
Pam Reeves and Charles Swanson welcomed 50 of us guests into their Holston Hills home one Saturday in June.
If you ask me, nothing says summer like an outdoor barbecue dinner on the banks of a river with a big moon coming up overhead. Throw in some watermelon, grilled corn on the cob and ice cream and, well, it just doesn’t get any better.
That was pretty much the plan last month at another of Knox Heritage‘s “Summer Supper” fundraisers. This one was held in Holston Hills at the home of our friends, attorneys Charles Swanson and Pam Reeves. A bunch of other lawyers helped them out, as you will see later in this post.
For a party of 50 people, it felt amazingly intimate. Which just goes to further my opinion that Knoxville is, in many ways, just like a giant high school. At a certain point, it seems as if everyone knows everyone else. Fortunately, I really liked high school!

The first stop we made was, of course, at the bar where we were greeted by these three hospitable fellows: from left, Bill Charles, James Anderson and Michael Rogers.

Hahaha. Sign on bar.

Gay Lyons tastes the signature drink, a Big Orange Dream.

Jon and Mintha Roach. Jon used to be the city law director. Now Swanson holds that post.

Two of the hosts, Ursula Bailey, left, and Tasha Blakney. Both are attorneys.

Here's that watermelon! It was refreshing on a sweltering evening.

Guests Harvey and Sylvia Sproul during the cocktail hour.

Host Kay Ward with one of the appetizers, pasta skewers.

Aren't they pretty?

Have you ever seen a more matching pair of twins? These are Ralph, left, and Carl Herbert.

Here's a closer look. Amazing.

As you can see, it was a hot but very beautiful night.

We decided to take a walk down to the Holston River.

Here's the peaceful view.

A view of the house from the river. The path is made of Georgia marble.

My hubby, Alan Carmichael, with my friend Mintha Roach

Jerry and Peggy Faeber

Michael Rogers continued the hard work of bartending for this group.

They even had Cheerwine, "the nectar of North Carolina."

From left, Charles Swanson, Gay Lyons, Booth and Kurt Kammann

Host Richard Ward, left, and guest Bill Lyons

Soon, Charles and Pam welcomed everyone to their home - and opened up the buffet line.

Pulled pork and barbecue sauce, were made by Ralph and Celeste Herbert. The pulled chicken came from Archer's BBQ on Kingston Pike.

Charles and Daryl Clemes were responsible for the grilled corn.

A delicious chopped salad was made by attorney Heather Anderson.

Corn muffins and yeasts rolls were courtesy of Ursula Bailey.

Two of the hosts, Melissa Charles, left, and Celeste Herbert

Guest Denise DuBose

Celeste helps Jerry Faerber with the barbecue sauce.

Bright daylilies lined the patio.

Another hard-working bartender, Nathan Rowell

These calico baked beans were awesome. Melissa Charles made them.

It was perfect timing to sit down to dinner just as the sun was setting.

Here's what the striking centerpieces looked like. We got to take them home, which was great because blue is my favorite color.

Hosts Karen and Charlie Sterchi

The presence of the red rocker indicated that the event was sponsored by Home Federal Bank, which uses it in bank ads. Home Federal is a great Moxley Carmichael client.

Here is a happy man! Alan loves cobbler and ice cream.

The blueberry-peach cobbler was made by attorney Dawn Coppock who could not attend the party because she was in North Carolina competing in a pie-making contest with this very recipe. Guess what: she won!

Pat and Henry Herzog in the cobbler line

John and Phyllis Eldridge

Albert and Carmen Harb

Attorney Sarah Sheppeard was another host.

Rachel Hurt, left, and Heather Anderson

Adlai Hurt, left, and Reedy Swanson, Charles and Pam's son

When we stepped inside the downstairs entertainment area to use the restroom, we saw this funny sign on the shower.

And then, the moon came up.

It was a lovely, lovely Knoxville night.
Really nice! Love your reviews of Summer Suppers.
Thanks, Gina! Hope to see you all at some. I know you like them as much as we do.
This was an absolutely perfect evening–charming & laid back. The food was great! Like you, I was happy to take one of those beautiful centerpieces home. They were the perfect complement to the blue & white checked tablecloths. Many thanks to Pam & Charles for opening their home to us.
Beautiful setting, friendly hosts and a great cobbler!
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