Joan? Nah, Deborah Franklin, Joan’s spitting image!
It’s midsummer and the Knox Heritage Summer Suppers are in full swing. As you may know, Summer Suppers are great little fundraisers for the nonprofit preservation organization, Knox Heritage. They consist of a string of dinner parties, most held in unusual places with a committee of creative hosts who think up entertaining themes, etc.
This one, dubbed “Mad Men Client Appreciation Party,” was held in the brand new offices of BarberMcMurry Architects in the historic Arnstein Building downtown at the corner of Market Street and Union Avenue. Only, on this night, BarberMcMurry was transformed into a 1960s advertising agency in the heart of Manhattan.
Many of us are gearing up for the final episodes of Mad Men, the popular TV show centered around Don Draper and his pals at the ad agency Sterling Cooper. So, it wasn’t hard to coax the 90 party attendees into 1960s attire. Some were even dead ringers for the show’s cast members. Grab your cigarettes and your martini and let’s stroll through the party!
Here’s the setting. Quite retro, don’t you agree?
Look, there’s Betty! Or her twin sister, Barbara Grobicki.
Scott Bird, left, of Moxley Carmichael, and Michael Higdon.
Ethiel and Michelle Garlington, two of the hosts, greeted folks at the door.
Host Lyn Johnson passed 1960s era hors d’oeuvres. Love the dress!
It wouldn’t be a ’60s party without pimento cheese on Ritz crackers! Remember the slogan, “Everything tastes better when it’s sittin’ on a Ritz?”
Would you have recognized Gay Lyons?
Party host Natalie Robinson was a cigarette girl.
Mandatory props for a Mad Men party.
Paul Berney, left, and City Councilman Marshall Stair
A closer look at that vintage pin.
Another classic appetizer: stuffed celery.
French onion dip, of course.
Hosts Lee Ingram, left, and Jeff Johnson
City Councilman Duane and Marsha Grieve
Hosts Meg and Thomas Ingram
Matthew Williams and Lane Bahr
Mickey Mallonee, left, of Knox Heritage, and Hannah Parker of Moxley Carmichael.
Jeannie Dulaney
Here’s what Jeannie was eating: olive cheese coins.
Lindsay and Ross Cates
Trey and Kimberly Dixon Hamilton
Todd Richesin, left, and Bobby Brown
Pamela Chips, left, and Julia Bentley
Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly
Jackie Wilson and my hubby, Alan Carmichael.
Rick Blackburn, vice president of the Knox Heritage Board, made a few welcoming remarks.
Jello was the rage in the ’60s. But we like ours with vodka these days!
How about this classic presentation? A tree of bacon-wrapped cocktail weiners, pineapple and rum soaked cherry skewers.
Swedish meatballs, natch.
Nordeck Thompson, left, and Faris Eid
Rader Hayes
Steve Drevik and Lee Ann Rogers
Kendall and Mike Keller
Hosts Brooks and Karen Clark
Debbie Ashton and Bobby Rentenbach
From left, Ellen and George Kern with Todd Witcher.
Barry and Claudia Ritchie
Great purse! Alicia Merrifield.
All the Summer Suppers are sponsored by Home Federal Bank. Alan took a little break in the bank’s trademark red rocker.
My favorite picture of the night. Hannah Parker talking to her mentor, Bill Lyons, Mayor Madeline Rogero’s deputy.