RSVP Magazine August 2012

August 2012

LeBonAppĂŠtit Wine and Dine Taste of Caribe Live at the Garden Theatre Memphis Gala Q&A with Pearson Crutcher

CONTENTS

Contents August 201 2

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

John Doyle invites RSVP to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum for a glimpse of the museum’s newest exhibit.

Wine and Dine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Special Olympics Greater Memphis invited supporters to the Tower Center for an evening of exquisite wine and food pairings.

12 WINE AND DINE Sandi Eley and Ronnie Gilmer

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18, 20 & 22 She’s committed to showing the residents in the Caritas Village neighborhood that they have options. This nonprofit CEO works hard to make sure Memphians are armed with the tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He’s gone from deejaying at a commercial radio station to heading up his own Internet-based station. StreetSeens highlight Onie Johns, Renee Frazier and Ric Chetter.

42 LEBONAPPÉTIT Denise and Bob Henning

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Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Q&A with the executive director of the Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs, Pearson Crutcher.

Live at the Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Memphis Botanic Garden supporters couldn’t wait for a little “Saturday in the Park” from the band Chicago.

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RSVP Room View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Architect Jim Murray shows off his living room’s modernist décor.

18 STREETSEEN Onie Johns

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40, 52, 53, 58, 59 & 60 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

LeBonAppétit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Chefs from throughout the country cooked alongside some of our city’s finest chefs

48 TASTE OF CARIBE David and Anita Wieduwilt

to raise funds for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital at The Columns at One Commerce Square.

Taste of Caribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 The International Children’s Heart Foundation hosted its popular fund-raiser to an energetic crowd at Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects.

Theatre Memphis Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Theatre Memphis pulled out all the stops for its New York-themed fund-raiser inside its East Memphis headquarters.

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RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Holy Ancient Technology Humor columnist Dennis Phillippi describes in detail just what a rotary phone is to a generation brought up on smartphones, texting and e-mail.

LIVE AT THE GARDEN Mary McCraw and Ginger Adams

54 THEATRE MEMPHIS GALA Barry Fuller and Bryan Ford

Cover Photo Amy and Keith File at LeBonAppétit Photo by Baxter Buck

R SV P S TA F F Volume XVII

Number XI

August 2012 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

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

Chris has been exercising his talent in the advertising world since 1999. He joined the RSVP team in 2009 and brought with him a love for laughter and creativity.

Originally from New Albany, Mississippi, Chris has settled in Memphis and enjoys being active in the fashion community.

Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS

Baxter Buck Don Perry Steve Roberts

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Chris Pugh Kristen Miller ACCOUNTING

Ruth Cassin

KRISTEN MILLER,

EDITORIAL INTERN

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

Maggie Giffin

RSVP

6 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

Having worked in print advertising for nearly eight years, Kristen Miller is pleased to join the RSVP team as account executive.

Kristen, who lives in Arlington with her husband and four children, loves to cook, fish, watch college and Arlington Tigers football, spend time with her family and advertising, of course.

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

www.rsvpmagazine.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event.

Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785. e-mail editor@rsvpmagazine.com Follow us on & RSVP Memphis Magazine

Copyright 2012 Haithcock Communications, Inc.

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

Maggie is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing communications with an emphasis in magazine publishing. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Maggie moved to Memphis to attend culinary school in hopes of pursuing a career in both food styling/writing and magazine publishing.

Maggie enjoys reading magazines, cooking and her new position as editorial intern at RSVP.

From the Editor

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ou know that feeling you get when you attempt something new? Well, usually, it’s experienced while doing something surreal like going parasailing or daring to step out on The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago’s all-glass floor, which is 1,353 feet up mind you. For others, that tingly (and brave) feeling of trying the unknown comes from something as simple as gulping down a raw oyster for the first time, heading out on a blind date or taking a class to gain a different skill. And since whatever you’re theoretically doing is new, there are no guarantees of whether you’ll be satisfied afterward, but more times than not, you are and can’t believe you haven’t engaged in said experience before.

For us here at RSVP, we look forward every month to new interactions with Memphians, learning about innovative products and services from our loyal clients and discovering amazing philanthropic endeavors that people are engaging in each and every day in this city. That being said, many of the benefits we cover in the magazine are traditionally the same every year, and rightfully so, since people like to know what to expect at certain functions. However, when we heard that the Le Bonheur Club was rolling out LeBonAppétit (featured on page 42) at The Columns at One Commerce Square this past June, we couldn’t help but get giddy at the thought of attending an inaugural event, especially in the summer when there are typically fewer events on our calendar anyway. Boy, were we blown away! Not only did the venue resemble a party scene in a movie, but the food tastings were so creative and thoughtfully prepared by local and national chefs, many of whom have won awards in the restaurant industry. The best part was that the chefs all interacted with guests at their stations, and visiting chefs welcomed patrons to come try their restaurants in their respective cities. Do I smell some foodie trips coming on? Yes, please.

Now, go out and embark on a new adventure or savor a yet-unknown activity this last full month of summer. And if trying events is your thing, like it is ours, head to rsvpmagazine.com/eventcalendar or “like” us on Facebook at RSVP Memphis Magazine for party updates. Don’t see something that should be up there? Let us know.

Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

SIGNATURE MEMPHIS

John Doyle Executive Director, The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum/Avid Cyclist

First job: Sacking groceries.

Childhood ambition: To work at the zoo.

Hobby: Photography, painting or stained glass.

Stress outlet: Biking that friggin’ Greenline! What a gift!

Guilty pleasure: Traveling…managing to escape to 25 countries on six continents.

Favorite albums: More recent favorites are “Sigh No More” by Mumford & Sons, “The Central Park Concert” by Dave Matthews Band and “Rattle & Hum” by U2.

Favorite Memphis musician: Representing a Memphis music museum, there’s

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of both Lucero and FreeSol.

Biggest obstacles you’ve overcome: Losing a parent and personally losing 80 pounds, but I’m nowhere as strong or brave as my wife.

First concert: An older female cousin dragged me to a Bobby Sherman concert at the Mid-South Coliseum. I think I was 17. No, seriously, I was 8.

Favorite authors: Professionally, Peter Guralnick. Casually, Jon Krakauer or Bill Bryson. Spiritually, God’s bestseller ain’t bad.

Ideal vacation spots: With my wife, either Ireland or Greece. Traveling solo, either Tunisia or Guatemala.

Where you take out-of-town guests: Shameless self-promotion, but, seriously, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum’s Smithsonian-developed exhibit because it presents the complete Memphis music story and why our city is known worldwide.

Things most people don’t know about you: I teach four weekly rowing and spinning classes, I’ve spent the night in the Sahara Desert, I’ve been on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and I was a mascot for the Memphis Showboats.

What you can’t live without: My wife, Lynn, and my son, Bennett.

Words or phrases you overuse: I’ve been told I say “we” instead of “I.”

Photo by Steve Roberts

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no way I’ll fall into the trap of choosing one. I will say I’m proud of the rising successes

EVENT

Wine and Dine

WINE AND DINE

Benefiting Special Olympics Greater Memphis

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Ben, Elizabeth and John Summer

Nikki Dildine and Ashley McCormick

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hose competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games will start making headlines at the end of July, but another group of athletes already heating up the summer were those involved in the Special Olympics Greater Memphis chapter’s Wine and Dine. These athletes warmly welcomed 275 partygoers to the Tower Center by introducing themselves and handing out programs detailing the benefit’s 18 wines and 11 hors d’oeuvre options. Having the nonprofit’s members onsite proved a nice touch for guests new to the organization.

Special Olympics Greater Memphis director Lisa Taylor urged, “You need to come meet the athletes—their smiles are contagious.”

First-time guest Tiffany Brimhall added, “I really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with all of the athletes, and it was cool to see each of their pictures on the wall.”

Good spirits abounded as guests traversed the room to sample tastings from some of the city’s favorite chefs and to savor refreshing wine varietals hand-selected by the staff of Kirby Wines & Liquors.

One gentleman donning a smart bowtie noted, “The reds are particularly good tonight,” to which several other attendees agreed, many singling out the 2007 Twomey merlot and the 2006 CADE Cuvee cabernet sauvignon as their favorites. A man standing near the “Very Berry” cheesecake bites, which were whipped up with hand-picked Tennessee blackberries by Ginger Honshell of Gingerly Baked, offered to another guest, “The Segura Viudas rosé would go great with that.”

Speaking of berries, Chef Ryan Trimm of Sweet Grass, who helped organize the Wine and Dine chefs, also jumped on the chance to use in-season berries by serving a rib roast of beef with kim chee and black raspberry gastrique.

Whites had their fair share of fans as well, and, of course, their clean flavors nicely complemented seafood offerings, including smoked salmon rillettes on potato wafers with crème fraîche and caviar (by Daniel Studdard of the Tower Center and Wade & Company) and Cioppino (a seafood stew from Sabine Bachmann of Fratelli’s). Sofia Blanc de Blancs and the 2011 Kung Fu Girl riesling were other whites that turned up in many a glass, and they also found their way into several gift baskets, which could be won by purchasing one raffle ticket for $25 or five for $100. These weren’t any ordinary gift baskets either, as each of the six were valued at several hundred dollars. For example, the “Pamper Basket” contained $600 worth of skincare products/services, wine, hair services, a mani/pedi, an aerator pourer and Dinstuhl’s chocolates.

The musical duo of Earth Bass and Sky Guitar (Bob Buckley on bass and Ed Finney on guitar) added to the cool ambiance of the second annual Wine and Dine, estimated to have made more than $15,000 to help support all the local programs Special Olympics provides to its athletes at no cost.

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

Greg and Jennifer Knox

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Baxter Buck

Tangela Walker and Vincent Coleman

Judy and Jim Baker

Tomi Beckemeyer and Ellen Faust

Don Taylor and Lisa Taylor

Laura Taylor Peacock, Melissa Taylor Goggans and Julie Taylor Miller

Melanie Towery Prevost and Julien Prevost

EVENT WINE AND DINE

Tiffany Brimhall with Laura and Dottie Moore

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Todd Harris, Jamila Webb, Angela Johnson and Richard Hervey

Tracy and Chris Wartenberg

Armando Gagliano and Esther Kuni

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Sean Anderson and Bobby Sides

Nick, Mark and Michelle Barford with Ron Robert

Sara Studdard and Anna Beth Studdard

Lauren Edmonds and Jenny Brindell

Maurice, Derrick and Tracie Earle

EVENT WINE AND DINE

Jerlym Porter and Dennis Adams

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Kathryn and Justin Sparks

Pam Gaines, Savannah Grow and Lisa Finney

Marvin and Amy Schaefer

Wendy Hannah and Dwana Everhart

Mark Youngblood and Andy Jones

Felicia and Bryan Carson

Jo Anna Brinson and Debby Williams

Jessica Johnson and Annette Tomlinson

Capree House and Jody Moyt

Lisa Moore and Lori Tenney

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William Ferrell and Anna Mullins

Jane and Charles Speed

Steve and Andrea Oliver with Cheryl and Danny Kingsley

STREETSEEN

Onie Johns A Community Commitment

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verywhere Onie Johns turns at Caritas Village, a nonprofit coffee shop and cultural center she founded in the Binghampton community nearly six years ago, a regular gives her a warm smile or a “hello.” One hopes those same greetings are being exercised outside the building by nearby residents, however, in reality, tensions still escalate in the area sometimes. As Johns points out, the surrounding neighborhood remains one of the city’s most diverse, with Afghanis, Africans, African-Americans, Asians, Caucasians and Latinos all living within a four-by-eight block area in Binghampton’s west side, so cultural misunderstandings happen. But thanks to Caritas, the “walls of hostility between neighboring cultures” are starting to crumble.

“We break down those walls of hostility primarily through art programs and provide bridges of love and trust between the rich and those made poor,” relates Johns. “We think if children can do things creatively, it gives them a better perspective on life, and presently, we have an art camp going on.”

Though maybe unintentional, the focus on art seems to begin on the front lawn of Caritas (a Latin word that means “love for all people”) with wire sculptures that memorialize the number of local homicide victims in 2011, which Johns says totaled 147. Once inside Caritas’ mainlevel room, comprised of a dining space, kitchen, a lending library, an area to play games like chess and a space for free Tuesday-night medical clinics, one begins to notice that each of Caritas’ services or activities fuels interaction among its volunteers and visitors, including an art exhibition space called Caritas Village Hope Gallery. Throughout the year, Caritas welcomes submissions from artists, groups and organizations to show in the gallery, and currently, a multi-media show by female artists is on view. Also scheduled for August is Caritas’ first Artist in Residency Program, which will give visiting artists a chance to exhibit, teach and learn about the powerful role art can play in an urban landscape.

Johns proudly says, “We bought a duplex across the street for artists to live and work on one side, and the other will have three studios we will rent to make the house sustainable.”

With hardly the latest program off the ground, Johns has already been talking to Elizabeth Wirls at the Episcopal Bookshop about having Caritas as one of three training sites for “Create Community,” a social entrepreneurship effort that will give impoverished people jobs by training them to make products with low-cost or recyclable products. These fair-trade items, inclusive of jewelry, glass mobiles, pocketbooks and rugs, will then be sold in area gift shops.

Much more than just art-related activities, Caritas fulfills a host of needs in its community, from after-school programs for kids to HIV testing and Latino dance, and one thing for sure is that everyone becomes an equal when they walk through the doors. According to Johns, a kid from art camp summed up the Caritas experience best when he said, “I love it here because I feel like somebody, and I don’t on the street.”

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

STREETSEEN

Renee Frazier Healthy for Good

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atching Renee Frazier peer through the McMerton Community Garden in search of tomatoes, one would only assume that she enjoys fresh produce, considering her surroundings and the company she keeps as the CEO of Healthy Memphis Common Table (HMCT), a regional health and health care improvement collaborative.

While that assumption does ring true today, almost nine years ago, Frazier’s diet was a different story, and she admits to being 50 pounds heavier. After enrolling in Weight Watchers and initiating a walking program, Frazier got her weight down, and then, she was hit with the bombshell a few years later that she had Type 2 diabetes.

“I had to rethink everything, but I have it under control,” she tells.

The need to re-evaluate their diets resonates with many Memphians plagued by diabetes and other medical issues such as obesity, but as Frazier shows, changing the outcome of one’s health is possible—a message she constantly tries to convey through programs like Diabetes for Life, which focuses on disparities in care for AfricanAmericans with diabetes, and also through coalition-building with numerous hospitals, government entities and fitness centers, to name a few HMCT partners. And, for those overweight, another reason to improve your eating habits is the fact you could save money, as Frazier notes that “it costs $1,400 more a year to buy health care services for an obese person.” She further says that obesity goes beyond our borders and has been recognized by the World Health Organization as the fifth leading cause of global deaths, so don’t get her started on the Newsweek article that named Memphis America’s fattest city earlier this year.

Frazier expresses, “I’m infuriated by the way Memphis was targeted. I don’t believe the data [Gallup’s Well-Being Index] used because other databases put us at a much different rate, and I’m not quite sure how they deciphered the data since other cities in the study they used had a higher obesity rate than Memphis’ 29.7 percent.”

Not ready to end the fight, Frazier and the numerous HMCT community partners will continue to move Memphis to become one of the healthiest U.S. cities by “making healthy choices the easy choices.” One recent accomplishment toward this goal came when HMCT endorsed the Fresh Healthy Vending machines in 11 locations across the city. After learning the average vending machine has 1.2 million calories in it, with the average snack coming in at 430 calories, HMCT saw that the Fresh Healthy Vending machines provided a healthier alternative.

Next up will be combating five zip codes in town known for their lack of healthy, affordable food options, or food deserts, by working to institute a mobile farmer’s market. A converted MATA bus will be used for the mobile market, which will be called the Green Machine. Though new to Memphis, Frazier says Chicago has had a mobile farmer’s market for five years.

“Ironically, we already have more farmers’ markets than any other county in Tennessee,” she adds. “Another bright spot is that Bicycling magazine named Memphis the most improved bike city, so I refuse to allow other people to put us down.”

By this fall, HMCT plans to publish a Healthy Eating and Active Living Report for people to see all the other bright spots on the city’s health front, but make no mistake, Frazier says, “It will take the will of the community, which I think we have, to continue on this path.”

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

STREETSEEN

Ric Chetter A New Outlet for Memphis Music

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f anyone has experience entertaining local radio audiences, it’s Ric Chetter, the deejay who once shared a morning drive-time slot with his late friend and fellow DJ John “Bad Dog” McCormack for several years. However, one group of listeners he had never brought his witty quips, offbeat humor and musical tastes to before were those of a noncommercial radio station—an outlet of expression that appealed to Chetter since it offers programming freedom and doesn’t have to comply with FCC rules and regulations. Sounding more and more like something he wanted to do, Chetter and his wife, Jo, started Pirate Radio Studios Inc., with Chetter subsequently upstarting his own Internet radio station, Radio Memphis, under the company last July.

“We do have the skull and cross bones in our logo, but we’re not like one of the pirate radio stations in the ’50s in the sense that we’re Internet-based,” Chetter says. “The funny thing though is that people keep asking if what we’re doing is legal, and it is!”

For this venture, Chetter invested his own money and taught himself how to set up a studio in the back of his Cooper-Young home, where Radio Memphis operates out of 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As for the music format, he says, “I knew it had to be something other than kids playing punk rock music in their parents’ basement, and we needed imaging, promotions and everything a successful commercial radio station needs to operate.” Since Chetter enjoys many current Memphis bands that perform around town, but aren’t often heard on the airwaves, he has opted to play only local unsigned or indie bands on his station, which can be accessed by going to radio-memphis.com or downloading one of Radio Memphis’ free smartphone apps. While any genre of music is fair game on Radio Memphis, all submissions must be original content, be radio quality/professionally recorded and basically “not suck,” according to Chetter.

He remarks, “We will play country, soul, rap, rock, heavy metal, punk and pop, and currently have 700 songs in rotation from about 500 artists. The difference is a playlist doesn’t exist because we’re on shuffle.”

Station DJs, who include Chetter, VexarDave, Jaeci King, Michael Spann, Brother Doug, Gerard “G” Jones and Dianna Fryer (also the promotions director alongside sales manager Bambi Kirk), banter with callers on their respective shows and take requests for songs, which Chetter vouches that Radio Memphis doesn’t buy or sell. Best of all, the music is unique and can’t be heard anywhere else, other than at live venues. Regular artists featured on the program include J.R. Method, Lucero, River City Tanlines, the Subteens and The Doorknobs, and many others can be seen at the New Daisy Theatre during Radio Memphis Live, the monthly shows which the station simultaneously broadcasts on its site.

Chetter says, “We’re definitely attracting an audience for music, and a substantial number of people have downloaded our apps. We’re also being heard in 72 countries, though Radio Memphis is available all over the world.”

Radio Memphis’ founder always felt that the mom and pop industry would bring back radio, but, more importantly, he wanted to have a station for “Memphis music, how it should be done.”

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

VOX POPULAR

Vox Popular Q&A with Pearson Crutcher

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RSVP: How did you become involved with the SOE?

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Crutcher: Well, I had been in community relations and fund-raising forever. I had worked for a runaway shelter here and started the program Project Safe Place. I was next out at The Bodine School as the director of development and community relations. Then, my father [Walker S. Uhlhorn Jr.] had his own alarm company, and when he sold his company, he wanted to do something else. He’d been traveling all over Europe and really came back to the U.S. and realized how important the free enterprise system was. He wanted to do something to kind of celebrate that and started the SOE in 1991. He kept telling me that I should think about working for the society, but I was very happy in the job I had at The Bodine School and thought my dad was just being nice. I was also pregnant with one of my daughters at the time, but once Jeff Webb and Ellen Rolfes encouraged me to work for the SOE, I realized they were serious about hiring me. Jeff and Ellen then scheduled a meeting with the late Willard Sparks, who agreed to serve as president. I actually was hired in 1999, so this is my 13th year.

RSVP: What are your responsibilities as executive director?

Crutcher: The best way to explain what I do is to tell you about the three different groups we have, beginning with the society’s members, who are voted on by their peers and inducted at the big black-tie dinner we do in April. When the SOE hired me, it wanted me to do more in the community, which ties into the beautiful thing about this job: the ability to create and develop different programs if I see the need. So, we started doing the Entrepreneurs Roundtable, which meets once a month. In our July meeting, we

Photos by Don Perry

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earson Crutcher has been the executive director of the Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs (SOE) for more than a decade, and she vouches that, even in the current economy, people are finding a niche and creating new businesses all the time. The SOE itself, which exists to “foster the development of the entrepreneurial spirit and to recognize the contribution of entrepreneurs to business and the community,” has a membership that has weathered the economy’s ups and downs for many years, all while building thriving companies and also aiding other Mid-Southerners with the tools to succeed in business. To point out a great example of one such successful entrepreneur and SOE Hall of Honor member, Crutcher invited RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick to the Pink Palace Museum to see the exhibit of the late Clarence Saunders and how he changed the world of grocery shopping with his Piggly Wiggly stores. Crutcher explains, “I think the entrepreneur is the heart and soul of our country, and we need to do whatever we can to educate people who want to be one. The SOE celebrates, encourages and teaches people about it.” To find out who each of the organization’s members are, visit the SOE membership wall, also at the Pink Palace.

will have Mike Bruns and Susan Mealer talking about employee engagement, retention and recognition. This is the kind of stuff that I think is so important, and when you have somebody like Mike Bruns, who was the founder and president of Comtrak Logistics, you admire him because he was so good with his employees. When he sold that company and retired, I had never seen so many people at a retirement party who so appreciated what kind of leader someone was at a company. He did things that were so easy, like he would hire somebody to come out who detailed cars, and if someone had done something good in the office, he would just take their keys and have their car detailed for them. That doesn’t cost a lot of money, and that employee loved working for him. That’s the kind of the stuff we will be talking about at that meeting. On August 23, I have Jay Martin of NSA, a direct marketing company, speaking, and on September 13, Gary Shorb will be talking.

I’ve never had anyone say they wouldn’t do it, and it’s open to anyone who owns a business. As long as people make reservations with me [e-mail pearson@soememphis.com], they can come. It’s just so nice I think to hear from a successful entrepreneur that he or she made mistakes. You know, when you’re out there operating a business, it’s affirming to know that other people have felt the same way you have. Then, we have another group that meets every month called the Insights Group. That group is usually people who I have met through the Roundtable or who have been referred to me by other people, and they have smaller businesses and may not be ready for the SOE membership, but they hopefully aspire to be at that level one day. Each one of the 15 people in the Insights Group is assigned with a mentor who is a member of the SOE. Then, once a month, the 15 in that group and

RSVP: Are members required to be mentors?

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the 15 mentors get together and share the good, the bad and the ugly.

Crutcher: No, they aren’t required to, and a lot of them are doing it anyway in other places‌I just have the best job because they want to do it.

They don’t say “no.� People make a year’s commitment to those groups, and some people have chosen to re-up and have been involved for a long time.

We actually have one—Denise Burnett, who owns O.R. Nurses—who started out by coming to the Roundtable meetings, and then she was in the Insights group. Now, she’s a member of the SOE.

RSVP: How has the SOE evolved through the years?

Crutcher: I think that it’s become more dynamic, and I

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Crutcher: I never started a business—I got my master’s in social work—but what I can do is connect people. That’s what I like to do, and I think that connecting people who are starting a business with someone who has been successful that can say “Have you thought about this or done this?� is exciting. I think the people who are out there starting businesses really need that support and the encouragement that the SOE can provide, and I think we need that entrepreneurial spirit more than ever right now because I think that it’s hard to start a business. I think we’re seeing people who think they have to start a business because there is no other option, and certainly, some very successful entrepreneurs have come about because of necessity, like if they’ve been downsized and then started their own company.

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RSVP: Being the executive director, how do you promote an entrepreneurial spirit amidst an economic downturn?

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RSVP: You had mentioned that peers nominate someone to become an SOE member, so what all is entailed in the nomination process?

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think that by hiring one person, being myself, I was able to keep the vision. Before, when they had the president, it was kind of like one would be interested in this organization, and one would want to support Junior Achievement, so there was no continuity. I do think one of my important roles is being a good steward of the organization and knowing that this is what we do, and I need to stay true to that mission. To really answer your question though, I think the organization has evolved by really having the members out there more in the community doing something. Some people have this vision that the SOE is a good ol’ boy network, but it’s a hall of honor with a mission—the people in it are doing something. It’s much more than recognizing people who have been successful. It’s those people who have been successful wanting to help other people be successful.

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(1 block east of Corky's)

Crutcher: I’ll send out a letter pretty soon, and the nominations will be due usually by the end of September.

Anyone can nominate somebody, but it’s primarily SOE members who nominate people. I love that anyone can send in a nomination though because I don’t want to overlook someone who’s doing something great. When the nominations come in, we have a membership chairman and a membership committee that will go through and look at the list. Last year, I believe we inducted five people, and we had 37 nominations. It’s very selective. The criteria for membership are that the company has to be seasoned, and the company has to be providing jobs. Then, as I mentioned earlier, the person has to have taken a risk, had a vision and have a company that’s had strategic growth. Take Jeff Webb, for example. He started his company [Varsity Spirit Corp.] out of the trunk of his car selling cheerleading uniforms. Then, he grew it and grew it.

Even a member who is a second or third generation family member in a company, like Bob McEniry, is still eligible. He took a company [nexAir] that was a certain size and grew it, from like a million in sales to I think a hundred million in sales. So, that would be the strategic

growth. Another important component of being a member in the SOE is that you have to have given back to the community. If you look at our membership list, those are the people who are involved, and I do think that’s an important key if we want to make this a better city.

RSVP: Does the SOE ever have any business owners who are partners inducted?

Crutcher: Yes, we have Robert and Susie Wang from Creative Co-Op who are members. Susan Stephenson and Chip Dudley [founders and cochairs of Independent Bank] were inducted last year. So, couples, partners and even brothers [Bob Wilson and Spence Wilson] are in the SOE. RSVP: What is one characteristic that you think most of the SOE members share?

Crutcher: Passion. I mean these guys all had an idea, and nothing slowed them down. To top it off, all of the members, which we have about 100, are so much more approachable than I would have ever thought, and they all believe in what they’re doing. This also includes all those involved in the Insights Group and the Roundtable.

RSVP: Finally, what does the SOE look for when choosing candidates for the Master Entrepreneur Award and for the Entrepreneur Hall of Honor?

Crutcher: The Master Entrepreneur Award is awarded to a member within the SOE who is basically a standout, but we don’t give it out every year. This year, it was Mike Bruns. If anyone wants to go to societyofentrepreneurs.com and check out the video under the “News� section where he was accepting the award, I think what he says is what we are. The people who are in the Hall of Honor, people like Fred Smith, Kemmons Wilson and Clarence Saunders, have changed an industry. Fred Smith changed the way we ship packages. Kemmons Wilson changed the way we travel. Clarence Saunders changed the way we shop. It’s amazing to think that all of those things we take for granted on a daily basis were created right here in Memphis.

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Live at the Garden

LIVE AT THE GARDEN

Featuring Chicago

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Doug and Susan King

Monica and Ben Townsend

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t seemed as though every Chicago fan in town came out to see them perform at Live at the Garden, the Memphis stop on the band’s 2012 World Tour. This is the second time Chicago has played during Live at the Garden, which is presented by Duncan Williams, Inc. as a fund-raiser for the Memphis Botanic Garden, and it proved to be a fabulous beginning for the 2012 concert series.

Chicago drew a record crowd—the biggest in the 11-year history of the series, said Sherry Misner, co-director.

“The response has been incredible,” Misner added.

People who purchased tables, placed directly in front of the stage, enjoyed the air-conditioned VIP tent before the show. The staff of family-owned Draper’s Catering of Memphis worked tirelessly keeping the buffet full. Featuring “fruit art,” carved by Carl Jones of Jackson, Tennessee, the spread included barbecue, hot wings, cheese, fruit and chilled asparagus, and it ended with a nacho bar with toppings to satisfy any and every taste.

Joanie Lightman looked breezy in her white cotton sundress, and Susan Vescovo, who looked cool and comfortable in her flowered frock, said she and her husband Steve enjoy the concerts because they provide a unique setting to gather with family and friends.

Susan shared, “We have a table with family. It’s nice to see old schoolmates, and you always see a lot of people you know.”

Jay Myers and his wife, Maureen, have had a table at the event for seven years. “It’s my favorite thing to do in the summer,” she revealed. Jay, founder and CEO of Interactive Solutions, often invites clients to join them. “We use it as a business tool,” Jay told.

Stan White, general manager of Classic Party Rentals, which is a charter sponsor of Live in the Garden, summed up his experience by saying, “To me, this is the premiere summer event.” “Giving back to the Botanic Garden is something we love,” added Stan’s wife, Beth.

“This is a little musical agitation we call Chicago,” announced Robert Lamm, one of the band’s founding members, as the crowd cheered. The sea of people on the lawn enjoyed the concert on blankets and in chairs. Many brought coolers and used candles, setting their own stages to enjoy the show, and since two Jumbotrons displayed the concert, everyone had a good view.

Tim and Christine Petteys

Christina and Jim Moran

Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Don Perry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Karen and David Pool

Tere and Ralph Gusmus

Debbie and David Brown

Jim and Elizabeth Duncan with Jim and Marie Duncan

Todd and Karen Perrin

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Andy McClelland, Maureen and Jay Myers, Jeremy Johnson and Trudie McClelland

Barbara and Jerry Blum

Tom Munhollen, Joy Mandelman and Wray and Neely Rodgers

Ben and Liza Blackmon

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Pamela Hauber and Steve West

Mark and Sharon Apgar

Derek and Shelly Hughes

Nat and Stephanie Hooker

Anne Wesberry, George Emerson and Susan Arney

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Anne and Michael Malone

Tommy Yates and Vicky Brown

Ragan Washburn and Jack Schlifer

Adam Devine and Jessica McManus

Wendy and Jim Ingalls

Keith and Donna Renard

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Ellen Carey and Lauren Johnson

Steven, Lisa and Bron Eaton

Travis Sheley and Holly Kavanaugh

Vicki and R.D. Singh

Brett and Lisa Childes with Sara and Brian Freed

EVENT LIVE AT THE GARDEN Sarah Jeffries and Alci Jackson

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Tracey and Chris Houston

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Parker Dinwiddie, Jeannie Jones and Carl Jones

Stueart and Pam Hudsmith

Jason and Tracy Simpson

Ken and Janice Haley

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Kristen Houser, Constance Wheeler, Kyla Griffith and Jessica Holbach

Jeanette Hollowell and Bill Nelson

Chuck and Diane Rowe

Hank and Betsy Widdop

Kim and Johnny Pitts

Cathy and Matt Struna

Jan and Ron Coleman

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EVENT LIVE AT THE GARDEN

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Bill Talbot and Shelley Ritter

Herkey and Daphne Cantu with Tripp and Margaret Monger RSVP

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Todd and Sarah Winter

Jan and Al Lyons

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RSVP ROOM VIEW Interview by Jonathan Devin | Photos by Steve Roberts

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Top: Jim Murray's modernist dining room plays off a trio of colors including the apricot of his plastic laminate cabinetry, the dark gold of a Mary Sims portrait and the bright Kelly green of his Cesca arm chairs. The coloring of the slate tile floor and the cherry table changes subtly with the light from morning to evening. Above: The silver Art Deco tea set was originally designed by Christian Fjerdingstad of Christofle in 1933 for the first class salon on the Normandie. The four-piece set mixes arcs and circles with a mirror-like finish to create a visual which is both simple and exotic.

hen Jim Murray moved into his condo in Harbor Town 12 years ago, he constructed his decor with a modernist motif and a designer’s eye. An architect for Self Tucker Architects, Murray found beauty in the simple, solid structure of the Art Deco period and well-known American designers like Frank Lloyd Wright. To that, he added the mystery and exotic beauty of his extensive Lalique crystal collection, like a large crystal block bearing a woman’s face—one of numerous originals from a crystal fountain created in Paris for the World’s Fair. His dining room became not only a gracious space in which to entertain, but a page in history where forms, shapes and themes play together joyously.

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Left: Among Murray's Lalique crystal treasures is a heavy crystal block featuring the face of a woman, which he brought home from Paris. Below:

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Murray installed cabinets across one wall of his dining room to store his china, but open shelving on both ends displays his many pieces of fine Lalique crystal, including various floral-themed bottles.

RSVP: How did you first get interested in Lalique?

Murray: I had a business partner who worked with me on restoring the Greenstone Apartments and collecting Lalique was his thing. I inherited it all from him. It represents one of the modern design movements of the 20th century. This reflects the Art Deco period from the 1920s all the way through the 1950s. It was an incredibly rich design period.

RSVP: Is that why you decided to add a wall of cabinets?

Murray: I needed a place to store the china and different serving pieces, so I designed this. I also had the Lalique crystal, so I incorporated that into a display component. It’s the same material—a high-pressure plastic laminate—and detailing that I used in all the kitchen cabinets. I originally looked at pear wood, but the laminate allowed me to do it within the budget I had set.

RSVP: Obviously, you wanted the table to be the centerpiece of the dining room.

Murray: It’s American cherry, and it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It was designed for the Island House, and it’s called the Island Table; in the corner is the chair for it. He did a series of these that became more and more elaborate. It does reflect the American Arts and Crafts movement, but with Frank Lloyd Wright’s sensibility, it’s a little edgy. All of the pieces snap together—they’re not screwed or bolted. It’s like a Japanese puzzle. The copper pieces [candlesticks and urn] are also Frank Lloyd Wright.

RSVP: Was it the color of the painting that first struck you?

Murray: It’s an early Mary Sims. She was a big deal in Memphis beginning in the early ’70s. She had three distinct periods. This was her earliest period—these really large-scale canvases with flat plains of more or less solid color and people in them, but generally in profile. If you were really in the know, you had Mary Sims paint you, your dog or your significant other. I found it at an estate sale. I had to send it to a curator to re-stretch it. When I saw the piece in my dining room, I said, “It’s got to go here.”

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RSVP: The gold along with the apricot of the table and cabinets and the green of the chairs makes for a striking trio of colors.

Murray: Those are called Cesca chairs. Marcel Breuer designed them in the 1920s. He did this upholstered version in the 1970s.

When I got them with the table, they actually played beautifully.

The greens and reds in the wood complement each other, and the soft, molded sections contrast beautifully against [the table]. I wanted them with arms because I enjoy that magical time after the meal is more or less over and the coffee is going, the cognac is flowing and people sit back and talk and sip. I wanted a really comfortable chair for that.

RSVP: I think the chandelier that’s off center of the table is interesting.

Murray: They’re called Fuscia and are by Flos, and mine’s from Achille Castiglioni (a designer). All the light fixtures throughout the house are Italian. I thought they were just beautiful. I knew I wanted to have a hanging light fixture, not just something close to the ceiling. The moment I saw it I knew it was the right piece.

RSVP: And, over on the credenza, you decided to stay with the Art Deco theme with your tea service?

Murray: The Normandie was considered the epitome of the great luxury liners of the Art Deco period. A good many of the fittings were designed by the best French artisans like Christofle, who was the famous French silversmith. He designed this, and it was the first class tea service, and it’s the wonderful 1920s Art Deco. It gives me joy every day to see it.

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Onsite I Pegasus of Germantown Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show It was all glitter and glam at the Pegasus of Germantown Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show held at the Racquet Club of Memphis. The annual event honored the Germantown Charity Horse Show queen and princesses, who of course, were the models. The luncheon began after the ladies attending had a chance to bid on the silent auction items, which featured equine items as well as many horse-themed home decor pieces and paintings. Following a light lunch, the princesses and queen were introduced while modeling their formal white ball gowns. The young ladies then strutted their stuff on the runway, sporting the latest fashions from the Shops of Saddle Creek accented with jewelry provided by Mednikow.

Jacki Lindsay, Lee Lindsay and Jenny Robichaux Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Pat Massengill, Pat Post, Jean Mathews and Jennifer Cunningham

CMOM Flashback Party

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During the Flashback Party at the Children’s Museum of Memphis, grown-ups got to have all the fun. Part of the celebration included the news that in July, CMOM was expected to receive confirmation of its certification by the American Association of Museums. As such, CMOM would become the 12th in the “Dandy Dozen,” a handful of children’s museums in the United States to receive AAM certification. CMOM CEO Dick Hackett also unveiled artist renderings of a 7,000-square-foot Splash Park that will be located beside the museum, with an emphasis on teaching children the importance of using sunscreen to prevent cancer.

Though the park won’t hold water, there will be ample opportunities for youngsters to beat the heat by splashing through a maze of sprinklers and fountains.

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40 Judy Blythe, Dick Hackett and Lauren Blythe

Tom and Salle Norton with Ron Kastner

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Brooks Grand Auction The rainy weather didn’t put a damper on the Brooks Grand Auction, the culmination of the 20th anniversary of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art’s Wine and Food Series. Valets with umbrellas escorted people to the door, where after check in they walked into the rotunda, a space filled with wine and appetizers. Guests mixed and mingled as they bid on wine in the silent auction, which was just a precursor for the hundreds of bottles of wine that were sold during the Grand Auction. Large baskets, containing a variety of cheeses, meats, jellies, bread and crackers were centered on each table so guests had plenty to nibble on as they enjoyed wine, and no glass went unfilled.

Auctioneer Jeff Morris fetched $5,000 for one rare bottle of wine, and overall, the event was a smashing success, raising more than $200,000 for the museum.

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Carol Brown and Art Weeden

Dan Kosta with Emily and Bradley Rice

Friends for Life Donor Appreciation Party The Friends for Life Donor Appreciation Party was held at the home of Drs. Baker Gross and Hunter Rittenberry.

Guests meandered through the lush grounds and enjoyed the spring scenery as well as the light buffet catered by Another Roadside Attraction. Executive director Kim Daugherty thanked donors who give their time to the organization as well as financial support. “Decreasing federal funding makes donors even more important,” she said. “When we give of ourselves, we always get something back.” Friends for Life provides service to more than 3,000 people in the Mid-South affected by HIV/AIDS and offers free HIV testing.

Dr. Baker Gross, Kim Daugherty, Bill Burtch and Dr. Hunter Rittenberry

Tim Andrew and Melinda Keller

Rachel Kohr and John Snook

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

S I N C E 1995

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30,000 copies delivered monthly throughout

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the Affluent Shopping Areas of Greater Memphis From Harbor Town to Collierville.

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LeBonAppétit

LEBONAPPÉTIT

“Great Food for a Great Cause”

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Rusty and Janice Chambers

Diane and Bob Leopold

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hrough the years, the Le Bonheur Club has helped keep the doors of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital open by hosting numerous benefits, but this past June, the club cooked up a new recipe for raising donor dollars with the introduction of LeBonAppétit. Lisa May and Denice McMahon chaired this fund-raising effort, with the backing of honorary chairs Kim and Johnny Pitts and Restaurant Iris’ Kelly English, who signed on as the chef chairman, pairing local chefs with those from noted restaurants around the country. Once Memphians caught wind of the 20 chefs slated to participate, they secured their spots at one of the finest food tastings this city has ever experienced, causing the event to sell out weeks before it took place at The Columns at One Commerce Square.

Not knowing what to expect at this inaugural affair, the roughly 500 guests could have only been blown away by the caliber of the food and wine tastings, as well as the impressive arrangements of cascading orchids and bright red tulips and beautiful vocals of our city’s own Susan Marshall. Each table even had classic white chef hats for guests to get in the spirit, but what many really wanted to have were the featured recipes, some of which were printed in the program, like the sweet and sour catfish with green tomato jam and pepper marmalade prepared by Chef Lee Richardson of Ashley’s in Little Rock.

There was definitely no lack of creativity behind the other chefs’ tastings either, with Chef Phillip Lopez of Root in New Orleans going so far as to use liquid nitrogen to create avocado Dippin’ Dots ice cream to accompany his tuna watermelon salad with chili lime vinaigrette.

Avocado also appeared in Felicia Willett of Felicia Suzanne’s recipe for mini avocado, cheddar and crab grilled cheeses, which came paired with watermelon sorbet shooters with cucumber from Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Café in St. Louis.

Interacting with guests as they approached his station, Nashan prompted them to forgo spoons when he said, “You’ve got to drink these all at once—they’re shooters after all!”

Additional participating local chefs included the following: Karen Carrier of the Beauty Shop, do Sushi and Noodles and Mollie Fontaine Lounge; José Gutierrez of River Oaks Restaurant; Erling Jensen of Erling Jensen: The Restaurant; Wally Jo and Andrew Adams of Acre; Jonathan Magallanes of Los Tortugas; Ben Smith of Tsunami; Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen; and Ryan Trimm of Sweet Grass.

Memphians can look forward to raising their forks again for Le Bonheur in 2014, when the next LeBonAppétit will be sure to shake up the local food scene even more.

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

Charles and Angela Herrin

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Baxter Buck

Kelly English and Mike Lata

Scott and Lauren Daughtry

Andrew and Meredith Irwin

Barbara Dettelbach and Caroline Moses

Melissa Craven, Kate Morrisse and Stephanie Hubbard

Karen Carrier and Nick Vergos

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Joe Tice and Tim Deck

Jon McCullers and Lauren Mitchell

Jonathan and Crystel Hardin

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Maureen O’Conner and Keith English

Susan and Jerry Edwards with Donna Moffatt

Maureen and Michael Ostien with Kate Oliver

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Jim Slaba, Alison Hammersla and Kelly Mundt

Kirk and Karen Johnston with Joe Kassen

Cheryl and Garland Sullivan

David and Deborah East

Mike and Suzanne Landruf with Bill and Jennifer Davenport

EVENT Leslie and Trey Brady

Michelle Stubbs and Amanda Mauck

Jim and Denice McMahon

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LEBONAPPÉTIT Barry and Elizabeth Gilmoret

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Brandon and Elisabeth Edwards

Greg and Nicole Lake

John and Ruby Hancock

Julie and Matt Crowl

EVENT LEBONAPPÉTIT

Tom and Debbie Stephens

Jamie and Tommy Turner

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Kristen and Bo Midgett

David and Kathleen Stern

Steve Cohen and Laurie Stark

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Kimberly Hale and Kevin Danish

Sara Kelly and Kathy Mooney

Bubba and Debbie Edwards

Greg and Carol Weidenhoffer

Peggy and LaVerne Lovell

Tim Cook and Liz Crowder

EVENT LEBONAPPÉTIT Kevin and Kim O’Donnell

Derek King and Hannah Bailey

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Ashley Pace, Alice Higdon, Daniel Reid and Sally Pace

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Marcedalia Gallegos, Jonathan Magallanes and Isabel Castro

Honey and Rudi Scheidt

Avery Powell and Lisa Haguewood

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Taste of Caribe Benefiting the International Children’s Heart Foundation

TASTE OF CARIBE

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Christopher Raines and Lydia Hyatt

Latonia Jackson and Julia Hunter

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sultry Memphis night evocative of an evening in the tropics proved the picture-perfect setting for the International Children’s Heart Foundation’s eighth annual Taste of Caribe at Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects. Nearly 200 guests turned out for the event, which was jointly sponsored by the Memphis Dermatology Clinic, P.A., the Bacardi Family Foundation, Rumba Room, Allstate, First Tennessee Bank, Havana Mix Cigar Emporium, Conway Services, XIKAR and 5ask. Complimentary Mojitos and a cocktail buffet of coconut shrimp, mixed green salad, Caribbean rice and beans and authentic Cuban sandwiches (all prepared by ICHF volunteers) set the mood for a night of enjoyment and generosity.

The silent auction garnered a lot of interest from guests and included a Southland Park gift basket, salsa dancing classes from Rumba Room, personal training studio sessions from Energy Fitness, a pen and ink drawing by Terry Twyman, David Tankersley’s illustration of the Arcade Restaurant and a Playhouse on the Square season subscription for two. A live auction conducted by RSVP’s own humor columnist Dennis Phillippi kept the crowd laughing as he urged bidders to vie for such fabulous items as a Sonoma Valley wine extravaganza, a limited edition bottle of Bacardi Rum celebrating 150 years, Memphis pro golfer Shaun Micheel’s autographed picture and passes to the FedEx St. Jude Classic golf tournament and the pièce de résistance: a luxury St. Kitts island getaway including airfare and luxury hotel accommodations.

As warm as the evening was, the entertainment was even hotter, with music furnished by Cesar Villegas and The Latin Pulse Band and salsa dance demonstrations and mini-lessons from Rumba Room dancers. The balcony above the patio served as one of two cigar lounges, with the other in the courtyard next to an ice luge donated by Bacardi.

Founded by Dr. William Novick in 1994, ICHF is dedicated to providing care for children with congenital heart disease in developing countries. Bryan Artiles, ICHF’s fund-raising, events and PR coordinator, estimated that $20,000 was raised to go toward flights and accommodations for a full team of medical volunteers on the next surgical mission trip in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Sean Carter and Martina Pavanic

Christine Motschmanwanner and Karen Guillory

Story by Ruth Cassin Photos by Baxter Buck See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Donna Redmon and Lynn Bishop

Jean Christensen and Ann Marie Cowles

Barry and Dr. Michelle Allmon

Annette and Lee Askew with Jody and Lisa Brown

Mark Sanders and Michelle Cardot

EVENT Kim Kimball and Caitlin Cameron

Maria and Kurt Vancleave

Chip and Meredith Armstrong

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TASTE OF CARIBE Climaco and Liza Martinez

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Mary Apple and Tegan Reeves

Mike and Shelley Tillman

Carol McCrudden and Jim Mertzlufft

Carolyn and Chris Cole

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Juan and Valarie Sanchez, Meredith Broadhead and Zeynep Miles

Avneet Cheema, Dawn Komoroski and Kim and Pat Donovan

Kerry and John Sneed

Joe and Caryn Artiles

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Jim and Heather Bruce

Carissa Ball, Brit Buchanan and Connie Keywood

Maggie and Richard Murff

Angie Dorsey and Prez Edwards

Keith and Sharon Williams with Marsha Silverstein and Pete Dunn

EVENT TASTE OF CARIBE Amy and Chris King

Kay and Dr. David Solomon

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Bob Hicks, David Winker and John Charles Wilson

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Ashley Ward, Nicole Fox, Valerie Smith, Jennifer Jaudon and Emily Taube

Kenny and Nicole Williamson

Paul O’Rourke and Joni Pointer

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Onsite II Par-Tee with the Gurus To raise money for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, some of the greatest golf coaches in the country came to participate in the Gurus of Golf Tournament. The kick-off event, Par-Tee with the Gurus, featured a silent and live auction at Lexus of Memphis, where food stations were positioned around the room so guests could sample dishes made by chefs who staff hospital kitchens.

“It’s the one time of year they get to show off their culinary skills outside a hospital,” said Michelle Stubbs, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital’s director of development. People enjoyed the vocal stylings of musicians “Pam & Terry,” but they took a break as auctioneer John Roebuck began drawing bids for numerous items. The auction concluded with the sale of three little red wagons (used for transporting sick children in lieu of wheelchairs), which were purchased for $7,000 each by generous hospital supporters.

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Ned Camuti, Todd Sones, Kevin Fugate and Rob Aikens

Lauren and Wes Barnett with Nancy and Ed Barnett

Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT

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The second floor above A. Schwab on Beale became a rockin’ party area for the fourth annual Beale Street Caravan BLOW OUT. Tee shirts bearing logos of various bands and other music-related party pieces were strung on clothes lines around the room, providing a festive atmosphere. Attendees enjoyed an open bar and buffet-style hors d’oeuvres as they looked over items in the silent auction, which included wine, a ukulele package with lessons from Jon Hornyak, a Mary Frances guitar handbag and a one-of-a-kind custom guitar piece by Saint Blues. The Patrick Dodd Trio entertained throughout the night with their unique sound of classic rock with blues accents, helping keep the crowd energized to raise funds for Beale Street Caravan, a noncommercial radio series hosted by Pat Mitchell Worley that brings Memphis music to the world.

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52 Pat Mitchell Worley, Devon Allman, Elizabeth Montgomery Brown and Joseph Brown

Ben Leff with Cheri and Marc Rubenstein Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

CrimeStoppers’ “Night at the Theater” For the second year, CrimeStoppers has worked with Playhouse on the Square to raise funds, this year through the show “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.” By offering the organization a reduced price for tickets, it is able to sell the tickets at regular price, with the difference going to CrimeStoppers. Ticket holders also enjoyed libations as well as a buffet catered by Coletta’s. “Both Playhouse and CrimeStoppers get a great deal,” said David Wayne Brown, a board member. “Defense begins at home. That’s the American say,” said former Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris prior to the performance, which he dedicated as a tribute to law enforcement officers.

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Terry Spark, Jean McMullen and Conrad Bromback

Helen, Chris and Lil Bird

Society of Entrepreneurs Dinner and Awards Banquet Looks like the city that spawned Holiday Inn, FedEx, AutoZone and Sun Studio still has its entrepreneurial chops. Some 450 elegantly dressed entrepreneurs and guests turned out to celebrate the Society of Entrepreneurs’ 20th anniversary, sipping cocktails while mingling in a reception area outside the U of M Holiday Inn ballroom. The event epitomized what the society does best: bring veteran entrepreneurs and newer entrepreneurs together to encourage and educate the business (and jobs!) creators of today and tomorrow. The Master Entrepreneur Award was presented to Mike Bruns, the founder of logistics giant Comtrak, which he sold in 2010. Dinner and awards were followed by more merriment and dancing to music by The Bankers–an apt name for entertaining this venturesome crowd.

Laurie Giroux, Jane Mayer and Mike Bruns

Bill and Marion Quinlen with Chip Dudley

Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker

Unveil Downtown held a Launch Party at Felicia Suzanne’s to celebrate the 20 artists who were selected out of 150 submissions for the inaugural downtown artwalk taking place in 20 restaurant and retail spaces throughout the area. In addition to artist Elisha Gold being announced as the winner of the juried exhibit, pleasant weather and a mariachi band in the twinkle-lit courtyard of Felicia Suzanne’s made this party a delightful start to the weekend. Following the launch party, the artists fanned out for their own opening receptions, and pieces artists donated for a silent auction remained for sale online for 20 days, with proceeds benefiting the Downtown Neighborhood Association.

Story and Photos by Kelly Cox

Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party

John Rich and Friends St. Jude Benefit Concert

The ninth annual Shaun Micheel Make-A-Wish Golf Classic got a rockin’ start at the world famous Rendezvous with a Pairings Party. Live music bounced off the walls as guests noshed on barbecue and those famous ribs we all love. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-South granted its 400th wish to Wish kid Wesley, who leads vocals in his heavy metal band Malesus.

Wesley’s dream of a record deal for his band came true, as the surprise was revealed during the event. Professional golfer and 2003 PGA tournament winner Shaun Micheel hosted the MakeA-Wish Golf Class at TPC Southwind the next day, helping raise more than $238,000 for Make-A-Wish.

Recording artist and “Celebrity Apprentice” winner John Rich invited some of country music’s biggest names, including Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker and Big Kenny (Rich’s other half in Big & Rich), and the highest-grossing comedian of all time, Jeff Foxworthy, to join him to perform for a good cause, that of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The affair kicked off with a VIP hour at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, where hospital supporters like Josie Loren, Tony Thomas, Pat Kerr Tigrett, Phil Donahue and Tammy Whitworth of presenting sponsor Window World, mingled.

Of the first-time event, Rich said, “My goal was to raise $1 million on ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ but it came out to $1.4 million. I wanted to do more though, so I set out to come up with a unique lineup of talent, and we’ll be happy to come back and do it again.”

Story and Photos by Maggie Giffin

Bishop Byrne alums, parents and current and former staff united at the “Raise the Roof” Fundraiser for an evening of music, barbecue, beer and margaritas.

Held inside St. Benedict’s Dining Hall, the fund-raiser took guests back to the days of school dances with entertainment by three live bands, including Jeffrey and the Pacemakers, Six Degrees and The Brohamptons, and there was even an appearance by former principal Robert Strausser. Bishop Byrne Class of ’81 alum Ron Childers of WMCTV-5 pitched in as the emcee, announcing the raffle ticket winners and encouraging guests to give generously so that Bishop Byrne’s roof can be repaired.

Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

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Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

“Raise the Roof” Fund-raiser

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Unveil Downtown Launch Party

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Onsite III

Carly Dahl and Dustyn Bork Shaun Micheel and Liz Nelson

Cathy Weirich and Ted Weirich John Rich and Tammy Whitworth

David and Mandy Lynch with David Simmons

Whitney Henry and Emily Williams

Ashley Clark and Richard McClure

Tony Thomas, Pat Kerr Tigrett and Phil Donahue

Selina Roberts, Jordan Askew and Conlee Benson

Josie Loren and Keshaun Shephard

Ciji Arnold and Kennedi Morgan

Nick Pesce and Terry Oldham

EVENT

Theatre Memphis Gala

THEATRE MEMPHIS GALA

Bringing the Big Apple to Memphis

T

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Jude Knight and Seldon Murray

Ron Olson and Joy Routt

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heatre Memphis became a replica of the Big Apple, and everyone who attended its fund-raising event was invited to take a bite. A live Lady Liberty even held her torch outside the theater to welcome all who came, and a large tent with a lavishly decorated interior served as a makeshift Sardi’s Restaurant, the landmark eatery located in the heart of the Theatre District in New York City. Resplendent with chandeliers and large centerpieces filled with stargazer lilies, the tent had a wall lined with caricatures—just like Sardi’s in NYC—completing the well-designed scene.

Inside the theater’s lobby, libations were available during a cocktail hour, and hors d’oeuvres were passed among the revelers, including Elizabeth and Jerry Marshall, Susan Labovitz and Anne Piper.

To provide a Times Square-like atmosphere, artist Andrew Chandler drew caricatures of guests passing by on their way to browse items at Theatre Memphis’ street vendor shop. Hundreds of silent auction items were available, so many that they were featured in categories including Art & Home, Collectibles, Sports, Restaurants/Food and many others. Nearby, a buffet offered warm yeast rolls, miniature lamb chops, cocktail shrimp, fresh fruit and smoked salmon with bagels already spread with cream cheese. Abe and Susan Plough, Jerry Chipman and Angela and Steve Good were among the many that enjoyed the feast. After the partygoers sated their appetites, many participated in a live auction. The final item featured was, fittingly, a trip to “The City that Never Sleeps.”

A tribute to Broadway followed that featured a George Gershwin medley. Chris Nemec, Kevin Kenny and Dr. Gary Beard, who led the group, all played grand pianos. The Gary Beard Chorale also entertained the crowd, and Cecelia Wingate and Rob Hanford, two of the stars from the musical “Chicago,” sang a few rousing tunes. Blues diva Joyce Cobb provided entertainment on the Next Stage before and after the show.

Mary and Chuck Stewart were among those who enjoyed dancing in a club-like atmosphere following the performance. Dance partners were at the ready, waiting to take unescorted patrons of the arts, for a spin around the floor. To cap it off, a sweet-tooth-satisfying dessert bar had something for everyone with delectable treats such as miniature cupcakes, cheesecakes brownies and cookies. Supporters of the theater checked out with their loot after the silent auction closed at 10:30 p.m., but they kept the party going until midnight.

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

Jonny Ballinger and Dabney Coors

Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Don Perry

Mary Jane and Jim Richens

Jessica Benton and Russ Rinehart

Stuart Turner and Lura Turner

Bill and Tressa Ogles

Andre Ward, Debbie Litch and Tom Fortner

Dan Reid and Suzanne Reid Doss

EVENT Zoe and Greg Hale

Gregg Coats and Marianne Williamson

Lana and Shawn Danko

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THEATRE MEMPHIS GALA Whitney McGuigan and Todd Stricklin

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Anita and Steven Burkett with Susan Thompson

Jorja Jolly and Chris Close

Rick Patterson and Carolyn Martin

EVENT THEATRE MEMPHIS GALA

Sarah and Dennis Norton

Ramona and John Seabold

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Doug Laurie and Mary Douglas

Lee and Annette Askew

Wendy and Stuart Kaplan

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John and Ginny Webb

Ann and Sid Friedman

Beth Campbell and Carolyn Murray

Randall Hartzog and Kristin Rapan

Justin Asher and Robin Wilcox

Tom Love and Emily Capadalis

EVENT THEATRE MEMPHIS GALA Bonnie and Nick Kourvelas

Scott Robertson, Jerry Chipman and Laurie and Greg Boller

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Dr. Richard Raichelson and Joyce Cobb

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Sam and Lesley Marks

Dorothy Kirsch and Lenore Binswanger

Teresa Hammarback, Deon Murray and Cynthia Wetmore

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Onsite IV Overton Bark Grand Opening Overton Park gained some new four-legged friends with the recent addition of Overton Bark, a 1.3-acre fenced dog park sponsored by Hollywood Feed. To celebrate, YoLo sponsored the Overton Bark Grand Opening, which started with a one-mile fun walk/dog parade and went on to include contests and prizes. The Side Street Steppers, Walrus and Wuvbirds supplied tunes for the occasion, and free YoLo yogurt and food trucks were also on hand. All proceeds went to The Streetdog Foundation and the Overton Park Conservancy.

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Erin and Kim Jenkins with “Teddy”

Memphis Symphony League Spring Luncheon The Memphis Symphony League had its Spring Luncheon at the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club. Outgoing president Billie Jean Graham gave the welcoming remarks, and then a lovely lunch of chicken salad atop avocado halves, tomato aspic, asparagus spears, a fruit medley and peppermint ice cream was served. Next, Art Seessel, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s interim CEO, gave a report on the board activities, which was most encouraging, and piano music was played by Anastasiya Popova Kirov, the wife of the MSO departing assistant conductor, Stilian Kirov. Lunch ended with the installation of officers and with Graham being given a president’s pin donated by Mednikow.

Story and Photos Submitted

Billie Jean Graham, Deanna Vaughan and Shirley Gravenor

Joy Brown Wiener, Lura Turner, Anastasiya Popova Kirov and Stilian Kirov

United Housing’s “An Evening at the Theater”

Playhouse Original Art Auction

St. Jude Dream Home® Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

United Housing (UHI) hosted its annual “An Evening at the Theatre” with dinner, a silent auction and a special showing of Noel Coward’s “Present Laughter” at Circuit Playhouse. More than 150 friends of UHI attended the event to support the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts. After sharing her story of buying her first home, UHI customer Glenda Haynes was awarded “Homeowner of the Year” by Marshall Crawford, United Housing’s NeighborWorks America relationship manager. Proceeds help UHI continue to offer affordable housing, homebuyer education, counseling and low interest rate loan products.

Once a year, Playhouse on the Square becomes known as an art mecca for those looking for original jewelry, paintings, photography, sculptures and more. Dubbed the Playhouse Original Art Auction, the event turned 35 this year and is going strong thanks to the more than 100 artists who donated their pieces for the silent and live auctions. Auctioneers Michael Detroit, Gene Katz and Mike McLaren helped make the bidding process fun, as did the cast of “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline,” which made a special appearance.

The first St. Jude Dream Home® house located in Fayette County was dedicated by Fayette County Mayor Skip Taylor during the St. Jude Dream Home Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. A crowd of about 100 clergy members, St. Jude staff, patients, local pageant winners, friends and family were present.

Southern Serenity Homes designed and built the house, while Ashley Furniture and The Curtain Exchange were responsible for the decor. The interesting thing about this house was that it was built from the slab up to withstand winds in excess of 110 miles per hour, and even better, people could purchase $100 tickets for a chance to win the house and support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Chris Neely Photography

Story Submitted Photo by Ben Rednour

Marshall Crawford, Glenda Haynes and Tim Bolding

Story and Photo Submitted

Dan and Stephanie Beasley with Diane Vescovo and Mike McLaren

Tim Tanner, Dr. Susan Aquillard, Karen Johnson and Kip Meyer

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Onsite V Secret Order of the Boll Weevils Party

and friends at the annual Princess Ball held at the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club. Servers passed through the crowd with silver trays filled with fried oysters and catfish bites, and a buffet laden with heavy hors d’oeuvres and sweets was set around the lounge for guests to enjoy as they sipped their favorite beverages. After King Michael Lightman and Queen Elizabeth Parrish made their entrance, DJ Mark Anderson spun tunes. The floor was filled with princesses dancing the night away with their escorts and sometimes with Boll Weevils, who cut in whenever possible.

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

At the Secret Order of the Boll Weevils Party at Rhitt’s on Rex, “masked” Boll Weevils wore outrageous, head-to-toe costumes of the cotton-boll-eating, giant beetles for which they are named. With adult libations aplenty, partygoers reveled to the tunes of Almost Famous until called to order for a special announcement. John Barzizza, who has presided over Carnival Memphis’ mischief-makers as “His Evil Eminence” for 10 years, announced he was passing the bar to Todd Brown. “This may be the ruination of him,” Barzizza quipped.

Todd Brown, John Barzizza and B.J. Gullet

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Carnival Memphis princesses mingled with their escorts, parents

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Chandler Lee, Cameron Cofield, Grace Peters and Staten Smith

Elizabeth Carr, Laura Gordon, Jonathan Sessions, Catherine Norton and Lele Wright

59 Michael Lightman, Elizabeth Parrish and Boll Weevil "Tom Petty"

Memphi’s Grand Ouro’s Ball

Carnival Memphis Fashion Show and Luncheon

Cotton Boll Brunch

To celebrate an outstanding Carnival season, the Mystic Society of the Memphi hosted its Grand Ouro’s Ball inside the Memphis Country Club. The purpose of the evening was to reveal the identity of the Grand Ouro, which had been a closely guarded secret throughout the year. This year, it was none other than Metcalf Crump, who, when announced, had been disguised wearing an Elvis mask as a drummer for the evening’s band. As is customary, guests wear black-tie to the event, with Memphi royalty outfitted in royal dress. The ceremony also includes the presentation of former ouros and this year’s Memphi royal court.

The Grand Krewes of Carnival Memphis headed to the Racquet Club of Memphis for the Carnival Memphis Fashion Show and Luncheon. Honoring Prince Douglas Dunlap and Princess Hillary Lindberg, the event also showcased the latest fashions from Laurelwood Shopping Center in a segment themed “Hooray for Hollywood.”

Judging by the ensembles seen on the runway, it appears that long, flowing dresses are in style, as are polka dots, sequins and metallics. Not to be overshadowed by the fashions, King Michael Lightman emphasized Carnival’s charitable aspect by saying, “We went to Porter-Leath this morning and then the Raymond Skinner Center, and yesterday, we went to CMOM and raised $200,000!”

The Carnival Memphis king and queen gathered with friends and family for a final farewell at the Cotton Boll Brunch at the historic Cotton Museum. Guests enjoyed a splendid spread of breakfast fare, buffet-style, as they sipped Mimosas and Bloody Marys at Carnival’s last event of the season. A few select items were included in a small silent auction, and Pat Kerr Tigrett was on hand with a group of her signature lace designs, made from cotton. Glasses were raised as the group bid adieu to this Carnival season. Hip Hip Hooray!

Story and Photos by Don Perry

Story and Photo by Suzanne Thompson

Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Julie Ellis and Metcalf Crump

Mike and Barton Lynch

Shali Atikinson and Amber Roettgen

Ann Newell, Mary Jones, Jill Anderson and Linda Yoakum

Carolyn, Mitch and Kelly Jo Graves with Wynn and Gwin Scott

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Princess Ball

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Onsite VI National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Banquet

MIFA’s No-Go Gala Each year, MIFA’s No-Go Gala

Eleven high school and two college football players in the Memphis area were recognized and given scholarships based on athletics, academics and community service at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Banquet at Rhodes College. The highlight of the evening came when Jim Campbell

dation and College Hall of Fame presented the Contribution to Amateur Football Award to Coach Bill Courtney for his outstanding

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assistance to the Manassas High

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of the National Football Foun-

School football team. A wonderful depiction of this story was made into the film Undefeated, which won Best Documentary Feature at the 2012 Academy

offers a unique gift for supporters and invites them to stay home and donate to MIFA instead of attending an event.

The 2012 No-Go Gala theme is an exclusive set of postcards featuring the works of local artists, so a reception and private viewing of the collection was held at Flicker Street Studio. The postcard package was mailed on the same day to more than 7,400 MIFA supporters. Contributing artists to the No-Go Gala include Elizabeth Alley, Nancy Cheairs, Maysey Craddock, Melissa

Girls Inc. Luncheon Inside the beautifully decorated lobby of the FedExForum, Girls Incorporated honored three area women who inspire young girls to be strong, smart and bold! Amy Weirich, Shelby County District Attorney, Kathy Buckman Gibson, National Girls Inc. board member and Buckman board chair, and Gina Neely, a Food Network chef, all received awards for their accomplishments in front of a crowd of more than 500 adults and a hundred girls.

During the event, Girls Inc. also recognized a few young ladies, as well as remembered Burnetta Williams, a Girls Inc. board member and FedEx treasurer who passed away in December 2011.

Story and Photos Submitted

Memphis Cotton Wives Tea The Memphis Cotton Wives honored Dorothy Dickey McManus’ 90th birthday with the Memphis Cotton Wives Tea at the King’s Daughters and Sons facility on Appling Road in Bartlett. At the tea, a $1,500 donation by the Memphis Cotton Wives was given to the Memphis City Union of the King’s Daughters and Sons.

McManus is a member of the Memphis Cotton Wives and has been a member of King’s Daughters and Sons for 57 years.

She has held offices at the local, state, national and international levels, and was recently selected for the Unsung Hero Award. As for the Memphis Cotton Wives,

Dunn, Jameson Jones, Martha

the group currently has members

Kelly, Carl Moore, Veda Reed,

in six states and is made up of

Murray Riss, Jared Small, Dolph

women who volunteer to help

Smith, TWIN, Jeane Umbreit

those in need by supporting vari-

and Erin Wright.

ous fund-raising activities.

Awards.

Story and Photo Submitted

Story and Photos Submitted

Almenia Thorton and Gina Neely

Mike Longo, Dan Gritti and Steve Ehrhart

Tony Kelly, Bill Courtney and Ryan Groves

Maysey Craddock, Karen and Murray Riss and Jeane Umbreit

Tieranny Woods and Kathy Buckman Gibson

Pam McDonnell and Nancy Cheairs

Amy Weirich and Keonna Ward

Barbara Smith, Dorothy McManus and Nancy Walker

AFTER HOURS

After Hours A photo collage of the latest business happenings

Kooky Canuck Seventh Anniversary Party

“Art on the Sidewalk” Benefit for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital at The Shops of Saddle Creek

James Davis Fish Fry

Linda Hill Rob Joyner and Josh Pastner

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Lana and Shawn Danko

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Bo Abbay and KK Weinberg

The Blowout Grand Opening

Joe Gordon and Cody Walker

Hardin Powell and Warner Gregory Daphne and Herkey Cantu

Cameron Voipe, Molly Gwattney, Jordan Kessle and Dana Pobalate

Kelly Glynn, Grace Cantu and Jennifer Jones

Don DeWeese, R.C. Johnson, Al LaRocca and Romeo Khazen

43 Hovercraft

44 “Crying in the ______”

46 Game official

47 Murky

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49 Double agents

51 Check out books again

54 Resources

57 United States

59 Exchange

62 National capital

64 Restaurant dinner listing

66 Screamerʼs throat dangler

68 Doing nothing 69 Prays

cl a ssy

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7 Hormone 8 Lamb

9 Elvisʼ alma mater 10 Hold

11 Bridegroom attender 12 Alight

13 Fencing sword 21 Topper

23 Princess Jasmineʼs tiger 26 Type of peace prize 28 Headed

30 Hamburger holder 31 Bad smells

33 Remove from office

55 Render able 56 Name of ~

57 Convex shape 58 Dreamer 60 Deceive

61 Otherwise 63 Search

65 Ship initials 67 Help

azz!

34 Want

35 Dictation (abbr.)

36 Yearn

For underwriting information, call 901-678-2560 Visit us online at wumr wumr.memphis.edu .memphis.edu

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53 Falter

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40 Frozen water

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5 Behind

52 Burst out

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50 Eastern Standard Time

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3 Relating to the hearing

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73 At bay

72 Mined metals

G R O O M S M A N

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37 Set up in a new manner

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70 Elvisʼ favorite soft drink

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Edited by Ruth Cassin

S E E R

The King

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RSVP Crossword

RSV PHILLIPPI

By Dennis Phillippi

HOLY ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY

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few years ago at the CooperYoung Festival, I spotted a red rotary dial telephone and had to have it. Yes, that’s right, I own a Batphone. It’s been one of my favorite oddities to have sitting around the house, and people of my generation get a huge kick out of it.

That’s the fun part.

Here’s the not fun part. A couple of weeks ago, a friend’s college-aged kid was over, and he pointed at my nifty tchotchke and said, “What’s that?” I replied that it was a Batphone, which earned me a blank stare. Then, I said it was a telephone, and he all but called me a liar. I explained that it was an old rotary dial phone, and he, of course, had no idea what I was talking about. I said that when I was young there was no such thing as touch tone phones, to which he replied, “What’s touch tone?” I sighed theatrically and said, “Buttons.” He naturally asked how we texted. When I said that we didn’t text back then, that, in fact, there was no e-mail, no Internet and no cable television, there was a look of revulsion on his face that is difficult to describe. He was aghast. He reacted as if I’d said that I grew up in a Viet Cong prison camp or alongside a toxic waste dump. To prove that I wasn’t making this up, I plugged the Batphone into a wall jack and tried to use it. As it turns out, the phone system doesn’t even recognize rotary dial signals anymore. He looked at me as if I had failed to pull off a magic trick. You can see how that was the not fun part.

Understand, young people, just a few decades ago all telephones plugged into the wall. In fact, most families had one, and at most two, telephones. Usually, the phone was in a central location, most likely in the kitchen, where it hung on the wall with an intractably tangled cord to the handset. The handset was the part you put up to your head, and, yes, it was attached to the phone by a spiral cord. In my household, and in virtually every other household, the cord to the handset on the main phone could stretch a couple of

dozen feet so that older sisters could jaw with boys on the phone for hours with some degree of privacy from blackmail plotting little brothers. Having a sister meant never having the chance to use the telephone. It also meant never receiving any phone calls at the house because, believe it or not, when someone was on the phone anyone trying to call would hear what we called a “busy signal,” which was a beeping that announced that the receiving phone was in use. Brace yourselves youngsters, there was no call waiting. No one in the ’60s ever said, “Hang on, I have another call.”

In my household, and in virtually every other household, the cord to the handset on the main phone could stretch a couple of dozen feet so that older sisters could jaw with boys on the phone for hours with some degree of privacy from blackmail plotting little brothers.

The rotary dial was organized in a counterclockwise circle with one being the first number, zero being the last and nine being the penultimate number. Any mistake in dialing meant hanging up and beginning again. If someone had been drinking, that presented an almost insurmountable challenge. There was no pocket dialing in that era.

In most cases, there was a second phone, and it was almost always in the parents’ bedroom. This was a restricted access phone. It was not available in our house for “privacy.” It was our parents’ phone. We all snuck in to use it, or in my case, to surreptitiously listen to my sisters in my never-ending search for a tactical advantage. If you picked up the second phone, or “extension,” slowly enough, you could listen in to the conversation on the other phone. I was caught once doing this by my sister, Dawn, who was talking to her boyfriend’s brother, and she beat me to a pulp with my own Stretch Armstrong.

It’s hard to imagine a world with such primitive communication. Flip back through this magazine and contemplate this: Every single person, with the exception of a few old cranks, in these pictures has a telephone on him or her. All of the men have one in a pocket. All of the women have one in a purse. Every one of them has had “phone panic” when they thought they may have lost their phone.

Every one of them compulsively checks their phone any time someone else does.

In the ’60s, this is a world that no one imagined. It’s one of the biggest things that science fiction missed. The most groundbreaking science fiction books and movies never envisioned cell phones, much less smartphones. Think about how much simpler things would’ve been for the characters in Blade Runner or Star Wars could’ve just made a cell phone call. Yes, they had a lot of radio headphones, but they were still radios. “Star Trek” had communicators, but they didn’t have any buttons. Captain Kirk could’ve used the ability to text all the time.

I know people who wish we could go back to a simpler time, and that’s a bunch of hooey. Waiting at home, by the phone, for a call back from a girl was the worst. Hours of flipping through all four TV channels while she made you stew in your own juice was a nightmare. Inevitably, your patience would run short, and you’d call her, which was sad and desperate and needy, and you could just hear in her mother’s voice that she knew it. Thank god there was no Caller ID because if her dad answered I hung up as fast as I could.

It wasn’t a simpler time. It was a stupider time. If you disagree with me, then just take out your smartphone and text me about it, tweet about it or send me an email. Even better, send my editor an email, and you’ll be proving my point for me.

Dennis Phillippi, you’ve outdone yourself once again with a hysterical trip down memory lane, back to the time of rotary phones. We just hope your feelings weren’t too hurt when you unsuccessfully tried to show your friend’s son that your rotary phone still worked. Next time, call in David Copperfield…get it, call in? From now on, we’ll leave the jokes to you.

RSVPAST

Fraternizing in High School

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he Alpha Beta Chapter of Theta Kappa Omega of 60 years ago consisted of male students from area high schools. Member Bill Raiford recalls several members who went on to do great things, like the late Kirk Fordice (pictured above as vice president), who went on to become the governor of Mississippi, and John Bull (pictured above as corresponding secretary), a Navy carrier-based fighter pilot who became a Centurion (a pilot with more than 100 carrier landings) prior to retirement.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM H. “BILL� RAIFORD If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105 or e-mail the photo and caption to editor@rsvpmagazine.com All photos will be returned promptly.

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

Weddings must have taken place during 2012.