tennessee franklin Archives - Page 2 of 16 - Franklin, TN - Downtown, Events, Shopping, Restaurants, Antiques, Living and Entertainment

Dickens of a Christmas

1:59 pm | Monday, Nov 16th

Step back in time with the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County when Dickens of a Christmas returns to Franklin’s Main Street December 12-13, 2015.

Sponsored this year by Nissan, the 31^st annual free street festival will recreate the time of Charles Dickens using historic downtown Franklin’s Victorian architecture as the backdrop. Some 200 musicians, dancers and characters will fill the streets, including several from Charles Dickens’s stories. Expect to see and interact with 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.

“Dickens of a Christmas is the perfect event for our historic Main Street,” said Mary Pearce, executive director of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. “Downtown Franklin always exudes its own special magic, and yet this event adds an extra bit of sparkle. It dovetails perfectly with our preserved Victorian architecture and our commitment to saving and showcasing our historical treasures. As more attention is turned toward downtown Franklin in both the local and national press, we encourage festival goers to dress in Victorian costume and to add to the ambiance as they stroll the streets. Adding even a hat and scarf to modern attire helps set the scene and get everyone in the holiday mood.”

This year’s event will reprise a crowd favorite from last year: it WILL snow at Dickens of a Christmas! Come decked out in holiday style to capture that perfect family picture.

New this year will be the Lucky Scruff Wintery Whisker Revue, a competition among hirsute gentlemen for the finest facial hair. Those taking advantage of No Shave November will want to hang on to their whiskers until the Sunday afternoon competition on the stage at the Public Square. Winners will take home fabulous prizes courtesy of Lucky Scruff, a new store at The Factory specializing in accessories for the bearded gentleman, and all entrants will receive gift cards. The judging will take place at 3pm. To enter this contest, visit the Dickens event page at HistoricFranklin.com.

Favorite Victorian-era activities will return, including sugar plums and roasted chestnuts being sold on the street. Other food vendors will offer heartier old English fare. A variety of musical and dance performances will take place both on the street and on the stage at City Hall. Horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo for children, live artisan demonstrations, and more than 70 vendors offering holiday arts and crafts will line Main Street from Second to Fifth Avenues. Each day will conclude with a town sing of classic Christmas carols. Saturday’s town sing will take place in front of the stage on the Public Square; Sunday’s town sing will be conducted inside the Historic Presbyterian Church at Five Points.

Dickens of a Christmas will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 12, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 13. The event is free and open to the public; some attractions will involve a small fee. More information and a schedule of events will be available at www.historicfranklin.com.

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.

Breakfast with Santa and the Minions

1:55 pm | Monday, Nov 16th

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Santa will be making a special trip from the North Pole to visit the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. for “Breakfast with Santa” on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Those mischievous minions will be on hand, and Williamson County Parks and Recreation invites parents and kids ages 10 and younger to join the fun. A continental breakfast will be served, including pastries, muffins, milk and fruit juice. During the event, each child will have time to sit on Santa’s lap and share Christmas toy wishes. The cost is $10 per child (parents are free). Bring your cameras and take your own photos with Santa!

On-line reservations are required, and space is limited for this event. To make a reservation, go to www.wcparksandrec.com (event code #5511). This event is sponsored by: Unity Chiropractic; McDonald’s; Krispy Kreme Doughnuts; Chick-fil-A; Publix; Mapco Mart; and True Value.

Chris Czarka and Glenn McGehee Appointed to TMA Board of Directors

9:09 pm | Wednesday, Nov 11th

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The TMA Group (Transportation Management Association) is pleased to welcome Chris Czarka, Director of Tax with Nissan North America, Inc., and Glenn McGehee, Principal and President with SouthStar Development.

Patrick G. Emery, TMA Chairman, said: “Throughout the history of the Transportation Management Association (TMA) we have had a very qualified and engaged board. We continue this tradition with the addition of Chris and Glenn to the TMA board. Both Chris and Glenn are active in the Cool Springs area with their respective businesses and their knowledge of the area will be of great benefit to the organization and the implementation of the recent Cool Springs Transportation Study and the future growth of the TMA organization.

Chris Czarka
Director of Tax, Nissan North America.

Regarding his appointment to The TMA Board of Directors, Mr. Czarka states:” “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on the TMA board. As a regional leader in transportation solutions for employers and communities in Middle Tennessee, the organization is ideally suited to be an integral part of transportation challenges we currently face now or will face in the future in Williamson County, especially in the Cool Springs area. This just seemed like a natural progression to some of the work I have been involved with as chairman of the Williamson Inc. board of directors in 2015.”

With over 30 years of tax experience, Czarka joined Nissan’s Tax group in January 2007. Previously he spent 20 years at Dana Corporation with the last 15 years serving as the Vice President of Global Tax. Czarka originally started with PricewaterhouseCoopers. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Central Michigan University and is a certified public accountant. Czarka currently serves on the Williamson Inc. Board of Directs and the 2015 Board Chairman. Chris served on the Board of Directors of the Williamson/Franklin Chamber of Commerce and was heavily involved with the creation of Williamson Inc., the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce that was created through the merger of three local chambers. He is a frequent speaker at PwC’s Industrial Products/Automotive Industry Tax Roundtables and the BNA/Bloomberg and Baker & McKenzie U.S. and Canadian Transfer Pricing Symposiums.

Glenn McGehee

Principal and President, SouthStar Development

Regarding his appointment to The TMA Board of Directors, Mr. McGehee states: “I take great pride in being a resident of the Franklin community for over 22 years. As president and partner of SouthStar, we have completed real estate developments throughout the southeastern United States. Having developed in several communities, I am happy to say that our most notable and valuable projects and assets are the land holdings and developments in the Cool Springs area of Franklin. These projects are anchored by Ovation and will incorporate fully integrated mixed use development components that will be dependent on a pedestrian friendly environment while intentionally encouraging and accommodating public transportation. As we are forward thinking in our current development style, I am eager to bring that same creativity to the TMA. As a member of this board, I look forward to addressing the current and future needs of public transportation in Franklin and beyond as we continue to advance transportation connections to our surrounding cities throughout middle Tennessee. It is an honor to be involved in pioneering the future of public transportation in the community that I call home.”

McGehee’s experience in commercial real estate development as an owner and developer dates back to 1994 with commercial property development projects in Nashville. In 2001, he joined The Shopping Center Group, LLC where he was promoted to President of Operations for the Tennessee division and as member of the company’s Board of Directors. In 2004, McGehee was recruited by Centex Homes-Nashville to create and implement a land strategy for acquisition, planning, and entitlement for Centex Homes in Middle Tennessee. In 2008, McGehee joined with Glenn Wilson, the founder of SouthStar, LLC as a co-partner of the real estate development company. At SouthStar, their focus has been the development of medical related assets, mixed-used developments, grocery-anchored developments and single tenant assets. Since then, they have conceived and executed leases, land purchases and developments in excess of $200 million in value. McGehee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics from Lipscomb University. Currently, he is on the board of the Mt. Dora Children’s Academy and Children’s Home in Mt. Dora, Florida. McGehee is a member of the Lipscomb Academy Leadership Council and Chairman of the Development Committee.

Additional members of The TMA Group Board of Directors include: Mayor Rogers Anderson, Williamson County; Julian Bibb, Stites & Harbison, PLLC; Ken Browning, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; David Burt, EnergyLogic; Ed Cagle, FirstBank; Brad Dunn, Williamson Inc./Pinnacle Bank; Pat Emery, Spectrum | Emery, Inc.; Randy Houston, First Tennessee Bank; Shanna Jackson, Columbia State Community College; Bill Lockwood, Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon, Inc.; Julie Miller, Williamson Medical Center; Mayor Dr. Ken Moore, City of Franklin; Bob Murphy, RPM Transportation Consultants, LLC; Dave Pelton, Energy and Environmental Consultant; Jeremiah Pyron, OakPoint Real Estate; Mark Robbins, The Franklin Chop House; Mort Stein, Trace Realty; Cyril Stewart, Cyril Stewart, AIA; and Elizabeth West, Williamson Inc.

Established in 1988, The TMA Group is a regional leader in customizing environmentally-friendly, multimodal transportation solutions for employers and communities.

For more information contact Debbie Henry, Executive Director at 790-4005.

Oaklands Mansion’s 32nd Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes

1:40 pm | Monday, Nov 9th

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Usher in the holiday season with an enchanting tour of historic homes and landmarks. The annual Oaklands Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes is slated for December 5, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The tour, sponsored by Oaklands Association will feature beautiful and historic private homes, distinctive churches, and the graceful Oaklands Mansion.

In the late 1860s, the Maneys subdivided and sold much of their front acreage into lots to create a residential neighborhood, originally called “Maney’s Addition,” thought to be Murfreesboro’s first “subdivision.” It later became North Maney Avenue, which intersects present-day Main Street. Advertisements for lots in Maney’s Addition appeared in local newspapers assuring prospective owners free access to the Maneys’ spring. In the late 1880s, after she left Oaklands, Adaline Maney moved into a home in Maney’s Addition known as “Big Holly.” Today that home is the property of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bell and will be featured on the tour.

Following the old carriage path of the plantation, stops along the holiday tour include the following historic buildings:

Oaklands Mansion, 900 North Maney Avenue
“Big Holly”, Mr.& Mrs. Gordon Bell, 718 North Maney Avenue
Oaklands Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 711 North Maney Avenue
Mr. & Mrs. Rhea Cole, 619 North Maney Avenue
Mr. Cory Williams, 603 North Maney Avenue
Mr. Adam Holsted, 343 Jackson Street
Dreamingincolor, Ms. Deneen Glidwell, 504 North Maney Avenue
Demos’ Restaurant Office, 503 North Maney Avenue
Old Dunaway Store, Ms. Linda Stevens, 312 North Maney Avenue
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Cottle, 225 North Maney Avenue
Mr. & Mrs. Rob Baker, 217 North Maney Avenue
Ms. Kathy Yeager, 120 North Maney Avenue
Mrs. Nancy Morris, 347 East Main Street
Central Christian Church, 404 East Main Street
Ransom Historic House & School Museum, 717 North Academy Street

These festively adorned historical homes and churches, dressed in holly and evergreen, will transport you to a simpler time. From the veranda of Oaklands Mansion and along the nine block tour, you will hear the music of carolers from local schools. Warm up with a cup of Demos’ famous chicken-n-rice soup or their award-winning banana pudding, on sale at their restaurant office at 503 North Maney Avenue. While at Oaklands, visit Gee-Ma’s food truck for old home cooking and a “meat and three” menu.

“This years’ tour will guide visitors along the old carriage path of the plantation and offer an opportunity to visit homes spanning several decades and various architectural styles,” said James Manning, Executive Director of Oaklands. “Visiting the festively appointed homes on our Candlelight Tour is a popular way to begin the celebration of the holidays.”

The cornerstone of the tour is the grand Oaklands Mansion. Interpreters in period attire will guide you through the history of this gracious home. At its peak, Oaklands was the center of a 1,500 acre plantation and one of the most elegant homes in Rutherford County. Since that time, Oaklands has seen dramatic changes. Following the Civil War, it deteriorated from a majestic mansion to virtual ruins and, in the 1950’s, its very existence was threatened. The mansion was brought back from the brink of destruction, saved from the wrecking ball when a group of concerned ladies created Oaklands Association in 1959. Since that time, the Association has worked tirelessly to restore Oaklands to its original splendor and preserve its unique history.

Today, local residents and visitors alike enjoy the mansion that has been lovingly restored and brought back to its former glory. The proceeds of the Candlelight Tour of Homes go toward the continuing preservation of this historic treasure. Purchase advance tickets (either online at www.OaklandsMansion.org or in the museum shop) by 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 3 and receive a special price of $12.50 for adults. Admission is $15.00 per adult at the door, $5.00 students and children, free for ages 5 and under. Sponsorships for the Tour are still available. On the night of the tour, tickets can be purchased at any home on the tour or at Oaklands’ Museum Shop. Oaklands Association is a non-profit educational organization. For information on becoming a member or a volunteer, please call (615) 893-0022 or email: info@OaklandsMansion.org.

Community Book Sale

4:56 pm | Tuesday, Oct 27th

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The Friends of the Williamson County Public Library will be holding our next book sale on November 7-9. We will have literally thousands of new and used donated books for sale including paperbacks, hardcovers, fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, antique books, coffee-table books, and various media items such as audio books, CD’s, and DVD’s. All books will be neatly sorted by subject and arranged by category. Prices range from 50-cents to $5.00 each, and there are no buyer restrictions. We accept cash, check, Visa & MasterCard.

Book Sale days & hours are as follows:

Saturday, November 7 – Member’s Jump-Start Sale: 9-10:30 a.m.*
Saturday, November 7 – General Public: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, November 8 – General Public: 1-5 p.m.
Sunday, November 8 – Member’s Only/$5 Bag Sale: 3:30-5 p.m. **
Monday, November 9 – General Public/$5 Bag Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.***

*The Member’s Jump-Start Sale begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. It’s a no limit shopping spree, and members will not have to check-out by 10:30 a.m. Members can continue shopping as the general public enters.

If you would like to become a Friends member and take part in the Member’s Jump-Start Sale, you can join at the door before or anytime during the book sale. Be one of the first booklovers to shop all our great books! As always, book dealers are also welcome.

**A Member’s Only $5 Bag Sale will begin on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. until close at 5 p.m.

***On Monday, we will have a $5 Bag Sale all day for the general public. Bags will be provided, and you can fill as many bags as you like for only $5 each.

The Williamson County Public Library is located at 1314 Columbia Avenue in Franklin, Tennessee. For directions, call the library at 615-595-1243. All the proceeds from this sale, along with your generous donations, will go to fund The Friends of the Library which is dedicated to help support the Williamson County Public Library.

Take the Cake

3:15 pm | Tuesday, Oct 20th

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Take your pick of tasty treats at the second “Take the Cake” fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, at the historic Williamson County Courthouse in downtown Franklin. The pickings will be especially good this year with Mike Wolfe acting as master of ceremonies. You know Mike as the creator and co-star of “American Pickers” on the History Channel and now as creator of HGTV’s new show “Nashville Flipped.” The New York Times refers to Mike as “the Jack Kerouac of Junk.”

Proceeds from the event support the Williamson County DUI Court. The court serves as a constructive alternative for offenders with alcohol and drug abuse problems and offers treatment, supervision, and support for nonviolent offenders who have a primary diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependency. Williamson County DUI Court is a team concept involving the General Sessions Court, the offices of the Public Defender and District Attorney, and the Defense Bar.

For further information contact Judy Oxford at 615-791-8511, judyoxford@comcast.net, or visit the website at duicourtfoundation.org.

Wine Down Main Street

1:21 am | Tuesday, Oct 20th

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Wine Down Main Street will be held Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. The Downtown Franklin Merchants will again host thousands of consumers during the most unique wine tasting event in the area. A complete list of participating merchants and restaurants is listed on the event website.

General Admission tickets for the event are $75 in advance until October 16, 2015 and will go up to $85 per person at 12:00am on October 17, 2015. Tickets include wine, beer and food tastings. VIP tickets are available for $125 per person. VIP tickets include an exclusive VIP experience at The Red House, complete with food tastings; a full bar of wine, beer, and spirits; and a private performance by Everyday People. Premium VIP tickets are available for $200 and include all of the VIP benefits in addition to a Gift Bag valued at over $200. There is a limited quantity of VIP and Premium VIP tickets available. All guests must be 21 years of age or older and have a valid photo id the night of the event. A complete wine list will be available online at www.WineDownMainStreet.com in late October.

Since 2001, Wine Down Main Street has raised more than $1.5 million for Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. For 2015, Main Street will again be closed from First Avenue to Fifth Avenue with all the food providers being set up in the Public Square and throughout Main Street. For more information contact Denise Carothers at dcarothers@bgcmt.org or 615-628-8188.

Franklin Wine Festival

8:17 pm | Thursday, Oct 1st

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There are several ways to participate in the Franklin Wine Festival. Check them out:

GRAND TASTING
A truly Grand experience for both foodies and wine connoisseurs, pairing extensive offerings by Middle Tennessee’s finest chefs with selected wines from around the world. Nowhere else will you have the opportunity to sample more than 300 wines and outstanding food!The Grand Tasting is held Friday, October 16, 2015 throughout The Factory at Franklin. Ticket prices for the Grand Tasting are $89 in advance, $100 if you elect to purchase at the door, provided such is available.SILENT AUCTION
At the Franklin Wine Festival Auction you will find a diverse selection ranging from hard-to-find wines, gift certificates, artwork and more. The auction is designed to appeal to every taste at every price range. Make sure to check the web site – www.franklinwinefestival.com – for an ongoing update of this year’s auction items.

ONE DAY ONLY WINE SALE AT COOL SPRINGS WINES & SPIRITS
On Saturday, October 17, all the wines featured at the Franklin Wine Festival will be available at Cool Springs Wines & Spirits on sale! That includes allotted, hard-to-find and collectible wines. The Franklin Wine Festival is one of the only events in the country that is able to offer this special sale to its attendees afterwards. Cool Springs Wines & Spirits is the largest wine and spirits store in Tennessee, located at 1935 Mallory Lane in Franklin.

Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of the most exciting wine and food tasting in Middle Tennessee. Come learn why everyone is talking about the Franklin Wine Festival!

For more information, contact Sarah Beatty at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, 615.522-5659 or sarah.beatty@mentorakid.org. –

Chukkers for Charity

7:58 pm | Thursday, Oct 1st

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On Saturday, Sept. 12, patrons and tailgaters gathered to support Saddle Up! and the Rochelle Center at the 19^th annual Nissan Chukkers for Charity at pristine Riverview Farm in Franklin, Tenn. The event, hosted by Lee Ann and Orrin Ingram featured world-class polo player, Nic Roldan. Nic’s Gainesway team won the match against opposing team AutoWeek.

The event raised awareness and funds for both the Rochelle Center and Saddle Up! The honorary chairs for this year’s event were Lexie Armstrong and Cathy Brown. Patron Party co-chairs were Mary Kate Brown, Lisa McInturff and Kim Williams who created a theme “Vintage French Circus.” Tarot card readers, acrobats and jugglers were some of the featured entertainers.

The sold-out patron’s tent hosted a dinner for guests following the match which was catered by d.Kates. Hors d’oeuvres included succulent citrus popcorn and roasted nuts, a wide-variety of charcuterie served with a selection of cheeses, jams, nuts, honey, artisan breads and crackers. Dinner featured a mixed baby lettuce salad with fennel, green apples, Kenny’s blue cheese, hazelnuts and blood orange vinaigrette. The main course served up corn-encrusted chicken paillard with peach and green tomato relish and warm cheese soufflé alongside roasted late summer vegetables with hollandaise sauce and delicious dinner rolls. For dessert, patrons enjoyed specialty petits fours, raspberry and pistachio macaroons and chocolate truffles. Drinks were provided by Lipman Brothers and featured a wide-variety of beverages, highlighting Jack Daniel’s products.

The grand prize of the tailgating competition went to the “Wizard of Oz” tailgating team and the most original theme award went to the “Houdini” team. The event also featured a vintage car show and silent auction.

Other sponsors in addition to Nissan were Gainesway Farm, Mary Kate and Josh Brown, Kings’ Chapel Community, The Andrews Agency, Associated Terminals/Turn Services, SilverPointe Properties, YOUR Williamson, Jack Daniel Distillery, Ingram Entertainment, Inc., Nashville Geek, Williamson Source, Jackie and Barry Alexander, Tennessee Equine Hospital, Jones Properties, Limestone Title, Publix Supermarket Charities, Inc. and AshBlue.

Volkswalk

7:50 pm | Thursday, Oct 1st

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On October 10, 2015, the Citizens for Brentwood Green Space will host Brentwood’s first-ever official “Volkswalk’’event created through a partnership between The Citizens for Brentwood Green Space and the local chapter of American Volkssport Association (AVA).

The term “Volkswalk” refers to a non-competitive walk. It’s not a pledge walk, it’s not a race, it is a fun activity you do with a club, with your family, with your pet, or all by yourself! The name has its origins in Europe. This non-competitive walk is open to any individual, family, or team. One can start the walk anytime between 7:30 am and 9:30 am.

Register as an individual (also add family members under individual) OR as a team.

All proceeds minus the cost of the event will go towards amenities and improvements at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park. The walk will bring our community together while supporting a terrific cause! You can also register during the day of the event to receive AVA credit for an additional and separate $3 ($5 for new AVA members) fee.