Closets by McKenry

BY CARRIE MCCONKEY, CARRIEMCCONKEY.COM

WITH THE school year underway, it’s time to return to a busier daily routine. From sports practices to homework assignments, lunch bags to backpacks, keeping things in order at home is a must.

You may not think of your child’s closet as a training ground for good organizational skills, but according to Chris McKenry, President and Storage Design Specialist at Closets by McKenry and Designer Garages in Knoxville, it’s the perfect place to start.

“Your child’s closet is a fun and comfortable place to teach kids to be organized,” said Chris. “What better area is there than one which holds all of their favorite things?”

Teaching a child to get organized can begin as early as two years old. Learning where things belong, the importance of helping, and how to keep things tidy builds confidence and independence in your little one. And the benefits reach far beyond the closet. “The earlier you teach kids to be organized, the easier it is for them to apply these traits to other areas, such as their schoolwork,” explained Chris.

Making things accessible is key. Lowhanging closet rods can enable children to participate in hanging up their clothes at the end of the day, and shelves can be installed at the perfect height to allow your youngster to reach what they need (and put things back in the right place). Fabriccovered or plastic bins hold stuffed animals and oversized toys, and low-placed cubbies keep books handy for bedtime reading.

Carefully planning your child’s closet will also provide room to grow - and room in your house. “Designing your child’s closet storage will allow you to use every inch of space,” said Chris. “And you can install rods and shelves that can be adjusted as your son or daughter gets older.”

Chris invites parents to visit the Closets by McKenry showroom in West Knoxville to explore storage options for their children’s closets. “Many of our designers and installers have kids of their own,” he said, “and they fully understand the value that organization can bring to a child’s life.”

Closets by McKenry

201 Center Park Drive, #1070 Knoxville, TN 37922 865.249.6382 ClosetsbyMcKenry.com

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Denton & Lori Lesslie love to eat. They are Knoxville natives who have fun finding and experiencing local food and drink spots while sharing their adventures @somewhere.inthe.south.

Sweet Times at Honeybee Coffee & Brewery

SURELY NOT only sweet tastings but sweet times can be found at a spot with honey in its name, right? This is exactly what we experienced at our most recent visit to Honeybee Coffee & Brewery in West Knoxville.

It was a Saturday evening, we were exhausted by… you know… life things, needed to get out, and on a whim we decided to go to Honeybee for dinner. We had read that they are now offering their own brews and thought we’d give it a go. We are so glad we did. It was an absolute delight from the moment we walked in the door.

As soon as we walked in, we were drawn to the beautiful sounds of Addie Levy’s voice and talent on the guitar. The open, light, and sunshine-filled space said, “Come on in. Have some food and drink. Sit down. Relax and stay awhile.” And we did. We had no idea there was a musician playing that evening, though we weren’t surprised since they invite musicians into their space regularly to share their music. It was lovely.

The food was delicious. We had the Classic and Reuben Smash Burgers with kettle cooked chips and their savory house ranch. Denton got the Salute to the Hill Hazy IPA, and Lori had the Blueberry Lemon Pale Ale. Just wow. We knew it would probably taste good, but this super exceeded

our expectations. Excellent local craft beer. Our time at Honeybee Coffee & Brewery was simply sweet and calming. The food was wonderful, and the craft beer was exceptional. The music was entertaining, and the space was inviting. We appreciated how patrons listened and took in the music, offering a well-deserved applause after each song. It was delightful, and we will go back. Maybe even tomorrow. If you haven’t had the chance to visit one of Honeybee’s charming locations (West Knoxville, South Knoxville, West Town Mall, and Sevierville), it’s time to give them a follow on Instagram or Facebook to see what’s happening. You’ll find lots of events like SINGO, trivia, and fantastic live music. Make time to savor their space, food, and craft beer, and tell them Somewhere in the South sent you. You won’t be disappointed.

Follow us as we venture out from Somewhere in the South for more local food, drink, and life adventures @somewhere.inthe.south on Instagram, and look for the post of our time at Honeybee!