REAL AMERICAN COWBOYS AND WHY NASHVILLE IS THEIR GO-TO GETAWAY
ARTS + CULTURE
“FROM MEMPHIS TO THE RYMAN” EXPLORE THE MOTHER CHURCH’S NEWEST EXHIBIT SHOWCASING ELVIS’ HISTORY
TRAVEL
DISCOVER TENNESSEE, AWARD-WINNING DESTINATIONS RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
LIFE + CULTURE
XPLR.NASH, HOW STUART DEMING IS CHANGING LOCAL TOURISM
EXPLORING AN AMERICAN CLASSIC
Make your life the best adventure
Hello July! One of our favorite months to celebrate! We love our country and celebrating America's birthday feels like the essence of summertime. We live for those moments of no schedules and routines ruling our lives, what feels like endless days of unplanned adventures, warm evenings with friends and long conversations, lightning bug season, and the magic of the peak of summer on the horizon.
July is a special month for my husband and I. It's the month we said "I do" and officially started our life of adventures! We celebrate 15 years of marriage this year. We got engaged of all places in this perfect little slice of heaven in the world, called "Story Winery," in Northern California. We committed from that day forward that wherever life took us, we would make the best of it.
Life is truly an accumulation of adventures and sometimes we do not quite see the opportunity at our feet when left with challenges to take on what we are given and make the best of it.
We are always searching for stories that bring inspiration and positivity to your lives so that you can take a little piece of life from others and apply it to your own lives. We are overwhelmed by the abundance of life and beauty Mount Juliet has to offer. We cannot wait for you to open the pages this month and take in all the incredible stories of adventure, hard work, and resilience!
Enjoy and Happy 4th of July!
July 2024
PUBLISHER
Kimberly Thomas | kimberly.thomas@citylifestyle.com
Lisa Valentine, John Zendrosky, Kimberly Thomas, Cassidy Polman, Daniel Gossett,
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Relive Studio, Eric Ahlgrim, Kimberlee Brooke & Co., Danny Mark Photography, Stuart Deming, Steven McBee Jr., John Zendrosky, Daniel Gossett
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray
Where a patient starts their cancer journey matters. And here, that means Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Wilson County, where you will find the same world-renowned expertise and care of our Nashville campus without the drive. From screening and diagnosis, to treatment and recovery, patients receive all the care they need at one convenient location, close to home and family.
What’s more, we are the only cancer provider in the area that offers a full array of multi-disciplinary services, and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for both adults and children in Tennessee. So having the best care team and most advanced treatments is now closer than ever.
Visit VanderbiltIngramCancerCenter.com or call 615-936-8422
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1-3: May 10th-11th, Wilson County Motors Celebrated Mother’s Day weekend by giving flowers to all the mothers stopping by. 4-7: June 2nd, West Wilson Middle School officially opens to welcome back students this fall. After the 2020 tornados which led to the destruction of the school, West Wilson has embodied a spirit of resilience as they’ve patiently awaited this big day.
SAMANTHA HAGERICH
SAMANTHA HAGERICH
SAMANTHA HAGERICH
SAMANTHA HAGERICH
Cumberland University Athletic Training Program Secures Big Wins
Cumberland University’s Masters of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program has achieved significant milestones this spring, solidifying its position as a leading institution in athletic training education. The program’s recent accomplishments include securing a site affiliation agreement with the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and finalizing continued accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation in Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Learn more about this exciting achievement and its impact on Cumberland students by visiting www.cumberland.edu.
Wilson County Hires New Ag Center Director
The Wilson County Mayor’s Office is pleased to announce a new James E. Ward Agricultural Center Director has been hired. Mr. Josh Major recently accepted the Ag Center Director position. Mr. Major attended Western Kentucky University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He started working with the Ag Center in 2023 and was briefly our former director’s right-hand man.
Lakeside ISR Announces Two Additional Sessions to 2024 Swim Program
Lakeside ISR is excited to announce two new 2024 sessions for its swim program. Lessons will be offered starting August 26th between 3:00-6:00 pm at a private heated pool, and October 21st at an indoor heated location between 7:30-10:30 am. Each session is 6 weeks long, for students ages 6 months - 6 years. For more information email kristina.richie@infantswim.com or visit www.lakesideisr.com
Photography by Kimberlee Brooke & Co
Photography
the Wilson County Mayor’s Office
“From Memphis to the Ryman”
ARTICLE BY LISA VALENTINE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC AHLGRIM
If you’re looking for an indoor activity to escape the heat this summer that’s both fun and educational, head over to the Ryman Auditorium. While many locals are frequent visitors of the Mother Church when it comes to attending concerts and shows, there’s a wealth of history to be discovered through the renowned venue’s exhibits and tours.
You can learn the Ryman’s history on a tour and explore the rotating exhibits the historic venue has to offer including its newest exhibit “From Memphis to the Ryman”. This exhibit— which launched in April and will be open through the end of the year— commemorates 70 years since Elvis Presley took the stage at the Ryman to make his Grand Ole Opry Debut and his only performance ever in the hallowed venue. The performance took place on October 2, 1954, and marked Presley’s place in Ryman history.
EXPERIENCE ELVIS’ HISTORY AT THE MOTHER CHURCH
“THE EXHIBIT IS NARRATED BY NONE OTHER THAN LEAD SINGER OF COUNTRY GROUP
OLD DOMINION, MATTHEW RAMSEY. FROM THE TIME HE WAS YOUNG, RAMSEY WAS ENAMORED WITH PRESLEY DEVOURING ANY MUSIC AND BOOKS HE COULD GET HIS HANDS ON.”
Nervous that Presley and his band the “Blue Moon Boys” weren’t the right fit for the Opry, longtime manager of the Grand Ole Opry Artists Services, Jim Denny, was hesitant to let them perform but allowed them to play only if they sang the song “Blue Moon of Kentucky” by Bill Monroe, which was a B-side track on their record. The “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” was anxious before the show and is noted in the exhibit for stating “They’re going to hate me” before he went on stage. They received a lackluster response, but according to the exhibit the performance “has gone down as one of the most famous and controversial nights in Ryman history.”
The space the exhibit is held in was previously an old conference room that has been given new life as it will be used for rotating exhibits in the future.
The exhibit is narrated by none other than lead singer of Country group Old Dominion, Matthew Ramsey. From the time he was young, Ramsey was enamored with Presley devouring any music and books he could get his hands on that had to do with the artist and convinced himself as a child that he had a “spiritual connection” with Elvis.
“The Ryman is full of history and stories like this, and it's great to be a part of telling the story of someone who's had such a tremendous impact on music and culture, not to mention my own personal musical journey,” said Ramsey. “I’m honored to narrate this incredible exhibit marking the 70th anniversary of Elvis's historic Opry debut at the Ryman."
The exhibit features clothes worn by Presley and his band, guitars from the performance, telegrams and press releases from Elvis’ career, and even the contract that Elvis signed with Sun Records in 1954 just 64 days before he made his iconic Grand Ole Opry debut at the Ryman.
The exhibit “From Memphis to the Ryman” is included as part of all tour tickets. Be sure to check out other displays including “Rock Hall at the Ryman” and no Ryman tour is complete without a photo on the iconic stage!
For more information, visit www.ryman.com
Dreaming.
ZendroskyandhisLeaningTower
Explore
Taking Travel into Your Own Hands
Something that many adults forget how to do.
But when you put the work and planning in motion to make them happen, dreams are special (shameless plug to meet with a professional financial advisor).
In 2016 I remember hearing many friends and family talking about doing big trips or seeing the world and then taking no action. Their lives were rinse and repeat with the sprinkle of a fairytale they lied about to keep themselves entertained. I decided from that point on that I would save money each month and go on the trip of my lifetime in a year.
And so, I did.
I worked a job making $12.60 an hour and I ended up saving $10,000 in a calendar year and took off from the Atlanta airport on my way to London, England. Before that flight, I had only ever been to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. But there I was, wheels up, about to
embark on a two-month backpacking trip taking me through twenty-three countries in Europe.
I was solo, I didn’t know the languages, and I was more excited (and nervous) than I had ever been!
Through an Australian travel group called Contiki, I met up with around thirty Aussies, Kiwis (New Zealand), Canadians, Americans, and South African young adults as we all set off to explore the world and experience growth.
From navigating London on the wrong side of the road to taking a ferry to France.
I sipped French wine before heading off to gamble in Monaco. We traversed Italy’s cities and slept on the beaches of Greek islands. We navigated Istanbul and visited the city of Troy. We joked around the campfire at night outside of Prague. We drank liters of beer at Oktoberfest in Munich, and we scaled the Swiss mountains and ate chocolate on the peak of Jungfraujoch.
I planned. I explored. And I lived life to its fullest.
BY JOHN ZENDROSKY
“
I was solo, I didn’t know the languages, and I was more excited (and nervous) than I had ever been!
Overlooking the bay at Dubrovnik, Croatia
The campsite at Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
The Roman Coliseum Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Notre Dame De Paris
Steven McBee Jr.
photo credit: Relive Studio
Cole McBee
photo credit: Relive Studio
Steve McBee Sr. photo credit: Relive Studio
Jesse McBee photo credit: Relive Studio
Behind the Scenes of Real American Cowboys The McBee Dynasty:
ARTICLE BY LISA VALENTINE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS
“We were Yellowstone before Yellowstone was a TV show,” says Steven McBee Jr., “That’s what we’ve been doing our entire lives.”
Comprised of brothers Steven Jr., Jesse, Cole, Brayden, and their dad Steve McBee Sr., the McBee family owns McBee Farm and Cattle in Missouri and currently stars on the reality show McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, which follows the lives of their ranching family.
The farm has been in operation since 1998, with the whole family living on the same land, which encompasses 40,000 acres for row crops and 2,000 heads of cattle across approximately 750 different fields.
The family of cattle ranchers were strangers to reality TV until Steven McBee Jr. was cast on the reality dating show Joe Millionaire, which aired in 2022 on FOX. During the time of filming, people had encouraged him to watch the show Yellowstone. When he saw the similarities between the fictional show and his family’s reallife experience, he knew he had a story to share.
“We do have a very interesting story to tell with our farming operation and I thought, ‘If I can get production companies from L.A. to see who we are, what we do on the farm every day, I think it’d be interesting for America to know what happens in rural America,” says Steven Jr. “So, I ended up on that dating show, we were able to bring the top six women out to the farm for hometown visits and we’re having the production company seeing the farming operation, seeing the dynamics within our family. We honestly had a bidding war between not only the production company side but also the network company side over who was going to pick up the show.”
Through their show, the McBees’ mission is to depict to viewers what the life of farmers and ranchers is really like. “It’s not just a job, it’s a
lifestyle,” says Cole. “There [are] just a lot of people that I don’t think realize the time and effort that goes into farming…It’s not an easy job. It’s a mental game the whole time. You put in a lot of hours that can just get wiped out because it didn’t rain, or it rained too much…We love it. You have to love it to do it. It’s just how we’ve always been raised.”
While the show also follows their personal lives, romantic relationships, and family drama, the McBees aim to highlight the back-breaking work that farmers and ranchers do every day and give them the recognition they deserve.
“We want to make sure those men and women that truly rely on farming and ranching for their sole income are recognized and put into the spotlight…” explains Steve Jr. “This is the backbone of America; this is how America was born and raised, and we want to make sure that industry never goes away…If there was one thing that makes it tough about television is for every hundred hours of footage there only ends up being one hour on actual airtime. So, every time you see 30 seconds of Cole on a tractor, you don’t realize he’s been planting for 12 hours that day...We work seven days a week and we work together as a family…We wake up every single day not knowing what the day’s going to bring but knowing there’s going to be a battle coming from somewhere and without family at the center of it all there’s no way we’d be able to run any of these businesses let alone all of them combined. So, the family, that’s the big push that we wanted to convey [to TV audiences], that and the authenticity of the actual show itself.”
In addition to operating their ranch, the McBees also own an express carwash chain, Apex Protein Snacks, and the McBee Meat Company, an online consumer meat brand that ships nationwide.
“WORKING WITH FAMILY MAY COME WITH ITS CHALLENGES AND UNIQUE SET OF PROBLEMS BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE’S NO
ONE ELSE I’D RATHER BE WORKING WITH.” - STEVEN
JR.
“It’s all just to help supplement the farm income,” explains Steve Jr. “Farming is dealing with Mother Nature which is obviously the toughest variable of them all because it's uncontrollable, so we opened up and diversified all of our businesses to try and supplement the bad years at the farm.”
When they can get away from the farm, the McBees love heading to Music City for a much-needed break. “Nashville’s our stress release,” says Steven Jr.
“[It’s} kind of our outlet to get away,” says Steve Sr. as he describes their contemporary and stylishly decorated Nashville home as “180 [degrees] from our day-to-day life on the farm and ranch…”
“And we fit in pretty well down here with the cowboy hats,” Jesse chimes in.
When they’re in Nashville, Steve Sr. is all about day drinking downtown and checking out the up-and-coming artists. “I like the rooftops,” says Cole. “We don’t get much rooftop bar action [in Missouri] …where I’m from I don’t see any other buildings around me or other houses…so it’s cool being up here seeing all [of] the city and everything.”
It’s not just the vibe of the city’s downtown that they find exciting, they also enjoy the little things that most Nashvillians take for granted. “We are amazed at DoorDash and Uber Eats whenever we come down here…” shares Steven Jr. “We don’t get that back home. It’s 45 minutes to the best grocery store where we’re at.”
The guys are big fans of Country music and have developed friendships with artists including Dustin Lynch, Dylan Scott, Jon Langston, and Riley Green. “We had a television show for hunting up at our farm back in 2016 through 2018 and those guys would come up there and hunt with us, so we’re very involved in the country music scene,” shares Steven Jr.
While the show highlights the ups and downs of ranch life, at the center of it all is the strong family bond the McBees share.
“Working with family may come with its challenges and unique set of problems but at the end of the day there’s no one else I’d rather be working with,” says Steven Jr.
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys can be streamed on Peacock.
Photo credit: Steven McBee Jr.
Photo credit: Steven McBee Jr.
Photo credit: Relive Studio
Photo credit: Relive Studio
Photo credit: Relive Studio
CLOSE TO HOME
How Stuart Deming and his team “create actionable content to allow people to experience their local communities” through XPLR.NASH
ARTICLE BY JOHN ZENDROSKY PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY STUART DEMING
For many, adventure and exploration go hand in hand with passports, foreign languages, or incredibly exotic areas of nature. Stuart Deming of XPLR.NASH, however, wants people to think of exploration in a local, everyday way.
For six years, the team at XPLR.NASH has been highlighting small businesses and creating content for those who want to explore Nashville! Their goal is for you to stay invested in local communities and see mom-and-pop businesses thrive. They have curated thousands of videos on how to experience the city. The brand has racked up millions of views in a niche market, capturing the essence of Nashville.
StuartDeming
Stuart is a Christian, a husband, a dad, and an explorer. With over 15 years in hospitality, he’s worn many professional hats in restaurants, hotels, and beyond. He’s had the privilege of giving tours of Nashville and middle Tennessee to over 20,000 individuals, covering everything from food and music to adventure and history.
Stuart has always loved exploration. He grew up in rural New York and was constantly outside. Between building forts, chasing friends, and exploring the woods, He truly fell in love with nature. He remembers reading the book, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. In short, this classic novel is about a kid whose plane crashed in the Canadian wilderness and his survival in the time after. Ever since then, the love of exploration has been as permanent as the beard on Stuart's face.
In his collegiate years, Stuart was able to spend a semester in Italy. On a schedule that included three-day weekends, he was able to tour the nearby countryside and explore each unique city, town, and culture. He loved it so much that he raised money after school to go and help others experience what he lived. This season of life shaped Stuart as a Christian and as a man more than many other seasons in life.
So why Nashville?
One of Stuart’s first professional positions was at a residency in town over a young adult ministry. To pay bills, he would Uber and Lyft on his time off. He was one of the FIRST drivers in town. Over the next couple of years, he racked up over 250,000 miles on his car and loved telling stories and seeing the awe in other’s faces as they saw a waterfall, the Parthenon, or even Broadway for the first time.
“I love highlighting small businesses and entrepreneurs who take risks. I love to tell a story and show people’s hard work and determination. If we can help businesses thrive, grow, etc., we win!” As a new parent, Stuart can’t wait to show his son these unique experiences that he didn’t get to experience until his mid-twenties.
You can explore Nashville with Stuart by following their pages on Instagram or YouTube specifically. https://linktr.ee/ xplr.nash will take you to their Linktree with all their information included. The XPLR.NASH team is, for the first time, announcing international trips with their crew! In 2025, go see Italy, fall foliage in Montana, and Christmas in Germany with Stuart.
LOVE HIGHLIGHTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO TAKE RISKS. I LOVE TO TELL A STORY AND SHOW PEOPLE’S HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION. IF WE CAN HELP BUSINESSES THRIVE, GROW, ETC., WE WIN!”
TENNESSEE TRAVELS
Family Friendly Adventures Right in Our Back Yard
ARTICLE BY CASSIDY POLMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Up for a good road trip? We are taking a look at the latest from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development as they highlight family-friendly places to visit in our great state.... and they're all kid-approved! Learn more about Tennessee and where to visit through www.tnvacation.com/kidreviewed.
Zipline through the trees of Ijams Nature Center with Navitat Canopy Adventures, a tree-based adventure park for the whole family. Their adventure trails include activities like bridges, swings, nets, climbs, ziplining and much more.
Explore castles, climb a treehouse, have a puppet show and more at this fun-filled botanical garden for kids. This breathtaking adventure takes you through a tropical plant house, parade of color, arboretum and more!
Explore a railroad museum, stroll through quaint shops and enjoy delicious food at this historic attraction. Fun Fact: Casey Jones Village is halfway between Nashville and Memphis!
1. NAVITAT KNOXVILLE
2. MY BIG BACK YARD AT MEMPHIS BOTANICAL GARDEN
3. CASEY JONES VILLAGE, JACKSON, TN
Discover the beauty of Chattanooga at three world-famous natural attractions including Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway. Find out how to see seven states at once! (visit www.lookoutmountain.com to learn more)
Take the family for a private safari and feed wild animals from your own car at this unique wildlife park. The Tennessee Safari Park includes a 7.5-mile drive-through safari and a 20-acre walk-through zoo!
Play with giant building blocks, engineer a rocket, check out a prehistoric fossil dig site and more at this exciting science center. Get a front-row seat to fossil digging for your explorers!
5. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN ATTRACTIONS, CHATTANOOGA, TN
6. HANDS-ON! DISCOVERY CENTER, GRAY, TN
4. SAFARI PARK, ALAMO, TN
This world-class educational museum features 70,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits that make learning fun for the whole family. This incredible park is located in the Reelfoot Lake region of Northwest Tennessee. Fun Fact: “The Giant Man Slide” at Discovery Park was named the No.2 slide in the world!
It’s a waterpark like you’ve never seen before. Make a splash on three levels of thrill rides or just relax by the pool at this indoor and outdoor oasis. This upscale water park experience will have you coming back for more.
Explore a treehouse village, race on a zipline, ride downhill on a single-rail mountain coaster and more at this Smoky Mountain theme park. Fun Fact: Anakeesta means “the place of high ground” as it sits 600’ above the city of Gatlinburg and is part of the most visited National Park in the United States!
7. DISCOVERY PARK OF AMERICA, UNION CITY, TN
8. SOUNDWAVES GAYLORD OPRYLAND, NASHVILLE, TN.
9. ANAKEESTA, GATLINBURG, TN
A HOMETOWN BUSINESS SETS ITS SIGHTS ON A FUTURE MERRY AND BRIGHT!
Christmas in July
ARTICLE BY CASSIDY POLMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANNY MARK PHOTOGRAPHY
Founders Austin Moncivaez and Koby Younce
In November 2022, Koby Younce and Austin Moncivaez recognized a unique need in our community and decided to turn their idea for a Christmas lighting business into a reality. What began as a small residential holiday lighting company in Murfreesboro, has quickly established itself as one of the fastest growing and dependable lighting services in Middle Tennessee to include Nashville and its surrounding areas. Deck The Halls Christmas Lights is a full-service professional lighting and decor company that aims to light up the holiday season for its customers- and they’re just getting started.
From the start, Younce and Moncivaez had a vision for growth. They put all of their efforts into their new venture together. Moncivaez notes, “We’ve grown very quickly over the last two years. We did three times in our second year what we did in our first year.” Perhaps it's the family-like relationship or being friends since high school that has been the catalyst for success for Younce and Moncivaez. Or maybe it’s because they have lived in this area their whole lives and have a well-rooted understanding of their customers' needs, but one thing is certain, they truly care about their customers and the service they are providing. Deck The Halls prides itself on quick and clear communication. When you pick up the phone to call, you will speak with them directlyno answering or automated services to work through. “Having an open line of communication throughout the entire process. I’d say that’s kind of who we are at the
core- giving [customers] an experience and a service where they really feel like we know them and care about them,” Moncivaez explains.
Deck The Halls’ growth has come with a welcomed need to add to its team. Just recently, Brian Kelley has partnered with the company in an effort to make their business stronger and reach further into the community. Kelley is a residential renovations contractor by trade and brings with him a diverse knowledge of project types, installations, and renovations. When asked about his experience in joining Deck The Halls as they become a booming business he states, “It is very exciting, I joined on for that very reason. [I] saw where the business was headed and how much room there was for potential growth.”
With a rock-solid team and a heart for each of their customers, Deck The Halls is looking to expand into the commercial world. Younce, Moncivaez, and Kelley have already completed several notable commercial projects over the past few seasons and are looking forward to branching out even further. Deck The Halls is proud to say that their efforts have led them to pursue a coveted opportunity to bid on a project for Nashville’s iconic AT&T Building or, “The Batman Building” as it is famously called. An opportunity of this caliber was something of a dream at the start of it all for this hometown team. A well-deserved step forward for the ones who work diligently to keep our homes and businesses merry and bright.
and Wine! GRACE,GRIT
Jeanne Dailey of Newman-Dailey leads as Chair for 19th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation
ARTICLE BY KIMBERLY THOMAS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DESTIN CHARITY WINE AUCTION FOUNDATION
Starting Newman-Dailey in 1985 with Randy Newman, well before the internet even existed, Jeanne Dailey gravitated toward the same platform of marketing she still does today- grassroots, word of mouth, and old-fashioned print advertising. One of their very first ads was in Country Living Magazine. After some success with informing surrounding areas and introducing them to the wonderful gem of Destin, Florida, Randy and Jeanne started gaining some heavy traction and success with their commitment to pristine service and hospitality.
After many years of success, Randy sold his assets to Jeanne, and she became sole owner of Newman-Dailey Properties. While Jeanne continued to build her business, she faced many hurdles. While raising her children as a single mother, she notes, “My children have always been my greatest accomplishment.” In 2010, Jeanne was faced with the unthinkable as she endured one of the largest oil spills in history in the Gulf of Mexico. Thankfully, by this time social media had become a newer facet of her marketing tactics and led Jeanne and her clients down a path of quick renewed faith in travel. Tourists could see the gulf clearing and beaches restored despite the news. While also enduring the housing market crashes and COVID, Jeanne says “pretty much anything is fixable.” She has always led with the saying, “Where there are lemons, we will make lemonade!”
After 40 years in business leadership and over 10 years of connection with the Destin Charity Wine Auction, Jeanne was asked to be the Chair this year. The Destin Charity Wine Auction celebrated 19 years this year. Founded in 2005, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) has donated $32 Million to Northwest Florida charities through hosting world-class wine and culinary events. These funds have impacted the lives of over 100,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse. While Jeanne says they raised over 3.3 million dollars in one beautiful weekend, her favorite part about being the Chair and involved in the auction is all the friendships and connections she has made along the way.
Exploring an American Classic: Venados (Venison) Rancheros Burger
Fusing Breakfast food, Burgers, and Mexican food with a WILD twist!
Ingredients
Burger Patty:
• 1 lb Ground Venison
• 1.5oz Fajita/Taco Seasoning (I used Kinder’s Fajita)
• *1 Fried egg per burger
• Taco Aioli:
• 1/4 cup Lime Mayo
• 3 tbsp Taco Bell Sauce
Biscuit Bun:
• 2 Cups Bisquick
• 2/3 Buttermilk
• 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
Steps:
Bun
- Mix 4 Cups Bisquick mix with 1 and 1/3 Cup of buttermilk, and 2 Tbsp of Vegetable oil. Mix until no powder is left.
- Roll the dough into 8 discs, pressing down on a greased cookie sheet
- Place in a 450-degree oven for 10 minutes or until golden.
- Cut each biscuit in half.
Patty:
- Season meat with 1.5 oz of Taco or Fajita seasoning. (This recipe calls for venison, but any ground meat will do.)
- Mix seasoning in well.
- Roll meat into golf ball-sized pieces.
- Oil a skillet and heat on high to medium/high.
- Place the meat golf ball in the skillet and use a weight to smash thin.
- Cook for 2 minutes a side, or to desired temp.
- In the last 30 seconds of cooking, place your favorite cheese on the patty to melt.
- In a separate skillet, fry eggs. 1 per burger.
Aioli
- In a mixing bowl, take 1/4 cup of lime mayonnaise and 3 Tbsps of your favorite taco sauce and mix thoroughly.
Build Your Burger
Spread the aioli on the bun, then stack your patty and your fried egg. You can add any accouterments you wish. Both burger and taco related. I suggest chopped cilantro, pickled onions, sliced bell peppers, or even guacamole. Careful, we all know that guac costs extra.
events
JULY 4TH
Mt. Juliet’s Biggest 4th of July Celebration at Circle P Ranch
563 E Main Street, Mt. Juliet | 5:00 PM
Join us for Mt. Juliet’s Biggest July 4th Celebration at Circle P Ranch! Don’t miss out on the US Community Credit Union fireworks show and the Two Rivers Ford Tailgate Party! Indulge in delicious bites from 12 different food trucks, groove to live music, and dive into the fun with a foam party! Fireworks ignite the sky at 9 p.m. sharp! See you there!
JULY 4TH
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th
Downtown Nashville
“Celebrate Independence Day 2024 with headliner Chris Young along with YOLA, Girl Named Tom, Blessing Offor, and more at the FREE family-friendly Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event in Downtown Nashville. This Fourth of July will feature one of the largest fireworks shows in the country, with the pyrotechnics synchronized to a live performance by the GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony.” - www.visitmusiccity.com, visit for more information.
JULY 12TH
Movie in the Park
Charlie Daniels Amphitheater | 8:40 PM
Come join us for Movie in the Park! (Feature To Be Determined).
mor e. With incoming or der, at time of pur c hase only.
Expir es 7/31/24. Of fer not v alid in all r e gions.