UT Gardens Gala: Not letting a little rain stop the fun!

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

Natalie Haslam, left, and Margie Nichols Gill at the UT Gardens Gala last Friday night.

OK. It wasn’t a little rain. It was a torrential downpour — twice! And we weren’t in buildings — we were under tents! Without floors.

But the folks who support the University of Tennessee Gardens are a hardy bunch. And, despite a literal river of mud running through the premises — and over some once pristine shoes — we partied on! And made the event another fundraising success for the UT Gardens.

Lisa Stearns Hammitt, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture‘s vice chancellor for marketing and communications, said the evening ended up raising more than $100,000 with about 325 folks in attendance.

There was a lot to pack in at this always beautiful and opportunity-filled event held at the Knoxville garden just off Neyland Drive. A silent auction, a live auction, a big reception with live music, and a fabulous meal featuring sustainable beef produced at UT’s Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. Continue reading →

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It’s spring! Bring on the hats!

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

Steven and Anita Hollmann Matijcio sit down for lunch at Hats in Bloom. Steven, the executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art, was one of the few men in attendance. Anita gets the award for having the biggest hat! She borrowed it from our mutual friend, Gay Lyons.

Lord knows I’m not a hat person. But I love this party!

“Hats in Bloom” is an annual spring ritual around here and it is a major fundraiser for the 44-acre Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, located just five minutes from downtown Knoxville where I live.

The event, celebrating its 12th year this past Friday, was packed with (mostly) women already wearing hats and shopping for even more hats by renowned milliner Patricia Frankum, who provides all the head toppings.

Flowers for the soiree were donated by Sevier Blumen, which you may know as a mainstay at the Market Square Farmers’ Market. The market is set to open this weekend and will run on Saturdays and Wednesdays through November. But, enough talk! Let’s look at those hats!

Continue reading →

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Phyllis Nichols named “Woman of Year” by Beck Center

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

“Woman of the Year” Phyllis Nichols, left, poses with her friend Tammi Campbell, during the luncheon.

Scores of happy women dressed mostly in yellow gathered recently to celebrate Beck Cultural Exchange Center naming Phyllis Y. Nichols the “Woman of the Year” during its annual Ethel Beck Society Awards Luncheon.

Nichols is the recently retired president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League, a position she held for more than 20 years.

Beck’s president, Rev. Renee Kesler, said Nichols was chosen because “as chief executive since 2000, she expanded the Urban League’s impact to serve over 11,000 individuals and families annually through programs to provide a skilled and diverse workforce; to increase and retain home ownership; to support economic and small business development, and to advocate for equity and excellence in education for students of color.”

Nichols and Kesler also worked together over the past four years to ensure that Blacks and other minorities received opportunities during the construction and operation of Covenant Health Park, the new East Knoxville home to the Knoxville Smokies minor league baseball team. Continue reading →

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“Diamond-level” venue attracts dignitaries — and smiles!

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

(Author’s note: Hey, everybody! Sorry it’s been so long since the Blue Streak has had a new post. But I have a good excuse! In real life, I’m a public relations specialist and one of my main clients is Boyd Sports. You may have heard a little something about a minor league baseball stadium that opened last week near downtown Knoxville! That’s what I’ve been working on. Now that the stadium is open, I can get back to updating the Blue Streak a lot more regularly. I thought I’d start with a report on a fun little party held at the new stadium, Covenant Health Park, the day before the Knoxville Smokies played their first game there. I hope you enjoy it! Cynthia Moxley.)

Knoxville Smokies owner Randy Boyd, center, poses with, from left, Knoxville City Council member Gwen McKenzie, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, Knox County Commissioner Damon Rawls, and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. McKenzie and Rawls represent the district where Covenant Health Park is located.

Knoxville loves a party. And a new venue. And the chance to be among the first to experience something.  

So it’s no wonder that the VIP “thank you” reception held last week to give key supporters an early look at the new Club Level at Covenant Health Park was so crowded. The lovely room, which last week overlooked the Knoxville Smokies’ baseball diamond, has a capacity of about 300, depending on how it’s set up. It is expected to be the future site of scores of local gatherings and parties, so it was great to see it in action.

On some occasions, the Club Level view will be of a soccer field or concert venue. Continue reading →

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History Center hits home run with new baseball exhibit

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

“Put me in, Coach!” Kim Henry, left, and Deborah Franklin enjoyed the part of the exhibit that focused on women in baseball.

Coinciding with the scheduled return of the Smokies baseball team to downtown Knoxville next month, the East Tennessee History Center this Saturday will open a fun and fact-filled exhibit on the history of the sport in Tennessee.

Local supporters celebrated with a sneak preview and a reception at the Gay Street center last night. The exhibit is chock-full of fascinating details ranging from the origin of famous quotes and sayings to historical photos and artifacts dating back to the first baseball game in Knoxville.

Held in 1867, just two years after the end of the Civil War, the game featured two local teams — the Knoxvilles and the Holstons — and was played not far from the location of the Smokies’ new stadium, Covenant Health Park.

“Baseball brings people together,” an enthusiastic Randy Boyd, owner of the Knoxville Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A minor league affiliate, said during brief remarks. “When you watch some sports, people are looking straight ahead, glued to the game action. But in baseball, they are looking at each other, talking and socializing. Young and old; rich and poor; people from all parts of the community.” Continue reading →

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Next Symphony season: Beethoven’s 9th and Midori!

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

Melony Dodson and KSO Music Director Aram Demirjian announced the latest KSO season at a smal reception recently. Dodson is morning concert host and producer at WUOT-FM.

World-famous violinist Midori will return to East Tennessee next season to perform with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra at the historic Tennessee Theatre.

In a series of programs celebrating the KSO’s 90th year and the 10th anniversary of Music Director Aram Demirjian‘s tenure here, the KSO also has commissioned nine world premieres to be spread throughout the season. That’s more world premieres than the KSO ever has performed in a single season.

“It’s definitely a milestone,” Demirjian said during an interview. “It’s about our recent history and about thinking to the future of our organization and the art form.”

The young conductor, who I believe is a master at program scheduling, said he aimed in making his selections to keep the offerings “fresh and vibrant” and to “demonstrate the breadth of what’s possible for a regional orchestra in a smaller city like Knoxville.” He praised the Symphony’s audiences for their open-mindedness. “Our audience seems to understand and be excited about new discoveries,” he said. “New music is met at least with a sense of curiosity and receptiveness.” Continue reading →

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Mardi Growl: Dogs, music and blessings for 18th year!

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

This cute group took home the first place award for “Team Spirit.”

Mardi Growl, the biggest fundraiser for Young-Williams Animal Center every year, is always fun. Over its 18-year history, I’ve been to it in the sweltering heat as well as in the cold, drizzling rain. Brrr. 

But this past Saturday, the weather was just about perfect. The thermometer registered in the low 60s at World’s Fair Park in the early afternoon, but the clear sky and bright sun made it seem much warmer. Both the dogs and the human festival-goers were comfortable in their colorful outfits.

And, speaking of outfits, the “Best of Show” award went to a dog and human portraying characters from the movie “Wicked.” I loved it that the dog was the one who played “the good witch!”

Scores of vendor booths and exhibits, numerous food trucks, and a live band made for an afternoon with something for everyone. Continue reading →

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Wendel Werner wows in West Knox

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

Jazz pianist Wendel Werner and his wife, Alison. He performed on Thursday at a delightful fundraiser for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Delicious food and drink, brilliant and celebratory music, and warm camaraderie on a Thursday night. What a great excuse to drop a few bucks in support of the Knoxville. Symphony League which, in turn, supports the Knoxville Symphony.

Noted local jazz pianist Wendel Werner was the headliner at a lovely private dinner in the Montgomery Cove neighborhood at the beautiful home of Lisha and Frank Venable this past Thursday. The event, attended by about 20 guests and a number of volunteers, was part of the popular “Elegant Dining” series of special dinners put together by the Symphony League. The League covers the hard costs of the events so that all proceeds go directly to the Knoxville Symphony.

The standout at dinner was the moistest and most flavorful beef tenderloin I’ve had in a long time — as well as mouthwatering grilled shrimp — both prepared by Frank Venable, a retired financial adviser who, we discovered, started his career as a bartender and cook at a number of famous old Knoxville restaurants. Most notable was the extremely popular Half Shell in Bearden, where Venable cooked and tended bar — before he was even 18 years old! (I think I can say that because the statute of limitations has long run out!) Continue reading →

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Scores of women — and 2 men — get stadium peek!

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

Former Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero with Doug Kirchhofer, left, of Boyd Sports, and Stone Mosley of Denark Construction.

Members of the Executive Women’s Association, which consists of the top female business leaders in town, last week got a private tour of Covenant Health Park, the new multi-use stadium in downtown Knoxville that will be home to the Knoxville Smokies.

In addition to hosting the home games of the minor league baseball team, Covenant Health Park also will be home to the One Knoxville SC soccer team and the site of all kinds of concerts, gatherings and other activities. It is set to open mid-April.

About 50 women — and two brave fellows! — took a 45-minute tour of the facility led by Doug Kirchhofer, CEO of Boyd Sports, which owns the baseball team and will manage the facility, and Stone Mosley, assistant project manager of Denark Construction, the general contractor building the stadium.

“I got a little choked up, to tell you the truth,” said Phyllis Nichols, the recently retired long-time president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League. “Randy Boyd had a vision that a lot of people could not see. And to stand on concrete and see that it’s become a reality, it’s awe-inspiring.” Continue reading →

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Evergreen Ball: Funds and fun for the Smoky Mountains!

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Cynthia Moxley

Jim and Missy Kane Bemiller during the silent auction at the Evergreen Ball.

The Evergreen Ball, which raises funds every year for the Friends of the Smokies organization, was another big success this year, selling out Cherokee Country Club’s ballroom and two overflow areas and raking in big bucks in its silent and live auctions.

And, it was a lot of fun in the process!

Although the term “ball” usually connotes dancing, the only actual rug-cutting happened at the “after party” with a phenomenal 10-piece band, “The Atlanta Party Fanatics,” taking the stage of a large tent in the parking lot. And, to keep the crowd from bailing to see the anticipated University of Tennessee vs. Auburn basketball game late that night, a huge screen was set up adjacent to the stage with the live television broadcast of the game. So, even though the results were disappointing for most in attendance — the score was 53-51 in favor of the Tigers — folks could distract themselves and maybe salve their wounds with terrific music and an open bar!

According to Friends of the Smokies, the silent bids totaled $127K and the live auction brought in more than $60K. On top of that, a special “Fund the Cause” segment, where folks who had already paid dearly to attend were asked to donate even more, pulled in an additional $40K. The final fundraising results will take ticket sales and expenses into account and will be released later.

In the meantime, let’s look at that party! Continue reading →

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