- Take a breathtakingly beautiful day.
- Add a fantastic house on the water and charming hosts.
- Stir in a little good music and a heaping helping of fabulous food.
- Top with an articulate, affable candidate and a very SHORT speech.
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., pressed the flesh.
And voila! At more than 300 people at $125 each, you’ve raised yourself some money! And you’ve shown everyone a good time in the process.
(Oh, one more thing. Be sure Kim Kaegi is in charge. She’s a veritable Republican money-raising goddess.)
Such was exactly the case Friday night at U.S. Sen. Bob Corker’s annual spring picnic at Jimmy and Dee Haslam’s house on Lyons View Pike. The weather could not have been better. Everyone was in a great mood. It almost didn’t seem like a fundraiser, but rather a big, casual get-together with all the usual suspects. Even a few Democrats were on hand.
Just look at this stunning backyard view!
Jim Martin, left, and Bill Arant catch up.
Dr. Bill and Sharon Laing chat with former Knoxville mayor and U.S. Ambassador Victor Ashe, right.
Alan Carmichael, left, and host Jimmy Haslam discuss the governor's race.
Annette Winston chats with Ray Hand.
Chamber Chairman Mike Strickland, left, poses with lawyer David Long.
State Rep. Ryan Haynes, left, passes some time with Knox County Commissioner Richard and Stephanie Briggs.
Joan Ashe, left, and Tam Martin share a laugh.
Allison and State Sen. Tim Burchett are all smiles following his landslide victory in the Republican primary for Knox County mayor.
Joanne and Mark Hazelwood make an attractive couple.
Every picnic needs fried chicken! This feast was catered by Melinda Curtis and drew rave reviews.
The chicken breasts were crispy and huge.
Not a dull salad!
I loved the centerpiece because it contained peonies, my favorite flower.
Dick and Ann Ince dig in.
Former state Rep. David Coffey, left, and Jim Dickson enjoy the evening.
Joe Sullivan, left, has a few serious words with Justice Gary Wade.
Brennan James Wright provides entertainment from the balcony.
Corker, who is a little on the short side, jokes from the balcony that he's not used to looking down at people! "I feel like Evita!" he quips.
A convivial crowd.
One crasher: Buddy belongs to the Haslams' next-door neighbors, Kreis and Sandy Beall. He got a lot of chicken nibbles!
I thought these patriotic thumbprint cookies were a great touch for a political event!
