Happy Tuesday, Franklin. In today’s edition: Housing affordability crisis, Sheryl Crow intimate evening, community christmas cards, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Housing affordability crisis deepens: A new study finds Williamson County home prices and rents soaring, with 83% of sales at $500,000 or more and a median $875,000 home requiring nearly $230,000 income — read the full story.

Decades of service honored: Franklin Fire Battalion Chief Joseph R. Polenzani will retire after 33 years. A celebration is set Thursday, December 18 at 2 p.m. at Franklin Fire Station 2 — read the full story.

From enslavement to homeownership: The African American Heritage Society hosted its 5th Annual Holiday Tour and a community book signing at Franklin’s McLemore House Museum on Dec. 14, celebrating local African American history — see open house and signing details.

Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since January. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week

• Experience Williamson County Community Chorus’ holiday concert
• Families make and donate Christmas cards
• Unmask the killer during dinner
• Family movie night featuring The Grinch
• Enjoy a family-style, farm-grown Christmas Eve dinner
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A home warranty that actually pays is 30% off

🫶 We got your back

City honors its namesake: Franklin, Tennessee, will unveil a bronze Benjamin Franklin statue on Jan. 17, 2026, his 320th birthday. Donated by Pam Lewis, it will stand downtown at Five Points near the post office, nodding to his role as the first postmaster general. The NSDAR Old Glory Chapter will host a celebration with cake and a Franklin interpreter. Get all the event details.

A bittersweet community farewell: Franklin staple Barbara’s Home Cookin’ will close for good on December 31 after nearly 30 years. In a heartfelt post, the team thanked customers and asked for job leads for longtime staff. They’re inviting regulars to stop in over the next few weeks for one last home-cooked meal and holiday send-off. Read the full story.

Movie night, upgraded: Skip the megamall bustle and settle into The Franklin Theatre, a beautifully restored Art Deco gem screening classics and crowd-pleasers with plush seats and solid concessions. Ideal for spontaneous hangs, low-key date nights, or a solo reset when you want movies without the madness.

Hear me out: My mom’s been asking people to repeat themselves 5,281 times too many for years. She always avoided hearing aids like the plague — they’re clunky, obvious, expensive, not really worth it. I always thought “she’s not wrong” until I saw these new invisible hearing aids going viral. In the same boat? Now’s a great time to check them out before unused health benefits expire on the 31st.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now + you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

✂️ Adult Crafts: Wine Cork Gnomes @ Learning Center | Tuesday (12/16) at 5:00pm – If you’ve been saving corks like they are trophies, put them to work and make wine cork gnomes at the library. Adults only, registration required, and yes, glue guns count as power tools, so brag accordingly when it lands on your mantel.

🎸 Love Now Sessions: An Intimate Evening with Sheryl Crow @ Woolworth Theatre | Tuesday (12/16) at 7:30pm – Whether you know every word to Soak Up the Sun or just want an acoustic set, Sheryl Crow plays an intimate night benefitting Love Now. Hometown warmth, stories, and support for local students, teachers, and social workers. Come for the hits, stay for good deeds.

🔥 Gathre For S’more Flavor @ Gathre at Hotel Fraye | Wednesday (12/17) at 5:00pm – Up for a grown-up campfire at Gathre in Hotel Fraye? RSVP for a free tasting with a welcome cocktail, DIY s’mores, and holiday cheer. Bring a toy for Toys for Tots to enter a Maker’s Mark raffle, and yes, spots are limited.

🎖️ Quilts of Valor @ Gina’s Bernina Sewing Machine & Quilt Studio | Friday (12/19) at 10:00am – Trade doomscrolling for a sit and sew at Gina’s, where Lisa Sutherland demos flange binding and flying geese that stay put. We stitch Quilts of Valor for service members and veterans with kits provided, beginners welcome, and a $5 fee that goes toward supplies.

🎸 Bob and Etta Britt @ Fox & Locke | Friday (12/19) at 8 pm – Settle into the cozy charm of Leipers Fork for an evening with Bob and Etta Britt, where Americana soul meets effortless cool. This intimate venue fills up fast, and the shared-table vibes mean you might walk in a stranger and walk out with new music-loving friends. Just grab your seat, sip something good, and let the Britts take it from there.

This weekend

✍️ Williamson County Writers Group @ The Crag Franklin | Saturday (12/20) at 10 am – Bring your notebook, your laptop, or just the half-formed ideas rattling around in your brain—this volunteer-led meetup is all about creative momentum. Whether you’re plotting a novel or polishing a poem, you’ll find encouragement, community, and a few hours of focused writing time. Perfect for anyone needing a gentle nudge to finally get those words flowing.

🎨 Purple Splendor Window” Bob Ross Workshop @ Longview Recreation Center | Saturday (12/20) at 1:00pm – Trade the to-do list for some Wet-on-Wet zen at Longview Rec as Certified Ross Instructor Quintin Burlingame walks you through a cozy cabin scene, window frame and all. Materials are provided, all skill levels welcome, and spots are limited, so register before the little rush.

💌 Community Christmas Cards @ Williamson County Public Library | Saturday (12/20) at 2:00pm – Holiday spirit calls for crafts, kindness, and a little glitter in your hair. Swing by for low-stress Christmas card making, then brighten our neighbors at Mulberry Health with a donated card. Family friendly, drop in, and your grandkids can show off their glue-stick prowess.

🕵️ The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show – Franklin, TN @ Franklin Marriott Cool Springs | Saturday (12/20) at 6 pm – Bring your appetite and your best detective instincts, because this dinner comes with a side of suspicion. Actors hide in plain sight, true-crime twists unfold around you, and anyone—even you—could become the prime suspect. It’s an interactive, laugh-filled mystery that keeps the whole room guessing between bites.

🚶 Winter Welcoming Walk @ Mill Ridge Park | Sunday (12/21) at 1:00pm – Trade the shopping crowds for a guided Winter Welcoming Walk on the Yellow/Grassland Trail, an easy to moderate three miler your knees will forgive. Come early for the Winter Roast, with treats, games, apple cider, and hot chocolate, kids and leashed dogs welcome.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/16 The BandAnna @ Legends Corner – 2:30 pm
• 12/16 Overall Country @ Riley Green’s Duck Blind – 6 pm
• 12/17 Alan Jackson’s Acoustic Duo @ AJ’s Good Time Bar – 11 am
• 12/17 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet @ The Fisher Center – 7 pm
• 12/18 Renata The Band @ Category 10 – 12 pm
• 12/18 Macy Krew @ Odie’s – 5 pm
• 12/18 Electric Guitar Sound Bath @ Drift Nashville – 6 pm
• 12/18 Ariel Jade @ Love and Exile – 6 pm
• 12/18 Rachel Summers – Jazz Christmas @ Factory at Franklin – 7 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Christie Leggo (The Highland Group TN)

Four beds, three baths, and a Franklin address marrying Southern charm with sharp updates. Engineered floors run throughout, vaulted ceilings soar, and custom wood beams add warmth. The kitchen cooks on upgraded gas with a wine fridge in tow. A central vacuum keeps cleanup simple. A gas fireplace handles the cozy. The primary suite flaunts a deep soaker, plus an upstairs flex room.

Outdoor entertaining flows into big Tennessee skies, with community pools and greenspaces nearby. Minutes to Creekside Elementary, close to shopping and medical care, quiet streets with quick city access.

Take a peek inside →