Jim Haslam: “East Tennessean of the Century!”

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Jim Haslam speaking after being honored as East Tennessean of the Year by the East Tennessee Historical Society. In addition to discussing the importance of integrity, he made a plea for civility in politics citing a quote from one of his mentors, Howard Baker, Jr., who famously said, “the other guy might be right.” (Photo by Eric Manneschmidt.)

The East Tennessee Historical Society bestowed its “East Tennessean of the Year” award for the tenth time earlier this week and it went to Jim Haslam, a well-known community leader and founder of Pilot Company, headquartered in Knoxville and employing more than 28,000 people nationwide.

In announcing the award, University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd, himself a previous winner, expressed incredulity that Haslam had not received it sooner. “I now declare Jim Haslam the East Tennessean of the century!” Boyd said from the podium to loud applause.

In addition to his business acumen, Haslam and his family are known for their philanthropic support of UT and many other East Tennessee cultural pillars. The James A. Haslam II College of Business at UT was named for him after a landmark $50 million gift. The Haslam Family Foundation has contributed many millions of dollars to community organizations such as the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Museum of Art, Emerald Youth Foundation and Lakeshore Park.

A winner of the national Horatio Alger Award, Haslam is a member of the board of the Trust Company of Tennessee. He has served as a director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, First American Bank, AmSouth Bank, and Appalachian Life Insurance Company. He was a member of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees for 27 years and has been board chair of the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Knoxville, Webb School of Knoxville, the Public Building Authority, and United Way of Greater Knoxville. Continue reading →

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Garden takes “fall break” to raise funds

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Local visual artist Susan Watson Arbital likes to dress according to the theme of the events she attends! Last month she appeared as a “fall goddess” in a nod to the event’s “fall” in love with the garden theme! Good job!

It was a packed house — or tent! — last month as the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum held its 15th annual Green Thumb Gala, the largest fundraiser of the year for the horticultural gem located less than five miles from downtown.

The 47-acre non-profit public garden is on the former site of historic Howell Nursery and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Signature features of the garden, located at 2743 Wimpole Avenue in East Knoxville, include numerous different themed garden areas plus more than two miles of distinctive stone walls, several curious stone roundhouses, and a variety of event spaces. The garden is open free to the public every day, thanks to generous contributions and fundraisers such as the Green Thumb Gala.

The Knoxville Botanical Garden traces its history to the 1780s when it was established with a land grant from a new Untied States of America to David Wessel Howell of Buncombe County, North Carolina, for his “exemplary” service during the American Revolutionary War. Howell planted an orchard, established a family farm and began selling fruits and vegetables to local families and businesses. He also began selling the trees, seeds and small plants settlers heading west needed to begin their own farms and gardens. We are so fortunate his descendants planned for the preservation of the original garden and generously arranged for it to be open to visitors.

Now, let’s look at that party! Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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