March 2011
Grizz Gala Cirque du CMOM Memphis Heart Gala Memphi Mid-Winter Ball Q&A with Roquita Coleman
CONTENTS
Contents March 201 1
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Recently appointed Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich invites RSVP into her new office.
RSVP Watch List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Gardeners get ready with these items because spring is upon us.
16 MEMPHIS HEART GALA Janice and Ed Richter
Memphis Heart Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 The “Heart of Rock and Soul” was found at the American Heart Association’s annual gala at The Peabody.
36 CIRQUE DU CMOM Elizabeth Blondis and Roger Sapp
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22, 24 & 28 When sending a thank-you to Le Bonheur wouldn’t suffice, this man came up with an idea to
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stock the hospital’s Bunny Lane. He’s about to take the Midtown Memphis music scene to a new level. The president of the state’s Ornithological Society doesn’t think twice about traversing the globe to see hard-to-find birds. StreetSeens spotlight John Thompson, Brandon
Herrington and Dick Preston.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
4 RSVP
Q&A with the president of the Memphis World Trade Club, Roquita Coleman.
22 STREETSEEN John Thompson
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34, 47 & 49 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
Cirque du CMOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
40 MEMPHI MID-WINTER BALL Toni and David Halle
The Children’s Museum of Memphis was transformed into an adult play land for its Vegasthemed soiree.
Memphi Mid-Winter Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 The Mystic Society of Memphi partied under the guise of birdlike masks in tribute to “The Royal Aviary” theme.
Grizz Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Memphis Grizzlies fans and players headed to Tunica for a fun-filled fund-raiser for the Memphis Grizzlies House at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
30 VOX POPULAR Roquita Coleman
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Be An Athletic Supporter Dennis Phillippi brings out the best in Memphis sports this month.
Cover Photo Drs. Chad and Julie Webster at Memphis Heart Gala Photo by Don Perry
44 GRIZZ GALA Brian Ridenhour and Colleen Finn
Volume XVI
Number VI
March 201 1 PUBLISHER
Roy Haithcock EDITOR
Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ruth Cassin Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi Lesley Young ART DIRECTOR
Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS
Nathan Berry Baxter Buck Don Perry Steve Roberts SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
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Libby Huff ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Chris Pugh ACCOUNTING
Ruth Cassin
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From the Editor
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Photo by Steve Roberts
t’s funny. When the March issue started coming together, I noticed an underlying theme that wasn’t intentional, but somehow fitting considering the upcoming change of seasons. Everything related to birds (not the crazy kind in the Alfred Hitchcock movie) kept popping up in the magazine, from the bird feeder (recycled from milk cartons!) shown in the Watch List on page 14 to the StreetSeen on page 28 about the president of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Even the Memphi Mid-Winter Ball, featured on page 40, boasted “The Royal Aviary” theme, which meant lots of guests decked out in surreal bird masks, feathered gowns and single-feather boutonnieres. Each of the bird references got me thinking about the sky, for some reason or another. In particular, I was thinking how much Memphis weather reminded me of the six months when I lived in London, where there was nary a trace of sun or blue sky for most of the winter. Somehow, the lack of sunlight didn’t bother me across the pond, maybe because I filled my days with sightseeing and restaurant hopping knowing my time there was limited. Of course, I was also forewarned about London’s infamous gloomy weather, but in Memphis, constantly overcast skies and random bouts of snow are things I wasn’t prepared for the last few months. I mean, Memphis is supposed to be a fairly warm and sunny city, isn’t it? Well, at least the people are always warm. What I’m really hoping is that by the time this issue comes out, we’ll all be basking in sun-kissed days while lying in hammocks—pure heaven. And, if I have it my way, I’ll be taking my first trip to the Caribbean sooner rather than later, being that I turn the big 3-0 at the end of the month and have never been anywhere tropical (Florida and California don’t count because they’re not islands.). Any suggestions for a great Caribbean hotspot, just e-mail them my way. Go ahead and live it up in March by attending one of many fabulous upcoming parties, such as the Stax Museum’s Staxtacular party on March 18, the Dixon’s Young at Art ARTini party on March 25 and the American Cancer Society’s Zodiac Ball on March 26 (full listings on these and more at rsvpmagazine.com/eventcalendar). You won’t have to convince me to celebrate this month!
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Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com
Shelby County District Attorney General
Stress outlet: Running. First concert: Bob Dylan. Favorite author: Jane Austen. First job: Cashier at Seessel’s. Ideal vacation spot: A cabin on a lake. Your greatest achievement: My children. Your mantra: If it’s necessary, it is possible. Personal heroes: My husband and four kids. Things you can’t live without: Pen and paper. Favorite album: “Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1.” Guilty pleasure: One hour alone in a T.J. Maxx. Movie you could watch over and over again: Elf. Favorite Memphis musician: Chuck Weirich (my husband). Where you take out-of-town guests: Central BBQ and the Greenline. Childhood ambition: Exactly what I’m doing— career prosecutor, wife, mother. Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome: I’m still doing it—juggling family and career. Hobby: Tennis—I have played most of my life, but I just don’t have the time now to play as often as I would like.
Photo by Steve Roberts
SIGNATURE MEMPHIS M A R C H 2 0 11 RSVP
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Amy Weirich
K I T T I E fashion
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1 Belleair Dr. Deborah Mays
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Mary Jane Fuller
Natalie Latham
Stephanie Evans Taylor
Mark Duke
Ellie Tayloe Bennett 371 N. River Oaks Rd. $995,000 Debbie Rodda 312-2977
Mary Ruleman
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We are delighted to welcome these 13 fine agents to Hobson from Coleman-Etter, Fontaine Camilla Brinner
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558 Sweetbriar Jenny Grehan
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360 River View Rd. Denise Ware
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3784 Highland Park Pl. $355,000 Meredith McDonald 312-2940 Paul McDonald 312-2957
9600 Andorra Valley Cv. $399,500 Denise Ware 312-2943
Teresa Wherry
3268 Duke Circle Meredith McDonald Paul McDonald
2266 Tunis Cove Denise Ware
Pam Pierce
$699,000 312-2940 312-2957
$139,900 312-2943
Janis Canale Hasen
Elizabeth Scott
RSVP WATCH LIST
GARDEN GOODS SPRUCE UP YOUR GARDEN AREA WITH THESE ITEMS,
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SPRUCE UP YOUR GARDEN AREA WITH THESE ITEMS, AND YOUR FRIENDS WILL BE GREEN WITH ENVY.
Clockwise from top right: Kalikia Outdoor Pillow by Summer Classics-$50 at Ken Rash’s (901-458-7541); 10-inch Hand Trowel by Bosmere-$4.99 at Dan West Garden Center on Poplar (901-767-6743); Come in the Garden Sign-$32.50 at Terri Hannah Home & Garden (901-257-2965); Laguiole Nature Collection Pruning Shears with Apron by Kiss That Frog-$48 at Ménage Fine Stationery & Gifts (901-683-6809); EcoTough Series Bird Feeder by Wild Birds Unlimited-$44.99 at Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop (901-6819837); Plaid Pattern Konika Pot by Brothers Potteries-$11 at Rachel’s Flowers and Gifts (901-324-2137); 7-inch Yellow Primrose Bush by Home Accents-$22 at Terri Hannah Home & Garden (901-257-2965)
P h ot o b y Na t h a n B er r y
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The Curtain Exchange E of Memp Memphis phis 418 Perkins P Extended
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EVENT
Memphis Heart Gala “Heart of Rock and Soul”
MEMPHIS HEART GALA
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Drs. Brooke and Dwight Dishman
Jared and Stacy Montegut
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ebruary is a fitting month for matters of the heart, and not only in a flowery Valentine’s Day way. February is American Heart Month, and the 2011 Memphis Heart Gala provided locals with one fantastic date night. This year’s gala, benefiting the American Heart Association, was held in the heart of downtown at The Peabody hotel and was presented by Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, FedEx, the Memphis Heart Clinic, Oracle, the Baptist Heart Institute and Air Evac Lifeteam. The event was chaired by Dr. Robert and Dianne Laster and emceed by George Klein. Themed the “Heart of Rock and Soul,” the fund-raiser honored music legend Ben Cauley. Cauley is “a survivor in every sense of the word,” said Cynthia Brewer, of the American Heart Association. He was a founding member of the enduring Stax recording sensation the Bar-Kays, and he is the only passenger who lived to tell the haunting tale of the 1967 flight that killed Otis Redding and seven others, including the airplane’s pilot. And, more recently, he survived a massive stroke that might have felled him. But on the stage at this event, he brought his trumpet to his lips and brought the house down. Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, run rampant in people throughout the country, but Memphis fares particularly poorly in statistical comparisons. In support of the cause, a number of stunning women donned red for the Heart Gala, including Anneliese Szatkowski, wife of Dr. Arie Szatkowski, who wore a column gown worthy of the red carpet. Rachel Siddall dazzled in a one-shouldered, below-the-knee satin sheath. Cauley, too, honored the occasion with a red fedora. Students of the Stax Music Academy, where a Ben Cauley Honorary Scholarship was recently endowed, gave the bash a dose of that homegrown Memphis sound, and soul revue Party Planet saw to it that all 520 guests—a sold-out crowd—danced their hearts out.
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Leslie and Alper Cetingok
Story by Kelly Cox Photos by Don Perry
Jennifer and Stacey Brown
Bridgett and Will Routt
Michelle Huggins and Paul Westfield
Brittany and Brenton Montgomery
Kevin Kane, George Klein and Steve Conley
Dr. Arie and Anneliese Szatkowski
EVENT MEMPHIS HEART GALA M A R C H 2 0 11
Doyle and Eddie Jean Childress
Lisa and Robert Massa
Michael and Kim Sharp
Kelly Jo and Mitch Graves
Steve and Lisa Taylor
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Glenda and Gary Shorb
Emily Lowery and Joel Long
Drs. Purvisha and Dharmesh Patel
Rachel Spiegel and Alex Miller
Mandy and Chirag Chauhan
Jim and Linda Porterfield
EVENT MEMPHIS HEART GALA M A R C H 2 0 11
David and Penney Williams with Cynthia and George Mayzell
Amanda Dean and Cassidy Modanlou
Stacie and Markus Winkler
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Judy Spiegel, James Alexander, Bob and Diane Laster and Cynthia Brewer
Indra and Marty Klauss
Cathy and Robert Huffman
Two tickets to the Orpheum $100 gift card for dinner at The Avenue $500 in gift cards to The Avenue retailers of your choice (up to 3) #1 Enter by Uploading Photos to Facebook by March 20 Do you cringe looking back at your high school prom photos? Do you ever wish you could turn back time and do it all over again? Now’s your chance. Upload your favorite prom photo showing your bad formal attire and/or hairstyle to facebook.com/avenuecarriagecrossing before March 20 at 5 PM CST.
#2 Vote March 21 – 27 From March 21 – 27, fans can vote for the individual who they think deserves the Second Chance Prom Package.
#3 Winner Announced March 28 Voting ends March 27, 2011. Winner will be announced via Facebook on March 28. For complete contest rules, visit The Avenue Carriage Crossing’s Facebook page.
Give & Save this prom season Visit facebook.com/avenuecarriagecrossing to learn how you can make prom special for someone deserving by donating your gently worn formal dresses and receive a $50 Glitter & Glam gift card.
Glitter & Glam Boutique
% 10OFF
shoes & jewelry with purchase of prom dress Valid at The Avenue Carriage Crossing location only from February 28 – March 18, 2011.
facebook.com/avenuecarriagecrossing
carriagecrossing.shoptheavenue.com
Bill Morris Parkway and Houston Levee Road in Collierville
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Second ChanceProm
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The TheAvenue’s Avenue’s
STREETSEEN
John Thompson More Than a Toy Story
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hristmas has passed, but the time for gathering toys for the patients of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital has not. John Thompson, an area realtor who has headed up a toy drive for the hospital’s Bunny Lane (sponsored by the Le Bonheur Club and formerly called the Bunny Room) for the past 10 years, ensures that stuffed animals, quilts, toys and the like are always in ready supply for children undergoing surgery, no matter the season. Though the heaviest push occurs around the winter holidays, the campaign has become yearlong, with the first batch of donations coming in around Easter this year thanks to the efforts of Boy Scout Troop #257 that meets at Central Church (Call 901-734-3771 for more details). To date, the drive, which Thompson says wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of family, friends and sponsors, has raised more than $100,000 in kid-friendly items and financial contributions for Le Bonheur. When the drive began, Thompson never imagined it would get such a huge response, with each drive outdoing the previous one. “It was never my intent that each drive get bigger, and I know some year it will get smaller, but if I just raised one toy, I’d be happy,” Thompson muses. From day one, the fund-raiser has been about one thing: thanking the professionals at Le Bonheur for saving lives, specifically that of Thompson’s daughter, Rachel. Going back 15 years ago, Rachel, then age 3, and Thompson’s wife, Lynn, were in an automobile accident that left Rachel with a serious head injury and Lynn’s back hurt. Thompson adds he is fortunate that even in Lynn’s state of pain, she managed to tell paramedics to take Rachel to Le Bonheur, where doctors were able to save the couple’s child, now a thriving 18year-old college student. He says, “Anything I’ve done pales in comparison to what Memphis paramedics, the Le Bonheur staff and friends did for us during those three weeks of hell. How do you thank someone anyway for the life of your daughter?” While Thompson doesn’t expect an answer to that question, he does expect to continue his quest to repay the hospital through the toy fund-raiser, which he’s found cuts across all avenues of life when it comes to the types of donors. Many regular contributors have signed on, so much so that friends come to Thompson without him having to ask. He’s also grateful for longtime supporters like Elsie Smith, a member of Sharon Baptist Church who has macular degeneration and crochets bears, and the quilters at Covington United Methodist Church who donate 200-250 quilts a year. Briarcrest Christian School, real estate firms, banks and the Army National Guard in Jackson, Tennessee have all taken part as well through the years. “Even when I get tired, I know that thousands of people will keep accomplishing this drive,” he says. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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Brandon Herrington Turning Up the Volume
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randon Herrington has been keen on the Midtown Memphis music scene long before it was praised by The New York Times last year for its strong presence of local bands and hip venues. As a musician (He’s played in bands for 10 years, most recently in This Is Goodbye.) and spectator, Herrington has participated in both sides of the landscape, ultimately realizing he wanted to build on the talent he witnessed. Enter the Fareveller Music Festival—an idea Herrington had for Memphis for a while, but that he ironically delved deeper into while on a getaway. “I was sitting on a cabin porch in Heber Springs, Arkansas when I met Jonathan Kirkscey, a Memphis Symphony Orchestra cellist and also a member of the band Mouserocket,” Herrington tells. “I thought how weird it was that I had to go to Heber to meet him, so then I began thinking for a way for other people in bands to meet back in Memphis.” Herrington soon began planning Fareveller (named after a song from his old band Dora), a festival he hoped would foster the intermingling of local bands that don’t cross paths often and that would embrace talented out-of-town groups having trouble breaking into the scene here. As for the atmosphere, he wanted a good indie music feel inclusive of genres ranging from rock and punk to electronica. Luckily, Herrington could consult his friend Seth Fein, founder of a similar project in Champaign, Illinois called the Pygmalion Music Festival, for more detailed specifics. “When I talked to Seth, he told me to come up for Pygmalion in September [2010] to see how it worked and to go ahead and pick a date for my festival,” Herrington says. Herrington wisely scheduled Fareveller for March 24-26, which is the weekend following the famed South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. The closeness in dates enabled Herrington and Fein, who was enlisted as Fareveller’s talent buyer, to pick up nine SXSW acts, a few of which include Damien Jurado, Morning Teleportation and Young Buffalo. Herrington considers Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, Chase Pagan and the Rocketboys other Fareveller headliners in a lineup otherwise comprised of roughly 60-70 percent local artists like Grace Askew, Star & Micey, Jeremy Stanfill, Pezz and the Subteens. Booked to hit the Hi-Tone Cafe, Newby’s, the P and H Cafe and Young Avenue Deli, the Fareveller Music Festival will take some 2,000 estimated attendees on a three-day jaunt through one of the city’s coolest assets: authentic music. It’s no wonder that the festival slogan is “Live Music for You and Yours.” Go ahead, turn up the volume! Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
STREETSEEN
Dick Preston Going to the Birds
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s long as he can remember, Dick Preston has had his eyes trained on the sky searching for any and every kind of feathered creature. In fact, he remains determined to see 7,500 bird species before he dies, and he just might succeed. As a former Marine and an avid traveler who will visit his 53rd and 54th countries (Kenya and Tanzania) in May, Preston has been fortunate to visit the top six countries for endemic species, which included seeing some endangered birds like the Hyacinth Macaw in Brazil and Bourke’s Parrot in Australia, to name a few. When pondering what led him to this point, he laughs, “I guess everything has been meant to be when it comes to birds, considering that the first badge I ever got through Boys Scouts was the Bird Study Merit Badge.” All this birding experience and a passion for conservation and preservation makes him an ideal fit for the president of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, a role that has him overseeing roughly 750 members from 11 statewide chapters. Locally, Preston’s an active member and past president of the Memphis Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, where he focuses on engaging every member equally, from the professional ornithologist to the backyard birder. Regular activities include monthly meetings at Lichterman Nature Center and bird hikes, or field trips, to places like Shelby Farms, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park and the ponds, fields and forest around the city’s EARTH Complex; in March, the group will head to Brinkley, Arkansas to try and spot the ivory-billed woodpecker, once thought extinct. The chapter also sometimes provides speakers for area events associated with holidays like International Migratory Bird Day and Earth Day, in addition to participating in Christmas Bird Counts, Breeding Bird Surveys, Point Counts, the Midwinter Eagle Survey and Roadside Raptor Surveys. “We get requests a lot from government and nongovernment agencies to use our data for management purposes,” notes Preston. “People should know that for every one serious researcher, there are 1,000 volunteers behind him.” Preston adds that whether or not a birder is collecting data for a survey or going on a casual nature walk, he or she should own binoculars. His Leica binoculars cost about $2,000, but he says a decent pair runs as low as $25. “My binoculars have fallen to the bottom of the Wolf River and still been okay, and they won’t fog up if I’m in a rain forest, but most people don’t go to places like that, so they don’t need expensive binoculars,” he offers. He maintains that the hardest part about birding is that it’s done by ear, which makes for difficult viewing for those without knowledge of songs and calls, not to mention that birds are shy and easily concealed in the forest. However, the Carolina Chickadee, one of the nine endemic species in the continental U.S., is a bird most Memphians can readily see in their backyard. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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Vox Popular Q&A with Roquita Coleman
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RSVP: Can you tell me about the programming the Memphis World Trade Club does?
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Coleman: It’s a lot of networking events, and there are monthly meetings that are educational. What we try to do is determine what the market wants to hear. For example, what is it that users of freight and users of logistics as a whole need to know about regulation, security, cargo business and major trade lanes? Or, overall what is the city doing to attract more businesses into the city and to enable the businesses that we have already to flow more seamlessly? Our monthly meetings are designed to answer those questions for the market. So, I started attending those events in 2007, and at the time, we had Carey Treadwell as the president, and he pulled me aside and said, “We’d really like to get a younger membership.” I mean, the club is 64 years old! I started as a board member, which allowed me to start helping out with monthly meetings, getting speakers in and helping out with events. After being a board member for two years, someone recommended that I put my name in the hat to be second vice president, which is a position you have to be nominated by the general membership for. Currently, I’m the club’s president. RSVP: How many members does the MWTC have at the moment? Coleman: We have an active membership of about 170 people. Our membership is spread out because it’s more based on companies who have stake ownership in Memphis as a trade business center. To become a member, you fill out an application online at memphisworldtradeclub.com, and it goes before the board once a month for a vote. We vote to accept members based on the stipulation they have an impact on the international community as a contributor or participant of international trade, and secondarily, we look for members who want to participate in the club and be a part of the growth of Memphis as a trade center. RSVP: How does the MWTC fare compared to other international
trade clubs in the country?
Photos by Don Perry
f Roquita Coleman doesn’t accomplish anything this year, she does promise to be a direct support to the economic development efforts of Memphis. As president of the Memphis World Trade Club, she not only seems to be holding steadfast to her objective in her personal time, but professionally, she’s doing the same as a solutions manager with CN Supply Chain Solutions. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met up with Coleman at CN Railroad’s office in Memphis for an amazing tour of the company’s observation tower, which offers views of nearly 100 rail lines in one spot, and more importantly, to get informed about how the MWTC is helping build Memphis’ trade presence on the international front.
Coleman: Where we fare highly is the cost of our events. We do more than $100,000 in conferences and events. Our Multi Modal Conference and Port Night have been significant events just by numbers. Our Multi Modal Conference—this year called the Southeast Freight Conference—will attract 400-500 people, and Port Night historically has 700-1,000 attendees. These two events are also single-handedly the largest events for the logistics market here. Now, the Airport Cities Conference on April 11-13 may blow that out of the market, but for the past 60 years, Port Night has been the largest logistics event and is the only real gathering for logistics professionals. RSVP: What are some of the more unique aspects of the club you want Memphians to know about? Coleman: The one I’m most proud of is our connectivity to the city’s aerotropolis concept. Memphis is one of the few cities that has the title of an aerotropolis, and it’s associated with the multi-modal assets that we have. We’re the biggest cargo airport, the third busiest truck corridor, the third largest rail center with five Class 1 railroads and the fourth largest inland port. So, to have that connectivity and to strategically plan events that support and further that cause is probably one of the things I think is most beneficial. For example, as a result of us emerging as an aerotropolis, you now have Mayor Wharton who has gone to Shanghai and attracted the city to the Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition, which is expected to attract hundreds of people from airport executives, business leaders, folks on the regulation and litigation side and overall stakeholders in the city. Well, our March event is a prelude to the Airport Cities Conference, so we’ve worked with the Memphis Regional Chamber, the city and its economic development team and Arnold Perl, who is the chairman of the Memphis: America’s Aerotropolis initiative, to have this Memphis Aerotropolis-themed meeting on
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March 15. This meeting will highlight what the Memphis Aerotroplis means in terms of real freight and in terms of real businesses coming into our city. RSVP: What are some of the specific ways that the MWTC promotes international trade?
RSVP: What are people’s reactions when they see a major port, like the Port of New Orleans, for the first time? Coleman: They’re in awe. It’s overwhelming, and it’s not anything you can imagine, especially how it looks to see the vessels coming in with all of this cargo on them. For both companies who move freight and for the beneficial owners of that freight, it gives you a different respect for what has to happen in order for a prod-
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Coleman: Monthly events are absolutely necessary because they allow us to provide some education for the industry. We have the Southeast Freight Conference, which is unique to this market. It is very focused on enabling trade through the U.S. and how Memphis supports global trade. This event will be October 6 at The Peabody hotel, followed by Port Night that evening. Another thing the club does is offer port tours. Every other year, we actually take a group of people down to the Port of New Orleans to tour the port, to meet major vendors in the area, to talk to warehousemen and to make connections between the Memphis and New Orleans market. We are also intending to do that in other major markets that we have trade relationships with, such as Savannah and Charleston. Another way we promote international logistics is coming in May, when we support Memphis in May by having our meeting scheduled such that the country that’s honored, which is Belgium, will be part of our meeting. We’re working right now with the Port of Antwerp delegates to have a coluncheon and meeting with the delegates.
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uct to move and for it to flow seamlessly. Everything has to work! The train gets there, and the product is unloaded from the train and then it moves through some warehouse where it’s next being loaded onto a container. The interesting part is it’s not like an environment where one company owns the process. Multiple companies have to participate in the process, and it has to work even though there are separate companies. So, if I move product from Memphis to South America, I have to trust that when the truck driver picks that container up from my yard, that it’s going to get to the CN yard. Then, once it hits the CN train, I have to trust that the train is going to get to New Orleans. Once it gets there, I have to trust that someone is going to take that box off and put it on a ship. With this, there are multiple levels of accountability. RSVP: What is the link between New Orleans and the CN Railroad?
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Coleman: New Orleans has definitely been a major trade partner for us. CN’s coast-to-coast network extends basically from the Pacific Ocean off of British Columbia to the Atlantic Ocean and Nova Scotia, and it comes down through the seam of the U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans. The connection between Memphis and New Orleans is that the CN Railroad is the primary rail line that serves that gateway. RSVP: If the CN Railroad didn’t come through Memphis, how do you think that would affect the city?
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DINING LODGING SPECIAL EVENTS
Coleman: The impact would mean more trucks on the road, which means more congestion and less fuel efficiency. For all practical reasons, there are three to four trucks per rail car. So, you can imagine if you take out 100 rail cars, there are now 400 trucks that have to go on the highways. Really, our market couldn’t support that. Having CN come through Memphis also allows us to better connect to the world because when you think about the Memphis market, we have the ability to go northbound or southbound, taking product clear up through the entirety of North America. RSVP: Who are some of Memphis’ key trading partners?
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Coleman: Of course, New Orleans and Georgia ports are big, and then with the other railways, such as the BNSF, you’re going to have places like Long Beach, California for products coming from Asia. When you start looking at the Asian market, the connectivity here is going to come in two ways. It’s going to come in via Prince Rupert in Canada, or it’s going to come in on the West Coast via Tacoma, Seattle or Long Beach. Right now, China continues to be a huge consumption market for us, and we’re importing a lot and moving a lot of stuff back out. From Memphis, you have a couple of ways to get there efficiently. You have Memphis northbound over the Port of Vancouver or out of the Port of Prince Rupert, or
it’s going to go out of Long Beach. To Europe, you’re going to go over to Savannah or Charleston, and you may go as far north as New York or the Port of Halifax. Ultimately, the better we connect with international markets, the more companies we attract to this city. RSVP: Is there any new programming on the horizon for the MWTC? Coleman: The Southeast Freight Conference, which I talked about earlier, is new, and the other thing that’s fairly new is we do a scholarship through the University of Memphis for their international business program. The scholarship enables a student to receive $2,500 to be used toward the fulfillment of their program. That scholarship has been named in the honor of Nell Baugh, who has been a very long-time supporter and probably the glue of the club for a number of years. In conjunction with that scholarship, we’ve decided we want not only to hand that check over to the University of Memphis, but we want to have an active mentoring program, where we invite students of the university under the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, specifically international business, to come to our monthly events and connect with our business leaders and look at the people they meet as prospective employers. This mentoring program also hopefully gives us future leaders in the Memphis World Trade Club. We’ll kick off the program during our Nell Baugh Scholarship Golf Tournament on June 11 at the Memphis National Golf Club. RSVP: If there’s one thing you want to impress upon Memphians that the MWTC does, what would that be? Memphis: That regardless of what your level of participation is in your own company logistically, there is an opportunity to have a real involvement in Memphis logistics. I say that because you have a lot of people in logistics here that have jobs they consider mundane or where they don’t feel like they’re significant contributors to the company. The Memphis World Trade Club is that opportunity to do more up and beyond your everyday duties and to have real visibility for yourself personally.
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Christmas Give-Back Gala English Speaking Union Christmas Dinner Attorneys for Change Holiday Party A Grassroots Gala and Banquet the first-ever a, benefiting St. Jude TChheCilhdrSrienstnam’ps4aRs10eGsFievaoeru-cBnhadcHaktoiGosnpailtpresented al and the American
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Tamra Allcock and Bryan Plunk at Attorneys for Change Holiday Party
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Paul and Janet Ross at Attorneys for Change Holiday Party
Gloria and Ed Felsenthal at English Speaking Union Christmas Dinner
Diabetes Association, at Esplanade Memphis. Tables bedecked in everything glittery made the room appear as a winter wonderland and provided the perfect backdrop for festivities chock full of entertainment by the Thomas Project Dance Ensemble, the Central High School Choir and D’Monet. Terrance Bates of ABC24 News served as emcee for the evening that also included a silent auction, dancing and a message from the foundation’s president, Crystelle Hunter. Of course the speeches were eloquent at the English Speaking Union Christmas Dinner, but what made for an unrivaled evening was the music. While enjoying a seated dinner at the University Club, members of the 91-year-old local ESU branch were treated to piano performances by Rene Koopman that included songs from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” with accompaniment by bassist Tim Goodwin. And if that didn’t lift the spirits, Geordy Wells delighted all with old-time carols. The ESU promotes scholarship and the advancement of knowledge through educational programs, scholarships and cultural activities for students and adults. In 1997, Judge Tim Dwyer had the idea to help nonviolent adult offenders with drug-related charges by entering them in a drug treatment program, and formed the Shelby County Drug Court Foundation. With a 37 percent recidivism rate, the court offers treatment to those who may not otherwise have an opportunity for it, with the goal of returning productive citizens to their communities. To say thanks to helping hands and to raise funds for the program, Dwyer and his board held the Attorneys for Change Holiday Party at the Clark Opera Memphis Center, where guests enjoyed a spread of towering cupcakes, trays of fudge, shrimp and grits and other delectables. “These attorneys are down there at 201 Poplar all day helping people, so we want to help them,” said event coordinator Tamra Allcock. The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center turned 29 this year, and to celebrate, the organization did what it does best–served the community. At A Grassroots Gala and Banquet, held at center headquarters inside First Congregational Church, the nonprofit brought in special guest Van Jones, former green jobs advisor to President Obama, to inspire the crowd to have hope and take action in the community. While dining on a buffet-style dinner by Just for Lunch, guests oftentimes laughed, and sometimes even cried, as Jones shared his anecdotes and energized the attentive group. Attendees were also treated to an introduction of Jones by Congressman Steve Cohen and were entertained by Amy Lavere’s jazzy sound. Themed Living the Legacy of Nonviolence,” the event took “L place the weekend before Martin Luther King Day.
Shiloh Barnat, Ron McDonald and Susan Penn at A Grassroots Gala and Banquet
Laura Sullivan, Linda Sullivan and Cody Mathis at A Grassroots Gala and Banquet
Barbara Lester and Leatrice Lester at A Grassroots Gala and Banquet
Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and Lesley Young
Rob Horrell with Gretchen and Charles Reaves at English Speaking Union Christmas Dinner
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Cirque du CMOM
CIRQUE DU CMOM
“Viva! Las Vegas!”
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Justin and Casey Lawhead
Hollie and Brad Federman
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ou know the saying: “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Well, that phrase most recently applied to the 794 attendees of the Children’s Museum of Memphis annual blowout, Cirque du CMOM, aptly themed “Viva! Las Vegas!” From over-the-top performers to casino-friendly décor, this party delivered a hefty dose of fun centered around a city often called the Entertainment Capital of the World. Flanked by giant spotlights shining into the night sky, the CMOM entrance packed a punch with museum supporters, who sensed they had arrived at a special hotspot. Once inside, attendees began letting loose by grabbing cocktails from several bars sponsored by anonymous donors, and then heading over to the Chapel of Love for “shotgun weddings” administered by a man in a powder blue tuxedo, complete with a ruffled shirt. Nearby, Gigi’s Cupcakes had set up a cupcake tower, which was a great alternative to traditional wedding cake for those beaming newlyweds. It almost seemed that the rest of the nibbles spread throughout the venue were part of a giant reception buffet…that is, if you served wedding guests cuisine from 14 restaurants/vendors and had a gambling-related ice sculpture. Oh yeah, amorous guests could also put a ring on it thanks to Mednikow’s collection of David Yurman jewelry that was so conveniently located underneath an oversized ring cut-out; Mednikow donated 20 percent of proceeds to CMOM. The entertainment rocked as well, beginning with an ariel performance courtesy of Kelsey Morrison, Val Russell and Thomas Woodley. Gary Johns belted out some classic tunes in the hallway, which was crammed with the likes of a faux Elvis, someone dressed like the Alan Garner character (baby strapped to his chest and all) from The Hangover and probably a few more stars. The real treat of the evening was the re-creation of the Horseshoe Tunica’s PUSH nightclub inside the museum. For the beginning of the party, the space served as a VIP party for those affiliated with iBERIABANK, Cirque’s title sponsor, but later, the club opened up for all patrons. Deejay Mark Anderson and PUSH dancers first set the pace for the dance floor, but soon enough, everyone began finding their own grooves. Party people didn’t leave empty-handed either, as they made unforgettable memories while celebrating the ongoing greatness of CMOM—a museum that brings adults out to play for one night so that children have the joy of playing in an educational environment always. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Bonnie and Kurt Voldeng
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Bill and Rene Platten
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Mark and Anne French
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Memphi Mid-Winter Ball “The Royal Aviary”
N Jon and Susan Thompson
Dianne and Brad Champlin
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othing lights the chilled pallor of winter like a mystery. In early February, the Mystic Society of Memphi recreated the atmosphere of The Masked Ball, minus the murder, but with all the hidden smiles and colorful costumery, for an evening of revelry and revelations. The Memphis Country Club was the setting for the grand MidWinter Ball, an annual affair since 1935. Couples gathered in the club’s warm foyer to be welcomed out of a frozen yet starry night by a line of hosts. Fur wraps and overcoats quickly gave way to tuxedos and ball gowns, and the most extravagant of masks were donned. This year’s theme, “The Royal Aviary,” was a revival of the original ball in 1871, another masked affair. Cocktails were served as guests milled in the shadowy hallways and lounges until dinner was announced in the country club’s dining room, which had been decked in Carnival flair with even more masks in Champagne glasses and towering hurricane glasses in the centerpieces. An elegant six-course dinner awaited, but afterward the real fun began. In a ceremony following dinner, the six duchesses of Memphi’s royal court were revealed to the membership at large. More than 300 witnessed the naming of the six who will serve as Memphi’s representatives at the other Grand Krewes’ coronations and at Carnival itself. Their names had been kept under lock and key until the ball. Still under wraps are the names of this year’s King, or Ouro, and his Queen, who will be revealed at future events. However, the presence of both was felt as messages from the two esteemed monarchs were read periodically throughout the coronation. If the traditions sound complex to those outside of the krewe scene, organizers point out that Memphi has been a Memphis tradition since 1871, participating actively in Carnival Memphis alongside other clubs of Memphis. The ball is funded by the group itself, not sponsors, but Memphi’s board of directors said the feat could not have been accomplished without the efforts of its Court of 2011: Summer and Cecil Godman, Ellie and Tim Bakelaar, Kristi and Bill McCann, Kim and Andy MacQueen, Amy and David Turner and Donna and Mike McManus. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Pam Montesi and Mimi Taylor
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Kay and Jim Liles
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Carl and Trish Ring
Kelly and Christopher Lamberson
John and Tammy Golwen with Michelle and John Snowden
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Dr. Roger W. Price and Cathy Simpson
Summer and Cecil Godman
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Kim and Andy MacQueen
Lesley and Frank Colvett with Weetie Whittemore
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MEMPHI MID-WINTER BALL
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Grizz Gala
GRIZZ GALA
Benefiting the Grizzlies House at St. Jude
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Nenad and Tonya Lukic
Lana and Shawn Danko
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f there are two things that bring our local charitable folks together, it would definitely be the love of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. So, how much better could it get than the second annual Grizz Gala to benefit the Memphis Grizzlies House at St. Jude? Not much, according to the sold-out crowd who attended the gala held at the Gold Strike Casino Resort the weekend before Valentine’s Day. Guests were greeted by the Grizz Girls and made their way through a hall transformed into a midway featuring carnival and arcade games, a face painting station and NBA and Grizz-related silent auction goodies. Inside the ballroom, Grizzlies players attired in not their usual court wear, but in suits and ties, were the perfect hosts as they signed autographs and had their photographs made with enthusiastic fans. An abundant array of other silent auction items was up for grabs, with the bidding started early and never letting up until closing time. The Gold Strike culinary team outdid themselves with a variety of food stations such as seafood, pastas, Asian, fajitas, Creole, mashed potatoes, carved meats and delectable desserts, of which it seemed patrons could not get enough. Grizz favorite Rudy Gay opened the program, followed by remarks from Greg Campbell, president of business operations for the Grizzlies, George Goldhoff, general manager of Gold Strike and Richard Shadyac, CEO of ALSAC. Lindsay Wilkerson, a former St. Jude patient and now a healthy, happy mother of two, addressed her experiences at and love for the St. Jude community. Then, Pete Pranica, play-by-play broadcast announcer for the Grizzlies, served as auctioneer for a live auction highlighted by a golf outing at TPC Southwind with Grizz Coach Lionel Hollins, an NCAA men’s basketball party with Mike Conley and Darrell Arthur and a road trip with the team to their games against the Portland Trailblazers and the Los Angeles Clippers, all of which inspired heavy bidding. Rounding out the evening was the entertaining “indie hip-hop” band SpeakerboXX, which kept the dance floor crowded until its final song. Campbell could not have been more pleased, saying that, “The second annual Grizz Gala was a resounding success that most importantly gave our organization and fans the opportunity to support the Grizzlies House at St. Jude. Thanks to the help of our hosts at the Gold Strike Casino Resort, the sellout crowd was able to enjoy an event that we expect to continue to grow each year.” See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Xavier Henry and Barbara Henry
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Laura and Scott Motley
Karen and Fred Sliney
Rudy Gay and Ecko Wray
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Matt and Christina Tumbleson
EVENT GRIZZ GALA Kim and Cooper Moore
Kenny and Nicole Williamson
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Amy Lunati and Mary Ellen Morgan
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Trey and Angela Moore with Mary and Tony Armstrong
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Tiara Tea Society’s High Tea Dinner and Divas VI SHIELD, Inc. 10th Anniversary Party Memphis Heritage Calendar Release Party
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Stacie Waddell and Shelby County Mayor Luttrell at Memphis Heritage Calendar Release Party
Story Submitted and by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos Submitted and by Ben Fant and Brenda Kremser Shun Mosby and Kay Crutcher at Dinner and Divas VI
Kim and Derek M. Talbird at Dinner and Divas VI
Eva Lynn Bishop, Linda Richardson and Suzi Lonergan at Tiara Tea Society’s High Tea
James Taylor III, Tim and Dee Dotson and Trevor K. Thompson at Dinner and Divas VI
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Kenny Blankenship and Carole Shanklin at SHIELD, Inc. 10th Anniversary Party
Robert Taylor, June West and Jim Murray at Memphis Heritage Calendar Release Party
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Valerie Bobo and Phyllis Fickling at SHIELD, Inc. 10th Anniversary Party
eauty was the order of the day for Judeline Jean, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at the Tiara Tea Society’s High Tea. After the 2010 earthquake left her buried in the rubble of her home, suffering an amputated leg and severe damage to two other limbs, Jean deserved a day of pampering by V-Bella De Cor and Unique Boutique prior to her coronation by the Tiara Tea Society at Chez Philippe. Her doctor, Dr. Bruch Minkin, a native Memphian, joined in the celebration, as did the Men’s Chamber Chorus and Valerie Calhoun, the mistress of ceremonies. Dinner and Divas VI offered guests a departure from the normal fund-raiser by offering a unique dinner theater experience. Inner City South, a spoken word and performance art duo, hosted the affair at the Memphis Marriott East, where guests were also treated to a silent auction featuring some of the city’s most talented artists. Proceeds benefited the Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee. Memphis Heritage threw its 2011 Calendar Release Party at none other than South Main’s Arcade, the city’s oldest café, dating back to 1919. Members of the historical preservation group, as well as invited guests and filmmakers, made an appearance at the occasion that doubled as a fund-raiser for Memphis Heritage and a tribute to the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission for its 25 years of service. Helping the homeless in the city of Memphis is no small feat, but one local organization has managed to hold steadfast to its mission for a decade and counting. This accomplishment was celebrated late last year during the SHIELD, Inc. 10th Anniversary Party at Memphis Botanic Garden. More than 300 attendees came out for the formal gala, which turned out to be the nonprofit’s largest fund-raiser to date.
Judeline Jean at Tiara Tea Society’s High Tea
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s I write this, the Memphis Tigers basketball team is 18-6, with seven regular season games left to play before the CUSA tournament. A little quick math will tell you just how late I’m turning this column in, but that’s beside the point. The Tigers have won 18 games already and should easily cruise past the 20-win mark before the tournament. They have done this under the leadership of the seventh youngest coach in Division I and with the seventh youngest team in Division I, and yet people are complaining. Honest, the other night I heard yet another casual sports fan with strong opinions, one of our most troublesome creatures, calling for Josh Pastner’s head, saying he doesn’t show enough leadership because, and I’m not making this up, Pastner refuses to curse. I’ll spare you even a paraphrased version of this diatribe, but in essence, he was saying that being a nice guy who won’t allow himself to scream invective at his players made Pastner unqualified to coach the Tigers. At least I have one thing over the coach since I was perfectly happy to curse at this individual, which apparently makes me better qualified to lead the team. Let’s get some historical perspective. In the years immediately preceding John Calipari’s tenure, the Tigers were averaging 15 wins a season, a number already eclipsed by Pastner. Did we as a city become so spoiled in those Calipari years that we’re dissatisfied with a team this young that will almost certainly win more than 20 games? Are we now so jaded that we will overlook the fact that Pastner has sent three different players we all considered bad citizens packing and has yanked the chain on another star player, all because he expects this to be a program of which we can be proud, and instead wish for the glory days of a dirty coach who managed to get a Final Four season erased from the record books entirely? Calipari’s time here was fun in a lot of ways. We got to watch some great players achieve great things, all while wearing Tiger blue, but we all secretly knew that shenanigans were going on, and we all swallowed a little bile when some of those players turned out to be rotten people. Cal’s last season, with superstar renta-player Tyreke Evans, made me feel like I
needed a shower after the games. Now the Tigers have a coach who is not just a good coach, but is also a good guy. There are 347 Division I schools, and I guarantee you, there are more than 300 that can’t say that. What we need here is a little more patience and a little less amnesia. The Tigers will lose one senior, Will Coleman, after this season, and none of the other players are ready for the NBA or
Cal’s last season, with superstar rent-aplayer Tyreke Evans, made me feel like I needed a shower after the games. have a bunch of knuckleheads around them telling them to transfer. That means next year will be better than this year, and in case you haven’t noticed, for a very young team, this has been a pretty good year. Recently, I was in the same neighborhood watering hole when yet another casual sports fan malcontent mused, “Why do the Grizzlies always have to suck?” This genius asked this question when the Grizzlies were down two in a game against Orlando which the Grizz went on to win. Right now, the Grizzlies have 28 wins, with nearly 30 games left to play. Unless Hasheem Thabeet gets a lot more playing time, the Grizz will pass last year’s record of 40 wins, which was a huge improvement on the year before. It’s not unrealistic at all to think the Grizzlies could snare that eighth and final play-off spot, and maybe get a win or two. Lionel Hollins may not be a particularly press-friendly guy, but he’s got the Grizzlies believing they can win big games, and then going out and actually doing so. The addition, or re-addi-
tion, of former Grizzlies headache Jason Williams may have some impact, probably negative, but sometimes you just have to accept that owners of major league franchises are very rich and occasionally like to do crazy things. Trust me, it’s better than having a Jerry Jones or Dan Gilbert goofing things up. Now, I’m not going to try to make a pre-emptive case for the future of the Tigers football team—that would be looney. The Tigers got lucky with one incredible player in DeAngelo Williams and his contentment here. That kind of lightning doesn’t strike often in the middle of SEC country, but Larry Porter’s recruiting class is said to be better than it’s been in a long time, and that’s at least an improvement. Even if the football team is another disaster, tailgating at the new Tiger Row is a blast. Have enough draft beer, and you won’t be too broken up by a loss to SMU. So, the state of the Memphis Sports scene at this moment? From what I can see, it’s nothing but better days ahead. Memphians are prone to seeing the very worst where our city is concerned, and if you’re just looking at the near term and looking at the past with the right tint to your glasses, that’s what you’re going to see. The Tigers basketball team and football team have been better in the past. The same is true of the Grizzlies. But here’s the thing, all of them have also been much worse. Okay, maybe not Tigers football, but the other two have been truly terrible and aren’t now. They’re actually pretty good. The next time you hear a Memphian bellyaching about Memphis sports, just tell them to calm down, be patient and maybe consider getting a new hobby or different friends. Stop tearing things down just because it’s more fun to complain than to support. Anyone can whine, it takes guts to stand by our teams in the face of belligerence. Remember this the next time you’re faced with a doom and gloomer, most people are stupid. Don’t be one of them.
Right on, Dennis Phillippi! Can you please be the stand-in for the Grizz and Tigers’ mascots? We would suggest you be a cheerleader, but we know you’re not a fan of short skirts and hairy legs.
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Wishing Carols Make-A-Wish Benefit Gold Tag Wine and Art Reception Memphis Brewfest Winter Warmer Gallery 10 Opening Reception Christmas carols gets everyone in the mood for “the most wonderful time of the year,” but havHingearing them sung by “American Idol’s” Keia Johnson or
Sam Lee and Brenda Buckman at Memphis Brewfest Winter Warmer
Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and Lesley Young Thomas Whitehead and Jessica Jackson at Memphis Brewfest Winter Warmer
Fred Asbury and Patty Simon at Gallery 10 Opening Reception
Wain Poole with Mildred and Richard Schiff at Gallery 10 Opening Reception
John and Catrina Guttery, Pat Mitchell Worley and Bassa at Wishing Carols Make-A-Wish Benefit
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Pam Cobb, Terri Panitz and Dee Dee Gauthier at Gold Tag Wine and Art Reception
Jina Gentleman and Audra Bares at Memphis Brewfest Winter Warmer
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Amy Lindeman and Kim Pitts at Gold Tag Wine and Art Reception
BET’s “106 & Park” winner Jessica Ray is a wish come true. Thanks to C3 Production, these and several other musicians and local celebrities came together at the Jack Robinson Gallery for the Wishing Carols Make-AWish Benefit, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-South. In addition to the crowd being serenaded by Ryan Peel and Jackson Ave., guest speakers Shelby County Commissioner Justin Ford and Dr. Eric Winston of the Memphis Theological Seminary also made an appearance. Snacks were provided by Saved by the Platter, and by the end of the night, everyone was “rocking around the Christmas tree.” Nearly 100 attendees came out for the Le Bonheur Club Gold Tag Fund Drive kick-off for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Called the Gold Tag Wine and Art Reception, the event unfolded at the Clark Opera Memphis Center with an array of fabulous art (for purchase) by artists like Dee Dee Gauthier and Pam Cobb, and from Terri Panitz’s gallery, DCI Gallery. During the evening, Deanna Phillips, Dena Soefker, Debra Connor, Stacy Montegut and Kelsey Panitz modeled fashions by Kittie Kyle, while guests eagerly picked up door prizes from Folk’s Folly, Dinstuhl’s and Russell Brothers Jewelers, to name a few. Sandra Miller provided the live music. Organizers of the Memphis Brewfest channeled the popularity of the event’s debut last spring by offering a kick-off, also known as the Memphis Brewfest Winter Warmer, to the main event scheduled for April 16 at AutoZone Park. Some 800 Memphians responded to the invite by heading down to Central Train Station for unlimited one-ounce samplings of more than 75 brews ranging from Highland Gaelic Ale to Wild Goose IPA. By the last sip, $7,500 had been raised for Cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. WKNO supporters united for the annual Gallery 10 Opening Reception at the WKNO Digital Media Center. Several of the artists amongst the crowd at WKNO’s art auction more than happily informed onlookers about their creations. For instance, Mildred Schiff, told about her 27-year history as a jewelry maker, and Patty Simon, proudly showed off her mixed media piece titled “Autumn Jewels.” Items were auctioned off on WKNO at a later date, with proceeds furthering the station’s public broadcasts in the MidSouth.
Isaac Daniel, Keia Johnson and Tony B. Dickerson at Wishing Carols Make-A-Wish Benefit
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Family Vacation
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1963
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here’s nothing better than seeing a mother and daughter bonding, especially on vacation. That’s exactly the sentiment expressed in this photo of Jo Williams and her daughter, Kristin (Williams) Ammons, on a trip to Florida in October 1963. If you look closely, you can even make out the Holiday Inn sign reflected in Jo’s sunglasses. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB WILLIAMS 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.
Rinaldo Grisanti 1890-1966 Elfo Grisanti 1914-1975 Rinaldo Grisanti 1939-
Fresh seafood selections for your dining pleasure during Lent.
- Chef Rinaldo Grisanti C.W.C, Sommelier
RONNIE GRISANTI established 1909
2855 Poplar Ave • 901.552.3050
Monday-Saturday • 5:00-until • Reservations Accepted
Pasta ala Elfo Tuna Puttanesca Fruiti di Mare Sea Scallops Shrimp Cocktails Oysters Grisanti Linguini in Clam Sauce Sea Bass Crab Cakes
Tickets $90 {If purchased by April 1} | VIP Tickets $150
Featuring our favorite local restaurants including: Spindini, Owen Brennanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Memphis Pizza CafĂŠ, Amerigo, Sole, Interim, Frank Grisantiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Ciao Bella & more, over 60 different wines, a silent auction and live musical entertainment by DJ Raiford. 2011 HOST COMMITTEE Rachel McAteer & Grayson Pruitt Autumn & Chris Chastain Jenny & Bubba Ezzell Marcus Grandberry Kimberly & Larkin Grisanti Pearse Hedgepeth Joanna & Josh Lipman Hardin Powell Lynn & Jonathan Rowe Jessica Sappenfield Chris Shelton Chrissie & David Tashie Melanie & Kerr Tigrett Leah & Judson Williford
BROOKS UNCORKED / FRIDAY, APRIL 15
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART MEMPHISWINEANDFOODSERIES.ORG / 901.544.6209
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With generous suppor t from: Morr is Auction Group | Athens Distr ibuting Co. of Tennessee | Delta Wholesale Liquors Southwester n Beverage Distr ibuting | Star Distr ibutors | United Liquors | The Victor L. Robilio Company | Kitchens Unlimited Community Partners: ArtsMemphis, Hyde Family Foundations, Tennessee Arts Commission, The Jeniam Foundation, & AutoZone