Ashleigh Martin and John Gravatt sampled the great food at the Signature Chefs Auction.
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.
Honorary chairmen Joel and Jennifer Hobson were joined later in the evening by their almost 20-month-old son, Joel Jones Hobson IV.
"We had twins that were born at 28 weeks," Joel said. "Jennifer Jane weighed one pound, 13 ounces, Joel, two pounds, 14 ounces."
Jennifer Jane died two weeks later.
"In the March of Dimes the mission is to prevent birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality," Jennifer said, adding, "Memphis is No. 1 in the nation in infant mortality and that's a shame. It's higher than in some Third World countries.
"The March of Dimes here in Memphis is so needed and they do so much."
Steve Conley and Karen Perrin were emcees. John Roebuck conducted the live auction. To see a video of the 2009 Signature Chefs Auction, go to gomemphis.com.
Mardi Gras comes early
Mardi Gras is only three months away, so why not bypass Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day and use the New Orleans festival as a party theme?
That's exactly what Habitat for Humanity did at their eighth-annual Tool Box Bash on Saturday night at the Hilton Memphis. Guests wore feathered masks and beads. Purple and green were the evening's primary colors.
"The (New Orleans) Jazz Ramblers were in town, so it was an opportunity to take it home," said Dwayne Spencer, Habitat for Humanity executive director.
Tom Prestigiacomo was auctioneer for the live auction. The silent auction included bird houses built by high school students.
'Oh, What a Night'
Clothing and accessories, parties, pets, photography, sports, vacation, art and antiques were just a few of the categories at the 31st Orpheum Auction Gala on Saturday night at the theater. "Oh, What a Night!" was the theme.
Included in the live auction conducted by Terri Walker were "Chairs of Original Design." Two of them had the timely "Twilight" theme from the vampire movies and books.
More than a few sips
To estimate how many people attended Sip Around the World, Mable Barringer employed her usual practice of counting the number of glasses given to guests who entered Memphis Botanic Garden for the recent National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee benefit.
All 1,100 glasses were gone, but Mable, the foundation's executive director, said she had to borrow more glasses from Memphis Botanic Garden so guests could sample wine. In other words, the party, which also featured hors d'oeuvres, music and a silent auction, was a success.
Antiques preview
The Dixieland Jazz Band welcomed guests as they entered the St. George's Antiques Arcade preview gala Thursday night at the church in Germantown.
Pat Parrish, chairman, said the show featured 21 dealers representing 13 states.
The Identity Crisis quartet provided additional musical entertainment as guests roamed among the silver and the marble and bronze statuary and dined from the lavish buffet.
Law students let loose
University of Memphis law students danced to the music of Erek Stone & The Fabulous Steeler Band at the recent Barristers Ball at the Historic Daisy Theatre on Beale Street.
The annual party raises money for the Student Bar Association, said Lawson Baker, treasurer and social chairman. "We ended up about $1,700ish," Lawson said.
Contact Michael Donahue at 529-2797 or e-mail donahue@commercialappeal.com
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