We went to the 6.30pm Saturday show and the tickets were $31.50 each including tax. The show was divided into 5 half hour segments with different artistes in each. Appearing on this particular show were: Jeannie Sealy, Jimmy C Newman, Jean Shepard, Porter Wagoner and Riders in the Sky. Each had their own half hour with guests. Riders in the Sky was supposed to be the best as they were on last and their guests were Billy Walker and T Graham Brown. There were also two teenage boys who were just learning the fiddle and banjo and who were really good. There were some square dancers who were good, too.

What we thought was unusual was every 10 minutes the show stopped for the announcer to do an advertisement. They advertised, bread, Tooties Orchid Lounge, credit card and GOO GOO Biscuits. We didn't realise the show is broadcast live on radio until after. It was definitely something different for us.

The Gibson guitar store was also rather unique. You can watch craftsmen build guitars and other stringed instruments. Of course, you can buy them all--for a price. Most of them were way out of my price range, but they were fun to look at.

There was a magic booth selling magic tricks in the center of the mall. We left with several tricks to amaze our friends and relatives with. We even got a video with it to help us remember how to maneuver them.

There were numerous other stores and walking around the mall, while music videos played in the open area made for a good evening's entertainment.

As with most popular malls, parking is challenging at best. We arrived at 10am when the mall opens and found a parking spot within easy walking distance to the mall doors. When we left several hours later, every parking spot all the way back to the entry drive was full.

The mall is almost completely full of retailers. I'm glad to see the volume of businesses in an outlet facility as the one close to my home is only about 2/3 full. This provides quite a bit more selection and shopping opportunities. The selection includes both "outlet" and retail stores. Some of the stores are: Bed, Bath & Beyond, Shoe Carnival, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, Harry & David, Bass, Nine West, Tommy Outlet, Liz Outlet, Saks Off 5th, Kirkland's Outlet, Fossil Outlet and a set of 20 Theaters.

The mall itself was full of people. There were numerous groups of junior high and high school kids hanging around, espeically the food court area (which offered TGIFridays and Chili's Too). Many people were outside Rainforest Cafe and Alabama Grill, waiting for tables.

In addition to all the stores, there was quite a bit of activity in the center secions. People were in the middle of the mall aisles selling balloons and other items. In the center section over by Barnes & Noble, Pillsbury had the "DoughBoy" out at the mall, and he was in a sectioned off area, dancing with a bunch of kids. (Okay, the Pillsbury food samples were better than the dancing Doughboy.) Another time, one of the munchkins from "The Wizard of Oz" was there signing autographs. Even another time, I saw some of the bango players being recorded for a performance on one of the country-western programs.

The mall is very clean, with shining hardwood floors (carpeting in some sections) with a few couches here and there for those of us waiting for our "shoppers" to return.