Conservancy Gala has always been one of my favorite events. This year it’s being co-chaired by Dee Patel and Vickie Mertz. Dee, the general manager for The Hermitage Hotel, is a friend that has been everywhere recently. Vickie, I don’t know as well but like alot – we met when she purchased a fabulous bowtie from the Conservancy pop-up I did a few years ago. I’m doing another one for them soon – I will share details as soon as they are locked down. Honorary chairs are Clare Armistead, Nancy Peterson Hearn, Ellen Martin and Hope Stringer. I ran into Dee downtown not long ago as I was taking Spanky and Snow out to do their business – I was at Fairlane Hotel doing a pop-up. I also saw Vickie at the Symphony Fashion Show Kick-off. I think Conservancy Gala is one of the “hautest” tickets in town and the event is close to selling out if it hasn’t already. I asked both of them about the event and what I could expect. Its going to be amazing! I’ll share with you what Dee and Vickie shared with me  –

Can you tell me what to expect when I arrive at the Parthenon on the 6th? All Gala guests will have reserved parking spaces. Swag bags will be distributed when guests arrive as well. So far as your initial impression when you arrive, let’s just say that the words sparkle, light, color, movement and fire will be a good description.

I love Reflection of Lights! Tell me more about this year’s theme and where you drew inspiration. When our Conservancy Gala team was discussing themes for this year, we were looking at an old photograph from the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and were moved by the way the lights reflected off the Parthenon onto Lake Watauga. Other photos showed similar effects. Electricity was novel at that time, and more than 18,000 electric bulbs illuminated the Exposition buildings. Further, about 75 fireworks were displayed then. To continue honoring the 1897 Exposition we had chosen our Gala theme as Then & Now: Reflection of Lights.  The evening will be an uplifting experience to celebrate the past and the bright future of the Parthenon and our beautiful Centennial Park.

How is this event different from last year’s? This year we are providing chairs and cocktail rounds so that those who want to have an outdoor experience and perhaps group with some friends can do so. We also will be having an auction tent featuring 14 different items that have been chosen specifically to coordinate with our theme. Our auction is online and can be viewed from a QR code that will be written in the dinner programs so that you don’t even need to leave your vehicle if you prefer. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t give you our auction website for your readers: conservancygala.com/auction.

Are you showing a film this year?  No, there is no film this year. We felt we wanted to provide a different experience for our Gala guests and not repeat what we had last year.

So no film, is there entertainment? Absolutely! We are going to have a spectacular light show which we are very excited about, along with some major fireworks. And we have three incredible singers who will knock your socks off! And some surprises that only those attending the Gala will be able to participate in.

Who is catering this year? Can you share some menu highlights? Kristen Winston Catering. We’ll let our Gala guests taste their dinners before sharing the menu!

Is there a signature cocktail? A fabulous bar? We didn’t feel we wanted a signature cocktail this year, but we DO have a fabulous bar. Lipman Bros. has donated to us white and red wines, beers, along with some great spirits. And the talented Bryant Williams and his Helping Hands bar service company will be able to concoct all sorts of cocktails! We can also reveal that we will have pecan liqueur to spike hot chocolate for a nice finish.

What should one wear to the event? We are asking our guests to wear “chic outdoor attire.”

Will I be able to socialize with my friends? If you feel comfortable leaving your vehicle, then by all means, yes.

What was it like to work together on this? We had not known each other very well prior to becoming Chairs, but Sylvia Rapoport (the Conservancy’s Founding President and guru of the Gala), was instrumental in getting us together. It has been a wonderful and rewarding experience, each of us bringing our ideas to plan this Gala. We both feel lucky to have gotten to know one another.

Clare Armistead, one the evening’s honorary chairs added “The Conservancy Gala has atmosphere of it’s own because of the Park and the Parthenon. I look forward to the evening.  and appreciate the people so much who have put it together.”

I hope to see you on the 6th under the stars at Centennial Park!