RSVP Magazine July 2008

Page 1

July

2008

Crown & Sc ep tre Coro na tio n Ball G i f t o f L i fe G a l a Safa ri SoirĂŠe R e n d e z vo u s a t t h e D i xo n

BMW 2008 The new 5 Series

bmwusa.com

We decided to make a few tweaks. SIRIUS Satellite Radio for whatever soundtrack suits the drive.*

iPod/USB enabled: Control all your music through steering wheel audio controls.*

HD radio delivers CD-like sound quality and multiple channels of nocost digital programming.*

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go works in peak traffic for more relaxed cruising.*

Navigation System with Real Time Traffic Information so nothing interferes with your drive.* Head-Up Display helps keep your eyes on the road.* A more refined interior provides a premium feel that envelops the driver.

Your choice of automatic or six-speed manual on all models at no added cost.

Lane Departure Warning System helps keep you in your lane.*

Redesigned rockers add a more sculpted appearance.

Xenon Adaptive Headlights offer better visibility.**

550i equipped with Valvetronic. Allows engine to breathe more easily, providing power and fuel efficiency.

Active Roll Stabilization virtually eliminates body roll, providing sportier handling.

Six-speed Sport Automatic Transmission with paddle shifters for F1-inspired driving.*

Night Vision enhances safety and security by displaying what you normally wouldn’t see.*

528 xi and 535 xi models come standard with all-wheel drive. 535i: A 300-hp inline six with twin turbos delivers 300 lb-ft of torque.

550i equipped with a 360-hp 8-cylinder power plant.

The 2008 BMW 5 Series. In the newly sculpted 535i Sedan, our inline six with twin turbos has been enhanced to an unprecedented 300 horsepower. While the 550i Sedan’s Valvetronic system allows the 360-horsepower V-8 engine to breathe easier. As a result, power and fuel efficiency are maximized in both of these engines. Of course, the 5 Series is loaded with refinements that add to the car’s driving dynamics, safety and sporty good looks. Why did we do so much? As an independent company, there’s no one to tell us otherwise.

405 N. Germantown Parkway • Memphis, TN • 866.387.0670 • (Just North of Walnut Grove Road) www.roadshowbmw.com ©2008 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.*Optional. **Optional on 528i.

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CONTENTS

Contents July 2008

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Charlie Ryan The man who promotes everything “Memphis” served as the founding president of the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and the Cooper-Young Business Association and was the former regional general manager for Ticketmaster.

Crown & Sceptre Coronation Ball . . . . . . . . . . .16

16 CROWN & SCEPTRE CORONATION BALL Jennifer and Don Lasseter

Frivolity and philanthropy were abundant at Carnival Memphis’ grand affair held at the Hilton Memphis hotel.

Gift of Life Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 The National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee honored Dr. Santiago Vera with a black-tie dinner in The Peabody’s Grand Ballroom.

41 HOMESTYLE A Model of Evolving Tastes Bradford Collier and Anthony Shaw

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 & 30 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention. JULY 2008

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Q&A with Dr. Kathy Mitchener, certified veterinary acupuncturist and the first to perform veterinary stem cell transplants in the Memphis area.

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 & 44

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22 GIFT OF LIFE GALA Werner and Rose Providence

A professional dancer for 17 years, she moved back home and opened New Ballet Ensemble to inspire and create opportunities for local dancers. He’s spreading the word about cricket and plans to equip a younger generation with the skills for what he calls the “thinking man’s sport.” StreetSeens spotlights Katie Smythe and Joe Schmulian.

Homestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

52 SAFARI SOIRÉE Frank and Mindy Roberts

Filled with lots of personal treasures mixed with high style, this house reflects the owners’ mission to stay ahead of the trends.

RSVPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 A trek across the city’s party landscape. .

Safari Soirée . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 The animals at the Memphis Zoo had some house guests over for an annual spring party.

Rendezvous at the Dixon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 This art haven opened its expansive gardens for a picnic with family appeal.

44 STREETSEEN Joe Schmulian

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Our humor columnist has dreams of heading to Capitol Hill…getting elected to public office is the tricky part.

Cover Photo Ron and Anise Belz at Safari Soirée Photo by Don Perry

56 RENDEZVOUS AT THE DIXON Rita, Gabrielle and Wes Kersey

Volume XIII

Number X

July 2008 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R

Jil Marcy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS

JULY 2008

Don Perry Steve Roberts SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Toni Ander son Amy Rice

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Libby Huff

RSVP Memphis is published monthly by Haithcock Communications, Inc. First class subscriptions are available for $75.00 per year. Send name and address with a check to: Haithcock Communications, Inc. 2282 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38104

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MARTHA ANN PHELPS - HARP NATHAN PHELPS - TRUMPET & CLASSICAL GUITAR Weddings, Receptions, Dinner Parties, Liturgical Music, Corporate Events marthaaphelps@comcast.net

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

rsvpmagazine.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785. e-mail editor@rsvpmagazine.com Copyright 2008 Haithcock Communications, Inc.

Don’t miss the Germantown Sidewalk Sale July 18 -20 at The Shops of Saddle Creek. For three days only you’ll find the final markdowns

JULY 2008

of summer, just in time for Back-to-School.

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Visit our collection of signature shops VÂœĂ€Â˜ĂŠUĂŠ “iĂ€ÂˆV>Â˜ĂŠ >vj Â˜Â˜ĂŠ/>ĂžÂ?ÂœĂ€ĂŠ ÂœvĂŒ ÂŤÂŤÂ?iĂŠUĂŠ >˜>˜>ĂŠ,iÂŤĂ•LÂ?ˆV

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40 Distinctive Shops & Restaurants *ÂœÂŤÂ?>ÀÊ>˜`ĂŠ7iĂƒĂŒĂŠ >Ă€Â“ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŒÂœÂ˜ĂŠ Â?Ă›`°ĂŠUĂŠ{ĂŠÂ“ÂˆÂ?iĂƒĂŠi>ĂƒĂŒĂŠÂœvĂŠ ‡Ó{äĂŠUĂŠ iÀ“>Â˜ĂŒÂœĂœÂ˜]ĂŠ/

901.761.7604 www.shopsofsaddlecreek.com

From the Editor

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JULY 2008

photo by Steve Roberts

hat if a hobby could become something more? Whether you crochet, kayak, garden, or play the guitar, these activities are undeniably an extension of you. Sometimes everyday responsibilities interrupt these personal outlets of expression, but a hobby always remains on standby to resume at your convenience. However, don’t underestimate the inherent value of time well spent because a favorite pastime might lead to a more fulfilling career or renewed sense of self. Need proof? I, for one, immersed myself in the art world during and after college, only to discover that environment wasn’t for me. Meanwhile, my joy of writing re-emerged. I hit the books again, sought professional journalists’ advice, and put pen to paper (or rather, my fingers to the keyboard). Many say you never forget how to ride a bike, but I think you never forget how to do anything you enjoy. The people featured in this month’s StreetSeens are much better examples of individuals who embraced their hobbies to the fullest. Katie Smythe was a dancer from the time she turned 3 and graced stages across the country and overseas as a professional dancer, but she now feels compelled to share her life-long passion with dancers who might not be as fortunate as some. Joe Schmulian is the second StreetSeen feature you’ll come across, and his story is just as interesting. He played competitive tennis in 11 countries and even advanced to three finals, but a chronic back injury took him out of competition. While Schmulian stills works as a tennis pro at a local club, he spends his nights and weekends playing cricket, a game he first loved as a child. Dr. Kathy Mitchener, the Vox Popular feature, grew up surrounded by animals—everything from gerbils to livestock— and subsequently became a veterinarian. However, she didn’t stop there. Dr. Mitchener pursued the field of veterinary acupuncture, and more recently became known for performing stem cell transplants that could change the way humans look at the procedure. Turn to page 35 before I spoil it for you! Summer’s finally here, so find a hobby if you’re lacking one…and remember, sitting in front of the air conditioner doesn’t count!

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Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

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SIGNATURE MEMPHIS

Charlie Ryan Entrepreneur/GRAMMY® Winner/Ticketmaster Partner/Developer

Last book you’ve read: Digital Destiny by Jeff Chester. Favorite album: Carrie Underwood’s “Some Hearts.” Favorite Memphis musician: Al Green. Where you take out -of -town guests: Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. One thing you can’t live without: My daughter, Kristi. Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome: Asthma. Your greatest achievement: Being a father. Childhood ambition: To be president. JULY 2008

First concert: Sam the Sham. Personal hero: Bill Moyers. Hobby: Hiking in the mountains. Your mantr a: Grow!

photo by Steve Roberts

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EVENT

Crown & Sceptre Coronation Ball

CROWN & SCEPTRE

arnival Memphis upholds its “Three C’s: Commerce, Community, and Celebration” with a year-long schedule of fund-raising activities and ceremonies, culminating in the Crown & Sceptre Coronation Ball. Revered by the king, queen, royal court, and members from the 10 Grand Krewes, Carnival’s grandest tradition turned 77 this year, with no plans of slowing down. Festivities abounded at the Hilton Memphis hotel, but the Carnival juggernaut, as King Howard Stovall called it, actually began this season when a committee of Grand Krewe and Carnival Memphis Association members chose to support three children’s charities: Carnival Memphis Kids Café (Memphis Food Bank), the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Harwood Center. Each organization will receive a donation from Carnival Memphis, which has raised more than $775,000 for children’s charities during the past nine years. In addition, the sixth annual Carnival Memphis 5K for Kids held in early May also provided another charitable outlet for philanthropists. The first Carnival parties celebrated the cotton crop, but the 77th Carnival saluted the Mid-South music industry. King Howard asked, “Where would music be in Memphis without W.C. Handy, BB King, and Elvis?” Point well taken! The Carnival Memphis Business and Industry Salute honorees this year were Isaac Hayes, David Porter, Willie Mitchell, Kallen Esperian, John Fry, Al Kapone, Archer Records, Ardent Studios, Beale Street Caravan, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., Jim Dickinson, Resource Entertainment Group, Select-O-Hits, Inc., Stax Music Academy, and Soulsville Charter School. As is customary, the Crown and Sceptre Coronation Ball presented some of society’s most respected men, women, and children. King Howard represented the House of Stovall, and Queen Peyton represented the House of Woodson. The Royal Pages escorted the new royalty to their thrones, which were flanked by members of the Royal Court of Carnival. Queen Peyton received a hearty response when she said, “I’m wearing a third generation dress, and I’m sitting beside a third generation king!” Dinner, dancing, and crowd-pleasing performances by the Millenium Maddness Fancy Trick Drill Team and Drummers of the South Drum Squad kept the party of nearly 1,000 guests busy well into the night. Until next year, keep practicing your “Hip, Hip, Hoorays!”

Carnival Memphis 2008

C

JULY 2008

Tracy Galfsky and Taylor Smith

Whitt Tucker and Taylor Crow

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

Thomas and Stacey Hussey

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry

Dana Pier and Maria Cowley

Barry and Debbie Marshall

Libby and Jonathan Zoghby

Mike Ashby and DeAnne Gammon

King Howard Stovall, Queen Peyton Woodson and Robert Barry

Sarah Faucheux and Josh Shelton

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EVENT CROWN & SCEPTRE

Martin, Debbie and Maddy Pryor with John Carr

JULY 2008

Johnny and Kim Pitts with Joanie and Michael Lightman

Tim and Cynthia Bowers

Cindy and David Gambrell

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Norma and Kem Wilson

Andrew Forsdick, Elliot Embry and George Nassar

Sara Swaney, Gil Uhlhorn and Grace Swaney

Julia and Rush O’Keefe

Greg, Mimi and Dan Gibson

EVENT CROWN & SCEPTRE

Karen and Kirk Johnston

Mary Elizabeth and Deborah Tipton

Andrew Boyd and Natalie Jones

JULY 2008

Jan and W.D. Mounger

Steve Zimmerman and Audrey McCleney

Misty and James Stamper

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Allan Chafin and Kim Smith

Dr. Shelly and Michael Thannum

Michael and Marcy McConnell with Mary Stewart and Burk Forester

Mike and Deborah Gibbs

Sarah Studdard, Boll Weevil and Heather Thomas

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EVENT

Gift of Life Gala

GIFT OF LIFE GALA

Benefiting the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee

T

JULY 2008

Courtney and Daniel Stanton

Angela and Tim Foster

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he Gift of Life Gala showcased the wonderful contributors behind the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee (NKFWT) with a program honoring Dr. Santiago Vera. This year, NKFWT advocates packed in the pizazz with a glamorous affair held in The Peabody’s Grand Ballroom. Not only did guests dress to the nines for this formal affair, but they learned the importance of becoming organ donors. NKFWT president Joanna Hudson urged everyone to look on their tables for organ and tissue donor cards and consider the benefits of filling one out. Hudson also highlighted the organization’s worthy mission to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases before mentioning previous Gift of Life Gala honorees: Dr. Sergio Acchiardo, Debbie Phillips, Dr. Barry Wall, and Terry and Mindy Fischer. Dr. Santiago Vera was presented as the 2008 Gift of Life Gala honoree for his dedication to saving the lives of those battling kidney disease. Originally from Venezuela, Dr. Vera has worked in Memphis a number of years as a transplant surgeon and constantly inspires his patients and co-workers, many of whom were in attendance. In a lighthearted tribute, a slide show of his family and work photos aired, and “Vera-isms” were joked about to resounding laughter. An especially touching moment came when the “Patches of Love” national donor family quilt panels were recognized. Two of the quilt’s 32 panels, with panel 23 hanging as a memorial square for Will Fischer, were displayed at the party as a tribute to organ donors. Since 1995, more than 2,000 families have contributed a square to the quilt, which is part of a rotating exhibit throughout the country. Guests heartily applauded these donor families as well as several organ donors and donor recipients present who were asked to stand—what an impact these brave individuals made! Ready to cut loose, guests took to the dance floor after dinner. The Soulsations entertained till the weary lingered home, but not without first getting guests to let their hair down. By the night’s end, more than $65,000 had been raised for NKFWT, an organization aiming to bring more lasting memories to those affected by kidney disease.

Andrew Thoreson and Kelly Ridder

Beba and Ricardo Heros

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Susan and Edwin Smith

Brooke Bonner and Brett Bonner Jr.

Chrissy and Dino Tashie

Anita and Dr. Santiago Vera with Barbara Parham

William and Elizabeth Sweet

The nights last longer in the glow of the moon.

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EVENT GIFT OF LIFE GALA

Shoji Suzuki with Asami Ishii and Jimmy Ishii

JULY 2008

Bill, Teresa and Price Bullock

Joe Torian and Marti Molton

Mindy and Terry Fischer

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Maria and Claudio Tombazzi

Mary Hansom, Margaret Anne Brickey and Debby Thompson

Omar and Shawnelle Davis

Dr. Jonathan Ellichman and Kim Guy

Gail King, Brenda Beavers and Lee Ann McCain

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JULY 2008

Amber Curry with Steve, Madison and Kim Roberts at Blues Icons Show

he Grand Krewe of Ptah Coronation took place in a fairy tale Venetian setting—complete with a bridge, canal, and a gondola–inside the Clark Opera Memphis Centre. Queen Kristi Keller and King Charles Stewart received their royal titles at the masked ball filled with krewe members eager to celebrate the crowning of their royal court. David Benstein emceed, and The Plaintiffs performed well into the night. Crawfish lovers flocked to Wagner Place on the Mississippi River banks for the annual Porter-Leath Chris Daniels, Nikki Hairrell, Nick Schifani and Betsy Batt at Porter-Leath Rajun Cajun Festival Rajun Cajun Festival. Red beans and rice were the easiest Cajun fare to sample, but determined kids and adults tried their best to successfully peel 500 pounds of free crawfish. Others partook in a gumbo cooking contest while zydeco and Cajun music blared in the background. All proceeds benefit the thousands of atrisk youth and families that Porter-Leath assists each year. Jim and Lucia Gilliland hosted a Planned Parenthood Reception at their home in honor of Planned Parenthood Federation of America chair Elena Marks. Event proceeds went toward women’s reproductive health care services. Earlier that day, Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, in collaboration Sharma Blocker, Janice Goldthreate, Lachette Meriweather with the Center for Research on Women and the and Charlotte Quarles at Porter-Leath Rajun Cajun Festival University of Memphis Women’s Studies Program, sponsored a luncheon at the U of M Holiday Inn. 29 The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society Mid-South Chapter held a fund-raiser at the Northwest Passage in the Memphis Zoo. Roger and Mar y Cole served as honorary chairs for an event that raised awareness of the National MS Society’s efforts to overcome MS through much-needed research. The MidSouth chapter currently supports more than 7,000 people diagnosed with this disease. Photographer Steve Roberts and painter George Hunt teamed up for a Blues Icons Show in the South Main Arts District. D’Edge Art and Unique Treasures displayed 13 of Hunt’s signature abstract blues paintings and 21 of Roberts’ black and white photographs of music legends like Eric Clapton and Ray Charles in an opening reception during the South Main Trolley Tour. Story and Photos Submitted and by Leah Fitzpatrick

Scott and Susan Plunkett, Gerry Finney and Nicole Fox at MS Society Awareness Party

Whitney Joiner, Chris Card and Morgan Card at MS Society Awareness Party

Cam Baker, Barbara Patronis, Marcy McConnell, Kristi Keller, Charles Stewart, Amber Roettgen and Kim Schwam at Ptah Coronation

Debbie Binswanger and Ann Hawkins at Planned Parenthood Reception

Edward Kaplan and Harmon Dunathan at Planned Parenthood Reception

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Sean Scates, Alicia Wright and Kim Buie at Memphis Greek Festival

he third annual Dishes for Wishes food extravaganza proved bigger and better than ever…Food Network watch out! Foodies packed in Felicia Suzanne’s for a three-hour taste test with eats by Automatic Slims, Majestic Grille, Rendezvous, EP Delta Kitchen, Stella, McEwen’s on Monroe, The Butcher Shop, Blue Monkey, Grill 83, and Felicia W illett of Felicia Suzanne’s. Cakes by Mom and Me donated sinfully good cupcakes. Dean and Linda Under wood chaired the delectable affair where guests donated more than $140,000 to assist the Make-A-Wish Foundation® with its goal of granting more than 270 wishes this year to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The Memphis Greek Festival commemorated 50 years this May and more than 100 years of Greek culture in the area. Event chair Nick Kour velis proudly welcomed supporters to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for a weekend chock full of festivities ranging from traditional Greek dancing to a marketplace of imported Greek wares. Of course, the food—all 8,000 skewers of pork souvlakia and 1,200 loaves of sweet bread—remained the big attraction. The festival even benefited Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and Youth Villages. Ompa! Seats for the Mediterranean Feast for 100 went fast with the 100-ticket cap, but every morsel of cuisine was savored. Pat and Lisa Shoptaw opened up their home and pool for the romantic dinner that had guests sampling Moroccan chicken salad, red pepper tabouli, tzatziki sauce, and filo nut cups. Angie Kirkpatrick prepared the meal that brought in happy diners and funding for The Exchange Club Family Center. Fashionistas soaked in runway trends at Hattiloo Theatre courtesy of The Good Life: Heavenly Bliss Fashion Show. Leshundra Finley of UCAN, a nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen youth through mentoring, education, and personal growth, organized the event to raise scholarship funds for the UCAN Image Development Program. All participating models volunteered their time for the sake of fashion and good will, as did local designers and stores including Lauren’s Custom Boutique, Rainbow Glam, Divine Rags, Mara Styles (inside L.R. Clothier), and Brown Tee’s. Clothing was available for purchase after the show, with a portion of proceeds benefiting UCAN. Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Dennis, Jean and Katie Long at Memphis Greek Festival

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Rinnie Wood, Lisa Shoptaw and Barbara King at Mediterranean Feast for 100

Mara Styles and Carlos Fifer at The Good Life: Heavenly Bliss Fashion Show

Shun Byerson and Codi Taylor at The Good Life: Heavenly Bliss Fashion Show

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VOX POPULAR

Vox Popular Q&A with Dr. Kathy Mitchener

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self-professed skeptic, Dr. Kathy Mitchener was surprisingly intrigued when she first learned about the successes of stem cell transplants performed on animals. The certified acupuncturist and founder of Angel Care Cancer Clinic for Animals believed in the procedure so much that she received credentials to perform the first veterinary stem cell transplant in the Memphis area. While embryonic stem cell use remains controversial, Dr. Mitchener takes another approach and derives stem cells from an animal’s own fat when she performs the surgury. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick sat down with the veterinarian as she demonstrated an acupuncture treatment on a St. Bernard and shared her enthusiasm for a cutting-edge medical technology. Dr. Mitchener gushed, “You can tell I can go on about stem cell transplants forever. If you give me another hour, I’ll make your ears fall off!”

RSVP: What are the different types of cancer you treat in animals here? Dr. Mitchener: We treat everything from the most common, which would be mast cell disease—as skin tumors in dogs—to lymphoma. We treat a lot of bone cancer (osteosarcoma). We treat a fair amount of cancer in different organs—liver is very common, spleen is very common, lung is very uncommon, tumors of the skin are very common— and perhaps the largest other group of cancer we treat are sarcomas,

Dr. Mitchener: The drugs haven’t changed. The doses haven’t changed. But I think the acceptance has changed. One of the things that has happened, and this is a very feminist statement, but I think with the introduction of a significant number of women into the veterinary community, we’ve seen an improvement in our communication skills and our ability to help people appreciate what it is they’re going to face. Most people come in this room, sit down, and think that no matter what they’re facing, it’s going to be horrible and evil, and their pet is going to lose all his hair, be miserable, and die a wretched death. When you sit down and define what the disease is and what it’s going to do and how it’s going to affect the animal, and what are the options and what do those entail, and what is surgery really like and what happens in surgery, and what is chemo really like in dogs, you help them to appreciate what the true risk of side effects and complications are. When I first started dealing with cancer, we just focused so hard on the cancer itself. RSVP: Do you treat other types of diseases affecting animals? Dr. Mitchener: We treat cancer here, and I’m also a certified acupuncturist at Pins & Needles in Midtown. So here, when we treat with acupuncture, we treat some cancer patients, but we also treat all sorts of other diseases: everything from allergies, kidney failure, arthritis, back disease, intestinal disorders. Just about everything that affects the body can be treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture uses the body to make things better. It works by affecting the nervous system. You train in all the traditional Chinese methodologies, and they apply whether you’re a person or an animal. I’m a Western doctor, and Western doctors need data and proof, but I look at it like this: What one system in the body makes you blink your eyes, take a breath, makes your heart beat, speeds your heart or slows your heart, makes your stomach empty, moves your muscles, and affects your joints? The

JULY 2008

RSVP: How have treatment options for cancer evolved since you opened the clinic?

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Dr. Mitchener: When I moved to Memphis, it was in 1988, and back then, specialty medicine and veterinary care was very limited to universities, so there weren’t many specialists. When I finished my residency and came back here as an oncologist doing cancer care primarily, I started by recruiting cases from local veterinarians in 1988 or 1989. My first year, I sent out letters to nearly everyone in the city, and I got one referral. But back then, most people believed that animals with cancer didn’t have a chance, and if they did have a chance, they were going to lead a horribly miserable life. Through the years, it’s taken education of the community, as well as education for veterinarians, to understand and appreciate that elderly care and cancer care can provide a good quality life and that it can be affordable and rational. It’s kind of been a slow, gradual process, and I’ve moved from veterinary clinic to veterinary clinic trying to build clientele. I ended up here [Angel Care Cancer Clinic for Animals] almost five years ago, and that’s when we officially opened and took care of cancer victims, with the goal being that we could provide quality, compassionate care. When you think about the love that an animal shares with you and that relationship, it’s much like a child before a child can communicate for himself, so it’s a very intuitive and intimate relationship. Most people, regardless of what disease they have to face—whether it’s arthritis, cancer, liver failure, heart failure—they really just want whatever time they have to be good time. What we’ve worked at here really hard is trying to develop strategies of care that increase the quality of life and that dignity of life in whatever time an animal has remaining.

which are tumors of connective tissue.

Photos by Don Perry

RSVP: When did you open the Angel Care Cancer Clinic for Animals?

VOX POPULAR

nervous system! If you can affect the nervous system, you can affect every organ system in the body, so that’s how acupuncture works.

Dr. Mitchener: I would say December 2007. RSVP: Do most animals respond well to acupuncture? RSVP: How does the procedure actually work? Dr. Mitchener: Most of them really aren’t nervous. They’ll relax, and most fall asleep during a treatment. Sometimes it will take a couple of times before the animal makes the connection. The other thing we do is kill the lights, run the fountains, and in the other office where I do only acupuncture, I also have music playing. The environment is really important. RSVP: Do you just use acupuncture on dogs and cats? Dr. Mitchener: Dogs, cats, and horses, and I’m dying for a cow because it works really well for downer cows. RSVP: Tell me about how you came to be involved with stem cell transplants on animals.

JULY 2008

Dr. Mitchener: When I started doing acupuncture, one of the very first things that became extremely apparent to me was that a lot of animals endure a lot more pain than family members and veterinarians are aware of, so I became more interested in pain mechanisms and physiology and understanding and appreciating how we can not only use acupuncture, but other modalities to treat pain. I went to the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management for their annual meeting in Montreal. I literally for three days immersed 36 myself in everything you can imagine about pain, and one of the lectures was about arthritis. One of the new technologies mentioned was this thing called a stem cell transplant. Now, I’m an oncologist, and I always love to try something else that no one else has even touched before, so I came home and did some more reading and research on the Internet and thought, This is too good to be true. I called the company that does the processing of the cells, and I said, “I want to talk to a live body. Give me two names.” One guy I talked to said to me, “Kathy, I know this sounds melodramatic, but this revolutionized my practice. We’re seeing 85 percent improvement in quality of life, mobility, flexibility, and geriatrics.” So, you have to go through a credential process, where you learn how to do it and understand in depth exactly what the procedure is all about. I then started quietly mentioning it to clients, and one of my clients had a dog that had such bad knees and arthritis. The dog reached a point where she couldn’t squat to use the bathroom, so she was losing her dignity. Her owners thought they were at the end of the rope for everything else they were doing, and with a lot of fear and trepidation because she’s very old, they agreed to do the stem cell transplant. Literally, three days after her transplant, she was using the bathroom on her own again. All we needed was that one case to really turn me around. We’ll do our eighth transplant tomorrow, and it’s not a huge number because it’s new, it’s a little scary, and it’s expensive—$2,600 to $3,500 is a lot of money. But in every dog, we see dramatic results within three to five days. RSVP

RSVP: When did you perform your first stem cell transplant?

Dr. Mitchener: The cells are turned on by the harvest process, and when you inject the cells into the joint intravenously, they find a location that’s crying out. Chemically, your body is always talking to itself, and it sends out chemical signals. So, the cells localize in the joint, and they’re like hmm…there’s lots of inflammation here, so we can shut that down. If there’s not good joint fluid, we can fix that. If the cartilage is destroyed, we can make that better. The cells can detect by signaling mechanisms what the needs are of the joint. It takes time, but you’ll gradually see improvement. Because they’re live cells and from that animal, they can’t be rejected. They literally reverse the process…the spiral downward is stopped. It’s very exciting. RSVP: Do you harvest the stem cells from the animal you’ll be performing the transplant on? Dr. Mitchener: Yes, from their fat. Right now in my body, there are literally millions and millions of stem cells, cells that haven’t decided what they’re going to do that are just sitting there waiting for an opportunity. For some reason, they’re not active. We take two tubes of fat, which is about two ounces of fat, and we’ll get somewhere between 60 and 100 million cells. The lab we send them to extracts those and sends us back however many doses we want. We do up to three joints and an IV dose, and the lab stores the others in case we need to go back to them in the future. RSVP: What’s the mechanism that turns the cells on? Dr. Mitchener: It’s when we extract them in the harvest process that turns them on. It kind of illustrates the power of the body over itself. The body wants to be well. RSVP: What are the risk factors in stem cell transplants? Dr. Mitchener: Anesthesia. It’s quick…I can do the surgery in 25 to 30 minutes and be done. Prior to the procedure, they get acupuncture to reduce their total pain burden, so they go into the procedure feeling a little bit better. RSVP: Where would you tell someone to do research if they were interested in having a stem cell transplant done for their animal? Dr. Mitchener: I would tell them to come sit down and chat with me first. We would want to make sure they’ve exhausted all of their other resources before trying this and want them to know why they’re using the stem cell transplant, and then plan a strategy for that particular patient and set goals.

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Katie Smythe Opening Doors for Dancers

JULY 2008

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hen RSVP last caught up with Katie Smythe, she had embarked on a mission to offer Memphians a professional standard of dance training, regardless of a student’s financial constraints. Not only has her school, New Ballet Ensemble (NBE), succeeded statistically, reaching more than 8,000 students through school performances and residency programs last year and 6,000 so far this year, the company found a spot to lay down its roots in Cooper Young. She smiled, “You can build a dream, but it does take passion!” The 14,500-square-foot NBE facility boasts impressive modern architecture and three studios, but Smythe, who serves as NBE’s artistic director, points out that the renovation equaled less than $100 per square foot. A capital campaign eased building expenses, and the Assisi Foundation recently issued a $100,000 challenge grant to support the on-going capital campaign, however NBE still needs donors to match the grant. Finances aside, the building’s presence creates awareness of the performing arts in the local community and instills a sense of pride in NBE students. Anywhere else the school performs or hosts a program feels just as comfortable, according to Smythe, who willingly shuttles a child home from a program if no other transportation is available. NBE teaching artists and company dancers can often be found in more than six Memphis public and Crittenden County schools and hosting live performances in places like Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library to encourage other aspiring dancers. Smythe became familiar with arts outreach programs in L.A., where she and fellow company members would perform 20-minute productions of Cinderella followed by crash courses of the five ballet positions in inner-city schools. After each performance, she remembers being awe-struck by the number of children posing questions. “These children were hungry for opportunity, much like children are here,” Smythe remarked. Combining diverse dancers in the studio is a positive for NBE says Smythe because each dancer begins to understand cultural differences first-hand, forging a mutual respect. Skillwise, dancers that come in with hip-hop backgrounds benefit from learning trained ballet dancers’ technique and vice versa. High quality instruction and resident teaching artists, like flamenco dancer Noelia Garcia Carmona from Barcelona and dancers from the Martha Graham Dance Company, are another great asset to the institution because students learn, practice, and develop a rigid work ethic in unison. “Dancing changes lives,” Smythe affirmed. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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Featured Home of Bradford Collier and Anthony Shaw

Left: Diverse patterns on plush fabrics keep the eyes entertained in the living room. The neutral walls and simple sisal floor covering become the springboard for bold artwork and a zesty style.

HOMES T YLE

HOMESTYLE

“W

e came to the front door and knew we wanted it,” says designer Bradford Collier, owner of B.W. Collier Interior Design, of his three-storey Georgian home in Midtown. His partner, jewelry designer Anthony Shaw added, “We loved the exterior presence—that’s what really got us.” Indeed, the gracious Southern majesty of the home with its soft rose brick and columnless molding are immediately endearing to passers-by, but the interior soon became a playground for the couple’s imagination. As they pieced together their diverse tastes, they unwittingly revived the true definition of the commonly heard term “eclectic.” “Eclectic” was first used to describe painters who borrowed from many different styles of art for their works. In the 18th century, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, led by Sir Joshua Reynolds, championed the mixing of motifs. In terms of design, though, eclecticism is relatively modern, and refers to the philosophy that if you have a fine piece of furniture, the piece stands alone, on its own merits, regardless of whatever surrounds it. Collier and Shaw, who both say that their tastes change rapidly, decided to forgo traditional Southern appointments, despite the classic architecture of their home, and stylize something that was truly personal. “We didn’t want a museum,” says Shaw. “We wanted people to come in and be able to sit on any surface.” And with 5,100 square feet, including four bedrooms and four baths, in the main house, and a guest house of 500 square feet, they’ve got plenty of surface area for company. Some renovations were necessary after they moved in three years ago, but unlike many Midtown homes, their house’s original bones were intact. “We were lucky,” says Shaw. “The floor plan is original, it

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A MODEL OF EVOLVING TASTES

JULY 2008

Below: The back library, a converted sun porch, houses Collier’s exquisite Japanned desk. He chose bright red for the walls to accentuate the desk’s rich artistry.

HOMES T YLE JULY 2008

hasn’t been torn up and rearranged 500 times.” In the end, they added one wall to enclose their new hearth room. The kitchen was another story. “We pulled the kitchen back to the studs and got rid of all the 1960s linoleum and Formica,” says Collier. Shaw adds with a laugh, “The oven was so old I couldn’t figure out where to put the wood.” Now of course, the kitchen is a stunning yet simple display of sage green walls, with charcoal mosaic tile, Venetian gold granite countertops, and modern stainless steel appliances. For designers, change is par for the course. “Nothing is permanent in our world,” says Collier. “We [designers] are exposed to everything new and interesting as it comes down the pike, and it’s better to experiment on yourself than on a client. Plus I just like change.” Shaw notes, “When you experiment, that’s when you broaden everything—that’s when you do things you hadn’t imagined before.” To facilitate their experimentation, they chose a fairly neutral palette for the walls in the main body of the house. Other than the sage green in the kitchen, the red in the library, and an exciting brownish-plum (a color Collier has loved since childhood) in the master bedroom, the walls are light and warm with the main color accents coming from fabrics, drapes, throw pillows and art. They chose deep brown, tan, rust, red, and orange for quick shots and splashes of color throughout. That way, they can easily change looks without repainting the entire house. For decoration, touches of Asian porcelain and ancient

Above: The hearth room makes for a cozy corner for eating breakfast, watching television, and relaxing. A wall was added to make the room more snug.

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Above: The walls of the master bedroom are officially brown, but Shaw says that the color ranges from chocolate to plum to eggplant as the light changes throughout the day. Abstract paintings done by elephants in Thailand hang high on the walls.

European themes are highly visible in each room, but again, that was unplanned. “That’s something that’s not happened consciously, it was a fluke,” says Collier. “But it certainly looks that way doesn’t it? We just brought home the things we like.” The living room, for example, is home to an extraordinary Japanned desk and piano dating back to 1910. “Japanning” refers to a process from the late 17th century by which fine pieces of furniture are enriched in metal leaf mimicking the Oriental lacquer commonly used on Asian antiques. Delicate, hand-painted decals depicting landscapes decorate the major flat surfaces.

Ancient Greece dominates the dining room with its superb E.J. Victor mahogany table, which is inlaid with rosewood and satinwood pieces to form the classic Greek key design. Grecian urns and English knife boxes filled with rain forest vermiliads complement Collier’s treasure, an English mahogany, Egyptian-Revival sideboard dating back to 1820. (Yes, the couple’s cats have been declawed.) An Italian, 1830s gilt-wood chandelier, originally made for candles but now electrified, reigns over the dining room table without clashing a bit with a contemporary, drum-shaped light fixture just 10 feet away in the entry, or the antique bronze and crystal chandelier in the living room. Again, eclecticism at its best. As expected, the couple’s art collection has few boundaries. Immediately upon entering the foyer, you encounter a five-foot stone sculpture titled “No Loss is Justified” wrapped in the turn of the staircase. Sketchbook figures from the early 1900s by Stahl line the banister, and a whimsical, downtown Memphis streetscape by Joyce is featured on the second floor landing. A large portrait of a geisha by Esom of New Orleans fills a hallway around the corner from a 1959 oil portrait of Pablo Picasso, done by another artist. The master bedroom holds more artistic gems like Olson’s sculpture of a leaping trout made entirely of stainless steel spoons, a towering portrait of a man in dark tones by Sharon, and two abstracts created by elephants in Thailand. Collier and Shaw laughingly admit that their home could look completely different next year, but such are the lives of designers, and eclectic ones at that. One thing is certain, though—by mixing and matching fine, quality pieces, they’ve ensured that their home will never be out of style. Story by Jonathan Devin Photos by Steve Roberts

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STREETSEEN

Joe Schmulian Introducing Cricket Stateside

JULY 2008

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tennis scholarship at the University of Memphis prompted Joe Schmulian to leave his native South Africa, but with the move came an unexpected meeting that renewed a passion for another sport. “My house in college was across the street from a parking lot where some guys played cricket,” Schmulian recalled. “We lost contact, but a few years later, I happened to live in the same apartment complex as one of those same guys, so he recruited me for a Memphis Cricket Club practice game.” Schmulian, a tennis pro at WellWorX, accepted the offer and met up with the team nearly two years ago. After that trial match, he joined the Memphis Cricket Club and found himself playing the game he first took up at 8-yearsold. In South Africa, he says cricket is a school sport the same as baseball is here, and that in England and India (where a majority of his teammates are from), cricket ranks as a favorite pastime. Now, Memphians can experience what many call “the gentleman’s game” as the team integrates the sport into the local community. “The club is already open to anyone, but we are planning clinics to teach people how to play cricket,” he said. The Memphis Cricket Club ultimately hopes to become part of the United States of America Cricket Association, but Schmulian, who serves as the club’s captain, says the local league must have 10 teams before becoming eligible for this affiliation. Currently, the Memphis area has four cricket teams, with other clubs nearby in Jackson, Tenn. and Jonesboro and Little Rock, Ark. Schmulian proudly acknowledges his team’s record semi-finalist finish in 2006 and finalist finish last year in the Arkansas/Tennessee league. The 2008 season is under way, and the club is ecstatic to be playing on its very own field this year. Since the city of Collierville stepped in and allocated a field in Progress Park for the club’s use, the team has been busily converting a former soccer field into its home turf. Installing a pitch (the center strip down a cricket field) has been the biggest expense at $3,000, but overcoming the constant comparison of cricket to baseball is another struggle. Schmulian said, “In cricket, you score more points than in baseball, with an average of 240 to 250 points a game. You also can score on a 360-degree radius, and there’s constant action and lots of strategy.” Perhaps, the lyrics of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” need revising. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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A Trek Across the City’s Party L andscape Big Wig Ball benefiting Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center

JULY 2008

Anne-Marie Varnell and Rebecca Reid

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Never before have so many costumes come out before Halloween. From Rastafarians to clowns to Elvis, this party had it all. When asked how the ingenious theme came about, event chair Emily Pera said, “I had some friends in San Francisco who threw theme parties all the time, and one time there was a party where everyone wore wigs. Isn’t it fun?” Fun indeed! Tickets included live entertainment from Memphis Ice Breakers, hors d’oeuvres from places like Sweet, frozen margaritas from Café Ole, and an open bar. After a few libations, guests were singing another tune at the karaoke stage courtesy of River City K araoke. “I Will Survive” proved a crowd favorite. The party that facilitated charitable giving from Memphis’ younger set lasted well into the midnight hour. By the time the last song was sung, $23,000 had been

Wigs are a great option for going incognito, and now for showing off at the Big Wig Ball. Young Adult Le Bonheur Leaders (YALL) debuted the first fund-raiser of this kind for Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and plans to make this an annual event. The dress code on the invite read “cocktail cool or whatever fits your wig,” with more partygoers opting for the latter Kathy Healy-Collier, Jane Hanafin and Patricia Mans

raised for Le Bonheur. Those who assisted with the cause included K athy HealyCollier, Jane Hanafin, Patricia Mans, Lloyd and Cindy Grissinger, John and Jamie Riley, Anne Glankler, Finy Shirley, Sara Burnett, Amanda Mauck, Laura Carpenter, Cecilia Villa, Melinda Medlin, Laura Finley, Josh and Rebecca Reid, Bobby Light, Anne-Marie Varnell, and Scott Anderson.

Linda Ferrell, Stephanie Jordan, Beth White, Marie Pizano-Firtik and Ashley Mercer

ease during the fifth annual Go Red for Women Luncheon at The Peabody hotel, many vowed to become heart smart and helped raise more than $100,000 for the American Heart A ssociation (AHA). Activities began with heart-healthy cooking demonstrations courtesy of Chef Albert Morgan of Itta Beena, Chef Judd Grisanti of Spindini, and Chef Felicia Willett of Felicia Suzanne’s. Afterward, free health screenings, workshops, and a Go Red for Women Heart Checkup, an online tool that provides women with a personal heart disease risk assessment, were held. Jazz music pumped energy into the morning agenda until the lunch hour came. Marilynn S. Robinson welcomed a roomful of beautiful women clad in various shades of red to the event, emceed by Mearl Pur vis of Fox13 News. Purvis delivered the shocking statistic that heart disease is the number one killer of women. Purvis and personally contributed to the organization when she tested the audience’s knowledge

Kristi and Brad Crawford

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick option. Guests wore wigs in every color, style, and length, and, if they didn’t have a wig upon arrival, they could chip in a donation for one at the Big Wig Bar. Couple Brad and Kristi Crawford came wigless, but soon found themselves in party mode with their neon pink and blue bobs. Others kept asking their friends, “Does my wig look ok?”

Go Red for Women Luncheon benefiting the American Heart Association The Go Red for Women movement encourages women nationwide to make a promise to be heart healthy. After hearing of women’s high risk factor for heart dis-

Valerie Calhoun, Karen Perrin and Mearl Pervis

of heart disease. For each correct answer, she donated $100 to the AHA and joked, “I’ll have to give up a pair of shoes here and there!” Terri Murphy, the CIO of U.S. Learning, Inc. in Memphis, delivered a motivating speech as the keynote speaker. She said so many women spend money to fix outer appearances, but questioned, “What do we spend to

Terri Murphy and Don Hutson

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take care of the inside?” She urged everyone to set priorities and incorporate small changes. “A 15-minute walk is a lot easier than taking time out for chemo,” Murphy said. “Health is sexy. Health is contagious!” K aren Perrin of FM 100 got in on the message by making a special appeal to the ladies in attendance. She encouraged all to place their hands over their hearts and make a promise to become heart healthy, whether that entails quitting smoking or losing a few pounds. Models, who had been affected by heart disease, took the stage next for a fashion show sponsored by Macy’s. These styl-

JULY 2008

Beth Clawson and Kate Adair

ish individuals included Kathy Briner, Connie Brown, Carrington Carter, Joanna Elzen, Nancy Fields, W illiam Gillespie, Lindsey Harris, Priscilla Hensley, Jacqueline James, K athleen Moran, Shelbi Seward, Rose Stephens, Aubrey Swanson, Gwen Tribble, Brenda Turner, Christley Vaughn, and Jo Lynn Voss. Macy’s and Merck & Co, Inc. were national Go Red for Women sponsors, while Saint Francis Hospital, Baptist Heart Institute, and Memphis Heart Clinic contributed locally. Marie PizanoFirtik and Beth White served as event co-chairs.

Melissa McFerrin and Lynn Parkes

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JULY 2008

Kris Gardner and Carolyn Neergaard

Others who donated their time and efforts to the Go Red for Women movement included Kris Gardner, Carolyn Neergaard, Kristy Phillips, Joyce Hope, Beth Clawson, K ate Adair, Don Hutson, Linda Ferrell, Stephanie Jordan, A shley Mercer, Valerie Calhoun, Arisa Wolf, Sharon Nicholls, Mar y Beth Conley, and Donna Davis.

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East in May. At this event, random drawings matched Pink Ribbon Open participants with LPGA professionals who would serve as Pro-Am Tournament team leaders on the course at Southwind the following day. Excitement ran high as mingling guests enjoyed cocktails and bid on silent auction items prior to the pairings. On hand was K athy Whitworth, who has won more professional golf tournaments (numbering 88) than any other golfer, as well as the renowned Pat Bradley, who is ranked 16th in LPGA wins. Angela Stanford had flown in straight from Tulsa, Okla., where she had tied for third at the John Q. Hammond Classic. Danielle Downey, too, arrived from that tournament as a finalist. The stellar roster of participating LPGA touring pros was rounded out by Beth Allen, Patricia Belliard, Babe Deluca, Molly Birmingham,

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

DINING LODGING SPECIAL EVENTS

Pink Ribbon Open Pairings Party The 14th annual Pink Ribbon Open, benefiting breast cancer research in the Mid-South, held its Pairings Party at the Memphis Marriott

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Becky Lucidi, Stephanie George, K atie Fraley, Kim Hall, Brenda McLarnon, Janice Gibson, K ate Rogerson, Michelle McGann, Sarah Sargent, Alena Sharp, Kristy McPherson, Michelle Simpson, Brooke Tull, Sherri Turner, Lori West, Meredith Duncan, and Audr y Longo. A live auction and dinner with the pros followed the formation of tournament teams. As Mar y Rocha explained, the Pink Ribbon Open has to date granted over $1 million in funds, all of which stay local to assist in paying for breast-health serv-

Sheila and Tom Moore

ices and education and breast cancer patient support. In addition, the Pink Ribbon Open doubles as a great opportunity to celebrate women who are star athletes in the world of golf. Among those attending the Pairings Party were Kirk and Joan Matthews, Joel and Kristie Brown, Melissa McFerrin, Lynn Parkes, Dave Klevan, Troy and Jeannie Weeks, Bill and Mar y Pennington, Nick Rahme, Tom and Sheila Moore, Judy Togbo, Allen Pattee, James Vaughn, Jill Bradbur y, Lyna Medlock, John Feren, and Richard Spaulding. Story and photos by Kelly Cox

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Leadership Memphis celebrated 30 years of educating and training Memphis’ community leaders at its annual Celebration Dinner. The organization commemorated its anniversary at the Hilton Memphis by honoring its first Executive Program graduating class, the Class of 1979. Mayor A C Wharton, one of the class’ most recognized graduates, lead the banquet hall of an estimated 650 business and community leaders in a tribute to the organization. Attendees celebrated the milestone birthday by donning birthday hats, singing “Happy Birthday,” and blowing out 650 candles on as many birthday James Harvey and Kim Wilson Bond cakes. During the event, B. Lee Mallor y made remarks on behalf of the Class of 1979 and then invited Wharton and Dan Wilkinson to share a story of how the first class of Leadership Memphis was able to address race relations. The Class of 1979 went on an opening retreat together in Olive Branch, Miss., where members were expected to share rooms with classmates of a different race. Wharton said at first he was shocked to learn he had a white roommate because in 1979 it was against the “norm” to room with someone of another race. In his case, Wharton roomed with a white businessman and banjo player, Dan Wilkinson. Little did he know that Leadership Memphis planned each rooming situation John and Shelley Baur to introduce the concept of inclu-

JULY 2008

Leadership Memphis Celebration Dinner

sivity to class members. Wilkinson later became a friend and great business acquaintance. Members of the Class of 1979 traveled from as far as Florida and Georgia to reunite with each other and to be honored. “Not only were we able to pay tribute to our first class, but we recognized 164 recent graduates of our three programs during the dinner,� said David W illiams, President and CEO of Leadership Memphis. Graduates from the Executive, FastTrack and Grassroots Programs were in attendance to celebrate their commencement as well as meet previ-

Buddy and Pam Chapman with David and Laurie Morris

Virginia Towns, K athy Bingham, Jane Ellen Rawdon, Anjali Pednekar, James Har vey, Kim Wilson Bond, Kristen Myers, and Pat Halloran.

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JULY 2008

Story Submitted by Alayna Adams Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

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Virginia Towns and Kathy Bingham

ous graduates of the program. At the event, Leadership Memphis also welcomed new Executive Program class members for the coming year, the Class of 2009. The organization also built upon tradition at the Celebration Dinner. Leadership Memphis gives several prestigious awards and honors at the annual gathering. This year Leadership Memphis presented My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI Memphis Field Office, with the Leadership Memphis K ate Gooch Leader of the Year Award. The Junior League of Memphis received the Community Champion Award for its commitment to the Memphis community, and Shelley Baur received the Leadership Memphis Alumnus of the Year Award. Others who reveled in Leadership Memphis’ anniversary included John Baur, Buddy and Pam Chapman, David and Laurie Morris,

Jane Ellen Rawdon and Anjali Pednekar

The Above Par Classic: A Dining, Auction & Putting Event Nothing lights the candles at a great event so much as knowing that the funds raised will brighten someone’s day. One such event, The

Karyn and Jerry Waxman

Above Par Classic: A Dining, Auction & Putting Event benefiting the PKD Foundation, had all the classic elements of a great party accentuated by the palpable presence of limitless hope for a cure. Polycystic kidney disease or PKD is not as well known as other chronic conditions like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, or Down syndrome, but K ar yn Waxman, coordinator for the Memphis Chapter of the PKD Foundation, says that about 600,000 Americans are living with this disease. “Living with PKD is like living with an internal time bomb ready to explode,� she said. “There is nothing to prevent hundreds of kidney cysts from causing painful episodes of bleeding, infection, or renal failure. Besides the obvious

physical trauma PKD causes the body, the emotional pain of knowing that there is a 50 percent chance of passing this on to our children is something that makes PKD all the more challenging.� Waxman too, lives with PKD. She hopes her all-volunteer run events will raise awareness of PKD as well as fund research and education. Above Par attracted about 100 partygoers, including

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Juli Eck and Harold Wormser

JULY 2008

Will O’Bar, Carrie Meeseman, Marie Kohn, Beth Gresham, Corey Hill, Carri Pratt, Dick and Mar y Walters, and Bridget Handley, who together raised an amazing $17,000 to do just that. A sunny evening in May provided perfect weather for ladies dressed in light dresses with spaghetti straps revealing the starts of sumMarie Kohn and Beth Gresham mer tans, though many of the men came attired in slacks and sport jackets. The outdoor patio provided an airy venue for an array of hot food from Bahama Breeze, Bailey’s Executive Catering, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and The Fresh Market, all just steps away from the indoor bar and silent auction. Perusing the tables of silent auction items were Steve and Debbie Stamson, Jimmy and Connie Jones, Ed and Dee Parramore, Stephen Bradbur y, Gerald Emerson, Dr. Kurt and Angela Price, Juli Eck, and Harold Wormser. This is the second year the PKD Foundation has offered the event, sponsored by Moss Memorabilia, Walker Auctions, Graphic Systems, Grady Saxton Jr., W indyke Countr y Club (event host), and Infiniti of Memphis, which graciously donated a $10,000 prize for the Putting

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Kim Waxman, Will O’Bar and Carrie Meeseman

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Challenge. Above Par may be a fairly new event in the city, but Waxman threw the kind of party that is certain to take its place among the noted, established, and truly fabulous events of Memphis’ social calendar.

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EVENT

Safari Soirée

SAFARI SOIRÉE

At the Memphis Zoo

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JULY 2008

Tim and Cathy Dalfiume

Dave and Anne Wallace Creighton

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pring is in the air when Safari Soirée comes up on the calendar. One of the Memphis Zoo’s largest fund-raisers proved exceptionally inviting this year as temperatures ranged in the 70s with a slight breeze, creating the ideal ambiance for an adventurous journey of sights, sounds, and tastes. Animal lovers showed their support by dressing in their favorite safari wear, which included everything from leopard prints to carved wood jewelry to bright floral shirts. The zoo inhabitants luckily didn’t have a difficult time choosing their ensembles! Giraffe, zebra, and leopard masks adorned each table, but they didn’t stay put long as some guests playfully concealed their identities behind the whimsical masks…the child, or maybe the animal, in everyone comes out when least expected. Classic tunes like “Hold On I’m Coming” resonated across the picturesque Egyptian Courtyard while partygoers staked out a plethora of food options. The food line proved too long for many, so a refreshing chilled coffee or smoothie by Java Coast hit the spot until the ravenous were satiated. A spectacular feat of culinary artistry—a safari cake complete with animal figurines—added another shot of sweet flavor with alternating layers of chocolate with mocha crème, French vanilla with strawberry filling, lemon poppy seed with lemon liqueur crème, and butter almond with almond crème. The cake weighed in at more than 100 pounds, according to Mariechen McGruder of Cakes by RiRi, and was transported in sections. When one onlooker asked if the cake was edible, McGruder said, “I’m about to cut a piece and show people it is because I’m sure not taking it home!” As daylight turned to dusk, partygoers reclined and enjoyed a night under the stars. The relaxed vibe and cool cuisine brought out the best of the “Zoo’s Who.”

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

Chris and Andrea Blaylock

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry

Emily Barzizza and Holly Smith

Sharon and Kelly Truitt

G.W. III and Cindy Sorrells

Lee and Scott Mathews

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Steve Prentiss and Jacque Cook

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Paw Prints Party Live & Silent Auction August 2, 2008 6pm at Temple Israel

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EVENT SAFARI SOIRÉE JULY 2008

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EVENT RENDEZVOUS AT THE DIXON

useum supporters—lawn chairs and blankets in hand—scoured the Dixon’s lawn for the best spot to soak in an afternoon of fun in the sun. Who wouldn’t go hog-wild for one of the year’s most fun-filled picnics, Rendezvous at the Dixon? With the scent of barbecue wafting through the air, Memphians knew they were headed in the right direction. White tents dotted the landscape offering everything from Rendezvous’ famous barbecue shoulders, chicken legs, and red beans and rice to Jim’s Place East’s “Souflima” (skewered pieces of pork tenderloin served over rice with Grecian tomato sauce) to Cotton Boll Catering’s catfish bites and jalapeño hush puppies. Picnickers savored good eats all around, and drinks like Jack Daniels cocktails and beer from D. Canale Beverages were on hand to wash the fare down. The entertainment factor yielded hundreds of children’s smiles, letting parents know they’d chosen the perfect Sunday outing. Bounce-N-Fun & Event Rentals supplied lots of kid-friendly amusement, including bubble blowers, a climbing wall, and a giant trampoline, to name a few. The Dixon staff even set up a large-print puzzle that when put together revealed a French print in honor of the institution’s exhibit Passport to Paris. Thrilled children ran to try out new toys and games, while doting parents took advantage of the photo-ops. Attendees next flocked around the Resource Entertainment bandstand, where Elmo & the Shades belted out blues, funk, and R&B favorites. Fun spanned all ages as several toddlers attempted their first steps to the beat, and adults tapped their feet to the popular tunes. Richard Graham Children’s Entertainment also put in a performance. The humidity might have been uncomfortable for some, but no one at this party minded winding down their weekend outdoors. Malco Theatres and Green Square Capital, LLC sponsored the picnic that already has fans stocking up on sunblock for next year.

JULY 2008

Rendezvous at the Dixon Family Picnic

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Emma and Sally Whitehorn

Karen Johnston and Ellen Horn

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

Denise Rikard and Kathi Sims

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Tasia, Nick and Cecile Vergos

Mary and Tim Cook

Dr. Ed and Linda Kaplan

Stafford and Ava Shumake

Brad, Wesley, Dina and Jack Martin

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Free VIT B12 Shot for new patients 30-day supply of phentermine available in clinic for only $25

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RSV PHILLIPPI

By Dennis Phillippi

I’LL BE THE MONKEY

JULY 2008

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kay, so we’ve chosen our candidates for the presidency, and even though I have almost no interest in politics, very flimsy opinions on virtually every major issue, and a huge variety of skeletal remains in various closets, I believe I am the ideal choice for vice president, or really, for either office. Hear me out: while I refuse under any circumstances to discuss my political positions on any topic, I still offer something no other VP choice does, and the presidential candidate will not suffer by comparison. Senator McCain is, as he will be the first to point out, a little long in the tooth for the top job, but next to me he’ll look smart and seasoned. I’ll be the twitchy one beside him. He’ll look relaxed and tempered while I’ll look panicked and confused. While the conservative senator carefully lays out his thoughtful plans for repairing our economy, I’ll stand there playing with two pencils, whistling “America the Beautiful.” As he explains his policy on the seemingly intractable situation in Iraq, I’ll do bad card tricks. McCain has shown that he has a good sense of humor, but I’ll shore up that front by doing crowd work with the press corps. “Hey, who do you work for? The New York Times? How’s that whole plagiarism thing going?” As has been noted by actual journalists, Senator Obama is reluctant to choose his close rival Senator Clinton for VP because she would, in many cases, overshadow the candidate. Mrs. Clinton is a fiery speaker, a skilled orator, and has a husband who can be a little showy. Obama would be constantly looking over his shoulder to see if Hillary is winking at what he’s saying, or if Bill is just winking. With me, the last thing he’ll have to worry about is being in my shadow. I’ve seen Senator Obama speak, and if I were standing there as his second, the main thing people would note would be that I seem to be paying close attention. The reason for this being that when I have no idea what someone is talking about, I could try to appear fascinated as my defense. They think I’m interested, and hopefully don’t realize that I’m completely empty-headed. Senators Obama and McCain really seem to know what they’re talking about. I, on the other hand, don’t. Most of the time I

don’t even know what I’m talking about. There are precedents for this kind of thing. Look at how the two Bushes approached the issue. George the First chose Dan Quayle. The first Bush was perceived as a kind of soft, nice, borderline dimwit, so he chose a vice president who was all of those things in spades. Standing beside young Danforth Quayle, the first Bush looked like Solomon. Every time the first Bush did something not very bright, Danny was there to trump him with some-

W h il e th e c o n s e rv a t iv e s e n a to r c a re fu l l y l ay s o u t h i s t h o u gh t f u l p l an s f o r r e p a ir in g o u r e co n o m y, I ’l l s t a n d th e r e p l a y i n g w i th t w o p e n c i l s, w h i s t l i n g “ A m e r i ca t h e B e a u ti fu l . ” thing straight up stupid. Then when W came along, he was perceived as out of his depth so he chose, in an amazing coincidence, the chair of his VP search committee, Dick Cheney. The word “gravitas” was thrown around by a bunch of J-school grads who had been waiting since their junior year to use it. Cheney was grandfatherly and grave. Maybe W was a little jumpy early on, but Dick was there to make the ship seem sound. Or at least kind of Death Starry. I like to think I’m sort of a compromise of the two. It’s entirely possible that I may misspell potato, but it’s also possible that I will look dignified in the process. I’ve been practicing my scowl. Naturally the big question will be “What if I have to serve as president?” Ew. That one’s a little tricky. What does a middle-aged unemployed comedian and disk jockey have to offer as Commander in Chief? That’s fair. Let’s see, first, I can really wear a suit. Honest. I have probably 30 ties, so that should count for something. While I have never served in the military, and know virtually nothing about military history, or even what exactly the different branches do, I really, really like the hardware. There’s got to be some résumé padding about digging air shows

and watching Discovery Channel documentaries about submarines. As far as dealing with diplomacy, foreign leaders and stuff like that goes, while I don’t speak any other languages, don’t know much about other cultures or care very much about what’s happening in say, China, I have perfected that ability to appear totally interested when I have no idea what’s going on. Seriously, this is a very handy skill. Let’s say the president of Mali is in town and we have him up to the house for dinner. This is, of course assuming that there is a president of Mali and not one of those slippery titles like prime minister, premier, or king. While he’s going on and on about the concerns of the people of Mali, wherever the hell that is, and how we should be great partners, I’ll look like I’m drinking in every word. True, I’ll be thinking about an old episode of “WKRP” I finally got to see again because the president can get, like, any TV show he wants I bet, but the president of Mali won’t know what because I can appear so very immersed. Here, I’ll propose one compromise: a vice vice president. Pick some real politician who knows the stuff I don’t, which is pretty much everything, and if the time comes when either President Obama or President McCain is incapacitated to have a polyp removed or something, then the VVP will be right there to steer me through the dark half hour. I know what you’re thinking, why not have the vice vice president person be the vice president? They’d probably be just as good at getting the main guy elected, and less of a liability. Yes, true, but that guy won’t make the candidates look like a giant by comparison. I will. Plus, I want a job where you don’t really do anything, and I’ve never been to the White House. If any of ya’ll know anyone on either campaign, feel free to pass along my number.

While satirist Dennis Phillippi weighs in on his qualification(s) for the vice presidency, we here at RSVP in no way endorse his platform at this time. However, we’ll gladly pass along his contact information if any one so chooses to rally around a buffoon, albeit a phenomenal listener, in the White House.

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JULY 2008

RSVPAST

Fondue Fun

JULY 2008

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eloved by many, The Embers once occupied a spot at 3881 Park Ave. The restaurant boasted a waterfall, “bottomless� salads, and offered tableside service. Robert Mitchum, Fred MacMurray, Stella Stevens, Billy Graham, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis all once graced the popular dining room. In this photograph, owner Harry Glaser is shown serving fondue to Trent Wood and guest. PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA GLASER If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105 or e-mail the photo and caption to editor@rsvpmagazine.com All photos will be returned promptly.

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