Nfocus February 2026

DIVING INTO ‘SWAN LAKE’

INSIDE THE ANTIQUES & GARDEN SHOW

N AVIGATING A NEW FUNDRAISING LANDSCAPE

BEST PAR TIES 20 25

Belle Meade

W ELCOME s

27 Best Parties 2025

Nfocus celebrates 2025’s top soirées

45 Diving Into the Lake Nashville Ballet revives Paul Vasterling’s ‘Swan Lake’ for the first time since 2018 49 The Art of Giving Nashville nonprofits adapt to a changing fundraising landscape 52 Wasting Away Inside Nashville’s evolving conversation about sustainable event planning

THE COVER

57 A Visit with John Hoomes

Nashville Opera’s CEO and artistic director reflects on his 30-year legacy

61 Destination: Gulf Shores, Alabama

Alabama’s Beaches offer an under-theradar upscale experience, now with easy, direct flights from Nashville

65 An Evening of Refinement

The Antiques & Garden Show Preview Party celebrates ‘American Elegance’

Bourbon and Boots

The Antiques & Garden Show Bourbon Party blends country spirit and refined taste

An annual floral extravaganza brings tropical warmth to winter at Cheekwood

Meilleure Fête

Sharing joy through community

JOY SHARED IS joy doubled — a beautiful phrase that rings true, especially when raising a glass or two with loved ones at a party. Over three decades, Nfocus readers have helped us fill our pages with celebration, all while lifting up the community. While we capture our experiences through stories and photography, we also invite our readers to vote for their favorite fête each year.

In this issue, we are delighted to share the winners of the Best Parties 2025 Readers Poll. This year, competition was fierce, and we are thankful to our friends in the Nfocus community who took time to vote. We know it was a hard decision.

This month, we also delve into the Nashville Ballet’s highly anticipated run of Swan Lake. And we sit down with John Hoomes, Nashville Opera CEO and artistic director, to reminisce about his 30 seasons in Nashville. There is much to celebrate on the design front — orchids return to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, and artist Kate Lewis discusses life as an illustrator. We go on the road to Indiana’s West Baden Springs Hotel and visit Alabama’s Gulf Shores. We also take you inside the Antiques & Garden Show Preview Party and, for the first time, the Antiques & Garden Show Bourbon Party.

Nonprofits are consistently under threat of losing funding, but the past year has brought both new challenges and signs of hope. Despite government funding cuts, rising operational costs and generational shifts converging nationwide, there are glimmers of light. Some organizations are evolving their strategies with the times, and we talk to three nonprofit leaders about adapting to the changing environment. We also explore sustainable events with two renowned experts: Amos Gott, who is known and loved for his high-end social events, and Vincent Dreffs, who has coordinated everything from the 2002 Winter Olympic Games to the 145th Kentucky Derby to the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting. Together, they share what they see on the sustainability horizon.

As we tiptoe softly toward a new event season, we are continually honored to be invited inside the events that make this city hum. And just as we celebrate 2025’s best parties, we look forward to the wonderful events to come in 2026.

BY JANET KURTZ

Janet moved to Nashville 27 years ago. She is an avid reader, traveler and collector of fountain pens, and she lives in downtown Nashville with her husband, Ron, and their dog, Julep. Email her at jkurtz@nfocusmagazine.com or follow her on Instagram @musiccitytraveler

Editorial

founding editor

Herbert Fox Jr.

editor-in-chief

Janet Kurtz

contributing editor

Lindsey Lanquist

associate editor

Madeleine Bradford

social correspondent

Gloria Houghland

editorial intern

Ria Skyer

contributors

Beth Alexander, Chris Chamberlain, Whitney Clay, Carrington Fox, Hannah Herner, Margaret Littman, Hamilton

Matthew Masters, Nicolle Praino, D. Patrick Rodgers, Nancy Vienneau

Art

art director

Christie Passarello

senior photographer

Eric England

staff photographer

Angelina Castillo

contributing photographers/videographers

Tausha Dickinson, Kristen Drum, Michael Scott Evans, Peyton Hoge, Iris Leonardo, Hamilton Matthew Masters, Alan Poizner

graphic designers

Sandi Harrison, Mary Louise Meadors, Tracey Starck

Advertising

publisher

Olivia Moye Britton

advertising solutions consultants

Teresa Birdsong, Kailey Idziak, Michael Jezewski, Carla Mathis, Heather Cantrell

Mullins, Allie Robbins, Niki Tyree, Andrea Vasquez, Alissa Wetzel

sales operations manager

Chelon Hasty

advertising solutions associates

Audry Houle, Jack Stejskal

Marketing events and marketing director

Robin Fomusa

event manager

Tristan Maryanski

director of brand partnerships

Alissa Wetzel

Circulation

circulation manager

Gary Minnis

Business

president

Mike Smith

chief financial officer

Todd Patton

IT director

John Schaeffer

digital director

Caroline Prater

Owner

FW Publishing, LLC

Behind the Scenes

With Hannah Garber of House of Colour

WHEN ENTERING COLOR analyst Hannah Garber’s home studio, a printed wheel of hues, subsectioned by season, catches the eye — along with cool-toned décor to complement her “winter” complexion. Hannah will be the first to tell you color matching isn’t just an online craze. The practice of finding flattering shades is linked to Hollywood, where artist Robert Dorr played with the color groupings Johannes Itten developed during the Bauhaus movement.

Robert noticed how actors went from looking dull to revitalized depending on their clothing. Since 1985, U.K.-based company House of Colour has used this framework, franchising trained stylists around the globe to work from their homes and help clients discover the most vibrant versions of themselves.

Hannah’s motto, “These are tools, not rules,” sums it up: Appointments aren’t meant to change who you are, but instead help you see yourself more clearly. Color theorists look for balance and harmony, and Hannah attests that finding your “wow color” is a transformational experience that can impact how you shop, do your makeup and even dye your hair.

You are a “winter.” How did you discover this about yourself? Six years ago, I was intrigued because I was having a hard time with my hair color. Every hairdresser I went to always wanted to lighten me, and I really felt like something was off, so color analysis came on my radar. There was no one in the state, so I drove to Louisville, Ky., had my colors done, and 100% knew this had to be in Nashville.

What is training and certification like in your field? Training was fully [immersive]. It wasn’t an online certificate — I literally flew to Kansas City. That’s where our head trainer was. They bring in actual models, and I work on real bodies. It was very rigorous. In this color think tank, my eye was trained. I feel like I have this superpower now.

For those who’ve never had a color analysis, what can they expect? In an ideal situation, they would come in with no makeup on. I place them in natural lighting, and then I take them through this series of color comparisons to first find their undertone and then figure out what season they fall into. We do makeup. We giggle. I help them find their best of the best. And it’s not about canceling color. My job is to find the colors that have been waiting for you to find them your whole life.

Name: Hannah Garber

Hometown: Owego, N.Y.

Time in Nashville: 26 years ZIP code: 37221

Number of fabric swatches in your studio: 136

What impact does color analysis have on people’s confidence, style and how they carry themselves? I think it’s pretty transformational. Women are so heavily marketed to in the world of vanity, cosmetics, hair products [and] makeup, and we get really lost. There’s a lot of noise, so we spend a lot of time and money experimenting, but always trying to question, “Is this right for me?” This dials everything in. It’s not about trends. It’s not about fast fashion. It’s about, “Is it going to serve me?”

What are the next steps clients should take after their color analyses? The good news is that they don’t leave the appointment empty-handed. They have resources, like a color fan of swatches, a booklet that explains everything [and] digital resources. The first thing I tell people to focus on in the first two weeks is their cameo — makeup, colors, anything they’re surrounding their face with. Maybe it’s time to revisit their hair color choices with their stylist. I always tell them we’re going to eat this elephant one bite at a time, so we don’t have to go home and burn anything down, but move step by step in a new direction.

BY MADELEINE BRADFORD PHOTOGRAPH BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

On a Roll

12South’s new Sushi-san serves fresh fish in a cozy atmosphere fit for a dinner party

ON AN UNSEASONABLY warm evening in Nashville, patrons of the buzzy, new restaurant Sushi-san lingered on the expansive patio at its Ashwood 12 South location. Inside, the upbeat energy was palpable. Old-school beats pulsated throughout the ambiently lit restaurant. Even on a Sunday night, there wasn’t an empty table in sight.

Sushi-san, led by master sushi chef Kaze Chan, is Chicago-based restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You’s second eatery to open in Nashville, after Aba in Wedgewood-Houston. It is the fifth Sushi-san location and the only one outside the Chicago area.

The restaurant, which seats 158 guests inside, has a warm, intimate feel. Leather banquettes and earthy velvet chairs flank light wood tables. Design highlights — like Venetian plaster walls, high ceilings with white oak beams, and a marron cohiba granite sushi bar — add to the interior’s richness. Sushi-san’s in-house design team collaborated with Nashville-based Remick Architecture on the project. And although the space is beautifully appointed, it’s also meant to be comfortable.

“What’s important for us is that when you come in here, it feels comfortable and it feels fun,” says Amarit Dulyapaibul, one

of Lettuce Entertain You’s managing partners. “Ultimately, all the Sushi-sans feel like you are coming into our home for a great dinner party. … The service is really precise, but not at all stuffy or too serious.”

That philosophy extends to the dress code — or rather, the absence of one. “We want our guests to feel comfortable,” says Amarit. “So there isn’t a formal dress code here. If you’re wearing a hat, you’re welcome. If you’re wearing your yoga pants, you’re welcome. We have kids in here. We have families in here. Of course, they’re all welcome.”

There are multiple seating options, including a private 12-person dining room and a 68-seat patio, so guests can experience the restaurant in different ways. “You can sit in a booth,” says Amarit. “You can sit at the bar. You can sit with the guys who make all the magic happen at the sushi counter. You can lounge on the patio for cocktails during happy hour.”

He wants Sushi-san to become a neighborhood restaurant in Nashville, like it is in its other locations. “We have regulars that join us several times a week,” he says.

BY WHITNEY CLAY PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF SUSHI-SAN

YOU’VE GOT OPTIONS

Despite Sushi-san’s name, there’s plenty on the menu besides sushi. “A lot of people think, ‘I’m going to a sushi restaurant, I’m going to have salmon and tuna and nigiri and sashimi,’” Amarit explains. But the restaurant also o ers an “incredible” vegetable selection, sizzling meats from a charcoal grill, and toasty rice from a charcoal oven, he says. And of course, fresh seafood and fish are delivered daily. There’s also an extensive Japanese whisky and sake menu.

DINING AL FRESCO

Sushi-san’s large, partially covered patio, with pale-green resin chairs, concrete tables and greenery-filled planters, is a highlight. The part that isn’t covered is dotted with greenand-white market umbrellas. Amarit sees it being a seating option almost year-round. With Chicago as a home base, he and his team are experts on heating an outdoor patio. And Ashwood 12 South’s communal courtyard is a perfect gathering place, with retailers’ backdoors opening into the space.

FOR THE FUN OF IT

A walk-up window serving soft-serve ice cream — with o erings like Okinawan vanilla and pineapple whip — sets the restaurant apart. Even customers ordering delivery online can join in on the fun. Larger orders come in a cardboard to-go container designed to look like an ’80s boombox. “So on a Sunday night, [when] you’re sitting at home and you’re having a kind of lazy day on the sofa, we’ll meet you in your living room,” Amarit says.

Ndesign: Kate Lewis

Painter of modern life

THIS WINTER, a couple dozen paintings are crisscrossing the art world, making stops at exhibitions in Luxembourg, Miami and Los Angeles, and waving at a gallery in Paris along the way. Covered in brightly hued acrylic, these canvases depict vibrant rooms that recall the crowded and controlled energy of interiors by French painters Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse. But there is something uniquely Tennessean about these works, which started their global path in the studio of artist Kate Lewis, inside a 19th-century log cabin in Williamson County.

Originally from Halls in West Tennessee, artist Kate Lewis moved back to her home state during the pandemic. After two decades in Chicago — where she earned her master’s at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and worked at its museum before pursuing her own art full-time — she lured her husband and four children to Franklin to be closer to family. They bought a historic house with an attached log cabin, which became the perfect art studio.

“There’s something really magical about working in the historic cabin,” Kate says. “I can’t put it into words.” Lately, she’s been busy turning words into images, illustrating books with her energetic watercolors of still lifes, interiors, and vistas looking through windows toward the outdoors.

In 2021, after pandemic-related delays, the book Artists in Residence hit the shelves. Alongside text by Melissa Wyse, Kate’s illustrations depict the homes of 17 iconic artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe, Jean-Michel Basquiat and, of course, Matisse, whose loose and bright rhythms of pattern and color rhyme with Kate’s own style almost a century later.

Then Kate told her editor she would love to illustrate a storybook — something like The Secret Garden, for example. “I wanted to immerse myself in a story,” Kate says. As it turned out, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 tale of a sickly child who brings new life to a hidden garden and herself was already in the public domain. In 2024, Kate issued an updated version of the children’s novel, with enchanting illustrations of Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors in England. That same year, Kate mounted a rare local exhibition at Galerie Tangerine, where her large canvases of colorful and cozy book-lined rooms covered the walls of the tiny Wedgewood-Houston showroom. (For now, Kate’s paintings sell exclusively through Sobering Galerie in Paris.)

In summer 2025, Kate teamed up with cookbook author and James Beard Foundation Award-nominated chef Cathy Whims to publish The Italian Summer Kitchen: Timeless Recipes for La Dolce Vita, with 84 illustrations — ranging from plump prawns to il Duomo — in Kate’s signature style.

This March, Kate will launch Quiet Moments: A Guided Sketchbook, a volume with watercolor and ink illustrations to prompt creative exercises and sketching rituals. The interactive journal began with Kate’s own daily exercise of “morning finds,” in which she starts the day by observing and drawing one simple thing.

While Kate’s morning might begin with her wandering outside to do quick watercolor sketches, she eventually makes her way back to her cabin, which is close to home and her busy family, but separate — somewhat like a secret garden. “I feel like I’m entering a different space,” Kate says. “I can disconnect from everyday life, to move into the creative world that I enter when I start painting.”

BY CARRINGTON FOX PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND

Orchid Friendly

An annual oral extravaganza brings tropical warmth to winter at Cheekwood

NEVER MIND FIGURING out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. This winter’s whimsical math problem is calculating how many orchids can dangle from a chandelier.

That’s the type of creative horticultural engineering that goes into producing Orchids at Cheekwood, an exhibit that transforms the mansion’s stately loggia, stairwell and receiving rooms into a lush and lavish tropical daydream.

In its eighth year, Orchids returns to the mansion from Jan. 31 through March 8, easing the bleak chill of winter with a warm palette of white, yellow and soft peachy orange. Orchids 2026 will likely be remembered as the “year with the chandeliers,” says Mary Weber, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens’ director of horticulture. That’s because the centerpiece of the extravagance features dramatic mobiles of live flora, such as Dendrobium, Beallara, Howeara and Oncidium (aka dancing ladies) descending densely, as decadent drapery.

“Each year is always a different design, and we always have a different challenge,” Mary says. This year’s challenge includes calculating the load of hundreds of flowers on armatures suspended from lofty chandeliers, not to mention the additional weight of periodic watering.

Mary and the Cheekwood team, including exhibits manager Mark Simmons, collaborate on Orchids with Florida-based Tres Fromme of 3. Fromme Design. The master-planning and garden design firm helped develop Cheekwood’s Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, which opened in 2020. It has also advised for more than a decade on the popular Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS tradition, and it recently partnered on Cheekwood’s elegant boxwood and azalea entry garden at the 2026 Antiques & Garden Show at the Music City Center.

When it comes to marrying the mansion’s timeless architecture with orchids’ fleeting beauty, Tres starts sketching in late summer, eventually creating a mood board with a unified theme for the displays that will weave throughout the mansion. Then Mary, Mark and their green-thumbed botanical squad translate the design concept into the language of flowers, calculating the number of plants needed and sourcing orchids from as far away as Hawaii, California and Canada, and as close to home as greenhouses in Alabama.

Meanwhile, rooms between the major exhibits showcase complementary orchid-forward tabletop and floor displays by Nashville-based Rose Hill Flowers, which dazzled visitors at 2025’s Fleurs de Ville exhibit with a floral mannequin in the mansion’s morning room, inspired by the museum’s oil portrait “Lady in White.”

The annual monthlong celebration of tropical flora includes related workshops and classes, in which participants can design their own orchid arrangements, build their own terraria, and learn to sketch orchids using charcoal. Classes sell out early, and waitlists are already building.

But there’s still time to show up at the end of the exhibit to rehome an orchid or two. The week of March 9, Mary and co. strike the set, dismantling the displays and making the elegant plants available for sale, enlivening Nashville’s modernday homes in a style befitting one of America’s great country houses.

BY CARRINGTON FOX PHOTOGRAPH AND SKETCH COURTESY OF CHEEKWOOD ESTATE & GARDENS

Worth the Drive: West Baden Springs Hotel

A comfortable Indiana getaway gives a peek inside the Gilded Age

IF YOU LOOK at a list of things that elicited awe and wonder in 1902 and compare them to what impresses a jaded audience in 2026, the overlap might be small. One exception is the synchronized light show that illuminates a 200-foot dome at 9:04 p.m. nightly at Indiana’s West Baden Springs Hotel. Even in an age when hotel-goers (or more likely, their children and grandchildren) can listen to anything on the phones in their pockets, people line up on chaise lounges in the lobby or on their balconies to watch West Baden’s colored lights change to prerecorded music.

This almost-hypnotic dome is an apt example of the lure of French Lick Resort — and its landmark West Baden Springs Hotel. First opened in the 1850s and nestled around natural springs, the hotel has been through historical ups and downs. After a fire destroyed the hotel in 1901, its new owner rebuilt it in Gilded Age glory, designing a massive central dome (which, at the time, was the country’s largest). With its colored lights and architectural marvel, some in 1902 called the hotel “the eighth wonder of the world.”

The 1929 stock market crash — which some well-heeled guests witnessed from the hotel — eventually led to the property’s closure. As the Great Depression dragged on,

owners sold the mammoth vacant building to the Jesuits, who needed a new seminary. As part of their renovation, the group removed some of the hotel’s more opulent details and cemented over its public access to natural springs. A private college then bought the building, but ceased operations in 1983.

Although the structure was deemed a National Historic Landmark, its restoration and renovation dragged on for decades, and decay and neglect took a toll. In 2003, the Indiana legislature created a historic hotel and casino district, paving the way for the revival of West Baden Springs Hotel and its sister property, French Lick Springs Hotel, both of which are now part of French Lick Resort.

West Baden Springs Hotel reopened in 2007, with modern amenities alongside décor that harkens back to a different century. Now part of the National Trust of Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels of America, West Baden leans into the nostalgia of a bygone era, even if none of today’s guests have memories of its heyday a century ago. Guests can take self-guided or guided history tours from folks at Indiana Landmarks and wander through small museum displays throughout the resort that detail the hotel’s past.

THE BASICS

Distance from Nashville: 214

Why it stands out: This familyfriendly, historic resort offers a look at how public and private efforts can restore a landmark building for modern use. It’s a draw for folks who care about architecture and preservation, with diversions for archery, golf, gambling and more.

WHAT’S NEARBY

West Baden is just down the street from French Lick, Ind., and French Lick Springs Hotel. Free, on-demand shuttles run back and forth, making it easy to head to French Lick’s casino, restaurants and shops. (In fact, the shuttles will go anywhere in town except the liquor store and the water park.)

Ample parking is available if you choose to drive yourself, and the walk is flat and straightforward. Train service occasionally runs the 1.5 miles between the resorts, offering a mode of transport that nods to West Baden’s past.

French Lick’s small downtown, across from French Lick Springs Hotel, features several shops and restaurants. 33 Brick Street is a bar and restaurant festooned with memorabilia of NBA great Larry Bird, who grew up in French Lick.

WHAT TO DO

Outdoor activities are the resort’s real draw, including golf on two nine-hole courses and two 18-hole courses designed by Pete Dye. There are more than 12 miles of wooded hiking and walking trails, plus archery and sporting clay ranges, and horseback riding.

For those who prefer more leisurely outdoor activities, there are horse-drawn carriage rides, outdoor swimming pools with cabanas and lounge chairs, and gardens with paths for strolling. Both hotels have large porches with rocking chairs for taking in the views, and blankets and outdoor heaters are available to ward off the chill. Both also offer large, full-service spas with treatments using the area’s natural mineral spring water.

While folks don’t arrive in French Lick by train as they once did, it’s possible to take a short train ride once you get there. Choose from scenic tours through the Hoosier National Forest, tasting rides with food and wine pairings, or themed Polar Express outings during the holidays.

WHERE TO EAT

Combined, the two resorts have a dozen different restaurants, including coffee shops, pubs, a kid-friendly pizza joint and several fine-dining spots.

One of French Lick’s claims to fame is being the first place to serve tomato juice as a drink. In 1917, chef Louis Perrin ran out of oranges and made the swap. So when you dine at 1875: The Steakhouse, you’ll get a shot of tomato juice to start the meal.

Breakfasts include house-made granola, eggs as you like and other classics. The town of French Lick has a few independent restaurants great for a quick bite, and grabbing sandwiches for a picnic on a hiking trail is a pleasant way to pass the time.

HOW TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

The hotel rooms have been remodeled with a Gilded Age aesthetic, supported by modern amenities, like plush linens and room-darkening blinds. Choose a room with a balcony that looks out on the famed West Baden domed atrium.

French Lick Springs Hotel is the larger of the two, but the West Baden dome — with its Rookwood lobby fireplace and cozy library — makes it the place you’ll want to linger.

BY MARGARET LITTMAN PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FRENCH LICK RESORT

 ST PTIS 2025

Throughout the year, Nfocus steps inside the events that matter most across the city, celebrating those who give their time, talent and treasure to uplift local nonprofits. We then ask our readers to vote for their favorites — and wow, did you show up this year. From day one, voting proved fierce and prolific, and we were here for it. The Nfocus community cast votes across 26 categories to name the best parties of 2025 and award one standout soirée the coveted Best Event title.

BY JANET KURTZ, MADELEINE BRADFORD, BETH ALEXANDER, GLORIA HOUGHLAND

BEST EVENT OF 2025 Nashville Bourbon Auction

(Team Chad, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Ramsey Foundation)

Originally fueled by bourbon and a healthy urge to do good, founder Daniel Weisman — a self-described hater of charity events — created the Nashville Bourbon Auction to uplift the local community. The event supports different organizations each year, with Team Chad, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Ramsey Foundation as 2025’s beneficiaries. Guests mingled and tasted extremely rare bourbons before partaking in the main event: a rousing live auction. Packages included private dinners, a Four Roses barrel selection experience, and a weekend at the Masters Tournament. Matthew Ramsey, Old Dominion frontman and Ramsey Foundation founder, took the stage to close the evening, playing country music that invited guests to dance the night away.

Second Place: River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy)

Third Place: Harding Art Show (Harding Academy)

MOST FUN PARTY

River Swing

(Harpeth Conservancy)

Once again, Harpeth Conservancy’s River Swing earned its spot as one of Nashville’s most lively and beloved events — and it’s no wonder why. It’s both fun and fitting to support conservation efforts by celebrating with friends, taking in bucolic views, enjoying Martin’s Bar-B-Que and ending the night with dancing. This past year, guests gathered at River Circle Farm for an evening complete with cozy outdoor seating, a lamp-lit atmosphere, park rangers (and their animal companions), and a toe-tapping performance by St. Paul and The Broken Bones. In its 22nd year, River Swing stayed fresh, ignited curiosity and raised crucial funds for Tennessee’s river ecosystem — all while bringing the party.

Second Place: Broadway Brunch (Nashville Repertory Theatre)

Third Place: Bright Soles Bash (Jonathan’s Path)

BEST NEW OR REIMAGINED EVENT Somm Showdown

(Nashville Wine Auction)

Always evolving, the Nashville Wine Auction continues to set the standard. Founded in 1980 as a friendly (and philanthropic) backyard gathering, the event has grown into a fundraising powerhouse, generating more than $43 million for the fight against cancer. In 2024, the organization introduced the Somm Showdown, a now-annual competition featuring six local sommeliers competing for the title of Nashville’s top somm. The multi-round contest includes a wine-and-food-pairing challenge, a trivia quiz and a blind tasting. This year, LeeAnne Arnold of Harvest Wine Market claimed the top honor and received a $2,000 cash prize to further her wine education.

Second Place: American Brain Foundation Gala (American Brain Foundation)

Third Place: Swan Ball (Friends of Warner Parks)

Musser Ghertner Group closed out a highly successful 2025 and none of it would have been possible without our amazing clients! Sincere appreciation to all of our buyers and sellers who trusted the process and allowed us to open doors for them.

Our 2025 Sales

$5,300,000 923 Westview Avenue

$4,900,000 211 Paddock Lane

2800 Valley Brook Place

4106 Dorman Drive

$3,000,000

$2,105,000

$1,380,000 104 Iroquois Court

$2,265,000 328 White Swans Crossing

$4,000,000 105 Westhampton Place

1103A Nichol Lane

$3,050,000

$2,700,000 746 Benton Ave

$2,300,000 6052 Opus Street Lot 12

$1,870,000 4300 Estes Road $1,900,000

We have the experience to open doors for you! 2811 Tyne Blvd

1106A Biltmore Drive $1,150,000

615 Belle Meade Blvd #106 $1,200,000

5309 Forest Acres Drive $1,175,000 204 Abbottsford Drive $1,151,550 4400 Belmont Park Ter. #114 $822,000

902B Youngs Lane $700,000

938 Spain Ave. #A $485,000 805 Forest Hills Drive $500,000

810 Marquette Drive $383,000

4500 Post Road #5 $360,000

In 2026 we are delighted to announce that we have expanded our capabilities and welcomed a new team member, Amanda Tolbert, who sold $10 million in 2025 and plans to work on marketing and strategy at Musser Ghertner Group. Call us if you are thinking about making a move this spring.

Last fall, Nashville helped turn our inaugural gala into an extraordinary night—raising nearly $1.5 million, honoring inspiring advocates, and proving the power of this community to advance brain research. We’re excited to announce that we’ll be back in September, and can’t wait to gather again for an evening of purpose, connection, and impact.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL NASHVILLE, GRAND BALLROOM SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026

To be notified when tickets for the gala are available, sign up for our email newsletter. SEE YOU IN

6 PM: MEET THE MINDS COCKTAIL RECEPTION

7 PM: DINNER, AUCTION, AND PROGRAM

BEST LUNCHEON

Reclaiming Lives Luncheon

(Centerstone)

On a picture-perfect spring morning, Centerstone’s 10th annual Reclaiming Lives Luncheon filled the Four Seasons Hotel Nashville’s Grand Ballroom with energy, compassion and a record-breaking crowd, all gathered in support of mental health and recovery.

Guests enjoyed a beautifully curated three-course lunch before hearing from Centerstone leaders and longtime champions who shared powerful stories of hope and impact. The afternoon’s most unforgettable moment came from keynote speaker Zak Williams, global mental health advocate and son of Robin Williams, who spoke about grief and anxiety with candor, humor and heart. The event blended purpose with polish, raised critical funds, and reminded everyone in attendance that community, compassion and hope truly change lives.

Second Place (tie): Sparkling Settings (Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee), Sunday in the Park (Friends of Warner Parks), Wine Women & Shoes (YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee)

Third Place: Cause for Paws (Nashville Humane Association)

BEST ARTS EVENT

Harding Art Show

(Harding Academy)

It’s not every day that a beloved staple celebrates its golden anniversary — but this year, the Harding Art Show raised a glass to 50 triumphant years. The weekend featured work by 101 artists across 18 different states, representing the show’s wide reach and impact. The event typically attracts about 5,000 guests, and passionate Nashvillians once again showed up for the cause.

Co-chairs Mimi Beaver and Carey McDonald worked to ensure every aspect of the weekend went smoothly. Abstract floral pieces by artist Laura McCarty grabbed revelers’ attention, with Laura dubbing the show “the highest high” of her career. And the event was a clear success, raising generous donations to fuel Harding Academy’s robust art education programs.

Second Place: Broadway Brunch (Nashville Repertory Theatre)

Third Place: TPAC Gala (Tennessee Performing Arts Center)

EVENT

Wine Women & Shoes

(YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee)

Temptations abounded at the Wine Women & Shoes luncheon at the Omni Nashville Hotel, starting with a sip of Champagne upon arrival. Co-chairs Roxianne Bethune and Meredith Risner welcomed friends of the YWCA, as guests snapped up bottles from the wall of wine, snagged chances to win “key to the closet” prizes, and visited the glitter bar or the fairy hair booth. Quite a few were in the running for most fun feet, including Cameron Simmons, who embellished white pumps with hot pink ribbons and butterflies and won Best in Shoe for the fifth year. Emmy-nominated public historian and emcee Torri Yates-Orr charmed the crowd as she kicked off the program and announced the winners.

Second Place: Sparkling Settings (Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee) Third Place: The Next Door Recovery Luncheon (The Next Door Recovery)

MOST FASHIONABLE EVENT

Iroquois Steeplechase

(Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital)

Though 30,000 spectators keep their eyes on the track during the running of the Iroquois Steeplechase, between races, their attention turns just as sharply to fashion. The pageantry of colorful dresses, seersucker suits and — of course — hats, is a spectacle everyone should behold at least once. This year, well-dressed guests visited the Nfocus Portrait Studio to memorialize the moment through photos and enter the Nfocus Steeplechase Style Contest. Winners — including Suzanne Smothers, Rahel Klapheke Sloan, and Bob Deal and Jason Bradshaw — gathered on the field to enjoy the spotlight of having triumphed in 1 of 5 sartorial categories.

Second Place: Symphony Fashion Show (Nashville Symphony)

Third Place: Mad Hatter (Sexual Assault Center)

BEST OUTDOOR EVENT River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy)

If there’s one party that knows how to bring the fun year after year, it’s Harpeth Conservancy’s River Swing. Hundreds of boot-wearing guests descended on River Circle Farm for the 22nd annual bash, raising funds for river conservation while proving philanthropy can also be a downright hootenanny.

Cozy lounge vignettes dotted the fields, cocktails flowed and bidding wars sparked at the auction before everyone tucked into the can’t-miss Martin’s Bar-B-Que buffet. The event is al fresco — a fitting tribute to its cause of preserving Tennessee waterways. When St. Paul and The Broken Bones lit up the night with a soulful, high-energy set, the dance floor erupted — and even the lead singer jumped into the crowd. Equal parts heart, boots and boogie, River Swing once again showed why it’s the party Nashville can’t get enough of.

Second Place: Iroquois Steeplechase (Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital)

Third Place: Sunday in the Park (Friends of Warner Parks)

BEST ANIMAL-CENTRIC EVENT

Boo at the Zoo

(Nashville Zoo)

Boo at the Zoo once again delivered festive fun, costumes and just the right amount of spooky charm. The annual evening event transformed the Nashville Zoo into a glowing autumn playground filled with trick-or-treating, pumpkin patches, themed animal shows and playful fall scenes around every corner.

This year brought extra excitement with a special one-night appearance by Ernie the Elf (thanks to a partnership with Keebler), plus a crowd-favorite scavenger hunt celebrating striped animals throughout the zoo. Families also enjoyed carousel rides, carnival games, dance parties, costumed characters, and appearances by Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin. A meaningful highlight came with a special Día de Muertos celebration, honoring loved ones through cultural activities and entertainment.

Second Place: Iroquois Steeplechase (Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital)

Third Place: Sunset Safari (Nashville Zoo)

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BEST CHILDREN’S OR FAMILY EVENT

Nutcracker Tea

(Nashville Ballet)

Nashville’s Nutcracker is a time-tested chestnut for a reason — and, in only its third year with the Nashville Ballet, so is the Nutcracker Tea. This unique reinterpretation of Clara’s classic dreamscape celebrates community, creativity and the enduring magic of the holidays as only Nashville can, attracting all ages to Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Co-chaired by Ashley Herring, Kayla Clayborne Counts and Blair Steakley Lund, the event popped with red and green iced cookies and a pointe-shoe-decorating station. An exemplar of artistry that draws generations together through magic and imagination, Tchaikovsky’s mysterious holiday masterpiece turns every little girl into a dreamer.

Second Place: Zoolumination (Nashville Zoo)

Third Place: Community Days at Glen Leven Farm (The Land Trust For Tennessee)

BEST DRESSED PARTY GUESTS

Adam Sansiveri and Kendall Brown at the TPAC Gala (Tennessee

Performing Arts Center)

Adam Sansiveri and Kendall Brown paired classic with whimsical for the TPAC Gala. Adam’s crisp time-honored tux and Kendall’s loose and lovely floral high-low gown created an ideal fashion counterpoint. This pair’s dramatic flair earns appreciation from hosts and hostesses for honoring a special evening and making the most of a moment others have worked to create. No matter what event they’re attending, they are known for striking designs that make the most of their natural gifts — presence and panache.

Second Place: Katie Crumbo at the Symphony Fashion Show (Nashville Symphony)

Third Place: Marci Houff at Chic Awearness (Vanderbilt University Medical Center ovarian cancer research)

BEST CO-CHAIRS Adam Sansiveri and Sean Sansiveri

(American Brain Foundation)

Twins Adam and Sean Sansiveri have been collaborating from the beginning. This year, that spirit of cooperation culminated in them co-chairing a newto-Nashville event — the American Brain Foundation Gala. The brothers worked with their extensive networks to bring the right people to the room to raise stratospheric funds for the American Brain Foundation, which promotes and supports research across a spectrum of brain and nervous system diseases. Special guests award-winning actress Selma Blair and motivational speaker Justine Fedak — both living with multiple sclerosis — emphasized the importance of brain health at the gala, putting a fine point on the organization’s mantra: “Cure one, cure many.”

Second Place: Christian Currey for River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy)

Third Place: Kristen and Brian Junghans and Lisa Maki and David Osborn for l’Eté du Vin (Nashville Wine Auction)

Christopher Hanke at the American Brain Foundation Gala

(American Brain Foundation)

Actor, director and theater aficionado are all titles Christopher Hanke can claim. His resume includes Broadway roles in In My Life, Rent, Cry-Baby and Hair, as well as off-Broadway roles in Fame on 42nd Street and The Full Monty national tour. Most recently, though, he has become the go-to emcee for Nashville events — bringing life to important gatherings, including the American Brain Foundation Gala.

As any great emcee should, Christopher engaged the crowd at the new-to-Nashville gala, building community in the room and enthusiastically introducing keynote speakers. He also deftly handled the night’s auction, encouraging guests to be generous in their support of the American Brain Foundation.

Second Place: Tom Riles at the Bright Soles Bash (Jonathan’s Path)

Third Place: Hugh Howser at the Swan Ball Auction Party (Friends of Warner Parks)

BEST SPECIAL GUEST Margie Quin at the Bright Soles Bash

(Jonathan’s Path)

Jonathan’s Path helps teenagers in foster care break repetitive trauma cycles — and provides essential services that bridge the gap between youth and adulthood. The organization is working to launch Tennessee’s first long-term placement program for teens aging out of the system, ensuring they have access to stable homes as they prepare to transition into the next phase of life.

The 2025 Bright Soles Bash raised over $223,000 for the nonprofit. Honored guest Margie Quin — commissioner of the Department of Children’s Services — largely made this possible by providing a surprise grant of $100,000, further encouraging generosity from other guests. This donation will help fund housing placements, mentorship programs and gap services for teens across Middle Tennessee.

Second Place: Philippe and Cherie Melka at L’Eté du Vin (Nashville Wine Auction)

Third Place: Jenn Colella at Broadway Brunch (Nashville Repertory Theatre)

Centennial Circle Dinner (Centennial Park Conservancy)

The mark of a great dinner party is the perfect alchemy of witty conversation, enchanting entertainment and elevated cuisine. For three years, the Centennial Park Conservancy has mastered the blend of elements needed to create such a gathering.

The Centennial Circle Dinner is a thank-you for an intimate donor group, the Centennial Circle. This year, Four Seasons Nashville chef Derek Simcik took guests of the exclusive dinner on a Greek Odyssey. The evening included five-star dining and a surprise appearance by vocalists Analise Scarpaci and Mamie Parris, who performed songs from the Broadway-bound musical Mythic

Second Place: Swan Ball (Friends of Warner Parks)

Third Place (tie): River Swing (Harpeth Conservancy), Swan Ball Patrons Party (Friends of Warner Parks)

BEST DECORATIONS

Swan Ball

(Friends of Warner Parks)

The Swan Ball is the best kind of evergreen, continually remaking itself. This year’s transformation called for creativity, as the ball had a different location and a new beneficiary, Friends of Warner Parks. Facing a metamorphic opportunity, the Swan Ball didn’t just think outside the box —it dispensed with the box altogether. This ball was all romance, recasting Edwin Warner Park’s natural ambience into a fairyland of enchantment.

Proving it’s possible for décor to appeal to all senses, the scent of honeysuckle reminded guests of the park’s natural gifts. Music wafted over the fields from an impressive glass-and-steel structure, which felt like the outpost of an elegant, medieval castle. Knestrick by Design florals topped long tables, and a massive blossoming tree reigned in the ballroom’s center — its canopy dazzling the guests dining below.

Second Place: Sparkling Settings (Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee)

Third Place: l’Eté du Vin (Nashville Wine Auction)

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Chad Driver

(Driver Productions)

Photographer and videographer Chad Driver knows just how to capture the stirring movement and poignant emotion of everyday moments, whether it’s children sharing a joke or a ballerina mid-grand jeté. His diverse client portfolio includes the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, OZ Arts Nashville, Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Ballet. Since 2010, his company Driver Productions has offered high-quality video and photography, suitable for television, web, print and internal communications.

Second Place: Eric England

Third Place: Peyton Hoge

BEST ENTERTAINMENT

Old Dominion at the Nashville Bourbon Auction

(Team Chad, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Ramsey Foundation)

Since entering the country music scene in 2014, Old Dominion has grown a devoted fan base. The quintet is the reigning Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year and has twice earned the title of Group of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. The band’s frontman, Matthew Ramsey, founded the Ramsey Foundation, which supports organizations in rural communities and highlights the need for cultural arts resources and opportunities in these areas.

This year’s ever-popular Nashville Bourbon Auction featured the Ramsey Foundation as a beneficiary, along with Team Chad and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Fittingly, Old Dominion closed out the event with an engaging performance.

Second Place: Nashville Rep performers at Broadway Brunch (Nashville Repertory Theatre)

Third Place: Patti LaBelle at the Swan Ball (Friends of Warner Parks)

BEST FLORIST Larson Floral

When it comes to throwing unforgettable parties — especially weddings — Larson Floral knows how to set the scene. The Middle Tennessee favorite has been turning celebrations into works of art since 2011.

Founded by Natasha Larson, Larson Floral specializes in timeless, fine-art floral designs for weddings, corporate events and milestone moments across the region. What truly sets it apart? Connection. The team focuses on relationships over volume, working closely with clients — and fellow vendors — to bring each event to life. Known for its intuitive design approach, Larson Floral is also embracing the trend toward lush, flower-forward arrangements. Add in floral preservation and rentals, and it’s easy to see why couples trust the company with life’s best parties.

Second Place: Rose Hill Flowers

Third Place: The Tulip Tree

BEST VENUE FOR A FUNDRAISING EVENT

The Bell Tower

The Bell Tower isn’t merely set apart by its high ceilings, wood beams and expansive rafters. It’s also one of the few remaining structures of Nashville’s historic Black Bottom neighborhood, a once-vibrant hub for the city’s African American community. Built in 1874 as Saint Paul AME Church, the building has housed many establishments over the years, including nightclubs, warehouses and more.

The late singer-songwriter Brett James reimagined the space in 2014, with the help of Infinity Hospitality Group. Now, The Bell Tower — Nashville’s largest freestanding historic event venue — blends storied history and modern elegance, with space to host seated dinners for up to 400 guests or cocktail receptions for 700.

Second Place: Omni Nashville Hotel

Third Place: Schermerhorn Symphony Center

BEST AUCTION ITEM

The Judgment of Paris: 50 Years Later reenactment at Union Station (Nashville

Wine Auction)

As the legend goes, on May 24, 1976, a David-and-Goliath showdown took place pitting European wineries against dark-horse American producers. In a shocking result, French judges (unaware of what they were drinking) gave California’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena their highest marks — putting American winemaking on the map.

On April 11, 2026, 42 lucky oenophiles — including bidders at the Nashville Wine Auction’s l’Eté du Vin — will experience a reenactment of this fateful day. The event includes a blind tasting of 19 wines featured at the original Judgment of Paris (with updated vintages), the opportunity to judge the wines, and a multi-course dinner crafted by guest chef David Breeden. What a perfect way to celebrate half a century.

Second Place: Two tickets to Saturday Night Live at the Nashville Bourbon Auction (Team Chad, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Ramsey Foundation)

Third Place: New York weekend at the Red Door Bash (Gilda’s Club)

BEST CATERER

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

While there’s always a place for traditional catering, sometimes a charity event presents the perfect opportunity to be a bit more relaxed. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint offers just that — refined yet casual West Tennessee-style barbecue that’s ideal for gatherings both large and intimate. Take this year’s River Swing, for example, where lines of barbecue enthusiasts branched far beyond the Martin’s catering tents, snaking through River Circle Farm.

Martin’s offers options for events of all shapes and sizes, from deliveries to fullservice catering. The staff’s devotion and impeccable service invite clients to sit back, breathe and let Martin’s take care of the details.

Second Place: Dream Events & Catering

Third Place: Cater615

BEST EVENT PLANNER Bruce Pittman

Nashville native Bruce Pittman’s event planning career has spanned over two decades. In that time, he has orchestrated more than 1,300 weddings and events, styled numerous Nfocus fashion shoots, and worked with top nonprofits to plan milestone celebrations like the Symphony Ball, Ballet Ball and Symphony Fashion Show. Bruce guides his clients through every step of the planning process with a calm demeanor that helps bring their vision to life. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and trusted relationships throughout the city, Bruce’s signature approach blends creativity, organization and grace, ensuring each event feels both effortless and unforgettable.

Second Place: Dori Thornton Waller (The Social Office)

Third Place: Amos Gott (Amos Events)

BEST RENTALS COMPANY

Curated Events Nashville

“Service. Selection. Style. Delivered.” This tagline captures Curated Events Nashville’s commitment to enhancing special occasions and creating memorable environments. The Curated Events team works closely with clients, helping them dream up and execute spectacular events. The company provides every detail, from the place settings to the tent to the dance floor. And it boasts over 65 china collections, thousands of linens, and a wide assortment of catering equipment to ensure every detail is just right. To make your gatherings even more lavish, Curated Events has an in-house carpentry department that offers custom bars, backdrops, escort walls and displays.

Second Place: Southern Events Party Rental Company

Third Place: EventWorks Rentals

BEST EVENT PRODUCTION COMPANY

Rhizome Productions

Rhizome Productions provides many services — among them, a range of food and beverage management — for the Nashville social set. But the company particularly shone in event consulting and strategy this past year, evidenced by the range of services it added to its list of outstanding events. If the familiar caution about failing to plan reminds event planners to not overlook any detail, Rhizome offers solid back-up on concept development, vendor coordination, marketing strategy and more.

Second Place: Infinity Hospitality

Third Place: Gary Musick Productions

BEST PARTY BAND (TIE)

The

Downtown Band

, St. Paul and The Broken

Bones at River Swing

(Harpeth Conservancy)

Unforgettable parties start with unforgettable sound — and these two acts know how to deliver magic. The Downtown Band has become the gold standard for elite celebrations, trusted by top event planners to turn elegant evenings into all-out dance floor explosions. With a flexible seven- to 15-piece lineup, the musicians read the room flawlessly, gliding from smooth cocktail jazz to high-energy hits — uniting generations and garnering that coveted “How did you find them?” reaction.

Then there’s St. Paul and The Broken Bones, the eight-piece soul sensation that brought the house down at Harpeth Conservancy’s River Swing. The band’s funkfilled grooves — and frontman Paul Janeway’s crowd-hopping charisma — sent spirits soaring and guests dancing late into the night.

Second Place: The Atlanta Allstars

Third Place: Bizz and Everyday People

DIVING INTO THE L  KE

Nashville Ballet revives Paul Vasterling’s ‘Swan Lake’ for the rst time since 2018

TO WELCOME THE second half of its 40th season, the Nashville Ballet is bringing back Paul Vasterling’s version of the indelible Swan Lake for the first time since 2018. The refreshed production will run from Feb. 27 to March 1 — and several company dancers will make their Swan Lake debuts in principal roles. “You [will] get to watch eight years of an organization’s maturity on display,” says Nick Mullikin, Nashville Ballet’s artistic director and CEO.

Paul’s Swan Lake follows Princess Odette, who is transformed into a swan by a devious sorcerer. Naturally, the curse can only be broken by true love — a remedy that leads Odette through a surreal maze of romance and deception. “I think [what’s] really fascinating [about] Swan Lake, in particular, is to see the story of betrayal that unfolds inside of it,” says Nick.

YOUTHFUL ENE R GY

NASHVILLE BALLET LEADERS curate each season with careful consideration, drawing from a library of classical shows. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Nick evaluated the company’s standing to ensure it had enough talent to support each production and meet the technical and emotional demands of the source material.

After eight years of growth, Nick and his team made the call — they were finally ready to revisit Swan Lake. “This year, we have some of the strongest artists we’ve ever had,” he says. “I really wanted to make sure we were able to utilize that talent so our audience can engage with the art form in the way I think it was intended.”

Nick plans to have two casts present the story. “A character is told through the lens of the artist portraying it,” he says. “Everybody’s going to tell it differently, even if the steps are the same, [and] even if this idea of love conquering all and defeating evil comes back into the same storyline.” The principal role debuts (which hadn’t been solidified at the time of writing) are expected to bring fresh “youthful energy” to the stage.

TIMELESS THEMES

DESPITE THE BALLET originating in the late 1870s, Nick attests that its themes and lessons hold up to this day — namely, the unpredictable and often lifealtering nature of falling in love.

“We sometimes have preconceived notions about how life is supposed to turn out,” he says. “What Swan Lake is really great about is [flipping] that concept on its head in just a moment when our character falls in love.”

Swan Lake’s ending varies depending on the production, but it often culminates in Odette’s death. In contrast, Nashville Ballet’s version will have a happy finale, and Nick hopes this will make the show a vessel for children to learn about ballet.

In the midst of organizing countless moving pieces, Nick is most excited about the moments onstage when all the elements come together. He expects that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic and haunting score will have an even stronger impact, thanks to the corps de ballet’s close-knit dynamic and the Nashville Symphony’s prowess. “It’s the power of the unit moving together as one entity, combined with the overwhelming and overpowering score,” he says.

CR UCI A L SUPPO RT

THE 37TH ANNUAL Ballet Ball — co-chaired by Lisa Manning, Julie Schneider and Neil Krugman — will further immerse guests in the world of Swan Lake on March 7. “I believe they want to take this concept of Swan Lake and go beyond swans alone, diving into the lake and bringing that concept to life,” says Nick. He suggests that diving into the lake yourself — becoming an active audience member — is one of the best ways to support the ballet. “Attending the performances helps us as an organization drive the art form forward,” Nick says. “It allows us to take bigger risks. And this particular production [of Swan Lake] helps bring as many people in as possible and gives them first-time exposure to ballet.”

As Nashville Ballet dancers have united in performance over 40 seasons, so has Nashville’s community, uplifting the company’s high-quality programming and helping it remain accessible. “At the end of the ballet, the swans work together to help change the outcome of the story,” says Nick. “That, for me, really spoke to the power of the unit. If we as a society or community want to make change, then we all have to work together.”

BY MADELEINE BRADFORD

PHOTOGRAPHS BY HEATHER THORNE AND KARYN PHOTOGRAPHY

THE A RT OF GIVING

Nashville nonprofits adapt to a changing fundraising landscape

NONPROFIT LEADERS ACROSS Nashville are navigating a fundraising landscape that feels markedly different than it did even a few years ago. Government funding cuts have threatened cornerstone cultural institutions like Humanities Tennessee and the Southern Festival of Books. Most recently, Centerstone learned that 28 of its federal grants were cut, effective immediately — only for the administration to reverse course 24 hours later, restoring approximately $14.3 million in funding.

There are other stressors, too: rising operational costs, generational shifts among donors, and unexpected crises, like the fire in the

Nashville Public Library downtown branch parking garage. These challenges can redirect donor attention away from long-term planning, and they threaten to damage the delicate nonprofit ecosystem.

Yet many nonprofits have found ways to shift strategies — and emerged successful. Per the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, 57% of donations in the first quarter of 2025 came from patrons giving $1 to $100, challenging the common assumption that major gifts drive fundraising. From sunsetting big galas to embracing new donors for major capital campaigns, local organizations are creatively mobilizing their donor bases and engaging in a new era of giving.

 NEW BEGINNING

THREE YEARS AGO, the Centennial Park Conservancy saw an opportunity to deepen relationships with donors and direct more funds back to the organization. It opted to sunset the Conservancy Gala and create the Centennial Circle, a small group of devoted Centennial Park supporters, whom it would celebrate with an intimate annual dinner.

This model was not only donor-facing, but it also put the organization on more sound financial footing — cutting costs, diversifying revenue and allowing more funds to flow into the operation.

Saying goodbye to a signature fundraiser is undoubtedly a bold decision. But pressure has been mounting on events like the Conservancy Gala. Costs to hold these gatherings have risen , and many organizations rely heavily on the money they generate.

By splitting revenue streams, organizations ensure there’s no single point of failure for funding critical operations. “No one revenue line makes up more than 30% of our revenue,” says Justin Tam, vice president of development and partnerships.

The Centennial Park Conservancy instead raises money through a more even split of corporate sponsorships, merchandise, events and memberships.

The nonprofit has also invested in interactive programming — including Kidsville activities and the Musicians Corner concert series — as a way to bring the community together. “Everything is increasingly digital,” Justin says, underscoring the importance of building in-person relationships with donors and supporters.

He concedes, however, “The model may not work for everyone. To get the trust of a donor takes a long time.”

FOLLOW  VISION

EVEN IN THE best of times, engaging the community in a capital campaign is a big ask. For institutions like the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), the changing fundraising landscape isn’t just about adjusting annual strategies — it’s about meeting a singular, transformational goal.

In May 2023, TPAC launched a capital campaign to build a new performing arts center, rather than undergo costly renovations to modernize its existing outdated facility. What followed has been an outpouring of support from individual and corporate donors alike.

“I have been surprised, in a positive way, by the amount of early support for [the] vision,” says Sara Pomeroy, vice president of the capital campaign. “With capital campaigns, you have to be able to follow a vision for something that doesn’t exist yet — something that isn’t there yet — and believe the people who are the stewards of your dollars.”

This initiative harkens back to TPAC’s beginnings 45 years ago, when Martha Ingram and a group of

volunteers had a vision to bring the arts to Nashville. The passionate group campaigned statewide, drawing from every corner of Tennessee to raise funds to build TPAC’s current facility.

And the organization’s donor base still reflects that statewide effort. “We do have ticket holders who come from 100% of the counties in the state of Tennessee,” Sara notes. “We have donors that are contributing from 92% of those counties.”

Sara realizes the decision to give is a very personal one. “Everyone’s motivated by their own experiences,” she says. “They want to be able to see the impact in the future.”

She’s especially proud of TPAC’s youth outreach programs, and she feels delighted each time she sees the wonder on a child’s face when they step into the theater. “I just say to myself on the inside, ‘Just you wait, kid,’” she says. “We’re going to have a new home for the arts, and it’s going to be even bigger and better and more beautiful.”

THE BIG PICTU E

ACROSS NASHVILLE’S nonprofit community, these shifts are felt at every level — from annual fundraising to long-term sustainability planning. At the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, executive director Meagan Flippin works closely with organizations navigating this complexity every day.

And as one generation gives way to another, many nonprofits are adjusting their messaging to resonate with different audiences. Legacy giving has long been a focus for older donors, but individuals in their 40s are increasingly concerned about family and legacy too.

Younger generations are also engaged, with an emphasis on cause-specific and individual-focused giving, driven by their desire for transparency and immediate impact.

While government funding has been cut for many organizations — and remains uncertain for others — many communities are coming together to offset the loss. “Individual and corporate giving has increased, even as grant funding remains unstable due to government cuts,” Meagan says.

Staffing shortages continue to be a challenge, with senior development roles seeing particularly high turnover. “There is a high burnout rate among fundraising staff due to increased costs, rising demand for services, and limited funding, creating a ‘more with less’ environment,” Meagan explains.

Leadership changes don’t just impact productivity. They can also pause or delay funding , as donors seek clarity about the organization’s future.

Navigating this new environment requires passion and creativity, but the future is bright. “We are a very giving city,” Justin says. “Nashville has such a big heart, and we continue to be able to accomplish amazing things. … [It] gives me a lot of hope that we are going to be able to sustain organizations that truly serve the community.”

BY JANET KURTZ

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JASON BIHLER, ERIC ENGLAND AND COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE

WA STING AWAY

Inside Nashville’s evolving conversation about sustainable event planning

WHEN IT COMES to events, Amos Gott and Vincent Dreffs have seen trends come and go — and waste pile up along the way. Amos, founder of Amos Events, is one of Nashville’s most sought-after social event planners. And Vincent, whose company Dreffs for Success has produced everything from the 2002 Winter Olympic Games to the 145th Kentucky Derby to the NBA All-Star Game, operates at a global corporate scale. Both have decades of experience — and both have seen sustainability become a bigger focus in modern-day event planning.

Sustainability still isn’t a priority at every party. “Weddings and social events want what they want,” Amos is quick to note. But what used to be a niche trend is becoming mainstream — particularly when cost is involved. Still, there’s room for improvement: Sometimes hosts with the best of intentions are stifled because of the expense of recycling and other sustainable practices.

WA STE-HE AVY

EVENTS ARE INHERENTLY wasteheavy. In 2008, the average wedding produced about 400 pounds of waste, according to The Green Bride Guide author Kate L. Harrison. Today’s estimates are even higher. Waste-management planning guides suggest that weddings generate about eight to 12 pounds of trash per guest, and buffets (which are becoming increasingly popular) create even more. Multiply that by 100 guests, and it’s not hard to imagine the trash piling up. For context, the average American produces 4.9 pounds of waste — about half that amount — per day, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates. Food is the largest contributor to trash at most events, both social and corporate.

Venues and caterers can’t recycle food once it’s been out for a certain amount of time — or even once it’s left the kitchen. So in an effort to mitigate waste, many planners have become more conservative when ordering catering.

Many corporate event planners, for instance, adjust down breakfast numbers, anticipating that convention attendees may eat on their own or skip breakfast altogether.

This is common practice with any event, Vincent notes. “Most planners tenured with a program rely on historical actual attendance numbers, as a percentage, for current guarantees to the food service provider,” he says.

NICHE IN N A SHVILLE

FOR YEARS, FACTORING sustainability into event planning was a niche idea — often thought of as “greenwashing” (deceptively making something seem eco-friendly when it isn’t). Even today, there’s less focus on designing sustainable events in Nashville than there is on the East and West coasts.

In many coastal cities, local governments have tied event permitting to waste diversion regulations, requiring hosts to handle recycling and composting, choose reusable cups and dishes, or donate leftover food to local organizations. Some cities, like New York and San Francisco, publish sustainability guidelines that encourage event planners to track waste diversion efforts and carbon emissions.

But often, resistance doesn’t stem from lavishness or carelessness. Instead, it’s the expense of sustainable practices that stalls hosts’ best efforts.

“Many [local] venues make the effort to be green, but it can be logistically difficult,” Amos shares. Vendors and venues have to work together, even when their sustainability practices are at odds. “It is a fragile ecosystem that [relies on] everyone working together,” he says. “And even still, the expense is often prohibitive.”

While some events donate centerpieces to local organizations, someone still has to pick them up and distribute them — and there are often fees involved.

“Sustainability requirements have not really hit Nashville like the coastal cities,” Vincent notes. But he sees this as an opportunity. “There is room for someone to put together a sustainability package that pulls together all of the elements, including waste reduction, composting, recycling and removal,” he says.

SUSTAIN  BILITY IN P CTICE

EVEN WITHOUT formal requirements, some local planners and institutions are already modeling what sustainability can look like.

For one thing, Nashville’s event rental market is more sustainable than it’s ever been, Amos says. Silver, linens and crystal are all reusable, and rental companies have access to more unique items, meaning hosts don’t need to purchase singleuse décor.

Many large social events are also finding ways to repurpose decor and minimize waste. The Heritage Ball donates its floral arrangements the day after the gala. For years, the Swan Ball has sold its décor at the Swan Sale, giving items a new home and raising more money for its beneficiary. Recently, the Cheekwood Society even sent event invitations on seeded paper for guests to plant at their homes.

Vincent has seen sustainable practices on a larger scale. When one corporate group held its annual meeting in a small city, it worked with local leaders to purchase 250 energy-efficient water heaters for affordable housing units, reducing the event’s strain on the energy grid and the business’s carbon footprint. When working on the Olympics, Vincent and his team pre-sold all of the concession equipment, ensuring it had a home once the event was done.

For event planners like Amos and Vincent, sustainability isn’t about perfection or performance — it’s about intention. They walk a tightrope, executing client vision, considering local stakeholders and living up to a high level of excellence.

As expectations evolve and conversations around waste become more common, the most successful events may not be the ones that tout being “green,” but the ones that quietly make better decisions at every step. Clients can choose rentals over single-use items, donations over discards, and collaboration over convenience. In that environment, sustainability is no longer a trend to chase — but a path forward.

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND Vincent Dreffs

 VISIT WITH JOHN HOOMES

Nashville Opera’s CEO and artistic director re ects on his 30-year legacy

AS NASHVILLE EVOLVES, so does the city’s vibrant arts scene. John Hoomes, Nashville Opera’s CEO and artistic director, is hyperaware of this phenomenon, which he’s used to fuel his business model for the past 30 years. His bold vision has guided the company into fresh artistic terrain — and notably, helped grow its annual budget from under $400,000 to nearly $4 million. “We’ve had a lot of great growth,” he says. “But I attribute that a lot to our board and our volunteers, and also just [the] velocity of people here in Nashville that really believe in the arts,”

Nashville Opera hired John and his wife, Carol Penterman, as a joint unit in 1995 — him as artistic director and her as executive director. Before their arrival, the company presented one to two productions a year, mostly of traditional titles. John identified a need for increased programming and a broader range of time periods, styles and themes. “The opera world’s a little like a big steamship — it turns slowly,” says John. “But I see the turning, and I felt it when we first came to Nashville.”

CETIVE EXP NSION

TO SEE HOW John has pushed the boundaries of local performing arts, look no further than Nashville Opera’s 2025-2026 lineup. “I believe in programming very eclectic pieces,” he says. An opera based on Stephen King’s The Shining opened the season with a bang in October, complete with daring performances and striking multimedia effects. “It’s a little bit of a risky choice, but I felt Nashville was ready for this,” says John. “And the response has been terrific.”

Giacomo Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West graced the stage in January, offering an Italian score about the American frontier. And in April, Nashville Opera will perform one of opera’s top 10 titles — Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville “Early on, we wanted to find a way for the opera community to break out of being fully traditional,” says John. “We will always do the famous pieces, but little by little, we started putting other pieces in that normally, in a city the size of Nashville, you would never have a chance to experience as an audience.”

T NGIBLE CH  NGE

WHILE JOHN LARGELY focuses on creative experimentation, the outreach programs he’s helped launch aim to create tangible change in local communities. Through robust education initiatives, performers selected from the Mary Ragland Emerging Artists program tour schools throughout Middle Tennessee, presenting fully staged operas designed for children — complete with sets, costumes and a

piano. John conducts national auditions in New York to ensure students hear from the best singers possible.

Nashville Opera performed for roughly 30,000 schoolchildren in 2024 — and the number keeps climbing. “We do not charge the schools for us coming in, because a lot of schools are getting their art budget cut,” says John. “This is a way to bring music and arts into the schools. And through fundraising, we’re able to offer this at no cost.”

Ironically enough, Nashville Opera’s presence in the community grew during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a lack of indoor performances, the company launched its Opera on Wheels program and purchased a rolling trailer stage, decking it out with lights and curtains. The stage appeared across the city, often at public parks and in the parking lots of assisted living facilities.

Opera on Wheels quickly cemented itself as a local favorite and has continued far beyond the pandemic. “The goal was always to grow our company and to create something that would be a vital part of the artistic landscape of Nashville,” says John.

For John, each of his initiatives must increase accessibility to the arts. His All-Access Opera program evolved from a five-year partnership with Vanderbilt University’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders and offers educational performances created for children with disabilities. Audience members can follow along with storyboards that help remove surprises and flag when loud noises or bright lights may occur. This toolkit has been adopted by other opera companies across the country, further influencing the intersection of inclusivity and performing arts.

WH T’S TO COME

THANKS TO THE influx of people moving to Nashville, John believes that Nashville Opera is poised to reach new levels of success and community engagement, made possible not only by hard work but also the inherent magic of acoustic opera performances. “The singers are trained to project their voices over a full orchestra and fill an auditorium,” says John. “We’re all here breathing the same air.”

John’s 30th anniversary with Nashville Opera will be celebrated at La Bella Notte, the company’s key fundraising event, on Feb. 28.

BY MADELEINE BRADFORD

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHS BY PEYTON HOGE AND MICHAEL SCOTT EVANS

Destination: GULF SHO R ES, ALABAMA

Alabama’s Beaches offer an under-the-radar upscale experience, now with easy, direct flights from Nashville

ALABAMA’S GULF COAST is unlike other beach communities. According to The Nature Conservancy, the state is among the most biologically diverse in the country, with 20 fish species not found anywhere else. Alabama has more navigable stream miles than any other state, and much of its coastline is protected land, with Gulf State Park and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge among its standout gems.

For beachgoers, this means there are miles and miles of coastline along the gulf, bays and lagoons available for paddling, fishing, walking, running — or just admiring the contrast of the Southern pines against the pristine white sands. Since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf Shores has intentionally invested some of its BP RESTORE Act funding into habitat restoration, beach access and recreation, and the development of the recently opened Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability, all of which should help preserve Alabama’s strip along the Gulf Coast for the future.

And now that Allegiant Air offers direct, quick service from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to the new Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF), it’s easier than ever to get to Alabama’s paradisal white sand beaches.

Alabama’s Beaches, which collectively include the towns of Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and Orange Beach, have a reputation as a family-friendly destination. They’re not often mentioned along with Sea Island, Ga., or Naples, Fla., as a luxury beach getaway. But as the area has expanded, rebuilt and evolved, there are more upscale experiences to be had in Gulf Shores than in the past.

WHE R E TO STAY

MOST PEOPLE WHO head to Alabama’s Beaches rent homes or condos rather than stay in hotels. Many rental companies in the area, including Sunset Properties, have separate divisions that focus on upscale offerings with amenities such as elevators (no carrying your luggage up those beach-house stairs), private pools and hotel tubs, and stellar gulf and bay views. Kiva Dunes and Martinque on the Gulf, both on Fort Morgan, are good options for an upscale getaway with easy access to golf courses.

Popular luxury choices in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach include Turquoise Place and Oceania. Each unit in Oceania occupies an entire floor of the building, so you’ll have plenty of elbow room and privacy. Turquoise Place offers condo units with balcony hot tubs and outdoor grill and kitchen setups, allowing you to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

Speaking of making the most of your time, give The Beach Moms a call to have VIP service at the beach, even if you’re not staying in a resort. The concierge service can do everything for you — stocking the fridge with your favorites, finding a private chef to do the cooking (and the dishes), booking golf games and excursions, setting up beach umbrellas and toys, and planning a family photo shoot.

WHE R E TO E AT

OF COURSE, eating fresh seafood and sipping a cocktail while watching the sunset is part of a beach vacation’s lure. Historically, the greater Gulf Shores area has been known for casual eats, with fresh (albeit fried) seafood and family-friendly options. As the area has grown, so have the options for more upscale and refined meals, still with great views and better fresh seafood.

One standout is Jesse’s On The Bay, which has been a favorite in nearby Magnolia Springs for decades. In 2023, the team opened a restaurant on Fort Morgan, with the building designed to take advantage of Mobile Bay’s wide-open sunset views (there’s even a platform on the deck that’s perfect for photos). In addition to Gulf seafood, Jesse’s offers aged proteins and has an extensive wine list — along with some of the most refined service on the peninsula.

The floor-to-ceiling windows at Voyagers at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach also offer big gulf views, as a backdrop to a menu of sustainably harvested seafood and a 700-bottle wine cabinet.

WH AT TO DO

ADMIRING THE AFOREMENTIONED protected landscapes, swimming and paddling in the pristine waters have to be first on your to-do list. The Wind & Water Learning Center in Orange Beach offers private sailing lessons or paddle-and-paint excursions, where you can paint a watercolor scene from the comfort of your kayak.

If you want to leave the navigating to someone else, take the Mobile Bay Ferry to Dauphin Island from the end of Fort Morgan (you can walk, bike or drive on). Dauphin Island is a barrier island, home to Fort Gaines, bird sanctuaries, and the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Gulf Shores’ popularity — particularly during spring break and in the summer — means there can be long lines for some of the most popular activities. Using a concierge service like The Beach Moms can help you nab tee times and dolphin cruise tickets while avoiding some of the crowds.

Most of the concerts and other events in the area offer VIP tickets, including all concerts at Orange

Beach’s charming The Wharf Amphitheater. There are VIP and VVIP (basically a super-VIP option) tiers for Hangout Music Festival, which takes place on the water each May. (The event features different acts than the Nashville festival circuit, so it’s a good option for folks who want to branch out from country and Americana.) VIP tickets usually include artist meet-and-greets, as well as access to different bathroom lines and entrances.

Then, thanks to the new flights, when you are sunkissed and ready to shed the sandy clothes, you don’t have to drive eight hours to get home. One quick word of caution: Flying to Gulf Shores shaves off hours of travel time (and traffic along I-59), and as a result, rental cars from GUF are in high demand. Book your rental car in advance to make sure you have wheels to explore Alabama’s Beaches in all their glory.

BY MARGARET LITTMAN PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM

n Evenin of Refinement

The Antiques & Garden Show Preview Party celebrates ‘American Elegance’

On a Thursday in January, botanic and antique lovers made their way to the Music City Center for the 36th annual Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville Benefactor’s Reception and Preview Party. The event fills a gap between the lively social seasons of the spring and fall, giving everyone a chance to catch up after the holidays.

Co-chairs Paula Kinard and Phyllis Vandewater picked a brilliant theme — “American Elegance” — working with fabric partner Kravet to create the weekend’s look. The Antiques & Garden Show draws visitors from across the region and vendors from all over the country, offering them space to showcase highend antiques, fine jewelry, imaginative landscaping, and a broad spectrum of design. The event, presented by Northern Trust, raises crucial funds for Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and the Economic Club of Nashville (ECON).

Just before the doors opened for the Preview Party, benefactors headed in for a first look. The Entry Garden, designed by the fiercely talented team at Cheekwood, welcomed them into a tidy, stone-lined garden bordered by rich, green boxwoods. Landscape designer Gavin Duke of Duke Design Group led the design of the East Garden, while Nature’s Best Nursery designed the West Garden — which included a stunning Hartley Botanic greenhouse.

Guests spent hours perusing vendor booths — many leaving with treasures from the evening, while others promised to return the next day for what a night’s sleep convinced them they needed. Revelers stepped away from shopping to enjoy cocktails on cozy seating vignettes, while others enjoyed tasty hors d’oeuvres at the buffet.

For many, the Benefactor’s Reception and Preview Party was just the beginning of what promised to be a long, fun-filled weekend, as anticipation built for the next day’s keynote speakers, entrepreneur Lauren Bush Lauren and David Lauren, chief branding and innovation officer at Ralph Lauren.

BY JANET KURTZ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

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Bourbon nd Boots

The Antiques & Garden Show Bourbon Party blends country spirit and refined taste

After the first day of the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville, a new crowd entered the hall for an evening of revelry at the Friday night Bourbon Party. The event began as a way to entice a new generation to the Antiques & Garden Show, but it quickly blossomed into a must-attend party.

As vendors debriefed about a successful first day at the show, bourbon brands set up shop between booths of antiques, jewelry and design wares. Familiar names like Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and Jack Daniel’s offered tastings of their best elixirs, engaging fans and bringing new friends into the fold. As an added delight, The Caviar Co. posted up near the Entry Garden, serving caviar tastings out of a sherpa trailer provided by The Whitson Group.

The dress code for the evening was cocktail casual with country flair, and the fashion was on point — think tailored blazers and lovely dresses paired with elegant boots. This year’s honorary co-chairs, Southern Living editor-in-chief Sid Evans and event planner Rebecca Gardner, were on hand to visit with the stylish crowd. Rebecca also signed copies of her new book, A Screaming Blast, much to the delight of at-home entertainers.

Live music flowed through the hall as guests sipped and shopped their way through the evening. And delicious snacks were available if anyone needed a palate cleanser.

As is the case for all Antiques & Garden Show events, the Bourbon Party raised money for Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and the Economic Club of Nashville (ECON), supporting important community outreach initiatives at both organizations.

BY JANET KURTZ

PHOTOGRAPHS

BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

NASHVILLE OPERA CEO John Hoomes has served as artistic director since 1995, long enough to remember the dramatic La Bella Notte when Opera Association past president Bill Whetsell joined tenor Richard Drews onstage in a duet from Georges Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles

Nfocus chronicled that operatic moment at Vanderbilt’s bygone Stadium Club. Now, 30 years later, locals look forward to the 32nd La Bella Notte, to be held Feb. 28 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Set against a backdrop fit for Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, “A Night in Andalusia” will celebrate John Hoomes’ tenure and the creative tradition and future of Nashville Opera.

BY CARRINGTON FOX PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE NFOCUS ARCHIVES