August 2010

AUGUST 2010 FASHION FOR YOU • YOUR HOME • YOUR LIFESTYLE

Smoky Mountain Getaway ATHOMETN.COM

Tennessee’s Wine Trail | At Home with Derek Dooley Nashville’s New Historic Home

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN FINCH

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COVER FEATURES

46 Smoky Mountain Getaway A WORLD AWAY

36 Tennessee’s Wine Trail A TASTING TOUR OF TENNESSEE

Tennessee has more than 30 wineries located across the state, so sample the tastes of each area by embarking upon a wineinspired road trip. Here, we’ve suggested a few stops on your tasting tour.

42 At Home With Derek Dooley THE NEW FACE OF TENNESSEE FOOTBALL

UT’s new head coach Derek Dooley has football fans on the edges of their seats with plans to restructure the program on and off the field. With Dooley at the helm, the upcoming season is expected to be a rebuilding one for the Volunteers.

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With design influenced by its natural surroundings, this East Tennessee escape radiates rustic elegance. Affectionately dubbed Two Sister’s Camp by owners Tom and Jo Zarger, the weekend retreat was inspired by family history as well as the couple’s love of the outdoors.

62 Nashville’s New Historic Home IF WALLS COULD TALK

On the outside, this Nashville home appears to fit right in with the historic neighborhood in which it is located. But in reality, the structure recently underwent a 10-month overhaul, expanding it by 1,400 square feet and achieving green certification, all while staying within the historic district’s requirements.

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SELF

TRAVEL

20 STYLISH SPLURGES

32 ESCAPE TO THE OZARKS

While bagging a bargain can be thrilling, all fashionistas know that certain pieces never go out of style. At Home Tennessee has tracked down a few splurges worth every penny.

Rediscover nature with a trip to Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri. With tons of outdoor activities, luxurious lodging and ample entertainment, Big Cedar is the perfect destination.

22 A YOUNGER YOU

34 A RUSTIC MOUNTAIN RETREAT

Worried about wrinkles? Combat signs of aging with these great beauty products.

At Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa in Arkansas, guests can relax in a natural setting. From boating, fishing and hiking to renewing spa treatments, this secluded destination is a go-to spot for nature and spa lovers alike.

24 TRAIL OF (BLOOD, SWEAT) TEARS At Home Tennessee columnist Mandi Gaskin laces up her walking shoes and heads into the great outdoors this month, only to learn the hard way that air conditioning and GPS navigation are more her style.

26 GET FIT FOR FALL For a great cardiovascular workout and lower body toning, add jogging to your exercise routine. Also in this month’s fitness section, learn the basics of a vegan diet and get toned with moves from Knoxville’s Becky Fox.

28 TURN BACK THE CLOCK If you’ve ever considered Botox or other anti-aging procedures, it’s important to educate yourself. Learn non-surgical options and the results you can expect, here.

HOME AND GARDEN 56 LOW-COUNTRY SOUL Time slows down at this Mississippi farmhouse, where 600 acres of lush landscape blend with upscale, comfortable design to create the ultimate rural retreat.

64 A GETAWAY GARDENERS WILL LOVE Gardeners will be inspired by the modern-yet-natural atmosphere of Butterfly Gap Retreat, a bed and breakfast in the Smoky Mountains.

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74 72 PERFECT PAIRINGS Brush up on your wine knowledge with these tips from Frank Arcuri, owner of Flatiron Grill and Bistro.

74 CAFE FOUR: AN URBAN RETREAT With a restaurant, bakery and entertainment venue all in one, 4 Market Square is an innovative hangout that has it all. Be sure to sample the Southern-inspired menu at Cafe 4 before heading to the Square Room for live music.

78 AN EVENING OF WINE Celebrate wine this month by hosting a blind tasting party at your home. Or if you’re lucky enough to live near a winery, grab a few close friends and indulge in sweet Southern wine and delicious pairings.

IN THIS ISSUE 12 PUBLISHER’S NOTE 66 by invitation—THE SOCIAL PAGES 76 COOKING CLASS 84 BOOK REVIEW

86 HAPPENINGS 89 SOURCES 90 ESSAY

August 2010 • Vol. 9 No. 5 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Margaret Monger - mmonger@athometn.com

EDITORIAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nikki Aviotti Hodum- naviotti@athometn.com MANAGING EDITOR Lindsey Phillips - lphillips@athometn.com SOCIETY EDITOR Lesley Colvett - lcolvett@athometn.com EDITORIAL/PUBLISHING ASSISTANT Hallie McKay -hmckay@athometn.com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Mandi Gaskin, Terri Glazer, Andy Pulte, Cara Sievers CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Boatman, Ben Finch INTERNS Kelly Kriegshauser, Elise Lasko COLOR MANAGEMENT Charles Reynolds - cr@colorretouching.com WEB MASTER Donna Donald - donna@donnadonalddesign.com

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Virginia Davis - vdavis@athometn.com Hilary Frankel - hfrankel@athometn.com Janna Herbison - jherbison@athometn.com Robert Philips - rphilips@athometn.com Carrie Russell - crussell@athometn.com Marcelle Schraer - mschraer@athometn.com Virginia Steele - vsteele@athometn.com REGIONAL SALES Melissa Hosp - mhosp@athometn.com

BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Trip Monger - tmonger@athometn.com

HOW TO REACH US 671 N. Ericson Rd., Suite 200, Cordova, TN 38018 TOLL FREE 877.684.4155, FAX 866.354.4886 WEBSITE athometn.com BEAUTY INQUIRIES beauty@athometn.com WEBSITE INQUIRIES web@athometn.com At Home Tennessee does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. To inquire about freelance opportunities, send a letter, resume and three writing samples to - Lindsey Phillips, Managing Editor, At Home Tennessee; 671 N. Ericson Rd., Suite 200, Cordova, TN 38018.

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE Call 877.684.4155 or subscribe online at athometn.com.

Annual subscription rate: $19.95. Single copy price: $4.99.

At Home Tennessee is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to At Home Tennessee; 671 N. Ericson Rd., Suite 200, Cordova, TN 38018. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes or omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Lindsey Phillips; At Home Tennessee; 671 N. Ericson Rd., Suite 200, Cordova, TN 38018 or by e-mail to lphillips@athometn.com.

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publisher’s note

Goodbye to the Dog Days of Summer

W

e are almost at the end of what some folks call the dog days of summer. In this August issue we feature a variety of restful (and shady) retreats to escape to for a little relaxation and vacation from our busy schedules. If that doesn’t lower your blood pressure, try visiting some of the many vineyards across the state. My summer has been anything but lazy and just looking at this issue makes me eager for a day or two in a restful setting and with a couple cases of wine.

With all the animals we have in our household, combined with teenagers in and out the door, our home has never been considered calm. But little did I realize how calm it really was until we welcomed a new addition to our family: Rudy the puppy.

Our daughter discovered Rudy at a shelter in Mississippi. All of five pounds and nothing short of the cutest thing ever, this Husky-Border Collie mix was in need of a new home. She and our son have become experts in working my husband and me over when it comes to bringing stray animals home and this case was no exception. I tried explaining the responsibility of puppies to my children, and that with my son’s busy school schedule and my daughter being away at college, that left me to take on raising this new addition. But regardless, after much debate from both sides, I caved and Rudy moved to Germantown, where he tripled in body weight in five weeks and changed our life as we knew it.

Rudy, named appropriately after the tenacious football hero from Notre Dame, lives up to his namesake. Rudy doesn’t cave. Rudy eats, chases our other calm dog and cats and chews up everything he comes in contact with, including my computer.

Rudy loves socks, destroying rolls of toilet paper and eating anything from plastic to metal. He refuses to eat his dog food but loves to bully our other animals until they give him theirs. Rudy also likes to attack the goldfish in the outdoor pond. I found one this morning that had jumped out in a desperate attempt to be free from the golden ball of fur with sharp teeth. Rudy loves fresh rosemary and basil and often prunes my herb garden with his teeth. If you don’t feel like walking Rudy, he simply grabs his leash and runs around you with it until you give in.

When our son Duncan was a toddler, I thought his endless energy was going to be the end of me, but that was years ago. For the first three years of his life, Duncan’s name was “Duncan No” and Rudy has followed in those footsteps. As my children have gotten older, I have often wished those days back. Rudy has made me realize that I really don’t want to go back there. I guess our house will be a little crazy for a while and I will have to resort back to removing everything in sight that I don’t want destroyed, just like I did when Duncan was a toddler. But this too shall pass. Birthday wishes to Duncan, who will be 17 this month, and thank you for outgrowing your “puppy” stage—well almost!

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contributors’ page

www.haljaffe.com

Lesley Harris Colvett is pleased to rejoin At Home Tennessee magazine. Her 10year career in magazines began promptly after graduating from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Journalism as editor of RSVP magazine, where she covered countless parties in Memphis. Most recently, she was one of the founders of by invitation Kansas City, a social magazine in Kansas City. Lesley is proud to bring social pages to Tennessee!

Stephanie Alexander is a wedding and event planner and owner of You’re Invited Events in Nashville. Stephanie specializes in social events throughout the state of Tennessee.

Helping her clients carry out their vision and truly making each event unique is her passion.

She earned an MBA from the University of Memphis and a BBA in marketing and Spanish, and her extensive business background allows her to approach each event with the client’s budget and timeline in mind. Stephanie is also an avid entertainer, chef and baker and loves expressing her creativity through do-it-yourself projects.

You can learn more about Stephanie by visiting her website at yistationery.com or her blog at yievents.blogspot.com.

Becky Fox is a certified personal trainer, nutrition consultant and owner of the Knoxvillebased personal training and boot camp company, Fox Fitness. Becky enjoys helping individuals lose fat and tone their bodies through fun, efficient and challenging workouts. She has written for various publications including the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Becky is an Optimum Nutrition sponsored fitness model who can be seen on the covers of Power Systems and Magazine Blu. You can learn more about Becky by visiting foxfitness.com.

Stephenie Ward is a registered dietitian who partners with clients of various medical and fitness backgrounds at Germantown Athletic Club. Her clinical experience includes pediatrics, cardiovascular disease, lifecycle changes, diabetes, obesity, eating disorders, osteoporosis and athletes desiring improved athletic performance. Outside of work, Ward enjoys training for triathlons, playing the violin, cooking and spending time with her family of five.

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PHOTOS courtesy of dreamstime.com 18 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

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Stylish Splurges Sometimes, it’s worth it to spend a bit more on a piece that will stay current season after season. Owning a few great wardrobe staples makes it easy to throw trendier, less expensive items into the mix. These great finds are worth every penny.

“(This cuff) is the piece you’re going to reach for over and over again…the perfect lastminute accessory that adds instant ‘oomph’ to any outfit.”

-Rachel McAteer, Oak Hall

Narissa Cuff in Yellow Vermeil by Alex Woo available at Oak Hall, Memphis 901.761.3580

Photo courtesy of OwensCorp

Ali Ro Dress available at Frankie and Julian’s, Chattanooga, 423.266.6661 Christpher Blue Magic Slim Jean Leggings available at M.S. McClellan, Knoxville

Rick Owens Biker Jacket available at H. Audrey, Nashville haudrey.com, 615.670.5701 20 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

“(The legging) molds to every curve with its smooth control technology. It’s very slim like a legging but has jean detailing, perfect for the longer tops.”

-Betsy Foster, M.S. McClellan

self

“A great piece of jewelry is always a best splurge because it not only can make an old outfit look and feel new and exciting again, but it also can put an exclamation point on a fabulous new outfit.

This statement piece can be worn in the day paired with comfy jeans and a white t-shirt, as well as in the evening with your favorite little black cocktail dress.”

-Debbie Swacker, Mam’selle

Virgins, Saints and Angels Magdalena necklace available at Mam’selle, Jackson 731.668.2420

Frye Vienna Lace Up Boot in tan thefryecompany.com

Hunter Dixon Mo top hunterdixon.com.com August 2010 • athometn.com | 21

self

A Younger You Looking for the secret to a younger you? While a fountain of youth may not exist, there are some great products out there that can help you minimize wrinkles and correct your skin. Start your day with the Skin 2 Skin White Tea anti-aging face wash or, for repairing sun spots and damage, try the age corrector set by Kiels. If you do venture into the sun, make sure to protect your skin with Lavera anti-aging sunscreen. TEXT Nikki Aviotti Hodum

Chanel Ultra Correction Line Repair chanel.com

Kiehl’s Photo Age Corrector Set available in September kiels.com Miracle Skin Transformer miracleskintransformer.com

Lavera Anti-Aging Sun Screen lavera.com

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Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus clinique.com

Skin 2 Skin White Tea Anti-Aging Face Wash skin2skincare.com

self

Time Zone Night Anti-Line/ Wrinkle Creme esteelauder.com

Josie Maran Aragon Oil Moisturizing Stick josiemarancosmetics.com

Cover FX Brite Prep FX coverfx.com.

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self

Trail of (Blood, Sweat) Tears At Home Tennessee writer Mandi Gaskin discovers that all you need in life is laughter, family and a good map.

TEXT Mandi Gaskin | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy Mandi Gaskin

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s I write to you at this very moment, I am unable to bend my legs or walk without looking like I have been on a horse for 12 straight hours. Why, you ask? Allow me start from the beginning.

Like many of our fellow Americans, we have been cutting back during this recession and getting back to the basics. After all, isn’t that what life is all about— the simple things? And so on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, my husband Ashley and I decided to get creative and go oldschool by having a family picnic in the park (just call us “The Cleavers”).

We packed up baby Rinks and Buddy Lee the dog and headed off for a day of family bliss. We had a wonderful lunch of crustless pimento cheese sandwiches courtesy of yours truly (a.k.a. June Cleaver) while conversing about how pleasant it was to stretch out under the summer sun. In fact, we were so proud of ourselves for being thrifty that we thought, “Why not stretch out our family fun and go on a stroll on one of the nearby trails?”

So once again we packed up Rinks in the stroller and Buddy Lee on the leash and off to the woods we went.

You might even say we had a pep in our step; enjoying the scenery and smelling the fresh scent of pine, while appreciating the simple things in life that money can’t buy. Sure, there were hills that were at least 45 degree angles, but I welcomed the challenge since I am still trying to lose the last 15 pounds from pregnancy (or maybe

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from my excessive love of chocolate chip cookies). We were having great conversation along the way, so good in fact that we looked at the time and realized we had been walking for an hour and were on our third mile.

And as Paul Harvey puts it, here is the rest of the story: 2:15 p.m., Mile 4: I casually start to wonder when this trail is going to end and begin looking around for any signs of an exit. I don’t see one, but I decide not to panic because we are still appreciating the beautiful scenery on our blissful family outing.

2:33 p.m., Mile 5: We look at each other nervously as there is clearly no immediate end in sight, but neither of us wants to admit it, so we mumble something about needing some exercise and laugh uncomfortably. I look ahead to see the next hill coming up, which is starting to resemble Mt. Kilimanjaro.

2:48 p.m., Mile 6: My legs are in the third realm of hell, so I start pleading to God that if he would miraculously send a cab then I will never swear again. (He didn’t, so the hell with that.) The once beautiful scenery now looks uncannily like the forest in Hansel and Gretel, minus the breadcrumbs, which I would have willingly paid $1,000 dollars for at that very moment.

3:05 p.m., Mile 7: Ashley starts getting Walker’s Delirium, as I have now named it, and begins ranting on

about how the trees are really alive and naming off flowers that look like trumpets. I know this should cause me to worry, but my big toe is starting to go numb and I am pretty sure it’s bleeding through my sock which of course conjures my inner hypochondriac telling me that surely it will have to be amputated.

3:23 p.m., Mile 8: At this point Rinks has practically spent a full day of daycare in his stroller as he has already played, napped, eaten lunch, had a snack and then fallen back asleep.

Again.

3:41 p.m., Mile 9: Ashley starts negotiating who would be the first to be sacrificed for food so the rest of us could survive. Buddy Lee wins by unanimous vote (our apologies to PETA).

4:04pm, Mile 10: Like a veil unfolding from the heavens, we see civilization sprawling out before us and we practically start hugging and crying. But since we can’t really move at that point, we just give each other knowing smiles. Because we know that when nature calls again, we will be heading straight for the nearest Chili’s.

Mandi is a writer and a mom. She is married to Ashley, who for reasons she cannot understand, never uses a map.

You can follow her on her blog at freedingo.blogspot.com or check back for her monthly columns in At Home Tennessee.

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self

Get Fit for Fall This month, try incorporating jogging into your workout routine and continue to tone that lower body with a great butt workout from Becky Fox, owner of Fox Fitness in Knoxville.

Go the Distance

Exploring Vegan Diets TEXT Stephenie Ward, RD, LDN, Germantown Athletic Club

Hit the Ground Running Running is a great form of cardio because it can be done anywhere and is highly beneficial in terms of burning calories and losing weight, says Becky Fox of Fox Fitness in Knoxville. Not only does it build endurance and strengthen the cardiovascular system, but adding a few miles into your routine also tones and builds muscles in the legs and core. Running is a good workout for almost everyone except for those with serious injuries, so you may want to talk to a doctor before lacing up your jogging shoes.

Pace Yourself If you’re new to running, start out slowly to avoid injury and overtraining and focus on time instead of distance, Becky says. She recommends alternating between running and walking for about 20 to 30 minutes. “The key is to keep moving during the whole duration whether you walk or run,” she says.

Start by doing this three days a week, and work up from there.

You can also eventually increase your running duration or stay at 30 minutes, depending on your personal goals. However, even seasoned runners need to take a few days off each week, so don’t overdo it. If you don’t know where to start, look up some running programs online like the Couch-to-5k plan. If you’re interested in intervals, which burn more calories in less time, work up to it—a beginner’s body is not yet prepared for this type of strenuous activity.

Know Your Knees “If running is done properly, it shouldn’t be too hard on the knees,” Becky says. Begin and end your run with a good stretch, and be sure to cross-train by incorporating other forms of cardio, strength training and stretching into your routine. You can also try adjusting your route from pavement (“concrete can be very jarring on the body for some people,” Becky says) to a dirt trail, track or treadmill to lessen impact.

And don’t forget your gear—replace your shoes every 300-500 miles to ensure lower body and feet support. “Having proper footwear will help protect your joints and muscles and help prevent injuries,” Becky says.

Set a Goal “The best way to stick with your program is to have a goal and a race can be a great way to set a goal,” says Becky.

Don’t wait—sign up for that race the day you decide to participate so you’re committed. There are tons of races to suit every fitness level, so visit a website like runnersonline.com to find one in your area. Running with a buddy on the same fitness level is also a great way to motivate yourself, so find a friend and hold each other accountable.

A vegan is a vegetarian who relies solely on a plant-based diet, consuming no animal products in any form. This diet excludes meat, eggs and dairy. Instead, vegans rely on vegetables, fruits, grains (cereals, breads, egg-free pasta), legumes, seeds, nuts and soy foods like tempeh and tofu for essential vitamins and minerals. People have various reasons for choosing a vegan way of life.

Some opt to be a vegan to avoid antibiotics in meat production, to protest the raising of livestock for consumption or because of religious beliefs. Some may choose this diet because they believe it is the healthiest eating pattern.

Plant-Based Pros The vegan diet has health benefits that include lower dietary intakes of cholesterol, animal protein and saturated fats and higher intakes of several nutrients including vitamins A and C as well as fiber. The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the American Institute for Cancer Research recommend a diet that is heavily plant-based. In addition, vegan diets have been associated with decreased incidence of ischemic heart disease and lower cancer rates than meateaters’ diets.

Diet Difficulties Being a vegan is more complicated than just eating vegetables, grains and fruits and avoiding meats. Careful planning is required to meet nutritional needs. Some studies have shown that vegans may have lower intakes of vitamin B-12, calcium, vitamin D, iron, zinc and riboflavin.

The key ingredient for vegans is protein. Eating plentiful amounts of foods such as seeds, nuts, legumes, tempeh and soy products such as tofu and soy milk will help to meet these protein needs. Calcium needs can be met by consuming dark green leafy vegetables, beans and nuts. Some vegans may find it beneficial to supplement with calcium-fortified foods such as cereal, fortified juices, vitamin supplements or soy milk products.

To help ensure nutritional adequacy, a registered dietitian can help customize your diet plan to meet your personal needs.

See Sources for Details

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Get Your Booty in Gear

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Who doesn’t want to look great in jeans? Well you can with these great moves. The following routine will tone and lift your butt. Complete these exercises two to three times per week along with cardio and a clean diet and you will start to notice a big difference. Do 12-16 reps of each exercise for a total of three rounds. Focus on contracting the glute muscles throughout the entire exercise to get a little extra burn and really work that booty. TEXT Becky Fox | MODEL Becky Fox

Wide Squat Works: Glutes, quads, hamstrings, inner thighs Stand with your feet wider than hip width apart and feet slightly angled out. Lower your body toward the floor coming into a squat position. Press up through your heels into a standing position, squeezing your glutes at the top of the movement. Repeat.

Alternating Lunge Works: Quads, glutes, hamstrings Start with feet together. Take your left leg and step out to the front, bending both knees into a lunge position. Make sure the front knee doesn’t go past the toes. Push off through the left foot to bring the leg back to start. Be sure to focus on tightening the glute muscles throughout the entire move. Repeat on the right side and keep alternating to complete an entire set.

Butt Bridge Works: Glutes, hamstrings Lie on the floor on your back. Place your feet flat on the floor so they are about a foot from your butt. Bring one leg straight up into the air. Hold that leg in the air while lifting your bottom off the floor high enough to make a straight line from shoulders to knees. Bring body back to floor, but do not rest weight on floor; instead barely touch the floor, and repeat. Complete one set with the starting leg in air and another set with the other leg in the air.

Glute Kickback Works: Glutes Position yourself on your hands and knees on the floor. Keeping your back straight, lift one leg off the floor kicking it behind you as high as possible while keeping the knee bent.

Squeeze the glute at the top of the exercise, then lower your leg back down. Repeat desired reps on starting leg then repeat on the other leg.

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A Younger You With so many non-surgical facial rejuvenation options out there, it’s best to educate yourself and work with a credible doctor. Learn about the anti-aging options available to you as well as the results you can expect to achieve. TEXT Virginia Steele | PHOTO courtesy of dreamstime.com

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t some point in every woman’s life, she looks in the mirror and realizes her age is slowly revealing itself. Fortunately, you can now alleviate these aging concerns with quick, safe and affordable non-surgical options. If you have ever considered this, you need to understand each procedure and its results. As with any medical procedure, patients should always seek out well-qualified physicians with specialized training.

Skin Resurfacing Sun damage, aging, lifestyle and genetics all contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the skin. There are several different therapies available to repair and enhance the surface of the skin.

Chemical peels improve the appearance of skin, peeling away top layers and revealing fresher skin below. Peels can reduce sunspots, age spots, freckles and blemishes, as well as reduce acne, mild scarring and eliminate fine wrinkles. Chemical peels are typically used on the face, neck, chest, back, hands, arms or legs.

During a peel, a solution is spread across small areas of skin causing it to blister. Patients typically experience a tingling or burning sensation and, just prior to it becoming painful, the solution is wiped away. Afterward there may be some mild stinging, subsiding into redness similar to sunburn. Skin tightness develops over the next days, followed by cracking and peeling.

Depending on the depth of the peel, this flaking and peeling can be slight to significant; enough to warrant staying at home for several days. Within a week, this typically subsides. The 28 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

treatment may be repeated.

Dermabrasion is a technique where deeper scars and wrinkles can be smoothed. Using a local anesthetic and/or a freezing agent the skin is numbed. Then, a high speed rotating brush removes the top layer of skin to the appropriate level to achieve the best results.

Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure performed in day spas, physician’s offices and medical spas where the outermost layer of the skin is removed by light abrasion, similar to but not as deep as, dermabrasion. It is used to remove sun-damaged skin or lessen mild scars or dark spots on the skin. The procedure requires no anesthetic. Microdermabrasion can be used medically for scar reduction when the scar is raised, but is less effective with sunken scars. Microdermabrasion can also be used for treatment of acne but must be repeated to be effective.

Laser resurfacing is performed with a short, concentrated, pulsating beam of light directed at irregular skin that precisely removes skin layer by layer. This popular procedure is known by several other names, including laser peel, lasabrasion or laser vaporization.

The two types of lasers most commonly used are carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium. Both erbium and CO2 procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Wrinkles around the eyes, mouth or forehead may be treated individually, or a full-face laser abrasion may be performed. A partial-face lasabrasion takes 30-45 minutes and the full-face treatment takes one to two hours.

Filling and Firming Botox is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The once serious complication of botulism, paralysis, has now been harnessed to human advantage. Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles. Cosmetic physicians have been using Botox for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial creases. Most common treatment areas are forehead lines, crow’s feet and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox. Administered by injections, the procedure requires only a few minutes and no anesthesia is necessary. Results are seen in approximately three to seven days.

Dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse and others are used to fill the skin from the inside, instead of surgically. These fillers can provide a more youthful appearance with minimal downtime and no anesthesia or surgery. However unlike surgery, their effects are not permanent and must be periodically repeated.

Juvederm is a dermal filler that smoothes moderate to severe facial wrinkles. Available in modified versions, it adds volume to lift and contour the face. Juvederm is made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance in the body which helps maintain skin volume and hydration. Hyaluronic acid retains moisture, binds with collagen and elastin and transports essential nutrients to them in order to support skin structure.

Restylane, also made from hyaluronic acid, is most commonly used for moderate facial lines and wrinkles rather than for lifting and contour-

self ing purposes. Restylane can be used along with Botox to enhance and extend the life of results.

Perlane (also a hyaluronic acid) is manufactured by the same corporation as Restylane. The distinguishing characteristic is the gel particles are larger and consequently Perlane is more effective in filling deeper folds.

Radiesse is derived from calciumbased microspheres suspended in a water-based gel. Radiesse provides both immediate and extended results as it stimulates collagen production and encourages tissue regeneration.

The most common use is for nasolabial folds and marionette lines, cheek augmentation and correction of sunken eyes.

Artefill is the first and only FDA approved non-reabsorbable dermal filler. Artefill is made of polymethylmethacrylate microspheres, a time tested material used in surgical implants. It provides a permanent support structure for lasting wrinkle correction; consequently effects are both immediate and long-term. However, there is a higher risk of allergic reaction as it is not a natural substance. Since results are permanent, physicians typically prefer to underfill on the first treatment and suggest subsequent treatment for more dramatic results. Usually, full results are seen within six months.

Sculptra is generally used when there is a loss of fat beneath the skin resulting in indentations like hollow eyes. Unlike other dermal fillers, Sculptra does not produce immediate results, but rather stimulates production of collagen, so results appear gradually over a period of a few months. Typically, three to five treatments are required and results last for two years or more.

Autologous fat is harvested from one’s own body eliminating the risk of allergies. The disadvantage is, not all live fat cells survive when transplanted and re-absorption is to be expected, so physicians usually overfill treatment areas, resulting in some minor temporary abnormalities which may discourage patients from this choice.

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travel

Escape to the Ozarks Luxury and the great outdoors meet at this state-of-the-art resort in the Ozark Mountains. Visit Big Cedar Lodge for the time of your life—with tons of onsite activities, delicious dining, renewing spa treatments and rustic-yet-pampering accommodations, this destination is great for everyone from families to honeymooners. TEXT Kelly Kriegshauser, Staff | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge

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ake a break from the real world this month and escape to Big Cedar Lodge, a luxury wilderness resort set on acres of scenic property in the Ozark Mountains. Whether your idea of a good time is embarking on a guided fishing trip across Table Rock Lake or relaxing with an in-room aromatherapy body wrap, the award-winning Big Cedar is a destination for everyone.

Where to Stay From cabins and cottages of all sizes to a 2,500-square-foot Governor’s Suite located in the Valley View Lodge, Big Cedar offers accommodations for groups of any size enjoying vacations of all kinds.

Big Cedar’s private log cabins feature rustic design elements like limestone fireplaces as well as luxurious Jacuzzi baths and private decks. Be sure to order a Backyard Basket to your cabin at least once during your stay and choose from steak, chicken, prime rib, hamburgers or hotdogs delivered right 30 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

to your door, so you can put that gas grill to work.

For the ultimate back-to-nature getaway, rent a one-, two- or three-bedroom Dogwood Canyon Cabin—they’re located 16 miles from Big Cedar in the 2,200-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park.

Enhance your stay with the Dogwood Canyon Adventure package, which includes a picnic for two, catch-and-release fishing and a guided trip through the canyon for a chance to view bison, elk, longhorn cattle and deer.

Big Cedar’s three lodges also offer a variety of accommodation options; choose to stay in the four-story Valley View or book a room in the Adirondacks-inspired Spring View Lodge. Falls Lodge, the newest at Big Cedar, is home to 65 rooms, each with its own balcony.

Regardless of where you choose to stay, Big Cedar’s packages will enhance any getaway. Choose from packages like the Happy Trails horseback riding adventure, a spa getaway package or even a Big Cedar honeymoon package.

Where to Eat Big Cedar Lodge has multiple onsite dining venues with menus to please any taste buds. The Devil’s Pool serves lunch and breakfast buffets daily as well as smoked St. Louis style pork ribs, grilled trout and decadent desserts like spiced sweet potato bread pudding. Be sure to check out the Devil’s Pool champagne brunch on Sunday.

Just downstairs is the Buzzard Bar which boasts live music and many of the same dishes as the Devil’s Pool as well as to-go options like sandwiches. At Truman Smokehouse, fresh pastries and muffins are a breakfast specialty or stop by for lunch and dinner: favorites include smoked chicken, ribs, brisket and sausage. Worman House Restaurant also serves Sunday brunch, as well as an extensive menu of snacks, dinner and desserts. For even more dessert options, head over to Frosty’s, a vintage Airstream with sweet treats galore.

Where to Shop Be sure to stop in the Big Cedar

travel gift shop during your stay—you can take home everything from Big Cedar apparel to bedding.

Browse through a variety of clothing brands or stock up on home accents like dinnerware and monogrammed serving pieces. If you visit nearby Branson, you’ll find art galleries, outlet malls, boutiques and specialty stores, so prepare to shop until you drop!

Where to Play Whether you’re into hiking, biking, golfing or just simply hanging out, Big Cedar Lodge has it all. While staying at Big Cedar, you have complimentary access to numerous activities around the resort including pools, the lazy river, sand volleyball courts, miniature golf, paddle boats, life-size chess and checkers, and the list goes on.

Also, just a short drive from the resort entrance, you’ll find the Top of the Rock golf course, a 47-acre golf course with nine holes; rates are offered at a discounted price for resort guests. At the Dogwood Canyon Nature Park you can go biking or hiking on the trails and horseback riding. If water activities are your thing, try kayaking, boating or fishing. And when you’re worn out from your outdoor adventures, the resort’s two spas are sure to rejuvenate you with body wraps, deep tissue massages and aromatherapy treatments.

For even more excitement, Branson’s Silver Dollar City (silverdollarcity.com) theme park has a variety of shows and attractions for your family to enjoy. You’ll also find Ripley’s Believe It or Not (branson. ripleys.com) museum, the Titanic Museum (titanicbranson.com) and Table Rock State Park nearby.

See Sources for Details

August 2010 • athometn.com | 31

travel

A Rustic Mountain Retreat Escape from the real world with a trip to Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa. From outdoor activities like fishing and hiking to relaxing offerings like a treatment from the award-winning onsite spa, this destination offers something for all travelers.

TEXT Hallie McKay | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa

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his month, take charge of your vacation destination and chart out new adventure in the pristine wilderness of Mount Ida, Arkansas. Overlooking a clean Lake Ouachita and nestled in the South’s oldest national forest sits Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa—a secluded slice of wilderness teeming with the best nature has to offer in adventure and relaxation.

Fish Stretching out over acres of virtually undisturbed shoreline are the brilliant blue waters of Lake Ouachita. Ranked as one of America’s cleanest freshwater lakes by the EPA, Lake Ouachita is home to countless species of fish, some of the most common being catfish, largemouth bass, stripers, bream and walleye.

At Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa, everything you need for a day on the lake can be found at the full-service marina. From boat rentals to lures to sportswear, if they don’t have it, you don’t need it. While at the marina, new visitors should check out Hugh Albright’s Fishing Guide Service. With a knowledgeable guide of the lake and fishing hot spots, you won’t waste time or fuel by aimlessly wandering. After a long day of fishing, kick back on the marina’s deck to watch the sunset and enjoy a Subway sandwich.

Hike Centrally located in the Ouachita National Forest, Mountain Harbor provides its visitors with easy access to 32 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

a number of Arkansas trails. The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOVIT) has three trailheads within a five-minute drive of Mountain Harbor. Here, guests can choose between a leisurely four-toeight mile hike, or the slightly more challenging 15-mile hike. Bring your family and pack a picnic. Stop for lunch once you reach Log Vista.

If you want to make a day of it, head to the Little Missouri Trail. The 15-mile journey is pretty easy apart from a few steep inclines, and the views are breathtaking. Cascading waterfalls, stately hardwoods, natural springs and interesting rock formations are just a few of the many natural wonders you can expect to see.

For an experienced biker, the Womble Trail is a must. Riding along the bluffs of the Ouachita River, you’ll begin to understand why it’s considered one of the region’s most scenic trails.

The 37-mile trek is relatively easy; however, be prepared for a long day.

Depending on the route, it could take you anywhere from five to 10 hours one-way. Bike rentals are not provided at Mountain Harbor so be sure to bring your own if you prefer to ride.

Relax If it’s serenity you seek, look no further. Tucked away in a secluded cove of natural forest awaits the awardwinning Turtle Cove Spa. From the moment you cross a suspended wood bridge into the spa, you feel cut off from the world. Adding to the destination’s novelty are turtles that slip through the waters; view them sunning

on the deck during spring.

First-class amenities and an attentive staff ensure an unsurpassed experience.

Enveloped in one of the spa’s luxurious robes, you’ll sip ginger tea during a signature Turtle Cove pedicure. Or you may choose to relax with the hot stone massage.

Turtle Cove Spa is a full-service facility dedicated to treating the mind, body and soul. Inspired by ancient Eastern and European therapeutic techniques, the extensive spa menu focuses on treatments for balance and serenity. Unique among the offerings at Turtle Cove are holistic remedies like the Crystal Energy Balance Massage or the Chakra Balancing and Raindrop Massage.

Along with an impressive selection of relaxation techniques and beauty treatments, the spa also provides programs for a chiseled physique. Sign up for an invigorating cardio session at the Woodland Workout Circuit or strengthen that inner core at Wilderness Yoga.

Before you go anywhere though, head to the Mountain Harbor restaurant where you’ll find Turtle Cove Spa’s light dining options—another example of the resort’s commitment to a better, healthier you.

Sleep From cheap to chic, the number of places to stay at Mountain Harbor is endless. Cabanas, condos and a newly added Harbor House are just a few of the resort’s excellent facilities. Close to the resort are luxurious cottages offering all the amenities of home, and

travel then some. The two-and-three bedroom cottages range from about $345 - $500 nightly and are equipped with a full kitchen, charcoal grill, stone fireplace and personal hot tub. Additionally, motel-style guestrooms are available— they’re budget friendly.

With various packages available, Mountain Harbor is a great destination for honeymooners or a getaway with the girls—the popular “I’m Over It” package includes a half-day spa escape with a spa treatment, lunch and dessert of Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

Celebrate Whether you’re planning a memorable family reunion, an intriguing corporate event or a romantic wilderness wedding, Mountain Harbor and its experienced staff are equipped to handle all your needs.

Exquisite facilities and vast landscape make it the perfect site for large groups, especially weddings. According to Lodge Manager Pati Brown, the resort hosts about 20 large-scale weddings a year, with several smaller nuptials taking place relatively unnoticed or without involvement from the resort staff.

“The most popular wedding sites are Micah’s Point and the East Cove Conference Center,” says Special Events Coordinator Julie Rurup. “[Micah’s Point] is a great site for smaller ceremonies—it has a touching story and a fantastic view of the sunset over Lake Ouachita.” The East Cove Conference Center is also a wonderful choice because it covers all your needs in one area. “It can also serve as a rain alternative for pavillion plans” Rurup says. For couples tying the knot, the East Cove lakeshore is the perfect place to say “I do” lakeside and then walk a short distance to the pavilion for an open-air reception overlooking the water.

Family reunions and vacations at Mountain Harbor are made memorable by a list of endless activities including spearfishing, kayaking, scuba diving, horseback riding and water skiing, among many more. Visit any time; the resort is open year-round with 82 lodging options and a range of pricing that accommodates any type of vacation.

See Sources for Details

August 2010 • athometn.com | 33

34 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

Just Jackson

August 2010 • athometn.com | 35

travel Century Farm Winery

Crown Winery

A Tasting Tour of Tennessee From blackberry and muscadine wines to catered on-site picnics, Tennessee’s wineries offer an out-of-the-ordinary experience.

Attend a grape stomping celebration or gather the family for an evening of live music, good food and great wine this August.

TEXT Elise Lasko and Kelly Kriegshauser | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of Century Farm Winery, Crown Winery

W

ith more than 30 wineries located across the state, each offering unique vintages, activities and seasonal entertainment, there’s no reason not to sample the tastes of Tennessee.

Plan a trip across the state this month and embark on a journey that will enhance your knowledge of the area’s wines and fill your wine cellar. At Home Tennessee will kick off your trip, but visit tennesseewines.com for a complete list of wineries and vineyards to make the adventure your own.

West Tennessee Century Farm Winery Family owned and operated for more than 150 years, Century Farm Winery (centuryfarmwinery.com) is located in Jackson near an array of attractions including bed and breakfasts, historical museums and the Cypress Grove Nature Park. This quaint country-style winery is widely known for its sweet blackberry and bronze muscadine wines, among numer36 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

ous others. With the winery’s free tasting, you can sample the impressive selections. A popular summer and fall event is Century Farm’s Voices of the Vineyards concert series, during which guests can bring a picnic, relax on a blanket and enjoy entertainment. Escape to this tranquil setting and savor the sweetness of the wine and the surrounding vineyard this month.

Crown Winery The recently opened Crown Winery (crownwinery.com) in Humboldt attracts visitors of all kinds, from wedding parties and girls’ night out groups to those eager to ease into the weekend. Join the winery’s staff for Wine Down every Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with live music, wine tastings and a variety of Tennessee cheeses, hot French bread, summer sausage, salami and chocolates available for purchase. Or make an appointment to enjoy free tours of the vineyards and the stunning Tuscan villa-style winery, all powered by solar energy. Located in the vineyard is the Companion

Barn which features work by local artisans for purchase, including pottery by Eric Botbyl who regularly teaches classes on site.

Relax with a glass of the winery’s famous Strawberry Strut while you admire artwork on display and the breathtaking vineyards.

Middle Tennessee Grinder’s Switch Winery Take a trip to Grinder’s Switch Winery, located on 110 acres in Centerville, to sip some more of Tennessee’s award winning wines.

Sample vintages like muscadine wine and honeysuckle rose in the log cabin tasting room, and be sure to take home some of Grinder’s Switch’s Wine Jelly when —it comes in flavors like chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

Each month Grinder’s Switch hosts Blues and Wine concerts for their visitors and customers to come out and enjoy. This month, on August 21st, Miranda Louise will be out there entertaining guests who have come to enjoy great music and fantastic wine.

travel Sumner Crest Winery At Sumner Crest Winery (sumnercrestwinery. com), a good bottle isn’t the only thing the owners love. Classic cars, from the 1930s Model T Cabaret Coupe to the ‘57 Corvette, are on display for visitors to enjoy daily.

Sumner Crest is also famous for its antique shop, full of beautiful and rare treasures ranging from $500 to just 99 cents. And last, but not least—the wine. Sumner Crest has an extensive selection of wines including a delectable blackberry wine and a cabernet sauvignon.

Sit back and sip this month at one of the winery’s concerts on the lawn. Plan your trip for August 28, when Sumner Crest hosts the 11th Annual Grape Stomp Celebration complete with grape stomping, live music, great food and—of course— fabulous wine.

Arrington Vineyards Founded in 2005, Arrington Vineyards (arringtonvineyards.com) is already highly acclaimed as a recipient of three silver medals from the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Located 25 miles south of Nashville, it is a go-to spot for free wine tastings and unforgettable sunsets. Enjoy a picnic catered

by Henpeck Market or raspberry truffles from the nearby Cocoa Tree to pair with award-winning wines available by the bottle. You can also bring your own meal and eat on the covered deck overlooking the picturesque 75 acres of Arrington vineyards. Weekly Music in the Vines concerts are free and feature performances by local jazz musicians. Come for Cigar Night every other Wednesday beginning August 11 for wine, cigars and entertainment. Best-selling wines include Red Fox Red, Stag’s White and raspberry wine. Open seven days a week, there is no excuse to miss out on this relaxing and remarkable getaway.

August 2010 • athometn.com |37

travel Morris Vineyard and Winery For more than 50 years, Morris Vineyard and Winery (morrisvineyard. com) has had more to offer than just delicious grapes and wine. Located in the rolling foothills of East Tennessee, this vineyard grows more than 28 varieties of muscadine fruit, along with grapes and blueberries on their 50-plus acre farm. Whether you want to bring the whole family to pick muscadines, grapes and blueberries, or you’re just in search of a relaxing day to sit back and sip wine, Morris Vineyard and Winery is a great stop on your road trip. You can even taste the vineyard’s blueberry wine, made with fresh fruit for a rich, deep flavor.

Highland Manor Winery Tennessee’s oldest licensed winery, Highland Manor Winery, (highlandmanorwinery.net) has been producing acclaimed vintages since the 1880s, and has received accolades from as far away as Madrid. Its nonvintage white table wine was even recognized by wine critic Coleman Andrews as one of the top finds in the U.S., so be sure to visit for a tasting and tour of the English Tudor-style winery. Varieties of wines range from the dry Caruga white, which goes great with light salads, cheeses and fruits to the sweet Cab Berry, named for the winery’s mascot Cab, a yellow Labrador Retriever, and made from a blend of blackberry and red wine. In September, be sure to stop by the End of Harvest Celebration for an afternoon of music, food and wine.

East Tennessee Corey Ippolito Winery Nestled in the rolling hills of Blountville, the Italian-inspired Corey Ippolito Winery (civines.com) also houses a bed and breakfast that is ideal for a romantic retreat, meeting, family get-together or scenic destination wedding. Choose the Venice 38 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

travel or Roman Room for a unique overnight experience and enjoy activities ranging from bocce ball to wine tastings. Try an assortment of homemade Italian cookies with a glass of wine on the front porch while you relax at this wineinspired retreat.

Rocky Top Wine Trail Visit the Smoky Mountains for a day of tasting on the Rocky Top Wine Trail, which features three wineries located within three miles of each other.

Begin your journey at Mountain Valley Winery (mountainvalleywinery.com) in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee’s largest facility of its kind. Open daily, this winery offers free tastings of its awardwinning wines. Be sure to sip the winery’s Mountain Berry wine, a sweet blend of Concord grapes and raspberries.

Continue your tasting at the Apple Barn Winery (applebarnwines.com), located on Little Pigeon Forge River in Sevierville.

You must try Apple Barn’s apple wines: they make a dry apple wine, a semi-sweet apple blush and unique blends like apple cranberry, apple pomegranate, apple peach and apple strawberry.

While you’re in the area, check out Apple Barn Village (applebarncidermill.com) and view the on-site apple orchard.

The newest winery on the Rocky Top Wine Trail is Hillside Winery (hillsidewine.com), which opened two years ago in Sevierville. Taste Hillside’s Italian-style and sparkling wines and be sure to sample blends like the Black and Blue, made of blackberries and blueberries. ln October, the wineries are commencing their “Stomp Out Breast Cancer” campaign in hopes to raise $15,000 for the American Cancer Society by donating a portion of the sales from a special pink-hued wine.

August 2010 • athometn.com |39

travel

Wine Events Across Tennessee

August 27

A Fine Wine Affair Murfreesboro 615.893.0022

423.265.2825, wineoverwater.org

October 10

2nd Annual Wine Tasting September 18 Murfreesboro Symphony OrchesClassic Cruise In & Concert tra, Murfreesboro Sumner Crest Winery, Portland 615.898.1862, 615.325.4086, murfreesborosymphony.com sumnercrestwinery.com

September 25

End of Harvest Celebration Highland Manor Winery, Jamestown 931.879.9519, highlandmanorwinery.net

September 25

Wine on the River Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, Nashville wineontheriver.com

September 28

Tuesdays on the Terrace Wine Tasting Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis 901.636.4131, memphisbotanicgarden.com

October 2

October 15

International Food and Wine Tasting University Club on Vanderbilt Campus 615.741.7579

October 22

Franklin Wine Festival The Factory, Franklin 615.522.5659, franklinwinefestival.com

November 5

Wine Down Main Street Historic Downtown Franklin winedownmainstreet.com

November 5

Sip Around the World Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis 901.636.4131, memphisbotanicgarden.com

BBQ Blues and Rock & Roll Sumner Crest Winery, Portland 615.325.4086, November 12 sumnercrestwinery.com Ronald McDonald d’Vine Selections Wine Tasting October 2, 2010 Jaguar/Porsche/Audi Nashville, Wine Over Water Festival, 615.343.4000, Chattanooga rmhcnahsville.com 40 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

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The New Face of Tennessee Football The addition of new head coach Derek Dooley to the University of Tennessee team in January has added a valuable and much-needed new member to Big Orange Country. With plans to restructure the Volunteers both on and off the field, Dooley’s presence has football fans on the edges of their seats. TEXT Hallie McKay | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of UT Media Relations

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s the new face of University of Tennessee football, Derek Dooley brings character, intelligence and class to the program. No doubt he’ll have his work cut out for him this year. Restoring faith and stability to a team that has seen three coaches in three years will be no easy task—not to mention the player behavior issues that have grabbed recent headlines.

And that’s just off the field. On the field Dooley, who has the support of a great coaching staff, must work around youth and inexperience. Offensively, the Volunteers are on shaky ground, and as the season progresses, the lack of depth in the offensive line may prove troublesome. On defense, however, the Volunteers are relatively steady with the leadership of new defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox.

Dooley’s arrival on the scene is a welcome presence felt not only in Big Orange Country, but among the Southeastern Conference as well. During a July 23 press conference in Hoover, Alabama, SEC commissioner Mike Slive was more than relieved with Tennessee’s decision. “I want to welcome Derek Dooley, and when I say welcome, I mean welcome,” Slive said.

42| At Home Tennessee • August 2010

SEC Media Days During a recent SEC press conference, Dooley managed to remain conflict-free, deflecting questions to comment on predecessor Lane Kiffin’s term. “My job was to see where we are, what we need to do to get back what Tennessee fans expect and our university expects, and that’s all we’ve done,” Dooley said.

Another word to describe the new coach would be humble. Dooley graciously embraces his colleagues and the Tennessee family—traits absent from the intrusive force and polarized reign of Kiffin.

Don’t mistake humbleness for weakness, however. Dooley’s demeanor at the conference’s podium in late July carried all the weight of a seasoned leader.

Speaking confidently to reporters he never fumbled for words and instead spoke with a lawyer’s agility, clearly and concisely, about his plans to restructure the culture at UT. For a young coach, he was remarkably comfortable with press members, even joking around at times. The meeting in Hoover painted Dooley as a likable character whose skill at the podium was only matched by Alabama’s Nick Saban.

Approaching his first year, the young coach is no stranger to high expectations and a competitive conference. “This is a group of fans that are used to

at home with

winning, and they’re also used to stability,” Dooley commented.

A History of Football Dooley comes from a family rooted in SEC football and boasts an impressive pedigree with experience that ranges from recruiting to assistant coach to athletic director. And if the name Dooley rings a bell, you’re not mistaken. The rookie coach is son of legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley.

When asked if his father had provided him with any valuable words of wisdom, he told reporters, “I would be a fool if I didn’t reach out to him, someone who has had the success that he’s had … Certainly I use him the most when [I] have to make tough decisions, which [I] do all the time.”

If one thing is certain, Dooley is not at a loss for mentors. Along with a hall-of-fame father, the head coach freely references his seven seasons spent with legendary coach Saban. “He really gave me a lot of opportunities as a young coach to blossom, to wear a lot hats,” he said.

And while with Saban, Dooley certainly did wear a lot of hats.

Dooley arrived at LSU after two seasons as co-recruitment coordinator and wide receiver coach at Southern Methodist University. From 2000 to 2006, Dooley served roles including recruitment coordinator, tight ends coach, running back coach and in 2004 as assistant coach. As Saban’s right-hand man, Dooley followed his mentor to Miami where he served as tight ends coach to the NFL Miami Dolphins. Dooley left Saban in 2007 to accept the head coach position at Louisiana Tech University.

Rebuilding Tennessee Football Appointed as head coach at UT in January, Dooley had a short three week recruiting period to pick up where Kiffin left off. The uncertainty of Tennessee’s future led several recruits away, including the coveted recruit Bryce Brown. Dooley’s efforts were not unnoticed, August 2010 • athometn.com | 43

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however. The coach proved a true Saban protégé by salvaging a top 10 recruiting class with one five-star recruit and 12 four-star recruits.

While most agree this will be a rebuilding year for Tennessee, fans may not have to wait too long for exciting commitments. The head coach knows the importance of good recruits in a program. While at LSU, Dooley helped the Tigers to number one recruiting classes in 2003 and 2004; coincidentally, the team won the SEC Championship both years as well as the BCS National Championship in 2004.

Dooley’s plan to restructure the Vols’ recruiting philosophy involves targeting the area within a five hour or 300-mile radius of Knoxville. Bringing the program to a local level will hopefully draw players from the surrounding eight states and give coaches more face time with recruits.

Along with changes to the recruitment process, Dooley also has plans that could benefit the image of his program. Dooley is not impressed with the recent headlines his players have inspired and to combat these issues, he’s 44 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

implemented various programs to educate, support and discipline his team. “We got a lot of entitlement issues that we have to work through,” Dooley said in an interview during SEC Media Days.

One such program is “Vol for Life.” Led by former Vol Andre Lott, the program offers a platform for players’ character development. “Vol for Life,” founded in Dooley’s belief that it all starts with education, instructs players on topics such as career development, spiritual growth, life skills and community service.

Dooley’s commitment to his players’ futures doesn’t stop there, however. In the wake of recent turmoil over agent-player relationships, UT has hired Joe Mendes to educate players on acceptable means of interaction with NFL agents.

If there’s any truth to the saying “practice what you preach,” then Tennessee is in good hands. With Dooley’s effort, the Volunteers are well on their way to a football program of high character and to an exciting season.

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feature

Warm red cabinets, an antique pressed tin backsplash and amed granite countertops give this kitchen a rustic elegance.

A World Away

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When Tom and Josephine Zarger decided to build a weekend getaway in the Smoky Mountains, the focus was on the family in every possible way, from the design—done by their daughter, Knoxville’s Adrienne Z. King—to the home décor, a blend of inherited family pieces and carefully selected antiques. Even the home’s name, Two Sisters Camp, is a nod to the couple’s children. All the attention to detail paid off, creating the ultimate rustic retreat great for family vacations or a quick escape for two.

TEXT Lindsey Phillips | PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Finch

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nterior designer Adrienne Z. King, ASID, first realized her true calling as a five-year-old—an extra-opinionated five-year-old, that is, when it came to her parents’ home renovation projects.

(She was even known to draw furniture and space plans at a young age.)

So it was only natural when, upon graduation from Vanderbilt University and Watkins College of Art and Design some years later, the Knoxville native’s first large-scale turn-key project was to oversee the design and construction of her parents’ Smoky Mountain weekend getaway. “I had done other projects, but this was the first large-scale,” Adrienne says. “In this case, I was pretty much involved from day one to move-in day.”

While Adrienne’s parents, Tom and Josephine Zarger, considered multiple options for their second home, it was ultimately the Smokies’ proximity to Knoxville that won out— the couple wanted a location that only felt a world away but was actually easily accessible to most members of the family. “We’ve always enjoyed the beach with our family, but it’s so far from Knoxville that a beach place just wouldn’t make sense,” Jo says.

“When it came down to it, we said, ‘Let’s do a mountain house.’”

This decision was also largely influenced by Tom and Jo’s histories: Tom’s aunt and uncle owned an Ad-

48| At Home Tennessee • August 2010

The Adirondack-style exterior of Two Sisters Camp features riverrock, board and batten siding, cedar shakes and a bronze standing seam metal roof irondack cabin (which eventually became the inspiration for their new mountain home’s sleeping porch) and both sets of Jo’s grandparents had cabins. “[The project] was influenced from family vacations and other family members that have had a second home,” Adrienne says. “[My parents] wanted to build a house not only for our generation but for future generations to come and be together. It was really important to have a gathering place for everyone.”

Construction on the project began in 2005, with Adrienne working with residential designer Bart Carey, builders Elliot Walker and Bill LaRowe and structural engineers Bender and Associates on the three-story, Adirondack-style retreat. Affectionately named Two Sisters Camp by Tom and Jo in honor of their two daughters, Adrienne and Becky, the mountain home quickly became a go-to place for inexpensive hiking dates, family get-togethers and quick weekend trips for Tom and Jo. And while Two Sisters Camp was only completed in 2007, materials like board and batten siding, cedar shakes, river rock and a bronze standing seam metal roof make the home seem as though it has been nestled in the East Tennessee mountains forever, a design goal from the beginning. “We wanted it to look old,” Tom says. “We wanted it to look like it had been there for a long, long time.”

And it wasn’t just the look of the home that the

feature

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The natural atmosphere of this retreat continues in the bathrooms, which feature countertops constructed of solid planks of black walnut, chestnut and mahogany.

50 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

The stacked river rock ďŹ replace is double-sided and can be enjoyed from the screened in porch or family room.

feature

feature location of Two Sisters Camp influenced.

“All materials were selected to allow the structure to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment and natural habitat,” Adrienne says. “A good portion of the lumber and support beams came directly from the property and were milled locally to lessen the environmental impact.”

The home is extremely energy efficient, she says, and uses a blown cellulose/blue jean insulation product. Designed with group vacations in mind, the 3,000-square-foot Two Sisters Camp has plenty of sleeping space between its three bedrooms, sleeping porch and the “Bunkaroo”—a bunkroom tucked away in the corner with cedar shakes and a locally handcrafted ladder. “I designed this area for kids and adults alike,” Adrienne says. “It’s literally the playroom of the house.”

The sleeping porch is a favorite room as well, with headboards made from antique English garden gates and cedar shakes on the interior walls to give the effect that it was actually a porch closed in at some point, Adrienne says. A photograph of Tom’s aunt and uncle’s sleeping porch hangs in this room, paying homage to the inspiration. The other bedrooms feature custom built beds with upholstered headboards accented by nail heads, with the upstairs bedrooms outfitted in antique walnut pieces that Tom inherited from his grandparents. The house’s three full baths and two half baths boast counters constructed from solid planks of black walnut, chestnut and mahogany. “We wanted it [Two Sisters Camp] to feel comfortable most of all, inviting,” Adrienne says. “We wanted it to blend in not only with the natural surroundings but to blend in with our family as well.”

Functionality also played a key role in the home’s design. Jo wanted a practical kitchen, but didn’t wish to see the appliances—Adrienne was able to fit a full range with a warming drawer into the space as well as a second oven and microwave in the island. The kitchen’s warm red cabinets have a subtle “Z”design.

Adrienne chose an antiqued pressed tin backsplash and flamed granite countertops, since a glossy finish might make the space feel too new, she explains. A double52 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

sided, stacked river rock fireplace adds a rustic element to the family room and the screened-in porch, an extension of the house with a large farmhouse table and comfortable seating area. The living room is also ideal for large gatherings, with a huge sofa (“one of the largest I could find,” Adrienne says) that Tom cites as one of his favorite spots to relax. This space also includes two large scale red houndstooth chairs and a pair of antique hand-painted trunks from France that Adrienne found on a buying trip. She couldn’t decide between the pair so she just incorporated both into the house.

History abounds in Two Sister’s Camp, from the master bedroom’s ceiling fixture—a fourth generation converted oil lamp from Tom’s Pennsylvanian relatives—to antique reflector sconces from Jo’s grandparents’ cabin in Wisconsin. Many of the pieces that weren’t purchased new or inherited are ones that were once displayed prominently in Tom and Jo’s home, but had since gone by the wayside, like the antique stained glass window Adrienne installed in the master bedroom of Two Sisters Camp; Tom and Jo had purchased it nearly 40 years ago in Massachusetts as newlyweds.

“We were just no longer using a lot of the pieces in our home in prime space,” Jo says. “[Using them in Two Sisters Camp] was a way to really get to enjoy the pieces.”

With so many unique qualities in each room, how does the family possibly choose who sleeps where?

Adrienne thought of that as well, creating small wooden chips featuring each of the rooms’ names—the Bunkaroo, Sleeping Porch, Hillside and Creekside—so guests can simply draw their sleeping arrangements at random. And although the family has been traveling to Two Sisters Camp for three years now, the excitement of their rustic retreat hasn’t worn off, especially with Adrienne’s careful attention to detail and the serene, mountain surroundings. “Even now, when you haven’t been there in a few weeks and you open the door you think, ‘Ah, it’s great to be here,’” Jo says.

See Sources for Details

Clockwise from left: the Sleeping Porch, Bunkaroo, Hillside and master bedroom.

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feature The farmhouse’s kitchen and keeping room provide ample views of the trout stream, lake and pool. Sage green cabinets with an umber glaze work with rich, gray-green soapstone countertops and a custom patina copper vent hood to give this kitchen an elegant countryside feel. The unique oral print drapery fabric in the keeping room was the ďŹ rst textile chosen in the entire home, and the design built on it from there.

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Low-Country Soul

Relaxed, easy, soothing and calm, this Mississippi farmhouse exudes casual elegance and evokes daydreams of simpler times, when taking in the scenery on the porch with a glass of iced tea and a good friend was all you needed to make the day a great one.

TEXT Cara Sievers | PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Boatman| FLORALS Holliday Flowers

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estled among the expansive rolling hills of back-country Slayden, Mississippi, is a farmhouse like no other. Just an hour away from Memphis, this enchanting oasis is the epitome of Southern charm and hospitality in homestead form.

About a decade ago, the owners assembled a team of professionals that could turn their farmhouse dreams into a reality. Wellknown Memphis architect Brad Shapiro of Shapiro & Company Architects, Inc., along with landscape architect Ben Page of Nashvillebased Page Duke Landscape Architects, homebuilders Kircher Belz and Memphis-based interior designer Rhea Crenshaw, collaborated with the owners to erect the home and outlying buildings within 18 months. Gracing 600 acres of lush landscape, complete with a huge lake and custom-designed trout stream, the rural retreat was born. And although it was a brand new build, it instantly had a story to tell—a heritage loomed by an eclectic array of antiques and reclaimed materials.

The farmhouse has a traditional low-country feel with a gorgeous red tin roof and a wraparound porch that surrounds almost the entire home. The exterior is constructed of reclaimed brick from a building that was demolished in downtown Memphis, a material that is repeated throughout the home, along with reclaimed cypress beams and antique pine floors.

“All of that makes it have the feeling that the house evolved over time, and that it wasn’t just a new build,” 58 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

says Crenshaw. “We really wanted it to feel lived-in and have a soul from day one.”

Crenshaw, the designer, is much like the aesthetic in the farmhouse—relaxed, comfortable and laid back. For 25 years, she has been working with clients to help them discover and portray their own individual style. “Every house I do is really very different,” she explains. “Unlike a lot of designers who have a very canned look, my spaces are very much about the individual.

For example, with this Mississippi farmhouse, the homeowner and I picked out every little piece and every little detail. They didn’t necessarily all go together from the beginning; but as the design evolved, they all found a home.”

For this design project, Crenshaw was lucky enough to have a real-life inspiration to help with the collaboration. “I grew up going to my grandmother’s farm in Ashland City, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville,” she says.

“Its interiors felt very similar to this. A lot of the design was a pull from actual experience from childhood and nostalgia.”

Crenshaw describes the interior of the farmhouse as very eclectic, warm and comfortable.

She and the homeowner traveled to France to purchase much of the furniture, light fixtures and antiques in the home, and they also got many pieces from local dealers in Memphis, Nashville and Atlanta. The fact that not a single piece of furniture in the house is new (except for the upholstery) makes every room feel worn-in, cozy and welcoming.

A warm and natural color palette of reds, browns and greens with pops of color here and there, helps to bring the outside in. With 12-foot floor-to-ceiling windows in the kitchen, dining room and living room, the landscape

The dining room, built to look like a later addition to the home, combines sophisticated champagne-colored taffeta draperies with rustic and reclaimed cypress siding.

Bentwood patio furniture provides the feature perfect seating arrangement to sit and enjoy the surrounding landscape.

The designer bathed a bedroom in classic quilting and abundant orals to blend in with the country disposition of the farmhouse.

A custom-designed well house continuously pumps cold, fresh water into the trout stream.

Vignettes throughout the house combine French antiques, cozy fabrics and warm farmhouse air.

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The cream and taupe hues of the master bedroom create a calm haven bookended by beautiful cypress ceilings and antique pine floors, and punctuated by a Louis XVI buffet. becomes an important element of the interior design.

“There’s so much glass and the terrain is so beautiful with all seasons,” says Crenshaw. “In the summer, you have lush, rolling green hills covered with trees; and in the fall, you can watch the foliage mature into a million brilliant colors.”

The home design also incorporates the great outdoors into the dining room, which is made to look like it was a porch brought into the house at a later date. The homeowners wanted it to feel as though the home was once a little house that expanded and evolved as the farm itself grew over time. One wall of the dining room has the same cypress siding that is on the exterior of the home, making it look like an addition. The room’s louvered doors, which also are made out of the antique cypress, have a shutter feel, adding to the porch-like ambiance of the room.

The outdoor experience of the farm is a recurring motif in the home’s interior design. Many of the treasured relics and paintings are a nod to the wildlife on the land, including deer, wild turkey, bass and trout, and also quail and pheasants that are occasionally released for 60 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

hunts. The property also boasts two barns and a riding ring and lit horse-jumping area, naturally projecting the horse theme into the design as well. In fact, one of the only new paintings in the home is a work that was commissioned by local artist Pam Wagner – it features some of the animals on the farm and has become a signature piece of the home. Another custom art piece is the pastoral mural that lines the walls of the master bathroom and mimics the landscape directly outside the window.

The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath retreat also has a separate pool house with a screened-in porch, kitchenette and his and hers bath with an outdoor shower. A beautiful jasmine-draped trellis provides the perfect spot to take in the afternoon breeze. “There’s always a breeze at this house. It never seems hot,” says Crenshaw. “I guess it blows up from the lake and over the hills and across the acreage. It’s a magical place.”

See Sources for Details

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Whether relaxing on the porch swing or sidling up to the picnic table, the porch provides abundant, comfortable outdoor living space.

One of the many outdoor spaces on the farm, the pool and screened-in porch supply an al fresco experience – whether in shade or sun – that only untouched country can offer.

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If Walls Could Talk You wouldn’t know to look at it, but this 1930s Nashville home recently underwent at 10-month overhaul that expanded the structure by 1,400 square feet and achieved green certification, all while staying within the historic district’s requirements.

Learn the story and meet the people involved, here. TEXT Lindsey Phillips | PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Wilson

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f the Nashville home on Oakland Avenue hadn’t been located in a historic district, general contractor Mark Fenelon says it would have been easier to just tear it down.

But the 1930s house was located in the historic Belmont area, so Fenelon, of Mossy Ridge Construction, along with partner Susan Thetford, a general contractor, broker and realtor associated with Parks Properties, teamed up with architect Scott Wilson to convert the structure into a new, green-certified home that still adhered to the historic overlay requirements. These two sets of very different challenges gave the finished product a unique edge in both the green building and historic home fields. “The challenges really became the opportunity in that the historic house has been added to and modified so many times that it really needed to be taken back down to the original foundation,” Wilson says. “We saved some of the exterior walls, but for the most part the interior was in a state that needed to be completely gutted.”

To a passerby the Oakland Avenue home, which features a now-sprucedup front elevation, looks the part of its neighborhood— “If you drove by you’d say, ‘That’s a nice paint job,’” Fenelon says. “You’d have no idea.”

However, its walls tell quite a different story. In actuality, the only 62 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

original parts of the house left are the foundation and the original brick front and side walls. The project not only expanded the home from a one bedroom, 1,700-square-foot structure to a four bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home with 3,100 square feet of space—it is also made the structure much more energy efficient, Fenelon says. “The homeowners started off with a utility bill that’s 40 percent less,” he notes.

“Once people start learning that this [green building] is possible and it’s not going to cost them an arm and a leg or even an arm and a finger, then they’ll want it done.”

The project took about 10 months to complete, and it was the scale of the overhaul that provided the opportunity to make a home in the historic district green. “A lot of times with a remodeling project you’re doing a small addition to it and don’t really have the opportunity to change out the insulation or things that are going to make the building envelope more energy efficient,” Wilson says. “We had to take away so much stuff that it really gave us the opportunity to build back and make it more energy efficient.”

The home’s historic neighborhood also influenced Fenelon and Thetford’s interest in the project, they say.

“This home in particular was chosen because the entire ‘green movement’ and downturn of the economy created a strong pent-up demand for a smaller,

meticulously designed home in a walking neighborhood with a decided historic flavor,” Thetford explains.

“The sidewalks, pedestrian proximity to schools, shopping and restaurants, stability of the neighborhood and marvelous trees all combined to make this home in particular a stellar project.”

Obtaining green certification was important from the beginning, not only to give the historic structure a quality that most older homes lack, but also because of the team’s personal commitments to smart building and design. “[Fenelon] and I both have an interest in doing sustainable projects,” Wilson says. “For me it was exciting to get to take a project all the way through the certification process.”

Fenelon and Thetford had worked together on sustainable projects in the past, including Thetford’s own home, which was the first LEED for New Construction project in Tennessee.

E-3 Innovate provided the third party green certification on behalf of EarthCraft programs, offered by Southface, in Atlanta. In keeping with EarthCraft’s program, the home now features spray foam insulation, high efficiency heating and cooling units, water-saving WaterSense plumbing fixtures and low-VOC paint, as well as concrete with high fly-ash content, certified woods from Walker Lumber and other locally sourced materials.

“We went ahead and overdid

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everything,” Fenelon says. “We went overboard. When [the homeowners] go to sell the house in 15-20 years, they can. It’s being built to the standards then, not the standards now.”

As a result, the Oakland Avenue house became the first in the Nashville area to be appraised higher than normal because of the green certification, according to Jeff Middlebrooks, co-owner of E-3 Innovate.

The home’s layout was also improved. Previously, the house had low ceilings and awkward living spaces, due to multiple renovations over the years. Fenelon, Thetford and Wilson were able to open up the floor plan and build in a way that allows for plenty of natural light. A new deck in the backyard was built around existing trees and the homeowners are already working with the team to do some additional work on the property.

Another sustainable feature of the house, Wilson says, is the fact that it was built where an existing structure already stood, so no new property had to be cleared. The new Oakland Avenue house now uses 20 percent less energy, saving the homeowners an estimated $600 to $800 per year.

Now that the historic home has been revamped, Fenelon hopes it really becomes a historic staple of the Belmont neighborhood. “We’re looking to build the 100 year house,” he says. “I want to drive by in 50 years when I’m an old man and have my daughters point it out when they’re old ladies and say, ‘Look, that’s the house my daddy built.’”

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A Getaway Gardeners Will Love At Home Tennessee recently sat down with Mandy Sitzlar, manager and designer of Butterfly Gap Retreat, to talk about how this natural yet contemporary East Tennessee getaway came to be. If you’re in need of total relaxation and beautiful natural surroundings, there’s no better place than this nature-lover’s paradise. TEXT Andy Pulte, Garden Expert, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of Butterfly Gap Retreat

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oards of people flock each year to the east side of the state to experience the majesty of the Smoky Mountains. Not far from the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Maryville, Tennessee, those looking for a getaway out of the ordinary will find Butterfly Gap Retreat (BGR). Dotted with organic modern architecture and surrounded by 900 acres of some of the best property East Tennessee has to offer, Butterfly Gap is a place you’ll want to stay and enjoy.

One of the first things you notice when you visit is that the cottages and other structures are beautifully incorporated into the property. Modern lines imitate the subtle curves of the landscape while the colors of the surrounding natural world are echoed on each building. “The most important features of the structures are the multitude of windows that bring the outdoors in and highlight the modern architecture,” says Mandy Sitzlar, manager and a designer of Butterfly Gap Retreat. “We gave our architect full range to design our unique buildings. We wanted to give this area’s vacationers a fresh new option, different from the rustic log cabin reputation of the Smoky Mountains. My sister and I picked the colors, materials and furniture to enhance the modern feel.”

Nature also acted as a muse for the 64 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

design’s colors, Mandy notes. “It was fall when we designed Guesthouse 320,” she says. “Its colors are all autumn inspired and it looks amazing when surrounded by fall leaves.”

Come, Linger and Leave Inspired A stroll around Butterfly Gap Retreat evokes feelings of peace, relaxation and inspiration. Several visitors have returned home so motivated by the retreat that they have used it as inspiration in their own home renovations or building plans, Mandy says. “We have many repeat clients that can’t get enough of the laid-back atmosphere, breathtaking views and inspiring designs,” she says.

Butterfly Gap Retreat is about 45 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and countless other attractions; however, many guests opt to relax on the property instead of venturing out and about.

“Some guests check out these attractions during the day and then come back to the peaceful setting at night,” Mandy says. “Other guests never leave the property and are here to enjoy our quiet setting—not the tourist attractions.”

BGR is also slowly expanding and is in the process of building another guesthouse. When it is complete, Butterfly Gap will house only a maximum of 14 guests (adults only) at any time.

Butterfly Weddings There aren’t many options in East Tennessee for nature lovers with an appreciation for modern design, but Butterfly Gap Retreat is a great choice for a couple’s special day. “I think the mountain views, lake setting and modern facilities are what make BGR a popular wedding facility,” Mandy says. “The views are a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony.” The icing on the cake is Butterfly Gap’s reception building, which features rotating walls that open to the outside.

A Nature Lover’s Playground Although Butterfly Gap is located on 900 acres, the buildings are contained to the first 100 acres to preserve the natural beauty of the area.

All of the houses were built in valleys to avoid the clearing of mountain tops, and the guest quarters were placed among existing trees to avoid cutting down too many.

Each cozy house is on its own five acres set on a lake, stream, pond or in an area with some other stunning view. Privacy is essential to the visitor experience; however, each guest still has access to the whole property to fish, swim, canoe, jog and hike.

So the next time you’re in the mood for a laid-back adventure give Butterfly Gap Retreat a try. Take a drive to the east side of the state, unplug and unwind in this naturelover’s setting.

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Around the Garden: August It might be hot, but August is still a great gardening month! This is the time to sit back and enjoy the bounty of your garden. Being the beginning of the harvest season, it’s also time to think about preserving your produce for winter months. Don’t forget to gather in cut flowers and herbs as well.

However, no matter where you are in the state it’s a hot month and you will most likely have to work at keeping things watered. Here are a few tips to help make your garden look great even in the heat.

•Keep after the crabgrass and other weeds that might invade your lawn and garden. Avoid letting weeds go to seed, which could lead to an even bigger problem next year. If you want to use chemical control, be sure to select the appropriate herbicide for the location of your weeds and always follow label directions.

•Avoid pruning trees and shrubs, particularly hedging plants such as boxwood, hemlock and hollies; doing so can stimulate new growth that will not harden off in time for the cold winter weather ahead.

•After the last raspberry harvest of the year, prepare for next year while also avoiding diseases by pruning out old flowering canes, leaving only three to four young canes per foot of row. Wait until spring to prune back shoot tips.

•Photograph your garden to help yourself remember what you did and did not like.

•Change the water in your birdbath regularly, and keep it filled.

Standing water is less healthy for the birds, and may become a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.

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ask the expert

Perfect Pairings Frank Arcuri, owner of Flatiron Grill and Bistro in Jackson, Tennessee, talks budget bottles, food pairings and the latest in wine blends. Learn his take on all things wine, here. TEXT Janna Herbison | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of dreamstime.com

A native of New Jersey, Frank Arcuri now owns the Flatiron Grill and Bistro in Jackson, Tennessee. At Home Tennessee sat down with Arcuri this month to learn about the basics of wine pairings, some great inexpensive bottles and why wine drinkers have more options now than ever.

At Home Tennessee: What are your thoughts on wine and food pairings in regards to reds and whites?

Frank Arcuri: Today’s wines are produced with so many different and new blends, so the old rule of thumb of pairing red with steak and pizza or white with chicken and fish doesn’t always hold. Many regions are producing combinations of different grapes more and more today, which allows those lines to blur between red versus white. If someone wants to try a red wine with chicken, for example, they could start by choosing one that is lighter or sweeter. Chefs these days are more creative and their fusion blend of food often crosses over that traditional mentality when it comes to good pairings.

AHT: What is your outlook on affordable versus expensive wines?

FA: With the influence of new regions and vineyards in places like South America, good wines are more affordable than ever. Years ago, people bought labels. They had that Lexus vs. Hyundai mentality that you had to spend a lot to get quality wine. That’s not the case today. There are many wines, even red, in the $12 - $20 range that are fabulous and that’s exciting. It’s what I buy and where I try to steer my customers. They shouldn’t get boxed in and spend more when it’s simply not necessary. Don’t be embarrassed to tell your friends you like an $8 or $10 bottle of wine. They’ll probably appreciate it!

AHT: How long should most red wines breathe?

FA: Normally, you should let a bottle of red wine breathe 15-20 minutes before you drink it to get the best taste. These days, there are filters you can buy that will make that process instantaneous, but it just depends on your preference.

It’s always good to experiment with different types of wine, but the bottom line—drink what you like as an individual. There are many different tastes in wine and that’s a good thing.

AHT: What is the updated view on screw top wines versus corked bottles?

FA: The old-school mystique of screw top wines is becoming more and more outdated. There are many screw top wines these days that are just as good as their corked counterparts. I have a brand from Sonoma in which I’ve ordered 72 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

ask the expert both versions, and can hardly tell the difference between them. Screw tops can also be very practical when you don’t want to deal with a corkscrew, of course, and they increase the life span of the wine which is always a good thing.

AHT: What are some of your favorite wines you serve and favorite regions?

FA: Wines are being produced with more and more blends today. Some of my favorites: Pinot Noirs—Oregon; Russian River Chardonnays and Chilean Whites. I just started serving a sparkling white riesling from Argentina over ice with fruit in the glass. My customers love it. The Italian Candoni pinot grigio is also very popular. Again, wines that don’t cost you $60 a bottle, but are just as good as the expensive brands.

AHT: How do wine tastes in the South differ from those of people in the New York/New Jersey area where you used to live?

FA: It’s not so much that the wine tastes differ between New York and the South as do the tastes and influences in food. The type of food in a particular meal can really change the taste of the wine, so the regional differences are significant. In the New York area, you have more Italian and European influences with food. With regard to vineyards in both regions, Tennessee wines and those from this part of the country have always tend to be sweeter. However, more and more vineyards in the South are growing dry wines and giving customers different options for different palates, which is important. I am really impressed today with how far Southern and Tennessee vineyards have come, and they just keep getting better.

See Sources for Details

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Café 4: An Urban Retreat With a restaurant, bakery and entertainment venue all rolled into one address—4 Market Square—owner Lori Klonaris has truly turned her vision into a one-stop hangout for everyone from music lovers to foodies. Find out why this urban retreat is thriving in downtown Knoxville. TEXT Nikki Aviotti Hodum | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of Café 4

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ocated on Knoxville’s bustling Market Square, Café 4 (cafe4ms.com) is the place to go for good food and good times. Known for its delicious Southern cuisine and relaxed atmosphere, Café 4 is a combination restaurant, bakery and entertainment venue called the Square Room. “We wanted 4 Market Square (the address of Café 4 and the Square Room) to be a complete entertainment destination; a place where you could enjoy impeccable food and great tunes of local, regional and national artists,” says owner Lori Klonaris.

And with seasonal specials and great entertainment, there is always something new to check out at Café 4.

Opened in December 2008, Café 4 “was built on the theory of a third place, neither home nor work,” says Klonaris, “a place for nurturing community life and creative interaction, a place where strangers, neighbors and friends gather to nourish the body and build relationships.” Klonaris wanted to contribute to the downtown revitalization in Knoxville, and opened Café 4 as a sort of “urban retreat.” “[It’s] a place where you can slow down and enjoy the hospitality of the South in the midst of an energized downtown,” she explains.

At Café 4, the menu consists of Southern fare like pimento cheese, buttermilk fried chicken and barbecue Southern pork and cole slaw. But if you want to try something a little less traditional, snack on parmesan and truffle fries or order the avocado tomato grilled cheese. Some customer favorites include shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and lobster macaroni and cheese; however, the menu changes seasonally. “Our food is made from scratch daily and we pride ourselves by using locally grown and seasonal vegetables,” Klonaris says.

The atmosphere at Café 4 is contemporary and 74 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

eclectic, with hardwood floors and exposed piping and metal fixtures. A long table runs through the middle of the room for large parties and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows border the front of the restaurant for an edgy, urban feel. The upper level, called the Mezzanine Loft, is a place for hanging out and relaxing—a “living room” setting, as Klonaris describes it.

“The Mezzanine was created as a spot for guests to visit with friends over a cup of coffee, students to set up their laptops and catch up on schoolwork, couples to share a memory with a glass of wine,” she says.

A covered outdoor patio, which looks out onto Market Square, is a third option for dining or drinks.

Klonaris decided to include a bakery into her project as well, to create a sense of community and to provide satisfying treats. “We wanted to be the place that people stopped by frequently if only for a homemade cupcake or chocolate chip cookie,” she says.

Some of the most popular desserts are cupcakes, seven layer bars and Russian tea biscuits. A few of the current unique flavors available are Va Va Vanilla (vanilla cake filled with vanilla mousse and topped with vanilla buttercream icing), Chocolate-Covered Cherry (cherry chip cake with chocolate buttercream icing and a maraschino cherry) and the cream cheese icingtopped Southern Red Velvet dessert.

Right down the hall is the Square Room, where the live entertainment takes place; it can be seen by diners in Café 4’s main space. “The Square Room was created as a listening room that is designed around the true appreciation of performance,” explains Klonaris.

Artists such as Gavin Degraw, Imogen Heap and the Hold Steady are among the musicians who have performed at the Square Room in the past.

So whether you’re looking to hear a great band, craving some Southern comfort food or just wanting to

food relax with friends over drinks, Café 4 is the place to go. With a focus on community, hospitality and the arts, it is a one-stop shop for all your needs. “We believe in cultivating local talent in the Square Room and serving the Knoxville community by providing exceptional food and service,” Klonaris says.

Homemade Pimento Cheese Courtesy of Café 4 12 oz. cream cheese 1 c. Vermont extra sharp white cheddar cheese, grated 1 ½ c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated 2 c. Monterey jack cheese, grated 1 c. mayonnaise 2 tsp. red wine vinegar 8 oz. pimentos, chopped 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. paprika ¼ c. diced jalapenos fresh ground black pepper, to taste 1. Using a hand held-mixer, beat cream cheese until soft.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until creamy and combined.

3. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour.

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Back-to-school granola

Cooking Class When packing lunches this year, be sure to include these back-toschool granola bars from Chef Angela Wilson. Not only are they healthy, homemade treats, but these bars are easy to whip up and provide plenty of safe opportunities for the kids to help in the kitchen.

Don’t forget to check back monthly for more recipes from the chefs of L’ECOLE Culinaire in Memphis. PHOTOGRAPHY Nikki Aviotti Hodum

Back-to-School Granola Bars Yield: 1 9x9 inch pan or 12 large muffin cups Toasting the oats, seeds and nuts gives them a better taste, Wilson says, especially when working with almonds and pecans.

Substitute your favorite fruit, nuts, seeds and chocolate to make this recipe truly your own. “It’s really just whatever you like and as far as your imagination can take you,” Wilson says of the easilycustomizable recipe.

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2 c. old-fashioned rolled oats 1/3 c. pumpkin or sunflower seeds, not salted 1/3 c. chopped walnuts 1/2 c. wheat germ/bran 1/2 c. molasses or honey 1/4 c. brown sugar 1 oz. butter 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1-1 1/2 c. dried fruits combination (like berries, cherries, raisins, apricots, pineapple, papaya, mango) 3/4 c. chocolate or white chocolate chips (optional) 1. Grease dish with spray oil. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Spread the oats, seeds, nuts and wheat germ on a baking tray and toast in oven for 15 minutes. If using chocolate chips, let this mixture cool.

3. Reduce the oven to 300°.

4. Combine honey, brown sugar and butter in a saucepan and heat until melted.

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“It’s going to look like it doesn’t have enough syrup, but it does,” says Wilson.

5. Once the oat mixture is cooled, add the cooled liquid and the extract along with the dried fruits. If using chocolate wait until thoroughly mixed to add chocolate so it will remain in chip form.

6. Press mixture firmly into greased pan and bake for 25 minutes. (If using muffin pans, spray pans well with oil and use an ice cream scoop to evenly distribute the granola. Press firmly into the pan only filling pan about 1/4 deep. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, let cool and remove.)

To ensure you press the mixture into the pan evenly, try putting a piece of wax paper over the mixture and pressing with another pan of the same size to apply even pressure.

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An Evening of Wine Wind down this month with a wine tasting event. Whether you decide to visit a local winery with friends for an afternoon of perfect pairings or you choose to host a blind tasting party in your own home, At Home Tennessee’s Stephanie Alexander has all kinds of tips, from adorable cork place cards to tasting techniques.

TEXT Stephanie Alexander, event planner| PHOTOGRAPHY Phindy Studios FLORALS Terry White, The English Garden| VENUE The Winery at the Belle Meade Plantation

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his month is all about wine. When planning your tasting party, you’ve got multiple options—we’ve provided tips for two versions of a wine tasting event here. The first type of wine tasting is one in which you and your guests visit a local winery. The second type is a blind-tasting party hosted at your home.

If you’re lucky enough to live close to a winery, you’re in for a treat. You can gather several close friends and schedule a tour and tasting and let the experts handle all the details! If you visit a local winery, you’ll get to taste wines that are exclusive to that location as well as enjoy an expert-guided tasting. If you’re new to wine tasting, this can be a great way to spend time with friends and learn together.

This month’s party took place at the Winery at Belle Meade Plantation. The winery opened November 2009 and offers tastings seven days a week.

Located in the heart of the city of Belle Meade, the winery’s grapes are grown in Hampshire, Tennessee, south of Columbia. Keg Springs Winery has produced award-winning bottles and its talented wine maker, Brian Hamm, is also at the helm of crafting Belle Meade’s wines.

Meet the Wines: An Overview of the Winery at Belle Meade’s Bottles

nounced berry flavor, this wine is a perfect companion for flavorful cheeses, pork tenderloin or ribs, a full-bodied steak or as a reduction for a sauce. It also makes a great ingredient for a host of unique recipes, such as Easy Blackberry Cake, available on Belle Meade’s website.

•Muscadine is a traditional Tennessee wine that was made on the plantation for more than a century.

Muscadine is a true American grape and is recognized today for its high antioxidant qualities. Many muscadine vines still grow wild along the fencerows surrounding the plantation. This wine is best served chilled on a front porch while rocking!

•Carriage House White Made from a Tennesseegrown grape, Carriage House White surprises you upon opening with the aroma of apple pie and citrus.

Once on the tongue, the fruity characteristics continue as this semi-dry, full-bodied wine offers a crisp taste of Tennessee. Serve as other whites with seafood, chicken, nuts and cheese or as an aperitif.

•Blush The best of Tennessee grapes joined to create a blush that makes an ideal light sipping wine as well as an accompaniment to a wide range of foods.

Serve slightly chilled at your next picnic, or dress it up this fall with Thanksgiving turkey.

See Sources for Details

•Blackberry A deep, dark, sweet wine with proAugust 2010 • athometn.com | 79

food

If you don’t have access to a winery or would rather host a party in your home, hold a blind tasting for your friends. To start, find a fabulous winethemed invitation to send to your guests. Because of the nature of wine tastings and the discussions they evoke, keep your guest list small, between six and 12 people. Also, on your invitation ask each guest to bring one of their favorite wines to the party.

Themed Tastings You may want to limit the wines you will taste to a certain type. For example, sample all whites in summertime or specify that the bottles brought should be organic. Or try some of these fun suggestions: Grape Geography If you want to taste wines from a certain region, such as South America, make sure to specify that on your invitation.

Budget Bottles Try putting a price limit on the bottles your guests bring. It’s fun to see what $15 or less tastes like!

The great thing about wine tasting parties is that they can be relatively easy to organize. Keep the food selection simple and allow the wines to be center stage this evening. Do serve light hors d’oeuvres that pair well with the type of wines; experts recommend providing snacks like fresh breads, artisan cheeses 80 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

and crackers to help clean the palate between wines.

If you have a plethora of wineglasses on hand, the best option is to allow the guests a different wine glass for each type of wine. Another option is to rent inexpensive glassware from a party rental company to ensure that each guest gets a fresh glass for each wine. On the other hand, if you do not have enough glasses, provide a bucket that guests can pour their wine into between tastings.

Once all the guests have arrived, cover each wine bottle label (do-it-yourself instructions follow), affix a number to the bottle and set the wine bottles in numerical order.

Pass out your guests’ wine journals, which feature a wine tasting grid (instructions to follow), or provide simple notepads or scorecards with a wine tasting grid. Encourage your guests to take notes so that they can compare with other guests after the tasting.

Once everyone has sampled all the wines, it’s time to reveal what each one is!

Ask participants to write down the name of the wine next to a number in their journal. Also, have everyone vote on his or her favorite wine of the night. Give a small gift to the guest who brought the evening’s favorite bottle!

food

Tasting Techniques See: Hold the glass at an angle and examine the wine’s color against a white backdrop.

Sniff: What flavors do you smell in your glass?

Swirl: This helps release the wine’s aromas.

Sniff: Smell it again after swirling to discover new aromas.

Sip: Let the wine spread out across your mouth, curl your tongue and breathe in air through your tongue.

August 2010 • athometn.com | 81

food

Do-It-Yourself Décor

Bottle Covers Decorative scrapbook paper Glue stick Paper cutter 1. Using a paper cutter or scissors, cut the scrapbook paper to fit the bottle of wine.

2. Adhere the paper around the bottle using the glue stick and glue to secure.

(Have pre-cut sheets that fit a variety of bottles prepared before guests arrive. While the guests are mingling, simply apply a small amount of glue to hold the paper in place.)

Wine Cork Place Settings Wine corks Scrapbook paper in two different colors Alphabet stickers Large circle punch Small circle punch Glue 1. Using the large circle punch, punch a hole out of one color scrapbook paper.

2. With the smaller circle punch, punch a hole out of the other color scrapbook paper.

3. Glue the two circles together.

4. Next, affix the first initial of your guest to the center of the smaller circle.

5. Using a sharp knife, slice an opening along the top of a wine cork to hold the place card.

6. Set the place card in the opening of the cork and place on your table.

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Wine Number Markers Small wooden squares (available at your local craft shop) Spray paint Number stickers Raffia/twine 1. Spray paint each wood square and allow to dry.

2. Affix a number (one per bottle) onto each wooden square.

3. Tie the square around the neck of the bottle with twine or raffia.

food

Wine Journals Inexpensive journal Wine tasting grid (example to follow) Glue stick 1. AfďŹ x a wine tasting grid to the inside cover, using the glue stick.

Wine #1 Wine #2 Wine #3 Wine #4 Wine #5 Color

Aroma

Flavor/ Acidity Tannins, Body, Alcohol Finish & Complexity Total Score (0 to 10) Would you buy this wine?

August 2010 • athometn.com | 83

book review

An Interview with Author Susan Gregg Gilmore

The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove

By Susan Gregg Gilmore Crown Publishing Group, August 17 TEXT Nikki Aviotti Hodum

Sometimes you read a book, and the heroine is so compelling that you just can’t put it down. This is the case in The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Bezellia is a free-spirited and somewhat rebellious girl growing up in Nashville in the 1950s. Her parents are wealthy, but extremely absent—her mother is an alcoholic and her father is a doctor who is never around. Above all things, Bezellia longs to be loved “right.”

Bezellia and her younger sister, Adelaide, are raised by their nanny Maizelle and handyman Nathaniel while their mother chases after her social-climbing dream of earning a prominent spot in Nashville society. She forces the girls to take French and dancing lessons just to keep up with the other families.

When Bezellia’s romantic interests are less than ideal in her family’s eyes, trouble ensues. And when sudden tragedy strikes, her world is turned upside down and she is forced to grow up faster than she should.

The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove is an intriguing look into the life of a dysfunctional Southern family during the 1950s and 1960s, with the issues of race, sex and wealth all examined.

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At Home Tennessee: What was the inspiration behind The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove?

Susan Gregg Gilmore: Not long after moving to Nashville, I was invited to a dinner party . . . by a total stranger. “Ah, I thought, so great to be back in the South.” For the record, this wonderful, kind stranger has become a great friend. But that night at her house, I sat across the table from a woman named Zee. I commented that I thought her name was unusual. And she said, “If you think that’s something, my name is Bezellia.” “That is something,” I replied.

“Well, if you think that’s something,” she continued, “I’m fifth-generation Bezellia.” Wow, that was something! Anyway, I immediately knew I had to write a story about this fifth-generation Nashville girl with a big, awkward name. She was there, calling for my attention.

AHT: How would you describe Bezellia?

SGG: Bezellia is a young girl who just wants, more than anything, to be loved right. (Her mother so dislikes her she refuses to call her daughter by her proper name, always referring to her as merely “Sister” instead.) And Bezellia is a girl who wants to do the right thing. She wants to be brave, to stand up for what’s right in the often very unjust world she knew, the 1950s American South. But she’s human. She fails at times, sometimes miserably.

AHT: How much of the book was based on the real Bezellia’s life?

SGG: None. None at all. Bezellia is an amalgamation of many people I’ve known, including myself.

AHT: Do you relate to Bezellia?

SGG: Oh yes. If I can’t relate to my characters in some way, good or bad, then I can’t write about them very well. But as far as Bezellia is concerned, I understand wanting to be loved and to be loved passionately. I understand wanting to do the right thing. I understand failing and feeling ashamed. And I understand wanting to make things right.

AHT: What were some of the challenges of writing this book?

SGG: Bezellia was born into a world that Jim Crow still ruled. She lived in a time of great injustice, in those final days before the birth of the New South. I grew up in the 1960s right here in Nashville. And it’s not always easy to look at your own life and your own contribution to a system that was anything but fair. But as a writer, I feel a great responsibility to write about what I know, what I’ve observed.

AHT: What was your favorite part of writing the book?

SGG: I started this book shortly after moving back to Nashville, after being gone for 30 years. And then as fate would have it I bought a house on the very same street that I had lived on as a young girl, a young girl about Bezellia’s age. How about that? Needless to say, it was a very special time for me to write about my hometown, warts and all. The entire process was a like a magical journey back in time. Not many people get a chance to do that.

AHT: Are you working on anything now?

SGG: Definitely. I’m working on my third novel set in the Sequatchie Valley in East Tennessee. All I can really say about it at this point is that in order to write honestly and authentically I have finally learned to sew!

August 2010 • athometn.com | 85

happenings

August 2010 Through August 28 Shakespeare on the Square Market Square Stage, Knoxville 865.546.4280, tennesseestage.com Through September 6 Birds & Bees Exhibit Memphis Zoo 901. 333.6500, memphiszoo.org August 5 Indigo Girls Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum, Nashville, 615.356.8000, cheekwood.org August 5-8 World’s Longest Yard Sale Corridor 127, Jamestown 800.327.3945, 127sale.com August 6-8 Rockabilly Festival International Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame, Jackson 731.427.6262, rockabillyhall.org August 7 Cocktails and Couture Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville 615.244.3340, fristcenter.org August 7 Hohenwald Invitational Golf Tournament Hohenwald Municipal Golf Course, Hohenwald 931.796.5421, hohenwaldlewischamber. com August 10-16 Elvis Week 2010

Graceland and other locations, Memphis 800.238.2010, elvisweek.com August 12-14 Smokin’ in McMinnville Barbeque Cook Off McMinnville Civic Center, McMinnville 931.473.1212, mcminnvilletenn.com August 14 Auction for the Arts Macon County Fairgrounds, Lafayette 615.644.5179, maconcountytn.com August 16-29 Can You Dig It? Hands On Regional Museum, Johnson City, 423.434.4263 handsonmuseum.org August 17 Heart Ryman Auditorium, Nashville 615.889.3060, ryman.com August 19 Art After Dark with Beale Street Caravan Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis 901.761.5250, dixon.org August 21 Bessie Smith Heritage Festival Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Chattanooga 423.266.8658, bessiemithheritagefestival. com August 21 Hallowed Ground: A Lantern Tour of Stones River National

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Cemetery Stones River National Cemetery, Murfreesboro 615.893.9501 August 21 Irwin Tools Night Race Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 423.989.6900, bristolmotorspeedway.com August 21 Butterfly Fund 5K Walk/Run Cherokee Boulevard/Sequoyah Hills, Knoxville 865.789.1982, butterflyfund.org August 21 East Tennessee Irish Festival World’s Fair Park, Knoxville 865.521.0000 August 22 Herbie Hancock Ryman Auditorium, Nashville 615.889.3060, ryman.com August 20-22 Davy Crockett Celebration Davy Crockett State Park, Limestone 423.257.2167 August 25- September 4 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Historic Celebration Grounds, Shelbyville 931.684.5915 twhnc.com August 26-28 Nashville’s Music City Annual BBQ Festival

River Front Park, Nashville 615.500.5000 August 27 A Fine Wine Affair Oaklands, Murfreesboro 615.893.0022 August 27-28 Knoxville Jazz Festival Krutch Park Extension, Knoxville 865.688.6096, knoxjazzfest.org August 27-29 4th Annual Home Design and Remodeling Show Knoxville Expo Center, Knoxville 865.686.3200, knoxvilleexpocenter.org August 28 Happy Days Festival Main Street, St. Joseph 931.845.4778 August 28 Natalie Merchant Ryman Auditorium, Nashville 615.889.3060, ryman.com August 29 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience Carnton Plantation, Franklin carnton.org September 3 Zoo Brew Memphis Zoo 901.333.6500, memphiszoo.org

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sources 26 Get Fit for Fall Fox Fitness, Knoxville, 865.243.5361, foxfitness.com; Germantown Athletic Club, Memphis, 901. 757.7370 30 Escape to the Ozarks Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri, 800.225.6343, bigcedar.com 32 A Rustic Mountain Retreat Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa, Arkansas, 800.832.2276 mountainharborresort.com 46 A World Away Architect—Bart Carey; Interior Design— Adrienne Z. King Interiors, Knoxville, 865.803.1491, azkinteriors.com; Kitchen Cabinets—Art Clancy, III 865.947.4638 56 Low-Country Soul Builder—Kircher-Belz Builders, Memphis, 901.753.2308; Architect—Shapiro & Company Architects, Memphis, 901.685.9001, shapiroandco.com; Nashville; Interior Design—Rhea Crenshaw Interiors, Memphis, 901.685.8361; Florals—Holliday Flowers, multiple locations, Memphis, 901.753.2400, hollidayflowers.com; Kitchen Cabinets—Pettigrew Cabinets, Plantersville, Mississippi, 662.844.1368, pettigrewcabinets.com; Landscape—Ben Page & Associates, Nashville, 615.320.0220; Bath Fixtures—Ferguson Enterprises, multiple locations, 901.759.3820, ferguson.com; Appliances—Viking, vikingrange.com 64 Green Home General Contractor—Mossy Ridge Construction, Nashville, 615.238.1270, mossyridge. com Architect—Scott Wilson Architect, Brentwood, 615.377.9131, scottwilsonarchitect.com Realtor, Broker, General Contractor—Susan Thetford, Nashville, 615.414.5510 Green Certification—E3 Innovate, Nashville, 615.876.5479 66 A Getaway Gardeners Will Love Butterfly Gap Retreat, 865.984.6012, butterflygap.com 72 Perfect Pairings Flatiron Grille, Jackson, 731.668.3528 ,flatironrestaurants.com 82 Cooking Class L’ECOLE Culinaire, Memphis, 901.754.7115 lecoleculinaire.com 84 An Evening of Wine Event Planner—You’re Invited Gifts, Paper and Events, Nashville, 615.353.5520, yistationery.com; Photographer—Phindy Studios, 615.777.9289, phindystudios.com; Florals— Terry White, the English Garden, Nashville, 615.354.0094 Venue—Winery at Belle Meade Plantation, bellemeadeplantation.com

August 2010 • athometn.com | 89

essay

Elvis Is Down at the Grocery Store TEXT JOAN E. ALLER PHOTOGRAPHY Joan E. Aller

I

t wasn’t clear if the family trudging through the farmer’s field toward one of the hay bales was on its way out or coming into town.

They had pulled over on the side of busy Dolly Parton Parkway and were lining up in front of the bale ready to snap their souvenir photo. I smiled and remembered what I must have looked like when first arriving here, stopping almost everywhere to take pictures. A while back I was standing outside of my car on the side of a back road just looking at the view when a truck with two men pulled up beside me and stopped.

They were scruffy and somewhat dirty and I was a little fearful. One of the gentlemen asked, “Ma’am, do you need help?” When I answered that I didn’t, that I was taking pictures, he said, “Well, you have a real nice day, ma’am,” nodded and drove off. It’s like that here. People stop and offer help or go out of their way to be neighborly.

It wasn’t that I’d never seen a rural area. I’d just never seen anything quite like East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains.

It’s green here. It’s so green that the only description that comes to mind is the old Davy Crockett theme song from Walt Disney’s television show; “Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee. The 90 | At Home Tennessee • August 2010

greenest state in the land of the free….” It’s green and lush and absolutely wonderful. “Isn’t it beautiful!” One hears that exclamation a lot.

As beautiful as rural Tennessee is, it’s the people that set it apart from other places. Unpretentious, reverent, kind, fiercely patriotic, independent and hard working, they are far from the “rubes” that many folks imagine when they think of places like this. Everyone calls you “darlin’,” “sweetie” or “hun.” Man or woman, it makes “no never mind.” “Hello, darlin’, nice to see you,” is nice to hear.

This endearment is part of the culture and manners of the region— which reminds me of a little story.

I had stopped by the grocery and after picking up a few things stood in line at the checkout stand. My turn came up and I was greeted with “How y’all doin’, darlin’?” And, “It’s so nice to see you again.” We chatted a bit, discussed the weather, politics, the University of Tennessee football game and a few other things before the cashier even started to ring up my items. Here, in the mountains, it does no good to be in a hurry. As I stood there, a waft of fragrance came over me. I turned around to see where it was coming from, and there he stood— Elvis! All six feet, 300 pounds of him smiled down at me and said,

“How you doin’, darlin’?” His bejeweled jumpsuit and cape were a dead giveaway. “Excuse me,” I said, trying not to stare. “What kind of aftershave are you wearing?” “Well, darlin’,” Elvis smiled.

“Do you like it?” I told him that I loved it and the next thing I knew Elvis was next to me and had his arm around my shoulders. “Are you married, darlin’?” he asked. “‘Cause I can’t be squeezin’ no married women.” I laughed and told him that I wasn’t married and managed to free myself and keep a safe distance. The clerk said that he worked “down at Pigeon Forge” and that they had gone to school together, which was how she let me know that it was alright to talk to him. The two of them spoke while she scanned my items and I was finally checked out. As I reached for my change, he said something about fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches and I smiled. “Y’all come back, darlin’,” the woman said. I thanked her and said my goodbyes to both of them. “Anytime you want that sandwich, darlin’, just let me know,” Elvis said and winked as I walked toward the door. I smiled and laughed, and then, turning around, I said, “Don’t be cruel.”

“There ya go!” he laughed, pointing his finger.

As we say here in East Tennessee, y’all have a blessed day.