Go Memphis Stories: Parties

Party Line: Fine dining for fine cause

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:24:00 -0000

Knives and forks flew almost as fast as tennis racquets at the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction on Sunday evening at the Racquet Club of Memphis. Tennis courts were converted to a spacious dining room at the benefit, "The Art of Food. The Gift of Life." Chefs from area restaurants and catering companies provided the food.

Party Line: Curtain rises on 90 years for Theatre Memphis

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:39:00 -0000

Everyone at Theatre Memphis knows The Show Must Go On. So, when Sacramento, Calif., pianist Richard Glazier had to cancel his performance to help celebrate the theater's 90th birthday, troupers Kallen Esperian and Gary Beard stepped up to the plate. Kallen, Gary, a grand piano and help from Theatre Memphis executive producer Debbie Litch, Ann Sharp and Jude Night were the ingredients for an audience-pleasing show Friday evening.

Party Line: 'Thriller' of an event

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:16:00 -0000

"Keeping the Thrill Alive" was the theme of the Architects' Party on Friday night at Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects. In their best ghoulish attire, dancers performed Michael Jackson's "Thriller." They came up with the idea to do the dance last May, before Michael's death, said Eva Lynn Bishop, director of special events for the International Children's Heart Foundation, the party's fundraising charity.

Party Line: Gettin' down in G'town

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:19:00 -0000

Midnight Saturday. Smoke. Flashing lights. Audience members hold drinks as they crowd close to the stage. Al Kapone raps with his band, which includes a shirtless drummer. Harlan T. Bobo and Two Way Radio performed earlier.

Party Line: Auction even has kitchen sink

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:43:00 -0000

Just about everything, including a kitchen sink, was included at the recent Memphis Heritage Architectural Auction at Howard Hall. More than 500 items were featured in the auction, which is held every two years to raise money to help save historical landmarks and spaces, said Memphis Heritage executive director June West. Among the items were signs from Libertyland and the Mid-South Fair.

Party Line: Tigers soar at High Tops

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:56:00 -0000

Tiger fans dressed in blue and gray gathered under blue tents beneath a gray sky Thursday to root for their home team. Harriett and Hilliard Crews opened their majestic Collierville home and grounds for the annual High Tops Party sponsored by the University of Memphis Rebounders. Team members chatted with guests and posed for photos before joining them on the iconic column-lined porch for Blues City Cafe barbecue and all the trimmings.

Party Line: Well-choreographed meal

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:38:00 -0000

Dance met dinner at Connections: Food, the Ballet Memphis fundraiser, Saturday night at BRIDGES Inc. For example, guests watched choreographer Nicole Corea's bluesy "Children of the River" while dining on "Rice Krispy Chicken with Tomato Mustard Jam" by chefs Karen Blockman Carrier and Tim Barker.

Party Line: Catering food for thought

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:54:00 -0000

Men in red chef's hats did the cooking at "Cater to You: A Gentleman's Way." The event, recently held at the Memphis Pink Palace Museum, was presented by the Memphis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Party Line: Bartender feels the love

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:49:00 -0000

Cort Williams described Shirley Williams as "a beacon in the night." Cort was an organizer along with Andria Lisle, Dan Holloway, Joe Simpson and Scott Rogers of "For The Love of Shirley," a fundraiser for the beloved bartender at Lamplighter Lounge. "She's got some health problems and, you know, sometimes we just need a little extra help from our friends," Andria said.

Party Line: Rule 1, Don't feed the animals

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:57:00 -0000

Partying Saturday night at Zoo Rendezvous at the Memphis Zoo, Barbara and Kevin Davis reminisced about their wedding, which took place at Zoo Rendezvous 17 years ago. Their first date was at the zoo fundraiser, so they decided to get married there, Barbara said. She wore a leopard-print top and they had a "Beauty and the Beast" wedding cake.

Party Line: Roarin' Tigers rarin' to go

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:05:00 -0000

"How about a 'Go Tigers'?" Dr. Shirley Raines asked guests at the 28th Bank of Bartlett Annual Kickoff Party on Sunday afternoon. The U of M president was among the boosters at the party also known this year as the "U of M Alumni Association True Blue Barn Bash" since the association co-sponsors the event with the bank. The party always is held prior to the first U of M football game of the season.

Party Line: Ties and tennis shoes

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:01:00 -0000

Rudy Gay regularly slips in and out of athletic shoes to play in Memphis Grizzlies games, but Saturday night was the first time he ever wore a pair of Nike Jordans with a dress suit. Rudy wore a pair of Air Jordan 11s (his favorite, he said) and Ecko Wray, who was with him, wore pink Chuck Taylors to the 12th Annual SportsBall, a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis. Rudy was the host of this year's event at Minglewood Hall.

Party Line: Night at the museum

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:27:00 -0000

You go to an art museum to view art, right? Saturday night people went to Memphis Brooks Museum of Art to dance, sing karaoke, have their fortunes told, watch a magic show, smoke cigars and view a burlesque show. They also could view "The Prints of Jacob Lawrence." The event was the Avant-Garde Party 2009. Guests, many of whom dressed in 1920s-style attire, were still dancing toward midnight in the rotunda at the annual fundraiser for Brooks.

Party Line: Images of fun as Elvises vie for the King's crown

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:20:00 -0000

Jesse Aron did it his way and took home the first-place title and $2,000 in the Images of the King Elvis tribute artist competition Saturday night at the Holiday Inn Select at Airways and Democrat. Chris Connor from Manchester, England, came in second and Cody Slaughter from Harrison, Ark., and Joseph Hall from Omaha tied for third place. Bobby Simkins from Independence, Mo., was the People's Choice winner.

Party Line: Fashionable cause

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:26:00 -0000

Guest artist Miss Brazil-USA 2007 Heloisa Alves sang "Love Me Tender" during the 2009 Face of the World USA fashion show/pageant, a benefit for the International Children's Heart Foundation. Contestants vied for the women's and men's 2009 Face of the World USA titles at the recent event at Minglewood Hall. This was the first year a men's division was included, said the show's founder/promoter/organizer Fernanda Pinheiro.

Party Line: Elvis rocks, rules with rugby

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:33:00 -0000

Even though he wore a red-and-white jump suit and sang "In the Ghetto" with a back-up chorus of fellow rugby players, Chris "Woody" Woodard didn't win the Mr. Sideburns contest last year at the Elvis 7s rugby tournament. Wearing the same jump suit, Woody competed again this year -- and won. In addition to a "Mr. Sideburns" banner that Larry Magdovitz bestowed on him, Woody won a statue of Elvis wearing a jump suit nearly identical to his.

Party Line: Dress code enforced at "All White Affair"

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:30:00 -0000

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures ranged from 76 to 79 degrees between 9 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning. So, guests required to wear white clothing during that time at the "All White Affair" at The Peabody were dressed comfortably.

Party Line: 'Caravan' exports Memphis Blues to the world

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:50:00 -0000

Three Sid Selvidges attended the Beale Street Caravan fundraiser Thursday night at the Red Rooster. Musician/singer Sid Selvidge II is one of the founders of Beale Street Caravan, a worldwide syndicated radio show broadcast from Memphis and heard in 400 cities worldwide. Sid Selvidge III is his son and Sid Selvidge IV is his grandson.

Party Line: Artful receptions beckon

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:18:00 -0000

The past figures into the recent exhibits of works by Alan Duckworth and Pinkney Herbert at David Lusk Gallery at 4540 Poplar. Alan's show, "Amplified Mind," deals with the recent past. "All the paintings I've been working on are just basically things that have been on my mind in the past year," Alan said at Friday night's opening reception.

Party Line: 5K run for St. Jude draws 2,500

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:10:00 -0000

Kevin Murphy, 16, considered taking part in the Comcast Firecracker 5K for St. Jude, a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. But the 18-inch half-barbecue-half-Italian sausage Garibaldi's pizza he ate before Friday's race was a "factor" in not taking part, said Kevin, who runs cross country for Christian Brothers High School. About 2,500 others did participate, said race founder Susan Hedgepeth.