RSVP Magazine February 2009

February

2009

Liberty Bowl President s' Gala Les Passees Cabaret Ball Subsidium Carrousel of Shoppes Preview Party Orpheum Auction Gala Q&A with Willy Bearden

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CONTENTS

Contents February 2009

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Dr. Benjamin Hooks One of the nation’s renowned civil rights leaders recently retired from the pulpit, but his inspiration still resonates with the masses.

Liberty Bowl Presidents’ Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

12 LIBERTY BOWL PRESIDENTS’ GALA Scotty and Nancy Todd

More than 800 elegantly clad guests arrived at The Peabody hotel to honor the AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s 50th anniversary and to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Q&A with esteemed writer and filmmaker Willy Bearden.

28 LES PASSEES CABARET BALL Carmen Bond and Kim Pitts

FEBRUARY 2009

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 & 26 He reserves his palate for vino as president of one of the area’s longest-running tasting circles. As executive director of the Animal Protection Association, she has a mission to tame the local pet overpopulation problem. StreetSeens highlight Rich Martin and Amy Kalkbrenner.

4

Les Passees, Inc. celebrated a successful year raising funds for Les Passees Kids on the Block, Memphis Elite All-Stars, MIFA’s City Kitchen and the John Calipari Basketball School, at a formal ball inside the Memphis Hilton.

RSVP

Les Passees Cabaret Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

24 STREETSEEN Rich Martin

RSVPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 A trek across the city’s party landscape.

Subsidium Carrousel of Shoppes Preview Party . . .36 Shopping for a cause has become a holiday tradition at Subsidium Inc.’s preview party benefiting the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf at Agricenter International.

36 SUBSIDIUM CARROUSEL OF SHOPPES PREVIEW PARTY Will and Paige Irby

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38, 40, 46 & 49 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

Orpheum Auction Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 “Sold” was the catchphrase at the 30th anniversary of the city’s premier theatre gala.

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

26

It Was a Super Year While secretly wearing his favorite Batman boxers, Dennis Phillippi critiques movies about heroes boasting surreal powers.

STREETSEEN Amy Kalkbrenner

42 ORPHEUM AUCTION GALA Brad and Lindsey Doby

Cover Photo Arnie Birmingham and Debbie Jacobson at Les Passees Cabaret Ball Photo by Don Perry

Volume XIV

Number V

February 2009 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ruth Cassin Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi Lesley Young ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS

FEBRUARY 2009

Roy Haithcock Don Perry Steve Roberts SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Toni Ander son ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

6 RSVP

Libby Huff ACCOUNTING

Ruth Cassin

RSVP Memphis is published monthly by Haithcock Communications, Inc. First class subscriptions are available for $50.00 per year.

Send name and address with a check to: Haithcock Communications, Inc. 2282 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38104

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Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785. e-mail editor@rsvpmagazine.com Copyright 2009 Haithcock Communications, Inc.

FEBRUARY 2009 Javier is a regular teenager. He plays soccer and basketball and even helps his mom in the kitchen occasionally. But it wasn’t long ago that Javier was so sick that he needed a liver transplant to save his life. Thankfully, Le Bonheur Children’s was there. He got the transplant and continues to receive the follow-up care he still needs.

As the number of children we care for grows, Le Bonheur must grow, too. That’s why we’re building a new hospital – one designed for children like Javier whose lives truly depend on it. With your support, we can continue to provide the exceptional care they deserve and build a brighter future for the children of the Mid-South and beyond.

A Common Thread of Exceptional Care lebonheur.org

Not-For-Profit Organization

RSVP

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FEBRUARY 2009

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From the Editor

B

y the time this issue goes to press, the nation will hopefully be reaping the benefits of new leadership. I, personally, am preparing to attend a local inauguration party to join in the celebration and can’t wait to hear stories from my friends in D.C. Though the president’s legacy has only just begun, his promise for a revitalized national identity has already become a universal anthem.

In light of this momentous occasion, I feel blessed to have recently shared the company of Dr. Benjamin Hooks, one of the many civil rights leaders who helped make equal opportunities possible for all. I met Dr. Hooks in his home, which resembled a museum with its historical timeline of photos and newspaper clippings. As I scanned the photos, I realized Dr. Hooks had attended several former presidents’ inaugurations, and his wife mentioned she hoped the two of them would be able to attend that of President Obama. Ever gracious, Dr. Hooks welcomed the opportunity to appear in our Signature Memphis section (on page 10), and even had a few ideas for his photo shoot, thanks to childhood days spent in a dark room.

The Vox Popular feature (on page 18) highlights another man making history. Perhaps best known for his documentaries on everything Memphis, Willy Bearden has a mission to spread the word about the unique individuals, the rich ethnic makeup and the historical significance the Delta has at home and abroad. So, stay tuned for The Delta, a two-hour documentary that will mark Bearden’s first theatrical release.

Though unintentional, I selected two people for the StreetSeens features who have a Valentine’s Day connection.

One savors wine, and the other adores pets, but both of their loves would make a perfect holiday gift. Turn to pages 24 and 26, respectively, to get the full story on the president of the Noble Rot Wine Club and the executive director of the Animal Protection Association.

Without further ado, I leave you this month with a quote by Helen Keller, who said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.� To me, this timeless message summarizes the current national sentiment and our optimistic future.

Photo by Steve Roberts

O u r Regional Our Regional H Headquarters’ eadquarters’ S Sales ales Professionals closed 1,581 home sales MI LL I O N in 2008! for $248 MILLION Congratulations to these Quail Hollow Sales Leaders:

Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

Civil Rights Leader/Executive Director of the NA ACP (1977 -1992)/Retired Pastor and Law yer

Personal hero: My father.

Hobby/Stress outlet: Reading.

First job: Helping my father in a photo studio.

Childhood ambition: Preacher, lawyer and teacher.

Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome: Not being able to speak in public.

Last book you’ve read: The Final Days by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward.

Where you take out -of- town guests: The National Civil Rights Museum and Alcenia’s.

photo by Steve Roberts

SIGNATURE MEMPHIS FEBRUARY 2009 RSVP

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Dr. Benjamin Hooks

EVENT

The Liberty Bowl

THE LIBERTY BOWL

Presidents’ Gal a

T

FEBRUARY 2009

Tara Osseck and George Handwerker

Celeste and Mike Longo

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he face-off between East Carolina University (ECU) and the University of Kentucky (UK) football teams at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl was anything but tame, and the Presidents’ Gala was where all the action began. Held at The Peabody hotel, the black-tie affair proved especially memorable for those who have been Liberty Bowl supporters for 50 years.

The festivities, which helped raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, commenced with a cocktail hour in the Continental Ballroom, where Hudson and Saleeby performed popular tunes like “Walking in Memphis.” Ladies and gents next headed into the Memphis Ballroom for a special welcome by Mayor A C Wharton. Harold Graeter resumed his role as the gala’s master of ceremonies and thanked all for attending a Mid-South football tradition that embraces “winning and success.” Steve Ehrhart, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl executive director, had the privilege of presenting honorary guests Jennifer Holtz (wife of ECU football coach Skip Holtz), Karen Brooks (wife of UK football coach Rich Brooks) and Miss AutoZone Liberty Bowl 2008, Sarah Dupuy, to name a few.

Attendee Gretchen Reaves enthused, “I have a really fun time at the gala because different people always attend each year.”

During dinner, the Andy Childs Orchestra played Memphis hits, but the headline performance belonged to Tennessee’s own Sara Evans. Mike Longo, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl president, introduced the country star to anxious fans, who quickly cleared the front of the ballroom for a dance party. Evans, a St. Jude supporter, was also awarded the 2008 Outstanding Achievement Award for her charitable contributions.

After the show, guests had the option of dancing to more tunes by the Andy Childs Orchestra or enjoying coffee, laces and music by René Koopman in the Continental Ballroom. One would have never suspected that the game’s kickoff was less than 24 hours away with the gala lasting until the wee hours, but golden anniversaries don’t come around too often either.

Jill and Jack Taylor

Alexander Wharton and LaToya Gerald

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Monica Burnette and Fredrick Davis

Craig and Kim Fraser

Elliot Hughes and Amy Goodman

John and Judy Oros with Hayden and Kevin Kane

Ann Eichhold and Joe Novello

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EVENT THE LIBERTY BOWL FEBRUARY 2009

Stacy Edgeworth and Damon Young

Seth Jewell and Chelsea Rose

Jon and Courtney Neal

Angie and Jonathan Hackmeyer

Nathan Rose and Mary Ashley Seabrook

Mayor A C and Ruby Wharton

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Amanda and Chris Cox

Benny and Shirley Scott

Miss AutoZone Liberty Bowl Sara Dupuy

Monica and Andre Wharton

Jessica Throneberry and Ericka Morton

Kate Pera and Bobby Lanier

Joelle Bradshaw and Mike Scholl

EVENT Ross Pickle and Anna Hurst

Jeany and Anthony Dionne

Liz and Lloyd Thomas

FEBRUARY 2009

THE LIBERTY BOWL Jan and Ed Murphey

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Jack, Pam, Chandler-Grace and Evan Michael

Joe and Amanda Turner

April and Bill Lipsey

EVENT THE LIBERTY BOWL FEBRUARY 2009

John and Wanda Barzizza with Lanetta and Buddy Lanier

Linda Farmer and Larry Hardy

Ryan Mills and Ann Coyle

Jeff and Claire Turner

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Bobby and Janette Krauch

Janay and Kevin Nienhuis

Calvin and Brenda Anderson

Donna Divietro and Keith Renard

John and K.K. Gross with Jennifer and Alan Bosworth

EVENT THE LIBERTY BOWL Patrice and Robert Santi

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Brenda and Ron Karlin

Justin and Michelle Wormmeester

Harry and Pat Montgomery with Judy and Ronnie Lee

VOX POPULAR

Vox Popular Q&A with Willy Bearden

W

riter and filmmaker Willy Bearden founded the William Bearden Company 21 years ago, but has waited for just the right moment to make the documentary he’s been researching his entire life. This project about the Delta will tell the story of Bearden’s stomping grounds and the people that make the region seem “a little cooler” than the rest. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met Bearden in his downtown Memphis office, which might not be around much longer as he contemplates relocating his company headquarters to Mississippi, to discover what makes Bearden’s historical narratives relatable to the masses. Oh yeah, Bearden also can’t stop smiling about the Keeping the Blues Alive Award, an honor he’s poised to receive in February.

Bearden: You know, they did. One of my early jobs was handing out circulars for the Joy Theatre in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and back then, they changed the movies three times a week. The pay was I got into movies for free for that month, so I saw every movie.

FEBRUARY 2009

RSVP: When did you being working in film?

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Bearden: When I came to Memphis, I went to work in the film business, and in the ‘80s, I became an account exec for MPL Film & Video traveling all over the country selling MPL services, so I got to know a lot of filmmakers and advertising people. The thing that I quickly understood is that people aren’t like we are in other parts of the country. People were saying, “You’re the biggest character I’ve ever seen.” And I’m thinking, “If you think I’m something, I ought to show you some people.” I saw that most people maintain a distance that we don’t recognize here. When I was up North, I would talk to a hotel clerk, a waitress or somebody, and say, “How ya doin?” and they’d say, “Not too bad.”

[Laughs] Wow! Bad? But not too? As I continued with my career, I started talking about these things and writing about them, and I went from doing mainly live event production and corporate video into museum work and documentaries, and all of it was about the South, and pretty much most of it was about the Delta.

RSVP: What motivated you to open the William Bearden Company in 1988?

Bearden: I would be on location with people in my job, and they’d be shooting maybe a religious drama or a training piece for the Great Northern Railway or whatever, and I’d be standing back and thinking, “Well, I wouldn’t put the camera there.” You start kind of getting a critical eye because you know what people are doing and you know what they have to end with. I knew the post-production business, but I didn’t really know the production business. I was a film editor and a color timer, and I knew that part of it. I had this idea that I could do it. I’m pleased with what I do, and I never do the same thing long enough to get sick of it. I’m a director for a few days. I’m a producer of corporate conventions for a week. I’m a writer, editor, shooter for a few days. I get to bounce around and do a lot of things, and I rarely get tired of doing one thing.

RSVP: Is there one role in your company that you enjoy more than another?

Bearden: I think I enjoy writing more than anything because my goal with my documentary and museum work has been to cover this unserved population. I say that because the PHDs have it covered on the topics. They know how many people were at Fort Pillow and the racial makeup and what the gun emplacements were and how many feet apart they were. I’m much more of a generalist. If you weren’t willing to read that 900-page book or give someone a semester of your life, you don’t get the story. I’m kind of 180 degrees from there. All I’m asking people is to give me 56 minutes and 45 seconds of your life, and I’ll tell you a story. Then maybe you’ll understand the story about cotton, Horn Island, Elmwood Cemetery, 19th-century Memphis or whatever. Doing those documentaries led me into museum work, which is the greatest work in the world because people see your work every day.

I know that right now, right this second, people are in the Cotton Museum; we have 42 oral histories in there, seven films, wrote all the text panels in there.

Same thing at the Tunica RiverPark with the story of the Mississippi River and that culture. Same thing with the Elvis Presley Birthplace Museum.

RSVP: Even though a lot of your documentaries are Memphis-based, do you feel people outside of Memphis can relate to them?

Bearden: I think they do. I can’t tell you how many people from all over have written and called me after someone has shown them my films. It’s gratifying to be able to tell these stories and for them to resonate with people. I bet you every week somebody tracks me down because they’ve seen something I did on the Library Channel. If somebody will take the time to track me down to tell me they enjoyed something, then I know there are other people out there who are getting it. That’s what I want. I want these things seen. You know, people ask me if I enter film festivals, but I don’t. It seems to me like people put so much effort into getting into these film festivals, then 200 people see the film, and no one else ever sees it. I’ve not done that because I think that takes a whole lot of effort. I’m not taking that away from anybody because I know that’s kind of the normal path people take, but I want ordinary people to see my films. It’s not my mission to educate filmmakers.

Photos by Don Perry

RSVP: Did any of your childhood experiences shape your love of film?

Are you looking for a purpose?

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RSVP

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fleming’s dinner Enjoy five courses of Fleming’s finest fare by Chef William Kloos, each perfectly paired with featured wines from the Spring Mountain District of California located above the Napa Valley. Representatives from Spring Mountain Vineyard, Terra Valentine, Keenan Winery, and Schweiger Vineyards will be pouring their signature wines amidst silent and live auction items sure to excite! All proceeds from the evening directly benefit the Brooks Museum.

Reserved seats may be purchased online at www.theartofgoodtaste.org or by calling Lindsey, 901.544.6209.

Sunday, February 22, 5 pm Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 6245 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38119

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Sponsors: Acura of Memphis · Pinnacle Airlines Corp. · Stanford Private Wealth Management · The Parker Family, in memory of Tony M. Parker, Sr. · Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar · Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs · David Lusk Gallery · Buster’s Liquors & Wines · Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. · Oak Hall · Memphis Magazine · Paulsen Printing · RAM Entertainment · Thomas Chu, M.D. · Athens Distributing Co. of Tennessee · Delta Wholesale Liquors · Southwestern Beverage Distributing · Star Distributors · United Liquors · The Victor L. Robilio Company · VIP Memphis Magazine · DCI Gallery · Michael Carpenter & Switch Creative · Graphic Systems, Inc.

to purchase tickets, visit www.theartofgoodtaste.org or call 544.6209

VOX POPULAR FEBRUARY 2009

RSVP: What is the latest project you’re working on?

Bearden: I’m working on a two-hour documentary on the Delta right now. I’ve been waiting all of my life to do this. This will be the first documentary that I’ve ever released theatrically. I think I’m just going to call it The Delta. I’m going to be that bold [laughs]. What I see is that people who aren’t from around here come here and are so enamored of the Delta—and I consider Memphis part of the Delta—but they only scratch the surface. They get into the blues a little bit, but they don’t know the dynamic between white people and black people. They don’t know that the Delta was the last frontier in this part of the world.

I grew up in a town that was so ethnically diverse that I thought everyone grew up in a town with Syrians, Jews, Lebanese, Italians, black people, white people and Mexicans. When I started traveling, I saw that that was not the case. Most people grew up in towns with people just like them.

There’s so much more to the Delta, and I want to tell all of it.

RSVP: Will there be any notable names in the documentary?

Bearden: I don’t know. I’m approaching the film a different way. I’m actually going to do the standups. I’ve never been on camera before,

but I’m going to do this because I wind up talking about it all the time. I have a friend, who is a producer, call me after I did The View from Adams Avenue, and he said, “Listen, I kept stopping after you talked because you had more enthusiasm for your subjects than most of the people you interviewed, so next time, you need to present.� I think that I’m going to do a live lecture like I would at the Delta Symposium and kind of use that as a springboard to do this. I’m also going to do a book along with The Delta documentary.

RSVP: Do you have plans to produce genres other than documentaries?

Bearden: My friend David Tankersley and I are going to shoot a 90-minute-plus film in the spring. The working title is One Came Home, and it’s set in 1946.

Some of it will be shot in Memphis, but most of it will be shot in rural Mississippi. I was down in Central Mississippi at my cousin’s house last weekend, and it was like people had been building my set there for the last 20 years. They have a sharecropper cabin in ruins and a sharecropper cabin that looks like it’s from the 1930s that they have put back that’s beautiful. All of these things are sitting back off the road, way out in the country. Then they have this house that was built back in the 1850s that has a dogtrot through it that’s beautiful, so I’m thinking these are all of my locations. At this

‹

RSVP

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Bearden: It used to be called the W.C. Handy Awards, and I’ve been the producer of that show since 1997. The Blues Foundation is a world-class organization now that sells out the Blues Music Awards every year. It’s the GrammyŽs of the blues. I think we’ve been a good partner with The Blues Foundation in putting on this show, and we’ve taken it to TV a few times and gotten good results with that. It’s been a lot of fun. I mean, Memphis is about the blues, but there aren’t many blues fans here, so what you wind up seeing is that 90 percent of people that come to the Blues Awards are from somewhere else. Those people that come are fascinated by our music, and that’s what we have to sell. We’ve learned somewhat in Memphis that music is our currency.

RSVP: How did you find out that you’ll be receiving the Keeping the Blues Alive(KBA) Award this year?

VOX POPULAR

RSVP: Tell me about your involvement with the Blues Music Awards Show.

Bearden: I actually got an e-mail from The Blues Foundation, and they released the press release a couple of days after that. You know, I think everyone likes to be recognized for their work, but I’ve never been much for awards. I love doing the work, and 98 percent of the time is doing the work, and 2 percent is receiving recognition. I never coveted any award, except the KBA. I really did! Every year, I said, “I sure would like one of those.� I really am honored by that and think maybe in some way I have helped keep the blues alive.

RSVP: Do you have a favorite blues artist?

Bearden: I’m from Rolling Fork, which is where Muddy Waters was from, so Muddy Waters is my favorite. I joke that I’m the second most famous person from Rolling Fork.

RSVP: Why do you think Memphians should care about the city’s history?

Bearden: We have such a great story, and it’s almost criminal that the schools don’t teach about that past. When I’ve shown school groups my films, they get it. I think our story is unique, but it also explains who we are and why we are. I feel like once you know these things, you have a bigger stake in the community. Maybe then people see it’s worth being a better citizen.

FEBRUARY 2009

time in my life, I’m getting to do things that I really want to do, and I think I’ve learned my craft well.

RSVP

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STREETSEEN

Rich Martin Uncorking Memphis

FEBRUARY 2009

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or 30 years, Rich Martin has reserved the last Monday of each month for happy hour, but he only savors one type of libation. A charter member and current president of the Noble Rot Wine Club, Martin rarely forgoes a challenge to learn about and discover the next best wine.

He laughs, “I’ve missed a few tastings, but the group has never missed holding a monthly tasting.”

Sam Ward, the late owner of Liquor, Etc., founded the grassroots wine club to teach his friends how to look for traits like complexity and varietal character. The group met behind Ward’s establishment until his death, and has changed locations several times before finding its home at Bogie’s Delicatessen on Mendenhall. Eight charter members remain active in the Noble Rot, which gets its name from a fungus that attacks late harvest grapes causing their skins to burst and most liquid to run out resulting in a highly concentrated sweet juice. Martin says the process is “kind of neat,” much like the composition of the group’s roughly 40 members, who vary in age, gender and wine knowledge.

At tastings, Martin assumes his role as “facilitator” by introducing a presenter from a local wine shop to the circle and initiating vino speak with old and new faces alike. Presenters often group flights under themes like “Racy Reds” or “Old World vs. New World,” and encourage tasters to rank their favorites before a price tag is revealed. Many share their favorite recipes for wine pairings as a tasting progresses, but Martin’s best advice sticks to the drink du jour.

“The most important thing for people to know about wine is that it’s an opinion,” he says. “Wine is highly subjective.”

Martin admits there’s a romance to wine that makes it special, so much so that he also holds membership in the 2nd Saturday Wine Aficionados. This wine circle is the second outgrowth of Tasters Guild, a club started by the late “Big John” Grisanti. Martin remembers traveling twice to California vineyards with Grisanti and tasting wine alongside the restaurateur on Saturday mornings before Grisanti’s restaurant opened. He offers one revelation from time spent amongst wine connoisseurs.

“You can’t be wrong about how you feel, and you can’t be wrong about how you feel about wine,” Martin winks.

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

A Celebration of Beauty February 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JULY 5, 2009

The exhibition has been organized by the Humanities Exchange, Montreal, Canada, and the exhibition tour is managed by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, California. Additional support provided by Trustmark Bank and the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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FEBRUARY 2009

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STREETSEEN

Amy Kalkbrenner Fixing Pet Homelessness

FEBRUARY 2009

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my Kalkbrenner, the executive director of the Animal Protection Association (APA), has undertaken a cause that current and future pet owners should seriously consider: spaying and neutering. And here’s why. According to Kalkbrenner, between 13,000 and 20,000 cats and dogs, most healthy and adoptable, are euthanized annually at local shelters because of overpopulation, which can be controlled with a little awareness.

“Spaying and neutering pets is the backbone to decreasing euthanization because you can rescue dogs and cats all day long and still have overpopulation,” Kalkbrenner says.

APA staff and volunteers constantly tackle overpopulation by offering Memphians affordable spay and neuter options at the nonprofit clinic. In 2009, the APA plans to perform 5,000 surgeries, and hopes to increase surgery days from four to six weekly. Though the clinic targets the Memphis community at large, the APA typically serves clients with fixed incomes. She adds that 70 percent of APA’s clients have never visited a veterinarian, and many are concerned that spaying and neutering will negatively affect a pet’s personality.

“Our goal is to educate people more about the benefits of spaying and neutering, which include less aggression, decreasing pets’ tendencies to run away, ensuring that pets won’t get certain types of cancer and infection and reducing the number of strays,” she explains.

Kalkbrenner is currently focusing her attention on promoting “Feral February,” since cats normally go into heat in the early part of the year. The APA rents traps for a month at a time for people to catch nondomesticated cats, and urges trappers to bring captured cats into the clinic within 24 hours for surgery. In addition, the APA will recognize Spay Day, a nationwide movement, on February 24 by booking twice the usual amount of surgeries that day and tentatively getting a volunteer vet on board.

For those leary about checking their pets into the clinic, the executive director assures that the APA doesn’t sacrifice quality care. Two vet assistants, one licensed vet technician and a fulltime vet, who has specialized in spaying/neutering procedures for 17 years, work for the APA. The surgery room even comes equipped with heated tables, which help prevent sedated animals from contracting hypothermia. Also, a volunteer sits with an animal for a minimum of 15 minutes following surgery and subsequently checks on each patient every hour thereafter.

“I don’t want to persuade people to get their pets fixed, but I want them to know the facts: for every person born in the U.S., seven cats and 15 dogs are born,” she points out.

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

FEBRUARY 2009

LES PASSEES CABARET BALL

EVENT

Les Passees Cabaret Ball “Reflections of the Past and Promises for the Future”

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Charles Eilertsen and Adron Vanderslice

Nancy and Jim Brooks

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es Passees, Inc. continued a tradition of hosting one of the year’s most glamorous affairs—the 2008 Cabaret Ball. Themed “Reflections of the Past and Promises for the Future,” the ball highlighted Memphis’ oldest women’s volunteer organization, specifically its focus on children’s needs.

Nearly 300 guests convened at the Memphis Hilton for the ball spearheaded by Nancy Brooks, Mary Forsdick, Beth Higginbotham and Susan Price. The décor, including silver peacock feathers, tree branches adorned with clear crystals and an impressive ice sculpture featuring the living ads’ pictures, exuded the ultimate winter wonderland vibe. A cocktail hour warmed up attendees to the silent auction, which tempted a range of tastes, from art lovers with a Brooks museum family-level membership to sports fanatics with Memphis Tigers basketball tickets up for grabs. Energy abounding, attendees soon gathered in the Tennessee Grand Ballroom for the moment all had been awaiting—the presentation of living ads.

Joyce Peterson of ABC24 fulfilled the emcee duties and kicked off the program by saying, “The future of this organization and the work it does is important, and if you don’t realize it at this point, then you will in the future.”

Peterson then introduced 13 living ads, which were represented by senior daughters of Les Passees members and past Les Passees Carnival Memphis and Germantown Horse Show princesses. These young ladies wore floor-length white gowns and stunned the audience as they promenaded with their escorts and pages along the ballroom.

After the presentation, living ad representatives joined their fathers on the dance floor for a special dance to “What a Wonderful World.”

A three-course dinner and entertainment by the Soul Shockers rounded out the agenda.

To expand its outreach in the community, Les Passees opted to support four charities throughout 2008. These beneficiaries included Les Passees Kids on the Block, Memphis Elite All-Stars, MIFA’s City Kitchen and the John Calipari Basketball School.

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Erin Reid and Chris Dickens

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry

Libby Hubbard and Meg Glass

Joyce Peterson and Ron Childers

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LES PASSEES CABARET BALL

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A Trek Across the City’s Party L andscape Heartlight Gala “Not Too Far from Here”

FEBRUARY 2009

There was absolutely no possibility of getting lost at the Heartlight Gala, an annual benefit for A gape Child and Family

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CD “Broken and Beautiful” for sale in the lobby. A casual pre-concert buffet dinner included chicken tenders, meatloaf, various pastas and casseroles, salad, cooked vegetables, cheesecakes and winter pies on white linen service with red napkins. Those enjoying the fare included Antwane and Chr ystal Oliver, Tommy and Erica Brandt, Gerald and Peggy Griffith, Charles and Sandra

Among those taking credit for bringing Schultz to the stage were sponsors Intermodal Cartage, Mark and Melinda George, Layton and Teresa McCown, Dale and Kimberly Sharp, Todd and Peggy Stricklen, Jim and Barbara Wingett and a long list of other donors who each gave any-

David LaVelle and Liz LaVelle

Sandra and Charles Ervin Judy and David Shockley

Ser vices held in the Cook Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom. Street signs, road maps and traffic signals decorated the building from foyer to stage highlighting Not Too the dinner and concert’s theme, “N Far From Here.”

Agape Child and Family Services, whose roots in West Tennessee date back to 1969, provides services for foster children, adopting parents, the homeless and families in need of counseling through five centers located in Memphis, Jackson, Tennessee and Southaven, Mississippi. Its mission is “to be a Christ-centered ministry that provides children and families with healthy homes.”

At this event, Agape provided about 2,000 people with healthy food and entertainment, which included Christian music singer Mark Schultz. Schultz, an adopted child himself, also had his award-winning

Er vin, David LaVelle, Liz LaVelle and Bob and Dianne Phillips.

Dress for the evening tended to be business/formal with a number of wool suits in blacks, grays, and browns, though more than a few ladies braved the new autumn chill in cocktail dresses with wraps.

Guests like Greg and Tania Howell, Jim and Phyllis Burns, Jody and Rhonda Helms,

where from $500 to $50,000.

No doubt many hearts were lit at the Heartlight Gala, not the least of which were those whose time and dedication light the hearts of children and families every day.

Story and photos by Jonathan Devin

MCA Holiday Bazaar benefiting MCA Scholarship Fund The 59th annual Holiday Bazaar at the Memphis College of Art (MCA) brought record numbers of eager, art-loving shoppers to the Ted Rust Galler y space. With

Beth Michael, Max Michael and Jeannie and Tom Alexander

Rhonda and Jody Helms

David and Judy Shockley, Beth Michael, Max Michael, Tom and Jeannie Alexander, Louvadie King, Patrice Miles and Jennifer Ester mingled among the tables as they made their way through the excited chatter and soft lighting of the ballroom.

Finally the stage, awash in royal blue starlight, lit up with Schultz’s powerful voice as cheers rang out from the audience.

Kate Hanney and Katherine Paxton

Jon W. Sparks and Leslie Holland

Story and photos by Kelly Cox

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Nothing warms up a cold winter’s night like an evening of warm hearts and hot jazz. The Memphis Drum Shop in the heart of historic Cooper-Young once again presented Jazz for St. Jude, a benefit concert for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Now in its fourth year, the benefit was co-hosted by the Mid-South Jaz z Foundation.

Memphis Drum Shop owners Jim and Nancy Pettit, along with their son Scott and his guest Dalana Frank, welcomed guests, who poured inside to beat the chill of the December night, as if each was an old friend. Perhaps Scott Pettit and Dalana Frank busiest of all with Jim and Nancy Pettit were staff members checking in coats, cloaks and hats by the dozen. Guests were attired mostly in slacks, sports jackets and festive holiday party wear, though Marilyn Kennedy, one of the evening’s featured singers, arrived wearing a sleeveless gold sequin cocktail dress—one of the few short dresses to be seen this night. It was plenty warm indoors, but a spread of wines, cheeses and fruits awaiting attendees inside the cymbal room helped rid the party of the lingering chill.

Partygoers like Jean Our y, Jim Fickle, Valerie Finnell, Bill and Leigh Anne Frazier, Gail Delancey, Rick and Marilyn Kennedy Joey W illiams, Ginger Garbarini, Rick Kennedy, Jesse and Sonia Howley, Tommie Pardue and June Smith walked among the towering displays of drums and equipment as members of the 17-piece Memphis Jazz Orchestra like Paul Morelli, all dressed in black, headed upstairs to warm up for the concert. The catchphrase, “Don’t worry, I’m with the band,” was heard more than a few times amid laughter.

The sell-out crowd of about 75 guests also included

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MCA currently experiencing its largest enrollment to date, there was more original art than ever to choose from.

And because this popular event happens just one weekend a year, the gallery was standing room only as festive folks poured in Tanja Heeckt and Sarah Worden from the cold.

As always, the student and faculty artists kept 80 percent of their items’ sale prices, while 20 percent was earmarked for the MCA Scholarship Fund. “Every purchase puts money directly in the artists’ pockets,” explained Michelle Byrd, “which really affects them, especially in this economy.”

Bargains abounded, as did good will.

As Tanja Heeckt happily carried away the triptych she had just purchased, the painter of the piece stopped to thank the purchaser before giving her a hug. David Jaredaan Braal and Misti Rae Warren Randolph, who regularly shops the Holiday Bazaar, always finds gifts for his friends and for himself. “This one reminds me of Edward Hopper,” Randolph said, holding up a painting by Paul Garner.

Among those having a very merry evening at MCA were Austin Byrd, Katherine Paxton, Jon W. Sparks, K ate Hanney, Misti Rae Warren, Jaredaan Braal, Elaine Miller, Ariel Claborn, Leslie Holland, Kenneth Coker, Alla Bartoshchuk, Funlola Coker and Sarah Worden.

Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Christmas Luncheon Red-Hot With a program titled “R Hallelujah!,” the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliar y Christmas Luncheon heated up the afternoon for those hoping to get into

Mark and Meg Comes

Carol Bowden, Courtney Neal and Charlotte Neal

Chad Braddock, Andy Braddock, Rita Braddock, Adam Braddock, Mark and Meg Comes, Audrey Driscoll and Yvette Howard.

Finally, it was time to move the party upstairs to the Drum Shop’s intimate concert venue where tables were set for the

dent Carol Wolf. Wolf said, “Everyone who accepts this position knows you don’t do good deeds on your own. All the hearts in this room aid in the process.”

Prior to a savory lunch of chicken mushroom crepes, asparagus, fruit and a mint chocolate mousse torte, the holiday cheer began with the Toscanini Ensemble, a group of young violinists directed by Libby Armour, playing its best Christmas classics.

FEBRUARY 2009

Arlene Southern and Donna McManus

the holiday spirit. An agenda filled with various musical acts and Christmas-themed activities entertained the sold-out crowd at the Memphis Countr y Club.

Donna McManus and Tommie Pardue co-chaired the occasion dedicated to highlighting the auxiliary’s continued

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34 Audrey Driscoll and Yvette Howard

comfort of guests. The Memphis Jazz Orchestra and Tom Prestigiacomo lit the night with classic jazz selections of holiday favorites. Suddenly, the cold was long forgotten!

Dolores Migliara and Gerry Thomas

Florence Leffler, Dianne Champlin and Carol Wolf

Jean Oury, Jim Fickle and Valerie Finnell

The warmest hearts of all that night were those of the children of St. Jude, who benefited from the concert’s proceeds.

Thanks to the work of St. Jude, many children enjoyed this Christmas and hopefully many more to come.

Story and photos by Jonathan Devin

involvement with the Angel Tree program.

Out of 4,500 angels the Salvation Army put out for Memphians to “adopt,” only 200 angels were left at the time of the luncheon.

Auxiliary president Dianne Champlin presented a check of $25,000 to Salvation Army officer Major Rhea Dawn Woodcock to further finance this program, which gives people a chance to purchase gifts of any amount from disadvantaged children and seniors’ Christmas wish lists. Auxiliary members volunteer their time at Angel Tree drop-off locations to help sort the gifts.

Major Woodcock also announced the 2009 auxiliary officers, including new presi-

The second musical portion began when DeltaCappella, an all-male a capella group formed by Jay Mednikow, took the stage following lunch. Eight of the group’s members, who come from diverse backgrounds, sang a Christmas medley as well as a few contemporary songs. Jean Mathews, the group’s executive director, looked on as the men wowed more than 250 attendees.

The agenda wasn’t complete without Florence Leffler’s satirical rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Guests were in stitches by the end of the reading and even joined in a group sing-along led by Tommie Pardue, with Charlotte Neal on the piano.

Some who partook in the pre-holiday festivities were Carol Bowden, Arlene Southern, Dolores Migliara, Gerr y Thomas, Courtney Neal, Hilda Mullen, Martha Gardner, Doris Hill, Nicky Person and Major Mark Woodcock. Gloria Nobles was the club sponsor.

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Tere Gusmus and Bobbie VanCleve

Nancy and Rodgers Menzies with Billie Jean Graham

rable music performances.

The program began in Take true holiday fashion with “T Note” singing Christmas carols in the ballroom. Donna Flinn directed the group, and Mar y Lawrence Flinn accompanied on the piano. Guests next followed their tastes to the dining room for a brunch of Eggs Benedict, fruit, apple cake and assorted pastries. René Koopman entertained on the keyboard as guests caught up on holiday plans and discussed which Memphis

ful concerts coming up.”

Following brunch, Fleur announced the event’s special guests, including Jason Howland, a guest conductor/pianist who composed “Little Women” on Broadway; Kevin Duda, who appeared in “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”; and Dani Davis, a Tony-nominated producer. The trio then delighted all with a

Symphony Orchestra concerts they planned on attending in the new year.

Symphony League president Florence Leffler welcomed everyone and thanked Dr. Eugene and Gloria Nobles for serving as the club host and hostess, Marsha Dunlap for chairing the brunch and

The Orpheum FEB 14–15 balletmemphis.org 901.737.7322

35

4HRL @V\Y =HSLU[PUL»Z +H` )LYY` 5PJL Cheryl Johnson and Claire Perkins

Margaret, Peggy and Betsy Weaver

AbunDANCE Art in Motion FEBRUARY 2009

Memphis Symphony League supporters sampled some of the symphony’s upcoming concerts at the group’s holiday brunch. Held at the Memphis Countr y Club, the morning get-together woke up classical music fans to memo-

“Home for the Holidays” pop concert. Inspired by the musical talent, guests sang Christmas carols, leaving the day on a high note.

Those in attendance were Margaret, Peggy and Betsy Weaver, Peggy Bodine, Cher yl Johnson, Claire Perkins, Tere Gusmus, Bobbie VanCleve, Donna McEnir y, Janet Januar y, Marcia Madr y, Kitty Lammons, Marie Hansom, Ellie Pelts, Diane Westphal, Tommie Pardue, Lynn Bishop, Lorrie Moore, Billie Jean Graham, Shelby Terr y, Rodgers and Nancy Menzies and Babbie Lovett.

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

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Memphis Symphony League Holiday Brunch

Charlotte Neal for co-chairing.

Leffler then introduced Ryan Fleur, president and CEO of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, who said, “The mission of this group is to create meaningful experiences through music, and it certainly has with the wonder-

FEBRUARY 2009

SUBSIDIUM CARROUSEL OF SHOPPES

EVENT

Subsidium Carrousel of Shoppes Preview Party

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Bob and Polly Richards

Krista Brewer and Teja Butcher

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he 2008 Subsidium Carrousel of Shoppes Preview Party offered benevolent patrons holiday shopping, mingling and delectables at their best. Opening night festivities merely provided a warm-up to the weekend shopping extravaganza, which helped raise funds for the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf.

Hundreds of guests dressed in party duds gathered at Agricenter International for the debut of some 120 vendors’ merchandise. From Mednikow’s display of David Yurman jewelry to whimsical ornaments and fashionable capes, the event rolled out the red carpet of goodies. A silent and live auction, with appealing items like an AutoZone Liberty Bowl game day package and a five-night Colorado ski package, also took place. Many vendors catered to foodies by offering product samples, and area restaurants like Owen Brennan’s, Chick-fil-A and Swanky’s Taco Shop pitched in by serving up their specialties. Ravenous shoppers found reason for a break at the numerous taste test stations, and Bella Café Catering even poured fine coffee and espresso for a java fix.

The event’s theme, “A Weekend of Shopping Gives a Lifetime of Sound,” made patrons aware of the cause they were supporting. Since 1968, Subsidium, Inc. has selected the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf as its philanthropy and raised more than $4 million to give hearing-impaired children the gift of speech. Some of the children who have benefited from the school’s programs were featured in a large poster draped above the stage during the party. A child shown in the center of the poster had his arms spread wide, with the words “We Love You This Much” printed above him, making the joy of giving seem all the more worthwhile.

Thanks to Carrousel chair Paige Irby, gala chairs Mitzi Ware and Pam Hudsmith, honorary chair Richard Ramsey and many more volunteers, the weekend marked another successful fund-raiser that will continue Subsidium Inc.’s mission to help empower deaf children to listen, learn and talk.

Sandra and Richard McDuffie

Travis Sheley and Brooke Hall

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry

See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Shawn Massey and Gwen Horner

Liz and Jim Jacobs

Nick and Jean Morton

Vance and Trisha Lepeard with Kevin Kent and Debbie Compton

Ben and Aaren Mitchell

EVENT

FEBRUARY 2009

John Bryant and Lezli Peeler

SUBSIDIUM CARROUSEL OF SHOPPES

Laura Omell, Becky Rivalto and Becka Wigton

Debbie and Jerry Ferrell

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Please join us for a tour and Valentines luncheon prepared by our new executive chef, Paul Zilch, Wednesday, February 11th at 12 noon.

Please call 726-4881 to make your reservation.

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Onsite

Memphis Cancer Foundation Benefit Pray For Pink Breast Cancer Benefit Harbor Town Dog Show Delta Waterfowl Banquet

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FEBRUARY 2009

Susan and Robert Milner at Delta Waterfowl Banquet

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Don Lake and Hunter Ziegler at Delta Waterfowl Banquet

he Memphis Cancer Foundation Benefit served up some flavor for a good cause at Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen. Foundation supporters gathered to bid on local art and get copies of The Unbook for Men and Women with Cancer, co-authored by mother-daughter combo Pat Godfrey McRee and Amber McRee Turner, both cancer survivors. The event also marked the introduction for the new restaurant owned by chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman.

Breast cancer survivors, doctors, community leaders and prayer enthusiasts came together on Global Prayer Day at the Pink Palace Museum for the Standing in the Gap4’s second annual Pray for Pink Breast Cancer Benefit. During the afternoon and into the evening, nearly 150 pink-clad participants were treated to an airline flight journey, which included tutorials on “tightening your faith” and “directing your attention to early detection” in a “cabin pressurized with love, faith and hope,” as well as presentations by doctors, survivors and pastors. Standing in the Gap4 is a Christian organization that uses faith, prayer and community outreach to combat issues that negatively impact the Memphis community.

Elvis was spotted in Harbor Town…that is if Elvis were a West Highland white terrier going under Ben.” Ben was one of close to 20 dogs who the name “B entered this year’s seventh annual Harbor Town Dog Show’s best costume contest. Dog owners and their canine friends also enjoyed an owner look-alike contest, an obstacle course, a sexiest walk contest, various vendor booths and hot dogs. Kym Clark of WMC-TV 5 acted as master of ceremonies, and dog lovers enjoyed cool weather, sunny skies and loving licks from Bernese mountain dogs, golden retrievers and every breed in between. Held in Nurser y Park on Mud Island, the event helped raise money for the Memphis and Shelby County Humane Society.

The Memphis Chapter of Delta Waterfowl held its annual banquet at the U of M Holiday Inn. The evening featured a children’s duck calling contest, a raffle for hunting equipment and a huge auction. Event proceeds will further the group’s efforts to help conserve waterfowl breeding grounds.

Brian Tisdale and Amy Robertson at Memphis Cancer Foundation Benefit

Brant and Stephanie Singley at Memphis Cancer Foundation Benefit

LeeAnn Christopherson, Latrena Ingram and Deborah Coleman at Pray for Pink Breast Cancer Benefit

Story and photos by Don Perry, David Tankersley and Lesley Young Bigelow Robinson and Erica Perry at Delta Waterfowl Banquet

Kathleen McKenzie, “Ben” and Jeff Coats at Harbor Town Dog Show

Dr. Susan Murrmann Price, Henry Nelson, “Grace,” Cindy Bailey and Vince Samuel at Harbor Town Dog Show

Carmen and Dion Grey at Pray for Pink Breast Cancer Benefit

Introducing Electrolux.

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Onsite

Rock n Roll, Brews and Q Une Grande Soiree Memphis Wine Opener Wine Down at the Dixon

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FEBRUARY 2009

Natalie Williams and Brian Harrell at Wine Down at the Dixon

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40 Sandra and Warren Riggs at Une Grande Soiree

he Orpheum Theatre’s 80th anniversary celebration kicked off at The Warehouse. The affair, titled Rock n Roll, Brews and Q, attracted 300-plus music, Boscos beer and Corky’s BBQ fans, who also perused silent auction wares and enjoyed a performance by John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives. By the night’s end, more than $4,500 had been raised for the Orpheum.

Une Grande Soiree attendees filled the Clark Opera Memphis Center for an event that raked in $40,000 for the W ings Cancer Foundation. This debut event, hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Benton Wheeler and emceed by Tom Prestigiacomo of WKIM-FM, featured wines from Simi Winery, Raymond Vineyard & Cellar and Schmitt Söhne Winery. Food pairings came from Amy Pickle Catering, Bangkok Alley, Brooklyn Bridge, Buckley’s, Café Society, Chez Philippe, Fork in the Road, Just in Thyme Catering, Robin Joyce Catering and Wang’s Mandarin House. Delta Nomads provided the tunes as guests chipped in some Dough-Re-Mi for tasting tours, wine, original artwork and winged hearts in support of the nonprofit assisting anyone touched by cancer.

Bumpus Harley-Davidson and McGhee’s Crane Ser vice presented the Memphis Wine Opener at the Memphis Area Home Builders Association. Guests Maji” while danced the night away to music by The “M raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

International and domestic wineries poured the vino, and CrêpeMaker, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, The Melting Pot, Robilio’s Sidecar Café and Swanky’s Taco Shop supplied the appetizers for the festivities, complete with a live and silent auction.

W ine Down at the Dixon rounded out the popular vino functions held last year at The Dixon Galler y and Gardens. The René Koopman Trio played to the crowd’s taste this night as several wines were available for sampling in the Hughes Pavilion located in the gardens. This event will take place five times throughout the year in 2009 for those looking to experience the Dixon in a new way.

Mary Lunn and Patrick Halloran at Rock n Roll, Brews and Q

Brenda Wendt and Jim Koehler at Rock n Roll, Brews and Q

Story Submitted and by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos Submitted and by Leah Fitzpatrick and Seth Joneas Liz Harvey and Shawn Thomas at Rock n Roll, Brews and Q

Jessica Wood and Mary Lee at Une Grande Soiree

Andrea and Kenneth Schultz at Memphis Wine Opener

Nick Rice, Scott Bumpus, Jerry Bumpus and Larry Rice at Memphis Wine Opener

Nancy Trenthem, Cecilia Paulsen, Dennis Trenthem and Phyllis Rose at Wine Down at the Dixon

FEBRUARY 2009

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EVENT

Orpheum Auction Gala

ORPHEUM AUCTION GALA

30th Anniversary

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FEBRUARY 2009

Tim and Melanie Craig

Linda and James Gattas

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heatregoers have embraced the Orpheum Theatre for 80 years, but it is just in the past 30 years that this Memphis landmark has hosted an auction gala as a way for patrons to give back to the performing arts. This year, 780 attendees showed their dedication by braving the chilly temperatures for the glamorous fund-raiser.

Silent auction items were placed throughout the theatre, but bidding began in the parlor with a cook’s corner, clothing and accessories and gifts section and in the Broadway Club, which showcased goodies related to advertising, business, children, pets, photography and spa and wellness. The grand foyer, brimming with holiday décor, offered home furnishings, wine, spirits and cigars. As guests made their way through the auditorium, they got a glimpse of the live auction items, but more silent auction goodies remained beyond.

Upstage, the annual painted chair collection remained a favorite, with a Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Isaac Hayes and a “Wicked” chair up for grabs. Art and antiques also tempted attendees in this area, and backstage luxuries included luxurious dining opportunities, parties, vacations, jewelry and celebrity and sports memorabilia.

At nine o’clock, those anxious to place live auction bids filled the best seats in the house. Orpheum Theatre president Pat Halloran encouraged the crowd by saying, “These times are tough, but we hope tonight we reach our goal and end on a positive note.” Terri Walker of Walker Auctions then took over by rousing the crowd to bid on everything from a “Fiddler on the Roof” party for 12 at the Orpheum to a fishing excursion for four in Destin, Florida. Live auction items were cut from 35 to 25 this year to speed up the program, and four lots were sold in 60 seconds.

“This will be the fastest auction you’ve ever seen!” Halloran added.

Sedgwick CMS was the gold sponsor for the evening dedicated to raising the bar in the local arts scene. With more than $250,000 garnered from goods and services sold at the auction, the Orpheum Auction Gala continued the tradition of bringing Broadway home.

Rachel Gray and Sarko Kish

Greg and Mary Marx

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

David and Jan Gould

Maggie Garcia and Emily Oliva

Chase Hardin and Lindsey Rowsey

Michelle Perez, Krystal Lepeard, Rae Dowdy, Julia Ormiston and Gail Sredonja

Brittany Elster and Webb Sabin

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CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY

ORPHEUM AUCTION GALA

MEMPHIS PHOTOGRAPHY

C.J. and Sadie Pickering

Kathy Connor and Maggie Brown

© All Original Prints • Framed • Canvas • Gifts available from...

for more information, email:

info@skyblueskyphoto.com Jim and Sue Perrin with Winston Wolfe

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Jamie Patterson and Bob Bell

Mike and Gail Huey

Trinna Herron, Tichina Hearn and Edwyna Bonner

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Joe and Janine Lammel

Frank and Sue Guardino

Donna Peer and Jim Wooldridge

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Kathleen and Mike Edelmuth

Donna and Mark Bettison

Lindsey Wildman and Ryan Marx

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Mark Aquadro and Denise Rikard

FEBRUARY 2009

Lacey and Scott Myers

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Opera Memphis

Wild Game Dinner

200 Dean and Lynette Mueller with Gia and Paul Blanchard

BUCKS AND BARITONES February 6, 2009 7:00 pm

HOLIDAY INN at the University of Memphis a fundraiser benefiting the Opera Memphis Education and Outreach Programs Honorary Chairman, Mayor A.C. Wharton Special Guest Auctioneer, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey

For more details and reservations contact Christiana Leibovich: 901.202.4535 or christiana@operamemphis.org.

Thank you to our season sponsors Sabrina Taylor and Winter Reynolds

Molly Fitzpatrick and Tiffany Brimhall

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Harvest Party Harvest Celebration Maternal League Fund-raiser Art for Hope Curtain Up: A Taste of Playhouse

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FEBRUARY 2009

Jeni Stephens and Ann Jackson at Art for Hope

Joey Dudek, Kevin Dean and Betty Dupont at Art for Hope

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he Cotton Museum hosted its second annual Har vest Party at Earnestine and Hazel’s to raise funding and treat supporters to a night of good music, drinks and Soul Burgers. The Earnestine and Hazel’s Band provided the tunes, while folks from the Mid-South bid on silent auction items, danced and celebrated the area’s rich history in the cotton industry.

Eating fresh fare was all the rage at the Memphis Farmers Market (MFM) Har vest Celebration inside the Bridges facility. More than 17 restaurants offered tastings featuring ingredients from the MFM, and market favorites Ken and Robin Greene supplied the music. A complimentary wine and beer bar, as well as a silent and live auction, rounded out the activities for the party that brought awareness to the community’s hotspot for seasonal produce.

Not only did waiters at Ronnie Grisanti’s wear aprons that read “This Side Up,” but they also strayed from the menu by serving empanadas, dim sum, and baba ghanoush for the Maternal League of Memphis Fund-raiser. Along with an open bar and silent auction, members and friends of the charitable organization enjoyed a five-course meal featuring food from every continent. The local Maternal League chapter was established in 1935 to help decrease infant mortality in Shelby County.

Art for Hope showcased talented Mid-South artists’ work at the Pink Palace Museum to benefit the children of Hope House. From pottery to paintings to jewelry, the event offered 350 guests plenty of holiday shopping and hors d’oeuvres from McEwen’s. Of these sales, $9,000 was contributed to Hope House, an organization devoted to helping children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. More than 100 patrons gathered at Playhouse on the Square for its fifth anniversary of Curtain Up: A Taste of Playhouse. Act One began with martinis, appetizers and a piano bar with Renee Kemper, while Act Two offered guests jazz, blues, beer, wine and a Southern style dinner. The Finale took place on stage in the theatre, where The Venus Mission belted out hits and after-dinner drinks and desserts were served. Ron Childers of WMC-TV played host, and Wade and Company catered the affair, with proceeds totaling $15,000 for Playhouse.

Rebecca Dubois, Jackie Nichols and Cristina Guibao at Curtain Up: A Taste of Playhouse

Marshall Duncan and Avril Marshall at Harvest Party

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and Lesley Young Jeff and Ellie Bennett at Harvest Party

Bob Cornish and Beth Brock at Harvest Celebration

Bonnie Thornton and Mary Padron at Harvest Celebration

Tim Fabian and Liz Pritchard with Celine and Martin Croce at Maternal League Fund-raiser

Midge Weinberg and Nancy Jaffe at Maternal League Fund-raiser

RSV PHILLIPPI

By Dennis Phillippi

IT WAS A SUPER YEAR

FEBRUARY 2009

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uperheroes have taken over popular culture. It happened subtly. It happened while we were all paying attention to other things. But it has happened. I know, I’ve spent the month of January catching up on all the superhero movies I got for Christmas. And there were a lot of them.

Apparently no one thinks I can handle anything more challenging than DVDs about sociopaths in their underwear.

The biggest hit of last year, and the second biggest hit in history, was that Dark Knight Batman movie deal. Everyone saw The Dark Knight. Everyone keeps saying it was brilliant, and it was a great movie, but was it a billion dollars great?

Seriously, worldwide it made more than a billion dollars, and a boat didn’t even sink.

Before you start that angry email Nerdly McComicbookfan, I liked The Dark Knight a lot. It was a swell comic book movie.

Having said that, how exactly does Batman look anything like a bat? I’ve been around bats. They have tiny bodies and gigantic ears. Batman has a gigantic body and tiny ears. He looks more like some kind of armor-plated large dog. Maybe a boxer. But I guess Boxerdogman just doesn’t have the same ring. Criminals may be a superstitious lot, but they’re not going to be scared by some guy dressed as a breed of dog that likes to fetch things. “Oh no…it’s Boxerdogman…quick, find a stick.”

There’s also the voice thing. He sounds like a cross between Sam Elliott and a professional wrestler with a sinus condition. I kept expecting people to offer him a tissue or a lozenge. Critics have done back flips for Christian Bale’s acting, but it’s hard to tell that someone is acting when he’s wearing a rubber head. The late Heath Ledger was amazing as the Joker, but I remind you, he was playing a lunatic wearing clown makeup. That’s not exactly Method acting, unless the method is how to act like a psychopathic Emmett Kelly.

It may seem picky of me, but it also bothered me that The Dark Knight was so obviously set in Chicago. In the first Batman movie starring Bale, they created a seemingly real Gotham City that was totally unique. In this one, Bale was driving that silly Batcycle past stuff we saw on the opening credits of the old “Bob Newhart Show.” At one point, there’s an overhead shot of the Michigan Avenue

Bridge. I’ve only been to Chicago a couple of times, but both times I had to walk across that bridge all the time. It’s like shooting a movie here that’s supposed to be somewhere else and having the main characters walk past Graceland.

The second highest grossing movie of the year was Iron Man. Personally, I liked Iron Man better than The Dark Knight because it was funnier. Just the

Criminals may be a superstitious lot, but they’re not going to be scared by some guy dressed as a breed of dog that likes to fetch things. idea of Robert Downey Jr. playing a superhero is funny. Superheroes don’t normally get loaded on happy pills and fall asleep in the neighbor kid’s bed.

When you think about it, Batman and Iron Man are the same guy. They’re both egomaniacs with zillions of dollars who spend their free time building supersuits and hunting bad guys. If they weren’t rich, they’d just be nuts. Sure they’re tortured, but you know, so is whoever just got voted off of American Idol last, and he isn’t strapping on a latex suit and jumping off of buildings. Although there must be some way we can convince him to do so.

The fourth highest grossing movie of the year was Hancock. That was a weirder movie than superhero movies usually are, and it got one thing absolutely right: having crime fighting superbeings around would be a huge pain in the neck. No matter what you say, your insurance carrier is not going to reimburse you when the Hulk drops an armored car on your garage.

When the bricks are flying and things are exploding in these movies, it always seems fun, but someone owns those bricks.

Someone has sunk his life into that warehouse Spiderman just threw a super villain through. And it’s not like he’s going to show up in court either. Why do you think they wear masks? It’s not to protect their secret identity, rather it’s to avoid having to pay for all that property damage. Go

ahead, try serving Thor with papers and see how far you get.

Don’t get me started on that TV show “Heroes.” It was fun at first—who wouldn’t want an indestructible cheerleader around—but it’s gotten to the point now where it’s more confusing than that trig class you took in college with the professor from Pakistan.

One of the most annoying things about this whole genre is that only pretty people ever get superpowers. With the exception of that rock guy in the Fantastic Four, only gorgeous people get to fly or throw buses at evil-doers. There have to be character actors in Hollywood who want to slip into the spandex. Paul Dooley comes to mind. So does Steve Buscemi. Those guys would make great superheroes.

Of course this is all silly nitpicking of things that are by nature nitty. These are big silly movies for the big silly audience, but they seem to take themselves entirely too seriously. While The Dark Knight was cool and had all kinds of neat things blowing up, it was also about a guy who was frowning like he had my 401k and not his pile. Iron Man was, forgive the phrase, supercool, but the whole message about international arms trading and how that is a bad thing was an unnecessary drag. Hancock was a nice ride, but it got pretty grim just because if you have Will Smith around, apparently you have to give him some acting to do.

Mind you, all of this is probably just sour grapes because I’m never going to get superpowers. It’s something that doesn’t get discussed much, but for a lot of guys in my generation, the moment when they realized they were adults was the moment when they realized they were never going to get bitten by a radioactive monkey and get supermonkey powers. It’s a dark night when you have that moment, but not as dark as The Dark Knight. Lighten up, Bruce.

RSVP humor specialist turned superhero analyst, Dennis Phillippi, says he has no superpowers of his own, but we here at RSVP suggest he dig a little deeper through his closet for some late ‘80s spandex. After all, Gym Guy could save the day when someone’s pulled a hamstring or needs a refreshing bottle of water.

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Merry Marketplace Methodist Cancer Center Luncheon Toast for Toys Gala Santa Paws Party Hope Presbyterian Christmas Dinner

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FEBRUARY 2009

Lynne Robilio, Renee Jordan and Tracy Christoffersen at Hope Presbyterian Christmas Dinner

W inter in the City” he SunTrust Merr y Marketplace “W preview party kicked off the Junior League of Memphis’ (JLM) ninth annual holiday fund-raiser at A gricenter International. With more than 160 vendors, a silent auction, open bar and appetizers donated from local restaurants, guests readily accepted the invitation to help support JLM’s community projects, some of which include the Mid-South Food Bank, Clovernook Center and the Shelby County Books from Birth program.

Jon and Donna Van Hoozer with Anne and Andy McCarroll Political commentators James Car ville and Mar y at Toast for Toys Gala Matalin shared their insight into the country’s political climate with 850 attendees at the seventh annual Methodist Cancer Center Luncheon. Prior to the political “crossfire” exchanged on stage in The Peabody’s Grand Ballroom, the couple attended a VIP reception for a meet-n-greet with special guests. Event proceeds totaling more than $100,000 will benefit the Methodist Healthcare Cancer Center.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis hosted the Toast for Toys Gala, where 250 people helped foster a brighter Christmas for disadvantaged youth through toy donations. Memphis Botanic Garden provided the backdrop for the occasion filled with holiday cheer thanks to food courtesy of Draper’s Catering, drinks from Arthur’s Wine & Liquor and tunes by Elmo & the Shades. Event proceeds reached $35,000 for the Jane Carroll, Captain Phil McGee and Seena Walker organization, and $45,000 in gift cards for KB Toys. at Santa Paws Party Santa remembered his pet friends this year at 49 the Animal Protection Association’s (APA) second annual Santa Paws Party. The nonprofit spay and neuter clinic hosted the event at STOP 345 and raised $5,000 to help combat pet homelessness with the help of generous donations to the animal-themed silent auction, music courtesy of Captain Phil McGee and food donated by Wild Oats (now Whole Foods).

The Women’s Ministr y of Hope Presbyterian Church Christmas Dinner and Fashion Show treated 1,000 attendees to an unforgettable program, featuring music from an a capella quartet and gospel choir.

Step into the Light,” this event brought Themed “S awareness to and funding for Neighborhood Christian Centers, raising enough money to sponsor several Kenyan women at a conference being led by the women of Hope in Nairobi, Kenya in March.

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Gegi Bethea, Catherine Lowie and Linda Burleson at Hope Presbyterian Christmas Dinner

Nora Roberts, Laura Russell and Chey Widdop at Merry Marketplace

Vicki Singh and Suzanne Landers at Merry Marketplace

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Earniece Foster, James Carville and Janas Jackson at Methodist Cancer Center Luncheon

Kathy and Neil Solomon at Santa Paws Party

Jenny Wallace and Mark Billingsley at Methodist Cancer Center Luncheon

RSVPAST

Championship Glory

FEBRUARY 2009

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he American Legion baseball team from Memphis secured the 1968 American Legion World Series title and hefty bragging rights as evidenced in this picture taken after the championship game in Manchester, New Hampshire. Most of the players attended Christian Brothers High School, and one teammate, Ross Grimsley, went on to become a Major League pitcher. The team’s bond prevailed at a 40th anniversary celebration held last fall.

Pictured above from left to right in the front row are Al Andre, Bobbie Goodman, Lynn Alford, Paul “Skeeter” Gowen, Richard Daughtery and Mike Dempster. In the second row are Bob Camp (coach), Duane Donahoo, Jack Long (batboy), Bob Stolarik, Ron Majkrzak, Jimmy Conn and David Hazelip. Standing in the back row are Bill Speros, Homer Phillips (coach), Terry Dan, Donnie Castle, Ross Grimsley, Charlie Blanchard, Jim Evans, Farrell Vincent and Tony Gagliano (coach).

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB PHILLIPS 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.