25th “Symphony in the Park” did everything right

Sunday was a lovely evening for dinner at the nature center.

Remarkable weather. Elimination of the live auction. Fantastic attendance. All these combined to make this year’s Symphony in the Park one of the best in the progam’s 25-year history. As a result, Development Officer Mary Thom Adams says about $50,000 was raised last Sunday evening to support Ijams Nature Center and its programs.

In addition to being the 25th Symphony in the Park, the event also celebrated the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s 75th anniversary and Ijams Nature Center’s 100th, all wonderful milestones in our community’s cultural history.

Frank Reynolds promoting the Alice in Wonderland table.

Adams says Ijams is making a concerted effort to “upcycle” items for its silent auction, thereby eliminating the need to have a live auction. By that, she means finding unique  items at the nature center itself or things created by staff members or other supporters to offer to bidders. One example: a bench that came from the original Ijams building was painted with an Alice In Wonderland theme and auctioned as a child’s table. Young Frank Reynolds, an incredibly good sport, dressed up like a mushroom to promote that item! Adams says this form of recycling really reflects what Ijams is all about. Those of us who attend these kinds of events were just happy to avoid what can sometimes seem like an interminable live auction.

Another thing these folks did right, in my opinion and that of my friends: for white wine they offered some options (sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio) in addition to the ubiquitous chardonnay. The New York Times several years ago declared chardonnay to be officially out of fashion as party-goers there switched to “ABC: Anything But Chardonnay.” But that information seems not to have made it yet to many party planners in K-Town.

I hate to go on and on about how great this event was, but here’s something else we loved. The silent auction was set up with plenty of space to move around and socialize. Sometimes these things are crammed into space that’s too small to allow easy movement and bidders can’t really get to and see the items being offered. I imagine it really helps get the bidding up if you can allow bidders to take a close look.

From left, Tim Williams, Gay Lyons, Judith Foltz and Alan Carmichael socialize during the silent auction.

From left, Kevin Zirkle, Joe and Sharon Miller Pryse, and her mother, Marsha Jane Jones. Sharon received Ijams' 2010 "Spirit Award" that night.

From left, Sarah Stowers, Natalie Haslam and David Martin during the cocktail and silent auction segment

Stephen Harris was a presenting sponsor of the event, along with his wife, April. Here he poses with his wife's best friend, Kim McClamroch.

Bruce Hartmann, left, chats with Patrick Birmingham, the new president and publisher of the News Sentinel. Patrick took over Bruce's position when Bruce was promoted by the News Sentinel's parent company, E.W. Scripps.

From left, Sandra and John Butler and Sherri Lee

Look at all the space provided for the silent auction. Bravo!

Best hat: Tasha Blackney! Her husband is Michael Rogers.

Nancy and Stephen Land

Newlyweds Louise and Winston Frazier

John Niceley, left, Martha Kern, and their son George Niceley.

It was perfect dinner weather.

Victor and Joan Ashe were in good spirits.

Elsie and Bill Dodson celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the festive event.

From left, Gay Lyons, Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly

Patrick and Melissa Birmingham

Alan Hitchcock and Jennie Campbell

Victor Ashe, left, and Jim Haslam tablehop between courses.

Paul James, Ijam's executive director, welcomes everyone at the start of the concert.

Looks like there was some serious conversation over dessert! Alan Carmichael, left, and Bill Lyons.

The hardest-working orchestra ever! The Knoxville Symphony played beautifully even though they were in the middle of a two-week run performing "Amadeus" at the Clarence Brown Theatre.

Carrie Niceley, who sings like an angel, also is performing in "Amadeus," which closes this coming Sunday.

Darkness fell and the show ended at 8:30. A very considerate time for those who had to work the following day. Great job, everybody!