One of the hosts of the Gatsby party, Leslie Young
When you’re hot, you’re hot! And it looks like “The Great Gatsby” definitely is hot around here. Last weekend we attended our second Gatsby party in a month and it was another rousing success, old sport.
This one, an immediate sell-out from the time it was announced, was part of the Summer Suppers series of fundraisers that benefit Knox Heritage, our regional preservation organization.
What made this Gatsby party so unique was that, true to the 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, the water figured into the evening. We gathered at Sequoyah Park, which served as the fictional town of East Egg, and, with refreshing libations in hand, boarded a boat to travel across the Tennessee River to fictional West Egg, where Jay Gatsby lived in the story.
Gatsby’s mansion, in our real life experience, was the lovely Alcoa Highway home of John Butler, perched on the bluff overlooking the river. It was built in the 1920s by famed Knoxville architect Charles Barber, who lived there himself. We partied on the patio on a mild summer evening and feasted on a decadent spread of edibles prepared by the very capable host committee. It was only when we boarded the boat to return to our cars in East Egg, that we noticed the haunting green light reflecting across the water — an eerie presence in the novel.
A very well-done event benefiting a worthy community cause. Here’s the host committee: John Butler, Nancy Butler, Erika and Tom Butler, Elaine Clark and Tim Robinson, Laura Davis, Tony Desmond, Carol Evans, Allison Easterday and Scott Noethen, Mary Jane and Bruce Fox, Judy and Ron Koksal, Bettina McCann, Nancy McGlasson, Jennifer Montgomery, Lucy and Michael Schaad, Allyn Purvis Schwartz, Jill Tennant and Josh Anderson and Leslie Young and Ryan Clearman.
NOTE: Only three Summer Suppers remain this year and two of those are sold out. Click here to claim some of the few remaining tickets to the supper in Sevierville on Sept. 15.
Bill and Susan Morris in "East Egg" (a.k.a. Sequoyah Park) prior to boarding the boat for "Jay Gatsby's" house. All the women were given boas.
Monique and Bruce Anderson.
Pandy and Riley Anderson
From left, Lisa Thomas, Carol Evans, John Schwartz and Elaine Clark
Sam and Nancy Bills
We all were impressed by Michael Combs' tie, which Monique is examining here.
Very appropriate, wouldn't you say?
Soon, it was time to board. Alan Carmichael, in blue, and Bruce Anderson assisted passenger Pamela Chips.
Richard and Dawn Ford during our passage across the river.
Alan Carmichael looking dapper - in a 1920s sort of way!
John Schwartz in timeless preppy casual mode. (I guarantee this outfit came from M.S. McClellan.)
When we arrived, we were greeted by 1920s style hors d'oeuvres. Here's Judy Brookshire passing what were known then as "pastry pigs."
Today we call them "pigs in a blanket."
Here's the pretty setting.
Bruce Fox with deviled eggs, a summertime treat we all still enjoy.
More eggs from Allison Easterday.
I caught Nancy Butler in the kitchen preparing even more eggs!
The oysters were fantastic!
Allyn Purvis Schwartz and Alan Carmichael
Lee Ann Rogers and Steve Drevik
Jane and Rich Ray
The centerpieces were white flowers in various silver containers. Just beautiful.
Here's another.
Here's our boat returning with another load of guests.
Captain John Farmer and First Mate Jeanette Farmer of NavCal Marine Services. (www.navcal.com, if you need to charter a boat)
Homeowner John Butler, second from left, with Margaux Cowa-Banker, left, and host committee members Lucy and Michael Schaad
Judy and Tom Rechenbach
This smoked salmon was to die for.
The tenderloin also was a huge hit. You just can't go wrong with those two popular entrees, no matter what decade you are in!
A couple of the colorful side dishes: green beans and caprese salad made with Farmers' Market tomatoes.
Cake lolipops. Cute.
Ever-popular brownies
Lemon tartlets
John and Beth Thurman, left, with Scott and Stephanie Daniel
Rose Raney and Kirk Finnerty looking good in stripes.
Evening fell while we were dining and the scene was even more romantic.
John Butler, here with Stephanie Daniel, led us on short tours of his home.
That's where we met Maggie the cat.
Farewell to West Egg. Can you see the green light on the right side and reflected in the water? Gave me goose bumps. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Gatsby believed in the green light."
When we got back to downtown Knoxville, Alan and I decided to have a nightcap and listen to some cool jazz at The Bistro at the Bijou, a restaurant with a kind of 1920s feel of its own. It was an ethereal evening altogether.
Us in our Gatsby get-ups. I got that cool headband at Rococo on Market Square. I just happened to see it in the window one day last week. Alan's hat came from Mast General Store. Ahh, downtown living!
Love seeing a pic of YOU on the Blue Streak, Cynthia. 🙂
Ha, Natalie! Don’t get used to it!
Nice!
Gina! Where were you guys? You would have liked this one!
Cynthia! You look so cute in that hat. Alan too!! What fun. The party was great.
Hated to miss this one. Looks like so much fun! Lesson: Buy your tickets ASAP before they sell out.
Monique: It was an awesome night. Fun being with you guys.
Gay: You are right!
As one of the thousands of Blue Streak readers, I rarely post a comment , but seeing my friend Cynthia’s picture compelled me to say, “What in the world is the Streak coming to?” WE WANT MORE!!!
Ha, Phyllis! Probably not going to happen very often! I prefer being on the other side of the camera!
Cynthia, excellent pictures and story! One correction, John Butler is the home owner and Margaux is his friend. Her name is Margaux Cowa- Banker, easily confused! We thought it was a great party, too! Thanks for the handsome shot of my husband!!
Oh, thanks so much for that info, Allyn. I will correct it in the story. Great, great event!
Love Blue Streak and following adventures along with you and Alan. You are the reason I finally entered the world of Facebook.
Myron says, “Hi, He will save us all seats @Blackberry in March”.
Hi, Jaynie! Well, thanks so much! Isn’t Facebook fun? Welcome! I can’t wait until our fun March luncheon. Hopefully, we will see you all before then. Hi to Myron, as well!
Cynthia, the head band-bow is something else.
I know! Not my normal look! Ha!
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