




![]()





Welcome to our annual Gentlemen’s Issue, or as we like to call it, “The Dudes of Bellevue.” That’s the working title we use as we plan and prepare the stories that are about to unfold before you.
In last year’s Dudes, I mean Gentlemen ‘s Issue, we presented a collection of stories about men in the Bellevue area who work in the creative arts. This year, we’re leaning a little more into the masculine stereotype with stories about bourbon, golf, and rock ‘n’ roll.

But it’s not about indulgence, gluttony or frat-boy behavior.
Longtime Bellevue resident Joseph Dulaney is one of the leaders of The Southern Whiskey Society, a nonprofit organization that leverages the camaraderie and collegiality fostered by spirits to do good work in the community.
George Lund–a serial entrepreneur, golf aficionado and Bellevue resident–recently opened The Back Nine Golf in the Belle Forest Shopping Center. The Back Nine offers an indoor golfing experience that will change the way you think about playing the game.
Then there’s the world-famous Velvet Dogs. Perhaps Nashville’s hardest-rocking cover band, the current lineup–comprised of four Bellevue-area dads (and one of their sons)–can be found shredding in neighborhood haunts and hangouts throughout Nashville. You might even recognize one of those dads whose words appear in this space every month.
Thanks for being a faithful reader of Bellevue City Lifestyle and a Happy Father’s Day to all.

ATLAS, PUBLISHER
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Ed Atlas | ed.atlas@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Maria Dinoia | maria.dinoia@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Kellie Walton
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Lisa Linn Manley
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray
QUALITY


























The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum celebrated the nonprofit institution’s 20 millionth visitor since moving downtown in 2001 with a commemoration in the museum’s Mike Curb Conservatory. Grammy-winning artist Trisha Yearwood and museum CEO Kyle Young were on hand to mark the milestone. One of Yearwood’s early jobs when she moved to Nashville in the 1980s included being a tour guide at the museum. Her employment application is currently on display in the museum galleries. CountryMusicHallOfFame.org
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is inviting cyclists to experience even more of Tennessee’s breathtaking scenery and natural beauty with the addition of 37 newly curated gravel cycling routes to its Bike Tennessee program. These routes build upon an existing network of 52 road cycling routes, adding more than 1,000 miles of diverse terrain. The newly added gravel routes were developed in collaboration with professional route developer and cycling guide, Shannon Burke, of Tennessee Gravel. Bike.TNVacation.com
The Bellevue Harpeth Chamber of Commerce welcomes Harrison Coon to its Board of Directors. Coon contributes valuable experience in construction management, currently as a project engineer with American Constructors, Inc. As a first lieutenant in the Tennessee National Guard, he brings a strong commitment to service, collaboration and community growth. BellevueHarpethChamber.com
















In a city where every third person has a guitar pick in their pocket and a publishing deal on their mind, The Velvet Dogs are something of an anomaly. No original songs. No country. No Skynyrd, no Seger.
Just a group of middle-aged guys from Bellevue who get together to play hard rock because it's what they love. And because, as band co-founder and bassist Ed Atlas puts it, somebody has to.
"There's a law in Nashville that every middle-aged guy or older has to be in a band," he says. "We're the most un-Nashville band, I think, that's out there. We take a little bit of pride in that."
The origin story of the Velvet Dogs is, depending on how you look at it, either a cautionary tale or an origin myth. It begins with a Guitar Center bulletin board, a forgotten flyer, and a co-founding member getting kicked out of his own band.
"I got kicked out of it because I was such a terrible player," Atlas says. But that was nearly 20 years ago.


What followed was a long and winding road through roughly 50 or 60 potential bandmates before the core Velvet Dogs lineup finally took shape about 13 years ago. That lineup held together for over a decade before naturally evolving into its current incarnation. Leaner, harder rocking, and built around a handful of players who share a specific vision of what a night out should sound like.
The band's name traces back to a small, unpretentious bar in New Orleans, right across the street from Preservation Hall. "It was the most inconspicuous bar you would find," Atlas says. “No neon. It was just a little shotgun bar with a real neighborhood vibe.” The Velvet Dog didn't survive Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but the spirit of that place lives on in what the band is trying to do.
As for the sound, Atlas describes it simply. "We're the ‘but rock’ band," he says. "Nothing but rock."

The Velvet Dogs play harder, more modern rock — Staind, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Linkin Park, music that is, as Atlas says, about "20, 25, 30 years old." They take pride in playing material that most bands don't or won't attempt.
"We take our playing very seriously," he says. "We try to be the best we can possibly be, but we don't take ourselves seriously at all."
One of the most compelling recent additions to the band is Atlas' son, Sam, a rising sophomore at Belmont's Curb School of Music. Sam has been around the band his entire life. In fact, there's a photo of him at six or seven years old playing a djembe (drum) in the middle of a practice session. When the band needed a bass player about a year and a half ago, they asked Sam to learn six songs and come to practice.
"He came in and sounded really good," Atlas says. "Then we're like, 'Hey, learn these six more for next week.' He came back and it sounded like a band. So we just said, ‘Congratulations. You made the team.’”
Sam has since switched to guitar. Which means Atlas, who had never played bass before in his life, is now holding down the low end. He says, "I have no idea what I'm doing," But watching his son play from across the stage has made every fumbled note worth it.



"He plays with this joy and fearlessness that I hope he never loses," Atlas says.
Bandmate Kevin Murakami, a guitarist and owner of Kevin's Rock and Roll Emporium in Fairview who is the band’s other co-founding member, noticed it too. During a recent practice, he leaned over to Atlas and said, "This has got to be a proud papa moment for you." Atlas agreed, but with one caveat. “I can’t really pay any attention to him because it’s all I can do to keep from train-wrecking everything on bass right now.”
The other bandmates include lead vocalist Vivak "V" Bhatt and drummer Andy Byrn.
Ask Atlas what The Velvet Dogs are really about and he'll tell you it has nothing to do with fame, fortune, or even tips — though they've eventually made peace with the Venmo tip jar that Nashville's bar culture seems to require.
"A lot of guys play golf and a lot of guys are starting to maybe play pickleball," he says. "None of us do any of that. This is what we do and this is our recreation."
The goal is simple. Play 10 to 12 quality shows a year. Play music that challenges them. Give the people in the room a good time.
"My advice to all," Atlas says, "Get out and play. It's so much fun and you’re not going to get hurt.”
The Velvet Dogs are currently booking upcoming dates around Nashville. Follow them for show announcements at VelvetDogsBand.com









For the past nine years, the first Saturday of August has filled Franklin with good whiskey and even better conversation. The Southern Whiskey Society’s (SWS) Southern Food & Whiskey Experience returns to The Factory this year on August 8th. But before we get into this year’s event, let’s pour one out for how it all began.
Joseph Dulaney has lived in Bellevue since 1998. By day, he works in educational tech, but his other job centers around his after-hours hobby. Dulaney fatefully met Tiny Irwin while gathered with fellow whiskey buffs in a Brentwood liquor store.
"Whiskey is the great equalizer," Irwin says. "There would be a half dozen to a dozen of us just talking in the liquor store. Nobody knew what anybody did, nobody cared."
A group of people who liked good whiskey kept showing up in the same place, and kept the conversation flowing as much as the spirits. Irwin grew up in the beer business, ran national sales teams, and eventually became president and COO of a 90-yearold regional distributor. Irwin moved to Franklin from the West Coast in 2020 and will tell you that one of his family's core values is creating community wherever they land.
A few years ago, an Instagram post crossed his feed: Southern Whiskey Society was looking for new ownership. He showed it to his wife. She said, "Why wouldn't you do it?"
He bought it and formed a board. Dulaney, who'd been drawn into the bourbon world years earlier, was invited to the board as a result of those liquor store sessions. He’s the unofficial “crazy ideas guy,” helping the event become something truly not to be missed.
“YOU SEE A LOT OF ‘AHA’ MOMENTS WITH BOURBON WHISKEY CONNOISSEURS.”


“The vision is to help battle the epidemic of isolation and loneliness,” Irwin says. “We do that through changing the social landscape, creating spaces, and curating intentional communities.”
The event brings more than 40 craft distillers into a room, mostly founders, master distillers, or master blenders who are experts in their craft. The goal is to have the person who made the thing talking about why they made it.
But it doesn’t stop at whiskey; intentional tastings are key. A collection of Middle Tennessee chefs round out the room, each producing 1,000 small bites of a single dish built to either pair with a particular pour or incorporate a specific distillery's spirit.
"You see a lot of 'aha' moments with bourbon whiskey connoisseurs," Dulaney says. "It opens up a whole new world for them."
The food has become popular enough to warrant its own ticket tier: a Designated Driver option that includes unlimited bites and non-alcoholic drinks.
This year, 10 tequila distillers join the lineup, as well as a charity barrel with bottles signed by a visiting master distiller. Proceeds go to OneGenAway, with whom SWS has worked for several years. (OneGenAway rescues high-quality, surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, farms, and caterers and redistributes that food to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.)
Surprise and delight show up in different ways each year, and while this year’s secrets will remain corked, previous moments include an air-conditioned cigar lounge and a hidden speakeasy.
Irwin’s background in the alcohol industry brought him to many tradeshows and events, so he had a pretty good idea of what would make one stand out. SWS pays special attention to things like drinkware (crystal Riedel glasses over plastic sippers), capacity (tickets are capped, so there's plenty of room to engage in conversation), and inclusion (last year, Dulaney personally introduced every out-of-state attendee to someone, so they immediately felt part of the community).
Tickets are available at four tiers: the Designated Driver ticket ($99) covers unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages; General Admission ($199) adds full access to the whiskey and tequila tastings; VIP ($299) includes early entry and additional perks; and for those who want the full experience, the Early Entry Cigar Lounge VIP ($399) gets you in ahead of the crowd with access to the cigar lounge.
Tickets and additional information at SouthernWhiskeySociety.com

by Kris Rae

Mariner, LLC offers its services through the brand names Mariner, Mariner Wealth, Mariner Independent, Mariner Institutional, Mariner Ultra, and Mariner Workplace. For additional information about Mariner, including fees and services, please contact Mariner or refer to Form ADV Part 2A which is available on the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.








GEORGE AND CARRIE LUND HAVE BROUGHT THE WORLD’S FOREMOST INDOOR GOLF EXPERIENCE TO AN UPSCALE SPACE IN THE HEART OF BELLEVUE

ARTICLE BY ED ATLAS | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Even though it’s tucked inconspicuously into a corner of a high-profile Bellevue retail corridor, The Back Nine indoor golf experience is quickly becoming a destination unto itself. The facility’s welcoming ambience and dazzling technology inspires golfers of all levels to hone their skills and immerse in a community of like-minded fairway fanatics. Recently we stopped by to chat with franchise owners Carrie and George Lund about the latest addition to Bellevue’s recreational and entertainment landscape.
BELLEVUE CITY LIFESTYLE: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO OPEN A VENUE LIKE THIS IN BELLEVUE?
George Lund: Carrie and I are Nashville natives, and Bellevue has been our home for the past nine years. As entrepreneurs, we were looking for a business opportunity that would bring something meaningful and enjoyable to our community. When we discovered The Back Nine franchise, we immediately felt it was the perfect fit—not only for us, but also as a great addition to Bellevue’s growing golf community.
BCL: WERE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING GOLF SPECIFIC?
Carrie Lund: Golf has always been something that connects our family. We have three grown children who all play, and some of our favorite memories have been made during a fun round of golf together. When we discovered The Back Nine, it felt like a natural fit for us—not only because of our love for golf, but because it offered something Bellevue could really enjoy and rally around. Tee times can be hard to find, and outdoor golf always depends on the weather. At The Back Nine, members can play 24/7, year-round, in the comfort of a private bay.
BCL: LET’S GET RIGHT TO IT: TELL US ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OUTDOOR GOLF?
GL: The Back Nine uses Full Swing technology, which is the same technology featured in Tomorrow’s Golf League, or TGL, airing in primetime on ESPN with current PGA Tour players. It creates an incredibly realistic experience, from the course imagery on our large screens to the way the ball performs in real time. The Full Swing technology provides immediate feedback, so players can see accurate data on each swing while still enjoying the feel of playing a real round of golf. We currently have 83 courses available, including Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, and all of the TPC courses. We also have Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, North Carolina, which is a favorite among many golfers from Middle Tennessee. Full Swing is also adding 50 courses each year for the next five years, so the experience will continue to grow. What makes it especially fun is the ability to customize the round. You can adjust pin placement, fairway, rough and green conditions, and even weather. Because of that, members never run out of new ways to play.
CL: It really is an incredible concept, and one of the biggest benefits is convenience. A round of golf does not have to take the entire afternoon. Three or four people can typically play 18 holes in about three hours, and two people can usually finish 18 holes in about an hour and a half. That makes it much easier to fit golf into a busy schedule, while still enjoying a great experience with friends, family, or clients.
BCL: FOR THE GOLFERS WHO HAVE VISITED COMPETING FACILITIES, WHAT IS THEIR REACTION WHEN THEY SEE BACK NINE?
GL: Shock.
CL: “Wow!” That is usually the first reaction we hear. Our goal was to create an atmosphere that feels comfortable and welcoming—almost like home—where members enjoy spending time, playing golf, and making memories with friends

“You can adjust pin placement, fairway, rough and green conditions, and even weather. Because of that, members never run out of new ways to play.”
“I love hearing friends and families laughing, playing, and spending time together. Our members bring their friends, their favorite food and beverages, and simply enjoy being together around the game of golf.”


and family. I think we have achieved that. One thing members really appreciate is the private bay experience, which is not always easy to find. That has been especially meaningful to me as a newer golfer. I love being able to close the door, practice, and learn without worrying about who may be watching. One of my favorite parts of owning The Back Nine is walking down the hall when the bays are full and their bay doors are closed. I love hearing friends and families laughing, playing, and spending time together. Our members bring their friends, their favorite food and beverages, and simply enjoy being together around the game of golf.
BCL: WHO IS YOUR TYPICAL MEMBER?
GL: We’re seeing the most traction from someone who wants to improve their game, have the flexibility to play 24/7 and be able to pivot on that and bring their friends and families. The Back Nine is a complement to outdoor golf as many of our members belong to private clubs. Corporate memberships are also available as well as co-branding opportunities. For example, Nashville Collision Center is the sponsor of our Augusta Bay. And all of our Back Nine members are eligible to play at any of the other Back Nine locations across the country.
TheBackNineGolf.com/nashville-bellevue-tn/

Thank you for considering us to care for your loved one. We believe that people living with dementia can still experience feelings of engagement, accomplishment and joy. And we’ve developed a unique program designed to help our residents have the most positive and rewarding time possible with us.
At Barton House Memory Care, we pride ourselves at looking at the world Through Their Eyes.
Our unique approach to Memory Care provides a breakthrough approach to compassionate communication with our residents and their family and friends.
You can trust that your loved one will be cared for with memory care-focused senior living, personalized for their needs, in a beautiful and supportive community.
If you’re looking for a safe and peaceful neighborhood your loved one will be happy to call home, you’ve found it at Barton House.
Thank you for considering us to care for your loved one. We believe that people living with dementia can still experience feelings of engagement, accomplishment and joy. And we’ve developed a unique program designed to help our residents have the most positive and rewarding time possible with us. The program is called “Through Their Eyes.” Instead of trying to pull residents into may be getting harder for them to understand, we look at the world Through Their of our program is an approach called “Compassionate Communication.” This technique truth or redirects the resident’s train of thought to avoid agitation and fear. And everything environment, from the color of the walls to the music we play, has been purposefully a homelike environment characterized by dignity, security, individuality, independence


CLOUDLAND AT MCLEMORE RESORT IS REDEFINING MOUNTAIN LUXURY
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIA DINOIA


Are you seeking breathtaking views, cozy luxury, and outdoor adventure? Then look no further than two and half hours southeast of Franklin to Cloudland at McLemore Resort. Atop the scenic Lookout Mountain plateau, Cloudland at McLemore Resort in Rising Fawn, Georgia is an ideal getaway just a few hours’ drive from Franklin. Chasing fall foliage or spring blooms, planning a romantic escape, or craving fresh mountain air and stunning sunsets on your next trip out of town, has never been easier.
“Our setting atop Lookout Mountain naturally invites guests to slow down, reconnect with nature, and prioritize wellbeing.” —Mike Burton, President, McLemore Resort

The resort has several options for dining. Auld Alliance, the resort's signature fine dining restaurant, is a culinary celebration of the historic pact between Scotland and France, dating back to 1295, rendered in elevated highland fare with French sophistication. The dry aged meats are a must, particularly the 28-day aged ribeye that you can view through the glass showcase as you enter the restaurant.
If fine dining isn't your thing, you can enjoy a casual sit-down at Croft, with its American fare and creative twists or grab some lighter fare like handcrafted sandwiches and healthy snacks with artisanal teas and a variety of energizing drinks at The Pocket Cafe. If poolside, you might try Skyside, a stylish oasis that offers a relaxed, cliff-side experience. This open-air lounge serves an array of handcrafted cocktails, beverages, and bar
bites including snacks, salads, bowls, handhelds, and more.
Cloudland takes wellness seriously. For starters, The Selah Spa offers an impressive array of treatments rooted in high-quality ingredients and genuine craft, including a signature body ritual that draws on gold and peptide-infused formulas. Massages, facials, sauna and cold plunge are all on the menu.

“The second annual Wellness Weekend was a wonderful reflection of what we’re building at Cloudland at McLemore Resort. While the weekend itself brings together inspiring practitioners, outdoor experiences, and meaningful moments of connection, it’s really an extension of the resort's everyday spirit.” —Mike Burton, President, McLemore Resort
Beyond the spa, the resort offers yoga sessions, peaceful, guided hikes along Cloudland's own wooded trail system, and immersive experiences led by local practitioners — from sound baths to hands-on herbology workshops. The genuine and friendly staff work hard to curate these wellness experiences for their guests.
Let's not forget the breathtaking heated cliff-edge infinity pool and hot tub, a full fitness center with a dedicated Peloton room, complimentary bike rentals, and miles of hiking trails, ensuring that no two guests spend their time the same way. Evening fireside chats and s'mores round out the experiences. There's even a library, stocked with games and books.
The resort staff regularly hosts a Maker's Market featuring local artisans from across North Georgia including jewelers, hatmakers, lavender growers, glassworkers, and herbalists who bring the character of the mountain into the resort itself.
Of course, no luxury mountaintop resort would be complete without a golf course or two. Cloudland guests can play two world-class golf courses designed by renowned architects, Bill Bergin and Rees Jones. The courses are meant to challenge your golf game and leave you captivated by the natural beauty. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a beginner looking to hone your skills, Cloudland at McLemore resort offers a truly exceptional experience.
Cloudland is the kind of place that earns its name. With sweeping views of McLemore Cove and the Cumberland Plateau, stretching across Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama, the cumulative effect of good food, thoughtful programming, genuine quiet, and a setting that keeps reminding you of exactly where you are: above the clouds.

AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When in all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”


“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson

Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.






































ALL SHOOTS INCLUDE ALL DIGITAL FILES IN FULL RESOLUTION
@LINDSEY BAYDOUN CREATIVE | @LINDSEY BAYDOUN PHOTOGRAPHY


Compassionate Trauma Therapy & Nutrition Counseling
Mary Ann Green is a dually-licensed therapist and dietitian who founded Nurtured Soul Counseling & Wellness in 2018. With nearly two decades of experience, she provides care that is integrated, clinically excellent and compassionate. She treats adults and adolescents, and now offers trauma intensives to support deep and uninterrupted healing.







from hand cut steaks and house made ba to gourmet sides, seasonings, and grilling essentials sperry’s mercantile has every thing dad wants this father’s d








