SUPERLATIVE style
The Crestmoor at Green Hills will exemplify sophisticated, rental retirement living in our vibrant city. Surrounded by the heritage neighborhoods of Green Hills, Belle Meade, Forest Hills and Hillwood – its impeccable finishes, Aspenwood service detail, dining and resort style living make it a premier address in Nashville. Impressive, spacious residential floor plans, floor to ceiling windows, expansive terraces allow a new level of indooroutdoor living. Spaces designed for entertaining, fitness, relaxation and a dedicated team provide a secure, lock and leave lifestyle for members.
Opening Spring 2025
Belle Meade Lifestyle
Men’s
Issue
Dear Belle Meade Lifestyle Readers,
June is a month that carries a special kind of energy — long sunlit days, backyard gatherings, summer adventures, and of course, Father’s Day. This month, we’ve dedicated our issue to celebrating men — their style, passions, achievements, and the countless ways they shape and inspire the world around them.
For me, this Father’s Day carries a deeper, more personal meaning. My own father passed away in March, and as I reflect on his life, I am reminded of the profound influence fathers have — not just in the big, defining moments, but in the quiet, everyday ways they show up for their families. His humor, and steadfast love have left an indelible mark on who I am today.
In this issue, you’ll find stories that honor the spirit of fatherhood, explore men’s wellness and style, and spotlight some remarkable men in our own Nashville community. Whether you’re celebrating a father, grandfather, partner, or mentor this month, I hope these pages remind you to cherish the connections that matter most.
Thank you for being part of our Belle Meade Lifestyle family. Here’s to making memories, honoring legacies, and embracing all the moments — big and small — that make life truly meaningful.
With gratitude,
JENNIFER KAUFMAN, PUBLISHER
June 2025
PUBLISHER
Jennifer Kaufman | jennifer.kaufman@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Stephanie Krejci | Stephanie.Krejci@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Kit Garrott | kit.garrott@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kristen Weigel, Said Diaz
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
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Bryan Deese
The
From Struggle to Strength
Buddy Teaster
Mark Waldo: Built From Scratch
Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4Souls and author of From Tailspin to Tailwind, is the cover star of
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
Photography by Mae Miller: @happilymae
BRYAN DEESE
THE NASHVILLE NATIVE WHO'S PAINTING THE CITY'S PAST, PRESENT AND PERSONALITY
Photography by Kristen Weigel
For Nashville muralist Bryan Deese, art isn't just about color—it's about memory. "I'm a huge history buff. I like stories about unsung heroes, underground weirdos and forgotten tales," he says. Raised in Music City and still rooted in its evolving creative landscape, Deese uses public walls to bring overlooked narratives to life. "Being from Nashville and living through its rapid growth over the past decade is like living in a city you're visiting for the second time. You kind of know your way around and recognize some areas, but there's a lot of new stuff that wasn't here last time you rolled through. I dig the energy and try to ride the wave rather than fight it."
CONTINUED >
His journey started with graffiti. "Graffiti was everything I wanted in art as a kid. It's big. It's colorful. It happens quickly and comes with a bit of adventure," he says. "Graffiti is also a big typography playground… I never felt the need to outgrow graffiti. My art has blended with and been influenced by graffiti and design my whole life."
Spray paint remains his medium of choice. "It's fast and fun… The speed and expressive strokes make spray paint enjoyable," he says. And his training in graphic design continues to inform his work: "When I think about the composition of a mural, I approach it more as a designer than a painter. I like the graphic nature of my work. I love typography, so it's only natural that I incorporate it in my art."
Many of his murals begin with inspiration from site-specific research or personal memory. "They are usually things I've come across in my life, and they stick with me," he explains. "Probably my favorite reaction from a mural was when I was painting in Gallatin next to the skate park," Bryan remembers—the mural honors Ray Underhill Jr., Tennessee's first professional skateboarder. Ray passed away from cancer at a young age, but his family still lives in the area. "His father and stepmother came and visited me… The very next day, they returned. His stepmother had made me a sweet popcorn snack mix, and they brought me lots of memorabilia from Ray's skateboarding days. I still have Ray's professional headshot, which they gifted me, hanging on my wall."
His advice for those starting out in public art is simple: "There's nothing to it but to do it." And when it comes to balancing personal vision with public space, he stays true to himself: "I know I'm not gonna make everyone happy and I'm not trying."
From graffiti alleys behind Brown's Diner to the towering walls of the W Hotel, Bryan Deese is painting a version of Nashville that's vibrant, honest and unforgettable.
Bryan Deese
"With Street Art or murals, the advice I always give is, “There’s nothing to it but to do it.” It’s like anything in life: No one‘s gonna hand it to you. I recommend self-funding your first couple of murals so that people can see your style and artistic view. Also, you will have to figure out these new mediums, and you can only do that by physically painting one or two or three yourself. That’s why I like kids who come from the graffiti world. They already have that mentality built in. In that culture, you’re not waiting for someone to give you permission or encourage you. You just feel compelled to do it. Those kids learn a lot by painting in the streets, more than in a classroom."
Photography by Said Diaz
mor e With incoming or der, at time of pur c hase only Expir es 6/30/25. Of fer not v alid in all r e gions.
FROM STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH
In his new book - From Tailspin to Tailwind - Buddy Teaster shares the powerful, purpose-driven story behind Soles4Souls—and the lessons that carried them through
Buddy Teaster did not set out to write a book. As the president and CEO of Soles4Souls (S4S), a nonprofit that turns shoes and clothing into opportunities, he’s used to talking about impact, but a request to give a different kind of presentation planted a seed.
“Even at some of our lowest points, financially and emotionally, we could find ways to keep going.”
“It was an unexpected invitation to make a presentation, but not about the usual S4S work,” Buddy says. “They wanted something broader than just what we had done, but how could others learn from those experiences. The talk went well, and it started to percolate. And then, about 18 months later, we decided to pursue the book.”
That book became From Tailspin to Tailwind: Leadership Lessons for Turning Crisis into Clarity, a deeply personal and practical reflection on leadership, resilience, and the winding path of transforming a struggling nonprofit into a thriving, purpose-driven organization. The title itself carries weight.
“I think those are both phrases that people know, use, and intuitively understand,” he explains.
“With just two words, there’s an entire arc to a story. And I liked the alliteration.”
Telling that story required honesty. While transparency is one of the organization’s core values, Buddy admits there were parts that weren’t easy to share. “There are two parts that we did wrestle with. First was what’s going on in Transnistria with our partner there, who is still in jail for absolutely no reason other than being successful at building a business that helps so many people. The second is that the two people the book is dedicated to, David Graben and Robert Adams-Ghee, both passed away in the last few years. They were so central to the S4S tailspin to tailwind story that it was just sad for them not to be here to know where we are now.”
At the heart of the book is a hard-earned truth Buddy learned not in boardrooms, but out on long-distance ultramarathon trails. “It’s not explicit in the book, but it’s a lesson I learned from my years of ultrarunning: ‘It never always gets worse.’ Even at some of our lowest points, financially and emotionally, we could find ways to keep going. That’s almost always true, and I know it’s kept me going many, many times.”
Buddy’s leadership style has been shaped by a commitment to aligning purpose and profit—two forces often seen as being at odds. “Like many folks, for many years, I thought those things were somehow mutually exclusive. My time at S4S has shown me, over and over and in so many different ways, how aligned they can be. Because we’re so clear on our purpose—creating opportunities for people through shoes and clothes—I am totally comfortable with earning a profit that we plow back into our purpose. Each reinforces the other.”
When the inevitable tension arises between mission and business demands, Buddy returns to that central clarity. “Always, always come back to the purpose. It’s often so clarifying that the clash goes away. That could change, right? For example, we could hit a tough economic patch that would create a lot more tension. So, I don’t mean to imply we have it figured out. Only when we have been through hard times—the pandemic, the death of two of our key executive team members—we were able to turn to our purpose and our values. And that’s what helped us navigate.”
His advice to other leaders going through “tailspin” moments? “Don’t do it alone. There are (I hope!) people who love you and want you to pull out of the nosedive. But you must have the courage to ask for help, tell them and yourself the truth and listen. That pause between thought and action is the whole game.”
“Always, always come back to the purpose. It’s often so clarifying that the clash between profit and mission goes away.”
Despite the serious subject matter, Buddy insists the most rewarding part of the work is how often he sees its impact. “Are you kidding!?!?!? It’s nearly every day. Talking to an entrepreneur who bought her first house and another who sent one of her children to university with the income from selling shoes is just as powerful as seeing one of our team members figure out how he can be vulnerable and successful at the same time.”
That sense of purpose and a dose of humility have kept him grounded. “First, I have
three incredible women in my life—my wife, Becca and two daughters in their 20s. I never get away with too much ego! Working with many people in different situations, I am also acutely aware of the sheer randomness and luck of it all. That’s the most humbling thing in the world.”
If he could go back and give his younger self a single piece of advice, it would be this: “Notice all the amazing people and things around you, then be way more grateful for them more often.”
MARK Waldo: BUILT FROM scratch
Some people fall into the restaurant business; Mark fell in love with it. "I had always had a job, but I fell in love with the restaurant industry as soon as I started," he says. "Everyone was always cutting up, cracking jokes, and I became addicted to the fast-paced nature of this world. I would walk out of the building every night with my tip out after bussing tables, and I was immediately hooked. There was never a dull moment, and I love that about this industry."
That same energy pulses through Waldo's Chicken & Beer, the Nashville-born fast-casual concept Mark launched in 2019 after stepping away from running someone else's brand. "We have a saying in our world: 'Lead, follow or get out of the way,' and I felt like I was more interested in leading than following," he says. "So I got out of the way in the burger world and took a stab at the chicken space."
Inside the Rise of Waldo’s Chicken & Beer and the Nashville Leader Who’s Reinventing Fast-Casual, One Tender at a Time
Waldo's isn't your average fried chicken joint. "We like to call our brand full-service chicken in a fast-casual setting," he explains. "We have everything from tenders to bone-in chicken, fried rotisserie, salads and a full bar. We strive to bring our best in all categories."
That commitment shows up in every detail, especially in the kitchen. "We make everything from scratch everyday and that's incredibly important to us," Mark says. "We talk all the time about making decisions around things being better and not easier."
Mark credits his team for building Waldo's culture more than the menu. "It all comes down to the people you put on your team," he says. "We are super blessed to have folks on our teams that derive a lot of satisfaction from making their food from scratch daily." One moment that stuck with him? "I overheard a young cashier calling his parents one day at our Cool Springs store, and they said, 'Mom, you got to come to the store today and eat the ranch, I made it!'"
Mark keeps his team centered through clear values: "One of our five core values at Waldo's Chicken & Beer is 'stay humble and always seek to learn and develop.'" That humble approach extends to the community, too. Whether supporting local schools, Second Harvest Food Bank or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Waldo's always looks to give back. "We talk about 'generosity as our default,'" he says. "It goes much deeper than just free upgrades. It's about showing up when our community needs us."
With new locations opening across the South and big goals ahead, Mark is just getting started. "Our next goal is to open 50 stores and expand out west and north. Stay tuned, it's gonna be a wild ride."
The Roost
Slow-Roasted Pulled Chicken, Pickles and Alabama White Sauce on a Toasted Bun
Chicken Scratch Salad
Fresh Garden Greens, Fried Chicken, Cheddar, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Chopped Bacon, Toasted Almonds & Housemade Croutons with Buttermilk Ranch
Waldo's Menu Favorites from Belle Meade Lifestyle
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SO YOU WANT TO BE A COWBOY
DISCOVER THE WHIMSY OF THE WEST AT PAWS UP MONTANA
Favorably referred to as the “Last Best Place” and the “Treasure State,” Montana has captured the hearts of cinematic cowboys like Taylor Sheridan and Harrison Ford and inspired the television series, “Yellowstone” and its prequels, “1883” and “1923.”
Though fictional, they’ve reminded America of its deeply-rooted spirit for adventure and the simple yet rugged way of life that we all crave. Whether its the backdrop of jagged, snowcapped peaks or the endless golden pastures that are peppered with livestock, this Rocky Mountain soil is a breeding ground for dreamers and doers, and the people who call it home are no strangers to the ritual of ranch life. So, you want to be a cowboy? Slipping on some leather and having a little hide in your hat are good ways to start, but visiting a resort that brings the best of this life to the forefront, while also embracing modern luxury, is the experience of a lifetime. Paws Up Montana sprawls the distance of 37,000 private acres of historic estate-land, which houses a working ranch and 10 miles of Blackfoot river. Personalization is key—a divine selection of cuisine for the foodies, awe-inspiring activities for the adrenaline seekers, and world-class lodging that tickles every fancy from stargazing glamping, to timber-style family dwellings, to the uniquely designed green “o hauses” that invite the outside world in.
CHELSEA LYN AGRO PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury Homes are categorized into preference-based properties that boast the thrill of wilderness living. For larger families and multigenerational groups, consider the Wilderness Estates. At 3,250-squarefeet, these estates sleep up to eight guests and feature three large suites with private baths. The Big Timber Homes are available in one-to-three bedroom options and come ornamented with fire places and private decks. The Meadow Homes are 1,100-square-foot single-story homes that sleep up to four guests, situated amid a pastoral and treed setting. For an extra nod of perfection, choose one of the luxury homes that comes equipped with a private tent—ideal for anyone traveling with children (or adults who beckon back their childhood!).
For a more primitive experience, Glamping Homes offer the right amount of canvas to create a closeto-nature experience. Available mid-May through mid-October, choose from river settings to creeksides, bluffs or cliffs. Each tent is adorned with something unique—a copper tub, a picturesque view of Lewis and Clark’s famous Lookout Rock and Western-chic furniture throughout. Zip down the windows to allow for the cool nightly breeze, yet enjoy the modern convenience of electricity. Each campsite has a dining pavilion. And don’t miss the s’mores boards around the communal fire pit, offered by your own s’moresologist—yes, you read that right, and yea, it’s a thing.
Lastly, but certainly not least, are the state-of-theart accommodations of the Green O hauses. This portion of the property is completely curated for those 21 years of age and older. It’s a resort within a resort, a hidden pearl in an oyster of experience. The Tree Haus is elevated 23 feet in the air and offers unparalleled forest views. The Green Haus includes a skylight above the bed for an unmatched view of pluck-em-from-thesky stars. The Round Haus has curved, floor-to-ceiling windows that offer 180-degree panoramic views. Both the Green and Round Hauses are dog friendly, too, so Fido can rest in the lap of luxury. The Light Haus is illuminated by skylights and unique glass design.
WHAT TO DO
To change your attitude, you need a change in altitude. Gain some speed or turn up the adrenaline level with ATV tours, electric biking, mountain biking, go-karts, paintball, rappelling down Lookout Rock or whitewater rafting down the Blackfoot River. Indulge in the western art of living with archery, fly-fishing, hiking or sporting clays. For those who want to immerse themselves in the language of horses, there are horse-related adventures such as lessons, grooming or feeding, horse-whispering workshops or organized trails rides. Riders can also enjoy cattle drives that bring you back to yesteryear— driving a herd of cattle across the famed landscape—and bear witness to mustang gentling, where the Equestrian Manager communicates with a wild horse through body language and tone of voice. Skyline Aerial Adventure Park is another notable warm-weather activity, taking guests on two high-ropes courses.
HOW TO GET HERE
Airport: Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) transfers from Missoula are complimentary for guests and all luxury home and Green O accommodations come with a Lexus luxury SUV for transportation use on property.
This data is a sampling of sold properties from April 2025 in and around Belle Meade.
Laura Dale & Elizabeth Moore Co-owners
USING THESE TIPS YOU CAN MAKE A DELICIOUS HOMEMADE BARBECUE SAUCE.
A good barbecue sauce is comprised of a variety of the same six components. The key is to discover what style you enjoy most, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Oh, and taste often during the preparation process to adjust if so desired.
SOMETHING SWEET
This can be honey, cola, molasses, preserves, brown sugar, or syrup. This caramelizes as you cook, bringing those smoky, sugary flavors.
SOMETHING TANGY
Think vinegar, mustard, or citrus. This is what brings the zing to your sauce.
SOMETHING SPICY
This provides your heat: a hot sauce is a great choice. A good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 teaspoon for every cup of sauce you’re making.
SOMETHING LIQUID
It can be beer, water, chicken stock, soda, or wine. Start with about 1/2 a cup and see what happens.
SOMETHING TOMATO
You’ll most likely use ketchup, but you can also use tomato paste.
THE SPICE COMBINATION
This can depend on your liking and taste and can include anything from onion powder to garlic powder to chili powder to allspice to cayenne pepper to mustard powder to liquid smoke to cumin to Worcestershire sauce and more. Start with a teaspoon of salt, and keep tasting as you experiment with your desired spices.
HOMEMADE
BBQ SAUCE
INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups ketchup
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 1/2 tablespoon ground mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 1 hour 15 minutes.
Recipe and information courtesy of Pat Neely and Gina Neely.
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