Lyle Irish has the right idea!
The best thing about events held at the lovely Ridgefield Manor in Knoxville’s Fountain City neighborhood is not only the charming 1914 house itself, but the stunning views of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains the sprawling yard provides.
That’s why the Knoxville Symphony League holds its signature “Diner au Blanc et Noir” dinner and music event outside there. But, that decision has probably put a few gray hairs on the heads of League members as they anticipate all manner of weather that can roll through the highest point in Knoxville on the selected late summer evening of the event.
Last year’s date brought wind and rain that stopped just minutes before the party started. This year, the threat returned, although, thankfully, it passed a little earlier in the afternoon giving hosts and volunteers a wee more breathing room.
Ron Hall and Robert York own Ridgefield Manor, the Charles Barber-designed home built by Charles J. and Anna Gay McClung as a summer residence. They generously allow the Symphony League and other civic groups to stage events there. This one was two weeks ago.
Looking south when the party started around 6:30, you could see rain falling on downtown Knoxville in the distance.
Homeowners Ron Hall, left, and Robert York with photographer Casey Perfetto of “VIP Knoxville” magazine.
Louis Gauci and Kathy Frazel.
Eric and Nikki Elliott.
The passed appetizers were fantastic. Caterer was Bistro by the Tracks.
This quartet provided lovely tunes from the porch. From left, I-Pei Lin, Toby Elser, Adam Ayers, and Jennifer Bloch.
Mike Emery and Robin Smith grabbed a couple of available seats in the driveway.
Nice seeing young people there! Henry Jay and Olivia Graves.
Lyle wasn’t drinking all that wine by himself! From left, Trish and Lyle Irish, Tina Collins-Hefner, Kent Hefner, Pat and Phil McGill.
Sandra Butler, left, and T.J. Cardwell.
Tinah Utsman.
From left, Steve and Jenny Kitts, Michael Miller, and Nancy Crabtree.
Susan Hyde, left, and Barbara Wilkinson.
From left, Ralph Cianelli, Linda Haynes, Josh Beach, Francie Elrod, and Rick Fox, the president of the KSO Board.
Jenny Bushkell, left, and Gay Lyons.
From left, T.J. Cardwell, Charles Daily, and Thomas Russell.
Julie Sharpe and William Shaub, the KSO’s concertmaster.
Donna Davis, left, and Donna Wertz.
Even Joyce Ouimet’s sling fit the black and white theme!
Elizabeth Offringa and David Butler. (He was taking a few liberties with the theme! But, what can I say? He’s an artist!)
Elizabeth Grant with Rick Fox, left, and Ralph Cianelli.
From left, Jeff Bell, Knox County Commissioner Shane Jackson, and Eric Elliott.
From left, Chuck Jones, Maribell Koella, and Stephen Koella.
Carolyn Lawrence and Andrew McLean.
Kris Hepler, and Kristen Williamson.
Maureen Dunn McBride, left, and Elizabeth Offringa.
From left, Rick Fox, Kim Cunningham, Symphony CEO Rachel Ford, and Ralph Cianelli. Kim was chair of the event for the Symphony League.
KSO Music Director Aram Demirjian and his wife, Caraline.
By 7 pm., the sky was clearing up.
The tables were simple and elegant.
Tom Hemrik took the black and white theme all the way to his socks! He’s with Ginger Milligan.
Stephen Hackney and Patricia Bible.
Joe and Ruth Fielden.
Bobby Brown, left, and Todd Richesin.
It turned out to be a perfect evening to be outside.
Dinner, from top left: a salad of local greens, poached pears, grated goat cheese, candied walnuts, and burnt honey vinaigrette; roasted airplane chicken breast with Calvados jus, butternut hash, and roasted fall vegetables; Basque cheesecake, caramel apple compote with vanilla whipped cream and fresh fruit.
Here was the pretty scene at 8 p.m.
From left: Kim Hays, Alan Carmichael, and Rachel Ford.
Fire up the band! KSO musicians performed a beautiful set of Appalachian tunes.
Conductor Aram Demirjian thanked everyone and then introduced the concluding number.
Which was Dolly Parton’s classic, “I Will Always Love You.” (Here’s where the tears came in. I swear I’m not the only one who shed a few.)
But we recovered for the jaunty shuttle ride back to the church parking lot where we had parked our cars!
One of my favorite Knoxville evenings every year!
Lyle: We love it, too! But hats off to the Knoxville Symphony League for chancing the weather every year! Cheers!