Arts + Culture

Twelve Brand Newt Ambassadors

Downtown Knoxville Alliance Debuts “Newts in Knoxville” – A Permanent Art Installation and Scavenger Hunt – June 6 Article by Patricia Storm Broyles | Photography by Shawn Poynter Formed in 1993 as a Central Business Improvement District, the Downtown Knoxville Alliance (DKA) encompasses a 0.67-square-mile area, from Volunteer Landing to the Southern Railway tracks north of Jackson in the Old City, and 11th Street west of the Knoxville Museum of Art to Hall of Fame Drive. The core of the...

Arts + Culture

Knoxville: A Walking Music Guide Part II

Article by Paul James and Jack Neely | Photography by Knoxville History Project, Shawn Poynter, and the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection This is the second part of a look at the city’s deep and endlessly fascinating musical history based on the publication of a new educational booklet by the Knoxville History Project. For years now, local historians and journalists have described Knoxville as the “Cradle of Country Music” for the multitude of songwriters and performers who got their...

Finance + Legal Services

I’ll Bring the Snacks

Article by Melissa Ballard, CFP® | Photography by Ben Finch I recently happened upon a box of stationery at a bookstore by “Em & Friends” simply called “Empathy Cards.” (Google them!). The cards include messages like, “There is no good card for this. I’m so sorry.” And my personal favorite, “I know there’s no normal to go back to. But I’m here to help you build a new one (and I’ll bring snacks).” I bought the set and imagine I’ll buy more when these run out. I think they send the reminder that...

Shopping

Elevating Personal Style at “Mellow”

Two Knoxville Entrepreneurs Have Created a Fresh Local Retail Concept Article by West Knoxville Lifestyle Staff | Photography by Shauna McCoy Photography Jessica Wang and Lauren Fenske met through their husbands’ long-term friendship, developed their own friendship, and found a shared connection for creativity, design, and beautiful spaces.   They’ve merged their shared passions to create a new welcoming, calming, and inspiring retail space that helps people elevate their home and personal...

Health + Wellness

Bonds of Love

Children’s Hospital celebrates one year of success stories with the first NICU “Milk Drops” program in East Tennessee Article by Patricia Storm Broyles | Photography by Shawn Poynter In the spring of 2024, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital debuted a program for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that would help their parents bond sooner and more easily with their tiniest patients.   “Our whole team had the opportunity to take a course specifically geared toward very premature babies,”...

Arts + Culture

Robin Easter Design Celebrates 35 Years

A Woman-Owned Small Business Success Story Article by West Knoxville Lifestyle Staff | Photography by Shawn Poynter There are those people in our community who always show up. They give their time and resources to make things better. They strive to see our community grow. They are fair-minded, empathetic, and produce stellar work. You can count on them. These people are out there, but often not so easy to find. Robin Easter is one of these people.   Robin Easter Design is an award-winning...

Food + Beverage

Simply Strawberries!

Janie May’s Easy Strawberry Dessert Article by Amy Campbell One of the great joys of May in Tennessee is fresh strawberries. Delight your friends or family with this simple dessert that is always well received. My late mother, Janie May Clayton, often made this dessert in a busy house with four children. She didn’t have time to assemble complicated recipes, and this recipe has stood the test of time. Mom was an active member of the Junior League of Knoxville, and I remember that she’d often...

Education

Meet Cady Cavalea - "The Mama Coach™"

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner makes parenting easier, providing evidence-informed, personalized solutions Article by West Knoxville Lifestyle Team | Photography by Wes Hope As a first-time mom, Cady Cavalea struggled to find expert, compassionate anticipatory guidance supported by the latest research to navigate the trials of new motherhood.    Following the birth of her second child, Cady again encountered unique challenges juggling the demands of both a toddler and a newborn. It wasn’t long...

Home Services

Where's that Room Stretcher?

As a part of our whole home design services, custom Window Treatments are one of our favorite solutions to provide for our clients. These are known to add beauty to a space, but did you know that there are also functional benefits of adding custom window treatments to your home? Here are a few benefits of adding custom window treatments to your home:Sound Absorption - Have an echo? Or a loud neighborhood? Layers of window treatments can act as a sound absorption layer to muffle sounds and stop...

Finance + Legal Services

Investing in Financial Peace

PYA Waltman's Melissa Ballard on a Mission to Build Relationships with Financial Clients and At-Risk Youth Article by Patricia Storm Broyles | Photography by Shawn Poynter and Ben Finch Director of Financial Planning Melissa Ballard, CFP®, became one of PYA Waltman Capital’s owners last year. She joined the firm out of college during the 2008 financial crisis. They weren’t hiring, but President Bill Waltman took a chance on her, in part, once she shared her why. “I wanted to help people make...