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CONT
ENTS
10SIGNATURE MEMPHIS
Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway
18 STREETSEENBob Arnold
12MEMPHI MID-WINTER BALLLinda Farmer and Larry Hardy
24 VOX POPULARSteve Bares
42GRIZZ GALA
Amanda and Mike Lecus
36CIRQUE DU CMOM
David VanEpps and Emily Oliva
Cover PhotoMargaret and Michael Shivers
at Cirque du CMOM
Photo by Nathan Berry
ContentsMarch 2010
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Retired NBA player Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway is giving back to his sport in a big way.
Memphi Mid-Winter Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12The Grand Krewe of Memphi played up a nautical theme for its annual ball at the Memphis
Country Club.
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18, 20 & 22He’s on a mission to spark a love of theater of the mind. She’s noticing an overall improve-
ment in the quality of life for a special group of Mid-South athletes. Father and son know best
when it comes to all things ice. StreetSeens highlight Bob Arnold, Tammy Bolen and Mac and
David Winker.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Q&A with executive director of the Memphis Bioworks® Foundation, Steve Bares.
RSVPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30A trek across the city’s party landscape.
Cirque du CMOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36The Children’s Museum of Memphis became a Parisian hotspot during its “Spectacular!
Spectacular!” fund-raiser.
Grizz Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t shoot hoops this night, but they did score with fans of the
Grizzlies House at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48, 51 & 52Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Snow Business
Resident humor columnist Dennis Phillippi steps on icy ground for this month’s rant on
weather.
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Volume XV Number VI
March 2010
P U B L I S H E R
Roy Haithcock
E D I T O R
Leah Fitzpatrick
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S
Ruth CassinKelly Cox
Jonathan DevinDennis Phillippi Lesley Young
A R T D I R E C T O R
Patrick Akers
P H O T O G R A P H E R S
Nathan BerryRoy HaithcockDon Perry
Steve Roberts
S E N I O R A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E
Libby Huff
A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E
Chris Pugh
A C C O U N T I N G
Ruth Cassin
RSVP Memphis is published monthly byHaithcock Communications, Inc. First class
subscriptions are available for $55.00 per year.Send name and address with a check to:
Haithcock Communications, Inc.2282 Central AvenueMemphis, TN 38104
For advertising information contactRoy Haithcock
Phone (901) 276-7787, ext. 101Fax (901) 276-7785
e-mail [email protected]
W E B
www.rsvpmagazine.comFor editorial information or to request
coverage of an event, pleasecontact RSVP Magazine
one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785.
e-mail [email protected]
Copyright 2010 Haithcock Communications, Inc.
C
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Laurelwood Shopping Center
400 Grove Park Road
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 767-4640
jamesdavisstore.com
WolfordTrunk Show
March 24 & 25
Spring - Summer 2010Representatives will be present
to help with your selections.
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It’s that time of year whenan event that only hap-pens every four years
graces televisions worldwide.I’m talking about the WinterOlympics, of course, but bythe time you read my col-umn, coverage fromVancouver will have longgone off the air. However,many of the athletes’ storiesand fights to win a covetedmedal will leave a lastingimpression. On a personalnote, I would hope that theexperience of being anOlympian is more about thehonor of competing along-side the world’s best athletes rather than winning, since only asmall percentage of contenders can earn the gold.
In relation to this topic, numerous other sports chal-lenges take place right here at home, from tennis greats duk-ing it out last month at the Regions Morgan Keegan andCellular South Cup to the Memphis Grizzlies’ promising questtoward a spot in the NBA Playoffs. Either of these sports hascontenders dedicated to the utmost degree, and there is alsoanother important factor to remember: These athletes haveamazing full body strength. Those with permanent physicaldisabilities don’t have the same advantage, but I’ll tell youright now that not being able-bodied isn’t stopping this groupof athletes from competing.
Tammy Bolen, whose StreetSeen story is featured onpage 20, founded Mid-South Adaptive Sports and Recreation(MASR) to make team sports available for those with perma-nent physical limitations. Not only does this unique opportu-nity instill more confidence in MASR participants on the bas-ketball court, in the swimming pool or at the track, but Bolensays, “The overall improvement in their quality of life is amaz-ing.” Why aren’t their stories in the news?
The other StreetSeens this month present equallyengaging stories, just on different subjects. Bob Arnold, whoyou can read about on page 18, upstarted an audio theatergroup that has grown from four people to 130 in a mere threeyears. On page 22, you’ll read about Mac and David Winker, afather and son team of ice carvers who have shaped theirrespective industry by patenting templates, creating never-before-seen sculptures and offering unparalleled attention todetail.
All this talk of ice is making me chilly, so stay warm.Remember though that spring is just around the corner(March 20, to be exact).
Leah [email protected]
From the Editor
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Anfernee “Penny” HardawayFFoouunnddeerr ooff tthhee PPeennnnyy HHaarrddaawwaayy BBaasskkeettbbaallll CCllaassssiicc//RReettiirreedd NNBBAA PPllaayyeerr//FFoorrmmeerr UU ooff MM MMeenn’’ss BBaasskkeettbbaallll PPllaayyeerr
Anfernee “Penny” HardawayFFoouunnddeerr ooff tthhee PPeennnnyy HHaarrddaawwaayy BBaasskkeettbbaallll CCllaassssiicc//RReettiirreedd NNBBAA PPllaayyeerr//FFoorrmmeerr UU ooff MM MMeenn’’ss BBaasskkeettbbaallll PPllaayyeerr
SIGN
ATUR
E ME
MPHI
S
photo by Steve Rob
erts
GGuuiillttyy PPlleeaassuurree:: Sweets.
PPeerrssoonnaall HHeerroo:: My grandma.
HHoobbbbiieess:: Video games and golf.
FFaavvoorriittee MMeemmpphhiiss MMuussiicciiaann:: Al Green.
FFiirrsstt CCoonncceerrtt:: Prince and New Edition.
WWoorrddss oorr PPhhrraasseess YYoouu OOvveerruussee:: Wow!
FFaavvoorriittee AAllbbuumm:: Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3.
CChhiillddhhoooodd AAmmbbiittiioonn:: To be an NBA player.
IIddeeaall VVaaccaattiioonn SSppoottss:: Maui and St. Tropez.
FFiirrsstt JJoobb:: Working at the Scott Street Market.
YYoouurr GGrreeaatteesstt AAcchhiieevveemmeenntt:: Getting my college degree.
MMoovviiee YYoouu CCoouulldd WWaattcchh OOvveerr aanndd OOvveerr AAggaaiinn:: Semi-Pro.
FFuuttuurree GGooaall:: I want to open a basketball school in Memphis.
OOnnee TThhiinngg MMoosstt PPeeooppllee DDoonn’’tt KKnnooww AAbboouutt YYoouu:: I love comedy.
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Memphi Mid-Winter Ball“Lost Treasures of the MEMPHI”E
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Charles and Janice Akins Kemp and Anne Conrad
Cindy and David Gambrell Vince and Kaki Smith
Gail and Dr. Noah Kimball Bob and Kim Weiss
MEMP
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Floy Cole, Weetie Whittemore and Lauren WienerLida and Walter Bross Mark and Leanne Sykes
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
The snow made for a dramatic winter wonderland outside, butinside the Memphis Country Club, the scene for the Memphi Mid-Winter Ball took on a much warmer vibe, literally and figuratively.
The oldest of the Grand Krewes created a “Lost Treasures of theMEMPHI” theme for the 2010 Carnival Memphis season, which itkicked off in pure “under the sea” fashion.
Not only do the Grand Krewes work hard throughout the yearto raise funds for the Carnival Memphis Children’s Charity Initiative,but each hosts a party to unveil its new royalty. For Memphi, thatmeant announcing six “Hidden Gems Duchesses,” who are stylized asMMX (2010) and represented by different gemstones. The royal courtmembers are the following: Duchess Weetie Whittemore (diamond)and Duke Dr. John Whittemore; Duchess Floy Cole (emerald) andDuke Dr. Jeff Cole; Duchess Lauren Wiener (ruby) and Duke RusselWiener; Duchess Kaki Smith (amethyst) and Duke Vince Smith;Duchess Anne Conrad (aquamarine) and Duke Kemp Conrad; andDuchess Leanne Sykes (sapphire) and Duke Mark Sykes.
Once the royalty was announced, revelry abounded in diningrooms appropriately titled the “Neptune Room,” “Nautilus Room”and “Bubble Room.” Guests savored blue cocktails served in martiniglasses with tiny plastic mermaids around the rim at the “MermaidBar,” while a mermaid, played by Catherine Norton, smiled to allwhile standing on a podium. Tiny seashells also made a big showing,appearing on place cards and in fish bowls filled with sand. Otherthoughtful touches included branches painted a brilliant red to resem-ble coral, sea horses at the entrance and a large mermaid ice sculp-ture in the foyer that gave the illusion of floating on water thanks to aprojector that emitted ripples of water on the dome overhead.
The fête continued into the wee hours, with the Pat PatrickShowband out of Nashville persuading merrymakers to get on theirfeet. Party chairs Ginger and Dabney Collier, Amy and Joey Dudek,Linda and Ed Gatlin and Virginia and Harris White couldn’t havebeen more pleased with the dedicated members who brought “LostTreasures” to life. Jim Taylor, Memphi’s chairman, says the themewill be present in other parties throughout the season and will alsoencompass the people who were part of Memphi’s notable past andmany traditions from the group’s long history.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Don Perry
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E V E N
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Carl and Trish Ring
Elaine and Trip Spear Bill and Chey Widdop Tracy and Ed Galfsky
Lorraine Barnett and Jimmy Tual Dudley and Sue Deaton Nancy and Jim Brooks
Nick and Jenny Vergos
Paul and Sue Matthews
Buddy and Laura Dearman
Catherine Norton
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E V E N
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Alice and Matt Crow
Mary Lee and Jess Wesberry Ken and Lisa Roberts Vincent and Connie Smith
Jennie and Walker Robbins Melanie Woodall, Ainslie Todd and Sue Ellen Rainey Bigelow and Carol Robinson
Jim and Kay Liles
Laura and Joey Russell
Dennis and Sarah Norton
Metcalf and Madeleine Crump
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MEMP
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John and Wanda Barzizza
Ace and Tina Roberts with Christina and Richard Roberts
Teresa Hurst and Mike Roberts
Annette and Jerry Broadhurst
Marilyn and Phil Seaton with Chantal and Jeff Johnson
Lisa Chow and Hugh Mallory
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Bob ArnoldReviving Audio Theater
Chatterbox Audio Theater began as a labor oflove for four college friends interested indoing radio shows and has since turned into a
community theater of sorts for around 130 volun-teers. Comprised of actors, directors, writers,sound effects artists, musicians and visualartists, Chatterbox caters to imaginations every-where through its fully soundscaped audio works,and as executive director Bob Arnold points out,all material is available for free streaming ordownload at chatterboxtheater.org.
The group keeps the art form as authen-tic as possible by using manual sound effects andrecording most performances live at venues likeMemphis University School, WKNO andEgglestonWorks. These spaces are a far departurefrom Chatterbox’s humble beginnings inArnold’s living room, where he says he and hisfriends hung blankets to deaden the sound.
“We were amazed what we could accom-plish with modest equipment when we started,”he says. “Our recordings sounded professional tous then, but they now sound a lot better.”
To Chatterbox’s credit, little post-produc-tion editing takes place after a show, which isusually done in two takes. Original works andadaptations of works in the public domain arefair game, and genres include drama, comedy,children’s stories and horror. Arnold himselfleans toward the gore because he enjoys gettingcreative with sound effects for horror shows,even perusing flea markets, junk stores and thegrocery aisles for ideas.
He offers, “Snapping a stalk of celerysounds like a bone cracking, and smashing ahead of cabbage sounds pretty gross. I alsoworked with a physics guy who came up with theidea of pressing sheets of metal against dry iceto release a horrible screeching noise.”
In addition to sound effects, Arnold hastaken on the part of narrator, director, writer,actor, talent recruiter and publicist many a timefor Chatterbox. He’s even added “musician” tothe hat by playing a dulcimer, a little harmonicaand a toy xylophone for shows. His next role willbe trying to get a space donated for Chatterbox’spermanent home and forming a regular produc-tion schedule.
Whether or not a permanent facilitycomes to be, Chatterbox fans can always visittheir favorite audio theater with the touch of abutton. Arnold adds, “Podcasting is still in itsinfancy, so I think there’s a huge market andpotential fanbase for productions with entertain-ment value.” Watch out iPod, here comesChatterbox!
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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Tammy BolenNot Playing the Label Game
When Tammy Bolen relocated from Baltimoreto Memphis, she and her husband immedi-ately noticed a need for sports-related activi-
ties for children with physical limitations. Notabout to let opportunities fall to the wayside foran underserved athlete population, Bolen formedMid-South Adaptive Sports and Recreation(MASR) in 2004. The MASR motto: When lifetells them they can’t, we’re here to teach themthey CAN!
“All these kids know is a label from what theycan’t do, and their parents also have the mindsetthat sports just aren’t for their kids,” Bolenexplains. “It’s a barrier we’ve got to break down.”
Bolen’s first call to action meant organizingmonthly MASR playdates for families of physical-ly challenged children. Participants would meet atthe East Memphis WellWorX for wheelchair bas-ketball and swimming, while family memberscheered from the sidelines and swapped invalu-able information and encouragement from othersin their same shoes. Having a daughter diagnosedwith cerebral palsy, Bolen relished these informalmeetups and began planning for more frequentand more sports inclusive gatherings, as well asan increase in the number of athletes, who rangefrom ages 2-21 and have conditions such as spinabifida, amputation/limb loss and dwarfism.
The nonprofit next expanded to area church-es, schools and neighborhood centers, and addedfamily biking and track and field (of which Bolenis the coach). Bolen proudly adds that MASRoperates under the Paralympic Division of theU.S. Olympic Committee and that many partici-pants travel often for competitions like theNational Junior Disability Championships, theGateway Games, the Dixie Games and theEndeavor Games.
Requests have been placed for summercamps, but Bolen’s currently focusing on servingthe visually challenged community and possiblystarting an indoor power soccer program, whichshe says is a costly endeavor. In fact, equipmentis MASR’s biggest expense, with each specializedchair averaging $2,500.
MASR does require a regular fee on an ability-to-pay basis to hold families accountable to theprogram, and scholarships are available for thosewho qualify. The kids who travel for competitionraise money by holding track and field-a-thons,with all the money going back to the families.Some families even give the money from fund-raisers to those in the program with greater finan-cial need. Now, that’s what you’d call team spirit.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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Mac & David Winker“Ice Men”
Some might remember Mac Winker from hisdays as owner of the Racquet Club of Memphis,but he’s recognized among ice carvers as the
“Father of Ice Templates” and for being inductedinto the Ice Carving Hall of Fame. When Mac firstbegan creating ice sculptures while attendingMichigan State University’s School of HospitalityBusiness, paper templates were far from standardin the industry. He changed all that by copyright-ing some 250 Winker Design Templates, the sameones his son, David, used to learn the familytrade.
What David also utilized when he took onthe niche art form was his dad’s book, IceSculpture: The Art of Ice Carving in 12 Syste-matic Steps. The how-to manual came about fromMac’s own frustrations with being able to only ref-erence the pictures, not the words, in Japanesebooks. In hopes of making ice carving more acces-sible to future generations, Mac laid out instruc-tions in his book that even a child can follow, asproven by David when he was 11. David has nowbeen carving 20-plus years, and 9,000 copies ofthe book have since sold worldwide.
“In 30 years, there will be no one who hascarved ice sculptures as long as me,” Davidbeams.
Father and son officially teamed up twoyears ago, and the “Ice Man” became the “IceMen.” Though the elder Winker has slowed downa bit since David came on board, both remainbusy producing pieces for 75-100 charities a year,Memphis in May Barbecue Fest teams, weddingparties and sporting events, to name a few clients.The requests are endless: ice luges, companylogos, animals, wine racks, bars, ghosts forHalloween and flowers frozen in sculptures.However, Mac’s “Winker Vase” design has be-come the most frequently carved ice sculpturethroughout the world.
“I’ve done over 4,000 vases, and there’sstill something about it that gets me excited eachtime I carve it…but the most intricate sculpture Iever did was a six-foot tall Ryder Cup for the 2002Ryder Cup competition in England,” Mac says.
No task is too big or small for the IceMen, and Mac has the story to prove it. He oncespent nine days in Fairbanks, Alaska building alife-size stagecoach and horses out of giant blocksof glacier ice that weighed in at 44,000 pounds.Needless to say, Mac hasn’t recreated that monu-mental structure. Instead, he and his son are con-stantly searching out new technology, from light-ing to carving knives, to improve the quality oftheir work.
“There’s something special about ice, andno matter what, an ice sculpture always leaves alasting memory long after it’s melted,” Mac sur-mises.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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Vox PopularQ&A with Steve BaresVO
X PO
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RRSSVVPP:: What initially sparked your interest in wanting to work at theMemphis Bioworks Foundation?
BBaarreess:: The most honest answer is there was nothing in my back-ground that could tell me I would do this. I was a person who hadbeen in a corporate setting, had been an entrepreneur and hadcome to Memphis to work for International Paper. I soon had theprivilege of meeting Pitt Hyde, the board chair and founder of theMemphis Bioworks Foundation, Stephen Reynolds, who is the CEOof Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, and Dr. KennethRobinson, who is currently our commissioner of health, and a num-ber of visionary leaders who were putting the Memphis BioworksFoundation together. They came to me and asked if I wanted to dosomething good for this community. Nobody had ever asked thatquestion of me before, and I thought about it and realized what anopportunity I had to make a difference. It was also a great honor tobe confirmed as the foundation’s first executive director.
RRSSVVPP:: Tell me about the begin-nings of the Memphis BioworksFoundation.
BBaarreess:: The Memphis BioworksFoundation was established in2001 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3).The foundation was created toexpand upon the community’scurrent bioscience strengths tocreate an internationally recog-nized center for the develop-ment and commercialization ofbio-science technologies.Through the vision of a groupof Memphis leaders, MemphisBioworks was formed to bringtogether public, private, aca-demic and government entitiesin a collaborative effort tochange the Memphis economiclandscape. To accomplish thegoals of the mission, theMemphis Bioworks Foundationis responsible for four key areasthat we consider critical to drivethe plan and the economic growth of the community: providing pro-gram leadership, developing infrastructure, expanding the workforceand driving research and entrepreneurship. For Memphis, our mis-sion means higher paying jobs, capital investment, a revitalizeddowntown medical center and new educational opportunities.
RRSSVVPP:: How has the foundation evolved since you first came onboard?
BBaarreess:: When Bioworks started, it was me and a cell phone. Baptistexecutives allowed me to camp out and share their offices in the930 Madison building that they ultimately donated to the Universityof Tennessee. The foundation’s first effort was to consider how tobest utilize the downtown hospital that Baptist had offered todonate to the organization. The buildings and properties weredonated to Bioworks in 2002 and have become the catalyst for theUT-Baptist Research Park. Since that time, we have worked to betterunderstand the key niches in which the region can establish a long-term viable economic cluster and have significantly expanded ourefforts to fill in gaps that are needed to meet that objective.
RRSSVVPP:: What organizations is the foundation partnered with?
BBaarreess:: On the entrepreneurship side, there are many because nogroup can do it all. Obviously, it starts with a lot of our technologypartners. For example, you look around the universities, and youhave a different tech transfer program within universities. That’s
one place where the technologycomes from. The first order ofbusiness then is the tech trans-fer partners: the University ofMemphis, UT, St. Jude and OleMiss. Technology can comefrom anywhere in the country,or anywhere in the world, butthese local partners are the keyeconomic engines in the com-munity. We also have partnerswho are in the business of help-ing small companies, such asthe Chamber of Commerce.
RRSSVVPP:: What are some of thebioscience industries thatMemphis Bioworks is helpingexpand?
BBaarreess:: Memphis Bioworks focus-es on three areas of the bio-sciences: biomedical, biologis-tics and bioagriculture. All threeareas leverage the core assets ofMemphis, which are its world-
renowned medical center, its strategic position as an internationaldistribution center and go-to-market capacity and its rich Deltafarmland coupled with industrial strengths.
RRSSVVPP:: What are some future jobs the foundation is hoping to createin the community?
BBaarreess:: That is a complicated question because there are a lot of dif-
In Memphis, there is more than $300 million invested in biomedical research annually, but Steve Bares says most people don’t know aboutthe significant medical contributions made here. As the executive director of the Memphis Bioworks® Foundation, Bares is spreading theword about the economic benefit of innovative ideas put into action and wants the community to be aware of the region’s unique position
to be a leader in accelerating the growth of the biosciences. Specifically, our city has a strong potential in three areas: biomedical, biologis-tics and industrial biotechnology. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Bares at the foundation headquarters to hear about the stridesMemphis Bioworks is making in the UT-Baptist Research Park, the education sector and the farms of the Delta, to name a few of the organi-zation’s focus areas.
Photos by Don Perry
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Announcing the arrival of the Women’s & Children’s Pavilion at Methodist Germantown, a truly exceptional center delivered with the entire family in mind. With our innovatively designed delivery rooms, spacious postpartum rooms and state-of-the-art private rooms in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the Pavilion has all the exceptional traits one would expect from the Methodist Healthcare family.
To learn more about the Women’s & Children’s Pavilion at Methodist Germantown, visit us at methodisthealth.org/pavilion.
©2010 Methodist Healthcare
The Women’s & Children’s Pavilion at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown.
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VOX
POPU
LAR ferent opportunities. If you look at the sectors where Memphis has
strengths—I go back to biomedical, biologistics and we’ll simply saythe biobased products—there’s clearly a broad spectrum of jobs inthese three areas. In the biomedical sector, you have everything fromresearch to product management at a pharmaceutical company,Human Resources in a clinical software company, manufacturing ina medical device company and the research technicians who workhere in the lab at the medical school or at St. Jude. All of these jobsrepresent a broad spectrum of jobs from undergraduates to Ph.D.s topeople that are not science-oriented at all and support the industry.If you look at biologistics, there are people such as shipping opera-tors who make sure that all products are suppliedand then there are specialty pharmacists at AccredoHealth, who are dealing directly with patients thatare learning how to cope with some pretty difficultdiseases. In biobased products, you have everyonefrom the farmers who deliver raw materials for pro-duction, all the way to chemical operators and ship-ping managers. The reason that bioscience is trans-formational for Memphis is the scope and breadthof the sustainable job opportunities it provides theregion.
RRSSVVPP:: Speaking of biobased products, can you share the significanceof the 25Farmer Network?
BBaarreess:: The bioeconomy is an economic engine based around the uti-lization of plant-based materials in a wide variety of biobased materi-als including chemicals, plastics and biofuels—already a $140 billionindustry and rapidly growing, according to McKinsey and Company.Our research led to the Memphis Bioworks Foundation’s recent pub-lication of the Regional Strategy for Biobased Products in the
Mississippi Delta. The 25Farmer Network is a key part of the actionplan that connects our surrounding productive farmland to theindustrial assets here in the urban center.
RRSSVVPP:: How many counties are involved in this program?
BBaarreess:: The 25Farmer Network is currently focused on the 21 coun-ties in West Tennessee for research on alternative crops. It is part ofour five-state, 98-county examination of the potential for agricultureand forestry revitalization through the development of new marketsand the related industrial biotechnology opportunities in the region
that was initiated by Memphis Bioworks and con-ducted by the Battelle Technology PartnershipPractice.
RRSSVVPP:: What were some of the alternative cropsplanted throughout West Tennessee?
BBaarreess:: Alternative crops that were planted includesweet sorghum, canola, millet and sunflowers, toname a few. Looking forward, new crops will betested and grown in this area replacing those that
are moving to different localities around the world.
RRSSVVPP:: What was your reaction to finding out that MemphisBioworks and the City of Memphis had been allotted $30 million inNew Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) last October?
BBaarreess:: I felt that it was a vote of confidence by the federal govern-ment in our city’s future and in Memphis Bioworks Foundation as atrusted steward of this funding. In the joint application with thecity, Memphis Bioworks received the credits to be deployed on proj-
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LARects in the Memphis area to stimulate private investment in desig-
nated low-income census tracts. The tax credits are the largest everreceived through this program by a Tennessee-based institution andpermit banks to receive a credit against federal income taxes formaking qualified equity investments in designated CommunityDevelopment Entities (CDEs). The NMTC program is designed tostimulate investment in depressed areas that will improve the eco-nomic viability of the community overall.
RRSSVVPP:: What are some projects the tax credits will be used for in thearea?
BBaarreess:: Memphis Bioworks Foundation (through asubsidiary that is designated as a community devel-opment entity, or CDE) will work with the city tojointly make decisions on how to deploy the $30million in credits. The New Market Tax Credit pro-gram is a federal program that specifies how theseinvestments can be made, but it is all about serv-ing low-income residents and rebuilding low-income portions within the Memphis MetropolitanStatistical Area. Obviously, one potential use is tostimulate investment that leads to new business opportunities andjobs in the medical center. The UT-Baptist Research Park site,including the former hotel tower site on Madison and the plannedresearch buildings, were identified as tracts for investment.
RRSSVVPP:: Do you think the Memphis Bioworks Foundation could haveworked in another location, or do you think Memphis has been theperfect fit for this organization?
BBaarreess:: It would have been different in different locations. The bot-
tom line is the areas of focus we have are really a reflection of theskills, assets and gaps in the Memphis region. What makes Bioworksunique is that we have an unbelievable board of directors who worktogether, and we’ve been able to build and work across both publicand private enterprises to really bring us the support needed tomake something happen. Getting that kind of collaboration distin-guishes Memphis from most areas. That’s something that this com-munity has done unbelievably well and continues to do well. Othercommunities look at us and are amazed at how we’re working togeth-er so collaboratively. It’s actually a really big deal and goes past theMemphis Bioworks Foundation to the core entrepreneurial spirit of
the Memphis community.
RRSSVVPP:: Where do you hope to see Memphis 10 yearsfrom now as a result of the Memphis BioworksFoundation’s efforts?
BBaarreess:: I see an economy with more innovative busi-nesses, high-paying jobs and a well-trained localworkforce that is broadly participating in these newjobs. I see Memphis building on its strong founda-tion in orthopedics, medical devices and pediatric
cancer to gain more recognition as a nationally known biomedicalcenter-of-excellence. A new sector of “personalized medicine” willnaturally leverage our strength in biomedical technologies and oursignificant air, truck and global logistics. I also see Memphis takinga leadership role in the emerging multi-billion dollar global bioecon-omy by having leveraged its climate, farmland, logistics and chemi-cal manufacturing capacity to develop sustainable green jobs. Over-all, I see Memphis in a stronger position to transform its economythrough cooperation, collaboration and by leveraging its core compe-tencies.
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Memphis Child Advocacy CenterWorks of Heart Valentine Auction
How many ways can you incorporatea heart into artwork? Apparently, more than130, if you’re going by the number ofregional “heartists” who lent their interpre-tations to the WWoorrkkss ooff HHeeaarrtt (WOH)VVaalleennttiinnee AAuuccttiioonn. Now in its 18th year, theevent leading up to the “Day of Love” has
become a favorite among many art collec-tors and those wishing to support a benefi-cial organization like the MMeemmpphhiiss CChhiillddAAddvvooccaaccyy CCeenntteerr (CAC).
Photographer MMuurrrraayy RRiissss chairedthe 2010 WOH Committee and happilysmiled at the crowd of hundreds who came
out ready to bid big. Asked about theturnout, he said, “This is great, and now Ican start to relax because everything ishung.” Indeed, the art was the focal pointof the evening and filled nearly every inchof exhibit space at MMeemmpphhiiss CCoolllleeggee ooff
AArrtt’s RRuusstt HHaallll. Even a heart-shaped votivecandle stand, designed by TTeedd RRuusstt, greetedguests out front with its brilliant flickeringflames.
Displayed in three different sections
that closed at various intervals, worksincluded everything from jewelry and paint-ings to sculptures and pottery. FavoritesDDoollpphh SSmmiitthh, JJoohhnn RRoobbiinneettttee, JJoohhnnMMccIInnttiirree and TToomm CClliiffttoonn donated theircreations once again, and MMaahhaaffffeeyy WWhhiittee,who is 98-years-young, returned for a fourthyear to donate her beautifully crafted heartchess set. If that piece didn’t grab yourattention, then there were many others thatdid with clever titles such as “Hearts on aString,” “Snowy Valentine’s,” “Love Nest,”“Time’s a Waitin’…Follow Your Heart” and“Love in Balance.” As you can imaginefrom the titles alone, no two pieces werealike, and mixed media ruled the roost.
JJooee BBiirrcchh of WMC-TV 5 emceed the
affair and was very appreciative of the par-ticipants, even getting attendees to second
his emotion by asking, “Have you ever seensuch a great commitment by a group ofartists?” Not likely, which makes NNaannccyyWWiilllliiaammss, the executive director of theMemphis CAC, proud to be a part of such aspecial event that brought in more than$60,000 to benefit abused children.
Those helping the cause and lend-ing a heart were JJuuddyy and JJiimm PPrreennttiissss,CCaarrooll PPrreennttiissss, SSaallllyy and BBrraadd HHeeiinnzz, RRiisseeMMaaxxwweellll, BBeerryyll WWiigghhtt, BBrreennddaa and HHeerrmmaannMMoorrrriiss, TTeerrrrii EEmmbbrryy, MMiikkee DDuunnaavvaanntt, MMaarrkkHHeeuubbeerrggeerr, AAnnnn WWrriigghhtt, GGrraayyssoonn SSmmiitthh,KKaarreenn MMaassoonn RRiissss and YYeennddrryy and BBrreennttAAllvvoorrdd.
Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
Memphis Scottish SocietyBurns Nicht
In 1801 on the fifth anniversary ofRobert Burns’ death, nine men met in thecottage of the Scottish poet to celebrate his
A Trek Across the City’s Party Landscape
Jim and Judy Prentiss with Carol Prentiss
Brad and Sally Heinz, Rise Maxwell and Murray Riss
Terri Embry and Mike Dunavant
Joe Birch, Ann Wright and Mark Heuberger
Beryl Wight and Nancy Williams
Andrew, Angela and Richard Tobias
life and work. More than two cen-turies later, hundreds of thou-sands of the bard’s fans world-wide gather for a similar celebra-tion, not excluding Scots-o-philesof the Mid-South, particularlymembers of the MMeemmpphhiiss SSccoottttiisshhSSoocciieettyy.
For the 27th year, thelocal club hosted its annual BBuurrnnss
NNiicchhtt at WWooooddllaanndd HHiillllss andbrought out the best in kilts, bag-pipes, haggis, and, of course,poems and songs by the belovedpoet. Men and women alikedressed in their family tartansand sat at tables named after a
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Dorothy and Clifford McWhorter
Jonathan Gibson and Jestein Laney
Building a better community together.
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initiatives, we provided more than $541 million in community benefit
in 2009. For us, it’s a reminder of how much we can accomplish and
motivation to do even more to support our community in ways that
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To view a full copy of our 2009 Community Report, please visit
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Scottish shire or text from a Burns’ poem to par-take of the feast. Though a cash bar was onsite,some brought drams of Scotch for their drinkingpleasure. While dining and imbibing, guestsenjoyed entertainment by the WWoollff RRiivveerr PPiippeess aannddDDrruummss bagpipers, as well as the folksy sounds ofEdinburgh-native EEdd MMiilllleerr. CClliiffffoorrdd MMccWWhhoorrtteerrled the crowd in prayer, namely Burns’ “SelkirkGrace.” More poems, including the bard’s“Address to a Haggis” which marked the famousdish’s arrival during the festivities, followed. Forthe faint of palate, a vegetarian option was avail-able.
Longtime member LLoorree HHiisskkyy, nowdeceased, was honored at the dinner, with her fam-ily clad in their finest plaid. “She always loved forus to come to this when we were kids growing up,”said Hisky’s daughter, LLoorreelleeii SSccaattaammaacccchhiiaa. “Shewould be so thrilled tonight with the honoring of
her.” Emotions ran even higher after so much sin-gle malt, particularly because of the Toast to theLasses and the Toast to the Lads. By the close ofthe evening, hands were held and some eyes tearedup during a communal rendition of “Auld LangSyne.”
Others in attendance included MMaarryy AAnnnnLLuuccaass, DDoorrootthhyy MMccWWhhoorrtteerr, NNaannccyy SShhuummaakkeerr,JJaanniiee DDiiggggss, LLiinnddaa DDeerrrriinnggttoonn, LLiinnddaa AAmmooss,, JJaanniicceeTThhoorrnnhhiillll, JJooaann FFoorrooppoouullooss, MMeelliissssaa and WWeessttlleeyySSiimmppssoonn, RRuuddoollpphh HHiikkssyy, RRoossaallyynn HHiisskkyy, JJaannee andKKeenn BBaaiiggrriiee, MMaarrggoo and JJoohhnn WWrriigghhtt, VVeerrnnoonnDDrraannee, TToomm WWiilllliiaammss, JJoonnaatthhaann GGiibbssoonn, JJeesstteeiinn
LLaanneeyy, EEdd, RRoobbeerrtt and KKeevviinn MMoorrrriissoonn andAAnnddrreeww, AAnnggeellaa and RRiicchhaarrdd TToobbiiaass.
Story and photos by Lesley Young
Mid-South Peace and Justice CenterA Grassroots Gala and Banquet
The MMiidd--SSoouutthh PPeeaaccee aanndd JJuussttiiccee CCeenntteerrserved up its 28th anniversary dinner, proving thatserving others can be done with flair. “LLiivviinngg tthheeLLeeggaaccyy ooff NNoonnvviioolleennccee” was the theme for theGGrraassssrroooottss GGaallaa aanndd BBaannqquueett, which took place atthe BBrriiddggeess building downtown.
Nearly 150 guests, including CCoonnggrreessssmmaann
SStteevvee CCoohheenn JJoosseepphhiinnee WWiilllliiaammss, RRaannddyy AAlleexxaannddeerr,JJaammeess PPoowweellll, JJuullii DDeennnniiss, BBeecckkyy SSccootttt, LLeesslliieeJJoonneess, MMaarriikkaa CCrraawwffoorrdd, JJooyyccee CCrraawwffoorrdd, GGaalleeMMuurrrraayy, JJooee HHaawweess, EEddwwiinnaa HHaacckkeetttt and MMiicchheelllleeMMuulllleenn, arrived to a cash bar and hors d’oeuvrebuffet on the mezzanine. The higher elevationafforded a nice view of the ballroom below, whichhad been set in white linen. MMaaxxiimmiilllliioonn’’ss CCaatteerriinnggtook credit for the array of fresh fruits, cheesesand vegetables.
At the dinner call, partygoers moved down-stairs for a buffet of Ethiopian chicken, grilled veg-etables, salmon a’la Greque, salad and pumpkin
Jane and Ken Baigrie with John and Margo Wright
Stan Hyland, Claudia McFerren-Jones and Homer Jones
Marika Crawford and Joyce Crawford
Lorelei Scatamacchia, Rudolph Hisky and Rosalyn Hisky
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pie with musical tableau set byblues guitarist JJaassoonn FFrreeeemmaann andthe hip-shaking moves ofMMeemmpphhiiss RRaaqqss TTrriibbaall FFuussiioonnBBeellllyyddaannccee. A gracious blessingwas then given by RReevv.. SSoonniiaaWWaallkkeerr of First Congregational
Church. RReevv.. EEllaaiinnee BBllaanncchhaarrddtook center stage next with herone-woman show before theevening’s featured speakers,DDaapphheennee MMccFFeerrrreenn, director ofthe Benjamin L. Hooks Institutefor Social Change, and DDrr.. KKeennRReeaarrddoonn, director of the graduateprogram in City and RegionalPlanning at the University of
James Powell and Juli Dennis
Melissa Dunn and James Brooks
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Memphis.“We are a community,not of a single agenda,but of a single vision ofwhat makes a peacefuland just world—the freeand fully human per-son,” said JJaaccoobbFFlloowweerrss, executive direc-tor of MSPJC, in hisremarks. “We can’t doeverything, but let’smakes sure what we do
fans the flames of freedom, keeping the spirit alive in Memphis, inthis larger community, in this place and in this world.”
Esteemed sponsors included EEddiibbllee MMeemmpphhiiss, AAllllyy, GGeerraarrddVVaannddeehhaaaarr SSyymmppoossiiuumm, PPaaxx CChhrriissttii MMeemmpphhiiss and WWoorrkkeerrss IInntteerrffaaiitthhNNeettwwoorrkk. Others supporters were SSttaann HHyyllaanndd, CCllaauuddiiaa MMccFFeerrrreenn--JJoonneess, HHoommeerr JJoonneess, CCoobbyy SSmmiitthh, CCoonnssttaannccee SSmmiitthh, CCoobbyy II.. SSmmiitthh,MMeelliissssaa DDuunnnn, JJaammeess BBrrooookkss, RReebbeekkaahh and AAnnddrreeww GGiieennaapppp, GGrraacceePPeerrrryy and BBaarrbbaarraa HHaawwtthhoorrnnee.
Story and photos by Jonathan Devin
Page Robbins Adult Day Care CenterDance for the Memories Gala
The PPaaggee RRoobbbbiinnss AAdduulltt DDaayy CCaarree CCeenntteerr created an eveningto remember as partygoers gathered in Cordova to celebrate the rich-ness of memory and loved ones who struggled with it. The snow hadmostly melted, but the February cold lingered as guests ventured tothe EEssppllaannaaddee for the DDaannccee ffoorr tthhee MMeemmoorriieess GGaallaa. About 400 peo-
ple attended the annualevent, now in its thirdyear at this location.
The tentedcourtyard had a tempo-rary glitch with theheating, but that didn’tstop the likes of DDoonnnnaaand DDaavvee NNeellssoonn, BBaarrbbTTaattggee, LLyynnnn and NNeeddNNeellssoonn, JJeennnniiffeerr andRRoonnnniiee RReeggiinneellllii,TTeerreessaa and MMiicchhaallRRoouutthh, SSaannddyy and JJoohhnn
BBaarrrriiooss, BBeettssyy and NNeellssoonn CCaammppaannyy and SShheerrrryy and DDeennnnyy DDoouuggllaassfrom browsing through a silent auction of more than 200 items.Executive director HHeerrbbiiee KKrriissllee joked that “this was the first auc-tion ever where you could see your breath.”
Inside the ballroom, tables gloriously adorned with center-pieces by CC..JJ.. LLiillllyy aanndd CCoommppaannyy held a feast prepared by theEsplanade’s catering staff. Delectables included gazpacho shooters,chipotle bacon-wrapped shrimp, caramelized onion and feta pastries,
Gale Murray, Joe Hawes, Edwina Hackett and Michelle Mullen
Donna and Dave Nelson with Barb Tatge
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swatchesfine fabrics • furniture • baby
2132 West Street • Germantown, TN 38138(901) 759-0971 • (901) 624-3339 Fax
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a wedge salad, filet andbalsamic reduction withred snapper over lumpcrap and capers, grilledasparagus, smoke goudapotatoes and a choice oflemon cream cake orchocolate. But the daz-zling fare didn’t keepguests at the table forlong. CCiinnddyy and DDrr.. MMooGGeehhii, JJuulliiee and CChhaanncceeGGiibbssoonn, BBaarrbb and JJiimmHHiillddeebbrraannddtt, LLiinnddaa andMMaayyoorr SSttaann JJooyynneerr,SSaannddrraa and RRooggeerr LLeewwiiss,RReenneeee TTaayylloorr, SSccootttt LLooww,MMiicchheellllee and MMiikkee MMccCCaarrttyy and MMaauurreeeenn and JJaayy MMyyeerrss hit the dancefloor as soon as TThhee AAIIMMSS GGaanngg, Page Robbins’ dance band of choice,strummed out the first chords of “Mustang Sally.”
The proceeds of the evening, upwards of $160,000, will go todefray the cost for the cen-ter’s many adults who aremaking the most of life asthey live with Alzheimer’sand other forms of memo-ry loss. Krisle added thatthe event raised more thanany previous year.“We believe that the
attendees at our eventsknow that the money theyhave contributed goes tothe cause rather thanfrills,” said Krisle. “Wework hard to be good stew-ards of the money we’regiven.”Frills or not, with the
help of sponsors like SStt.. AAnnddrreeww’’ss EEppiissccooppaall CChhuurrcchh in Collierville, theNNeellssoonn FFaammiillyy FFoouunnddaattiioonn and the FFiirrsstt TTeennnneesssseeee FFoouunnddaattiioonn, PageRobbins created a wealthof warmth on a coldnight. Gala chairmenJJeeaannnnee and CChhaarrlliieeTThhoommaass and TToommNNiicchhoollss, the president ofthe Page Robbins boardof directors, are to bethanked as well.
Story by Jonathan DevinPhotos Submitted
Chance and Julie Gibson
Denny and Sherry Douglas
Charlie and Jeanne Thomas
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CIRQ
UE DU CM
OME V E N
T Cirque du CMOM “Spectacular! Spectacular!”
Henry and Heather Grosvenor with John and Katherine Dobbs
Mike and Julie Brooks
Dick and Kathy Hackett
Richard and Beth Hussey
Karla and Clay Templeton
Nicole Nelson and Angus Macdonald
Matt and Emily Bowden
Ray and Trina Poquette
Reb and Mary Haizlip
With a red windmill and a replica of the Arc de Triomphe outfront, the Children’s Museum of Memphis (CMOM) lit up thenight sky for its Cirque du CMOM party, much as the Moulin
Rouge still does in Paris. Not only was the event “Spectacular!Spectacular!” but it raised funds for the museum to continue bring-ing memorable learning experiences to area youth.
Considered the home of the can-can, the Moulin Rouge isknown for fostering entertaining dances and all-out revelry, and inthis vein, the Cirque party committee prompted guests to toast to“truth, beauty, freedom, love and finding your inner child.”Bursting at the seams with circus-style performers, carnival games,French delicacies by Chef Kent Cullen of Café Society, ladies wearingfeathers and face paint and gents in top hats, bohemia was trulyalive this evening. For those who didn’t arrive in festive attire, theycertainly left with it thanks to volunteers who spread the boa andtop hat love. And who better to welcome partygoers into a surrealworld of whimsy than fire-eater Magic Mr. Nick?
The ornamentation also lent a magical aura to the affair, fur-ther transporting guests to the “City of Light.” From a faux EiffelTower in the hallway to giant red plumes, gilded chandeliers andcandlesticks and clusters of red and yellow roses in the MalcoMoulin room, no corner was left unadorned. Lights that spelled out“Spectacular” illuminated the stage, where femme fatales (and for-mer members of The Bouffants) Dina Martin and Julie Vergos enter-tained, as did The Plaintiffs. Aerial performances by MicheleFrances, Nancy Neyhart and Val Russell, who also did a lyra acrobat-ic spectacular, concluded the agenda.
Cirque du CMOM owes much of its success to co-chairsKatherine and John Dobbs and Heather and Henry Grosvenor and totitle sponsor iBERIABANK. Some 650 CMOM supporters attended,and $145,000 was raised for the museum’s exhibits and educationalprograms.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Nathan Berry
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.comPassword: RSVP
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9067 Poplar Avenue, Ste 101 • Germantown, TN 38138 • ph. 901.754.2909 fax. 901.754.2245 • [email protected]
Located at the corner of Forest Hill Irene and Poplar
Tout le MondeA French Boutique
Around the world and out of this world!
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OPERAMEMPHIS presents
This production was created by Opera Omaha.Scenery, Costumes, Projections and Props designed by Jun Kaneko.Photo courtesy of Hawaii Opera Theatre.
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Opera Memphis thanks ourgenerous season sponsors:
ADAMSFOUNDATION
Orpheum Theatre, 203 South Main StSaturday, April 17 & Tuesday, April 207:30 pm
E V E N
TCIRQ
UE DU CM
OM
Heather and John Maki with Steve and Lisa Beene
Jennifer Hobson with Dick and Martha Stobbs
Noel and Paul BrewsterTom and Sherry Bohlke
Holly Hagan and Alicia KavonJessica Hackett and William Hackett
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E V E N
TCIRQ
UE DU CM
OM
Jenny Vergos, Michael Donahue and Dina Martin
Dan Shumake with Adam and Christen Tooley
Katina and Andy GainesDee and Jerome Franklin
Alison and Jim BartonHunter and Elizabeth Humphreys
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CIRQ
UE DU CM
OME V E N
T
Ted and Chris Ferris
John and Cathy Boscom
Carrie and James West
Zachary and Kristine WalkerShea Lackie and Hart Kiser
Christy Muller, Janie Lowery, Cindy Dobbs and Courtney Smith Caren Nichol, Lucia Heros and Stacey Haney
Tia Osment, Posey Cochrane, Jamie White and Herbert Cochrane Kofi Appah, Val Russell, Joseph Jarvis, Joseph Dandan, Michele Benedisuk and Nancy Neyhart
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Ballet Memphis StudiosMar 27–28
Connections: Body & Soul
Hands, heads, hearts—three evocative new
pieces explore the connection between
our soulful and physical existence.
Tickets $25 and $40.
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GRIZZ GA
LAE V E N
T Grizz Gala BENEFITING THE GRIZZLES HOUSE AT ST. JUDE
J.D. and Christina Peeples with Megan and Steele Ford
Rozene and Charley Pride
Cristina Blesa and Marc Gasol
Faune and Zach Randolph
Hamed Haddadi and Shelley Deyoe
Natasha and Damon Stoudamire
Apryl and Jason Potter
Thomas Carrier and Megan Walter
O.J. and Dona Mayo
Team spirit ran high at the inaugural Grizz Gala in Tunica, withthe Grizzlies on a winning streak and ready to celebrate a slam-dunk of a charity, the Memphis Grizzlies House at St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital. Instead of the FedEx Forum, fansflocked to the Gold Strike Casino Resort to get autographs fromtheir favorite hometown NBA stars at the “blue-tie” benefit.
Tip-off began at 7 o’clock as the players and more than 400guests arrived at gaming stations and a photo booth outside the ball-room. Servers stood by offering Incredible Hulk and Madras cock-tails, Champagne and appetizers. Soon enough, partygoers embracedtheir competitive streaks for rounds of air hockey and Wii GuitarHero, while others expressed interest in numerous video games, likeGrizzly Sam Young did for Ms. Pac-Man. Silent auction tables filledwith plenty of sports memorabilia and gift certificates to local attrac-tions and restaurants also took center stage during the cocktailhour.
In keeping with the basketball theme, organizers adorned themain ballroom with mini silver basketballs that hung from the ceil-ing like disco balls, a scoreboard above the dance floor and signs like“Time Out” above the bar. Servers even donned Grizzlies tees asthey directed guests to seven food stations boasting everything froma mashed potato and sweet potato bar to sushi and fajitas. GrizzGirls made the rounds in blue dresses designed for the occasion anddrew raffle prizes, such as a night’s stay at the Hilton and a gift cer-tificate to SOLE Restaurant and Raw Bar.
At the height of the buzz, Pete Pranica, the “Voice of theGrizzlies,” announced the 2009-2010 Grizzly lineup. One by one, theplayers took the floor, and afterward, Rudy Gay and Mike Conleykicked off the first dance. A live auction rounded out the party byoffering generous bidders a chance to travel with the team toChicago and New Orleans, to name one of the hot ticket items.
All fun aside, Greg Campbell, the president of business oper-ations for the Memphis Grizzlies, acknowledged the seriousness ofthe occasion by saying, “We’re here not only to support sportsheroes, but the heroes at St. Jude. We want you to be Grizzlies fansand even bigger St. Jude fans.”
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Don Perry
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.comPassword: RSVP
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Evelyn Toles and Shun StottsRenee and Jason Peters
Angus and Anna BlairKim Pettigrew and Eric Hasseltine
Andrew and Nicole HinsonMat and Bridget Warner
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Carolyn Kalmowincz, Hasheem Thabett and Dr. Jeff Kalmowincz
David Joerger and Terri Wright
Rachel Thomas and David McKinney
Nikki Jimenez and John PuglieseDr. Kimberly Womback, Rudy Gay and Dr. Shrearest Crenshaw
Darrell Arthur, Mike Conley and DeMarre Carroll Clifton Brown, Lionel Hollins and Verna Brown
Kim Jordan Sides and George Goldhoff Jackie Dye and Anya Grant Christina and Tom Tumbleson Joy Ransom and Sam Young
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WRCSThe First and Last Name in Quality Services Provision
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Sarah Logan and Derek ZambroniShawn and Lana Danko
Alan and Margaret EverettNicole Black and Rob Legault
Chris Ewell and Crys ColemanChris and Stacy McCall
Lezli and Johnny DavisKristi Murrell and Anthony Hollins
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IZZ GA
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Robbin and John ChristensenPat and John Geelan
Lacie and Brenda NashLeslie Fowler and Ivy Smith
Michael Richerson and Amanda AnthonyStephanie Anthony and Tammy Putalla
Ashley Mercer and Marie PizanoWillie and Elaine Osborne
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George and Cynthia MayzellKevin Ritz and Anna Ivey
Dr. Laurie and Mark BakerJohanna Marineau and Pete Pranica
Audrea Reaves and Bethany MillerDennis and Erin O’Connor
Misty and Adam GermekJason Sparrow and Jessica Sweeney
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MARCH 2
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Tom and Lesley Cullenat “Thistle Farms Home Party”
Lou Anne Pritchard, Lou Bell and Claudia Haltomat “Thistle Farms Home Party”
ONSITE Onsite
Tracy Workman and Jojo Jeffriesat Make It “Count” for Kroc
Sharron Johnson and Kim Hankinsat Make It “Count” for Kroc
Paul Sax, Christy Prewitt and Joe Birchat Tom Hackenberger Musical Extravaganza
Carla and Greg Touliatosat Make It “Count” for Kroc
Tom Hackenberger Musical ExtravaganzaMake It “Count” for Kroc “Thistle Farms Home Party”
Throughout the ‘80s and into the ‘90s, pianist TToommHHaacckkeennbbeerrggeerr reached out to those with musculardystrophy by hosting an annual benefit concert. Almosttwo decades after his death in 1992, friends are uphold-ing the tradition with the TToomm HHaacckkeennbbeerrggeerr MMuussiiccaallEExxttrraavvaaggaannzzaa, benefiting the MMuussccuullaarr DDyyssttrroopphhyyAAssssoocciiaattiioonn. BBoossccooss SSqquuaarreedd housed the cocktail-cladpartygoers, who remained close-mouthed as operaticsoprano KKaalllleenn EEssppeerriiaann took the stage. Throughoutthe evening, guests also enjoyed other local musiciansincluding PPaatt RReeggiisstteerr, MMiicchhaaeell VVaarrnneerr, TToonnyy TThhoommaass,CCaappttaaiinn PPhhiill MMccGGeeee and DDiiAAnnnnee PPrriiccee. JJooee BBiirrcchh ofWMC-TV 5 emceed.
At street level, customers can browse drum sets,cymbals and talk to real live drummers about theirrhythmic needs at the MMeemmpphhiiss DDrruumm SShhoopp, but oncertain nights of the year, the upstairs is where all themagic happens. One such magical event was the MMaakkeeIItt ““CCoouunntt”” ffoorr KKrroocc benefit, an annual gathering thatbrings music to the community and raises funding forthe KKrroocc CCeenntteerr. The concert bill featured the MMeemmpphhiissJJaazzzz OOrrcchheessttrraa churning out the tunes of CCoouunntt BBaassiieewith radio personality TToomm PPrreessttiiggiiaaccoommoo and musicianJJoojjoo JJeeffffrriieess contributing vocals. During the evening,guests sipped wine and snacked on egg rolls, pasta withpeanut sauce and lox with remoulade sauce, providedby former Buns on the Run owner SShhaarrrroonn JJoohhnnssoonn,and during intermission, she brought out dessert andcoffee to keep jazz enthusiasts’ spirits kicking. “Thiswas an amazing evening where people who like jazzcould show their support for a terrific organization,”said Drum Shop owner JJiimm PPeettttiitt.
While stopping in town during their national“FFiinndd YYoouurr WWaayy HHoommee PPrriissoonn TToouurr,” the women ofMMaaggddaalleennee, a Nashville-based residential program forwomen in prison, shared their message to Memphiansat the “TThhiissttllee FFaarrmmss HHoommee PPaarrttyy” held at the home ofAAuuddrreeyy GGoonnzzaalleezz. Through the program, women whohave survived lives of violence, prostitution and addic-tion live in a safe and compassionate community fortwo years at no cost and learn job skills through itshandmade line of body products, TThhiissttllee FFaarrmmss. Whilemost guests walked away with a holiday-scented soycandle, a Winter Skin Survival Body Kit and the knowl-edge that they could purchase these products locally atWWhhoollee FFooooddss, everyone walked away with a new under-standing of the Magdalene mantra: “Love is thestrongest force for change in the world.”
Story and photos by Lesley Young
Ian and Ellen Hendry with Michael Varnerat Tom Hackenberger Musical Extravaganza
Reverend Becca Stevens, Doug and Mary Murphy and Audrey Gonzalezat “Thistle Farms Home Party”
Kerry Jones, Katrina Grubb and Arden Herringtonat Tom Hackenberger Musical Extravaganza
IT’S TIME TO CIAO! CHOW THAT IS…AT BROOKS UNCORKED: A TASTE OF THE SWEET LIFE FEATURING FOOD BY LOCAL RESTAURANTS INCLUDING GRACE, NAPA CAFÉ, SOLE, RACQUET CLUB OF MEMPHIS, GRILL 83, SOUL FISH, GROVE GRILL AND MANY MORE, OVER 50 WINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, A SILENT AUCTION AND DJ RAIFORD ON THE TERRACE.*VIP admission includes free valet, a champagne reception beginning at 6:30 pm, special offerings by Chefs Wally Joe & Andrew
Adams of the Brushmark, and premium wines in a private lounge until 8:30 pm.
FRI APRIL 167 PM, $100$90 IF PURCHASED BY APRIL 9VIP ADMISSION $150*
For information and tickets visit www.theartofgoodtaste.org or call Lindsey at 901.544.6209.
BROOKS UNCORKED HOST COMMITTEE:Tiffany Brimhall
Augusta & Greg Campbell
Lauren & Oscar Carr
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Jeany & Anthony Dionne
Amy & Marc Dulaney
Megan & Jason Hurdle
Micki & Dan Martin
Leigh Shannon
Allison & Richard Smith
Kate & Pravi Thakkar
Cameron Thompson
Presented by
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i t ’ s j a z z !
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Ron Lax and Debra Monroe-Laxat Rebirth & Rebuild Haiti Fund-raiser
Angela Henry and De'Neia Whittedat Rebirth & Rebuild Haiti Fund-raiser
ONSITEOnsite
Shirley Lawson, Barbara Austin and Barbara Patronis at Ennead Coronation
McKay Clark and Bill McMurtray at Ennead Coronation
Marvin Emilien, Paula Davis and Earle Augustus at Oscar Nominations Party
Ron Hutchinson, Betty Reschenberg and Cary Beane at Ennead Coronation
Rebirth & Rebuild Haiti Fund-raiserOscar Nominations Party Ennead Coronation
As horrific images of the recent earthquake’s devastat-ing toll on Haiti saturated the media, EEpphhrraaiimmUUrreevvbbuu, the Nigerian-born owner of the AArrtt VViillllaaggeeGGaalllleerryy, could not help but compare the Haitian chil-dren in crisis to his own young son and think: What ifit had happened to him? He worried, “What will hap-pen to Haiti when the cameras stop rolling?” Ironically,Art Village Gallery had helped publish and had in stor-age 1,000 prints of a work by Haitian artist RRoonnaallddTThhoommaass from an original owned by former Memphismayoral candidate CChhaarrlleess CCaarrppeenntteerr. During a specialreception held in the colorful gallery—with Caribbean,African, and American cuisine—it was announced thatthe sale of this print will be combined with an ongoingfund-raising effort in support of rescue and rebuildingin Haiti.
Held as a precursor to OOssccaarr NNiigghhtt® AAmmeerriiccaa((scheduled for March 7 at Minglewood Hall), the OOssccaarrNNoommiinnaattiioonnss PPaarrttyy indulged movie buffs with a replayof the Academy Awards® nominations announcement.The watch party took place at FFlleemmiinngg’’ss SStteeaakkhhoouussee,where attendees dined on appetizers and enjoyed wineand specialty cocktails. More than 70 sponsors and sup-porters of RRoonnaalldd MMccDDoonnaalldd HHoouussee CChhaarriittiieess® ooffMMeemmpphhiiss’’ Oscar Night America event came out for thekick-off to awards show season.
The UU ooff MM HHoolliiddaayy IInnnn marked the setting forTThhee GGrraanndd KKrreewwee ooff EEnnnneeaadd CCoorroonnaattiioonn of KKiinngg SSaahhaarraaXXXX, AAnnddrreeww AAnnddeerrssoonn, and QQuueeeenn SSaahhaarraa XXXX, CCaarroollyynnMMaayyoo. Krewe members decorated the entranceway andballroom in keeping with “AA MMaaggiicc CCaarrppeett RRiiddee”theme, and even displayed a luxurious sheik’s tent andminiature replica of a camel. BBaarrbbaarraa RRoobbbbiinnss BBaakkeerr,JJuulliiee CC.. EEaavveess, MMaarriioonn HHoollddeerr MMaarrrr and LLaauurraa GGaayynneetttteePPrriiccee were presented as this year’s duchesses. Enneaddukes are JJooee CChhaammoouunn, JJoohhnn GGooooddyyeeaarr, CChhaarrlleess PPeerrrryyand JJiimm TTuurrnneerr, with CChhaarrlleess CCrruummbbyy serving as flag-man. Following an impressive coronation ceremony,members and their guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffetand danced to music provided by NNaattcchheezz.. 2010 chair-man MMaarrttaa VViinnzzaanntt was pleased with both the turnoutand the enthusiasm exhibited for the first Grand Krewecoronation this season.
Story by Ruth Cassin, Kelly Cox and Leah FitzpatrickPhotos Submitted and by Kelly Cox and Roy Haithcock
Chris and Lynn McDermottat Oscar Nominations Party
Sheila, Joshua and Ephraim Urevbuat Rebirth & Rebuild Haiti Fund-raiser
Ceil Walker-Norris and Shirley Pitts at Oscar Nominations Party
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ONSITE
Mike Maness and Marie Pizano at Orpheum Dinner on Stage
Ron Olson, Nick Vergos and Steve Conley at Orpheum Dinner on Stage
Onsite
Kim Brukardt, Laurie Christensen and Lucie Brackin at Association for Women Attorneys Banquet
Michele Howard-Flynn and Judge Kay Robilio at Association for Women Attorneys Banquet
Kristin Tallent and Marcus Hunter at Celebrity Waiter’s Night
Janet L. Richards and Ruth Gattas Shelton at Association for Women Attorneys Banquet
Orpheum Dinner on StageAssociation for Women Attorneys Banquet Celebrity Waiter’s Night
The OOrrpphheeuumm DDiinnnneerr oonn SSttaaggee provided Memphians aunique opportunity to learn more about the theatre’shistory. PPaatt HHaalllloorraann, the Orpheum president, led theintimate group on a behind-the-scenes tour and recog-nized six “MMeemmpphhiiss HHeerrooeess” with awards after anItalian-themed dinner. Honorees included the late JJaacckkTTuurrnneerr, CChhaarrlliiee VVeerrggooss, DDrr.. SSccootttt MMoorrrriiss, DDrr.. BBeennjjaammiinnHHooookkss, SSuussaann SSaannffoorrdd and MMiikkee MMaanneessss. A trivia con-test rounded out the agenda, with the winning tablereceiving copies of The Orpheum: Where BroadwayMeets Beale.
More than 160 people greeted the AAssssoocciiaattiioonnffoorr WWoommeenn AAttttoorrnneeyyss’’ (AWA) 30th president, MMiicchheelleeHHoowwaarrdd--FFllyynnnn, at the annual AAWWAA BBaannqquueett. During theevening, U of M law professor JJaanneett LL.. RRiicchhaarrddss washonored with the 2010 MMaarriioonn GGrriiffffiinn--FFrraanncceess LLoorriinnggAAwwaarrdd for outstanding achievement in her legal career,and DDiiaannaa CCoommeess, JJeennnniiffeerr DD.. HHaaiillee, CCllootteeaall MMiicchheelllleeLLaaBBrrooii and MMiicchheellee SSppeeaarrss received a total of $8,000 inscholarships to the UU ooff MM CCeecciill CC.. HHuummpphhrreeyyss SScchhoooollooff LLaaww. LLuucciiee BBrraacckkiinn and LLeeaahh HHiilllliiss co-chaired thebanquet that also included cocktails, a silent auctionand a seated dinner.
For one night only, media personalitiesassumed the role of celebrity to raise funds for the 19thannual RROOCCKK 110033 RRoonnaalldd MMccDDoonnaalldd HHoouussee RRaaddiiootthhoonn.CCeelleebbrriittyy WWaaiitteerr’’ss NNiigghhtt took place at TThhee HHaallff SShheellllon Winchester, where JJoohhnn ““BBaadd DDoogg”” MMccCCoorrmmaacckk andRRiicc CChheetttteerr broadcast their show with special guestJJeerrrryy ““TThhee KKiinngg”” LLaawwlleerr. All tips the waiters received,as well as a portion of proceeds from steak dinners andthe specialty beer, benefit the RRoonnaalldd MMccDDoonnaalldd HHoouusseeCChhaarriittiieess®® ooff MMeemmpphhiiss.
Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
Austen Onek and Markova Reed at Celebrity Waiter’s Night
Joe Lammel, Anne and Pat Halloran and Linda and Andy Kelly at Orpheum Dinner on Stage
Sarah Lacy, Jordan Proctor and Clint Cummins at Celebrity Waiter’s Night
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By Dennis Phillippi RSVP
HILL
IPPI
SNOW BUSINESSBy the time you read this, the snow mayhave melted, but the memory will last awhile. This column, due to the exigen-
cies of the publishing world, has to bewritten a few weeks before the magazinehits the stands, and as I hunt and peckthere is what weather people insist onreferring to as “frozen precip” everywhere,making my driveway as treacherous ascrossing the Ice Capades. Trust me on thisone: You do not want to cross the IceCapades. They have a long memory and athirst for revenge.
For it seems like two weeks now,walking to my car has required a stancenot unlike an aging man with bad kneesand a history of prostate issues, which isfortuitous, as that’s how I walk anyway.Kids are even sick of it. When it first hit,snowmen appeared everywhere, but nowthey’re untended and falling in on them-selves like Joan Rivers. Snowball fights,which look so fun and even romantic onjewelry store commercials, become tire-some the instant ice goes down your collar.Plus, as Southerners, snowball fightsquickly devolve into the chance to take outall that anger we internalize. Once the win-dow opens to cream your neighbor, whowon’t ever control his dog, with sweet icyrevenge, it turns ugly.
The rest of the country, of course,thinks our snow paralysis is hilarious.Chicagoans and New Yorkers can finallyagree on something: Southerners beingbarricaded into our homes because ofthree inches of snow is laugh out loudfunny. Cities that routinely get knee-deepsnowfalls looked down on us from theirsnowshoes and smug snug parkas. Didthey take into consideration how rarely weexperience standing snow and ice? Was amoment’s thought spared for the fact thatour infrastructure is geared toward blister-ing heat, and little preparation was madefor things like, oh I don’t know, snowplow-ing and street salting? I’m thinking no.
The press had a field day with itsSnowmageddon and Snowpocalypse, andSnowlookatthepoorsoutherners. It showedhelicopter shots of people in Charlotte andAtlanta building snowmen like we weresome childlike race that had never seensnow before. “Look at the primitivenatives trying to appease their weathergods…” The national news mocks us
because we aren’t equipped for this kind ofthing. Of course, it also mocks our ac-cents, our cuisine, our love of pork, partic-ularly, and our taste in music, but that’s acolumn for another time.
Naturally, my friends who hate anddoubt all science took this opportunity toask about global warming. It seemed like afair knock considering at one point therewas snow on the ground in all 50 states,
yes all 50, including Hawaii. So I did whatI always do when I’m confused about sci-ence and Wikipedia fails me, I called anegghead friend of mine. This never endswell. The eggheads hate having to take mycall and explain something scientific to mylittle brain. They have to though because Ihave access to normal friends who canhelp move a couch. Eggheads may be ableto theoretically move a heavy object, butin reality they end up watching and givingirritating advice.
This particular friend, who threat-ened legal action if named here, heaved ahuge sigh of misery when I asked if maybeall this snow and ice indicated that theirnumbers may be a little skewed. Heexplained, in the same tones I’ve heardhim use to calm his 8-year-old, that it mayseem like there’s a lot of cold going on butthis is local and not global. There aremany parts of the world that are beingbaked and droughted right now worse thanever. Northern Asia and Australia are suf-
fering record heat and drought. Then heexplained that those conditions are notcaused by global warming either, and Istarted getting annoyed and testy. “TheEarth has been getting warmer in theaggregate since temperatures were firstconsistently measured in the middle of the19th century…” That was about the lastthing I heard before I dozed off. Whenpeople start heaving “aggregate” into theconversation, I go to my happy place. Myhappy dumb place.
I’m sure scientists are right be-cause they’re all smarter than me. I havefriends who think all science is hooey.Whenever they start saying that I wonderhow they feel when they get on an air-plane. Know who made that flyingmachine possible? That’s right, scientists.It’s like people who hate and fear doctorsuntil they have chest pains.
My point, and I did have one, isthat while it is true that we in the Southare ill prepared for serious winter weather,if this global warming thing is true, thepeople in the rest of the country are theones in trouble. When they get recordhighs for weeks on end, they’re going towilt like the Chargers in the postseason.When their grass turns brown and theyhave to water what’s left of their lawnwearing nothing but their gym shorts anda tank top, we’ll be laughing at them. I’vesaid it before, probably in this column atsome point, we have no problem with 100-degree temperatures and humidity thatmakes your newspaper a damp mess sit-ting on your porch. When they’re droppinglike real estate values from the currentheat wave, we’ll be having a cookout inour back yard. When the news is showingpeople in Connecticut sitting in publicfountains to escape the summer, we’ll beable to point out that we started the wholesitting in public fountains decades ago justbecause it’s fun.
Ever the proactive citizen, humoristDennis Phillippi tries to get to the bottomof the nation’s massive snowfall by pester-ing his egghead buddy about global warm-ing. He also has a little fun (or maybe alot) envisioning a summer that Northern-ers will be whining about, and we South-erners will be enduring just fine. Bring onthe sunshine!
WWhheenn iitt ffiirrsstt hhiitt,,ssnnoowwmmeenn aappppeeaarreeddeevveerryywwhheerree,, bbuutt nnooww tthheeyy’’rree
uunntteennddeedd aanndd ffaalllliinnggiinn oonn tthheemmsseellvveess lliikkee JJooaann RRiivveerrss..
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Girl Scout RoundupRSVP
AST
1962
The 16 young ladies in this picture were seniors from the Tennessee-Arkansas-Mississippi Girl Scout Council who were chosento participate in a Girl Scout Roundup at Button Bay State Park in Vermont. Attendees came to the event in July of 1962from every U.S. state and territory and from all six continents where the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts islocated. Were you involved in a Girl Scout Roundup? If so, get reconnected!
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY CANTRELL COCHRAN
If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105or e-mail the photo and caption to [email protected]
All photos will be returned promptly.
