Do you have a stairway from your closet to an out-of-season storage room? How about a stage built into the children’s playroom all ready for that special show? Or a chandelier in the wine cellar made from select vintage bottles?

The Knoxville Symphony League Show House never fails to impress, and this year it’s bigger than ever. This elegant painted brick home is nearly 11,000 square feet with 26 rooms and 7 ½ baths on three levels. It includes two kitchens, a media room, a wine cellar, a fitness room, and two entertainment rooms. Just walking around it fulfills your daily exercise requirement.

The Blue Streak got a sneak peak during the annual Preview Party. Now in its 26th year, the Show House is one of the Knoxville Symphony League’s largest fundraisers and a favorite for those who love decorating ideas. Since the proceeds benefit the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s education and outreach programs, it was fitting that music from a talented KSO string quartet helped set the festive mood. Actually, musicians play daily during the Show House event for guests’ enjoyment.

It was a beautiful evening for the Preview Party. Guests sat poolside and enjoyed tasty treats provided by Rex Bradford Jones, who also caters lunches at the Show House Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., in the Symphony Cafe.

Homeowners Josh and Jessica Miller helped greet guests and offered details about the home. And several designers, including Linda Cox, Wolfgang Schaber, Diane Dalton, Debbie Oden, and Sally McFalls, were on site to show off their work.

Builder Ed Rodriguez mingled and talked about the challenge of building this house in just eight months, a project that typically would take twice that long! Tucked in the woods along scenic Rudder Lane, the eight-acre property is on a substantial hill, which would have bothered Ed had he not cut his builder’s teeth, so to speak, building homes on the hillsides of Gatlinburg. He said that the site prep took nearly two months alone. The pool area adjacent to the kitchen required a 24-foot retaining wall and 30 feet of gravel! But it was definitely worth the effort.

The house is open through Mother’s Day, Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.; admission is $15; and it is definitely worth a visit. It is located at 1462 Rudder Lane; however, visitors are requested to park at nearby Rocky Hill Baptist Church and use the free shuttle to the Show House. You’ll find all the information at www.knoxvillesymphonyleague.org. Here are a few peeks to entice you.

Arriving guests were greeted by the string quartet playing in the dining room just off the foyer. The musicians playing were Ruth Bacon on violin; Rachel Loseke on violin; Jennifer Bloch on viola; and Ihsan Kartal on cello.

The designers from The Paris Apartment Boutique Cherie Williams, Melinda Hodge and Debbie Oden took on the job of designing one of the girls’ bedroom – and Jillian loves pink! Oden recently brought The Paris Apartment to Knoxville from Sweetwater.

Homeowner Josh Miller (left), a local neurosurgeon, discusses details of the house with Preview Party guests in the keeping room off the kitchen. The couple worked closely with Wolfgang Schaber on the design of this part of the house and it is warm and comfortable.

Peggy and Joe Wilson pose in the front parlor.

Homeowner Jessica Miller (center) gives two friends, Jessica Webb and Laura Rice, a tour pausing here in the master bedroom.

The unusual wine bottle chandelier in the wine cellar.

Old film reels decorate the wall of the media room.

I thought this was one of the girls’ rooms, but it is the sleepover room. Clever, great bunk beds.

Several of the designers worked closely with the homeowners, using some of their own accent pieces including this family photo.

One of the daughters designed this little computer room at the top of the stairs. She said she knows what girls want – pink phones and computers.

There were lots of mercury glass accents like these in the dining room.

Jessica Miller’s brother Justin Sterling on the left is a professional photographer and took the official photo of the Show House this year. He is on the pool deck with Carolyn and Terrell Burkhart and builder Ed Rodriguez, owner of Cornerstone Homes. Rodriguez also built the Burkharts' home.

All of the closets were sponsored by vendors, offering fresh fashions and accessories for sale. This is the “out-of-season” closet in the basement level off the exercise room. See the stairs that lead up to the master closet?

Here is Sterling’s photo of the Show House.

After visiting the house it was time for refreshments. Here is KSO Executive Director Rachel Ford and Terry Ford eyeing the appetizers.

Jane and Dwain Pesterfield and Bonnie and Archie Carpenter enjoy refreshments poolside.

Longtime Symphony League member Nancy Weigel rests for a minute with her husband Kreis in the Symphony Café.

Donie and Ed Green are enjoying the evening.

WBIR General Manager Jeff Lee and wife Christy join the festivities. WBIR is a long-time media sponsor of the event.

WBIR Marketing Director Kara McFarland with her friend, attorney Marianna Jablonski.

Bill Pugh with Symphony League President Jane Venable.

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Maestro Lucas Richman shows his appreciation to Show House Co-Chair Edie Volk.

Sara Hedstrom Pinnell, left, and Christi Branscom at the Great Gardens Party at River House

It was sprinkling at River House when the 2013 Great Gardens Party started last Thursday. But that did not deter the 200 or so folks who were headed over to the lovely terraced gardens of Kreis Beall on Lyons View Pike.

At first we huddled under umbrellas or on the wide porch. But, pretty soon, the clouds cleared and everyone fanned out, some going all the way down to the bottom garden with a view of the Tennessee River where the swing band The Johnson Swingtet had set up and quilts were offered for spreading out on the lawn.

The beneficiary of the second annual Great Gardens Party was Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, which is becoming a wonderful excuse for a whole season of outdoor fundraisers. The food — an assortment of burgers with every kind of condiment you can imagine — was by Luxe Catering and it was fantastic. Dessert — a selection of whoopie pies — was donated by The Sweetery. And the rustic barnwood tables, perfect for the occasion, were by Restoration Rentals.

Kreis Beall said she was happy to provide the location but that all the planning actually was done by a hard-working committee that consisted of Tracy Dewhirst, Anna Ford, Carlton Long, Beth McCabe, Sherry Shepherd, Megan Stair and Melissa Williamson. Great job, folks!

Kreis Beall with Burke Pinnell, left, and his son, Ben Pinnell.

Dick and Karen Krieg didn't let a little rain stop their good time.

Burke and Lezah Pinnell had a colorful bumbershoot!

Others took refuge on the porch.

It only rained for a little while.

Then the blue sky appeared.

Tami Hartmann, left, and Mindy Coulter

Ann Bodie said these little Bloody Mary shooters were fantastic.

Natalie Haslam, left, and Gay Lyons

Dr. Frank Gray, left, and Jim Haslam

Margaret and Cliff Rodgers

Cindi DeBusk, left, and Kelly Conley

From left, Robin Turner, Nick and Rebecca Cazana and Danni Varlan

Judith Foltz, left, and Sarah Stowers

Jim and Carol Cortese

From left, Zadie Robertson, Joan Ashe and Sandy Love

David and Tracy Dewhirst

Roses and other flowers were for sale.

Hydrangeas were given to the major sponsors.

This sign by the bar was made of bottle caps!

Burgers came in many varieties.

This is just a portion of the condiments that were offered!

French fries and fried green tomatoes!

Different kinds of whoopie pies were served in planters! These are carrot cake with vanilla bean ganache.

These are vanilla cake with lemon-raspberry ganache.

Keyes Williamson, the executive director of the Botanical Garden, welcomed and thanked the crowd.

More mingling

Susan Farris, left, and Mimi Turner

Marsha and City Councilman Duane Grieve

Stuart Worden, left, and David Butler

Michael Combs, left, and Alan Carmichael

I loved Susan Seymour's hat.

Kay and Larry Leibowitz

From left, Sheila and Chris Hill, Michael Combs, Cathy Hill, Mary Johnson, Mark Hill and Betsey Bush

Rick Fox, left, and Ralph Cianelli

From left, Judith Foltz, Duane Grieve, Christi Branscom and Gay Lyons

Kreis comforts her cute dog, Buddy, being held by Samantha Bradford, after he escaped from the house and had to be captured. He is an adorable Jack Russell terrier.

The gardens were lovely with their displays of purple hues.

Melissa Miller Feinbaum on one of the terraced lawns leading to the bottom.

Looking back up at River House

An awesome invitation at the bottom

A great idea

The Johnson Swingtet

A wonderful spot

A pretty climb back up

Thanks, major sponsors!

Strolling violinist Al Colombo added an Old World feel to Dogwood After Dark.

From the “Better Late than Never” department, we bring you a look at Dogwood After Dark, one of the earlier Dogwood Arts Festival events last month. Been a little busy lately, but these pictures brought back memories of such a fun and relaxing evening, that I thought they would still be worth posting.

Dogwood After Dark is a relatively new addition to the Dogwood Arts Festival. It is an event that moves around. It has been at the Knoxville Museum of Art and at Latitude 35 in past years. This year, it was at the Region’s Bank parking lot across Union Avenue from Market Square. Huge see-through tents, courtesy of event sponsor All Occasions Party Rentals, made for a perfect environment from which one could enjoy being outdoors, but still feel as if he or she were in an enclosed space. With a jazzy band, Frog and Toad’s Dixie Stomp, food by Holly Hambright of Holly’s Eventful Dining, and wine tastings from seven generous distributors, it was a memorable Friday night in downtown Knoxville.

Set up to have the feel of an Old World vineyard, it seemed natural to have a strolling violinist in the friendly personage of Al Colombo making the rounds. A special shout-out to the Dogwood After Dark Committee chairs: our friends Gay Lyons, Chris Davis and Craig Shelton. Great job, folks.

Click here to see a glimpse of Dogwood After Dark last year. And here to see the 2011 version of the event. We can’t wait to see what they come up with in 2014!

Jerry Kruse, owner of The Pour Guys, our favorite bartending service, welcomes guests with nibbles.

The Food Network was one of the major sponsors and provided these Riedel glasses for everyone to use for the tastings and then take home.

Our friend Erin Donovan of WBIR-TV was up on the table crushing grapes with her bare feet! Ha! This girl will do anything!

Chris Davis and his business partner, Craig Shelton, of The Drawing Room, were in charge of the centerpieces.

Aren't they pretty? And safe. Comforting not to have an open flame in a tent.

Moxley Carmichael's Lauren Christ, left, with Jeff and Becky Ashin. Jeff is the new executive director of Young-Williams Animal Center. Lauren served on the event's planning committee.

Lisa Duncan, left, executive director of the Dogwood Arts Festival, with Lanny and Lisa Cope.

From left, Alan Carmichael, Nick Cazana and Michael Foltz

One of the appetizers: pork confit on Cruze Farm buttermilk rolls. Yum.

Duck confit on buckwheat blinis

WVLT-TV's Dino Cartwright also was a member of the planning committee.

Planning committee member Janet Testerman and Joey Creswell

Holly Hambright decorated four heads with flora to honor the four seasons. This is spring.

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Wasn’t that a cool idea?

WBIR-TV's Kara McFarland in purple dress, with, from left, her father Julius Krisanic, husband Ian McFarland, and mother Rita Krisanic.

Dessert offered lots of choices.

The happy crowd

From left, Jen Leitman, Bitty and Lisa King, and Jen Moore, all of Great American Country Network. Bitty and Lisa were making an appearance on behalf of the reality show "Farm Kings," which airs on GAC.

Vicki Baumgartner, left, and Gay Lyons, both of whom were on the planning committee

Craig Shelton, left, of the planning committee, with Janet Testerman Crossley and Bill Regas

Frog and Toad's Dixie Stomp

A mighty big sax

Bill Morris and Erin Donovan cutting a rug

They don't call it swing for nothing!

Becky Dockery, left, and Jennifer Holder

From left, Anita Lane, Sandi Swilley, Sharon Meredith and Marion Epps

Gina Changas, center, with Christi and Scott Branscom

Dino Cartwright, left, with Rebecca and Alan Williams. Both Dino and Alan are with WVLT-TV. Rebecca is with the Convention Center.

From left, Lauren Davis and Amanda Hara, both of WVLT-TV, and Lauren Christ

Lia Broussard, left, with Mary Ellen Brewington

Kathryn Rohe, our guide on a behind-the-scenes tour of The Lion King, demonstrates how the actors wear the giraffe costumes as East Tennesee visitor Jeff Chapman looks on.

Sometimes for a control freak like me, it’s hard to just let go and allow someone else to plan something — especially something with as many options as a weekend in New York. But, take my advice. If you want an informative and entertaining Broadway experience, do as Alan and I did. Let the Clarence Brown Theatre plan it for you.

Once a year, in March, Cal MacLean, the personable artistic director of the Clarence Brown Theatre and head of the University of Tennessee Theatre Department, accompanies a group of Clarence Brown supporters to NYC for a theater weekend. Cal selects all the plays and, most importantly, he usually plans some kind of “behind the scenes” experience for the group. On previous trips we have had lunch with an actor, a playwright and a casting director. This year, he arranged for us to get a behind-the-scenes tour of The Lion King. As you can imagine, the props and costumes were fantastic!

Cal believes it best to see the plays that are in preview performances. That way, he says, you can almost see the actors figuring out the parts. He feels that it’s much more interesting than going to see a play that’s been running on Broadway for several years. The plays he selected this year were Matilda based on the children’s story by Roald Dahl (who was married for 30 years to Knoxville’s Patricia Neal); Lucky Guy, starring Tom Hanks in a play by the late, great Nora Ephron; and Motown: The Musical produced by Berry Gordy and starring University of Tennessee graduate Valisia LeKae as Diana Ross. In addition, Alan and I went up a day early to see The Book of Mormon, a play definitely not still in previews but a “must see” nonetheless.

And what a great weekend it was. Tony Award nominations were announced today and the three plays Cal selected for us to see  garnered 25 nominations among them. Lucky Guy was nominated for Best Play and its star, Tom Hanks, was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play. Matilda was nominated for Best Musical and its star, Bertie Carvel, was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. And Valisia LeKae is in contention for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her role as Diana Ross in Motown: The Musical. Plus 20 other nominations!

Icing on the cake was running into some good friends from Nashville who were in town for other reasons.

Here’s what we did. Maybe you’ll get some ideas for the next New York trip you plan. And, if you decide to go with the Clarence Brown Theatre, maybe we’ll see you there!

For the past few years, our favorite Theatre District restaurant has been Becco, located at 355 W. 46th Street. So, on Thursday afternoon, after we checked into our hotel, The Millenium, we headed over there.

Alan ordered Zuppa di Pesce Misto: Sauteed day-boat seafood in "lobster brodo" served on a bed of Sicilian cous cous.

I had Gamberi "al Forno:" Crispy baked shrimp with Lidia's spicy tomato sauce. Both our dishes were delicious.

We also found a new type of wine to love -- as if we needed to find another great wine!

Click here for a link to Becco’s website. And then, on to The Book of Mormon at Eugene O’Neill Theatre.

Alan outside Eugene O'Neill Theatre at 230 W. 49th Street. Spring had not quite come to NYC when we visited last month.

I snapped this before following orders and turning off my cell phone. Very cool setting of the mood!

I don’t want to spoil anyone’s viewing of the play, so I won’t say too much about it. Suffice it to say that, even though I am not one who is easily shocked, I was a little surprised by some of the content and language. To put it simply, this play is dirty — and funny! You have been warned.

As far as we are concerned, a theater trip to New York is not complete without an after show drink at Sardi's.

Click here for a link to Sardi’s website.

Yum.

Some of the famous cartoons.

On Friday, before the scheduled time to meet up with the Clarence Brown group, we decided to take in the Museum of Modern Art, a place we both love. And, besides, it was raining. The place was packed. We began with lunch, which we shared with our Nashville friend Janis McNeely, who had accompanied her husband, Mark, to New York where he was judging a public relations contest. Mark is a partner in McNeely Pigott and Fox, the largest public relations firm in Tennessee. (McNeely Pigott and Fox is a partner of Moxley Carmichael in the Tennessee Public Relations Alliance, a statewide alliance of PR firms.)

This is the salmon salad I had in the Terrace 5 cafe at MOMA. The best salmon salad I've ever had.

I believe it warrants a close-up!

Alan and Janis each ordered a mini-parfait. They considered these to be masterpieces!

Here's the view from our table. (We are not in Knoxville anymore!)

Very clever putting these Andy Warhols outside the entrance to the cafe!

Here is Janis looking at "The Scream." It was interesting to learn there are more than one "Scream." And, much like the Mona Lisa in Paris, it was much smaller than I expected.

Does anyone else recognize this painting by Rene Magritte as the inspiration for my all time favorite record album, "Late for the Sky" by Jackson Browne? It is called, "The Empire of Light" and was painted in 1950.

Another Magritte, "The False Mirror," painted in 1928.

This haunting piece is titled, "No!" It is by Gino De Dominicis from 1981. It is huge. Twice the height of a person.

When it was time to meet our Clarence Brown group, we gathered for dinner at a large Italian place called Trattoria Dopo Teatro at 125 W. 44th Street.

From left, Margie Parrott, Caroline Gilliam, Cal and Rebecca MacLean, Rosemary Gilliam and Robert Parrott.

From left, Carolyn Browning, Liz Stowers, Melanie Wood, Tom Wood, Maggie Erickson and Mimi Turner.

Townes Osborne and UT President Dr. Joe DiPietro.

Debbie and Jeff Chapman

Joe and Carol Pelliccia

Alan's very full plate at Trattoria Dopo Teatro

And then, Matilda at the Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street.

About, Matilda. It is a very dark musical about a little girl’s awful childhood. Cal said it was his favorite of the three he selected for us to see. But it was my least favorite. Here’s why: It was too dang long! More 2-1/2 hours. Now, granted, another play we saw, “Motown: The Musical” was that long. And “The Lion King,” whose set we visited, was that long. But they moved! I found Matilda to be repetitive. In short, it needed an editor. I know it’s getting rave reviews on Broadway and in London — and a Tony nomination today for Best Musical — but, hey, this is my blog and so you get my opinion. Ha!

Immediately after Matilda, we headed over to the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway where The Lion King also had just let out. We were led through the stage door and took an elevator to the backstage area.

Here we are.

Here we are listening to our guide, Kathryn Rohe, talk about the sets and costumes.

Carol Pelliccia examines a giraffe leg.

Rohe, herself a graduate of UT’s Theatre Department, said she wanted to be an actor when she first enrolled. But there was one problem: She had stage fright! So she switched to costume design. She has been with The Lion King for nine years. It takes 150 people to run the show, she said. Sixteen of those just handle the costumes — plus a 17th “swing person” who knows all the parts can can fill in if something goes wrong with any character.

This was my favorite prop: a young Simba.

Do you remember Sazu? A red-billed Hornbill.

Yikes! An evil hyena.

Here we are on the stage.

This elephant you saw hanging on the wall in the previous photo is a "retired" elephant. They just keep him around as a back-up in case something happens to the new one.

The warthog named Pumbaa.

A lot of the costumes are hung from the ceiling to keep them out of the way when they are not in use.

Here's the view from our window of the Millenium on Saturday morning.

First order of business: brunch. We went to a Greek place we really like. Kellari Taverna, 19 W. 44th Street.

The obligatory Alan outside the restaurant pose!

Beautiful and modern inside

Alan ordered a Greek egg white omelet. It was delicious, but the potatoes were his favorite.

I had a beautiful Greek salad.

Complimentary cookies were offered at the exit.

We had a little time to kill, so we strolled over to Bryant Park. In New York City, you get kind of used to seeing people dressed up as cartoon characters and such. But what the heck were these things, we wondered?

Huh?

Give up? They are water bottles! Tupperware was giving away free water bottles at Bryant Park to celebrate World Water Day (who knew?). And I guess they thought . . .Well, who knows what they thought?

See? Here are our free water bottles. And a water bottle key chain. Hmm.

Fountain at Bryant Park

Alan considers the Bryant Park Carousel.

It was almost time for our matinee.

Alan and Melanie Wood are actually in line on W. 46th Street to get into the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to see Motown: The Musical. But it looks like they are leaving the Church of Scientology!

That's more like it!

We LOVED Motown: The Musical! You simply must go see it. It contains scores of fabulous songs from Motown’s heyday and tells the story of Berry Gordy founding the company and then moving it from Detroit to Los Angeles. It is a story of friendship and betrayal (at least in Gordy’s mind). And in the backdrop is the story of the love affair between Gordy and Diana Ross. Actor Lavisia LeKae, the UT grad, is simply fabulous as Diana Ross — as reflected by her Tony nomination this morning. This was our favorite of all the plays we saw.

After Motown, our group gathered at Thalia, 828 8th Avenue (at 50th Street).

Alan at Thalia

We both ordered salmon. We liked it.

Then, on to Lucky Guy at Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th Street.

Knoxvillians Maggie Erickson, left, Olivia and Karen Clark, right, sat behind us.

On our other side were Bob and Margie Parrott and Townes Osborne, at right.

A word about Lucky Guy. Alan and I loved it. But it is about a newspaper columnist and both of us used to be in the newspaper business. Tom Hanks was, of course, fantastic. I consider him one of the best living actors so I was not surprised he garnered a Tony nomination this morning for his part. But, as much as we loved the play, some in our party found it boring. Several even left at intermission. I understand that. If you aren’t caught up in the business, you may find it slow-moving. There are a lot of words in it. And, whereas the conflicts and ethical dilemmas to Alan and me seemed realistic and wrenching, to others they obviously did not resonate as much. We recommend it, though. And it did get that Tony nomination.

Since we already had been to Sardi’s, we headed to the Algonquin Hotel for nightcaps. Although the famous Oak Room is closed, we did get to see the portrait of the “Round Table.”

Alan wanted a chocolate martini in the worst way! I opted for a Grey Goose martini, myself.

Here is the famous portrait of the "Round Table -- A Vicious Circle."

And then in came our friends Janis and Mark McNeely and Dave Goetz and Katie Varney, also of McNeely Pigott and Fox. Fun!

Dave Goetz and Katie Varney. Both are with McNeely Pigott and Fox.

Goetz, Varney and McNeely, right

We left the next day for Knoxville and, let me tell you, it took us a week at work to recover from the trip. But we’ve already put a deposit down on next year’s theatrical adventure.

]]> http://bluestreak.moxleycarmichael.com/2013/04/30/knoxville-takes-manhattan-and-it-takes-us/feed/ http://bluestreak.moxleycarmichael.com/2013/04/30/knoxville-takes-manhattan-and-it-takes-us/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/moxleycarmichael/DQbZ/~3/zMyD-gpDGZg/ http://bluestreak.moxleycarmichael.com/2013/04/26/hats-in-bloom-kicks-off-garden-party-season/#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:32:25 +0000 Cynthia Moxley http://bluestreak.moxleycarmichael.com/?p=17498

Diane McPhail in a hat she bought Thursday -- and the biggest hatbox I've ever seen!

In Knoxville, the dawning of spring is starting to mean one thing — garden parties! And what better place to kick off the garden party season than at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, which on Thursday hosted its “Hats in Bloom” party? I am not a hat person. I look terrible in hats. But I love to look at them and I love to watch others who are wearing them. And I love a lunch in a beautiful garden.

For years, I have heard my fashionable friends rave about “Pat, the hat lady.” She makes the most fantastic hats, they all said. Well, now I know what they are talking about. Patricia Frankum is truly a hat magician. Her creations are fanciful and beautiful. They make me wish I were a hat person. Patricia brought dozens of hats to the “Hats in Bloom” luncheon and she sold so many that we caught her on her cell phone urgently calling her husband. “Bring more hats!” she shouted.

Keyes Williamson, the executive director of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, addressed the 50 women as they sipped mimosas prior to lunch. “Hats are like gardens,” he said. “They harken back to a time of refinement in our homes and in our behavior.” Amen to that, brother! If anything can improve our behavior, I say bring it on.

Patricia Frankum, a.k.a. Pat the Hat Lady

Jackie Wilson is chair of the “In Bloom” series of events that will raise funds for the Botanical Garden. “Hats in Bloom” was the first in the series.

“Lunch in Bloom” will be May 10 in the garden of Dr. Alan Solomon. His is said to be one of the most expansive sculpture gardens in the Eastern United States. It features native plants, water features and a stunning conifer collection. The garden tour will be followed by a traditional workman’s lunch of beans and franks which Dr. Solomon has been sharing with his workers for over 38 years. Lunch will be served on the terrace with mountain and garden views and costs $30 per person.

“Vino in Bloom” will be May 16 at the home of Milton and Mimi Turner along the banks of the Little River. It is an evening event and will feature a walk through the woodland wildflower garden leading to the Turners’ Little River Artist Retreat. Highlight of that event: sunset! Cost is $50 per ticket.

Finally, “Champagne in Bloom” will be May 23 at Jackie’s own home. Designed to evoke the architecture of Southern France, this home and garden is hidden within a forested hillside on one of Rockford’s picturesque old farms. The garden is a work in progress and features hybrid tea roses, an expansive vegetable garden and (my favorite flower!) a peony garden. Guests will sip champagne while touring the garden followed by a French inspired supper under the trees. Tickets are only $40 per person. Click here to go to the Botanical Garden website for more info.

I just love the garden party season in Knoxville.

It was a beautiful day -- and a beautiful setting.

Angie Campbell arrived in a very ornate chapeau.

Sheena McCall bought this hat in Annapolis "where the Navy wives buy their hats," she said. "Annapolis is like a candy store for hat lovers!"

Gay Lyons bought this hat at Vagabondia on Market Square about four years ago. She just now found a dress to wear with it. Patricia told her, "If you buy the hat, the dress will come!" And it did!

Danielle Velez, membership and special events manager of the Botanical Garden, was pouring mimosas.

Mary Ann Fee Fennell, of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, provided sublime music to shop by.

Vicki Baumgartner may be the most amazing woman in Knoxville. She works at the Botanical Garden and also is a fantastic decorator, cook, party-giver, gardener, community volunteer and inspiration.

Jackie Wilson, right, and Jo Cech

Phyllis Driver wearing a fascinator.

Melinda Meador is a big fan of hats. She arrived in this one.

Ellen Robinson trying on a real show-stopper!

Mary Sonju, left, and Meriwether Klyce

Anne McKinney, left, a lawyer who has made hats her trademark, with Margaret Fuller

Fran Scheidt, left, and Ann Farrar

I thought this one was stunning.

Shaun Fulco, the CFO of Moxley Carmichael, tried on this great pink hat. She is looking for a hat to wear for her outdoor June wedding to Roger Hyver.

Kim Henry

Someone was about to buy this one, which I really liked.

Even the mannequins were beautiful!

Mimi Turner in a wonderful sun hat

I hope Melinda bought this one because she looks great in it!

Gay considered for a long time before giving in to this jaunty little number.

Jennifer Holder bought this one, which I loved.

Allyn Purvis Schwartz wearing the first Patricia Frankum hat she ever purchased. How many does she own now? 12.

Mary Guy, left, with Keyes Williamson, executive director of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, and his mother-in-law, Diane McPhail, in that great pink hat.

Judith Foltz looked good in this one she tried on.

Victoria Cape

Gay Lyons, left, with Andie Ray, who used to own Vagabondia and is definitely a hat person.

Keyes Williamson making a few remarks.

Roasted tomato soup with red peppers was served in tiny, beautifully garnished cups.

Crepes filled with chicken and served with a delicate lemony sauce were the main course along with a fresh fruity salad and light biscuit.

How about this hat-shaped lemon cookie? Caterer was Rex Bradford Jones of Abner's Attic.

All in all, a lovely mid-day break in what has been, for me, a stressful two weeks at work. Thanks to all who made it happen.

Natalie and Jim Haslam, who know a thing or two about fundraisers, at one they really enjoy.

Jim Haslam, the founder of Pilot Travel Centers, said he wants the Knoxville Symphony to continue doing this event. “This is exactly the kind of thing they should be doing,” he said. And David Gensterblum, CEO of Aqua-Chem, said he thinks the KSO should do it every month!

So what is this popular occasion? A special evening at Blackberry Farm featuring a gourmet dinner with wine pairings — and a short concert by the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra.

Right now the Blackberry dinner is scheduled to be an annual event — in March. It is pricey - $350 per ticket. But more than half of that is tax deductible. And it really does impress one with what high quality assets we have here in our own home. Folks literally come from around the world to stay and dine at Blackberry Farm. Among its many accolades, Blackberry Farm was voted the number one resort in North America by Travel + Leisure and has been a member of Relais & Chateaux, a collection of the most exclusive restaurants and hotels around the world, since 1994.

Aqua-Chem CEO David Gensterblum with model Joy Riddle

The Knoxville Symphony also is on a roll, having shown continual growth and improvement since Maestro Lucas Richman took the helm as music director and conductor 10 years ago. And while symphony orchestras in much larger cities are struggling financially and some even are closing, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra has finished its fiscal year in the black for six years in a row. With great events like this one, hopefully that will continue.

The KSO ends its fiscal year at the end of May. The only category of donations that currently is down is the category for small gifts — $1,000 and below. If you have been intending to make a gift, this is just a gentle reminder that now is a good time to do that. The KSO contributes so much to our lifestyle here. Not just through the regularly scheduled concerts, but by the quality the musicians add to our everyday lives through performances at schools and hospitals, music lessons for children and adults and numerous independent engagements for parties and weddings and restaurant gigs throughout the year.

Click here to donate. In the meantime check out this fun evening and see if you don’t think you should be at Blackberry Farm for this next year.

A bunch of us rented a limo to take us to Blackberry Farm. It was a great part of the evening. From left, Jim and Phyllis NIchols, Michael and Judith Foltz and Alan Carmichael.

Ken Levine and Sheena McCall were in the back seat.

When we arrived at Blackberry they were passing these little French cheese puffs called gougeres on slate slabs. Elegant and delicious.

I thought the signature cocktail was very sophisticated - even if it was served in a mason jar! It contained Cathead vodka from Mississippi, spiced orange syrup, bitters and a little soda water. I loved it, but I really like the taste of bitters.

A quartet from the Youth Orchestra provided beautiful music during the cocktail hour.

Jim Haslam, left, was chatting with Rick Johnson, the incoming KSO board chair, and Anna and Frank Gray, right.

From left, Craig Shelton, Mary Ellen Brewington and Susan Brown.

Sean Claire and Stacy Taylor. He is a violinist with the KSO and she is the KSO's director of operations. They are married.

KSO Board member John Winemiller, right, and R.J. Hinde

Attorney Heather Anderson, left, with Jim and Phyllis Nichols, another KSO Board member.

Alan Carmichael, left, with Linda and Buck Vaughn

KSO Executive Director Rachel Ford, left with Mark and Cathy Mamantov. He is a former KSO Board chair.

And then it was time for dinner. I love the special china Blackberry Farm had commissioned, like this charger.

Here's the barn where our dinner was served!

Blackberry's centerpieces tend to be very simple, but lovely. Like this one.

The beets for this beet and blue cheese salad were "harvested this morning," we were told. It also contained garden mizuna, smoked grapes, pecan oil and saba. It was paired with Dutton Goldfield chardonnay from Green Valley, 2007.

Blackberry's version of chicken and dumplings included chicken confit, potato gnocchi and forest mushrooms. It was sublime. Paired with Banaccorsi, Fiddlestix Vineyard pinot noir, from Sta. Rita Hills, 2007.

Painted Hills beef shortribs over rice grits, olive oil braised kale and roasted mushrooms. Paired with Paraduxx Z Blend from Napa Valley, 2009. Chabot said this winery is "all about blends." It was delicious.

Milk chocolate hazelnut crunch with vanilla caramel and candied cocoa nibs. Yum.

Sandy and Hank Bertelkamp

Anna and Dr. Frank Gray

Linda and Buck Vaughn

Barbara and Bill Arant

Young Concertmaster Gabe Lefkowitz wowed everyone.

The whole concert was beautiful. (My pictures, shot in low light, are not! Sorry.)

Richard and Bette Bryan at the end of the evening.

Mike and Lisa Knott, left, with newlyweds Holly and Russ Watkins. Russ is on the KSO Board.

There is something for everyone on the food front in downtown Knoxville this weekend.

Every time I ran into a Knoxvillian downtown today, there was a giddy smile on his or her face. I’m not kidding. And I include myself in that statement.

Downtown Knoxville was packed today as beautiful weather welcomed the second day of the Dogwood Arts Festival’s Market Square Art Fair. Music filled the official stages and all kinds of buskers filled in around the edges. Crazy carnival food made Market Street feel like the Tennessee Valley Fair, and all the regular restaurants and cafes were filled to overflowing offering everything from Mexican at Soccer Taco and Cocoa Moon to Italian at Bella Luna and good old southern cookery at Tupelo Honey Cafe.

Hundreds of archeologists in town for a gathering at the Knoxville Convention Center swelled the crowd and had me recommending to inquiring strangers that, to find an open lunch table, they head over to the 100 block of Gay Street or to the Bistro at the Bijou on the 800 block of Gay Street, just to get away from the crush.

But despite that, the mood was festive. The art was lovely. And my friends and I just couldn’t believe how lucky we all are to be living in Knoxville, Tennessee, at this very moment. Developer John Craig, Knoxville Deputy Mayor Bill Lyons and I literally stood for a long while in the middle of Market Street marveling at the crowds and the palpable happiness all around us. Later, I saw buddies Kim Trent and Hollie Cook on Market Square searching for food. “Can you believe this?” we all said. Later the same thing happened when I ran into Kim Henry and Jennifer Holder. And again when Kay Clayton and her sister, Ann Goldstine, said hello to me coming out of an artist’s booth in the Krutch Park extension. Sandy Martin also was shopping there with a group of friends.

So, folks, my invitation to you is to get in on this! The Market Square Art Fair runs today (Saturday) until 9 p.m. and again tomorrow from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. You just gotta see this to believe it!

Vicki Love of Knoxville was selling the most beautiful leather purses. I bought two. You also can find her lovely work in the Art Market on Gay Street.

I really needed a black purse. I didn't really need the blue one like this that I bought!

I wanted this one, too, but made myself hold off.

The pottery is so beautiful this year. Like these teapots by York Haverkamp of Norris, Tennessee. Word to the wise: Mother's Day is coming up!

Yard art is big this year -- like this pretty bug by Allen Hampton of Chattanooga.

I've never seen so many beautiful pens! These are by Terri Cadman and M. Cummins of New Market, Tennessee.

Nick Freeman of Livingston, Tenn., is back this year with his wonderful charcoals. Many, like this one, feature Knoxville scenes.

I cracked up when I saw this sculpture of a preacher waving a snake and holding a Bible. He is made of stones and sticks by Steve Rhule of Andersonville, Tennessee.

All the patios were full, like this one at Tupelo Honey Cafe.

Tents and tables were set up to accommodate folks who bought food from the booths and food trucks on Market Street.

But some took matters into their own hands!

Hats off to the Market Square shops like Earth to Old City that pulled merchandise onto the sidewalk and set up tables and chairs.

I love the beach scenes by Linda Pirkle of Atlanta.

Michael Lee of Alpharetta, Georgia, had lots of paintings of horses and sports figures. But my favorites were the ones he had of chefs. I'd love one for my kitchen.

Kathy Veverka of Florence, South Carolina, has the most beautiful pieces. I already have several.

Here's Kathy, right, talking to another repeat customer.

All kinds of dogs are part of the scene, as well. I loved this cute one.

There are all kinds of activities for kids in the "Children's Creation Station."

I did not try the Moonshine Cake, but I loved the sign. "Please eat responsibly!" Ha.

OK. Turn off that computer and get down here! You will be glad you did.

Jim Clayton singing at a Leadership Knoxville event shortly before revealing the "secrets" of Clayton Sales School.

I don’t know about you, but when I get the chance to hear sales tips from one of the most successful men in America right in my own backyard, I do it! So did almost 100 others who attended the final installment of this year’s “Behind the Scenes” events benefiting Leadership Knoxville.

The salesman, of course, was our own Jim Clayton, who founded Clayton Homes in 1966 and built it into the United States’ largest producer and seller of manufactured housing, a publicly traded company that was sold to Berkshire Hathaway in 2003 for $1.7 billion. Jim, as we all know, also is an author and founder of Knoxville’s Clayton Bank and Trust.

Throughout the long history of Clayton Homes, it has been a requirement for everyone who works there — at least in the retail and manufacturing parts of the business — to attend Clayton Sales School, a seminar on how to sell manufactured homes. When Jim Clayton and Clayton Homes became the first client of Moxley Communications (the forerunner of Moxley Carmichael) back in 1992, Jim required me to go to Clayton Sales School. (I was a little taken aback until I later learned that he also required his fiancee — now his wife — Kay Clayton to attend!)

Jim Clayton, right, chats with Sam and Ann Furrow during a tour of the Clayton Homes manufacturing plant in Norris.

Anyway, as it turned out, many of the lessons I learned at Clayton Sales School have been hugely beneficial to my own business over the years. That’s why I thought Jim would be a great speaker as part of the “Behind the Scenes” series — and he was!

The evening included a tour of Clayton’s Appalachia manufacturing plant in Norris, Tennessee, where we were shown how the homes are constructed. The tour was followed by dinner at the Museum of Appalachia, a few musical numbers by Jim (whose original career goal was to be a country music singer), and then his talk. It was a great evening and Jim was a charming host. Special shout-out to Katie Pickle, who was Jim’s assistant during the planning of this event, and Kate Campbell of the Museum of Appalachia, who coordinated the event from that end. Also to Kay Clayton, who was the glue that held all the logistics together!

Here are a few of the “secrets” from Clayton Sales School:

• Feature/benefit. When showing a manufactured home (or anything you are trying to sell, really) take the prospect through the home and point out all the great features. But also explain to him or her the benefit that results from each of those features. For example, don’t just say the home has a stainless steel sink. Explain that the benefit of that is that the sink will not chip and scratch like the cheap enamel sinks others sometimes install.
• Save the best for last. In a manufactured home, the best room most often is the living room or den. Save that until last on the tour. And then get the prospect to sit on the couch in that room. Help him or her picture themselves living there by asking questions like, “What would you put on this coffee table?” And, “Would you put pictures of your children on those shelves?”
• The worst room in a manufactured home is the small bedroom. There’s really not much good about it; it can be very tiny, just carved out of any leftover space in the house. If you let the prospect go in first and you stand in the doorway, the prospect is going to feel uncomfortable and trapped. They will get a small dose of claustrophobia. Instead, boldly enter the room first, Clayton advised, and walk straight to the window. This is where you feature/benefit the double-paned windows that are standard in all Clayton Homes. The benefit: keeps utility costs low. And there’s your happy prospect standing in the doorway, not feeling trapped at all. (And, hopefully, not noticing how small the room is!)
• Fine, fine, fine. Often a prospect will come in with a long list of requirements. As they tick off the items on their wish list, you say, “Fine,” after each item — even if you know some of the items are not possible to deliver. Just say, “Fine.” Then, only after you have taken them on a tour of the home and they have fallen in love with it, do you sit them down and say, “There is  just one thing I need to mention. We can’t get (fill in the blank).” They most likely will respond with, “Oh, that’s OK. I love it anyway.” But if you had started out by telling them you couldn’t deliver an item on their list, they would have just left the sales lot.
• Once you have made the sale, shut up! Once you “sell” the person, the only thing you can accomplish by continuing to talk is to “un-sell” them. Don’t do that! Start working on the paperwork necessary to close the deal.

Jim and Kay Clayton with Ronny Robertson, rear, the general manager of Clayton Homes' Appalachia manufacturing plant in Norris, Tennessee.

Here are a couple of other “Clayton-isms.” When I was hired to represent Clayton Homes 21 years ago, there was a whole movement in the industry to get people to refer to the products as “manufactured homes” rather than “trailers” or “mobile homes.” We spent huge amounts of time contacting media organizations asking them to please use the term “manufactured home” — and “manufactured housing community” rather than “trailer parks.” (Also, “double-wides” are supposed to be called “multi-sectionals!”) That’s why I was astounded one day when I heard Jim talking to someone about a “trailer.” When we were walking away from that particular meeting, I said, “Jim, I thought we were supposed to call them ‘manufactured homes!’” His response: “We are supposed to call them manufactured homes, Mox. But if a man wants to buy a trailer, I’m going to sell him a trailer!” Classic.

Someone asked me once if Jim were interested in selling the brand new 15,000-square-foot home he had built in Sequoyah Hills, which I seriously doubted. But I asked him, “Jim, is your house for sale?” He didn’t skip a beat. “Everything’s for sale, Mox. It’s just a matter of coming to an agreement on price.”

It's not elegant, but here is Dawn Ford serving wine on the bus that took attendees from downtown Knoxville to Norris for the event. This is the "bladder" that's inside a box of pinot grigio, for those of you who never have seen such a thing!

A true "servant leader," this is Leadership Knoxville alum Tom Catani serving wine to his fellow alum, Phyllis Nichols, on the bus to Norris.

Our first stop: the Clayton manufacturing plant in Norris.

Unlike "stick-builts" -- that's what manufactured housing folks call traditionally built houses! -- manufactured homes are built completely under cover in a plant.

Josh Morrison was one of our tour guides. The Clayton folks were all so helpful and informative. You could tell they were proud of their product.

Walls. Well-insulated.

One of our groups.

Walls installed.

A house covered up and getting ready for shipment.

Four completed houses are produced at this plant every day. Before the housing bust, the plant was producing ten per day.

We were blown away by the great media room in one of the houses being built. This is Phyllis Nichols testing out a chair. (Sorry for the rain on my camera lens. I had briefly stepped outside.)

Clayton Homes' Chris Young welcomes us into a finished product on the lot outside.

Marie Alcorn checks out the kitchen.

We were very impressed by the finishes in the $60,000 home.

Sharon Miller Pryse poses with Clayton and plant manager, Ronny Robertson.

Then it was back on the bus for the short drive to the Museum of Appalachia.

Here we are!

Dinner music was by the Museum of Appalachia Band.

The food was fantastic, everyone agreed! Here's Janet Testerman Crossley sampling some meatloaf.

Mary Bogert and the yummy macaroni.

Susan Brown had her eye on the chicken.

Tom Cervone and Susan Creswell in the buffet line.

And how great does this cornbread look?

Richard Ford added a little chow-chow to his pinto beans.

Steve and Kaye Maynard

Jim Nichols was a happy camper in the food line.

As was Janet Testerman.

Jim had to keep his strength up for his upcoming presentation.

Jay Secor

I guarantee you nobody left hungry!

Jim and Kay

Jim opened his part of the program with an Eddy Arnold classic: "Cattle Call."

Calling on my former career as a reporter, I got to interview Jim about the "secrets" of Clayton Sales School. What fun!

Ten lucky people won copies of Jim's autobiography, "First a Dream." And he signed them.

This is the second year for the “Behind the Scenes” fundraisers for Leadership Knoxville. A special thanks to the hard-working women who served on the planning committee alongside me: Susan Brown, Dawn Ford, Sharon Bosse, Gay Lyons and Janet Testerman. Also thanks to the hard work of the Leadership Knoxville staff, particularly Tammy White and Stephanie Edwards who worked on this event with the committee. If you’d like to see a report on earlier “Behind the Scenes” events involving Blackberry Farm, click here, or Scripps Networks, click here. Be on the lookout for next year’s schedule.

Photo credit: Alan Carmichael took the picture of me interviewing Jim.

Host Charleene Edwards pours a glass of champagne for KSO Board member Tom Shaw as Pat Jobe, another event host, looks on.

How’s this for a creative fundraising theme? Middle Eastern food served in an art gallery. Gourmet olive oil and vinegar tastings. And a Knoxville Symphony Orchestra quartet! They called it “sense-sational” because it appealed to all the senses. Cute.

It was another in the Knoxville Symphony League’s “Elegant Dining” series of events. You should get in on this. There are only four remaining events that are not sold out. (Click here for a listing.)

This particular gathering was held in the historic Emporium Building on the 100 block of Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. The Symphony’s offices are located in that building, but it also contains a lot of gallery space. The oil and vinegar tasting, hosted by The Tree and Vine shop, was held in the upper floor gallery and dinner and the music were downstairs in the big common area. It was a very relaxed Friday evening.

Terri Karlsson, owner of The Tree and Vine, center, mingles with guests at the party.

Interestingly, Terri Karlsson, who owns The Tree and Vine with her husband, Paul, reported that the little shop that opened on Union Avenue in downtown Knoxville just last year is experiencing fabulous success. In fact, she said, the Knoxville location is much busier than the original Tree and Vine located in Asheville. If you have not been, I highly recommend you pay them a visit. It’s a charming store — and is set up specifically so visitors can taste a very wide sampling of olive oils and vinegars. And the gourmet cookware available makes it a perfect stop if you are looking for a gift. The vinegars and olive oils come in a variety of sizes - and customers can package them in groups of two, four or six. I like to take them as hostess gifts.

So, here’s a quick look at the Elegant Dining event featuring the innovative little shop. Don’t forget to sign up soon if you want to go to any of the remaining Elegant Dining events this year.

(Click here if you’d like to see a Blue Streak post about The Tree and Vine when it opened in July.)

Rick Stone and Angela Howard enjoying a little bubbly with their tastings.

Pat Fitch of The Tree and Vine setting up some olive oil and vinegar tastings.

Pat Jobe serves champagne. (Goes with everything!)

The Tree and Vine's owner, Terri Karlsson, answers questions.

Listening, eating and drinking.

The Tree and Vine brought olive oil and vinegars for every palate -- along with little bread cubes for tasting.

The art on display featured animals. This one by Tina Brunetti is called "Ze-lion!"

One of the hosts, Elizabeth Offringa, left, greets a guest.

Rachel Ford, executive director of the Knoxville Symphony, with board member Tom Shaw.

Hosts Nancy D'Andrea, left, and Elizabeth Koester.

Tom and Evelyn Shaw

Downstairs, a Mediterranean buffet awaited.

My favorite was the hummus.

The baklava wasn't bad, either!

From left, Ruth Bacon, Rachel Loeske, Ihsan Kartal and Jennifer Bloch provided beautiful classical music.

Carol and Joe Pelliccia

Rachel Ford and Mary Sue Greiner, right, also with the Symphony staff.

Donna and Terry Wertz

So glad the hosts provided a variety of wines rather than just the usual Woodbridge chardonnay.

Doesn't Rick Stone look exactly like singer/songwriter Jackson Browne?

Jim and Natalie Haslam greet Dean Stephen Mangum, left, at a reception on Tuesday.

Dr. Stephen Mangum, the new dean of the University of Tennessee College of Business, impressed a crowd of business and political leaders this week with his warmth and his on-target remarks at a party to welcome him to town.

Dean Mangum making his remarks.

Despite unseasonably cold weather, including intermittent snow, more than 100 folks wishing to extend to Mangum a warm welcome, gathered at the Knoxville Convention Center for a reception sponsored by Pilot Flying J, Covenant Health, Regal Entertainment Group and Fidelity Investments. Moxley Carmichael handled the event. Jim Haslam, chairman of Pilot Flying J and a personal benefactor of the College of Business, introduced the new dean.

Mangum, who started in his new post on March 1, said he has been spending his first few weeks on the job making his way through Stokely Management Center meeting with every member of the faculty and staff. He said he asks them all to offer input on these key questions: “Do we have the right persons on the bus? And are they in the right seats?”

Jim Haslam introducing Dean Mangum.

The new dean said he has been very impressed by “the entrepreneur spirit of the faculty, the enthusiasm and engagement of the alumni, and the involvement of the chancellor and provost.”

He also said he has found the student body here to be impressive, if somewhat different than the one he is used to dealing with at The Ohio State University. “I’ve never been called ‘Sir’ so much in my life!” he laughed. “And I’ve never been called ‘Buddy’ so much in my life! Although, I guess that’s better than being called ‘Bubba!’”

Mangum also said he has been impressed by the number of positive announcements coming out of the College of Business almost every week. Some examples of headlines from just this month:UT’s Graduate Supply Chain Program Top-Ranked for Seventh Consecutive Year; UT Alum Mike West Receives National Award; and UT Team Wins Regional Human Resources Business Case Competition.

Mangum has been the senior associate dean of the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University since 1996. From July 2007 to April 2009, he served as the college’s interim dean. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Utah. He earned a doctorate in economics from George Washington University and he taught and conducted research at George Washington University before joining the faculty of The Ohio State University in 1983. He taught in the Department of Management and Human Resources for several years before managing the department.

Bruce Hartmann of the E.W. Scripps Company, right, chats with Jim Haslam and Dean Mangum in the receiving line.

Mangum said he is impressed by the sheer size of the James A. Haslam Business Building, a state-of-the-art facility that includes 34 classrooms, 35 team and presentation rooms, a financial investments laboratory, several research and corporate outreach centers, and an atrium that joins a portion of the former building with the new facility. He said the building is “one of the best-planned and forward-looking facilities of its kind anywhere in the world.”

The new dean said he thinks of the business school as a company. “We are a multi-product firm operating in numerous locations with thousands of competitors,” he said. “Our products are graduates and thought leadership.”

The University of Tennessee College of Business has over 4,000 undergraduates and 600 graduate students. It has more than 125 faculty members. Mangum said his “game plan” is to build the knowledge of the students and the thought leadership of the faculty. Those are his priorities.

He said he already has one key learning himself: “An orange tie goes with any color suit!” He’s picked out six or seven houses for his wife to consider when she joins him here in Knoxville. And he feels compelled to defend himself from folks who tease that he must have brought the cold weather with him from Columbus. “They need to learn the difference between causation and correlation,” he quipped.

Photo Credit: All pictures were taken by Gary Heatherly.

Dean Stephen Mangum, second from right, with reception sponsors, from left, Tony Spezia of Covenant Health, Joe Siragusa of Fidelity Investments, Amy Miles of Regal Entertainment Group, and Jim Haslam of Pilot Flying J.

More than 100 folks lined up to say hello to the new dean.

Keith Goodwin, the president and CEO of East Tennessee Children's Hospital, right, gets his turn.

Dean Mangum poses with Mary Bogert, the general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center.

Tank Strickland, director of community relations for the city of Knoxville, with Dean Mangum.

From left, Mitch Steenrod, CFO of Pilot Flying J and the chairman of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Board; Dean Mangum; Patrick Birmingham, the publisher of the News Sentinel and chairman-elect of the Chamber Board; and Jim Haslam

Chamber Vice President Rhonda Rice with Dean Mangum.

KUB CEO Mintha Roach, left, with Dean Mangum, Jon Roach and Jim Haslam.

I love this picture of Jim and Natalie Haslam.

From left, Jennifer Holder, William (Chip) Bryant, and Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill with his wife, Marianne.

Knox County Commissioner Dave Wright, left, with Jim Haslam.

From left, E. Terry Cowles, Mitch Steenrod, Patrick Birmingham, Chamber President and CEO Mike Edwards and Mary Bogert.

Municipal Judge John Rosson, right, with Dean Mangum.

From left, Janet Testerman Crossley, Bill Regas, W. Logan Hickman Jr., and Johnnie Hickman.

City Councilman Brenda Palmer and County Commissioner Ed Shouse.

From left, Bill Lyons, Bruce Hartmann and Paul Fortunato.

A lot of business gets done at these kinds of events. Here is Mike West, center, deep in conversation with Bruce Hartmann and Patrick Birmingham.

This looks serious. Bill Lyons, left, and Patrick Birmingham.

I can tell you right now that this is Knoxville Symphony business! Rachel Ford, far right in gray, with, from left, Sharon and Dr. Bill Laing, Richard Bryan, Natalie Haslam and Bette Bryan.

Michael Grider, left, Knox County's PR guy, with Commissioner Shouse.

From left, Randy Fields and Andy Lorenz, both of Messer Construction, and Tom Catani of U.S. Cellular.

Bruce Hartmann, center, with Keith Goodwin, left, and Mitch Steenrod.

I'm telling you, you can't beat these kinds of receptions for networking. My friend Kim Trent, the CEO of Knox Heritage, says she gets things accomplished here in 15 minutes that would take days to arrange from the office!

Two deans: Dean Mangum, left, with Warren Neel, the former long-term dean of the UT School of Business.

We told the folks at Samuel Franklin Florist that we wanted the flowers to be "elegant" for this reception. I think they were.

Here's another arrangement.

The calm before the storm. Setting up the risotto station. The food was great. The biggest hit: barbecued pork belly on corn cakes.