West Knoxville, TN December 2025

Hol idays and Giving Issue

Admiral Custom Home Builders

‘tis the season to help

children like Wren

One of the riskiest moments for a premature or critically ill infant is moving them from one location to another. Having vital equipment for transportation is crucial for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s tiniest, most vulnerable patients, like Wren.

Wren Jacob Werner’s journey began earlier than expected on March 22, 2024. He entered the world with a fierce and fighting spirit, despite weighing just 3 pounds and 2 ounces and measuring a tiny 16 inches long at birth.

Two days later, doctors discovered Wren had a rare and life-threatening condition called tracheoesophageal fistula, where the esophagus and windpipe are improperly connected. He needed emergency surgery and was rushed to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. He was safely transported via a lifesaving neonatal transport team, equipped to safely transfer critically ill newborns. Wren arrived in time for the pediatric surgeons to perform critical surgery. The days that followed were full of challenges, setbacks and prayers but Wren never gave up. After 68 long days in the NICU, Wren finally went home – stronger, thriving and full of hope.

Now East Tennessee Children’s Hospital needs your help to provide this state-of-theart care for other children in our region and beyond.

They urgently need another transport incubatorthe most advanced neonatal transport technology available to safely transport infants. A neonatal transport incubator is a portable, insulated medical device designed to provide a stable, controlled, and life-sustaining environment for infants during transport between medical facilities or from the point of delivery to a hospital. Without specialized transport equipment, such as incubators, an infant’s health can deteriorate quickly.

They rely on generous supporters like you to help raise the funds needed to purchase life-saving equipment that their patients need. They need to raise $166,430 to purchase a transport incubator, so they can continue to make more stories like Wren’s possible for other children and their families. Your donation helps them purchase more than equipment - it provides lifesaving care, expert medical teams, and a chance for children to heal, grow and live the childhood they deserve.

help them take care of our future,

one child at a time by donating today

Rooms 590, 565, and 574 at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are forever etched in our memories. From the doctors and nurses to the cafeteria team and janitorial staff, we are endlessly thankful for the people who cared not only for Wren, but for us.”

Rylie, Wren’s Mom

Scan the QR code below to make your contribution today.

How in the Dickens are the Holidays Already Here?

When you’re a kid, it feels like an eternity until Christmas Eve. When you’re an adult, you’d do anything to delay that big night sleigh ride that you are never ready for. However you’re preparing for the season, we have a host of ideas in this Holidays & Giving issue for fun, food, fabulous beverages and festivities to help you wrap up your best holiday yet.

Maybe it’s about time to resume (or start) a holiday tradition—enjoying a night out at the theatre with “A Christmas Carol.” Get a backstage look at this brilliant Clarence Brown Theatre production from Jed Diamond, the veteran actor who, after playing him for nine seasons, has become BFF with Mr. Scrooge.

To help elevate the season’s entertaining, we are excited to offer up a few holiday brunch and wintertime cocktail recipes your family and guests might enjoy. And, I’m so happy for you to meet my guest from my Tennessee Farm Table podcast, Appalachian enthusiast and chef, Jimmy Proffitt. His “Seasoned in Appalachia” cookbook serves up regional recipes that fill your kitchen with the delights of heartwarming comfort food.

We love to feature partners who inspire us with how they give back, and local premier whiskey maker Company Distilling does just that with its year-long Gather Around Giving program. Melissa Ballard, our PYA Waltman partner, explains how the annual “Christmas rush” impacts our present purchase decisions—and future finances. Paul James and Jack Neely conjure up the ghost of Knoxville’s Christmas Past to trace the history of the holidays in our community since the early 19th century.

Twelve months fly off our calendar or desktop planner, and it’s suddenly a year’s turning. Just like jolly old Saint Nick’s flight crew, the days dash away, dash away all. In the twinkle of an eye, here we are, right up next to 2026. We hope you have lovely memories of our storytelling on the pages of West Knoxville Lifestyle 2025. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for supporting our partners for the past five and a half years.

May the New Year be full of bright promises, peace and prosperity for you and your family. We can’t wait to greet 2026 and all that it holds, as we celebrate with you the everyday goodness in our community.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

AMY CAMPBELL AND MARC ROCHELSON , PUBLISHERS @WESTKNOXVILLELIFESTYLE

December 2025

PUBLISHER

Marc Rochelson | marc.rochelson@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Amy Campbell | amy.campbell@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Chelsea Babin | chelsea.babin@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Matias Arredondo | matias.arredondo@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Patricia Storm Broyles, Melissa Ballard, CFP®, Paul James, Jack Neely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shawn Poynter, Ben Finch, Le Anna Jacobson, Bruce Mccamish, Big Slate Media, Beck Cultural Exchange Center, TAMIS, McClung Historical Collection, Knoxville History Project, Abby Stewart

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

SETTING THE STAGE

Details in Design

city scene

8: Real Good Kitchen Foundation Celebrated Real Good Gathering Oct. 23, beginning with a VIP event 9: Chef Katie Button (Cúrate, and La Bodega, Asheville) prepared a signature appetizer for VIP patrons 10: Keynote speaker Chef Katie Button, Marsha Tobin and Real Good Kitchen Founder Bailey Foster 11: Jay Bishop, Owner Smokestack BBQ served Smoked Brisket with Bauce Sauce. Helped by Ashley Bishop. 16 Chefs presented dishes. 12: Hot Birds’ Amin Islam (Rt.) with assistant served Hot Chicken or Hot Cauliflower Sliders 13: Chef Katie Button, founder and chef, Cúrate and La Bodega by Cúrate with Amy Campbell 14: Cúrate’s olive oil was featured, helping revive ancient olive trees of Oliete in Teruel, Spain

Transform your kitchen the smart way

Call today to schedule your free in-home design consultation!

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Visualizing Pellissippi Exhibition at Dogwood Arts

Dogwood Arts exhibits Visualizing Pellissippi at the Dogwood Gallery, Friday, Dec. 9-19. Each month, Dogwood Arts showcases work by local and regional artists in its Dogwood Gallery and also participates in the Downtown Knoxville ArtWalk, which offers exploration of galleries, shops, live music and more all free and open to the public. DogWoodArts.com.

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Holiday Open House Knoxville Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®

The Knoxville Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® invites you to its Annual Holiday Open House on Dec. 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Rothchild’s Catering & Events Center, 8807 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. Celebrating excellence, leadership and connection, the Council continues to elevate women in real estate through professional development, strategic networking and a shared commitment to community and success. WCR.org/Event/Holiday-open-house.

Girls Inc. Sugar Plum Wishes: A Holiday Gathering

Join Girls Inc. of Tennessee Valley for a magical holiday celebration that makes a difference. Girls Inc. of TN Valley’s mission is to empower girls in our community. With seasonal soups, fresh salads, warm fellowship, festive decorations and inspiring programs. Celebrating the positive impact Girls Inc. delivers in the lives of young girls across Anderson County. Friday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. GirlsIncTNV.org.

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Knoxville Opera Children’s Choir Knoxville Opera Holiday Concert

Join the Knoxville Opera Children’s Choir and Knoxville Opera Holiday Quartet for an afternoon concert of holiday favorites. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m. Old City Performing Arts Center. The Knoxville Opera Children’s Choir brings together students in grades three, four, and five from across the county, providing them with an inclusive and tuition-free opportunity to sing music that resonates with their culture. KnoxvilleOpera.org.

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“Modeline of California” Presentation and Book Signing

Join Mid Mod Collective on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m. for a presentation and book signing with Nick Ferrell. Nick is a restorer, collector and historian of mid-century modern lighting, as well as the owner of Esthetic Vintage. Ferrell will be sharing materials from his new book, Modeline of California: Pioneer of Modern Lighting. 1617 N. Central St. Facebook.com/MidModCollective.

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Mellow’s 12 Days of Christmas

Celebrate the holidays with Mellow’s 12 Days of Christmas! Find your perfect gift set of unique matching plates, stemware, glasses and more. We have everything you need to gift that aspiring decorator in your life (or come grab a little pickme-up for yourself). With freebies and special sales happening each day, you’ll make your Christmas mellow and take the stress out of finding that perfect gift for the aesthetically minded in your life. Mellow-Lifestyle.com.

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“A CHRISTMAS CAROL” A KNOXVILLE TREASURE

Associate Professor Jed Diamond came to the University of Tennessee in 2005 after a two-decade run as a freelance teacher and stage actor in New York City and regional repertory theatre. He was founding faculty and associate director of the Shakespeare Lab at the New York Shakespeare Festival (Joseph Papp’s The Public Theatre) and of the Actors Center. He also taught at multiple other New York schools, including Playwrights Horizons Theater School and Stella Adler Studio of Acting. He has an MFA in Acting from the prestigious NYU/Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program and served as Head of Acting at UT for 18 years.

For the ninth season, Jed soulfully inhabits the legendary Ebenezer Scrooge in the gorgeous Clarence Brown Theatre (CBT) production of “A Christmas Carol,” one of the most well-known yuletide stories of modern times. From Jacob Marley’s chain-clad emergence in green light and smoke to Scrooge’s bed disappearing into the stage floor, all manner of richly layered stagecraft and professional artist performances thrill sold-out houses during its seasonal run.

West Knoxville Lifestyle spoke with the veteran interpreter of the character that Dickens called “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner,” whose miraculous story of error and redemption sends audiences joyfully out into the winter night with a renewed vow to keep Christmas in their heart all year long.

WHAT MAKES A CLARENCE BROWN THEATRE PRODUCTION SO SPECIAL?

As a company associated with training programs, we stand out nationally. Thanks to [six-time Academy Award-nominated director] Clarence Brown and his wife, Marian, we have an endowment, and our organizational structure is unique. We are the only program in the

country in which a professional LORT Theatre (League of Resident Theatres) is fully integrated with the department of theatre. Akin to a teaching hospital, we have a dual mission of training within the context of a professional producing organization. There are other programs that are associated but not combined with a professional theatre. This inevitably leads to a tussle between producing and training, over resources, whether to use students in shows, etc. We embrace this tension, and are dedicated to using our students, which allows us to do big shows, among other good things. Without our students, we simply could not produce at the level we do. With around 30 production staff and a faculty of 15 who are also working professionals, we are a small group running a very large production and training organization.

On every big show, we have students, local professionals, and actors, directors, designers and choreographers from all over the country, which connects our students with a national professional network. This past year, we had over 20 Tony nominees or winners come to work in our theatre. Clarence Brown eloquently stated what still motivates us: “The mixing up of young actors and designers with first-rate professionals is manifestly the way to teach future theatre artists.” We recruit eight actors nationally every other year from about 800 to 1,000 auditions, and we take in eight designers in the alternating years. Our MFA in Acting program is often ranked among the top 25 master’s programs in the world. This year we have a Tony nominee and an Emmy winner who are recent alumni of our acting program and two former undergrads who are on Broadway right now. Our success has a lot to do with the strong support of the University and our amazing audiences who love our theatre and understand our model. They love seeing the energy of the students and watching them grow. There are people who have been coming to see “A Christmas Carol” on our stage for 30 years and more.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR JOURNEY WITH EBENEZER SCROOGE?

I was first cast as Scrooge at the age of 35 in 1993 in Syracuse. It’s what I call an operatic role, as it takes one through an extraordinary spectrum of experience and emotion, from meanness to awakening to ecstatic joy and love. It’s magnificent to inhabit. The novella is one of the great works of art in English literature

and countless adaptations make it the most produced play in the English-speaking world. It captures enduring human truths with a light but profound touch. When I go out to greet audiences after some shows, folks always say how moved they were, that it made them both laugh and weep.

Every year I read the novella and every year it connects in a different way because of my time of life, my experiences and our world. I rediscover it each year with the other actors and I just try to let it carry me. Great stories can do that again and again. It is Scrooge who reinhabits me every year at about this time, creeping into my imagination with increasing insistence as we work on the show. This story always creates joy and community. I tell our students, “Just wait, you’re going to have a connection with the audience, with community and with celebration like you’ve not had with any other show.”

That’s in the Dickens’ tale itself.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE BACKSTORY OF A PLAY THAT IS SO WELL-KNOWN?

Dickens captured art magic in a bottle connected to Christmas, which he loved. He had 10 children and celebrated with his family with days of games and putting on plays. That spirit of fun comes through this story. Many people don’t know that Christmas was dying out in industrial Victorian England, and that Dickens is partly responsible for reviving it. Many current Christmas traditions, like holiday cards, and holly and ivy come from Dickens, and he was sometimes called Father Christmas.

Also, perhaps more than any other writer, Dickens’ works affected British society. “Bleak House” led to reforms in the justice system. “David Copperfield” is the first great novel that starts for 75 pages with the internal life of a child. Dickens had this tremendous capacity to bring children to the fore of life, asking, “What are we if not caretakers of our children?” Victorian London was full of malnourished children like Tiny Tim, who has rickets, and Dickens’ work led to reforms in child labor laws and the care of children generally. He wrote “A Christmas Carol” after going to Cornwall to witness children working in the mines 10 to 12 hours a day. He came home to write a social tract and as he walked (he often covered 20 miles a day through the streets and environs of London) he conceived this story as a much more powerful way to awaken charity and care for children. The story is also about the relationship of industry to the division of wealth and the poverty that came from it. We really need this story, in my opinion. Despite having huge amounts of money, Scrooge is impoverished in love. He must face himself and the prospect of a lonely, pathetic death. We go with him on this dark journey, but the darkness is what awakens him to all the light of life, as it does for us also.

TELL US ABOUT THE PRODUCTION VALUE.

With CBT mainstage productions, we produce on a Broadway scale and at a very high standard in terms of all the elements of spectacle–light, sound, set, costumes, etc. We’ve tried different adaptations of the novella over many years, and we have found that this script, which originated at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, is by far the most coherent and dramatic. The set is a stunning evocation of industrial Victorian England with a central theme of a huge clock evoking time. This year we’ve made a few changes in staging that will make the show a new experience for returning audiences. Oh, and also, the script beautifully integrates traditional Christmas carols into the story, with rich arrangements sung by an ensemble of 35 people in part harmonies. This is a huge part of the emotional lift and heft of the show and brings the

Christmas season soaring into your heart. Many audience members comment that when the voices strike out into the house, that’s when they are just swept away.

WHAT DO YOU WISH FOR YOUR AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE AT THIS PRODUCTION?

Because so many people, especially young people, are on screens so much, when they come to the theatre with live actors, something happens that affects them powerfully. We find an energy in our audience that is a celebration of community. Returning audiences already know how special it is and the amazing feeling when the show ends and the audience comes to their feet to sing “Joy to the World” with us.

If you haven’t been to the Clarence Brown, come see this production of “A Christmas Carol.” You will be glad you did. We are an important part of Knoxville culture and can become a wonderful performing arts and entertainment option for you. People come and bring their children and their grandchildren. It’s an incredible privilege and joy to get to do a show that year to year sells to the walls for our wonderful community. It’s truly an event. Come out to see a play whose message is eternal and positive.

For tickets now through Dec. 20, visit ClarenceBrownTheatre.com

FOR AN ENCORE, CAN YOU PREVIEW WHAT’S NEW IN 2026 FOR YOUR PROGRAM?

Thanks to our community and UT, in the midst of Covid we raised the funds to build a brand new, state-of-the-art theatre! In January, we are opening the Jenny Boyd Theatre, a flexible 350-seat theatre [approximate seating for both traditional and in the round seating]. We will debut this intimate venue with the famous musical “Cabaret.”

The Jenny Boyd replaces the storied Carousel Theatre. It is simply incredible that we were able to do this. It is such a testament to the people in this town and their commitment to the arts. By making this theatre possible, they have ensured the vitality of theatre and the arts at UT and in Knoxville for many years to come.

holiday breakfast simplified

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

RECIPES AND STYLING BY ANGELA BROOCKERD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

The holidays are filled with family gatherings. Enjoy these easy, make-ahead recipes to simplify your holiday breakfast and impress your guests.

casserole ingredients:

• 6 large croissants (from the bakery) sliced into cubes

• 3 cups mixed berries

• 1 package cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup sugar

• 5 eggs at room temperature

• 2 cups half and half at room temperature

• 3/4 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 3/4 tablespoon lemon juice

lemon glaze ingredients:

• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1 tablespoon butter, softened

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1½ tablespoons lemon juice

• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and toast the cubed croissants in a baking dish for 10 minutes.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.

3. Add eggs, half and half, lemon juice, vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

4. Place the toasted croissants into a greased 9×13 pan and layer with 1½ cups berries.

5. Pour custard mix on top and then add the remaining berries on top. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake, covered for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes.

7. Set aside and make glaze by adding all ingredients to a bowl and mixing until smooth.

8. Drizzle over the casserole and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

CONTINUED >

CROISSANT LEMON BERRY DELIGHT

ingredients

• 8 eggs

• 2–3 cups torn bread pieces

• 3½ cups heavy whipping cream

• 1 pound breakfast sausage, browned

• 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled

• 2 cups shredded cheese of choice

• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1 teaspoon rosemary

• 1 teaspoon thyme

• Salt and pepper

directions

1. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Layer torn bread pieces on the bottom of the pan to completely cover.

2. Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over the bread. Whisk eggs and heavy whipping cream and red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into the baking dish.

3. Add bacon and sausage on top of egg mixture. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with rosemary and thyme. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until the center is done.

Add a little extra pizazz to your hot chocolate by using half and half instead of milk, sprinkle with cinnamon and top with a snowman made out of marshmallows and pretzel sticks.

ingredients

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• ½ cup of cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional

• Milk or half and half

directions

1. Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir. For individual servings, combine ½ cocoa mix with ½ cup milk.

2. Add the desired amount of cocoa mix with milk to the desired sweetness.

3. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

ingredients

• 20-ounce bag, refrigerated hash brown potatoes

• ¾ cup green onions, sliced

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

• ½ teaspoon pepper

• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• ¼ cup pepper jack cheese, optional

directions

1. Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir.

2. Evenly add mixture to each muffin tin and lightly press down.

3. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. These can be made in advance and reheated for convenience.

ingredients

• 118-20 Rhodes white frozen rolls

• 1 regular box of cook and serve butterscotch pudding

• ½ cup chopped pecans

• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ cup brown sugar

directions

1. Grease a Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle chopped pecans around the bottom of the bundt pan.

2. Next, place frozen rolls in the pan, evenly spreading them out. Sprinkle the rolls with the dry pudding mix.

3. Melt butter in a separate container, and add cinnamon and brown sugar and stir. Pour butter and sugar mixture over the rolls. Cover with plastic wrap that is sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

4. Place in a cool oven overnight with the light off. Bake the next morning at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

5. Let stand for 5 minutes and then turn the Bundt pan over onto a serving plate and gently pry out of the pan, allowing time for the pecans and toppings to drip on top. Enjoy!

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“Seasoned

ARTICLE BY AMY CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY STEWART AND AMY CAMPBELL

Jimmy Proffitt’s Guide to Appalachian Foodways, Folktales and Family Recipes

in Appalachia”

Jimmy Proffitt’s debut cookbook is brimful of 75 Appalachian staples and celebrates a homegrown heritage of passionate cooking that began in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. “Seasoned in Appalachia” spills the sweet tea on recipes Proffitt grew up loving and learning to make in a houseful of “Granny cooks” and a father who was also a volunteer fireman and took barbecuing chicken for firehall and church crowds seriously, including the vinegar-based “mopping sauce” for Shenandoah Valley Barbecue Chicken.

It's with this Southern spirit of every recipe worth your time has a story that Proffitt dug deep to create “Seasoned in Appalachia.” A self-described “boy from Appalachia,” Proffitt shares his breadth of knowledge and respect for Appalachian foodways, folktales, storytelling, traditions and poems in his cookbook. Proffitt has crafted a warm and inviting cookbook filled with family photos from his growing up, along with stunning photography featuring his own expert food styling that incorporates vintage tools he uses in his kitchen and dinner plates, tableware and napkins from collections that, of course, all have a story. The effect is like walking through a vintage country kitchen, complete with a black-and-white family photo scrapbook and endearing anecdotes from a storytelling chef who can’t remember when he wasn’t writing and cooking, enriching the recipe narratives. Whether you’re already familiar with these recipes or curious about Appalachian food traditions, this book serves both interests well.

Proffitt soaked up Appalachian culinary traditions by watching, listening and mastering kitchen skills by simply helping and doing. In a busy household, with a working mother’s schedule, it fell on Proffitt to cook supper. As it turned out, he was really good at it. So many people regret not listening to their elders and learning from them. Not Proffitt. Faithfully cooking and taking notes as a kid, he was right there in the kitchen, peeling apples and potatoes, learning, trying and keeping notes on a treasure chest of culinary history.

Recipes are very approachable in this authoritative collection. Proffitt is a natural-born coach and guide, and his encouraging, infectious enthusiasm makes readers feel that they, too, can create these time-honored Appalachian dishes. Along with the stories that add context to many of the recipe origins, he also shares tips for success born and bred from years of experience and his easy command of an Appalachian cook’s kitchen. This cookbook is a perfect gift idea, if you ask me.

“That’s what Appalachians do, they just find a way and get things done.”  — Jimmy Proffitt.

A published freelance writer for Southern lifestyle publications like Okra Magazine and Southern Cast Iron Magazine, Proffitt offers his expertise with a real desire to empower readers through his love of Appalachian cooking. Each recipe is crafted and tested with great detail and accuracy to shine a bright light on the best of culinary traditions he first discovered in one of the most storied and breathtaking valleys in the Southeast. The subtitle to his book says it all: “Delicious Recipes that Capture the Soul of Mountains and Holler. “

Proffitt has an ever-growing following, as evidenced by his experience following East Tennessee’s record-breaking January snow event in 2024. He decided to make snow cream “like any good Appalachian person does,” Proffitt laughs, and he had the good sense to film the whole process. The video quickly went viral, with 36 million views and at last count, Proffitt says, if a person tried to watch his snow cream video back-to-back as many times as it has been viewed, it would take some 28 years.

Proffitt’s blog, The Appalachian Tale, has amassed a faithful readership drawn to his genuinely big-hearted, good-humored nature and his willingness to share and teach others about this cherished culinary culture. Starting out as a parttime server 27 years ago, Proffitt is now Marketing Brand Manager and Historian for The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge. He makes his home in Morristown, Tennessee. Connect with Jimmy Proffitt at TheAppalachianTale.com

“SEASONED IN APPALACHIA”: Delicious Recipes that Capture the Soul of the Mountains and Hollers” by Jimmy Proffitt. Proffitt’s debut cookbook is brimful of 75 Appalachian staples and celebrates a homegrown heritage of passionate cooking that began in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Visit Proffitt’s blog “the Appalachian Tale” to connect with Proffitt, learn more about his writing, recipes, folktales and to purchase his new cookbook. TheAppalachianTale.com

Listen to the Tennessee Farm Table Podcast with Proffitt’s new cookbook in detail. TennesseeFarmTable.com

Brain Crave

I’m fascinated by our brains—how and why we make decisions. Whether we want to admit it or not, there is a tug-of-war in our minds between innate desire and rational thought. We all fancy ourselves rational beings, too evolved to make irrational decisions. But the truth is that we all do it. As a wise friend of mine says, “We cannot deny our biology.”

Have you ever experienced that little jolt of excitement when clicking “add to cart?” I’m familiar with that feeling. Personally, I love to give gifts. But in my naivety, I thought the entire excitement I got from purchasing a gift was rooted in my generosity. What a lovely thought, right? Silly me. The reality is that, at least in part, the excitement I experience is connected to the tiny shot of dopamine my brain gets when I anticipate or make such a purchase.

Dopamine is the feel-good chemical that fuels motivation, pleasure and reward. By design, our brains originally needed this chemical to support our survival— finding food sources or shelter, identifying mates, etc. ALL of our brains want dopamine. They’re designed this way. But in our current stimulus-filled world, our brains get a hit of it and then immediately say, “What’s next?”

Here’s the tricky part: dopamine isn’t really about having the thing we want (or buying it for someone else). It’s about wanting to do it.

In his book, “The Art of Spending Money,” Morgan Housel discusses this idea. He says, “Your brain doesn’t want stuff. It doesn’t even want new stuff. It wants to engage in the process and anticipation of getting new stuff.”

Dopamine drives the pursuit of rewards, not the enjoyment of them. Contentment, on the other hand, comes from chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin, which are tied to connection, gratitude and a sense of calm satisfaction. In other words, the thrill of the chase feels powerful, but it’s fleeting. Long-term happiness tends to come from slower, steadier sources.

When you realize how your brain is wired, you can pause before a purchase and ask, “Do I actually want to do this, or am I just chasing that little rush?”

Sometimes, even taking a day before buying can reveal the truth. The initial excitement fades, and suddenly the purchase doesn’t feel so essential.

I think this is especially important to consider around the holidays, when purchases increase. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t buy gifts or treat ourselves occasionally. But it does mean we should work to be more aware of why we’re doing it. Our fast-paced world seems to be the antithesis of hitting pause or resting. So let’s remember that a walk outside, a chat with a friend, enjoying a hobby—these activities still give us dopamine, but in a healthier, more sustainable way that doesn’t break the bank.

PYA Waltman Capital, LLC, “PYA Waltman”, is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYA Waltman’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2 and/or Form CRS, which is available upon request. PYA-25-55

In other words, the thrill of the chase feels powerful, but it’s fleeting. Long-term happiness tends to come from slower, steadier sources.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By CHARLES DICKENS

Tennessee’s Rules for Piercing the Corporate Veil

Part 2 of 3

By Mital D. Patel

PATEL & EISENHOWER, PLLC

Many business owners assume that simply forming an LLC or corporation automatically shields their personal assets. Recent Tennessee Supreme Court guidance makes clear that protection depends on how you run the business. e first element, control, is critical. Properly managing your company is not just a legal requirement to maintain liability protection; it is also smart, responsible business practice..

Control exists when an owner dominates finances, policies, or operations so thoroughly that the business has no separate existence in the specific transaction at issue. Even unintentional habits can signal excessive control. Courts may consider shared bank accounts, overlapping sta , commingled funds, or personal use of business resources. Failing to document decisions or treat the entity as independent also counts.

Good intentions alone do not protect business owners. In business, formalities ma er. Capital contributions should always go directly into the entity’s accounts, and ownership shares should reflect those contributions. Non-monetary contributions, such as sweat equity or property, must be documented, valued, and credited appropriately. When additional capital is needed, contributions and any owner loans should be properly documented. Informal arrangements, even well-intentioned, can create confusion and risk personal liability.

e Allen factors remain useful evidence. Courts o en consider undercapitalization, failure to hold meetings or maintain records, and mixing personal and company funds. ese pa erns of dominance can support a claim of piercing the corporate veil.

Practical steps every business owner should use to protect their liability shield include:

1. Keep separate bank accounts and credit cards.

2. Document major decisions with resolutions or meeting minutes.

3. Limit overlap in employees, o ces, and equipment with other entities.

4. Maintain adequate capitalization for operations.

5. Avoid using company funds to pay personal expenses.

Control alone is not enough for liability; it must also be misused. But unchecked control is o en the starting point. Protecting your shield requires clear boundaries, disciplined management, and proper documentation of contributions, ownership, and day-to-day operations.

In Part 3, we’ll discuss the remaining two elements of wrongdoing and causation, showing how misuse of control can lead to liability—and practical ways to avoid those pitfalls.

WINTER in a glass

HOLIDAY COCKTAILS & COZY CREATIONS

SPICED CINNAMON RUM FLIP

A luscious holiday cocktail with warming spices, rich texture, and a beautiful cinnamon garnish.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 oz dark or spiced rum

• 3/4 oz cinnamon simple syrup

• 1 oz heavy cream

• 1 whole egg

• Dash of ground nutmeg

• Dash of vanilla extract

Garnish: cinnamon stick and a light dusting of nutmeg or cinnamon

Make Cinnamon Simple Syrup:

Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 2 cinnamon sticks in a saucepan. Simmer for 10 mins, let cool, and strain. Store in the fridge.

Add rum, cinnamon syrup, cream, egg, vanilla, and a pinch of nutmeg to a shaker. Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds to emulsify the egg. Strain into a coupe or stemmed glass like the one in your photo. Top with a cinnamon stick across the rim and a dusting of nutmeg or cinnamon. Optional: Add 1/2 oz chilled espresso for a coffee kick.

FESTIVE CRANBERRY GIN FIZZ

A bright, elegant cocktail with a foamy top and a hint of holiday spirit.

INSTRUCTIONS:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 oz gin

• 1 oz cranberry juice

• 3/4 oz lemon juice

• 1/2 oz simple syrup

• 1 egg white

Optional: splash of sparkling water or club soda

Garnish: fresh rosemary or thyme sprig

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, cranberry juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white. Shake vigorously for about 20 seconds to create the frothy top. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass to get that smooth, foamy top. Add a small splash of sparkling water if you’d like a bit of fizz. Gently place a sprig of rosemary or thyme on top of the foam.

Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply treating yourself, these holiday drinks are guaranteed to bring a little extra cheer to your cup.

BOURBON VANILLA

BEAN HOT CHOCOLATE

An ultra-creamy, chocolatey holiday drink with a hit of warm bourbon and a vanilla bean twist.

• 2 cups whole milk

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup high-quality dark chocolate (chopped or chips)

• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 tbsp sugar or maple syrup

• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

• Pinch of sea salt

• 2 oz bourbon

Topping: 4 large marshmallows

Optional garnish: grated dark chocolate, whipped cream, cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cream, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until smooth and heated through. Add chopped dark chocolate and stir constantly until melted and silky. Lower heat if needed to avoid scorching. Remove from heat, then stir in bourbon. Taste and adjust sweetness or strength to your liking. Top with marshmallows. Add whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg, and shaved chocolate.

Optional: Add a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne for spicy depth.

Kid-friendly version: Omit bourbon and add peppermint extract or caramel syrup instead.

HOLIDAY SPICED GINGERBREAD LATTE

A warm, frothy, and festively spiced drink perfect for winter nights.

INGREDIENTS:

For the latte:

• 1 shot of espresso (or 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee)

• 3/4 cup milk

• 2 tbsp gingerbread syrup

• Whipped cream

For the gingerbread syrup:

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1 tbsp molasses

• 1/2 tsp ground ginger

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1/8 tsp ground cloves

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Optional toppings:

• Ground cinnamon or nutmeg for dusting

• Marshmallow

• Crushed gingerbread cookie around the rim or on top

INSTRUCTIONS:

Make the gingerbread syrup:

In a small saucepan, combine water, brown sugar, molasses, and spices. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and let cool. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Prepare the drink:

Brew your espresso or strong coffee. Heat and froth your milk. In your glass, add 2 tablespoons of the gingerbread syrup. Pour in the espresso, then the steamed milk, stirring gently to combine. Spoon frothed milk or whipped cream on top. Dust with cinnamon or nutmeg.

Optional: Rim the glass with crushed gingerbread cookie crumbs for extra flair.

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J A C K S O N

ARTICLE BY PAUL JAMES AND JACK NEELY | PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY BECK CULTURAL EXCHANGE

CENTER, MCCLUNG HISTORICAL COLLECTION, TAMIS, WIKIPEDIA

Knoxville’s Early Christmas Traditions

For many years, the Clarence Brown Theatre has staged a production of Charles Dickens’ classic novella, A Christmas Carol . The story, about the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his visits by four apparitions who encourage his moral reclamation, continues to be told and dramatized throughout the world, and it doesn’t appear to be losing its appeal.

Published a week before Christmas in 1843, the first edition sold out before Christmas Eve that year, and hasn’t been out of print since. It would seem strange to go through the Christmas season without coming across this story in one form or another.

But how did Knoxville’s own Christmas traditions begin? One would have to go back about 20 years before Dickens’ story was printed to find the earliest of its mentions here.

The first mention of the local celebration of Christmas in Knoxville newspapers appears to be Dec. 26, 1820, when the Knoxville Register acknowledged that its staff had taken off the previous day. It turns out that editors Hugh Brown

and Frederick Heiskell (later mayor of Knoxville) were fascinated by Washington Irving’s The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon , a collection of very short stories published the previous year. If you’re not familiar with that title, you may recognize two of the tales: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and “Rip Van Vinkle,” now bona fide classics of American literature.

While Irving is revered as one of America’s first masters of literature, it was his own travels in England during the early 19th century

that inspired him to write several accounts of “olde English Christmases,” highlighting some of the more rural traditions, that even then might have been out of style, but nonetheless stirred something in the hearts and minds of readers.

Mentions of Christmas in newspapers didn’t reappear here until the year after Charles Dickens’ book came out. Again, the Knoxville Register announced the closing of its print shop in December 1844 while wishing readers “A Merry Christmas,” a phrase that appears in “A Christmas Carol.”  After this time, the Christmas genie was slowly being let out of its bottle.

Just after the Civil War, German immigrants, as part of their cultural organization, the Turn Verein, began hosting regular Christmas Festivals, sometimes at the Atkin House Hotel on Gay Street by the railway station. In 1868, the festival touted a “Vocal and Instrumental Concert… Ball and Supper,” and “A Christmas Present for every lady from the Christmas Tree.”

Some of the earliest Christmas presents offered here, in 1867, for example, were photographic portraits sold by T.M. Schleier at his art gallery. Soon, household finery, including decorated China and fancy clothes, were fashionable. By 1875, German immigrant Peter Kern was offering German-themed confectionery, cakes, canned goods and savories during the season.

Peter Kern arrived in Knoxville during the Civil War, and passing through on the train, he was arrested by Union soldiers who forced him to remain here for the remainder of the conflict. After casually falling in with another soldier to bake and sell hoe cakes to other combatants, Kern never left. His natural talents for baking, coupled with a shrewd business sense, helped him develop his trade, and by the 1870s, he was so successful that he built a bakery and a fancy goods emporium on Market Square. (That building still stands today, now the home to Tupelo Honey and the Oliver Hotel.) The Kern family also helped popularize decorating Christmas trees and was one of the first businesses here to feature Santa Claus in ads.

During the late 1800s, toys were a boon for department stores. In the 1890s, Mester, Newcomer & Company, through its Gay Street store (where Mast General Store is today), claimed to have the season all wrapped up, boasting “Santa generally goes where he has the greatest variety, the prettiest goods, the best managed store, and the best prices.” The store also invited parents to bring their children to experience Santa’s Grotto, which proved to be highly popular and a long-running tradition.

The city’s first public Christmas tree was erected by the Jovians (a trade union of sorts for electrical workers), who unveiled it on Market Street on a rather dreary and rainy Christmas Eve in 1914. In late afternoon, as the bell rang at nearby Second Presbyterian Church (then on W. Church Avenue at Walnut Street), a

bright star appeared on the top of their tree, with more than a thousand electric lights—a sight never before seen in Knoxville.

Eight years later, African American children enjoyed their own Christmas Tree at Cal Johnson Park (now Cal Johnson Recreation Center on Hall of Fame Drive), named after the highly respected businessman, saloonkeeper and horse trainer.

Perhaps Christmas entered the modern era with crowd-pleasing Christmas parades, with Knoxville staging its first in 1928. Like many other cities across the country, Knoxville took its cue from the increasingly popular Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade held in New York, which by then had been honed to perfection, featuring gigantic helium balloons in the shape of popular comic characters or strange dragons that were released into the air once they reached Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square. Knoxville’s first parade featured floats with nursery-rhyme themes and Santa being pulled in a sleigh by a team of reindeer. Large character balloons, suitably downsized for small towns, wouldn’t appear on Gay Street until the 1940s.

About KHP: The nonprofit Knoxville History Project tells the city’s stories, focusing on those that have not been previously told and those that connect the city to the world. Donations to support the work of the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit, are always welcomed and appreciated. Learn more at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org.

Seasonal celebrations include Clarence Brown Theatre’s A Christmas Carol (Nov. 20), Christmas at Chilhowee Park (Nov. 21), Christmas Parade (Dec. 5) and Tour De Lights (Dec. 13).  Pick up a copy of A Knoxville Christmas by Jack Neely, available at Union Ave Books and KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org.

Company Distilling’s invitation to gather around giving

A Tennessee-Based Distillery Supports Nonprofits Across the United States

West Knoxville Lifestyle is fortunate to partner with businesses in our region who are committed to giving back to their communities in meaningful ways that offer lasting impact. We have been inspired by an East Tennessee distiller whose corporate mission is to Gather Around™ as they create “Spirits Worthy of Sharing,” visionary ideals that spill over into their culture and their nationwide nonprofit grant program, “Gather Around Giving.”

It’s our privilege to spotlight Company Distilling in the Holidays and Giving issue.

Company Distilling is a Tennessee-based craft spirits producer co-founded by native Tennessean and former Jack Daniel's Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett, and a team of longtime industry professionals. They produce award-winning premium whiskeys and spirits with distillery locations in Townsend, Thompson Station and Lynchburg, Tennessee.

GATHER AROUND GIVING PROGRAM—HOW IT WORKS

Company Distilling spirits are distributed all over the country, so their charitable giving goal is to gather around communities from across the United States to support nonprofits that are making a difference in their communities.

Each year in August, Company Distilling invites applications and receives hundreds of nominations from nonprofits across the country. The team at Company Distilling then narrows the list and advances approximately 50 nonprofits to a voting round from September to early November. Voters can go to CompanyDistilling. com/gather-around-giving/ to see the full list of nominees and vote. For 2026, the nominees range from such worthy nonprofits as community food banks to rescue animals to service dogs to wildlife refuges to mentor and youth programs to US veterans’ programs.

In the voting phase, nonprofits promote their nominations to their fan bases and communities to encourage voting. The general public can also vote on which of the 50 nonprofits should receive the 12 “Gather Around Giving” grants to support their work. As a result of the voting process, Company Distilling awards grants, celebrates and promotes the 12 winning nonprofits throughout the year.

ARTICLE BY WEST KNOXVILLE LIFESTYLE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIG SLATE MEDIA

On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, Master Distiller Jeff Arnett will announce the names and locations of the 12 grant recipients for 2026 live from Company Distilling on the company’s social channels (@companydistilling). On their assigned month, each of the 12 winning nonprofits will be featured on Company Distilling’s social channels, media press releases and blogs, so the public can learn more about their work.    West Knoxville Lifestyle invites readers to check out the Dec. 2 announcements of the 2026 winning nonprofits and to consider nominating a favorite nonprofit for the 2027 grants by visiting Company Distilling’s website (age 18+) CompanyDistilling.com

Personalize your gift-giving with name or business logo, elegantly etched directly onto any Company Distilling bottle

Company Distilling’s core spirits (Whiskey as Good as the Company you Keep) are crafted using innovative aging processes that incorporate different wood species native to Tennessee. Under the leadership of the 2017 Master Distiller of the Year, Jeff Arnett, the three flagship whiskeys are designed for connoisseurs and whiskey novices alike. Jeff says it has the kind of drinkability and price point that make it your go-to or a holiday gift!

Savor a flight of award-winning spirits and relax with the best of company at any of three locations. CompanyDistilling.com.

that’s a WRAP

DIY Gift Wrapping That Stands Out During The Season

‘TIS

‘Tis the season to get crafty, clever or characterized! Well-wrapped holiday packages create immediate enthusiasm and somehow seem to make gifts more meaningful. Whether going for shiny, vintage, colorful, rustic, playful or eco-friendly impressions, the following are some Do-ItYourself gift-wrapping ideas to make the wrapping process even more satisfying. Simply applying jute twine to gifts provides a ‘less is more’ vibe.

ADD NATURAL TOUCHES TO CRAFT PAPER:

For gifts with a rustic, organic feel, use seasonal accents, such as sprigs, pine cones and cinnamon sticks, tied up with twine, encircling recycled paper for the wrapping.

FIRST INITIAL DECORATION:

In lieu of a gift tag, attach an oversized paper mâché letter of the recipient’s first initial to the top of the box. The letter then can serve as customized décor, too.

POLKA DOTS:

Wrap gifts in plain craft paper and then cut out big, multicolored polka dots to glue down. It’s hard not to smile at big, bright dots.

CARDBOARD BOX SNOWPERSON:

Wrap three or four boxes in white paper, with different gifts inside, and then stack them. Tape the boxes together, tapering to the top. Glue buttons on the bottom ones, create a snowperson’s face on the top one, with carrot nose cut out of orange paper.

‘tis the SEASON

Attach a real hat, if desired. Tie wider, festive bow around the snowperson’s ‘neck.’

Add a real corncob pipe for a bonus finishing touch, if preferred.

MINI TREE GIFT WRAPPING:

Pine needles and small tips of real tree branches make quick and easy mini Christmas trees that can be glued onto Christmas gifts. They will smell nice, too.

BOOK PAGE WRAPPING PAPER:

Repurpose old book pages by cutting out shapes of dreidels, snowflakes, ornaments, candles or reindeer to paste on gifts.

DIY STAMP WRAPPING PAPER:

Wrap gifts in solid colors of paper. Secure ink stamps and an ink pad in a themed color(s), and stamp the paper as much or as little as desired.

UNBOXED:

Apply other types of containers, rather than boxes or bags, for gift wrapping; examples:  canisters, pillow cases, baskets, fabric scraps, maps, glass containers, towels, blankets, scarves, Bento bags (also called triangle bags or origami bags).

The moments of our lives we remember usually have very little to do with money, but finding a little time now to plan for the future can make more of those memories happen. That’s why we’ve built an in-house, independent team of experts to help you create more moments that matter.

events

DECEMBER 1ST

A Christmas Carol

Clarence Brown Theatre | 7:30 PM

Taking place from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, Clarence Brown Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Join CBT in the theatre for this beloved classic that reminds us to keep Christmas in our hearts every day of the year. Tickets at ClarenceBrownTheatre.com.

DECEMBER 5TH

52nd Annual WIVK Christmas Parade

Downtown Knoxville | 7:00 PM

Join us for the 52nd Annual WIVK Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 PM on Gay St. in Downtown Knoxville. Don’t miss the biggest Christmas parade in Knoxville. WIVK.com.

DECEMBER 5TH

Santa at the Sunsphere

Knoxville Sunsphere | 10:00 AM

Visit Knoxville will be hosting photo reservations with Santa on the 4th Floor Observation Deck, Dec. 5-7. Reservations must be made in advance at VisitKnoxville.com.

DECEMBER 6TH

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

Tennessee Theatre | 4:00 PM

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE is a dazzling holiday show blending Broadway-style music and stunning circus acts—an unforgettable, family-friendly celebration and annual tradition. Tickets at TennesseeTheatre.com.

DECEMBER 10TH

Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas

Bijou Theatre | 7:30 PM

This all-ages, festive event pays tribute to the beloved singer-songwriter John Denver, showcasing his iconic holiday songs and classics. Tickets available at KnoxBijou.org.

DECEMBER 12TH

Soundscapes at the KMA

Knoxville Museum of Art | 7:30 PM

Celebrate the season with Nashville vocalist Emily Wyrick, UT jazz pianist Taber Gable and Atlanta saxophonist Taj Davis. KnoxArt.org.

Want

DECEMBER 12TH

Christmas Candlelight Tours

Mabry-Hazen House | 6:00 PM

See the historic house, lit by candlelight and decorated with a festive mix of historic and modern styles. Tours will be every thirty minutes on Friday, Dec. 12, 6-9 PM, and Saturday, Dec. 13, 5-8 PM. Tickets are available online. MabryHazen.com.

DECEMBER 18TH

Candlelight: Holiday Special Concert

Jackson Terminal | 8:45 PM

Fever presents a night of the season's most beloved music, including extracts from The Nutcracker with a live string quartet, in a wonderful candlelit venue for a Christmas celebration. KnoxvilleTheatre.com.

DECEMBER 19TH

39th Annual Clayton Holiday Concert December 19

Knoxville Civic Auditorium & Coliseum | 7:30 PM

This annual holiday celebration features seasonal music performed by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra to create a joyful atmosphere. It takes place Dec. 19-21. Tickets online at KnoxvilleSymphony.com

DECEMBER 19TH

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet

Tennessee Theatre | 3:00 PM

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet uses Tchaikovsky’s timeless score to celebrate the holiday season as the largest touring Nutcracker production. Tickets available at Nutcracker.com.

DECEMBER 26TH

Mannheim Steamroller: Holiday Concert

Tennessee Theatre | 8:00 PM

Grammy winner Chip Davis has created a show featuring Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the Mannheim sound, with 15 musicians and an immersive setting. Tickets available at TennesseeTheatre.com

DECEMBER 31ST

New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere

World’s Fair Park | 9:00 PM

This annual event will take place on floors six and seven at the Sunsphere from 9 PM-1 AM. Tickets include live music, party swag, a prime rib dinner, an after midnight fest and prime fireworks viewing. SunsphereEvents.com.

ARTICLE BY CHELSEA BAUER | ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMY CAMPBELL

COZY DECEMBER READS

Cozy up with our December book picks, perfect for winter reading. From heartfelt memoirs to festive fiction, these stories warm every reader’s season. This month, Chelsea Bauer, book buyer at Union Ave Books, has a few suggestions for your holiday reading.

Having

People Over: A Modern Guide to Planning, Throwing, and Attending Every Type of Party

by Chelsea Fagan by Truman Capote

This incredibly accessible book is filled with tips, tricks, recipes and ideas. It really takes the guesswork out of throwing a shindig. Fagan makes it easy to gather, no matter your budget or venue size.

A Christmas Memory Who Killed Father Christmas? And Other Seasonal Mysteries

I re-read these three autobiographical short stories every holiday season and am moved to tears every single year. A yearly reminder that the mundane can be magical and the people around you can be as well.

edited by Martin Edwards

Every Holiday season, I like to pick up a murder mystery. Last year, I read this collection of short stories in the weeks leading up to Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I suggest a cup of hot chocolate, your warmest blanket and a furry friend in your lap to really round out the experience.

Wrapped Glamour

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