Chris Baker, the general manager of WVLT-TV, looks like a happy man as he gets a full plate of jambalaya and grilled oysters at the Bayou Bay booth at Oysterfest.
Up until this year, Oysterfest, a fundraiser benefiting Child Help Tennessee, always has been held on the same night as Center Stage, another fundraiser benefiting Children’s Hospital. That has been a particular shame because, not only are they both fun events benefiting worthy causes, but they are both benefiting children’s causes.
This year for the first time, the groups held the events on different nights. Yay, folks! Way to go. Alan and I were at both events — and each had about 700 people in attendance. That had to be a good thing for both charities. (Click here for the Blue Streak post about Center Stage.) Oysterfest was at Concord Marina on April 16 under huge tents that, unfortunately, had neither sides nor heaters. But we made the most of the festive evening nonetheless.
John and Carol Sheridan pose with Hugh Nystrom, right, the executive director of Childhelp Tennessee.
Cathy Campbell and Rebecca Williams, right, who was chair of Oysterfest.
It started out very cold. But as the crowd grew, things seemed to heat up. (Or maybe that was the wine!)
The stars of the show: raw oysters from Bayou Bay.
This band, Early Bird Special, played Kingston Trio-type music. They were followed by Dave Landeo.
These were our tablemates, from left, Chad and Kimberly Questenberry, Mickey Hall and Deb Witenbarger.
Ever heard of a french fry bar? This one, from All Occasions Catering, featured four kinds of fries and an assortment of toppings!
Of course this was more than Alan, who usually orders broccoli as his side dish, could resist!
Helen and Kyle Markway, a mother-son team, own the Shrimp Dock now. They brought the very popular peel 'n' eat shrimp -- 200 pounds of them served in a boat!
Don't like seafood? No problem. Sweet P's Barbeque and Soul House was there -- with 300 chicken breasts! Here are Kari and Chris Ford.
This was one of my favorites -- steaming hot jambalaya from Bayou Bay.
Steamed mussels were popular, too.
Kristin Seabrook is the general counsel for Pilot Flying J. She's with her husband, Eric.
Richard Perry, left, with Finbarr Saunders and Ellen Bebb
Latitude 35 brought delicious mixed berries with honey mousse.
Alan Carmichael, left, with Cammie and Art Cate
Adrian Pearce of the News Sentinel and his wife, Valerie.
Chloe and Chad Kennedy
David Purvis, left, chats with David Campbell. They are enjoying beverages provided by our client, Cherokee Distributing, one of the sponsors.
Scott and Christy Brooks
Lena Sadiwskyj, the new vice president of news at WVLT, is getting around a lot. They were a sponsor.
I guess it was the festive atmosphere because I never thought they would agree to it, but divorced couple Joe and Marsha Hollingsworth even agreed to pose together. Note: They didn’t come together — they just happened to run into each other, so don’t jump to any conclusions!
Joe and Marsha Hollingsworth
Thanks, Cynthia. Now I am craving oysters on the half shell and there probably isn’t a single oyster within a
50-mile radius.
Thank you Cynthia!!! That was awesome-that will help us get the word out about Child Help!!