RSVP Magazine April 2012 by RSVP Magazine

April 2012

Memphis Heart Ball Oscar Night速 America Hands of Hope Auction Party Phoenix Club Mardi Gras Party Opera Memphis Wild Game Dinner Germantown Charity Horse Show Royal Ball Q&A with Cary Brown

Contents April 201 2

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Jim Duncan invites RSVP to the Memphis Botanic Garden. Opera Memphis Wild Game Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Plates were “Fully Loaded” at Opera Memphis’ tasteful fund-raiser.

12 OPERA MEMPHIS WILD GAME DINNER Bill and Jan Spencer

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 & 20 He’s making strides in the field of urban trail planning. This CEO will tell you why Memphis’ newest record label is different from all the rest. StreetSeens spotlight Ken Reardon and Sam Garrett.

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Q&A with the Memphis Garden Club president, Cary Brown.

44 MEMPHIS HEART BALL Steven Gubin and Carly Gubin

Phoenix Club Mardi Gras Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 The party spirit was alive and well at the Cadre Building for the Phoenix Club’s A P R I L 2 012

spirited charitable affair for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis.

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34, 35, 50 & 51 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

4 RSVP

Germantown Charity Horse Show Royal Ball . . . . . . . . . . .36 The Germantown Charity Horse Show queen and her princesses promenaded at Woodland Hills for all to see.

26 PHOENIX CLUB MARDI GRAS PARTY Heath Upton and Zac McRae

RSVP Room View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 The bedroom of this Central Gardens stunner has grand appeal. Memphis Heart Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Guests felt “Young at Heart” at the American Heart Association’s gala at The

52 OSCAR NIGHT® AMERICA Alex and Megan Arevalo

Peabody.

® Oscar Night America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Supporters of the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Memphis went star-watching during the nonprofit’s annual benefit at Minglewood Hall.

Hands of Hope Auction Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 The Columns at One Commerce Square provided the perfect backdrop for an elegant affair hosted by the Exchange Club Family Center.

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Fashion Weak

Humor columnist Dennis Phillippi tells us why he’s not hip on the fashion front.

GERMANTOWN CHARITY HORSE SHOW ROYAL BALL Ernest and Alyce Chism

56 HANDS OF HOPE AUCTION PARTY Michael and Clara Herr

Cover Photo Mark Harris and Elizabeth Foster at Germantown Charity Horse Show Royal Ball Photo by Don Perry

Volume XVII

Number VII

April 2012 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ruth Cassin Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Jeannie Mandelker Dennis Phillippi Suzanne Thompson ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Nathan Berry Baxter Buck Roy Haithcock Don Perry Steve Roberts

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Libby Huff ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Chris Pugh Phil Wall ace ACCOUNTING

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Ruth Cassin EDITORIAL INTERN

Maggie Giffin 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 contact Roy Haithcock Phone (901) 276-7787, ext. 101 Fax (901) 276-7785 e-mail publisher@rsvpmagazine.com WEB

www.rsvpmagazine.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785. e-mail editor@rsvpmagazine.com Follow us on & RSVP Memphis Magazine

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LIBBY HUFF, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 901.276.7787, EXT. 104 libby@rsvpmagazine.com

Celebrate

Having worked in advertising and publishing since 2000, Libby decided to try her hand in magazine ad sales by joining the RSVP team in 2007. Right off the bat, this free-spirited Mississippi girl fit in perfectly with her new surroundings, quickly rising to become head of the advertising department as senior account executive.

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Chris has been exercising his talent in the advertising world since 1999. He joined the RSVP team in 2009 and brought with him a love for laughter and creativity. Originally from New Albany, Mississippi, Chris has settled in Memphis and enjoys being active in the fashion community.

PHIL WALLACE, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 901.276.7787, EXT. 102 phil@rsvpmagazine.com Phil, who was born in Flint, Michigan, is the newest addition to the RSVP advertising team. An actor at heart, he has appeared in many plays in local theaters in Memphis. Currently, Phil performs as historical characters in schools around the country.

MAGGIE GIFFIN, EDITORIAL INTERN 901.276.7787, EXT. 108 maggie@rsvpmagazine.com Maggie is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing communications with an emphasis in magazine publishing. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Maggie moved to Memphis to attend culinary school in hopes of pursuing a career in both food styling/ writing and magazine publishing. Maggie enjoys reading magazines, cooking and her new position as editorial intern at RSVP.

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CHRIS PUGH, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 901.276.7787, EXT. 103 chris@rsvpmagazine.com

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Promoting Sunny Meadows Safe Haven for Pets

From the Editor

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Photo by Steve Roberts

ello spring, you’ve officially arrived, and we here at RSVP couldn’t be more ecstatic because the change in season means many favorite springtime events are upon us, not to mention the much-appreciated extension of daylight. What a breath of fresh air it is to leave work still energized and ready for fun after hours since it’s not dark outside. As for you readers, I’m guessing you all are enjoying this special time of year just as much as those in my office are currently. If you are looking to engage in outdoorsy experiences in April, look no further than the pages of this issue. Hopefully, brilliant buttercup blooms will catch your eyes first in the Signature Memphis section on page 10 and remind you to make a trip out to the Memphis Botanic Garden, which the executive director informed me has already started construction on a new nature photographer’s garden. On page 22, more buttercup buds appear along with purple tulips and ornamental lettuce in the Vox Popular photograph of the Memphis Garden Club president. The club will be hosting its biennial Memphis Flower Show this month at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and judging by the impressive pictures the club president showed me from past shows, this free event shouldn’t be missed, and better yet, it has components that will appeal to children and adults. While I’m on a flower kick, I might as well tell you that if you’re wanting a weekend getaway to a beautiful garden unheard of by many Memphians, head to Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Run by the University of Arkansas, this expansive tree-covered botanical garden sits on a 210-acre peninsula of Lake Hamilton and offers some of the most magical outdoor vignettes I’ve seen. The tulip extravaganza lured me there, and let me just say that Holland just might have some competition with Garvan. I’m sure though that the garden remains picturesque throughout the year with its peacocks at the entrance, several waterfalls that meander throughout the property, a giant koi pond, panoramic lake views, an awe-inspiring chapel and much more. Can you tell yet that I initially wanted to be a landscape architect when I went to college? As for the rest of the issue, check out the StreetSeens on pages 18 and 20 to learn about a proposal to the Shelby County segment of the Mississippi River Corridor Tennessee Trail Plan as well as a new record label in town. Also see if your smiling face made it into one of our party spreads, but if it didn’t, scan our event calendar at rsvpmagazine.com and make plans to attend a fabulous gathering where your mug can be photographed by one of our photographers. Just don’t start the party without us!

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Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

Executive Director of Memphis Botanic Garden Your mantra: James 1:12. Favorite author: Dan Jenkins. Stress outlet: Going to movies. Hobby: Coaching youth league basketball. Words or phrases you overuse: “Trying one.” Guilty pleasure: Heath Blizzards at Dairy Queen. One thing you can’t live without: My faith in God. Personal hero: My high school football coach, Bill Davis. Historical figure you most identify with: Andrew Jackson. Last book you’ve read: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Movie you could watch over and over again: From Here to Eternity. Favorite Memphis musician: Mark Butler (garage band leader extraordinaire). Favorite album: Toss up between “Eagles Greatest Hits” and Bob Seger’s “Night Moves.” First concert: Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins concert at the Greenwood, Mississippi High School Auditorium in 1956. First jobs: Cutting grass, then a lifeguard, but first “real job” was a high school football coach. One thing most people don’t know about you: That I am a good cook and very comfortable in the kitchen. Your greatest achievement: Having a wonderful family life with my wife, Elizabeth, two successful grown and loving children and being “Big Jim” to six grandsons.

Photo by Steve Roberts

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Jim Duncan

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OPERA MEMPHIS WILD GAME DINNER

EVENT

Opera Memphis Wild Game Dinner “Fully L oaded”

F Jessica Toliuszis and John Dawkins

Brenda Joffe and Jennifer Kimbrough

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resh from the resounding success of its January performances of Strauss’ comic operetta “Die Fledermaus,” Opera Memphis presented its annual Wild Game Dinner at the beautiful Clark Opera Memphis Center in East Memphis. General Director Ned Canty’s prediction that the dinner would be the “biggest and best yet” certainly proved to be true, as more than 250 guests, many of whom were attired in the requested hunting garb, filled the hall for a delightful evening of fabulous food and entertainment. During the cocktail hour, folks sipped cocktails and nibbled passed hors d’oeuvres as they caught up with friends and perused a silent auction in which an abundance of covetable items were offered through the generous donations of local merchants and Opera Memphis supporters. Moving into the hall, there was a feast to behold! Back for the third consecutive year, Chuck and Marcy Goldstein’s Heart and Soul Catering anchored the tasting tables with a splendid array of comestibles such as roasted whole hog, mixed vegetable medley, rooster fries, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh rolls and chicken roulade with liver pâté. Additional catering sponsors were Another Roadside Attraction, which served duck breast with marsala cream; Club Windward with pan-fried quail breast over parmesan grits; and Coletta’s, who provided venison and spinach ravioli with wild mushroom demi-glace. Just for Lunch’s duck breast bites wrapped with bacon, Off the Square Catering’s venison with rémoulade on crostinis and Simply Delicious’ venison chili also pleased many a partygoer’s palate. Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, who attended with his wife, Pat, once again served as honorary chairman. The mayor welcomed everyone and praised the wonderful accomplishments of the opera, especially its fine performances, community outreach and education efforts. The evening’s highlight came from the guest appearance of baritone Keith Miller. A former NCAA and professional football player, Miller had never had any formal music education until entering The Philadelphia Academy of Vocal Arts, where he graduated just six years ago. Since then, he has made more than 200 appearances at the Metropolitan Opera. Needless to say, those in attendance were enthralled by his magnificent voice. Rounding out the evening’s entertainment were the Bluff City Backsliders, delivering their one of a kind hot, hootin’ and hollerin’ brand of Delta soul to an enthusiastic audience that danced until the late hours. Holliday Flowers and Mahaffey Tent & Party Rentals sponsored the evening that organizers were more than delighted by thanks to the outcome of the event, which garnered approximately $25,000 to benefit Opera Memphis.

See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Stephen and Lynn Fincher

Story by Ruth Cassin Photos by Baxter Buck

Ned Canty and Mayor Mark Luttrell

Anita and Ray Pohlman

Mickie and Steve Nabers

Stephanie and Greg Grisham

Mickey and Charlie Schaffler with Keith Miller

Emily Lawrence and Rob Mayer

EVENT OPERA MEMPHIS WILD GAME DINNER A P R I L 2 012

Sarah Squire and Erin Whipkey

Kathy and Gene White

Robert and Amanda Biggs

Ben and Jennifer Collins

Greg and Kim Steinman

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EVENT OPERA MEMPHIS WILD GAME DINNER A P R I L 2 012

Shannon McGee, John Ryder and Miriam Handorf

Christy Kinard and Kristi Stanley

Lindsey and Brad Harmon

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Jill Farr, Mark McCowan and Amanda McGee

Stan and Jeanne Evans

Dick Wittenberg and Tara Crain

EVENT Agnes Thomas and Trey Thomas

John and Barbara Viser

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William Murray and April Holm

OPERA MEMPHIS WILD GAME DINNER

Marianne and Alan Neal

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Shannon and David Lenoir with Palmer and Kathy Albertine

John Joe Sohn and Marti Ash

John Mansfield and Jan Young

STREETSEEN

Ken Reardon Trailside Planning

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en Reardon, a professor and director of the University of Memphis Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning, divulges epic stories about his hometown of New York’s sports teams and an impassioned history of the decline and revitalization of his South Bronx neighborhood, but he recently combined his interests in physical activity and community resurgence in an unlikely way. Asked to help propose a set of improvements to enhance the Mississippi River Corridor Tennessee (MRCT) Trail Plan’s beauty, use and economic and social contribution in the trail’s Shelby County portion, Reardon signed on board, giving his department at U of M its first urban trail project. Reardon says, “With the city constantly dealing with health and wellness issues, including high rates of morbid obesity and Type 2 diabetes, it has taken more of an interest in the trail and thought that it could be better utilized. So, we studied literature on urban trails, did careful assessments of current conditions via survey, looked at strategies to increase accessibility and highlighted educational and cultural aspects along the route.” Data collection began in the fall of 2011. For this part of the project, Reardon joined about nine others, some of whom included Marie Curie Research Fellow Laura Saija, Chooch Pickard of the Memphis Regional Design Center (also a partner in the study), Diana Threadgill and Glenn Cox of the MRCT and two serious cyclists—Kyle Wagenschutz, the City of Memphis bicycle/pedestrian coordinator and Jessica Buttermore, an administrative associate in Reardon’s department. Throughout two days, the team traveled in a van along the existing 32-mile trail segment from the Tipton County border on the north to the trail’s Shelby County exit at the Harahan Bridge. Two people took photos every 15 seconds of the route, while a couple of people behind them entered data on spreadsheets about the trail experience at every mile, from changes in elevation to scenery aesthetics and presence/width of shoulders. Participants with hard copy maps recorded things that could negatively affect a cyclist’s experience, from lack of signage to difficult intersections. Reardon says one of the greatest concerns from their findings was about exiting from Memphis to the Harahan Bridge since there’s nothing to protect a cyclist from oncoming traffic. To alleviate this issue, the group proposed to extend the route 19 miles so that it leaves Memphis at the DeSoto County border. With this extension, cyclists have the opportunity to experience historical sites when going past the National Civil Rights Museum, Stax and Chucalissa. All plan recommendations were presented at four community forums, with the last held in January, and the final plan was presented to the MRCT on February 15. Reardon relays that MRCT board chairman Lee Hinson is pleased with what the study participants were able to do. He adds, “I haven’t seen studies as systematic about urban trails as ours, so I’d like to jointly publish this info with the MRCT and the Memphis Regional Design Center.” Also look to hear about promotional activities, which Reardon hopes include a Tour de Shelby on the last day of the Tour de France in July. Pedal on! Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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STREETSEEN

Sam Garrett New Record Label, New Way

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adison Avenue has gained a new tenant in Madison Line Records, namely one poised to become a game-changer for the recording industry. Headed by CEO Sam Garrett, Madison Line Records has forgone conventional operating practices in lieu of distinguishing itself as a nonprofit label. Launched by Visible Music College, Madison Line Records had been a part of the school’s plan for some time, but it was only recently that the timing felt right, due in part to the school moving downtown (also on Madison) and to Garrett reconnecting with Ken Steorts, Visible Music College’s founder and president. A nonprofit consultant among other endeavors, Garrett agreed to the new venture, and once he moved to Memphis in March of last year, he hit the ground running. For six months, he met record industry executives through phone calls and in person across the country, and he immersed himself in the Memphis music industry, learning about its highs and lows and doing research anywhere he could. With a respect for Stax Records, he quickly realized he wanted to embrace the way Stax didn’t have a divide between church and music, races or old and new musicians. Of the entire industry, he also saw practices that wouldn’t jive at Madison Line. “There has always been an adversarial relationship between artists and record labels, not just in Memphis, but everywhere,” Garrett explains. “We’re artist-centric, meaning that Madison Line’s deal structures are generous, we take care of costs, we align our interests with the artists, we believe a songwriter should maintain 100 percent of a writer’s share of royalties and we believe an artist or band should have control of what their CD cover should look like.” Garrett describes the label’s standard procedures as an open book policy, which even entails showing an artist the books. To prove it, an iPhone App is currently being made exclusively for Madison Line so that after a gig an artist can click on the App to know how he or she performed financially. Madison Line specifically focuses on giving clients “constant attention” by helping them develop artistically, financially, healthfully and spiritually. “We want to encourage people to grow in all aspects, so for instance, we provide nutrition services to help people eat better on the road and financial education services so they know how to manage their money,” Garrett shares. Since launching in September 2011, stage management and tour management have been added to Madison Line’s services, though these services aren’t limited to signed artists, which currently total six individuals or groups. Of those six, each represents a diverse genre, from Hollywood-based rock trio Until June, who has had songs played on shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice,” to urban hip-hop artist Cayeiro and the Visible Worship Band, made up of Visible Music College students. Garrett says more artists are asking the label to consider them than there is bandwidth to manage, and the dozens who have been turned away just weren’t a good fit. “We look for an artist’s teachability and their excitement and ability to go through something different—if artists are looking for the same type of deal they used to have, they won’t find it here,” Garrett says. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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Spring Fling - April 12th, 5-8pm Promoting Sunny Meadows Safe Haven for Pets

Spring Cleaning Sale - April 12th, 13th & 14th 3092 Poplar Ave. (next to the main public library) Memphis, TN 38111

VOX POPULAR

Vox Popular Q&A with Cary Brown

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RSVP: What are your responsibilities as the Memphis Garden Club president?

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Brown: The most obvious responsibilities are to see the continuation of ongoing work we’re doing and organizations we’re supporting, but also to run board and membership meetings. I oversee all the positions that other people have and check in with them to make sure that the goals of the club are being continuously satisfied and that no one’s dropping the ball—it could be me, I’m not judging. I would say a lot of it is motivation and encouragement because it is a volunteer organization, and there’s a lot of work to do. By far, the largest job we have is putting on the Memphis Flower Show. The Memphis Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club of America (GCA), and there are 200 clubs in America affiliated with this larger body. We started in 1921 and joined the Garden Club of America in 1925, and we are only one of a handful of clubs who puts on a GCA Major Flower Show. RSVP: What are the requirements to become a GCA Major Flower Show? Brown: We have to hold the show at least every three years, have at least 36 flower arrangements, have at least 100 horticulture entries and the judges have to be approved by GCA. Let me just say, our show is much, much bigger than that. We’ll have somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 flower arrangements and probably around 600 or 700 horticulture entries. There also has to be a conservation and/or education division, and we have both. RSVP: Can you give me a general overview of the Memphis Flower Show? Brown: There are five parts to the show. The first is a flower arranging component. In the show schedule, there are pictures of each painting in the Dixon’s “Modern Dialect: American Paintings from the John and Susan Horseman Collection” exhibition, along with every painting’s dimensions and name, and each one of these paintings we sell to a flower arranger to interpret. We call it selling, but no price is involved. This year, there are 63 paintings, and they’ve been divided into classes. There will be a blue ribbon awarded within each one of these classes. One unusual thing we’re doing is the

Photos by Don Perry

earing the end of her two-year term as the Memphis Garden Club president, Cary Brown shows no signs of slowing down, and for good reason. Not only has First Lady Crissy Haslam asked the Memphis Garden Club, along with four other Garden Club of America clubs in the state, to raise $90,000 to revitalize a formed garden at the Tennessee Governor’s Mansion, but the group’s biggest project, the biennial Memphis Flower Show, looms on the horizon. Free to the public, the Memphis Flower Show will take place April 28-29 at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens and has the prestigious distinction of being a Garden Club of America Major Flower Show. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Brown at the Dixon to learn more about the huge undertaking and how the show specifically incorporates all three of the club’s service commitments (in the areas of flower arranging, horticulture and conservation) to the community. “I think our members would tell you that everything we do for the Memphis Flower Show is an attempt to give back,” says Brown.

Exceptional Exhibition Table Class, which is about creating a table arrangement. There are five paintings in this class, and teams of two or three people do these because they’re big. They are actually setting a table with a flower arrangement with the implication of eating, but no tableware. The table is a 48-inch square, and it will be viewed from all sides. It’s really thinking way outside of the box. The other unusual thing that’s really cool is the American Dream Challenge Class, which is where five people walk in and are given the exact same material, but they don’t know what the material is until they walk in. They know they’re interpreting a certain painting, but they know nothing else. It’s open to out-of-town judges only because they don’t have to bring anything with them. It’s almost like “Iron Chef” for flower arranging because it is timed. For the first time ever this year, we have a hat class called Magnificent Mod Hattery. The six entries are supposed to make an abstract design loosely based on an actual hat from the Roaring Twenties because that is sort of the mid-time of this exhibition, which is a lot about the move from rural to urban America. These exhibitors will be given a hat mannequin placed on a pedestal, and they’re given a type of hat to interpret on this mannequin. You’re not supposed to see anything about the way they put it together. Then, we have a horticulture component, and within it, there are 159 classes, which include things like pansy, rose, peony and hosta classes. Those are all cut specimens, but then there is an entire section for container plants like begonias, orchids, ferns, succulents and cacti. In that section, there is an ownership requirement for either three or six months. Our club, along with the Little Garden Club of Memphis [another GCA Club], is doing a Challenge Class on forcing amaryllis, which you normally think of at Christmastime. Also something new this year came from some help from the Dixon, which helped us make some hypertufas. They are porous stone troughs that were popular in England in the 1800s. We have all planted them with similar plants and took them home about six months ago. We’re all going to bring back these hypertufas and hope that ours it the best one. The third component is botanical photography, and there are six classes of photography, which are all tied into this “Modern Dialect” theme. The fourth part is a conser-

VOX POPULAR

vation element. This year, our conservation group is putting together an exhibition within the show called “Eat Local, Buy Local, Grow Local.” This exhibition will highlight the benefits of locally grown foods and includes ways to get started buying and eating food produced close to home. The last division is the education exhibit, which is always put on by children and grandchildren of our members and the Little Garden Club of Memphis members and is a youth-oriented part of the show. This exhibit is called “It Just Tastes Better.”

RSVP: Are there any other aspects of the show you’d like to highlight? Brown: Yes. The Preview Party will be held in the museum on April 27, the Friday night before the show. A tent will be put up in the courtyard of the Dixon for that night, and the Preview Party will be open to the public. It’s $75 a ticket and includes drinks and dinner. It’s really the peak time to view these flower arrangements and cut specimens, and they’ll still be great on Saturday and Sunday, but it’s kind of the first sneak peek. The tent out front will stay in place until Monday morning, so this year, we’re going to have vendors set up a garden market. It’s not a

23 RSVP

Brown: I certainly do, and there’s a big push within our club to garden organically by leaving out things like pesticides and non-organic fertilizers. In our horticulture entries at the show, you have to fill out a card with all the information about the cut specimen or the container plant, and there is a place on that card for you to mention the fact that you have not used any pesticides or anything like that. You would get a higher grade on your entry if it were known that it was this beautiful specimen and you’d grown it without using harmful chemicals.

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RSVP: Do you think Memphians are paying greater attention to horticulture considering that there is a push to eat organic produce and grow plants organically?

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money-maker for us, but it’s a chance to show off some of our local gardening vendors, including Gardens Oy Vey, Randolph’s Greenhouses from Jackson, Tennessee, Little Hill Nursery and Garden District. These vendors will have things for sale, but a lot of what they want is to just show the public what they have to offer. Keep in mind, it’s free to come to the actual show.

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RSVP: How is it possible that the Memphis Garden Club offers this show to the public for free?

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Brown: The Memphis Garden Club gave the Dixon a generous donation that was made possible to us by a local foundation, the CrawfordHoward Private Foundation. That money enables the Dixon to be open free to the public on Saturday and Sunday for the event. There’s really no reason why the community shouldn’t come because it’s free, and there are so many things they’ll learn and be inspired by on top of that. The aesthetic beauty of it is also amazing. The last thing I’m going to tell you about is really exciting, and I’m so excited because it just kind of came together. Because the conservation exhibit is about eating local, buying local and growing local, and the education part is about home gardening, we decided to see if Mac Edwards of The Elegant Farmer would be interested in having a café here on Saturday and Sunday during lunch since he’s all about farm to table and sustainability. So, Hughes Pavilion is going to be the Garden Café by The Elegant Farmer. RSVP: How many people do you expect to attend the show? Brown: I believe in years past we’ve had about 3,000 each day. The show actually started at the Dixon in 1978, which wasn’t long after the Dixon began. Mrs. Dixon was a member of our club, so when the foundation opened the Dixon, our members from the very start would do flower arrangements for the residence every week on a very casual basis. That evolved into what we call the fine arts rotation, and every Tuesday and Friday morning, five or six members meet here and do five floral arrangements that are spaced throughout the house. The only time we don’t do flower arrangements is during Christmastime because we do all the Christmas decorations. It takes months to get that organized since we do every room and the outside, so that’s another huge undertaking that we do. RSVP: Doesn’t the Memphis Garden Club also help with the Dixon’s Cutting Garden? Brown: Well, the Cutting Garden was begun in the early ‘90s, and the original funding for it came from individual contributions from members of our club. On an ongoing basis, all honorariums and memorials that would and have been in the past given to our club for us to give away, we now have people write their checks directly to the Dixon and earmarked Memphis Garden Club Cutting Garden. There’s a fund that’s continually being replenished at the Dixon, and every so often, Dale Skaggs, the director of horticulture,

will ask us for money. For instance, he recently asked for money to help with the brickwork and perennial border being put in the Cutting Garden, and we help maintain and enhance the Cutting Garden from time to time with that money. There’s also an endowed speaker series at the Dixon called the Phoebe Cook Lecture, which was endowed by a former member of our club, and we help organize that free lecture to the public. Usually, some nationally recognized flower arranger or horticulturist comes, and it’s on a Thursday morning in November. Finally, we do have a monthly horticulture rotation, which is when members meet in the potting hub and do things like repotting or help with the Dixon’s plant sale every year. RSVP: How many members does the Memphis Garden Club have to be able to do all of these activities? Brown: We have a maximum of 100 members, and right now, we have nearly 100 members. The youngest person in the club is 45, and then we have members in their 90s. One of the reasons why we have no one younger than 45 is that it is time consuming, and we think it’s probably best to wait until your children are grown since there are lots of requirements for new members. RSVP: What is your advice for anyone looking to get into gardening? Brown: I would say Dale Skaggs’ gardening class at the Dixon might be a real good start, and there are so many workshops you can come to at the Dixon for a nominal fee. I also think you can learn a lot from your family members. They know things about what grows right here at home. Now, books are also great, but some aren’t tailored to our climate. Our club did put out the Mid-South Garden Guide in 1954, and the newest edition was put out in 2007. It’s available at all of the local bookstores and nurseries, and it is very specifically tailored to the Memphis and the MidSouth climate. The contributing editors to this are experts in every kind of field. The tag line is “the essential reference tool for every gardener,” and the best thing about it is that it offers a month-by-month guide for your garden. The general price for the book is around $24, and all the money from sales goes back to the club to help us support groups like the Wolf River Conservancy, which we gave money to for a tree planting this year. We’re always giving money away; we’re not in the business of making money.

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PHOENIX CLUB MARDI GRAS PARTY

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Phoenix Club Mardi Gras Party Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis

B Curt Griffin and Nathan Walters

Melissa and David Turner

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eads, boogieing and blackjack! The Phoenix Club, which dates back to 1955 and is comprised of young men dedicated to serving the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, threw its annual Mardi Gras Party at the Cadre building downtown. By 9 o’clock, the line at the entrance looked a lot like Bourbon Street: shoulder-to-shoulder packed! Sponsored by BB King’s, The Brass Door, Budweiser of Memphis, Harrah’s, Silly Goose and Ubee’s, the bash brought 1,000 young people out to play. Patrick Walton chaired the event, which was hosted by club president Nathan Walters and vice-president Ross Ridenhour. Corey and Shelly Gunn, both first-timers at the party, were excited about trying their luck at the onsite Phoenix Club Mardi Gras Charity Casino. “We learned to play craps on our honeymoon, so that’s kind of our jam,” said Shelly. Just $25 bought $1,000 in “casino money,” which could be traded for chips, and could then be redeemed for raffle tickets. Gamblers had a shot at winning prizes like Grizzlies tickets, golf at Mirimichi, $700 to spend at Oak Hall and Caesars Entertainment packages, including hotel accommodations and spa treatments. While most of the guys dressed smartly but casually, Andy Greer stood out in the crowd. In the spirit of carnival, he wore a top hat, a ruffled-front shirt and brocade coattails. “The best way to avoid conversation about the weather is to wear a top hat,” he explained. Despite the very frosty temps outside, gals like Emily Cross dressed to impress. Complimented on her bravery in foregoing tights on such a cold night, Candace Schaefer, who rocked a short sequined dress, admitted, “Oh, I had tights on till I got inside!” A VIP area on the mezzanine overlooked the dance floor that had plenty of action as live band The Covers pumped out the party tunes prior to DJ Mario taking the stage. Bars throughout the venue offered classic Mardi Gras libations like Hurricanes, Lynchburg Lemonades and Kamikazes. By the end of the night, a wild time had been had by all, and more than $20,000 had been raised for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Carlie Little and Nathan Ennis

Story by Kelly Cox Photos by Nathan Berry

Andy Greer and Chris Thornton

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Courtney Mitchell and Joe Banks

EVENT Melanie Murray, Stacy Early, David Goodale, Kanan Bhavsar and Jose Laraya

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PHOENIX CLUB MARDI GRAS PARTY

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PHOENIX CLUB MARDI GRAS PARTY

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Austin Davis and Kyle Hunter

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APRIL 28 / THE COLUMNS AN ANNIVERSARY GALA YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL TALK ABOUT FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS

Andrew Rock and Cindy Barrett

James Thompson and Kim Thomas

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Onsite I Tennessee Shakespeare Company Valentine’s Gala More than 400 Shakespeare lovers gathered at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre for the third annual Valentine’s Gala that benefited the Tennessee Shakespeare Company’s educational programs. Themed “Put on a Happy Face,” the event honored Charles Strouse, who has written more than 30 scores for musicals, including “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Annie.” After enjoying a light cocktail buffet, the crowed moved to another room, where hundreds of silent auction items were perused. A performance by Strouse, a threetime Tony winner, and a dessert reception ended the evening’s festivities. Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Charles Strouse with Tammy and Rodney McKelroy

Pam and Andy Branham

Jenne and Tom Williams

Page Robbins Winter Gala

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The annual Page Robbins Winter Gala was held at Esplanade Memphis and started off with guests purchasing “bottomless” wine glasses and bidding at the silent auction. Lucky ticket holders for the sold-out event were treated to an evening that truly lived up to its theme, “One Enchanted Evening.” Guests were served a sumptuous dinner that began with a salad of mixed baby greens with crumbled bacon and feta cheese, followed by Beef Wellington and honeyglazed cod. A live auction offered numerous extravagant items, such as a Kate Spade handbag filled with cash and an emerald and gold necklace with matching earrings, as attendees were served Bananas Foster. Music by The Aims Gang delighted all after dessert.

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Neal and Tina McConnico with Cassandra and Jack Moriarty

Marie and James Knight with Betsy Sexton

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

River Oaks Garden Club Valentine Dinner Dance River Oaks Garden Club members and their spouses filled the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club and mingled with guests, including Marguerite Piazza and her daughter, Shirley Condon, at the group’s Valentine Dinner Dance. When attendees entered the ballroom, tables draped in black linen with embroidered red hearts awaited, along with a wedge salad topped with bacon and bleu cheese vinaigrette. Adding to the décor were towering centerpieces surrounded by wreaths of roses and tulips, as well as chocolate hearts strewn on tables. Filet mignon with a mushroom reduction and creamy mashed potatoes, along with lemon soufflé, were the next courses, which were accompanied by music from Hudson and Saleeby, who played before and after special guest Earl Randle performed. Barbara and Mike Satterwhite with Mike and Camille Thompson

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Marguerite Piazza, Betty Green and Shirley Condon

Works of Heart Auction

Mahaffey White and Grayson Smith

Marion Gleadhill and Jon W. Sparks

Carol Drake and Nancy Williams

Hundreds of art appreciators felt the love at the annual Works of Heart Auction, held at Memphis College of Art to benefit the Memphis Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Bigger and better than ever, the auction had hearts overflowing at every turn. The CAC’s Beryl Wight described the event as “a Valentine to Mahaffey White.” The beloved Memphis artist turned 100 last July and still contributes new work to the auction. Other sought-after “heartists” included Carroll Todd, Danny Broadway and David Mah, among dozens of others. The auction raised more than $92,000 for the CAC, where professionals from a number of fields work together toward a common goal of justice, safety and healing for children who have suffered abuse. Story and Photos by Kelly Cox

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Onsite II Ducks Unlimited Wolf River Chapter Sponsor Dinner The rainy weather was a bit foul outside, but everything went off swimmingly at the annual Wolf River Chapter Sponsor Dinner held at Ducks Unlimited. DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, so dinner committee chairmen Randy Graves, Adam Webster and Dave Marrone challenged guests to raise $75,000, or $20,000 more than last year’s event proceeds. With exclusive live auction items, a silent auction of rare memorabilia and stacks of hunting gear to be raffled, there were plenty of opportunities for the 250 guests to meet the goal. Guests also had a chance to watch renowned decoy carver Charles Jobes at work and snack on his Canadian goose corned “beef” and barbecue samples. The dinner is one of a series of DU anniversary events in 2012. Steve Reynolds, Randy Graves and Amy Batson

Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker

Ann-Felice Thiel with Diane and Paul Schmidt

The Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum in Victorian Village stayed open late for A Sweet Serenade, a special Valentine-themed benefit. In the spirit of the holiday, the event featured a concert of love songs performed by Luna Nova Music members, including soprano Esther Gray Lemus and guitarist Mark Volker, in the house’s stately ballroom. No Valentine gathering would be complete without chocolate, hence the reason for the event’s “Chocolate Extravaganza.” Planned by AJ Northrop, a Woodruff-Fontaine volunteer and a Victorian Village Board of Directors member, the chocolate tasting and toasting took place downstairs in the romantic root cellar. Sonja Dowdy and AJ Northrop

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Chris Pugh

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Patricia Gray, Peggy Lovell, Mark Volker and Esther Gray Lemus

Memphis Symphony League Valentine Celebration The Memphis Symphony League, the fund-raising arm of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, hosted a Valentine Celebration at the Racquet Club of Memphis. Much like giving Valentine cards in school, guests gave candy to their Valentines and then found their place settings, which were decorated with sequin hearts, heart ribbon and red begonias. After a lunch of iceberg wedge salads, Mediterranean chicken, Zucchini Provençal, rice pilaf and raisin bread pudding with bourbon sauce, the program turned to music, with vocalists Lura Turner and Joe Lackie, accompanied by pianist Dr. Gary Beard, singing love-themed duets. MSO president and CEO Ryan Fleur and Joy Wiener then both thanked Susanna Perry Gilmore for her 15 years of service as the MSO concertmaster and principal violinist. Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Lura Turner, Billie Jean Graham, Susanna Perry Gilmore and Laura Fleur

Christina Ward and Nancy Menzies

Emily McAllister and Joy Wiener

Healing Hearts with the Arts Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects welcomed supporters of Sophia’s House, a program of Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, for an evening devoted to ending domestic violence. With artwork donated to Healing Hearts with the Arts by celebrity painters, as well as Catholic Charities’ clients and staff, there was a variety of available pieces, which ranged from a heart-shaped sun painting by Mike Maness to a “Super Hero” painting by Jerry Lawler. In addition, there were many other non-art live and silent auction items, like a pair of Air Penny Nike Shoes autographed by Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, two tickets to the Masters practice round and a fulllength mink coat. Catholic Charities development director Anna Kathryn Word hoped the event would raise $25,000 to help Sophia’s House continue its assistance to women (and their children) who are homeless and fleeing domestic violence. Anna Kathryn and Hank Word

Lee Askew and Bishop J. Terry Steib

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A Sweet Serenade

Angie Pitcher and Julie Davidson Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

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GERMANTOWN CHARITY HORSE SHOW ROYAL BALL

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Germantown Charity Horse Show Royal Ball Announcement of the Queen and Princesses

T Halle Knox and Gray McQueen

Johnny and Kim Pitts

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he presentation of the 2012 Germantown Charity Horse Show princesses and crowning of this year’s queen drew a crowd of 500 guests to the expansive Woodland Hills Manor. Fittingly called the Germantown Charity Horse Show Royal Ball, the occasion exuded Southern elegance from the formal floor-length gowns to the friendly atmosphere, immediately evident during the cocktail hour. After enjoying a buffet of hors d’oeuvres, the presentation ceremony ensued with 20 princesses being escorted down the grand double staircase by their fathers. At the foot of the staircase, the fathers handed off their beautiful daughters to escorts, who accompanied them to the stage. During this time, the emcee read long, impressive lists of the princesses’ accomplishments, which guests admired in addition to the princesses’ beautiful dresses in an array of tulle, taffeta, satin, silk, chiffon and beaded lace. Each princess was sponsored by a local club, charity organization or equine-affiliated entity, some of which included the Junior League of Memphis, the 20th Century Home and Garden Club, Pegasus of Germantown, Longreen Hunt Club, Oakview Stables, the Exchange Club of Memphis and the West Tennessee Hunter Jumper Association. Culminating the event was the crowning of Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Foster, who thanked supporters and shared some of her volunteer experiences at the Exchange Club Family Center, the beneficiary of the 2012 Germantown Charity Horse Show. The guest list included several dignitaries, including Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell and Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy, who issued a proclamation after the queen joined her princesses. Susan Winn, president of the 2012 Germantown Charity Horse Show, also invited Tennessee State Senator Brian Kelsey to the podium, where he made congratulatory remarks. Following the presentation, dinner began with a mixed green salad and continued with an entrée of filet mignon and herb-roasted chicken breasts served with creamed potatoes and asparagus trimmed in a band of roasted red peppers. To complete the meal, guests were given a choice of chocolate or coconut cake. Then the true celebration started as Queen Elizabeth and her father, Murray Foster, enjoyed a first dance to “My Girl.” Others quickly joined in, dancing to the music of Front & Beale until the affair ended just before midnight. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Bill Dudley and Amy Beth Dudley

Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Don Perry

Albert Markle and Lillie Kay Mitchell

Savannah and Michael Hawkins

Chip and Tracey Carruthers

James Berry and Emily Berry

Mayor A C Wharton with Susan and Bob Winn

Nicole Streeter and Chris Henderson

EVENT Jimmy and Betty Green

GERMANTOWN CHARITY HORSE SHOW ROYAL BALL

Murray Foster and Queen Elizabeth Foster

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Bryan and Ashley Krauch

Allison and Robyn Rey Rudisill

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Lauren and Scott Daughtry

Lillie Burrow and Wil Barton

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Mayor Mark and Pat Luttrell

Ryan Mazell and Mary Carson Pitts

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Sarah Lawler and Theo Terry

Alli George, Ann Ashford McLemore and Ramsay Laughlin

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GERMANTOWN CHARITY HORSE SHOW ROYAL BALL

Greg and Kelly Marcom with Michele and Kyle Smith

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John and Nancy Bonk

Sadie Krauch and Somer Greene

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EVENT Angela Hammond and Howe Sipes

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Tempe and Jimmy Chancellor, Cooper Lawrence and Jesse Lawrence

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Interview by Jonathan Devin | Photos by Steve Roberts nterior designer Sam Henderson, co-owner of Vignettes, is not afraid of color, a fact thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apparent the moment you step into the master bedroom of a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house on South Belvedere in the Central Gardens National Historic District. Throughout seven weeks, Henderson transformed the room into a museum of bold colors like aqua, rose, gold and deep slate blue all swirled together into a tapestry of patterns and cultural influences. From the drama of a small framed canopy over a beautifullyinlaid bed to the creative candor of windows framed in embroidered gold silk and pink taffeta drapery to the custom-built blue velvet sofa in front of the footboard, every square inch is decked with fearless color combinations which all somehow manage to work together.

I A custom-built silk and velvet love seat in deep slate blue completes the grandeur of a restored bed with numerous shades of inlaid veneer. Designer Sam Henderson mixed multiple cultural themes including Italian, French, Moroccan and Indian while taking even greater risks with colors and fabrics such as the bright pink canopy and under draperies and multi-tone tassels. The entire tableau is framed in a river of blue inset into a beige, harlequin patterned carpet.

RSVP ROOM VIEW Henderson: It came a long way. It was kind of a lavender color. I only kept two chairs and the bed in the room. I changed all the carpet and all the colors. The homeowner wanted color and talked to some other designers, but none of them showed her any color. I thought, I’ll show you some color. I’m not scared of color. In today’s trends, most designers are trying to go monochromatic and tone-on-tone. Here, we have a lot of patterns and textures and lots of meaty elements in the same room. RSVP: Why did you opt for the layered drape look behind the large mirror? Henderson: They wanted the ability to black out the room and still keep the formality of the tied-back curtains. It’s actually gold embroidered silk and pink taffeta. There’s actually a window on the opposite side, and we covered it with a custom-built, three panel dressing mirror. RSVP: Why did you select a textured, pale blue wallpaper for the bedroom? Henderson: Well, the bathroom wallpaper has both robin’s egg blue and aqua tones. You can really see the detail. I love those colors in there with the pink marble floor. We used that as a basis, and it inspired the colors in the bedroom like the pink under draperies. That way, we didn’t have to change the bathroom surfaces. To redo it would’ve been a small fortune. RSVP: You’ve added some modern conveniences as well, though they almost look hidden. Henderson: They had never had a TV in their bedroom before we redid it. My take was to frame a flatscreen. We’ve been doing it for a few years. A lot of people will buy DVDs that run artwork which

changes every minute-and-a-half, and people will run that if it’s framed. RSVP: At the same time that you’re mixing colors, you’re also mixing cultures, too. Henderson: The brass angel sconces are original—they’re very French. Some of the patterns are Indian. The bed is definitely Italian, but it’s Moroccaninspired. I’m sure it was custom built for someone. It’s walnut, chestnut, elm and ebony. It looks like Doge’s Palace [in Venice] to me. The figures on the headboard are true Italian. [The bedside tables] are antiqued mirror in a 1920s French art deco style. A lot of companies are doing mirrored pieces now, and these were a perfect size for the space. I think it’s an acid wash as far as the method goes. RSVP: What made you decide to add the stripe of blue carpet around the main carpet? Henderson: I had the border done to strike the room, give it some balance and really frame the room. The main carpet is a harlequin trellis pattern with small floral medallions. I think it makes the room pop up at you. RSVP: And the finishing touch? The chest perhaps? Henderson: It’s a half-round Maitland-Smith demilune chest. It’s a wonderful piece with brass fittings and lion’s paw feet. It has burl walnut inlay front drawers, and the top has a wonderful inlay half sunburst.

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RSVP: What was your starting point in the redesign of the room?

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A Maitland-Smith demilune chest, a treasure in itself, is framed by new artwork, a flat screen TV cleverly disguised in a frame of its own and brass wall sconces bearing figures of angels. It's the intersection of function and elegance.

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Memphis Heart Ball

MEMPHIS HEART BALL

“Young at Heart”

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Ben and Anna Nicol

Gloria Morrison and Cynthia Bryant Welch

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ith February being American Heart Month, the time had come for the American Heart Association to host the Memphis Heart Ball at The Peabody, and after 36 years, the event continues to have staying power with a crowd of 450 guests attending. With an ever-changing theme, this year’s organizers opted for an evening devoted to those “Young at Heart.” Raising awareness about the nation’s number one killer—heart disease—remains the core of the program, hence the reason for incorporating “hearts” into much of the event, from the décor to the silent auction offerings and stories told by heart disease survivors. Just outside the Grand Ballroom, glittery red heart cut-outs appeared on two backdrops set up for photo-ops, and inside, red rose petals were scattered throughout tables of silent auction goodies that tempted loving hearts with items like a “Five Months of Date Night” package to Jim’s Place East, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House and Lucchesi’s Ravioli and Pasta Company, as well as a jewelry armoire perfect for that special someone. New volunteer Pat Whitaker pointed out that her favorite item in the mix was a retro-looking, pink Pottery Barn toy sink fit for a child, but popular with adults who have a heart for children. On a far wall, a giant “Lilli Wall” showed off whimsical paintings created by students at Hutchison in the same class as Lilli Eggers, a special guest at the ball as she is a heart disease survivor. The 48 “Lilli Wall” paintings were offered at $35 each, and all works catered to the theme, whether they had tissue paper hearts arranged in the shape of four-leaf clovers to hearts strategically painted to look like butterflies. Standing next to the “Lilli Wall,” Gloria Morrison said, “This is my first time volunteering, and I’m enjoying it. This wall is great—it almost becomes a decoration.” Ladies and gents soon sat down for a four-course dinner, during which Zula’s Child entertained and Jeff Morris of Morris Auction Group sold some hot ticket items in the live auction. A regular auctioneer on the charity party circuit, Morris seemed particularly excited this evening with the items up for grabs, telling guest Ron Olson beforehand, “You’ve got to see this stunning piece,” as he walked over to Ken Lecco’s “Passion of Life” painting. According to Morris, Lecco had just completed the one-of-a-kind piece at noon earlier that day and used melted gold in the design. Other tempting items included a Viking Cooking School class for 12 and a one-week stay in a condo at Big Sky Montana Resort. Ready to party after dinner and bidding, guests rounded out the festivities by dancing to popular tunes by Party Planet, showing that you can always be young at heart. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Valerie and Jeff Morris

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry

Nancy and Charles Averwater

Jeshenna Johnson and Jonathan Watkins

Vicki and Ron Olson

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Bill and Sallie Nicol

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Constance and Tom Conley

Priscilla and Paulo Teixeira

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EVENT MEMPHIS HEART BALL Charlie and Becky Portis

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Pat Whitaker and Mary M. Alexander

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EVENT Tom Love and Emily Capadalis

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MEMPHIS HEART BALL Jennifer Maranowicz and Lance Hall

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Grand Krewe of RaMet Coronation

The keyword for the Grand Krewe of Luxor Coronation at Esplanade Memphis is elegance since everyone who attended the affair was dressed to the nines. Guests enjoyed a buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails prior to the presentation of the court, during which Queen Ann Newell and King Charles Shoaf III decreed that fun and festivities would follow. Their subjects obeyed and partied well into the night to the tunes of the King Beez. As the hour neared midnight, partygoers were treated to a breakfast buffet as the Luxor Krewe made sure no one left hungry or thirsty. Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Queen Debbie Halbrook and King Buddy Russell

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Sandra Cooper, Kim Leonard, Vickie Carwell and Patti Russell

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Carnival Memphis royalty and their guests filled the Clark Opera Memphis Center for the Grand Krewe of RaMet Coronation. A “Night in Rio” theme was chosen to parallel Brazil’s Carnival, with attendees seeing mannequins dressed in full festival attire when they walked through the door. The table decor also followed the theme, and even before the court was presented, its members were already in the Carnival spirit as they danced to tunes by BulletTown. After King Buddy Russell and Queen Debbie Halbrook were officially seated on their thrones, surrounded by their court, tables emptied as the rest of the crowd joined the king and queen on the dance floor.

Grand Krewe of Luxor Coronation

Grand Krewe of Sphinx Coronation “Wait until I get changed for the coronation to take my photograph,” urged Jack Conway, who was crowned King of the Grand Krewe of Sphinx at a grand coronation held at Colonial Country Club. Once properly attired, Conway escorted Queen Kelley Martin through a throng of guests, including Mayor Mark Luttrell and his wife, Pat, and Mary and Myron Lowery. The evening’s theme was “Lost in the ‘50s,” prompting Amber Roettgen (Queen of the Grand Krewe of Phoenix) to borrow an authentic mid-century cocktail dress for the event. On the way out, guests helped themselves to bowls of nostalgia-tinged Clark Bars, Mary Jane’s, mini Whoopie Pies and Wax Bottles candies. “Isn’t the candy great?” asked Conway. “It was my idea!” Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker

Anita Howell, Hooper Jones and Donna Renard

DeAnne Gammon and Rick Condrey

King Jack Conway and Queen Kelley Martin with Erica Knight and Taylor Martin

Queen Ann Newell and King Charles Shoaf III

Mike and Cathy Welsh

Grand Krewe of Phoenix Coronation The Premiere Palace Ballroom on Monroe Avenue looked anything but palatial the night of the Grand Krewe of Phoenix Coronation. The exterior of the building was shrouded in black, and a marquee outside identified it as “The Phoenix Auto Sales Club.” A small eye-height panel slid open, and guests were only admitted after they provided a password. This was all part of an elaborate disguise that transformed the venue into a 1920s-style speakeasy. The room was filled with flappers and Bugsy Malone look-alikes, with King Ryan Landwehr and Queen Amber Roettgen included among them. The royals donned their finery for a brief presentation ceremony after which they took the floor and danced the Charleston to the tune “Shake Those Feet.” Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Queen Amber Roettgen and King Ryan Landwehr

Michelle Kornberger, Ally Luciano and Tara Bodansky

Soup Sunday

Cochon 555

Blue Jean Ball

“Temple a Go-Go” Party

More than 70 Memphis restaurants gathered on a chilly February afternoon at FedExForum for the 23rd annual Soup Sunday benefiting Youth Villages. Lines that seemed a mile long formed at nearly every restaurant around the perimeter of the stadium as attendees gathered to taste the likes of Jim’s Place Chicken Florentine soup, Rendezvous’ red beans and rice and Folk’s Folly’s beef vegetable soup, to name a few. Savory smells and enticing table displays drew in a record 2,500 people, who helped raise $55,000 for Youth Villages’ mentoring program. By day’s end, Hard Rock Café Memphis was also celebrating with their big win for “Best Soup.”

A number of chef-friendly events pop up on the local social calendar, but none quite like Cochon 555. An event that tours the U.S., one leg of the tour revisited Memphis this year at The Columns at One Commerce Square. Though the main objective is to help responsible family farms sustain and expand their operations while raising awareness of heritage-breed pigs, the actual event has chefs competing to create the best dishes using all parts of a pig. Kelly English of Restaurant Iris took home the crown, beating out Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Lee Richardson of Ashley’s in Little Rock, Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Café in St. Louis and Michael Hudman and Andrew Ticer of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in Memphis. English will next compete at Grand Cochon in Aspen.

The third time’s a charm for the Junior Auxiliary of Collierville’s Blue Jean Ball, which drew the signature benefit’s best attendance yet with 225 members and guests. Themed “Mardi Gras Unmasked,” the event unfolded at Memphis National Golf Club with revelers, some in beads and feathers, enjoying a wine pull featuring 61 wines at $15 a piece, entertainment by DJ Tommy Austein and Cajun fare like muffaletta sandwiches. A silent and live auction included several areafriendly items, including tickets to the Main Street Collierville Preservation Party & Taste of Collierville, a Café Piazza gift certificate and pilates classes at Pilates of Collierville. Brandon and Avni Pathak co-chaired the sold-out event that helped raise funds for group service projects and to assist children in need throughout Southeast Shelby County.

Temple Israel took locals on a trip down memory lane with its 1960s-inspired fund-raiser, the “Temple a Go-Go” Party. While a few dressed to the theme, all guests got into the vibe when DJ Kenny Bosak spun hits of yesteryear and when Karen Carrier and her Another Roadside Attraction team served a creative ‘60sthemed feast. Silent and live auction buzz generated due to lots of fun items, such as a Beatles experience in London, Dallas Cowboys tickets, Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets, a tour and tasting of Dinstuhl’s Candy Kitchen and a wine dinner for six with José Gutierrez. WMC-TV 5’s Ron Childers served as live auctioneer, gaining bids so that Temple Israel can continue to ensure vital services are available for Temple members regardless of ability to pay.

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Libby Huff

Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

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Story and Photos by Maggie Giffin

John Tabb and Brady Bryan Dr. Marc and Elissa Taub with Robin and Jeff Wallace Avni Pathak, Susan Williams, Amy Chestnut and Christy Brandon Andrew Ticer, Kelly English and Michael Hudman

Doug and Jenna Thompson Heather Brucks and Belinda Sink

Rabbi Micah Greenstein and Mayor A C Wharton

Thomas Whitehead and Megan Fuller

Marion Bailey and Dave Hulbert

Jon and Beth Autrey with Stacy and Jared Autrey

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ONSITE

Onsite IV

Drs. Dharmesh and Purvisha Patel

Daniel and Meggan Kiel

Oscar Night America

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OSCAR NIGHT ® AMERICA

Benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Memphis

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Jill Albright and Kevin Morgan

Geoff Begnaud and Brittany Herbert

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inglewood Hall has become known for its concerts, but the Midtown locale attracted movie lovers instead of music fans the night of February 26 for Oscar Night® America. A benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Memphis, the event celebrated its 11th year and remains one of a few Oscar Night® celebrations in the country sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®. Though people like Best Actress winner Meryl Streep (for The Iron Lady) and Best Actor victor Jean Dujardin (for The Artist) were the stars of the Oscars® broadcast, which appeared on a giant screen in the 1884 Lounge and on many smaller TVs throughout the main concert hall, organizers recognized that their stars were the many children who come through the doors of the Ronald McDonald House. A “home-away-from-home” for families with children receiving medical care at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the nonprofit annually hosts more than 6,000 families at its facility, which boasts areas like an exercise room, kitchen and meditation room that families have full access to while their child is undergoing treatment. With operating expenses in mind for these and other rooms at the facility, executive director Caron Byrd said, “All money raised tonight goes toward Ronald McDonald House to keep the doors open.” Since the night carried an Oscars theme, plenty of celebritysigned memorabilia was up for bids in the silent auction, which kicked off in the atrium, also the spot where guests picked up signature cocktails and eyed Laurelwood Shopping Center outfits on live models. Mosa Asian Bistro, an event newcomer, provided all the hors d’oeuvres during the cocktail hour and later offered some dinner items, including curried beef pastries, spring rolls, tempura shrimp, potstickers and sushi. In traditional Oscar Night fashion, many of the restaurants outfitted their tasting stations with movie-related décor, like Humdingers did with its nod to Hugo and Noodles Asian Bistro did with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Décor aside, food offerings from any participating restaurant were pretty spectacular, with Ciao Bella serving Jack Daniel’s cannoli milkshakes and CrêpeMaker serving made-to-order dessert crepes. As the evening wore on, The Soul Shockers performed and awards were bestowed to those outstanding restaurants in the décor and taste categories. However, the real treat came when the telecast showed that Undefeated, a documentary about the Manassas High School football team, had won Best Documentary Feature. Montrail “Money” Brown, who appeared in the movie, happened to be in the Oscar Night audience and was given a roaring round of applause when Undefeated won. Of course, autographs were in order from Brown— another star Memphians were able to see right in their hometown. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Jarvis and Emily Greer

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Nathan Berry

Betha Gill and Jenne Williams

Anne and Jay Mead

Katie Kalsi and Anastasia Wiseman

Brandon and Jessica Corley

Arthur and Andrea Malkin with Gail Sevier Weakley and Randy Engel

Mayor A C Wharton and Caron Byrd

EVENT OSCAR NIGHT 速 AMERICA Peter and Denice Susen

Victoria and Tim Disalvo

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Tamara and Daryl Hodges

Alec and Margaret McLean

Jessica and Ted Simpson RSVP

Bob and Laura Burditt

Dede Malmo and Valerie Truhan

Jeff and Stacey LaRusso

Sharon and Grayson Hall

Renee Fortune and Eric Patten

Kevin Dacus and Amy Worrell

EVENT OSCAR NIGHT 速 AMERICA

Jason Prater and Holly Whitfield

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Megan and Seth Smith

Morgan Newsom, Matt Powers and Lauren Watson

Will and Bridgett Routt with Genna Cox and Tucker Strickland

Steven Hankins and Amanda Hindsman

Michaela Burkhardt and Andy Windham

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Kathy Lofton and Gwen Frazier

Gail Musick and Michael Booth

Bob, Katie and Mary Tolbert

Michelle Lamansky, Princess Daniels and Dana Campbell

Paul Gagliano and Tracy Bunn

Bart and Mamie Shannon

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HANDS OF HOPE AUCTION PARTY

EVENT

Hands of Hope Auction Party Benefiting the Exchange Club Family Center

“C

Matt and Lynda Spinolo

Madelyn Gray and Brooke Shannon

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ome on, raise your hands for hope!” urged emcee and auctioneer Steve Conley as he worked the crowd of 500 Exchange Club Family Center supporters at the organization’s annual Hands of Hope Auction Party. Bidding high was the name of the game for this auction-heavy benefit co-chaired by Madelyn Gray and Mia Henley, with Mayor A C and Ruby Wharton as honorary co-chairs. “We have an amazing turnout,” said Gray, “and we love that we’re able to have the event at The Columns at One Commerce Square.” Indeed, The Columns was a welcome change of venue and provided quite the romantic ambiance, with amber colored lights shining on the soaring Greek Revival columns in the building that was once a bank—you couldn’t tell this night! The space had lots of special touches, from towering calla lilies in a tall, slender hurricane vase at the “Champagne Welcome” table to the private bistro tables set up for guests to enjoy French wines in the “VIP Wine Bar,” courtesy of North Berkeley Imports. Then, there was a canopy of star-lit satin hanging from the ceiling, lots of soft white candlelight and calla lily centerpieces containing illuminated wire copper balls. Gray praised Brent Logan of Holliday Flowers for helping coordinate the overall look. When they weren’t savoring Italian cuisine from Ziparo’s Catering or sipping coffee from Café Las Flores, ladies and gents could be found studying a multitude of silent auction items. This was no ordinary auction either, as there were out-of-the-ordinary offerings, starting with gorgeous terrariums, both a large one and a pair, created by Jane Goetz. Other attention-catchers included a hand-carved mantel from Old City Millwork, private water skiing lessons on a private lake by a member of the Collierville Ski Club and a fine bourbon selection by Star Distributors. “What are you bidding on?” became a common phrase this night, but perhaps the more appropriate one should have been “What shouldn’t you bid on?” For the live auction, Kevin Kane, president and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, took on a new role as auctioneer when he joined Conley on the mic. The two said they had done about 10 auctions together now, but it was the first time many in the room had seen the duo in action. Some of the live auction highlights auctioned off were a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade getaway, a six-night stay at a WaterSound lakefront home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, tickets for two honorary observers at the FedEx St. Jude Classic Golf Tournament and a private in-home dinner for 10 with North Berkeley wines and Jennifer Chandler, who was in the audience. By night’s end, patrons were boogieing to tunes spun by DJ Mark Anderson, but more importantly, they had lived up to raising funds for Hands of Hope by donating an estimated $120,000 to help the Exchange Club break the cycle of child abuse.

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Jake and Kate Van Namen

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Baxter Buck

Jim and Deborah Summers

Paul and Mia Henley

Brian and Valencia K. Turner

David Holdford and Monica Burt

Paul Chandler, DJ Mark Anderson and Steve Conley

Ashley Ward and Gary Smith

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Bobby and Sherri Simmons

Michael and Debbie Sego

James Burns and Grace Fong

Diane and Herbert Montgomery

Teri and Bart Hanners

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Scott and Marta Murphy

Dr. Jara Best and Kent Jones

Liza Livingston and Stephen Routh

Alice Higdon and Parker Pickle

Brad and Jacki Lindsay

Andy and Karen Boyd

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HANDS OF HOPE AUCTION PARTY

Chris and Anna-Sarah Farha with Dan and Lori Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien

Rebecca Fountain, Stephanie Simpson, Gina Deutsch, Courtney Wood and Kathye Sbravati RSVP

Rachel Bradley and Billie Jo Parker

Chris and Summer Smith

Mayor A C Wharton with Rinnie and Keith Wood

AFTER HOURS

After Hours A photo collage of the latest business happenings

Cellure National Launch at Mona Spa & Laser Center

Armenta Trunk Show at South House Fine Jewelry

Mona Sappenfield and Jessica Sappenfield

Toni Rutledge, Allison Bailiff, Marge Snipes and Tammy Earwood

Lee Ferris, Scott Moreau and Jerry Katell

“Meet the Experts” Benefit for the National Civil Rights Museum at Macy’s

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Doxchoice Scotch Tasting at the Racquet Club of Memphis

“Million Dollar Quartet” Orpheum Cast Party at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum

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Bayo Tojuola and Mary Omachonu Dr. Nancy Chase and Seldon Murray

Keva Duckett, Greg Hanson and Valerie Calhoun

Roy Berkenstock and Lee Berkenstock

Easton Shariett and Pat Mitchell Worley

Rand Page, Dawn Toups and Tyler Sory

Claire Chamoun, Dr. Laurie Baker and Judy Strong

Lexie Routh and Brent Hogue

Carolina Garbouicz, Abby Walsh, Amy Moore and Michelle Heck

RSV PHILLIPPI

By Dennis Phillippi

suit or having enough money to look like a kook. There are things that will never be in style. It will never be hip for a man to wear gloves for anything other than warmth or work. Men wearing gloves inside anything other than their garage is never going to be a good look. That guy who wears the motorcycle gloves all the time may want to rethink that choice. For men, sunglasses anywhere on your head, other than to cover your eyes, is never cool. Not on top of your head, not hanging on your chin and not on the back of your neck. You can get away with them being on top of your ball cap, but you’d better

It will never be hip for a man to wear gloves for anything other than warmth or work. be fishing. And unless you’re in a rising hip-hop band, a guy wearing sunglasses inside anywhere is decidedly uncool. I’ve said this here before, but no matter how hot it gets, no one is ever going to be okay with seeing your underarms. Fellas, unless you’re on your way to or from the gym, keep the wife-beater inside your own home. None of these things holds true for women. Women can violate all of these. No one cares if a woman wears a sleeveless shirt to the opera. A woman with her sunglasses on top of her head is adorable. I’ve even seen women, eccentric women, able to pull off wearing gloves. Granted, that was in New Orleans, and they were wearing feathers as well, but women can do that sort of thing. Really attractive women can wear anything. Scarlett Johansson could go out wearing a coffee can for a

hat, a dress made from a Little Mermaid shower curtain and shoe boxes for shoes and most of us would still say, “Yeah, but man she’s hot.” Trust me, Jon Hamm cannot pull off a Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts and boots. The rules are different for women. Now, that’s according to men’s magazines. I’m sure that women’s magazines are focused on making women feel that no matter what they already own, it makes them look out of style and hippy to boot. They are, after all, in the business of getting people to buy things. There are things in these men’s magazines that I will never do, no matter how much they insist it’s what everyone is doing in Milan. You’re never going to catch me wearing plaid, a colorful vest, my shirttail sticking out of my sweater, a sweater at all for that matter, a bowtie without a tuxedo or anything bright red, purple or pink. That’s just asking too much of a Southern man who’s been married for more than a quarter of a century. My wife would tell me I look ridiculous, and I trust her judgment. Don’t misunderstand me—I’m not planning on becoming a slave to fashion. For one thing, it’s too expensive. For another, there’s a thin line between being stylish and being Quentin Crisp. Buying ties more often than every 15 years or so is probably a good move. Wearing an ascot is never going to be. Buying something other than sunglasses endorsed by a bass fishing champion is a respectable decision. Buying sunglasses so huge they make you look like you should be in a biplane dogfight over WWI France isn’t. The big fear, I guess, is getting so calcified I end up looking exactly like what I am: a man who likes what he wears because it’s comfortable, has enough pockets and the shoes are comfortable. It sounds like a reasonable argument from one perspective, but really it means you’re going to look lazy, angry, cheap and like someone who wants everyone to just stay the hell off your lawn.

Dennis Phillippi, please feel free to come on our lawn at work any time as long as you have your article ready. If you don’t, we’ll gladly start a “What Not to Wear” feature in the magazine.

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while back, I started buying the occasional men’s fashion magazine. Who knows why. Probably because they also usually have scantily-clad models in them. What I discovered, to my shame, is that virtually everything I ever wear is out of style. It should have been something I saw coming, but I didn’t. I mean, I’m in my late 40s and haven’t bought a new, different garment in probably a decade. Please note that I said “different.” I’ve bought plenty of clothes, it’s just that I always buy the same things, and they, from what I gather, all look rotten. Bear in mind, fashion has rarely been my chief concern when buying clothes. I’ve always, at least in my adulthood, gone almost entirely for functionality. The most important thing is having enough pocket space. Turns out, that’s not what you’re supposed to be keeping as priority number one. If you do, then it’s just a matter of time before you’re one of those old cranks who wears a foreign correspondent’s vest all the time. That’s not a good look unless you happen to be a foreign correspondent, and then you get a pass. I’m not, so I don’t. Reading these shiny periodicals, and just flipping through this one, it’s easy to see that cargo pants and superhero tee shirts are not what a man my age should be sporting. Sport coats that actually fit and don’t have a blown lining are more appropriate. It may be getting late in the game to be wearing sandals seven months out of the year as well. Even my dress clothes, and I have plenty of them, are out of step. My suits are too baggy, the pants may have pleats, my lapels are too wide and so are my ties. Some of my dress shirts look worn at the collar, which is a serious transgression. You’d expect more from shirts I bought 15 years ago at a store whose primary product is not clothing. There are, it seems, some things that don’t ever go out of style, like good Italian shoes, a properly fitted two-button

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FASHION WEAK

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Music Time

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1952

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lison (Strawn) Franklin (front row, third from the left) poses with her cousin, David Strawn (top row, fifth from the right), and the rest of the members of the Spike Jones Band. This group of young musicians came from the 1952 kindergarten classes of Peabody Elementary School, where Ruth Flautt Young taught both Alison and Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class. The school still operates today at 2086 Young Avenue. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALISON (STRAWN) FRANKLIN If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105 or e-mail the photo and caption to editor@rsvpmagazine.com All photos will be returned promptly.