Margaret Rodgers filling her tin at the cookie exchange.

It is hard to believe that our annual holiday cookie exchange has been going on for 10 years! It all started because of some shows I saw that year on The Food Network, the cable TV network to which I was (and still am) hopelessly addicted. I’d never really heard of cookie exchanges, but it seemed like a swell idea. Guess what? It is!

Our cookie exchange involves about 25 people (so far, all women). Each person bakes six dozen cookies and they bring them on large platters to my condo. We have brunch and then pass out big cookie tins which each person proceeds to fill with various kinds of cookies. It’s a blast. I believe our husbands, boyfriends and children like this party even more than we do — because they get to eat the cookies!

We try to get everyone to tell me  in advance what kind of cookies they plan to make so we can avoid duplicates. But this plan is only moderately successful. A lot of folks apparently don’t decide until the last minute what their contribution will be. That’s fine. It has a way of working out.

Anyway, here’s a quick look at our festivities last Sunday. I’d like to encourage you to start a cookie exchange, too. It’s great fun.

Mintha Roach arrives with her cookies.

Susan Brown doesn’t cook. But she volunteers to help me out by bartending. Trust me — this is an important contribution!

Dawn Ford was her assistant. Here, she’s mixing the Bloody Marys. Thanks, Dawn!

We spend a good hour or so socializing. Here are Judy Collins Griess, left, and Ranee Randby.

Christi Branscom, left, and Gay Lyons

Monique Anderson brought these beautiful star cookies — on a beautiful star platter.

Janet Testerman, a former caterer who now works for Scripps Networks Interactive — the parent company of The Food Network — was the only one who garnished her cookies! Aren’t these Tuscan rosemary and pine nut shortbread cookies stunning?

I lost track of who brought these filled cookies, but they were awesome.

Mickey Mallonee, left, and Sheena McCall

In addition to cookies, every year Tami Hartmann brings us these cute mice made of candy and cherries!

Often, Tami brings thumbprint cookies.

Shaun Fulco Hyver, left, and Kristin Grove

Shaun brought Cool Whip cookies. Very festive.

Kristin brought cinnamon spiced hot chocolate cookies.

Waiting for “showtime:” Sara Rose, left, Margie Nichols, center, and Annette Winston

Loved these cocktail napkins someone gave me last Christmas.

Carolyn Pointer Neil brought coconut pineapple snowflake cookies.

I’m not sure who brought these peppermint numbers, but they are very festive!

Sara Hedstrom Pinnell brought these dazzlers! She’s an artistic type — a landscape architect — and her cookies always look spectacular.

From left, Tami Hartmann, Sara Rose, Carolyn Pointer Neil and Judy Collins Griess

These are Dawn Ford’s holiday snowballs.

Phyllis Nichols, left, and Monique Anderson

Not sure who brought the meringues, but they were super.

Sheena’s orange cranberry pinwheels were outstanding.

This is peanut butter cookie bark. Not sure who brought that, but yum!

This dish called Company Breakfast Casserole was the main course when brunch was served. It came from Pinterest.

In addition to fruit and a salad, we also had these blueberry cheese rolls. Another Pinterest recipe.

Sara Hedstrom Pinnell, left, and Martha Buchanan finishing brunch.

It’s always Dawn’s job to explain “the rules!” Basically, she just gives the advice: separate your cookies into individual containers when you get home. Or the peanut butter, ginger and peppermint ones will give off their flavors to the other cookies. And the soft ones will make the crisp ones mushy. (That’s Tami Hartmann, left, and Ellen Robinson in the background.)

Christi, Monique and Judy were the first to hit the cookie table!

Carolyn and Mintha were not far behind. “They are like Black Friday shoppers!” someone exclaimed.

Ha! I love this picture! Judy gives Dawn a taste while Mintha applies herself to the task at hand.

Judy and Kristin

Tami chooses carefully.

Sara seems pleased with her haul!

Monique didn’t even wait to get home to break into hers!

Here’s the plate I made for Alan.

He liked it!

Jim and Natalie Haslam pose with the new portrait of her at the East Tennessee History Center. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams.)

Benjamin Franklin said the only way three people can keep a secret is if two of them are dead!

Somehow a lot more people than that managed to keep a secret and surprise Natalie Haslam with an oil portrait of her on her birthday. Here’s how it went down.

Bill Cobble, who along with Natalie is a member of the board of directors for the East Tennessee Historical Society, came up with the idea eight months ago or so. He wanted to surprise her with an original oil portrait, which would hang outside the Natalie L. Haslam Signature Gallery at the Museum of East Tennessee History. So Cobble, along with fellow board members Carrington Montague of Lookout Mountain and Joe Swann of Maryville, formed a group called “Friends of Natalie” and started soliciting funds to commission the portrait. Everyone was sworn to secrecy.

In on the idea from the beginning, of course, was Natalie’s husband, Jim. It fell to him and to Natalie’s three daughters, Jennie McCabe of Nashville, Carol Pattison of Vail, Colo., and Susan Robie of Marblehead, Mass., to gather scores of photographs of Natalie and get them to painter Ellen Cooper, an award-winning portrait artist from Pennsylvania who had been selected for the project. I had assumed that the artist would simply work from a photograph of Natalie, but the painting she completed was actually a composite of many photographs.

The result is absolutely beautiful. Ellen Cooper is known for really capturing the personality and essence of her subjects and that was certainly the case with Natalie. Jim Haslam said that toward the end of the process, the artist sent a photograph of her work in progress to Natalie’s daughters. It was then that Jennie noticed a big problem — there were no rings on Natalie’s fingers in the picture. And she always wears her rings.

Natalie entering the room to everyone yelling, “Surprise!” (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Jim had to figure out how to get a photograph of the rings to the artist without letting Natalie know what he was up to. So he approached Natalie one day in the kitchen and said, matter-of-factly, “The insurance company needs new pictures of your rings.” She held out her hands and he snapped a couple of photos. Problem solved!

Getting Natalie to the History Center on her birthday was another issue. “I just told her to wear something nice and not ask any questions!” Jim said. They got in the car and he started driving toward Maryville. “We’re going to Blackberry Farm,” Natalie said. “No,” he responded. “Oh, we’re going to eat at Foothills Milling Company,” she speculated. “No,” he said. He turned the car around and headed back toward Knoxville. “I bet we’re going to the Music Building!” she said.

When finally they approached the East Tennessee History Center on Gay Street, Jim explained that they needed to make a brief appearance at an unveiling of a historic painting the center had acquired with the financial help of the Haslam Family Foundation. (That part actually was true.) But Natalie had no idea that she would be walking into a room filled with more than 100 of her family members and friends, including two of her daughters, grandchildren and her stepson, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, and his family. Her eyes briefly brimmed with tears as everyone said, “Surprise!” and burst into applause.

Icing on the cake was that “Friends of Natalie” was so successful in its fundraising that it exceeded by $10,000 the cost of commissioning the portrait. That money was turned over to the Historical Society, as well.

From left, Judy Morton, Bill Arant and Donna Cobble at the reception prior to Natalie’s arrival.

Ann Bailey and her brother, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

Jeff Chapman, left, and Alan Carmichael at the reception.

From left, Bill Reeves, Joe Ben Turner and Neal Allen

Rich and Jane Ray, left, with Randy and Jenny Boyd

First Lady Crissy Haslam, left, Judy Morton and Rodney Lawler.

From left, Pete Claussen, Carol and Ed Wheeler, and Linda Claussen (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

From left, Rodney Lawler, Elisabeth and Bill Sansom and Dick Williams (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

From left, Jane Wright, Becky Swann and David Wright (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

From left, Whitfield Bailey, Judy Morton, Ann Bailey and Annie Haslam Colquitt (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Linda and Buck Vaughn (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

From left, Jon Lawler, Randy Gibson and Bill Arant (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Jimmy Smith, left, and Dr. Hugh Hyatt (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Steve Bailey, standing, greets David Colquitt. At left is Annie Haslam Colquitt. At right is Hannah Haslam. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Sol Holcomb and Patricia Bible

Susan Arp, left, and Susan Williams

Betsey Bush, left, and Sherri Lee

The artist, Ellen Cooper, right, with Gary and Jo Anne Haynes. Haynes Galleries of Nashville represents Cooper.

Sarah Stowers and Kent Faires

Jon and Toni Lawler were among our tablemates.

It was clear that Natalie was surprised — and pleased. Great job, everyone! (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Here’s the picture Natalie thought she was there to unveil. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Here’s Natalie when the portrait of her was unveiled. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Dr. Frank Gray made some remarks beside the portrait that was the real reason for the occasion. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Bill Cobble with Cherel Henderson, executive director of the East Tennessee Historical Society, in the background (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Gov. Bill Haslam making remarks. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Finally, Natalie got to speak. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

The evening really wasn’t about the food, but I gotta give a shout-out to caterer Holly Hambright. She outdid herself. These fig and blue cheese numbers were great.

They and these tiny crab cakes were served during the reception.

Here’s a look at someone’s plate after they went through the buffet line! Yum.

The centerpieces were lovely. Natalie loves flowers.

Joe Swann congratulating Natalie. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams.)

I love this sweet picture Jack Williams took of Natalie and her friend Bobbie Congleton.

Natalie and artist Ellen Cooper. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Susan, right, and Eliza Robie (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

It wouldn’t be a birthday party without . . . (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

From left, Matt Avery, Leigh Haslam Avery, Natalie Haslam, Annie Haslam Colquitt, Hannah Haslam and David Colquitt (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Gov. Bill Haslam and Susan Robie, Natalie’s daughter (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Gov. Bill Haslam with Jennie and Rob McCabe. Jennie is another of Natalie’s three daughters. (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Natalie and Glady Faires (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Natalie with two of her daughters, Susan Robie, left, and Jennie McCabe (Photo courtesy of Jack Williams)

Kim Beets, director of food and beverage at the Knoxville Convention Center, shows off the evening’s signature cocktail, a Mistletoe Martini. It was fabulous with tastes of peppermint and cinnamon.

The swankiest nightclub with the best food in town on Tuesday night was at the Knoxville Convention Center as the center’s staff and vendors hosted an over-the-top holiday party to thank clients and friends.

The theme, “Cocktails and UnCONVENTIONal Carols,” had the facility’s trademark glass atrium aglow in red lighting courtesy of M&M Productions, the Convention Center’s audiovisual service provider. Meanwhile, inside, the Clinch Avenue Concourse was transformed into a classy nightclub with Mike Renna and Mark Kovaly, from Atlanta, playing dueling pianos on a stage featuring a long bar and elegant leather chairs. “I wish they would open this area like this all the time,” one guest commented. Another asked if the look and feel could be duplicated for a wedding reception. The answer is yes.

Chef Chris Moore pulled out all the stops as wave after wave of creative and delicious hors d’oeuvres were passed. Additionally, guests could visit various food stations. My favorite was the one serving New England bouillabaisse — scallops, shrimp, Chilean sea bass, Atlantic king salmon and crab meat simmered in a flavorful saffron broth. Holy cow. My friend Phyllis Nichols was partial to the braised heritage pork belly with green apple gastrique and caramelized apples.

The party was underwritten by nine sponsors: B&T Distributing, US Foodservice, All Convention & ExpoServices, M&M Productions, Sysco, Valley Produce, A&B Distributing, Gordon Foods and Always in Bloom.

The piano players were unbelievable, playing and chatting practically non-stop for three hours, taking audience requests and delivering the goods without the aid of sheet music. In an effort to stump them, I requested “The Unicorn Song,” by the Irish Rovers. Guess what. They knew it. And, in a form of payback, made me get on stage and perform the hand motions that go with the children’s classic. That will teach me, for sure!

Check out the folks — and the food — at this great party. And book your next special event at the Knoxville Convention Center! (Disclosure: the Convention Center is a Moxley Carmichael client.)

The Convention Center’s atrium viewed from the outside. (Photo courtesy of Alan Carmichael)

Here’s the nightclub setup inside.

Before the guest musicians arrived, Rachel Ford, executive director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, left, and Mary Bogert, general manager of the Convention Center, warmed up one of the pianos with a duet.

Grilled shrimp shots! I told you it was over-the-top!

City Councilman Finbarr Saunders, left, and County Commissioner R. Larry Smith.

Kim Davis, left, and Tammy Ivey of Visit Knoxville.

Israeli couscous with roasted vegetables and tarragon smoked tomato broth.

From left, City Councilman George Wallace, developer Nick Cazana, and City Councilman Duane Grieve.

Craig Liston, left, regional vice president of SMG, the company that manages the Knoxville Convention Center, and Jim York, finance director for the city of Knoxville

Blackened chicken on cornbread rounds with remoulade

Mark Kovaly has a great personality as well as a great talent for piano playing and singing.

Here’s the other “dueler,” Mike Renna.

Making the hand gestures to “The Unicorn Song,” from left, Mary Bogert, me, Mark Kovaly and Mary Rodio. (Embarrassing!)

Mary Bogert with Bob Petrone of B&T Distributing, one of the event sponsors.

Phyllis and Jim Nichols had prime seats at the bar in front of the piano stage.

A view from Phyllis’ seat. Look at that fantastic bouillabaisse!

Craig Liston with City Councilman Dan Brown, center, and County Commissioner Ed Shouse, right.

From left, Councilman Finbarr Saunders, Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch, Gracie Eakin, Councilman Duane Grieve and Christi Branscom, the COO of the city of Knoxville.

Joan and Jim O’Kane

From left, developer John Craig, Rebecca Williams of the Convention Center, Amanda Shell of Moxley Carmichael and Craig Liston of SMG.

From left, David Butler, Ted Smith and Chip Barry

Jeff and Becky Ashin. He runs Young-Williams Animal Center, another great Moxley Carmichael client.

Wendi Mullins

Jason Bourgoyne, director of event services and operations at the Knoxville Convention Center

These lemon sage risotto croquettes were awesome.

Alan Carmichael, right, greets Bob Griffitts from Congressman Jimmy Duncan’s office.

Avice and Gary Reid

Kristy and Brian Bruce

Terry Cowles, center, is flanked by Sandi Swilley, left, and Samantha Edwards, both of Leadership Knoxville.

From left, Elaine Frank, Kyndra Brewer, Kim Bumpas and Judith Foltz. Kim is CEO of Visit Knoxville, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. The others are with the city’s special events office.

Developer Scott Davis, right, and Ashley Burnette of the Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville.

Here’s that plate of braised pork belly and smoked overnight grits.

Monika Flatford, left, and Kate Jackson, both of the Convention Center staff.

Suzanne and Andy Allen

From left, Wes Mullins, Kate Jackson and Kim Daugherty

Mary Bogert, left, and Lisa Healy, president of Sysco here.

Rebecca Williams of the Convention Center and her husband, WVLT anchor Alan Williams. He’s holding one of those delicious risotto croquettes!

The dessert table featured gourmet Christmas cookies, peppermint pot de creme, assorted truffles, crispy meringues, petit fours and peppermint marshmallows.

Mary Bogert with Nick Cazana, left, and Mark Bauer, the new general manager of the Holiday Inn World’s Fair, which Cazana owns.

When we left, part of the party had moved to the stage. From left, Kathy Butcher, Megan Bradley, Mary Bogert and Wendi Mullins

From left, Kate Jackson, Kim Beets, Kim Daugherty and Mary Rodio. Fun!

Here’s a 15-second video that gives you a feeling for the fun evening.

These snowmen from Joppa Mountain Pottery in Rutledge are a part of our collection that comes out for the holidays.

You can live downtown and still choose a unique style that’s perfect just for you and your family. One of my favorite things about downtown living is that each space is so unique.

Some of us downtown dwellers participate in a progressive dinner at Christmas each year so we can see all the different styles of Christmas decorations our friends have selected. Come along!

On this particular evening, we visited five different residences — The Glencoe on State Street, Gallery Lofts above Mast General Store, Cherokee Lofts at the corner of Church Avenue and Market Street, Kendrick Place at the corner of Union Avenue and Locust Street, and The Emporium on the 100 block of Gay Street. It was great fun.

The evening began at 6 at The Glencoe at the home of Bruce and Monique Anderson. This is their collection of Santas.

Monique and her lovely traditional Christmas tree.

Santa ornament on the Andersons’ tree.

Loved these little birds that were placed over light bulbs.

Monique is famous for her quiche, which she makes from her mother’s recipe. I had intended to have only a bite, but . . .

Bruce serving the Quiche Lorraine. Yum.

Jeff Cupp and Tim Young enjoying the quiche.

Mickey Mallonee at the Andersons’ stop.

Time to move along! After giving Jeff and Tim a 15-minute head start, we headed to Tim’s condo above Mast General Store.

These festive angels greeted us at Tim’s.

We were charmed by an antique tree reminiscent of the 1800s. Jeff, Tim’s friend who helped him decorate, is an antique collector — and it shows. Here is Mickey admiring the tree. (My camera focused on Mickey instead of on the tree. Let’s say I was going for an artistic look! Ha.)

Loved this Egyptian ornament.

And this nutcracker.

Jeff has a collection of nutcrackers, which I was just crazy about. This nutcracker is a fisherman!

This one is a bread baker!

This fellow is a mushroom hunter.

This is Jeff’s favorite, although it isn’t really a nutcracker. It’s Pinocchio!

Tim called these drinks “Christmas sparkle!” They were both beautiful and delicious.

Here are the recipes. The one on the right is basically a Madras: 1.5 oz. of vodka, 3 oz. cranberry juice, 1 oz. orange juice. But with one very important addition — a candy cane! The one on the left is sweetened iced tea with 1.5 oz. of bourbon added — plus the candy cane. Here’s the secret: put the candy cane in the drink for at least 15 minutes before adding ice and serving. You wouldn’t believe the wonderful holiday flavor it adds.

Speaking of flavor, how about these slices of Benton’s bacon double dipped in chocolate? Nancy Kendrick was the caterer.

Pork tenderloin roulades were served with sweet potato cakes as the main course.

Alan Carmichael approved!

Tim has the biggest of all the lofts we visited.

He also has a tree on the roof in keeping with the city of Knoxville’s “Up on the Rooftops” promotion.

Here’s an interesting side note. Jeff likes to go to estate sales. Recently he found a very well-made overcoat and khaki jacket belonging to a Navy officer and he showed them to us during our visit.

Here’s Jeff in the coat.

And the jacket.

Official label

Expect to see Jeff around town in these great winter garments. What did he pay for them? $20 for the two! (I can see why he likes estate sales.)

Another cute holiday vignette at Tim and Jeff’s stop.

Alan and I had to leave 15 minutes ahead of everyone else because our condo was the next stop. Here’s the clock on Gay Street. The evening was basically running on time.

Passing the “Man in the Boat” on the way to Cherokee Lofts.

Our tree is kind of weird, but we like it! It’s a live tree and it’s designed to fit in a small space.

Reindeer centerpieces.

Floating candles. The nice folks at The Flower Pot on Gay Street sold me the greenery for $1.

Reindeer in the window

Ready for our guests to arrive! My Christmas pattern is called Holly-lujah by Mississippi artist Gail Pittman. Love using it.

Because we had so many stops, Alan and I decided that, rather than food, our stop would feature a “palate cleansing” course like sorbet or something. Our selection was a recipe we found on Pinterest for cranberry granita champagne cocktails. They turned out great, but do require a little advance planning. Click here for a link. (A liter is approximately equal to a quart. And caster sugar is just superfine sugar. But, since you are melting it anyway, regular sugar is OK.)

Aren’t they pretty?

Monique and Jeff

Tim relaxing halfway through our evening.

Alan getting tickled about something.

Mickey with Gay and Bill Lyons.

Next stop was Gay and Bill’s condo at Kendrick Place. Gay says her Christmas decorating is “minimalist,” but she did put out this cute tree.

Her centerpiece certainly was creative!

Gay opted for a salad course. Just like in Europe, we had salad after the main course.

Red bibb lettuce from Mountain Meadows Farm, sliced celery, chopped apples, diced watermelon radishes (also from Mountain Meadows), toasted walnuts, sliced red onions, dried cranberries, and, on top, grated turnips from Mountain Meadows. Served with Girard’s champagne dressing.

In case you were wondering, this is a watermelon radish.

Here’s its inside. Can you see why it’s called that?

We soon headed out to our last stop — Mickey’s place at The Emporium. We had a little walk ahead of us but, believe me, we needed it!

Chuckled at this sign outside The Casual Pint on Union Avenue.

Loved the painted windows of scenes from “A Christmas Story” at Trio on Market Square!

Another Trio window.

Thought the tree on the Bill Lyons Pavilion was lovely.

Almost there!

Hahaha! Made it!

Wow! What a tree Mickey has!

This ornament is so Mickey!

The Tennessee state capitol! Mickey used to work for Gov. Bill Haslam when he was mayor of Knoxville.

The Governor’s Residence in Nashville.

Mickey is right up there with Tim and Jeff when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Here’s Santa in the bathroom.

Hand towels

Mickey had Magpies make this Italian creme cake with lemon filling using her mother’s recipe. What a good idea!

Here’s what the inside looks like.

Her Spode Christmas china is fun.

We had champagne punch.

And Christmas cookies, as well.

Five stops in five hours! What a fun night. Move downtown and join us!

Lisa Bengston wrapping the shirt I bought my dad at Mast General Store. Donations for the gift wrapping supported Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee. Behind Lisa are Margie Golden and Adam Bengston.

Not too many years ago, it would have been unthinkable to do all of your Christmas shopping in downtown Knoxville. But not now.

That’s what Alan and I decided to do this past Christmas – in order to support the local merchants and to make a point about how great downtown Knoxville has become. Since we live and work downtown, it also was the most convenient choice we could have made. No fighting traffic. No parking at the far end of the mall’s vast parking acreage. Great places to eat and drink when we needed a break. And friends and friendly people everywhere we went. It was the best shopping season ever.

Read on to see some of the unique gifts we found. And, next time you need a special present for any occasion, head downtown! You’ll love the experience — as well as the merchandise.

Mast General Store seemed like a good place to start our downtown Christmas shopping.

It was! My father only likes shirts with snaps instead of buttons. To show off his blue eyes, I thought this one was perfect.

This little charmer was at Mast helping Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee raise money by wrapping gifts. Isn’t he adorable?

If I didn’t think my cat would kill me, I swear I would have left with one. Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee’s website is www.sbret.com.

Here was a stocking stuffer I picked up for a few people (including Alan). A “sweater stone,” it is supposed to remove “pills” on sweaters without damaging the garment.

Joe Compton of Muddy Creek Crafts was one of the vendors in the Holiday Market, held downtown each Saturday in December. I picked up these awesome spatulas for many of the cooks among our family and friends.

He would personalize them at no additional charge. I even got one for myself.

My brother’s stepdaughter, Tabatha Mallette, with her spatula on Christmas Day. Looking on is Kaylee Middleton, soon to be Tabatha’s stepdaughter.

Next stop: Earthbound Trading Company on Market Square.

The thing about this place is that you must go in there with an open mind because you never know what you are going to find.

My big “find” this visit: pretty bracelets for several of the women on my list. (And one for me, of course!) Not sure about that “harnessing the energy of light” stuff, though. Ha.

Here’s my sister-in-law, Tess Richard, showing off her bracelet on Christmas Day.

I knew a stop at Union Ave Books was in order because I wanted Jack Neely’s new book about Knoxville to send to my buddy Wanda McMahan in Florida. (It’s part of my plan to lure her back to K-town!)

Here’s Jack signing a book for my friend Julie Webb as I waited in line to get Wanda’s signed.

Flossie McNabb, who owns Union Ave Books, had put out wine and snacks for the occasion. (I’ve not seen that in the mall bookstores!)

The Tree & Vine on Union Avenue turned out to be a lifesaver. After tasting a dozen or so gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars, I selected gift packs for many on my list. (And a gift pack for Alan and me, natch!)

The selection of gourmet pastas was tempting, too.

And the olives!

Here’s my friend and downtown neighbor Nora Robinson filling part of my order.

Thanks so much to Nora, left, and Jeddah Cardines for all the help on my numerous visits over the holidays!

I loved it that Tree & Vine owner Terri Karlsson set up her keyboard in the doorway and played Christmas music. “People on the sidewalk just stop in their tracks and smile,” she reported.

In addition to the olive oil and vinegar gift packs, we gave my brother, Jimmy, a cooler for a six-pack, also from the Tree & Vine. We gave his wife, Tess, a similar wine cooler from there.

Where to go for the children on our list? We remembered that Bliss on Market Square had an interesting kids’ department.

A display of child-friendly washcloths at Bliss. Cute.

We got this colorful elephant purse, among other things, for Katie Belle Carmichael, Alan’s great-niece, who is 2-1/2.

Here is another lifesaver — The Peanut Shop on Market Square. It sells a lot more than peanuts.

Best thing about The Peanut Shop: Yep, free samples!

Quinn Middleton, soon to be married to Tess’s sweet daughter, Tabatha, with my favorite sample package from The Peanut Shop on Christmas Day.

Dad is a diabetic, so his peanuts from The Peanut Shop were covered with sugar-free chocolate.

What to get for my two nephews, two single guys in their 20s? We decided to check out Urban Outfitters.

We got them each a beer logo T-shirt (are you seeing a trend in my family?) and this — bandages! This is Joey Moxley.

These special bandages answer the question, “What happened?” Haha.

Couldn’t resist these boxers for Jimbo, who has something of a reputation.

Stopped by the downtown Regal cinema for a movie gift card for Alan’s 16-year-old great-nephew, Riley Peake, who lives in San Antonio. (We checked to be sure there are Regal cinemas in San Antonio — and, thankfully, there are three.)

And finally, the last “cleanup” stop — Downtown Wine & Spirits on Gay Street for the remaining folks on the list. No one ever returns these gifts!

Here’s a postscript. Although he was not supposed to get me anything because we are doing a home improvement project as our mutual Christmas gift, Alan surprised me with this cute pillow from Rococo on Market Square. I love it.

Bill and Sharon Laing, left, and Richard and Bette Bryan greet their arriving guests on New Year’s Eve.

When the invitation to the New Year’s party arrived in the middle of summer, I knew it would not be an average evening. With the offer of hired drivers to pick up and return all the invited guests, I also knew we would break our tradition of spending at least part of the last night of the year in downtown Knoxville.

Bette wasn’t going to let a broken foot cramp her style. She just put a bow on it!

Let me tell you, folks, the swells in the glittering mansions of New York and Beverly Hills have got nothing on us. We have residents in little old Knoxville who know how to put on the Ritz as well as any of them! And they still manage to be the nicest, most down-to-earth people in the world.

The party hosts were Richard and Bette Bryan and Bill and Sharon Laing, great friends who have traveled the world together for years. “We had to start planning early,” Sharon explained, “because there were two key people we knew we wanted to hire and we had to be sure nobody else got them first!” Those two: caterer Rex Bradford Jones of Abner’s Attic and pianist Jim O’Connor and his bandmates. “We just wouldn’t have done the party without them,” Sharon said.

The venue, the Bryans’ home on the water off Houser Road, is a showstopper even on an average day. In a spacious room just off the living room (“That’s my den,” Richard insists) are parked two Formula One race cars and a number of vintage motorcycles. As I said, not your average “Knox box.”

When it’s decked out for the holidays in Bette’s exquisite style, it’s magazine cover beautiful.

Here’s Richard’s “den.”

This car belonged to seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher, who is fighting for his life now after a ski accident in France.

More traditional decor in the living room!

Cute

Guests Charlie and Phyllis Severance

The appetizers were huge hits. Here are the tomato goat cheese tarts.

Ruth Bailey and Dr. Sarkis Chobanian

Rick and Mary Johnson

One of Rex Bradford Jones’ signature dishes is this one: reuben bites.

Theresa Stone, left, and Jay and Joanne Mounger

Barbara and Bill Arant

Best dress award: Susan Seymour! (I love that look she’s giving!)

Alan Carmichael, left, and Arthur Seymour. Alan’s suit, one of his favorites, is from Richard’s company, John H. Daniel.

Another classic: bacon–wrapped figs

Soon we were called to dinner at two beautifully set tables.

Pretty chair treatment

From left, Charlie and Phyllis Severance, Bill Laing, Joanne and Jay Mounger and Theresa Stone

The butternut squash bisque was amazing.

It was made even better by the addition of a little cognac, passed around the table in a crystal pitcher.

Entrees were beef tenderloin medallions with brown sauce, mashed potatoes, copper penny carrots and sauteed spinach.

Dessert: Jack Daniel’s pecan pie with rum raisin ice cream. Loved the presentation!

Chef Rex Bradford Jones

Pretty soon, we were dancing!

Yep!

Fun!

Piano man: Jim O’Connor

Bill Arant has a great singing voice. He performed a few numbers.

More dancing!

There’s that dress again!

Then, a knock on the door. And in walks Bette’s Swedish cousin, Arne! (She really does have a Swedish cousin Arne, but, in this case, she had to fill the role herself. I’m telling you, she is missing out on a career as a stand-up comic!)

Cousin Arne led us in singing a hilarious re-written version of “Yingle Bells.” From left, Sarkis Chobanian, Ruth Bailey and Richard Bryan.

Another talent among the guests: Phyllis Severance delivered an amazing rendition of “Impossible Dream.”

Before we knew it, it was midnight!

Awww.

Happy 2014!

Hey! Stay away from my husband when you are wearing that dress!

Ruth and Sarkis greet the new year.

As do Rick and Mary.

After a little more dancing, we were called to a breakfast buffet set up in the kitchen: scrambled eggs, Richmont Inn bacon, country ham with red-eye gravy, buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy, waffles and cheese grits!

Alan’s plate. He loves breakfast.

Apparently, so does Charlie.

Afterward, Richard paid Chef Jones the ultimate compliment. “Better than Denny’s!” he quipped.

Thanks to the Bryans and Laings for ushering in what we hope will be a fabulous 2014 here in the best city in America!

Click on the images below for three brief glimpses of the dance floor. What a hoot!

Mintha Roach

There wasn’t a big announcement or a news release. Very few people even know about it. But, in our little part of the social universe here in East Tennessee, the tectonic plates quietly shifted a little as 2013 came to a close.

The historic Coffee Club, the gentleman-only group that has met at least weekly in downtown Knoxville since 1930, admitted its first female members: Mintha Roach, the president and CEO of the Knoxville Utilities Board, and Pam Fansler, president and East Tennessee market manager of First Tennessee Bank.

Why is this such a big deal? Basically, because it is a true sign of the times. This little group is not on anybody’s  radar screen. The members were not pressured in any way to admit women. No woman has ever attempted admittance. The men simply realized that if they truly want to have local movers and shakers in their club, some of those leaders in this day and age are going to be women.

Pam Fansler

Here’s another important fact, in my opinion. This is a group that has what is commonly known as a “blackball” membership policy. In other words, if any one member votes against admitting a new member, that person isn’t allowed. Period. So 100 percent of the guys in the group approved of the move.

So, what’s this group all about? Lunch and discussion. There is no set agenda and no attendance requirement. Members simply show up at Club LeConte on any Tuesday or Friday when they can and discuss the topics of the day. The current members generally are active in the community, so they are interested in a wide variety of issues.

In addition to Roach and Fansler, the current members include Jeff Lee, the general manager of WBIR-TV; retired banker Bob Page; David Martin, of Martin and Company; Larry Martin, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration; George Ed Wilson, retired owner of a Roane County manufacturing company; John Gill of the Attorney General’s office; attorney Ed Rayson; University of Tennessee Chancellor Emeritus Bill Synder; University of Tennessee President Emeritus Joe Johnson; attorney Ward Phillips; Jeff Chapman, director of the Frank H. McClung Museum; attorney Bob Worthington; attorney Bill Davis; retired banker Jim Talley; attorney Howard Vogel; and Alan Carmichael, the president and COO of Moxley Carmichael (and my husband, which is how I know all this).

According to club documents, the Coffee Club was born in 1930 when James S. Hall, of Hall’s Gay Street Men’s Clothing, invited Charles Griffith, the new manager of the Sears Roebuck & Co., to join him for a cup of coffee. They met at Cole’s Drug Store in the nearby Greyhound bus arcade. Soon, they were joined by J.P. Roddy, W.S. Hall, W.G. (Fats) Chambers, Edward S. Albers, Tom McCroskey and  Wallace Woodruff. Many other business and professional men joined them occasionally for a cup of coffee and some friendly discussion.

Unfortunately, Robert H. Cole, the owner of Cole’s Drug Store, asked that the group leave his enterprise on Gay Street. Seems they spent only a nickel for coffee and took up much needed space in his soda fountain area. The group moved to the Farragut Hotel Coffee Shop until it closed. They then moved to the Garden Restaurant, followed by the City Club, until it closed and its building was demolished. Next stop was Club LeConte, where the group meets today.

As members of the club pass away or become too infirm to attend, new members are added. There is not a strict rule about number of members, but it is generally held to 20 or fewer. You do not apply for membership in the Coffee Club. You are invited to join.

So, here’s to the Coffee Club and to 2014! Way to go, guys!

The only downside to this move is that, ever since Alan was invited to join more than 10 years ago, I have teasingly referred to the group as “The Old Men’s Club.” I guess I’ll have to stop that now.

Here’s the $11.99 bottle of wine I would have brought to the Stock and Barrel. Don’t you love the label?

One evening last month, Alan and I were meeting another downtown couple for dinner. I recommended we go to Stock and Barrel, the hamburger place located on Market Square. It had become a new favorite place of mine because you could substitute a chicken breast for any burger, and I liked the casual vibe.

Alan and I got there before our friends and were told there was a 20-minute wait. No problem, we said. We’d wait at the bar.

We found seats and looked at the wine list. There was one pinot grigio listed and I ordered a glass. “We’re out of pinot grigio,” the bartender said. “We have chardonnay.” “I don’t like chardonnay,” I replied. Then I thought of a solution. “Can I just go to Downtown Wine + Spirits around the block and buy a bottle of pinot grigio to bring in?”

I was stunned when the bartender said bluntly, “That’s not allowed.” “You’re kidding!” I said to her. “But you are out of the only pinot grigio on your menu!” A male coworker overheard our conversation and suggested to the bartender loudly enough for me to hear: “Tell her she can bring it in if she pays a $20 corkage fee.” (A bottle of my favorite pinot grigio only costs $11.99, by the way.)

“Forget it,” I said. We left and have not been back.

But it got me thinking, “What’s the deal with corkage fees, anyway?” A few weeks previously, we had been to Knox Mason on the 100 block of Gay Street with another friend (who is admittedly a wine snob, unlike me), and he wasn’t charged anything to bring in his own bottle of fine red French wine.

I decided to see what a few of my other favorite restaurants are doing in this regard. And, let me tell you, it runs the gamut.  Some don’t allow any customers to bring their own wine. Some have no fees, while others charge up to $20 per bottle. An attorney for the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission told me the ABC is not involved and really doesn’t care what restaurants charge customers who bring their own wine.

UT’s Carol Costello teaching a noncredit course

Darrell DeBusk, the public information officer for the Knoxville Police Department, said the only city law affecting so-called “brown bagging,” which is the practice of allowing customers to bring their own alcohol, merely prohibits the practice from 1 to 6 a.m.

But here’s the bottom line: It’s a philosophy thing. Obviously, if a restaurant allows customers to bring their own wine, the business loses the markup on the wine they offer for sale. But, on the other hand, if they value the customer and want him or her to have a great experience at the restaurant, they will try to accommodate diners and drinkers.

Carol Costello, a professor in the University of Tennessee’s Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management and an expert in wine and beer service, says each restaurant has to decide what the best policy is for its business model and customers. “From a restaurant’s standpoint, corkage fees are pure profit. There’s very little labor cost in opening a bottle,” she said. She also said that, from a customer’s perspective, paying a corkage fee is generally very economical since eateries normally mark up wine 2-1/2 to 3 times the cost they paid for it.

Chef Matt Gallaher at Knox Mason

Matt Gallaher, the chef owner of Knox Mason, said he allows customers to bring in their own wine and normally does not charge a corkage fee. “We have a limited wine list because we have a small space,” he noted. “I’m building a community here. I’m the owner and the chef. I see the people who come in here. If they want to bring a bottle of wine and linger over a meal, I’m OK with that.” He says that, at the most, he will charge a $5 corkage fee, but usually doesn’t even do that.

I like the way my friend Joan Marshall of Cru on Gay Street put it. “We don’t have a policy. We decide at the moment. We try not to say no to a customer. If it’s a special bottle or it’s a special occasion and you want a particular thing, we say OK and don’t charge you anything. But we don’t want you to bring in a bottle that we have on our menu.”

At the Bistro on Gay Street, the corkage fee is a modest $5 per bottle, said Heather Kostic.

At tony Bistro by the Tracks in Bearden, Aaron Darnell said the fee is $10 per bottle.

At the Stir Fry Cafe, also in Bearden, the charge is $5 per bottle, according to Erika Jolly.

Joan Marshall at Cru

At the swanky Orangery, which has an extensive wine list, it’s $20 per bottle, said Jane Kendrick, which, to me, wasn’t as surprising as the hamburger place charging that much.

At Nama on Gay Street, Claire Young said customers aren’t allowed to bring their own wine.

At Naples, owner Bob Luper also said the policy is not to allow customers to bring in their own wine. “We have an extensive wine list,” Luper said. “There is no reason for anyone to bring in their own wine.” But, he added, “If you are a regular customer and you call me and say you want to bring a special bottle of wine for a special occasion, I’ll let you do it and I won’t charge you a corkage fee. But our policy is not to allow it.”

At Chesapeake’s, manager Rodney Marchand said the corkage fee is $10 to bring in a bottle of wine “whether we have the wine on our wine list or not.” I said I was surprised that restaurants allow customers to bring in wine even if the restaurant sells that particular bottle. “There’s a reason we call it the hospitality industry,” he smiled.

The Chesapeake’s philosophy. I like it!

I also noticed that if you sit in a booth in the bar at Chesapeake’s, you can see the computer screen where servers type orders. Here’s what pops up on the screen when servers aren’t using it: “How Do We Benefit By Saying NO to A guest … The Answer Is YES What’s The Question?”

I mentioned this to my friend Joan Marshall of Cru. “And that right there is why Mike Chase’s restaurants have been in business for 35 years!” she said, referring to the owner of Chesapeake’s and the other Copper Cellar family of restaurants.

So, there you have it. It’s a wine jungle out there. Call the restaurant and ask about the policy before you bring a bottle. Unfortunately for me at the Stock and Barrel, I didn’t know I was going to need one.

Cheers!

What do you think the policy should be?

D.L. Bergmeier, left, and Travis Copen at Downtown Wine + Spirits

Former SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer was guest speaker at United Way dinner last month.

It was a strange mix of opera music, football talk and civic pride one evening last month at the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center on the University of Tennessee campus. The occasion? The annual dinner of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, a special group of United Way supporters, each of whom contributes more than $10,000 per year to the cause.

The name Alexis de Tocqueville Society was chosen because of the French philosopher’s recognition of the overwhelming benefit of volunteer efforts for the common good that he witnessed during his travels to America in 1831 at the young age of 26.

“I must say that I have seen Americans make a great deal of real sacrifices to the public welfare; and have noticed a hundred instances in which they hardly ever failed to lend a faithful support to one another,” Tocqueville wrote in his seminal work, “Democracy in America.”

The special guest at the event – arranged by Jim Haslam, United Way supporter and football fan extraordinaire – was Roy Kramer, the former commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and the man responsible for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).

“It’s easy to see why the SEC is special,” Haslam said by way of introducing Kramer. “And it’s because of this man right here. He is all that’s good about college athletics.”

Bob Kesling, former WBIR-TV sportscaster and current “Voice of the Vols” broadcaster, is the chairman of this year’s United Way campaign. He also heaped praise upon Kramer.

Natalie and Jim Haslam during the reception prior to dinner.

“He changed the face of college football,” Kesling said. “He expanded the SEC and that changed the game and led to the BCS. Every year now we have the right two teams playing in the national championship. He did an unbelievable job as commissioner of the SEC.”

Kramer was the head football coach for Central Michigan University from 1967 to 1977, compiling a record of 83–32–2 and winning the 1974 NCAA Division II National Football Championship. He then served as the athletic director at Vanderbilt University from 1978 to 1990, and later was the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference from 1990 to 2002, which is where he created the Bowl Championship Series.

Since the location of the event was in the brand new music building named for Jim Haslam’s wife, Natalie, guests were treated to a couple of student operatic performances after dinner. This led Kramer to a few observations. “I’m seeing some unusual things tonight,” he quipped. “First of all, Jim Haslam is in a school of music! Second, I’m speaking in a school of music! And finally, this is the first time I’ve ever followed an operatic performance. I’ve followed some dramatic performances, but they’ve always been on the athletic field!”

Bob Kesling, left, with Sandy and Hank Bertelkamp.

Kesling shared the fact that he hails from a musical family. His sister is a Metropolitan Opera singer, his mother is an oboe player, his father was drum major at Ohio State, and his brother is a concert bassoonist. Kesling said that he, himself, decided to take up the cello in high school. “But all I could play was ‘Sweet Georgia Brown,’ and ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’ ” At some point, he said, the high school band director suggested that he go into athletics.

Dr. Jeffrey Pappas, the director of the UT School of Music, took the opportunity to say how important the Haslams’ support has been to the school. “I’ve only been here 15 months and I can see that the Haslams’ influence on the school is beyond profound,” Pappas said. “The Haslams have put us on the map. National and international conventions want to come to have events at our school.”

Mintha Roach, the president and CEO of the Knoxville Utilities Board, is a member of the United Way board and a former campaign chair. “We’re all here because we got one of those Jim Haslam phone calls,” she joked. (Actually, I was there because I got one of those Mintha Roach phone calls!)

During his brief remarks full of stories of individual football players he’s known, Kramer drove home this point: “Every great moment in history is the result of some ordinary individual doing extraordinary things.”

If you’d like to read about another interesting (and funny) Tocqueville Society dinner, click here. The guest at this particular dinner was Monte Kiffen. Ha.

Jon and Mintha Roach, left, with Mike and Susan Edwards during the reception.

Jane and Rich Ray with Alan Carmichael, right.

Lisa Hurst, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, and Ben Landers, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Knoxville.

These blue cheese balls with dried cranberries and toasted pecans were offered during the reception and were yummy.

Joe Pryse with Ilene Cheek, center, and Sarah Stowers

Jim Hart, left, with Natalie Haslam and Jane and Bo Shafer.

Ron and Debbie Watkins

Natalie Haslam with David Rechter and Suzanne Schriver.

Photographer’s trick: If you are taking a series of photos of people at a party, take at least two of each couple. Have them hold a card with their names on it in one of the photos. Makes for easy identification when the shoot is over.

Here’s Sharon Pryse with that photographer, Charlie Brooks.

Jim Haslam, right, with Kristin and Eric Seabrook. She is the legal counsel for Pilot Flying J.

Jeff and Christy Lee

Centerpieces were seasonal and pretty.

So were the salads.

Main course was chicken roulade.

Alan’s favorite course: apple cobbler.

Neal and Joan Allen

Emily Higgins sings opera as Bernadette Lo accompanies on piano.

Singer Scott Beasley also performed, in addition to Lo and Higgins.

Bruce Hartmann, left, with Sondra and John Faris

Lucy and Ray Hand

Judy and Frank Rothermel

Ward and Tracy Phillips

I caught Randy and Robin Gibson on the way out. Fun night.

Keith Urban

Two top-notch — but very different — concerts and an excellent, thought-provoking play reinforced to Alan and me this past weekend what a great and diverse cultural city Knoxville has become.

Hot country singer Keith Urban, winner of dozens of awards including Grammys, Golden Globes and CMT honors, absolutely rocked Thompson-Boling Arena Friday night with an amazing display of virtuoso guitar and piano playing, singing, and affection for his 10,500 or so fans on hand.

Saturday night, folk and pop legend Art Garfunkel turned the Bijou Theatre into a quiet listening room and amazed with his lilting vocals, poetry reading and candid Q&A session with the audience, which was four tickets short of a sellout at the some 750-seat venue.

On Sunday, prior to the disastrous Super Bowl, we attended a matinee performance at Clarence Brown Theatre‘s Carousel Theatre of the post-Civil War play, “The Whipping Man,” about two former slaves who return to the Richmond home of their former master and find his son there gravely wounded. The play is amazing, the acting and sets near perfect, and the subject matter deep and fresh. Because of strong language, it is not recommended for anyone younger than high school age.

KEITH URBAN

I knew Keith Urban would give a good performance when his Light the Fuse tour came to Knoxville. But I didn’t think the 46-year-old Aussie would absolutely tear up the place!

He literally ran all over the huge basketball arena, performing at times from an extra stage set up in the back, going down both sides of the floor shaking hands and giving hugs, even running up the right side seats to about the 20th row where he signed and gave his guitar to a stunned young woman.

In another sweet move, he invited two teenage girls onto the stage and serenaded them after taking selfies with them and autographing a sign they had brought.

I was just so touched by the superstar’s humility and humanity. “I know there are a lot of shows out there and you probably can’t go to all of them that you’d like to see,” he said at one point near the end. “But I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to come to this one.”

Urban, who also is a panelist on the TV show “American Idol,” repeatedly asked the audience to sing along with him and, although the tickets said video and audio recordings were not allowed, he posed numerous times for fans making videos on their cell phones. Large screen messages invited fans to use hashtags #keithurban and #lightthefuse to post their photos to social media sites. I’ve never seen an entertainer engage more enthusiastically with an audience.

The music came from all the records in his 15-year recording career. My favorites were “You Look Good in My Shirt” and “Raining on Sunday.” Opening acts Dustin Lynch and Little Big Town were great, as well, and the gracious headliner invited them back on stage to collaborate on several songs. Knoxville was the second-to-last stop on the Light the Fuse tour, which concluded the following night in Nashville.

Click here for a link to some great photos of the Knoxville show by News Sentinel photographer Adam Lau.

Click here for a review and photo gallery by The Tennessean of Urban’s show in Nashville the following night.

ART GARFUNKEL

Art Garfunkel

Art Garfunkel is a monumental artist of our time. The winner of six Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 1972′s “Carnal Knowledge,” Garfunkel has just gotten his remarkable voice back after a three-year battle with paresis sidelined him.

I feel lucky to have seen him and was truly blown away by his performances of such classics as “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Sound of Silence.” However, just to be honest, I found the 72-year-old to be a bit of a prima donna. I guess it’s understandable. But it was more noticeable to Alan and me because of the humility of Keith Urban the prior evening.

Like many older artists who have come through Knoxville, Garfunkel had “Absolutely No Photography” signs posted on all the Bijou doors. To make the point, when a woman on the front row snapped a picture of a friend before Garfunkel even came on stage, an usher came down and told her that if she pulled the camera out again, the whole show would be shut down. (No, it wasn’t me!)

Also, near the end of the show, which started at 8 and concluded at 9:30, Garfunkel complained that the light coming in when folks opened the doors in the back of the theater was distracting to him. My friends at the Bijou said he actually asked them to turn off the lights in the lobby, but they were unable to comply with that request due to safety concerns.

We enjoyed his poems, which were written on the fronts of white envelopes, and the clear, high voice of his 23-year-old son, who was introduced to sing one solo number and also performed an Everly Brothers duet with his father. Garfunkel  mentioned that the duo with Knoxville connections had been an important influence on him.

Our friend Martha Boggs, who owns the Bistro restaurant next door, said Garfunkel ordered from her menu — ginger chicken — and had it delivered to him prior to the show.

“THE WHIPPING MAN”

Go see it. You’ll be glad you did. I don’t want to give away too much about it because it does contain some surprises, but you will thank me if you decide to go. Truly, I didn’t think there could be an original take on the Civil War at this point. But, I have to admit, this play provided new insights.

The Clarence Brown Theatre, a professional company housed at the University of Tennessee, is well known for its excellent costumes, scenery and staging. All are superb in “The Whipping Man,” as are actors Daver Morrison, Steve Sherman and Tramell Tillman.

Click here for a review of the play by the News Sentinel’s Amy McRary.

Cast of “The Whipping Man”

(Photo of Keith Urban came from American Songwriter. Photo of Art Garfunkel came from The Telegraph. Photo of “The Whipping Man” cast came from Clarence Brown Theatre.)

Appetizer board at Sweet P’s first “farm to table” meal.

You gotta hand it to the guys at Sweet P’s Barbeque and Soul House. When they come up with a concept, they are going to see it through no matter what.

Case in point: Owners Chris and Jonathan Ford wanted to show support and encouragement to their cooks, Josh Russell and Eddie Faircloth, and their idea to offer occasional “farm to table” meals at the restaurant, which usually sticks pretty close to traditional barbecue fare. Never mind that we are smack dab in the dead of winter, and there’s not all that much available on the farms. On Monday, Feb. 3, a few friends and family members gathered at the cozy Maryville Pike eatery for a practice run of the farm-to-table concept. Guess what? It was fabulous!

“Part of the success of Sweet P’s is due to the people who work here,” Chris Ford said at the opening of the meal. “Josh and Eddie wanted to be creative and we are experimenting on you!”

Russell said a core tenet of the meal was the focus on locally produced products. “Unfortunately, we picked the most difficult season, but that forced us to step outside the box,” he said. Faircloth explained that 50 percent of the menu items originated within a 30-mile radius of the restaurant.

The plan is to offer these meals either quarterly or bimonthly — limited to not more than 25 customers at each meal. After sampling the winter meal, I can only imagine how delicious the spring, summer and fall repasts will be.

Andrew Crawford greeted guests with a platter of mushroom pate drizzled with truffle oil. The mushrooms were from Monterey Mushrooms in nearby Loudon.

Yum, yum!

Chris Ford’s wife, Kari, approved.

We sat down for the first course. Even the mustard in the center of the board was made in-house. All the breads came from Flour Head Bakery.

The duck breast prosciutto came from ducks raised at Giving Thanks Farm in Clarksville.

The country terrine in puff pastry featured meat from West Wind Farms in Deer Lodge and Southern Natural Foods in Knoxville.

Pickled purple top turnips from Chilhowee View Farms.

I loved these delicate zucchini pickles served with the charcuterie.

Killed lettuce salad made with oak leaf and multi-leaf lettuce from King’s Hydrofarm in South Knoxville. Killed lettuce salad is a traditional Appalachian recipe using rendered bacon and apple cider vinegar.

Rabbit braised in Highland’s Oatmeal Porter was served with stuffed dumplings and braised collard greens from Chilhowee View Farms.

I can’t eat rabbit, so Alan quickly snatched mine off my plate. As you can see, I ate everything else!

We took a break before dessert.

Alan’s favorite course was a Celebrity apple from Carver’s Orchard in Cosby poached in Prichard’s whiskey and Tarkin Valley sorghum molasses served with preserved walnuts and cream.

Yes, preserved walnuts — shells and all! They gave us a jar.

The team, from left: Eddie Faircloth, Chris Ford, co-owner Jonathan Ford, and Josh Russell.

Sweet P’s manager Robert Baker and Madeline Pace

Bedros Bozdogan, left, of Sysco, and his brother-in-law, Baron Rothchild of Event Rentals (Do you think they were pulling my leg about that name?)

Eddie Faircloth’s mother, Vanessa Byrge with Jeff Hooper.

Chris Ford’s proud parents, Dawn and Richard Ford, enjoying the meal.

Dawn and Richard Ford with guests Marty and Jim Begalla

A Ford family photo – ha!

Joy Lauderdale, left, and Dani Collins of Lauderdale Design Group.

I love this!

Pimento cheese on cheddar crackers were one of the passed appetizers during cocktail hour. The best pimento cheese I’ve ever tasted!

A great fringe benefit of living in Knoxville is being so close to the vaunted Blackberry Farm. So it didn’t take much consideration for Alan and me to buy a table for eight at this past Sunday’s fundraiser there for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. To be on the safe side, we also arranged for a limousine to transport us and our guests, so we wouldn’t have to worry about the aftereffects of the wine pairings that were part of the meal.

The Barn at Blackberry Farm is the perfect setting for this event. It is large enough to allow the KSO Chamber Orchestra to perform a 30-minute set after dinner, but is still small enough to feel intimate. The food and wine, as usual, were knockouts. And the Chamber Orchestra hit just the right tone with its beautiful short performance. I just wish we could do it every Sunday!

This is the third year for this fundraiser for the KSO. Renovations at Blackberry may cause us not to be able to have it at the same time next year. Here’s hoping something can be worked out. Until then, here’s a peek at the fabulous evening.

Our friends Mintha and Jon Roach in the limo, a stretch Navigator.

Debby Saraceni, with whom we’ve worked at Covenant Health for many years, joined us, along with her husband, Rock.

Our last stop was to pick up Jim and Phyllis Nichols.

When we arrived at Blackberry at 5, the reception already was in full swing. We jumped right in!

In addition to the pimento cheese, carrot pesto on baguettes also was being served. Never heard of such a thing, but it was delicious.

A signature appetizer at Blackberry Farm is the tiny pork belly biscuit.

Members of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra performed during the reception: Kai Smith, Gaibo Zhang, Holly Aslinger and Daniel Hong.

Debby Saraceni, left, and Phyllis Nichols posed with Jim Haslam, who loves this event.

Jon Lawler, left, and Mark Mamantov chatted with Mintha Roach. Both Jon and Mark are past chairmen of the Knoxville Symphony board.

Natalie Haslam’s daughter, Susan Robie, was in town for the festive occasion.

From left, Mary Johnson, whose husband, Rick, is the current chair of the Symphony board; Ann Furrow and Betsey Bush, another board member.

Rachel Ford, the executive director of the Knoxville Symphony, with her husband, Terry.

This cracked me up. Jim Haslam, left, was telling Sam Furrow about Instagram! “It helps you keep up with your grandchildren,” he said.

From left, Mike and Lisa Knott and Holly and Russ Watkins. Russ is on the Symphony board.

I was very happy to see this fellow, Micah Talley, holding my favorite brand of pinot grigio!

From left, Alan Carmichael, Jim Nichols and Rock Saraceni

Becky Paylor and Bob Lederer

From left, Linda Vaughn, Natalie Haslam and Barbara Arant

James Fellenbaum, center, resident conductor of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, with Mark and Cathy Mamantov.

From left, Evelyn Shaw, Bill Arant and Mary Sue Greiner, development director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

From left, Alan Carmichael, Jim Haslam and Sam Furrow

Angela Howard and Rick Stone, a KSO board member.

KSO board member Tom Shaw, right, with Sandra and John Butler

When we were called in to dinner, the first course was a potato and ramp salad with pickled ramp aioli, hickory gastrique and a pickled quail egg harvested from a flock of quail who live at Blackberry Farm.

The yummy salad was paired with a 2011 Niepoort Docil vinho verde.

Next up was the best course of the night, everyone at our table agreed: roasted Carolina shrimp with Anson Mills grits, andouille, preserved tomatoes and pickled pepper emulsion. As you ate deeper into the dish, it became spicier and spicier. It was magnificent.

Oddly, the shrimp was paired with red wine. But it was a perfect match. The 2010 Domaine de la Janasse Vin de Pays de Vaucluse was 65 percent merlot and 35 percent syrah.

Next course was Eden Farms pork loin and crispy shoulder served with farro piccolo, Carolina rice, carrots, scallions and black garlic.

The shoulder, upper right, was the best thing on the plate. Wine was a 2010 Ladera cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley

Blackberry always has the simplest centerpieces.

Prior to dessert, I did a little table-hopping.

From left, Mark Grayson, Susan Brown, Craig Shelton and Mary Ellen Brewington

Gil and Edie Volk

Evelyn and Tom Shaw

Barney and Sibyl Wray, left, and Dina and Laurentia Nodit

From left, Tom Joldersma, Thom Mason, Jennifer MacGillivray and Anna Joldersma

From left, William Stokely V, Whitney Brackfield, Jennifer and William Stokely IV

Jon Lawler, left, and violinist Sean Claire

From left, Donna Kerr, Donna Solod and Anna Hinds

Dessert was Olive and Sinclair chocolate mousse with Georgia olive oil, citrus and pink peppercorn. Alan was in heaven.

And then, it was time for a beautiful but brief concert to end a sublime evening.

Here’s Sean Claire earning his dinner!

The atmosphere in The Barn was just perfect.

James Fellenbaum conductiing

Concertmaster Gabe Lefkowitz

Linda and Buck Vaughn posed for this sweet picture after the concert.

Natalie Haslam with James Fellenbaum, left, and Gabe Lefkowitz

Awww. Poor thing. Exhausted.

Beautiful cellist Stacy Nickell Miller posed beside our limo. Looks like she owns it!

Steve DuPree drinking a toast with his neighbors last week upon the demolition of McClung Warehouses.

Thanks to Gene Rump for writing this guest post for The Blue Streak. Photos are by Leigh White. -Cynthia Moxley

When the titular mayor of Gay Street calls a blessing … folks show up. And about 30 did last Thursday afternoon to bless the demolishing of the McClung Warehouses.

This was all P. Smith’s idea … she’s lived on Gay Street for as long as anyone here can remember. The downtowners gathered on the viaduct bridge and shared memories. Some talked about the first fires in 2007 that terrified neighbors in the Fire Street Lofts and the hot ash that rained down on rooftops on Gay Street and Jackson Avenue.

One remembered visiting the warehouses with her grandfather when the shops were still in business.

There was talk about dogs and the snow and the giant snowball fight on Gay Street the night before.

There was also some speculation about the fire. Arson? What did anyone have to gain? Most thought it was the happenstance of a homeless person trying to stay warm.

Joan Marshall, manager of Cru Bistro Downtown, 141 S. Gay Street.

Who gathered on the bridge? A couple of lawyers, a teacher, a university professor, some advertising and PR types, a dentist, a few retirees, a restaurant manager – exactly the folks developers and city leaders hoped would nest here. Those gathered in the first bright sunlight we’d seen all month talked about what could be. And wondered how long it would take.

There were no city officials on the bridge … probably as well because the downtowners had beverages for toasting hidden in paper bags. One speculated it likely wasn’t the first time wine had been sipped from a paper bag on that bridge!

The toast was led by Steve DuPree. DuPree is well known on Gay Street for his blessings of pansies and other events. DuPree says he’s often asked to show up at these things because he’s loud enough to be heard over the chaos.

His memories of the McClung Warehouses go back to his childhood and riding his bike up Jackson Avenue, past the warehouses, on his way to church.

DuPree’s not a guy who’s mired in the past. He says it’s OK to tear down those buildings so long as they are replaced with something better. And his toast, “Here’s to something better!” Here. Here.

Everyone raised a hopeful glass to something better.

BTW: There’s a great cover story by Jack Neely in the Metro Pulse on the demise of the warehouses. Worth reading! Click here.

The gang gathered Thursday on the Gay Street Viaduct

Kelly Absher, center, and other 100 Block residents and friends

P Smith, the “mayor of Gay Street,” and organizer of the toast

Jim Peterson opens a bottle in preparation for the toast.

Britney and Sydney, Fire Street dogs looking for treats

A 1960s photo of the McClung Warehouses. R.I.P.

The new restaurant, C&C Bistro, located on Clinch Ave., offered these pork rillettes at the launch party last night.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent some quality time today “smiling and dialing,” as they say. Why? Because the eateries participating in this year’s Knoxville Restaurant Week were announced last night in an event at The Emporium, and I want to be sure I get in on the great deals at establishments I love. You should go to the event’s website (click here) and snatch up your own reservations before all the good time slots are taken!

Knoxville Restaurant Week, in its fourth year, is a fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

From March 2-7, Knoxville diners will be treated to a special week of great meals for this great cause. Three-course meals will be offered at a special fixed price of $25 or $35 at the participating local restaurants.

Knoxville “foodies” can now make reservations at their favorite dining spots. Guests are encouraged to make reservations early, as popular restaurants fill quickly.

Parkside Grill brought shrimp cocktail with a spicy horseradish sauce last night.

“I hear from people who look forward to Restaurant Week all year. You can’t beat the fine dining cuisine at great fixed prices,” said Elaine Streno, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. “Every year, Knoxville Restaurant Week keeps growing, and last year, we doubled the number of participating restaurants. I am grateful for everyone who participates – from our sponsors and restaurants to the diners.”

Restaurant Week fans will be glad to know that past favorites, including Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Fleming’s, The Melting Pot, Chesapeake’s and The Orangery are returning with sumptuous new specialty menus. There are also several new participating restaurants, including Parkside Grill and C&C Bistro.

Diners can go to the newly revamped Knoxville Restaurant Week website, http://www.knoxvillerestaurantweek.com, to view the full list of participating restaurants and browse menus. To make a reservation for this special week, restaurants should be contacted directly, and contact information is listed on the website.

My favorite things last night were the stuffed mushrooms from Parkside Grill.

In addition to the great deals offered to local diners, Knoxville Restaurant Week benefits the East Tennessee region in three key ways. First, it drives traffic to restaurants at a typically slow period for the dining industry. Second, Knoxville enjoys increased economic activity by residents and visitors going out to eat. Third, Second Harvest Food Bank receives donations to feed the hungry and help the one in six East Tennesseans living in poverty.

Last year, Restaurant Week raised more than $49,000 that provided meals for more than 147,000 needy East Tennesseans. Since its first year in 2011, Knoxville Restaurant Week has helped provide meals for more than 250,000 East Tennesseans.

“Knoxville Restaurant Week benefits everyone involved,” Streno said. “This event feeds thousands of hungry East Tennesseans, while providing an excellent dining experience for patrons and driving sales and economic impact to the restaurants. That’s why this fundraiser is so much fun.”

Pilot Flying J is the presenting sponsor of the event. Other sponsors include more than 30 leading Knoxville restaurants, KaTom Restaurant Supply, US Foods, the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association, the Knoxville News Sentinel and Moxley Carmichael

Knoxville restaurants may still register to participate by visiting the website or calling Elaine Streno at 865-243-8216.

Tonya Hill and Tonetta Dibrell stopped by to sample the goodies at the launch party at The Emporium.

Knox County Commissioner Dave Wright chatted with Elaine Streno, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

Here’s the chocolate macadamia-coconut bark Ruth’s Chris brought. Holy cow!

T.J. Saunders and Shawna Frazier did a great job representing Ruth’s Chris at the event.

Rhonda Reger saw an invitation to the event published in the News Sentinel and dropped by. She liked the chocolate!

Bobbye Edwards, left, and Kathy Reilly enjoyed the samples.

Jaydie Smith is the catering coordinator for Parkside Grill.

Austin Ferver, representing C&C Bistro, preparing the rillettes, which are a lot like pate.

Eldon and Pam Mitchell spent a little time perusing the C&C menu.

Megan Venable, the People and Parties columnist for the News Sentinel, dropped by and visited with Elaine.

Here are Gay Lyons, left, and Kimberly Pettigrew of Knoxville Magazine, which will debut next month.

Ed Marcum, left, a business writer for the News Sentinel, comparing notes with Scott Bird of Moxley Carmichael.

Lauren Christ, left, and Amanda Shell also worked the event for Moxley Carmichael.

Ruth’s Chris brought some nice koozies.

The Emporium Center for the Arts was a great place for the event and we couldn’t help but  notice some of the interesting art on exhibit.

I loved this photograph. It’s called “Clint” and is by Jeffrey Stoner of Kingsport. It is for sale for $445.

Probably because we do so much work for the Knoxville Utilities Board, this piece called “Wired” caught my attention. It’s by Lil Clinard of Loudon, Tenn., and is for sale for $300.

“Torso with Jeans” is an oil by Scherry L. Samuels, also of Loudon. Price: $720.

Alan and I are planning a trip to Paris, so this watercolor of Sacre Coeur by Lil Clinard was intriguing to me. It is for sale for $700.

Finally, you are never going to guess what the next piece is. None of us could figure it out without looking at the label.

It’s called “Uterus Puppet,” if you can imagine. For $2,000, it can be yours! It actually won a Jury Citation and is by Mindy Herrin of Johnson City. Go figure!

See you in the dining rooms! Now, go make those reservations!

State Rep. Joe Armstrong serenading his wife, LeTonia, Feb. 15 at Icon Restaurant and Lounge

We had not been to Icon Restaurant and Lounge since it closed as a nightclub and reopened as a “farm-to-table” eatery late last year. So when we got the invitation to attend a Valentine’s party organized by our friend LeRoy Thompson, we decided to take him up on it. The party was on Saturday, actually the day after Valentine’s, but who cares? A really great thing about the venue located on the fifth floor of the “iconic” Sunshpere: it was within easy walking distance of our downtown condo.

Every couple paid $200 and the group was limited to 40 couples. It was a perfect size group for the space.

Entertainment was by a living Knoxville icon — jazz pianist Donald Brown and his band.

With LeRoy as the emcee, the evening flew along. Folks took turns singing, everybody danced, the food was great and the night ended with (what else?) everyone on the dance floor doing “The Electric Slide.”

The Icon Restaurant and Lounge is on the fifth floor of The Sunsphere.

Party organizer LeRoy Thompson, a former NFL football player who now works in economic development for the state of Tennessee, was the evening’s emcee.

Donald Brown, on piano, and his band

City Councilman (and former mayor) Dan Brown and his wife, Cathy, were two of our table mates.

Our friends Phyllis and Jim Nichols rounded out our fun table!

Early on, a group of gentlemen surprised us by taking to the dance floor to sing the 1977 ballad, “Float On,” originally recorded by The Floaters. These guys could really sing! That’s Laurens Tullock on the left and Joe Armstrong on the right.

Of course, I think Donald Brown could make anyone sound good!

Garfield and Linda Wilson were recognized as the couple at the party who had been married the longest — 43 years.

Cynthia Finch was there with her boyfriend, Charles King.

Kim and Dennis Denton

Brenda Hunter and Eugene Pettit were on the dance floor a lot!

Cassandra and Phil Stuart

Telecia and Cavanaugh Mims

Want to see the food?

Caesar salads were fresh and cold.

Here’s Alan’s plate: grilled beef tenderloin topped with sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese; bacon-wrapped scallops; goat cheese grits and collard greens.

Mayor Brown had duck a l’orange with collard greens and garlic mashed potatoes.

Dessert was lavender chess cake with raspberry cream and fresh raspberries.

Here are friends LeTonia Armstrong, left, and Nikitia Thompson.

Kirk and Pam Hoxie after he sang a song to her.

Mr. and Mrs. George Underwood

Tony Cappiello, one of the owners of Icon Restaurant and Lounge, with his girlfriend, Mary Lyn Goodman

Donald Brown, right, takes a break to chat with Carol Cook and Weldon Hammond.

Jim Nichols, left, and Charles Brown

Peter and Jane Hedger on the dance floor.

LeRoy and Nikitia Thompson

Jim and Phyllis Nichols

Everybody doing The Electric Slide!

Awww. Dan and Cathy Brown. (We all got roses as favors.)

A good time was had by all. My husband, Alan Carmichael, saying goodbye to LeRoy after an awesome night.

OK. Just a little post-script to give you a feeling for the evening. Remember when I said that a bunch of guys at the party performed “Float On?” Well, here’s the original 1977 version by The Floaters:

The already married Joey Creswell and Janet Testerman enter what we thought was their surprise engagement party. One of Joey’s daughters, Georgie, is behind them.

I knew from the minute the invitation arrived that this party was going to be fun! It was, according to the information on the heavy beige stationery mounted on a glittery bronze background, a surprise engagement party for my friend Janet Testerman and her sweet fiance, Joey Creswell. The invitation came from Mary Ellen and Steve Brewington and the party was to be this past Saturday at their new home on Lyons View Pike. But mum’s the word, the rhyming verbiage warned. “We must keep it under wraps/Until their arrival,/when we greet them with/loud cheers and big laughs.”

Well the  surprise actually was on the guests – not the wedding couple! When everyone had assembled and had their first drink, we were told Janet and Joey were about to come in. We hid on both sides of the entryway and were ready to yell “Surprise!” when Steve Brewington announced them from the microphone set up for the band. But instead, he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, give a big welcome to – as of four hours ago – Mr. and Mrs. Joey Creswell!”

We roared as they came in, Janet wearing a bronze wedding dress complete with a bouquet and a beautiful veil. They had married before about 20 people at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Knoxville at 2:30 in the afternoon. It was an absolutely perfectly planned and executed surprise. And the party turned out to be pretty wonderful, too.

Wow, the food while we were gathering was great, starting with these passed blinis with caviar, sour cream and chives! Caterer was Holly Hambright.

We spent time socializing while waiting for the “surprise.” From left, Rene Yanes, Vicki Baumgartner and Chris Davis.

Hostess Mary Ellen Brewingon, center, with Susan Brown, left, and Gay Lyons.

Richard and Dawn Ford

Erin Donovan and my hubby, Alan Carmichael

A beautiful buffet was set up on the table.

It included shrimp scampi skewers.

Duck tacos

And buttermilk fired chicken and waffles.

The most interesting thing on the table was this “wedding cake” made of cheese! If it had been a real wedding cake, the surprise would have been ruined.

Stunning.

Francis Norris and Ann Pierce

Dr. Michelle Brewer, left, and Sherri Gardner Howell

From left, Sherry Jenkins, Renee Repka, Erin Donovan and Jeff Cupp

The crowd swelled to about 100 folks in a great mood. We were thinking we were about to pull off a big surprise!

Excitement was mounting as dusk fell.

And then they came in and we discovered the joke was on us!

They talked about how much they love each other.

And thanked their hosts and co-conspirators.

Here’s the back of that fabulous dress.

First dance

The bride dancing with her father, former Knoxville Mayor Kyle Testerman.

The groom on the dance floor with his daughters, Elie, center, and Georgie Creswell.

From left, Molly Lonon, Georgie and Elie Creswell. Adorable.

Mother of the bride, Janet Testerman Crossley, and Bill Regas

Janet’s sister, Muffet Buckner, was matron of honor. She’s with her father.

The band was Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam

Janet and the girls enjoyed them as much as the rest of us. (Look at those flowers!)

From left, Deanene Catani, Foster Arnett, Tom Catani, Katie Bahr and Matthew Williams

Will and Vanessa Bellamy

Alan with Kay Clayton

Jeff Cupp and Gay Lyons

Vicki Baumgartner and Bill Regas took a spin around the dining room.

From left, Brent Wilhoit, Dottie Arnett and Will Bellamy

Check out Dottie’s necklace. She was admiring it earlier in the day at Kimball’s and they insisted that she take it “on loan” and wear it Saturday night! Just like on the red carpet!

Speaking of attire, check out Bob McClellan’s shoes! (I assume they are available at M.S. McClellan’s!)

Frank Nystrom, left, and Bob McClellan

Best man, Rusty Hutcheson, with the newlyweds

Susan Brown, center, with Annette and Scott Brun

For late-night snacking, there was a s’mores bar with a dozen or more kinds of gourmet marshmallows for roasting in the outdoor fireplace!

Like these chocolate malt numbers.

Again, bravo to all involved for pulling off the surprise event of the winter! And best wishes to the beautiful, special couple.

Bobbi Wolverton was an international flight attendant from 1965 to 1973.

Bobbi Wolverton was a young woman straight out of college in 1965 when she went to work for World Airlines as an international flight attendant — or stewardess, as they were then known. “Those were the glamour years of aviation,” she said of her eight years in the air.

Wolverton, who now lives in Tellico Village, shared stories of her flying experiences with guests at a recent Elegant Dining dinner arranged by the Knoxville Symphony League to raise funds for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

To qualify for the job, Wolverton said, women had to be between the ages of 21 and 28 and they couldn’t be married or wear eyeglasses. They had to be between 5’2″ and 5’8″  and weigh less than 135 pounds. Stewardesses wore designer uniforms and had designer luggage — without rollers. “We weren’t allowed to pick our suitcases up,” she related. “We had to hire valets to do that. But it only cost 25 cents, so that was not so bad.” They traveled from the airports to their hotels in limousines.

The hours were grueling. Stewardesses had to be on the plane four hours before passengers boarded. And, because these were flights to Asia and Europe, sometimes they worked for 30 hours. But, in exchange, they got to see the world and could explore foreign countries on their layovers.

This was before serving carts were on airplanes. Stewardesses had to walk down the aisle with each tray. Bobbi demonstrated.

For passengers, flying was a wonderful experience, she recalled. “In 1965, only 10 percent of Americans had ever flown,” she said. “People dressed up for the occasion. Men wore suits and women wore dresses with gloves and high heels.” Airlines allowed smoking. In fact, Wolverton said she and her co-workers distributed five-cigarette packs and matches to customers before takeoff.

Here’s what first class service looked like from “behind the smile:” Before takeoff: Pass hard candy, magazines, pillows and blankets. Pass five-cigarette packages with matches bearing the airline logo. Once the plane reaches cruising altitude: Pass hot scented towels. Clean up. Pass hors d’oeuvres. Clean up. Pass two mini-bottles of hard liquor, a glass with ice, sodas and water. Clean up. Pass dinner trays containing the entree, salad, dessert, roll and a split of wine. Pass coffee, tea, milk and champagne. Clean up. Pass two mini-bottles of after dinner drinks. Clean up. (Wow, that’s six bottles of alcohol!)

Whew!

Wolverton has written a book about her flying experiences. Called “Behind the Smile: Sex, Humor and Terror during the Glamour Years of Aviation,” it is available at www.bobbiphelpswolverton.com.

It’s a breezy read. The sex part: she caught folks trying to be initiated into the “Mile High Club” by having sex during the flight; she was on a flight when GIs went on a rampage of harassing the flight attendants to the point that the women locked themselves in the bathroom and the cockpit to get away; and, while overseas, various romances occurred.

The terror? Bad weather, close landing calls and, the worst part to me, being fired on when flying into and out of Vietnam. “Every airline had to fly there during that time,”  she said at the dinner gathering. “We were shot at 100 percent of the time.”

As for the humor, it abounds throughout the book as Bobbi and her young co-workers have escapades in foreign cities — and American cities — over the eight years. Settings for the tales include Japan, Egypt, Vietnam and eight other countries.

I thought this was a very creative Elegant Dining event and a fun way to raise money for the Symphony. There are still a few slots available at upcoming Elegant Dining events. Click here for the list.

What do YOU remember most about the golden age of air travel?

The dinner was in Farragut at the home of Barbara and Jeff Crist on Andover Boulevard. Here is Polly Anna Harris playing the piano as guests arrived.

Globes were the focal points of the centerpieces. Clever.

Little origami airplanes in the plants were cute. They were folded from maps.

One of the co-hosts, Jane Venable, had an important job!

Fred and Gina Buffum are frequent guests at Elegant Dining events.

Tom and Linda Bolen

Jeff Crist and co-host Joyce Simms

Frank Venable and co-host Willene Chalmers

Bobbi Wolverton with my husband, Alan Carmichael, left, and Richard Ford

Dinner was in the den.

Mixed green salad with poppy seed dressing was served first.

Entree was beef tenderloin medallions with brown sauce, roasted red potatoes with basil and dill sauce, marinated asparagus and a sweet potato biscuit with butter.

Dessert: black forest cake

Then it was time for Bobbi to talk.

Charlene Mischlich, left, and Cynthia Offutt

Here are Chef Rex Bradford Jones and hostess Barbara Crist in the kitchen.

Haha. Co-host Barbara Furlong with a Stewardess Barbie.

Jenny and Randy Boyd

Jenny and Randy Boyd welcomed about 100 Leadership Knoxville alumni to their elegant west Knox County home recently where they participated in a wide-ranging discussion that covered subjects from politics and education to pets, music and sports.

The occasion was an installment of Leadership Knoxville’s fundraising series called “Behind the Scenes.” Prior to the Boyds, community leaders including Jim Clayton, Pete DeBusk, Dee Haslam and Ken Lowe have participated in the series, as well as former head UT Football Coach Derek Dooley and whiz music promoter Ashley Capps. It’s a great series.

Randy Boyd is the chairman, CEO and majority shareholder of Radio Systems Corporation, the parent company of PetSafe, Invisible Fence and Sport Dog. Last year, he took a leave of absence from his company to join Gov. Bill Haslam‘s administration as an adviser to the governor on higher education. He and his wife also are owners of the Tennessee Smokies baseball team, an Argentine winery, and two nightspots in Knoxville’s Old City. To say he is a “Renaissance man” would seem to be an understatement.

Here are a few highlights of remarks made by the affable couple:

• Randy, whose goal is to make Knoxville “the most pet-friendly city in America,” says we are making headway by “increasing the demand and decreasing the supply” of unwanted pets. In 2008, he said, 12,000 animals in our community were euthanized each year. Last year, the number was down to 6,000. He attributed the high number of euthanized animals to a “culture” that treats animals as property. “We send buses of pets up north every year,” he noted, where there is a shortage.

• This is Spanky, the Boyds’ “old” dog. His fur is very soft and he let us pet him.

  Tennessee Achieves, an outgrowth of KnoxAchieves, the non-profit he founded to provide access to community colleges to all high school graduates, is succeeding. Tennessee Achieves sent 320 kids to college its first year. Of those, 68 percent were first-generation college attendees. And 75 percent came from households with income less than $50,000.

• Jenny Boyd said she started playing the fiddle at the age of 38. She said it was a “dream come true” for the couple to purchase the former Manhattan’s eatery in the Old City and turn it into the popular Jig and Reel, modeled after the music pubs she and Randy visited in Scotland. “I discovered that it’s hard to find people to play with and we asked ourselves, ‘Why don’t we have something in Knoxville like they do in Scotland where folks can just show up and play together?’” That’s exactly what the Boyds have done with the Jig and Reel. Instruments are available for anyone to play. “If you come in for dinner and we are playing, there are instruments on the wall you can just pick up,” Jenny said.
• She joked that it is now impossible for her to give up her music. “I can’t after Randy bought the building for me!” she laughed. The Boyds also have bought the former Patrick Sullivan’s Saloon across Central Avenue from the Jig and Reel. It is being remodeled into a UT-themed steak house.
• In response to a question, she said the Old City is on an upswing. “But we need more retail,” she noted. “There are too many clubs that are only open on weekends.”
• Randy was asked the difference between operating in the private sector and the public sector. “In government, everything will take three or four times longer than you think,” he said. “There are a lot of stakeholders so it takes a long time to get something accomplished. But if you can get something done, it is transformative. It makes so much more of a difference.”
• One questioner asked what we in Knoxville can do to help improve things.  “Adopt an animal,” he smiled, adding that he and Jenny have just adopted a dachshund, their second dog (in addition to two cats and a parrot). “Be a mentor for Tennessee Achieves. And support our governor!”

Here’s the view from the back porch where the party was held under a tent. Don’t you love that infinity pool?

Jenny Boyd, center, with Natalie and Jim Haslam

Randy Boyd with Debby Fox

Tom Ford, left, and Tom Coulter

From left, Kenneth Creed, Sherri Lee, Donna Cobble and Sharon Pryse

From left, Dr. Martha Buchanan, Frank Nystrom, and newlyweds Janet Testerman Creswell and Joey Creswell

City Councilman Marshall Stair and Sharon Moore

From left, Dan and Kathy Hamilton and Kenneth and Jane Creed

Susan Farris, right, with Pat and Mark Medley

Linda and Culver Schmid

David and Sandy Martin

Georgiana Vines and Gideon Fryer

Bryan Gibson, the CEO of Priority Ambulance, and Susan Brown. The two worked together at Rural/Metro years ago. We’re all glad he’s moving back to town because Priority’s national headquarters will be here.

From left, Gay Lyons, Mary Bogert, Rachel Ford, Patty Bragg (in back) and Anita Lane.

Barbara Apking, left, and Lorie Johnson

Bill Lyons, left, with Annette and Scott Brun

Sharon Bosse, a member of the event planning committee, introducing the Boyds

Randy talking about politics and pets – and a bunch of other things.

Thanks to Scripps Networks Interactive for providing the wine for all the Behind the Scenes events.

Sweet flowers decorated the bar – and gave me hope for spring!

As we left, we met the Boyds’ “new” dog – a dachshund named Oscar Mayer! Ha. Janet loved him.

Bob and Angie Wilson on March 1 at the wedding of our co-worker, Amanda Shell, and Mark Jennings

The Blue Streak is going to take a break this week as we at Moxley Carmichael mourn the sudden death on Saturday of our beloved colleague, Bob Wilson.

Bob, our digital media manager, worked at Moxley Carmichael for five years. He was a whiz at what he did. He worked with almost all our clients, advising them on social media strategies and applications and helping build great websites for them. You may know him from his frequent guest appearances on local TV shows, especially on WBIR-TV, Channel 10, and on Fox 43. In fact, he was scheduled to appear on Mornings with Fox 43 today.

We will miss the skills Bob brought to our company. But more than that, we will miss Bob himself. Bob was an even-keeled, gentle guy who had true interest in people and a knack for making them feel good. He wanted to be sure everyone felt welcomed. Maria Cornelius noticed this when she joined Moxley Carmichael last year. Bob encouraged her and went out of his way every day to talk to her about one of her passions — sports. The interns loved Bob because he would check on them too, offering to bring them lunch if they were tied up on some big project during the noon break.

Co-workers Bob Wilson and Amanda Shell at a company party in December 2011.

Bob was a coffee addict. He drank the stuff all day. The fact that the kitchen is at the opposite end of our office from where Bob’s office was gave him a great opportunity to check in with other team members all through the day as he trudged to the kitchen for refills.

Bob had an unusual approach to problem solving and it took some getting used to. Presented with a new assignment, Bob first talked about how difficult the job was going to be and why this and that solution was not going to work. Finally, after a good amount of tossing up and then shooting down various ideas, he would seize on the right approach and solve the problem. Once we figured out that this was just his method of coming to the right answer, we enjoyed watching him do it. Our creative director, Charley Sexton, perhaps the person here who was closest to Bob, does a hilarious imitation of Bob solving a problem.

It seems appropriate that I first met Bob on Twitter. It was 2008 and Bob was working for KUB at the time. He adopted the Twitter handle “@BobinMotion” because he had decided to look for a new job, one where he could make more use of his creative and social media talents. I was an avid Twitter user then and I started following Bob.

Bob and Angie this past summer at the wedding of Moxley Carmichael CFO Shaun Fulco and Roger Hyver

I found him to be smart and funny. Back then, when there weren’t so many people on Twitter, we used to have “Tweet-ups” — meetings, generally in bars and restaurants, where Twitter users could meet each other IRL (in real life). Bob and I met at several of these events and really liked each other. Moxley Carmichael decided to add a social media position to our staff, and Bob seemed like the perfect fit. It was one of the best hires I’ve ever made!

Bob was a devoted family man. He truly lit up when he talked about his vivacious wife, Angie, and his beautiful and athletic daughter, Grace, who is now a freshman in high school. Our hearts and prayers are with them in this awful, sad time.

At Moxley Carmichael today, there is a big empty spot. We appreciate the many condolences we have received. But nothing can stop us getting choked up when one of us turns to ask Bob to solve a computer problem or offer an opinion. It hits us like a punch in the gut to realize he is no longer here – and won’t be tomorrow.

Bob liked country music, so I will paraphrase a Carrie Underwood song: We will see you again, friend.

(Click here for a link to that great song.)

At the Fantasy of Trees opening reception, Nov. 2012. From left, Shanna Browning, Dino Cartwright, Angie and Bob Wilson

Moxley Carmichael staff photo at our client party in February 2010. Bob is third from left.

At the Front Page Follies, July 2012. From left, Charley and Linnie Sexton, Mark Jennings, Amanda Shell, Angie and Bob Wilson, Shaun Fulco and Roger Hyver

At Amanda’s wedding on March 1 of this year. From left, Karl Beck, Maria Cornelius, Charley Sexton, Natalie Lester, Chase Bailey and Bob Wilson. (Everyone is from Moxley Carmichael except Karl, who is married to our Erica Beck, and Chase, who is engaged to Natalie.)

At the opening of Chuy’s, one of our fun clients: From left, Bob and Angie, Katie Walsh, Grace Wilson, Jake Adams, Claudia and Joe Walsh

Bob during Moxley Carmichael’s move from First Tennessee Plaza to the Miller’s Building in August 2010.

Here is Bob as a cookie!

Charley Sexton made this avatar of Bob for use in social media. It looks just like him!

10/29/1966 to 3/8/2014

Clarence Brown Theatre Artistic Director Cal MacLean trying some candied bacon, a trademark of caterer Holly Hambright.

Over what he described as a “family breakfast,” Clarence Brown Theatre‘s artistic director, Cal MacLean, recently announced the eight plays that will make up the theater’s 2014-15 season. And what a diverse lineup it is for the theater’s 40th anniversary year.

The offerings range from classics, including plays by Shakespeare and Dickens, to more recent works about inter-generational relationships and racism.

The Clarence Brown is both a professional theater company serving the community and the university and a learning laboratory for students and graduate students in the University of Tennessee’s acclaimed Department of Theatre. MacLean serves both as artistic director of the Clarence Brown Theatre and as head of the Department of Theatre.

Guests at the breakfast, held in the theater’s lobby, included sponsors and top level season ticket holders. “It’s good to have breakfast with the family,” MacLean laughed.

So, here’s the lineup:

• Season opener is “Hank Williams: Lost Highway.” What MacLean described as “a jukebox musical,” this play is about “an artist who is falling apart,” he said. Country singer and songwriter Hank Williams spent the last night of his life in the Andrew Johnson Hotel in downtown Knoxville, making it even more interesting for those of us who call Knoxville home.

• Georgiana Vines is chair of the Clarence Brown Theatre’s Advisory Board. David Byrd is managing director.

  In October, comes William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker,” about the life of Helen Keller. “This play is really about what it’s like to be human,” MacLean said.

• Next is a recent play called “4,000 Miles,” featuring Carol Mayo Jenkins. “It’s about inter-generational misunderstandings,” MacLean said.
• For the holidays, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” “We are going to mess around with the production a little bit,” MacLean teased.
• At the first of the year comes what MacLean described as “one of my favorite plays,” “Master Harold … and the Boys.” Set in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, it deals with the subject of “cultural racism,” he said.
• Then, Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” “It’s one of the most beautiful and poetic of Shakespeare’s plays,” MacLean said. “And also the funniest.”
• In the spring, “A Shayna Maidel.” Set in Brooklyn in 1946, it is about a Jewish family, the bonds of sisterhood and the gulf  created when one sister spends years in a Nazi concentration camp and the other is raised as an American. “There won’t be a dry eye in the house!” MacLean announced confidently.
• Season closer is Bertolt Brecht’s “The Threepenny Opera,” which he said is about “capitalism and the effect of money, both positively and negatively.” The story, he said, involves “a glamorous playboy criminal murderer and the four women who love him.” It is set in a contemporary nightclub, in this version of the play.

So, there you have it. Box office phone number is 865-974-5161. See you in the theater!

The Clarence Brown Theatre “family” likes mimosas at breakfast!

And Bloody Marys. That’s my husband, Alan Carmichael, getting mine for me! Thanks, honey.

Polly Anna Harris has been attending plays at the Clarence Brown Theatre for 50 years!

Holly Hambright, of Holly’s Eventful Dining, generously donated the breakfast.

Who doesn’t love a big wheel of brie?

Finger sandwiches

And sweets, of course.

Waiting for the announcement.

Sheena McCall, center, with Dawn and Richard Ford

Mimi Turner, left, and Maggie Erickson

Don and Jan Simpson

Dr. Lynn and Georgia Blake