The Nashville Edit Volume 5, 2020

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 161

The perfect present Fragrant gifts for the season

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 1

GRADE: 99 OUT OF 100 FOR LOCATION - TRIPADVISOR.COM

9.6 RATING EXCELLENT LOCATION! - BOOKING.COM

BEST HOTELS IN NASHVILLE - FORBES

A ONE- OF-A -KIND NASH VILLE EXPE RIEN CE Award-winning Mokara Salon and Spa • Rooftop Pool & Lounge Deck State-of-the-Art Fitness Center • Private Meeting Space • Private Events • Bob’s Steak and Chophouse • Kitchen Notes • Barlines Bar Live Music • Bonga Java

AWE-INSPIRING by nature W E

A R E

K I A W A H

I S L A N D

PROUD HOST

4 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 5

RICHMOND

6 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

NEW YORK LONDON mckinnonharris.com

LOS ANGELES

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 7

GO GRAND experiences Grand Hyatt Nashville offers seven unique food and beverage experiences that range from unparalleled 25th floor views at lou/na, our rooftop lounge, to Tennessee to Table journeys at The Nashville Grange restaurant, which overlooks beloved Broadway. Every venue is a work of art that seamlessly blends breathtaking surroundings with inspired and delicious cocktails and cuisine.

8 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

GRAND 1000 BROADWAY NASHVILLE, TN 37203 NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 9 GRANDHYATTNASHVILLE.COM | NASHVILLEYARDS.COM

WA LT O N A LEGACY O F LE I SU R E South Walton’s 26 miles of sugar-white sand beaches in Northwest Florida offer an all-natural escape, yet perfectly blend modern amenities, worldclass cuisine and small town charm into an unforgettable experience.

The days move a bit slower here, perfectly timed with the laid-back lifestyle found along the coast. It’s this simplicity – a day spent creating memories at the beach – that draws generations of families back to South Walton.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW From resorts to boutique hotels, South Walton is home to unique architecture, breathtaking views and accommodations to suit any style.

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

The Pearl Hotel brings luxury and

Royal Destinations curates hand-tailored

is the area’s largest full-service resort located

sophistication to South Walton, featuring

escapes along the beautiful beaches

directly on the beach. With 602 rooms, 7

beautifully appointed accommodations,

of South Walton, offering a vacation

seasonal dining options, an award-winning

destination-worthy cuisine and a welcoming

experience beyond four walls and memories

spa and access to championship golf courses,

spa. Guests also enjoy complimentary

to last a lifetime. Contact our team to plan

beach chairs and oversized umbrellas.

the perfect beach getaway today!

there’s no need to leave the resort.

HiltonSandestinBeach.com •

ThePearlRB.com •

RoyalDestinations.com •

FIND YOUR PERFECT BEACH

®

South Walton’s sugar-white sand and turquoise water set a stunning backdrop for our 16 vibrant beach neighborhoods.

Find your perfect beach at VisitSouthWalton.com.

MIRAMAR BEACH • SEASCAPE • SANDESTIN • DUNE ALLEN • GULF PLACE • SANTA ROSA BEACH • BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH GRAYTON BEACH • WATERCOLOR • SEASIDE • SEAGROVE • WATERSOUND • SEACREST • ALYS BEACH • ROSEMARY BEACH • INLET BEACH NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 11

Moët & Chandon Champagne, © 2019 Imported by Moët Hennessy USA, Inc., New York, NY. Celebrate Responsibly – www.moet.com ®

MUST BE SERVED OVER ICE MUST BE MOËT & CHANDON

| table of contents

18

EDITOR' S WELCOME

20

CONTRIBUTORS

26

ON THE COVER

54

The talent behind our pages

Behind the scenes details and sources from our Karen Elson shoot

SOCIETY

32

A DAY IN THE LIFE

35

EXECUTIVE INSIDER

38

DEMARCUS FAMILY RULES

42

BOLD BUSINESS BEGINNINGS

24 hours with public relations powerhouse, Ebie McFarland

Real estate developer Alex Marks shares his perspective on his profession and the secrets of his success

38

Jay and Allison dish about their Netflix show

38 48

Four women launching new ventures during uncertain times

STYLE

54

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL

64

GIRL ON FIRE

HOLLYWOOD TO NASHVILLE Actor and Musician Charles Esten shares his backstory and quality life advice

14 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

An exclusive peek inside the closets of some of Nashville’s style setters + where to get their look

Internationally famous Karen Elson shares her journey as a muse, musician, and mother

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 15

| table of contents

110

LIVING

84

SPIRITED DECOR

89

BROWNSTONE LIVING

95

SECOND HOMES

104

In-home bar carts are the ultimate must in entertaining

Downtown Franklin’s most coveted address for empty nesters

From Big Sky to 30A—where Nashville retreats from the everyday

TEXTURED TASTE Fabric, wallpaper, flooring & more designed in Music City

CULTURE

WELLNESS

124 16 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

76

HOLISTIC WELLNESS SOLUTIONS Local professionals and practices to keep your health in optimum condition

110

GLOBAL FLAVOR, LOCALLY

119

DARK DAYS OF MUSIC ROW

124

NEIGHBORHOODS

144

Key places in the city to travel the world with your tastebuds

The infamous murders of the 1960s

Resident’s top picks for dining, shopping, exercise + the latest openings in every district

KEEP IT COZY Where to warm up this season

NASHVILLE AT ITS MOST REFINED. NOW OPEN. THE JOSEPH, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, NASHVILLE 401 KOREAN VETERANS BOULEVARD, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203

615.248.1990 | INFO@THEJOSEPHNASHVILLE.COM THEJOSEPHNASHVILLE.COM

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 17

| editor's letter

ell…it’s definitely been a minute! After barely pulling our anniversary issue off the presses, the world as we know it pretty much came to a screeching halt. People shifted priorities, changed commutes from the interstate to the kitchen table, and prepared to wait a few weeks for the pandemic to pass.

Here we are nine months later, still living with masks, restrictions, and warnings about the danger of merely gathering with friends and family. To say it’s been bizarre is an understatement. The isolation, coupled with the stream of anger-fueled political campaigns and protests, has truly impacted our country and this community in a way none of us ever expected. Households have struggled with job losses, sickness, homeschooling—and eventually quarantine fatigue. That’s a real thing, by the way. For those who thrive on activity and social interaction, it’s been a trying time.

Because our mission and format depend on gatherings and teams of people producing detailed photo shoots, we had to take an extended break from business in general. It felt appropriate to step back and be silent, as many struggled and tried to navigate the environment. Our founding team’s collective decision was to go home, take care of our families, and cancel our plans to produce a fall edition as scheduled. It was a tough call, but a decision I felt better about every day as my magazine subscription deliveries arrived in the mail with copies feeling more like pamphlets than the books they usually are. My entire reason for launching the Nashville Edit was to produce something

18 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

luxurious, substantial, and filled with smart, positive content. Choosing not to create a magazine that wasn’t up to our standards also allowed us to take our time to put together this edition. It’s special in so many ways. The most encouraging facet is that all of the pages highlight evidence of people doing good things throughout our community, making the most out of every day, and looking forward to brighter days ahead.

We are so grateful to the fabulous Karen Elson for gracing our cover, as well as the dozens of other influential and interesting personalities peppered throughout this edition. There are so many wonderful people involved in putting an issue like this together. That starts with the phenomenal advertisers who support us daily via NashvilleEdit.com as we post fresh, useful content and space within the printed magazine. We are quite selective about our partners, so if you see a business on our site or pages—rest assured it’s of the utmost quality and integrity. That level of standards also extends to the team working behind the scenes. We couldn’t wait to reconnect with each other, and our dynamic contributors after the quarantine break—and are even more excited about 2021’s projects.

To all of you who’ve patiently waited for us to come back to life, we are beyond grateful. We’ll (hopefully) see you out and about in the New Year.

T H E E V E R L A S T I NG A P P E A L FOR T H E C L A SSIC S Homes with architectural standards of lasting worth and timeless quantity !

5021 HILL PLACE DRIVE

Enjoy the luxury and peace of mind that comes with living in the gated community of Hill Place, the confidence that your home is constructed with the upmost care by Ramsey-Daugherty, one of the South’s most esteemed homebuilders, with an abundance of distinctive details designed by renown architect J.Terry Bates, and graced with superb architectural millwork by the skilled hand of James Dunn of Vintage Millworks. Shown by appointment. Offered at $5,125,000.

11 M I DDL E TON PA R K L A NE

A European inspired home in the quaint gated community of Middleton. Casual open floor plan with arches and custom details.

Meticulously loved and cared for with new Marvin windows. Quality construction by Castle Contractors. 4 BR with owners suite on the main level. Beautifully landscaped level corner lot with walled yard and garden gate. Offered at $1,599,000.

328 WHITE SWANS CROSSING

Enjoy a countryside setting just minutes from Brentwood & Green Hills. A classic estate home in the intimate, gated, 10 home community of Cambridge Downs, Nashville’s best kept secret! Custom built by the owner on 2+ acres with stunning panoramic lake view. 5 BR, 5.2 bath, 6 car garage, elevator, guest/in-law quarters. Purchase of the adjacent 2+ acre lot is available to the buyer. Offered at $2,500,000.

| contributors GIOVANNI DELGADO

JAMI-LYN FEHR HALL Jami-lyn Fehr Hall is a new entrepreneur whose innate sense of style finds its way into every facet of her life, whether in photography, editorial writing, or her new women's upscale e-commerce venture, MODISTE. You can find her column about this endeavor within this issue, in addition to her "Closet Envy" photo contribution, and interviews with businessman Alex Marks, and Netflix star, Charles Esten. WHAT THREE THINGS ARE VITAL TO YOUR DAY? A hot shower, coffee, and downtime with my husband. WELLNESS RITUAL? Every night I wash my face using Tata Harper’s cleansing oil, and finish with her beautifying face oil and moisturizer. LIFE LESSON LEARNED THIS YEAR? Be kind to yourself.

(Breaking Boundaries pg. 42)

20 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

A visual artist first and foremost, New York based Giovanni Delgado fuses his love of art, fashion & design with modern hairstyling.

Giovanni has done hair for top designer runways from NY Fashion Week to Paris Couture Week. His work has grazed red carpets such as the MET Gala and The Oscars and it’s been featured in publications such as Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, and V Magazine.

WHAT ARE THREE THINGS ARE

ABOVE: behind the scenes with Emily Dorio and Karen Elson photographed

by Jami-lyn Fehr Hall.

VITAL TO YOUR DAY? Lately

it’s tea, time in the garden, and well moisturized skin. Not sure when I became a grandmother, but here I am. LIFE LESSON LEARNED THIS YEAR? So many lessons this year—for all of us, I’m sure. From spending so much time in the garden and with family, I’ve re-learned patience. Patience with plants, with loved ones and with the state of the world. WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE COVER SHOOT WITH KAREN?

My inspiration for the shoot with Karen was her! Karen is so elegantly effortless, I just wanted to capture that essence.

(Song of a Siren, pg. 64)

WHAT THREE THINGS ARE

EMILY DORIO Emily Dorio is a portrait, interiors and food photographer based in Nashville, TN. Her images and creative direction have been commissioned for global editorial and commercial campaigns. Dorio is known for her authentic "found space" styling and use of both natural and manipulated light to sculpt a specific point of view. WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE COVER SHOOT WITH KAREN? Karen

was THE inspiration! She is an actual icon and so visually inspiring. Her upcoming book with her curated collection of images are all you need to be inspired. I just wanted to make a creative space for her to be Karen Elson and bear witness to it with my lens.

VITAL TO YOUR DAY? My morning coffee, cozy time with my children, and end of the day glass of wine with my husband. HOW DO YOU APPROACH SELF-CARE? Sleep!

I have three kids under the age of 4—so sleep is the most important thing I can do for myself. I do my best to carve out 10-15 minutes every day that is just “my” time. Maybe it's a bath or going for a walk— but I try to take a few minutes to breathe and just focus on the moment and the day.

LIFE LESSON LEARNED THIS YEAR? I need less to be truly

happy. Everything I need to be satisfied in this world is under my roof. Your silver lining is what you make of it.

(Song of a Siren, pg. 64)

| contributors ASHLEY HYLBERT

LILY HANSEN Lily Clayton Hansen is an author, TED-x speaker, and actor based in Nashville, Tennessee. She has written and published three books, all under the name of her own series Word of Mouth Conversations. In 2019, Hansen delivered a TED-x talk "Talking to strangers is my self care" about what she has learned from interviewing 1,000-plus people around the world. WHAT THREE THINGS ARE VITAL TO YOUR DAY?

Talking to a loved one/friend/ one of my beloved interview subjects, prayer and spiritual connection, and exercise.

Every morning I jump out of bed excited to have coffee too!

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS?

Don't stress. Everything always works out. LIFE LESSON LEARNED THIS YEAR? Selfbelief, discipline, and having faith brings about success.

Believe it or not, 2020 has been my most successful year yet because I never stopped believing in myself or the world.

(Song of a Siren, pg. 64) 22 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

Recognized for her energetic and vibrant style, Ashley Hylbert is an in-demand portrait, editorial and lifestyle photographer. There is a directness, authenticity and electricity conveyed in her images, which results in a connectedness between subject and viewer. She has steadily immersed herself in capturing her subjects in her unique style. Her work can be found throughout the pages of our magazine as we just cannot get enough of her.

ABOVE: In between takes with Karen Elson. Check out Courtney's styling for our cover shoot on page 64.

LIFE LESSON LEARNED THIS

WELLNESS ESSENTIAL YOU SWEAR BY? Sleep. WHAT ARE THREE THINGS THAT ARE VITAL TO YOUR DAY? Meditation,

coffee, and laughter. WHAT IS YOUR SELF CARE APPROACH?

It is a MUST, if I don’t refuel myself with good nutrition, exercise, sleep, a beauty treatment here and there and some pure, unadulterated FUN, my life turns into a slog rather than an exciting adventure. LIFE LESSON LEARNED THIS YEAR? Expect the unexpected.

(Neighborhoods, pg. 124)

COURTNEY KIVELA ROBINSON Well-traveled FIT graduate Courtney Kivela Robinson has been lending her well-articulated perspectives to fashion 20+ years.

Her work has been featured in the world’s leading fashion magazines, including L’Officiel, Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar UK, and US Glamour, where she was a fashion sittings editor.

WHAT IS YOUR SELF-CARE APPROACH? Laugh, and laugh

out loud at that. Back in early April, creating san outlet to be able to do this (ummmmm, secret Instagram account?

Check!) did the trick, but I'm now finding laughter everywhere (and yes, laughing at myself continues to work like a charm.)

YEAR? I've learned to let go (and also let loose once in a while). Life is way too short, which has always been my mantra, but it has been especially meaningful and more true than ever this year.

2020 has taught me how vital mindfulness is, and how it positively affects us in our mind, body and soul. MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2021? Looking forward to an

amazing year, with constant creativity being inspired from everywhere. I really believe that 2021 will be a continuation of this—a new era, a new world, with new and changed hopes.

And fun fun fashion! Pulled from the past, the present and the future. WHAT THREE THINGS ARE VITAL TO YOUR DAY? Water with freshly

squeezed lemon, triple shot skim latte, and hugs and kisses from my beautiful family.

(Song of a Siren, pg. 64)

A MODERN THROWBACK WITH STYLE-FORWARD EXPERIENCES Located in the heart of Music City’s night life scene, Dream Nashville balances spirit and sophistication with sleek design, vibrant restaurants and bars, and ever-attentive service.

210 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219 | 615-622-0600 dreamhotels.com/nashville | @dreamnashville

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 23

FOUNDING EDITOR Stacie Standifer DIRECTOR OF BRAND DEVELOPMENT Lauren Hocker DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENTS Lacey Keally EDITORIAL CONTENT MANAGER Devan Brown ART DIRECTOR AND DESIGNER Alaina Mullin KEY CONTRIBUTOR: FEATURES & SOCIAL MEDIA Jami-lyn Fehr Hall CONTROLLER Kimberly Higdon

CONTRIBUTORS Brian Allison | Jon-Paul Bruno | Giovanni Delgado Emily Dorio | Douglas Friedman | Lily Hansen Ashley Hylbert | Kristen Mayfield | Tim Nichols Marty Paoletta | Cody Parnell | Emily Minton Redfield Courtney Kivela-Robinson |Paige Rumore | Colleen Runné Leslie Stephens | Morgan Wisted

GENERAL The entire publication is available for sharing at no charge on NashvilleEdit.com. There are no subscriptions available at this time as print editions are distributed through a specific controlled mail and delivery program. A select number of copies are held for complimentary distribution at events for our charity and community partnerships. For these requests, please reach out to lacey@nashvilleedit.com.

RETAIL The Nashville Edit is available for purchase at Parnassus Books and White’s Mercantile (Green Hills, 12th South and Franklin locations) INQUIRIES General inquiries can be sent to info@nashvilleedit.com.

Submissions on editorial items should be directed to editorial staff. Advertising inquiries and media kit requests should be directed to lauren@nashvilleedit.com.

The magazine is published three times per year and is a division of The Nashville Edit media company, a subsidiary of Stacie J. Standifer, LLC. This business is licensed through the State of Tennessee.

THE NASHVILLE EDIT Metallic chartreuse sequin sleeveless v-neck gown with diamanté waist belt, GUCCI; wahite gold diamond 24 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM “star” earrings, VINCENT PEACH

55 Music Square East Nashville, TN 37203

It’s in the details.

Finely appointed private residences with resort-style amenities and hotel services, for discerning buyers seeking ease and elegance in everyday life.

Delivering Fall 2021 | From the mid-$500s to $2 million+ Private sales gallery showings and virtual introductions available, by appointment. broadwestresidences.com 615.925.3875

ON THE COVER KAREN ELSON is the ultimate professional with hundreds of shoots for magazine covers and fashion campaigns to her credit. She and her team had incredible suggestions, enjoyed the day, and were flexible, open to Edit's needs.

Karen and the crew noshed on healthy salads and pizzas from TRUE FOOD KITCHEN for a lunch break, and a significant amount of water was consumed by the time we called it a wrap. The setting, the people, and the model's versatility made for what we call the perfect shoot!

THE LOCATION PHOTOS BY JAMI-LYN FEHR HALL

We were lucky enough to have the entire SAINT ELLE event and studio space to ourselves on shoot day. Over 8,000 square feet of room plus outdoor options gave the team room to spread out. The modern building also includes ideal rooms for changing, set up, and prep and expansive bars for storing the food and beverage on hand. This Wedgewood Houston neighborhood gem was new to us but now on the top of our list for events and photoshoots—there's nothing else like it in the city. Take a virtual tour on thesaintelle.com.

THE VIBE A relaxed set with lots of laughter: JO MALONE LONDON candles burning and background music reflecting our model's unique tastes kept everyone energized throughout the day. Find the complete playlist 'Karen Elson Cover' on nashvilleedit.com this month for a little celebrity sound to pump up your next celebration.

JO MALONE LONDON incense and embers scented candle

EDEN INGLE PHOTO

THE CLOTHES "The inspiration behind this shoot is the many angles of Karen's amazing life," says stylist COURTNEY KIVELA ROBINSON, "We wanted to illustrate these facets together in a fashion story. She's released a new book celebrating her iconic career as a true supermodel and musician and her personal memoirs."

VALENTINO FALL 2020

26 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

Edgy, retro-glam, boho... yet minimalist. This is our Karen Elson inspiration. — Courtney Kivela Robinson, stylist

Cream multi-printed caftan dress & black and nude slingback heels by GUCCI

CRAFTED MASTERFULLY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 27

KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY AGED IN XO COGNAC BARRELS. 45.2% ALC. BY VOL. THE WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLERY VERSAILLES, KY. Woodford Reserve is a registered trademark.©2019 Brown-Forman. All rights reserved.

ON THE COVER

Face map sketch by COLLEEN RUNNÉ

KAREN'S LOOK

THE GLAM Having a fine artist and makeup master on hand is such a bonus, and COLLEEN RUNNÉ did not disappoint, even using her talents to give us complete sketches for her looks postshoot (see the exclusive skin and makeup detail from start to finish on nashvilleedit. com). GIOVANNI DELGADO, who was also behind the gorgeous look for Kacey Musgrave's on our Holiday 2019 cover, used some choice Oribe products and a slew of styling tools and irons to mold Karen's signature red mane for transformations between each look.

FACE: Dior BACKSTAGE Face and Body Foundation, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, and Lancôme Absolue Powder Radiant Smoothing Powder in Absolue Pearl. EYE: MAC Cosmetics Art Library in Flamboyant and Pat McGrath Labs eyeshadow palette.LIP: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Infatuated Red.CHEEK: Chanel Joues Contraste shade In Love. Find all at Dillard's and Sephora in The Mall at Green Hills.

THE INSPIRATION "The inspiration for Karen's look was her new book, The Red Flame. She has the most beautiful skin, which I wanted to keep luminous, transparent, no heavy foundation coverage."

— Colleen Runné

THE ACCESSORIES We chose beautiful pieces to complement the wardrobe, from fine dainty diamonds and liquid gold for the soft and monochromatic looks to fun standout pieces in mixed metals and eclectic shapes such as stars and lips with the Bohemian ensembles.

Fire Opal Ring, VINCENT PEACH

COVER CREDITS Sheer tulle scarf-tie blouse, DOROTHEE SCHUMACHER, from HERO BOUTIQUE; Matte satin cross-back camisole with spaghetti straps, JADE, from E. ALLEN; camel leather pleated pant, ETRO, from GUS MAYER; "liquid gold" stud earrings, CLARK HELDMAN from H. AUDREY Photography by EMILY DORIO Styling by COURTNEY KIVELA ROBINSON Hair by GIOVANNI DELGADO Makeup by COLLEEN RUNNÉ Stylist's Assistant: LESLIE STEPHENS

Selling can be overwhelming.

Lighten your load with Lipman Elevate.

Selling your home can feel overwhelming, but not when you have a program like Lipman Elevate at your fingertips. Our new concierge service was created with you in mind: to help you sell your home faster, at a higher price.

Our program instantly elevates your space without the hassle.

From painting and flooring to staging and packing, we make the home selling process easy and seamless. Our experienced agents understand your long list of “to do’s” when it comes to preparing for a sale, and they are excited to extend our array of concierge services to lighten your load.

What makes Lipman Elevate different than other concierge programs? We will front the cost of your pre-sale home improvements with no interest or hidden fees, and you’ll repay the money spent at the time of closing. It’s that simple.

Contact one of our trusted real estate professionals today to learn how Lipman Elevate can help you.

lipmanelevate.com

2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite C-104 Nashville, TN 37215 | 615.463.3333 Each RE/MAX Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

N A S H V I L L E ’S N E W E ST E V E N T S PA C E

E D E N I N G L E P H OTO | @ E D E N I N G L E P H OTO

SAI N T

ELLE

1 4 2 0 3 R D AV E N U E S. | TH E S A I N TE L L E .C O M | @ TH E S A I N TE L L E

society |

society

TRAILBLAZERS | CELEBRITIES AND CHARITIES | NEWCOMERS TO KNOW

Artist, actor & family man Charles Esten

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 31

24 hours with

Ebie McFarland

24 hours with the gorgeous public relations powerhouse behind the biggest names and personalities in entertainment.

When EBIE MCFARLAND enters a room the first thing you notice is her glow. Yes, part of that is her amazing skin (ONA SKINCARE and great genes), but her spirit also calms and warms you up, which is likely why she’s known as one of the best entertainment publicists in the industry. A Vanderbilt grad, Ebie launched her now wildly successful independent agency in 2007 after building a personal reputation among artists when working under others. One of her first signs, DARIUS RUCKER (and his band Hootie and the Blowfish), is still on her roster 15 years later. He’s not alone as she’s trusted with publicity and projects for some of the top names in the business. A few of her long-term clients include GEORGE STRAIT, KENNY CHESNEY, ERIC CHURCH, ASHLEY MCBRYDE, KELLIE PICKLER, LORETTA LYNN, BRANTLEY GILBERT, CHASE RICE, and a slew of other performers in all genres. Ebie and the savvy team she’s curated also handle special events and promotions for Gaylord’s properties such as the RYMAN and BLAKE SHELTON’S OLE RED venue.

While her business operations have shifted during the pandemic, she tells us she’s just extremely grateful for having such established, loyal clients that continue to need her services during an otherwise ‘dark’ time in the live music world. While pre-quarantine her weeks were often filled with red-eye flights for major network morning and late night shows or concerts (and crazy-early call times), she’s found balance in spending more time in Nashville with her staff and her handsome husband Jon-Paul at their West Meade residence. It’s given her time to listen to what’s happening in the world so that she can continue to shape the stories her clients need to tell in an authentic way that resonates with friends and fans. To say she’s the best at what she does is an understatement, as Ebie puts a thoughtful and creative touch on everything she produces. That even extends to the clever name of her business, ESSENTIAL BROADCAST MEDIA, which just happens to have the same initials as her name. Easy to remember and hard to forget—that’s Ebie in a nutshell.

8:30AM “Starting my day off right, I pop into JUICE BAR BELLE MEADE and grab a Mean Greens or Green Smoothie. These are my grab-onthe-go essentials if we don’t juice at home that morning.”

9:00AM “I’m off and running with my day.

My typical schedule usually entails a series of strategy calls with clients, record label Zoom meetings (the new norm), virtual coffee and happy hours with booking agents or media writers/editors, and connecting interviews and calls with clients (whether in Australia or Bali—time zones be damned)!”

12:00PM “Our offices are near Belmont and Hillsboro Village, and we often cater in lunch. Our current favorites are orders from PROPER BAGEL or TAQUERIA DEL SOL in 12th South.”

2:30PM “Instead of an afternoon coffeepick-me-up, I like to pop into ONA SKINCARE for a cold 3 minutes of cryotherapy. It’s a quick way to boost my energy and makes me feel like I did something for myself.”

4:30PM “I’m with DARIUS RUCKER on set while he films a performance for the upcoming CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS special on ABC Network.

Between takes, we discuss his new video launch and upcoming taping schedule which formerly meant trips to LA, NYC and beyond. For now, it’s either via Zoom, Skype or Facetime.”

7:00PM "My husband and I love to take our shih tzu to EDWIN WARNER PARK near our house for walks before the sun sets. After that, most evenings are spent on the back patio winding down with a glass of red wine. My husband is from Carmel, California, so we favor Napa reds (CHAPPELLET is a personal favorite)."

9:30PM “I love winding down with a CENTR meditation. We helped launch CHRIS HEMSWORTH’S health and wellness app (Centr) in the U.S. The sleep stories are short, so it’s a great way to unwind if I’m not otherwise engaged in a novel or finishing up a podcast episode started in transit earlier that day.”

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 33

SCHEDULE A SERVICE TODAY Botox and Filler | Microneedling | Threads | Laser Treatments | Laser Hair Removal | Kybella Chemical Peels | Biologique Recherche Facials | Cosmetic and Acne Consults

158 ROSA L. PARKS BLVD, NASHVILLE, TN | COMPLEXIONNASHVILLE.COM | (615) 757-8060

One of our city’s most INNOVATIVE developers Alex Marks opens up about his notable projects downtown and BEYOND.

BY JAMI-LYN FEHR HALL His family’s history in real estate stretches from California to Tennessee and everywhere in between, but Nashville is where he’s chosen to truly make his mark. As his independent company Royal Investment thrives, Alex Marks shares a bit of insight over breakfast at the Dream hotel, one of his most notable development projects. As the light pours in through the windows of the reimagined space that is now Stateside Kitchen, Alex dishes on his background, family life and what drives his passion for real estate reinvention.

TNE: What brought you to Nashville?

Alex Marks: In 2004 we were flying through town and we were just looking for property outside of California; real estate that had upside potential and that wasn’t overpriced by population, like much of California was and still is. The friendly Tennessee business climate immediately caught our attention.

TNE: Can you elaborate on your family’s history in real estate development? How far back does it go?

AM: My family was built upon several generations of cattle ranching, which requires you to either own or lease a great mass of land. The cattle market has gone up and down over the years. Due to the volatility, in the early 1980’s we transitioned to developing real estate. That involved looking at municipalities and cities around the country to understand what the highest and best use of a property is. So, from ranchland, which we still own a lot of, as well as residential, commercial, and industrial— it is quite diverse. The underlying aspect of our business has always been the value of real estate.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 35

TNE: For the outsider, it seems like developers have a crystal ball as to finding their next property, but what’s the reality?

AM: It depends on how you look at it. I'm always seeking opportunities versus just filling the bucket of, ‘Hey, you know what? I'm going to go buy this just to own it.’ I've got to go look at something like [the Dream] and see where the diamond in the rough is because that's the fun part. You visit and realize, ‘Oh wow, these buildings have been sitting here since 1930 and nobody has been in them.’ They were in such bad shape that not even the homeless want to live here.’ Everybody else would walk through and say, ‘ I don't know what to do with this.’ Being a developer, everybody thinks it's glamorous. It's not. It's tough and it's high risk financially. You've got to deal with so many people who question your vision. And then when you're done, you still have to run the new project and continue to make it profitable.

There is no crystal ball. It’s a calculated risk just like life. Ultimately, the process is outweighing the risks versus rewards.

TNE: How did you have your vision for the Dream hotel? It’s clear this space was rather dilapidated at the time you purchased it.

AM: It was being able to negotiate and purchase multiple buildings to create efficiencies required to make the numbers work. The City of Nashville was very helpful and realized our vision, which was foreign coming from California. Hiring people much smarter than myself to analyze and design it was also key. We had a vast team of talented architects and designers from local architects ESA to New York, Meyer Davis, who did an incredible job recreating what is now a historic but also modern jewel. Putting the right team together was key, but we heard ‘no’ often.

For the first two years, I heard ‘no’ from so many people, including banks, investors and city officials who all said “No, you can't do it.’

The rapid growth of the local economy helped.

Nashville hotel room rates continued to increase in the area, and we hoped to bring in a New York quality and feel that differentiated us from our competition.

36 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

TNE: In what part of the process did the Dream as a hotel brand come in?

AM: We were actually going down the road with a different hotel brand, and it just wasn't working out. We interviewed five different firms, some of which were more branded flags.

We wanted to stay boutique. Dream was the last one we met with for consideration. They came in and presented to our board, jetlagged from having just flown in from the Middle East. They blew us away with their passion for

My GOAL is to make sure that our YOUTH, whatever nationality, race, or demographic background, are all extended the same OPPORTUNITY to experience the things we’ve been FORTUNATE to have. hospitality. There was a passion for both hotel and food and beverage, which many don’t specialize in. They treated it as our property, which it is and shared our view for insisting on high standards. We had a similar vision for the preservation and revitalization of historic Printers Alley.

TNE: What’s your favorite space in this hotel?

AM: Probably Stateside Kitchen because there are so many different aspects to it. I’m familiar with every facet of the space. I know these floor tiles came from Brazil, how long it took to lay them, and all of the details involved with everything behind the bar. In here there's a lot of vibe and fun, whether it's a Monday or Friday night. It also comes alive on Saturday mornings for the reservation-only brunch (who

knew?). Something is going on all the time. We always have uplifting music piped in, and the skylight makes it a year-round location versus something seasonal like a rooftop bar. This allows you to come in for lunch, staying until 3pm over few drinks without feeling guilty.

TNE: Do you have any other projects on the radar?

AM: Yes and no. Unlike many professions, developers don't (or shouldn’t) really reveal projects until they’re ready to announce publicly because there's a lot of aspects involved. I will say that Nashville is still very hot. If people are running around looking for pandemic bargains, it’s probably still not the spot to be seeking a bargain. It hasn't been for about 10 years. On that note, anything I’m exploring still has to have a value-added component. It's got to be a place people want to go to and to be a part of, not a square box.

Stay tuned and be patient for my next reveal.

TNE: Can you elaborate on a few other Royal Investments projects?

AM: Over the years I’ve owned and developed nearly 1,000 residential units in Williamson County, selling most of them over time.

I’ve been involved with several commercial buildings in downtown Nashville, most of which have also been sold. I’m invested in several Nashville based technology startups in addition to real estate holdings.

TNE: What charitable organizations are you supporting now?

AM: Organizations that involve kids—helping children with disadvantages or those who need an extra hand. I'm one of six siblings and my wife Kris and I have three of our own. As I was taught growing up, my goal is to make sure that our youth, whatever nationality, race or demographic background are all extended the same opportunity to experience the things we’ve been fortunate to have [continued on page 140].

Time to slow down and savor the tranquil beauty of the season.

Be festive and give the gift of Bouchaine wines.

N A PA VA L L E Y  C A R N E R O S E S T A T E G R O W N  S U S T A I N A B LY F A R M E D  F A M I LY O W N E D 1 0 7 5 B U C H L I S TAT I O N R O A D , N A PA , C A L I F O R N I A | 8 0 0 . 6 5 4 .W I N E | 7 0 7. 2 5 2 . 9 0 6 5 | B O U C H A I N E . C O M

T A S T I N G R O O M O P E N D A I LY

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 37

| society

BY STACIE STANDIFER PHOTO BY ALAINA MULLIN She’s an uber-organized, perfectly groomed and glammed mother with strict ideals on her family’s behavior. With a long history in the pageant arena, including several top crowns to her credit, in Allison’s mind, presentation is everything. He’s unpredictable, not regimented, and known for making even the most severe topic absolutely hysterical. Everyone who’s ever worked or socialized with Jay is aware that his quick-witted, honest humor defines his personality, and he’s loved for it. He’s experienced every type of accolade during his music career with Rascal Flatts and is an astounding performance artist. But when he’s home, it’s all about being the fun (and funny) dad—and that’s where things get interesting.

Jay and Allison DeMarcus go beyond the typical reality show with their family’s Netflix adventures

38 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY KIMBERLY STINCHCOMB NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 39 JAY'S STYLIST: RENEE LAYHER

| society

The couple’s popular Netflix series, DeMarcus Family Rules, has been the center of many dinner table conversations within (and outside of) the music industry household. In a fresh but utterly believable way, Allison and Jay show the struggles of what happens when a touring artist comes off the road for any long stretch. It’s an adjustment that all of us in that type of relationship understand well and have become beyond familiar with during the long months of quarantine. They may have filmed the initial season prior to lockdown, but the timing couldn’t be better for audiences to be able to stream something that brings laughter to the situation that’s so relatable to life in the new normal.

impressive on the show. That is especially true for their son Dylan who says things that are so funny it’s hard to believe he came up with it on his own. Jay says the crew has been in stitches laughing over the oddball things he says, and Allison tells me that they have to cut much of it because he says something that just shouldn’t be for public view. The couple shares that they’ve been asked if the more ‘questionable’ statements the boy makes are scripted—and the answer is ‘there’s no way we could or would write this stuff.”

He’s just a little funny man, taking after his father- but in my opinion, his irreverence absolutely makes the show.

Upon rewatching the first episode, you can see why the DeMarcus family got this gig.

Even though there’s not a professional actor in the bunch… they’re good on camera. Naturally so. Stream it!

It’s also a good distraction for the family to have when the entertainment industry is so quiet. Pre-pandemic Rascal Flatts had announced that If you haven’t put this on your 2020 was their 20th anniversary watch list, it’s something you’ll together and their last year as a touring want to plan on absorbing in band, planning to end it on a high full during any holiday and note. Clearly, that 2020 celebration winter downtime. Something tour didn’t happen with the state of I learned during chats with the world, and that’s impacted their the couple (full disclosure— household and thousands of others they are longtime personal in Nashville. “I’m about three months friends) is that with Netflix, away from working at Starbucks,” Jays the ratings not only have to do says as a UPS man brings stacks of with international popularity boxes to their front door. He’s making a with viewership but count on joke about Allison’s spending but with a the audience absorbing every serious follow up discussing the effects single episode. We knew the of lost revenue from lost performances. streaming giant wanted us to “I know a number of incredibly talented – Brett White, critic for Decider.com binge-watch. It turns out that session players who’ve been on every continuing seasons depend famous album out there that are at the on it, along with capturing viewers in countries across the globe. level of needing assistance from food banks. It’s that serious,” he From a time investment and business venture perspective, this is tells me, shaking his head. That also extends to all of the people quite a challenge. Jay says that it’s much easier on a cable network working behind the scenes, handling equipment for tours, and where ratings are measured within the US, which is the target struggling to make it as new artists. While the virus and economic audience for this type of material without a doubt. subject is one of concern and sadness, the DeMarcus’ stay focused on being positive and having fun, solving daily problems and The show has gotten all kinds of kudos and comments from arguments as best they can with a dose of humor guaranteed. fans and even critics reluctant to admit that they really like it.

It’s comic relief in its best form and so worth watching, probably It’s like a well-written scripted sit-com with believable characters more than once. who’re great on camera. Jay and Allison are both used to dazzling audiences, so it’s their children who come out as surprisingly

40 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

WE’RE IN THE BUSINESS OF CELEBRATION Flavor Catering is Nashville’s premier full service catering company for weddings, social, corporate, and music industry events.

F L AVO R C AT E R S .C O M | (61 5) 2 5 8 - 5 5 5 9 | I N F O @ F L AVO R C AT E R S .C O M

BREAKING boundaries

A brave new generation of business founders rising above challenges to launch new concepts in uncertain times.

BY JAMI-LYN FEHR HALL

While countless business owners struggled to keep established companies alive during the pandemic's uncertain times, millions of people are bravely launching new concepts within the United States. In fact, across the country, over 3.2 million applications for employer ID numbers have been submitted to date, which is staggering compared to the 2.3 million filed this time last year, according to the US Census Bureau. As for Nashville, the quiet time allotted

42 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

by quarantine allowed many creatives in our city to flesh out plans for dream businesses, myself included. Through checking in with friends over the past few months, I discovered I wasn't alone in the business development process and grew more inspired with each conversation I had. Here's what to expect from a few of Nashville's newest courageously hopeful endeavors: MODISTE, Nadar, 270 Media & Co., and Saint Maide.

society |

MODISTE Remember when the year 2020 sounded like it would be monumental due to its resounding futuristic tone? I think it's safe to say it hasn't panned out remotely (no pun intended) how we thought it would. When quarantine began in March, some found inspiration to work out and eat healthier or to focus on home improvement projects. For some unbeknownst reason, amidst the tragic and insurmountable business closures, I felt called to explore starting a business of my own—MODISTE: An upscale destination for emerging and established womenswear designers not found anywhere else in Nashville. The process is (present tense, as it is still very much a work in progress) exhilarating and nervewracking. However, waves of self-doubt are somewhat subdued by Zoom calls with enthusiastic fashion brand representatives and designers—many any of those who I would never have expected to be open to working with a 24-year-old with a vision for elevating Nashville's fashion scene.

I discovered that the entire fashion industry has shifted in many ways in an attempt to roll with COVID-19's punches, starting at the manufacturing level—causing a chain reaction ending with retailers attempting to sell to the consumer. The in-person shopping experience has changed to accommodate cautionary measures that come with a pandemic. Unfortunately,

this has led to numerous boutiques either closing or shifting to selling wares exclusively online. For MODISTE, this meant temporarily shelving my original idea of opening a brick and mortar flagship location. This change of plans forced me to focus on unique brand curation (By Far, Bevza, Dion Lee, Les Coyotes de Paris, and Dorothee Schumacher, to name a few) and offer exceptional services in order to entice a Nashville clientele despite being exclusively online.

Being forced to only view collections and fashion shows on a computer screen rather than in person leaves a lot to the imagination. Details such as the fabric texture, weight or the drape of garments shown aren't always easy to determine online, which isn’t to the designers' benefit.

Last February, I was attending New York Fashion Week on an editorial assignment.

Last month I had five digital showroom appointments as a retailer. Attempting to successfully fulfill the buyer's role without touching or even seeing the clothes first-hand adds another level of concern to an already tricky learning curve. Lastly, making matters slightly more complicated, many Pre-Fall collections shifted to function as the Fall collections, and in turn, forcing Fall collections to become Pre-Spring and so on. Given that MODISTE is set to launch online this

season, I have no choice but to ride the waves from this domino-effect mentioned above, which means accepting that a delayed launch is inevitable due to lack of inventory.

Despite the hurdles that have presented themselves over the past few months, I remained determined to bring MODISTE to life. Having moved to Music City several years ago, I've found that while Nashville has an abundance of fashionable women, many are still lacking places to shop specializing in offering new labels that genuinely resonate. Many of these locals often elect to shop in Miami, New York, Atlanta or even Los Angeles. While my desire for an upscale shopping experience inspired MODISTE's creation, I believe that many women in this area will echo my passion and excitement for a welledited collection of unique and exquisitely designed pieces.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 43

| society GRACE PENIX and NADAR While it’s no surprise that professional model Grace Penix thrives in front of the camera donning the latest fashions, behind closed doors during quarantine she grew determined to become Nashville’s purveyor of top-notch swim and loungewear.

In early 2020 while Grace was working in the Big Apple, she was struck with what she described as an "a-ha moment": creating swimwear that actually fits. While Grace had toyed with the idea of launching a brand, it wasn't until that point in New York City that she realized what she needed to create.

In the middle of a restaurant on a work trip to Chicago, she began conceptualizing and sketching out designs. The world shut down her plans with quarantines starting a few days later, which put an abrupt stop to her modeling assignments. The silver lining from her modeling opportunities being put on hold was the free time to push her Nadar concept forward. Because Grace has chosen to have her pieces manufactured in Los Angeles, her sampling process has

proceeded without the significant delays that come with manufacturing overseas. That doesn't exclude her from having fears or doubts in both herself and her developing brand. Determining the "why" for Nadar is an essential component of what keeps Grace moving forward. This, coupled with friends that keep her accountable and support from those who she's shared her thoughts with: "Whenever I have those days of contemplating why I ever got myself into this whole thing, I remember the people who believe in this."

Swimwear fit has been a personal pain point for Grace, and many of the women she's spoken to about Nadar have been in agreement. In addition to the fact, Nashville is landlocked; this specific design struggle is forcing Grace to push the typical swimwear design boundaries.

She's aiming "to create something beyond the pool and beach—pieces that aren't just going to sit in your closet 90% of the time but can be integrated into your wardrobe weekly." Nadar is situated to launch Spring 2021 with a handful of pieces crafted from unique fabrics in even more unique silhouettes designed specifically with individual women's bodies in mind.

JORDON PETTY and 270 MEDIA & CO. In February of 2020, Jordon Petty quit her agency job, where she served as the Director of Digital Marketing and Strategy with a plan to "dive into artist management fulltime to see where it would lead." Then, the pandemic hit. Like most industries, the music business was impacted deeply. With artists no longer able to tour or perform, the need for social media, content and press of any kind felt futile. Jordon knew she needed to pivot in her pursuit of this endeavor but wasn't exactly sure what that looked like.

"Candidly," she said, "I kept shutting down the idea of owning my own media company out of fear, and I give credit to my family and friends who constantly encouraged me to take a leap of faith." As far as pushing forward, Jordon didn't have a choice. Despite any fears she had, she didn't "have a plan B to fall back on" and didn't focus on the negative. Jordon explains, "it would have been easy to focus on the fact that I am a woman on her own, and unemployed in a global pandemic without a clue on how to start a business. However, that wouldn't get me very far."

Now that she's on her feet, Jordon has found her happiness lies in choosing who she works with. She only chases projects and clients that she's truly passionate about, including The Dry House, Music City Baseball, Ray Fulcher and Tyler and Hayley Hubbard among others. The music world is where Jordon's heart lies, and she can't imagine a career in any other industry. She loves the hustle and the rollercoaster of emotions entertainment includes, and flourishes while helping friends that are "chasing that neon rainbow" alongside her by bringing their visions to life.

She moved to Nashville immediately after graduating from the University of Kentucky to pursue this path and "has never looked back."

Well, except for the fact that her business name nods at her beloved hometown. After toying with what felt like over 100 names, she settled on '270', the area code where she grew up. According to Jordon, "putting that in the forefront of what I do each day forces me never to forget where I came from."

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JERRY ATNIP

V I S I T O U R N E W L O C AT I O N I N T H E N A S H V I L L E D E S I G N C O L L E C T I V E | 5 1 0 M E R R I T T AV E N U E , S U I T E 1 0 5 | R O B I N R A I N S . C O M

| society

TENNESSEE JANE and SAINT MAIDE The pandemic has put many people out of work and requires a fair amount of ingenuity to keep busy. This statement certainly rings true for Tennessee Jane. After she lost her job amidst COVID-19 cutbacks, she found herself on a plane from San Francisco to Nashville, which she now calls home. She was looking to work in a creative field after years of experience from positions in fashion, makeup artistry, and marketing in New York City. One late evening during quarantine, Tennessee (Tenny for short) found herself struck with inspiration, and the idea for Saint Maide was born. She set the goal of starting her own business early on in life but didn't expect

46 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

it to happen until some time in the future. She has astutely dubbed 2020 as "the great accelerator"— noting that this venture "took shape far sooner than [she] thought it would." Ready or not, Tenny decided to launch Saint Maide into the world market.

During a time where everything seems fleeting to all of us, Tenny looks to dried floral arrangements, both elaborate and simple, as a source of perpetual beauty with a touch of nostalgia. In creating Saint Maide, she aims to inspire the joy of being reminded of a floral arrangement you'd find at your parents' or grandparents' homes as a child. She's now selling her dried botanical concept in arranged form from her Nashville base, shipping across the country. Saint Maide may be a new business but working with flowers isn't new for Tenny.

While working and living in NYC, she began to dabble in a floral design side hustle as a means of staying creative in her downtime. She knew from the start that she didn't want to dive into the traditional floral route of only designing for grand events. Instead, she was attracted to dried bouquets' unique nature and the (quite literally) lasting impression they have.

The story of Saint Perpetua had always inspired Tenny, so she wasn't surprised when the name Saint Maide popped into her mind late one evening during quarantine. She describes the name as "both divinely inspired and feminine, which speaks to both the inspiration and intention behind the brand." With each arrangement, she gives extended life to the flowers and botanicals that she incorporates into various styles, which is also entirely sustainable for the environment compared to fresh florals. Tenny could not have been more spot-on in describing one word that defines Saint Maide—reincarnation. Her airy, natural creations are the perfect addition to any home (or office), adding timeless appeal, color, and texture to any space.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 47

| society

C

h arles “Chip” E sten has been drawn to the entertainment industry since he was a child, noting the places that television and movies could take him or make him feel. It wasn’t until Esten saw Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rocky that he felt the true spark that inspired him to move towards this career path.

He attributes the instant bolt of interest to “lights flickering on a screen” and the carefully crafted script paired with powerful acting. With this combination of elements, a seed was planted and ‘sort of stayed in there and turned into the thought that maybe [he] would like to do something like this, make people feel something.’ He took the leap to Hollywood with zero experience, prior validation or hiring promises. Talk about a leap of faith! He was young, not in a rush, and knew it was something he wanted to try. “I wanted to work in acting and music.

Ultimately the two came full circle.” These elements were significant in roles he’s played including Buddy Holly on London’s West End or stealing our hearts in his starring role as Deacon Clayborne on the show

48 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

BY JAMI-LYN FEHR HALL Nashville. He was also a favorite for HBO’s Big Love fans as a Mormon district attorney and in his stint of appearances on The Office among other acting projects. Most recently he’s gained acclaim as character Ward Cameron in the Netflix phenomenon, Outer Banks. Whether he’s tackling one of these roles or playing on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, Chip is known to take on each project in stride—making an impact on and off the screen.

TNE: Was there a moment in your career where you felt legitimized in a difficult or peak time in your life?

Charles Esten: One of the earliest jobs I had, I auditioned for in Los Angeles, but it took me to London, England. It was the leading role in the musical, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. I had very little professional acting experience up to that point. I had some musical performance background. I played the guitar and I'd sung in front of audiences, but I knew that this was going to be a very tough round of auditions. They saw a whole lot of

From Hollywood to Music City, Chip Esten always keeps things genuine. people. But eventually, some producers from Britain said that they were going to hire me and fly me over there to one day, eventually take over the title role of Buddy himself. I can vividly remember coming out of the subway station and ascending some stairs. I came out right across the street from the Victoria Palace Theatre and it was just like a movie scene. It was in the fog from a really rainy evening. The clouds were low and the lights from the neon, of the theater itself, from the big BUDDY sign, made the place just glow. I remember looking at that, and just thinking how much it meant that they had seen something in me that led them to think I could drive that very impressive vehicle. And, well, if they thought so then I thought, ‘Yeah, maybe I can.’

TNE: Advice to your 20-year-old-self?

CE: You will never, ever regret being kind.

society |

You will NEVER, ever regret being KIND. TNE: Many of your Nashville fans have noted the stark differences in Deacon’s character to your Outer Banks character, Ward. What has it been like playing what some would call the “bad guy”?

CE: I would say the answer is I don’t play a ‘bad guy,’ I play a guy that has been forced into extreme situations and has done bad things. That was the thing I liked so much about Deacon, especially early on, Deacon did do bad things. Ward doesn’t have less of a heart. You know? For Deacon, there is a whole lot of ‘There, but for the grace of God go, I,’ in terms of challenges he faced, and what he went through. With Ward, I like to think he’s got levels to his character, as opposed to the typical ‘bad guy’ role found in sitcoms. I don't just want to be the crazy guy that goes after the kids. I want to confuse people and make them feel for Ward sometimes. He doesn't encompass evil. Very few people do something without thinking. In their mind, they have a very good reason for doing it. A lot of it is moral confusion that then gets you into a situation where you're either going to give up and let your whole world blow up, which is, I guess, you know, repentance and turning back and, you know, working for forgiveness. Or, you're just going to keep plowing on and decide you're not going back and not going that way. And that's, that's the Ward way (laughing).

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 49

TNE: What was the casting process like for landing Outer Banks, which is now a Netflix sensation?

CE: I actually—you wait your whole career for this. I didn’t even audition for it. The three creators, Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke just called me up and asked me if I wanted to play this guy. They gave me the script and asked me if I’d like to be Ward Cameron.

I'm trying to think back; I think I might've had another offer before, but never for anything quite this big, so that was great, especially for me. I’m such a big fan of television. I've watched it growing up my whole life.

TNE: Local charities closest to your heart?

CE: For me, it's the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because of my daughter, Addie, who was diagnosed with leukemia when she was two and a half. It's because of them she's with us now, and she just turned 21. We are unbelievably grateful to everybody in the medical staff that was there for our daughter, and for all those scientists and researchers and fundraisers that came before. We thank God for them all every single day. And this is just us doing our bit to give back to that organization.

Cancer is my least favorite word in the world, and blood cancer especially, there's something so elemental about it. Not only does that make it so scary, but it also makes its cures so useful in other realms of cancer. We just really love the people at LLS and think they're doing a fantastic job.

Musicians on Call is also a fantastic organization. If Nashville is about anything, it’s about the power of music to lift people up, to save spirits, and to be there when they need it most. I'm not saying it could ever replace medicine, only a fool would think that, but every medical person I know will tell you that music makes a difference. Just being in a cold sterile hospital room, and having somebody in there playing the guitar, singing a song, maybe even with the patient, it's a bit of a transporter/ time machine. For that moment, they don't have to be where they are or sick. Musicians on Call does fantastic work, placing musicians and artists into the places where I think they're needed the most—hospital rooms, hospice

centers and similar environments. I participate and help with many things in the area when asked, but these are the two that are especially close to my heart.

TNE: Merle Haggard or Waylon Jennings?

CE: Oh, that was actually a question for Deacon. I forget what Deacon’s answer was.

For me, (and this is not me comparing them, this is me telling you who was more a part of my life growing up) this comes from my dad, but it’s got to be Waylon. Including his

If Nashville is about anything, it’s about the POWER of music to LIFT people, to SAVE people, to be there when they need it most. relationship with Buddy Holly! He was meant to be on the plane that crashed that cost Buddy his life. I think he flipped a coin with someone for a seat. In any event I admire him because of the work he did with Willie Nelson. I’m also a huge Merle Haggard fan, but you asked to pick one...

TNE: Favorite takeout restaurant in Music City?

CE: Hmm. Well, first of all, it's been a while.

Second, I always feel bad. Like so-and-so's going to see this in here. You know what, when I really get a hankering (he pulls out his phone to pull up the menu), I get the #2 combo at Sonic Drive In. It’s a double cheeseburger with jalapeños and a side of onion rings with a diet coke.

TNE: What do you do that is still analog?

CE: I'm still a very analog musician. I mean, I'll record it on my phone eventually, but even when writing songs, most of the time I just take a pen and scratch it on a piece of paper.

TNE: Apart from more time, what would make the biggest difference to your life?

CE: Less virus. (laughing) I don't want to confuse people and think that I have it or anything. I want to think, and was answering that semi seriously, that hopefully, moving forward this pandemic experience will have made a difference to everybody. I'm a very grateful guy. I'd like to think that I don't take anything for granted, but you look back and you go, well, we all took things for granted.

Things we thought that just were and always would be. So, I like to think that when this is gone, we've hung on to considering how special everything is, whether it's a concert or a movie or a restaurant or having a photo shoot like we are doing now for EDIT. TNE: Your most prized possession?

CE: I lost my father a little over 10 years ago and he was a great influence on me in every way. He led a life where he taught me by owning his own mistakes, facing the things that he had done wrong and ways he wanted to do better. His faith was a huge part of that.

Uh, so he left me his Bible and it is dog-eared and tattered and duct-taped, like it was a life vest that somebody was clinging to. I know he was, and for me, it's incredibly special. I say I read in the morning, that Bible is one of the books, because I can go back and see where he has underlined certain things and highlighted others and written in the margins. In some ways it's like I'm still having a conversation with him. He's saying, ‘Hey, look at this.’ ‘This meant a lot to me.’ ‘I wish I had known this.’

We talked about things you would tell your younger self, but he's telling me these things still through the pages. I have a lot of really wonderful guitars and things like that, but in the end, as gorgeous as they are, they’re just things, and this is the real stuff.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 51

36 Years. 40,000 Designs, Experience Matters 2155 UTOPIA AVE, NASHVILLE, TN 37211 | (615) 742-1955 | CLOSETCOMPANY.COM 52 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

style |

style

KAREN ELSON EXCLUSIVE REVEAL | INSIDE INFLUENCER CLOSETS | SHOPPING SECRETS

Karen Elson styled by Courtney Kivela Robinson at Saint Elle

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 53

54 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

style |

Up close and personal with some of our city’s most fashionable faces.

With all the hype pouring into media platforms around storage and color-coded home organization-tricked-out closets and pantries have become more popular than celebrity chefs. While the world is ordering labels and Lucite boxes to keep up, our curiosity focuses on the private prep spaces of people who always manage to look polished and on-trend, even in workout wear. Going inside their wardrobes was such a treat, as we were able to see not only the organizing systems (or lack thereof) used to mix, match, and accessorize to perfection daily, but also the many vintage, heirloom items and everyday essentials. Closet Envy is an ongoing series on our website as we just can’t get enough. The concept was a team effort starting with stylist Courtney Kivela Robinson and our Editor-in-Chief. Once Jami-lyn Hall grabbed her camera, and Devan Brown jumped on board to style and take notes, an obsession was born. Here are a few highlights from the in-depth web coverage online and some of our picks for what to buy this season to update your own closet collection.

PHOTOS BY JAMI-LYN FEHR HALL | STYLING BY DEVAN BROWN CREATIVE DIRECTION BY COURTNEY KIVELA ROBINSON

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 55

| style

PAMELYN ROCCO As the mastermind behind the party-planning concept BASHERY & CO, Pamelyn brings her bubbly personality to everything she does, even down to the wallpaper in her closet. She aims to provide a fun and light-hearted approach to all aspects of life, but don’t assume she doesn’t mean business. Pamelyn managed to graduate with her MBA at 21, and we’re sure she did it in head-to-toe sequins, too.

PERSONAL style ONLINE SHOPPING: Revolve, Intermix, and Nordstrom. FALL/WINTER CRUSH: I am loving Ulla Johnson dresses right now.

GO-TO DESIGNERS: Ronny Kobo dresses fit me perfectly. Frame t-shirts are so soft, I love those. And for jeans, vintage Levi’s always.

SCENT: I only wear oils, specifically one I got in Tahiti where my husband and I eloped. I was obsessed with one I found at the Four Seasons, and I bought three bottles of it, and we’ve been married 8 years and I’m finally about to run out.

So, we have to go back to Bora Bora to get more oils! DAY BAG: With kids, I don’t even wear a day bag. My bag is a Bandolier phone case with a strap that holds my ID and a few cards.

It’s perfect! I also have a super casual Prada crossbody that I wear but that’s it. EVENING BAG: YSL clutch. STILETTO: I love Matisse or Sam Edelman! They’re not too expensive which is good, because I destroy heels. ALWAYS BULK BUYING: Silk scrunchies. You need to be careful with what you put in your hair when you get older! It just breaks off. FASHION ICON: Currently, Zendaya. I’m obsessed with every single thing she wears. FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO SHOP: H. Audrey.

56 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

IN the CLOSET HERO ITEMS: Definitely my Celine bag, sequin blazer, and my Ronny Kobo dress. DAILY UNIFORM: Skinny jeans, sneaks, and a tee. MY LOOK: Modern and feminine with an edge. BEST ORGANIZATION TRICK: How I fold my clothes in drawers.

I fold them, and then roll them so you’re able to see everything in the drawer. If you just fold them flat and stack them, you can only see what’s on top. HANGING UP: Velvet, because clothes don’t slide off of them.

CLOSET I WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE:?Sarah Jessica Parker.

GET her LOOK Lack of Color Hat from E. ALLEN; Vintage Gucci Bag from GUS MAYER

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 57

| style

JALIL ANIBABA Soccer players are known to have an incredible eye for fashion, and defender Jalil Anibaba is no exception. He’s one of Nashville’s newest residents, and once he arrived with the city’s new MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER team, he was sure to bring his effortless sense of style with him.

When he’s not on the pitch, he’s lounging in his newest set of sweats or exploring Nashville in one of his many pairs of beloved sneakers. Catch a glimpse inside Jalil’s closet as he juggles soccer and style.

PERSONAL style ONLINE SHOPPING: I'm not much of an online shopper for my clothes. I like to try things on before I decide to go for the purchase.

LATEST DISCOVERY: My most recent discovery is ROOTED here in Nashville, and I'm very much looking forward to going in and seeing what's up. COLOGNE: Gucci Guilty Pour Homme. BEST SNEAKER BRAND: Nike. BEST DRESS SHOE BRAND: Cole Haan, Stacy Adams, and any nice pair of Chelsea boots. FAVORITE LOCAL PLACES TO SHOP: ROOTED and Citizen for shoes, and Brownlee for loungewear.

58 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

IN the CLOSET HERO ITEMS: My collection of shoes. DAILY UNIFORM: My everyday look typically leans on the athletic wear side because of my job.

That's where my love for sneakers comes in handy the most!

MY LOOK: I would describe my look as adaptable and well rounded. I always try to lace my closet with everything I'll need to be well-equipped for any occasion.

HANGING UP: Simple black hangers. CLOSET I WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE:?Michael B. Jordan.

BEST CLOSET ORGANIZATION TRICK: Color coordination.

GET his LOOK Glasses from BARTON PERREIRA; Terry Pullover from BROWNLEE BATHING CO.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 59

| style

JESSIE BAYLIN This uber-stylish recording artist has an amazing closet that she understandably finds herself spending a fair amount of time in. Whether she’s packing for a trip or accompanying her husband, KINGS OF LEON drummer, Nathan, on European tours, she opts to make an event of it and has friends over for wine and a girl’s night while she packs. After all, her greatest style inspirations are the fashion-forward ladies in her life that keep her in the know and send her must-haves of the season.

PERSONAL style GO-TO DESIGNERS: DÔEN, The Great, Nili Lotan, and Gucci—why not. FASHION ICON: Marianne Faithfull. SCENT: Hermès, Un Jardin Sur Le Nil. ONLINE SHOPPING: Shopbop, Net-A-Porter, Etsy. FALL/WINTER CRUSH: I am eyeing a few vintage jackets on Etsy that I’m not going to talk too much about because I don’t want someone else putting it in their cart. DAY BAG: Old Celine.

EVENING BAG: A cheap clutch I bought on the street in Rio de Janeiro. STILETTO: Gucci, Prada, Jil Sander. ALWAYS BULK BUYING: Organic whole & crushed tomatoes. Oh, and hanky panky panties. FAVORITE LOCAL PLACES TO SHOP: H Audrey, Imogene + Willie. G&G Interiors. WORKOUT WARDROBE: Vintage, (ill-fitting) tees tied up, with lululemon leggings. I just workout at home using The Mirror. PACKING ESSENTIALS: PACKING CUBES! I haven’t traveled without packing cubes in who knows how long. It works with the rolling technique, too. They’re a must. They keep everything separated and organized.

60 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

GET her LOOK

IN the CLOSET

Pre-owned Rolex from KING JEWELERS; J. Brand Denim from E. ALLEN

HERO ITEMS: A silver bomber, velvet blazer, or vintage Japanese tourist jacket.

Love to cover up I suppose. DAILY UNIFORM: A shrunken sweatshirt over a vintage tee with Levis or a sailorstyle wide leg pant & more than likely a sexy Birkenstock. MY LOOK: An ex-pat American living in Italy searching for truffles that’s slightly disheveled but going for that look intentionally. Lots of basics, but not basic. BEST ORGANIZATION TRICK: Hire a professional & don’t let sh*t get out of control in a pile somewhere.

I also keep a donation basket inside the closet so if I try something on that doesn’t suit me anymor—in the basket it goes.

HANGING UP: Velvet hangers, of course.

Wooden for winter coats only. CLOSET I WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE: I would like all the things in Lucy Boynton’s closet.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 61

HUD & MARY KATHRYN HUDSON Mary Kathryn and Hud Hudson are probably one of the city’s most stylish couples, and it isn’t because they’re busy keeping up with the social set. The two spend their downtime in the great outdoors—either enjoying their sprawling farm with the dogs or boating on the lake.

It’s not quite the lifestyle you would expect for a top executive at the glamourous Therapy Systems company, which also encompasses the beauty destinations Private Edition and The Cosmetic Market(s) and a guy with a closet full of top-tier designer clothes. Casual chic in the country has never looked better...or been as much fun than with the Hudson’s.

Her PERSONAL style GO-TO DESIGNERS: I wear many different designers, but for brands, I love Tibi, Rag and Bone, a contemporary brand from the UK called Whistles, and I don't have a ton by the brand, but I love Brunello Cucinelli.

SCENT: Trish McEvoy No.6 for every day or Hermès for evening. ONLINE SHOPPING: Net-a-Porter, Shopbop, Bloomingdale's, Everlane, and Club Monaco. FALL/ WINTER CRUSH: I want a pair of camelcolored vegan leather pants from Emerson Grace, a Ganni leopard dress, tall brown Loeffler Randall boots, and some combat boots. DAY BAG: An Hermès Birkin or a Theory tote bag. EVENING BAG: A Nancy Gonzalez clutch. STILETTO: Stuart Weitzman, Golden Goose, or Loeffler Randall. ALWAYS BULK BUYING: Coats and white shirts. FASHION ICON: Olivia Palermo, Gwyneth Paltrow, and my mother in law, Jamie Stream, and sister in law, Gigi Grimstad. FAVORITE LOCAL PLACES TO SHOP: H. Audrey, Able, Emerson Grace, Nordstrom, UAL, and of course, The Cosmetic Market and Private Edition.

62 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

His PERSONAL style ONLINE SHOPPING: I don't shop for clothes online, only camouflage for hunting. GO-TO DESIGNERS: Hermès and Brunello Cucinelli. SCENT: Hermès Eau d’orange verte. ALWAYS BUYING BULK: White t-shirts. FAVORITE LOCAL PLACES TO SHOP: Haymakers & Co. and Billy Reid. BEST BOOTS: Hermès and Frye.

IN his CLOSET

IN her CLOSET HERO ITEMS: My Hermès Birkin Bag, Rag and Bone leather leggings, Golden Goose sneakers, cashmere sweaters, Burberry kilt, Re/Done and Mother Denim, and an All Saints Leather jacket.

DAILY UNIFORM: Either a great pair of jeans with a jacket and heels or Golden Goose sneakers with cool pants paredback with layered knits and jackets. MY LOOK: My look is pretty classic and polished, but not boring... I like to mix trends with my traditional pieces. BEST ORGANIZATION TRICK: Color coding and organizing by the type of clothing.

HANGING UP: Velvet hangers are a must to save space because our closets are so small. CLOSET WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE: Olivia Palermo or my mother in law, Jamie Stream.

HERO ITEMS: Ralph Lauren leather vests, cashmere sweaters, lots of denim, and cool jackets from various designers like Ralph Lauren and Brunello Cucinelli.

DAILY UNIFORM: Jeans, boots, and a sweater or button-down. Or, an oxford shirt paired with a cool jacket in the fall and winter. MY LOOK: I'm usually dressed for the outdoors. We've got a secret closet where I keep my hunting gear behind a large painting in our entryway.

BEST ORGANIZATION TRICK: My wife! FASHION ICON: Robert Redford.

CLOSET WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE: I like mine.

GET her LOOK Dior Belt Bag from NORDSTROM; Ulla Johnson Leather Trousers from EMERSON GRACE

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 63

| style

You may recognize the face from Chanel and Dior campaigns or countless magazine covers—from Vogue and Elle to Bazaar, W, Nylon, and In Style.

Now she’s revealing the person off of the page with a heartfelt memoir of her struggles to make it as a model and how she finds release through music.

BY LILY HANSEN | PHOTOS BY EMILY DORIO | STYLING BY COURTNEY KIVELA ROBINSON

64 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

Pale blush chiffon sleevless layered gown, JASON WU; white gold diamond hoops and structured tennis bracelet, VINCENT PEACH

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 65

| style

ust a few days after honoring the Edit team by posing for an extensive but super-fun photo shoot, KAREN ELSON was ready for this interview. Her attitude is peppy, lighthearted, and genuinely apologetic for her dodgy internet service and being a few minutes late to the chat. In her sharpas-a-knife RP accent, the eternally polite Brit explains that she got behind because she was bathing her golden retriever.

Unfortunately, the pup had an accident in the dog bed the night before. Yikes! The working mother of two scrubbed the dog and cleaned up the mess in between sending emails and preparing for an Instagram Live event. In short, even though her closet’s overflowing with couture and her friends are among fashion and entertainment royalty, Elson understands what it’s like to spin plates and sometimes let them drop.

Muse to design legends, including Karl Lagerfeld and Tom Ford, photographer Steven Meisel and makeup artist Pat McGrath, she’s been wildly popular with the most reputable names since launching her career at 16. While others have accepted recognition for technically making her into ‘Karen Elson the supermodel,’ it’s obvious after talking with her for two minutes that she is brilliant and was actively involved in creating her brand. Elson is too much of a polymath, sharp thinker, and creative talent to serve as just a muse. She’s also an acclaimed singer-songwriter, coming into recognition as an artist alongside her former spouse, rock star Third Man Records founder Jack White. At the moment, she’s focused on shattering the collective image of what it’s like to live at the top of the fashion food chain. In addition to solo recordings and representing luxury designers, she’s adding author to her resumé. In her debut book, The Red Flame (10/20; Rizzoli NY), Elson shares a brutally honest accounting of her journey on becoming internationally famous, from a troubled childhood to a stream of unfair, abusive encounters and experiences during her 25+ years as a model. Just a hint, it’s even more horrifying and hard to digest at times than you would think. Through it all, this British-born siren has retained her working-class roots to remain grounded, grateful, and impossibly kind. Elson may have become a household name for her translucent complexion, statuesque frame, and fiery red locks, but there is much more to her than meets the eye. At 41, it’s time she told her side of the story.

66 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

THOMAS SCHENK, DUTCH COVER, NO. 25, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2000.

When Elson started discussions with Rizzoli Publications about writing a book, she was crystal clear about her vision. She knew from the start that the book had to be more substantial than a collection of beautiful, powerful photographs. While it does include dozens of curated pictures from her career and life, the book also poetically reveals her truth. The book’s text also demonstrates the fact that she’s a tremendous writer. The book’s story starts with her childhood when at age 7, she began developing an eating disorder due to troubles at home and vicious bullying she experienced from schoolmates and peers about her appearance and status. It’s almost unimaginable that she grew up with people calling Elson fat, ugly and

There were so many people who told me things I wanted to do were IMPOSSIBLE which is why I had no choice but to BELIEVE in myself. worthless, but those labels were frequent as she struggled through her earliest years. Hailing from an impoverished working-class family in the small industrial town in North Manchester, UK, people taunted her for being palecomplexioned and thin-skinned in an environment where showing your emotions wasn’t cool. Being empathic and internalizing the criticism, she knew that she had to ‘get out of dodge,’ vowing to make it as a model and never come back.

She shares details on her transition into the world of modeling and traveling around the world as a teenager. Elson doesn’t airbrush the constant struggle she underwent to create hall-offame-worthy images. She paints a vivid picture of the inhumane mistreatment a model endures to make it, usually at a very young age. To be anointed by the rulers of high fashion’s hierarchy and chosen as a canvas for design visionaries, living on air (instead of food) and going with the flow no matter what’s involved isn’t unusual. In this ‘Wild West’ world of all things, beautiful is sadly just part of the process for many.

“While my songs are deeply personal, which gave me courage, I had to dig even deeper with this book because I wanted to be both honest and vulnerable,” she explains. “In real life, I’m attracted to people who don’t just show the shiny, happy sides of themselves.” While her goal was to address complicit activity in the modeling arena that only strong regulations and enforcement will change, she also wanted to reveal her tenacious spirit. Most importantly, she wanted to emphasize that she has walked a true path. “There were so many people who told me things I wanted to do were impossible, which is why I had no choice but to believe in myself,” she explains. She had to work hard and build her career to survive—as she grew up poor and had no other support or any kind of backup plan.

Her moral compass and self-belief carried her forward, and that same internal confidence continues to define Elson today.

TIM WALKER, VOGUE ITALIA, JUNE 2003.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 67

KAREN ELSON ON SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC IN THE CITY SHE LOVES THE MOST POSITIVE THING ABOUT 2020: I rediscovered my love for music and felt like I was 14—sitting in my bedroom, learning how to play new songs on my guitar.

It reminded me of what a big music fan I am.

Playing and writing brought me so much joy when the world was feeling chaotic and scary.

Rediscovering music was everything for me.

THE UPSIDE OF QUARANTINE: Being a homeschool mum for a short period and closely connected with my children daily was heartwarming. It was also admittedly challenging at times! We got a dog during the timeframe, which was great! I have not stopped moving and traveling since age 16, so having the privilege to sit down and take stock of who I am and what matters to me while others were struggling to pay their rent and bills was the very humbling that I needed.

UNEXPECTED PANDEMIC OUTCOME: I became more involved in my community and finally got to know my thoughtful neighbors.

I didn’t have time to interact before because I was so busy. It’s something I plan to continue.

MUSIC CITY MUSTS: Pre-quarantine, I would wake up, take my kids to school and maybe hike RADNOR LAKE or PERCY WARNER PARK. I often have lunch at CAFÉ ROZÉ, because who doesn’t love that place? After a good lunch, I’ll see friends and work in my lovely house. While I am a tea drinker (like most British), I love to take my coffee-loving teenage daughter to cool spots like The FROTHY MONKEY. The pizzas from FOLK have kept our family alive during the pandemic. I enjoy walking around the 12South neighborhood and popping in all of the little boutiques. WHITE’S MERCANTILE is where I get most of my gifts. I also love LEMON LAINE in East Nashville, where I buy all of my green health and beauty products. Besides that, I’m literally a homebody!

68 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

Sheer tulle scarf-tie blouse, DOROTHEE SCHUMACHER, from HERO BOUTIQUE; Matte satin cross-back camisole with spaghetti straps, JADE, from E. ALLEN; camel leather pleated pant, ETRO, from GUS MAYER; "liquid gold" stud earrings, CLARK HELDMAN from H. AUDREY NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 69

Cream multi-printed caftan dress, GUCCI, Cream multi-printed caftan dress, GUCCI; navy, orange and cream geometric print navy, orange and cream geometric print scarf, GUCCI; black and nude slingback scarf, GUCCI; black and nude slingback heels, GUCCI; gold "WOMAN" hoop heels, GUCCI; gold "WOMAN" hoop earrings, MINNIE LANE from HERO earrings, MINNIE LANE from HERO BOUTIQUE; gold "STAR" and "LIPS"rings, BOUTIQUE; gold "STAR" and "LIPS" rings, MINNIE LANE from HERO BOUTIQUE MINNIE LANE from HERO BOUTIQUE

70 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

style | The highly self-reflective writer also saw writing The Red Flame as an opportunity to understand and explain to others why she even became a model. The model plan implanted (at age 7), despite her dealing with strife both at school and home. But once that spark of possibility was in her mind, everything spiraled from that point. During today’s uncertain times, when many people need selfbelief more than ever before, Elson was driven to prove how a single vote of confidence (even if it’s your own) can change the course of your life.

She has returned to her hometown but reveals that it still isn’t easy, especially after being publicly trashed by the notoriously hateful British media. Targeted press reports included accusations about her lacking gratitude over her successes for someone of her ‘rank’ in society. She achieved the impossible dream— worldwide success, which has also been judged harshly by the British. She became famous for being her wild, quirky, and fascinating self. Yet, she is sincere in admitting that it was like pushing a boulder up the hill the entire time.

“There were so many occasions where I could have shifted and morphed into the 110-pound person they wanted me to be,” the 5’10 maven explains, hinting at the horror stories she reveals in The Red Flame about being humiliated and blacklisted at times over a few pounds. After reading her story, it’s obvious why she elected to eat whatever she wanted during quarantine and got immense joy from flaunting her naked body in photos. After being shamed for transitioning from a flatchested girl to a woman, she is now positively accepting her shape—especially her curves.

“I’ve had my spirit broken and been compliant because I didn’t know that I deserved more,” she says with an almost uncomfortable laugh referencing a culture that perpetuates eating disorders, substance abuse, and even being rewarded for self-destructive behavior.

Elson is no tragic hero and remembers reading an old report card on which the teacher had written that she had a ‘keen sense of justice.’ While the chameleon may have adopted characters, accents, and languages in her sleep, her integrity and moral ground have always been consistent. “If people encroach upon my dignity, I have to stand up for myself,” she says. While she’s always recognized distasteful behavior in others, the beauty of getting older is that she now understands how to confront it. Over the years, Elson has become more comfortable in her skin and standing in her truth. She also

I’ve had my SPIRIT BROKEN and been compliant because I didn’t know that I deserved MORE. feels responsible for standing up for others who have undergone similar situations or have been disenfranchised by the fashion industry.

Referencing the (unofficial but practiced) global fashion industry standard belief that a model should be a blank slate who turns a blind eye to bad behavior, Karen adamantly disagrees. “As models, we are often held to the notion that the fewer people know about us, the better. The assumption is that we don’t have much to say, which I believe is both disrespectful and untrue. Most of the models I’ve worked with are incredibly interesting, dynamic, and multi-faceted women.” She hopes to incentivize people to look beyond

the magazine spread to understand that the women in the photographs are real people who have brains.

Many people in fashion are silenced or made to feel like their voices don’t matter—that’s especially true for models. “People expect models to be passive entities without opinions to agree with whatever is requested, and I’m not down with that!” Elson says, laughing at the absurdity of it all. After many book edits to whittle her word count down, she succeeded in clearly getting the message through. Models are much smarter, more perceptive, and braver than the public gives them credit for, and that’s a fact.

With the support of the #metoo and #timesup movements and a general affinity for extreme transparency in 2020, Elson remains resolute that her peers shouldn’t have to suffer for beauty. Yet, while Elson could preach for days about the injustices, she isn’t out for pity but instead aims to use her position to protect the next generation by campaigning for tighter regulations. Elson also admirably acknowledges that she wouldn’t be in the place to ‘tell it like it’ is if she wasn’t already at the top. “I hope that I can use my experience to show models what they are getting into,” she says.

She has forgiven (or at least tried to forgive) those who wronged her in the past. Even revealing hard truths in writing was a bit scary. “Am I ready to say this, and what will the consequences be if I do?” are questions Elson asked herself when editing the book.

She walked a virtual tightrope to prevent committing career suicide—making it her mission to stay honest without throwing her contemporaries under the bus. “People will speak about their most vulnerable experiences, and then there will be an army of people who do their damndest to negate that person’s reflection because they don’t see it the same way,” she says (getting fired up). “I had to censor myself at certain points because

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 71

| style while society is way more open today, when someone feels like they are being attacked, doors can still slam shut. While I was writing, I had to toe the line between telling my truth and having to duck and dive at other times,” she remembers, “I did not want people to come after me with pitchforks.” She hopes to change this old-guard ideology—‘because your contemporaries behave badly, then you can too.’ Forgive she may, but forget she won’t. While it has understandably taken time for Elson to have any compassion for those who hurt her, she forgave for herself. “While it sounds a little hokey, life is short, and I cannot carry that stuff around with me forever,” she says. She has selfreflected, been accountable for her errors, and made amends to the appropriate people. Her actions are focused on inspiring the same decency in others. Her ambition is to be the bigger person—not a pushover.

To reduce the number of people who would complain or comment with statements like “I’ve never seen this before” or “Don’t make a big deal out of nothing,” she wrote from the perspective of talking to a stubborn industry friend. She understands that others may not want to change and might overlook toxicity and systematic issues in fashion because speaking out is seen as an inconvenience. But Elson is a realist and knows even though some accept her trauma is clarity and compassion, many others likely will say, “well done,” and then keep doing things in the same way as they’ve always done. However, while she has been applauded by many for her honesty, Elson is no fool.

Caution is why she chose to skate over specific topics and to not name names. “You wouldn’t believe how many people have reached out to me and said, “What you’re saying we’ve known all along but have been afraid to say because it can harm your career,” she says with a smile in her voice.

Even better than giving a voice to the voiceless, writing a book gave Elson confidence in her songwriting abilities once again. Whereas she used to ask herself if people liked her music, now she’s singing a different tune. “While I’m a very stubborn, tenacious, and driven human being, I also have fears and feelings of inadequacies,” she says [continued on page 140].

Hunter green ribbed short-sleeve mockneck knit top, OSCAR DE LA RENTA, from GUS MAYER; hunter green leather a-line skirt with self-belt, OSCAR DE LA RENTA, from GUS MAYER; earrings by CLARK HELDMAN from H. AUDREY Photography by EMILY DORIO Styling by COURTNEY KIVELA Hair by GIOVANNI DELGADO Makeup by COLLEEN RUNNÉ Stylist's Assistant: LESLIE STEPHENS Photographed at THE SAINT ELLE NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 73

@lorenbdaughdril

@hatefaesthetics

@thenashvillebeaut ygirl

YOU NO LONGER NEED TO FLY TO L.A. FOR YOUR AESTHETIC NEEDS SERVICES: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – Hydrafacial – Juvederm – Botox – Vivace RF Microneedling – Coolifting – Dysport Laser Genesis – Morpheus – IPL – Dermaplaning – Rest ylane – PRP – Microneedling Pen – Chemical Peels Hair Restoration – Laser Hair Removal – Facetite – Vascular Laser – Lip Filler H A T E F A E S T H E T I C S . C O M | 6 2 0 0 T N - 10 0 S U I T E 101, N A S H V I L L E , T N |

615 - 6 7 8 - 6 2 7 3

wellness |

wellness

NUTRITION | SUPPLEMENTS | CONCIERGE SERVICES | TREATMENTS | FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE | HOLISTIC HEALING

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 75

wellness |

BY STACIE STANDIFER Winter is coming. I don’t know many people that look forward to the season.

There are upsides like cozy nights by the fireplace or taking in the beauty of the snow-covered landscape—but not much else. Bundling up and going from cold to hot and transitioning from indoors to outside isn’t a great time, and neither is dealing with rounds of colds, infections, and even skin conditions that spring up as the mercury drops. This year, the season is even more threatening as possibilities for more severe pandemic attacks are already being featured in the media. It’s a little scary if you don’t prepare with a strategy to keep yourself and your family strong and well, no matter how cold it is outside or what’s spreading throughout the community. Doing this takes effort, starting with a plan based on your living situation and specific needs. Fortunately, you don’t have to create this blindly or just rely on general internet searches to be proactive about your health. We all know the basics, such as eating right, getting some exercise, and loading up on Vitamin C—but that can still be hard to get right if you aren’t paying attention.

For real guidance, seeking help from professionals can make a big difference in how you feel, with the bonus being evident in how you look. Experts are ready to help you take charge of your health, not only this season, but also to stay well for years to come.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 77

| wellness DISEASE FIGHTING FUEL If you’ve done any reading at all on the topic of inflammation, you know that it’s how our bodies and immune systems react to threats.

That’s a good thing when an injury or broken bone induces swelling, which protects and leads to alerting us to treat the area tenderly. It also leads to healing. But the type of inflammation that is evident in some bodies (most of ours, actually) isn’t so great. Functional doctors and holistic practitioners worldwide have long realized that chronic inflammation throughout the body is the most devastating condition for our physical wellness. That is especially true in the gut, which often extends to increasing inflammation in our other organs without warning. Hard to detect but easy to prevent and solve if diligent, reducing inflammation is step one for anyone seeking a healthier mind and body.

Our digestive systems are more telling than any other part of our beings. Many life-damaging diseases can be prevented with just some simple daily attention for proper flow and balance in the gut. Rather than popping an antacid, bloating pill, or other over the counter (chemical-laden) remedy, it’s smarter to avoid this habitual self-treatment by avoiding the symptoms in the first place.

FOOD SHOPPING SOURCES This starts with eating the right foods and consuming the required nutrients and minerals, which can differ for each person. If you eat to feel energetic instead of to please your taste buds or satisfy your sugar addiction, that’s the basis of the gut-health strategy. Organic produce and grass-fed and pasture-raised meats and eggs in your grocery cart are also determining factors, and something a lot of people blow off as not that important in terms of an eating plan. That kind of thinking is quickly being outdated and challenged by a growing number of experienced professionals in various wellness practices.

The biggest complaint about buying strictly organic and sustainably raised groceries is the expense or difficulty in finding enough choice in those categories. If you invest in quality foods, you’re unlikely to need those weekly drug-store stomach soothers, cough syrups, or pain relievers as food truly is medicine.

Basically, you are making an exchange in spending and one that is a much smarter investment as it also prevents even more costly medical treatments down the road.

You will find that many restaurants are taking note of requests for more sustainable and thoughtfully raised ingredients, so always ask before going or research online. It’s becoming almost mainstream for chef-driven and locally owned places to base menus on this type of offering. This is also true of traditional grocery stores where organic and health food sections are expanding bit by bit. Explore the aisles and make comments to the manager to order what you’re seeking, always. People forget that our spending dollars are impactful. The more we purchase a higher quality of produce and meat, the greater the offerings will be in the market— including restaurants.

Here are a few key choices for local leaders in consistently focusing on stocking and serving items for the wellness-minded consumer.

78 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

THE FARMER’S MARKET | The best place to find just-picked, organic produce and farm-fresh eggs.

TURNIP TRUCK | 3 locations in various neighborhoods throughout the community.

THE PRODUCE PLACE | Sylvan Park’s mainstay with a focus on locally made and grown items.

WHOLE FOODS | Downtown, Green Hills and Cool Springs locations of the healthfood mecca.

FRESH MARKET | Brentwood specialty food store also carrying a big selection of gourmet dairy and gluten alternatives.

SPROUTS | Bellevue and Franklin. Organic departments, grass-fed meat source, and strong supplement section.

RESTAURANTS & TAKE OUT AVO | Vegan Menu with a focus on fresh and organic vegetables with nuts, seeds and herbs.

BUTCHER & THE BEE | Inventive East Nashville hotspot using exclusively seasonal, locally grown and raised ingredients.

CHOPT | The bowls are filled with what you choose, so load up on the good stuff and trust it’s organic.

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN | A menu filled with delicious creations focused on nutrients and carefully sourced ingredients in the heart of Green Hills.

THE CAFÉ AT THISTLE FARMS | Big salads, hearty and warming soups are filled with organic and locally sourced goodness.

JUICE BAR AND CLEAN JUICE | Both are sources for not just organic and freshsqueezed blends but healthy food choices as well with multiple locations.

wellness | NUTRITION ASSISTANCE Sometimes navigating menus or grocery shelves isn’t easy for those who don’t have time or label-reading know how. If that’s the case, look to local professionals that specialize in optimizing nutrition for clients.

CHEF LAURA RODRIGUEZ | She’s a personal chef but also a big healthy eating resource in the community. From recipes to shopping tips, she’s helpful for all levels of personal assistance needs for those who already know what they need for their bodies.

M POWER NUTRITION | If you are superactive (or want to be), this professionally staffed facility can craft a nutrition program suited to fuel your athletic and fitness pursuits for ideal performance. M Power has locations in Mid Town Nashville, Cool Springs and Green Hills.

NASHVILLE NUTRITION PARTNERS | This is a good resource for newbies who are looking to take small steps on improving their eating habits and need a guide to keep them on track.

Priced by the session, this can be as involved or as removed as you would like depending on your willpower and accountability habits.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DOCTOR With a major influx of residents relocating from the West Coast over the past several years, the demand for more modern wellness practices locally has resulted in a number of highly trained professionals opening resource facilities and offices. This list continues to grow, ranging from holistic practitioners to therapy providers. These alternative routes to healing and lifestyle management are catching on as we seek solutions to our own issues.

One of the leaders is this arena is the be-well powerhouse, DR. LAURA LILE. After working for 12 years as a certified pharmacist (both in traditional pharmacies and in compounding), she decided to enroll in medical school to

learn more about the health problems behind the need for the medicines she was charged with distributing to patients. A busy mother of two small children, pregnant with her third, running an already successful practice, she started down this path and dove into medical school. Talk about determination! After becoming board-certified to practice medicine, she embarked on a new approach combining her skills from both fields along with her vast knowledge from continuous reading on health practices and solutions throughout the world.

She went on to open four locations of her thriving LILE WELLNESS PARTNERS offices, which she owns and operates in addition to running two pharmacies. While it is mindblowing to think of all that she accomplishes in a day, leading by example for her staff and patients is all part of her philosophy, deeming it extremely important to show what true health looks like.

On the day of our first conversation, Dr. Lile was actually preparing to leave for Europe.

On top of her functional medicine operations in the U.S., she’s taken on a role of advising the Vatican on preventative health programs as well as helping spearhead mobile diabetes prevention units throughout Israel. So, to say she’s got a world of knowledge and first-hand practice experience is an understatement. The fact that she has offices in our market is such a resource to the entire community, and one that most of us didn’t even realize was in existence.

The majority of us are used to dealing with brief appointments (after long waiting room sits) with doctors who are taxed with far too many patients and appointments. This leaves them lacking in time to investigate things outside the scope of their trained approach and far too often leads to prescribing drugs with side effects that just might be worse for our bodies than the symptoms we are experiencing.

Fueled and funded by ‘big pharma’ and faced with painfully time-consuming insurance paperwork and protocol, the entire industry in the U.S. is broken in many ways. Our doctors

are overworked and exhausted through no fault of their own, which leaves people wanting to take charge of their own health. The concept of concierge medicine fills this void.

PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE Traditionally, the type of approach that Lile and other functional practitioners follow hasn’t been considered mainstream. It’s a welldocumented fact that the doctors in various areas of practice are educated and trained to deal with handling symptoms and disease rather than advising patients without issues on how to live life better, longer. Most of us without major diseases don’t even think about going to the doctor unless we’ve been hit with a sinus infection or have a physical injury causing us pain. In fact, we usually put off those visits for as long as possible, too. Jobs, family pressures, and general life hassles are put first, often causing us to put our own wellness on the back burner.

But what if we considered the actual value of our health and put it first? How much time, money and suffering could we avoid if we altered our approach? Staying well and feeling good impacts every facet of our lives— including job performance and the quality of time spent with our families and friends. When thinking about it in those terms, exploring functional and preventative services suddenly feels not only smart but necessary for living well. “Investing in your health is something that I compare to preparing for war. When your internal defense is strong and hard to weaken, there is no fear about things like pandemics,” Dr. Lile confidently states. She explains how focusing on building our immunity is crucial in avoiding not only contagious afflictions such as Covid-19 but also a slew of other diseases of the body from cancer to diabetes.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 79

| wellness A CONCIERGE APPROACH Being healthy starts with our thoughts and is dependent on daily personal habits. For people like me, that doesn’t involve making all kinds of appointments with various doctors in specialties for an array of physical conditions.

We can read and absorb the latest saving product or superfood hype on internet sites but how that benefits us as individuals isn’t universal, even when the ‘hype’ is factual. At Lile Wellness, they deal with each individual on a very personal level, from conversation and interaction to the types of supplements and diet suggestions. We are not all the same.

Our treatment shouldn’t be either. “I have seen a true shift in the South with people taking charge of their own health. More people are coming to us seeking a better quality of life and they seem to be armed with their own research and intelligent questions,” Lile tells me. She sees this proactive movement as not just positive but absolutely crucial to our seeing a shift in a healthier community overall.

The concierge approach is what a growing number of individuals and families are investigating in the current environment, and for good reason. It’s not only less confusing and time-consuming but ultimately can prevent life-threatening health problems. At Lile Wellness, it all starts with bloodwork, which is done at least 3 times a year. Our situations

change and through testing for a variety of things off the radar for typical doctors, discovering imbalances and abnormalities is easy. “Even tumor developments can often be seen in bloodwork if you’re looking for the right thing,” Lile explains. “Far before you feel a physical ailment or pain, your blood tells a story of what is happening in your body as well as what it needs to bring balance to all of your organs and systems for total health.”

In my experience, having Lile’s team of experts dive in during the end of our initial quarantine was the complete opposite of the dreaded doctor visit. Long conversations with not only Lile herself, but with staff member experts who were open to all kinds of crazy questions (based on all of my internet reading on fitness and nutrition blogs) and open to discussing them in-depth as well as sharing their own health challenges and found solutions. An enthusiastic and sweet-tempered nurse stopped by my house to take several vials of blood (no lab visit, hooray!) in under a half-hour and whisked them away to scan and study for every possible telling component. This approach isn’t only more convenient, but so comfortable and definitely healthier than sitting in an office where other patients may have catching afflictions and cases. Select traditional doctors also offer concierge services, and many families choose to pay the fees for those services just for those reasons. But Lile Wellness is quite different as they keep you on track to ensure ongoing health, watch bloodwork, and ask questions to determine if any red flags appear as warnings for something being off balance.

As stated in the previous sections, I firmly believe that this starts with taking the right supplements. Not everyone needs the same ones and finding where to fill the gaps and being advised through Lile’s team solves any mysteries on what needs a boost and those nutrient levels that are in abundance in the system. “We don’t work against the medical community, but in tandem. With our preventative care and screening, we can give your trusted practitioner valuable and useful information to better treat you as a patient.

80 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

We encourage that relationship and find that it’s so much more beneficial for all involved,” Lile states.

“We aren’t focused on ‘normal’ results but on those that are optimal for our clients,” she goes on to say. This is also true of her own health as she tackles her current roster, makes individual time for long phone calls with clients no matter where she’s traveling, and looks to open facilities in more areas in the near future.

“I’m a driven person and feel that we all have the ability to do exactly what we want if you put your mind to it. I’m a firm believer that life begins when you step out of your comfort zone,” she admits. “I also start and end each day with gratitude and take some time for mindless activities like painting or long baths, as emotional balance is part of wellness, too.”

While not everyone could juggle all of this, Laura Lile is an incredible example of all that can be achieved within a career and family life—while still putting your health first and following a lifestyle plan to ensure you stay in tip-top condition for any challenge. Isn’t that what we all want?

OTHER SOURCES FOR CONCIERGE FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CELPROCEO |This integrative wellness center, founded by natural practitioner Dr. Maggie Berghoff is well-known for incredible results with high-level professionals and athletes.

But they can also help with curing your inflammation and pain issues with a unique approach based on personal consultations and test results.

VITALITY MEDICAL WELLNESS CENTER | Dr. Sommer Elgin White tackles nutritional challenges with a culinary approach as well as investigating health issues to design personal health programs. If you want a custom eating plan, this is a first-stop source for getting one that suits your needs.

SUPPLEMENT SMART Sure, our stress levels can go off the charts and we’re all going to slip and indulge in that birthday cake. It’s human nature to have a bit of ying/yang in our approach to everything. That applies to our eating and drinking habits more so than in any other area. The key is to ensure that continual, daily habits, and intake far outweigh those slip-ups. It’s the 80% rule—which allows for the occasional indulgence. That’s basically, 80% greens and veggies on your plate as a rule for any meal, eating only until you are 80% full to avoid excess inflammation in your digestive tract, and following your healthy eating plan at least 80% of the time.

In addition to that mindset, you can reach those health and nutrition goals faster and benefit long-term from the right supplementation. This might change from month to month, but we are at risk of being deficient in many healing vitamins with fewer sources for colorful, local produce during the winter. The key is to figure out what works for you—either through seeking out an expert or trial and error when approaching it solo. For everyone, a Multi-Vitamin and Vitamin D are sure bets, but you likely need to consider more to boost energy levels during the hibernation months.

INSTANT BOOST When you feel that your immunity may not be ideal or the hint of a cold is evident, getting an immediate infusion of fortifying vitamins and minerals is a smart move.

Several qualified places do this (and some that are not so qualified), including the nurses at Lile Wellness.

One service that our team likes for the targeted variety of injectable choices is ARETE NASHVILLE. They’ll send a professional to your home or office with specific blends focused on pain and inflammation, dehydration, immunity, and energy or anti-aging antioxidants. Some have combinations, including ingredients with overlapping benefits from their menu.

It takes under an hour but with health elevating results that you will feel for days.

IREVIVE is also a credible supplier of direct injection nutrients, with a convenient Church Street location.

ANCIENT NUTRITION One of the country’s most trusted sources for online blogs, videos, and daily tips for getting and staying in tip-top condition is DR. JOSH AXE. The go-to guy for keto diet fans and sugar avoiding masses from coast to coast has a lot to say about what we put in our bodies. He broadcasts all of the informative content from his home base here in Middle Tennessee. His website is an incredible source for seeking more information on herbal remedies and foods to heal certain conditions. He’s credited for helping a significant number of people shed excess weight or avoid a diabetes diagnosis.

One of his projects, aside from personally addressing health-curious audiences, is a brand of products focused on filling the gaps where our meals can’t quite meet the body’s nutritional requirements.

Dr. Axe co-founded the ANCIENT NUTRITION brand in Franklin, TN, along with natural health expert and author Jordan Rubin (founder of both GARDEN OF LIFE health products and BEYOND ORGANICS companies). It has been wildly successful across the US for potency and producing results evident in patrons' energy and overall health. From first-hand experience, I can share that this line has been a part of my supplement routine for over a year because of the quality and nutrient delivery. I specifically like the probiotic and multi-vitamin capsules for women and the collagen powder blends for protein and ingredients to boost joint, skin, and gut health. Most days, I keep a big bottle of water shaken with a scoop of the STRAWBERRY LEMONADE COLLAGEN blend on my desk. The flavor is fantastic without additives or sugar and not only keeps me hydrated but is a constant stream of nutrients during the day (continued on page 140).

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 81

BUILDING A LUXURY HOME SHOULD BE A LUXURY EXPERIENCE

Stephens Valley Homesite 405 808 Carsten St. - Nashville 5 BD / 4.5 Baths / 3,588 SF

Hardeman Springs Homesite 226 6059 Porters Union Way - Arrington 5 BD / 4.5 Baths / 4,100 SF

Witherspoon Homesite 58 9283 Fordham Dr. - Brentwood 5 BD / 5/3 BA / 6,423 SF

For more information visit:

livealegend.com

Witherspoon Homesite 66 9267 Fordham Dr. - Brentwood 5 BD / 5/2 BA / 6,842 SF

living |

living

BROWNSTONE LIVING TOUR | INCREDIBLE SECOND HOMES | DINNER PARTY DIARIES

Designer April Tomlin's New Home in 30A's Alys Beach

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 83

| living

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with a craft cocktail without ever leaving the house. Whether it’s that ‘take the edge off’ or ‘welcome home’ libation at the end of a long day, or offerings to kick off a small dinner with friends, having your cocktail set-up’s on display encourages a celebratory mood—and who doesn’t need a little bit of that most days?

Adding sophistication to spirited displays for any style or space.

PHOTOS BY ALAINA MULLIN STYLING BY LACEY KEALLY & STACIE STANDIFER

Rather than sticking with just one theme or arrangement, you can consider many ways to create a look to suit the interior surroundings/space or the occasion. We fell in love with some one-of-a-kind antique cart designs, which inspired a desire to style different looks centered around a more sophisticated aesthetic. While many of the carts featured on sites like Pinterest include bright colors, useless accessories, and glassware that would work for a child’s birthday (instead of adult beverages), that’s not the EDIT way. We take our cocktails seriously and style even more so, which is why we devoted an afternoon to creating our versions of the ultimate bar cart display.

84 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

pop cork THE

On some occasions (especially those mom nights or showers), the service doesn’t include the hard stuff. Sticking with just wine and/or Champagne is perfectly acceptable as long as you offer plenty of water as an option (still and sparkling). To take it up a notch, include options so that guests can create their own Champagne cocktail with liqueurs to splash into the glass for added flavor. This cart’s design is genius with a deep-set bucket holding ample quantities of ice—big enough for this magnum of our favorite bottle of Krug Champagne. Cheers!

Credits: Italian Vintage Goat Skin Bar Cart with Rare attached ice bucket by ALDO TURA. Circa 1970’s, ($4,600) from ROBIN RAINS INTERIOR DESIGN; Vietri Gold Stem Champagne Flutes, Gold Mille Nuits Votives, CORZINE AND CO.; Cocktail Napkins and small gold-tone tray from COLOR; JO MALONE LONDON candle from DILLARD’S, The Mall at Green Hills.

flexible BUT

fabulous

If you don’t have space for a full cart, create your own version with a tray placed on any flat surface, from an entry console to a bedroom dresser or kitchen island. Start with a tray that’s sturdy, stylish, and allows space for your spirits (or wine) and add coordinating or complementary accents for service. Place your ice bucket on the side and voilà—you’re party-ready. This is also a reliable option for those who don’t want to leave a stocked cart out in the house that’s often full of curious teenagers (or disapproving relatives).

Transport to a cabinet or simply break down when not in use. One tip is to choose spirit bottles smaller in size unless your tray allows for the big guns.

Credits: Silver tray, ice bucket, stir spoon, and shaker by SOUTHERN LIVING from DILLARD’S, The Mall at Green Hills; Sequence Art Deco black accent pitcher and MOSER pebbles smoke shot glass from CORZINE AND CO.

86 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

shaken OR stirred

When it’s cold outside, nothing beats the soothing warmth of a premium cocktail (or just a shot) with WOODFORD RESERVE, JACK DANIEL'S, or CINCORO TEQUILA. Our intention with this set-up is for it to be on display throughout the winter season.

Easy access to spirits, bitters, and stylish blending essentials stay put, with the only need being to add ice and a few cold mixer options when entertaining guests. The cart design and dark colors combined with goldtone accents create instant ambiance that will sit well in any home throughout the season.

Credits: Italian Wood and Copper Cart with Mirrored Trays, circa 1940s ($1200) from ROBIN RAINS INTERIOR DESIGN; Citrus Bowl and tall red decanter, GASLAMP ANTIQUES; Lismore Black Square Decanter by WATERFORD from CORZINE AND CO.; Quartz Coasters and Drink Mixing Accessories, ANTHROPOLOGIE

IT STARTS WITH THE CART First realized on the big screen in Hollywood movies in the 1930s, the idea of a cocktail cart is traditionally associated with class and society. Initially, the bar cart stemmed from households using former tea carts to tote their spirits postprohibition. Since built-in home bars were non-existent, finding another use for this somewhat dated item in most households was commonplace by the 1950s when the carts were truly mainstream in homes, offices, and upscale hotel suites.

In the mid-1970s, things shifted with builtins being the rage and homeowners and builders choosing to put bars right into the layout of a home’s interior or as a kitchen add-on. This trend was prominent for years until the small service saviors made a comeback in the late 2000s. According to the New York Times, the trend spawned from more conservative living spaces and renovation budgets post-recession (2008-2009). Using a cart was just more accessible and affordable—and the country ‘rediscovered’ just how much of a chic vibe these rolling parties provide to most any environment. They are a little bit camp, a lot of retro, and always fun.

OUR BAR CART FAVORITES Instead of cheaper, roll-out versions you can find at almost every discount store, why not consider investing in a cart that serves as a permanent piece of furniture that adds personality to your home’s décor year-round? Antique versions can be quite dramatic and also collector’s items with considerable value. These finds are lower in height than the newer versions, making them less obtrusive in specific spaces.

When seeking a vintage or antique bar cart, consider the function along with the quality. For instance, if you always serve Champagne, ice and glassware needs are different from if your house drink is a martini. Ditto with the accessories.

Suppose you fall in love with more than one gorgeous find from the past. In that case, you can always use a traditional cart for displays in the bath (towels and toiletries), as a coffee cart in your breakfast area, or as a music station for your vintage turntable and vinyl records.

WOODFORD RESERVE Baccarat Edition

Marble square trinket tray, GUCCI, The Mall at Green Hills

Gold Basso coasters and Sophia Flute set

by AERIN available at G & G INTERIORS

JO MALONE LONDON Incense and Embers Scented Candle at DILLARD’S, The Mall at Green Hills

88 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

Trent & Bethni Hemphill are having the time of their lives in historic Downtown Franklin

BY STACIE STANDIFER PHOTOS BY TIM NICHOLS & ALAINA MULLIN

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 89

When Bethni and Trent Hemphill sought where to spend their next lifechapter after raising their children in Hermitage, they landed in Historic Downtown Franklin. Since then, they’ve been living the high-life—both indoors and out. With an easy commute for Trent to headquarters for his celebrity coach company, Hemphill Brothers, a lively group of fun-loving neighbors, and a gorgeous custom brownstone, they’ve hit the jackpot on every level. The couple show no signs of slowing down, and their home base is an inspiration for living well at any age.

THE DOWNTOWN DREAM Choosing to live in a historic and walkable community has turned out to be a perfect choice for the couple. It’s an easy commute for Trent, and Bethni has everything she needs right onsite, including her own private office and her sister (and best friend), Susan Deaton, who lives with her husband, CMA producer, Robert Deaton just a few doors down. Franklin is a special place with shops, restaurants, and community gatherings ranging from art shows to festivals throughout the year, so there is always something to do. Having the convenience of luxury shopping and top tier dining within blocks of the complex makes daily living easy and, most of all, fun. Keeping fit is also a top priority for the Hemphill’s as they have no plans to become couch potatoes in their golden years. Instead, they walk and ride bikes almost everywhere that they need to go on a daily basis. “Some nights, we head over to 1799 or Gray’s to meet friends—or just go solo. We can walk to dinner, grab a gift for a birthday, see a show at the Franklin Theatre and stroll back home under the fairy lights. Every night is date night in downtown Franklin,” Bethni happily reports.

Another bonus of living in the development is the social network built into the fabric of the residential community. Inside the brick walls surrounding the homes and courtyard, owners have a book club and a very private monthly gathering that’s become extremely popular with all of the neighbors. Once a month, when weather permits, they jointly

host ‘Fridays by the Fountain’ in the central courtyard where outside guests are discouraged (to keep it intimate). Each household brings an appetizer or two, with the libations being a group effort. It’s wildly popular, with the competition for gourmet fare continually becoming more intense. This group takes their entertaining seriously, creating a beautiful setting along with music in addition to the incredible food display. The Hemphill’s often host a couple or two ‘pre-fountain’ in their kitchen overlooking the fountain space to get things started, and the party tends to last until individuals begin to disperse at their leisure. It’s the ultimate block party. During the holidays, the neighbors organize a progressive Christmas dinner, popping from one place to another to mingle and enjoy a professionally catered affair that everyone attends. With only 25 total custom units, all of the gatherings feel exclusive and inclusive of anyone living on site. Most all of the residents, including famous faces in the entertainment industry and even Kathie Lee Gifford (who chose this as her new home after moving to the South upon retirement from Today), are now great friends.

living |

LIVING IT UP While the 4-story, 6,300-square-foot design might seem quite unusual for empty nesters in terms of size and layout, Bethni says that they use the entire space. Rather than a home filled with multiple bedrooms eating up the floorplan, a typical configuration in ‘family homes,’ the unit was designed for an independent lifestyle around entertaining and personal space. There are only three bedrooms, with the remainder of the space dedicated to multiple living areas and activity areas. For the Hemphill’s custom design, the basement is a full-service theater (where they binge on Netflix shows!) with a kitchenette for popcorn and snack access. The main floor is all living space—a sprawling area with ample seating and conversation areas that opens up to a real chef’s kitchen with state-of-the-art commercial grade appliances and storage for every type of platter or tray. Bethni also collects various serving pieces to display on the built-in shelves in the adjacent open dining room, a focal point of the room’s décor.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 91

This part of the house is a bit inside/outside, with doors opening up to porches from almost every angle. “In the development, every unit has balconies facing the courtyard, and outdoor living is a big part of brownstone life. We eat dinner on the balcony overlooking the fountain almost every night. Trent is a bit of a master on the grill, so he can head outside while I prep veggies in the kitchen. There’s a working exterior fireplace, so only the coldest weather keeps us inside,” says Bethni. They also make a fire in the living room nightly and open the doors to outside.

The top floor is where the balconies really offer an ideal place to start and end the day. The height gives the advantage of stellar views of both sunrise and sunset with an intimate feel for reading or just catching up for the couple. These are extensions of the master suite, which is actually an entire floor. Closet sizes that feel more like their own apartments are a huge plus—with a perfectly organized system in both his and hers for all-weather storage. The massive bedroom and bath in shades of white and complementary neutrals is a true owner’s haven and quite romantic. Even the expansive spa-like master bath mirrors the design with shimmering white tiles that mirror those from the bedroom’s fireplace. The floor also includes a fully equipped gym and workout space and a work area for Trent.

92 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

INTERIOR INSPIRATION With this much space, most people would hand off the entire thing to a professional without question. Multiple floors and huge rooms are often hard to get right in terms of flow and a consistent style, but this isn’t the case for the Hemphill’s. Bethni explains, “for years, I’ve preferred an all-white look. The brownstone lends itself to a Parisian aesthetic and looks best with some modern touches mixed in with the antiques. I’ve always gravitated towards aged, imperfect pieces and have gathered antiques from my friends, including Gina at Gilchrist and Gilchrist and Kim Leggett at City Farmhouse over the years. Although I’ve never used a designer to decorate my homes, I love supporting my local Franklin stores for furnishings as well. Most of our decor is treasured family heirlooms and vacation photos made into art. For example, the large shell in the living room that looks like it came from a high-end store, I plucked out of the ocean myself during a dive in the Cayman Islands earlier this year! Many of the other accents hold special meaning for the couple, including the upright bass guitar in the foyer. It was once Wanda Jackson’s, the queen of ‘rockabilly’ in the 1950s and ’60s."

Bethini’s late mother painted several pieces of art, and she considers these among her most prized possessions. Their collection spans from experience and finds during travels with some objects having quite the story. “In 1979, Trent sold his car to buy the grand piano, which he taught himself to play. He was actually in a musical group with his family (The Hemphill’s) for years. We’ve hauled that piano around to every place we’ve lived since," she laughs.

When not in Franklin, they frequently escape to their home along the Gulf Coast’s 30A. She and her sister purchased new-construction homes nearby here as well, so they never miss a beat with one another—even on vacation. She claims that it’s a different vibe but that her white interior style continues here as she decorated the second home similarly but more reflective of the environment. “With the beach house, I indulged what I call my shabby chic meets beach cottage side. It’s still mostly all-white, but with a hint of pastel and mostly outfitted with rustic antique pieces flanked by shiplap walls."

The couple may go back and forth to the beach but plans to stay in their Franklin abode long-term, as there’s nothing they want more out of a home. Their love of the area, the living spaces (with the convenience of an elevator for the future), and close relationships with dynamic neighbors are more than enough to provide them with love and laughter for years to come.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 93

THE UNRIVALED VIEWS STAY FOREVER.

THE PRICING WON’T. APARTMENTS STARTING AT $1495/MONTH | CONDOS STARTING AT $500K

505NASHVILLE.COM 615.214.4505

|

505 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

REFINED

RETREATS

Two spectacular second homes ideal for seeking an escape from the everyday.

PHOTOS BY MARTY PAOLETTA, PAIGE RUMORE & MK SADLER

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 95

96 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

MOUNTAIN HIGH PHOTOS BY MARTY PAOLETTA

When Cynthia and Dave Arnholt and their children make the drive through the gorgeous canyon between the airport in Boseman, Montana, and their second home in Big Sky, the stress starts to fall away. “For about thirty minutes of the drive there’s no cell service, and that’s when I can feel calm washing over me,” says Cynthia.

“We take in the never-ending skyline, elk grazing together, and the journey starts the process of decompressing from reality. Getting there is very spiritual for me. That starts when we start getting close.”

The two are typically busy with school activities with their active primary-school-age children and eight-month-old baby, in addition to Cynthia’s busy schedule with earning her third degree and Dave managing several real estate and investment projects from his Music Row offices. As her family owns the NFL franchise, The Cleveland Browns, they travel often, so football season can be quite hectic in making it to as many games as they can each year. But in Montana, all of the rushing around comes to a screeching halt.

The couple fell in love with the area when invited on a getaway to the second home of Nashville friends Jennifer and Billy Frist. For starters, the environment encourages genuine family connection and a level of safety not found even in the most exclusive neighborhoods near major cities. Here, children can be independent within a gated community of like-minded residents and family-oriented guests. It also spoke to Dave’s love for outdoor adventures as he’s always been passionate about pursuits, including hunting, fishing, and skiing. The entire family loves hitting the slopes, which made this community an ideal choice. The lot they chose is inside the Yellowstone Club development, which is the only private residence members club in the world with both world-class skiing and golf onsite. It’s one of the discriminating Discovery Land (also developers of Troubadour just outside Franklin, TN) properties scattered across the globe. It includes countless amenities, security, and services that truly make every visit worry-free.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 97

gear and ‘toys’ related to the outdoor pursuits he treasures. They note the intimacy of a small eating nook off the kitchen where the family dines together when there are no guests. “Our time here is very intentional and focused on calming connections. We didn’t even put a television in the main living area, preferring to focus on the views and each other when lucky enough to be here,” Cynthia tells me. They do venture out to the onsite clubhouse and facilities and sometimes ride into town to visit Roxy’s Grocery or Cactus Records but mostly stay close to home.

After acquiring their chosen lot for its pristine views and setting, they began their first time building and decorating a home from the ground up together. “While some couples admit fighting during this process, that wasn’t the case for us. Dave has such an eye for architecture and design scope that I trusted him with that process in working with architect Reed Smith. We worked for a year and six months on the interiors with the help of Birgitta Williamson and were very involved in the process. We ended up with a large house but one with very little wasted space. We truly use every room.” As for favorite places to totally unwind in the house, they both cite the upper floor lounge and adjoining balcony as the ultimate hang out.

Complete with a Macintosh sound system, games, bar, and vinyl record collection, it’s an adult playroom based on NYC’s Bowery Hotel vibe—one of their favorite travel haunts. For Cynthia, another chosen ‘top’ space in the house is the master suite—especially the bath where she walks on heated floors to an oversized tub situated to enjoy Rocky Mountain views. Dave says hanging in the garage is a close second to the lounge as this is where he organizes all of his

98 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

The design process took a long time because it was intentional as they blended an eclectic collection of pieces for a real ‘high and low’ mix. Many of the inclusions were from Nashville, including furniture pieces by Ray Booth, art from Ed Nash, and art photography by their personal friend Jack Spencer to name a few. There are also dramatic designer ‘wow’ components such as Hermes wallpaper and Kelly Wearstler custom designed items. They found places for beloved family heirlooms and treasures picked up on their global travels over the years. The house’s contemporary design is evident in the use of glass from the exterior to the beyond-impressive wine cellar under the lower-level stairway. They managed to incorporate timeless furnishings, antique artifacts, and retro accents for the perfect blend of old meets new within the modern structure. The goal was to create a contemporary, minimalistic mountain home focused on family comfort—but with materials and interiors that reflected the environment and expansive Big Sky views.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 99

ALYS BEACH ALLURE PHOTOS BY PAIGE RUMORE & MK SADLER

Another second home we were excited to peek into was the recently updated abode of sought-after Nashville interior design guru, April Tomlin. Recognized for her relaxed approach to design, use of earth tones, and overall organic natural feel, she has outfitted some of the most beautiful and unique interiors that we’ve visited in town. It is no surprise that the personal beach hideaway she created for her family is a success in seaside living.

One of the things she enjoyed most about this project was that she wasn’t on a big, celebrity style budget but instead kept affordability in mind with every step. With her extended family not being able to visit at much as they would like in the first couple of years, she opted to rent her home out when not in residence with her own brood. That means durability and minimal investment were kept top-of-mind.

“As one of the initial houses built in Alys, it was what you might call a ‘diamond in the rough’—just needed a little love. We didn’t want to do a complete renovation, so we focused on impactful updates,” April shares. “I chose to buy in Alys Beach because I feel like I can breathe here. The atmosphere is kind of like being on island time. I am so happy and at peace here and really cherish the uninterrupted time with my family and friends.” She appreciates the development’s aesthetic as well as the ease of getting there quickly from Nashville. They focus on hitting the beach with the kiddos and enjoying 30A hotspots like George’s and Pescado when not just lounging at the house.

April noted that making her house look more custom without spending a fortune was challenging but fun and one of her favorite aspects of the project. Normally accustomed to a large design and execution team with clients, the design process presented a different set of challenges as she outfitted Alys by herself. “I had a very short amount of time to design and execute it by myself. It really makes me appreciate the talent that we have on our team, especially our business side that has mastered the execution,” she admits.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 101

102 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

She started with a neutral palette and muted accents and added natural materials such as white oak for the bar and living room wall and Oushak rugs for the updates. She made some subtle changes in paint colors, plastering walls, countertops, reworking the hood, and eliminating a barrier to open up the kitchen. Her favorite place in the house is the very simply outfitted master bedroom. She scoured Etsy, Food 52, Lostine, and Target for tasteful but thoughtfully priced light fixtures, accents, linens, and accessories. While she saved there, she spent dollars where it matters, including Sub Zero for appliances, commissioned art photography, custom made pillows and curtains. She found furniture at West Elm and Restoration Hardware. Still, she incorporated a couple of select custom pieces into the layout for that magic dust April Tomlin Interiors is known for in Music City. She used some local vendors, including Market Place Interiors and Andy Gray Carpentry for a trusted result on her budget and got the place vacation-ready by lighting candles in all of the rooms. “It’s a trial of the scent we’ve developed for the ATI product line. It smells so good! The scent filling up the whole place gets me so excited about the coming release of the new line,” she boasts. We can’t wait either, as if the effect is as calming as this retreat by the beach—it will be a best-seller that we’ll be burning, too.

HOME FURNISHINGS, LIGHTING, ART, FABRICS & DÉCOR CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY

DESIGN CENTER

TWOFORHOME.COM

|

|

DESIGNER SERVICES

615.833.0381

|

|

CUSTOM ORDERS

992 DAVIDSON DR. NASHVILLE

| living

ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS

BY MORGAN WISTED PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN, KRISTEN MAYFIELD & EMILY MINTON REDFIELD

With so much talent in the entertainment industry, it’s not surprising that creative individuals in other arenas flock to our city for inspiration and sharing expressions and ideas with like-minded hopefuls. We’ve found three businesses based around a love for art that just happen to be adding a bit of color and culture to homes, hotels, and stores around town.

JAMIE BECKWITH COLLECTION

WOOD WHISPERER

Having spent the early part of her life singing, dancing, and traveling the world, it's no surprise that Jamie Beckwith found herself pursuing her creative interests as a career. She spent her time designing interiors, devouring art books, and updating family and friends' homes. After her initial portfolio caught the attention of tastemakers and soon-to-be clients, like Nicole Kidman and Carrie Underwood, she opened the doors to her interior design firm, Beckwith Interiors. Within a few years, Beckwith decided to follow another dream, also launching a wood flooring and treatment collection, and from here the business has soared.

It was an idea sparked by a child's playroom floor that projected Beckwith to becoming a master craftsman responsible for some of the most astounding wood floors and vertical displays available. Beckwith envisioned a jigsaw patterned wooden floor for the playroom, but quickly realized it would not be as simple as ordering the pieces from a catalog or showroom. Not taking no for an answer, Beckwith began finding the right people and suitable materials to make her vision come to life. When it was complete, she had a precisioncrafted product that would stand the test of time, and additionally, a realization that she may be on to something.

Fast forward to today, and the Jamie Beckwith Collection is now the premier destination for luxury wood treatments.

Each product is specifically engineered not to warp, made with the finest materials available, and comes handfinished for quality you have to see to believe. Beckwith's design background and eternal love for the process gives her collection soul, "we create designs that resound with other designers," she affirms, "if I could keep coming up with designs and have new lines coming out all the time, I would!"

Sharing exclusive details on her next line to be released, Beckwith noted, “we have six new designs for our next launch reminiscent of Italian travel and midcentury modern living. Expect lots of circles, ovals, and curves, which is something we are not used to with wood.” Additionally, she teased at a line with Currey & Company for Spring 2021 working with lighting, showcasing a different dimension of her multi-faceted skillset.

For now, Beckwith suggests browsing her current favorite—the Etch Collection, "I love the Etch products.

They offer wonderful texture for any wall. There are so many different looks you can get from those patterns!" No matter what design, line, or product you choose, Beckwith puts it best, “if you love it, you can't go wrong.”

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 105

JULIA KIPLING

WHIMSICAL WATERCOLORISTS If the saying, "if the shoe fits, buy it in every color” rings true, then similarly, “if the art piece is spectacular, turn it into a wallcovering and hang it on every wall in your home.” At least that's the translation for watercolorist, Katherine Stratton Miller. In the midst of having extraordinary success with her "Otomi" line of work—crisp, fanciful pieces inspired by her farm life childhood and love of traditional Mexican embroidery—Miller met Rowanne McKnight. The two met through the Nashville Artist Collective, where McKnight serves as the director. The overwhelmingly positive reaction to Miller’s work drove the duo to start brainstorming, "wouldn't this be incredible over full walls?" With visions of colorways and large-scale interpretations, the two set to make their dream a reality with the creation of Julia Kipling.

If that sounds like the most seamless, straightforward start-up plan of all time- that's because it was! “We really were just having an average, everyday conversation about art and then it was like, well let’s do it,” recalls the smiling duo. Even when faced with the saturated wallpaper sector, the pair kept persisting—reminding themselves that there will always be choices for art. If everyone stopped creating because there are already centuries worth of work in place, there would be no modern artists.

Julia Kipling's creations also grant more people access to Miller's color rich art. Miller notes, "I've always been interested in these patterns and textiles and embroidery, but to take my works and have them turned from a precious piece of art to something that's not as precious, something that's a little more life proof is special. It's special to be able to reproduce my paintings for more people to experience." Fans of Miller's will be thrilled to know that a growing list of wallcoveringsincluding McKnight’s favorite, a rose color

106 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

patterning printed on gold flash paper-are being installed in several Nashville businesses this year, with a foray into textiles also in the works!

The whimsical prints in four different color collections transport you to a place where the drinks are cold, and the worries are few (well, maybe that's just me). The point is, the prints are transportive, and we all deserve a slice of paradise now and then – even if it's only during a powder room visit. "Pick what you love and go with it," says Miller with passion, "it's a straightforward process to install and can always be removed. What's important is bringing the joy of artistic expression to your walls. You don't have to do an entire wall. Start with a ceiling or bar and then take it from there!" Because, as the duo so poignantly put, "Your life isn't beige, and your walls shouldn't be either."

This national recognition is well-earned and Simeone's latest line of wallpapers is likely to turn her into a household name. Made by hand and then translated to wall covering, clients can experience her designs in a whole new way. “I’ve created a wallpaper line with a point of view—it is very current while remaining classic. I combine rich, earth tones and organic colors with graffiti and block print like markings producing effects and patterns that you won’t find elsewhere.”

Her line is manufactured and printed in the USA, completely PFC, VOC, and Vinyl-free (no plastic) and on paper of 10% recycled base paper from consumer waste. This eponymous wallpaper line is quickly becoming the next big thing. The collection houses over 50 different patterns and attracts traditional to minimalist clients and interior designers alike and can be ordered from her website AngelaSimeone.com or Chairish.com.

ANGELA SIMEONE

COLOR CREATOR

An intricate weaving and layering of texture and color define Angela Simeone's work as an abstract painter and reflects years of honing her process. When asked about her artistic intentions, Simeone explained, "I want my work to generate a frequency—a feeling that hits the viewer and produces a good amount of questions and musings. I hope my art creates a level of wonder and a space to be in that moment.” Hailing from an artisan heritage and intensely creative roots, it's no surprise Simeone followed suit with a highly lauded art career as a painter and pattern designer.

Simeone's canvased work emits intense color vibrations, bombastic in scale and color wattage. Her process begins with an un-stretched canvas, which is akin to painting on a roll of fabric. This leaves an openness to her creations in terms of scale and dimension.

"I can create to achieve what I am feeling at the

moment and apply techniques that a stretched canvas doesn't afford." This process also allows her work to be rolled and shipped in a mailing tube for easy, damage-free transport and minimal costs to her clients. "I typically ship directly to their local framer for stretching.

Meeting and working with tradespeople and framers who are local to the client is a really enjoyable way to finish a project.”

Simeone’s work has received national press appearing in House Beautiful, Domino, and Luxe magazine. Her expressive abstracts have been translated through a partnership with Minted.com in everything from duffle bags to stationary and wrapping paper. Angela’s work can be found around Nashville and nationwide in well-appointed public spaces, including Etch Restaurant, Grand Hyatt Nashville, Blackberry Mountain Resort, the Sara Cannon Clinics, and the newly opened Jasper's restaurant on West End.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 107

NASHVILLE’S NEW HOME for LU X U RY is N OW O PE N The N D C offers discerning homeowners and trade professionals access to the finest collection of premium brands to suit any design project from modern to transitional to traditional – all under one roof.

THE NASHVILLE DESIGN COLLECTIVE BRANDS

FOR LEASING OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CALL 415.254.2510

w w w. n a s h v i l l e d e s i g n c o l l e c t i v e . c o m

THE NASHVILLE DESIGN COLLECTIVE 108 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

5 1 0 M e r r i t t Av e n u e i n N a s h v i l l e

w w w. n a s h v i l l e d e s i g n c o l l e c t i v e . c o m

culture |

culture

ADVENTURES IN DINING | ARTISTS AND INTERIOR MAKERS | BOOKS

Pieropan at Giovanni Ristorante NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 109

e r u t n e v An Ad in Taste

PHOTOS BY JAMI-LYN FEHR HALL Rigatoni with Pancetta, tomatoes, 110 and | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM basil, pecorino.

culture |

Take a global flavor tour without ever leaving Music City

Italian

When thinking of an authentic Italian atmosphere, images of big families enjoying meals at a gorgeous table overlooking a Tuscan landscape are instantly transporting.

In the reality that is Nashville, Giovanni may be as close as it gets to experiencing genuine Italian hospitality and hand-prepared fare that feels and tastes like what we believe that trip to Italy would offer. Our editor first met the proprietor (fondly called ‘Gio’ by friends and patrons) when dining with her own family in New York City over a decade ago. It’s still one of the most unforgettable meals in her memory. From the welcoming service to the endless bowls of pasta—there was love in that cozy room favored by discriminating palates in Manhattan for over 27 years. Fortunately, Gio was drawn to the South and to Nashville by several mutual friends and decided to shutter NYC in order to open Midtown’s Giovanni Ristorante and Bar in 2008.

VIBE | There is nothing pretentious about Giovanni despite the pristine white tablecloth covered tables and stunning chandeliers. This is a gathering spot. Yes, it’s a favorite for special occasions and romantic dinners but it’s also a spot to feel comfortable popping into alone for a glass of vino and a (fabulous) pizza at the bar. It seems that everyone is relaxed- and that goes double for those utilizing the intimate private space on the second floor for celebrations and dinner parties for both business

and pleasure. From evening gowns to jeans, you will see it all. We like to get in the spirit and dress up a little when dining here at night—it just feels so elegant that we love to pull out the latest little black dress on rotation.

But truth be told, we have been known to show up in our yoga pants for weekday lunch gatherings in the bar area. No shame and no worries—it’s all good according to Gio.

IMBIBE | This is where Giovanni truly stands out. Almost every afternoon you will find true wine aficionados sitting at the bar swirling something bold around in a gorgeous goblet. One of the things that Gio himself takes pride in is the development of their wine program. While you will see familiar brands on the extensive list, the vintages offered are distinct and unique to the market. Selection by year and harvest is paramount and the cellar is boast-worthy without being intimidating.

ORDER | You can never go wrong with any of the pasta items on the menu (yes, they offer gluten-free options on most everything) including daily specials. We also highly recommend Gio’s version of Calamari as an appetizer— where serious heat from red cherry peppers livens up what can often be a bland dish at other restaurants. For an indulgent experience, go for the whole Mediterranean Sea Bass. It’s steamed under a sea salt crust and feels so decadent when served at the table. For lunch, our team loves to share a variety of salads featured on the menu and maybe a bite or two of their incredible Tiramisu on a really good day.

CELEBRITY CLASS | This list could take up a page or two as almost every famous face in town ends up at Giovanni on occasion if not every week. Our fall 2019 cover girl, Lily Aldridge can be found regularly with her extended family as this is a home-away-from-home for her and her husband (and his Kings of Leon bandmates).

Reba is a fan and Kenny Chesney likes to host private dinners upstairs for his friends. And look out for other notables like Eric Church and even old-school crooners like Billy Dean who always stops in when passing through town.

Giovanni Ristorante giovanninashville.com

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 111

Japanese

PLayboy and Shrimp Tempura Makimono

The arrival of O-Ku to Germantown last year brought a fresh, innovative take on Japanese cuisine to Nashville.

The O-Ku experience is filled with good music, masterfully crafted cocktails and traditionally inspired dishes with a modern take. While the menu highlights sushi and seafood, there are plenty of options for those who prefer veggies or meat. This dining experience is certainly an “eye’s bigger than one’s stomach” situation, but we won’t say choose wisely, because you truly can’t go wrong.

VIBE | Upon entering, you’ll be greeted by several adorable Maneki-Neko cat figurines guiding your eyes to a bustling sushi bar. The atmosphere in the actual dining room is moody and upscale, but simultaneously approachable and beautiful. Outside, the patio offers a bit more of a relaxed and bright ambiance. Patron attire swings from casual to dressy-casual, depending on where you’re seated. The patio allows for the opportunity to lean more towards the casual side, and you’ll find people dressed both casually and slightly dressy indoors.

112 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

IMBIBE | In true Japanese fashion, we like to order a round of Sake for the table. O-Ku’s incredibly smooth, gold-flake infused, Daiginjo sake, ‘Two Cranes’ is a top choice. If you’re lucky, you’ll see one of the two gold flakes that live in every bottle inside your glass.

An overwhelming favorite we like to order from their cocktail list is the Shogun.

ORDER | To start, we like to order the Usuzukuri perfectly plated, thinly sliced salmon seasoned with black lava salt and garnished with wasabi stem over a truffle ponzu sauce. For a veggie-based option, order the Tomorokoshi, their take on street corn.

While the dish isn’t entirely traditional, it is entirely delicious. From the sushi portion of the evening, we’d recommend the Shogun, Playboy, and the Shrimp Tempura as no-fail choices. For a sweet finish if you’ve saved room, O-Ku’s chocolate crépe cake is worth the inevitable calorie intake.

O-ku Nashville okunashville.com

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM 113Belly Crispy |Pork

Paella Mariscos 114 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

Spanish If you’re looking for one of our team members in the late afternoons or early evenings this fall, there’s a good chance you might find at least a couple of us cozied up in a booth at Barcelona Wine Bar in Edgehill Village.

With a menu built on authentic Spanish favorites and an emphasis on small, shared plates it suits our curious personalities and desire to try new things weekly—and is just a couple of blocks from our office.

One exciting thing that’s recently been added is their own private marketplace where you can pick up gourmet treats to take to coworkers or family. The selection also includes hand-cast cookware and beautiful books for the kitchen and home that will solve any gift-giving dilemma.

Our favorite items in the market are the handcarved cutting and serving boards, which are also used for that cheese plate you’ll order at the table.

VIBE | The scene here feels more ‘big city’ than you would expect from a Music Row area locale but definitely reflects something you might find tucked away in West Hollywood or NYC’s West Village. The dress code is definitely casual but most of the patrons seem to be welldressed even when the ensembles are jeans or leggings that are wardrobe staples for the Music Row set. The crowd is lively but not rowdy and likely made up of young professionals with office locations in and around the area. Due to the location, it’s also likely that you will see at least one famous face in the crowd as recording artists are frequent patrons.

IMBIBE | We can’t be mad about any restaurant that has a specific portion of the menu devoted to day drinking, with cocktails, sparkling wines, and sangrias suited for pre-sunset toasts. As women, we especially appreciate Barcelona featuring a select collection of premium European wines exclusively from female winemakers. They are also launching a special bar cart service for gin and tonics this fall, which promises to delight and surprise even those who swear that they just don’t like gin. And for cooler days, nothing beats a big vessel filled with one of their bold red wines. Happy hour, indeed!

ORDER | This is where Barcelona really gets fun, especially for a group. Their ‘build your own’ cheese and charcuterie boards boast an array of flavors and options while the extensive tapas menu includes a variety of well-seasoned samplings of some of the chef’s most creative dishes. From vegan to keto followers, any food plan is easy to follow due to so many choices, and the portion control is built-in, so it’s easy to keep from overdoing it. For candlelit dinner service, there are amazing entrée selections such as the mussels and impressive paellas—a house specialty! Just save a little room for one of the sweet finishes—our suggestion is a big slice of the Basque burnt cheesecake, which is truly a perfect finish and worth splurging a little for the calorie-conscious.

Barcelona Wine Bar barcelonawinebar.com

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 115

Lebanese If you haven’t visited this quaint but distinctive Lebanese dining hotspot tucked away on 12South, you’re missing out.

You can get a hint of spice scent just walking past Epice's well-appointed patio. Count on much more once you’ve chosen a few items from their simple but impressive menu. The flavors are global, but the personalities are very local, with the family of owners always on hand with a smile, joke or menu recommendation. We love it as much for a romantic dinner as we do for a girl’s night happy hour—as the tables are situated to suit couples as well as small groups. The intimate space flanked with blond wood feels fresh and inviting no matter what the occasion or time of day.

116 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

VIBE | This is a true neighborhood restaurant

with a strong local following. The crowd is a mix of 12South dwellers, area professionals and a continual stream of entertainment industry artists and execs. The atmosphere calls for casual but chic attire, with a clearly well-heeled crowd often choosing to relax in jeans, which are totally appropriate attire here. Anything goes as long as you keep ‘city chic’ in mind.

ORDER | We have lots of menu favorites, and our order depends on what the savvy servers suggest that day. Standby items (always ordered for the table) are the hummos (try it with the ground sirloin and pine nuts), stuffed grape leaves, and the Manoushi—which is a spiced-up version of flatbread known to be addictive.

When you’re ‘being good’ or sticking to a veggie regime—the Peasant Salad or Roasted Vegetables are guilt-free but delicious and filling. And when

Lahmeh

you arrive with an appetite, don’t even think about skipping over the Lahmeh. This perfectly prepared rack of lamb crusted in pistachio and served with lentils is quite possibly one of the best entrees in the city.

IMBIBE | The cocktail menu is typically comprised of only five specialties—but they are each actually special and hand-crafted for pure enjoyment. Go throwback chic with a French 75 or go wild with the ‘Don’t ya wanna, wanna Mezcal.’ Where Epice truly stands out is the wine offerings. With choice sparkling and fine wines by the glass (reasonably priced), you can try more than one.

Epice epicenashville.com

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 117

Falafel and Sweet Peppers

photography

food & drink portraits kiddos spaces beauty motion cookbooks

w w w. e m i l yd o r i o . c o m / / / @ e m i l yd o r i o

118 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

culture |

Brian Allison unravels the hidden history behind Nashville's most iconic neighborhood.

There’s no doubt that Nashville’s storied neighborhood dubbed MUSIC ROW is likely one of the most famous districts in the world. Known for legendary music and recognized for the unique placement of major entertainment offices humbly operated in modest historic homes, it is one of our city’s most popular tourist attractions. While there are thousands of stories to go along with the stream of famous faces and hit songs created here, there are dozens of others showcasing how instrumental the neighborhood has been in shaping many facets of history outside of music. Some of these tales revolve around high society while others nod to the rumors of haunted buildings. In the new release of the book, Hidden History of Music Row, history buffs are sure to find a plethora of topics to ponder. Most of these are entertaining but there are a few truths included that are quite shocking… and even a little bit scary. In this chapter excerpted from the book, author Brian J. Allison reveals how true crime once shook residents and visitors alike on the now treasured streets.

EXCERPT FROM HIDDEN HISTORY OF MUSIC ROW, "CHAPTER 10: MUSIC CITY NOCTURNE," BY BRIAN ALLISON

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 119

| culture

T

here was a time when Music Row was a posh neighborhood. In 1907, for example, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Manier Jr. were listed in the social register as residing at 716 16th Avenue South. He was a wealthy wholesaler of shoes, and it was genteelly noted that the couple “receives [social calls] Wednesdays.”

But after the Great Depression, the neighborhood fell into a slow, steady decline.

The modest houses built with such care at the turn of the century eventually fell into disrepair as the fortunes of the neighborhood died away.

Ironically, it was this urban decay that made the place attractive to the music firms in the first place—cheap real estate was plentiful.

That is, as long as you didn’t mind peeling paint and leaking ceilings. The famous Schnell Mansion was an extreme case of neglect but hardly unique.

Today, the casual visitor can walk the streets with relative safety. Music Row in the twentyfirst century is far more tourist-friendly than in the past. The growth of the past thirty years has all but erased the landscape of the past, and it’s hard for many tourists seeing the neatly maintained buildings of today to imagine how rough and tumble-down the same streets were at the height of the area’s fame. In 1972—at the same time that Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, Freddie Hart and Merle Haggard were churning out hits here—the Nashville Housing Authority did an official survey of the district. It counted a total of 296 residential and 156 non-residential structures.

Out of 452 buildings surveyed, a whopping 409 were considered “deficient.” One of these deficient buildings, for example, was a rooming house often occupied by Vanderbilt University students, who referred to it as “the Catacombs.”

120 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

For preservationists today, who wonder why so little of the fabric of the neighborhood was preserved, it is important to remember that many of those who made history here never saw the buildings themselves as important— just tumble-down houses that happened to be affordable until something better could be built. As Harold Bradley put it, “All we wanted to do was to get started.” It wasn’t the sort of place to inspire much sentimentality in those days. And it must be remembered that the area wasn’t exclusively devoted to the music industry—people had to live there as well.

What happened over the course of a TWO-YEAR period in the middle 1960s was UNUSUAL, leaving a pall over the neighborhood that would take YEARS to fade.

It was regarded as “the end of the rainbow by hundreds of hopefuls who flock here each year,” reporter Craig Guthrie wrote, describing the area as a collection of “plush recording studios and publishing houses, dilapidated rooming houses and beer joints,” occupied by “music industry hopefuls as well as the poor who live in slum-like dwellings...medical technicians who work at the three [nearby] hospitals...and other girls and women, many

from small towns and with limited...incomes who band together to eke out a reasonable [sic] comfortable life.”

As is so often the case, poverty and crime went hand in hand. Locals didn’t exactly dread sundown, but Music Row long had a reputation as a rough place. Robberies, breakins, prowlers and assaults were fairly common.

Even so, what happened over the course of a two-year period in the middle 1960s was unusual, leaving a pall of fear over the neighborhood that would take years to fade.

The suspicion that something unusual was happening dawned during the fall of 1964.

There was nothing terribly remarkable about Emmett Frank Elrod. He wasn’t a country star or producer. He wasn’t connected to the industry at all. He was just a pensioner, living a modest existence like many others in the neighborhood. At sixty-seven, he seemed to live a quiet life aside from a stint in the army during World War I. He lived alone in a run-down apartment at 716 16th Avenue South—the same house that had once been home to the wealthy Mr. Manier and his family—and seemed to be alone.

Investigating officers would later comment that after an exhaustive search they had “failed to turn up names of friends or even acquaintances” of Elrod’s. He was last seen around noon on October 14, 1964, sitting on the front porch of his apartment house.

Nobody noticed anything unusual until around 5:00 p.m. that evening, when a neighbor saw an unidentified man running away from the place. About the same time, other neighbors noticed that Elrod’s radio was playing at an unusually high volume and continued to do so all night long. The landlord called the police in the morning, but officers got no response to their knock and noticed that a padlock had been placed on the apartment door from the outside, barring their entry.

culture |

ABOVE: Detectives scour the yard for clues in July 1965, Nashville Public Library Special Collections.

Somehow they didn’t find this suspicious and left, saying that there was nothing further they could do. All day the radio continued to blast from behind the locked door, and as bedtime approached, the landlord once more called the police.

At a quarter to midnight, the officers knocked, but there was no response. Finally, they smashed the lock and forced an entrance.

Immediately they saw Elrod lying on the floor, badly beaten and apparently strangled. He had probably been dead more than twentyfour hours.

Detectives found that his pocket had been rifled and his wallet taken, but nothing else seemed to be missing. Elrod had an impressive $12,000 in his savings account, but there was no evidence that he’d ever kept cash around the place. The trail ended cold. Other than the fleeting glimpse of the suspicious man running away, police admitted that they were stumped, and the case went cold. It seemed to be a random homicide. In hindsight, however, it appeared to be the first of a wave of similar attacks that would plague the neighborhood for the next two years.

In the months to come, there was a sharp upswing in the number of increasingly violent assaults reported in the neighborhood. At least two women were sexually assaulted. Another woman was slashed across the throat with a knife and left for dead during an attack but fortunately survived. All the attacks took place within a few square blocks on 16th and 17th Avenues. It was becoming obvious that a sexual predator was in the neighborhood. It seemed unlikely that the same person would have beaten Mr. Elrod to death over the few dollars he had in his pocket, but a terrible tragedy was about to strike that was similar enough to make many people wonder.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 121

| culture

RIGHT: Photo taken at the present day sight of the murder of Wanda June Anderson.

At 10:00 p.m. on the evening of July 16, 1965, Howard May and his wife drove from the house where they rented an apartment on 16th Avenue South to have a drink at Evelyn’s Beer Tavern on West End Avenue. The couple had six children, including twin daughters only ten weeks old. They left the children in the care of his young sister-in-law, Wanda June Anderson.

Wanda June was only eleven years old. She wasn’t from Nashville, but rather from nearby Joelton, just north of town. Her sister had married May, and she occasionally visited the couple at their home on Music Row. The fact that she was left alone with the children at her age seems shocking to modern minds, but the world of 1965 was a different place. Despite the crime in the area, few people at the time could conceive of a child being victimized.

Bright and mature for her age, the Mays trusted her to look out for the youngsters on her own.

At about twenty minutes past midnight, the Mays pulled into the driveway and immediately knew that something was wrong. Both the front and back doors of the house were standing open, and Mrs. May heard one of their babies crying from within. A quick check of the room revealed blood on the bed where Wanda June slept. There was no sign of her.

After searching the house, May told his wife to call the police. As she ran up the outside staircase toward the phone, she happened to glance into the overgrown backyard. And that’s when she spotted her sister, almost hidden among the tall weeds just fifty feet from the house. May grabbed a towel and wrapped her battered head with it. “She was beaten to a pulp,” he later told a reporter, “So bad that I...

122 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

covered her face and head so my wife wouldn’t see how bad it really was.” By 1:00 a.m., she had been rushed to Vanderbilt Hospital and underwent three hours of surgery by a team of brain specialists to try to save her life.

Sadly, Wanda June passed away two days later without regaining consciousness. She was taken home by her heartbroken parents for burial in Joelton. The investigators were now looking for a murderer.

Detectives believed that the attacker had walked in through an unlocked door, found Wanda June asleep in bed and hit her with a metal pipe that was found at the scene. He then carried her to a shed nearby, but at some point she regained consciousness and managed to fight her attacker off briefly. He then chased her down and beat her viciously with the pipe, assaulted her and fled the scene.

A pattern quickly emerged. In addition to the attacks in Belmont and Music Row, there were other attacks reported in the area off Jefferson Street near the State A&I College (now Tennessee State University). Due to his distinctive footwear, the suspect in those crimes became known as the “Tennis Shoe Man.” The two neighborhoods were similarly poverty stricken and only a mile and a quarter apart. Investigators began to think that the attacks were related.

It was an absolutely inhuman display of brutality, and it shocked the city to its core.

Detectives flew the evidence from the scene to Washington aboard a specially ordered Air National Guard flight for FBI examination.

The district attorney called in help from city, county and state officials. Governor Frank Clement even offered a $5,000 reward for the attacker.

They soon found a promising suspect. A bouncer named Hughdon Mathis was taken into custody after the victim in the slashing attack identified him from a photograph.

Worse yet, he had allegedly robbed and molested a cab driver in July and bragged to the victim, “You don’t know who I am. I am the Tennis Shoe Man” [continued on page 140].

Micro Weddings Tailored to Fit Your Personal Style.

Let Our Wedding Specialist Create Yours.

Â

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 123

FRANKLIN

EAST NASHVILLE WEST END DOWNTOWN GERMANTOWN THE GULCH

LEIPS AND

BOUNDS

The rolling hills and sprawling farmland make LEIPER’S FORK one of the most coveted communities in the South. Soon, those seeking tranquil living in the area will have a whole new reason to 'go country' with the offerings in SLOAN VALLEY FARM. BAIRD GRAHAM COMPANY has exceeded buyer expectations in building and developing nine home sites here. The property overlooks 80+ acres of protected wetlands, ensuring nothing but nature views for the foreseeable future. Equestrian families flock to this area for the open space and horse culture, so it's fitting that lots are generous plots of land—ranging from six to eleven acres per home. Talk about room to social distance! We like the entire project but can't wait to see inside these homes as we are big followers of the designers set to work on the project. The list includes RACHEL HALVORSON of RACHEL HALVORSON DESIGNS, LAUREN MOORE of MODERN REMAINS, and JOANNA GOODMAN of CHRISTOPHER ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS.

SUPERICA, PHOTO BY ANDREW THOMAS LEE

You may be a familiar fan of the FACTORY AT FRANKLIN, but there are a few new tenants worth noting for your next visit. URBAN SIPS + SWEETS will be serving up their gourmet sodas and shaved ice specialties by spring. If you're like many "regulars" of FUNK SEOUL BROTHERS so disappointed to see it close, you'll be happy to know that owner BJ LOFBACK has launched a new concept in PINCHY'S LOBSTER CO. in the same space. Especially relevant to today's time and Nashville's musical talents, THE FIELD AT FRANKLIN is a new spin on a classic: a drive-in that doubles as a concert venue. There will be movies too, but they're thrilled to have musicians performing live when the reels aren't rolling. KANE BROWN has already had the chance, and we've got big expectations about the concerts to come!

FIELDS OR

FACTORIES

124 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

COOL SPRINGS / BRENTWOOD

GREEN HILLS

WEST MEADE

HEIDI

For much of her working life, HEIDI DOAK has been wielding her influence in public relations for the hospitality and real estate industries. Moving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and (finally!) to Nashville, she's now spinning press for top tier hotels, resorts, and restaurants all over the world with the firm J PUBLIC RELATIONS. Heidi and her husband knew as soon as their realtor drove down Main Street in Downtown Franklin, that this city would be their new home, and they found the perfect place that day.

DOAK

MODERN-DAY MAYBERRY: The best thing about Franklin is the small-town charm of Main Street. It's my favorite place to go for a walk. Compared to the madness from living in Los Angeles, it has a 'storybook' vibe. It's beautiful on the outskirts of town, too. Thousands of visitors make their way to The Natchez Trace double-arched bridge each year. It's the perfect backdrop for a stunning photo. One of our favorite things to do is take a motorcycle ride along the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway—especially during fall foliage. We also won't miss Downtown Franklin's holiday tree lighting ceremony. It feels like being in a Hallmark movie!

FRANKLIN

12SOUTH

SHH, DON'T TELL: There are many places we're partial to for cocktails or dinner. In LEIPER’S FORK, PUCKETT’S GROCERY has open mic nights on Thursdays—a hidden treasure of sorts that we stop by on occasion. We frequent GRAY’S ON MAIN for the great food, amazing bar, and live music. Oh, and we have THE best hot chicken in town at BIG SHAKE’S. It gives those Nashville hotspots a run for their money. I'm wary of saying it, but for brunch, we're hooked on BISCUIT LOVE. It's got the same great food as the original, but without the wait (but shh, don't tell).

Rumor has it we're getting a SUPERICA here, too! So many of Music City's best dining spots have locations in Franklin, with more adding all the time.

SIP, SHOP & SPA: Unwinding is individual to every person, but I believe some places can help put the process in motion.

DRAKE’S is the perfect place to relax and watch a game while noshing on sushi or burgers. On a particularly rainy day, I'm ideally indulging in a transportive massage and facial at THE SPA AT LEIPER’S FORK. Shopping is definitely another means of unwinding for me, and my personal go-to is WHITE’S MERCANTILE on Main Street. Whenever we have guests visiting for the first time, I swing by the store and put together a 'Welcome to Nashville' gift bag with local products. I also stop into POSH and ANTHROPOLOGIE when shopping for myself. If I'm seeking the perfect gift, I head to MADE IN TN at THE FACTORY AT FRANKLIN or TIN COTTAGE on Main Street.

GREEN HILLS

EAST NASHVILLE WEST END DOWNTOWN GERMANTOWN THE GULCH

PERFECT PAIR ARHAUS, PHOTO COURTESY OF ARHAUS

If this time spent inside has inspired one thing for many, it’s been an interior revamp (because who wants to spend a surplus of time in a space they don’t enjoy). Lucky for Nashville, we’ve had some of the best homeware retailers touch down in Nashville at the perfect time. ARHAUS recently opened its 11,000+ square foot space in July and is specifically curated to reflect the “vibrant streets and thriving creative scene” of Nashville. Arhaus’ team of highly skilled design consultants exists to provide any of their many customized design services to all customers, for projects of all sizes. Another exciting

ELEVATE YOUR

LIVING SPACE

126 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

addition for Nashville’s clientele is the 10,000+ square foot Euro-inspired haven, BALLARD DESIGNS. The brand is renowned for its impeccable ability to look at classic designs, and reinterpret them in a stunning, modern fashion. Their furniture has resonated with Nashville for many years, and the company is excited to finally be able to pander to the city’s needs and eye for interior design. If you’re in the market for changing not only interiors, but homes entirely, the acclaimed AUSTIN PENNINGTON of BARLOW BUILDERS has a new project up his sleeve that may be of interest: MONROE. The development consists of 31 pristine luxury homes in what was formerly the Monroe-Harding campus. Spruce up your space with the help of one of Green Hills’ newest stores, and invest in the home of your dreams while you’re at it.

COOL SPRINGS / BRENTWOOD GREEN HILLS

WEST MEADE

12 SOUTH

BELLE MEADE

EDIBLE INDULGENCES: For brunch, I love NOSHVILLE on a Saturday morning or I'll go to THE FOOD COMPANY and grab their ham and brie biscuits and whip up some eggs and pancakes in my kitchen.

For just coffee, I go to THE PERCH. For a date night, I usually opt for ETC. or NORTH ITALIA. Also, CAVA and CHOPT are two great healthy eating spots where you can run in and get a very nutritious lunch or dinner on the go. Whenever the kids get their way, we find ourselves either at BRIXX PIZZA, SHAKE SHACK, or EMMY SQUARED. The best casual place to grab a drink or watch a game is definitely CORNER PUB (our favorite) or CROW’S NEST.

CALLIE

CALLIE SHELL has made her name here in Nashville as a nutritional wellspring of sorts between her health coaching and personal chef ventures. She’s been in the Green Hills/Forest Hills area for the past 12 years and has enjoyed watching it grow and evolve with new businesses throughout the years. If there’s one thing she (and we all) can do without, it’s the traffic, but the great food and great shopping that comes with the area makes up for it. While there are many notable faces often spotted in the area (DIERKS BENTLEY and KEITH URBAN grabbing groceries at WHOLE FOODS), the area is very family friendly and experiencing tremendous growth with new concepts popping up what seems to be weekly!

SHELL

ETC.

NOT SO SECRET HIDEAWAY: Being able to go to the BLUEBIRD CAFE and listen to the most talented and famous songwriters in the world is truly special and is such a wonderful reflection of our beloved Music City.

This is where we love to take friends when they come into town (if we can manage to get tickets). I also love CREST FOOT SPA. There's nothing like an amazing foot massage and then head upstairs to EL PALENQUE for a margarita. For the perfect quiet, rainy day, my kids and I love to go to BRUSHFIRE POTTERY and paint pottery. On a rainy day without the kids, NAIL BAR and cocktails with friends at CHAR would be on my itinerary. For the best workout, definitely IRON TRIBE. I also love CYL SAUNA STUDIO to detox and help press the reset button!

FRESH SPOTS AND NEW IDEAS: Nashville continues to amaze me with our growth. I love popping into the mall to see all the new stores, like GOLDEN GOOSE, GUCCI, and for homeware, CRATE & BARREL or ARHAUS. I am very excited about a new kids’ store, PATCH. I also saw that BALLARD DESIGNS is under construction, which will be great for our area. I recently traveled to Denver and went to a place called AVANTI. It’s a modern-day food hall with several different restaurant concepts, housed in modified shipping containers. It was super eclectic and very affordable.

We sat on the rooftop and I kept thinking how great this would be in Green Hills. Speaking of rooftops, RH CAFÉ rooftop is the best spot in Green Hills for cocktails. While I love scouting all the new stores, The PERFECT PAIR, H. AUDREY, and HEMLINE are my go-to’s when I need a cute outfit!

WEST ME ADE / BELLE MEADE

EAST NASHVILLE WEST END DOWNTOWN GERMANTOWN THE GULCH

One of the areas most anticipated developments, SYLVAN SUPPLY, is destined to be quite the hotspot.

Inside, it will house new locations for local establishments, including OTAKU RAMEN, PURE BARRE, and BEARDED IRIS. Sylvan Supply is also where chef and cookbook author AMANDA FREDERICKSON is serving approachable, healthy fare inside her RADISH KITCHEN dining concept. Whether you opt for a bowl, wrap, salad, or some fro-yo, your tastebuds will be delighted.

THE WEST SIDE'S

LATEST AND

GREATEST

If you’re a fan of CAFÉ ROZÉ in East Nashville, we’ve got great news! Founder JULIA JAKSIC is extending her delicious yet straightforward dishes built with quality ingredients to Belle Meade. This sister location, ROZE PONY, will be serving up fresh fare morning, noon, and night to happy patrons, and the well-stocked grab-and-go market is going to be the new top stop for all of us hitting PERCY WARNER on the weekends. Follow along on Julia's social media for updates on the opening dates.

128 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

RADISH KITCHEN

COOL SPRINGS / BRENTWOOD

GREEN HILLS

WEST MEADE

12 SOUTH

BELLE MEADE

MELANIE & KERR

TIGRETT THE CAFÉ AT THISTLE FARMS

MAGPIES, PHOTO BY MEAGAN LITTLE

Moving from their hometown of Memphis just six years ago, MELANIE and KERR TIGRETT have fallen in love with the city where they’re raising their family while livening up the social scene with fresh energy and laughter.

He’s the President and Chief Compliance Officer at IRON HORSE CAPITAL while Melanie keeps their schedules together and manages their lovely estate off of Highway 100. You might see the two of them working out together at TAKES 2 FITNESS or walking in their J OCELYN HOLLOW neighborhood before heading out to dinner. They’re fun, active, and all about enjoying their neighborhood to the fullest.

NATURAL CALLING: The large, mature trees on our street create a beautiful canopy for the drive. The neighborhood has a waterfall flowing into sleepy creeks with wildlife roaming throughout the community. What’s not to love about raising a family in that type of setting? Our home feels like a warm place to welcome friends and family. When out of town guests visit, we take them to JACKSON FALLS off of NATCHEZ TRACE and hike up to the overlook for beautiful views. WEST MEADE WATERFALL is spectacular during winter when it’s frozen.

OUT AND ABOUT: The two restaurants we probably visit most often near the house are 360 BISTRO for date night and SPERRY’S for catching up with friends. The adjacent SPERRY’S MERCANTILE is also a godsend for home cooking essentials. They sell the same steaks, seafood, farm-fresh eggs, and pantry items used to prepare popular menu items. Plus, there’s an array of delicious pre-prepared foods and dry pantry items for those busy weeknight dinners.

When it’s family night, we take the kids to PORTA VIA for pizza and pasta and to THE CAFÉ AT THISTLE FARMS or LE PEEP for brunch. If you need somewhere to watch a game, we love SAM’S PLACE—they have curbside pickup too!

Lastly, to curb the inevitable sweet tooth, we frequent DALT’S for chocolate cake and a malted milkshake. It’s the perfect pick me up on a rainy day. As far as local shops go, MAGPIES for children’s clothing and PHILLIPS TOY MART is fun for big kids and little ones alike. If we need a thoughtful gift or refresh item for the house, G&G INTERIORS is quick and close.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 129

GERM ANTOWN

EAST NASHVILLE WEST END DOWNTOWN GERMANTOWN THE GULCH

THIS IS

GOLD

Being trapped inside has been a struggle for all, but thanks to THE GOLDEN SLIPPER, Germantown now has a place to stock up on cozy necessities and treats to enjoy at home. Expect an array of candles and gourmet grocery/pantry goods to apothecary items and greeting cards.

They host inventive workshops like the upcoming holiday wreath making class so that you can get creative with your purchases, too. The Golden Slipper is gift central—and they do balloon installations!

This quaint, historic neighborhood has become quite the dining destination.

Recent openings of hotspots, THE OPTIMIST and O-KU bring people from all over the city into the district nightly. The reopening of GEIST will undoubtedly be a significant draw for foodies and former patrons. Their early accolades were impressive, and the team promises that the new and improved

RESTAURANT

ROW

130 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

version will be even better than the original.

TANDY WILSON is also taking advantage of the exterior of CITY HOUSE, which is a true institution for gourmet food in Nashville. The opening of an outdoor patio is something that everyone anticipates.

There’s even a new FARMER’S MARKET dining choice. The all-plant based and dietfriendly SUCCULENT VEGAN TACOS is drawing health-minded patrons daily.

COOL SPRINGS / BRENTWOOD

PUT A

RING

If you agree that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, the intimate space opened by designer TIMOTHY STAMMEN is calling your name. His creations are works of art, with the kind of rare beauty not typical in this market. There are the mindblowing babbles from his BEZALEL and the collection from HOUSE OF AWR, including custom-designed engagement and wedding rings that are deal-sealing sensations.

ON IT

GREEN HILLS

WEST MEADE

12 SOUTH

BELLE MEADE

LIZZIE

DANIEL After leaving to live in NYC for five years, LIZZIE DANIEL says Nashville ‘called her back’. Although she has been back for three years, she’s wasted no time, recently launching her brand connection and consulting business.

She had previously lived in both West Nashville and Midtown, but this time she chose Germantown. It felt more like the vibrant, walkable Meatpacking District in the city she was leaving behind. Her four-story brownstone reminds her of designs she coveted in the West Village with exposed brick walls, sleek interiors, and rooftop terrace.

BIG CITY FEEL: My neighborhood is vibrant, cultured, and convenient for some of my favorite go-to resources. My first morning stop is usually JUICE BAR. For gifts, I swear by the organic self-care selection at POPPY AND MONROE, which is also where I book regular pedicures. I love FOILED & FERN for their amazing plants and fun home items. I stay active. You can often spot me walking along the tree-lined section of 5th Avenue or signing-in at my favorite workout spot, SHED FITNESS.

COMMUNITY LOVES: I was blown away at how the residents and neighbors came together to rebuild after the devastating tornado damage.

The sense of community is wonderful in this neighborhood. Germantown has unique gatherings like DISTRICT MARKET DAY, which connects consumers with local makers and producers. Some hidden haunts include TEMPERED FINE CHOCOLATE for truffles, espresso, whiskey & wine, and the intimate dinner party format at TAILOR, which is perfect for date nights (make sure to book in advance, culinary creator VIVEK SURTI only offers the experience a few nights a week).

SERIOUS SOCIALIZING: I never turn down a glass of bubbly, so I’m so looking forward to going back to my absolute favorite, GEIST, as they reopen after restoration (post-tornado).

They are rebuilding and installing a one of a kind, louvered roof system to allow for alfresco dining year-round. I relish the atmosphere, their preparation of oysters, and of course, sabering MOET bottles in their Champagne garden. I am also a fan of HENRIETTA RED and CHEF JULIA SULLIVAN’S seafood specials. It’s perfect for happy hour or enjoying a martini on a rainy day. There’s also a new outpost of Nashville’s beloved SAMARI SUSHI. YUN CHOO has opened SURA SUSHI, and it’s been an instant hit. Another great option for cocktails nearby is the fairly new MOTHER’S RUIN—my pick for craft cocktail service.

FOILED & FERN, PHOTO BY MARY CRAVEN NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 131

D OW N TOW N

EAST NASHVILLE

WEST END

DOWNTOWN GERMANTOWN THE GULCH

THE JOSEPH

GRAND HYATT

HOTEL

Suppose you want to try something (anything) new. All that’s required is looking at the array of top-name hotel openings…or the amenities increasing at the existing hotels making improvements, such as the OMNI HOTEL. They are offering prime customer status to all visitors that extends to any Omni property, anywhere. Talk about an incentive! The FAIRLANE HOTEL is now home to the first location for the CHEESE GAL, the wildly popular tasting-board creator (we adore) that took Instagram by storm last year. This hotel is also boasting about the opening of the swoonworthy, pop-up dining experience from entertaining guru MOLLY MARTIN of JUNIPER GREEN through January. For private parties,

HOTSPOTS

132 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

it might just be your new go-to. THE JOSEPH HOTEL’S opening raised the bar in hospitality, bringing a globally renowned art collection, award level dining options, and a 5-star recognition in association with THE LUXURY COLLECTION. On Broadway, the GRAND HYATT is making waves with open-air spaces on multiple high-level decks and event spaces suited to host even the largest events. THE CONTINENTAL, SEAN BROCK’S latest brainchild, is reason enough to step into the gorgeous lobby for a peek at the hotel’s modern design. Just like John, we can’t wait for the opening of the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL. The residential units within the hotel are selling like wildfire, with prices increasing as demand builds.

Downtown living options are also drawing well-heeled newcomers to BROADWEST, a development considered to be modern but traditionally tasteful with too many onsite bonuses to mention.

COOL SPRINGS / BRENTWOOD

GREEN HILLS

WEST MEADE

12 SOUTH

BELLE MEADE

CHEESE GAL, PHOTO BY CORTNEY LACORTE

JOHN

RAIH

NYC transplant JOHN RAIH is setting down roots in his downtown digs despite just arriving in town this June. Even during the pandemic, he's managed to explore Nashville and find some favorite spots near his home in the 505 building. Here, the co-founder of influencer marketing and capital raising firm SIX DEGREES, LLC., says he’s never felt locked-down during the pandemic—with soaring views from floor to ceiling windows providing a constant connection to the city below. A social planner by nature, he's hosting his first fundraiser this year—and everyone reading this article is invited. Watch SPOTFUND for information and ticket details.

WHY DOWNTOWN: It’s the best entry point for any newcomer. It’s central with easy access to every other district. Instead of picking a more isolated spot blindly—I can explore all of them and be in the center of all the growth. I’m especially looking forward to the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL opening as well FUELING THE MACHINE: The BOBBY HOTEL lobby serves the best coffee, and I often start the day with a smoothie from E+ROSE WELLNESS. Stocking up on sustenance is convenient with the new WHOLE FOODS nearby. When I want to indulge, tacos at BAKERSFIELD and pizza from DONATO’S are favorites. To serve my sweet tooth, PUCKETT’S deep-fried brownie sundae is a must. For a fun brunch, THE HAMPTON SOCIAL is a great spot— perfect for all the Instagram warriors, by the way.

E+ROSE WELLNESS

WORKOUT WARRIOR: I run Capitol Hill or along the Greenway, over the river, around NISSAN STADIUM (go TITANS— unless they’re playing my brother’s teamthe Arizona Cardinals), and do wind sprints going up the Pedestrian Bridge followed by stretching to cool down at the top.

The reward is a postcard view of the city from above the river. I’ve also found fitness help with ‘trainer to the stars’ TOMMY HUNKA, SHED workouts in the Gulch, and BOOTHCAMP.

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC: I found a hidden treasure in the acoustic performances on the rooftop of OLE RED. For a date night, I love live music at THE LISTENING ROOM. Pre-pandemic, dancing would usually follow, but the current environment feels a little like Footloose (no dancing allowed)!

Another perk of living downtown is being a block away from the RYMAN and within walking distance of another fantastic venue, ASCEND AMPHITHEATER . I’ve quickly learned how friendly and approachable people seem to be, and I have taken note that if someone is wearing cowboy boots, they’re probably a tourist.

D OW N TOW N DOWNTOWN

GERMANTOWN

THE GULCH

12SOUTH

GREEN HILLS

MOONSHOT COFFEE, PHOTO BY EMILY DORIO

The buzz around MOONSHOT COFFE E extends beyond the traditional cup.

This outpost (hailing from the West Coast) serves juices, breakfast, and gourmet salads along with specialty brews like the Colada—an island-inspired flavored espresso. Local foodie favorite CHEF ROONEY’S pop-up concept with a cult following has a permanent home in BLACK DYNASTY RAMEN. Hidden behind a tiny sign within BAR SOVEREIGN, everything here is made in house for a flavorful escape from the ordinary.

FILLING YOUR CUP

AND YOUR PLATE

Another highly anticipated opening is Atlanta-based naturals and organic gourmet market, SAVI PROVISIONS. Pick up fresh, organic produce, and pantry essentials daily. We like the prepared meals and the convenience of a walk-up coffee and juice bar. If you’re opting for one of the more indulgent sandwiches, no worries—there are many nearby workout options and a new LULULEMON store on the ground floor of the THREE THIRTY THREE building in The Gulch to arrive at the nearest class in style!

LULULEMON IN THE THREE THIRTY THREE

134 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

DR. JACOB UNGER World-renowned Plastic Surgeon Specializing in Aesthetic Surgery of the Face, Nose and Breast

BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON 2020 21st Ave S. | 615-932-7700 @drjacobunger

c ool s prings

/

brentwood

EAST NASHVILLE WEST END DOWNTOWN GERMANTOWN THE GULCH

MCEWEN NORTHSIDE

COOL SPRINGS’

NEW COOL

If you want to see one of the city's most beloved athletes putting his razor-sharp biceps to work in the kitchen, this is a must stop. Former Tennessee Titan, Keith Bulluck is most often onsite and that includes taking care of all facets of JUST LOVE COFFEE operations. Their casual but fresh dining menu is heavy on breakfast specialties and sweet waffle concoctions all day long. They also offer a wide selection of Just Love’s special blends (you can buy beans and blends to take home). Bring your laptop or your family and stay awhile as there is definitely a true neighborhood atmosphere inside.

The best part (well, aside from the omelets and waffles) is that the business is built around funding assistance that

136 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

ultimately supports foster care children.

Keith was in the system as a young man and has been giving back through his foundation for years, with the café being the ultimate devotion to ensuring the best for children often overlooked. What’s not to love? MCEWEN NORTHSIDE also sports fan-favorites, JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS and TIFF’S TREATS for a sugar fix but what we are most excited about are the more sophisticated offerings. PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE is an expansive dining venue hailing from Texas that will likely be a huge draw for date nights and group parties while VINTAGE VINE 100 is a local concept specializing in serving 100 fine wines by the glass (and bourbons to boast about) daily. Oh yeah, and there’s a SHAKE SHACK, too.

COOL SPRINGS / BRENTWOOD

GREEN HILLS

WEST MEADE

12 SOUTH

BELLE MEADE

WHY THEY CHOSE TO LIVE HERE: The distance makes it easy to get into the city but it’s far enough away not to feel crowded. We love the fresh air and how kind that the people are. Despite the lack of ethnic diversity, the people throughout the community have always been really wonderful.

WHEN WITH THE KIDS: The kids love CHICKFIL-A (of course). But for family meals, we usually end up at DEL FRISCO’S or J. ALEXANDER’S, which we all enjoy. The kids also like that our café is adjacent to TIFF’S TREATS and JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS.

STAYING IN SHAPE: LIFETIME FITNESS CENTER is the best place around for getting an incredible workout, but we also like getting outside. The hiking trails at MARCELLA VIVRETTE SMITH PARK are our top choice nearby. We are devotees of the classes at ROW HOUSE, where building up a sweat on state-of-the-art rowing machines is a group effort. As new tennis players, we like playing with friends (just not in a league, please!) at places like BRENTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB or the YMCA.

KEITH & HEATHER

Any Tennessee Titan fan is familiar with #53, All-Pro Linebacker KEITH BULLUCK, who was a part of the original dream team that made all of us fall for NFL Sundays. Since his days on the field, he’s been busy raising three adorable girls with his savvy wife, Heather. Recently, they’ve entered a new chapter in launching their own business in the developing complex, MCEWEN NORTHSIDE in Cool Springs (hint, it’s one of our own top finds in this neighborhood). With a charity component that serves worthwhile causes and a steady stream of coffee-loving customers, the Bullucks are loved by neighbors and visitors alike. They’ve lived in the area for several years (after residing in San Francisco and New York as well as Nashville), and have no intentions of leaving anytime soon. Here are a few of their top haunts and habits in and around the neighborhood.

BULLUCK

ADULT DINING: THE BROWN BAG is a solid lunch choice with a variety of healthy options.

We are really looking forward to the opening of VINTAGE VINE 100—a new concept just steps away from work. For dinners or cocktails nearby, our favorite spots are HONEYSUCKLE or WILD GINGER. We favor UNCLE JULIO’S for Mexican fare and better price points. We also love our proximity to downtown Franklin and enjoy a bit of throwback charm in the historic district while stopping into shops like WHITE’S MERCANTILE, ANTHROPOLOGIE, and WALTON’S JEWELRY.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 137

c ool s p rings

/

brentwood

COOL SPRINGS / BRENTWOOD

GREEN HILLS

WEST MEADE

12 SOUTH

BELLE MEADE

WORK IT

OFF

Balance is essential.

With all of the eating and drinking establishments already open and popping up throughout the area, there are a number of wellness and fitness facilities opening in this affluent grouping of suburbs. Young mothers and retirees alike seem to be quite fit in general which is likely why so many fitness concepts continue to open in every new development.

At MCEWEN NORTHSIDE, there’s a new CLUB PILATES and a fitness center. Other recent additions to the exercise scene include outposts of BARRE3 and CYCLEBAR. A totally unique (starting with the name) specialty resource is EAT THE FROG FITNESS, which is a fresh spin on personal training for real results. And then for soothing the spirit, PURE SWEAT + FLOAT STUDIO extends

PURE SWEAT AND FLOAT STUDIO GIGI BUTLER is in the kitchen again and everyone seems to want a taste. PIES BY GIGI is an instant hit in Brentwood and beyond, as fans are making it a destination. She made huge strides in the industry when she launched and operated the widely popular and successful chain, GIGI’S CUPCAKES—known for big icing and even bigger flavors. This time around, she’s raising the bar by elevating classic dessert pies while also warming our hearts with savory pies and comfort food dishes and breads. Think classics like quiche, biscuits or mac & cheese, but with her signature twists on the menu. It’s ideal for picking up when cooking isn’t possible or grabbing a pie to take to a dinner party. We’ve long been admirers of this boot-strapping entrepreneur who started her business as a devoted single mother. Her daughter is also helping in this venture by creating signature homemade treats for dogs (so adorable). If you need a gift, casserole for dinner or just a taste of home—this is the place.

SWEET AS

PIE

138 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

the ultimate in healing experiences and take-home remedies for those aching muscles. With a popular location already in Cool Springs, they opened their newest studio in Brentwood in March. For a truly healthy finish (and to make sure you don’t end up just eating pies and ice cream), CLEAN JUICE BAR'S new Brentwood location pours completely organic blends designed

LEADERS IN REAL ESTATE

working for you

The LCT Team of Parks Realty are experts in delivering a synergy of success for each client. We are ready to help you buy or sell a home in Franklin, Brentwood or Nashville – and we have the experience and knowledge to make the whole process easier for you.

LCTTEAM.COM

935 EDMONDSON PIKE

1021 NORFLEET DR.

$1,850,000

$2,399,900

5 BED | 5 FULL & 2 HALF BATHS | 4,843 SF Brentwood

5 BED | 5 FULL & 2 HALF BATH | 6,144 SF Lakeview Manor | Nashville

106 E. Main St. | Franklin, TN 37064 | (615) 790-7400 | (615) 775-3830 | Lic. #00059191

[Living the Dream, continued from page 36]: TNE: Do you follow any Nashville sports/ who do you root for?

AM: I have season tickets to the Predators and try to make a few Titans games per year. I went to a PAC-12 school (USC), so I have to grin and bear it with all of the SEC hysteria in the South!

TNE: Go-to restaurants in downtown and Franklin near your personal home?

AM: Cork & Cow in Franklin, 404 Kitchen in the Gulch, Hampton Social, and Stateside Kitchen in the Dream.

TNE: Do you think you’d be doing this if you didn’t start with your family’s business before you broke out on your own?

AM: Yes. I had a career in hi-tech in the San Francisco Bay Area for about 12 years and went through the dot com bubble in the 90’s.

It was a nice transition leaving San Francisco to travel across the country, establishing a long-term professional career that I can enjoy forever. Fortunately, I don’t look at what I do as a ‘job.’

TNE: What do you enjoy most about developing a property?

AM: Being able to envision a concept from dilapidated buildings to a renovated piece of usable art that people will enjoy again. Creating jobs is rewarding, whether it's the design or the construction phase. From the start, we probably employed over a thousand people to design and build the Dream Hotel Nashville.

Now that it’s open, those job opportunities are ongoing. That's a great aspect of it. It's fulfilling to see the before and after.

TNE: Friends say you’re an outdoorsman and a family man. How do you spend your free time?

AM: Whether I’m hiking with family or canoeing, outdoors is my haven. We live in Franklin, so we’ve got the Harpeth River practically outside our back door. When

140 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

the kids are out of school (which has been frequent this year), we do quick trips to Center Hill Lake or 30A on the Gulf Coast. I’m not exactly a golfer because it requires too much time. My attention span does not go on that long (laughs). I do get a little ‘redneck’ once in a while, whether it's ATVs on our property or taking hunting trips with my buddies. I like to cover the spectrum in enjoying the outdoors with family and friends. I’m a little bit of a different person on the weekends than I am in my working life, probably. I think that’s a good thing…It keeps me balanced.

[Song of a Siren, continued from page 73]: “But now I tell myself ‘whatever’—stop questioning your talent and start songwriting again.” Hopefully, now that she has blown the lid off several ill-fated encounters with top rock ‘n’ rollers like Ryan Adams, her second book will be about misogyny in the music industry.

Her current album is impressive, and the soothing video clips she shares while singing and playing guitar via her Instagram account draw thousands of listeners who just can’t get enough of her sound.

After countless top magazine covers, serving as the face of numerous luxury fashion campaigns, and walking at every coveted runway show in the world, supermodel Karen Elson seems to get the most satisfaction from speaking her mind. Perhaps, after a 25-year career spent in silence, this is her definition of success.

[State of Well-being, continued from page 81]: I also add the brand’s BEAUTY WITHIN COLLAGEN PROTEIN in guava passionfruit to every smoothie I blend along with one of the greens powder offerings from Lemon Laine. It cuts any bitterness from the greens and the kale or spinach that I toss in the mix.

It eliminates the need for adding sugar level boosting fruit. That’s fewer calories, lower sugar, and the bonus of more nutrition. In my opinion, it can’t be beaten. Like supplements,

the quality of what you buy is so important, and their blends combine different sources from the interior of eggshells and marine life for better absorption. You can order any of the products (friends swear by the bone broth blends for fighting colds) on Amazon or directly from either Turnip Truck or their Franklin headquarters.

No matter how you supplement, be sure that what you are buying is pharmaceutical grade and that the dose is right for your body. It takes some study and experimenting—but the overall benefits are so worth the effort!

RESOURCES/LINKS — CHEF LAURA RODRIGUEZ: cheflaurarodriguez.com; M POWER NUTRITION: mpowermd.com/ nutrition-partners; NASHVILLE NUTRITION PARTNERS: nashvillenutritionpartners.com; VITALITY MEDICAL WELLNESS CENTER: sommer whitemd.com; CELPROCEO: celproceo.com; DR. LILE: lilewellness.com; ARETE: aretenashville.com; ANCIENT NUTRITION: ancientnutrition.com; DR. AXE: draxe.com.

[Scandal, Success & Serial Killers, continued from page 122]: Mathis was charged with the assaults and robbery, but there was no evidence he was connected to Wanda June’s murder. Nor did any of four other suspects pan out. By year’s end, the case was cold.

But the attacks did not stop. The predator— or someone very like him—was still out there.

For a while things went quiet. The police put twenty-five men on the case, working around the clock, and the increased heat probably drove the killer underground for a while. But it was only a matter of time before he crawled back out from under the rock. On January 9, 1966, a bizarre murder occurred at a modest house on Nassau Street, not far from the scene of the “Tennis Shoe” attacks. A fourteen-year old girl named Reba Kay Green lay sleeping in her bed at around 4:00 a.m. when a man slipped into her room, fatally stabbed her once in the chest and then left. So quiet was the

YourWeekly Edit

Sign up for the inside scoop on trendsetters, designers and parties sent straight to your inbox!

S u b s c r i b e a t Na s hvi l l e E d i t .c o m NASHVILLEEDIT.COM | 141

attack that her twin sister—who slept in the same room—didn’t wake up. Her brother in the next room did and looked in on the girls.

He saw something chilling. “I...saw somebody walking past the window,” he told detectives.

“They appeared to be laughing.”

It was a truly bizarre crime, and whether it was connected to the others is still debatable. Like Wanda June Anderson’s murder, Reba’s would remain unsolved.

In the spring of 1966, the attacks on Music Row began again, always in the same manner.

The attacker would break into a house where a woman was alone and assault her, beating her with a hammer and sometimes stabbing her as well. By August, at least seven similar assaults had been reported, as well as more than forty prowler calls. The only suspect charged was an Iranian exchange student from Vanderbilt who had been dating one of the victims. However, he wasn’t charged in any of the other cases.

On August 3, a musician came home at 3:45 a.m. from a session and went to wake his wife by rapping on the window of the apartment they shared on 18th Avenue South. To his horror, he found the window open and his wife lying unconscious on the couch covered in blood. She was rushed to General Hospital in fair condition. Their two children, aged five and three months, had slept through the attack and hadn’t heard a thing.

Little did the investigators know that just two hours before the attack was discovered, officers had made a breakthrough. Henry Daniel Wilson was picked up as a suspected peeping tom. He was a twenty-seven-year-old who worked at Vanderbilt Hospital and had a prison record for burglary in Kentucky but had not registered as an ex-convict when he moved to Nashville. Soon afterward, a telegram arrived from the FBI connecting Wilson with the evidence from an earlier attack—the one in which the exchange student had been charged.

That young man was cleared, and Wilson was immediately charged in that case, as well as the

142 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

one that occurred the night he was picked up.

He denied all allegations.

in the cases. Detectives have their theories but not much corroboration.

Then the story got worse. Police Chief Russell Greenwell of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, came to Nashville to question Wilson on a series of attacks in that city. Delores Ann Russell, age nine, had been stabbed to death on July 3 while sleeping in her bed. That same night, two teenage girls awoke to find an intruder in their room who beat them with a hammer before fleeing. Wilson admitted that he had been in town that day, but no charges were ultimately filed in those cases, although Chief Greenwell said he considered Wilson “still a suspect” at the time he returned to Hopkinsville.

It’s far from certain whether all the crimes were connected or whether they were the work of several predators. It should be pointed out that the victim of one attack was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital, and while there, she saw someone who “looked very much” like her attacker. Henry Wilson was working at the hospital at the time, but she described a white man with a thin face, dark hair and a smooth forehead, while Wilson was African American. Based on the description, another hospital worker was arrested and charged with indecent exposure. Incredibly, he lived directly behind the house where Wanda June died. However, he was never charged with any other crimes. The proximity of the cases and the similar method is enough to give one pause, but there is a distinct possibility that the crimes were unconnected.

According to detectives, Wilson eventually broke down under questioning and confessed to the assault that had taken place the night he was arrested. However, he later recanted, citing police coercion. In March 1967, he was tried in Davidson County Criminal Court on charges of rape and assault with intent to murder. On the stand, he made an unsuccessful plea that his rights were violated during his arrest and continued to deny his confession. The victim in the case testified but could not remember the attack or the nine days that followed it.

However, the district attorney had enough material evidence to link Wilson to the attack, and after an hour and ten minutes, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty on all counts.

Wilson was sentenced to a total of 120 years in the state penitentiary. According to prison records, he last came up for parole in 2016, which was denied. If still alive today, he would be seventy-six years old.

With his conviction, the attacks seem to have come to an end, but not the questions.

Nobody was ever charged with the murders of Emmett Frank Elrod, Wanda June Anderson or Reba Kay Green. It should be pointed out that Wilson was investigated in the Anderson case but never charged. At the present time, nearly fifty years later, the murders still remain officially unsolved and still open. Over the years, several other suspects were questioned

If there was one culprit, did he get away and strike again? In 1969, twelve-year-old Kathy Lee Jones was murdered on Thompson Lane, her body found in a vacant lot. While there is little similarity to the earlier killings and the scene is far removed from Music Row, some theorize that she died at the hands of the same killer who murdered Wanda June and Reba Kay. It isn’t a pretty story, but it is a reminder that Music Row is not just an abstract, but rather a concrete part of the fabric of the city. The events of fifty years ago have mercifully faded now. Most of the places associated with these tragedies have fallen to the wrecking ball—as is the case with the scenes of the many musical triumphs that played out here. A lot of the bad has gone along with the good.

These streets were home to legends then, but most of the residents never sought the limelight.

They were just regular folks working hard jobs and trying to get by while the music folk were making dreams come true. But sometimes the line between dreams and nightmares is terribly thin.

NASHVILLEEDIT.COM SOCIETY

STYLE

WELLNESS

CULTURE

LIVING

EDIT ESSENTIALS

DIGITAL ISSUES

EDIT FILES

A personal look into some of Nashville’s most interesting

More of all things Edit are waiting online!

LIVING

Take a tour inside some of the City’s most stylish homes.

CULTURE

Local designers share their top secrets

READ THE DIGITAL ISSUES

WANT MORE? Scan the QR code to read more at NashvilleEdit.com.

Being closed in due to winter weather isn't something any of us look forward to facing.

This year that is especially true, as so many of us have been isolated for far too long. Just because cold winds and precipitation are in the forecast doesn't mean you have to hibernate at home. There are a few places we believe are especially suited for the season. From fireplaces to fabrics—these spots are at the top of our list on where to cozy up in the months ahead.

1

SPERRY'S Enjoying the famous Café Sperry's (their version of an Irish Coffee) in the bar with the fireplace roaring is a winter tradition we never miss. The original Belle Meade location and the Sperry's Cool Springs both have a warm vibe for the coldest days.

2

OMNI LOBBY LIBRARY When working downtown between appointments with a little time to kill, this is the first place we think of on rainy or cold mornings. A continual burning fire, comfy sofas, and dark wood make it the perfect weekday hideout.

3

VALENTINO'S RISTORANTE Even in the new location, Valentino's is still a go-to for a quiet, warming glass of red or intimate Italian meal for date night. We also love it for Friday lunch with friends.

144 | NASHVILLEEDIT.COM

4

AMERICANO LOUNGE Slip into one of the velvet-covered chairs and get ready for hot, delicious coffee blends in this Wedgewood Houston neighborhood gem. Bring your laptop and get ready to hunker down in the perfect winter-day hangout.

5

PATTERSON HOUSE The curtain blocking the entrance is heavy enough to stop any chilling winds from getting inside this craft-cocktail haven just off of Music Row. It's also where bartenders can work magic with 'hot toddy' type concoctions to knock out colds and soothe that sore throat.

6

MOTO A seat at the bar's curve in this modern Italian eatery is possibly the warmest place in town. Roaring pizza ovens (you can actually feel the heat on your face) just behind the bar draw us here for drinks and have us lingering through dinner. Group tables on the floor are also near open fireplaces—so there's not a cold seat in the house!

7

PARK CAFÉ This Sylvan Park institution has always felt instantly soothing. Dark wood, comfort food favorites, and closely set tables are all part of the mix that make Park Café the perfect place for happy hour or dinner, especially when it's dark and freezing outside.

8

HIDDEN BAR AT NOELLE HOTEL If you want a little nightlife, but in a space that's small enough to feel somewhat private, this 'pop-up' style lounge is the place to be during the snowy season. Housed underneath the Noelle, the bar entices visitor lines with unique décor and music (so arrive early as space is limited!).

9

ROLF & DAUGHTERS Candlelight, exposed brick walls, and indulgent pasta dishes combine for a relaxing night out no matter how low the temperature drops outside. Bring a couple of friends (and your appetite), grab a booth, and settle in for a delicious experience.

10

E3 CHOPHOUSE Live music, bold cabernet, and big steaks are just part of the reason we love E3 for escaping dreary weather. Head upstairs for a bit of people-watching and forget about the forecast. The scene is always on the hot side in this happening steakhouse in Hillsboro Village.

kitchen and bat h studio ATLANTA

| NASHVILLE

OUR NASHVILLE SHOWROOM IS NOW OPEN!

510 MERRITT AVENUE

404·261·0111

DESIGNGALLERIA.NET

615·933·6911

Photography by: Emily Followill

DG

DESIGN GALLERIA

41 2 1 H I L L S BORO P I KE, NAS HVILLE, T N 37215 | KIN GJ EWELERS .COM | 615 .724 . 5 4 64