News, Rumors & Propaganda

Published On: June 25, 2010

On the road again…

“We didn’t know if we could pull this off,” Beth Curley, head honcho at Nashville Public Television said as she surveyed a packed house in Studio A. After all, the event was scheduled to occur two weeks after the flood. Well, NPT did it. With flying colors. An exceedingly enthusiastic group of Antiques Roadshow lovers arrived at NPT with treasures in hand for Antiques & Fine Arts Appraisal Evening, hosted by Steve and Judy Turner. Eleven appraisers from the popular series were on hand, mostly to let folks learn that their possessions were not valued treasures. “Let’s just say we can’t retire,” a laughing Steve Turner shared after he learned that his Asian figurines wouldn’t be putting anyone through college. Anne Russell came into the party with high hopes and a French porcelain vessel with beautiful intertwined birds atop it. When the appraiser shared that the bottom of the vessel had markings from a museum, Anne’s eyes lit up. Excitement was building by the second as others at the table leaned in to hear what was coming next. Sadly, the next utterance deflated everyone. “If it has a museum marking, that means that the museum discovered something was wrong with it,” the appraiser continued. Bummer. It’s still pretty though, Anne. Don’t throw it away or anything.

Others getting their antique on included John Eddie Cain, Mary Helfrich, Irene and Ridley Wills, Ann Marie and Martin McNamara, Amy and Tim Pierce, Anne Davis and Karl Dean and Joe Pagetta and Kathy Crow.

Express yourself

The Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville has one hell of a mailing list. How else could you explain the huge crowd that piled into the ICON for Arts Immersion. Although, the crowd could have been lured by the taste treats and Little Black Dress wine, the amazing rooftop venue, the music from local artists, the film reels from Film Nashville and Nashville Film Festival, performance art courtesy of Playing by Air and visual art from Nashville’s finest painters and photographers. Whew! All proceeds from the night support the ABC’s Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts program.

This organization does an amazing job of bringing people from all walks of life together to unite through art and culture. It’s definitely an organization to watch. Look out for their next adventure, the Jack Daniel Statue Painting Contest. More to come!

Ball talk

We have a confession. When you have close to 600 people under a tent, chances are you’re not going to delve into a deep discussion about world politics or the next engineering miracle that BP will need to stop the geyser-like spray of oil polluting the oceans and beaches and killing wildlife. Nope. You’re apt to say, “You look so pretty,” or “Where did you get that dress?”

But happily, at this year’s Ball, we were fortunate to run into Richard Courtney who shared a recent experience he had at the White House. It seems Jim Cooper wrangled entry for Richard and his clan to hit the White House Easter Egg Hunt. But that’s not the good part. Here’s the scoop. Richard is almost as avid a Law & Order fan as certain Nfocus staffers are—Richard being smitten with Mariska Hargitay, one Nfocus staffer longing for Vincent D’Onofrio (Susan Adcock, you cannot have him, he belongs to us). So imagine his delight when who shows us to read (to the kids, mind you Richard!) but none other than the stunning Mariska.

We believe the words, “I nearly died” came out of Richard as he shared his tale. Now, did the little ones get any eggs? Uhh, think you may need to ask Richard’s wife Beth about that. Fortunately, she knows she could take down Mariska anytime, anywhere.

Fore!

Pink balloons floating in the clear blue sky heralded the arrival of 75 golfers to Belle Meade Club for the 2nd annual Rally for the Cure against cancer. Many of the ladies participating in the tournament wore pink in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, beneficiary of the funds raised by the event. The foundation provides assistance to women in middle Tennessee for free screenings, medical support, even transportation for rural women. Hettie Stuart rallied the troops, and donations poured in remembering friends and family touched by cancer. At the luncheon afterward, survivors honored included Mary Follin Simonsen, Adelaide Davis Stevens and Jane Marcoe. Dottie Hetzel received a gorgeous orchid in honor of her 30 years as a breast cancer survivor. Members and guests seen munching on summer salads and lemonade sorbet were co-chairs Luanne Waltemath and Marty Templeton, Kristie King, Liz Bass, Claire Miller, Tish Elam, Margy Brooks, Peggy Palmer, Marshall Chapman, Kathy Wright, Mary Ruth Shell, Betty Carol Douglas and Robbie Davis.

PENCIL pushers

You’ve got to get up pretty early in the morning if you want to thank the many businesses and volunteers who support Metro Nashville Public Schools, and that’s exactly what the PENCIL Foundation did. Supporters of PENCIL, which stands for Public Education Needs Community Involvement and Leadership, gathered at Belmont’s Curb Center for breakfast and an awards ceremony commemorating 28 years of businesses helping schools. Mayor Karl Dean presented awards to Dollar General for its longstanding relationship with Hattie Cotton Elementary School and to Nashville Tools for Schools for its work building shelves, lockers and other furniture for schools throughout the system. Tools for Schools founder John Carpenter returned the favor by presenting Hizzoner with a half-size replica of a computer desk. Orrin Ingram presented the E. Bronson Ingram Award to Pam Garrett, executive director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education. If you know Pam, then you know how inspiring her acceptance speech was. Add Pam’s passion to the rousing percussion of the McGavock High School drum corps and a spine-tingling performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Nashville School of the Arts student Eli Bishop, and you’ve got a room full of energetic early birds. Sipping coffee and applauding the generosity of Nashville’s business community were Sarah and Walter Knestrick, PENCIL Chairman Jeff Gregg, Byron Trauger, Kristine LaLonde, Jesse Register, Lisa Wiltshire, Elizabeth Frein, Kira Florita, John Gauder, Pam Schmidt, Sue Andrews, Denine Torr, Jennie Renwick, Gracie Porter, Kathy Nevill and Jennifer Neenan, who was named PENCIL’s volunteer of the year for her work with Glendale Elementary.

Coming around again

Bubbly bookworms Holly Conner Sharp and Beth Fortune gathered a group of literature lovers at Holly’s parents’ house to kick off planning for the third annual Authors in the Round dinner. In its first two years, AIR hosted bestselling writers, including David Wroblewski and Kathryn Stockett, at an intimate gathering at War Memorial on opening night of the Southern Festival of Books. The fledgling fundraiser for Humanities Tennessee has quickly become a signature event on the social calendar.

Robert Cheatham educated the group about the mission of Humanities Tennessee, which is responsible for the Southern Festival, a young writers conference and the new portal for Southern literature, Chapter16.org—among other cultural projects.

Whoever said reading is for nerds hasn’t been hanging out with Beth and Holly’s book club, many of whom signed up to help with the October 8 event. Jennifer Chalos gave a preview of authors who will be attending the Festival, and last year’s AIR chair Jen Bottorff talked about party logistics (like, how do you get seated next to your favorite author?). Among the avid readers and party planners in Beth and Holly’s circle were Dallas Wilt, Elizabeth Phillips, Carey Aron, Ashley Conner, Emily Hardcastle, Lee Penuel, Bunny Cothren, Olga Griffiths, Jayne Cornwell, Stephanie Conner, Karen Williams, Drew Morris, Beth Harwell, Alison Wingo, Kriste Goad and Leigh Manning.

You say it’s your birthday

On a breezy evening in May, Ann Dobson Tidwell’s family hosted a “jeans casual” evening of barbeque and bluegrass in celebration of her life. Out-of-town guests and life-long friends gathered at Belle Meade Carriage House under ivory paper lanterns for a southern buffet including peach cobbler and banana pudding, all by Barbara’s Home Cookin’. A bluegrass band led by Ann’s brother, Mac Dobson, provided the tunes. Tables covered in linen burlap, with ivory hem-stitched overlays, featured centerpieces of aqua pottery vessels containing tortured willow, hydrangea, tulips and peach roses. Ann Trabue designed the airy arrangements. Ann’s son Paul created a slide show of Ann’s life highlighting her love of family and friends, her enduring passion for outdoor activities, including canoeing and hiking, as well as her tireless efforts to preserve and protect the natural resources of Tennessee. Joining Ann for the festivities were husband Clark Tidwell, their son Paul with his wife Jenny and their 4-year-old Howard, son Howard and his wife Kelli and children Campbell (5) and Davis (3). Other family included Ann’s brother Mac Dobson, with wife Jill, and her two sisters Mary Lynn Dobson and Elise Creswell with her husband Dick. Also celebrating the occasion were Ed and Linda Cox, Hayes and Patsy Cooney, Jane and Brevard Haynes, Doug and Mary McLaughlin, Mary Meyer, Alva and Frank Wilk, Kitty and Bob Ikard, Judy and Martin Simmons, Jimmy and Haden Pickel, Don and Bertie Shriver, Marilyn Hendon, Missy and Leonard McKeand, Don and Linda Fuson, Patty and Wally Wood and Mindy and Scott Orman.

Errors & Omissions

In the June issue of Nfocus, we neglected to include the photo credit for the pictures of Bells Bend in John Denson’s column, Medium Rare. Laure Guillaud captured the magnificent beauty of one of the city’s most beautiful landscapes.

Also, in our Nstyle Feature, we stated that the models in the Issac Mizrahi show were from New York. All the models were actually local talent who have worked in national productions. We’re happy to set the record straight.