September 2011
SportsBall Spirit of SRVS Blues on the Bluff Q&A with Elizabeth Roane
CONTENTS
Contents September 201 1
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Nick Vergos invites RSVP to the Rendezvous for this food-friendly shoot.
RSVP Watch List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Bring home your pride and joy to these baby-friendly items.
14 SportsBall Chris and Alana Vernon
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SportsBall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis pulled out all the stops for their grown-up game night benefit at Minglewood Hall.
StreetSeen Randy McGee
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StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22, 24 & 26 He’s working for the river, the Wolf that is. This Parisian opera singer is starting to plant roots in the Memphis music scene. As president of the Memphis Barbecue Network, this man comes in contact with thousands of pork lovers nationwide.
StreetSeens highlight Keith Cole, Marie-Stéphane Bernard and Randy McGee.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
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Q&A with IRIS Orchestra executive director Elizabeth Roane.
22 StreetSeen Keith Cole
Spirit of SRVS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Shelby Recreational and Vocational Services supporters toasted to “A Taste of the Good Life” at Hilton Memphis.
34 Spirit of SRVS Bill Brewer and Emily Routon
Blues on the Bluff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 WEVL’s party on the river brought out the independent radio station’s devoted supporters for the ultimate blues concert at the National Ornamental Metal Museum.
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50, 51, 53, 54 & 55 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 My Baby, She Wrote Me An E-Mail
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Dennis Phillippi spills the beans that the only mail he gets these days is AARP The
Magazine.
StreetSeen Marie-Stéphane Bernard
42 Blues on the Bluff Zach and Rachel Liberto
Cover Photo Jamie Walters and Jeff Smith at SportsBall Photo by Nathan Berry
Volume XVI
Number XII
September 201 1 PUBLISHER
Roy Haithcock EDITOR
Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ruth Cassin Kelly Cox Jeannie Mandelker Dennis Phillippi Suzanne Thompson Lesley Young EDITORIAL INTERN
Andrea Stockard ART DIRECTOR
Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS
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Nathan Berry Baxter Buck Roy Haithcock Don Perry Steve Roberts SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
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Libby Huff
Ruth Cassin
Chris Pugh ACCOUNTING
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From the Editor
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Photo by Steve Roberts
e’ve made it to September (and the wonderful September issue!) my dear readers, which means the year is more than half over, so this is the point when I find myself asking, “Where has the time gone?” While I don’t have a fitting answer to that question, I know that my time must have been spent well thus far because I haven’t wasted a second this year wondering what to do next. Being that the older you get, the more responsibilities you incur, I might have just spent my days carrying out life’s “have-todos,” but surely that can’t be true when I think about all of my out-of-town trips, hobbies I’ve tried, visits with friends after work, afternoons at the park with my dogs and a summer filled with concerts. Though work-related, I do spend quite a bit of my waking hours on and off the clock scoping out, or researching, the people, places and entities that help define Memphis culture. A fun task for me, but maybe not so much for others! Some of my friends laugh at me now because they know I’m always listening for a new story in our conversations or in those with newcomers I meet, and when they least expect it, I’ve paid attention to a tidbit of information that they never dreamed would interest anyone, much less an editor. While some ideas and leads turn out to be a bust, many end up right here on the pages of RSVP, so to my friends and casual acquaintances, I owe you a big thanks for being an invaluable resource and keeping me, and subsequently RSVP readers, in the know. For this month, you’ll be informed of a diverse crosssection of Memphians, from those contributors and beneficiaries of nonprofits, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis (page 14), SRVS (page 34) and WEVL (page 42), to a French opera singer (page 24) and a man who promotes and educates people about our city’s famous style of cooking barbecue (page 26). Then, there’s one of the well-known faces behind the Rendezvous on page 10, the new CEO of the Wolf River Conservancy featured on page 22 and finally, a story on page 28 of the executive director of IRIS Orchestra, an interesting group of musicians from all across the globe who play together right here in Memphis. Not to take up any more of your precious time, happy reading and have a blessed fall.
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Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com
Part Owner in The Rendezvous/Supporter of Make-A-Wish Foundation®, Riverfront Development Corporation, Metal Museum and the Memphis Zoo
Hobby: Fishing. Favorite author: John Grisham. Stress outlet: Cooking at home. Guilty pleasure: Dinstuhl's chocolate. Personal hero: My father, Charlie Vergos. Childhood ambition: To be a veterinarian. Your mantra: Not one of us is as smart as all of us. First job: Delivering the East Memphis Shoppers News. Favorite album: “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor. First concert: The Young Rascals and Sam the Sham. One thing you can’t live without: My iron skillets. Favorite Memphis musicians: Al Green and Niko Lyras. Where you take out-of-town guests: Duh!!!!! The Rendezvous. Last book you’ve read: Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain. Movie you could watch over and over again: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Your greatest achievement: Shipping the first fully cooked, ready to eat food product via FedEx. Historical figure you most identify with: Don't know whom I might identify with, but I think Ben Franklin is a rock star!
Photo by Steve Roberts
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“Games for Grown-Ups, Futures for Kids”
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Johnny and Laura Harper
Angie and Lionel Hollins
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portsBall brought a night benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis to Minglewood Hall with “Games for Grown-Ups, Futures for Kids.” This event, now in its 14th year, is devoted to ensuring that every young person who wants a mentor has one. But it also unites another great pairing: black tie attire...and sneakers. It’s gala from the ankle up, and kicks from the heel to the toe. Kim Winston complemented her little black dress with canary yellow Nikes. Kaile Pippin floated in a floor-length, feathery formal white gown but stayed firmly grounded with a pair of white Converses. First-time SportsBall attendee Colleen Finn, accompanied by Brian Ridenhour, initially cringed at the thought of running shoes with eveningwear, so she got online and found herself a pair of real-life high-heeled sneakers. “I was looking at some high-heeled Air Jordans, but they weren’t going to ship in time—and anyway, these are cuter!” said the creative Finn, pointing out the little silver studs on her sneaker pumps. Of course, the gentlemen were not to be outdone. Terrance Wilkins, who attended with Candice Bonner, gleamed in a sharkskin suit and Nike Shox. Keith Franklin also cut a fashionable figure. “I’m going to bid on that dozen pair of V.K. Nagrani socks in the silent auction,” he said, lifting the leg of his slim-cut tuxedo pants to reveal a pair of colorfully-striped socks ending in Adidas Porsche shoes. The night’s many active enticements included hoops, air hockey, arcade video games and human jousting performed in a puffy ring, all in a layout promoting mingling and movement. There were even casino games with real Harrah’s dealers. Participation in the games earned funny money redeemable for raffle tickets. It’s like the fairway meets the runway—and Ferdinand’s catered to the theme with fun food like catfish, sausage sandwiches, wings and barbecue nachos. Emceed by Atlanta’s Michael Blair, who has been a part of SportsBall from the very beginning, this event also honored Big Sister of the Year Barbara Hudak-Scheirer and Big Brother of the Year Reginald Manning. Presenting sponsors were Soul Classics 103.5, Fox 13 Memphis, FedEx, Harrah’s Tunica and Nike.
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Story by Kelly Cox Photos by Nathan Berry
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Mandy Polk and Josh Bell
Demetres and Lynelda Jones
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STREETSEEN
Keith Cole Protecting Memphis’ Other Great River
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he enjoyment experienced when leisurely floating along the Wolf River in a canoe can be easily conveyed to someone, but stressing the importance of preserving this waterway can sometimes come with a challenging current. Keith Cole, the new CEO of the Wolf River Conservancy, says that the challenge stems from people taking Memphis’ abundant high quality water supply for granted, in addition to them not really understanding what the conservancy does. “Since coming on board in April, my most immediate concern has been providing leadership to the staff and the organization so we can focus on communicating our message clearly and effectively in the community,” Cole shares. “I also want to increase expectations of all of our stakeholders as to our ability to deliver on our mission to preserve and protect the Wolf River and its watershed as a sustainable natural resource.” Throughout the past 25 years, the Wolf River Conservancy has protected 20,000 of the 42,000 acres in the Wolf River watershed, located atop the Memphis sand aquifer. According to Cole, this watershed serves as a “recharge” area for the aquifer during rainfall, and as the water absorbs in the floodplain, it filters through the aquifer. The result is exceptional drinking water. Ensuring that citizens continue to have this excellent source for public water happens in part by joining the Wolf River Conservancy membership or by taking part in its advocacy and educational outreach efforts; even drinking Ghost River Brewing beer can help, as the brewery donates a portion of proceeds of every barrel sold to the conservancy. Cole adds, “I’ve seen a wonderfully diverse group of individuals who are conservancy supporters, not to mention that in 2010 around 10,000 adults and children participated in our environmental education programs.” The CEO suggests that children are the Wolf River Conservancy’s most important demographic for its outreach efforts, which typically consist of youth educational activities five days a week. Cole goes on to point out that recent studies indicate since the 1990s children are playing outside less and less and mentions author Richard Louv’s espousal of a Nature Deficit Disorder in kids today, making it all the more crucial to engage youngsters in nature. The recent opening of the 22-mile Wolf River Greenway Trail Park, a walking and biking path off of Humphreys Boulevard, is affording youth, and adults alike, another opportunity to soak in the beauty of the Wolf firsthand, and from the perspective of being on land. With construction starting this month on the Greenway’s second segment, which will be a connector to the Germantown Greenway and ultimately Collierville, the conservancy hopes to increase the Wolf’s visibility to those who may have never seen the river due to its location in Memphis. The “Dinner on the Greenway” benefit takes place September 24 for those wanting a full grasp of the master plan…no paddle is needed for this journey into the Wolf’s future. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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STREETSEEN
Marie-Stéphane Bernard Bringing a Trans-Atlantic Sound
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hile some might initially focus on Marie-Stéphane Bernard’s physical resemblance to Sophia Loren, they soon move on to the Parisian-born singer’s talent, her voice. An opera singer starring in notable soprano roles throughout the world’s leading opera houses, Bernard has been a performer, ironically first as a violinist, since age 6, but Memphis has just begun to see the likes of her. Though Bernard still rents an apartment in Paris, where she enjoys being a vocal coach for several “serious” adult students, she has fully immersed herself in everything Memphis since moving to town with her husband, a German container ship captain, a year and a half ago. The two relocated to the Bluff City after being sold on Mud Island, rich cultural offerings and accessibility to good airlines. Bernard also felt a connection to the city’s music, particularly notable female opera artists like the late Ruth Welting, Marguerite Piazza and Kallen Esperian. She hopes to meet both Piazza and Esperian, but until then, she’s bound to cross paths here with more contemporaries in her field, as her Memphis singing debut as an Opera Memphis guest artist at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens last month will hopefully mark the first of many local performances to come. Of the reason she’s just now emerged on Memphis’ opera scene, Bernard explains, “When I first arrived, Michael Ching was leaving Opera Memphis, and I was traveling a lot. I do want to perform more here though, and I assure audiences that wherever I am, I am generous on stage in my acting and with my voice—I don’t sing differently just because I’m in a different place.” Being on stage has been achievement enough for Bernard, who feels fortunate to have already done two of her favorite operas, “Carmen” and “Tosca,” and to have shared the stage with artists including Gabriel Bacquier, Jane Rhodes and Luciano Pavarotti. One of her biggest vocal influences however came from her childhood friend’s mother, the great soprano opera singer Hildegard Behrens. Bernard remembers Behrens urging her to work on her voice, but at the time, the violin took up Bernard’s focus. Then, the day came when Bernard attended one of the established soprano’s rehearsals. Bernard tells, “She [Behrens] told me before we got to her rehearsal, ‘You will understand what the voice is,’ and after hearing her perform, I was overwhelmed—it was the shock of my life, and I understood the power of the voice.” Slowly but surely, Bernard gave up the violin and focused more on her chorus performances at the Waldorf School. By age 17, she was participating in vocal contests, eventually earning a scholarship to Rome’s Santa Cecilia Conservatorium. And though Bernard went on to perform everywhere from Paris’ Opéra-Comique to Teatro La Fenice in Venice and Suntory Hall in Japan, she’s proudly one of our own now. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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STREETSEEN
Randy McGee Heating Up the Barbecue Competition Circuit
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ny Memphis resident knows by now about the Memphis in May World Champion Barbecue Cooking Championship, but Memphis Barbecue Network president Randy McGee will tell you about numerous barbecue competitions that take place yearround across the Mid-South and beyond. Seven contests alone will occur in September, and eight are scheduled for October, with the season ending on December 30-31 with the inaugural AutoZone Liberty BBQ Bowl. Founded in 2007, the MBN serves as the sanctioning body for barbecue contests in 12 states, in addition to training competition judges, keeping members informed of teams’ cooking classes and providing a network of likeminded pork barbecue enthusiasts for its membership. The organization’s main goal entails promoting and preserving the unique cooking style associated with Memphis barbecue, which McGee defines as pork that’s cooked low and slow and preferably accompanied by a tomato-based sauce. McGee does admit that regional preferences for different cooking styles exist within the network. MBN judge Skip Sawyer vouches, “I find various flavors and processes used in different parts of the world, but the best [barbecue] I’ve had was here in Memphis, and I’m from Virginia.” These varied methods of cooking come to light at MBN sanctioned competitions, which are taken seriously by both participating teams and the some 1,500 network judges. Contest categories include whole hog, pork shoulder and pork rib, with no limit on the number of categories entered; sometimes contests do offer non-sanctioned categories, such as “Anything But,” chicken and sauce. Four “blind” judges evaluate each entry, but what really sets the MBN contests apart from others are the additional three onsite judges for all entries. “With blind judging you have no identifying markers on the box about where the pork came from or how it was prepared, however with onsite judging, teams get to show their barbecue to a judge on a grill and explain their cooking process in a 10-15 minute, sometimes humorous, presentation,” McGee says. During the onsite judging, entries are evaluated not only on their presentation, but also on their booths and personal appearance. McGee adds that this component holds teams to a higher level of cleanliness, making the events more civically attractive for patrons. Though competition can get heated for some hoping to take home prize money or a trophy like the ones pictured at right, MBN standards assure that all competitors, whether there to win or not, are treated fairly. Of course, there’s also lots of fun to be had and new best friends to be made. “We’re more of a social organization—it’s funny when we look at other contests and see people blocking off booths,” McGee says. “We’re more open and based in the Southern culture.” Just don’t ask anyone for their recipe at competition…classes are another story. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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Vox Popular Q&A with Elizabeth Roane
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RSVP: What was it about the IRIS Orchestra that compelled you to work for the organization?
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Roane: My background is corporate marketing and sales, including international corporate marketing and sales, so this group [IRIS Orchestra] mesmerized me because it’s a little bit of talent from all over the world. That’s the unique thing about IRIS—we’re a boutique orchestra. We bring talent from all over the country and all over the world to GPAC [Germantown Performing Arts Centre] or the Cannon Center six times a year. We use people from the Memphis Symphony, the Tennessee Shakespeare Company, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Amsterdam and all over. I think it’s great for Memphis to have such diverse talent come here and all play together. RSVP: Do you feel the out-of-town artists who are participating in the IRIS Orchestra want to be a part of the Memphis music scene? Roane: The people who play with us are dying to play with us. In fact, we get phone calls all the time: I get them, my assistant gets them, our orchestra manager gets them and our conductor Michael Stern gets them. The reason they want to play is that IRIS is a unique model. Most of these musicians play with unions. We are not that. When they come here, it’s like a vacation. They get paid to come here and play with some of the best artists from all over the world without any rules, and they get to play with Michael Stern, who is Isaac Stern’s son. Michael is world-renowned, and he’s the founding artistic director and principal conductor for this orchestra and the music director for the Kansas City Symphony. Artists want to play under Michael, and it’s an honor for them to do that. The other reason artists love it is they’re all friends, and it’s fun to hang out together. There isn’t the animosity that there can be in union groups, and they stay with host families, who are our subscribers. It’s really unique, and often the artists are close with the families they stay with.
Photos by Don Perry
emphis has long been known for the blues, rock ‘n’ roll and soul, but the IRIS Orchestra continues to diversify the city’s music scene with its innovative model and unique variations on classical music. Under the guidance of renowned conductor Michael Stern, the orchestra has built a reputation for bringing the world’s best artists and musicians together, which is just one of many reasons why IRIS’s executive director Elizabeth Roane stresses the importance of IRIS to this community. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Roane at her office to find out just what makes IRIS so special to its participants and also to learn what the upcoming 11th season holds for audiences.
to be. They need to be subscribers also, but to be a subscriber, it’s only $265 a year, and if you sign up late, it’s $295. We have a lot of subscribers. GPAC seats 824 people, and we’re close to 600 subscribers a year. We always want new subscribers, of course, but more than 700 would keep non-subscribers from being able to attend, at least our evening performances. We have open rehearsals prior to each IRIS concert on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., which are only $10, and we started a new thing called the Family Saturday Series for children, and that’s from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. for three of our concerts. RSVP: Do the artists who are a part of IRIS seem to feed off of each other’s talent? Roane: They do. They like to learn from each other. Michael [Stern] handpicks them, so he knows them, their talent and what they’ve done. And they don’t just come here and play six times a year. For the last 10 years, we’ve been doing master classes at the University of Memphis and working with students at Hutchison, Stax, Houston High and several other schools. RSVP: What impressed you most about IRIS Orchestra when you first came on board, and is that same quality the one that still impresses you now? Roane: The model impressed me the most when I started and that continues to impress me the more I learn about it, the more I learn about orchestras all over the world and the more phone calls I get asking me if people can come play with us, or from other groups around the world trying to build a model like it. I guess the whole family feel also impresses me more than I realized it would when I started. Our musicians are so excited to see each other and play together; it really is like going to a party every time you’re here. Each artist is also so talented.
RSVP: What does someone have to do to be a host family?
RSVP: How many artists will be a part of the upcoming 2011-2012 season?
Roane: Just tell David DePeters, our orchestra manager, they want
Roane: It’s different for every concert. We’ll utilize more than 50
RSVP: What kind of experience should a first-time attendee of an IRIS performance expect? Roane: The music is so beautiful and the talent is so amazing that I can’t think of a word to describe it. Maybe surreal? If you’re used to hearing a certain type of symphony, and you hear this group play together, you realize it’s not just the music, it’s the energy. The artists are so happy to be there, the audience can feel it. To be in a room that size at GPAC and hear such talent that you can almost touch and to know that you can meet the talent afterward is pretty amazing. I wish more people understood that. IRIS is known all over the world because of our model, who plays with us and because of Michael Stern, but we have found that fewer peo-
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Roane: This year, we’re opening on October 1 with Martin Short, which will be a lot of fun. He’s going to be doing “Peter and the Wolf,” and that’s our first Family Saturday Series. The children will get to hear him and interact with him along to “Peter and the Wolf.” That will be about an hour, and then they get to go out in the lobby and have a musical petting zoo, where our musicians will show them instruments and let them play with them. It’s only $5, so it’s a great family activity. I also think Heidi Grant Murphy [a soprano in “A Taste of Heaven” on January 7, 2012] will be someone everybody loves, and we have a group called Project that will be playing with her. They’re [Project] young and fun, so I think we’ll end up having a separate fundraiser with just them playing. Then, we end the season [on May 5, 2012] with André Watts, who’s an amazing pianist...[laughing] maybe he’ll let me play with him.
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RSVP: What are some of the highlights audiences can expect in the new season?
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artists for every show, however there is one concert that will have 14 artists.
VOX POPULAR
ple in Memphis know about it or understand it. Most people who come for the first time love it and fall hook, line and sinker. One of my best friends came to Yo-Yo Ma last year, fell in love with it and became a host family right away. She and the rest of her family are now subscribers and want to have parties for us. It’s like you drink the juice, and you’re in. RSVP: What are some other ways people can become involved with IRIS outside of the performances at GPAC this year? Roane: We have one from last year that we give to our host families and certain corporate groups that sponsor us. Eventually, we will probably sell it, but not for some time. We do have several CDs that you can buy, and we’ll make a new one for this year—we do every season. You can purchase the CDs at any of the performances, or call us and we can send one to you.
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RSVP: Are there any new community programs in the works?
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Roane: I would like to see more of the string quartet. I thought that was really a lot of fun for the children. Then, I’d like to see more interaction with musicians, like budding musicians in the MYSO and Germantown. It’s just funding. If the Family Saturday Series takes off, I’d like to do more things like that with the community that are affordable. Bottom line, like any orchestra, we need funding badly, and we live like I did in college, which is paycheck to paycheck. It’s awful, and I don’t think people really understand. We operate just under a million dollars a year, and you’d think we could get that to fund us a year, but it’s very difficult because people don’t realize what it takes to do this. I’m not sure people here understand talent or the need for it. Corporations like Morgan Keegan, FedEx and Duncan-Williams, as well as any of our corporate sponsors, do because if they don’t have the Memphis Symphony or IRIS or the Tennessee Shakespeare Company, they can’t get the potential employees from other parts of the country to move here. Generally speaking, we need all of the arts organizations in this city working together to attract people to this city.
Roane: I’d like to see broader community engagement programs, with more funding for that in particular, and more performances. We currently have six performances, and I’d like to go to eight, with maybe six at GPAC and two at some of the local colleges in the area or at the Levitt Shell with an indie group. We’re trying to broaden who we’re gearing to, so maybe more performances and diversify what we’re doing.
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Roane: Well, we need funding to be able to do other things, and that’s kind of been a problem. Some of the things we do though are play with the Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra and do side-by-sides on stage with them, so they come sit next to our artists or our musicians and learn how to play that instrument. Michael Stern will work with them, and that’s usually an hour or two on Friday or Saturday in the morning. That’s a very good experience for the Memphis Youth Symphony, and we do something like that for the Germantown Youth Symphony. Then, our string quartet will come play at three schools this year. I saw one of them at Hutchison, and it was really wonderful to see. They interacted with the children, taught them how to understand harmony in a quartet and they sang along with it and made it easy. Parents can come for that too if they want. We work with Stax on a lot of things. Oh, another thing I love is when we had the Houston High School art class paint to our music and our themes. It was Shakespeare actually.
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RSVP: Are there any new CDs or recordings in the works for IRIS?
RSVP: If you could accomplish just one thing this 2011-2012 season, what would it be? Roane: Introduce more people to our jewel. That’s been my struggle since I came on board. The group of people that know about IRIS are so involved with us that you wouldn’t believe it, but it’s almost like they keep it a secret. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to build the brand, and I’d like more people to see what we have. RSVP: This time next year, where would you like to see the organization?
RSVP: What is your favorite part about your job? Roane: It’s hard to say because there are so many good aspects of this job. That’s the great thing. Earlier in the week, some of us were saying that IRIS is so small staff-wise that we get to do a little bit of everything. To say there’s a favorite part, that changes because when I go to a concert there are several favorite parts of that. Then, in the middle of the summer, it’s kind of nice because it’s nice and quiet, and we can plan all the exciting things for the next year. The opening concert is also a lot of fun because I get to see all the excitement. I love it when the musicians get to town and I get to have dinner with them. I love rehearsals because all the artists crack themselves up on stage, and that’s a lot of fun for me to watch. I like planning events, so all the events we do, from fund-raisers to dinners, are fun. This job isn’t boring, nor is any part of it routine. My personality is such that that works well.
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Spirit of SRVS
SPIRIT OF SRVS
“A Taste of the Good Life”
D
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Bill and Carol Schwam
Rick Pina and Melinda Aldison
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uring the course of the 13th annual Spirit of SRVS: A Taste of the Good Life event, an estimated 700 people circulated through the ballroom at Hilton Memphis. Prepared to sample a variety of wines, guests picked up wine glasses upon arrival and browsed hundreds of silent auction items. From doughnuts to dog care, the silent auction contained something for everybody. Always popular at silent auctions, restaurant gift certificates were available from some of the Mid-South’s favorite eateries, including Automatic Slim’s Tonga Club, Bonefish Grill, The Half Shell and Owen Brennan’s, to name a few. Circa, Central BBQ, Memphis Pizza Café, Panera Bread and the Paula Dean Buffet from Harrah’s Tunica were some of the restaurants with stations located throughout the room, which provided a taste of the good life, using their signature dishes. Many local companies and individuals came together to sponsor the event, including First Tennessee Foundation, FedEx, AutoZone, Sandra and Jack Jones, Dr. and Mrs. David Kimler and Southwestern Beverage Distributing, a provider of numerous wines for sampling. The largest wine company in the world, Constellation Wines, also was on hand allowing guests to taste wines ranging from sparkling whites to dry reds. Ron Childers of WMC-TV 5 and Steve Conley of KQK 94.1 conducted a live auction while Joe Birch served as emcee. This year’s guest artist, Danny Broadway, painted the 2011 commemorative artwork in addition to helping SRVS clients paint wine glasses that were for sale at the event. To bring some bling to the party, Doron Diamond Merchant, Inc. provided jewelry, some of which was donated to the silent auction as well as several jewelry cases loaded with gemstones. Everything over the cost of the jewelry was donated to SRVS. For people like 25-year-old Kendra Rudy, the services provided by SRVS are priceless. Rudy, who has Down syndrome, has participated in the SRVS program for about 11 years and is a member of Company D, a dance troupe. The dance company has performed in several major U.S. cities, including New York City and Washington, D.C. Rudy’s mother, Dolly White, says SRVS has truly enriched her daughter’s life and adds that the best thing is the training and opportunities available.
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Amy and Chris Farm
Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Baxter Buck
Emily Larson and Catie Miller
Angela Hammond and Scott Ridlen
Annie Kate Worley and Jason Robinson
Jessica Puckett and Dave Woloshin
Jenny Payne, Lynda Dionne and Patty Brigance
Dolly and Basil White with Kendra Rudy
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761-4430
35 RSVP
6300 Poplar Ave. Memphis
EVENT SPIRIT OF SRVS
Jo Ann Rotello with Becky and Stuart Boyd
Marta Vinzant and Jerry Michie
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Cherry Davis and Sandra Akah
Mark Hatgas and Donna Lillard
Michael Detroit and Whitney Jo
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Jim and Kay Liles
Angela Goza and Hud Andrews
Leslie Hachtel and Denice Gore
Retha Moore, Mark Pender and Eenise Farris
Jetina Machen and Erin Gray
Courtney Oliver and Andrew Moore
EVENT SPIRIT OF SRVS
George and Traci Felts with Liz and Bryan Rizer
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Jonathan Gruwell, Nancy Deal, Brian and Rebecca Wyatt and Mark Pender
Joe Birch and Father Eric Peterson
Kyle Wiltse with Dr. Lee and Donna Moffatt
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Bob Winters and Adrian Weissman
Anne Wesberry, Julie Barton, Paige Phillips and Keith Barton
Holly Knowlton and Lisa Mallory
Joyce Johns and Ken Newman
Kelly Penwell, Grace Burgess, T.J. Searcy and Bob Gammon
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Four Tony ™ Awards Including Best Musical
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WINNER
SPIRIT OF SRVS
Montego Glover and Chad Kimball from the Original Broadway Production of Memphis. Photo credit: Joan Marcus
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The 2011-2012 Broadway Season is sponsored by
Cynthia and Charles Thompson
Bill and Amanda Bannister
Gaynette Price and Bob Laurie
Cindy Price and Bernie Krock
Josh and Lindsey Hammond
Pat Cameron and David Stevens
Holley Haley and Joseph Alfonso
Andres Callender and Jo Schaeffer
October 14-23rd 2011 To purchase tickets visit the Orpheum Box Office, The Booksellers at Laurelwood, Ticketmaster, call 525-3000, or visit our website at www.orpheum-memphis.com
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Storewide Storewide SSale ale Furniture Gas Logs Umbrellas Cushions Gas Logs &Starting Selected At Grills 150 Per Set $$
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Stacy’s Hallmark La Baguette Bakery & Bistro Pelli’ Aesthetics Seize the Clay Ella Hair, Inc. Primary Care Specialists Pier 1 Imports Fountain Art Gallery JM’s Beautiful You Maternity Kelly Beers Salon Mrs. Post Stationery Just for Lunch 7th Avenue Jimmy Graham Interior Design David Johnson Designs Lisa Mallory Interior Design Kittie Kyle More T.H.E.R.A.P.Y Poppies A. Shaw Jewelry 3092 Poplar Ave. (next to the main public library)
Celebrating 40 Years!
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Season End
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EVENT
Blues on the Bluff Party on the River
BLUES ON THE BLUFF
W
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Betsy Apple and Daniel Eldridge
Brad and Debbie Halbrook
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hat better sums up a Memphis scene than blues, barbecue and the Mississippi River? Local listener-supported volunteer radio station WEVL–FM 89.9 has the market cornered on this winning combination with its annual fund-raiser, Blues on the Bluff. For its 23rd consecutive year, the independent radio station hosted the concert, which featured Blind Mississippi Morris & the Pocket Rockets, the Bo-Keys and Lightnin’ Malcolm with Cameron Kimbrough, in late July. Once again, the action took place on the National Ornamental Metal Museum grounds overlooking the Mississippi River. “This is the best view of the city,” said Blues on the Bluff first-timer Tawni Bell. “I’m giddy I’m so excited.” Smoked pork from Central BBQ was for sale, and with a cash bar, all proceeds went to benefit WEVL. For the second year in a row, the event included a silent auction, with unique items such as a treasure box of CDs handpicked by station deejays in addition to the usual restaurant packages and artwork. “There are some really interesting packages,” said Germantown resident Lydia White, who came with whole family. “I’m particularly interested in the Bluff City Barn Dance Bluegrass. I played in a bluegrass band in college, and that’s my favorite program on the station.” Including the sponsorship money from FedEx and the Memphis Firefighters Association and ticket sales for 900 attendees, the event raised more than $44,700. “It broke the previous record for money raised at Blues on the Bluff, so I have to say it went great,” said station manager Judy Dorsey. “We also have a very special crowd of really nice people who come every year—one of the best crowds at any outdoor event in the area, I think,” Dorsey added. “The view of the river is beautiful, and when you add the music, the sun setting over the Mississippi, the smell of barbecue, plus great folks, you’ve got a winning combination. I’d go even if I wasn’t so deeply involved with it.”
Lindsay Chapman and Amanda Keith
Mary Johnston and Jay Tayloe
Story by Lesley Young Photos by Nathan Berry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Judy Dorsey and Hal Mabray
Eric and Elvira Ormseth
Evette Chapman and Janice Bomar
Jerry and Ginger Marlar with Gail and Noah Kimball
Tom Ricketson and Blake Means
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HUGE CHILDREN’S CLOTHING SALE! Featuring LITTLE ENGLISH and TRAVELIN’ TRUNK
Everything $50 down to $5 New Fall 2011 Apparel Sizes Newborn-10 Adorable Smocked Clothing, Cute Appliques and So much more! Visit: LittleEnglish.com, TheTravelinTrunk.com or facebook.com/TheTravelinTrunk Like Little English Clothing on facebook.
6XQGD\ 6HSWHPEHU SP SP ‡ 0RQGD\ 6HSWHPEHU DP SP ‡ 7XHVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU DP SP Carrefour Center Poplar at Kirby Parkway (between Happi Store and Borders)
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EVENT BLUES ON THE BLUFF S E P T E M B E R 2 0 11
Jon Astor, Charlotte Frazier, Phyllis Brunt and Ed Von Boeckman
Gaye Hansen and William Woods
Bonnie Hollabaugh and Amy Beth Dudley
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Justin Durham, Claire Boyle and Mike Boyle
Chris Liberto and Rebecca Laughlin
Mark and Ellen Follis
EVENT BLUES ON THE BLUFF Kathryn Elias and Elise Jennings
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Sarah Schirmer and Denver Briley
Gary DeYoung, Mollie Palmer and Kathleen Quinlen RSVP
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CURTAINS | SHADES | HARDWARE | BEDDING Karin and Jeff West
Bill Runyan and Judy Rutschman
The Curtain Exchange of Memphis 418 Perkins Ext (Laurelwood Place) 901-767-4055
Like us on Facebook @ The Curtain Exchange of Memphis for free design tips
Paul and Annette Thompson with Sheila and Jeff Maynard
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WRCS WR Community Services provides Homemaker, In-Home Respite, Personal Care Attendant and Assistance Services.
Providing Quality Care for the Elderly and Disabled throughout Tennessee.
BLUES ON THE BLUFF
The First and Last Name in Quality Services Provision
Sherry Contaldo with Frank and Sabine Bachmann
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WR Community Services LLC. 2600 Poplar Avenue, Suite #405, Memphis, TN 38112 Founded in 2007 Email: quality@wrcommunity.com Office: 901-325-7997 Fax: 901-325-7998 or 877-322-7998 Michael Rabkin, Kristina Goetz, Shelbe Erwin and Tawni Bell
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Scott and Molly Carr with Jane and David Weinstein
(On the Square)
124 E. Mulberry St. Collierville, TN
853-5470
Sarah Beaver, Kalee Beaver, Wallace Ann Sorrells, Clayton Carpenter and Dub Sorrells
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 11
EVENT BLUES ON THE BLUFF S E P T E M B E R 2 0 11
Anna Hughes, Erin Peel and John and Sandy Hughes
Alex Neale, Shannon Lazek, Nikki Hartford and Michael Pagliari
Teri and Bart Hanners
Charleen and John Lawrence
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Zach and Amy Hoyt
Clay Glenn, Mallory Taylor and Emily and Joe Tomes
Kevin Carter and Robin Duffy
Jessica and Paul LaFrain
Ernie and Katie Harris with Debbie and Marty Petrusek
cl a ssy
For underwriting information, call 901-678-2560 Visit us online at wumr wumr.memphis.edu .memphis.edu
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i t ’ s j a zz!
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ONSITE
Onsite
Curb Couture Trashion Show Junebugs & Juleps Pop Andrews Classic Kick-Off Party Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit he first Curb Couture Trashion Show, benefiting Memphis City Beautiful, was held on South Main in Ta Fashion-Week-meets-street-fair atmosphere. Models,
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Johnathan Payne and Lizzie Steen at Junebugs & Juleps
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Shelby Wilson at Curb Couture Trashion Show
Lolita Holmes and Carol Richardson at Curb Couture Trashion Show
including Kallen Esperian in a form-fitting frock of recycled denim and newspapers, wowed the crowd in “green chic” designs from Pat Kerr Tigrett, Kittie Kyle, Joseph and emerging local talent. Even Mayor A C Wharton dropped by to show off an Oak Hall tie made especially for him of fabric remnants. Other ensembles included a mini-dress of CDs reminiscent of enormous sequins (by Cathy Wilson) and a gown, with headdress, made entirely of discarded cigarette cartons (by Waheed Qayumi). Memphis City Beautiful, the country’s oldest city beautification organization at 81 years, is clearly still on the cutting edge. The Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum played host to Junebugs & Juleps, a spirited garden party in the heart of Victorian Village. Guests soaked up the music of the Brennan Villines Trio, as well as snacks from Wade & Co., 3D and Fork It Over Catering and art by Monty Shane, Amanda Hill and others. Danna Walker’s painted porcelain portrait pendants evoked a bygone era into which guests were transported as they stepped inside for a mansion tour. As A.J. Northrop, who planned the event with Michelle Williams, poured a frozen mint julep for a guest he laughed and said, “This couldn’t be more Southern. People are barefoot in here!” When not helping the Auburn University Tigers prepare for another possible national championship, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Gus Malzahn found the time to be a guest speaker for the 24th annual Pop Andrews Classic. During the Kick-Off Party, Auburn fans and supporters of tournament beneficiaries, including John Bramlett Ministries and the Memphis Area Fellowship of Christian Athletes, got up close to Malzahn for a sneak peek of his speech. Held at the home of Jesse and Pat McClerkin, the event included light hors d’oeuvres, beverages and lots of posing for photos. It was difficult to determine which was more captivating: the art on the walls or the ballerinas on stage at the Buckman Performing Arts Center. Close to 20 artists from the Artist Group, a community organization of artists who participate in local charities, donated their oil paintings, watercolors and mixed media works for an auction to help raise funds for the Children’s Ballet Theater. Once patrons finished browsing the collection of fine art and snacking on toothy nibbles, they had the opportunity to see the great cause they were supporting during a performance by the theater’s professional troupe. Story and photos by Kelly Cox and Lesley Young
Patrick and Allie Byrne with Micah and Paul Thomas at Pop Andrews Classic Kick-Off Party
Juliet Buckholdt and Emma Conrad at Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit
Diana Teagarden and Vera Rosato at Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit
Lisa Cupolo-Bausch and Lila Bausch at Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit
Bull and Nancy Bramlett with Kristi and Gus Malzahn at Pop Andrews Classic Kick-Off Party
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Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Benefit Harwood Center Silent Auction Methodist Garden Party Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party therlands Coffee Shop recently hosted a membership Oancy. drive and fund-raiser for Shelby Farms Park ConservA considerable group of park supporters and fans
Agnes Stark and Amy Dillinger King at Harwood Center Silent Auction
Sandra Rada with Susan and Dick Jacob at Methodist Garden Party
Aileen Oliver, Steve West and Sherrye Crone at Methodist Garden Party
Story by Ruth Cassin and Lesley Young Photos by Roy Haithcock and Lesley Young
Shaun Micheel, Ashley Clark and Scott Elliot at Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party
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Sissi Carty, Will Hall and Laura Adams at Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Benefit
Janet Wellons and Anderson Humphreys at Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Benefit
51 RSVP
Jenny Jones and Jana Wilson at Harwood Center Silent Auction
of performers Dan Montgomery, The Magic Kids and the Earnestine & Hazel’s House Band came to listen and dance the night away. Door prizes from Black Lodge Video and Noggs Sport Glasses were a big hit with the crowd. Both Laura Adams, the conservancy’s executive director, and Caleb Tinkle, the conservancy’s development associate, were very pleased with the evening’s turnout. For 20 years, Memphis Potters Guild members have hosted a spring show to display and sell their current works, but this year, they decided to do something different. They chose to sponsor the Harwood Center, a nonprofit that serves children ages birth to 3 years with developmental disabilities, during their opening reception at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Each of the guild’s two dozen members donated a piece, and browsers were able to walk home with pots, bowls, garden accessories and other accoutrement while supporting a 53-year-old nonprofit. “We were blown away that they called and said they wanted to do this,” said Harwood developmental director Claire Moss. Event coordinator Greg Belz added, “We were really attracted to the Harwood Center because they do such wonderful things.” Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare recently opened a new, state-of-the-art residential hospice on Quince Road in Germantown. To celebrate the $9.1 million facility, administrators held a party on the grounds to raise funds for hospice patients in need. While sipping cocktails and snacking on sushi, guests had the opportunity to tour the 30-bed facility, built with large windows, natural stone and exposed wood, and which centers around the residence’s landscaped courtyard. The Methodist Hospice Residence opened in late June. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-South grants hundreds of wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions, and this year, thanks to PGA champion Shaun Micheel and his wife Stephanie, a little girl will get to meet her hero, Taylor Swift. A sponsor of the foundation for the past eight years, Micheel has hosted the Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish® Golf Classic at TPC Southwind, and each year, the event kicks off with a Pairings Party at the Rendezvous. Included in the agenda were a live auction, music by Doug Petty and Gerry Finney and, of course, barbecue. Foundation communications manager Miranda Harbor said, “This puts a face to our vision. It’s an opportunity for our supporters to get engaged.”
Miranda Harbor and Liz Larkin at Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party
Brooke Ehrhart, Stephanie Micheel and Johanna McCormick at Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party
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A Taste of Caribe Artists Up! Silent Auction Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT Salvation Army Summer Party
T
Jeff Brann and Sue Alexander at Artists Up! Silent Auction
Rudi Scheidt, Pat Mitchell Worley and Honey Scheidt at Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT
Lauren Boyer, Gretchen Wollert McLennon and Leslie Townsend at Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT
Story by Kelly Cox, Leah Fitzpatrick and Jeannie Mandelker Photos by Kelly Cox, Leah Fitzpatrick, Roy Haithcock and Jeannie Mandelker
Fran Jabbour, Shirley Henry, Snookie Gibbs, Rosemary Ballinger and Marcia Dunlap at Salvation Army Summer Party
Larry and Joy Rice at Taste of Caribe
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Susan Jordan and John Peterson at Taste of Caribe
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Dr. Allen Berry III and Dianne Berry with Debbie and Dr. Noel Florendo at Artists Up! Silent Auction
he International Children’s Heart Foundation gave its hometown A Taste of Caribe with a packed-to-therafters bash at Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects. Inside, guests were treated to “bocados,” rum tastes, and dancing, as the six-piece mariachi ensemble Los Cantadores ignited “la vida nocturna” with their southof-the-border soul. Outside, partygoers relaxed on the lantern-strung patio and gathered for a carnivalesque performance by a pair of daring fire-dancers. A night evocative of the Tropics right in the heart of Midtown— and for a great cause! The International Children’s Heart Foundation, founded and based in Memphis, has to date provided more than 5,000 life-saving pediatric cardiac surgeries in more than two dozen countries worldwide. Dianne Berry and Dr. Allen Berry III and Debbie and Dr. Noel Florendo rolled out the red carpet at the Florendos’ home to greet actors, filmmakers, makeup artists and friends to celebrate two newcomers to the performing arts scene in Memphis. Attendees welcomed both DreamCatchers, a film production company, and Artists Up!, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing talent and financial opportunities for performing artists. Studio space at Ardent Studios was packed not with recording artists, but with supporters of the fourth annual Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT for one special night in June. Executive producer Sid Selvidge and Beale Street Caravan host Pat Mitchell Worley were both on hand greeting guests as they made their way to Studio A for a silent auction, to Studio B for an open bar and hors d’oeuvres and then on to Studio C for a rockin’ performance from the Will Tucker Band. Event proceeds will help the Beale Street Caravan radio series continue providing Memphis’ sound to the world. Emmanuel United Methodist Church’s gym resembled an Italian restaurant, as members of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary had decorated tables with red and white checkered tablecloths and green wine bottles, used as vases for sunflowers and lilies, for the group’s Summer Party. Dubbed “Mama Rhea’s Café Italiano,” the occasion featured a delicious dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, Italian spinach, garlic bread, salad and cheesecake, all from Coletta’s, and music by a band made up of three male graduates of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. A special moment came when Major Janeen McConniel presented a check on behalf of the auxiliary to the band members for their ministry.
Ron Olson and Jill Bucco at Taste of Caribe
Billie Jean Graham and Nelda Hamer at Salvation Army Summer Party
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Dixon Culture and Cocktails Theatre for Hope Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off American Cancer Society Sip and See Preview Party isitors and Young at Art members gathered at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens to commemorate the Vacclaimed and esteemed works of Jean-Louis Forain in
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Jody and Marianne Mard with Mike Kiser at American Cancer Society Sip and See Preview Party
Bonnie and Mark Belz with Amy Howard at American Cancer Society Sip and See Preview Party
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Cheryl Anderson and Diana Fedinec at Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off
Holly Fussell, Debbie Irvine and Lauren Irvine at Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off
the La Comédie parisienne exhibition. The Dixon Culture and Cocktails event consisted of hors d’oeuvres and a short tour given by assistant curator Julie Pierotti, who informed viewers of Forain’s love for depicting Parisian operas, ballets and men and women of the time. The Dixon is the first and only museum in America to host this exhibition, which features 58 pieces. “We want this to be fun and enjoyable,” said Pierotti. “This show is a huge deal and has given [the Dixon] so much steam and confidence. It is only the beginning.” The third annual Theatre for Hope was held at Playhouse on the Square with a silent auction followed by a performance of the hit musical “Footloose.” Guests were served hors d’oeuvres of spring rolls, barbecue chicken sandwich sliders and fruit trays as they enjoyed a wine tasting and participated in a silent auction consisting of books, gift cards, golf clubs, a signed Grizzlies basketball and art by local artists such as Jennifer Hyatt. The most significant piece, “Hands of Hope,” came from local artist Ken Lecco, and, fittingly, children from Hope House were able to have a hand in the work. Before “Footloose” began, emcee Anna Marie Hartman of WMC-TV 5 said that with the community’s help, Hope House has been able to significantly reduce the percentage of HIV/AIDS in newborns within the community. Another “Footloose” benefit performance took place at Playhouse, but this time to raise funds for Shelby Residential and Vocational Services. A precursor to the nonprofit’s Spirit of SRVS gala, the Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off is a more casual affair that gives supporters a sneak peek of the “Spirit of SRVS: A Taste of the Good Life” commemorative artwork, this year by Danny Broadway. SRVS staff got in on the fun by dressing up in ‘80s attire, while guests enjoyed dancing to decade-appropriate music by Michael Jackson, Madonna and the like. Event proceeds will go toward SRVS’s new day center for adults with disabilities. The American Cancer Society invited guests to tour two houses in the Bocage community in East Memphis for its Sip and See Preview Party. River City Land Company and Kircher-Belz Builders served as presenting sponsors, with Amy Howard, Sarkis Kish Oriental Rugs and Post 31 Interiors supplying their decorative touches and items to the spaces. Opening festivities also included heavy appetizers, libations, live music and a silent auction. The actual Home Showcase took place throughout three weekends, with funds benefiting the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs. Cancer. Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and Andrea Stockard
Willi Alfonso, Virginia Weber, Michelle Viglietti and Angie Viglietti (Sitting); Stella Buchignani and Cindy Ware (Standing) at Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off
Laura Shy and Julie Pierotti at Dixon Culture and Cocktails
May Walker, Helene Harris and Michelle Heck at Dixon Culture and Cocktails
Angie Hilton, Christy Moseley and Sandy Howell at Theatre for Hope
Betty Dupont, Lenore Binswanger and Betty Lyon at Theatre for Hope
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Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show St. Jude Dream House Sneak Peek Groovin’ in the Garden Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
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Mary Coleman, Dr. Len Sumner, Dr. Barbara Harris and Robert Sumner at Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
Story Submitted and by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos Submitted and by Chris Pugh
Emery Franklin at Groovin’ in the Garden
Inetta F. Rogers, Kirk Whalum, Susan Calhoun Richardson and Charlotte Freeman at Groovin’ in the Garden
Michael Tauer and Judge Phyllis Gardner at Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show
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Kim Blankenship, Lenora Morrow and Mary Jane Criss at Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
Lisa Gill and Leah Hillis at Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show
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Gladys Klepper, Barbara Morris and Carol Henderson at Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
he Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show, held at Roadshow BMW, featured local attorneys, judges and public figures, including Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, modeling clothes from Shelton and Christine Clothiers. Perhaps, the surprise of the evening came when local attorney Leslie Ballin appeared in drag to poke fun at the fact that he was recently named one of the best “female” lawyers in Tennessee. Fashion show proceeds will fund scholarships for deserving law school students. The 2011 St. Jude Dream House opened its doors for its first official Sneak Peek to more than 200 attendees. As guests toured the house built by Southern Serenity Homes, they also got a chance to win a free car by guessing how many plastic cups it took to fill the car. Raffle tickets for the house were sold at $100 each, with the prize being the house itself. The builders, St. Jude staff, friends and vendors, such as Ashley Furniture and The Curtain Exchange, were all in attendance. Groovin’ in the Garden, held at the Memphis Botanic Garden, marked the return of the River City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated’s annual fund-raiser, which supports various chapter programs, including arts initiatives in the Memphis community. The evening’s program consisted of literary, visual and performing arts entertainment, as well as an awards ceremony for Grammy® winning artist Kirk Whalum, who received the inaugural Community Service Award for Services to Youth and The Arts. River City Links also presented Whalum with a check for $2,500 to support the Stax Music Academy, where he serves as president and CEO. In addition, Groovin’ in the Garden recognized the art community by commissioning an original piece for the event by artist Emery Franklin called “Seasons of Grace.” A support group for those fighting Alzheimer’s, Four Seasons/Memory Inc. invited guests to “Make Summer Memories!” at the home of Kim and Earl Blankenship for the organization’s Summer Party. The lovely afternoon affair offered delectable fare from Party Tenders and piano music by Lenora Morrow, with Dr. Len Sumner being honored with the 2011 Four Seasons Spirit Award. This event was dedicated to the memory of Sibyl Sumner.
Kathryn Meyers and Jeanette Meyers at St. Jude Dream House Sneak Peek
Tim Tanner, Valerie Liter and Susan Aquillard at St. Jude Dream House Sneak Peek
RSV PHILLIPPI
By Dennis Phillippi
MY BABY, SHE WROTE ME AN E-MAIL
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he U.S. Postal Service has asked Congress to let it lay off more than 100,000 employees. The only reason this is shocking is that there are still more than 100,000 employees of the USPS. No disrespect to my letter carrier, or any of the other people who work for the USPS, but with e-mail, social networks and the like, I’m not entirely sure the post office is still a viable business model. Seriously, what will be the contents of your mailbox when you get home? Today mine had this month’s copy of AARP The Magazine, circulars for discount brake jobs, coupons for pizzas and copies of bills my wife pays online. Let’s just let that AARP The Magazine thing slide on by. I try to ignore it, and so should you. We all remember how cool it was to get mail when we were kids. It wasn’t anything particularly great: a note from your grandmother, scrawled in that Old World chicken scratch saying something about how she remembers changing your diapers, maybe a pen pal letter from Hans in Denmark or just something accidentally addressed to you, but your name was on it, and it came from somewhere else. That was really cool. Yesterday I got an e-mail from a guy I knew when I was a teenager who now lives in Grenada, the country, not the town in Mississippi. The post office didn’t lift a finger on that one. It’s not that I’m advocating the elimination of the post office; I just think it’s time to accept that it’s not as important as it used to be. There was a time when the mailbox was the repository of telegrams that told you vitally important things, like the well-being of Tommy off in the war or the birth of your new nephew in Chicago. The last telegram was sent in February of 2006. They knew when to throw in the towel. The telegram industry refocused on the part of its business that was still viable: people sending money to their idiot relatives that had managed to be broke and arrested at the same time. In recent decades, there have been a lot of businesses that have gone the way of the buggy whip. The big photo companies have been out of the film business for years. If you have a film camera now, you’re not considered an artist, you’re considered a fetishist. Record stores have
become some kind of hipster equivalent of an opium den. No one buys records anymore, and I don’t just mean vinyl. Vinyl honks are, of course, the same people who think that the best clothes are ones that vintage stores bought at estate sales. No one buys CDs anymore either. There’s nothing wrong with this: we all got burned back in the day by buying an album because of the one hit single on it, only to
There was a time when the mailbox was the repository of telegrams that told you vitally important things, like the well-being of Tommy off in the war or the birth of your new nephew in Chicago. discover that the rest of the record was terrible. Joan Osborne got me. So did the Pet Shop Boys. I’m not proud of that one. The world has moved on. Now you can cherry pick the songs you like and buy them online. I guarantee you we’ve bought a lot more music that way than we ever did in a record store. Is there anything more unnecessary than a telephone book? I haven’t looked up a phone number in a telephone book in years. If I don’t have the number I want in my phone already, I’ll look it up on the Internet…on my phone. If I happen to be, as I almost always am, sitting in front of a computer I’ll look it up there. Every year they drop off two telephone books, and every year they sit in the same place until the new one comes and I throw out the old ones, untouched and unmourned. Another thing our phones have eliminated is the need for a watch. My phone is my watch. Most people use their
phone as a watch. It’s also a date book, calendar, time killer, game platform, weather report, camera, video camera and so on and so forth. It’s really amazing that the post office looks like it may outlive newspapers. I love newspapers. I’ve written for newspapers. I love the whole romance of the newsroom, the clattering typewriters, the overflowing ashtrays…oh, right. None of those things exist anymore. The newspaper of the future is the newspaper of today, the Internet. Anyone who loves words decries the death of the bookstore and just walking around taking down random books and flipping through them, reading a paragraph here and there and deciding which literary treasure, or Dan Brown book, we’d take home. Also, there’s the communing with other book people quietly, respectfully, and having that great sanctimonious feeling of being better than other people. Well, have fun in the Amazon forums. Hey, when was the last time you bought a deck of cards? Every household used to have a few decks, at least one of which was missing a few cards. They’d be worn, dog-eared and impossible to shuffle. If there was nothing on the three television channels, we’d sit around and play endless games of gin, or if no one else wanted to play, solitaire. I bet if there wasn’t a casino industry, the playing card business would’ve gone belly up a decade ago. I know my letter carrier by name. He’s been delivering my mail, and not infrequently, my neighbor’s mail, to me for years. He seems like a nice enough guy, and the mail hits the porch at almost exactly the same time every day. And every day I go out to collect it with that same sense of hope I used to have, wondering if today there’s going to be something magical from a faraway place, but alas, no. There’s just that copy of AARP The Magazine.
Dennis Phillippi, the sentiment you hold for the days when getting mail was exciting does truly carry over into the world of today. Just keep holding out, and maybe your first piece of fan mail will arrive instead of your monthly magazine that serves as a constant reminder of aging.
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A UTHSC Treasure
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s the University of Tennessee Health Science Center gears up for its Centennial Gala on September 17, the institution takes a look back at those who have helped make UTHSC great. One such individual is Dr. Lemuel Diggs (pictured above), who devoted 65 years of his medical career to sickle cell disease research. Among other contributions, he was a respected clinical pathology teacher, initiated training for medical technologists at UTHSC and coordinated the South’s first blood bank at John Gaston Hospital. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER 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.
RSVP Magazine Introduces
OUR FIRST-EVER WEDDING ISSUE
Now accepting wedding submissions for the February 2012 issue of RSVP. Please visit rsvpmagazine.com for complete details. *Deadline for submissions is November 30, 2011. No exceptions. Weddings must have taken place between December 1, 2010 and deadline.