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.

Is this Midtown?

No. Germantown.

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Germantown Performing Arts Centre held its first "Rocktoberfest" featuring performers who usually can be found in Midtown venues.

The event was a way to get a younger age group to the center, said the center's development director Deni Hirsh. "You don't have to go Downtown to have a fun time," she said.

People think of Germantown as a "stuffy, stodgy, place." It actually is "a hip place."

Ryan Peel, the drummer who played shirtless with Al Kapone, performed with his band in the lobby earlier in the evening. Guests dined on Mexican cuisine from Swanky's Taco Shoppe and partook from the open bar. They then entered the auditorium, where they stood or danced on stage and watched the other bands.

"Can we take GPAC all the way down? Can we take Germantown Performing Arts Centre all the way down?" Al Kapone asked the audience before he let loose the rousing "Whoop That Trick."

Celebrity Gala aids Advocacy Center

Bryce Haughsdahl celebrated his 20th anniversary as a Celebrity Server at the 20th Chefs' Celebrity Gala. The event, the major fundraiser for the Child Advocacy Center, recently was held at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis.

Bryce came to the event armed. "If anybody gives us any trouble, we have 'Silly String' to shoot them with," he said.

He also carried a jar of bubble soap. "If they'd like a romantic dinner, we blow bubbles."

Carol Prentiss celebrated her 20th anniversary as event chairman. "The Child Advocacy Center kind of captures your heart," she said. "And you just are so glad that you're able to do anything."

More than 600 attended the dinner, which included silent and live auctions and a five-course, gourmet meal prepared by a team of chefs from the American Culinary Federation.

In addition to tipping their waiters, guests purchased teddy bears, which ranged from $250 to $1,000. More than 100 bears were purchased.

Jazz, pasta and philanthropy

The Samaritan Counseling Centers of the Mid-South celebrated its 10th annual Jazz & Pasta Party. The event was Oct. 18 at Memphis Botanic Garden. Bach's Lunch, Bogie's Delicatessen Midtown, Brooklyn Bridge Italian Restaurant, The Grove Grill and Romano's Macaroni Grill provided the pasta, Fino's from the Hill provided the cheese and the SCC Jazz Quartet -- Rene Koopman, Tom Lonardo, Jim Mahannah and Bob Sunda -- provided the jazz.

The event also included silent and live auctions.

Contact Michael Donahue at 529-2797 or e-mail donahue@commercialappeal.com