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:
It was a great evening. LeRoy said the theme would be romance, and it was. The singing on “Float On” was fabulous. Therefore, the crowd asked me NOT to sing. I think Donald Brown asked me not to sing. The food was very tasty. Cynthia danced with me, and a good time was had by all.