Tag Archives: Richard Ford

Symphony in the Park: soggy but still swell!

It never rains on Symphony in the Park. Not in 33 years. Somehow, the major fundraiser for Ijams Nature Center, an outdoor dinner featuring music by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, has dodged the wet stuff. Until this year. But the … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Music | 10 Comments

Coach Pruitt scores with Knox leaders

With the University of Tennessee football season starting in about a month, you can feel the excitement growing in the Knoxville air with each passing day. I see more people wearing orange. And I definitely hear more discussion of the … Continue reading

Filed under: Business, Downtown, Events, Knoxville, UT sports | 3 Comments

Jackson Hole: Bison, bingeing and Bill Baxter

A fun five-night visit to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, exceeded expectations — especially in terms of scenery, wildlife and food. An extra treat was running in to Knoxville businessman and civic leader Bill Baxter on our second night there. We were … Continue reading

Filed under: Food, Travel | 23 Comments

Cindy McConkey: ‘Playing in the big leagues now’

Cindy McConkey, groundbreaking sportswriter, public relations professional and non-profit manager, passed away at age 58 last month after a four-year battle with biliary liver cancer. An avid athlete and outdoor enthusiast, she commented proudly to her husband just 10 days … Continue reading

Filed under: Journalism, Knoxville, Media, Public Relations | 14 Comments

Who wins when best downtown bartenders compete?

They called it the Tomato Jam and it was a spirited (ha!) event held yesterday to benefit Nourish Knoxville, the non-profit that runs the Market Square Farmers’ Market and other outreach programs designed to make us a healthier community. The … Continue reading

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

Fried caper dust and a little night music!

Music by the Knoxville Symphony. Wine from Randy and Jenny Boyd’s Argentinian vineyard. Perfect weather on the lake. And food featuring such exotic elements as fried caper dust, house made elk duxelle ravioli and fried squash blossoms. What could be … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 13 Comments

Victuals, veterans and a pinch of politics

The garden party this week at Eddie Mannis’ beautifully restored historic home on Kingston Pike was memorable for several reasons: Mannis confirmed that he is running for Knoxville mayor; All the delicious food was prepared, not by a caterer, but … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Historic preservation, Knoxville, Politics | 12 Comments

All that jazz — and all that fun

It was a perfect night for an inside-outside party. In March, it was one of the first evenings that was truly comfortable to be outside. And what a great outside it was! “An Evening of Jazz” — a fundraiser for … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 8 Comments

Picture perfect patio for a party!

Here’s some welcome news for party and event planners. The University of Tennessee’s College of Communication and Information has just opened a spacious new patio with an interesting view of Neyland Stadium and the Tennessee River. Moxley Carmichael used it … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Public Relations, UT sports | 11 Comments

Bidding for experience brings event to a boil

Since Alan and I downsized several years ago to a condo in downtown Knoxville, we have adopted a new strategy for all the charity auctions we attend. We don’t have much space to acquire more “stuff.” So, we have a … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Historic preservation, Knoxville | 18 Comments