Sophisticated Living Nashville Jan/Feb 2023

Co-Chairs

BALLET BALL KICKOFF AT DIAMOND CELLAR

GORGEOUS GREEN HILLS HOME

This beauty features grand curb appeal and is located within walking distance of Green Hills. Stunning hardwoods, tall, ceilings, extra-large built-out closets, the primary on main, 2 laundry rooms, spacious baths, nicely sized bonus room, and more. Enjoy the outdoor living and extensive landscaping that has been added. The back patio makes for relaxing evenings and the oversized driveway with loads of room for parking creates a great space for parties and entertaining.

5 Beds / 3 Full Baths / 1 Half Bath | 4,014 SF 1917 Castleman Drive, Nashville, TN

List Price: $1,849,900

Represented by Maria Holland, 615.289.6056

BEAUTIFUL HOME IN MOUNT JULIET

This highly sought-after Eastland Construction Peyton plan was the original model home in Nichols Vale! Features include beautiful crown molding, gorgeous wooden beams in the living room and primary suite, a stacked stone gas fireplace, an oversized island, and an open floor plan making it an entertainer’s dream. Upstairs you will find an oversized bonus room above the garage, a 500-square-foot rec room with an additional space that is perfect for an office or even your own bar. The private, fenced-in, backyard backs up to a wooded tree-line and has a 2 story-covered patio.

4 Beds / 3 Full Baths | 3,720 SF 3004 Nichols Vale Lane, Mount Juliet, TN

List Price: $899,000

BEAUTY IN TOLLGATE VILLAGE

Fabulous one owner estate home in Tollgate Village overlooking an expansive green space and just around the corner from all neighborhood amenities. Three bedrooms on the main level with two upstairs. Welcoming family room with fireplace and built-ins, brick accent wall, beautiful cabinetry and more. The outdoor space is not typical for Tollgate with its spacious covered and screened porch that opens to a large fenced-in patio area that includes a firepit for your smores! Perfect home for entertaining!

5 Beds / 3 Full Baths / 1 Half Bath | 4,764 SF

3432 Colebrook Drive, Thompsons Station, TN

List Price: $1,149,999

Represented by Mona Wilson, 615.400.0708

Some of these faces may look familiar to you. After all, these

experts have an average of over 20 years of financial

A HOTEL FOR THE DISCERNING TRAVELER. NASHVILLE AT ITS MOST REFINED.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE... GET SOME SLEEP

Here are some items to help you catch some zzzzzzzzzzzs...

MANTA BLACKOUT STICKERS

If the annoying blinking LED lights from electronic devices are driving you crazy, duct tape and other at-home hacks simply won’t cut it. Manta Sleep Blackout Stickers provide 100% blackout from disruptive lights from routers, chargers, smoke detectors, laptops, smartphones, and other devices. And, they won’t leave a sticky residue when they are peeled off! There is no signal interference, as the proprietary technology allows you to continue to use your electronic devices while the stickers are applied. They also have a functional design — the 100 pre-cut sticker pack comes with 11 size and shape options to cover all of your devices! $9 at www.mantasleep.com. Use promo code SL15 for 15% off through March 2023.

MANTA WEIGHTED MASK Stress and anxiety can both be detrimental to anyone’s sleep routine. To feel your best each day and maintain a healthy life balance, it is vital for you to get proper sleep at night (or that perfect power nap). The Manta WEIGHTED Mask is the only weighted mask designed, constructed and optimized for maximum relaxation in any environment. Created to combine the soothing power of gentle pressure with the sensory relief of 100% blackout, WEIGHTED is perfect for those who suffer from stress, anxiety, insomnia, tension headaches or migraines. Gently pressing powerful relaxation points on your face alleviates tension and induces relaxation by stimulating the release of serotonin and melatonin, which calms your nervous system and primes your body for deep rest. With WEIGHTED, you get therapeutic pressure on the relaxation points around your eyes, but no pressure on your eyes — so you get the stress relief without the eye discomfort or blurry vision. $45 at www.mantasleep.com. Use promo code SL15 for 15% off through March 2023.

MANTA BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES

We live in a world of screens. However, all the blue light affects our bodies in ways Mother Nature never intended. Blue light emission can cause eyestrain, headaches, and anxious fatigue. This destroys your natural ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Manta Sleep Blue Light Blocking Glasses are specifically designed to block these disruptive wavelengths. These glasses are proven to block 99% of melatonin-disrupting blue light in the spectrum range of 450-480nm. They also feature top-quality acetate frames, a comfortable, customizable fit, spring-loaded, nickelplated steel hinges, and soft & adjustable silicone nose pads. $75 at www.mantasleep.com. Use promo code SL15 for 15% off through March 2023.

WALTON WOOD FARM “GO THE F TO SLEEP” BATH BOMBS AND PILLOW SPRAY

These fabulous new Chamomile, Lavender + Mint Bath Bombs will help you reach the ultimate state of relaxation before drifting off into a peaceful sleep! The 8 oz package retails for $16.99. With the pillow spray, you’ll sleep well so you can live healthier and happier! Spray some on your pillow before bed, and you’ll be counting sheep in no time. $19.99 at www.waltonwoodfarm. com, Use promo code SL20 for 20% off through March 2023.

WALTON WOOD FARM “WEEK FROM HELL” GIFT SET

Put your week behind you with this gift set. The “Week From Hell” Body & Lips Gift Box includes a Whipped Body Cream, Sugar Scrub (perfect for scrubbing away stress!), and Lip Balm, which all have grapefruit & brown sugar and grapefruit and maple fragrances and are nicely put together in a cute gift box. $42.95 at www.waltonwoodfarm.com. Use promo code SL20 for 20% off through March 2023.

Do yourself a favor and get some sleep!

52Air to Ground

2 Ballet Ball Kickoff at Diamond Cellar 91 King Jewelers and Breguet at Leiper’s Fork Distillery 93 Society Calendar 96 Authors in the Round 97 Antiques and Garden Show Kickoff 98 Rally Foundation / Salute to Excellence 99 Conservancy Gala Patron Party / TN Innocence Project 100 Ruby Gala / Isaiah 117 101 Nashville Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition / Discovery Ball 102 Conservancy Gala 103 Sunday in the Park 104 Rock to Remember at Gibson 105 Nashville Heroes Breakfast / Hermitage Board Event 106 Foster the Shine / Alive and The Bluebird 107 Sophisticated Giving at The Joseph 108 Fifth Third at the Bluebird 109 Symphony Ball Patron Party 110 Symphony Ball 111 MODE Properties Christmas Party 112 Vincent Peach Christmas Party

The Nashville community lost a great man on December 2nd, 2022, and I lost a good friend and colleague— Alton Kelley. An eighth generation Nashvillian, he lived an extraordinary life (though too short), always surrounded by family and friends. The Belle Meade Mansion and Belle Meade Winery boards discovered that he was terminally ill on October 28th. John Rochford immediately put together a food train to deliver meals to Alton and his wife, Sheree. On November 14th, there was a festive luncheon in the Carriage House of the Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery, where Alton was honored for his 18 years as President of Belle Meade Mansion. Alton was recognized as the most successful President of any historic site in the history of Middle Tennessee. Then, sadly, just two weeks later, Alton passed. Later that week, a wonderful celebration of life was held at the Carriage House. I have never seen so many people at an event like this. There were well-wishers there who I didn’t realize even knew Alton. He was genuinely mourned by so many.

I first met Alton when I joined the board of the Belle Meade Winery in 2009, but I know that our paths must have crossed in the years prior. Alton went to BGA, I went to MBA, and we had many friends in common. We were both members of the Alpha Chi high school fraternity. As I got to know Alton, I admired his contagious enthusiasm, imaginative creativity, and persistence. Under Alton’s leadership, I watched the Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery transform from a site needing extensive attention to the top tourist destination it is today. This historic site has been so successful that fundraising events such as Fall Fest are no longer necessary to maintain the property. The Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery is now a fully selfsustaining not-for-profit. Here are just a few of Alton’s landmark accomplishments:

• Founded Belle Meade Winery

• Installed geothermal heating

• Repurposed the icehouse for tastings of Belle Meade Bourbon

• Built the Rochford Loft for the Culinary Arts over the stables for Belle Meade wine pairing dinners and tastings

• Converted the chicken coop into the Coop n’ Scoop ice cream store Alton and Sheree, as a dynamic duo, were all about hospitality. There was always wine and something delicious at every board meeting, a charcuterie board, or a scrumptious dessert to try (Sheree is a marvelous and published chef). Every year, I looked forward to their Open House around Christmastime, where there was always an abundance of delicious food and fine spirits in their beautifully decorated home. Sadly, it was scheduled this year for December 4th. Alton was one month younger than me. Unfortunately, he was taken away from us way too soon, but he lived such a rich life during his time on earth. I have encountered many successful people over the years; Alton was one of the most successful in many ways. I’m lucky to have known him and called him my friend. He will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

PAUL’S CURTAIN CALL

Ballet’s Paul Vasterling enters his final season with a look to the past

ALL of Nashville is very familiar with its most creative resident, Paul Vasterling. Paul’s decision to retire following the 20222023 season does not mean that he will rest on his extensive laurels-he will continue to support the organization as the Artistic Director Emeritus. “We are beyond thankful for all Paul has accomplished with his time with Nashville Ballet,” said Susan Short Jones, Nashville Ballet board chair. “In many ways, he built the Nashville Ballet we have today, a world-class organization that is pushing boundaries, both in our city and in the dance world. Paul’s decision to retire is bittersweet because of what he’s meant to our organization, to the Nashville community, and to thousands of dancers and supporters along the way.”

As Artistic Director of Nashville Ballet for the past 33 years, Nashvillians have been in awe of his boundless creativity and

enthusiasm presented on stage at TPAC, at Nashville Ballet’s Redmon Street headquarters, The Martin Center, and beyond. In 2017, The company made its Kennedy Center debut, and has toured throughout the U.S., including performances in St. Louis, Charleston, Santa Fe, Virginia, Kansas City, Colorado, and at the Chautauqua Institution in August 2018. In 2020, he led the company to make its broadcast debut with the televised premiere of Nashville’s Nutcracker, for which he won his first Emmy Award. In 2022, his original ballet, Lucy Negro Redux , embarked on a nationwide tour and made its primetime debut on PBS’ multiaward-winning Great Performances series. The company has also toured internationally in South America and Europe, and many of Vasterling’s original works have been staged by companies nationally and internationally.

The longest-serving artistic director in Nashville Ballet history, Paul leaves a solid foundation built on his passion and practicality. During his tenure, he has helped increase Nashville Ballet’s operating budget by 800%, prioritized several accessibility and inclusivity initiatives, launched the company’s first-ever free virtual season, and oversaw the purchase and expansion of the company’s home base, The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet. In addition, he has led the Nashville Ballet by striving to remove social barriers, including expanding their free Community Engagement programming, undertaking national audition searches to bring BIPOC to train in Nashville, and instituting a flesh-tone tights and shoes policy for Nashville Ballet dancers and students.

Always creative, Vasterling’s artistic career began at age 10 when he started studying piano, then expanded at age 16 when he started dancing. Paul landed at Nashville Ballet in 1989, becoming a company dancer, teacher, rehearsal director, and choreographer. Then, ten years later, Paul would step into the role of Artistic Director. A choreographer with a deep affinity for music, he has created works ranging from classical, full-length story ballets to contemporary oneacts. With a particular focus on highlighting the wealth of artistry and rich history of Nashville, Vasterling’s connection to music and passion for the community has led to collaborations with numerous nationally and internationally renowned musicians and institutions, including The Bluebird Cafe, Ben Folds, GRAMMY Award winners Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi, and more. In addition, Nashville Ballet has commissioned 22 original scores for brand-new ballets under his direction.

Paul is also a gifted storyteller with a penchant for creating vivid narratives with stories such as Peter Pan, Layla and the Majnun, Lizzie Borden, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Seasons, Nashville’s Nutcracker, which over half a million Middle Tennesseans have enjoyed, Appalachian Spring, and The New York Times and Wall Street Journal-acclaimed Lucy Negro Redux. Beyond his choreography, Vasterling has expanded the company’s repertoire to include works by Salvatore Aiello, Jennifer Archibald, George Balanchine, James Canfield, Lew Christensen, Jirí Kylián, Matthew Neenan, Twyla Tharp, and Christopher Wheeldon, among many others. He has also edited and updated the classic productions Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Over the past 30 years, Nashville Ballet has transformed from a troupe of 12 dancers to become the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee, with 33 professional company dancers, a second company and renowned ballet school attracting dancers from all over the United States.

As part of his final season as Artistic Director of Nashville Ballet, Paul Vasterling will debut his newest work, Anthology, February 10–12 at TPAC’s Polk Theater, sponsored in part by Vanderbilt University. A poignant exploration of Nashville’s rich cultural tapestry, Anthology will blend music and movement to tell stories of Music City’s past.

Inspired by and set in the historic Nashville City Cemetery, Anthology is an homage to the Nashvillians, known and unknown, who have shaped the city we know today. The Nashville City Cemetery opened on January 1, 1822, and is the oldest continuously operated public cemetery in Nashville. By 1850, it was the final resting place for more than 11,000 people of every race, religion, and economic status. The ballet follows a young person as they explore the 200-year-old grounds and encounter the spirits of those buried there.

“I’ve always had a deep passion for community, and ours is so rich with people and stories that often get overlooked,” shared Vasterling. “All of them are pertinent pieces to the life we live today, yet most of us are completely unaware. We often have the most to learn from those of which we know the least, and that’s exactly what Anthology explores.”

The ballet will feature stories of the first peoples of Middle Tennessee, formerly enslaved philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, the first woman on the Nashville Police Force, and Albertine Maxwell, widely regarded as Nashville’s founder of ballet.

Known for his cross-disciplinary collaborations, Vasterling has enlisted a variety of choreographers, musicians, and composers to contribute to the project, including Nashville local and longtime teaching artist Shabaz Ujima, newly appointed Resident Choreographer Mollie Sansone, Windship Boyd, multi-award winner Sidra Bell, MORGXN, Jordan Lehning, Larissa Maestro, and more. Similar in kaleidoscopic style to his nationally acclaimed ballet Lucy Negro Redux which recently premiered on PBS’ Great Performances series as Black Lucy and the Bard, Anthology will highlight various art forms on stage in addition to dance, including original songs, musical scores, and live projection.

With Anthology, Paul Vasterling has looked to the past for inspiration. Many will continue to be grateful for HIS inspiration and leadership. Thank you, Paul! Bravo! sl

SOUTHERN COMFORT

A top-to-bottom renovation of a landmark home in Nashville creates a warm and welcoming haven for Louisville transplants.

Providing a different definition of a typical "as-is" sale, you know that your interior designer hit the mark when you go to sell your home, and the new buyers want nearly everything left in situ. That's the case for a Louisville couple when a job transfer to Nashville necessitated the sale of their home. Decorated by Crystal Smith of Bittners and featured in Louisville's May/June 2021 issue ("A Tale of Two Styles'), the colorful seaside-inspired style incorporated classic and contemporary elements.

The all-in sale provided a clean slate for the family's move to the Oman development in Brentwood. They were fortunate to score the original 1960s-era home, situated just inside the gated entrance of the 34-acre community, the first of this caliber in the area in nearly two decades. The covetable neighborhood, reminiscent of the family's bucolic Kentucky homesite, was once part of Ashlawn Farms, the 750-acre estate of Mr. and Mrs. Stirton Oman, prominent breeders of American Saddlebred Horses.

Renovation of the home, spearheaded by HV Urban, John MacCauley, III, and Jim Spangler, was well underway when the couple acquired it, meaning that some major design decisions, such as the kitchen cabinetry, had already been decided. However, there were still ample opportunities for personalization, and the wife once again called upon Crystal Smith, with whom she's collaborated on design decisions for over a decade, to work her magic once again.

Reimagined in Nashville's popular modern farmhouse style, the home's exterior is characterized by clean lines and a contemporary edge. Smith seized upon the wife's enduring affinity for color, particularly shades of blue, to infuse warmth and interest throughout what could have otherwise been cavernous and stark spaces. The drama begins as soon as you cross the threshold, where blossom-laden branches printed on high-contrast wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries follow the winding contours of a curved staircase in the entry from the first to the

second floors. Smith said the wallcovering "developed the vibe for the rest of the design."

Tempering the rustic character of a wide-plank paneled wall surrounding the fireplace in the dining room is a minimalist surround and crystal chandelier. Smith layered on the texture via grasscloth wallcovering, plaid wool and navy velvet upholstery on the dining chairs, and heavy triangle embroidery on the drapery. Blue hues predominate and are a recurring theme from room to room. Artwork surmounting the hearth is from local artist and friend Ed Nash.

An original long brick hallway running the width of the house delineates old from new. Wide, wood-trimmed openings provide access to amply proportioned rooms on either side. Suitably placed in the space is a stained glass window given to the wife by her father. It represents one of a few pieces that's traveled with her from house to house.

Ideally located, a bar at one end of the hall services the dining room, kitchen, and family room. The blue/black color of the bar's cabinetry repeats as an accent shade in the kitchen and on an accent wall in a hallway leading to a powder room. Here, Smith paired a floating vanity with a coppery-black marble top and backsplash with a fantastical wallpaper mural depicting a black and white forest punctuated by various flora and fauna rendered in technicolor.

With three children spanning middle school to college, Smith selected hardworking yet handsome upholstery for the family room. Ticking stripe-upholstered barrel chairs are oriented to face the chevron-tiled fireplace surround, while a pair of sofas square off across a round coffee table. A door on either side of the fireplace opens to a vast covered porch

with skylights, retractable screens, a fireplace, and comfortable seating for a crowd.

A classic two-tier ring chandelier accentuates the vaulted ceiling in the primary suite. Drapery from Romo frames the view of the lushly landscaped rear lawn and pool and calls to mind the nearby Smoky Mountains on a particularly foggy morning. The wife is particularly fond of the backlit mirror surmounting the vanity in the primary bath. She's also enamored with her office, tucked away in a quiet corner of the home and anchored by a lively rug, one of the home's boldest color applications.

Hard as it was to leave their old Kentucky home, the wife said that the family has quickly and happily adjusted to life in the Music City. And, as any parent can attest, the sounds of happy children represent the sweetest symphony. sl

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3102 West End Avenue, Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37203 615-269-2441 raj.patnaik@morganstanleypwm.com advisor.morganstanley.com/the-patnaik-group

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SUN, SAND & SPA

A girl's getaway on Turks & Caicos

If venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Rick Langley has his way, the cerulean waters lapping the soft sands at Grace Bay won't be the only blue hue drawing tourists to the Turks & Caicos. While creepie crawlies get under the skin of many figuratively, the drops of potent venom, humanely harvested from blue scorpion without harm, has a more literal subdermal mission. So, when Langley was asked to evaluate a research venture that involved milking "Rhopalurus junceus," an endemic blue scorpion species from the Caribbean, whose venom has demonstrated antiinflammatory, analgesic, and potentially cancer-fighting properties, he was intrigued. He tasked a group of scientists from around the globe to investigate the complex compounds found within this venom, one of the world's most expensive liquids, resulting in the development of Blue Scorpion Peptide (BSP).

MRVL Skin Solutions is the only skincare company to incorporate BSP, a combination of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, and antioxidants. Delivered through a process called hyaluronidase,

which Langley describes as "a rocket ship delivering MRVL's ingredients to the skin," the proprietary peptide has been clinically proven to help stimulate natural collagen production, fight free radicals, help regenerate symptoms of damaged skin and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

An indulgent spa day at MRVL's recently opened flagship in the heart of Grace Bay served as the impetus for a girl's trip organized by the effervescent dynamo Karen Loftus, founder of Women's Adventure Travel (WAT; womensadventuretravels.com). Founded in 2018, this unique travel company specializes in small, well-curated trips for women to destinations all over the world. Aside from adventure and empowerment, storytelling and community are two other threads meticulously woven into each WAT trip and experience, with Loftus making a concerted effort to support women-owned businesses. Loftus is also a Virtuoso Travel Advisor and crafts bespoke trips for individuals of all sizes and genders, be it for personal or professional reasons.

Wymara Resort & Villas served as home base for our sunny stay (wymararesortandvillas.com). The resort is located directly on the private western edge of Grace Bay, a dream location for those who love long toes-in-the-sand strolls. The tame and turquoise waters along this three-mile stretch of beach, consistently ranked among the world's best, are protected from the swells of the Atlantic by a barrier reef. Wymara’s 91 spacious, etherealinspired rooms are oriented to view either the ocean or a long palm-tree-lined infinity resort pool bisecting the two wings.

Notable amenities include a well-appointed spa, a state-of-theart fitness center, and a signature restaurant Indigo, where Executive Chef Andrew Mirosch melds flavors of his native Australian with tropical touches. Not to be missed is their bi-weekly beach BBQ, where Mirosch's 24-hour smoked brisket has become a local legend.

For the most indulgent experience, book a stay at one of Wymara's seven stunning new four- and five-bedroom villas on

Turtle Tail Bay, located just 2.5 miles away from the resort. Each villa is located on about half an acre of elevated hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea and features a pair of private pools, expansive indoor-outdoor living areas, a sunken outdoor fire pit lounge area, over-the-water swimming platforms with direct ocean access, and incredible services and amenities, including access to the resort's beach, restaurants, bars, and spa.

Loftus kicked off our trip in the most local way possible, with lunch at Omar's beach Hut. Removed from the bustling Grace Bay, this humble al fresco outlet includes picnic tables anchored into shallow Five Cays, where groups on horseback occasionally amble by. Omar, a native of Jamaica, serves up some seriously good Jamaican jerk dishes and fish procured from the dock next door. Outgoing and braggadocious in the most endearing way, he says his lobster roll can stand toe-to-toe with one from New England. If you want to see the island off the

MRVL Skin Solutions is the only skincare company to incorporate Blue Scorpion Peptide, a combination of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, and antioxidants.

beaten path, he's your go-to guy, remarking that locals call clifflined Mudjin Harbor Beach and its open-faced caves way more picturesque than Grace Bay.

The highlight of our trip was a takeover of the MRVL Spa (mrvlspa.com), where we sipped champagne while master medical aesthetician Renee Talley guided each of us through a menu of customized treatments, running the gamut from body wraps and scrubs to micro-needling, anti-aging facials, and infrared sauna therapy.

Post-treatment we indulged in a little retail therapy at MRVL's boutique. It's chock-full of beach chic apparel, accessories, and beautifully-packaged blue scorpion skin care, spurred on by the knowledge that MRVL donates 5% of all purchases to support the children of Today's Promises, a nonprofit that aids impoverished children in the Caribbean.

In addition to ample free time, Loftus programmed a sunset cocktail and al fresco dinner at Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar

(gracebayresorts.com), a mid-day pick-me-up at woman-owned Tribe bakery and deli, a "Fish Hook" cocktail and country music singalong with Garth at Just Tacos at Grace Bay Club, and a lingering lunch at Rock House, Grace Bay's latest hotel and hotspot (rockhouseresort.com). The rooms and restaurant of this super chic Mediterranean-inspired boutique property, situated on 14 acres on the north coast of Providenciales, rest atop rocky outcroppings up to 95 feet above sea level. "Rock House is the Caribbean Capri, rivaling a trip to the Mediterranean without the transcontinental trip," said Grace Bay Resorts chief executive officer and principal Mark Durliat.

As we departed for the airport, Loftus presented us with a goody bag of signature souvenirs from her Women's Adventure Travel line. However, returning home sun kissed and still sore from laughing too much were the best takeaways from a successful sojourn. sl

MUSCLE CAR MODERNIZED

Charge Cars reimagines the 1960s Ford Mustang Fastback as an EV

Charge Cars is on a roll. It started with the 2022 "Icon of the Year" award from GQ Magazine, followed by the public unveiling at Salon Privé in London before a dynamic debut at the world-renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed.

As its next big step, the London-based company brought its all-new electric-powered muscle machine to the United States for the first time. The US launch took place at the legendary Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles this past October, followed by a series of events across the West Coast and beyond, capped off by a public display at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show.

"We truly believe we've created something unique in the EV world. It's a brand new, hand-built design icon that gives customers a genuine emotional connection to their car. Classic looks, cuttingedge technology, and zero emissions now have a heart and soul. And this is just the beginning for us at Charge Cars," said Mark Roberts, Chief Creative Officer of Charge Cars.

Limited to 499 vehicles, each tailored to the buyer, the '67 by Charge Cars is an all-new, electrified adaptation of the 1960s Ford Mustang Fastback. Despite its throwback muscle car looks, the '67 is a modern electric vehicle with four motors and 536 horsepower capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and boasting a range of 200 miles.

A brand-new, officially licensed steel body shell wrapped in lightweight carbon fiber body panels encases the e-Stang's electric motors and floor-mounted batteries. In addition, the design team created a fresh interior with a fully digital dashboard, new suspension components, braking system, and lighting. Among the many amenities and advanced driver aids as part of the in-car system are a 12.3" driver display, a 12.3" central display, a premium immersive sound system, and keyless access. sl

The '67 is scheduled to hit the streets in late 2023 with a starting price of $450,000 in the United States. For more information, visit charge.cars.

HEART OF GOLD

Tokens of love for your Valentine

This page, clockwise from top left: Chris Ploof + Anthony Lent Damascus House pendant with a personal hidden small diamond ($1,200; chrisploof.com). Nouvel Heritage Medium Love ring ($2,300). Available through Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis and at nouvelheritage.com. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: EF Collection Endless Love necklace ($4,495; efcollection.com). / Ginette NY Angele mini onyx heart bracelet ($265; ginette-ny.com) / Roberto Coin heart lock necklace ($1,850). Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus and Nashville, Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, Simons Jewelers in St. Louis and at robertocoin.com. / Ali Weiss rainbow heart charm ($650; aliweissjewelry.com) Frederic Sage diamond Happy double hearts on turquoise pendant with chain ($1,395). Available through Davis Jewelers in Louisville and fredericsage.com. / L’Ateleir Nawbar Super Heart ring ($1,800; lateliernawbar.com) / Anita Ko diamond hoops with heart diamond center ($9,925; anitako.com) / Kwiat Ashoka diamond heart ring with rubies. Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus, King Jewelers in Nashville, Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, and Elleard Heffern Fine Jewelers in St. Louis (kwiat.com) / Picchiotti fancy yellow diamond earrings ($1,242,500). Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, Elleard Heffern Fine Jewelers in Missouri, and picchiotti.it. / Bea Bongiasca Gwen earrings in baby blue with aquamarine ($5,000; beabongiasca.com) 18k yellow gold heart bracelet from Christina Alexiou ($10,782; christinaalexiou.com) Anthony Lent Adorned Hands diamond heart engagement ring ($16,000; anthonylent.com). / Rainbow K Crystal Heart ring ($2,400; rainbowkjewelry.com). Chopard Happy Hearts Wings ($2,210). Available from Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, King Jewelers in Nashville and chopard.com.

CHEERS TO ANOTHER YEAR

Birthday wine-ing in Sonoma

As we get older, it seems that there are two types of people when it comes to commemorating a birthday. One prefers little fanfare, while the other likes to mark the occasion with aplomb. As someone who feels she's aging like a good bottle of pinot noir, I fall squarely into the latter. So, for the twilight of my fortieth decade, it seemed apropos to raise a glass to another year in Sonoma, a trip that struck just the right balance of revelry and relaxation.

Having learned firsthand the pitfalls of an overly ambitious itinerary while on a 70th birthday trip to Oregon's wine country with my mother last year, our Sonoma sojourn was limited to two wineries a day. The six I chose were based on the reputation of their wine and the setting offered to enjoy them. As Sonoma County's 19 distinctive American Viticultural areas certainly aren't lacking in scenery, the latter criteria didn't whittle down the list much, but being preferential to pinot certainly helped.

Knowing that we'd be doing quite a bit of driving, we opted for a centrally located hotel. We were initially surprised to see how close McArthur Place was to the main thoroughfare, separated only by a white picket fence and dense landscaping that allowed for stolen glances of Victorian-inspired architecture. However, our fears were allayed as soon as we approached the entry courtyard in this six-acre haven of tranquility.

The low-density property, with just 64 spacious guestrooms and suites, was once a 19th-century working vineyard and ranch. The original home, one of Sonoma's oldest examples of Victorian

architecture, served as inspiration for the other detached two-level buildings that house guest rooms. Blanket-draped Adirondack chairs pulled up alongside strategically placed firepits are populated night and day. Mature landscaping, the intoxicating scent of Jasmine, and meandering paths create a feeling of anticipation as you wander the property. Around every corner are lush lawns punctuated by contemporary art.

Guest rooms are the definition of cool and comfortable California contemporary. Muted earthy colors predominate and are mated with sumptuous textures of stone, leather, and thick tufted plaid carpet underfoot. We quickly adopted a nightly routine of opening a bottle procured from the day's adventure, lighting a fire, and putting our feet up on a bouclé ottoman paired with a swivel bucket chair. Heavenly.

A recent $20 million overhaul touched nearly every aspect of the resort and reimagined the food and beverage program. Layla, a new three-meal dining destination, is named for Leilani Burris, great-granddaughter of the original property founder David Burris. The menu, utilizing garnishes from the on-site garden, is a happy marriage of California coastal and Mediterranean-style dishes. Farmto-table dining alfresco here as leaves and candlelight dance in the evening breeze is a peak Sonoma experience. The Bar at MacArthur is a super-chic spot for all-day elevated bar bites and innovative cocktails. We grabbed our morning caffeine fix at The Porch, featuring coffee by Sonoma County roaster Wolf Coffee.

MacArthur is a short walk to the historic city center of Sonoma; travel a little further to read the trailhead of the Sonoma Overlook Trail, a three-mile path that winds up a hillside and rewards the effort with panoramic views of Sonoma Valley.

Having arrived just after the Autumn harvest, there was a relaxed mood at most wineries. When I made an appointment at Williams Selyem in Healdsburg (williamsselyem.com), the detailed directions explicitly said there was no sign, so we were surprised that the lack of fanfare at the entrance road led to a quite large and contemporary tasting room. The roots of the brand are much humbler. Founders and fishing buddies Burt Williams and Ed Selyem, united in their love of "unaffordable" French Burgundies and the desire to make a prestigious California pinot, crafted their wines in a rented 2-car garage in Fulton from 1983 to 1989. You can find the full and fascinating story on the winery website.

Today, under the ownership of John and Kathe Dyson (former customers of Bert and Ed) and the direction of Jeff Mangahan, Director of Winemaking, pinot noir comprises 90% of William Seylem's production. An interesting factoid is that Williams Seylem donates the proceeds from selling their proprietary trademarked yeast to other winemakers to help fund the nonprofit Healdsburg Wine Library, whose contents cover wine from antiquity to the present day.

"Winemaking is minding the minutiae," said Jon Priest, Senior Winemaker and General Manager at Etude Winery (etudewines. com), who said he first fell in love with Burgundy when he was too

young to know better. Priest had just wrapped up his 33rd harvest at Etude when we arrived at their Napa tasting room for a sip through their pinot library, a grape that thrives in the cool Carneros climate. Our tasting was an interesting lesson in temperature and terroir, and we learned how subtle differences in topography and ocean breezes interplay to create microclimates that impart distinct characteristics to what ends up in the glass. "You can hear a region's accent in its pinot," Priest remarked. Etude specializes in white and two classic red varietals - pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon.

Etude was founded by winemaker Tony Soter in 1982 on the philosophy that winemaking begins in the vineyard. It's an ethos that's paramount to Priest, who says that the company has set a goal of operating as one hundred percent renewable by 2030. "We do all we can in a minimal way to let the terroir express itself," he explained, adding that "controlled stress" is better than "happy vines." Etude has been named Certified Sustainable, Fish Friendly Farming, Napa Green Winery Certified, and earned its Climate Adaption Certification.

A particular point of pride is the Grace Benoist Ranch, home to Etude's Estate Vineyards. Part of an original land grant, extensive creek restoration was necessary to reverse the effects of decades of cattle grazing. Primitive structures that once provided shelter to ranchers and deer hunters dot the landscape. "It's wonderful to be out there and sense what the land may have looked like 100 years ago," said Priest.

Even non-imbibers will savor a trip to the 1,200-acre Jordan Winery in the Alexander Valley to savor the scenery (jordanwinery. com). From its founding in 1970, Jordan has focused on three things: cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and hospitality. This laser focus means that they do each very, very well. A long, winding road leads up to a grand château perched atop a hill, a hand-in-glove mate to wines created in the Bordeaux model of estate-grown grapes.

Jordan operates as a certified sustainable vineyard and winery, a practice that extends to preserving large swaths of wild habitat around and between their 12 estate vineyard blocks, creating an ideal environment for the culinary team to forage for wild plants and herbs.

Even the most basic winery tours at Jordan (always by appointment) conclude with a seated food and wine pairing. In addition, throughout the year, they host a handful of themed dinners, lunches, hikes, and other special events. Insider tip: become a Jordan Estates Rewards member at the Gold or Platinum level to gain access to an overnight stay in one of the estate's three guest suites or guesthouse.

Another scenic and sustainable stop is the Benziger Family Winery (benzinger.com), located in the shadow of Sonoma Mountain and a quarter-mile from Jack London State Park (an excellent stop for hiking). The Benziger family has farmed their ranch and vineyards for more than three decades using certified Biodynamic farming methods. As a result, every wine in their portfolio carries a third-party certification of green farming practices. They also use their experience and insight to mentor a network of growers interested in farming in a way that cares for the land while producing quality wine. Benziger’s biodynamic tractor tram

tour provides a comprehensive look at their Sonoma Mountain Estate, followed by a tasting of four limited-production wines.

A newbie on the Sonoma winemaking scene, Marine Layer Wines (marinelayerwines.com), founded by Baron Ziegler and Rob Fischer, winemaker at Banshee Wines, has made its mark as the cool kid on the block with a hip tasting room in the heart of Healdsburg, a charming town known for outstanding restaurants, galleries, and shops. Offering a tasting without pretense and accompanied by a scrumptious seasonal mezze plate crafted by Little Saint, Marine Layer would be my first stop with anyone who thinks all wine experts are snobs. Sourcing grapes from some of the best vineyards along the Sonoma Coast, their small-batch, cool-climate wines are complex and approachable.

Because man or woman cannot live on wine alone, we interspersed our tastings by indulging in farm-to-fork cuisine at places like Roof 106 (thematheson.com), a rooftop cocktail lounge and restaurant on the square in Healdsburg, where I'd recommend the local mushroom, burrata, and truffle pizza. After feasting on wood-roasted brussels sprouts and house-made lumache pasta a la fra diavolo at The Glen Ellen Star (glenellenstar.com), a tiny establishment a stone's throw from Benziger Winery, I declared it was every bit as good as my last meal there a decade ago. Following our tasting at Marine Layer, we made a beeline to Little Saint, an ambitious 10,000-square-foot farm-forward gathering place founded by Single Thread owners Kyle and Katina Connaughton, where we hoped to find to-go portions of the mezze we'd just devoured. Coming up short on this mission marked the only glasshalf-empty moment during our wine country escapade. sl

EURO STASH

Using an art-for-all approach, West Chelsea Contemporary opens a Parisian street art icon and an edgy London lenticular artist, among others, to a broader audience in the United States.

Having grown up surrounded by art and beautiful objects, when Lisa Russell moved from LA to Austin more than two decades ago, she quickly realized that the city was lacking the type of art gallery she was used to frequenting in the City of Angels. So, with support from a mentor, she opened the doors to her own gallery in 2002, with a show of etchings by Rembrandt. Little could she have imagined that in due time her 1,200-square-foot gallery would burgeon into 8,000 square feet; that she'd take on a partner, rebrand as West Chelsea Contemporary, and open a second branch in New York in 2021, with a laser focus on showcasing a roster of modern A-list artists including Banksy, Kenny Scharf, and Ai Weiwei, among many others.

Russell explained that the genre shift is all part of being a successful gallery owner and understanding what clients are looking for and where the market is moving. "Twenty years ago, Austin was a sleepy town, and general knowledge around contemporary artists was limited," she said. What remains unchanged is that, unlike many mega-galleries, each exhibition at WCC follows Lisa's "art for all" mission. A key component is the WCC Gift Shop, ensuring that anyone who walks through the door can take something away from what they see.

When it comes to collecting, Russell believes that "things can clash harmoniously," a notion underscored by recent exhibitions at WCC New York. Spanning techniques from etching, screenprint, lithograph, collage, giclee, photography, papercut, and painting on paper, New York on Paper, organized in March 2022, celebrated more than two dozen modern and contemporary artists from WCC's collection. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with artists such as Damien Hirst, Salvador Dali, and Robert Indiana was Gary James McQueen, an artist exclusively represented in the United States by WCC and one with a story that Russell feels "hasn't been quite meaningfully told yet."

The nephew and mentee of the late fashion industry icon Alexander McQueen, Gary James McQueen developed a niche in optical-illusion textile design while working as the head textile designer for the Alexander McQueen MRTW. Before his death in 2010, Alexander entrusted Gary with several personal projects, including the Chrome Skull artwork that has become iconic as the face of the Savage Beauty exhibition commemorating Alexander McQueen's life's work. Employing 3-D lenticular technology that intersects fashion and art, Gary's hauntingly

beautiful works resonate with familiar familial theatricality. He was also one of the first artists to fully immerse himself in the metaverse, putting on the first digital fashion show of its kind, supported by Epic Games and Sky Arts.

The gallery's most recent exhibition, the second iteration of Concrete to Canvas, bridged the gap between street and fine art. "There's a distinct difference in what these artists do on the street and what they create for the canvas," explained Russell.

Graffiti began to appear in the 1970s as a form of democratic personal self-expression, existing outside the bounds of law and property. The popular culture shift to using the term street art reflects an increase in commissioned murals around the world and the elevation of street artists into art icons in their own right, expanding into painting, prints, licensed vinyl toys, and fashion collaborations.

Among the artists in this four-decade retrospective was the "father of stencil graffiti," Blek le Rat, cited by Banksy as a significant influencer of his creativity and commercial success. As one of the first street artists in Paris, Blek gets credit for being the inventor of the lifesized stencil, and being the first to transform stenciling from basic lettering into pictorial art. Now in his 70s, Russell said that la Rat

jokes he will continue to create street art as long as it's legal because he can't run so fast anymore.

The artist made his first visit to the United States in five years last August to mark the opening of his debut solo exhibition at WCC New York. The show highlighted the artist's well-known motifs of socio-political commentary, classical art, historical figures, and, of course, the rat. His visit was underscored by creating two commissioned murals and hosting a presentation and live stenciling in WCC's Gift Shop attended by scores of street artists eager to meet the icon. "Hearing from the artist himself and the stories behind the art adds an additional dimension to the collecting experience," said Russell. In addition, WCC showcased brand-new prints that build upon his historical references, featuring figures such as Beethoven, Sibyl, Eros, and a tribute to fellow artist Richard Hambleton.

Two decades in, Russell's passion for her career remains palpable. "We are continuing to develop relationships with artists who are doing incredible things," she explained. "It's gratifying to be able to positively influence the success of an artist." sl

For more information, visit wcc.art and wccgiftshop.com.

WINE HIKES IN GERMANY

Germany’s 13 wine regions offer hiking enthusiasts of all abilities a wide range of experiences. We've compiled our favorite treks across five regions for drinking in views of enchanting countryside while sipping delicious wine.

Compiled by Chloe Gellar / Images courtesy of Wines of Germany (germanwines.de)

Germany's Oldest Wine Route: The Palatinate Riesling, pinot blanc, Grüner Silvaner, and chardonnay grapes originate in the Palatinate. The region between the Palatinate Forest and the Rhine Plain is located in Rhineland-Palatinate, bordering Alsace in the south. In terms of landscape, this region is strongly influenced by wine, with endless vines reaching in soft sweeps down to the Rhine and Moselle. The winters are mild, and the summers pleasant. Lemons, figs, and kiwis grow in the country gardens. Germany's oldest wine route runs through the middle of the Palatinate. At 52 miles in length, the trail starts at the German Wine Gate in Schweigen Rechtenbach on the French border and ends in Bockenheim on the edge of the Rhine-Hesse. There are 130 idyllic wine villages interspersed with stately castles and palaces, with wine festivals in summer and almond blossoms in spring. The picturesque municipalities of Bobenheim, Birkweiler, and Neustadt are noteworthy.

Quite small, but very refined: Franconia In the Middle Ages, Franconia was regarded as the largest wine region in the Holy Roman Empire; today, it is one of the more moderately-sized wine-growing regions. The region's trademark is the bocksbeutel, a type of wine bottle shaped like a flattened ellipsoid. The area surrounding Würzburg

stretches from Aschaffenburg along the Mainschleife to Bamberg and includes the steep slopes of the Steigerwald. Müller-Thurgau, Grüner Silvaner, riesling, and the typical Franconian Bacchus are grown here. Every year, 200 wine-related festivals occur in Franconia, nestled between the Spessart, Rhön, Steigerwald, and Tauber valleys.

The route from Retzbach to Karlstadt or from Rothenfels to Kreuzwertheim is a good option. Along the Volkacher Mainschleife, you can expect Silvaner wine and a breathtaking view of Vogelsburg. Red wine lovers can go on the red wine hike to Dernau. Finally, don't miss the Marienburg fortress and the residential city of Würzburg, with its imposing cathedral.

The steepest vineyards in Europe: Moselle It is one of the country's oldest wine regions, known for the steepest vineyards in Europe. Here, rieslings, Müller-Thurgau, and pinot noir flourish in primeval shale. The sheer grade is made for experienced hikers, rewarding them with unique views of an enchanting cultural landscape replete with castles, vineyards, waterfalls, ostrich farms, and legendary wine villages. Cochem and Bremm are popular towns, and the walled city of Beilstein, with its chapels and castle ruins, is undoubtedly worth a visit.

The Calmont ropeway offers hikers a unique view of the Bremmer Mosel loop, and it's well worth a walk to the steel lookout

tower at Prinzenkopf. Those who tour Moselhöhenweg get an impressive look at miles of ornately arranged wine terraces. Trek along the wine trail on the Petrisberg to gaze upon Germany's oldest city, Trier. The culture trail in the Moselle valley is a less strenuous but equally exciting trek.

Forever Following the Rhine Terraces: Rheinhessen Between Worms, Mainz and Bingen is Germany's largest and oldest wine-growing region, the Rhineland-Palatinate wine region of Rheinhessen. Of the 136 Rhine-Hessian areas, only a fraction don't produce wine. The mild climate and the diverse soil conditions produce interesting wines from grapes that include MüllerThurgau, Silvaner, riesling, Dornfelder, and Burgundy Germany's richest rieslings hail from the Rote Hang between Nierstein and Nackenheim. The 46-mile Rhine Terraces Trail is divided into six stages and passes through many hamlets, all of which invite you to taste their wines.

Routes between Worms and Osthofen, Oppenheim to Nackenheim, and Bodenheim to Mainz are ideal routes. In Worms and Mainz, numerous sights and cozy pubs await. Also notable are the Bensheim circular hiking trail, the gourmet hike in Oppenheim, and the lookout at Nollig Castle.

Lovely Weather, Wonderful Wine: Baden Baden, the "Burgundy Paradise," is one of Germany's most versatile winegrowing regions, stretching about 250 miles along the Upper Rhine Plain from Tauberfranken through Kraichgau and the Badische Bergstrasse to Lake Constance. Such vastness creates ideal conditions for growing wide varieties of grapes. The sun plays along, too, making the highest recorded temperatures in Germany on the southern slopes of the Kaiserstuhl. And since Burgundy grapes are particularly fond of the warm climate, Baden is especially well-known for this variety.

The undulating Baden-Ortenau Wine Trail passes through ancient cities such as Freiburg, Heidelberg, and Baden-Baden, along with Lake Constance. An eco-wine trail also leads through the Markgräfler Land. The view from the dainty half-timbered village of Sasbachwalden, located between the slopes of the Hornisrinde and vineyards with a view of France, the Rhine Valley, and Strasbourg, is stunning. The Ortenau Wine Trail is also well worth a mention.

The German Wine Institute has an interactive map on its website (germanwines.de/tourism/wine-hiking-trails/) showing more than 50 wine hikes in all 13 German wine-growing regions. Users can search for the locations of over 2,300 wine producers and special events. sl

Of Note... Over Under Compiled

This page, clockwise from top left: The four rings surrounding the alabaster shade of the Pearl Chandelier from Eichholtz can be individually rotated (eichholtzusa.com) / Cullo hand-felted merino wool ceiling lamp made in Nancy, France by Atelier Sol De Mayo (sol-mayo.com)./ Mimi collection chandelier from Mitzi x Megan Molten ($1,100; mitzi.com). / Antelope rug from Hommes Studio (hommes.studio). / Mansour’s Temple rug, designed in collaboration with Victoria Hagan (mansour.com). / The Brianna Collection from Amber Lewis x Loloi (loloirugs.com). / Flora, Lark Meadow in Tibetan wool, Chinese silk, and natural nettle fibers from New Moon Rugs (newmoonrugs.com). / The Gourd Bar Chandelier from Tracy Glover Studio ($13,500; tracygloverstudio.com)

AIR TO GROUND

For nearly 140 years, Piaggio has covered transportation from scooter to sky.

In the second episode of season two of HBO Max's The White Lotus, set in Sicily, Italy, actress Jenifer Coolidge, reprising the role of fan-favorite Tanya McQuoid, lays out her ideal Italian afternoon in great detail. Spoiler alert: A significant portion of her dream day includes sightseeing via Vespa à la Audrey Hepburn on a 125 in Roman Holiday. Vespa's parent company Piaggio Group has been widely known for Vespa scooters and the la dolce dreams they inspire since 1946. However, the company's history goes back much further, and many may be surprised to learn that Piaggio's aviation affiliation goes back far longer than two-wheeled transport.

The company's origins trace back to Genova, Italy, when in 1884, a young Rinaldo Piaggio took over his father's business and converted it into a marine fit-out company. At the dawn of the twentieth century, Italian industry is bustling, and Piaggio's cabinetmakers are busy supplying furniture for luxurious Italian and foreign ships. Not satisfied with the growth potential in this sector, Rinaldo branches out into building and repairing carriages for the rail industry, which allows him to assemble a talented pool of engineers and repair technicians.

A year after the advent of the First World War, Rinaldo's company started repairing and building seaplanes, eventually acquiring a Pisa-based Pegna-Bonmartini aviation company in 1917. This move shielded the company from a post-war downturn while significantly increasing the talent pool of its workforce, including Giovanni Pegna, a gifted aeronautical

designer and engineer. Pegna gets credit for developing the P2 (Piaggio 2) monoplane fighter and its subsequent P7 evolution, the Piaggio racing seaplane, and the four-engine P108, the last great Italian-built plane before the Second World War.

Continued success spurs Rinaldo to branch out yet again, and in 1924 he acquired the Pontedera-based Costruzione Meccaniche Nazionali (National Mechanic Construction). The acquisition of the factory enables Piaggio to build its own aircraft engines and, later on, other vehicles. Hoping to avoid recessionary slowdowns befalling scores of industries in the 1930s, Piaggio adds Giovanni Pegna, Giovanni Gabrielli, Giovanni Casiraghi, and Corradino d'Ascanio to its R&D department. Working in collaboration with other inventors, d'Ascanio makes an immediate mark on the company by producing one of the world's first helicopter prototypes. His innovation and creations, including the PD1 and PD2 (Piaggio-d'Ascanio) helicopters, ensure his contributions are etched permanently in Piaggio's annals.

In 1944, anticipating a post-WWII rebuilding boom, Enrico Piaggio, who, along with his brother Armando inherited the family business when their father Rinaldo died in 1938, commissioned a vehicle that would allow individuals to get around on their own. The first attempt is a scooter designed by Renzo Spolti with a loadbearing frame. The MP (Moto Piaggio), in its MP1 and MP5 iterations, was nicknamed Paperino. Not seeing his vision fully

realized, Enrico asks Corradino d'Ascanio to rework the design, resulting in the MP6 prototype in 1945. One year later, production commences on a legendary two-wheeler: the Vespa 98. The company went on to roll out the three-wheeled Ape (pronounced "a pay") starting in 1975; the Porter, a cab over microvan and pick-up in 1992; the zippy Liberty "high wheel" scooter in 1996; and, in 2006, the Piaggio MP3, a tilting three-wheeled scooter with a combustion engine and electric battery combination.

In the aviation sector, Piaggio Aerospace, headquartered in Villanova d’Albenga, Italy and under ownership separate from the Piaggio Group for several years, continues to fulfill orders for a broad customer base spanning the Italian Ministry of Defense to executive aviation clients.

Unveiled in 2014 and produced in Italy, Piaggio's sevenpassenger Avanti EVO is a business aircraft that's one of the most environmentally friendly on the market, with reduced emissions and aircraft noise thanks to a five-blade scimitar design in aluminum. Powered by two Pratt & Witney PT6A66B engines—the fastest twin turboprop ever made—the Avanti EVO is faster than some jets. It achieves greater speed without compromising operating costs, running at up to 30% less than a jet of the same size and able to climb to a ceiling of 41,000 feet and travel 1,809 NM before refueling. The stand-up cabin height of 5'9" is the tallest in class, while the width of 6'1" is superior

Back on terra firma, Piaggio continues its five-decade record of working on electric power with the introduction of the Vespa Elettrica. A follow-up to the world's first hybrid scooter, the MP3 Hybrid, which launched in 2009, the Vespa Elettrica boasts a range of 60 miles and requires just four hours to charge fully. The company says its performance bests a traditional 50 cc scooter.

By the end of September 2022, Piaggio had sold 490,400 vehicles worldwide and captured 34.9% of the North American scooter market. For 2023, Piaggio Group is introducing a range of new models across their portfolio. These include the Aprilia RS 660 Extrema; the Aprilia ELECTRICa Project, aimed at providing accessible zero-emissions two-wheeled transportation for young people; Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello, the first motorcycle in the world to incorporate adaptive aerodynamics; and the Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Special Edition.

And, if you want to live out your own Italian dream, the company has introduced several new variants of the Vespa, now a global brand produced at three production sites: Pontedera, Italy, Vinh Phuc in Vietnam, and the Baramatti factory in India. Billed by Piaggio Group as "the most authentically sporty Vespa ever," the new Vespa Gtv combines the familiar appearance with an ultra-modern technological equipment package and brand-new sporty finishes. Buon scooter! sl

Bibliotaph...

This is Bob Dylan’s first book of new writing since 2004’s Chronicles: Volume One—and since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. Through 60 essays, Dylan, who began work on the book in 2010, offers his insight into the nature of popular music, even explaining how bluegrass relates to heavy metal. Bob Dylan—The Philosophy of Modern Song—hardcover, 352 pages, Simon & Schuster

Art historian Christine Ross examines contemporary art’s response to migration, inviting viewers in Europe and North America to see art as an invitation to abandon preconceptions and view migration more critically and in terms of coexistence: the interdependence of beings. Christine Ross—Art for Coexistence: Unlearning the Way We See Migration—hardcover, 424 pages The MIT Press

This tome is an impressive collection of 300+ images capturing the landmarks, landscapes, and people of Ethiopia and East Africa captured by photographer Joey L. over thirteen years with the support of his dedicated Ethiopian crew. Joey L. —Ethiopia: A Photographic Tribute to East Africa’s Diverse Cultures & Traditions—hardcover, 368 pages, Earth Aware Editions

The first compilation of the vivid, psychedelic, treatment-textured, and intensely colorful photographic prints and Polaroids of a 1960s runaway housewife named Joan Archibald from Long Island, reborn in Malibu and then Palm Springs as Kali. Her work is currently on exhibition at the Columbus Museum of art through March 12, 2023. Len Prince— Kali: Artographer—hardcover, 224 pages, powerHouse Books

An American in Provence is a beautiful collection of portrait, scenic, and stilllife photography from award-winning photographer Jamie Beck. Looking to slow down from her fast-paced life in New York City, Beck moved to the French countryside, documenting her life as “An American in Provence.” What started as a one-year getaway became five as she continues to chronicle her life there through her photography on Instagram @JamieBeck.co, including the birth of her daughter, Eloise. Jamie Beck— An American In Provence: Art, Life and Photography—hardcover, 320 pages, Simon Element hardcover, 320 pages Simon & Schuster

bib 'li' o 'taph, [bib-lee-uhtaf, -tahf]: a person who caches or hoards books

Oxford and Queen’s University-educated author Gareth Russell provides a deliciously entertaining collection of 101 fascinating and funny anecdotes about Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, aka Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother—one for each year of her life. Gareth Russell—Do Let’s Have Another Drink!— hardcover, 240 pages, Atria Books

Author Judith McLoughlin showcases 100+ fresh and innovative food and drink recipes celebrating Irish-American heritage that she interweaves with her culinary and cultural journey. Judith McLoughlin—A Return to Ireland—hardcover, 256 pages, Hatherleigh Press

Known as an expert in British baking and culture, acclaimed food writer and historian Regula Ysewijn turns her attention to her native Belgium. This book provides an intimate look at the culinary traditions and classic baked goods with 80+ recipes encompassing Carnival and Renaissance treats, pastries, pies, biscuits, cakes, breads, and, of course, waffles. Available in February. Regula Ysewijn—Dark Rye and Honey Cake— hardcover, 272 pages, Weldon Owen

Luke Caldwell, founder of design and built firm Timber and Love design and star of HGTV’s Boise Boys and Outgrown, shares his intentional design philosophy for creating timeless and organic home designs. Organized by design style—Timber and Love, Natural and Organic, and Classic and Cozy—the book is filled with photography that showcases the bones and flow of spaces and the details that make them unique. Luke Caldwell—Americana Soul: Homes Designed with Love, Comfort, and Intention—hardcover, 256 pages, Hatherleigh Press

From Frilly to Fierce

The latest looks from leading bridal designers

Every bride wants to look and feel their best on their big day. However, the ideal “fairytale moment” is different for everyone, and bridal designers have taken note, as evidenced by the diverse styles in their 2023 collections. While ballgowns remain a perennial favorite, there’s also been a surge in mini dresses, pops of color, and separates.

GRACE LOVES LACE

Photography by Jessica Ruscoe Eight signature wedding dresses (both made-to-order and RTW) and two new veils comprise the latest line from the multi-million Pinterestpinned brand. Billed as "an ode to the dreamers, the poets, the midnight readers, the moonlight bathers, and the deep thinkers," their latest collection, "Memoirs of Her," stays true to the effortless and sophisticated lines that have defined the Australianbased company from the beginning (graceloveslace.com).

BESA BRIDAL

Besa categorizes their style as “cool-girl-inspired,” a look achieved via layering and personalization with mix and match pieces and unique separates. Sooyeon Rim founded Besa after nearly a decade working with the prestigious bridal label Amsale. Realizing an unfilled niche for non-traditional pieces, she founded Besa to appeal to contemporary and unconventional brides. All pieces are designed in New York and made to order in Seoul, Korea (besabridal.com).

IMAD EDUSO

Lagos-based Imad Eduso’s bridal looks are consistent with the brand’s moda operandi of mixing textures, colors, and shapes in a whimsical and bold way, designed to make all women feel empowered and confident (imadeduso-bridal.com).

INES DI SANTO

Murano chandeliers were the centerpiece of Ines’s inspiration for her 2023 collection, dubbed “Illuminated Soiree.”

Embellished details, subtly playful color choices, and unexpected textures and finishes define the collection.

In a press release, the designer stated, “you’ll find that each gown can live as a standalone piece capable of illuminating any venue, no matter the scale, just as the chandelier it was inspired by” (inesdisanto.com).

Reem Acra loves catering to brides from all over the world. Creating trends and mixing the unusual with the traditional gives every bride a path to manifesting her dream dress. Her 2023 “Sweet Dreams” collection melds just enough elements of the Old World mixed with modern details.

LIZ MARTINEZ

At New York Fashion Week Bridal, Liz Martinez unveiled a new collection, "The Other Me," categorized as high fashion editorial meets bold street smart. Utilizing the moniker Love Courageously, Live Boldly, Dress Fearlessly, the designer conveyed her notion of a modern bride: feminine, free, utterly independent, and unwilling to settle for anyone else's vision. "She's a force; she's a fire; she's absolute freedom" (lizmartinez.co.il).

JULIE VINO

The Tel Aviv-based designer’s 2023 collection features four signature lines, each defined by opulent details and figure-flattering silhouettes. Each gown is handcrafted with unique fabrics sourced from artisans in India, France, and Italy, among others. The Romanzo collection, named “Vogue,” is notable for dramatic cascading trains and interesting necklines. Simple silhouettes accentuated by beading and lace define “Seville,” the Haute Couture collection. The elegant lines of the “Swan Lake” collection of the Mimosa line display the effortless grace of a prima ballerina. Finally, glittering cocktail dresses from the “Second Skin’ collection are perfect for bachelorette parties and dancing the night away at the wedding reception (julievino.com).

RIVINI

Rita Vineris’ “Golden Hour” collection for RIVINI is inspired by daylight’s fleeting light just before sunset when light and shadow take on a magical quality. A feeling of luminosity is communicated on the structured pieces via Italian silk, liquid shimmer, hand-painted tulle, and pearl embellishment (ritaveneris.com).

A PEARL OF A

The enduring appeal of pearls for both sexes.

While men sporting pearls is de riguer at the moment, these lustrous gems of the sea have been prized by distinguished gentlemen since antiquity, with documentation going as far back as 2300 BC in China. In ancient Rome, a decree made a law that only noblemen were permitted to wear pearls. In the Tudor era, men put on pearls as a public show of their rank at court. Perhaps the most notable historical devotee of the pearl was Shah Jahan, the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, reigning from 1628 to 1658. A jewelryobsessed gem expert, and the builder of the Taj Mahal, he is often depicted with slathers of strands, some draping down to his waist, an honor reserved for the upper echelons of the royal family.

Then, as now, pearls are a symbol of wealth, power, nobility, and good taste. And, as men consider donning pearls, designers are taking note, creating more gender fluid looks to meet demand.

OR BOY)

Below: A Portrait of a Statesman, watercolor on paper by Yahya Ghaffar, 1877. Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 2016. As with many portraits of the period, the subject’s robe is embroidered with pearls and jewels. Image courtesy of the Met Museum

Uniform Object heavy metal tennis necklace ($45,000; uniformobject.com)

John Hardy Asli link chain pearl necklace ($2,200). Available from Reis-Nichols in Indianapolis, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, and at johnhardy.com.

Nouveau wire bracelet from Ritique ($840; ritique.com)

David Yurman DY Madison pearl chain bracelet in sterling silver ($695). Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus, Moyer Fine Jewelers and Reis-Nichols in Indianapolis, Corbett-Frame in Lexington, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, King Jewelers in Nashville, and at davidyurman.com.

The astonishing jeweled harness adorning this bodhisattva is made up of two long strands of pearl-like clusters and multifaceted beads. It is possible that the jewels refer to a passage in the Lotus Sutra in which the historical Buddha Shakyamuni and another bodhisattva extol Avalokiteshvara’s great compassion and presents him with a pearl necklace as a symbol of his benevolence. Bodhisattva, probably Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), sandstone with pigment, Northern Qi dynasty ca. 550-560. The Sackler Collections, Purchase, The Sackler Fund, 1965 Image courtesy of the Met Museum

This page, clockwise from top left: Jorge Adeler freshwater pearl and diamond ring ($9,580; jorgeadeler.com). / Lydia Courteille bespoke pearl and emerald earrings (lydiacourteileshop.com). Bubble drop earrings from Monbouquette Jewelry ($415; monbouquettejewelry.com). / Dua Mirror Bijoux earrings from The Vit ($210; thevitjewelry.com). / Graziela pearl, sapphire and emerald ring (grazielagems.com). / Effy diamond and fresh water pearl ring ($805; effyjewelry.com). / Maya Brenner Tres pearl ring ($750; mayabrenner.com). / Marei Invidia black onyx column & pearl ring ($6,000; mareinewyork.com). / Fragment earrings from Pamela Love ($6,500; pamelalove.com)

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

Carolyn Smith Bryant: Here I sit, with the man, the myth, the legend...Amos laughs

CSB: Amos, you are Nashville’s premier award-winning event planner. You have been featured in Southern Bride, Nashville Lifestyles, NFocus, Nashville Edit, Green Wedding Shoes, Style Blueprint, Biz Journals, News Channel 5, City Lifestyle, Nashville Scene, The Aisle Guide, Williamson Herald, as well as Sophisticated Living Nashville. You have garnered many, many “top” and “best of” awards over many years. You just successfully completed Symphony Ball week…you’re at the top of your game my friend. How are you feeling about everything you have on your plate and the state of your industry?

Amos Gott: Being that it’s the week after Symphony Ball, it’s the end of my year and I feel very relieved. 2022 was projected to be a crazy year coming out of Covid. I don’t know where the facts and figures came from, but they were saying that 2022 was supposed to be the busiest year in the event business since 1970-something. Why the 70’s would have been that big, I don’t know. But it was

a very full year, a very difficult year regarding supply chain issues, labor, all those things. But we have all made it and ’23 should be a little calmer, a little saner; and therefore, a little more well-paced. I think that’s what we all prefer, I definitely do.

CSB: Christmas, Hannukah, and New Years are around the corner. Is your own home a Winter Wonderland and festive? Amos laughs

CSB: Ah hah! So, you’re the classic cobbler with holes in your own shoes.

AG: I always have great aspirations. I told myself that if I didn’t get the house decorated by early November then it wasn’t going to get done. We were so busy in early November, so it didn’t get done. I have beautiful decorations still in their boxes. At this point, I’m just going to enjoy everyone else’s décor and anything on television that invokes the Christmas spirit.

CSB: By the time this issue of Sophisticated Living comes out, we will be in 2023. Do you make resolutions; and if so, can you share a few? What are you looking forward to most about 2023?

AG: I don’t really do resolutions because I feel they are too easily broken. Instead, I set goals and aspirations. I very much enjoy trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the gym, etc. That definitely faltered in the latter part of this year. During Covid I thought I had put in a lot of great practices for my business and clients. Again, with the crazy year some of that fell by the wayside and didn’t get implemented. With a calmer year ahead, I plan to reevaluate and reignite those changes for the better.

CSB: You are known for creating gorgeous and fresh, bespoke celebrations infused with your clients’ personality, hopes, and dreams. Whether it’s a nod to the past or an eye to the future, you turn out flawless, memorable fêtes. Where do you find inspiration?

AG: I really get my inspiration from my clients. I’m not one to follow trends; that can be a negative word as trends fall out of fashion quickly. I want my clients to look at their events in twenty years and say, ‘I would do it exactly the same way today’. Every now and then, I will post something on Instagram from years ago and acknowledge it’s a throwback but also timeless. When people walk in, I want them to say, ‘oh, this looks just like the bride and groom, the hosts, or the company’s style.’ Not, ‘this looks just like Amos’ event he did last weekend.’ Half the fun of my job is figuring out how to deliver what they want instead of just something I want to try. In fact, every now and then, I have a client who says, ‘I don’t care, just do it,’ and I struggle because I don’t have a starting point. For a wedding, it can be something as simple as the bride’s favorite color or what the bridesmaids will wear. When I have nothing, I love sooo many styles I’m not sure which way to go.

CSB: Turning out something so highly personal is, I’m sure, key to your success. In fact, I know it is.

AG: Right.

CSB: You have worked on every prestigious, glamorous, ball, gala, and fundraiser in this town. Of that large population of chairs and co-chairs, do you have a favorite? They both laugh heartily

CSB: Sorry, trick question, let’s move on…

AG: Well, you of course…and um…

CSB: No, I’m just joking but then again, we don’t want to hurt everyone else’s feelings… Hearty laughter

CSB: I just adore you, your warmth, kindness, sense of humor… your Zen nature. I am quite certain that everyone that meets you instantly feels the same way. You gather friends like the pied piper. Those skills must come in handy when clients are stressed. How do you and your team handle these moments?

AG: Our job is to make you feel that everything is okay and, if not, bring real solutions that reassure you that things are being taken care of.

CSB: So, would you say, that included in all your talents and positive personality traits, is a good poker face?

AG: Actually, I’ve been told that you can tell what I’m thinking by looking at my face, and in some cases, that’s not a good thing. So, no, I don’t have a poker face, but I do hope it’s mostly calm and reassuring.

CSB: Would you rather be challenged by style or budget parameters? Which spurs more creativity?

AG: You don’t need an exorbitant budget to have an amazing-looking affair. I love having a style direction and creative license to come back and present my interpretation of a client’s wishes in unique ways. One of the benefits of hiring a professional is that we know what is out there and is within your budget.

CSB: You are a loving and giving person, as evidenced by your bevy of friends, board seats, and all your charitable endeavors. I’d like our readers to know that we are sipping tea and coffee today at Thistle Farms, which we both love. Where are you focusing your limited free time?

AG: I gravitate toward the arts because I enjoy them, and they bring a lot to a community. I have supported and worked with so many, but when it comes down to personal time, Nashville Ballet has my heart. It’s part of how I wound up in Nashville. I was invited to work on the design of what was then the Masked Ball, now the Ballet Ball, through one of the chairs of the Antiques and Garden Show when I was doing a centerpiece for David Arms. I’m on the board of the Belcourt Theatre, and I chair their annual Oscars event. I have a great partnership with their team. They let me focus on what I can bring to elevate the event. I also did the Thistle Farms 25th Anniversary this past spring.

CSB: You grew up in Christian County, Kentucky, in Hopkinsville. It is the home of deceased mystic Edgar Cayce, a large rock quarry used for scuba diving, and homemade, delicious Whistle Stop Donuts...

AG: I don’t know about those! There’s also Ferrell’s Hamburgers.

CSB: How did growing up in this tiny town impact your life and career path?

AG: I began building sets for shows as a junior in high school. I wanted to be a set designer because I loved the grandeur of award shows. My mother gave me carte blanche to decorate for the holidays. I played with textures and such, and we added more every year. When I was in college, I did a lot of events for my fraternity, and I went on to become the Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs, which taught me how to plan events. That said, it was a lot of self-learning and a lot of opportunity. I love to learn. In fact, I learn from each and every event. One should always be learning and expanding.

CSB: Three cheers for learning and to mothers who support, who let you fail, who help you succeed…

AG: My mother is undoubtedly my biggest cheerleader today! She sure doesn’t ask my brother for pictures of what he does at work…he’s a judge.

CSB: So, what travel destinations have influenced your dreams and visions? What’s on your wish list?

AG: I have a wedding this summer in Scotland, my first destination wedding. Surprisingly, planning a wedding overseas is easier than you would think. We’ve already done a site visit, and I will extend my trip for a couple of weeks after the wedding to travel. I have, historically, had a hard time taking time off. I would love to take a European cruise, but I also think there is a lot to see in our own country, and I love to do things more than once, like Chicago or NYC. There are always new things to do or see and new foods to try.

CSB: Just to rewind, am I hearing you admit you’re a workaholic? You know the first step to beating it is admitting it…

AG: As a Type A personality, there’s just always something to do. I can delegate, but I have a more challenging time doing so. I have great people that work with me and who get it done. I just like to ensure everything is on-brand and done right.

CSB: Helping to plan a wedding must be really fun. You are meeting people at the beginning of their journeys. Tell me about that.

AG: I feel a wedding is really the only event that is truly a celebration. No corporate return on investment, no fundraising goals, just the client being elated with the day. That is why I love doing weddings; some are über traditional, some are a little quirky, and that is all part of the fun. For example, I had one in August that wanted a ceiling full of disco balls. I had never done that in my life. The comments I got on social media were over the top. The look was unexpected.

CSB: I’ve been loitering in your social media…I missed that, and I rarely miss a disco ball…

CSB: Disco balls are sort of a thing right now… Amos, you are the poster child for Sophisticated Living Nashville: Nashville’s Finest for many reasons, not the least of which is that you exude sophistication. You bring what’s finest about Nashville (and anywhere else an AmosEvent is being held) together to provide luxe parties. How do YOU define sophistication, and would you consider it a north star in your planning?

AG: To me, sophistication not only has to do with style but with politeness, kindness, and etiquette, which is the foundation of how you treat others. Treating others with respect and kindness IS refinement.

CSB: Emotional intelligence.

AG: Yes, yes! It doesn’t have to do with money as many people assume.

CSB: I’ve read that you and your partner Vince love hosting friends for dinner parties at your home but don’t have much time to do so. If you only had time to make homemade food, your own floral arrangement, or a craft cocktail, which would you choose?

AG: I would probably lean toward the craft cocktail because, typically, it’s the first thing that happens. It’s not so much that a guest is thirsty for a drink as it is an icebreaker. Also, I have a beautiful natural wood piece containing the bar, and I love its doors and sliding countertop. Of course, I have to have a wellstyled warm and welcoming table that fits the look of that meal with elements such as a charming plate, something with a little character. Going back to etiquette, I love the look of photos with stacked plates, but that is not how you set a table. That’s what a wedding registry store does to show you all that is available. So many young people are setting their tables like that, but in reality, you have to remove pieces to serve the meal. If I was ever crowned Miss America, my platform would be to teach people how to set a

proper table. I have lots of things from my mother, such as midcentury modern highball glasses with stars on them and etched goblets from my great-grandmother. I love mixing and matching styles and time periods.

CSB: So, your friends can expect the unexpected at your dinners…

AG: To some degree, or at least not something they would experience every day. When you come together in someone’s home, it should be warm and speak of effort as if to say, ‘I wanted you to come and have a great experience’. Granted, it is what I do for a living, so I get a lot out of it. But I know a lot of people don’t do this for a living and enjoy entertaining and having a creatively set table.

CSB: ...and connection.

AG: If you have great people invited to your affair, it doesn’t matter about anything else, because it’s going to be a great time. Just the other day, someone asked ‘what do you do if the meal doesn’t come out correctly?’ I said, ‘you order pizza’ and then you go back to those cocktails we just discussed.

CSB: AmosEvents has its own in-house floral design, which is unique for an event-planning company. So, what do you love about floral design, and what flowers and plants are your go-tos?

AG: I’m a planner and a designer, so I cannot separate the two. I think they go hand in hand from the invitation selection on down. I have the mindset to think of texture and layers, and it just translates into flowers. I am a big fan of roses, but I never do just one rose. Say the arrangement is all white; I’ll have at least three shades of white roses for balance and depth. Events should be a sensory experience, and flowers are an artistic expression, as opposed to a correctly set table, which is based on a fixed set of guidelines.

CSB: Maybe you need to write a children’s book of basic etiquette as that theme just keeps coming through…

AG: It’s something I believe strongly about. I worry that it is slowly fading away.

CSB: Gertrude Stein was quoted in my favorite movie, The Devil Wears Prada “America is my country, but Paris is my hometown.” Approximately twenty years into your time in Nashville, would you say you were born in Hopkinsville, but Nashville is your hometown?

AG: Nashville has always been a hometown for me, as I grew up an hour away. It’s growing and changing in a good way. It embraces new things and new people while retaining the kindness and charm of a small town. So, in other words, Nashville is my Sophisticated hometown.

FLYING HIGH

Four Seasons Nashville’s Mimo Restaurant and Bar brings Southern Italian cuisine with local Southern accents

Melissa and I had the privilege of dining at one of Nashville’s newest fine restaurants, Mimo, at the spectacular new Four Seasons Nashville. Mimo Restaurant and Bar, which translates to “mockingbird” in Italian (and is the state bird of Tennessee), features Southern Italian cuisine with local Southern accents. All dishes are prepared from scratch using fresh, locally sourced ingredients with a menu emphasizing seafood, including standout dishes like Seafood Alzantina Tower, Mimo’s Caviar Linguini, and Clams Conchiglie.

Chef Aniello “Nello” Turco is a Michelin-starred chef from Naples, Italy at the helm of Mimo. Chef Turco specializes in creative fermentation techniques, which can lead to some marvelous tangy and original taste experiences.

The interior design of the restaurant is breathtaking. The entrance to Mimo is open to the hotel lobby, which creates a welcoming atmosphere. The ceilings are two stories tall and anchored by wooden parquet floors with a three-dimensional geometrical pattern, forming an elegant Italian feel. The glass curtain wall provides a spectacular view of Nashville’s Riverfront Park and the Pedestrian Walking Bridge, while the tables feature highly figured grey marble tabletops. All of this creates a sophisticated but relaxed vibe.

We were fortunate to sit in a semicircular booth facing the open kitchen (I highly recommend asking for one of these tables). A marble counter packed with dozens of raw oysters on ice separates the kitchen from the dining room. The bustling crew working behind a glass wall of flames was fascinating to watch as they assembled dishes with their giant tweezers and attention to elegant plating.

After seeing one pass by on a tray, I had to have a vodka martini, straight up. It arrived in a classic frosted conical martini glass where a thin veneer of ice covered the top of the drink, garnished with four speared green olives–the absolute perfect martini. For an appetizer, we had raw blue point oysters served with a sweet champagne mignonette sauce and lemon wedges. Their flavor was fresh and “of the sea” (raw oysters are a personal favorite of mine, and they did not disappoint). For our pasta dish, we chose Mimo’s Caviar Linguine made with osetra caviar, homemade vinegar and for that Southern twist, crumbled fried okra. It was creamy and slightly crunchy, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. I predict this will become that dish that you crave and will want to return for time and time again!

to this Italian steak dish, it was accompanied by collard greens with pancetta and puffed grits. To complement our entrée, we shared the Carbonara Creamed Corn. This was certainly not your meat and three creamed corn! Finally, we wrapped up our wonderful evening with a salt and sugar tart—a delectable treat with molasses, sea salt, and salted caramel ice cream. What a delicious way to end a perfect dining experience.

In my opinion, fine dining must have the following elements: 1. Fresh ingredients, 2. Excellent preparation, 3. Innovative recipes, 4. Elegant plating and presentation, 5. Hospitable and attentive waitstaff, and 6. A beautiful and inviting ambiance. Mimo has all the above. So, fly on over to Mimo, and you will be glad you ventured downtown. sl

Mimo Restaurant and Bar at The Four Seasons Nashville / 100 Demonbreun Street, Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 610-6990 / www.mimorestaurant.com

Monday-Friday: Breakfast 7:00am-10:00am, Lunch 11:00am-3:00am, Dinner 5:00pm-10:00pm and Saturday-Sunday: Brunch 7:00am-3:00am

Mimo Bar / Sunday-Thursday: 2:00pm-midnight and Friday-Saturday: 2:00pm-1:00am

ROLLING IN THE SHEEP

Delving deep into England’s rural countryside feels like stepping back in time—where red-cheeked farmers still plow patchwork fields, cottage gardens spill over with roses, and stately homes host glittering events in great halls dripping with art by Old Masters. An afternoon drive from London, you will be transported to some of the most picturesque settings in all of Great Britain. During the Middle Ages, thanks to the breed of sheep known as the Cotswold Lion, the Cotswolds became prosperous from the wool trade with the continent, with much of the money made from wool directed towards the building of churches. Cotswold means “sheep enclosure in rolling hillsides,” incorporating the term wold, meaning hills.

The Cotswolds is England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) designated in 1966. It is a landscape of almost 800 square miles of rolling hills and unspoiled countryside dotted with picturesque villages, market towns, castles, country houses, gardens, and arboretums. The Cotswolds AONB, the

largest in England and Wales, stretches from South Warwickshire and Worcestershire’s border regions through West Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire and takes in parts of Wiltshire and of Bath and North East Somerset in the south.

The Cotswold Hills run from the meadows of the upper River Thames to the Cotswold Edge, a steep escarpment looking out over the Severn Vale. The hills are formed of a type of Jurassic limestone you will only find in the Cotswolds, which gives the area’s towns and villages their distinctive honey-colored look.

The stone varies in color from north to south, being honeycolored in the north and northeast of the region, as shown in Cotswold villages such as Stanton and Broadway; golden-colored in the central and southern areas, as shown in Dursley and Cirencester; and pearly white in Bath. The Cotswolds’ mix of rare limestone grassland and ancient beech woodland has made it a refuge for endangered native wildlife.

LYGON ARMS HOTEL

Of the choices to stay in the Cotswolds, The Lygon Arms Hotel is on top of our list. It is as charming as it is beautiful. It is nestled in the English Village of Broadway in the middle of the Cotswolds. Guests will enjoy all the necessities of the modern world while being transported into a special piece of history. In addition, the hotel boasts a renowned spa, a fabulous restaurant, and, most importantly, welcomes your furry friends.

Under the direction of notable Head Chef Ales Maurer, Lygon Arms Hotel offers guests real dining treats.

• Lygon Bar & Grill—guests will dine in a cozy informal environment where all ingredients are locally sourced and the menu is seasonal, inspired by the Cotswolds

• Lygon Wine Bar—new to the hotel, this new dining option offers freshly made pastas and pizzas, complemented by a sensational wine list

• Afternoon Tea—no trip to the United Kingdom is complete without Afternoon Tea—enjoy tea with delicious homemade scones, finger sandwiches, and sweet cakes or champagne is what your heart desires…

The Cotswolds and Lygon Arms emphasize families and offerings available in the area:

• Everyman Theatre Cheltenham—presents a wide range of shows from comedy, drama, musicals, and opera

• Canal Boating—12-seater Tewkesbury boat Aqua Patio offers a 45-minute tour around Tewkesbury

• Lavender Fields—walk and relax in 20 acres of beautiful lavender, also known as one of the most Instagrammable spots in the countryside

• The Royal Shakespeare Company—visitors will enjoy plays from Shakespeare and his contemporaries

• Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo—this four-acre land brings together characters from the bestselling children’s book The Gruffalo

• Evesham Light Railway—enjoy a picnic, visit the platform, walk the River Avon and enjoy the views overlooking the Vale of Evesham There are also excellent public walking paths veined throughout the Cotswolds. The best routes take in various scenic vistas, winding over hills and past stately homes. The National Trust is a resource for plotting journeys, and local pubs will have maps and recommended walking trails from their doors. The quality of antiques is exceptional in the Cotswolds. The town of Tetbury is particularly rich in antique shops. Poke around the villages for uncharted finds; those large enough will likely have an antique shop or two.

No trip to the countryside is complete without visiting Blenheim Palace. Blenheim Palace is one of Britain’s largest castles and is located adjacent to Woodstock. It was built between 1705 and 1724 on land bestowed as a “gift to the nation” to John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. The palace is most widely known as the birthplace of Britain’s well-known prime minister, Winston Churchill. Blenheim Palace holds the distinction of making more than 71 appearances in film and television, more than any other English country house. Movies and television shows shot using the exteriors include Spectre and The Royals, while the interiors have been used as a filming location for Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation, Gulliver’s Travels, and Doolittle with Robert Downey Jr.

Sudeley Castle is nestled in the Cotswold hills in the historic town of Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, and was home to Queen Katherine Parr and King Henry VIII. As beautiful as Sudeley is in structure, its ten notable gardens covering close to 15 acres are truly breathtaking. The garden centerpiece is the Queens Garden, so named because four of England’s queens—Anne Boleyn, Katherine

Parr, Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth I—once walked upon the original Tudor Parterre. Sudeley Castle is the only privately owned home in England to have a Queen buried within its grounds. Exhibitions are now open for visitors to tour the castle’s rooms and grounds that will appeal to all ages.

The picturesque villages scattered in the Cotswolds appear to be straight out of a John Constable painting, a Jane Austen novel, or a romantic period movie. One will lose count of how many villages boast that they are “the prettiest in England.” So, if your idea of a relaxing break in the English countryside includes leisurely walks, long lunches, exploring quaint villages, and embracing history, look no further than the Cotswolds. sl

Lygon Arms Hotel / High Street, Broadway WR12 7DU, United Kingdom / +44 1386 852255 / www.lygonarmshotel.co.uk

Blenheim Palace / Woodstock OX20 1PP, United Kingdom / +44 1993 810530 / www.blenheimpalace.com

Sudeley Castle & Gardens / GL54 5LP, United Kingdom / +44 1242 604244 / www.sudeleycastle.co.uk

Please call ahead before you venture out to any of these locations to ensure that building is open to the public.

INTO THE WOODS

You can’t go wrong at Asheville’s newest place to stay and play

Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins takes a fun new spin on mixing outdoor and urban environments to create a truly unique guest experience. Located in West Asheville, the venue features 16 triangular A-frame cabins, which when lined up together resemble a mountain range or river waves, according to the founders. These cabins capture a “Scappalachian” aesthetic, which successfully merges the beauty of Scandinavian design with the warmth of the Appalachians.

The Wrong Way moniker stems from the fact that the French Broad River across the street is one of the few rivers in the world along with the Nile—that flows South to North—the wrong way. Founders Joe Balcken and Shelton Steele have used this name to drive their approach to this new spot, adding their own unique spin on traditional lodging and hospitality concepts. The result is an innovative new spot that encourages outdoor adventure without compromising on quality.

Of these 16 cabins, 13 are standard size, priced between $135-$275 per night, depending on the season. These rooms sleep up to four people, with a queen size bed and queen sleeper sofa. The rooms also include a full bathroom, workspace, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle HVAC system, and high-speed Wi-Fi access. Televisions are not included in cabins to encourage outdoor activities. Lastly, each standard cabin has a private balcony that faces the greenway and river across the street.

Deluxe cabins, priced between $165-$325 per night, include the same features as the standard cabins, with a few added benefits. Deluxe cabins are designed with dormers, which allows for more space in the interior and for a wall to separate the bedroom and living room. Deluxe cabins also have larger back decks that face a natural wooded area. The result of these designs is a cozy room experience that helps make a trip memorable while still managing to encourage outdoor activities and adventure.

In addition to their cabins, Wrong Way features a two and a half story River Lodge open to all guests daily from 7am-9pm. This building serves as both a gathering space and a canteen, offering several grab-and-go options from Asheville’s Newstock Pantry, delivering their seasonally inspired, farm-sourced food multiple times per week to ensure maximum freshness. The Lodge also includes a 1,200 squarefoot event space called “The Eddy,” which is available to rent for private group events with a capacity of 36 seated and 60 standing guests. The space is fully equipped with dedicated bathrooms and a catering kitchen for outside caterers. The River Lodge also has an eight-person conference room upstairs (dubbed “The Boardroom”) with a 60-inch monitor and private outdoor balcony. With both the cabins and River Lodge, Wrong Way is perfect for group retreats, reunions, or other gatherings, as the layout of the space allows people to assemble, while also having their own downtime in their cabin.

Another strength of this exciting new spot is its convenient location. Wrong Way is located directly across the street from the French Broad River Greenway, where the Wrong Way Experience Program helps connect guests to local outdoor activities (including but not limited to stand-up paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, river tubing, and calm water paddling). Additionally, Asheville’s popular River Arts District and West Asheville’s Haywood Road area are each about one mile from Wrong Way. Lastly, Wrong Way is located roughly two miles from the famous Biltmore Estate and three miles from downtown. With this location, guests have lots of versatility with how they choose to spend their days. You can’t go wrong with Wrong Way!

ASHEVILLE PROPER

We also had the pleasure of dining at a nearby restaurant, Asheville Proper, that we will definitely return to on our next visit. Located in the Grove Arcade and the culinary vision of Chef Owen McGlynn, alongside wife and partner Mindi McGlynn, Asheville Proper prepares locally-sourced food over a custom hardwood-fueled grill. The décor incorporates the historic Art Deco elements of the building with modern touches that provide a refined yet comfortable ambiance. The open kitchen allows you to witness the wood grill crackling and sparks flying through the smoke—dinner and a show! The menu changes often, but the emphasis is on infusing smoke into the meat, seafood and produce. We shared plates of grilled charred octopus, embered scallops, a dry-aged duck breast, and a wagyu flatiron along with crispy confit potatoes and embered brussels sprouts. The Parker House rolls with sea salt and whipped sage brown butter were amazing. The desserts even get a kiss of fire with s’mores topped with toasted marshmallow and a crème brulee of the day. They also host Chef’s tasting menus Sunday-Thursdays. We give “props” to this fine dining experience in Asheville. sl

Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins / 9 Midnight Drive, Asheville, NC 28806 (use 191 Amboy Road, Asheville, NC 28806 for GPS) / (828) 585-7747 / wrongwaycampground.com / Facebook: Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins, Instagram: wrongwaycampground Asheville Proper / 1 Page Avenue Suite 151, Asheville, NC 28801 / (828) 505-0909 / ashevilleproper.com / Reservations on Open Table / Open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 4:00pm-9:00pm. Friday & Saturday 4:00pm-10:00pm, closed Tuesdays

For 49 years, members of the Nashville community have joined together at the annual Heart Gala to advocate and support the mission of the American Heart Association, to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The theme for the 2023 Middle Tennessee Heart Gala on March 11 is “Celebrating the Seasons of Life.” We are thrilled to have it at the Four Seasons, a beautiful and exciting new venue that allows us to overlook our beautiful city to envision our goals. The Gala will be a celebration of raising funds that will change people’s lives.

This map reflected life expectancy, by zip code. It showed there was a +/- 15% gap in how long someone can expect to live. This gap occurred within a mile or so of where our wonderful gala is going to be held—and that gap is still there. How can such a short distance lead to such a vast distinction? The answer is through access to heart-healthy food, high quality health care, and resources to make healthy decisions. We can help lead our community to live long, heart-healthy lives by providing the appropriate resources and direction.

This inspired us to work alongside the American Heart Association AHA to make a meaningful difference in the heart health of our community. We want to be part of a change and close that gap, so that everyone in Middle Tennessee has the same access to a long and thriving life.

In 2022, the AHA made significant progress to improve the heart health of our community. They reached more than 850,000 people in Middle Tennessee with blood pressure resources in clinics and community settings, partnerships with food banks to provide heart healthy foods, and work to make more public places smoke-free.

This is why we are chairing the 2023 Heart Gala, with the challenge to raise funds and resources to drive heart health in every part of our community. Every major sponsor this year is selecting a community impact project, with the aim of bringing more resources than ever directly into our local community and making this goal a reality.

The funds we are raising will drive an even greater impact and get us closer to a community where your zip code doesn’t determine your health.

The Middle Tennessee Heart Gala on March 11th, at the new Four Seasons in downtown Nashville, will be a celebration of raising these funds. Come join us!

KING JEWELERS AT LEIPER’S FORK DISTILLERY x BREGUET

SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY

19-3/10 LLAMA, LLAMA, RED PAJAMA at Nashville Children’s Theatre (various times)

21 DEMETRI MARTIN: THE JOKE MACHINE at TPAC’s James K. Polk Theater at 8:00pm

20 BARRY MANILOW: HITS 2023! At Bridgestone Arena at 7:00pm

20-22 NASHVILLE OPERA’S Stuck Elevator at the Noah Liff Opera Center Studio at 8:00pm (3:00pm 2/22)

In this comic-rap-scrap-metal opera, a Chinese food deliveryman is seeking the American Dream. Every day, with each order of Orange Beef and General Tso’s Chicken he delivers, the hopeful Guang feels one step closer to his goal…until he is forced into battle with a lurching elevator in a Bronx Highrise!

Sung in English, Chinese, and Spanish with projected English titles.

24-26 BLUE MAN GROUP at TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall at 7:30pm

27-28 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL IN CONCERT (in concert live to film with the Nashville Symphony) at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 7:00pm

27-28 MOMIX-Alice at TPAC’s James K. Polk Theater at 8:00pm Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in a new dance production inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

28 HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS at Bridgestone Arena 2:00pm and 6:00pm

28 BLAKE MCMEANS FOUNDATION’S Evening of Promise at Marathon Music Works (see p. 91) 28-3/5 ORCHIDS IN THE MANSION at Cheekwood 29 ANDREW DICE CLAY at the Ryman at 7:30pm 31-4/1 NASHVILLE OPERA EDUCATION TOUR

For three decades, The Bluebird Cafe and hit songwriters have come together in January to support Alive, the only nonprofit hospice in Middle Tennessee. Alive provides approximately $1.5 million dollars of care each year. Proceeds from the Alive & The Bluebird concert series support Alive’s services for the entire community, including grief support, financial assistance for patients when insurance doesn’t cover everything, education for families and professionals, grief camps for kids, and more. “January is a special month here at The Bluebird where the songwriting community comes together to support Alive and the phenomenal services they provide,” said The Bluebird Cafe’s COO and General Manager Erika Wollam-Nichols. “Their mission to care for those at the end of life, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, is such a blessing to the community, and we’re honored to support them year after year. It’s incredible to feel the warmth that overtakes our tiny room, nightly, during January; a beautiful representation of the gratitude that we all feel for the work that Alive does.” Tickets for the Alive & The Bluebird series can be purchased at bluebirdcafe.com.

In the Round with Kristian Bush, Taylor Davis & Andrew Hyra at 9:00pm (SOLD OUT) 18

In the Round with Doug Johnson, Pryor Baird, Josiah Siska & Marynn Taylor at 6:00pm (SOLD OUT) 18

In the Round with Pat Alger, Kathy Mattea, Tim O’Brien & Jon Vezner at 9:00pm (on sale now) 19 In the Round with Ben Burgess, Josh Kerr, Aaron Raitiere & Channing Wilson (SOLD OUT) 20 In the Round with Karen Staley, Porter Howell, Steve Dean & Wanda Vick Burchfield at 9:00pm (SOLD OUT) 21 In the Round with Blue Mother Tupelo, Jeff Black & Bill Lloyd at 6:00pm (SOLD OUT) 21

In the Round with Tony Lane, James Slater & Even Stevens at 9:00pm (SOLD OUT) 24 In the Round with Benita Hill, Becky Hobbs & Billy Yates at 9:00pm (on sale 1/17) 25

In the Round with Chris DeStefano, Charles Esten & Matt Jenkins at 9:00pm (on sale 1/18) 26

In the Row with Leslie Satcher, Vince Gill & Sam Hunter at 9:00pm (on sale 1/19) 27 In the Round with Marv Green, JT Harding & Matt Thomas at 9:00pm (on sale 1/23) 28 In the Round with Jamie Floyd, Jamie O’Neal, Stephony Smith & Rebecca Lynn Howard at 6:00pm (on sale 1/23) 28 In the Round with Steve Seskin, Gretchen Peters, Lauren Weintraub & Marc Beeson at 9:00pm (on sale 1/23) 31 In the Round with Marla Cannon, Casey Beathard, Philbilly & Josh Martin at 9:00pm (on sale 1/24)

January February

1

1

In the Round with Jack Sundrud & Friends at 6:00pm (on sale 1/25)

In the Round with Darrell Scott & Friends at 9:00pm (on sale 1/25)

2 An Evening with Annie & Amy & Friends at 9:00pm (on sale 1/26)

3

3

4

In the Round with Brandon Heath & Friends at 6:00pm (on sale 1/20)

In the Round with Gary Burr, Georgia Middleman, Jim Photoglo & Mike Reid at 9:00pm (on sale 1/30)

In the Round with Autumn Nicholas, Aaron Vance & Tyler Bryant at 6:00pm (on sale 1/30)

4 In the Round with Autumn Nicholas, Julia Cannon, Julie Williams & Friend at 9:00pm (on sale 1/30)

Tickets go on sale at 8:00am on the dates above. SOLD OUT shows will have a few walk-up seats that are first come, first served when doors open.

SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY

Presented by

All month Centennial Park Conservancy‘s Conservation Symposium and ECHO Chamber Music Series

2 8th Annual Clarksville Heroes Breakfast (Operation Stand Down)

2-3 LATIN FIESTA! MUSIC OF RAVEL, MARQUEZ & YI with The Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 8:00pm

3-5 ANTIQUES & GARDEN SHOW at Music City Center

3-4/23 JEFFREY GIBSON: THE BODY ELECTRIC at Frist Art Museum

3-4/23 OTOBONG NKANGA: GENTLY BASKING IN DEBRIS at Frist Art Museum

4 LA BELLA NOTTE GALA at the Grand Hyatt at 6:30pm. Co-Chairs: Sharon and Todd Sandahl

4-5/7 Spanning the Atlantic: The American Arts & Crafts Movement at Cheekwood

9 ANDREA BOCELLI IN CONCERT FOR VALENTINE’S with The Nashville Symphony at Bridgestone Arena at 8:00pm

9 DANCING WITH THE STARS at Opry House at 8:00pm

9-11 DANCING IN THE STREET: MUSIC OF MOTOWN with The Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 7:00 (2/9) and 8:00pm (2/10 & 11)

10-12 NASHVILLE BALLET’S Attitude: Anthology at TPAC’s Polk Theater at 7:00pm (2:00pm 2/12) 11 TPAC Family Day

13 & 20 CHEEKWOOD ESTATES & GARDENS on (hours 1 & 2) on Antiques Roadshow on PBS at 7:00pm

14 GLADYS KNIGHT with The Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 8:00pm

14 VALENTINE’S CABARET with Laura Osnes and Patrick Thomas at The Harpeth Hotel presented by Studio Tenn Theatre Company

14 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE at Ryman Auditorium at 7:30pm

15-16 ASHLEY McBRYDE at Ryman Auditorium at 8:00pm

17 ADAM SANDLER at Bridgestone Arena at 7:30om

18 KATHLEEN MADIGAN at Ryman Auditorium at 8:00pm

23-25 NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION’S Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend Co-chairs: Dana Stoller and John Navin Tickets: nashvillewineauction.com

25 NASHVILLE ZOO’S Zoo Run Run

February March

All month Centennial Park Conservancy’s Triennial Symposium and ECHO Chamber Music Series

1 CARRIE UNDERWOOD: THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR at Bridgestone Arena at 7:30pm

3 LONESTAR at Ryman Auditorium at 8:00pm

3-5 AUGUST WILSON’S FENCES presented by Nashville Repertory Theatre

4 BALLET BALL at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 6:00pm

5 NASHVILLE ZOO’S Teddy Bear Clinic

9 MARGO PRICE at Ryman Auditorium at 8:00pm

11 MIDDLE TENNESSEE HEART GALA at Four Seasons Nashville (see p. 88) 11-4/9 CHEEKWOOD IN BLOOM at Cheekwood 12 A RED CARPET EVENING at The Belcourt Theatre Walk the red carpet and watch the Oscars on the big screen and benefit the Belcourt! Tickets: belcourt.org 13 CHEEKWOOD ESTATES & GARDENS (hour 3) on Antiques Roadshow on PBS at 7:00pm 14 CELTIC JOURNEY with The Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 7:30pm 15 WAR at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 7:30pm 16 IL DIVO at Ryman Auditorium at 7:30pm 17-19 RATATOUILLE IN CONCERT: FILM WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY at Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 7:00pm (3/17 & 18) and 2:00pm (3/19)

AUTHORS IN THE ROUND

Humanities Tennessee welcomed 40 published authors and more than 300 guests to War Memorial Auditorium for the 12th annual Authors in the Round Dinner, co-chaired by Jay Joyner, Mary Jo Shankle, Mary Spalding, and Tori Wimberly. Founded in 2012 by Jean Bottorff and Todd Bottorff, Authors in the Round raises critical funds for the three-day Southern Festival of Books, ensuring that Humanities Tennessee can continue to present the festival at no charge. (October 14)

ANTIQUES AND GARDEN SHOW KICKOFF

RALLY FOUNDATION

Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research hosted its 5th Annual Rally in the Round event at City Winery. The evening featured dinner, drinks, and both silent and live auctions, while supporting the mission of Rally Foundation to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research. A tremendous kickoff for the evening was a performance by Alabama trio Worth the Wait. The event was hosted by John Bettis, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. (October 19)

SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE

Center for Nonprofit Management’s (CNM) 2022 Salute to Excellence Awards was held at Belmont University Fisher Center presented by PNC Bank. The event was co-chaired by Nathan Green, Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations at Vanderbilt University, and Terry Vo, External Affairs Manager at Comcast. The Salute to Excellence Awards brings together leaders in nonprofit sectors, local business, and the community for a night of celebration. More than 600 nonprofit finalists have been featured at Salute where more than $3.5 million has been awarded to outstanding recipient organizations and their leadership (October 20)

CONSERVANCY GALA PATRON PARTY

TN INNOCENCE PROJECT

RUBY GALA

The Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic hosted its annual Ruby Gala at Marathon Music Works. The gala featured a live performance by DOZZI, Nashville’s dynamic trio of Australian sisters, as well as live and silent auctions. Funds were raised to support those living with HIV in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The Ruby Gala features approachable ticket price points to allow more members of the community to experience the event and learn about the mission to end HIV. (November 3)

ISAIAH 117

Isaiah 117 House leaders welcomed guests for their inaugural fundraising event at Crosspoint Community Church in East Nashville. In addition to dinner and music, guest speakers included Ronda Paulson, the Founder of Isaiah 117 House, and Sheila Calloway, Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge. Isaiah 117 House is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster care placement. Currently, when a child is removed in a county without an Isaiah 117 House, the child must wait in the child welfare services office. The child is often dirty, hungry, tired, scared, and unable to bring any personal possessions. Isaiah 117 House allows for that same child to never go to an office, but rather a home with loving volunteers to care for them. (November 3)

NAHT FUNDRAISER

DISCOVERY BALL

The American Cancer Society’s Discovery Ball, presented by Cigna, was an elegant evening at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Honorees included Clea Shearer, Co-founder of The Home Edit, The Tennessee Titans, and Meharry Medical College for their contributions to cancer awareness. All funds raised through the Discovery Ball support the local Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge, which provides a free place to stay for cancer patients and their caregivers that travel to Nashville for treatment. They exceeded their fundraising goal by nearly 20 percent, so the evening was a win for all. (November 4)

CONSERVANCY GALA

A spectacular tent in front of the Parthenon in Centennial Park was the site of the final Conservancy Gala. Chaired by Sandra Lipman and Laura Niewold, “The Sky’s the Limit”, with acrobats, living statues, stunning decorations, and fabulous food from Kristen Winston. A wonderful finale to this beloved fundraiser! (November 5)

SUNDAY IN THE PARK

ROCK TO REMEMBER

Gibson Gives-the charitable arm of Gibson and the Guitars for Vets celebrated U.S. Military Veterans with the “Rock to Remember” concert and a Live Auction at the Gibson Garage in Nashville. Over $15,000 was raised to provide music programs for returning U.S. Veterans affected by PTSD. Performances from artists included Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Scott Stapp, Kirk Fletcher, Emerson Hart, Tigirlily, Goodbye June, the John Bohlinger trio, U.S. Veteran Scotty Hasting, the Veterans of the Nashville Chapter of Guitars for Vets and host Jared James Nichols. (November 8)

NASHVILLE HEROES BREAKFAST

HERMITAGE BOARD EVENT

FOSTER THE SHINE

Foster the Shine Gala benefitting Nashville Angels was held at 14TENN. Guest speakers included Shana Smith, Mrs. Tennessee United States 2022, and Austin Hooper, tight end for the Tennessee Titans. Nashville Angels creates support and community for children and families involved in the foster care system across Middle Tennessee. (December 1)

ALIVE AND THE BLUEBIRD

The last Alive at The Bluebird event for 2022 was held at Green Door Gourmet, with Charles Esten and Friends as the featured performers. Alive is the only nonprofit hospice in Middle Tennessee. Thanks to donor support, they can go beyond standard hospice care with special offerings for the whole community that include caregiver support, counseling, end-of-life care education, community building, and remembrance events. (November 17)

SOPHISTICATED GIVING AT THE JOSEPH

Sophisticated Living celebrated the launch of their inaugural charity register, Sophisticated Giving, at the Joseph Hotel. Canapés were provided by Joseph’s signature Italian restaurant, Yolan, while craft cocktails were curated by their rooftop lounge, the Denim. Attendees included representatives from some of the 50 non-for-profits that participated in the charity register. Presenting Sponsor and Hospitality Sponsor of Sophisticated Giving were Fifth Third Bank and the Joseph Hotel, respectively. (November 14)

FIFTH THIRD AT THE BLUEBIRD

Fifth Third hosted a fun and casual private event at The Bluebird Café for their core team members, clients, and friends to enjoy Bluebird’s magical atmosphere and singer-songwriters. Dave Briggs, 5/3 Regional President, Tennessee welcomed the group gathered to enjoy some music and storytelling. (December 1)

SYMPHONY BALL PATRON PARTY

SYMPHONY BALL

MODE PROPERTIES’ MINGLE UNDER THE MISTLETOE

VINCENT PEACH CHRISTMAS PARTY