Dinner by Bogartz is anything but ordinary

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley
Alan opening the door to our culinary adventure.

Alan opening the door to our culinary adventure.

Say what you will about controversial Knoxville chef Bruce Bogartz, but you have to admit one thing: the guy is a creative culinary mastermind. He proved it once again last weekend when he made good on an auction item he had donated to the University of Tennessee School of Music.

The item: a special dinner for 10 to be prepared and served at the location of the purchasers’ choosing. Alan and I were the purchasers. We selected as the location Bogartz’ tiny restaurant, Rouxbarb, at 130 S. Northshore Drive. (This is part of the fulfillment of my New Year’s resolution to use up all the items I’ve purchased at charity auctions! I’m definitely making progress. Click here to see one of the other redemptions.)

So, on Sunday, with the restaurant closed, we collected on our purchase. See if you don’t agree about Bogartz’ culinary creativity.

By the way, I mentioned to Bogartz that I was unaware of his interest in and commitment to the UT Music School. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food, Knoxville, Music | 5 Comments

Yay! The salad days are back!

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley

Adam Colvin from the Colvin Family Farm in Cumberland County had an impressive assortment of produce Saturday.

Adam Colvin from the Colvin Family Farm in Cumberland County had an impressive assortment of produce Saturday.

Although the Market Square Farmers’ Market doesn’t officially open until this week, several of the regular farmers showed up this past Saturday to give us a kind of “sneak peek.”

The weather was iffy, which was unfortunate because it also was the day for the Dogwood Arts Festival‘s annual Chalk Walk when artists of all ages spread over Market Square and Krutch Park creating amazing works of art on the sidewalks. When the rain did come in a torrent Continue reading →

Filed under: Art, Downtown, Events, Food, Knoxville | 5 Comments

Some surprises at Jewelry Television

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley
dawn

Dawn Ford enjoying the jewels on our field trip to Jewelry TV.

You would think that folks who work around the beautiful products at Jewelry Television would wear a bunch of jewelry themselves, wouldn’t you? But they don’t.

In fact, they only are allowed to wear one piece of jewelry when they come to work — and it has to be the same piece every day. And a photo of that piece is placed on the back of their name badge — so it can be checked by security as they enter and leave their work posts.

This is just one of the tidbits I picked up when a group from the Executive Women’s Association took a field trip to Jewelry Television recently. Here are some other things we heard:

  • When looking at colored gemstones, the lighter colored ones usually are less expensive than the darker colored ones. That’s why Shawn O’Sullivan, the grader at Jewelery Television, likes to joke, “Add more color to your wife!”
  • The gemstone tanzanite is becoming so rare that sometime during our lifetimes,  it no longer will be available. Already the really deep blue tanzanite is very rare. Continue reading →
Filed under: Business, Events, Knoxville | 1 Comment

Crescent Bend: “Ground Zero” for Civil War here

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley

Crescent Bend, also known as the Armstrong-Lockett House, is at 2728 Kingston Pike. (This photo is from the website of Gables & Gates Realtors.)

Crescent Bend, also known as the Armstrong-Lockett House, is at 2728 Kingston Pike. (This pretty photo is from the website of Gables & Gates Realtors.)

As you no doubt have noticed, we are in the midst of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Through 2015, the bloodiest war in U.S. history will be commemorated in various ways by numerous civic organizations. I am learning a lot about the war and its effect on Knoxville, which was occupied by both sides at various points during the war. It was not a pleasant place to be. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Historic preservation, Knoxville, Music | 5 Comments

Get to Market Square for Dogwood food, art, fun!

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley
This lovely glass piece is by David Goldhagen of Hayesville, North Carolina.

This lovely glass piece is by David Goldhagen of Hayesville, North Carolina.

In my 32 years in Knoxville, I’ve never seen a better Dogwood Arts Festival Art Fair on Market Square. This year, the art is as good as it’s ever been and the food and entertainment have been elevated many levels.

A welcome addition this year is the Publix Culinary Arts Stage located on Union Avenue across the street from Coffee & Chocolate. In anticipation of entering the Knoxville market within the coming year, it’s impressive that the much anticipated grocery chain already is making its presence felt with this highly visible sponsorship. If I were the other grocery stores in town, I’d definitely take notice.

Another eager participant in this year’s Dogwood Arts Festival is the Asheville restaurant Tupelo Honey Cafe, set to open its doors in Knoxville in late summer on the southwest corner of Market Square. Tupelo Honey not only has a booth in the fair, but it brought its personable executive chef, Brian Sonoskus, to the Publix Culinary Arts Stage Saturday to make one of his unique warm pimento cheese dishes. Tupelo Honey is about to launch Continue reading →

Filed under: Art, Downtown, Events, Food, Knoxville, Music | 15 Comments

Our New York City Easter: three great plays, four fabulous restaurants — and a sobering conclusion

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley

Alan outside the famed Russian Tea Room

Alan outside the fabled Russian Tea Room

Alan and I love New York City. So, on December 31st last year, when I suddenly realized my chance to redeem some airline points was going to expire within hours, I jumped on the phone and booked two round-trip tickets to the Big Apple for a long weekend. I glanced at the calendar and saw a weekend that was open, not realizing at the time it was Easter weekend. But, what the heck? We don’t have children and so don’t have to be home to greet the Easter Bunny, so Easter in New York City sounded like a fine idea. Continue reading →

Filed under: Theater, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

Easter trees? Yep. This’ll get you in the mood!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley
One of several lavish Easter trees at the Shifletts' home

One of several lavish Easter trees at the Shifletts' home

Her son says that if you think Julia Shiflett is “over the top” when it comes to Easter, you should see her at Christmas! Seriously?

Julia Shiflett and her husband, George, last weekend opened their spacious home on Madison Lane off Northshore Drive to the Knoxville Symphony League for one of the Elegant Dining fundraisers. Guests were invited to wear Easter bonnets (or not, in my case!) and come enjoy the Easter trees Julia had created. So, just to get you in the Easter spirit, here’s a look at some of those trees — and some of those Easter hats! We’ll even glance at some pretty cool purses, too.

Other hosts of the event were Donie and Ed Green, Dee Henning, Arlene Key, Jimmy Key, Evelyn Miller, Jane and Frank Venable, Hannah and Walter McDaniel, Rose and Harry Moseley, Jacqueline Newman and Janet Vail. Continue reading →

Filed under: Art, Events, Knoxville, Music | 3 Comments

Larry Cox turns clock back for his 70th!

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley
Larry holds a Knoxville Raiders jacket as his wife, Brenda, looks on.

Larry holds a Knoxville Raiders jacket as his wife, Brenda, looks on.

The Sock Hops were on stage at the Kerbela Shrine Temple last Friday performing “You Are My Special Angel” and other hits from that era. Folks were on the dance floor alternating between the fox trot and the jitterbug. And the birthday boy unwrapped a letter jacket from the 1956 Knoxville Raiders youth football team. I picked up my phone and tweeted (just to prove to myself that I was, indeed, still in 2012!): I feel like Rip Van Winkle — in reverse!

The occasion was a celebration of Larry Cox’s 70th birthday. You know Larry. He is a former City Councilman, owner of Chicken City, Fulton High School graduate and part-time aide to Congressman Jimmy Duncan. I was at the festivities not only because of my friendship with Larry and his wife, Brenda, but because my husband, Alan Carmichael, is in a golf foursome with Larry, Congressman Duncan and retired lobbyist Bill Vaughan. We wouldn’t have missed this celebration for the world.

The truth is that some of Larry’s friends had talked about having a surprise party to mark his 70th, but Larry got wind of it and, to head those plans off, decided to throw a party himself. He doesn’t like surprises. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Politics | 5 Comments

“Whitney Houston” dazzles Dogwood After Dark

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley
"Whitney Houston" at Dogwood After Dark

"Whitney Houston" at Dogwood After Dark

The food was great. The setting was fun. Even the signature drink was festive. But I can tell you right now the thing about the Dogwood After Dark party that will get the most talk will be Whitney Houston!

Dogwood After Dark, held at the Knoxville Museum of Art this past Thursday, is the official kickoff of the Dogwood Arts Festival,which runs from now through the beginning of May. (Click here for a listing of upcoming events.) The party, chaired for the fourth year in a row by my buddy Gay Lyons, has a different arts-related theme every year. This year the theme was “dance through the decades” and showcased various kinds of dances. Whitney (actually performer Champale Denise) exploded onto the dance floor lip-syncing to the Houston hit “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” It was a show-stopper, to say the least.

More than 300 folks turned out for the party, one of the few activities during the Dogwood Arts Festival for which a fee is charged. The evening is a fundraiser as well as a chance for sponsors and patrons to let down their hair after months of preparing for the festival. Here are some of the fun scenes from the evening. Continue reading →

Filed under: Downtown, Events, Knoxville, Music | 8 Comments

Visiting some Knox expatriates in sunny Naples

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Cynthia Moxley

Sunset at Vanderbilt Beach on Sunday night.

Sunset at Vanderbilt Beach on Saturday night.

This past weekend, Alan and I decided to make a whirlwind trip to Naples, Florida, to visit some Knoxville friends who have taken up residence there. Just wanted to put up this quick post to let everyone know how Wanda McMahan, Bobby Denton, Sam Browder and Jane Miller are getting along. And to recommend some fun places to eat and visit if you, too, should head to Naples anytime soon. Their “season” pretty much ends at Easter when all the snowbirds head back North. An ideal time to visit would be in late April and early May when the crowds have thinned but it’s not yet too hot.

So, here goes. Continue reading →

Filed under: Art, Food | 10 Comments