RSVP Magazine October 2010 by RSVP Magazine

15th Anniversary Issue October 2010

Zoo Brew Spirit of SRVS Zoo Rendezvous Brooks Avant Garde Party Phoenix Club Party at the Palace FEATURING RSVP's 10 Most Stylish Memphians & Most Photographed Memphians

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CONTENTS

Contents October 2010

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Beverly C. Robertson invites RSVP to the National Civil Rights Museum® for a history lesson.

RSVP Watch List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Walk this way to the top boots of the season.

Zoo Rendezvous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Local restaurants, caterers and beer/liquor distributors chipped in for a good cause at the Memphis Zoo’s largest annual fund-raiser.

14 ZOO RENDEZVOUS Ben Nicol and Anna Humerickhouse

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21, 26 & 66 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 & 24

48 PHOENIX CLUB PARTY AT THE PALACE Miley Doty, Randall Noel and Anderson North

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After dark, he heads up an improv troupe that’s heating up the stage with jokes aplenty. Without any formal training, she’s defying the odds of making it as a composer. StreetSeens spotlight Michael Entman and Earnestine Rodgers Robinson.

RSVP’s 10 Most Stylish Memphians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 The list of our most fashionable men and women is in!

RSVP’s Most Photographed Memphians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

4 RSVP

Did you have your pic taken this year by RSVP? If so, check and see if you made our most photographed list.

24 STREETSEEN Earnestine Rodgers Robinson

Brooks Avant Garde Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Rock ‘n’ roll fans pulled out their best party garb to embrace America’s beloved music genre at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art’s themed benefit.

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

54 SPIRIT OF SRVS Michael and Erin Nunn

Q&A with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra music director, Mei-Ann Chen.

Phoenix Club Party at the Palace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 The Pink Palace proved the perfect concert venue for the Phoenix Club’s fund-raiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis.

Spirit of SRVS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Shelby Residential and Vocational Services gave guests “A Taste of the Good Life” during its charitable affair at Hilton Memphis.

Zoo Brew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Zoo inhabitants moved over for thousands of party animals ready to toast the Memphis Zoo.

38 BROOKS AVANT GARDE PARTY Diane Vescovo and Mike McLaren

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Something Tells Me It’s All Happening At The Zoo Dennis Phillippi surprises himself this month with a zoo visit worth the price of a membership.

Cover Photo Julie Marie Niekrasz at University of Memphis Law School Photo by Nathan Berry

60 ZOO BREW Perry and Alissa Trowbridge

Volume XVI

Number I

October 2010 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi Suzanne Thompson Lesley Young ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s

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PHOTOGRAPHERS

RSVP

Nathan Berry Don Perry Steve Roberts SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Libby Huff ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Chris Pugh ACCOUNTING

Ruth Cassin 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

From the Editor

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Photo by Steve Roberts

SVP’s 15th anniversary issue has arrived, and I can hardly contain my excitement! A lot of extra hours were put into the making of this edition, but everything about the process was fun, fun and more fun. From scouting locations at the University of Memphis Law School for RSVP’s 10 Most Stylish Memphians photo shoot (page 29) to hearing the fascinating story of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s newest music conductor, Mei-Ann Chen, the subject of this month’s Vox Popular (page 44), my assignments felt like anything but work. If you can’t tell, I truly feel blessed to wake up to my job and even more appreciative that I’ve been a part of an upstanding company for three years, as of next month. Many of you, on the other hand, have been a part of RSVP for much longer. Whether you’ve been involved because of altruistic efforts, party planning, advertising, freelance writing, photography or due to an interview, each and every one of you has contributed to the integrity, entertainment value and success of the magazine. It goes without saying that our readership remains the best around…we would not have stayed afloat 15 years without our vital support system. While some new features have been introduced and others have come and gone, the heart of our mission keeps pumping. That mission entails giving Memphis and Shelby County’s often overlooked population, comprised of nonprofit organizations and the people who depend on their services, a strong voice. In serving this cause through our coverage, we hope others are encouraged to commit to a greater good. There’s no time better than the present to get involved, so take the first step and check out our online events blog at rsvpmagazine.com for charity party listings. We also want to wish you a Happy Halloween and thank you for making 15 feel so good.

RSVP

Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

President of the National Civil Rights Museum®

First job: A teacher. Stress outlet: A massage. Hobby: Reading and cooking. Ideal vacation spot: Rome, Italy. Favorite Memphis musician: Kirk Whalum. Childhood ambition: To be a social worker. One thing you can’t live without: My family. Favorite author: For fun reading, Danielle Steele. Historical figure you most identify with: Nelson Mandela. Favorite album: “Songs in the Key of Life” by Stevie Wonder. One thing most people don’t know about you: I was Miss Melrose. Last book you’ve read: Game Change by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. Where you take out-of-town guests: The National Civil Rights Museum and Stax. Movies you could watch over and over again: The Way We Were, An Officer and a Gentleman and The Color Purple. Words or phrases you overuse: Those who give should never remember; those who receive must never forget. Your Greatest Achievement: Rearing my three children. Your mantra: You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. My personal mantra at work is “excellence in all we do.”

Photo by Steve Roberts

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RSVP WATCH LIST

BRING ON THE BOOTS

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STEP INTO FALL KNOWING YOU’VE GOT A GLAM FOOT FORWARD.

Clockwise from top right: Amber Bootie in Midnight True Suede by Vince Camuto-$120 at Dillard’s Oak Court (901-685-0382); Belinda Short Boot in Dark Grey with Flower by Madeline-$75 at Muse (901-526-8738); Elegant Boot in Purple Suede by Sacha London-$120 at Southern Couture (901-682-1128); Torin Studded Bootie in Black Suede by Sam Edelman-$235 at Strut (901522-9722); Marine Boot in Khaki Flannel by Christian Louboutin-$1,255 at Joseph (901-767-1609)

P h o t o b y Na t h a n B e r ry

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Emily Armenta Trunk Show October 27-28

Exclusively at

South House in JAMES DAVIS Fine Jewelry Boutique

400 Grove Park Road Memphis, TN 38117 901.230.2417 Marge Snipes and Tammy Earwood

EVENT

Zoo Rendezvous

ZOO RENDEZVOUS

“Put On Your Party Face”

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Michael Castellaw and Meghan Pinkley

Cameron and Ashley McCormick

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he Memphis Zoo could easily be credited as the heart of the city…just ask the 3,700 zoo members who flocked to the institution’s party of the year. A tradition for many, Zoo Rendezvous turned 27 in September and showed no signs of stopping any time soon. Instead, the zoo’s largest annual benefit, which raised more than $400,000, keeps getting bigger and adopting more creative themes. Guests were asked to put on their party faces this go-around, and to help them get in the mood, paper masks in the shape of animals’ faces were handed out as ladies and gents roamed the green carpet. People weren’t the only ones who stole the show however, as beautiful new car models from Mercedes-Benz of Memphis and several animal friends lined the entrance. Of particular interest were Indi, a green iguana, and Evita, a three-banded armadillo hailing from where else but South America. Joyce Hooper, the docent handling Evita, offered, “Evita is actually an armored mammal, and when she rolls back into her shell for protection, it would take a really strong animal to get her out.” Don’t worry, no one let out the lions when Evita retreated in her shell. Animals inside the zoo gates were not on view, but what was out—food samplings from 77 restaurants and caterers—would have been ingested by hungry predators if they’d had the chance. A bear or a gorilla probably wouldn’t have minded sinking their teeth into barbecue shrimp and grits from McEwen’s on Monroe, fried chicken from Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, carnitas tacos from On The Border or chocolate éclairs from Draper’s Catering of Memphis. The festivities also offered numerous beverages, from Ugly Mug coffee to Bonefish Grill’s Hpnotiq martinis, complete with glow sticks, and Swanky’s Taco Shop’s signature and blue margaritas. Bands are another big part of the action at Zoo Rendezvous, and the lineup didn’t disappoint. One just had to choose what kind of tunes he or she preferred since a mix of genres was available thanks to Party Planet, The Living Daylights, Webb Dalton and G3. Dancing was optional. Organizing such a large-scale affair must be quite an undertaking, but chair Carol W. Prentiss, bar committee chair Mike Miller and exceptional Memphis zoo staff and volunteers seemed to pull out all the stops without a hitch. Premium partners AutoZone, the BorsKoefoed family, Dr. Joseph C. DeWane, FedEx and Kellogg’s are owed a big thanks as well. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Bo Franklin and Rachel Bennett

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Nathan Berry

Lionel and Carrie Porter

Vince Perryman and Kelley Willis

Angela Copeland and Rebecca Wyatt

Rebekah Hill and Matthew Heffington

Courtney Stanton, Stephanie Goodrich and Lindsay Krcelic

Ethan and Grace Knight

EVENT ZOO RENDEZVOUS

Jeremy Baer and Mikel Pike

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AndrĂŠ and Lillian Jones

Brittany Whybrew and Rachael Spencer RSVP

Jacob and Michele Buring

Mayor Mark and Pat Luttrell

Lisa and Merrick Horne

Lee and Cindy Fowinkle

EVENT Derek Fairchilds and Aimee Robinson

Tracey Powers and Kelly Fyfe

Joe and Sarah Dinicolantonio

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ZOO RENDEZVOUS Marty Austin and Paula Lawler

RSVP

Robin Reviere, Tia Osment, Tracy Klingbiel and Reid Wamble

Ron Daubenhauser, Robyn Bills, Megan Wilson and Steve Brown

EVENT ZOO RENDEZVOUS

Phil and Lori Lutey

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Billy and Margaret Babb

Desmond Hunt, Tom Hammond and Tony Cochran RSVP

Alan and Leanne Phelps

Greg and Kat Marik

Michael Gates, Lisa Parish, Kelli Hobbs and Bryson Neal

EVENT ZOO RENDEZVOUS Kevin and Barbara Davis

Todd Griffin and Ann Rice

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Dr. Boo Ruch, Cindi Carey, Claire Chapman and Nancy Hayslip

RSVP

Allison Sossaman, Lauren Carr and Rae Lyn Hartley

Catherine Bauer, Robert Dean and Cathy Boulden

ONSITE

Onsite

AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic Dinner Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party “Stars Behind Bars Red Carpet Affair”

Richard Shadyac Jr., Tim Shadyac and Ann Shadyac at AutoZone Golf Classic Dinner

Kathy Jones, Matt Lahiff and Swietlana Kahill at AutoZone Golf Classic Dinner

Sherry Bramucci and Doris McLendon at “Stars Behind Bars Red Carpet Affair”

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick, Suzanne Thompson and Lesley Young Photos by Chris Pugh, Suzanne Thompson and Lesley Young Robbie Jones, Blu Cooper and Jason Foos at “Stars Behind Bars Red Carpet Affair”

Sharon and Bobby Wofford at Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party

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Erika Baker and Christina Tegethoff at “Stars Behind Bars Red Carpet Affair”

21 RSVP

Pam Kimery, Arlenia Cole, Anna Hurst and Jennifer Garner at AutoZone Golf Classic Dinner

he AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic Dinner, the wrap-up event for the tournament that draws in $100,000 each year for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, took place at Ridgeway Country Club. The festivities offered a large silent auction, which included gift certificates for many local restaurants like The Melting Pot, Frank Grisanti’s, Texas de Brazil and Brooklyn Bridge, among others. Also up for grabs were, naturally, several golf packages and CD packages. Guests and golfers enjoyed a buffet dinner prior to the live auction, during which auctioneer John Roebuck sold items such as a stay at the presidential suite at The Peabody with dinner at Chez Philipe, a football autographed by Larry Porter, the new head coach for the University of Memphis football team, and a Harley Davidson bicycle. The only thing hotter than Memphis in August is Memphis barbecue, and attendees of the seventh annual Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic got a good taste of both at a Sunday-night Pairings Party at Charles Vergos Rendezvous. Golfers and their families in bright summer attire piled into the legendary downtown eatery to sip draft beer while Doug Petty and Andy Gaia filled the room with sweet sounds. Later, John Roebuck took the stage for a live auction that kept the crowd on its toes. Tee-off wasn’t until the next morning, but the crowd was ready to start swinging to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the MidSouth. By the tournament’s end, more than $230,000 had been raised to make wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. No one wants to say they’ve been put in jail, unless it’s for the Muscular Dystrophy Association Stars Behind Bars Red Carpet Affair.” During this “S fund-raiser, area professionals are picked up by local law enforcement officers at their places of work and taken to a fictitious jail and asked to call friends and family to help them make “bail,” which came in at $54,000 for 85 participants. Normally the event takes place downtown, but this year it’s taking place in two locations, with the first one at Bonefish Grill in Cordova.

Mary Bates, Mary Beth Rios, Tom Bates III, Tyler Bates, Jennifer Bates, Tom Bates Jr. and Tim Bates Donna Mikeal and Tom Bucciarelli at Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party at Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party

STREETSEEN

Michael Entman The Wit Behind Late-Night Laughs

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RSVP

ichael Entman claims there’s nothing worse than having someone doing improv who’s locked into one realm of knowledge…and he would know. As the director of FreakEngine, Memphis’ longest running improv show, Entman has been involved with the show’s troupe almost since its inception by Tom Kirby 13 years ago. “Intelligent improvisers are better improvisers because you have to be ready to run with any topic thrown at you,” he divulges. “It really does help if you watch or read the news every day.” The diversity of a group of improvisers can’t hurt either, and that’s where FreakEngine’s got the upper-hand with a lawyer, optician, HVAC technician, college theater student, city employee and an administrative assistant; you’ll have to guess which job is Entman’s. Though none of the current lineup includes women, Entman says he wouldn’t mind seeing a female in the ranks, however having women turn up at auditions remains another matter. “I’m beginning to think improv is more of a testosterone thing and scary for a lot of people in general because it’s like a low-impact extreme sport, but make no mistake, there’s been women in FreakEngine in the past,” he says. If you’ve got what it takes for improv, get a few extra hours of sleep the night before a show, which takes place at midnight the first Friday of every month at TheatreWorks, and come be a part of the audience. You’ll witness unconventional humor through a mixture of short-form improv (think “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) and long-form improv (a style that entails character development). Lots of crowd-participation comes into play as well with the “Wheel of Bacchus” on stage ready for an audience member to give it a spin to determine what game will be played. Just don’t let a spin land on the “danger zone,” or someone might be relegated into acting like a monkey for 30 seconds, for example. Though FreakEngine tackles edgy content, Entman reassures that the troupe tries to appeal to a higher intellect instead of the lowest common denominator. And for those wanting an extra dose of entertainment outside the box this month, FreakEngine will hold, in addition to its first Friday show, a shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on October 29 at midnight. The venue will be the Evergreen Theatre, which is where practices are held. Expect the unexpected, and expect future collaborations with other improv groups and possibly B movie night screenings. “The reason I ended up with this show in the first place is because I’m so enthusiastic about it,” Entman smiles. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

STREETSEEN

Earnestine Rodgers Robinson Self-Taught Composer

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RSVP

n her youth, Earnestine Rodgers Robinson didn’t hold music in high regard, but she retracted that notion as an adult thanks to a fateful Easter program. Moved by the melodies that came to her while working on the church project, Robinson, who learned how to read sheet music in high school, began rearranging songs for the children’s choir. It wasn’t until her late husband, a classical pianist, said, “Look at what you’ve done!” that Robinson realized she was on to something—composing. Frustrated with only two verses initially, Robinson worried her creativity had halted. How she underestimated herself! She not only finished the Easter program but went on to compose an album, “Sounds of A Miracle” (a title later used for a documentary about her life). Next came her first oratorio, “The Crucifixion.” Centered around Easter stories she penned, the oratorio premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1997. Robinson laughs as she recalls her daughter, Michelle, saying, “Who ever heard of someone having a debut at Carnegie Hall?” Robinson proudly acknowledges that “The Crucifixion” appears in the Library of Congress, however the composer is equally jubilant that her “unplanned” talent has led to producing more oratorios, which she likens to operas without the staging and theater production. “The Nativity,” her second oratorio, debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2001, with excerpts from the performance featured on NPR’s “Morning Edition.” A year later, The Czech National Symphony Orchestra came calling, and “The Nativity” made its European debut at Congress Hall in Prague. “All these ambassadors from different countries were in the crowd, and I couldn’t figure out why they were there,” Robinson says. “I think a lot came out of curiosity because I am a female African-American composer from the U.S.” Just the fact alone that Robinson writes oratorios makes her a rarity in the music world, but to be successful without any formal music training baffles many. She does sometimes enlist the help of Francisco Nuñez in New York to orchestrate pieces after she composes them, yet it’s her penchant for a unique sound that combines gospel, jazz and classical music that sets her music apart. Last month, she completed her third oratorio, “The Ten Commandments,” a piece of work that has long been in the works since her husband’s passing in 2003. There are plans for its debut at the Lincoln Center in New York, though no date has been finalized. Until then, Memphians can catch songs from “The Nativity” in a concert on December 5 at Holy Covenant Church right here at home, where an unlikely composer was first inspired to embark on a career she didn’t hear coming. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

ONSITE

Onsite

Rockin’ on the River Orpheum Art Auction Spirit of SRVS Kick-off “Passing of the Gavel” Dinner Dixon Girls Night Out

Jerry Klein, Kerri and Josh Pastner and Julie Klein at “Passing of the Gavel” Dinner

RSVP

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espite the rain, 150 people attended Rockin’ on the River at River Tower to support the Shelby County Drug Court Foundation. Jason D. Williams performed for the crowd, who enjoyed food by Fork It Over Catering, Ciao Bella and Germantown Commissary and drinks courtesy of Athens Distributing Company and D. Canale Beverages. The event brought in more than $13,000 for the foundation’s women’s program. For the Orpheum Art Auction, downtown’s hisPhilip O’Malley, Lori Guy, Penny Aviotti and Judge Tim Dwyer toric theater partnered with local visual artists to proat Rockin’ on the River mote the arts. Among hot-ticket items were Memphis themed paintings by David Lynch and Betsy Bird, and for the live auction, bidders got a treat as Orpheum CEO Pat Halloran took the auctioneer’s mic. This auction was set up so that 75 percent of selling prices went to artists, while 30 percent went to the Orpheum’s two student art programs. In all, the event raised more than $9000 for 30 artists and almost $3000 for the Orpheum. To kick off the Spirit of SRVS campaign, Shelby Residential and Vocational Services’ advocates and service recipients came out for Playhouse on the Square’s Hairspray.” Parroting the benefit performance of “H theme of big hair, loud clothes and funky music, The Bouffants entertained guests as they savored samples from Beauty Shop and cake, made into the shape of a head and can of hairspray, by Cakes by RiRi. Before the show, artist NJ Woods also unveiled a commemorative Libbey and Jack Aaron 26 painting for the campaign. Performance proceeds go to at Rockin’ on the River SRVS, which serves 800-plus people with disabilities in the area. Passing At the recent Germantown Rotary Club “P Of The Gavel” Dinner at the Memphis Botanic Garden, Josh Pastner, University of Memphis head men’s basketball coach, received the 2010 Dean Campbell Award for service above self. He follows a long line of outstanding Memphians, such as Dr. Scott Morris, Molly Meisenheimer, Kevin Kane, Dr. William Novick and Mayor A C Wharton. Women had a new reason to visit the Dixon Gallery and Gardens when the museum hosted its Girls Night Out. The party’s purpose was to celebrate a summer of women artists whose exhibitions were on view in the gallery during the event. A fashion show from Anthropologie, wine tastings from The Grateful Palate Edgin Wright and Jim Levy and food from L’Ecole Culinaire were also on the agenda. at Orpheum Art Auction Story and Photos Submitted and by Kelly Cox and Lesley Young

Patrick and Mary Halloran at Orpheum Art Auction

Jenny Stenberg, Chancey Thompson, Paige Baker, Molly Flynn and Laurin Maddux at Dixon Girls Night Out

Amy Abernathy, Jeffrie Bruton and Tyler and Cindy Hampton at Spirit of SRVS Kick-off

Lynn Maxted, Holly Randolph, Debbie Callahan and Eva Eldred at Spirit of SRVS Kick-off

Julie Pierotti, Paula Novarese and Alida Gage at Dixon Girls Night Out

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RSVP’S 10 MOST ST YLISH MEMPHIANS

RSVP’s 10 Most Stylish Memphians

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eing that October marks RSVP Magazine’s 15th anniversary, we knew it was the opportune time to bring out a special feature. After going to the drawing board, the ideas grew endless, but the one that earned a resounding “Yes” centered around a list of the most stylish Memphians. Finding the perfect photo shoot location became the next challenge, until the new University of Memphis Law School entered the running. We were sold, and thankfully, so was the school’s administration. Without further ado, see who made the cut!

Photos by Nathan Berry

RSVP

RSVP’S 10 MOST ST YLISH MEMPHIANS

Chantal Johnson

Board Member for Theatre Memphis/Volunteer for Les Passees, Le Bonheur Club and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

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Your Style: Classic with an eclectic twist. Fashion Icon: Babe Paley. What's Hot Now: Fur (real or faux), pantsuits, camel—a great classic color I love to see worn with gray, leopard-print, fun oversized jewelry (bib necklaces, cocktail rings, cuff bracelets), military inspired jackets and ruffles. Favorite Shopping Spots: Dallas, New York and Memphis (Joseph). Inspiration For Your Wardrobe Selections: Carolina Herrera, Valentino, Yves St. Laurent, Giambattista Valli, Lanvin, Givenchy, J.Crew, Gap and Target. Best Item Of Clothing You’ve Ever Owned: A lippi cat fur coat compliments of Betty Johnson, my mother-in-law.

RSVP

Winston Wolfe

Founder & CEO (Retired), Olympic Optical/Member of the Orpheum Board of Directors and The Society of Entrepreneurs/Advisory Board Member for Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business Your Style: Conservative, yet colorful and distinctive. Go-to Outfit: My custom Oxford suit and one of my classic Versace ties. Favorite Shopping Spots: Oak Hall and the Bullock & Jones catalog. Oldest Item In Your Closet: No doubt, one of my ties. Closet Organization Technique: My closet is very organized. Sport coats are separate from my suits and all hang on my custom Loxley Hall hangers. Most sport coats have two or three appropriate ties draped

over them, and my extensive tie collection is organized by color. My dress shirts are separated by color and by cuff links. My short sleeved and long-sleeved sport shirts are separated and organized by color. By the way, I specialize in long-sleeved sport shirts in autumn colors. Best Compliment On Your Look: Being selected by RSVP as one of the 10 Most Stylish Memphians. Fashion Advice You’d Pass Along: I’d tell men to make sure their ties are properly tied. If you need help, see Bob Levy at Oak Hall.

Most Creative Fashion Moment: Wearing a little boy's (Max Varner) blue seersucker jacket with a white shirt/jeans in Paris waiting on my luggage to arrive. Best Compliment On Your Look: Jeffrey Kalinsky (owner of Jeffrey New York/ Atlanta) and I were standing next to each other at a party, and he looked down at my sandals and gave me a great compliment about them; in one glance he knew more about them than I did!! Most Important Nonclothing Accessory: A great sense of humor and a smile. Fashion Advice You’d Pass Along: Get your clothes tailored for your body. It is worth the investment.

Your Style: “Edgy chic meets minimalist.” Fashion Icons: Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham. How Long To Get Ready In The Morning: Not long, I often have 8 a.m. meetings. Go-to Outfit: Leather jacket, neutral knits, skinny denim, Hamilton & Co scarf, a chunky right-hand ring and platform boots or booties. Any Outfit Regrets: No, life is too short for fashion regrets. Tomorrow is another day and another outfit. Favorite Shopping Spots: Net-a-porter.com, shopbop.com, Joseph, Southern Couture, Urban Outfitters, Barney’s and Intermix. Inspiration For Your Wardrobe Selections:

Music! ful does the tour luggage for a lot of musicians, and it’s hard not to be influenced (www.ful.com). I’m also inspired by Rick Owens, Helmut Lang and Balmain (a beautiful combination of edgy and chic). Closet Organization Technique: If you don’t wear it for a year, store it or give it away. Best Compliment On Your Look: A well-known stylist asked to borrow some of my clothes for a photo shoot. Most Important Nonclothing Accessory: My Count Me Healthy bracelets. They help me keep track of my goals, like drinking enough water, throughout the day. Staying hydrated is so important!

RSVP’S 10 MOST ST YLISH MEMPHIANS

CEO & Designer, Count Me Healthy Jewelry/Creative Director, ful bags

O C T O B E R 2 010

Chelsea Charles Gossett

RSVP

Angela Foster

Civil & Traffic Engineering Designer/Volunteer for the National Kidney Foundation/Member of The Mid-South Fly Fisher Federation Your Style: Classy, elegant

Michael Kors waist jacket.

and chic.

Oldest Item In Your

Fashion Icon: Iman, the

Closet: A 1987 Gucci purse.

supermodel from Somalia.

Any Wardrobe Malfunc-

How Long To Get Ready

tions: While dancing at a con-

In The Morning:

cert, I broke my stiletto heel.

Approximately 45 minutes.

Most Important Non-

Go-to Outfit: Tunic and leg-

Clothing Accessory: A

gings.

quality leather handbag.

Favorite Shopping Spots:

Fashion Advice You’d

Oak Hall, Ann Taylor, White

Pass Along: A woman should

House Black Market and

wear clothes that flatter her fig-

J.Crew.

ure, and you don’t have to spend

Best Item Of Clothing

a fortune to put together a fan-

You’ve Ever Owned: A

tastic look.

RSVP’S 10 MOST ST YLISH MEMPHIANS

David Lusk

Owner, David Lusk Gallery

O C T O B E R 2 010

Fashion Icon/Stylist: Carissa Hussong, my wife. Best Item Of Clothing You’ve Ever Owned: Flipflops with built-in bottle opener. Oldest Item In Your Closet: My grandfather’s Aloha shirt from 1952. Most Creative Fashion Moment: I’ve worn a pale blue tailed tux jacket on multiple occasions. Any Wardrobe Malfunctions: Two (among many) bear mention: nerd-wear costume pants split during halftime show at Smith Cotton High School basketball game (1983, Sedalia, Missouri), and this summer, a swimsuit that never stayed on in the big waves at Hukilau Beach.

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Tran Bui

Television Host & Producer Magazine Columnist & Contributor Your Style: I try to be simple, yet bold and graceful, and whenever possible, I attempt to throw in something chic and playful. Fashion Icon: Right now, I want to raid Anne Hathaway’s closet. I love her clothing choices and confidence. Go-to Outfit: I am drawn to dresses because they’re easy to wear and can be very forgiving. Inspiration for Your Wardrobe Selections: Fashion blogs, people watching and my children. Oldest Item In Your Closet: A Vietnamese dress called ao dai (pronounced aw yai) my mom made by hand for me when I was 5 years old. I can’t

wait to see it on my daughter. Most Creative Fashion Moment: At the last minute, I switched out heels for brown cowboy boots in a family photo shoot and changed the entire look of my outfit. Most Important Nonclothing Accessory: I fell in love with necklaces when I became a morning news anchor because I needed to “wake up” my boring business suits. Fashion Advice You’d Pass Along: Embrace your body and play up your best assets by wearing pieces that actually fit your body type, and don’t be afraid to experiment with items that show off your personality.

Best Compliment On Your Look: Again two stories, both from restaurants: Tsunami owner Ben Smith’s then 12-year-old son was convinced that I was a narc, and this summer, a waitress in Sewanee was convinced that I am some minor actor on a Friday night network crime drama she couldn’t remember the name of. Most Important Nonclothing Accessory: Cufflinks. The collection my wife has amassed for me is huge and better than the former salt and pepper shaker collection she started. Fashion Advice You’d Pass Along: It’s tough to wear shiny silver loafers unless you’re in Vegas.

Project Leader for the Greater Memphis Neighborhoods/Board Member for Leadership Memphis, Memphis in May, Freedom Preparatory Academy-Charter School, Memphis Regional Design Center and the University of Memphis Alumni Association Your Style: I don’t think of

anything look great on you.

myself as being stylish or having

Oldest Item In Your

a style.

Closet: A Fresh-to-Def, hip-hop

Go-to Outfit: A dark blue

inspired airbrushed blue jean

suit with a white shirt and red tie.

jacket and pants circa 1988.

Favorite Shopping Spots:

Most Important Non-

Shelton Clothiers, the St. Jude

Clothing Accessory:

Children’s Research Hospital gift

Confidence.

RSVP’S 10 MOST ST YLISH MEMPHIANS

Eric Robertson

Tips For Shopping On A Budget: If you find a good tailor, then he can make just about

O C T O B E R 2 010

shop and online.

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Debbie Neal

Owner & Founder, The School of Protocol/Owner, The Cup Lady/Member of the Small Business Chamber Your Style: Simple and classic, but fun. Fashion Icon: Sandra Bullock. How Long To Get Ready In The Morning: About an hour. Any Outfit Regrets: When I look back on it, high school! Favorite Shopping Spots: No particular spot, but any place out of town that I might find something different. Best Item Of Clothing You’ve Ever Owned: A starched white shirt. Oldest Item In Your Closet: Après ski boots from forever ago that are so warm and comfortable that I cannot let them go.

Closet Organization Technique: I color-code everything: light to dark and sleeveless to long-sleeved. Nothing goes in my closet unironed so that I can wear anything at any time. Most Creative Fashion Moment: Any time my daughters dress me. Any Wardrobe Malfunctions: When I showed up at a sales meeting a number of years ago with a brown shoe on one foot and a black shoe on the other foot. I had bought a pair of each color and mixed them up. How embarrassing! Most Important Nonclothing Accessory: It’s a toss-up between my cell phone and my new Mac.

RSVP’S 10 MOST ST YLISH MEMPHIANS

Barry Alan Yoakum Partner, archimania

O C T O B E R 2 010

Your Style: Dressed down. Fashion Icon: Actor Daniel Craig. How Long To Get Ready In The Morning: Fifteen, maybe 20 minutes. It all depends on the time it takes to wake up in the shower. Go-to Outfit: Black suit, black shoes and a white dress shirt, no tie. Favorite Shopping Spots: Lansky Brothers, Lansky 126, Shelton Clothiers, The Eclectic Eye and Windyke Country Club for golf gear. Tips For Shopping On A Budget: Stay on your budget.

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Julie Marie Niekrasz Dancer, Ballet Memphis Your Style: Eclectic with a vintage inspiration. Fashion Icon: Jackie O. How Long To Get Ready In The Morning: I wear leotards and tights every day at work from 9-5, so what I wear to work, no one actually sees for more than a few minutes! I put my makeup on while icing my feet and have breakfast—I'm a true multi-tasker! Really, I am ready in about 45 minutes. Favorite Shopping Spots: I usually go to Flashback to buy my winter coats and simple vintage dresses. Also, it is my favorite place to get my fellow dancers gifts for our performances, which we have one (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”) in

October at Playhouse. Best Item Of Clothing You've Ever Owned: Definitely my wedding dress! If I could wear it every day, I would. It had a 1930s feel to it, and I did finger waves in my hair to match. Oldest Item In Your Closet: Probably my long, dark brown suede winter coat—I would guess that it's around 35 years old. Any Wardrobe Malfunctions: My husband had to sew a strap on my dress that broke at a wedding this summer. His talents are endless, and everyone was so impressed that he knew how to sew!

Oldest Item In Your Closet: Blue jeans and a few more blue jeans. Best Compliment On Your Look: Apparently, being chosen to be one of RSVP’s Most Stylish Memphians. Most Important Nonclothing Accessory: My eyeglasses. Year-in and year-out that seems to be what people always notice. Fashion Advice You’d Pass Along: Just keep it simple and work out (I go to Inbalance Fitness, so I can actually fit in my clothes).

Joe Birch

Melinda Aldison

Pat Mitchell Worley O C T O B E R 2 010

Mayor A C Wharton

eople often ask us at RSVP how to make it into the magazine. Really, the best and only way is to attend one of our city’s numerous charity parties. If you’re not at an event we’re covering, how else will we have a way of placing you in one of our issues? Another often-heard question is, “Who are the most photographed Memphians?”After scouring a year’s worth of issues and almost 5,000 names, we’ve arrived at the top ten people (couples count as one) who most often appear in our magazine. Thanks to these individuals for being the fabulous philanthropists they are and for supporting RSVP! Shawn and Lana Danko

Kevin Kane

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Valerie and Jeff Morris

Steve Conley and Jeanie Gundlach

Bill and Chey Widdop

RSVP’S MOST PHOTOGRAPHED MEMPHIANS

RSVP’s Most Photographed Memphians

Tiffany Brimhall

O C T O B E R 2 010

BROOKS AVANT GARDE PARTY

EVENT

Brooks Avant Garde Party “I L ove Rock ‘n’ Roll”

E Elizabeth and Mike Rodriguez

Jim and Jen German

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ach year, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art tailors its Avant Garde Party, presented by Acura of Memphis, to coincide with a current exhibit. Previously, this bash for upper-level museum members has drawn inspiration from the Jazz Age of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Warhol’s studio, “The Factory.” This year, with the photography exhibit “Who Shot Rock & Roll” packing the galleries, the pull of rock ‘n’ roll was irresistible. “You can’t go wrong with this theme,” said event planner Lindsey Hedgepeth. “The possibilities are endless.” Endless, too, were the amusements staged throughout the space, starting outside the building with a live performance by indie rock outfit Bake Sale. Within, it was all about unleashing one’s inner rock star, inner artist and inner child. While some guests got immersed in mixing their own Pixie Stix-style edible sand art in a pharmaceutical-looking beaker while gazing at hypnotic images of Led Zeppelin live projected onto the white marble wall, others created instantly-addictive Spin Art on the terrace. Airbrushed tattoos, courtesy of Mr. Nick and friends, were also an option. And, why not get two? As Wendy Smith said, getting both bare biceps ringed with designs, “Hey, when else are you gonna do this?” Mingling attractively near the airbrush tattoo parlor, in the vein of rock ‘n’ roll bad girls, were Cyndii Jo Hartley, who showed commendable fortitude in wearing Helmut Lang leather pants in a Memphis heat wave, and Emily Hefley, who was rocking a drapey blouse with cut-outs and a four-inch, spiked leather cuff. Other partiers rocked full costume. Monique Jalenak and Sherra Meyers were the spitting image of the Blues Brothers, if the Blues Brothers had been slim, lovely and female. Brushmark, the onsite restaurant at the Brooks, catered a spread as delicious and surprising as ever. The beef empanadas, shaped like baguettes and served on wooden cutting boards, were flaky, savory and sweetened with raisins. The ham-and-cheese fritters proved a perfect handheld snacking device: small and tidy on the outside, big and greasy on the inside. Oasis supplied a hookah and cigar bar on the terrace, and there was an upscale rec room featuring Wii Dance and Rock Band. But, what would a rock ‘n’ roll party be without an infectious, loud live band? AQUANET brought the zeitgeist of ‘80s glam bands to the Brooks foyer with musical chops and performance aplomb. When a man in a faux-fur coat with a microphone and a blonde wig is belting Mötley Crüe inches from your face, you know you’ve been to a party.

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

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Story by Kelly Cox Photos by Nathan Berry

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Monique Jalenak and Sherra Meyers

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More Than 120,000 Readers Average Household Income. . . . . . . . . . . .$147,000 per year. 88.6% . . . . . . . . .Purchased a Product or Visited a Store due to Advertising in RSVP. 58.16% have HH incomes greater than . . . $75,000 per year. Female Readers . . . 59.2% Male Readers . . .40.8% 42.6% . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Traveled Abroad during the past year. Marital Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62.2% married 52.% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eat out at least 3 times per week. Home Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81.3% 3 0 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s d e l i v e r e d m o n t h l y t h r o u gh o u t Education: Attended/Graduated College plus . . . . . . .83.0% the Aff luent Shopping Areas of Greater Memphis Have Post graduate degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21.6% From Harbor Town to Collierville.

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VOX POPULAR

Vox Popular Q&A with Mei-Ann Chen

he face of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra is one you soon won’t forget. Mei-Ann Chen comes to the organization as its fourth music director with plenty of ideas and a contagious excitement about music, which she credits as the language that helped her break through a lot of barriers in life. Though she’s had a few artistic battles along the way from deciding not to follow her parents’ dream for her to become a concert violinist to job rejection and being a woman in a predominantly male profession, this conductor never lost sight of her talent or place at the podium. Chen’s currently ready to facilitate transformative moments for her new hometown audience and says, “If people want to check us out, now is the time because we’re going to play in a way that knocks people’s socks off.” RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick couldn’t agree more.

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Chen: My parents loved music and never had the chance to learn music while they were growing up after Japan occupied Taiwan. Their passion for music led to them believing, naively, that the best way to have a free concert at home every day was to have my older sister and me take up an instrument. My sister was much more of a visual artist, so I ended up taking the double duties of entertaining my parents on violin and piano at age 7. Then, at age 10, I was required to play in the orchestra for the first time; as an instrumentalist in a music school, we were all required to play in the orchestra. I was a rather quiet child, but a light bulb went off when I saw the conductor, not making any sound yet able to basically help everyone in the room bring that sound together. I told my parents that’s what I wanted to do, and bless their hearts, I think they were afraid I was going down this impossible, heartbroken path. They dissuaded me from day one, but I was determined and took the matter into my own hands. I would show up at orchestra rehearsals having my violin part completely memorized, so I could fix my eyes on the conductor. RSVP: When did your first conducting experience arise? Chen: It’s just a coincidence that the best academic class I was in was also the one that had the students who made up the chorus for the school and went out did competitions nationwide. I was appointed assistant conductor and got my first conducting experience that way. At that point, I sort of gave up the dream in a way though because I didn’t think it was possible for me. Music was just something that was fun. When I was 16, I was really good at memorizing the names of rocks, so I thought for sure, I’m going to major in earth science, which has nothing to do with music. Then, an American youth orchestra from Boston came touring my country, and I went to the performance with my older accompanist who could speak English, and she took me back stage. I just happened to be there when she asked the conductor, whose name is Benjamin Zander, if I could come play for him the next day. He’s an inspirational speaker but also a wonderfully crazy British conductor. I ended up going to his hotel the next day and played my violin there for him and a guy named Mark Churchill, whose wife [Marylou Speaker Churchill] later became my first violin teacher in the U.S. They rarely saw a young Asian musician who

played so much from the heart, so they were very impressed and offered me a scholarship on the spot to come study at a boarding school that’s affiliated with the New England Conservatory. Two months later, I was in this country for the first time, not having really mastered the language and not knowing all the cultural differences. RSVP: When did the pull of becoming a conductor overshadow your dream of becoming a concert violinist? Chen: Well, my parents thought I was coming here to be a concert violinist, and deep down, I knew I finally had a ticket to fulfill my dream of being a conductor. It wasn’t an easy journey. For example, I was a violin major at New England Conservatory during undergrad, then I was the first person to get a master’s in both violin and conducting there. I worked really hard for those three years, then I couldn’t find anybody who would give me an opportunity to audition. The first round is always the resume, so often times, they didn’t even get to see my tape. I thought another degree would help, so I got my doctorate from the University of Michigan. When I became a doctoral candidate after 18 years of dreaming to become a conductor, I almost gave up because when I realized the amount of rejection letters were more than the notes I ever conducted, it was daunting. About that time, America’s oldest youth orchestra out in Portland, Oregon came and did their search very differently. They contacted all the major conducting teachers around the country, and at that point, I was about to break my teacher [Kenneth Kiesler] at university’s 100 percent rate of students landing jobs. [Laughs] He put me number one on the list because he wanted me to have a job. The Portland Youth Philharmonic was very interested in me from day one, and when I auditioned there, I absolutely fell in love with working with youth because I felt I was making a difference in the next generation. Photos by Don Perry

O C T O B E R 2 010

RSVP: What are some of your childhood experiences that shaped your love of music?

RSVP: During your tenure with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, didn’t you begin entering conducting competitions? Chen: Yes. I was really just becoming hungry to see what conductors of my generation were doing in terms of how they think about repertoire and what they do on the podium. It was 2005 when I started to enter competitions, but not because I wanted to win a

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Chen: Through the League of American Orchestrasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; American Conducting Fellows Program, I was able to get back in the professional field in America. They have a matching program that matches major orchestras with young talented conductors, and when the preliminary round came for that program, I almost didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go because there were so many conductors fresh out of school. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad I went though because the hosting orchestra was the Memphis Symphony. So, four years ago, which was December 2006, I came here and conducted a 20minute audition. There were 30 conductors for a three-four day span doing exactly the same music excerpts. I came in the middle of that process when people were tired, but what I remember vividly was that once I started conductingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I think I started with a Beethoven overtureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I felt the orchestra just woke up. They responded to my energy, and we had an instant chemistry. That led to me being invited to the final round at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which is where I had a legendary audition.

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RSVP

RSVP: Tell me about your conducting job after Portland.

VOX POPULAR

prize. To my biggest surprise, I went all the way to the top at the Malko International Conductors Competition. Out of 240 applicants around the world from 42 countries, 30 of us were invited to the hosting orchestra, which is the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know much about Scandinavian culturesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I was just getting familiar with the repertoireâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but I went from being one of 30 people to 12 people to six people. I was thrilled to make it that far, and then I was selected for the final three and finally the winner. I was touched that the jury was brave enough to break down the door for me since no female conductor had ever won. This led me to working with many professional orchestras in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

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RSVP: How did your position with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra come about after Atlanta? Chen: I made my debut with the Baltimore Symphony during my two years with Atlanta, so when they heard I was available, they invited me to be their assistant for one year. It was truly a dream come true because when I was in Taiwan, Atlanta and Baltimore were the only two orchestras I was exposed to other than the big five.

RSVP: What are some programs you’re working on with the MSO?

workshop, the participants are broken into groups and play instruments together. We’re also doing Opus One, which features unconducted performances by symphony musicians in nontraditional venues. I have embraced this completely and have gone out to meet the patrons they draw, and we have, I think, cracked the code of how to attract younger audiences. They make the concerts unique in that they include the classics, but also include local artists with different genres of music. The concerts are also shorter, so they can have a social component. We also have the Library Series, where we send musicians out, in small groups or individually, and pair them with a librarian to read books to kids and play along. Another wonderful education program we’re looking to continue and expand to other school districts currently takes place at the Soulsville Charter School. We send musicians there to mentor and take kids under their wing. I want to invite more students of all kinds to participate, like art students, who could come to rehearsal and draw about the orchestra. RSVP: What does this season, “A Season of Discovery,” hold for audiences?

Chen: We’re doing some innovative projects that are gaining national attention. Leading From Every Chair is a partnership with FedEx that started about four or five years ago from musicians’ desire to connect to the community more. It’s a two-day workshop that has unusual components like small groups of musicians talking to managers at a corporation about what they do to prepare for their rehearsals. After broadening people’s understanding of instruments, they take it one step further by inviting office managers on stage to sit right in the middle of the orchestra for a special rehearsal just for them. After the

Chen: It’s a chance for me to get to know and discover this community and also a chance for us to take listeners on a journey to different parts of the world. I chose to start with the Russian masters because in our repertoire the Russian pieces are very colorful, and I chose them to showcase what a great team the Memphis Symphony and I have in the community. Coming from Russia, we will go into an important concert for us on October 17 called Hope in America. This program highlights Copland, Tower and Bower and the world premiere of “Siderius,” which is from one of the hottest composers in this generation right now. The composer’s name is Osvaldo Golijov, and he’s the resident composer of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This world premiere is a consortium honoring one of the long-time veterans in our field, Henry Fogel, so many of my professional colleagues of major orchestras are coming to Memphis for the premiere. Later in our season, we’ll play pieces by Spanish and Italian masters, to name a few, and we’ll end with what ties all the cultures together, Beethoven’s Ninth.

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Chen: As I told you, four years ago I had my 20minute encounter with the Memphis Symphony. Six months after that, I was a few months into my Atlanta tenure when I got a phone call from the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s president and CEO, Ryan Fleur, who told me that the music director here just announced retirement and that the musicians would like to recommend my name to the search committee as a candidate for the music director. It was incredible to be considered among the candidates, and I think the reason I was even in the running was because of that incredible first encounter.

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RSVP: What intrigued you about auditioning to be the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s music director?

PHOENIX CLUB PARTY AT THE PALACE

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Phoenix Club Party at the Palace End-of -Summer Bash

he Phoenix Club more than lived up to the promise that its inaugural Party at the Palace would be a party to remember. Held in lieu of the former Phoenix Club Luau, the late August

fund-raiser took over the Pink Palace, offering hundreds of guests a night of top-notch entertainment and drinks aplenty. Raising $18,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis didn’t hurt the first time out of the gate either. Perhaps the gathering should have been called the “Party on

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the expansive terrace to see music guests Walrus and DJ Turtle of Cadillac Grillz on the colorfully lit stage. One guest even joked, “All that’s inside is air-conditioning.” Also on the agenda were beer, wine and specialty cocktails by Itta Beena, 901 Tequila and D. Canale Beverages. Even an ice luge was positioned nearby for the more food sponsor, and a Pronto Pup stand could be found onsite as well…never underestimate the pull of fair food at a late-night soiree! With a start time of 8 p.m., the party really wasn’t in full swing until about 10:30. Needless to say, 1:30 a.m. came too soon Cindy McRae and Melissa Dixon

for this crowd of mostly 40-and-under Phoenix Club members and

their dates. Next year, the group plans to pick up where it left off,

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“The Pink Palace gave us a great East Memphis location, and everything came together so well,” Walton enthused. “The setting, sponsors, music and weather made this a night to remember. While the first Party at the Palace will be difficult to top, this event will only get better in the years to come.” Story by Leah Fitzpatrick See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

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Spirit of SRVS

SPIRIT OF SRVS

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crowd of more than 800 gathered at Hilton Memphis to enjoy “A Taste of the Good Life,” a benefit that raised in excess of $120,000 for Shelby Residential and Vocational Services. Winemakers from around the country converged at the event to make sure Memphis had the opportunity to taste the good life from their vineyards. As purveyors of wine lined the walls, guests made their way through a plethora of options, from a line of wines by Crown Winery out of Humboldt, Tennessee to wines from larger vineyards, such as Seven Hills Winery of Walla Walla, Washington and Bernardus Winery of Carmel, California. Many appetizer stations were also on hand and featured food from local eateries: Bhan Thai, Buckley’s, Humdingers, Panera Bread, Central BBQ, Medallion and Rain, among others. Radio personality Steve Conley of 94.1 KQK and weatherman Ron Childers of WMC-TV 5 acted as the emcees and auctioneers. The room was filled with hundreds of items offered for the silent auction, including computer equipment, jewelry, crafted pottery, trips, gift baskets and an array of services like massages and hair care. Wine glasses, hand painted by service recipients at SRVS, with the help of local artist Connie Lampen (Creations by Connie), were available for sale inside the ballroom, and commemorative posters and note cards were sold in the foyer. The live auction contained a Gulf Shores Getaway and Hideaway, a chameleon necklace donated by Doron Diamonds, a wine-tasting tour in California or Washington (winner’s choice) wine countries and dinner for six with a French chef. John Barzizza, event chairman, says the goal was to raise about $125,000. He adds that the Spirit of SRVS has grown so much during its 12 years, which he attributes to relocating the annual fund-raiser to Hilton Memphis nine years ago. “Since we’ve moved here, it’s just exploded,” he shares. Well received by the community, SRVS means the world to board member Sue Russell’s sister, Katie Russell, who has been an SRVS participant for 41 years; Katie says her favorite activities are working in the clothes closet and assembling school supplies for Shelby County school students. Dr. Bob Humphreys and his wife, Suzanne, also enjoyed the festivities, as did Gaynette Price, who has been an SRVS volunteer for the last six years. “It’s a part of my life,” Price says.

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

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Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Don Perry

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Zoo Brew

ZOO BREW

The Second Brew Benefit of the Year

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tanding in line, only to be turned away, was enough of a caveat for Lee McBee when she attempted to go to the Memphis Zoo’s popular Zoo Brew fund-raiser in May. “I got online early and bought my tickets this time; I learned my lesson,” said the animal-lover-slashbeer-enthusiast. Some people weren’t so lucky, as the Labor Day weekend affair sold out again. “We sold 2,500 tickets, and could have had another 500,” said the event’s coordinator, Tim Dalfiume. “We will consider that for next time.” The celebrated event, which this year featured 150 beers from all over the world at stations throughout the zoo, has more than doubled its attendance from 350 attendees in 2007 and is now held twice a year. “You’ve got palm trees and fountains, the flavor of food and the flavor of beer, all in one environment,” Dalfiume said. Local band The Plaintiffs provided entertainment, with Southwestern Distributing Company presenting the event and Mahaffey Tent and Party Rentals providing additional seating in the outdoor setting. According to Dalfiume, it’s no wonder the beer festival is such a hit. “When I think of Memphis, I think of one thing immediately— the Memphis Zoo. It’s no wonder we’re the number one zoo in America,” Dalfiume said of the Tripadvisor.com rating. “We’re a role model for other zoos. We had to turn down two zoos who wanted to come observe the event because we just didn’t have any room.” McBee, who tries to make all the zoo events, concurs. “The zoo’s awesome, especially at night, and you feel like a VIP,” she said. Her favorite zoo event, though, is this one because she has the opportunity to try different versions of her preferred adult beverage. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

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66 Robyn Mauldin and Jennifer Dabbs Sciubba at Bravo Season Kick-off

ea Anne Campbell, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Mid-South Chapter vice president, connected with WAMS Luncheon attendees when she said, “We’re here to create a world free of MS.” Presently, threefourths of the 400,000 people with MS are women, so it was no surprise that many of the 240 attendees at the benefit held at the U of M Holiday Inn were ladies, who raised more than $35,000 toward a cure for MS. During the affair, guests enjoyed a message by twins Drs. Karen and Sharen Cypress, door prizes announced by emcee Kym Clark of WMC-TV 5 and decorative cakes. Volunteer Mid-South, which pairs volunteers with area nonprofits, recently hosted a Summer in the City Fiesta at Chickasaw Oaks Village. The event’s combination of Stinky Gringo margaritas, wine, beer and dancers from Rumba Room couldn’t be beat. When guests weren’t imbibing, they were feasting on appetizers by Just for Lunch and placing bids on tempting silent auction items, with proceeds of around $15,000 going to Volunteer Mid-South. Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary supporters Bridge and put on their thinking caps for the annual “B More” at Kingsway Christian Church. If bridge wasn’t your top choice, hearts, board games or bunco could be played, and a White Elephant Sale and modeling of fashions by Chico’s-Saddle Creek also took place. Boxed lunches from Panera Bread were served for lunch, when several door prizes were awarded. The Center for Southern Folklore hosted a crowd of 200 art lovers during the Bravo Memphis Kick-off. The young membership arm of ArtsMemphis, Bravo provides a social outlet for those under 40 through monthly arts-related events. This night, Hypelife Arts, Opera Memphis, Nadia Sophia and the Bluff City Backsliders provided the entertainment, and Majestic Grille supplied the eats. By night’s end, 75 memberships had been sold. It’s never too early for Christmas, especially when the holiday arrives in summer, like at the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South Christmas in July party at Lexus of Memphis. Vendors selling wares from dog treats to stained glass positioned themselves throughout the venue, and no one left empty-handed thanks to door prizes and gift bags for the first 50 attendees. Company d dancers livened up the festivities as well, and the duo of Hank and Nora served as the musical guests. Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

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By Dennis Phillippi

SOMETHING TELLS ME IT’S ALL HAPPENING AT THE ZOO

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t’s a blazing hot Memphis afternoon, and inches away from my wife and me, three ferocious Grizzlie bears, neck deep in murky water, battle one another. They, forgive the pun, bare their huge fangs and swipe at one another with claws the size of oyster knives. Their eyes are wide and burn with…what, exactly? It’s not anger. It’s not determination. It’s fun. Yep. That’s it, these giant monsters are playing. They’re goofing off. And, again, they’re two feet away from us. We have got to get to the zoo more often. The Memphis Zoo, named by Tripadvisor.com the number one zoo in the country a couple of years ago, is one of those Memphis treasures we natives tend to forget about, like Graceland, Beale Street or Austin Onek. In a way, the zoo is even more of a stepchild. If we have people in from out of town, they’ve heard of Graceland, and probably Beale Street, and expect to be taken there, but chances are they don’t even know we have the number one zoo in the country, and we forget to offer it up as a reasonable alternative to spending a Saturday night downtown with German tourists wearing belly bags. Recently, entirely on a whim, my wife and I decided that spending the afternoon at the zoo was a better use of our time than going to the hardware store to get materials to repair that toilet that never stops running in the guest bathroom. Our membership had lapsed and, again, entirely on a whim, we renewed. First piece of good news? With our membership, they refunded the five bucks we had paid to park. Did I run across a hot parking lot to nab the parking ticket to get my grubby mitts on that sawbuck? Like a golden retriever chases down a soggy tennis ball. The second piece of good news? Our zoo is wicked cool. Somewhere along the line, the zoo went from being a borderline depressing series of concrete slabs housing animals that were at best distracted to a showplace of zoological conservation and education that is fun for the whole family. Okay, well, we’re our whole family, but the normal families with sticky kids all seemed to be having a blast, too. Even if I was occasionally tempted to heave one of their overstimulated offspring over a fence for an up close experience with a hungry predator. Cat Country has long been a great exhibit, but this visit, it seemed better

than ever. The cats of all stripes, spots and manes were playful and content. The pacing tiger didn’t seem so much bored as cheerful. The drowsy lion looked happy to be there. The serval fished in his little pond. All of the cats flicked their big ears and licked their chops, possibly thinking about all those sticky kids. Because we hadn’t been there yet, we headed over to the Northwest Passage.

In my mind, it was Nancy Grace being chased, but you can use whomever you want. Having not been to the zoo in a couple of years, we were unprepared for the scope of the thing. Making your way from the cats to the Northwest Passage is a hike. We were nearly there before we recognized the value of the new tram system. The zoo, Tardis-like, somehow expands once you get inside. The walk from Cat Country to the Northwest Passage seemed like we should have passed out of the zoo and been well on our way up Summer Avenue, possibly having salty breakfast foods or getting our tires rotated. That seems to be the only two things going for Summer Avenue these days. The new Teton Trek pavilion is a huge structure with wide open spaces for kids to run around being sticky, places to get out of the sun, clean restrooms, and, oh yeah, grizzly bears that have a sprawling habitat with a little river, a waterfall

and a glass-walled front that gives you, like us, the chance to see animals that were they to be this close to you in the wild, you would begin wondering about the state of your affairs. These weren’t cooped up miserable beasts; these were great big happy bears. The balance of our visit was spent revisiting old friends, some of whom have new friends. Primate Canyon has a new crew of gorillas and hilarious bonobos, which are the hippies of the primate world, along with Wifflestock players in Midtown, of course. Bonobos, to me, are the animals most aware that they are in a zoo, and they’re perfectly cool with it. They all have the same goofy look on their face as if they’ve won the lottery. They seem to be thinking, “Wait, we get to just occasionally jump on one another’s heads, and you’ll give us this rocking place and all we can eat. What’s the catch?” It’s hard to believe but our zoo, Memphis’ Zoo, is almost too big to fully appreciate in one day. Seriously. You almost need to set aside two days if you want to see everything without making it a forced march. The pandas may not do much of anything but sit there being cute, eating bamboo, but they’re really, really cute, and you could be there a while. The hippos, due for their own upgrade soon, may not do much, but, as we learned from a helpful zoo person, they’re the deadliest animal in Africa, and you can kill some time imaging one of these behemoths chasing someone. In my mind, it was Nancy Grace being chased, but you can use whomever you want. The meerkats are neurotically hypnotic. Their panicked vigilance will keep you around for a stretch. There are always going to be things about this city that get you down, Tigers football for instance, but it’s important to remember the things that rock about the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, and the zoo needs to be back at the top of all of our charts. Okay, that was lame, and tourism bureau sounding, but I was in a groove. Ah…I can’t stop…

Phillippi, now that you’re on a roll with wildlife, go home and watch something like The Lion King or Jack Hanna…just don’t start thinking you can keep an animal with a strange sounding name, but cute demeanor, in your backyard. Though, stranger things have been known to happen in Cooper-Young.

Larry Rice wrote the book on divorce. Literally. Larry Rice’s book, The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice, is published by the American Bar Association. Now in its third edition, his work is the standard reference for lawyers across the nation. Lawyers seek out his expertise and have invited him to lecture from Canada to the Carribean and from Vermont to Hawaii. For the ninth time, Mr. Rice will be a featured lecturer at the annual ABA Convention. As the only Super Lawyer in the Mid-South certified as a Family Law Specialist, Mr. Rice spends most of his time practicing law with the Rice Divorce Team. Led by Larry Rice and his son, Nick Rice, the Rice Divorce Team is a practice group within Rice, Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC. The team is exclusively committed to family law representation from prenuptial agreements to final decrees, from parenting time to child support and everything in between. His father, George L. Rice Jr., began the firm in 1951. Now the Rice Divorce Team includes: Jennifer Bellott, Barbara Compton, Andrea Schultz, Teresa Brents, Michelle Presley-Brady, Johnnie Brown, Brice Timmons, Josh McDairmid, James Jones, Cyndy McCrory, Darrell Phillips, and Tracy Bradshaw. The Team applies generations of legal experience, nationally recognized expertise, and up-to-date technology to lead their clients through negotiations, mediation, arbitration or litigation. The depth of the Rice Divorce Team’s personnel provides the ability to tailor representation to each client’s individual needs and goals. While the team is proud of courtroom success, their greatest satisfaction often comes from obtaining a quiet settlement favorable to their client. Divorce is difficult. Divorce is made worse by preconceived notions people often have about divorce. Mr. Rice’s guide for clients is available to you at aboutdivorce.com.

275 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103 901.526.6701 larry@ricelaw.com

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Baseball Champions

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his photographed was taken on the night the Carrier Excavators, who played in the Optimist League, won the City Junior League Baseball Championship at Bellevue Park. The team was undefeated 35-0 that season. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Coach John Tucker, Dennis Harrison, Charles “Dago” Tiller, Jerry Delugach, Ronnie Simmons, Bobby Rose, Lowell Willingham, George Inman and “Ducky” Stegall. In the back row, from left to right, are Jerry Schoolar, Billy Nelson, Jimmy Arledge, Nelson Copeland, Bill “Willie” Boyd, John Howser, Frank Inman and “Henry,” the bat boy. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL “WILLIE” BOYD 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.