Nfocus July 2024

PLUS THE BEES OF SOUTHALL, SAVING THE DUCK RIVER AND MORE

23 An Enchanted Forest

The 62nd Swan Ball is a triumph of whimsy and wonder

41 Two by Two

The Nashville Zoo races time to protect the planet’s species

51 Pet Project

Mars Petcare and Civic Design Center collaborate for pet-friendly community

57 Mussel Memory

Saving the diversity of the Duck River

65 Honey of a Note

Southall Farm & Inn’s bee program pollinates, educates and delights

ON THE COVER

Swan

co-chairs Carolyn

and

July 2024 | Vol. XXXI, No. 7

parties

71 A Horse Is a Horse

The Andrew Jackson Foundation hosts the 123rd annual Spring Outing

72 Going Once, Going Twice!

The Swan Ball Auction Party raises funds for Cheekwood

77 Come to My Garden

The Swan Ball Patrons Party wows before the main event

80 Put a Fresh Face on It

Nfocus celebrates the inaugural class of Fresh Faces of Philanthropy

84 A Passion for Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation visits Franklin

Ball

Taylor

Sally Nesbitt with Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show photographed by Eric England. For more on Swan Ball, turn to page 23.

A Beautiful Noise

Remembering the natural world

LEAVING THE HERMITAGE Spring Outing, I was captured by the sound of the cicadas and instantly transported back to my childhood. On hot summer nights, we would lie in bed and listen as the lightning bugs gently nudged the screen window and the cicadas sang their lullaby. Likewise, their chirps would wake us on summer mornings in rural Ohio, when the sun was almost-but-not-quite high overhead and the plants were still laden with dew — the kind of morning when you’d swear you could smell the color green. The sound of those mornings would be thick with the vibrating hum of industrious pollinators with backup vocals provided by the cicadas. It was a magical time.

In this issue, we explore our outdoor spaces — just in time for summer. Carrington Fox takes us on a journey through a few unexpectedly dog-friendly neighborhoods, and then she ventures to Southall Farm & Inn, where you can find as many as 7 million honeybees hard at work. We visit with the Nashville Zoo to learn more about their successes in the world of animal conservation. And we take a trip down the Duck River. This serene waterway — one of the most threatened in the U.S. — is home to delicate ecosystems that support a rare breed of mussels.

We also step inside some of the late spring season events. We watch Geraldine Brooks charm the audience at the Hermitage Spring Outing. We celebrate with our Fresh Faces of Philanthropy. Finally, we cover all things Swan Ball. We take you inside the events leading up to the gala, from the auction party to the patrons party. As for the ball itself, in addition to telling the story of this year’s Enchanted-Forest-themed event, we take a look at the newly restored Petite Swan Lawn — said to be Mabel Cheek’s favorite garden. Finally, the Nfocus team is delighted to welcome our new publisher, Olivia Britton. Olivia has been with FW Publishing for just over seven years and brings a wealth of institutional and client knowledge with her. We are delighted to have her as part of our little family.

As my car made the trek from Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage back to my office downtown, I listened to the cicadas and thought back on those summer days I referred to earlier. That peaceful serenity is now replaced by manufactured intensity. About a mile and a half outside downtown, the sound of cicadas faded to a whisper until it was silenced by the din of a mechanical symphony — that same sound Neil Diamond once dubbed a beautiful noise. While waxing poetic about the sound of cicadas may be an unpopular opinion teetering on the precipice of divisiveness, I believe it is a call to revisit our outdoor environs and restore old memories.

BY JANET KURTZ

Janet moved to Nashville 26 years ago. She is an avid reader, traveler and collector of fountain pens, and she lives in downtown Nashville with her husband, Ron, and their dog, Julep. Email her at jkurtz@nfocusmagazine.com or follow her on Instagram @musiccitytraveler

Editorial

founding editor

Herbert Fox Jr.

editor-in-chief

Janet Kurtz

contributing editors

Lindsey Lanquist, Jack Silverman

social correspondent

Gloria Houghland

contributors

Beth Alexander, Emily Bache, Jeanette Barker, Abigail Breslin, Bentley Caldwell, Whitney Clay, Melissa Corbin, Carrington Fox, Margaret Littman, Carson Love, Hamilton Matthew Masters, Sandra Nelson, Nancy Vienneau

Art

art director

Christie Passarello

senior photographer

Eric England

staff photographer

Angelina Castillo

contributing photographers

Michael Scott Evans, Tausha Dickinson, Lorenzo Huerta, Hamilton Matthew Masters

graphic designers

Sandi Harrison, Mary Louise Meadors, Tracey Starck

Marketing

events and marketing director

Olivia Moye Britton

marketing and promotions manager

Robin Fomusa

Advertising

publisher

Olivia Moye Britton

advertising solutions consultants

Teresa Birdsong, Maddy Fraiche, Rena Ivanov, Michael Jezewski, Carla Mathis, Allie Muirhead,

Heather Cantrell Mullins, Niki Tyree, Alissa Wetzel

associate account executive

Kailey Idziak

sales operations manager

Chelon Hasty

advertising solutions associates

Audry Houle, Jack Stejskal

Circulation

circulation manager

Gary Minnis

Business

president

Mike Smith

chief financial officer

Todd Patton

IT director

John Schaeffer

Owner

FW Publishing, LLC

Bill Freeman

In Bloom

Behind the scenes with Jim Knestrick

LONG BEFORE JIM KNESTRICK of Knestrick By Design placed the first flower for the 2024 Swan Ball, he had a vision for working with at-risk teens through counseling and support. Jim grew up in Nashville, watching each year as his parents attended Swan Ball. But when he went to school at Auburn University, he turned his attention to supporting young people. Jim went on to Colorado Christian University, where he earned a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

When he returned to Nashville, Jim began a career as an adolescent counselor with Daystar Counseling Ministries. The faith-based counseling service is dedicated to providing support, encouragement and compassion to children, adolescents and families in need. At Daystar, Jim made a meaningful impact as a counselor and camp director. But his vision and desire to create grew into a passion that he could no longer ignore.

THE BASICS

Name: Jim Knestrick

Hometown: Nashville

For over 25 years, Jim has worked to perfect his floral designs — drawing inspiration from other designers and creatively bringing a client’s vision to life. In the early days, Jim sought mentorship from fellow floral designers Mamie Mason, Joe Smith and Steve McClellan, who instilled in him the value of collaboration and the ability to uncover beauty in the ordinary. Jim learned firsthand how flowers possess the remarkable ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary, a principle he applies with passion and dedication in his own design endeavors. In working with his clients, Jim invites collaboration and conversation as he turns ideas into reality.

ZIP code: 37215

Years in Nashville: All of them, except college and grad school

Number of homes decorated for the holidays: For the past 25 years, we’ve typically decorated 20 select homes per year

What about your work brings you joy?

In addition to the Swan Ball, Jim has designed the Frist Gala, A Tennessee Waltz, Ballet Ball, the Symphony Ball, the TPAC Gala and Hermitage President’s Dinner.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I never thought I would be doing flowers and design. My passion was working with teens, so I got a master’s degree in counseling and was a camp director at Daystar Counseling Ministries.

What inspired you to pursue a career in floral design? God really dropped floral design into my lap. My sister-in-law managed the Bread & Company stores with John Clay, and after seeing an arrangement I made for my wife, they asked if I would do florals for the tables. From there, I started to get phone calls to do arrangements. I thought floral design would be a short-term thing until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life, but I ended up falling in love with design.

The aesthetic piece of my work brings me the most joy. It’s being aware of the things that create an experience as soon as you enter a room. Beyond making beautiful arrangements, it’s about what details the guests will notice in addition to the flowers.

What floral trends are you seeing today? Blue and white chinoiserie is still really popular, as well as collections of bud vases.

What is the best advice you have received? My father told me early on that I needed to enjoy what I do, and to not choose a career for the money. If you enjoyed what you did, the business would follow. My father also showed me, through his actions, how important it was to give back to the community. I had several mentors. Mamie Mason showed me how to really be passionate about the beauty in flowers and not think about for-

mulas. Joe Smith taught me the importance of helping younger designers become the best they can be. We all have different techniques and methods, and it’s good to share that with the newer designers who are coming up.

What was your most memorable event and why? Without a doubt, the Swan Ball stands out as my most memorable event. I have dreamed of the day to be behind the scenes on the grounds of Cheekwood. It is such a mysterious and magical event that I think is special to Nashville and can’t be compared to any other event.

When not designing an event, where are you likely to be? You’ll definitely find me at the lake. If I’m in town, I love being in my yard creating water features.

BY JANET KURTZ

PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND

Viva la Mexico

New York City’s Fonda opens in 12South

FONDA 12 SOUTH, a new buzzy Mexican eatery, was born out of a decades-long friendship between a seasoned Nashville restaurateur and a celebrated New York chef.

When Howard Greenstone, a partner in Emmy Squared and the founder of Red Pebbles Hospitality (Adele’s, Sadie’s, Gertie’s Whiskey Bar), heard that Josephine was closing, he reached out to his friend, chef and cookbook author Roberto Santibañez.

“When Howard first learned the space was turning over, he immediately called me and said, ‘This is the perfect place for a Fonda,’” says Roberto. “We both knew pretty quickly this would be an incredible opportunity to share my authentic and elevated Mexican cuisine.”

In the early aughts, Howard owned Rosa Mexicano in New York City, and Roberto was the chef. Howard sold his interest in the company in 2008, left New York for California, and ended up moving to Nashville about five years ago. In the meantime, Roberto opened Fonda, which now has three locations in New York and another opening in Tokyo.

The Music City menu has its own signature, offering both small plates, like the wagyu con mole de avellanas (wagyu ribeye with mole sauce) and quesadilla de hongos (a quesadilla with maitake mushrooms and truffle oil), and family-style options — taco boards with your choice of protein, blue corn tortillas, salsa, slaw, black beans and pico de gallo.

“The idea was that Fonda had name recognition, and Roberto is a great culinary chef,” says Howard. “He and I get along really well. And I said, ‘Listen, I want to push the envelope. I don’t want to do heavy Mexican food, where everything is rice and beans and heavy.’” A visit to a Spanish tapas restaurant in town made him wonder if the concept of small plates would work in a Mexican restaurant. After a little brainstorming, a new menu emerged. Fonda 12 South draws from both of their skill sets. “The menu is me. The brand is him. The flavor profiles are him,” says Howard.

On a recent Sunday night, the restaurant was humming with patrons perched on neonyellow metal stools at the large, concrete, centrally located bar. While tobacco-leather banquettes give the main dining room a comfortable, homey vibe, vivid bursts of color liven it up. There are bright yellow dining chairs, electric-blue dome lights hanging from exposed ductwork and pink cabinets in the sunroom. Dining chairs are covered in colorful Mexican blankets, and the wall décor includes busts of actual Mexican wrestlers and tiles depicting a popular Latin American board game.

BY WHITNEY CLAY PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FONDA 12 SOUTH

LET’S DO BRUNCH

In addition to serving dinner, the 120-seat restaurant has just begun to o er weekend brunch. Highlights include chilaquiles divorciados (scrambled eggs and tortilla chips with salsa verde, salsa roja, cream and cilantro) and the pollo bowl (chicken tinga served with hazelnut mole, fried egg and rice). To accommodate a variety of palates, there are also items like amaranth pancakes served with powdered sugar, strawberries and maple syrup. Howard says they plan to ease into lunch and breakfast, adding, “I don’t think there’s anything better than Mexican breakfast.”

HOME SWEET HOME

One goal of the design, done in-house, was to stay away from kitschy décor, says Howard.

“It’s as if we’ve owned this for 20 years and we just kept putting a little something on the walls and it’s not too composed,” he says. Howard was inspired by the late Mexican architect Luis Barragán. “He believed in sort of intersecting colors, if you will,” he says. There are pops of various colors here and there, but the goal is for it to feel “comfortable and lived-in.”

VARIETY IS THE VERY SPICE OF LIFE

The menu at Fonda is designed to take diners on a culinary adventure through Mexico. “Groups should order and taste a little bit of everything, from burrata con friojoles negros (warm burrata with black bean sauce and toasted sesame seeds) and esquites con langosta (grilled lobster with street corn) to enchiladas and tacos,” says Roberto. The beverage menu is equally varied, including wine, Mexican beers and craft cocktails, like a classic margarita with tequila, lime and agave and an espresso martini with rum and Kahlúa.

HER STYLE

Styling for the summer sun

JULY IN THE SOUTH is o en marked by the sight of local ora in full bloom, the smell of grills ring up supper, the sound of music playing on your favorite patio — and the o ensive weight of the summer sun bearing down relentlessly on your skin.

OK, I’m being slightly dramatic. But the summer heat is a true burden to bear in our neck of the woods. As a stylist, I can’t help with scorching car seats or tedious tan lines, but I can help you navigate what to wear in the summer sun.

e key? Use accessories to your advantage. While the right accessories can elevate your look during any time of year, there are practical bene ts to strategic accessorizing in July.

Hats

Hats aren’t just stylish — they also keep the sun o your face. Opt for hats that are woven from natural materials for better breathability. (You can stow those heavy felt hats away until autumn.)

Sunglasses

When shopping for sunglasses, look for frames that complement the shape of your face. And consider the material they’re made of. While lightweight metal

sunglasses feel dressy, they may bend and break — especially if they’re not made well. ick plastic frames may feel heavier and bulkier, but they can o en stand up to water and damage.

Lightweight layers

Lightweight scarves and dusters can add a layer of sun protection without added heat. Plus, many companies now add SPF into their fabrics to make these layers even more protective.

As always, you’ll want to mind your fabrics and colors. Opt for breathable fabrics that allow air to circulate. ink linen, cotton, rayon and any fabric with a loose weave. You’ll want to avoid synthetic fabrics, like nylon and polyester, because they tend to trap heat. And watch out for silks or silk blends, which are quick to show sweat — not ideal for hot days!

Speaking of sweat — or maybe we should call it shimmer — certain colors tend to show moisture more than others. Lighter shades and pastels will show moisture more clearly, while whites, dark navies and blacks tend to conceal.

BY CARSON LOVE

Carson Love is a wardrobe and personal stylist based in Nashville. Her main goal is to help clients present as and feel like their best selves, so they are ready for whatever life brings them. Find her online: CarsonLove.com or follow her on Instagram @carsonmlove.

HIS STYLE

Seeking a fit for the end of the world

GENTS! WE MADE IT. We made it through the cicada-pocalypse.

Unbeknownst to some, I grew up in a nondenominational Christian household. If you know anything about this lifestyle, you know the end times were preached religiously. (Pun intended.) Like, the Book of Revelation was dinner table talk, and the Le Behind movie series was a youth group staple.

With all the political, economic and environmental goings-on, I got to thinking. Are we living in the end times? Because I’m me, I also thought: What would I wear to survive the apocalypse?

I landed on three items from my current wardrobe I could wear to survive the end times. (And before you survivalists come for me, remember, this column is all in good fun.)

Danner Crater Rim boots

If you know me, you know I’m an avid hiker. I got the Crater Rims a while back, and I have loved them ever since. ey’re well-made, rugged and waterproof, and they can take a beating. ey’re also surprisingly comfortable for such a heavy-duty shoe. Perfect for the Last of Us-type walking we’ll no doubt be doing during the apocalypse.

Grundéns rain jacket

I scored this rain jacket for a song and a dance in J.Crew’s clearance section, and it has been a workhorse during Nashville’s rainy weather seasons. e Grundéns founder is the son of a Scandinavian sherman, so trust that this rain jacket is built for the elements and designed to keep you totally dry. Did I mention it’s orange? So your fellow humans will see you when they’re busy hunting zombies.

Loyal Stricklin field pack

You’re nomadic now. You’re living the minimalist life. You need something to carry your stu . is locally made leather backpack comes with a large main compartment, various sleeves for electronics, smaller pockets on the outside, and two side pockets for your drink bottles. A reliable companion for your Book of Eli-esque excursions.

Listen, we’re ultimately going to be ne. We’ve been preparing for this impending apocalypse since Y2K, remember? Question, though: Does anyone have a bunker I could Airbnb?

BY BENTLEY CALDWELL

Bentley Caldwell is a Nashville-based men’s personal stylist who helps guys up their style and confidence and take the guesswork out of dressing themselves. Have a fashion or styling question? Visit his website: BentleyCaldwellStyling.com or follow him on Instagram @bentleycaldwell.

Bedrooms | 5 Full Baths | 10 Fireplaces | 7,176 SF

Located just off Hillsboro Road and only 9 minutes from the heart of Green Hills. This magical property with incredible views is nestled amongst the trees and offers a perfect blend of timeless architectural styles emulating those of grand European country estates. A rare offering of ultimate privacy yet just minutes from shopping, restaurants, entertainment and schools.

BETTY FINUCANE

AN ENCH  NTED FOREST

The 62nd Swan Ball is a triumph of whimsy and wonder

IT IS NO QUESTION that Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is one of the grand homes of historical significance in the country.

While the home and gardens were originally privately held, the estate was later gifted to the people of Nashville and has been a treasured destination for art and botanical knowledge ever since. Most recently, Cheekwood completed the restoration of the Petite Swan Garden, furthering its mission to restore much of the estate to the original vision of landscape architect Bryant Fleming.

For 62 years, hundreds have flocked to the esteemed estate for the annual white-tie gala Swan Ball. The event raises important funds, not only to support Cheekwood’s daily operations, but also to fund the extensive community outreach that takes place at the estate each year. This year’s theme, Enchanted Forest, accentuated the original vision of the Cheekwood estate with effervescent spirit.

Co-chairs Carolyn Taylor, Sally Nesbitt

The Petite Swan Garden

In 1932, Leslie and Mabel Cheek moved their family into the newly completed Cheekwood estate. The Georgian-style mansion was surrounded by acres of lush, pristine gardens designed by Bryant Fleming. A New York native, Bryant became the first lecturer and instructor in landscape art at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture. His extensive portfolio included public works, like the creation and restoration of several New York state parks and a comprehensive campus plan for Cornell University. He also had a robust residential landscape architecture practice.

Bryant worked all over the country and was selected as the landscape architect for Cheekwood estate. One of the grandest gardens he created for the property was — and still is — the Swan Lawn. Just beside it lies the Petite Swan Garden, a smaller, more intimate space said to have been Mabel’s favorite garden. A champion of women’s education, Mabel was a voracious reader. Her favorite room in the mansion was the library, and the Petite Swan Garden, located just outside it, provided a beautiful setting for reading outdoors. The garden was once surrounded by stately boxwoods and featured a statue of a woman with a basket on her head. The centerpiece of the garden was a swan fountain, which stood at the head of a terraced stream.

In recent years, in an effort to restore the garden to its original design, Cheekwood conducted an extensive Historic American Landscapes Survey on the integrity and significance of the garden. Once work began, the organization focused on restoring vegetation and improving the integrity of structures, like the garden’s arching retaining wall, wrought-iron railings and fountain basin. The organization has also worked to restore the original swan sculpture and the stone statue of the woman with a basket on her head, which is original to the Cheek family. The completion of the garden not only adds significance to the property, it also embelishes the glamour of the Swan Ball.

Swn Bll

On the evening of the Swan Ball Patrons Party, after some guests expressed concern about the weather for the upcoming ball, multigenerational Nashvillian Ted Clayton quipped, “Oh, it wouldn’t dare rain on the ball.” And he was right. Just before guests arrived at Cheekwood for the 62nd annual Swan Ball, the rain cleared, making way for a lovely and temperate evening. Members of the dance committee — chaired by Catherine Bradbury and Abby Granbery — executed their duties beautifully, ready with dozens of umbrellas that were (fortunately) no longer needed.

Inside, guests enjoyed a marvel of design. The 2024 Swan Ball co-chairs, Sally Nesbitt and Carolyn Taylor, worked with the phenomenally talented Dori Thorton Waller, her team at The Social Office, and the wildly creative Jim Knestrick of Knestrick By Design to bring this year’s theme — Enchanted Forest — to life. Guests ascended a floral-laden staircase, heavy with peonies and roses in hues of peach, pink and blush. After passing through the Loggia, revelers stepped into a cocktail tent full of moss-covered bars, overgrown trees and flickering glass globes, reminiscent of fairy lights, hanging from above.

As guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres during the cocktail hour, many made their way to visit with Matthew and Carrie Imberman of Kentshire — the official 2024 Swan Ball jeweler. Many also visited the Nfocus Portrait Studio to commemorate the evening.

Afterward, guests made their way to the dinner tent, where Jim’s masterful efforts to create the Enchanted Forest were on full display. There, bursting with vibrant color, were exaggerated florals, crystal chandeliers adorned with even more roses, and wrought-iron trellises lined with massive faux flowers. The décor made for an effervescent and whimsical dining experience.

As guests took their seats, Cheekwood president and CEO Jane MacLeod headed to the stage. She offered profound and heartfelt appreciation to everyone in the room for the many ways they support Cheekwood through the Swan Ball. Sally and Carolyn echoed Jane’s words of thanks before presenting the annual Swan Award. “When we were considering the pillars of the Swan Award, service to humanity and contribution to the arts were forefront in our minds,” Sally said. “Immediately, Amy Grant came to mind.”

Amy graciously accepted the award, noting that Nashville is one special place. “I have traveled the world making music, and I am telling you, Nashville is a town like no other,” she said. “To all of my fellow Nashvillians, the combination of medicine, education, music, business and arts is apparent in this city more than any place I have ever been. And Cheekwood is a forerunner in this arena.”

Then it was time for the night’s musical guest: the Grammy-award-winning band Old Crow Medicine Show. From the moment the band took the stage, nearly everyone in the room was on their feet dancing and cheering. The energy throughout the tent was electric. Ketch Secor, the band’s founder and frontman, kept the whole room moving. The set ended with the hit song “Wagon Wheel,” with many in the room singing along to the popular tune. After the last note by Old Crow Medicine Show, the party continued into the early hours of the next morning, as the Late Party, cochaired by Katherine Breland and Molly Viola, kicked off even more dancing with Mockingbird Musicians.

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANGELINA CASTILLO, ERIC ENGLAND AND HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Charles and Laura Niewold, Melanie and David Baker

Charles and Mimi Vaughn, Jane and Don MacLeod

Old Crow Medicine Show

Julie Schneider, Mary Jo Shankle, Mayra Lehman-Grimes Dee and Anand Patel

Tom and Beth Molteni

Dance committee co-chairs Catherine Bradbury, Abby Granbery

Mary Morgan Ketchel, Natalie and George Clements, Sherry Deke

Anne Russell, Deby Pitts

Jay Jones and Rob Turner

Donnie and Kayla Counts, Connie and Nick Deidiker

Rob and Maria Beckham

Jenny Michaeli, Susan and Robert Falk, Vanessa Falk, Stephen Wood

David and Lisa Manning

Larry and Leiyan Keele

Katie Atkins-Ritzen and George Ritzen

Ketch Secor

Warren and Elisabeth Sandberg, Melinda and Jeff Balser

Martha Fristoe, Jeff Duffer

Hunter and Ashley Herring

Corrina Gill, Vance Mazure

Winston and Dania Justice

Will and Sharon Cheek

David and Robin Puryear, Susan and Chris Holmes

Steve and Carolyn Taylor, Sally and Jon Nesbitt

David and Elizabeth Dingess

Rick and Vicki Horne

Caroline Parks Lara K. Kirby

Kelly Dougherty Kathy Danner

Kerrie K. Johnson

Katie and Kevin Crumbo

Jacob and Kelly Unger, Adam Sansiveri, Kendall Brown

Vincent Dreffs, Nan Parrish

Caroline Lewis, Lanie Herndon

Marci and Stephen Houff

Julianne and Jeff Williams

Jane MacLeod, co-chair Carolyn Taylor, Amy Grant, co-chair Sally Nesbitt

Elevating Home Care in Middle Tennessee with The Perfect Companion

At The Perfect Companion, we are dedicated to surpassing the standard in senior care:

Comprehensive Caregiver Training: In-depth, in-person instruction with hands-on skills and client-specific training.

Enhanced Safety Measures: Rigorous background checks and routine drug screenings for peace of mind.

Fair Compensation: Competitive living wages to foster a dedicated and skilled workforce.

Experience The Perfect Companion difference— where we exceed expectations in delivering superior care

Providing Concierge care in AZ, CA, OH and TN. Our corporate office is a proud current member of the

Barry Grider, Sherri Stowe

Todd and Sharon Sandahl

Morel Enoch, Geary Leathers

Denise Cummins

Coffi Bell Corbin and Brandon Corbin, Brenda Corbin

Megan and Grover Collins

Richard and Virginia Fitzgerald

Richard and Sara Bovender

Emily and Crom Tidwell

Carl and Grace Awh, Katie Crumbo, Mimi and Charles Vaughn, Dee and Anand Patel

Barbara Bovender, Josh Trusley

Hillary and Chad Blackburn

Bari and Cory Beasley Ashley and Hunter Herring, John and Sally Nesbitt

Jack and Sherri Grace Shawn and Mayra Lehman-Grimes

John and Julie Schneider, Tracy and Bill Wade

Ed Lanquist, Jennifer Eberle

TWO BY TWO

The Nashville Zoo races time to protect the planet’s species

MANY REMEMBER NOSTALGIC visits to the local zoo as children, being fascinated by the menagerie of animals and maybe even talking to them as if they could understand and respond. Today’s zoos still welcome regular streams of patrons — children and adults alike — to visit and learn more about their favorite species. But many modern zoos would also classify themselves as arks.

Zoos are racing to conserve species from across the world through genetic diversification, research funding and local habitat conservation — before those endangered animals are wiped out from the planet. The Nashville Zoo is at the forefront of many vital conservation efforts: Of the approximately 350 species in its care, over one-third are in a species survival program. We stopped by the zoo to learn more about the steps it’s taking to ensure the survival of the ecosystem.

Komodo dragons

Tucked away on a winding path of the Nashville Zoo sits the recently opened Komodo dragon habitat. The enclosure, full of rich trees, dense shrubbery and lush green grass, looks like an inviting setting for an afternoon nap or a picnic — except for the 200-pound Komodo dragon in the room. The Nashville Zoo boasts the largest Komodo dragon habitat in the Americas, and the new addition is home to lizards Agnes, Olivia, Robbie, Paulie and Lil Sebastian.

The habitat and its residents are all part of a species survival program (SSP) to ensure the Komodos’ survival in the case of a major event. “Should something happen to any of the wild populations, we then have an ark, like Noah’s Ark, to potentially provide animals for that purpose,” says Nick Hanna, the Nashville Zoo’s assistant curator of ectotherms.

Komodo dragons are from Komodo, an island in Indonesia. Part of the monitor lizard family, Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world, topping out at 300 pounds and and up to 10 feet long. They are also considered exceptionally intelligent, able to perform tasks and recognize their own names with clicker or treat training.

And they’re said to be adept at problem solving. While the Komodo is generally a solitary animal, it may form groups when hunting and taking down large prey.

Before running out and trying to purchase a Komodo dragon, keep in mind this is a protected species. That means no keeping Komodos as pets — and certainly no hunting the lizard. As an island species, the dragons are under threat. They’re currently listed as endangered because of the restricted range of their habitat and threat from human encroachment.

Enter the Komodo Survival Program — an organization whose mission is to preserve the Komodo dragon and its natural habitat. The Nashville Zoo is the largest single contributor to the organization, and Nick recently traveled to Indonesia to spend time with the group. There, he worked hands-on with the dragons in the wild — and even held a baby Komodo dragon after its weight and health check. “Holding a baby dragon in my hands … will always be a surreal moment for me in my career,” he says.

The Nashville Zoo has also helped the Komodo Survival Program buy a new boat to transport the team to Komodo and allow for more time with the dragons.

Hellbenders

Ranging in size from 12 to 29 inches, the hellbender is the largest salamander in the Americas and the third-largest in the world behind the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders. Making their homes under rocks or in tight places in clean, fast rivers, hellbenders prey on crawfish, invertebrates like snails and worms, and other small aquatic life. With a lifespan of up to 25 years — and sometimes even longer — hellbenders can see multiple generations in one lifetime.

Hellbender salamanders are widely recognized as an indicator species. If a river is healthy and thriving, hellbenders and their offspring are abundant. Throughout the Eastern United States, the hellbender is considered a threatened species. In Tennessee, the situation is much worse — the hellbender is listed as endangered.

Agriculture and development are creating silt runoff into the streams and river systems hellbenders call home. Invasive plants are also choking out native plants that would otherwise prevent runoff from entering the water. In gravelly river bottoms, baby hellbenders live until they are mature enough to hold their own without the protection of the gravel. When silt enters the river system, it goes directly to the bottom, filling up the gravel and leaving the babies with nowhere to live.

Behind the scenes at the Nashville Zoo, the ectotherm team is hard at work in the native Tennessee conservation trailer, trying to reverse population decline by raising baby and juvenile hellbenders they can introduce back into the wild. The walls of the trailer are lined with tanks housing hellbenders at various stages of maturity. In the middle of the trailer, a water filter hums, and a giant pool acts as the halfway house between tank life and reintroduction to the wild.

“We’re going into certain streams, with some of the Middle Tennessee populations, and collecting part of the egg masses,” says Nick, who is quick to point out they don’t collect the entire egg mass. “We raise them up past that stage where they would need that certain type of habitat to survive in. Then we release them as older animals, bigger animals.”

While their work is far from finished, Nick and the team have had four successful reintroductions so far. Most recently, the Nashville Zoo partnered with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee State University to release 27 hellbenders into a Middle Tennessee waterway. Nick counts that as a small win for the proliferation of the species.

Coral

For many, coral are decorative accents for fish tanks or souvenirs brought back from vacation. Many are surprised to learn that coral — like jellyfish and sea anemones — are classified as animals. Coral polyps are small, soft-bodied creatures that form hard limestone exoskeletons. These polyps gather together in colonies, creating superorganisms. Coral polyps are clear, but thanks to a special algae called zooxanthellae, coral reefs appear in a variety of showstopping colors, even to the naked eye.

Coral reefs have often been referred to as the rainforest of the sea, both because of the biodiversity within them and because of the oxygen they produce. Reefs also have extensive longevity, with individual coral said to live over 4,000 years. “Corals don’t do anything fast,” says Chad Cogburn, the Nashville Zoo’s lead aquatics keeper. Coral reefs act as barriers to the land — protecting the shore from further damage from hurricanes, cyclones and tsunamis.

Due to climate change and other environmental factors, like pollution, coral reefs all over the world are experiencing stress, which has detrimental effects on the coral that comprise them. Closer to home, the Florida Reef is under attack from stony coral tissue loss disease. The disease — which affects the coral colony’s ability to sustain living tissue — can kill a colony within a few months or weeks. The fast-acting disease can kill large amounts of coral and has affected more than 96,000 acres of Florida’s coral reefs.

When coral are affected by this disease or other stressors, the symbiotic relationship between the coral and its algae is broken. The coral kicks out the algae, sacrificing its food source and ultimately dying. The Nashville Zoo, in collaboration with 30 other organizations, has joined the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project in an effort to study some of the diseases affecting coral.

Behind the scenes, tanks of vibrant coral sit in the zoo’s HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center. The light in the tanks is an eerie blue that mimics the depths of the ocean, and the water is constantly kept at a balmy 72 degrees. There, Chad and others team members monitor the coral to keep them safe and protect the species should a reintroduction be necessary.

“The purpose of the program — in pulling these corals out of the water — was to get ahead of this sweep of disease making its way across the coral reef,” Chad explains. “Conservationism has gone in front of [the disease], took a couple thousand samples out and put them into safe areas. And Nashville Zoo is one of those safe areas.”

Luxury New Development with Timeless Classic Design

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:

Herbie Hancock: 2024 North American Fall Tour

SEP 18

WITH SHAUNA BROOKS REAL ESTATE ... Results that move you!

PresentedwithouttheNashvilleSymphony.

Stravinsky’s The Firebird with the Nashville Symphony

OCT 17 TO 19

As an expert in luxury real estate sales, development and design, I am dedicated to helping you realize your dream home. At Shauna Brooks Real Estate, we specialize in offering tailored, high-end services to cater to all your luxury property needs. With a deep understanding of the market and a commitment to excellence, we ensure a seamless and satisfying experience in buying or selling your luxury home. Contact Shauna today to take the next step in your real estate journey.

$325M TOT AL SALES

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor Gil Shaham, violin

DIONNE WARWICK

NOV 19

PresentedwithouttheNashvilleSymphony.

$35M 2 023 SALES 28 YEARS IN LUXURY

Proud to be recognized as one of the 2024 RealTrends Verified real estate professionals!

Home Alone in Concert with the Nashville Symphony

DEC 6 TO 8

Jason Seber, conductor

Beethoven’s Ninth: Ode to Joy with the Nashville Symphony

FEB 6 TO 8

Nicholas Hersh, conductor

Nashville Symphony Chorus Tucker Biddlecombe, director

SupportedbytheMaryC.RaglandFoundation

ITZHAK PERLMAN: CINEMA SERENADE with the Nashville Symphony

FEB 18

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor

Lyle Lovett with the Nashville Symphony

APR 3 TO 5

Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor

Herbie Hancock

Dionne Warwick Gil Shaham

Home Alone

Nashville Symphony Chorus

Itzhak Perlman

Lyle Lovett

© Chris Lee

Giraffes

Until standing close to one, it is difficult to appreciate the size and scale of a giraffe. Perhaps this is the reason we call a group of giraffes a “tower.” It is easy to become smitten with a giraffe. With their large eyes and gloriously long lashes, imposing necks that can measure over 6 feet long, and natural curiosity, giraffes are a little like giant, hungry puppies. Giraffes regularly consume up to 75 pounds of food a day. Despite their size, giraffes are surprisingly fast and can run up to 35 miles per hour. In the wild, they move 100 miles a day.

Over the past 30 years, wild giraffe populations have declined by more than 40%. And over 50% of giraffe infants won’t survive to adulthood, according to Save Giraffes Now, an organization seeking to save giraffes from extinction. Earlier this year, Nashville Zoo hoofstock keeper Jenna Wolczyk traveled to Kenya to work with Save Giraffes Now, which has been working with zoos and keepers to understand giraffe behaviors and conservation initiatives. “I feel very fortunate I was the first keeper staff sent to work with them in the field,” Jenna says.

The organization is currently studying giraffe highway crossings in Nairobi. The NairobiMombasa road is one of Kenya’s busiest highways, and many giraffes are killed in road accidents each year as they try to cross the highway to access food and birthing grounds.

Save Giraffes Now is also working on a translocation program, moving giraffes from more dangerous locations to places that can support additions to the habitat. Not only will this help protect the translocated giraffes, but it will also introduce genetic diversity — creating a healthier herd and overall population.

“Once we move these animals into a different area, we’re hoping to look at what their behaviors are like afterwards,” Jenna explains. “If they’re reproducing, then the population is stable. They have the food source they need and the safety they need.”

While Jenna was working with Save Giraffes Now in Kenya, she got to see two calves that had recently been born, and she shared that another has been born since. “There’s a lot of success that happens when you’re able to take part and see a need and get things moving,” she says.

“The mission behind zoos and aquariums in general revolves around conservation and education of conservation,” says Jim Bartoo, marketing and public relations director at Nashville Zoo. “Sharing information, sharing knowledge, sharing best practices and working together to be able to save the species is in everybody’s best interest.” This collaboration creates a vast conservation network. “I always refer to it as an ark,” he adds.

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

Forest Hills Luxury

1810 TYNE BOULEVARD |

$3,950,000

| MLS#

2660025

This luxurious residence in coveted Forest Hills presents an exquisite offering, featuring six spacious bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. Boasting a true primary suite on the main level, alongside an additional main-level bedroom and another primary suite upstairs, the home exudes versatility and elegance. The sixth bedroom offers multifunctional potential, ideal for a gym, nursery, or hobby room. Loads of storage throughout the home. Noteworthy attributes include a new roof installed in 2021, complemented by four zoned HVAC systems, a tankless hot water heater, a whole house water filtration system, Bosch SS appliances, and front and back irrigation.

PET PROJECT

Mars Petcare and Civic Design Center collaborate for pet-friendly community

STAND ON A STREET CORNER in bustling downtown Nashville and count the babies — fur babies and human infants alike — and you’ll quickly realize the corridor from the Gulch to the Cumberland River is home to more pets than kids. With an estimated 5,000 pets inhabiting the central core, residents, businesses and city leaders are doggedly working to make Nashville more accommodating to four-legged citizens.

In 2019, Nashville led the way in earning certification in Mars Petcare’s Better Cities for Pets program, which now certifies more than 150 cities across the country. Franklin-based Mars Petcare provides a playbook to guide cities in welcoming furry friends. The keystone of Better Cities for Pets is a tool to assess cities in four categories of pet-friendliness: shelters, homes, parks and businesses. The initiative’s website also provides a road map toward certification and offers grants to help cities become more pet-forward. By setting goals and knowing what to ask for, neighborhood organizations and residents can work with developers and municipal governments to create the communities they want for their animals.

Both Nashville and Franklin are certified Better Cities for Pets. And in 2021, the Nashville International Airport became the first airport to achieve pet-friendly certification, acknowledging amenities including multiple relief areas, a dedicated dog park on the fifth floor of Terminal Garage 1, hydration and waste stations, directional signage to pet areas, and even murals for taking selfies with pets.

While Nashville as a whole — with its multiple dog parks for on- and off-leash play and numerous waste and hydration stations — is a certified Better City, individual neighborhoods vary in hospitality to critters. There is not yet an equivalent certification for neighborhoods, but the same framework for a Better City can be applied to improve a neighborhood.

In fact, Nashville-based Civic Design Center and Mars Petcare are currently collaborating to develop recommendations for better neighborhoods and better cities for pets. Priorities include green space and turf, fencing for doggie play areas, people-friendly seating, shady areas, hydration stations for humans and animals, waste stations with poop bags, pet-safe plants, lighting, adequately sized walkways, and signage including codes of conduct and openness to pet visitors.

TOP-DOG DISTRICTS

Germantown

Among the most hound-hospitable urban districts in Nashville is Germantown, where Civic Design Center leader and resident Gary Gaston worked with neighbors to advocate for amenities for animal companions. When Gary and his dog Lottie moved back to Germantown in 2014, amid a construction boom and an influx of new residents, the historic brick sidewalks demonstrated that Germantown was not quite ready for a parade of pets.

“There was a mess, from a dog poop standpoint,” Gary remembers. “So the neighborhood went into action.”

Specifically, the neighborhood association partnered with apartment buildings to develop plans with dog runs, waste stations, poop bags and disposal. In some cases, existing property owners retrofitted buildings to include dogfriendly amenities.

This spring, after much lobbying by the Germantown and Salemtown neighborhoods, Metro Water Services and Metro Parks cut the ribbon on Central Dog Park, an off-leash extension of Morgan Park, on the site of the newly renovated Central Water Reclamation Facility.

“Now it’s an expectation,” Gary says of the integration of pet-friendly amenities into urban design and placemaking. “That’s what our work with Mars is a response to.”

Gary Gaston with Egg

It was an honor to work with such a spectacular list of vendors, with The Social Office - Dori Waller, Margaret Andrews, Emma McDaniel, and of course Deidre Sayko - at the helm. Carol Hodge - Quest Events, Jim Bradfield - Bradfield Lighting, Summer Jones Tumblin - Please be Seated, the Kristen Winston Ca and Taylor Martin - it was so fun to collaborate with you! , Catering team, the Chattanooga Tent team,

photo by Mary Deaton Heldman

The Gulch

The Gulch neighborhood also checks a lot of boxes on the Better Cities for Pets rubric, with pet-friendly apartments and hotels, waste stations, off-leash and on-leash parks, and wide sidewalks that accommodate strollers, wheelchairs and pets. The iconic “What Lifts You” mural by Kelsey Montague even includes a small pair of wings for angelic dog portraits. In the restaurant-rich district between Eighth and 12th avenues, Bark Public House offers a canine-friendly compound with grooming, daycare and boarding, along with indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, where humans can bring their own food and drinks, to mingle while dogs play off-leash.

Downtown

In the central downtown district, resident and business owner David Andrews says his French bulldogs’ setup near Printers Alley compares favorably to their former situation in Manhattan.

“Living in New York with a dog is similar,” says David, whose D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe recently earned a nomination for the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Bakery.

Among the helpful amenities in his neighborhood, he cites ample waste stations and bags, dog parks within walking distance at Ascend Amphitheater and Bridgestone Arena, and a camaraderie among fellow urban pet owners.

D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe welcomes dogs on its Church Street patio.

“The best part of living downtown is that we don’t have to trim their toenails,” David says, explaining that the sidewalk provides ongoing pedicure maintenance for his Frenchies, Daisy and Mocha.

“On the downside, all the bachelorettes want to stop you to pat your dog when you just want to get on with your day,” he adds.

BY CARRINGTON FOX

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

David Andrews with Daisy and Matt Paco with Mocha

$1,749,000

Whether you’re planning a corporate meeting or a dream wedding, Gaylord Springs Golf Links is ready to help you realize every detail and possibility of your vision. Our industry-leading planners are ready to help bring your event to life in breathtaking, one-of-a-kind settings with delicious menus and flawless service.

© 2023 Brocoff Photography

© 2023 Brocoff Photography

MUSSEL MEMORY

Saving the diversity of the Duck River

EACH MORNING, as the sun rises over the Duck River, the water continues its lazy flow to the Tennessee River. The tree canopy shields the flora and fauna that inhabit the area along the river’s shore from the harsh midday sun, as it has for thousands of years. Beneath the surface of the water, a dense ecosystem goes quietly about its business.

For many Nashvillians, the Duck River is a cherished getaway — and a place to return to time and time again. The beloved waterway has been a destination for summer activities as generations of urbanites have made their escape from the city to the river. While this biodiverse ecosystem provides water for the area, it also sits in third place on American Rivers’ 2024 Most Endangered Rivers list. Harpeth Conservancy is working hard to save the Duck and preserve this natural treasure.

The Duck

Formed millions of years ago from a natural spring that emerges from the limestone bedrock of the Highland Rim barrens, the Duck River crosses through seven Middle Tennessee counties before joining the Tennessee River in Humphreys County. Legend has it the river was named for the many ducks that called it home. The shores of the 270-mile river were once inhabited by the Muscogee (Creek), Yuchi, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee, Shawnee and Seneca tribes.

Today, the river supplies water for agriculture and heavy manufacturing and provides drinking water to over 250,000 Middle Tennessee residents. But excessive water use is the very reason the Duck has been named an endangered river, and conservationists throughout the state are looking for solutions. “We are not anti-development,” says Grace Stranch, Harpeth Conservancy CEO. “We just want lawmakers to help create a plan that is sustainable and does not over-tax the river.”

Each summer, an estimated 150,000 people spend time on the Duck River and its tributaries. The weekends see the heaviest traffic, as visitors travel to the banks of the Duck for some rest and relaxation. The gentle gradient and calm waters make the Duck River an ideal spot for kayaking and canoeing. The river is also perfect for a lazy day of bank and boat fishing, and it is renowned as a fly fishing paradise. With the flurry of activity, it is no wonder the river is the region’s main outdoor and recreation economic driver, resulting in millions of dollars flowing into local economies each year.

Beneath the surface

While humans enjoy their time on the surface of the water, it is the variety of life within the river that places the Duck River on the international stage. The Duck is the third-most biodiverse river in the world and the most biodiverse in the U.S. The river is home to 151 species of fish, 56 species of mussels and 22 species of snails. Several of these species are unique to the Duck River, and many are federally listed as endangered or threatened.

Within a 30-mile stretch of the Duck resides the last remaining population of Epioblasma ahlstedti — the Duck River dartersnapper — a freshwater mussel species that was, at one time, found as far south as Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and is now critically imperiled. Mussels, a reliable indicator of water quality, are extremely sensitive to pollution. Mussels act as the filtration system for a river, removing bacteria, algae and pollutants from the water and thus improving water quality. Most freshwater mussel populations have been wiped out in the U.S., making the Duck River bivalves even more crucial.

This is not the first time Tennessee waterways have come under scrutiny. In 1973, the Tellico Dam project by the Tennessee Valley Authority threatened the habitat of the endangered snail darter. The project was approved before environmental regulations were enacted. However, the small-butmighty fish gained notoriety, as lawsuits claimed that the habitat would be irrevocably damaged, threatening the future of the species. While the lawsuit slowed the project, it did not prevent the construction of the dam. Forward-thinking biologists rallied and worked to introduce snail darters into the Hiwassee River. In July 1984, the snail darter was downgraded from endangered to threatened because of the work done to preserve the species. Finally, in November 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially delisted the snail darter after extensive work to support the species and the discovery of other populations.

Saving the Duck

While saving a species is no small feat, preserving an entire ecosystem is an entirely different matter. The Duck River is facing a multiple-front threat. As population growth and development in the area increases, so does the demand for more drinking water and more water for sewage, agriculture and manufacturing. The Duck River is in a situation where water consumption exceeds what the river can sustainably provide.

Enter the Harpeth Conservancy, a Middle Tennesseebased conservation organization that was formed to monitor, restore and protect the scenic Harpeth River and its tributaries. The organization’s mission has since expanded to include more Tennessee rivers and waterways.

The Harpeth Conservancy has firsthand experience with American Rivers’ Most Endangered Rivers list. In 2015, the Harpeth River ranked ninth on the list, due to water quality issues like unpermitted wastewater discharges, sewage pollution, excessive water withdrawals, low dissolved oxygen and phosphorus pollution. Through scientific work and community advocacy, the Harpeth Conservancy catalyzed change for the threatened river. And in 2020, the Harpeth River was removed from the Most Endangered Rivers list.

Today, the Harpeth Conservancy is using the same playbook to preserve the Duck River. The organization is currently working with American Rivers to ask indi-

viduals to sign a petition. Additionally, representatives of the Harpeth Conservancy are in direct contact with Gov. Bill Lee's office and have had meetings with his representatives to ask the governor to convene experts to oversee water management and conservation in the Duck River watershed. The organization has also asked the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to develop a comprehensive plan to manage the long-term and sustainable use of the Duck River. And the group has asked the governor to fund much-needed research to understand the needs of the river. The environmental impact on the Duck River will be detrimental if action is not taken, and local economies will also be greatly affected.

“Approximately 90% of Tennesseans live within a mile of a river, stream or waterway, which collectively provide about 60% of the state’s drinking water,” Grace says. “The Duck River, the pearl of our river systems, has the potential to serve as a model for sustainable management, demonstrating how we can balance the interests of Tennesseans while preserving our vital water resources. If we want the Duck River to be a resource for future generations, we must act now, together.”

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

HONEY OF A NOTE

Southall Farm & Inn’s bee program pollinates, educates and delights

THE 2023 HONEY harvest at Southall Farm & Inn tastes radically different from the 2024 batch, especially to the trained palate of level 2 honey sommelier Jay Williams. And if you can’t quite put your finger on the flavor variation between last year’s golden liquid and this year’s lighter-but-more-viscous syrup, then Jay, who launched the pollination program at Southall Farm & Inn, can explain it all in a way that will lead you, too, to marvel at the beauty and science of bees.

Here’s a hint: It has to do with nectar, which has to do with the blooming of trees, which has to do with the weather. Because everything in nature is connected. Likewise, everything in the bee program at Southall is intentional.

Jay Williams

Jay Williams is a former firefighter from California who founded Williams Honey Farm in Franklin in 2008. He has been managing Southall’s bees since 2017, when former options trader Paul Mishkin and his wife Laura recruited him to oversee a pollination program at their sustainability-focused luxury seed-to-fork farm and resort. In 2025, when Jay passes the third level of honey sensory training in Bologna, Italy, he will join a small handful of honey sommeliers in the U.S. certified on the Italian national registry.

Standing on a sunny hillside between the apple orchard and the stone-and-timber inn, Jay gestures toward the Thomas-Jeffersonstyle irrigation system to show how water from production fields drains underground to Lake Mishkin, at the center of the 425-acre working farm, and then gets pumped uphill to water 40 breeds of apple trees before it drains back to the kitchen gardens. Then he points to the far border of the lake, beyond a paddleboarding visitor, and explains that, at this minute, there are as many as 7 million honeybees above the treeline.

“That’s the party zone,” Jay says, referring to the mating habits of Southall’s drones (male bees). He knows, because he mapped the airspace with a drone (remote-control quadcopter) to trace flight patterns of native insects before he set up a network of eight apiaries to breed a unique line of queens drawing on the genetics of Slovenian Carniolan bees.

“Bees are incredible,” Jay says simply, before launching into a complex explication of the ecosystem he stewards. The same could be said of a beekeeper who uses Bluetooth technology to monitor hives, as Jay does, checking his phone to make sure temperatures are always between 93 and 95 degrees. (Yes, they are, even though it’s a 70-degree day, because bees can self-regulate their temperatures. On a 100-degree day, Jay explains, they all turn one way inside the hive and buzz to make a giant fan. Incredible.)

Southall overnight guests can take a “bee cruise” of the apiaries, which look like oversized colorful LEGO towers around the property. Winding up the hill by the terraced orchard of apple trees, you’ll see tiny blue wooden boxes that house pollinator bees, which are different from honeybees. You’ll see the home of the late “Queen Nona,” the first queen Jay raised on the property. Stops along the way might include Dottie’s Speakeasy, a quiet cocktail lounge whose elegant clubby interior design draws on the life story of Jay’s grandmother. And you might borrow a beekeeper’s suit from the laboratory-kitchen where Jay and assistant pollination program manager Katherine Hagan artificially inseminate queens, fabricate hive equipment, process beeswax, rotate Southall honey in local whiskey barrels, and steep cayenne peppers to create hot honey.

At some point in the journey, as the panorama unfolds to look like an Impressionist landscape gaudy with blue sky and white clouds, you might feel like you’ve been transported to Italy. Maybe it’s the view, or maybe it’s because Jay is talking about his Italian training as a honey sommelier and about the Italian bees he raised before selecting the Slovenian-heritage strain that now populates Southall’s 140 colorful hives.

Southall opened its 62-room inn and 16 guest cottages to the public in December 2022. In 2023, the bee program harvested approximately 2,000 pounds of honey and 50 pounds of raw pollen, and it’s on track to collect even more this year. That honey makes its way onto menus at the property’s Sojourner and January restaurants, onto shelves of the farmstand on Carters Creek Pike and into the Jammery, which hosts honey tastings once a month. Someday, if Jay gets his wish, the bees will make their way into the walls and floors of a specially constructed guest cottage so visitors can sleep inside a traditional Slovenianstyle cebelnjak, or bee house. “Either you’ll love it, or you’ll run for the hills,” he says. Williams may have boundless knowledge of the science of bees, but he’s trying to impart something more than entomology. He’s trying to draw a connection between humans and nature writ large in the stewardship of hives and honey. “It’s the best therapy you could ever have,” Jay says. “Because it can’t be rushed. You have to control your breathing and always be looking around you.”

Always be looking — that is, unless you’re participating in a “Trust Me Honey” tasting, in which Jay and Jammery chef Richard Jones introduce blindfolded guests to a flight of various raw honeys, to explore connections between taste, smell and memory.

That’s when you might learn why Southall’s honey harvests of 2023 and 2024 yielded such different crops. Jay explains that, due to cold, wet weather in 2023, the black locust bloom was a bust. But the Catalpa trees filled in for the nectar flow. The result was a zing of green apple and a sweet spice at the back of the throat. In 2024, things were back to normal — the honey has a buttery taste with warm notes of jasmine and citrus.

“Honey tells a story like fine wine. Pour it with the right things and it will come alive,” Jay says. “We’re not trying to make everyone be a beekeeper. We just want people to recognize these things and how special they are. If we can do that, we think we’ve done enough.”

BY CARRINGTON FOX PHOTOGRAPHS BY VICTORIA QUIRK AND COURTESY OF SOUTHALL

PHOTOS BY KATHY THOMAS

F Horse Is  Horse

The Andrew Jackson Foundation hosts the 123rd annual Spring Outing

or the 123rd year, the Andrew Jackson Foundation — formerly the Ladies’ Hermitage Society — hosted Spring Outing. The annual event supports preservation and education initiatives for Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Spring Outing began as a picnic on the main lawn of the mansion and is now recognized as one of the oldest formal luncheons in the South. The event has since evolved to host over 550 preservation-minded guests and spotlight notable speakers with wide-ranging expertise.

This year’s keynote speaker was Geraldine Brooks, a New-YorkTimes-bestselling and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author. Guests were so eager to listen to Geraldine that they immediately sat down and got to the business of enjoying lunch. Kristen Winston Catering created the perfect menu for the event: chicken salad, Derby pimento cheese sandwiches and hearty greens. After lunch, Spring Outing chair Rebecca Hiatt Collins took the stage to thank supporters and introduce Geraldine — who instantly engaged the crowd with her storytelling prowess.

From the first line of her speech — “I became horse-crazy late in life, and I do not recommend this” — Geraldine had her audience hooked. She walked guests through her entire career, from her start as a journalist to her life as a novelist to finally becoming “horse-crazy.”

Geraldine’s latest novel, Horse, is based on the true story of Lexington, one of the greatest racehorses in American history. “More than any other, [Lexington] was responsible for Kentucky’s primacy in thoroughbred breeding,” she shared. Geraldine’s book explores the complicated relationship between landowners and their grooms (the people who take care of the horses), many of whom were enslaved people. “The groom intrigued me the most,” Geraldine said. “Because I know the groom is the one that has the closest relationship with the horse.”

After her speech, Geraldine graciously signed books and answered questions posed by her adoring fans.

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

Katie Crumbo, Alice Brackenbury, Betsy Wills

Vicki Horne, Alice Rolli Anne Downs, Pam Graham

Elizabeth Papel, Laurie Seabury

Hannah Dudney, Jennifer Lee

Takara and Dylan Kelley

Karyn Frist, Marie Masterson

Goin Once, Goin Twice!

The Swan Ball Auction Party raises funds for Cheekwood

The Swan Ball Auction Party is one of the not-to-bemissed events of the spring season, and this year’s did not disappoint. Guests arrived at Belle Meade Country Club — passing one of the impressive auction items, a Cirrus Aircraft SR Series G7 — for what promised to be a heart-pounding evening filled with surprises and competition. Swan Ball Auction Party co-chairs Paula and Robert Kinard Jr. and Phyllis and David Vandewater worked with event planner Trena Bradshaw to create the ideal evening. As guests mingled, servers passed hors d’oeuvres, like mini ahi tuna tacos, Roma tomato canapés and country ham biscuits. Still heartier offerings were available in the ballroom — conveniently where the auction items and their descriptions were housed.

Swan Ball Auction co-chairs Allison DeMarcus, Allison Schaufele and Mary Jo Shankle worked diligently throughout the year to secure outstanding auction lots. This year’s auction featured 23 domestic trips, 11 international trips, 17 unique experiences and 10 fabulous treasures. Once it was time for the main event, guests made their way outside, where, under a clear tent, seats awaited those who would be bidding. There were white St. Tropez sofas accented with colorful floral pillows and tables covered in vibrant botanical prints and complementary sage-green striped linens. Dynamic auctioneer Jamie McDonald quieted the crowd, and the bidding took off.

As the evening progressed, many special lots were claimed by the eager bidders. The Kentshire vault offered a pair of dazzling emerald and diamond Art Deco earrings, which many participants vied for. Kentshire is the official 2024 Swan Ball jeweler and has made many trips from Manhattan to Nashville to support the event. Other fantastic lots included a journey to South Africa and Victoria Falls, a songwriters night with Amy Grant and friends, and much more.

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

Auction co-chairs Mary Jo Shankle, Allison DeMarcus, Allison Schaufele

Julianne and Jeff Williams

Mary Lauren Allen, Laurie Seabury, Jane MacLeod

Jon and Sally Nesbitt

Nancy Gregg, Lexi Sestak

Seenu Reddy and Meera Ballal

Owen and Amy Joyner

Ross Evans, Neel Young, Nan Evans

David and Janice Morgan, Elizabeth and David Dingess

Bob Deal, Jason Bradshaw

Pamela Brunger, Sherry Deke

Stephanie Greene, Jim and Martha Crossman, Nancy Russell, Andrew Potts

Sylvia Bradbury, Vicki Horne

Denise Cummins, Mayra and Shawn Lehman-Grimes

Lucie Carroll, Emily Humphreys

Julie Schneider, Sharon Sandahl

Larry Trabue, Carolyn Thombs, Palmer Thombs

Tori Wimberly, Ashley Rosen

Photography: Mary Deaton. Marydeatonheldman.com

TCome to My Grden

The Swan Ball Patrons Party wows before the main event

he Swan Ball Patrons Party is an annual tradition that heralds the coming of the Swan Ball. The patrons party and the ball itself help raise crucial funds to support Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. The stunning home of Kathryn and David Brown was again the setting for the highly anticipated event. As guests arrived, they met with treasured icon Bill Forrester, who welcomed each as a friend. Just through the threshold, servers waited with trays of the evening’s signature cocktail — limoncello. The refreshing drinks coordinated perfectly with the yellow tone carried through the design of the evening.

In the Browns’ dining room, charming brother-sister duo Carrie and Matthew Imberman of Kentshire — the official 2024 Swan Ball jeweler — assisted guests as they perused a stunning collection of jewelry. On the terrace, guests took in the glorious evening, enjoying hors d’oeuvres by Kristen Winston Catering as the sun began its slow descent behind the magnolia trees. Swan Ball co-chairs Sally Nesbitt and Carolyn Taylor visited with guests throughout the reception.

On the Magnolia lawn sat the dinner tent, adorned with stunning décor nodding to the Swan Ball’s theme, The Enchanted Forest. Patrons Party hosts worked with event planner Jenny Corts of Jenny Richter Events to create a unique look for the evening. Linens covered in white and yellow floral appliqués dressed the tables, and grass-green chairs beckoned guests to sit. The talk of the evening centered around both the beautifully designed green menu cards (which also featured floral appliqués) and the floral designs by The Tulip Tree. Each table featured white flower centerpieces, while lucite boxes filled with white orchids floated overhead.

Once seated, guests enjoyed a masterfully prepared dinner of jumbo lump crab cake atop a bed of greens, followed by pan-roasted Joyce Farms chicken with herb soubise. The dessert — a perfect finale for the evening — was a dark chocolate creamsicle. As supporters of Cheekwood lingered after dinner, it was clear that the evening set the tone for the beautiful Swan Ball.

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

Julie Stadler, Lisa Campbell

Ashley and John Rosen, Jane and Don MacLeod

Carrie Imberman, Matthew Imberman Grace and Carl Awh

Co-chairs Carolyn Taylor, Sally Nesbitt

Kathryn Brown, Larry and Mary Wieck

Julie Stadler, Vicki Horne, Irwin Fisher

Ashley Rosen, Kim Leeper

Richard and Sara Bovender

Anne Maradik, Nancy Cheadle, Lake Eakin

Sandy Sangervasi, Melanie Baker

David and Robin Puryear, Cathy and Clay Jackson

Larry and Sandra Lipman

Sylvia and Doug Bradbury

Put  Fresh Fce on It

Nfocus celebrates the inaugural class of Fresh Faces of Philanthropy

It was a hot Tennessee spring evening, and live tunes filled the air as guests arrived at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery to celebrate the 10 Nfocus Fresh Faces of Philanthropy presented by Amazon. The warmth outside, however, was truly incomparable to the warmth revelers and honorees felt entering the Oak Room, which was brimming with some of the most generous and kind patrons in our city. The guests of honor were nominated by the nonprofit organizations for which they volunteer, and event attendees gave them the celebration they deserve.

Conversations of altruism and hope flowed, as refreshing frozen bourbon cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres, like meatballs and Bavarian-style pretzels, circulated the room. The festive fare paired perfectly with the time-honored signature refreshments. No one went without one of Blooming Kupcakes’ floral treats, which looked almost too pretty to eat — and tasted just as great.

A must-stop of the night was the Luxe & Luna Boutique Spa photo booth. Laughter poured out as guests piled in, posing for pictures alongside their friends, all in their finest spring looks. Florals were the name of the game, and a positively stunning flower display cascading out of a vintage phonograph made the perfect backdrop for everyone’s ensembles.

About halfway through the evening, Nfocus editor-in-chief Janet Kurtz elegantly delivered a speech acknowledging the inaugural class of Fresh Faces. She also thanked sponsor Amazon for enabling Nfocus to properly spotlight and celebrate 10 young philanthropists laying the groundwork for a better community. Each honoree joined Janet onstage to highlight the brilliant organizations they support. Mary Avent, Spencer Bowers, Samantha Breske Magee, Brandon Corbin, Jill Heyman, Sean Kelly, Apphia Maxima, Adam Sansiveri, Tara Tenorio and Ethan Ward make celebrating Nashville’s emerging leaders easy.

The party’s magnetic energy continued throughout the evening, and all look forward to seeing what these up-and-coming philanthropists will continue to accomplish.

BY WANDERLUST GIRLS | EMILY BACHE & ABIGAIL BRESLIN

Maggie Bond, Carolyne Hadden

Katie Vasilopoulos, Joel Abramson, Clare Sherlog

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND AND ANGELINA CASTILLO

Amos Glass, Lucas Magee and Samantha Breske Magee, Gloria Breske, Kat Cloud

Spencer Bowers, Nancy Russell

Jamaal Sheats and Marcya Carter-Sheats, Coffi Bell Corbin and Brandon Corbin

Apphia Maxima

Sean Kelly, Chris Sofka

Adam Sansiveri, Kendall Brown, Parris and Travis Stork, Mary and Aaron Joyce

Dee Patel, Brandon Corbin, Madeline Adams, Chelon Hasty

Abbey Moncada, Heather Mullins, Maggie Warrier

Tina Doniger, Courtney Ross, Anna Myint, Margaret Harrison, Tara Tenorio

Charlie Clark, Nan Parrish, Nancy Russell

Lyndsay Hayden, Blake and Lindsay Stone, Jessica Giarratano

Ethan Ward, Philip Heil, Miranda Arstikaitis Jill Heyman, Janet Kurtz

Beth Davis, Sherry Deke, Jena Simmons, Natalie Clements, Julie Gibbons, Katie Marchetti

Charles and Valerie Avent, Mary Avent, Charles Avent Jr.

YOU for supporting our inaugural Fresh Faces of Philanthropy special issue and event reception. We were delighted to highlight ten amazing men and women in Nashville’s philanthropic community during our evening soiree at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. FOR MORE PHOTOS AND A RECAP OF OUR EVENT, VISIT NFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

Above: Courtney Ross, Amazon and Janet Kurtz Bottom center: Blooming Kupcakes

Above: Lily Thuresson, Summer Moore, Co-Founders Luxe and Luna Boutique Spa

A Pssion for Preservtion

The National Trust for Historic Preservation visits Franklin

Entertaining a group of dedicated preservationists is no small task — especially when the group is made up of National Trust for Historic Preservation members. Local preservationists recently hosted the NTHP board of directors, treating them to home tours, presentations, dinner and a panel discussion at Old Town, Tracy and Bill Frist’s historic home. The evening was a feast for the senses.

The significance of Old Town lies in its past. There is a deep connection to the land, as history whispers from each corner of the sacred space — something Bruce Pittman Inc.’s expert team honored when designing the event. As guests arrived for the evening, they walked past some of the significant structures on the property to a field of Mississippian-era ceremonial mounds (circa 950-1250). There, Charles Robinson, part of the Choctaw Nation, and his family, who also have Lakota and Blackfoot heritage, demonstrated and explained a variety of traditional Native American dances. A drum group, Eagle Nation, joined the dancers, and guests were invited to take part in a Round Dance (also called a Friendship Dance) by joining hands and moving in a ring around the drummers.

Guests then made their way to the dinner tent, where a Flavor Catering buffet offered delicious Southern favorites. Hosts Tracy and Bill took the stage, thanking everyone for supporting preservation and conservation. They then welcomed the evening’s panelists: Bari Beasley, Heritage Foundation of Williamson County CEO; Dwayne Estes, Southeastern Grasslands Institute cofounder and executive director; and Thomas Woltz, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects principal. Each speaker brought a unique perspective to the discussion, which was centered around preservation.

Bari emphasized the importance of engaging the community. “Preservation brings people together,” she said. “It is community, it is life.” Meanwhile Dwayne, known by reputation as the prairie preacher, discussed the urgent need to conserve the land. “No matter where I went across the South, 60 to 70% of all the things that need our help the most, from a conservation perspective, are open landscapes,” he said.

Thomas poignantly noted that preservation is ultimately about love. “The land is full of our collective history,” he said. “And somewhere in there, we find a way to love each other and love the land. And I think that is at the core of historic preservation in the landscape.”

BY JANET KURTZ

Charles Robinson

PHOTOGRAPHS BY COURTNEY DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Bill and Tracy Frist

Aianli Owns Different Horses

Alix with Bari Beasley

Eagle Nation drum group

Tashka Owns Different Horses

Bill Frist, Thomas Woltz, Bari Beasley, Dwayne Estes

Nanaiya Owns Different Horses

Park Center has been serving Nashville for 40 years, providing a place of hope and recovery for people seeking mental health, substance use, and homelessness support. We provide support through housing, day programs, homeless outreach, and employment services. We offer radical compassion, serve as agents of hope, and value perspective and experience.

IT IS OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR! Be a part of the 40th campaign going on now. Access QR code for more details.

Save the date for our upcoming event: CELEBRATION OF COURAGE

Wednesday • September 18, 2024 • 7:30am-9am Virgin Hotels Nashville • 1 Music Square W, Nashville

Looking for Sponsorships? QR code will take you to view all sponsorship levels. parkcenternashville.org

Zainab Suara Marries Aaron Rodriguez

ZAINAB SUARA AND Aaron Rodriguez met in June 2022 at a comedy club in Nashville. “As stage lights bathed the room in a warm glow, I found myself nestled in a cozy seat,” said Zainab. This set the scene for a night of laughter — and what Zainab calls a “serendipitous encounter” that forever changed her life.

“After the show, Aaron’s eyes met mine in a moment of shared mirth,” she said. “It was as if the entire world had faded away, leaving only the two of us in a bubble of good humor.” The pair soon realized Zainab had met Aaron’s brother Antonio nearly 10 years earlier in St. Louis. “From that night on, our lives have been a never-ending comedy routine filled with love and laughter,” she added.

Aaron proposed in May 2023 over dinner at Sinema, asking a server to bring out a platter of fresh flowers to mark the occasion. The couple married in June 2023 and then again in February 2024.

Their first wedding was a religious ceremony held at the Islamic Center of Nashville with Imam Ossama Bahloul officiating. Their Nigerian cultural wedding in February was at Casa Herdz in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, officiated by Sola Yussef and Qudrat Temitope Adesina.

As is tradition, the Nigerian bride wore a gele, an elaborate headpiece, and an ipele, a shoulder scarf. Her floor-length wrap was made of heavy fabric, ornate with designs and beading. The groom wore

a buba, a tailored shirt, with matching pants and an oversized robe with open sleeves. He topped off his look with a fila, a soft hat.

“This was a ceremony of two cultures and religions coming together as one,” said the bride. “It was great having a Nigerian ceremony honoring my culture in Puerto Rico where my husband’s family is from.”

The couple lives in Nashville, where Zainab is a psychologist and Aaron teaches history. Their parents are Rahaman and Zulfat Suara and José and Barbara Rodriguez.

BY SANDRA NELSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY KELI ART PHOTOGRAPHY

Brown’s Diner

WHETHER YOU’RE A LOCAL or a newcomer to Nashville, a burger at Brown’s Diner is a rite of passage. The famous watering hole has continuously served Nashville since its founding in 1927. At that time, the entire family-owned business — opened by Charlie Brown — operated out of a mule-drawn trolley car. Not only is Brown’s known to hold one of the oldest beer licenses in Nashville, but it is also an under-the-radar spot for musicians, music executives and locals to gather for a cold beer and some great local music.

The photo above — taken circa the 1950s — shows Charlie working with a chalkboard menu behind him. That menu was what current owner Bret Tuck used as inspiration for the new breakfast menu at Brown’s. One of only three owners in Brown’s nearly 100-year history, Bret is committed to preserving what keeps generations of Nashvillians coming back to the diner — tasty food and a great atmosphere where, like the song says, everybody knows your name.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF BROWN’S DINER