Design Matters
And Isn't It Ironic? Don't You Think?
"It's like rain on your wedding day. It's a free ride when you've already paid. It's the good advice that you just didn't take". We all know Alanis Morissette's famous words! And oh, how true they are. This month we celebrate our kids, pets, and the families within Nashville. When I think of my own motherhood journey, whether it be with our 80 lb. Redbone Coonhound or raising our two daughters, I can't help but reference the irony that these little lives bring to life.
The irony of saving for that dream vacation, but then the dog gets sick and along comes the vet bill. The irony of raising kids to be their own individuals to thrive in this world, but always yearning for them to be right next to you. The irony of entrepreneurship to reach the goal of 'freedom', but all of your alone time is consumed with planning, dreaming, and looking forward. But at the end of the day, this chaos is exactly what life is all about. It's the constant pull of achieving dreams, and then actually fostering the responsibility that we once so badly wanted.
What if the 'struggle' was not there? What if life was just easy- all of the time? What shallow of a human we would all be! Our struggles, experiences, and juggling all of life's absolute blessings is what makes us relatable, understanding to others around us, and ultimately it's what makes this life worth living.
Our kids & pets fill our homes with laughter, teaches us love, and gives us the memories that outlives any of us. There’s something magical about the way children and animals remind us of what really matters. Their curiosity, their unconditional love, and their ability to find joy in the simplest moments teach us to slow down and savor the here and now.
The stories, that we are so honored to share in this issue, are individuals in Nashville who have dedicated themselves to others. I can’t think of anything more honorable or selfless than wanting to dedicate your life to these little lives!
KAT SEATON GIARRATANO, PUBLISHER @MUSICCITY.CITYLIFESTYLE
August 2025
PUBLISHER
Kat Seaton Giarratano | kat.seaton@citylifestyle.com
CO-PUBLISHER
Matt Giarratano | matt.giarratano@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Morgan Raum, Lisa Valentine
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brocoff Photography, Lindsey McAlister, Legacy of Love Photo + Film
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Discover this stunning 3,351 sq ft home nestled on a peaceful, private lot in the heart of Brentwood. With 5 spacious bedrooms and 2.5 beautifully appointed bathrooms, this home offers the perfect balance of comfort and style. Community amenities include a sparkling pool, tennis courts, and scenic walking trails. Inside, enjoy a warm fireplace, central air, and an attached garage for everyday convenience. Just minutes from top-rated schools, shopping, and dining — this home truly has it all.
Caring for Man’s Best Friend
The Gulch's Canine Concepts brings pet grooming, training, and nutrition to downtown Nashville.
The Templeton Way
Templeton Academy redefines education by empowering students through hands-on learning, using the city as a classroom and fostering curiosity, agency, and purpose.
The Heart of Childcare: Twinkle Toes Nashville
A look inside Nashville’s pediatrician-recommended nanny agency, Twinkle Toes.
scene
1-7: CHORD Real Estate treated around 200 clients to an unforgettable evening during their annual CHORD Kids Day at the Zoo on June 21st. Hosted after hours at the Nashville Zoo, this private event featured behind-the-scenes animal encounters, unlimited rides on the carousel and Soaring Eagle zip line, and a family-friendly dinner under the stars. Guests enjoyed a spirited scavenger hunt—complete with giveaway prize sponsored by Music City | City Lifestyle & Thank You For Coming. It’s just one of the many ways CHORD Real Estate shows appreciation to the families who trust them all year long.
business monthly
Rennstahl European Auto Care | Now Open In WeHo
Rennstahl is a family-owned European auto repair shop committed to precision, integrity, and exceptional service. They elevate automotive care with expert craftsmanship, transparency, and a strong community focus. Specializing in brands like BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and more, they handle everything from routine maintenance to complex repairs. With shuttle service, comfortable lounge, and immediate appointments, Rennstahl delivers a personalized experience beyond corporate chains. Visit Rennstahl at 1128 4th Ave. S. or call 615.777.710 to book your appointment!
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Join Us on July 24th | Sips & Solutions Social Hour
Join us Thursday, July 24th from 6–8pm for Sips & Solutions with Santé Solutions and Music City | City Lifestyle. Sip something bubbly while we chat about hormones, peptides, functional medicine, and personalized wellness. Whether you’re curious to learn, connect, or just unwind, this is the perfect space. Bring a friend or come solo—everyone’s welcome. Email with any questions. Let’s sip, socialize, and explore your
The Ultimate Party Companion | Bubbly Betty for Kids and Adults
Fab Tap’s, the Bubbly Betty is a kiddo inspired mobile beverage and snack unit designed to elevate any event with style and ease. Compact yet eye-catching, she features four beverage taps, four snack dispensers, and a charming bubble machine that creates a playful ambiance. Perfect for kids birthday parties, community events, weddings and more, the Bubbly Betty delivers convenience and unforgettable memories, ensuring every celebration feels effortless and fun. Go to thefabtapco.com for more info!
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Healthy Vision, Confident Kids | Back-to-School Glasses
Novel Eye Care is offering discounted kids’ glasses during Back-to-School exams. Children’s eyes can change significantly within a year, making regular eye exams essential. Good vision is vital for learning, sports, and overall well-being. Healthy eyesight supports success in school, where reading, writing, computer use, and physical activities demand strong vision. Without it, children may struggle academically, lose confidence, or miss out on favorite activities. Visit noveleyecare.com to book your appointment and keep their eyes healthy!
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THE SKIN FAIRY NASHVILLE
An effective, science-backed approach to healthy skin
Whether you are struggling with acne, acne scarring, rosacea, pigmentation, or uneven texture, we work hand and hand with you to create a personalized treatment plan & skin care routine. We are committed in helping you achieve clear, healthy, and vibrant skin.
Photography by Legacy of Love Photo + Film
Plan Your Holiday Party at Nashville’s Most Elegant Event Space
The Noah Liff Opera Center, one of Nashville’s most elegant and versatile venues, is now booking holiday parties and year-end gatherings. From chic corporate soirées to festive cocktail affairs or dazzling black-tie events, its stunning architectural spaces, professional amenities, and warm hospitality create unforgettable celebrations. Elevate holiday traditions in style at this remarkable venue. Book your event today at nashvilleopera.org/liff and toast the season with sophistication, charm, and memories to last all year.
WHERE NASHVILLE COMES TO SMILE
Welcome to our brand new dental office in the Capitol View area (North Gulch) of Nashville. Modern, state of the art practice focused on building relationships and confidence. We meet you where you are and take you where you want to go.
CARING FOR MAN’S
The Gulch's Canine Concepts brings pet grooming, training, and nutrition to downtown Nashville
ARTICLE BY LISA VALENTINE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEGACY OF LOVE PHOTO + FILM
Prioritizing health is the key to living a long, high-quality life and we want that for ourselves, but for our pets too!
Adam Intihar has founded Canine Concepts, a one-stop shop for everything needed to keep your dogs and cats in optimum health.
Intihar went from a pop-up tent to a coveted storefront all within 18 months of moving to Nashville. After eight years of serving in the United States Army as a medic, he made the move to Music City in 2017 without knowing a soul to start a new adventure.
Intihar launched the Nashville location of PetWants, a franchise. with humble beginnings, operating as a mobile shop with his Jeep and a 10’ x 10’ tent.
Having been living in the Gulch, when the opportunity to lease a storefront in the heart of the neighborhood became available, he jumped at the opportunity to both live and work in the Gulch.
“I literally lived, worked, and hung out in the Gulch.” he shares. “It was great to be able to work with my neighbors and serve where I lived to create healthier pets.”
During his time with the franchise, he established his own boarding, training, and breeding company called Canine Concepts. In March of 2025, he stepped away from PetWants, and launched his own store under the Canine Concepts name to accompany the services he’d been offering for years. Canine
Concepts is now a one stop shop for all things dogs and cats: food, toys, treats, training, boarding, grooming, and more.
Canine Concepts is far from a typical pet store, focused on products with top nutritional options. Intihar uses his degree and background in nutrition in providing food that is made from the best ingredients and is optimal for their specific needs.
“The store is essentially like a Whole Foods…for cats and dogs,” he explains. “Everything is all natural and/or organic. We have kibble, freeze dried food, frozen, raw, canned, gently cooked [food], toys, gear, baked goods [and more]. We have products from small businesses in Tennessee, and other mom-and-pop businesses around the country. Everything's been handpicked by our team”
LIVING HEALTHY DOGS,”
“…[THEY] ARE A HUGE TESTAMENT TO HOW FOOD AND NUTRITION IS SUPER VITAL FOR LONG
Not only does he use his nutrition background, but he uses the tactics and psychology that he learned during his time in the military to provide top training services on his land near Leiper’s Fork. “I'm what you would call a balanced trainer,” he explains. “I believe in positive first and then balancing everything out. I'm huge on dog psychology.”
He explains that his training tactics go beyond a reward system; he aims to teach dogs the meaning behind the
commands and trains them to their individualized motives.
“…We have to show [the dogs] exactly what we want before we start saying words to it…” he explains. “With the training, I always tell everyone ‘we have to figure out the dog's drivers and motivators.’ So what's going to get them to work? Is it treats or toys? Is it positive praise and affirmation or is it leash pressure on and off?...We want to set them up for success, not failure.”
Intihar only takes two dogs at a time for board training and does follow up sessions with owners to ensure that trainings are being reinforced. “It's very hands on,” he shares. “They're with me getting multiple rounds of training throughout the day at my house, when I go into public, dog
friendly patios at restaurants, into the store with me, walking around different neighborhoods. They're constantly working with me.”
His lessons go far beyond the typical commands, teaching leash manners, working through distractions, and impulse control. “It's very customized for the client, the dog, and their lifestyle.” he explains.
His lessons are so effective that people bring dogs from out of state for training and virtual follow-ups.
Along with nutrition and training, he ensures dogs look and feel their best with grooming, baths, nail trims, ear cleaning, and soon full-service haircuts.
As the dog dad of five dogs—three Belgian Malinois and two Pitbull mixes— he attributes his dogs' long healthy lives to his nutrition tactics. One of his beloved pups Mara is about to turn 17! Another of his dogs, Zeke, was born with a grade four heart murmur and is still lively and active at age 9. “…[They] are a huge testament to how food and nutrition is super vital for long living healthy dogs,” says Intihar.
Canine Concepts hand delivers in the Nashville area and ships nationwide, so visit CanineConcepts.com for all of your pet’s needs!
R E A D Y T O H I I T Y O U R S T R I D E ?
STRIDE Fitness is a treadmill-based interval training concept, delivering a total-body cardio and strength workout designed for every fitness level and led by dynamic STRIDE Fitness cer tified coaches.
ELEVATED IMAGES THAT STAND OUT.
Templeton Academy redefines education by empowering students through hands-on learning, using the city as a classroom and fostering curiosity, agency, and purpose.
Learning Without Walls Is The Templeton Way
ARTICLE BY MORGAN RAUM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSEY MCALISTER
In the heart of Nashville, Templeton Academy is redefining education by centering students as active partners in their own learning. With a mission that prioritizes agency, ownership, and authentic engagement, Templeton implements the importance of their three pillars: Core Advisory, Project-Based Learning, and Fieldwork by using the city as a classroom.
“At Templeton, we center student agency and ownership,” says Erica Steakley, Head of School. “We thrive where our three pillars meet: learning by doing, exploring identity and community through our Core Advisory program, and discovering the city through fieldwork. The purpose of this approach is to help students define their ‘why’ by making them partners in their education. By visiting businesses, government offices, cultural destinations, nonprofits, and entertainment venues, our students learn what it takes to keep a city running.”
This hands-on model sets Templeton apart from traditional schools. While many schools incorporate the occasional project, Templeton fully integrates project-based learning across all subjects. “Many schools have project units, but we use the project construct in everything we do,” Steakley explains. “We prioritize depth of learning, giving students time to fully explore a moment in history, a math problem, a chemical reaction, a rhetorical challenge, or an art project. As a microschool, we tailor learning to each student’s interests.”
Templeton Academy encourages students, grades 5-12, to connect ideas across disciplines and apply their learning in thoughtful, creative ways. “Our model fosters curiosity and relevance,” Steakley says. “We don’t just want students to memorize, we want them to make sense of their world and see their place in it.”
Steakley’s path to education began nearly two decades ago. “As a classroom teacher, I loved making connections with students,” she reflects. “In 2005, I had a daughter and began searching for schools CONTINUED >
“[Our students] are comfortable asking big questions, taking ownership of their learning, and actively exploring what brings them joy, and how they can use that to contribute to the world.”
that matched her energy and curiosity. That journey led me to small, experiential schools with a mission to educate the whole person- academically, emotionally, socially, and civically. I’ve been fortunate to carry that mission into my current role as Head of School.”
What keeps her inspired? “The students,” she says. “I’m surprised by them every day; an insightful comment, a spontaneous act of kindness, a fantastic project, or even a well-timed dad joke. Visitors and fieldwork hosts regularly mention how engaged and thoughtful our students are. I’m also inspired by our teachers. They bring a rare mix of academic expertise, emotional intelligence, and deep commitment to our students’ growth.”
Evan Curran, who leads marketing and admissions at Templeton Academy, was also drawn to the school’s unique
approach. “During the interview process, I was inspired by the focus on personalized learning and applying education to real-world problems,” he says. “My high school experience was very cookie-cutter, and it was easy to get lost in the size and pressure to conform. At Templeton, students bring their whole selves to school. They have the freedom to demonstrate mastery in ways that reflect their passions.”
Instead of focusing on standardized testing, Templeton encourages students to show their learning through exhibitions, creative projects, and real-world application. “It’s not just about tests,” says Steakley. “It’s about learning how to think, express, and engage meaningfully.”
Being located in Nashville enhances this creative, real-world approach. “Nashville is full of artists, entrepreneurs, and
innovators,” Steakley says. “Our students often incorporate the city’s music and arts culture into their work. The city is both a classroom and a source of inspiration.”
So, who thrives at Templeton? “Kind, curious, and resilient students,” Steakley says. “Those who are energized by being part of a compassionate, intentional community. A Templeton student is comfortable asking big questions, taking ownership of their learning, and actively exploring what brings them joy, and how they can use that to contribute to the world.”
At Templeton Academy, academic success and personal growth go hand-inhand. “They’re deeply connected,” says Steakley. “True achievement comes from connecting personally to the work. Our Core Advisory program helps students explore their motivations and build the tools to connect with learning across subjects. Fieldwork introduces them to different perspectives, careers, and civic engagement. The more they know themselves and how to interact with others, the more they thrive.”
For families exploring alternative education in Nashville, Steakley encourages involving the student in the process. “It’s a good sign when the interviewer engages with your child as much as they do with you,” she says. “Schools are for students, so it makes sense for them to be active in the decision. If your child can see themselves there, if the staff makes you feel welcome, and you feel safe asking questions- you’re on the right path.”
Ultimately, Templeton Academy wants students to leave with more than just knowledge. “We want them to leave with purpose,” Steakley says. “My hope is that every family who visits Templeton feels seen and heard, and leaves inspired. Our most successful students are the ones who are excited to be here, curious about how the world works, and eager to leave it better than they found it.”
Discover more about Templeton Academy and arrange a visit to explore their engaging, hands-on learning environment at templetonacademy.org/ nashville and follow them on socials at @templetonacademynashville.
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THE HEART OF CHILDCARE: Twinkle Toes Nashville
A LOOK INSIDE NASHVILLE’S PEDIATRICIAN-RECOMMENDED NANNY AGENCY, TWINKLE TOES.
ARTICLE BY MORGAN RAUM | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BROCOFF PHOTOGRAPHY
Twinkle Toes is Nashville’s premier nanny agency, pairing families with quality services and pristine care. As Music City’s sole pediatrician-recommended nanny agency, the team behind Twinkle Toes has earned trust in their families and continues to help facilitate a seamless transition for childcare. Originally founded by Kristy Bickmeyer, Twinkle Toes was established as a trustworthy referral service dedicated to matching families with dependable nannies and babysitters. Robin Reed, owner of the Nashville Twinkle Toes franchise, helped launch their third location in Tampa in 2014 — eventually, growing to become the largest of 22 locations. While there are now two locations in Tennessee in both Nashville and Memphis, Twinkle Toes services as much of middle Tennessee as possible. With business in seven states, they have become a blossoming franchise all around the country and are unique from other nanny agencies in the sense that they continue to follow clients along on their journey.
Speaking on the support from the Nashville community and beyond, Reed shares, “It reflects the trust we’ve earned by prioritizing not only the safety and development of the children we serve, but also the overall peace of mind for parents… It’s not just about finding a nanny, it’s about building a lasting relationship rooted in trust and professionalism.”
Twinkle Toes understands the utmost trust their families are pouring into them — and it is not something that they take
lightly. With an extremely selective hiring process, Twinkle Toes carefully vets each nanny through a multi-step process that includes a detailed application and multi-round interview, thorough background checks, verification of at least two years of childcare experience, a CPR certification required prior to placement, and a strict non-smoking policy. In addition to the process, the agency finds nannies who have a genuine passion for supporting families and are also patient, nurturing, and trustworthy. Taking the time to know their nannies beyond just paperwork, Twinkle Toes is loved for their personal approach that makes their families and nannies feel like family.
“These children are our families’ most precious gifts, and we want caregivers who truly understand the responsibility and privilege of caring for them,” Reed shares. “We want every nanny and every family to feel like they always have us to lean on. We’re here to support them throughout their journey, not just during the placement. That lasting relationship is at the heart of what makes Twinkle Toes different.”
and comfort are a priority, rather than just mutual availability. If the nanny chosen no longer feels like the right pick, it is not a problem — the team will provide flexibility and support to help find someone that exceeds every expectation!
"It’s not just about finding a nanny, it’s about building a lasting relationship rooted in trust and professionalism."
Making the process easy for families, Twinkle Toes prides themselves on taking the time to truly understand each family’s needs, hand-selecting the ideal nanny for them. Aligned values, connection,
“Our nannies and families become a part of our family… The mutual respect we’ve built is what allows us to partner through real-life moments — not just ideal ones. Life isn’t perfect, and childcare isn’t always easy—but our goal is to make it the easiest part of parenting,” Reed explains. Twinkle Toes is also built on feedback and partnership. The agency actively invites input from both families and nannies, viewing feedback as an essential part of continued growth. While Twinkle Toes provides a clear and consistent contract structure, families and caregivers are empowered to collaborate on specific terms that reflect their unique needs and preferences. The Twinkle Toes team remains involved as a trusted mediator and guide — ensuring that every arrangement feels personalized, respectful, and well-supported from start to finish.
For more information on Twinkle Toes Nashville, please visit twinkletoesnanny.com/nashville or follow them on socials @twinkletoesnannynash
"Life isn’t perfect, and childcare isn’t always easy, but our goal is to make it the easiest part of parenting,"
