah Clinton, Joel Keas, DaShawn Lewis, Josh MacLeod, Vanessa Sharp Multon, Tammy O’Connor, and Mary Ruden.
You may have also missed our Airport Amenity of the Week. Some weeks we have a lot of airport amenities in the running. Last week, this table full of free Peeps at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown, PA was hands down the winner.
If you have a cool new airport amenity to nominate during this week, let us know.
We were also heartened to see some airports posting previews of future terminals. Thank-you Portland International Airport (PDX) and Nashville International Airport (BNA) for giving us some new spaces to look forward to.
And Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Kansas City International Airport (KCI) are very excited about the teams that will be playing in the Super Bowl this year.
Wouldn’t it be nice right now to be making your way to an airport and getting ready to visit a new city or an old favorite?
That time will come. For now, here are some tidbits from airports around the country.
Pay respects to civil rights icon John Lewis at ATL Airport
In April 2019, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) unveiled an exhibit in the domestic atrium titled “John Lewis – Good Trouble” to honor the longtime U.S. Congressman and civil rights icon.
Lewis died late last week, on July 17, and the exhibit has turned into a memorial tribute where travelers can stop and pay respects.
New Concourse E extension at PDX Airport
Courtesy Port of Portland
We shared the news last week about the opening of the new Concourse E extension at Portland International Airport (PDX).
Here’s a bit more about the project.
The extension brings the first new gates to PDX in more nearly 20 years and offers views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia Rivier.
The new concourse extension also features two aerial sculptures by Jacob Hashimoto featuring 11,000 paper kits and 450 different graphics representing Portland’s river, bridges, and neighborhoods.
Hashimoto’s PDX artwork may be familiar to travelers. He also has his work displayed at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), in the lobby of SFO Grand Hyatt.
A new concourse at Nashville International Airport too
Portland isn’t the airport that cut the ribbon on a new concourse last week.
On Friday, July 17, the first Southwest Airlines flight took off from Nashville International Airport’s (BNA) new $292 million Concourse D.
Features of BNA’s new Concourse D include: ✈️ 6 domestic aircraft gates ✈️ 115,000 square feet of terminal space with a fresh, modern look ✈️ 2 compelling public art installations ✈️ Wi-Fi ✈️ Gate seating with integrated device charging outlets (continued…)
If you’re spending a lot of time at airports over the next few weeks or shopping for ‘avgeek’ gifts, here are a couple of things I’ve found – so far – for a list I’m putting together.
This ornament ($10) made of tiny little airplanes is for sale on the Boeing Store site, part of the Jet Snowflake collection.
This adorable little box of raspberry gummies is for sale at the Frivolous shop at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, DTW.
And at Nashville International Airport, several brew pubs sell single bottle and six- packs of local beer to go.
To welcome everyone (and help promote the event), each year the airport features artist-made, Bonnaroo-themed artwork in five skylights on the secure side of the terminal.
Here’s a sample of the artwork from this past season on display through January 2015:
By AK Lamas
Proposals for next year’s Bonnaroo-themed skylight art will be taken through November 9, 2014.
Each selected artist will get an honorarium of $2,000 to create skylight art that incorporates or reflects iconic Bonnaroo festival elements (but not the full Bonnaroo brand logo), the festival location and the Bonnaroovian Code: Prepare Thy Self, Play as a Team, Radiate Positivity, Respect The Farm, Don’t be that Guy/Gal, and Stay True Roo.
Each selected artist also gets two free tickets to Bonnaroo 2015.
