Knox Heritage proves less is more when it comes to auctions; and I score a Bloody Mary cemetery tour!

"Hey!" Knox Heritage Executive Director Kim Trent had to hop on the bar to try to get everyone's attention to announce the end of the silent auction!

"Hey!" Knox Heritage Executive Director Kim Trent had to hop on the bar to try to get everyone's attention to announce the end of the silent auction!

Guess what’s in my near future! I’m going on a guided tour of Old Gray Cemetery with “spirited” beverages with nine of my favorite people. I’m also going on a walking tour based on historic postcards and a progressive cocktail supper in downtown Knoxville with 11 other folks.

How did I get these fantastic opportunities? I went to “Cocktails at the Station,” an annual autumn fundraiser for Knox Heritage held at the historic L&N Station. The idea for this party is simple: they auction off unique “experiences” — mostly focused on historic preservation. This year the party was Oct. 2. It started at 6 and was over by 9:15, which is unusual on a Saturday for these types of things. Although the party was very enjoyable, it was a welcome relief to get home at a reasonable hour for a change.

Knox Heritage also showed remarkable restraint by only having seven items in the live auction. So often when we go to these events, we are trapped in our seats as the list of live auction items goes on and on. The folks at Knox Heritage wanted to avoid that. In fact, they are considering having only five items in the live auction next year.

Becky Hancock, assistant director of  Knox Heritage, is in charge of fundraising. She said this year’s “Cocktails at the Station” raised about $30,000. “We try to be unique,” she said. “We tailor our event to our mission. There are so many auctions around, so we  try really hard to come up with something that will be different and interesting.” She said limiting the number of items makes for better and more spiritied competitive bidding — and more fun. 

Here were some of the other offerings:

  • “Secret History” pub crawl with Jack Neely;
  • “Four Flights Up,” a four-course wine dinner for six at Gay and Bill Lyons’ condo at Kendrick Place;
  • “Pork on the Porch,” dinner for 12 at the Sequoyah Hills  home of Ellen  Robinson (of Moxley Carmichael!) and Peter Acly with a menu featuring Benton’s Country Ham prepared by Holly Hambright with guest of honor being Allan Benton;
  • A downtown Christmas Parade party for 10 kids and their parents who will watch the parade from a downtown loft on Gay Street;
  • “Moonshine Flight Dinner,” dinner for four with moonshine pairings. Ha!

Music was by Robinella, a local favorite, who said she also enjoyed the atmosphere and the good cause. Watch for this terrific event next year. But don’t try to outbid me on that cemetery tour!

The silent auction was crowded, but it wasn't impossible to get around, as it is at some of these events. Why? They only had 33 silent auciton items -- but they were good!

The silent auction was crowded, but it wasn't impossible to get around, as it is at some of these events. Why? They only had 33 silent auction items -- but they were good!

Everybody's fav, Robinella, performed almost the whole evening.

Everybody's fave, Robinella, performed almost the whole evening.

Bill Pittman and Tina Rolen bought the in-demand "Pork on the Porch" item. Yum!

Bill Pittman and Tina Rolen bought the in-demand "Pork on the Porch" item. Yum!

Gay Lyons, left, helps Kim Trent describe the dinner at her downtown condo, which was one of the auction items.

Gay Lyons, left, helps Kim Trent describe the dinner at her downtown condo, which was one of the auction items.

Amy and John Gibson

Amy and John Gibson

Rosa Mar, left, and Julia Bentley

Rosa Mar, left, and Julia Bentley

Wes Goddard, left, and Randall De Ford

Wes Goddard, left, and Randall De Ford

Jim and Phyllis Nichols

Jim and Phyllis Nichols

What's the best place to catch a fish? Where the fish are! Single girl Erin Donovan posted herself by the men's room! Haha!

What's the best place to catch a fish? Where the fish are! Single girl Erin Donovan posted herself by the men's room! Haha!

Dan and Pamela Chips

Dan and Pamela Chips

Becky Hancock, left, and Allyn Purvis Schwartz

Becky Hancock, left, and Allyn Purvis Schwartz

Carolyn Lawrence, left, Teresa Scott, and Andy Roberts

Carolyn Lawrence, left, Teresa Scott, and Andy Roberts

Joan Ward, left, and Elaine Clark

Joan Ward, left, and Elaine Clark

Post Script: More of the magic that is Knoxville. As we were walking from the L&N Station to our downtown condo on Church Avenue after the event was over, we passed the Knoxville Convention Center and saw a bride and groom leaving their wedding reception and saying goodbye to their friends. So sweet.

Bye!

Bye!

Anything for art! This brave (!) photographer perched in the center of Clinch Avenue to get just the right shot of the newlyweds!

Anything for art! This brave (!) photographer perched in the center of Clinch Avenue to get just the right shot of the newlyweds!

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Historic preservation, Knoxville, Music. Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Knox Heritage proves less is more when it comes to auctions; and I score a Bloody Mary cemetery tour!

  1. Pingback:Tweets that mention Blue Streak » Knox Heritage proves less is more when it comes to auctions; and I score a Bloody Mary cemetery tour! -- Topsy.com

  2. Ellen Robinson, on October 15th, 2010 at 1:56 pm said:

    I am so jealous — I’ve always wanted to do the cemetery tour. It’ll be so much fun!

  3. Gay Lyons, on October 15th, 2010 at 10:06 pm said:

    Hope you enjoy the cemetery tour. We will see you on the postcard tour as our place is the first stop on that one.

  4. Pingback:Blue Streak » Scruffy City Soiree delivers not-so-scruffy returns!

Leave a Reply