Downtowners give proper welcome to new museum head

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

They seem happy here! This is Anita Hollmann Matijcio and Steven Matijcio on the last stop of our downtown progressive dinner last Saturday. It was taken at The Overlook, where Gay and Bill Lyons live.

Most downtowners I know are art and culture lovers. We go to the Knoxville Symphony and Jazz Orchestra. We go to concerts at the Bijou and Tennessee Theatres. We go to plays at the Clarence Brown Theatre. We patronize all the excellent restaurants in town. And, we go to the Knoxville Museum of Art.

So, it was only natural for the group of us who regularly holds progressive dinners to invite the Museum’s new executive director, Steve Matijcio and his lovely wife, Anita Hollmann Matijcio, to the progressive dinner we held last weekend. They were nice enough to hire a babysitter for their 14-month-old daughter and they trekked from their home in Fountain City to downtown Knoxville to join us! We are so glad they did.

Steven has been on his job at the KMA for about eight months now and they’ve pretty much gotten settled in. Anita, who is an urban planner by profession, might soon be ready to go back to work. So we are so glad we got the opportunity to get to know them better and welcome them to their new hometown. They moved here from Houston, but Steven, who holds dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S. has  lived in places as disparate as New York City, Cincinnati, Winston-Salem, Berlin, South Korea, and Poland. Continue reading →

Filed under: Art, Downtown, Food | 7 Comments

Clarence Brown toasts 50th with “Gala to Remember”

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Award-winning actor Dale Dickey, a Knoxville native and Clarence Brown alum, with Alexander Waters, the current chair of the Clarence Brown Theatre’s Advisory Board.

The Clarence Brown Theatre celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this month with “A Gala to Remember” at Regas Square Events in downtown Knoxville. Highlight was the return of several alums of the University of Tennessee’s acclaimed theater program who came back to Knoxville for the celebration.

Also at the event were a number of aspiring theater professionals who are studying at UT right now. I’m sure the evening was an inspiration to them, as well as to the throngs of local supporters who showed up to cheer on the program and the hard-working faculty and staff who make our theater program the standout that it is.

Guests were encouraged to wear gold and black in honor of the “golden anniversary,” and most did, adding to the glitter of the evening. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Theater | 2 Comments

Marnie Page: a life to be grateful for

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Marnie and Bob Page in 2016 at the opening of Nest Knoxville on Gay Street.

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension was packed on Sunday with friends of Marnie and Bob Page for one of the most touching memorial services I’ve ever attended. Marnie passed away Oct. 12 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 77.

Just read Marnie’s obituary (here) and you will see what a charmed life she led — and how she made the most of it. The size of the crowd on Sunday is a testament to her ability to make fast friends throughout her time on earth.

She appeared on the Blue Streak numerous times over the years we have known her and Bob. One of our biggest connections has been through the venerable Coffee Club, founded in Knoxville in the 1930s, of which both Bob and my husband, Alan, are members.

The eulogy Sunday was by Marnie and Bob’s daughter, Allison, who described not only remembrances of her mother, but also scenes of touching moments dealing with Marnie’s decade-long experience with Alzheimer’s.

In her mother’s final hours, Allison said she and her father and sister, Margaret, were in her mother’s room at the skilled nursing facility where she lived. As Marnie’s breathing became labored and they knew that her life was ending, Allison said her own feelings were not those of anger or even sadness. But of gratitude. She held her mother’s hand and said to God, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Here are some photos of Marnie from the Blue Streak over the past 14 years of its existence. Continue reading →

Filed under: Knoxville | 3 Comments

Evening Under the Stars: A fun fall harbinger

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Vocalist Kelle Jolly performing with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra at “Evening Under the Stars.” She is a frequent guest artist with the group.

You know it’s October when the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra‘s popular “Evening Under the Stars” fundraiser rolls around. It’s a night of jazz music, great food, and a convivial atmosphere at the beautiful lakeside home of philanthropist Sherri Lee. It’s also a chance for one last dance in the great outdoors before the East Tennessee weather cools off for the autumn season.

This year’s event was a sell-out, as usual, and the weather was perfect. The night started with cocktails on the croquet court, followed by dinner and dancing under a huge tent to the sounds of the 17-piece big band and vocalist Kelle Jolly. Music during dinner was provided by high school prodigy keyboardist Mimi Terry, who is being courted by several prestigious music colleges, including the University of Tennessee’s.

By the Tracks Catering provided the delicious repast. All proceeds go to fund the operations of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, which was founded 25 years ago by trombonist, composer, and arranger Vance Thompson, who still leads the group today. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Music | 7 Comments

Two chefs; one night; $40,000 to mentor’s relief fund!

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Chef Matt Gallaher, left, of Emilia, and Chef Joseph Lenn of J.C. Holdway raised more than $40,000 for hurricane relief on Monday night.

Wow. Magic happened in downtown Knoxville this past Monday. And it was in a cool, refined restaurant that is normally closed on that day.

Chefs Joseph Lenn, the owner of the restaurant, J.C. Holdway, and his friend and fellow downtown chef, Matt Gallaher, owner of Emilia on Market Square, put their heads and hearts together and came up with a special idea to honor their mutual mentor, Chef John Fleer of Asheville, North Carolina.

Lenn’s wife, Laura Lenn, a distinguished lecturer in the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, was a behind-the-scenes mastermind, tending to details and logistics to pull the evening off as the chefs worked their culinary wizardry. Continue reading →

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My new favorite event: “Diner au Blanc et Noir”

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

The performance portion of Diner au Blanc et Noir at Ridgefield Manor last month.

I’ve finally found an experience to replace in my heart what used to be my very favorite Knoxville event of the year: Symphony in the Park. As you probably know, Symphony in the Park was a fundraiser for Ijams Nature Center that featured the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performing a twilight show at Ijams. It went on for 35 years until Ijams suddenly pulled the plug on it in 2021. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Historic preservation, Music | 8 Comments

Knox Heritage honors Sanders Pace at soiree

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Caesar Stair IV and Christine Cloninger at the Scruffy City Soiree at the Mill & Mine. She’s executive director of Knox Heritage; he’s the organization’s general counsel. (When he stands up straight, he’s about twice as tall as her!)

Friday, September 20, was an extremely busy night in downtown Knoxville! Not only was country music superstar Morgan Wallen playing at Neyland Stadium (for the first of two shows), but the Knoxville Symphony was performing at the Tennessee Theatre, a Led Zeppelin tribute band had sold out the Bijou Theatre (except for eight tickets!), and Black Jacket Symphony was performing the music of Elton John at the Civic Auditorium.

But we weren’t at any of those places. We were at the Mill & Mine for the Scruffy City Soiree sponsored by Knox Heritage. We wanted to see our friends at Sanders Pace Architecture be awarded the Preservationists of the Year honor. It was a fun evening. But we sure are glad we live within walking distance because traffic and parking were murder!

“Sanders Pace Architecture has made significant contributions to historic preservation and revitalization in Knoxville,” Knox Heritage said in its program. “With over 100 local, regional, and national design awards, Sanders Pace has established itself as one of the most thoughtful and imaginative firms practicing in the Southeast.” Continue reading →

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Historic preservation | 2 Comments

Museum of Art supporters party into new season

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Collectors Circle member Margaret Samples, left, with the evening’s hostess, Joan Ashe.

Well, the season has officially started in Knoxville — and I’m not talking about the football season!

I’m talking about the cultural-social season when the Knoxville Symphony, Knoxville Opera, Clarence Brown Theatre, and other artistic staples of our community swing into action with their scheduled slate of activities and programs that make Knoxville such a stimulating and exciting place to live.

The Knoxville Museum of Art, of course, is an important part of this mix. The museum’s Collectors Circle celebrated the new year with a party last week at the lovely Kingston Pike home of Victor and Joan Ashe.

The Collectors Circle is a membership group that provides opportunities for supporters to learn more about the art world, individual artists, and art collectors. The group also provides funds to allow the KMA to purchase works for its permanent collection. Members vote every year — with the help of KMA’s curator, Stephen Wicks — on what works should be purchased. Annual cost to join the group is $500 for a single person and $800 for a couple. (That’s on top of a regular $250 KMA membership.)

What you get for that is a number of fun visits to artists’ studios, galleries, and art collectors’ homes. Sometimes, there are trips, like one currently being planned to Italy.

Anyway, click here to get more information on the Collectors Circle. Meanwhile, let’s have a look at that party! Continue reading →

Filed under: Art, Events | 4 Comments

Kern’s Food Hall: So. Much. Fun.

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Madge Cleveland in front of a huge mixer that once was used in the production of Kern’s bread. Madge is related to the Brown family that formerly owned Kern’s Bakery.

On Wednesday night, some close girlfriends and I decided to try something new for dinner and drinks. We went to Kern’s Food Hall. It was a lot of fun — and the food was terrific.

Some of the best things:

  • Among all the food vendors, there’s also some interesting — and fun — retail sprinkled in. Several of us bought a few things.
  • Even though the majority of the facility is “child-friendly,” there’s also a section of the building that is for adults only. And that part is on a beautiful rooftop deck overlooking the outside entertainment area.
  • The attendees are incredibly diverse, both racially and age-wise. Folks ranged from UT students who seemed to be studying, to families with children and dogs, to people like us just out for a good time with friends.
  • Every Wednesday night, there are free movies. Last Wednesday, the movie was the original “Mean Girls.” They start at 8 p.m. in the outside entertainment area.

We were a little concerned, however, that there weren’t more people there. And several of the vendors we talked to — both food and retail — expressed serious edginess about that. I really haven’t seen much promotion or advertising for the food hall and I wonder how long the vendors can hang on if more customers don’t show up.

But, at least this past Wednesday, I felt like we did our part! Continue reading →

Filed under: Business, Food, Historic preservation | 4 Comments

Chef Lenn wows with dinner worth traveling for!

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Chefs Joseph Lenn, left, and Jeb Aldrich. Lenn, the owner of J.C. Holdway, is Knoxville’s only James Beard Award-winning chef. Aldrich is executive chef at Cataloochee Ranch. (Photo by Laura Lenn.)

A chef knows he has a dedicated following when he has a wine dinner in a location 99 miles away from his restaurant and more than a dozen hometown folks make the trek to attend!

That was the case this past Sunday when Joseph Lenn, the chef-owner of J.C. Holdway in downtown Knoxville, was invited to be the final featured guest chef in the popular Summer Supper series held at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Lenn joined forces with Jeb Aldrich, Cataloochee’s executive chef, and Brooke Sabel, national sales and marketing director of Peay Vineyards in West Sonoma, for a memorable culinary evening.

The five dinner courses plus three passed hors d’oeuvres were paired with a total of eight different wines over the course of the evening. Given that line-up, you can understand why Alan and I decided to spend the night at the ranch rather than drive back to Knoxville after dinner. Plus, we had never stayed overnight at the renovated version of Cataloochee Ranch and we wanted to check it out. We are glad we did! Continue reading →

Filed under: Food, Travel | 9 Comments