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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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Ma r c h 2 0 1 3
Grizz GalaStaxtacular
Cirque du CMOMM-Town Countdown
Les Passees Cabaret BallQ&A with Mauricio Calvo
Grizz GalaStaxtacular
Cirque du CMOMM-Town Countdown
Les Passees Cabaret BallQ&A with Mauricio Calvo
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CONT
ENTS
12GRIZZ GALA
Roscoe Poindexter and Lisa Jenkins
28 STAXTACULAR
Chris Peck and Kate Duignan
20STREETSEEN
Kentaro Ohkuni
34 CIRQUE DU CMOM
Mark Awdeh and Elly Deyhle
48M-TOWN COUNTDOWN
Patty and Tom Schoelkopf
43LES PASSEES CABARET BALL
Babs Barnes and Catherine Feldman
Cover PhotoEllyn Thomas and Adam Hartman
atGrizz Gala
Photo by Nathan Berry
ContentsMarch 2013
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Blues musician and singer Will Tucker invites RSVP to see his restored Bel Air.
Grizz Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Tunica welcomed a little bit of Memphis when the Grizzlies ventured to the GoldStrike Casino for a Grizzlies’ House fund-raiser.
StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 & 22He’s making sure Memphians slow down to enjoy the art of the Japanese tea cere-mony. She’s happily sharing the best of her homeland’s film scene. StreetSeenshighlight Kentaro Ohkuni and Dr. Cosetta Gaudenzi.
Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Q&A with the executive director of Latino Memphis, Mauricio Calvo.
The Ambassador Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Hampton Sides Part 1: Tracing His “Foote Steps”This writer of historical narratives shares his newest work with us.
Staxtacular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Basketball and soul music blended together perfectly at a benefit for the Stax MusicAcademy.
Cirque du CMOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34The Children’s Museum of Memphis entertained supporters with a Rio Carnival-themed benefit.
RSVP Room View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Valerie and Jeff Morris’ kitchen is transformed into the perfect cook’s kitchen.
Les Passees Cabaret Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43High up in the Tower Center, Les Passees members celebrated their newest livingads.
M-Town Countdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48The Junior League of Memphis counted down to 2013 with a spectacular blowout atthe Pink Palace Museum that paid homage to the league’s 90 years of service.
Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54, 55, 56 & 57Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.
RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Being Joe Cool Part IIDennis Phillippi heads around the globe with his Joe Cool persona.
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Volume XVIII Number VI
March 2013
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 SRuth CassinKelly Cox
Jeannie MandelkerDennis PhillippiEugene PidgeonLesley Young
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 BerryBaxter Buck
Roy HaithcockDon Perry
Steve Roberts
A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E SChris Pugh
Kristen Miller
A C C O U N T I N GRuth Cassin
E D I T O R I A L I N T E R NRachel Warren
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 Bwww.rsvpmagazine.com
For 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]
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RSVP Memphis Magazine
Copyright 2013 Haithcock Communications, Inc.
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RSVP STAFF
CHRIS PUGH,ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
901.276.7787, EXT. [email protected]
Chris has been exercising his talent in theadvertising world since 1999. He joinedthe RSVP team in 2009 and brought withhim a love for laughter and creativity.Originally from New Albany, Mississippi,Chris has settled in Memphis and enjoysbeing active in the fashion community.
KRISTEN MILLER,ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE901.276.7787, EXT. [email protected]
Having worked in print advertising for near-ly eight years, Kristen Miller felt it was anatural fit to join the RSVP team as anaccount executive. Kristen, who lives inArlington with her husband and four chil-dren, loves to cook, fish, watch collegeand Arlington Tigers football, spend timewith her family and advertising, of course.
RACHEL WARREN,EDITORIAL INTERN
901.276.7787, EXT. [email protected]
Rachel is passionate about print mediaand has covered many local events inJackson, Mississippi in the past. Shereceived her Bachelor of Arts in Englishfrom Millsaps College, and in 2011, shemoved back to her hometown of Memphis.She is delighted to be part of the RSVPteam as an editorial intern. She loves writ-ing about all the amazing people andplaces in Memphis, enjoying a great bookand chasing a good story.
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Considering my love oftravel, I’m giddy thatRSVP finally has an
issue with lots of interna-tional flair. And, no, I didn’tneed to traverse the globe tofind that type of flair since Idiscovered that it existsright here in Memphis.Though, when first begin-ning to gather ideas for mymonthly StreetSeens and VoxPopular, I had no clue thesefeatures would revolvearound people who repre-sent the best of Italian,Latino and Japanese culture in the Bluff City. Fittinglyenough, the Cirque du CMOM benefit I covered broughtBrazil’s famed Rio Carnival to life, so that event recap (onpage 34) adds another bit of world flavor to this month’s edi-torial offerings.
Perhaps sensing the trend, two of our contributingwriters, Dennis Phillippi and Eugene Pidgeon, actually touchon adventures in faraway lands in their columns. First, you’llcome across Pidgeon’s story of noted author and formerMemphian Hampton Sides in The Ambassador Series (page26), which details everything from Sides’ upcoming return tohis hometown for the “Libration” celebration to his amazingtrek to Russia’s Wrangel Island to conduct research for a newbook. Then, in our humor columnist’s RSVPhillippi column(page 61), Phillippi tells of his crazy work assignments to boththe former Soviet Union and Turkey during his days playingJoe Cool—a retired children’s TV character that one of my co-workers assures me her grown kids still adore to this day.
Now about to pour over the final proof for the issue, Istill am amazed that the theme came together so nicely, evenif it was unintentional. Maybe from now on, I’ll plan to notplan…if that makes sense. In the words of former U.S.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, “Life is full of surprisesand serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road isan important part of success. If you try to plan every step, youmay miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your nextadventure—do it well, enjoy it—and then, not now, think aboutwhat comes next.”
Leah [email protected]
From the Editor
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Will TuckerBlues Musician and Singer/Vintage Car Collector/Aviator
Hometown: Memphis.
First Car You Drove: ’95 Buick.Place You Go to Think: My garage.
Your Lucky Charm: My cross necklace.Biggest Pet Peeve: Bad or careless driving.
Your Best Quality: Having multiple passions.Best Dish You Cook: Chicken parmesan pasta.Best Memphis Hangout: Memphis Drum Shop.
Your Most Annoying Habit: Biting my fingernails.
Who Inspires You: Everyone and everything around me.Favorite Song: “Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers Band.
The Highlight of Your Day: Bringing a smile to anyone’s face!Favorite Southern Idiom: You’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off!
Coolest Thing About Memphis: All of the rich and extensive history and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.Best Advice You Ever Got: “Whatever you do, NEVER stick anything in your ear smaller than your pinky.”–B.B. KingProudest Moment of Your Life: The day I drove my ’56 Bel Air around the block for the first time after restoring it.
Hometown: Memphis.First Car You Drove: ’95 Buick.
Place You Go to Think: My garage.Your Lucky Charm: My cross necklace.
Biggest Pet Peeve: Bad or careless driving.Your Best Quality: Having multiple passions.
Best Dish You Cook: Chicken parmesan pasta.
Best Memphis Hangout: Memphis Drum Shop.
Your Most Annoying Habit: Biting my fingernails.Who Inspires You: Everyone and everything around me.
Favorite Song: “Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers Band.
The Highlight of Your Day: Bringing a smile to anyone’s face!
Favorite Southern Idiom: You’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off!Coolest Thing About Memphis: All of the rich and extensive history and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.
Best Advice You Ever Got: “Whatever you do, NEVER stick anything in your ear smaller than your pinky.”–B.B. King
Proudest Moment of Your Life: The day I drove my ’56 Bel Air around the block for the first time after restoring it.
Will TuckerBlues Musician and Singer/Vintage Car Collector/Aviator
SIGN
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E ME
MPHI
S
Photo by Steve Rob
erts
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Grizz GalaBenefiting the Memphis Grizzlies HouseE
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Alissa and Riley Fowler Robert Munoz and Stephany Goodnight
Grizz Girls Cassie and Christina Wes and Ashley Houseman
Alexis Johnson and Anthony Hollins Tommy and Monica Fan
GRIZZ GA
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Chris Glenn and Amber Lowery with Ashley and Tim ArgoAngie and Lionel Hollins Marvin and Kathy Conley
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
Soon after their arrival in Memphis in 2002, the Memphis Grizzliesbecame an integral part of the Memphis and St. Jude communitieswith the team’s pledge to contribute $5 million toward the con-
struction of the Memphis Grizzlies House. The Grizzlies House, whichopened its doors in 2004, is a no-cost, short-term facility for St. Judepatients and their families and is located on the St. Jude campus. TheNBA team has continued its support throughout the years, in part byhosting its successful Grizz Gala, which once again attracted a largecrowd.
Dubbed a “Blue Tie Affair,” the gala took place at Tunica’sGold Strike Casino and was non-stop fun from start to finish. Thechilly weather and distance from Memphis did nothing to dampen thespirit of the night. Upon entering the upstairs gallery leading to theballroom, guests were greeted by the enthusiastic Grizz Girls, dressedaccordingly in their sparkly blue dresses. The gallery featured picturesof team members with St. Jude patients, interactive video games,“The Memphis Boogie Heads” and an impressive array of silent auc-tion items. These included many Grizzlies goodies, as well as articlescontributed by other NBA teams and favorite local college teams’memorabilia. Among the fans’ “must-haves” were signed jerseys and“Fathead” photos of NBA players.
In the ballroom, guests mingled with players and coaches, allthe while enjoying libations and taking advantage of the sumptuousfood stations. Provided by the talented Gold Strike culinary team,there was something for everyone: Asian cuisine, a potato bar, sushiand fajita stands, prime rib, seafood and many side dishes to choosefrom.
Opening remarks were given by everyone’s favorite play-by-playannouncer Pete Pranica, Gold Strike GM Nik Rytterstrom andALSAC/St. Jude CMO Emily Callahan, who each were elated at theturnout and expressed their gratitude for the generous show of com-munity support. When the live auction began, this support was mostevident, given the lively bidding for such desirables as a Las VegasMandalay Bay getaway, a photo of the highest bidder with the entire2012–2013 Grizzlies team and a “Stars and Stripes & Big City Lights”package for tickets to a home game versus the Washington Wizardsand a flight to New York City with the team on their private plane, astay in the team hotel and great seats at Madison Square Garden forthe game against the Knicks. Shoes were kicked off, and folks filledthe dance floor when Gary Escoe’s Atomic Dance Machine took overthe evening with the large repertoire of Gary’s sounds–everythingfrom rock to soul to funk and more.
Sponsored by Gold Strike and SunTrust Bank, this partyproved again that Memphis loves its Grizzlies and, of course, St. JudeChildren’s Research Hospital.
Story by Ruth CassinPhotos by Nathan Berry
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Susan Russell and Lee Ann Pruitt
Edmund Ford Jr. and Vickye Hester Kevin and Anna Ritz Mike and Joelle Scholl
Betsy Brasher and Brandon Bell Charles Leslie and Grizz Girl Kelsi Sharri Maynard and Michael Humes
Karen and Fred Sliney
Carol and Keith Shirley
Kara and David Joerger
Kim Gerlach and Clay Clarkson
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Sharee Edwards and Crystal Lovreta
Keith Jones with Paige and Brad McCormick
Hassan and Farrah Bourgi
Alex and Dr. Kimberly Womback-Rice
Ryan Humphreys with Jennifer and Jim Scholler
Rob and Kathryn Stallins
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Paul Morris and Michele Lunati
Sean Hartman, Mike Conley and Jenny Barham
Corey Strong and Kerri Campbell
Stacy and Lanale Brown
Tyler White, Dana Brooks and Al Pickett
Megan and Justin Starling
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GRIZZ GA
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Kathy and Buster Kelso
Vic Santiago with Karen and Preston Hudson
Kara Caldwell and Conetta Nelson
Todd and Tammi Schneiderman Warren Hogue and Kim Jones
Kim and Duane Palmer Mike Christensen and Leslie Fowler
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LAE V E N T
Alan and Brooke Balducci
Natasha Ashworth and Tina Fletcher
Brandon and Monica Dardeal
Joey and Jazmine Thorsen
Jenny and P.J. Koltnow
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Kentaro OhkuniServing Up the Art of Tea
According to tea master Kentaro Ohkuni, the mostimportant part of a tea ceremony ironically is notthe tea one ingests, but the heart one puts into the
custom. If that’s indeed the case, then Ohkuni hasgrasped the concept to the fullest, so much so that heflies to Memphis nearly once a month from Columbus,Ohio, where he works as a cancer researcher atNationwide Children’s Hospital, to lead usually threeconsecutive The Way of Tea in Tennessee classes at theMemphis Botanic Garden.
Of all places, why does he choose Memphis forhis tea ceremonies classes? Well, having lived in theBluff City from 2005-2010 to work at St. Jude Child-ren’s Research Hospital, Okhuni knows the cityalready, but one reason he continues to share his pas-sion for tea with Mid-Southerners stems from the con-nections he has made with those devoted members ofThe Way of Tea in Tennessee group. Though onedoesn’t have to be a member to take a class, around 30people from Memphis, both Americans and natives ofJapan, have joined this group in order to pursue theongoing study of the tea ceremony, which Ohkunimaintains is a practice for life. In fact, he’s been study-ing the ancient art form for 15 years and will continueto do so.
He admits, “I don’t think of myself as ateacher because I’m always studying—this [the Way ofTea in Tennessee class] is my way of studying.”
Originally from Ako, Japan, Ohkuni impartsthe knowledge he first began acquiring at a tea ceremo-ny school in Hiroshima to those interested in the sub-ject. In particular, he demonstrates the Ueda Traditionof Tea, which is the samurai style taught in Hiroshimaand one that men prefer says Patti Lechman, anAmerican who takes turns with Ohkuni teaching TheWay of Tea in Tennessee classes at the Botanic Garden.The Ueda Tradition dates back to the late 1500s, whenSoko Ueda, touted as the first grand tea master ofOhkuni’s school (Sokei Ueda is the current grand teamaster.), formed rules and procedures of the way of teafor two military families after becoming a feudal lord.During the latter part of his life, Ueda fashioned manyitems still seen in today’s tea ceremonies, such aschawan (tea bowls) and chashaku (tea scoops). In theaccompanying photograph, Ohkuni sits on anotherimportant component of the ceremony, a tatami mat,which signifies to those who arrive in the tea roomthat they’re about to enter a different world—one ofspiritual importance. He says participants also put afan in front of themselves to tie them to the earth,thereby helping to show reverence for one’s naturalenvironment and essentially slowing down to fullyenjoy the ceremony at hand.
For those interested in engaging in this specialaspect of Japanese culture, Okhuni will return toMemphis on April 27 for his classes at the BotanicGarden; see the calendar listings at memphisbotanic-garden.com for a full schedule of all tea ceremonyclasses. As if the experience isn’t unique enough, itbecomes even more so once participants hear fromOhkuni and Lechman that (as far as they know)Memphis is the only city in the Southeast to offerthese tea ceremony classes to the public. They hope toenhance the ceremonies by having a tea house built atthe Botanic Garden in the future, but until then,they’ll keep pouring up matcha, powdered green tea,for anyone wanting a taste of Japanese culture.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Don Perry
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Dr. Cosetta GaudenziImporting Italian Cinema
Italian cars, fashion and food have long secured aspot in the American market, and with the ItalianMinistry of Foreign Affairs proclaiming 2013 the
“Year of Italian Culture in the USA,” the countrycould become known for a lot more of its exports. Dr.Cosetta Gaudenzi, a professor in the Italian programat the University of Memphis, has been more than onboard with disseminating her native Italian roots inthe Mid-South and can now say that her fondness forItalian cinema, a topic of one of her courses, will besomething she can “officially” brag about this year.See, for the past two years, Gaudenzi has headed upthe Italian Film Festival USA of Memphis on the U ofM campus, but not until this year has the local festi-val’s governing body, Italian Film Festival USA, beenrecognized by the Italian Ministry as a participatingevent.
Based in St. Louis, Italian Film Festival USA, anonprofit, launched in 2005 and has since spread to 11other cities. Gaudenzi says that Barbara Klein, thepresident of the national office, approached her aboutbringing the festival to Memphis audiences severalyears ago, as Klein was looking at big cities near St.Louis that would be conducive to the festival’s growth.She gladly accepted Klein’s offer, having wanted tostart an Italian film festival since arriving in Memphis10 years ago for her U of M professorship. Without thebacking of Italian Film Festival USA, Gaudenzi felt itwould have been a different enterprise altogether toput on the festival by herself and deal with movie dis-tributors, which she doesn’t have to worry aboutthanks to Italian Film Festival USA of Memphis’ par-ent office.
The festival centers on offering the publicItalian films that otherwise wouldn’t get distributed inaudiences’ respective local theaters, but also onincreasing the awareness of Italy, from its culture andpeople to its land and language. While the festival’sparticipating cities present a varying number ofmovies, all are recent and shown in Italian withEnglish subtitles, with many being award-winning.
Gaudenzi says, “We show lots of movies byyoung filmmakers, who are recognized, for example, atthe Venice Film Festival…no Italian movies really comehere, so it’s important to show them to the communi-ty.”
Funded in Memphis by the Italian FilmFestival USA and through the Public Service Awardfrom U of M, the festival here remains free and is thefirst of the total 12 cities to air films this year, withMarch 26, March 28 and April 2 dates. Three films ofdifferent genres, which screen at 7 p.m. each night atU of M’s University Center Theatre, make up the localline-up, however the only title currently confirmed is Ilgiorno in più, a romantic comedy directed by MassimoVenier set in Italy and the U.S. Following each screen-ing, audiences will be asked to rank the films on ascale of one to five, with five being the best, and thefilm with the highest score will be announced at thefestival’s overall conclusion in May. The UNICONational Memphis Chapter will be involved with thefestival as well, welcoming attendees and providing bis-cotti and beverages after each night’s showing—a ges-ture Gaudenzi appreciates since it gives people anopportunity to discuss the films afterward.
“We had an average of 90 people a screeningthe first year and 100 the second year, so it’s nice tosee a crowd of people eager to watch the films, andthey thank you and want more—that’s the best part,”she says.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts
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Vox PopularQ&A with Mauricio CalvoVO
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RSVP: You’ve said in the past that you hope Memphis will becomemore and more a place that embraces all immigrants in the waythat it embraced you, so I was just wondering what are some waysyou felt embraced here?
Calvo: One of the ways I was embraced was being made to feel wel-come. Memphis, for the most part, does a really good job of that. Italk to people across the state and across the South, and it’s differ-ent. When you’re an immigrant, you’re in a completely differentworld. You’re not looking for a handout or freebies—you’re just look-ing for an opportunity. It’s a two-way street. The potential has to bethere, and then you have to grab it and work and do a good job. So,hopefully what Latino Memphis is doing is working on creating thisframework. We’re not creating these opportunities, but facilitatingor making sure these opportunities do happen.
RSVP: Is there a specific rea-son that Memphis has thelargest Latino population inthe state?
Calvo: Well, Memphis is thelargest city in the state, andthe Latino population inTennessee is mostly urbanrather than rural, so thatalone does help. I don’tknow about cost of living,but I would suspect it’s a lit-tle cheaper to live inMemphis than in places likeNashville, however I’mguessing at that. Again, theclimate has been positivehere. For instance, we havethe Shelby County Sheriff’sOffice which believes thatimmigrants and anybodyshould have the right toreport crime because that’s asafety issue not only forthose families, but for any-one. If immigrants reportcrime, then your community is safer. They get it, and that’s why wehave an officer here at Latino Memphis [for people to report crime]on Wednesdays. Many of the things we deal with actually center onsafety and justice.
RSVP: How did you first find out about Latino Memphis?
Calvo: I had a small business at the time, and somebody invited meto come to a meeting for Latino Memphis, which was a part ofMIFA then. I ended up joining the board and became prettyinvolved, and after that, I got married, had kids and was not asinvolved. Then, almost four years ago, we were expecting our thirdchild, and I lost my job due to a lay-off. A friend of mine told methat the director of Latino Memphis was leaving and suggested thatI apply. I had never thought about working for a nonprofit organiza-tion, but I did apply. Now, I can honestly say that it has been thebest job ever, and I get to do so many things from working with the
homeless to going to a briefing at theWhite House on how health reformwould impact Latinos. It’s so muchfun, and every day is different. Somedays it can be very challengingbecause you are dealing with situations that don’t have an easyanswer. We’re not really fixing people’s problems though. We’re con-necting people with other agencies, and we’re collaborating, advo-cating and building partnerships. So, often times, what we do isintangible, but other times, it’s really fulfilling, like helping getsomeone’s utilities put back on in their house by helping them findthe right piece of paper to fill out.
RSVP: How has the organization evolved since you came on boardas the executive director in 2008?
Calvo: I think evolved is agood word to describe to it.You know, we have a newmission statement and strate-gic plan for our program.What we were doing backthen, like being an organiza-tion that was doing ESL[English as a SecondLanguage] classes, haschanged to us helping peopleprepare for our college accessproject, which is our biggestprogram now. Back then, wedidn’t feel like it made anysense to talk about collegeaccess, but when you look atKingsbury [High School]being the school with thehighest number of Latinos inthe whole state, and that’sfrom the Department ofEducation numbers, and atthe same time, you’re lookingat the number of Latinos notgoing to college, it makesperfect sense to be doing
this. So, some of the programs have changed. Some have gottensmaller, and some bigger. We used to have a huge festival, which wedon’t do anymore because that’s not our role—we’re not event plan-ners. We do now have a 5K, which is called Cinco K Mayo, and it’sabout bringing Americans and Latinos together.
RSVP: You just mentioned that Latino Memphis has a new missionstatement, so what does it entail?
Calvo: It says that we advocate for the betterment of the Latinocommunity. My goal has not necessarily been to become a muchlarger organization because in this economy we have to be careful inhow we grow in order to be sustainable. Sure, we can grow now, butwhat about next year? You have to keep in mind that most of ourservices are free, so we’re adding a few services that will have a feewith them. We have moved from just barely existing…I remembermany foundations told us in the past that they liked what we were
Latino Memphis executive director Mauricio Calvo has been actively involved with the organization longbefore he took over the reins in 2008, watching it grow from a program of MIFA to becoming an out-rightnonprofit that advocates for the betterment of the state’s largest Latino population, which happens to be
right here in Memphis. A native of Mexico City, Calvo came to Memphis in 1993 to attend Christian BrothersUniversity and decided to stay after graduation because he says, “There was so much to be done, and the ideathat I could hopefully make a difference.” That he has certainly done through the formation of numerous col-laborative partnerships with Latino Memphis and its clients, and he will continue to do so, especially as LatinoMemphis focuses on its largest current undertaking, a college access project called Abriendo Puertas (OpeningDoors). Standing in front of the flag display of Latino countries in the Latino Memphis office, Calvo pointedout to RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick that these flags represent the diversity of Memphis, a place the soon-to-befull-fledged American citizen refers to as a pretty special home.
Photos
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VOX
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LARdoing, but they didn’t know if we’d be here next year. That was kind
of a constant thing. No one is knocking at the door to give us moneynow, but we’re getting a little better at raising it after five years. Ihave to say that my predecessors did a good job of laying the founda-tion—it’s just a different time and organization. You have to look outfor what makes sense at the time.
RSVP: From the immigrants who come into the Latino Memphisoffice, what do you see are the greatest hardships they face inMemphis?
Calvo: First, Latinos face the same challenges as everyone else, so,of course, the economy is huge. For instance, it’s really hard if yourhours are getting cut in half. Immigration [reform] is also huge.Now, we think that, for the first time, we kind of see the light at theend of the tunnel, so we are excited to see that something is actuallygoing to happen, maybe not this year, but in the near future. Also,the community that Latino Memphis serves is underserved, andoften times, our clients are limited in their accessibility to resources.I’m talking about resources they have a right to access but they justdon’t know how to access. I’m not talking about entitlements, but ifyour landlord isn’t fixing the roof and you don’t know you can askhim or don’t know how to ask him to do so, thenyou have a problem that can turn into a life-changing issue. The more we’re here for the peo-ple who come to our front desk, the better advo-cacy we can do at any given level because wehave a better understanding of what people need.
RSVP: How many people come into the LatinoMemphis office during an average year?
Calvo: In an average year, you’re talking about5,000 people coming through the doors.
RSVP: How do Latinos new to the Memphis com-munity find out about the organization?
Calvo: Word-of-mouth is the number one way. Wedo have ads in all of the Latino newspapers, too.A lot of times though people will just tell peopleto come to our office even though they mightnow know what we do, and sometimes we can’thelp them. Our focus for the last few years hasbeen health, education and justice, and we helppeople with these things by connecting them tothe right resources, whether it’s ChristCommunity Clinic or a church office. It’s impor-tant for us to have strong collaborations becauseif we’re just sending people to Chris Community,and they’re not equipped to take you, you’re going to show up andnot be taken care of.
RSVP: Are there any new programs you’re looking to implement?
Calvo: If there’s immigration reform, we hope to provide more tar-geted legal services. This is the first year that we really launch ourAbriendo Puertas [Opening Doors] program. That evolved frombeing a program that was targeted to at-risk youth going into gangsto those kids going to college because now we have less kids goinginto gangs. We’re going to really expand that into other schools.Cordova [High School] has the second largest Latino high schoolpopulation in Memphis, so we’re going to go there and Ridgeway.This is a big priority for us. Going back to immigration reform, wewant to make sure that applicants are equipped to do what’s neces-sary to do, but we also want to be equipped to have conversationswith the larger community about why this is important to kind ofease their fears and concerns. I don’t expect people to agree oneverything, but let’s have these conversations because sometimespeople do have misconceptions and need to talk about it.
RSVP: I know that Latino Memphis is also a proponent of thenational Goal 2025 movement, so just wondering if you can explainwhat this project is and what Latino Memphis’ involvement with itis?
Calvo: So, the Lumina Foundation has this goal, Goal 2025, which isto have 60 percent of Americans period having some kind of post-secondary education by the year 2025. Right now, the national num-ber is 38 percent. In Tennessee, the Latino population for havingany type of post-secondary education is only 14 percent, so here, the
Tennessee Higher Education Commission partnered with the City ofMemphis Mayor’s Office, Latino Memphis, Leadership Memphis,FedEx, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Kingsbury HighSchool, the Community Foundation, the YMCA, TN Achieves andthe Greater Memphis Chamber to apply for a four-year grant for thisinitiative, which is called LSS [Latino Student Success]. We got it,which is amazing because they picked 12 cities, and most of thoseare well-known places like San Antonio, Miami and New York. So,we’re all saying, “What is it going to take for Latinos to get to Goal2025?” If we’re going to get to Goal 2025, we have to look to allpopulations though. As a state, we’re at 31 percent of people withpost-secondary education of some kind, so we’re way below. We haveto decide as a community whether we keep moving this graph in afew years. Lumina is funding this, and it’s a partnership agreement.
RSVP: Another goal I’ve heard that Latino Memphis has is forLatinos to become more engaged and active in the community atlarge. Can you tell me some ways you’ve seen Latino Memphisclients become more involved?
Calvo: Many times Latinos live in the shadows, and it’s really hardto get someone active when they’re in a shadow. Our goal is that
when people are here that they understand theyhave rights and that they have to do their share.I have to confess that it’s challenging to talkabout being so proactive given the circumstancesof immigration and poverty that we see so often.As we overcome some of those things and gaintheir trust, hopefully they’ll become more inde-pendent. There are so many specific things we’regoing to offer, and we’re offering as many semi-nars and educational workshops as we possiblycan on topics related to legal issues and healthissues—we have a strong partnership with theYMCA, which has an office next to us. Talkingabout things like health is important because,for instance, Latinos have a high rate of diabetesamong children in the U.S. So, we’re doingsomething to help people get out of the shadowsso they can become physically, socially and emo-tionally active.
RSVP: What are some ways you’ve witnessedLatino Memphis’ impact in the community?
Calvo: Direct impact is so hard to measure, butwe are seeing more willingness to collaborateand more and more organizations in Memphishaving specific things in place to help Latinos,like having a [Spanish] language line for many
of their services to the Exchange Club [Family Center] having a fullbilingual department dealing with domestic issues. Can I trace thatback and say that is a success for Latino Memphis? No, because it’sa collective impact. We like to be a part of that change, but whenyou’re dealing with combating social issues, it’s hard to say, “Oh, Idid that.”
RSVP: In what capacity can someone who doesn’t speak Spanish vol-unteer at Latino Memphis?
Calvo: I have people helping with the college access project, helpinghigh school students go to college. The sheriff that’s here doesn’tspeak Spanish, but helps with people reporting crimes…so all youhave to have is heart. We’ll deal with the language. Most of our vol-unteers actually don’t speak Spanish, or speak very little Spanish. Ifpeople want to help, we’ll find a way for them to do so.
RSVP: What do you think someone would be most surprised to knowabout Latino Memphis?
Calvo: I think people would be surprised how diverse our sponsor-ship and our board is. We have a board that’s made up of peoplewho are Jewish, African-American, white…more than half the boardis not Latino. We are an organization that was started by non-Latinos, and we’re an organization that’s supported by United Way,FedEx and Nike—it’s not that we’re only supported by Mexicanrestaurants, for example. So, I think something that would be sur-prising is that we’re concentrating on the Latino community, butthat’s not our only priority. I’m more open-minded than that. Wetake a holistic approach and look at what’s the best interest for thecity.
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The Ambassador SeriesBy Eugene Pidgeon
THE
AMBA
SSAD
OR S
ERIE
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HAMPTON SIDES PART 1: TRACING HIS “FOOTE STEPS”In 2009, when Jon Stewart introducedBruce Springsteen at the Kennedy CenterHonors, he used humorous and poignant
detail to outline how a common idealistfrom the dirty streets of Freehold, NewJersey, the abandoned child of JamesBrown and Bob Dylan, rose to become thepremier arbiter of everyone’s rock ‘n’ rollpossibility and everyone’s AmericanDream. Stewart skillfully merged the atten-tion span of his captured audience of for-mally suited diplomats and informallyrooted culture rats and anchored them col-lectively to a single call to arms,“Bruuuuuuce!” Then, in a surprising turn,Stewart got serious—thus, his closingremarks, though a bit garish, were reso-nantly honest and personal.
Stewart said, “Whenever I seeBruce Springsteen do anything, he emptiesthe tank…every time. And, the beautifulthing about this man is he empties thattank for his family, he empties that tankfor his art, he empties that tank for hisaudience and he empties it for his country.And we, on the receiving end of that beau-tiful gift, are ourselves rejuvenated, if notredeemed.”
Without corrupting the imagina-tion, the very same attributes could beaccorded to the former Memphian andpresent critically acclaimed and acclimatedbest-selling writer/author and premierarbiter of the historical narrative,Hampton Sides.
Next month, during the weekend ofApril 25-27, The Memphis Public Librarywill present the very first “Libration,” alibrary celebration to benefit the MemphisPublic Library & Information Center.Hampton Sides, who now resides in SantaFe, New Mexico with his wife, Anne, andtheir three sons, will be traveling toMemphis for the occasion. In fact, he willbe the special guest and keynote speakerfor this inaugural event.
Sides has penned notable works ofportent such as Ghost Soldiers, Blood andThunder and the award-winning andMemphis specific Hellhound on His Trail.The latter is a riveting and beautifullyresearched account of the internationalquest to find and capture James Earl Rayin the furor of days following the assassina-tion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on thebalcony of the Lorraine Motel in downtownMemphis on April 4, 1968. So compellingis Hellhound on His Trail that it reachednumber six on the New York Times BestSeller List—this is an astonishing andunprecedented achievement for a historicalnarrative. The Times’ literary critic JanetMaslin was impressed enough that sheregaled the work as “spellbinding, bold,dynamic and unusually vivid.”
At “Libration,” Sides will readfrom his vast body of published material.He also promises to share excerpts fromhis current work in progress, which is a yetuntitled exploration of an ill-fated expedi-tion to the Arctic Circle nearly a centuryago that ultimately floundered in Siberia.
The event itself will offer a week-end of irresistibly digestible polysyllablesand, alas, the witty and winsome lyric ofour myriad “native” tongues (all of whichare equipped enough to evoke and reflectthe wholly unique and sometimes electri-
cally volatile and disparate literary cuisinesand voices of Memphis and the Mid-South). “The Libration” celebration prom-ises to be a three day-page turning homageto the work of Hampton Sides and, too,the culture of our language—a language ofboth the spoken and written word. It is thelanguage of our particular possibility andof our local American Dream. Yet,“Libration” will perhaps serve to address amore important idea altogether.
May it remind us of our individualand communal responsibility to preserveand protect the very institution of ourlibrary system, a system which despite allpolitical and economic climates stillremains to faithfully preserve and protectour culture of language and literacy. Morethan this, however, the Memphis PublicLibrary and the Memphis LibraryFoundation are preserving the culture offamily. When the culture of family is pre-served so can be the preservation of thatwhich sets Memphis apart from othercities anywhere on Earth…while still bind-ing us on a level playing field with theentire world.
Above everything else, it may justbe the preservation of family which hasinspired Sides to return to Memphis forthe “Libration” celebration. Sides is noth-ing if not a committed family man, andbecause of people like him, as well as the
efforts of the Memphis Public Library andthe Library Foundation, our city is lookedupon as a redoubt of fable and allure. Inaddition, Memphis has emerged as a ful-crum, a universal compass point to a trueSouth of grand literature and a deeply richand fissured history. Those of us who willbe on the receiving end of the gifts Sidesand the Library Foundation will bringwhen “Libration” commences next monthare also going to be rejuvenated, if notredeemed.
The gravity of “Libration” and thereturn of Sides to Memphis cannot be over-stated. Therefore, RSVP, in a one-time ges-ture, will dedicate both the March andApril editions of The Ambassador Series toSides and the Library Foundation.
For the April issue, and drawingfrom the transcripts of three separateinterviews with Sides, this column willfunction to openly share the author’s ideason everything from the shifting impact oflanguage itself to his worldwide adven-tures, with his family in tow, to researchthe information that forms and informsthe body of his work. He also talks abouthis journeys as an evolving writer and asan evolving husband and parent. The high-light will perhaps be his warm reflectionson Shelby Foote, who presides as one ofhis most significant personal and profes-sional influences.
The following excerpt comes from“Entirely His Own Man,” an essay whichSides is crafting about his first impressionsand his lifelong relationship with Foote.The Ambassador Series is proud to an-nounce that this is the first excerpt fromthe essay to be published anywhere.
“Shelby Foote was a fierce devoteeof ‘As the World Turns.’ He insisted on PetCondensed Milk in his coffee. He wrote inlong hand with various antique writinginstruments, in a queer kind of Cyrillicscript that was uniquely his own.
He was the first writer I ever metand the only writer I ever personally knewuntil I left my hometown of Memphis andwent off to college. And so my image ofwhat a writer was supposed to look like,sound like and smell like came first andforemost from him.”—Hampton Sides
If you want to read more excerpts fromthis essay and to discover the open andgenial person of Hampton Sides, then besure to pick up a copy of the April editionof RSVP, where the story will continue.And for more information on “Libration,”log on to memphislibraryfoundation.org orcontact Diane Jalfon, the Memphis LibraryFoundation executive director, [email protected] your calendar for this event.
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STAX
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E V E N T Staxtacular
The Grizzlies’ “Soul -Shakin’ Throw-Down”
Darrell Arthur, Hamed Haddadi, Mike Conley and Jerryd Bayless
Jenny Koltnow and Tim Sampson
Marie and Charlie Roland
Brent and Heather Long
Jim Maddox and Amy Goldsmith
Rachelle Rogers and Renita Rogers
David and Rhonda Porter
Bridget and Phil Trenary
Doug and Sissy Carpenter
The Memphis Grizzlies ushered in 2013 with a monumental off-court success according to the sold-out ticket sales the teamhelped generate for the ninth annual Staxtacular, which sub-
sequently broke past fund-raising records with $135,000 contributedthis year. At capacity thanks to a turnout of 550 guests, the StaxMuseum of American Soul Music could have rivaled FedExForumduring Grizzlies games with this high-energy crowd, who not onlygenerously donated to the Stax Music Academy’s youth mentoringand music programs, but also cheered on the talented Stax MusicAcademy students and the Bo-Keys when they took the stage thisnight.
Jenny Koltnow, the founding executive director of theMemphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation, which helps put on thebenefit with the Soulsville Foundation, expressed her appreciationfor how much Staxtacular has grown since it was first held in 2005after only a five-week planning period. She said that the Grizzliesplayers and some of their wives were looking for a meaningful organ-ization to give back to in the community where they live, and aftertouring the Stax Music Academy, they were so impressed that theydecided to raise funds for it—hence the birth of Staxtacular. To date,more than $800,000 has been raised for the academy at this benefit,and several players continue to serve as honorary hosts, who thistime included Tony Allen, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and ZachRandolph.
“With music and basketball, what more fun can you have?”smiled Koltnow.
Indeed, the pairing of two of our city’s hottest commoditiesfor this event has proven ingenious, not to mention the unbelievablefood stations that appear at every turn (athletes have big appetites!).There were canapés of goat cheese tartlets and roasted tomatoes,cucumber slices with smoked salmon and cream cheese and beefCarpaccio on crostinis, sushi and roasted pork dumplings at onetable alone. Many more mouth-watering edibles awaited gueststhough, like fried mac and cheese, mini cornbread muffins withshort ribs, chocolate-covered bacon and an ice cream sundae bar.Tennessee’s own Prichard’s Distillery also set up a whiskey tastingstation and had donated all five of its whiskeys for the silent auc-tion, which, in addition to the live and online auctions, boasted lotsof basketball-friendly loot, like a father/son Grizzlies bow tie setfrom Mo’s Bows, a burlap “Grizz” door hanger and two floor seatsto the Grizzlies game against the Washington Wizards.
The evening ended with partygoers cutting loose with candidphoto booth shots and lots of dancing. This party has been dubbed a“Soul-Shakin’ Throw-Down” after all, and that it proved to be for aslam-dunk of a ninth year.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Roy Haithcock and
Don Perry See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com
Password: RSVP
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E V E N T
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Traci and Colin McDoniel
Lynne and Henry Turley
Molly Fitzpatrick and Leah Fitzpatrick
Terry Reeves and Judy Carmichael
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Alyson Bauer and Matthew Heffington
Anastasia Wiseman, Zach Randolph and Yelena Ovando
LaToya Knox, Rudy Gay and Charmaine Taylor
Chuck Thomas III and Sherri ThomasStephanie Anderson and Meredith Ray
Devon Dennis and Jeb Hart
Tim and Cathy Dalfiume
Nancye Starnes and David Hughes
Adrianna Christmas and Jeremy Larry
Lionel and Angie Hollins
Tomeka Hart and Russ Wigginton
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Geneva and Josalyn Sanders
Scott and Carolyn McCormick
Gary and Letitia McClain
Melanie and Doug SchrankSonia Benn and Lester Ferdinand
Julie and Fred Azar with Hope Dooner Abby, John and Amy Huber
Ruby and Kirk Whalum with Kirk and Karen Johnston Brooks and Linsey Oakley with John David and Becky Dowdle
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CIRQ
UE DU CM
OME V E N T Cirque du CMOM
“Unmask Your Wild Side”
Jessica Hackett, Dick and Kathy Hackett, Chester Rockwell and Bootsie Vonschlegel
Sarah Spinosa and Mary Ballard
Greg and Elizabeth Smithers
Caroline and Terry Morris
Cathy Weaver and Terry Lynch
Tom and Robin Watson
Todd and Stacey Watson
Anne and Keith Townsend
Leslie and Alper Cetingok
While Rio de Janeiro was still preparing for its annual celebrationknown as Rio Carnival, the party was already starting statesideat the Children’s Museum of Memphis. Filled with revelers out-
fitted in masks, extravagant headdresses and feathers, the museumresembled a South-American Carnival parade for its always well-exe-cuted Cirque du CMOM benefit. Organizers even planned ahead forthose who might arrive sans costume by providing feather bouton-nières for gentleman and colorful masks for women at the entrance(The official party invitation came with masks as well and read “Putthe mask on and see your inhibitions disappear.).
From the get-go, this party didn’t disappoint. With a rain-bow-colored entrance carpet that led to a giant float, complete withsamba dancers atop it and Jeremy Shrader’s Seis Musicos poundingout the sounds of Rio beside it, guests were given a warm introduc-tion to the evening’s theme. Farther along, an ice luge carved with aPatron logo enticed patrons to sample cool tequila shots, which thebrave enjoyed as ambient noises of the rain forest played in the back-ground. Some 20 restaurants had supplied tasting stations, many ofwhich featured hors d’oeuvres that catered to the festive atmosphere.For instance, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen served fried pastawith pork salsa verde, while Automatic Slim’s plated beef kabobswith pineapple, a fruit indigenous to South America. Of courses,dishes like Ciao Bella Italian Grill’s Kobe beef with portobello mush-rooms and feta and Owen Brennan’s shrimp and grits and signaturebread pudding hit the spot, too.
Entertainment factored in big at this affair, with AlstonMeeks Jr. and an eight-piece band performing big band style musicin the Oak Hall tent, decorated with chic lounge furniture, and PartyPlanet and DJ Mark Anderson taking turns heating up the stage inthe Copacabana. Normally the Malco 4 Kids area, the Copacabanawas adult territory for this party and helped transport attendees intoa world where music and passion rule, beginning with a conga lineof samba dancers who brought out the party spirit. From the ceilinghung larger-than-life butterflies ensconced in twirling vines, and onthe cocktail tables, DJ Mark Anderson projected photographs fromthe real Rio Carnival.
As Party Planet lead singer Al Paris took the mic, he said,“Okay, y’all, it’s officially party time!” And, not a second later, thedance floor was packed with those ready to show off their wild side.Carnival had truly come to life in Memphis, and Carrie CallawayRoberts, CMOM’s director of PR and marketing, couldn’t be moreecstatic that this Cirque du CMOM raised a record amount of fund-ing for the museum, its exhibits and educational programming.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Baxter Buck
See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.comPassword: RSVP
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PRESENTED BY:
Blue Streak’s 9th Annual Food Tasting & Silent Auction
Save the Date
$75 per person | $85 at doortasteofjubilee.org
320.6362
Bene�ting the Jubilee Schools of Memphis
ce7:00 PM | Pink Pala MuseumAPRIL 19, 2013
asting & Silent Auctionood Tood Tasting & Silent AuctionFth Annual 9Blue Streak’s
the DateSave asting & Silent Auction
th Annual
the Date
: BYPRESENTED
s oloohce Selibue Jhg tnng titti�ee�neB
320.6362tasteofjubilee.org
$85per person | $75
19, 2013LIRPAPink Pala|7:00 PM ce
sihpmmpef Mf Mes os of M
tasteofjubilee.org at door$85
19, 2013 Museumcece Museum
E V E N T
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Dee and Jerome Franklin with Gina and Michael Thompson
Allison Rogers and Richard WilliamsonPatrick and Marla Pennington
Lance and Fiona BinderStephanie Jarratt and Jessica Simpson
Lindsey and Josh HammondKarl and Gail Schledwitz
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Shannon and Tyler Benitone
Brooks and Tara Fowler
Chris and Nicole Girata
Mike Hooker and Berry SimpsonJennifer Godwin and Amanda Ray
Dan Kyle and Sally Morris
Joyce and Mike Nussbaum
William and Emily Young
Amy Thakkar and Tanika Yancy
Clay and Casey Tidwell
Mike and Helen Kiser
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Freddie Young, Al Paris and Amber Wilson
Allison and Richard SmithTim Parks and Jeannie Bleu
Ree Liverance and Matt SellersAmanda and Stanley Johnson
Terry and Caprice MorganJordan Scott and Hunter Haley
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Craig and Susan WilliamsDavid and Timmi Warlick
Anne Dunavant and Jennifer McCulloughChad and Hattie Rounder
Laura and Buddy DearmanNathan and Amy Raines
Jim and Amy WhittingtonCole Giovannetti and Lauren Lee
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Carroll and Tina Todd with Heather and Henry Grosvenor
Joe Dandan, Angela Garber and Kofi Appah
Jenna and Ed WallisKatie and Ryan Savage
Uma and Dr. Kishore ArcotFloyd and Keosha Williams
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Anyone who loves to cook knows that the kitchen is the heart ofthe home. Not just meals are made there, but memories also; it’sa source of nourishment for the body and the soul. Valerie
Morris—former chef and founder of the much-missed River TerraceYacht Club and the restaurant Equestria, who has had the supremehonor of cooking at the James Beard House—knows the worth of agood kitchen more than most.
Having left a career in the culinary arts for the corporateworld, Valerie kept cooking in her personal life, but quickly realizedhow unsuitable her home kitchen was for the frequent dinner partiesshe and her husband, Jeff, host. Working closely with designer AmiAustin of Ami Austin Interiors, the Morrises found that holy grail:the dream kitchen.
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All stainless appliances and distressed pecan cabinetry with ample storage make this kitchen suit-able for a chef who entertains at home. Hardwood floors, subway tile walls and a tray ceiling withpendant lighting add to its beauty.
Interview by Kelly Cox | Photos by Steve Roberts
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RSVP: This kitchen is amazing. So, how did the project begin?
Austin: Valerie and Jeff entertain a lot, and I mean a lot. Valerie’s avery well-respected chef—she attended Le Cordon Bleu L’EcoleCulinaire in Paris, she’s written cookbooks, taught culinary artsand is very accomplished. The way the kitchen was before, she usedto pull a drape while cooking for her guests because the kitchenwas just for working, not for enjoying. I have “before” pictures thatshow how she used to try to work in here. Looking back, she can’tbelieve it! It’s nice now when they give a party because their guestscan sit down and enjoy watching Valerie prepare a meal. Now, shefeels very comfortable navigating this space in full view.
RSVP: What turns a home kitchen into a chef’s home kitchen?
Austin: Crucial elements were the extra-wide, double ovens, withone being a convection oven, two dishwashers, a 48-inch six-burnerThermador range, range hood and warming racks. Valerie and Jeffgave a lot of input on the appliances, with Jeff doing most of theresearch on BTUs and heat output that Valerie requested. They bothwanted all stainless steel and very clean lines. There’s the stainlesssteel backsplash above the range. The colors are a big change fromthe way things used to be. The whole kitchen area was red with
black appliances. We extended the kitchen andreplaced the cabinetry with a warm-toned, distressedpecan and did subway tile walls and granite counter-tops. I did an arched doorway into the living room,just because it added interest and gave an OldWorld, French country flavor more suitable to some-one of Valerie’s cooking caliber. We did two built-inspice racks on either side of the range. Before, shehad exposed racks of spices taking up all this wallspace, really like a restaurant kitchen instead of ahome kitchen.
RSVP: Was storage an important consideration?
Austin: Storage was essential, especially as much asValerie cooks and as organized as she is. She is SOorganized—the spices in those built-in racks are inalphabetical order! All her pots and pans used tohang from the ceiling above the butcher block. So,we did all full-extension drawers and cabinet slats sothat she could get her sheet pans, pots, pans andtools even more organized and out of sight. And, Iadded a tray ceiling in that space to accommodatethe pendant lighting. The butcher block itself has
built-in drawers for commercial-size wraps and foils. It’s interestingto see how a chef does it at home.
RSVP: What’s behind this leaded glass door?
Austin: That’s a wine cellar closet that holds a little more than 150bottles. Having proper wines to serve with dinner was important,and we were able to create this space by closing off a short hallwaythat led into the kitchen from the foyer. The ceiling is stained beadboard. And, I thought this was really neat, to be able to do a wholewall using wood from the crates that the wines are shipped in. Thatwas Valerie and Jeff’s idea.
RSVP: Had they been in the home long before deciding to renovate?
Austin: Yes, they’d been here about 10 years before this completerenovation. We finished everything in time for a Christmas party in2011. In the end, we carried the hardwood floor selected for thekitchen throughout the whole of the house, which is wonderful.Really, before the renovation of this room and others, they were onthe fence about whether to stay in this house, but they decided thatno, they loved the location and the ranch floor plan, and it wasworth renovating.
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Les Passees Cabaret Ball“A Night in the Orient” E
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Lida Kruchten and John Buttross Patti Russell and Anne Newell
Nicole Wood and Jere Gerard Phillip and Missy Green
Elizabeth and Mike Rodriguez Kierstin Spottswood and Melissa Ellen
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Judy Ashby, Ron Childers, Joyce Peterson, Jack Conway and Suzanne SheltonJennifer Kruchten and Deborah Matthews Chris Cardona and Anna Ellis
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Inside one of the best rooms in Memphis, atop the Clark Tower,more than 200 members and supporters gathered in their most ele-gant attire to celebrate Les Passees’ annual Cabaret Ball in the
Tower Center. Themed “A Night in the Orient,” the Tower Center wastransformed with a sea of Asian-style red paper lanterns hung fromthe ceiling and pagoda lamps with Ikebana-inspired flowers adorningthe tables.
In addition to the décor, the mood was set for magic by ladiesin their floor-length formals, including the Living Ads presented forthe evening, who were the following: Emily Booth, Lida Kruchten andEva Wehr. Their escorts included Cody Brooks, Andrew Ellen and TreyKeppen. This year’s pages were Kaitlyn Keppen, Andrew Kruchten,Bennett Kruchten and Lauren Ledger.
Les Passees has served as a women’s philanthropic organiza-tion since 1919 to provide advocacy and support for children and fami-lies in the Memphis community. One of the group’s current projectsis the Harwood Center, which provides specialized education and ther-apeutic services to children with developmental disabilities from birthto age 5, and it also supports the national organization Kids on theBlock, an educational puppet program that travels to schools through-out Shelby County. Kids on the Block specifically addresses social con-cerns such as bullying, low self-esteem, how to say no to drugs andalternatives to gangs and violence, and each year, the Les PasseesKids on the Block puppet troupe performs for more than 25,000 chil-dren.
“This night is a thank-you to our generous sponsors who sup-port us throughout the year,” Suzanne Shelton, co-chair of the event,said at the event. “This is the first time we’ve held it at the TowerCenter, and I just love it. It should make for a fun event.”
Once guests satisfied their Asian palates on sushi and stir-fry,they danced the rest of the evening to the blues and R&B intonationsof Memphis’ own The King Beez.
Story by Lesley YoungPhotos by Don Perry
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Belinda and David Sink
Bennett and Andrew Kruchten Julie and Kevin Stonebarger Cassandra and Jack Moriarty
Kacie and Stephen Cooper Jim and Karen Williams Sue and Ralph Berry
Charise and Finice McCarley
Tristan Hayes and Andrea Lopez
Steve Nix and Pam Cain
Craig and Karyn Whittington
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McClain Gordon and Alison Smith
Lisa and Erin Reid
Leslie and Bryan Darr
Brad and Kim Flynn
David and Andrea Mikkola
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Trey Keppen and Kaitlyn Keppen
Alan and Cindi Ledger
Liz and Rick Gano
Donnie and Amy Thweatt
Emily Green and Taylor Martin
Lori Wehr, Peri Jones, Eva Wehr and Jay Wehr Molly McNiell, Emily Booth and Amanda Booth
Cody Brooks, Helena Susen, Alice Blackmon and Ryan Brooks Nancy, Margie and Jim Brooks
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Starr and Jennifer Cheshier Meredith Nelson and Leif Craig
Bradford Waters and Anca Pop Lovie and Richard Raines
Bernie O’Connor and Tes Herman Bob and Linda Whitten
Anne and Gary Blevins Jane and Mark Harris
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M-Town CountdownNew Year’s Eve BashE
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Darrell and Libby Smith Raquel and Tommy Carls
Truman Hull and Milandria King Ward and Brittan Robinson
Anna and Blake Jeffries Madelyn Gray and Charlene Cox
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Patty and Tom Schoelkopf with Sue and Jon BerryBrian and Deana Spangler Sally and Ashley Pace
See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP
It seems fitting that the Junior League of Memphis would celebrateNew Year’s Eve at the Pink Palace Museum. The league began thesame year—1922—that Clarence Saunders declared he would build
the palace, not to mention the fact that the philanthropic organiza-tion helped establish it as a Memphis institution.
“We couldn’t have picked a better location to celebrate thisyear,” JLM president Sally Pace said.
Calling it the M-Town Countdown, the organization’s 1,600members decided to “Party Like It’s 1922.” Women dressed in flapperfrocks and feather hair pieces and men in gangster hats and wingtips,with some just in black tie, for a night of dancing, snacking and, ofcourse, some celebratory imbibing. Azz Izz was the featured band forthe evening, and Eclectic Catering provided build-your-own shrimpand grits among other heavy hors d’oeuvres. Event sponsorLaurelwood Shopping Center provided freeze models, who were sta-tioned throughout the venue, and Classic Party Rentals did not disap-point setting the mood for a night that harkened to The Great Gatsbyor “Boardwalk Empire.”
“I’ve had this flapper dress in my closet just waiting for achance to be worn,” said the event’s emcee, Lauren Lee, of Fox 13News.
Memphian Marilyn Vatter added, “Just the fact that it’s at thePink Palace. I mean, who doesn’t want to celebrate New Year’s at thePink Palace?”
JLM members had a little extra to celebrate besides wrappingup 2012 and ringing in 2013, as this year marks 90 years of servicefor the organization. “This is the sunset to 90 years of perfect serviceand the sunrise for hopefully 90 more years of perfect service,” Pacesaid. And for that, organizers added sliders and doughnuts to themenu when the clock struck midnight.
Story by Lesley YoungPhotos by Baxter Buck
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Kristin and Steve Oswalt Gina and Chad Boyd
Brad and Rebecca Bush Ron and Mica Partain
Hank and Anna Kathryn Word Brandt and Julie Maddox
Mason Money and Tricia Thomas Ashley and Kevin Demsky
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Karimen and Spencer McDaniel
Amy Stack and Stephanie Simpson Paul and Angie Bell Meagan and Corey Jones
Derek and Amy Bailey Emily and Joel Long Landon and Angela Himelright
Jenny and Nick Vergos
Warwick and Cathy Garner
Jeff and Amanda Cunningham
Megan and Paul Klimo
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wumr.memphis.edu
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Lee and Isabelle Welch
Ken and Lisa Roberts
Tricia and Nelson Adrian
Andrew Wilbourn and Sarah Gallagher
Caroline and Rob Williams
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M-TO
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Janie and Bruce Hopkins
Cody and Carter Giovanetti with Lauren Lee and Cole Giovanetti
Matt and Jessica Neil
Allen Scoggin and Marilyn Vatter
Peter Barta and Carrie Strehlau with Mary and Nick Griffin
Kerri and Ryan Lynn
Cecil and Summer Godman Aaron and Stacy Terry
Jim Levy and Edgin Wright Mark Awdeh and Elly Deyhle
Jen Larkin and Amanda Meredith Matt and Jessica Ryan
Courtney and Tommy Kiggins Dan Hoit and Vikki Nolan
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ONSITE Onsite I
Kemmons Wilson Jr. and Norma Wilson
Connie Gonitzke, Joel Ashner and Deni Hirsh
Molly and Bob Plunk
Karen Harris, Chelsey Harris and Natasha Kyle
Rebekah Sudduth and Joe Di Nicolantonio
Meredith Crawford and Dean Puryear
Kevin and Judy Spiegel with Steven Bares
Kris Phillips with Peggy and Jim Duke
Ken and Cynthia Brown with Carol and Steve Schwab
AFP Crystal Awards Luncheon
Memphis is the second most gen-erous city in the nation, accord-ing to the Chronicle of Philan-thropy, and the reason was obvi-ous at the Memphis Chapter ofthe Association of FundraisingProfessionals 2012 Crystal AwardsLuncheon at the U of M HolidayInn. More than 400 luminaries inthe nonprofit world joined AFP tohonor individuals, groups andorganizations that have gone toextraordinary lengths to serve thecity’s needs. Kemmons Wilson Jr.,in accepting the OutstandingPhilanthropist Award, spoke formany when he explained whatdrives his generosity. “I realizedthat the purpose of life is not tobe happy. The purpose of life isto matter,” he said. Joe Birch, aprevious award winner himself,returned as emcee for the seventhyear in a row. He shared the stagewith AFP Memphis presidentConnie Gonitzke. Pianist RenéKoopman provided the music,and guests dined on salad, chick-en with mushroom sauce andcake. The afternoon’s other hon-orees included Dorothy GuntherPugh, Bob Plunk, Mark Halperin,Lester and Brenda Crain, FedEx,ServiceMaster and the JewishFoundation of Memphis.
Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker
Make-A-Wish Wine Tasting and Silent Auction
Holiday get-togethers to help oth-ers have been a tradition atRegions Mortgage since thegroup’s vice president, DeanPuryear, first organized a fish fryfor employees, clients and friendsfour years ago. Last year’s eventwas a decidedly more upscalewine tasting and silent auction,with proceeds benefiting theMake-A-Wish Foundation® of theMid-South. The wine tasting tookplace in the rotunda of the for-mer Union Planter’s NationalBank building, now the mainMemphis office of Regions Bank.The hall was decked with holidaycheer, and Memphis ConsumerCredit Company co-sponsored theevent. Some 60 people nibbled onmushroom Camembert and cran-berry-laced cheddar, as well asartichoke and Gruyere tarts,lemon pepper chicken and beeftenderloin prepared by Off TheSquare Catering’s NeelyDraughon. A silent auction alsobeckoned guests to bid on itemsincluding a FedEx flight simula-tor session, a Windyke CountryClub family membership, signedart by Clay Connor, an iPaddonated by Puryear and a photosession with Allison RodgersPhotography. Adding frisson tothe evening was the announce-ment of a five-figure anonymousdonation to the charity.
Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker
Ginger and Gabe Statom
Hilda Mullen, Donna McManus and Karen Gahan
Becky Treace-Entrekin and Brenda Glass
Duration Fine Arts Club Christmas Luncheon
Since its inception in 1945, theDuration Club, now the DurationFine Arts Club, has undergone ahandful of transformations—fromassisting WWII veterans andopening the first preschool formentally challenged children tosupporting the Baddour Center.In its most recent evolution,members meet once a month tofocus on the arts. Through thevarious stages of its arc, onething has remained steadfast: itsmembers’ constancy. During theChristmas season, the ladies metat the Memphis Country Club tocelebrate their longevity and loy-alty, and to gather for the annualDuration Fine Arts ClubChristmas Luncheon. With theirnew focus in mind and onceeveryone enjoyed the lunchcatered by the country club, theprogram commenced with musi-cal entertainment by GabeStatom and his wife, Ginger, whoperformed a variety of holidaytunes.
Story and Photos by Lesley Young
UTHSC Chancellor’s Holiday Party
For guests in the midst of all theholiday hustle-bustle, the quietand intimate University ofTennessee Health Science CenterChancellor’s Holiday Party wasjust what the doctor ordered.Nearly 50 guests relaxed as theyenjoyed full use of the clubhouseat Windyke Country Club.Chancellor Steve Schwab wasjoined by high-ranking UTHSCofficials, including Ken Brown,COO; Kris Phillips, AssociateVice Chancellor for Alumni andAnnual Giving, and Guy Reed,chairman of the Department ofMedicine. With pianistChristopher Ward providing softbackground music, partygoerssipped wine, beer or harder spir-its and visited buffet tables offer-ing shrimp and grits, roast sir-loin, ham, grilled chicken ten-ders and fried green tomatoesand pickles. Desserts were abun-dant and ranged from sweets tofruit and cheese. ChancellorSchwab spoke briefly to thankhis talented team and generousdonors for making the institu-tion “as good as it has everbeen.” Then he added, “Wecouldn’t do it without you.”
Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker
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ONSITEOnsite II
Kevin Kane and Bobby “Blue” Bland
Lewie Steinberg and John Doyle
Lorrain Mitchell, Pat Mitchell Worley and Yvonne Mitchell
Randy Henry and Dwayne Spencer
Andria Lewis and Marcus Johnson
Jennifer Payne and Brandon Marshall
Janice Ousley, r2c2h2 tha artivist and Loretta McNary
Joel Rose and Jenean Morrison
Anna Avant and Lisa Doss
Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The Cannon Center for thePerforming Arts offered a stellarview of night falling over theMississippi River...and of thestars coming out for the inaugu-ral induction ceremony of thenew Memphis Music Hall ofFame. Administered by theSmithsonian-developed MemphisRock ‘n’ Soul Museum with thesupport of other local musicalattractions, this is one Hall ofFame with a lot of ground tocover. “Memphis music is sobroad,” explained John Doyle,executive director of the museum.“We are rock, we are soul, we areblues, we are rhythm and blues.”To appropriate a lyric sung by thegreat Otis Redding, “it’s been along time coming,” and this Hallof Fame made up for lost timewith a first class of 25 inducteesthat included Redding himself,Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes, W.C.Handy, Memphis Minnie, JerryLee Lewis, B.B. King, JimDickinson, Sam Phillips, JimStewart/Estelle Axton and Three6 Mafia. At a special receptionprior to the ceremony, inducteeslike Bobby “Blue” Bland, SteveCropper and ZZ Top’s Dusty Hillcelebrated with special gueststhat included the families ofinductees Rufus Thomas andWillie Mitchell. The Hall of Famelooks forward to honoring moreMemphis musical greats yearafter year.
Story and Photos by Kelly Cox
Hammerin’ in the Holidays
“When people move into theirown home, it changes theirlives,” said Ed Clark, a formerboard member of Habitat forHumanity of Greater Memphiswho has sponsored several H4Hhomes to “make a difference onefamily at a time.” Thanks to thegenerosity of Clark and severalhundred other guests who attend-ed the 11th annual Tool BoxBash at the Great Hall inGermantown, the nonprofit willbe able to make a difference formany more families. ValeroMemphis Refinery was the titlesponsor for the event, which fea-tured silent and live auctions,music by G3: Garry Goin Groupand food from Humdinger’s,Moe’s Southwest Grill, Draper’sCatering, Off the SquareCatering, Zest of Memphis andPiece and Love Pie Company.With the event being held lastDecember, the customary MardiGras flavor was shed in favor of a“Hammerin’ in the Holidays”twist. Silent auction bids weremade using tool-shaped pens, andif guests just had to have anitem, there was an option to“Buy It Now” at a premium priceover value. “I got the idea fromeBay,” explained event organizerShanda Wicker. The evening alsoincluded cooking demonstrationsby Chef Ayanna Johnson and aMonty Hall-type game in whichguests could pick an unknownbottle from a “Wall of Wine” fora set price, hoping they wouldchoose one of several valuablevintages made available by TheStellar Cellar Wine & Spirits.
Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker
Jennifer Russell, Shannon Hicks and Abby Johnson
Caroline Ray and Kylie Hayes
James and Anne Nowlin with Lindsey and Eric Gentry
Joann Massey and Natasha Donerson
Memphis World Trade Club'sPort of New Orleans Night
Port of New Orleans Night, in its62nd year last November, cele-brated the key strategic relation-ship between Memphis and thePort of New Orleans. With morethan 800 guests in attendance atThe Peabody, the event was trulya grand gala featuring dinner andremarks, cocktails, live musicand dancing. Now more than 65years old, The Memphis WorldTrade Club is an organization ofMemphis’ professionals in theinternational trade industry.MWTC is one of the oldest andmost respected clubs in theindustry and is a key resource inthe Memphis community for pro-moting the participation andgrowth in international trade.
Story SubmittedPhotos by JD Meredith
Unveil South Main
Unveil South Main threw alaunch party in the quintessen-tially downtown space of theJack Robinson Gallery duringlast November’s Trolley Night tofete 20 regional artists who wereselected to exhibit their work for20 days in 20 downtown busi-nesses, restaurants and nonprof-it spaces. Each participatingartist provided an original piecefor a silent auction at the ArcadeRestaurant-sponsored kick-offbash to benefit the South MainAssociation. Featured artistsincluded Kemper Durand atCharlotte Fine Jewelry, MichelleDuckworth at Hoot + Louise,r2c2h2 tha artivist at the BluesFoundation, Tori Lyn Cooper atthe Russian Cultural Center,Allison Furr-Lawyer at Pearl’sOyster House and Shirin Shahinat Emerge Memphis.
Story and Photos by Kelly Cox
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ONSITE Onsite III
Lizzie, Baker, Warren, Alice and Warren Ball
Chloe Duke, Maddie Droke, Tori Crnogorac,Ellen Cowens and Caroline Coleman
Courtney Skouteris and Charlotte Nichols
Greg and Carol Weidenhoffer
Linda Underwood and Karen Carlisle
Jan Wiygul, Donna Flinn and Laura Gorham
Evelyn Mallone and Sara Gibson
Martha Podesta, Toni Rutledge and Terri Heard
Rita Dattilo and Helen Keith
Memphis Junior Cotillion Presentation and Holiday Ball
The Memphis Junior CotillionClub, in existence as early as1928, has members who are 11thand 12th grade students atHutchison School and St. Mary’sEpiscopal School, or those whoare legacies of past members.This past December, there were48 juniors and 53 senior mem-bers of the club who were recog-nized at the Memphis JuniorCotillion Presentation andHoliday Ball, held in theContinental Ballroom of ThePeabody. For more than 80 years,Junior Cotillion has introducedits members to society while alsomaking substantial monetarydonations to charitable causes.Junior Cotillion chose last year tosupport the Ronald McDonaldHouse® of Memphis, which issolely associated with St. JudeChildren’s Research Hospital. A“home away from home” for fam-ilies who are in Memphis whiletheir children are receiving treat-ment for cancer or another cata-strophic illness, the RonaldMcDonald House has had morethan 5,700 patients and theirfamilies from nearly everystate and 45 countries stay at itsfacility completely free of charge.
Story and Photos Submitted
Le Bonheur Club Gold Tag Art Party
The Le Bonheur Club kicked offits annual Gold Tag Fund-raisingDrive with a Gold Tag Art Partyat Cheney Parish Hall inside theChurch of the Holy Communion.Members are raising funds thisyear to get a new ambulance forLe Bonheur Children’s Hospital,which transports some 2,200 chil-dren to the hospital annually fortreatment. With that goal inmind, members urged theirguests and one another to placebids on the diverse art creationssupplied by many talented artists,including Michèle G. Allen, ScottBaxter, Danny Broadway, JulieLamb, Denise Rose, Joy Routt,Virginia Williamson and NJWoods. Spearheading the effortare Gold Tag Drive co-chairsLaura Gorham and Jan Wiygul,and Le Bonheur Club presidentDonna Flinn couldn’t be morepassionate about the cause eitheras she said, “We need this ambu-lance for Le Bonheur—it’s anemergency!”
Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
Baird Callicott, Veda Reed and Burton Callicott
Congressman Steve Cohen and Remy Miller
Doug Ferris, Shawna Engel and Travis Green
MCA Premier Selection Exhibition and Auction
Cleaning up shop was the moti-vating factor for the MemphisCollege of Art Board of Trusteeswhen the group decided to sellsome of MCA’s nearly 550 piecesin storage. To get the ball rollingon clearing out space, the MCAPremier Selection Exhibition andAuction was held in mid-Januaryat the college’s Nesin GraduateSchool’s Hyde Gallery downtown.Featured works were done byrespected local, regional, nationaland international artists whorange from the late Americanpop artist Roy Lichtenstein tolocal photographer Murray Rissand the late local painter anddrawer Burton Callicott, whoseson and grandson, Baird Callicottand Burton Callicott, respective-ly, were in attendance at the auc-tion. Proceeds from the auctionwill help with the operations andprograms of MCA, which planson continuing the cleaning-outprocess throughout the next eightto 10 years.
Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Cara Sievers
Ave Maria Wine Tasting and Art Show
Memphis artists and the AveMaria Home joined forces withDelta Wholesale Liquors to raisefunds for the residents of AveMaria, a long-term care facilityfor seniors, with the fourthannual Ave Maria Wine Tastingand Art Show. More than just anart show, the event displayedbeautiful artwork for sale frommore than 20 different localartists. Guests indulged in avariety of select Italian winesprovided by Delta WholesaleLiquors and munched on deli-cious hot hors d’oeuvreswhipped up by the Knights ofColumbus as they jumped at thechance to take home pieces byMary Bowman, Greg Bowden,Rena Chiozza, Rita Dattilo andMary Pera, to name a fewartists. Frank Gattuso, executivedirector of Ave Maria Home,says that the event “is a relaxedfun event” that showcases greatlocal art. In all, the gatheringraised more than $10,600, andwith 30 percent of every pur-chase going to fund Ave Mariaresidential scholarships and 70percent to the artists, this phil-anthropically-driven event will beable to give back to some of ourcity’s most inspiring residents.
Story and Photos by Rachel Warren
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ONSITEOnsite IV
Joe and Carol Ballard
NJ Woods and Marty McKee
Joel Alexander
Marta Vinzant and Jim Browning
Don Harants, Charles Humphreys, John Goodyear and David Kelly
Pat McWilliams, Paula Wyatt, Ellen Patrick and Cynthia Talley
Mike Palazzola, Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy and Jane Lappi
Blair and Bill Lansden
Judy Gupton, Pat Scroggs, Janice Hamil and Janie Day
Incognito Art Gala and Silent Auction
Disguises were the order of thenight at the second annualIncognito Gala and Silent Auctionat the Memphis Botanic Garden.More than 300 people viewed 80-plus unsigned works of art fromtalented artists across the Mid-South, and, true to the evening’sslogan of “bid on what you love,not who you know,” attendees bidon works based purely on whatcaptured their imaginations, andnot the name attached to thepiece. The featured artists kepttheir identities under wraps inglitzy masks and mysterious cos-tumes while guests enjoyed horsd’oeuvres from Just Catering, acash bar and music from TomPrestigiacomo and RenéKoopman. The added bonus ofthe event was that all proceedswent straight into the BotanicGarden’s outreach and education-al programs. Joel Alexander, aclay sculptor and a former artteacher, took a moment from thenight’s festivities to remark thatshe is “thrilled the money goes tothe education department.”
Story and Photos by Rachel Warren
Grand Krewe of Ennead Coronation
The Grand Krewe of Enneadkicked off the 2013 CarnivalMemphis season with the corona-tion of King Ennead XXIII(known to his friends as JohnGoodyear) and Queen SaharaXXIII (Ellen Patrick) at the U ofM Holiday Inn. The queen’s ele-gant duchesses (Pat McWilliams,Cynthia Talley and Paula Wyatt)were resplendent in deep tealstrapless gowns. Each carried asingle long-stemmed white rosethat picked up the brilliant whiteof the queen’s gown, which, likethe duchesses’, came from AllAbout Weddings. Completing thecourt this year were Dukes DonHarants, Charles Humphreys andDavid Kelly. Led by flagman JimBrowning, the court made a dra-matic entrance into the ballroom,packed with 300 guests. Theevening’s theme was “Days ofWine and Roses,” so along withthe duchesses’ stems, there werestriking wire towers holding ahalf-dozen red roses on eachtable; the centerpieces were hand-crafted by Ennead vice chairmanMarion Marr. The wine flowed,too, as guests helped themselvesto a buffet and enjoyed entertain-ment by the musical group Magi.This year, the Grand Krewe ofEnnead, as well as the otherCarnival Memphis krewes, aresupporting three children’s chari-ties: Perea Preschool, the RonaldMcDonald House® of Memphisand the YWCA of GreaterMemphis.
Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker
Steve Harris with Rachel and Kenyarda Patterson
Keating Lowery and Diana Comes
Fran Ridley and Lucie Brackin
AWA Banquet and Silent Auction
A who’s who of female profes-sionals in the legal world steppedoutside their offices, and someoutside their chambers, to jointogether at the Tower Center forthe 33rd annual Association ofWomen Attorneys Banquet andSilent Auction. Chaired byKeating Lowery and DianeComes, the event honored JudgePaulette J. Delk with the MarionGriffin-Frances Loring Award forher outstanding achievement inthe legal profession. Membersalso awarded scholarships tothree University of MemphisCecil C. Humphreys School ofLaw students, who includedKaycee Arnold, Jessica Chandlerand Angela Harris. In addition tothe awards presentation, atten-dees got a chance to mix andmingle during a cocktail recep-tion and at dinner, and they con-tinued to show support of theAWA Scholarship Fund by bid-ding often on the diverse silentauction offerings, which featureditems like artwork, restaurant giftcards and tickets to shows by per-forming arts groups. Past AWApresident and member LucieBrackin pointed out that it waseasier than ever this year forguests to bid on items, as shehad helped secure light-up penreaders so that attendees couldread all the details about thewonderful goodies that had beendonated.
Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick
Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce 2013 Annual Dinner Gala
Germantown Area Chamber ofCommerce members had achance to mix business withpleasure at the group’s 2013Annual Dinner Gala. Many ofthe guests wore glamorousgowns, which fit the sophisticat-ed décor of the PresidencyBallroom at EsplanadeMemphis. Singer LaDon Jonesprovided the entertainment, andthe evening’s program beganwith inspiring words by PatMcCree, a breast cancer survivorwho is living life to the fullest asshe is treated by BaptistMemorial Hospital for Women,a presenting sponsor. TheGermantown Area Chamber thenhonored Senior Care Manage-ment Solutions, Inc. andGermantown Aesthetics withFirst Tennessee 2012 SmallBusiness of the Year Awards; UTMedical Group with the WatkinsUiberall 2012 Large Business ofthe Year Award; Bodine Schoolas the NonProfit of the Year;and Amanda Morgan of TheReserve at Dexter Lake as theRob Edgerton Ambassador of theYear. The event was bittersweetfor some, as it marked the lastgala for outgoing chamber presi-dent and CEO Pat Scroggs. DaveKlevan, a past chairman of thechamber, led a tribute toScroggs, who was besieged bymembers all night long as theywished her well.
Story and Photos by Jeannie Mandelker
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S INCE 1995
Advertising in RSVP Magazine places your messagebefore an active, affluent market of
Mid-Southerners who desire the best in quality and service.
More Than 120,000 ReadersAverage Household Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $174,000 per year
Average Net Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,250,000
Female Readers . . . . . . . . 59.2% Male Readers . . . . . . 40.8%
Marital Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.2% married
Home Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81.3%
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For Information onHow to put RSVP to Work for You
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ACROSS1 One-celled water animal(var.)6 Competent10 Above14 Roll of tobacco15 Hour16 Air (prefix)17 Anxiety18 Horseʼs gait19 Have knowledge20 Thin, flat circular object21 Small seal23 Strange24 Dines26 Nigerʼs capital28 Passed (2 wds.)31 Object32 Dined33 Break off (from)36 False god gravenimage40 Chance or fortune42 Downwind43 Hindu goddess, consort ofSiva44 Carved Polynesianpendant45 Type of star or watch48 Bad (prefix)49 Block51 Actively
53 Treatise56 Rope fiber57 Tyrannosaurus58 Engraved61 To scrape or file65 First letter of the Arabicalphabet67 Vivacity68 Sheer, triangular scarf69 Particle70 Den71 Resting upon (2 wds.)
72 Posttraumatic stressdisorder73 Monetary unit of Guinea74 Kelloggʼs waffles
DOWN1 School (abbr.)2 Small (prefix)3 Ova4 Woven container5 Gallery content6 Those who are opposed7 Star Trek Automotonʼs8 Diving bird9 Agreement betweennations10 It grows acorns11 Malevolence12 Wear away13 Rough-and-tumble21 Eye infection22 Bind25 Abdominal muscles (abbr.)27 Among28 Mr. Disney29 Decorative needle case30 Nape31 Beware of this, 3/1534 Guild35 Snake like fish37 Prefix for half38 Egg-shaped
39 Traditional Easter flower41 Buss45 Colors having soft,subdued shades46 A piece of bedroomfurniture (2 wds.)47 Carribean potable50 Untruth52 Season of renewal53 Bum54 Slave55 Leaves56 ___ Matisse, painter59 Pottery ingredient60 Salute62 Acting (abbr.)63 Scat!64 Baby pooches66 Government worker68 Enemy
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Solution: A M E B A A B L E O V E R C I G A R N O O N A E R O A N G S T T R O T K N O W D I S K S I G N E T O D D
E A T S N I A M E Y W E N T B Y I T E M A T E S E C E D E I D O L L U C K L E E D E V I T I K I P U L S A R M A L
S L A B B U S I L Y T H E S I S H E M P R E X E T C H E D R A S P A L I F E L A N F I C H U M O T E L A I R O N T O P P T S D S Y L I E G G O S
RSVP Crossword | Edited by Ruth Cassin
RSVP
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AFTER HO
URS After Hours
A photo collage of the latestbusiness happenings
Vance Boyd Special Showing at Palladio
Mary and Walker MulherinWilkinson and Mary Ann GanoPriscilla Alexander and Vance Boyd
Jayne Frank and Robert StephensonApril Littleton and Travis LittletonRuth Thompson and Judy Harber
Carol Peretz Trunk Show at Kittie Kyle
Nancy Robinson and Donna ElrodCindy Gambrell and Anne DunavantCarol Peretz
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By Dennis Phillippi RSVP
HILL
IPPI
BEING JOE COOL PART IIMuch of the time,
even most ofthe time, when
people find out thatI spent much of mytime in the late ’80sand early ’90s host-ing the kid’s pro-gramming on WPTYas Joe Cool, theyexpect me to be hes-itant to talk about
it. They act as if they think I’m going tobe embarrassed about the whole thing.Granted, there are plenty of aspects aboutit that qualify as potentially embarrassing:the Hawaiian shirts, the white pants, theturquoise high-top tennis shoes, the sun-glasses, the name and, of course, theridiculous screaming voice are all goodexamples. But, taken as a whole, thosewere just fun things that made the showentertaining for kids, which was the point.If I’d been wearing a tweed jacket andglasses, it may have been more satisfyingfor me, but it also would’ve lasted about aslong as it would’ve taken a 10 year old tosay, “This is stupid.”
If you happened to catch this col-umn last month, then you know the wholething was supposed to be a one-shot pro-motion, and it took on a life of its own.Within weeks of the initial segments air-ing, the station decided to start wrappingits heavy load of children’s programmingwith vignettes of my character talking tovarious people about things that kidsmight find interesting. I don’t want to pre-tend that this was some altruistic endeav-or; we were still in the business of hawk-ing sugary sodas and water parks andturbo-powered squirt guns, but we at leastmade an effort to make it quasi-education-al, which I’m not even sure we wererequired to do.
We had people on from the PinkPalace, the Memphis Zoo, the HumaneSociety and the library. We had educators,scientists and doctors on. These kind peo-ple did their best to be interesting to kids,all while trying not to wince every time Iwould yell a question at them. Thezookeepers brought every imaginable ani-mal to visit. I held tarantulas and ferretsand a kinkajou. I had a baby snow leopardtake a swipe at my face, and a five-foot rat-
tlesnake decide that my flowered shirtmight be an ideal place to take refuge. Ilooked a vulture in its beady eye and had aperegrine falcon fly between my legs. Thelibrary sent someone to talk about all thegreat books kids can enjoy, and theHumane Society encouraged kids to talk totheir parents about rescuing a pet. It wasa fun studio. Messy, but fun.
You may have noticed that Ihaven’t mentioned anyone involved byname. That’s because I’m afraid that I’llforget one of the amazing people whoworked so hard on the show and hurt hisor her feelings. I’d be mortified if anyoneinvolved thought that I discounted any ofhis or her contributions, even the oneswho couldn’t stand me.
In time, it was decided that wewould start a Saturday morning show witha live audience. This was The Joe CoolShow. It’s the thing a lot of people remem-ber because it featured bleachers of kidsscreaming their heads off and pulling eachother’s hair. With the expanded format, Iwas lucky enough to visit Space Camptwice, once getting in trouble for notreturning my super-cool jumpsuit. I got tosit on the wing of an SR-71 Blackbird, thecoolest plane ever built. I got to ride ele-phants into not one, but two, different cir-cuses. We went behind the scenes atamusement parks in Florida, includinggetting to be in the tank with a Belugawhale, the white whale with the giantbump on its head. That bump is to ampli-fy the whale’s whistle, something soon dis-covered by the sound guy when the whaleshot a shrill blast into my microphone andstraight into his ears.
In 1990, the general manager of
the station called the producer of the showand me into his office and said the follow-ing, “I can’t believe I’m going to say this,but would you two idiots like to go toRussia next month?” This was during thedays of the Soviet Union. We said yes, butin much more colorful language. See, theWonders Series was bringing the treasuresof Catherine the Great to Memphis, andthere was a media junket to what was thenknown as Leningrad, now St. Petersburg.Every other station was sending its A teamof news anchors, but we didn’t have news.In fact, I was the only actual living personon the entire station, so they sent us.These completely professional reporterswere in suits, operating from huge infor-mation books, gravely speaking about thegrandeur and history of the palaces andmuseums. I was disrupting the entire cityby shouting my head off in ridiculousclothing, blurting facts I kept lifting froma guidebook I’d bought at the airport. Wewere followed constantly by the KGB. Wegot to have caviar and vodka at theAmerican Embassy. I stupidly wanderedinto other station’s shots because I wasyoung and stupid.
The next year, presumably becausewe hadn’t done enough to damage interna-tional relations, as well as those with ourfellow Memphis TV stations, we got senton the Wonders junket to Istanbul. There’sa great picture in my house of the produc-er and me walking through a gate atTopkapi Palace with a sign that reads“White Eunuchs Only.”
So, believe me when I say that Iam not in any way embarrassed about hav-ing been Joe Cool. There are worse thingsin my life, and in my career, to have at thetop of my obituary. I just wish some of itwas available to see on the Internet. I havea few VHS tapes, but no way to transferthem. If you have a clip from when youwere on the show, as a kid or a guest, postit. You think you remember how insanethat character was? Wait till you see himagain.
You heard the man RSVP readers—startposting those clips of Joe Cool online.Please don’t hold back because our dearPhillippi assures us he knows no embar-rassment. See if you can make him retracthis words by next month!
There’s a great picture in myhouse of the producer and mewalking through a gate at
Topkapi Palace with a sign thatreads “White Eunuchs Only.”
RSVP
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Easter BunniesRSVP
AST
1996
Classmates Kara Chamberlain, Worth Tate, Carly Haithcock and Elizabeth Fasteen take a breakfrom their schoolwork to pose in their Easter Bunny costumes. The students were dressed upfor Christ Methodist Day School’s Easter program in 1996.
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.
