12 Bentley Medical & Aesthetics
Look, live, and love better.
30 Designer Garages
Your garage designed for you.
33 Travel to Myrtle Beach
New experiences for your next vacation.
47 Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center
Your new to-do list now that spring has arrived.
50
by Chuck Morris
OF THE things I like best about getting older is not being as concerned with what others think of me - especially those who I don’t even know. It’s like the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph - the first line being, “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.” Yes!
As a young person, my teenage years were spent trying to fit in and to not be too weird. My 20s and 30s were more concentrated on trying to appear that my life was much more “together” than it ever actually was! With age, there is a freedom in accepting that you are a little weird, and a little disheveled, and that is okay.
I was trying to explain this concept to my daughter as I danced to a song on the PA at Trader Joe’s. She was not amused with my age-related personal freedoms and said between clenched teeth, “Mom. Stop.”
DOGWOOD ARTS
began almost 70 years ago as a communitydriven initiative to promote and celebrate Knoxville’s art, culture, and natural beauty. Now, with more than 20 annual events and programs, Dogwood Arts continues to expand its arts advocacy, environmental stewardship, and economic impact in East Tennessee.
But I really liked the song, so I didn’t.
There is an article in this issue of Everything Knoxville about Indie band Carbon Leaf (see page 39), mainly for a single friend who is a really big fan (especially of their talented and attractive lead singer). Is she concerned about what others may think of her “fan-girling” at her age? Not in the least, which is awesome. After holiday decorating her kitchen with Christmas lights, another good friend realized that she and her husband really liked the way the tiny lights looked in the evening - so they decided to leave them up all year round. Great!
I may not be as old as Dogwood Arts, but I do allow myself the liberty of delighting in those moments, décor, clothing, music, etc. - even if others don’t see it the same way. Give yourself the treat of relishing your freedom to enjoy your joys!
Publisher + Editor
IN Knoxville is synonymous with Dogwood Arts. What began as a neighborhood beautification project in 1955 has blossomed into one of the longest running nonprofit organizations in our area.
The story of Dogwood Arts began in 1947 when a visiting journalist wrote, “Knoxville is the ugliest city I ever saw in America, with the possible exception of some mill town in New England.” Upon reading this disparaging account, the Knoxville Garden Club, led by Betsey Creekmore, Martha Ashe, and Betsy Goodson, decided they would prove him wrong by showcasing the natural beauty of the city they loved so much. Thus, the seeds of the very first Dogwood Trail were planted!
By 1961, so many visitors were flocking to Knoxville to see the spring-blooming Dogwood trees along the designated trails that area businesses and community leaders felt more springtime public entertainment was needed, and the very first Dogwood Arts Festival was born.
From the very beginning, Dogwood Arts has been a community-driven initiative. Today, from our office and gallery space on Jackson Avenue in the Old City, we continue to promote and celebrate the art, culture, and natural beauty of East Tennessee with more than 20 annual events and programs. Keep reading for just a taste of what Dogwood Arts has planned for this spring, and visit DogwoodArts.com for full details about each event.
Trails & Gardens
April 1-30
No matter where you are in Knoxville, you’re probably closer to a Dogwood Trail than you think! Trails are located in all four quadrants of the city, with more than 90 miles of blooming roadways to explore. Locate the Trailheads by visiting DogwoodArts.com/trails then simply follow the pink lines on the pavement! While you visit, be on the lookout for homes with “Open Garden” and “Camera Site” yard signs. The Dogwood Trails of West Knoxville - Sequoyah Hills, Deane Hill, Westmoreland, West Hills, and Farragutare the “featured” trails in 2024.
Don’t miss this year’s “Spring Featured Gardens” the weekend of April 20-21. Ranging from extensive properties and historic sites to quaint cottage and small urban gardens, these self-guided tours offer visitors a peek behind the curtain, inspiring even the most avid gardeners among us. A fun, unexpected excursion in your own county!
April 6
Art in Action. Thousands of art lovers head downtown each year to experience this live art competition in Market Square. The Chalk Walk features more than 300 artists and collaborative teams: From kindergartners to professional artists, this event allows the entire community to show off their creative talents!
“No matter what the coming season brings, you can count on Dogwood Arts to be here, finding big and small ways to keep us all connectedjust as we have since 1955. Support from you, no matter what size, will make a real and lasting impact in this community.”
- Sherry Jenkins, Executive Director
Established in 1961, the Dogwood Arts Festival is one of the most celebrated cultural events in Knoxville! The festival is now held at World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville and features more than 100 fine art vendors, live music, entertainment, food & beverage vendors, and activities for the entire family. Not your average maker market, this juried event includes artists from across the country working in a variety of mediums - painting, photography, ceramics, leather, wood, sculpture, fiber, mixed media, and more - for one spectacular spring celebration!
May 11
Southern Skies is the newest addition to music programming at Dogwood Arts. Curated by hometown favorites The Dirty Guv’nahs, Southern Skies is an authentically-Knoxville celebration of music and community featuring a lineup of local, regional, and national talent. This year’s event will feature Americana legends Old Crow Medicine Show alongside The Dirty Guv’nahs, Maggie Rose, Amythyst Kiah, Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, and Wyatt Ellis.
A new collaboration with the Tennessee Distillers Guild will bring the top distilleries from across the state to Southern Skies this year also. The Tennessee Whiskey Experience is an added enhancement available for purchase to music festival ticket holders.
Dogwood Arts has a 69-year history of arts advocacy, environmental stewardship, and economic impact in East Tennessee. We celebrate nature, create opportunities for artists, and make Knoxville a more vibrant city. With the financial support of corporate sponsors, grant funding, local government investment, and private donors, we are able to produce numerous year-round events and programs that help make Knoxville a great place to live, work, and play.
• Art in Public Places: Sculpture & Mural Programs
• Art Kits for Kids: Free Art & Educational Supplies
• First Friday Art Walk Exhibitions
• Chalk Walk
• Dogwood Arts Festival
• Regional Art Exhibition at the Emporium
• Youth Art Programs: Synergy, Epiphone Guitar Design Contest, A Very Special Arts Festival
• Bazillion Blooms: Tree Planting Campaign
• Dogwood Trails - 90 miles in 13 neighborhoods
• Spring Featured Gardens
• Wellness Programs: Bikes & Blooms, Hikes & Blooms, Walking Trails
• House & Garden Show
• Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival
• Maker Exchange
Your donations help continue these wonderful programs!
865.637.4561
DogwoodArts.com
IT’S ALMOST TIME to move your family’s events back outdoors, and the professionals at Undercover Systems can provide you, your family, and friends with the option to spend unlimited time out-of-doors all year-round.
This spring is the perfect time to install Undercover Systems’ totally unique underdeck ceiling system under your home’s existing raised decks. This totally proprietary and patented underdeck system will ensure that this year’s outdoor gatherings will be protected from unexpected and unwanted rain, the searing summertime sun, and next winter’s sleet and snow. You’ll appreciate Undercover Systems’ attention to detail, which comes from years of experience, as they help you craft a seamless transition from your home’s interior to your new out-of-door living spaces. Underdeck ceilings are available in a variety of colors and textures - even bead board! - to perfectly complement your existing architecture and landscaping plans.
“It’s great time to weatherproof all of your future out-of-door events,” said Jim Conn, owner of Undercover Systems. “Throughout the entire process, our skilled craftsmen work with you, each step of the way, from consultation until your project is completed to your satisfaction. And because each underdeck system we install is custom made by Undercover Systems specifically for your individual home, you can be assured of many years of reliable, trouble-free family enjoyment. Most of our competitors use generic, off-theshelf components found at the big box home improvement stores. Our underdeck product is totally supported by Undercover Systems’ gutter system and not your home’s decking as with competitive systems. This promotes greater air circulation and deck longevity. A fact that homeowners always appreciate!”
A complaint-free member of the Better Business Bureau, Undercover Systems offers you the peace of mind that you deserve in a building contractor.
Why not start creating a lifetime of memories by surprising your family this season with a special springtime gift that the entire family can enjoy all year long? Call Jim Conn today at 423-267-0091 and start celebrating every season out-of-doors.
OPENS MAY 4
DIXIE LEE MARKET
Renaissance Center
12740 Kingston Pike, 37934
Saturdays 9 am - Noon
EBENEZER ROAD
Ebenezer United Methodist Church 1001 Ebenezer Road, 37923
Tuesdays 3 pm - 6 pm
HISTORIC OAK RIDGE
Jackson Square 209 Jackson Square, 37830
Saturdays 8 am - Noon
OPENS MAY 29
THE PRESERVE TOWN CENTER 201 Broadberry Avenue, 37830 4th Wednesday of each month 9 am - 1 pm
OPENS APRIL 18
NEW HARVEST PARK
4775 New Harvest Lane, 37918
Thursdays 3 pm - 6 pm
OPENS MAY 1 MARKET SQUARE DOWNTOWN
Wednesdays 10 am - 1 pm
Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm
THE MABRY-HAZEN HOUSE Museum invites everyone to join friends, board members, and museum staff to celebrate over three decades of historic preservation and education at the new annual fundraiser and spring celebration, Dusk in the Dogwoods
As a stop on the Dogwood Trail, Mabry-Hazen House conserves over 80 dogwood trees, and their showy flowers will be in full force, adorning Mabry’s Hill in an array of whites, pinks, and greens. The site is also a level 1 arboretum, conserving over 30 species of trees, including ancient southern magnolias, oaks, maples, and eye-catching Carolina silverbells. It is the perfect spot for a spring garden party, so come kick your heels up, knock your drinks down, and party like it’s 1924.
THE SWINGIN’ 1920S-THEMED GARDEN PARTY WILL FEATURE:
Heavy hors d’oeuvres
Silent auction filled with items and experiences from local small businesses, producers, makers, and more
Open bar with signature cocktails, local beer, and wine
Costume contests for the best flapper, mobster, and silent film star outfits
Dancing tutorials for swing and other 1920s dance styles
Live music from the Old City Buskers
Historic house museum tours and more!
This important (and fun!) event celebrates Mabry-Hazen House and will raise money to support several capital improvement projects along with the continuing preservation of this important historic site. They are dedicated to raising $15,000 to undertake the restoration of:
The original kitchen, slave quarters, and the butler’s pantry and office They seek to interpret and exhibit the spaces inhabited by enslaved or domestic servants of the Mabry and Hazen families.
The plaster of the historic house interior walls. Over the years, the house has settled and shifted, and the walls need attention from a plaster specialist.
Information and tickets may be found at MabryHazen.com/Dusk.
Courtesy of Dogwood Arts
Eve is a Nurse Injector who brings over 10 years of aesthetic experience both in plastic surgery and local medical spas. She has extensive experience in facial injectables, skincare, lasers, and patient care. Eve customizes her approach for each patient while putting their goals first and always maintaining a natural looking result.
One of her favorite treatments includes full face rejuvenation using Sculptra® aesthetics, due to its notorious revitalization of collagen in the skin, leading to a more youthful appearance over time.
I love celebrating and enhancing my patients’ natural beauty. “
Brooke is the founder & owner of Bentley Medical & Aesthetics, with locations in Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee. She is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in integrative medicine and is a leading provider for cosmetic injections for over 17 years.
Brooke is a member of The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and makes it a priority to stay current in the industry’s most recent, innovative treatments and cutting-edge research. She stays a step ahead by offering hormone replacement therapy to both her male and female patients, giving everyone the opportunity to Look, Live, and Love Better.
Brooke has earned an exceptional reputation in the field of cosmetic injections. She has trained with some of the most renowned experts in the industry and is known for her skillful and subtle technique. She is certified in using the renowned Y LIFT® technique to offer patients the unique opportunity to experience a non-surgical, minimally invasive facelift.
Passionate about teaching, Brooke has also gained recognition as a National Trainer for Galderma and travels around the country sharing her techniques and pearls of wisdom with other practices and professionals.
Her accomplishments have been recognized as Brooke had the honor of being named one of the Top 100 Aesthetic Injectors for 2024.
WHEN YOU got dressed this morning, how did things go in your closet? Did you and your clothes rod engage in a tug-of-war? Were you searching for your left shoe, which apparently was on hiatus? And finally, were your dirty clothes trying to pull you down to their level as they tangled with your feet?
Our closets bear the brunt of our daily use and often suffer from low self-esteem because they are unable to live up to their full potential. Read on to learn why your closet wants to lead the way to an organized home.
Your Space: Maximized
With storage made-to-measure, every inch of space in your closet can be used to the fullest. Replace empty wall space with handy double rods, convenient cubbies, or sleek wall organizers to hang coats, bags, hats, and more.
Your Belongings: Organized
Whether you’re a clothes horse or a wardrobe minimalist, your closet can become the perfect showplace for your sartorial needs. Protect your jewelry collection, display your designer purses, or highlight your ball cap hoard with custom cabinets and shelves.
Your Routines: Made Convenient
Your closet will make your life easier when you design it to fit your daily habits. A counter with a pull-out extension, three-way collapsible mirror, LED lights, valet rod, and laundry hamper are just a few everyday time-savers.
Your Home: Value Added
With more than 50 colors and finishes, dozens of cabinet door options, and hardware to suit any decor, your closet will become a stunner while also increasing your home’s worth.
Give Your Closet Confidence
Your morning routine will become smoother as you maximize your space, organize your wardrobe, accommodate your routines, and add value to your home. Call, click, or come by the Closets by McKenry showroom today to schedule a free, in-home consultation with their professional design team, and let your closet become all it dreams to be by transforming it with custom organization.
Closets by McKenry
201 Center Park Drive, #1070 Knoxville, TN 37922
865.249.6382
ClosetsByMcKenry.com
Shop locally-made artwork in the Curio or 24/7 online
Weekly entertainment curated by Dogwood Arts
Group classes covering a variety of mediums Garrett Durland
The Tavern is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch + dinner
WEALTH TRANSFER is a part of the estate planning process and includes giving financial gifts and other monetary assets to a family member during your lifetime or after your death. This process can include setting up trusts, giving to charity, or gifting large sums of money to a person or organization for a specific purpose. Estate planning is the process of planning the wealth transfer of assets to certain beneficiaries upon your death. It also covers your specific desires on how you’d like your estate divided, medical decisions, a will, and even guardianship decisions for your children under 18.
1. WEALTH TRANSFER AND ESTATE PLANNING ARE ONLY FOR THE WEALTHY.
Wealth transfer and estate planning is for everyone. That’s right, if you have a desire for how you’d like your estate (anything you own) to be handled when you pass away, then estate planning is for you.
2. ESTATE PLANNING ONLY COVERS MY FINANCES.
Estate planning does cover how you’d like your finances handled in the event of your death. But it also covers how you’d like any endof-life medical decisions handled, how you’d like to take care of your loved ones, any gifts you’d like to leave to charities and organizations, and your will. Handling your estate is an important and necessary way to take care of your loved ones when you’re gone.
3. WEALTH TRANSFER CAN ONLY HAPPEN UPON DEATH.
If you want to gift an inheritance to a loved one, you don’t have to wait until you pass away. Maybe you want to pay for your grandchild’s
college tuition, a wedding, or even their first home. You can handle those decisions right now. In fact, the lifetime gift tax exemption allows you to transfer $13.61 million without the 40% gift tax.1
4. A WILL IS THE ONLY DOCUMENT I NEED FOR ESTATE PLANNING.
A will and last testament is an important document to have that outlines your desires for end-of-life planning such as funeral preparations and desires, estate executor, guardianship for minors, asset and financial allocation, and more. Having a will in place is extremely important, but it doesn’t cover every specific situation surrounding wealth transfer that may arise.
5. ESTATE PLANNING IS JUST A ONE-TIME EVENT.
You may have already worked with a financial planner to handle your estate. If so, that’s great! But what many people don’t know is that it’s not just a one-time occurrence. Life circumstances can change in the blink of an eye. And when that happens, you need to come back to review your estate plan and make sure it’s up-to-date. If you’ve had a loss in your family, changed your mind about your retirement goals, or how you want to bequeath your assets and handle wealth transfer, checking in to update your plan is a great idea.
Ready to create your wealth transfer and estate plan? We are here to help. Our wealth planning team is here to serve you whether you want to create an estate or wealth transfer plan or if you’re just wanting to start dreaming about retirement. No matter what your goals are, we want to journey with you each step of the way. Set up a complimentary call to start the conversation today! 865-686-5202.
1 irs.gov/newsroom/irs-provides-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2024
Wealth Partners or dba teams are not registered broker/dealer and are independent of Raymond James Financial Services.
KAREN COPPOCK
IG NEWS for Knoxville - after being listed among USA Today’s Readers’ Choice top 10 best arts districts in the U.S. in 2023, Knoxville was voted number 2 on the list for 2024!
According to the USA Today website, nominees were submitted by a panel of experts, and the 10Best editors then chose the nominees for Readers’ Choice Awards, from which the public then voted. (See sidebar.)
A local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville encouraged the public to vote for Knoxville, according to Liz Kellar’s Knoxville News-Sentinel article on March 1, 2024.1
Formed in 2001, the Alliance’s website (KnoxAlliance.com) describes its mission to advocate, serve, and support Knoxville’s local arts and culture community with governmental bodies, the business sector, media, and the public. “We like to push our members forward,” said Liza Zenni, Executive Director of the Alliance. “It’s not that common that we actually are the topic of an article - and that’s okay with us! What we’re here to do is serve and support artists and arts and cultural organizations.”
The Alliance has two membership categories: one for individual artists and another for arts and cultural organizations. Just a few of the organizational members include Dogwood Arts, the Historic Tennessee Theatre, the Arrowmont School of Fine Arts and Crafts, HoLa Hora Latina, and the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Liza asked, “Why would an organization that doesn’t do a lot of producing on its own need to exist?” She explained, “The individual artists needed a place to show their work. They needed a community gallery where they could get their toes wet.”
The Alliance’s home within the Emporium
Center provides a great exhibit space for artists who work at all experience levels. “There are five different places within the Emporium that we turn over the work - it’s completely different, every single month,” said Liza. The Emporium is a public-private partnership between the City of Knoxville and the arts community, so that tax-supported component keeps the rental amount low for these artists. The Emporium also receives income from private rentals for weddings and other events. (See sidebar.)
“The other thing that we do with the Emporium is we provide much-needed space to individual artists,” added Liza. “We have full-time studios that are rented by individual artists for far less than they could ever be rented anywhere else.” This allows artists - particularly developing artists - to create, develop their craft, and try new ideas.
Besides improving quality of life, how does this benefit the Knoxville community?
According to Liza, last year more than 2.5 million attendees generated more than $29 million in tax revenues. “What we found was those expenditures by those audiences who are attracted by the arts and cultural activities… the sales tax they paid was $29 million,” she said. “We attract spending that then turns into tax revenue that supports roads, the police, fire, schools! It turns into
a benefit for everybody.”
The Alliance advocates for arts funding with the State legislature, and it also helps their membership by offering support tools for planning and grant development. Additionally, the Alliance provides financial support to its membership. “Truly our biggest efforts and impact is that we are a United Arts Fund,” shared Liza. “Last year, I signed checks to individual artists and mostly art and cultural organizations - nonprofits - for more than $2 million. So that supports the industry, which is a $62 million industry, and it employs 2,000 people full-time.”
Another method of support is the GRACE Fund. Per their website, “Greater Knoxville’s GRACE Fund was created by the Arts & Culture Alliance as a confidential resource for local arts and culture workers who need financial assistance to meet basic needs.” Liza said that individual members often provide extra money when renewing so they can pay it forward. “We started actually before the pandemic… we are a community that takes care of their own,” she said. For more information about this 100% tax deductible fund, visit KnoxAlliance.com/grace.
1 knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2024/03/01/ why-knoxville-has-been-named-the-no-2-arts-districtin-the-u-s/72806126007
2 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/ best-arts-district-2024
“Our mission… is to serve and support a diverse community of artists and art and cultural organizations in Greater Knoxville.”
- Liza Zenni, Executive Director, Arts & Culture Alliance
The USA Today site lists some of their considerations, including revitalized urban spaces, museums, gallery spaces and studios, and availability of dining and retail options. These features and more help enrich the culture of each city.2 The 10Best section on Knoxville mentions First Friday that promotes work by local artists. This free monthly event includes artist showings and live music performances and is held at the Emporium, the Alliance’s exhibit space, and at other downtown galleries, venues, and restaurants.
Penny4Arts gives every child in Knox and surrounding counties an opportunity to attend arts and culture events/activities at the cost of ONE PENNY when accompanied by a paying adult. New events are added throughout the year!
The Emporium Center houses the offices of the Arts & Culture Alliance - and so much more! Built in 1898 and renovated in 2004, this 28,000 square foot multifunctional space is home to art galleries and offices for Alliance organizational members: Gallery 1010, the Tennessee Artists Association, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Foothills Craft Guild, and HoLa Hora Latina, among others.
• Donate (KnoxAlliance.com/ donate)
• Purchase an Arts license plate, available through County Clerk’s offices
• Receive free weekly emails highlighting area arts and cultural events, including Penny4Arts email list
• Attend events, including First Fridays (VisitKnoxville.com/ Knoxville-First-Friday)
• Purchase artwork at the Emporium or their McGee-Tyson Airport satellite exhibit - the money goes back to the individual artists through the Alliance
The Emporium is also a great wedding and event venue. Liza noted that the rental fees are less expensive than most city venues, and they also help subsidize the rent the artists pay. She added that wedding and event attendees “bring people in…[and] they get to see the artwork.”
The Emporium building itself is a piece of Knoxville history. When it was built, the 100 and 200 blocks of Gay Street sloped, with train tracks at the bottom of the hill. With heavy train traffic during that time, it was a safety hazard for travelers getting to and from the depot. Around 1910-1915, the City decided to raise both blocks and build a bridge over the tracks to create a smooth transition. With that change, what had been the street entrance to the Emporium became the basement. “And there is, still today, an underground thoroughfare where that old sidewalk used to be,” said Liza. The Alliance hopes to do some renovations with an installation that highlights this area.
ARE YOU or a loved one suffering unnecessarily from pain or a chronic health condition? Have you been told that there are no other options or that there is no hope? We would like to introduce you to a possible solution. Now there is a clinic in West Knoxville that specializes in treating difficult cases like these. Our doctors have more than 20 years experience treating conditions like peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome / RSD, infertility, macular degeneration, and just about any pain condition you can imagine. They have worked in hospitals, pain clinics, and integrative medicine centers diagnosing and treating patients who thought there was nothing left to try. When medications, surgeries, and injections haven’t helped, don’t give up hope.
Call our professionals to schedule a consultation today. We are often the last resort with the best results.
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Knoxville Neuropathy
9125 Cross Park Drive Suite 150 Knoxville, TN 37923 865.275.2444
KnoxvilleNeuropathy.com
The most common treatment your medical doctor will recommend for neuropathy is prescription drugs. While this may temporarily reduce your symptoms, medications such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects.
Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves, often causing pain, numbness, tingling, and the most debilitating symptom, balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. Every part of the body relies on blood via blood vessels for oxygen and nutrients. Without it, the body begins to lose function.
“I can feel my feet again!”
- Susan G
When the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased, they shrivel. This prevents the nerves from getting the nutrients necessary to survive. The nerves begin to degenerate and no longer conduct sensation adequately.
When these nerves begin to “die,” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, burning, pins and needle sensation, and other symptoms.
The main problem is that those with neuropathy have been given limited options for treatment: medications that often make you sick or uncomfortable, or they have been told to come to terms with the idea of “just living with it.” There is now a clinic in Knoxville that offers you hope without worrisome side effects.
The program to reduce your symptoms and speed up healing uses proven treatments that help to stimulate the blood vessels and the peripheral nerves so that they are able to receive proper nutrients needed to heal and repair. Collectively, these treatments function to increase blood flow, stimulate nerves, and expedite recovery and healing.
The amount of treatment needed to allow nerves to full recover varies from person to person and can only be determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation.
We will conduct an exam that consists of detailed sensory nerve testing and an analysis of neurological findings. After the exam, you will meet with the doctor to discuss your results and determine if you are a good candidate for our program.
This life impacting condition affecting millions of individuals can be helped and even reversed. Whether the neuropathy is chemical in nature, due to diabetes, or mechanical such as disc disease or arthritis, treatments are available to help you alleviate your suffering.
3 FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR EFFECTIVE
1. Underlying cause.
2. Amount of nerve damage sustained.
3. How much treatment is required?
4 GOALS OF TREATMENT:
1. Increase blood flow
2. Stimulate nerve fibers
3. Decrease pain
4. Improve balance
AFTERBEGINNING my career 24 years ago as a Farm Bureau Agent in Farragut, I opened the Hardin Valley office in 2012. I have lived in Hardin Valley since 2004, so I love being able to provide insurance services for those in my own community. I feel fortunate to have been able to add staff that puts the same importance on customer service that I do. Let me introduce you!
With me since the get-go of the Hardin Valley Farm Bureau Insurance office is Debbie Newman. As our customer service health specialist, Debbie has been (and is!) an excellent, knowledgeable, reliable staple to our office.
39th Annual Bob Watt Youth Fishing Rodeo
Saturday, May 13
Anchor Park, 11730 Turkey Creek Road
Free event, open to the public
JOIN YOUR friends, family, and the Town of Farragut for a morning of fishing and prize competitions! The Youth Fishing Rodeo is for kids ages 12 and under, with pre-registration required for one of two sessions - 8-9 am or 10-11 am. To register, visit townoffarragut.recdesk.com/community/program.
The Town of Farragut will provide worms for bait, or participants can bring their own. A limited number of fishing poles for use during the rodeo will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please bring your own pole if you can.
The fishing rodeo will be held at Anchor Park, located at 11730 Turkey Creek Road, rain or shine; however, in the case of severe inclement weather, check Farragut Parks & Recreation’s social media for updates.
The Town is still happily accepting community donations for the fishing rodeo, including youth and adult spincast (push button) rod and reel combos in good working condition, line, hooks, bobbers, and sinkers. Farragut businesses are also encouraged to donate items to be used as prizes for participants.
For more information, visit FarragutParksandRec.org.
Courtnie Moore has 9 years of agent experience and a thorough understanding of Farm Bureau coverage options. She has worked in the insurance industry for 20 years providing patrons with top-notch, quality care services.
After being in the banking industry for 19 years, Karen Brooks is our newest representative who is able to provide quality customer support and insurance knowledge with a stellar attention to detail.
And where would we be without 20-year Farm Bureau veteran and office manager Gail Mitchell, the “rock” of our office. With exceptional client relations and product information, Gail can always be found with a smile on her face!
I have the best staff with the best attitude about providing great care to our customers. We all take great pride in assisting and servicing their insurance needs. We call ourselves our “work family”… we love what we do and truly enjoy coming in and working together every day.
Hardin Valley Farm Bureau Insurance would love the opportunity to share coverage options, features, and benefits with you. Please contact us for all your comprehensive insurance solutions.
Hardin Valley Farm Bureau Insurance
10851 Hardin Valley Road
Knoxville, TN 37932
865.247.6517
fbiTN.com
IN E VERY family, there’s a mix of tidy and cluttered folk s, and achieving perfect harmony can be a challenge. Constantly stumbling over misplaced items becomes tiresome and exasperating. However, maintaining organization isn’t second nature to everyone, yet it’s crucial for a smoother life. When sharing living spaces, it’s also a gesture of respect to keep personal belongings in order. The Tailored Closet of Knoxville steps in to alleviate these tensions with personalized closet systems tailored to suit the unique needs of each family member.
Introducing organization al habits early on is invaluable for children. Starting with a closet that’s manageable for them fosters a sense of responsibility and orderliness. While there’s no universal formula for a kid’s closet, a basic design typically includes: For preschool and grade school:
• Low-level bins and shelves for toys and shoes, promoting independent tidying
• Adjustable tiered hanging rod s to
accommodate their changing heights
• Drawers or slide-out baskets for socks, pajamas, and underwear
For middle school and teens:
• Tiered hanging rods tailored for longer and shorter items
• Adjustable shelves for clothes, shoes, and personal belongings
• Decorative hooks for easy storage of jackets and backpacks
• Pull-out laundry hamper to keep dirty clothes off the floor
• Customizable drawers with dividers for folded clothes or small items
Shared closets often breed frustration, but with thoughtful design, they can become havens of individualized organization for two. Here’s how to ensure everyone gets their fair share of space:
• His and hers sections with dedicated hanging and drawer space, including a jewelry drawer for her
• Individual shoe racks to prevent mix-ups
• Shelves for folded items, hats, and purses
• Tilt-out hamper for effortless dirty laundry disposal
• Specialty racks for belts, ties, and scarves
• Retractable valet rods for convenient outfit preparation or handling dry cleaning
The Tailored Closet of Knoxville specializes in crafting personalized closets for every family member. As experts in whole-home organization, they offer innovative storage solutions for pantries, laundry rooms, home offices, garages, and beyond. Transforming chaos into tranquility is their specialty.
The Tailored Closet
865.777.0306
TailoredClosetKnoxville.com
Spring has arrived, and Lizard Thicket Knoxville Boutique has beautiful dresses for any occasion. From cute everyday styles to stunning special occasion pieces, we’ve got you covered! Our locally owned boutique is dedicated to providing outstanding personalized service and styling our customers with the latest, most fashion-forward styles at surprisingly affordable prices. Come shop with us at 11369 Parkside Drive, Suite 930, in the Pinnacle at Turkey Creek, 865.671.0684, ShopLizardThicket.com.
Distinctive, locally inspired wall art from reclaimed wood. Choose from in-store crafted designs or customize your own! Available at Smoky Mountain Vintage Lumber, 11330 Parkside Drive in Turkey Creek, 865.218.1363, WoodWithAStory.com. Open Thursday - Sunday, check website for store hours.
Delightful hummingbirds and bees buzz around flowers in a pitcher in these colorful, powder-coated metal garden stakes with tiny solar lights that come to life in the evening. The perfect pop of color for your garden, yard, flower bed, or porch pots. 32" tall with a sturdy H-stake that allows for easy display. Available at Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center, 9885 Highway 11E in Lenoir City, 865.986.7229, MeadowViewGreenhouse.com.
This custom chair features a swivel glider base and is finished with a beautiful performance fabric of teal, cream, and gold. It is a mustsee in the showroom, along with many other custom upholstery pieces available at Shae Design Studio, 9700 Kingston Pike, Suite 11 in Knoxville, 865.313.2656, ShaeDesigns.com.
Made of dramatic and natural Panda marble with a polished finish, the organic modern shape features a rich brass finished sleeve. True to the nature of natural materials, each piece will have unique marbling and veining throughout, including shades of black, white, and green. Available at Decorating Den Interiors | Kozar Design Team, 521 Lovell Road, Suite 205 in Knoxville, 865.392.6222, SandyKozar.DecoratingDen.com.
Spring has sprung at JFY! Colorful ribbed tanks, tees, and jeans have hit the floor, so stock up on these “perfect for layering” tanks in all the fun colors for spring and summer. You can tell when you walk in the store that JFY is definitely enjoying all the brightness this year! Come and see us in-store at Just For You, 10627 Deerbrook Drive in Knoxville, behind the new Weigel’s on Lovell Road, 865.288.7235, JFYbrand.com.
Visit the Curio at Maker Exchange and shop locally-made artwork from 150+ makers. These wooden cups were hand-carved by Ian Myers, a Seymour, TN-based wood carver whose passion is salvaging wood from local neighborhoods and carefully crafting it into meaningful and functional products. Sold separately. Stop by at 710 Clinch Avenue in downtown Knoxville between the Marriott and Tennessean Hotels, 865.637.4561, or shop online at MakerExchangeKnox.com.
Looking for a memorable birthday or wedding gift? These 4" x 4" x 2" travel jewelry boxes are as practical as they are special - perfect for any occasion and a single custom, personalized engraving is included in the price! Available at Make It Yours, 10541 Kingston Pike, Suite A in Knoxville, 865.444.6253, MakeItYoursNow.com.
AS THE DAYS grow longer and warm temperatures settle in, outdoor sports abound in East Tennessee. Along with this comes the gathering of sports equipment, from fishing rods and water skis to pickleball paddles and disc golf gear.
Most sports paraphernalia lives in the garage, and we don’t give it much thought until we’re looking for it (or tripping over it). Read on to learn how to transform your garage into a productive hub for your spring sports activities… and beyond.
Lay the Ground Rules
Create a protective and easy-to-clean surface for your sports equipment by adding an epoxy polyaspartic coating to your garage floor. Chemical-proof, heat-proof, and skateboarding-in-the-garage-proof, these durable floors are available in endless color combinations and can be installed in a matter of days.
Take a Time-Out and Go Through Your Equipment
Check and evaluate all of your sports equipment. Are there any rackets to be restrung, balls that could use some air, or boating supplies that need dusting? Separate your supplies into piles for repairing, cleaning, or donating, and make a list of replacement or new items that you need.
Put Your Winning Gear into Play
After organizing, replacing, and adding new sports items, it’s time to create zones for your equipment using fresh storage ideas. Slatwall is a team player when it comes to putting away equipment of all sizes and shapes, with baskets, hooks, and bins to hold bikes, bats, and more.
Rotate Your Recreational Gear
As your favorite pastimes change throughout the year, get your
gear up and out of the way with organization. Custom-measured cabinets will keep your golf clubs clean and dust-free, and overhead storage provides a safe place to store your tandem kayak. Your sports equipment is valuable and gives you hours of joy. Organize and store it with care! With updated storage in your garage you will spend less time searching for your gear, and more time enjoying your next match, game, or outing. Call the pros at Designer Garages for a free, no-obligation estimate today, and let the games begin!
Designer Garages
201 Center Park Drive, #1070 Knoxville, TN 37922 865.268.4868
DesignerGarages.com
EACHWEEK, an exceptional group of volunteers gathers in our workshop, armed with creativity and compassion, to infuse fresh life into floral donations from our local partners. Generously provided by local grocery stores, florists, event planners, and individuals, a new batch of flowers and vases arrives almost daily. Once destined for disposal, these blooms now find purpose in the skilled hands of our dedicated volunteers. These 400+ individuals are the unsung heroes of Random Acts of Flowers Knoxville, generously donating their time and talent to collect, arrange, and deliver these floral gifts to local healthcare facilities.
“These flowers would end up in the trash, but we get to recycle them and pass them on, and it’s just such a wonderful, beautiful cycle.”
As they work, the volunteers pour their love and positive energy into every bouquet they create. Their dedication goes beyond arranging flowers; it’s about creating moments of beauty and connection for those who receive them. Each bouquet becomes a symbol of hope - a reminder that kindness can bloom even in the most unexpected places.
“The workshop is like a beehive of happiness - each week, every day,” said Debbie Fettig, Program Manager at RAF. “Getting to see all our volunteers making bouquets and making friendsit’s just a joyous time. I love flowers, and I love making people happy, and that’s what our mission is all about.”
The transformative power of these floral arrangements extends far beyond their physical beauty. For recipients, receiving a bouquet is about more than just flowers - it’s a tangible expression of care and support during challenging times. Whether it’s a patient in a hospital room, a resident in a nursing home, or a veteran in a rehabilitation center, these bouquets brighten their day and lift their spirits.
“I love flowers,” said Ellen Anderson, a RAF volunteer of five years. “Getting to use my creativity is wonderful, but the real reason I volunteer is the mission. It’s the sense that there are hundreds of people every week who are getting a lift from what we do. These flowers would end up in the trash, but we get to recycle them and pass them on, and it’s just such a wonderful, beautiful cycle.”
Random Acts of Flowers Knoxville is grateful for the dedication and passion of our volunteers who breathe life into each bouquet. Their commitment to spreading joy and kindness exemplifies the spirit of our organization and serves as a beacon of hope for all those we touch.
To learn more about Random Acts of Flowers Knoxville and how you can support our mission, please call us at 865-6339082, email us at info@RAFKnoxville.org, or visit our website at RAFKnoxville.org.
Carolina, is known for its 14 unique communities and more than 60 miles of beaches that have delighted travelers of all ages for generations. This year, the Grand Strand is premiering a host of all-new activities, experiences, and culinary delights. Whether you’ve never visited The Beach before or it’s your family’s favorite getaway, you’ll find an array of new and exciting experiences in 2024. Check out this curated list of 11 new additions hitting Myrtle Beach this year.
1. Myrtle Beach Classic
Golf fans rejoice! The inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic (May 9-12, 2024) will be the first PGA Tour event in The Beach’s history and the first major professional golf tournament to hit the Grand Strand in the past 24 years. The event will take place at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club, a championship golf course and premier country club with a scenic view of the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Carolina Country Music Festival
Are you ready to put on your cowboy boots and party? The Carolina Country Music Festival returns to Myrtle Beach June 6-9, 2024. The three-day outdoor country music festival will feature more than 40 of the hottest country music artists, including Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen.
3. PopStroke
If you’e looking for family-friendly golfing, then look no further than PopStroke. In partnership with Tiger Woods, the golf and dining experience opened last month at Broadway at the Beach, a popular shopping and entertainment complex. Whether you’re a novice or expert, the two 18-hole putting course will challenge you with its fairways, bunkers, and rough. Don’t forget to check out the full-service restaurant
where you can enjoy creative twists on your favorite meals.
4. Myrtle Waves Water Park
Myrtle Waves Water Park - South Carolina’s largest water park - has delighted locals and visitors alike with more than 20 waterslides, a wave pool, and lazy river. This year, the park has added a “Wild Water Racer” mat slide. This exhilarating ride will allow up to four people to lie on a mat and slide down headfirst. The water park will also expand its cabana and shaded seating area so you can relax in style.
5. Coffee & Cream Cabana
Coffee & Cream Cabana is the newest addition to Heidi’s Corner, the latest dining experience by award-winning chef Heidi Vukov. The ice cream shop offers 16 hand-crafted seasonal flavors of ice cream, homemade waffle cones, cookie ice cream sandwiches, and ice cream cakes, as well as specialty coffees, light fare foods, and treats. There’s a sweet treat for everyone in the family to enjoy!
6. Greg Rowles Legacy Theater
Prepare to be captivated by local performer Greg Rowles and family at the Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre, opening this spring. Spend an evening taking in diverse and captivating performances from world-class singers and musicians in a unique setting unlike anything on the Grand Strand.
7. Swig & Swine
Beloved barbecue restaurant Swig & Swine will open its fifth location in Myrtle Beach’s Arts and Innovation District, its first venture outside of Charleston. Offering award-winning barbecue and a diverse selection of craft beer, you’ll be glad to stop in for a bite and brew after an afternoon exploring downtown.
8. The Tasting Room on 9th
This spring, the Arts and Innovation District will welcome its first official wine
bar, The Tasting Room on 9th. With a thoughtfully curated wine program, this inclusive, community-centered space offers a wide variety of wines and innovative food pairings. From wine novices to experienced connoisseurs, this welcoming establishment is the perfect place to try something new.
9. DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront
The DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront has undergone a $30 million renovation that will welcome visitors to an all-new lodging experience this spring. The hotel covers 27 acres at the southern end of Ocean Boulevard and is right next door to Myrtle Beach State Park. The renovations include the transformation of the former North Tower into a Tapestry Resort by Hilton that will offer luxurious waterfront amenities.
10. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort
Opening this month, the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort is a brand-new 11-acre resort along the Grand Strand. The property features 152 one- to four-bedroom villas, each with ocean-view patios, perfect for groups of all sizes planning a beach getaway.
11. Fly to The Beach fast
Myrtle Beach is just a day’s drive from Knoxville and with more than 50 nonstop destinations, Myrtle Beach International Airport makes planning a trip to The Beach easy. This year, Breeze Airways will also begin nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach from Providence (RI), Charleston (WV), Tampa (FL), and Hartford (CT) so friends and family can join in the fun.
These are just a few of the many exciting new vacation experiences you can enjoy at The Beach. For more information on what’s new in Myrtle Beach and to plan your next trip, head to VisitMyrtleBeach.com.
AWELL-BEHAVED dog is simply the best, right? At Dogtopia, we structure playtime to be fun but also instructional. Canine Coaches play games to prepare dogs for everyday situations that might cause overexcitement and maybe a few barks. Instead, Dogtopia dogs are introduced to new stimuli naturally and calmly.
At the door, dogs may want to say hello by jumping up on the new guest or entirely blocking the entryway with happy tail wags. Canine Coaches draw a chalk zone within the doorway and praise dogs that remain outside that space. Those who jump and walk into that space are moved to the exterior of the line. This “game” reminds dogs that staying away from the door will result in positive praise and head scratches so in no time, your dog will be behaving for guests and package deliveries!
Dogs find most new people and experiences exciting; maybe too exciting. Sometimes, this overexcitement causes a dog to bark. If a dog barks when receiving praise or pets, the Canine Coach will shift their focus to another dog that is relaxed and quiet. Over time, dogs learn that not barking results in pets and verbal praise. Dogs aim to please, and repetitive practice at Dogtopia will keep your dog happy and quiet at daycare, as well as at home.
“Slamdot has been amazing to work with. From sales to design, they have been so friendly and professional.” -
It is important for dogs to know and respond to their name. Whether you’re in the backyard, out in public, or your dog gets lost, it’s important for your dog to listen and respond when their name is called. Canine Coaches find a dog on the other side of the playroom and call out their name. If the dog runs to them, they give pets and praise. If the dog does not, the Canine Coach will work on name recognition with other play area games. Over time, dogs learn their name by repetition and positive praise.
Dogtopia daycare offers incredible benefits for your dog and you, too! From casual training to socialization, your dog will learn and grow. Everyone loves a well-behaved dog, right? Let your dog learn through positive play!
Dogtopia of Bearden-Knoxville
Dogtopia.com/Bearden-Knoxville
ATRUNK SHOW is a special event in the fashion world when a designer puts on a display of their best work for review by a select group of buyers or fashionistas. Since all of our clientele are the best of the best, we extend an invitation to each of you!
We can give our customers an opportunity to view the entire line and special order pieces for themselves that may not be seen anywhere else in the area. One of our favorite companies to host a trunk show with is Sympli, a Canadian line as diverse as any we represent. We will be hosting a Sympli trunk show featuring spring and summer designs for you to view and order for yourself!
We are so excited to have our Sympli representative, Christina, with us on April 18th to do a Sympli wardrobe seminar and fashion show. There will be two seatings available at 11 am and 2 pm. Seating is limited, so please call us at 423337-5537 to RSVP! Join us for a fun and fashion filled day with refreshments and lots of excitement to see new colors and styles from one of our favorite lines, Sympli!
Sympli samples will be at the boutique April 18th through April 20th, so if you’re unable to attend the fashion show, stop by and we’re happy to show you the line.
The Lily Pad Boutique
209 N. Main Street Sweetwater, TN 37874 423.337.5537
LilyPadBoutiqueOnline.com
EVERY ONCE in a while, I’ll get contacted by someone who is approaching retirement age and is curious about whether I can help them determine how to live in their next chapter. “Yes,” I respond, “I’ve helped quite a few people discern what will make that part of their lives the most rewarding.” What to do in our retirement years is a theme that fits very well within the guiding idea behind all of my work: Who you are should determine what you do in life
Recently, my wife and I have been having “retirement conversations” with each other. (I enjoy my work, and it’s quite likely that one day I may keel over dead in a career coaching conversation at Panera Bread, but aging steals your stamina, no matter what the supplement ads promise.) On a walk one day, Sloan said she’d been thinking about what she’d do with her time when she retires. Even if we had grandchildren, there are so many hours to fill in a workweek that retirement seems daunting.
People often have misleading ideas about their work and their retirement. The first of these is the truth that our work is
meant to be more than how we occupy our time. (The distinction between occupation and vocation is huge). The second is that our retirement years aren’t simply about “spending our time,” like some weird spenddown-plan aimed at wringing out the last juice of life before our exit. The third is that our retirement years aren’t supposed to be a transition from toilsome work to a pleasurable, relaxed existence. (Toilsome work is why you go to a career coach.)
I’ve also known quite a few men and women who are reluctant to retire because they secretly fear it will mean losing the thing they’ve used to define themselves. (At the risk of repeating my previous articles - our work is never a healthy basis for our sense of self.) I remember my grandfather reflecting on the number of his friends who died within a few years of their retirement because they felt they had no place in the world if they weren’t working. And gardening, woodworking, circle groups and bible studies, participation in civic organizations, physical activities, and the like are insufficient sources for the things that make life worthwhile.
Regardless of your age, a person’s life needs to be infused with a sense of purpose and meaning, and your life in your
later years is no exception.
One of my often-quoted favorite thinkers, Victor Frankl, came to this realization while surviving five Nazi death camps in World War II. He concluded that, barring execution by their captors, the people who survived the longest in the camps were those who found a sense of purpose and meaning in their captivity. Later, he proposed that purpose and meaning are so foundational to our emotional health that humans only pursue pleasure and entertainment when they lack purpose and meaning.
So, how do we find or build purpose and meaning into our lives?
In some ways, aging is a gift to us. (Not the aches and pains, difficulties, and trials of course, though even those often bring their own epiphanies.) But aging does teach us that what we value and strive for in our youth will need repair or replacement and may not be the best investment of our time and resources. People, however, are places we can invest our time (and money) and know we will make a lasting impact.
Based on Victor Frankl’s ideas, our retirement years have as much opportunity, if not more, for a purposeful and meaningful life. Rather than focusing on how to entertain ourselves, our latter years should be marked by intentional efforts to give away that which we have been given. It’s in being others-focused and giving ourselves away that we find purpose and meaning.
Writer John Eldredge proposed that our later years should be marked by a pattern of sharing our accumulated wisdom and knowledge with younger people as mentors and “sages.” While our society shamelessly promotes the notion that only youth and beauty are valuable, my experience is that many (or most) young people appreciate the perspective of an older, wiser person who isn’t their parent, especially if that person also conveys unconditional love and acceptance.
Practical skills and hands-on service are always welcome but perhaps not as valuable as the knowledge and life wisdom age provides. This means that even older persons with impairments that would interfere with physical volunteer service still have much to contribute by sharing things we may take for granted. In places like Knoxville and East Tennessee, with our abundance of nonprofit organizations serving a diversity of needs, there are so many places and ways for a person to serve an underserved person.
Each of us has been gifted with abilities, strengths, and unique life stories. The real challenge is to determine to-whom or to-what in your community would yours be an asset? When planning your retirement, this might be the most important question to ask.
ShelfGenie custom pull-out shelves are the best way to eliminate common frustrations in the kitchen, pantry, and bath. Our design will help fully utilize your space, and our shelves pull out the full depth of your cabinets so you can see, reach, and retrieve items with ease. Custom design, sturdy wood construction, quiet rails that hold up to 100 pounds per shelf, and professional installation - all backed by a lifetime guarantee - will ensure your satisfaction. Your Experience
Getting personalized attention from the ShelfGenie team is easy. Here’s what you can expect from our custom design process.
• Free Design Consultation: Work with a ShelfGenie designer to create a custom solution to solve your home pain points, eyesores, and trouble areas.
• Custom Solution: Your personal designer will present a design plan built just for you and your needs and show you a 3D-rendered plan of what your future home will look like.
• Professional Installation: We handle it all. After measurements are taken and your products are hand-crafted, your installer comes to your home and installs everything for you in one day.
Schedule your free design consultation today! One of our talented ShelfGenie designers will come to your home and create a design plan customized just for you - no obligation required. Call us at 865-409-1197 or sign up online at ShelfGenie.com.
865.409.1197
ShelfGenie.com
ROCK & ROLL Hall of Famer Dion DiMucci is no stranger to Everything Knoxville magazine - he first appeared in the December 2021 edition. As we said of Dion in that article: Say the name “Dion” (as in Dion and the Belmonts), and all sorts of great songs come to mind.
Tunes like “I Wonder Why,” “A Teenager in Love,” “The Wanderer,” and “Runaround Sue” are among the many songs Dion DiMucci has burned into the memory of baby boomers the world over. Since those wonderful days in the ‘60s, Dion has continued to record so much more great music, crossing genres and remaining fresh and relevant all the way to today.
In that article, we chatted with Dion about his then-new blues album, Stomping Ground, that featured many guitar greats. Like then, we spoke again recently about his latest album, Girl Friends.
This album finds Dion recording duets with 12 renowned female musical collaborators - his “girl friends.” Those women artists are Rory Block, Carlene Carter, Shemekia Copeland, Debbie Davies, Randi Fishenfeld, Sue Foley, Danielle Nicole, Christine Ohlman, Maggie Rose, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, and Valerie Tyson. They join Dion on this album’s amazing songs.
Dion said of working with these women: “Well, they changed the atmosphere in the room but, believe me, not only are they beautiful, they’re talented and they walk into a room and the atmosphere changes. With a bunch of guys in there, it wouldn’t be nothing.”
“It’s fun working with these girls - I never tell them what to do. Never, because they’re artists. They’re hearing what they hear, and I don’t want to fool with it. They just contribute what their soul and heart and mind and conscience is telling them to play.”
One “girl friend” Dion speaks fondly of is blues musician and historian Rory Block.
“Rory Block always comes up with her own thing,” he said. “She’s got so much to draw on, you know, her intuition bank is so huge. And
when she rocked out on that song with me (‘Don’t You Want a Man Like Me’), she said, ‘I wouldn’t play this for your wife.’ She went bonkers on it. She reminded me of Meg Ryan in that Billy Crystal movie, you know? ‘I’ll have what she’s having.’ Ha! Ha!”
Joanne Shaw Taylor is another blues great who is a “girl friend” on Dion’s new album. He spoke glowingly of her.
“You mentioned Joanne Shaw Taylor. I had this rock rocker, you know, this thing called ‘Just Like That.’ I got on Joe Bonamassa’s Blues Cruise, and I heard her, you know? I’ve been listening to her for a while, but I’d never met her. I met her and said, ‘Joanne,
do this song for me,’ and she said, ‘I’d love to,’ and she rocked it out, man! She’s something else!
Did the rock and roll icon sense that any of his “girlfriends” were intimidated to be working with him?
“I didn’t sense any,” he said. “First of all, a lot of them are my friends. Christine Ohlman - I’ve known for a long time, and Rory Block. Oh, and Sue Foley I’ve known a long time.”
As for Dion’s “unintimidated” chat when he called Susan Tedeschi about joining him on Girl Friends.
“I call Susan Tedeschi - this is so funny. She’s so down to earth. She don’t care. I call
her and I said, ‘Susan, I’d like you to do a song - I have a song. What do you think?’ She says, ‘Can I FaceTime you?’ I said sure. So, she FaceTimes me. She’s sitting out on the back, like veranda up in Georgia. She’s sitting there like, you know, no makeup, hair up. She looks like she’s just cleaning the house or something. She turns the camera around (facing away). ‘You got to see the deer in the meadow here.’ She turns it around there and you could see forever. There’s no buildings. It was a beautiful pasture, and these deer are coming up to the porch. I’m sitting there watching these deer for 20 minutes, and I’m thinking, ‘I want to ask about my song’, but she’s like, enthralled with this these deer, so she couldn’t care less. Oh, it was great!”
Continuing, he added, “I’ll tell you, Susan Tedeschi is so down to earth. My only regret is I was trying to change it up a little. I didn’t want every song to be a dialogueyou know, back and forth. So, we promised each other that, up the line, we’re going to do a song together where she sings on it, not only plays guitar like ‘Soul Force.’”
“I could go on and on about these women! I don’t remember anything that didn’t work.”
There is more to this interview - how making albums has gone from stressful when he was young to enjoyable at this age, added info on his “girl friend” collaborators, and the new Broadway play featuring Dion’s musicthat can be watched on Boomerocity.com, its YouTube channel, and on all major podcast platforms. Dion’s Girl Friends is now on all streaming platforms and wherever you buy your quality music.
Randy’s first interview was at the age of 13 with none other than Col. Tom Parker. Thirtysix years later, he founded Boomerocity.com and has since then launched its podcast and YouTube channel. He has conducted well over 400 interviews with some of the most interesting people in music.
ATOURING MAINSTAY and an indie folk rock staple, this Richmond-based quintet’s well-hewn live show and musical style drift in and out of Americana, bluegrass, rock, folk, Celtic and pop traditions with ease, using an arsenal of instruments – acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, cello, bass, drums, accordion, penny whistle and rich vocal harmonies – to define the band’s lively stage presence and sonic landscape.
“We call it ether-electrified porch music,” says frontman Barry Privett, using a phrase nicked from an earlier album of the same name when describing the band’s expansive sound.
The core of Carbon Leaf, Barry Privett, lyrics and lead singer; Terry Clark, guitar and vocals; and Carter Gravatt, guitars, strings and vocals, has been there since the beginning, with Jon Markel, bass and vocals, and Jesse Humphrey, drums and vocals, rounding out the current lineup.
With a band that has such an extensive repertoire, history, and fan base, it is comforting to see the level of energy, commitment, and devotion Carbon Leaf possesses. With such friendly and talented members, Carbon Leaf feels like a band you’d want to play any time you’re in the need for comfort, motivation, or feeling homesick.
- RVA Mag’s Jo Rozycki about Carbon Leaf
The group evolved from a college house party cover band into something far more profound after making the shift to original music. The band’s single “The Boxer” from Echo Echo in 2001 brought Carbon Leaf to national attention, earning them a slot at the American Music Awards. In 2004, while with Vanguard Records label, their critical and commercial breakthrough Indian Summer yielded the Top 5 radio hit “Life Less Ordinary” and garnered rave reviews everywhere.
Carbon Leaf parted ways with their label in 2010, returning to their DIY roots and taking complete control of their music. Since then, they have launched their own festival and continue to release successful direct-to-fan concert films, livestreams, and studio records. Their current creative series, Gathering , began in 2018 with all completed songs bearing the unmistakable fingerprints of all five bandmates, whose infectious chemistry consistently yields more than the sum of its parts.
“Being both a folk band and rock band allows each song to breathe a little differently and creates an arc that keeps things interesting for the band and the fans,” said Privett. “Performing live truly is a symbiotic relationship between the five band members and the audience.”
With a history spanning 30+ years, 20 albums, and more than 3,000 live shows, Carbon Leaf’s independent music and spirit continue to resonate with its fans. It’s a fun, feel-good show that you don’t want to miss! CarbonLeaf.com
TODAY, MORE THAN half of all seafood consumed in the U.S. is farmraised - a practice known as aquaculture. While the industry has made strides throughout the last few decades, from increasingly sustainable farming practices to technological advancements that can help feed a growing population, not all farmed seafood is equal and neither are the certifications you see on its packaging.
For more than a decade, the global nonprofit Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has created and enforced the world’s strictest standards for farmed seafood. Its sea green ASC certification label is only found on farmed seafood that meets these high standards - helping seafood shoppers make informed purchasing decisions.
It’s a movement some of the nation’s leading seafood grocers and chefs are getting behind.
“About two-thirds of our seafood offerings are raised on farms, which reflects both growing supply and demand,” said Abe Ng, CEO of the Sushi Maki restaurant chain and market stations. “There’s a much broader customer understanding and appreciation of aquaculture than, say, 10 years ago. However, not all farmed seafood is equal in terms of quality, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.”
A unique combination of standards help ensure supply chain integrity from the farm to the store while protecting the environment, workers, and communities. ASC’s sea green label only appears on seafood from farms that have been independently assessed and certified as environmentally and socially responsible.
“Whether your seafood is wild-caught or farmed, what matters to today’s shoppers is that it’s high-quality, flavorful, and was fished or farmed in a responsible way that’s good for you and the planet,” said Roger O’Brien, president and CEO of the Santa Monica Seafood market and cafe. “Farm-raised seafood that’s been responsibly certified by the ASC delivers on the assurance that the seafood you’re buying is what it claims to be, which is a key commitment we make to our customers.”
With a trusted certification like the ASC, you can confidently enjoy make-at-home recipes like Honey Mustard Crunch Salmon and Blackened Shrimp Tacos with Creole Remoulade Slaw without sacrificing taste or sustainability.
To find more certification information and discover family-friendly seafood recipes, visit SeaGreenBeGreen.org.
Recipe courtesy of North Coast Seafoods
Ingredients:
• 1 bag (1 pound, three 6-ounce portions)
North Coast Seafoods ASC-certified Naked Norwegian Salmon
• Salt and pepper, to taste
Honey Mustard Glaze
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
• 2 tablespoons smooth Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons horseradish
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Crunch
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
Thaw salmon and pat dry. Arrange on oiled baking tray. Season with salt and pepper. To make glaze - In small bowl, combine honey, mustard, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, horseradish, and paprika; mix until well combined. Chill glaze until ready to use.
To make crunch - In bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parsley, and oil; mix well. Reserve. Preheat oven to 400º F. Top each salmon portion with 1 tablespoon glaze and spread evenly over fish. Press crunch evenly onto glaze.Bake 15-17 minutes until fish is cooked through. Serve with drizzle of remaining glaze.
Recipe courtesy of Coastal Seafoods and Fortune Fish & Gourmet
Ingredients:
Coleslaw
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon capers, chopped
• 1 teaspoon stone ground mustard
• 1/3 cup parsley, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon horseradish
• 1/3 cup red onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 bag coleslaw mix
Tacos
• 6 small corn tortillas
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 pound peeled and deveined ASC-certified shrimp, thawed
• 3 green onions, sliced
• fresh salsa or pico de gallo (optional)
• 1 lime, sliced (optional)
Directions:
To make coleslaw - In bowl, mix mayonnaise, capers, mustard, parsley, horseradish, red onion, and Cajun seasoning. Mix coleslaw and about 3/4 of dressing. Stir until coated then add more dressing, if desired. Refrigerate coleslaw until ready to serve.
To make tacos - Heat grill to medium heat. Once hot, toast tortillas on each side until browned on edges. Stack toasted tortillas on plate and cover with towel until ready to serve.
Pour Cajun seasoning over shrimp and stir until shrimp are coated. Cook shrimp 3-5 minutes per side, or until shrimp are firm and Cajun seasoning is blackened. Remove shrimp from grill to prevent overcooking.
To serve, place about 1/4 cup coleslaw in each tortilla then top with 3-5 shrimp and green onions.
Top with salsa or pico de gallo, if desired. Squeeze wedge of fresh lime over top, if desired.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30
Rothchild Catering & Event Ctr.
8807 Kingston Pike, 37923
Doors open at 7 am
Breakfast from 7:30 - 9 am
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Elizabeth Vosseller, Speech-Language Pathologist & Director of Growing Kids Therapy
HONORABLE GUESTS:
Kim Kredich (Autism Acceptance Award) and Denny Dukes (Trailblazer Award)
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville’s mission is to provide services that enable adults with autism to lead purposeful lives.
BreakthroughKnoxville.org
Saturday, April 20 • 9 am - 2 pm
NEW Location!
Westminster Presbyterian Church
6500 S Northshore Drive
THE TALAHI Plant Sale, presented by the Knoxville Garden Club and Garden Study Club, boasts a vibrant assortment of native plants, herbs, shrubs, perennials, annuals, home-baked goods, and local gardening vendors. Come find the perfect annual or unique perennial to plant as the weather warms in East Tennessee!
All proceeds from the sale will benefit local organizations, including Blount Mansion, Ijams Nature Center, and the Knoxville Botanical Garden.
Visit KnoxvilleGardenClub.org for more info.
Babe, The Sheep Pig by the Knoxville Children’s Theatre through the 21st. Visit KnoxvilleChildrensTheatre.com for showtimes and tickets.
Dogwood Trails & Open Gardens through the 30th. Visit DogwoodArts.com for details.
2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Events through June 17th. The MLK Commemorative Commission is the largest consortium of MLK events in East Tennessee including symposiums, tributes, interfaith prayer services and more. For a listing of all community events, see MLKKnoxville.com.
APRIL 9
Knoxville Jazz Orchestra: Monk’s Mood at the Bijou Theatre at 8 pm.
APRIL 10
Herbal Spring Tonics at Ijams Nature Center from 5 to 7 pm.
APRIL 11
Dine & Discover with Artist Bobbie Crews at the Knoxville Museum of Art from noon to 1 pm.
Dusk in the Dogwoods Garden Party at Mabry-Hazen House from 6 to 9 pm. Visit MabryHazen.com/dusk for info and tickets. See page 10.
The Psychology of Serial Killers at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
APRIL 12
Soundscapes at the KMA: A Tribute to Motown Soul II at the Knoxville Museum of Art from 7:30 to 9:15 pm.
The WordPlayers: Shakespeare’s King Lear at the Pellissippi State Community College Clayton Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm. Also the 13th at 7:30 pm and 14th at 2:30 pm.
Big Night Hike at Ijams Nature Center from 8 to 9:30 pm.
APRIL 13
14th Annual Forget Me Not Race for Alzheimer’s at the Village Green Shopping Center in Farragut at 8 am. A benefit for the Pat Summitt Foundation. For info visit ForgetMeNot5k.com.
Early Morning Birding: Spring Migration at Ijams Nature Center at 8 am.
Spring Migration Birding Walk at Seven Islands State Birding Park from 8 to 11 am. Registration required.
Spring Fungi ID: Beginner Workshop at Ijams Nature Center at 9 am.
Brick Blast 2024 at Middlebrook Pike UMC the from 10 am to 4 pm. A family-friendly event where local Lego® artists display their custom builds. Games, vendors, a free play brick area, and building area. Free!
Friends of the Library Used Book Sale at Karns Branch Library from 10 am to 5 pm. See page 20.
WDVX KidStuff Live with Ajeet Khalsa (Yoga for Families) and Alex Pulsipher playing music at WDVX downtown from 10 to 11 am. Free!
Regency Tea at Historic Ramsey House from 11 am to 1 pm.
Spring Craft Fair at Marble Springs State Historic Site from 11 am to 5 pm.
Botany For Beginners at Ijams Nature Center at 1 pm.
Sunset Frog Walk at Seven Islands State Birding Park from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Registration required.
APRIL 14
Mayapple Marketplace at Ijams Nature Center from 10 am to 2 pm.
Old City Market on West Jackson Avenue from 11 am to 4 pm.
Second Sunday Art Activity at the Knoxville Museum of Art from 1 to 4 pm. Hands-on art for K-6th grade.
Second Sunday Docent Tour at the Knoxville Museum of Art from 2 to 3 pm.
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s Cosmos Festival: Mozart’s Jupiter & The Golden Record at the Bijou Theatre at 2:30 pm.
Oak Ridge Community Band: Sounds of Spring at First Baptist Church in Oak Ridge (1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike) at 3:30 pm. Free admission. Visit ORCB.org for info.
APRIL 15
Dogwood Arts Spring Featured Gardens at nine properties from 10 am to 4 pm. See DogwoodArts.com for locations. Also the 16th from noon to 3 pm.
Artists on Location: A Plein Air Event around the Knoxville area through the 19th. Paintings exhibited and sold at the Knoxville Museum of Art on April 20th from 5:30 to 9 pm. Free and open to the public.
APRIL 16
Tyler Childers at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center at 7:30 pm.
APRIL 17
The Thompson Streetcar Track Installation Photographs at the East Tennessee History Center from 12 to 1 pm. Free!
Kinky Boots at the Clarence Brown Theatre through May 5th. For showtimes and tickets visit ClarenceBrownTheatre.com
APRIL 18
Local Voices with Author Marilyn Mascaro at Historic Ramsey House. See RamseyHouse.org for more info.
Dining for Joy at Lakeshore Park’s Marble Hall from 6 to 10 pm. A benefit for the Joy of Music School. Visit JoyofMusicSchool.org for more info. See page 20.
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s Cosmos Festival: The Planets at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 pm. Also the 19th at 7:30 pm.
Theatre Knoxville Downtown: Art at Theatre Knoxville Downtown on Central Street at 7:30 pm through May 5th. See TheatreKnoxville.com for dates and showtimes.
APRIL 19
Forest Bathing Workshop at Ijams Nature Center at 10 am.
Hats in Bloom Fundraiser Lunch at Knoxville Botanical Garden’s Dogwood Center at 10:30 am.
Pickin’ on Nature Bluegrass Concert at Ijams Nature Center at 6 pm.
UT Opera: Massenet’s Cinderella at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm. Also the 20th at 2:30 & 7:30 pm and 21st at 2:30 pm.
APRIL 20
Early Morning Birding: Spring Migration at Ijams Nature Center at 8 am.
CCETN Race for Kids 5K and Family Walk at Victor Ashe Park from 8:30 to 9:30 am. A benefit for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s children’s and family programs. For info visit RunSignUp.com/Race/TN/ Knoxville/RaceforKids.
Knoxville Garden Club and Garden Study
Club’s Talahi Plant Sale at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Northshore from 9 am to 2 pm. Proceeds benefit local organizations. See page 41.
Moving Day Knoxville: A Walk for Parkinson’s at Knoxville Christian School at 9 am. Register at MovingDayWalk.org.
Walk ALS: Knoxville at World’s Fair Park from 9 am to 2 pm.
Knoxville Opera Rossini Festival: An International Street Fair in downtown Knoxville from 10 am to 6 pm. Also the 21st from 10 am to 6 pm. Free admission.
Spring Fungi ID: Beginner Workshop at Ijams Nature Center at noon.
Spring Stargazing at Marble Springs State Historic Site from 6 to 11 pm.
Ashley McBryde at the Tennessee Theatre at 8 pm.
APRIL 21
Dogwood Arts Film & Food: The Breakfast Club at Maker Exchange from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
East Tennessee Bluegrass Association Monthly Jam at Ijams Nature Center from 2 to 5 pm.
MercyMe at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center at 7 pm.
APRIL 22
Earth Day
4th Annual Volunteer Ministry Center Golf Tournament at Egwani Farms Golf Course. Benefits the Volunteer Ministry Center. For info visit VMCinc.org/vmc-golf-tournament.
Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert at the Tennessee Theatre at 7 pm.
Nature Nerd Hike at Ijams Nature Center from 7 to 8:30 pm.
APRIL 23
Full Moon Paddle at Ijams Nature Center from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
Hayes & The Heathens at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
April Full Moon Walk at Seven Islands State Birding Park from 8 to 10 pm. Registration required.
APRIL 24
Don’t Let Me Cross Over: Keepin’ It Country with Carl Butler and Pearl at the East Tennessee History Center from 12 to 1 pm. Free!
Becoming a Community Scientist at Ijams Nature Center from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
The Price is Right Live at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 pm.
The Wailers Legend 40th Anniversary at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
APRIL 25
Nature Nerd Trivia at Ijams Nature Center from 6 to 8 pm.
Colton Dixon and Jordan Feliz at the Bijou Theatre at 7 pm.
Nickel Creek at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 pm. Also the 26th at 8 pm.
River and Real Theatre Company: The Burn Vote at the Old City Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm. Shows through May 12th. Visit RiverAndRailTheatre.com for info.
APRIL 26
Arbor Day
Dogwood Arts Festival at World’s Fair Park through the 28th. For info visit DogwoodArts.com.
Sheep Shearing Days at the Museum of Appalachia from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Also May 3rd & 10th.
Fun K-Town 2024: Knoxville’s Grooviest Board Game Weekend at the Convention Center from 12 pm to midnight. Also the 27th from 9 am to midnight and 28th from 9 am to 6 pm. For info visit Fun-K-Town.com.
Tim McGraw at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center at 7 pm.
Ruston Kelly at the Bijou Theatre at 8 pm.
APRIL 27
40th Annual Dogwood Classic 5K along Cherokee Boulevard (west parking lot). Kids mile at 7:30 am, 5K begins at 8 am.
Friends of the Library Used Book Sale at Sequoyah Branch Library from 10 am to 5 pm. See page 20.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre at 5:45 pm.
Shen Yun at the Civic Auditorium at 7 pm. Also the 28th at 1 pm.
Spin the Block with Nelly, Ashanti, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center at 7:30 pm. Danae Hayes at the Bijou Theatre at 8 pm.
APRIL 28
The Earls of Leicester at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
APRIL 30
Autism Acceptance Breakfast at Rothchild Catering & Event Center. Registration and networking at 7 am, breakfast from 7:30 to 9 am. Register at BreakthroughKnoxville.org/ autism-acceptance-breakfast. See page 41.
MAY 1
Predators Exhibit Grand Opening at Zoo Knoxville. Check ZooKnoxville.org for more information.
Bonnie Raitt at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 pm.
MAY 3
Emerald Youth Foundation Prayer Breakfast at the Expo Center from 7 to 8 am. Free event - offering taken in support of Emerald Youth’s ministry with city young people.
Annual Street Rod Nationals South at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center from 8 am to 5 pm. Also the 4th from 8 am to 5 pm.
Early Morning Birding: Spring Migration at Ijams Nature Center at 8 am.
Spring Fungi ID: Beginner Workshop at Ijams Nature Center at noon.
Pond Exploration at Ijams Nature Center at 3pm.
First Friday on Market Square, Gay Street, The Old City, and Downtown North beginning at 5 pm.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™ in Concert at the Civic Auditorium at 7:30 pm. Also the 4th at 1:30 pm.
Knoxville Opera: Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm. Also the 4th at 7:30 pm and 5th at 2:30 pm.
Little Women by the Knoxville Children’s Theatre through May 19th. Visit KnoxvilleChildrensTheatre.com for showtimes and tickets.
MAY 4
Thaw Out Fest at World’s Fair Park from 1 to 11 pm. Tennessee’s biggest party with live music, food, drinks, and local vendors.
MAY 6
Leonid & Friends at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
MAY 7
Bark in the Park at I.C. King Park (2625 Maryville Pike) from 4 to 8 pm. Free!
Concerts on the Square: Jazz Tuesdays in Market Square from 7 to 9 pm.
Hal & Phil Off the Record 9.0 at the Bijou Theatre at 7 pm.
STOMP at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 pm. Also the 8th & 9th at 7:30 pm.
MAY 9
Zach Bryan at Thompson-Boling Arena at 7 pm. Also the 10th at 7 pm.
All event dates and times subject to change.
2024 ZOOFARI: BIRDS OF A FEATHER SATURDAY, APRIL 27
FLOCK TO Zoo Knoxville for one of the city’s premier fundraising events. This year’s theme, Birds of a Feather, celebrates Max’s Aviary, the new home for our colorful and witty macaws.
Cocktail Hour • Silent & Live Auction Gourmet Dinner • After Party
Reserve your spot today! Email zoofari@zooknoxville.org with any questions.
CHEEKWOOD ESTATE & Gardens is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate just outside of Nashville. Since being converted into a museum of art and botanical garden in 1960, Cheekwood has presented world-class art exhibitions, spectacular gardens, and a historic estate unlike anything else.
There’s no place more beautiful than Cheekwood in the spring as tulips, daffodils, and spring blooming bulbs spill from the gardens, creating a colorful, showstopping experience! Magnolias, redbuds, and dogwoods are also in on the act as warmer weather and longer days arrive. Celebrate the changing season with family activities, adult workshops and programs, special performances, and plenty of natural inspiration.
Cheekwood in Bloom: Belle Fleurs through April 14
Bienvenue to spring at Cheekwood! This year, impressions of France are brought to life with 250,000 blooming bulbs in cheerful pastel colors. Just as the exploration into Edgar Degas through works on paper are on view in the museum, Belles Fleurs comes alive in the Color Garden with a nod to classical French garden design. Traverse along parterre-inspired gardens and stop to capture a photo at the model Eiffel Tower. Warm pinks, apricots, and lavenders balance bolder expressions of red and yellow to further the echoes of Impressionism.
Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist through June 16
Regarded as one of the keenest artistic observers of human nature, this exhibition illuminates the background and personality of this remarkable artist. With more than 50 drawings, prints, and photographs from a private collection by the great French artist, Edgar Degas (1834-1917), this is a delightful exploration into the art of one of the world’s most skilled and complex artists.
Visitation Information
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, located at 1200 Forrest Park just outside of Nashville, is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm during Cheekwood in Bloom through April 14. Garden Only and Garden & Mansion (museum) tickets available. Memberships available with discounts for seniors, educators, military and students. For more information, visit Cheekwood.org.
THE CANDY FACTORY, located at 1060 World’s Fair Park Drive in Knoxville, is a sweet part of Knoxville’s rich history. Located next to the Knoxville Museum of Art and World’s Fair Park, the structure was built for Littlefield, Steere & Sanders (later, Littlefield & Steere), manufacturers of candies.
Littlefield, Steere & Sanders had its beginnings in the block of Gay Street south of the Southern Railroad Station on Depot Avenue. Dependent on the railroad for its shipments of raw material and finished product, the candy company flourished in the rapidly expanding economy of Knoxville and the southeast region.
By the early 20th century, the company had outgrown its Gay Street location and the L&N Railroad had built new tracts linking Knoxville with its larger regional market. These tracts (formerly located in World’s Fair Park) created expansion possibilities for the company.
In 1917, the company built a small manufacturing operation at the corner of 10th Street (today, World’s Fair Park Drive) and the Clinch Avenue Viaduct. By 1924, the company had outgrown the building and commissioned Knoxville architects R.F. Graf & Sons to design a larger facility to meet the needs of the company’s growing production and popularity. The candy company manufactured a full line of handmade bon bons, chocolate, and marshmallows, and by the early 20th century, they were shipping candies to 21 states and sold more than 400 different kinds of confections. The business
closed in 1933, reportedly not due to the Depression but because the owners decided to pursue different business ventures.
By 1946, the building was used as a warehouse for Miller’s Department Store. In the late 1970s, Knoxville Community Development Corporation took ownership of the building for use in the 1982 World’s Fair, hosting several restaurants.
After the World’s Fair, the building began its life as a place for artists to rent out studio spaces and galleries, eventually hosting classes, meeting places, and offices for the various art organizations of Knoxville. It even provided the Knoxville Museum of Art with a retail outlet space conveniently located right next door. Sweetness returned to the Candy Factory’s walls once again in 1993, with The South’s Finest Chocolate Factory starting a branch there and taking over much of the main floor. The rest of the building still housed studios, offices, and art galleries. In 2013, the building was renovated and currently houses condominiums and retail spaces.
The Knox Heritage mission is to protect Knoxville’s unique character for future generations by preserving, restoring, and transforming historically significant structures and places. Established in 1974 as a nonprofit historic preservation organization, Knox Heritage is chartered by the state of Tennessee and governed by a board of directors.
EXPANDING YOUR spring flower bulb palate beyond the basics is a good way to extend your garden’s flowerpower and enjoyment in the spring. One bulb I consider underused in Tennessee is Leucojum aestivum (Zone 4-8). Leucojum is a European and Western Asiatic species perfectly suited for our state.
Leucojum is often listed under the common name summer snowflake. This is misleading in our region because it is often in full bloom in mid to late March. This is right in concert with mid to late season daffodils.
White bell-like flowers edged in green sit atop 12- to 14-inch flower stocks that nod downward. Flowering can last a few weeks in the garden, particularly if the weather is mild. Bees flock to the little bells and get to work the minute the first flower opens. Each stem can have as many as six individual blooms.
If you want to add Leucojum to your garden, seek out bulbs from a reputable source and fall plant. If you have a gardening friend who is willing to share some of this wonderful plant, divide clumps and replant in early summer as foliage starts to turn yellow. Plants will continue to go dormant, and you should be rewarded the following spring.
After flowering, allow foliage to remain until it is completely yellow and withered. This will keep plants coming back year after year. Leucojum is deer, rabbit, and rodent resistant in the garden because of alkaloids present in the plant. Clumps take a few years to bulk-up, so be patient - the reward will come soon enough.
This plant is featured in the “Tranquility” Hosta Garden at UT Gardens, Knoxville.
The UT Gardens includes plant collections located in Knoxville, Crossville, and Jackson, Tennessee. Designated as the official botanical
Leucojum produces white bell-like flowers in the spring and adds to a garden of daffodils or looks beautiful by itself. Perfectly suited for Tennessee gardens, it has alkaloids that make it unappetizing to deer, rabbits, and rodents.
HE WEATHER has definitely been changing. During the last 100 years, our average last frost has been mid-April. For the last three years, it has been March 19. I’m not sure what it will be this year, but I don’t see anything below freezing in the long-range forecast.
I don’t trust it.
Since I have lived in Tennessee most of my life, I have been here for snow in April and frost in May. All I can say is don’t get in a hurry, and be prepared to cover tender plants.
We have had so many beautiful days that many of you are already ahead on the gardening schedule. Here are some things you can do if you haven’t been out there working yet.
✻ If you haven’t done your walk around, this is the time. See what damage has been done by cold, critters, and disease. What needs to be pruned, divided, transplanted, or composted? Have things changed in the area? Make your plans for what you want to get done this year and take those first steps.
✻ Please don’t get in a hurry to cut back plants that were damaged by a freeze. If the branches are flexible, the plant is alive. Also, remember that leaves do not “fix.” A leaf with a hole or a brown spot will always have a hole or spot. The plant will push that leaf off and grow a new one. Treatments are to ensure that the new leaves do not have the same issues with insects and diseases, not to fix existing leaves.
✻ While we have more than our share of damaging insects, remember that many bugs are either benign or helpful. Don’t start drenching your plants in insecticide at the first sign of movement. Our pollinators are being harmed by the vast overuse of chemicals, and we need them to survive.
✻ If you saw fungal damage during your checkup, make sure you get any diseased leaves cleaned up and away. That will go a long way in preventing future problems. Plants that are prone to fungal problems, such as roses, will need constant vigilance and preventative measures.
✻ Get your planting beds ready if you have not already done so. Work in compost or aged manure to add nutrients. Get weeds out and apply a pre-emergent to make your life easier. Do not use a pre-emergent if you are going to plant seeds, however!
✻ I know it has been warm, but I suggest you wait until mid-April to plant tomatoes, peppers, and corn. Super sweet varieties of corn should wait until the soil is around 70 degrees, which is usually early May. If you have questions, our Gardening Workshop on April 13th is the place to be.
BY LISA GRUGIN✻ If you must plant annuals now, there are some frost resistant varieties such as petunias, geraniums, and snapdragons. It is safest to wait until later in the month to plant hollow stemmed annuals such as impatiens and begonias. They tend to turn to mush if we have a late frost.
✻ Get your containers ready for spring. If they are large or have permanent occupants (shrubs, perennials, etc.,) you do not have to dump the dirt out every year. Top dress them with a couple of inches of compost or fresh soil instead. After 3-5 years, you really need to take everything out and start all over. Please use good quality soil because it will be the source of nutrients for your plants for their entire life. Cheap soil is dooming it to a lifetime of pizza and soda.
✻ If your containers are small, dump the soil out and rinse the pot. If the plants had any fungal problems, mix a tablespoon of bleach into a gallon of water and pour it into the pot, then rinse it out. Refill the container with fresh, good quality soil that is specifically for containers. I primarily use Fox Farm or EarthMix.
✻ If some of your spring blooming shrubs and trees need a trim, do that within a couple of weeks after they finish blooming. Please
April 13 at 10 am
educate yourself! Permanent damage can be done by careless whacking.
✻ Don’t cut bulbs back until after the foliage has yellowed. They need to store up nutrients for next year. BulbTone or Bone meal will help.
✻ Keep those bird feeders clean and full! There are lots of babies to feed out there now. Please stop in with any questions or just to look at all the gorgeous stock we have in. Beautiful gardens begin here!
Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center
9885 Highway 11E Lenoir City, TN 37772 865.986.7229
MeadowViewGreenhouse.com
THE ARTS & Culture Alliance is pleased to present four new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from April 5-27. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at KnoxAlliance.store.
GoFigure: Exploring Three-Dimensional Figurative Art in the Upper Gallery
This new exhibition, created by GoFigure Guild members, illustrates how the vision and skill of talented makers can transform figurative art beyond what is typically thought to be a “doll” or a toy. Threedimensional figurative art includes a wide range of artistic styles and mediums. The figures incorporate a variety of materials such as paper clay, polymer clay, fabric, wood, felt, and natural or synthetic wool. Each piece requires a wide range of skills to create, including sculpting, painting, costuming, and creating structure and framework to present the figure that can take weeks, or months, to complete.
This new exhibition showcases artwork by Sergio and his children, Estefano and Valeria, who live and work in Cantarranas, Honduras.
GoFigure Guild is a mixed media group that creatively explores the art of the figure. The guild is made up of more than 30 doll makers from counties in Western North Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; and Knoxville. The abilities of the members range from beginner to professional doll makers.
Julie L. Rabun: Passages and Theresa D. Williams: Mountain Water and Stars in the Lower Gallery
Julie L. Rabun artist statement: My work utilizes a process that integrates visual imagery and typography with direct meaning and as textural elements within mixed-media artworks. Typically, I depict landscapes from places I have visited. I reference from my own photographs and memories. Each landscape acts as an introspective journey that becomes an atmospheric representation of the location. In addition to using photography as an inspiration for mixed-media artworks, I use photography as a stand-alone medium to document experiences.
For Theresa D. Williams , the spring is when photographing mountain landscapes can be most compelling. Earthly and heavenly scenes of color and light signal the arrival of new life against a backdrop of powerful falling water - sometimes seen in harmony as a single frame provoking lingering questions or contemplation. What image elements hold the eye of the viewer? What stirs their mind, their emotions? This collection is shared to encourage the viewer to go into the mountains, witness and enjoy the wonder of the water and stars.
Sergio Martinez Avila, Eddie Estefano Martinez & Isaura Valeria Martinez Cerrito: Contemporary Sentiments in the Atrium
Sergio Martinez Avila has 36 years of professional experience with primitivism, genre painting, and figurative art. He has exhibited in cities across the globe. Eddie Estefano Martinez is a naturalist-style landscaper who touches on themes of self-perception, nature taking its place in the face of deforestation, reflections, dreams, and the environment. Currently studying architecture at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, he has exhibited in other parts of the country and internationally. Isaura Valeria Martinez Cerrito ’s style is figurative representation with customary themes in a cubist style. She has exhibited nationally and internationally and is also a recognized muralist. She studies civil engineering at the Catholic University of Honduras.
Stephen Brayfield: Recent Work on the North Wall Artist statement excerpt: While I am influenced by surrealism, I am more a representational realist with an Americana element that I refer to as “southern gothic.” I paint with transparent watercolors gradually layering light to dark. I avoid the use of opaque white or black paint. Darker tones are made by mixing less diluted complimentary colors, and the white areas are simply the paper carefully painted around or masked off. Recently, I have started mounting some of my work on cradled panels and sealing them with cold wax medium. These watercolors can be hung without a frame, mat, and glass.
Works by Janis Proffitt in the Display Case
Janis Proffitt’s great-great-grandfather owned a sawmill in the Greenbrier area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more than 25 years, she and her sister ran their father’s woodshop in Pittman Center, Tennessee. With her rich Southern Appalachian Heritage, she creates both traditional and contemporary wood turnings, and her work comes from the head, the heart, and hands.
The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, located at 100 S. Gay Street in Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm, and April 11, 18, and 26 from 5 to 7 pm for Gallery 1010 openings. For more information, call 865-523-7543 or visit KnoxAlliance.com.
Theresa D. Williams Sergio Martinez Avila Eddie Estefano Martinez Julie L. Rabun
COURTESY OF BPT
PLANNING TO TRAVEL or looking forward to vacations in 2024? As you make your packing list, don’t forget about cybersecurity.
While fraudsters work year-round, Spring Break and summer travel provides many opportunities for them to steal personal information and dampen your festivities. However, with a little preparation, you can protect yourself and your devices so you can focus on celebrating with your loved ones. Use the following tips to safeguard your digital information.
Tighten your device security by locking cellphones, tablets, laptops, etc. Create strong, unique passwords that combine at least eight numbers, letters, and special characters.
Don’t forget to get your devices travel-ready by updating all operating systems and apps. This helps ensure your devices are protected from any known vulnerabilities. For an added layer of security, protect your smartphones and laptops with security software like Norton 360.
Free public networks at airports, hotels, coffee shops, and even airplanes are incredibly convenient. However, they can also make you an easy target for hackers. Your personal data and passwords - including sent emails, banking information, and credit card details - will be exposed, leaving you vulnerable to identity theft.
Protect your identity and other sensitive information by using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN allows you to hide your online activity so cybercriminals can’t see your location or activity. Always verify that your destination location is covered by the VPN’s service before you sign up. Also, be sure to disable automatic Wi-Fi connections to prevent your device from unknowingly connecting to unsecured networks.
Even something as innocuous as charging your device in a public area poses a security risk. For example, hackers may have tampered with a USB port at a public charging station, a tactic known as “juice jacking,” which allows them to access your personal information once you plug in. Invest in a portable charger and a new power cord to keep your data safe. Don’t access or enter any private information and power off your devices when charging.
Bluetooth-connected headphones, game consoles, or other devices are a great way to pass the time during long layovers, flights, or road trips. However, those connections are also vulnerable to hacker attacks like BlueSnarfing, BlueJacking, or eavesdropping.
When not in use, turn your Bluetooth off and avoid keeping your device in discoverable mode, which makes it visible to others. Secure your connection by using PINS, passkeys, or other secure pairing methods. Disable automatic pairing to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to you.
Don’t share information about your trip that might compromise your safety. Broadcasting your travel plans or location on social media can be a risk to your physical safety. Also, sharing your vacation information exposes you to threats like identity theft, phishing, and other online scams.
Wait until you return from your trip to post details and photos to prevent crooks from accessing your geotag data. If you post to social media while traveling, turn off location services and avoid automatic “checkins” that reveal your location.
Never post photos of tickets, boarding passes, or passports even after you’ve returned home from your adventures. If you do post travel documents, make sure you cover up the barcodes and primary info.
Vacation and travel with peace of mind so you can focus on precious time spent with friends and family. Using these top five tips, you can stay cyber savvy. You can make your travels even more secure by getting comprehensive Cyber Safety protection like Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, which offers antivirus, malware, ransomware, hacking protection, a password manager, privacy monitoring, parental controls, and a VPN to help keep your internet browsing private. LifeLock monitors possible threats and helps you recover should your identity be stolen. To learn more about how you can be Cyber Safe this travel season, visit US.Norton.com.
I was just starting my career a thousand years ago in the early ’90s, print advertising was king. I worked for a media company then, and we believed in print’s effectiveness so strongly that we were able to sell and develop custom, single-sponsor magazines and books for some of the world’s most recognizable brands: Johnson & Johnson, Ralston-Purina, Seagram’s, and Federal Express, to name a few. It was our entire business. Clearly, those brands believed in print, too.
The internet and digital advertising weren’t even a thing then, but something called “desktop publishing” (I laugh even as I type this) was upending entire disciplines: from writing and editing to typesetting, graphic design, production/pre-press, and printing. Some of you (wink) know what I’m talking about.
Then Adobe’s® portable document format (PDF®) came out. People were saying that the end of books and magazines was near.
People said that we wouldn’t need printing of any kind anymore, including desktop printing on lasers and ink jets. We were promised an earth-friendly “paperless office.”
Fast forward to today, and not only are we still printing, arguably, we’re printing even more. And we have AI now, just to keep things interesting, LOL. In a sort of déjà vu, AI futurists have predicted that entire swaths of jobs will be eliminated because AI will do all the work.
As usual, I believe that we will find that the past is not necessarily prologue.
So, what’s working in advertising now ? My answer sounds like I’m trying to weasel my way out of answering, but it depends And indeed, it does.
We often say at our firm, “We don’t know what we don’t know, but what we don’t know we can test.” And as a guiding principle, we also say, “We’re strategically focused and tactically agnostic.”
There have never been more ways to reach your customers than there are today, and that makes answering the question difficult. What we used to call “audience fragmentation” (the specific demographic and psychographic niches - now “buyer personas”) is also the highest it’s ever been. Chances are that you may have as many as 10 buyer personas, all with different buying
motivations. Combine unprecedented audience splintering with the proliferation of media channels and you have a fine mess of decisions to make.
The oversimplified answer is that it’s usually both/and, not either/or. In fact, when it comes to just print versus digital advertising, studies show that campaigns are 24% more effective (measured brand recall) with both than either alone.
Print advertising has these primary advantages: 1) credibility (local reach and trust; 54% of adults trust print over digital), 2) lifespan (magazines have shelf life and typically have a 3x readership), 3) sensory (you can feel and touch a magazine), and 4) better brand recall.
Digital advertising has these primary advantages: 1) lower cost and commitment, 2) real-time engagement (often at the moment of buying decisions), 3) precise targeting, and 4) detailed analytics for measuring ROI.
By leveraging the unique advantages of each and integrating them into a cohesive campaign, businesses can truly maximize their marketing return on investment (ROI).
Here are a few considerations for a successful campaign:
• Strategy. Lewis Carroll said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” We always begin with strategy, not tactics. Advertising is always tactical, but many clients start there because doing the strategy work is hard. What do we want to happen that supports our clients’ goals? (Could be sales, awareness, goodwill, or any combination.)
• Message and Audience. We use a Messaging Matrix for this, which is a 3x3 grid for the top three messages we want our top three buyer/prospect personas (target audiences) to hear.
• Test. For digital, if you can run an A/B test on a small scale, do it. You will learn something that will likely save you money later. This is in the absence of bona fide primary market research, which is even better.
• Refine. If there’s a clear “winning horse” based on your A/B test, run with it and tweak as you go.
• Measure. How’d we do in the metrics (key performance indicators, or KPIs) that matter: eyeballs, awareness, engagement, conversions, overall sales?
• Repeat. In magazine and newspaper advertising, we used to say that repetition is better than size. In other words, if you have to choose, run six half-page ads instead of one full-page ad. That’s still a universal truth. Consistent presence and compelling messaging, not splash, is what wins.
Chuck Morris is a fractional CMO to several companies and also principal and founder of Morris, a marketing, branding, advertising, and digital media company headquartered in Knoxville. The company website is Morris.Agency.
