Now that my ears have stopped ringing I'd like to get down to writing a review of this really great…read morevenue and the pre-Valentine event we attended. This well-preserved historic setting is a "gracious host" for such special events. Yet I must say at the outset that an otherwise beautiful evening of skillfully prepared food paired with exceptionally fine wines was tarnished somewhat by the actual venue itself. The stark, undecorated bare brick walls served to act as reverberating amplifiers of the happy, albeit slightly raucous crowd of 64 diners. For me, the din of diners' conversations, punctuated by squeals and cackles of laughter simply stifled any polite conversation save for that with the dinner guest on my immediate right. (I was at the end of a table so there was no one on my immediate left.) And to converse with the normally delightful friend seated across from me, I had to either lean well into the middle of the table or shout, neither option conducive to pleasant communication. The noise was simply, bluntly, brutally unpleasant. But enough of the negative. Awful acoustics aside, dinner was absolutely delightful, de-lovely, delicious. We were invited to sip a bit and mingle a while for an hour before dinner was served. During that time we enjoyed a light, barely effervescent Sofia Sparkling Blanc de Blanc while deftly nibbling on dutifully delicate Honey Lavender Goat Cheese Tartlets topped with Paddlefish Caviar. The caviar added just a hint of flavor and texture to the mini slightly tart tartlets. First Course: Herb Crusted Sea Scallops, fork-tender but slightly over-blackened for my tastes. The accompanying Cauliflower Puree was über creamy and smooth, while the Toasted Pine Nuts, Currants, and Chile Oil provided lovely counterpoints in texture and taste. Noticeably absent was the "Shitake Bacon", but although I searched for it via my palate, it was nowhere to be found on this plate. The accompanying Sofia Chardonnay was (just as the Coppola vintners describe it) delicate, light, only slightly acidic (I personally didn't pick up on this) and a perfect accompaniment. Second Course: Seared Corvina on a bed of lovely, nutty, rust-colored Bhutanese Red Rice. The fish had a crisp sear but, depending on how thick your portion was, the fish came across as cooked too dry to slightly moist. (My dinner guests compared and contrasted their portions of this mild-flavored fish, the moist portions being the better.) Coconut Milk, citrusy-acidic Lime, pungent Ginger, and Cilantro combined to give this dish a nice finish. The paired Director's Cut Savignon Blanc was fine for this course. Third Course: Braised Beef Short Ribs and Morel Mushroom Sauce plus Apple and Fennel Salad proved the least favorite of the night. The beef was wonderfully tender and smoky, but didn't pack the punch the aroma suggested. The Morels - one of my all time favorite fungi - were slightly salty and could have been the main part of this course for my tastes. The crisp fennel and thinly sliced apple salad went well with a rather mysterious Lost Colony Red Blend. Again, this didn't have the body I would suggest for this heavy a course. Fourth Course: Vanilla Mascarpone Cream (yum-yum-yummy) and Almond Granola Tuile (slightly inconsistent because it was more mushy than crisp, perhaps since I was the last person served out of the 64) came with a "meh" Spiced Wine Poached Pear. Least favorite of the courses tonight, this was paired with a rare - usually served only at the winery - Late Harvest Semillion. If you get a chance to attend one of these dinners...grab it! It might not be perfect, but it made for a near perfect Valentine Dinner for us. (Just glad my taste buds aren't connected to my taste buds and thus not adversely affected by the cacophony.)

Beautiful Event Venue!…read more I have a chef crush on the owner Jason McConnell. He has three restaurants in addition to this event house and everything he cooks is fantastically delicious. Tonight the McConnell House hosted Food Truck Fight night. I'm a sucker for gourmet food coming out of a truck. There were several food trucks parked behind the house. The plan was to look at all the truck's menus and then choose carefully. It can be so difficult to choose just one so you may have to try food from several. Each truck has a number that you can text to vote for them. Just in case great food isn't enough for a great time there is also a dj playing party music. The only thing missing was our camping chairs. Since I discovered this event occurs every third Thursday of the month we will return with our chairs next month and plan to stay longer.

CJ's Off the Square was the first wedding venue I looked at, and it was the one I couldn't get out…read moreof my head at the rest. The professionalism and attention to detail is spectacular! I had Kaya as my wedding planner and she was on top of it! She always responded to my emails quickly, and she really helped make my day perfect! Plus, everything except florals and photographer are included, so that meant was less interactions with vendors which was a huge plus! I wish I could relive my magical day all over again. A big thanks to CJ's for everything!!!

Our wedding at CJ's Off the Square was absolutely perfect, and we cannot recommend this venue…read moreenough! From the moment we began planning until the very last dance, the entire team made the process seamless, stress-free, and enjoyable. A special thank you goes to Kaya, our wedding coordinator. She was truly exceptional. Kaya was organized, professional, responsive, and incredibly kind throughout the entire planning process. On our wedding day, she handled every detail behind the scenes so effortlessly that we were able to be fully present and enjoy every moment with our family and friends. Knowing she was in charge gave us complete peace of mind. The venue itself is stunning--beautiful gardens, charming spaces, and the perfect setting for an intimate and elegant celebration. Our guests could not stop complimenting the atmosphere and how smoothly everything flowed. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but Kaya and the CJ's Off the Square team made it feel easy. Their attention to detail, dedication, and genuine care for their couples truly set them apart. If you're looking for a beautiful venue with an incredible staff that will go above and beyond to make your day special, CJ's Off the Square is the perfect choice.

Great venue! This is a beautiful and historic theater, and the staff is always incredibly friendly…read moreand helpful. Because the theater is relatively small, there really isn't a bad seat in the house. They have some basic snacks and drinks, including a good selection of beer and wine. We try to make a point of keeping track of what shows and movies are coming to the Franklin Theatre, as it is always great to have an excuse to visit this great theater!

Still one of my favorite places to catch a musical act. They also show Holiday movies around…read moreChristmas and other films throughout the year. A true asset to the community.

Great cocktails and would suggest them for any catering event. They were friendly and fun.read more

The team was amazing! They made wonderful drinks and conversation. The bourbon sour was my…read morefavorite

I went to the Sound Kitchen for a work event and was impressed. We did a team building event where…read morelocal semi-famous singer/songwriters led groups in creating their own satirical song to perform in front of the rest of our work group. After a private session with one of the singer/songwriters we ate and listened to a short low key concert by the artists. Very good, talented multi-fasitated professionals. Long story short - it was fun, and did I mention the in-house food was nice southern-comfort!

From the owner: The Southeast's Largest Recording Studio & Event Venueread more

We live visiting various lodges and sharing stories with our Elk family. This lodge #72 was…read moredefinitely in our top 5 as a memorable stop. From welcoming smile as we entered the lodge doors to the beautiful scenery inside the bar area and grounds. We spent about 2.5 hours talking with Laurie. A former CA resident herself, told about the lodge and its history. We enjoyed our time in Franklin and warmest welcomes from everyone. Thank you for the pin to wear and share with our Elks at home. I would recommend this lodge for any occasion or stop by if you're a member We will be back! Thanks again fir a great afternoon with you guys!

Great lodge, great people! As a fellow Elk, always welcomed with open arms! Look forward to…read morecoming back in October!