RSVP Magazine June 2013
68
June 2013 GPAC Gala Promise Ball Birthright of Memphis Gala Wild World of Wine and Beer Home is Where the Heart is Gala Memphis Fashion Weekend Preview Party Q&A with Tina Sullivan
-
Upload
rsvp-magazine -
Category
Documents
-
view
227 -
download
6
description
RSVP magazine is like no other publication in the city of Memphis. What began as simply “The Society Pages” more than a decade ago has evolved into a monthly review with stunning photography and entertaining, informative stories. See for yourself!
Transcript of RSVP Magazine June 2013
J u n e 2 0 1 3
GPAC GalaPromise Ball
Birthright of Memphis GalaWild World of Wine and Beer
Home is Where the Heart is GalaMemphis Fashion Weekend Preview Party
Q&A with Tina Sullivan
RS
VP
4
JUNE 2
013
CONTEN
TS
12HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS GALA
Emily and John Adams
40 WILD WORLD OF WINE AND BEER
Dr. Nakoma Johnson and Michael Johnson
24GPAC GALA
Brandt and Julie Maddox
49 MEMPHIS FASHION WEEKEND PREVIEW PARTY
Tate Wilson and Jessica Toliuszis
57PROMISE BALL
Janet Callicott and Jody Aitken
52BIRTHRIGHT OF MEMPHIS GALA
Mike and Libby Parks
Cover PhotoJenny and Nick Vergos
atHome is Where the Heart is Gala
Photo by Don Perry
ContentsJune 2013
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Chef Kelly English invites RSVP to his popular Restaurant Iris.
Home is Where the Heart is Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12FedExFamilyHouse supporters gathered at The Peabody to raise funds for a homeaway from home for families whose children are receiving treatment at Le BonheurChildren’s Hospital.
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 & 22This man has taken on a new food ministry that will hopefully transform the dietsof those living in food deserts. She’s helping enrich the lives of local seniors bybringing the arts to them. StreetSeens highlight Eugene Champion and MerylKlein.
GPAC Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24New York came to Memphis for one night at the Germantown Performing ArtsCentre.
The Ambassador Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Morgan Cox Snaps to ItThe long snapper for the Baltimore Ravens talks about football and life thereafter.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Q&A with the executive director of the Overton Park Conservancy, Tina Sullivan.
RSVP Room View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36This Collierville playroom offers areas for both adults and kids to enjoy.
Wild World of Wine and Beer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Most of the animals might have gone to bed, but their fans were out in full force atthe Memphis Zoo.
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46, 47, 61 & 62Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
Memphis Fashion Weekend Preview Party . . . . . . . . . . . .49The local fashion scene got thrust into the limelight for one special weekend thatkicked off at the Alchemy Memphis restaurant.
Birthright of Memphis Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Themed “Passport to Mexico,” this benefit drew a festive crowd to the Great Halland Conference Center in Germantown.
Promise Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation rolled out the red carpet for guests atHilton Memphis to help raise funding to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65Wallace Shawn is Coming Right at MeHumor columnist Dennis Phillippi immerses himself in the world of 3-D.
RS
VP
6
JUNE 2
013
Volume XVIII Number IX
June 2013
P U B L I S H E RRoy Haithcock
E D I T O RLeah Fitzpatrick
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R SKelly Cox
Jonathan DevinDennis PhillippiEugene Pidgeon
Suzanne Thompson
A R T D I R E C T O RPatrick Akers
P H O T O G R A P H E R SBaxter BuckDon Perry
Steve Roberts
A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E SChris Pugh
Kristen Miller
A C C O U N T I N GRuth Cassin
E D I T O R I A L I N T E R NRachel Warren
RSVP Memphis is published monthly by
Haithcock Communications, Inc. First class
subscriptions are available for $55.00 per year.
Send name and address with a check to:
Haithcock Communications, Inc.
2282 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
For advertising information contactRoy Haithcock
Phone (901) 276-7787, ext. 101Fax (901) 276-7785
e-mail [email protected]
W E Bwww.rsvpmagazine.com
For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, pleasecontact RSVP Magazine
one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785.
e-mail [email protected]
Follow us on
&
RSVP Memphis Magazine
Copyright 2013 Haithcock Communications, Inc.
RS
VP
7
JUNE 2
013
RSVP STAFF
CHRIS PUGH,ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
901.276.7787, EXT. [email protected]
Chris has been exercising his talent in theadvertising world since 1999. He joinedthe RSVP team in 2009 and brought withhim a love for laughter and creativity.Originally from New Albany, Mississippi,Chris has settled in Memphis and enjoysbeing active in the fashion community.
KRISTEN MILLER,ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE901.276.7787, EXT. [email protected]
Having worked in print advertising for near-ly eight years, Kristen Miller felt it was anatural fit to join the RSVP team as anaccount executive. Kristen, who lives inArlington with her husband and four chil-dren, loves to cook, fish, watch collegeand Arlington Tigers football, spend timewith her family and advertising, of course.
RACHEL WARREN,EDITORIAL INTERN
901.276.7787, EXT. [email protected]
Rachel is passionate about print mediaand has covered many local events inJackson, Mississippi in the past. Shereceived her Bachelor of Arts in Englishfrom Millsaps College, and in 2011, shemoved back to her hometown of Memphis.She is delighted to be part of the RSVPteam as an editorial intern. She loves writ-ing about all the amazing people andplaces in Memphis, enjoying a great bookand chasing a good story.
RS
VP
8
JUNE 2
013
While recently attendingmy grandmother’s93rd birthday party, I
somehow grew curious of allthe things she did for fun inher younger years. Obviouslythe Internet, iPhones, com-puters and video games werenot invented when mygrandmother was growingup in the ’20s and ’30s, so Iknew anything technology-driven was out of the ques-tion. And, of course, familyvacations were likely not fea-sible either, being that shewas one of 11 children andliving during a hard economic time in this country, not tomention the fact that transporting so many kids would be alogistical nightmare.
Once I finally stopped speculating what possibly couldamuse my grandmother as a child, I actually asked her whatactivities she did, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear thather creativity never allowed for boredom. There were daysspent doing backflips into the creek, acting in plays on thetown square, practicing gymnastics, dressing up her siblingsand exploring the family farm, which included riding on thebacks of pigs mind you. Highly amused by her recollections, Ibegan to realize more and more that no matter what crazyways she found to entertain herself, she always made the mostof things—a lesson we could all stand to live by.
Though society today has a plethora of entertainmentoptions to choose from, we often find ourselves bored fromtime to time. I know this to be true from many Facebookposts I see, which leaves me to wonder if people lack creativityor if they simply need a little extra push to get out andexplore and engage in something new. Well, look no furtherfriends, because we are never without a list of happeningshere at RSVP, and we’re happy to share what’s going onaround Memphis in our online events calendar, on ourFacebook page and in the pages of the magazine. And, if you’dever like to suggest an event we might not know about, pleasefeel free to contact us.
In this issue, we feature a variety of philanthropic ben-efits with themes that appeal to different tastes and causesthat span the spectrum. Enjoy perusing each and every one,and next time, we hope to see you in the pages of RSVP. Havea great start to your summer!
Leah [email protected]
From the Editor
Editor’s Correction: In Onsite IIIon page 60 of the May issue, theJunior Auxiliary of ColliervilleBlue Jean Ball was incorrectlylisted as the Junior League ofCollierville Blue Jean Ball.
RS
VP
10
JUNE 2
013
Kelly EnglishChef/Owner of Restaurant Iris, Kelly English Steakhouse and the forthcoming Second Line
SIGN
ATUR
E ME
MPHI
S
Photo by Steve Roberts
Hometown: New Orleans.Your Lucky Charm: Fleur-de-lis.Place You Go to Think: My car.Favorite Song: “Jesus, Etc.” by Wilco.First Car You Drove: 1981 Chrysler LeBaron.Best Memphis Hangout: Earnestine & Hazel’s.Biggest Pet Peeve: People who are not punctual.Favorite Southern Idiom: I’m your Huckleberry.Your Most Annoying Habit: Being overly punctual.Coolest Thing About Memphis: Everything. All of it. Any of it.Best Gift You Ever Received: My education, courtesy of my parents.Your Best Quality: I am both passionate and loyal, sometimes to a fault.Who Would Play You in a Movie: Flounder (Stephen Furst) fromAnimal House.One Goal You’d Still Like to Accomplish: I’ve yet to learn how tomake oysters. That would be cool.Proudest Moment of Your Life: April 2, 2009—Restaurant Iris’ firstanniversary and Food & Wine Best New Chef announcement.Who Inspires You: My wife. Seeing the work she does day in and day out,while still welcoming me home with a smile every night is inspiring, to say theleast.The Highlight of Your Day: It’s a tossup between coming home tomy wife and three dogs and getting to serve both our regular guests and thosewho we are just getting to know.Favorite Ingredient: Salt. One of the things that cannot be conveyed ina recipe is seasoning. That is was separates “good” cooks from “excellent”cooks; an excellent cook knows how to accurately season with salt.Best Advice You Ever Got: 1) John Besh: Cook every meal like you arecooking it for your mother. 2) Mario Batali: If at any time you do not want to goout into your dining room and talk to your guests—whether it be good or bad—then you should pack your knives and go home.
RS
VP
12
JUNE 2
013
Home is Where the Heart is GalaBenefiting the FedExFamilyHouseE
V E N T
Stefanie Schwegman and Amy Dixon Dina and Brad Martin
Nik and Alma Puri Gov. Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam
Robert and Kristina King Pitt and Barbara Hyde
HOME
IS WHE
RE T
HE H
EART
IS GA
LA
Brad and April Britt with Marisa Arriaga and Jeff SmithMark and Karen McGough Gwen Smith and Jimi Jamison
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
The annual FedExFamilyHouse benefit, Home is Where the Heart isGala, was a particularly special one since it also celebrated FedEx’s40th anniversary. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady
Crissy Haslam even took note and came to town to join in the merry-making, with the governor helping open the ceremony in ThePeabody’s Grand Ballroom.
Having toured the FedExFamilyHouse earlier in the day, theHaslams saw firsthand why Memphians are proud to have a place thatserves as a home away from home for those out-of-town families withchildren receiving medical care at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Ofhis tour experience, Gov. Haslam said, “It’s a world-classfacility…what this house represents is a reason why I’m proud to bethe governor of Tennessee.” And to thank the governor for his gen-erosity, a painting has been commissioned of him to hang in theFedExFamilyHouse.
Couples Jenny and Rob Carter and Dina and Brad Martin unit-ed to co-chair the gala, during which a strong force behind theFedExFamilyHouse was recognized for her tireless work in making thefacility a reality. Presented by Brad Martin, the inaugural Susan GrafVolunteer Award went to the award’s namesake, Susan Graf—someoneMartin said shows the spirit of the FedExFamilyHouse. Of the honor,Graf said, “We have served over 10,000 families since opening in2010, but none of this would have happened without volunteers.”
Susan’s husband, Alan Graf, added that with the Grizzliesgame and five other fund-raisers simultaneously taking place thatthere were so many other places those in the audience could have cho-sen to go, but instead they chose to attend the Home is Where theHeart is Gala. Indeed, 500 Memphians came out for the gala, showingtheir support by bidding high in the live auction on items like aBlackberry Farm getaway, a Washington Redskins football experienceand a Caesars Palace vacation. Partygoers also helped fund theFedExFamilyHouse through the “Light Up The House” program,where donations of varying amounts earned patrons a keepsakeFedExFamilyHouse necklace that lit up.
With bright red glowing necklaces on, patrons enjoyed enter-tainment by Memphis’ own Jimi Jamison, best known for his dayssinging with the group Survivor, and Bethany and Kevin Paige, whomarked their third year as performers at the event. Raising $452,000for the FedExFamilyHouse called for a dance party after all!
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Don Perry
RS
VP
14
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
HOME
IS WHE
RE T
HE H
EART
IS GA
LA
Jack and Marilyn Belz
Frank Rogers and Michelle Connors with Rebecca and Jim Matthews
Chris and Senator Mark Norris
Dennis Reber and Maggie McDonald
Jon McCullers and Lauren Mitchell with Aimee and Tom Brabyn
Darrin and Michelle Hope
RS
VP
15
JUNE 2
013
HOME
IS WHE
RE T
HE H
EART
IS GA
LAE V E N T
Karen and Robert Udovich Kristy Street and Stephen Gipson
Carol and Mike Duffy Angela Wehmeyer and Rebecca Yeung
Jerry and Karen Ferguson Barry and Sharon Greenberg
Christina Moran and Christine Wilson Madonna and Billy Bond
RS
VP
16
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
HOME
IS WHE
RE T
HE H
EART
IS GA
LA
Tom and Robin Watson
Sonja Dowdy and Heather Smith Tonya Newsom and Karen Foley Rawleigh and Julie Martin
Rachel and Anise Belz Larry and Dianne Papasan Rebecca Belz and Sam Fargotstein
Dr. Shirley Raines and Robert Canady
Michele and Jeff Maddock
Clay and Casey Tidwell
Hal and Courtney Stansbury
RS
VP
18
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
HOME
IS WHE
RE T
HE H
EART
IS GA
LA
Bill and Jeanine Watts
David and Leigh Ann Walters with Marty and Ann Griffin
Tracy and Ryan Jones
Clay and Tabitha Casey
Jason LaCroix, Bob Bennett and Jane and Ben Amaba
Lisa West and Clare Myers
RS
VP
19
JUNE 2
013
HOME
IS WHE
RE T
HE H
EART
IS GA
LAE V E N T
Marianne and Cory Hartquist
Kay Redes, Mark Pender and Retha Moore
Deidra and Michael Stansbury
Angie Deupree and Misty Stampe
Richard Smith with Philip and Sarah Spinosa
Lori and Steve Jones
RS
VP
20
JUNE 2
013
Eugene ChampionDriving a New Food Outreach Effort
Parked temporarily in a warehouse donated by GeneralPlumbing on Broad, a retired MATA bus is receivingan unusual makeover, namely one that entails a col-
orful paint job depicting fruits, vegetables and musi-cians, as well as a retrofitted interior with shelving andrefrigeration. The seats, save a few, are gone for goodreason. As Eugene Champion, a deacon who serves asthe executive director of Saint Patrick CommunityOutreach, explains, this 45-foot bus is being transformedinto something the city’s never seen: a mobile food mar-ket.
Dubbed The Green Machine, the bus starts mak-ing stops this spring at 15 community facilities in low-income neighborhoods with limited fresh food access.Several Memphians got a sneak peek of it during theunveiling and dedication at St. Patrick’s Catholic Churchthe first Sunday in May, and Champion, who will helpwith the day-to-day management of The Green Machine,couldn’t have been more proud to give tours of hischurch’s newest food ministry—an effort he’s well versedin seeing as he has developed and managed St. Patrick’sFood Ministry programs for more than a decade. In fact,he won the Mid-South Food Bank’s Excellence in PublicService Award for the ministry last year.
St. Patrick Community Outreach wasn’t the onlyentity involved in bringing the mobile food market tofruition however. Community leaders from the VanceAvenue Collaborative, with the assistance of MATA,Healthy Memphis Common Table and the University ofMemphis Graduate Program in City and RegionalPlanning, also helped work on the bus for 18 months.Then there were several students from Hollis F. PriceMiddle College High School on the LeMoyne-OwenCollege campus who did some of the painting. A collabo-rative effort The Green Machine is, but Championstresses that the identification of this need actually cameout of the people who live in food deserts themselves.
“I have more empathy for what the people aregoing through because I’ve lived where there are onlysmaller stores—everything is canned, salty and fatty,” hetells. “And until my mom was 14, she had never been toa grocery.”
Aiming for The Green Machine to operate year-round, Champion says the mobile market will head outfive days a week offering five sections of as much locally-sourced produce (and a few dairy products) as possiblestocked by Easy-Way, which will sell the products at com-petitive prices, and that it will introduce many to vegeta-bles they’ve only heard about, naming eggplant as agreat example. A big screen TV on board will add aneducational component to the mix, showing customershow to prepare produce they buy. And, students fromthe University of Tennessee Health Science Center havevolunteered to help with nutrition and health education.
Fund-raising is still ongoing for the effort, butChampion has no qualms about The Green Machine’ssuccess, chiming in that MATA has offered another busif needed in the future. More importantly, he says themobile market should demonstrate that people in fooddeserts want to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, whichwill ultimately improve nutrition and reduce obesity inMemphis.
Perhaps thinking how things might be differentif he had had access to a mobile food market earlier inlife, Champion says, “A lot of illnesses are born out ofpoor nutrition; I have hypertension, diabetes and kidneydisease.” This revelation provides even more reason whyhe’s ready to move full speed ahead with The Big GreenMachine.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
STRE
ETSE
EN
RS
VP
22
JUNE 2
013
Meryl KleinKeeping Seniors Active with Art
Whereas one might normally head to the DixonGallery and Gardens or the Orpheum Theatre forexposure to the visual and performing arts, the
senior population in Shelby County doesn’t alwayshave the option of traveling to those venues. Thatdoesn’t mean those aged roughly 65 and older wouldn’tenjoy doing so, and as pointed out by Meryl Klein, thefounder and executive director of Creative Aging Mid-South, the socialization component that comes fromattending arts-related happenings is quite beneficial forthis group.
She says, “People who remain social maintaintheir physical skills for a longer time than those whodon’t, and there are studies, with some out of theRush Alzheimer’s Disease Center [in Chicago], toprove it.”
After going back to school at Miami Universityto earn a master’s degree in gerontology, which is thestudy of the biological, psychological and social aspectsof aging, Klein decided to do something herself toenhance seniors’ cognitive and social well-being. Out ofthis aspiration grew Creative Aging Mid-South, a non-profit that incorporated in November 2003. In early’04, Creative Aging received tax-exempt status, and bythe end of that year, the organization was doing smallshowcases for activity directors of places where seniorslive and/or meet. Klein began programming in earnestin 2005, with 250 arts programs offered that year toseniors. Fast-forward to 2013, and Creative Aging willbring an estimated 600 programs, inclusive of work-shops (think fused glass, poetry, creative writing,painting and weaving, to name a few) and high qualityperformances by paid local artists to about 4,000 sen-iors in 54-55 facilities that range from independent liv-ing communities to those providing care to elders withmedical issues. There is no cost for these programseither.
“We reach each person a minimum of 12 timesa year,” says Klein, “and I have calculated that annual-ly there are about 52,000 encounters with seniorsthrough our programming. And for those wondering ifa visit matters to someone with dementia, it does. Acool fact is that the feelings elicited by a visit to apatient with dementia far outlast the memory of thatvisit.”
The first program Klein ever did for seniorswas actually for dementia patients in Cincinnati, whereshe previously worked as the executive director for theArts & Humanities Resource Center for Older Adults.She scheduled an actor to do an Abraham Lincolnmelodrama, which 35 minutes in included theGettysburg Address. Klein remembers hearing a low-functioning female patient start reciting the addresswith the actor, and has been forever amazed by thatmoment. She goes on to say that what the brain can dois amazing, offering up another instance of proof whenshe talks about a stroke victim who couldn’t speak butwas able to sing with some Creative Aging vocalists.
Participants don’t just sit in the wings though,as many show off their own skills in the “Artists’Showcase” and the Creative Aging Variety Show, thelatter of which is scheduled for July 28 from 3-5 p.m.at Kirby Pines Retirement Community. Seniors audi-tion for the showcase, and those selected in the pasthave wowed Klein with their diverse talents and theway they engage their audience. Last year, pianists,vocalists, comedians, a ballet dancer and a hula dancerall shared the spotlight.
“I call what we do happy geriatrics—it’s amaz-ing the way things move people,” Klein smiles.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
STRE
ETSE
EN
RS
VP
24
JUNE 2
013
GPAC Gala“A New York State of Mind”E
V E N T
Lynn and Kevin Foley Teresa and Forrest Owens
Pat and Larry Scroggs Phil Cannon and Cindy Brock
Tim and Melanie Brahm Bob and Susan Baker
GPAC
GAL
A
Ed and Ginny Brundick with Jennifer and Paul ChandlerSharon and Edwin Thorpe Karen and Dr. Jimmy Klemis
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Few can put on an event like the people at the GermantownPerforming Arts Centre do each and every year with aplomb.When guests arrived at this year’s GPAC Gala, they were directed
to the side entrance of the theater, where they strolled by an area thatrepresented Central Park, in keeping with the theme, “A New YorkState of Mind.” On the way to the door was a street vendor, whooffered partygoers a bite of wood-fired pizza, and, as always, whenthey reached the door, patrons of the arts were greeted with a smileand a glass of sparkling wine.
As attendees strolled in, they began their journey on a tourthrough New York City. Silent auction items lined the wall, and therewas a separate room representing the Diamond District, sponsored byMednikow. After people had plenty of time to peruse the myriad selec-tion of silent auction items, they proceeded into the theater and ontothe stage, where four different stations were positioned around thetables. Each of the stations reflected a bit of New York life, includingthe smoked salmon bagel bites and mini hot dog bar on Broadway,chicken satay with spicy Thai sauce and Szechuan style shrimp skew-ers from Chinatown, caramelized pork belly sliders and Balthazarpommes frites from SoHo and caprese skewers along with Rao’s bakedziti, which represented Little Italy.
Joyce Cobb entertained the crowd before Dr. Jorge Calzada,chairman of the board, offered opening comments. This year, PatSmith was presented with “The Chairman’s Award,” an accolade givento a member of the Germantown Performing Arts Guild who has doneoutstanding work. Sandy Goldstein was honored as this year’s “Patronof the Arts.”
After the awards, a live auction was held, and auctioneer JeffMorris got the crowed fired up to bid on trips, jewelry and other luxu-ry items. After the bidding wars ended, Joyce Cobb took the stageagain, along with singer Gary Johns and instrumentalists TimGoodwin, Tom Lonardo and Tony Thomas. Though the group had noformal name, they were dubbed “The Manhattans” at the gala, amoniker they said just might stick.
This fund-raiser is one many people look forward to all yearlong. “I always come,” said Tommie Pardue, long-time devotee of thearts. “It’s one of the social events of the season.”
Story by Suzanne ThompsonPhotos by Baxter Buck
RS
VP
25
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
GPAC
GAL
A
Dava Dickson and Jordan Dobberstein
Pamela and Kevin Mack Lacy and Tripp Washburn Valerie and Jeff Morris
Linda and Jim Lloyd Sally and Rocky Janda Bonnie and Knox Everson
Liz and Rouben Simonian
Porter and Alexa Robinson
Ericka Gunn-Hill and Brandon Hill
Leslie and Alper Cetingok
RS
VP
26
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
GPAC
GAL
A
Greg and Elizabeth Laurence with Jocelyn and Kinton Collins
Dr. Jorge Calzada and Lynn Calzada
Tommie Pardue, Chris Brubeck and Deni Hirsh
Joan and Tad Foote
Diane Turk, Ann Parberry, Beth Washington and Debbie Baker
RS
VP
27
JUNE 2
013
GPAC
GAL
AE V E N T
Jack and Margaret Briscoe Preston and Karen Dorsett
Chris and John Krosnes Janet and John Golon
Emily Capadalis and Tom Love Donna and Roy Cohen
Susan and Greg Gilluly Kavita and Sandeep Samant
RS
VP
28
JUNE 2
013
The Ambassador SeriesBy Eugene Pidgeon
THE
AMBA
SSAD
OR S
ERIE
S
MORGAN COX SNAPS TO ITIf you are nearing the age of enlighten-
ment and your attention spans a littlefurther than the last installment of
“American Idol,” you may still have anopen account at the memory bank.Without doing the Google Search andRescue side-step, close your eyes, clickyour heels and make a withdrawal. Try toremember where you were and what wasoccupying the headlines on Saturday, April26, 1986.
One event would forever brand anindelible scarlet letter into the 116th day ofthe year. It was truly a date to live ininfamy. An explosion at the ChernobylNuclear Power Plant in the Ukraine regionof the former USSR unleashed hell onearth, with consequences so profound thatnow more than a quarter of a century afterthe fact the causes and effects of the disas-ter are still being calculated. Thus, onApril 26, 1986 while an apocalypse of fireand brimstone was consuming the SovietUnion, Morgan Cox was making his earth-ly, albeit quieter, debut in Collierville.
Although his family heralded hisarrival joyfully as a gift of the heavens, hewas received into this world with a consid-erably less conflagrant fanfare than whatmight attend the furor of a Level 7 nuclearmeltdown. Let Chernobyl be dangedbecause 27 years later no one would arguethat Morgan Cox is now a man on fire. Hislight burns brightly and without his everhaving had to glow green in the dark. Andfor the love of God, Morgan Cox does playa mean game of football. There is a SuperBowl victory ring to prove it.
As an Academic All-SEC honorsgraduate of the University of Tennessee inKnoxville, Cox was a walk-on special teamsplayer for the Volunteers. He was a first-string long snapper for three full seasonsfrom 2007-2009. On May 6, 2010, Cox wassigned by the Baltimore Ravens as anundrafted free agent. He replaced MattKatula in the starting position of longsnapper just a few weeks before the begin-ning of the 2010 season. On February 3,2013, Cox helped the Ravens secure thenational championship when they wonSuper Bowl XLVII against the SanFrancisco 49ers at the Super Dome in NewOrleans.
When Cox signed with the Ravens,the regular NFL draft had already conclud-ed. However, it is better to be signed laterthan never. “The contract I signed was dif-ferent from the one most rookie playerswill sign,” Cox explains. “My deal was fora one-year contract—the league minimum.Some rookies will sign for three or fouryears…it just depends on how your agentworks the deal.”
Sports positioning, like any other
intensely competitive endeavor, can be acut-throat nightmare. Yet, surprisingly,there was no bad blood shed between Coxand Katula when he replaced the six-yearveteran. “He was a great long snapper,”Cox assures. “I have always admired Matt,and we are still good friends to this day.But, I was competing for the job againsthim.”
As challenging as playing in just aregular season game must be, the pres-sures associated with an appearance in theSuper Bowl have to be immeasurably moreoppressive. Still, Cox takes it all in stride,saying, “If you make it to the postseason,it is a lot different in terms of who is com-peting. In the regular season, you are lob-bying for a play-off spot. And if you get tothe play-offs, you are playing for a muchbigger prize. The stakes get higher, and the
pressure is much greater…and the reasonwe get paid…is to make it to the SuperBowl.”
So, what exactly is a long snapper?For one thing, a long snapper is used onlyfor field goals, extra points and punts. Coxclearly interprets the responsibilities of hisposition when he says, “The regular centerat most will only make a five-yard snap tothe quarterback. I will snap the ball eightyards back for field goals and 15 yards fora punt.”
There is also a considerable differ-ence in physical size between a regular cen-ter and a long snapper. “Our center lastyear outweighed me by about 60 pounds,”Cox surmises. “A lot of people will equatethe long snapper with the center, but it isa completely different position. The onlysimilar relationship is that both playersthrow a ball through their legs.”
Football has been very good toMorgan Cox. His place in the Ravens line-up is secure for now. His place in Ravenshistory is secure for the ages. But if it allfell apart for him on the field tomorrow,Cox would barely miss a beat. He has hispriorities off the field in order.
A newlywed, Cox also possesses aBachelor of Arts degree in finance and amaster’s in sports management, achievingboth from UT Knoxville. As a devoutChristian, Cox spends his spare time inservice to others. The Collierville FoodPantry is one of the many charities to ben-efit from the humanitarian efforts made bythis local success story. Cox humbly sub-mits, “I do not have a single charity I sup-port…my mission, I believe, is to help allpeople who are in need. I’ve worked withthe Special Olympics, and I really supporta program called Best Buddies. There is achapter in Nashville, but we are trying toestablish one in Memphis. Best Buddieshelps intellectually and developmentallydisabled people to have friends and to notfeel so alienated.”
How does he maintain his Chris-tian journey as a public figure in a societypossessed of a more secular sensibility? Hesays, “My wife helps me to stay account-able, as do my friends and family. And, myfaith in God continues to keep me ground-ed.” Are you listening Chernobyl?
Phot
o by
Lau
ren
Cox
RS
VP
30
JUNE 2
013
Vox PopularQ&A with Tina SullivanVO
X PO
PULA
R
RSVP: What are those things you feel like you’ve accomplishedalready with the Overton Park Conservancy, and are there any newgoals you now have in mind since you’ve been here a year?
Sullivan: When I started, my goal was really to figure out how toaccess and cultivate the people who were already actively supportingthe park—how to get them involved in the conservancy’s work and toget the conservancy and those park users to share information andcombine efforts. The park has a long history of people working forthe park, advocating for the park, keeping it up, picking up litter,so I knew these park supporters existed. Our challenge has justbeen to get them moving with the conservan-cy, and I think we’ve done that pretty well.The Team Overton Park program, which is avery structured volunteer program, allows usto have good communication with those vol-unteers, sometimes daily. As the park growsin popularity and more and more peoplevisit—Overton Bark has already shown us thatpeople really want to come here and theRainbow Lake Playground is going to bringeven more people here—we know that we’regoing to have to find a place for everyone topark. So, that will be a challenge over thenext couple of years. We’re trying to encour-age people to access the park in ways otherthan driving in, so to do that, we have tomake it welcoming for pedestrians and bicy-clists. Our next slate of projects will includeimproving those access points and makingthem welcoming.
RSVP: How is the conservancy’s manage-ment of Overton Park different from whenthe City of Memphis was managing it?
Sullivan: Well, the conservancy is able toaccess sources of funding that the citycouldn’t access, so we’re able to have a moreaggressive schedule with the landscaping and the cleaning crew. Thebig difference is in how the park looks. People tell us every day thatthe park has never looked better. The second major difference isthat people are starting to learn how to contact the conservancy—they’re starting to become familiar with the conservancy. They cancontact us with ideas, suggestions, things they want to see andthings that need attention. I think that allows people to feel thisengagement; it gives them a sense of ownership and connectionwhen they have access to the people who are working in the park.We try to make sure that the people who are using the park haveinfluence on how we make decisions about the park.
RSVP: What are some of Overton Park’s standout features in youropinion?
Sullivan: First of all, it’s very old; it’s 111 years old. It was designedby a notable landscape architect [George Kessler] who was a pro-tégée of the architect [Frederick Law Olmsted] who designedCentral Park. So, just the design of the park itself is notable, and ithasn’t changed a whole lot in 111 years. You know, there are histori-cal things that have happened here, like with the Citizens toPreserve Overton Park stopping I-40—that was a major historicalevent—and Elvis played one of his first public performances at theLevitt Shell. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art opened here in1916. We have the oldest continuously operating golf course in thisarea. That history and that enduring design make the park unique,
and it also reflects the Memphis culturesbecause we have art here with the MemphisCollege of Art and the Brooks Museum andmusic here with the Levitt Shell and thedrum circle that meets every Sunday, forinstance. Part of what we’re trying to do issimply highlight all the great stuff that’shappening and been happening regardless ofthe conservancy’s presence. We’re trying toget people to talk to us and share their sto-ries and photos about the fascinating thingsgoing on through the Overton Park Storiesproject.
RSVP: I understand that the conservancyfunds the park’s upkeep through city tax dol-lars and private investments, but in 2015,will the funding from the city taper off?
Sullivan: We have two different sources offunding from the city. One is an annualoperations allocation, and that will happenevery year throughout our contract with thecity, which is for 10 years. Then, there is acapital allocation for four years in a decreas-ing amount each year, so 2015 will be thelast year for that.
RSVP: What are ways then that the conservancy is planning to urgethe public to give donations to preserve Overton Park’s future?
Sullivan: Everyone who visits the park and who uses the parkshould be a member of the conservancy. I kind of consider it like agym membership, but it’s only $25 a year. If you’re running on thetrails or if you’re using the playground or the dog park, then wehope you appreciate what the conservancy is doing and are willingto support that financially. Our challenge, of course, will be toreach everyone with that message. We’re working on our signageprogram now.
RSVP: I have heard that the conservancy is working on better secu-rity in the park, so what are some different ways it’s trying to dothis?
If you haven’t visited Overton Park in a while, you might be amazed by the transformations that have takenplace or are set to do so, including the much-needed renovation of the Rainbow Lake Playground, a bike pathand plaza for the East Parkway entrance, the removal of privet debris from the Old Forest, the visible pres-
ence of Team Overton Park volunteers, 400 new trees planted and the renovation of the formal gardens. All ofthese positives have come about thanks to the management of the year-and-a-half old Overton Park Conserv-ancy, of which Tina Sullivan oversees as its executive director. Celebrating her one-year anniversary with thenonprofit last month, Sullivan admits the OPC accomplished so much in its first year that the staff had towork hard to keep what it did reasonably condensed in the group’s first newsletter. “It’s been a great year!”Sullivan says, and RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick couldn’t agree more, as she interviewed the executive directoracross from another popular addition, the Overton Bark dog park. In order to continue with the park’supswing, Sullivan knows that more awareness needs to be generated about the benefits of the park to the cityand invites everyone to come out to the Greensward for the park’s first-ever family festival, A Day ofMerrymaking, scheduled for June 8 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Phot
os b
y Do
n Pe
rry
RS
VP
31
JUNE 2
013
RS
VP
32
JUNE 2
013
VOX
POPU
LAR Sullivan: The Team Overton Park program is one way…we talked to
the Memphis Police Department quite a bit, and their advice was totry to make sure we had more of a positive, visible presence in thepark, or more people who looked like an extension of OPC—havingpeople wear Team Overton Park tee shirts that say “Volunteer” onthe back. If we can recruit enough volunteers that there are a few ofthose here all the time, then people who are visiting the park feelsafer because they feel like there’s somebody they can go to and thatthey know how to answer questions or know what to do if there’ssomething that needs to be reported. But, it also sends a message toanybody who’s looking for opportunities to do something bad thatthey’re being watched. If one of our Team Overton Park volunteerssees someone who appears to be scoping out cars in the parking lot,then they know they should call the non-emergency police numberand also report that information to us. That information includesthe date, time, what the conditions were like and what the suspi-cious person looked like so that we can start to compile information,and if we start to see trends, we can report those trends to MPD.That’s already worked once. We’ve been able to report some informa-tion to MPD that MPD did not have and that no one else had report-ed, and that came from one of ourTeam Overton Park volunteers. We’vealso installed security cameras, andthere will be one installed at the EastParkway Playground when we installnew restrooms over there. Those feedinto the Real Time Crime Center, sothey’re being monitored by MPD.
RSVP: Before the conservancy evenlaunched, didn’t people meet at MCAto say what elements they wanted thepark to have going forward?
Sullivan: That was part of the SpeakUp! campaign, and I was actually oneof the volunteers in that campaign.We were surveying people online, anda few of us were walking around withclipboards asking people to take a sur-vey. We asked people what they likedabout Overton Park, what they wantedto see improved and whether theywould support a conservancy. When people gave their answers forwhat they wanted to see, that list became our list of projects for thefirst five years. We’ve just been slowly ticking items off that list,including an improved playground, a dog park, restrooms and mak-ing the park cleaner and safe. We’ll probably do another survey nextyear just to reconnect and see what the next round of great ideas willlook like.
RSVP: I know the new Rainbow Lake Playground set to open thissummer was planned with Overton Park in mind, so can you explainhow it accomplishes that?
Sullivan: So, it’s a unique setting—it’s adjacent to the Old Forest,this 10,000-year-old forest. We drew inspiration from the forest andpulled that into the playground design, so what you’ll see are naturalmaterials, natural colors and elements that are designed to look likesomething you might see in the forest. For example, the concretetunnel [The Big Green Mound designed by Bernhard Meck] isshaped to look like a fallen log that’s been covered over with earth.Then there’s a little outdoor room that’s shaped to look like a treetrunk that’s been cut off. The [playground] surface is wood fibermulch instead of the primary color rubberized surface. The play-ground is based on the idea that kids naturally like to explore innature, and we hope that as kids age out of the playground that thenext step for them is to explore the Old Forest. We also will havesome of those unique Overton Park elements, such as a drum circlein the playground and the National Ornamental Metal Museummetal sculpture that will function as a musical instrument, whichreferences that art and musical heritage that you find here inOverton Park.
RSVP: What specifically are the renovations being done to RainbowLake Playground that people might want to know about?
Sullivan: First of all, we expanded the footprint. We are adding somebig elements that are designed to give kids that sense of adventure,
so there’s the climbing structure that’s a series of platforms andramps so kids can get lots of movement in. There’s the cargo netthat the kids have nicknamed the “Spiderwebs.” Then, there’s TheBig Green Mound, and there are just elements that are interactiveand bring kids together. The Mighty Oak is the outdoor tree trunkroom, and it will have building blocks in it. I’m actually pretty excit-ed about the hammock swings myself. There will be chess tables,and I really hope those lead to some intergenerational play. I learnedchess from my grandmother, so I’m hoping that the grandparents inour community will come out and teach kids to play chess.
RSVP: Why do you feel these renovations were necessary for the play-ground?
Sullivan: Well, the old playground hadn’t been renovated in morethan 20 years. We had to take down a couple of swing sets becausethey were rickety, and it wasn’t going to last much longer in thestate it was in. My overarching goal for the park is to really createthat community gathering place, so that means we have to createamenities that are going to draw people in and bring new users to
the park.
RSVP: Another big project the conser-vancy is working on is a bicycle pathand plaza for the East Parkwayentrance. Can you share some details?
Sullivan: This will be another exampleof Overton Park celebrating its artisticheritage, as the local metal artistTylur French is designing the entrygate. This is part of a larger project,the Overton Broad Connector projectthat will bring people off theGreenline, down Tillman, down BroadAvenue on the protected cycle track,and then they’ll cross East Parkwayand enter the park. When they enterthe park, they’re going to have thisgrand arrival with this metal sculpturemade with bikes. It’s really honoringthe emerging bike culture inMemphis. There will be a plaza there
after they pass through that’s styled to look like a bike sprocket, andit will be shady there with seating and a water fountain. Then, therewill be a hard surface connector trail that will take cyclists to theinternal paved park roads. Right now if you sit over there for anylength of time, you’ll see cyclists riding across the grass.
RSVP: Do you feel like Memphians are starting to see the potentialof Overton Park since these most recent projects began?
Sullivan: I think people feel proud and are starting to value the parkmore. They’re definitely talking about it more—I get e-mails all thetime from former Memphians about the improvements. We’re in themiddle of wonderful development happening within the area, and Ifeel like Memphians are reinvesting in the middle of the city. Thisputs pressure on us to keep up with the pace and with the quality ofwhat’s going on, and I want that momentum to continue—it’s whatdrives our frenzied pace.
RSVP: Can you share with me what activities will be taking placeduring Overton Park’s A Day of Merrymaking on June 8?
Sullivan: Well, we’re looking for ways to do things with the BrooksMuseum and its education curators, so they’re going to be at theevent doing an art zone with some type of interactive arts and crafts,as will Art Center Memphis and Front Porch Art. We’ll have a musicstage for the Mighty Souls Brass Band and our headliner, JohnKilzer, as well as a storytelling stage, where several people, includingWilly Bearden, will be telling stories. I think we’re going to have ahealth and fitness zone. The YMCA is hosting a kids’ zone wherewe’ll have kids’ games and activities. Val Russell and her aerial per-formance troupe, Valeria’s Wings, will be bringing in this Europeanstreet fair vibe, and we’re carrying that theme throughout the event.We’ll have food trucks, and then we’ll be celebrating the one-yearanniversary of the Hollywood Feed-sponsored Overton Bark, sothey’ll have a huge area with a dog agility course and dog-friendlyvendors. See overtonpark.org/a-day-of-merrymaking for more info.
RS
VP
36
JUNE 2
013
RSVP
ROO
M VI
EW
The playroom in the Brown family’s home strikes just the right bal-ance between whimsy and sophistication. Tucked into one corneris a turret-like “secret hideaway” complete with a child-sized
access ladder and its own privacy drapes. Alongside this fanciful fea-ture is an adult-friendly window seat with toile lumbar pillows andbrass library lamps wall-mounted for reading. Custom-made, jute-col-ored curtains can be drawn to separate the gambrel-ceiling mediaroom that extends from one end of the play space. A Greek key-inspired, dentil edge on the valance of these curtains, as well asbroad, mint-green stripes on the playroom walls, suggest theenchantments of a circus big top…without being over the top.
With three children ranging in age from teenaged to under 2years old, it was a challenge to create a family area that is truly forthe whole family. But working closely with interior designer HeidiDawson, Jennifer Brown was able to realize a completely customspace that will accommodate the couple (which includes her hus-band, Stacey) and their children as they grow.
RSVP ROOM VIEW
Top: The family room has just enough whimsy to be playful without sacrificing style. The Greek keytrim on the custom curtains suggests a carnival big top. A "secret nook" in the corner recalls a fairy-tale turret; accessed by a child-sized ladder and boasting its own drapes, this spot is perfect for gig-gling between best friends. Above: Separated from the family room by heavy blackout curtains, thewindowless media room is a great place to chill out. Dimmable theater-style wall sconces and a com-modious sofa set the mood, while a low-profile entertainment center with plenty of storage keepsclutter at bay.
Interview by Kelly Cox | Photos by Steve Roberts
(continued on page 39)
RS
VP
39
JUNE 2
013
RSVP: Walking in, the curtains to the media room really set thetone and draw my eye. Tell me about them.
Jennifer: These were custom-made by Jim Nabors of Fabric By TheSquare in Collierville. They’re very heavy, and, of course, I knewmy children were likely to be swinging from them like Tarzan in thejungle, so Jim took steps to further anchor the construction at thetop. On the media side, they have blackout fabric, and their weightactually blocks a lot of sound, too. They frame the space, andthey’re a great solution for what could have been an awkward-shaped room.
RSVP: Speaking of solutions, how did you prepare for the clutterproblem?
Jennifer: Storage is hidden everywhere! There are pull-out drawersunder the window seat, shelves under the dust ruffle of the littlesecret hideaway. The closet was sort of a weird walk-in situationthat we changed up so that the kids have a creativity nook, andthen you open up this separate small door in the wall to accessmore storage. Since I have my home office in this room, I had pull-out drawers made to house the printer and everything.
RSVP: What informed your choice of fabrics and colors?
Heidi: Durability was a big consideration. And, I tend to love white,but white wouldn’t have been the most sensible option over time.So we went with really natural neutrals. This is heavy linen on thewindow seat and armchairs—it’s the correct weight for kids jumping!
Jennifer: I knew there would bedirty feet, but everything’s treat-ed and maintained by Fiber-Sealof the Mid-South, so it’s not abig deal. Also, we started thisproject when my 3-year-old daugh-ter was a year old. And then alongcame her baby brother, so we want-ed a gender neutral color scheme.
Heidi: It’s light and bright withoutbeing too feminine. The teal trimof the curtains ties right in withthe toile, and the mint green onthe walls we pulled from the fabricthat we used to cover the cork-board behind Jennifer’s home-officecomputer.
RSVP: Moving into the mediaroom, I love these dimmablesconces on the wall. They reallyimpart the feel of a movie theater.
Jennifer: I know! Heidi has soldme on the idea that all lightsshould be dimmable. There’s tons of storage in this room too, butit’s so low-profile you hardly notice it. And, the flat-screen at eye-level I think is really intimate and kid-friendly.
RSVP
ROO
M VI
EW
Left: One wall of the playroomserves as a home office forJennifer. A corkboard coveredin fashionable fabric puts thefun in functional, while twinsconces keep it bright. Above:The playroom closet wasturned into a creativity nookthat can be closed away whennot in use. Jennifer has plansto add a mirror for playingdress-up to the children's artboard and bookshelves. Thegiant plush giraffe is a favoriteof Jennifer's toddler son.Below: Dixie, the family dog,appears to be color-coordinat-ed with the playroom fabrics,which were chosen with an eyetoward durability. The neutral-hued, heavy linen upholstery istreated by Fiber-Seal of theMid-South for easy cleaning.
RS
VP
40
JUNE 2
013
WIL
D WOR
LD O
F WIN
E AN
D BE
ERE V E N T Wild World of Wine and Beer
A Roaring Good Time
Amanda Hoeksema, Lisa Kopp and Mindy Dunn
Corey and Ashley McCullough
Debbie and David Newsom
Kristi Murrell and Anthony Smith
Michelle Moore and Danielle Wilson
Lewis Marshall and Connie Johnston
Brad and Sarah Morris
Kim Love and Jeany Dionne
Michael Kelly and Emily Burford
With rock band Kid Ego playing Toto’s famed ’80s song “Africa,”the vibe of the zoo’s annual Wild World of Wine and Beer bene-fit was definitely relaxed for this crowd of animal fanatics. Many
sporting their spring ensembles for the first time this year, partygo-ers embraced the mild temps, as did some of the zoo’s delightfulinhabitants, which came out for a special show-and-tell this night.
For starters, there was an Eastern indigo snake, a hawk anda screech owl being taken throughout the courtyard by zoo staff.“Calvin” the skunk held his own on one of the silent auction tables,coincidentally next to his paw painting that resembled a cluster offlowers. While animal presenter Lindsey Bock told intrigued onlook-ers about the 4-year-old skunk, one noticed that lots of silent auctionartwork had been created by other zoo creatures, including a sea lionbrush painting by “Andrew” named “Night Swim,” a penguin foot-print painting by “Nymphadora,” an elephant footprint paintingcourtesy of “Tyranza” and a giant panda paw painting by “Ya Ya.”Bock smiled at guests’ reactions to the one-of-a-kind selections andsaid, “We get creative!” Many other items were up for bids that per-tained to the animal theme, but none were so unique as those thatoriginated from the animals themselves.
The fun didn’t stop with bidding though, as 35 wines and sixspecialty beers were up for sampling thanks to a generous donationby Southwestern Distributing. Grouped into categories by region,wines came from California and Oregon stateside and also fromArgentina, Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealandand Spain. Meanwhile, the brews were sourced from BrooklynBrewery and Ghost River Brewing. To help wash down the beverages,the zoo’s own Lancer Catering provided pick-up nibbles like chipsand salsa, and King Cotton Meats amassed a long line for thosewanting a taste of its various flavored sausages, from Cajun smokedand King Keilbasa to original smoked and cheddar.
AutoZone presented the 15th annual Wild World of Wine andBeer, an event that happens to be the zoo’s largest annual conserva-tion fund-raiser. Proceeds help support the Conservation ActionNetwork, which engages in local and global conservation research.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Don Perry
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.comPassword: RSVP
RS
VP
41
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
WIL
D WOR
LD O
F WIN
E AN
D BE
ER
George and Kelly Methvin with Kristin and Michael New
Deanna Patmore, Sigita Larson, Birgit Nimmervoll and Esmé Waanderst
John Marshall and Holly ChampionRob Bledsoe and Verity Goodell
Bick Hall and Jaquelyne HurleyMark and Shana Fristik
RS
VP
42
JUNE 2
013
WIL
D WOR
LD O
F WIN
E AN
D BE
ERE V E N T
Ryan and China Jenkins
Charlie and Laurie Durham
Curtis and Natalie Clifton
Rebecca and Will FavaAmy and Bart Doby
Janeal and Larry Humber
Steve McBay and Amber Linville
Chris and Angela Visconti
Louis Ghawji and Lindsey Volner
Carrie Howell and Tonya Wells
Katie Kidd and Richard Blount
RS
VP
43
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
WIL
D WOR
LD O
F WIN
E AN
D BE
ER
Jonny Ballinger, Rosemary Ballinger, Lisa Stevens and Lynn Ballinger
Rachel and Jerry Lackey with Jimmy and Tonya Hoskins
Candice Fleming and Robbie WheelerTony Stafford and Gail Karr
Trina Barrett and Marilyn DavisMyron Driver and Courtney Moore
RS
VP
44
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
WIL
D WOR
LD O
F WIN
E AN
D BE
ER
Justin Garofalo, Rachael O’Dea, Christy Colley and Adam Baker
Kierstein and John TothSean Clarke and Samantha Stewart
Terrence Walton and Mattie JohnsonBryan Hill and Shelby Swink
Alan and Joy AdamsDavid Branch and Jill Maybry
RS
VP
45
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
WIL
D WOR
LD O
F WIN
E AN
D BE
ER
Lisa and Johnny McFarland with Susan and David Waldrip
Carrie Hahn, Kelly Phillips and Melissa Barnes
Rod Vazquez, Lindsay Morris and Anna Utsey
Tammy Posey, Libby Shea and Laurie Whitney
RS
VP
46
JUNE 2
013
ONSITE Onsite I
Elaine Levine and Bari Eiseman
Pat Massengill and Kelley Morice
Mary Sue Hazelwood, Marsha Cayce and Mary Jane Criss
K.C. Griffin and Kaisa Marshall with “Annie”
Debbie Newsom, Jonathan Steenerson and Leah Walker
Misty Tapp and Sonya Cochran
Skeet Haag, Crystal Gayle and Frank Gattuso
Iris Coetzee, Jeanette Coetzee and Willie Brooks
Jen Andrews and Rashana Lincoln
Polly Harvard and Laura Bell
Ave Maria Silent Auction and Concert Series
Ave Maria held its 12th annualSilent Auction and Concert Seriesat the Siena Performing ArtsCenter at St. Agnes Academy.Country legend Crystal Gayle wasthis year’s performer, with morethan 300 fans pouring into thebuilding for a chance to hear theaward-winning singer and raisefunds for the residents of AveMaria Home. Prior to the con-cert, guests sipped on spirits andmunched on heavy hors d’oeuvresprovided by the St. Francis ofAssisi’s Knights of Columbus,which included shrimp cocktailand tortellini kabobs among thedelicious fare. The silent auctionwas also well under way as party-goers bid on a plethora of excit-ing items such as a FedEx fightsimulator session, artwork byRena Chiozza, painted wine glass-es decorated by Ave Maria resi-dents and U of M football seasonpasses, to name a few. Someitems up for grabs in the live auc-tion were a purse of cash filledwith more than $300, a one-weekstay in Sandestin worth some$1,200 and a genuine Amishquilt. Although, nothing couldquite top the excitement ofCrystal Gayle entering the smallauditorium, sweeping the floorwith her iconic long hair andsparkling under the stage lightsin her glittery ensemble whileremarking that it’s “so wonderfulthat you have a community thatcomes together and makes thingshappen.” The petite singer’s largevoice had people shaking andgrooving in their seats all nightlong. More than $78,000 wasraised for Ave Maria residents.
Story and Photos by Rachel Warren
Josephine Circle Luncheon and Fashion Show
For 90 years, the Josephine Circlehas been helping young people inthe community by financing upto 15 interest-free college loansper semester and awarding schol-arships, and in order to help dothis, the nonprofit hosts theannual Josephine CircleLuncheon and Fashion Show.Josephine’s only fund-raiser forthe year, the event draws upwardsof 600 attendees year in and yearout to see the latest chic ensem-bles and looks from the boutiquesof Laurelwood Shopping Center,a perennial sponsor. This year,the event was held at HiltonMemphis and seemed particularly“star-studded” with its tribute tothe movie Casablanca and “AsTime Goes By” for a theme.Before the runway show launchedhowever, guests took in the sightsat the numerous silent auctiontables, which were open a coupleof hours before the lunch part ofthe program. Event proceeds helpJosephine stay true to its missionof “keeping the lamp of knowl-edge shining brightly.”
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Chris Pugh
Paws for Art
The Human Society of Memphis& Shelby County held its Pawsfor Art reception and live auctionin Suite 6 of The Shops of SaddleCreek. Featuring artwork fromlocal artists as well as some veryspecial pieces created by theHumane Society’s “animalartists,” this exceptional eventhelps the Humane Society raisefunds for the center to go towardthings like a safe place for ani-mals to recover, nutritious foodand veterinary care for hundredsof abused, abandoned and injuredanimals. Housing an average of300 animals at a time at theHumane Society’s center, thefunds generated will also helpfacilitate successful adoptions forthe animals. Guests enjoyed alarge selection of beer and wineand delicious food from CiaoBella while they made some harddecisions about which pieces totake home with them. As the liveauction began, attendees puttheir money down on severalunique pieces, and seeing asmore than $6,000 was raisedalone from the 50 guests inattendance, everyone went homewith something they loved. Theknowledge that all the moneywent to our furry Memphisfriends made every art selectionthat much more special.
Story by Rachel WarrenPhotos Submitted
GreenShoe Gala
Having one of the most beauti-ful parks in the country at yourdisposal makes it easy to throw aparty, and that is just whatShelby Farms Park Conservancydid with its annual GreenShoeGala. Set up against the back-drop of a setting sun over thou-sands of acres of stunning land,the green-tie optional eventencouraged everyone to weartheir best green spring attire.With the Memphis weathercooperating for once, many tooktheir cocktails outside to enjoythe pleasant weather and mag-nificent view, while others min-gled inside and took a momentto place their bids on the silentauction offerings. Laura Adams,the conservancy’s executivedirector, proudly noted that whatmade this event so special wasthe fact that “it’s happy memo-ries, happy people, for a veryspecial cause.” More than 165attendees enjoyed a three-coursedinner made by Jimmy Gentry’sParadox Cuisine that includedsmoked duck, seared tuna, beeftenderloin and a dessert ofeither chocolate-chocolate maca-roons or a white chocolatecrémeux. Ken Kincaid of 98.9FM emceed, and Andy Childsprovided the night’s entertain-ment.
Story and Photos by Rachel Warren
RS
VP
47
JUNE 2
013
ONSITEOnsite II
Laurel Lee and Shannon Wray
Kelly Benson, Lauren Phillips and Jillian Szymanski
Rebecca DeRousse, Sherry Bramucci,Marybeth Conley and Michelle Collis
Lillie Cox, Bette Arndt, LaRhonda Cox and Michael Arndt
Tom Bowen with Jan and Ted Donaldson
Judy and Leland Gupton
Dr. Barry Phillips, Harold Byrd, Josh Pastner and Bobbie Byrd
Steve White, Jake McRae, Charles Griffin,Fred Smith and Zac McRae
Chris Anderson and Markova Reed
Brieanna Neely, Jason King and Dimitra Golliday
Gail Mitchell, Pat Sexton and Mary Ellen Chase
Janice Penny and Judy Sisk
Patricia Barnes and Hilda Mullen
Steak N’ Burger Dinner
Though other Boys & Girls Clubsacross the country host the popu-lar Steak N’ Burger Dinner fund-raiser, the ingenious conceptwhere kids eat steaks while adultsdine on hamburgers originatedwith the Boys & Girls Clubs ofGreater Memphis back in 1972.Having raised more than $6 mil-lion locally since its inception,the dinner always attracts notablephilanthropists, who are encour-aged to interact with those theBGCM serves during the dinner.This year, Markova Reed of NewsChannel 3 emceed the affair,while Florida State University’slegendary football coach BobbyBowden was the featured guest.Youth of the Year were honoredduring the festivities atMinglewood Hall, with TavinaMalone announced as the 2013winner. Guests also recognizedmany of those currently in thechapter’s Technical TrainingCenter program, as members likeBrieanna Neely and DimitraGolliday served Italian bruschettathey learned to make at the cen-ter during the VIP hour in the1884 Lounge.
Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
Women Against MS Luncheon
For a seventh year, the NationalMultiple Sclerosis Society Mid-South Chapter offered guests ofthe Women Against MSLuncheon a familiar sight withbeautifully decorated cakes ateach table. Donated by area bak-eries and restaurants, the cakeshave been a popular feature atthis luncheon, as has been theVendor Alley, set up an hourbefore the event commences atthe U of M Holiday Inn forpatrons to peruse items like U.S.-made purses from Kindred SpiritStyle in Cooper-Young and ulti-mate veggie dips and easy-madecookies from Rosemark EasyMeals. Live auction goodies,including a Florida vacationrental and U of M memorabilia,were up for grabs as well, the lat-ter item befitting of the fund-rais-er since Melissa McFerrin, U ofM’s Women’s Basketball coach,served as the special guest speak-er. Marybeth Conley of NewsChannel 3 held court as theemcee of the affair, which includ-ed a fashion show sponsored bythe Shops of Saddle Creek.
Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
U of M Tigers Men’s Basketball Banquet
The luminaries of local collegesports were shining brightly atthe 2013 U of M Tigers Men’sBasketball Banquet, which wassold out again this year. Theevent kicked off at the U of MHoliday Inn starting with a recep-tion that included a meet andgreet with the players and musicof the brass section of theschool’s marching band, theMighty Sound of the SouthMarching Band. Master of cere-monies Dave Woloshin, who hasbeen the voice for the Tigers fora decade, introduced the playersbefore dinner was served, andafterward, Coach Josh Pastnerdelivered a speech and playersshared highlights of the winningseason. The Memphis TigersRebounders Basketball Clubsponsored this fund-raiser for theU of M Men’s Basketball pro-gram.
Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson
Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Founders’ Day Luncheon
Patricia Barnes, the talentedfounder of Sister Schubert’sHomemade Rolls, enchantednearly 400 members and guestsof the Salvation Army Women’sAuxiliary Founders’ DayLuncheon with her inspirationalstory behind her bread empire,which produces about nine mil-lion rolls a day. She was even onhand before the luncheon beganat the U of M Holiday Inn tosign copies of her second cook-book, Cast Your Bread Upon theWaters. Auxiliary member JudySisk pointed out that $5 fromevery sale of the book will gotoward the Salvation Army, withthe remainder of proceeds tobenefit Sasha’s Home, aUkrainian orphanage that theBarnes Family Foundationhelped establish. EmceeMarybeth Conley of NewsChannel 3 put Barnes’ charitableefforts best when she said,“Today’s speaker reflects thespirit of rising to serve.”“Rising to Serve” happened tobe the motto for the event, anoccasion that also highlightedtwo SALLIE (Service and LoveLasting in Eternity) winnerswith Libby Pritchard and CarolWolf.
Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
RS
VP
49
JUNE 2
013
MEM
PHIS
FAS
HION
WEE
KEND
PRE
VIEW
PAR
TYE V E N TMemphis Fashion Weekend Preview Party
Hitting the Catwalk for Charity
Farrah Kyle, Brandee Loving, Keri Jamison and Katy Murphy
Sarah Hasher and Darmon Dotson
Star and Matt Hawks
Peyton Couch and James Northcutt
Augusta Campbell and Moziah Bridges
Aviana Monasterio and Liz Crider
Regina Dickerson and Tanieka Carter
Elizabeth Rouse and Abby Phillips
Hilton Hollis and Terri Murphy
Memphis Fashion Weekend had a strong showing its second yeardue to more designer collections to present, official Saturdayboutique events and two additional parties, with the Memphis
Fashion Week Preview Party helping kick off the whole shebang.Held at the popular Alchemy Memphis restaurant in Cooper-Young,the party attracted a host of VIP ticket holders, models, fashion-for-ward Memphians, stylists and designers, including those nationallyknown like Annie Griffin and Hilton Hollis, in addition to severalinvolved in the Emerging Memphis Designer Project, like ReginaDickerson, Sarah Hascher, Star Hawks, Jobe 88 (Nick Hall andAharon Thomas) and Karen Krog.
To get guests in the spirit of MFW, Alchemy concocted a sig-nature drink—the Alchemy Fashion Week Cocktail made of blueberrypuree, fresh lemon juice, cane sugar and a choice of either rum orvodka—and also poured Bellinis of partygoers’ choice, with mango,strawberry, peach or pear for options. Bow tie entrepreneur MoziahBridges might have been too young to try the beverages, but hemore than gladly showed off his custom Mo’s Bows neckwear cre-ations during the party, even donning a red and white gingham bowtie himself to complement his blue seersucker blazer. Asked wherehe got his trendy wood frames, Bridges said that Eclectic Eye hadloaned them for the occasion. Some of the models, who stood as stillas statues atop podiums, also sported trendy eyewear from EclecticEye, a MFW sponsor alongside retailers that included HeatherCosmetics, Kittie Kyle, Lavish Boutique, Oak Hall and SouthernCouture.
Credited for creating MFW to help facilitate the growth ofthe fashion industry in Memphis, Abby Phillips serves as director ofthe event and was on hand during the preview party to welcome oldand new faces alike and to introduce them to established and up-and-coming designers. Happy about the turn-out despite the threatof rain outside, Phillips mentioned that all the runway shows, whichtook place the following night at the Cadre Building and on Saturdayat Memphis College of Art’s Rust Hall, were already sold out.Elizabeth Rouse, the chief operating officer at ArtsMemphis, attend-ed each of the MFW gatherings as well to thank guests for making adifference in artists’ lives through their support of MFW, which gavea portion of proceeds to both ArtsMemphis and the EmergingMemphis Designer Project, a program that afforded 14 local design-ers the opportunity to see their looks modeled on the catwalk atFriday night’s show.
Fashionable giving is the new cool, so stay tuned for nextyear’s MFW by checking out memphisfashionweekend.com.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Baxter BuckSee all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com
Password: RSVP
RS
VP
50
JUNE 2
013
MEM
PHIS
FAS
HION
WEE
KEND
PRE
VIEW
PAR
TYE V E N T
Cheryl Smith and Jessica Smith
Betsy Rudorfer and Sara Harrison
Chad Johnson and Jazmine Settle
Lauren Carlson and Maggie CarlsonAnnie Griffin and Shibahn Singh
Joanna Weaver and Peggy Weaver
Kacy Maxwell and Traci Hamersen
Nina Versnel and Beth Elzemeyer
Renea Medlin and Stephanie Stroupe
Dana Webb and Shally Pender
Kim Galloway and Laioya Nash
RS
VP
51
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
MEM
PHIS
FAS
HION
WEE
KEND
PRE
VIEW
PAR
TY
Dominique Chaney, Michael Lopez and Tramica Morris
Kenyona Chaney and Shanette ReneaElly Deyhle and Mark Awdeh
Camille Tull and Brittany JonesMadison Miller and Adair Smith
Isabelle Blais and Morgan SankoDanielle Carr and Karen Krog
Jeff Elzemeyer with Nancy and Joe Finch
Nick Hall, Aharon Thomas and Jonathan Underwood
Hunter Boros, Carly Boros and Kristen Miller
Caroline Cremerius, Lea Patterson, Tina Patterson and Alexis Cremerius
RS
VP
52
JUNE 2
013
BIRT
HRIG
HT O
F MEM
PHIS
GAL
AE V E N T Birthright of Memphis Gala
“Passport to Mexico”
Jerry and Marietta Murphy with Bill and Jessica Fredrick
Noreen and Jim Sdoia
Jessica Hardesty and Vicki Hardesty
Jose Ibarra Jr. and Karen Ibarra
Cathy Booth and David Massey
Tee Gonda and Lisa David
Eugenie and Art Nickell
Mary and Bob Shearin
Mary and Alan Gho
It wasn’t yet time for Cinco de Mayo, but organizers of this year’s“Passport to Mexico—Experience the Fiesta!” just couldn’t waitanother month. The annual gala benefiting Birthright of Memphis
brought the flair of hot sauce, tortillas and cha-cha-cha to a north ofthe border crowd in mid-April.
About 200 guests made their way on a sunny evening to TheGreat Hall and Conference Center in the heart of Germantown toenjoy Latin food, drink and dance. Most wore colorful casuals inreds, blues and bright prints, though some donned business suits forthe evening. Inside the venue, hot summery colors flowed freelythroughout the decorated room, with anything that would stand stilldecked out in turquoise, gold, hot pink, lime and lavender.Partygoers took in the sight while perusing tables of silent auctionitems, including tempting treasures like jewelry, wine and spirits,original art, luggage, toys and vacation packages, such as a one-weekstay at Pickwick Pines Resort. As for the dinner tables, they werelaid with white linens and towering centerpieces of colorful daisies,which sprouted from the tops of wine bottle and dipping sauces.
An equally exciting live auction followed a buffet style dinnerof Mexican favorites, catered by Salsa Cocina Mexicana restaurant,with plenty of cerveza alongside. But by that time, guests were readyfor the evening’s headliners, Fred Astaire Dance Studio, to take thefloor for intricate footwork of their best salsa dancing. Feet were tap-ping under the tables throughout, and cries of “Olé!” were common.
The festivities settled briefly for recognition of volunteerslike Lisa David and Eugenie Nickell, whose tireless work the pastyear has supported Birthright’s mission to “provide non-judgmentalsupport to girls and women who are distressed by an unplannedpregnancy.” The crowning moment though arrived when one luckyguest won an Andréa Candela diamond bracelet from James GattasJewelers. It’s not every day that one of those falls out of a piñata!
Story by Jonathan DevinPhotos by Baxter Buck
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.comPassword: RSVP
RS
VP
53
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
BIRT
HRIG
HT O
F MEM
PHIS
GAL
A
Kathie Heirigs, Terry Heirigs and Sharon FowlerElizabeth Bardos and Scott Hamblen
Kathy Kelly, Pat Young, Barbara McCloskey and Maryann Holman
Cole Sanner, Sandra Korpitz and Anthony Olive
Marty and Debbie Petruser with Provie Rose
SINCE 1995
Advertising in RSVP Magazine places your message before an active, affluent market of Mid-Southerners who desire the best in quality and service.
More Than 120,000 Readers
How to put RSVP to Work for You Call 276-7787
Average Household Income. . . . . . . . . . . .$147,000 per year.58.16% have HH incomes greater than . . . $75,000 per year.Female Readers . . . 59.2% Male Readers . . .40.8%Marital Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62.2% marriedHome Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81.3%Education: Attended/Graduated College plus . . . . . . .83.0%Have Post graduate degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21.6%
88.6% . . . . . . . . .Purchased a Product or Visited a Store dueto Advertising in RSVP.
42.6% . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Traveled Abroad during the past year.52.% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eat out at least 3 times per week.
3300,,000000 ccooppiieess ddeelliivveerreedd mmoonntthhllyy tthhrroouugghhoouutttthhee AAfffflluueenntt SShhooppppiinngg AArreeaass ooff GGrreeaatteerr MMeemmpphhiiss
FFrroomm HHaarrbboorr TToowwnn ttoo CCoolllliieerrvviillllee..
RS
VP
54
JUNE 2
013
BIRT
HRIG
HT O
F MEM
PHIS
GAL
AE V E N T
Nancy Tapp and Tim Beacham
Dr. John Pender and Kathleen Pender
Tom and Virginia Scherer
Deacon Jeff Drzycimski and Beth DrzycimskiMark and Diane Griffin
Rachael D’Addabbo and Sarah D’Addabbo
Ann and Jim Ammons
Joan and Jim Topp
Tom and Phyllis Francis
Monsignor Victor Ciaramitaro and Reba David
Peter and Mary Anne Giannini
RS
VP
57
JUNE 2
013
PROM
ISE
BALL
E V E N T
Promise Ball“Rolling Out the Red Carpet for a Cure”
Austin and Page Baker Jeff and Stacey LaRusso
Mark and Leigh Guthrie Dr. Kishore Arcot and Uma Arcot
Nicole and Landon Williams Kemp and Anne Conrad
Simone Golden, Kenny McCain, Kendall Kinler and Hannah WilliamsBill and Jaymie Salley Gina and Matt Weathersby
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Guests at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s 2013Promise Ball stepped off the escalator on the bottom floor ofHilton Memphis right onto the red carpet. A faux brick wall that
led to the registration table was plastered with marquee-style posters,which continued the Hollywood theme of “Rolling Out the Red Carpetfor a Cure.”
Elegantly clad young people, all diagnosed with juvenile dia-betes, directed guests toward the silent auction. The SoutheastBallroom was filled to the rafters with items, so many that they weredivided into categories that included “Just for Her,” “Just for Him,”“Just for Kids,” “Dining” and “Sports and Fitness,” and as guestsmixed and mingled before dinner, Chuck Stewart played a grand pianooutside the main ballroom. Throughout the venue, black and whiteposters decorated the walls, which featured some of those with juve-nile diabetes dressed as 20th century movie stars and celebrities. Ofcourse, one was photographed as Elvis, while others played look-alikesfor Dorothy Dandridge, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth,John Wayne and a dozen more famous faces.
Inside the main ballroom, the band Y’allternative entertainedguests before a video played that was made by FOX13 TV personalityDarrell Greene, who acted as emcee. He has type 1 diabetes, and inthe video, he described the challenges of living with the disease. Asguests started their meals with a salad, John and Judy Aiken, chairs ofthis year’s Promise Ball, were announced, and John crooned “TheGreatest Love” as the couple made their way to the stage. The recordcrowd of more than 400 people enjoyed a dinner of pepper-crustedbeef tenderloin and cumin-scented tilapia with tomato sage relish,roasted potato hash and a vegetable panache. A dessert trio of choco-late-covered berries, cappuccino panna cotta and lemon mousse tartcompleted the meal. A live auction followed dinner, and by the timethe night was over, JDRF had raised more than $320,000.
Charles and Barbara Salvaggio were presented as the 2013Living and Giving Award recipients, and special entertainment wasprovided by Breyannah Tillman and Kortni Washburn, who performedas the JDRF West Tennessee Youth Ambassadors and came out hold-ing signs displaying messages of hope for a cure. One girl held a signthat read “So no one else has to lose a best friend to type 1 diabetes,”which brought tears to the eyes of many.
Story by Suzanne ThompsonPhotos by Don Perry
RS
VP
58
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
PROM
ISE
BALL
Al and Sally Perry
Anthony and Nikki Travis Joshua Boss and Ariel Parker Blake Hughes and Catrina Curtis
Hallie Ross and Janet Callicott Stacey and Darrell Green Elizabeth and James McIngvale
David and Beth Pickler
Brandon and Kate Bogard
Dan and Darlene Culhane
Elizabeth Griffin and Dena Dourisseau
RS
VP
59
JUNE 2
013
PROM
ISE
BALL
E V E N T
David and Ginny Szalay with Melissa and Jason Manuel
Lloyd and Shannon Finks with Valerie and Greg Smith
Amy Golden, Ashley Chiozza and Lauren Glassman Stimac
Tish Pembroke, Tobi Merschat and Sara CoatesBarry and Susan Norton
Roberta and Jim Hefley with Mary Stewart
Beth and Gray Carter
Samantha Tweddell and John Pellicciotti Kashif Latif and Zoya Latif
Tony and Vickie Smith Brian and Kim Brown
RS
VP
60
JUNE 2
013
E V E N T
PROM
ISE
BALL
Ashley and Raymond Ford
Bob and Gail Churinetz with Summer and Cecil Godman
Al and Jan Lyons
Raymond and Jackie Clift
Donna and Kyle Hosp with Valerie Caden and Will Freeman
Nick and Jenny Vergos Sisa Wang, Angela Harrington, Charles Cashion and Patti Cherry-Cashion
Chris Chu and Amanda Vann
Dr. Nick Gavrizi with Whitney and Grant Joiner
Charlie and Annie Bechtel
Mark Parker and Annabeth Cavaneau with Courtney and Bryan Smith
RS
VP
61
JUNE 2
013
Onsite III
Judith Johnson, Tony Kelly, Cynthia Talley and Steve White
Cindy Middleton, Ed Stevens and Nancy
Bill and Patti O'Flaherty
Micah and Ruthie Layman with Dr. Greta Coger
JoAnn and Al Walton
Jackie Flaum, Jon W. Sparks and David
Walker Stahnke and A.J. Northrop
Rocky Janda, Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy and Brent Davis
Elizabeth Winn, John Pellicciotti, Susan Crowson,Linda Gattas, Beth Owen and Bobbie Shanks
Dianne Rhea and Lisa King
Cindy Collier, David Gillespie and Willa Hunt
Ken Cope and Martha Flowers
Clay Anderson and Jennifer Walker
Mary Stewart, Kelly Acree, Tiffany Brimhall and Chuck Stewart
Rachael Simmons, Sara Rogers, Caroline Jones,Ashley Riney and Marjorie Porter
Ricky Harris and Vickie Moffett
Forget-Me-Not Trivia Night
Though Halloween is a long wayoff, many of the 300 participantsat the eighth annual Forget-Me-Not-Trivia Night dressed up tocompete, some taking a cue fromthe “A Night at the Movies”theme. The event, held atChristian Brothers High School’sHeffernan Hall, benefitedAlzheimer’s Day Services. Becauseit began early in the evening,members of some teams broughta picnic supper, and pizza wasavailable for purchase. To sweetenthe night, homemade dessertswere for sale, and those who pur-chased individual pieces weresent away with slabs of cake andwedges of pie. Brother IgnatiusBrown emceed, or “directed,” thecompetition, which was fittinglysponsored by Malco Theatres.
Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson
Royal Society of Queen Bees Wine and Cheese Party
Sheffield Antiques Mall inCollierville was abuzz with activi-ty during a party thrown by theRoyal Society of the Queen Bees.The group was formed in 1998,and members are all past andpresent queens of CarnivalMemphis and its 10 GrandKewes. The Queen Bees providedhors d’oeuvres, wine and beer,and mall owners threw in frozenmargaritas. To add to the fun,those who found a yellow cardsomewhere in the mammothspace, which boasts row after rowof antiques and collectibles, wona door prize.
Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson
“Taste of the Season”
The Germantown CommunityTheatre announced its new sea-son with a wine tasting andentertainment benefit. Termed“Taste of the Season,” theevening incorporated both asneak-peek and a contest whereeach wine station featured a char-acter from an upcoming play whooffered clues to that play’s title,which could be guessed forprizes. For example, NicholPritchard appeared in characteras an airline stewardess where aNapa Valley red blend called“High Flyer” was being pouredand offered clues aimed at reveal-ing the title “Boeing Boeing.”This season, each of the playsbeing performed has either beentaken from a motion picture ormade into one. Seven tasting sta-tions in all led theater-goingoenophiles ultimately right uponto the stage, where the prosec-co was as dazzling as the spot-lights. Later, the evening’s pre-views combined movie clips withlive action for a dynamic experi-ence.
Story and Photos by Kelly Cox
Grand Krewe of Ptolemy Coronation
The Grand Krewe of Ptolemy,one of the 10 Grand Krewes ofCarnival Memphis, held its coro-nation ball at the UniversityClub, and although it was astormy night, the spirits of thepartiers were not dampened.King Sorter XIII, Ricky Harris,and Queen Cleo XIV, VickieMoffett, were presentedCarnival-style, complete withproclamations from both thecounty and city mayors. Afterthe ceremony, revelers hit thedance floor and danced the nightaway to the tunes of Super 5.
Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson
ONSITE
RS
VP
62
JUNE 2
013
ONSITE Onsite IV
Keith Hughes and June Kendall
Kelly Terry and Larry Hilbun
Karen Carter and Todd Demers
(Back) Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich, ElizabethDang, Modeane Thompson, Dr. Phyllis
Betts, Judge Paulette Delk, Summer Owens,Lori Spicer Robertson and Deborah Clubb;(Front) Jane Walters, Judy Wimmer, KarlaDavis, Chelsea Boozer and Felica Richard
Dr. Lisa Jennings and Jocie WurzburgRon Kirkpatrick, Judy Vandergrift and Pat Primrose
Dan Spector and Mollie Riggs
Josephine and Ric Chetter
Jeni Stephens, Sally Pace and Amy Beth Dudley
Heather Hunt and Jonathan Watkins
Deborah Harrison and James Armfield
Art for Art’s Sake Auction
It was a beautiful day in theneighborhood as residents,friends and fans of Cooper-Youngstreamed into Young Avenue Delifor the annual Art for Art’s SakeAuction. An extensive silent auc-tion boasted goodies from home-grown businesses that includedStone Soup, Sweetgrass andGoner Records. Meanwhile, livebidding on work by featured artistKaren “Bottle” Capps, AlexWarble, Mollie Riggs and otherswas anything but silent, as auc-tioneer Ric Chetter managed thecheerfully raucous competition.The unique character of Cooper-Young has long made it a belovedneighborhood and an increasinglypopular destination. Proceedsfrom the auction benefitedCooper-Young beautificationefforts, including the TrestleSolar Project. This project willgreen up the signature CooperStreet trestle-mounted sculpturethat serves as an unofficial gate-way to the neighborhood byreplacing the existing lighting sys-tem with solar-powered LEDbulbs.
Story and Photos by Kelly Cox
Lifeblood Awards Luncheon
Organizations, corporations andindividuals were recognized fortheir voluntary efforts in 2012 topromote and support blood dona-tion in the community as part ofthe fourth annual LifebloodAwards Luncheon. Todd Demersof News Channel 3 emceed theluncheon held at HiltonMemphis, while Karen Carter, anational spokesperson forAmerica’s Blood Centers whoselife was forever changed when herdaughter was diagnosed with arare form of cancer and relied onher community’s donations ofblood components to survive,served as the keynote speaker.Winners in the Group of the Yearcategories included the following:International Paper-Corporate;Concorde Career College-Education; Temple Israel-Faith-based; MLGW North ServiceCenter-Government; BaptistMemorial Hospital–Memphis-Healthcare; University ofMemphis-Newcomer of the Year;Bob Bryant of Johnson & JohnsonHealth Care Systems-Richard“Dick” Benson CommunityService Award; Baptist MemorialHealth Care Corporation-Lifesaver of the Year; and NormaOliver of Brown MissionaryBaptist Church-Volunteer of theYear.
Story and Photos Submitted
Women of Achievement Awards
The 2013 Women of AchievementAwards celebrated NationalWomen’s History Month inMarch at the U of M Holiday Inn.Shelby County District AttorneyGeneral Amy Weirich hosted the29th annual awards reception onMarch 3. Honorees for 2013 werethe following: Dr. Jane Walters-Steadfastness; Judy Wimmer-Vision; Karla Davis-Initiative;Chelsea Boozer-Courage; FelicaRichard-Determination; andSusanne Scruggs-Heritage.Deborah Clubb is president and afounder of Women of Achieve-ment, which was created in 1984to honor the “extraordinarywomen who have made Memphisand Shelby County better throughtheir lives and accomplishments.”The next Women of AchievementAwards will be the 30th anniver-sary reception on March 30,2014! Mark your calendar now forthis historic event, and visitwomenofachievement.org for fur-ther details.
Story SubmittedPhotos by Andrea Zucker
NEXUS Leadership Luncheon
The Memphis Mentoring Awardswere announced earlier this yearduring the fourth annual NEXUSLeadership Luncheon at SecondPresbyterian Church. BillCourtney, entrepreneur and starof the Academy Award-winningdocumentary Undefeated, servedas the keynote speaker for theaffair, during which the follow-ing award recipients wereannounced: Girls, Inc.-Outstand-ing Mentoring Organization/Nonprofit; Renardo Baker-Out-standing Male Mentor; KimberlyGrantham-Outstanding FemaleMentor; and Sally Pace andJonathan Watkins-OutstandingNEXUS Mentors. Since 2003,NEXUS continues to strive tobring forth principle-centeredleaders by offering monthly men-toring and interactive teachingsessions.
Story and Photos Submitted
RS
VP
63
JUNE 2
013
RSVP
CROS
SWOR
D
i t ’ s j a z z !
wumr.memphis.edu
ja z z ! i t ’i t ’ i t ’i t ’ s s j a z z ! ja z z ! ja z z !j a z z ! ja z z ! i t ’i t ’ i t ’ s s j a z z ! ja z z !j a z z ! ja z z !j a z z ! ja z z !
or underwriting information, call 90or underwriting information, call 90isit us online at
Fisit us online at V
c l a s s y
or underwriting information, call 90
c l a s s yor underwriting information, call 90
c l a s s y.memphis.edu
c l a s s y.memphis.edu
c l a s s yisit us online at wumrwumr.memphis.eduisit us online at
c l a s s y
c l a s s yor underwriting information, call 90
c l a s s yor underwriting information, call 90
c l a s s y.memphis.edu.memphis.edu
c l a s s y j a z z !c l a s s y j a z z !j a z z !j a z z !c l a s s y1 6058-27-6
c l a s s y.memphis.edu.memphis.edu
c l a s s yc l a s s y
60
ACROSS
1 Dispose of6 What children learn10 Expression of surprise13 God15 Dried-up16 Knock off17 Roman emperor18 Supplication19 CommunicationWorkers ofAmerica (abr.)20 Chilled22 Fedora (2 wds.)24 Greg, Peterʼs andBobbyʼs dad26 American Association ofRetired Persons (abbr.)28 Employ29 Common womanʼsname30 Pa to Opie31 Mr. Flinstone and Mr. Sanford32 Imp33 Slaps34 Romance35 Contains to oxygen37 Leaf used for pies41 Time zone42 Wild pig43 Color
44 Stuck up people47 Beer head48 Compass point49 Weed in a wheat field50 Pad51 Tasting like game52 Refugee54 Chimney dirt56 Attach57 Tier59 Juju63 Dowel
64 Factor of ten65 Sports car brand66 Vane direction67 Greek god of war68 Three masted Mediterranean boat
DOWN
1 Pocket2 Accountant3 Seafood4 European clover5 Aim6 Viper7 Campanile8 Scary person9 Caulk10 Meatheadʼs father-in-law11 Marion Cunninghamʼs hubby12 Lessens14 Lode yield21 Author of “The Inferno”23 Hurt24 African nation25 Information (abbr.)27 Spots29 Head of the Clampett family30 Nearly horizontal entrance31 “three, __, shut the door”33 Snake sound34 Wallop36 Small Mediterranean boat
37 Routes38 Excuse me!39 Gem40 Patriarch of the Cartwrights42 Hiss44 Dry grassy land45 Armed forces46 Non-primary color47 Sheepʼs wool48 __ Valley, granola bar brand50 Father of Stewie Griffin51 Pugsleyʼs Papa53 U.S. Department of Agriculture55 Klutz58 Old-fashioned Dads60 Workplace61 Bardʼs before62 Twitch
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16
17 18 19
20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
32 33 34
35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43
44 45 46 47 48
49 50 51
52 53 54 55
56 57 58 59 60 61 62
63 64 65
66 67 68
Solution: S C R A P A B C S A H A A P O L L O S E R E R O B C A E S A R P L E A C W A
I C E D F E L T H A T M I K E A A R P H I R E
J A N E A N D Y F R E D S E L F H I T S W O O D I O X I D E R H U B A R B
E S T B O A R H U E S N O B S F O A M N E B N T A R E P L O D G A M Y E V A C U E E S O O T P I N S T E P A M U L E T P E G D E C A F E R A R I E S E A R E S Z E B E C
RSVP Crossword | Edited by Ruth Cassin
RS
VP
64
JUNE 2
013
AFTER HO
URS After Hours
A photo collage of the latestbusiness happenings
Pink Door and Tri-Delta Benefit forSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
RS AntiquesGrand Opening
George Klein Appreciation Dayat Bud Davis Cadillac
Laser AestheticsOpen House
Southern GraceGrand Opening
Mimi Taylor, Semmes Humphreys and Heather Ann James
Shannon Feamster, Samantha Sefton, Caroline Reel and Alexandra Harlan
Mike and Martina Ashmore
Shannon Smith, Liz Wiedeman and Jessica Wright
Jayne Frank and Dr. Robin Stevenson
Ray “Nain” Pressgrove, Kim Koehler and Scott Farrar
Kasey Acuff and Jennifer Pittman
Beth Condy and Dr. Martha Sanford
George Klein and Mayor A C Wharton
Photo by Jim
McC
arter
George Klein, Bobby Cline, Raneal Cline and Jeff Waddell
Rosie Crawford, Paul Smith, Kay Smith, Ted Beasley,Doris Beasley and Susan and Willie Hollinger
RS
VP
65
JUNE 2
013
By Dennis Phillippi RSVP
HILL
IPPI
WALLACE SHAWN IS COMING RIGHT AT MEWhen I was a kid,
there was abrief frenzy of
3-D movies hittingtheaters. These wereall horror movieswith lots of pitch-forks and otherpointy things beingjabbed toward thecamera so that theyappeared to be
thrusting out of the screen. Apparently, itwas a primitive but effective effect.Unfortunately, when I was a kid I woreglasses that were literally glass, with thicklenses and frames that would’ve done acartoon owl proud. Trying to use the flim-sy strip of cardboard that comprised the 3-D apparatus over my massive spectacleswas akin to trying to cover a middle-agedman with a Speedo swimsuit; many havetried, but very few have succeeded.
It wasn’t until a couple of yearsago when I went to see the unlikeliest of 3-D movies, Hugo, a sweet fable of a boy liv-ing in the walls of the Paris train stationin the 1920s that was directed by, of allpeople, Martin Scorsese, that I got toexperience the new form of 3-D filmmak-ing, and it changed my viewing habits for-ever. Hugo didn’t feature explosions orpeople in supersuits or anybody flying.While there were plenty of vertiginousshots that took advantage of the technolo-gy, the immersion of 3-D into a realisticworld was the perfect introduction to thenew 3-D. This wasn’t just my first expo-sure to 3-D, as I took along my then 10-year-old nephew to see it. During themovie, I worried that it might be too slowor too esoteric for him, but afterward hewas just as staggered by the third dimen-sion as me.
If you haven’t been to see anythingin 3-D since the resurgence of the format,I can’t urge you strongly enough to do so.A friend and I were discussing this theother day and both came to the conclusionthat the extra money you pay for 3-D isworth every cent. In fact, we both agreedthat the price for 3-D is a better value thanthe price of a regular old 2-D movie, large-ly because we are both addicted to 3-Dnow.
Since seeing Hugo, I have seen
exactly one movie that was not in 3-D, andthat was because my nephew and I mis-read the paper and got to Spider-Man toolate to see it in 3-D. Boy, it would’ve beena lot better in 3-D.
I had heard about, but never seen,movies that weren’t shot in 3-D having theeffect added on after shooting, and hadheard that it was a less than satisfactoryexperience. Then, the nephew and I wentto see Jurassic Park in 3-D. Holey magoley.Both of us had seen the dinotastic relicmore times than we could count, but see-ing it in the new 3-D made for a complete-ly new experience. This movie, fully 20
years old, was a revelation. Everything youremember about the movie is infinitelybetter in 3-D. Every frame was enrichedremarkably. Scenes we’d seen a hundredtimes on TV had us jumping out of ourseats all over again. For weeks after, all wecould talk about was what other moviesthat weren’t originally in 3-D we now wantto see in 3-D. Just imagine for a momentseeing Raiders in 3-D. From the openingsequence you’d be transported.
Here is how the conversations wentbetween my geek friends and me: “Ooohooh…the giant rock rolling at you.” “No,wait, the airplane propeller…” “I’ve got it;John McClane going out the window withthe fire hose wrapped around his waist.”
See, just like that we devolved intothe many, many movies and scenes inmovies we now want to see in 3-D. That’show all of our conversations go. But, thinkabout it: Neo and that agent guy fightingin the subway station; Luke Skywalker’s
TIE Fighter going into the gully on theDeath Star; Air Force One barely making itoff the ground in Independence Day; andSuperman flying out of the Fortress ofSolitude the first time. The list is endless.By the way, if you’re unfamiliar with all ofthose references, I have no idea howyou’ve made it this far into this piece.
There are still plenty of good rea-sons not to go see movies in the theater,most of which involve other people goingto theaters to see movies. Amazingly, thereare still people who talk during movies.Well, not around me there aren’t, at leastnot for long. There are also people whodon’t seem to realize that everyone behindthem in the theater can see their phonewhen they get it out during a movie tosocial network that they are watching amovie in a theater. If you were at a recentafternoon showing of Iron Man 3 in 3-D,and you were looking at your phone whena loud voice rang out from 20 rows behindyou telling you to put away your phone,that was me. I’d worry about admittingthis in print, but the ovation I got in thetheater reassures me that I needn’t worry.Oh, and I’ll tell you this: For the rest ofthe movie, no one got out their phone. Yes, concessions are overpriced. Yes,admission is more expensive than I everthought I’d pay to see a movie. And, yes,the commercials we are forced to endure,even though we are paying customers, aremaddening, but trust me, it is all worth itwhen the Hulk smashes things in glorious3-D. The blabbermouths and armrest tak-ers and tweeters all become meaninglesswhen the Enterprise starts shooting pho-ton torpedoes.
At this point, I really have nointerest in seeing non-3-D movies, so if theHugh Grants and Sandra Bullocks of theworld want my money, they better startmaking romantic comedies with lots ofnifty 3-D shots in them. Honestly, I’m sohooked at this point I’d go see the 3-D re-release of My Dinner with Andre.
Haha, we’d love to see Wallace Shawncoming at us too, maybe in The PrincessBride though instead of My Dinner withAndre. Can’t you see his Vizzini characterextolling his dizzying intellect and incon-ceivably losing to Westley in the Battle ofWits, all in 3-D?
Trying to use the flimsy stripof cardboard that comprisedthe 3-D apparatus over mymassive spectacles was akinto trying to cover a middle-
aged man with a Speedo swim-suit; many have tried, but very
few have succeeded.
RS
VP
66
JUNE 2
013
School DaysRSVP
AST
1936
With schools soon letting out for summer, Mildred Houser remembers the wonderful times sheshared with her classmates at Idlewild Elementary School. Houser is pictured above in the
school’s fourth grade class in May of 1936.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MILDRED HOUSER
If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105or e-mail the photo and caption to [email protected]
All photos will be returned promptly.
