From the Nashville Scene:

For many Nashvillians, the familiar sight of the yellow-and-turquoise Mas Tacos Por Favor Winnebago is cause for jubilation — a Pavlovian signal that floods neural pathways with gustatory cravings for chicken or quinoa tacos, watermelon agua fresca, elotes and more. Proprietor Teresa Mason’s vision for Mexican-inspired cuisine made with fresh, high-quality ingredients has been so successful that Mas Tacos is planting roots in East Nashville.

In the coming weeks, Mas Tacos Por Favor will take up residence in a storefront at 732 McFerrin Ave., at the corner of West Eastland across from Holland House. Current plans call for the restaurant to be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. (Saturdays will feature some more brunchy fare.) Mason emphasizes that hours, menu, etc., are all subject to change right now. It’s a work in progress.

And for those of you fearing that you’ve seen the last of the Winnebago, fear not! The mobile unit will continue to operate at various locations around town.

Read the full article here.

Welcome to my city.  I love it here and love sharing it with visitors.  First, I’m not with ERA, but have several dear friends locally who are.  Looking over your agenda, HOLY MOLY!  It’s amazing.  Matthew Ferrara, Laurie Moore-Moore (my BFF), Pat Zaby and Rich Sands….wow!  You’re in for some special treats.  Also, having brilliant sponsors like Trulia with Rudy Bachraty in town is a special thing.

While you’re near Opryland, that’s not typically where the “locals” hang in these parts.  Here’s a list of things that aren’t too far away if you want to break away for a little while or grab a unique bite to eat.

1.  Ellendales:  Located near the airport, this bungalow turned restaurant is the best place to eat anywhere on that side of town.  They have an amazing lunch buffet and are group friendly.

2.  Two Rivers Mansion:  Located within a quick drive to the hotel, this gorgeous Antebellum mansion is a gorgeous stop.  It’s ground, gardens and interior reflect a tradition long passed.

3.  Chef’s Market:  You’ll have to jump on I-65 North for two exits but the cab ride or drive is so worth it.  Don’t miss their Strawberry Cake or Hummingbird Cake for dessert.  Best entrees include the Pot Roast and Jerusalem Chicken.  The mac and cheese rocks too!  Make sure you call!  They are NOT open on Sundays!

4.  Cock of the Walk:  A Nashville tradition for great beans, fried chicken and catfish. It’s just down the street on Music Valley Drive.  The waiters and waitresses flip your cornbread in the air for over 10 feet, too, which is pretty cool.

5.  The Greenway System:  (map at link) If you’re looking for a good stroll or bike ride, you’re virtually connected the the greenway.  You’ll want to join it at Two Rivers Park, take the bridge over the Cumberland into Shelby Bottoms.  The Shelby Bottoms area is a gorgeous nature trail.

6.  Opry Mills IMAX has Alice in Wonderland in 3-D while you are here.  It’s VERY good.  It plays daily at 11:10 a.m., 1:50 p.m. 4:25 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:40 p.m. and 12:10 a.m.

Overall, just have a great time.  We’re a great spot to visit.  If you have any questions, feel free to email me or tweet me @NashvilleBrian.  Or while you’re here on my site, you can see the chat panel in the top right corner, if I’m on, ask me!

Everyone is asking who the redheaded lady was who jumped on stage in the middle of the acceptance speech for Music by Prudence during the 2010 Oscars.  Her name is Elinor Burkett, and she is one of the producers on Music by Prudence.  She totally pulled a Kanye.  The music started playing, and that was it  Poor Roger Ross Williams.

The video clip starts after the opening commercial.

Last week, you got to take a peak at Baby’s photo shoot.  Now, it’s Flea’s turn to show you his best zoolander.  Please comment below and let me know which one is your favorite.  Believe it or not, there is a purpose for all this, and you’re adding to the purpose

#1: All focus on me.

#2: I could totally be taxidermy.

#3: Great! I'm going to have an ear complex now.

#4: Finally the lighting that I deserve.

#5: Gene Simmons ain't got nothing on me.

Make sure you can check out my sister’s, Baby, photo shoot, too while you’re here.

If you’re living in Minnesota, Montana or Alaska, you expect to see real estate photos with snow on the ground.  When Nashville is home, it’s not something you expect to see in a real estate photo.

Sometimes agents use a snowy seasonal picture as a piece of art.  Recently, we’ve seen an influx of MLS photos with snowy photos that have no artistic or charming aspect.  If you have a photo of your home as the center of your home marketing, stop reading this now.  Pick up the phone.  Call your agent.  Tell them to get over to your house immediately and get a new exterior photo.

You should always show your house in the best light, in spite of the season.  I cancelled or delayed numerous photo shoots because my sellers deserve better.  It’s almost like seeing Christmas trees, stocking-filled fireplaces and garland in living room photos in March.  Lazy.  Lazy.  Lazy.

Additionally, when the trees green out and the grass comes back in late March and early April, it’s time to freshen up those exterior photos, too.  For now, get rid of the snow…seriously.

ABC just announced the new cast for the 2010 Dancing with the Stars.

Dancing with the Stars new cast is

Pamela Anderson (Baywatch Beauty and super TV diva)

Chad Ochocinco (Cincinnati Bengals)

Aiden Turner (Soap Opera star)

Erin Andrews (ESPN sportscaster)

Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210)

Buzz Aldrin (just awesome space man!)

Niecy Nash (Reno 911 and comedian)

Nichole Scherzinger (The Pussycat Dolls)

Even Lysacek (2010 Olympic Gold Medalist)

Kate Gosselin (John & Kate Plus 8 on TLC)

My good buddy Zach Goodyear came over to the house a few weeks ago and took photos of all four pets.  I’d love to know which of these are your favorite by voting in the poll after the photos.  Also, suggest some fun, cute, witty captions for your favorites in the “comments” section below. Check back here and on Facebook for the shoots for Flea, Alex and Bailey.

#1: I Bite Purple Bouncy Balls.

#2: I Have My Own Little Couch.

#3: Dang! I Could Be Art!

#4: Orange Is Totally My Color.

#5: Perhaps I'm More Cut Out For A Catalog.

I love the fact that favorite East Nashville restaurant, SouthernBred on Trinity Lane, made a HUGE portion of this story. Thanks WKRN Channel 2 for showing more Nashvillians why we love our part of town so much! I get my keys made at Cumberland Hardware, we eat at all the restaurants, my office and home are here and this is a great spot to live. Way to go REALTOR Amy Bryson for taking part in this important piece.

Muffins of love.  Nuggets of sweetness.  Cutie-patooties.  I have a hundred names for cute little houses when I see them, and Nashville is certainly a field of generosity when it comes to these real estate home sweethearts.Home sellers and investors often do not realize that smaller homes can pack a powerful resale punch when finished and designed properly.  With energy efficiency being a core for today’s buyers, nothing says smart moreso than a reduced footprint.  The first home you see here was just listed today at under $200K in Nashville’s red hot Area 2 near Vanderbilt and HCA Medical.  While curb appeal is important, you can’t ignore the interior essentials.

744 sq ft packed a powerful punch with this amenity filled kitchen.

If you’re wanting to attract the small dwellers, remember kitchen perks go a long ways.  In late 2008, I ended up in multiple offers as a buyers agent a home that was horrifically overpriced for its East Nashville neighborhood.  The wine fridge, stainless appliances, hardwood floors and hard surfaced counters pushed all the buyers over the edge to go to quick offers, even at its questionable appraisable price.  It closed for a whopping $143/sq ft in a neighborhood where the average is well below $80/sq ft.

BEFORE: Prior to its boom-boom pow renovation, this cottage seemed to be more of a nuisance than a cutie.

AFTER: The stunning Cape inspired after shot of the once neighborhood eye sore.

Good bones, a ton of potential and an extra eye for curb appeal and color are a few of the essential aspects to going small and attracting that consumer to almost any area or block.  In the before and after example here, the investors paid $33,000 for the home that eventually gained price-per-square foot bragging rights with its $107,000 sale.  Obviously, the renovators put several tens of thousands of dollars into the major overhaul, but the results speak for themselves.

Strong exterior color plans can also be a silver bullet for selling the small space.  With a smaller home, you have less oomph to show with an exterior so color, styles and diverse textures can get you a likely sale.  One East Nashville Shelby Village 1930 shabby shack was transformed into a Sunday drive worthy piece of eye candy.

Located on South 12th Street in East Nashville, this cutie causes a lot of brake lights.

Finally, the neighbors are going to love you!  Small homes, done well, selling for top dollar can improve everyone’s value.  Case and point, a small home in the Neil S. Brown neighborhood.  This neighborhood consistently brings some of the most affordable price-per-square foot dollars in the area.  One home on North 9th Street raises the comp price for every neighbor and, again, sold in multiple offers in 2009’s challenged market.

With its corner lot, complementing tiny garage and spicy colors, this cottage closed at above asking price in multiple offers, closing at $164 sq. ft.

The renovators filled a missing niche with the kitchen's uber modern IKEA cabinetry contrasted with frosted white glass, stainless appliances and exposed brick.

I’m proud to live in Music City USA, but if the Pomplamoose Music folks ever pick up this mention in your analytics, I beg you…please move to Nashville. You guys are amazing! Enjoy what I’m talking about.

See more of Pomplamoose in video and in info site.  Subscribe to their YouTube page and download their music on iTunes.  They deserve to make it big!