tnconnections Summer 2011
An Official Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System
tnconnections.com
Culinary Herbal Heights A beginner’s launch to the big flavor of fresh herbs
Just Like Grandma’s
Front Porch restaurant in Dickson serves gourmet Southern cuisine
Recreation and Relaxation
A weekend in Mt. Juliet calls for shopping, dining and outdoor fun
tn almanac
Travel, tips and tidbits at a glance Macaws, Monkeys and More If it’s been a while since you visited the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, it’s time to rediscover the cultural gem. The zoo celebrated its first baby giraffe birth in November 2010 when Margarita, one of the zoo’s resident Masai giraffes, delivered a 165-pound female calf. Also in 2010, the zoo opened Flamingo Lagoon, which is home to 30 bright coral-colored Caribbean flamingos in a 15,000-square-foot oasis of lush greens, waterways and a bridge visitors can walk over. Other Nashville Zoo attractions include the Hyacinth Macaw Habitat, home to an endangered member of the parrot family; Gibbon Islands, a habitat for a pair of white-cheeked gibbons and a pair of siamangs; and the Unseen New World, where you can get up close and personal with 75 species of reptiles, amphibians, insects, mammals and birds. To learn more, visit www.nashvillezoo.org.
Bottoms Up You don’t have to be a whiskey connoisseur to enjoy a trip to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg. History-lovers and tourists alike can appreciate a guided tour of the famous distillery, which many people believe turns out the best whiskey in the world. The distillery tour includes 18 interesting stops spanning 9 acres of Jack Daniel’s Hollow. Among other things, you’ll get to see Jack’s Office, where Mr. Jack conducted business; the 1938 Barrel House, which stores just over 6,000 barrels of whiskey; and the Cave Spring, the source of the pure, iron-free water that goes into Jack Daniel’s Whiskey. The distillery was licensed in 1866 and is the oldest registered distillery in the United States. While you’re in Lynchburg, stop by other attractions such as lunch at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House. Check out the distillery’s virtual tour at www.jackdaniels.com.
Something to Moo About Calling all ice cream fans! Mark your calendar for the fourth annual National Moofest Dairy Festival in Athens June 4-5. Moofest exists to increase the public’s awareness about the importance of dairy. The family-friendly celebration features a homemade ice cream contest, dairy recipe contest, live music, food vendors, a 5K race, inflatable jumpers, a petting zoo and lots of activities. Athens is also home to Mayfield Dairy Farms Inc., which offers guided plant tours so visitors can see how milk and ice cream are produced. Moofest takes place around the courthouse square in downtown Athens. For details, visit www.nationalmoofest.com.
contents
tnconnections Summer 2011 Edition Managing Editor Jessy Yancey Contributing Writers Dr. Sue Hamilton, Roben Mounger, Jessica Mozo Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Senior Graphic Designers Janine Maryland, Vikki Williams Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinators Blair Thomas, Jessica Walker Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Sr. V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester V.P./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim Holmberg V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens Controller Chris Dudley Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division Tori Hughes Integrated Media Manager Robin Robertson Distribution Director Gary Smith Office Manager Shelly Miller Receptionist Linda Bishop Tennessee Connections is published quarterly by Journal Communications Inc. for participating members of the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. TMEPA represents 61 municipal power distributors in Tennessee, which serve more than 2 million customers. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067. Phone: 615-771-0080.E-mail: info@jnlcom.com. For information about TMEPA, contact: Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association Paddock 1, Suite C-13, 229 Ward Circle Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone 615-373-5738, Fax 615-373-1901 tmepa.org
4 Features 4 Weekend in Mt. Juliet
A 36-hour tour of western Wilson County calls for shopping, dining and outdoor recreation
Executive Director Mike Vinson
9 Veggie Tales ©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc. and Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. ON THE COVER: Old Hickory Lake at Shutes Branch Recreation Area in Mt. Juliet Photo by Jeff Adkins
10 Just Like Grandma’s
tnconnections Digital Magazine Summer 2011
An Official Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System
tnconnections.com
Culinary Herbal Heights A beginner’s launch to the big flavor of fresh herbs
Just Like Grandma’s
Front Porch restaurant in Dickson serves gourmet Southern cuisine
Recreation and Relaxation
Flip through the pages of the magazine without leaving your laptop. Print and e-mail articles and instantly link to advertisers.
Front Porch restaurant in Dickson serves gourmet Southern cuisine
12 Culinary Herbal Heights
tnconnections.com
Four healthy benefits of eating garden-fresh produce
A beginner’s launch to the big flavor of fresh herbs
Departments 2 Municipal Power Perspective 3 Tennessee in Focus 14 Summer Activities in Tennessee 17 Connect to Tennessee Products
A weekend in Mt. Juliet calls for shopping, dining and outdoor fun
Summer 2011
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municipal power perspective
Membership
Move Over, Tennessee New law requires drivers to move over to keep utility workers safe Mike Vinson Executive Director Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association
Your electric utility is charged with providing quality electric service at all times, including inclement weather, night and day, and yes, they work on weekends and holidays. These dedicated servants of public power routinely perform maintenance of facilities and often work long hours to get the power back on as quickly as possible should it be interrupted for any reason. It certainly isn’t unusual to see utility vehicles parked on the side of the road and the employees working on poles and lines. Their safety is of paramount concern, and this year a law was passed that will make it a little safer for all utility operations workers. On April 5, 2011, Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law SB1497/HB1654, which takes effect on July 1, 2011. This bill amended Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-132, and says in part: “Upon approaching a stationary recovery vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle or utility service vehicle when the vehicle is giving a signal by use of authorized flashing lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall: (1) Proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary recovery vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle or utility service 2
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vehicle if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four (4) lanes with no less than two (2) lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; …‘Utility’ means any person, municipality, county, metropolitan government, electric cooperative, telephone cooperative, board, commission, district or any entity created or authorized by public act, private act or general law to provide electricity, natural gas, water, waste water services, telephone services or any combination thereof for sale to consumers in any particular service area.” In other words: Move over, Tennessee, for ALL utility vehicles – it’s the law. To repeat that one more time, the “Move Over” law is a part of the “Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles” law, which requires motorists to move over into the adjacent lane of traffic when safe to do so or alternatively to slow down for emergency vehicles and now utility vehicles. The penalties for violating the “Move Over” law in Tennessee are fines from $100 to $500 for the first offense and up to $1,000 for a third or more violation. The possibility of serving time in jail is also part of the law. Our sincere thanks go out to our friends at TECA for introducing this legislation and to the members of the general assembly and the governor making it safer for our utility workers to serve the citizens of Tennessee. Our thanks to each of you when you “Move Over.”
Alcoa Electric Department Athens Utilities Board Benton County Electric System Bolivar Energy Authority Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Brownsville Utility Department Carroll County Electrical Department Electric Power Board of Chattanooga CDE Lightband – Clarksville Cleveland Utilities Clinton Utilities Board Columbia Power & Water System Cookeville Department of Electricity Covington Electric System Dayton Electric Department Dickson Electric System Dyersburg Electric System Elizabethton Electric Department Erwin Utilities Etowah Utilities Department Gallatin Department of Electricity Greeneville Light & Power System Harriman Utility Board Humboldt Utilities Jackson Energy Authority Jellico Electric & Water Systems Johnson City Power Board Knoxville Utilities Board LaFollette Utilities Lawrenceburg Utility Systems Lenoir City Utilities Board Lewisburg Electric System Lexington Electric System Loudon Utilities City of Maryville Electric Department McMinnville Electric System Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division Milan Department of Public Utilities Morristown Utility Systems Mount Pleasant Power System Murfreesboro Electric Department Nashville Electric Service Newbern Electric Department Newport Utilities City of Oak Ridge Electric Department Paris Board of Public Utilities Pulaski Electric System Ripley Power and Light Company Rockwood Electric Utility Sevier County Electric System Shelbyville Power System Smithville Electric System Sparta Electric System Springfield Electric Department Sweetwater Utilities Board Trenton Light & Water Department Tullahoma Utilities Board Union City Electric System Weakley County Municipal Electric System Winchester Utilities
Tennessee Connections
tn in focus
Staff Photo
Sunrise illuminates a horse farm in Christiana. Summer 2011
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cover story
Weekend
photo by brian mccord
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Tennessee Connections
in Mt. Juliet A 36-hour tour of western Wilson County calls for shopping, dining and outdoor recreation
story by Jessica Mozo
I
t may be less than a 30-minute drive from Music City‚ but Mt. Juliet certainly isn’t Nashville – and it doesn’t want to be. This town and the surrounding county are a haven for visitors wanting to escape big-city traffic jams and rediscover the charms of small-town America. Diners serve up home cooking with a generous dose of Southern hospitality‚ and although progressive new developments continue to pop up‚ much of the area’s landscape remains pristine and natural. The community’s rapid growth is a testimony to its widespread appeal – Mt. Juliet’s population grew from 5‚000 in 1990 to more than 23‚000 in 2009. Come for a weekend and see what all the fuss is about. Here are a few suggestions for a whirlwind weekend exploration. As always, please call ahead before traveling long distances.
Restaurant (4066 North Mt. Juliet Road, 615-754-7548), a down-home Southern meat-and-three. Fried chicken‚ mashed potatoes‚ chicken and dressing‚ barbecued ribs‚ homemade meatloaf and country vegetables are just a few dishes that have earned Courtney’s a loyal customer base in Mt. Juliet and beyond. The restaurant features live music on Thursday and Friday evenings.
7 p.m.
Head for the Mt. Juliet train station (22 East Division St.) and board the Music City Star commuter train to Nashville‚ departing at 7 p.m. Enjoy the 30-minute ride and take a stroll along Nashville’s riverfront‚ or have a cocktail and dinner at one of the restaurants along Second Avenue. Catch the return train at 10:57 p.m. One-way tickets can be purchased
Friday 5 p.m.
Have dinner at one of Mt. Juliet’s many meat-and-threes before boarding the Music City Star train for a night in Nashville. Summer 2011
Todd Bennett
Get your fill of comfort food with dinner at Courtney’s Family
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at station vending machines for $5.
Saturday 8 a.m.
Enjoy a cup of fresh-roasted coffee and a breakfast sandwich or bakery treat at The Coffee House Cafe (2320 North Mt. Juliet Road, 615-758-2050). Then take a stroll on the walking trail at Charlie Daniels Park (1100 Charlie Daniels Parkway) while the kids play on the enormous Planet Playground. Also at the park are tennis, volleyball and basketball courts‚ football fields and four covered pavilions.
11 a.m.
Grab a light lunch at Creative Accents & Scarlett’s Garden Tea Room (12192 Lebanon Road, 615-773-5513). The quaint eatery features sandwiches, salads, soups and a tasty cornbread salad, in addition to a selection of loose-leaf teas. Be sure to save time to browse for accessories in their home décor shop.
1 p.m.
A number of recreation areas along Old Hickory Lake are located in the Mt. Juliet area, including Shutes Branch (615-754-4847), known for fishing, and Cedar Creek (615-754-4947), which has swimming and a playground. Or, take the family to Cedar Creek Sports Center (10770 Lebanon Road, 615-754-2744) for putt-putt golf‚ bumper boats and batting cages. If you prefer to play a full 18 holes, check out Pine Creek Golf Course (1835 Logue Road, 615-449-7272).
3 p.m.
Shop or catch a movie at Providence Marketplace‚ a 103-acre mixed-use development that offers popular stores such as J.C. Penney‚ Target‚ T.J. Maxx and Bath & Body Works as well as a movie theater. Have dinner at one of its many eateries – Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina offers outdoor seating.
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8 p.m.
Cedar Creek Sports Center
Relax and listen to live music at Billy Goat Coffee Café (3690 N. Mt. Juliet Rd., 615-553-4371)‚ also located at Providence Marketplace. Sip on a specialty coffee or indulge in dessert while soaking up the tunes. Bring your laptop and take advantage of Billy Goat’s free Wi-Fi.
Sunday 8 a.m.
Feast on a country breakfast of eggs and pancakes at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (350 S. Mt. Juliet Road)‚ which was founded in nearby Lebanon and now has 560 locations in 41 states.
10 a.m.
Walk the two-mile Nature Loop Trail at Long Hunter State Park (2910 Hobson Pike‚ Hermitage, 615-885-2422). The hard-surfaced trail circles Couchville Lake and features interpretive signage depicting plants‚ trees and animals. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for wild deer‚ turkey‚ rabbits‚ snakes and butterflies. You can also rent a boat during the summer season.
12 p.m.
Chow down at NYNY Pizza at Providence Marketplace, which offers menu items ranging from pepperoni rolls to BLT pizza. Other nearby lunch options include Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Chick-Fil-A‚ Fulin’s Asian Cuisine and Steak ’n Shake.
Long Hunter State Park
3 p.m.
On your way out of town‚ spend an hour picking seasonal fruit at Breeden’s Orchard (631 Beckwith Road). The orchard offers pre-picked and pick-your-own peaches in the summer (adults only) and apples in the fall (adults and children). Call ahead (615-449-2880) to ensure fruit availability. Visit the pie kitchen and take a fresh pie or homemade jelly home with you. Tennessee Connections
brian Mccord
Charlie Daniels Park
brian Mccord
Jeff Adkins
“This town and the surrounding county are a haven for visitors wanting to rediscover the charms of small-town America.�
Summer 2011
Cedar Creek Recreation Area Jeff Adkins
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Veggie Tales
Four healthy benefits of eating garden-fresh produce
story by Dr. Sue Hamilton
D
id you know the average American eats only one to two servings of vegetables per day, around five times below the recommended amount? To maintain proper health, men should eat up to nine servings per day, while women are encouraged to have at least seven daily servings. And it’s the veggie’s unique phytochemicals that promote our good health.
1. More Servings, More Benefits
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Research continues to show that many essential nutrients in fresh produce may protect you from cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, and they also give you more energy, help reduce weight gain and may even reduce the effects of aging.
2. Mighty Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are powerful food factors that elicit profound effects on human health maintenance and disease prevention. Usually related to plant pigments,
Summer 2011
they are the reason we promote eating your colors. Yellow, orange, red, green and purple fruits and vegetables generally contain the most phytochemicals, with more than 900 found in plant foods.
3. Keep It Crunchy
Once you cook produce, you quickly lose the beneficial qualities. If you want to cook your veggies lightly sauté or steam them – you want to keep them crispy and crunchy. Once veggies lose their crunch, they have also lost their nutritional value.
4. Growing Inspires Eating
Gardening not only provides you with fresh fruits and vegetables, it also encourages you to eat them. Once you are blessed with a bushel basket of tomatoes, you will have newfound interest in finding recipes for tomatoes. What’s more, picking fresh produce from your garden is a great way to get children to eat fruits and vegetables. It is fun for them to pick their own lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers – and then eat them. tnconnections.com
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feature
Just Like
Grandma’s Front Porch restaurant in Dickson serves gourmet Southern cuisine
story by Laura Hill and Jessica Mozo photography by Brian McCord
W
hen Carol Michael Hef lin considered the new millennium several years back, she decided a change was in order. Her heart, she realized, was in good food, a passion she had indulged in a part-time catering business with a friend, but now wanted to pursue seriously. “I thought, ‘If I don’t follow my dream now, I never will,’ ” she remembers. And so the Front Porch restaurant was born, much to the delight of thousands of happy customers who flock to the downtown Dickson eatery for what its owner calls “Southern cuisine with a gourmet twist.” Hef lin works her magic in a Victorian cottage built just a year after the City of Dickson was incorporated in 1899. Enter the pretty white house with its dark 10
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green trim and you’re in Grandma’s house. The porch is painted with garden murals, the floor a green-andwhite checkerboard. The walls of the light-filled rooms are sponged a pale yellow and adorned with colorful prints and plates. The friendly staff (“Hi, y’all – like a little lunch?”) completes the warm, homey ambiance. The lunch crowd is eclectic – ladies, businessmen and families – a mix Heflin had in mind when she opened the restaurant in 2000. “I wanted to do something different than a meat-and-three but still true to Southern roots,” she says. “I didn’t want to be known as just a tea room, and I wanted businessmen to feel comfortable here too. We want people to perceive this as a pleasant, friendly place to go. I love it when people come in, Tennessee Connections
see their friends and table-hop.” Ladies and gentlemen both come to the Front Porch for a menu that offers everything from light salads and seafood dishes to soups, casseroles, hearty sandwiches and meaty hot-lunch plates, including a blue plate special – served on an actual blue plate – accompanied by fruit tea. Your meal begins with a breadbasket filled with homemade cornbread and melt-in-your-mouth yeast rolls with a sugary topping. The menu changes seasonally with an emphasis on quality, from fresh vegetables to homemade desserts like the Mile-High Coconut Pie and the Summer 2011
pecan-laden Jackson Pie. It features several creative dishes, including a cold, creamy strawberry soup that really hits the spot in the summertime. Dinner is served on Friday evenings. Diners can choose from several specials that vary by the week, ranging from pan-seared salmon with cheddar cheese grits to homemade lasagna to filet mignon or prime rib steak with a baked potato. At the Front Porch restaurant in Dickson, lunchtime diners can enjoy fruit tea, chicken salad on a bed of greens with fresh fruit and the eatery’s famous Mile-High Coconut Pie.
The Dish on Front Porch The Front Porch is located at 108 Center Ave. in Dickson and its phone number is (615) 441-0006. It’s open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday through Friday, and Friday for dinner from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Saturdays. tnconnections.com
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taste of tn
Culinary
Herbal Heights
A beginner’s launch to the big flavor of fresh herbs
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Tennessee Connections
story by Roben Mounger
I
was 12 years old when the groundwork for my obsession with f lavor began. Poised with a spoonful in midair, my great aunt critiqued a recipe by claiming the dish was not properly seasoned. To me this smacked of cardinal sin. Our family knew how to cook. Seasoning was a delicate art and a skill that was genetically encoded. “Not to worry,” said my mother when I expressed my questionable future as a proper seasoning expert. “Fresh herbs are the ticket – they add sparkle.” While consistently scattering a batch of herb seeds to keep production at full tilt, she harvested parsley by the fistfuls for use in salad, spaghetti sauce and even the occasional f lower arrangement. Herbs are a laid-back proposition with no greater commitment than a drink of water every now and then. The nonchalance of such a concept is comforting. I set my domestic bar to include fresh f lavors from the yard. Our first herb patch, planted against the house and close to the kitchen door, provided lowmaintenance landscaping as it does still to this day. Another great perk adds that ancient health practices testify to the power of culinary herbs. Some calm and soothe a body, while others can aid in digestion. Culinary herbs have consistently managed to assist my cooking efforts. Chopped basil on summer tomatoes, mint in iced tea, minced chives on potatoes, summer savory scattered over roasted corn, eggs with sliced tarragon and parsley, and oregano-infused pasta sauce – herbal launches that bring glory to mealtime throughout the year. Some say good dining involves a magnificent piece of beef, others hope for a satisfying sweet, but a few freshly cut herbs can improve Summer 2011
the flavors of any ingredient. When harvesting, I find a walk around the yard, a calm inspiration and the perfect way to bring a table to life. Starting out is as simple as the versatile rosemary bush, planted to frame the walkway to your house. The piney scent lingers as you walk past the plants, an invitation to partner in a platter of roasted potatoes or marinated chicken. Rosemary is a year-round plant that thrives if planted in well-drained soil. This wonderful starter herb will flourish even in mid-winter if protected during heavy frosts. Flaunting a pungent flavor, rosemary is milder during the winter than the summer and is best showcased with meats and sweets. Surprisingly, friends show up to borrow a stalk or two for their own quick but memorable dinners. I could charge for the produce, but all I want to do is hand over this recipe for rosemary shortbread, the best testimony that I know for a homemade degree in f lavor.
About the Author
Roben Mounger blogs about eating locally at www.mscookstable.com.
Rosemary Shortbread Cookies ¼ cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary leaves
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into chunks
¼ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the chopped pecans on a foil-lined cookie sheet and lightly toast in the oven for 3 minutes. Set aside the nuts to cool. Melt the butter over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the powdered sugar, rosemary, pecan pieces and salt. Slowly stir in the flour to form the dough. Use fingers to spread the dough into an ungreased 8-inch baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly golden and firm. Cool the pan on a baking rack for 2 minutes and then cut into 16 squares. Let the cookies cool completely in the pan before removing them.
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events
Summer in Tennessee
in beautiful styles and exciting techniques. CONTACT: 865-273-1242, smokymountainfestivals.org
Festivals, celebrations, activities and more
Blue Plum Art & Music Festival – June 3-5, Johnson City Free outdoor music and art festival spanning seven city blocks in downtown Johnson City. Features children’s entertainment, music and more. CONTACT: 423-928-3479, blueplum.org
National MooFest – June 4-5, Athens Annual festival celebrating the important role the dairy industry plays within one of Tennessee’s most historic towns. CONTACT: 423-746-9041, nationalmoofest.com
Sycamore Shoals Native American Festival – June 4-5, Elizabethton Come and discover the arts, music, dance, crafts, legends and stories of Native Americans. CONTACT: 423-543-5808, sycamoreshoals.org
brian Mccord
A Taste Of Country – June 11, Springfield
Fruits of the Backyard in Spring Hill on June 14 teaches home gardeners how to grow fruits. This listing includes a selection of events of statewide interest scheduled in June, July and August as provided by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Events are subject to date change or cancellation; please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend. Due to space limitations, additional information and events can be found online through the department’s Web site, www.tnvacation.com.
JUNE
Rutherford County Heritage Day Camp – June 2-3, Murfreesboro
Learn the rich history of the Davis and Maney families and their lives during the Civil War. Children tour the houses and grounds, make crafts and play games. CONTACT: 615-893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org
Smoke: A Ballet of the Night Riders – June 2-4, 9-11, Adams A ballet depicting the history and the emotional struggle of the citizens of 14
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the Red River area during the time of the Night Riders. The musical score consists of original compostions and new arrangements of traditional folk and bluegrass music. CONTACT: 615-696-1300, smokenightriders.com
Memphis Italian Festival – June 2-4, Memphis
Enjoy family-oriented fun with music, food, events, games and arts and crafts. Learn about the Italian-American tradition. Benefits the Holy Rosary Parish School. CONTACT: 901-543-5310, memphisitalianfestival.com
Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival – June 3-4, Townsend The festival features a variety of fine pottery
This Robertson County country festival includes country cooking, arts and crafts, live music, a garden tour and plant sale, farmers’ market and more. CONTACT: 615-384-3800, robertsonchamber.org
Oaklands Victorian Craft Camp – June 13-15, Murfreesboro Children 6-12 experience hands-on materials and craft making during this new camp offered at Oaklands Historic House Museum. CONTACT: 615-893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org
Fruits of the Backyard – June 14, Spring Hill This free educational event offers visitors a chance to learn about the production of small fruits like grapes and blueberries, and how they can easily be grown in the backyard. The field day also trains guests on maintaining the more traditional “fruits” of their yards, such as beautiful shrubs and lush lawns. CONTACT: 731-425-4768, middletennessee.tennessee.edu
ATHS Music City Chapter Antique & Working Truck Show – June 17-18, Cumberland County Fairgrounds, Crossville Antique or working trucks from pickups to 18 wheelers, antique tractors and engines, in conjunction with Cumberland Plateau Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Show CONTACT: 931-200-3203, www.aths.org Tennessee Connections
Juneteenth Freedom Festival – June 17-19, Memphis A three-day celebration with live entertainment featuring gospel, jazz, R&B, blues, rap, classical and neosoul music. Food and merchandise vendors, exhibits, dancers, storytelling, picnics and more. CONTACT: 901-543-5310, juneteenthmemphis.com
Bell Buckle RC & Moon Pie Festival – June 18, Bell Buckle Cutting the world’s largest Moon Pie. CONTACT: 931-389-9663, bellbucklechamber.com
Living History & Militia Muster – June 18-19, Carter Mansion, Elizabethton Re-enactors portray a variety of characters, from hunters and farmers to land speculators and backcountry gentry. Walk among colonists and native peoples who share their past through talks, mini-dramas,
and demonstrations of 18th century life. CONTACT: 423-543-5808, sycamoreshoalstn.org
Rose Mont Festival – June 18-19, Gallatin Browse through the antique, craft, jewelry and furniture booths on the grounds of historic Rose Mont. Tour of the mansion will be available. CONTACT: 615-451-2331, historicrosemont.com
65th Annual Rhododendron Festival – June 18-19, Roan Mountain Celebrating blooming of rhododendron gardens, crafters, folkways, musicians and food. CONTACT: 800-250-8620, roanmountain.com.
Front Porch Pastimes Day Camp – June 20-24, Murfreesboro Children 6-12 have a chance to step back into the past while being introduced to period games, chores, crafts and cooking. Limited spaces available. CONTACT: 615-893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org
Tobacco Beef & More – June 23, Springfield The Mid-South’s beef and tobacco producers will want to attend this free educational event which features the state’s leading experts on topics such as animal health, forage, burley and dark fired tobacco production. CONTACT: 731-425-4768, highlandrim@tennessee.edu
Frontier Days – June 23-25, Lynchburg Rodeo, carnival rides, games, shoot out, big parade, contests and auctions. CONTACT: 931-759-4111, lynchburgtn.com
Kuumba Festival – June 25-26, Knoxville Showcases local African American art and artists sharing, educating and exposing rich cultural art forms to the community. Features more than 200 entertainers performing on three stages, live demonstrations, and more than 100 crafts people and food vendors. CONTACT: 865-546-9705, kuumbafesttn.com
Antebellum Academy – June 27-July 1, Murfreesboro Camp for girls 13 and up where they will study etiquette, dance, penmanship, music, needlework and art. Space is limited and reservations are required. Contact: 615- 893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org Summer 2011
JULY
Freedom Festival – July 3, Hendersonville Craft booths, music, children’s play area, food and fireworks at dark. CONTACT: 615-824-2818, hendersonvillechamber.com
Gatlinburg’s Fourth of July Midnight Parade – July 3-4, Gatlinburg Beginning at midnight and stretching more than a mile in length, more than 100 decorated floats, helium balloons, marching bands and more. CONTACT: 800-568-4748, eventsgatlinburg.com
Anvil Shoot and Celebration – July 4, Norris Old-fashioned celebration with musicians, craftspeople and demonstrations of old-time activities such as sassafras tea brewing, shepherding, rail splitting and more. CONTACT: 865-494-7680, museumofappalachia.org
Lauderdale County Tomato Festival – July 8-9, Ripley A two-day celebration paying honor to area tomato growers. Festival activities include carnival rides, games, baby crawling contest, food and craft vendors, live music, tomato tasting, and a beauty contest to select Tomato Festival Royalty. CONTACT: 731-635-9541, lauderdalecountytn.org
2nd-Annual Tojo Creek Gourd Gala and Art Festival – July 9, Lebanon Local gourd artists provide demonstrations of their craft. Gourd art displayed and some for sale, as well as additional homemade crafts. CONTACT: 615-449-0335, gourds@tojocreek.com
Summer Celebration Lawn & Garden Show – July 14, Jackson Colorful blooms and lush foliage spark creative ideas and offer lessons in horticulture management that can save homeowners time and money. Hear presentations from the region’s leading gardening experts. Purchase great performing plants at the Master Gardener Plant Sale. CONTACT: 731-425-4768, west.tennessee.edu
Thresherman’s Show – July 15-16, Adams Blacksmith, mule pulls, craft fair, flea market, children’s games, pony rides and food vendors. CONTACT: 615-696-2687, adamstennessee.com tnconnections.com
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Annual WEVL FM 90 Blues on the Bluff – July 23, Memphis This event offers visitors a scenic view of the Mississippi River while listening to some of the best blues, soul and rhythm and blues artists. CONTACT: 901-543-5310, wevl.org
AUGUST
Tennessee State Square & Round Dance Convention – August 4-6, Gatlinburg This convention has something to offer every casual or avid square, round or line dancer. Fun activities such as workshops, fashion show, sewing clinic, great shopping, prize drawings. CONTACT: 865-654-6747, tnsquaredance.org
Rock-A-Billy Festival – August 5-6, Jackson The world’s largest gathering of rock-a-billy artists and musicians, featuring the pioneers of rock-a-billy music as well as new artists. CONTACT: 731-427-6262, rockabillyhall.org
Appalachian Craft Fair – August 22-27, Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park, Gray Traditional arts and crafts, bluegrass music and food. CONTACT: 423-257-2167, tnstateparks.com
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration – August 24- September 3, Shelbyville This event for the Tennessee Walking Horse encompasses exciting classes in competition where more than $650,000 in prizes and awards are given. Other activities include a barn decorating contest, a trade fair and a dog show. CONTACT: 931-684-5915, twhnc.com
Charlotte Fall Festival – August 27, Charlotte This celebration features a parade, a variety of local musical acts, children’s rides and games, and a variety of foods. Free to the public. CONTACT: 615-789-4184, dicksoncountychamber.com
Green Travel Tips
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Carpool whenever possible to reduce your carbon footprint – and you’ll also spend less money on gas.
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Staying overnight? Unplug major appliances to save energy and lower your electric bill.
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Support Tennessee’s sustainable tourism. Find green lodging, dining and attractions at tnvacation.com/green. 16
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Statewide roundup of favorite finds Creative Coffee
Spice Things Up Big S Farms in Parrottsville in East Tennessee is the largest habanero pepper grower in the state, and uses the peppers to produce gourmet hot sauces and salsas. Habaneros are considered by many to be the hottest pepper on the planet, and Big S Farms has grown more than 60,000 pounds of them in dozens of varieties. The farm’s all-natural, preservative-free sauces and salsas have names such as Smoke on the Mountain Salsa and Tennessee Thunder Hot Sauce. Find Big S Farms’ products online at www.bigsfarms.net. The website is also a great resource for recipes using the hot sauces.
Coffee drinkers know the best coffee comes from countries such as Costa Rica and Colombia. But Tennesseans don’t have to travel that far to find flavorful, fresh-roasted coffee. Cumberland Valley Coffee Co. in Greenbrier offers an impressive selection of beans from around the globe, and they are fresh-roasted to order in Tennessee. The company sells single-origin, blended and flavored coffees, such as Mountain Blueberry, Snickerdoodle and Pumpkin Spice. The company also makes gourmet cocoa mixes using an Ecuadorian Dutch cocoa powder. For more information and to order online, visit www.cumberland valleycoffee.com.
To Market We Will Go Nothing beats produce picked fresh from the plant, and Culbertson Farms certainly delivers. Located in Hardin County 15 miles outside Savannah, Culbertson Farms sells seasonal produce at its onsite market from late spring through early fall. You can handpick blueberries and tomatoes at the farm in mid-June, but that’s not all they have to offer. The Culbertsons also grow strawberries, potatoes, pumpkins, apples and peaches. Culbertson Farms’ market is open May through October, Sunday through Friday (closed Saturdays). Call the farm at (731) 925-4872 for hours of operation and fruit availability. You can also find out more about their farm at www.tnfarmfresh.com.
Summer 2011
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Summer Energy-Saving Tips Use these tips to beat the heat this summer • Take a break: Suprisingly, running your dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand actually saves water. • Enjoy the season: Instead of putting your clothes in the dryer, take advantage of the warm weather and line-dry your garments. • Keep it cool: Use the cold-water setting when washing clothes. This can cut your bill by 4 percent. • Cover up: Keep windows covered during the day by closing blinds or drapes to keep out solar heat. • Insulate it: Prevent the heat building on top of your house from filtering down into other areas by insulating your attic. • Change it up: Switch the direction of airflow on ceiling fans. The blades should spin counterclockwise during the summertime. • Ditch the oven: Microwaves not only get your food on the table faster, but they also generate less heat. • Made in the shade: Keep your air conditioner shielded from direct sunlight. • Weather-strip and caulk: Taking the time to do this around doors and windows keeps the cool air in and the hot air out. • Try a fan: Whole-house fans work to cool your home by driving cold air through the house and draining warm air through the attic.
• Unplug: Turn off power strips or unplug devices to eliminate phantom power usage and reduce the heat these products generate. • Let it shine: Install compact fluorescent light bulbs in your most-used fixtures for big savings.