Category: We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Works of Heart

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date February 19, 2025

Richard Ross, John and Suzanne Scharff, and Deborah Ross (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Guests were all heart at Works of Heart, the Memphis Child Advocacy Center fundraiser presented by Stern Cardiovascular. The art auction and party was held Saturday, February 8th, at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

**Virginia Stallworth, Richard Wood,**
**James Hay, and Kevin Scott**

“Works of Heart was a record-breaking success,” says Beryl Wight, the center’s communications and grants manager. “We had 122 artists — a record — and raised over $139,000 [also a record].”

**Alexandra Eastburn, George Williford, Donna Williford, and Juston Williford**

This was the third year at the Memphis Botanic Garden, Wight says. Between 300 and 350 people attended the event.

**Sonal Mehr, Sujit Mehr,**
**Swati Chokshi, and Saurin Chokshi**

Now in its 33rd year, Works of Heart’s first beneficiary was the Mental Health Association. After it closed, the Memphis Child Advocacy Center became the beneficiary.

Longtime Works of Heart supporter Murray Riss was at this year’s event with his wife Karen and daughter Shanna. “Murray was part of the planning committee that brought the event to us,” Wight says, adding, “He certainly is a very important contributor, serving as chair and co-chair for many years. And, of course, he still is a contributing artist.”

Tags Memphis Child Advocacy Center, Stern Cardiovascular, We Saw You, Works of Heart

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WE SAW YOU: Healthier Memphis Gala

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date February 12, 2025

David Krog, Ben Vaughn, and Erling Jensen (Photos by Michael Donahue)

A total of $231,000 was raised at this year’s Healthier Memphis Gala presented by Lifedoc Health.

And $48,000 of that was raised at the live auction.

**Gary and Barb Meloni, Kert and Abbey Kaise**

The event, held January 31st at the old Summit Club space at the top of Clark Tower, provided a tasty way for guests to support Lifedoc Health’s work. Fifteen Memphis chefs provided the fare for guests, many of whom wore Gatsby-like attire — flapper dresses and tuxedos — from that other Twenties decade. “Our Roaring 20th: A Speakeasy Soirée” was the event theme.

**John Adamstown, Tom Hughes, and**
**Jaksen Pounders**

**Kelly English, Fatou and Bala Tounkara**

According to its website, the mission of Lifedoc Health is “to build healthier communities by preventing diabetes through healthcare and research.”

As the invitation reads, “All proceeds will support Lifedoc’s investment in research and policy to transform healthcare for Memphis’s most underserved communities.”

Tags Healthier Memphis Gala, Lifedoc Health, Memphis chefs, We Saw You

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WE SAW YOU: Mike McCarthy’s El-Bow Party

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date February 5, 2025

Anneliese Jones and Mike McCarthy (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Memphis filmmaker/sculptor Mike McCarthy threw his annual El-Bow party, in homage to the shared birthdays of Elvis Presley and David Bowie, on January 25th at McCarthy’s Midtown home.

Each icon got his own cake made by Kasey Dees.

The party, McCarthy says, “was for people who I worked with and sort of a payback to people I’ve been collaborating with.”

This year, the party was part of a longer series of events dealing with the history of rock-and-roll in Memphis. The Marcialyns with Marcia Clifton, Tim Prudhomme, Rev. Neil Down, and Memphis Flyer reporter Chris McCoy performed.

McCarthy kicked everything off with his Glam Rock Picnic last June, where he unveiled his 10-foot papier-mâché work-in-progress sculpture of Bowie, who performed in Memphis.

**Eldorado Del Rey, Tricia Parker, and Elliott Bexley**

McCarthy will tentatively hold his “next Bowie sculpture awareness event”on February 25th. The four Bowie faces have been cast into bronze by the Lugar Foundry. The statue, which portrays Bowie in the “Tokyo Pop” jumpsuit by Kansai Yamamoto, has four heads, which represent Bowie’s predilection for taking on different identities, McCarthy says.

Tags David Bowie, David Bowie sculpture, Elvis Presley, Glam Rock Picnic, Mike McCarthy

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WE SAW YOU: Science of Beer

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date January 29, 2025

Keith Hoffmeister, Catherine Prabish, Lauren Boughter, and Sam Lippe (Photos: Michael Donahue)

After they got wet outside, guests wet their whistles inside at Science of Beer.

The annual event was held January 17th at Pink Palace Museum and Mansion. About 550 turned out on a rainy evening for beer from local breweries and cuisine from local food purveyors.

What’s different about this beer tasting is that guests also learn about what they’re drinking. As Pink Palace special events coordinator John Wesley Mullikin said in a Memphis Flyer interview in 2024, “I’ve got the education component, where people are actually learning things. I try to get everybody to talk about what’s different about your beer. What makes your beer special.”

Science of Beer is “not just come and drink beer and eat food,” he says.

The museum also needs to raise money. The profits they raise support its STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) educational fund, which “provides low-cost experiences for underserved students in this area.”

This year’s event was “a huge success,” Mullikin says.

Note: The museum’s “Science of Wine” fundraiser will be April 25th.

Tags Memphis Museum of Science and History, Pink Palace Museum, science of beer

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WE SAW YOU: Graceland’s ‘90 For 90 Exhibit’

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date January 15, 2025

Anthony Pacheco, Sam Barlow, and David Hamilton of Sam Barlow & His True Blue Band (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Elvis fans turned out in chilly weather to pay homage to their King.

Though it was the day after Elvis’ 90th birthday on January 8th, out-of-town fans remained in Memphis and visited the various exhibits, including the new “90 for 90 Exhibit,” which features Elvis clothing and other memorabilia and artifacts.

**Kala Morris, Logan Morris,**
**and Tori Hutson**

**Lauren, Samuel, and**
**Steven Calmas**

The birthday celebration, which ran through January 11th, included a birthday cake, a Proclamation Day Ceremony, live concerts at the Graceland Soundstage, dance parties, special tours, and panel discussions.

**Jessica Herring and**
**William Hill**

A threat of snow, which became a reality January 10th, apparently didn’t deter the loyal fans. The only snow the truly avid fans probably had on their minds was — according to Google — “When the Snow Is on the Roses,” which Elvis sang in a live concert in 1970; “Snowbird,” which he covered in 1970; and “On a Snowy Christmas Night,” which the King recorded in 1971.

Tags 90 For 90 Exhibit, Elvis Presley's Graceland, We Saw You

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WE SAW YOU: Truist Zoo Lights

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date January 8, 2025

Sophia, Charlotte, and Drake Newman with Hunter, McNeilly, and Miller Cowan (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Memphis Zoo was aglow for the holidays with its annual Truist Zoo Lights.

Attire was heavy coats on chilly nights for visitors who drank hot chocolate and took photos standing in front of festive light displays. They kept their coats on, but removed their shoes to don skates at the ice-skating rink.

**David and** **Debbie McAnally, Chris Buckley,**
**Cindy Buckley,** **and Carolyn Jackson**

**Kristyn Martin and**
**Keiyoma Dabney**

Zoo Lights has been going on “at least 20 years,” says Memphis Zoo communications specialist Rebecca Winchester.

“This year’s event was successful. It is always wonderful welcoming the community back to Memphis Zoo.”

**Veronica Chacin and**
**Diego Sanchez**

And, she says, “We look forward to providing the Memphis community with this holiday tradition every year.”

Asked how many lights were displayed, Winchester says. “I do not know the exact number of lights. However, it does take an entire month to set up.”

**Zoe, Portia, Enzo, and Ashton Jeffries**

Winchester did know how many people viewed those lights. “From my understanding, we have seen over 45,000 guests so far this season.”

Tags Memphis Zoo, Truist, We Saw You, Zoo Lights

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Holiday Wonders at the Garden

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date December 25, 2024

(top left) CJ Berretta, (top right) Chad Getchel, (bottom left) Sydney Lewellyn, Albert, Oscar, and Leah Getchel (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Sipping hot chocolate or hot chocolate with something in it is always a delight at Holiday Wonders at the Garden, which continues to enchant children and adults at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

**(left to right) Sarah Strong, Kole Turner,**
**Cathy Strong, and Anthony Strong**

Olivia Wall, director of marketing and communications, describes the attraction as “an outdoor seasonal exhibition. It includes acres of light displays, photo ops.”

**Nada Dryn, Tamara Dryn,**
**Igor Bosim, and Kirill Dryn**

It also includes concessions and fire tables, Wall says. “We have costumed characters every night we’re open. Snow queens, gingerbread men, elves.”

**Brandi Ray, Denny Stanley,**
**Katherine Johnson, and Jarrod Bivens**

Wonders, which closes December 28th, traditionally opens the day after Thanksgiving. “We’ve been doing it for 12 or 13 years. It was originally much smaller. In a very small area garden. And it expanded from there.”

Wonders originally was called “Snowy Nights” and took place at Memphis Botanic Garden’s “My Big Backyard,” notes Wall.

Some dates during this season’s event could have been dubbed “Rainy Nights.” But, with the exception of some of the wet stuff, Wall says “Holiday Wonders at the Garden” 2024 will go down as successful.

Tags Holiday Wonders at the Garden, Memphis Botanic Garden, We Saw You

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Season of Delight at Crosstown Concourse

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date December 18, 2024

Derek, Ava, Lydia, Eliana, Jonathan, Harvey, Ben, and Elliott Cooper (Photos: Michael Donahue)

You might be a bit of a Scrooge if you didn’t get a little thrilled when all those lights turned on at Season of Delight at Crosstown Concourse, which was held December 6th.

“Seeing the entire building come alive with people of all ages and backgrounds — gathered under one roof, enjoying everything from a 20-person gospel choir to a 40-piece orchestra, and counting down to the moment the lights filled the atrium — was unlike anything I’ve experienced before,” says Adrian Perez, Crosstown Concourse communications manager.

**Raelea, Paul, Gabe, Courtney, and Luke Heft**

More than 3,000 people attended Season of Delight. They spread out “across every floor and activated space. Choose901 hosted a holiday market on the fourth floor, Crosstown Arts had open studios and a film screening in the theater, and The End of All Art pop-up bookstore filled the East Atrium. And outside? The ice skating rink, games, and a DJ.”

**Magda Sakaan, Cindy Hastings-Sakaan, and Ayan El-Oglah**

All these attractions and more were featured. “The coalescence of these different audiences and experiences truly embodies the Crosstown Concourse ethos of ‘Better Together,’” says Crosstown Arts executive director Stacy Wright.

Tags Crosstown Arts, Crosstown Concourse, Holiday lights, Season of Delight

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We Saw You: WinterArts

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date December 11, 2024

Steve and Lisa Mergen, Tony Thomas, and Susie Jabbour (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Even before all the turkey is gone, WinterArts is back in action, getting people in the arts-centric holiday-buying mood.

**Alex Russell, Diana, Donna, and Bill Hopper**

Greg Belz, executive director of the ArtWorks Foundation and founder of WinterArts, kicks off the annual event with an opening reception the Friday after Thanksgiving. “We do it at 5,” Belz says. “After everybody looking for plastic bargains from China has gone back home and vacated the streets, we open up.”

**Adam Cole, John Stanford, Debi Stanford, and**
**Hannah Cole**

This year’s WinterArts is at 7509 Poplar Avenue, in the old Brooks Brothers location in The Shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown, Tennessee.

About 400 attended the reception for WinterArts, which is celebrating its 16th year, Belz says.

**Sarah, Cecil, London, Brandon, Sophia, and**
**Brandon Little**

It includes “everything one can think of in glass, metal, wood, clay, and fiber as well as a few other surprises,” he says. “We focus on 3D work in those disciplines.”

In short, WinterArts brings together “material and imagination” to create incredible gifts that “you won’t see anywhere else.”

WinterArts is open seven days a week through Christmas Eve.

Tags Artworks Foundation, Greg Belz, We Saw You, WinterArts

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WE SAW YOU: Bourbon & Blues Cocktail Party & Auction

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date December 4, 2024

Alli Pierce, Emily Kroeze, and Tyra Taylor (Photos: Michael Donahue)

An autographed jersey from former Memphis Grizzlies player Mike Miller was one of the live auction items at the Bourbon & Blues Cocktail Party & Auction.

**Chris and Dana Cathey, Jennifer and Mike Miller**

The jersey went for $2,300, says Jim Meeks, who founded the fundraiser with his wife Natalie. “And then Mike matched that. So, it actually brought in $4,600.”

**Jim and Natalie Meeks, Brittany and David Spence**

Miller, a sports agent and former University of Memphis men’s basketball team assistant coach, and his wife Jennifer were among the 200 guests at the sold-out event, which also included a live auction of about 100 items. The silent auction featured “about 15 rare bottles of bourbon,” Meeks says.

The event, held November 21st, raised more than $70,000 for the Forrest Spence Fund, which assists with non-medical needs of critical or chronically-ill children and their families, and for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which raises money for pediatric research.

Meeks, a managing partner at Northwestern Mutual, says he and his wife began the fundraiser on a smaller scale three years ago. The first two were held at Ghost River Brewing Co.

The event also included an open bar, a buffet, and music by Wyly Bigger and Jad Tariq.

Tags Bourbon & Blues Cocktail Party, Jim Meeks, Mike Miller, Northwestern Mutual