June
Gree n Sho e Gala Margu eri te P ia zz a St. J u de Gal a GPAC P ort s of C all Ga la Tr ibu te Di n ne r Ga la Q&A wit h Gle nn C ox
2008
BMW 2008 The new 5 Series
bmwusa.com
We decided to make a few tweaks. SIRIUS Satellite Radio for whatever soundtrack suits the drive.*
iPod/USB enabled: Control all your music through steering wheel audio controls.*
HD radio delivers CD-like sound quality and multiple channels of nocost digital programming.*
Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go works in peak traffic for more relaxed cruising.*
Navigation System with Real Time Traffic Information so nothing interferes with your drive.* Head-Up Display helps keep your eyes on the road.* A more refined interior provides a premium feel that envelops the driver.
Your choice of automatic or six-speed manual on all models at no added cost.
Lane Departure Warning System helps keep you in your lane.*
Redesigned rockers add a more sculpted appearance.
Xenon Adaptive Headlights offer better visibility.**
550i equipped with Valvetronic. Allows engine to breathe more easily, providing power and fuel efficiency.
Active Roll Stabilization virtually eliminates body roll, providing sportier handling.
Six-speed Sport Automatic Transmission with paddle shifters for F1-inspired driving.*
Night Vision enhances safety and security by displaying what you normally wouldn’t see.*
528 xi and 535 xi models come standard with all-wheel drive. 535i: A 300-hp inline six with twin turbos delivers 300 lb-ft of torque.
550i equipped with a 360-hp 8-cylinder power plant.
The 2008 BMW 5 Series. In the newly sculpted 535i Sedan, our inline six with twin turbos has been enhanced to an unprecedented 300 horsepower. While the 550i Sedan’s Valvetronic system allows the 360-horsepower V-8 engine to breathe easier. As a result, power and fuel efficiency are maximized in both of these engines. Of course, the 5 Series is loaded with refinements that add to the car’s driving dynamics, safety and sporty good looks. Why did we do so much? As an independent company, there’s no one to tell us otherwise.
405 N. Germantown Parkway • Memphis, TN • 866.387.0670 • (Just North of Walnut Grove Road) www.roadshowbmw.com ©2008 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.*Optional. **Optional on 528i.
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CONTENTS
Contents June 2008
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 David Loebel The “Maestro of Memphis” will finish his 10-year run as music director and conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra with a special season called “The Perfect Ten: A Decade with David.”
Green Shoe Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Shelby Farms had an influx of nature lovers go “green” to benefit Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.
14 SIGNATURE MEMPHIS David Loebel
Marguerite Piazza St. Jude Gala . . . . . . . . . . . .22 When a notable opera diva channeled her philanthropic efforts with St. Jude Children’s Hospital 33 years ago, a most glamorous party—held this year at The Peabody hotel—was born.
48 STREETSEEN Suzy Askew Rains
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Q&A with Glenn Cox, president of the board for Park Friends, Inc. JUNE 2008
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34, 36 & 38 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40, 48 & 54
16 GREEN SHOE GALA Justin Lachey and Brittney Rogers
RSVPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
9 RSVP
He’s got a mighty swing, but that’s not the only skill he’s teaching participants in the Memphis Athletic Ministries golf program. As the chairman of the Magevney Kitchen Garden for District 1 of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, she offers locals a glimpse inside the culture of an early 19th-century Memphis family. He might have a master’s in mathematics, but this magician doesn’t let logic interfere with his childhood love. StreetSeens spotlight Vince Alfonso Jr., Suzy Askew Rains, and Barry Rice.
50 GPAC PORTS OF CALL GALA Suzette Crim and Patricia Cooper
A trek across the city’s party landscape. .
GPAC Ports of Call Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 By way of the Germantown Performing Arts Centre, Memphians embarked on a sultan’s tour of the Ottoman Empire to support GPAC’s ongoing contributions to the arts.
Tribute Dinner Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 The Arthritis Foundation recognized those who continually bring awareness to a disease affecting many in Shelby County with a black-tie affair at The Peabody.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
22
Spin This Listening to a young generation’s favorite tunes goes against all sensibilities for our veteran humor columnist, proving you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
MARGUERITE PIAZZA ST. JUDE GALA Amanda and Lindsey Burch
56 TRIBUTE DINNER GALA Nick and Kristi Pesce
Cover Photo Ron and Anise Belz at GPAC Gala Photo by John Hammer
Volume XIII
Number IV
June 2008 PUBLISHER
Roy Haithcock EDITOR
Leah Fitzpatrick O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R
Jil Marcy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi ART DIRECTOR
Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS
JUNE 2008
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
10
Toni Ander son Amy Rice
RSVP
Sean Davis John Hammer D. B. Kay Don Perry Steve Roberts
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Libby Huff
RSVP Memphis is published monthly by Haithcock Communications, Inc. First class subscriptions are available for $75.00 per year. Send name and address with a check to: Haithcock Communications, Inc. 2282 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38104
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MARTHA ANN PHELPS - HARP NATHAN PHELPS - TRUMPET & CLASSICAL GUITAR Weddings, Receptions, Dinner Parties, Liturgical Music, Corporate Events marthaaphelps@comcast.net
(901) 756-1399 • (901) 487-8055
For advertising information contact Roy Haithcock Phone (901) 276-7787, ext. 101 Fax (901) 276-7785 e-mail publisher@rsvpmagazine.com WEB
rsvpmagazine.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785. e-mail editor@rsvpmagazine.com Copyright 2008 Haithcock Communications, Inc.
MEET THE QUEEN OF SHOP SHOPPING! PPING! I am not not a professional professional sh shopper, opper, I just love to shop ... es pecially at shop... especially TThe he Shops Sh ad ddl dle e Creek! C k! off S Saddle Join me each month for the latest in what’s hot hot and wh hat’s n ot at what’s not the Mi d - South’s favo orite lifest yle Mid-South’s favorite lifestyle sh opping center - The The h Shops of shopping Saddle S addle Creek! Each month you will be trea ted to the e inside dish treated on the latest ffood ood and an nd fashion tr ends, gift giving id eas, and trends, ideas, sspecial pecial occasion items items along with personal my pers onal Shopping Shopping Queen tips addressing a ddressing your questions. que estions.
Check out my JJune une column c to see how you can win the e ““King King for pack a Day” Father’s Father’s Dayy prize p ack age. Plus, I’ll have e a free gift for a d d my column l allllll my readers. Find at www.shopsofsaddlecreek.com. w w w.shopsofsaddlecreek.com.
JUNE 2008
“King “ King for a Day” Father’s F ather’s ’s Day G Giveaway iveaway
Visit our co collection ollection of signa signature ature shops Acorn • Am American merican Café • Ann Taylor TTa aylor Loft • Apple blic • Chico’s • Coach • Coldwater Coldwater Creek Banana Repub Republic Gymboree G ymboree • IIndigo ndigo • Janie and Jack • J. Crew • J. Jill LOLA • Lucky Brand Jeans • Miguela’s Miguela’s oppe • Origins Naturall Body Spa and Sh Shoppe Strasburg Strasburrg Children • TTal Talbots a bots • Vera Ve V era r Bradley Williams-Sonoma Williams-Sonoma l Grand Cu Cuisine uisine White Hou use/Black Market • Yia Yia’s Yia a’s Eurocafe House/Black And many y more…
40 Distinctive D ve Shop Shops s&R Re Restaurants estaurants ts Poplar P oplar and West W Farmington Blvd. • 4 miles east of I-240 0 • Ge G Germantown, rmantown, TN
901.761.7604 901.76 761.7 76 7 604
www.shopsofsaddlecreek.com w w w.shopsofsaddleccreek.com
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From the Editor
E
JUNE 2008
photo by Steve Roberts
veryone likes to feel at home, whether at a roadside motel, in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, at a best friend’s house, or in the stands at a Memphis Redbirds game. Though enjoying insignificant, but got-to-have-it luxuries like your favorite bubble bath or bottle of wine aren’t always an arm’s length away in these locales, you compromise any discomforts knowing the return trip home is on the horizon. But what happens when going home is no longer an option? At present, this surreal situation has become a reality for millions left homeless by a recent earthquake in China. Think about it. Heirlooms and even family members are taken away in seconds, but one component of the human psyche remains ever-present during the worst of times. Hope: with it, a seemingly bleak today can transform into a bright tomorrow. Arm yourself with this most powerful weapon and solutions will surface shall problems arise. Look around and you’ll see hope everywhere. Firefighters suiting up to save lives. Volunteers pitching in to build houses through Habitat for Humanity. I even recently witnessed a gaggle of ducks create a makeshift home in a small puddle until they found a bigger body of water to dwell. Each unique scenario exemplifies how embracing hope creates a proactive response. I’m not saying hope comes with any guarantees, but it does offer us a chance to repair or reinvent our futures and ourselves. You never know until you try, and hope you must in
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order to try. Read between the lines of this month’s features and you’ll learn about people who are doing the very same thing, from teaching at-risk youth life lessons and a new sport to reviving the city’s only public garden downtown to bringing smiles to children and adults each weekend. Oh, and one more thing, don’t forget to bring a smile to dad’s face, so go out and get him something nice for Father’s Day.
BBest est Restaurant Restaurant and and Best Best Chef Chef 2007 2007 ~M Memphis emphis Flyer Flyer
BBest est Restaurant Restaurant in in Memphis Memphis 2006 2006 ~M Memphis emphis Maga Mag Magazine azine
BBest est New New Restaurant Restaurant in in Memphis Memphis 2006 2006 ~M Memphis emphis Maga Mag Magazine azine
TTop op RReviewed ev iewed RRestaurant estaurant 22006 006 ~ The C Commercial ommercial App A Appeal ppeal
Book B ook Y Your our C Company ompany P Parties arties T Today oday • G Gift ift C Cards ards A Available vailable 5871 5 871 P Poplar oplar A Avenue venue • 901.683.9305 901.683.9305 • M - F 11a 11a - 10p 10p • Sat. Sat. 5 - 11p 11p • Sun Sun 5 - 10p 10p www w.r . r iive v e r o ak a k ssrr e sstauran t a u ra n t . c o om m
Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com
Music Director and Conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra
Last book you’ve read: The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross. Guilty pleasure: Watching “Desperate Housewives.” Favorite Memphis musician: The Memphis Symphony, of course! Movie you could watch over and over again: Nashville. Childhood ambition: To play second base for the Cleveland Indians. First concert: Verdi’s “Requiem” when I was 3-years-old. Ideal vacation spot: New England. Stress outlet: Walking by the Mississippi River on Mud Island. Where you take out-of-town guests: The Peabody for breakfast at Capriccio Grill. One thing most people don’t know about you: I once loaned my guitar to John Belushi. Your greatest achievement: My marriage. Your mantra: It’s about the music, not about me.
photo by Steve Roberts
SIGNATURE MEMPHIS JUNE 2008 RSVP
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David Loebel
EVENT
Green Shoe Gala
GREEN SHOE GALA
Benefiting Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
I
JUNE 2008
Philip and Julie Wunderlich
Lillian and Judge George Brown
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f green is the new black, then the 2nd annual Green Shoe Gala fit the trend nicely. Ready for a pre-Earth Day celebration, eco-friendly advocates flocked to the springtime soiree at Shelby Farms to support Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, including the Adopt-aBuffalo program. The magic began at twilight with a cocktail reception held underneath a tent beautifully positioned for a view of Patriot Lake. Giant Chinese lanterns in earth tones of white, yellow, and green swayed overhead as guests nibbled on healthy fare: cherry tomato and mozzarella skewers, marinated shrimp cocktail, chicken salad in pitas, veggie and fruit spreads, and Asian noodles served on ecodesigned wooden squares. Some even took the opportunity to take pictures with a giant faux buffalo and a larger-than-life green shoe topiary on display in the middle of the hors d’oeuvre stations. Cameron Harper and Dee Griffin of Eyewitness News Everywhere opened the festivities as partygoers made their way into the dinner tent. Dressed in green ties and everything else related to the color of spring, attendees took their seats in a green, green world. The favored hue took precedence in most all décor, from tablecloths to slipcovers to pistachio truffles resting in chocolate shoes at each place setting. If you blinked, you might have mistaken the party setting for that of the Irish countryside. Jeff Morris conducted the live auction, which honored the theme with items like a “2008 Signature Green Shoe” by Jim Masterson of the Ornamental Metal Museum, an eco-tourism trip by Regency Travel, and a “Dinner in the Park” package. Dancing ensued to tunes provided by Andy Childs, and so did the energy that made being environmentally friendly cool. Sheila Zaricor-Wilson chaired the event, with Pitt and Barbara Hyde and Phil and Bridget Trenary stepping up as honorary chairs. Many generous supporters also helped maintain the splendor of Shelby Farms, where the deer and the buffalo still roam.
George Simon and Pat Kerr Tigrett
Ben and Riddell Scott
Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Rep. Steve Cohen and Regina Whitley
Mary Milton Kelly and Wyatt Franks
Bob and Donna Abney
Regina Walker, Christal and Rep. Steve McManus and Tish Robertson
Art and Bert Wolff
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The Cayenne GTS. Something this fast won’t hang around. Gossett Porsche
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EVENT GREEN SHOE GALA
Belinda and Calvin Anderson
JUNE 2008
Josh and Lisa Lawhead
Nancy and Tom Ream
Thomas the Buffalo and Cameron Harper
Phyllis Davis and Gary Harris
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Dee Griffin and Eldra White
Bo Adams, Judge Larry Potter and Nathan Lubin
Tate and Melissa Yawn
Sheila and Jim Wilson
Kristie Stewart and Jennifer Howse
Phil and Bridget Trenary
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EVENT GREEN SHOE GALA JUNE 2008
Liza Burke and David Simpson
Demetras Cowlie and Ken Hymes
Mike and Mary Ann Carpenter
April and Bill Bizot
Catherine and Marlin Womack
Tracy and Chris Houston
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Becky and Chris Suhoza
Brenda and Hal Medling
Steve Conley and Jodi Kirk
Steve Obringer and Mary Austin Mays
Peter and Rita Howard
Š 2008 Cartier
JUNE 2008
MARGUERITE PIAZZA ST. JUDE GALA
EVENT
Marguerite Piazza St. Jude Gala “A Masterpiece”
T Judy and Charles Burkett
Lisa David and Camille Dabaghi
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he Marguerite Piazza St. Jude Gala began 33 years ago, but the storied soirée remains a steadfast example of just how successful a generous endeavor can be. On a beautiful April evening at The Peabody, guests poured out their wallets and their hearts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Event organizers facilitated charitable giving in several creative ways. Some guests chipped in a $50 donation to sip vino out of wine glasses painted by St. Jude patients, while others bid on toys given to St. Jude that didn’t meet patient requirements. To get the big bling, attendees could purchase a champagne flute for $100 in the hopes of winning a 1-carat diamond. The catch? Out of 100 glasses, only one held a diamond, and the rest were filled with cubic zirconium. David’s Fine Diamonds sponsored the “Diamond Event,” which was won by a shocked Emma Jean Pierotti. Excitement quickly built around the rest of the evening’s entertainment, which included Marguerite Piazza and the St. Jude Gala Children’s Chorus, the Bob Westbrook Orchestra, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Cody Hanford, a local 13-year-old Broadway star, also held the stage for his performance of “Braid My Hair,” and AnnaBecky Redlich, even put in a special performance. Joan and Arnold Weiss received the esteemed Healing Rose Humanitarian Award, which Piazza established in 1989. Joe Birch of WMC-TV 5 emceed the affair that helps fund the great expenses St. Jude Children’s Hospital requires to operate, which amounts to $1 million daily. This year, corporate donors alone gave more than $500,000, and the total amount raised by event attendees was overwhelming. “The event was so successful, raising over $800,000 for our kids at St. Jude!” said Kelly Hill, senior event marketing rep for ALSAC/St. Jude. “This is the largest amount ever raised by this event, and we are so thankful.”
Warren King and Arlenia Cole
Nick and Jennifer Mav
Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Eric Taylor and Sherry Brooks
Shirley Condon and Marguerite Piazza
Dina and Brad Martin
Kelly Hill, Kristen Larkins and Olga Cendejas
Dan and Lori O’Brien
315 MOUNTAIN BROOK CV
Spectacular Views of Ridgeway Golf Course & Lakes and a breath of fresh air in upscale Bedford Plantation!! Welcome to this 5BR 4.5BA 3 Car Garage home, packed w/upgrades incl new kitchen granite & new stainless appliances. See the masterful 2story entry w/curved staircase, adj open DR, impressive study & 2stry, light-filled GR w/fp. Experience the flowing kitchen/brkfst/ family rm - all o'lking the lush backyard setting incl relaxing gunite pool, waterfall & grounds of Ridgeway CC. Come, fall in love! Offered at $779,900
Aristocratic • Sophisticated • Tasteful! With an emphasis on grace, charm & refined style, this French Country estate with 7 glorious acres composes an eloquent statement, sure to surpass your wildest expectations. The intermingling of expected (and unexpected) luxuries reflects the art of fine living, and the quality speaks for itself. From 6 BR's, a study, great rm, family rm, billiard rm, home theater & playrm to the outdoor kitchen, porte cochere & 5car garage, entertainment & lifestyle options are boundless. Offered at $2,195,000.
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JUNE 2008
East Memphis
SENSATIONAL SOUTHERN COLONIAL tucked away inside the prestigious gated Massey Manor enclave. Exemplary attn to detail, thoughtful architectural elements, quality construction, & a superb interior décor describe this 4BR 5BA home with playrm, media rm, 3car gar, hot tub, heated gunite pool w/wrought iron/brick fence, & updates galore. Ceilings are 11' on the first two floors, 10' on the third. And the kitchen - Wow! Loads of wood cabinetry, hardwd floors, new quartz counters, & new stainless appliances. Offered at $599,900
3202 KENNEY DRIVE
23 RSVP
6359 MASSEY MANOR LANE W
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MARGUERITE PIAZZA ST. JUDE GALA
EVENT
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Elaine, Wes and Becky Kraker
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David and Agatha LaPaglia
Michael and Deborah Dvorak
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Experience the excitement of downtown. Except while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to sleep. BeJay Gronauer, Jane Lettes and Joan Newman
www.madisonhotelmemphis.com 79 Madison Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Memphis, Tennessee 38103 â&#x20AC;˘ 901-333-1200 AAA Four Diamond Award â&#x20AC;˘ CondĂŠ Nast Traveler Top 75 U.S. Hotels â&#x20AC;˘ Travel + Leisure Top 500 World Hotels
Karen Schutter and Tory Weaver
Reed Long and Katie Wilson
JUNE 2008
Joseph and Debbie Kuzio
MARGUERITE PIAZZA ST. JUDE GALA E V E N T
Marjorie and Scott Trott
25 RSVP
Robin Bender, Jimmy Rout and Nora Boone
Sally and Frank Colvett
Mary Kathryn Buttross and Ray Mallick
Lillian Cara, Angelo Lucchesi and Emma Jean Pierotti
EVENT MARGUERITE PIAZZA ST. JUDE GALA JUNE 2008
Bruce and Janie Hopkins
Mary Ellen and Mike McMillon
Andre and Veronica Miller
Anne and Thayne Muller
Stacy and Scott Vogel
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Lisa and Frank Fitzgerald
Michael Robilio and Deborah Patteson
Laura Barnett and Stacy Montegut
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Vox Popular Q&A with Glenn Cox
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ince the 1920s, many have referred to Overton Park as Memphis’ backyard and still do so to this day. The park’s wooden setting, known as the Old Forest, is perhaps its most unique feature as very few American parks—other than several out West—house forests within an urban landscape. However, Overton Park offers an abundance of enriching activities, including those at the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks Museum, the Memphis College of Art, and the Levitt Pavilion. Snake hikes even top the list of things to do, and, yes, a certified herpetologist leads this one! However, Overton Park is just one of more than 165 parks in Memphis, and Glenn Cox, president of the board for Park Friends, Inc. (PFI), is helping ensure that the number of parks here never dwindles. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick sat down with Cox in his neighboring Overton Park home to learn how Memphians can take an ownership role in some of the city’s greenest assets.
Cox: Yeah, around that time. A lot of folks got together to focus on various park issues and so forth, and it was chartered in 1999, which makes it an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
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RSVP: What were some of PFI’s initiatives in the beginning?
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Cox: In the beginning, one of the big focuses was I think the crime and perception issues around Overton Park; the cleanup of Overton Park; taking a bit of an ownership role in it. A lot of our purposes sort of adjusted and changed when the Park Commission was disbanded. The administration disbanded what was essentially the community voice of parks in our system, and Park Friends sort of fell into that role as the citizen’s voice for city parks of Memphis. RSVP: How does the group raise funds? Cox: We generally operate through members, and the members will vary from your $10 membership up to members who have donated multiple thousands of dollars, sometimes marked toward a specific project or sometimes just offered for the general administration of the organization. We’ve applied for and received one grant so far—that was a $10,000 grant from the state of Tennessee—and we’re installing two, new informational boards or kiosks in Overton Park with those dollars. One will be around the Rainbow Lake parking lot, and one will be on the East Parkway picnic side. They will offer an opportunity for all the tenants of Overton Park, which are the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks, Memphis College of Art, the Levitt Pavilion, Park Friends, and the Division of Park Services, to display contact points, special events, hours, that type of thing. There will be a typical map, so you can orient yourself when you get to Overton Park and see what’s there. RSVP: What are some of PFI’s current initiatives? Cox: Well, we’ve recently refinished the running trail with strong assistance from the city of Memphis—they were very big partners and stepped up a couple of weeks ago during our spring clean and
came in with heavy equipment—a dump truck of crushed limestone— and put a whole new finish on the trail that the runners are loving. It was part of the original design of the master plan of 1988 that Ritchie Smith & Associates did. Another thing we’d like to address is a conversation around the 1988 master plan. Is there anything that needs to be tweaked on it? It’s been 20 years and the plan should simply be readdressed to consider updates and issues not addressed in 1988. With Hyde Family Foundations, something we would love to do is become part of their vision of connecting the green dots in Memphis. Not everything can be connected, but Overton Park surely should be connected to greater, longer trail opportunities in the community, such as the CSX rails project still under way, and the Wolf River Greenway, and so forth. Also, printing Old Forest trail maps…we’re re-marking the entire trail right now. We’ll go in and make sure every sign is where it should be because it has to be continually upgraded with the storms that come through. Some of the other initiatives we’ve taken on include irrigating the formal gardens that are near Kenilworth on the west side of the park and also providing funds for expansion and the upgrading of flowers in the formal gardens as well as some lawn maintenance. The idea there is to bring it back toward its original grandeur that it had many decades ago. We’ve also worked on the Junior Open Golf Tournament. One of the objectives I think that’s very important that I’ve discussed with Cindy Buchanan, who is the division director of Park Services, is a forest management plan for Overton Park. There’s been a stir up recently with the zoo’s Teton Trek exhibit going in and trees coming down, and we just realized that we really don’t have our hands on and don’t have a lot of control over the development of the park, especially as it falls within the boundaries of the tenants that are in the park. It’s a legacy project. Photos by Don Perry
RSVP: Was PFI actually founded in 1992?
RSVP: Have any of PFI’s plans been met with disapproval? Cox: I think if anything, the recent zoo expansion has been met with a lot of mixed reviews from our members and from the community at large. We weren’t strong and heavy-handed in our approach to the zoo—the zoo is actually on our board—so we missed it. We wished we’d talked to them before the trees had come down. The trees were
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down by the time we realized what was going on, so our best course of action is to address the future of the park including the zoo’s property. Whether we agree or disagree, it’s happened. There’s a new advocacy group that’s going on in the park right now, and we’ve met with them and know them personally, and their approach to this is much different than ours—much stronger—and we welcome them into the park. This is one of the biggest issues we’ve recently faced in the park, and we’re trying to look ahead and figure out how we can preserve and protect it for the future. If anything happens in the future, I’ll view it as our fault, and we should have been at the helm. This served as a good wakeup call.
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RSVP: Does PFI host work days?
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Cox: We do a spring clean—we just did it a couple of weeks ago—and we do a winter clean. During the winter one, we have a great opportunity to eradicate privet hedge. We also go into the forest when there are no leaves to look for litter and other debris. In the spring, we do more aesthetic work as well. We work around the golf clubhouse and edge, mulch, and spruce it up. The clubhouse is sort of our headquarters as well as the park headquarters. I think the plans are to take it up to full commercial code through historical guidelines and make it a place of opportunity for commercial establishments, such as a restaurant, but there’s nothing final on that. RSVP: What parks does PFI aim to help?
Cox: The way to break it down is we work around policy issues systemwide. The Division of Park Services will contact us about this or that, or about the selling of this park, for example. Now, we’ve always been against the selling of any park land, however what we found out was, there is a lot of vacant land in the city that has never been developed, and it’s just sitting there under the auspices of the Division of Park Services. We’re more open to that park managed land being used however they want, but once it’s a park, we will not support any change or selling of the park. I guess we might negotiate issues of replacing parks with parks, but we haven’t been faced with that. The precedent of a park being taken down and cleared for the purposes of a place of development, first of all, is shortsighted, in our opinion. We think parks are owned by the people, and therefore the people have a right to decide the future of a park, and, second of all, a park is one of the few physical assets a community has, and they shouldn’t be taken away because of economic downturns, so to speak. One of the things we’ve tried to do is create counterparts to our work in Overton Park, or watchdog groups, with other parks in the city. RSVP: Tell me a little about the Overton Park, A Century of Change documentary. Cox: Willy Bearden did that. It’s been out for a while. Willy’s on our board, and he did this movie more on his own but has basically
RSVP: Has the movie or the book ever prompted anyone to join PFI? Cox: We’ve had a lot of folks who say they’ve seen the documentary and want to join. We’ve probably had dozens of those, and a lot of folks just realize what Overton Park is. I mean, we have members from all three states [Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi] in the area and from every municipality in Shelby County. So these are a lot of folks who don’t walk to Overton Park like the rest of us who live around here, and they hop in their car and maybe they’ve never been. This introduced them to the Old Forest or some of the tenants of the park, and maybe they come down here and run or play golf. It’s a great way to introduce people to the park. We’re really trying to push heavily into the Memphis Track and Runners Club. Some of their members are represented on our board, so we try to encourage as much information about the running trail as possible. Anything we can do to get numbers of people in the park is a good thing. That’s one of the problems we’ve had is having some bad folks hanging out in various sections of the park over time, and really we’re not seeing
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much of that anymore. It’s starting to change. The idea is the more folks that are in the park, the more eyes are on the park. We’re trying to make it more than just a one-dimensional place to walk through. It’s a place to run through, a place to ride your bike around, a place to bring the kids, a place for a classroom for the area schools to go around and learn about the various plants and animals. RSVP: What do you think has been Overton Park’s biggest change since its inception in the early 1900s? Cox: It started as simply woods, so since then all of the tenants have been added. The zoo started with a little bear named “Natch” tied to a tree in the forest, and from there, someone built a structure around him, and then the zoo began. The interstate issue that tried to go through back in the ‘70s put a major face on Overton Park on a national level because that went to the Supreme Court. They determined the interstate could not go through if there was an alternate route to take, which is our I-240 loop. We’re one of the few bigger cities that doesn’t have an interstate right through the heart of the city, for good or bad. Other issues have been more aesthetic. Our relationships with the local administration and local government have seen a drastic shift to the positive in the past few years, and some of that has to do with us being seen as someone that can make things happen.
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given it to the Park Friends board to be used to benefit our causes. We sell them at Cooper Young Festival and so forth, and it’s a fundraiser. He’s also done a book, Images of America, Overton Park. Willy’s a very generous person who is rightfully concerned that Memphians, especially our children, know very little about historical components of Memphis.
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get-together. The 16th annual Society of Entrepreneur Awards presentation and dinner brought out ambitious businessmen and women about town to the U of M Holiday Inn. Richard B. Barnhart, G. Stanley Cates, Jay Martin, and James Thomas Watson were inducted into the group, and Jeffrey G. Webb was awarded the 2008 Master Entrepreneur Award. The Society of Entreprenuers and Junior Achievement of Memphis and the MidSouth helped present this formal affair, which raised
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funds to educate and encourage entrepreneurs. One The U of M Holiday Inn also hosted the “O Minute Can Change a Life” Dinner. Stanford Financial Group and the Salvation Army put on the event, which supports the Purdue Center of Hope. Kem Wilson chaired the dinner, which featured keynote speaker Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager. Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick Christine Ouzts and Dr. Ruth Ouzts at “Wine and Whiskers”
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isco groupies dusted off their dancing shoes for the first ever Groovy Get Down at the Crescent Club. The benefit for the Commission on Missing and Exploited Children (COMEC) was anything but tame as daring guests wore go-go boots, psychedelic prints, and ‘70s hairdos for dance floor grooves by DJ Vince Robinson of Powerstorm Productions. A live auction and cool eats rounded out the party that had guests boogieing all night long. Debra Arnett, Shawn Sandy and Tran Bui Believe it or not, local sculptor John McIntire at COMEC Groovy Get Down put his 50-year collection of 700 Hawaiian shirts up for auction. Held at the Memphis College of Art (MCA), the luau-themed event brought out those hungry for the cool vibe and collectible vintage shirts, including an early Duke Kahanamoku. All proceeds will fund a MCA scholarship in McIntire’s name. At Majestic Grille “The Sequel” party, restaurant owners Patrick and Deni Reilly announced their commitment to become a partner with the Memphis arts community by showcasing live music performances and art shows, without taking a commission from the artists. The Majestic Grille will even offer promotions for partnering arts organizations, including the Orpheum Theatre, Ballet Memphis, Opera Memphis, The Blues Foundation, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Kristen Terrell, Sgt. Len Edwards and Michelle Robinson Arts Memphis, and others. This party also marked the at COMEC Groovy Get Down restaurant’s second anniversary and the unveiling of an 18-foot custom screen, which will show silent films and special televised events. The Blue Streak Scholarship Fund presented its 4th annual food and wine tasting, dubbed Taste of East…Meets West. Buster’s Liquors and Wines offered the wine tasting, while The Grove Grill, Erling Jensen, Bari, Café Society, Interim, River Oaks Grill, Crepe Maker, Rendezvous, and The Cupboard Restaurant offered delectable fare. A silent auction also took place, giving attendees another opportunity to support Jubilee Schools of Memphis. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Sean Davis, D.B. Kay and Leah Fitzpatrick Ben and Kim Williams at John McIntire Hawaiian Shirt Auction
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he Junior League of Memphis Sustainer Art Opening offered a plethora of interesting mediums, including oil paintings, sculptures, photos, and jewelry, to savvy art lovers. Dr. Mike and Robbie Johnson Weinberg hosted the exhibit in their Midtown boutique, The Eclectic Eye. This fund-raiser benefited the Junior League of Memphis and its selected community projects. WKNO, public broadcasting station for the MidSouth, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its estimated $10-million Digital Media Center. Harrahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Entertainment donated the land for the new facility, which will be a 39,000-square-foot building housing the WKNO offices and its production and broadcast operations. The Digital Media Center will provide WKNO with the digital resources necessary for upcoming changes in broadcast formats. Guests of the Transformations Autism Awareness Golf Party swung into action at Parmasters Golf Training Center. Not only did attendees compete in putting and driving contests (guests could donate money for extra chances), they were given free threehour passes to Parmasters and participated in a silent auction and various drawings. Transformations Autism Treatment Center in Cordova was the driving force behind this event, where guests contributed much-needed funds for the center and to honor Autism Awareness Month (April). The inaugural Cooper Young Night Out was welcomed with open arms in the Cooper Young Historic District. Eighteen restaurants and more than 25 retail shops serve this area, with some even offering live entertainment and discounts during the event. If you missed this one, you can get your weekend started the first Thursday of each month from 5-9 p.m.
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beginning golfer often bases success on the distance he drives the ball, sometimes at the expense of adopting key skills. However, PGA professional Vince Alfonso Jr. doesn’t want the children who participate in the Memphis Athletic Ministries (MAM) golf program to let any one golf shot define who they are as golfers or people. “I teach process as the most important part,” Alfonso said. “If you have the right process, you’ll get a good outcome.” As the director/golf for MAM, Alfonso shows kids how exercising control can positively impact their game, whether putting, chipping, pitching, or making a full swing. If a child swings so hard that he falls down, Alfonso questions the kid about his level of self-control. He adds that self--control is a great tool when making life choices. In addition to helping create MAM’s middle school golf program for Memphis City School students and a citywide outreach beginner golf program, Alfonso has redeveloped the MAM golf course (the former Army Depot course) with the help of people like PGA Champions Tour professionals Loren Roberts and Jerry Pate. He points out that teeing off on the old first hole at the Depot course was difficult since the hole had a concrete ditch running right down the middle of the fairway. Alfonso laughs, “An impossible shot!” Not only has Alfonso made an impossible course possible for hundreds of Memphis’ at-risk youth, he has incorporated a ministry component to his role at MAM, which also offers soccer and basketball in a Christian setting. Prior to each golf lesson, kids enjoy a 30-minute period called “Stop, Sock, and Roll,” where they cut loose while listening to hip hop gospel and sing along with a microphone. After the formal golf lesson, Alfonso leads a devotional, complete with a question and answer session, and adds a sign about the devotional topic to a hole on the course. Words like “judgment” dot the greens and reinforce the values Alfonso, his assistant Terry Mudder, and a pool of volunteer coaches discuss. “We are in the mentoring business and the Christ-sharing business, however we respect all backgrounds at MAM,” Alfonso explained. “We’ve also created an environment where, hopefully, kids can mentor other kids. Some tell me they have even shared what they are learning about life and golf with their parents. Now that’s way cool!” Each time a child shows academic and behavioral improvement in school or someone asks for a Bible (MAM received a grant to fund Bibles), Alfonso feels just as good as if he’d made a hole-in-one. Prepping middle schoolers to be star high school golfers isn’t a bad gig, either. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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A Trek Across the City’s Party L andscape “Wild for the Cure” JDRF Dream Gala
room. After finding their way through faux safari animals, partygoers perused a bounti-
Not only was the 9th annual Dream Gala filled with many touching moments, Wild for the Cure” theme provided but the “W an escape to the African savannah. Members of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) put on this amazing cultural feast at Esplanade Memphis and raised a roaring total of $155,000 for juve-
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Dr. Shazia Hussain and Dr. Kashif Latif
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John Washington, Concetta Harris and John Sullivan
nile diabetes research. Upon arrival, guests were given a warm welcome from the enthusiastic entertainers of the Nubian Theatre Company. Dressed in full African-inspired costumes, performers like John Washington and Concetta Harris lent an upbeat tempo to the night with their inspiring songs and dances. John Sullivan, the Nubian Theatre
ful array of silent auction goodies and enjoyed chicken satay hors d’oeuvres, with dinner soon following as safari lovers’ appetites grew. The dining room was appropriately furnished with zebra-print carpet, which fit in perfectly with the party décor. Gerber daisies adorned tables covered in burnt orange and black linens as sunset safari scenes hung around the room…the atmosphere was in place. Steve Conley took the stage as the
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Company director, felt honored that he and his company members could be a part of the festivities, which included a congo line and lavish performance in the main dining
With that, guests opened their wallets to snatch up some impressive live auction items, such as a grouse and woodcock hunting trip in Wisconsin, a CMA Music Festival outing in Nashville, and a week’s vacation at an ocean-front cottage on Carolina Island. Perhaps the most unique item was a medic alert dog (present at the gala) that is trained to recognize irregular blood glucose levels. Fund-A-Cure brought the evening’s activities to a close, but not without first touching the hearts of many with children, friends, and relatives diagnosed with diabetes. This part of the program featured the stories of those living with diabetes and gave philanthropists an opportunity to donate directly to Type 1 diabetes research. There was hardly a dry eye in the building
emcee and handled this duty proudly as he’s held this post for the past several years. Conley introduced Jody Hanks, president of the West Tennessee JDRF chapter, who reiterated that the foundation’s goal is to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. “Every dollar raised will go further than in any other health charity,” Hanks said. “The cure for diabetes is in sight. Even in the past three or four years, there have been great strides made in genetic testing for the disease.”
after this portion, but Kris Peters, the 2008 Dream Gala chair, summed up the sentiment best when he said, “It takes so much to bring this together. If you have been diagnosed or have a loved one diagnosed with diabetes, it will change your life forever.” Peters’ son was diagnosed at age 5 with juvenile diabetes, as were countless other children of JDRF members and guests. In honor of Meri Armour of Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and Dr. George Burghen—both 2008 Dream Gala health achievement honorees—all proceeds from this year’s Fund-A-Cure will benefit one of JDRF’s Cure Therapeutics, Metabolic Control. Others who supported juvenile diabetes research were Bryan and Reena Powell, Doris Lawless, Charlie Hunter, David and JoEllyn Slott, Jon
The nights last longer in the glow of the moon.
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Griffin, Tiffany Brimhall, Kim Wilson, Scott LaRusso, Chris and Ashley Wiley, Christina Moran, Therese Martin, Jim and Aida Rives, Jeanie Gundlach, Lori Hanks, Lauren Clark, Valerie Caden, Jill Crocker, Jim and Cindy Jaggers, Jerome Thompson, Dr. Shazia Hussain and 2008 presenting sponsor Dr. Kashif Latif. Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
JUNE 2008
Duration Club Fund-raiser Luncheon featuring “Memphis Trivia” Carrabba’s Italian Grill—usually only open for dinner—allowed access to its Poplar Avenue location for the annual Duration Club Fund-raiser Luncheon, which will mainly benefit the Baddour Center, a center for adults with intellectual disabilities. Group members and guests appreciated the special service and filled every available seat for the Saturday-afternoon treat. Ed Parramore and his Carrabba’s staff offered a three-course traditional Italian
Natalie Moore and Joy Maness
Carolyn and Jim Gates
the bridge after the U of M game on Monday night?” In disbelief, guests didn’t know how to answer until Gates laughed and confessed he was joking. Real questions went something like the following: “What is the name of the ghost that lived in the Orpheum?”; “Who did TIME Magazine call the man with
West, Jennifer Davenport, Carole Feisal, and Francis Dear.
Kiss a Pig Gala and Street Party benefiting the American Diabetes Association Pigs are best recognized locally as a sign May is here, but the Kiss a Pig Gala and Street Party honored “oinkers” everywhere as the first discovered sources of insulin. Held at the Cadre Building, the biker-friendly affair had guests puckering up to raise money for the American Diabetes Association.
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Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
Hilda Mullen and Ann Welch
Mary Nelson and Ed Parramore
meal of Caesar salad, chicken marsala with penne pomodoro, and sogno di cioccolata (“chocolate dream”). Southwestern Distributors graciously donated vino for the luncheon. As attendees wined and dined, Natalie Moore led the St. Agnes Academy Acapella Choir, “L Ladies First,” in a pleasing compilation of songs. Dean Joy Maness of St. Agnes Upper School looked on proudly as the girls performed, as did Duration Club member Hilda Mullen, whose granddaughter, Katie Mullen, sings in the choir. Memphis An amusing round of “M Trivia” followed lunch. Jim Gates served as emcee and stumped the group with his opening question, “How many people jumped off
300 beds?”; and “Where did FedEx start its operations?” The respective answers are Mary, Kemmons Wilson, and Little Rock. Anyone who answered a question correctly received a door prize, which were handed out by Duration Club president Mary Nelson. A silent auction rounded out the activities for the molto bene (very good!) affair chaired by Becky Treace-Entrekin and Dianne Ramsey. Those who enjoyed the Italian lunch included Carolyn Gates, Ann Welch, Beverly Hadley, Terri West, June
Carole Feisal and Francis Dear
Mandy Griffin, Cyndi Burks and Emily Brown
The event coincided with the Elvis Rock ‘n’ Roll Ride for Life, a 100-mile bike ride the American Diabetes Association launched last year on the steps of Graceland. Several who participated in the ride this year rode down to the gala sporting their “Sunday leathers”—one of the dress options on the invite. With the members of the Southern Thunder HOG Chapter in attendance, what more could you ask for than a revving good time? Sporting their leathers were Don Beck, Mike Basham, Danny Keen, Pam Drevnak, and Gene Nixon, to name a few. However
fashion plates
one attendee, Vikki Thiebaud, went all out with a Miss Piggy stuffed animal, complete with leather knee-high boots and a biker helmet, strapped to the back of her bike. Danni Bruns, Pam Roberson, Mandy Griffin, Cyndi Burks, Emily Brown, and Barrett Rowan chose option two of the dress code—“casual downtown
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trendy”—and sported colorful cocktail attire. No matter the fashion, all gladly threw down to classic cover tunes played by Transitt and for the street party held on a closed off section of Monroe Avenue; the street doubled as a prime hog parking lot. In honor of the Elvis influence, the silent auction offered many Elvis-inspired keepsakes. Replicas of an Elvis “speedway” blue leather jacket, an Elvis’ wedding ring, and an Elvis “Concho” jumpsuit and belt appealed to the crowd. Other items of interest were an autographed Archie, Peyton, and Eli
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Mitch and Denise Omar
JUNE 2008
– Design consultation
Rockin’ on the River” on a clear, spring “R night. Due to the favorable conditions, party-
overcrowding, therefore saving taxpayer dollars, the SCDC has been chosen as one of 33 mentor courts in the nation by the National Drug Court Association. To show their support of this beneficial program, Memphians made their way to the evening of fun and top class entertainment, courtesy of local legend Jason D. Williams. Cocktails were supplied by Athens
JUNE 2008
Pete and Penny Aviotti
Manning photo and a Danica Patrick signed first edition book, Danica: Crossing the Line. Tommy Peters chaired the hogtastic affair, which honored Jack Soden of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Bruce Rossmeyer of Bruce Rossmeyer Harley-Davidson, and Lisa Rossmeyer Wade of Bruce Rossmeyer’s Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson. B.B. King was the honorary chairman. Others who supported the American Diabetes Association were Cordy Crittendon, Jen Wood-Bowien, Allison Carter, Nancy Ferrell, Mike and Clara Herr, Mitch and Denise Omar, Paula Davis, Amber Dawn
Belynda and Judge Tim Dwyer
goers flocked to the terrace of the River Tower Condominiums for an evening of good groves. Judge Tim Dwyer began the Shelby County Drug Court 10 years ago, making Memphis one of the first cities to adopt a program that gives nonviolent drug offenders
Lee and Jane Giovannetti
Distributors and delicious eats came from Spindini, Garibaldi’s Pizza, Huey’s, Fork it Over Catering, and Germantown Commissary. Memphis Sound Entertainment also lent some of the sound equipment. This marked the first time the SCDC Foundation has held this party at this locale, but Jack Mayer, one of the host committee members, said, “This night has been such a success, I think we’d like to hold the benefit
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Anne Stokes, Robert Dozier and John Stokes
Paula Davis, Danni Bruns, Amber Dawn Phelps and Carol Peterson
Phelps, Carol Peterson, Dr. David and Esther Evans, Erica Page, Ken and Kim Lepore, Mike and Debra Gates, Mike Christiansen, Kathy Simonetti, Pete and Penny Aviotti, and Mike and Suzie Bowen.
a chance to turn their lives around. Dwyer says these offenders are sent to one year of treatment, where they receive regular drug tests, attend support group meetings, and undergo intense counseling. Because the program has been successful in decreasing recidivism rates, returning productive citizens to the community, and reducing jail Stueart and Pam Hudsmith
Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry
here again.” Jennifer Williams, Angie Grant, Bob and Bobbie Eoff, Ralph Gagliano, Donna Gordy, Stueart and Pam Hudsmith, Katherine Mayer, Belynda Dwyer, John and Anne Stokes, Robert Dozier, and Lee and Jane Giovannetti all spent the evening mingling and dancing by the cool river breeze.
“Rockin’ on the River” SCDC Foundation Benefit The Shelby County Drug Court (SCDC) Foundation Benefit had guests
Jack and Katherine Mayer
Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
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STREETSEEN
Suzy Askew Rains Recreating a Landmark Garden
JUNE 2008
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ne photograph. That’s the only documentation landscape designer Suzy Askew Rains unearthed when researching the Magevney House garden, located on Adams Street near Victorian Village downtown. If she planned on recreating the authentic 1850s kitchen garden, Rains knew she’d have to dig a little deeper, which meant being as resourceful as the home’s original owners Eugene and Mary Magevney, both from Ireland. After receiving a grant from Principal Financial Group and District 1 of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs five years ago, she sought out census reports of the period, researched Irish food, and learned which plants African-Americans brought to America like okra, cow peas, ginger, sassafras, greens, and sesame seeds, which are all found in the garden. Current visitors can also find a spectrum of other vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers that people in the early 1800s used for dyes, fragrances, pollinators, and culinary and medicinal purposes. “The garden had to provide hope and health on a daily basis and feed Mary Magevney’s family,” Rains said. The garden, which is fully organic and even contains beans transported on the Mayflower, now nourishes the volunteers who tend it. This group takes home a wide range of goods—even honey produced from bees on site—to create original recipes. Rains’ specialty is rosemary lemonade, while her husband’s is sage soup. However, she most enjoys the recipes her son turns out at his restaurant, Roustica, with herbs she gives him from the garden. She laughs though when recalling one volunteer who made a most unusual concoction. “A lady once baked a muscadine pie from muscadines in the garden, but she accidentally left the shells on, so we all chewed and chewed,” Rains said. Ironically, more foreign tourists visit the garden while exploring downtown than Memphians do. Rains says foreigners are fascinated by the garden’s historical significance during our country’s beginning and hopes more Memphians will stop by for a cup of tea and lots of great stories. Though the Magevney House remains closed due to lack of funding, the gate beside it is open each Saturday morning for those ready for a dose of natural beauty. Just don’t ask if you can take the soil home. “You can’t buy good soil, you have to make it,” she winked.
Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
JUNE 2008
GPAC PORTS OF CALL GALA
EVENT
GPAC Ports of Call Gala “The Ottoman Empire: A Sultan’s Tour”
G Mike and Mary Ann Carpenter
Dr. Raymond and Lelita Jessers
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uests of the recent GPAC Ports of Call Gala were met at the doors of the Germantown Performing Arts Centre by a very special and long-limbed hostess—a one-month-old camel named “Callie,” who traveled from the Tennessee Safari Park at Hillcrest to help set the mood for this year’s theme, “The Ottoman Empire: A Sultan’s Tour.” More than 200 guests in elegant black-tie attire entered, for the evening, a lush world of exotic sights and sounds that celebrated the culture of Turkey (honored by the Memphis in May International Festival this year). This festive atmosphere meshed well with the culture that GPAC routinely brings to our own backyard. Such worldrenowned performers as Ravi Shankar and Lila Downs have recently graced GPAC’s concert hall, with many more greats to come. Nibbles provided by Jim’s Place Grille, Just For Lunch, and Andreas Kisler of The Peabody hotel accompanied a silent auction, with a live auction following. Meanwhile, on the balcony, the beautiful and bejeweled snake-dancer (and herpetologist) Liz DiMaggio mesmerized onlookers by performing while draped with a 30-pound, 8-footlong boa constrictor. DiMaggio’s dance partner calmly submitted afterward to being stroked by interested guests who ranged from the wary to the enthusiastic. Taking to the stage, event chairs J.W. and Kathy Gibson and GPAC executive director Tania Castroverde Moskalenko presented the GPAC Patron of the Arts Award to Bill Watkins before introducing the belly-dancing troupe Jasmine’s Jewels. Then, in a surprising twist, the curtain lifted dramatically to reveal the tables where guests would partake of a sultan’s feast, catered by Bittersweet Restaurant. First-time Ports of Call attendees Alex and David Matlock were delighted by the evening’s start-to-finish originality. Said Alex, “Dining on the very stage where so many amazing performers have appeared—what a special and personal touch.”
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Bob and Susan Baker
Story by Kelly Cox Photos by John Hammer
J.W. and Kathy Gibson
Kerr and Melanie Tigrett
Steve and Kelly Chandler
Jim and Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy
Lucie Thompson, Lisa Parks, Ida Shope, Jasmine Shope, Karen Streeter and Leena Wagle
Wally and Trudy Simpson
JUNE 2008 RSVP
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SUMMER.
SUMMER AT THE Y.
When temperatures soar, the YMCA is the perfect place for families to chill. Join a YMCA and access all our facilities including 7 pools plus water parks at Davis, Millington, Olive Branch and Collierville branches. Income-based fee assistance is available. Try it for FREE! Go to ymcamemphis.org and print out the free one-day pass. Take it to any area YMCA before June 16 and exchange it for a FREE! 3-day family pass. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three days of swimming and more. Join the YMCA today. We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.
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EVENT GPAC PORTS OF CALL GALA
Judge George and Lillian Brown
Kenny and Sandy Lenoir
Alex and David Matlock
JUNE 2008
Porter and Alexa Robinson
Castle and Mikki Duffy Knox
Emily and Mark Carlson
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Valerie and Jeff Morris
Jay and Renee Schwartzberg
Matt and Mandy Heiskell
Judge John and Michelle Fowlkes
Kemp and Anne Conrad
Jamie and Phil Baker
Billy and Phillys Estes
EVENT
Jim and Kathy Farris
Louisa Balazs and Gabor Tigyi
Frank and Mildred Dyer
JUNE 2008
Tarry and Janet Beasley
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Ron and Sheri Bishop
Leslie and Toba Kornberg
0H O T O B Y 3 T E V E 2O B E R T S
GPAC PORTS OF CALL GALA
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Gene and Ann Henson with Bob Lanier
Liz and Tim Mulroy
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STREETSEEN
Barry Rice Master of Illusion
JUNE 2008
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arry Rice might appear like your average guy during his day job as a web developer at International Paper, but don’t let his demure persona fool you. At night and on weekends, he morphs into “The Amazing Barry.” Full of closeup magic and sleight of hand, Rice wows the most skeptical onlookers. Of course, he maintains a sly smile when asked, “How did you do that?” “Magicians don’t give away their secrets because it’s not fun for the spectators once they know how it’s done,” Barry said. After all, a good deal of patience and even more practice goes into perfecting magic— something Rice has been fascinated by since he came across his late grandfather’s magic book as a child. By the time college came, he was studying the finer points of being a magician after having witnessed a fellow collegian repeatedly stump him. Rice confesses he was terrible at magic in the beginning but finally got to where he could emulate his friend’s moves. “After my friend graduated and moved away, I began studying under the guy who taught him magic,” Rice remembered. “Getting to know another magician—a good one—was a key moment for me.” Rice honed his skills and eventually began landing shows, doing everything from levitation to card tricks to swallowing razor blades. The criterion he judges his performances by is the audience’s reaction. He admits performing for children is unpredictable, but in some ways predictable because they’ll shout out if they catch on. Adults’ reactions are subtler Rice says. “When I debuted for Freak Engine improv group at TheatreWorks, I swallowed three razor blades and then a piece of thread to bring out the razor blades on, and as I swallowed the razor blades, the audience went dead quiet,” he said. “I started sweating because I thought they were bored, but afterward I realized I had done well and that they were really just paying attention.” Now the president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians’ local chapter (Society of Memphis Magicians), Rice comes into contact with magic historians and a broad range of performers, whom he welcomes critiques from. Must have been constructive criticisms since Rice won the prestigious SMMURFFF award at the Society of Memphis Magicians’ annual performance competition for two, consecutive years. Rice’s magic touch? “I’m big on presentation,” he revealed. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts
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EVENT
Tribute Dinner Gala
TRIBUTE DINNER GALA
Benefiting the Arthritis Foundation
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JUNE 2008
Dr. Shirley Raines and Robert Canady
Christine and Tim Petteys
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f all the galas that celebrate giving in Memphis throughout the year, few shine as brightly as the annual Tribute Dinner Gala sponsored by the Memphis area chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. The 2008 gala honored those who bring awareness to a disease affecting thousands of Memphians every day. Held in The Peabody hotel’s Grand Ballroom, the reception and dinner offered attendees a stylish toast to those who serve others. Appropriately, dress was black tie, and owing to the particular warmth of that April evening many ladies appeared in short cocktail dresses—mostly black—on the arms of gents in tuxes and black business suits. University of Memphis president Dr. Shirley Raines, one of two honorees that evening, arrived in a floor-length, black satin gown with sequined bodice. Members of the foundation’s 2008 advisory board like Melissa Booth, Angelette Bronson, Glen Wells, Nick Pesce, Allen Jones, Susan Hunt, Frank Navarra, Peggy and Gary Henley, Cathy Chapman, and James Luvene were on hand to greets guests and take part in the gaiety. Along with Raines, Memphis-based orthomemphis, p.c. was also honored for helping improve the lives of those living with forms of arthritis and providing leading research in the field. The University of Memphis has likewise made significant contributions in orthopaedic research. In a special presentation, volunteer David Arthur Thornton was recognized as the Arthritis Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year for his support of annual fund-raising events. Perhaps in honor of the University of Memphis men’s basketball team’s recent dominance in the NCAA tournament, the ballroom foyer was swathed in sail-like sheets of black and royal blue. Illuminated irises, hydrangeas, and bells of Ireland adorned every flat surface as guests sipped cocktails and listened to soft jazz from the Paul McKinney Jazz Trio—a remarkable ensemble consisting of electric guitar, trumpet, and drums. A live auction of high-dollar and truly eyecatching items like “The Peabody Prestige Package,” an “Old Waverly Golf Weekend,” and a Taylor guitar autographed by Vince Gill and Amy Grant rounded out the festivities, leaving attendees with a rich sense of how elegant helping people can be. The Tribute Dinner committee consisted of Gary Shorb, Charles Burkett, Larry Papasan, and Anne Craig Bobo. Esteemed sponsors included First Tennessee, Methodist Healthcare, Smith & Nephew, Abbott Immunology, Innovision, Wilson Air Center, SunTrust, and Wright, among others. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Courtney and Matthew Wages
Story by Jonathan Devin Photos by John Hammer
Dr. Joel Bumgardner and Julie Johnson
Bill and Gayle Bourland
Suzanne and David Baytos
Carter and Bowie Campbell
Haywood Smith, Rita Sparks and David Perdue
Ann and Steve Reynolds
JUNE 2008 RSVP
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$39 general admission
A L L T I C K E T S O N S A L E N O W tickets available for purchase at
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for general live at the garden information, please call the box office at (901) 636-4107 o r e m a i l t i c k e t s @ l i v e at t h e g a r d e n . c o m
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EVENT TRIBUTE DINNER GALA
Ron and Peggy Troy
Kirk and Anne Craig Bobo
Jeff and Lisa Cook
JUNE 2008
Chuck and Kathleen Grissom
David Tuttle and Anna Featherstone
Samantha Smith and Caryria Davis
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Jenny and Zack Weaks
Susan Stralka with Dave and Arleen Klevan
Courtney and Nick Drzyzga
Drs. Saptarsi and Sudha Ganguli
Drs. Ann Brown and Fred Thomason
Alayne Gardner and Ashley McCurrach
Nina and Bob McVay
EVENT TRIBUTE DINNER GALA
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JUNE 2008
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RSV PHILLIPPI
By Dennis Phillippi
SPIN THIS
JUNE 2008
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ere’s an odd development I never saw coming: sitting right beside this computer on my desk in my home office is a copy of Queen’s Greatest Hits. Underneath that is Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall,” and underneath that is “The Story of the Clash, Volume 1.” There are dozens more, ranging from the Dixie Chicks “Home,” to Bruce Hornsby and the Range. All of these things are sitting on my desk, but only the Clash CD belongs to me. What has happened? Have I suddenly acquired a taste for mediocre pop music? Nope. It’s a little thing called Spinning. Not the fun record spinning kind of spinning, but rather, the insanely unpleasant riding a stationary bike while someone shouts at you Spinning. Before you even form the thought, no, I’m not Spinning. My wife is Spinning. As Eric Clapton is my witness, I will never Spin. Well, not again. I tried it once and it wasn’t pretty. Like most everyone in our generation, my wife and I have belonged to a gym for years and years without ever going to said gym. Every once in a while, we’d get a bee in our communal bonnet and go for a few weeks, but the thing about going to a gym is that it’s not fun. There’s sweating, something I’m not crazy about. There’s the group dynamic of being around people who do enjoy sweating, not normally my group. And, of course, there are no ashtrays. None. Sure, over the last 23 years we’ve occasionally been caught up in some exercise fad or another. There were the running years, which ended when our knees noticed that they were in their 30s. For me there was a stretch of weight lifting, which ended when I realized I was in my 30s. For a time there was yoga, which sounds good on paper: stretch, get limber, and build balance and strength, but all that stretching and balancing wasn’t fun at all. It hurt and I fell over a lot. Also, I was always the only guy there. Then, about a year ago, my wife started the Spin thing. And she wouldn’t quit. She went all the time. Then she took an eight-hour class and became certified to teach Spin. Then she started teaching Spin. No amount of needling, wheedling, or distraction could deter her.
That’s where all of this pop music comes in. The teachers of this Spin thing compile playlists for each of their classes, and that involves programming all of the music onto an iPod. In order to do that she either transfers it from a CD or downloads it from the Interwebs. Hence, my desk, formerly largely ignored by my wife all of the time and by me as much as possible, became music central. See, my wife
If I want to watch someone embarrass himself on the TV, I’ll watch a Bears game because I know Rex Grossman will get the job done. stopped listening to new music in about 1979, and didn’t start back until, well, about a year ago, so she felt like she had some catching up to do. This is a person who couldn’t differentiate between Tom Petty and Richard Petty. Actually, she was probably more likely to recognize Richard Petty. Those days are over friends. Now she’s obsessed with music that would be good for her class. Her pockets are stuffed with napkins, matchbooks, and receipts bearing random lists of song titles or band names. Here are several that I swear happen to be sitting right here: “Afternoon Delight,” “Stuck in the Middle,” “Knock Three Times,” “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart,” and “The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down.” Honest. That’s not a list of good songs for Spin class, that’s a list of songs that would make most of us open a vein. A more contemporary list has Paul Young, Pink, Uncle Kracker, Kelly Clarkson, and Maroon 5. Who are those people? Okay, I know who Pink is, and I’m afraid of her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for my wife. She’s in fantastic shape, has something that has really energized her, and has reopened her mind to popular music. Unfortunately, it also happens to
have occurred right about the time that I’ve decided that the music industry is filled with children who want to make me uncomfortable. All of the pop girls dancing around in their underwear make me think about how they could easily be my daughters. The men, all of whom I gather came from “American Idol,” seem so prepackaged you can practically hear the bubble wrap popping. See, I’ve never seen a single episode of “American Idol” with the sound turned up. Sometimes it’ll be on one of the TVs at a bar that I can’t get changed to a ball game, and I’ll have to sit through what appears to be an intervention on Paula Abdul every week. The one guy says something to her and she smiles with her hands up like she’s praying, then the English guy says something and she cries. From what I can tell they’re trying to either stop her from taking so many pills, or stop her from making another record. Both good ideas. Oh yeah, and then some misguided blockheads sing something. At least on that show where the listless hasbeen celebrities dance, there’s a chance someone will break a leg. There’s also, apparently, a country version of “Idol,” a rap version, and a rock version, all following the same basic format; a little talent, a lot of no-talent, and someone to humiliate all of them on television. If I want to watch someone embarrass himself on the TV, I’ll watch a Bears game because I know Rex Grossman will get the job done. Yes, popular music has left me behind, but it’s in big stacks all over my desk, so maybe I’ll listen to some of it. I’ll give a spin to some Blink 183, or some Gwen and Stephanie. But don’t expect me to like it. I’m old.
Dennis Phillippi takes a stab at liking pop music. Of course he says listening to pop is by default since his wife chooses the musical genre to play in her Spin classes. However, we here at RSVP suspect Phillippi’s not suffering too much harm with his wife’s kickin’ curves and cool new lingo. Think he’s picked up on what a “Hollaback Girl” is? Maybe he needs to listen to a little more Gwen and Stephanie, known to most of the developed world as Gwen Stefani.
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Opening Night
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he Thunderbird Lounge was frequented by stars like Charlie Rich, Ace Cannon, and Ronnie Milsap, to name a few. This hot spot also hosted Elvis Presleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve parties from 1967-1970 and was the home of the Settlers and Flash and the Board of Directors. Co-owner Fred Alfonso, waitresses Maxine Webb and Loretta Pitts, and co-owner Ernie Barrasso pose in this picture taken on opening night (January 15, 1965). PHOTO COURTESY OF ERNIE BARRASSO 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.
salon & spa
7622 poplar pike. germantown. www.schonheitssalon.com