The banks holding the Nashville Symphony's debt have given the latter a deadline of this week to repay that money or face foreclosure on the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. That could lead to the Symphony filing for bankruptcy, which the hiring of Bob Mendes of Frost Brown Todd would suggest is a serious consideration.

Sources have told Nashville Post reporter Ken Whitehouse that the lender group led by Bank of America is "evaluating legal options related to the 60-plus-member board’s oversight of the symphony’s finances, including any potential liability issues." But some of those board members say they didn't always have the information they needed to make the best decisions for the Symphony's future.

Various board members contacted by The City Paper over the past two weeks have stated that they had been unaware of the depth of the financial problems experienced by the organization until the symphony leadership announced the situation publicly three weeks ago.

And thus was the first step taken...

The Nashville Symphony has made no bones about its desire to use the prime Thermal site as a regular outdoor performance venue. This week, Metro Public Works crews began working to prepare the 11-acre property, now known as The Lawn at Riverfront, so that the Symphony can play there on July 4. Joey Garrison has more.

The Nashville Symphony has introduced a holiday gift card and debuted a holiday kiosk at The Mall at Green Hills, open through December.

Nashville Symphony gift cards can be redeemed for concert tickets, food and beverages at Schermerhorn Symphony Center’s restaurant and café, or items in the Symphony Store. The gift cards are available at the Schermerhorn box office, the mall kiosk and Christmas Village at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.