Downtown pitch for Knoxville’s new maestro

Downtown dweller Bill Lyons, left, with new Knoxville Symphony music director Aram Demirjian at the final stop of our progressive dinner Saturday.

Downtown dweller Bill Lyons, left, with new Knoxville Symphony music director Aram Demirjian at the final stop of our progressive dinner Saturday.

On the first stop of our downtown progressive dinner last Saturday, I tapped my cellphone to my wine glass in order to get everyone’s attention for an announcement. “D-flat,” stated Aram Demirjian, the Knoxville Symphony‘s new conductor, in a matter-of-fact tone. “What?” I asked. “That’s a D-flat,” he said, referring to the sound that emanated when I tapped the glass.

Demirjian, who along with his new wife, Caraline Craig, was a guest of honor for our dinner, explained that he has what is known as “absolute pitch.” That, according to Wikipedia (the source of all knowledge), is “a rare auditory phenomenon characterized by the ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of a reference tone.” Researchers estimate that about 1 in 10,000 people have absolute pitch.

This, I thought, is not a bad characteristic for a music director. On the other hand, however, Demirjian related that he is color blind.

As many readers of the Blue Streak know, a group of us downtown residents hold a progressive dinner a few times a year, and we often invite an extra couple to join as our guests. Our motive in this is to convince the invited couple to follow our lead and move downtown. We have been very successful with this strategy. Now we have Aram and Caraline in our sights. We chose an Italian theme on Saturday and started our evening at the lovely home of Monique and Bruce Anderson in The Glencoe, located at 615 State St.

Gay and Bill Lyons with Caraline Craig, center, in Bruce and Monique's living room.

Gay and Bill Lyons with Caraline Craig, center, in Bruce and Monique’s living room.

Alan Carmichael and Tim Young.

Alan Carmichael and Tim Young.

Nothing says "Italian" like some beautiful flowers and a bottle of Chianti.

Nothing says “Italian” like some beautiful flowers and a bottle of Chianti.

I loved this sculpture of a bass player in the living room.

I loved this sculpture of a bass player in the living room.

The Andersons went with a classic Italian antipasto as a first course.

The Andersons went with a classic Italian antipasto as a first course.

Here's the charcuterie platter.

Here’s the charcuterie platter.

At 7 p.m., we headed north on State Street toward's the fantastic home of Tim Young and Jeff Cupp.

At 7 p.m., we headed north on State Street toward the fantastic home of Tim Young and Jeff Cupp.

We passed a lot of relieved football fans on the patio behind Clancy's.

We passed a lot of relieved football fans on the patio behind Downtown Grill & Brewery.

They live in the Gallery Lofts, which are located above Mast General Store. They crack me up by posing this whimsical figures in various positions in various places whenever we go over there!

Jeff and Tim live in the Gallery Lofts, which are located above Mast General Store on Gay Street. They crack me up by posing these whimsical figures in various positions in various places whenever we go over there!

Jeff is an antique dealer and this is his most prized room.

Jeff is an antique dealer and this is his most prized room.

Here's his favorite piece. "He's never going to part with it," Tim said. "I think he's going to be buried in it!"

Here’s his favorite piece. “He’s never going to part with it,” Tim said. “I think he’s going to be buried in it!”

Here's Jeff.

Here’s Jeff. (Photo by Tim Young)

My favorite items of theirs are the 21 "Blue Dog" paintings they have. By Louisiana artist George Rodrigue, they gained worldwide acclaim in the 1990s. Rodrigue died in 2013.

My favorite items of theirs are the 21 “Blue Dog” paintings they have. By Louisiana artist George Rodrigue, they gained worldwide acclaim in the 1990s. Rodrigue died in 2013.

Here's another. Aren't they charming?

Here’s another. Aren’t they charming?

Jeff can find the most amazing things. He got this sheered beaver coat at Goodwill!

Jeff can find the most amazing things. He got this sheared beaver coat at Goodwill!

In the kitchen was the evening's signature cocktail created by Jeff and Tim. It's called "The Diva."

In the kitchen was the evening’s signature cocktail created by Jeff and Tim. It’s called “The Diva.”

Appropriate cocktail napkins.

Appropriate cocktail napkins.

Gay Lyons often does the cooking while the guys get the cocktail together. She was just taking the Italian meat loaves out of the oven when we popped our heads in.

Gay Lyons often does the cooking while the guys get the cocktail together. She was just taking the Italian meat loaves out of the oven when we popped our heads in.

Here they are ready for service.

Here they are ready for service.

The table was lovely.

The table was lovely.

My seat.

My seat.

Even the salt and pepper servers were gorgeous.

Even the salt and pepper servers were gorgeous.

Gay served Italian bread with ricotta drizzled with honey. She admitted she copied a similar dish that we all love at Emilia, Chef Matt Gallaher's Italian restaurant on Market Square.

Gay served Italian bread with ricotta drizzled with honey. She admitted she copied a similar dish that we all love at Emilia, Chef Matt Gallaher’s Italian restaurant on Market Square.

Salad course was a peach caprese.

Salad course was a peach caprese.

Alan and I got a 15-minute head start to set up dessert at our place at Cherokee Lofts, 400 W. Church Ave. We paused for a picture with the fabulous Tennessee Theatre sign.

Alan and I got a 15-minute head start to set up dessert at our place at Cherokee Lofts, 400 W. Church Ave. We paused for a picture with the fabulous Tennessee Theatre sign.

Here's another pieces of thievery from Emilia: Prosecco with a gourmet cherry in it. The dessert, a classic called Berries on a Cloud, was made "Italian" by the addition of Amaretto!

Here’s another piece of thievery from Emilia: Prosecco with a gourmet cherry in it. The dessert, a classic called Berries on a Cloud, was made “Italian” by the addition of Amaretto!

I don’t know if Aram and Caraline ultimately will choose to live downtown. But, if they don’t, it won’t be because we didn’t give it the old college try!

As a bonus, here’s Gay’s fabulous Italian meat loaf recipe:

½ c. chopped sun-dried tomatoes

½ c. ketchup

1 c. seasoned bread crumbs

¾ c. finely chopped onion

¾ c. chopped fresh basil

½ c. shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese

2 egg whites

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb. ground round

For the topping: 1/3 c. ketchup

Preheat oven to 350. Combine first nine ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. I wear disposable gloves and mix by hand. It takes a while to get everything completely combined. You’ll know you’re finished when you don’t see any bread crumbs in the bottom of the bowl.

Shape into an oval or rectangular loaf on a broiler pan coated with olive oil cooking spray. Or make into mini loaves. Brush 1/3 c. ketchup onto meat loaf—top and sides. Bake one hour or until meat thermometer registers 160. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. (If making mini-loaves, cooking time will be less. Rely on your thermometer.)

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

13 Responses to Downtown pitch for Knoxville’s new maestro

  1. Monique Andrrson, on September 21st, 2016 at 1:12 pm said:

    Always a good time.

  2. Gay Lyons, on September 21st, 2016 at 2:12 pm said:

    I love our progressives! Always a great (& delicious) time with our neighbors, & I enjoyed getting to know Aram & Caraline. They’d be a great addition to the neighborhood.

  3. Rose Sampley, on September 21st, 2016 at 2:20 pm said:

    I’d love that dessert recipe!

  4. Alan Carmichael, on September 21st, 2016 at 3:17 pm said:

    Every time we go to Tim and Jeff’s, another wall space is occupied with a lovely piece.

  5. Cynthia Moxley, on September 21st, 2016 at 3:31 pm said:

    Monique and Gay: Well, we did what we could! Hope it works!

    Rose: Are you on Pinterest? If so, it’s on my “Desserts” page. If not, I will put it up here. Let me know.

    Alan: Absolutely true.

  6. Deborah Sams, on September 21st, 2016 at 4:29 pm said:

    And the dessert recipe? Fab-u-losity!

  7. Savanna Howie, on September 21st, 2016 at 5:14 pm said:

    This post definitely made me extra hungry. All of the food items look fantastic.

  8. Gay Lyons, on September 21st, 2016 at 8:31 pm said:

    Cynthia’s dessert was awesome, and Monique’s antipasti was superb. We do not lack for good food on our progressives. Excellent beverages as well.

  9. LILLIAN Mashburn, on September 21st, 2016 at 9:46 pm said:

    I remember seeing Blue Dog paintings in Congressman Cooper’s and Tanner’s offices. They were members of the Congressional Blue Dogs!

  10. Tim, on September 22nd, 2016 at 1:37 am said:

    Loved the entire evening as usual. Food and drink were excellent, but the company of long-time friends and new ones was the real treat. We enjoy getting together with our downtown neighbors and there could not be a better manner in which to do so.

    Cynthia….you must share the dessert recipe. I don’t typically eat more than a bite of any dessert and I CLEARED MY PLATE it was so light and delicious. I feel the elliptical calling me now……

  11. Cynthia Moxley, on September 22nd, 2016 at 5:34 pm said:

    Lillian: Funny about those blue dogs!

    OK, everybody, here is that dessert recipe. Only thing I did differently was add a couple of tablespoons of Amaretto to the berry topping — to make it “Italian.” Enjoy: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263812490650574108/

  12. Rusha Sams, on September 23rd, 2016 at 9:20 am said:

    Can’t think of any reason the Maestro wouldn’t want to be a city dweller after such a stellar party! Thanks for great pics (as always) and a super Italian meatloaf recipe from Gay!!! (To Lillian: Those dog paintings are worth a lot of moolah now!!!)

  13. Cynthia Moxley, on October 2nd, 2016 at 3:21 am said:

    Thanks for your comment, Rusha. I really think you and Bert would love living downtown!

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