S EPTEMBER 2017
Sportsball Dreamgivers' Gala Science of Wine
100 E. Parkway Ave. N.
160 E. Wickliff Creek Circle
$975,000
$1,195,000
Eads, TN 38028
Memphis, TN 38104
Capture the essence of Midtown Memphis in this beautifully restored European Chateau near historic Overton Park. Inside the gates of this majestic 1.25 acre property is the primary residence along with a separate 2-story guest home and detached 4 car garage. Hardwood floors, detailed millwork, magnificent staircase and original stained-glass windows greet you upon entering the foyer of this turn of the century home. 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths and 1 half bath in the main home. Updated kitchen and bathrooms are among many of the modern luxuries you will enjoy. Fireplaces in the dining room, living room, billiard/play room and master suite. The breakfast room and solarium overlook a private backyard oasis in the city complete with a heated gunite pool and bath. The guest house features a full size kitchen, den, laundry, 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Renovations include new mechanical systems and back-up generator. Video tour of this home at https://youtu.be/71MQuZ0K9SU
Luxury living in a peaceful serene upscale, gated community minutes from Collierville and Germantown. Custom built with every detail, beautiful hardwoods, travertines, and marbles throughout this home. Luxurious master suite with large sitting/dressing area and office down, amazing outdoor living space with fireplace and screened porch overlooking private yard. Beautiful architectural design, entertainers dream, every detail thought of in the 5 suite masterpiece.
Jason Gaia
Tiffany McLemore
jason@jasongaiateam.com
mclemore@collins-maury.com
901.338.6677
901.233.3060
584 St. Nick Dr.
2552 Houston Levee Rd.
$633,750
$1,250,000
Collierville, TN 38017
Memphis, TN 38117
Beautiful home built in 2008 on lovely tree-lined street close to schools, shopping and restaurants. Gated for safety and security. 4 or 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, high smooth ceilings, hardwood floors, media room, living room, dining room, keeping room, 2 fireplaces, open kitchen, office, play and music rooms. Screened in porch and 2 patios. Check out YouTube video.
Spend your summer evenings hosting family pool parties or your daughter’s wedding on these elegant grounds. Located .25 mile off Houston Levee just minutes from Poplar. Picture yourself overlooking your 11 acres, pond and gunite pool. Room for everyone with 5 bedrooms and 6 plus baths. Don't miss this opportunity to create memories for a lifetime.
Bill Maury
Tim O’Hare
Milleigh Pearson
maury@collins-maury.com
ohare@collins-maury.com
pearson@collins-maury.com
901.751.4311
901.609.5038
901.550.1517
Collins-Maury.com
Considering a career in real estate? Visit SellRealEstateWithUs.com
5865 Ridgeway Center Pkwy Ste. 105 Memphis, TN 38120 901.259.8550
3276 Goodman Rd. Southaven,MS 38672 662.548.2000
968 Civic Center Drive Ste. 103 Collierville, TN 38017 901.259.8500
Contents September 2017 Features
From the Editor • 8
Signature Memphis • 10 Carissa Hussong
StreetSeen • 18
StreetSeen • 20
RSVPhillippi • 49
Fletcher Golden
Melissa Bridgman
This Very Old House
Sculpting is his end game
Crafting beauty through handmade pottery
Dennis shares his ups and downs from the house buying process
Devoted to the art and craft of the metal work
Events
James and Carol Rosetti
Cover Photo
Paul Zalar and Glenna Lusk at Dreamgivers' Gala Photo by Don Perry
Table of Contents Photo Sun Studios Photo by Krista Geyer
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Science of Wine • 12 Benefiting the Education Department of the Pink Palace Museum
Bryan Jacobs and Erwin Murillo
Memphis Moments • 22, 23, 24, 32, 33, 34, 36, 42, 43, 44 & 46
Celia Newman and Jeffrey Johnson
Sportsball • 28 Supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Memphis
Angela Brunson and Diane Hight
Dreamgivers' Gala • 38 Paying homage to veterans
Volume XXII • Number IX
September 2017 Publisher Roy Haithcock Editor Emily Adams Keplinger Copy Editor/Accounting Ruth Cassin Contributing Writers Bill Bannister Suzanne Thompson Cozza Virginia Davis Dennis Phillippi Rebekah Yearout Art Director Krista Geyer Photographers Don Perry Steve Roberts Rebekah Yearout Account Executive Chris Pugh 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 publisher@rsvpmagazine.com Visit us online at:
www.rsvpmagazine.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event:
PRESENTS
The Cat’s Meow Cat Fashion Show
Fundraiser for MPA’s TNR Program SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 • 1 - 3PM Annesdale Mansion
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Fashion from
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Tickets $20 advance/$25 at door 6
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Call: 901-276-7787, ext. 105 Fax: 901-276-7785 editor@rsvpmagazine.com
September 2017
complimentary cocktails & refreshments
Copyright 2017 Haithcock Communications, Inc.
RSVP Staff
Chris Pugh
Account Executive Chris has been exercising his talent in the advertising world since 1999. He joined the RSVP team in 2009 and brought with him a love for laughter and creativity. Originally from New Albany, Mississippi, Chris has settled in Memphis and enjoys being active in the fashion community.
Krista Geyer Art Director
Krista has spent most her entire life in the Mid-South area. She moved home after earning her Bachelor’s Degree from Auburn University and is thrilled to be able to work on something as “Memphis” as RSVP Magazine. When not working you can probably find Krista at Shelby Farms with her husband and her dogs or riding her horses.
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From the Editor
September
B
y the middle of this month, officially September 22 at 3:02 p.m. (CST) to be exact, we will say goodbye to summer. This day, called the "Autumnal Equinox," marks the date on which day and night are both about 12 hours long. After that, our days will start getting “shorter” (less daylight) as we move through the fall season. But with the change of seasons, comes many things to look forward to — cooler weather being at the top of my list. While it may not be “sweater weather” yet, September definitely offers a chance to begin wearing boots and jeans (Hooray!). Typically by the end of September, the weather will begin to feel cooler on a regular basis. So, it’s no wonder that so many of our favorite events take place in the fall when people want to spend more time outdoors. Here are a few September dates of outdoor events in our area to consider for your calendar: Sept. 1 The National Civil Rights Museum hosts free outdoor concerts, the MLK Soul Concert Series, every Friday in September, 6 - 8 p.m. Sept. 1-10Delta Fair & Music Festival at Agricenter International Sept. 2-3 Memphis Music & Heritage Festival Sept. 7 The Levitt Shell fall series of free music and events begins Sept. 15 Cemetery Cinema: “Young Frankenstein” at Elmwood Cemetery; 7:30 p.m. (rain date, September 22, same time) Sept. 16Cooper Young Festival, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sept. 22 - Oct. 1 The Mid-South Fair at the Landers Center in Southaven Sept. 23BreakFest at the Southern College of Optometry, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sept. 24 Memphis Japan Festival at Memphis Botanic Garden Add the schedule of your preferred football team(s) to these dates, and let the fun of “tailgate season” begin. For some serious fans, this fall ritual is considered nothing less than an art form. From “just-for-the-game” foods to seasonal drinks like apple cider, Thai Coffee and specialty beers crafted just for autumn, there’s no doubt that September kicks off a deliciously social season. Seize the day and savor the season! Happy Fall Y’all!
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September 2017
Emily Adams Keplinger editor@rsvpmagazine.com
Signature Memphis
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Carissa Hussong Executive Director of the Metal Museum Hometown: Honolulu, HI Your Best Quality: Loyalty First Car You Owned: 74 Dodge Dart Favorite Southern Idiom: “Bless his heart” Best Memphis Hangout: The Metal Museum, of course Favorite Song: “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield Where
do you want to go that you haven’t been:
Argentina
Your Favorite Memphis “Thang”: The culture — the arts, the music, the food A Nonliving Celebrity/Role Model You Would Invite
to
Dinner: David Bowie
Your Most Annoying Habit: Eating foods I am allergic to — sometimes I just can’t help it Something You’ll Never Live Down: What happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans. One Goal You’d Still Like
to
Memphians know and visit regularly.
Accomplish: I would like the Metal Museum to be a place all
The Highlight of Your Day: At work, it is the unexpected gifts or compliments. At home, it is the quiet moments with family and friends. Place You Go
to Think: Unfortunately, I usually find clarity in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. Maybe I need to find a different place and time to think.
Proudest Moment of Your Life: I have two amazing daughters who continue to amaze me with their maturity, beauty and wisdom. I think my proudest moments are yet to come. Your Lucky Charm: I don’t know why, but when I see a mockingbird in the morning, I always take it as a good omen for the day ahead. Fortunately, mockingbirds are quite common in Tennessee. Unfortunately, I am not a morning person and don’t notice much until the afternoon. Who Would Play You
in a
Movie: I have no idea, but Stanton Thomas said Serena
Joy in The Handmaid’s Tale reminds him of me. I am not sure how to take that — so maybe Yvonne Strahovski? Although she is a little too young. Neve Campbell and Linda Hamilton have also been suggested.
Best Advice You Ever Got: My father used to encourage me to try something scary by telling me
Photo by Steve Roberts
“It’ll put hair on your chest.” I can assure you, he did not want me to grow hair on my chest, but he did want me to try something new despite any real or perceived obstacles I might encounter. It was a silly challenge, but one that worked just the same.
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Science of Wine
September
Science of Wine
A Mark and Patty Guttensohn
Joy and Cory Talbert
Kristina Woo and Judge Mark Ward
n enduring appreciation for wine was evidenced by the sold-out crowd gathered at the Memphis Pink Palace Museum for the third annual Science of Wine event. Presented by Bluff City Land Rover, a wide array of wine was provided by West Tennessee Crown Distributing Co. As guests entered the museum they were given a winecolored organza bag, furnished by Pinnacle Financial Partners, that held a list of available wines, a table guide mapping the various stations, a schedule of events, and a pencil and card on which to note individual favorites for red wine, white wine, hors d’oeuvres, and food and wine pairings. In the VIP lounge, ticket-holders had early access to the evening’s event, as well as an opportunity to sample exclusive food and wine tastings from Babalu Tacos & Tapas, J. Brooks Premium Coffee Roasters, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Whole Foods, Mionetto USA, Boisset Wines, San Antonio Winery, Natural Merchants, Inc., Sutter Home Winery, Inc. and Pacific Highway Wines and Spirits. VIPs also received souvenir wine glasses and had access to the general area, food and wine stations, and lectures. Darlene Loprete, a chemistry professor at Rhodes College, presented information to teach people know how to determine if a wine had turned or “gone bad.” Bobby Maupin of West Tennessee Crown Distributing Company,helped educate guests about the “Cause and Effect of Wine.” “When enjoyed together, wine See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Miriam and Chase Pittman
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Sip, Sample and Learn
September 2017
and foods always have a chemical reaction,” explained Maupin. “My demonstration showcased how different food pairings could alter the taste of a wine.” At this year’s event, participating wineries included Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, Boisset Wine, Bronco Wine Co., Ca’ Momi, Constellation Brands, Cape Classics, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Integrity Wines, Laneau USA, Inc., Old Bridge Cellars, O’Neill Vinters & Distillers, Prestige Wine Import Corp., Roco Winery, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Takara Sake, and William Harrison Imports. Participating restaurants and food vendors included Alchemy, Bounty on Broad, Café Society, Ecco on Overton Park, Erling Jensen, Grove Grill, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Rizzo’s, Sweet Grass, Tom’s Tiny Kitchen and Whole Foods. In addition to tastings, the event offered mini-lectures focused on “Bordeaux for Dummies,” “Soil and Climate of South Africa,” and “It’s a Wash.” The latter explained how events from The Ice Age impact wines we enjoy today. All proceeds benefited the education department of the Pink Palace Family of Museums, and a Prize Pull, sponsored by Decadent Avenue, added to the evening’s coffers. “Our Science of Wine event is always a crowd pleaser,” said Ronda Cloud, marketing and public relations director of the Pink Palace Family of Museums. “It offers educational opportunities to spotlight various aspects of wine and gives us a way to show of a fun side of science.” Story by Emily Adams Keplinger Photos by Don Perry
Elaine Adams with Tom and Nancy Flint and Larry Adams
Dana and Kent Farmer
Collins and Heather Horton
Neil and Susan Phillips
Katie Barger and Jillian Payne
Decadent Avenue is proud to have been a sponsor of The Pink Palace’s Science of Wine 2017
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September
Jimmy Fortney and Abby Pohlman
David Tucker and Missy Sellers
Jeremie and Damien Klingberg
Jimmie and Namika Johnson
Charles Mulligan and Kathryn Roberts
Bill and Carla Baker
Jennifer and Jimmy Williams
Mary and Doug Ketchum with Deborah Flettrich and Wils and Ginger Davis
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Erin and Brian Borgmier
Sara Studdard and Cory York
Sylvia Cheeks, Mary Burns, Tenisha Harris, Maurice Varnado and Jackie Grady
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September
Anne Marie and Joseph Madison
Valerie Huery and Heather Purtain
Michael Zepatos and Lydia Fuson
Kevin Kilgore and Carol Peterson
Heather and David Fontana
Holly Whittle, Chasity Boling and Laura Carey
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Ann Morris and Angela Hall
Christin Yates and Michael Newsome
Kristina Schatz and Asaf Stein
Lethelea Jackson and Sandra Brooks
Tad and Lindsay McElroy and Ashley Hanson
Fletcher Golden Horses led him on the path to becoming a sculptor Story by Emily Adams Keplinger Photos by Steve Roberts
September
F
rom his childhood in Midtown Memphis to California, points in between and back home again, sculptor Fletcher Golden discovered his passion for equine art. “My mother was a talented artist,” recalled Golden. “She went to the Memphis Art Academy when it was located on Adams Avenue. I remember that there was always a sense of style in our family home. My mother was crazy about fashion and both of my parents were great dressers. Plus, our neighborhood in Central Gardens was filled with homes that had interesting architecture and were surrounded by giant oak trees. It was a very picturesque area.” As Golden matriculated through school, first at Immaculate Conception, then at Christian Brothers High School, he didn’t take art classes. When he went on to the Memphis State (now the University of Memphis), he majored in business and was still no closer to his artistic calling. “I completed three years at Memphis State, then I was drafted during the Viet Nam Conflict,” said Golden. “Luckily, I stayed stateside. I had a lot of time to think and I realized that when I got out of the service, I wanted to go see the world.” His travels took him to multiple locations for jobs with TGI Friday’s; first in Dallas, then Shreveport, then Houston. Ultimately, he decided to return to Memphis and finish school. Once his education was completed, Golden felt the pull of wanderlust again and moved to Berkley, California. “While wondering how I was going to see the world, in a unique moment of inspiration, I came up with the idea of buying a horse and riding it from
California back to Memphis,” said Golden. “For the next six months, I saw life from a saddle.” When the adventure was over, Golden returned to the Berkley Hills. While working as a salesman for a steel company, he became interested in learning carpentry and “apprenticed himself to the trade,” teaching himself as much as he could. “I would cruise through art museums and found that I was attracted to sculpture,” said Golden. “I really had the desire for sculpting, but I didn’t have the requisite training. However, I found opportunities to work with various sculptors and other artisans.” By 1987 Golden had returned to Memphis where he started a nonprofit organization, Chelsea Farms. For five years he ran the urban farm, then he started working as an outdoor guide for the Maria Montessori School at Harbor Town. “I enjoyed working with the school’s nature study program,” reminisced Golden. “During the 20 years I was there, I built sculptures with the kids for silent auctions, Christmas presents, etc. My goal was for everybody to make sculptures of driftwood from the Mississippi River that they could take home to keep.” Golden says that this endeavor was the beginning of his path back to art. “It was time for a silent auction at school, and, in honor of the 30th anniversary of my crosscountry horseback trip, I got the idea to build a driftwood horse with the kids,” explained Golden. “I found a big log with the look of movement and thought it would make a great horse’s head. But, I still needed a body. When the sculpture was completed, it was lifesize and stood about 8 feet tall.” Harbor Town resident and local artist Jeri Ledbetter saw the school’s horse and commissioned Golden to make her a sculptural horse. After
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constructing a garage in which to build “Jeri’s Horse,” collecting wood at the river and gathering the right tools from pawn shops and garage sales, the commissioned piece was finished. Linda Ross, owner of L. Ross Gallery, saw it and invited Golden to have a show at her gallery with Ledbetter. “I made a whole herd of horses,” recalled Golden. “That was the turning point for me and the starting line for me as a sculptor. I began collecting books about sculpting for my private library and went back to the University of Memphis for classes.” Golden’s work, a mix of wood, metal, and marble or stone, was shown at the 2015 RiverArtsFest Invitational. It can be seen at International Paper and was formerly on view at First United Methodist Church. “At this point of my life, sculpting has become my end game—I’m serious about my art,” said Golden. “I’m doing horses until I’m not doing horses, it’s truly a passion for me. I love the challenge of sculpting and being all crazy about projects—like getting up at 2:30 a.m. because I’m figuring out how I’m going to do a particular piece.” Currently Golden is trying to initiate another project that would be available for public viewing. “I’m proposing a 1 mile-long processional monument made of limestone boulders, salvaged from the restoration of the Frisco Bridge, that would follow the original route of the Trail of Tears,” explained Golden. “With the Big River Crossing pedestrian bridge, we have the opportunity to give testament to the 1830’s forced migration of five Indian nations. I want to create a beautiful monument for this nationally significant site that would span the distance between the Harahan Bridge and Big River Crossing and the Hernando DeSoto Bridge.”
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Melissa Bridgman Art is her means of personal expression Story by Emily Adams Keplinger Photos by Steve Roberts
September
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W
orking from her home studio 30-50 hours a week, Melissa Bridgman is one of many local potters who makes a living with her craft. She began throwing clay in 2000, after receiving several pieces of McCarty pottery as wedding gifts. She was enthralled with the idea of making her own pieces and learned the craft while job-seeking, a quest that led to a three-year stint as a teaching artist for pottery with the Center for Arts Education. “I have a master’s degree in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi,” said Bridgman. “My focus was on folk art traditions in the South. Primarily, I studied self-taught, religiously inspired artists, focusing on the works of artists like Howard Finster and Theora Hamblett. I also explored the folk art pottery tradition and conducted oral history interviews with over a dozen self-taught and folk artist, exploring themes I drew on in my own teaching.” After returning to Midtown, Bridgman established a home studio practice while she served as a teaching artist in the Education Department of The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. “This was another three-year span that allowed me to teach while my son, Nash, was in nursery school through kindergarten,” recalled Bridgman. “It was ideal because I was able to align my work hours with his school hours and work in the studio when I wasn’t teaching.” In 2009, Bridgman switched to working as a full-time artist from her home studio, Bridgman Pottery. She redirected her focus from stoneware to porcelain tableware inspired by traditional blue and white china. “In the last eight years, I have pushed my explorations in surface design, as well as adapting classic, traditional forms of tableware,” said Bridgman. “Additionally, I’ve learned more about glaze
chemistry. I’ve stopped using commercial glazes and now I make my own. In addition to my blue and white work, I use a limited palette of white, aqua, cobalt and a copper-green. This year I’ve been working to develop a rosé pink.” Bridgman continued, “I work from my home studio and my focus is pieces for daily life rather than on special occasions. All of my work is durable enough to be used on a daily basis. Small pieces such as plates, cups and berry strainers are usually decorated with nature-inspired designs based on local flora and fauna. A few animal motifs, like birds, bunnies and moths, find their way into my designs, too. And inspired by trips to the Maine coast, occasionally I include abstract designs based on stone shapes.” Most of the forms of Bridgman’s designs are reminiscent of things that you might find in your grandmother’s cabinet — footed compotes, egg cups, and tureens — shapes inspired by pieces of vintage ironstone transferware. Not only are her pieces unique, but Bridgman’s approach to sales is a bit nontraditional, too. Throughout the year, she uses social media to announce her Open Studio Days on Facebook and Instagram. And following the method of CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), Bridgman offers a subscription service through her website (www.bridgmanpottery.com) where people pay
an amount up front for items like bud vases, bowls, cups and serving bowls. “Basically, this was a way for me to explore new ideas without having to commit to a huge run of something, and send them out only to people who have subscribed,” explained Bridgman. “The larger serving bowls have floral designs that allow customers to build a collection through the different seasons, (i.e., poppies this spring, zinnias in the summer and elderberries this fall).” Last October, Bridgman helped relaunch the ABC program at The Brooks and is once again teaching there on a part-time basis. “Because I have fifteen workday hours a week at The Brooks, plus more time dedicated to preparing for what I’m going to teach, I am more aware of what I need to accomplish in my days devoted to working in my studio,” said Bridgman. “For me, art is definitely a means of personal expression and being able to share it with others through my teaching is a way for me to give back to the community.” Bridgman concluded, “I don’t think I could have my business and my teaching practice work so well anywhere else. Memphis gives professional artists opportunities to expand their outreach through education, as well as numerous chances to mix and mingle with the public.”
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Memphis Moment
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September
Trashion Show The Beauty of Recycling
T
he 2017 Trashion Show took recycling to a new level as designers from the Memphis area put their “curbside couture” on the runway. The event was held in a setting that could not have been more apropos— the downtown ER2 recycling center. Ron Childers, meteorologist for WMC Action News 5, was the event’s emcee and fashion icon Babbie Lovett served as the show’s commentator. “The idea behind the event was to show the beauty of recycling through fashion—Trash + Fashion = Trashion,” explained Lovett. Childers reminded the crowd that the now-popular green movement actually started in Memphis when the Memphis City Beautiful Commission (MCB) was founded in 1930 making it the first and oldest beautification commission in the country. Funds raised at the event will support MCB’s Community Mini-Grants program to help make Memphis a clean, green and beautiful place to live. This year’s winners were Best of Show, Andre M. Walker for “The Butterfly Princess”; second place, Mary Ambrose for “Black Swan” and third place, Bruce Bui for “Love our Mother Ocean.” Story and Photos by Emily Adams Keplinger
Camilla Curran and Morgan Prewett
Josie Howser, Tommie Pardue and Vicki Gore
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Kate Grace Cunningham and Liv Gamble
Jordan Tubbs
Phoebe Anderson and Jimena Depict
Megan Rector
Eldra White and Cyndy Grivich Tucker
Paul Thomas and Babbie Lovett
Jayme Stokes, Yas Meen and Ron Beasley
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Night at the Lorraine A Benefit for the National Civil Rights Museum
M
Eric and Lashaunda Massey
Patrick and Katy O’Connor
emphis is a city steeped in American history, where you can literally touch and feel the places that tell the story of our nation. One such place is The Lorraine Motel, home of The National Civil Rights Museum. It is a living shrine to the memory of one of the greatest Americans, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On a perfect summer evening, hundreds of guests turned out for “Night At The Lorraine” a celebration and silent auction to benefit this world famous landmark. There was plenty of delicious food on hand along with bars serving up the signature libation, “The Sweet Lorraine”. The food on hand was heavenly, including Braised Pork Belly with Kimchi Slaw from Bounty on Broad. Big Momma’s and Granny’s served Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Succulent Ribs. Belle Southern Bistro dished out Mississippi Shrimp and Grits. Guests danced till 11pm to the sounds of Connect 3. Story and Photos by Bill Bannister
Kelly Cruise and Myra Sellers
Yolanda Ross and Dapo Odusanya
Daryl and Crystal Quarles and Eddie Flint
Dr. Steven and Mrs Paula Zambrano
Carol and Joey Hagan
Dawn Campbell, Michelle Culbreth, and Stephanie Evansen
Joyce Reed, Olivia Coleman, and Frank Reed
Eugene and Ella Young
Nelda Burroughs and Demar Roberts
Reginald Tate and Sylvester Tate
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Memphis Moment
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September
Vine to Wine Benefiting Memphis Botanic Gardens Educational Programming
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olks attending the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Vine to Wine event didn’t let a little rain keep them from having a great time. While the party is usually held outside, event planners simply brought the party inside, and skipped the “Tipsy Tour,” of the My Big Backyard area. Nancy Apple strummed the guitar as guests enjoyed wine and other beverages, and loaded up their plates with barbecue from a buffet provided by Central BBQ. There were dessert offerings from Frost Bake Shop and The Mighty Olive. The gourmet shop provided brownies made with blood orange flavored olive oil. Vine to Wine programs are held on the last Tuesday of the month, from February to October, and proceeds help fund the garden’s educational programs.
Evelyn and Phil Mosley with Laura and Bobby Lackey
Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson Cozza
Angela Gallaher, Corrie Reed, Amy Cole, Kristen Palmer and Shannon Richardson
Pam Castlemun and Nancy Kresko
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Jenna Ward and Will Embry
Eddie and Laura Henson with Pam and Jim Bond
Tammy Goode and Kathy Albonetti
Sonja and Maurice Butler
Akosua Sintim-Damoa and Joseph Catrambone
Frank and Candy Andrasik
Christopher and Allison Cook
Taisha Nelson and Terri Jones
Amy Downing and Michael Schreiber
Peg Scott and Barbara Beckerman
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September 2017
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September 2017
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Jeff Burress
Fontaine Brown
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Sportsball
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SportsBall
A Jason and Aleshia Campbell
Charlotte and Boyd Gillespie
Sarah and Cisco Sanchez
Games for Grownups, Futures for Kids
s one of the Mid-South’s most important institutions, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes a significantly positive impact in our community. Recent events in our nation and our city illustrate that young people are crying out for connection and opportunity. It is through the important work of Big Brothers Big Sisters that over 45,000 young people, known as “Opportunity Youth”— not in school or working, are given a direction and the mentoring that takes them off the path to trouble and onto the path of building lives as productive, successful citizens. One of the biggest fundraising events of the year that provides the means by which this work is done is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the MidSouth, Inc. SportsBall. This year’s SportsBall was held at Minglewood Hall, where more than 800 supporters turned out for a night of Games for Grownups and Futures for Kids. Caesars Entertainment brought out the games, which included not only foosball and video games, but blackjack, craps and roulette, complete with professional dealers. Upon check-in, each guest was given $50,000 in casino play money with which to buy their chips and place their bets. If the excitement of all that gaming action wasn’t enough, there were tables of treasures up for bid in the spectacular silent auction. Items included an original Sun Records 45 of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin”, complete with a check made out to The Killer, a ticket to an Elvis “concert that never was” scheduled for August 16, 1977, a replica of Elvis’ sabre tooth tiger necklace, a trip to Magic See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Bethany McRae and Amy Strickland
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September 2017
Springs and gift certificates to Fleming’s Steakhouse, The Memphis Zoo, Huey’s, Wiseacre Brewing and Buster’s. There was jewelry from the Jackie Kennedy Collection by Camrose and Kross, as well as vintage concert posters of Ike and Tina Turner and James Brown. All of that excitement can work up an appetite, and the 2017 SportsBall had the situation covered with a vast buffet that started with an assortment of cheeses and sausage, along with eggplant, squash and pickled okra, and moved on to a cornucopia of fruit including watermelon, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple. There were grilled fish tacos with cilantro lime aoli, Papachos potato wedges with jalapeno queso, barbecue sliders with spicy coleslaw, chicken Philly sandwiches with red and green bell peppers, pretzel dogs with mustard relish and spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips. A huge array of desserts included brownies, coconut macaroons, chocolate mousse shooters and pineapple gooey buttercake. There can’t be a proper party without beverages, so there were two enormous fully stocked bars offering every imaginable libation. The SportsBall live auction offered up a vintage Les Paul Gibson guitar, a five course dinner for 10 in the private wine cellar at Binions, a Dallas sports fan weekend for two to see the Dallas Cowboys play The Greenbay Packers and a 2.75 carat diamond bangle bracelet. Sponsors included Nike, The Commercial Appeal, FedEx, Comcast, Enterprise and Kroger. Story by Bill Bannister Photos by Don Perry
Bennet Doyle, Christy Evans, Scott Felix and Anna Newton
Kevin Cerrito and Tamara Cumberland
Chris Anderson and Markova Reed
Eric Hasseltine and Chelsea Chandler
Clare and Bill Mann
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September
Sportsball
the Truffle Pig home accessories • gifts works from local artisans jewelry • baby
You’re Invited!
Jeff and Lauren Rower with Penney and David Williams
Holiday Open House Kick-off party
Thursday, October 12th
But... The party keeps going through
Saturday, October 14th 9056 Poplar Pike, suite 101 Germantown, TN 38138 901.308.1557 | . Cynthia and Tanner George
Diana Glaser and Linda Carter
Vintage Market Septem b e r 2 9 t h & 3 0 t h
Fri. 9am - 6pm & Sat. 9am - 5pm
Agricenter International 7 7 7 7 Wa ln u t G r o v e M e m p h i s , T N
Brinetta Carlton with Ronald and Carolyn Kent
free parking
food trucks
vintage | antiques | farmhouse cool junk | handcrafted | art j e w e l r y | b o u t i q u e s t yl e weekend pass $12 - day pass $8 ruthsnap@yahoo.com for info Nakita Anthony and Jason Smith Williams
Matt Moye and Robyn Davis
September 2017
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Sportsball
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September
Kendall Seering, Stephanie Shipp and Sherita Moore with Landi and Michael Bohner
Cory and Deanna Robertson
Lauren Brady and Justin Lachey
Brandon Riley, Octavia Riley and Rudy Carter
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September 2017
Tonell Jones, Brittney Whitten and Ashley Harrison
Jessica Toliuszis and Christina Vranich
Regina and Charles Hawkins
Amy and Elliot Hughes
John Martin, Cindy Debardeleben and Jason Smith
September
Courtney Taylor and C.J. Hurt
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Sportsball
Brandy Davis and Kaitlyn Sawyer
Robin Jordan with Amy and Ian Burns
Innovative techniques and a pioneering spirit best describes Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Lawrence Schrader, bringing the partial knee replacement to the Mid-South and now Stem Cell Rejuvenation. Over the past 4 years he has introduced (SVF) stem cell therapy, with a national Physician organization under approved research protocols. Maria and Dustin Starr
Cody Thayer and Taylor Story
Our treatment utilizes the patient’s own stem cells for rejuvenative benefits
Arthritis • Autoimmune Diseases Degenerative Spine & Disk Disease Hips, Knees, Shoulders • Neuropathy Platelet Rich Plasma
Brenda Lee, Kim Davis and Susan George
September 2017
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Memphis Moment
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September
Green Drinks At Ghost River Tap Room
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ew public occasions for sipping brew and supporting social causes could be as unstructured as Green Drinks. Folks gather in a spot where locally brewed beer flows cool and tasty straight from the tap, pure as the Memphis water from which it’s made. Sustainability and the environment are topics that ripple through conversations. At the Ghost River Tap Room, the “Drink a Beer, Save a River with Memphis Green Drinks” series makes raising money for the Wolf River Conservancy a painless pursuit. A dollar for every beer sold goes to help conserve the Wolf River watershed and recharge the Memphis Sand Aquifer. Ghost River Brewing Co. takes its name from a section of the Wolf, which flows into the Mississippi River at Memphis from origins near La Grange, TN. Green Drinks events afford local non-profits like ioby and The Compost Fairy the opportunity to share information about their projects. Green Drinks International chapters are active in 545 cities worldwide.
Kenn Gibbs, Brian Freibaum, Sydney Brown and Haley Houke
Story and Photos by Virginia M. Davis
Aspen Blum, Cheryl Smith, Sarah Baker and Allison Chen
Erin Gallagher with Dr. Brenda and Chris Gallagher Tony DiNolfo and Taylor Cook with Archer
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Jesse Gammons, Dermot Murray and Bob Rogalski
Daniel, Jude, Gillian and Lucy Waechter Webb
Joe Sills, Kelsey Hamilton and Rick Thomas
Liz Rincon, Paula Barnes and Laura Pate
Michael and Mallory Seeker with Julie Bailey
Kim Low and Sam Powe
Victoria Norris, Olivia Burchett and Emily Wozena
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September 2017
September
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Memphis Moments
Last Nighter Party Let the Good Times Roll
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Carmen Saab, Caroline Culpepper and Lori McCaghren
s Carnival Week came to an end, the folks known to “party with a purpose” got together at the University Club for the “Last Nighter Party.” Partygoers gathered downstairs to celebrate with the University Club princess, Rainey Charbonnet and prince Henry Keel, and let the good times roll. The food and music were New Orleans style. Sounds of the Mighty Souls Band filled the room and spilled out onto the patio, where sandwiches were served. Inside, a dinner buffet featured an oyster bar, and a build-yourown gumbo station. When everyone had eaten their fill, a Second Line led the partiers upstairs, where the 2017 Carnival Memphis Court joined them. The band Party Planet took over the musical entertainment and played until the party ended around midnight.
Joyce Charbonnet and Laura Charbonnet
Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson Cozza Henry Keel and Rainey Charbonnet
Boyd and Charlotte Gillespie with Pat Beech and Carol Seamons
Kate Grace Cunningham, Bailey Keel and Daisye Rainer
M.L. and Mark Weber
Annie Thompson, Sophia Tashie and Alexia Spentzas
Katie Kosar, Aiden Connell and Hannah Orgel
F.I.R.E. Family Fun Day Foundry Invitational and River Exhibition at The National Ornamental Metal Museum
Taryn Kroll and Sydney Prascak
Diana and Kurt Kiesling with Terry O’Nele
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t was a Saturday afternoon to remember. In the shadow of the Big River Crossing with a spectacular view of old man river, amid the beautiful old oaks on the lawn of The National Ornamental Metal Museum, the third annual Foundry Invitational and River Exhibition (F.I.R.E) Family Fun Day was held. The event was attended by kids of all ages, and there was fun for everyone. Hands-on activities were the hit of the day as artists and metalsmiths from across the country were on hand to answer questions and demonstrate a live iron pour. Visitors also lined up for some delicious barbecue and ice cold Mempops were available to cool things down. Story and Photos by Bill Bannister
Jam Lovell and Dee Helton
Sylvia Hardin and David Peters
Cassie Wery and Renee’-Christian Hudlet
Kevin Lewis, Courtney Mansfield, Debra Martin and Nicholas Lanier
Grace Simonson and Cara DiStefano
Kerry and John Facello with Gabby Sneed
September 2017
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Memphis Moment
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September
Loving Local Supporting Project Green Fork
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roject Green Fork is strong and growing. The local initiative has worked with area restaurants, bakeries, caterers and markets since 2008 to help make the Memphis region more environmentally sustainable. It joined forces with the non-profit Clean Memphis in 2016. A crowd of Project Green Fork supporters attended the eighth annual Loving Local fundraiser, held at the newly opened Old Dominick Distillery in Downtown Memphis. Among 57 local businesses certified by Project Green Fork are Belly Acres, City & State, Fuel Café, Huey’s, Muddy’s Bake Shop, Sekisui, South of Beale, Ultimate Foods and Zaka Bowl, all of whom dished up goodies at the event. Red Eye Jedi provided music. Sponsors were AutoZone, Colliers International, Eco-Products, Highwoods Properties, L & Jay Productions, Mahaffey Tent & Event Rentals, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, Memphis Made Brewing Co., Old Dominick Distillery, Orion Federal Credit Union, Thistle & Bee, Tioga Environmental Consultants and Wright Medical.
Mac Bruce, Annie Bares, Caitlin Dempsey and Carson Duffy
Story and Photos by Virginia M. Davis
David and Bonnie Thornton, Diane Jalfon and Andre Fowlkes
Monique Stitts and Irene Montanez
Amanda Smith and Jenna Richardson
Jessica Toliuszis, Christina Vranich and Ashley Harrison
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September 2017
Claire Rossie and Garret Stone
Cyndy Grivich Tucker, Dwan Gilliom, Susan Hadley Maynor and Jane Boscarino
Melissa Dison, Sanne Roijmans and Mike Larrivee
Dax Nichols and Chassity Walls
Audrey Kruse, Mallory Prater and Gina Prater
Trykeitha Alexander, Charlie Nelson and Velvet Graham
Memphis Moment
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September
Trolley Night Making New Tracks on South Main
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he South Main Historic Arts District produced a special salute to summer with a ramped-up night of entertainment and activities on the street. In anticipation of the trolleys returning to Downtown, the monthly Trolley Tour event invited the public to “get aboard” and show their celebratory spirit. “We had an amplified vibe,” said South Main Association President Don Williams, who partnered with the Downtown Memphis Commission and the Downtown Neighborhood Association to add new whistle-stops to the tried-andtrue routes of traditional Trolley Night. “We added more excitement and ways for visitors to interact with our businesses and residents.” “We made the evening ‘pop’ with more music, art, businesses welcoming attendees into their stores, and incredible entertainment,” added Joan Robinson, events chair for the Downtown Neighborhood Association. “The evening began with Memphis Second Line Jazz Band leading a parade from LYFE Kitchen to Earnestine & Hazel’s, then staging a ‘play-off’ with members of The GrizzLine.” The Downtown Trolley Tour is free to the public and takes place the last Friday night of each month.
Priscilla Hernandez, Joy Terral and Kerry Guest
Story and Photos by Emily Adams Keplinger
Sally Perry and Sam Daumer
Terra Pitts and Anna Grey McCraw
Jennifer Denker and Kelcie Zepatos
Ashley Magusiak and Elli Rose Focht
Victoria Fleming, Cindy Ward and Chelsea White
Jill Ellis and Bonnie Hollabaugh
Lorie Hudson and Tawanda Pirtle
Nick Brackley, Bethany Webb and Kyle Summers
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September 2017
Alison Bauman, Elizabeth Ennis and Gary Burcl
Maggie Bearden, Jay Sieleman and Kim Bearden
Beautiful and lasting memories are as simple as
www.rsvpmagazine.com More pictures than would ever fit in a magazine are online and available on our website. If you’re looking for a photo that one of our photographers took at a major social event and is featured in our magazine, that photo may be readily available through our web address. Just go to our site, click on the event, and remember the password: rsvp.
September 2017
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Dreamgivers' Gala
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September
Dreamgivers’ Gala
F Dan and Myra Quinley
Christine Williamson and Amber Reed
Virgina Cortese and Michael Zindale
Wendy and Matt Van Cleve
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Saluting Veterans
or the eighth year, the Dreamgivers’ Gala, hosted by nonprofit organization Forever Young Senior Veterans, paid homage to veteran servicemen with a night of dining and dancing. The evening began with cocktails as guests were greeted by the elegant sounds of pianist Al Gorski, a Navy transplant to the Memphis area, tickling the ivories. The opportunity to “capture the moment” was offered by Don Putnam Photography with props from Memphis Photo Booth. Senior veterans, many in uniform, were joined by family and friends in the Tennessee Ballroom at the Memphis Hilton. Daniel Hight, Executive Director of Forever Young Senior Veterans, welcomed the crowd of attendees, saying it was the largest gathering to date for this annual gala. While guests dined on a dinner catered by The Hilton, Daniel gave an appreciation speech to the veterans in attendance. Diane Hight, founder and president of Forever Young Senior Veterans, (and Daniel’s mother) said, “I’ve had a passion for senior citizens my entire life. The name Forever Young speaks for itself; no matter the age, a person always wants to feel young at heart.” “When Forever Young was first founded, we worked to change the image of aging and redefine it with selfconfidence, respect and a hopeful life for seniors,” said Diane. “In 2006, the organization was founded to meet a huge need in the senior adult community. In October 2009, the mission of the organization changed to honor senior veterans and sought to offer World War II veterans an opportunity to travel to see the National WWII Memorial in Washington DC. Now hundreds of WWII, Korea and Viet Nam veterans have also been honored through trips to Washington DC, Belgium, Italy, Normandy and Pearl Harbor.” This year’s Dreamgivers’ Gala served as a fundraiser to send WWII veterans to England for the first time since the war ended. “Due to the ages of our WWII veterans, this is will be Forever Young See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
September 2017
Senior Veterans’ last exclusive WWII ‘Trip of Honor,’” explained Diane. “And even though this is the last trip for them as a group, we will continue to honor them with individual wishes as long as they are on Earth.” Guests were treated to a glimpse of what those trips are like through an emotionally moving video presentation that showcased moments from previous visits. Diane made the presentation of the Jack Taylor Volunteer of the Year Award, so named for the senior veteran who has tirelessly raised over $100,000 for the Forever Young organization. This year’s honoree was Emily Garrett, a young volunteer whose grandfather served at The Battle of the Bulge. Briarcrest graduate Marianne Agee, now a Mississippi State student, was awarded the Junior Jack Taylor Award. She is studying to become a physical therapist and hopes to specialize in working with wounded soldiers. Adding to the fundraising efforts of the evening were options of purchasing a “bottomless glass” of beer or wine or selecting a box at a jewelry pull sponsored by Kendra Scott. There was also a “key pull” for a chance to win a weekend in New Orleans. A two-night stay at the Hilton Riverside was bundled with tickets to the WWII museum, the Victory Belles Show, a 4-D movie called, “Beyond All Boundaries” and gift certificates to several popular restaurants in the Crescent City. A live auction continued the evening’s fundraising efforts, with Fox 13 news anchor Darrell Greene serving as auctioneer. Following the auction, a Grand Salute was given to veterans in the audience, calling on each service unit to be recognized as the US Armed Forces Anthem was played. A special group of veterans, those who had been POW’s, received a standing ovation. The evening continued with musical entertainment by the Memphis Knights Big Band. It was a memorable night for all. For more information about Forever Young Senior Veterans, visit foreveryoungvets.org. Story by Emily Adams Keplinger Photos by Don Perry
Christi and Anthony Bradley
Luke McLaurine and Camille Diggs
Elizabeth and Chris Harkins
Norma and David Kirby
September
Glenda and Mike Fletcher
Debbie and Keith Johnson
Angie Murdock and Charlotte Richardson
Emily and Jeff McEvoy
Flo Hogue, George King, Betty Macyauski and Hal Hogue
Brent and Dawn Bush
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Luke and Kayla Jackson
Arie and Mila Szatkowski
Paul and Christine Woods
Ross Phillips and Camilla Wilson
Patrick McLarnon, Keith Moschitta and Cecil Brunson
September 2017
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Dreamgivers' Gala
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September
Pam and Kerry Cockrell with Donna and David Wiemar
Cathy and Paul Hisky with Greta Young
Steve and June Holt
Kirby and Stella Woehst
Jay and Lisa Spinelli
Rachel and Brent Joyner
Greg Hight, Hayes Laughlin and David Rowell
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September 2017
Ashleigh and Mary Jane Dacus
Julia Berry, Margaret Bonnema and Annette Lusk
September
Sandra and Roger Lewis
J.T. and Anna Thompson
Bob and Janie Wooten
Rebekah and J.D. Yeaton
Martha Starr and Hugh Bell
Wade and Sara Hodge
Roberta Landers and Jimmy Deaton
Selby and P.Z. Horton
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September 2017
Dreamgivers' Gala
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Memphis Moment
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September
Memphis Rebounders Club Tiger Fans Show Their True Colors
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t was an all-star turnout as members of the Memphis Rebounders Club of the University of Memphis and other Tiger supporters gathered at the beautiful East Memphis home of Basketball Coach Tubby Smith and his wife, Donna. Guests were welcomed into an intimate environment that gave Donna and Coach Smith an opportunity to meet with and thank fans for their support. “Last year Coach Smith arrived on the scene and had to jump headlong into recruiting activities,” explained Harold Byrd, President of the Bank of Bartlett and President of the Memphis Rebounders. “Tubby addressed the crowd and let them know how pleased he was to be a part of the legendary program at the University of Memphis.” Saying that he held a great respect for the Tigers, Coach Smith announced that his goal was to replicate his past successes and take the Tigers to win a national NCAA Championship game. And every bit as important to him was the chance to win “the right way” and teach his players the values they will need to succeed on the court as well as to get ahead in life. The event garnered praise and financial support for the future of the Memphis Tigers.
Eddie Scruggs, Donna Smith and Jere Bowden
Story and Photos by Emily Adams Keplinger
Anne Hooker and Sharon Davis
John Paul “Jack” Jones and Levi Smith
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Larry and Dianne Papasan
Belinda and Calvin Anderson
Jimario Rivers and Verlinda Henning
Richard Glassman and Willie Gregory
Carolyn Blackburn and Jamae Clark
Coach Tubby Smith, Harold Byrd, Tavarski Hughes, Alexander Wharton and Dwight Boyd
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Judy Holliday Long and Mark Long
September 2017
Grace and Frank Uhlhorn with Syble Smith, Janice Bomar and Bruce Smith
September
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Memphis Moment
Distinguished Citizen Dinner AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic Kickoff
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he ballroom at Hilton Memphis was packed during the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner, the kick-off event for the tournament. The Distinguished Citizen Award is given to a man or woman who has reached the pinnacle of his or her career. Past honorees range from Elvis Presley and Fred Smith to Archie Manning. “People think it’s just about sports, but it’s not,” says Liberty Bowl president Steve Ehrhart. After the cocktail hour, during which attendees browsed hundreds of silent auction items, they enjoyed a buffet dinner. Leigh Shockey, president of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic, presented the award to home town sports hero,Tim McCarver. He gave a moving speech about how much his career was influenced by the education and coaching he received in Memphis. He recognized Tom Nix, 91, his coach at CBHS, where he graduated in 1958, and Father John McArthur, long-time priest at St. Louis Parish, who happened to be retiring that same day. Last year the tournament raised $220,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Ehrhart said the hope is to exceed that total this year. Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson Cozza
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland with Janet Gatewood and Rich Peterson
State Senator Mark and Chris Norris
Allie and Barbara Prescott
Barbara and John King with Julie and Keith Patterson
Jacqueline Thomas, Mike Longo and Dexter Davis
Bob and Stella Crone
Nan Buck and Tommie Pardue
Brother David Poos and Brother Chris Englert
Tim McCarver and Steve Ehrhart
Celeste Longo, Margaret Thomas, Conrad Thomas and Lauren Beale
Patrice and Morgan Bohannon with Harold Graeter
September 2017
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Memphis Moment
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September
Southern Sunset Supper Celebrating Rock and Roll
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anoramic views of the Mississippi River at sunset filled the west-facing windows of Pat Kerr Tigrett’s magnificent abode and drew the gathered crowd outside to the rooftop patio. It was a convivial evening filled with interesting people, congenial conversation, and Southern comfort food as Tigrett entertained staff and board members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at her penthouse apartment in Downtown Memphis. Other guests comprised a Who’s Who of family members of Memphis’ music royalty and supporters of the music industry. Patrick and Deni Reilly of Majestic Grille catered the event with Southern fare that included fried chicken, green beans, macaroni andcheese, mashed potatoes, asparagus and biscuits and gravy. After the meal, guests moved indoors to recognize the music legends in attendance and to formally welcome the guests from Cleveland, Ohio. Greg Harris, president of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, spoke of behalf of his Cleveland contingent, saying, “There’s no doubt about it, Memphis is the birthplace of rock and roll. We are honored to be here and to dip our toes in the place that produced the music that truly changed the world.” Story and Photos by Emily Adams Keplinger
James and Evelyn Alexander
Charlie Ryan and Jon Hornyak
Greg Harris, Pat Kerr Tigrett and Jack Soden
Jeni Snider and Julie Given
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Brooke Tweddell, Leighanne Soden, Leigh Shockey and Laura O’Mell
Kristen McKenney and Katie Gonzalez
September 2017
Eddie Floyd, James Jaworowicz and William Bell
Boo Mitchell, Yvonne Mitchell, Jerry Phillips and Larry Dodson
Jerry Williams and Cindy Bailey
Jason Hanley and David Goodman
A photo
AFTER HOURS
collage of the latest business happenings
Orion 60th Anniversary rion Federal Credit Union celebrated its 60th anniversary with an elegant dinner for friends, family and employees at Catherine and Mary’s on South Main. Orion CEO Daniel Weickenand and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland welcomed guests and spoke of Orion’s many significant contributions to the Memphis community. Here’s to another 60 years of service for our area’s largest credit union!
Hilary and Andy Jones
Diane and Daniel Weickenand
Missy and Todd Swims
Floyd Brummett and Arneet Cheerna
Casey Condra and Jason Lee
Sette and Clark Butcher
Eric Mathews, Sarah Petschonek and Mark Thomas
Samantha and Ken Swann
John Fowlkes Jr., John Fowlkes Sr. and Andre Fowlkes
Rosetta Perkins, Alton Cryer and Marlene Houston
Michelle Fowlkes and M.P. Carter
Harold and Dawn Graeter with Mayor Jim Strickland
special promotion
Memphis Moment
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September
Feast on the Farm
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Supporting Agricultural Research, Education and Conservation
undreds of people recently gathered at the Agricenter International for the Feast on the Farm fundraiser. Guests enjoyed cocktails and a tasting of featured dishes from showcasing chefs from Babalu’s, Central BBQ Catering, Corky’s Ribs and BBQ, Draper’s Catering, One & Only BBQ, Pearl’s Oyster House, Pink Flamingo and Simply Fabulous Catering. Other event chefs included A Moveable Feast & Hog Wild Catering, Erling Jensen, Fork It Over, MEMPops, On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina, Paradise Catering, Taziki’s, The Butcher Shop, and VOM FASS Germantown. Desserts featured homemade fudge and a berry shortcake with fruit grown at the Agricenter. Jeremy C. Park, President of cityCurrent, was the evening’s emcee and Jeff Morris served as the auctioneer for the live auction. One hotly contested item was a chicken coop, built by Agricenter staff, equipped with four hens and a waterer. There was also a silent auction, as well as a wine pull, that added to the evening’s coffers. Story and Photos by Emily Adams Keplinger
John and Diana Threadgill
Lesley and Case Garrison
Jaime White, Christine Donhardt and Sue Skaer
Shelby County Mayor Mark and Pat Luttrell
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Bill Morris, John Charles Wilson and Harry Howarth
Kirk and Anne Craig Bobo
Laura and John Hehn with Holli Kenney
Jeff and Valerie Morris
September 2017
Chris and Senator Mark Norris
Bethany Smith and Joe Larkins
Forrest Reyle, Hope Glover and Mike Gunnell
Mick and Carolyn Fisher
2018 WEDDING ISSUE
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to market your services to the most desirable clients the Mid-South has to offer. In addition to the print version of RSVP, your ad will also appear in the RSVP Online Digital Magazine, which is hot-linked to all client web sites.
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE CALL 901-276-7787 ext. 101 Space Closing - December 8th
Crossword
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September
RSVP Crossword Edited By Ruth Cassin
ACROSS 1 Linen vestment worn by a priest at Mass 4 Male deer 8 Imp 14 August Zodiac sign 15 Sly 16 Strong chemical base 17 Bar bill
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18 Radiate 19 Steered 20 Nocturnal marsupial 22 Annex 23 Hawk 24 Sport played in water or with ponies 27 Hawaiian 'hello' 31 Carpe ____ 33 Make lace 35 Fido or Rover, i.e. 36 Feezing 38 Danish monetary unit, (abbr.) 39 "Negative," informally 40 Reel 44 African expeditions 46 Flex 47 When repeated, naval respnse to an order 49 Spiritedness 50 Demolish, as in a home renovation 51 Scrap 52 Pops 55 Type of lilies 58 De ____ (from the beginning) 61 Intertwine 63 "I want my ____! 65 Graduates 67 Parody 70 Totals 71 Liable 72 Annuler 73 Regretted
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74 Ball holder 75 Brittle, as in food 76 Jewish prophet and scribe 77 Stray
DOWN 1 Singing parts 2 Jumped 3 Make it yourself pizza brand 4 Certain point on a compass 5 Truss (2 wds.) 6 “Remember the ____" 7 Exercise place 8 State of anger 9 Birds “thumb” 10 Ability 11 Dastardly person 12 Brew 13 Cover 21 Horse pulled sled 25 Inc., in the UK 26 Common hardwoods used in flooring and furniture 28 Smell 29 Pueblo Native American of Arizona 30 Gets older 32 One millionth of a gram (abbr.) 34 Catch 37 12 month time period 39 Jellied gasoline used in bombs 40 Droops 41 Accurate 42 Working in a play (abbr.) 43 Baseball's Nolan
45 Nurtured 48 It may be inflated 53 Make a contribution 54 Latherer 56 Leaves out 57 Throat infection 59 Capital of Liechtenstein 60 Most senior 62 Pumpkin eater? 64 Extremely 66 Govt. food inspection agency (abbr.) 67 Pouch 68 Condensed (abbr.) 69 Japanese food fish 70 Exists
T
wenty-five years ago my wife announced that it was high time we bought ourselves a house. We were both in our early 30s and she thought living in an apartment at that age was unseemly. Personally, I liked the whole landlord thing. If the washing machine By Dennis Phillippi died we called her and she called a guy and he came and fixed it and opening the door was my sole involvement in the process. That struck me as simple and easy. Yes, after living in our small apartment for six years we had accumulated so much stuff that navigating from point A to point B required maneuvering through narrow passages that were difficult for our cat to manage, but again, we had a landlord. She paid someone to cut the grass. I didn’t have to cut the grass. I didn’t have to pay a guy to cut the grass. Why mess with a perfectly good system? As it turned out, she was serious about this house-buying business. Of course, before you can buy a house you have to find a house. Over the years some of our friends have found a house quickly and easily. The reason for this is the Internet. These days all one has to do is start looking around on your Internet and in no time at all that perfect house will appear. When we were house hunting there was no Internet. There were free magazines in racks at the front of grocery stores beside ones that advertised motorcycles and RVs for sale. These featured tiny, grainy photographs that gave no true indication of what the property in question may have looked like. They also included impossibly vague descriptions and misleading prices. This was a terrible system. This was nowhere near as good as the landlord/grass cutting system. Most of the houses we looked at were found by literally burning every Saturday afternoon driving around looking for “For Sale” signs. Once a sign was spotted there was sitting in the car staring at the house time, then calling the real estate agent listed on the sign to set up a time to look at the house, then the actual looking at the house, then the inevitable discussion of how it was out of our price range and whether or not we really cared about having a working fireplace, and wondering what was the deal with that green carpet, followed by the decision that this was not the house for us. This went on for a year. Our apartment was in the University area, near the then mysteriously named Memphis State. I didn’t grow up here and was
This very old house September
always baffled by the idea of a college that had a city and “State” in its name. We had narrowed our search to that part of town, and Midtown. That seems like a pretty modest amount of ground to cover, but we were young, not exactly rolling in dough, and for some reason, extremely picky. The worst situation in this process was looking at a home while the people selling it were still, well, home. That horrible feeling
Our apartment was in the University area, near the then mysteriously named Memphis State. I didn’t grow up here and was always baffled by the idea of a college that had a city and “State” in its name. of having a family trying not to look desperate as we poked around the rooms they lived in, judging them. Their pleading “please buy our house, our daddy lost his job” looks were as alarming as their taste in furniture. Then one afternoon I was driving around a neighborhood in Midtown we hadn’t really paid much attention to and saw our house. There it was, the perfect turn-of-the-last-century bungalow on a street lined with enormous old
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growth trees. From the moment I saw it I knew it was the house for us. Mainly because it looked almost exactly like the house our apartment was in, and I was very fond of that apartment. It could’ve been the grass cutting deal. I really hate mowing grass. The house was in a neighborhood that had recently started seeing a lot of young people buying homes and generally gentrifying everything — Cooper Young. When we moved into Cooper Young there was a bank, a Mexican restaurant, and a lot of junk shops. To describe it as eclectic and multi-cultural would have been putting it mildly. Back then all kinds of kooks, hippies and dropouts could afford to live there. We made an appointment and did a walk through of the house while the owners sat and watched. My wife was heartily displeased that I kept saying “this is it” and “We’re buying this house.” Apparently this wasn’t going to help our negotiating position. Nonetheless we did buy the house. My wife’s parents were mortified that we were buying a house that was considerably older than they were at the time. A few months after we moved in we attended one of the early Cooper Young Festivals. This involved a lot of oddballs selling one another their old junk and feeding their dogs ice cream. I’m guessing that it was attended by maybe five or six hundred people, most of whom could walk there from home. Now, a quarter of a century later there are something like 14 bars and restaurants within walking distance of our house, along with two bookstores and a comic book shop. The Cooper Young Festival has grown to the point where every year a photo is released to show the elbowto-elbow hordes of people who have come for some “interesting culture.” Vendors come from all over to sell everything from paintings to vintage records. Sadly, dogs are no longer allowed. We love our neighborhood as much as we always have, but I have to admit, sometimes I miss the kooks, oddballs and dropouts. Every weekend we have hundreds of people visit from other parts of the area to enjoy the cool neighborhood, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen the guy who used to drive everywhere on his riding mower. I always thought about paying him to cut my grass.
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his stretch of Cooper Street marches to the beat of a different drummer, as the Memphis Drum Shop is located at the site of the former Peabody Theater. However, the location is still home to quite a show as the Cooper Young Festival, scheduled for September 16, always draws a crowd. Photo courtesy of Cooper Young Business Association If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Emily Adams Keplinger at 276-7787 ext. 105 or e-mail the photo and caption to editor@rsvpmagazine.com. All photos will be returned promptly.
GREAT THINGS GO ON HERE! 6075 Poplar Avenue – Ninth Floor Memphis, TN 38119 901-684-1010 Crecent-Club.com
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3990 Park Ave. • Memphis • 901.276.0621 Tuesday-Friday 10:00-7:00 • Saturday 9:00-3:00 • Sunday 12:00-6:00