OUTDOORS-i-NESS
from the Newbie’s perspective (the full article also included the perspective of a serious outdoorsman as well)
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Sept, 2009
Until this month, my idea of ‘roughing it’ has been a Holiday Inn where you have to bring your own hair dryer because there isn’t one already nailed to the wall. I, like my father before me, can best be described as an “indoorsman,” that is someone who feels the best way to experience nature is riding through the mountains with the top down on a Saturday afternoon before heading to a nice restaurant or the outlet malls. Needless to say, when a camping trip was suggested, my mind went to all of those adventure bloggers who get paid $10,000 a month to talk about their adventures traveling around the world or tasting wine in California. “That could be me,” I thought. “An adventure writer, penning harrowing tales of my adventures in the Smokies soaking up nature and appreciating God’s creation.” Now, I can only hope my own experiences can serve as a warning to others who have once romanticized sleeping under the stars to the low murmur of cicadas–find the nearest Hilton and high-tail it out of there!
Site Selection: I don’t have to tell you in this day and age that location really is everything. Two of the main things to consider: proximity to rest rooms (and I’m not talking about one of those outhouse deals where you are still practically sitting on the ground… I’m talking hot, running water and a shower) and space to park your vehicle (after all, camping is supposed to be fun and there’s no reason to ruin it with forgetting your toothbrush in the car and having to embark on a 10-mile hike just to retrieve said toiletry).
Arrival: The first glance at your campsite is always going to be gorgeous. Try to take it in while it lasts; that is until the park ranger comes up and asks you to sign a waiver saying something to the effect of, “I will not leave any food out, lest we get attacked by a bear.” This sort of ruins the moment.
Set Up: Allowing the more experienced outdoorsman to take the reigns at this point is probably the best way to go. Popping the tent up and building a fire will make him or her feel powerful and necessary. They may grunt and puff their chest. This will allow you to tend to important matters like mixing a couple cocktails.
Building A Fire: Sometimes it is best to feign exhaustion. Picking up firewood will get you dirty, and the fire will make you sneeze. If you’re cold then you really shouldn’t be outside anyway.
Roasting Marshmallows: To me there are two ways to roast marshmallows: on a kabob stick over the flame of a candle while sitting in front of the television watching the latest episode of House or on the end of a sharpened, dirty stick you found in the middle of the woods where bears and other scary creatures may have used it first. Which sounds better to you?
To The Creek: If you thought the experienced camper was a little egotistical while setting up camp just wait ‘til you say you want to dip your feet in the creek. First of all, getting down to the creek is a much harder task than one would think, and your camping partner may find it necessary to point out numerous plants on the way down despite the fact that your main concern is not impaling yourself on the descent. Once creek side, it will become very entertaining (for the outdoorsman that is) to taunt you with creatures of various sizes and shapes. At this point, it is best to duck and run. You can lay out by the pool at home, bug free and in a more comfortable chair.
Getting Outta There: Do not allow the enthusiastic outdoorsman to trick you into a night in a tent where all that stands between you and a bear will be the a thin, almost transparent material. While a night under the stars may sound romantic, a crick in the neck and a case of poison ivy are not! God invented houses with thermostats and down comforters for a reason!
SMALL TOWN ADVENTURES
Story & Photography by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Sept, 2009
To people of my generation, small towns with friendly sidewalks and smiling shop owners are something of a surreal destination usually in black and white and almost always accompanied by the Andy Griffith theme song. So needless to say when my friend, Melissa, and I pulled into Loudon, complete with a fountain in the middle of town square, an ice cream shop, and American flags, we both got really excited. Little did we know, this trip would be one of our… quirkiest adventures complete with liquor, a crime and ta-tas–and that’s just the stuff before noon.
There are 2 things you should probably know about me before we go any further: 1.) I’m a sucker for a good whiskey and 2.) I always love a great comeback story–especially when it involves great people in a cozy, small town. Thus, when we pulled up in front of Grove Wine & Spirits for our meeting, I knew it was a sign of good things to come.
The first thing you notice when you walk into Grove Wine & Spirits, is the amazing selection. Housed in gorgeous cabinets (a nice change from most package stores), is an unbelievable selection of wine and liquor from all over the world, and obviously the secret is out, judging from the steady stream of people that were walking in and out. However, we were there for business so we got right to it. Here we were to meet Jim Purdy, the owner of Grove Wine & Spirits (as well as Purdy trucking) and Rick Dover, of the Family Pride Corporation, who is responsible for refurbishing and repurposing many of the buildings in Loudon. Together they told us about how, in just a short couple of years, Loudon has blossomed into quite the little hot spot. Rick shared about how his love for the town had led him to get grants, work with state historical commissions and even TDOT to restore Loudon to it’s original glory.
Today the town is particularly pedestrian oriented with classic grid streets surrounding the old courthouse. Yet, it’s been modernized to allow for the hip downtown living that is so popular nowadays.
Jim Purdy got especially excited when we started talking about the future of Loudon. It was evident that the people that live, work, and own businesses in this modernized little town are excited about what they have to offer guests that come in. For the 27th year, bluegrass musicians will gather in Loudon this September to shop, play music, and have an old-fashioned good time, which has all the Loudon folks, including Jim, giddy with excitement.
As we were getting the scoop on the town, I kept noticing how many customers were coming into the shop. They would get what they needed and then stop at the counter to chat for a bit. Soon, I noticed why. On the counter sat a half-drunk bottle of Irish whiskey, and behind the counter stood two men bantering with the guests and pouring samples. Well, if that’s how the locals do it, I thought, we’d better experience it for ourselves. Melissa was not quite so keen on the idea but, not wanting to be outdone by the men, I drank her’s too–now we were ready to see the town!
Perhaps one of the most famous spots in Loudon, the Carmichael Inn, was just finishing up renovations when we were there so we could only look in. But, no worries, it is open now complete with new owners, the Lord Lindsey folks! The former stop for stagecoaches en route to Nashville and Chattanooga, has been restored and is now a lovely establishment with a catering team making it the perfect place for parties or business lunches.
After peeking in the windows, our plan was to walk all the way around the fountain and take pictures as we went so when we noticed a flag wrapped around it’s pole, I decided to fix it before snapping the shot. However, when we got up to it we found it was just too high. “I know,” Melissa said and off she went to grab a chair from in front of one of the shops. As she carried it down the street, I suddenly saw a tiny woman race out the door. “Are you stealing my chair?” she cried. Oops. “Oh, no ma’am, we just need to fix this flag for our picture,” Melissa said.
Immediately, the lady’s face softened, and she said, “You two girls don’t need to worry about that. Let me get a man to do it!” Well, we borrowed a broom and found a man to fix the flag, snapped the shot, and then entered the Laurel Wreath Boutique, owned and run by the lady who now had her chair back safe and sound. The tiny shop was busting at the seams with Vera Bradley, Vienna coffee (a personal favorite of mine made in Maryville), home novelties, bath products, Christmas ornaments and, best of all, Save the Ta-Tas merchandise. Melissa and I were in love! “I have to have this shirt,” she said. (It was black and the phrase was bedazzled in pink rhinestones… too cute!)
“That merchandise is special,” Laurel told us before going into a story about a friend who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. “It hits so many women… one of the most important things you can do are those monthly self exams,” she told us. We then talked about family, Laurel’s two new twin grandbabies and even when her Christmas merchandise would be in (late fall if you’re keeping track). By the time we left, beautifully wrapped merchandise in hand, we felt like old friends with Laurel and her other guests. In fact, I was surprised to find that each shop we visited was bustling with customers–not bad for a Wednesday morning. And each store owner was as friendly as could be. In Shooz and More, Patty told us about the new Fall merchandise she’s getting in and her first Ladies Night Out, which was in late August and would serve as her official grand opening. Then, in the Loudon Mercantile, Bill Piteo told us about the furniture and antique-ish home items he sells as well as the meats, cheese, and butter he gets from Amish country. After all, he is an Ohio native himself. As many people in Loudon say, they’re happy to be in Loudon, whether “by birth… or by choice!”
Hungry for lunch, we marched into Mark’s Diner, full to the brim with hungry guests, and serving everything from southern, comfort food to great sandwiches and salads. Covering the walls were caricatures of Mark’s most frequent guests under the banner of “Wall of Fame.”
Finally, we made our last, but perhaps most important, stop of the day–getting a scoop of mint chocolate chip at Tick Toc Ice cream. Mmm… A perfect end to a lovely day.
GIRL PLAYS GOLF
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine May, 2009
I should probably start out by telling you that everything I know about golf, I learned from Katharine Hepburn movies. Quite frankly, it has long been the only sport I find interesting. I mean who wouldn’t? Adorable outfits, a chance to get some sun and, perhaps my favorite attribute, the fact that you never have to run. This makes the chances of breaking a sweat much more slim. Although, the gigantic bag could pose a threat to this. Luckily, they have carts.
This Spring, I became especially excited to try the sport because I’d heard how gorgeous Fox Den Country Club was. Needless to say, I was not disappointed! However, gorgeous though it may be, like all true vixens within that beautiful landscape lay quite a challenge for the PGA players that take her on each year. Last year, Australian Jarrod Lyle became the first two-time winner, but not before having to play a sudden death match against Chris Kirk on Sunday. Ultimately, he won on the first hole.
This year, to get ready for reporting on the event, I decided to head out and play a few holes myself. As we head out, myself and the poor sap who is supposed to explain the course and the game to me, I am super excited. My new golf bag is pink, to match my outfit of course! I wonder if players have multiple bags depending on what they’re wearing? Anyway, looking extra foxy we walk to the first tee.
The first hole, I am told, is a cinch. A fabulous opportunity for players to make an eagle, but a birdie is needed… you know, if you don’t want to feel defeated right off the bat. (Who knew that this sport was such a study in ornithology? I’ve never been particularly partial to birds myself, but whatever works.) It’s a par 5 hole; should be a snap, right? I reach for my 3 iron; after all 3 is my lucky number. “No!” yells the poor sap. Confused as to why he is so quick to criticize, but trying to keep my calm, I explain how 3 is my lucky number. “You have to start with the driver,” he says. Pardon? What does that mean? “The big one,” he continues. “It will help you get farther down the fairway.” Hmm. You see this sort of poses a problem. I just bought these really great, Disney-themed club covers, and if I hit with one of those big clubs, I may get the covers dirty when I cover them back up. “It’s ok,” he assures me. “That’s what the towel is for. Use Donald Duck.” Well, if I’m going to go, I go all in, so regrettably, I remove the Donald cover and take my stance.
“Let’s talk about how you’re gripping the club,” the sap says before crossing my fingers into what can only be described as ridiculous. Just for the record, I still think he was putting me on with the whole crossing my fingers behind the club thing. Not only was it just plain uncomfortable, it felt like I was making some sort of pinky-promise with the club. Even if he was putting me on, it turns out it is a lot harder to hit those little balls straight than I thought it was going to be.
The second hole offers something completely different. Who’d have thought to put little goals for you to put the ball in along the way? Rather than just staring at yards of smooth green lawn, this hole has a little mini-lake and beaches right in the middle. I suggest margaritas and tanning lotion, but evidently that is not the thing to do. “This is a long par three,” said the sap. Just try to hit it onto the green without getting into the water or the bunkers.” Rather than describe how long this took, let’s just say that my idea of margaritas and tanning lotion probably would have served us better.
Hole three presented it’s own problems in that the green was sloped so the ball just couldn’t help but wiggle every which way! You would think that if you work hard enough to hit a ball all the way down a fairway, off to the right, then onto the green, the least they could do would be to make it a flat surface!
To make matters worse, the poor sap decides this would be a perfect time to work on what he calls my ‘form.’ Let’s just say I haven’t had any complaints up to this point and am rather insulted at the suggestion, but I am here to learn. “Keep your back straight,” he says. That shouldn’t be too hard, I’ve had a metal rod in my back since I was 14. “Now bend your knees a bit,” he continues. Ok, now I feel like I’m doing squats or something. I wonder if golf is good for your posterior? I mean how great would that be? The one sport acceptable to play with business colleagues can also save you a trip to the gym? Sign me up! “Head down.” How am I supposed to know where the ball is going if I can’t see to get it there? “Now, when you swing, you want to keep your left arm pretty stiff. Remember, it’s all in the wrists,” he says. Oddly enough, despite feeling insanely awkward, there may actually be something to the whole ‘form’ thing.
“Hole four is bad even for the best players,” he tells me. I quickly find out why as we approach the tee, the water is right up front on this one and the green is especially narrow. After four failed attempts, I get a little annoyed. Luckily, I remember my boss’s advice: ‘If all else fails– just pick up the ball and chuck it.’ So that’s what I did. While the poor sap immediately told me that was against the rules, I could tell even he was a little relieved.
The fifth hole I prefer to think of as more of a spiritual experience. You can’t see the hole, but you know it’s there. Some might say hitting a ball toward nothingness constitutes as a serious mental problem. Me? I found it soothing.
The next shot is more of a straight, down the hill sort of thing with a pretty big green area where the hole is. I set up, hit the ball, and… “You got a bogey!” the sap shouts. I assume he is making a Humphrey Bogart reference I don’t understand but, not wanting to seem out of the loop, I just smile and tell him that that’s just how I roll. In fact, that’s exactly how I rolled because he shouts the same thing at the next 2 holes. But to be perfectly honest, at this point, I was losing interest. How Katharine Hepburn played eighteen holes so often I had no idea. Although, if you remember, she never really stuck to her own ball. (Think the classic scene with Cary Grant at the beginning of “Bringing Up Baby.”) I suggest we try this on the last hole. ‘I’ll hit one and you hit one and then we’ll trade,’ I tell him. Oops… looks like he’ll be taking the scenic route.
At this point, I’m starting to get a little worn out. ‘Do these carts have radios?’ I ask. ‘Have you ever thought of hooking your iPod up to speakers and just jamming out on the 9th green?’ His expression says no. ‘You know when I was little I used to dream of having a boom box in my watch that could play my very own theme song as I walked into rooms.’ He seems less than amused. ‘I was super stoked when I got my first iPod,’ I continue. ‘Now I just turn on a little White Stripes whenever I need to pick up the mood.’ With “Hotel Yorba” jamming on my iPhone, we pull back up to the clubhouse, and I find myself wondering if Tiger Woods ever puts on Survivor while he drives around the golf course.
While I can’t say my own experience with golf quite lived up to the glamour of a Katharine Hepburn movie, I definitely am much more prepared to watch the Knoxville Open than I was before! So join me out on the fairways June 8-14 at Fox Den Country Club. With ticket proceeds going to support Knoxville area charities plus an exciting day with the pros, you really can’t lose!
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine May, 2009
2009 marks a special time for East Tennessee as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As we at Cityview began discussing the upcoming festivities, we couldn’t help but want to share our excitement with you!
When I was nine years old, my world changed forever when my father, a pastor, brought our family to East Tennessee. Of course being a very obstinate, hard headed and, might I add, all-knowing child I was less than thrilled. I had to leave my friends, my school, and my treehouse behind and head to Tennessee! Silly me, the main argument I picked for why I did not want to come to Tennessee? (Being, of course, the only child that lived for being outdoors in my own little world.) The fact that I had to leave behind the mountains of Virginia and go someplace I was convinced was comparable to Oklahoma in it’s topography! So, when the first weekend arrived, my dad loaded me up in the convertible, and off we went for a drive through Cades Cove. Needless to say, I’ve been in love ever since!
These mountains have become a part of my identity. Growing up my dad and I would get up extra early on Saturdays to ride our bikes through Cades Cove with a camera, the overwhelming mist that inevitably comes with a Smoky Mountain morning and the deer that, every once in a while, would prance across our path on their way to the next field. When my husband proposed to me, we were standing on a stone patio that overlooks the rushing river in Elkmont just down from one of the many beautiful houses, now crumbling with age.
Whether it is driving with the top down surrounded by the bright oranges and reds of fall, creeping as quietly as you can in the snow for fear of breaking the overwhelmingly peaceful silence, or screaming wildly as you jump into the cold, rushing river in the middle of July for those of us blessed enough to live in the Smokies, it’s hard not to feel a sense of connection to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Despite my love of travel, it never seems to take too long for me to get homesick for these mountains regardless of where I go. Whether a native of East Tennessee or a ‘transplant,’ many folks around here would tell you that the park has played a major part in their own story, that it has become like a member of their own family, and that no matter where they are, it is hard to forget the beauty that awaits them at home.
As I was researching the park for this story, I found one recurring theme: us! Ok, maybe not us personally, but since it’s conception, the constant has been the citizens of East Tennessee. Since the early 20th century, the people of this area have been the ones that promoted the idea of a national park, the ones that gave up their land, and the ones that work to take care of it to this day through non-profit organizations and volunteer groups.
In 1911, with the opening of the Wonderland Hotel in Elkmont, what had previously been simply logging camps and railroads quickly became the perfect spot for Knoxville residents to escape to. Just a train ride away, they could fish, hike or just sit by the river and “be.” (Not much has changed, has it?) Mr. and Mrs. Willis P. Davis were two such visitors. Like many of us, after taking a trip out west to see the Rocky Mountains, they quickly realized how blessed they were to have such a beautiful setting in their own backyard and began promoting the idea of a national park in East Tennessee. After all, what did the Rockies have when compared to the serene, blue of the Smokies at dusk?
By the mid-1920’s, the government had gotten on board with the idea of creating national parks in the East and began setting the wheels in motion. However, their efforts would not be without hurdles. By 1929, the Great Depression had hit the entire country hard, and with families focusing on making ends meet day to day, there were much more important things to do than create a park. Yet, the idea still moved forward.
In 1932, Congress addressed the second ‘hurdle.’ Being the beautiful, serene setting that it is, meant that there were many inhabitants living on the land that would become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In fact, I’ve always thought that perhaps that’s the reason it is so easy for people to feel a sort of reverence in the park, because it has been home to so many in the past. After all, who hasn’t wandered Five Sisters Cove and thought about what it would have been like to be one of the Walker sisters? With no plumbing or electricity, despite the fact that they lived there into the 1960’s, I have to admit that every time I creep past Little Greenbriar School, I can’t help but feel like I’m trespassing on another era. And what about residents like John W. Oliver? The great grandson of the founder of Cades Cove, Oliver strongly opposed to the idea of his homestead becoming a national park, and he fought the idea all the way to Tennessee’s supreme court. Luckily, in a move unique to government, they were sensitive to his concerns and in 1932, Congress offered lifetime leases to those that did not want to leave their homes behind.
Finally on June 15th, 1934, Congress passed legislation that officially announced the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Enamored with the idea of a national park they could drive through, Americans clamored to the park and the newly created Civilian Conservation Corps worked quickly to build roads, bridges and trails. Six years later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stood in Newfound Gap, with one foot in North Carolina and one foot in Tennessee to dedicate the park that within a year would top one million visitors.
Today, people come from all over the world to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In fact, in recent years, the number of visitors has been around nine million annually. However, I would say that your story is probably a lot like mine; in one way or another, everyone around here seems to be connected to the park. So celebrate this year! Attend the Fourth of July Parade in Gatlinburg where there will be a reenactment of FDR’s trip to the Smokies so many years ago, come to one of the celebrations, give some money or some time to help keep the park what it is and, if nothing else, take time to drive around the Cove with the top down–it’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday.
DINING OUT : SAPPHIRE
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Jan, 2009
Looking for the hottest place downtown to take that special someone on Valentine’s Day? Well, the best place may be the most unexpected. Sure, you know Sapphire has some of the best drinks downtown. Who doesn’t? But, you may be surprised to learn that they also should come to mind when you think of delicious entrees.
When you walk into Sapphire, it’s sort of like going to see an old friend (that really hip one in college that you always wanted to be like because they got the hottest girls and wore the coolest clothes). Maybe one reason for this is that it’s one of the hippest places in Knoxville to be on any given weekend whether sipping a mojito at the bar, listening to the dj or chatting with friends. Perhaps another reason for this is that people that work there tend to stay. In fact, recently it was bought by one of the first bartenders. Aaron Thompson started with Sapphire in 2005 when this stylish bar and lounge opened its doors. As he has worked his way up from bartender to bar manager and quickly become general manager, Thompson has established himself as an adept and stable figure in an industry where longevity can be hard to come by. Three years later, he now claims the title of Sapphire’s owner.
Chef Chip Meyer has been at Sapphire since 2005 as well. Previously he gained experience at the Orangery and Nama. Ready to try his hand at something different, Chip worked his way up to head chef. In 2005, the restaurant started out with just a tapas menu and then moved into more of a European variety of cuisine. Today, they offer a more streamlined selection that mixes the popular dishes of the past with Chip’s new creations meaning there really is something for everyone. Their menu has 2 very distinct parts. On the one hand, they offer a great selection of more continental cuisine: steak, chicken, salads, etc. Then, in addition to that they have a really great selection of unique things to try on their sushi menu. Both serve up fresh, colorful dishes that are beautiful as well as tasty.
Knowing this would be our January/February issue, we asked Chip to prepare dishes that would be perfect to eat with that special someone. When we arrived, he had done just that. A sushi platter for two was more than enough for my friend and I, and the flavors were amazing. Being a novice sushi eater, I really enjoyed trying all the different flavors as opposed to just trying a single roll. We started things off with a rainbow roll. After that came the tuna sashimi (my favorite) followed by a crunchy salad and ending with a California roll. I can honestly say the flavors and textures were surprising but well worth trying something new.
Although, I must admit, I think my favorite part of our meal was when we tried the Blackened Tuna. Served with mussels and topped with jumbo Yucatan shrimp and a vegetable stir fry the tuna will literally melt in your mouth.
Whether it’s for a special night out or just a weeknight after work, Sapphire is the perfect spot to sit and drink a cocktail as well as eat a meal. I know I won’t pass up the opportunity to dine on Chip’s cuisine again. As you prepare evening plans with that special someone, neither should you.
SOUTHERN ELEGANCE : CASTLETON FARMS
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Jan, 2009
Beauty isn’t hard to come by in East Tennessee with our picturesque mountains and ever-changing backdrops. Yet, being in an evolving area like ours with new businesses springing up everywhere and tourists continually coming in for a glimpse of down-home goodness has meant that too often the romance of the old south has fallen by the wayside. After all, in the heart of every southern girl lies a dream of getting married in the quiet elegance of an old manor. Yet, many times, we see couples opting for the oh-so-popular Hilton reception or, heaven forbid, drive through nuptials that are so much easier to come by. Lucky for us, southern elegance may not be quite as hard to come by as was once thought.
Situated on 108 acres of rolling hillside lies Castleton Farms, an event venue secluded from the everyday hustle and bustle. Recently, I found myself driving down the long driveway with a friend, and the further away from the city we got, the more my mood began to shift. Gone was the noise and hustle of town where the houses are built so close together that you can chat with your neighbors just by looking out your window. Oh no, this place was different. As we pulled up in front of the large house, it was like entering another world.
A four-tiered Palazzo fountain stands gracefully to greet guests in front of the Greek Revival Antebellum house. Modeled after the Houmas House, a plantation in New Orleans built in 1840, this home built a mere 11 years ago, looks like it belongs in a different time. Standing on this magnificent porch with its tall Greek columns one expects to see Scarlett O’Hara come waltzing by at any moment.
Instead, I meet Kari Thompson, the wedding consultant for Castleton Farms, who is there to assist brides in planning their dream wedding. Kari is a Certified Bridal Consultant with over 10 years of wedding and event planning experience. Her job is to help brides not just with the venue planning but with everything. From finding the right dress to sending out the invitations, she is there to offer advice and explain many of the things that can puzzle and stress brides along the way. “My job is to keep it fun,” she says, “and keep the focus on the couple and nothing else.” Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, however, Kari says that her experience is her greatest asset in helping alleviate a lot of the stress. “We want to give the bride everything she wants and nothing she doesn’t need,” she continues. This means tailoring wedding packages and plans to the bride’s needs and desires as well as being flexible. Brides can make the wedding as extravagant or simplistic as they want. “Today’s wedding,” Kari informs me, “can take over 250 hours to plan. I help brides make decisions in the beginning to determine the tone of the wedding and then come up with a plan that insures the big day will reflect the couple’s style and personality.” Anyone who has been through the drama of planning their own nuptials, big or small, can attest to the fact that the extra mediator would have come in very handy.
“The home is truly fantastic,” she continues as she opens the door. “In fact, many bridal parties choose to come on the eve of the wedding to relax and unwind before the big day.” Entering the house, a chandelier graces the two-story foyer with gentlemen’s room and ladies’ parlor on either side. Eloquently designed by Sylvia G. McCormick to replicate a fine antebellum home, Kari informs us that when you rent Castleton Farms, everything is totally yours. “If it’s your weekend, it’s your weekend and no one else’s,” she says. “If you want to take a nap or lounge by the pool, you don’t have to worry about anyone else.” Kari tells us bridal parties often lounge by the pool before the rehearsal and then stay up until all hours after the rehearsal dinner ends, because in reality, it’s like having a slumber party in a mansion. On the morning of the big day, following the bridal brunch, many parties also take advantage of the services of Venica Tschoepe, a fully trained, West Coast cosmetologist who does hair and makeup. “Why go out to be styled when we can do everything right here?” Kari continues.
From the hardwood floors rises a spiral staircase that leads us to the five bedrooms. Four of the five, Kari explains, open up to the outside balconies, and all are designed with their own unique style. The “Southern Belle” master suite houses a Habersham king size bed with a double-sided fireplace that looks into the room’s own sitting area. With pale blues on the walls and regal crystal lighting, it’s the perfect spot for a bride to relax. However, before crawling in bed, who wouldn’t take advantage of a bubble bath in the large whirlpool tub? To top it off, a 15-foot long vanity is the perfect size for numerous girls to primp in front of on the morning of the wedding. Moving down the hall, the “Perfect Pair” bedrooms add a humorous contrast with one’s red-hot boudoir style and the other’s pale green gracefulness. On down sits a smaller, “shabby chic” bedroom with toile accents and a wall of tall arched windows that overlook the countryside. As we look up, the loft has been transformed into an old-fashioned powder room. Finally, we come to the “Blushing Bride” room. Appropriately, it is painted pink with beautiful cherry furniture. However, perhaps the most unique feature of this room is a niche in the wall, just the perfect size for hanging a wedding dress. While Castleton Farms hosts many events, not just weddings, this detail makes it clear that the house was definitely designed with the bride-to-be in mind.
Going back down the steps, we enter the great room, a perfectly inviting spot with a huge fireplace and a baby grand piano that sort of gives off the feeling of another time and way of life. It’s easy to picture guests sipping cider by the fireplace at a winter time event. The breakfast room and kitchen also have this air of old fashioned coziness. Unique antique appliances grace the room including a large gas stove that sits in the corner.
As we exit the back doors a large pool shimmers in the sunlight just waiting for a leggy Hollywood bombshell to lounge beside and sun. On those perfect summer evenings, Kari tells me shimmering candles float in the pool, surrounded by Grecian urns brimming with fragrant flowers making this a perfect place to party under the stars.
Gazing from here at the immaculate landscaping, it’s hard to imagine that just a few years ago these rolling hills were forest. When Drs. Meade and Kathleen Edmunds, both well known physicians in the Knoxville community, first set foot on these grounds it reminded them of the stories often told to their children about his childhood home. They rented it out for a while and kept it as a horse farm for friends and family. When Kari Thompson first saw the property, her idea was immediate. “I knew it would be a dream venue for any bride to be!” Kari says. Today, Castleton Farms looks as if it’s been there for 150 years – frozen in time. Why a venue of this magnitude? The Edmunds see it as a natural step for an area like Knoxville, evolving with the times and needs of the community while still staying true to the feel of the opulence of the old south.
With many companies choosing to build up the land to maximize on the square footage, Dr. Edmunds envisioned something different. He saw a more personal location, with wide open spaces resulting in a luxurious, finished look. Castleton Farms can easily accommodate as few or as many guests as the couple needs (up to 1000 people outside) comfortably. The real elegance, however, comes in the details both in the home and built into the landscape.
In front of the pool, a Koi pond flows into a brook. This winds its way around the property, making for a romantic water feature. On the other end of the lawn, the brook flows down into several waterfalls that plunge into a large pond. Alone in the middle of the pond is a small island, perfect for two, accessible only by a small land bridge. Standing on the island is a Jeffersonian-style Grecian gazebo that has an almost ethereal presence.
Scattered about the property, sculptures and flowers emit a feeling of grandeur. The gardens can be lit at night, Kari tells us, with white party lights that make it feel as if you are dancing in the stars. Terrace gardens also make for a picturesque setting, and, as we approach the last one, I notice a long walkway to the wedding pavilion. After all, what is a wedding venue without a grand bridal entrance?
Speaking of entrances, Kari mentions the option that many brides choose of having a horse-drawn carriage or even just horses. After all, Castleton Farms is home to six horses who may be used in photographs or as part of the wedding.
“We really do have it all,” Kari says as she tells us about the various other services they offer. With 10 years of experience in the business, she knows what works and what doesn’t. We offer personalized websites for the bride and groom with countdowns to the big day and information for the wedding party and guests. We also offer more time honored traditions like calligraphy for invitations or valet parking. After all, isn’t it the little extras that make any bride feel like a queen?
As we drive away I can’t help but feel a little sad to be leaving. Such a romantic place is hard to find in the every day but what a perfect spot to spend that big day.
DINING OUT : LE PARIGO
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Nov, 2008
Nestled in it’s new home on Clinch Avenue, you would be hard-pressed to find a stop more charming than Le Parigo. In the 2 short years it’s been open, Le Parigo has become known as the perfect stop to find the best French cuisine in the South.
In the middle of a long week, many find themselves going through the motions of their day-to-day routines. After a long day at the office, you go to that same old restaurant, order the same thing you always do before going home and climbing into bed. After sitting down with Cedric Coant, the chef and owner of Le Parigo, I was quick to realize that to him and his patrons, great food is not just a pleasure — it’s a necessity.
Just days before the re-opening of Le Parigo at it’s new location, 416 West Clinch Avenue, we sat down Cedric in the new, more intimate space and were excited to find that nothing more than the location had changed. After all, this small restaurant has been in business for a mere 2 years, and already its earned national recognition. In 2007, “Southern Living” named Le Parigo one of their Best Meals in the South. This can be credited to the fact that to Cedric, food is a passion, an art form that evolves from day to day.
A star athlete from age 12 in his homeland of France, in his downtime Cedric grew up in his mother’s kitchen learning the invaluable art of cooking. “My mom is the best chef I know,” he says, and from her he learned how to choose a good product and pair the right flavors, even though he wasn’t necessarily aware of what he was learning at the time. “Some people have flash dreams of experiences, I have those with my palette,” he says. Touching, smelling – there are many things that can prompt a memory of a taste for Cedric. From there it’s all about experimenting until that taste is just right and then serving it up nightly for his patrons.
At Le Parigo, dining would be described as an experience. “If you take a lot of strong flavor on your palette, it’s like smacking it, and it hurts your palette. Instead, you want something more intriguing… by the fourth or fifth bite you want to experience the full flavor.” With this in mind, Cedric expertly tries new combinations of flavors every day.
Thus, the menu is ever evolving using only the freshest quality ingredients and all natural meats, topped off with perfect wine pairings. Dining at Le Parigo should be done regularly if for no other reason than to cure your palette of the expected.
THE PILOT GAME PLAN
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Dec, 2008
1958. Gate City, Virginia. A 10 x 15 foot, roadside building cost a young Jim Haslam $6000. Little did anyone realize, this small venture would change the way America travels to this day.
The minute you walk into the Pilot corporate office, you feel the camaraderie that exists between everyone that works there. Far from the so-called “corporate sector” of dark suits and cold handshakes, this office operates from a team game plan eschewing the usual task lists created by a bunch of suits holed up on the top floor of a skyscraper. Instead, the offices are located in a brick building just off the beaten path in Knoxville, Tennessee and the executives seem much the same as the people you see at their travel centers; friendly and focused. Here monthly stats are listed on a “scoreboard” on one floor, team members are trained at Pilot University on another and always readily available are the Pilot Values, which stress the responsibility each employee has to himself, to the team and to the customer. Acting as a coaching staff, Jim Haslam, his son, Jimmy, and their executives have made the team-centered environment a priority from day one. Their game plan? Recruit the best people, put them in the right positions and train them to perform to the best of their abilities. With this simple strategy, Jim Haslam turned a small filling station in Gate City, Virginia into a multi-billion dollar business with operations in 41 states and 2 countries with a commitment to the trucking industry that is second to none.
Some might say that Jim Haslam’s story embodies the ultimate American dream, full of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit, but the modest Haslam would just say that he has been very blessed – lucky enough to get in the right business and blessed enough to find the right people to help him build it into what it has become today.
Forming the Game Plan
When a young Jim Haslam first came to Knoxville, it was with dreams of scoring the perfect tackle not of starting his own business. Recruited from St. Petersburg, Florida by Coach Neyland in the late 1940s, Haslam was more concerned with playing football than with his business classes. From the very beginning he was pegged as a leader. Playing starting tackle for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, Haslam helped lead the team to the 1951 national championship. Then, in 1952, he became team captain learning early on the impact a strong team and a good game plan can have on the ultimate Saturday performance.
After graduation, in February of 1953, Haslam followed the path of many young men in the early 1950s and enlisted in the army, which, to this day, he recalls as one of the greatest leadership experiences of his life. Sent to Fort Belvoir in Virginia as a 2nd lieutenant, it was on Thanksgiving after a basic engineer officers training course that he and his company lost a fateful game of football to the Quantico marines – soon after, the losing team was sent to Korea. At 23 years old, Haslam found himself overseas; a company commander responsible for more than 200 men. For the first time, he was learning the responsibility it would take once he reached the business world: the responsibility a leader has to himself and to the team as well as the accountability each has to the other. Haslam holds this accountability as crucial to building a strong business because, as he puts it, unlike military life a business leader can’t just order his men to do something, he must first be reliable and reassure his people that he knows what he’s talking about.
Upon his return to Knoxville, Haslam was offered 3 jobs: coaching high school football, selling television advertising or working for a man named Sam Claiborne at Fleet Oil. As luck would have it, he accepted the latter. Jim enjoyed the hard work, and in 1956, Sam asked him to run his new business venture, a company that basically did the same thing as Fleet Oil but operated under a different brand name: Sail. This venture was so successful that 2 years after the first Sail store opened, Jim decided to go into business for himself. That company was called Pilot.
Growing Up
In 1958, $6000 was enough for Haslam to buy a small plot of land on the side of the road in Gate City, Virginia that housed a 10 by 15 foot building with 4 gas pumps out front. A full service station, as they all were in those days, the first Pilot sold cigarettes, motor oil, Lance cookies and, of course, gasoline. At time the cost was a mere 27.9 cents per gallon. It was a far cry from the 8,000 square foot travel centers the company builds today. It was so simple, and yet this store served as a model for the first filling stations that the small, independent oil company would build. After just 7 years in business, with 12 stores operating under the Pilot name, Marathon Oil bought into half of the company, a strategic partnership that would allow Pilot to spread like wildfire all over the country for the next 3 decades. However, even with his small business venture growing by leaps and bounds, Haslam stuck to his business model of building cost-efficient stations on prime highway real estate and his belief that companies, regardless of size, should operate as a team.
It was during this time of growth that the business started to become a family affair. Believing that his children should learn the value of hard work and being a team player, Jimmy and Bill Haslam began pumping gas and changing oil at the stations during their summer holidays. Working side by side with their father’s employees gave both of the Haslam boys an early appreciation for each member of the team, not just those they saw around the corporate office.
Trying Something New
When Jimmy graduated from college, Pilot had been in operation for almost 25 years. It was the late 70s, and America was changing quickly. In 1976, Pilot began the transition from basic filling station, to gas station/convenience store, providing travelers a plethora of products to choose from. The number of drivers on the roadways was increasing number (aided by a law prohibiting tractor-trailers from frequenting main roads) and road travel was becoming a regular pastime for many Americans. It also offered great employment opportunities for many others. Jim was quick to realize that Pilot was going to have change with the times, and, with this in mind, sent Jimmy across the country to consult with experts in the industry to decide what the company’s next move should be.
Soon after, Jim and Jimmy found themselves aboard a Beechcraft Baron twin-engine plane landing on a grass strip in the middle of Louisiana where they saw their first truck stop. A few months later, they opened their own in Corbin, Kentucky, an exact duplicate of what they’d seen, just a short drive from that first filling station. Over the next few years these truck stops began lining highways up and down the eastern United States. Then, on one fateful drive to El Paso, the day before the Vols would play in the 1984 Sun Bowl, the Haslams found the perfect spot to try out their concept in an entirely different part of America. Building a small 20 by 70 foot building meant that if the El Paso truck stop failed, they could quickly turn it into a convenience store. The investment was successful and soon after, Pilot began spreading the travel centers across the United States, adding national restaurant chains to their travel centers, and even more products for travelers on the go.
A New Day
Today, there are 305 Pilot Travel Centers in operation covering 41 states. Recently, Pilot ended their on-again off-again relationship with Marathon Oil and partnered with CVC Capital Partners, a leading global equity firm stationed in Belgium. CVC’s investment in Pilot will help the company stay on track with expansion, adding 16 new travel centers in 2009. Always on the cutting edge, Pilot is investing in the future believing that the creation of “additional” fuels is crucial for the American economy as well as the environment. Today, it is the biggest sellers of bio-diesel fuel in the country.
Next year, Pilot will begin offering diesel exhaust fluid, which will allow equipped trucks to run at near-zero emission levels by the country’s 2010 goal. However, Pilot is not just invested in the obvious, surprisingly they are also a leader in the technology and merchandising industries competing with the likes of Starbucks and Walmart by incorporating Bluetooth type products and wireless internet into their travel centers as well as computers, Go-phones and Apple products like the iPod Nano. If you talk to anyone that works for Pilot they will all tell you the same thing: Pilot is an energetic company that has continued has enjoyed steady growth for 50 years because of it’s strategic game plan and a relentless drive to create new opportunities.
DEBBIE REYNOLDS : BRINGING HOLLYWOOD TO EAST TENNESSEE
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Oct, 2008
For those of us that grew up wishing we had a pet goat like Tammy, or quoting “Singing in the Rain” line for line, Debbie Reynolds is the quintessential American sweetheart. Since her first role in 1948’s “June Bride,” she has established a place in the hearts of millions and risen to iconic status as one of Hollywood’s favorite movie stars. Yet, when speaking with Ms. Reynolds, one is quick to realize that despite fame and success, her real concern is working with the causes she believes in.
Debbie Reynolds was born Mary Frances in El Paso, Texas to a family who, like many others, was struggling in the midst of the Great Depression. When asked if her actor’s bug was there from the beginning, she nonchalantly replied, “I was a hooligan!” Although she would tell you that she was “just an average kid with a lot of spirt” she would also add that she had “a lot of hidden talent that was there for one reason or another.” Whether it was charging the neighborhood kids a penny to watch her one-man plays or mimicking the radio stars of the day to entertain her family, it was clear that she was not just your average outgoing, baton twirler from west Texas.
“God always has something in mind for us. I think everybody has a talent of some sort, and mine was entertaining.” A few years after the family relocated to Burbank, CA, Frannie, as she was called, had a chance to be in the local “Miss Burbank” contest. Two talent scouts in attendance flipped a coin to decide who could give Mary Frances her first screen test. “I did a test, they changed my name from Mary Frances to Debbie and my life began down a new path and a new career.” As Ms. Reynolds says, “Some things are just meant to be.”
Growing a career during the age when Hollywood was a “movie star business” was very different from today. Back then, roles weren’t just determined by what was available. “You had studios that created your careers,” Reynolds says. “It didn’t just happen; it was planned. They would create stars: Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.” At just 17, Debbie Reynolds was surrounded by all the great stars of her day. From small roles in films like “Two Weeks in Love” to a star role in “Singin’ in the Rain” alongside greats such as Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor. There was never a dull moment.
During this time, Debbie created some of her fondest memories and as she grew older and the golden age of movies began to fade, she took it upon herself to preserve them. Thus, in 1970, she purchased thousands of items from MGM at auction and began her quest to somehow preserve Old Hollywood. In 1972, she started a non-profit corporation that would later become known as the Hollywood Motion Picture Museum. Today, it is worth in excess of 50 million dollars and is the largest, known private collection of Hollywood memorabilia in the world. Thousands of costumes, props and artifacts such as posters and film equipment have all been meticulously preserved but have never found a permanent home. With the opening of Belle Island Village in Pigeon Forge this fall, all that changes. The magnificent collection will be housed right in the heart of East Tennessee. Why here? You may ask. “This is one of the top tourist destinations in the country,” says Ms. Reynolds. “We’re going to go where America seems to go.”
When you board the museum, (built to resemble a riverboat), you will find 2 screening rooms to showcase Hollywood then and now, 12 themed interactive exhibits and only part of the collection. (It is important to note that in order to display the entire collection both the interactive exhibits and the collection exhibits will be rotated throughout the year.) Included in the collection are items such as Marilyn Monroe’s white subway dress from 1955’s “The Seven Year Itch” , as well as the gold dress Barbara Streisand wore to sing at Harmonia Gardens with Louis Armstrong in “Hello Dolly.” Almost every Academy Award winning film is represented as well as the equipment that has advanced so much over the years, giving visitors a feel for what it was like to be on both sides of the camera. When asked what her favorite item is, Debbie says that of course she likes everything, but then adds, “Well, I particularly like the ruby red slippers and the gingham dress that goes with it.” Who wouldn’t? With close to 5000 costumes plus a enormous collection of vintage furniture and props, movies literally come to life at the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum. But, Reynolds is quick to add, “It’s not about Debbie Reynolds. It’s about great movie stars: Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Betty Davis… all the movie stars that I loved and that we, through the generations, have loved.”
Yet, having done everything from film and television to Broadway, as well as her recent recurring role on the sitcom “Will & Grace” not to mention being a Hollywood maven, Debbie Reynolds is never quite out of the spotlight. When asked which form of entertainment she most enjoys doing, she laughs and says, “Well, they don’t write parts for grandmothers or older performers.” Thus, she sticks to performing live. “It’s better for me to stay on the stage and do what I enjoy doing where they want me… Besides, there aren’t any really great parts that have come up, that I’ve been offered!” So these days, in addition to her live performance schedule she spends most of her time working with the museum and her charity. Never one to accept a blessing without giving back, in 1955 Debbie Reynolds, along with a group of other show business elites, began working on the Thalians Guidance Clinic for Emotionally Disturbed Children. “I pulled to [mental health] because so many people seemed troubled and couldn’t work their way out of depression,” Reynolds says. After a few years of fundraising, a single story building opened on the grounds of Mt. Sinai Hospital in 1959. Today, Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars Sinai is one of the most respected mental health clinics in the world making it possible year after year for people of all ages to receive quality mental health services regardless of their financial situation. And the president of the fundraising committee still remains Debbie Reynolds herself. Talking with Ms. Reynolds is like reading a Who’s Who list of classic film. She throws out phrases like, “My good friend Jimmy Stewart” or “My best friend was Agnes Moorehead.” With a little black book the size of Hollywood, she has inspired countless stars to give to a worthy cause.
Living a life in the spotlight, full of the ups and downs that Hollywood seems to have, Debbie Reynolds has remained one star that seems to take life as a blessing and fame as an opportunity to give to the greater good. Perhaps she put it best: “One doesn’t question. One just goes on. I don’t let life get me down… Nothing’s impossible. I think I’ve always been like that.”
DESTINATION : CHATTANOOGA
Story by Hannah Slaughter :: Cityview Magazine Sept, 2008
Going down the river, without a paddle, to visit one of Knoxville’s closest neighbors!
Around the office here at Cityview, we’ve spent a lot of time talking about one-tank trips. Finally, the other day we thought, why does it have to be an automobile tank? Why not a Kawasaki Jet Ski? A 250 Ultra perhaps? So we decided to send one of our own down the river to visit one of our favorite neighbors, Chattanooga. The trip was actually part of a larger route, the 12th annual Tennessee 600, a quest that went from Knoxville to Birmingham to raise over $14,000 to benefit the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and four children’s hospitals, all members of the Children’s Miracle Network. Thirteen hours, 3 locks and 185 miles later, our correspondent landed in Chattanooga, exhausted and burnt to a crisp, but excited to give us a look at what makes this city tick.
In the 1980s, Chattanooga was known as one of the United States most polluted cities. Factories lined the beautiful Tennessee River and blighted the skyline with a constant haze. Then, in 1985 the city began investing what has totaled over $2 billion in transforming what was once a dark, industrial city into one of the most eco-friendly destinations in the country. Today, the city boasts bike routes, lots of green parkland and tourist revenue that totals $690 million a year. Whether you stay at one of the more historic lodgings like the Chattanooga Choo Choo or the Read House or you prefer a more modern hotel like The Chattanoogan, there are quite a few unique options for staying in the heart of downtown. With over 28 miles of bike trails along the riverfront as well as many options for public transportation, it’s easy to park your car (or jet ski) and still be able to navigate the city with ease. Walk down Broad Street or Market Street and wander in and out of cozy boutiques full of books, gifts and clothes. Or you could ease over to the Bluff View Art District (literally located on a bluff overlooking the river) and stroll through the sculpture garden. Walk up to the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts housed in an old Victorian and containing one of the world’s best collections of antique glass and ceramics or just across the street to the Hunter Museum of American Art.
If you have the little ones a long for the trip, perhaps you should visit the Chattanooga Zoo. Covering 6 acres of Warner Park, the zoo is home to many exotic animals including red panda and a snow leopard! Or go round and round at the Coolidge Park Carousel, a 100 year old beautifully restored relic surrounded by an interactive play fountain and lots of open space, perfect for a picnic or a game of soccer.
Looking for a night on the town? Why not make a stop at Miller Plaza? The Nightfall Concert series is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This outdoor series offers a plethora of musical styles every week, so bring a blanket to spread out on and expect something unique. With the announcement of the new Volkswagen plant, Chattanoogans are excited to share their city with the world. “I have noticed that people are sick of being stuck in their houses; and with the gas prices gently decreasing, people are starting to live again,” says Samantha Klaburner of Southwest Funding. The real estate market is doing well in Chattanooga with the additions of places like Canyon Ridge on the outskirts of the city. This club and resort offers an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts and fishing to its residents not to mention the gorgeous scenic view off Lookout Mountain. If it’s more rustic activities you’re looking for hiking trails and great spots for hang gliding are also abundant in the area.
Any true Chattanoogan would emphasize that their city is a great place because it mixes the great outdoors with a unique downtown. Not only are boutiques, art, parks and bike paths abundant but so are hiking trails, swimming holes and peaceful valley views. Whether hiking in Cloudless Canyon, strolling down Broad Street or racing down the Tennessee River on a 250 horsepower jet ski, Chattanooga truly is a perfect one-tank trip.