Nfocus February 2022

FEBRUARY 2022

Best Parties 2021 Getting organized with The Home Edit SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING BALLET BALL

THE VOTES ARE IN!

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Contents February 2022 | Vol. xxix, No. 2

parties 13

44

Getting It Together

62

Sean Brock’s newest concept showcases his love for food, art, design and sustainability

Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, the organization gurus of The Home Edit, put life in colorful order

Making Merry

Step Inside

The Eve of Janus returns to its roots 19

49

Having a Ball

8

11

Best Parties 2021

Best Behavior Expert etiquette advice from John Bridges

76

Behind the Scenes

Nretrospect Looking back at the history of Harding Academy

Getting to know Loren Chumley, the Nashville Wine Auction’s new CEO

The votes are in!

40

74

In Our Words A few of our favorite things from 2021

features

Pencil In Mark your calendar for these upcoming events

departments

Cheers to 50 Years

Taking Vows Sarah Sperling marries Kyle Young

72

Harding Academy celebrates its golden jubilee

23

68

Six decadent chocolate desserts and treats to enjoy this Valentine’s Day

The Iris Ball raises funds for Oasis Center 21

Be Mine

Work in Progress Allison Russell and Paul Vasterling share a sneak peek at Ballet Ball 2022

23 ON THE COVER

49

Sammi Moore wearing a Lela Rose midi gown from Gus Mayer. Photograph by Daniel Meigs. To see the winners of our Best Parties poll, turn to page 23.

40

23 nfocusmagazine.com

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Editorial

Herbert Fox, Jr. Nancy Floyd managing editor Jonathan Sims associate editor Holly Hoffman social correspondent Gloria Houghland contributors Beth Alexander, John Bridges, Whitney Clay, Geert De Lombaerde, Carrington Fox, Laura Hutson Hunter, Sandy Nelson, Ellen Pryor, Jennifer Puryear, Megan Seling, Varina Willse founding editor editor-in-chief

Art

Heather Pierce Eric England staff photographer Daniel Meigs contributing photographers Michael W. Bunch, Matt Masters, Jen McDonald art director

senior photographer

Production

graphic designers

Mary Louise Meadors, Tracey Starck Christie Passarello

graphic designer /production coordinator

Marketing

events and marketing director

Olivia Moye Britton Robin Fomusa

marketing and promotions manager

Advertising

Jennifer Trsinar Jezewski Maggie Bond, Sue Falls, Michael Jezewski, Carla Mathis, Heather Cantrell Mullins, William Shutes, Mike Smith, Niki Tyree, Alissa Wetzel, Keith Wright sales operations manager Chelon Hasty advertising solutions associates Jada Goggins, Caroline Poole publisher

advertising solutions consultants

Circulation Business

Owner

circulation manager

Gary Minnis

president Frank Daniels III chief financial officer Todd Patton IT director John Schaeffer FW Publishing, LLC

Bill Freeman

Nfocus is published monthly by FW Publishing, LLC. Advertising deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. A limited number of free copies, one per reader, are available at select retail establishments, listed on the website: nfocusmagazine.com. First-class subscriptions are available for $99 per year. Send your name and address along with a check or credit card number and expiration date to: GARY MINNIS, FW PUBLISHING, 210 12th Ave. S., Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203 or call Gary at 615-844-9307. For advertising information, call JENNIFER TRSINAR JEZEWSKI at 615-844-9261. Copyright ©2022 FW Publishing, LLC.

IN O UR WO RD S

Simply the Best A few of our favorite things from 2021

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It might be gray and freezing outside, but our February issue is full of color!

It’s time for the results of our Best Parties poll, and we wanted to bring you some excitement and whimsy as you discover the winners.

Our über-talented art director, Heather Pierce, and photographer Daniel Meigs came up with this fabulous confetti-themed idea for our Best Parties photo shoots, and I’m not sure who had more fun: us or our subjects. We spent a few wintry days at the office shooting off confetti cannons while some of our Best Parties winners took a turn in the spotlight. These men and women are often in the background, creating magic behind the scenes at fundraising events for our local nonprofits, and it was fun to bring them center stage. Flip to page 23 to see what events won our read-

ers’ poll and which ones garnered praise from our writers. Whether your favorites took home a prize or not, I think we can all agree it’s thrilling to even have parties to vote on.

Speaking of parties, the Antiques & Garden Show and Ballet Ball are returning to Nashville this year, and we’re giving you a sneak peek at both events. We chatted with the organization gurus of The Home Edit, who will be speaking at the Antiques & Garden Show, on page 44, and we got the scoop on the phenomenal collaboration happening at Ballet Ball. We’re also thrilled to be the first ones to share who will be performing at the black-tie gala this year.

You’ll have to turn to page 40 to find out who it is.

We’re looking forward to partying with you all soon! We’ll bring the confetti cannons.

BY NANCY FLOYD

Nancy is a reader of books, rider of bikes and lover of all things local. She lives in East Nashville with her husband, Kyle, and beagle, Gus. Email her at nfloyd@nfocusmagazine.com.

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>>of real estate licensees affiliated with Compass RE, a licensed real estate broker and abides by equal housing opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, The Lira Group is a team omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside of the realm of real estate brokerage. To reach the Compass RE office, call 615.475.5616

BEHIND THE SCENES

In Vino Veritas Getting to know Loren Chumley, the Nashville Wine Auction’s new CEO The first time Loren Chumley attended the Nashville Wine Auction’s l’Eté du Vin, she didn’t know anything about the organization. Now, she is its new president and CEO. After that first event, Loren was hooked and quickly got involved cochairing its signature fundraisers, Pairings and l’Eté du Vin, joining the board and serving as its chair. At home, she and her husband, Scott Peterson, started hosting many of the nonprofit’s private vintner dinners, auction events and more while building an enviThe Basics able wine cellar.

Last fall, Loren, then a Name: Loren Chumley tax attorney and partner Profession/Title: President and CEO, at KPMG, was ponderNashville Wine Auction Hometown: Kingsport, Tennessee ing what her next career Zip Code: 37215 would be because she had Years in Nashville: 30 reached “the magic age at which partners retire” Bottles of wine in your cellar: 2,702 from the firm and had even begun working on a résumé when Holly Hearn Whaley announced that she would be retiring after 10 years at Nashville Wine Auction. Loren jumped at the opportunity and now brings her wealth of experience as a lawyer and from past leadership positions in government and the private sector to build on the nonprofit’s monumental impact in the fight against cancer in our community.

Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $27 million dollars in the past 40-plus years and funded numerous important projects, including mammogram screenings for uninsured women in Middle Tennessee through St. Thomas’ Mobile What do you wish everyone knew about Mammography Coach; research at Vanderbilt-InNashville Wine Auction? We have the best gram Cancer Center to match cancer treatments time welcoming new friends, learning about and savoring great wines, and raising money to a patient’s tumor DNA; and granting dreams for for cancer-fighting charities! In its more than 40 Make-A-Wish kids. Despite two difficult years due years in existence, we’ve raised over $27 million, to COVID-related cancellations, the nonprofit and we have created incredible experiences and surprised beneficiaries with their full grant reopportunities for people to come together, learn, quests for 2021 and the balance of their 2020 share and connect. I can say with authority that grants, thanks to the organization’s generous supthe events NWA puts on — with the support of our incredible hospitality community — are simporters. This year is off to a great start, and the ply unmatched. first fundraiser under Loren’s watch will be the th 10 anniversary of Pairings, which takes place Feb. What is your first order of business as CEO? 24-26. We caught up with her — in the wine cellar, My 100-day sprint will include connecting with appropriately — where she quenched our thirst to our wonderful patrons, donors, beneficiaries, chefs, vintners and volunteers and speeding into hear more about the Nashville Wine Auction and our Pairings Weekend events, which take place some of her most memorable wine experiences. less than 60 days after I start. Whew!

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

whole room — like when Eleanor Cobb won a special Alabama football game lot that involved being on the sidelines. It is so fun to watch people display unrestrained happiness, and certainly, we have learned in the last couple of years how important it is to take time and do the things that make you happy.

What is your most memorable wine experience? I can’t pick just one. We were successful bidders on a wine trip to Italy that included a visit to the Gaja Winery in Barbaresco, Italy. An auction trip to Chile included a lunch at Fuegos de Apalta, which is located in the middle of the vineyards of Viña Montes in the Colchagua Valley. My most recent trip to Italy involved a trek to the fantastic Hiša Franko restaurant in Kobarid, Slovenia — a 19-course tasting menu with wine pairings, including some remarkable Slovenian wines.

What is your favorite wine region? Whichever one I have the pleasure of being in at the moment. While Burgundy and Champagne have my heart, I spent two weeks this fall in various regions in Italy, including the gorgeous Prosecco Hills, Trentino, Alto Adige [and] Friuli Venezia Giulia. I have never been to a wine region that I wouldn’t return to if given the chance.

What region is on your bucket list? Bordeaux.

And as long as COVID doesn’t get in the way, I will be there this spring (after two reschedules). I may be the only person out there who has been to Tokaj, the Colchagua Valley, Stellenbosch, the Douro Valley and Ribera del Duero before making the trek to Bordeaux.

What’s your favorite Nashville Wine Auction memory? It happens whenever someone wins an auction lot that they really, really, really want — the unbridled joy that lights up the

What’s the one thing you hope never changes in Nashville? The giving hearts of Nashvillians. How fortunate we are to be in a community that cares so much for others.

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PA R T I E S

Making Merry The Eve of Janus returns to its roots

A

Ashley Walker, Sam Walker

Charlotte and Brian Hunter

Browning Clark, Andrew Gibson

fter a year-plus postponement due to the pandemic, the Eve of Janus took place on Dec. 30 and celebrated the 50th year of the presentation hosted by the Nashville alumnae chapter of Delta Delta Delta. Newcomers may think of it as a midsummer event, but for years, it was held on New Year’s Eve because its namesake, Janus, is the Roman god of beginnings and endings.

Co-chairs Lori Morgan and Carolyn Taylor planned a wonderful evening to honor the young women, the Signs of the Times, and men, aka the Marshals, and carried out their plans safely in light of the ongoing pandemic. While the “kids” enjoyed their own meal, their families gathered in the event hall at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for cocktails and dinner.

Big Events’ Martha and Malcolm Greenwood used neutral hues in the floral centerpieces of roses and hydrangeas atop tables draped in champagne Shantung linens with accents of gold incorporated in the chargers and menu cards. Dinner was a dual entrée of braised beef short ribs and garlic-roasted shrimp with green beans and gruyere au gratin potatoes.

The presentation held special moments including recognition of Eve founders Mary Ann Chaffin and Sandra Polk, a special dedication to the memory of the late Luke Gregory, former Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital CEO, and words from Junior Honorary Chairman Lily Hensiek. Following the introduction of the Signs and Marshals, everyone returned to the event hall for a dessert reception and dancing to popular party band Burning Las Vegas.

As the longest-running fundraising event for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Eve of Janus has raised over $5 million in support of the hospital’s pediatric cancer initiatives. At this year’s Patrons Party, it was announced that a $1 million gift would be made to the hospital’s Tri Delta Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic in honor of the 50th anniversary.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY MATT MASTERS continued on page 14

Co-chair Carolyn Taylor, Krystal Clark, Co-chair Lori Morgan

Allie Hunter, John Dinkins

Mary Ann Chaffin, Caroline Hannon

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PA R T I E S

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Ryan Johanes, Cameron Jacobson, Emily Wallace, Conleigh Werkhaven continued on page 16

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PA R T I E S

Having a Ball The Iris Ball raises funds for Oasis Center

T

o start the new year off right, a group of budding philanthropists gathered together to party the night away at the annual Iris Ball. Nearly 750 young professionals attended the party, including 40 hosts, all members of The Iris Foundation. The head co-hosts, McKenna Monk and Buck Patton, planned the event along with Denver Wilson and Frances Harpole at the helm of the steering committee, and they brought in Olivia Nagy of Studio B Consulting to coordinate on the day of the event.

The dance floor was never empty, as the always-fantastic Java Band played all the hits, classic and modern. Partygoers only paused to refuel with snacks and drinks. Several local distributors provided the libations, including Ajax Turner, Tito’s Vodka, Big Machine Distillery and more. Loveless Cafe provided Nashville-style hors d’œuvres, that included pepper jack mac and cheese balls with hot pepper relish; barbecue pork sliders; bruschetta with fresh buffalo mozzarella, tomato, basil and olive oil; new potatoes with peppered bacon, sour cream and microchives; and a Pâté of the South, made with homemade pimento cheese on toast points.

A silent auction table — next to the bar, wisely — displayed the 48 available prizes, and guests browsed the items and kept a close eye on their bids throughout the evening. The topticket item was a six-day trip to either Cabo San Lucas, Belize or Costa Rica, but the most hotly contested lots were a football signed by University of Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban and a round of 18 holes at GreyStone Golf Club.

By the end of the evening, The Iris Foundation raised a total of $22,580 for The Oasis Center, specifically the organization’s Oasis College Connections, which helps make college a reality for low-income, new American and first-generation college students.

Claire Lee, Denver Wilson, Kipper Worthington, Ben Shankle

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BY JONATHAN SIMS PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

Millie and Daniel Lynch

Steve Bondi, Kaitlin Pinter, Lauren Bone, Angela Wachsmuth

Java Band

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PHOTOGRAPHER: MARY CRAVEN

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Cheers to 50 Years Harding Academy celebrates its golden jubilee

N

early 600 people bundled up on a cold January night and ventured across the river to Nissan Stadium for the Harding Academy 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Co-chairs Amanda Hardin, Louise Alexander, Coady Rapp and Elisa Vazzana planned a spirited evening for the multigenerational group that included graduates, former and current parents and staff of the school.

The night began with a VIP reception in the party suite.

Guests enjoyed cocktails and light bites while overlooking the quiet, brightly lit stadium, and Ian Miller, keyboardist for Brett Eldredge, entertained. They also enjoyed one special benefit that can only be experienced at the home of the Titans: tours of the locker room. The team was in Houston for their final regular season game, and although there was no chance of bumping into any players, there were still opportunities for selfies. While the VIPs posed in front of Ryan Tannehill’s and Derrick Henry’s lockers, a boisterous crowd was already filling up the West Club.

After picking up a glass of bubbly from the Champagne wall, guests reconnected with friends, introduced their significant others and chatted about life after being a Harding General.

When Head of School Dave Skeen gave a toast, the sound of clinking glasses resonated throughout the massive space.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Shane McAnally led a songwriters’ round with Karen Fairchild, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne. Following that, a live auction — with fantastic lots like Super Bowl tickets, several rare whiskeys and a Las Vegas getaway with tickets to see Keith Urban — brought some very competitive bidding. The festive night closed with a performance from Ronnie Dunn.

The Harding Academy 50th Anniversary Celebration was one of several events planned to recognize this milestone year, and it was a fitting way to look back at five decades and look forward to the next five.

Bob and Megan Zeglarski, Jessica and Mark Darden

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL MEIGS

Jocelyn and Nick Chambers, Rachel and John Clayton

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BEST PARTIES

s are in! e t o v e h T BEST PARTIES

2021

Things weren’t quite back to normal in 2021, but after a year of partying in our living rooms and socializing through computer screens in 2020, it was thrilling to see the return of so many inperson events. We missed some longtime favorites, got accustomed to some new rules and regulations, and happily welcomed some fresh fêtes into the mix, and all in all, it was a year abundant with some festive and fabulous celebrations. There’s no one more qualified to rank the best parties in town than Nfocus readers, so we asked you to weigh in on your favorites of the year. Our Nfocus staff joined in on the fun, as well, sharing the moments and shindigs that stood out to us. Here’s hoping 2022 will give us even more reason to raise a glass and celebrate!

BY NANCY FLOYD, HOLLY HOFFMAN AND JONATHAN SIMS PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND AND DANIEL MEIGS

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BEST PARTIES

Kristen Winston oice Winner Readers’ ChCA TERER BEST

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BEST PARTIES

Readers’ Choice

BEST EVENT OF 2021 1. l’Eté du Vin (Nashville Wine Auction) 2. NEXT Awards (Nashville Entrepreneur Center) 3. Broadway Brunch (Nashville Rep)

BEST CATERER 1. Kristen Winston Catering 2. Chef’s Market 3. Flavor Catering

BEST AUCTION ITEM 1. Cristal, Krystal and Krispy Kreme (l’Eté du Vin/ Nashville Wine Auction) 2. Dinner on the Back Porch (Hermitage Gala/ Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage) 3. Switzerland Trip (Broadway Brunch/ Nashville Rep)

BEST WOMEN’S EVENT 1. Symphony Fashion Show (Nashville Symphony) 2. Chic Awearness (VanderbiltIngram Cancer Center) 3. Wine, Women and Shoes (YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee)

BEST DÉCOR 1. Hermitage Gala/Big Events (Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage) 2. Literary Award Gala/Big Events (Nashville Public Library) 3. Symphony Fashion Show/Bruce Pittman (Nashville Symphony)

BEST-DRESSED PARTY GUESTS 1. Amos Glass 2. Katie Crumbo and Gabriela Lira (TIE) 3. Chic Awearness

BEST FLORIST 1. AmosEvents 2. Rose Hill Florist 3. Garden Delights

BEST RENTALS COMPANY 1. Please Be Seated 2. Liberty Party Rental 3. Southern Events

BEST CO-CHAIRS 1. Sharon and Bill Piper and Lynne and Dave Teckman (l’Eté du Vin/Nashville Wine Auction) 2. Sherry and Mark Deutschmann (NEXT Awards/ Entrepreneur Center) 3. Julie Schneider and Tracy Wade (Broadway Brunch/Nashville Rep)

BEST CHILDREN’S/FAMILY EVENT 1. Fall for Cheekwood (Cheekwood Estate & Gardens) 2. Picnic With the Library (Nashville Public Library) 3. Opera on Wheels (Nashville Opera)

BEST EVENT PRODUCTION COMPANY 1. Bright Event Productions 2. Gary Musick Productions 3. Evolution Event Solutions

BEST EVENT PLANNER 1. Amos Gott 2. Taylor Guardino 3. Penny Haas

BEST ENTERTAINMENT 1. Broadway Brunch (Nashville Rep) 2. Conservancy Gala (Centennial Park Conservancy) 3. River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy)

BEST FORMALWEAR 1. Gus Mayer 2. The Showroom

BEST HAIR/MAKEUP 1. MHD Beauty 2. Canvas + Coif 3. GLAM Nashville

BEST HOST OR HOSTESS 1. Megan Murphy Chambers (Broadway Brunch/Nashville Rep) 2. Jean and Denny Bottorff (l’Eté du Vin Brunch/ Nashville Wine Auction) 3. Marci Houff (Chic Awearness/Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center)

CREDITS FOR OPPOSITE PAGE: Red and pink floral hi-low gown, crystal earrings: The Showroom; Makeup: Emaline Briggs, BBC Nashville

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BEST PARTIES

and Malcolm en ood Martha Gre w ce Winner Readers’ ChT oiDÉC OR BES

Floral sequined gown, drop earrings: The Showroom; Hair and makeup: Betsy Briggs Cathcart and Emaline Briggs, BBC Nashville

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BEST PARTIES

Readers’ Choice

BEST LUNCHEON 1. Cause for Paws (Nashville Humane Association) 2. Spring Outing (Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage) 3. Sunday in the Park (Friends of Warner Parks)

BEST HOTEL BALLROOM 1. The Hermitage Hotel 2. Cambria Nashville 3. JW Marriott Nashville

BEST MENU 1. l’Eté du Vin Patrons Party (Nashville Wine Auction) 2. Symphony Ball Patrons Party (Nashville Symphony)

BEST ONLINE AUCTION 1. Pairings@Home (Nashville Wine Auction) 2. River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy) 3. JDRF Promise Gala (JDRF)

BEST OUTDOOR EVENT 1. River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy) 2. Iroquois Steeplechase (Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital) 3. Conservancy Gala (Centennial Park Conservancy)

BEST PARTY BAND 1. Downtown Band 2. 12South Band and Rubiks Groove (TIE)

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BEST PHOTO OP/BACKDROP 1. Cheekwood 2. Nfocus Portrait Studio 3. Telicia Lee backdrops

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER 1. Leslee Mitchell 2. Elizabeth Nord 3. Nathan Morgan

BEST RE-IMAGINED EVENT 1. Pairings@Home (Nashville Wine Auction) 2. Ballet Ball Virtual (Nashville Ballet) 3. Beyond Bourbon (OZ Arts Nashville)

BEST FAVORS 1. Cheese and charcuterie boards (Pairings@Home/ Nashville Wine Auction) 2. Autographed Colson Whitehead books (Literary Award Gala/Nashville Public Library) 3. Cupcake Collection cupcakes (NEXT Awards/ Entrepreneur Center)

BEST SPECIAL GUEST 1. Trisha Yearwood (NEXT Awards/ Entrepreneur Center) 2. Kellie Pickler (Broadway Brunch/Nashville Rep) 3. Amanda Knox (Continuing the Fight/Tennessee Innocence Project)

MOST FUN PARTY 1. Broadway Brunch (Nashville Rep) 2. l’Eté du Vin (Nashville Wine Auction) 3. River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy)

BEST ARTS EVENT 1. Broadway Brunch (Nashville Rep) 2. Conservancy Gala (Centennial Park Conservancy) 3. A Red Carpet Evening (Belcourt Theatre)

BEST VIRTUAL EVENT 1. Pairings@Home (Nashville Wine Auction) 2. Ballet Ball Virtual (Nashville Ballet) 3. JDRF Promise Gala (JDRF)

BEST ANIMAL-CENTRIC EVENT 1. Cause for Paws (Nashville Humane Association) 2. Call of the Wild (Nashville Zoo) 3. Unleashed (Nashville Humane Association)

EVENT YOU MISSED THE MOST 1. Ballet Ball (Nashville Ballet) 2. Swan Ball (Cheekwood Estate & Gardens) 3. Boulevard Bolt (various charities)

BEST VENUE FOR A FUNDRAISING EVENT 1. Schermerhorn Symphony Center 2. Cambria Nashville 3. City Winery

BEST VENUE FOR A WEDDING 1. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens 2. Cambria Nashville 3. The Cordelle

CREDITS FOR OPPOSITE PAGE: Jason Wu gowns: Gus Mayer; Hair and makeup: Betsy Briggs Cathcart and Emaline Briggs, BBC Nashville

BEST PARTIES

ecca Morris B d n a er k a B ra u La and Teddy with Paddington Winner Readers’ ChoiceEON AND

BEST LUNCH TRIC EVENT CEN BEST ANIMAL-

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BEST PARTIES

Agenia Clark Winner Writers’ Pick FO R LIFE BEST FRIEND

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BEST PARTIES

Writers’ Choice

BEST MUSICAL STORYTELLER

Drew Holcomb BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE

Agenia Clark Agenia Clark’s amazing career spans a range of industries, and she’s provided leadership, insight and advice in different areas, from finance to major league sports. The best part is that, along the way, she’s made numerous friends and maintained those relationships over the years. So, when the dynamic president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee was honored as Nashvillian of the Year by Easterseals Tennessee, it was no surprise that her lifelong gal pals came from all over for the big night and turned the ordinarily after-work affair into a full-blown reunion.

BEST PRODUCER

Matt Logan If you’re in need of a slam-bang theatrical production filled with local talent and showstopping numbers, Matt Logan is the guy to call. A man of many talents, Matt’s years of experience working on Broadway shows and as the former artistic director of Studio Tenn were put to good use in 2021 working on some milestone celebrations. He produced TPAC’s virtual 40th Anniversary Special and Franklin Theatre’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, reminding local art lovers how much rich theatrical talent can be found right here in our city.

As vaccinations became available, one of the first big events after people started feeling safer getting back out into the world took place at the Grand Ole Opry. On a rainy spring evening, PENCIL’s A Little Night of Music brought Americana singer-songwriter Drew Holcomb to sing on the historic stage.

Drew regaled the audience, taking everyone on a roller coaster of emotions through stories and songs of family, home, love, memories, hopes and dreams. The pride he felt in his family and in finding himself performing solo on that stage was truly a precious sight to see, and everyone left that evening feeling a little more at peace after such a hard year.

BEST FASHIONABLE RETURN TO IN-PERSON EVENTS

Symphony Fashion Show After 14 months of canceled and virtual events due to the pandemic, the Symphony Fashion Show was the first to come back, albeit with a much smaller crowd and safety measures in place. Ladies were excited to once again slip on their chicest cocktail dresses, jewelry and heels and complete their look with the latest accessory: a vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test.

The glamorous evening at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center marked a most stylish return to in-person events.

MOST DELIGHTFUL GARDEN PARTY

LEGO Pop! Preview BEST BEHIND-THE-SCENES EXPERIENCE

Nashville Fashion Week When the Delta surge caused yet another round of “pivoting” for local nonprofits, Nashville Fashion Week (NFW) showed off their dexterity and creativity by forming a hybrid event that combined small, in-person events with virtual offerings. VIPs were treated to a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse at what goes into producing a professional fashion show at NFW’s Behind the Runway event. An intimate group of attendees witnessed the filming of two fashion shows from start to finish, including hair and makeup, run-throughs and a post-runway show photo shoot.

We cover a lot of parties that take place at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens each year, but in 2021, one event stood out simply in the pure delight that filled both the children’s and adults’ faces: the preview night for Sean Kenney’s LEGO Pop! The artist created a series of life-size and enlarged animals entirely out of LEGO bricks and arranged them throughout the grounds. And who doesn’t love LEGO? Everyone, young and old, enjoyed seeing the colorful creations — red rabbits, blue polar bears, a pink dog — and conversations reminiscing about hours spent playing with the plastic bricks could be heard all through the gardens.

CREDITS FOR OPPOSITE PAGE: Makeup: Emaline Briggs, BBC Nashville

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FROM ANGELA SADLER FLORAL DESIGN

PHOTO BY COURTNEYDAVIDSON.COM

INTRODUCING

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Sarah Moser

Haley George

BEST PARTIES

Writers’ Choice

BEST CHEF INTRODUCTION

l’Eté du Vin Patrons Dinner

STEAMIEST DANCE PERFORMANCE

Justin Pitt and Mallory Evan, Dancing for Safe Haven Lots of events this year celebrated the Roaring ’20s in different ways, but it was Dancing for Safe Haven that brought the flappers and the dapper.

And with all the incredible dancing throughout the evening, including a fantastic Joker and Harley Quinn routine, one team really got the crowd and the judges riled up. Justin Pitt and Mallory Evan turned up the temperature in the Omni’s ballroom with their Dirty Dancing-style performance. The jury’s still out about whether the technical difficulty more than halfway through their routine forcing them to perform the whole thing over again was intentional.

Nashville Wine Auction’s l’Eté du Vin Patrons Dinner is always known for world-class wines and spectacular food, but the 2021 event was extra special. Often, the event brings in chefs from other cities to prepare the multicourse dinner, but the organization didn’t need to go far for the fabulous feast that was served to guests.

Kelsi Armijo, the new chef for The Hermitage Hotel’s Drusie & Darr, prepared the four-course dinner in what was her very first meal for the hotel since moving to the city. It was a decadent and delicious introduction to one of Nashville’s newest superstar chefs.

BEST TRIP TO THE ISLANDS

Swan Ball Auction Parties Like so many other events, the Swan Ball Auction Party took place virtually, and it was unlike any other! Inspired by a visit to East Nashville tiki bar Chopper, co-chairs Mary Catherine McClellan and Janette Smith went with a tropical theme. In homes around the city, people sipped on Freaky Tikis, a specialty cocktail concocted by the bar, and supped on Kristen Winston boxed dinners, packaged in mini crates that looked as if they had just washed ashore. The live auction played out on screens, with emcees Mark McDonald and Will Robinson — sporting outrageous aloha shirts and seated in a tiki bar set — providing hilarious commentary throughout the bidding. The online party was the next best thing to a tropical getaway when we still couldn’t travel.

BEST LIGHT SHOW

Conservancy Gala A photograph from the 1897 Centennial Exposition inspired the Conservancy Gala’s theme, “Now and Then: Reflection of Lights,” and co-chairs Vickie Mertz and Dee Patel brought it to life in surprising ways. The Parthenon was the backdrop for the parking lot party, which kicked off with daring fire dancers from Beyond Wings Circus.

But the big finale, created by Erik Anderson of EAMOTION, was the biggest surprise of all. A 10-minute digital light show played on the side of the historic building, and a synced fireworks display lit up the night sky, taking everyone’s breath away.

BEST GUEST SPEAKER

Amanda Knox The Tennessee Innocence Project planned a moving and unforgettable night for their third annual fundraising dinner by welcoming one of the world’s most well-known exonerees, Amanda Knox. As the rapt audience hung on her every word, Amanda shared the heartrending story of her wrongful conviction, the four years she spent in an Italian prison and how the Innocence Project ultimately fought for her freedom. Amanda was articulate, compelling and full of grace, giving guests an emotional and powerful glimpse into the important work the Innocence Project does.

BEST INAUGURAL FUNDRAISER

Mind What Matters It’s always exciting to see new nonprofits come to life here in the Volunteer State, and a nonprofit’s inaugural fundraiser is a meaningful milestone.

Mind What Matters, the fruit of Elizabeth Humphreys’ hard work and passion for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s, kicked off with a backyard poolside barbecue and concert with singer-songwriter and board member John Paul White. As someone who learned of my grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis the week before this party and subsequently lost her to the disease this Thanksgiving, I’m excited to see all the good this organization will do.

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BEST PARTIES

Writers’ Choice

BEST BOURBON EVENT

BEST SPORTING EVENT FUNDRAISER

Beyond Bourbon and Bootlegger’s Bash (TIE)

Chukkers for Charity

Nearly every event we attend features alcohol of one kind or another, but we especially love when the South’s signature spirit takes center stage. With two major events celebrating the good stuff, Beyond Bourbon at OZ Arts and Bootlegger’s Bash at Carnton Mansion, it’s only right to recognize them both. Beyond Bourbon offered a taste of some of the rarest bourbons available, and Bootlegger’s Bash featured a traditional Southern feast under the big tent. Between the two events just two days apart, we’re confident we got the grand tour of the region’s bourbon offerings.

BEST HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST

Barbara Daane When Park Center’s signature fundraiser, How About Dinner and a Movie, couldn’t be held at its usual spot, the Belcourt Theatre, founder and honorary chair Barbara Daane generously offered her lovely Belle Meade residence as the alternative site.

Well, actually, it was from her driveway and garage that she welcomed a stream of supporters who drove through to pick up their Dani Kates boxed suppers. And like any accomplished Nashville hostess does, Barbara enlisted Bill Forrester, who is also a Park Center board member, to welcome guests at their car windows, rather than the front door.

Sports rarely take center stage of our coverage, so it’s always a delight to attend the lively polo match at Chukkers for Charity. The raw power and dexterity of the horses, the athleticism of the riders and the thrill of competition made for an exhilarating show on the mild autumn day. And joining everyone on the field at halftime for ice cream sandwiches and stomping the divots while children galloped by on their stick horses offered a glimpse into a different side of Southern tradition.

The best part was knowing that the proceeds benefited Saddle Up! and the Rochelle Center.

BEST MODEL CITIZEN

Sammi Moore If there’s a fashionable event happening in town, you can almost guarantee that one familiar face will be on the runway. Sammi Moore has been modeling in Nashville since 2005, and she’s graced the runways of Symphony Fashion Show, Nashville Fashion Week and Cause for Paws, among others, time and again, not to mention being a regular fixture at Gus Mayer’s trunk shows and fashion kick-off events. The brunette bombshell will once again be strutting her stuff down the catwalk at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on April 26 for the Symphony Fashion Show, co-chaired by Mary Huddleston and Andrea Powell and featuring the designs of Lela Rose.

BEST-DRESSED DRIVE-THRU EVENT

A Red Carpet Evening BEST CHANGE IN VENUE

Chic Awearness In only eight years, Chic Awearness has amassed quite a following, thanks to its fashionable flair for raising funds for ovarian cancer research. The sold-out events have led to moves in the past, but this year’s change to the Hilton Nashville Green Hills was the best yet! In addition to the convenient location, the hotel boasted a big ballroom allowing for more guests, a separate spot for the silent auction, and best of all, a stage and runway for models to show off fashions from local boutiques.

We’re living in a world in which drive-thru events have become the norm, but no one did it more stylishly last year than the Belcourt Theatre. They literally rolled out the red carpet to greet guests arriving in their cars to pick up festive party boxes for their at-home celebrations. The Belcourt staff and co-chairs Amos Gott and Holly Hoffman were dressed to the nines to pass out goodies that included ingredients for the evening’s signature cocktail, boxes of the Belcourt’s delicious popcorn and candy from the concessions stand. The team brought a little black-tie panache to yet another virtual fundraiser, setting a celebratory mood for everyone’s at-home Oscars parties.

CREDITS FOR OPPOSITE PAGE: Lela Rose floral midi gown: Gus Mayer

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BEST PARTIES

Sammi Moore Winner Writers’ Pick CI TIZEN BEST MODEL

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BEST PARTIES

Writers’ Choice

BEST STREET PARTY

BEST FARM PARTY

Franklin Theatre’s 10 Anniversary Celebration

River Swing

th

While there are always plenty of outdoor parties on our schedule each year, we rarely get to party in the middle of the street. But Franklin Theatre’s 10th Anniversary Celebration took the comforts of the indoors outside. Before heading into the historic theater to watch Matt Logan’s production, guests relaxed with drinks in hand on velvety sofas and in plush armchairs, which were placed in an elegantly designed seating area on Main Street. Not only was the outdoor party a safer way for supporters to gather, but it also gave patrons the opportunity to take a moment to marvel at the theater’s attractive facade during the golden hour.

You never know what Tennessee weather is going to be like, so planning an outdoor party on the farm is always a risk. Despite the downpours earlier in the day, the skies cleared up just in time for the Harpeth Conservancy’s annual River Swing fundraiser to begin.

It was fortunate to have a dress code of “river chic,” as most guests traipsed excitedly through the mud and the tall, wet grass to reach the big white tents holding the silent auction, dance floor, elegant dining tables and the barbecue buffet provided by Puckett’s. As the sun went down and the cicadas sang, guests celebrated Tennessee’s waterways and raised necessary funds to protect them.

BEST AWARD SPEECH

Colson Whitehead The Nashville Public Library Foundation waited two long years to honor Pulitzer Prize-winning and bestselling author Colson Whitehead with the Literary Award, but the thought-provoking and fun-filled weekend of celebration proved that it was worth the wait. Colson was the center of attention at both the Patrons Party and the Literary Award Gala, sharing a conversation with bestselling author Ann Patchett at the former and giving a speech at the latter. At the gala, he had the entire crowd in stitches as he shared his thoughts on everything from R2-D2’s questionable communication skills to the true meaning behind Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park.” His brilliant contributions to literature certainly earned him the award, but his clever and witty speech earned him a spot in the hearts of everyone in attendance.

BEST AL FRESCO EVENT

Sunday in the Park Safety was at the forefront of co-chairs Julie Dretler and Polly Ryerson’s plans when they returned to Ridge Field for a modified version of this beloved fall tradition. Whether picking up to-go lunches or staying for the open-air picnic, all were awed by the sight as they arrived. Under the bright autumn sky, tables topped with seasonal blooms, and elegant bars surrounded by towering arrangements were spread out across the grounds. Everything looked perfect in the bucolic setting and captured the magic of past luncheons in a delightful way.

BEST BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARTY

Together 4 Teachers Outdoor Pep Rally Remember the thrill of getting back-to-school supplies? It’s a rush that you never outgrow, and nowhere was that more apparent than at the Outdoor Pep Rally hosted by PENCIL and Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS).

Their Together 4 Teachers program ordinarily delivers high-need supplies to MNPS teachers, but this year, they wanted to celebrate the return to in-person learning and, more importantly, thank the dedicated educators who taught through the pandemic and inspired their students and the community. We were there to see the joy and excitement on the faces of hundreds of teachers and MNPS staff enjoying music, activities, stadium snacks and, of course, carrying bags of supplies filled to the brim!

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BEST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Nashville Symphony’s 75th Anniversary Concert Symphony Ball fans were disappointed when the white-tie gala was canceled for the second year in a row, but there was still plenty of reason to celebrate the Nashville Symphony. In lieu of the formal affair, the Symphony — led by chair Lisa Manning — planned a concert with world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman to commemorate the orchestra’s 75th anniversary.

Scheduled, as the Symphony Ball is every year, on the second Saturday in December, just one day after the 75th anniversary of the orchestra’s first concert, the concert was not only a breathtaking evening of art and music, but it was also a fundraising triumph, raising $1 million for the Nashville Symphony’s music education programs.

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F E AT U R E

Work in Progress Allison Russell and Paul Vasterling share a sneak peek

at Ballet Ball 2022

W

hen the Nashville Ballet returns to Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 12 for its annual black-tie gala, guests will be fêted with a celebration of midcentury elegance. Co-chairs Joanne Sowell and Brooke Trusley are drawing inspiration from Frank Sinatra and Twyla Tharp for an evening of music, dance and artistic expression. As in former years, the Ballet Ball has tapped a local artist to perform live alongside Nashville Ballet dancers in what is truly an only-in-Nashville collaboration between the arts. This year, Grammy-nominated folk artist Allison Russell will headline the event, working closely with the ballet’s artistic director and CEO, Paul Vasterling, to produce an original piece of music and choreography that promises to be a thought-provoking and moving work of art.

We chatted with Allison and Paul about their creative process, this unique collaboration and what Ballet Ball guests can expect to be different about the 2022 event.

When the idea of the Ballet Ball was presented to you, what was it about the event that got you excited and made you say yes?

Allison Russell: I’m excited about Nashville Ballet and the really innovative programming that Paul has been engaged in for some time. I became aware really of how special the programming was with Lucy Negro Redux. My chosen sister Rhiannon [Giddens], was the composer on that piece, along with our partner Francesco Turrisi and my friend Caroline Randall Williams, who wrote the book. … I’ve never experienced a ballet like Lucy Negro Redux. I’ve never felt that connected and that represented. I grew up seeing ballet with my grandma in Montreal, and there’s a beautiful ballet company there, but there was not one dancer of color in that company. And that might have changed by now. But when I was a child, I didn’t even know that Black people could be ballet dancers. So, it was Kayla Rowser, of course, who originated the role of Lucy, and I got to bring my daughter to see The Nutcracker with Kayla Rowser as the sugar plum fairy queen, and it was just magical and very healing. It felt very healing. And so, I got really interested in the work that Paul and the ballet are doing from that time, decolonizing a space that has been very whitewashed for a very long time.

Tell me about the work that you’re doing together, because everything that I’ve heard about how you’re approaching this year’s Ballet Ball seems very different than it has been in some recent years, where artists have come and they’ve performed their own songs while the ballet performed.

But it sounds like there’s much more of a collaboration happening between the two of you. Can you share a little bit about that experience and what it’s been like?

Paul Vasterling: I just want to say that what I love to do is make relationships with collaborators that are long lasting. And so, we have other things going on. I still am working with Caroline [Randall Williams] on things here and there, and I love making these longer-term relationships because it blossoms and everybody’s inspired. I certainly hope to [do that] with Allison. The entire ballet company is inspired by what we get to work with. This year, the chairs had an idea for a midcentury modern theme. And I found out that Allison said, “Yes, I would like to do that. I’d like to work with you on this.” And I was like, “Well, what about if we did this idea? I have this song, because of the midcentury modern theme. But I’m going to go back and I’m going to listen to your album so that I get a feel for who you are now.” And so, that’s what we’re doing — this meshing of these two songs.

Allison: I think it’s going to be really interesting, and I think it’s going to work. I’m bringing in a couple of collaborators on it, as well: Megan McCormick and Larissa Maestro, who are wonderful. Larissa has written for the ballet, as well. She’s a brilliant composer and plays cello. She moonlights in my band, sometimes playing cello, along with Monique Ross, who’s in SistaStrings. But she’s really remarkable, just beautiful in the way that the depth of emotion that she conveys in her playing is moving and remarkable. And so, we’re doing something special and different where we’re uniting an original song of mine with a very classic midcentury song.

So you’re merging the two? A song that will be familiar to audiences and something entirely new?

Allison: Entirely new.

How long is this piece going to be? Do you know at this point?

Paul: It’s about six minutes, and we’re doing a couple of duets by Twyla Tharp, as well; it’s Sinatra songs. So, it’s going to all go together really nicely. This is different for us because, normally, we just get the performers, the artists, who will pick a song of theirs and it doesn’t usually have this level of collaboration, which is really nice.

I can see how excited you are just talking about it.

Paul: Yeah. This is what makes my day.

Allison: Me too. I think we have a similar ethos in that way, because I’ve always felt that the most interesting work and the work that I’ve been the proudest of has almost always come from collaboration, where you arrive at something together that none of us would arrive at individually on our own. And I think that’s humanity; any human progress is collective progress, is collaborative progress.

Paul: I’m a big believer in that too. I call those my “God moments” when we’re together. However you think of a higher power. When we’re in the room together and we come together and then there’s something there that I was like, where did that come from?

Allison: Where did it come from? It’s magic. Exactly.

Paul: It’s us together that made this. It’s not me. It’s not you. It’s all of us.

Allison: It’s us, and it couldn’t have happened any other way. I agree with that.

I’m a hopeful agnostic, and I’ve understood for a long time now that the role, that creative, the mysterious inspiration that comes from working in collaboration and in creative communion with kindred spirits, that is as close to a religious sacrament as I have in my life. That’s my — Paul: Art. Allison: That’s my religious sacrament — art.

Walk me through the mechanics of this. Allison is writing this new piece of music, incorporating this song that Paul selected, and then, as far as the actual performance and the choreography, is that something that you are weighing in on it all, Allison? Have you already started to work on that, Paul, or are you waiting for the final song? How does that actually work for it to come together as a finished piece?

Paul: My normal process is that I’ll start some movement. I have some movement that I’ve done already, that I did a while ago. But I’m really interested to see how [the songs] come together, and then it’ll start to shape itself. And then, hopefully, Allison can come and watch. And we talk more. That’s been some of my favorite things to do.

From a performance perspective, is there anything else that you can or want to tease?

Paul: I just want them to know that this is a really rare and wonderful moment to have the artist performing with us, with her collaborators and the dancers together. Only in Nashville, too.

Ballet Ball is truly one of the most special events for that very reason.

It is such a beautiful collaboration of all of the artistic talent that is in this city. Is there anything else that either of you want to share that you haven’t yet?

Allison: Just one of the reasons I was so excited to participate in this is because I love that community spirit of fundraising around really important arts work. And I think I want to emphasize that arts work isn’t just for entertainment. It’s deep empathy work, and we are struggling through a terrible empathy deficit right now, globally, and certainly in our country. … And I think the arts help heal that.

It’s so important on so many levels.

Paul: I couldn’t say it better. It’s lovely. I love you. We haven’t had that much time together, but hearing you speaking. … She’s speaking my language about art being a connector and it builds empathy. It’s the perfect thing when you start to understand someone else’s perspective by experiencing their art.

BY NANCY FLOYD PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS PHOTOGRAPHED AT W NASHVILLE

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F E AT U R E

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S

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make Harlan a place to be revered.

of Nashville.

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Williamson Co. 615-263-4800 nfocusnashville.com | MONTH 2015 43 <<

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Getting It Together

Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, the organization gurus of The Home Edit, put life in colorful order

Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin met at lunch as strangers and left as founders of The Home Edit, the home organization brand that has two New York Times bestselling books, branches in eight cities, an Emmy-nominated Netflix series, Get Organized With The Home Edit, and now, a collaboration with Walmart. Their 5.6 million Instagram followers can’t get enough of the adroitly arranged shelves and ROYGBIV order, their signature rainbow system. Within three months of that initial meeting, they had their first celebrity clients, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair, and soon after, A-listers like Gywneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon and Khloé Kardashian had them coordinating pantries and playrooms.

With the exception of Joanna’s “very, very dark period” in high school and college, both have led “perfectly organized lives,” and to that aptitude they added a hued aesthetic that doubles as motivation for those who aren’t as naturally tidy.

The in-demand — and humorous — duo found time in their busy schedules to chat with us. Clea and Joanna will be sharing more organizational tips and tricks at the Antiques & Garden Show as a part of the lecture series. For more information on their lecture, visit antiquesandgardenshow.com, and experience the rainbow system at thehomeedit.com.

GETTING STARTED We always say start very small because if you take on more than you can handle, you become paralyzed and think, “I just don’t know how to organize. It’s just not for me.” But if you start small, like the infamous junk drawer, you can follow the same steps that you would for a much larger project but see it through much faster. Because the steps are still the same, you get to kinda get your feet wet and make sure that you understand the process that you can then extrapolate as you move forward.

People jump in too fast, too big, and the way you don’t end up quitting is starting small, having success in something and then slowly layering on. It’s the only effective way to do it.

COMMON MISTAKES Jumping in too fast and thinking it’s a one-and-done. Similar to weight loss, there are two stages. You need to do the hard work on the front end, which is to set up the system.

Then there’s the maintenance piece that everyone should be able to follow if the smart system is set up in the beginning.

People give up and think, “I just can’t stay organized.” Well, it’s because it requires maintenance. Even we still have to maintain [our houses].

ROYGBIV The rainbow is everything The Home Edit stands for because it is form and function blended together, and by that, we mean organizing by the colors of the rainbow is actually a functional labeling system. It’s just like labeling a bin, except that you’re visually labeling with color. Like any of our systems, we organize in a way that’s smart and intuitive but also aesthetically pleasing. The rainbow system is beautiful to look at, so we lean into the rainbow whenever possible. One of the reasons we focus on the aesthetics and not just smart solutions is because you’re more likely to keep a space organized when it’s beautiful to look at. You’re proud of the progress you made; it makes you happy every time you see it; and it motivates you.

CELEBRITY PROJECTS There are many, but we would say one of the most [memorable] is when we met Gwyneth Paltrow for the first time. We were organizing her daughter’s bedroom, and she came into the house. We heard her yelling down the hall, “Where are they?

Where are they?” She came running into the room and gave us hugs. She was the kindest, sweetest, most amazing person.

She told us that she was putting us in a group hug, and we did what any normal person would do, which is scream in Gwyneth Paltrow’s face and jump up and down. It was so exciting!

HOUSE RULES We have strict rules in our houses. Everyone’s items are theirs, and they need to be responsible for them like anybody else in the household. We did the hard work for them when we created a home for every single thing. So, if they take something out of that home, they know exactly where it goes when they’re done with it. That is their job, their responsibility, and we have the same rule, which is there are reasonable expectations for the family and everyone has to follow suit with that. If something isn’t absolutely perfect, it’s more of an “us” problem than a “them” problem, meaning the problem is us, then we can go ahead and correct it.

WHAT’S NEXT The Walmart collection just launched, and it’s something we’ve been working on for a year, so that was thrilling. We filmed the second season of our show over the summer, so that will be coming out in not too much longer. We’re not allowed to give a date yet, but it’s coming in relatively short order. And we are going to be working on a third book. We have some exciting, fun stuff that’s launching this spring that will be announced shortly. We’re going to be expanding our organizing services into more markets. There’s so much going on and … the sky is the limit.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

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LUXURY OUTLOOK

More Buyers Turn to Exhurbs

2022

Is There Relief Ahead From The Market Frenzy?

Millennials Make Their Mark

Learn what’s in store for luxury real estate in 2022

SCAN TO READ

The Sotheby’s International Realty® Luxury Outlook is an ambitious exploration into high-end residential markets across the globe. With demand reaching record levels, inventory generally not keeping up, and people caring more than ever about their homes, this year has been a busy one. This report follows the trends that are likely to shape the coming months.

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Representing Real Estate Buyers and Sellers Since 1971 Freeman Webb Companies 3810 Bedford Avenue, Nashville, TN 37215 615.271-2700: Office

LOCAL FLAVOR

Be Mine

Six decadent chocolate desserts and treats to enjoy this Valentine’s Day

PHOTOGRAPH BY 25 PARK ROW/LAURA RANDALL

As Valentine’s Day comes around during the pandemic once again, we’re looking forward to a little indulgence this year. And there’s no sweeter way to celebrate the holiday than by sharing a decadent treat with the one you love or showing a little self-love and enjoying every bite yourself.

From small treats you can savor at home to intricate confections to enjoy after dinner, we’ve compiled a list of candies and desserts from some of our favorite local chocolatiers and pastry chefs.

17-Layer Chocolate Cake at Carne Mare What’s better than chocolate cake? Seventeen layers of chocolate cake. This tempting triangular tower of sheer decadence is reason alone to visit Carne Mare, the W Nashville’s new Italian chophouse from James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini. Thin, delicate layers of espresso cake and creamy chocolate caramel mousse are meticulously stacked into seventeen delectable, uniform layers and wrapped in a silky chocolate ganache. The entire dessert is topped with a gold-wrapped cherry like a sparkly bow atop a lovely gift to yourself. It’s a cake you’ll simultaneously want to savor and devour, and you’ll be thinking about it for weeks to follow.

Pair it with an espresso martini or a bottle from the restaurant’s extensive wine list nfocusmagazine.com for the perfect end to any| meal.

NANCY FLOYD << FEBRUARY 2022

49

LO CA L F L AVO R

Chocolate Bars at Olive & Sinclair

PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND

It’s impossible to discuss chocolate without bringing up the divine confections created by Olive & Sinclair and those bites of bean-to-bar goodness. Each variety of these small-batch, handcrafted chocolate bars have an extraordinary way of melting in your mouth, revealing a progression of flavors that range from the familiar, like sea salt, to the unexpected. Candied lemon? Yes, please! Now, in keeping with their practice of producing seasonal, limited edition runs, they have reimagined the wildly popular Mexican-style cinnamon chili chocolate bars into large, hand-poured chocolate hearts for Valentine’s Day. While Olive & Sinclair bars and other sweets can be purchased online and at retail locations, real chocolate lovers know to go to the Fatherland Street factory where the magic happens. Just know that you’ll leave with more enticing treats than you went in for! HOLLY HOFFMAN

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LIFE ADORNED

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LOCAL FLAVOR

Chocolate Croissants at Dozen Bakery

52 >> FEBRUARY 2022 | nfocusmagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY KASEY WILLIAMS

Love is a many-layered thing at Dozen Bakery, where owner Claire Meneely and her team of early risers swaddle dark chocolate inside seemingly infinite sheets of buttery pastry that bake off to a perfect balance of stretchy dough and crisp flake. Inside each golden horn of croissant is a pair of chocolate strips, dessert masquerading in bread’s clothing. Not too sweet, not too bitter, pain au chocolat is the perfect balance of restraint and indulgence, a year-round classic.

Though we wouldn’t judge you if you took a seasonal detour to the signature peanut butter-chocolate croissant available this winter, or to a chocolatecardamom madeleine, for warm subtle spice and a wistful remembrance of chocolate pastries of days gone by. CARRINGTON FOX

R ECE N T LY SO L D I N V EST M E N T P RO P E RT I ES CO ND OS: 512 Ashlawn Court 216 Westchase Dr. 231 Westchase Dr. 230 Westchase Dr. 1900 12th Avenue South #407 301 Demonbreun St. #902 21 Vaughns Gap #97 6913 Highland Park Drive 115 Westfield Drive 4958 Edmondson Pike #10

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54 >> FEBRUARY 2022 | nfocusmagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE JOSEPH, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, NASHVILLE

LOCAL FLAVOR

Nocciola at Yolan

Yolan offers one of the finest dining experiences in Nashville, which is perfect for a Valentine’s date night, and the grand finale is one of executive pastry chef Noelle Marchetti’s incredible creations. If you’re looking for pure indulgence, opt for the Nocciola.

The intricate dessert, which was inspired by the Baci Perugina treats created in the region around Perugia, Italy, features various elements of chocolate, hazelnut, chicory and espresso and incorporates a wide range of textures, from airy mousse to chewy meringue and crunchy caramel to creamy Italian gelato. Noelle recommends getting a little bit of everything in each bite to experience all it has to offer at once. It’s especially delicious when paired with one of the incredible dessert wines recommended by the sommelier, such as a Recioto della Valpolicella or a Vinsanto del Chianti Classico. JONATHAN SIMS

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LOCAL FLAVOR

Eclairs at Little Gourmand

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PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

Tucked away in the courtyard on Bandywood since late 2014, Little Gourmand features a wide assortment of French meals, snacks and treats that includes two chocolate eclair options, one of them for those whose sweet tooth is feeling a little more “intense.” Both airy and satisfying, the eclairs — and their peers featuring coffee, pistachio, sea salt caramel and other flavors — are rich in taste without smacking you in the face with sweetness. Savoring your way through them while sitting by the window and gazing into the quiet courtyard, you’ll be forgiven for feeling like you’re taking a quick journey to the Old World. GEERT DE LOMBAERDE

Opening Nashville’s Finest Doors

MELANIE SHADOW BAKER 615.300.8155 melanie.baker@zeitlin.com

Thank you to our clients whom we now call friends.

follow me on Instagram @melaniebaker_realestate

As the Middle Tennessee real estate market continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, successfully navigating it requires attention to detail, market knowledge and decisive actions. As associates of Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty, we provide our clients with unmatched exposure to the real estate market enabling them to fulfill their buying and selling goals in a timely manner. We are excited and look forward to serving your real estate needs whether they be regional or international.

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Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated All information is thought to be correct at the time of printing, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty has no liability for any errors printed on this ad

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LO CA L F L AVO R

Truffles at Tempered

PHOTOGRAPH BY ABIGAIL VOLKMANN

Tempered Fine Chocolates, a small European-inspired shop tucked away in between storefronts on Fifth Avenue North in Germantown, features handcrafted truffles, among other delicacies. Some of the signature flavors combine rich, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth imported Swiss chocolate with spirits from Tennessee distilleries. Owners Angelica Bockman, a chocolatier, and her husband, Daniel Bockman, both bourbon aficionados, often infuse their ganache (the filling in the center of the truffles) with liquors from distilleries such as Leiper’s Fork, Nelson's Green Brier and Uncle Nearest. Truffle offerings include absinthe dark chocolate, bourbon praline milk chocolate and Uncle Nearest Whiskey dark chocolate. The coffee walnut dark chocolate and the French press coffee milk chocolate truffles also have a local flair. The coffee comes from Americano Lounge in Wedgewood-Houston. In addition to truffles and an assortment of other sweet treats, there’s whipped creamtopped hot chocolate — perfect for chilly weather — and drinking chocolate, the ultimate sippable sweet. WHITNEY CLAY

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HOME FURNISHINGS & DESIGN

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MIND, BODY, SPIRIT Sean says the employees’ well-being is a priority. And it’s a win-win. A happier, less stressed-out staff translates to a better experience for customers, says Sean. Staff members work four days a week, and there is a soothing, quiet wellness room on the second floor for employees who want to meditate and where a masseuse periodically offers reiki massages. There’s also a meeting room for employees lined with bookshelves filled with cookbooks from Sean’s private collection for anyone who might be looking for a little inspiration.

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STEP INSIDE

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT The restaurant is only open for dinner, and the offerings on the prix fixe menu change daily to focus on seasonal ingredients from local organic, biodynamic and sustainable farms. Knowing how many guests will be dining and what they’ll be having eliminates much of the leftover food common in many restaurants. A recent menu featured country ham with apple molasses and hickory nut oil; caviar with chicken feet and candy roaster squash; killed lettuce and onions; and salt-risen bread with pepper jam.

For Audrey Sean Brock’s newest concept showcases his love for food, art, design and sustainability It wasn’t until a few years ago, when he was recovering from an emergency appendectomy, that acclaimed chef Sean Brock slowed down enough to conceptualize his “forever restaurant.” He put pen to paper and began to draw architectural sketches of what is now Audrey, an ambitious project that incorporates his passion for food, art, design and sustainability.

“I was in the hospital for many days [in 2018],” says Sean. “And it was the first time I’d really had time without distractions. So, I completely designed this restaurant in that hospital bed.”

At one time, the James Beard Award-winning chef and bestselling cookbook author operated eight restaurants in five cities. He has since downscaled. His restaurants include The Continental, Joyland and Audrey, all in Nashville, and he spends a few hours in each location every day. It’s a testament to Sean’s dedication to every detail, whether it’s the design, the menu or the company culture.

Audrey is housed in a newly built 10,000-square-foot wood and concrete structure on Meridian Street in East Nashville’s McFerrin Park neighborhood. It combines Sean’s appreciation of Japanese architecture with an Appalachian influence, a tribute to his maternal grandmother, who inspired his love of cooking and for whom the restaurant is named.

The shou sugi ban wood looks almost black from a Japanese preservation technique that was used to burn and seal the cedar. The wooden part of the building also channels old tobacco barns — the kind that are scattered throughout Virginia, where Sean grew up. The microconcrete part of the structure is inspired by Japanese sculpture and modern art. The interior of the restaurant, which opened in October, was designed collaboratively by Sean himself and Katie Vance, a partner and chief creative officer with Powell architecture firm. Once you step inside, a multisensory experience immediately takes hold.

“You might not realize it, but your nervous system will register nature because we pipe in [the sound of] crickets and then the smell of the forest through essential oils, so your brain automatically registers the forest or nature and becomes relaxed,” says Sean.

The focal point of the 72-seat dining room, with its concrete plaster walls with a worn, patinated look, is an open concept kitchen surrounded by tables, most made by Lascassas-based Holler Design and paired with George Nakashima’s signature spindle-back chairs.

Because the chef wants guests to feel as though they’re visiting his home, the walls throughout the restaurant are highlighted by patchwork quilts, photographs and paintings from his extensive museum-worthy folk art collection.

It includes about 30 pieces from Jimmy Lee Sudduth, who would use mud, weeds and berries to paint, often on plywood. Sean views food much like he sees folk art — that even the simplest ingredients, when prepared well, can be noteworthy. Many folk artists’ methods also align with his belief that nothing should be wasted.

BY WHITNEY CLAY PHOTOGRAPHS BY EMILY DORIO

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Arrangements For Every Occassion 215 6 T H AV E N N A S H V I L L E , T E N N E S S E E 37219 615  2 5 4  6 74 4 INFO@OSHINASHVILLE.COM 64 FEBRUARY 2022 | nfocusmagazine.com >>

STEP INSIDE

MULTIFACETED On the second floor, a black walnut bar is accented by oval pendant lights that also serve as herb dryers and speakers.

An intimate tasting restaurant is slated to open in a couple of months. More artwork is on display, including that of local artist Mary Mooney and Alabama-based Butch Anthony.

There is also a lab, where staff members use state-of-the-art equipment to find “deliciousness” in unexpected places, like corn silk, which can be gleaned for a liquid used in sauces and jellies.

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Please Be Seated is here to party with you; in good times and in bad, sickness and health, through tornadoes and snow storms.

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66 >> FEBRUARY 2022 | nfocusmagazine.com

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TA K I N G VO W S

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rling Sarah S pe Marries g K yle Youn

Sarah Sperling and Kyle Young met in 2013 when she returned to Nashville after 12 years in New York City. At the suggestion of her father, Harvey Sperling, a member of the education council of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, she met with CEO Kyle Young.

“We walked around the gallery spaces,” said Sarah, “and ended up in the new theater, sitting in two seats and talking. I felt a spark and was thinking he was kinda cool when he suddenly shot up and said he had to get back to work.”

In his defense, Kyle later said, “There was so much going on then, and I was so absorbed by our expansion at the museum. I don’t think I went home and pined, but I did think that might have been a really good thing.”

On May 1, 2018, almost five years later, Kyle found out it was Sarah’s birthday and sent her a quick greeting. She responded, they met for lunch and soon began seeing each other regularly.

Months later, they flew to Dallas so that Kyle could participate on a panel underwritten by Texas Monthly. The museum had opened an exhibit called Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s, and Kyle had engulfed himself in Texas’ musical culture and contributions. He had also befriended musicians Jessi Colter, Joe Ely and Jack Ingram; filmmaker Eric Geadelmann; and others, some of whom were present in the bar at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek on that September evening when Jessi examined and cemented Kyle’s intentions regarding Sarah.

“Jessi was asking whether Kyle was honorable,” said Sarah.

So Kyle answered, “Well, we’re going to get married.”

This was a surprise to everyone at the table, including Sarah, Jessi and, perhaps, Kyle himself.

They became engaged on Dec. 21, 2020 — the winter solstice and the wedding anniversary of Kyle’s parents. They married on Oct. 3, 2021, at the home of Judy and Joe Barker, with Rabbi Laurie Rice of Congregation Micah officiating. The Tulip Tree’s Mark O’Bryan provided the simple but elegant white orchids for the dining table and designed a chuppah of greenery incorporating Sarah’s maternal grandmother’s tablecloth, all to complement the Barkers’ exceptional collection of contemporary art.

The couple processed to Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” arranged and performed by Lockeland Strings. The bride’s parents and the Barkers were the only attendees. Sarah wore her mother’s lace wedding dress from 53 years ago and carried an orchid bouquet.

After a luncheon catered by Kristen Winston, the couple continued their late afternoon celebration with martinis at Henrietta Red and honeymooned at Blackberry Mountain. Sarah is director of individual giving at Cheekwood and is a graduate of University School of Nashville, Ithaca College and Parsons School of Design. Kyle is an alumnus of Ensworth School, Montgomery Bell Academy, Kenyon College and the University of Leeds. Their parents are Cathie and Harvey Sperling and the late Arlease and TD Young.

BY SANDRA NELSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY ASHLEY HYLBERT

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PENCIL IN

F E B RUA RY MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

10 LA BELLA NOTTE

ANTIQUES & GARDEN SHOW PREVIEW PARTY

ACADEMY FOR WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

FEB. 10

Five impressive ladies will be the latest inductees into the YWCA’s Academy for Women of Achievement on Feb. 22. The event, which has been slightly restructured due to COVID-19 concerns, will include a cocktail hour and a shortened program. This year’s honorees include Glenda Glover, Diane Lance, Wanda Lyle, Zulfat Suara and DarKenya Waller, with MP&F Strategic Communications receiving recognition as the 2022 corporate honoree. ywcanashville.com

FEB. 5

Co-chairs Jay Jones and Rob Turner are planning an evening of drama and surprises at the Nashville Opera’s annual black-tie gala. The event, which includes dinner and live performances from the opera’s talented company, will take on a Fantôme de l’Opera theme this year and move to an exciting new venue, the Grand Hyatt Nashville. nashvilleopera.org

Get a sneak peek at the fabulous return of the Antiques & Garden Show at the highly anticipated Preview Party. The event, held the night before the show opens to the public, gives patrons the first chance to shop from over 150 antiques, art and horticultural vendors while enjoying cocktails and light bites. The Antiques & Garden Show, chaired by Ashley Smith and Julia Spickard, will be held again at Music City Center and will welcome many special guest speakers, including Martha Stewart, Bunny Williams and the ladies from The Home Edit. antiquesandgardenshow.com

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CONVERSATION 2022

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FEB. 17

Equal Chance for Education is hosting an evening of thoughtful discourse at Conversation 2022. Co-chaired by Lee Pratt and Neil Krugman at the Hermitage Hotel, the event will bring together three esteemed panelists for a discussion on education. Leading the conversation this year will be historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, former NBC News correspondent John Seigenthaler, and Don Graham, co-founder of TheDream.US scholarship fund and former publisher of The Washington Post. equalchanceforeducation.org

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FEB. 22

PAIRINGS FEB. 24-26

It’s the 10th anniversary of Pairings, Nashville Wine Auction’s “ultimate food and wine weekend.” The nonprofit has three days of spectacular wine and gourmet food planned, starting with Thursday night’s private vintner dinners at homes across the city. Friday night’s Wined Up event, held at City Winery, will allow patrons to sample wines from more than two dozen West Coast wineries. The weekend culminates at the Pairings dinner and auction on Saturday, also at City Winery, where partygoers will enjoy a five-course dinner from City House chef Tandy Wilson and Nate Appleman of Bricoleur Vineyards. nashvillewineauction.com

24-26 OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

Feb. 2: Swan Ball Unveiling (Cheekwood) Feb. 11-13: Antiques & Garden Show (Cheekwood/ECON charities) Feb. 24: How About Dinner & a Movie? (Park Center) For a full listing of upcoming events, visit calendar.nfocusmagazine.com

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BEST B E H AV I O R

NfocusMagazine.com.

Your Online Guide to Nashville‘s Social Scene

That’ll Show ’Em Expert etiquette advice from John Bridges

PRIDE OF PLACE ARTS + CULTURE

EVENTS

Noteworthy live performances, gallery news and local artists you should know

Party coverage and photos from the city’s most exclusive events

FASHION

FOOD + DRINK

A friend and I went to Sunday brunch a few weeks back. A couple of large parties were waiting to be seated. The restaurant was understaffed, so a server came to the host stand to try to figure out what to do. She chose a party of six, and a woman from the bigger group started shouting, “We were here first!” The server had no idea who had been waiting the longest. As she was leading the party to their table, the young woman, whose group didn’t get chosen, made a well-known obscene gesture. The server didn’t see it, but everybody else did. On the way to our table, I was tempted to stop by and give her my two cents and ask the 20-something, “Was that necessary?” But I didn’t. Should I have? — Anonymous, White Bridge Road Her flip gesture (we all know what it looked like) got the impatient young woman all the attention she wanted and more than she deserved. The unforgivable behavior you witnessed was horrific, but I’ve seen worse. In New York, years ago, I was at an American Ballet Theatre performance. At intermission, I was waiting in line at the bar. A woman in front of me wasn’t happy at all. She ordered a cup of coffee, tasted it and flung it in the bartender’s face. Maybe the cream was sour. Who knows? Everyone was aghast, but nobody said a word to her. We watched as the bartender quietly wiped up the mess the woman had created. In ghastly moments such as this, it’s always best to let somebody clean up the mess. Don’t add to it. Somebody will likely be cleaning up after this little showoff for the rest of her life. Keep your distance. The rest of the world will, too, I bet.

THE RIGHT CROWD Restaurant recommendations, chef interviews, delicious recipes and more

Style tips and trends, shopping guides, designer profiles and more

HOMES + INTERIORS

A look inside some of the most spectacular homes and businesses in the area

TRAVEL

A little over a year ago, my husband passed away. Because of COVID, I’ve had to spend a lot of time by myself — more than necessary — but I’m ready to get out and about now. I’ve asked a couple if I could join them for an upcoming fundraiser. My husband and I used to go to this party and sit at a table with them. I left a phone message and sent the wife an email, but I haven’t had any response. I understand that single women, widows or not, may not be very good company, but I don’t feel comfortable going on my own. Do I have to stay home? — Anonymous, Oak Hill You took the initiative; that was the good, brave thing to do. If you’ve given the couple enough time to respond and haven’t heard a word, it’s time to get a little more industrious. You might ask other single women, another couple or, if you think it’s time, a man as your escort (not your date). No, you don’t have to go to parties by yourself. This will be your first night out in a while. Should you run into the nonresponders, be sure to say hello so they’ll know that you’ve worked out a deal for yourself. You’ll be in good company: your own.

The hottest destinations, resorts and travel tips

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BY JOHN BRIDGES

John is the author of How To Be a Gentleman and the co-author, with Bryan Curtis, of other books in the GentlemannersTM series. Send your Best Behavior questions to jbridges@nfocusmagazine.com, and check out his up-to-theminute advice on life’s puzzling problems every Friday at nfocusmagazine.com.

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NR E TR O S P E CT

School Days Looking back at the history of Harding Academy In 1971, a group of parents founded Harding Academy as an independent school to provide an excellent education, as well as sports and social activities. In 1972, the new school officially opened with 15 faculty members and 195 students in grades four to eight, adding grades one to three the next year. Since then, the institution grew with new buildings, playing fields and a beloved fundraiser, The Harding Art Show, a must-see event since 1976. Fifty years later, the founding tenets of the school remain the same for its 93 faculty and staff and 515 students. Several activities, including the anniversary party covered on page 21, are planned to commemorate this milestone year culminating, naturally, during the Art Show.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF HARDING ACADEMY, 1976

Top photo: Betsy Malone’s eighth grade class Bottom photo, left to right: Mickie Reuther, Caroline Brakefield, Jacalyn Baker, Amy Waggoner, Malorie Haines, Paula Helm, Cathey Brewer, Mallie Brewer, Lisa Lawson

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