“Pip” marries “Joey Ovens!” Great food follows!

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Joseph Lenn and Laura Cole prior to their wedding on Saturday.

Our friend Laura Seery Cole’s father, John Seery Sr., is from New Jersey and he has a nickname for everyone. When Laura was a little girl, he called her “Pip,” which was short for “pipsqueak.”

A few years ago, Laura began dating and then became engaged to Knoxville’s only James Beard Award-winning chef, Joseph Lenn, who owns J.C. Holdway restaurant on Union Avenue in downtown Knoxville. Her father quickly came up with a nickname for him: Joey Ovens!

The two officially tied the knot this past Saturday in a ceremony at the restaurant attended by about 50 friends and family members. It was followed, naturally, by a six-course dinner with wine pairings!

Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food, Knoxville | 13 Comments

Bijou Jubilee: Miami vibes help raise $70,000

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

From left, Rick and Jenny Blackburn, Margaret and David Butler, and David Arning, who is a member of the Bijou Theatre’s board of directors.

Empanadas, plantains, salsa music, jugglers, and rum.

A buffet and open bar at the Bistro at the Bijou, a street party on Cumberland Avenue outside the historic Bijou Theatre, and, finally, a fantastic sold-out concert by The Mavericks.

What a fun way earlier this month to raise $70,000 to preserve the downtown treasure, a pitch-perfect entertainment venue that was built into an old hotel constructed in 1801. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 5 Comments

Cheers! Hundreds poised for Downtown Home Tour

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Kim Henry, left, and Jenny Bushkell at the VIP reception for the Downtown Home Tour last night. Kim’s home in Fire Street Lofts is on tomorrow’s tour.

If you are in downtown Knoxville tomorrow, expect to see about 450 folks earnestly pounding the sidewalks with thin grey booklets in their hands. Don’t get in their way! They have a lot of ground to cover.

It’s the Downtown Home Tour sponsored by the East Tennessee Historical Society. The 350 paying guests and 100 volunteers, who also are invited to take the tour, have nine homes to visit between 10 a.m and 5 p.m. Plus an additional two residences for those who shelled out $100 for the expanded VIP experience.

Organizers honored the sponsors, home hosts, and VIP ticket purchasers last night with a fun little cocktail reception in the historic Arcade Building on Gay Street. That’s where these photos were made.

The Downtown Home Tour actually originated with another organization called City People, which was formed in 1983 to celebrate the joys of living, working and playing in downtown Knoxville. In 1990, City People launched the popular annual tour of downtown residences to highlight the diversity of living options. Continue reading →

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Knoxville | 9 Comments

Great idea: A garden party for annual meeting!

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Longtime Knoxville Museum of Art supporter Barbara Bernstein at the KMA Guild’s annual meeting last month.

A non-profit organization’s annual meeting can be a pretty dry and boring affair. Trust me. I know this from being on numerous non-profit boards over the past 35 years. But, the Knoxville Museum of Art Guild turned its annual meeting into a lovely garden party. That made it a LOT better!

Guild member and avid Knoxville Museum of Art supporter Barbara Apking provided the lovely west Knoxville location in her back yard on Stone Mill Drive. By the Tracks Catering provided beautiful and creatively presented salads — and yummy desserts. And all the news was good!

The Guild reported to its members that it raised more than $200,000 for the museum last year. And guild co-presidents Judy Doyle and Gail Van Hoozier were re-elected to those posts for the coming year.

Now, let’s party! Continue reading →

Filed under: Art, Events | 9 Comments

Old friends hail “Caesar’s Garden!”

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

The breathtaking view from Caesar and Dorothy Stair’s home on Lyons View Pike.

When Dr. Doug Leahy recently attended an auction at his church, the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, he placed the winning bid on a private tour for 16 people of Dorothy and Caesar Stair III’s beautiful garden.  Of the two of them, Caesar is the gardener. At age 80, he says he still spends at least 10 hours every weekend working on some part of the oasis. I guess that’s why Dorothy calls it “Caesar’s Garden.”
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Partying with the preservationists!

Posted on May 28, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon presenting Lawrence Eaton with the City of Knoxville Mayor’s Award for his work preserving the Knaffl House on Speedway Circle.

For 50 years now, starting with the Bijou Theatre, Knox Heritage has been working to preserve historic buildings in the Greater Knoxville area. As someone who lives downtown and who is actively involved with the annual Big Ears Festival, I know firsthand what an important activity that has turned out to be.

I have my residence and my office in historic buildings downtown. But, also important for Knoxville’s success, people who DON’T live or work downtown town love the way our city looks because of the history we have preserved.

During the recent Big Ears Festival, which attracted visitors from almost every state and scores of foreign countries, I heard over and over folks commenting on our town’s looks and charm. They were absolutely enchanted.

Last week, Knox Heritage celebrated the latest successes with its annual East Tennessee Preservation Awards. The reception and ceremony, held in The Emporium Center on Gay Street — itself a historic structure — were an upbeat affirmation of Knoxville moving in the right direction by not wiping out our past.

Cheers to the 2024 award winners! Continue reading →

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Historic preservation | 4 Comments

Clarence Brown boosters: big time in the Big Apple

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Clarence Brown Artistic Director Ken Martin and supporter Pandy Anderson during a group lunch at Sardi’s.

One of the best things about being a supporter of the University of Tennessee’s Clarence Brown Theatre is going on the annual trip to New York City the staff organizes. About 30 supporters made the trek earlier this month, along with a sizeable group of grad students and faculty members.

 The assemblage saw four Broadway productions selected by Clarence Brown’s artistic director Ken Martin and his team. The day before the trip, the 2024 Tony Award nominations were announced and we were delighted to see that three of those four plays received multiple nominations: The Outsiders (12 nominations); Mother Play (4); and Mary Jane (4). The fourth, the revival of The Wiz on the 50th anniversary of its original production, received a lot of publicity for being noticeably snubbed. Continue reading →

Filed under: Food, Theater, Travel | 16 Comments

Conductor’s Circle dinner: “Just a thank you.”

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Knoxville Symphony Music Director Aram Demirjian welcomes supporters to the Conductor’s Circle dinner this past Sunday night.

As thank yous go, you could do worse than a steak dinner and beautiful music on a Sunday evening. That’s what the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s “Conductor’s Circle” dinner is all about.

“It is literally a thank you,” explained Rachel Ford, the Symphony’s chief executive officer. “There’s no agenda. We want our guests to enjoy a chance to talk to one another and to the musicians, to enjoy good food and some great music. That’s it!”

The Conductor’s Circle dinner was back this past weekend for the first time since it was suspended during the pandemic. The site was Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar located in Turkey Creek. And you didn’t have to eat steak — other options were chicken, fish, or a vegetarian entree. Anyone who donates $5,000 or more to the KSO during a year receives an invitation.

Musicians on Sunday were Edward Pulgar, principal second violin; Kathryn Gawne, principal viola; Sean Claire, violin; and Andy Bryenton, principal cello. The music ranged from classical to popular. It was fun! Continue reading →

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Knox Symphony makes good on its “License to Trill”

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

David and Sandy Martin attended the Knoxville Symphony Ball. And so did a pretty good photobomber, Dr. Ted Tsaltas.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a fancy fundraiser at a swanky country club as much as the next person. But sometimes, let’s be honest, they can get a little stale. That’s why I thought it was refreshing last year when the Knoxville Symphony moved its annual ball from the traditional country club location to a new venue called The Quarry Venue. It turned out to be a blast!

This year, under the direction of Adrian Jay, who was the mastermind behind the event last year as well, the ball was held at the Mill and Mine in Knoxville’s Old City. Again, it was charming — and different.

The theme, “Symphony of Spies: License to Trill,” led to a great series of tunes from James Bond movies played by the Knoxville Symphony, which had a stage and plenty of room to set up. Guest vocalist Morgan James, who flew in from New York for the performance, was fantastic. The weather cooperated for a comfortable outdoor cocktail hour and the decor by All Occasions Party Rentals made for a stunning visual display inside. And, best of all, there was plenty of room to spread the tables out a little more than usual. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Music | 6 Comments

Day drinking for a good cause — and hats!

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

I love polka dots, so I couldn’t resist taking this photo of Allyn Purvis Schwartz, left, and Tasha Blakney enjoying themselves at Hats in Bloom!

The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum has pretty much cornered the market on the best party in town! Who can beat the beautiful location, a delicious lunch catered by Holly Hambright, champagne, mimosas and Bloody Marys? Oh, and the chance to buy the loveliest and newest hats of the season!

Last Friday for the 11th year, milliner Patricia Frankum filled a tent at the historic East Knoxville garden with scores of unique and stunning hats, donating a portion of the sales proceeds to the non-profit.

And the sellout crowd of more than 200 was positively joyous! From the noise level during the shopping and lunch in the garden’s pretty Dogwood Center, you would have thought these folks had not been to a social occasion in months!

The Botanical Garden is located less than five minutes from downtown Knoxville and encompasses 44 beautiful acres of the former Howell Nurseries. It features walking trails, display gardens, unique and historic horticulture and over two miles of distinctive stone walls and charmingly preserved buildings.

But, let’s look at those hats! Continue reading →

Filed under: Events | 9 Comments