My Road Trip to "The Shoals" - Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield & Tuscumbia, Alabama

July 17, 2024 Stacey Rhodes

Stacey at the fountain in downtown Florence, Alabama.

The region called “The Shoals” is actually a cluster of four Alabama cities spanning two counties, tucked right near the Tennessee line next to the Tennessee River. Like Nashville, Muscle Shoals, Florence, Tuscumbia and Sheffield are Music Cities in their own right with their historic recording studios that have created and produced an endless list of hit records with their famous “Muscle Shoals Sound” . With it’s rich history in all genres of music, quaint downtown areas and several other historical sites, and being just a 2+ hour road trip from Nashville, it is the perfect getaway. My family and I packed a lot in our three days in The Shoals, staying in Florence and exploring all four cities.

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama

Stacey and the famous Muscle Shoals sign in front of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

We toured Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield and Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals. Theses studios created so many great hit records from the Rolling Stones (Wild Horses, Brown Sugar), Aretha Franklin (I Never Loved A Man), Paul Simon (Love Me Like a Rock), Wilson Pickett (Mustang Sally), Bob Seeger (Night Moves, Old Time Rock & Roll) Bob Dylan (Gotta Serve Somebody) and so many more in all genres including rock, country and rhythm & blues.

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio control room.

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Many famous artists and musicians played these pianos.

Muscle Shoals Studio’s invoice for “Wild Horses” recorded by the Rolling Stones.

Fame Studio A with the original white Wurlitzer piano.

Fame Studios memorabilia and instruments played by several of the famous artists who recorded there.

The office of the infamous Rick Hall, owner of Fame Studios, with it’s original furniture, gold records and green carpet. Hall was responsible for bringing many famous artists to Muscle Shoals and creating the Muscle Shoals Sound with the amazing group of musicians he brought together, called The Swampers who went on to open Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

Our next stop was Ivy Green, Helen Keller’s birthplace and childhood home in Tuscumbia. The pristine white home, the second house built in the oldest of the four cities by her grandparents, still contains much of the original furniture, rugs and even clothing worn by Helen and her mother. This is where Annie Sullivan, her teacher, came to live with her. The water pump is still behind the house where Annie taught Helen the word “water” and she learned that everything has a name.

Helen Keller’s birthplace and childhood home in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

The actual water pump behind the house where Annie Sullivan taught Helen Keller the word, “water”’ and she learned everything had a name. It was a break through moment for her and opened her life to all she accomplished later, including graduating from college.

The room in the cottage next door to the main house where Helen Keller was born.

The famous bronze of Helen Keller at the water pump, her braille typewriter, braille books, photos and other memorabilia are in a bedroom in the back of the house.

Another must see is the Rosenbaum House, the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed house in Alabama, that was built in 1940 and is an example of his Usonian style homes. Custom furniture, much of it built-in, was constructed onsite for the home. The large windows and use of natural materials connects the indoors to the outdoors. The cantilevered roof is also distinctive to the Usonian style. It is located on a quiet residential street in Florence, Alabama across the street from Stanley Rosenbaum’s parents’ home which is still there. Tours are offered and no reservations are required.

The Rosenbaum House designed and built by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, is located in Florence, Alabama. This is actually the back of the house where guests entered the home from the street and the Rosenbaum’s entered from their carport.

The living room in the Rosenbaum house with furniture designed by Wright and a wall of windows with a long wall of book shelves on the opposite side leading to Mr. Rosenbaum’s study.

The garden outside the Frank Lloyd Wright designed addition completed in 1948 which added another 1,084 square feet in a second L-shape.

The quaint downtown areas and historic districts with restored homes, boutiques, and restaurants were quite nice to stroll around. The flagship store and headquarters of international fashion brand, Billy Reid, is located in historic downtown Florence. Odette, with it’s farm influenced menu with southern and international influences and bright bar is located right next door. We enjoyed a delicious meal there and our server was friendly and very helpful with the menu.

Flagship store of designer and Florence, Alabama resident, Billy Reid.

We enjoyed a delicious meal at Odette in downtown Florence, Alabama.

A delicious dinner in the 360 Grille, a revolving restaurant atop the Renaissance Tower in the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa with a breathtaking view.

We also enjoyed a delicious meal in the 360 Grille atop the Renaissance Tower in the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa. It is a revolving restaurant with a breathtaking view of the Tennessee River and surrounding Florence countryside. With a sophisticated ambiance and impeccable service, I highly recommend it.

We had a very enjoyable stay at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa in Florence during our three days in the Shoals. It is a dog friendly hotel so our two pups got to join us! The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating to our every need, and we were pleased with all our meals.

Of course I had to sit in the big rocking chair in downtown Florence.

Tennessee has so many places to explore, and The Shoals area is a hidden gem. It is on the southern border of what is referred to as Nashville’s Big Backyard and is only a 2+ hours drive just past the Tennessee / Alabama border and an easy scenic drive. We thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you will check out this historically and culturally rich area!

My Visit With Legendary Fashion Designer, Manuel

July 3, 2024 Stacey Rhodes

Stacey Rhodes and Manuel Cuevas at his design studio and showroom.

I was truly thrilled to visit my friend and legendary fashion designer, Manuel Cuevas (known simply as Manuel), at his new design space and showroom a short walk from his home nestled on a scenic hillside south of Nashville. The spacious new structure with bright natural light and it’s high vaulted ceiling is filled with his beautiful clothes, fabrics, rhinestones, leather and memorabilia from his decades of designing and making clothes for country and rock & roll artists as well as movie stars. Autographed photos and guitars line the walls along with gorgeous embroidered and embellished jackets, dusters, and other pieces.

Manuel was busy at work when we arrived at his design space.

Manuel and I talked about his long, interesting and diverse career, and he has a lot of stories! After leaving his home in Mexico, Manuel began his career stateside in Los Angeles where he learned his craft working with other designers. Along the way he started designing one-of-a-kind outfits for well known musicians as well as stars of western movies and television shows. Edith Head, the legendary costume designer, was the person who told him he should be designing clothes for the stars. Manuel is very proud to show you the large horns above the fireplace in his home from the famous Ponderosa, home of Ben Cartwright, the main character on the Bonanza television series. Also in his living room is saloon owner, Miss Kitty’s piano from the Gunsmoke television show.

Beautiful one-of-a-kind custom jacket awaiting it’s owner.

Eventually moving to Nashville in the late 1990’s, Manuel opened his first location in an old Victorian home close to Music Row where I first met him. He has designed and made clothes for an endless list of country and rock stars as well as famous actors including Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Marlon Brando, Jack White, James Dean and dozens more.

I loved hearing all of Manuel’s great stories and thoughts about his life and career.

As a tribute to the United States, Manuel created his 50 State Jacket Collection, researching every state for the details on each jacket in this one-of-a-kind collection. It was an extraordinary accomplishment and the collection was debuted in 2005 at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, where I attended the opening event filled with his adoring fans and friends.

A few of Manuel’s 50 State Jackets that were featured at The Frist Art Museum in 2005. Each one was made from red, white or blue fabric featuring details of each state.

Manuel, also known as the Rhinestone Rembrandt, was busy at work when we arrived, but was welcoming and happy to see us. He proudly showed us around his new building which is eight months old and still a work in progress. He also showed me several things he was working on, and it was so interesting to see the process with patterns hanging on the wall, rolls of thread, bolts of fabric, scissors, sewing machines and other tools of the trade. It was a fun surprise when he flashed open his jacket and embroidered inside was “Designed for: Myself”!

We were graciously invited to join his wife, Ofelia, and Manuel at lunchtime at their house a short walk up the hill from his design studio. I was excited to see his 50 State Jacket collection, in beautiful red, white and blue colors, hanging in an upstairs balcony area. While Ofelia was preparing lunch he gave us a tour of his rustic home where he has lived for 30 years and even made much of the furniture himself. The house has two large rooms, one on the front and one on the back, that are designated as his American Indian room and the other his Mexican room filled with his collections of art and artifacts. The American Indian room is where he has his large horns from Bonanza over the mantle and Miss Kitty’s piano from Gunsmoke. If you step outside you will see a beautiful view of the rolling hills and around back a huge stage. He has hosted many fun parties there over the years with musicians that love Manuel bringing their instruments and performing to a large crowd of friends and family. And of course, there are the obligatory tequila shots. I have enjoyed a couple of those fun parties (including the tequila), too!

Inside Manuel’s jacket was a label embroidered “Designed for: Myself”.

At 91 years young, Manuel still has a gleam in his eyes and is just as excited about what he does as ever with his new design space, many adoring clients, and his wonderful partner and wife, Ofelia. It is not a job to him, but a labor of love. When I asked him what his most favorite part of what he does is, he quickly answered, “Dreaming and thinking about what I will do tomorrow.” Keep on dreaming, Manuel! I know your dreams and legacy will live on forever, my friend.

All photos by Adrian Eric Morales

Love the Suffragette jacket with “Votes for Women” on the sleeve.

A few of Manuel’s autographed guitars and thread collection.

Manuel’s patterns, supplies and memorabilia.

An embroidered shirt, jackets and duster.

Manuel showing me his riveter and rhinestone work.

A photo of Manuel and his embroidered clothes on the wall.

Sewing machine with an outfit in progress.

2024 Iroquois Steeplechase

May 21, 2024 Stacey Rhodes

It was a picture perfect day for the 83rd Iroquois Steeplechase with magnificent horses and gorgeous hats! This Nashville tradition is always a special day with my family and friends, and this was one for the record books. The weather was amazing, and the men and women were dressed to impress in their horse racing finery with proceeds benefiting the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

My longtime friend and milliner, Carol Carr of Palm Beach, created our custom hats with her special magic. These two pieces were actually pulled out of my collection and were originally worn in 2016.

I asked Carol about her inspiration for our hats, and here was her reply: “These hats were inspired by 3 pieces of fabric from my extensive collection of beloved fabrics and clothing, much of it vintage. Taylor’s top hat was created from a bold graphic Japanese t-shirt…a fabulous Italian floral velveteen from the 50's…and a strikingly simple embroidered raindrop pattern cut from a favorite skirt of mine. I wanted to create a bold PAIR of hats meant to be seen TOGETHER creating a color explosion and a photographic moment. I gave your lipstick pink large brim Panama hat texture with a group of multicolored hand dyed silk flowers and some drama with the sweeping delicate ombre feathers trailing behind. The colorful flowers on your hat paired nicely with the bold print on Taylor’s top hat. I was excited to create these for you!!!” As a fun addition to Taylor’s top hat, Carol placed a Boston Terrier dog printed on a piece of fabric stretched across the top that could only be seen from above or when he tipped his hat. It has always been a treat and an honor to wear Carol’s hats!

My photographer extraordinaire, Adrian Morales, snapped these photos!

Note: I am very proud to say I have two Carol Carr hats donated from my collection on display at the Tennessee State Museum that were added when I was inducted into their Costume & Textile Institute.