LILY HANSEN

WORD of MOUTH LONDON CONVERSATIONS
The FOURTH BOOK BY AUTHOR: LILY CLAYTON HANSEN
EDITED BY: MICHAEL LIPKIN
DESIGNED BY: MARISSA ANTKOWIAK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: FERGUS GREER
POLAROIDS BY: LILY CLAYTON HANSEN

Historically, Nashville wasn’t a walking city, but gentrification has forced the pedestrian way of life onto locals. Bike racks, greenway paths, and foot-friendly triangles are cropping up all over Music City. Since no one knows the stomping grounds better than the hotel concierges, we asked these neighborhood advocates where to wander in a weekend.

The pioneering technology explored by Integra LifeSciences brought CEO Jan De Witte back to health care, and he’s thrilled to see the real-world results of its work.

La-Z-Boy Incorporated CEO Melinda Whittington prides herself on being agile, but she’s keeping the company focused on the things that made the furniture maker a household name for nearly a century.

My mom gave me a great love for “How was your day?” conversations growing up, which she made sure we had nightly at the dinner table. I still love to talk to people which is why I have made a career out of this passion. Here’s hoping that Covid-19 will result in a renewed appreciation for talking and some tips to make your conversations as pleasant as possible.

Karen Elsy is peppy, lighthearted, and genuinely apologetic for her dodgy internet service and being a few minutes late to the chat. In her sharp-as-a-knife RP accent, the eternally polite Brit explains that she got behind because she was bathing her golden retriever. Unfortunately, the pup had an accident in the dog bed the night before. In short, even though her closet’s overflowing with couture and her friends are among fashion and entertainment royalty Elson knows how to spin plates - and occasionally let them drop.

It all began with a mission trip.

Barrett Ward landed in Peru on a mission trip days after buying his dream car: a Lexus with a price tag of $300,000, an amount that could have paid for 300 houses in the area he was visiting. On this trip, he watched a young girl walk out of a tin shed, grab dirty water, and drink it. He remembers thinking, “How could a girl so beautiful be living in so much poverty?” He was struck by the shallowness of his mindset, realizing that he equated beauty with money...

I've had a great time recently writing for the financial publication Go Banking Rates, which specifically seeks out creative writers to add some color to money-related advice articles. This is a play-by-play of the best practices pertaining to managing your bank account.

Nashville’s famous hot chicken is a must-try while in Music City. Crunchy, juicy, sticky, and — of course — spicy. Nashville's hot chicken scene is certainly delicious but can be intimidating if you don't know where to go. From the pioneers who created the local specialty of crispy fried chicken heavily doused in hot sauce to those who commercialized it, here’s where we go for the best hot chicken in Nashville. These welcoming spots look after their customers, fry up some mean hot chicken, and offer a great experience.

Thinking about moving to Nashville? Here’s what you need to know about Music City.
Gritty honky tonks and sleek cocktail bars, long-time locals and brand new transplants, classic music, and contemporary tunes — Nashville is a hipster haven with a country vibe, homey but with an edge. And a happening place to move to. Here’s your unofficial guide to what it’s like living in Nashville.

Jordan Ahlers and Shifra Ahlers are the co-owners of Momentum Gallery located in downtown Asheville’s arts district. Since their grand opening in 2017, the husband-wife team has been blown away by the support of the community. In this exclusive interview, I explore how the couple started their business, the organic way in which they have attracted a loyal following, and what they specifically bring to the Asheville arts community.

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from 'The Nashville Edit Volume 7, 2021'
The Big Easy
For creative design and painter right Benji Peck… it starts with embracing what is wrong.
BY LILY CLAYTON HANSEN | PHOTOS BY ADRIAN MORALES
That’s the epiphany artist Benji Peck realized when crafting pieces for his debut abstract series Thinking Feelings. It was a big step for Peck, a self-proclaimed perfectionist. Like many abstract artists, he experienced his first successes in realism. Though he’s always pushed against the n...

Andy and Tonya never cease to become fascinated with the couples whom they design for. However, on one January morning Tonya, the thinker to her husband’s creative, relayed the narrative behind their nonprofit, Unbroken Circle Project. Five years after founding their successful Biltmore Park business, Marthaler Jewelers, the couple’s passion has pivoted.
While the Marthalers have always been givers, using luxury jewelry to help the Lumbee tribe wasn’t on their radar until recently. Yet, the t...