RSVP Magazine September 2012 by RSVP Magazine

September 2012

SportsBall Dreamgivers’ Gala Live at the Garden Blues on the Bluff® Liberty Bowl Pairings Party Q&A with Diane Jalfon

CONTENTS

Contents September 201 2

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

A man of many talents and roles, Greg Duckett invites RSVP to the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation for a glimpse inside his busy schedule.

Liberty Bowl Pairings Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 AutoZone Liberty Bowl supporters gathered at Hilton Memphis to spend an evening with a college football great.

12 LIBERTY BOWL PAIRINGS PARTY Deanna Vaughan and Asby Fulmer III

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20, 22 & 24 What’s music to his ears is hearing his selections for a local men’s ensemble come to life during a performance. She’s gaining a feel for fashion illustration abroad. This deputy shares her knowledge of careers in law enforcement with youth. StreetSeens highlight Matthew L. Bowlin, Kris Keys and Amber Roettgen.

48 BLUES ON THE BLUFF® Scott and Izabella McEvoy

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Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26, 42, 46 & 62 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention. Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Q&A with Diane Jalfon, executive director of the Memphis Library Foundation. Dreamgivers’ Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 We owe our freedom to our war veterans, and one Memphis woman has found a

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way to give back to them.

RSVP Room View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 This Germantown living space combines elegance and function with eye-popping results.

Blues on the Bluff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 A scenic view, barbecue, suds and, of course, the blues made for a perfect combina-

STREETSEEN Kris Keys

52 SPORTSBALL Brenda and Edmond Sims

tion at WEVL’s benefit concert at the National Ornamental Metal Museum.

SportsBall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 It was all about the children as hundreds of guests donned tennis shoes to attend this truly enjoyable annual fund-raiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis.

Live at the Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 The night was hot, but the music was even hotter when Macy Gray and Seal took the stage at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 A Wonderful Month in the Neighborhood

Humor columnist Dennis Phillippi heaps on the kudos for his neck of the woods.

DREAMGIVERS’ GALA Diane Hight and Dr. Luanne Cox

58 LIVE AT THE GARDEN Mark and Meg Comes

Cover Photo Sarah Ziegenfuss and Daniel Hight at Dreamgivers’ Gala Photo by Don Perry

R SV P S TA F F Volume XVII

Number XII

September 2012 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Jeannie Mandelker Dennis Phillippi Suzanne Thompson ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s

CHRIS PUGH, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 901.276.7787, EXT. 103 chris@rsvpmagazine.com

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.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Baxter Buck Don Perry Steve Roberts Chris Pugh Kristen Miller

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

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

ACCOUNTING

Ruth Cassin

KRISTEN MILLER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 901.276.7787, EXT. 104 kristen@rsvpmagazine.com

EDITORIAL INTERN

Maggie Giffin

Having worked in print advertising for nearly eight years, Kristen Miller is pleased to join the RSVP team as account executive. Kristen, who lives in Arlington with her husband and four children, loves to cook, fish, watch college and Arlington Tigers football, spend time with her family and advertising, of course.

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

www.rsvpmagazine.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785. e-mail editor@rsvpmagazine.com Follow us on & RSVP Memphis Magazine

MAGGIE GIFFIN, EDITORIAL INTERN 901.276.7787, EXT. 108 maggie@rsvpmagazine.com

Maggie is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing communications with an emphasis in magazine publishing. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Maggie moved to Memphis to attend culinary school in hopes of pursuing a career in both food styling/writing and magazine publishing. Maggie enjoys reading magazines, cooking and her new position as editorial intern at RSVP.

From the Editor

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fter watching countless athletes achieve Olympic glory and taking a much too-long hiatus from exercising (hey, it’s been hot), I decided to get back on the horse and start my walking routine this past month. Feeling my atrophied muscles actually moving was a blessing in itself, and just when I was feeling the burn, the back of a lady’s shirt not too far in front of me caught my attention and kept me going. On it were the words “A New Beginning,” in big, bold letters mind you. I really wanted to shout, “What new beginning?” but, of course, stopped myself from looking like an idiot on a public street in Central Gardens. As the lady seemed to have the same walking path I did, it felt like I was following that shirt for quite some time, which really got me thinking about how much the words on her tee alone were pushing me to go farther than I thought possible on this first day back exercising. When applied to my job here at the magazine, those words ring true each and every month, as I get a chance to begin anew with fresh ideas for my editorial features, but many other aspects of one’s life outside of a job could qualify as having a new beginning. For instance, I know someone whom after many years out of school has recently moved to another city for law school and another person about to embark on a whole new underwater adventure after getting her scuba diving certification. At the epicenter of any new beginning exists a hope for something better, which is what makes this time in one’s life beautiful and exciting. I laugh thinking that that beautiful moment in my life recently meant being sweaty. If you had a chance to start something new, what would you do? Other than exercise right now, I am still thinking long and hard at how I’d answer that question. Maybe I want to wear shirts like the aforementioned lady did to incite people to action, but that answer is much too easy. Really, I think the right answer for me will come in time, but for those who already have an answer, go ahead and take that first step…it’s not as bad as you think. Check out any of the StreetSeen features in this month’s issue and know that the vocalist (page 20), the fashion illustrator (page 22) and the deputy sheriff (24) all had to start somewhere to get to where they’re going, and you can, too.

Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

•Editor’s Corrections: On page 38 of the August issue, it should read that the dining room table designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the RSVP Room View was the Allen table. On page 53 of the August issue, the Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party recap in Onsite III should read that the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-South granted its 4,000th wish.

Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation/Vice Chair, Tennessee Board of Regents/Executive Committee Member, The National Civil Rights Museum/Board of Directors, Federal Reserve Bank 8th District/Chairman, Riverfront Development Corporation

Personal hero: My parents. Guilty pleasure: Peanut butter. Hobbies: Golf and restoring vintage cars. Favorite Memphis musician: Al Green. Childhood ambition: To be an airline pilot. Favorite album: “The Very Best of Donnie McClurkin.” Stress outlet: Working on weekend projects at the house. First job: I sacked groceries at the Treasury Department Store. First concert: It wasn’t a true concert; it was a musical, “The Wiz.” Last book you’ve read: Golf’s Sacred Journey by Dr. David L. Cook. Movie you could watch over and over again: My Cousin Vinny. Ideal vacation spot: Touring Italy and the Mediterranean region with my wife and friends. One thing most people don’t know about you: I was the first African-American Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Memphis. What you can’t live without: My wife, Brenda, son, Stephen, and daughter, Kelsey. Your greatest achievement: Serving on the Clinton/Gore Transition team, where I had the opportunity to work with several national leaders. Your mantra: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and take what comes with a smile.

Photo by Steve Roberts

SIGNATURE MEMPHIS S E P T E M B E R 2 012 RSVP

Greg Duckett

EVENT LIBERTY BOWL PAIRINGS PARTY

ollege football doesn’t start until late August, but the 2012-2013 college football season had its unofficial kick-off on July 22 at the 18th annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic Pairings Party. Traditionally, the dinner is held at the Ridgeway Country Club the night before the Golf Classic, but this year it was moved to Hilton Memphis to accommodate the nearly 500 guests who came to honor the irrepressible Lee Corso, the host of ESPN’s GameDay college football telecast and the former head football coach at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois. Ray Pohlman, president of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, remarked that the large turnout was yet one more indication that “Memphis is a hotbed of college football.” The evening’s proceeds went to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with which the AutoZone Liberty Bowl has teamed up to support for 50 years. The silent auction tables groaned with prized items, including wine, baubles and highly sought-after sports memorabilia, such as a Herschel Walker autographed football and Doug Flutie’s autographed Patriots jersey. Andy Childs and his band provided a soft rock background during cocktail time, and then guests helped themselves to a buffet designed to please any tailgater: a prime rib carving station, roast chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, salad, veggies, pie and cake. As people finished dinner, John Roebuck took over the room with a live auction. With one-of-a-kind prizes such as participating in the honorary coin toss at this year’s AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the auction raised thousands of dollars. Finally, the house darkened, and a six-minute video highlighting Corso’s career as a college football player, coach and sports broadcaster riveted guests. When the lights came back on, Corso was presented with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s 2012 Distinguished Citizen Award. The 76-year-old TV sports personality won the audience over with great stories of his days on the college gridiron, but he ended on an emotional note when he recounted the dark days following his termination as Indiana head coach. He said the love and devotion of his family helped him come through a terrible time. “You can never give enough to your family,” he said. “When you think you’ve given plenty, give some more.” As a man who never ran afoul of NCAA rules because of his desire to win, he concluded by saying, “Never prostitute yourself to get or keep a job.” Speaking on the day that Joe Paterno’s statute was removed from Penn State, Corso received a thunderous standing ovation.

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Liberty Bowl Pairings Party Golf Classic Kick-Off

Susan Breymaier and Buck Silver

Natalie and Curtis Clifton

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

Jeff and Mindy Pearson

Story by Jeannie Mandelker Photos by Don Perry

Barbara and Allie Prescott

Patty Bladon and David Brockmann

Jennifer and Rich Hughes

Lisa Geater and John Roebuck

Celeste Longo, Lauren Beau and Mike Longo

Lee Corso and Steve Ehrhart

EVENT LIBERTY BOWL PAIRINGS PARTY

Lisa and John Rucker

Chip and Debbie Marston

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Amy and Scott Haynes

Anne Piper and Josie Howser

Rhonda Garvey and Ava Wilder

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Michael and Erika Hopping

Kathryn Stallins and John Duncan

Melissa and John Gwinn

Pam Pugh and Lisa Nelson

Cindy and Mark Finestone

Patti and Jim Shannon

EVENT LIBERTY BOWL PAIRINGS PARTY

Dan and Lisa Roberts

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David and Debra Aquadro

Natalie and Ron Lefkowitz with Mike and Sherene Katzman RSVP

Derick and Natalie Garner with Mary Alice Ruleman

Leigh Shockey and Steve Childs

Ann Newell, Patti Chambers and Mary Pat Custer

EVENT Jim Holt, Steve Conley and Ron Wong

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Andy Childs and Hilda Martin

LIBERTY BOWL PAIRINGS PARTY

Dr. Nancy Chase and Robert Blanchard

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Tommie Pardue with Arnold and Joan Weiss

Catherine, Mike and Anita Pohlman

EVENT

Scott and Carolyn McCormick

Anne Riordan, Carol Ptasinenski, Paul Jewell and Mary Lou Brown

Lara Brumback and Andy Fiedler

Rudi and Honey Scheidt

Mike Simpson, Joe Chittick, Tony Hill and Tyler McDaniel

Jim and Elizabeth Duncan

Mikki and Darrell Cobbins

Tyson and April Helton, June Jones and Brent Key

Nikki Hurt and Shaun Pruett

Jeff Frankenfield and Jessica Puckett

Joe Roberts and Donna Briggs

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LIBERTY BOWL PAIRINGS PARTY

John and Kathy Scarberry

Bill and Martha Cunningham

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STREETSEEN

Matthew L. Bowlin Molding a Men’s Chorus

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hough reading sheet music eludes him, Matthew L. Bowlin, the Adams Avenue Camerata Men’s Ensemble’s artistic director/conductor, has never stopped pursuing his musical interests. From teaching himself the piano to singing tenor with a gospel quartet and a show choir in college, he always followed his passion and eventually obtained a bachelor’s degree in music education with a vocal emphasis, despite naysayers who said he couldn’t do it. At one point, he even switched to a physical education major, until a traumatic accident in his family occurred. “When my 17-month-old nephew got hit by a car, he was in a coma for seven days with a brain injury,” Bowlin relays. “When I started singing to him in person, he woke up the next day, and then I changed back to music education and knew from then on I had to touch somebody’s life somehow when I sing.” Today, he does just that by proudly working as an Orff music specialist for Memphis City Schools and using free time to head up one of Memphis’ leading men’s choruses, the Adams Avenue Camerata. Begun in September 2009 as a male/female chamber choir, the group soon changed to all-male when only three women showed up to practice. By late fall, the nine remaining men were rehearsing the “Testament of Freedom” by Randall Thompson for a January 2010 concert at St. Peter Catholic Church, but they still didn’t have a name up until right before the concert. Being that Adams Avenue borders the church where they were to perform, that street name was combined with the word camerata since they were a small men’s group doing chamber music. Hoping to keep the group together, Bowlin planned another concert for that July called “From Broadway to Beale” and chose the music, hence becoming the artistic director/conductor. Many concerts have since passed under Bowlin’s tutelage, from Summer Pops concerts to pairing up with Idlewild Presbyterian Church’s Men’s Group, and invites have come to sing in Victorian Village and at a Grizzlies game, during which a war vet said their national anthem was the best he’d heard at a ballgame (they have been invited back to sing at another game). He continues to have inspiration for future shows, saying, “It’s always two weeks before a concert when I choose for the next one.” Bowlin emphasizes that he doesn’t want music selections to be one-sided, so he asks the guys, who now number between 12 and 14, for input. “People like that when I put a concert together it goes from Baroque to spiritual, from pop to classical—I like to keep a wide variety of music because it shows the talent of the guys,” he says. Bowlin commends members for their friendship and volunteerism, vouching that the men donate their time to two-and-a-half hour rehearsals a week to doing projects like painting the Woodruff-Fontaine House fence or singing for the elderly. All practices and projects occur after hours since each member works fulltime, and for any males interested in joining, check out the Camerata/Memphis Facebook page. Bowlin also encourages everyone to attend one of several upcoming shows, with two scheduled at St. Anne Catholic Church on Highland at 7 p.m. on October 11 and December 14, and another on December 16 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral…knowing the notes is optional. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

STREETSEEN

Kris Keys Capturing Fashion on Paper

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eeing chic ensembles on models walking the runway or edgy outfits on people at street bazaars might inspire a clotheshorse to shop, whereas Kris Keys wants to draw when she witnesses stunning wardrobe ensembles. A freelance fashion illustrator, Keys often immerses herself in the aforementioned settings to perfect her craft, but becoming a fashion illustrator for a living didn’t click until she moved to London in January 2011 to study fashion design. Being visually stimulated by the city’s plethora of markets, museums and fellow illustrators, not to mention getting to do live sketches at London Fashion Week shows for Bora Aksu, Carolyn Charles, Orla Kiely, Henrietta Ludgate and Corrie Nielsen, also helped cement her career decision. “I started sketching everything when I moved to London, and then it just clicked what I wanted to do,” Keys notes. “One of my favorite places to draw is Broadway Market in Hackney for the food, fabric and arts, and you get locals and tourists there.” Keys has enjoyed art since childhood, entering lots of contests, some even at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she received treatment from the time she was a baby until age 21 for elliptocytosis, a hereditary blood disorder. Post-college, Keys found her way to New York City, taking a figure drawing class three times at the Fashion Institute of Technology under successful fashion illustrator Steven Broadway, sketching at New York Fashion Week as an assistant to costume designer Rosemary Ponzo and designing storefront displays as a visual merchandiser at Ann Taylor’s Madison Avenue flagship store. The experiences helped her stay disciplined with fashion illustration, but she sought something more. That’s when London came calling. Across the pond, she decided to attend American Intercontinental University, which she describes as a foundation school for the British way of designing. She then moved on to the London College of Fashion, an institution Keys says is more focused on teaching pattern-making skills for garments, making textiles and promoting mind development for collections. Currently enjoying a summer break at home in Memphis, Keys returns to London in September to continue her coursework at London College of Fashion with a course specified in women’s wear and textiles, an area she plans to concentrate on for a master’s degree one day, and has plans to sketch at London Fashion Week this fall. In the meantime, she has done a show in Cooper-Young and been building her portfolio (available for viewing at bykriskeys.com) sketching at Memphis spots like the Broad Avenue Arts District, the Memphis Zoo and Stax— places she admits have given her a fresh perspective, showing her she can create art anywhere. To achieve the Kris Keys brand in her work, Keys sticks to watercolor paper and paints, gouache, Indian ink and sometimes acrylics, and sketches in pencil first, staying away from pens since she says they’re too harsh for her style. “I like my illustrations to look like they’re flying off the page,” she explains. She applies this relaxed approach not only to her fashion illustrations she does for fun, but also to her commissions and invitations she creates. Future aspirations include doing magazine or department store fashion editorials, and Keys hints at wanting to do a mural for St. Jude. “I will continue expanding my brand as an illustrator because I have to draw every day,” she smiles. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

STREETSEEN

Amber Roettgen Prepping Teens for Law Enforcement

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“I

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don’t have any children of my own, so these are my kids,” says Deputy Sheriff Amber Roettgen when referring to the 35 teenagers part of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Academy. A graduate of Explorer Academy herself, Roettgen knows first-hand the training participants, ages 14-20, endure as they are introduced to various aspects of careers in law enforcement, and vouches for the program’s success. She’s been in law enforcement 17 years after all and serves as an Explorer Academy post advisor. Roettgen points out, “A part of my passion for serving the community is because I grew up in a military family, and when I got to Memphis, I found a group [Explorer Academy] I had a connection to and that became a part of me.” A national program through the Boy Scouts of America, Explorer Academy has been in Memphis since 1976, when Inspector Pat Swain introduced it in Shelby County. It’s been pretty much in operation locally since that time, with a few hiatuses and changes along the way, and Roettgen estimates at least 500, if not 800, have come through this academy. While in the academy, participants acquire hands-on instruction from doing firearms training at a pistol range to learning defensive tactics, how to do an arrest, how to perform a cell extraction on an inmate who’s being disorderly and how to investigate a crime scene, among other skills gained. Roettgen says that below the surface students pick up many more intangible benefits, including learning to socialize with diverse people, time management, professional communication and team building. “Lessons that have gone to the wayside, students learn here,” she affirms, “and they learn to appreciate where they live and the importance of cooperation with the community.” Though the 2012 class recently finished, applications are already being accepted for the June 2013 class and will be taken until the end of February. Fifty or so applicants usually apply, but since the visibility of the program has grown, Roettgen says that she’s already received 50 applications. In order to efficiently manage the program, class size is kept around 20 students. Those accepted go through a recruit academy for six to eight weeks during the summer, and after graduation, they can stay with Explorer Academy up until age 20 by maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA in school and accumulating 16 hours of service a month doing duties in or sanctioned by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office or community events, like parking cars as a fund-raiser at the Delta Fair this month. And, you can be sure to see many graduates working around town after their Explorer Academy days. “Many municipalities around Shelby County have an officer from the Explorer Academy, from deputy sheriffs and police officers to one working as a federal special investigator for the railroad,” Roettgen says. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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ONSITE

Onsite I Golf Ball

Literatini

To kick off the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis Golf Classic Tournament, the BGCM hosted the Golf Ball at Chickasaw Country Club. Open to players, sponsors, guests and friends of the organization, the Golf Ball featured skills contests on the tee boxes and putting greens and, for the first time, included a ladiesonly putting contest. While onlookers watched to see who would win, they enjoyed a peel-and-eat shrimp station, suds from the Budweiser beer trailer and music by Gerry Finney. Inside, gaming stations, courtesy of Best Buy, had been set up for those who wanted to beat the heat. Rounding out the agenda were talks by local Nike executive Willie Gregory and a BGCM Club Youth of the Year winner, as well as a live auction.

Literacy Mid-South debuted Literatini at The Booksellers at Laurelwood to a sold-out crowd more than happy to indulge in “straight-up fun for a good cause.” Kevin Dean, executive director of Literacy Mid-South, thanked patrons for their overwhelming support of the new benefit and encouraged everyone to vote on their favorite martinis, which were cleverly concocted by Alchemy, Bari Ristorante e Enoteca, The Grove Grill, presenting sponsor Hilton Worldwide, Interim Restaurant & Bar and Three Angels Diner. The “Fan Favorite” vote went to “The Grape Santini” by Alchemy, while Bari got “Most Literary Libation” for “The Huckleberry Gin” and Hilton Worldwide received the “Community Cocktail” award for its “Tale of Two Tinis.”

Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Dixon Garden Party with Anthropologie The Hughes Pavilion at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens perfectly complemented models’ colorful ensembles worn during the third annual Dixon Garden Party with Anthropologie. Emceed by Nadia Fares, the show featured mostly models who are a part of the Anthro team, but some of the models’ mothers also took a spin on the catwalk. Both Dixon and Anthro door prizes were given to grateful guests and included a stylish tote, a personal Anthro shopping experience, two Art on Fire tickets and two Art on Tap passes. Tunes by Star & Micey added to the ambiance, and attendees also enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and a sangria and wine tasting.

SportsBall Kick-Off Party Growing in attendance each year, the SportsBall Kick-Off Party moved to a new locale this July when it took place at Jack Magoo’s Sports Bar & Grill in the Broad Avenue Arts District. Hosted by Jack Magoo’s owners, Bryan Plunk and Jim Shannon, with the help of co-hosts Lana and Shawn Danko, the event included live music by Susie and Bob Salley, game-day appetizers like chicken wings and spinach dip, drink specials and even a chance for guests to play air hockey. Raising awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis, the occasion was used to highlight the organization’s “Sports of All Sorts Weekend,” which entailed SportsBall, the Family Sports Picnic and the eighth annual Celebrity Golf Classic later that month. Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

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Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Elizabeth Alejeal, Sally Stover and Rhamy Alejeal Mark Genereaux with Rikki and Josh “J.J.” Pickens

Chris and Christina Wilhite Chantal Drake and Karen Strachan

Vinny Borello, Lori Sargent and Carlos Mosley

Erica Mason, Kevin Dean, Beth Lee and Whitney Harmon

Griffin LaDew, Brian Abraham, Reid Cates and Corey Klein

Amanda Wheeler and Sharon Wheeler

Ellison Linebarier, Hilary Nickels and Nadia Fares

D’Army Bailey and Richard Glassman

Kelley Morice and Paige Michael

Dan Ford and Brian Clanton

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VOX POPULAR

Vox Popular Q&A with Diane Jalfon

RSVP: How has your view of the Memphis Public Library system changed since working for the Memphis Library Foundation, or has it? Jalfon: My view has really changed! Like most people, I had no idea of the breadth of scope of services that the library offers. I’m constantly amazed by the services that we deliver citywide at our 18 total branches.

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RSVP: How many people are actually involved in the Memphis Library Foundation?

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Jalfon: There are two staff members, myself and a financial manager [Afshan Latif], but we have an incredible board with 18 members. The members are a great mix of veteran community leaders and new, energetic emerging leaders. RSVP: What were some of your most immediate goals when you first started working as executive director last year, and do you feel like you’ve met them?

Photos by Don Perry

ooking at ease in the surroundings of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Diane Jalfon, who is the first full-time paid executive director of the Memphis Library Foundation, can hardly believe that almost a year has passed since she began working for the foundation. Hired in the midst of the Central Library’s 10th anniversary celebration, Jalfon came on board at an exciting time and has been harnessing people’s enthusiasm for the institution into donor dollars, which help fund the Memphis Public Library system’s vast programming. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Jalfon in the Central Branch’s Memphis and Shelby County Room to hear the executive director’s thoughts on how the Memphis Public Library system is evolving to stay relevant for current and future generations of library users and why Memphians should keep investing in its longevity. where kids can create content. Part of our goal is to bridge the digital divide—a lot of kids don’t have access to computers in their homes and have never seen an iPad. We want to install a recording studio, so they have the opportunity to create some audio tracks. Teens will also be able to make movies and do podcasts. All of these things will help them build 21st century skills that they’ll need in the workforce. RSVP: Do you have any ideas for upcoming fund-raisers? Jalfon: We need to do an event. It’s been a long time since the library has had a fund-raising event here, so we’re looking at something for late spring or early summer of next year. We have such an interesting space here at the Central Library. Library events generally feature authors, so we’re talking to some different people about bringing in a bigname author. I think just getting people back into the library is key. We do have three million people who come through the library doors each year, but there are a lot of people who haven’t been here in a while. Getting them back into the space for something fun I think will really re-engage and remind them of the value of the library.

Jalfon: Well, the 10 for Ten Campaign was under way when I came on board. It was a goal of mine to finish it, and I’m pleased to report that now we’ve funded eight of the 10 wishes. We’re thrilled, and I’m able to look around the library and see some of the evidence of the generosity of our donors, which is wonderful. We’ve got two more wishes to go. One of them is enhancing the Adult Collections, so we’re concentrating our efforts there on raising funds for the Health Information Center and the Job and Career Center. For the last wish, which is the Teen Center, we’ve decided that it needs its own campaign. It’s so exciting and has so much potential that we really want to focus on that aside from 10 for Ten, so we’re going to carry it forward over the next couple of years.

Jalfon: There is a great event coming up October 6 called Bookstock. It will feature 40 local/ regional authors who attendees can meet and have them sign a book. There will be children’s activities all day long, cooking demonstrations, live music and food trucks. It will be a way for people to engage with the library on a lot of different levels, and it will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

RSVP: It sounds like the Teen Center was a much bigger project than was anticipated?

RSVP: What is a Memphis Pubic Library service you’ve discovered since working for the foundation?

Jalfon: Much bigger. It really has the potential to be a game-changer in Memphis. We’re going to base it on a very successful program at the Chicago Public Library, and it will be a dedicated space for teens here at the main branch. We’ll focus on emerging media,

Jalfon: There’s a library service called LINC/2-1-1 that I did not know existed, and it is an information hotline essentially. Anyone anywhere can call 2-1-1 from a phone and be connected to the information they need, whether it’s some bit of trivia they need an

RSVP: Are there any upcoming non-charity events people should know about?

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answer to or a serious problem they need help with. It connects people to social services, so if you have an elderly parent that needs transportation to a doctor, a depressed neighbor or an angry adolescent, you can call 2-1-1 to get help with that problem. RSVP: What are some of the different ways the Library Foundation promotes literacy within the community?

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Jalfon: Well, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pleased to announce that we just received a grant to do early literacy training in South Memphis. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very excited about this opportunity because literacy literally begins at birth, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now going to have the capability to teach parents how to read to their kids and how to engage with their kids so that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be ready to learn when they start school. We also have worked with different organizations through the years like Literacy Mid-South in terms of providing materials and space. Another thing weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done is added thousands of ebook titles to our offerings, which was part of our 10 for Ten Campaign, and now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re offering language learning for free online. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all based on a system called Mango Language Learning, and there are 35 languages you can learn through the system. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a component for non-English speakers to learn English.

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RSVP: How does the radio and TV station at the Central Library set it apart from others in the country?

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Jalfon: No other library in the country has a 24-hour, 7-day-aweek radio and television station, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wonderful opportunity for us to provide services to the vision impaired by reading on WYPL Radio [FM 89.3]. You can hear The Commercial Appeal, fiction and nonfiction. We have a lot of very dedicated volunteers who come in and read on a daily basis so that the visually impaired can enjoy a wealth of materials. With the television station [WYPL TV-18], it provides us with an opportunity to really focus on Memphis. The

Jalfon: There are a lot of people who don’t know about it, and once they come up and look at the resources in the room, they’re astounded by the depth of materials we have. We keep the materials in temperature-controlled storage, so we can’t make them available without some restrictions, however everything here is for the public to access. S I N C E 1995

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RSVP: What’s one of the more unique items you’ve come across in the Memphis and Shelby County Room? Jalfon: I’ve found that you can look at a picture of your house from 50 years ago. You can see what your street looked like, and I think that’s fascinating because so many things change. I think that one of the more popular items here is the manuscript collection of both Maxine Smith and E.H. Crump. Senator [Kenneth] McKellar’s files take up about a thousand boxes. Another unique thing we have are old restaurant menus. Fredric Koeppel donated his collection of old restaurant menus, and there are hundreds of them, from the old Justine’s to other restaurants that have long been gone.

VOX POPULAR RSVP: Why do you think Memphians should invest in the Memphis Public Library’s future? Jalfon: When Andrew Carnegie gave millions of dollars to establish about 1,400 libraries across the country, his vision was that libraries be a public information center, and Memphis, with its challenges regarding education, needs a public information center. We need to value information and education, and the library is an important component of that. Also, it houses so much of our history, and we need to learn from that history and preserve it. The library’s operating budget through the City of Memphis only provides for the facility and staff. Anything with regard to enhancement, expansion or any program that happens here comes from private funding, so if we want to have a great library, we need to have great private support.

RSVP: In your opinion, why will the brick-andmortar component of a library never be outdated?

RSVP: How many volunteers does the Memphis Public Library utilize a year, and how can more people sign on as volunteers?

Jalfon: Well, I think that the library serves as a community center. It’s a free, accessible place, and we’re even seeing an increase in programs like lectures, debates and panel discussions. Our JobLINC program is also beneficial to the community and entails assisting people with resumes and job searches. Last month, we had a job fair with 40 companies, and 2,000 people attended. Some of them actually got jobs. We’ve recently been

Jalfon: The total number of volunteers for 2011 was 460, with volunteer hours coming in at 31,104 hours. As for the value of library volunteers, that would be $677,756. There are numerous areas where we could use volunteers, and all they would need to do is contact our volunteer coordinator, Sonya Walton, who can be reached at 901-415-2840 or at sonya.walton@memphislibrary.org. She’d love to hear from you.

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RSVP: Do you feel like the Memphis and Shelby County Room at the Central Library is an underutilized resource?

awarded a grant by the Plough Foundation for a mobile JobLINC vehicle to travel across the city and help people apply for jobs. You know, you can’t apply for a job without a computer these days, and some people don’t have a computer, email or a resume. The JobLINC bus should be on the streets by late November, and community groups all across the city will be able to request that the bus come to their location. So, from an economic development standpoint, we’re really trying to make an impact. The community will always need a place that offers services like this. I think that as we evolve with technology, we’ll also continue to remain relevant.

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“Memphis Sounds” show with George Klein is incredibly popular. We get calls every week from people who have said they watched it and enjoyed it so much. We’re actually launching a new Memphis history show, and it will be filmed in the Memphis and Shelby County Room at the Central Library. Wayne Dowdy will be the host. He’s the head of the history department at the library, and he’s written a couple of books about Memphis history. We’ve begun taping, and we’re getting interviews with people like Russell Sugarmon, Lewis Donelson and Jack Belz, but we’ll also be interviewing everyday Memphians about their experience with Memphis history. You’ll get a broad range of what Memphis was like. We will launch it sometime in the next couple of months, and I think it will help us not only capture oral histories of people who were so important to Memphis history, but also draw attention to the collections here and the hundreds of manuscripts we have.

EVENT

Dreamgivers’ Gala

DREAMGIVERS’ GALA

mong the many medals Vince Rowell pins on his uniform, the one of four small gold stars joined together stands out in particular to the World War II veteran. “You have to be in a war zone for a certain length of time to receive one; I received four,” said the 88-yearold Memphian. One of those four war zones was D-Day. After meeting fellow Memphian Diane Hight, Rowell has had the opportunity to visit those Normandy beaches in more peaceful times during the past few years thanks to Hight’s philanthropic group, the Forever Young Senior Wish Organization. Rowell said, “[Diane] has such a wonderful heart in her for veterans. This organization is something else.” Through Forever Young, Hight grants wishes to veterans over the age of 65, including taking them on group trips to the World War II Memorial in Washington, to Pearl Harbor or to Omaha Beach. In August, Hight held the group’s third annual Dreamgivers’ Gala to raise funds for future trips. At the event Hight said, “Right now, we’re in a race to honor our veterans because they won’t be able to travel much longer. One thousand veterans die every day in the U.S.” Since the organization’s inception in 2006, Hight has taken on trips or granted individual wishes to more than 350 veterans, mostly from Memphis, but also from all throughout the country. Individual wishes have included facilitating a B-17 gunner to fly in a B-17 again, a 95-year-old Navy veteran to throw the first pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals and bringing a California woman to Graceland. “It really gives hope, and it’s not just to one person, but it goes on and on and on,” Hight added. The Saturday-night gala was sold out, as veterans, their families and general supporters filed into the Memphis Hilton Tennessee Ballroom in cocktail attire ready to bid on items in both the silent and live auctions. Local music group the Aims Gang got everyone in the mood with swing music, while News Channel 3 reporter Daniel Hight emceed the event. John Roebuck led the live auction. Forever Young Senior Wish Organization is a volunteer-run nonprofit. For more information, visit foreveryoungseniorwish.org.

Celebrating War Veterans

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Karen and Jim Martin

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Mike and Vicki Reed

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Dr. Kent Cox and Dr. Anne Ayers

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Onsite II Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off Playhouse on the Square offered a matinee performance of “Xanadu” to benefit SRVS, and thereby the chance for guests to make a difference in the lives of more than 800 people with disabilities. Prior to the show, attendees were put into a roller-disco frame of mind thanks to tunes by DJ Kenny Bosak, wines from Southwestern Distributing, mirrored disco balls, crawling colored lights, and brunch-style nibbles from Automatic Slim’s. There was even an extremely colorful “Xanadu” cake from Off the Square Catering. Just before the lights dimmed, the 2012 Spirit of SRVS commemorative artwork, “The Rainbow Tree of Love” by painter Mike Maness, was unveiled. The musical that followed was a testament to the talent on the stage: Nicole Renee Hale, in the lead role, sang beautifully while roller-skating, dancing, doing comedy and feigning an Australian accent. There was also tap dancing, drag, laughs, short shorts, a 15-foot wooden Pegasus and a gritty but comedic rendition of “Evil Woman” by Carla McDonald and Courtney Oliver that brought the house down. Tyler and Cindy Hampton

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Laura Tumminello, Evelyn Maness and Mike Maness

Creative Aging Mid-South Variety Show

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Residents from area assisted living and retirement facilities got together to strut their stuff at the third annual Creative Aging Mid-South Variety Show. There was standing room only at the auditorium at Memphis University School as participants of Creative Aging’s programs showed family and friends their many talents. Some of the acts included musical performances, ballroom dancing and belly dancing, with acts announced by celebrity emcee Joe Birch of WMC-TV 5. Proceeds support Creative Aging Mid-South, a nonprofit that provides arts performances and workshops for the elderly.

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42 Laura House, Obie Sue Thomas and Rinnie Wood

Barbara Sysak and Meryl Klein

Rita Ross and LaShawna Jones Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Prison Stories Prison Stories, a Voices of the South outreach and performance project that stages the stories of women inmates in the Shelby County Prison System, kicked off its online fund-raising campaign with a concert at First Congregational Church. Virginia Ralph, a theatrical composer who provides music at Prison Stories performances, enchanted guests with her songs and singing, and the evening continued with wine, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction that featured the work of artists Pam Santirojprapai and Tobacco Brown. Prison Stories creator Elaine Blanchard spoke of how the program creates a human connection between inmates with the outside world. “When we hear the stories of prisoners, they become more human,” she explained. Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker

Maria DeBacco and Yan Mao

Gayle Moore, Elaine Blanchard, and Bess Arrington

Friends of the Red Cross Hero and Donor Reception Supporters of the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross gathered at the Pink Palace Museum for the Friends of the Red Cross Hero and Donor Reception to honor “heroes” of the Mid-South Red Cross for their service in March, when the heroes helped raise their goal of $1,000 for Red Cross Month. Those meeting their goal were David Elliott, Greg Wilson, Ingram Micro, Laura Vaughn, the Overton High School Key Club and Snowden School. After the ceremony, guests were invited to view an IMAX screening of Tornado Alley, where their eyes were opened to the types of devastation the Red Cross responds to on a daily basis. Ernestine Berry, Shelby Slater and Mary Sharp

Justin Shaw, Traci and Kenny Stubblefield and Tom Callihan

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Interview by Jonathan Devin | Photos by Steve Roberts he drama of a grand living room with high ceilings makes a stunning visual impact when entertaining, but it also poses certain challenges when it comes to everyday life. That’s why Tammy and Darin Drake of Germantown turned to Teresa Davis of Post 31 Interiors to help combine comfort with elegance in side-by-side living spaces, each complete with its own fireplace and sitting area. Fortunately for the Drakes, Davis is an expert in mixing it up. In the room above, metallic ’70s inspired end tables sit comfortably on opposite sides of the couches, dark taupe upholestry plays nicely with soft purple accents and rustic wooden chandeliers are adorned with tiny crystals for added sparkle. The more formal side of the Drakes’ living room features mix-matched neutral tones in the fabrics, lush violet drapes for contrast and an original oil/acrylic painting designed especially for the room by artist Judy Vandergrift.

Above: The more casual of the two sitting areas in the living room has plenty of space up top for two matching, circular wooden chandeliers hanging opposite a large decorative wall clock.

RSVP: Is it very difficult to mix textures and surfaces in a space this big?

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Davis: My motto is “it’s the mix, not the match.” When I’m selecting floor coverings, upholstery, anything, I always try to vary texture because we use a lot of neutrals. So, the visual interest comes from the texture and variances of the same color. Also, I always put silvers, golds and different metallics in the space. The end tables are a mix of both silver and gold tones. RSVP: What was the biggest challenge in the space? Davis: It’s difficult to make a space this big look cozy and warm. There are tall ceilings and lots of cubic square footage, so a lot of times we tend to neglect the upper third of our space. When you have all the visual weight around the bottom half and then the top is empty, it doesn’t feel good.

RSVP: I love how you have neutral drapes in the sitting area with darker upholstery and purple drapes in the area with neutral upholstery.

RSVP: Is that why you chose the six-foot clock over the kitchen? Davis: Yes. It’s new, but it looks old. It’s kind of rusted metal and set on five o’clock because it’s always five o’clock somewhere. Not very many people have a space that can accommodate something like that. There was all that space up there, which is why we elected to do two chandeliers. They’re just wood circles and we added the crystals because Tammy loves bling. My objective was to select large pieces that have the same sort of mix of materials, but are different chandeliers.

Davis: The reason why we did that was because I wanted to find a way to marry these two rooms, and that’s one of the ways it helps this whole space to flow. Tammy wanted the lighter sitting area to feel more glamorous, more like a fine hotel. The second room, the darker area, is more comfy, where you can sit back and put your feet up. RSVP: The bar in the corner is almost drawn out into the room with the presence of wine bottles and collections of corks in various places around the room.

RSVP: What’s the first step in recreating a large space? Davis: The first thing we did was we selected an inspiration fabric. That was the purple drapery material in the kitchen. Purple is difficult sometimes to work with. I find that people either really like it or really don’t. It’s a strong color.

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Left: Each lamp and decorative vessel in the living space is unique and has been chosen to add height to the lower portion of a very tall room. Lamps and accents need not match the furniture in style when the overall effect is one of eclectic elegance. Bottom Left: Two round trays on stands and a circular rolling cart form the living room bar—an example of how to turn an unused corner into an entertaining vignette. Bottom Right: Davis used wine and Campari bottles along with Tammy Drake's collection of wine corks throughout the living room, which is also kept interesting with many examples of original artwork.

Davis: We were wondering what we would do with that corner, and we thought that would be the perfect little spot to set up the bar area. We’ve actually got three little tables there. I love to use all five senses in design. Any time you see any sort of food or drink, it makes the whole room more palatable and pleasing.

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COMEC Treasure Hunt

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The Commission on Missing and Exploited Children, our region’s AMBER Alert coordinator, held its kid-friendly fund-raiser, the sixth annual COMEC Treasure Hunt, at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Little buccaneers were treated to performances by various local groups and entertainers, including The Mid-South Buccaneers, Emma Webb, Studio B Dance, Collierville Arts Academy and Desert Rose Dance Company, and children also posed with lookalike characters from In Character Productions and had their faces painted by Party with Pickles, the party artist. In addition, there was a kids’ fun fair with games, a showcase of family-friendly businesses in the Pirates’ Marketplace, a workshop provided by Home Depot, sky-high thrills from Bungeezoom and a giant inflatable slide and obstacle course. Award-winning producer/host Michelle Robinson returned as event emcee.

Methodist Healthcare Hospice Residence Garden Party Friends of the Methodist Healthcare Hospice Residence joined at Memphis WaterWorks in June to assist in the fulfillment of the residence’s beautiful courtyard. Guests purchased WaterWorks’ teak furniture, selected artwork from Gallery 56 and pieces from Market Central, all for use at the Methodist Hospice Residence. Memphis musician Joyce Cobb provided the entertainment as guests supported the Methodist Hospice Residence and the courtyard that provides a place for peace, comfort and solace for patients and families.

Lifeblood Donor Fest Mid-Southerners helped save more than 5,000 lives by participating in the Lifeblood Donor Fest and donating 1,698 units of blood. The region’s only full-service nonprofit blood center, Lifeblood held the weeklong event to increase the number of donors during a normally low season of giving. Those who donated blood during the week were given 2012 limited edition Donor Fest tee shirts, and many joined in the celebration of Lifeblood donors on the fest’s final day at Audubon Park, where there was magic by Magic Mr. Nick, yogurt from YoLo, music courtesy of singer/songwriter Molly Ray and lots of children’s activities, from face painting to balloon animals. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos Submitted

Outdoors Inc. Canoe and Kayak Race After-Party More than 400 paddlers of canoes, kayaks, surf skis and standup paddle boards flocked to the Memphis riverfront to participate in the 31st annual Outdoors Inc. Canoe and Kayak Race, and to unwind afterward, several participants, sponsors and overall race winner Greg Barton headed to Grawemeyer’s on South Main for the Race After-Party. The Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America provided food, and New Belgium Brewing provided Fat Tire beer. Representatives from The North Face, Patagonia, Arcteryx, Columbia, Epic Kayaks, Jackson Kayaks, Confluence Watersports, Solomon and Vibram Five Fingers were there, to name a few. The event itself raised in excess of $5,000 for the Church Health Center, with the center’s executive director/founder Dr. G. Scott Morris participating, as he has done for several years. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Libby Huff

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Sheon Lynch and Danny Garrick Gil Uhlhorn with Deborah and Bob Craddock

Eric Mimms, Lynn Plummer, Daniel Copeland and Andy King

Shawn and Jake Sandy, Robert Allsup and Sophia and Mike Sandy

Mike and Donna McManus with Don Hutson

Debra Brown, Astrid Balink, Lorie CampbellNowlin and Leslie Poole

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Blues on the Bluff

BLUES ON THE BLUFF

WEVL Benefit Concert

Lonna Wills and Brenda Garner

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Ryan Flickinger and Krissy Buck

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ocking out by the Mississippi has never so much fun since independent radio station WEVL came along with its benefit concert, Blues on the Bluff®, 24 years ago. Once again, July’s hot ticket event took over the National Ornamental Metal Museum grounds and offered a stellar line-up of talent that some 900 music lovers from throughout the region made plans to attend. Other than the unbelievably cool temps thanks to a quick rain shower, the added appeal this year came from the addition of two new acts to the show. Both Elmo & the Shades and Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition were first-timers to Blues on the Bluff, and both couldn’t have been better received. Showing their appreciation with dancing, audience members took to the area in front of the stage to move to the music and enjoy an evening under the stars. Past Blues on the Bluff participant Lightnin’ Malcolm also played and didn’t fail to entertain with his unique blend of funk, hill country blues, reggae, rock and soul. To maintain their energy levels, patrons lined up at the Central BBQ tent for the restaurant’s barbecue sandwiches, turkey legs, watermelon slices and cookies, to name a few tasty menu items. All proceeds from food purchases were donated back to WEVL—even more reason to fill up. And, no concert would be complete without cold beer, which could be savored by buying an expensive drink ticket. St. Louis brewery Schlafly had a good selection of brews represented with its Pale Ale, Dry Hopped APA and awardwinning Kölsch beer, and wine was available for those who wanted to sip something a little lighter. As has become tradition in the past few years, WEVL set up a silent auction tent that offered numerous station-friendly packages. Station volunteers and programmers, including Amanda Dent of “Lost in the Shuffle,” fittingly manned the auction and encouraged guests to bid on everything from music donated by WEVL programmer Eddie Hankins, host of the blues/R&B/soul show “Down in the Alley” for 16 years, to a Live at the Garden picnic pack and a “Tom Waits” folk painting by Lamar Sorrento. A nearby tent boasted Blues on the Bluff memorabilia and had sign-up sheets for guests to become WEVL members, and if they did so during the event, they could receive a free Blues on the Bluff poster. Perhaps knowing that Blues on the Bluff only occurs once a year, concertgoers partied into the night, all while raising more than $42,000 to support the Mid-South’s only listener-supported radio station. Tune into WEVL 89.9 FM for a listen if you haven’t done so already. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Jonathan McCarver and Linley Schmidt

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry Kay and Allen Leathers

Dr. Richard Raichelson and Ellen Barry

Max Devaney and Rachel Horres

Ronnie Booze and Rosemary Nelson

Gaynelle and Ted Perry with Judy Dorsey

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Tiffany and Mike Burns with Robin Steward

Greg, Janice and Abby Delgoffe

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Debbie Newport, Linda Cole, Deb Burger and Teresa Coop

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Tommy Parker and Jenna Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keefe

Margaret Tatum and Susie Koehn

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Alicia Kavon and Troy McCall

Amanda Dent, Courtenay Adams and Julie Shearin

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Holly Cassin and Joey Reinagel

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BLUES ON THE BLUFF E V E N T A.J. Northrop and Walker Stahnke

Esther Gordon and Robert Gordon

Scot Robinson and Gloria Dodd

Eric and Katherine Bailey

Terrance Bishop and Anna Gregory

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Barb and Jim Duncan

Katie Wigginton with Margaret and Johnnie Everroad RSVP

Becky, Haleigh and Pam Ferguson

Alden Schmidt and Michal McKay

Sergio and Dana Alvarez

Cindy Lewis and Tish Middleton

Vandana and Dan Peterson

Ronald Kent, Ben Bruker and Scott Shreffler

EVENT

SportsBall

SPORTSBALL

Benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis

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Brooke Tweddell and Jim Holt

Bill Platten and Laura Simons

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he rest of Memphis may have been wilting in the heat, but guests at the 15th annual SportsBall, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis, Inc. (BBBS), were the epitome of cool. Elegant women and debonair men in formal wear and tuxedos filled Minglewood Hall. Only, these sophisticates wore Nikes and high-tops on their feet because SportsBall is an occasion to play and party. The popular summer event drew a crowd of about 800 generous people. “The proceeds of this night sustain our agency for the entire year,” said Adrienne Bailey, president and CEO of BBBS. “Even in these challenging times, people stepped up tonight to support us.” Guests reverted to boys and girls themselves to compete at a double basketball shootout or drive simulated racecars. Non-athletes were treated to chair massages from Harbor Town Day Spa or posed for a sport magazine “cover” taken by Marcy Milman Productions. Guests pocketed paper money to hit gaming tables sponsored by Harrah’s, which also catered the event, and helped themselves to a smorgasbord of salmon BLTs, brisket sandwiches, hot dogs and skewers of bite-sized chicken and waffles. Brent Long of Holliday Flowers, Inc. designed lush-looking tables, tying white event tee shirts with ribbons to cover the chair backs. Centerpieces of tall glass rectangular vases lifted bouquets of burnt orange Gerbera daisies toward the ceilings. Michael Blair, who has emceed SportsBall for nine years, and deejay Jeff B entertained and energized the crowd. Valerie Morris and Willie Gregory served as event co-chairs, with Morris assisting her auctioneer husband, Jeff, in the first-ever SportsBall live auction, which netted thousands of dollars for the agency. Guests also eagerly purchased $20 raffle tickets for a chance to win a classic David Yurman bracelet or a “Champagne Fantasy” basket. The music stopped just long enough for Bailey to thank major sponsors FedEx and Nike and to introduce Yasmine Ragsdale, the 2012 Big Sister of the Year, and Bill Platten, Big Brother of the Year. Then Chris Thomas, a member of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, and Mike Edwards, president of Paragon National Bank, took the stage. Thirty-seven years ago Edwards, then an 18-yearold student at Rhodes College, became a big brother to Thomas, who said that he wouldn’t be where he is today without that special relationship. Other guests had brought their little brothers and sisters to the event that night, so one couldn’t help but wonder which one of them would grow up to be another Chris Thomas. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Dr. Michael and Tina Jones

Story by Jeannie Mandelker Photos by Don Perry

Valerie and Jeff Morris

Terry and Elaine Parker

Daniel and Debra Sledd

Chris and Joanna Thomas

Paul Lemay, Danny Washburn, Amanda Lemay and Mike Lauderdale

Justin Bailey and Adrienne Bailey

EVENT SPORTSBALL

Diann and Leroy Morgan

Sally and Dan Barron

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Sloane Taylor and Toni Boland

James and Keisha Whittington

Carol Ptasienski and Paul Jewell

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Yolanda Newson and Willie Gregory

Angela Aghbeg and Ron Wong

Stacy and Brad Carson

Lester Sconyers and Karen Williams

Simeon Kelly and Jerica Edmonds

Charlie and Jahleel Nelson

EVENT SPORTSBALL

Daryle, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Anthony, Cierria and Camille Jamseens

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Sonja Dowdy, Chris Pugh and Heather Grisanti

Nikki Jimenez and Laura DeLuca

Mark and Tina Bradley

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Ronald and Carolyn Kent

Alexa, Shawn and Lana Danko

Phillips Walker and Amy Wood

Jered Haddad and Lisa Blust

Maurice, Derrick and Tracie Earle

SAVE THE DATE

and help save the day... Saturday: September 22

from 4-7pm

@ DogsRule DayCare & School 2265 Central Avenue FUNDRAISER

for

Tennessee Task Force One, Canine Unit

A Division sponsored by City of Memphis Fire Services

These are the teams that serve us in disasters all over the United States and abroad. There are only 28 teams like this in the U.S. and we have one in our area. Federal budget constraints have left them in need of important equipment. Tennessee Task Force One was at the Pentagon during 9-11, at Katrina during the levee breach and Joplin, Missouri and Alabama following $20 the tornado - Saving the day. Suggested Donation (tax deductible) We hope you will join us in saving theirs.

DOGS WORK

Bring your friends, your party face & your wallet . . . and just this once, please leave your dogs at home.

57 RSVP

Come WATCH the

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FOOD FUN MUSIC PRIZES

EVENT

Live at the Garden

LIVE AT THE GARDEN

Featuring Seal and Macy Gr ay

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John and Marsha Stemmler

Mark and Suzanne Massey

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even years had passed since Seal graced the Live at the Garden stage this July, but he more than made up for lost time with a set list packed with all his hits, a few popular covers and some new music as well, not to mention the fact he sang well over an hour on one of the hottest nights of the summer. The heat also couldn’t stop the opening act performer, Macy Gray, from enjoying her Live at the Garden debut, or the crowd of nearly 5,500 people from relishing the beautiful music made before them. The second concert in the 2012 Live at the Garden concert series, a Memphis Botanic Garden fund-raiser, had gotten much hype thanks in part to presenting sponsor Duncan-Williams, Inc.’s “Kiss from a Rose” video released on Facebook about a week in advance of the show. In the footage, a “Happy Ambassador” named Rose, played by Anna Nicol, goes around town planting kisses on familiar Memphis faces like Mayors A C Wharton and Mark Luttrell, Grizz, Silky Sullivan, Meri Armour of Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and Rick Shadyac of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, to name a few good-natured participants. During the video, Seal’s most well-known song, “Kiss from a Rose,” plays, however that love ballad was just one of several hits Seal performed for his Live at the Garden fans, who were treated to his other popular tunes, including “Crazy” and “Prayer for the Dying.” And when Seal did his cover of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” couples were more than pleased to get up and slow dance. Quirky soul and R&B singer Macy Gray, famous for her mega-hit “I Try,” delighted the audience as well as she belted out a medley of her best songs while strutting across stage in a red and black floor-length dress and a bright blue feather boa. She opened by saying, “We drove all the way here from L.A. to hear you scream,” and then fittingly followed her comment by singing the lyrics to “Glad You’re Here.” Gray also gave a shout-out to one of her backup vocalists, Shemika Secrest, who hails from Memphis. After her set, Gray and all of her band members gave fans a surprise by heading to the merchandise tent to sign autographs. During the festivities, attendees stayed hydrated at Buster’s Botanical Bar and satiated by grabbing nibbles from CrêpeMaker, Hog Wild Catering, Fuel Café and a funnel cakes/lemonade stand. Those in the VIP area even had access to eats spread out by Eclectic Catering in a fully air-conditioned tent courtesy of Classic Party Rentals. But no matter whether you were in the lawn or the VIP area, the music unified everyone’s concert experience. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Rob and Paige Lonergan

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Baxter Buck

Christy Stokes and Jo Shaner

Greg Griffin and Katie Siegal

Ray and Marie Smith

Cookie and Mike Swain

Jessica Golden, Heather Holt, Kristen Kail, Mary Catherine Fogleman and Jessica Ginn

Melissa and Steve Adair

EVENT LIVE AT THE GARDEN Wendy and Michael Smith

Audrey Feeney and Katie Rowan

Leo Bottary and Ellyne Lonergan

Richard and Trish Spore

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Jane Clark and Lisa Parker

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Tere and Ralph Gusmus

Alecia and John Marley

Dave and Kelly Pollard

Bobby and Leslie Parnell

Greer and Carolyn Simonton

Neel and Kay Gammill

EVENT LIVE AT THE GARDEN S E P T E M B E R 2 012

John Ennis Jr. and Sasha Ennis, Stachia and Brett Cutchin and Janice and Rusty Chambers

Lisa Bobal and Shannon Luttrell Velloff

Kristin Budzak, Brandy Seawright and Carmen Bond

Beth and Greg Glosson

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David Hollie and Tara Cannon

Phil and Romy Morgan with Courtney and Mark Brown

Kaya, Brandee and Jay McBride

Jenny and Tim Upchurch

Davan and Greg French with Steve and Margaret Stires

EVENT LIVE AT THE GARDEN Rebecca and Frank Vento

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Carolyn and Steve Wills

Anna-Nicole Williams, Mary Hopkins, Katie Webb and Shalena Williams RSVP

Debbi and Michael Wood

Chris Bodry and Holly Kavanaugh

Tonya Baxter, Yvonne Joiner and Miyosha Love

ONSITE

Onsite IV Bracket Bash Boy, can those boys and girls cook! The Memphis Area Boys & Girls Club Technical Training Center culinary students catered a swank affair to kick off the organization’s tennis-themed Bracket Bash fund-raiser. Lexus of Memphis cleared its showroom to host several hundred guests, who feasted on grilled summer squash on toast, jalapeño pesto bruschetta and buttery tenderloin, salmon and pork sliders. Athens Distributing stocked the bar with drinks like faux piña coladas made with Svedka coconut vodka and pineapple juice and mason jars of Buffalo Trace on ice. P. Ashley Rix of Chocistry also tempted guests with chocolate-dipped bacon and bourbon-glazed cookies, among other delights. Event chair Allyson Dyer said the turnout was the largest for this event, held annually by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, which enriches the lives of 11,000 children and adolescents in Shelby County. Allyson Dyer and DeMarcus Little

Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker

Winson Smith, Vinny and Shelby Borello and Charles Griffin

Cirque du CMOM Chair Kick-Off Party

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The Children’s Museum of Memphis’ Cirque du CMOM Chair Kick-off Party was held in August at the home of Jana Tayloe. Since this year’s Cirque du CMOM theme is “Rio de Janeiro Carnival,” the women of the event committee gathered for Brazilian food by Uptown Grocer and drinks in a festive environment filled with brightly colored boas, beads and face painters. The annual gala will be held on February 2, 2013 at CMOM on Central Avenue and will help raise funds so the museum can continue offering “memorable learning experiences through the joy of play in hands-on exhibits and programs.” So, don’t forget to mark your calendar for an evening that will be sure to bring out all the stops!

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62 Jennifer McCullough, V Chapman and Allison Boyd

Stacey Hussey, Shea Lackie and Hart Kiser

Mary Ballard and Sarah Spinosa

Story and Photos Submitted

Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Bridge and More Bridge players came out in full force at the Bridge and More event hosted by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary at Germantown United Methodist Church’s Owings Life Enrichment Center. Play began at 10 a.m., with players breaking at noon to partake in boxed lunches from Panera Bread and to enjoy fashions by SOMA that were modeled by auxiliary members. Attendees also perused the white elephant sale, which offered items ranging from kitchenware to books that were donated by members, and several left with door prizes handed out by bridge chair Arlene Southern. Further highlighting the occasion was the introduction of Captain Barbara Rich, the Associate Area Commander of the Salvation Army Memphis Area Command. Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Linda Warren, Bonnie Carter and Nelda Hamer

Nan Landess, Ann Heffernan, Captain Barbara Rich, Arlene Southern, Carole Bizot and Paula Carter

Women Against MS Luncheon

Judy Gauthier and Dee Dee Gauthier

Emily Garrett and Debbie Sisk

Robbie Neal and Maria Moore

The Mid-South Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society upheld its mission “to mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS” during the Women Against MS Luncheon. Held again at the U of M Holiday Inn, the event attracted mostly women, and some men, to the sixth annual affair, where Kym Clark of WMC-TV 5 reprised her role as emcee and guest speaker Ronda Giangreco, author of The Gathering Table: Defying Multiple Sclerosis with a Year of Pasta, Wine and Friends, spoke to the crowd about her uplifting book. One of the book’s recipes for homemade ricotta cheese was included on a bookmark in guests’ programs, and many also won door prizes and beautiful cake centerpieces, which were donated and created by area restaurants and bakeries. Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

25 Competition at the Greek games 26 Fall mo. 27 Race

30 New U of M conference in 2013

42 46

44 Screamer's throat dangler

49 Obtain

50 Gangster's girlfriend 51 Ritzy

54 Meek

55 South southwest 58 Water (Sp.) 59 Arrest

61 Remaining one 63 Holey 64 Dam

65 Dwarf

5 Former Tiger who is now a 7 ______ Bowl - annual game

54 60

4 Boxer Muhammad 6 Thug

3 Vitality

Panther _____ Williams

40 Kiosk

39 Copy

2 Seaweed substance

49 51

1 Very

43 45

38 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Remember the __â&#x20AC;?

48 Designated

36 Twitching

45 Eluded

68 Mug DOWN

35 Remain

43 Location

34 Worship

42 December

21 Ne

23 Poisonous acid

67 Observes with eye

between Auburn and Alabama 8 Cut

9 Excretion

10 Mexican food brand 11 Night light

12 Singing voice

13 Christmas song 22 Long time 24 Tint

25 Speck 27 Poll

28 Wheel holders 29 Pile

30 Two-footed 31 Whim

32 Strong

33 Legal document 35 Meager

2013 WEDDING ISSUE Now accepting wedding submissions for the February 2013 issue of RSVP. Please visit rsvpmagazine.com for complete details. *Deadline for submissions is December 31, 2012. No exceptions. Weddings must have taken place during 2012.

37 African nation

40 Team name shared by GA and MS State

41 Elliptical 43 Visits

46 Lizard

47 The Liberty Bowl's _____ Dockery Field

48 Sun's name

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66 At sea

50 LSU coach Miles 51 Information

52 Self-esteems 53 Entice

54 __ and Ike (candy) 55 Oxford 56 Partial

57 Small bird

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60 Sailor's yes

62 Trinitrotoluene

Solution:

I R O N

A G A R

20 Before, poetically

S A M E

19 Carry

B I P E D

18 Run easily

A X L E S

17 Organized crime

H E A D

candy brand

O M A N R O L O T O T E E N O L G A S T T I C O O T H V U L A A T E D L S S W T H E R N O M E T E I N

16 Rolled chocolate

N S I E P E P H A U I G E D E E B A U S L M O L I L D L O E G S S

15 Canal

M I K E

14 Smart

L A D F I L E E F I A L E N E O A G O N S T E N T O L B A M O A C A R K I R T E G E T U X E A N A N D Y A S E

10 Asian country

L U R E

6 Fish arms

Edited by Ruth Cassin

E G O S

1 Lettuce & toppings

D A T A

ACROSS

RSVP Crossword

RSV PHILLIPPI

By Dennis Phillippi

A WONDERFUL MONTH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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or my money, this is the best month to be in Memphis. Sure, May had a lot of things going on, but they’re mostly geared toward younger people who don’t mind being pummeled with sound, rain-soaked and mud-caked. It’s a great month for the city, but not necessarily for the city’s middle-aged. It’s also the month when it starts getting really hot. September is the month when it begins to not be as hot. Sure, there are still very warm days, but not the vice on your skull, sweaty from getting the mail, constantly worrying that your air conditioner is going to explode from operating 24 hours a day just to keep the house in the upper 70s kind of hot we get during the summer. The average high in September is a relatively comfortable, at least to us, 86 degrees. Just a few weeks ago, many of us would’ve sold a loved one to get a high that low. Everything and everyone perks up a little when it gets below 90. We no longer dread going outdoors. Restaurant patios are no longer solely for the type of people who want to experience an endurance test while having dinner. As it happens, my wife and I have lived in Cooper-Young for almost 20 years, and this is the month to be in our neighborhood. There are the many restaurant patios, of course, and from them you can see our insane retinue of local kooks riding by on velocipedes, riding bikes towing a trailer crawling with monkeys or just the garden variety of nuts talking to newspaper boxes. Mid-month brings our favorite weekend of the month, the Cooper-Young Festival. When we moved into the neighborhood, the festival amounted to a Friday night race with a couple of hundred drunks running by our house, often accepting a proffered beer. Saturday brought a couple of closed streets with a couple of dozen tents selling stuff the owners either made or stole from their parents’ attic. It was mostly dogs and babies belonging to cheerful hippies, with one stage where a bluegrass band toiled with a shorted-out amp cord. It was quite the

peace-in. Through the years, the festival has grown into a massive event with the race reaching into the thousands of competitors, almost all of whom are actually serious about competing. Sure, there are still people pushing strollers, but they’re expensive strollers pushed by hard running adults, and even the babies in them seem to care about winning. In the old days, people ran in the race to get the tee shirt, and then drink in a parking lot while a local band played. We started having people over for the race very early on, but back then, it was just a handful of people standing around in our front yard drinking cans of beer. Now, it’s grown to dozens of people and their kids, who have become accustomed to good food and free beer…in bot-

Restaurant patios are no longer solely for the type of people who want to experience an endurance test while having dinner. tles. We cheer the race to the very end, by which time our hands are sore from clapping and our throats are raw from yelling. It’s a pain, but it’s fun to show everyone what a special place Cooper-Young really is. Saturday is now a gathering of more thousands of people, probably tens of thousands, moving in serpentine, armto-arm crowds to one of our many bars and restaurants, shopping in the hundreds of tents that line the long, closed to traffic blocks. There are still plenty of people hawking their old record collection or their bottle cap art, but there’s also locally farmed foods from bread to honey to cheese, serious art, breathtaking photography, sculpture, handmade soap, hippie clothes, political recruitment and face painting for the kids. Every local station feels obligated to send a live truck. Come for the quality and variety; stay for the lunatics, huggers and long-legged girls in

summer dresses. As of last year, the fun of the neighborhood doesn’t end with the finale of the festival because just two weeks later Wifflestock lands at Tiger Lane. We still all call it the Fairgrounds, which I’m sure is confusing to someone who sees no indication that there is, or ever was, a fair anywhere nearby. Wifflestock started as something for happy drunks to do in the parking lot of a bar in Midtown. They decided to give it some shred of legitimacy by collecting money for the Ronald McDonald House. Like our festival, it began to grow and grow, eventually outgrowing the parking lot and migrating to the new expanse outside the Liberty Bowl. There are dozens of wiffleball games going on, a wiffle homerun derby, live bands, a celebrity homerun derby, which I happen to be helping coordinate this year, souvenirs, barbecue, all kinds of grilled food, a hot dog eating contest and fun for the whole family. This thing raises a lot of money for the Ronald McDonald House, and seriously, how often can you say the beer you’re drinking is helping sick kids? I’ve played wiffleball before, but I have no idea what the rules might be. Like everyone else, I just get up there, talk some trash, call my homerun and swing for the fences, usually striking out in the process. You can field your own team if you like and come up with your own, very often offensive, team names. Let’s not kid ourselves, even with a new coach and a new attitude, there very well may be no compelling reason to go into the Liberty Bowl during the fall, but Wifflestock is an excellent reason to hang around outside of the stadium, as long as you have a high tolerance for hippies. That’s generally true of our neighborhood. Sure, the high end restaurants and bars have brought in plenty of moneyed people from other parts of town, but if you’re bothered by boys with dreadlocks, girls with nose rings and the like, you may want to stay in Cordova.

The soon-to-be lower temps have got you all in good spirits Dennis, and we approve. Let’s just hope the upbeat attitude lasts through Wifflestock because we don’t want any celebrities calling you names at the homerun derby. Who knows what kind of column you’ll write next month if that happens.

RSVPAST

A Central Gardens’ Stunner

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191 2

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he late Edward Hull “Boss” Crump, who was a Memphis mayor and congressman, once resided at the Colonial Revival style house (seen above in a photo from a 1912 Art Work of Memphis portfolio by Gravure Studio of Chicago) located at 1962 Peabody Avenue. The house, which dates back to 1909, still stands today and will be a part of the 36th annual Central Gardens Historic District Home Tour on September 9 from 1-6 p.m. This will be the first time the Crump home has been on the tour, and it will be joined on the tour by five other historic houses, which also all appear in the same Gravure Studio publication. Visit centralgardens.org for more info. PHOTO COURTESY OF WALPOLE PHOTO 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.