Issuu

2 0 2 3 J U LY

Swan Ball: A Legacy Returns Bees of Belle Meade, Memphis in May, Thistle Farms Graduation and more!

4121 HILLSBORO PIKE NASHVILLE, TN 37215 | KINGJEWELERS.COM nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

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One of Nashville's most admired and iconic homes of the classic Mediterranean style. This home has been tastefully updated over he years without losing its unique charm, achieving architectural and design perfection.

Huge open great room, dining room and kitchen, office, plus 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths on the main floor with one bedroom suite and a bonus room upstairs. Great light, open plan with large windows, covered porch, patio and large flat yard.

2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths on the main floor, plus a formal living room, dining room, den and office. Third bedroom suite on the terrace level. Enjoy the exceptional outdoor experience in the courtyard, gardens, porches and alfresco dining areas, complete with a pool, fireplace and grilling area.

SELLING NASHVILLE’S MOST DISTINCTIVE HOMES BETH MOLTENI FRIDRICH & CLARK 615. 5 6 6 . 1610 C | 615. 3 2 7. 4 8 0 0 O beth@bethmolteni.com

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THE ART OF ELITE

Brandon Jenkins

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G R OVE PA R K .C O M

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luxurious like-new condo • expansive windows • bedrooms include a bathroom,

hardwood floors on main level • two wood burning fireplaces • plantation

walk-in closet, and private balcony • first-class amenities • move-in ready

shutters • finished basement with separate entrance • exquisite landscaping

3 BD | 3 BA | 2,504 SF | $1,187,500

3 BD | 2/1 BA | 2,227 SF | $734,500

Larry Lipman | 615.364.3333

Cathy Umstead | 615.400.3369

505 LEICESTER COURT • FRANKLIN

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ideal location • primary suite on main level • open floorplan • built-ins in the

better than new • gorgeous kitchen with butcher block countertops • elegant

bonus room upstairs • screened-in back porch with deck • manicured back yard

oversized primary ensuite • updated secondary bedrooms and bathrooms

4 BD | 3/1 BA | 3,406 SF | $834,900

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MONA WILSON

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nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

more ambience

©️ 2021 Donnell Perry Photography

more celebration

Whether you’re planning a corporate meeting or a dream wedding, Gaylord Springs Golf Links is ready to help you realize every detail and possibility of your vision. Our industry-leading planners are ready to help bring your event to life in breathtaking, one-of-a-kind settings with delicious menus and flawless service.

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more romance

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edgehill 12th south

2016 Dunedin Cove 4 BR | 2/1 BA | 3,220 SF | $875,000

Green Hills 132 Marshall Court 3 BR | 3/1 BA | 2,725 SF | Rooftop Deck | $1,299,000

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Green Hills

4215 Harding Pike #211 2 BR | 2 BA | 1,316 SF | $530,000

15 Foxhall Close 3 BR | 2/1 BA | 2,664 SF | $1,075,000

939 Woodmont Blvd 4 BR | 3/2 BA | 3,168 SF | New Construction | $1,199,000

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O: 615.327.4800 | M: 615.533.835 richardfbryan@gmail.com

brentwood brentwood

48 Governors Way - .70 Acres in Brentwood 5 BR | 5/3 BA | 7,947 SF | 4 Car Garage | $4,590,000

1004 Lexington Dr 4 BR | 3 BA | 3,962 SF | $1,849,000

fairview

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7317 Old Nashville Rd 3 BR | 2/1 BA | 2,196 SF | $569,000

695 Thurrock Cir 5 BR | 4/1 BA | 5,814 SF | $1,795,000

9485 Highwood Hill Rd 4 BR | 3/1 BA | 4,086 SF | $1,345,000

Private Dining Rooms Available please visit www.theriverhouserestaurant.com/private-dining for more information

313 Demonbreun Street Nashville, TN. 37201 615.271.7868

30YEARS

Contents July 2023 | Vol. xxx, No. 7

features 27

Rise Like the Break of Dawn The 61st annual Swan Ball celebrates the roots of Cheekwood

Family in All Its Forms Thistle Farms creates new community for women while helping them reunite with those whose ties bind

A Barbecue Romance

parties 67

Queen Bees

Nstyle The latest from style gurus Bentley Caldwell & Carson Love

30 Years of Nfocus Looking back at Nashville’s most prestigious charity event

Singing for Support Songwriter’s Night funds hope at Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee

Swan Ball Co-chairs Ashley Rosen and Elizabeth Dingess photographed by Eric England at Cheekwood. For more on Swan Ball, turn to page 27.

Setting High Standards Music Country Grand Prix thrills and fulfills for Saddle Up!

Step Inside Step inside Sinatra Bar & Lounge

How Does Your Garden Grow? The Swan Ball Patrons Party celebrates a primavera evening

Behind the Scenes Behind the scenes with Jane MacLeod of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Come to My Garden The Swan Ball Auction Party sets the stage for the main event

In Our Words A celebration of the social season

How beekeeping is working its way into the gardens of Nashville

ON THE COVER

The Hermitage Spring Outing continues a legacy of preservation

How Carey and Delaniah Bringle love through competition 55

A Rose by Any Other Name

departments

Taking Vows Emma Goddard marries Steven Daly

Starry Night Nashville Opera hits the high notes with Opera on the Mountain

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events 92

Pencil In

Nretrospect Cheekwood merrymaking that would make the ancients proud

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

IN OUR WORDS

30YEARS Editorial founding editor

Herbert Fox, Jr. editor-in-chief

Janet Kurtz managing editor

Karin Mathis contributing editor

Jack Silverman social correspondent

Gloria Houghland contributors

Beth Alexander, Emily Bache, Kellie Benz, Abigail Breslin, Bentley Caldwell, Whitney Clay, Melissa Corbin, Hannah Herner, Carson Love, Sandra Nelson

Art art director

Christie Passarello

Graceful as a Swan

A celebration of the social season

In the late ’90s, days after my move to Nashville, the city was abuzz with talk about the 36th annual Swan Ball. This Ball, I was told by my small group of local friends, was the social event of the year. Every detail was meticulously thought out, and the guest list was a who’s who of Nashville. The year was 1998, and Cathy Jackson and Jean Ann Banker were the Swan Ball co-chairs who created a magical Renaissance evening for their guests to enjoy. Charlie Kates was the caterer of the day, serving a lobster and shrimp charlotte, beef tenderloin and a light chocolate cake topped with whipped cream. And, of course, what would Swan Ball be without top entertainment? That year, the Temptations brought down the house, making Nfocus Founding Editor Herbert Fox remark, “It was a Swan Ball for the books.” Honoring the tradition set forth by Herbert, we set out again to weave the rich tapestry of events that make up Swan Ball. In this issue, we not only take readers inside the Swan Ball Auction and Patrons Parties, we also explore the histories and legacies of Swan Ball and give the details of this year’s 61st annual Swan Ball. We go behind the scenes with Jane MacLeod, president and CEO of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, and we explore the precursor to Swan Ball: the “B.C. Party” of 1934, one of the high-profile parties hosted by the Cheek family. In addition to Swan Ball coverage, we go on the road with Peg Leg Porker’s Carey and Delaniah Bringle to Memphis in May as the couple battles it out at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. We take a look inside the world of beekeeping and profile some friends who are buzzing about this peaceful hobby. We were also humbled to be invited to tell two stories of peace and redemption through Thistle Farms’ family reunification and graduation. While I have said it before, it bears repeating: We are honored and humbled to be invited to share the tales of events throughout the year. As we close the spring social season and reflect on the tireless and, at times, thankless work of the nonprofits of Nashville, we can only thank them the best way we know how — by telling their stories.

senior photographer

Eric England staff photographer

Angelina Castillo contributing photographers

Brenda Batey, Michael Scott Evans, Peyton Hoge, Lorenzo Huerta, Matt Masters, Kathy Thomas graphic designers

Sandi Harrison, Mary Louise Meadors, Tracey Starck

Marketing events and marketing director

Olivia Moye Britton marketing and promotions manager

Robin Fomusa

Advertising publisher

Jennifer Trsinar Jezewski advertising solutions consultants

Teresa Birdsong, Michael Jezewski, Deborah Laufer, Carla Mathis, Allie Muirhead, Heather Cantrell Mullins, Niki Tyree, Alissa Wetzel, Keith Wright sales operations manager

Chelon Hasty advertising solutions associates

Audry Houle, Jack Stejskal

Circulation circulation manager

Gary Minnis

Business president

BY JANET KURTZ

Janet moved to Nashville 24 years ago. She is an avid reader, traveler and collector of fountain pens and lives in downtown Nashville with her husband, Ron, and their dog, Julep. Email her at jkurtz@nfocusmagazine.com.

Mike Smith chief financial officer

Todd Patton IT director

John Schaeffer

Owner FW Publishing, LLC

Bill Freeman

Nfocus is published monthly by FW Publishing, LLC. Advertising deadline for the next issue is Thursday, July 25, 2023. 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 ©2023 FW Publishing, LLC.

14 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

1577 Moran Road Franklin, TN 37069

BEL LA VI STA | EXQU ISITE 46-AC RE E STAT E HO ME Every now and then, a property becomes available that is so unique, so special, it represents a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Welcome to Bella Vista. Boasting panoramic views in all directions, this country estate perfectly suits its name. Nestled among the pastoral hills of Franklin, Tennessee, this stately brick residence sits atop one of the highest points in Williamson County, overlooking the Harpeth River and neighboring equestrian farms. Taking in the scenery, one might feel as if they’re far away from the city, but this exceptional property at 1577 Moran Road is a quick drive to Green Hills and downtown Nashville.

Offered at $14,000,000 • 10,862 SF Custom home | 46.18 acres, fenced • 2-story | 5 BR | 6/4 BA | 3-car attached garage • 1,125 SF Guest “River House” • Built 1972 | Renovated | New systems • New pool, pergola, outdoor entertaining area • Barn + equipment shed • 1,500-ft. Harpeth River frontage • Pickle ball court | Batting cage • Spectacular house, grounds • Unparalleled views & privacy

View Website & Video 1577MoranRoad.com

Richard Courtney

Lisa Peebles

Broker, ABR, CRS, CRB richard@richardcourtney.com

Affiliate Broker, ABR, SRS lisabpeebles@gmail.com

RichardCourtney.com

NashvilleLuxuryEstates.com

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nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

BEHIND THE SCENES

Restoration and Renewal Behind the scenes with Jane MacLeod of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Jane MacLeod has served as President & CEO of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens since 2010, transforming the historic estate into one of the Southeast’s premier art and garden destinations. Jane studied journalism The Basics in college and earned an MBA from Southern Name: Jane MacLeod Methodist University. At Title: President & CEO, the start of her career, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens she worked in Dallas with Hometown: Sheffield Village, Fortune 500 companies Ohio before becoming a stayZip Code: 37205 at-home mom. Upon deYears in Nashville: 13 ciding to go back to work, Number of Visitors You’ve Jane looked for a position Welcomed as CEO: 3.2 million where she could market something she believed would better the lives of others. When her sons were young, she spent countless hours exploring the Dallas Arboretum with them, and a position that aligned with Jane’s career desires opened up: director of marketing at the Dallas Arboretum. Her experience in nonprofit leadership — as a visionary, a marketer and a fundraiser — led her to Cheekwood in 2010. Jane’s leadership has brought heightened awareness and appreciation for the venerable institution, which has risen in recent years to be the third-highest-attended destination in Nashville. Beyond her role as a devoted CEO, Jane is also a mother, stepmother, grandmother, wife, sister and friend who loves gardening, Gilded Age architecture, historical novels and her miniature golden retriever, Lucy. BY KARIN MATHIS PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND

What did you initially want to be when you grew up? My first recollection is wanting to be like my dad, a business executive, so I could one day have a briefcase. I would run out to greet him every day when he came home from work so I could carry it for him. After graduating from college and accepting my first corporate position, I did, indeed, celebrate by purchasing that long-awaited briefcase. What have been some of your goals as Cheekwood’s CEO? My primary goal was to bring financial stability to the institution. Gifted without an endowment, Cheekwood always struggled financially, though the community was not aware of it because the estate’s natural beauty and grandeur was always the first and lasting impression. But, if you had looked closely, you could see how “tired and worn” the facilities and gardens had become. My first goal was developing seasonal festivals to draw attendance and the related revenue needed for a balanced budget. The next major goal was to address decades of deferred restorations and start to build an endowment, which we began in earnest with The Cheekwood Campaign and continue to focus on today. What’s your favorite activity to do at Cheekwood? I love everything I do at Cheekwood; it continues to be my dream job. I’ve always considered Nashville — and Cheekwood — my “Promised Land.” Simply sharing the Cheekwood story and watching people’s interest and enthusiasm grow is a great pleasure. Developing our seasonal festivals — Cheekwood in Bloom, Cheekwood Harvest, Holiday LIGHTS and more — has been great fun, especially as we continue to brainstorm

18 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

new ideas and exhibitions to keep Cheekwood dynamic and appealing. One of my favorite activities is working with my senior team on developing “the next big thing” and then seeing it become a reality. Are there any upcoming collections or events that excite you? When the sun goes down, LIGHT: Bruce Munro at Cheekwood offers a spectacular display that everyone — from young to young at heart — will marvel at. I love walking through the exhibition at night, hearing the comments of our visitors. It’s so rewarding to know your efforts are bringing joy and excitement to others. What’s your favorite place to go for a date night? My husband and I had our first date at Capitol Grille, so we’ve always kept it on the top of our list, and now, of course, that’s the amazing Drusie & Darr. I am attracted to anything historic, so The Hermitage Hotel is one of my favorite places — outside of Cheekwood, of course! What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? “Be yourself.” I think it builds trust; people know that I mean what I say, and there are no hidden agendas. There’s only one side to me: the side everyone sees. What legacy would you like to leave in this community? I would like to be remembered as someone who recognized how important Cheekwood is to this community — as a treasured cultural site, but also as a place to be nurtured and inspired — and that I played a major role in its renaissance, creating an appreciation and financial foundation to ensure Cheekwood’s future, far beyond my direction.

In this ever-changing real estate market, trust an expert with over 22 years of experience to advise you in the purchase of your new home. 90 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

IVY VICK REAL ESTATE ADVISOR 615.485.0963 IVY.VICK@EVREALESTATE.COM

STEP INSIDE

The Sultan of Swoon Step inside Sinatra Bar & Lounge Walking into downtown Nashville’s newly opened Sinatra Bar & Lounge, it’s easy to imagine Ol’ Blue Eyes himself seated at the bar, a Jack Daniel's on the rocks in hand. The decor has both a Palm Springs and a New York vibe — a nod to two of Sinatra’s favorite places, says Bill Miller, CEO of Icon Entertainment Group, which opened the classic Italian restaurant in partnership with Frank Sinatra Enterprises. As though plucked from a classic Midtown Manhattan night spot, black leather curvedback stools line the bar. An abstract painting by Sinatra himself hangs above brushed brass shelves filled with bottles containing a wide range of alcoholic spirits. There’s a clear art deco influence: geometric tile floors in the entryway, brass dome table lamps with glass shades throughout the restaurant, and brushed brass railings on the staircases and the upper levels overlooking the main dining room. Sage green banquettes and tables with white linen tablecloths line a wood-paneled wall, dotted with photographs of Sinatra. Most of them are not of him performing but hanging out on set or backstage with fellow Rat Pack members like Sammy Davis Jr., or with legends such as Rocky Marciano and Joe DiMaggio. “This,” says Bill, “brings a sort of personal and human element, which I think is important.” A restaurant in Nashville isn’t the first place you think of when you think of Frank Sinatra. It took a little convincing to get the family on board, says Bill. But as the owner of the Patsy Cline Museum, Nudie’s Honky Tonk and the Johnny Cash Museum, he knows a thing or two about legends. Clearly pleased with the results, Frank’s youngest daughter, Tina Sinatra, even made an appearance at the opening in April. Remick Architecture worked in collaboration with Bill and his wife Shannon, restoring the 1891 Southern Turf building at 222 Fourth Ave. N. that Bill purchased in 2017. The Millers oversaw the interior design themselves, saying: “We have to be fully in control of the aesthetic to deliver what we envision.” Bill searches the globe for unique pieces that bring to life what he conceptualizes, finding gems at estate sales, auction houses and online. BY WHITNEY CLAY PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

20 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

“MY WAY” New Nashville restaurants seem to open almost daily and Bill, who also owns the popular House of Cards, concedes there’s always a risk when starting a new business. But he says his passion for finding unique and special pieces helps set his establishments apart. “Anybody can build a restaurant,” he says, “and anybody can build a bar; but not many people can hang Nudie Cohn’s Cadillac on the wall, not everybody can have Johnny Cash’s birth certificate, not everybody can have art created by Frank Sinatra himself …” “THE BEST IS YET TO COME” Menu offerings include dry-aged Bolognese, fried eggplant parmesan, veal piccata, walnut-crusted halibut and — of course — steaks, including a 32-ounce porterhouse. Jack Daniel's created Sinatra Century — a limited-edition 100-proof whiskey — to commemorate Frank’s 100th birthday, and Bill says his is the only restaurant in the world offering it by the glass: $250 for a one-ounce pour. More special offerings will be available at the members-only club planned for the building’s fourth floor, while luxury short-term rentals are slated for the third floor.

“YOU AND THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC” On a recent evening at the Sinatra Bar & Lounge, already busy at 5:30 p.m., local singer-songwriter and pianist Jeffrey Alfiero belts out the Chairman of the Board’s “Luck Be a Lady.” Singers perform Frank Sinatra classics, Rat Pack standards and music of the time — but no country music is allowed, Bill mentions with a smile. The newly opened lounge is on the second floor of the building, above the legendary Skull’s Rainbow Room, which Bill added to his portfolio of well-known Nashville attractions in 2017.

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

ON THE MARKET

3016 New Hope Road | Hendersonville

501 Murfreesboro Road | Historic Franklin

6 BD | 5 BA | 3,106 SF + 1,738 SF guesthouse | $4,300,000 Robin Lyons 615.482.5795

230 3rd Avenue South | Downtown Franklin

4 BD | 5/1 BA | 5,751 SF | $3,900,000 Matt Ligon 615.478.6355

ON THE MARKET

3 BD | 3/1 BA | 3,923 SF + 647 SF carriage house | $3,200,000 Danny and Reid Anderson 615.585.3859

ON THE MARKET

7501 Ivorybill Lane | Songbird Springs

ON THE MARKET

108 Dylan Woods Drive Lot 21 | Dylan Woods

5 BD | 5/1 BA | 5,446 SF | $3,200,000 Beth Hooker 615.473.6452

4 BD | 4/1 BA | 5,089 SF | $1,899,000 Rachael Harmon | 615.504.6036

ON THE MARKET

322 Harvard Avenue | Richland/West End 4 BD | 4 BA | 4,013 SF | $1,695,000 Jake Griffin 615.545.9087

ON THE MARKET

4455 Ivan Creek Drive | Franklin

2497 Tom Fitzgerald Road | Santa Fe

24 Acres | $1,500,000 Danny and Reid Anderson 615.585.3859

3 BD | 4 BA | 3,221 SF | $1,500,000 Matt Ligon 615.478.6355

SOLD

ON THE MARKET

853 Bresslyn Road | West Meade

4 BD | 3/1 BA | 3,540 SF | $1,350,000 Jennifer Davis 615.454.1490

ON THE MARKET

225 Chatfield Way | The Enclave At Carronbridge 5 BD | 3/2 BA | 5,239 SF | $1,310,000 Danny and Reid Anderson 615.585.3859

DANNY ANDERSON

UNDER CONTRACT

REID ANDERSON

127 Gallagher Drive | Polk Place

4 BD | 3/1 BA | 3,222 SF | $859,900 Mary Brown 615.260.8885

MARY BROWN

JENNIFER DAVIS

JAKE GRIFFIN

RACHAEL HARMON

ON THE MARKET

320 Cannonade Circle | Fieldstone Farms 3 BD | 2 BA | 1,970 SF | $618,000 Mary Brown 615.260.8885

BETH HOOKER

MATT LIGON

ROBIN LYONS

NSTYLE

Her Style Keeping it cool

As a personal stylist, I notice two common goals that seem to come up time and time again when working with clients during the peak of summer. One is dressing in the coolest way possible — in terms of temperature. No matter how beautiful an outfit may be, no one wants to be sweating through their shirt or suffering through extra layers! The second goal I often hear is the desire to achieve a “cool” look — in the aesthetic sense of the word. It makes sense that we tend to crave this style that looks effortless, simplified and unfussy; summer often brings packed schedules, so seeking some relief and simplicity through our wardrobe is only natural. Let’s look at some simple ideas that you can use to look and feel like your coolest self all summer long. Focus on Fabrics: Rather than categorizing an item as “in” or “out” of season based on its color or style, I encourage you to judge based on the fabric. For example, the velvets, corduroy, wool and other heavy fabrics are safe to stow away until autumn rolls back around. This is the time to pull out your linen, seersucker, eyelet and lighterweight blends!

Lighter Layering: Often, the key to an elevated look is adding layers. Sometimes the purpose isn’t really to add more pieces to a look, but rather, to add visual interest or texture. Rather than reaching for a jacket or typical “third piece” during these steamy months, try some of these other ideas for layering: • Add interest to a look by layering necklaces or stacking jewelry. • Layer in some texture with a woven hat or handbag. • A lightweight scarf or twilly can be tied into a look in a variety of ways, adding the perfect dose of color or pattern. Favorable Footwear: Reevaluating your shoe collection at the top of every season is something I would recommend for everyone. Shoes naturally take on a lot of wear and tear, so well-loved pairs from last year may simply need to be replaced. You might also benefit from the addition of a new style that would serve a versatile purpose for your lifestyle. To help get your wheels turning, here at three popular additions that I’ve been shopping for clients: • An elevated sandal — something with a platform insole, so there’s plenty of support. • A refreshed fashion sneaker — maybe even in a pop of color. • A neutral block heel or wedge will carry you through all of summer’s dressier festivities.

BY CARSON LOVE

Carson Love is a wardrobe & personal stylist based in Nashville. Her main goal is to help clients present and feel like their best selves, so they are ready for whatever life brings them. Find her online: CarsonLove.com or follow her on Instagram @carsonmlove

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

NSTYLE

His Style Beating the heat

As people from both coasts migrate to our wonderful city, they’re being introduced to an adversary that we Southerners have known since birth: humidity. Love it or hate it, The Humidity Train is never late! Air that consists of 90 percent water vapor is oppressive, inescapable and inevitable. With that in mind, here are a few tips on how to survive the soupy summers of the South. Lighten up! When the summer heat is on, it’s best to opt for lighter colors and lighter fabrics. Darker colors tend to absorb more heat, and heavy fabrics can make you sweat like the “XXX Hot” at Prince’s Hot Chicken. When looking for colors to add to your summer wardrobe, look for whites, pastels and lighter earthtones like khaki. When it comes to fabrics, opt for linens and lightweight cottons — both are extremely breathable and help keep your body cool. Loosen up! Everything is more relaxed in the summer. This rings true for fashion as well. This is a good time to opt for more relaxed-fit clothes, allowing for more airflow to keep you cooler. Shirts should still fit in the

24 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

shoulders but can be looser in the body. The same idea goes for pants: Make sure they fit in the waist, but they can be looser in the leg. Sky’s out, thighs out! Gents, embrace the shorts life. Wearing jeans in the summer can be the equivalent of having a forest fire in your pants. You’re not going to enjoy it. Opt instead for a linen or chino short. Depending on your height, I would suggest a 6- or 7-inch inseam; you want your shorts to land about an inch above your knee. In this civilized age, it should go without saying, but I’m going to emphasize this anyway: Under no circumstances do you wear cargo shorts. You’re better than that. Kick off your shoes and relax your socks! With the warmer weather, adjust your footwear accordingly. Put your leather boots in the closet for the next few months, enjoying sandals and canvas sneakers for the summer. Non-leather shoes allow your feet to breathe, making a more comfortable experience overall when the asphalt is hot enough to fry an egg. Pro tip: If you’re going to wear sandals, treat yourself to a pedicure. No one wants to see toes that look like they can snatch salmon out of a river. Stay hydrated, my friends!

BY BENTLEY CALDWELL

Bentley Caldwell is a Nashville-based men’s personal stylist who helps guys up their style and confidence and take the guesswork out of dressing themselves. Have a fashion or styling question? Visit his website: BentleyCaldwellStyling.com or follow him on Instagram @bentleycaldwell

Coming Soon

For sale

1134 Balbade - $10,500,000

709 Brook Hollow Road - $2,599,000

295 Jones Parkway - $4,500,000

7 Beds | 7/2 Baths | 10,892 SF Built in 2023

5 Beds | 5/2 Baths | 5,792 SF | .98 Acres New Construction in West Meade

6 Beds | 8/1 Baths | 10,273 SF | 1.10 Acres Resort Style Living in Annandale

For sale

285 Cana Circle - $542,500

3600 Woodmont Blvd - $2,799,000

120 Taggart Ave - $3,250,000

3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,620 SF 55+ Community - Cloister at St. Henry’s

5 Beds | 5/1 Baths | 4,377 SF | .98 Acres Renovated in the Heart of Green Hills

5 Beds | 5/1 Baths | 6,286 SF | .46 Acres Belle Meade Highlands

under contract / solds Under Contract

Under Contract

Sold

614 Westview Ave $3,175,000

5924 Robert E Lee $1,999,999 - co-listed

6336 Chickering Cir $1,915,000 - rep. buyer

301 Demonbreun St. #1410 $845,000

20 Rutledge St. #707 $1,890,000

Anna Brackman

CORNERSTONE H.G. Hill Realty Company Nixon Power Services Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. PREMIER Bradfield Stage Lighting Brindiano Group Mr. and Mrs. David Harold Brown Ann and Monroe Carell, Jr. Foundation Hospital Corporation of America Lipman Brothers and The R. S. Lipman Company Jack C. Massey Foundation Northern Trust Page and Windrow Event Planning Please Be Seated Quest Draping Mr. and Mrs. William Moss Wilson DISTINGUISHED Audi Downtown Nashville Bricktop’s CoreCivic Chattanooga Tent PRINCIPAL Buffkin Baker

principal (cont.) Mr. and Mrs. Jack Oliver Bovender The Danner Foundation Mr. and Mrs. William Tilden Delay FirstBank First Horizon FLWR HMS Capital Management The Martha and Bronson Ingram Foundation Nashville Tent and Awning The Rich Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Frederic A. Scarola South College Nashville Truist Mr. and Mrs. Govan Davidson White You’re Invited gifts and paper Master Brown Brothers Harriman Mr. and Mrs. Victor Lynn Campbell Valorie Cole Calligraphy Equitable Trust Fourth Capital Gen Cap America Hatef Aesthetics

Master (cont.) Gallgher Risk Management Services Mrs. Mark Edmund Humphreys Mr. and Mrs. David Ingram McGriff Insurance Services Parking Management Company Petra Capital Louise B. Wallace Foundation Kristen Winston Catering SPONSOR Corzine & Co C.B. Ragland Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thomas Foster, Jr . G&G Interiors GSB Foundation Hyatt Centric Joyner and Hogan David and Lisa Manning * Bert and Brooks Mathews NCA Alarms The Ned R. Mc Wherter Foundation The Louie M. and Betty M. Phillips Foundation Sims Orthodontics T & T Family Foundation Jeannette Sloan Warner

* David and Lisa Manning’s gift is given in remembrance of Anne Caldwell Parsons

F E AT U R E

Rise Like the Break of Dawn The 61st annual Swan Ball celebrates the roots of Cheekwood Few events elicit awe and admiration as much as Nashville’s annual Swan Ball. For months, anticipation builds as guests ready their attire and co-chairs debate over meticulous details. The sheer force it takes to make the vision a reality is impressive in its own right. This year, we celebrate the history and legacy of Swan Ball and how it has supported a Nashville institution for over 60 years. continued on page 28

Co-chairs Ashley Rosen (L) in Monique Lhuillier and Elizabeth Dingess (R) in an original design by Muna Couture

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

F E AT U R E

History of Swan Ball To understand the history of Swan Ball is to understand the importance that Cheekwood Estate & Gardens holds in the city of Nashville. Long before the pageantry of Swan Ball, Leslie Owen Cheek met Mabel Wood on a train from New York to Nashville. The couple married in 1896 and moved into a beautiful, Italianate-style home — complete with a formal garden — on West End. The Cheeks’ fortune grew — in part from Leslie’s business investment in cousin Joel Cheek’s Maxwell House Coffee — and in 1928, they were ready to build again. This time, Leslie purchased 92 acres of land just outside of Nashville in an area that would later be known as Belle Meade. The estate — named Cheekwood to honor their family legacy — was built, and the family moved into the grand mansion in 1932. For years, the family lived, loved and entertained at Cheekwood. The Cheeks were famously known for their shining hospitality and over-the-top soirées. The first of these social gatherings was held in 1933. The wildly popular “Victorian Stable Party” included guests in period costume while Francis Craig and his orchestra — the house orchestra for The Hermitage Hotel — played music late into the night. The following year, in an effort to outdo the previous lavish event, the Cheeks sent hand-delivered invitations to guests for their “B.C. Party.” Inside their personalized summons, recipients found themselves cast in roles. Each invitee, Cheek family included, was asked to appear as an ancient character — mostly Greek and Roman deities or concurrent historical figures — that had been tailored to specific individuals. The family traveled the world, developed the gardens and supported the Nashville community. Mabel and Leslie’s daughter, Huldah Cheek Sharp and her husband, Walter Sharp, gifted Cheekwood as a botanical garden and museum of art in 1957, transforming the private estate into a public center where the people of Nashville could enjoy and appreciate art and horticulture. While there was some gift of capital, Cheekwood lacked an endowment fund — leadership needed to find funding. As the story goes, Jane Dudley, noted founder of the Swan Ball, was enjoying a tennis match with Harry Lowe, president of the Tennessee Fine Arts Center, when he casually mentioned the fundraising needed to support the operations of Cheekwood. Thus, in June 1963, the Swan Ball took flight. continued on page 30

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F E AT U R E

Legacy of Swan Award Cheekwood was generously gifted to the people of Nashville, but it lacked an endowment fund. After the success of the inaugural Swan Ball, however, it became clear that the event would help raise the millions of dollars needed to fund Cheekwood’s operation. Each year, co-chairs have the unique opportunity to place their own stamp on the historic event. In 1969, Anne Caldwell Parsons — mother of 2023 co-chair, Elizabeth Dingess — co-chaired Swan Ball with Sissy McAlister. Elizabeth read Anne’s notes with delight as she readied for her own experience as chairman. One particularly striking note discussed the amount of food that was needed by the caterer, Boyd Maxwell: “The menu required 800 pounds of prime beef, five gallons of Russian dressing, 140 pounds of corn, 140 pounds of French beans almandine, 150 dozen assorted rolls, a like amount of rosebud beets in an orange sauce and ice cream flowers for dessert.” In Anne’s own words, she describes the changes and additions that were crucial to continue the success and legacy of the Swan Ball. Anne and Sissy’s lasting footprint would be the creation of the Swan Award, which debuted in 1969 to “bring a serious and purposeful note to the Swan Ball.” Jane Dudley received the inaugural Swan Award. The 1969 co-chairs are also responsible for the creation of the Late Party, which was necessary due to “limited space and food service. It was also needed so that none would be turned away …” Finally, the Advisory Committee — composed of former chairs — was established to assist and give counsel to current co-chairs. continued on page 32

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F E AT U R E

Swan Ball As has been the tradition for over 60 years, luxury cars lined the drive leading to the mansion at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Gentlemen in classic white-tie and tails escorted elegant ladies in stunning gowns. In perfect synchronization, the Dance Committee volunteers opened the doors, and guests ascended the stairs to enjoy all that was to come. Local floral designer Alex Vaughan of FLWR created an elegant gardenscape with boxes of lavender and pink flowers lining the staircase. As revelers reached the second level, they were greeted by the 2023 co-chairs: Elizabeth Dingess, wearing an original design by Muna Couture; and Ashley Rosen, clad in Monique Lhuillier. After gliding into the Loggia for a cocktail, partygoers browsed the mansion’s dining room, where the 2023 Swan Ball Jeweler — Verdura and Belperron — presented stunning pieces of exquisite design. Armed with the co-chairs’ vision of an elegant garden party, local event planning and design company Page & Windrow set to work to create just that. Once guests stepped into the tent, they were immediately transported as they gazed at decorative boxwood arbors, ornamental iron work, stunning balustrades and stone architecture. In keeping with the elaborate garden theme, alternating tables dressed with linens in floral patterns or antique satin embroidered cloths filled the room, all complemented by centerpieces of lavender and “growing” potted pieces. In an effort to minimize waste, after guests of Swan Ball enjoyed the decor on Saturday evening, the centerpieces were given new life on Sunday through donation to Safe Haven Family Shelter. While some of the centerpieces graced Safe Haven’s common areas, others went to individual families the nonprofit serves. After guests were seated for dinner — catered by Kristen Winston — Cheekwood President & CEO Jane MacLeod took the stage. As she thanked guests of Swan Ball for their continued support, she graciously highlighted how funds raised for

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Co-chairs Elizabeth Dingess, Ashley Rosen

the event support Cheekwood. “Today, Cheekwood is renowned as one the finest Country Place Era estates in the nation, as well as the third-highestattended destination in Nashville, welcoming over one million visitors in the last three years. All proceeds from The Swan Ball and its related events support Cheekwood. With a $15.3 million annual budget, it takes $42,000 a day to operate this expansive and historic estate, whose origins — and much of its infrastructure — hearken back to 1929.” Jane then introduced Elizabeth and Ashley to present the Swan Award, a highlight of the evening. This recognition, developed by Elizabeth’s mother, is presented to someone who has impacted the arts and humanities in a truly unparalleled way. This year’s recipient was Tooty Bradford, one of Cheekwood’s greatest champions.

After dinner and presentations, Broadway sensation Idina Menzel took the stage. Her spectacular voice stunned the audience, and she shared stories of her life and career. While her set offered a variety of favorites, many eagerly anticipated her performance of “Let It Go” — and it did not disappoint. After her performance, Late Party Co-chairs Murray Dick and Francie Corcoran stepped forward, and Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters delivered high-energy entertainment. Guests of the Swan Ball and the Late Party danced the rest of the night away, with many reporting that they did not leave until the last note was played. BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANGELINA CASTILLO, ERIC ENGLAND AND MATT MASTERS

F E AT U R E

Marci and Stephen Houff

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Late Party Co-chairs Francie Corcoran, Murray Dick

Steve Sirls, Joan Cheek, Michael Shane Neal, Allen DeCuyper Auction Chairs Natalie Clements, Delia Darst, Amy Keith

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

F E AT U R E

Dorothea and Andre Churchwell

Tim Pagliara and Sheila Shields

David and Joyce Hitt

Co-chairs Ashley Rosen and Elizabeth Dingess with Swan Award Recipient Tooty Bradford

Merry and Johnny Moore

Dance Committee Chairs Abby Granbery, Leslie Rolfe

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F E AT U R E

Kelley Beaman, Sissy Wilson

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F E AT U R E

Ronald and Deborah Roberts, Sharon and Will Cheek

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F E AT U R E

Justin and Dione DeWitte, Irwin and Jeff Fisher

Beth Molteni, Mary Belle Grande, Glenda Hatfield

Gene Kamarasy, Lee Robinson, Sheila and Arthur Reuther

Jessie Granbery (wearing Anne Caldwell Parson’s 1969 Swan Ball dress), Elizabeth Dingess

Elizabeth Fox, Anne West, Jimmy and Jamie Granbery, Lisa Manning

Lyndon and Angie Wilson, Rush and Joan Benton

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40 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

Lisa and John Campbell

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F E AT U R E

Fami ly in A ll Its F orms

Candace

Thistle Farms creates new community for women while helping them reunite with those whose ties bind Candace remembers driving up to her new living quarters with her kids, ready to surprise them. She had signed a lease but hadn’t told them about the spot; they had no idea what it looked like. The three of them drove up, and Candace said, “This is our place.” Her kids — one son and one daughter — were excited, then said, “But, Mom, we don’t have any furniture.” “We do! We have that, too. It’s on the way,” Candace assured them. “Seeing the smiles on their faces, that was just such a good feeling,” she says. While any parent would love to surprise their kids with a new place to live and new furniture to boot, the experience was extrasatisfying and significant for Candace. In May 2023, Candace graduated from Thistle Farms’ two-year residential program, a process that helped her get healthy, reunite with her children, further her education, work jobs and save money to buy that furniture. Those accomplishments are just part of what is achieved at Thistle Farms, the Nashville-based social enterprise that has been helping women for more than a quarter of a century. The mission is simple: Help women survivors heal from systems of prostitution and exploitation. Women who have been in those systems, many of whom are also fighting addiction, apply to the program or have a family member submit an application on their behalf. Women commit to two years of residential, communal living, as well as going to individual and group therapy, getting a job, and working toward personal goals, such as family reconciliation. continued on page 44

Amalia

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

F E AT U R E

Candace

Amalia

In its more than 25 years of existence, Nashvillebased Thistle Farms has provided more than 10,200 nights of safe housing and more than 3,100 medical and counseling appointments to women in need. The residential program — from which Candace recently graduated — is just one of Thistle Farms’ many efforts to change the lives of women. Thistle Farms also operates a 22,000-squarefoot facility for manufacturing soap, lotions and more than 80 other products. The revenue from the sale of those products helps fund Thistle Farms, but — more importantly — the factory gives job opportunities, helping these women regain driver’s licenses, pass rental checks and intentionally prepare for their life beyond the Thistle Farms program. About 75 percent of women who start the program complete it. Women — particularly those who have been incarcerated — can struggle to find reliable employers once they are looking for consistency and a steady income. They can receive job training and work in Thistle Farms’ various projects, including at The Café at Thistle Farms in West Nashville. The Café is one of the places where the general public can directly participate in Thistle Farms’ mission. In addition to dining and shopping, folks can attend weekly community meditation circles. “The residential program is designed for two years because that is the period of time that creates a pattern for success,” explains Tasha Kennard, CEO of Thistle Farms. “The residential program can currently house up to 32 women. Four additional safehouse beds are reserved for women in Tennessee who are in crisis, and those beds are ready and available when needed.”

44 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

While women live in community with others they call sisters and do have rules to follow, between mandatory group sessions and curfews, they’re also working on their plans for after program completion. For Candace, that meant outings — and even some vacations — with her kids, who were living with their father, as well as enrolling in a program to receive a degree in criminal justice. Another 2023 graduate, Amalia learned about Thistle Farms from a friend she knew from an addiction recovery center where she received treatment. Amalia used alcohol and marijuana in high school and college, but it wasn’t until she was introduced to cocaine that a substance-use disorder developed. Over the years, Amalia battled addiction to cocaine, to prescription opiates, and eventually, to heroin. While Amalia sees the physical scars on her skin from her days of substance use, Thistle Farms has given her a different lens with which to view them. “I still feel shame and pain when I see them, but they are my warrior scars. I am still here, better than ever,” she says. “There hasn’t been one moment that I have regretted coming here, and I have not struggled with thoughts of using since then.” Amalia credits Thistle Farms’ sense of community and their ability to give “love with direction” in helping her build friendships, enjoy her life and reconnect with her family — including her son, who stayed with one of her brothers while Amalia has been in Tennessee. After a visit, Amalia recounts: “I went to see my brother and my son, and my brother said, ‘It is great; my little sister is

back!’ I’m the same person every time my son sees and calls me. Before, he never knew who I was going to be when I answered the phone. That is one of the most joyful parts about it.” Amalia works in job readiness with Thistle Farms, helping other women develop and realize their career goals. Eventually, Amalia hopes to transition into life coaching and to start a business that will allow her to travel. Until that time, though, she’s grateful for the foundation she’s received at Thistle Farms. “Working here is not a job; this is a lifestyle,” Amalia says. “It does not feel like a job; it feels like a home.” The culmination of the two-year residential program is a joyous annual graduation ceremony, attended by current program participants, alumni and graduates’ families. This year, it was held at Riverside Revival on the city’s east side. Graduation is a raucous affair with hooting, hollering and more than a few tears. The ceremony honors women who “make a choice every day to leave behind the past and pursue something better,” Tasha says. “They accomplished something they set out to do.” For everything that graduates experience and achieve, they are not the only ones who take value from the Thistle Farms system. “Becca Stevens, the founder of Thistle Farms, has built a seat for any woman to choose a pathway off of the street,” Tasha says, concluding, “It is such a tremendous blessing to be an instrument in this band.” BY MARGARET LITTMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICOLA HARGER AND LAURA SCHNEIDER

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TRAVEL

A Barbecue Romance How Carey and Delaniah Bringle love through competition

From The Peabody Memphis hotel, blocks away from the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, before the flags waving above the

barbecue rigs come into sight or before the first rib is tasted, the unmistakable whiffs of hickory and cherry smoke float through the air. Moving closer, hunger pangs begin as the anticipation of a world of hedonistic barbecue delights grows to Herculean levels. For Carey and Delaniah Bringle, barbecue is life and love. Together, with their incredible cast of characters, they have built Nashville’s Peg Leg Porker dynasty — a must-stop for visitors and locals alike who love great barbecue. But one weekend a year, Carey and Delaniah compete not only against barbecue teams from all over the world, but against each other. Step inside as we follow the pair and their teams to Memphis in May 2023. BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND continued on page 48

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

TRAVEL

For the love of ‘cue The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is part reunion and part Renaissance festival. The competition itself awards prize money and — sometimes more importantly — bragging rights. The weekend can also bring heartbreak as teams don’t place as high as they thought or worse: an entry goes up in smoke. In 1978, World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest’s humble roots began in a vacant lot by the Orpheum Theatre, with 20 teams and $1,000 in prize money. Carey’s uncle Bruce was a competitor in the inaugural year. That year also saw a female pit master — Bessie Lou Cathey — win for her ribs. As the years progressed, the competition grew. In 1990, Guinness World Records honored the competition as “the largest barbecue cooking contest in the world,” and USA Today now recognizes the WCBCC as the “Most Prestigious Barbecue Contest.”

Peg Leg Porker Nashville native Carey Bringle’s love of barbecue began at a young age. Growing up, visiting his grandparents in Memphis, he would join his grandfathers as they smoked hogs. He also grew up visiting all the barbecue restaurants in and around Memphis. In college, Carey’s grandmother would cut out and send to him any newspaper article that mentioned a barbecue restaurant. Carey met Delaniah when he was in the eighth grade. Delaniah asked Carey to her Junior prom and Carey asked Delaniah to his, and they have been together ever since. Delaniah was with Carey through the cancer that took his leg. They have grown up together. In 1992, a young Carey Bringle, at the suggestion of then-girlfriend Delaniah, attended his first WCBCC with The Rolling Wonder Pigs. The team was thrown out of the competition that year. They returned in 1994 and took second place in Shoulder, even as a grease fire sent the shoulders up in smoke — not the good kind. The group later reformed as Hog Wild and competed in the Shoulder competition. After years of cooking with Hog Wild, it was time for Carey to set out on his own, and thus Peg Leg Porker was created. Carey explained that it is a true testament to a captain when someone breaks out to create their own team, and that is exactly what happened in 2019: Delaniah started her own, all-female team, I Only Smoke When I Drink. continued on page 50

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TRAVEL

I Only Smoke When I Drink Delaniah was the first to say, “Let’s go to Memphis in May.” One of her cousins had a team and was looking for someone to join. For years, she traveled with Carey to Memphis in May as he honed his craft, and there’s a good-humored — but infamous — story involving a strongly worded conversation, a pan of hotel coleslaw, and a mayonnaise-covered Carey during an early Memphis in May. After years of partnering with Carey in Peg Leg Porker, she was ready to show her own prowess in the world of BBQ. Delaniah is a natural leader. In addition to a thousand-watt smile and a personality that draws anyone near, she has a clear vision of what she wants. She gathered her close friends together — including local hog farmer Karen Overton of Wedge Oak Farm — to create the only all-female team in the competition. Delaniah begins finding inspiration early: “I get a notebook and a pen and start looking for ideas a year in advance.” Throughout the year, she experiments with creating just the right ancillary submissions. Even during the competition, she runs an organized shop, saying, “We pack in advance and try to make it as organized as possible. But when we get here, there’s a good chance that the four people looking through the coolers are all looking for the same thing.”

Competition The weekend of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest kicks off just like a family reunion. There are hugs and high-fives, as well as squabbles over water lines, boundaries and music volume. The atmosphere is fun and lively, and, as Carey is quick to point out, “If you aren’t having fun at Memphis in May, then you are just doing it wrong.” All along the boulevard of teams are sets of rigs and tents, with some assembled as towering, two-story structures. The decor of the tents and rigs varies from team to team. Some tents offer multistory views, fully stocked bars and homey decor that invites guests in. One, a replica of a castle, was complete with flags and a rich facade. Others prefer a simpler approach to decor. The show is, of course, for the spectators. Nothing but how the pork turns out matters in the end, and the aroma is truly delicious. The Memphis in May organization is quick to point out, however, that this is not a food show — it is a cooking competition. Guests can look, but not taste. For hungry attendees, a plethora of food vendors are available. The weekend kicks off with ancillary competitions: Hot Wings, Sauce and “Anything But Pork.” Teams submit beef, chicken, turkey and fish in a variety of creative presentations and flavors. Each team creates their own delicacy to present to the judges — always in a nondescript clamshell take-out box — for the blind tasting. At just the right moment, a designated team member carries the box to the judges tent as gently as if it was a newborn baby. I Only continued on page 52

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TRAVEL

Smoke When I Drink sent some spectacular offerings to the judges. This year, Delaniah treated judges to a tender ribeye sandwich, chicken curry empanadas, a creamy lobster roll with millionaire bacon and more — each submission better than the one before. Carey’s Peg Leg Porker crew sent smoked chicken wings, smoked gator boudin balls, beef rib wellington and more. After checking in with both Peg Leg Porker and I Only Smoke When I Drink, it was clear: While Carey and Delaniah are natural competitors, even with each other, their love and support transcends the competition. The two have an incredible banter. Between their zingers and snappy one-liners comes a deep love and respect. On competing with his wife, Carey famously said, “We have one house and one trophy case, so as long as one of us wins, I am happy.” It should be noted that working with barbecue — in a competition setting or otherwise — is extremely physical. Both teams managed hogs weighing about 150 pounds — more than some of the individual team members. Hogs must first be inspected, requiring teams to haul the hogs out of their “coffins” and onto a table where judges clear them for competition. The hog is prepared using a variety of processes that are unique to each team, and expert hands lift the hog into the smoker, where it will rest overnight to cook under the watchful eye of the pitmaster and night crew. Saturday — competition day — the air was different. Gone were the Yacht Rock tunes and breakfast beers — or, at least, just enough beer to chase away the hangover. On this day, everyone got down to business. As team members who were tasked with the overnight shift signed off, the day shift emerged — mostly on time. Hogs that had been put in the smoker the afternoon or evening before are checked — and then checked again. News arrives that tragedy has struck: One of the Peg Leg Porker hogs had burned overnight. Carey took the blow with chagrin, quipping, “This is why we smoke two hogs.” By the afternoon, it was time for judging to begin. Three judges individually visit a team and are given a plate of the team’s submission. The judges are there to taste and to ask five specific questions. Then they leave. At the I Only Smoke When I Drink tent, Delaniah and Karen presented while the rest of their team stood at attention — close enough to watch as the judge tasted the offering, but not too close to crowd. Over and over the process repeats: Judges arrive at the tent, sit, and ask a bevy of questions. Tent visits are followed by excruciating moments while teams wait to hear if they will move to the next round of judging. Whispers and nervous energy pass through the tents, but experienced captains know the drill: Good news arrives by golf cart; bad news arrives on foot. For both teams this year, disappointing news arrived on foot. Cheers could be heard from neighboring tents as judges made their rounds, but the mood was more subdued for Peg Leg Porker and I Only Smoke When I Drink. As the 2023 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest wound to a close, it was obvious that Delaniah and Carey share concern, support and love for the other — and they’ll be back next year to smoke the competition.

52 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

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F E AT U R E

Queen Bees How beekeeping is working its way into the gardens of Nashville

While the Spanish were documented as the first to harvest honey from wild bees, the ancient Egyptians originally brought beekeeping to life. Centuries later, Egyptians would teach the ancient Greeks to use spaces like clay pots, tree hollows and more to keep bees — apiary practices that would spread around the world. Early beekeeping was a tragic tale for the bees: The common belief was that to extract the honey, the bees had to be killed. Thankfully, that practice has ended, and kept bees are able to live out a natural lifespan. Today, outside of the commercial practice of keeping bees, many are looking at beekeeping as not just a hobby but as a way to create a lasting legacy in their own backyard. BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANGELINA CASTILLO AND ERIC ENGLAND

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

F E AT U R E

Ingrid Perdikis and Kobie Pretorius For both Ingrid Perdikis and Kobie Pretorius, a love of animals runs deep, but it was backyard chickens that drew them both to beekeeping. When Kobie began keeping chickens, she forwent insecticides and herbicides in her garden to ensure that chemicals did not end up in the eggs laid by her hens. That led her to the belief that the chemical-free environment would be ideal for bees as well. For Ingrid, after she and her husband purchased a farm in Hartsville, beekeeping seemed like an ideal solution for something low-maintenance and easy to “farm.” She later learned it was a stickier business than she’d first thought. Sharing the experience as friends has been rewarding for Ingrid and Kobie. They also find joy in sharing the activity with their families: Their husbands join in the fun, and their kids join them when they can as well. Ingrid’s effervescent attitude is apparent in all facets of her life, including how she raises her animals — everything has a name. When choosing names for her chickens, she opted for a floral theme: Dandelion, Parsley, Sage, Lavender, Tiger Lily and Daffodil. It stood to reason that her queen bees should have a similar treatment. The queens of Ingrid’s hives

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are: Alexander McQueen, Freddy Mercury, Steve McQueen and Lightning McQueen. As most beekeepers will tell you, beekeeping is a complex hobby — more an art than a science. They will also tell you their experiences of loss and heartbreak. As bee populations decline as much as 30 percent nationwide every year, beekeepers can lose entire colonies to factors such as habitat loss, pesticides, poor nutrition, climate change and — in Kobie’s case — weather. In March 2020, when a tornado tore through the area destroying homes and lives, Kobie’s hives took a direct hit. She found one of her supers — one of the beehive boxes where honey is stored — in the woods about 30 yards from where it was originally set up. The rest of the hives were completely destroyed. She found the remains shredded over the River Campus of University School of Nashville where the hives had been set up. All that remained was a mud-covered sign which read, “Honeybees Hard at Work. Do Not Disturb.” With all loss comes learning. Kobie reflects on some of the best advice she has received as a beekeeper: “Don’t give up. They’re fragile. Bad things will happen, but try again. The reward is great.”

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F E AT U R E

Lisa Manning In the idyllic setting of Lisa Manning’s garden, the space is tranquil with buzzing — not of cell phones vibrating, but of industrious bees bustling about their work. Lisa has always had a profound love of gardening. Learning from her grandfather — an incredible gardener in his own right — she kept indoor and outdoor container plants before she owned a home, using her grandfather’s gardening style as her guide. Her grandfather also kept bees, so — when the time was right — Lisa introduced bees to her garden oasis. Her love for beekeeping is evident as she shares interesting facts about bees. Of particular interest is that — of the 40,000 to 60,000 bees that may occupy one hive — 99 percent of those bees are female. These hardworking ladies form a cohesive team with jobs including wax production, tending young larvae, food storage, foraging, guarding the hive, and grooming and attending to the queen. Additionally, the worker bees are there to run the hive and to decide when it is time for an established queen to step down and a new queen to take her place. Individual worker bees visit a few thousand flowers per day, while the colony as a whole can visit up to 225,000 flowers in a single day. All of this hard work pays off, as a hive produces between 600 and 800 pounds of honey in a single season. Some of the best advice Lisa has received has been to enjoy the bees. She has a profound love of bees and works to create a beautiful garden home for them. Lisa’s also learned just how clever bees can be. Once, in an effort to prevent any bees from getting into her suit as she worked with a hive, Lisa tied strings, fastened the Velcro and made sure all openings were closed. However, curiosity got the best of a bee as one discovered a small opening between zipper and Velcro, making their way inside Lisa’s hood. Lisa’s husband — and a neighbor or two — were treated to quite the show as Lisa struggled to get out of the suit that she had so carefully secured. One of the many joys she has discovered about bees is that they work together like a single organism. The harmony of a hive inspires Lisa, who says, “If the world could operate like a hive, the world would be a better place.”

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

F E AT U R E

Karyn Frist Karyn Frist, an avid gardener, has always been curious about bees and beekeeping. She loved the idea of doing something to help the environment through pollination. As is well documented, pollinators are crucial to a healthy ecosystem — and their populations are rapidly declining. For Karyn, the catalyst was the pandemic, when seemingly everyone was exploring new hobbies, so she took the plunge to become an apiarist and do something to help in her corner of the world. After some research, she reached out to Ian Dawe of The Honey Collective, and he helped mentor her through the process. He still helps Karyn manage her hives to this day. One of the most exciting experiences of the early days in Karyn’s beekeeping was receiving her first queen and feeling a rush of excitement for the new adventure. Bees can cover incredible distances. While they visit close to 5,000 flowers in a day, they might have to roam three to five miles from the hive to find a diverse source of food. One of Karyn’s neighbors sweetly remarked that she was certain Karyn’s bees were visiting her garden each day; she watched them buzz through her flowers in the morning and return to the hive each evening.

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While Karyn has found personal fulfillment with this new hobby, she is particularly interested in the legacy she will leave for her grandchildren: “Some of my grandchildren love going with me, and others are a tad afraid. I just hope that I am teaching them that it is our responsibility to take care of the environment any way we can. They love to help harvest the honey, and some of them take honeycomb to school for classmates to sample.” To keep both Karyn and her grandchildren as stingfree as possible, she owns five bee suits — two adult suits and three child-sized suits. She is quick to note that stings can happen. She once had someone arrive to help with her hives with a hood, gloves, and no bee suit. No sooner had work started than a bee found its way inside the gentleman’s pant leg. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, except maybe the gentleman’s pride. While a funny anecdote, the lesson for Karyn was to keep learning. Whether it’s the proper gear for beekeeping or the origins of bees themselves, continuing to learn throughout life is one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves — and to future generations.

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F E AT U R E

The Honey Collective The Honey Collective was born out of a passion of caring for the natural world. The founders — Hanes Motsinger, Ian Dawe and Gretchen Trast, all from different backgrounds — were brought together by a love of nature and caring for these superorganisms with whom we share the planet. For Hanes, a sense of wonder and inquiry about our place in the natural world drove her to her first beekeeping class. For Ian, a passionate gardener, learning to keep bees and what to plant for all pollinators was a natural progression. Gretchen came to beekeeping with a curiosity about the hobby and found a community that, like a healthy hive, offered support. The Honey Collective was created to help grow the beekeeping community at a time when colony populations are experiencing significant declines around the world. The Collective offers hive mentorship — teaching the principles of regenerative apiculture, such as not feeding artificial food to colonies — as well as hive management, apiary setup and honey shares. On any given day, Ian, acting in the role of head beekeeper, can be found tending The Honey Collective’s hives at Cornelia Fort Airpark — made possible through a partnership with Metro Parks — as well as his own personal flourishing hives. He also tends hives for those in the Nashville community that hire the Collective for hive management, and Ian produces a newsletter for the Collective, including such topics as ideal plants to grow for pollinators, member supply resources, member spotlights and recipes highlighting honey. The sweet reward of beekeeping is, of course, the honey. While many are familiar with the adorable, squishy honey bears found in grocery stores — all monochromatic, uniform and heavily adulterated — honey harvested from local hives takes on a variety of hues and tasting profiles. An amber honey may have notes of almonds and dried stone fruits while a blonde honey may give off more clove and citrus. Just like fine wines, honey can offer unique flavors and surprising nuances. The Honey Collective has been busy as bees in their inaugural year. The group has recently been accepted into Second Harvest Food Bank who — in working with the USDA and their Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program — are now able to purchase food from local, underserved growers to ensure that fresh foods find their way into the hands of those experiencing food insecurity. Additionally, it is the goal of the Collective to help underserved communities learn more about beekeeping to grow and diversify the beekeeping community in Nashville. For more on The Honey Collective, read the June 29 issue of our sister publication, Nashville Scene.

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

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PA R T I E S

A Rose by Any Other Name The Hermitage Spring Outing continues a legacy of preservation

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or 122 years, the Andrew Jackson Foundation, formerly the Ladies’ Hermitage Association, has welcomed guests to lunch on the lawn of the home of the seventh U.S. president, Andrew Jackson. Just minutes from downtown Nashville, guests were transported upon arrival to a quiet and serene landscape to sip Champagne while the air smelled sweetly of fresh-cut grass. The Hermitage Spring Outing is an annual celebration of elegance, hospitality and philanthropy. 2023 Spring Outing Chair Dara Russell continued the tradition of a picnic on the mansion’s main lawn to support and preserve Jackson’s home and retreat. “My family has a legacy of supporting this historic national treasure,” said Dara, “and I could not be more pleased to share the story of The Hermitage with our friends, neighbors and community.” The keynote presentation was delivered by renowned historian and author Jonathan W. Pliska. Jonathan, specializing as a landscape historian, has done extensive research and work on presidential landscape history. His most recent book, A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Grounds, was published by the White House Historical Association and was the basis for his presentation. Jonathan charmingly walked listeners through a horticultural history of the White House grounds and gardens — as far back as Thomas Jefferson’s introduction of flowering bushes and plants. Jonathan took guests through a virtual tour of various trees and plants on the grounds, and he theorized on the questionable origins of a special tree. Of course, no tour of the presidential gardens would be complete without discussion around the White House’s famous Rose Garden — established in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, wife of Woodrow Wilson, and renewed in 1963 under the direction of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. A delicious lunch was served by Chef ’s Market and included a strawberry fields salad, a five-grain compound salad, and grilled chicken with Southern Jezebel sauce. The afternoon was a spectacular way to honor the grounds and natural landscape. BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

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nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

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PA R T I E S

Come to My Garden The Swan Ball Auction Party sets the stage for the main event

ome evenings are purely magical, and Swan Ball Auction Party — supporting the 61st annual Swan Ball — would certainly fit that description. As guests arrived at Belle Meade Country Club, the air was electric; an infectious energy coursed through the rooms as partygoers mingled in the evening’s effervescent sunlight. Co-chairs Elizabeth Dingess and Ashley Rosen moved throughout the Club to visit and to promote the auction lots. Auction Chairs Natalie Clements, Delia Darst and Amy Keith had worked exceptionally hard to find just the right lots worthy of Swan Ball, and the trio was on hand to ensure important funds were raised to support the operation of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Auction Party Chairs Barbara Burns and Julie Haley used sage green and white decor to transform the historic space into a garden-like setting featuring spectacular arrays of floral compositions in peachy salmon, pale pink, white and ivory hues, adding the finishing touch to the serene environment — fitting for an event celebrating and supporting the important work of Cheekwood. The patio was set with beautiful tables covered in green-and-white latticework linens that enhanced the garden party feeling, while the room’s centerpiece was a round bar — complete with a live tree dotted by twinkling lights. This year’s auction featured an incredible 23 domestic trips, 19 international trips, 21 unique experiences and 21 fabulous treasures. After guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and plenty of Champagne, they made their way into their seats for the live auction. A particularly interesting lot invited the winner to experience the ultimate in style and sophistication: “bring a friend who appreciates the finer things in life and travel to New York City for an afternoon tea and tour of legendary jeweler, Verdura.” The two travelers would have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the Verdura archives, home to heritage designs and legendary artifacts like Coco Chanel’s Maltese Cross Cuffs, Greta Garbo’s Curb-Link bracelet, the “Feather Headdress” tiara and a treasure trove of pieces made famous by 20th-century style-setters. Bidding was fierce, and everyone left the evening with light hearts and lighter pocketbooks. BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

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70 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

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Jane and Don MacLeod, Mary and Chris Simonsen

How Does Your Garden Grow? The Swan Ball Patrons Party celebrates a primavera evening

hrough the marathon of events leading up to Swan Ball, one of the most eagerly anticipated is the Swan Ball Patrons Party. A display of pageantry in its own right, the Patrons Party is a celebration of those who have supported Swan Ball and Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. This year, guests gathered at the stunning home of Kathryn and David Brown and were greeted at the door by Nashville icon Bill Forrester as he ushered revelers into the foyer to collect their seating assignments before continuing down the path to the pool terrace. The sounds of The Nashville Jazz Workshop floated in the air as the band — led by Chris West — floated on a platform in the pool. Patrons mingled, admiring the stunning setting while they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Kristen Winston Catering. Throughout the evening, special delights awaited guests. In the pool house, 2023 Swan Ball Jeweler Verdura and Belperron displayed stunning pieces while partygoers gently moved through the tables — all heavily laden with priceless works of sparkling art. After hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, guests passed through the Moon Gate — composed of Texas black limestone — into a tented dining room designed by the team at the Tulip Tree. Tables were covered in crisp white linens with rattan place mats and bone silverware and complemented with a greenand-white fern-patterned dinner napkin. A collection of topiaries, hand-selected from a greenhouse in Southern Michigan, were placed in English-aged terracotta pots of myrtle, rosemary, citronella, eugenia, white heather and lavender. Vases of gardenias and Duchesse de Nemours peonies — the latter sourced from an Indiana farm — provided the finishing touches to a lovely garden theme. The experience was brought together by the whisper-light scent of magnolia perfuming the air as the surrounding trees were just beginning to bloom. Dinner was thoughtfully designed by Kristen Winston and included a strawberry, cucumber and basil salad and an entrée of seared Alaskan halibut with salsa verde. Dinner finished with a light and sweet pavlova.

Vicki and Rick Horne, Lisa Hooker Campbell

Co-chairs Elizabeth Dingess and Ashley Rosen

Jennie McCabe, Kathleen Estes

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND Dorothy Earthman, Tooty Bradford, Katie Bradford

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

PA R T I E S

Collie and Greg Daily

Earl and Janet Bentz

Jeff and Melinda Balser, Edie and David Johnson

Tony Rose, Elaine Sullivan, Lisa Manning, Laura and Charlie Niewold

David Dingess, Betsy Wilt, Peggy and Randy Kinnard

Tony Rose, Karyn Frist

Sylvia Bradbury, Kathleen Estes, Kim Leeper

Betsy and Ridley Wills III, Elizabeth McDonald

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John and Nancy Cheadle

Paula and Tom Bennett

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PA R T I E S

Holly Bachor and ‘Caddie R’

Setting High Standards Music Country Grand Prix thrills and fulfills for Saddle Up!

Holly Bachor and ‘Caddie R’

he summer sun blazed on Franklin’s Brownland Farm, but it wasn’t enough to deter guests from showing their support for Saddle Up! at the 35th annual Music Country Grand Prix. This family-friendly fundraiser is a beloved summer outing for horse-crazy kids and grown-ups alike: an afternoon of premiere show jumping competition, friends, food, fun and a fabulous silent auction. VIPs were grateful to find some shade under the Patrons Tent or a private cabana to enjoy the festivities, and attendees had the chance to display their own show jumping prowess by competing for prizes and bragging rights in the popular “People Prix” — a miniature version of the Grand Prix course. A founder of Saddle Up! was this year’s Music Country Grand Prix honoree: Alton Kelly, who passed away suddenly in December 2022, was not only influential to this program, but to the Nashville community at large. Saddle Up! riders and their attending volunteers joined service members to present the colors; then the crowd watched intently as this year’s crop of competitors vied for the $50,000 purse, mesmerized by the power and athleticism of the horses and riders as they navigated tight turns, tall jumps and time constraints. Congratulations to the winning pair, Holly Bachor aboard her own Caddie R. Since its inception in 1990, the Music Country Grand Prix has raised more than $1,900,000 to support Saddle Up! and its transformative programs. Trina Hayes, who serves as board president for Saddle Up! and as co-chair for this event, said, “The Music Country Grand Prix continues to bring the equine and equine-assisted therapy communities together, and we are honored to support the Saddle Up! mission.” For over 30 years, Saddle Up! has made a profound, lifelong impact on the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and mental abilities of participants by providing therapeutic, educational and recreational experiences with horses. BY KARIN MATHIS PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRENDA BLACK, CAITLIN RANTALA, AND COURTESY OF SADDLE UP!

Morgane Qualls and ‘Favorite d’Armanville’

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30YEARS @NfocusMagazine

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

PA R T I E S

Singing for Support Songwriter’s Night funds hope at Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee

Nell Maynard, Chris Housman

ver 100 guests arrived at The Reserve at Fat Bottom Brewing for the fifth annual Songwriter’s Night: an event promising delicious food, cold drinks, incredible music and fundraising for Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee and their free cancer support program. This year’s fabulous artist lineup included Chris Housman, Nell Maynard, Dakota Striplin and Chris Sligh. All four songwriters shared their time and incredible talent with attendees, discussing the stories behind the beautiful — and sometimes funny — songs they wrote, and their talent was on full display. Encouraged by the enthusiastic crowd, these amazing musicians also shared their personal connections to cancer and the impact that the disease has had on their lives. Gilda’s Club ensures that all people impacted by cancer — including family members and friends of those diagnosed — are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. Through the event’s sponsors and guests, over $20,000 was raised for Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, allowing the organization to continue offering support, education and hope — free of charge to everyone. Gilda’s Club provides a gathering place where people affected by cancer can join with others to actively involve themselves in building social and emotional support as a supplement to regular medical care. An affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, their evidence-based programming includes healthy lifestyle workshops, mind-body classes, social activities, educational lectures and community resource information. Offering approximately 60 professionally-led support and networking groups, and more than 50 educational workshops and lectures each month, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee makes a tangible difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer and builds community so that no one has to face it alone. Incoming Gilda’s Club Board Chair Allen Huggins remarked at the end of the night, “Songwriters are what Nashville is all about.” Guests — who had found themselves captivated by the night’s talent — agreed with Allen as he concluded: “We will definitely be back next year.”

Chris Sligh

BY KARIN MATHIS PHOTOGRAPHS BY GREG SMIT Dakota Striplin, Nell Maynard, Chris Housman, Chris Sligh

Dakota Striplin

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PA R T I E S

Starry Night Nashville Opera hits the high notes with Opera on the Mountain

or many, opera is a wholly moving moment — a gift given by the singer and received by the listener. A multigenerational crowd arrived at the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory for Nashville Opera’s Opera on the Mountain on a perfect evening, armed with picnic baskets, bottles of wine and cheerful moods. Guests made the experience their own by bringing favorite homemade dishes or by stopping at their favorite eatery for a perfect picnic meal. Rob Turner and Jay Jones even catered their tables for an elegant evening as their table guests shared wine from expansive personal cellars — illustrating again that the beauty of this annual event is, much like opera itself, tailored to the individual. Once everyone had settled in, the stars came out. Members of the Nashville Opera company took to the stage. As the sun set through the trees, melodies from La bohème, L’italiana in Algeri and The Tales of Hoffman reverberated through the starlit setting. One very special guest of the evening, Natalia Shahin, also took the stage. Natalia and her family lived in Ukraine where she was a professional opera singer — until last year when war tore their country apart. She escaped with her family and made her way to the United States. Guests of the evening were gifted with Natalia singing the aria “Habanera” from Carmen — not in the original French, but in Ukrainian. Nashville Opera’s CEO & Artistic Director John Hoomes noted: “For opera to survive, we must evolve. At Nashville Opera, we honor the past while we look to the future.” This evening, artists performed not only classic operatic pieces, but also more contemporary tunes from Broadway hits like Wicked and West Side Story. The evening would not have been complete without a mention of how tirelessly the Nashville Opera works to bring opera to our community through programs like the widely popular Opera on Wheels, which has brought this dramatic art form to schools across Middle Tennessee. Guests departed the evening, wowed by all they heard and eagerly anticipating the next Opera on the Mountain.

Steve and Marci Houff, Tracy and Bill Wade

Chase Cole, Marieta Velikova

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND John Hoomes, Stacy Widelitz

Natalia Shahin

Meghan Green, Kathleen Green, Deb Tallent-Barcus

Cynthia Himmelfarb, Karen Lingo, Janice Elliott Morgan

Rob Turner and Jay Jones

80 >> JULY 2023 | nfocusmagazine.com

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30 YEARS

Swan Ball Looking back at Nashville’s most prestigious charity event As we celebrate 30 years of Nfocus, we have asked our friends in the community — many of whom have been with us since the beginning — to tell their story in their own words. Throughout the year, readers will hear from those who have graced our pages and supported our stories. This month, we reached out to a dear friend and former editorin-chief of Nfocus, Beth Alexander, to discuss 30 years of Swan Ball and its illustrious history. The Swan Ball was born to be a transcendent evening. Founder Jane Anderson Dudley sparkled with ideas, and each ensuing chairman — whether she knew Jane personally or not — still aims for transcendence. Fundraisers grow, change and sometimes fade away, but this event remains fresh. Each leader feels inspired to compose the enchantment anew. Like the magical day of Brigadoon, the Ball annually recreates, seemingly from gossamer, a massive tent and all the architecture required for an elegant al fresco ballroom. Has it changed over the past 61 years? Of course. But if you squint just right, you can still see the families of yesteryear: men in their best white-tie and tails; ladies resplendent in special gowns, each a princess for one night only. As 1978 Dance Committee members headed into the 15th Ball, my first, I had little notion of what this might entail. The girls were tasked with selling chances — for dances and raffle tickets — to the gentlemen there, all complete strangers to me. I was intimidated and struck mute, paralyzed with fear. Fighting tears, I escaped toward the stairs that led to the second floor just as Jane Coble was descending. “Are you having a wonderful time?” she asked brightly. Well, I should be, I scolded myself. I turned back toward the crowd wearing the smile she gave me. I’m pretty sure I sold one chance. Maybe. Much has changed since then, starting with the dollar. Ticket price for a couple attending the first Ball was $50. This year, it was many times that. Changes that seemed revolutionary include air-conditioning the tent in 1988; many thanks to the gentlemen of the Penguin Society who contributed to that particular improvement. The segue to a computerized system from longtime Ball maven Lillian “Lil” Granbery’s card catalog was also a sea change from the file cards that Lil preserved, year after year. Florence Blair, beloved by all and the Ball’s only paid staff for years, kept the official records in the Swan Ball office. She and her affable husband Frank also managed the auction at the Ball, making this big job — full of details and egos — look like fun. Improvements over the years include moving the Auction Party from gratis to paid admission, as well as moving the auction itself to an online portal so that those unable to attend but eager to bid are free to join the fun. A Late Party was added as a transition between “Dance Committee member” and “Ball attendee.” The Late Party is now its own event with its own co-chairs, auction and sometimes entertainment. In the early days, the Ball had revolving themes: Monet’s garden, an Imperial Russian celebration, an evening in Spain with toreadors, midnight in Paris, and the Jade Ball — featuring a pagoda in the center of the tent. Roberta Lochte was the Ball designer over the years, ably assisted by Chris Tibbott. The pair also designed sets for Nashville Children’s Theatre for many years. Upon Roberta’s retirement, hiring outside designers began in earnest, a shift that perhaps reduced the number of volunteer hands but added a sophistication that suited the approaching 21st century. Those production volunteers possessed an enviable and enduring esprit de corps, although the task of set construction now largely falls to the professionals.

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30 YEARS

Every year, the evening’s design takes my breath away, each more beautiful than the last. The tables themselves are often works of art, as in this description from the 2004 Ball: “Coral and celadon overlays were embroidered whimsically with a bumblebee here and a dragonfly there. Ruffled-edge celadon chargers were accessorized with gold-rimmed China and heavy, knobbed flatware, crooked as a branch grows. Each centerpiece had a personality, featuring a rainbow of fresh flowers.” The flowers are always lovely and creative, befitting a botanical garden and art museum. One year, oversized papier-mâché tulips and lilies evoked Alice’s Wonderland. Another year brought boxwoods into the tent, mimicking an English garden maze. Black, white and red were the colors when the Swan Award was presented to Red Groomes; dense balls of red carnations made a sophisticated statement against striking pop art on black walls. And entertainment? Always a bit of a nail-biter for the co-chairs, but no one else is the wiser if contract issues or last-minute cancellations arise. And for Swan Ball chairs, “last minute” for a June extravaganza could mean keenly disappointing news in February. That’s where the wellconnected Lee Maxcy of EastCoast Entertainment saved the day; he’ll be sorely missed in years to come. For the first 32 years of the Swan Ball, big-name entertainment alternated years with an haute couture fashion show. Vera Wang’s knock-‘emdead presentation in 1995 was the last of the fashion shows. In 2007, a double dose of entertainment began with comedic tour de force Jay Leno, followed by a full set from Earth, Wind & Fire. Tony Bennett singing in the round to a packed house was indelibly memorable. Entertainment reflects a particular moment in time, from Lester Lanin in 1963 to this year’s Idina Menzel. In between, performers ranged from Martina McBride, Aretha Franklin, and Frankie Valli to Diana Ross, The Pointer Sisters, and Kool & The Gang, each causing the crowd to surge forward to dance and sing along to every word. Major names who’ve attended the Ball include Mrs. Bing Crosby at the very first, followed by Bill Blass, Barbara Mandrell, Martha Stewart, Bunny Williams, Mario “Prince of Chintz” Buatta and countless politicians. Each filled the room with color and outsize personality. The list of those we miss on the Swan Lawn could fill this magazine, starting with founder Jane Dudley and her husband Guilford, former ambassador to Denmark. Among the dozens who contributed their quirky charm over the years are Teenie Buchtel, Nfocus’s founding editor Herbert Fox and his friend — songwriter, tax protester and Renaissance man — Tupper Saussy, and numerous inveterate volunteers. Dancers-for-life Becky and O’Neal Clayton began to share the Swan Ball dance floor with the ageless Amy and Owen Joyner in the late ‘70s. The Joyners remain a good reason to arrive promptly: the couple is perennially drawn to dance during the cocktail hour. You can see why families fall in love with the tradition. Several generations can gather for one extraordinary night. Swan Ball is a throwback to other times — young men in white tie opening car doors, offering a hand to emerging ladies — but the notion is lovely. Like the fleeting beauty of a floral arrangement, it’s there only for a moment, then gone. Before Nashville became an “It City,” entering the loggia and the tent-covered Swan Lawn felt like walking into a friend’s living room where all your favorite people had gathered. That feeling remains, though the guest list has evolved — as it should — to accommodate the glamorous new people who are helping build our city in fresh, imaginative ways. Fascinating people add a piquancy to the cocktail crowd. But if you take a peek into the spacious dining room and dance floor before the party gets under way, you can see ghosts of past Swan Balls: couples gliding to the dance floor to foxtrot to Pat Patrick’s Orchestra, smiling into each other’s eyes. BY BETH ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE NFOCUS ARCHIVES

nfocusmagazine.com | JULY 2023 <<

F E AT U R I

PRESENTED BY

MEET THE PANELISTS SAVE T HE DAT E

08.30.23 C IT Y WINERY / 11- 2

Dr. Adrienne Battle

Deana Ivey

Director of Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools

President & CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Join the Nashville Post and Nfocus for the 2023 Most Powerful Women luncheon as we discuss touching stories, lighthearted anecdotes and hard-won wisdom with some of the city’s top female leaders.