October- Food & Drink Issue
Welcome fall! With the changing seasons comes a change in what we are craving, and with fall that often means comfort food. October is our most delectable issue of the year, filled with some of our favorite dishes and beverages around town. We had the pleasure of sitting down with the chef at Five Senses restaurant, and learned about what their fall menu will be boasting.—so get your tastebuds ready, you are in for a treat. We also included a few new recipes for you to try at home, whether you’re cooking for just your family or for entertaining guests.
The smells of fall bring memories to my mind of sitting in my mom’s kitchen, and the aroma of cinnamon, apple, pumpkin, chili and soups of any kind brings me right back to her table. And I, of course, am a sucker for all of the game-day appetizers that pop up around our house on football days.
There is definitely an art to creating a flavorful dish that not only satisfies our taste buds but evokes memories. The aroma of certain spices and foods can bring us right back to our childhood, which can be incredibly powerful and comforting. Food brings us all together, and whether we are sharing a meal with loved ones or enjoying a night out on the town, the time spent while enjoying food is invaluable.
As always, thanks for reading, and we’ll see you around town!
Sincerely,
JON GREGORY, PUBLISHER @BOROCITYLIFESTYLE
October 2024
PUBLISHER
Jon Gregory | jon.gregory@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Matilyn Jennings | matilyn.jennings@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Matilyn Jennings, Lynn Caldwell, Jacquie Brengartner, Nina Graby, Allison Gorman
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jim Davis, Nina Graby, James Cessna, Fountains at Gateway
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray
Now Enrolling Now Infants
Toddlers Preschool
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1-7: The women of Mirabella had a fabulous time shopping and playing Mah Jongg at Monkee’s of Murfreesboro!
ARTICLE BY LYNN CALDWELL, MATILYN JENNINGS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM DAVIS
MURFREESBORO PARKS & RECREATION’S FAVORITE FALL EVENTS
FALL STATE-OF-MIND
There is just something about a cool, breezy night sitting around the campfire and roasting marshmallows in a quest for the perfect s’more. Some people like it slightly burnt, while oth-
down the Murfreesboro Greenway on a tractor-pulled trailer adorned with haybales and packed with fun.
Frightensburgh is a much scarier event and is geared towards
MURFREESBORO’S FALL EVENTS
PROMISE
TO CREATE LASTING
MEMORIES FOR ALL WHO ATTEND.
ers crave it golden brown. Whatever it is, the staff at Outdoor Murfreesboro will make sure they have all the ingredients necessary to make your favorite. Each year, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation offers several fall activities that have fast become family favorites – and they all include variations of your favorite fall snacks. The Fall Hayride is an event held at General Bragg Trailhead and includes a roaring campfire, s’mores, hot dogs, and snacks. Incredible live music will keep you entertained – all while you wait your turn for an authentic moonlit hayride
older children and adults. Historic Cannonsburgh is transformed into a haunted village and guests are guided through a tour that will spook people of all ages. There are also food trucks and entertainment to enjoy – either before, after, or in some cases, instead of – being frightened. This event is perfect for thrill-seekers looking for an unforgettable night of frights and fun.
Barfield Bash is definitely a family favorite and has been around for more than 20 years. It includes dozens of children’s games, activities for all ages, costume contests, vendors,
and some must-have snacks like popcorn and cotton candy. There is also the Old Scream Road Haunted Hayride, which boasts the scariest trail around, making it a must-do for those who love a good scare. This event truly brings the community together with its fun-filled atmosphere, colorful costumes, and spine-tingling thrills.
Finally, we wrap up things with Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Village. This is an event for the entire family. The quaint village takes a step back in time and is filled with crafters, vendors, and live demonstrations from long ago, like basket weaving, blacksmithing, and candle making. There is entertainment throughout the day and an awesome lineup of food trucks serving all the favorites, including seasonal treats like caramel apples and pumpkin-flavored delights. It’s a great way to experience the nostalgia of simpler times while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of a modern fall festival.
There are so many things happening in Murfreesboro to get you
HAYRIDES, HAUNTED TRAILS, FAMILYFRIENDLY GAMES - OH MY!
and your family in that fall state of mind, so check out www.MurfreesboroParks. com for a calendar of all the events. Whether you’re looking for fun, food, or frights, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this fall season. From hayrides and haunted trails to family-friendly games and historical reenactments, Murfreesboro's fall events promise to create lasting memories for all who attend. Don’t miss out on the excitement and join in the festive spirit that makes fall in Murfreesboro truly special! So grab your family, bundle up in your coziest sweater, and experience all the magic that fall has to offer right in your own backyard.
Pumpkin Cuties
• Cutie Mandarin Oranges
• Celery Sticks
Peel the cutie mandarin oranges and cut celery sticks into 1-inch long sticks.
Cut each slice of celery into thirds or fourths and insert celery sticks into the center of the peeled oranges.
Oreo Spiders
• Oreos
• Candied Eyes
• Chocolate Chips
• Pretzel Logs
Break pretzel rods in half and stuff them into the Oreo cookies to form the spider legs. Melt the chocolate chips until smooth.
Use a toothpick to place the melted chocolate onto the Oreos where the eyes will go.
Immediately place the eye candies onto the melted chocolate. Place the Oreos in the fridge until the chocolate hardens.
cuterie SPOOK-
A SPOOKY SPIN ON THE CLASSIC CHARCUTERIE
ARTICLE BY SAVANNA JAGGEARS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREGORY JAGGEARS
Spook-Cuterie is a cutie Halloween snack for pre- or post-trick-or-treating. This spooky spin on the classic charcuterie board will excite the kids and provide a few nutritious nibbles before they fill up on too much candy. Whether you bring this to the school party or set it up while everyone gets in their costumes, fun MUMMY-ries will be made.
Nutter Butter Ghosts
• Nutter Butter Cookies
• White Melting Chocolate
• Mini Chocolate Chips
Instructions:
1. Gather together the items.
2 .Arrange and style according to your party aesthetic.
3. Add extra items, such as crackers, chips and cheeses.
Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 15-second increments. Stir between increments until the chocolate is fully melted.
Dip the top of each cookie into the melted chocolate and place the coated cookie on wax paper to dry.
Press the mini chocolate chip to make the eyes and mouth before the chocolate dries.
Blackberry Bats
• Bat Shaped Cookie Cutter
• Blackberries
• Candied Eyes
Place the cookie cutter on the charcuterie board and fill with blackberries. Place candied eyes to make the eyes of the bat.
4. Fan out additional fruits and veggies.
5. Celebrate and make the days leading up to October 31st memorable!
THE AGING PROCESS
MTSU’s fermentation science program plays crucial role in Tennessee’s distilling industry
ARTICLE BY ALLISON GORMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES CESSNA
Shelby Ziegler was among the first cohort of fermentation science majors at Middle Tennessee State University, graduating in December 2020. After graduating, she turned down offers from microbreweries near her home north of Nashville and took an "enticing" job with a distillery 70 miles away at Tennessee Distilling.
“They don’t just know what they’re doing; they know why they’re doing everything…”
Ziegler said it took time to learn the equipment unique to each distillery, and that’s something that can’t be taught in class. But thanks to her academic training, she walked into the job as a whiskey distiller, knowing how to monitor and troubleshoot the organic process.
"I knew what the different pH means, the sugar content, what a healthy fermentation should look like, what could be off-flavors produced from whiskey, and what bacteria could produce those off-flavors," she said. "I learned how to solve problems with the mash or the distillate, and I knew how to track the process to see if it was fermenting correctly."
Ziegler is one of several MTSU Fermentation Science majors Mike Williams has hired since he and his business partner launched Tennessee Distilling eight years ago. As a master distiller, Williams said he values MTSU students' skills because so many things can go wrong during fermentation.
"You know, you don't inherently need a degree to run a still," he said, "but they understand the problems in our mash-making. They don't just know what they're doing; they know why they're doing everything, so they tend to move up in the company to roles with more responsibility after starting as a brewer-distiller."
As an MTSU alumnus himself, it's natural that Williams would be quick to hire from his alma mater. But his professional investment in the fermentation science program also speaks volumes. He's so impressed with its graduates that he's begun reimbursing his distillers who get a master's degree.
This is how Ziegler ended up back in school. She'd been employed at Tennessee Distilling for about a year when she began mulling the idea of getting her master's degree. She wanted to expand her knowledge but not her student debt, so an offer from Williams sealed the deal.
"That's what got me to apply to grad school," she said. "I didn't want to take out a big loan to get my master's, but Tennessee Distilling Group paid for it, and they've been super."
After completing two semesters of graduate-level fermentation science coursework, Ziegler switched to biotechnology to get broader training in food science protocols and experiments—knowledge she can apply in the lab side of the distillery. She was also promoted from whiskey distiller to quality assurance manager before finishing her master's in December 2023.
For Williams, investing in his employees' advanced education is a way to build institutional knowledge quickly and stay on top of his company's success.
"We've grown fairly rapidly," he said. "Fast growth is a good problem, but it's still a problem. I've felt like I've been riding a bull all this time."
MTSU's fermentation science program has also grown quickly. From its initial cohort of 17 undergraduates in 2017, it's now holding steady with 35 undergraduate students, plus 12 to 18 students in the two-year master's program.
Fermentation science majors don't just come from Tennessee. They've come from Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia, and South Carolina. Students are taught in partnership with local companies and receive hands-on training sessions at industry sites.
Ziegler, an Alabama native, was initially attracted to the bachelor's degree because it's on the Academic Common Market, which lets college students in the southern U.S. pay in-state tuition for degrees not offered in their home states.
She said her favorite part of the program was the hands-on aspect. In one class, they made cheese and sausages. In another, they tended a vineyard and later harvested and crushed the grapes to make wine.
“We’ve grown fairly rapidly. Fast growth is a good problem, but it’s still a problem. I’ve felt like I’ve been riding a bull all this time.”
The master's degree has drawn even more widespread interest, with a quarter of the graduate students being international.
MTSU fermentation students have also interned with wineries, distilleries, breweries, cheese-making operations and state governmental agencies within Tennessee, the U.S. and around the world.
While some fermentation science graduates stay in Tennessee, like Ziegler, others have
landed all over the map, including Wyoming, Oregon, Texas, Kentucky and North Carolina. Tennessee Distilling Co. is located in Columbia, Tennessee, and bottles some of the biggest whiskey labels in the world. With another campus in Centerville, the distiller also supports Tennessee farming. The vast majority of grains, including thousands and thousands of pounds of corn every year and some local rye, are purchased from within 100 miles of the Columbia facility.
ARTICLE BY NINA GRABY, JACQUIE BRENGARTNER PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sweetest Spots Indulge in The Fountains’
The Soda Shop
DISCOVER A DIVERSE ARRAY OF SWEET TREATS, SAVORY DELIGHTS, AND VIBRANT EATERIES AT THE FOUNTAINS AT GATEWAY..
THE SODA BAR
The Soda Bar is a dessert shop that offers specialty ice creams, craft sodas, floats, Hawaiian shave ice, cookies, and coffees. Recently purchased by the Vanhorn family, who also own Vanhorn Cookies, the Soda Bar is designed to allow customers the convenience and enjoyment of staying engaged in the events and activities on the central plaza. With a modern twist on the old-fashioned soda fountain, The Soda Bar is an exciting hangout for friends and family of all ages!
FIVE DAUGHTERS BAKERY
The Fountains newest tenant, Five Daughters Bakery, is the go-to sweet spot for decadent donuts, baked goods, and coffee. All their ingredients are non GMO and are sourced locally and organically. Five Daughters is owned and operated by Isaac and Stephanie Meek along with their five daughters. As third-generation business owners, the Meeks curated their menu to reflect a balance of comfort and innovation.
JUST LOVE COFFEE
Just Love Coffee is a much-loved staple at the Fountains. Owned by Sherri and Tom Desilva, Just Love serves the community with delicious café-inspired hand-roasted coffee creations and customer service that warms their heart. From their scrumptious waffle-iron inspired breakfast menu to their quick-order lunch options, Just Love offers a vibrant coffee shop atmosphere that delights all the senses. They also offer a unique coffee cart that can be booked for catering events such as weddings, showers and corporate programs. Just Love actively involves itself in the community through fundraising opportunities, charity, and more. What’s not to love?
Five Daughters Bakery
Just Love Coffee
Nothing Bundt Cakes
NOTHING BUNDT CAKES
As one of the nation’s largest specialty cake companies offering a modern spin on a classic treat, Nothing Bunt Cakes makes celebrating any special occasion nothing bunt amazing. To find the perfect recipe, you first need the perfect ingredients. And that's what founders Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz were for each other. In 1997, they joined forces, or better yet kitchens, to help make cakes to entertain their friends. The cakes they made were delicious, and unlike anything anyone had tasted. As a result, their friends and family asked them to entertain more and more. They quickly realized this side project of theirs could be something more. There was a gap in the world for delicious cakes that didn't compromise on their ingredients. Fresh eggs, real butter, and real cream cheese - nothing was too good to achieve perfection. And perfection are those decadent, slow melting bites we all know and love.
LOVE THAI SUSHI
Locally owned and operated, Love Thai Sushi offers some of the best sushi in Murfreesboro. Specializing in authentic Thai and Lao cuisine, plus fresh sushi, Love Thai serves up a great experience with their food and restaurant atmosphere. Whether it's their amazing Pad Thai or wanton noodle soup, each plate is a delight.
GOODNESS GRACIOUS
From daily comfort food like specialty sandwiches, salads, desserts, and breakfast plates to unique culinary creations, Goodness Gracious serves up breakfast, brunch and lunch in their modern rustic location at the Fountains. Nicole and Eric Ford continue their vision of providing a hometown feel eating establishment from the Readyville Mill to a more updated space at
Love Thai Sushi
Goodness Gracious
Penne Pazza
Fountains at Gateway is the new go-to place in Murfreesboro for restaurants, shops and greenspace.
the Fountains. Their new location at the Fountains offers private event space for up to 4 guests, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. With the same charm, delectable menu and warm hospitable service, Goodness Gracious is loved by many locals.
PENNE PAZZA
CEO Rony Stark delights the Fountain by bringing Italy's taste to Middle Tennessee. Penne Pazza is an Italian pasta restaurant, which cultivates authentic farm to table pasta and pizza. The pasta is freshly handmade, the pizzas are made in a bona fide Italian oven, and because of their unique take on Italian classics, each dish is a truly savory encounter. They offer delivery, takeout, indoor and outdoor seating.
STEAKHOUSE FIVE
Easily defined as, "as good as it gets", Steakhouse Five features a fine dining experience with the best steaks in Middle Tennessee. The elegant menu, stellar service, and enjoyable atmosphere is perfect for dinner or cocktails on the patio, which overlooks the Fountains pocket park. Owner Chef Mitchell Murphree has certainly produced a masterpiece with Steakhouse Five.
Steakhouse Five
Penne Pazza
Just Love Coffee
Five Daughters Bakery
Fountains at Gateway
Fountains at Gateway is a 31-acre Class A office, retail, entertainment and condominium development in burgeoning Rutherford County, less than 30 minutes from Nashville. The walkable corporate office campus, restaurant and retail district–and the soon-to-be developed Atrium at Fountains condominiums–compose this contemporary urban landscape.
Office, retail, restaurants and entertainment areas are situated around a central plaza with multiple fountains and pocket parks. The residential community overlooks Gateway Island Park. All are interconnected by a system of walkways leading to the adjoining city greenway, seamlessly connecting pedestrians and cyclists in a friendly hub of activity and planned events.
Fountains at Gateway includes 400,000 square-feet of Class A office space, 90,000 square-feet of retail space and 53 luxury for-sale condominiums surrounding an atrium courtyard.
Phase I is fully leased and features a fourstory, 105,500-square-foot office building with first-floor retail and two adjacent retail buildings. Over 20 restaurant and retail tenants serve office tenants and Murfreesboro residents. Phase II, located opposite Phase I, includes a five-story, 212,000-square-foot office building with luxury condos, corporate offices, groundfloor retail, underground parking, and a connecting boutique hotel with shared amenities. Phase III will complete the development with additional Class A office space, customizable for large tenants, luxury multifamily units, and more restaurant and retail options.
Amber Anduha Joins Bombshells
Experienced stylist brings personalized care, creativity, and vibrant style to Murfreesboro’s Bombshells Hair Studio
Amber Anduha, the newest stylist at Bombshells Hair Studio in Murfreesboro, brings a wealth of experience and a deeply personalized approach to hairstyling. With 22 years of experience in California, Amber has worked on fashion shows, and photoshoots, and built a diverse clientele that shaped her unique style and skills. She views hairstyling as more than just cutting or coloring; it's about connecting with clients, understanding their likes, dislikes, and lifestyle to create looks that enhance their natural beauty. Amber specializes in many services, from bold, eye-catching colors to timeless, classic styles, always tailoring each cut and color to suit the individual. Excited to make her mark in Tennessee, Amber aims to build meaningful connections and make each client feel confident and truly seen.
Top: Amber shows off her talent with a client’s balayage and style. Bottom: Amber and her daughters
PUMPKIN PERFECTION
Put the carving tools down and check out how you can add some pizzazz to your pumpkins with just a paint brush.
the CREEPY crawler
For this design, you’ll need several pumpkins or gourds in various shapes and sizes, some white and metallic acrylic paint, hot glue and some fake creepy crawlers.
Paint your “background” pumpkins in metallic colors. For your centerpiece, use white paint to cover the body, metallic paint for the stem and hot glue your creepy crawlers all around.
Buccal Sculpting A Natural Face Lift Effect
ging A Holistically
In the ever-evolving world of skincare and facial rejuvenation, there’s one treatment that stands out as a true game-changer: Buccal Sculpting.. Unlike any other facial treatment available today, this innovative treatment is a high-intensity workout for all 43 muscles in your face, delivering immediate and transformative results.
Pure Glow is proud to be the first in Tennessee to be certified in this cutting-edge technique, setting the standar d for facial sculpting in the region. The Buccal Sculpting Facel ift is a signature treatment that blends facial massage tech niques from around the world—drawing from the rich traditi ons of Japan, Hungary, Russia, Dubai, and Paris. By incorp orating these diverse practices with universal methods such as acupressure, tapotement, and lymphatic massage, Pur e Glow has crafted a uniquely comprehensive approach to fa cial rejuvenation.
The results speak for themselves: lifted cheekbones , sculpted jowls, and a more defined jawline. For those who su ffer from TMJ, this treatment offers the added benefit of rel easing tension along the jawline, providing relief and enh ancing comfort. It increases circulation but also lifts, e nhances, tones, and contours the facial muscles, restoring t he face to its youthful, vibrant state. Whether you're looking to refresh your appearance o r achieve a more sculpted facial structure, we can help. Expe rience the future of facial rejuvenation—right here in Murfree sboro.
OCTOBER 2024
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
OCTOBER 9TH-11TH
One Act Play Festival
MTSU Tucker Theatre | 7:30 PM
Visit MTSU and the Tucker Theatre on Oct. 9–11 at 7:30 p.m. each night for the One Act Play Festival! Please visit https://app.arts-people.com/index. php?actions=7&p=1 to get your tickets today! *Tickets required.
OCTOBER 15TH
Party in the Grove & MTSU vs. Kennesaw State MTSU Floyd Stadium | 3:30 PM
Come have fun at Party in the Grove (FREE) at 3:30 p.m. with MTSU vs. Kennesaw State to follow at 7 p.m. Go Blue Raiders! *Tickets required for game
OCTOBER 31ST
Trick or Treat around the Historic Rutherford County Square
Rutherford County Courthouse Museum | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Trick or Treat around the Historic Rutherford County Square
Want to be featured?
GET IN TOUCH AT CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/ MURFREESBORO
OCTOBER 2024
OCT 9-11 Wednesday-Friday 7:30 p.m.
One Act Play Festival
Tucker Theatre
SAVE THE DATE
True Blue Preview Day
Nov. 2, 9 a.m.
Student Union Ballroom
RSVP requested at mtsu.edu/rsvp
SAVE THE DATE
Party in the Grove (FREE)
Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m.*
MTSU vs. Liberty at noon
Floyd Stadium
Tickets required for game
SAVE THE DATE
Fall Dance Concert
Nov. 21–23, 7:30 p.m.
Tucker Theatre
Tickets required
Party in the Grove (FREE)
MTSU vs. Kennesaw State at 7 p.m.; Floyd Stadium Tuesday 3:30 p.m.* Tickets required for game
SCAN FOR FULL EVENT CALENDAR
SAVE THE DATE
She Loves Me
Nov. 7–9, 7:30 p.m.
Tucker Theatre
Tickets required
Tickets required SAVE THE DATE
Party in the Grove (FREE)
Nov. 23, 10 a.m.*
MTSU vs. New Mexico State at 1:30 p.m.; Floyd Stadium
Tickets required for game