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RSVP magazine is like no other publication in the city of Memphis. What began as simply “The Society Pages” more than a decade ago has evolved into a monthly review with stunning photography and entertaining, informative stories. See for yourself
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RSVP
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JANUARY
2011
CONT
ENTS
14LES PASSEES CABARET BALL
Bruce Harrison and Cillie Harrison
26 STREETSEENGrayson Smith
24STREETSEEN
Javonta Charles
28 SIP AROUND THE WORLDAlex and Amber Sims
36THE BOA BALL
Karen and Rick McKinley
32HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZARuss and Laurel Williams
Cover PhotoAutumn and Glenn Goerke
at Les Passees Cabaret Ball
Photo by Don Perry
ContentsJanuary 2011
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Mark H. Luttrell has RSVP over to his downtown office for a glimpse inside his life as the
mayor of Shelby County.
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 & 41Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
RSVP Watch List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Throws are the “it” item for those cool January nights.
Les Passees Cabaret Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14The city’s oldest women’s organization hosted its Cabaret Ball at Hilton Memphis and delight-
ed all with “The Beat Goes On” theme.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Q&A with Miss Tennessee Nicole Jordan.
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 & 26This athlete is making his name known in the world of boxing as part of Memphis’ newest
sports franchise. He’s helping people learn more about themselves through tree readings.
StreetSeens highlight Javonta Charles and Grayson Smith.
Sip Around the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Vino was the drink du jour at the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee’s charitable
affair held at the Memphis Botanic Garden.
Holiday Extravaganza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Guests of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis’ Christmas fund-raiser at the Pink
Palace ensured that club beneficiaries had no shortage of toys.
The Boa Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Guests embraced the alternative scarf, the boa, during a beautiful benefit held inside Central
Station for the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .402010, It Could Have Been Worse
Dennis Phillippi provides his hilarious year-end review.
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2011
Volume XVI Number IV
January 2011
P U B L I S H E RRoy Haithcock
E D I T O RLeah Fitzpatrick
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R SJonathan DevinDennis PhillippiSuzanne Thompson
A R T D I R E C T O RPatrick Akers
P H O T O G R A P H E R SNathan BerryDon Perry
Steve Roberts
S E N I O R A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V ELibby Huff
A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V EChris Pugh
A C C O U N T I N GRuth Cassin
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The time has comefor our January Sale!
Spectrum Diamonds 30% off
Come by to see our othercollections and discounts
Exclusively at
South House in
JAMES DAVISFine Jewelry Boutique
400 Grove Park • Memphis, TN 38117 • 901.767.4640Marge Snipes and Tammy Earwood
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JANUARY
2011
Happy New Year RSVPreaders! Not only hasanother year arrived,
but so has the beginning ofanother decade. I actuallydidn’t think about 2011kicking off another decadeuntil I read through ourdear humor columnist’smonthly contribution,RSVPhillippi (page 40).While Phillippi doesn’tpoint out the decade changein his piece entitled “2010,It Could’ve Been Worse,” hedoes give an overview of lastyear’s goings-on, which onlygot me thinking about howfuture happenings will com-pare. If I wrote a piece about my speculations for 2011-2020,it would be called “The Decade of Being Grateful.”
When reflecting on all that Americans have experi-enced in the past 10 years, from natural disasters likeHurricane Katrina and on a more local level, Hurricane Elvis,to terrorist threats, the “swine flu” pandemic and the GreatRecession, I realize that there hasn’t been a lack of unfortu-nate occurrences. So, when the next good things in life comealong, there should be even more reason to be grateful, hencethe aforementioned reference in my proposed title.
I do want to take a moment to recognize how trulygrateful many of my friends who are leaders in the nonprofitworld are to see charitable giving continue despite a harsh eco-nomic climate. In some cases, fund-raising goals have beenmet above and beyond expectations, and for that, these non-profit organizations are not only thankful, but are wowed bythe number of donors, often anonymous, who are willing tomake sacrifices for the benefit of others. Take the Boys & GirlsClubs of Greater Memphis’ Holiday Extravaganza (featured onpage 32), for example. Guests of the affair had already paid forparty tickets, however they more than happily came armedwith toys for children who are part of the Boys & Girls Clubs’programs. Make no mistake though, 2010 was a hard yearoverall for nonprofits, but still, it was one filled with hope.
Inspiring in another light are the individuals featuredin this month’s StreetSeens (pages 24 and 26). One of the sto-ries revolves around a boxer who could be likened, in someaspects, to a modern-day “Rocky,” while the other highlights agraphologist who is mesmerizing people with his ability toread into their character through drawings of trees. Both menwere equally fascinating and are commended for allowing meto see them in action.
Enjoy the issue, and here’s to a blessed start to a newyear, and decade, in which everyone has a clean slate.
Leah [email protected]
From the Editor
Photo by Steve Roberts
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2011
Mark H. LuttrellMMaayyoorr ooff SShheellbbyy CCoouunnttyy//FFoorrmmeerr SShheerriiffff ooff SShheellbbyy CCoouunnttyy
HHoobbbbyy:: HHiikkiinngg..PPeerrssoonnaall hheerroo:: MMyy ffaatthheerr..
GGuuiillttyy pplleeaassuurree:: CChheeaapp cciiggaarrss..FFaavvoorriittee aauutthhoorr:: SShheellbbyy FFoooottee..
FFaavvoorriittee MMeemmpphhiiss mmuussiicciiaann:: IIssaaaacc HHaayyeess..FFiirrsstt jjoobb:: AA sscchhooooll tteeaacchheerr iinn SSttaarrkkee,, FFlloorriiddaa..
IIddeeaall vvaaccaattiioonn ssppoottss:: AAllaasskkaa aanndd NNeeww EEnnggllaanndd..MMoovviiee yyoouu ccoouulldd wwaattcchh oovveerr aanndd oovveerr aaggaaiinn:: GGeettttyyssbbuurrgg..
LLaasstt bbooookk yyoouu’’vvee rreeaadd:: TThhee WWaarr LLoovveerrss bbyy EEvvaann TThhoommaass..SSttrreessss oouuttlleett:: GGooiinngg ttoo mmyy ffaammiillyy’’ss ccaabbiinn iinn EEaasstt TTeennnneesssseeee..
WWhheerree yyoouu ttaakkee oouutt--ooff--ttoowwnn gguueessttss:: SShheellbbyy FFaarrmmss aanndd RReennddeezzvvoouuss..YYoouurr ggrreeaatteesstt aacchhiieevveemmeenntt:: MMyy ffaammiillyy aanndd mmyy mmaarrrriiaaggee ooff 4411 yyeeaarrss..
OOnnee tthhiinngg mmoosstt ppeeooppllee ddoonn’’tt kknnooww aabboouutt yyoouu:: AAss aa cchhiilldd,, IIppllaayyeedd ppaappeerr ddoollllss wwiitthh mmyy oollddeerr ssiisstteerrss..
BBiiggggeesstt oobbssttaaccllee yyoouu’’vvee oovveerrccoommee:: BBeeiinngg aa vveerryy uunnccoommmmiitttteedd ssttuuddeenntt uunnttiill aabboouutt 1111tthh ggrraaddee..
YYoouurr mmaannttrraa:: ““GGoodd ggrraanntt mmee tthhee sseerreenniittyy ttoo aacccceepptt tthhee tthhiinnggss II ccaannnnoottcchhaannggee;; ccoouurraaggee ttoo cchhaannggee tthhee tthhiinnggss II ccaann;; aanndd wwiissddoomm ttoo kknnooww tthhee
ddiiffffeerreennccee..””——TThhee SSeerreenniittyy PPrraayyeerr
HHoobbbbyy:: HHiikkiinngg..PPeerrssoonnaall hheerroo:: MMyy ffaatthheerr..
GGuuiillttyy pplleeaassuurree:: CChheeaapp cciiggaarrss..FFaavvoorriittee aauutthhoorr:: SShheellbbyy FFoooottee..
FFaavvoorriittee MMeemmpphhiiss mmuussiicciiaann:: IIssaaaacc HHaayyeess..FFiirrsstt jjoobb:: AA sscchhooooll tteeaacchheerr iinn SSttaarrkkee,, FFlloorriiddaa..
IIddeeaall vvaaccaattiioonn ssppoottss:: AAllaasskkaa aanndd NNeeww EEnnggllaanndd..MMoovviiee yyoouu ccoouulldd wwaattcchh oovveerr aanndd oovveerr aaggaaiinn:: GGeettttyyssbbuurrgg..
LLaasstt bbooookk yyoouu’’vvee rreeaadd:: TThhee WWaarr LLoovveerrss bbyy EEvvaann TThhoommaass..SSttrreessss oouuttlleett:: GGooiinngg ttoo mmyy ffaammiillyy’’ss ccaabbiinn iinn EEaasstt TTeennnneesssseeee..
WWhheerree yyoouu ttaakkee oouutt--ooff--ttoowwnn gguueessttss:: SShheellbbyy FFaarrmmss aanndd RReennddeezzvvoouuss..YYoouurr ggrreeaatteesstt aacchhiieevveemmeenntt:: MMyy ffaammiillyy aanndd mmyy mmaarrrriiaaggee ooff 4411 yyeeaarrss..
OOnnee tthhiinngg mmoosstt ppeeooppllee ddoonn’’tt kknnooww aabboouutt yyoouu:: AAss aa cchhiilldd,, IIppllaayyeedd ppaappeerr ddoollllss wwiitthh mmyy oollddeerr ssiisstteerrss..
BBiiggggeesstt oobbssttaaccllee yyoouu’’vvee oovveerrccoommee:: BBeeiinngg aa vveerryy uunnccoommmmiitttteedd ssttuuddeenntt uunnttiill aabboouutt 1111tthh ggrraaddee..
YYoouurr mmaannttrraa:: ““GGoodd ggrraanntt mmee tthhee sseerreenniittyy ttoo aacccceepptt tthhee tthhiinnggss II ccaannnnoottcchhaannggee;; ccoouurraaggee ttoo cchhaannggee tthhee tthhiinnggss II ccaann;; aanndd wwiissddoomm ttoo kknnooww tthhee
ddiiffffeerreennccee..””——TThhee SSeerreenniittyy PPrraayyeerr
Mark H. LuttrellMMaayyoorr ooff SShheellbbyy CCoouunnttyy//FFoorrmmeerr SShheerriiffff ooff SShheellbbyy CCoouunnttyy
SIGN
ATUR
E ME
MPHI
S
Photo by Steve Roberts
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JANUARY
2011
Ann Sebastian with Linda and George Stephensonat Germantown Arts Alliance Gala
Jamier Bradley, Tekia Lillard and Jamal Lillardat Agape Heartlight Event
ONSITE Onsite
Keith and Patty McDonaldat Agape Heartlight Event
Robert and Jennifer Shambrookat Toastmasters Fall Conference
Easton and Saylor Waddell with Nasdaq Waddellat Harbor Town Dog ShowGinger and Kim Clark
at Toastmasters Fall Conference
Memphis Heart Gala Patrons Party Germantown Arts Alliance GalaAgape Heartlight Event Toastmasters Fall Conference Harbor Town Dog Show
Suussaann and DDaarrrreellll DDooaannee opened up their home for theAAmmeerriiccaann HHeeaarrtt AAssssoocciiaattiioonn’s HHeeaarrtt GGaallaa PPaattrroonnssPPaarrttyy. Memphis music legend BBeenn CCaauulleeyy, the honoreefor this year’s ball (scheduled for February 5 at ThePeabody), performed a duet on his trumpet with DDrr..BBiillll HHuurrdd on the saxophone. They entertained patronswith tunes like “Misty” and “Alfie” before guest speak-er GGeeoorrggee KKlleeiinn took the podium to talk about hisnewly released book, Elvis: My Best Man.
Supporters of the arts in Germantown gatheredat the EEssppllaannaaddee for the 18th annual GGeerrmmaannttoowwnn AArrttssAAlllliiaannccee AArrttss aanndd HHuummaanniittiieess AAwwaarrddss GGaallaa held justbefore Halloween. Many guests wore masks, and theshimmering gold satin tablecloths were adorned withwitches’ hats, statues of ghosts and velvet spiders. Theevent recognized the following award recipients: LLeeBBoonnhheeuurr CClluubb ooff MMeemmpphhiiss-PPaattrroonn ooff tthhee AArrttss; LLeeBBoonnhheeuurr AArrtt DDeevveellooppmmeenntt TTeeaamm-VViissuuaall AArrttss; TTaanniiaaCCaassttrroovveerrddee MMoosskkaalleennkkoo-PPeerrffoorrmmiinngg AArrttss; andCChhrriissttoopphheerr BBllaannkk-LLiitteerraarryy AArrttss.
The AAggaappee HHeeaarrttlliigghhtt EEvveenntt hit a homerun withsupporters, who ventured to AAuuttooZZoonnee PPaarrkk to see howAgape is going to bat for children and families inMemphis. Festivities included powerful videos and per-formances by TThhee BBaannttaabbaa DDaannccee CCoommppaannyy ooff MMeemm--pphhiiss, TThhee BBooyyss aanndd GGiirrllss CChhooiirr ooff MMeemmpphhiiss, TTuurrnniinnggPPooiinntt and violinist LLiillaa FFrriitthh, along with her students.Guests raised $327,500 to benefit Agape’s programs formentoring, adoption, foster care and counseling, toname a few.
District 43 of TTooaassttmmaasstteerrss IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall hon-ored WMC-TV 5’s KKyymm CCllaarrkk with the CCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnaanndd LLeeaaddeerrsshhiipp AAwwaarrdd during its TTooaassttmmaasstteerrss FFaallllCCoonnffeerreennccee. Held at the UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff MMeemmpphhiiss, theget-together that promotes strong leadership and com-munication skills also featured contests in table topicsand humorous speeches, as well as an education trackcalled “The Walkabout,” delivered by JJeennnniiffeerr andRRoobbeerrtt SShhaammbbrrooookk.
Doggies were on their best behavior for “WWhhooLLeett tthhee DDooggss OOuutt?”—otherwise known as the HHaarrbboorrTToowwnn DDoogg SShhooww, presented by DDoowwnnttoowwnn AAnniimmaallHHoossppiittaall. Puppies led their owners around the arenawhile they strutted their stuff, did their sexiest walksand performed silly pet tricks, with NNaassddaaqq WWaaddddeellllwinning “BBeesstt iinn SShhooww.” The fun-filled event, emceedby KKyymm CCllaarrkk, raised more than $14,000 to benefit theHHuummaannee SSoocciieettyy ooff MMeemmpphhiiss && SShheellbbyy CCoouunnttyy.
Story and photos Submitted and by Suzanne Thompson
Karen and Rich Selsorat Memphis Heart Gala Patrons Party
Joey Beckford, Johnny and Kim Pitts, Meri Armour and Janet Phillipsat Germantown Arts Alliance Gala
Darrell and Susan Doane with Dianne and Dr. Bob Lasterat Memphis Heart Gala Patrons Party
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PPhh
oottoo
bbyy
NNaa
tthhaa
nn BB
eerrrr
yy
LAP OF LUXURYEVENINGS IN ARE ANYTHING BUT DRABWITH A THROW SWATHED IN STYLE.
LAP OF LUXURYEVENINGS IN ARE ANYTHING BUT DRABWITH A THROW SWATHED IN STYLE.
RSVP
WAT
CH L
IST
1. Richard Nixon Throw inCharcoal by Jonathan Adler-
$295 at Mrs. Post (901-338-6117)2. Leola Pleated-Ruffle Throw in Purple
by Thro Ltd.-$39 at Dillard’s Oak Court (901-685-0382)
3. Arcadia Lap Throw in Pewter and White byMatouk-$155 at Amy Howard (901-682-2558)
4. Humbert Throw in Blues by Missoni-$370 at Oak Hall(901-761-3580)5. Candy Stripe Throw in Cream and Slate by Timeless
Classics-$75 at Gild the Lily (901-682-8277)6. Pom Pom Throw in Chocolate Brown by Karma
Living-$40 at Post 31 Interiors (901-529-7670)7. Michelle Woven Throw in Spring by Woven
Workz-$110 at Reverie (901-767-4400)
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JANUARY
2011
Les Passees Cabaret Ball“The Beat Goes On”E
V E N T
Karyn Whittington and Dena King Margaret and Chris Patterson
Jeff and Mary Sexton Julie and Kevin Stonebarger
Clayton and Christina Utkov Lori Wehr and Joan Peters
LES PASSEES CABARET BALL
Olivia Dobbs, Will Patterson and Molly McEwanHunter Krauch and Caroline Cain Brian and Kathy Swords
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
The Les Passees 101st Cabaret Ball, at Hilton Memphis, was like astep back in time, with “The Beat Goes On” theme for the begin-ning of the group’s second century of service. Event chair Laura
Cofield says she chose the theme because the heart of Les Passeescontinues to beat for the children of the Mid-South.
The event kicked off with a VIP reception for sponsors–a firsttime addition to the festivities–where Champagne flowed, and appetiz-ers of toast rounds topped with pork tenderloin and cranberry sauceor spiced avocados, as well as endive stuffed with herbed creamcheese, were served. Guests moved downstairs to browse throughitems in a silent auction that included gift baskets from Estee Lauder,Lit (restaurant supply), Hollywood Feed and McCarter Coffee Com-pany. Gift certificates from local eateries, such as Ruth’s Chris, Folk’sFolly, Tsunami, Huey’s and The Half Shell, were also offered at thesilent auction. The splashiest table contained nearly 40 items provid-ed by Platinum Jewelers and included such gems as an amethyst anddiamond ring, a variety of diamond jewelry, tennis bracelets, earringsand pearl necklaces in several lengths.
The ballroom was an explosion of colors as bright as the facesof the dedicated Les Passees members and their guests. RichardCarter and his wife, Joyce, along with Kevin Danish, regional directorfor Kroger, one of the sponsors, were among those who enjoyed a din-ner that began with an orange-walnut salad, followed by surf and turfwith roasted new potatoes and a choice of chocolate cake or key limepie drizzled with caramel sauce. During dinner, the 18 living ads, alldressed in white evening gowns, were presented with their escorts,and pages wearing fluorescent colored wigs carried banners bearingthe names of all the sponsors. Afterward, guests like Steve Turner,president of Turner Dairies, a long-time sponsor of Les Passees, andhis wife, Lura Turner, a member of the organization, joined dancersentertained by music of the band Reliance. Turner says she finds herwork with Les Passees very gratifying.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing to reach out and help childrenin the Memphis community,” Turner enthused.
Les Passees president Jennie Helm added that after the closeof one of the most successful years for the organization’s StockExchange (the annual one-month store Les Passees members fill withdonated items and sell to area bargain hunters) everyone was ready tocelebrate.
Story by Suzanne ThompsonPhotos by Don Perry
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E V E N T
LES PASSEES CABARET BALL
Mary Fortney, Meredith Matthews and Mary Margaret Moore
Lance and Jennifer Kruchten
Jane and Mark Harris with Jennie Helm
Metcalf and Madeleine Crump
Carolyn Ashmun, Staten Smith and Sophie Dunavant
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JANUARY
2011
LES PASSEES CABARET BALL
E V E N T
Kerry and Lisa Walker with Nancy and Kip Klepper
Jennifer, Lauren and Don Lasseter
Emily, Rene and Tim Booth
Steve and Lura Turner with Jeannie and Marvin Smith
c h i c k a s a w o a k s v i l l a g e
3 0 9 2 p o p l a r a v e . 9 0 1 . 4 5 2 . 2 3 2 3
K I T T I E K Y L Ef a s h i o n a c c e s s o r i e s s t y l e
E X C L U S I V E T R U N K S H O Ww i t h D e s i g n e r C A R O L P E R E T Z
Thursday, January 27
4p - 6p Designer Recept ion
Fr iday, January 28 & Saturday, January 29
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JANUARY
2011
Vox PopularQ&A with Nicole JordanVO
X PO
PULA
R
RRSSVVPP:: Before being crowned Miss Tennessee in June 2010, you’dcompeted twice previously for the title, so I was wondering if youever felt like giving up?
JJoorrddaann:: I did, but I didn’t because as much as I knew I wanted tobe Miss Tennessee, I was entering my first year in college and reallywanted that experience, too. I also knew, just from knowing severalMiss Tennessees, that the job was more than I could have handledas a 17-year-old. You know, you’re by yourself pretty much 24/7until you get to whatever city wherever you have an engagement,have to stay organized and be so flexible to be able to just speak inpublic at the drop of the hat and talk about something you may notknow much about. There were a lot of things I had to learn before Iknew I’d be ready. I won talent and won nonfinalist this and that,so I felt like I was on the right track but deep down knew I wasn’tready for the job because it really is a job. The week of MissTennessee is very stressfuland definitely a competi-tion, but once that week isover, it’s just you and thelives you have the chanceto affect. If you’re not pre-pared for the entire year,then you’re in trouble.
RRSSVVPP:: Who or what do youdraw inspiration fromwhen you’re on stage atcompetitions?
JJoorrddaann:: Emotionally, Idraw from my familybecause they understandhow I got here. They’reamazing. You asked aminute ago if I everthought about not compet-ing, and there was oneyear that I did, and Ithought, “My heart’s notin it this year, and I know I’m not ready for the job.” My dad said,“Nicole, do you think NBA and NFL players gain anything if theysit out a year?” Of course, it’s a sports analogy. He said, “Everytime you’re on that stage, you’re going to gain an experience andlearn something from it.” So, I went ahead and competed that year.My family has never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to doby any means, but they’ve been able to keep me on track and helpme make decisions that get me to my goals. Performance wise, myfavorite performer is Kristin Chenowith. She’s in films and startedon Broadway, and she’s a phenomenal singer who has been on“Glee” a lot. She’s someone whose lifestyle I admire, along with hervocal talent. She was also first runner-up in the Miss Oklahoma pag-
eant when she was my age.
RRSSVVPP:: Which one of your qualities do you feel is most appealing topageant judges?
JJoorrddaann:: I just think I’m real. What you see is what you get. What Ilove about the Miss America system is that I don’t think it’s asmuch of a beauty pageant; it’s about how you carry yourself in gen-eral. For me, when I go in the interview room, I just want thejudges to see that I can relate to people and that I have a heart ofservice, and to me that’s what the job of Miss America and MissTennessee is about.
RRSSVVPP:: I know you’re involved with several nonprofits, so can youhighlight your work with those?
JJoorrddaann:: My personal plat-form is America’s PromiseAlliance. I’ve been workingreally closely with thenational headquarters inD.C. this year, and they’rebasically on standby hop-ing I’m Miss America andthat they can take it evenfurther with me. I’ve beenable to really tailor mymessage…actually, thefunding for the Depart-ment of Education’sCharacter Counts! andDrug Free Tennessee wasdropped in 2010, so for awhile, we didn’t knowwhat we were going to dobecause we didn’t have themoney to finance megoing around and talkingto the schools. Thankfully,Kirkland’s has picked it
up, so I’m able to still do my school tours with them sponsoringme. But, at first we didn’t know what we were going to do or howwe were going to go about it, so I’ve actually had a greater opportu-nity because normally I would be speaking on drug and alcoholabuse, but I’ve been able to take my platform even further and talkto those kids about what I’ve been working for. It was a blessing indisguise, and all the financing has worked out perfectly. So,America’s Promise Alliance has five promises [“Caring Adults,”“Safe Places,” “Effective Education,” “Opportunities to HelpOthers” and “A Healthy Start”], and they’ve just launched a cam-paign called Grad Nation, which puts an emphasis on getting everyteenager to graduate from high school. We truly believe that if we
This month, Miss Tennessee Nicole Jordan, who is a Memphis native, will venture to the Miss America pageant at Planet Hollywood inLas Vegas for her chance to win the coveted crown. On the go with constant preparations, Jordan roughly spends one night a week at herhouse, with the rest of her schedule spent traveling for speaking engagements, volunteer efforts and training. She managed to come
through Memphis in December to help open Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital new gift shop, “Branches-Gifts in Bloom,” and that’s justwhere RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Jordan for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Not since 1996 has a Miss Tennessee come fromMemphis, so tune in to ABC on January 15 to cheer on a hometown favorite, and a woman filled with poise, a maturity beyond her years, anamazing singing voice and a passion for philanthropy.
Photos by Steve Roberts
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can implement just one ofthose promises in a child’s lifethat he or she will have a bet-ter chance at success. I feellike everything I do as MissTennessee or as Nicole Jordanall works under America’sPromise Alliance. For example,working here at Le Bonheur is“Caring Adults” and one of the“Safe Places.” That’s two ofthe promises right there. Otherorganizations I’ve worked withthrough America’s PromiseAlliance are Boys & Girls Clubsof America and Youth Villages.America’s Promise Allianceactually has over 400 nonprofitorganizations underneaththem, so they’ve been my sup-port to get into those organiza-tions. Miss America’s part-nered with the Children’sMiracle Network, so like LeBonheur, it’s involved with“Caring Adults,” and it’s“Effective Education” andinvolved with “A HealthyStart.” It all works together,and I’m really fortunate towork with America’s PromiseAlliance.
RRSSVVPP:: What are the philan-thropic programs you’ve estab-lished on your own?
JJoorrddaann:: It all got started whenI was at the residential part ofYouth Villages at their locationin Bartlett. My wheels got toturning when I visited becauseI saw several kids on a trackrunning and noticed some hadflip-flops and other shoes thatdefinitely weren’t tennis shoes.I knew these kids were tryingto implement a healthy life-style, but half of them didn’thave the right necessities to dothat. I had heard through afriend who works with ASICSthat every time something getsstolen from a load or everytime they miscount somethingon their semis, they can’t usethe entire load and have tothrow the shoes away. ASICS isone of the best tennis shoecompanies and has greatfootwear, so I thought that wasdevastating they have to throwall these shoes away becausethere are so many kids outthere and disadvantaged peoplewho don’t have tennis shoes. Idecided then to write a letter
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2011
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to the CEO of ASICSin California, and Itold him what I want-ed to do with thoseshoes that get thrownaway. He was so gener-ous that he said,“Every single load thatwe get from now ownthat can’t be sold, I’llsend to our distribu-tion center in Mem-phis, so you can handthem out as youwish.” That was thebiggest accomplish-ment to me to thinkthat he was entrustingthese shoes to me, andnow I’ve been able togive over $120,000 in in-kind donations from ASICS, which isabout 20,000 pairs of shoes, to kids and adults. I sent some toNashville to help people out after the flood, and others havegone to organizations like the Salvation Army and YouthVillages. Youth Villages is really kind of my priority becausethat’s where it all started and where I got the idea, so everyyear for Christmas, those kids living at Youth Villages open up apair of ASICS tennis shoes. The name of the ASICS shoe driveis “Shoes for Souls.” I’ve also worked on a program called “GirlTalk,” which is a program where I sit down with young girlsand talk to them about things like relationships with boys andparents and how the decisions they make today can affect therest of their lives. Recently, I’ve had to add in sexting to mytopics because it’s such an issue. I’ve spoken at the Boys &Girls Club, Youth Villages, to a lot of cheerleading teams and toa girls’ camp.
RRSSVVPP:: How do your preparations for Miss America compare tothose for Miss Tennessee?
JJoorrddaann:: I just thought I workedhard for Miss Tennessee, butthat was nothing compared toMiss America. You know, it’ssuch a journey and obviouslysomething I’ll never go throughagain. The people who know meand have been able to be withme through this entire processare in awe of what I do everyday. They laugh because I’ve gotto practice things like walking
in a swimsuit while wearing heels, which doesn’t come naturallyto me and shouldn’t to anyone else, for that matter. Then,you’ve got to practice your talent and interview skills…really,the pageant is won in the interview room because if they likeyou in the interview, they’ll be forgiving in every other category.I don’t have to know every answer, but a lot of times I feel likeI do. It’s one thing to understand an issue, but it’s anotherthing to have a politically correct sound bite answer to everysticky subject. To prepare for that and be able to sum up howyou feel pretty quickly is hard sometimes. Interviewing is agood skill to have, and that’s one reason my parents haveencouraged me in this organization. In the beginning, my dadthought this was an expensive hobby, and then he started realiz-ing it was helping shape me into a better person. I have paidthem back though by earning $50,000 in scholarships through
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the organization, and every-thing as Miss Tennessee ispaid for thankfully.
RRSSVVPP:: When do you head tothe Miss America pageant inLas Vegas?
JJoorrddaann:: I leave on January 5.Preliminaries start on January10, and the show starts onJanuary 11.
RRSSVVPP:: How will you measureyour success at the pageant?
JJoorrddaann:: I was talking to my dadthe other day and said, “Mostlikely in every area of my life,there’s always going to besomeone better. There’s goingto be someone better in talent,someone better in swimsuit,but I’m going to go and not beoutworked. They can be betterthan me all day long, but Iknow that I will have workedjust as hard or harder thaneverybody.” If I don’t ever say“I should have,” then I’ll feellike I’ve been successful.
RRSSVVPP:: Who will be on the MissAmerica judging panel?
JJoorrddaann:: Talk show host JoyBehar, Tony Dovolani from“Dancing with the Stars,”actress and fitness guru MariluHenner, country music singerMark Wills, “DesperateHousewives” executive produc-er Marc Cherry, shoe designerTaryn Rose and past MissAmerica Debbye Turner Bell.
RRSSVVPP:: What do you think thenumber one lesson will be thatyou take away from your pag-eant days?
JJoorrddaann:: This year as MissTennessee, I’ve learned moreabout who I am and where Istand than any other year inmy life. I feel like I will havewalked away from this yearfeeling more confident,stronger in my beliefs andmuch more independent thanI’ve ever been.
RRSSVVPP:: What comes next if youwin Miss America?
JJoorrddaann:: I’ll be ready for anoth-er joy ride I guess!
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JANUARY
2011
Javonta CharlesA Force to Be Reckoned With
Apart from his former days as a so-called street fight-er, Javonta Charles had a lot of work cut out forhim two years ago, when he began molding himself
into a competitive boxer. Looking at him now, onewould assume that the heavyweight contender on thenewly formed Memphis Force (an amateur boxing fran-chise in the World Series of Boxing league) has transi-tioned into the sport nicely, but to get to where he istoday, he had to put up a fight.
“When I was incarcerated, it was a dream tome to become a boxer,” he tells. “Then, when I gotout, I realized that the little jobs I did paid less than Iwould get in a dice game, so that’s when I decided toreally give boxing a shot.”
That fateful decision motivated Charles enoughto run from where he was staying on Winchester andGoodlett all the way to the Mid-South Fairgrounds box-ing gym for a chance to try boxing. The run to the gymtook about an hour, in the August heat no less, but itwas well worth any discomfort as Charles got connect-ed with Pete Mitchell, his personal coach and mentor.When the two first met, Charles was shocked to hearMitchell trying to dissuade him from boxing. No wordscould shake Charles’ drive though, so Mitchell gavehim two weeks of intense training to see if the boxinghopeful could hack it.
Charles laughs, “I swear Pete was trying to killme those first two weeks.”
Not only did Charles pass the test, but hebegan winning some bouts and fighting in the opendivision. He does remember the first time he lost,which he attributes to getting mad. From that day on,he made a pact to keep his composure in the ring. Forhim, boxing is more mental than physical anyway.
“As long as your mind believes it, your body isgoing to do it,” he shares.
Training as hard as he could, Charles earned aspot on the 2009 USA Boxing National Team as aheavyweight. That year, he also came out a semifinalistat the National Golden Gloves Championships, theUSA Boxing National Championships and the NationalPAL Championships.
Faced with the decision in 2010 of whether ornot to turn pro, Charles realized he could stay an ama-teur, while boxing in a professional team format, if hejoined the Memphis Force. So, since mid-October oflast year, Charles has been practicing alongside astrong group of athletes, including three Olympians, atthe Fogelman Downtown YMCA and fighting at theDeSoto Civic Center as part of the team. Charles wasglad to see that the first home match was met withgreat response, and he hopes to see the fanbase growwith the remaining four home matches, beginning onJanuary 15 against Mexico City.
He smiles, “I’m always looking forward to afight because it’s my time to shine.”
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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ETSE
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Grayson SmithTree Reader
Yes, Grayson Smith can read trees, but not the kindrooted in the ground. As a graphologist, Smithobserves trees drawn on paper by numerous men
and women who seek his services for character analy-sis. Various shapes, sizes and colors of trees reveal dif-ferent qualities or maybe even a long-forgotten friend,and it’s all up to Smith to decipher the hidden mean-ings behind pieces of artwork that appear as only thatto the untrained eye.
What intrigued Smith, who is also the presi-dent of the Memphis Story Tellers League, a magicianand a professional speaker, about tree readings waslearning that communicators had found them a moreconcrete indicator of someone’s character than hand-writing, since penmanship can change depending onmood or time of day. Smith then immersed himselfinto learning tree reading’s finer points, such as whatconstitutes a celebratory tree versus a protective tree,what it means when a rendering appears more horizon-tal than vertical and how choice of drawing device canplay into a depiction.
Smith says, “The interpretations come fromthe left brain and the right brain and are amazinglyaccurate.”
He admits some are hesitant at first to let acomplete stranger delve into personal aspects of theirlives, but Smith has a way of putting people at ease byreminding them they can’t do anything wrong in thisexercise. Once he’s established trust, he starts going towork on a drawing, interpreting things like the trunk,root structure, leaves, branches and notches. ThoughSmith can’t determine specifics from a hand-drawntree, he says its features can help in figuring out a per-son’s tendencies, areas of interest or what’s on some-one’s mind. On occasion, cherished family members orfriends can sometimes come to light, bringing tears topeople’s eyes.
“I’m astounded at how insightful and dramat-ic readings are for people,” he says.
Though he conducts tree readings under theguise of entertainment, Smith acknowledges they areserious and useful. Businesses have been known to hirehim to come in to do readings on employees or poten-tial hires to learn more about their personalities,including whether or not they’re honest. On the oppo-site spectrum, he holds a gig as the resident grapholo-gist at the Memphis Botanic Garden for its Tuesdayson the Terrace Wine Tastings and does readings atcharity events, restaurants and churches, going back tothe time St. George’s Episcopal Church fittingly gothim to do readings in conjunction with Arbor Day.
Tree readings aside, Smith says all of his ven-tures provide the same ultimate payoff: the chance toget a one-on-one relationship with someone every dayand put a twinkle in his or her eye.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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SIP AROUND THE WORLD
E V E N T Sip Around the World
Wine Tasting
Teresa Bullock with Karen and Murray Foster
Heather Golden and Jennifer Stover
Beth and Mark Jennings
Ursula Jones and Michael Ball
Melody and David Pitts
Courtnee McKim and Beth Golden
Donald Biggs and Chrissy Marola
Tony Kreager and Maria Wedaman
Mike and Jay Mavromatis
With the help of the National Kidney Foundation of WestTennessee, one of the state’s largest wine tastings took placeright here in Memphis. Dubbed Sip Around the World, the
event turned 16 in November, and oh how sweet the occasion waswith more than 300 wines from some 100 wineries.
The sipworthy fun unfolded at the Memphis Botanic Garden,which was chock full of 1,400 wine lovers and their discerningpalates. Ready to test out the goods, guests quickly snatched uptheir complimentary tasting glasses and dispersed to stands set upin Goldsmith Auditorium, the main ballroom and every hallway in-between. Athens Distributing Company once again supplied wineselections that represented Argentina, Austria, California, Chile,France, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, South Africa and Spain,to name a few. Several representatives from the distributor wereeven on hand to guide inquisitive tasters’ selections.
Standing near table two, Ford Coleman of Athens Distribut-ing suggested to several ladies, “I recommend you start with theGosset Grande Reserve Champagne to cleanse your palate.” At aretail price of $70 a bottle, why not?
As the night wore on, guests found that pacing their pourshad become a challenge, but remembering which wines had beensampled wasn’t since organizers had provided a nifty program of allthe featured wines. Table numbers, retail prices and product descrip-tions were each included in the handout. Other welcomed accompa-niments were a Champagne Lounge for VIPs and an appetizerspread of mini shots of cucumber soup, fruit and cheeses and anassortment of two-bite desserts. Illuminated ice sculptures, bearingthe foundation’s logo, and arrangements by Holliday’s Florist com-pleted the beautiful tablescapes.
When not imbibing or feasting, partygoers enjoyed tunes bythe Ernest Williamson Trio and Disc Jockeys etc. and perusing asilent auction filled with goodies donated by area restaurants, retail-ers, wine shops, hotels, theaters and photographers. Funds raisedfrom the silent auction and ticket sales go toward programs andservices provided by the NKFWT to help dialysis and transplantpatients in the West Tennessee area.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Don Perry
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.comPassword: RSVP
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E V E N T
SIP AROUND THE WORLD
Kim Waymire, Adam Millington and Michelle Roberts
Dr. Jason and Erika VanattaErin and Michael Nunn
Crucy and John StrawnJay Mehan and Janet Schwarz
Nancy Imre and Al OwingsCarlos and Debbie Webb
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Every child is naturally creative. With the right support and encouragement, that creativity can
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E V E N T
SIP AROUND THE WORLD
Lana Danko, Melanie Tuncay and Shawn Danko
Trina Hyman, Inell Allen and Anita Allen
Felicia Lewis, Erika Crenshaw and Jeanetta Jackson
Ngan Vo, Julie Martin and Alex Centeno
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2011
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
E V E N T Holiday Extravaganza
Spreading Christmas Cheer
Ronnie Easley, Debbie Short, Guy and Leigh Guasco and Laura Easley
Kevin Grothe and Betty Musarra
Paulo and Priscilla Teixeira
Jon and Donna Van Hoozer
Joe and Amy Carney
Ben Buffington and Beth Rainwater Buffington
Lucy Higginbotham and Jennifer Giles
Spencer and Adrienne Hare
Tom Wong and Vinson Smith
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the annual HolidayExtravaganza benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of GreaterMemphis. From the swirling of frosty winds outside to the
warmth of music and spirits inside, the season of giving got off to amagnificent start in early December at the Pink Palace Museum.
Guests in business suits, fur-trimmed coats, holiday fineryand warm wraps arrived bearing unwrapped toys for the BGCM’schildren and other groups that benefited from the party. More than200 gifts, ranging from children’s books to scooters, were collectedand placed underneath a towering, lighted tree in the palace’s dra-matic, marble foyer. Off to the side, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and acouple of mischievous-looking elves in short red dresses stood by topose for photos and to hear holiday wishes. Amazingly, no oneseemed to be on Santa’s Naughty List. On occasion, a hearty “Ho-Ho-Ho” floated over the crowd’s conversations.
Back in the palace’s large event room, the Memphis bandParty Planet, with guitar, bass, keyboard and a screaming sax, gotthings swinging with pop and dance hits from the last severaldecades like The Drifter’s “Under the Boardwalk” and a heartfeltrendition of the Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There.” Guests took to thedance floor or listened from tables on the sidelines while enjoying anumber of Draper’s Catering goodies, such as chicken and porksatay, fried spring rolls, stuffed grape tomatoes and potato skins.Others sipped cocktails while winding their way through the manyvacation packages in the silent auction.
About 300 people attended in all, despite the cold, andraised more than $50,000 in donations at the door—surpassing totalsraised in previous years—all of which will go toward making the sea-son merry and bright for numerous Mid-South children, ages 6-18,served by BGCM’s six clubs. The only thing missing was the soundof sleigh bells and hoofs landing atop the mansion, but unfortunate-ly the children—and adults—would have to wait a little bit longer forthat.
Story by Jonathan DevinPhotos by Don PerrySee all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com
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E V E N T
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
Mickey Williams and Tonya BradleyStacie Tinkey and Sherry Castellaw
Leigh Blanchard and Jim MotonJeff Roth and Susan Deloach
Amanda Myers and David DickersonSylvia Ford Brown and Vicki Johnson
Lenora Morris and Lillian MorrisHeather and Joseph Koury
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2011
Rediscover a 35 year Memphis tradition!"
Featuring Local Artists:Paul Edelstein
N.J. Woods
David Lynch
Ann Cobb-Beach
Robbie McQuiston
Priscilla Cunningham
Joy Routt
Trés Taylor
Randall Holland, potter
R & W Gallery offersquality, custom framing
at affordable prices.Gallery hours: Monday-Friday 9-5
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901-327-92392622 Poplar Ave.,
Memphis TN 38112
E V E N T
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
Frank Dyer, Dave Keigan and Allyson Dyer
Kelly and Frank LamannaKela Jones and Tia Chinn
Richard and Leanne FarisStacey and Glenn Hopper
Cassandra Thomas and Cho KrugelPam Pugh and Kim Moore
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JANUARY
2011
The Boa Ball“Red Tie Affair”E
V E N T
Pete and Diane Tchouros Michelle Spencer and Jean Christensen
Laura and Jack Sherman David Elliot and Kim Motschman Cribb
David and Sara Brawner Jim and Karen Martin
THE BOA BALL
Suzanne New, Kim Norris, Brenta Medley, Alisha Scoggin and Miriam ScharfRandy Smith and Susie Wasserman Karen Ervin and Steve Fitzgerald
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Though red attire prevailed at The Boa Ball, many guests put theirown spin on outfits by donning boas and ties in various hues andstyles, including boas made out of fur and those of the feathery
variety. The event where fabulous accessories ruled came about thanksto the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross, which wantedto make its “Red Tie Affair” even bigger and better the second timearound, according to Kim Motschman Cribb, the nonprofit’s commu-nity development and public affairs manager.
“We wanted to appeal to a broader group of people and growthis event to where it should be,” she said.
The boa theme worked, roping in 350 guests to CentralStation for an evening dedicated to raising funds to offset theAmerican Red Cross’ costs for disaster relief to the Memphis area.The yearly average spent in the community on disaster relief averages$1,000,000, making the need to bid high and often in the silent andlive auctions all the more prevalent. Unique items like two adorablepuppies donated by Puppy Love Memphis, a salt-and-pepper kingsnake, a kid’s party at the Memphis Botanic Garden and a Treesjeleather handbag from Oak Hall that had been stuffed with cash madethe bidding experience even more enticing.
Being that 92 percent of the services offered by the AmericanRed Cross are volunteer driven, organizers also set up Prepare,Prevent and Respond (PPR) Stations. With PPR Party Passports inhand, ladies and gents roamed to each of the three stations to gettheir passports stamped to be entered into a drawing for a gift bagand, of course, to learn beneficial skills and information. Stations,manned by volunteers, offered the following: compressions only CPR(Prevent Station), tornado safety (Prepare Station) and Red Cross inAction/Disaster Action Team stats (Respond Station), like the num-ber of families assisted after fires last year.
ServiceMaster Clean served as presenting sponsor for The BoaBall, which featured performances by Brennan and the Boys and TheBouffants, as well as food tastings from JG’s Trattoria, Rendezvous,Flying Fish, Side Street Grill, Café Society, Felicia Suzanne’s andColetta’s Restaurant. By the time the last red tie came undone,$34,000 had been raised to benefit the programs and services deliv-ered by the local Red Cross.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Nathan Berry
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THE BOA BALL
E V E N T
Jaci and Lance Glidden with Christy Correa
Catherine and Ricky Harris with Alice Higdon
Colleen Hitch, Ron Cribb and Lisa Schiffman
Henry and Pamela Jones with Judy Blackburn
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By Dennis PhillippiRSVP
HILL
IPPI
2010, IT COULD’VE BEEN WORSEYikes, what a year. How will 2010 godown in history? Well, for one thing,there’s the whole WikiLeaks thing. This
isn’t the kind of topic I would normallyeven think about addressing here, becauseI’m not very bright, informed or even in-terested, but I can’t lay off the idea thatsomeone releasing a bunch of cables be-tween diplomats is an Armageddon.
Diplomacy is lying. Sorry if thatcomes as news to anyone. Think about it:the last time someone recommended toyou that you be diplomatic, they weretelling you to lie. “Be diplomatic about hernew haircut” means lie about her newhaircut. Diplomats are in the business oftelling one another what they want tohear, while trying to forward their individ-ual agendas. That pretty much sounds likeevery relationship I have.
I was lucky enough, or boredenough, to be a part of one of the bigevents of this year when I traipsed toWashington, D.C. to witness the Rally toRestore Sanity. That will be rememberedas a huge, hilarious failure. Sanity clearlyhas not been restored. There may well bemore looniness than ever. Al Franken is aUnited States senator. “Glee” is a hugehit. Millions of teenaged girls still thinkvampires are cute.
People got very worked up aboutthe new, invasive, you-better-buy-me-din-ner-first, security measures in airports. Noone wants to be intimately patted down byan angry guy wearing a nametag. Um…Ihave two words for you: underpantsbomber. Sure, the guy was a nut, and afailure, but he did have a bomb in hisunderpants. Just because terrorists aregenerally boobs, it doesn’t mean they’regoing to stop trying. Your wedgies equalmy safety, so clam up about it. Think of itas a friendly grope from the government.
My favorite kook of the year wasalso airline related; he is Steven Slater, theworld’s craziest flight attendant. For futuregenerations who stumble onto this columnon some obscure byway of the Interwebs,Slater was attending, by which I meanserving drinks and being surly, on a JetBlue flight when he snapped. One passen-ger too many had refused to buckle hisseatbelt, or return his seat to the fullupright position or complained about thefact that airlines always have tomato juice,
which no one drinks, and never V8, and hewent bananas. He screamed obscenities atthe passengers, grabbed a couple of beersoff the beverage cart–something I wouldbe shot by air marshals for doing–and thendeployed the emergency slide and rode hisway down it and into history. You pickyour heroes; I’m going with Slater.
Sports were as strange as it gets in2010. The World Cup was held in SouthAfrica and somehow didn’t become a mas-sive disaster. Unless, of course, you consid-
er the introduction of the vuvuzela as amassive disaster, which I do. The worldcame together and watched…um…somecountry beat another to win the covetedcup. I guess. I tuned out after the firstvuvuzela. But, hey, no one got blown up,so that’s a win for everyone.
My New Orleans Saints won theSuper Bowl, and the earth didn’t crackopen and swallow life as we know it, whichis what all Saints fans had assumed wouldhappen had they won. So, that’s anotherwin.
The Yankees didn’t win the WorldSeries. That’s a win.
Speaking of baseball, in a yearwhen pitchers seemed to be throwing per-fect games every few days, the best storywas the perfect game that wasn’t.Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers,a truly good guy, took a perfect game tothe last batter and got him to ground outto get the final out. Unfortunately, thefirst base umpire, James Joyce, blew the
call. Everyone but the unlikely namedJoyce knew he had blown the call. I knewhe had blown the call, and I was drunk.Galarraga knew he had blown the call, butinstead of going nuts like his teammatesand coach, he did the unthinkable: helaughed. He saw the absurdity of it andaccepted it. Joyce was defiant leaving thefield, but then he saw the replay and didthe impossible; he admitted his mistakeand apologized. Umpires don’t do that.They obfuscate and hide behind theirunion. Joyce shed tears. He huggedGalarraga when the suddenly famous pitch-er brought out the lineup for the nextday’s game. Sportsmanship at the majorleague level had to happen sometime.
LeBron James gut-punched thealready reeling city of Cleveland andpromptly went from being beloved to re-viled. The only winner in that story wasTiger Woods, who got bumped off of thenumber one knucklehead standing. I fre-quently admitted to having an embarrass-ing man crush on LeBron before this hap-pened, but he’s, you know, dead to me.
Some stories were feel good, somewere saddening and exhausting and thenthere were the Chilean miners. Thirty-three guys trapped underground for 10weeks somehow managed to keep theirspirits up, stay alive and not go as crazy asa Jet Blue flight attendant. The worldwatched as the men were eventuallyreached by a tiny tunnel and then a slight-ly larger tunnel, through which they werelifted to the surface. The word “hero” getstossed around far too much, but theseguys are the real thing. An umpire admit-ting his mistake is a swell fella, but not ahero. Thirty-three guys surviving a mineexplosion and 10 weeks in the hole, thoseare heroes. Plus, one of them is an avidElvis fan, so Memphis gets a gold star,too. All in all, a pretty good year. Unlessyou live in Cleveland.
Dennis Phillippi, your recount of 2010 ismuch appreciated in this office since wehave a hard time digging ourselves out ofthe party scene. As you learn of any break-ing news this year, please inform us assoon as possible, and we’ll send the RSVPchopper over for “Dennis Phillippi Live.”Then, we’ll have something new to gababout at social functions.
Your wedgiesequal mysafety, soclam upabout it.
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Sylvia Cochran and Nancy Mastersonat Woman’s Exchange Christmas Open House
Patti and Erling Jensenat Signature Chefs Auction
ONSITEOnsite
Johnnie and Shasta Blueat Enchanted Forest Preview Party
Judy and Mickey McLellanat Enchanted Forest Preview Party
Dr. Kenan and Kate Clintonat Harwood Center Food and Beer Tasting
Tony and Kathy Ferraraat Enchanted Forest Preview Party
Harwood Center Food and Beer Tasting Signature Chefs AuctionWoman’s Exchange Christmas Open House Enchanted Forest Preview Party
With temps getting lower, it was time for a samplingof fall’s lagers and ales at the sixth annual HHaarrwwoooodd
CCeenntteerr FFoooodd aanndd BBeeeerr TTaassttiinngg. SSoouutthhwweesstteerrnn DDiissttrriibbuutt--iinngg CCoommppaannyy supplied suds ranging from trappist alesto fruit beers, and food vendors on the scene includedAAddvvaannccee BBrraannddss, the HHii--TToonnee CCaafféé, JJuusstt ffoorr LLuunncchh,RRaaffffee’’ss DDeellii aanndd BBeeeerr GGaarrddeenn, RReennddeezzvvoouuss and TThheeHHaallff SShheellll. CChhiicckkaassaaww OOaakkss VViillllaaggee housed the fund-raiser that benefited children with special developmen-tal needs at the Harwood Center.
More than 20 of the city’s finest chefs flauntedtheir finest at HHiillttoonn MMeemmpphhiiss during the 21st annualSSiiggnnaattuurree CChheeffss AAuuccttiioonn. Guests were greeted at thedoor with Champagne and ushered into the wine tast-ing and silent auction area, which contained nearly 400items. After sampling savory selections from chefs’tables, partygoers participated in a spirited live auction.By night’s end, the auction committee had exceeded itsfund-raising goal by collecting more than $235,000 forthe MMaarrcchh ooff DDiimmeess.
The WWoommaann’’ss EExxcchhaannggee CChhrriissttmmaass OOppeenn HHoouusseemarked the grand opening of the group’s much-antici-pated CChhrriissttmmaass SShhoopp. Set up each year inside theWWoommaann’’ss EExxcchhaannggee TTeeaa RRoooomm, the store offers lots ofhandmade holiday decorations and home accessories,with sales benefiting the Woman’s Exchange programsthat “help others help themselves.” SSyyllvviiaa CCoocchhrraannchaired the open house, and NNaannccyy MMaasstteerrssoonn andDDeebbbbiiee BBaakkeerr served as co-chairs of consignor items.
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas atthe PPiinnkk PPaallaaccee with the TTWWIIGGSS ooff LLee BBoonnhheeuurr’s EEnn--cchhaanntteedd FFoorreesstt PPrreevviieeww PPaarrttyy underway. Mansion doorsopened to reveal a mesmerizing tree display called“FFeessttiivvaall ooff TTrreeeess,” a “HHoolliiddaayyss AArroouunndd tthhee WWoorrlldd”display, a train and gingerbread village display and thebeloved “EEnncchhaanntteedd FFoorreesstt.” More than 500 patronsenjoyed the ambiance, as well as commemorative hand-painted wine glasses decorated by LLee BBoonnhheeuurr CChhiilldd--rreenn’’ss HHoossppiittaall cardiac patients and tasty hors d’oeuvresdonated by area restaurants. Another interesting featurewas “BBuubbbblleess aanndd BBaauubblleess,” which entailed guests giv-ing $10 donations to Le Bonheur for a glass of Cham-pagne and a chance to win a ring from MMeeddnniikkooww. Thegift of giving was alive this night, resulting in eventproceeds around $17,000 for Le Bonheur.
Story by Leah Fitzpatrick and Suzanne ThompsonPhotos by Leah Fitzpatrick, Larry Kuzniewski
and Suzanne Thompson
Michael Uiberall, Jill Shanker and Mitch Hodusat Harwood Center Food and Beer Tasting
Brad and April Britt with Melissa and Brian Jonesat Signature Chefs Auction
Carole Feisal, Gail Mitchell and Laurie Monypenyat Woman’s Exchange Christmas Open House
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An Undefeated SeasonRSVP
AST
1960
The South Side Scrappers football team of 1960 was remarkable in that the team was not only the undefeated city champ, butseveral of the players went on to play college and pro football. Scrappers’ games were always sold out with crowds one sees atcollege games. In November of last year, teammates reunited for a 50th reunion.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSHA FLETCHER, WIFE OF THE TEAM’S QUARTERBACK, BILLY FLETCHER, WHO WENTON TO STAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS AND THE DENVER BRONCOS.
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.
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