Arts + Culture
A Recipe for a Good Time
Chef Paulette Licitra Shares About Her Italian Cooking Classes and Culinary Group Trips to Italy Article by Lisa Valentine | Photography by Provided Growing up in an Italian American household, it was natural for Paulette Licitra to pursue a career in Italian cooking. However, during her formative years in New York, the now chef and cookbook author, would never have predicted she’d pursue a path in culinary arts. “I was surrounded by that kind of food,” she says of growing up with...
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The Story Behind Bellevue’s Best Burger
Local resident Shane Nasby introduces beloved smashburger joint named for his grandfather to the community Article by Kellie Walton | Photography by Ed Atlas I’ve eaten my fair share of smashburgers. As a tenured food writer, I’d even argue I’ve turned “sampling greasy patties” into a fiduciary responsibility. So, in 2024, I set out on a mission to crown my favorite in town (tough work), and after countless grease-stained napkins, the original Cledis walked away with the metaphorical trophy. ...
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The Dinner Belle is Ringing
When young families indicated their desire for wholesome, healthier meals, Laura Axelson answered the call. Article by Ed Atlas | Photography by Lindsey Baydoun For some people, owning a business is the culmination of a lifelong dream. For others it’s borne of necessity. Then there are those who never gave the idea much of a thought, until their passion intersected with their life journey. That’s what happened to Laura Axelson. Even though she earned a degree in English literature from...
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Give Your Business a Financial Makeover
Need a more organized style of bookkeeping? Baker Bookkeeps can help get you on track. Article by Lisa Valentine | Photography by Ed Atlas If your style of bookkeeping looks more like a box of crumpled receipts than intentional organization, your business’s finances may be in need of a makeover. For Joy Baker of Baker Bookkeeps, there’s nothing she loves more than helping transform someone’s stressful financial records into an organized dream, all while educating clients so that they feel in...
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Cut, Color, and Confidence
My experience with a blowout and brows at Leigh Edwards and Co. Article by Kellie Walton | Photography by Sidney Raines Photography Some of the nation’s best stylists have planted roots in Bellevue. Walk through the doors of the Leigh Edwards & Co. salon in One Bellevue Place, just past the stunning floral wallpaper and beyond the movie star-quality chairs, and you’ll find Kelly Clarkson’s brow gal, Blake Shelton’s hair stylist, and even a hair wizard from rural Tennessee who gave me the best...
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Countdown To Kickoff
Taylor Zarzour brings his engaging and enthusiastic style to the Tennessee Titans radio booth. Article by Ed Atlas | Photography by Tennessee Titans When he was in his 20s, Taylor Zarzour attended a camp in Los Angeles where aspiring sportscasters would learn tricks of the trade from industry professionals. , One of the more revealing activities was a session where ‘campers’ would call the action of old football or basketball games that were played on video screens in their makeshift...
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Watch Your Back!
Bulky backpacks can be a burden when it's time to go back to school. Article by Ed Atlas | Photography by Lindsey Baydoun These days the term “back-to-school” means more than just returning to the classroom. It’s a reminder that a healthy back is important for students of all ages. That can be tricky. You don’t have to be the parent of a student to know that kids are hauling enormous backpacks, stuffed to the brim, all day long. Add-on musical instruments, athletic gear and, eventually...
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Arts Take Center Stage
Ensworth students don’t choose between sports, science, and the stage—they thrive in all three. Article by Kellie Walton | Photography by Ensworth School The Ensworth School may be synonymous with impressive academics and championship-caliber athletics, but the excellence doesn’t stop there. Woven into the fabric of the curriculum is an emphasis on the arts – a powerful inclusion that’s directly shaped the lives of many students. We’re not just talking decorated songwriters and professional...
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A Pup’s Paradise
GoDog West Nashville is Here to Care for Your Canine Pals This Back-To-School Season Article by Lisa Valentine | Photography by Amy Bollman For many Bellevue residents, back-to-school also means back to a routine. Saying goodbye to the carefree, unscheduled days of summer and returning to the balancing act of school pickups, work, after-school activities, homework, dinner, and everything in between can be overwhelming. Amid the chaos, one thing you don’t have to worry about is your dog because...
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Adventure Awaits on the Harpeth River
Explore and make memories with Sunshine's Adventures Article by Lisa Valentine | Photography by Ed Atlas “Exploring, to me, is more than where you go physically,” says Matt “Sunshine” Keller. “It's what capacity you're willing to go [and] how far you're willing to push yourself on an adventure. How far are you able to take yourself?” For Keller, the Harpeth River is one of the greatest places to explore in Middle Tennessee and one of the best places to make deep connections and lasting...
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