Small Talk

A cocktail supper party provided a delightful opportunity for Knox Concert Series board members and spouses to welcome new members, thank retirees and honor longtime fellows.

The reception, on Tuesday, May 20, was at the Glenwood Terrace home of Knox board chairwoman Patricia Smith and her husband, Henry Smith III.

The threatening rain held off long enough for guests to enjoy cocktails on the patio, where Patricia welcomed newest board members Greg Brown and Cleo Thomas, both of whom are longtime Series' supporters.

Also feted were Margaret Roberts and Phil Webb — who joined the board last season, but who had not been "partied" — and Dr. Neal "Buddy" Canup, who served as board chairman in the mid-'70s, and Pete Chalk, a board leader and innovator in the '80s, who were honored as "Directors Emeriti."

Special thanks were extended to recently retired Rogers Hyche and Don King. While Rogers and Jane will soon be moving to Hilton Head, S.C., Patricia noted that since Don's wife, Mandi King, is Knox treasurer and Don is a "never-missed-a-concert" host, his participation will surely continue indefinitely.

A rather impressive summer evening thunder (and lightning) storm moved partygoers indoors, where the hostess had embellished the dining room table with a large pink garden hydrangea in a silver punch bowl. A coffee table in the living room held its hothouse "cousin" in a shade of deep magenta.

A light and elegant supper, catered by Knox patrons, David and Cathy Mashburn, included pecan crusted lamb chops, a whole salmon, sesame chicken and a variety of cheeses, marinated vegetables and fruit.

A Charleston Music Infusion

The following Friday, Patricia, Patty King, Christa Smith, her daughter, Rusha Smith of Birmingham and Dorothy Veach, (all Knox board members) headed to Charleston, S.C., for the Spoleto Festival and their annual infusion of the new and innovative in the music world.

A forum for the very latest in opera, dance and other performance arts, Spoleto is interesting at the very least and food for thought for prospects to present to the Anniston audience.

And in between scurrying from performance sites varying from a 3,000 seat auditorium to the lawn of Charleston College, the ladies got a chance to shop the lovely Charleston boutiques and visit with former Annistonians who now call Charleston "home."

Lynn Letson entertained the group at her townhouse on the Battery one evening before dinner and the theater. She included Rusha's fellow Donoho School grads Jean Arnold and Helen Rutledge, so there was lots of catching up.