My Hometown: Johnson City, Tennessee

Lottie Ryans didn't have to go far to find a diverse place with an arts scene and scrumptious barbecue to raise her three daughters. She settled with her husband in her own hometown.

By Caren Oppenheim

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Thomas Raymond/Fresh Air Photo

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We've got tons of fun barbecue places. A sentimental favorite is the Firehouse Restaurant, which was started by two buddies I went to high school with. It is located in the Walnut Street Fire Hall, an old firehouse with a fire engine from 1925 in the lobby, plus photos and memorabilia. Nothing beats the pork or beef sandwiches with a side of beans. Local cuisine is one of the best parts of living in the South!

Originally published in the March 2011 issue of Family Circle magazine.

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