It’s time for a girls’ day out—just you and your daughter! You’ll enjoy a delicious meal, giggle over fun dice games that you can play over and over—like Story Switch-off, Roll-of-the-Dice Charades, and more—and make a colorful keepsake picture frame craft together.
Tickets are $38 per person. Please note this is a pre-paid event and reservations are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Reservations are required. This event is for girls ages 8 and older. Call 877-247-5223 to learn more.
The full story from Brandy Blanton.
The truth is it was never my dream to be a magazine publisher. My main goal in life was always to be a mother; apart from that I didn’t have any professional aspirations. But I should have known, that coming from a family of entrepreneurs, it was inevitable I would someday do the same. My first venture was an ironing business I ran out of my home called Pressing Matters.
I charged $1 an item, offered pick-up and delivery and it was said I was priceless to the school teachers, working mothers and music industry clientele who helped me to be able to stay at home with my three small children at the age of 21.But after a few years, I needed to get out of the house, so I applied for a job at O’Charley’s as a hostess. My goal was to continue to stay home with my kids during the day and work evenings. Little did I know that job would last 12 years – through a divorce, a remarriage and two more children. The restaurant business subjects you to all walks of life and you don’t get to choose who crosses your path. I worked almost every position in the building during my tenure, but the biggest thing I learned was how to interact and enjoy a myriad of people.
The magazine career was introduced by way of my brother, Todd. He and a partner were publishing a coupon magazine called Metro Mail. And just like everyone else, they saw the promise expanding to Williamson County; and I was tagged for the job. After much debate, I said I would give it a try, but not until school was out because I still had a three-year-old at home and I wasn’t about to change my model of being a stay-at-home-mom during the day. Long story short, I had a blast that summer of 2002: meeting clients, going on lunch appointments, experiencing a new world, feeling that I had value as more than just a mom. Metro Mail dissolved after that one issue, but Todd approached me that same fall about doing another publication. We would combine the costs of graphics and printing, but he wanted to do another coupon magazine. While I enjoyed the work, I felt that a coupon magazine had no substance. And so Southern Exposure Magazine was birthed.
My only qualification for becoming a magazine publisher was that I wrote a mean letter and I knew a lot of people. The success we’ve had can only be attributed to one thing—God has blessed this venture, enabling me to learn a lot along the way and bringing me the best people to help. To have a job that exists to celebrate and record what goes on in my home of more than 30 years—to promote the heart of Williamson County—is more than I could have imagined.
It’s been several months since we’ve been here together – since our October/November 2011 issue to be exact – and man, I’ve missed you! If you’re reading SEM for the first time, we’ve been on a sabbatical looking for just the right recipe to continue to serve our Williamson County family and beyond after 10 YEARS of publishing. There was a time I wondered if a chapter in my life had closed. It took me getting to the place of knowing that I would survive whatever the outcome was, but thankfully, God had a different plan.
Not only am I back doing something that I love – promoting my home – but I am a part of a team whose mission mirrors my own. In June, Southern Exposure Magazine was purchased by the Williamson Herald’s parent company, CMD Publishing. Williamson Herald owner and publisher, Derby Jones and I are finally able to realize our dream of working together! 
I am blessed that Derby has confidence in my capabilities and has allowed me to continue as publisher of “my baby.” And while the lion’s share of our incredibly talented staff remains (thankfully), one huge adjustment is the loss of Nancy Nanney, our art director who has been with me since the second issue. She has been such a vital part of SEM – way beyond the aesthetics and creativity she brought to each page. She anticipated my shortcomings, loved me anyway and was a champion for the cause WITHOUT FAIL. How do you fault someone whose life is being called in a different direction – a move back to her hometown in Mississippi to be close to family and the urge to start a new career as a teacher?
Another big change for me was moving back into an office environment after working out of my home the last two years. I forgot how great it was to have people to bounce ideas off of (thank you Donna) and have a space that is meant for work. Home can now be home again!
And while my biggest responsibility is to pour into my family, it’s a gift to be given a platform to speak to thousands of people in my community. My message to you is …
In a time where we exist on instant gratification at the click of a keypad or mouse, don’t lose the opportunity to slow down your pace and soak in the stories of your community. Pick up a copy of Southern Exposure Magazine, or even better – subscribe.
$21.95 for one year/6 issues
$34.95 for two years/12 issues
OR
If you would like to receive both SEM and our sister publication, the Williamson Herald, we are offering a combination special where you receive a year of both for only $42!
All you need to do is send a check or money order to Southern Exposure Magazine, re: subscriptions:
1117 Columbia Ave.
Franklin, TN 37064
Upon receipt, we will send you our next released edition.
If you would like to pay by debit/credit card, please e-mail contact@williamsonherald.com or call 615.790.6465.
FRANKLIN:
Carpe Diem – 212 South Margin
Landmark Booksellers – 114 East Main St.
PortaVia Italian Kitchen – 3301 Aspen Grove
The Factory at Franklin – 230 Franklin Rd.
Williamson County Parks & Rec – 1120 Hillsboro Road
BioWare™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) studio, and Lucasfilm Ltd. have announced the launch of the new Digital Expansion for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, Knights of the Fallen Empire. *Free for all subscribers, Knights of the Fallen Empire is a return to a deeper, more personal experience that delivers on the hallmarks of BioWare-style storytelling. Players create their own adventure to new planets in the outer rim of the galaxy, meet companions and recruit them as allies, make choices that have the power to change destiny, and determine the fate of the galaxy. The expansion includes the first nine chapters of an evolving player-driven storyline, with new chapters continuing to release episodically.
This new adventure also offers first-time players an accessible point of entry to the exciting universe of Star Wars: The Old Republic. The digital expansion also includes a free Level 60 character, allowing them to jump straight into the Knights of the Fallen Empire storyline to experience a deep and personal adventure.
The story of Knights of the Fallen Empire focuses on the player, as their character becomes the Outlander, a veteran of the Great Galactic War. As the Outlander, players must confront a powerful new enemy, the immortal Emperor, Valkorion, whose dark destiny is tied to their own.
Knights of the Fallen Empire also offers players an enhanced experience of the first 50 levels of Star Wars: The Old Republic which have been refined to put more focus on a player-driven story arc. In addition, all of the Flashpoints in the core story now feature a solo mode with level sync, offering players the ability to play these missions on their own as they adapt to the character’s level. These enhancements make playing the origin stories of the eight different iconic Star Wars character classes including Jedi, Sith, Bounty Hunter, Smuggler and more, a more engaging experience for all players
Starting today, players can join the adventure at www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/play-free. The expansion will be available for free* to all Subscribers of Star Wars: The Old Republic. For more information, visit: www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/fallen-empire.
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a Free-to-Play*, award-winning online multiplayer role-playing game set thousands of years before the classic Star Wars movies. Players team up with friends online to fight in heroic battles between the Republic and Empire, exploring a galaxy of vibrant planets and experiencing visceral Star Wars combat. Now players can experience the complete storylines of the eight iconic Star Wars classes, without having to pay a monthly fee. The first 50 levels of gameplay, including 8 unique class stories, is offered as a Free-to-Play download and complements the existing subscription offering, providing greater flexibility in how to experience Star Wars: The Old Republic.
For more information on the Star Wars: The Old Republic Digital Expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire, please visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/fallen-empire. Visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/play-free to try the game today. Join the conversation by visiting the official Community Blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch and Instagram. For additional press assets, please visit http://info.ea.com.
What a year! Old Dominion began 2015 as “one of country music’s few current self-contained bands” (NPR) before signing with RCA Nashville in February of this year. Now, just 10 months later, they’re celebrating a two-week No. 1 debut single —joining the company of Zac Brown Band, Brooks & Dunn and Florida Georgia Line as the only brand new Duo/Group artists since 1990 to have a multiple-week No. 1 with their debut single. Selling out shows in Chicago, New York City, San Diego, Boston, Milwaukee and their upcoming show on Jan. 14 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, the band has been tapped for CRS 2016’s New Faces of Country Music Show and are poised for their debut morning television performance on Today Show Dec. 21.
Old Dominion, comprised of Matthew Ramsey, Geoff Sprung, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi and Whit Sellers, released their full-length album, Meat And Candy, produced by songwriter and GRAMMY-award winning producer, Shane McAnally, on Nov. 6. It features “Break Up With Him,” their two-week No. 1 debut single, the first that all five members of the band have written together.
“Now that we are the ones standing on stage night after night, making that connection with the audience, it takes it to a whole new level,” Ramsey recently shared with Forbes regarding the difference of having a No. 1 as an artist vs. as a songwriter. “You can really feel the power of a song.”
Additionally, Old Dominion made the cut for the following five Billboard 2015 year-end lists: Top Country Artists, Hot Country Songs, Hot Country Songs Artists, Country Airplay Songs and Country Digital Songs.
Old Dominion is currently on their Meat And Candy Tour through 2016 before rejoining Kenny Chesney in 2016 on his Spread the Love Tour. Announced tour dates are as follows:
Jan. 14, 2016 Marathon Music Works | Nashville, Tenn.
Jan. 20, 2016 The Roxy Theatre | Los Angeles, Calif.
Jan. 22, 2016 Phase 2 | Lynchburg,Va.
Jan. 23, 2016 Coyote Joe’s | Charlotte, N.C.
Jan. 27, 2016 Cain’s Ballroom | Tulsa, Okla.
Jan. 28, 2016 Ralston Arena | Omaha, Neb.
Jan. 29, 2016 Union Colony Civic Center | Greely, Colo.
Jan. 30, 2016 Grizzly Rose | Denver, Colo.
Jan. 31, 2016 Royalton Riviera Cancun | Cancun, Mexico
Feb. 1, 2016 Royalton Riviera Cancun | Cancun, Mexico
Feb. 2, 2016 Royalton Riviera Cancun | Cancun, Mexico
Feb. 3, 2016 Royalton Riviera Cancun | Cancun, Mexico
Feb. 4, 2016 Texas Club | Baton Rouge, La.
Feb. 5, 2016 Mavericks | Jacksonville, Fla.
Feb. 6, 2016 Georgia Theatre | Athens, Ga.
Feb. 11, 2016 Joe’s Bar | Chicago, Ill.
Feb. 12, 2016 Varsity Theater | Minneapolis, Minn.
Feb. 13, 2016 Varsity Theater | Minneapolis, Minn.
Feb. 21, 2016 AT&T Center | San Antonio, Texas
March 2, 2016 U of I Main Lounge | Iowa City, Iowa
March 3, 2016 Waldorf College Fieldhouse | Forest City, Iowa
March 4, 2016 Seven Flags Event Center | Des Moines, Iowa
March 5, 2016 Winter Show Arena | Valley City, Nev.
March 9, 2016 Brick Street | Oxford, Ohio
March 10, 2016 Fillmore Detroit | Detroit, Mich.
March 18, 2016 Runaway Country Music Fest | Kissimmee, Fla.
April 3, 2016 ACM Party For a Cause | Las Vegas, Nev.
April 7, 2016 Country Thunder | Florence, Ariz.
April 9, 2016 Spring Jam | Panama City Beach, Fla.
April 15, 2016 Tortuga Music Festival | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
April 23, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Auburn, Ala.
May 1, 2016 Stage Coach Festival | Indio, Calif.
May 7, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Phoenix, Ariz.
May 28, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Louisville, Ky.
May 29, 2016 Tree Town Music Festival | Forest City, Iowa
June 4, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Arlington, Texas
June 5, 2016 Country Summer 2016 | Santa Rosa, Calif.
June 10, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Canandaigua, N.Y.
June 11, 2016 Taste Of Country Festival | Hunter, N.Y.
June 17, 2016 Country Fest | Cadott, Wis.
June 18, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Milwaukee, Wis.
June 25, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Philadelphia, Pa.
July 1, 2016 Jam in the Valley | Varysburg, N.Y.
July 2, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Pittsburgh, Pa.
July 6, 2016 Country Concert | Fort Loramie, Ohio
July 10, 2016 Cavendish Beach Events Centre | Cavendish, Canada
July 13, 2016 Rock The Park Music Festival | London, Canada
July 16, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Kansas City, Mo.
July 22, 2016 Gallatin County Fair | Bozeman, Mont.
July 23, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Seattle, Wash.
July 28, 2016 Cheyenne Frontier Days | Cheyenne, Wyo.
July 30, 2016 Mountain Home Country Music Fest. | Mountain Home, Idaho
July 31, 2016 Oregon Jamboree | Sweet Home, Ore.
Aug. 6, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Santa Clara, Calif.
Aug. 13, 2015 Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour | Detroit, Mich.
Aug. 20, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread The Love Tour | East Rutherford, N.J.
Aug. 26, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread The Love Tour | Foxborough, Mass.
Aug. 27, 2016 Kenny Chesney’s Spread The Love Tour | Foxborough, Mass.
Sept. 3, 2016 Lake County Fair | Lakeview, Ore.
For more information about Old Dominion or to hear “Break Up With Him,” visit www.olddominionband.com and www.facebook.com/olddominionband or follow @OldDominion on Twitter and@OldDominionMusic on Instagram.
About Old Dominion
RCA Nashville recording act Old Dominion has been writing songs and honing its live show in Music City for 10 years. While many of the group’s songs have been recorded by top artists including Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Chris Young and more, the group is currently focused on performing its own brand of country stripped down and raw but muscular enough to fit in on today’s country radio. Their recent debut single “Break Up With Him” spent two weeks at No.1 on the Country charts and their follow-up single “Snapback” will hit Country radio on January 18, 2016.
Brandy Clark’s “Hold My Hand” was announced today as a GRAMMY nominee for Country Song of the Year. The song, written by Clark and Mark Stephen Jones, is from Clark’s debut album 12 Stories, which was originally released by Slate Creek Records before being re-released by Warner Bros. Records. Clark performed the song with Dwight Yoakam earlier this year on the 2015 GRAMMY Awards in one of the night’s most talked-about moments.
Clark is currently on the road with Jennifer Nettles, after opening for Alan Jackson on his “25th Anniversary Tour” earlier this year. She won the CMA Song of the Year Award last year for “Follow Your Arrow,” which she also co-wrote with McAnally and Musgraves. She was named the 2014 Music Row Breakthrough Artist of the Year. For more information, visit BrandyClarkMusic.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/TheBrandyClark and on Twitter @TheBrandyClark.
T. W. Frierson Contractor Inc. (TWF), a Nashville-based, family-owned general contractor specializing in commercial, industrial, distribution and institutional facilities throughout the Southeast, announces the recent completion of construction on the new Franklin First United Methodist Church, located at 120 Aldersgate Way at Mack Hatcher Parkway in Franklin, Tenn.
Construction for the 86,500 square-foot, First Franklin United Methodist Church facility began in Summer 2014, and nearly 16 months later its first Sunday worship services were held on December 6, 2015. The first service was completely full, and the second service provided standing room only.
W. Frierson has completed over 150 faith-based facilities in its 57 year history, and this facility is its largest church project to date, according to project executive Del Hickman, co-owner, executive vice president. Hickman explains, “It was a great privilege to partner with Franklin First United Methodist Church and Tuck Hinton to build this beautiful landmark. I was there for the first service, and to see the reactions and hear all the positive comments from the congregation was incredible.”
The TWF team for this project also includes Matt Taylor, senior project manager and director of operations; and Tim Foriest, project superintendent. Steve Johnson, with Tuck-Hinton Architects, a Nashville-based PLC corporation, is the architect on the project.
The First Franklin United Methodist Church facility is constructed on 107 acres of a former horse farm, which was purchased in 2007. The new campus facility includes a main worship center that seats around 850, 50 classrooms and multiuse spaces for ministry and community outreach. In addition to the various high-end finishes throughout the building, gothic architect curtain wall systems were installed on the building to reflect the churches’ original historic sanctuary, Circa 1872.
The building also has prominent space for the church’s popular preschool program and a children’s area. Office space focuses on the daily church operations, and the well-equipped kitchen is vital to the ongoing ministries of the church.
Franklin First was founded 1799 in downtown Franklin and was housed in a facility completed in 1872 on Fifth Avenue South until it outgrew its space. While maintaining its ownership of that facility, the congregation is continuing to hold one 8:30 a.m. service in that facility each Sunday. The church is also leasing the church space for the use of Generations Church of Franklin. The church is currently under the leadership of Dr. Lynn Hill, senior pastor since 2002.
Founded in 1958, T. W. Frierson Contractor Inc. is dedicated to the ideals of honesty and integrity while providing quality construction services that exceed customer’s expectations. Emphasizing a team approach, T. W. Frierson Contractor, Inc. offers general construction, design-build and construction management services, tailoring these programs to meet each client’s individual needs. The company is committed to providing customized, innovative and environmentally responsible solutions for all facility types, including new construction and renovations.
For details on T. W. Frierson Contractor Inc., please visit http://www.twfrierson.com. For additional information on the company, feel free to contact Sara Waggoner, director of marketing and client relations, at (615-367-1333 or swaggoner@twfrierson.com. The company is located at 2971 Kraft Drive, Nashville, TN 37204.
Photo credit: ©Halo Vision 2015
Williamson County Parks and Recreation (WCPR) is pleased to invite the public to four free open houses on Saturday, January 9. The Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd.; the Longview Recreation Center at Spring Hill, 2909 Commonwealth Dr.; the Fairview Recreation Complex, 2714 Fairview Blvd.; and the Williamson County Recreation Complex at Nolensville, 7250 Nolensville Rd. will each host open houses and tours from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
During the open houses, all scheduled group fitness classes, including aerobics, indoor cycling and Aqua Fitness are free. Tours will be offered, and there will be children’s ‘make-it, take-it’ art activities. Meet the instructors from our art, dance, seniors and therapeutics classes.
Staff will be on hand to provide information about WCPR’s new 2016 pricing and pass program, which includes new ‘standard’ and ‘premium’ rates, as well as online purchases of passes. Learn how to set up your family’s profile in our new booking system.
Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone may register for and participate in the department’s programs, teams, classes and events. For program registration, pass purchasing or additional information, visit www.wcparksandrec.com. You may also receive department information by “liking” Williamson County Parks and Recreation on Facebook or following us on Twitter at @wc_parksandrec or on Pinterest.
Downtown Franklin, Dickens of a ChristmasEach year, Main Street recalls the spirit of Christmases past when the Heritage Foundation throws its annual Dickens of a Christmas celebration! This year the event marks its 31st anniversary, and will feature both time-honored activities that have become perennial favorites, as well as a few new traditions in the making.
Franklin’s Main Street–and its beautiful Victorian architecture–will be decked out for the holiday season. Some 200 characters, dancers and entertainers in the street, including several from Charles Dickens’s stories interacting with the public. Expect to see the nefarious Fagin from Oliver Twist; Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim Cratchit with his parents from A Christmas Carol; and of course, a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas with treats for children.
Visit website to learn more!
Producing Dickens of a Christmas is just one of the many activities of The Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County. Since 1967 the non-profit group has been dedicated to protecting and preserving Williamson County’s historic, architectural and geographic resources; in short, saving the places that matter.
Each year, Main Street recalls the spirit of Christmases past when the Heritage Foundation throws its annual Dickens of a Christmas celebration! This year the event marks its 31st anniversary, and will feature both time-honored activities that have become perennial favorites, as well as a few new traditions in the making.
Franklin’s Main Street–and its beautiful Victorian architecture–will be decked out for the holiday season. Some 200 characters, dancers and entertainers in the street, including several from Charles Dickens’s stories interacting with the public. Expect to see the nefarious Fagin from Oliver Twist; Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim Cratchit with his parents from A Christmas Carol; and of course, a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas with treats for children.
Visit website to learn more!
Producing Dickens of a Christmas is just one of the many activities of The Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County. Since 1967 the non-profit group has been dedicated to protecting and preserving Williamson County’s historic, architectural and geographic resources; in short, saving the places that matter.
Nearly 5,000 shoppers flooded Williamson County over the weekend to attend the City Farmhouse Holiday Pop-Up Fair at The Factory at Franklin, an antiques and vintage market that featured 35 vendors across the country – one of them being Sheryl Crow, who donated proceeds from the event to a non-profit close to her heart.
Through their purchases at the City Farmhouse Pop-up, shoppers – who were represented by states up and down the East Coast, and everywhere in between – helped bring in more than $20,000 for the World Food Program U.S.A., an organization that Crow has supported for years.
The Nashville-based celebrity, who says City Farmhouse is “her favorite spot to shop for antiques,” offered a range of goods from her personal stash to shoppers over the three-day event, selling everything from antique and vintage pieces to parts of her art collection and other home decor items.
“Our first holiday pop-up market was a huge success, and we are so thankful to Sheryl for jumping in for a good cause. People came to Franklin from all over to see her and shop the show,” said Kim Leggett, organizer of the City Farmhouse Pop-up Fairs. “Many of the vendors have said this is one of their best shows they’ve ever had.”
Coordinated by Kim and David Leggett, this is the first City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair that the pair has hosted at The Factory at Franklin, a former warehouse that is also home to their popular brick-and-mortar antiques store (also named City Farmhouse).
Kim says the experience was so enjoyable at The Factory at Franklin – for both guests and vendors – that they plan to have all future City Farmhouse Pop-up Fairs at the venue on Franklin Road, just a mile from the heart of downtown Franklin.
“There’s such a cool energy happening at The Factory right now with all the new shops and restaurants, and it’s the perfect space to host an event like this,” said Kim Leggett, organizer of the City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair. “We’re so excited about this show that we’re already planning the next one in June!”
A special Holiday Pop-up preview party kicked off the market on Friday night, and allowed ticket holders to sip ‘n’ shop the show while listening to a live performance by Nashville’s own Jamie Higdon. On Saturday and Sunday, the fun continued as the pop-up shoppers paid a $10 ticket to browse the hand-selected vendors’ booths, full of antique goods, seasonal wares and a range of timely gift items. In addition to selling her wares for charity, Crow also hosted two autograph sessions over the weekend for fans.
Those who missed the opportunity to enjoy the 2015 City Farmhouse Holiday Pop-up Fair need not worry: the Leggetts are already coordinating the next series for next year, and plan to announce 2016 dates in the coming months.
To learn more about City Farmhouse and their pop-up events, go to www.cityfarmhousefranklin.com.
More about City Farmhouse
City Farmhouse is a lifestyle brand that offers modern farmhouse style for urban & rural living. The brand is driven by Kim and David Leggett, a duo who’ve been “pickers” for more than 20 years, and whose trained eye and vivacious personalities have earned them national acclaim – from individuals interested in following popular vintage trends to interior designers.
To learn more about City Farmhouse brand, the City Farmhouse brick-and-mortar store in Franklin, Tenn., and the City Farmhouse Pop-up Fairs, go to www.cityfarmhousefranklin.com.
Photo credit: @alissasaylorphotography @alissasaylor