Posts

Waterfalls dot the landscape, hidden in the hills, and emerge along elevation changes and geological shifts in the riverbeds, making these majestic natural wonders a fan-favorite place to visit. While there’s no verse about cascades in “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” John Denver’s West Virginia anthem, there should be. You’ll hear them before seeing them—the churning water vaults into the air and crashes into itself, sending a burbling, tranquil-seeming stream into a spectacular realm....

Much of the South is still sweltering, but now that August is in the rear view mirror I can’t help but dream of knee socks and boots, cashmere cardigans, and cocktails with a bit more clout. Which is why I’m particularly smitten with my new neighborhood watering hole in Austin, Drink.well. The self-proclaimed American Pub (serving classic and contemporary cocktails made from fresh ingredients and simple, delicious pub food like a “Z....

Football season is big in our house. With two University of Alabama graduates, one of whom is a Kansas City native, both NCAA and NFL games are on in our den from Thursday to Monday each week in the fall and winter. As Southerners know all too well, with football comes food. Between grabbing Denny dogs in Tuscaloosa, chowing down on burnt end sandwiches in KC, or smoking our own rack of ribs at home, our football fare isn’t necessarily light....

After a six-year hiatus, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming back. But things will be different under the big top this time around. Most notably, animals won’t be returning to “The Greatest Show on Earth” when it hits the road next year. The historic circus known for its acts featuring lions, tigers, and elephants shut down in 2017 in response to pressure from animal rights groups and changing audience tastes....

We’re all guilty of overindulging our four-legged friends here and there. From belly rubs to extra treats, we shower our pups with affection every day. Believe it or not, studies have shown they use gestures to show their love in return; that back scratch or never-ending game of fetch doesn’t go unnoticed. But if you’ve ever scratched that oh-so-good spot that makes your dog’s leg go wild while giving him extra love, you may be wondering if that scratching gives your dog a happy tickle....

Some people can easily tick off the 10 best burgers they’ve ever had. As Southerners, sure, we could do that, but we’d rather wax poetic on the best grits we’ve ever had. Lowcountry shrimp and grits, how we love thee. Laid-back grits bar brunches. Those creamy Anson Mills rice grits with key lime braised Sea Island red peas, Cuban romesco, basil-arugula salsa verde, and crispy chicharrón at the Havana Beach Bar and Grill in Rosemary Beach?...

Danica McKellar got her start in Hollywood as a child star playing Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years back in the late 1980s. Now, the actor, educator, and advocate is celebrating her 48th birthday by spilling her secrets to youth—and her youthful good looks. “Well hello there, 48!,” McKellar wrote in a caption on a recent Instagram post. The photo she shared was what she called an “obligatory #nomakeup, #nofilter shot” that revealed the X fresh-faced, make-up free good looks....

It’s a good time to be a Dolly fan. This spring, the Smoky Mountain Songbird has surprised us all by making nearly 100 of her modern classic songs once again available on streaming platforms. She read bedtime stories to us on YouTube weekly. She’s been a source of inspiration and light in these dark and uncertain times amid the coronavirus crisis and civil unrest. Where would we be without Dolly?...

In recent years every November, Americans have embraced the concept of opening their homes and then their wallets in celebration of family first, and good deals second. First comes Thanksgiving where we all gather around the table to share a delicious meal and count our blessings. That day of gratitude is of course, immediately followed by Black Friday and Cyber Monday where the thrill of the hunt of the best bargain fuels us all....

You have too few pots, too few burners and too little time. It’s a dilemma nearly every home cook is familiar with, which is why we’re especially smitten with Lifehacker’s latest trick for maximizing space (and time) in the kitchen. All you need is one stock pot and a sheet pan. Here’s the deal. The next time you find yourself boiling two types of veggies, Lifehacker’s Claire Lower recommends dividing one large pot with a small sheet pan and cooking them together… separately....

With their rich, liquid yolks and tender, silky whites, baked eggs are a truly indulgent dish whether served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And unlike poached eggs, they are practically foolproof to make and can be easily scaled up or down, depending on how many people you are serving. And unlike omelets, you don’t have to stand at the stovetop or worry about flipping anything, but you can still flavor baked eggs however you like....

Ah, the quintessential American road trip. Whether you want to spend a few days with the girls exploring antique shops in Virginia or pack up the family in search of the ultimate pie in Texas, planning a trip is exciting. These days, though, traveling in an electric car may lead to a few more pre-trip questions and a bit more coordination. Although these vehicles can save money, renting or using your own electric vehicle (EV) doesn’t have the same familiarity as using a gas-powered car....

There are so many ways to enjoy the sweet goodness of fresh summer corn – grilled over an open fire, slathered in flavored butter, cooked into a skillet of old-fashioned creamed corn, or mixed with fresh okra and tomatoes to create a delicious succotash. The problem with corn is that, when purchased fresh, it tends to quickly dry out and loose flavor. Here is how to choose the best corn and keep it fresh until you are ready to eat it....

I am constantly praising Birmingham’s food scene. From Andrew Zimmern calling it “the hottest small food city in America” to Highlands Bar and Grill being named Most Outstanding Restaurant in America at the James Beard Awards, Birmingham has staked its claim as a great city to grab a bite to eat. When asked by the Southern Foodways Alliance to create a film for their 2021 Spring Symposium with the theme of “Environments and Transformation,” I immediately thought of the Greek restaurateurs who have fed Birmingham since its infancy....

Close your eyes and remember the Before Times for a moment: What did you do before leaving your home for a night on the town? If the answer was “play Kenny Chesney to mellow out,” you would be correct—and you’d have something in common with A-list actor Ashton Kutcher. Recently, Chesney caught up with the Taste of Country Nights syndicated radio show and learned a bit of fascinating intel about the That ’70s Show star....

Krispy Kreme is really thinking out of the (doughnut) box with its latest sweet treat! This week, Krispy Kreme introduced Original Glazed Soft Serve in 10 select markets. These one-of-a-kind ice cream offerings—available now in shakes, cones, and cups—are made with ingredients from the doughnut giant’s secret Original Glazed Doughnut recipe. So, to answer your question: yes, the ice cream tastes just like a Krispy Kreme doughnut. The new lineup includes seven shakes and three soft-serve flavors offered in cups and waffle cones....

During difficult times, we depend on the kindness of our communities more than ever. And country music great Martina McBride is not about to let her community stand alone. With tornadoes earlier this month devastating East Nashville and middle Tennessee and the more recent coronavirus outbreak rapidly escalating in Nashville and beyond, it’s been a tough month for Music City. That’s why in the face of these recent hardships—in partnership with food nonprofit OneGenerationAway—McBride has gotten to work to help ensure those in need get food from community mobile pantries....

Music City has been a little quieter lately. Home to famed live-performance venues like the Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Café, Nashville has long been a mecca for aspiring singers and songwriters, as well as a destination for concert lovers and music aficionados. But COVID-19 has hit the city’s music scene hard, shuttering performance venues and leaving many local musicians without work. A new virtual concert series aims to change that tune....

Flip to any home renovation show on TV, and more often than not, at some point throughout the episode, you’ll see a realtor and clients oohing and ahhing over an open floor plan. Many on the search for a new home also covet the open concept floor plan as a must-have feature when touring potential abodes. But are these layouts really that great, after all? In a recent article, Realtor.com addressed six things in your new home that will soon drive you nuts, citing an open floor plan among the offenders....

Mom-of-three Reese Witherspoon wants to help provide the next generation with the tools needed to run a household through the effective distribution of chores. Despite making up more than half of the labor workforce, women today are still responsible for the majority of chores at home. In fact, research has shown that in 65% of households, the responsibility for most chores still falls on one person. This is called a “chore gap....