RSVP Magazine September 2015 by RSVP Magazine

September 2015

SportsBall Spirit of SRVS Wine and Dine Science of Wine Blues on the Bluff速 RSVProfile with Angela Green

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CO N T EN T S

Contents

September 2015

From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Signature Memphis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Emily Ballew Neff, executive director of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, shows off the museum’s The Art of Video Games exhibit that runs until Sept. 13 and shares her contagious enthusiasm for the arts.

SportsBall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Guests donned their finest outfits and laced up their favorite pair of tennis shoes for a grown up game night, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South, Inc.

SportsBall Teri Reaves and Avery Hadaway

Ambassador Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Nora Tucker: Curating the Blues Experience

Emily Adams Keplinger interviews Nora Tucker, life-long music lover and manager and curator of the Blues Hall of Fame, on Memphis’ newest home of music history.

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 & 24

Blues on the Bluff® Christina O.

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He is continuing a local (and family) tradition while serving up Greek burgers at the oldest family owned tavern in town. This duo is brewing up some quality beers and keeping it all in the neighborhood. StreetSeens highlight Rocky Kasaftes along with Drew Barton and Andy Ashby.

Wine and Dine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Special Olympics Greater Memphis welcomed supporters to an evening of fine food and beverages at their fifth annual event high up in the Tower Room.

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Spirit of SRVS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Shelby Residential and Vocational Services entertained guests at the Memphis Hilton with a delectable food and wine tasting and an exciting live auction.

Blues on the Bluff®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Views of the river from the National Ornamental Metal Museum paired perfectly with barbecue, brews and blues at WEVL FM’s annual benefit concert.

26 Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48, 60, 61, 62 & 63

Wine and Dine Joey Hagan and Carol Elkins

Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

RSVProfile Angela Green

RSVProfile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Angela Green, executive director, festival chair and co-programming chair of On Location: Memphis International Film & Music Fest discusses the new addition of music and music-centered film to the international competitive festival, now in it’s 16th year.

Science of Wine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 The Pink Palace Museum called upon wine and science enthusiasts alike for an event that featured both appetizing and educational delights.

RSVPhillippi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 At Least We Can Still Rock

Dennis Phillippi reveals the dos and don’ts of aging gracefully, i.e. please DON’T grow a ponytail after the age of 50 but please DO continue to rock hard to your favorite bands.

Spirit of SRVS Jordan and Allison Buchanan

Cover Photo Matt and Amy Moss at SportsBall Photo by Nathan Berry

Science of Wine Terry Moore and Gabrielle Banks

2015-16 Season

Stories out loud. Pagliacci

October 9 & 10 November 20 & 21

Love Changes Everything

Kallen Esperian in Concert February 6 Midtown Opera Festival

April 1 & 9

Midtown Opera Festival April 2 & 9

OPERAMEMPHIS.ORG 901.202.4533

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Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;heure espagnole

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photo by Melissa Sweazy for Opera Memphis

RSVP Staff Volume XX

Number XII

September 2015 publisher

Roy Haithcock Editor

Rachel Warren contributing writers

Emily Anderson Virginia Davis Emily Adams Keplinger Dennis Phillippi Suzanne Thompson Lesley Young art director

Chris Pugh Account Executive

Chris has been exercising his talent in the advertising world since 1999. He joined the RSVP team in 2009 and brought with him a love for laughter and creativity. Originally from New Albany, Mississippi, Chris has settled in Memphis and enjoys being active in the fashion community.

Krista Geyer photographers

Nathan Berry Lynn Green Don Perry Steve Roberts SEPTEMBER 2015

account executives

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Chris Pugh Robin Morgan accounting

Ruth Cassin Editorial Intern

Ellen Cassin RSVP Memphis is published monthly by Haithcock Communications, Inc. First class subscriptions are available for $55.00 per year. Send name and address with a check to: Haithcock Communications, Inc. 2282 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 For advertising information contact Roy Haithcock Phone (901) 276-7787, ext. 101 Fax (901) 276-7785 e-mail publisher@rsvpmagazine.com web

www.rsvpmagazine.com

For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event. Call: 901-276-7787, ext. 105 Fax: 901-276-7785 E-mail: editor@rsvpmagazine.com

Robin Morgan Account Executive

Having worked in advertising for 13 years, Robin is most passionate about magazine print. Her energy is contagious, and she counts as her hobbies running, shopping and spending time with her girlfriends. Robin’s “bright spot” is her daughter Emily Anne. Robin loves living in downtown Memphis, which affords her the opportunity to run down Riverside Drive anytime!

Krista Geyer Art Director

Krista has spent most her entire life in the Mid-South area. She moved home after earning her Bachelor’s Degree from Auburn University and is thrilled to be able to work on something as “Memphis” as RSVP magazine. When not working you can probably find Krista at Shelby Farms with her husband and her dogs or riding her horses.

RSVP Memphis Magazine

Ellen Cassin Editorial Intern

Ellen is a native Memphian who currently resides in Nashville. She received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Spring Hill College. Her interests include sports, public policy, and anything crafty. She is excited to be with RSVP as the editorial intern and in her spare time you can either find her with a book in her hand or playing with her dog, Mae.

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From the Editor

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ell folks, we’ve made it through the summer, technically speaking. Of course, it probably will not feel like true autumn until October but at least the humidity will take a back seat. We have the special privilege in the South of experiencing both summer and fall temperatures in September. The mornings are hot, and we wonder why we brought the sweater to the office and then, after stepping outside in the evening, we hurriedly throw that sweater on. It’s all about layers, people. I am most definitely a fall person. Yes, I will drink or eat or buy anything pumpkin spiked or decorated, including the dreaded pumpkin spiced latte from a certain popular coffee house. Call me basic or what have you, I am just a regular American girl that can’t get enough of fall-themed items, to the point that I want my drinks to scream autumn flavor. Because in the South, our fall is fleeting and you have to celebrate while it lasts. Fall means some of my favorite things: seasonal autumn beers, scarves and all the outdoor events. One outdoor September event in particular is always my favorite, the Cooper-Young Festival. Held on Sept. 19 this year, it’s a celebration of Memphis’ historic art district and all the cool and eclectic things that make Memphis unique. Nothing beats seeing all your neighbors, friends and family in one place celebrating the place that made us who we are. This issue we have featured some people that are continuing to make Memphis cool and interesting. Executive Director of On Location: Memphis International Film & Music Fest Angela Green (page 50) is heading the 16th annual film festival that has added a music component as well as opportunities for artists to take their careers to the next level. Rocky Kasaftes (page 22) and his family have been making Memphis cool for almost 62 years at everyone’s favorite late night burger spot, Alex’s Tavern. Drew Barton and Andy Ashby (page 24) will not only be offering some of my favorite autumn brews soon at Memphis Made Brewing Co., but they are also on a mission to buy and do business locally, that, and make some fine beers. Be on the lookout for our October issue, which will be our extra special 20th anniversary issue. We will be remembering some exceptional people that we have had the honor to meet and feature as well as rehashing some great Memphis parties. Here is wishing everyone a great beginning to your Memphis fall!

Rachel Warren editor@rsvpmagazine.com

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Emil y Ballew Neff

Executive Director, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Hometown: Houston, Texas. Your Lucky Charm: My corgi, Charlie. Best Memphis Hangout: I don’t know. Take me out! First Car You Drove: Mazda GLC, remember those? And yes, I am that old. Favorite Southern Idiom: “That dog ain’t gonna hunt.” But we say that in Texas, too. Favorite Song: Rolling Stones, “Sympathy for the Devil,” but don’t read too much into that. Favorite Piece of Art at the Brooks: That would be like choosing a favorite child – it cannot be done! Favorite Quiet Spot in the City: Overton Park, which, lucky for me, is just outside the door of the Brooks.

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Coolest Thing About Memphis: The Grizzlies of course. But only after the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Proudest Moment of Your Life: Giving birth to my two spectacularly wonderful boys Richard, now 15, and Will, 13. Best Gift You Ever Received: A sailboat when I was 14-years old. It was a Sunfish. I still have it. The sail is patched in several places but she is yar! Favorite Memphis “Thang”: I’m still learning the city, but I never fail to be moved when I cross the bridge over the Mississippi River from Arkansas. It is a powerful thing. Favorite Place to Travel: Everywhere. I love to travel. Spain is a current favorite but London is a kind of Mecca for me, too. And I love road trips. I will drive anywhere. Something You’ll Never Live Down: My college years. I was a mess. But I discovered art history and spent every moment I could in art museums, which undoubtedly got me through it. A Nonliving Celebrity/Role Model You Would Invite to Dinner: The late Texas Senator Barbara Jordan. I met her briefly when I was a child, and I will never forget that voice, that confidence and that power. One Goal You’d Still Like to Accomplish: I’ve always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. My husband Richard did. But there is a small part he didn’t finish, and I have always wanted to finish it with him. The Highlight of Your Day: Going to Work. No kidding. To work in an art museum is the best job ever. I work with a great staff and am surrounded by great art. And I love seeing visitors – adults and children – enjoying themselves in the museum. Who Would Play You in a Movie: I would love to have Meryl Streep, even though I look nothing like her, but I’m afraid it would be Melissa Gilbert. Remember her on the TV show “Little House on the Prairie”? Apparently I look exactly like her. Goofy and wholesome. And freckled. Photo by Steve Roberts

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Best Advice you Ever Got: “Life is not a dress rehearsal.” It took me a long time to grasp the meaning of that.

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EVENT

S p ortsBall

“Black Tie & Tennis Shoes Gala”

SportsBall

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Shaun Pittman and Sam Dexter

Darryl and Sarah Gresham

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t was all fun and games as the crowd gathered at Minglewood Hall for the 18th annual SportsBall, hosted by WMC TV Sports Director Jarvis Greer. The event, also known as the Black Tie & Tennis Shoe Gala, was a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South, Inc. (BBBS). Approximately 650 people turned out for the event, most wearing lace-up sneakers with their black-tie attire. Crystal Johnson of Harbor Town Day Spa offered chair massages to help everyone loosen up and relax as guests prepared to prove their athletic prowess with mid-way style basketball contests. Partygoers also enjoyed mock casino games of blackjack and craps provided by Caesars Entertainment. As the event’s emcee, Michael Blair of Fun-tastic Promotions kept things lively as deejay Jeff Burnisky kept rolling out the dance tunes. The sports theme carried over to the foods catered by Hollywood Casino Tunica, with names for dishes like “Three-Point Tacos” and “Baseline BBQ.” Guests also dined on cheese and sausage trays, fresh fruit, “touchdown” beer soup, and a make-your-own bruschetta bar that included toppings of shrimp, crawfish, chicken, artichokes and mushrooms and assorted dips. Marcy Milman Productions was on hand to capture everyone’s best game face with a green screen photo station. Additionally, guests circulated among tables of silent auction items. Giving a nod to the sports theme were Taekwondo lessons, golf packages, scuba diving lessons, and autographed sports memorabilia. An opportunity to serve as the “ESPN Fan for a Day” garnered its share of attention, with bidders hoping to see the show live from the 92.9 FM ESPN studio. The awards portion of the evening brought into focus the real reason for the event – BBBS’s mission of making better futures for Memphis youth by offering one-on-one mentoring to children. Two individuals were recognized as personifying that goal. David Smith, who is a big brother for Malik Bradley, was honored as the Big Brother of the Year. Sheronda Williams, who serves as a big sister to Tracey Benton, was honored as the Big Sister of the Year. This year’s SportsBall Honorees were the volunteers from FedEx, Nike and Caesars Entertainment HEROES who have been supporting this event since its inception 18 years ago and, in turn, supporting the mentoring programs of BBBS. President and CEO of BBBS of the Mid-South Adrienne Bailey said, “We know mentoring works because the children who are a part of our program consistently show improvement in school, grow in personal relationships, and gain greater self-esteem. We believe that mentoring is not just about providing role models to our children, but about strengthening the bonds that hold our community together – and we do it one match at a time.”

Rachel Ellison and Shawn Fort

Julie Burch and Charlie Ryan

Clem and Vickie Williams

See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Story by Emily Adams Keplinger Password: RSVP Photos by Nathan Berry

Robert and Erica Freeman

Jim Palmer and Lisa Taylor

Chao Lin, Katherine Dejesus and Harold Byrd

Bert and Dorrie Simms

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EVENT SportSBall SEPTEMBER 2015

Reed and Julie Long

Tammy Phillips and Jarvis Greer

Dale and Toni Evans

Terrance Wilkins and Candice Bonner

Donna Waggener and Brittany Gordon

Sid Davis and Selena Zuber

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Keith Sisson and Ashley Wright

Buck Lawson and Lindsay Pate

Krishna and Dr. Reginald Andrews

Jessica Howe and Anne Marie Nollner

Jeff and Abbey Cowens

Brittney Block and Matt Cooper

Rachel Peters and Logan Abrahams

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EVENT SportSBall SEPTEMBER 2015

Diana Walton and Chris Thomas

Nicole Fox and Melissa Jones

Patrick and Kontji Hendricks

Jennifer Roberts and Jeff Smith

Heidi and Jimmy Oglesby

Kenya Holmes and Dave Jones

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Iolanda and Alberto Tormin

Terry and Cathy Lynch with Penney and David Williams

Rod and Kristy Marter

Alex Lucchesi and Angela Delbrocco

Jahmaad Crudur, Diane Martin, Gail Pitts and Jametras McCray

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EVENT SportsBall SEPTEMBER 2015

Tara Reed, Chris May and Michelle Songstad

Roger and Emma Brown

Eric Hasseltine and Chelsea Chandler

Lena Davis Brown and Cedric Brown

Brian Ferguson and Lindsey Leet

Riley and Alissa Fowler with Stephanie and Jeremy Langston

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Ellen Cassin, Adam Badrian and Krista Geyer

Jan and David Smith

Mike Yeh and Lydia Ding

Lisa and Andrew Stagoski

Heather and Jason Dillon

Hershel Cole, Reginald Webb and Terrance Wilkins

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T he Amba ssa dor S eries SEPTEMBER 2015 RS VP

The Ambassador Series By Emily Adams Keplinger

Nora Tucker: Curating the Blues Experience

ince coming to Memphis in 1982, Nora Burns Tours. Then in late 2006, she began working for Tucker has given her time and talents to a Design 500, the company that did the museum wide range of enterprises. She says it feels design for The Cotton Museum. Working with Scott like everything she has done before has, in some Blake, Tucker served as project manager for Design part, prepared her for her current role as Manager 500, assisting with their for-profit work and running and Curator of the Blues Hall of Fame. The facilthe non-profit operations of Victorian Village, Inc. ity opened May 8 at 421 S. Main and houses one of All of Tucker’s experience was called into Memphis’ newest collections of music history. play when she was hired in October 2014 as the Tucker says, “It feels like the perfect culmi- Manager and Curator for the Blues Hall of Fame. nation of my life-long love of music. Almost every “The Blues Hall of Fame is one of the thing, both personal and professional, has brought me to this place. I started taking piano lessons in kindergarten and have played an instrument ever since, branching out into guitar and singing. I always planned to be a music teacher.” However, when Tucker entered college, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in sociology at the University of South Florida in Tampa. But, when she started working at her first job, a psychiatric hospital, she soon returned to the world of music, becoming an assistant music therapist. Realizing that music was to be her calling after all, Tucker soon launched a career path that encompassed the music retail industry. Each job involved a management position. Each job was centered in music. She Photo by: Mariah Selitsch moved from Tampa (Florida) to Denver (Colorado) to Poplar Bluff (Missouri) and finally to programs run by The Blues Foundation. I’ve been Memphis. Here, she managed a used record store working with The Blues Foundation since 2008, as called The Paperback Shack that was located on they decided where to purchase a building and how Madison Avenue, across from Ardent Recording to welcome their members and visitors. The Blues Studios. Hall of Fame sits across Main Street from the Although The Paperback Shack is long National Civil Rights Museum. The induction cergone, Tucker has been here ever since, continuing to emonies take place in Memphis, but now they finally add to her educational base and build her profeshave a home to be able to put all of this history and sional skills. She completed a master’s degree in music on display. Becoming manager and curator of Library and Information Science through a the Blues Hall of Fame is such a thrill.” Tucker’s responsibilities put her in charge University of Tennessee, Knoxville program that met of many aspects of the Blues Hall of Fame. First, on the University of Memphis campus. She also there’s the collection itself. Tucker is in charge of completed a certificate program in museum studies curating the exhibits, which includes writing the at the University of Memphis. Her career path artifact label descriptions, cataloging the permanent included positions that strengthened her curatorial collection and loaned items, and identifying special skills, like marketing and database management. In 2003, Tucker made a career decision that exhibits. Items now on exhibit include instruments, took her from the realm of for-profit to the non-profit such as a Fender Telecaster owned by Albert Collins arena – she became an administrator of Delta Axis, a “the Master of the Telecaster” and stage costumes, nonprofit contemporary arts organization. such as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s loose cotton jacket In the summer of 2005, Tucker became the (known as a Japanese “happi” coat) that he favored first director of The Cotton Museum. She was instru- wearing while he performed. Also housed are original mental in its pre-operational founding and helped works by legendary blues photographers Dick pave the way for its actual opening in March 2006. Waterman and Joe Rosen, and original works of art For a time, she also served as a guide for Backbeat depicting musicians, like the bust of Memphis

Minnie, an original sculpture by Australian artist Julie Edgar. Tucker’s other duties include managing daily operations and providing oversight for staffing, both paid and volunteer. In fact, she is currently recruiting for their volunteer docent program. Tucker also handles the marketing for the Blues Hall of Fame. She works with both print and social media to reach local, regional, national and international audiences. And the monthly e-newsletters that she writes for the organization serve to connect members of The Blues Foundation and visitors to the Blues Hall of Fame with the current exhibits and the facility’s future plans. When asked what’s in store for the Blues Hall of Fame’s inaugural year, Tucker says, “Our plans center on getting the word out that we are here. Distribution of rack cards and targeting visitor marketing vehicles with ads in the Memphis Convention & Visitors Guide and the Tennessee Vacation Guide, as well as TravelHost magazine, are top priorities. The Blues Foundation has been a member of the Memphis Convention & Visitor Bureau for at least 12 years. They’ve been very helpful by putting The Blues Foundation on their tours. Now, we have one of the newest music attractions in town and we are targeting writers from all over the country, as well as international visitors. “ On August 2, the Blues Hall of Fame kicked off what they hope will be an ongoing lecture series as Dick Waterman gave a lecture about his collection of historic blues photos, a 50-year retrospective. Prints of original work are available for purchase. Tucker concludes, “It’s been my experience that ‘music tourists’ want to come to Memphis and see everything possible that is music-related – that includes Graceland, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Sun Studio, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and now the Blues Hall of Fame. And we can add to that list the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, which opened in July. We encourage people to go see each place because they all tell a different facet of music history.” The Blues Hall of Fame is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students with high school or college ID, and free for kids under 12 accompanied by an adult. Blues Foundation members and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research families can enter for free.

Divorce is a bad choice, but it may be the best choice.

Twenty years ago, this philosophy led us to put our client guide to divorce on our website, aboutdivorce.com. We frequently update the information on the website.

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The more you know about divorce, the better decisions you will make about divorce.

Our hope is that neither you, nor anyone close to you, will need this information. The reality is that you probably know someone who needs this information so they can make a choice that is best for them. Larry Rice

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aboutdivorce.com Rice Divorce Team 901.526.6701 divorce@ricelaw.com

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Divorce is a tragedy. It is the end of a relationship that the parties intended to last a lifetime. That tragedy is compounded when a party comes to the process with inaccurate information. Whole books are written on some of the topics we treat with a few paragraphs.

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Rock y Kasaftes

Alex’s Tavern: A Memphis Tradition

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t’s a place where you can get the best and only Greek burger in Memphis late into the night. It’s a place where after parties, sports watch parties, work parties or even just a shuffleboard party where family and friends can get together, hang out and feel like they’re home. It’s even a place where you can get a quiet lunch while you watch the game. Although, choosing between the famous burger, perfectly steamed in the family’s cake dome, the succulent, fall-off-the-bone ribs or the impeccable wings is always rough (Hint: Go with all three. Share with anyone sitting near to you). It is a Memphis tradition. Alex’s Tavern is the oldest family owned tavern in Memphis. The reason it’s a Memphis tradition is not because of the burgers or the food, although they are exceptionally good. No, it’s because the Kasaftes family have made it feel like home for almost 62 years with hospitality, a penchant for perfection and an open seat for anyone looking to relax and enjoy a cold beer. “Dad opened in November of 1953. Alex’s will be 62 in November. Dad opened up a little place where all he wanted was good music, good food and a place to watch sports. A place where friends get together,” Rocky Kasaftes, owner of Alex’s Tavern, says, speaking of his late father, Alex Kasaftes. Over the years, Alex’s Tavern has been cited by almost any blog or food review of Memphis food worth its weight in fryer grease as one of the best burgers in he city. The tavern and Rocky have been featured on the Travel Channel’s Burger Land, given four and half stars by the Best Memphis Burger blog review and listed on Thrillist.com as one of the “11 Most Essential Bars in Memphis,” to name only a few. Several famous faces have taken a seat at the bar including Gregg Allman, Don Henley, and Christina Ricci. Rocky, along with his mother, took over the tavern after his father passed away. His mother did the books and prepared the food and Rocky ran the bar. Only 21 at the time, Rocky says he didn’t quite know what he was doing. Remembering the chaotic period, Rocky says, “It was do or die.” At the time, he was searching for answers and advice, and he was getting an earful, many telling him to take the tavern out east away from its location on Jackson Ave., but one formative voice stuck with him the most. “When my dad died, Charlie Vergos of the Rendezvous Restaurant came to see me at the tavern. I said, ‘Mr. Charlie, everyone wants me to move out east.’ When he spoke, you listened. He said, ‘No, you stay right here. You make them come to you,’” Rocky recalls. “I said, ‘How am I going to do that?’ Mr. Charlie said, ‘You’re Greek; you’ll figure it out.’ He just walked off like the Lone Ranger going off on his horse,” Rocky says, laughing at the memory and grateful for the advice that set him on the right course. Remaining at its historical location on Jackson Ave., people from all over and close by stop by to have a burger, chat with Rocky and put something good on the jukebox, of which there are two, not one, incidentally. Rocky says the two jukeboxes are the result of some mischief that he and good friend John “Bad Dog” McCormack, who passed away in 2011 after delighting Memphians as a radio personality on Rock 103 for many years, created in the tavern. Rocky explains that while he and Bad Dog helped his father around the tavern they acquired a key to the jukebox. “So we would be here late at night. We started sneaking off the ones that hadn’t been played that much and slipping in some Motown, some Doobie Brothers, stuff that we liked,” Rocky says, adding that many customers knew the button number of their favorite songs. When one customer tried to play his favorite hit on the juke when Papa Kasatftes was there and Jimmy Buffet’s “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” played instead the regular’s favorite, Bad Dog and Rocky had some explaining to do, to put it lightly. “We were typing up labels and everything! We thought we were being smart,” Rocky laughs, remembering his father was livid. His father eventually got another jukebox, though, for Rocky and his friends to play the music they enjoyed. Rocky says that his father treated people well, but never “put up with any you know what!” He says both of his parents were characters that treated everyone with respect. His father told him “It isn’t about how many people come to Alex’s. It is about how many people come back.” Rocky has taken that advice to heart and that is why we all keep going back, to see our good friend Rocky and relax in a place much like home. Help Rocky and friends celebrate their 62nd anniversary this November. Partake in a Memphis tradition and order the Greek burger. Alex’s Tavern opens at 11 a.m. and stays open late, so you really have no excuse not to pay Rocky a visit. Story by Rachel Warren Photo by Steve Roberts

Photo of Alex Kasaftes

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Celebrating 44 Years!

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Season End

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Drew Barton and Andy Ashby

Memphis Made Brewing Company: Keeping It Local

SEPTEMBER 2015

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n 2013, Memphis saw an explosion in its hometown craft breweries. Before then, Memphis only had Ghost River Brewing/Boscos Restaurant & Brewing Company. Now, we have a couple more to add to that list as well as some brewery taprooms that have become favorite haunts for locals looking for craft brews and a personal connection with the people making their beers. Memphis Made Brewing Co. is one of the newer breweries making its mark on the infant craft brew scene in the city. The brewery building also includes a taproom. Seasonal Memphis Made beers can be found at many restaurants, bars and retail outlets throughout the city. Drew Barton, Memphis Made president, head brewer and cofounder, and Andy Ashby, Memphis Made co-founder and accounts manager, have made a huge impact by staying true to their Memphis and Cooper-Young district roots and the result is an excellent craft beer that one feels good about drinking. “Anything we are looking for, we look in the neighborhood first. We look in Midtown, then the county, and then we work our way out. It is who we are,” Ashby says, pointing several things out in the first couple feet of the taproom that are locally sourced: glass Memphis Made lamp shades, made by Cooper Young Glassworks & Gifts; t-shirt designs, made by local Adam Shellabarger of Combustion Design/Advertising; the mural of the Memphis skyline in the taproom, created by Memphis artist Carl Moore, the actual t-shirts, produced by Bluff City Sports right across the street; and any of the signage, created by close neighbor Signworks. Barton and Ashby say that Memphis Made enjoys utilizing the resources that are right in front of them. The Memphis Made brewery and taproom is in the same neighborhood where both Ashby and Barton live, and they say they are excited that they are keeping their money local and supporting other small businesses in the Midtown area, such as food truck businesses that set up outside the brewery. Ashby says, “Drew and I live in Cooper Young, our kids attend school in the area, we go to restaurants and shops in Cooper Young,” adding that the local element is reflected in the brewery’s name, Memphis Made. The brewery is committed to making seasonal brews and self-distribution. “We felt we could do the customer service the way we wanted to by self-distributing. That also lends into the seasonality,” Barton comments, explaining that this method helps the company switch up their styles and make creative additions on the fly. The two point out the Lucid Kolsch, a beer Memphis Made brews all yeararound. “But it also allows us to change things up as well. For instance, RockBone IPA was our spring IPA, but we liked it so much we kept it for the summer. That is what we really like about it. It is kind of like a pick-and-chose your own adventure. We are constantly changing the selections up. It keeps us engaged, and it keeps the customer engaged,” Barton says. Memphis Made has, on numerous occasions, crafted customized beers for local events and organizations, such as All Sewn Up, a beer they created for the native Memphis band Lucero for their Lucero Family Picnic concert. They also helped raise funds for Peabody Elementary’s computer lab with a special fund-raiser and a customized beer. They plan on creating specialty beers for benefit concert Rock for Love, the Cooper Young Festival’s 4-Miller run and Goner Records annual punk festival, Goner Fest. “Memphis really wasn’t being served itself from craft beer. We felt there was just this need to get the taproom, that is where a lot of the education is happening and that is what we like to see. We want people to actually learn about beer,” Ashby says. Ashby and Barton invite you to come try out the seasonal beer selections in the taproom. “This is the way it used to be. What’s old is new again. America hasn’t seen this number of breweries since the 1860s. People think craft brewing is this new phenomenon but it is and it isn’t. It is kind of rediscovering the way beer was brewed and consumed in America,” Ashby notes. Stop by and rediscover beer the way it was meant to be made at the Memphis Made Tap Room open Fridays from 4-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-9 p.m. Check out new brews at www.memphismadebrewing.com. Story by Rachel Warren Photo by Steve Roberts

S EPTEMBER 2015

25 RS VP

EVENT

Wine and Dine

High Spirits for Special Olympics Greater Memphis

Wine and Dine

SEPTEMBER 2015

Sheila and Ephrim Urevbu

Jennifer and Quan Tran

RS VP

Billy Nation and Sydney Teigland

Carmen A. Jones and Andrew Butler Jr.

pecial Olympics Greater Memphis held their fifth annual Wine and Dine event way up high on the impressive 33rd floor of the Tower Center. Guests were greeted with champagne as they stepped into the elevator and escorted into the Tower Room, where beautiful flowers and white floating fabric hung from the rafters welcomed guests to a delightful evening of sumptuous food and quality wines. Presented by Kirby Wine and Liquors and Chef Ryan Trimm of Sweet Grass, this fund-raiser for Special Olympics Greater Memphis brings Memphis foodies, Special Olympic supporters, volunteers and participants together for one amazing evening. Lisa Taylor, director of Special Olympics Greater Memphis, commented on this fun event saying, “The chefs are phenomenal and the quality wines Kirby Wine and Liquors bring are fantastic. The chefs are so generous and supportive of Special Olympics. The view from the Tower Center is just amazing.” Doug Saleeby welcomed partygoers to the 33rd floor with some tunes from a piano in the front lobby. Guests tried several wines such as Penfold’s Kalimna Shiraz Bin 28, Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Houchart Rosé of Provence provided at tables offering more than 15 different types of wines. A raffle for select gift baskets beckoned the crowd. Guests had the chance to win six different baskets including the “Live at the Garden & More” package, which included a plethora of goodies such as lawn seats to three of the Live at the Garden concerts and gift cards to Interim Restaurant & Bar, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, and Vino Vanity. Bidding on the “Pamper Me Basket,” valued at $1,900, was hotly contested, with the winner taking home revitalizing products and services from Skin Advanced Medical Aesthetics, Ultimate Gifts, and Godiva Chocolates. Each gift basket included a couple bottles of fine wine for good measure. A silent auction kept the fun going with four season tickets to Memphis Tiger’s games, three prime tickets to a Memphis Grizzlies game, oil on canvas painting by Kevin Browers and Humidor cigars. Wine and Dine is also all about the food. This year, Wine and Dine featured 13 chefs, who created sensational small and large plates for guests. Ryan Trimm of Sweet Grass/Next Door served a Cubano sandwich. Tim Bednarski of Elwood’s Shack brought the Memphis flavor with dry ribs, pecan-smoked wings and citrus smoked salmon. Foodies enjoyed Erling Jensen’s shellfish truffle mac-n-cheese. Frost Bake Shop sweetened the night with offerings of mini cupcakes in flavors such as chocolate, strawberry and the Memphis Cream, a banana walnut and peanut butter cupcake topped with chocolate ganache. As attendees indulged, Ed Finney and Bob Buckley played cool jazz-inspired tunes. The night was a hit as over 300 guests attended and over $45,000 was raised for Special Olympics Greater Memphis.

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

Story by Rachel Warren Photos by Nathan Berry

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S EPTEMBER 2015

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EVENT Wine and Dine

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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RS VP

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S EPTEMBER 2015

33 RS VP

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phis, TN 38117

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EVENT

Spirit of SRVS

“Auction, Wine and Food Tasting”

spirit of SVRS

SEPTEMBER 2015

Maria Kulma and Alyson Edwards

Roger and Kathy Sapp

RS VP

Holli and Nick Kenney

Bri and Jeff Hammond

s guests entered the 17th annual Spirit of SRVS Auction, Wine and Food Tasting at the Memphis Hilton, they were greeted by volunteers staffing a special table of wine glasses that had been hand-painted by individuals supported by Shelby Residential and Vocational Services (SRVS). The glasses were for sale as part of the fund-raising efforts of the gala, which was a benefit for SRVS programs for people with disabilities. Tyler Hampton, SRVS executive director, and Mike Harless, SRVS chairman of the board, gave the welcoming remarks. Brad Carson, director of Branding and Sports Programming at ESPN 680 AM and 92.9 FM, acted as the evening’s emcee (he is also a radio personality on FM 100 and The Wolf 94.1 FM). Missy Marshall and Robert Blankenship served as co-chairmen of the event. “Both Marshall and Blankenship are members of the board at SRVS. Prior to her appointment as executive director for Keep Tennessee Beautiful, Marshall served nine years as director of Communications and External Affairs for the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Development Disabilities. Blankenship, senior vice president of Operations Planning and Analysis at Sedgwick, has been an active member of the board of SRVS Special Kids & Families,” Diana Fedinec, public relations manager for SRVS, said. Joanie and Michael Lightman were honorary co-chairmen. Bringing her story to the crowd, self-advocate Rachel Mast, daughter of Jonathan and Jawanda Mast and a graduate of SRVS Kids & Families, gave a presentation on “I Love My Life.” Mast has made presentations in many venues across seven states. Earlier this year, she assisted her mother at the National Down Syndrome Society in efforts to pass the ABLE Act, testifying in support of state legislation. SRVS Star performers rocked the house with their dance performance to Bruno Mars’ tune “Uptown Funk.” This was the first dance group from SRVS to perform at the Spirit of SRVS. Members of Company d, a nationally acclaimed dance company of young adults with Down Syndrome, made their 14th appearance at the Spirit of SRVS under the direction of Darlene Winters. A number of area restaurants, as well as wine and beer distributors, provided the evening’s tasting offerings, including Mortimer’s Restaurant, which dished up chicken and dressing. Off The Square Catering provided a variety of macarons with tasty combinations of fig and goat cheese, black pepper pimento cheese, Caprese, curried chicken, mushroom and maple bacon. The fund-raising efforts of the evening included both silent and live auctions. WMC-TV Meteorologist Ron Childers conducted the live auction. His skilled banter with the crowd kept the bidding very competitive, especially for a painting by Lisa Dick, the featured guest artist for this year’s commemorative artwork. Dick is the owner of Go Paint Party. Her painting, “Making the World a Bigger Place,” depicted people supported at SRVS atop a globe representing the Memphis skyline. The evening concluded with a special concert by The King Beez as partygoers danced the night away, enjoying their Memphis-flavored rhythms and blues. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Story by Emily Adams Keplinger Photos by Nathan Berry

Ben Ricketts, Amanda Pirani, Brittany Russell and Clark Schifani

Reginald Sanders and Marion Brown

Courtney Steadman and Nate Swearingen

Kisha and Montrel Walker

Ben Prudhomme and Andi Simonsen

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37 RS VP

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S EPTEMBER 2015

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EVENT spirit of SVRS

Cheryl Eppenger and Hattye Tharpe

Courtney and Jon Pinkston

Heather Swanson and David Nall

SEPTEMBER 2015

Melissa Duong and Yuki Namba

Missy and Steve McClendon

Rachel and Carl Curbo

RS VP

Melissa and Bobby Taylor

Michelle Hengstler, Leon Faison and Becca Childress

Anne Marie Miller and Megan Bramlett

Frank Garavelli and Sheryl Barton

Betsy Brasher, Anne Hotze and Brandon Bell

EVENT spirit of SVRS

Barry and Lisa Payne

Frances Metheny and Cindy Mire

Lamora Simpson and Charles Humphreys

S EPTEMBER 2015

Kathy and John Brewster

Ailene and Lee Morisy

39 RS VP

Jason Harris and Michelle Harp

Carole and Darrison Wharton

Michael and Wesley LaRue

Chandra Mosby and Patricia Jones

Sonnet and Rob Booth

Holly Payne and Lara Payne

EVENT spirit of SVRS

Donna and Keith Renard

Sheri and Dhane Marques

Sandy Nichols and Kim Christopher

SEPTEMBER 2015

David and Stephanie Potter

Jody, Jessie and Lee Smart

Connie Lampen, Latisha Bates, Laura Fischer, DeWonda Lucas and Ginny Oceguera

RS VP

Deena Scroggins and Jay Dunn

Teresa Hurst and Mike Roberts

Buddy and Lanetta Lanier with Audrey McCleney and Corey Gilden

Jason and Sandra Mudd

Curtis Boggs and Ashley Fischer

Susan Lexow with Matthew and Tammie Summers

RSVP Magazine 20 th Year Anniversary Issue

October 2015

S EPTEMBER 2015

41 RS VP

Be Seen! Attract an Affluent clientele to your business! Advertise in RSVP Magazine For information call 276-7787

Deadline for anniversary issue: September 14TH CALL ROY HAITHCOCK 901.497.9578

EVENT

Blues on the Bluff

Barbecue, Blues and Brews for WEVL FM

blues on the bluff®

SEPTEMBER 2015

Alan Veach and Jessica Emberg

Anita Shew and Peter Kowalski

RS VP

Anna Blair, Brooklyn Blair and Taffy Elchlepp

Anna Brewer and Melodie Peck

t started 27 years ago with a noise complaint. Supporters of the WEVL FM 89.9 radio station had decided to host a few parties on the rooftop of their South Main location downtown to raise money and awareness of the volunteer-based station. Unfortunately, the loud music and revelry bothered a few of the neighbors, so WEVL advocates had to regroup and come up with a new game plan. Some attuned local mentioned renting the grounds of the National Ornamental Metal Museum overlooking the Mississippi River, and a new event was born – the Blues on the Bluff® annual concert set on the bluffs of the river at the Metal Museum. Making the most of bountiful local talent, each year WEVL event coordinators invite area blues musicians to take the stage and do what they do best – wail and sweat – while Mid-Southerners sweat with them and sip on something cold, getting their groove on in support of a good cause. This year was no exception. For the 27th Blues on the Bluff®, Missouri-born and Mississippi-based hill country bluesman Lightnin’ Malcolm took to the stage and kept the crowd moving with his awardwinning chops. R.L. Burnside-pedigreed Garry Burnside also played, along with Elmo and the Shades. “We always have had the real deal blues at our event,” Judy Dorsey, the WEVL manager, said. More than 500 attended the event, which was sponsored by AutoZone through their ArtsZone grant, as well as the Peddler Bike Shop, Buster’s Liquors & Wines and Schlafly Beer. “Schlafly donated all the beer, their quality craft beers. Everybody loved it,” Dorsey said. “They’ve partnered with us the past few years, and that has gone really well.” Buster’s donated wine. Nothing goes better with blues and heat than barbecue, and Central BBQ came through with the usual suspects: pork shoulder, turkey legs, and portobello mushrooms for the non-pork inclined. More than 60 items were available for bidding in the silent auction, including a bicycle from the Peddler Bike Shop, and an evening at The Peabody Hotel, and an original Lamar Sorrento painting of Johnny Cash and June Carter created especially for the event. “The committee did an especially good job this year,” Dorsey said. Each year the event brings in between $30,000 and $50,000. All proceeds benefit WEVL, which offers more than 60 programs starting at 6 a.m. daily and is run entirely on donations and volunteers. “People come up to me and tell me all the time how they used to only listen to, say the band Kiss, and now they’re country music fans because of us. When we can achieve that, it really makes you feel good,” Dorsey said. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Story by Lesley Young Photos by Lynn Green

Randy Alford, Judy Dorsey and Randy Meeks

Cindy Ware and Wilhemina Alfonso

Jacob Mabray and Rosemary Dunn

Susan Recker and Linda Lacy

Tish Middleton and Chris Lewis

EVENT blues on the bluff速

Alex Smith and Kevin Bartges

S EPTEMBER 2015

Brad Harmon, Gwin Williams, Lindsey Harmon and Blake Adams

43 RS VP

Marty and Debbie Petrusek with Katie and Ernie Harris

Cullen Estes with Bryant and Jennifer Estes

EVENT blues on the bluff速

Amy Shaftlein and Jennifer Harants

SEPTEMBER 2015

Bob Reiss, Elizabeth Shaffer and John Wallace

Delana, Hendrix and Karl Loucks

Norma and Mark Webb

RS VP

Kaitlyn Everroad and Johnnie Everroad

Sarah Glaser, Hartwell Strain, Jason Mitchell and Jon Bienz

Ashley Bonds and Laura Burditt

Nathan Short, Laura Pate and Evan Comeaux

Tyler Robinson, Angela Mazzanti, Bailey Rihner and Matt Pea

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S EPTEMBER 2015

45 RS VP

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EVENT blues on the bluff速

Ken Ward and Ayn Maddox

Liz and Mike Younkin

SEPTEMBER 2015

Beverly Davis and Garry Burnside

Kerri Hinkle and Cristian Sierra

Shannon Welch and Richard Floyd

RS VP

Kristi Frisch and Trent Pitts

Janet and Jay Mehan

Terry and Marilyn Gurley

Rodney Newsom

Kelly Krainenger

Eldra and Franklin Perry

S EPTEMBER 2015

47 RS VP

S I N C E 1995

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ONSITE

ONSITE I Cookies on Tap

Story and Photos by Emily Anderson The idea of matching cookies with beer might seem strange, but the experiment was worth the outcome. Cookies on Tap, benefiting Memphis’ Girl Scout Troop 901, took place at High Cotton Brewing Co. Upon entering, each participant received a bag of Girl Scout Cookies with a list of specific High Cotton beer pairings on the front. Each combination had a check box next to it, so taste-testers could check off and rate the medley that they liked best. The crowd-pleasing Samoa was paired with a tangy, sweet Hefeweizen. The light and buttery Savannah Smile was coupled with a crisp CTZar. Rich and chocolaty Tagalongs were paired with a heavy Scottish Ale, and Thin Mints were complemented with a sweet “Baller” Brown Ale. Troop 901 made supporting “the next generation of female leaders” a unique and fun experience for Memphians.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Sarah Molney and Katie Risbrough

RS VP

Kristen Hale and Tahiarah Gettis

Brad Brasfield and Candy Brasfield

Wesley Ashley and Angela Wallace

Matt Maynard and Katie Maynard

Summer Spectacular Party

Story and Photos by Emily Anderson It might have rained at this year’s Summer Spectacular Party, but that did not stop the celebration! There was an abundance of delicious food and beverages, a silent auction, a wine pull, multiple outdoor activities and fantastic music. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis, assisting children of all ages with multiple facets of their lives, hosted their annual event at the beautiful Chickasaw Country Club – a perfect venue for both the indoor and outdoor activities. Outside, partygoers enjoyed a chipping and putting contest, a Grizzlies cannon, and a Michelob Ultra truck where guests could pour their own draughts. Inside, the guests were delighted with braised greens, white macaroni and cheese, as well as sliced pork, blackened grouper, chicken tacos, shoestring fries with multiple toppings, and two open bars. This wet but entertaining event, presented by Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, was hours of fun.

Betty Clark and Ashlee McClellan

Brian Leith, Jessica Clarke and Ryan Cooper

Lee Chase and Raquel Hinson

Kierra Wright, Ashley Threat, Nicole Jones and Adriane Kearney

Diana Ruben, Justin Coleman, Ceira Faulkner and Stephan Burton

Virginia Larkin and Nancy McGee

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Angela Green Lights, Camera, Action! On Location: Memphis International Film & Music Fest

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emphis has long been known for its musical heritage. Visitors, tourists and locals visit Graceland, Sun Studio and now the Blues Hall of Fame, getting their music fix. While we have always had great filmmakers that hail from Memphis, the city has not quite gotten the recognition it deserves when it comes to film. There is one Memphis organization, though, that has been bringing awareness to not only the Memphis film industry but also to Memphians’ appetite for movies and film – On Location: Memphis International Film & Music Fest (OL:M).

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This September is OL:M’s 16th year in bringing an international competitive film festival to Memphis, and this year they have brought two of Memphis’ largest passions together, movies and music. Held on September 3-6, the festival will include five competitive film categories at the Malco Studio on the Square as well as music-centered films and live musical performances at Cooper Walker Place on September 4th and 5th.

The festival will also include presentations by industry leaders as well as a Business Expo. Angela Green, OL:M executive director, festival chair and co-programming chair, discusses OL:M’s mission of bringing more attention to film industry in Memphis, supporting the arts and all the cool things film buffs and music lovers can expect from this year’s festival. “Our primary mission is basically providing a platform for the film and music community. Aside from educating them about the industry, we also want to provide opportunities for that stepping stone in their careers. So that is where the focus is trying to shift, where we are bringing more distributors and more industry individuals who are in a position to give them that first big break that they are looking for,” Green says, speaking of OL:M’s mission, explaining that the decision to add music and music-centered film to this year’s festival came about organically. Green says, “I remember when I first started working with the festival and Lisa Bobal, the executive director at the time, mentioned how we always have a lot of music-themed and musicrelated films that are submitted, and that is because we are in Memphis. I thought this year, we just needed to embrace that aspect. That is what makes us unique and different from other film festivals. It’s good, and that is the reason we are adding the music component of it, so that we are really reaching that community and really helping them in some form or fashion.” In addition to a music component, Green comments that this July they added a Shorts Festival as a kickoff for the main festival in September. Every Tuesday night at the Hard Rock Café, OL:M screened short films in the categories of Documentary, Animation and Live Action. Audience members voted on the

winners – “Geekland” (Documentary), “Little Women” (Animation), “The Clean Sneak” (Live Action), which will be screened in the main festival. Not surprisingly, all the shorts winners were submissions from Memphis. Memphians were out supporting their Memphis filmmakers, but Green hopes that they will continue to hold a Shorts Festival and the entries and voting will become more diversified. The main festival is chock full of talent from all over the world with five judged categories including Feature Length, Documentary, Live Action Short, Animation Short and Music Video. Green says there are several movies that are highly anticipated as well some exciting celebrity appearances. Joanne Cash, musician and sister of Johnny Cash, will be presenting her documentary, “I Do Believe,” an inspirational look at her days recording at Sun Studio in Memphis and sharing her faith at the Cowboy Church in Nashville. She will be present at the screening of the movie Sept. 5 at Cooper Walker Place at 1015 South Cooper Street, which is the building where Johnny Cash had his first concert when the building housed the Galloway Methodist Church. The Historic Dyees Colony: Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash and A-State Heritage Site, Arkansas State University are sponsoring the screening and will be educating the audience on the needed preservation of the historical Cash’s family home in Arkansas. Actor and director Tommy Ford, best known for his role in the hit sitcom “Martin,” will also be presenting his feature film “Switching Lanes” on Sept. 5. Green notes that a part of OL:M’s mission is bringing industry leaders to the festival to speak and meet with filmmakers. On Sept. 4 at Ardent Studios, Christie B. Taylor, acquisitions coordinator at Black Lava Films and script consultant at The Script Polisher, and Linda O. Olszewski, acquisitions consultant at Shorts HD – The Shorts Movie Channel will be speaking and giving distribution advice to rising filmmakers and industry professionals. Also on Sept. 5, Trey Haley, president of Tri Destined Studios and director, will also be presenting his film, “The Man in 3B,” based on the characters from Carl Weber’s novel “The Man in 3B.” Haley’s film focuses on character Darryl Graham who becomes caught up in the lives of his neighbors in his apartment complex in Jamaica, Queens, New York. “Haley will be talking more about distribution more from the feature film end. He has worked on a lot of films that have gone direct to DVD and digital. So he will talk about distribution and those opportunities for

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independent filmmakers,” Green comments. The music festival portion of the event will also take place in Cooper Walker Place, which will screen films with music themes and focuses, like Cash’s “I Do Believe,” as well as live musical performances from The Dantones, Cheryl “Candysoul” Humphreys, the Everdeens, and One Word, among many. Feature length film “The Amateur,” that tells the story of an artist’s adventures in the LA music scene, and documentary “When the Blues Come to Town,” the story of the highly-acclaimed Kitchener Blues Festival in Canada, are some of the music-centric films Green says she is personally looking forward to. OL:M will also be devoting one evening to blues music called the “Blues Reel Review: Remembering B.B. King and Teenie Hodges” on Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. Hosted by blues performer Redd Velvet, the tribute concert will honor the lives of King and Hodges with a variety of blues performances from the Gary Burnside Band, Beverley Davis, Butch Mudbone, Joyce Henderson and Cash McCall. The blues festival will include a documentary that will screen earlier in the day about the late Teenie Hodges called “Mabon ‘Teenie’ Hodges: A Portrait of a Memphis Soul Original.” The Business Expo portion of the festival is another new addition to OL:M. The daytime event will host local and national film and music service providers who will showcase their newest products and services. Expect music and some major giveaways. Green explains that the expo will focus on the big picture of the film and music industries, saying, “We are asking businesses that basically serve musicians as well as filmmakers to be a part of that. We are not just talking about the traditional studios or pressing company or manager or something like that, we are also looking at attorneys, caterers, stylists and beauticians, makeup artists, financial advisors, planners…We are looking at the totality of the career.” Green adds, “Artists need to think about themselves as a business, so there are a lot of areas that they need assistance in. We need to open their minds, not just to what they need to create their art, but who do they need to run their business at the end of the day.”

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Green mentions that through partnerships with local businesses like Cooper Young Business Association, Overton Square, Hard Rock Café and Loeb Properties, OL:M was able to crosscollaborate and bring many businesses and leaders together throughout the entirety of the festival. Green says she has always been involved in the entertainment industry. She is an entertainment attorney in Memphis and founder and CEO of Positioned For Millions: Entertainment Business Affairs Services. As an entertainment attorney, Green has represented or worked with artists and entertainment companies such as Larry Dodson, lead vocalist for the Bar-Kays, The Funk Masters Tour, Mr. Del and Black Rock Revival, to name only a few. Green earned her B.A. in Telecommunications from Purdue University and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence Degree from Indiana University School of Law. In 2000, Green opened The Green Law Firm where her areas of practice are entertainment law, real estate law and corporation law. “I built my practice in real estate and business, but I also have a love for the entertainment industry, more on the music side,” Green says. “I moved to Memphis specifically because I was interested in the gospel music industry because, while I was in law school, I interned for a local gospel record label in Indianapolis. That is what opened my eyes to the world of gospel music. I also actually worked in radio before I entered law school.” As Green grew her real estate business, she says she still had the desire to work in the music industry. She was meeting many artists and giving them tidbits of information that would help them but didn’t necessarily require an attorney. “I told them little things that would put them in a better bargaining position as they moved on. Then when they got ready for an attorney, I was there. I noticed for whatever reason they

couldn’t do it on their own,” Green says. So in 2006, Green created Positioned For Millions, a consulting company where she still helps musicians with things they can do to help launch their careers and give them the tools they need to make sound business decisions. As she continued to help musicians in the city, Green attended a workshop at the Memphis Music Foundation and was invited to the planning meeting for OL:M festival because the OL:M organizers were interested in adding music to the film festival. From there, Green quickly became a festival volunteer, and she says, “It was a great experience because it allowed me to see the needs of filmmakers, which are almost parallel to the needs of musicians that I had been working with. So it just kind of opened my eyes to the film community.” In 2014, Lisa Bobal stepped down from the OL:M executive director position, asking who would like to pick up the reigns. Green quickly volunteered herself, not wanting to see the festival die out. “It is not a paid staff at this time. We are all volunteers. We all have a love for the arts and really for these films and music creators. We want to see them succeed. We want their dreams come true. We want to create opportunities for them as well as enjoy the arts here in Memphis. That is primarily what we do and why we do it,” Green says, showing her contagious passion for the festival and its mission to enhance artists’ careers and opportunities. Green wants to see the festival grow and expand, providing true opportunities for filmmakers and musicians to find artistic opportunities and make smart business decisions. Turn out and support the arts at this year’s On Location: Memphis International Film & Music Fest this month. Tickets and event information can be found at www.onlocationmemphis.org. Story by Rachel Warren Photos by Arekah the Goddess

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EVENT

Science of Wine Oenophiles Sip and Learn at the Pink Palace Museum

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Joelle and David Goan

Deanna Wallace and Alex Driver

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ast call for a last tipple came as the rising moon peeped through pink crepe myrtles gracing the Pink Palace Museum grounds. The “Science of Pinot Noir Clonal Blending,” a lecture that included an array of sipping samples to demonstrate how grape sub-varieties can be blended in different ways to create a new wine. “This is an extremely young wine, it has to integrate, spread its wings,” the speaker, Craig Havlinek from southern Oregon’s Del Rio Vineyards, told the audience. This Memphis happening hit full stride well before sunset on a Friday evening as 750 people streamed across the museum’s lower lobby area and up through its mezzanine and mansion spaces. Guests headed toward 14 stations, featuring no less than 84 selections for pouring and tasting samples of wine and sake, tables with hors d’oeuvres galore prepared and served by nine area purveyors of fine foods, three lectures, 100 bottles of wine on a wall (donated for purchase at $20 per bottle), a bank of colorful bead kits, which guests used to make wineglass charms and a VIP area laden with more delicacies. Memphis Pink Palace Family of Museums programs benefited from financial support that came from ticket purchases, from restaurateurs and other vendors donating edibles, drinks and services. West Tennessee Crown Distributing Co. provided all the wines and sakes served, as well as imported a contingent of wine professionals from across the country to help conduct the event. Chris Pratt, Crown’s sales manager, said, “The museum’s vision of taking education to that level, of making it a discovery process, was so intriguing. It is an event unlike any other in the city.” Crown collaborated with chefs to determine pairings of wine whose scientific properties would favor each different type of hors d’oeuvre. It had to be Gravel Bar Alluvial Red to complement Grove Grill’s delightful fig and Gorgonzola bruschetta. A Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai sake was coupled with Tsunami’s pepper-crusted tuna with feta, watermelon and fresh mint. Whole Foods Market provided a tantalizing spread for the VIP area as well as a tasting station featuring cheeses from the Netherlands and Spain, paired with Schmitt Blue Riesling Kabinett and Smoking Loon Steelbird Chardonnay, respectively. A much-loved Memphis product, Tom’s Tiny Kitchen Pimento cheese was paired with none other than Butternut Pinot Noir. Also participating were Café Society, Erling Jensen, Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana, Midsouth Malts, Nothing Bundt Cakes of Memphis and Porcellino’s Craft Butcher. Attendees were encouraged to vote for their favorite red, favorite white, favorite hors d’oeuvre and favorite pairing of food and drink. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Chris Malone and Amber Cotton

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Larry and Melanie Roberts with Donald Taddin

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Jason Black, Blaire Bebavides and Chuck Thomas

RSVP Magazine 20 th Year Anniversary Issue

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Over the years weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been to thousands of parties, made a lot of new friends, and sadly, lost a few along the way. Let the good times roll. Please join us in this Commemorative Issue as we celebrate 20 Years of RSVP. To

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RSVP Magazine 20 th Year Anniversary Issue

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Abuela knows one thing for sure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there's nothing quite as sweet as a senior dog's love! (And a big old girl like Abuela has LOTS of it to give!) She was brought to the Humane Society in April after being found on the street struggling to walk. Since being with us, we found that she has arthritis, so she would need to stay on an antiinflammatory (which is fairly inexpensive). Abuela enjoys going on walks on nice days and she loves to just be with people. She isn't afraid to indulge in a long nap either, after playing with her tennis ball!! She is looking for the perfect family that can give her a soft place to land and be spoiled. Abuela is a 10-year-old spayed female, and her adoption fee is $75.00, which includes her spay, spa microchip, and first year of vaccines.

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Meet Abuela!

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Peter Mercredi, Danielle Arristide and Zingo Munger

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Lindsey McGhehee with Kathy and Kurt Russell

Stacey and Jennifer Brown

Penny and Les Popow

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Bonnie Driscoll and Kori Hamner

Kathy and Roger Smith

Danielle Keegan and Kathleen Meier

Celeste Evans and Onika Richardson

Jason Northcutt and Andy Greer

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Gabriel Short, Colleen Couch-Smith and Ben Smith

Michelle and Ken Johnson with Paul Kossman and Hedda Schwartz

Michael Zepatos, Laura Duncan, Melanie Saunders and Angela Williams

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Karen Ori with Jeff and Sue Thomas

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Courtney Watkins, Leslie Austin, Emily and Mark McDonald and Bond Smith

Tyler and Mary Margaret Rogers, Lindsey Rea and Kevin and Allison Rea

Cari and George Baird with Lisa and Todd Barber

Owen Mize, Christi Field, Mona Lott, Chester Rockwell and Jenny Savage

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ONSITE II Girls Inc. Celebration Luncheon VIP Reception

Tim Watson, Katie Brezina and Linda Barnes

Ruth Kullman, Paula Jacobson and Ricki Shapiro

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Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson To gear up for its annual awards luncheon, Girls Inc. of Memphis’ staff, their guests and even a few participants in the program, gathered at Café Society for libations and a buffet created by Chef Cullen Kent. Judy Vredenburgh, national president and CEO of Girls Inc., spoke to the group and recognized a special Girls Inc. employee. Brenda Stegall started as an intern at the Memphis office 50 years ago and worked for 25 years in the national office. During the party, Vredenburgh announced the creation of the Brenda K. Stegall Award for Program Excellence. Girls Inc. operates 82 clubs across the U.S. and Latosha and Michael Dexter Canada, and Memphis is one of 13 clubs chosen to participate in the Girls Inc. with Claudia Haltom Experience Project, which studies the clubs’ best practices as role models for other clubs. “It’s an enormous honor and a testament to the work we’ve been doing here for 67 years,” Lisa Moore, president and CEO of Girls Inc. of Memphis, said. Vredenburgh said Memphis was chosen because of its high success rate. “We know that girls here in Memphis who go through the program graduate from high school and go on to complete their college degrees.” Nicara Bailey, who completed the Girls Inc. program, was awarded an endowed national scholarship and will attend Xavier University of Louisiana. She was one of 40 young women to receive this, out of several hundred who competed for the scholarships.

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Mark Billingsley, Judy Vredenburgh and Brenda Stegall

Tammy Payne, Destinee Chambers, Denise Wood and Denise Chambers

Mandy Rough, Bob Plunk and Wesley LaRue

Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish® Golf Classic Pairings Party Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish® Foundation has been making dreams come true for children with life-threatening diseases. During the course of a year, Make-A-Wish® Mid-South grants the wishes of more than 240 children. For the 12th year, PGA Pro Shaun Micheel sponsored a golf tournament that is one of the biggest fund-raisers for the charity. The Golf Classic Pairings Party was held at the Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous the night before the tournament. Musicians Gerry Finney, Andy Gaia and Jeff Fioranelli performed before the crowd lined up and headed downstairs to fill their plates from a buffet that was a barbecue lover’s dream. In addition to the Rendezvous’ signature ribs, guests had a choice of barbecued chicken or pork, served with beans and coleslaw. Ron Olsen and Steve Conley emceed the event and announced that 14-year-old Grant Braxton’s wish, to go on a cruise with his family, was granted, as was that of a Florida boy he met while they were receiving treatment for cancer in Memphis. The program concluded with a live auction during which auctioneer John Roebuck brought top dollar for high-end items that raised a total of Chris and Jennifer Jenkins $68,000. Some golf team sponsors included Versant Supply Chain, Wilson Air Center and Lexus of Memphis. Micheel said it didn’t matter whose name was on the charity because the point was to help the families of sick children. “When you have healthy children, and you consider what these moms and dads go through, you would do anything to make them feel better,” Micheel said. The golf tournament raised $240,000 for future wishes.

Stephanie, Dade, Shaun and Marin Micheel

Sarah and Adam Steen with Thomas and Sage Conner

Beau Yarbro with Judy and Leland Gupton

Bob and Laurie Phillips with Kayla Phillips and Michael Pitts

Nick Vergos and Dan Mullally

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Story and Photos by Lesley Young Museums can feel kind of stuffy to those of the younger variety. The Dixon Gallery & Gardens took a sort of preemptive strike against that possibility by developing a special membership for the “20s and 30sish” population. Calling it Young at Art, $100 will get you access to the museum year-round, and, most importantly, get you into some of the city’s best parties. The latest of these is the Art and Soul shindig, the museum’s summer party for the budding aficionados. This year the summer celebration took on a Japanese flair. “We have the Jun Kaneko exhibit going on all summer, so we tried to theme the party to the exhibit,” Chantal Drake, director of communications for the museum, said. The Kaneko exhibit is a mostly outdoor sculptures exhibit featuring the Japanese artist’s contemporary ceramics pieces that runs until November 22. Sushi was served as snacks, and attendees provided most of the entertainment in the form of karaoke. It wasn’t just any karaoke either. Event Jami and Adam Lazarov planners included the live band The Millionaires to accompany the attendee rock stars. “This is a way to introduce a younger audience to our exhibits,” Drake said. Membership includes close to half a dozen events each year, and a dual membership is $150. So far the museum has acquired close to 300 Young at Art members, with about half of those in attendance on the stormy summer night party, which was held in the cutting gardens pavilion. “We hope to see everyone at our Art on Tap event the 11th of September,” Drake said.

Lindsay Chapman, Frederik Kolderup, Susan Sharp and Kathy Kim S EPTEMBER 2015

Marc King and Sara McCrary

Trey Carson, Grant Monda and Brittany Byrd

Christi Beardsley, Kimberly Brown, Jennifer Clark and Jeannine Hogg

Story and Photos by Lesley Young Restauranteur Sabine Bachmann saw at close range what cancer can do to a person. When one of her employees was diagnosed and treated for the devastating disease, Bachmann was most impressed that he was able to get the help he needed without insurance. “His treatment was very extensive and would have been nearly impossible to pay for without the Church Health Center,” the organization’s Donor Relations Specialist Ken Hall said. Bachmann knew she wanted to do something for the establishment, and so she approached them to talk about some ideas. What they came up with was Donna and Ken Hall an opportunity for Bachmann to use her skills in the culinary world for good. Bachmann opened the doors of her restaurant ECCO on Overton Park to ticket-holding customers only for a wine tasting to benefit the Church Health Center. “It’s our first time to do this. Why not do something a little different on a Sunday afternoon?” Hall said. “It’s my favorite restaurant in the city.” Attendees sipped on six different wines, three red and three white, and had the opportunity to try some of Bachmann’s reputable fare. In a buffet style across the bar, she served up tapas, including Caprese salad, bacon-wrapped dates, chorizo meatballs and more. Supporters had the opportunity to check out the expanded covered patio, where entertainment was provided by the velvety sounds of Ciera Ouellette. The Church Health Center provides healthcare to the working uninsured of Memphis at a reduced price.

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ECCO Restaurant Wine Tasting

Johnny Pritchard, Brandi Heiden and Curtis Pritchard

Walker and Kat Pritchard with Liz Pritchard

Maria Duenas, Lana Zepponi, Neely Carter and Eliana Llerena

Felix Pesce, Sabine Bachmann and Klay Lester

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Eric Garcia

Phileece Baker and Kayla Sykes

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Karen Golightly, Christian Brothers University professor and graffiti photographer, and local artist Brandon Marshall wanted to promote legal graffiti and street art in a positive and fun way in the Memphis community. From this passion came Paint Memphis, an event that invited over 70 different artists and graffiti writers from the city and from around the globe (one artist was from South Korea!) to participate in the largest collaborative graffiti writing and mural festival in Memphis. Using 1/3 mile of empty floodwall adjacent to the proposed Chelsea Greenline at North Evergreen at Chelsea Ave., artists came from all over for this one-day event to beautify the floodwalls where very soon an Karen Golightly active trail will be built for Memphians to utilize. Open and free to the public, Memphians arrived and watched as entire works of art were begun and finished right before their eyes. The event used the theme of “Revival” as inspiration for this project and established a list of guidelines for artists to adhere that kept everything family friendly. The UrbanArt Commission and The Greater Memphis Greenline Association were partners and will be helping maintain and preserve the art in the future. Golightly and event participators hope that the art displayed on the floodwalls will attract positive attention from visitors and, in turn, reduce crime and instill neighborhood pride as well as promote more “permission” walls for legal public art. Additional sponsors included Central BBQ, Memphis Made Brewing Co., The Home Depot, Montgomery Martin, Art Center, Smith Artisan Photography, Memphis Fire Department and Buckman Laboratories, among many.

Jessica Buttermore and Cort Percer

Syd Lerner and Tracie Burke

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Yancy Villa-Calvo

Cooper-Young Festival Kickoff Party/Poster Unveiling

Gino Barzizza

Story and Photos by Rachel Warren The Evolve Bank & Trust Cooper-Young Festival celebrated 28 years and honored Gino Barzizza, who created this year’s festival poster, at the Cooper-Young Festival Kickoff Party/Poster Unveiling. Held at CoWork Memphis, partygoers enjoyed noshes by Alchemy Memphis as well as Goldcrest 51 Beer, the resurrected original beer that was formerly brewed by the Tennessee Brewery Company in Memphis until its closing in 1954 and is now being brewed once again in Memphis and Nashville. Artist Barzizza was on-hand at the party and explained his inspirations behind the new festival poster, speaking about his desire to bring a new eye and fresh design to the festival poster. Barzizza is an illustrator, designer, writer and artist in Midtown Memphis. Local musician Josh Trelkeld and band performed for the crowd, and guests took home posters of Barzizza’s rock and roll-inspired festival poster. The Cooper-Young Festival will take place on September 19 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. in the heart of the Cooper-Young district.

Bobby and Tamara Cook with Becky and Bill Maury

Mike Earnest, Linda Smith and Malia Bryant

Caroline Young and Emma Meskovic

Chris Eggleston, Quantel Carter and DeJaun Hendricks

Art Dash Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Backstage Bash Story and Photos by Ellen Cassin Entering The Orpheum Theater’s Backstage Bash through the iconic Stage Door, partygoers were able to experience the thrill that elite performers have before an opening night. The band Super 5 was on stage to kick off the dancing, playing popular party tunes throughout the evening. Ghost River Brewing provided guests with two local favorite brews and Buster’s Liquors & Wines concocted a delectable cocktail called “The Beale Street Cheryl and Bill Stegbaur Snap.” Hot hors d’oeuvre options included pulled pork nachos from Central BBQ as well as an enticing mashed potato bar from the Hard Rock Café. The Majestic Grille delighted VIP guests with smoked salmon with Creole mustard and horseradish sauce, spinach and artichoke dip and spicy cha-cha chips served with blue cheese. For dessert, Frost Bake Shop brought their exquisite mini cupcakes made entirely from scratch. Throughout the night, patrons perused a silent auction featuring four tickets to Gladys Knight, tickets to the Roast of Pat Halloran, and four luxury tickets to the Elvis final tribute concert. Sedgwick sponsored this evening of merriment and all proceeds benefit the Orpheum’s education and community programs. S EPTEMBER 2015

If ever there was a name perfectly suited to an event, it was Art Dash, the fund-raiser for Friends For Life held at the Circuit Playhouse. Each attendee who purchased a $125 premium ticket was guaranteed a piece of art. Guests perused the paintings during the cocktail hour and many visited an anteroom, where a buffet of hors d’oeuvres, provided by ECCO on Overton Park awaited. After Anne Marie Hall with John the theater doors opened, guests took their seats and and Stephanie Blaisdell were welcomed by WKNO radio personalities Kacky Walton and Justin Willingham, who acted as emcees. The first opportunity to snag a painting was auctioned off at the beginning of the program, and the winner returned to the lobby to choose the first piece. Then things got really interesting. The bidder numbers of groups of four people were drawn randomly, and they were the next to choose their favorite works of art. People in each group were given just 90 seconds to dash back to the lobby, grab a painting and return to their seats. The event ended when the last painting was gone. Each piece included was valued at a minimum of $100, and was donated by a local artist. This is the second year for the fund-raiser during which Circuit Playhouse was filled to near capacity. “The artists in Memphis are so generous,” said Blake Meador, Friends For Life special events coordinator. Friends For Life works hard to help persons affected by HIV/AIDS live well.

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Blake Meador and Nancy Liebbe

Matt and Esteban Dilloway with Alex Carranza

Amanda Bolton and Matt Riddle

Chad Harris and Ariel Wilder

Rated E for Everybody: Brooks Museum of Art Community Day Block Party

Story and Photos by Emily Adams Keplinger Unlike most museum galas, the majority of the crowd attending the free Community Day Block Party at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art was children. Ranging in age from the “stroller set” to teenagers, families explored Jamie Dillard and Cynthia Jones the artistry of digital entertainment as the museum celebrated its current exhibition, “The Art of Video Games.” Guests wound their way through the museum’s downstairs galleries, following a developmental timeline of the home video game revolution that began in the 1970s. The event offered an opportunity for intergenerational bonding through animated storytelling. Children learned about computer-generated images by using colored sticky notes to represent pixels, creating their own designs in an activity called “Analog Play.” Later that evening, the All Access Party allowed guests to compete in a video Alberto Cozza, Kacky Walton and Justin Willingham game tournament and “bboy” dance contest. The party featured DJ Red Eye, The Mighty Quinn and Knowledge Nick. There was also a screening of the 1982 sci-fi classic “TRON.” The All Access Party, sponsored by Macy’s, raised funds through admission and donations for the museum’s programming. That money will help further educational programs from early childhood through adulthood. The Art of Video Games will be on exhibit until Sept. 13.

Micah Winter, Ray Rico, Shawn Mathews and George Mabon

Michael and Stephanie Wilkerson with Malachi, Caden, Elijah and Ryan Porterfield

Eddie, Hayley and Geraldine Smith

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Pat Halloran, Lauren Walker and Patrick Reilly

RSVP Crossword Edited By Ruth Cassin

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1 Halsey or Perry (abbr.) 4 Former Russian ruler 8 Cream filled pastry 14 Tell a tall tale 15 Enormous 16 Faintly 17 Scottish boy 18 Eden dweller

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27 34

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19 Hind part of a saddle 20 Superiority complexed person 22 Lurked 23 Genesis flood survivor 24 Bark in pain 27 Speaks with a hoarse voice 31 African antelopes 33 Have lunch 35 Third day of the week (abbr.) 36 Title for a married woman 38 Payable 39 Harp 40 Hares 44 Attorneys 46 Purposes 47 Flightless bird 49 Prince George, to Prince William 50 Can metal 51 Play on words

52 Leave 55 Malicious person 58 Gee, golly, ____ 61 Id’s counterparts 63 Decay 65 Chase 76 Impressionist Monet 70 Writer Bombeck 71 Pub brew

72 Thawing device 73 Equipment 74 Good as ____ 75 Indian drum 76 DNA component 77 30 second TV spots, e.g.

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1 Ethan who led the Green Mountain Boys 2 Script 3 Midpoint 4 Citizen 5 Soapy 6 Multi-colored rock 7 Sleep stage 8 Engrave 9 Head of a committee 10 Singer Ronstadt 11 Picnic visitor 12 Unwell 13 Seed bread 21 One might use them to hitch hike 25 Headed 26 Pope John ____ 28 Eye infection 29 Whirr 30 Observes with the eye 32 ___ Lanka 34 What Celestial Seasonings makes 37 Tier 39 Bobcats 40 Baseball’s Babe 41 China’s locale 42 Curved or crooked

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Pleased with oneself Ill-being Dos preceder Large tropical lizard Labored Belch Cowboy show Fling Hominid You might make them in a crock pot Time in elected office Not well cooked Memphis summer hours (abbr.) Late summer astrological sign Point Chick holder

Solution:

i t ’ s j a zz!

i t ’ s cool

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

i t ’ s cl a ssy it’s smooth For underwriting information, call 901-678-2560 Visit us online at wumr.memphis.edu

RSVPhillipi

By Dennis Phillippi

AT LEAST WE CAN STILL ROCK O

bus stop to devote himself full time to yelling at strangers. When you do that you can grow a ponytail too. In the area of clothing: for a long time, too long a time to be honest, I was “middle-aged guy who wears tight novelty tee shirts because he goes to the gym a lot and wants everyone to know it” guy. Eventually it dawned on me that my superhero tee shirts, and my smoking astronaut

chimp tee shirt, and my “I have Candy” shirt, had passed from ironic to creepy. Here is a short list of things middle-aged men should eschew: a tuxedo jacket with jeans, a tuxedo tee shirt, almost all hats, a tucked-in basketball jersey, a popped collar, skinny jeans, and cowboy boots unless you are an actual cowboy. Oh, and those five pairs of pleated khakis you’ve been rotating on casual Fridays for the last fifteen years? They’re fifteen years out of style. One of the most difficult things for me to give up was dancing in public. Understand, I grew up in the 70s when dancing was a national pastime. My early years were filled with rock, and my teen years were, sadly, consumed with disco. It has been enough years for me to admit that I was a serious disco dancer. I went to a lot

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“Of course, I could’ve started wearing socks with my sandals, but no man should ever wear socks with sandals until he has taken up residence on a park bench or bus stop to devote himself full time to yelling at strangers.”

of proms because I liked to dance. Even in those days most guys were too concerned about what their male friends thought to really dance, instead of just shuffling their feet, and girls liked that I liked to dance. I learned early on that what boys think means nothing. It’s what girls think that matters. Well into my adulthood my wife and friends would go out dancing. Then we started to notice people noticing us, younger people noticing us, and not in a good way. Dancing was relegated to weddings and school reunions. In recent years even, really cutting a rug at a wedding reception has gotten to be a little too attention getting. There are lots of young people at those. My dancing shoes have been hung up with the rare exception of shaking it around the house. While dancing is more or less out, one thing that luckily doesn’t seem to be too affected by aging is rocking. While, yes, at my age there are certainly times when I wish someone would please just turn the jukebox down, I still continue to enjoy good, loud rock. While I may have reaped the benefits of the existence of the Bee Gees and Donna Summer, my ear was always more tuned to The Who and The Kinks. While everyone was debating whether The Stones or The Beetles were the greatest rock bands ever, I was listening to the Ramones and Lou Reed. When I was working at Rock 103 we were lucky enough, my radio partner Ric Chettar, one of the few men my age who can pull off a ponytail, to be able to host a Sunday night show called “The Great Unsigned.” It was a three-hour show devoted to playing nothing but local, unsigned rock bands. We got to give airplay to dozens, maybe hundreds, of local bands that wouldn’t have gotten it otherwise. It wasn’t part of the plan, but we also ended up putting on a lot of rock shows. It was such a blast to be able to give area rock bands the chance to play at the Daisy or Newby’s or AutoZone Park. We became terrible rock snobs, and would dismiss a band instantly if one of us said, “That’s pop.” Two of our favorite bands, The Subteens and the Secret Service are playing a show at the Levitt Shell on October 10th. I get nothing by telling you this, except telling you about a great rock show. And, who knows, you might see me dancing.

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ne of the harshest things about aging is accepting that there are things you just shouldn’t do any more. Not things that you can’t do any more, there are plenty of those, from challenging younger men to physical contests, challenging younger women to physical contests, and offering to help people move, but here we’re talking about things you shouldn’t do any more. For our purposes here, we’ll use the middle age Mendoza Line of fifty tears old. I’m fifty-one years old, and I’ve been shedding things left and right since my birthday last year. One of the things men need to be gracious about is dealing with our hair. If you’re losing your hair, you have exactly two choices: go to a clinic or shave your head. Toupees, comb-overs, and dying your hair are all things that everyone else is aware of, no matter how far into denial you sink. You can pretend it’s not happening, but we are staring at your head. If you’re not in show business, and you’re over 50, do not grow a ponytail. For one thing, people automatically assume that a middle-aged man with a ponytail is in show business, and those of us who are don’t appreciate people who aren’t pretending they are. You wouldn’t be happy about me pretending to be an accountant. Don’t pretend you’re a record producer. Footwear is another thing that has to be addressed. For all of my adult life I wore boots in the winter, sandals in the summer, and dress shoes and gym shoes when needed. At this point in my life, it was time to take a good hard look at my feet. More importantly, it became imperative for other people to not be able to take a good hard look at my feet. I’ve broken almost all of my toes during the course of my life, and they healed as broken toes do – pointing in random directions, like a baby seeing an airplane. No one needs to see them. Sandals had to go. Of course, I could’ve started wearing socks with my sandals, but no man should ever wear socks with sandals until he has taken up residence on a park bench or

RSV PAST

1940

SEPTEMBER 2015

Wedding Anniversary

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his photo was taken in March of 1940 to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of Susie B. and Robert E. Sanders. All eight of the Sandersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; children along with the spouses of the oldest seven children and other close family members gathered for a group picture to mark the jubilant occasion. Donna Sue Shannon, granddaughter of Susie and Robert Sanders, is the youngest of the clan and is seated in Mrs. Sandersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lap. Photo courtesy of Donna Sue Shannon If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Rachel Warren at 276-7787 ext. 105 or e-mail the photo and caption to editor@rsvpmagazine.com All photos will be returned promptly.

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