“Glory in the Gardens” was a glorious finale

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Former Knoxville Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe chats with Johnnie Creel, left, and Pandy Anderson. He was a member of the host committee.

The third and final Knox Heritage “Summer Supper” for 2024 followed the trend set by the first two — it was a sell-out. Held earlier this month at the Knoxville Botanical Garden in East Knoxville, it gave a nod to the Summer Suppers of past years when there used to be many small dinner events instead of the three large ones of recent years. As in those earlier times, the volunteer host committee for this event prepared and served the food themselves.

This made it so much more personal than the catered affairs these have turned into recently. (Not that I have anything against good caterers — Lord knows I have my favorites!)

The Botanical Garden fits right in with Knox Heritage’s goals of preserving our community’s irreplaceable architectural heritage as an investment in Knoxville’s future. In the case of the Botanical Garden, however, the descendants of the Howell family preserved it themselves with help from the Aslan Foundation. The family patriarch, David Wessel Howell, received the bulk of the property in the 1780s as a land grant in gratitude for his service in the Revolutionary War.

Today the 44-acre garden operates as a non-profit organization and survives through donations and memberships. It is open free to the public from dawn until dusk every day. Continue reading →

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Friends have “Fun on Farm” for a good cause

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

My co-purchaser, Erin Donovan, spending some quality time with Bronco, a friendly farm dog.

Earlier this year, at a fundraiser for Nourish Knoxville called “Winter Warmer,”  my friend Erin Donovan and I found ourselves bidding against each other on an auction item named “Fun on the Farm.” The item was a dinner and horse-drawn wagon ride at Strong Stock Farm, the 900-acre Black Angus cattle farm in East Knox County.

I quickly ran over to her with a proposition. Since the two of us have so many mutual friends, why don’t we go in together to purchase the item instead of bidding against each other? She agreed. And that’s how we ended up with a super relaxing and interesting evening among those friends.

Strong Stock Farm is what is known as a “regenerative” farm. That means it uses sustainable agriculture techniques designed to improve the condition of the land rather than diminish it. The cattle are raised without growth hormones and the pastures are chemical free. 

Albert George Kern, III, and his sister, Martha Strong Kern, are the seventh generation to own and manage the farm, which is a 1791 land grant farm from the State of North Carolina. Martha and her husband, John Niceley, both University of Tennessee graduates with degrees in animal science, have lived on and run the farm for more than 30 years. Continue reading →

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Symphony Board gathers to gab and gourmandize

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Knoxville Symphony Concertmaster William Shaub performing after dinner at the KSO Board’s summer get-together.

Haha! Made you look! I just wanted to use the word “gourmandize” in a headline!

Actually, this is just a light little post to launch us all into a (hopefully) relaxing — and cooler — weekend.

The board of directors of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra typically takes the summer off following the orchestra’s final performances (except for the Fourth of July) of the season in May. But, at the last board meeting, Chairman Rick Fox asked members what could keep the board more engaged during the summer break.

The answer: a party!

So Rick and his longtime partner, Ralph Cianelli, obliged by throwing one for the board and staff of the KSO. The location was the pair’s “Summer House” located in the backyard of the historic Middlebrook Plantation where they reside. The casual gathering was catered by Rick and Ralph’s favorite caterer, Rothchild, and was an Italian supper buffet. Continue reading →

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Massey brings friends — and funds — together

Posted on July 15, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Host Joe Fielden introduces state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey during a fundraiser at his home last Tuesday.

It’s always a pleasant surprise when a political event you expected to be routine and dull turns into a party! That’s what happened last week when we planned to just drop by a fundraiser for the re-election campaign of our friend, state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey.

Our thought was that we would just run in and say hello — we’d already sent in a check — and then be on our way to dinner. But, to our surprise, we ended up staying 1-1/2 hours. The time flew by as we enjoyed seeing so many chums and tasting delicious passed appetizers from By the Tracks Catering. We then left and went to the former Bistro by the Tracks on Central, which today, by the way, officially changed its name to The Marlowe on Central.

Massey’s legislative colleagues came from across the state to attend. And the Duncan family was well-represented. In addition to her sweet husband, Morton, other family members were her daughter, Courtney Massey Kolhhepp; sister, Beverly Gleason; brother, former U.S. Congressman Jimmy Duncan; his wife, Vickie; and his son; Zane.  Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Politics | 2 Comments

No evil spirits at the Garden’s summer solstice!

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Tom Boyd and Sandi Burdick were among those celebrating the summer solstice at the Knoxville Botanical Garden.

It was the longest day of the year and the folks at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum were determined to make the most of it. So, appropriately, they set a major fundraiser, the Summer Solstice Dinner, on the precise date when Earth’s axis would be tilted most toward the sun (at least in the northern hemisphere).

It was such fun — and a sellout! Everyone was encouraged to wear white attire and the vibe was extremely casual. I guess we followed in the footsteps of our pagan ancestors who believed that evil spirits would appear on the day of the summer solstice. To ward them off, ancient people would wear garlands of flowers and herbs in their hair on that day. Similarly, flowers were liberally distributed to attendees at the Knoxville Botanical Garden event.

Adding to the convivial mood, dinner was served family style with big bowls of food passed around the tables. I think the chatter and the laughter were enough to scare away any evil spirits who managed to survive the flowers! Continue reading →

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

A Knox 4th of July: food, fun, friends, and fireworks

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Alan Carmichael cannot resist a dessert — like this one at Joan and Victor Ashe’s party! It was a chocolate blueberry bundt cake that Kay Leibowitz brought.

The high was 93 degrees on Independence Day and we headed to three outdoor parties — one in deep west Knoxville, one in what is called “short west,” and one in downtown on the Tennessee River. I’m not going to tell you it didn’t feel like 93 — because it did! But I will say the fun folks at every stop didn’t let it damper the festivities in the least!

First stop was in Westmoreland Hills off Westland Drive at the beautiful home of Judith and Michael Foltz. The Foltzes, who have a great place to party in their lovely backyard, provided pulled pork and pulled chicken barbecue sandwiches for lunch and all the guests contributed the other dishes. It was a great way to start the holiday.

(Judith, the retired director of special events for the City of Knoxville, knows a thing or two about throwing parties! That’s why I think it’s great that she has opened her own special events company. I was happy to be one of her first clients when she launched the company a few months ago. Highly recommend!) Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food, Knoxville | 8 Comments

Heat drives partiers into “Garage-Mahal”

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Volunteer Barbara Apking, a member of the host committee, offers cheddar cheese coins to arriving guests at the Summer Supper at Murphy Springs Farm

It was literally 92 degrees in the shade last month when the organizers of the Summer Supper at Murphy Springs Farm decided to move the event indoors. The logical choice? Farm owner Kevin Murphy’s huge garage — or “the Garage-Mahal,” as they called it!

Murphy Springs Farm is one of 13 so called “century farms” in Knox County. That means it has been owned and farmed by the same family for more than 100 years. The Murphy Springs Farm consists of 205 acres of land located in northeast Knox County at Washington Pike and Murphy Road — just outside the Knoxville city limits.

The sold-out Summer Supper was the first of three such fundraising events benefiting Knox Heritage, East Tennessee’s premier preservation organization. (There are a few tickets left for the final Summer Supper coming up on July 13.)

The toasty evening started with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres served on the lawn of the historic farmhouse. Dinner followed in the garage. Continue reading →

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Downtown Home Tour: options are amazing!

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Jane Venable, left, and Kim Cunningham visit one of the VIP homes on the Downtown Home Tour: the lovely residence of Kim and Jim Hays in the Burwell Building, located at 602 S. Gay Street, the same structure that houses the Tennessee Theatre.

No matter what kind of housing you are seeking, you can probably find it in downtown Knoxville. Big spaces, tiny spaces, historic properties, ultra-modern vibes. Views of the river, the mountains, the city, or the ever-changing construction site of the brand new downtown stadium!

The East Tennessee Historical Society demonstrated all that once again earlier this month with its popular Downtown Home Tour. Ticket-holders could tour nine different residences. Folks who opted for the VIP version of the tour could add an additional two homes to the itinerary (plus a pretty fun reception!). Continue reading →

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Lakeshore Park Picnic just shouts, “Summer!”

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Bruce and Tami Hartmann enjoyed the picnic with their daughter, Melissa Cox, back, and grandchildren, Charlie and Clara.

Temperatures hovered in the low 90s, but the vibe was definitely cool at Lakeshore Park last Saturday for its annual picnic fundraiser. Officials said 370 people either brought their own picnic dinner fare or purchased it from one of a dozen local eateries who delivered the goods to the picnic area.

The cover band Smooth Sailor was perfect playing familiar music from the ’70s and ’80s non-stop for three hours at the HGTV Overlook. Adults wandered among the picnic blankets and portable tables chatting with friends while children busied themselves running around or playing games their parents had thoughtfully brought along.

The picnic raised more than $79,000, said Julieanne Foy, executive director of Lakeshore Park Conservancy. “We are thrilled with the success of the event,” she said. “The funds raised go directly toward the care of the park.”

I, personally, was a little disappointed that the night ended without the usual fireworks display. Foy explained the reasoning. “It became too expensive,” she said. “And spending money on something like that really doesn’t fall in line with our mission.” Fair enough. Maybe someone could underwrite the fireworks next year. Just a thought. It still was a wonderful evening.
Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 10 Comments

Wedding reception attracts chefs, artists, notables

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Costume change! Don’t the newlyweds look great as they were welcoming guests to their wedding reception at J.C. Holdway on June 9?

If you read the previous post on the Blue Streak, you know what a fun and delicious wedding day Chef Joseph Lenn and noted UT professor Laura Cole had a little over a week ago. I think it was brilliant on their part to schedule their wedding reception on the following day. I mean, you can only party so much in one sitting (or standing)!

The reception attracted not only family members and close friends, but other great chefs and food industry people, our most famous local visual artists, and leaders of Knoxville’s cultural community.

In another stroke of genius, even though the reception was held in Chef Lenn’s restaurant, J.C. Holdway, the couple had the event catered — by Chef Lenn’s friend and former colleague and employee, Marcus Stokely of Wells Station Barbecue.

Well, enough of this talk! Let’s look at the food and the fun of Joseph and Laura Lenn’s wedding reception! Continue reading →

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Food | 5 Comments