Sidney Lanier . Org

Navigation

• Poet Notes
• Montgomery News
• SL High School
• Sidney C Lanier
• City Lifestyle
• About SLO
• Contacts
• SLHS Alumni Site

Column by Deborah Hayes Moore • Special to the Advertiser • October 31, 2010

The sounds of a mellow saxo­phone filled the air as early arriv­als to "Midtown Gets Down in the Big Easy" were greeted at the A&P Lofts on Cloverdale Road recently. Sam Williams bellowed the jazz notes from the balcony overlook­ing the venue's courtyard, beckon­ing patrons to "get down" and en­joy every aspect of the New Orleans-inspired evening that had been created especially for them and the Friday night benefit they had come to support.

Jackson Hospital Foundation board chairwoman Laura Har­mon and Janet McQueen, the hospital's vice president for mar­keting and development, orga­nized a French Quarter experi­ence with Montgomery flair, inviting patrons to dine and dance under the moonlight as a unique way to mount funds for the founda­tion's projects during the third an­nual fundraiser.

Together, they welcomed more than 275 guests and encouraged them to enjoy Cajun favorites, spe­cialty drinks, memorable music and artwork at various loft loca­tions during the evening. As the piece de resistance, the duo reserv­ed special snacks as a late night surprise.

Breezeway Beverages

Poised to help begin action of the festivities, Debbie Wessel was joined by foundation volun­teers Martha Shirah, Faye Sing­leton, Brittany Burcham and Rebecca Flatt, who presented each arrival with a souvenir glass to make their experience during the evening a refreshing success.

Barrie Harmon III, Katie and Charles Bradshaw and Heather and Charles Hum­phrey, were among those there representing signature beverage sponsor, Harmon Dennis Brad­shaw Inc. They enjoyed the eve­ning as many selected their col­or-blinking glasses, and went straight to a breezeway bar where Natalie Tomberlin and Will Thompson served signature hurricane cocktails created by the Pine Bar. The bar in the breeze­way was one of the many loft loca­tions that were frequent stops on each guest's journey through the Midtown fundraiser.

George and Nancy Thomas, Sim Penton and Brent Wills of Kaufman Gilpin McKenzie Thom­as & Weiss were among those there who were thrilled when oth­ers selected their souvenir glasses as wine sponsors. The glasses were used for an experience that was more than a wine tasting at one of the new A&P Lofts' hotspots.

A Cajun Patron's Event 

Having opened the doors for business only two weeks before the big night, the owners and staff of Village Kitchen were ready to serve as sponsors of Midtown Gets Down's patron event. They de­lighted the taste buds throughout the night as they treated guests like they had just stepped into a fa­vorite eatery on Canal or Bourbon streets.

Michelle and Toby Roth, a sharply dressed Billy Kitchens with his wife, Jennie, and Gay­nell and state Sen. Larry Dixon, were among those seen there, as the restaurant's chefs received consistent praise for the selected dishes they prepared from their regular menu and others that were specially developed to match the spirit of the evening.

Among them were oyster po-boy sliders, enjoyed by guests amid the restaurant's interiors, which had been designed by Ash­ley Gilbreath. The smaller ver­sions of a Big Easy favorite, as well as open-faced tenderloins, were served in areas where white leath­er tufted banquettes lined the walls, near wooden French-coun­try style pedestal tables for every­day seating, and where green mounds topped burnished urns ac­cented with seasonal décor.

Guests enjoyed the opportunity to cover every inch of the restau­rant's space as they went to vari­ous stations to enjoy servings of grilled shrimp and cheddar grits, and New Orleans bread pudding with a whiskey crème anglaise that was so smooth and thick, it was poured from a French-country style pitcher to top the servings of­fered each guest.

Mickey Griffin said his favor­ite of the night was "gumbo with a kick," which was served at anoth­er station with hot crab and arti­choke dip. Mounds of miniature muffalettas and cheddar biscuits were displayed at yet another sta­tion, where Kathy and Tim Bar­rowman mingled nearby with friends, as well as their lovely daughter Hillary, who returned to Montgomery two weeks ago to practice veterinary medicine.

Among those also gathering amid areas decorated with stacked pumpkins and enjoying the night's delicious cuisine were Lisa Capell and John Capell; Gina Izer; Wynne Crawford, Jeanie Holloway, Brooke and Phelps Reid; Grits Morris; Rob­bie and John Hackman; Emily Goolsby; Steve Lamsens; Linda Wade; Kim Headley; Lee Franklin; Keith Thompson; Nancy and Harry Haring ; Jennifer Williams and Bill Wallace.

Fireside Chats

Others gathered at an open bar to enjoy the service of an Oktober­fest of wines. Scrumptious whole fried okra was served with chipotle aioli as guests used their souvenir wine glasses to enjoy spe­cially-selected rieslings, chardon­nays, merlots, cabernets and sau­vignon blancs. Still other guests ventured to another loft location where they enjoyed yet another se­lection of outstanding beverages.

McAlpine Tankersley Archi­tects opened its dreamy upper-lev­el office for the night, welcoming patrons who admired the décor and its surprise elements, and who enjoyed chats by a roaring fire. Champagne sponsor, Birchfield Penuel Architecture of Birming­ham, made sure everyone who made a visit to the area was offered a flute of the bubbly, including Lisa and Gary Beers and Emilie Reid, who had a chance to relax amid the beautiful interiors with Greg Tankersley.

Dancing In The Streets

Mary Robin Tankersley mingled with friends in the court­yard below where a New Orleans street scene had been designed for an outdoor celebration.

To help evoke that special Cres­cent City feeling, Bob Vardaman circled a seven-foot tall fountain with greenery and positioned it as a centerpiece to the entrance of the area. He also designed special lighting for the courtyard to give it a festive dancing in the streets-style ambiance. Complete with swaging strands of pink lights, lan­terns were suspended from shep­herd-staff stakes to simulate a New Orleans street, or garden scene; while the Jackson Hospital logo was projected on a building behind a specially-constructed perform­ance stage.

Adding the touch of a jazz club, tables and chairs were scattered on the courtyard's greens, and near the edges of a checkerboard dance floor, where Wesley Barry and other patrons two-stepped, fin­ger-popped, jitterbugged and bopped during the night. Many stood or sat nearby to enjoy vocals that included renditions of "Mr. Saturday Night" and "Stardust," as well as several Lou Rawls and Louis Armstrong favorites.

John Williams, Howard Brazil and Charles Hastey rep­resented Cardiology Associates of Montgomery as the night's enter­tainment sponsor. They made it possible for New Orleans' favorite Deacon John and the Ivories to come to the Capital City to pay tribute to Bourbon Street as they entertained on Cloverdale Road throughout the night.

A Little Night Shopping

With good food and drink ga­lore, the scene would not have been complete without a little French Market shopping.

Since retiring as an urologist at Jackson Hospital, Frank Randall has had a chance to develop his ar­tistic side by painting and work­ing with different types of pottery. To support Midtown Gets Down, Randall created four unique items that were the showpieces of a si­lent auction.

At the fringes of the entertain­ment area, guests had an opportu­nity to place bids on a European scene table, a city scene vase, jazz scene wall art and a Jackson Hos­pital scene tile.

Julia Richardson of Julia Meredith designs came from At­lanta to enjoy the foundation's big outdoor party, and simultaneously filled tables in Jane Smith Interi­ors as a special showcase for pa­trons that night.

Late-Night Favorites

All that was missing was a fes­tive parade and revelers cheering with noisemakers. As the fund­raiser progressed, late-night favor­ites were served to cap off the eve­ning.

A world-famous hot dog vendor and French Quarter fixture, Lucky Dogs, are sought by New Orleans' residents and tourists at uniquely designed kiosks and carts that capture the character and charm of the French Quarter.

For the Montgomery fund­raiser, local physician Steven Chandler created an oversized artistic rendering of a Lucky Dog as a backdrop for an outdoor ven­dor stand where the favorites were served to guests as the clock struck nine.

For Midtown Gets Down, the Lucky Dogs were sponsored by ProAssurance, prepared by the Pine Street Café at Jackson Hos­pital, and served by Chef Bill Burdess and Katie Dixon.

Inspired by Café du Monde, Montgomery Anesthesia Associ­ates supported the event as the late-night snack sponsor, and de­lighted guests who remained until the last song was sung with the service of beignets and café au lait.

Let The Good Times Roll

As the night came to a close, it had been enjoyed by Jackson Hos­pital CEO Don Henderson and his wife, Dinah; and Jackson Hos­pital Foundation board members Carl Barker and his wife, Con­nie; Billy Canary and his wife, Leura; Arla Chandler and her husband, Steve; Steve Davidson and his wife, Suzanne; Katherine Gayden; Willie Smith and his wife, Twinkle; and Ham Wilson and his wife, Cindy.

Several members of Jackson Hospital's board of trustees were among those who enjoyed the spe­cial French Quarter-style experi­ence, including Roger Duggar and his wife, Judy; George Hand­ey and his wife, Jeanie; Keith Karst and his wife, Mary; Kyle Kyser and his wife, Judy; Char­lotte Mussafer and her husband, Joe; and John Williams and his wife, Jennifer.

Jackson Hospital CFO Peter Verrecchia and his wife, Maria, were also seen there as were Vicky Jones and her husband, Bill; and Shelly Henrikson and her husband, Gray.

Others helping to make the event a success were Midtown co-sponsors and special friends, in­cluding Montgomery Cancer Cen­ter; Welch, Hornsby & Welch; Adams Drugs; Aflac/Beth Darnell; Alabama Artificial Limb & Ortho­pedic; Alabama Office Supply; Apogee Medical; Ball, Ball, Mat­thews & Novak; Berney Office Sup­ply; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ala­bama; Brown Chambless Architects Inc.; Cobbs Allen Hall; Cross Construction; Crown Laun­dry; Engineered Cooling Services; Goodwyn, Mills, Cawood; Health­South; Holloway Credit Solutions; LogoBranders; Montgomery Car­diology Associates; Montgomery Neurosurgical Associates; Palo­mar Insurance; Professional Bill­ing Inc.; Radiology Group; Regions Bank; Rushton Stakely Johnston & Garrett; Servis1st Bank; Termi­nus Securities; Uniformacy; Valic; Walker 360; MBC United and Jeni­lyn's Creations.

Deborah Hayes Moore writes about society news for the Mont­gomery Advertiser. She may be reached by voicemail at 956-0254 or by e-mail at dmougins@aol.com.