rsvp magazine september 2011
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RSVP magazine is like no other publication in the city of Memphis. What began as simply “The Society Pages” more than a decade ago has evolved into a monthly review with stunning photography and entertaining, informative stories. See for yourself!TRANSCRIPT
SportsBall
Spirit of SRVS
Blues on the Bluff
Q&A with Elizabeth Roane
Sep t emb e r 2 0 11
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CONT
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14SportsBall
Chris and Alana Vernon
24 StreetSeen
Marie-Stéphane Bernard
22StreetSeenKeith Cole
26 StreetSeen
Randy McGee
42Blues on the Bluff
Zach and Rachel Liberto
34Spirit of SRVS
Bill Brewer and Emily Routon
Cover PhotoJamie Walters and Jeff Smith
atSportsBall
Photo by Nathan Berry
ContentsSeptember 2011
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Nick Vergos invites RSVP to the Rendezvous for this food-friendly shoot.
RSVP Watch List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Bring home your pride and joy to these baby-friendly items.
SportsBall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis pulled out all the stops for their
grown-up game night benefit at Minglewood Hall.
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22, 24 & 26He’s working for the river, the Wolf that is. This Parisian opera singer is starting to
plant roots in the Memphis music scene. As president of the Memphis Barbecue
Network, this man comes in contact with thousands of pork lovers nationwide.
StreetSeens highlight Keith Cole, Marie-Stéphane Bernard and Randy McGee.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Q&A with IRIS Orchestra executive director Elizabeth Roane.
Spirit of SRVS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Shelby Recreational and Vocational Services supporters toasted to “A Taste of the
Good Life” at Hilton Memphis.
Blues on the Bluff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42WEVL’s party on the river brought out the independent radio station’s devoted sup-
porters for the ultimate blues concert at the National Ornamental Metal Museum.
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50, 51, 53, 54 & 55Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56My Baby, She Wrote Me An E-Mail
Dennis Phillippi spills the beans that the only mail he gets these days is AARP The
Magazine.
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Volume XVI Number XII
September 2011
P U B L I S H E RRoy Haithcock
E D I T O RLeah Fitzpatrick
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R SRuth CassinKelly Cox
Jeannie MandelkerDennis PhillippiSuzanne ThompsonLesley Young
E D I T O R I A L I N T E R NAndrea Stockard
A R T D I R E C T O RPatrick Akers
P H O T O G R A P H E R SNathan BerryBaxter BuckRoy HaithcockDon Perry
Steve Roberts
S E N I O R A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V ELibby Huff
A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V EChris Pugh
A C C O U N T I N GRuth Cassin
RSVP Memphis is published monthly byHaithcock Communications, Inc. First class
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We’ve made it toSeptember (and thewonderful September
issue!) my dear readers,which means the year ismore than half over, so thisis the point when I findmyself asking, “Where hasthe time gone?” While Idon’t have a fitting answerto that question, I knowthat my time must havebeen spent well thus farbecause I haven’t wasted asecond this year wonderingwhat to do next. Being thatthe older you get, the moreresponsibilities you incur, Imight have just spent my days carrying out life’s “have-to-dos,” but surely that can’t be true when I think about all ofmy out-of-town trips, hobbies I’ve tried, visits with friendsafter work, afternoons at the park with my dogs and a summerfilled with concerts.
Though work-related, I do spend quite a bit of my wak-ing hours on and off the clock scoping out, or researching, thepeople, places and entities that help define Memphis culture.A fun task for me, but maybe not so much for others! Some ofmy friends laugh at me now because they know I’m always lis-tening for a new story in our conversations or in those withnewcomers I meet, and when they least expect it, I’ve paidattention to a tidbit of information that they never dreamedwould interest anyone, much less an editor. While some ideasand leads turn out to be a bust, many end up right here onthe pages of RSVP, so to my friends and casual acquaintances,I owe you a big thanks for being an invaluable resource andkeeping me, and subsequently RSVP readers, in the know.
For this month, you’ll be informed of a diverse cross-section of Memphians, from those contributors and beneficiar-ies of nonprofits, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of GreaterMemphis (page 14), SRVS (page 34) and WEVL (page 42), toa French opera singer (page 24) and a man who promotes andeducates people about our city’s famous style of cooking barbe-cue (page 26). Then, there’s one of the well-known facesbehind the Rendezvous on page 10, the new CEO of the WolfRiver Conservancy featured on page 22 and finally, a story onpage 28 of the executive director of IRIS Orchestra, an inter-esting group of musicians from all across the globe who playtogether right here in Memphis.
Not to take up any more of your precious time, happyreading and have a blessed fall.
Leah [email protected]
From the Editor
Photo by Steve Roberts
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Nick VergosPart Owner in The Rendezvous/Supporter of Make-A-Wish Foundation®,
Riverfront Development Corporation, Metal Museum and the Memphis Zoo
Hobby: Fishing.Favorite author: John Grisham.
Stress outlet: Cooking at home.
Guilty pleasure: Dinstuhl's chocolate.Personal hero: My father, Charlie Vergos.
Childhood ambition: To be a veterinarian.Your mantra: Not one of us is as smart as all of us.
First job: Delivering the East Memphis Shoppers News.
Favorite album: “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor.
First concert: The Young Rascals and Sam the Sham.
One thing you can’t live without: My iron skillets.
Favorite Memphis musicians: Al Green and Niko Lyras.Where you take out-of-town guests: Duh!!!!! The Rendezvous.Last book you’ve read: Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw by
Anthony Bourdain.
Movie you could watch over and over again: One Flew Overthe Cuckoo’s Nest.
Your greatest achievement: Shipping the first fully cooked, ready toeat food product via FedEx.
Historical figure you most identify with: Don't know whom I
might identify with, but I think Ben Franklin is a rock star!
Nick VergosPart Owner in The Rendezvous/Supporter of Make-A-Wish Foundation®,
Riverfront Development Corporation, Metal Museum and the Memphis Zoo
SIGN
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Ph
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SportsBall“Games for Grown-Ups, Futures for Kids”E
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Johnny and Laura Harper Michael Kelly and Molly Martin
Angie and Lionel Hollins Chris and Tracy Schnee
Maria Gray and Dustin Starr Darrell and Stacey Greene
SPOR
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See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
SportsBall brought a night benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters ofGreater Memphis to Minglewood Hall with “Games for Grown-Ups,Futures for Kids.” This event, now in its 14th year, is devoted to
ensuring that every young person who wants a mentor has one. But italso unites another great pairing: black tie attire...and sneakers. It’sgala from the ankle up, and kicks from the heel to the toe.
Kim Winston complemented her little black dress with canaryyellow Nikes. Kaile Pippin floated in a floor-length, feathery formalwhite gown but stayed firmly grounded with a pair of white Converses.First-time SportsBall attendee Colleen Finn, accompanied by BrianRidenhour, initially cringed at the thought of running shoes witheveningwear, so she got online and found herself a pair of real-lifehigh-heeled sneakers. “I was looking at some high-heeled Air Jordans,but they weren’t going to ship in time—and anyway, these are cuter!”said the creative Finn, pointing out the little silver studs on hersneaker pumps.
Of course, the gentlemen were not to be outdone. TerranceWilkins, who attended with Candice Bonner, gleamed in a sharkskinsuit and Nike Shox. Keith Franklin also cut a fashionable figure. “I’mgoing to bid on that dozen pair of V.K. Nagrani socks in the silentauction,” he said, lifting the leg of his slim-cut tuxedo pants to reveala pair of colorfully-striped socks ending in Adidas Porsche shoes.
The night’s many active enticements included hoops, air hock-ey, arcade video games and human jousting performed in a puffy ring,all in a layout promoting mingling and movement. There were evencasino games with real Harrah’s dealers. Participation in the gamesearned funny money redeemable for raffle tickets. It’s like the fairwaymeets the runway—and Ferdinand’s catered to the theme with fun foodlike catfish, sausage sandwiches, wings and barbecue nachos. Emceedby Atlanta’s Michael Blair, who has been a part of SportsBall from thevery beginning, this event also honored Big Sister of the Year BarbaraHudak-Scheirer and Big Brother of the Year Reginald Manning. Pre-senting sponsors were Soul Classics 103.5, Fox 13 Memphis, FedEx,Harrah’s Tunica and Nike.
Story by Kelly CoxPhotos by Nathan Berry
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E V E N
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ORTS
BALL
Justin Bailey and Tiffany Evans
Jerry and Barbara Parkhurst Daryle and Camille Jamssens Adrienne Bailey and Dr. Joe Greer
Kaile Pippin and Joelle Scholl Zoe Glassman and Austin Stillwell Charlie Nelson and Amy Greer
Gary and Linda Stooksberry
Katie Thomas and Jerry Harris
Denis Freiden and April Norris
Jamie Dunham and Grizz
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K I T T I E K Y L Ef a s h i o n a c c e s s o r i e s s t y l e
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Jered Haddad and Lisa Hunkele
Mandy Polk and Josh Bell
Bri Manley, Lisa Fowler and Terrill Orton
Demetres and Lynelda Jones
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E V E N
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Maggie Roy and Lauren Grant
Drew Hall and Kathleen Cordera with Amelia and Andrew Avery
Angie and Andy Goble
Cassi Conyers and Kristin Skinner
Julie Clary, Karolina Grabowicz and Katie Walsh
Allison Briganze and Daniel Robertson
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Faith Morris, Willie Gregory Jr. and Valerie Scott
Kyle Margolis and Stephanie Anderson
Brandon Harris and Heather Lawrence
Seema Kedia, Kate Wardwell and Sarah Pepion
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Keith ColeProtecting Memphis’ Other Great River
The enjoyment experienced when leisurely floatingalong the Wolf River in a canoe can be easily con-veyed to someone, but stressing the importance of
preserving this waterway can sometimes come with achallenging current. Keith Cole, the new CEO of theWolf River Conservancy, says that the challenge stemsfrom people taking Memphis’ abundant high qualitywater supply for granted, in addition to them not reallyunderstanding what the conservancy does.
“Since coming on board in April, my mostimmediate concern has been providing leadership tothe staff and the organization so we can focus on com-municating our message clearly and effectively in thecommunity,” Cole shares. “I also want to increaseexpectations of all of our stakeholders as to our abilityto deliver on our mission to preserve and protect theWolf River and its watershed as a sustainable naturalresource.”
Throughout the past 25 years, the Wolf RiverConservancy has protected 20,000 of the 42,000 acresin the Wolf River watershed, located atop the Memphissand aquifer. According to Cole, this watershed servesas a “recharge” area for the aquifer during rainfall,and as the water absorbs in the floodplain, it filtersthrough the aquifer. The result is exceptional drinkingwater. Ensuring that citizens continue to have thisexcellent source for public water happens in part byjoining the Wolf River Conservancy membership or bytaking part in its advocacy and educational outreachefforts; even drinking Ghost River Brewing beer canhelp, as the brewery donates a portion of proceeds ofevery barrel sold to the conservancy.
Cole adds, “I’ve seen a wonderfully diversegroup of individuals who are conservancy supporters,not to mention that in 2010 around 10,000 adults andchildren participated in our environmental educationprograms.”
The CEO suggests that children are the WolfRiver Conservancy’s most important demographic forits outreach efforts, which typically consist of youtheducational activities five days a week. Cole goes on topoint out that recent studies indicate since the 1990schildren are playing outside less and less and mentionsauthor Richard Louv’s espousal of a Nature DeficitDisorder in kids today, making it all the more crucialto engage youngsters in nature. The recent opening ofthe 22-mile Wolf River Greenway Trail Park, a walkingand biking path off of Humphreys Boulevard, is afford-ing youth, and adults alike, another opportunity tosoak in the beauty of the Wolf firsthand, and from theperspective of being on land.
With construction starting this month on theGreenway’s second segment, which will be a connectorto the Germantown Greenway and ultimately Collier-ville, the conservancy hopes to increase the Wolf’s visi-bility to those who may have never seen the river dueto its location in Memphis. The “Dinner on theGreenway” benefit takes place September 24 for thosewanting a full grasp of the master plan…no paddle isneeded for this journey into the Wolf’s future.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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Marie-Stéphane BernardBringing a Trans-Atlantic Sound
While some might initially focus on Marie-StéphaneBernard’s physical resemblance to Sophia Loren,they soon move on to the Parisian-born singer’s
talent, her voice. An opera singer starring in notablesoprano roles throughout the world’s leading operahouses, Bernard has been a performer, ironically firstas a violinist, since age 6, but Memphis has just begunto see the likes of her.
Though Bernard still rents an apartment inParis, where she enjoys being a vocal coach for several“serious” adult students, she has fully immersed her-self in everything Memphis since moving to town withher husband, a German container ship captain, a yearand a half ago. The two relocated to the Bluff Cityafter being sold on Mud Island, rich cultural offeringsand accessibility to good airlines. Bernard also felt aconnection to the city’s music, particularly notablefemale opera artists like the late Ruth Welting,Marguerite Piazza and Kallen Esperian. She hopes tomeet both Piazza and Esperian, but until then, she’sbound to cross paths here with more contemporariesin her field, as her Memphis singing debut as anOpera Memphis guest artist at the Dixon Gallery andGardens last month will hopefully mark the first ofmany local performances to come.
Of the reason she’s just now emerged onMemphis’ opera scene, Bernard explains, “When I firstarrived, Michael Ching was leaving Opera Memphis,and I was traveling a lot. I do want to perform morehere though, and I assure audiences that wherever Iam, I am generous on stage in my acting and with myvoice—I don’t sing differently just because I’m in a dif-ferent place.”
Being on stage has been achievement enoughfor Bernard, who feels fortunate to have already donetwo of her favorite operas, “Carmen” and “Tosca,”and to have shared the stage with artists includingGabriel Bacquier, Jane Rhodes and Luciano Pavarotti.One of her biggest vocal influences however came fromher childhood friend’s mother, the great soprano operasinger Hildegard Behrens. Bernard remembers Behrensurging her to work on her voice, but at the time, theviolin took up Bernard’s focus. Then, the day camewhen Bernard attended one of the established sopra-no’s rehearsals.
Bernard tells, “She [Behrens] told me beforewe got to her rehearsal, ‘You will understand what thevoice is,’ and after hearing her perform, I was over-whelmed—it was the shock of my life, and I understoodthe power of the voice.”
Slowly but surely, Bernard gave up the violinand focused more on her chorus performances at theWaldorf School. By age 17, she was participating invocal contests, eventually earning a scholarship toRome’s Santa Cecilia Conservatorium. And thoughBernard went on to perform everywhere from Paris’Opéra-Comique to Teatro La Fenice in Venice andSuntory Hall in Japan, she’s proudly one of our ownnow.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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Randy McGeeHeating Up the Barbecue Competition Circuit
Any Memphis resident knows by now about theMemphis in May World Champion BarbecueCooking Championship, but Memphis Barbecue
Network president Randy McGee will tell you aboutnumerous barbecue competitions that take place year-round across the Mid-South and beyond. Seven con-tests alone will occur in September, and eight arescheduled for October, with the season ending onDecember 30-31 with the inaugural AutoZone LibertyBBQ Bowl.
Founded in 2007, the MBN serves as the sanc-tioning body for barbecue contests in 12 states, inaddition to training competition judges, keeping mem-bers informed of teams’ cooking classes and providinga network of likeminded pork barbecue enthusiasts forits membership. The organization’s main goal entailspromoting and preserving the unique cooking styleassociated with Memphis barbecue, which McGeedefines as pork that’s cooked low and slow and prefer-ably accompanied by a tomato-based sauce. McGeedoes admit that regional preferences for different cook-ing styles exist within the network.
MBN judge Skip Sawyer vouches, “I find vari-ous flavors and processes used in different parts of theworld, but the best [barbecue] I’ve had was here inMemphis, and I’m from Virginia.”
These varied methods of cooking come to lightat MBN sanctioned competitions, which are taken seri-ously by both participating teams and the some 1,500network judges. Contest categories include whole hog,pork shoulder and pork rib, with no limit on the num-ber of categories entered; sometimes contests do offernon-sanctioned categories, such as “Anything But,”chicken and sauce. Four “blind” judges evaluate eachentry, but what really sets the MBN contests apartfrom others are the additional three onsite judges forall entries.
“With blind judging you have no identifyingmarkers on the box about where the pork came from orhow it was prepared, however with onsite judging,teams get to show their barbecue to a judge on a grilland explain their cooking process in a 10-15 minute,sometimes humorous, presentation,” McGee says.
During the onsite judging, entries are evaluatednot only on their presentation, but also on theirbooths and personal appearance. McGee adds that thiscomponent holds teams to a higher level of cleanliness,making the events more civically attractive for patrons.Though competition can get heated for some hoping totake home prize money or a trophy like the ones pic-tured at right, MBN standards assure that all competi-tors, whether there to win or not, are treated fairly. Ofcourse, there’s also lots of fun to be had and new bestfriends to be made.
“We’re more of a social organization—it’s funnywhen we look at other contests and see people blockingoff booths,” McGee says. “We’re more open and basedin the Southern culture.”
Just don’t ask anyone for their recipe at compe-tition…classes are another story.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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Vox PopularQ&A with Elizabeth RoaneVO
X PO
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RSVP: What was it about the IRIS Orchestra that compelled you towork for the organization?
Roane: My background is corporate marketing and sales, includinginternational corporate marketing and sales, so this group [IRISOrchestra] mesmerized me because it’s a little bit of talent from allover the world. That’s the unique thing about IRIS—we’re a bou-tique orchestra. We bring talent from all over the country and allover the world to GPAC [Germantown Performing Arts Centre] orthe Cannon Center six times a year. We use people from theMemphis Symphony, the Tennessee Shakespeare Company, thePhiladelphia Orchestra, Amsterdam and all over. I think it’s greatfor Memphis to have such diverse talent come here and all playtogether.
RSVP: Do you feel the out-of-town artists who are participating inthe IRIS Orchestra want to be a part of the Memphis music scene?
Roane: The people who play with us are dying to play with us. Infact, we get phone calls all the time: I get them, my assistant getsthem, our orchestra managergets them and our conductorMichael Stern gets them. Thereason they want to play is thatIRIS is a unique model. Most ofthese musicians play withunions. We are not that. Whenthey come here, it’s like a vaca-tion. They get paid to come hereand play with some of the bestartists from all over the worldwithout any rules, and they getto play with Michael Stern, whois Isaac Stern’s son. Michael isworld-renowned, and he’s thefounding artistic director andprincipal conductor for thisorchestra and the music directorfor the Kansas City Symphony.Artists want to play underMichael, and it’s an honor forthem to do that. The other rea-son artists love it is they’re allfriends, and it’s fun to hang out together. There isn’t the animositythat there can be in union groups, and they stay with host families,who are our subscribers. It’s really unique, and often the artists areclose with the families they stay with.
RSVP: What does someone have to do to be a host family?
Roane: Just tell David DePeters, our orchestra manager, they want
to be. They need to be subscribersalso, but to be a subscriber, it’s only$265 a year, and if you sign up late,it’s $295. We have a lot of subscribers.GPAC seats 824 people, and we’reclose to 600 subscribers a year. Wealways want new subscribers, of course, but more than 700 wouldkeep non-subscribers from being able to attend, at least our eveningperformances. We have open rehearsals prior to each IRIS concerton Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., which are only $10, and we start-ed a new thing called the Family Saturday Series for children, andthat’s from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. for three of our concerts.
RSVP: Do the artists who are a part of IRIS seem to feed off of eachother’s talent?
Roane: They do. They like to learn from each other. Michael [Stern]handpicks them, so he knows them, their talent and what they’vedone. And they don’t just come here and play six times a year. Forthe last 10 years, we’ve been doing master classes at the University
of Memphis and working withstudents at Hutchison, Stax,Houston High and several otherschools.
RSVP: What impressed you mostabout IRIS Orchestra when youfirst came on board, and is thatsame quality the one that stillimpresses you now?
Roane: The model impressed methe most when I started and thatcontinues to impress me themore I learn about it, the moreI learn about orchestras all overthe world and the more phonecalls I get asking me if peoplecan come play with us, or fromother groups around the worldtrying to build a model like it. Iguess the whole family feel alsoimpresses me more than I real-
ized it would when I started. Our musicians are so excited to seeeach other and play together; it really is like going to a party everytime you’re here. Each artist is also so talented.
RSVP: How many artists will be a part of the upcoming 2011-2012season?
Roane: It’s different for every concert. We’ll utilize more than 50
Memphis has long been known for the blues, rock ‘n’ roll and soul, but the IRIS Orchestra continues todiversify the city’s music scene with its innovative model and unique variations on classical music. Underthe guidance of renowned conductor Michael Stern, the orchestra has built a reputation for bringing the
world’s best artists and musicians together, which is just one of many reasons why IRIS’s executive directorElizabeth Roane stresses the importance of IRIS to this community. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met withRoane at her office to find out just what makes IRIS so special to its participants and also to learn what theupcoming 11th season holds for audiences.
Photos by Don Perry
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artists for every show, howeverthere is one concert that willhave 14 artists.
RSVP: What are some of thehighlights audiences canexpect in the new season?
Roane: This year, we’re open-ing on October 1 with MartinShort, which will be a lot offun. He’s going to be doing“Peter and the Wolf,” andthat’s our first Family SaturdaySeries. The children will get tohear him and interact with himalong to “Peter and the Wolf.”That will be about an hour,and then they get to go out inthe lobby and have a musicalpetting zoo, where our musi-cians will show them instru-ments and let them play withthem. It’s only $5, so it’s agreat family activity. I alsothink Heidi Grant Murphy [asoprano in “A Taste ofHeaven” on January 7, 2012]will be someone everybodyloves, and we have a groupcalled Project that will be play-ing with her. They’re [Project]young and fun, so I think we’llend up having a separate fund-raiser with just them playing.Then, we end the season [onMay 5, 2012] with AndréWatts, who’s an amazingpianist...[laughing] maybe he’lllet me play with him.
RSVP: What kind of experienceshould a first-time attendee ofan IRIS performance expect?
Roane: The music is so beauti-ful and the talent is so amaz-ing that I can’t think of a wordto describe it. Maybe surreal?If you’re used to hearing a cer-tain type of symphony, and youhear this group play together,you realize it’s not just themusic, it’s the energy. Theartists are so happy to bethere, the audience can feel it.To be in a room that size atGPAC and hear such talentthat you can almost touch andto know that you can meet thetalent afterward is pretty amaz-ing. I wish more people under-stood that. IRIS is known allover the world because of ourmodel, who plays with us andbecause of Michael Stern, butwe have found that fewer peo-
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ple in Memphis know about it or understand it.Most people who come for the first time love itand fall hook, line and sinker. One of my bestfriends came to Yo-Yo Ma last year, fell in lovewith it and became a host family right away. Sheand the rest of her family are now subscribers andwant to have parties for us. It’s like you drink thejuice, and you’re in.
RSVP: What are some other ways people canbecome involved with IRIS outside of the per-formances at GPAC this year?
Roane: Well, we need funding to be able to doother things, and that’s kind of been a problem.Some of the things we do though are play withthe Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra and doside-by-sides on stage with them, so they come sitnext to our artists or our musicians and learnhow to play that instrument. Michael Stern willwork with them, and that’s usually an hour ortwo on Friday or Saturday in the morning. That’sa very good experience for the Memphis YouthSymphony, and we do something like that for theGermantown Youth Symphony. Then, our stringquartet will come play at three schools this year. Isaw one of them at Hutchison, and it was reallywonderful to see. They interacted with the chil-dren, taught them how to understand harmony ina quartet and they sang along with it and made iteasy. Parents can come for that too if they want.We work with Stax on a lot of things. Oh, anotherthing I love is when we had the Houston HighSchool art class paint to our music and ourthemes. It was Shakespeare actually.
RSVP: Are there any new community programs inthe works?
Roane: I would like to see more of the stringquartet. I thought that was really a lot of fun forthe children. Then, I’d like to see more interac-tion with musicians, like budding musicians inthe MYSO and Germantown. It’s just funding. Ifthe Family Saturday Series takes off, I’d like to domore things like that with the community thatare affordable. Bottom line, like any orchestra, weneed funding badly, and we live like I did in col-lege, which is paycheck to paycheck. It’s awful,and I don’t think people really understand. Weoperate just under a million dollars a year, andyou’d think we could get that to fund us a year,but it’s very difficult because people don’t realizewhat it takes to do this. I’m not sure people hereunderstand talent or the need for it. Corporationslike Morgan Keegan, FedEx and Duncan-Williams,as well as any of our corporate sponsors, do be-cause if they don’t have the Memphis Symphonyor IRIS or the Tennessee Shakespeare Company,they can’t get the potential employees from otherparts of the country to move here. Generallyspeaking, we need all of the arts organizations inthis city working together to attract people to thiscity.
RSVP: Are there any new CDs or recordings inthe works for IRIS?
Roane: We have one from last year that we give toour host families and certain corporate groupsthat sponsor us. Eventually, we will probably sellit, but not for some time. We do have several CDsthat you can buy, and we’ll make a new one forthis year—we do every season. You can purchasethe CDs at any of the performances, or call usand we can send one to you.
RSVP: If you could accomplish just one thing this2011-2012 season, what would it be?
Roane: Introduce more people to our jewel.That’s been my struggle since I came on board.The group of people that know about IRIS are soinvolved with us that you wouldn’t believe it, butit’s almost like they keep it a secret. I’ve spent alot of time trying to build the brand, and I’d likemore people to see what we have.
RSVP: This time next year, where would you liketo see the organization?
Roane: I’d like to see broader community engage-ment programs, with more funding for that inparticular, and more performances. We currentlyhave six performances, and I’d like to go to eight,with maybe six at GPAC and two at some of thelocal colleges in the area or at the Levitt Shellwith an indie group. We’re trying to broaden whowe’re gearing to, so maybe more performancesand diversify what we’re doing.
RSVP: What is your favorite part about your job?
Roane: It’s hard to say because there are so manygood aspects of this job. That’s the great thing.Earlier in the week, some of us were saying thatIRIS is so small staff-wise that we get to do a lit-tle bit of everything. To say there’s a favoritepart, that changes because when I go to a concertthere are several favorite parts of that. Then, inthe middle of the summer, it’s kind of nicebecause it’s nice and quiet, and we can plan allthe exciting things for the next year. The openingconcert is also a lot of fun because I get to see allthe excitement. I love it when the musicians getto town and I get to have dinner with them. Ilove rehearsals because all the artists crack them-selves up on stage, and that’s a lot of fun for meto watch. I like planning events, so all the eventswe do, from fund-raisers to dinners, are fun. Thisjob isn’t boring, nor is any part of it routine. Mypersonality is such that that works well.
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Spirit of SRVS“A Taste of the Good Life”E
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Bill and Carol Schwam Annie Kate Worley and Jason Robinson
Rick Pina and Melinda Aldison Amy and Chris Farm
Emily Larson and Catie Miller Jessica Puckett and Dave Woloshin
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Jenny Payne, Lynda Dionne and Patty BriganceAngela Hammond and Scott Ridlen Dolly and Basil White with Kendra Rudy
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
During the course of the 13th annual Spirit of SRVS: A Taste of theGood Life event, an estimated 700 people circulated through theballroom at Hilton Memphis. Prepared to sample a variety of
wines, guests picked up wine glasses upon arrival and browsed hun-dreds of silent auction items.
From doughnuts to dog care, the silent auction containedsomething for everybody. Always popular at silent auctions, restaurantgift certificates were available from some of the Mid-South’s favoriteeateries, including Automatic Slim’s Tonga Club, Bonefish Grill, TheHalf Shell and Owen Brennan’s, to name a few. Circa, Central BBQ,Memphis Pizza Café, Panera Bread and the Paula Dean Buffet fromHarrah’s Tunica were some of the restaurants with stations locatedthroughout the room, which provided a taste of the good life, usingtheir signature dishes.
Many local companies and individuals came together to spon-sor the event, including First Tennessee Foundation, FedEx, Auto-Zone, Sandra and Jack Jones, Dr. and Mrs. David Kimler and South-western Beverage Distributing, a provider of numerous wines for sam-pling. The largest wine company in the world, Constellation Wines,also was on hand allowing guests to taste wines ranging fromsparkling whites to dry reds.
Ron Childers of WMC-TV 5 and Steve Conley of KQK 94.1conducted a live auction while Joe Birch served as emcee. This year’sguest artist, Danny Broadway, painted the 2011 commemorative art-work in addition to helping SRVS clients paint wine glasses that werefor sale at the event. To bring some bling to the party, DoronDiamond Merchant, Inc. provided jewelry, some of which was donatedto the silent auction as well as several jewelry cases loaded with gem-stones. Everything over the cost of the jewelry was donated to SRVS.
For people like 25-year-old Kendra Rudy, the services providedby SRVS are priceless. Rudy, who has Down syndrome, has participat-ed in the SRVS program for about 11 years and is a member ofCompany D, a dance troupe. The dance company has performed inseveral major U.S. cities, including New York City and Washington,D.C. Rudy’s mother, Dolly White, says SRVS has truly enriched herdaughter’s life and adds that the best thing is the training and oppor-tunities available.
Story by Suzanne ThompsonPhotos by Baxter Buck
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Jim and Kay Liles
Cherry Davis and Sandra Akah Jo Ann Rotello with Becky and Stuart Boyd Marta Vinzant and Jerry Michie
Angela Goza and Hud Andrews Retha Moore, Mark Pender and Eenise Farris Courtney Oliver and Andrew Moore
Mark Hatgas and Donna Lillard
Jetina Machen and Erin Gray
Michael Detroit and Whitney Jo
Leslie Hachtel and Denice Gore
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Bob Winters and Adrian Weissman
Joe Birch and Father Eric Peterson
Joyce Johns and Ken Newman
Kyle Wiltse with Dr. Lee and Donna Moffatt
Holly Knowlton and Lisa Mallory
Jonathan Gruwell, Nancy Deal, Brian and Rebecca Wyatt and Mark Pender George and Traci Felts with Liz and Bryan Rizer
Anne Wesberry, Julie Barton, Paige Phillips and Keith Barton Kelly Penwell, Grace Burgess, T.J. Searcy and Bob Gammon
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Gaynette Price and Bob Laurie Cindy Price and Bernie Krock
Josh and Lindsey Hammond Pat Cameron and David Stevens
Cynthia and Charles Thompson Bill and Amanda Bannister
Holley Haley and Joseph Alfonso Andres Callender and Jo Schaeffer
To purchase tickets visit the Orpheum Box Office, The Booksellers at Laurelwood, Ticketmaster, call 525-3000, or visit our website at www.orpheum-memphis.com
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dnE nosaeS StorewideediwerotS
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BLUE
S ON
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BLU
FFE V E N
T Blues on the Bluff Party on the River
Jerry and Ginger Marlar with Gail and Noah Kimball
Betsy Apple and Daniel Eldridge
Brad and Debbie Halbrook
Eric and Elvira Ormseth
Evette Chapman and Janice Bomar
Lindsay Chapman and Amanda Keith
Mary Johnston and Jay Tayloe
Judy Dorsey and Hal Mabray
Tom Ricketson and Blake Means
What better sums up a Memphis scene than blues, barbecue andthe Mississippi River? Local listener-supported volunteer radiostation WEVL–FM 89.9 has the market cornered on this win-
ning combination with its annual fund-raiser, Blues on the Bluff. For its 23rd consecutive year, the independent radio station
hosted the concert, which featured Blind Mississippi Morris & thePocket Rockets, the Bo-Keys and Lightnin’ Malcolm with CameronKimbrough, in late July. Once again, the action took place on theNational Ornamental Metal Museum grounds overlooking theMississippi River.
“This is the best view of the city,” said Blues on the Blufffirst-timer Tawni Bell. “I’m giddy I’m so excited.”
Smoked pork from Central BBQ was for sale, and with a cashbar, all proceeds went to benefit WEVL. For the second year in arow, the event included a silent auction, with unique items such as atreasure box of CDs handpicked by station deejays in addition to theusual restaurant packages and artwork.
“There are some really interesting packages,” said German-town resident Lydia White, who came with whole family. “I’m partic-ularly interested in the Bluff City Barn Dance Bluegrass. I played ina bluegrass band in college, and that’s my favorite program on thestation.”
Including the sponsorship money from FedEx and theMemphis Firefighters Association and ticket sales for 900 attendees,the event raised more than $44,700. “It broke the previous recordfor money raised at Blues on the Bluff, so I have to say it wentgreat,” said station manager Judy Dorsey.
“We also have a very special crowd of really nice people whocome every year—one of the best crowds at any outdoor event in thearea, I think,” Dorsey added. “The view of the river is beautiful, andwhen you add the music, the sun setting over the Mississippi, thesmell of barbecue, plus great folks, you’ve got a winning combina-tion. I’d go even if I wasn’t so deeply involved with it.”
Story by Lesley YoungPhotos by Nathan Berry
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.comPassword: RSVP
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E V E N
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UES
ON T
HE B
LUFF
Jon Astor, Charlotte Frazier, Phyllis Brunt and Ed Von Boeckman
Justin Durham, Claire Boyle and Mike Boyle
Bonnie Hollabaugh and Amy Beth DudleyGaye Hansen and William Woods
Mark and Ellen FollisChris Liberto and Rebecca Laughlin
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E V E N
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UES
ON T
HE B
LUFF
Gary DeYoung, Mollie Palmer and Kathleen Quinlen
Paul and Annette Thompson with Sheila and Jeff Maynard
Kathryn Elias and Elise JenningsSarah Schirmer and Denver Briley
Bill Runyan and Judy RutschmanKarin and Jeff West
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Michael Rabkin, Kristina Goetz, Shelbe Erwin and Tawni Bell
Sarah Beaver, Kalee Beaver, Wallace Ann Sorrells, Clayton Carpenter and Dub Sorrells
Sherry Contaldo with Frank and Sabine Bachmann
Scott and Molly Carr with Jane and David Weinstein
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BLUE
S ON
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FFE V E N
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Teri and Bart Hanners
Zach and Amy Hoyt
Charleen and John Lawrence
Jessica and Paul LaFrain
Anna Hughes, Erin Peel and John and Sandy Hughes Alex Neale, Shannon Lazek, Nikki Hartford and Michael Pagliari
Clay Glenn, Mallory Taylor and Emily and Joe Tomes Ernie and Katie Harris with Debbie and Marty Petrusek
Kevin Carter and Robin Duffy
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Bull and Nancy Bramlett with Kristi and Gus Malzahn at Pop Andrews Classic Kick-Off Party
Lolita Holmes and Carol Richardson at Curb Couture Trashion Show
ONSITE Onsite
Shelby Wilsonat Curb Couture Trashion Show
Danna and Jody Walker at Junebugs & Juleps
Juliet Buckholdt and Emma Conrad at Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit
Johnathan Payne and Lizzie Steen at Junebugs & Juleps
Curb Couture Trashion Show Junebugs & JulepsPop Andrews Classic Kick-Off Party Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit
The first Curb Couture Trashion Show, benefitingMemphis City Beautiful, was held on South Main in
a Fashion-Week-meets-street-fair atmosphere. Models,including Kallen Esperian in a form-fitting frock ofrecycled denim and newspapers, wowed the crowd in“green chic” designs from Pat Kerr Tigrett, Kittie Kyle,Joseph and emerging local talent. Even Mayor A CWharton dropped by to show off an Oak Hall tie madeespecially for him of fabric remnants. Other ensemblesincluded a mini-dress of CDs reminiscent of enormoussequins (by Cathy Wilson) and a gown, with headdress,made entirely of discarded cigarette cartons (by WaheedQayumi). Memphis City Beautiful, the country’s oldestcity beautification organization at 81 years, is clearlystill on the cutting edge.
The Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum playedhost to Junebugs & Juleps, a spirited garden party inthe heart of Victorian Village. Guests soaked up themusic of the Brennan Villines Trio, as well as snacksfrom Wade & Co., 3D and Fork It Over Catering andart by Monty Shane, Amanda Hill and others. DannaWalker’s painted porcelain portrait pendants evoked abygone era into which guests were transported as theystepped inside for a mansion tour. As A.J. Northrop,who planned the event with Michelle Williams, poureda frozen mint julep for a guest he laughed and said,“This couldn’t be more Southern. People are barefootin here!”
When not helping the Auburn University Tigersprepare for another possible national championship,offensive coordinator and quarterback coach GusMalzahn found the time to be a guest speaker for the24th annual Pop Andrews Classic. During the Kick-OffParty, Auburn fans and supporters of tournament bene-ficiaries, including John Bramlett Ministries and theMemphis Area Fellowship of Christian Athletes, got upclose to Malzahn for a sneak peek of his speech. Heldat the home of Jesse and Pat McClerkin, the eventincluded light hors d’oeuvres, beverages and lots of pos-ing for photos.
It was difficult to determine which was more cap-tivating: the art on the walls or the ballerinas on stageat the Buckman Performing Arts Center. Close to 20artists from the Artist Group, a community organiza-tion of artists who participate in local charities, donat-ed their oil paintings, watercolors and mixed mediaworks for an auction to help raise funds for theChildren’s Ballet Theater. Once patrons finished brows-ing the collection of fine art and snacking on toothynibbles, they had the opportunity to see the great causethey were supporting during a performance by the the-ater’s professional troupe.
Story and photos by Kelly Cox and Lesley Young
Diana Teagarden and Vera Rosato at Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit
Patrick and Allie Byrne with Micah and Paul Thomas at Pop Andrews Classic Kick-Off Party
Lisa Cupolo-Bausch and Lila Bausch at Children’s Ballet Theater Benefit
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Brooke Ehrhart, Stephanie Micheel and Johanna McCormickat Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party
Aileen Oliver, Steve West and Sherrye Crone at Methodist Garden Party
ONSITEOnsite
Sandra Rada with Susan and Dick Jacob at Methodist Garden Party
Agnes Stark and Amy Dillinger King at Harwood Center Silent Auction
Sissi Carty, Will Hall and Laura Adams at Shelby Farms Park Conservancy BenefitJenny Jones and Jana Wilson
at Harwood Center Silent Auction
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Benefit Harwood Center Silent AuctionMethodist Garden Party Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party
Otherlands Coffee Shop recently hosted a membershipdrive and fund-raiser for Shelby Farms Park Conserv-
ancy. A considerable group of park supporters and fansof performers Dan Montgomery, The Magic Kids andthe Earnestine & Hazel’s House Band came to listenand dance the night away. Door prizes from BlackLodge Video and Noggs Sport Glasses were a big hitwith the crowd. Both Laura Adams, the conservancy’sexecutive director, and Caleb Tinkle, the conservancy’sdevelopment associate, were very pleased with theevening’s turnout.
For 20 years, Memphis Potters Guild membershave hosted a spring show to display and sell their cur-rent works, but this year, they decided to do somethingdifferent. They chose to sponsor the Harwood Center, anonprofit that serves children ages birth to 3 years withdevelopmental disabilities, during their opening recep-tion at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Each of theguild’s two dozen members donated a piece, andbrowsers were able to walk home with pots, bowls, gar-den accessories and other accoutrement while support-ing a 53-year-old nonprofit. “We were blown away thatthey called and said they wanted to do this,” saidHarwood developmental director Claire Moss. Eventcoordinator Greg Belz added, “We were really attractedto the Harwood Center because they do such wonderfulthings.”
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare recentlyopened a new, state-of-the-art residential hospice onQuince Road in Germantown. To celebrate the $9.1 mil-lion facility, administrators held a party on the groundsto raise funds for hospice patients in need. While sip-ping cocktails and snacking on sushi, guests had theopportunity to tour the 30-bed facility, built with largewindows, natural stone and exposed wood, and whichcenters around the residence’s landscaped courtyard.The Methodist Hospice Residence opened in late June.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-Southgrants hundreds of wishes to children with life-threaten-ing medical conditions, and this year, thanks to PGAchampion Shaun Micheel and his wife Stephanie, a lit-tle girl will get to meet her hero, Taylor Swift. A spon-sor of the foundation for the past eight years, Micheelhas hosted the Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish® GolfClassic at TPC Southwind, and each year, the eventkicks off with a Pairings Party at the Rendezvous.Included in the agenda were a live auction, music byDoug Petty and Gerry Finney and, of course, barbecue.Foundation communications manager Miranda Harborsaid, “This puts a face to our vision. It’s an opportuni-ty for our supporters to get engaged.”
Story by Ruth Cassin and Lesley YoungPhotos by Roy Haithcock and Lesley Young
Janet Wellons and Anderson Humphreys at Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Benefit
Shaun Micheel, Ashley Clark and Scott Elliot at Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party
Miranda Harbor and Liz Larkinat Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Pairings Party
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Billie Jean Graham and Nelda Hamer at Salvation Army Summer Party
Lauren Boyer, Gretchen Wollert McLennon and Leslie Townsendat Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT
ONSITEOnsite
Rudi Scheidt, Pat Mitchell Worley and Honey Scheidt at Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT
Jeff Brann and Sue Alexander at Artists Up! Silent Auction
Susan Jordan and John Peterson at Taste of Caribe
Dr. Allen Berry III and Dianne Berry with Debbie and Dr. Noel Florendo at Artists Up! Silent Auction
A Taste of Caribe Artists Up! Silent Auction Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT Salvation Army Summer Party
The International Children’s Heart Foundation gaveits hometown A Taste of Caribe with a packed-to-the-
rafters bash at Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects.Inside, guests were treated to “bocados,” rum tastes,and dancing, as the six-piece mariachi ensemble LosCantadores ignited “la vida nocturna” with their south-of-the-border soul. Outside, partygoers relaxed on thelantern-strung patio and gathered for a carnivalesqueperformance by a pair of daring fire-dancers. A nightevocative of the Tropics right in the heart of Midtown—and for a great cause! The International Children’sHeart Foundation, founded and based in Memphis, hasto date provided more than 5,000 life-saving pediatriccardiac surgeries in more than two dozen countriesworldwide.
Dianne Berry and Dr. Allen Berry III and Debbieand Dr. Noel Florendo rolled out the red carpet at theFlorendos’ home to greet actors, filmmakers, makeupartists and friends to celebrate two newcomers to theperforming arts scene in Memphis. Attendees wel-comed both DreamCatchers, a film production compa-ny, and Artists Up!, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturingtalent and financial opportunities for performingartists.
Studio space at Ardent Studios was packed notwith recording artists, but with supporters of the fourthannual Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT for one spe-cial night in June. Executive producer Sid Selvidge andBeale Street Caravan host Pat Mitchell Worley wereboth on hand greeting guests as they made their way toStudio A for a silent auction, to Studio B for an openbar and hors d’oeuvres and then on to Studio C for arockin’ performance from the Will Tucker Band. Eventproceeds will help the Beale Street Caravan radio seriescontinue providing Memphis’ sound to the world.
Emmanuel United Methodist Church’s gymresembled an Italian restaurant, as members of theSalvation Army Women’s Auxiliary had decorated tableswith red and white checkered tablecloths and greenwine bottles, used as vases for sunflowers and lilies, forthe group’s Summer Party. Dubbed “Mama Rhea’s CaféItaliano,” the occasion featured a delicious dinner ofspaghetti and meatballs, Italian spinach, garlic bread,salad and cheesecake, all from Coletta’s, and music bya band made up of three male graduates of theSalvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. A specialmoment came when Major Janeen McConniel presenteda check on behalf of the auxiliary to the band membersfor their ministry.
Story by Kelly Cox, Leah Fitzpatrick and Jeannie Mandelker
Photos by Kelly Cox, Leah Fitzpatrick, Roy Haithcockand Jeannie Mandelker
Larry and Joy Rice at Taste of Caribe
Fran Jabbour, Shirley Henry, Snookie Gibbs, Rosemary Ballinger and Marcia Dunlap at Salvation Army Summer Party
Ron Olson and Jill Bucco at Taste of Caribe
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Betty Dupont, Lenore Binswanger and Betty Lyon at Theatre for Hope
Holly Fussell, Debbie Irvine and Lauren Irvine at Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off
ONSITE Onsite
Cheryl Anderson and Diana Fedinecat Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off
Bonnie and Mark Belz with Amy Howard at American Cancer Society Sip and See Preview Party
Laura Shy and Julie Pierotti at Dixon Culture and Cocktails
Jody and Marianne Mard with Mike Kiser at American Cancer Society Sip and See Preview Party
Dixon Culture and Cocktails Theatre for HopeSpirit of SRVS Kick-Off American Cancer Society Sip and See Preview Party
Visitors and Young at Art members gathered at theDixon Gallery and Gardens to commemorate the
acclaimed and esteemed works of Jean-Louis Forain inthe La Comédie parisienne exhibition. The DixonCulture and Cocktails event consisted of hors d’oeuvresand a short tour given by assistant curator JuliePierotti, who informed viewers of Forain’s love fordepicting Parisian operas, ballets and men and womenof the time. The Dixon is the first and only museum inAmerica to host this exhibition, which features 58pieces. “We want this to be fun and enjoyable,” saidPierotti. “This show is a huge deal and has given [theDixon] so much steam and confidence. It is only thebeginning.”
The third annual Theatre for Hope was held atPlayhouse on the Square with a silent auction followedby a performance of the hit musical “Footloose.”Guests were served hors d’oeuvres of spring rolls, bar-becue chicken sandwich sliders and fruit trays as theyenjoyed a wine tasting and participated in a silent auc-tion consisting of books, gift cards, golf clubs, a signedGrizzlies basketball and art by local artists such asJennifer Hyatt. The most significant piece, “Hands ofHope,” came from local artist Ken Lecco, and, fitting-ly, children from Hope House were able to have a handin the work. Before “Footloose” began, emcee AnnaMarie Hartman of WMC-TV 5 said that with the com-munity’s help, Hope House has been able to signifi-cantly reduce the percentage of HIV/AIDS in newbornswithin the community.
Another “Footloose” benefit performance tookplace at Playhouse, but this time to raise funds forShelby Residential and Vocational Services. A precursorto the nonprofit’s Spirit of SRVS gala, the Spirit ofSRVS Kick-Off is a more casual affair that gives sup-porters a sneak peek of the “Spirit of SRVS: A Taste ofthe Good Life” commemorative artwork, this year byDanny Broadway. SRVS staff got in on the fun by dress-ing up in ‘80s attire, while guests enjoyed dancing todecade-appropriate music by Michael Jackson, Madonnaand the like. Event proceeds will go toward SRVS’s newday center for adults with disabilities.
The American Cancer Society invited guests totour two houses in the Bocage community in EastMemphis for its Sip and See Preview Party. River CityLand Company and Kircher-Belz Builders served as pre-senting sponsors, with Amy Howard, Sarkis KishOriental Rugs and Post 31 Interiors supplying theirdecorative touches and items to the spaces. Openingfestivities also included heavy appetizers, libations, livemusic and a silent auction. The actual Home Showcasetook place throughout three weekends, with funds bene-fiting the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs.Cancer.
Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and Andrea Stockard
May Walker, Helene Harris and Michelle Heck at Dixon Culture and Cocktails
Willi Alfonso, Virginia Weber, Michelle Viglietti and Angie Viglietti (Sitting); Stella Buchignani and Cindy Ware (Standing)at Spirit of SRVS Kick-Off
Angie Hilton, Christy Moseley and Sandy Howell at Theatre for Hope
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Tim Tanner, Valerie Liter and Susan Aquillard at St. Jude Dream House Sneak Peek
Emery Franklin at Groovin’ in the Garden
ONSITEOnsite
Mary Coleman, Dr. Len Sumner, Dr. Barbara Harris and Robert Sumnerat Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
Kim Blankenship, Lenora Morrow and Mary Jane Criss at Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
Lisa Gill and Leah Hillis at Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show
Gladys Klepper, Barbara Morris and Carol Henderson at Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show St. Jude Dream House Sneak PeekGroovin’ in the Garden Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Summer Party
The Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show,held at Roadshow BMW, featured local attorneys,
judges and public figures, including Shelby CountyMayor Mark Luttrell, modeling clothes from Sheltonand Christine Clothiers. Perhaps, the surprise of theevening came when local attorney Leslie Ballinappeared in drag to poke fun at the fact that he wasrecently named one of the best “female” lawyers inTennessee. Fashion show proceeds will fund scholar-ships for deserving law school students.
The 2011 St. Jude Dream House opened itsdoors for its first official Sneak Peek to more than 200attendees. As guests toured the house built by SouthernSerenity Homes, they also got a chance to win a freecar by guessing how many plastic cups it took to fillthe car. Raffle tickets for the house were sold at $100each, with the prize being the house itself. Thebuilders, St. Jude staff, friends and vendors, such asAshley Furniture and The Curtain Exchange, were all inattendance.
Groovin’ in the Garden, held at the MemphisBotanic Garden, marked the return of the River CityChapter of The Links, Incorporated’s annual fund-rais-er, which supports various chapter programs, includingarts initiatives in the Memphis community. Theevening’s program consisted of literary, visual and per-forming arts entertainment, as well as an awards cere-mony for Grammy® winning artist Kirk Whalum, whoreceived the inaugural Community Service Award forServices to Youth and The Arts. River City Links alsopresented Whalum with a check for $2,500 to supportthe Stax Music Academy, where he serves as presidentand CEO. In addition, Groovin’ in the Garden recog-nized the art community by commissioning an originalpiece for the event by artist Emery Franklin called“Seasons of Grace.”
A support group for those fighting Alzheimer’s,Four Seasons/Memory Inc. invited guests to “MakeSummer Memories!” at the home of Kim and EarlBlankenship for the organization’s Summer Party. Thelovely afternoon affair offered delectable fare fromParty Tenders and piano music by Lenora Morrow, withDr. Len Sumner being honored with the 2011 FourSeasons Spirit Award. This event was dedicated to thememory of Sibyl Sumner.
Story Submitted and by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos Submitted and by Chris Pugh
Michael Tauer and Judge Phyllis Gardner at Association of Women Attorneys Fashion Show
Inetta F. Rogers, Kirk Whalum, Susan Calhoun Richardson and Charlotte Freeman at Groovin’ in the Garden
Kathryn Meyers and Jeanette Meyers at St. Jude Dream House Sneak Peek
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By Dennis PhillippiRSVP
HILL
IPPI
MY BABY, SHE WROTE ME AN E-MAILThe U.S. Postal Service has asked
Congress to let it lay off more than100,000 employees. The only reason
this is shocking is that there are still morethan 100,000 employees of the USPS. Nodisrespect to my letter carrier, or any ofthe other people who work for the USPS,but with e-mail, social networks and thelike, I’m not entirely sure the post office isstill a viable business model. Seriously,what will be the contents of your mailboxwhen you get home? Today mine had thismonth’s copy of AARP The Magazine, cir-culars for discount brake jobs, coupons forpizzas and copies of bills my wife paysonline.
Let’s just let that AARP TheMagazine thing slide on by. I try to ignoreit, and so should you.
We all remember how cool it wasto get mail when we were kids. It wasn’tanything particularly great: a note fromyour grandmother, scrawled in that OldWorld chicken scratch saying somethingabout how she remembers changing yourdiapers, maybe a pen pal letter from Hansin Denmark or just something accidentallyaddressed to you, but your name was on it,and it came from somewhere else. Thatwas really cool. Yesterday I got an e-mailfrom a guy I knew when I was a teenagerwho now lives in Grenada, the country,not the town in Mississippi. The postoffice didn’t lift a finger on that one.
It’s not that I’m advocating theelimination of the post office; I just thinkit’s time to accept that it’s not as impor-tant as it used to be. There was a timewhen the mailbox was the repository oftelegrams that told you vitally importantthings, like the well-being of Tommy off inthe war or the birth of your new nephewin Chicago. The last telegram was sent inFebruary of 2006. They knew when tothrow in the towel. The telegram industryrefocused on the part of its business thatwas still viable: people sending money totheir idiot relatives that had managed tobe broke and arrested at the same time.
In recent decades, there have beena lot of businesses that have gone the wayof the buggy whip. The big photo compa-nies have been out of the film business foryears. If you have a film camera now,you’re not considered an artist, you’re con-sidered a fetishist. Record stores have
become some kind of hipster equivalent ofan opium den. No one buys records any-more, and I don’t just mean vinyl. Vinylhonks are, of course, the same people whothink that the best clothes are ones thatvintage stores bought at estate sales. Noone buys CDs anymore either. There’snothing wrong with this: we all got burnedback in the day by buying an albumbecause of the one hit single on it, only to
discover that the rest of the record was ter-rible. Joan Osborne got me. So did the PetShop Boys. I’m not proud of that one. Theworld has moved on. Now you can cherrypick the songs you like and buy themonline. I guarantee you we’ve bought a lotmore music that way than we ever did in arecord store.
Is there anything more unneces-sary than a telephone book? I haven’tlooked up a phone number in a telephonebook in years. If I don’t have the number Iwant in my phone already, I’ll look it upon the Internet…on my phone. If I happento be, as I almost always am, sitting infront of a computer I’ll look it up there.Every year they drop off two telephonebooks, and every year they sit in the sameplace until the new one comes and I throwout the old ones, untouched and unmourn-ed.
Another thing our phones haveeliminated is the need for a watch. Myphone is my watch. Most people use their
phone as a watch. It’s also a date book,calendar, time killer, game platform,weather report, camera, video camera andso on and so forth.
It’s really amazing that the postoffice looks like it may outlive newspapers.I love newspapers. I’ve written for newspa-pers. I love the whole romance of thenewsroom, the clattering typewriters, theoverflowing ashtrays…oh, right. None ofthose things exist anymore. The newspaperof the future is the newspaper of today,the Internet.
Anyone who loves words decriesthe death of the bookstore and just walk-ing around taking down random books andflipping through them, reading a para-graph here and there and deciding whichliterary treasure, or Dan Brown book, we’dtake home. Also, there’s the communingwith other book people quietly, respectful-ly, and having that great sanctimoniousfeeling of being better than other people.Well, have fun in the Amazon forums.
Hey, when was the last time youbought a deck of cards? Every householdused to have a few decks, at least one ofwhich was missing a few cards. They’d beworn, dog-eared and impossible to shuffle.If there was nothing on the three televi-sion channels, we’d sit around and playendless games of gin, or if no one elsewanted to play, solitaire. I bet if therewasn’t a casino industry, the playing cardbusiness would’ve gone belly up a decadeago.
I know my letter carrier by name.He’s been delivering my mail, and notinfrequently, my neighbor’s mail, to mefor years. He seems like a nice enoughguy, and the mail hits the porch at almostexactly the same time every day. And everyday I go out to collect it with that samesense of hope I used to have, wondering iftoday there’s going to be something magi-cal from a faraway place, but alas, no.There’s just that copy of AARP TheMagazine.
Dennis Phillippi, the sentiment you holdfor the days when getting mail was excit-ing does truly carry over into the world oftoday. Just keep holding out, and maybeyour first piece of fan mail will arriveinstead of your monthly magazine thatserves as a constant reminder of aging.
There was a time whenthe mailbox was the
repository of telegramsthat told you vitallyimportant things, like
the well-being of Tommyoff in the war or thebirth of your newnephew in Chicago.
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A UTHSC TreasureRSVP
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1976
As the University of Tennessee Health Science Center gears up for its Centennial Gala on September 17, the institution takesa look back at those who have helped make UTHSC great. One such individual is Dr. Lemuel Diggs (pictured above), who
devoted 65 years of his medical career to sickle cell disease research. Among other contributions, he was a respected clinicalpathology teacher, initiated training for medical technologists at UTHSC and coordinated the South’s first blood bank at JohnGaston Hospital.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105or e-mail the photo and caption to [email protected]
All photos will be returned promptly.
*Deadline for submissions is November 30, 2011. No exceptions.Weddings must have taken place between December 1, 2010 and deadline.
RSVP Magazine Introduces
OUR FIRST-EVER WEDDING ISSUE
Please visit rsvpmagazine.com forcomplete details.
Now accepting wedding submissions for theFebruary 2012 issue of RSVP.
