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Shared Interest Groups

Shared Interest Groups are an opportunity to meet outside of the classroom with those who share a common interest. They are intended to offer a smaller and more hands-on experience than traditional OLLI classes. The size and nature of the groups will vary.

Groups are free and open to all active OLLI members, which is anyone who registers for a class or event during the academic year. They are volunteer-led and maintained by OLLI members.

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About a Book: In-Person Book Club

We meet in person to discuss the latest book we're reading. 

Books in a pile for About a Book Book Club, a Special Interest Group at OLLI.

When You Join

When: Second Thursday of the month

Time: 11 a.m.–noon

Location: Vanderbilt Bookstore

Group Leader: F Clark Williams

Sign up to participate

Upcoming Events

All in-person meetings take place at:
St. George's Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike, Nashville

  • Thursday, March 12, 11 a.m.–noon. Discussion guided by Mary Rafferty
    The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengstrom
  • Thursday, April 9, 11 a.m.–noon. Discussion guided by Leanne Garland
    The World Walk by Tom Turcich
  • Thursday, May 14, 11 a.m.–noon. Discussion guided by Ann Wheeler
    Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte MaConaghy
  • Thursday, June 11, 11 a.m.–noon. Discussion guided by F Clark Williams
    Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

Past Book Selections

  • 2025

    October
    How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

    December 
    Buckeye by Patric Ryan

  • 2026

    January 2026
    The Correspondent
    by Virginia Evans

Afterthoughts: Online Book Club

We meet over Zoom to discuss the latest book we're reading. 

Books in a pile for Afterthoughts: Book Club, a Special Interest Group at OLLI.

When You Join

When: First Monday of each month

2025 Dates: Jan. 6, Feb. 3, March 3, April 7, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 3

Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. CST

Location: Online via Zoom

Group Leader: Anne Brandt

Sign up to participate

2026 Afterthoughts Book Club Selections

Feb. 2026
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan

March 2026
How to Read a Book, by Monica Wood

Past Book Selections

  • 2026
  • 2025

    January
    The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

    February
    A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

    March
    I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett

    April

    Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

    June
    Shakespeare - The Man who Pays the Rent by Judy Dench

    July
    The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich

    August
    The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai

    September
    Patriot by Alexei Navalny

    November
    Henry V by Dan Jones 

    December
    The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende 

  • 2024

    January 
    Open Throat by Henry Hoke

    February 
    The Socrates Express by Eric Weiner

    March 
    The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

    April 
    A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy by Nathan Thrall

    May
    Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

    June 
    The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

    July 
    The Canceling of the American Mind: How Cancel Culture Undermines Trust, Destroys Institutions, and Threatens Us All by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott

    August
    The Fraud by Zadie Smith

    September
    Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting: A Novel by Clare Pooley

    October
    An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin

    November
    Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

    December
    Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Bollywood & Beyond

Bollywood & Beyond is a community gateway to joy, culture, and connection. Inspired by the vibrant spirit of Mumbai, we bring people together in Nashville through movies, music, dance, cuisine, outdoor adventures, guest speakers, and cultural experiences. From soulful concerts to flavorful food, poetry to travel, we celebrate the magic and masala of life—building friendship, fellowship, and fun along the way. See more information about Bollywood & Beyond.

colorful theater seats

If You Join

When: Dates vary, typically on weekends

Time: Times vary

Location: Locations vary

Group Leader: Vinny Lalka

Sign up to participate

Upcoming Bollywood & Beyond Events

To RSVP to events, text Vinny at 865-692-4829, email vinvin1984@aol.com, or sign up on the Google form.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m.
Celebration of Chinese New Year - The Year of the Horse
Dinner at Inchin's Bamboo Garden, 1800 West End Ave, Nashville 37203
Experience Indo-Chinese food. Chinese people migrated to India in the 18th century to work at the ports in Calcutta and Madras. With them, they brought their unique cooking techniques that over time became a large part of the cuisine in Calcutta, and eventually spread throughout India. Inchin is a combination of the words Indian and Chinese. Asian-Fusion: Singapore, Malaysian, Indian, Thai and Chinese. Guests are encouraged to bring an Asian Fusion story or anecdote to share during dinner.

OLLI at the Arts

OLLI at the Arts group attends concerts and musical events each month during the academic year, featuring Vanderbilt Blair School of Music, Belmont University School of Performing Arts and other local academic and community cultural organizations. The group gathers pre- or post-concert for socializing over lunch or dinner. 

Blair Community Chorus

When You Join

When: Dates vary

Time: Times vary

Location: Vanderbilt Blair School of Music and other locations 

Event Tickets: Purchase on you own using links below

Group Leader: Jim and Perkie Cannon

Sign up to let us know you are attending

Upcoming Events

Sign up for events

March 5, Vanderbilt Wind Symphony
Vanderbilt Wind Symphony presents “No Strings Attached,” a program of famous transcriptions for winds. Featuring works by Dmitri Shostakovich, Joaquin Turina, and Richard Vagner, the program also includes an appearance by guest student conductor Paxson Amy.
Blair Ingram Hall | 7:30 pm
Tickets: $13.50 Purchase Tickets

April 9, Belmont Symphony Orchestra
Belmont Symphony Orchestra performs masterworks of the symphony and concerto.
McAfee Concert Hall | 7:30 p.m.
This is a free event with no tickets required.

April 12, Lipscomb Theatre’s School for Wives by Molière (Play)
Fearing cuckoldry above all else, Arnolphe has painstakingly trained the guileless Agnes from childhood to become his obedient and faithful wife. Although he has carefully shielded her from the outside world, romance finds her in the form of the dashing Horace, son of one of Arnolphe's best friends. Unaware of who his rival is, the trusting Horace enlists Arnolphe's aid in wooing Agnes - which leads to a series of hilarious and inventive twists and turns of plot, until the inevitable conclusion is reached.
Lipscomb Shamblin Theatre | 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $23 Purchase Tickets

April 17, Belmont Concert Band & Wind Ensemble
Woodwind, brass and percussion students perform chamber music, traditional and contemporary works.
McAfee Concert Hall | 7:30 p.m.
This is a free event with no tickets required.

April 26, Belmont Chorale & Bel Canto
Choral music performed by Chorale, Belmont’s flagship classical choral ensemble, and Bel Canto, a large treble ensemble which celebrates music of many genres, styles and origins.
McAfee Concert Hall | 5 p.m.
This is a free event with no tickets required.

On Film

We come together to watch a film, followed by a post-screen discussion. 

Empty movie theater with red seats facing a large, blank white screen, dim lighting

When You Join

When: Meeting dates vary

Time: Times vary

Location: The Belcourt Theatre

Group Leader: F. Clark Williams

Sign up to participate

Upcoming Film Events

Sign up to learn about upcoming film screenings and discussions.

  • Past Films
    • Nights of Cabiria
    • Zola
    • Shadow of a Doubt
    • What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
      Rebecca
    • Portrait of a Lady on Fire
    • Redoubt
    • Picnic at Hanging Rock
    • Key Largo
    • The Asphalt Jungle
    • Leave Her to Heaven
    • The Postman Always Rings Twice
    • Invisible Life
    • A Hidden Life
    • Satantango
    • Pain and Glory
    • Volver
    • The Wind Will Carry Us
    • A Taste of Cherry
    • First Love
    • Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
    • Anthropocene
    • Official Secrets
    • Broadcast News
    • Raise Hell
    • Ace in the Hole
    • The Nightingale
    • Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy Blache'
    • Biggest Little Farm
    • Wild Nights with Emily
    • Hail Satan
    • Faces
    • High Life
    • Charade
    • Ash Is The Purest White
    • Amazing Grace
    • The Mustang
    • The Juniper Tree
    • Transit
    • Never Look Away
    • Everybody Knows
    • All that Jazz
    • Roma
    • Capernaum
    • Cold War
    • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
    • Monrovia, Indiana
    • Walkabout
    • Shoplifters

OLLI on the Move

We enjoy a walk outside exploring different locations in and around Nashville. Benefits of a daily walk. 

Group of hikers in colorful jackets walking on a leafy trail under a canopy of green trees.

When You Join

When: Weekly

Cancellations: The walk will be canceled if the weather is raining, sleeting, snowing or other extreme conditions.

Group Leader: Jan Goddard

RSVP: Please RSVP via the link below. RSVP is required.

Sign up to participate

Upcoming Walks (weather permiting)

Suggested to bring personal hydration, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent, and other supplies you may need for the activity. 

Friday, Feb. 27, 9:30 a.m.
Ted Rhodes Greenway. 1913 Ed Temple Blvd, Nashville, TN. Park in the parking lot. Meet at the trailhead. 
The trail is paved and flat; a scenic walk along the Cumberland River. We will walk out and back approximately 3 miles.
Participants are invited to eat brunch together after the event at a nearby restaurant. For more information, text Jan at 850-525-3401. Please sign up.

  • Past Walks
    • Percy Warner Park
    • Nashville City Cemetary
    • Ransom Mills Dam, Murfreesboro Greenway System
    • Peeler Park and Greenway
    • Gaucho Road Trailhead, Percy Warner Park
    • Mound Bottom Archaeological Area in Cheatham County
    • Long Hunter State Park
    • Centennial Park
    • Marcella Vivrette Smith Park
    • Cumberland River Greenway
    • Ellington Agricultural Center (Rogers Walk Trail)
    • Taylor Hollow State Natural Area
    • Larkspur Conservation
    • Granny White Park
    • Bowie Nature Park
    • Beaman Park, Henry Hollow Trail
    • Edwin Warner Park, Burch Reserve Trail
    • Deep Wells Entrance, Percy Warner
    • Park, Mossy Ridge (Red Trail)
    • Richland Creek Greenway, McCabe Trailhead
    • Montgomery Bell State Park
    • Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Nature Area
    • Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary
    • Aspen Grove Park Trails
    • Deerwood Arboretum
    • Harpeth Woods Trail (Blue Trail) at Edwin Warner Park
    • Radnor Lake State Park Aviary Education Center
    • Crockett Park
    • Hidden Lake Trail at the Harpeth River State Park
    • Belmont University Campus
    • Vanderbilt University Campus
    • Ganier Ridge at Radnor Lake
    • White Trail at Percy Warner Park
    • Moss Ridge Trail
    • Burch Reserve Trail
    • Parmer Park
    • Richland Creek Greenway
    • Harpeth River Greenway
    • Percy Warner Park
    • Sevier Park
    • Green Hills Park
    • Radnor Lake State Park
    • Edwin Warner Park Blue Trail

Vanderbilt Explorers

Explore Vanderbilt University through interactive experiences.  Engage in tours and experiences covering anything from architecture history, landscapes, the Wondr'y, food, and more.

Vanderbilt University

When You Join

When: Monthly

Time: Times vary

Location: Vanderbilt University Campus

Group Leader: Tracy Stadnick

Sign up to participate

Upcoming Explorer Events

Looking forward to fun and exciting activities in 2026!

 

Volunteer with OLLI

Join other OLLI members for a monthly experience of volunteering in the community. The group will visit different nonprofits each month.

group volunteering

When You Join

When: Monthly

Time: Times vary

Location: Locations vary

Registration: Use links listed below to sign up

Group Leader: Jan Hulme Shepard

Sign up to let us know you are attending

Upcoming Volunteer Events

March 4, Wednesday, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Second Harvest Food Bank, 20 people
Join OLLI Volunteers as we help feed our hungry neighbors. Activities include a tour, unpacking boxes, sorting donations, filling distribution boxes, breaking down boxes, etc. No seating is available. Sign up to volunteer.

April 7, Tuesday, 8:45–11 a.m.
Ronald McDonald House Charities, 15 people
Join our first OLLI team to help the Ronald McDonald House team create a welcoming "home away from home" space for families with a loved one in a nearby hospital. We'll dive into spring-cleaning tasks ranging from active (scrubbing the kitchen & vacuuming) to more low-key tasks (dusting, cleaning toys & wiping off puzzles & books). Limited seating is available. Sign up to volunteer.

May 7, Thursday, 9:45 a.m.–noon
The Nashville Food Project, 10 people
Join OLLI Volunteers as we assist in meal prep sessions to feed our hungry neighbors. We'll go on a tour & learn about food insecurity in our communities. Activities include peeling & chopping veggies; sorting & separating donated foods for meals or composting. Limited seating is available. Sign up to volunteer.


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PMB 407760
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37240
615-343-0700
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