March/April 2022
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from the editor EDITORIAL Sarah Simmons, General Manager Heath Harrison, Staff Writer Mark Shaffer, Staff Writer Dawn Nolan, Contributor Mark Williams, Contributor news@tristateliving.com ADVERTISING Jess Conroy, Sales Consultant advertising@tristateliving.com PRODUCTION Kandi Thompson, Creative Director PHOTOGRAPHY Rachael Layne, Contributor Shannon Shank, Contributor Sunshine Soul Photography, Contributor
healthcare?
March/April 2022
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Couple brings handcrafted beverages to Russell
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Tri-State Living (ISSN 02795124) is published every other month by Ironton Publications, Inc., 211 Center St., Ironton, OH 45638. Periodicals postage paid at Ironton, OH. Copyright 2022 Ironton Publications, Inc. Reprint of any part of contents without permission is forbidden. Titles registered in the U.S. Patent Office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tri-State Living, P.O. Box 647, Ironton, OH 45638-0647.
Spring has finally sprung, time to clean up outside
D
affodils are beginning to push their way through the soil, preparing to flood our neighborhoods with color. Folks are starting to fire up their grills, with the aromas wafting across fences. The sounds of ice clinking in giant pitchers of iced tea and lemonade, along with the sharp pings of batting practice ring through the air. Spring has officially sprung. Most of us are ready to put the dark days of winter behind us and enjoy the return of the sun. Be it a hike around Lake Vesuvius, a paddle across Grayson Lake or camping at Beech Fork, there’s a wealth of outdoor recreation we can enjoy here in the Tri-State. Let’s make sure that while we enjoy the beauty we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by, we do our part to leave it better than we found it. If you pack it in, make sure to pack it out. Unfortunately, I’m sure many of us have come across messes left behind by others. Let’s try to lead by example in an effort to keep our outdoor areas clean and discourage future littering and dumping. If you can, participate in a clean-up day in your own community, or at your favorite recreation site. You can also contact your local solid waste authority or district to request supplies for your own clean-up. Something as simple as picking up
SARAH SIMMONS is the general manager of Ironton Publications, Inc. She is a native of Ironton and a life-long resident of the Tri-State.
litter while on a walk can make a big difference in your neighborhood. If you come across dump sites, or witness dumping and can share a license plate number, it can be reported to the following organizations: • OHIO – Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District – 740-532-1231 • KENTUCKY – Energy and Environment Cabinet – 502-564-3358 • WEST VIRGINIA – Cabell County Solid Waste Authority - cabellrecycles@gmail.com; Wayne County Solid Waste Authority – 304-272-6706
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March/April 2022 Contents
8
arts & culture 8
THE JEWEL ART GALLERY Ashland gallery helps artists shine
living 20
20
34
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Portsmouth’s Candyland Children’s Museum provides fun, learning
shopping 34
INDIGO LANE Friends provide fashion for all shapes and sizes
feature 40
THE NEST DAY SPA Russell, Kentucky spa prioritizes self-care
homes 48
THE JEWEL AIR BNB Downtown Ashland hosts new, unique stays
food 58
ERIDANUS BREWERY Couple provides handcrafted teas and brews in Russell
65
FROM THE COOKBOOK Sweet and savory skewers
in every issue
40
4
FROM THE EDITOR Spring has sprung
66
THE LAST WORD Mayor praises local growth
Helping You or a Love One
Live Life to the Fullest Tri-State LifeCare is a new home-based program that focuses on improving the quality of life for those dealing with a serious illness such as COPD, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and more. We are at your service. Call today to see how we can help you or a loved one. Visit us on Facebook for the latest information on upcoming summer festivals and events! www.facebook.com/bctcb
Boyd County Tourism & Convention Bureau
304-399-0225 | tristatelifecare.org
606-585-4770
Tri-State LifeCare is a non-hospice program of Hospice of Huntington, Inc.
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arts & culture Tri-State Living
up close Ashland, Kentucky art gallery has a mission of helping creators thrive.
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arts & culture | On Display
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On Display | arts & culture
THE STRIVE TO THRIVE Story Dawn Nolan | Photography Shannon Shank
B
ri Reynolds doesn’t agree with the “starving artist” mindset — instead she promotes the “thriving artist” outlook. And with the opening of her new downtown Ashland business, The Jewel Art Gallery, she’s aiming to change others’ perceptions as well. “We want to give artists more opportunities to be profitable,” Reynolds said. “We don’t like haggling and we don’t like the starving artist mentality. We want to change the mantra from ‘starving artist’ to ‘thriving artist.’” That’s why she, using her extensive experience in sales and marketing, is running the Jewel in a very specific way. “The way that we’re operating our art gallery really isn’t like a normal art gallery from what we’ve seen,” Reynolds said. “Ours is very highly sales-driven and I like operating that way. I think other art galleries that we’ve visited have been more focused on appreciating the art. And that’s great, and there’s a place for that, but it’s just not how I
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arts & culture | On Display
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On Display | arts & culture
wanted this gallery to be.” A Russell, Kentucky native, Reynolds has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and an aptitude for sales, often working in retail and commission-based positions. “I just felt like school was not for me,” she said. “I always wanted to be working.” She got involved in direct sales and network marketing a few years ago and it seemed like she might have found her niche. “I know some people are pretty against it, but what it did for me was it got me into the mindset of how important connections are within the sales industry as a whole and how important networking is and seeing people fulfill their worth,” Reynolds said. She was successful with it — she and her team were hitting $500,000 in sales each month — and she learned a lot about social media marketing. However, she wasn’t completely fulfilled. “I’d always wanted to be an encourager, and I wanted that to be what I was known for,” she said. “But it wasn’t quite lining up with what I was doing. It was just sales.” As her husband was starting his own small art business, and she saw how some people didn’t always appreciate his work as much as they should have, it sparked something inside her. “The whole time that’s he’s doing that [when they lived in Lexington], people were kind of haggling him on his prices, and I could see how disempowering it was to have others not value what he was creating,” Reynolds said.
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However, once they moved back home and his business grew, people would comment on the quality of his work and dedication. “They started to care about him in the community,” Reynolds said. “And we saw that people not only had a need for art, but they really wanted it. While I think we always had a desire for art in this area, there was not a way for people to get artists locally in their homes. So, we saw that there was a huge demand, but there wasn’t the opportunity for a consumer to get connected with an artist, other than at events like festivals.” She decided that she wanted to provide that opportunity
for artists and serve as an advocate and connector for them to the public. “I was like, ‘Why can we can’t we give a taste of the success that my husband has had to other artists — empower them and give them the tools with which they can be displayed, and they can be marketed, and they can make sales?’” With an established purpose in mind, Reynolds set out to buy a building for her new venture. She knew she wanted to be in downtown Russell or downtown Ashland, with a large wall for a mural and a second floor that could be used as an airbnb (see more on The Jewel Airbnb on pg. 48).
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“I knew all along that I had this very trendy bigger city environment that I wanted to bring to our small town to showcase all of this,” she said. After making a post on Facebook, Reynolds was contacted by the former owner of the building that now houses the gallery. “I looked at it the next day,” she said. “Within three days, I was within contract and my husband hadn’t even seen it. I told him that he was just going to have to trust me.” And he did. Although it needed some cosmetic renovations, since the space had previously been an office and the upstairs was being used for storage, it only took a few weeks for The Jewel to shine. The gallery’s grand opening took place in late January. When it came to branding, the couple’s youngest 14 | Tri-StateLiving
daughter, Eirena, was the inspiration. “Her middle name is Jewel and I just kept coming back to that,” Reynolds said. “When I thought about the airbnb upstairs, I thought, ‘‘How cool would it be if each of the rooms of the airbnb had a different jewel theme?’” But she didn’t want just a sentimental name. Reynolds wanted a complete concept and a solid connection between the gallery’s moniker and its mission. While she was trying to form that, she and Elias were trying to determine the theme of the mural that would be on the side of the building. But Reynolds couldn’t decide on what she wanted it to look like. Finally, after rehashing the conversation again, she blurted out, “I kind of just want it to be a pirate ship.” And as soon as she said that out loud, Reynolds knew she’d struck gold.
On Display | arts & culture
“It spoke to the mission in the way that art would be the most valuable thing that a pirate could steal,” Reynolds said. “It’s an incredibly valuable thing to purchase someone’s art and be able to invest in an artist.” About 35 artists have their work on display at The Jewel. Reynolds said “about 80 percent” are local, such as wood artist Travis Williams (@Trav_Carves on social media). The others, like Deborah Black Eagle, an artist that lives on a reservation in Montana whom Reynolds met while living in Oklahoma, are personal connections of hers. All, however, are unique and of high-quality. “We are not trying to be competitive,” Reynolds said. The artists’ mediums and themes range quite a bit. “We have John Kesling, whose work is very contemporary, and he is intuitive with his paintings and there’s a lot of symbolism. We have Pam Conley, who does a lot of work that features endangered animal species because that’s near and dear to her heart; and Bre Kort also really likes to do animal and nature scenes; and Romy Williamson, who likes to take biblical scenes and make them psychedelic; and Dr. [Tanya] Warwick, a neurologist at Kings Daughter’s does the mosaic tile pieces… I could go on,” Reynolds said. And that goes for price as well. “We have a bigger variety of price ranges. The most expensive thing we have is $2,500. The least is $15,” Reynolds said. “It’s not that it needs to be a huge investment. It’s just what can we find that can be a statement piece for someone’s
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home with a story behind it, and that they’re actually putting money back in the pocket of a local artist.” Also inside The Jewel is Conquest Books, an independent new and used bookstore owned by Talmadge Callihan and Brittany Stevens. “I love how we’re immersed and have merged together,” Reynolds said. “I think it’s very easy for us to refer back to each other, people who come in for books can look for art, people who come in for art can pick up a book on their way out.” The Coffee Doc, a mobile beverage truck, will be opening its first brick-and-mortar storefront inside the building as well, in a small space next to the gallery.
“I had this dream where I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to sit on my couch with our thriving artist sign and read a book and look at art and drink a cup of coffee,’” Reynolds said. “It’s really good for all of us to be able to be together and support each other.” The Jewel Art Gallery is located at 323 15th Street, Ashland, KY. Current business hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Phone: 606-465- 4898; Email: Bri@ thejewelartgallery.com; Website: shopthejewelartgallery. com; Facebook & Instagram: @thejewelartgallery. Find Conquest Books on Facebook: @conquestbooksky. You can also find The Coffee Doc on Facebook by searching “The Coffee Doc.” a Tri-StateLiving | 17
living | Outdoors
“I felt so helpless. Mom continued to decline, and I didn’t know what to do.” “My sister lives out of town and my brothers told me I should take care of things since I live near mom. I wanted to plan for what’s to come, but I needed help with some of the decisions. That’s when I visited The Wyngate in Proctorville. What a relief to find I’m not alone and there are professionals there to help improve the quality of mom’s life. At The Wyngate they have nurses on duty 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and they’ll monitor her health and provide appropriate levels of care for each stage she goes through. They have been an invaluable resource, and having Mom so well cared for gives me great peace of mind. I am now more happy and stress-free— as are my siblings.”
Let us help you. Call Sheila at (740) 861-9481. Rick Lee 606-584-5114 leer@lindsey.edu
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Tri-StateLiving
up close Portsmouth community creates a place for children to explore and create.
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living | Learn & Play
A place R for play
Story Dawn Nolan | Photography Rachael Layne
Museum offers year-round educational entertainment for families
ather than making the drive to Chillicothe, Columbus or Cincinnati, families in the Portsmouth area now have a place to play and learn together that is close to home. The Joanne K. Glockner Candyland Children’s Museum opened on Market Square in the Historic Boneyfiddle District on Dec. 12, 2021. “One of our goals is that parents and caregivers play alongside the kids,” museum director Megan Baum said. “It is the museum’s mission to provide a safe, year-round space to cultivate their love of learning together.” While the museum is targeted towards younger children, specifically 0-10 years of age, classes and workshops are being developed that will draw in more teens. Tri-StateLiving | 21
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Van Gogh for All | living
“Our art classes, for example, go up to age 17,” Baum said. According to Baum, the idea for the three-floor state-ofthe-art facility was dreamed up by two local moms — Kelly Babcock and Cindy Wolfe — who would often travel to other children’s museums with their families. “They were restless — unsettled — about not having something like that here in Scioto County, and they just started to dream,” Baum said. “Then, they fleshed out a business plan and a strategic vision for the future, formed a board of directors, became a nonprofit and took all these steps over the course of two years.” Eventually, Baum was brought on board. A native of Columbus, she had moved to Portsmouth about eight years earlier with her husband, Paul, for a job in youth ministry. “I’m not from here, but my I spent my childhood visiting relatives here [in Portsmouth],” she said. “At that time, I never thought I’d live here.” But the area grew on her over time, and when she was
approached about the museum director opportunity, she could see how much it could positively impact the area. And, with four children (all under seven!) of her own, she is also able to see Candyland from a parent’s perspective. “I think coming from Columbus, I grew up going to all different kinds of places and there were all sorts of things to do culturally,” Baum said. “When we had kids, I just felt like there wasn’t really a place to take them. We could go to the parks, you know, but that doesn’t work when it’s really cold or rainy. So, to have a space like this is a dream come true, and my kids love it. They wish that they could be here every day, even though they were here through the whole process of getting things up and running.” In addition to Baum, Candyland has two other fulltime staff members and a handful of part-time employees and volunteers, several of which are former elementary school teachers. “They help with field trips and eventually they’ll be doing Tri-StateLiving | 23
the programming,” Baum said. The museum is housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city. Its name, “Candyland” references the former variety store, owned by confectioner Andrew P. Loukas, that occupied the space at 202 Market Street for several decades. The Glockner family, a recognizable name in the region for their automotive dealerships, made a significant donation to the project and was given naming rights. Other funding was provided by Scioto County Commissioners, Southern Ohio Medical Center, Scioto Foundation as well as the local community. “We set a lofty goal of raising a million dollars so that we could have exhibits and operating expenses covered for a year, and while we were just short of that goal, we raised a lot because of community funding,” Baum said. “We had a fundraising event and raised $80,000 in one night because of people’s support. It’s been beautiful to see that this isn’t just something that we dreamed about, but it’s been like a
decade-long dream of parents and grandparents and other people around here to have something for children.” Candyland is comprised of six major exhibit areas (one — a cityscape highlighting different professions — was forthcoming at the time of publication) for discovery-based learning and play. On the first floor is “Let’s Go,” which focuses on transportation. “The educational piece is simple machines, and how we can use them to create movement or how they can allow us to see movement easier,” Baum said. “Kids can explore motion in different capacities, and they can do it all through play — through hands-on learning.” The area’s main features are a wind tube contraption, magnetic ball wall and a 20-foot water table with built-in pipe system, locks and dams and riverboats. (A racetrack was also in progress of being added at the time of writing.) “It’s [the water table] a big nod to our river town, and it’s Tri-StateLiving | 25
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Learn & Play | living
our most popular attraction,” Baum said. As guests head to the second floor, they’ll notice that even the stairwells of Candyland have a learning component with US and world wall maps on display. Made to resemble Shawnee State Forest, the first area of the second floor is “Let’s Perform.” It features a small stage with costumes, a reading nook and a life-size camper van. “Here, we have weekly Storytime and a program about learning letters,” Baum said. “The camper van is fun to explore, but it also serves the purpose of a ‘quiet space.’ We brought a lot of educators in, and they said we needed to have a space for kids with autism or sensory processing disorders where they can go to take a little break if they feel overwhelmed. So, we designated that piece for that purpose.” Another area on the floor, “Let’s Create,” is an arts and science room built for S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) activities, classes and workshops.
“This is where we hold our art classes, and there are building materials so kids can build towers,” Baum said. “It can also be rented out for parties after hours.” Baum described the fourth area, known as “Let’s Eat,” as “the whole farm-to-table experience.” In it, kids can play at a farm, farmers market, food truck and ice cream cart. “The educational component is healthy eating and knowing where your food comes from,” Baum said. The exhibit space on the third floor is known as “Let’s Move.” It centers on physical play and fine motor skills. It has a play area for toddlers, a climbing wall and a ninja warrior course. There are icons about health and wellness displayed throughout. “We just don’t want kids to think that being healthy is just a number on a scale,” Baum said. “It’s about being hydrated. It’s about being physically active. It’s about eating nutritious foods. It’s about doing puzzles to really encourage the importance of mental health.”
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shopping | In the Biz
30 | Tri-StateLiving
Finally, on the way out, guests can stop by the children’s bookstore, “The Shop on the Corner” to browse the books and unique toys available to purchase as souvenirs. Baum hopes that experiencing all of the museum’s different exhibits will spark children’s varied interests and encourage them to try new things. “One of the things I love is that my oldest, for example, isn’t especially drawn to sports, but that [sports] was really one of the few extracurriculars in the area,” Baum said. “So I think we’re going to draw kids that might not have had another extracurricular opportunity or to the chance to explore subjects that they might end up being passionate about.” Admission to Candyland is $10 per person. Children under a year old are free. The museum also offers a discounted “Memory Maker” admission for EBT recipients.
“One thing that we were really passionate about was that we wanted to make this as accessible for every single child in this area,” Baum said. “So, if a family shows an EBT WIC or pandemic EBT card, then they can get in for $2 per person.” Annual memberships are also available and start at $125. Candyland is a member of the Association of Children’s Museums, which offers reciprocal benefits at other facilities within the specified network. More information can be found at findachildrensmuseum.org/reciprocal-network. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday for field trips). Birthday parties, business and private event rentals are offered. Learn more about Candyland Children’s Museum at candylandmuseum.com or by calling 740-302-3803. a
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Marketplace
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shopping Tri-State Living
In the Biz | shopping
up close Indigo Lane sees success in relaunch after pandemic closure.
p. 34 Tri-StateLiving | 33
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In the Biz | shopping
Offering diverse fashion Indigo Lane perseveres through pandemic Story Mark Williams | Photography Rachael Layne
I
n business, perseverance is everything. Through tough, uncertain times, the urge to fold can be strong, but only those who fight through the hardships succeed in the end. Such is the case of Indigo Lane, the latest addition to downtown Ashland’s growing boutique scene. Originally founded in South Ashland in November of 2019 by Ashland native McKenna Wolhoy, the women’s clothing and accessories store offers a variety of Bohochic, western and modern casual styles. But in March of 2020, just five months after the store’s ribbon cutting, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person retail shopping nationwide, leaving the future of Indigo Lane in doubt. “I moved everything online and kept selling over the summer, but closing the store down was still heartbreaking,” Wolhoy said. Tri-StateLiving | 35
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Although online sales were steady, Wolhoy’s dream of a retail boutique was put on hold. Also stalled were her plans for a new beauty and cosmetics salon in downtown Ashland. “A friend and I had planned a new beauty shop in this space, but because of COVID, the State of Kentucky never gave us our permits. They kept saying the offices in Frankfort were closed and no one would respond to me.” With roadblocks at seemingly every turn, the aspiring entrepreneur became somewhat disheartened. But thanks to a spontaneous text message from an old friend in the summer of 2021, all the past adversity soon became a blessing in disguise. “I texted her and just said ‘Hey, do you still have the space downtown? Maybe we should do the boutique there?’” said Kathy Lewis, co-owner of the new Indigo Lane. “That plan was not in my head at all,” Wolhoy said. “I was still sad from the last time. I didn’t want to get hurt again. But as soon as I saw that text, I was like ‘OK, we’re doing this.’ And from that point on it was all we thought about.” The very next day, the two friends went to the empty
Winchester Avenue storefront and started planning the relaunch of Indigo Lane. With a renewed fervor, they laid out the floor plans for the shop, designed the aesthetics of the space, and started placing orders for inventory. A few short months later, in October of 2021, the new and improved Indigo Lane reopened its doors. “It was definitely one of those things, that if we stopped to think about it, we never would have done it,” Lewis said with a laugh. “If you think too much, you start going over all the bad things that can happen. But if we didn’t do it, we’d never know what could have been. And even if something bad were to happen, we wanted to be able to say that at least we tried, at least we put the work in.” Putting in the work has paid off for the pair. Now, with four months at the new location, the buzz around Indigo Lane has never been stronger. Much of the brand’s success can be attributed to the owners’ commitment to offering a variety of styles in a variety of sizes, something that is often lacking in the boutique market. “The fashion and clothing industry is not geared to Tri-StateLiving | 37
38 | Tri-StateLiving
plus-size women. Everyone uses the same type of models, and they’re photoshopped to be perfect,” Lewis said. “To find nice, unique plus-size clothing, you’ll be searching, and often, the plus-size options will look completely different than the smaller sizes. We’ve had several people thank us for our selection, and even a few who have thanked us for using plus-size models.” “That was the basis of what we wanted as a brand,” Wolhoy adds. “Everything for everybody. We wanted to represent everyone, not just a certain person or body type or style.” This commitment to fashion diversity keeps a wide variety of shoppers browsing the racks at Indigo Lane, and the city of Ashland’s commitment to revamping downtown keeps plenty of foot traffic flowing. “It’s a lot different than it used to be. The city has done a lot for downtown and downtown businesses. There are so many events now in the spring, summer and fall. And Small Business Saturday. Our store was packed that day, something I didn’t think would ever be possible. Visit Ashalnd and
lots of other people worked really hard to get that going, and it’s going to be even better this year. Plus there’s more coffee shops opening, more restaurants opening. It’s all very exciting.” After the initial experience, many business owners would have shuttered the doors and never looked back. Not Wolhoy and Lewis. Together, these women have powered through adversity. Fueled by determination and supported by friends, family and other women business owners in the Ashland area, Indigo Lane has relaunched into success. With expansion on the horizon, the coming years look bigger and better than ever. “If you have a gut feeling, do it.” said Lewis emphatically. “You have to support each other and lift each other up on the bad days.” “Women support women.” adds Wolhoy. “And you just can’t give up. There’s always going to be stress, constantly. You’re going to feel like you could just give up and it would be easier, but you have to push through it and believe in yourself more than anything.” a
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feature | The Nest
SELF-CARE
Retreat.6
Russell day spa helps locals prioritize comfort, rejuvenation
40 | Tri-StateLiving
The Nest | feature
Story Mark Williams | Photography Rachael Layne
T
he world today is ripe with strife and stress. From the ongoing COVID pandemic and threats of war abroad to our collective struggles to make ends meet, there is seemingly no escape from the demanding pressures of the daily grind. In tough times like these, self-care rarely ends up on our to-do list. However, one new business in the Tri-State wants to change that. “It is incredibly important for people to take care of themselves,” says Jordan Hall, manager at The Nest, a new full service day spa located in the burgeoning heart of downtown Russell, Kentucky. “I tell people all the time, I don’t care what you’re doing, one day out of the month, come get a massage. Come get a facial. Do something for yourself, and look forward to that day. You can do for others all you want, but if you’re not really taking care of yourself in the process, you’re not really giving them the best you.” Housed in a fully renovated and transformed 100-year-old bank, The Nest is a much-needed escape from the chaotic outside world. Offering treatments like couples massages, mud and seaweed wraps, hot stone massages, a variety of facials and Halotherapy (a unique form of salt therapy), the one-stop day spa is built on the ideas of comfort and rejuvenation. Cushy lounge couches line the Relaxation Room, where guests can have a light snack and drink before starting their chosen treatments. Ambient music gently echoes down the
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The Nest | feature
hall to the Tub Room, where two heated Hydrotherapy tubs equipped with 42 jets and aromatherapy pods await. The Nest also features medical services like Botox and medical grade facials, making it the only full service day and medical spa in the TriState area. Before The Nest, many seeking these kinds of services were forced to travel outside the area to places like Lexington and Columbus. Building The Nest in the Tri-State was paramount to the founders. “I’m from Russell, born and raised, as is the owner, Tracy Frye,” Hall says. “This is our hometown. And we wanted to do this here, to be part of the revitalization that is happening. I went away for around eight years, working in spas throughout Kentucky, and through those different experiences, I think we found what works in spas and what doesn’t. We probably could have opened a place somewhere like Lexington or Louisville, but we didn’t want to. We wanted to do it here, and to be part of our own hometown community.” A licensed and practicing massage therapist for over 13 years, Hall was running her own private practice in the area when owner Tracy Frye approached her with a concept. “Tracy’s mom would make her a nest out of blankets and pillows on the couch when she wasn’t feeling well,” Hall says with a smile. “It was the safest, warmest place, a place where she felt comfort. And it came to her, that this is the feeling she wanted to give to others.” Together, Hall and Frye ran with the idea. Only seven months later, in the summer of 2021, The Nest officially opened its doors. Now staffed with over a dozen
Photo by Mark Williams
Tri-StateLiving | 43
homes | Showcase
The Nest | feature
Tri-StateLiving | 45
employees, including nurse practitioner Erin Quillen and lead esthetician Sabrina Wells, The Nest is constantly booked with clients from all over the area and beyond. The reception has been positive, to say the least. “I think we hit the perfect storm,” Hall says. “We opened this place at the exact right time. A time when so many people have been thinking about doing that self-care that they’ve been missing for the last two years. And the community response has been amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. The support has been incredible. We’ve been welcomed with open arms.” Quite ironically, The Nest’s founders aren’t ones to rest on their success. Driven by high demand and the support of the community, The Nest now has expansion plans.
46 | Tri-StateLiving
“We’ll soon be adding 2,600 square feet to the facility,” Hall says. “We plan on adding 10 new rooms, a cute little outdoor courtyard with twinkly lights, it’s going to be really cool. In all, it will be a 5,600 square foot day and med spa. We’ve outgrown our current facility really fast, which is honestly the best problem to ever have.” Though the facilities may be growing, don’t expect The Nest to sacrifice any of its serene ambiance or homegrown intimacy. “We pride ourselves on quality over quantity. The last thing you want to feel at a spa is rushed. We want it to be more personable. We want to have relationships with our clients. No matter what, it will always feel homey, the way a nest should feel.” a
homes Tri-StateLiving
up close Downtown Ashland Airbnb offers jewel-themed retreat.
p. 48
homes | Showcase
48 | Tri-StateLiving
Showcase | homes
Sparkling.3 SURROUNDINGS The Jewel Airbnb has gem-themed atmosphere Story Dawn Nolan | Photography Sunshine Soul Photography
P
art of Bri Reynold’s vision when she purchased a building from the 1890s in downtown Ashland was to create an Airbnb on the second floor to coincide with her new business, The Jewel Art Gallery (see story on pg. 8). She spent approximately four to six weeks renovating each floor — painting, replacing flooring, changing ceiling tiles, decorating —to make the former office shine. “Someone had to have a vision for it to make it into a really nice space,” she said. Sticking with the jewel theme (inspired by her youngest daughter Eirena’s middle name), she planned to give each of the bedrooms a specific ornamental motif.
“I thought, ‘how cool would it be if the Airbnb was also The Jewel, and then each of the rooms had a different gemstone type theme — like what if one was the Diamond Room, and one was the Gold Room, and one was the Rose Gold Room, and one was the Black Onyx Room?’ It was then that it all started coming together in my head,” Reynolds said. Reynolds began taking reservations for the Airbnb in November, while the art gallery officially opened in January. “We did the Airbnb first, hoping that it could be rented and that we would be able to recoup some of our money at that point,” Reynolds said. The space, which can accommodate up to nine
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homes | Showcase
50 | Tri-StateLiving
guests, features four bedrooms; one bathroom — complete with Paul Mitchell products (“They’re nice to have,” Reynolds said.) — a living room with small desk area; kitchen equipped with refrigerator, coffee maker, dishwasher and toaster oven and a separate area with a washer and dryer. “That’s a big reason that we have had so many people staying longterm — because we have laundry in-house,” Reynolds said. “We tried to think of it as, if we’re staying somewhere, what would we like in terms of amenities.” It’s convenient downtown
location, near restaurants and shops, the Paramount Arts Center and King’s Daughters Medical Center, is another draw. “Because of our location near the hospital, we’ve gotten several travel nurses that have booked stays,” Reynolds said. “We’ve also noticed that we get quite a few last minute bookings from people that decide to spend the weekend in the area.” The master suite, known as the Diamond Room, is Reynold’s favorite. It features blue velvet curtains, a chandelier, dresser, television, fireplace (nonworking) and bedside table with a small fan.
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homes | Showcase
52 | Tri-StateLiving
There is also a piece of artwork by Thea Cline. “All of the rooms have really cool light fixtures and bedside fans on the nightstand because we’re personally the type of people that can’t sleep without that,” Reynolds said. “We have a really cool chandelier in there, and this headboard that I actually found at an estate sale and had a friend repurpose to make it very nice and pretty. It’s all about the little details.” Reynolds describes the Gold Room as having an “almost Parisian” feel. It features Hotel Collection bedding, chandelier, bedside table with a lamp and small fan. “Everything in the room is either gold or beige, even the curtains. We renovated everything — even the ceiling tiles because they were sort of like those office ceiling tiles before. We got them to where they look like drop ceilings because we wanted it to not necessarily have a big city
aesthetic to it, but just a nice, clean aesthetic.” The Rose Gold Room, with its blush curtains, marble table, “Bouquet” painting by Lorna Rose and floral headboard has a softer feel. “I actually had a friend redo an old bedroom set for me,” Reynolds said. “Any time we could support someone locally when purchasing and decorating we tried to do that.” Of course, since the Airbnb is above the gallery, it only makes sense to include a local art element. Some of the displayed pieces are for sale, like the abstract painting called “Expressionism July 2021” by Scott Kearns in the Black Onyx Room. “A guest can scan the QR code, pay for it via Venmo and literally take it with them when they check out,” Reynolds said. Others pieces, such as the “North Rim Overlook”
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Showcase | homes
painting by John Kesling that is hanging in the entryway, are not for sale, though they do have contact cards in case a guest is particularly interested in the artist’s style. “They can contact me, and then I’ll connect with the artist to see if they can make something similar,” Reynolds said. And, of course, guests are encouraged to visit the gallery during their stay. “All of the artists that are upstairs are also downstairs,” Reynolds said. “So, our hope is that maybe seeing the items in the airbnb will peak their interest to come downstairs and see what else is available.” The cost per night at the Airbnb averages around $250 with a discount for weekly or monthly stays. To see the listing and to make a reservation, visit www.airbnb. com/rooms/53939328 or look for “Renovated 4 bedroom interactive art gallery apt” when searching the Airbnb website for accommodations in Ashland, Kentucky. a Tri-StateLiving | 55
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Students create blessing boxes
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L
High School ast week, Rock Hill into its inducted new members Honor chapter of the National focused Society and the ceremony exemplified the four on how the members leadership, character pillars of scholarship, and service. could be seen in a And the fourth pillar the was on display by recent project that two new blessing boxes entrance — one of district. created for the school said the service project Principle Sam Gue Miller, who serves Camryn by ed was spearhead Society, is the school’s as treasurer of Honor summa g graduatin be will class president and
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Farmers Market opens Saturday First 100 shoppers get free reusable bag Staff Report Market will begin The Ironton Farmers Saturday and the its eighth season this get a gift. first 100 customers will we have a sup“For the grand opening, bags for the first ply of reusable market Sam Heighton, the 1000 attending,” said executive directhe and market manager which puts on the tor of Ironton aLive, “We have added Ironton Farmers Market. our great permasome new vendors and to see their many nent vendors are anxious new ones.” customers and welcome
of Rock Hill High School’s Camryn Miller, the treasurer Society, stands with one Honor chapter of the National group created for the school of two blessing boxes the | Heath Harrison) district. (The Ironton Tribune
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Tri-StateLiving
food
up close Husband and wife brewing team serve up tea and taps in Russell, Kentucky.
p. 58
food | In the Kitchen
DIFFERENT TASTES ON TAP Eridanus Brewing offers tea, alcohol in Russell Story Dawn Nolan | Photography Shannon Shank
J
ustin and Kristen Matthews are both brewers — just not in the same way. Justin is the beer guy, while Kristen’s specialty is teas. But together, the husband and wife team have opened Eridanus Brewing, a unique combination tea and tap house in a historic train depot in Russell, Kentucky. “I was just thinking one day, and I said to Justin, ‘How funny is it that we’re both brewers? You brew beer, and I brew tea. What do you think about us combining the two things?’” “There are very few places that call themselves tea houses in the United States. How cool would it be to be a tea AND tap house? Because it’s unfortunate if you’re not someone who likes alcohol or beer, and you go to a space, and you’re left with drinking either sweet tea or soda,” Kristen said. “I thought it would be cool to have a handcrafted beverage that was special no matter what you chose. So, everything we pour and every menu item that we have is all handcrafted.”
58 | Tri-StateLiving
Kristen is a native of Ashland, Kentucky. She has a marketing background and had been helping at Dragonfly Outdoor Adventures and Dragonfly Outdoor Cafe, her parents’ business, prior to opening Eridanus. She’s a certified yoga teacher and has had a lifelong interest in holistic remedies, selling her line of herbal products — branded as Appalachian Folkology — locally and on Etsy. Justin, a Bluefield, West Virginia native, works at the Center for Business and Economic Research at Marshall University, his and Kristen’s alma mater. He had been homebrewing for more than a decade before he and Kristen opened Eridanus. While he had dreamed of opening a brewery for a long time, and had even been doing the groundwork of making
a business plan, it wasn’t until the couple took a trip to Arizona for Justin’s 40th birthday in March 2020 that they decided to go all in on the idea after having what Justin described as “kind of a weird experience.” “We went to one of the crystal-like, yogi-type shops, and the lady there came out of nowhere and approached me,” he said. And she said, ‘You’re planning something that’s huge, and it’s going to change your life. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it.’” For Justin, that was a, albeit random, sign. “I was like, ‘OK, the universe is telling me to do this,’” he said. “It gave him that extra push I couldn’t, and it really was like a pivotal turning point,” Kristen added.
Back home, the couple got to work. They came up with the name Eridanus — pronounced “Err-rid-in-us” — while doing some internet research. “It’s a constellation that represents a river, and it just kind of spoke to us,” Justin said. Originally, Justin and Kristen were planning on opening their business near Dragonfly Outdoor Adventures in Greenup, Kentucky. “It was our dream location,” Kristen said. “We wanted a riverside brewery after we visited one in Florida, and it sparked something in us.” While that ultimately didn’t work out due to alcohol laws (“the line stopped about a mile before Dragonfly,” Kristen said.) they still liked the river connection.
Tri-StateLiving | 59
“We thought, ‘Well, we might not be on the Little Sandy River, but the Ohio River is just a stone’s throw away.’ And the river has been such an important part of the area. It’s built communities, it’s built economies, it’s built businesses and it’s helped people’s dreams come true,” Justin said. While they were contemplating how to pivot and find a new spot, Kristen helped her parents with a catering job for local Russell business owner Sarah Gabbard. “I got to talking with her, and I told her that my husband and I were wanting to start a brewery,” Kristen said. “She said ‘Your vision, and what you’re talking about doing is exactly what we want for downtown.’” Rather than the conversation being a one-off, Gabbard set up a meeting for the couple to meet with the Russell Mayor, Samuel R. Simpson. “It was a very good meeting,” Justin said. “We walked away, and about a day and a half later the mayor called me.” 60 | Tri-StateLiving
He wanted to know if the couple would be interested in leasing the old Russell train depot on Ferry Street. “Little did he know that Kristen and I had driven through Russell, and we had commented that that building would be such a cool little brewery,” Justin said. Once they toured it, they knew immediately that they had found the future home of Eridanus Brewing. “We realized it, both Kristen and I, without saying it to each other,” Justin said. However, they still had to get approval from Russell City Council, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky Heritage Council because the structure was a historic building and located next to the train track. While it was not a quick process, they were successful. Eridanus Brewing held its grand opening on Jan. 22, 2022. “I think the city and the state agencies saw this building and its potential for a whole new purpose,” Justin said.
In the Kitchen | food As did a lot of people. In fact, Eridanus was the talk of the town way before its official opening. “We actually got a comment from an individual who said that it’s cool that this building is now turning back into a gathering place like it had once been. We have stories from people that said that back in the day they used to take the train to Cincinnati from the depot and CSX workers that had spent the night here,” Justin said. “The underlying theme of the building has not changed, it’s still a gathering place. It’s still community-oriented.” Being a historic building, Justin and Kristen were limited on the renovations they could make for the brewery. However, they’ve been able to make the space their own while also keeping the past intact. [Writer’s suggestion: ask about the window with the bullet hole and the original safe that is on display.] “We wanted a place with character, and this has it,” Justin said. “We really love history, and we are paying our respects to the train.” At Eridanus, customers can choose from five different regional beers on tap or opt for a flight to sample the brewery’s own limited creations. “We have plans and recipes lined up for a couple of anchor beers,” Justin said. “One will be a red ale and the other will be a blonde ale. We will rotate seasonal stuff, and we’ll keep some guest beers on tap.” Helping Justin is assistant brewer Chris Matney. “They [Justin and Kristen] have worked so hard, day after day, to bring all of this to life, and they’re very deserving,” Chris said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
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food | In From thethe Kitchen Cookbook Chris is in the refinery business, and his wife, Wendy Matney, co-owns Elizabeth and Company Floral Design Studio right down the street from the brewery. “We met at a Revitalize Russell meeting just started talking beer,” Justin said. “We became beer buddies, we became friends and now you know, Chris is our assistant brewer and my closest friend in the area.” However, there is another piece to that story that is a little bittersweet. “When Justin decided to jump all in on this brewery, my uncle [Tony Mosser] was retiring, and he planned for this to be his retirement job. Unfortunately, he passed away in July, but he was going to be Justin’s assistant brewer,” Kristen said. “So, when that happened we were both a little devastated, but Chris just came in and has been so supportive. He has literally bent over backwards and done anything and everything he can. And it didn’t feel like he was taking a spot away that was meant to be somebody else’s. It really felt like he became part of our family and filled a void. That was really special.” Neither Justin nor Chris consider themselves “professional brewers,” but they take the process very seriously, even making the decision to go back to college and enroll in a fermentation science program. “We’ve learned a lot through trial and error over the years,” Justin said. “Now, we’re just putting our skill sets together, trying to make good beer and have a blast while doing it.” Along with the beers, there is wine, 62 | Tri-StateLiving
a house-made sangria, a rotating wine punch slush and a specialty cocktail of the month. And tea drinkers have their pick of black, green or several herbal blends. “Black and green are our base teas, and then we have six different blends,” Kristen said. “We can also custom blend for people when they come in. The herbal teas have different medicinal properties and help with different ailments, so they aren’t only brewed for taste, but they’re brewed for health benefits. That went along with our concept because we want to be in and play a part in making a healthier community. Having a healthy lifestyle and heathy living is really important to us.” Offering a family-friendly atmosphere is another thing that is important to Justin and Kristen, who are also parents. “When people would say that we were opening a bar, we would tell them we weren’t opening a bar, we were opening up a brewery,” Justin said. “Our goal from the get-go has been very family-friendly. If you go to larger cities and you visit a brewery, the first thing you see is a group of adults having some beverages and hanging out with their kids alongside them. They’re eating, you know, pizza from the from the kitchen or they’re drinking, playing games and
hanging out. So it kind of just seemed that our status is a family friendly place because you can come to the brewery if you don’t want to touch a drop of beer. There’s plenty of options for you. And it doesn’t matter how old your kids are, you can bring them here, and it’s a safe place.” Other non-alcoholic beverages available at Eridanus include coffee, espresso, lattes and hot chocolate. A housemade root beer is also in the works. “There are plenty of options,” Justin said. And if you’re hungry, small bites, such as soft pretzels and beer, smoked trout dip and crackers and roasted garlic hummus and veggies are available all day, and sharable charcuterie boards (small or large) are available between 2-4 p.m. and after 7 p.m. Lunch and dinner are provided by Dragonfly Outdoor Cafe. Lunch choices range from a Fried Green Tomato BLT to fish tacos to a Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese. Dinner options are personal pan pizza, crispy avocado bites, fried deviled eggs and crispy German meatballs. “My mom handcrafts every single food item that comes out of the food truck, so it fell in line with our plan,” Kristen said. “It also allows us to focus on the tea and beer and not Tri-StateLiving | 63
food | In the Kitchen
an extensive food menu.” “You know what they say, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ And Dragonfly has phenomenal food and a large following,” Justin added. “They just lacked space for indoor dining, but now, people can bring their food inside and enjoy it here.” Although it took about a year and a half from when they first looked at the building to the brewery’s grand opening, Justin and Kristen have made their dream a reality, and they are very grateful. “We’ve hit some roadblocks along the way, but we’ve kept pushing through, and that’s the thing that I am most proud of,” Justin said. “It’s just crazy how it has transpired — the doors that have been opened and the people that have come into our lives. Being in this amazing community that has embraced us since day one has been unreal, and we couldn’t have done this without everyone being behind us.” Eridanus Brewing is located at 501 Ferry Street in Russell, Kentucky. Current hours of operation are Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. You can contact them at 606388-2326, www.eridanusbrewing. com or on Instagram and Facebook: @eridanusbrewing. a
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From the Cookbook | food
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Thai Chicken & Pork Skewers • 1 tablespoon minced ginger • 6 cloves garlic, crushed • 2 cups creamy peanut butter • 1 cup chicken broth • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce • 1 tablespoon chili oil • 1/2 tablespoon lime juice • 2 tablespoons honey • 2 tablespoons cilantro • Salt and pepper • 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast • 1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin In mixing bowl, combine ginger, garlic, peanut butter, broth, soy sauce, chili oil, lime juice, honey
and cilantro. Mix well and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cut chicken and pork into strips and thread onto skewers. In non-metal container, marinate meat in half of peanut butter sauce 1-2 hours in refrigerator. Reserve remaining sauce for dipping. Heat oven to broil. Broil skewered meats until done, turning once. In pot, bring remaining sauce to boil and serve warm as dipping sauce. Recipe courtesy of the Georgia Peanut Commission.
HIMGWV.COM (304) 399-2200 | 5170 US ROUTE 60 E Tri-StateLiving | 65
the last word
Hope shines again T
he last year while other communities and cities across our country have been struggling, the City of Russell has found a way to spread hope during these trying times of budget cuts and economic setbacks. We welcomed 29 new businesses to the City of Russell in 2021 and have more planned to open in 2022. Instead of despair, we decided to revitalize our community by seeking out and encouraging new small businesses to open and by revitalizing the heart of our city in downtown Russell. Working with the council, we have managed to make difficult budget cuts to create a balanced budget after suffering a significant loss in payroll taxes after our beloved Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital was shut down. Our city employees have worked harder than ever and have foregone pay raises over the last four years. We have still managed to raise money to continue to provide excellent fire service to our city and the surrounding area. We just ordered new police cruisers and are actively hiring new law enforcement officers to police our city. With grant funding, we are improving our water and sewer systems. We have had free community events organized by Revitalize Russell, a non-profit organization that was formed to raise money for beautification and economic development here in our City. Halloweentown and Hometown Christmas 66 | Tri-StateLiving
Ron Simpson has served as the mayor of Russell, Kentucky since 2019 after serving on city council for several years.
brought thousands of people downtown to celebrate the holidays together and you could feel the enthusiasm and hope created by sharing our small town values and history together. In short, while times are certainly tough, the state of our city is good — and I look forward to this year bringing more prosperity and hope for our community. May God bless all of us as we seek to serve the community in which we live.
Press Room Recordings features original music and unique interpretations from local and regional artists presented live for the PRR cameras. Contact maclean.james@irontontribune.com to get involved.
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