FEBRUARY 2020
Best Parties of the Year The votes are in!
A Visit to Versailles A sneak peek of the Ballet Ball featuring Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter
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nfocusmagazine.com
| FEBRUARY 2020 <<
9
Contents February 2020 | Vol. xxvii, No. 2
parties 18
departments
Wonder of the Season
12
Kicking off the holidays at Belmont Mansion Christmas Dinner 20
Merry and Bright
24
Starry Night
54
Making dreams come true at Stars for Wishes
features 28
Best Parties 2019
60
A Visit to Versailles 62
Backstory Appreciating quirks and crazy passions in 2020
74
Pencil In Calendar of February events
76
Nretrospect Reflecting on how the Antiques & Garden Show got its start
State of the Art
Nroute Finding rest and relaxation at the Florida Keys’ newest luxe retreat, Isla Bella
Taking the Stage Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter to headline the Ballet Ball
50
72
Following the poetic narrative of María Magdalena Campos-Pons’ art
A sneak peek at the upcoming Ballet Ball 48
Local Flavor
Discerning Reader Happening upon some much-needed inspiration
East Nashville’s Peninsula provides an unforgettable dining experience
The results are in! 46
Step Inside Sinema offers romance and a nod to the past
58
70
Behind the Scenes Floral designer Phillipe Chadwick opens up about his favorite blossoms, most challenging job and the one thing he can’t live without
The 20th edition of the Gentlemen’s Christmas Breakfast featured a notable new look
Best Behavior Expert etiquette advice from John Bridges
In Our Words Looking back and looking ahead
14
68
64
Casanova
Nsider Martinis and Mistletoe, Sparkling Settings, Ridley Wills II Celebration and Evening in December
A Q-and-A with singer-songwriter Rayland Baxter
50 20
ON THE COVER
Maren Morris, one of the featured entertainers at the 2020 Ballet Ball, photographed by Jamie Nelson. For more on Maren’s performance at the black-tie fundraiser, check out our story on page 48.
62 46
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Editorial
Herbert Fox, Jr. Nancy Floyd associate editor Holly Hoffman social correspondent Gloria Houghland contributors Beth Alexander, John Bridges, Whitney Clay, Geert De Lombaerde, Carrington Fox, Laura Hutson Hunter, Sandy Nelson, Ellen Pryor, Jennifer Puryear, Megan Seling, Abby White, Varina Willse founding editor editor-in-chief
Art
Heather Pierce Eric England staff photographer Daniel Meigs contributing photographers Michael W. Bunch, Steve Lowry, Jen McDonald art director
senior photographer
Production
graphic designers
Tracey Starck
Mary Louise Meadors, Christie Passarello,
production coordinator
HAND-PICKED WITH LOVE
Marketing
Olivia Moye Ali Foley, Caleb Spencer
events and marketing director events managers
Advertising
Matt Bach
Jennifer Trsinar Daniel Williams senior account executives Maggie Bond, Debbie DeBoer, Robin Dillon, Michael Jezewski, Carla Mathis, Heather Cantrell Mullins, Brandi Nash, Mike Smith, Stevan Steinhart, Keith Wright sales operations manager Chelon Hasty account coordinator Emma Benjamin publisher
advertising director
Circulation Business
Owner
circulation manager
Casey Sanders
president Frank Daniels III chief financial officer Todd Patton creative director Heather Pierce IT director John Schaeffer FW Publishing, LLC
Bill Freeman
Nfocus is published monthly by FW Publishing, LLC. Advertising deadline for the next issue is Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. A limited number of free copies, one per reader, are available at select retail establishments, listed on the website: nfocusnashville.com. First-class subscriptions are available for $99 per year. Send your name and address along with a check or credit card number and expiration date to: GARY MINNIS, FW PUBLISHING, 210 12th Ave. S., Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203 or call Gary at 615-844-9307. For advertising information, call DANIEL WILLIAMS at 615-744-3397. Copyright ©2020 FW Publishing, LLC.
IN O UR WO RD S
Simply the Best Looking back and looking ahead
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Our social calendar may be uncharacteristically quiet at this time of year, but we’re not slowing down at all. During these rare couple of weeks void of social events, as one year ends and another begins, we’re looking back on every party we attended in the past 12 months and beginning to anticipate what the coming year holds. As usual, our February issue contains the results of our annual Best Parties poll. Thank you to everyone who voted — a record number! — and shared your thoughts on the most noteworthy events of 2019. See all the winners, along with some of our writers’ favorites, on page 28. We’re also bringing you an in-depth preview of the upcoming Ballet Ball (page 46). The 31st annual black-tie gala, benefiting the
Nashville Ballet, will be held ohso-appropriately on Leap Day. We spoke to this year’s entertainers, Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter, along with the co-chairs, event planner, caterer, florist and choreographers to give you a sneak peek of what’s shaping up to be one of the best parties of the year. The Ballet Ball is known for its collaborative spirit, and we were thrilled to weave in yet another creative partnership for our Versailles-themed photo shoot with co-chairs Allison Cotton and Emily Humphreys. Zang Toi, featured designer at the Symphony Fashion Show, outfitted the women for the shoot. Not only were the gowns the perfect fit for our theme, they got us even more excited about the spring fashion show! BY NANCY FLOYD
Nancy is a reader of books, rider of bikes and lover of all things local. She lives in East Nashville with her husband, Kyle, and beagle, Gus. Email her at nfloyd@nfocusmagazine.com.
12 >> FEBRUARY 2020 | nfocusmagazine.com InOurWords.indd 12
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LIVE SPONTANEITY. LIVEHOME. SPONTANEITY. LIVE LIVETHE HOME. LIVE LIFE YOU ENVISION. • LIVE THE LIFE YOU ENVISION . •• •• •
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624 WESTVIEW AVENUE - BELLE MEADE UNDER CONTRACT 1.4 ACRES • 8,105 SF GORGEOUS HOME WITH STUNNING LANDSCAPING + GARDENS 624 WESTVIEW AVENUE - BELLE MEADE LISTED AT: $2,750,000 1.4 ACRES • 8,105 SF GORGEOUS HOME WITH LARRY LIPMAN, 615.364.3333 STUNNING LANDSCAPING + GARDENS LISTED AT: $2,750,000 LARRY LIPMAN, 615.364.3333
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2259 HORN SPRINGS ROAD - EQUESTRIAN PARADISE 39 ACRES • GATED • 2 MASTER SUITES • 3 STALL BARN 5 BR, 4 FULL BA, 2 HALF BA • 8,004 SF • $1,750,000 2259 HORN SPRINGS ROAD - EQUESTRIAN PARADISE CHRIS MANNINO, 615.299.7995 + 39 ACRES • GATED • 2 MASTER SUITES • 3 STALL BARN LARRY LIPMAN, 615.364.3333 5 BR, 4 FULL BA, 2 HALF BA • 8,004 SF • $1,750,000 CHRIS MANNINO, 615.299.7995 + LARRY LIPMAN, 615.364.3333
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6690 ROCKY FORK ROAD - SMYRNA 9133 HOLSTEIN DRIVE - NOLENSVILLE SALES PRICE: $630,000 SALES PRICE: $855,000 REPRESENTED BUYER REPRESENTED SELLER 6690 ROCKY FORK ROAD - SMYRNA 9133 HOLSTEIN DRIVE - NOLENSVILLE LARISSA FARLEY, 404.372.6938 JACKIE ROTH KARR, 615.330.9779 SALES PRICE: $630,000 SALES PRICE: $855,000 REPRESENTED BUYER REPRESENTED SELLER LARISSA FARLEY, 404.372.6938 JACKIE ROTH KARR, 615.330.9779 2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite C-104, Nashville, TN 37215 | 615.463.3333 - Each RE/MAX office
SOLD
664 LEGENDS CREST DRIVE - FRANKLIN SALES PRICE: $1,250,000 REPRESENTED SELLER 664 LEGENDS CREST DRIVE - FRANKLIN JEAN ATKINSON, 615.474.5127 SALES PRICE: $1,250,000 REPRESENTED SELLER JEAN ATKINSON, 615.474.5127 is independently owned and operated.
|
nfocusnashville.com FEBRUARY 2020 << 2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite C-104, Nashville, TN 37215 | 615.463.3333 - Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.
13
BEHIND THE SCENES
The Basics Name: Phillipe Spencer Chadwick Profession/title: Co-owner of Electric Flora with Nick Maynard Hometown: Nashville Zip code: 37204 Number of years in Nashville: 36 Number of Volunteer Gardener episodes filmed: More than 50 since 2012
Flower Power
Floral designer Phillipe Chadwick opens up about his favorite blossoms, most challenging job and the one thing he can’t live without Nashville native Phillipe Chadwick is well known for showstopping, vibrant designs that are also elegant and sentimental. He earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Mississippi State University before working for the City of Franklin. In 2009, he joined Cheekwood as a horticulturist where he really grew his creative talent and vision by transforming the gardens into lush scenes of texture and color and dressing up the historic estate’s special events with his bright, cutting-edge arrangements. After striking out on his own, Phillipe quickly became a go-to for brides, corporations and party planners, while also hosting NPT’s Volunteer Gardener and regularly participating in the Antiques & Garden Show, Chukkers for Charity and TPAC Gala, to name just a few events. Since co-founding Electric Flora with Nick Maynard, his life and business partner, his work has reached new levels of artistry. Most recently, he’s developed a niche specialty in hotel holiday design, turning the Dream Nashville, Millennium Maxwell House and Noelle Nashville into winter wonderlands. We caught up with Phillipe after the busy season to chat about some of his favorite things, especially in his hometown. BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND
Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration all over the place, from the garden to the hardware store. I’m always looking at containers to see if I could make them [into] a vase or objects to see how I could incorporate them in a floral arrangement. The past few years, I’ve really been inspired by Eastern European and Asian floral designers. Their style is just so wild. One of my favorite designers is Azuma Makoto. What are your favorite flowers and foliage for each season? Spring: all the specialty tulips — parrots and doubles. Summer: peonies of every shape, size and color. Fall: dahlias, of course. So many variations make them fun to use. Winter: orchids. They are just in so many shapes, sizes and colors. Can you share a few tips for shopping for flowers? I always make sure the flowers are still a little green so I know they are new. While blown open flowers are tempting, you’ve lost a few days of their glory already. You can look at the pollen on the flower and if is not dusting yet, the flower is still beginning to open. I always remove the cut flowers out of the water and look at the base of the stems to see if they are freshly cut or starting to rot.
gingerbread house inside and out. I had about a month to design, cut and paint by hand over 2,000 square feet of foam board. The bar was a huge success and I was very happy with it, but it was a ton of work. What is one luxury you can’t live without? To quote the late Jane Sloan, one “must always have flowers.” I love to have fragrant flowers in the house or by my bed. What’s your favorite place for dinner? The Yellow Porch. Everything on the menu is wonderful, and their specials are always just right for the season. It helps we can walk there from home. What annual fundraising event do you look most forward to every year? TPAC Gala, for sure. The theme is always based around a show so I get to be very creative and inventive with the centerpieces. From literal great balls of fire on every table to Kiss- and Led Zeppelin-inspired centerpieces, the gala is always fun to work on. What’s the one thing you hope never changes in Nashville? Its personality. Standing in line at a restaurant or the grocery and making real conversation with a stranger, asking, “How are you?” and someone giving you an honest answer. I feel people genuinely care for each other here, whether you know them or not.
What’s the most challenging job you’ve done so far? Turning the Dream Nashville Hotel bar into a
>>
For the full interview with Phillipe, visit nfocusmagazine.com.
14 >> FEBRUARY 2020 | nfocusmagazine.com BTS_FEB20.indd 14
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PA R T I E S
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Wonder of the Season Kicking off the holidays at Belmont Mansion Christmas Dinner
I
n the 19th century, Christmas was a very special time at Belmont Mansion, with its stunning decorations and constant flow of guests. Adelicia Acklen, its famous mistress and a renowned hostess, would undoubtedly nod her head in approval if she dropped in on the antebellum estate today. The historic home is being restored and preserved to its original beauty by the Belmont Mansion Association and is at its best when decked out in Victorian holiday splendor. The most popular of events during Christmas at Belmont Mansion is always the highly anticipated dinner. The festive evening began with a cocktail party at the home of Madeline and David Bridges, just a short trolley ride from the mansion. Guests mingled while snacking on sweet potato biscuits with country ham and steamed shrimp with cocktail sauce from Corner Market Catering before heading back for dinner. The Belmont Mansion’s Grand Salon dazzled guests. Amos Gott of AmosEvents decorated the room in rich gold and red, and the acrylic Versailles ghost chairs at tables draped in gold silk added a wintry touch. Also captivating people were the recent renovations to the elaborate room, especially the new wood floor painted to match Adelicia’s original in a pattern of black-and-white marbled blocks. When guests finally sat down, G Catering served a hearty meal of winter salad followed by juniper and black pepper-encrusted pork loin with potato pavé and green beans. Minutes after dessert — a decadent holiday terrine made with peppermint white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate — was served, guests were treated to a melodic surprise. Vocalist Ginger Newman and pianist Russell David performed a few numbers from their Belmont Christmas cabaret Mistletoe, Mischief & Memories. Before heading home, everyone admired the progress in the massive room one more time. Funds raised from the night support continuing restoration — such as in the Grand Salon — so that visitors can enjoy Belmont Mansion all year long.
Nina Tobin, Owen and Ann Kelly
Chair Deborah and Mike Lovett
Steve Sirls, Madeline DeCuyper, Allen DeCuyper
BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL MEIGS
Lyssa Styers, Leila McDonald, Lisa Thompson, Dean Reeves, Rachel Styers
18 >> FEBRUARY 2020 | nfocusmagazine.com BelmontXmas_0120.indd 18
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19
PA R T I E S
Merry and Bright The 20th edition of the Gentlemen’s Christmas Breakfast featured a notable new look
T
he landmark 20th Gentlemen’s Christmas Breakfast, hosted by Shaun and Gordon Inman, again drew more than 200 leaders from Middle Tennessee’s business, civic and political circles eager to reconnect with friends and associates. The Inmans’ Franklin home buzzed with conversations that included family updates, travel plans and possible future trips based on aspirations for more international flights from Nashville. Not surprisingly — with former governors Lamar Alexander and Winfield Dunn in one part of the room and ex-Mayor Bill Purcell chatting with Congressman Jim Cooper and former federal judge Kevin Sharp in another — the chatter also featured plenty of political topics such as impeachment and Brexit. Later, in the breakfast tent on the Inmans’ back lawn, Gordon expressed his gratitude for the attendees’ support in building the breakfast into a calendar fixture, entering its third decade. As he was wrapping up, he was gently interrupted by Lew Conner and Paul Thomas with an early Christmas gift: a Christmas-red suit coat — a perfect-fit 44 long from Levy’s — to thank Gordon and set him up for future breakfasts. A few minutes later, Gordon’s makeover — the first in the event’s history — entered its second phase. In a corner of the tent, the host shed his traditional tie to don a new look courtesy of Chuck Blackburn, who very conveniently had brought an extra bow tie. Soon after, Gordon was making his way across the room sporting a festive complement to his dapper new coat. As has become tradition, the breakfast wrapped up with a toast led by Darrell Waltrip, who first delivered some jokes — about camels and cows, among other things — after being prodded by his wife to find a few cracks clean and appropriate enough for the setting. As both Gordon and Mike Glenn of Brentwood Baptist Church had done before him, Darrell also spoke to the group about the need to lift up others. In keeping with the rest of the engaging event, the message was warmly received.
George Tomlin, Earl Bentz
Woody Woodruff
Shaun and Gordon Inman
BY GEERT DE LOMBAERDE PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND Jim Rinker, Jim Cooper, Ryan Rinker, Grant Rinker
Charles Overby, John Rochford, Ben Rechter
continued on page 22
Richard Patton, Jeff Leeper, Ed Ewing
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PA R T I E S
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Winfield Dunn
Greg Burns, Lee Barfield xxx
Joey Davis, Starling Evins, Jack Johnson
Alex Williams, Jim Cross, Greg Cook
Roger Brown
Richard Herrington, Ken Moore
Ron Corbin, Bill Hagerty
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PA R T I E S
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Scottie and Kelly Pendergrast with Liam
Garrett and Ryan Pedersen
Starry Night Making dreams come true at Stars for Wishes
Taylor and Lamar Moore
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F
or the eighth year, Stars for Wishes delivered an uplifting evening while raising funds to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A well-dressed crowd of 400 made their way to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee’s signature event. The night kicked off with a cocktail hour filled with lively bidding at the silent auction and the chance to meet Liam Pendergrast, who seemed relatively calm considering he was about to get his wish granted. Emcees Georgia Schmitz and Kayden Waddy, two middle-schoolers who are Wish Kids themselves, were also cool and collected while mingling among the adults. When time came for the dinner and program, guests needed little prodding to find their seats. The menu from STK’s executive chef Ryan McKeown was as highly anticipated as the musical performances. His scrumptious take on surf-and-turf began with tuna tartare and was followed by coffee-rubbed ribeye. Just as orange zest bread pudding was delivered, the program began. An April 1980 video told the story of the first wish granted and the beginnings of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. After Liam received his wish of going on a cruise with his family, Georgia lifted the toddler up to the mic so he could thank everyone. The entertainment began with Ethan Payne, whose American Idol journey began when he met Luke Bryan through Make-AWish, and songs from Grammy-winning musician John Berry. Songwriters Clint Daniels, Tommy Karlas and Clay Mills sang their chart-topping hits to close out the night. Since its founding in 2000, Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee has granted 1,700 wishes — 146 of them last year. With more than $330,000 raised at this year’s Stars for Wishes, the nonprofit can continue making wishes come true for more children and their families — wishes that give them renewed energy and strength and bring them closer together. BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL MEIGS
Kimberly Wolfe, Tommy Karlas, Clint Daniels, Aubrey Schwartz, Even Stevens, Jack Waddey
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Another dazzling year on Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social scene has come and gone, but before we fully let go of 2019, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relive some of the most memorable moments, shall we? No one knows more about what makes a party a success than the tastemakers who comprise the Nfocus audience, so we asked you to weigh in on your favorites. And since no one knows more about attending parties than our Nfocus staff, we chose some of our highlights as well. Keep reading to find out what events stood out to our readers, which details charmed our writers and whether your personal favorites made the cut.
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BEST PARTIES
Readers’ Choice BEST PARTY 1. Conservancy Gala 2. Once in a Blue Moon 3. Ballet Ball
MOST INSPIRED CO-CHAIR TEAM 1. Amy Atkinson and Amos Gott (Ballet Ball) 2. Trish Munro and Josephine VanDevender (Conservancy Gala) 3. Bonnie Cross and Caroline Smith (Once in a Blue Moon)
BEST PARTY FAVOR 1. 1897 Centennial Exposition note cards (Conservancy Gala) and Swag bags (Spring Soirée) (TIE) 2. Notepad (Swan Ball) 3. Crumpled Greenways map (Dinner by the Bridge)
BEST DECORATIONS 1. Conservancy Gala 2. Ballet Ball 3. Red Door Bash
BEST-DRESSED PARTY GUESTS 1. Sylvia Rapoport 2. Allen DeCuyper and Steve Sirls 3. Sandra Lipman
MOST FUN PARTY 1. Conservancy Gala 2. Ballet Ball 3. Spring Soirée
BEST AUCTION ITEM 1. 2020 Bordeaux Wine Dinner (Broadway Brunch) 2. Dinner on the back porch of Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage (Hermitage Gala) 3. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Comedy for a Cause)
BEST ANIMAL-CENTRIC EVENT 1. Sunset Safari 2. Cause for Paws 3. Dinner in the Forest and Unleashed (TIE)
BEST EVENT VENUE 1. Schermerhorn Symphony Center 2. Omni Nashville Hotel 3. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and Country Music Hall of Fame (TIE)
CRAZIEST/FUNNIEST/BEST SIGHT OR ACTIVITY AT A PARTY 1. Aerialists, stilt walkers and jugglers (Promise Gala) 2. Dancing competition (Dancing for Safe Haven) 3. Bonfire (Once in a Blue Moon)
BEST MENU 1. Literary Award Gala 2. Ballet Ball 3. Red Door Bash
BEST SPECIAL GUEST 1. Chip Esten (Broadway Brunch) 2. Little Big Town (Great Futures Gala) 3. Kelsea Ballerini (Symphony Ball)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT 1. Lady Antebellum (Swan Ball) 2. John Hermann, Ketch Secor, Joe Andrews, Tom Landstreet, JB Strauss and more (River Swing) and Louis York and The Shindellas with the Nashville Ballet (Ballet Ball) (TIE) 3. Tim McGraw (A Little Night of Music)
BEST CHILDREN’S EVENT 1. Picnic with the Library 2. Auntie Claus at Nashville Children’s Theatre and Breakfast with Santa at Belmont Mansion (TIE) 3. Fall for Cheekwood
BEST LUNCHEON 1. Hermitage Spring Outing 2. Sunday in the Park 3. Most Powerful Women
BEST EVENT PLANNER 1. Big Events 2. Amos Gott 3. Bruce Pittman and Hugh Howser (TIE)
BEST WOMEN’S EVENT 1. Power of the Purse 2. Friends and Fashion 3. Chic Awearness
BEST CATERER 1. G Catering 2. Kristen Winston 3. Puckett’s
BEST FLORIST 1. Big Events Floral 2. Amos Gott 3. The Tulip Tree
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BE ST PART IE S
Writers’ Choice BEST HOMECOMING
Swan Ball It’s typical for Swan Ball co-chairs to draw inspiration from the lush landscape at Cheekwood’s botanical gardens for the white-tie gala, but this year Jana Davis and Ellen Martin looked indoors for creative ideas. By designing the dinner tent to look like an extension of the Country Era estate instead of the gardens themselves, Jana and Ellen offered something fresh and unique, and the fact that it was executed flawlessly made the evening that much more memorable.
MOST FASCINATING GUEST SPEAKER
Joel Sartore/Call of the Wild Luncheon
BEST-DRESSED CROWD
Iroquois Steeplechase Despite the gray skies and looming threat of rain, spectators at the Iroquois Steeplechase still showed up in their most spectacular spring finery for a day at the races. We had a never-ending line at our Nfocus Portrait Studio to capture all of the dapper looks. We can’t wait to see the fashions in 2020, especially since we’ll be running the Steeplechase Style Contest on Race Day. It’s never too early to start planning your outfit!
How do you top Jack Hanna, the featured speaker at the Nashville Zoo’s inaugural Call of the Wild Luncheon in 2018? Simply invite Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer, author and conservationist. For the past 14 years, Joel has worked on a project to capture portraits of every living species in captivity in the world. The luncheon’s audience sat in rapt attention as he shared his remarkable photos and even more remarkable anecdotes about photographing some of the world’s rarest, deadliest and cutest animals.
PRETTIEST PATRONS PARTY
Symphony Ball Patrons Party Hugh Howser really outdid himself at the Symphony Ball Patrons Party, and it was evident from the look of admiration on guests’ faces as they entered the tent. A canopy of white amaryllis — a flower Hugh chose because it reminded him of a trumpet — hung overhead tables topped with lush white florals. The patrons party was just a precursor to the stunning white-tie gala, which Hugh also designed, but this intimate dinner certainly didn’t play second fiddle to the ball itself.
BEST EVENT FOR STYLE INSPIRATION
Symphony Fashion Show We know that thou shalt not covet, but it’s hard not to crave every look that comes down the runway at the Symphony Fashion Show. In 2019, the House of Herrera returned to the mirrored runway with one swoon-worthy gown after another from Wes Gordon, creative director for the fashion house. Thanks to a trunk show at Gus Mayer, a lot of lucky ladies walked away with a stunning new number in hand.
BEST SURPRISE GUEST
Reba McEntire/Heritage Ball Co-chairs Tracy and Bill Frist breathed new life into Williamson County’s beloved black-tie ball, managing to make it even more sophisticated and glamorous in the process. Adding entertainment by Kix Brooks elevated the event even more, but it was the surprise performance by Reba McEntire that had everyone talking. The country superstar charmed the crowd when she joined Kix on stage, and the pair served as a great reminder of all the incredible talent to be found in our own backyard. continued on page 32
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BE ST PART IE S
Writers’ Choice BEST EXAMPLE THAT THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Bartenders/Cheekwood Society Dinner
MOST COLORFUL TWIST ON TRADITION
Gentlemen’s Christmas Breakfast
BEST COLLABORATION
7x7 It’s always inspiring to see artists work together, regardless of their medium, but the 7x7 arts event this summer took that collaboration to the next level. Seven photographers and seven visual artists were paired up at random to create an original piece of artwork in less than one day. Not to mention, a videographer was on hand to capture it all and edit a video of the creative process, overlaid with an original score written that same day, to present that evening at an unveiling event. The event was an uplifting reminder that we are all better and stronger when we work together.
For 20 years, Shaun and Gordon Inman have made their Gentlemen’s Christmas Breakfast a can’t-miss gathering on the second Saturday morning of December. In 2019, some of their longtime guests set the stage for future editions to shine just as brightly when they gifted Gordon with a holiday red suit coat and snappy bow tie. The heartfelt thank-you gifts added an extra note of warmth to what has long been a jovial gettogether that helps truly kick off the holiday season.
There’s always a risk to hosting an alfresco event, and the odds seemed against the Cheekwood Society Dinner last spring. Just as it was beginning, the sky turned dark, and gusts of wind and rain blew into the lavish tent on the Swan Lawn. The sudden change in weather didn’t faze bartenders, who calmly continued filling glasses while curtains whipped fiercely behind them.
PRETTIEST INVITATION
Sunday in the Park
MOST COMMITTED THEME
BEST TRIP TO THE PAST
Unleashed
Chukkers for Charity
We love a good theme party, especially one where guests truly commit, and that was never more evident than at Nashville Humane Association’s Unleashed dinner. Guests latched on to the ’80s theme, showing up and showing off in mullet wigs, puffy-sleeved prom dresses and neon galore. Even their doggy dates got into the spirit, with pups sporting everything from piano ties to leg warmers. It was a totally tubular night!
Saddle Up and Rochelle Center chose a Downton Abbey theme for the annual charity polo match, just in time for the film’s release. The choice proved to be a winner as guests arrived decked out in cloches, drop-waist dresses, long strands of pearls and three-piece suits, adding a touch of old-fashioned flair and glamour to the already fabulous festivities. The Crawley family would’ve certainly approved.
A lot of invitations land in the Nfocus mailbox, so we take notice when one stands out, and a deer wearing a flowered top hat definitely stands out. The whimsical creature, painted atop a page of text, actually came from an old English book found in a London flea market. The charming image not only served as the Sunday in the Park invitation (designed and printed by Joyner & Hogan), but it also inspired the theme for the 30th annual autumnal luncheon, co-chaired by cousins Jay Joyner, Trisi Larish and Tori Wimberly.
BEST THEMED ENTERTAINMENT
TPAC Gala There’s no shortage of stellar entertainment at events around town, but none was more on point with the theme than the TPAC Gala. The performing arts center always chooses one of its upcoming Broadway shows to celebrate at the August affair, and not surprisingly, Hamilton was the inspiration for the 2019 gala. But what was even better was the performance from Chris Lee, a former Belmont student who played the dual role of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the original Chicago cast. Guests were enthralled by his high-energy performance, which served up an extra dose of excitement for the smash hit’s winter run at TPAC. continued on page 37
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BEST PARTIES
Writers’ Choice BEST PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
BEST NEW-TO-US FUNDRAISER
The Bug Ball
Jane Sloan tribute wall/ Antiques & Garden Show
The Bug Ball was a refreshing, lively and touching evening of song to raise funds for The Theater Bug, which brings together young artists from every part of the city to create community, build confidence and encourage them through experiences in the performing arts. It turns out we’re not the only ones excited to discover The Bug. In December, Good Morning America surprised Executive Director Cori Laemmel with a hefty check to help in the search for a new home for the company.
An instrumental part of the Antiques & Garden Show from its beginning, the late Jane Sloan shared her passion for the show and life with all who were fortunate to know her. Electric Flora created a stunning flower wall of more than 3,000 roses that was the perfect tribute to her vibrant spirit. The profusion of color also captured the attention of thousands of visitors who could not resist posing in front of it for a special keepsake.
MOST CREATIVE DÉCOR
Lenticular walls/Literary Award Gala Inspired by the theme of innovation and the lenticular print pieces for the Literary Award Gala, Big Events’ Lacey Fuson worked with artists Susan Hulme and Billy Renkl to create a fascinating, larger-than-life installation with two walls that, when viewed from different angles, showcased two unique images. Partygoers were instantly engaged in the interactive display and thoroughly enjoyed watching it “move” as they walked around it.
BEST SEND-OFF
Kathleen O’Brien Farewell
MOST POWERFUL PANEL
Most Powerful Women Don’t mind us while we toot our own horn, but our Most Powerful Women luncheon, co-hosted with the Nashville Post, brought together one of the liveliest, most engaging and, yes, most powerful panel of women in town. With Cheekwood’s Jane MacLeod, celebrity chef and restaurateur Maneet Chauhan, YWCA’s Sharon Roberson and First Horizon’s Carol Yochem offering professional advice and wisdom, the women in the sold-out crowd walked away feeling inspired and empowered.
After 31 years at TPAC, Kathleen O’Brien certainly deserved the spectacular send-off held to mark her retirement dinner. In addition to receiving a Lifetime Applause Award and tributes from industry peers across the nation, Matt Logan surprised her — and everyone — with an over-the-top musical production that featured highlights from the last 30 years of TPAC shows.
BEST AUCTION ITEM WORTH PACKING YOUR BAGS FOR
Road trip with the Predators/Petey’s Preds Party The Nashville Predators are very generous to the community, often donating a trip to an away game to the many charity auctions in town. At their own Petey’s Preds Party, they outdid themselves. The live auction offered one lucky bidder an irresistible extended road trip to travel on the plane with the team to four consecutive away games. continued on page 38
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BE ST PART IE S
Writers’ Choice SASSIEST SPEAKER
Tara Conner/ Reaching New Heights “I’m not everybody’s cup of tea. What you see is what you get.” With her jet-black pixie cut, tattoos and emotional support dog, Tara Conner shattered pageant queen stereotypes at Cumberland Heights’ Reaching New Heights luncheon just as she had when she was Miss USA 2006. She was articulate, sincere and straightforward as she shared her equally unconventional story of substance abuse and recovery with spellbound attendees.
MOST VALIANT EFFORT
PMC valets/ Conversations at OZ Parking at OZ Arts Nashville is often a quandary. Do you park yourself and navigate the steep hill or get in the queue? On the night of Conversations at OZ, heavy rain and thunderstorms meant everyone went through the valet line. Even tornado warnings didn’t deter the waterlogged PMC fellows from slogging through the downpour to park and retrieve cars for guests.
BEST WAY TO SELL OUT A LUNCHEON
Honor seven great ladies/Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award Luncheon
PRETTIEST SETTING
Blessing of the Hounds There are many gorgeous venues, but sometimes it’s Mother Nature who offers the best one. The prettiest site we visited all year was Lynnville for the Blessing of the Hounds. It was a beautiful, sunny and tad frosty morning when we had the privilege of watching the hounds, riders and horses take off over the leafy, rolling hills of Giles County.
BEST HANDS-ON ACTIVITY
Food prep session/The Nashville Food Project It’s not often enough that we get to visit the nonprofits we write about and join in the work they do to make our city a better place to live. Fortunately, no special culinary skills are required to volunteer in The Nashville Food Project’s kitchen for food prep sessions. We had a blast and our short two-hour shift yielded meals for 857 people!
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee ensured that the Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award Luncheon would be a redhot ticket when they chose to honor seven extraordinary women leaders. Every sector of the city turned out to celebrate Clare Armistead, Janet Ayers, the late Colleen Conway-Welch, Inez Crutchfield, Annette Eskind, Carrie Gentry and Rosetta Miller-Perry, ladies whose hard work and accomplishments over the course of 50 years have improved the lives of countless Nashvillians.
BEST NEW FUNDRAISER
Tennessee Innocence Project Gala The Tennessee Innocence Project made a memorable debut, thanks in large part to its sold-out gala in the fall. It helps that bestselling author John Grisham was the keynote speaker for the affair. The affable author took time to greet VIPs at a private reception beforehand and then spoke after dinner about the importance of organizations, such as the Tennessee Innocence Project, that serve the wrongfully accused. continued on page 40
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BE ST PART IE S
Writers’ Choice
BEST PLACE TO SEE LOCAL ART
Little Hearts, Big Art The place to view the works of the city’s top local artists — including Aaron Grayum, Celeste Green, Ed Nash and Wendy Walker Silverman — was at Little Hearts, Big Art, a fundraiser for Project Heart. Attendees responded to the generous donations by bidding wildly for original pieces, thus raising a whopping $150,000 — up more than 50 percent from last year — to find a cure for congenital heart disease.
BEST EXAMPLE THAT STARS ARE JUST LIKE US
Kacey Musgraves At the Country Music Hall of Fame preview for Kacey Musgraves: All of the Colors, the popular singer-songwriter looked every bit the star in a billowy pink minidress and sky-high heels. Not long after she addressed the room, she did what many women can relate to: She shed the stilettos before mingling among the crowd in her bare feet.
BEST OFF-BROADWAY PERFORMANCE
BEST-TASTING SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Chris Simonsen/ Whitland Parade
Mad Bash It was a fun and flavorful trip back to lab class when the Adventure Science Center’s fundraiser explored the sense of taste. The gustatory adventure also included pairings with Jackalope Brewing Company and Corsair Distillery, whose Ryemaggedon — matched with espresso-rubbed pork belly topped with chocolate Pop Rocks — was out of this world. We had no idea science could be so delicious!
The Whitland Fourth of July Celebration takes place almost 900 miles from the bright lights of the New York City Theater District, but when Chris Simonsen followed classics “Yankee Doodle” and “America the Beautiful” with a variety of show tunes and Sinatra hits, the neighborhood seemed much closer to that other West End than our own avenue of the same name.
BEST TOUR GUIDE
Kem Hinton When we met the Nashville architect at Bicentennial Mall for a photo shoot, he treated us to an impromptu tour of the sprawling urban park. As the lead designer of the project, he let us in on behind-the-scenes stories and little-known facts about the Bell Carillon, World War II Memorial and more. It was an educational and entertaining afternoon we will always remember.
BEST PRIVATE CONCERT
A Little Night of Music The 400-plus people at Pencil’s A Little Night of Music could barely contain their excitement for the intimate performance from Tim McGraw, but little did they know how cozy it would be. Within minutes, he was walking down the aisle and belting out hits — even serenading one lucky lady while sitting in her lap! Not to leave anyone out, he high-fived delighted fans at the back of the standing-room-only event. continued on page 42
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BE ST PART IE S
Best Dressed
It was a glamorous year on the social circuit in more ways than one. Not only were the parties themselves gorgeous, the guests showed off a dazzling array of fashions to rival the décor. It was no easy task, but we chose a few of our favorite looks from 2019. We can’t wait to see what you wear next!
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F E AT U R E
Photographer: Daniel Meigs Art Director: Heather Pierce Stylist: Matt Logan Gowns: Symphony Fashion Show Featured Designer Zang Toi From Gus Mayer Hair and Makeup: Jess Arnholt Flowers: Ashley Cooper and the team at Forget Me Not Designs Location: Riverwood Mansion
A Visit to Versailles A sneak peek at the upcoming Ballet Ball
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his year, Leap Day takes on a whole new meaning as the date of the Nashville Ballet’s 31st annual Ballet Ball. Chaired by Allison Cotton and Emily Humphreys, the black-tie gala will transport guests to the grandeur and opulence of the Palace of Versailles. With creative direction from event planner Bruce Pittman, appearances by Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter and original choreography performed by the Nashville Ballet, the evening promises to be a night full of memorable surprises. We chatted with the powerhouse team behind the event to give you a sneak peek of what’s in store for one of Nashville’s hottest parties of the year.
Why Versailles? The Palace of Versailles is one of the most exquisite, extravagant and extraordinary residences in the world, but the palace’s beauty and reputation had little to do with why it was chosen as the theme of this year’s Ballet Ball. “The choice to draw inspiration from Versailles is not just about the glamorous location,” the co-chairs say. Instead, Allison and Emily were inspired by the history of the palace and the role it played in bringing ballet to the masses. “Louis XIV, the Sun King, who built and lived in Versailles, was also a ballet dancer himself, and he is considered largely responsible for the popularity of ballet at the time,” the co-chairs continue.
“Theaters were built at Versailles specifically for ballet performances, and one sketch of its theater looks surprisingly similar to the beautiful hall at Schermerhorn Symphony Center where the ball will take place. Louis XIV is credited with creating the model for a professional dance company. Until his reign, ballet was exclusive — only performed in royal courts for nobility. Because of his influence, ballet was appreciated in public theaters by everyone. This history fits well with our mission for the ball, which is to bring ballet and the performing arts to new audiences and communities. The ball is the largest source of funding for the Nashville Ballet’s community engagement programming, which reaches 20,000 people a year.” BY NANCY FLOYD
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FIT FOR A KING Since Versailles is known for its over-thetop opulent architecture and décor, Bruce Pittman has his work cut out for him to bring a version of the palace to the ball. The gilded walls and arabesque patterns so prevalent in the palace will be interpreted through gold accents and custom linens. The Gallery of Great Battles, which dwarfs visitors with its larger-than-life paintings, will be hinted at through the use of oversized furniture, and the famed Hall of Mirrors will be well represented with plenty of mirrors incorporated into the event design. As for the color palette of the night, Bruce says rich gold will be used as a nod to the Baroque era, with touches of French blue and ivory bridging the Rococo and Neoclassical eras. ALL HAIL THE QUEEN You can’t plan a Versailles-themed celebration without an appearance by Marie Antoinette. The famed Queen of France will pop up in some surprising ways at the ball. Look for an appearance by her and King Louis XIV during the cocktail hour, and be sure to take note of a design installation in the middle of the Laura Turner Concert Hall that will feature draping elements inspired by her gowns. And to end things on a sweet note, caterer Kristen Winston hints that she “used Marie Antoinette as inspiration for dessert!”
THE ROYAL FEAST Kristen Winston will draw inspiration from the long-hailed culinary heritage of France for the meal. “We have a seasonal and decadent French menu planned,” Kristen teases. The multi-course candlelit dinner will be paired with French wines from Lipman Brothers. According to the co-chairs, the meal will begin with a cheese plate, feature an “elevated version of a French classic” for the entrée and conclude with a chocolate confection “fit for any patisserie case in Paris.”
A STATELY WELCOME The Ballet Ball logo is updated each year to reflect unique aspects of the upcoming gala and its theme. The co-chairs partnered with local artist Ashley Cole to reimagine the logo with a French twist for the 2020 festivities. Using Versailles’ gates, mouldings and patterns as inspiration, Ashley created an ornate hand-drawn logo that will be featured throughout the ball in unexpected and creative ways. “When we were examining the beautiful and intricate patterns in the gates of Versailles, we noticed a crown pattern that is very similar to the crown in the classic Ballet Ball logo, so it felt like it was meant to be,” the co-chairs say.
A WALK THROUGH THE GARDENS Ashley Cooper of Forget Me Not Designs will return as the floral designer for the ball. (She partnered with Bruce Pittman to design flowers for the 2018 Ballet Ball, co-chaired by Adrienne McRae and Suzanne Smothers.) Expect to see lavish arrangements in soft neutral hues of white, champagne and pale pink with gold accents topping tables and draping down from railings and bars. Boxwoods, juxtaposed with black-and-white checkered flooring, will bring a translation of Versailles’ courtyard to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center as guests arrive.
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Taking the Stage Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter to headline the Ballet Ball
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ashville is known for its collaborative spirit, a stronger-together mentality that seems to permeate nearly every corner of the city. The Nashville Ballet manages to capture this synergistic creativity and put it on full display each year at the Ballet Ball. Relying on original choreography from the Nashville Ballet set to live performances from local singer-songwriters and artists, the blacktie fundraiser bridges the gap between music and dance, highlighting the depth of talent in both mediums to be found in the city and the impact these two art forms can have when melded together. With rising country superstar Maren Morris and singer-songwriter Rayland Baxter serving as headliners, the 31st annual event, to be held on Feb. 29 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, promises to deliver yet another moving and memorable celebration of song and dance.
When Ballet Ball co-chairs Allison Cotton and Emily Humphreys compiled their dream list of performers, Maren was first on Allison’s list, and Rayland topped Emily’s. “Maren and Rayland are both incredibly talented songwriters, singers and performers, and we sought out artists who we believed would appreciate the creative process of collaborating with the ballet and who have built their own careers in Nashville,” Allison and Emily say. The co-chairs were thrilled when both artists agreed to participate, thanks in no small part to Emily’s tenacious efforts to convince them of the honor of the invitation. “I love the idea of two forms of art merging simultaneously,” Maren tells Nfocus. “I’ve always wanted to have my songs choreographed to, and this is such a prestigious company to do so.” The partnership with the Nashville Ballet is yet another feather in
the cap of the artist, who, in 2019 alone, headlined her first world tour, formed the female supergroup The Highwomen, won two iHeartRadio Awards and a Billboard Award for her pop hit, “The Middle,” and took home the coveted CMA Award for Album of the Year for Girl. Maren and Rayland will each perform three songs at the ball, accompanied by original choreography from Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling and resident choreographer Christopher Stuart. Christopher is tackling the choreography on all three of Maren’s songs and two of Rayland’s, with Paul choreographing Rayland’s remaining number. Both artists will perform simpler, more soulful versions of their songs. “There will [be] clear, different renditions than an album version, because I’ll play by myself or with the help of maybe one other musician,” Rayland tells us. “But it’ll be broken down, so you focus on the guts of the song and then the ballerinas.” Paul echoes the sentiment, adding, “We’re presenting a few of Maren’s biggest hits in a stripped down way that I think truly highlights the artistry of everyone involved.” And while the Nashville Ballet is staying mum on the full set list, guests can expect to hear Maren’s latest hit, “The Bones,” among the songs performed live. Christopher will be utilizing a quartet of dancers in his original choreography to accompany the song. “I always love creating choreography for our Ballet Ball,” says Christopher. “I’ve done it since 2014, and every year it’s exciting and energizing. … We’re really fortunate to have both Rayland and Maren on board for this year’s ball. They’re both so vastly talented, so much so that we’re performing to a total of six songs, which will amount to almost 20 minutes of choreography that our company will learn in just a couple short weeks! I’m a big fan of both artists and love the ways in which their styles don’t immediately make sense together but are actually quite complementary. They’re both true creatives, and you can tell they really put a lot of themselves into their work; that’s really inspiring as I go into the creative process.” While the evening will undoubtedly be entertaining and touching, the goal of the performance — and the entire event — is to raise awareness about the Nashville Ballet’s community engagement programs, the beneficiary of the gala. “I’m excited to be choreographing for Ballet Ball this year,” Paul says. “It’s been a while since I’ve set anything for the ball, and this year’s musical guests are so incredible, it’s a reminder of the privilege we have of living in such an artistically rich city. This year’s chairs have done an extraordinary job of making Ballet Ball something like never before, and our company is stronger than ever before. We’re all looking forward to this special opportunity to highlight our community engagement initiatives and thank the generous supporters who make the work we do possible.” The fact that the ball supports arts education was also a selling point for Maren, who tells us, “I donate a portion of my meet-and-greet proceeds to fine arts in public schools, so that has always been a priority for me to bring awareness to.” Not only will guests leave the ball with a greater understanding and appreciation of the Nashville Ballet, it seems likely they will fall even more in love with Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter. BY NANCY FLOYD PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE NELSON
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Nashville YO U R
Saturday, February 29, 8:30 P.M.–1 A.M. Schermerhorn Symphony Center PERFORMANCES BY
Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter
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F E AT U R E
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F E AT U R E
Casanova
Singer-songwriter Rayland Baxter chats about his upcoming performance at the Ballet Ball
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inger-songwriter and Nashville son Rayland Baxter is a great example of the impressive scope of musical talent that exists in our city. His work doesn’t fit into a specific category of say, indie rock, Americana or alternative country, but reflects country, pop and rock ’n’ roll influences, including some from his father, famed pedal steel guitar player Bucky Baxter. Rayland has built his career on capturing timeless human sentiments and bringing colorful characters to life with equal parts humor and pathos. With each of his three albums, he’s received praise for his finely crafted lyrics, great melodies and memorable arrangements, and the glowing reviews earned him opening spots on tour with top artists including Jason Isbell, The Lumineers, Kacey Musgraves and Grace Potter, and in the lineup at music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Pilgrimage and Newport Folk. Rayland’s fan base is sure to grow at the upcoming Ballet Ball, where he’ll perform his inventive lyrics with new choreography from Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director Paul Vasterling and choreographer Christopher Stuart. We caught up with the easy-going artist to learn more about him, his famous dad and a cause important to him.
When you were approached about performing at the Ballet Ball, what prompted you to say yes? Well, a few things. My mom was a ballerina way before I was born. So she would like this. … [Ballet is] a beautiful art form that takes a lot of skill, and it’s a complete life dedication to be a ballerina. And so we’re cut from the same cloth. You have to pretty much give up everything else almost — [at] least in the beginning phases to move like that, and it’s this graceful, beautiful art form. And I think that if I were to strive for certain things with my own music, it would be some of those adjectives: graceful and beautiful.
How did this Mac Miller EP come about? Your style is kind of far removed from hip-hop, but it translates really well. Yeah, he’s prolific. He’s an incredibly creative dude, and he could sing. He picked hip-hop, but now it’s starting to happen that those songs can become country songs somehow, or folk songs. ... I respect him. He and I have a lot of similar things. I never met him, but I write in my basement and he’s singing about “from the pavement in my basements to the yellow brick roads.” So it’s like we start underground and in the laboratory. We share the same laboratory space mentally and physically.
You play a lot of outdoor music festivals and smaller clubs. How will it be different from a typical Rayland Baxter concert when you’re on the stage of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center performing for 600 people in ball gowns and black tie? How would it be different? In every way, but still it would be different in almost every way in terms of the location venue, acoustics in the venue. The amount of amplification that I wouldn’t need there versus one of my own shows. It’s not so often that — at least not in my understanding — a songwriter gets up with some ballerinas while they’re dancing. So it’s a new pairing for me. During the performance, there’s no comfort zone. There are nerves, expectations and there’s not really the rhythm of rehearsals and practice in the tour. So it’ll be a onetime thing. There’ll be one time. On tour I have shows and shows and shows and shows, and I expect certain moments, but here, there’s just anything.
Your dad is Bucky Baxter, the renowned musician who’s played with Bob Dylan and REM, among others. What was it like growing up in that environment? Well, I only was in that environment when I was at a show [when] he was touring. My parents split when I was 2 years old so I was with my mom doing our thing. My dad would have time off the tour, because he was always touring in the ’80s and the ’90s. … It’s way cooler now than it was then because that was all I knew. My dad is super creative, artistic, a radical dad and mentor. It’s really helped with [forming] my instincts as a child to what I’m doing now. He’s been giving me a lot of good advice, especially a decade ago when I was first “greasing the wheel.” Being a side man for a couple of legendary songwriters helps to have next to the “I’m your dad” mark. But he’s one of the greatest pedal steel players, and he’s radical, you know?
The Ballet Ball raises funds for the Nashville Ballet’s community engagement programs that serve more than 20,000 people each year. Are there any other causes or nonprofits that are important to you? Yes. The Mac Miller Legacy Fund, which is through MusiCares. I’m just a big Mac Miller fan. I did [the Good Mmornin] EP, which came out late last year, of Mac Miller covers. I think what the organization is doing is providing information so that you can navigate the highways a little bit more informed. …You need coaches for all types of things, whether it’s the routine about being a ballerina or knowing how to stretch, knowing how to drink, knowing the negative impact of mental illness and how to get out of it.
When you have time off, what do you like to do? I like to listen to silence now. I like to go to the mountains. I like to go swimming in the ocean. I really love taking drives. I have an old ’69 Plymouth that’s my little money pit that I’ll never get rid of, [and] I like taking drives up to Kentucky in that thing. I like writing songs, simple. I’m a ponderer. I like thinking about stuff. I make sense of things, so I can sit. Can you tell us what you’re currently working on? Yeah. I’m going to start recording a new album. I should be finished with the album at the time about the Ballet Ball happens. We start on January 20th and go until the end of February. We’ll be done and then [start] rehearsal for the ballet. BY HOLLY HOFFMAN
>>
For the full interview with Rayland, visit nfocusmagazine.com.
Photographer: Daniel Meigs Art Director: Heather Pierce Stylist: Lacie Thorne Location: Riverwood Mansion
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STEP INSIDE
Picture Perfect Sinema offers romance and a nod to the past This time of year, a lot of restaurants boast about their romantic ambiance. Sinema, in the historic Melrose Theatre on the edge of Berry Hill, has proof to back up its claim. The restaurant’s staff has helped to orchestrate dozens of marriage proposals, rehearsal dinners and weddings. There’s even an out-of-the-way curved velvet banquette — No. 51 — affectionately dubbed “the engagement booth.” “It’s the romantic booth,” says General Manager Carly Houison. “It’s the one people crave when they come into this building. When they want to sit at a romantic table, it’s like, ‘There you go.’ I don’t know what it is. It’s got a charm. It’s got a thing about it — be careful. It’ll pull you in. I refuse to sit there,” she adds, with a chuckle. The mood is already set when visitors walk into the old 1940s theater with its grand staircase. Twenty-foot ceilings are highlighted by original mirrored tiles. A missing tile was the perfect place to house a projector, used to show old movies, like On the Waterfront and Casablanca, played without sound so guests can enjoy a hand-picked playlist by Q Taylor, who co-owns the restaurant with the Reed family — Colin and Brenda and their sons, Ed and Sam. “I just try to be as diverse as possible,” says Q. “I don’t play a specific genre of music that caters to only one person. ... It’s really about being in the room. If I walk in on a Friday night and it’s a certain crowd of people, I’m going to play a certain kind of music.” The culinary offerings, overseen by executive chef Kyle Patterson, also have a little something for everyone. Sunday brunch offers a bottomless bloody mary and mimosa bar. There are also breakfast mainstays of eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries, all served buffet style. At dinner, it becomes a fine dining experience with entrées such as scallops served with spinach orzotto, black garlic brown butter, fried capers and lemon mignonette as well as a beef tenderloin with fondant potatoes, market vegetables and a Madeira fig Bordelaise. The 8,000-square-foot restaurant, which opened in 2014, has an open kitchen and three private dining rooms. Interior Designer Kathy Anderson embraced an art deco feel on the first floor and channeled old Hollywood glamour with red velvet curtains and tufted green velvet banquettes accented by photographs of stars such as Julie Andrews, Natalie Wood and Marlon Brando. The second floor has an eclectic, industrial feel with exposed duct work, original brick walls and concrete floors. BY WHITNEY CLAY PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL MEIGS
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS Photographs by Robert M. Knight that capture rock ‘n’ roll greats such as Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix line the walls upstairs. One bride, who got married in a red dress and walked down the aisle to “The Imperial March” from Star Wars (Darth Vader’s theme song), knew Sinema was where she wanted to have her wedding while touring the second floor. “She saw a picture of Ozzy Osbourne and said, ‘That’s it, we want to do it here.’ ”
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LADIES FIRST One of the highlights of the restaurant is the ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; room. It is so popular, it even has its own hashtag, #sinemaselfie, written right on the vanity mirror. Influencers, musicians, models and bachelorettes have posted hundreds of photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook taken in that bathroom. With its multiple vanities and mirrors lined with exposed light bulbs, an ornate painted ceiling with a sunburst light fixture and a leather ottoman on which to perch, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect backdrop.
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L O C A L F L AV O R
Expect the Unexpected
East Nashville’s Peninsula provides an unforgettable dining experience
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL MEIGS
When people speak of New Nashville, they could very well be speaking of the intersection of West Eastland Avenue at Bailey Street, where Peninsula occupies a gleaming glazed storefront in a radically reimagined crossroads of mixed-use retail and residential space. A decade ago, it would have been hard to imagine this understated yet sophisticated neighborhood eatery outside of, say, New York, Chicago or San Francisco. But in its two years of operation, Peninsula has become a cornerstone of this city’s burgeoning culinary community, and its succinct roster of Iberian cuisine has earned acclaim on virtually every local list of hottest, best and favorite restaurants that gets compiled. The stylish room seats just 40 and is simultaneously chic and homey, with painted tiles and farm-style wooden chairs against an industrial palette of concrete and corrugated metal and hints of pop culture revealing a playful sense of humor in the team of Yuriko Say, Craig Schoen and Jake Howell. BY CARRINGTON FOX
WHAT TO EXPECT
WHY TO GO
WHAT TO ORDER
Expect to be surprised. Peninsula’s lean lineup of a dozen or so plates in varying sizes, plus a sweet handful of desserts, spans a range of unexpected ingredients and combinations, such as chicken gizzards with passion fruit and pork cheeks with lily and squid ink. Even familiar ingredients debut in unfamiliar ways, such as scallops dried and shaved across the top of escargot in a deep bowl of cauliflower and buttery bone marrow, or burnt-sugar ice cream topped with potato chips and caviar.
Executive chef Jake Howell’s menu will reignite an excitement about the possibilities of marrying excellent ingredients in unexpected ways. One bite of thick grilled bread topped with housemade butter and pearls of salmon roe will leave you daydreaming about how to create extraordinary combinations from exquisite ingredients at home. Meanwhile, bar manager Craig’s version of a gin and tonic, swizzled with housemade cinchona barkinfused tonic, will forever change the way you think of a G&T.
With such a concise menu, three couples could canvass the whole shareable roster, from warm olives to mushroom toast to beef with lobster and calendula to morcilla crêpes with sweetbreads and onion. The menu shifts as fluidly as the flavors and cultures sailing in and out of an Iberian port city. But if you have to pick and choose, don’t miss the signature braised rabbit and croutons in garlic broth with creamy aioli of smoky pimentón. Both dazzling and comforting, the dish tends to stick around on the menu, as it will, no doubt, linger in a satisfied diner’s memory.
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S TAT E O F THE ART
The Basics Name: María Magdalena Campos-Pons Represented by: Gallery Wendi Norris in New York and Bernice Steinbaum Gallery in Miami, Fla. Education: National School of Art in La Havana, Cuba (1980), Higher Institute of Art in La Havana, Cuba (1985), M.F.A. from Massachusetts College of Art, Painting, Media Arts (1988) See her work: Nerve: The Female Body in Women’s Art at 701 Taylor St., Feb. 6-20; More than 30 museums including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian institution.
The Art
A Common Thread
Following the poetic narrative of María Magdalena Campos-Pons’ art There are few artists whose output is as varied and complex as María Magdalena Campos-Pons. Her works unfold like novels. There are slow narrative arcs and haunting, poetic themes that you see clearly only in retrospect — Isabel Allende or Gabriel García Márquez would have envied the depth of her narratives. “In my life as an artist, I always try to make sense of my life and my experience,” she told me in her midtown Nashville apartment while steeping a pot of hibiscus tea that she received as a gift from celebrated artist David Hammons, whose famous “African African Flag” has become a symbol for reclaiming and evolving cultural symbols — something the two artists share. She was raised on a sugar plantation in a family with Nigerian, Hispanic, and Chinese roots. Thematically, her work covers issues of democracy, freedom and redemption. Her most recent work deals with fire and water — elements out of control that people nonetheless attempt to control, seemingly without end. When the artist moved to Nashville to be the endowed Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair of Vanderbilt University in 2017, it might have seemed like a major shift from her life in Boston, where she taught at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, or from Cuba, where she as born and lived until she emigrated to the U.S. in the 1990s. But the artist, who goes by the nickname Magda, is quick to point out the similarities between her hometown of Matanzas and Nashville. Both cities are known for black culture and the arts — and just as Nashville is called The Athens of the South, Matanzas has the nickname The Athens of Cuba. “Those are interesting threads that can define populations,” she tells me. “That’s how culture evolves and how it affects those who produce it.” BY LAURA HUTSON HUNTER PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS
“El Mensajero,” 2011, 72 x 80 inches, composition of 12 Polaroid Polacolor Pro 24 x 20 photographs Magda’s work defies categorization and spans photography, video, sculpture, painting and drawing. “El Mensajero” is an example of the artist’s range and the way she combines mediums to create something entirely personal, and entirely her own. It’s a testament to the strength and originality of her vision that the work maintains recognizability — you know a María Magdalena Campos-Pons work immediately, the way you might recognize a Donna Tartt novel or a film by Martin Scorsese. There’s a sweeping grandeur in its scope, but it’s the tiny personal elements — the paper swans, the veil, the drips of blue paint — that elevate it.
“The Flag. Color Code Venice 13,” 2013, 89 ¼ x 68 ¼ inches, composition of nine Polaroid photographs This multi-panel photo-based piece is an example of Magda’s recurring theme of “transculturation” — the process by which cultures become mixed hybrids of different influences. It is a work in itself as well as a documentation of a larger performance, one that’s spanned the artist’s storied career. She is dressed in a neo-Byzantine costume that combines elements of Chinese, Spanish and Afro-Caribbean regalia. Her powdered face and birdcage crown are both regal and ridiculous, the product of cross-pollinating cultures beyond recognition.
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NSIDER
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Martinis and Mistletoe Spirits were bright at the Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee’s Martinis and Mistletoe as guests danced to tunes from Band 24/7 and snacked on offerings from favorite Nashville eateries including Hattie B’s, Bakersfield and Newk’s. Revelers took breaks from dancing to grab a drink and explore Cheekwood’s Holiday Lights exhibit outside before rejoining the fun indoors, making for the perfect way to kick off the holiday season and support HSMT and Cheekwood at the same time. BY LAUREN LANGSTON STEWART PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND
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Cheekwood’s Botanic Hall was all dressed up for Sparkling Settings, the other holiday affair hosted by the Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee. Garden club members and their guests chose clever themes and decked out their tables to match in hopes of winning Best-Dressed Table. For the second year in a row, the ladies of Town and Country Garden Club won with We Three Kings — an homage to Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams. The dazzling competition included lunch from the Clean Plate Club. BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND continued on page 66
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NSIDER
Byron and Aleta Trauger, Ridley and Irene Wills, Jeanie Nelson and Will Martin
Morgan Wills, Gentry Barden, Cathy and Martin Brown
Jessie Wills
Ridley Wills II Celebration The Hermitage Hotel and The Land Trust for Tennessee hosted a dinner to honor Ridley Wills II, one of Nashville’s most important historians and conservationists. Nearly 100 people came to celebrate the man who has authored 26 books — including the definitive history of the hotel — and who was instrumental in building the successful partnership between the two hosts. Ridley said a few words after a fabulous meal from Capitol Grille chef Derek Brooks, who used produce from the hotel’s gardens at The Land Trust’s Glen Leven Farm. BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY PEYTON HOGE
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Evening in December Daystar Counseling Ministries’ annual holiday fundraiser, Evening in December, marked 30 years of food, fellowship and song with a joyful celebration at Loveless Barn. After dining on classic Southern fare, guests were treated to performances by Kelly Minter, Blessing Offor, Libby Hodges, event founder Tricia Walker, Opry star Connie Smith and gospel icon CeCe Winans. Funds raised by the beloved nonprofit will make the coming year merrier and brighter for the numerous kids and families in the Middle Tennessee area who benefit from Daystar’s programs. BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND
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BEST B E H AV I O R
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LONG, LONG AGO A roommate from years ago has started showing up again. We lived together for a couple of years, but our relationship was difficult, finance-wise and otherwise. I moved out, but I later heard that he was spreading stories around about me. All of them were untrue. I haven’t even told my wife about that ugly experience. Just a few weeks back, he was invited to the same dinner party we were. It was difficult for me not to confront him or punch him out. The hostess told me that she likes both of us and that he’s told her about the good times we had together. She wants to get us back together. Is it time I start telling the truth? —Anonymous, Franklin
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You can make it through a dinner party, but you’re likely to run into your past at the car wash or in the locker room at the gym. It’s the past. You can let it lie. In fact, you may have to do that. Roommates — just a couple of guys — have their squabbles and get into money trouble. But yours seems like an ugly history. Apparently no lawsuits or fistfights were involved, at least thus far. Your roomie seems to have had his own means of dealing with your difficulties. You might wonder, however, if the tales of his storytelling are true. But it will be hard to find out after all those years. Time passes, and with it, even your own memory gets adjusted. If you’ve been carrying this burden around for decades, it’s high time you told your wife what’s eating at you. She’s the one person you’ll want to depend on when it comes to taking sides — yours, let’s hope. Your hostess didn’t seat the two of you side by side. If she invites you to dinner again, ask her to keep it that way. Truth be told, the other fellow may feel just fine with that arrangement.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU GREEN HILLS
I have a habit of introducing myself, even to people I may already know. I figure it doesn’t hurt, especially if I’m not sure about the other person’s name. I hope that when I say my name, they’ll reply with theirs, but that’s not what usually happens. I tell them my name, and they say, “Good to see you,” and that’s all. It drives me crazy. I’m tempted to say, “I think I’ve forgotten who you are.” Would that help? What should I do? —Anonymous, Oak Hill A conversation can be a balancing act — especially if you give the other person a leg up and they leave you dangling. You limp your way through the back-andforth. It’s painful. There’s no reason to get snide with the person who won’t take a hint or give you one. Yes, they should understand the help you’re begging for, but they probably don’t. Go ahead and bite the bullet, even if it’s already got your teeth marks on it, and say, “Please remind me of your name.” You can take it as a compliment. Assume that you’re the most memorable person in the room, even if your memory’s a little rusty.
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John is the author of How To Be a Gentleman and the co-author, with Bryan Curtis, of other books in the GentlemannersTM series. Send your Best Behavior questions to jbridges@nfocusmagazine.com, and check out his up-to-theminute advice on life’s puzzling problems every Friday at nfocusnashville.com.
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My parents and mother-in-law were about to arrive in Sea Island, Ga., to stay with me for the weekend. I cleaned the cottage and bought flowers. I made dinner reservations and freshened my lipstick. I was browsing at the G.J. Ford Bookshop on St. Simons Island when I happened upon a new book — Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We Age by Mary Pipher. I hadn’t read any reviews, but I liked its cover. And I was familiar with the author’s blockbuster from 1994, Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. I took a chance and bought three copies — one for my mother, one for my mother-inlaw, one for me. Honestly I thought the book would be more helpful for them. They’re each facing big challeng4:36 PMes. My mother-inlaw recently lost her husband of 25 years after caring for him for seven of them as he slowly died from cancer. My mother and father are dealing with significant health issues both together and alone. They’re on different journeys in the same home, married for 55 years. As it turns out, I want to give this book to most of my girlfriends — those of us in our 40s and 50s who still feel pretty young and who also feel like life is serving up some pretty big challenges. I gulped down this book as if I were dying of thirst in the desert. “The core concern of this life stage, with all of its perils and pleasures, is how to cultivate resilient
responses to the challenges we face. … We can go deep and face truth squarely. We can learn the skills that allow us to adapt to anything. Yes anything,” Mary Pipher begins. That’s a great place to start. Pipher continues by relating the stories of women she’s worked with as a psychologist over the years through composite sketches. She distills lessons from their lives. It’s self-help/ self-care offered up by your smartest, most energetic and kindest grandmother. “Even though we all suffer, we don’t all grow. … We don’t become our wisest selves without effort. Our growth requires us to become skilled in perspective taking, in managing our emotions, in crafting positive narratives, and in forming intimate relationships. We develop the skills of building joy, gratitude and meaning into every day. By learning these lessons, we cultivate emotional resilience,” she writes. “Over the years [of traveling together], my friends and I have discovered many empty, wild places. Invariably, when we get lost or something goes wrong, one of us reminds the others, ‘Remember the first rule of the wilderness: don’t panic,’ ” she writes. Pipher is honest, friendly, a straight-talker. Women Rowing North inspires and encourages. “Perhaps the book’s core lesson is simply ‘Everything is workable,’ ” Pipher writes. That’s a message I want to hear. (Oh, and my mother and mother-in-law really liked the book too.)
BY JENNIFER PURYEAR
Jennifer writes book columns for Nfocus and blogs about current savory reads at BaconOnTheBookshelf.com. She can often be found with a book or BLT in hand.
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BACKSTORY
Finding Connectivity Appreciating quirks and crazy passions in 2020
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I learned a long time ago from a reputable self-assessment test that I’m a “thorough processor.” Sounds like something you’d say about a slow learner or a very effective cooking appliance. I was told it means that you need all the relevant information you can collect (and, thanks to the internet, a lot of irrelevant information) before coming to a decision. This is why I’m still debating plans for 2020, from budget to resolutions. Is a trait like that hardwired? When I was younger, I could fairly be accused of shooting from the hip. Could a more deliberate reaction be an adaptation after experiencing the pain or embarrassment of speaking too quickly? Is one kind of response better than the other? Is one good and the other bad? Doesn’t it depend on what’s appropriate in the moment? What if you’re choosing team members from your class? Better be quick! But if you’re choosing a presidential candidate, maybe process that thoroughly. Aiming for a quick real-world connection, I lunched with a newish friend recently. Searching for connectivity as we do here, we shared cute stories about children who are related to us but are not ours. Her 10-year-old niece Amy, a STEM girl, had been dying to spend a week at Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. Her parents granted her wish as a birthday gift, and after the two-hour drive and parental drop-off, she threw herself into astronaut activities each day, soaking up every minute, waking before reveille and dropping into bed after the last activity ended. On closing day, Amy ran to greet her parents and regale them with tales of her extraordinary adventures learning about space. Her mother gave her a quick squeeze and drew back. “Goodness!” she cried. “You smell terrible! When was your last
shower?” “Last week, before we left home.” Peering into her mother’s face, she continued, “I just didn’t want to miss anything.” I hope her mama felt less dismay about dirty hair that will be washed clean in minutes and more delight over a passion that may last a lifetime. Maybe our challenge for 2020 is to appreciate the individual quirks and crazy passions of others, precisely because they are startlingly different. Filtered through the nature of public discourse, maybe what’s unique in each of us can be a source of delight rather than alienation. What a thrill to discover someone whose traits and passions are completely unfamiliar. Then when some rare similarity is revealed, an affirming sensation links two souls with a spark of joy: You’re like me. That joy vanquishes the negative, You’re not like me, and turns it into a celebration: We are so different, yet we’ve found some wonderful things in common! For an anthropologist, connectivity is good, since it leads both to cooperation, a requirement for progress, and to happier, longer lives. I’m not an anthropologist but would argue that it also leads to the great miracle of laughter. If the opposite of connectivity is isolation, is isolation then evil? In a 2012 speech at Harvard, Toni Morrison said, “Evil has a blockbuster audience. Goodness lurks backstage. Evil has vivid speech; goodness bites its tongue.” Evidently evil is really versatile. I don’t know the rest of Amy’s story, but I hope her parents bit their tongues over her grimy fingers and smelly T-shirts and asked a million questions so they could thoroughly process her week of discovery and consider what’s next for her. They might wait to hug her, but they won’t have missed a thing.
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Beth was editor of Nfocus from 2001 to 2008. She is now vice president of development at Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. Email her at editoralex@bellsouth.net.
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PENCIL IN
February 2020 01 What: Antiques & Garden Show For: Cheekwood and ECON When: Jan. 31-Feb. 2 Where: Music City Center Tariff: $25 per person Info: antiquesandgardenshow.com
01
What: Fashion for a Fraction For: Nfocus and Nashville Scene When: Sat., Feb. 1, 10 a.m. Where: City Winery Party note: VIP entry at 10 a.m., general admission at 11 a.m. Tariff: $25 per VIP, $10 per person Info: fashionforafraction.com
What: The Art Ball 01 For: Tennessee Triennial for Contemporary Art When: Sat., Feb. 1, 6 p.m. Where: Marathon Music Works Chair: Nick Dryden Party note: Creative black tie Tariff: $1,000 per VIP, $500 per person Info: tennesseetriennial.org
01
What: La Bella Notte Patrons Party For: Nashville Opera When: Sat., Feb. 1, 6 p.m. Where: The Hermitage Hotel Co-chairs: Larry Cash and Nathan Green Tariff: $250 per person Info: nashvilleopera.org/ labellanotte
01 What: Top 30 Under 30
For: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation When: Sat., Feb. 1, 6 p.m. Where: Sheraton Grand Downtown Nashville Tariff: $95 per person Info: finest.cff.org/top30
01 What: Unleashed: Dinner With Your Dog For: Nashville Humane When: Sat., Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. Where: Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Party note: Hosted by WWE Superstar Sheamus Tariff: $200 per VIP, $125 per person Info: nashvillehumane.org/ unleashed What: The Art Ball After Party
01 For: Tennessee Triennial for
Contemporary Art When: Sat., Feb. 1, 9 p.m. Where: Marathon Music Works Party note: Creative black tie
Tariff: $100 per person Info: tennesseetriennial.org
04
What: Reclaiming Lives After Dark For: Centerstone When: Tues., Feb. 4, 6 p.m. Where: Montgomery Bell Academy Paschall Theater Party note: Featuring author Ben Nemtin Tariff: $25 per person Info: centerstone.org
What: Conversations at OZ 05 For: OZ Arts Nashville When: Wed., Feb. 5, 6 p.m. Where: OZ Arts Nashville Co-chairs: Marcele GĂłmez, Sherri Neal and Josephine VanDevender Tariff: $250 per person Info: ozartsnashville.org/ conversations2020 What: La Bella Notte 08 For: Nashville Opera When: Sat., Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. Where: JW Marriott Nashville Co-chairs: Don Holmes and Tracey Pearson Tariff: $400 per person Info: nashvilleopera.org/ labellanotte
09 What: A Red Carpet Evening For: Belcourt Theatre When: Sun., Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m. Where: Belcourt Theatre Co-chairs: Amos Gott and Holly Hoffman Party note: Black tie preferred; general admission at 6:30 p.m. Tariff: $325-350 per VIP, $175200 per patron, $100-125 per person Info: belcourt.org 15 What: Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Dance For: Fabulous Friends for Africa When: Sat., Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m. Where: The Factory at Franklin Tariff: $100 per person Info: fabulousfriendsforafrica.org What: How About Dinner and a
18 Movie Patrons Party
For: Park Center When: Tues., Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m. Where: Home of Donna and Webb Campbell Tariff: $100 per person Info: parkcenternashville.org What: Ballet Ball Patrons Party
18 For: Nashville Ballet
When: Tues., Feb. 18, 6 p.m. Where: Home of Sylvia Roberts Co-chairs: Allison Cotton and Emily Humphreys Tariff: $500 per person Info: nashvilleballet.com/ballet-ball
20
What: Outside the Box For: Girl Scouts of Middle TN When: Thurs., Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m. Where: McConnell House Party note: Hosted by Maneet Chauhan Tariff: $25 per person Info: gsmidtn.org/outside-the-box
22 What: Wine Women & Shoes
For: YWCA When: Sat., Feb. 22, 11 a.m. Where: Music City Center Co-chairs: Lucia Folk, Cameron Simmons and Laquita Stribling Tariff: $500 per VIP, $150 per person Info: ywcanashville.com/events/ winewomenshoes
23 What: Soup Sunday For: Our Kids When: Sun., Feb. 23, 11 a.m. Where: Nissan Stadium Tariff: $25 per adult, $5 per child 4-17, gratis per child 3 and under Info: ourkidscenter.com 24 What: Honors Gala
For: T.J. Martell Foundation When: Mon., Feb. 24, 5:30 p.m. Where: Omni Nashville Hotel Party note: Honoring Jordan Berlin, Pat Emery, Amy Grant, Clint Higham, and Laurie and Jim Seabury Tariff: $1,000 per person Info: tjmartell.org
25 What: Swan Ball Unveiling For: Cheekwood When: Tues., Feb. 25, 6 p.m. Where: Home of John Lutz Co-chairs: Anne Maradik and Jane Anne Pilkinton Info: swanball.org 27 What: How About Dinner and
a Movie For: Park Center When: Thurs., Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. Where: Belcourt Theatre Co-chairs: Joanna Hall and Kirsten Schriner Party note: Honoring Ron Samuels Tariff: $250-1,500 per patron,
$125 per person Info: parkcenternashville.org
27 What: Pairings: Vintner Dinners
For: Nashville Wine Auction When: Thurs., Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. Where: Homes and restaurants across Nashville Co-chairs: Melanie Cansler and Virginia Kweller Tariff: $275-350 per person Info: nashvillewineauction.com
28 What: Pairings: Wined Up
For: Nashville Wine Auction When: Fri., Feb. 28, 6 p.m. Where: City Winery Co-chairs: Alex and Kris Marks, Gary Rzucidlo and Lori Latusek, and John and Jennifer Steele Tariff: $275 per VIP, $135 per person Info: nashvillewineauction.com What: Pairings Dinner
29 For: Nashville Wine Auction When: Sat., Feb. 29, 6 p.m. Where: City Winery Co-chairs: Alex and Kris Marks, Gary Rzucidlo and Lori Latusek, and John and Jennifer Steele Tariff: $275 per person Info: nashvillewineauction.com What: Ballet Ball
29 For: Nashville Ballet When: Sat., Feb. 29, 6:30 p.m. Where: Schermerhorn Symphony Center Co-chairs: Allison Cotton and Emily Humphreys Party note: Featuring performances by Rayland Baxter and Maren Morris; black tie Info: nashvilleballet.com/ballet-ball
29 What: Mad Bash
For: Adventure Science Center When: Sat., Feb. 29, 7 p.m. Where: Adventure Science Center Tariff: $250 per patron, $100 per person Info: adventuresci.org/madbash
29 What: Ballet Ball Late Party
For: Nashville Ballet When: Sat., Feb. 29, 8:30 p.m. Where: Schermerhorn Symphony Center Co-chairs: Camille Barrett, Ann Ralls Brown and Hank Ingram Party note: Black tie Tariff: $175 per person Info: nashvilleballet.com/late-party
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1/24/20 1:56 PM
Vincent font
Tickets on sale Now!
Presented by
chefs throw down! four Chefs. one Secret Ingredient
Guests will enjoy complimentary libations and unlimited food samples as four of Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top chefs compete in a heated battle to take home the coveted Iron Fork trophy. This is a 21+ event.
March 19, 2020 6 PM-9:30 PM Musicians Hall of Fame Visit
www.IRONFORKNASHVILLE.COM
for tickets!
#IronFork20 Benefitting
Sponsored by
In Partnership With
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NRETROSPECT
PHS
PHOTOGRA
1991 EN SHOW,
UES & GARD
OF ANTIQ COURTESY
Perennial Favorite Reflecting on how the Antiques & Garden Show got its start
In 1990, the concept of a combined antiques and garden show was unheard of â&#x20AC;&#x201D; literally. But when Martin Roberts proposed merging the Antiques Show at Cheekwood with the Lawn and Garden Fair to Sigourney Cheek and Connie Cigarran, the ladies saw the potential and agreed to create and co-chair the first-of-its-kind event in the nation. The Antiques & Garden Show quickly gained a stellar reputation for attracting top quality antiques and horticulture dealers, innovative gardens, and prominent designers and lecturers. Thirty years later, more people than ever spend a winter weekend among the unique treasures and vibrant landscapes of the longest-running, largest and most respected event of its kind in the country. Left to right: Sigourney Cheek, Connie Cigarran
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1/24/20 9:56 AM
FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, HOME.
1358 Page Rd. | Belle Meade | $14,975,000 Neal Clayton 615-300-8585
4750 Columbia Pk. | Columbia | $4,899,999 Traci Semptimphelter 615-584-5549
918 Blackwood Rd. | Springfield | $4,600,000 Neal Clayton 615-300-8585
117 Clarendon Ave. | Belle Meade | $2,900,000 Grace Clayton 615-305-1426
2205 Woodmont Blvd. | Green Hills | $2,450,000 Neal Clayton 615-300-8585
621 Royal Oaks Pl. | Belle Meade | Price Upon Request Amy Jackson Smith 615-300-1025
Dunaway Hunting & Fishing Club | Dunlap | $1,150,000 Neal Clayton 615-300-8585
0 Highway 70 | Rock Island | $875,000 Neal Clayton 615-300-8585
6633 Ellesmere Rd. | West Meade | $859,000 Grace Clayton 615-305-1426
642 Brook Hollow Rd. | West Meade | SOLD Sheila Reuther 615-485-0669
129 Lincoln Ct. | Belle Meade | UNDER CONTRACT Grace Clayton 615-305-1426
6755 Pennywell Dr. | West Meade | $499,000 Sheila Reuther 615-485-0669
4114 Legend Hall Drive | Green Hills | $685,000 Sheila Reuther 615-485-0669
105 Leake Ave. #30 | Belle Meade Tower | $455,000 Murray Clayton 615-812-1831
104 Keyway Dr. | West Meade | UNDER CONTRACT Grace Clayton 615-305-1426
4487 Post Pl. #76 | Lion's Head | SOLD Murray Clayton 615-812-1831
West Meade Building Lots 3901 West End Ave. #402 | The Rokeby | $379,000 Sheila Reuther 615-485-0669
105 Leake Ave. #66 | Belle Meade Towers | $324,900 Murray Clayton 615-812-1831
2116 Hobbs Rd. #A5 | Hobbs House | $239,900 John Clayton 615-294-6065
Neal Clayton
615-300-8585
Engel & Völkers Nashville 20 Burton Hills Blvd. Suite #450 . Nashville . TN, 37215 . 615-297-8543 Learn more at nashville.evrealestate.com
©2019 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.
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