Travel Feature
DID YOU KNOW?
Darryl Worley and his wife Beverly own and operate their restaurant, the Worley Bird Café, in Savannah, Tenn.
A Whirl With Worley
Hitmaker Darryl Worley reveals how he cuts loose in Music City
Hard work is something Darryl Worley knows all too well, having toiled for many years as a commercial fisherman, research biologist, construction worker and schoolteacher before earning stardom with smashes like "I Miss My Friend," "Have You Forgotten?" "Awful Beautiful Life" and his current hit, "If Something Should Happen."
These days he's working harder than ever, but Darryl knows a thing or two about blowing off steam and having a good time after the work is done. As his tour bus rolls down a Midwest highway, the Tennessee native considers the serious fun to be had during a night on the town in Nashville.
"We'd probably start off by going to Cinco de Mayo, a little Mexican restaurant in Hermitage just outside Nashville," says Darryl. "It's nice, clean -- and the food is unbelievable. And they have some of the best margaritas in town."
Those tasty drinks are the product of a special frozen margarita machine. "It's different than any I've ever seen," says Darryl. "It makes them uniform in consistency, and they throw a little shot of Grand Marnier to add to the flavor. Adds to the kick, too! Top-shelf margaritas at Cinco de Mayo -- now that's the way to start a good evening!"
After the margaritas, Darryl likes to head for dinner at one of his favorite eateries, off Music Row. "South Street is a great place," he says, "especially when it cools down in the evening and they open the large garage doors [the restaurant uses as walls]. It's a great atmosphere.They've got Southern-broiled tenderloin -- and boy, it's good!"
After dinner, Darryl likes to head downtown. "If you really want to get a taste of the Nashville nightlife, you've got to go to Lower Broadway," he says with a grin. "All up and down that area, you're going to hear some of this town's greatest music.
"You've got Tootsie's, one of the coolest places in town. You go there just to hang out, but the band's always gonna get you up to sing one -- and that's especially fun for friends who are with you. I love those guys who are playing those gigs, because I've been there!
"Robert's Western Wear always has cool music goin' on -- that's their draw card. But me and my whole band, we're addicted to their cheeseburgers. There's not a place in town that makes them better. I try to take care of myself, and that's the reason I do -- so I can eat those cheeseburgers and fries!"
Darryl's also quick to name a club that's a favorite of other stars, too -- the Fiddle & Steel on Printers Alley. "We love to go and hang out there," says Darryl, "because we've got friends who are running the bar, the soundboard or are playing in the band. It's a well-known hangout for industry folks. A lot of name artists are down there pickin', and if not, they're usually in the crowd listening.
"That whole section of Nashville where they're playing live music is sort of a family affair. I take my friends down there, and they break loose like they haven't been let out of the cage in months!
"It's my kind of scene, because it reminds me of where I come from: Hardin County, Tenn., where there's a beer joint or honky-tonk every few miles down the road. The kind of concrete-and-block places where they leave the doors open, and that's the air conditioning! I'm no stranger to that kind of atmosphere. Those clubs are the proving ground to hone your craft and learn how to entertain. If you can stand up there and get folks' attention and hold it, you've got something figured out."
When Darryl entertains friends visiting from out of town, he heads to one of downtown's biggest tourist attractions, the Wildhorse Saloon. "When they first opened up, I thought it was one of those Urban Cowboy kind of developments," he says. "But as it's got a little age on it, the newness has worn off, there's a few scratches on those shiny bars, and it's become a cool place to go.
"If you're with a big group, and you need a place to spread out, The Wildhorse is the place to hang out. They usually have some good live entertainment, and if not, they've got music playing and a big ol' dance floor. If nothing else," he jokes, "you can get out there and have a wrestlin' match!"
By now it's about two in the morning, and time to wrap up the evening. So where does Darryl go?
"The Waffle House," he declares. "We get a big ol' greasy breakfast and go home and sleep a couple hours before going back on the road."