Peter Acly and Ellen Robinson were two of the hosts of Holly Hock Stock.
This has been the year of adults playing dress-up. After a spate of “Gatsby” parties and a “Jetson” party, now this: a trippy “Woodstock” event! But, hey, it was for a good cause, so just pass the magic brownies.
Held last Friday, this gathering for 150 guests was called Holly Hock Stock as a tribute to its instigators, chef Holly Hambright (Holly), bacon purveyor Allan Benton (Hock) and farm owner Kevin Murphy (Stock). Tickets were $100 each and benefited preservation organization Knox Heritage.
It really was a perfect evening to spend in lawn chairs and on picnic blankets on Murphy’s Northeast Knox County property, acquired by his family in 1797. Seven generations of Murphys have lived there in a Gothic Revival cottage built circa 1841. Kevin Murphy did a complete renovation in 2009.
The moon was in the seventh house and Jupiter was aligned with Mars as six bands took the stage. We joined with some of our friends to hire a van service to take us to the farm and home again so we could partake of the signature cocktail of the evening: Hippy Trippy Love Juice (I think it was really sangria!). And, unlike at the real Woodstock, the drug of choice on this particular late summer night was bacon! Peace, y’all.
First you had to get to the farm with all your stuff!
Dawn Ford, left, and host Sandy Martin are in the groove.
Farm owner Kevin Murphy, left, with City Councilman Finbarr Saunders and Ellen Bebb.
Allyn Purvis Schwartz, one of the hosts
Love the earrings!
Lane Hays and the sentiment of the evening.
Host David Martin, left, with Marie and Bob Alcorn
Host Mary Holbrook looks as if she just stepped out of the '60s!
Host Caesar Stair, left, with Cindi and Pete DeBusk
Get a load of Cindi's shoes!
Host Dorothy Stair all hippied out!
Host Jenny Blackburn, left, with Faris and Ghada Eid
Kelle Jolly and the Will Boyd Project took the stage early.
Kevin Murphy's sweet dog, Koda.
Hahaha! Ellen Robinson said this button actually is from the '60s!
Host Lee Ann Rogers went all out!
From left, Julia Bentley, David and Nancy Goodson, Rosa Mar, and Gary Bentley
Richard Ford, left, and my hubby, Alan Carmichael
Bill Lyons with hosts Gay Lyons, left, and Holly Hambright
Bill's T-shirt: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and then used against you! (From a man with some experience dealing with the media!)
Host and Knox Heritage Board Chair Annette Brun demonstrating flower power.
Christopher and Kari Ford, left, with hosts Jennifer and Carey Bruner
Our little Woodstock
Hosts Kelly Absher and Michelle Kenik
Very cool building
Love!
Katie Bahr and Matthew Williams
The individual food baskets were adorable!
The basket lids turned into plates and wooden utensils were tucked inside.
Sandy Martin helped with distribution.
As did hosts Peg Hambright and Scott Carpenter
Bruce and Monique Anderson enjoying dinner
Alan, too!
As the sun was setting, host Tamera Easterday passed out tiny flashlights.
In addition to performing with his band, The Suns of Phere, Todd Steed was the evening's emcee.
Holly Hambright and Allan Benton
Hosts Michael and Evelyn Gill
Hosts Tim Allen and Karen Kluge
Hosts Wes Goddard, left, and Randall De Ford
Christi and Scott Branscom
Bob Deck and Kim Trent, executive director of Knox Heritage
Keyes Williamson, left, and Channing Dawson
From left, Cindi DeBusk, Ashley Capps and Tasha Blakney, one of the hosts
Who could resist purchasing those glasses? Certainly not Alan!
Hosts Chyna Brackeen and Darrien Thomson
Alan and me
Hosts City Councilman Marshall Stair, left, and Dan Holbrook
WUOT's Cindy Hassil with Alan
Rick and Alta Emmett
Host Sam Maynard
Milton McNally and Melinda Meador
When we left, host David Martin was still opening more wine!
See below for a 15-second video of our pals Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly cutting a rug, ’60s style! At the end, she’s trying to show me her “VD Free” button!
Here’s a 15-second glimpse of the whole scene!
Finally, here’s a peek at sisters Peg and Holly Hambright’s rendition of “Suppertime.” First line: Suppertime, and my skillet is greasy!
It certainly was a colorful evening and a beautiful setting! As I told the committee via email on Saturday, Gay Lyons is a true genius. Cyn, from now on, if I’m wearing an event-approariate costume, I’m also going to wear a mask to hide my true identity. You will stop at nothing — Alan, my sympathies! XO
Ha! Ellen, you looked great! It was such fun. Wish I knew where my lava lamp was!
Great shots — wonderful night, and I think it was the best Knox Heritage Summer Supper yet! Peace, out!
Looks like lots of fun. Love the vintage clothing, etc.
It definitely was up there, Cindy!
Georgiana, they are thinking about making it an annual event. If they do, you should come next year!
Milton and I look like Max and Mimi Yasgur. We certainly had better weather than they did!
Hahaha! Have no idea what they looked like! But thank goodness for the weather.
Great party and perfect setting and weather! I agree with Ellen, Cyn, you stop at nothing! That picture of my earring is a wrinkled mass of skin! I am looking old! Great write up!
Allyn: That is so not true! You look great. But I will delete it if you want me to.
Great photo of Cynthia and Alan. Loved the theme, setting and music!!
Hey why should mud come and get in the way? Nice clear memories and music is definitely coming from these colorful portraits.
Great job of capturing a magical evening. It was a blast–thanks to all who came & all who made it happen. We raised $15,000 for Knox Heritage. Cyn–You look great in a floral head scarf. Who knew that was a great look for you? We had the train arrival contest–which was fun–perhaps should have had a costume contest? Looking at your photos reminds me how great the costumes were. Lots of tie dye, denim, & peace signs. Thanks, y’all. .
Cynthia – thanks for catching all of those photos – I was too busy saying hi to all the wonderful friends and family who were there! It was a great party!!
Rosa and John: Thanks!
Gay: Congrats on the financial success! Not thinking the head scarf will be often repeated, but thanks! Loved your new tie-die dress!
Kevin: You were so generous to let this event occur on your farm! It was just terrific! Loved your sweet doggie!
No need to remove, Mox! It is what it is … 60 in a few days, might as well get used to it! Great party, great time! Wonderful job with the pics, as usual, CM!!
I’m right behind you, Sister!
Well, I just knew we would be missing the best party of the year! However, here’s my question: where did the men get all those tie-dyed T-shirts? (Surely they didn’t tie-dye them themselves!
Good question, Marsha! You aren’t going to believe it, but Alan got his tie-dye Tennessee shirt several years ago at Kroger, of all places! It cost about $6. We thought they were so campy that we bought a whole bunch of them and gave them as favors at a football party we had.
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