Going mad for a great cause!

Joan? Nah, Deborah Franklin, Joan's spitting image!

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?

Here’s the setting. Quite retro, don’t you agree?

Look, there's Betty! Or her twin sister, Barbara Grobicki.

Look, there’s Betty! Or her twin sister, Barbara Grobicki.

Scott Bird, left, of Moxley Carmichael, and Michael Higdon.

Scott Bird, left, of Moxley Carmichael, and Michael Higdon.

Ethiel and Michelle Garlington, two of the hosts, greeted folks at the door.

Ethiel and Michelle Garlington, two of the hosts, greeted folks at the door.

Host Lyn Johnson passed 1960s era hors d'oeuvres.

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 sitting on a Ritz?"

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?

Would you have recognized Gay Lyons?

Party host Natalie Robinson was a cigarette girl.

Party host Natalie Robinson was a cigarette girl.

Mandatory props for a Mad Men party.

Mandatory props for a Mad Men party.

Paul Berney, left, and City Councilman Marshall Stair.

Paul Berney, left, and City Councilman Marshall Stair

A closer look at that vintage pin.

A closer look at that vintage pin.

Another classic appetizer: stuffed celery.

Another classic appetizer: stuffed celery.

French onion dip, of course.

French onion dip, of course.

Hosts Lee Ingram, left, and Jeff Johnson.

Hosts Lee Ingram, left, and Jeff Johnson

City Councilman Duane and Marsha Grieve.

City Councilman Duane and Marsha Grieve

Hosts Meg and Thomas Ingram.

Hosts Meg and Thomas Ingram

Matthew Williams and Lane Bahr.

Matthew Williams and Lane Bahr

Mickey Mallonee, left, of Knox Heritage and Hannah Parker of Moxley Carmichael.

Mickey Mallonee, left, of Knox Heritage, and Hannah Parker of Moxley Carmichael.

Jeannie Dulaney

Jeannie Dulaney

Here's what Jeannie was eating: olive cheese coins.

Here’s what Jeannie was eating: olive cheese coins.

Lindsay and Ross Cates.

Lindsay and Ross Cates

Todd Richesin, left, and Bobby Brown.

Todd Richesin, left, and Bobby Brown

Pamela Chips, left, and Julia Bentley.

Pamela Chips, left, and Julia Bentley

Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly.

Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly

Jackie Wilson and my hubby, Alan Carmichael.

Jackie Wilson and my hubby, Alan Carmichael.

Rick Blackburn, vice president of the Knox Heritage Board, made a few welcoming remarks.

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!

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.

How about this classic presentation? A tree of bacon-wrapped cocktail weiners, pineapple and rum soaked cherry skewers.

Sweedish meatballs, natch.

Swedish meatballs, natch.

Nordeck Thompson, left, and Faris Eid.

Nordeck Thompson, left, and Faris Eid

Rader Hayes

Rader Hayes

Steve Drevik and Lee Ann Rogers.

Steve Drevik and Lee Ann Rogers

Kendall and Mike Keller.

Kendall and Mike Keller

Hosts Brooks and Karen Clark.

Hosts Brooks and Karen Clark

Debbie Ashton and Bobby Rentenbach.

Debbie Ashton and Bobby Rentenbach

From left, Ellen and George Kern with Todd Witcher.

From left, Ellen and George Kern with Todd Witcher.

Barry and Claudia Ritchie.

Barry and Claudia Ritchie

Great purse! Alicia Merrifield.

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.

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.

My favorite picture of the night. Hannah Parker talking to her mentor, Bill Lyons, Mayor Madeline Rogero’s deputy.

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

6 Responses to Going mad for a great cause!

  1. monique Anderson, on July 30th, 2014 at 8:00 am said:

    Wish we had gone to that one!

  2. Gay Lyons, on July 30th, 2014 at 11:11 am said:

    Now that was a fun party! Congratulations to the host committee for all the little & big touches that added comic authenticity to the event. I love the photo of Bill & Hannah.

  3. john barbarino, on July 31st, 2014 at 10:30 am said:

    Just wonderful to see. What joy, promise and excellent style. Cool even.

  4. Gay Lyons, on July 31st, 2014 at 1:04 pm said:

    John, you would have loved this party.

  5. Alan Carmichael, on July 31st, 2014 at 1:11 pm said:

    This was a great Summer Supper. Everyone dressed up. The 60s print ads on BarberMcMurry’s computers screens were great to remember, although many were politically incorrect. And the view of Market Square and Krutch Park through the large windows in the Arnstein Building made you think for a moment that, wow, you could standing be in an NYC ad firm in the 60s.

  6. Peter Acly, on July 31st, 2014 at 3:12 pm said:

    Truly a blast (from the past)!! The office space was fabulous; thanks to Barber McMurray for letting us see it. The Summer Suppers are a great opportunity to visit historic structures we might not otherwise get to see.

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