November 2017

A Traditional Southern Thanksgiving

A HISTORIC HOME IN HICKORY VALLEY, TN

Holiday Gift Guide

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CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2017

24 HOME:

Take a peek inside the Marshall's fabulously authentic weekend getaway in Hickory Valley, TN

78 ENTERTAINING:

Event planner and designer Angela Mazanti creates a traditional Thanksgiving display set in the historic Hedge Farm in Red Banks, MS

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CONTENTS 78 52

F O R YO U

84.

16 healthy you Thankfulness and Gratitude in the Midst of Challenges 98 on a good note Literacy Mid-South

HOME & DESIGN 20 at home with Joel Kimbrough 24 home feature Historic Home Away from Home 36 home trends Gourd-geous Thanksgiving Display

T R AV E L & C U L T U R E

46

46 getaway Nashville, Tennessee 52 travel Spain 62 experience this Broaden Your Horizons 66 social Mid South Happenings 72 wedding Humphreys/Nenon 74 arts Children's Ballet Theatre Nutcracker

FOOD & DRINK 78 entertaining Traditional Thanksgiving 88 dining out Edge Alley 92 happy hour Black Manhattan and Harvest Negroni 94 in the kitchen Bourbon-Choclate Pecan Pie 10 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • November 2017

IN EVERY ISSUE 14. Publisher's Note 97. Sources

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NOVEMBER 2017 • VOL. 16 NO. 8 PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MARGARET MONGER | mmonger@athomemms.com

ART DIRECTOR ANNA HALEY | aleppert@athomemms.com

EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION MANAGER GINNI JONES | gjones@athomemms.com

COPY EDITOR TERRI GLAZER

INTERN ALICE FUGATE

IMAGING COLOR MANAGEMENT CHARLES REYNOLDS | cr@colorretouching.com

ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE HILARY FRANKEL | hafrankel@comcast.net

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES MEGAN EIDT | meidt@gmail.com BRITTANY MCDONALD | brmcdonald45@gmail.com GAIL HARRELL | gharrell@athomemms.com

BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS TRIP MONGER | tmonger@athomemms.com

MARKETING AND CIRCULATION HARRIET W. DEATON | hdeaton@athomemms.com

HOW TO REACH US 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11 | Cordova, TN 38018 901.684.4155 | FAX 901.684.4156 WEBSITE: athomemms.com

At Home Memphis & Mid South doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. To inquire about freelance opportunities, send a letter, resume and three writing samples to—Editor, At Home Memphis & Mid South: 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018.

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publisher’s note There seems to be some arguments over the date of the first Thanksgiving. Some say it took place in 1621 and others a bit later, but all agree on the location. Plymouth Rock is the agreed location, which is in the North Eastern area of our country. Although the traditional Thanksgiving feast is beautiful and tasty I believe if the first Thanksgiving was to take place in this century and if the pilgrims had come on shore, in the south, the menu would have been a bit different!

To begin with, the attire for this shindig would most likely be game day colors. Throwback blue, that “orange color” and even the dreaded maroon would most likely be the colors of the day. Our morning would begin watching Lee Corso wearing his favorite elephant mask while the rest of us drown our sorrows in bloody Mary’s and pimento cheese biscuits. Mid afternoon, we would all enjoy a nice cup of gumbo followed by chicken, ribs, catfish and whatever the hunters scored in the field that week. All would be either fried or grilled. The grill is not to be confused with the barbecue they cook on up north.

Down here we cook on a grill and eat barbecue. Sides would include cheese grits and an abundance of fresh vegetables from our gardens as the first frost has more than likely, not occurred yet. The cornbread would not be crumbled and served “stuffing style” but instead served hot, slathered in butter, ready to soak up the good stuff our greens and peas left behind. Our dessert table would over flow with fried pies, assorted cobblers and “PEA - CON” pie. We don’t harvest "PEA CANS” down here.

The food may change a bit but the love and fellowship shared remains the same. Wishing you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving this year. I hope you enjoy time with your friends and family. Whether your turkey is cooked on a grill or a barbecue - it’s all good with some gravy on it!

Publisher

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healthy you

Thankfulness and Gratitude in the Midst of Challenges Text by Michelle Johns

This is the season of thankfulness, but it’s also a time of year when many of us might find ourselves bogged down mentally—considering our imperfections or beating ourselves up over opportunities missed, relationships lost and “what ifs.” In this time of gratitude we find that some of the gifts we’ve received in life are right before our eyes and some are no longer with us.

Text by Michelle Johns

It can be difficult to be thankful in the midst of turmoil and pain, as many people will experience a first holiday season without a loved one, lost either through death or due to relational issues. The experience is part of the grieving process, and grief affects people differently.

Loss is unavoidable. No one escapes life without having dealt with a loss at some point. It’s important to face grief in order to move through it. Be honest with yourself and those around you about your thoughts and feelings. If you are supporting someone through grief, give them opportunity and space to share their grief without judgment, without advice and without trying to fix it. Grieving is a process to be endured respectfully, honestly and wholeheartedly. The grieving process is unique to each person and should be honored as such.

People sometimes feel disconnected and unworthy as they perceive that everyone around them seems to “have it all.”

The experience may be described as a form of depression. It’s important to recognize the difference between short-term depression and long-term depression as well as the types of 16 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • November 2017

depression.

If you are facing the holidays feeling grief or depression, acknowledge your thoughts and feelings and seek guidance from a licensed professional therapist without fear of judgment. A qualified professional can provide guidance with no preconceived notions, ideas or thoughts and can give you space to take control of your challenges without transposing their thoughts and their experiences to yours. Therapists are trained to honor your individuality and unique experience through grief or depression and to help you find your healthy path to recovery.

If you know someone who is struggling with grief or depression this holiday season, encourage them to seek professional guidance rather than giving them advice based on your opinions or past experiences.

Give thanks and rejoice in the opportunity to honor yourself and others, your circumstances and their circumstances with a spirit of hope and faith for things to come. You can both smile and cry with thanksgiving and gratitude.

Tips for a healthy, happy holiday season: 1) 2) 3) 4)

Get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

Exercise daily, even if only for 10 minutes.

Spend time alone with quiet peace, even if only for 10 minutes, each day.

Eat right. Take a healthy dish to holiday festivities.

My favorite holiday recipe: Roasted Potatoes with Green Beans A friend shared this dish with me 17 years ago, just after I gave birth to my third child. I make it often as it’s easy and tasty.

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 60 minutes • • • • • • • • •

3 to 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary Sweet potatoes Red potatoes Yukon gold potatoes Green beans 1 yellow onion Avocado oil Himalayan pink salt Coarse ground black pepper

Determine how many potatoes you will need based on the number of people you are serving. I usually calculate half a sweet potato, one red potato and one Yukon gold potato per person. I add green beans based on a serving per person.

Slice the potatoes and onion into medallions. Toss the sliced potatoes, onions and green beans in a dish. Coat with avocado oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place the rosemary sprigs on top.

Bake in the oven at 350˚ for about 60 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

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at home with

AT HOME WITH

Joel Kimbrough Text by Ginni Jones

Joel Kimbrough is a certified public accountant who has specialized in the financial side of the healthcare industry throughout his professional career. He is also a board member of the MakeA-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South.

At Home Memphis & Mid South had the pleasure of sitting down with Kimbrough to discuss more about what inspired him to connect with the foundation.

Q&A

At Home Memphis & Mid South: Tell us a little bit about your background, both professionally and personally.

Joel Kimbrough: I am originally from Northwest Alabama and I received a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of North Alabama. I began my accounting career in Memphis by working for the International accounting firm of Ernst and Whinney for nine years. I specialized in health care during my tenure at E&W with clients including Methodist Health Systems, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and the Regional Medical Center. Upon leaving E&W, I became the CFO for Southern Health Systems, the for-profit subsidiary of Le Bonheur and later Accredo Health Group, Inc. Since I retired in 2007 I have become a private investor and founder of several healthcare companies across the United States. In addition, I also have been heavily involved in several non-profit charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South.

I have been happily married to Melissa for five years and we have four children between us and five grandchildren. Our home is located in Eads, TN. AHMMS: What inspired you to become a board member of the local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter?

JK: I have worked with the MAW organization for over 20 years and have served in an official board capacity for 12 years of those years. Today, I serve as an ex-officio member of the board. I sometimes have wondered why God allows the most innocent of us all, our children, to be sick. As adults we have had an opportunity to experience life; many of these children are just starting theirs.

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From the time I was first involved with granting a child’s wish in 1996 I was instantly hooked. Since then, I have experienced numerous wishes, ranging from Disney trips to shopping sprees and everything in between. We strive to grant the wish that each child really wants. Children of all backgrounds, ethnicities and economic statuses are served by MAW. I have been fortunate to help grant several wishes for international children, many of whom were patients of St. Jude. I never will forget getting a call one day at my office and being asked to attend an “emergency” wish granting for a patient at St Jude. As I arrived, I learned that the patient was a nine-year-old girl from Egypt whose parents had received some disappointing news the day before regarding her prognosis. Her treatment it had also robbed the little girl of both her hearing and her hair. She spoke very loudly, as she couldn’t hear herself anymore. Her wish was for a new computer and a camera which would allow her to send photographs back to her extended family in Egypt whom she had not seen for a very long time.

All of us were covered in hospital sanitary attire, gowns and masks, as we entered her room with balloons, cake and, of course, her computer and camera. The mom stood in the corner of the room with her head bowed. The little girl smiled as she saw the presents coming her way. The patient’s father he approached me and lay his head on my shoulder, starting to cry uncontrollably. I did not speak Arabic and he spoke no English, yet as two fathers, I knew exactly what he was saying. Through our interpreter, he said, “I cannot believe that people would do this for my child when you didn’t even know her.” Yet, we did know her—she was the face of every child we serve.

AHMMS:What is your favorite thing about being a board member of MAW? JK: My favorite part of being a board member of MAW is knowing that I may have played a small part in providing, for one day, one week, one event, one item, whatever the wish may have been, normalcy for that wish family for just a small period of time. It gives that child hope, something to look forward to. For that day, week, whatever, there are no needles, doctors or tests; there is only being a kid again.

AHMMS: What is your favorite thing about your current job?

JK: During my time at Accredo, I really enjoyed the “art of the deal,” the ability to see an opportunity and mapping a course of action to make it happen, whether it was a company acquisition or just solving the problem of the day. Today, I enjoy evaluating new opportunities that are presented to me. Building a business can be great fun; running it every day may not be.

AHMMS: What are your plans for the future?

JK: I really don’t make plans for the future. I try to enjoy the present as much as possible. I have really tried to look forward to tomorrow and not get too far ahead of myself.

AHMMS: What advice could you give to people who want to succeed in their dreams?

JK: Dream big and don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is just a byproduct of someone who doesn’t see limitations. In addition, once you make a decision, never look back. Self-doubt and wondering if you made the right decision are nonproductive. Lastly, it has been said, “Opportunity looks a whole lot like hard work.” Nothing worth achieving has ever happened without hard work, sacrifice and risk.

AHMMS: What do you do when you are not working?

JK: Melissa and I spend a lot of time together watching our daughter play soccer, visiting our son at the University of Alabama or just hanging out watching a movie.

AHMMS: What are your favorite places in the Mid South?

JK: I really don’t have favorite places—we do love to eat at Stoney River or The Flying Saucer.

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home feature

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home feature

Historic Home Away from Home

A Memphis Architect Pursues 1860s Perfection Text by Jordana White | Photography by Steve Roberts and Ralph Crafton

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home feature

Twenty years ago, when Tom Marshall purchased a second home in Hickory Valley, TN, with his father, the architect and interior designer never imagined what lay in store for him. Though his father is no longer with him, Marshall and his family are still in the process of researching and improving additions to the property, all in the quest of achieving the ultimate in 19th-century perfection, with some modern additions, of course.

As soon as the Marshall men (Oscar Thomas III and IV, respectively) acquired the 1860s farmhouse and surrounding 300 acres, the work began. They already knew quite a bit about the home’s history; adjacent to the famous Ames Plantation, the main house was said to have been built by an old plantation manager. Standing at 3,500 square feet with just two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the structure needed major renovation before a modern family could move in. Hoping to stay true to the home’s roots, the Marshalls decided to investigate which parts of the house were original and which weren’t.

When a home is 150 years old, however, you can’t just call up previous owners to see what they added on. Instead, Marshall and his father had to get creative. Researching wallpaper patterns and construction trends, they came up with the following timeline: In 1928, the Mask family did some major construction on the home, followed by cosmetic updates circa 1970, that saw the home’s cedar plank siding overlaid with sheetrock, a move that prompted the younger Marshall to wonder, “Why would anyone cover up this wonderful wood?”

Marshall, a self-described “modernist architect,” quickly realized that he’d need to stay true to the home’s antebellum roots while making it more livable—otherwise, he’d be repeating the mistakes of the 1970s. “I had to reach down deep to find a design aesthetic that’s right and appropriate for this house,” he says. While he initially found that process “an exercise,” the six years of renovations and two years of decorating allowed him and his wife Lisanne to become passionate about both the period and the process.

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home feature

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home feature

Before any decorating could begin, structural updates needed to happen. Leaving the main façade intact “to maintain the vestige of the historical house,” Marshall added an additional 2,500 square feet to the back of the home, creating a four-bedroom, sixbathroom residence that was far more conducive to a 21st-century lifestyle. The expansion also included a significantly expanded kitchen, a great room, TVs and other trappings to accommodate the Marshall family, including sons Austin and Thomas V. The property received some significant updates, as well. While there was already a small pond near the house, Marshall’s good friend and neighbor, famed fisherman Bill Dance, had bigger ideas in mind. “He saw the water and said it was ‘nice,’” Marshall recalls, and then he proceeded to construct an eight-acre lake on the property, which he was also kind enough to stock with a whole host of fish.

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home feature

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home feature The outdoor overhaul also included the home’s original garden. After sourcing bricks from an 1860s Memphis home to line and delineate the space, the couple added a brick fireplace and pizza oven. “My garden is my sanctuary,” Lisanne explains, “and I enjoy providing my family and friends with farm-to-table experiences.” Now, says her husband, she can even make an on-the-spot dinner for the family—or just for the two of them.

“At night, we sit in the pergola,” he says, “and with the light shining through the shed’s 1840s stainedglass windows; it’s an almost spiritual experience.”

There’s one other addition to the property that really moves Marshall—his overlook. Built through the mature white oak trees on the property, it’s currently “a bridge to nowhere,” (though Marshall has major plans for the walkway’s future, which may or may not include the addition of a giant glass cube at its culmination), yet the architect describes the structure as one of his favorite spots on the land. Sitting 40 feet above ground and stretching 160 feet over a fresh stream, the family enjoys the overlook year round. “You can’t see anything but the woods in the summer, and in the winter you can spot quail, rabbit, deer and turkey.

You really see how a squirrel feels from up there,” Marshall says.

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home feature

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home feature

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home feature Marshall says that throughout the entire process of updating, he sought to stay true to the era in which the house was built; keeping “the shapes, rhythm, meshing and style” of the 1860s. “Lisanne and I seriously searched the world for components built between 18501870. All of our wood trusses, glazing, even the new palladium window we put into the kitchen—everything came from that time period. Lisanne said if I could find a rock on eBay that said it was from 1850, I would have bought it back then.”

That passion for authenticity held through the process of furnishing the main house. “My wife and I did a lot of antiquing and made some serious pilgrimages to get it right,” Marshall says. Case in point—the porter’s chairs in the family sitting room, from which Marshall now enjoys regular chess matches with Tom V, were sourced from two 1850s hotels in Sussex, England, that stood across the street from one another. Of course, says Marshall, “We couldn't put antiques everywhere. There’s a certain point where comfort overrides aesthetic,” but even the more modern elements of the home manage to feel authentic.

These days, Marshall is keeping busy with more updates to the property—right now, an on-site tenant house is receiving his attention—and, as always, he’s keeping the long view in mind.

“We’re already there every weekend,” he says, “and now Lisanne and I are toying with the idea of making the place our retirement home.”

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home design home trends feature Text by P. Allen Smith | Photo by Mark Fonville

Creating a Gourd-geous Thanksgiving Display

Forsyth Fountain Goose Feathers Cafe

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Emmer & Rye

homegetaway feature

Photo by Jane Colclasure

Whether it’s an intimate setting or a formal affair, a joyful Thanksgiving table where everyone comes together is the holiday's crowning glory. If you have time to make only one table arrangement, I suggest creating a beautiful centerpiece using gourds, pumpkins, winter squash and bitsn-bobs from the garden. The key to making it interesting is to work with objects in varying sizes and textures.

I like to use pumpkins as the main attraction. Depending on the size of the table, three to five are enough to make a statement. Winter squashes are a good size when space is limited.

Be sure that it’s easy to see over or around the pumpkins so guests can talk across the table. Next, add some filler pieces for interest. Try tucking several small gourds, pumpkins, wild pears or rosehips in the nooks among the pumpkins.

To soften the arrangement, add some flowers. I usually take a walk around the garden to see what’s available. If we haven’t had a hard freeze, I’ll find chrysanthemums, dahlias, salvia and even a few roses. Some years I have to cheat and get flowers from the florist.

When selecting flowers, think about blooms that will look good as small bouquets scattered around the table.

Sweet and simple seems to be a good blend for the bold, round shapes of pumpkins, squash and gourds.

Keep in mind that you can set your table and create the centerpiece a day or two ahead of time. The flowers should be fresh, but most of the other elements are long-lasting and straight fromPink the garden.

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home trends design

Photo by Mark Fonville

Grow Your Decorations Gourds, pumpkins and winter squash are classic Thanksgiving decorations that you can grow in your garden.

Plant seedlings or sow seeds when the soil warms up in very late spring.

All three plants require full sun and a compost-rich soil. Feed with an allpurpose, organic fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. These plants require pollination to bear fruit.

You need the help of bees and other pollinating insects to spread pollen between the flowers. Avoid pesticides and remove floating row covers once the plants begin to bloom.

P. Allen Smith, an author, television host and conservationist, is one of America’s most recognized garden experts. His show Garden Home airs on WKNO and AETN2. You can watch Garden Style on KAIT and KPMF. Smith uses his Arkansas home, Moss Mountain Farm, as an epicenter for promoting the local food movement, organic gardening and the preservation of heritage poultry breeds. He created his farm to serve as a place of inspiration, education and conservation and provides visitors from around the country with tours of his property, which may be booked at pallensmith.com/tours.

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holiday gift guide

Holiday 2017

Diamond Rings, Prices Vary

Doris McLendon’s Fine Jewelry Germantown, TN

Infused Olive Oil, prices vary Bazaar : A Crazy Little Food Shop Collierville, TN

What Can I Bring?, $30

Memphis Embroidered Pillow

Cookbook by Elizabeth Heiskell

Southern Avenue Company, prices vary

Amazon.com

Germantown, TN

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holiday gift guide

Jack Mason - Nautical Chronograph 42mm Watch, $295 Baron's Man Cave Germantown, TN

Mixture Candle Assorted Scents, $25 Talk of the Town Batesville, MS

Gift Guide

PJ Salvage PJ Set Polka Dot Print, $101 Southern Muse Germantown, TN

Ole Miss Stadium Tray, $32 Chaney’s Pharmacy Oxford, MS

My Mississippi Art Box, $79.00 & free shipping, 4x/year Contains an original piece of art plus a surprise gift. It could be ceramics, mixed media, glasswork, a figurative, landscape, abstract, or even a watercolor painting Caron Gallery, Tupelo, MS November 2017 • athomemms.com | 41

holiday gift guide

Loop Da De Do Bag Assorted Colors, $44 Kindred Spirit Style Oakland, TN

201 Shirt, $20 Aromatique Diffuser Set & Candles Upstairs Closet, $7.50-$36

Design & Print Shop Germantown, TN

Senatobia, MS

Holiday Table Decor, $9-25 Placemats, Coasters, Place Settings, Garland, etc.

About the South Tupelo, MS

Dylan Women's Vest, $110 MLM Clothiers Tupelo, MS

Nora Fleming Platter & Attachment Platter $39.50, Attachment $12.50 Two Doors Down Germantown, TN 42 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • November 2017

holiday gift guide

Katie’s Kitchen Radko Ornaments, prices vary MidSouth Nursery

Gift Cards Germantown, TN

Tupelo, MS

Family Memberships Lucchesi's Ravioli & Pasta Company

(includes the new Memphis Grand Carousel)

Gift Cards- WE NOW SHIP!

The Children’s Museum of Memphis, $125 - $225

Luchessi’s

Memphis, TN

Memphis, TN

Give the Gift of Heath!

Saddle Creek Gift Cards

The Racquet Club of Memphis

available at the kiosk next to Southern Avenue Company

Call for Membership Information

Germantown, TN

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holiday gift guide

Wooden Dog Quote, $19.99 Mississippi Made Donut Beds, $85-$150 Hollywood Feed Memphis, TN

MacKenzie-Childs Tea Party Set Neiman Marcus, $135 www.neimanmarcus.com

Lincoln Logs, $49 Amazon.com

Little Unicorn 3 Pack Swaddle Set RSVP, $42.95 Memphis, TN

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home trends

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getaway

NASHVILLE

Text and photos courtesy of Cara Greenstein

Music City is experiencing rapid growth and development in categories beyond its signature homegrown country music—a booming food and lifestyle scene is drawing imports from Brooklyn to New Orleans, mixing and matching raw Southern roots with contemporary and refined finesse.

Ride along the three-hour drive from Memphis and take advantage of the capital city’s trends and classics.

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Proper Bagel

MORNING GLORY

Begin a day in Nashville with Crema Coffee’s famous Cuban (latte with sweetened condensed milk), which enriches and caffeinates, all in one sweet yet bold sip. A cup from the award-winning specialty roaster is the perfect refreshment while waiting in the ordering line at Proper Bagel, the Brooklyn-transplant Belmont neighborhood eatery. The deli-style shop boasts dozens of cream cheese flavors and innovative bagel toppers behind its roll-up garage doors. The food is totally worth the average wait time of 30 minutes—but if you prefer yours to go, the bagel sandwiches especially satisfy during a stroll through the Saturday Nashville Farmers Market or to the darling flower shop on wheels, Amelia’s Flower Truck. The blue truck pops up all over town to provide on-demand floral bouquets.

If you’re craving a classic Southern biscuit instead, Biscuit Love in Hillsboro Village butters up the beloved breakfast delicacies with a modern perspective. Try the biscuit in French toast form with lemon mascarpone or as fried doughnut hole hybrids with blueberry compote.

Honey sticks at

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get away

Farmers Market

12SOUTH STOPS

Imogene & Willie

Only in Nashville would Reese Witherspoon’s Southern belle shop Draper James sit steps from grunge-meetsglamorous denim retailer Imogene & Willie—the 12South neighborhood’s boutique scene appeals to every age and stage. Between the browsing stops, indulge in a chocolate sea salt doughnut (also available in vegan) or “Your Momma’s Cookie” at Five Daughters Bakery. If you’re on a health kick, Franklin Juice Company delivers excellent acai bowls and juices for the road. During summer heat, Las Paletas popsicles refresh the palate with pure perfection.

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Franklin Juice Co.

A PROGRESSIVE DINNER The innovation behind Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood’s small yet powerful restaurants requires serious deliberation during a visit to town. To make the most of a short getaway, plan to try two restaurants in one night— appetizers and drinks at the first, then main courses at the second.

Within Germantown’s walkable neighborhood, the high-end Italian stop Rolf and Daughters features unforgettable craft pasta and crisp cocktail pairings. Meanwhile, at the expansive warehouse 5th & Taylor, an outdoor bar and patio hold groups for cocktails and shared plates (or bowls, for that matter—the Maine lobster white bean soup is decadent).

Nearby, the new Henrietta Red offers a minimalist, seafood-forward dining experience. A raw bar and whole fish entrees please crowds of any size.

Cara Greenstein is author of the awardwinning, Memphis-based food and lifestyle brand Caramelized. A bonafide foodie and entertaining expert, Cara shares a wealth of inspiration for the kitchen and home, as well as guides for outings in Memphis and across the South.

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travel

SPAIN

A Country of Contrasts and Luminous Grandeur

Text by Michael Bevis Photographs courtesy of Regency Travel, Inc.

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travel

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travel

I

t’s more than flamenco dancers, bullfights and the land of the siesta! With a culture that is passionate, sophisticated and devoted to living the good life, Spain is both a stereotype come to life and a country that is diverse beyond imagination. Spain is also one of the best values in Europe right now.

Located on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, Spain is home to a pace of life that moves slowly and runs late. Travelers can become frustrated by the limited store hours and seemingly laid-back pace of life, but it’s this Spanish perspective to move slowly, enjoy yourself, eat well and relax which gives the country so much character and keeps visitors coming back over and over again. Spain is an interesting and dynamic country with unique and varied regions. Madrid and Barcelona are hip and energetic cities. Seville is full of history. Toledo is a city of three religious cultures; Christians, Arabs and Jews living together for centuries. Granada has a Moorish touch.

Travelers visit majestic Madrid chiefly for its world-class museums and art galleries. The Prado is considered one of the greatest art museums in the world. Francisco Goya, is the single most extensively represented artist in the Prado’s collection, which also includes works by Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian and Diego Velazquez. The best-known work on display is Las Meninas (Ladies in Waiting) by Velazquez. The artist’s keen eye and sensibility were also responsible for bringing much of the museum’s fine collection of Italian masters to Spain, now the largest outside of Italy.

Madrid also has Spain’s best shopping. Mercado de San Miguel is the most popular market among tourists because it is located in the city’s center, within walking distance from Plaza Mayor. Built in 1916, San Miguel is the only steel-structure market that has survived in Madrid. The beautiful glass-fronted building is not a traditional grocery but a gourmet tapas market, with over 30 different vendors selling a variety of freshly prepared tapas, hams, olives, baked goods and other foods.

Beer, wine and champagne are also available.

The Temple of Debod, one of the few surviving works of ancient Egyptian architecture, was a gift from the Egyptian government in 1968, as an appreciation to Spain for its support in building Aswan Dam in Egypt. The temple was rebuilt in one of Madrid’s parks, the Parque del Oeste, near the Royal Palace of Madrid. The best time to view the landmark is during sunset, when the temple’s shadow is reflected in the water of the pond surrounding the structure. Retiro Park is to Madrid as Central Park is to New York. Its 350 acres border the city center, not far from the Prado Museum. One of Madrid’s premier attractions and the site of a variety of events, it is filled with beautiful sculpture, monuments and galleries. Street performers, fortune tellers and puppet shows entertain visitors to Retiro Pond. Rented rowboats paddle about the Estanque, and horsedrawn carriages provide leisurely rides.

Retiro Park

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travel

Alcazar, Seville According to an old Spanish saying, “Until you’ve seen Toledo, you have not seen Spain.” The best way to discover the ancient city is by wandering its streets, taking part in the evening paseo, or sitting over a drink and a tapa in one of its many bars and cafes. Toledo is known as the Holy City of Spain.

Once an overlooked gem, Toledo sits majestically above the Tagus River and now represents one of the most visited sites in all of Spain. The capital of the region, it is known for the medieval Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments in its walled old city. Toledo and its surrounding countryside inspired Spanish Renaissance master El Greco.

His paintings are on display in many places around the city, including the museum that bears his name. One of El Greco’s most famous paintings, El Expolio (the Disrobing of Christ), hangs above the High Altar of the sacristy of the Cathedral of Toledo.

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travel Barcelona is one of the largest and most progressive cities in all of Europe. National Geographic named Barcelona as having the best urban beaches in the world.

Accessible by metro, the nearly mile long Barcelona Beach, revitalized in the massive waterfront makeover for the 1992 Olympics, is one of the most popular. Las Ramblas is a street in central Barcelona popular with tourists and locals alike. A tree-lined pedestrian mall, it stretches for almost one-half mile connecting Plaça de Catalunya in the center with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell. Located on Las Ramblas is the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, often simply referred to as La Boqueria. This large public market is an absolute must see as it is probably the most colorful market in Europe. The amount and quality of local produce is astounding, with cheeses, cured meats, fruits, vegetables, chocolates and seafood providing a real pleasure for all senses.

A visit to Barcelona is incomplete without a visit to Sagrada Familia (Basilica of the Sacred Family).

As one of Europe’s most unconventional churches, this spectacular basilica is the most famous sight in Barcelona. The UNESCO-listed structure stands in the northern part of the city and dominates its surroundings with its 18 spindly towers soaring high above all other monuments. Antoni Gaudi was commissioned in 1883 to design the basilica as a neo-Gothic church. Instead of following the plans, he created a signature example of his famous surrealistic Art Nouveau architecture.

He had no firm ideas in mind, preferring to alter and add to the plans as work progressed. Although Gaudi originally estimated that completion of the basilica would take 10 to 15 years, it is still unfinished 134 years after construction began.

Las Ramblas, Barcelona

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Cathedral of Toledo

Designer shops on the Passeig De Gracia feature the latest trends; the street is often referred to as the Fifth Avenue of Barcelona. This major avenue runs from Plaça Catalunya into the Eixample District with distinctive streetlights and benches and many notable buildings of Modernist architecture by Gaudi and other architects.

Seville, dating back nearly 2,000 years, is the historic capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region. It’s famous for the ornate Alcazar castle complex, built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty. The Alcazar will look familiar to fans of the TV series Game of Thrones as it appears in the show as the Water Gardens of Dorne. Known as “the Venice of Seville,” the Plaza de Espana was built for the IberoAmerican Exhibition of the 1929 World’s Fair. The semi-circular brick building, Renaissance/neo-Moorish in style, has a plaza in the center and tall towers at both ends which are visible around the city. In front of the building, four bridges which represent the ancient kingdoms of Spain (Castile, Aragon, Navarre and Leon) cross a 500-meter canal. Along the wall by the canal are 48 alcoves, one for each province of Spain, each with a relevant tableau and map, all designed on colorful painted ceramic tiles.

The University of Seville is now housed in the former Royal Tobacco Factory, the largest industrial building in Europe in the 18th century. The all-female factory workforce inspired the French novelist Prosper Merimee to write Carmen (published in 1845, and the basis of Georges Bizet’s opera) about a gypsy girl who works in the factory and seduces one of the guards, who kills her when she later jilts him for a matador. The Gothic Seville Cathedral is the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb.

Tomb of Christopher Columbus

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travel Granada, located in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, was the last city reconquered by Christians in 1492. It is known for grand examples of Moorish influence and Islamic architecture and is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions. The magnificent Alhambra, a sprawling fortified palace and garden complex dating from the ninth century, has made Granada popular with visitors the world over. The literal translation of Alhambra is “red castle” which reflects the color of the clay from which the stronghold was made. During the 19th century, Washington Irving was in Spain working on a biography of Christopher Columbus. He was so impressed with the architecture, he moved to Granada and lived in the palace compiling essays and verbal sketches. Irving is credited with reintroducing the hilltop fortress to a Western audience with his Tales of the Alhambra.

The Spaniards love meeting visitors, drinking good wine, laughing over a delicious meal and enjoying life. A fiery, passionate place, memories of this country will last a lifetime.

Spain is more affordable to visit than many other Western European countries, making it the perfect destination for an unforgettable trip.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

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travel Temple de Debod, Mardrid

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travel

For information about a vacation in Spain, call the travel advisors at Regency Travel, Inc. at 901.682.9065 or visit www.regencytravel.net.

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experience this

BroadenYour Horizons Broad Avenue Arts District, Midtown Memphis, TN Text by Alice Fugate

Whether you need a coffee shop where you can catch up on a little work, a hip place to have a drink or a meal, or a shop-and-stroll spot for a leisurely afternoon, the Broad Avenue Arts District offers something for everyone.

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experience this

cityandstate.us

Located in the historic Binghampton neighborhood in Midtown Memphis, the artsy, sun-bathed street is dotted with colorful murals including the enthusiastic “Yay Coffee!” painting outside City & State and the grand “This is You, This is Me, This is We” by the Water Tower Pavilion. The colorful water tower is a work of art in and of itself and a beacon of the neighborhood for passersby on Sam Cooper Boulevard; and the pavilion is a performing arts and events space.

If you’re on the hunt for a unique gift or work of art for your home, check out Bingham and Broad, a down-home-chic art and home accessories store with furniture, wine glasses, paintings and more. Learn everything there is to know about furniture painting at Broad Strokes. The studio's staff teaches private and group lessons on how to turn a hand-me-down into a treasure using paint, wax and imagination.

Five in One Social Club offers quirky Memphis-themed art as well as workshops on how to create your own masterpiece. Five in One is the place to find Made in Memphis brand items and handcrafted pieces by local artists and craftspeople. Falling Into Place is a darling retail store where the merchandise has a flair that makes it unique even in its eclectic Broad Avenue setting. Memphis-themed artwork, tee shirts, cards and jewelry stand out, as do the shop’s the trendy Pons Avarcas sandals and the gold spray-painted dinosaur toys that hold air plants. Like Five in One, Falling Into Place is a haven for DIY enthusiasts. The shop not only sells divinely scented candles, but also offers candle-making classes in which students learn how to make their own.

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experience this 1.

2.

broadwaypizzamemphis.com

1. Broadway Pizza 2. Memphis Guitar Spa 3. Falling into Place 4. Maximo's on Broad 5. Victory Bike Studio 6. The Rec Room

3.

6.

fallingintoplace.net

recroommemphis.com

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5.

memphisguitarspa.com

4.

maximosonbroad.com

victorybicyclestudio.com

Up the street, City & State, Broad Avenue’s self-declared “curator of awesome,” sells an array of highquality coffees, teas and other beverages as well as a small selection of tasty bites such as cookies, sandwiches and chia pudding. The simplicity of the shop’s design makes it an ideal place to work or to catch up with a friend. You can even bring your pup for a sip from the water bowl on City & State’s patio!

If you're craving more than finger food, check out Maximo’s on Broad for artisan tapas (think avocado fries with cilantro chimichurri) and a wide array of libations. The Cove is a low-key dining option just right for satisfying a seafood craving (cocktails and oysters, anyone?). For something more casual, try familyowned Broadway Pizza House. The extensive and eclectic menu includes choices ranging from pot stickers to chicken fingers to the pizza that has kept regulars coming back since 1977.

For a fitness fix visit Victory Bike Studio. The shop sells bicycles and accessories, does bike repairs and fittings, and even offers a fitness analysis to kick your cycling life into gear.

A different kind of retail and repair shop is the Memphis Guitar Spa, where owner Kevin D. Ferner and his employees make custom Ferner Fine Instruments guitars and bass guitars and also repair stringed instruments. Musicians can commission a one-of-a-kind, custom-made guitar or purchase one of the line’s own proprietary models. Justin Timberlake’s guitarist Elliott Ives played one of Ferner’s Memphis-made gems in the 2015 CMA Awards.

No visit to Broad Avenue is complete without some fun and games at the Rec Room. Bring along a few friends to throw back with vintage arcade games in one of six “living rooms” where the atmosphere is reminiscent of a classic 1980s basement. Be a kid again playing board games, cornhole, flipcup or ping pong, and when you work up a hunger and thirst, order a pizza and your favorite beverage from the Rec Room’s full bar.

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social

SHOTGUNS & SUNFLOWERS Shotguns & Sunflowers brought the best of all things Southern into one exclusive event. Guests were welcomed to the Memphis Hunt & Polo Club to enjoy Southern culture, culinary creations, live music and libations as they came together to support the transformational work of one of the area's most cherished non-profits, Palmer Home for Children, decked out in their favorite "shotgun chic" attire.

Text courtesy of Lura Corban Jordan Photography by Elizabeth Looney Photography

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social

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social

SEABOURN CELEBRATES 30 YEARS! Guests and clients of Regency Travel were welcomed with champagne served by waiters, just like on board Seabourn’s Cruise Line's intimate all-suite ships. At the event marking the line's 30th anniversary on Tuesday evening September 26, Amy Crutchfield-Smith highlighted Seabourn's unrivaled service and extraordinary cruise itineraries.

Text and photography courtesy of Regency Travel, Inc.

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social

BARON'S MAN CAVE GRAND OPENING PARTY Guests filled Baron’s Man Cave on October 6 to celebrate the grand opening of the shop's new expansion. The awardwinning men’s barbershop now includes a retail area complete with clothing, jewelry, tech accessories and grooming products. Featured brands include Seven for All Mankind, Hudson Jeans, Scotch & Soda, Civil Society and Jack Mason.

“We’re really excited for this next chapter and look forward to curating a unique and fun mix of retail for our clients,” said Dara Vongphrachanh, who owns Baron’s Man Cave with partners Matthew and Jeremy Thacker-Rhodes.

Photography by Ziggy Mack

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social

MEMPHIS FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2017 The Memphis Food and Wine Festival recently retuned to the beautiful Memphis Botanic Garden for its second annual event. On October 14, Memphis celebrated its culinary excellence by showcasing, exceptional local chefs as well as the talent of acclaimed regional and national chefs. This year's lineup was enhanced with vintners, certified sommeliers and wine enthusiasts. The festival again benefited the Fedex Family House.

Last year, the festival was able to donate $100,000 to the organization.

Photogaphy by Hal Jaffe

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social

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wedding

Alison & Russell

Nenon June 3, 2017 Memphis, Tennessee

Parents of the Bride: Suzanne & Dr. Bob Humphreys Parents of the Groom: Carroll & Ed Nenon 72 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • November 2017

wedding

SOURCES

Event Planner: Audrey Hurst Wedding: Second Presbyterian Church Reception: Memphis Country Club Rehearsal Dinner: Memphis Country Club Photographer: Josh Malahy Videographer: Message in a Bottle Florist: Garden District Baker: Flour Garden Wedding Dress: Anne Barge Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo Hair & Makeup: Kendrick Simpson Engagement Ring: Scott Kay Wedding Rings: Henri Daussi Invitations: RSVP Stationers Band & Entertainment: Super T Tent & Rentals: White Door Events

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arts

Children’s Ballet Theater Nutcracker Text by Alice Fugate | Photos courtesy of Tillman Bunch Photography

The Germantown Performing Arts Center will present the annual holiday performance of the Children’s Ballet Theater Nutcracker on Sat., Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m. The show, a joint production of the Children’s Ballet Theater and the Tennessee Ballet Theater, will feature glittering handmade costumes and enchanting stage sets designed by artist Guyla Wanderman.

Former ballerina Mary Van Dyke describes her work as artistic director of the Children’s Ballet Theater as “a joy.” Van Dyke danced professionally with Memphis Concert Ballet (now Ballet Memphis) and the Tennessee Ballet Company. Her principal roles have included Tatiana in Midsummer Night's Dream, the Dew Drop Fairy, Snow Queen, Dew Drop and Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, and Swan Queen Odette in Swan Lake.

Van Dyke has worked extensively in ballet production and instruction as cofounder of her downtown Chicago school, co-director of Ballet Intensive from Moscow, and founder of Tennessee Ballet Theater, and for 12 years as artistic director of Children’s Ballet Theater.

Over 150 classical ballet students will perform in this rendition of the beloved holiday classic, including one of the Children’s Ballet Theater’s own dancers as the main character, Clara. Professional adult dancers from the Tennessee Ballet Theater company, including Memphian Camilla Curran in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, will round out the cast.

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Curran is the daughter of the company’s ballet mistress, Nora Curran, a highly accomplished teacher who began her training with her mother, Vera Sohr of the Oslo Ballet, and continued to train with dance masters of the Kirov Ballet and the American Ballet Theater. She even performed off Broadway under the celebrated choreographer Bob Fosse. She instructs students of the Tennessee Ballet Theater as well as the Children’s Ballet Theater.

The Children’s Ballet Theater offers dance classes in classical ballet, musical theater, jazz, contemporary and tap to students ages two to 18 as well as adults. Classes are taught at the Racquet Club in East Memphis. Ballet Mistress Curran specializes in teaching the Vaganova Method of the Kirov Ballet, an extremely athletic and expressive style of ballet that combines both French and Italian classical traditions, engaging the whole body with each movement.

“I pride myself on the dedication to maintaining the highest caliber of classically trained staff to impart the details of the Russian and European methods of ballet training to each student in a positive, concise, uplifting manner,” says Van Dyke.

For more information on the Children’s Ballet Theater’s production of the Nutcracker or for tickets please visit www.gpacweb.com. Don’t miss the chance to experience one of the most beloved holiday traditions, the magical winter journey of Clara and her nutcracker doll come to life.

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West Cancer Center Compassionate Cancer Care

Meet Valerie Payton, one of West Cancer Center’s Care Support Navigator.

“It changes you.”

Valerie Payton has reached the end of another very

long day, but her passion and energy for her role at West Cancer Center is still present. As the care support team member for the Midtown and Methodist University Hospital locations, Payton sees a whole lot. Not just in quantity of patients, but in unique life experiences. For her, no day is the same; and that’s what makes her love her job even more.

“At our Midtown sites, we come across a diverse patient population,” said Payton. “We come across patients with no job, no family, and no income. Other patients have great coverage, great jobs and a huge network of support. It’s our job to determine and assess their needs then act accordingly.”

As a Care Support team member – also known as a “lay navigator” – Payton works with patients to guide them through the cancer journey. From assessing barriers to care to determining potential additional resources needed, Payton treats her patients like family – and the way she would expect herself or a loved one to be cared for in the same position. There is such a joy when you celebrate with someone who you’ve helped. That’s what this job is to me – a joyful calling.”

“For me, I try to make my experience with each patient personal,” said Payton. “If it was me in that position – or a friend, family member or loved one – I would want someone to continue to follow-up with me and give me that same attention and same care that our team provides to our patients. Navigation is essential to that. The patients love it, and it is so desperately needed.”

This need for navigation is especially evident for Payton’s coverage locations. With a huge number of the city’s impoverished, under-served and under- insured falling in Midtown’s surrounding zip codes, Payton’s patients, quite simply, need her more. The laundry list of socioeconomic statistics for the city of Memphis plague this particular zone, and Payton is constantly required to dig deeper – and find more resources and support for the patients in the midst of their battles with a disease that does not discriminate between the “haves” and the “lack thereofs.”

“We oftentimes encounter patients who have nothing. I’m constantly forced to ask myself: ‘How do I dig deep to find something to help them?’” said Payton. “It can be challenging, but that’s our calling – to deal with it and help these patients the best we can.” In the midst of an ever-expanding patient population with an ever evolving – and oftentimes challenging – set of circumstances, Payton remains committed and persistent in her navigation role. And while each day continues to present its own unique set of challenges for herself and obstacles for her patients, she stays committed to what she deems as a calling that has changed who she is a person.

“This job changes you. It makes you grateful,” said Payton. “Our stories are not always success stories. But for me, I love helping people. There is such joy when we celebrate those who do well and enjoy life beyond cancer.”

Dan Luke and the Raid

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entertaining

Traditionally Southern Text by Ginni Jones | Photography by Steve Roberts

A Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner from the Heart of the South

Chef, Guy Savoy 78 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • November 2017

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entertaining

With Thanksgiving sneaking up rather quickly, event planner and designer Angela Mazanti shares her top tips for creating a wonderfully Southern holiday dinner. Set in the charming and historic Hedge Farm in Holly Springs, MS, this Thanksgiving display is a must see!

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The Inspiration:

Mazanti took inspiration for this Southern Thanksgiving dinner straight from the charm and history of the beautiful Hedge Farm. “The home’s historical value and beauty are priceless,” she says. “The farmhouse is 175 years old, it has land beyond what the eye can see and is such a treasure just 10 minutes outside of Collierville. It has 12-foot ceilings but still retains that oh-so-cozy feel for a family Thanksgiving dinner.”

The Decor:

Inspired by the stunning autumn colors in the dining room of the farmhouse, the decor was a “perfect harmony of elegant, rustic and antique” says Mazanti. “The hostess had the most beautiful brown Spode plates and rustic flatware that wasn’t at all ‘flat.’ They were like little pieces of sculpture that mimic sticks and branches that perfectly complemented the place settings,” she adds.

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entertaining

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entertaining

The Flowers:

Mazanti used lots of texture flowers and greenery for the centerpieces. “That is how I see the fall time, crisp leaves mixed with the bounty of harvested vegetables in colors that mimic a sunset as well as a harvest moon,” she explains. For greenery, Mazanti chose a mix of silver dollar eucalyptus, seeded eucalyptus, safari sunset, sunflowers, jumbo red hypericum berries, grevillea, red ti leaves, mokara orchids and orange wax flower.

She spruced up the mantel and dessert display with simple magnolia leaves collected from the property, mini white pumpkins and a few silver mercury glass votives and accented the food display in the kitchen with fresh herbs, white mini pumpkins and textured green “apples” from the farm.

The Menu:

For this traditional Thanksgiving meal, nothing was left out! Appetizers included assorted crudites with curry dip and a sweet potato bisque soup.

Smoked turkey, cornbread dressing, roasted Brussels sprouts with craisins and goat cheese, French-style carrots with balsamic fig glaze and, of course, rolls highlighted the main course. A variety of sweets from Frost Bake Shop including pumpkin cheesecake, pecan pie and pumpkin cake topped with cream cheese frosting rounded out the meal.

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entertaining

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entertaining Tips from the Pro:

Mazanti says, “I always say this, but it’s because I have learned over the years that hosting holiday meals is sometimes tricky if you are doing all of the cooking and it can sneak up on you and get overwhelming really fast. If you are decorating as well as cooking, plan ahead!! Don’t wait until the day before Thanksgiving to do all of your shopping and decorating. Start shopping a few weeks early and make sure your flatware is polished and you have enough plates, glasses and seating for everyone. Once you decide how you will decorate, do as much of that as you can ahead of time so that you are preparing for your special dinner in ‘bite-size chunks.’ I promise it will make your life and your family’s life a lot less stressful to do it in stages.

You don’t want your special holiday memories to be marred by stress and feeling rushed.”

Create your own: Mazanti suggests, “Don’t miss an opportunity if you have a great kitchen to stage it by creating a bountiful display of Thanksgiving goodies.

Combine baskets, your favorite pottery or majolica pieces with lots of herbs, root vegetables, apples, magnolia leaves and even azalea branches. Feel free to mix and match plates, glassware and chairs to create a truly eclectic family holiday, but try keeping everything in a fall color scheme to create a harmonious feel.”

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dining out

Edge Alley Text by Alice Fugate | Photography by Houston Cofield

Edge Alley, a new Memphis restaurant and microretail incubator, is what the owners call “a third space,” a place for communities to gather outside of the home and the workplace. Its goal is to provide all of the things the Edge neighborhood needs under one roof: food, coffee and retail. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and spectacular coffee alongside four small retail shops, a combination designed with the nearby community in mind.

Co-owner Phillip Massey, who also co-owns High Cotton Brewing next door, wants Edge Alley to help revitalize the district, located on the edge of Downtown Memphis around Marshall and Monroe Avenues, bordering Health Sciences Park and the Medical District. He believes that providing a third space for people in the neighborhood as well as a spot

for micro-retailers will bring more business and foot traffic to an area that needs it.

The idea behind Edge Alley’s micro-retailing is that vendors can set up shop in one of the four available spaces for a limited time—a year or a little longer—to get their venture started. As the businesses grow and expand, they would move to a more permanent location. Co-owner Tim Barker hopes that when that time comes the retailers will stay within the Edge neighborhood.

Currently, the shops featured at Edge Alley are Hope Wilkinson Design (interior design), My Heavenly Creations (bath and body products), Paulette’s Closet (vintage clothing), and a fourth shop rotates every 30 days. During October, the fourth shop was Randomly Refurbished, which makes furniture and home goods out of reclaimed materials.

Barker hopes to have a more permanent client occupying the fourth space by November or December.

The atmosphere is urban and trendy, with brick walls, wooden tables and green seats that look like they came out of a vintage Cadillac. This design element pays homage to the building’s former auto upholstery and chrome plating occupants.

Edge Alley may look like a typical spot to drink coffee and get some work done, but Barker says there’s more to his place than a great cup of joe. He describes it as “a restaurant that cares enough to roast its own coffee.” With full breakfast and lunch menus currently developed and a separate, full dinner menu in development, Edge Alley is, in fact, a great place to have a meal. Also in the works is a special libations menu featuring coffee-infused cocktails.

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The food has a decidedly Southern slant. Biscuits appear on the menu numerous ways, from biscuit sandwiches to “not biscuit sandwiches” to biscuit dough gnocchi that complements a coffee stout braised brisket. Other nods to Deep South cuisine include shrimp and pimento cheese grits and black-eyed pea hummus.

And there’s no shortage of sweets—the cinnamon roll, chocolate bread pudding and strawberry shortcake are all worth the caloric splurge.

Edge Alley’s java is the star of the show, however, and merits its celebrity status.

According to Barker, only six places in the country serve this particular coffee. It is sourced in northern Thailand, grown by six farming families on the side of a single mountain. He explains that the higher the elevation of the coffee farm, the higher quality the product. Anything grown below 1,200 meters above sea level is “commodity coffee,” also know as robusta, while locations above 1,200 meters produce more desirable arabica coffee.

Edge Alley roasts coffee grown at 2,000 meters above sea level: high grown, high quality, naturally processed and organic. It is also a direct trade product; Edge Alley buys its coffee directly from the farmers, who set the price themselves and receive 100 percent of the profit.

The coffee menu features this exceptionally high-quality beverage both black and in concoctions with milk. A popular special/seasonal drink is the Thai iced coffee: coconut milk, espresso and condensed milk. To taste autumn in a cup, try the chai cortado: organic chai, espresso, nutmeg and vanilla.

Restaurant and community hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Retail hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Find out more at edge-alley.com.

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dining out

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happy hour

Fall Cocktails Recipes and photos courtesy of Brad Pitts

Fall is officially here—that means cooler temperatures and the holidays are just around the corner.

For me, fall cocktails usually involve whiskey, but I also like to mix in a little variety when entertaining or hosting a few people for dinner, to appeal to different palates and preferences. Simple and delicious cocktails at home don’t have to be time consuming and overly complicated to achieve stellar results. Here are two variants of the Manhattan and the simple-yet-elegant Negroni. My Black Manhattan is a riff of this staple cocktail that is a crowd pleaser for whiskey drinkers and a great introduction for a bourbon lover who usually forgoes the subtle and dry notes of rye whiskey. I use Bulleit Rye Whiskey and an Italian amaro in place of the sweet vermouth, and the result is a drink that is balanced and flavorful without being overpowering. The Luxardo cherry adds a slight sweetness for an unusual flavor combination.

By definition a Negroni is usually comprised of three spirits: gin, bitter and vermouth in equal parts. I love gin, but when serving gin to guests I stay away from dryer varieties and stick with something more botanical and approachable. Once you choose the perfect gin the secret is in finding the right balance in the other two components. For my Harvest Negroni I use a combination of Corsair Barrel-Aged Gin, Luxardo Bitter and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth. The gin is aged for six months in charred American Oak barrels. The time in wood imparts a mellowness to a gin that is dark, aromatic and easy to drink.

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happy hour

Black Manhattan

Ingredients

Harvest Negroni

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Bulleit Rye Whiskey

• 1.5 oz. Corsair Barrel-Aged Gin

• 1 oz. Averna Amaro

• 1 oz. Luxardo Bitter

• Luxardo cherry for garnish

• 1 oz. Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth • Orange peel for garnish

Directions

Directions

• Combine whiskey and amaro with ice in a mixing glass and stir until chilled.

• Combine ingredients with ice into mixing glass and stir until chilled.

• Strain mixture into a cocktail coupe or aperitif glass.

• Strain into a cocktail coupe and garnish with orange peel.

• Garnish with Luxardo cherry.

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in the kitchen

Bourbon-Chocolate Pecan Pie

By Jennifer Chandler Excerpted from The Southern Pantry Cookbook by Jennifer Chandler Photo by Justin Fox Burks. Food Styling by Jennifer Chandler.

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For Thanksgiving this year, take your grandmother’s time-honored pecan pie recipe up a notch by adding chocolate and bourbon to the mix! For a classic pecan pie, just omit those two ingredients from the recipe below.

Ingredients • 3 large eggs • 1 cup light brown sugar • 1 cup light corn syrup • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract • ¾ cup chopped pecans • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips • 1 unbaked pie crust (9-inch), homemade or store-bought • 1 cup pecan halves • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into slivers • 2 Tbsp. bourbon

Directions Preheat the oven to 350˚.

Place the eggs in a large mixing bowl and whisk until light but not foamy.

Add the brown sugar and stir until there are no lumps. Add the corn syrup and vanilla and stir until well blended. Stir in the chopped pecans.

Evenly cover the bottom of the pie crust with the chocolate chips. Pour the filling over the chocolate chips.

Arrange the pecan halves decoratively over the top of the pie. Place tiny slivers of butter evenly over the top of the pie.

Bake until the pie is firm and golden brown, about 60 to 70 minutes.

As soon as you pull the hot pie out from the oven, evenly sprinkle the bourbon across the top. Let cool to room temperature before serving.

Serves 8.

Cooking Tip: When serving guests, I like to make my pie pretty by decorating the top with pecan halves. When it’s just family, I skip that step and just mix the pecan halves in with the filling.

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Sources 20 | AT HOME WITH Special thanks Joel Kimbrough 24 | HOME FEATURE Special thanks The Marshall's 78 | ENTERTAINING Special thanks Angela Mazanti of Angela Mazanti Event Design www.angelamazantidesign.com Frost Bake Shop www.frostbakeshop.com 901.682.4545 394 S. Grove Park Memphis, TN 38117 1016 W. Poplar Ave Collierville, TN 38017 Hedge Farm 820 Cayce Road Red Banks, MS www.hedgefarmevents.com 88 | DINING OUT Special thanks Edge Alley 600 Monroe Avenue, Ste. 101 Memphis, TN 38103 901.425.2605 edge-alley.com 92 | HAPPY HOUR Special thanks Brad Pitts 98 | ON A GOOD NOTE Special thanks - Literacy Mid-South www.literacymidsouth.org

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on a good note

Literacy

Mid-South Text by Alice Fugate Photos courtesy of Literacy Mid-South

L

iteracy Mid-South is a non-profit, Memphis-based organization whose mission “is to provide literacy resources to learners of all backgrounds and ages.” The organization serves all of the region, from children to adults. It has been active for over 40 years and formerly operated under the names Memphis Literacy Council and Mid-South Reads.

Literacy Mid-South achieves its objective to be the primary resource for literacy expertise and advocacy in the area by providing adults and children with the literacy skills they need to navigate the world, fostering continuous learning and working with other organizations and community partners. Its leaders hope to change the way Mid Southerners view literacy and adult education by promoting continuing education for the betterment of the whole community.

One of the goals of LMS is to improve the quality of life in the Mid South through education. Staffers believe that increased literacy will contribute to more job placements and higher employment rates, which will allow families and individuals to better provide for themselves.

Improving students’ reading ability should result in more high school and college graduates in the region. According to the organization’s website, 26 percent of adults have low literacy skills that prevent them from filling out a job application, making sense out of a bus schedule or participating in a job readiness program. Greater literacy rates could also decrease crime and poverty: 70 percent of prisoners fall into the lowest two levels of reading proficiency. By tackling the literacy deficit, LMS hopes to create a healthier, happier and more sustainable Mid South community.

LMS has its own programs but also teams with other non-profits and educational institutions in the region.

Partnerships, collaborations and community support all comprise a huge part of the organization’s mission.

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organizations, more people in the Mid South can benfit.

The two main projects at LMS are Smart Memphis and the Adult Learning program. Smart Memphis is the vehicle through which LMS works with other non-profit organizations, businesses, educational institutions and government agencies that promote literacy and continuing education in the region. In the Adult Learning program, not only do the volunteer tutors and LMS staff teach adults basic reading and math skills, but they also instruct lessons in fiscal responsibility and medical communication. Tutors even offer aid in getting a driver’s license and gaining American citizenship.

Additional programs include English For You (teaches English to people of other nationalities), Read Memphis (trains organizations to provide more effective literacy services), Third Grade Reading (focuses on improvement in reading skills for third graders), Summer Reading Program (works to facilitate learning over the summer for elementary school students), and the September MidSouth Book Festival.

For information on how to get involved with LMS, go to literacymidsouth.org.

Literacy Mid-South November events: The Literacy Summit on Tues., Nov. 7 at the Memphis Marriott East, a conference designed to offer ideas and resources to individuals and groups to more effectively foster literacy. The summit’s special guest speaker is Dr. Shawn Ginwright, author of Hope and Healing in Urban Education and Black Youth Rising, Activism and Radical Healing in Urban America.

Adult Tutor Training Day on Sat., Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Persons interested in becoming tutors need to have completed Literacy Mid-South’s Volunteer Application prior to the event.)

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