VIProfile: Ray Washington
/Ray Washington was born and raised in Hopewell, Virginia. He has been married to Sonya for 31 years, and they have three children: Ebony, Deseray and Jabriel, and two grandchildren.
Read MoreEntertaining At Home
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Entertaining At Home presents gatherings in the homes of leading tastemakers from the worlds of interior design, architecture, culinary arts, and society who show readers how to entertain with flair and finesse. Curated by Ronda Carman, she reminds us that “this is not meant to be a volume on how to entertain properly, but rather a glimpse of real people at home nurturing friends and family. It is my hope that it is as much aspirational as it is inspirational.” Each page is full of successful strategies and a myriad of ideas for delighting family and friends, with the hosts offering their personal viewpoint and providing behind-the-scenes details that go into creating memorable occasions.
Read MoreVIProfile: Andrea Hudgins
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Andrea Hudgins, a native of Trezevant, Tennessee and a graduate of West Carroll High School, has worked in community development during the past 18 years in Jackson. She graduated with a Masters of Social Work from Union University in 2011 and a Bachelor of Social Work in 2006.
Read MoreThe Good Life: River Inn of Harbor Town
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It was love at first sight when I visited the River Inn of Harbor Town in downtown Memphis in May 2008!
The inn is located in the picturesque community of Harbor Town on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Designed by the award-winning architectural firm of Looney Ricks Kiss, a firm known for “creating and preserving that small-town feel,” the River Inn is a 28-room boutique hotel that opened its doors on October 29, 2008. The $9 million 32,000-square-foot hotel is located between two buildings at Harbor Town Square and Harbor Town Circle.
Read MoreVIProfile: Dave Bratcher
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Dave Bratcher is a native of Jackson, TN where he, his wife, Julie, and their two children, Gracie, 11, and Bennett, 8, reside. He serves as the President of The STAR Center whose mission is to help any person with any disability realize their potential. This includes taking what some view as a liability and turn it into their greatest asset. The STAR Center was awarded the Non-Profit of the Year in 2008 and 2015. Additionally, The STAR Center was recognized nationally as one of the top 50 Best Non-Profits to Work For in 2017 and 2018.
Read MoreThe Good Life: The Last Hotel
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The highly anticipated The Last Hotel is now open in the historic former International Shoe Building at 1501 Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis. Designed to fascinate and captivate the curious traveler, The Last Hotel promises delightful discoveries at every turn that celebrate the very best St. Louis has to offer.
Read MoreVIProfile: Alzheimer's Tennessee
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I could see the fire for helping people light up in Amanda Barlow Leitch’s eyes when she recalled one of the moments that had touched her the most, one of the moments that stands out for why she does what she does on a daily basis. She recalled the day she was sitting in her office and received a phone call from a woman. The woman spoke quickly and her voice was tired. She wanted to “have a conversation with someone.” Leitch met that with, “Of course. Could you come to the office to talk?”
Read MoreThe 27th Annual LANA Holiday Home Tour
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Homes throughout Midtown Jackson will put guests in the Christmas holiday spirit during the Lambuth Area Neighborhood Association (L.A.N.A.) annual Holiday Home Tour Friday, December 6 through Sunday, December 8.
“This year will mark the 27th anniversary of the popular home tour,” said Frank McMeen, president of L.A.N.A.
Read MoreThe Good Life: Blue Bank Resort
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Tucked high in the northwest corner of Tennessee, lies one of the country’s, if not the world’s, most beautiful landscapes. It is unique in its beauty, wildlife and topography. But, perhaps the most unique of all, it’s story.
Read MoreFootball/Fashion Shoot 2019
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Photography by Jeff Watson & Chelsea-Catherine Croom. Location provided by Union University.
Read MoreVIProfile: Peter Shannon
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Born in 1969, Peter Shannon began his musical education as a choirboy in Cork Cathedral, Ireland. As a Bachelor of Music student at University College Dublin, and whilst singing baritone in the RTE National Chamber Choir, he began studying conducting under the Irish conductor Colman Pearce.
Read MoreThe Good Life: Perry County, TN
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Perry County is an easy 1 hour 15-minute drive from Jackson, Tennessee. A few days ago I arose early, stopped for a good cup of Southern Pecan coffee at a market in Lexington, popped “The Shell Seekers” (a favorite book and movie) audiotape into my car’s tape player, and took a deep breath. For a day I was a world away from deadlines and other daily duties even though this was a working trip.
Read MoreVIProfile: Gina Myracle
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Gina Stanfill Myracle is a resident of Lexington, Tennessee. Prior to being named Executive Director of the Kirkland Cancer Center, she served as the Administrator of Medical Center Home Health for two years. Other previous roles include Occupational Health and Wellness, Sales and Marketing, and Cardiac Rehabilitation.
Read MoreThe Good Life: SoundWaves
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SoundWaves, the nation’s first truly upscale indoor/outdoor resort water attraction, set the stage for summer travel during its outdoor grand opening celebration on May 16 just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Read MoreVIProfile: Marcus Sabata
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Marcus Sabata moved to Jackson in late 2017 and was with the Jackson Generals for the 2018 season as a Group/Corporate Sales Rep. He was promoted into the Assistant General Manager role in October of 2018 and added the Interim GM role in March of 2019.
Read MoreThe Art of Living: Simply by the Sea
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Perhaps it’s because I am an Aquarian, but like Tracey Rapisardi, author of “Simply by the Sea,” I am a lover of water. I never tire of walking by the ocean or viewing the barges and pleasure boats on the Mississippi River. Years ago I lived a half mile from the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California. I treasured getting lost in my thoughts as I walked the beach daily. I spent much of my professional life in Memphis, where I saw the Mississippi River almost daily. Since 1981 I have traveled to historic Natchez, Mississippi, mostly to sit on a hotel balcony in Vidalia, Louisiana and observe the skyline of Natchez; view with high powered binoculars the ever moving, ever changing river; and wave at the barge captains and deckhands. Several steamboats dock in Natchez, and they beckon me to go onboard. (I’m convinced that in a previous life I lived on a steamboat.) At dusk the Mississippi River bridge lights come on, and it is magical. While it is not an ocean, the Mississippi River has almost the same effect on me.
Read MoreNo Place Like Home: All the Comforts of Home
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Third generation Jacksonian Hal Crocker has vision. After the tornado cleared out much of downtown Jackson in 2008, the city wanted redevelopment of the area. Hal Crocker joined with Henry Turley to form Healthy Community LLC to combine their mutual enthusiasm for downtown revitalization. The resulting Jackson Walk development is a community made healthy through well-planned, thoughtful development, where people live, work and play.
Read MoreCelebrating 67 Years of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant (1952-2019)
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This year the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant, now called the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant, will celebrate its 67th anniversary. Many of us remember attending the pageant four nights a year at Rothrock Stadium in downtown Jackson.
Read MoreDestination Downtown: Talk of the Town
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For nine years I have observed and written about the evolving of downtown Jackson in VIP Jackson Magazine’s Downtown Destination special section in May. What fun it is to observe the development of our center city and to see people of all ages and from all walks of life live, work and play in the heart of our city!
Read MoreVIProfile: Bob Hayes
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Bob Hayes hails from Parsons, Tennessee. He grew up on a farm where his family raised cattle, hogs, corn, cotton and peanuts. He developed an interest in agriculture and science early thanks to involvement with 4H and FFA.
He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in agriculture in 1968. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army in Germany. After completing military service, Hayes moved to Champaign, Illinois to complete his Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Illinois.
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