RSVP Magazine January 2011 by RSVP Magazine

January 2011

The Boa Ball Sip Around the World Holiday Extravaganza Les Passees Cabaret Ball Q&A with Nicole Jordan

Grr eat G e a t Discounts D i s c o u n t s on o n Designer D e s i g n e r JJewelr ewelr y Simonn G Tycoon Tycooon Fredric Fredric Sage Praschnik Sal Pras chnik Rudolf Rudolff Friedmann Fri rie iedmann Henry Designs Henrr y Dunay ay Des signs Mastoloni Mastolloni

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CONTENTS

Contents January 201 1

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Mark H. Luttrell has RSVP over to his downtown office for a glimpse inside his life as the mayor of Shelby County.

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 & 41 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

14 LES PASSEES CABARET BALL Bruce Harrison and Cillie Harrison

RSVP Watch List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Throws are the “it” item for those cool January nights.

28 SIP AROUND THE WORLD Alex and Amber Sims

Les Passees Cabaret Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 The city’s oldest women’s organization hosted its Cabaret Ball at Hilton Memphis and delight-

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ed all with “The Beat Goes On” theme.

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Q&A with Miss Tennessee Nicole Jordan.

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 & 26

4 RSVP

This athlete is making his name known in the world of boxing as part of Memphis’ newest sports franchise. He’s helping people learn more about themselves through tree readings.

StreetSeens highlight Javonta Charles and Grayson Smith.

24 STREETSEEN Javonta Charles

Sip Around the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Vino was the drink du jour at the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee’s charitable affair held at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

32 HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA Russ and Laurel Williams

Holiday Extravaganza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Guests of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis’ Christmas fund-raiser at the Pink Palace ensured that club beneficiaries had no shortage of toys.

The Boa Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Guests embraced the alternative scarf, the boa, during a beautiful benefit held inside Central Station for the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross.

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 2010, It Could Have Been Worse

Dennis Phillippi provides his hilarious year-end review.

STREETSEEN Grayson Smith

36 THE BOA BALL Karen and Rick McKinley

Cover Photo Autumn and Glenn Goerke at Les Passees Cabaret Ball Photo by Don Perry

Volume XVI

Number IV

January 201 1 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi Suzanne Thompson ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS

Nathan Berry Don Perry Steve Roberts

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SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Libby Huff ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Chris Pugh ACCOUNTING

Ruth Cassin

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6 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

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From the Editor

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Photo by Steve Roberts

appy New Year RSVP readers! Not only has another year arrived, but so has the beginning of another decade. I actually didn’t think about 2011 kicking off another decade until I read through our dear humor columnist’s monthly contribution, RSVPhillippi (page 40). While Phillippi doesn’t point out the decade change in his piece entitled “2010, It Could’ve Been Worse,” he does give an overview of last year’s goings-on, which only got me thinking about how future happenings will compare. If I wrote a piece about my speculations for 2011-2020, it would be called “The Decade of Being Grateful.” When reflecting on all that Americans have experienced in the past 10 years, from natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and on a more local level, Hurricane Elvis, to terrorist threats, the “swine flu” pandemic and the Great Recession, I realize that there hasn’t been a lack of unfortunate occurrences. So, when the next good things in life come along, there should be even more reason to be grateful, hence the aforementioned reference in my proposed title. I do want to take a moment to recognize how truly grateful many of my friends who are leaders in the nonprofit world are to see charitable giving continue despite a harsh economic climate. In some cases, fund-raising goals have been met above and beyond expectations, and for that, these nonprofit organizations are not only thankful, but are wowed by the number of donors, often anonymous, who are willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of others. Take the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis’ Holiday Extravaganza (featured on page 32), for example. Guests of the affair had already paid for party tickets, however they more than happily came armed with toys for children who are part of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ programs. Make no mistake though, 2010 was a hard year overall for nonprofits, but still, it was one filled with hope. Inspiring in another light are the individuals featured in this month’s StreetSeens (pages 24 and 26). One of the stories revolves around a boxer who could be likened, in some aspects, to a modern-day “Rocky,” while the other highlights a graphologist who is mesmerizing people with his ability to read into their character through drawings of trees. Both men were equally fascinating and are commended for allowing me to see them in action. Enjoy the issue, and here’s to a blessed start to a new year, and decade, in which everyone has a clean slate.

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Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

Mayor of Shelby County/Former Sheriff of Shelby County

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SIGNATURE MEMPHIS

Mark H. Luttrell

Hobby: Hiking. Personal hero: My father. Guilty pleasure: Cheap cigars. Favorite author: Shelby Foote. Favorite Memphis musician: Isaac Hayes. First job: A school teacher in Starke, Florida. Ideal vacation spots: Alaska and New England. Movie you could watch over and over again: Gettysburg. Last book you’ve read: The War Lovers by Evan Thomas. Stress outlet: Going to my family’s cabin in East Tennessee. Where you take out-of-town guests: Shelby Farms and Rendezvous. Your greatest achievement: My family and my marriage of 41 years. One thing most people don’t know about you: As a child, I played paper dolls with my older sisters. Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome: Being a very uncommitted student until about 11th grade. Your mantra: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”—The Serenity Prayer

Photo by Steve Roberts

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ONSITE

Onsite

Memphis Heart Gala Patrons Party Germantown Arts Alliance Gala Agape Heartlight Event Toastmasters Fall Conference Harbor Town Dog Show

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Ginger and Kim Clark at Toastmasters Fall Conference

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Robert and Jennifer Shambrook at Toastmasters Fall Conference

Keith and Patty McDonald at Agape Heartlight Event

usan and Darrell Doane opened up their home for the American Heart Association’s Heart Gala Patrons Party. Memphis music legend Ben Cauley, the honoree for this year’s ball (scheduled for February 5 at The Peabody), performed a duet on his trumpet with Dr. Bill Hurd on the saxophone. They entertained patrons with tunes like “Misty” and “Alfie” before guest speaker George Klein took the podium to talk about his newly released book, Elvis: My Best Man. Supporters of the arts in Germantown gathered at the Esplanade for the 18th annual Germantown Arts Alliance Arts and Humanities Awards Gala held just Easton and Saylor Waddell with Nasdaq Waddell before Halloween. Many guests wore masks, and the at Harbor Town Dog Show shimmering gold satin tablecloths were adorned with witches’ hats, statues of ghosts and velvet spiders. The event recognized the following award recipients: Le Bonheur Club of Memphis-P Patron of the Arts; Le Bonheur Art Development Team-V Visual Arts; Tania Castroverde Moskalenko-P Performing Arts; and Christopher Blank-L Literary Arts. The Agape Heartlight Event hit a homerun with supporters, who ventured to AutoZone Park to see how Agape is going to bat for children and families in Memphis. Festivities included powerful videos and performances by The Bantaba Dance Company of Memphis, The Boys and Girls Choir of Memphis, Turning Point and violinist Lila Frith, along with her students. Guests raised $327,500 to benefit Agape’s programs for mentoring, adoption, foster care and counseling, to Karen and Rich Selsor name a few. at Memphis Heart Gala Patrons Party District 43 of Toastmasters International honored WMC-TV 5’s Kym Clark with the Communication and Leadership Award during its Toastmasters Fall Conference. Held at the University of Memphis, the get-together that promotes strong leadership and communication skills also featured contests in table topics and humorous speeches, as well as an education track called “The Walkabout,” delivered by Jennifer and Robert Shambrook. Who Doggies were on their best behavior for “W Let the Dogs Out?”—otherwise known as the Harbor Town Dog Show, presented by Downtown Animal Hospital. Puppies led their owners around the arena while they strutted their stuff, did their sexiest walks and performed silly pet tricks, with Nasdaq Waddell Best in Show.” The fun-filled event, emceed winning “B by Kym Clark, raised more than $14,000 to benefit the Darrell and Susan Doane with Dianne and Dr. Bob Laster Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County. at Memphis Heart Gala Patrons Party Story and photos Submitted and by Suzanne Thompson

Jamier Bradley, Tekia Lillard and Jamal Lillard at Agape Heartlight Event

Joey Beckford, Johnny and Kim Pitts, Meri Armour and Janet Phillips at Germantown Arts Alliance Gala

Ann Sebastian with Linda and George Stephenson at Germantown Arts Alliance Gala

RSVP WATCH LIST

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LES PASSEES CABARET BALL

EVENT

Les Passees Cabaret Ball “The Beat Goes On”

T Karyn Whittington and Dena King

Jeff and Mary Sexton

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he Les Passees 101st Cabaret Ball, at Hilton Memphis, was like a step back in time, with “The Beat Goes On” theme for the beginning of the group’s second century of service. Event chair Laura Cofield says she chose the theme because the heart of Les Passees continues to beat for the children of the Mid-South. The event kicked off with a VIP reception for sponsors–a first time addition to the festivities–where Champagne flowed, and appetizers of toast rounds topped with pork tenderloin and cranberry sauce or spiced avocados, as well as endive stuffed with herbed cream cheese, were served. Guests moved downstairs to browse through items in a silent auction that included gift baskets from Estee Lauder, Lit (restaurant supply), Hollywood Feed and McCarter Coffee Company. Gift certificates from local eateries, such as Ruth’s Chris, Folk’s Folly, Tsunami, Huey’s and The Half Shell, were also offered at the silent auction. The splashiest table contained nearly 40 items provided by Platinum Jewelers and included such gems as an amethyst and diamond ring, a variety of diamond jewelry, tennis bracelets, earrings and pearl necklaces in several lengths. The ballroom was an explosion of colors as bright as the faces of the dedicated Les Passees members and their guests. Richard Carter and his wife, Joyce, along with Kevin Danish, regional director for Kroger, one of the sponsors, were among those who enjoyed a dinner that began with an orange-walnut salad, followed by surf and turf with roasted new potatoes and a choice of chocolate cake or key lime pie drizzled with caramel sauce. During dinner, the 18 living ads, all dressed in white evening gowns, were presented with their escorts, and pages wearing fluorescent colored wigs carried banners bearing the names of all the sponsors. Afterward, guests like Steve Turner, president of Turner Dairies, a long-time sponsor of Les Passees, and his wife, Lura Turner, a member of the organization, joined dancers entertained by music of the band Reliance. Turner says she finds her work with Les Passees very gratifying. “I think it’s a wonderful thing to reach out and help children in the Memphis community,” Turner enthused. Les Passees president Jennie Helm added that after the close of one of the most successful years for the organization’s Stock Exchange (the annual one-month store Les Passees members fill with donated items and sell to area bargain hunters) everyone was ready to celebrate. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Julie and Kevin Stonebarger

Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Don Perry

Clayton and Christina Utkov

Hunter Krauch and Caroline Cain

Margaret and Chris Patterson

Lori Wehr and Joan Peters

Olivia Dobbs, Will Patterson and Molly McEwan

Brian and Kathy Swords

EVENT LES PASSEES CABARET BALL

Metcalf and Madeleine Crump

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Lance and Jennifer Kruchten

Jane and Mark Harris with Jennie Helm RSVP

Mary Fortney, Meredith Matthews and Mary Margaret Moore

Carolyn Ashmun, Staten Smith and Sophie Dunavant

EVENT

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LES PASSEES CABARET BALL

Jennifer, Lauren and Don Lasseter

Steve and Lura Turner with Jeannie and Marvin Smith

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K I T T I E Kerry and Lisa Walker with Nancy and Kip Klepper

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Vox Popular Q&A with Nicole Jordan

his month, Miss Tennessee Nicole Jordan, who is a Memphis native, will venture to the Miss America pageant at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas for her chance to win the coveted crown. On the go with constant preparations, Jordan roughly spends one night a week at her house, with the rest of her schedule spent traveling for speaking engagements, volunteer efforts and training. She managed to come through Memphis in December to help open Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital new gift shop, “Branches-Gifts in Bloom,” and that’s just where RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Jordan for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Not since 1996 has a Miss Tennessee come from Memphis, so tune in to ABC on January 15 to cheer on a hometown favorite, and a woman filled with poise, a maturity beyond her years, an amazing singing voice and a passion for philanthropy.

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Jordan: I did, but I didn’t because as much as I knew I wanted to be Miss Tennessee, I was entering my first year in college and really wanted that experience, too. I also knew, just from knowing several Miss Tennessees, that the job was more than I could have handled as a 17-year-old. You know, you’re by yourself pretty much 24/7 until you get to whatever city wherever you have an engagement, have to stay organized and be so flexible to be able to just speak in public at the drop of the hat and talk about something you may not know much about. There were a lot of things I had to learn before I knew I’d be ready. I won talent and won nonfinalist this and that, so I felt like I was on the right track but deep down knew I wasn’t ready for the job because it really is a job. The week of Miss Tennessee is very stressful and definitely a competition, but once that week is over, it’s just you and the lives you have the chance to affect. If you’re not prepared for the entire year, then you’re in trouble. RSVP: Who or what do you draw inspiration from when you’re on stage at competitions? Jordan: Emotionally, I draw from my family because they understand how I got here. They’re amazing. You asked a minute ago if I ever thought about not competing, and there was one year that I did, and I thought, “My heart’s not in it this year, and I know I’m not ready for the job.” My dad said, “Nicole, do you think NBA and NFL players gain anything if they sit out a year?” Of course, it’s a sports analogy. He said, “Every time you’re on that stage, you’re going to gain an experience and learn something from it.” So, I went ahead and competed that year. My family has never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do by any means, but they’ve been able to keep me on track and help me make decisions that get me to my goals. Performance wise, my favorite performer is Kristin Chenowith. She’s in films and started on Broadway, and she’s a phenomenal singer who has been on “Glee” a lot. She’s someone whose lifestyle I admire, along with her vocal talent. She was also first runner-up in the Miss Oklahoma pag-

eant when she was my age. RSVP: Which one of your qualities do you feel is most appealing to pageant judges? Jordan: I just think I’m real. What you see is what you get. What I love about the Miss America system is that I don’t think it’s as much of a beauty pageant; it’s about how you carry yourself in general. For me, when I go in the interview room, I just want the judges to see that I can relate to people and that I have a heart of service, and to me that’s what the job of Miss America and Miss Tennessee is about. RSVP: I know you’re involved with several nonprofits, so can you highlight your work with those? Jordan: My personal platform is America’s Promise Alliance. I’ve been working really closely with the national headquarters in D.C. this year, and they’re basically on standby hoping I’m Miss America and that they can take it even further with me. I’ve been able to really tailor my message…actually, the funding for the Department of Education’s Character Counts! and Drug Free Tennessee was dropped in 2010, so for a while, we didn’t know what we were going to do because we didn’t have the money to finance me going around and talking to the schools. Thankfully, Kirkland’s has picked it up, so I’m able to still do my school tours with them sponsoring me. But, at first we didn’t know what we were going to do or how we were going to go about it, so I’ve actually had a greater opportunity because normally I would be speaking on drug and alcohol abuse, but I’ve been able to take my platform even further and talk to those kids about what I’ve been working for. It was a blessing in disguise, and all the financing has worked out perfectly. So, America’s Promise Alliance has five promises [“Caring Adults,” “Safe Places,” “Effective Education,” “Opportunities to Help Others” and “A Healthy Start”], and they’ve just launched a campaign called Grad Nation, which puts an emphasis on getting every teenager to graduate from high school. We truly believe that if we Photos by Steve Roberts

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RSVP: Before being crowned Miss Tennessee in June 2010, you’d competed twice previously for the title, so I was wondering if you ever felt like giving up?

Jordan: It all got started when I was at the residential part of Youth Villages at their location in Bartlett. My wheels got to turning when I visited because I saw several kids on a track running and noticed some had flip-flops and other shoes that definitely weren’t tennis shoes. I knew these kids were trying to implement a healthy lifestyle, but half of them didn’t have the right necessities to do that. I had heard through a friend who works with ASICS that every time something gets stolen from a load or every time they miscount something on their semis, they can’t use the entire load and have to throw the shoes away. ASICS is one of the best tennis shoe companies and has great footwear, so I thought that was devastating they have to throw all these shoes away because there are so many kids out there and disadvantaged people who don’t have tennis shoes. I decided then to write a letter

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19 RSVP

RSVP: What are the philanthropic programs you’ve established on your own?

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can implement just one of those promises in a child’s life that he or she will have a better chance at success. I feel like everything I do as Miss Tennessee or as Nicole Jordan all works under America’s Promise Alliance. For example, working here at Le Bonheur is “Caring Adults” and one of the “Safe Places.” That’s two of the promises right there. Other organizations I’ve worked with through America’s Promise Alliance are Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Youth Villages. America’s Promise Alliance actually has over 400 nonprofit organizations underneath them, so they’ve been my support to get into those organizations. Miss America’s partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network, so like Le Bonheur, it’s involved with “Caring Adults,” and it’s “Effective Education” and involved with “A Healthy Start.” It all works together, and I’m really fortunate to work with America’s Promise Alliance.

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E A S T M E M PH I S A E S T H E T I C S

to the CEO of ASICS in California, and I told him what I wanted to do with those shoes that get thrown away. He was so generous that he said, “Every single load that we get from now own that can’t be sold, I’ll send to our distribution center in Memphis, so you can hand them out as you wish.” That was the biggest accomplishment to me to think that he was entrusting these shoes to me, and now I’ve been able to give over $120,000 in in-kind donations from ASICS, which is about 20,000 pairs of shoes, to kids and adults. I sent some to Nashville to help people out after the flood, and others have gone to organizations like the Salvation Army and Youth Villages. Youth Villages is really kind of my priority because that’s where it all started and where I got the idea, so every year for Christmas, those kids living at Youth Villages open up a pair of ASICS tennis shoes. The name of the ASICS shoe drive is “Shoes for Souls.” I’ve also worked on a program called “Girl Talk,” which is a program where I sit down with young girls and talk to them about things like relationships with boys and parents and how the decisions they make today can affect the rest of their lives. Recently, I’ve had to add in sexting to my topics because it’s such an issue. I’ve spoken at the Boys & 20 Girls Club, Youth Villages, to a lot of cheerleading teams and to a girls’ camp. RSVP: How do your preparations for Miss America compare to those for Miss Tennessee? Jordan: I just thought I worked hard for Miss Tennessee, but that was nothing compared to Miss America. You know, it’s such a journey and obviously something I’ll never go through again. The people who know me and have been able to be with me through this entire process are in awe of what I do every day. They laugh because I’ve got to practice things like walking in a swimsuit while wearing heels, which doesn’t come naturally to me and shouldn’t to anyone else, for that matter. Then, you’ve got to practice your talent and interview skills…really, the pageant is won in the interview room because if they like you in the interview, they’ll be forgiving in every other category. I don’t have to know every answer, but a lot of times I feel like I do. It’s one thing to understand an issue, but it’s another thing to have a politically correct sound bite answer to every sticky subject. To prepare for that and be able to sum up how you feel pretty quickly is hard sometimes. Interviewing is a good skill to have, and that’s one reason my parents have encouraged me in this organization. In the beginning, my dad thought this was an expensive hobby, and then he started realizing it was helping shape me into a better person. I have paid them back though by earning $50,000 in scholarships through

what is it?

Jordan: I leave on January 5. Preliminaries start on January 10, and the show starts on January 11.

It is definitely a small wor word; d; elusive, indefinable but so very desirable. You Y ou know it when you see it. You don’t. Y ou either have it or you don’ t.

RSVP: How will you measure your success at the pageant?

RSVP: Who will be on the Miss America judging panel? Jordan: Talk show host Joy Behar, Tony Dovolani from “Dancing with the Stars,” actress and fitness guru Marilu Henner, country music singer Mark Wills, “Desperate Housewives” executive producer Marc Cherry, shoe designer Taryn Rose and past Miss America Debbye Turner Bell. RSVP: What do you think the number one lesson will be that you take away from your pageant days? Jordan: This year as Miss Tennessee, I’ve learned more about who I am and where I stand than any other year in my life. I feel like I will have walked away from this year feeling more confident, stronger in my beliefs and much more independent than I’ve ever been. RSVP: What comes next if you win Miss America? Jordan: I’ll be ready for another joy ride I guess!

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Jordan: I was talking to my dad the other day and said, “Most likely in every area of my life, there’s always going to be someone better. There’s going to be someone better in talent, someone better in swimsuit, but I’m going to go and not be outworked. They can be better than me all day long, but I know that I will have worked just as hard or harder than everybody.” If I don’t ever say “I should have,” then I’ll feel like I’ve been successful.

21 RSVP

RSVP: When do you head to the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas?

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the organization, and everything as Miss Tennessee is paid for thankfully.

STREETSEEN

Javonta Charles A Force to Be Reckoned With

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part from his former days as a so-called street fighter, Javonta Charles had a lot of work cut out for him two years ago, when he began molding himself into a competitive boxer. Looking at him now, one would assume that the heavyweight contender on the newly formed Memphis Force (an amateur boxing franchise in the World Series of Boxing league) has transitioned into the sport nicely, but to get to where he is today, he had to put up a fight. “When I was incarcerated, it was a dream to me to become a boxer,” he tells. “Then, when I got out, I realized that the little jobs I did paid less than I would get in a dice game, so that’s when I decided to really give boxing a shot.” That fateful decision motivated Charles enough to run from where he was staying on Winchester and Goodlett all the way to the Mid-South Fairgrounds boxing gym for a chance to try boxing. The run to the gym took about an hour, in the August heat no less, but it was well worth any discomfort as Charles got connected with Pete Mitchell, his personal coach and mentor. When the two first met, Charles was shocked to hear Mitchell trying to dissuade him from boxing. No words could shake Charles’ drive though, so Mitchell gave him two weeks of intense training to see if the boxing hopeful could hack it. Charles laughs, “I swear Pete was trying to kill me those first two weeks.” Not only did Charles pass the test, but he began winning some bouts and fighting in the open division. He does remember the first time he lost, which he attributes to getting mad. From that day on, he made a pact to keep his composure in the ring. For him, boxing is more mental than physical anyway. “As long as your mind believes it, your body is going to do it,” he shares. Training as hard as he could, Charles earned a spot on the 2009 USA Boxing National Team as a heavyweight. That year, he also came out a semifinalist at the National Golden Gloves Championships, the USA Boxing National Championships and the National PAL Championships. Faced with the decision in 2010 of whether or not to turn pro, Charles realized he could stay an amateur, while boxing in a professional team format, if he joined the Memphis Force. So, since mid-October of last year, Charles has been practicing alongside a strong group of athletes, including three Olympians, at the Fogelman Downtown YMCA and fighting at the DeSoto Civic Center as part of the team. Charles was glad to see that the first home match was met with great response, and he hopes to see the fanbase grow with the remaining four home matches, beginning on January 15 against Mexico City. He smiles, “I’m always looking forward to a fight because it’s my time to shine.” Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

STREETSEEN

Grayson Smith Tree Reader

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es, Grayson Smith can read trees, but not the kind rooted in the ground. As a graphologist, Smith observes trees drawn on paper by numerous men and women who seek his services for character analysis. Various shapes, sizes and colors of trees reveal different qualities or maybe even a long-forgotten friend, and it’s all up to Smith to decipher the hidden meanings behind pieces of artwork that appear as only that to the untrained eye. What intrigued Smith, who is also the president of the Memphis Story Tellers League, a magician and a professional speaker, about tree readings was learning that communicators had found them a more concrete indicator of someone’s character than handwriting, since penmanship can change depending on mood or time of day. Smith then immersed himself into learning tree reading’s finer points, such as what constitutes a celebratory tree versus a protective tree, what it means when a rendering appears more horizontal than vertical and how choice of drawing device can play into a depiction. Smith says, “The interpretations come from the left brain and the right brain and are amazingly accurate.” He admits some are hesitant at first to let a complete stranger delve into personal aspects of their lives, but Smith has a way of putting people at ease by reminding them they can’t do anything wrong in this exercise. Once he’s established trust, he starts going to work on a drawing, interpreting things like the trunk, root structure, leaves, branches and notches. Though Smith can’t determine specifics from a hand-drawn tree, he says its features can help in figuring out a person’s tendencies, areas of interest or what’s on someone’s mind. On occasion, cherished family members or friends can sometimes come to light, bringing tears to people’s eyes. “I’m astounded at how insightful and dramatic readings are for people,” he says. Though he conducts tree readings under the guise of entertainment, Smith acknowledges they are serious and useful. Businesses have been known to hire him to come in to do readings on employees or potential hires to learn more about their personalities, including whether or not they’re honest. On the opposite spectrum, he holds a gig as the resident graphologist at the Memphis Botanic Garden for its Tuesdays on the Terrace Wine Tastings and does readings at charity events, restaurants and churches, going back to the time St. George’s Episcopal Church fittingly got him to do readings in conjunction with Arbor Day. Tree readings aside, Smith says all of his ventures provide the same ultimate payoff: the chance to get a one-on-one relationship with someone every day and put a twinkle in his or her eye. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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Sip Around the World

SIP AROUND THE WORLD

Wine Tasting

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Heather Golden and Jennifer Stover

Beth and Mark Jennings

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ith the help of the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee, one of the state’s largest wine tastings took place right here in Memphis. Dubbed Sip Around the World, the event turned 16 in November, and oh how sweet the occasion was with more than 300 wines from some 100 wineries. The sipworthy fun unfolded at the Memphis Botanic Garden, which was chock full of 1,400 wine lovers and their discerning palates. Ready to test out the goods, guests quickly snatched up their complimentary tasting glasses and dispersed to stands set up in Goldsmith Auditorium, the main ballroom and every hallway inbetween. Athens Distributing Company once again supplied wine selections that represented Argentina, Austria, California, Chile, France, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, South Africa and Spain, to name a few. Several representatives from the distributor were even on hand to guide inquisitive tasters’ selections. Standing near table two, Ford Coleman of Athens Distributing suggested to several ladies, “I recommend you start with the Gosset Grande Reserve Champagne to cleanse your palate.” At a retail price of $70 a bottle, why not? As the night wore on, guests found that pacing their pours had become a challenge, but remembering which wines had been sampled wasn’t since organizers had provided a nifty program of all the featured wines. Table numbers, retail prices and product descriptions were each included in the handout. Other welcomed accompaniments were a Champagne Lounge for VIPs and an appetizer spread of mini shots of cucumber soup, fruit and cheeses and an assortment of two-bite desserts. Illuminated ice sculptures, bearing the foundation’s logo, and arrangements by Holliday’s Florist completed the beautiful tablescapes. When not imbibing or feasting, partygoers enjoyed tunes by the Ernest Williamson Trio and Disc Jockeys etc. and perusing a silent auction filled with goodies donated by area restaurants, retailers, wine shops, hotels, theaters and photographers. Funds raised from the silent auction and ticket sales go toward programs and services provided by the NKFWT to help dialysis and transplant patients in the West Tennessee area.

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Donald Biggs and Chrissy Marola

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Tony Kreager and Maria Wedaman

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The T he Best in Business Never Settle for Second Best For your For your Executive Executive MBA, choose the only school of businesss in Memphis fully ac busines accredited credited b by y the AACSB AACSB — the pr premier emier ac accrediting crediting agenc agency y and leading authority ffor or MBA pr programs. ograms. T The he Univ University ersity of Memphis Fogelman F ogelman C College ollege of Busines Businesss & Economics Economics offers offers a w world-class orld-class educa education tion tha thatt emphasiz emphasizes es global leadership leadership.. Our ffall-to-fall all-to-fall EMBA pr program ogram has de developed veloped the area’s ar ea’s bes bestt e executive xecutive talent for for over over three three decades. Enr Enrolling olling c could ould be your your best best move move towards towards achieving achieving all y your our car career eer ambitions. Applications are Applications are currently currently being accepted accepted for for the incoming inc oming Clas Classs of 2012. 2012. For For more more information, information, call 90 901.678.4866 1.678.4866 or visit emba.memphis.edu. emba.memphis.edu.

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Every child is naturally creative. With the right support and encouragement, that creativity can blossom and lead to a lifetime of discovery. At St. Mary’s Episcopal School, our unique curriculum gives girls the confidence to take risks, allowing them to grow into curious, self-assured young women ready to face all the challenges of life. To find out how St. Mary’s can foster your daughter’s creativity and individuality, contact our Admission Office at 901-537-1405. Or email us at admission@stmarysschool.org. Ngan Vo, Julie Martin and Alex Centeno

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Holiday Extravaganza

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Spreading Christmas Cheer

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Kevin Grothe and Betty Musarra

Paulo and Priscilla Teixeira

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t was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the annual Holiday Extravaganza benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. From the swirling of frosty winds outside to the warmth of music and spirits inside, the season of giving got off to a magnificent start in early December at the Pink Palace Museum. Guests in business suits, fur-trimmed coats, holiday finery and warm wraps arrived bearing unwrapped toys for the BGCM’s children and other groups that benefited from the party. More than 200 gifts, ranging from children’s books to scooters, were collected and placed underneath a towering, lighted tree in the palace’s dramatic, marble foyer. Off to the side, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and a couple of mischievous-looking elves in short red dresses stood by to pose for photos and to hear holiday wishes. Amazingly, no one seemed to be on Santa’s Naughty List. On occasion, a hearty “HoHo-Ho” floated over the crowd’s conversations. Back in the palace’s large event room, the Memphis band Party Planet, with guitar, bass, keyboard and a screaming sax, got things swinging with pop and dance hits from the last several decades like The Drifter’s “Under the Boardwalk” and a heartfelt rendition of the Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There.” Guests took to the dance floor or listened from tables on the sidelines while enjoying a number of Draper’s Catering goodies, such as chicken and pork satay, fried spring rolls, stuffed grape tomatoes and potato skins. Others sipped cocktails while winding their way through the many vacation packages in the silent auction. About 300 people attended in all, despite the cold, and raised more than $50,000 in donations at the door—surpassing totals raised in previous years—all of which will go toward making the season merry and bright for numerous Mid-South children, ages 6-18, served by BGCM’s six clubs. The only thing missing was the sound of sleigh bells and hoofs landing atop the mansion, but unfortunately the children—and adults—would have to wait a little bit longer for that.

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Lucy Higginbotham and Jennifer Giles

Story by Jonathan Devin Photos by Don Perry

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Rediscover a 35 year Memphis tradition!" Featuring Local Artists: Paul Edelstein N.J. Woods Frank Dyer, Dave Keigan and Allyson Dyer

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The Boa Ball

THE BOA BALL

“Red Tie Affair”

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Pete and Diane Tchouros

Laura and Jack Sherman

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hough red attire prevailed at The Boa Ball, many guests put their own spin on outfits by donning boas and ties in various hues and styles, including boas made out of fur and those of the feathery variety. The event where fabulous accessories ruled came about thanks to the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross, which wanted to make its “Red Tie Affair” even bigger and better the second time around, according to Kim Motschman Cribb, the nonprofit’s community development and public affairs manager. “We wanted to appeal to a broader group of people and grow this event to where it should be,” she said. The boa theme worked, roping in 350 guests to Central Station for an evening dedicated to raising funds to offset the American Red Cross’ costs for disaster relief to the Memphis area. The yearly average spent in the community on disaster relief averages $1,000,000, making the need to bid high and often in the silent and live auctions all the more prevalent. Unique items like two adorable puppies donated by Puppy Love Memphis, a salt-and-pepper king snake, a kid’s party at the Memphis Botanic Garden and a Treesje leather handbag from Oak Hall that had been stuffed with cash made the bidding experience even more enticing. Being that 92 percent of the services offered by the American Red Cross are volunteer driven, organizers also set up Prepare, Prevent and Respond (PPR) Stations. With PPR Party Passports in hand, ladies and gents roamed to each of the three stations to get their passports stamped to be entered into a drawing for a gift bag and, of course, to learn beneficial skills and information. Stations, manned by volunteers, offered the following: compressions only CPR (Prevent Station), tornado safety (Prepare Station) and Red Cross in Action/Disaster Action Team stats (Respond Station), like the number of families assisted after fires last year. ServiceMaster Clean served as presenting sponsor for The Boa Ball, which featured performances by Brennan and the Boys and The Bouffants, as well as food tastings from JG’s Trattoria, Rendezvous, Flying Fish, Side Street Grill, Café Society, Felicia Suzanne’s and Coletta’s Restaurant. By the time the last red tie came undone, $34,000 had been raised to benefit the programs and services delivered by the local Red Cross.

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Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Nathan Berry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP David and Sara Brawner

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By Dennis Phillippi

2010, IT COULD’VE BEEN WORSE

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ikes, what a year. How will 2010 go down in history? Well, for one thing, there’s the whole WikiLeaks thing. This isn’t the kind of topic I would normally even think about addressing here, because I’m not very bright, informed or even interested, but I can’t lay off the idea that someone releasing a bunch of cables between diplomats is an Armageddon. Diplomacy is lying. Sorry if that comes as news to anyone. Think about it: the last time someone recommended to you that you be diplomatic, they were telling you to lie. “Be diplomatic about her new haircut” means lie about her new haircut. Diplomats are in the business of telling one another what they want to hear, while trying to forward their individual agendas. That pretty much sounds like every relationship I have. I was lucky enough, or bored enough, to be a part of one of the big events of this year when I traipsed to Washington, D.C. to witness the Rally to Restore Sanity. That will be remembered as a huge, hilarious failure. Sanity clearly has not been restored. There may well be more looniness than ever. Al Franken is a United States senator. “Glee” is a huge hit. Millions of teenaged girls still think vampires are cute. People got very worked up about the new, invasive, you-better-buy-me-dinner-first, security measures in airports. No one wants to be intimately patted down by an angry guy wearing a nametag. Um…I have two words for you: underpants bomber. Sure, the guy was a nut, and a failure, but he did have a bomb in his underpants. Just because terrorists are generally boobs, it doesn’t mean they’re going to stop trying. Your wedgies equal my safety, so clam up about it. Think of it as a friendly grope from the government. My favorite kook of the year was also airline related; he is Steven Slater, the world’s craziest flight attendant. For future generations who stumble onto this column on some obscure byway of the Interwebs, Slater was attending, by which I mean serving drinks and being surly, on a Jet Blue flight when he snapped. One passenger too many had refused to buckle his seatbelt, or return his seat to the full upright position or complained about the fact that airlines always have tomato juice,

which no one drinks, and never V8, and he went bananas. He screamed obscenities at the passengers, grabbed a couple of beers off the beverage cart–something I would be shot by air marshals for doing–and then deployed the emergency slide and rode his way down it and into history. You pick your heroes; I’m going with Slater. Sports were as strange as it gets in 2010. The World Cup was held in South Africa and somehow didn’t become a massive disaster. Unless, of course, you consid-

Your wedgies equal my safety, so clam up about it. er the introduction of the vuvuzela as a massive disaster, which I do. The world came together and watched…um…some country beat another to win the coveted cup. I guess. I tuned out after the first vuvuzela. But, hey, no one got blown up, so that’s a win for everyone. My New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl, and the earth didn’t crack open and swallow life as we know it, which is what all Saints fans had assumed would happen had they won. So, that’s another win. The Yankees didn’t win the World Series. That’s a win. Speaking of baseball, in a year when pitchers seemed to be throwing perfect games every few days, the best story was the perfect game that wasn’t. Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers, a truly good guy, took a perfect game to the last batter and got him to ground out to get the final out. Unfortunately, the first base umpire, James Joyce, blew the

call. Everyone but the unlikely named Joyce knew he had blown the call. I knew he had blown the call, and I was drunk. Galarraga knew he had blown the call, but instead of going nuts like his teammates and coach, he did the unthinkable: he laughed. He saw the absurdity of it and accepted it. Joyce was defiant leaving the field, but then he saw the replay and did the impossible; he admitted his mistake and apologized. Umpires don’t do that. They obfuscate and hide behind their union. Joyce shed tears. He hugged Galarraga when the suddenly famous pitcher brought out the lineup for the next day’s game. Sportsmanship at the major league level had to happen sometime. LeBron James gut-punched the already reeling city of Cleveland and promptly went from being beloved to reviled. The only winner in that story was Tiger Woods, who got bumped off of the number one knucklehead standing. I frequently admitted to having an embarrassing man crush on LeBron before this happened, but he’s, you know, dead to me. Some stories were feel good, some were saddening and exhausting and then there were the Chilean miners. Thirtythree guys trapped underground for 10 weeks somehow managed to keep their spirits up, stay alive and not go as crazy as a Jet Blue flight attendant. The world watched as the men were eventually reached by a tiny tunnel and then a slightly larger tunnel, through which they were lifted to the surface. The word “hero” gets tossed around far too much, but these guys are the real thing. An umpire admitting his mistake is a swell fella, but not a hero. Thirty-three guys surviving a mine explosion and 10 weeks in the hole, those are heroes. Plus, one of them is an avid Elvis fan, so Memphis gets a gold star, too. All in all, a pretty good year. Unless you live in Cleveland.

Dennis Phillippi, your recount of 2010 is much appreciated in this office since we have a hard time digging ourselves out of the party scene. As you learn of any breaking news this year, please inform us as soon as possible, and we’ll send the RSVP chopper over for “Dennis Phillippi Live.” Then, we’ll have something new to gab about at social functions.

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Harwood Center Food and Beer Tasting Signature Chefs Auction Woman’s Exchange Christmas Open House Enchanted Forest Preview Party

Johnnie and Shasta Blue at Enchanted Forest Preview Party

Patti and Erling Jensen at Signature Chefs Auction

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick and Suzanne Thompson Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick, Larry Kuzniewski and Suzanne Thompson

Brad and April Britt with Melissa and Brian Jones at Signature Chefs Auction

Michael Uiberall, Jill Shanker and Mitch Hodus at Harwood Center Food and Beer Tasting

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Judy and Mickey McLellan at Enchanted Forest Preview Party

Dr. Kenan and Kate Clinton at Harwood Center Food and Beer Tasting

41 RSVP

Tony and Kathy Ferrara at Enchanted Forest Preview Party

ith temps getting lower, it was time for a sampling of fall’s lagers and ales at the sixth annual Harwood Center Food and Beer Tasting. Southwestern Distributing Company supplied suds ranging from trappist ales to fruit beers, and food vendors on the scene included Advance Brands, the Hi-Tone Café, Just for Lunch, Raffe’s Deli and Beer Garden, Rendezvous and The Half Shell. Chickasaw Oaks Village housed the fundraiser that benefited children with special developmental needs at the Harwood Center. More than 20 of the city’s finest chefs flaunted their finest at Hilton Memphis during the 21st annual Signature Chefs Auction. Guests were greeted at the door with Champagne and ushered into the wine tasting and silent auction area, which contained nearly 400 items. After sampling savory selections from chefs’ tables, partygoers participated in a spirited live auction. By night’s end, the auction committee had exceeded its fund-raising goal by collecting more than $235,000 for the March of Dimes. The Woman’s Exchange Christmas Open House marked the grand opening of the group’s much-anticipated Christmas Shop. Set up each year inside the Woman’s Exchange Tea Room, the store offers lots of handmade holiday decorations and home accessories, with sales benefiting the Woman’s Exchange programs that “help others help themselves.” Sylvia Cochran chaired the open house, and Nancy Masterson and Debbie Baker served as co-chairs of consignor items. It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Pink Palace with the TWIGS of Le Bonheur’s Enchanted Forest Preview Party underway. Mansion doors opened to reveal a mesmerizing tree display called Festival of Trees,” a “H Holidays Around the World” “F display, a train and gingerbread village display and the Enchanted Forest.” More than 500 patrons beloved “E enjoyed the ambiance, as well as commemorative handpainted wine glasses decorated by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital cardiac patients and tasty hors d’oeuvres donated by area restaurants. Another interesting feature Bubbles and Baubles,” which entailed guests givwas “B ing $10 donations to Le Bonheur for a glass of Champagne and a chance to win a ring from Mednikow. The gift of giving was alive this night, resulting in event proceeds around $17,000 for Le Bonheur.

Carole Feisal, Gail Mitchell and Laurie Monypeny at Woman’s Exchange Christmas Open House

Sylvia Cochran and Nancy Masterson at Woman’s Exchange Christmas Open House

RSVPAST

An Undefeated Season

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1960

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he South Side Scrappers football team of 1960 was remarkable in that the team was not only the undefeated city champ, but several of the players went on to play college and pro football. Scrappers’ games were always sold out with crowds one sees at college games. In November of last year, teammates reunited for a 50th reunion. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSHA FLETCHER, WIFE OF THE TEAM’S QUARTERBACK, BILLY FLETCHER, WHO WENT ON TO STAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS AND THE DENVER BRONCOS. 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.

RSVPMAGAZINE.COM

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RSVP Magazine 2011