SOUTHERN SUPPER

Charles Portis Weekend turns another page in author's fete

About 35 people gathered in an upstairs event room at the Capital Hotel the night of July 30 for a Southern Supper as part of Oxford American magazine's Charles Portis Weekend -- two days of events geared to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Portis' first book, Norwood.

The book, with a cult following from around the world, portrays the title-bearing character as he travels from his hometown of Ralph, Texas, to New York and back. Norwood and True Grit are among Portis' most recognizable tomes.

Guests paid $150 each to clink glasses and rub elbows with humorists Harrison Scott Key of Savannah, Ga., and Roy Blount Jr. of New Orleans, but Blount's flight was canceled and he was unable to make the party. Portis lovers partied on without him, sipping beer, wine and a Norwood-inspired specialty cocktail called the Phillips & Fring: whiskey, peach bitters and pureed peaches. The Capital's trademark pimiento cheese and crackers were served as an appetizer.

They mingled while singer-guitarist Amy Garland provided background music. Afterward, they sat down at tables decorated with vintage tablecloths provided by Susan Elder, red-speckled enamelware and linens tied with ribbon and a sprig of fresh herbs.

For dinner, the Capital kitchen put together a meal of Southern-fried chicken, meatloaf, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, succotash, fried eggplant salad and dinner rolls. Dessert was blackberry cobbler with whipped cream.

High Profile on 08/07/2016

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