ARTS + CULTURE
CHARLES ESTEN
HOME + DESIGN
OPEN HOUSE WITH LORI PARANJAPE
TRAVEL
NEXT LEVEL LUXURY AT THE FOUR SEASONS
With sincere gratitude and appreciation, I would like to welcome you to our newest Nashville publication, Music City City Lifestyle. It is impossible to adequately convey the excitement I feel about this magazine and what I believe it will bring to this vibrant community each month.
Having begun my career with City Lifestyle as the editor of Brentwood Lifestyle, becoming co-publisher of Belle Meade Lifestyle and now launching this newest venture, I have been inspired by this city I love and am so grateful to call home. Amid the massive growth we’re experiencing, I felt compelled to step up and help sustain the communities within Middle Tennessee. I commit to bringing you insight into locally owned businesses, entrepreneurs, events and ways to give back. You’ll be inspired by breathtaking residences, mouthwatering recipes, fresh new gift ideas, exciting travel destinations, Music City staycations, and so much more. I hope these pages will be your guide to all things downtown Nashville for years to come.
This month, we wanted to highlight the magic of the season and some of the ways our city spreads holiday cheer. We’ve compiled a list of holiday "pop-ups" that make our city so unique and magical. We also wanted to share what our city has to offer in the way of entertainment and ways to give back during the holidays. And I’m so grateful to Charles Esten for being a part of our inaugural issue! He is such a warm, generous person and in so many ways is the perfect representative of everything we love about Nashville.
While this season can be beautiful for some, it can be painful and lonely for others, especially those who have recently lost a loved one. In the true spirit of the season, let’s take care of those in our community that need assistance or who are alone. My hope for you is that you feel love and peace and that we all remember to take care of each other by extending grace, empathy and love.
Happy Holidays!
JENNIFER KAUFMAN, PUBLISHER
PUBLISHER
Jennifer Kaufman | j.kaufman@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Delia Jo Ramsey | Delia.Ramsey@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Julie Brown Patton | julie.patton@citylifestyle.com
AD DESIGNER
Matthew Endersbe
LAYOUT DESIGNER
Sara Minor
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Delia Jo Ramsey, Lacey Johnson, Kellie Benz, Ann Walczak
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Canaan Kagay, Josh Gilmore, Jared Kuzia, NativeHouse Photography, DigitalLove, Mary Craven Photography
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer
ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson
AD MANAGER Chad Jensen
WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell
Where neighbors can see and be seen.
Fourth Capital appointed Travis Dumke as senior vice president, commercial relationship banker. Travis has 10-plus years of banking industry experience. He supports the growth of Fourth Capital’s commercial business by expanding its client roster and growing existing accounts. Prior to joining Fourth Capital, he served as senior vice president at First Bank. Previously, he held positions at SunTrust, Fifth Third Bank and Wells Fargo. A Fourth Capital branch is at 4007 Hillsboro Pike (Green Hills).
Community-focused restaurant Two Hands launched at 606 8th Avenue South, Store 400, in Nashville. The menu spotlights nutritious, simple, and delicious food along with a curated selection of natural wines, exceptional coffee and signature cocktails. Taking inspiration from Australia’s forward-thinking culinary scene and relaxed beachside lifestyle, Two Hands is known for its flavorful menu, coastal-inspired interiors and caring service. For detailed menu options, visit TwoHandsHospitality.com.
Thistle Farms representatives, a nonprofit social enterprise serving women survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction, added a new CBD line to their body and home products: a CBD-based Body Balm, which is a high-impact topical balm stick to deliver targeted relief for aching muscles, scented with a signature Calm essential oil blend, and a new Bath Soak for workout recovery and self-care with a CBD infusion to promote overall relaxation and stress relief. Visit ThistleFarms.org/CBD.
Photography Courtesy of Two Hands
“It’s just more gratitude for Nashville giving back to us… The culture of kindness in this town is, I think, my favorite part about it. So, I don’t think I’ll ever catch up because every time I try to give something back, two people give to us… A lot of what we do now is [because] I owe Nashville a terrible debt. Not just the show but the city.”
For most of us, finding out that your child has cancer is just a nightmare we will never have to face. But for actor and musician Charles Esten and his wife, Patty, it was a reality.
Charles, with his incessant smile and warm, we’ve-been-friends-for-years demeanor, gives no clue that just 20 years ago, his youngest daughter, Addie, survived leukemia and their family took their first step out of inconceivable darkness and into the light.
“When you first get through that, you just want to put your head down and get as far from it as you can,” he reflects. “When we came [to Nashville 10 years ago], it had been just enough time and it had been on our minds how much we owed The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and owed everyone that ever contributed, fundraised, or did research.”
It was that gratitude that fueled the couple’s participation in LLS’s annual Light the Night Walk and, for the past nine years, the Light the Late Night concert that follows. For its part, the concert, born out of a burst of love for the organization paired with Charles’s network of Nashville friends and
common sense (the large number of people already gathered for an event that ends relatively early in the evening), has been a huge additional fund-raising success since its inception and remains a keystone of the family’s campaign.
“I feel really fortunate that we get to do this,” says Charles. “And I should say we – capital WE –with the largest share of the word going to my wife, Patty. Who really makes things happen and makes it all possible.”
This year, the first Light the Morning benefit brunch was added to the events. Held at The 404 Kitchen with Chef Matt Bolus at the helm, the intimate setting provided an opportunity for Charles to share more stories, sing more songs, and further spread the word about the important work of LLS.
“I [felt] like everybody’s there, they’re eating somewhere, why not do it together?” Charles smiles.
“It’s just more gratitude for Nashville giving back to us… The culture of kindness in this town is, I think, my favorite part about it. So, I don’t think I’ll ever catch up because every time I try to give something back, two people give to us… A lot of what we
do now is [because] I owe Nashville a terrible debt. Not just the show but the city.”
Undeniably, Charles’ popularity as Deacon on the all-too-aptly named hit show Nashville, contributes to the success of his fundraising each year. And the power of these fans, or “Nashies,” as they’re called, isn’t lost on their family. “The strength of Team Addie – my daughter Addie would be the first person to say it’s not her. And we’d be the first to say it’s not us. It’s them. If they go away, Team Addie goes away. And not just the ‘Nashies,’ but the incredible people from all over.”
Charles is currently working on another labor of love – his first full-length album, set to release sometime in 2023. It’s a surprising thing to say “his first,” since he’s released music for quite some time now, even landing himself a Guinness World Record for Most Consecutive Weeks to Release a Digital Single – topping out at 54. “I’ve always felt like I’ve been making up for lost time,” he says. “I didn’t get [to Nashville] until I was older, so I’ve been trying to get those 10,000 hours that everyone talks about. Also, I never knew
how long I was going to get to stay, so I never wanted to look back and go, ‘I didn’t make the most of that opportunity.’”
Making the most of an opportunity is truly something Charles does best; in all things, but especially with LLS. “It was a pivotal moment in our lives, standing on a bridge over the Cumberland with 5,000 to 6,000 people, everyone with their different color balloons held high, and fireworks going off in the sky. We felt a million miles from where we first got the diagnosis for Addie; when we were just us. We had so many friends and family come alongside of us (and very quickly) but in that moment you feel very alone, and it feels very dark. The journey from that hospital room to that bridge and to all that Nashville brought with it as well, you can’t even really put it in to words. I think that cemented the place that the Leukemia Lymphoma Society has in our hearts right there. Not only did they help our daughter, but we could see the incredible work they were still doing … I think it’s exquisite.”
And just as their family’s experience through cancer has intertwined itself with everything in their lives, the lifting of light as Light the Night does has become intertwined in Charles’s music as well. “There’s a song that I wrote [for] Deacon in Nashville called Looking for the Light. The concept is that you’re going to go through dark times, but don’t stop looking for the light. To be part of this organization, that’s what it’s literally about.
In hindsight, it’s perfect.”
“There’s a song that I wrote [for] Deacon in Nashville called Looking for the Light. The concept is that you’re going to go through dark times, but don’t stop looking for the light. To be part of this organization, that’s what it’s literally about.”
Peek Inside Nashville's New Four Seasons Hotel
ARTICLE BY DELIA JO RAMSEY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FOUR
SEASONS HOTEL AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES NASHVILLE
The Four Seasons officially opened its doors in Music City on Nov. 1, elevating further Nashville’s status as an iconic destination for tourists; but there's also lots to offer for Nashville residents looking to experience life to the fullest. Beyond the 5-star resort, it also brings unmatched private residences and a duo of new dining options, a pool and a luxurious spa and fitness center -- certainly upping the game for the SoBro neighborhood. But the goal of the new Four Seasons is to become a worldwide destination, one great guest experience at a time.
Located at 100 Demonbreun St., bordering the Cumberland River, the Four Seasons hotel makes up the lower 14 floors, with private residences filling the remaining floors of the glass tower. Upon entering the revolving glass doors, visitors spot the new southern Italian restaurant, Mimo, and its lobby bar. One surprise? Live music, though it should be no surprise in downtown Nashville. The main restaurant and bar (named after the state bird of Tennessee, the mockingbird) Mimo, is helmed by chef Aniello “Nello” Turco offering Southern Italian fare with flavors and ingredients from the American South. Nello previously cooked at the former one-Michelin-starred Apsleys in London and two-Michelin-starred Noma in Copenhagen. The chef also spent five years at Mio in Beijing, which earned a Michelin star under his leadership. In the spring of 2023 visitors can look forward to also visiting the seventh-floor, resort-style pool oasis and its neighboring restaurant, inspired by the French Riviera.
The property offers 235 hotel guest rooms and suites, offering either city or river views. Rates at the Four Seasons Nashville start at $500 per night, with options ranging from rooms like the 402-square-foot river-view room and the 449-square-foot premier corner room to suites like the 670-square-foot executive pool-view suite, a 900-square-foot premier one-bedroom
suite, and the top offering: a 2,238-squarefoot presidential suite. The rooms have a warm midcentury feel, with neutral palettes flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows.
The rooms have fun, understated nods to the South and Nashville's rich music history. The room service menu cover says "Mind your biscuits and life will be gravy" and eye-catching tables take design inspiration from turntables, while the woodgrain on the guestroom doors is inspired by the guitar.
Continuing its focus on integrating fully with Music City, the Four Seasons joined forces with Songwriter City to offer Suite Sounds -- a package for suite stays providing a private acoustic concert from a Nashvillebased songwriter alongside pre-show snacks and drinks from the hotel bar.
FourSeasons.com/Nashville
“The residential industry is exploding. We’ve never had as many inquiries pouring in as we’ve had this past few years,” says Lori Paranjape, a celebrated interior designer and Instagram sensation who organically grew a modest, solo venture into a team that now champions multi-million dollar new construction and renovation projects all over North America.
She admits to having traveled through a roster of highs and lows, especially early on. There were stretches of downtime with
no calls or emails coming in. Setbacks and learning curves that felt like catastrophes at the moment. Jobs that almost were, but never materialized. Communication breakdowns that blew up in her face.
But she continued honing her eye for design, more deeply understanding how to work with the lighting in a given space, add the right amount of texture or tone and create an atmosphere that influenced mood in a desirable way. She continued making homes beautiful, enticing
@MRSPARANJAPE GLAMORIZES HOMES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA
and livable, dousing them with her magical flair, all the while fine-tuning her business model. Eventually, small jobs turned into extravagant jobs.
“The success is in sorting through the failures. You continue to fail in the things you don’t address,” says Lori. “While not all of my early projects were failures, when they were, I used those experiences as my training ground to build the successful, scalable, living, breathing practice that I have today–one that’s built on ease, grace and transparency.”
While further streamlining her business model and building a catalog of elated clients, Lori took to Instagram, filling her grid with gorgeous photographs of her sumptuous handiwork: A powdery pink closet. A sleek, sun-soaked bathroom. A crisp, white kitchen
with elegant chandeliers. A dark and swanky wet bar so visually commanding, you can almost smell the whiskey.
Soon, all of Instagram was swooning. Potential customers began landing in comments and direct messages at a head-turning rate. The growth was so explosive, she realized she needed to assemble a team. And, to her amazement, she’d soon be featured in prestigious media sources like Architectural Digest, House Beautiful and Elle Decor, and her expertise would be requested across distant landscapes and borders–from the Hudson Valley in New York to Mexico.
Lori’s career, though a slow progression at first, has become an extraordinary undertaking that’s only amplified in sophistication. She’s partnered with Redo Home + Design, a posh furnishings boutique on Sidco Drive in Nashville, and built a rolodex of high-profile clients, including “Bachelorette” stars JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers, country music royalty and numerous A-list athletes.
Along the way, she’s done some commercial projects as well, including e.Allen Boutique in The Gulch, Skin Pharm locations in Nashville, Atlanta and Dallas, and various other projects. Still, the majority of her work remains residential, which she says is her true love.
But, despite having become an empress of home design, Lori swears it’ll never be about anything but the people. The celebrations of their milestones and the precious moments in between—from the mother waking up in the middle of the night to nurse her baby comfortably in a cradling, serene space to the couple relaxing in their breakfast nook, sipping coffee and soaking up the early morning light. It’s a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly because she understands that her work serves as a backdrop to their lives and is woven through the tapestry of their unique stories.
“I always fall in love with my clients. Their projects become like children to me,” she says. “When my clients are happy, it’s the ultimate satisfaction."
Photo by: NativeHouse Photography
Photo by: Jared Kuzia
Photo by: NativeHouse Photography
Photo by: Mary Craven Photography
“INSTAGRAM IS THE PIECE OF MY BUSINESS THAT’S BEEN MOST INTEGRAL TO OUR WIDESPREAD SUCCESS. I SHARE ANECDOTES AND TIDBITS OF MY LIFE. I SHARE THE UGLY PARTS AND THE BEAUTIFUL PARTS, BECAUSE I GENUINELY WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL CONNECTED TO US AND TO OUR WORK. FOR ME, THAT’S THE HEART OF IT ALL.”
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SUN
18 | DEC
SAMBUCA NASHVILLE at 6pm & 8pm
All proceeds from the show will benefit Soles4Souls, providing new shoes to children experiencing homelessness in Nashville.
To purchase tickets, visit: brushfire.com/sambuca/christmas/541540
Exit Realty Elite of Nashville is matching all donations up to $3,000!
More than 1.5 million children in the U.S. are experiencing homelessness right now.
During a time of year that should be filled with happiness and excitement, these children feel embarrassment or discouraged over a necessity that many of us take for granted.
This year, you can give more than just a new pair of shoes. Give joy, confidence, and dignity!
soles4souls.org/joy
Your gift can make a child’s holiday season with a new pair of shoes!
Scan the QR code to donate or visit: soles4souls.org/joy
Because the people of Music City always adore a themed occasion (and any good reason for a cocktail), the roster of holiday bars and pop-ups are back in full force in Nashville this year. This year’s crop of holiday bars and pop-ups throughout Music City promises plenty of good cheer, soul-warming cocktails, plus walls and ceilings brimming with extra festive decor, tinseled-out Christmas trees, and sparkling lights aplenty.
1. "Buddy Bar" (Dream Nashville's Parlour Bar): mid-November through the end of the year. This elf-themed hotel pop-up promises boozy and non-alcoholic themed cocktails with paired bites.
2. Hidden Bar’s Holiday Vacation: Through Jan. 7, 2023. Step beyond the storage closet doors and transport to the Griswold’s memorable holiday gathering, complete with nostalgic moments from the film, Christmas Vacation-inspired cocktail and snack menus.
Buddy Bar at Dream Nashville
An Old Fashioned Christmas Bar (Bar TENN at Holston House)
Jingle Beat at the Nashville Fairgrounds
Gaylord Opryland's ICE!
3. Camp Bobby : A Winter Pop-Up Experience at Bobby Hotel’s rooftop: runs from November 2022 through February 2023. The 1970s-inspired campsite and retrofitted 1956 Scenicruiser returns for another season atop Bobby Nashville’s scenic rooftop with its famous igloos, personal campfires, fun snacks and themed libations.
4. Miracle Bar at Pearl Diver: Begins Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.
5. Snow Bird at Rare Bird atop Noelle Nashville: begins Nov. 9, 2022. Snow Birds travel 13 flights up to a cozy winter chalet under the sparkling lights of the Nashville skyline at Noelle Hotel’s Rare Bird.
6. An Old Fashioned Christmas Bar (Bar TENN at Holston House): runs through Dec. 29. A throwback Christmas experience awaits with Sinatra-style entertainment, seasonal drinks and holiday favorites from meatballs and baked brie to snow cream.
7. “ World’s Best Cup of Coffee, a Christmas Bar" (McGavock’s Coffee Bar and Provisions at Franklin's Harpeth Hotel): Starts Dec. 1. The downtown Franklin hotel's onsite café transforms into a Christmas bar, paying homage to the classic Christmas favorite, Elf
8. Chalet 27 (The Westin Nashville): Nov. 16, 2022 through February 2023. The Westin Nashville’s French Alpinspired après ski pop-up is wrapped in faux fur and alpine accents, Chalet 27 sits atop Nashville’s highest rooftop bar, featuring seasonally inspired fondue and cocktails.
9. Christmas at Gaylord Opryland: Nov. 11, 2022 through Jan. 1, 2023. Gaylord Opryland Resort invites guests to “freeze the day” this Christmas as the longtime holiday tradition, ICE!, returns to the annual A Country Christmas celebration Nov. 11, 2022 - Jan. 1, 2023, after a two-year hiatus. But there's also Frosty's Pub for holiday cocktails plus plenty more festive activities, events, attractions, and dazzling decorations throughout the property.
10. Jingle Beat at the Nashville Fairgrounds: Nov. 25, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022. Jingle Beat transforms the Fairgrounds into an immersive multiverse holiday experience. Guests are invited to explore more than 100,000 square feet of walkable indoor and outdoor adventure at this family-friendly pop-up, including dazzling light shows, a full-size ice skating rink, the Electric Evergreens forest, climbable faceted geodes, a SantaLand DJ, and four holiday-themed bars serving up cocktails and bites.
World’s Best Cup of Coffee, a Christmas Bar" at The Harpeth Hotel Camp Bobby at Bobby Hotel
A Liquid Gold Holiday Drinking Guide
ARTICLE BY KELLIE
Mike Wolf is an expert in all things spirits. A skilled mixologist, cohost of hit podcast Liquid Gold and mastermind behind the cocktails at some of Nashville’s premier restaurants, Mike is once again sharing his expertise with the community through the release of his third cookbook, Cheer: A Liquid Gold Holiday Drinking Guide. While alcoholic cocktails are aplenty, Cheer also features seasonal coffees, cider, hot chocolate and teas. Cheer is available for purchase at TurnerBookstore.com
“I wanted this book to be something that could help bring people together, make people laugh and give folks plenty of ideas for entertaining and making delicious things during the long holiday season,” Mike shares.
THE TOM AND JERRY RECIPE:
The Batter:
• 12 eggs
• 1 ounce aged rum (anything from Foursquare would be delicious for this!)
• 4 cups organic sugar
• 1/2 ounce Allspice liqueur (St. Elizabeth's Allspice Dram is a great choice)
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon powdered cloves
• 1 teaspoon Maldon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
Separate the eggs: beat yolks in a stand mixer, slowly adding the rum, for a minute or so until they lighten. Gradually add sugar, and keep beating until it dissolves. Add the spices, and beat to incorporate.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold in the egg whites to the yolk/spices/booze mixture. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate until it's Tom and Jerry time. With the booze in this mixture, it will keep for at least a week.
THE DRINK:
• 9 ounces Tom and Jerry batter
• 24 to 32 ounces whole milk, hot
• 6 ounces aged rum
• 4 ounces cognac
• Garnish: grated nutmeg and cinnamon stick
In a heatproof punch bowl combine the batter and hot milk, and slowly add the booze, whisking as you go. Serve in pre-warmed mugs or cups, and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a cinnamon stick. For the true Tom and Jerry experience, look for the vintage mid-century bowls and cups on eBay or antique stores.
Now in its third year, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign will give away $300,000 this holiday season to help individual community members who would benefit from a helping hand during their time of need. But they need YOUR HELP to make it happen! Maybe you know of a single parent struggling to provide, an elderly person who has experienced loss, a child enduring a health issue, a co-worker suffering a sudden, unexpected tragedy or a neighbor with a financial hardship who has fallen between the cracks of getting assistance. Chances are you know someone with a specific need—even if nobody else does.
To preserve and protect the dignity of every recipient, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign is completely confidential. No identities will be revealed or publicized in ANY way. (Even those who nominate others may remain anonymous if they choose.)
Last year, City Lifestyle was able to give to more than 70 recipients all over the country by sending checks in the mail through New Year’s Eve. (This year, the goal is to double that number with checks ranging in amounts up to $3,000 each.) With nominations flooding in from community members and leaders such as judges, police officers, teachers, nurses, social workers, mentors and readers like you, we were able to reach people who might otherwise go unnoticed.
“We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”
Together with Matthew Perry, Chief Sales Officer, Steven adds that the outpouring and gratitude from the recipients was overwhelming and affirmed that this is a tradition they want to continue.
“We believe God has blessed our company with continued success,” Matthew adds, “so we in turn want to be a blessing to others.”
City Lifestyle has also enacted an internal giving program whereby every employee in the company receives $100 to give away to someone in the community. “The idea is to encourage our employees to keep doing it on their own,” Steven says. “Taking care of one another and blessing others is so rewarding that it perpetuates a cycle of giving. It’s extremely important to me as a person and as a company to foster that culture of generosity.”
“This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”
To submit a nomination, follow @citylifestyle on Instagram and fill out the form found in the bio link. All entries will be read, and because this is not a raffle, there is no need to nominate someone more than once. The amount given to each recipient will be based on need.
