Today, I found myself pulling up to 594 Highway 126 in Bristol, Tennessee, just in time for the grand reopening of the Big Red Apple Shed. The energy in the parking lot told the whole story before I e...
The Commons and the Uncommon If you have ever been to the Commons in Abingdon, you will notice that there really isn’t much that is common about it. It’s an eclectic hub full of interestin...
First Encounters with Gourd Art I had never heard of gourd art until I moved to Bristol, Virginia, and passed through Memphis. We stopped at my wife’s Uncle Jim’s and Aunt Mashelle’s...
A Serendipitous Encounter at the Market Every once in a while, I go to a market expecting to just browse, but instead, I stumble upon a story that absolutely demands to be written. That’s exactl...
The Golden Hour Picnic It’s early summer, and we’ve finished our burgers, crumpling the greasy wrappers and depositing them into covered bins. We return to our blanket, sipping the last of...
On February 28, 2026, I had the rare chance to step back in time at the Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site. I was there to see the reenactment of the Battle of the State of Franklin, which stands out a...
The Mini Highland Cow: A Spark of Connection Carter giggles as the fuzzy creatures crowd him, nuzzling his hand, competing for treats and chin scratches. “Okay, okay! There’s enough for al...
I have always loved food with a story. So, when I first heard about an elusive, intensely flavored wild onion, or Ramp, that drives foragers wild every spring, I knew I had to dig deeper. I wanted to ...
Standing at 215 Volunteer Parkway, the new Explore Bristol Visitor Center feels like it has always belonged here. Modeled after the city’s historic downtown train station and flanked by vintage-...
For farmers in the Appalachian Highlands, February isn’t just about preparing for the thaw—it’s about securing the funding that will fuel your season. The Rural Advancement Foundation Inte...
