Go Memphis

Instead of a yellow brick road, guests took a different path at Saturday night's "Wicked" cast party. "Follow the green carpet," instructed Matt Doll as guests arrived at the Majestic restaurant. Matt and Victoria Busey, who are with the Orpheum, where "Wicked" is running through July 12, manned the entrance to the party following the evening performance. Full story »

"You think it's hot outside? Just hold on," dance instructor Keith "The Navigator" Hubbard from Chicago told the audience of Chicago Style Steppin' dancers Saturday night at the Whitehaven Celebration Complex. Full story »

Guests were invited to a no-cover-charge event to meet some Memphis music legends and legends-to-be -- and, hopefully, become a supporter of the Memphis Music Foundation. Kenny and Terri King hosted the recent MMF party at their home on South Main. Music legends included James Alexander, Jimi Jamison, Keith Sykes and Jody Stephens. Full story »

Morgan Freeman was the star of the "Zero to 60" fundraiser for The MED Foundation on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Cafe. A long line snaked along the room as guests waited to meet the smiling Oscar-winning actor and have their photo taken with him. "He's so gracious and was such an easy, pleasant person to work with and very unassuming," said foundation director Tammie Ritchey on Sunday. Full story »

During the Crown and Sceptre Ball, Carnival Memphis 2009 king Keith Barton spared no superlatives describing his queen, Paige Phillips: "She's beautiful, smart, charming, graceful, poised. Did I say 'beautiful'?" Full story »

Memphis is a "Pandora's box," said Chilean ambassador José Goni. It's full of surprises, he added. The ambassador to the United States and Loreto Leyton were special guests at the Memphis in May International Gala Thursday night at the Hilton Memphis. He was extremely moved when he visited the National Civil Rights Museum. "I couldn't say a single word." Full story »

It's too early for sunflowers outdoors, but inside the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, a giant specimen of the steel variety is "blooming." Sculptor Elisha Gold made the sunflower, which has inert M16 .228-caliber ammunition rounds in place of seed pods in the flower head. Full story »

Mardi Gras and Halloween are long past, but guests wore masks Saturday night at the 2009 Masquerade Ball at The Peabody. The event was a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. "We have a different theme every year," said LoriHanks, event production co-chairman. "This was our first year to do the masks. It was just something fun. 'Unmasking a Cure' was our tag line for the ball." Full story »

Gov. Phil Bredesen remembered his introduction to cooked raccoon: "The first time I tried it I had an urge to go out and tip over the garbage cans," he joked. The Tennessee governor, who prefers pork barbecue to raccoon, was one of the guests at the annual Jimmy Naifeh Coon Supper Thursday at the Covington (Tenn.) Country Club. Raccoon, cooked in layers with sweet potatoes, pineapple and bacon, was among the buffet items. Full story »

Lines delivered on stage Saturday night at Germantown Performing Arts Centre probably included, "This chocolate decadence with fresh raspberries and warm Godiva chocolate is wonderful!" or "What did you think of the Scarlatti?" Dinner was served on stage to guests at GPAC's "A Night of Wine & Roses" fundraiser. Full story »

According to the invitation, guests were supposed to view the sunset over the Mississippi River at 7:17 p.m. at the "Forging on the River XVI" auction Saturday at the National Ornamental Metal Museum. Clouds blotted out the sun, temperatures were chilly and the wind was fierce, but guests celebrated spring anyway as they bid on metal work, which included several utilitarian pieces such as a wall rack, jewelry box and a forged iron fork and spatula for barbecuing. Full story »

The dog days of spring are now through April 10. That's the run of "A Dog's Life," a new exhibit of paintings of canines at Memphis College of Art. The show opened with a preview party Friday. Full story »

The Epsilon Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Masquerade Ball Saturday night at Minglewood Hall. Guests used to wear costumes at the party, which was known as the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball, said event chairman Commodore Primous, who recalled the year he and his wife, Emma, dressed as Coke cans. A few years ago, the name was changed to the Black Tie Masquerade Ball. Full story »

Wearing a Stetson cowboy hat, Austin Sledd was one of the stars at "Stetsons and Stars -- Cowboy Up for Alzheimer's" Saturday at Minglewood Hall. Austin, who also wore a pair of chaps, stayed on a mechanical bull for one minute and 39 seconds, which made him the bull-riding championship winner. Full story »

Saturday's snow became a decoration along with the white hydrangeas and twinkle lights at Junior League of Memphis' "A Winter Supper Set in White" at the organization's headquarters. WMC-TV weatherman Dave Brown was their "honorary decorations chairman," joked Nora Capwell, Junior League president. They chose the theme last November for this year's Crystal Kaleidoscope party Full story »