ALight New Approach + bright home refresh
Spooktacular Birthday Party
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CONTENTS OCTOBER 2019
20| HOME FEATURE: Ken Garland of Ken Garland Custom Homes turns to Leslie
Murphy of Murphy Maude Interiors to refresh his French country family home.
30| DESIGN: David Quarles, interior designer, artist and jewelry maker, invites us
into his East Memphis home, where his impressive art collection highlights local Memphis artists. 8 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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C OO CNT OTB E RE2 N T S 019
HOME + DESIGN 20 home feature A New Approach 30 design Local Flair 36 in the garden Undaunted Daffodils IN EVERY ISSUE 14 publisher's note 89 sources 10 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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TRAVEL + CULTURE 40 getaway Corinth, MS 48 travel Learning to Crawl 60 experience this Fall at the
Memphis Botanic Garden 64 social Mid South Happenings 70 wedding Necuik/Hughes 72 wedding We Do & We Give
FOOD + DRINK 76 entertaining Spooktacular Birthday 84 dining out The Bagel 86 in the kitchen Spicy Tennessee Mac & Cheese
FOR YOU 16 healthy you Off the Chest 90 on a good note Bloom Within
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OCTOBER 2019 • VOL. 18 NO. 7 PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MARGARET MONGER | mmonger@athomemms.com
ART DIRECTOR ANNA HALEY | aleppert@athomemms.com
MANAGING EDITOR AUBREY ANN MONGER | aamonger@athomemms.com
COPY EDITOR TERRI GLAZER
IMAGING COLOR MANAGEMENT CHARLES REYNOLDS | cr@colorretouching.com
ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE HILARY FRANKEL | hafrankel@comcast.net
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES MEGAN EIDT | meidt@gmail.com BRITTANY SANDERS | brmcdonald45@gmail.com GAIL HARRELL | gharrell@athomemms.com
BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS TRIP MONGER | tmonger@athomemms.com
MARKETING AND CIRCULATION HARRIET W. DEATON | hdeaton@athomemms.com
HOW TO REACH US 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11 | Cordova, TN 38018 901.684.4155
WEBSITE: athomemms.com
At Home Memphis & Mid South doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. To inquire about freelance opportunities, send a letter, resume and three writing samples to—Editor, At Home Memphis & Mid South: 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 901.684.4155 or subscribe at athomemms. com. Annual subscription rate: $19.95. Single copy price: $4.99. At Home Memphis & Mid South is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to At Home Memphis & Mid South, 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes or omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Trip Monger; At Home Memphis & Mid South, 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018 or to tmonger@athomemms.com.
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P U B L I S H E R ’S NOTE Only 11 weeks until Christmas—if that doesn’t scare you perhaps the recordbreaking temperatures we’ve been having will! In case you’re wondering, it is totally appropriate to plan your Halloween luau pool party! I hope all of you enjoyed our last month’s issue. A special thanks to Anna and Aubrey Ann, who not only published an outstanding issue and wrote my letter (that I am sure was done in a more timely manner) but they also allowed me to spend a great vacation with my daughter with no worries about work; that is something I do not take for granted. Speaking of my daughter, this October marks a very special birthday for her as she is turning 30! I can hardly believe that we are already bringing you the October issue, much less that I have a 30-year-old, but as they say, “In a blink.” This issue should get you in the mood for fall even in the unseasonable heat. Just grab an iced pumpkin latte and your cinnamon broom because fall is here, ready or not! I hope this time next month to be writing you how thankful I am for the October rain showers and cooler temperatures, but if that doesn’t happen, there is still plenty to be thankful for, including all of you who make us love what we do.
Margaret Monger, Publisher
Photo by Steve Roberts 14 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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healthy you Michelle Johns is a corporate onsite health promotion specialist, integrative health and wellness educator, yoga teacher, food literacy educator and a green smoothie connoisseur. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.S. in psychology, is a certified health coach from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition and an RYT 200 yoga teacher. Her approach to well being and living your best life every day focuses on the foundations of self-awareness, self-care and self-discovery through whole mind, body and spirit nutrition. Johns educates clients through a journey focused on the way the whole self is nourished through food, career, relationships, exercise and spirituality. Her ultimate goal is to help clients discover not only how to live longer, but to live better by honoring the unique individual with compassion and self-love as they were created.
Off the Chest Story: Michelle Johns
Over the years, I have found breast screening guidelines hard to sort out. I’ve read some confusing statements like the following: “Don’t do self exams; they lead to false negatives;” “If you are under 40 you don’t need an annual mammogram;” and “The radiation from the mammogram is more harmful than a bi-annual screening.” All of this has come from legitimate scientific resources, organizations such as the American Cancer Society and reputable health reports. Recently, after I had my annual mammogram, I started asking myself questions about the necessity of all the exams and how much longer I should have them. I decided to peruse the most respected resources and determine the most recent protocols. Following are my findings:
Did you read, closely, the previous paragraph? This information, in and of itself, is contradictory. If you are over 55, thus at greater risk for developing cancer, but you are not encouraged to do a self exam or have an exam performed by your physician, and you only get a mammogram every two years, you could have cancer developing in your breast for a long time without knowing it. I discussed this with my doctor, and she encouraged annual exams, since the earlier breast cancer is detected the more options you have for treatment. That makes sense to me. Both MD Anderson’s website and Breastcancer.org recommend annual clinical breast exams and mammograms.
To perform a self exam: • The American Cancer Society recommends: 1. Women with an average risk for breast cancer 1. Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders can begin annual screenings at age 45. rolled back and your hands on your hips. Look for 2. At age 55, women with an average risk can begin irregularities in the size, color and shape of your biannual screenings. breasts. Symptoms of breast cancer are: 3. Average risk is determined by a discussion with • Dimpling or puckering of the skin in the breast your primary-care physician with regard to your area • Inverted nipple family history, genetic disposition and personal • Swelling in all or part of the breast history with breast cancer. • Redness or rash in the breast Guidelines are based on evidence that annual • Pain in the breast screenings may create a higher risk for cancer than • Fluid releasing from the breast— watery, yellow non-screening prior to age 45 and after 55. fluid, milky or blood Also noted from the American Cancer Society – • Although breast cancer is more common in 2. Raise your arms over your head and look for the older women due to lower density breast tissue, same signs as above. cancer is more easily detected and not as much 3. Lie down, use your fingertips and feel your breast of a concern because breast cancer grows more with a circular motion, firm but smooth. Cover the slowly. entire breast area up to the collar bone, under the • Mammography is great for early detection but armpits and down to the abdomen. You are looking does not eliminate deaths from breast cancer. for lumps. • Clinical and self breast exams are not Photos: necessary due to the wonderful technology of Courtesy of Blake Dubinski and GenTeal Apparel mammography. 16 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
If you notice lumps, don’t panic. Simply make an appointment and have your physician do a clinical breast exam and schedule a mammogram. Lumps in the breast are common and most are benign. Hormonal changes (especially around the time of your cycle), caffeine and certain foods cause lumps in the breasts. I used to have cysts or lumps in my breast when I drank sodas and milk. When I removed both from my diet, I no longer had the hard cysts or pain in my breasts. Depending on the stage of identification, treatment options for breast cancer vary. Following are the treatment options: • Surgery: There are two types of surgeries, lumpectomy and mastectomy. With a lumpectomy, the lump and surrounding tissue are removed. With a mastectomy, the lump and breast are removed. In both cases, the doctor may additionally remove lymph nodes in the nearby area. • Radiation therapy: There are six types of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy photon beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used as a treatment in lieu of surgery or may be given prior to surgery to reduce the size of a lump. Radiation is given in doses called fractions. A typical treatment is five fractions once a week for four to six weeks. • Breast cancer targeted therapies: Targeted therapies are typically administered alongside chemotherapy and radiation, to disrupt the cancer growth and spread. They are given in pill form or infusion. • Breast cancer proton therapy: high dosage of radiation that targets the cancer cells specifically and spares the tissue around the cancer. • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a powerful drug used to kill cancer. Chemotherapy may be given in a pill or intravenously. Chemotherapy destroys the cancer cells. While all treatments have side effects, chemotherapy may have some of the strongest. I hope this article provides a bit of clarity on recommended procedures and encourages all women to have an annual mammogram. To research more on symptoms, signs, treatments and cures, please visit mdanderson.org and breastcancer.org.
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spotlight
Photos: Courtesy of Blake Dubinski and GenTeal Apparel 18 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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home feature
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home feature
A New Approach Story: Terri Glazer | Photography: SĂŠlavie Photography
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home feature It’s no wonder Ashley Garland was ready for something new. “Before this house, the longest we’ve ever lived in a house was three years. We had three other houses before this, so I’m used to changing constantly.” But it had been a while since she’d had a change. Her husband, custom home builder Ken Garland, completed their home in 1997 and the couple moved right in. They’ve lived there ever since and raised two children, both now away at college, there. When the Garlands were ready to update their home, they called on Leslie Murphy, owner and creative director of Murphy Maude Interiors. Her assignment was to give the design a completely different look and feel. “I just wanted it to be white and fresh...something new,” Ashley says.
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home feature
“Their decor had stood the test of time for all those years,” Murphy recalls. “It was very classically done, but it was time for a refresh for them. It was French country and they wanted a more transitional, lighter and brighter look. The family room was the scene of the most dramatic change. The space that formerly exuded a warm and cozy feel, with used brick and dark beams, was completely whitewashed. “We painted the walls, the beams, the fireplace,” says Murphy. Contrast pops come from the inside of the fireplace, now done in striking black with birch logs, and the window mullions, for which Murphy chose a deep charcoal gray tone that “draws the eye out, rather than pushing it to the foreground,” she explains. “That added more depth since everything else was pretty much white.” Murphy marvels at how the new design makes the room appear much larger than before. She says, “The original furniture plan had a lot of different furniture pieces in this room. It was a different era of design, where you tried to pack as many things into one room as you could. We’ve sort of graduated to a more minimal plan with just a few pieces.” The family room light fixture is a major focal point. The massive Arteriors pendant, 56 inches in diameter, makes a dramatic statement against the room’s white background, and it needed a substantial piece below it to provide a stabilizing point. Murphy had to call on her expertise to come up with just the right solution. “Because it’s such a big space, we used two coffee tables back to back to get the surface area to fill the room properly,” she says. “You can’t do oversized lighting with a standard coffee table, but there are a few options. You can either have them made, you can use a series of modular tables, or you can do something creative and put two together.” The project continued into the adjacent kitchen and casual dining area, with a few parameters set by the homeowners. Murphy’s design plan had to keep the existing cabinets and countertops. She designed a row of cabinets with glass doors and LED lights to extend the original cabinets to the ceiling and painted the cabinets the same fresh white shade as in the family room. “It made the whole room look bigger. The lines aren’t so broken at the top,” she says. New hardware completed the cabinets’ facelift. High-definition marble-look tile installed in a herringbone pattern replaced the original Tuscan backsplash, giving the space a feel that Murphy describes as “classic sensibility in a modern coloration.” Warm tones in the backsplash play nicely off the original granite countertops. To add depth, Murphy chose gray for the kitchen island. The color works perfectly with the island’s original countertops in absolute black granite with a handsome leathered finish. The designer says she’s pleased with the “bang for the buck” the Garlands achieved in the kitchen. “It was a minimal amount [of change], but it’s completely transformed.” October 2019 • athomemms.com | 23
home feature
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home feature For the dining room, Murphy selected new furniture and a new lighting plan that furthered the home design’s overall lightened-up theme. The new additions had to work well with the existing scored concrete floor, another of the Garlands’ must-keep features. Because the family’s four dogs spend much of their time in the dining room, a rug wouldn’t have been practical. “Even with the art that we picked, we took into consideration the warmer tones that were already in the existing palette and the refreshed tones,” Murphy recalls. Custom floorto-ceiling drapes provide what she calls “the icing on the room’s cake.” Because Murphy has worked with Garland Custom Homes on over 20 projects, including her own home build, Ken and Ashley trusted her to take a few design risks in the more formal areas of their house, the entry and front sitting room. They asked her to design around existing grasscloth wallpaper on the ceiling in the entryway. Add in the lighting junction box that was off center, and it made for a design challenge that could stump even a pro. Murphy was up to the task, though. A striking raw wood table is the star of the space, backed by wallpaper that perfectly melds the warm tones of the grasscloth with cool hues, and accented with lamps, side chairs and a wall mirror that tie the look together seamlessly. And as for the lighting dilemma...a large oval fixture proved to be the ideal solution in both form and function, masking the ill-placed electrical box, establishing a center, and furthering the organic design tone. “Tricks of the trade,” Murphy laughs. The designer admits that she told the Garlands the light fixture she had in mind for the sitting room was “funky,” but that she loved it. They agreed to give it a try, and the result is show-stopping—its twisted, rootlike tendrils play perfectly with the natural wood in the entry to create an organic quality. Original artwork, including a painting by Murphy, in addition to several sculptures the homeowners already owned, give the sitting room what she describes as a “gallery-esque” quality. Artistic sophistication doesn’t have to preclude practicality, though. With the family’s four furry members in mind, the dining room floor is low maintenance and the rugs Murphy chose for the family room and sitting room are easily cleaned rather than fussy heirlooms. She stuck to performance fabrics for the upholstery, as well. “All the white fabrics are Crypton, so if there were to be a spill or a doggie incident, all you have to do is spray a little enzyme solution on it and it comes right off. It’s a nice way to have white without having to be overprotective of it,” she says. 26 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
home feature A project with a few quandaries doesn’t preclude fun, either. Murphy says she enjoyed working on the Garlands’ home for several reasons. Because Ken is a builder, he has the connections to get work done quickly, a process that often takes weeks or months in the design world. Says Murphy, “I’d pick out a paint color, and the next time I’d come in the house, it was just up on the walls!” She also praises the Garlands for their willingness to give her free rein with some of her choices. “I’d ask, ‘Can we try it?’ And they’d say, ‘Yes, whatever you want.’ That’s so unique, to have clients who say yes! As long as it fit the budget, we could basically do whatever we wanted.” The result of this new approach? Murphy says it’s a home with plenty of staying power. “The way it’s laid out is nice and once they did the refresh, it almost feels like a different house.”
The new house Ashley Garland was ready for, but with the same address. October 2019 • athomemms.com | 27
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Local Flair
Dining Room (top Frida print): @jesi.lee 30 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
design
Memphis designer curates his home collection of Mid South art with panache Local art is important to David Quarles IV. After all, he is an artist himself. And a jewelry maker. And an interior designer. The collection he has amassed at his East Memphis home is a testament to that, and the way he has his art displayed is both enviable and attainable, even for someone who might not be a walking style icon. Most of Quarles’s pieces are prints from up-and-coming artists in Memphis. “They’re younger artists and they don’t necessarily have their large platform. They have a good following, but I’ve always wanted to make sure that they’re recognized,” he explains. He created a gallery wall to showcase art by the area’s rising stars, anchored by a work from Kiara Sally. Quarles says he was immediately drawn to the stylized portrait because it reminded him of one of his earliest memories of his mother. Once he decided to make Sally’s work the centerpiece of his gallery wall, Quarles says he set about placing pieces to its left and right. Prints by Maggie Russell hang diagonally from one another; one on the top left, the other on the bottom right. Filling in the spaces are eclectic pieces from other local artists, including a print from Kyle Taylor that Quarles says describes his own life to a tee. “That’s ‘Burning the Midnight Oil.’ My life is very bohemian inspired, but I also do a lot of work, so that is me!”
Story: Terri Glazer Photography: J. Hues Photography
The secret to a successful gallery wall? Patience, according to Quarles. He says laying the grouping out on the floor first is an absolute must. Treat the project like a puzzle, not a stone carving, he recommends. Start with the center, then move pieces around until they look balanced. When everything is finally placed the way you want it and it’s time to hang the gallery on the wall, a level and a measuring tape are your best friends. October 2019 • athomemms.com | 31
design Quarles also says it’s a good idea to leave room on the ends of the grouping to place future acquisitions. He’s planning to add more art to his own collection soon. If all else fails, or for those whose tastes lean toward perfect symmetry, Quarles suggests making a grid on the wall and hanging art in the squares it creates. Quarles’s collection includes works by Mia Saine, Lexi Perkins, Kea Woods and a few of his own creations, one of which was inspired by a female family member. A painting of a woman in white with piercing eyes is an homage to his Aunt Dimple in Louisiana, whom he describes as “a little, mighty lady.”
Entry (splatter painting): @art_art4u Living Room (Mursi Tribe Elder): @keawoodsart
Plants are another important design element in Quarles’s home, and he manages quite a collection of those, as well; at last count he had between 40 and 50. He credits his love of all things green to his upbringing—”We’ve always been beaded curtains, patchouli people, so it kind of spilled over into plants”—and to his mother’s green thumb.
Gallery Wall @kiara.sally @mia.saine @mrussellart @katherinegeorgeart @whitneywinkler_art @allilmn @ladyleximonster 32 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
The plants, and a math error, inspired the mural in the dining room, another Quarles original work. He explains that he was hanging wallpaper on the wall and when he was about halfway done he realized he didn’t have enough paper to finish the job. A quick online search found no more rolls available in Memphis, so plan B, the mural, was hatched. Quarles knew he wanted something green in the space, so he put on some great music, and an hour and a half later he had a fresh creation inspired by nature. Asked if he thinks he will keep his impromptu mural in place, Quarles answers, “Oh, definitely! Since I put it up I’ve already gotten commission work from it. That wasn’t the plan, but fine! It’s just a way of adding different patterns.” Quarles’s collection may be eclectic, but a similar grouping is definitely attainable, even on a budget. Posters and prints are an economical way to bring art into a home, and ready-made frames cost a fraction of the price of custom framing. Memphis boasts a wide array of sources to find art prints from rising artists, including Stock & Belle, the Collective and ARCHd. The economical finds in Quarles’s house aren’t limited to art. A dining room rug from Target, a show-stopping light fixture and colorful throw pillows from IKEA, and other finds from sources like TJMaxx round out his carefully curated living space. A Memphis native and graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in interior design, Quarles wears many hats. He is the creator of IV, a line of culturally inspired jewelry sold locally at Stock & Belle, the Museum Store at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and the Collective. He also specializes in commission jewelry work. In addition, he is the interior stylist for Stock & Belle, a lifestyle retail store in the heart of the South Main arts district, and also a freelance interior designer.
Check out David Quarles on Instagram! Personal blog: @_david.iv Jewelry design: @ivbydavid Home design: @mymidcenturyabode Stock & Belle: @stockandbelle October 2019 • athomemms.com | 33
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in the garden
Undaunted Daffodils
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3. Photos: Courtesy of Dale Skaggs and Curt Hart Story: Dale Skaggs, ASLA, Director of Horticulture at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter so obsessed with his own beauty that he died from staring at his reflection in the water. A white and yellow flower emerged at the place where he died. Narcissus is the botanical name for daffodil; these two words are synonymous. I often hear daffodils called by incorrect names like jonquil, buttercup and even Easter lily. The latter two names add to the confusion, but jonquil is somewhat correct in that it is one of the 13 divisions of daffodils. Although they lack the wide selection of colors tulips offer, daffodils are tough, dependable, deer- and rodent-proof perennial plants that provide years of beauty. Mid October through November is the best time to plant daffodil bulbs in the Mid South. A sunny location in soils that are free-draining is the best spot to put them. Plant the bulbs 2.5 times as deep as the height of the bulb. An auger, made for this purpose, on a power drill will do the trick for making holes, however, this method has been known to burn up a drill, so a corded drill is recommended. Manual planting with a stand-up, T-handle bulb planter removes plugs of soil and works well. In loose or well-prepared soil, a soil knife or trowel can be very effective. The best way, although laborintensive, is to excavate the entire bed to the depth you want to plant, placing the soil on a tarp. After laying out and spacing the bulbs, cover them with the loose soil. Most serious daffodil growers prefer this method. The Dixon Gallery and Gardens is known for its magnificent tulip displays in the spring, but tulips are an extravagance most home gardeners don’t want to commit to; the bulbs are not well suited to the Mid South and need to be removed and replanted each year. 36 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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in the garden
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In contrast, daffodil bulbs can be long-lived, lowcare performers; you often see them popping up in fields and in areas that were once homesteads. The home can be long gone, but the flowers magically come back every spring. This one-anddone planting makes daffodils a real value for most gardeners. There is a plot of land in Cordova that was a winery in the 80s, but long before that was a cut flower farm. Thousands of daffodil bulbs were planted there almost a century ago, and many of them still bloom in the lawn areas of the old flower farm. One spring I visited this site with a friend in the flower bulb business and he identified bulbs that are now considered heirloom varieties, many of which are no longer in production.Â
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Brent Heath in Cordova with Naturalized Jonquilla 1. N. Kendron | 2. N. Carlton | 3. N. Barret Browning | 4. N. Wisley | 5. N. Ice Follies | 6. N. Falconet | 7. Pink Charm October 2019 • athomemms.com | 37
in the garden Daffodils are often considered harbingers of spring and are available in yellows, oranges, pinks and whites, and in about every size and combination of these colors imaginable. Over 25,000 cultivars have been registered with the American Daffodil Society. To assure that they re-bloom year after year, the foliage must remain on the plant after they flower until early summer, when the leaves turn yellow. The foliage provides essential nourishment for the bulb and should not be trimmed or tied in knots. Because the foliage can pose a problem for some tidy gardeners, I often suggest planting smaller daffodil varieties in liriope (monkey grass). This combination works well because the standard maintenance practice is to cut back the liriope in January to improve its vigor and remove the tattered foliage. This provides a February and March window for the daffodils to emerge and flower before the grass grows again in late spring to hide the foliage and allow it to die back naturally. I have used this trick in numerous gardens in the Mid South. Remember not to treat the liriope with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, though. Too much nitrogen will produce nice, full leaves, but at the expense of the daffodil flowers.
trees; they will not survive more than a year or two in full shade. An advantage of daffodils is that deer and rodents will not eat these bulbs. The Dixon has been supportive in the creation of the Mid-South Daffodil Society. We host this group every year for a flower show sanctioned by the American Daffodil Society. It’s a great time to see fine specimens, all properly named, in this diverse group of flowers. Daffodils come in 13 divisions based on flower structure and size, and all of them are represented at this annual show. The differences specific to the various cultivars that bloom in the early, mid, or late season prove these flowers’ amazing diversity. The 2020 MSDS daffodil show is planned for Sat. and Sun., Mar. 21 and 22 in the Winegardner Auditorium at the Dixon. The Mid-South Daffodil Society also holds an annual bulb sale where top-quality, locally proven cultivars selected by local experts are available for purchase. This year the sale will be Sat., Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Catmur Horticulture Building at the Dixon.
You don’t have to grow daffodils competitively to find joy and beauty in this diverse group of plants. Daffodils perform best planted in full sun, but can Purchase bulbs that are firm to the touch and get the also bloom for many years under deciduous trees. The largest bulbs available of the cultivar you like. Bigger 1. early-flowering ones, including ‘Tete-a-Tete,’ ‘February bulbs offer bigger flowers. Interlocking drifts of bulbs Gold,’ ‘Tiny Bubbles’ and ‘Jetfire,’ may be particularly varying in height, color and bloom times can create well suited to locations under trees because their stunning combinations over a long season. Plant them foliage can capture sunlight and store energy before in late October or November and you’ll be glad you the trees’ leaves emerge. We have several plots in did come spring. the Woodland Garden at the Dixon where daffodils planted many years ago are still performing famously. To learn more about daffodils, check out the Daffodils should not be planted under evergreen American Daffodil Society at www.daffodilusa.org. Springtime at the Dixon
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Get Away Corinth, Mississippi
Pizza Grocery 40 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
getaway
Story: Emily Steen | Photos: Courtesy of Visit Corinth October 2019 • athomemms.com | 41
getaway
A Weekend in Corinth Whether you’re looking for a weekend of history and learning or you’d just like to kick back and enjoy yourself, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Corinth, Mississippi. From exceptional shopping and dining to heart-wrenching history, Corinth offers a variety of sights and experiences to make your stay unique. Once you’ve had a taste of the town, you’ll find yourself returning again and again.
Borroum's
In Corinth on a weekday? Your visit is best started with a visit to Abe’s Grill, the oldest diner on Highway 72, where the original owners still serve your food with a smile. A row of barstools puts you right up front for the culinary action. Biscuits? Best ever. Bacon, tenderloin, sausage? Pick one or pick them all! Chocolate gravy? Check. A visit to Abe’s (especially if you top it off with their chocolate chip cookies) will launch your visit with a smile and a full belly, and who can argue with that?
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Corinth is known for its historic significance, and the best place to learn its story is at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, a division of the National Parks Service. With its everexpanding and informative exhibits, relics, multimedia presentations and knowledgeable rangers, the Interpretive Center houses a wealth of information about Corinth and the surrounding area. If you’re interested in visiting Shiloh National Military Park (only a short drive away), the helpful staff will set you on the right path. Throughout downtown Corinth, you’ll find green footprints, sometimes several in a row. These are markers for 60 Sights in 60 Minutes, a walking tour that meanders through downtown and outlines the historical significance of landmarks including the Verandah House, Duncan Park and the Coliseum Civic Center. Tour brochures are located in several spots downtown, as well as at the visitor’s center. Which historic building in downtown Corinth was visited by Jesse James? Take the tour and you’ll learn the answer. Downtown Corinth is home to many locally owned boutiques and shops, so whether you need a new outfit or a special gift, you’ll find it here. Visit the SoCo District (and all of downtown) for shopping and a cupcake, to boot. Borroum’s Drug Store is a favorite destination for visitors and locals alike. The oldest pharmacy in Mississippi is an experience unto itself—it still has an old-fashioned soda fountain that serves hand-dipped milkshakes, lunch specials and the famous slugburger (if you don’t know about slugburgers, trust us and give one a try).
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getaway
Fillmore Street Chapel
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Throughout downtown Corinth, you’ll find green footprints - sometimes several in a row! These are markers for a historic walking tour, 60 Sights in 60 Minutes.
Civil War Relief Sculpture 44 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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Slugburger and Fries
The dining scene in Corinth is vibrant and varied. Visit smith. downtown, a local favorite with “fine dining done casually,” or Vicari Italian for upscale ambience. Pizza Grocery’s menu features pizza, sandwiches, and an array of house-made desserts. Everywhere you turn, Corinth has dining options to please any palate. For more information on attractions, lodging, dining and events, contact Visit Corinth at 662.287.8300, corinth.net, or on Facebook @visitcorinth.
Smith
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design
46 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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travel Bunratty Castle
Karma Red Corona
Friendship Flowers
Text: Elaine Glusac | Photos: Courtesy of Regency Travel, Inc. 48 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
travel Walmart Museum
Learning to Crawl A Spirited Family Vacation: Three Generations Go Pubbing in Ireland
On a cinematic, sun-soaked spring day in Ireland’s County Clare while tourists scurried up and down Bunratty Castle’s spiral stone stairs, next door the locals packed a worn and dusty side room in Durty Nelly’s pub (dating to 1620). They crowded around a trio of old-timers on fiddle, piano and tin whistle. “Any requests?” shouted the cardiganed gray-hair at the piano. A rosy boy with wavy blond hair boldly stepped forward. “Do you know ‘The Wild Rover?’” asked the American. The crowd chuckled, “Cheers!” in assent. “Do ya know the words, then, lad?” asked the musician, ruffling the boy’s hair. He nodded, “Well then, lead on.” So it was that my son conducted his first sing-along that did not include “The Wheels on the Bus,” culminating eight days of song-centric travel in green and glorious Ireland.
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travel At the outset of our trip, my inner parenting critic pondered whether visiting pubs and learning lyrics about a rogue who returns to pay his bar bill was the best education for a child. Silver But at Dollar age eight, Seth wasn’t old enough for the pub quaffs to damage his liver, and having been smoke-free since birth, the ever-present cloud of smoke in said pubs wouldn’t damage his lungs either. And the rogue he was singing about, after all, was reformed. To our great fortune, the Irish don’t seem to distinguish between “family places” and “adult places” like fine restaurants and crowded pubs. Travel advisors tout this destination as family friendly, welcoming children along with their elders. Irish pubs, we reasoned, are essential to the culture, extolled by the country’s most famous sons from writer James Joyce to singer Van Morrison and playwright Conor McPherson for the craic, or revelry, spun of music and conversation fueled by a few good pints. This, it turns out, was not just wishful reasoning. At Nelly’s, as throughout the countryside, we were warmly welcomed and often in the company of other clans. “Irish family life revolves around the pub,” one local mother confessed to me as she herded her two toward the door, “for better or for worse.”
Entertainment aside, Ireland is perhaps the easiest European country in which to travel as a family, thanks to no language barrier, good-humored locals, castles to climb and green, rolling landscapes to rove. Though we knew little about Irish customs or, for that matter, pubbing from the perspective of responsible parents, in a few baby steps our family learned to crawl. 50 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
BRING THE FAMILY Along with my parents, we embarked on a leisurely eight-day road trip around County Clare on Ireland’s west coast, a stronghold of traditional culture, language and song, and one of the country’s more scenic and less traveled counties. It affords plenty of opportunities to hike, visit Stone Age forts, Celtic ruins and medieval castles, and foray via ferry to bike the Aran Islands offshore, all in the vicinity of some of Ireland’s most family-friendly musical pubs. With the exception of the Cliffs of Moher, as symbolic of Ireland as the Blarney Stone, Clare is not for checklist travelers. But checking the cliffs from our list was one of the first things we did, joining a parade of Irish families walking along the dramatic 700-foot-high sea walls while chasing down children who were getting too close to the edge (fairly impossible, thanks to path side walls). Climbing the park’s crowning O’Brien’s Tower, we spotted razorbills and kittiwakes darting in and out of nests in the sandstone as we peered over the parapet. We left the precipice and drove ten minutes north to the small fishing port of Doolin, bound for Gus O’Connor’s Pub one of three musical pubs that give the town a reputation for “trad” or traditional music. We sought an early dinner and got a 5:30 Sunday “session,” an impromptu jam by musicians who share a song repertoire. The music began in a happy, loopy sort of jig that engrossed the players: guitar, fiddle, two flutes and an accordion. The wife and young daughter of one of the flutists pulled up stools alongside. Two teenage sisters with long, dark braids, one on concertina, the other on flute, soon joined the band, and the circular, wordless music seemed to spread goodwill among the crowd in the wood-paneled pub that has hosted revelers since 1832. October 2019 • athomemms.com | 51
travel Crispy good fish and chips arrived, as did another round of pints. A bodhran player pounded the goatskin hand drum with a wooden mallet. Babies bounced on knees, children skittered underfoot, old guys bellied up to the bar for fresh rounds; it was a family reunion without name tags.
Cliffs of Moher
Raleigh Beer Garden
52 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
SEEK THE INSPIRATION The next day Seth spied the Burren, 100 square miles of rock along the Clare coast, from a hilltop road and thrilled at the thought of throwing it all back into the ocean. “Let’s go skip stones!” he cried, racing shoreward. Waves bashed the rocks below as he, my husband and I picked our way over stone slabs arranged like a tricky staircase, thatched with grass, moss and delicately blooming thyme, down to the sea. Eroded limestone covers the Burren; the name comes from the Gaelic Boireann, meaning “rocky place.” An understatement. Rock sweeps up to form striated hills, paves pocked plains and breaks away in tonnage slabs, imposing boulders, and fields of shifting shards. Miraculously, humans have chiseled out a living here since the Stone Age, attested to by stackedrock walls girding livestock fields and dwellings, and by dolmen, stone tombs marked by massive rocks somehow hoisted atop two standing stones, as mysterious as their contemporary, Stonehenge. My parents declined hiking seaside ledges, creased with what the Irish call “grikes” or “cracks,” and my dad termed “ankle traps,” but eagerly hopped on bikes when we journeyed offshore the following day to Inishmore, the largest of Galway Bay’s Aran Islands, some 12 miles out. Like a breakaway piece of the Burren, treeless Inishmore features narrow lanes stringing together stone cottages, rock-stacked farm fences, early Christian stone huts shaped like beehives, Celtic crosses, and most famously, stone forts. Flat terrain and little traffic, fewer than 1,000 people live on its 12 square miles, make the island ideal for biking, and rental cycles line the street fronting the ferry port of Kilronan. We signed out four sturdy adult bikes and one child’s model from a variety of junior sizes, noting yet another sign of Ireland’s generous accommodation to families. October 2019 • athomemms.com | 53
travel Cliffs at Dun Aengus
Five slow miles later, after stops to watch orange-beaked avocets pecking the beach, photograph buttercups at the side of the road, and pet a pony tethered behind a stone fence, we reached Dun Aengus, although somewhat apprehensively. Perhaps the most famous of Ireland’s ring forts, its three concentric half-moon fortifications embrace an 11-acre compound on a precipitous cliff that plunges 300 feet to the sea below, no guardrail in sight. Intrepid visitors inched toward the rock face, some on hands and knees, to lie down at its edge and peer over. Ring forts like Dun Aengus and those in Clare give the region its story, a visual telling of ancient human civilization scratched from meager soil, always on guard for invasion from rival clans, wild animals or simply the elements. In the same way that Athens’ temples and Rome’s Forum bring history to life, so do these ruins, which predate written history. A visitors’ center film at the carefully excavated, precisely circular Caherconnell Stone Fort in the Burren animated the stronghold to illustrate how its inhabitants likely sheltered, cooked and tended livestock within it. Spirit of Detroit Statue 54 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
Irish Cottage
Stone Wall
Landscape
Celtic Cross October 2019 • athomemms.com | 55
travel Doolin
OVERCOME YOUR INHIBITIONS We spent the rest of our days without an agenda, beachcombing, fishing, visiting storybook villages and making up stories about everything we saw. Most travel is, at the core, an observer’s pursuit. But when travelers are luckiest—and travel is most vivid—we get to participate. Irish pubs are more public forum than passive theater, and the more you give them, the more they reward. Though we had purchased a tin whistle at the beginning of the trip, by the end we still couldn’t play a complete tune. Instead, thanks to the Dubliners, the Chieftains, and Altan repeating on our car CD player, we could sing. And so, at Durty Nelly’s on our last afternoon, after laying siege to the neighboring 15th-century castle and sheathing our imaginary swords, we joined the band and sang.
Traveling with Kids: Tried-and-True Tips
• Stick to the theme. To keep your child engaged in the destination, stock up on children’s books, along with local music, once you arrive. In Ireland we read Irish fairy tales and Magical Tales of Ireland, featuring contemporary children’s stories from authors such as Roddy Doyle. • Schedule downtime. In deference to shorter attention spans, resist the adult inclination to pack as much into a day as possible. Plan frequent stops to beachcomb, throw a ball around or have an impromptu picnic in scenic spots. • Get enough rest. Though you may not always keep bedtimes when you travel, do make sure to get enough sleep. Sometimes this means getting a later start—one Irish waiter called it “having a lie-in.” 56 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
Adapted from an article originally published in Virtuoso Life. For more information on a family vacation in Ireland, call the travel advisors at Regency Travel, Inc. at 901.682.9065 or visit www.regencytravel.net.
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travel
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travel
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experience this
Experience Fall at the
Memphis Botanic Garden This autumn, the Memphis Botanic Garden has a wide variety of activities.
Text and Photos: Courtesy of the Memphis Botanic Garden
Lava Coastline 60 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
experience this Fall Tram Tours
Fridays in October, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Join docents for a tour of the beautiful grounds of the Memphis Botanic Garden. The tram will depart approximately every 20 minutes. Free with regular garden admission (cancelled if storming). No reservation necessary. No groups, please.
Painting with Marilyn Wannamaker
Tuesdays or Saturdays, Oct. 1-26, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Drawing and painting classes for beginners through advanced artists. Gentle group critiques and discussions are designed to benefit the whole group. $200 MBG members/$240 non-members.
Terry DeWitt: A Retrospective Mon.-Sat., Oct. 1-30, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fratelli’s Café Gallery Retired architect Terry DeWitt is a local architectural illustrator and watercolor artist who works in media including watercolor, pen and ink, pencil, pastels and design markers.
Hughes Art Show Oct. 2-30
Featuring the award-winning talents of siblings Dr. Allen Hughes, Anne Hughes Sayle, Jane Hughes Coble, Jane’s daughter Anne Trainer, their cousin Nancy Hughes Coe and her daughter Elizabeth Wade. They celebrate joy in art with a variety of oil and watercolor paintings and wildlife carvings in a wide range of prices. An opening reception will be held on Wed., Oct. 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Fall Plant Sale
Oct. 4-5, 9 a.m. -5 pm. Don’t miss our seasonal plant sale in the Nursery at the Garden, featuring a much larger display and more varieties of fall favorites than ever. Proceeds support the Garden’s nature-based and horticultural programs. The Nursery will be open during October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Plants are always available at the main building during normal business hours.
The Art of Bonsai Oct. 7, 6-8 p.m.
Come learn about the Japanese art of bonsai. Join bonsai professional Adam Jones as he explores the history of bonsai and how to cultivate them. Free and open to the public.
Food Truck Garden Party Star Wars Night Oct. 9, 5-8 p.m.
Presented by Oak Hall and Vineyard Vines. Come join the party featuring live music from MovieNight, cash bar, and food from the Memphis Food Truckers! Cover, $5 for Garden members, $10 non-members, includes admission and one drink ticket.
Acrylic Painting with Joy Phillips Routt Wednesdays, Oct. 2-23, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Four-session class will focus on the use of texture to create depth and shadows, and the use of color to accomplish the desired effects. *$180 MBG members, $205 non-members.
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experience this
CSI: Citizen Science Investigators
Cooking with Kids at the Garden Oct. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Oct. 15, 9-11 a.m.
Kids will don their cooking hats and aprons to prep and prepare ingredients from the Garden. Little chefs will help make their own linguine and salad. Great for all ages! Register by Oct. 7. MBG members $10, non-members $15. Reservations required.
Love exploring nature? You can contribute to scientific research just by taking photos of the amazing things you see outdoors. Learn how to input data in the iNaturalist app and how the Garden is using it to catalog the life of the Wildflower Woodland! Free with Garden admission.
Metalsmithing: Embellished Statement Jewelry
Herbal Work Study: Bitters
Oct. 12, 8:30-11:30 a.m. (8 a.m. sign-in).
The first two hours will be spent weeding, grooming, thinning, planting or whatever else needs doing in the Herb Garden. The last hour will be spent learning about bitters and their uses. Please note: this learning opportunity is “purchased” via a barter system: you must work the first two hours (8:30-10:30 a.m.) to attend the last hour of class (10:30-11:30 a.m.).
Sat., Oct. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Create silver bezel settings for cabochons (flatbacked gemstones) and add premade prong settings along with silver embellishments for either a pendant or ring. Must prepay by noon Wed., Oct. 16. $60 MBG members, $85 nonmembers (plus supply fee).
Homeschool Harvest Festival Oct. 16, 2-3:30 p.m. An exciting hands-on experience for children ages 5 and up. Price: $4 MBG members and $5 non-members. Does not include Garden admission. Prepayment required. 62 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
experience this Palette Knife and Cold Wax Workshop with Judy Nocifora
Mondays from Oct. 21-Nov. 4, 1-4 p.m. Gelato
Experiment with palette knives and cold wax medium in this oil-only workshop. Cold wax medium will be provided by the instructor. *$150 MBG members, $190 non-members.
Flick or Treat:
Oct. 26, 5-9 p.m.
Trick or treat through My Big Backyard from 5-7 p.m., then settle in for It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, rated G, followed by Casper, rated PG. MBG members $8, non-members $10 at the gate, includes all activities and movies.
Oil Painting with Judy Nocifora Oct. 24-Nov. 2, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Stress-free and casual class designed to practice the nuts and bolts of painting. Class size is limited, so register early. *$250 MBG members, $290 nonmembers.
Botanical Bars: Ciders, Brews & Boos Oct. 24, 6-8:30 p.m.
Sip spooky spirits from Long Road Cider Company, Diamond Bear Brewing Company and Ole Smoky and make your own apple cider. MBG members $30, non-members $40.
Caterpillar Club
Tuesdays or Wednesdays, Oct. 1 or 2, Oct. 15 or 16, Oct. 29 or 30, and Nov. 12 or 13, 10-11 a.m.
For toddlers to five-year-olds. Stories, music, movement, art and adventure hikes through the Garden. Six-class semester $45 members, $75 non-members.
*Call 636.4128 for information, supply list, or to register for MBG art classes.
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social
Shotguns + Sunflowers
Text: Kristin Budzak | Photography: Elizabeth Looney Photography
On Thur., Sept. 5 over 600 guests gathered at the home of Kirby and Glenn Floyd for the event that’s the “talk of the south”—Shotguns and Sunflowers, benefitting Palmer Home for Children. Guests at the chic soiree were treated to culinary creations, local libations and live entertainment. Orion was the title sponsor for the second consecutive year. Dinner was provided by Chef Ryan Trimm of Across the Board Restaurant Group. The menu included shrimp and grits, pork tenderloin, lamb chops and more. The party was styled by Ann Parker Designs and Garden District, who teamed up to create a beautiful scene from the moment attendees stepped onto the property. Entertainment was provided by Tommy Peters of BB King’s Blues Club, who kept guests on the dance floor all evening. Athens Distributing and Old Dominick Distillery provided libations. 64 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
social El Cosmico
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social Mykonos Mission Windmill Church
Les Passes preview party Text: Kathy Sapp | Photography: Mary Livesay
Les Passees kicked off their 33rd annual fundraiser, The Stock Exchange, with a Preview Party on Sept.5 at their 2019 location, 888 S. White Station Road in Memphis. The event started with County Commissioner Mark Billingsley presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the ladies of Les Passees. The proceeds from sales will go to support Les Passees Kids on the Block and Harwood Center.
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social travel
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wedding social getaway
Jessica Neciuk Jake Hughes June 1, 2019 McMinnville, Oregon Parents of the Bride: Carol and Steve Neciuk
ForsythParents Fountainof the Groom: Jeanne and Tommy Childress 70 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
getaway wedding social
SOURCES
Rehearsal Dinner: The Barberry; McMinnville, Oregon Wedding: Maysara Winery; McMinnville, Oregon Reception: Maysara Winery; McMinnville, Oregon Florist: Jill Walker; Vancouver, Washington Event Planner: Lynette Malmin; Clackamas, Oregon Photographer: Bethany Smalls; Portland, Oregon Videographer: Chris Crary; Portland, Oregon Wedding Rings: Made by Bride's Father, Steve Neciuk; Kelowna, Canada Hair: Caitlyn Nelson; Portland, Oregon Makeup: Jenee Crowther; Vancouver, Washington Entertainment: The Parnells; Bend, Oregon Caterer: Mad Hatter Catering; Vancouver, Washington Baker: Farina Bakery and Angie Bakes; Portland, Oregon Invitations: Shine Invitations Wedding Dress: BHLDN; Portland, Oregon Bridesmaids' Dresses: The Dessy Group Getaway Car: 1960 XK150 Jaguar Rentals: Your Party Center; Camas, Washington
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WE DO
& WE
GIVE
a modern-day fairytale Story: Stephanie Nerissa | Photography: Smith Artisan Photography
Once upon a time, a beautiful and intelligent young woman broke ground in the city of Memphis while working her magic to gain support for her business. That business captured the attention of a handsome Prince Charming. It was all business at first, but the pair discovered there was much more to this joint venture, and they will soon create their own happily ever after.
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wedding Born and raised in Chicago, Marie Pizano is a hardworking mother who made strides in the financial industry and later earned numerous awards for her conscience-based films as the CEO and founder of MVP3 Entertainment Group (MVP3media.com). She also manages musical artists, she’s an author and a producer, and a selfless donor to numerous charities. Only a wedding befitting her true-life fairytale romance would suit this queen of entertainment. Let’s meet Prince Charming, who hails from Columbus, Mississippi. He’s Talbott Howard, and he is no ordinary prince. The president, CEO and chairman of ECT Services & Solutions, Inc., Talbott works to create a balance between economics and ecosystems, providing technologies and products that clean the air and water. When North met South, there was a magical whirlwind of elements that birthed HEROes. And true to who HEROes are, Marie and Talbott joined forces with co-founder James Bullian to form Go Heroic, a platform dedicated to preserving natural resources, and created Artist Water (goheroic.com). As these two powerful and passionate people have joined forces to increase awareness of the importance of fuel, food, health, films, music and community, they will even give back to the local area through their upcoming nuptials. Donations will be made to Germantown Community Theater and the Collierville Food Pantry and Farmers Market. The affair will create economic growth by utilizing services and products from local businesses including Design Social, P.O. Press Public House & Provisions, Hammer Jewelers, Square Beans Coffee Shop, CJ Lilly, The Quonset, Stratton House Bed & Breakfast, Just In Thyme Foods, Natural Creations, The Brooks Collection, Raven and Lily, Smith Artisan Photography, Ballew Bridal and Almost Famous. Skid Media will memorialize this epic event. Invited celebrity guests include Morgan Freeman, Jack Canfield, Paulo Benedeti, Billy Falcon, Al Coronel, Bill Luckett and many local radio and media personalities. As Marie and Talbott are celebrated by friends and family near and far this month, they will blend their lives and become parents of eight children—eight is just enough love to wrap this family in as they begin their Enchanted-themed happily ever after.
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Party Planner/Decor: Michelle Hope, Social Butterflies LLC, socialbutterfliesevents.com | Venue/Food: The Main Event, themainevent.com | Cake: MyMoniCakes, mymonicakes.com | Cookies: Sweets By Elena | Photographer: Autumn Lane, autumnlanephotography.com | Balloons: Party Works, partyworkstn.com
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entertaining
Spooktacular Birthday Bash!
Story: Michelle Hope | Photography: Autumn Lane Photography
Embrace Halloween as a theme not just for trick-or-treating parties but for a Spooktacular Birthday Bash, as well! Luciana Szatkowski chose to do just that for her eighth birthday party recently at The Main Event in Cordova.
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entertaining
The Menu
Main Event catered the party, complete with lots of kid-friendly options including ravioli, chicken tenders, french fries, and mac and cheese. Dessert was the star of the show, though! MyMoniCakes created the three-tiered Gothic masterpiece. All the birthday girl’s favorite candy, along with caramel corn, kettle corn and cheddar popcorn completed the display.
The decor
Michelle Hope of Social Butterflies designed the party space. Every girl had an assigned seat designated by party favors that doubled as place cards. Packaged in handmade boxes resembling a witch’s shoe, party favors included a bottle of nail polish capped by a witch’s finger, a treat bag with a decorated cookie from Elena’s Sweet Things, and a large container of slime.
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entertaining
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entertaining
set the table The tablescape featured the guests of horror: Mr. and Mrs. Bones! Oversized balloons with streamers lined the table and created a fun party atmosphere. A lighted image of a haunted house on one wall added to the ambiance. A palette of purple, turquoise and lime green paired with black and white gave the party a brighter twist than the traditional orange and black colors associated with Halloween. Linens in these bright shades, topped with black and white striped runners, covered the tables. Skulls with bright-colored foliage and feathers, paired with candles, served as centerpieces. Cauldrons, a personalized pumpkin and a giant spider in its web accented the dessert table. Spooky music set the tone and completed the party experience.
Forsyth Fountain 80 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
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entertaining
Annual dove hunt and barbecue
Event Styling: Paula DeClerk | Photography: Annabella Charles 82 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
entertaining
activities From bowling to laser tag, with video games in between, the guests had a blast during the party. The Main Event even has a full bar for adults to enjoy while the kids are being entertained by the party coordinator!
Create your own A holiday theme can be a great choice for a birthday party. It’s easy to find plenty of decor and party favor options locally because every store will have an abundance. A great tip for planning a holiday-themed party is to shop the clearance section in party stores the week after the holiday is over. Decor and supplies will go on major sale so you can plan a year in advance and get decorations for a fraction of the cost! If you choose a venue that has a pre-set party package, ask about doing your own thing. The Main Event let us customize the menu rather than serving pizza, the usual staple at kids’ parties. They also let us decorate the room and add our own favors and desserts, which really took the party to the next level. Most of the decor for this party came from Hobby Lobby and Michaels. We planned the event in a few weeks so shopping locally was a necessity. Simplify the process by choosing a balloon vendor that provides delivery, like Party Works in Memphis. Balloons make a great impact and are cost effective. Nothing says “party” quite like a big bunch of balloons!
EVENT DESIGN & TEXT BY GINNI JONES
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MADELINE VINER October 2019 • athomemms.com | 83
dining out entertaining
A New York-Flavored Revival:
The Bagel
Story: Alice Fugate | Photos: Courtesy of The Bagel Memphis
“Shalom, y’all!” may not be a greeting you hear every day in Memphis, but at The Bagel, a self-described “New York-style deli with a dash of Southern charm,” you just might. Now, The Bagel isn’t a new restaurant, per se. It opened its doors in 1983 under the Katz family, who wanted to provide Memphians with an authentic New York deli experience. But after the original owners retired in 1995, the restaurant passed through multiple hands, each causing it to slip further downhill until the summer of 2018, when it finally went out of business. For Rebecca and Scott Sorin, this was inconceivable: “My husband Scott and I could not imagine it just going away. It has been a staple in the community for so long and we didn’t want to lose that. However, we knew that we could bring it back and make it even better,” Rebecca explains. The Sorins bought the restaurant and reopened its doors this year. Rebecca even reached out to Mrs. Katz, whom she has known her whole life, and she received encouragement and advice from the deli’s original owner. Scott Sorin grew up in restaurants (his family owns Corky’s), so he brings a lot of expertise to this new (and separate) venture, while Rebecca brings management/human resources experience, in addition to firsthand knowledge of New York cuisine. Her mother was born in New York City, and she took Rebecca there to visit her grandmother many times over the years. The Bagel sources its meats, cheeses and fish from New York. The rest of the menu is made from scratch and includes recipes from the Sorin's family and friends. Some must-tries on the menu are the Salmon and Bagel, Whitefish Salad, Pastrami, Corned Beef, and Eggs and Salami. The Bagel also serves breakfast, with plenty of egg and omelette options, staples from the old restaurant’s fare. In a Southern-inspired departure, the menu includes grits; this is Memphis, after all. Overall, the menu features authentically New York cuisine, and that can’t be said for most Mid South restaurants. “Between people who travel to New York and transplants to Memphis, there is and was a huge desire to have that kind of food here...We are really happy to be offering a lot of food that you can’t get anywhere else in Memphis,” Rebecca says. The new restaurant has expanded the menu significantly, which has given the customers a unique problem. Says Rebecca, “People joke all the time [saying], ‘I will just have to keep coming back and eat my way through the menu.’” The new version of The Bagel features a market for freshly prepared to-go items such as bagels, homemade cream cheese and jellies, prepared salads like tuna and chicken salad, and homemade desserts like New York-style cheesecake, black and white cookies, and fudge pie. 84 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
entertaining The real secret to The Bagel’s appeal is the diner’s communal atmosphere, the same vibe it had at the beginning. The Katzes “mastered the art of making people feel like they were dining out while fitting in,” recalls Rebecca, and the Sorins seek to retain this quality. Rebecca describes the cozy familiarity customers have come to equate with a trip to The Bagel: “From the decor to the food to the staff, we provide a very welcoming and homey feeling. You feel like you are sitting around your own breakfast or dining room table with friends and family while getting the experience and luxury of having an experienced staff cook for you and wait on you...It has a "Cheers" feeling to it.” Just as in a TV sit-com, The Bagel feels like one of the neighborhood special spots in New York City—the go-to deli or cafe on the corner. Located on Poplar at Kirby, it’s the only true breakfast restaurant in its neighborhood and for decades has been the place where “everyone goes and everyone knows each other.” The current owners believe it’s important to preserve such local meeting places in the community. In addition to dine-in and to-go food The Bagel offers catering, complete with delivery and pick-up. Eat local, y’all, and keep The Bagel’s legacy alive. As its website advises, “If you’re looking for a better bagel in Memphis, fuhgeddaboudit.”
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entertaining entertaining in the kitchen
Spicy Tennessee Mac & Cheese with Applewood Smoked Bacon
I was honored to be asked to participate in Priscilla Presley’s Elegant Southern Style Weekend that took place at Graceland last month. It was an amazing event and all the guests had an incredible time. If you weren’t able to attend, you will definitely want to put it on your calendar for next year! One of the events I was asked to participate in was Priscilla’s Lunch and Learn. A few of us chefs/cooks were asked to share a favorite Southern dish, and mine was Mac & Cheese. I created this recipe exclusively for the special weekend, however, I thought I would share it with our At Home family, too. I hope y’all enjoy it!
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Check out Jim Norton on social media! www.thenortonrecipe.com Facebook @thenortonrecipe Instagram @the_norton_recipe
inentertaining the kitchen
Ingredients 1 lb. dried elbow macaroni Olive oil ½ cup unsalted butter ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole milk 2 cups half and half ½ cup mayonnaise 3 cups grated extra sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup grated smoked Gouda cheese 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese 8 oz. softened cream cheese, cubed 2 10-oz. cans original Rotel, drained 1 ½ Tbsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper 12 oz. applewood smoked bacon, julienned and cooked
Instructions Bring 4-6 quarts of water to boil with 1 Tbsp. of salt. Add pasta to boiling water and cook to package specifications. (For al dente macaroni, cook one minute less than directed on package.) After cooked, drain, drizzle lightly with olive oil and toss to coat. Set aside. In a large bowl, toss together all the grated cheeses. Set aside. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk. Cook butter and flour for one minute, whisking continuously. Slowly pour 1 cup of whole milk into the roux while whisking. Once smooth, slowly add the half and half and continue to whisk continuously until combined and smooth. Add the cream cheese and mayonnaise and continue whisking over heat until thoroughly melted, thick and creamy. Add Rotel and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper plus two cups of the grated cheeses to the mixture. Stir to melt and combine. Add two more cups of grated cheeses and stir until melted and smooth. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese mixture, along with the cooked bacon, and stir to fully coat and combine. Serve immediately. (Serves approximately 10-14, depending on portion size)
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SOURCES
dining out
16 | HEALTHY YOU
Special thanks - Michelle Johns mjohns@transformingwellness.com
20 | HOME FEATURE
Special thanks - Murphy Maude Interiors & Ken Garland Custom Homes murphymaudeinteriors.com, kengarland.com
30 | DESIGN
Special thanks - David Quarles & Jarvis Hues david.quarlesiv@gmail.com, jhuesphotography.com
36 | IN THE GARDEN
Special thanks - Dale Skaggs of Dixon Gallery & Gardens Dixon.org
76 | ENTERTAINING
Special thanks - Michelle Hope of Social Butterflies Events socialbutterfliesevents.com
84 | DINING OUT
Special thanks - Rebecca Sorin of The Bagel Memphis thebagelmemphis.com
86 | IN THE KITCHEN
Special thanks - Jim Norton thenortonrecipe.com
90 | ON A GOOD NOTE
Special thanks - Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women and Susan G. Komen Memphis-MidSouth Mississippi baptistonline.org, komenmemphisms.org
October 2019 • athomemms.com | 89
on a good note
Fighting cancer is hard.
Blossom Within Story: Elaine Hare | Photos: Courtesy of AHMMS
Not feeling or looking like yourself is one of the many obstacles you have to overcome. The teams at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women and Susan G. Komen Memphis-MidSouth Mississippi recognized the need for a program that would help women undergoing cancer treatment feel renewed from the inside out. So began Blossom Within, a complimentary program for women who are receiving cancer treatment. A great team of experts including Alexandra Nicole, owner of The Ivory Closet, makeup artist Kendrick Carothers Simpson, and representatives from A Fitting Place and Kendra Scott join mental health professionals and dietitians to deliver a program that enlightens the attendees on ways to complement their inner and outer beauty. Offerings include professional makeup tips, techniques for wearing wigs, adornments and post-surgical attire, and living a healthy lifestyle. A Blossom Within afternoon is a time for sharing, a time for learning and a time for joy. Everyone leaves with a renewed sense of spirit. If you or someone you know is currently in treatment for any kind of cancer and would like to attend the next Blossom Within event, set for Oct. 11, please call 901.226.0826.
BREAST CANCER FACTS • Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S.; it accounts for 30 percent of newly diagnosed cancers. • Women in the U.S. have a 1-in-8 lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. • Every 2 minutes, one case of breast cancer is diagnosed in the United States. • In 2019, more than 268,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women and more than 2,600 cases in men in the U.S. • In 2019, more than 42,000 women and men in this country are expected to die from breast cancer. • Improvements in early detection and treatment led to a 40 percent decline in breast cancer deaths in the U.S. between 1989 and 2016. • In the U.S. it is estimated that more than 154,000 women are living with metastatic breast cancer. • There are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. BREAST CANCER PREVENTION TIPS • Know your risk. • Get screened. • Know what is normal for you. And know that there is assistance and support in our community for anyone facing breast cancer. No one has to make the journey alone. 90 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019
October 2019 • athomemms.com | 91
92 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2019