Knox Heritage Executive Director Christine Cloninger and Steve Drevik, vice president of the organization’s board of directors, visit in the beverage tent.
The preservation organization Knox Heritage held its annual Patrons’ Party recently on a beautiful spring afternoon on the lawn and inside its headquarters, Historic Westwood, the mansion built in 1890 behind the serpentine wall at 3425 Kingston Pike.
This is the event our friends and we eagerly anticipated each year because it was when you could sign up for Knox Heritage’s famed “Summer Suppers,” a series of dozens of small fundraising gatherings held throughout the warm season in various private and public East Tennessee locations. The organization discontinued those a couple of years ago in favor of three larger gatherings called “Suppers and Such.” The previous setup just got to be too labor intensive for the return on investment, according to one board member.
So the Patrons’ Party these days lacks the competitive adrenaline rush of trying to sign up for the events before they are snapped up by other supporters. But it’s got its own charm now of a relaxed and low-key social hour or so of nibbles, libations, and camaraderie in a lovely setting.
Heads up. Two of the three “Suppers and Such” events have sold out already. But you still can get tickets for a fun one in North Knoxville on July 22. Just head to the website. Continue reading
