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SUMMARY:On The Town with Ted Clayton
DESCRIPTION:    The kick-off to the fall social season began with a flourish: Fall Fest at the Belle Meade Plantation, Vino on the Veranda, Authors in the Round, and The Frist Gala—all in the second weekend of October. Not being able to attend all the events, let me tell you about the two I did attend. The Frist Gala, featuring the much-anticipated exhibit Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Times, wins my vote for the best follow-through in design, food and decor. Chairwomen Jennie McCabe and Lynne Rhett saw to every detail for this magic, dramatic, and contemporary Santa Fe evening.    Joe Smith of Ilex used Santa Fe and Georgia O’Keeffe’s color palette as inspiration. In the main tent, tables were covered in turquoise, goldenrod and vivid orange overlays, centerpieces of turquoise, manzanita branches with succulents and contemporary candelabras covered in fresh bittersweet vines. Upon entering the tent I was stunned by the large-scale aspen tree filled with thousands of lights anchoring the center of the room—so very unexpected. The tent walls were draped in white, sheer fabric backlit in hues of orange, gold, and aqua. The presence of Georgia O’Keeffe was certainly felt throughout this wonderful evening.    For dinner (and I mean dinner!) Danielle Kates created a Southwestern menu of fried oyster on corn tortilla with Pico de gallo for hors d’oeuvres. Tamale tart with roasted garlic custard with lump crab for the first course was followed by braised short ribs with cheddar jalapeno grits, haricots vert, red and yellow tomato confit as the main course. Dessert was an amazing almond cake with caramel sauce and candied orange peel. (This is what I call Sunday night comfort food!) Well, after this feast I felt that I needed to take a hike to Santa Fe!    Sylvia Bradbury and Debbie Best, Frist Gala 2009 Auction Chairs, put together quite a fine silent auction including luxury trips, priceless parties, fine jewelry and fabulous finds. The Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show got my (low) bid. I did think it was interesting to see a number of Nashvillians opening their homes for auction parties, including Tawnie and Vic Campbell, Theresa Payne, Sylvia Roberts and Deby and Keith Pitts—all such generous homeowners.    I do want to mention the featured artist Georgia O’Keeffe. O’Keeffe was one of the first female painters to garner both widespread popularity and critical acclaim during the 1920s and 1930s through her sensual flower paintings. O’Keeffe traveled throughout New Mexico and was so impressed by the desert landscape that she eventually moved there, devoting her creative energies to capturing the simple forms and spiritual essence of the land. This artist completed more than 2000 works, an oeuvre that has left its stamp on American art.    Those viewing the O’Keeffe creations and enjoying the fall evening were Rob McCabe and Moorey Rhett, proud husbands of the co-chairs; Claire Armistead and Allen Sullivan, Cindy and Bill Sites, Anne and Bill Whetsell, Kelly and Lee Beaman, Larry Trabue and Peggy Craig, Sue and Douglas Joyce, Stephanie and Pat Maxwell, Lisa and John Campbell, Elizabeth and Welling LaGrone, Julie and George Stadler, Nancy and Billy Webb, Lillian and Will Johnston, Stephanie and John Ingram. Of course, here a Frist, there a Frist—Trish and Tommy, Karyn and Bill, Julie and Tommy, Jennifer and Billy.    The chill in the air brought out the first of the furs. Anne Russell looked stunning in a silver and white chinchilla wrap. Barbara Bovender’s jewels matched the evening decor. I told Barbara how smart she looked in the amber jewels, and she replied that she had no idea of the décor; she is just a bit psychic. (Just love that woman!)    Next on the agenda was “Authors In The Round,” a dinner to kick start the 21st Annual Southern Festival of Books. This event was held at the wonderful War Memorial Auditorium, with proceeds from the evening benefiting Humanities Tennessee. Jen Bottorff and Lise Morrow chaired this intellectual evening. Jen, daughter-in-law to Jean Bottorff, had large shoes to fill, being that mom-in-law chaired last year’s gala. Jen and Lise did an outstanding job and did not let the passing rainstorms dampen any detail. There were cocktails in the courtyard with the signature drink “The Pageturner” and entertainment by visiting rock star Steve Moakler. (Whitney Daane is quite proud of Steve!). Johnny Haffner created a festive fall dinner—loved the wild-mushroom-stuffed breast of guinea hen with bourbon demi-glace. What event can go wrong in this grand facility? I get chills each time I am there.    There were 30-plus authors in attendance, each seated at a patron table with his or her latest book. My table author host was Silas House with his book Eli the Good. Silas is the recipient of the Kentucky Book of the Year Award and the James Still Award from the Fellowship of Southern Writers. I need to mention that the favors for the evening were the authors’ books, always a useful and thoughtful idea. Other outstanding authors included Madison Smartt Bell, author of 12 novels; Rick Bragg, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing; River Jordon, a critically acclaimed novelist and playwright; Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times best-selling author, and Nashville’s own Alice Randall.    Patrons having their books autographed were Nancy Saturn with Hope and Howard Stringer (Hope shared with me her newest addition to her jewel collection, a diamond-encrusted snake ring and earrings—so Hope, so Cleopatra; only difference is Hope has more jewelry!), Barbara and Eric Chasen, Jeffrey and Verina Buntin, Richard and Beth Courtney, John and Delores Seigenthaler (John being MC, of course), Bob and Mary Ruth Shell, Jane and Larry Brown, Lee Ann and George Anderson, Jamie and Spook Stream, Margaret Ann Robinson, Kate and Steve Ezell, Lee Pratt and Neil Krugman, and my new friend Ken Roberts Jr. with Robin Haney (Robin is owner of Apropos, that really cool spa under F. Scott's).    I knew I was in good company when I was introduced to my dinner partner, Serenity. Speaking of good company—this is a hoot!—who should I run into at this delightful evening but my third grade Palmer School teacher. How excited and gratified she was to see one of her students at such a scholarly event. But wait, it gets even better—I could not stop and informed her that I was there covering the event and that I was sort of an author myself. (Oh please let me have this one fantasy!)    “Fashion After Dark” is a new and upcoming event to be held November 21. Elizabeth Scokin Productions and Lexus of Nashville have a vision to imitate the same event that was held in New York by Vogue magazine, “Fashion Night Out.” This will be a two-night event, first a charity fashion show to benefit the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation and second, a shopping night out. The second evening will have selected shops in town giving a percentage of sales to the foundation, a “kick start” to the Christmas shopping season. The fashion show will be held at Lexus of Nashville–Cool Springs. Elizabeth had a few of her models at the kick-off, including the beautiful Susan Spears and Stephanie Williams. Santa with his elves (maybe I should say Santa in his Lexus!) and Elizabeth with her models are both working with diligence to make this a stately affair.    Have a great Thanksgiving!    [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="rand"]
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URL:http://nashvillearts.com/2009/11/04/on-the-town-with-ted-clayton/
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