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CONTENTS
Contents August 2008
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Lee Askew III As a founder of Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, this respected architect and civic leader has numerous projects, including the Levitt Shell, Trezevant Manor, and the new University of Memphis Law School, in progress but still finds time for water sports and repairing inanimate objects.
12 SIGNATURE MEMPHIS Lee Askew III
Theatre Memphis Rocks Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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With three top-name local acts, the city’s hot spot for the performing arts rocked the night.
BLUES BALL SPRING AUCTION Nick McGavic and Stephanie Phillips
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20, 22 & 24 As Hospital Wing’s chief pilot, he’s a highly skilled aviator who goes above and beyond to provide support for the medical community. She’s promoting the Mighty AUGUST 2008
Mississippi as the first female to represent the Memphis Yacht Club. He’s interned at the Food Network and worked in kitchens from Miami to Chicago, but this chef de cuisine is now cooking up a following in the Bluff City. StreetSeens spotlight
6
Blues Ball Spring Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
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Phil Scruggs, Terry Saunders, and Ben Vaughn.
As a precursor to the Blues Ball, this Cinco de Mayo-themed auction spread the word about Memphis’ biggest blowout coming up this September.
14 THEATRE MEMPHIS ROCKS GALA Luke Hall and Katie Hanney
Brooks Grand Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 The Art of Good Taste series finale had guests sipping vino and bidding on their favorite varietals at the Brooks Museum.
34 BROOKS GRAND AUCTION Julie and Dan Umansky
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38, 40 & 54 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
RSVPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 A trek across the city’s party landscape.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Q&A with Levitt Shell executive director Chip Pankey.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 The Old and the Restless
22
50
This month Dennis Phillippi ponders the possibility of turning 90 in light of his poor health habits and distaste for The Weather Channel.
STREETSEEN Terry Saunders
VOX POPULAR Chip Pankey Cover Photo Joe Gardner and Valerie Sherman at Theatre Memphis Rocks Gala Photo by Don Perry
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Volume XIII
Number XI
August 2008 PUBLISHER
Roy Haithcock EDITOR
Leah Fitzpatrick O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R
Jil Marcy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi Lesley Young ART DIRECTOR
AUGUST 2008
Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS
John Hammer D.B. Kay Don Perry Steve Roberts
8 RSVP
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Toni Ander son ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Libby Huff Ashlee Omar RSVP Memphis is published monthly by Haithcock Communications, Inc. First class subscriptions are available for $75.00 per year. Send name and address with a check to: Haithcock Communications, Inc. 2282 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38104
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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 Copyright 2008 Haithcock Communications, Inc.
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urn to page 58. What do you see? A knowing grin? A wardrobe perfect for picnicking? A watermelon bigger than the boy about to devour it? Maybe even a patch on the boy’s overalls? Combined, these details exude innocence and happiness, courtesy of youth and a carefree summer day. By the time this issue hits stands, August will be upon us, and hopefully each and every one of you has had or will be experiencing similar occasions filled with unparalleled joy. Thank goodness for cameras, which are able to document moments like the one in the RSVPast section. Though photos are dreaded by some (you know who you are), they prove beneficial when trying to recall celebrations, important milestones, and sometimes forgotten friends. On the other hand, you might cringe upon looking at a photo of your worst hair day ever or an action shot of what now seem like prehistoric dance moves, but lighten up because at least you’re laughing…self-deprecation is a highly attractive quality, after all. Pictures also provide amazing visuals of the “before” versus the “after.” Case in point, flip to page 50, where you’ll see the Levitt Shell’s new executive director, Chip Pankey, in front of the former Overton Park Shell, now coined the Levitt Shell. The Shell is undergoing a major facelift, but by September, it will be up and running with 50 unique talents set to grace the stage through next spring. All the concerts will be free. So why not go check out the completed restoration to take your own “after” shots? Another photograph worth mentioning can be found on page 22. Photographer Steve Roberts captured the pic of the Memphis Yacht Club’s commodore, Terry Saunders, on an idyllic Monday afternoon (yes, Mondays can be idyllic), but little did he and I know how special this shoot would be. We climbed aboard Saunders’ boat and were treated to a cruise along a part of the Mississippi River that was unusually low for this time of year, but we didn’t mind a bit as we saw trees and wildlife that normally are only visible in the spring and fall. On our return back to the marina, the Memphis skyline stood out like a star in the night sky with its sheer beauty and made for the perfect shot. The humidity’s soaring and the days are slowly growing shorter, but don’t forgo your chance to photograph the lazy days of summer. Go snap happy!
Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com
SIGNATURE MEMPHIS
Lee Askew III Fellow of the American Institute of Architects/Partner Askew Nixon Ferguson/Boater
Personal hero: My father. Childhood ambition: Travel.
AUGUST 2008
Favorite album: Getz/Gilberto 1963. Guilty pleasure: Chilled green olives. Your mantra: Keep things in perspective. First concert: Del Rios at the Plantation Inn. Favorite Memphis musician: Grace Askew. Words or phrases you overuse: On the edge. Your greatest achievement: Raising four great kids. Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome: Procrastination. Last book you’ve read: Consider Phlebas by Iain Banks. Historical figure you most identify with: Winston Churchill. One thing most people don’t know about you: My middle name.
photo by Steve Roberts
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EVENT THEATRE MEMPHIS ROCKS GALA
O
AUGUST 2008
Theatre Memphis Rocks Gala “Sh-Boom, Sh-Boom”
Kristin and Angelo Rapan
Ann May and Linda Ross
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pening night warrants unexpected outcomes, but the debut of the Theatre Memphis Rocks Gala produced nothing short of a standing ovation. With an invite that promised guests they’d love the beat, the party benefiting Theatre Memphis’ many arts programs and performances lived up to the hype. In true Broadway style, showgirls dressed in glittery gold minidresses, flashed wide grins and stood on pedestals at the theatre’s entrance. Inside, chic arrangements of white orchids, bells of Ireland, and yellow Gerber daisies positioned in tall hurricane vases illuminated with floating candles complemented the elegant atmosphere. Event co-chairs included Sarah Norton, Elizabeth Scott, Greg Campbell and Michael Varner, who tickled the ivories while attendees sampled crab filo cups, shrimp cocktail, beef tenderloin, and an assortment of cheeses. Guests could also dine alfresco as a white tent was set up outside the lower lobby. Expansive silent auction items could be found just one turn around the corner, in a room fittingly dotted by posters of hit shows like Grease. Libations in hand, bidders did double duty as they mingled and perused tempting diamond sparklers and hot theatre tickets. Joyce Cobb, a Theatre Memphis board member, lent smooth vocals to the background as her band played familiar hits from the Next Stage. Activity later moved onto the Lohrey Stage, where the beat picked up once again with The Bouffants and a live auction. A theatre trip to New York donated by Regency Travel (event co-sponsor), David Yurman jewelry courtesy of Mednikow Jewelers (a presenting sponsor), and a “Cabaret Cocktail Buffet” in a Memphis showplace home were just a few goodies up for grabs. Projecting one’s vocals was strongly encouraged! The beautiful evening continued back in the lower lobby. Solid Gold broke out perfect tunes for the dancing set, who was ready to shake, rattle, and roll. Debbie Litch, executive producer of Theatre Memphis, can hardly wait to keep the momentum (the “Sh-Boom, ShBoom”) rocking next year. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Niki Anthony and Robert Kyle
Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry
Sarah and Dennis Norton
Lynn and Lane Varner
Betty and Bob Mednikow
Nick and Jenny Vergos
Gary Beard, Jack Kendall, Debbie Litch and Andre Ward
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AUGUST 2008
THEATRE MEMPHIS ROCKS GALA
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AUGUST 2008
THEATRE MEMPHIS ROCKS GALA
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Parker and Jennifer Dinwiddie
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Phil Scruggs Frequent Flyer
AUGUST 2008
P
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hil Scruggs vividly remembers the day he arrived on the scene of a fatal traffic accident for the first time…let’s just say the incident got his attention. As the chief pilot for Hospital Wing, a nonprofit air medical transport organization, he witnesses numerous trauma-related injuries, reinforcing his commitment to safety when flying. “The pilots of Hospital Wing have flown 40,000 hours and not had an accident—knock on wood,” Scruggs noted. “This isn’t a record. It goes back to good equipment and crews…we stress awareness.” Scruggs, a former employee of the Memphis Police aviation unit and a retired brigadier general, has personally logged more than 13,000 accident-free hours since his first days with Hospital Wing in 1986. He and 12 line pilots, who mostly come from military backgrounds, average 2,000 flights a year while providing inter-hospital transfers and emergency scene calls within a 150-mile radius of Memphis. During the summer, the number of accidents increases with more people traveling and engaging in outdoor activities, and Scruggs says the call volume in general climbs 4 to 5 percent each year. “We started with two helicopters here, and now we have four helicopters and bases in Brownsville, Tenn. and in Oxford, Miss. to provide more rapid assistance,” he added. To meet the high call demand, Hospital Wing staffs three helicopters 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and one helicopter is used for PediFlite, which provides pediatric medical transportation to Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center. Each pilot flies with two EMS personnel, who turn the aircraft into a makeshift emergency room when the need arises. “Flight nurses can put a chest tube in a person for a collapsed lung, and, even airborne, they can do defibrillations,” Scruggs said. As for the order Hospital Wing responds to calls, MEDCOM, the medical communications center at The MED, prioritizes which calls require the most urgent attention. Once an aircraft is committed to a specific flight, only a requesting doctor can relinquish that flight. The job doesn’t end after the transit; Scruggs says that crew members often visit The MED to check in on patients they’ve transported. “The type of flying we do is very rewarding,” Scruggs told. “The pilots get involved because everything we do is a team effort.” Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
STREETSEEN
Terry Saunders River Cruiser
AUGUST 2008
T
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he new face of the Memphis Yacht Club belongs to a woman—the first ever to become the group’s commodore. For an organization that’s been around since 1902, Saunders’ appointment has taken on historical significance, especially among her male counterparts, with the club’s manager Roy Smith saying, “We just lucked out this year with Terry.” As the former treasurer of the Memphis Yacht Club for three years, Saunders waded into the presidency knowing she wanted to increase the club’s membership and community presence, while simultaneously revamping the Mississippi River’s image. She says, “So many people don’t know about the club because they’re afraid of the river.” To ease undue fears, she’s planning for a formalized mentor program where members educate the public about safe boating practices and take people on guided river tours. She would also like to see the harbor cleaned up and navigated more, but reaching prospective mariners comes first. “Usually, people get interested in boating because their family does it, but if anyone shows enthusiasm, I’ll bring them on board my boat,” Saunders adds. The vessel she’s referring to is a 1967 “cocktail cruiser” she shares with her husband. Originally named Knot Yet, the couple renamed the aluminum boat Why Knot (she dismisses any signs of bad luck) and rebuilt its motor. They often go on afternoon cruises down the Mississippi’s original path, and depending on the river’s level, can be found relaxing on nearby beaches. Memphis Yacht Club activities like monthly potlucks, Barbecue Fest parties, a fishing tournament, and a gumbo contest, as well as providing safety boats for the Memphis in May canoe race, also occupy their schedule and facilitate endearing stories among fellow seafarers. Saunders tells, “I think one of our members built the oldest houseboat in the area in 1937. Another member, who is 83-years-old, has the first boat he ever went out in when he was 10, and may have the record for owning a boat the longest in the U.S.” Among the club’s 115 members, interesting tales are bound to surface, but Saunders hopes to learn of lots more from future members. Owning a boat isn’t required for membership, so she stresses that no one has an excuse for bypassing Mud Island Marina. The prettiest view of the city’s skyline awaits you. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
STREETSEEN
Ben Vaughn Culinarian with Miami Spice
AUGUST 2008
B
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arbecue remains Memphis’ food of choice, but Chef Ben Vaughn is cooking up a change. “I’m slowly bringing different foods to the table, but it’s still hard to sell sweetbreads and duck confit in Memphis,” Vaughn says. “I’m trying to train people where to go, how to eat, and what to look for, so that hopefully, at some point, Memphis will be recognized for more than barbecue.” With a flare for bistro-inspired cuisine, or a cooking style he calls “French technique with global ingredients,” Vaughn never strays far from regional products. He incorporates lots of local honey, cheese, and seasonal vegetables in dishes, but his all-time favorite ingredient (fish) stems from coastal living. During his childhood in Florida, Vaughn ate lots of fish, but he says there is a different level of work involved with cooking freshwater fish versus saltwater fish. Trout, striped bass, Arkansas shrimp, and paddlefish roe (Delta caviar) regularly appear on the menu at River Oaks Restaurant, but as the establishment’s head chef, he sometimes features his signature fisherman’s stew made with fresh mussels, clams, and halibut. Vaughn adds horchata, a sweet infused rice milk commonly used in his native Miami, to the stew as a sweetener and thickener. As trends go, they become dated, so do recipes, prompting Vaughn to always awaken his palate with new foods at least once (a rule his children now live by). He admits cringing at food pairings he has come across on menus from 10 years ago, but then again, reinvention has never escaped him. “Growing up on a limited budget helped stretch my creativity for ingredients, and I was always cooking for my mom and sister,” Vaughn says. “Now, I have a lot more fun in the kitchen because there are no limits.” With a menu that he creates weekly at River Oaks, Vaughn also turns to fellow chefs in the city for inspiration. He enjoys collaborating with his culinary friends for dinners, especially those hosted by the prestigious James Beard Foundation in New York City. He adds, “We’re hoping to bring attention to the Memphis food scene.” At the end of the day, Vaughn emphasizes that the moments he savors most are sharing his kitchen savvy with a younger generation. He’s developed a mentor program where students of Le Cordon Bleu Schools can work alongside his staff at River Oaks for six to eight weeks at a time. Students get the hands-on feel of a commercial kitchen, a rewarding recipe for novices and their teacher, who says, “These are the longterm relationships that last.” Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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AUGUST 2008
BLUES BALL SPRING AUCTION
EVENT
Blues Ball Spring Auction Mexican Fiesta
M Susan Cox and Jim Norton
Sharon Gray and Kris Kourdouvelis
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ost people associate blues joints with cheap, ice-cold beer, but it was all about tequila shots and margaritas at one of Memphis’ premiere downtown benefits. The Blues Ball 3rd Annual Spring Auction combined themes of righteous Delta music and Cinco de Mayo for a (local) star-studded fiesta with a twang instead of a twist. Harris Siler, a volunteer for the Blues Foundation for 12 years, said, “It’s hard to top the Blues Ball. The guest list is a real who’s who of Memphis.” As Siler paused to pour shots of Patron Tequila down a 4-foot slide carved into an ice block before serving it to guests, he added, “This is one party that people don’t miss.” The guest list included hometown celebrities like honorary chair Coach John Calipari, still glowing from an unmatched season in men’s college basketball. University of Memphis president Dr. Shirley Raines accompanied him. Entertainment was provided by Isaac Hayes and Sam the Sham. George Klein and Steve Conley emceed the evening’s colossal line-up of music and auction items. The locale, a warehouse behind Earnestine & Hazel’s owned by Kris Kourdouvelis and Sharon Gray, transformed remarkably into a lantern-lit Mexican alley full of spicy dishes and tempting silent auction items. General chair and benefit founder Pat Kerr Tigrett declared the place “muy fantastico!” Mexican dishes included a tasty Macheco tortilla pie by the Half Shell, enchiladas by Playita, and addictive mini cheeseburgers by Earnestine & Hazel’s, along with other tempting creations by El Mezcal and the Flying Fish. Outside, a farmer’s market of flowers, fresh produce, herbs, gourds, and other homegrown goodies completed the atmosphere. Blue jeans and sun dresses befitted the dress code for a warm spring evening. Inside, auction items were divided into categories such as Once-in-a-Lifetime Celebrations (party packages), Sports Nuts, Luxury Getaways, Cool Stuff for Me, Musical Gifts That Rock, and Guitar Art. “Muy Especial Gracias” extend to sponsors including FedEx, Pinnacle Airlines/Northwest Airlink, Gibson Musical Instruments, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Sam Phillips Recording, Burton Capital, and a long list of individual donors. Chances are you’d be hard-pressed to find a blues music club in Juárez or Tijuana, but if you did, it would have looked and felt very much like Tigrett’s masterpiece of a fund-raiser. The heat of the evening was never a problem, but the tequila and the music were just enough to make you sweat.
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Jonathan and Ann Page
Story by Jonathan Devin Photos by Don Perry
John and Sandy Santi
Mohamad and Lynn Hakimian
John Calipari and Pat Kerr Tigrett
Jason and Lisa Dawson
Steve Conley, Kevin Kane and Al Gossett
Isaac Hayes and Charlotte Neal
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EVENT BLUES BALL SPRING AUCTION AUGUST 2008
Jeanette Hollowell and Melinda Aldison
Courtney Stamps, Annie Kate Sanford and Ginny Crittendon
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Michelle James and Richard Ratner
Pat Tanner and Liz Gwatney
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Stephanie Morgan and Mike Zibby
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EVENT BLUES BALL SPRING AUCTION AUGUST 2008
Chelsea Gossett and Jenny Carter
Katherine Flee and Sana Shuaib
Teresa and Dewayne Hawes
Denise and Eric Yunkun
Ted Hall and Patricia Driver
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Laren Hart and Cherita Hopper
Larry and Gwen Etter
Dana Watkins, Robert Hayes and Debbie Keaton
Donna Peer and Jim Wooldridge
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EVENT
Brooks Grand Auction
BROOKS GRAND AUCTION
“The Finale”
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AUGUST 2008
Fred and Cathy Weisbrodt
Karen Williams and Anthony Barrasso
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he Art of Good Taste series toasted a record-breaking season at the Brooks Museum. These wine-based events, culminating with the Brooks Grand Auction, brought in $618,000 for Memphis’ beloved art institution. Corkscrews were optional. The Saturday-night affair got down to business with a cocktail hour in the rotunda and in the Brushmark Restaurant. Vino lovers studied more than 70 silent auction lots before deciding where to place their first bids. One attendee said, “I don’t know where to start!” The auction boasted everything from jewelry to wine tastings in the Brushmark to watercolor paintings. Placing just one bid was nearly impossible! Those thirsty for more treasured finds headed to the museum plaza for the live auction. Ben Ferdinand of Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. donated his auctioneer skills for the anticipated finale. Item highlights included a 2008 Acura MDX, artwork by Jon Lee, Pam Cobb, Thomas Arvid, and Stephanie Eggleston Harrover, and trips to New York, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and the Central California Coast. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. even donated a jetsetter’s evening in New Orleans for 45 people to enjoy a wine dinner with Chef John Besh at Restaurant August; this item was so popular that seats were pre-sold. In keeping with the season’s tribute to “California Dreamin’,” tables were skirted with bright green, turquoise and orange linens and decorated with flowing hula skirts and palm fronds. Hotel California played in the distance as the summer breeze rolled in. Brooks director Al Lyons and The Art of Good Taste cochairs Mark Giannini and Denise Wheeler couldn’t have asked for a more ideal night. Until next year’s event, keep up with the latest sipping trends by supporting the Brooks’ quarterly “Warm Up to Wine” classes and wine dinners.
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AUGUST 2008 RSVP
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EVENT BLUES BALL SPRING AUCTION AUGUST 2008
Dana and Kent Farmer
Barbie and Greg Hapke
Charles and Monique Jalenak
Joe Williams and Kathy Kelly
McFerrin and Jordan Sledd
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Michael and Catie Haug
Kristi Hammond and Hall Prewitt
Heather Klein
Joe and Karen Kassen
Jeff Farmer and Norma Upshur
Teresa Vaccaro and Jaimmie Harvey
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Spring Architect’s Party Taste of Cuba Scholar Athlete Awards Gala Zoo Grass
M
AUGUST 2008
Joe White with Bryn, Vickie and Gary Meredith at Scholar Athlete Awards Gala
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38 Chris and Jack Koban at Scholar Athlete Awards Gala
emphians went south of the border with an homage to Cuban culture at the fourth annual A Taste of Cuba benefit for the International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF). Cigar and rum tastings, mojitos, margaritas, and authentic Cuban food appealed to many eager testers, as did exotic Cuban and Latin music by Los Cantadores. Cuban artifacts dating back to the early 19th century and pre-Castro gold embossed cigar aficionado art were also on display. The Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects building housed the party that coolly raked in more than $65,000 for ICHF. Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects also heated up with the Spring Architect’s Party. Roxanne Lemmon and Almost Famous supplied the dance grooves for those whom partied well into the midnight hour. Ronald McDonald House® of Memphis will benefit from event proceeds. The Memphis chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame honored 11 high school athletes, one athlete from Rhodes College, and another from the University of Memphis at the U of M Holiday Inn. This Scholar Athlete Awards Gala began 36 years ago to reward local outstanding athletes who also participate in philanthropic endeavors with $500 scholarships. Harold Graeter emceed the black-tie dinner, which was dedicated to the memory of Claud Wilkins. The Memphis Zoo showcased the best of bluegrass’ signature acoustic twang with its Zoo Grass concert. Held on an idyllic Saturday afternoon, the musical genre was enjoyed by all ages, reaching some audiences for the first time. City Champs and Jeremy Shrader’s Hot Memphis Five held the stage and a few unassuming zoo inhabitants’ attention. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and D.B. Kay
Rodger and Riley Byars at Zoo Grass
Mary Padron and Dr. Juan Ramirez at Taste of Cuba
Judy and Ed Stanley at Scholar Athlete Awards Gala
Lisa Lynch and Andrew Rock at Spring Architect’s Party
Michael, Anna Marie and Kevin Sorrells at Zoo Grass
Barbara Thornton, Sara Whitaker and Linea Wyatt at Spring Architect’s Party
Johnna Popper and Mike Maness at Taste of Cuba
AUGUST 2008
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Sunset Symphony VIP Party Daiquiris and Daisies Summer in the City Fiesta ULI Young Leaders Party Bravo Memphis Wine Tasting
T
AUGUST 2008
Debbie and Bill Neal with Ginger Gardella at Daiquiris and Daisies
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Holly Harrison and Rachel Bradley at Bravo Memphis Wine Tasting
he AutoZone Sunset Symphony VIP Party offered a perfect retreat for guests who helped support the Memphis in May International Festival’s grand finale. Held in Tom Lee Park, festivities included a Commemorative Air Force Show, a joint performance by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and The Four Tops, and a fireworks display courtesy of Back Yard Burger. Women on the Move, a networking group for professionals, presented a spring “getaway” with a Daiquiris and Daisies party on the Crescent Club’s terrace. The trendy happy hour featured refreshing drinks, gourmet hors d’oeuvres by Executive Chef Allen Spivey, and a silent and live auction benefiting Girls Inc. of Memphis. Hands on Memphis and Volunteer Memphis celebrated the beginning of summer with a hot fundraiser at the Chickasaw Oaks Village shopping center. Dubbed the Summer in the City Fiesta, guests were treated to Stinky Gringo Margaritas, a Mexican buffet by Just for Lunch, roaming mariachi band El Potrillos, and a silent auction. Salud! The Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Young Leaders Group (ages 35 and under) hosted a “N Night at the Goodwyn” rooftop party. ULI’s mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. This nonprofit organization has more than 40,000 members nationwide and is active in the Memphis urban community. Bravo Memphis, an ArtsMemphis program designed to introduce young people to the arts, Where the Boys Are” wrapped up its season with a “W wine tasting. Members gathered at David Lusk Gallery for some vino blanco, silent auction luxuries, and to hear artists Mike Force and Shawn Matthews discuss the inspiration behind their art. Bravo Memphis’ 2008/2009 season kicks off August 14 at Jay Etkin Gallery. Story Submitted and by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos Submitted and by Leah Fitzpatrick and Libby Huff
Niki Brown and Tim Moore at Daiquiris and Daisies
Erin Foster and Kathleen Perniciaro at Bravo Memphis Wine Tasting
Rusty and Stephanie Linkous with Bert and Suzanne Nappier at Summer in the City Fiesta
Gokcen Yamoindag with Molly and Tom Fleming at Sunset Symphony VIP Party
Tommy Pacello and Olivia Wilmot at ULI Young Leaders Party
Kelley and Lucy Claire Laragione with Nelle and Lily Van Brocklin at Sunset Symphony VIP Party
Kathy Ferguson and Mark Dean at Summer in the City Fiesta
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A Trek Across the City’s Party L andscape Secret Order of the Boll Weevils Carnival Party
AUGUST 2008
Instead of donning purple and gold to signify regality, krewe kings and queens wore green and gold to kick off this year’s Carnival Memphis at the Secret Order of the Boll Weevils’ Party held at the Bert Ferguson Community Center in
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Howard Stovall, managing partner of Resource Entertainment Group. “This one is a don’t miss.” “It’s awesome. It never compares to this,” added Carnival Queen Peyton Woodson, a junior at the University of Mississippi studying exercise science and physical therapy. Green pranksters bounced around in capes and weevil masks, surprising the ladies with yellow stickers that proclaimed “Boll Weevil Strikes Again!” Local band Entourage played good old rock ‘n‘ roll to get everyone in the mood for Carnival 2008, which this year saluted the music industry. The Secret Order of the Boll Weevils is a philanthropic organization that holds a charitable run once a month, and visits children’s hospitals and senior citizen centers to entertain and give out presents. The
John Barzizza, Rush O’Keefe and Charles McGee Jr.
Josh and Sharon Shipley with Chessie and Ken Peavy
Weevils.” Others in attendance included the head of the Boll Weevils John Barzizza and his wife, Wanda, Carnival president Rush O’Keefe, unmasked Boll Weevil Charles McGee Jr., King of RaMet Jim Wilson, Ralph Horn, Sharon and Josh Shipley, Chessie and Ken Peavy, Jennifer and Don Lasseter, Amy Savell, Marian Hughes, Barbara Bentley, Lanetta Lanier, Ann Marie
Germantown. About 275 guests, including previous and current kings and queens of RaMet, Luxor, Ahmet, and the other Grand Krewes of the traditional Memphis celebration, gathered to honor this year’s Carnival king and queen by dining, dancing, and definitely imbibing. Most consider the Boll Weevil celebration to be “the best party of Carnival.” “The Weevils definitely know how to party,” said this year’s Carnival King
Betha Gill, Boll Weevil and Ray Gill
group also has a little fun with Carnival royalty and revelers. At this party, the order presented a few awards, including the Boll Weevil trophy, given to Duncan Williams for his service to Carnival and the Boll Weevils. They gave the Honorary Weevil trophy to Tempe Thompson to honor her for “going above
Steve Burkett and Mimi Taylor with Cindy and David Gambrell
and beyond to help the Boll Weevils throughout the year.” And the Deer Butt trophy, literally the hind of a white tail deer, was presented to Philip Cruzen, who has “just been a great friend to the Boll
Shirley and Jim Tilton
James, Steve Burkett, Mimi and Jim Taylor, Cindy and David Gambrell, Shirley and Jim Tilton, and Betha and Ray Gill.
Story and photos by Lesley Young
“Cotton Blends with Charity” Memphis Cotton Wives’ Luncheon & Fashion Show
AUGUST 2008
The Memphis Cotton Wives concocted the perfect combination for meaningful mingling with the Cotton Blends with Charity” “C Luncheon and Fashion Show. Cotton Wives’ members, dressed in their finest summer frocks, and special guests gathered at the University Club of Memphis to sup-
Jackie Jason, Norma Phelcher, Kay Smallwood and Charmane Bonner
Cotton Wives president Nancy Walker hosted the event along with Jackie Jason, who introduced special guests Colin Few, Todd Few, Gary McPherson and D.C. Nash, who together comprise
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the Cotton Boll Chorus Quartet. The group, one of 40,000 Cotton Boll Choruses worldwide, entertained guests with songs in the barbershop style during a lunch hour
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port the City Union of the King’s Daughters and Sons Home.
Rebecca Bramlett, Mendy Gaia, Betty and Jennifer Harris, Sidney and Tate Jackson, Courtney Neal, and Marion Neri. All models’ Macy’s. makeup was by Lancôme-M Not to forget the cause at heart, Childers provided an overview of the event’s beneficiary. He said the King’s Daughters and Sons Home opened in 1908 with two beds and has since become a 108-bed nursing
Lynn Rumage, Betty Gray, Roseann Mayo, Norma Phelcher, Kay Smallwood, Nancy Bramlett, and Charmane Bonner filled the day’s program with their generosity and smiling faces.
Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
home facility. This larger facility opened four years ago in Bartlett and offers private rooms Janice Few and Martha Mayers
for all guests. Childers also applauded pianist Laura Thompson for her beautiful samplings
AUGUST 2008
filled with savory food, door prizes, raffle items, and a summer fashion show courtesy of the Shops of Saddle Creek. Ron Childers of WMC-TV 5 and Suzanne Jackson, a former Mrs. Tennessee and runner-up to Mrs. America, took the floor as fashion show commentators, with Jackson wearing a colorful print dress from LOLA. Germantown alderman Carole Hinely and reigning Miss Collierville Katie Moynihan surprised the audience with their catwalk turns, as did Genoyce Barker, Sara Bettendorf, Lisa and Mary Lauren Bobango,
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Martha Huesgen, Murray Johnson, Phyllis Taylor and Wanda Wendelken
Bridge Builders Red Carpet Celebration celebrating BRIDGES’ 20th Anniversary
Ann Herring, Sue Nolley and Lynn Rumage
during the day’s festivities. “I haven’t seen this woman [Thompson] stop yet, you all need to give her a round of applause,” Childers said. Mr. and Mrs. Max Ostner received a special thanks as University Club sponsors, as well as Kenneth Taylor, the marketing director for the Shops of Saddle Creek. Carolyn Roberts and Nancy Walker lent their creative talents as event co-chairs. Martha Huesgen, Murray Johnson, Phyllis Taylor, Wanda Wendelken, Beth Gooch, Janice Few, Martha Mayers, Ann Herring, Sue Nolley,
For 20 years the Bridge Builders® Program, an arm of the local nonprofit BRIDGES, has brought together high school students in an effort to develop leadership skills while bridging gaps between the students’ diverse backgrounds. Participants, supporters, and principals of the program had an opportunity to walk down the red carpet to celebrate the organization’s anniver-
Shauntae Howard, Ural Grant, Marissa Dell and Katelyn Nichols
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of the building to sip wine and munch hors d’oeuvres on the patio before entering the recently completed BRIDGES facility for the formal presentation. An installation piece explaining the history of Bridge Builders was on display in the hallway as attendees made their way to dinner. As guests contained their excitement, Coach Herman Boone took the floor as the keynote
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speaker; Boone was the Virginia high school football coach whom Denzel Washington portrayed in Remember the Titans, a movie
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AUGUST 2008
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Second Annual Commemorative Artwork by Lori Butler
AUGUST 2008
Second Annual Commemorative Artwork by Lori Butler
Proceeds benefit people with developmental disabilities.
10th Annual
Spirit of SRVS
August 23, 2008 6 pm - 1 0 p m Hilton Memphis 939 Ridge Lake Blvd.
Auction Af f air
Sponsored by
Tickets on sale for $50 at www.srvs.org or by calling 901-312-6802. Proceeds benefit people with developmental disabilities.
10th Annual
Spirit of SRVS
August 23, 2008 6 pm - 10 pm Hilton Memphis 939 Ridge Lake Blvd.
Auction Affair
Sponsored by
Tickets on sale for $50 at www.srvs.org or by calling 901-312-6802. Proceeds benefit people with developmental disabilities.
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hands-on learning for youth and adults to be leaders in fighting racism, poverty, and educational challenges.” Another highlight of the evening was the premiere of the Bridge Builders documentary
Leveling the Playing Field: 20 Years of Bridge Builders, a True Story Pictures production, which also aired on Comcast Channel 31 throughout the month of June. Event attendees included
Mark Colombo and James Boyd
Donna and Terry Kennedy, Rachel and Ralph Silvan, Bridge Builders founder Becky Wilson, Youth Service founder Father Don Mowery, Julie Mowery, Andy Childs, Mark Colombo, James Boyd, Emily Phillips, Maureen Lee, Raquel and Tommy Carls, Kim and John Gaskill, Bridges C.F.O Bob
Rogalski, Stephanie Dennis, William Woods, Morgan Jon Fox, Joann Self Selvidge, Allison and Ben Brownlow, Bridge Builders director Mario Hendrix, Yolanda Jones, Bridges president Martha Boyd, Jim Boyd, Lee Gibson, Shaila and Mohan Karker, Sarah Fleming, Christopher Reyes, and Bridge Builders participants Shauntae Howard, Ural Grant, Marissa Dell, and Katelyn Nichols.
Story and photos by Lesley Young Arthur and Susie Quinn with Karen and Tom Buckner
the eighth year of the center’s fund-raiser, and
Community Legal Center Fund-raiser at Theatre Memphis
many of the attendants were return customers. “I’ve been a number of times, and it’s always been a nice event. It’s a good show for an exceptionally good cause, and it’s hard to beat that combination,” said Bill Powell, Shelby County Criminal Justice Coordinator.
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AUGUST 2008
Local volunteers from the legal community caught a sneak peek of Theatre Memphis’ production of West Side Story at the Community Legal Center’s annual fund-raiser at the East Memphis performance hall. More than 250 attorneys, law students, volunteers, and the incoming president of the Memphis Bar Association, Arthur Quinn, gathered in the theatre house for a silent auction and to
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Ginger and Zoe Whelan, Anna Peacher-Ryan and Jim Whelan
Ellen and Jim Barry with Meg Jones
The Community Legal Center, which was established in 1995, offers legal services to the working poor at a discounted rate. With 100-plus volunteers, the center assisted close to 3,000 clients last year at an average cost of $43.14 each. Attorneys work pro-bono, and most services are
nibble on barbecue beef brisket, shrimp, dip and close to a hundred varieties of finger foods before making their way in front of the stage. Items available for purchase included Memphis Redbirds tickets, artwork by local artists, wine, local restaurant gift certificates, an heirloom rose, and an ample amount of other pickings. “We received a lot of compliments on the food,” said the Center’s executive director, Meg Jones, referring to the elaborate spread that was prepared by center volunteers. This year’s performance of the musical depicting a modern-day Romeo and Juliet marked
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533 Beale at Lauderdale Memphis • 901-525-8225 Janeita Lentz, Courtney Black and Joanna Williams
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donated in-kind. This year’s event raised in excess of $10,000. Some oth-
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ers in attendance were Ellen and Jim Barry, Susan and Hunter Lane Jr., Stuart Polly, Hayden Lait, Janet Richards, Stuart Polly and Bill Powell Betty Adams, Cary Woods, Nancy Bride, Sharon Daniel, Daphene McFerren, Janeita Lentz, Courtney Black, Joanna Williams, James Welden, Melissa Downing, Ginger, Zoe and Jim Whelan, Anna Peacher-Ryan, Karen and Tom Buckner, Sharon and Mike Ritz, and Rob, Ellie-Dot, and Jan Sawyer.
AUGUST 2008
Story and photos by Lesley Young
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Echoes of Truth Silent Auction sponsored by Memphis City Schools A shoulder-to-shoulder throng of savvy art patrons packed the Echoes of Truth Silent Auction of original student art held at the Orpheum Theatre. “This is an excellent chance for the Memphis community to see what quality teaching and quality learning look like,” said Echoes of Truth executive director Gregg Coats, who came decked out in a tuxedo in honor of the occasion. Coats also mentioned that the silent auction is a great opportunity for Memphians to buy art, but this was not news to the many bidders with checkbooks in hand. Overheard in the browsing crowd was the subtle hint, “I’d love to have that in my river house!” and the more direct hint, “Are you going to buy me that for Christmas?” A stunningly sophisticated and colorful portrait by 18Gregg Coats and Cathy Wilson year-old David
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next to Maryland Institute College of Art on a full scholarship, sparked a flurry of competitive bidding that raised its price to $275 in the first 20 minutes of the auctionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and kept on going. Brown, in James Wells and Felicia Jones attendance with his mother Doris, has participated in Echoes of Truth for two years and cites Fauvism as an influence in his work. Other eye-catching pieces included a whimsical and confidently rendered portrait, by Anna Yoken,
Pallas Pidgeon and June West
of an Elvis with cartoonish oversized pompadour and sunglasses. Following the silent auctionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and bids were being cast up to the last momentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Echoes of Truth students performed the original
musical drama Beyond the Journey on the Orpheum stage. Echoes of Truth, sponsored by Memphis City Schools and now in its 12th year, also takes part in a service project aimed at raising money to help build schools in Africa while opening avenues for cultural exchange between students in Memphis and Malawi. Among those attending the eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events were Dolores Bell, Julia Ormiston, James Wells, June West, Pallas Pidgeon, Gail Sredonja, Sheila Sands, Angela Moss, Gail Sredonja and Julia Ormiston Cathy Wilson, Felicia Jones, Wendy Parker, Joey Pegram, Earnestine Matthews, Thelma Crivens, Katie Brazzell, Darrell Shaw, and Brittany Woods. Story and photos by Kelly Cox
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Vox Popular Q & A w i t h C h i p Pa n k e y
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ince the late 1980s, the Overton Park Shell’s future has been in jeopardy…until now. Thanks to the Friends of the Levitt Shell Memphis, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, one of Memphis’ most historic performing arts venues has a second chance and a new name, the Levitt Shell. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick crossed the construction tape and met with Chip Pankey, the Shell’s new right-hand man, during the venue’s reconstruction. Pankey, best known for his noted career in photography, brings a background in the performing, visual, and commercial arts to the executive director role and says he had the time of his life auditioning bands for the Shell’s upcoming 50 free outdoor concerts in Overton Park. “The diversity of the music is going to knock your socks off,” he smiles.
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Pankey: The Shell was built in 1936, and in September of 1937, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra debuted with a pledge to the future of music in Memphis. For the next 20 years or so, it went through symphony, light opera, and plays, and it was quite the place to be and be seen. Elvis put it on the map, for sure. 1954, he’s a kid, and this is his first professional performance where he discovered his power as a performer. It was said to be the last time he [Elvis] ever played second fiddle; he opened for Slim Whitman, a country star back then. Elvis never opened for anybody after. You add in the awe of Sun Studio and Beale Street, and all of a sudden, the Shell was up there with the prominents, and along comes Stax a little bit later…Memphis has had its moments in musical history for sure. What we hope to do is continue that tradition, but in a sustained way, and the way you do that is make sure the people who are your patrons have an excellent experience here. RSVP: What was the first plan of action as the Shell’s executive director? Pankey: You know, creating the program. The program consists of the talent, concessions, community building. We’re going to have volunteers…did I talk about how many volunteers I would love to meet? We certainly have a pretty big list of volunteers, but I need around 20 to 25 every night. We’ve got jobs that anyone can do. We will have three or four sessions during the month of August that people can come by for an hour, and we’ll tell them how to be a Levitt volunteer. We’ll have production volunteers to help with stage, sound, and lights. We’ll have ushers in-house to help with customers and patrons. We’ll have volunteers out on the streets to help patrons get back to their cars. RSVP: What is the Mortimer Levitt Foundation’s role in this project? Pankey: Our relationship is really threefold: one with the city, one with the Mortimer Levitt Foundation, and one with our own board. The city gave us money to reconstruct, redesign, and a lease. The Mortimer Levitt Foundation gave us money to reconstruct and money to program for five years.
RSVP: What are the dates of the fall concert series and the spring concert series? Pankey: September 4 through October 7 is our fall season. We do five shows a week for five weeks—25 shows. The tentative date for our spring season is May 21 through June 21. Most shows will start at 7 p.m., and all of our programming is family friendly, even beyond the kid’s day on Saturday. All of our performers know that, and there’s no alcohol, no blue language. You can have a great performer, and all they’ve got to do is change a few words, and it’s the same energy, the same engagement with the audience. One of the trademarks of our concert series will be the level of musicianship, and their engagement with the audience. We can talk about building community—our mission statement is building community through free music for all—but, if you don’t have a level of music and engagement with the audience, then you’re not going to build much community. RSVP: Will the Levitt Shell be hosting a particular genre of music on certain nights? Pankey: Yes. We programmed thematically, so Thursday nights will feature Americana—music with American roots: folk, jazz, bluegrass. Friday, we will have rhythm and blues with soul and gospel. Saturday, we’ve got two shows: a kid’s show at 5 p.m., and then música Latina at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, we will have music from around the world. Gosh, we’ve got a klezmer band coming from Canada, a Celtic band coming from Middle Tennessee, a French gypsy trio from Paris, a polka combo. Anybody heard of Brave Combo? They won a Grammy®, and they were a character on “The Simpsons.” They’re a great band, and they will close our season. Lots of dancing and lots of fun! Polka with an attitude! Photos by Don Perry
AUGUST 2008
RSVP: Will you share some of the Shell’s history?
RSVP: Can you tell me more about the kids’ programs? Pankey: We’ve got “Levitt Loves Kids,” and the other is called “Makin’ Music Muscles.” “Levitt Loves Kids” is all about experi-
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ence. We’ve asked our music educators around the city to nominate their favorite students for whatever reason they want to, and between the kid’s show and música Latina on Saturday nights, the kids will come for an hour and get to do a song on stage. For “Makin’ Music Muscles,” we’re going to throw a tent up by the side of the stage, and right after sound check, we’ve asked our headliners to come down for an hour and play with anybody who wants to show up, teach a new technique, talk about life on the road, what it’s like to be a musician, jam with them. A lot of kids, as well as young and old adults, get a lot of experience playing on a stage, but what they don’t get a lot of is playing with somebody better…playing with a hero.
AUGUST 2008
RSVP: What kind of concessions will the Shell offer?
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Pankey: We’re going to have one menu where you have your standard stuff for kids like peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, barbecue, and hamburgers. We’ve hired Karen Carrier of Another Roadside Attraction to do the second menu, which will reflect the music du jour, so you create a sense of place with your music and what you’re eating. I dare say that people who bring their own food will do likewise. RSVP: What is the lawn’s capacity?
Pankey: Well, we’ve looked at other venues with similar areas and looked at figures from old Shell days, so we think our capacity will be 2,000 to 2,500 blanket to blanket. I say blanket to blanket with a pretty good distinction because the old Shell days with the benches and people standing up fit 4,000. People say, “It looks like you’ve got the new performing arts venue,” and I say, “We’re a neighbor first to the Memphis College of Art, to the Brooks, to the Memphis Zoo, and to the homes on Kenilworth and Midtown.” We are not interested in renting our facility out to ruin that relationship. When we rent it out, we’re going to have the same stipulations as we feel like we bring to the table now with our 50 free performances. It’s an opportunity for us to be a resource to the community, and we’re going to take advantage of it from private events to public events. Certainly, our rental program will be a revenue stream for us, so we can keep the concerts free. RSVP: What kind of special features will the Levitt Shell offer? Pankey: At the facility, we’ve got two dressing rooms, a full kitchen and a half kitchen, and a control room. The stage is going to have a brand new speaker system, brand new lights. We’ve replaced the painted rainbow with a rainbow made out of LEDs. We have two rear screen projectors above our speakers that will be able to promote
RSVP: Is the projected cost $3.25 million for the Levitt Shell? Pankey: That’s for five years. My operating budget is probably $400,000 to $500,000 annually, and that includes everything. We’re going to have a pass the hat strategy at concerts, concessions, the support of community leaders, sponsorships, foundations and grants. The board and the chairman of the board, Barry Lichterman, have been working overtime. RSVP: How close are you to raising funds for the projected cost? Pankey: Real close. We’re at 90 percent for our first year. RSVP: Can you forecast the Shell’s longevity?
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Pankey: The ones in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Westport, Connecticut, have been in business for over 20 years with the same kind of formula, so it does work. Pasadena, California, this is their sixth year in business. MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, this is their second year. One in Arlington, Texas, is under construction, as we are. We are using a formula that’s worked across the country, and dare I say, “Who’s the best music town out of all of the towns I’ve mentioned?” I think we’ve got an edge with our local talent. First of all, 50 percent of our performers are local, so it’s real important for building community for that not to stop at the artists’ door. For too long, the artists in town have been thrown a plate of barbecue and a $20 bill, and only heard, “Thanks.” You know, the artists are a part of our landscape, and if you don’t treat them with respect and lift them up so they can make an honest living, then the arts will go away. We not only feel like we’re going to be that last piece of the puzzle for Overton Park as a destination for all of Memphis, but we’re also going to help our own music industry at a grassroots level, from providing another venue for our own musicians to take the stage and get paid a decent wage—a competitive wage—and bring in people that Memphians and the musicians normally don’t get to see. The fact that we’ve let this [the Levitt Shell] sit idle for all these years considering who we are as a city is embarrassing, and thank God the organization saved our Shell.
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sponsors. I can’t tell you who it is, but I have one group coming in— knock on wood—and they have just finished a documentary about the type of music they’re doing and some of their performances. It’s getting a lot of good buzz in New York, and I’m working on doing the documentary premiere here after they do a performance. So, the projectors will allow us to do that. I bring in a klezmer band, for example, and I can get some film to explain and kind of educate and entertain people with the film.
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ONSITE
Onsite
Princess Ball Carnival Fashion Extravaganza Carnival Zoo Party 19th Century Club Carnival Reception
T
he Princess Ball, held each year on the second night of the week-long celebration of service and frivolity
that is Carnival Memphis, honored the Carnival Princesses and Ladies of the Realm at the Memphis Hunt & Polo Club. Renowned Memphis musician Ruby Wilson and her band kept the party going for Carnival members and their guests. Now in its 77th year, Taylor Crow and Whitt Tucker at 19th Century Club Reception
Carnival Memphis and its Grand Krewes raised $100,000 for the Children’s Charity Initiative benefici-
Virginia Dickinson, Stevenson Bunn and Maddy Pryor at Princess Ball
aries: the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Carnival Memphis Kids’ Café, and the Harwood Center. Festivities continued with a Carnival Memphis Fashion Extravaganza aptly titled “O One Note Higher.” The annual parade of the season’s latest trends took place at the Hilton Memphis hotel, where guests could purchase new and vintage finds from Muse, with a porAUGUST 2008
tion of proceeds benefiting local children’s charities. Stovall graciously hosted the Carnival Zoo Party at the Memphis Zoo. Luckily, casual attire was welcome as Alexis and Rose Ann Hester at 19th Century Club Reception
barbecue was the order of the day. Kids from the Carnival Memphis Kids’ Café were in attendance as
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Queen Peyton Woodson and King Howard
Ainsley Ayers, Philip May and Sinclaire Montgomery at Princess Ball
Carnival members presented a check for $100,000 to the group’s chosen youth charities. Guests of the 19th Century Club’s Carnival Reception got a special opportunity to meet the organization’s royalty. Princess Taylor Crow, with Prince Whitt Tucker by her side, represented the organization dedicated to community-wide philanthropic efforts. Phyllis Taylor was the mistress of ceremonies for the white-carpet affair. Story and photos by Kelly Cox and Leah Fitzpatrick Pam O’Connor, Joanie Lightman and Ainsley Todd at Princess Ball
Brea and Cynthia Bowers at Carnival Zoo Party
Kat Morisy and Adrienne Adler at Carnival Zoo Party
Kim and Bob Weiss with Jo Anne LeVan at Carnival Fashion Extravaganza
Shara Rowley Plough and Alison Blen at Carnival Fashion Extravaganza
Saturday, September 13, 2008 | 7 to 10:30 p.m Sample fine fare from more than 70 restaurants and bars.
Live entertainment featuring: The Dempseys, The Venus Mission, Kathryn Stallins Band, Garry Goin and G3 Tickets $200, Zoo members only. Partnerships start at $750. Call today at 901.333.6757.
Platinum Partner: Mid-South Chevy Dealers Event Partners: AutoZone | Joseph C. DeWane, M.D. | Sam's Town Media Partner: RSVP Magazine A Memphis Restaurant Association Sanctioned Event
RSV PHILLIPPI
By Dennis Phillippi
THE OLD AND THE RESTLESS
AUGUST 2008
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aybe you’re like me, and by that I don’t mean chinless, I mean unable to sit still for any length of time without something to read. There’s nothing more frustrating to me than being stuck in a line, or stuck by a train, or stuck at a funeral without a book or a magazine. The first two being my fault, the third is my wife’s because she considers it poor form to thumb through an old copy of Field & Stream during an endless eulogy. No matter where I am, I need something to read. In fact, in one of life’s more embarrassing moments I was once caught reading my own column while waiting for a prescription to be filled. There’s no real defense except to say that there was only one magazine to be found, this one, and I had already looked at all the pretty people in their dress up clothes. Recently, I was trapped in a waiting room where the only reading material was magazines targeted toward women. Where I was is immaterial, although I will say that if anyone saw me there, that was the only time I’ve ever gotten a pedicure. Flipping through one slick periodical after another (getting your piggies pruned takes longer than I would’ve expected), I noticed that women’s magazines are different that ones aimed at men. Women’s magazines feature tons and tons of pictures of beautiful women. Wait, they’re actually very similar in that sense. They’re different in that women’s magazines seem determined to either bolster self-esteem or destroy it altogether. There are articles about how to lose cellulite, arm fat, and clingy boyfriends. There are long, detailed pieces about how to enjoy flavorless food, function on caffeine, and undermine colleagues; those were the ones about what’s wrong with the reader. Men’s magazines don’t have that stuff. We’re men. Our magazines just remind us of how great we are, then get back to showing girls in tiny bikinis. Then there are the columns about how the readers of women’s magazines can be happy with themselves. Most, if not all of these are about how to be satisfied with aging. More accurately, they’re about how to stay, or at least appear to stay, young. The phrase that keeps popping up is “40 is the new 30,” or “50 is the new 30,” or even “60 is the new 30.” Um, no. You know what’s the new 30? 30.
This obsession with denying the passage of time is not just unhealthy, it’s kind of embarrassing. We’re supposed to get older. Remember when you were a kid and your parents seemed ancient? They had no business wearing tight clothes or going dancing; they were too old. The sad news is, they were probably younger than you are now. I was born when my mother was a decrepit 34-year-old. By the time I became aware that my parents were doing things like going to parties and having a
Trying to imagine myself at 90 is like trying to imagine myself on the moon or wearing a tracksuit, they’re all possible but equally unlikely. few glasses of wine with dinner, my mom had to be, golly, in her early 40s. I was shocked, and humiliated for her. Old people had no business doing these things. She even wore a swimsuit for heaven’s sake. I’m now in my mid-40s. Am I any younger at 44 than my parents were? Of course not. I’m older. A lot of people my age refer to themselves as middle-aged. If I’m middleaged that means I’m expecting to wrap things up at around 90. Trying to imagine myself at 90 is like trying to imagine myself on the moon or wearing a tracksuit, they’re all possible but equally unlikely. My health habits prevent me from fantasizing about becoming a nonagenarian. Well, that’s not the only thing that prevents it, it’s also the idea of being a nonagenarian that prevents fantasizing about it. The Weather Channel just doesn’t hold that much appeal for me. My driving skills are suspect now. And I don’t foresee
myself wearing either a gardening hat or a jumpsuit. That last one’s not entirely true, but when I see myself in a jumpsuit it’s got an Evel Knievel/Elvis in Hawaii version, and I don’t think red, white, and blue with sequins, flared pants, and a foot high collar is a good look for the day room at the home. This desire to remain young baffles me. The older I get, the less I like the young. By and large they’re vain, emptyheaded, and are already gnashing their teeth that I may have the temerity to eat up their Social Security. Tough luck kids, I got born first. Young people are constantly subject to trends and fads, like giant goggle-sized sunglasses, and random hem heights. They follow these fashion dictates without wondering for a second if they make any sense. This is what everyone else is wearing, so that’s what I’ll wear. It’s like some kind of costume parade, but no one seems to know that the person who picked the theme was making a joke. Those of us who have accepted our agedness wear what fits, doesn’t go in and out of style, and has an adequate number of pockets. Never underestimate the importance of pocket space. The average lifespan of an American male is reportedly a hair over 75. I can live with 75. Sure, it’s unlikely that a guy like me who’s still ticked that he took the ashtrays out of the gym will hit that mark, but it’s a reasonable one to shoot for, and I will wear every minute of it. There will never come a day when my gray hairs drive me so nuts that I dye my noodle jet black. Every gray hair that rears its head on my head is a blue ribbon at life’s county fair. My wife is the same way. I’ve said it a million times: I love every single wrinkle on my wife’s face…I put them there.
Dennis Phillippi is ready to embrace the golden years, as long as he can live in his approaching fragile state with pride. Forget turning back the clock, RSVP’s humorist extraordinaire has banned all age inhibitors: hair dye, Botox®, and contemporary fashion. Will he be in the minority or majority of the senior set with his penchant for the au natural look? Only time will provide Phillippi with that answer and many more copies of Field & Stream.
AFTER HOURS
After Hours A photo collage of the latest business happenings including... 1
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Dermatology Realm Open House Hawaiian Style
Kitty Kyle Trunk Show and Personal Appearance
Big Foot Lodge 3rd Birthday Red Carpet Bash
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1: Denise LaForce and Kim Williams 2: Kyle Kinney and Stephanie Lincoln
3: Julie Saxon and Carol Furr with designer Mindy Lam
4: Lana and Shawn Danko 5: Mike King, John Bragg and Kris Kourdouvelis
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AUGUST 2008
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James Davis Customer Appreciation Party Gossett Make-A-Wish Check Presentation 6: Dane Adney, Michael Ricketts, Matt Millican, Brooke Ehrhart, David Gossett, Joe Garcia, Larry Baker and Kevin Jankowy
7: Congressman Steve Cohen and Randy Wade 8: Alan Graf, Tommy West and Al LaRocca
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Summer Sweetness
AUGUST 2008
1 9 40s
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hat would summertime be without a good old-fashioned American picnic? Or a juicy watermelon? Dr. Hubert L. Dellinger Jr., shown here as a young boy, remembers beating the Memphis heat by heading to Overton Park for cherished family outings. PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. HUBERT L. DELLINGER JR. 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.
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