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[losemygrip]

My understanding is that the Nashville Parthenon isn't a "tacky simulacrum."   It's a very carefully rendered scale replica (I think 2/3 scale) that is often used to help illustrate what the original Parthenon looked like during its heyday.  They also spent a lot of money and effort doing a historically accurate replica of Phidias's giant statue of Athena.  This is quite a serious venture, and I regret not having seen it when I was traveling through Nashville.  I guess I'll have to make a special trip.

[leontrout]

And here's a cool thing about that (full-sized, I think) "tacky simulacrum": the model for Cupid was Randall Jarrell.

[prof_smartypants]

It's definitely not full-size.

[leontrout]

The official website lied to me.

[stanwyck]

It's definitely not full-size.

Pretty sure it is. 1:1 scale, both the building and the statue of Athena inside.

[prof_smartypants]

Wow, you're right. I've seen the original and the Nashville one up close. I think the original just seems so much bigger perched atop the Acropolis like that.

It (the Nashville Parthenon) really is pretty cool, especially since the original was obscured by scaffolding for so long. Seeing what the Parthenon would have looked like - complete as it was - is really neat.

[leontrout]

If you've seen Nashville--Robert Altman's film--the Parthenon is especially nifty.

[canonicalkumquat]

This won't, of course, help the OP, but for the record: Marche is an amazing (and inexpensive) restaurant.  Fantastic brunch, delicious lunch...all with seasonal, local ingredients.  It's just damn delicious.  (Margot, it's more expensive and formal sibling, is absolutely superb, as well.)

Mmmmmm.