West Knoxville, TN October 2023

'Tis the Season for Spirits

LOCAL SERVICES

ESCAPE TO FABLE HOLLOW

LIFE + CULTURE

IT'S WINE TIME AT CRAFTY BASTARD

FOOD + BEVERAGE

YOUR NEW FAVORITE SIDE

DISH FROM FIRE + SMOKE

W h a t i s I V N u t r i t i o n a l T h e r a p y ?

I V n u t r i t i o n a l t h e r a p y i n c l u d e s a n t i - a g i n g , i m p r o v e d i m m u n e s y s t e m , m i n i m i z e d a n x i e t y , r e v e r s e d s y m p t o m s o f h a n g o v e r s , f a t i g u e , d e h y d r a t i o n a n d m o r e . T h i s t y p e o f t h e r a p y p r o v i d e s t h e q u i c k e s t a n d s a f e s t r o u t e t o r e s t o r e n a t u r a l b a l a n c e b y r e p l e n i s h i n g e s s e n t i a l v i t a m i n s a n d n u t r i e n t s . P h y s i c i a n s b e l i e v e I V n u t r i t i o n a l t h e r a p y i s e f f e c t i v e a n d r e s t o r a t i v e , a n d c a n b e c u s t o m i z e d t o s u i t t h e u n i q u e n e e d s o f e a c h p a t i e n t i n d i v i d u a l l y

A t L i v e I V W e l l n e s s f r o m W i t h i n , o u r g o a l i s t o h e l p i m p r o v e y o u r q u a l i t y o f l i f e w h i l e p r o m o t i n g o v e r a l l h e a l t h a n d w e l l n e s s W e h a v e s e v e r a l f o r m u l a s t h a t a r e d e s i g n e d t o t a r g e t y o u r s p e c i f i c c o n c e r n s W e o f f e r a r e l a x e d e n v i r o n m e n t a n d w i l l g u i d e y o u t h r o u g h t h e d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g p r o c e s s o n w h a t b e s t f i t s y o u r n e e d s W e a r e c o m m i t t e d t o p r o v i d i n g t h e s a f e s t a n d h i g h e s t q u a l i t y o f c a r e t o e a c h p a t i e n t Y o u r w e l l n e s s j o u r n e y s t a r ts h e r e , j o i n u s f o r a h e a l t h i e r y o u

W h e n b o o k i n g y o u r a p p o i n t m e n t i n t h e m o n t h o f O c t o b e r , m e n t i o n t h e c o d e G O V O L S a n d r e c e i v e $ 1 5 o f f y o u r f i r s t i n f u s i o n .

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Rebekah McCulloch

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

AND MAJOR GIFTS OFFICERS

85 years ago, Children’s Hospital made a vow to treat every child, regardless of race, religion or ability to pay. And in return, the community promised to support our mission. Neither promise has ever wavered. Children’s Hospital stands at-the-ready when children need them the most and the community has always stood with them.

As our number of patients grows each year, so does our need for more equipment and larger facilities to serve our community. Your giving helps us make a difference.

Kolby Rogers, Major Gifts Officer | Jennifer Lamb, Director of Development | Maggie Morgan, Major GIfts Officer

Ah, Autumn!

October is the best month. No question, hands-down. With cooler weather and warmer colors, even a mundane drive to the grocery store can prompt us to roll the windows down and embrace the breeze. October ushers in a lot of wonderful things – good football games, the start of the holiday season, and the kind of food you crave when there’s a chill in the air. The only downside to October is that it often goes by too quickly.

This month, we’ve chosen to spotlight the East Tennessee wing of the Whiskey Trail, featuring an interview with executive director Charity Toombs and Stanton Webster, owner of PostModern Spirits. We also visited Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary (but not at night, because, well, we’re a little nervous about those kind of spirits). So, if you’re a whiskey aficionado, or if you prefer gin, liquors, and other spirits, settle in and enjoy a short history lesson and a look at what might tickle your tastebuds this fall.

If it’s wine you like, check out our Q&A with Crafty Bastard’s Aaron McLain. That’s right, the craft beer brewers at Crafty Bastard have entered the winemaking business with its label, Stylolite, served only at their West Knoxville location.

We couldn’t offer up these drinks without a little bite to eat, so we asked the folks at Fire + Smoke to share with us one of their favorite side dishes – Parsnip Puree. Next time you make a roast or another incredible centerpiece, bypass the mashed potatoes and give their puree a try.

To fully embrace fall, stop into Fable Hollow Coffee and Bookshoppe, a whimsical hideaway where readers and dreamers can go to find their new favorite book and tuck into a Woodland Spice Chai Latte. Born out of a love for fantasy novels, owners Alyssa and Casey can’t wait to welcome you into their little corner of Tazewell Pike.

As always, we’re grateful for our columnists and partners who contribute their knowledge and experience to the magazine each month. If you have a story you’d like to share with us, or you’d like to partner with us in a future issue, please drop us a line!

Happy Fall, Y’all!

AMY CAMPBELL & MARC ROCHELSON, PUBLISHERS @WESTKNOXVILLELIFESTYLE

October 2023

PUBLISHER

Marc Rochelson | marc.rochelson@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Jennie Treadway-Miller | jennie.miller@citylifestyle.com

MARKET SUPPORT MANAGER

Carol AuBuchon | carol.aubuchon@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Patricia Broyles

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Claire Kluth, Paul James, Jack Neely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shawn Poynter, Ben Finch

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

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Where neighbors can see and be seen.

Photography by Holly Rainey Photography

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1: Paris Woodhull created a colorful new mural on the exterior of the Sertoma Center in East Knoxville. 2: Commissioned by Dogwood Arts, the 1,600 sq. ft. piece is the artist’s largest mural to date. 3: Mural elements include diverse figures who utilize Sertoma services, as well as the original VW van that was the center’s first transport. 4: Chris Woodhull, Mary Lawrence Arnett Woodhull, Tess Woodhull Hallman, Paris Woodhull, and Ryan Stanczak 5: This piece is part of the Art in Public Places Mural Program. 6: Paris received her BFA in 2D art with a concentration in Painting and Drawing from the University of Tennessee. 7: The mural is on the East side of the building at 1400 E. Fifth Avenue.

‘Tis the Season for Spirits

ARTICLE BY JENNIE TREADWAY-MILLER

New Fashioned at PostModern Spirits

Photo by Shawn Poynter

If it seems like distilleries are popping up left and right, that’s because they are. Once Prohibition-era laws lifted in 2009, and the Tennessee Distillers Guild was underway, the proverbial floodgates opened for budding distillers to reclaim a craft that dates back nearly to the inception of the state itself. Today, locals and visitors can taste an array of spirits across East, Middle, and West Tennessee, but if you’re not in the traveling mood, no problem. The nearest distillery is probably closer than you think.

A WHISKEY HISTORY

Throughout the 1800s, distilled spirits were Tennessee’s top-selling products. The beautiful Southern state had everything the distilling business needed – plenty of land, clean water, and an ideal climate. By 1908, Tennesseans had legal access to hundreds of distilleries across the state, and then came a state-led Prohibition in 1910, followed by a national ban in 1920.

When Prohibition ended in 1933, it was another six years before Tennessee could return to distilling spirts legally. Soon, The Jack Daniel Distillery opened in Moore County, followed by George Dickel in Coffee County and Prichard’s Distillery in Lincoln County. Despite its attempts, the distilling industry couldn’t grow under the state’s Prohibition-era laws.

“The interest in distilling wasn’t lost, but Tennessee wasn’t set up to create a viable industry,” says Charity Toombs, executive director of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. “In 2009, a bill was passed to allow distilling in more than just the three counties [where it had been allowed]. Thirteen distillers realized they needed a guild to collectively advocate for that.”

The bill allowed for distilling in 41 more counties, but there were still barriers in place that prevented the industry from thriving. In 2014, the Tennessee Distillers Guild formed with 13 members to promote responsibly distilling, to advocate for the industry, and to create a network of distillers for information and support.

Tasting at Sugarlands Distillery

Photo Courtesy of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

“They also realized that they needed a public-facing entity to the guild, so in 2016, they received funding from the Department of Tourism. They formed the Whiskey Trail and launched it in 2017 with 22 partners,” says Charity. “Now there are 28 partners across the state, from Memphis to Bristol. Only Old Dominick is in West Tennessee, but Alex Castle is worth mentioning because she’s Tennessee’s first female master distiller. In fact, Tennessee has more female distillers than any other state currently, which we’re proud of.”

Locals and visitors have been enjoying the Whiskey Trail, especially since the pandemic.

“In 2022, we welcomed eight million visitors into Tennessee distilleries,” says Charity. “East and Middle Tennessee have major pockets for the whiskey, but even if you aren’t into whiskey and bourbon, many distilleries make a lot of different things, like vodka, rum, absinthe, gin, liquors. There’s so much to be had. PostModern Spirits is a great place to try different things. They are very much about experimental experiences.”

DISTILLING FOR A NEW ERA

Stanton Webster, co-owner of PostModern Spirits, got his start in hospitality while working at bars and restaurants while attending the University of Tennessee in the 1990s. Tomato Head was his first restaurant job, and he worked with Holly Hambright for years. He ran Nama for a while, and helped open Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern on Gay Street, and then, he helped open a distillery with eight partners about a decade ago. To say Stanton understands the food and drink market in Knoxville would be an understatement.

That’s why, in 2017, he and fellow co-owner/master distiller Ron Grazioso saw an opportunity to explore cocktail culture, to see what that could look like in Knoxville. They ran with this vision and opened PostModern Spirits, which boasts a solid collection of liqueurs, gins, and whiskeys.

PostModern Spirits

Photo by Shawn Poynter

Old Forge Distillery

Photo Courtesy of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Tennessee Whiskey Trail Passport

Photo by Jennie Treadway-Miller

“Ron was a scientist for 20 years, and I have a degree in animal science, so this is all chemistry. Actually, we call this the intersection of artistry and chemistry,” says Stanton. “Neither of us had grandpappies to pass down recipes to us, so we had to come up with our own.”

Located on Jackson Avenue, PostModern distills its spirits there in the old railroad freight terminal. Weekend tours of the distillery come with tastings, but the Tasting Room is open seven days a week.

“We love the history of making spirits, so our approach is bringing together modern science and tradition in a new way,” says Stanton. “The big thing for us is not getting caught up by doing the same things other people are doing. We love to riff on the classics, like an Elder Gin Fizz and New Fashioned.”

Sometimes embracing the history means going all-in. Such is the case at Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Nestled in a valley surrounded by kudzu-covered hills and old coal mines is Tennessee’s first maximum security prison. Opened in 1896 and closed in 2009, Brushy’s legacy is fraught with violence, deadly mining accidents, dire health conditions, and a roster of savage and even infamous inmates, such as James Earl Ray. For decades, Brushy Mtn. was known as the “end of the line” for the worst of the worst.

Then in 2013, only four years after the prison closed, a group of entrepreneurs saw potential in the weathered, cement walls, the chipped paint and weeds growing through the broken windows. In 2018, the property reopened as a historical landmark, suitable for tours, private and public events, and now, a distillery. Using local grains and water from the mountain’s natural springs, the Brushy Mountain Distillery is home to eight flavors of End of the Line Moonshine, Frozen Head Vodka, Struggle Buss Bloody Mary Mix, and more. Five dollars gets you five tastings and five dollars off any bottle you want to take home. (While you’re there, grab a bite at the Warden’s Table Restaurant. We recommend the Killer Potato.)

Whether you tour the old penitentiary or not, a stop at Brushy Mountain offers a unique Whiskey Trail experience, the kind you simply won’t find elsewhere.

Knox Whiskey Works

Photo Courtesy of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Brushy Mtn. Distillery

Photo by Jennie Treadway-Miller

Historic Brushy Mtn. State Penitentiary

Photo by Emily Blake

MAKE IT PERSONAL

To enjoy a day trip suited to your interests, visit TNWhiskeyTrail.com/trip-planner and peruse the pre-planned, mini-excursions. If it’s a day in the outdoors you fancy, consider the Waterfalls & Whiskey or Adventure Quencher options. If you want an outstanding dining experience where locally distilled spirits are served, look at Just for Foodies, a compilation of both fine dining and down-home restaurants from across the state.

As you visit each distiller, be sure to get your souvenir passport stamped. A paper booklet is available at each distillery, but there’s a mobile version too.

“Distillers stamp your passport and you get a commemorative poker chip. If you visit all 28 distilleries, we send you a poker set,” says Charity. “A lot of guests do it both ways so they have the souvenirs. We’ve had guests display their poker chips and send us photos. It’s a fun way to do it. You could carve out a full week to do it, but we’ve seen guests take two years to complete the trail. There’s no right or wrong way.”

The Tennessee Whiskey Trail also hosts signature events throughout the year, which are great ways for guests to get small, abbreviated experiences with

the distillers and their crafted spirits. For example, the Grains & Grits Spirits and Food Festival happens each November in Townsend.

“We are constantly being connected with new distillers just getting started or expanding their operation. It’s all an opportunity to help form what will be coming down the pike. We have members who aren’t ready yet to be on the Whiskey Trail, so they’re still working on their craft and perfecting it,” says Charity. “In Chattanooga, Dam Whiskey Company opened an abandoned dam. You can see their distilling process and be in a historic dam at the same time. The distilleries today are defining themselves by where they’re choosing to operate. The story of Brushy Mountain – we want to see more brands do what they’re doing, embracing where they are, expanding the visitor experience, and creating tasting rooms.

“There’s a lot of comparison to the bourbon trail, but we’re a generation behind,” adds Charity. “We’re excited to develop the landscape. We’re young, it’s fresh, and it’s new.” Learn

Stanton Webster, co-owner of PostModern Spirits

G a t h e r .

So m e o f t h e b e s t m o m e n t s i n l i f e

a r e s h a r e d a r o u n d a t a b l e i n t h e c o m p a n y o f f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y W e w a n t t o h e lp y o u p l a n f o r a l l t h e g r e a t m o m e n t s i n l i f e - b i g o r s m a l l . T h a t w a y , y o u h a v e o n e l e s s t h i n g o n y o u r p l a t e t o w o r r y a b o u t .

Celebrating Gains

Welcome to the Ross the Boss Salons company banquet. An annual celebration for achieving- no, crushing- existing goals and making new ones! All year long our stylists are offered tools and opportunities to help them reach personal and record-breaking totals, and each month they climb higher and higher past the limits they set for themselves. So, the time has come to recognize the past year’s hard work and dedication.

Our company banquet is a chance for all our salons to come together in one place to fellowship. We laugh, tell stories, we laugh, share ideas, more laughing, and simply lift one another up. This time together allows the staff the opportunity to get to know others outside of their own “salon homes.”

This year we recognized an incredible number of stylists and staff who went above and beyond their goals in the salon. Ross gifted everyone with company “swag,” and gave generous gifts to those who worked so hard to achieve new heights in their business lives. “This is an incredible group of people! It’s exciting to see them continually growing in skill and love! Many willingly donate themselves to charities we support, and each salon represents a real unified and supportive community! It’s really exciting,” Ross says.

Thank you to each of our clients who continuously support our stylists and front desk staff. Without you we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Local, Family-Owned Salons for Over 45 years

Center Park

Isabella Steele won “Rookie of the Year”

Emory Road

KNOXVILLE SHOEBOX POSTCARDS

ARTICLE BY JACK NEELY AND PAUL JAMES

At the nonprofit Knoxville History Project, we are always on the lookout for old images for our Knoxville Shoebox digital collection. If you have interesting photographs, postcards, or brochures, from any era, we’d love to hear from you so we can preserve the visual history of Knoxville and make it available for researchers of the future. Old family photos might show interesting scenes or buildings. Posters and photos from musical shows also have fascinating stories to tell. We are interested in all eras, especially more recent decades not yet covered by local archives and collections – and images of South Knoxville for our current book research. Please email us at paul@knoxhistoryproject.org.

Special thanks to Bearden resident Alec Riedl for facilitating these Knoxville Shoebox additions.

GAY STREET AT UNION AVENUE

The intersection of Gay Street and Union Avenue, looking north, has been a much-photographed spot over the years. Captured here sometime in the first decade of the 20th century, horse and carriage drivers are vying for space with a relatively new mode of transport, the electric streetcar. Soon, the emergence of the automobile would be another gamechanger. When it opened in 1905, Miller’s (left of center) became the city’s largest department store, while the building on the far left is old East Tennessee Savings Bank building that had been on that spot for about 20 years. In the 1930s, inspired by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it became Park National Bank. The Miller’s building still stands today as an office building, while the Park National Bank building was rebuilt in 1974 and is occupied by the Embassy Suites hotel. (Shared by Charles D. Susano, Jr.)

BROOKSIDE COTTON MILLS

Built in 1885 alongside Second Creek and the Southern Railroad in north Knoxville, Brookside Cotton Mills was one of Knoxville’s more picturesque factories. The textile mill specialized in weaving cotton and produced specialty fabrics such as corduroy and velvet on its 1,300plus looms. Brookside became one of Knoxville’s biggest industrial plants with over 1,000 workers, producing more than 15 million yards of cloth annually. Many of the workers, more than half of them women, lived within walking distance of the factory in a new community that grew up around Central Street known as Happy Holler. Future Hollywood director Clarence Brown grew up in the neighborhood as his father served in senior management positions at Brookside for more than 20 years. Clarence Brown would go on to direct 50 films, some starring the likes of Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, and Joan Crawford. (Shared by Charles D. Susano, Jr.)

Knoxville’s first municipal airport originally came into being in 1929 when the city took over operations at Bearden Field on Sutherland in West Knoxville. Within a few years, it became clear that a larger space was needed to meet the growing demand for commercial air traffic. The airport moved to its much larger present location across the Blount County line in 1937. Efforts to rename it Great Smoky Mountains Airport, in honor of the new national park opened nearby in 1934, were abandoned shortly after it re-opened partly because of certain conditions relating to land parcels donated by the Tyson family to the City of Knoxville. (Shared by Charles D. Susano, Jr.)

MCGHEE TYSON AIRPORT

Gay St. at Union Ave.

Brookside Mills

McGhee Tyson Airport

ABOUT KHP

The mission of the Knoxville History Project (KHP) is to research, preserve, and promote the history and culture of Knoxville, Tennessee. Donations to support the work of the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit, are always welcome and appreciated. KHP’s publications include Historic Knoxville: The Curious Visitor’s Guide and Historic Bearden: The 200-year story of Knoxville’s Fourth Creek Valley, and numerous story collections including the “Knoxville Lives” series. Copies are available at knoxvillehistoryproject.org and local bookstores, including Union Ave Books.

JAMES PARK HOUSE

Still standing today, the James Park House, at Cumberland Avenue and Walnut Street, is one of the city’s oldest buildings. Foundations were originally begun by John Sevier, the state’s first governor, but it wasn’t fully completed until 1812 by Irishman James Park. Later, Park served as Mayor of Knoxville, first in 1818 and again in 1824. Because it had to go around the Park House, Walnut Street was for many years known as Crooked Street. In the early 20th century, the house served as the first headquarters of the Red Cross, and during World War I, first aid supplies and clothes for overseas soldiers were made there. In 2007, Gulf and Ohio Railways completely renovated the house and still maintains its headquarters in the house. (Shared by Dave Parmalee.)

James Park House

Historic Knoxville

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW

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ESCAPE FABLE to Hollow

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIE TREADWAY-MILLER

Alyssa Stewart and Casey Jessen

In 2020, before everything shut down, Alyssa Stewart and Casey Jessen met in a local writing group and the pair became quick friends over their shared interests – particularly their fervor for fantasy novels. As the pandemic wore on, they started talking about what it might be like to run an independent bookstore that catered to general interests but had a soft spot for fantasy works. By 2021, they were meeting in an official capacity and sketching out a two-year plan for what would become Fable Hollow. Inspired by the fairy tales born out of the Black Forest, Alyssa and Casey secured a space with room to grow on Tazewell Pike and opened their mythical, magical coffee and bookshoppe last fall.

“When it came to the actual space, we knew we wanted enough seating so people would come in and stay. That helps with the coffee shop side. We wanted a place to be for the community,” says Casey.

“We wanted it to feel like you were walking into your favorite story – whimsical, away from reality,” adds Alyssa. “We have a lot of regulars who work remotely and this functions like their office. People smile when they come in.”

A quick perusal around the store reveals new and old works from all the major genres, but there’s no question their love for fantasy dictated the décor. The space is a witch’s brew of enchanted forests and cozy corners, clever collectibles and stationery cards. Amid the shelves are book suggestions, full collections, and stand-alone standouts.

Of course, no visit is complete without a stop at the coffee counter for a Fable Hollow specialty, such as Dragon’s Breath (Honey Cardamom Latte with Cayenne and Cinnamon), a Faerie Kiss (Strawberry Rose White Mocha), or a Woodland Spice (a house made Chai Latte with caramel).

“We wanted a space with no politics, no religion, nothing to take sides on,” says Alyssa. “We wanted a place that was safe and accessible and comfortable.”

Turn the page to see Alyssa and Casey’s book recommendations for fall.

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

Vampires are back, and we are here for it!

“Silver Under Nightfall” is an epic fantasy full of court intrigue, romance, and terrifying monsters. If you loved “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samanthan Shannon and need all the vibes of the adult animated series “Castlevania” this October, “Silver Under Nightfall” is for you. When a terrifying new breed of vampire is sighted, vampire bounty hunter and possible half-vampire, Remy Pendergast investigates alone…or so he thinks. Joined by a vampire couple, Remy is forced to choose sides and determine where his loyalties truly lie. For those who love vampires, epic fantasy, and LGBTQ+, look no further!

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah

Nicole Maehrer

“Once Upon a Time” meets “The Office” in this laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel. A notorious, high-ranking villain is seeking a loyal, level-headed assistant for “unspecified office duties.” With an ailing family to support, Evie is willing to put up with unspecified duties.

But as Evie gets used to the severed heads and terrifying, but undeniably hot boss, she starts to suspect a rat, and not just the literal kind.

For those who are dying for romcom vibes in a fantasy setting, “Assistant to the Villain” might be the perfect next read.

Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood

by Sarah J. Maas

Join our fantasy romance book club, Fanciful, for our October and November reads!

Half-fae and half-human, Bryce is on a revenge mission in this contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance. Finishing with our read through of the first three books in Sarah J. Maas’ bestselling fantasy romance “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” we are excited to continue into the world of “Crescent City,” preparing for the January 30 release of the third book in the series, “House of Flame and Shadow.”

All recommended titles are available at Fable Hollow and online. For information on book club meetings and other events, visit FableHollow.com

3

The Luminaries

by Susan Dennard

From bestselling YA author Susan Dennard of the Witchlands series, “The Luminaries” is a haunting contemporary Young Adult fantasy about the magic it takes to face your fears in the nightmare-filled forest of Hemlock Falls. If you loved Netflix’s “Wednesday” and are dying for more atmospheric reads, you are sure to fall in love with Winnie Wednesday and her quest to become a nightmare hunter. “The Luminaries” has all the true YA themes of coming of age mixed with dark academia and a touch of romance. The sequel, “The Hunting Moon,” comes out November 7, and both books can be purchased at Fable Hollow or pre-ordered online.

4

Your New

FAVORITE SIDE DISH

ARTICLE BY WKL TEAM

A SPECIAL AUTUMNAL RECIPE FROM FIRE + SMOKE

This fall, pass on the potatoes and try something new with parsnips. This side dish offers the same textures of your favorite mash, but the sweet and savory flavors will have you ditching potatoes for good. Fire + Smoke’s parsnip puree pairs well with a variety of dishes, but they especially love how it complements their pork belly. Dig in and enjoy!

Parsnip Puree

INGREDIENTS

• 3 lbs. parsnips

• 1 cup dark brown sugar

• ½ cup salted butter

• 1-3 tbsp. heavy cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil water in a large pot.

2. While waiting for your water to boil, peel and cut parsnips into small pieces.

3. Once water is at a rolling boil, add parsnips and cook until you can stick a fork through with ease.

4. Combine the softened parsnips, brown sugar, and butter into a blender. Blend until smooth with no chunks. Use heavy cream to create desired consistency. Serve warm.

It’s Wine Time at Crafty Bastard

A Q&A with Brewer-Turned-Winemaker Aaron McLain

ARTICLE BY JENNIE TREADWAY-MILLER

Fifteen years ago, after visiting a couple of taprooms and tasting craft beers, Aaron McLain started tooling around with his own home brew. It was a passion project, a science experiment, if you will, a thing he wanted to perfect for himself and to enjoy with his friends. For five years, Aaron focused on the microbiology of the process, and upon taking a sip of one of his beers, his friend, Scott Davis, said, “How much money do you need to do this professionally?”

The seed was planted, and soon Aaron was losing sleep pulling together numbers and concepts, wondering if opening his own taproom made any sense. By the summer of 2014, he answered the question and gave Scott a number, and soon the ball was rolling.

They started a website, signed a lease, and opened a taproom a year later. Crafty Bastard at Emory Place soon became a Knoxville staple for the crowd who preferred a laidback space over a nightclub, enthusiasts who appreciated the flavors and varieties, the patron who loved to try something new.

In 2021, Crafty Bastard opened a second location in West Knoxville, partnering with Hole in the Wall Pizza the following year. Just as before, the community rallied and showed up.

But something else was brewing – or fermenting – in the background. In 2018, Aaron started a new passion project with no intention for it to go beyond a hobby. After several years of perfecting the recipe, Stylolite wines are ready for the public to sip and enjoy.

Photo by Digital Motif

A bountiful harvest of East TN Chambourcin grapes

Aaron McLain

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO ENTER THE WINE BUSINESS?

I met a guy named Hal Hoyt in August 2018 at a Green Drinks event. They do a monthly meeting at a bar about sustainability. This guy grows hops and grapes in his own backyard and makes his own beer and wine. It was 6:30 p.m. on a weekday, and there was all this traffic, and I wasn’t going to go, but I thought I need to meet this guy. So, I did, and it was fantastic. I’d made wine from kits before, but I’d never made wine from real grapes. Harvest is always in September, so the next month he invited me to help him harvest grapes. I brought some of my own beer for liquid encouragement, and he gave me enough grapes for labor to make a five-gallon batch. It was by far and away the best wine I’ve ever made. That set me on the path to make wine from actual grapes.

DO YOU GROW YOUR OWN GRAPES?

Ha! No. Through Hal, I met a lot of people who were also growing grapes in East Tennessee. John Watkins from Rocky Top Vineyards in Loudon had about 700 vines, so I was introduced to him and got some of his grapes. It takes a minimum of three years from the time of planting. You need specific soil, and it matters how it faces the light.

I’m an avid maker of alcoholic beverages, but not an avid grower of things. I’ll leave that to the professionals. I’m a steward of grapes. I’m so glad there are amazing individuals here growing grapes. Like Tsali Notch – they are the largest vineyard in the state. They grow muscadine grapes exclusively. So, I got offered a lot of quality muscadine from JD at Tsali Notch, and I just couldn’t turn it down. I wanted to share it with my customers. It just made sense.

WHAT WINES DO YOU OFFER?

We have a white and red, but the overall name for the winery project is Stylolite. We wanted to have a name that’s indicative of our character – stylolite are the stress lines formed in Tennessee marble. It’s incredibly rare and beautiful and found in structures all over the world. We like it because it pays homage to East Tennessee. Most beers are ready in two to three weeks, but most wines in a year plus. Time and pressure create wine, so this felt like an elevated take on what an East Tennessee brewery would do with wine. We wanted it to have its own brand.

WHERE CAN PATRONS ENJOY STYLOLITE WINE?

It’s only at the West Knoxville location because we have the full-time food option there, which is required for a wine and liquor license. It’s being made at West and served at West.

Every single wine we’ve done so far has a percentage of Tennessee grapes, if not entirely from Tennessee grapes. These are real wines. They are dry, and they have character and structure. They aren’t afterthoughts. These are real wines you can enjoy with dinner.

Learn more at CraftyBastardBrewery.com

John Watkins, owner of Rocky Top Vineyards in Loudon, crushing Chambourcin grapes

A Child’s Recipe for Dough

ARTICLE BY CLAIRE KLUTH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN FINCH

“Cookie Dough!” My three young cousins shouted when I asked what dessert they wanted. Not cookies, but pure, unadulterated cookie dough. How could I possibly deny those irresistibly adorable faces? Determined not to disappoint, I recruited my fourthgrade cousin, Kate, for the mission.

We pulled out my favorite recipe for guidance and began collecting the ingredients. As we measured and combined ingredients, Kate kept up a steady stream of questions. She observed and even imitated how I measured the flour. She was hungry to learn. She reminded me how children’s brains are like sponges – they absorb information by watching, by asking questions, and ultimately, by practicing.

Including children in baking is easy (even though it can get extra messy). Involving kids in financial conversations – that proves more difficult. However, here are some simple ways you can teach your kids the “ingredients” for a healthy financial life.

INGREDIENT NO. 1: VALUE OF MONEY (EARNING MONEY)

• Kids can learn that you earn money by doing chores at home or by doing small jobs like walking a neighbor’s dog. You can also introduce them to the concept of how you earn money at your job.

INGREDIENT NO. 2: BUDGETING (TRADE-OFFS)

• When you go shopping, involve your kids in making shopping lists and comparing prices. Allow them to make choices within a budget.

INGREDIENT NO. 3: WANTS VS NEEDS (PRIORITIES)

• When you talk about spending money as a family, explain that some things, like food and a place to live, are needs – life essentials. Other things, like toys or fancy clothes, are wants – things we’d like to have but can live without.

INGREDIENT NO. 4: LONG-TERM SAVING (DELAYED GRATIFICATION)

• If your child wants something expensive or a special event is coming up, talk to them about saving money over time. Consider a “savings account” even if it’s an envelope kept by mom or dad. When they want to buy something right now, remind them of their goal and how much they have saved, but let them make the choice.

INGREDIENT NO. 5: GIVING (HELPING OTHERS)

• If you support a local organization, take a field trip with your kids to explain why and how you help them. Ask your children about causes they care about. Whether it’s a little of your money or some of their own, or matching their donation, let them experience the joy of giving.

Ingredients are just that – ingredients. Through a recipe’s guidance, the ingredients are mixed in the proper amounts, in the correct order, to yield the optimal result. In the case of the cookie dough, the result was delicious (even if I did leave half the butter sitting in the microwave - Oops). While my cousins scooped giant spoonfuls of cookie dough, I put the cookie dough in the oven for the final ingredient – time. Like cookies, building a healthy financial life takes the right ingredients, a good recipe, and a lot of time.

PYA Waltman Capital, LLC (“PYAW”) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYAW’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.  PYA-23-36.

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events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

OCTOBER 7TH

Gatsby Tea at the Tennessean Hotel

THE TENNESSEAN HOTEL | 1:00 PM

Step back in time and embark on a journey as you explore cocktails celebrated during Prohibition! During your time at Prohibition "Tea," you will taste cocktails that gained their notoriety during Prohibition in the United States. Dive into the history of this era as you imbibe and enjoy tiers of scrumptious faire. Proper 1920s attire is encouraged to round out the experience. Visit TheTennesseanHotel.com to purchase tickets.

OCTOBER 20TH

Greek Fest 2023

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH | 11:00 AM

Celebrating its annual Greek Fest since 1977, St. George Greek Orthodox Church invites locals back this year to feast, dance, and celebrate Greek culture. The festival features a variety of traditional dishes, dances, music, and more. This is one of the most well-attended events in Knoxville, so make plans to join the fun! Visit www.GreekFestTN.com to learn more.

OCTOBER 20TH

Knoxville Flea Market 2023

KNOXVILLE EXPO CENTER | 2:00 PM

The Knoxville Flea Market is your chance to find treasures old and new. Shop 300 booths of antiques, collectibles, jewelry, clothes, bath & body, surplus, and more. Friday 2-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission.

OCTOBER 22ND

Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade & Pet Expo

UT GARDENS | 1:00 PM

Make plans to attend the ninth annual Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade and Pet Expo, a fun Halloween-themed event sponsored by the UT Gardens, Knoxville and the UT College of Veterinary Medicine. Catering to dogs and dog lovers, this event will promote the invaluable resource of the UT Gardens and the College of Veterinary Medicine as well as many other dog-related nonprofits and businesses in the Knoxville area.

OCTOBER 27TH

Spirits Within

RAMSEY HOUSE | 6:30 PM

The Historic Ramsey House is hosting a special spooky candlelit tour on October 27 and 28 from 6:308:30 p.m. Learn all about funerary practices of the early 1800s and if you're lucky, maybe even about some of the spirits that are rumored to roam the rooms and grounds here at the Historic Ramsey House. Visit RamseyHouse.org to learn more.

OCTOBER 29TH

Fall Festival 2023

KNOXVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN AND ARBORETUM | 1:00 PM

The annual Fall Festival celebrates the end of the growing season with community dance and music performances, hands-on fall crafts and activities, and many local artists and nonprofits. The Fall Festival is the largest outreach event of the season and welcomes hundreds of local families to the grounds to honor a year of growing together. Visit KnoxGarden.org to learn more.

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National Storytelling Festival

YOUR REASON TO VISIT

TENNESSEE’S OLDEST

TOWN THIS FALL

ARTICLE BY WKL TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING CENTER

Since 1973, thousands of travelers have visited Tennessee’s oldest town in October to hear and tell stories at the National Storytelling Festival, one of Jonesborough’s most beloved traditions. The festival will take over downtown from October 6-8, with one-, two-, and three-day passes currently on sale, along with a range of standalone ticketed events. The International Storytelling Center, the nonprofit organization that produces the event, transformed Jonesborough from a dying Main Street town into a vibrant hub for one of the world’s oldest art forms when it established the festival. Over time, the event has expanded to include multitalented artists representing diverse traditions, pushing the medium in new directions even as it preserves our collective past. Learn more at StorytellingCenter.net