Omer Yusuf|Memphis Commercial Appeal
Thousands of people gathered at Mud Island River Park in Memphis on Saturday evening for one of the city’s annual marquee parties.
The attire was varied from T-shirts to dresses,but all the guests had one thing in common— they wore all-white attire. That's a mandatory rule for admission to the All White Affairhosted by CGI Entertainment’s Curtis Givens — a staple of Memphis’ party scene for more than two decades.
The party was billed as “the most anticipated party of the summer” with an estimated 2,500 to 3,500 people expected to attend Saturday. People took photos in their all-white outfits at the “Memphis” sign at Mud Island River Park. Others enjoyed drinks and food while listening to music in the seating and VIP areas.
The All White Affair began at 4 p.m., and the park started filling up with partygoers arriving fashionably late closer to 6 p.m. with the sea of white clothing visible all throughout Mud Island.
There were plenty of cooling tents for people who wanted a temporary break from the weather, with the heat index regularly above 100 during the late afternoon at the outdoor event. Thecooling tents were conveniently located next to various food trucks and tent bars.
“The people deserve the praise,” Givens said of his success. “They make me who I am. With their support, it keeps making me stronger and stronger. I give all the praise to the people, not myself.”
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Givens, CGI Entertainment founder, has become a key figure in the city’s event, party and nightlife scene. He has helped stage the University of Memphis basketball's Memphis Madness and created perennial multi-faceted festivities like the Can I Live weekend and the annual post-Thanksgiving All Black Affair. Givens has also thrown lavish parties celebrating his own birthday each February.
“I put my head down and I grind, man,” Givens said. “I work, I get dirty, I put my hands on stuff. I never act like I’m too big to do anything.”
Givens held his inaugural All White Affair in 2002, at the old River Terrace Yacht Club. Itdrew fewer than 200 people. By 2009, the event had moved to The Peabody and was attended by more than 2,000. Today, the All White Affair is the centerpiece of the now annual multi-day, multi-event Can I Live weekend.
Corliss Givens, Curtis’ brother, said attendees can always expect a great time, spectacular service and “an experience that you can’t get on a regular weekend.”
He also said the All White Affair shows the city can hold events where people in and outside of Memphis can have a great time while staying safe.
“People fly in every year from out of town,” Corliss said. “It gives people a reason to kind of stay in town during the summer, because a lot of people travel to (Las) Vegas and Miami and places like that. It gives people a reason to stay home and invite their friends in town to come party and enjoy Memphis.”
Kenny Burns, a self-described “lifestyle specialist,” has co-hosted the All White Affair for the past seven years. Burns said he’s traveled and hosted in clubs all across the country, but Memphis is unique in many ways.
He also appreciates Memphis’ commitment to enjoying not only new music, but classic throwbacks from the 1990s and 2000s, which were regularly played atSaturday's event.
“Memphis, they consider it a B or C market.It’s a A market to me, man, because people actually have a good time here,” Burns said. “When people come out to celebrate or party, they worked hard all month to save for the (All) White (Affair). They worked hard to see Kenny Burns talk that s***, pour out them drinks and show love. That melts my heart, man, because I do it for the people.”
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General admission tickets for the party were $30 in advance or $50 the day of the event. A number of attendees parked at Mud Island River Park’s parking garage and took free shuttles to get to the All White Affair. Others paid, in some cases, up to $30 or $60 to receive prime parking access to the event.
Latasha Freeman is a regular All White Affair attendee. What does she enjoy about the event?
“Grownups. Classy. Just grown and sexy. Everything. I’m talking about everything,” she said.
When asked what people can expect at the All White Affair, Freeman said:“They just have to come out and see for themselves. I can’t say much … I’m pretty sure that a lot of Memphis they know … he’s (Givens)a great guy.”
Reporter Bob Mehr contributed to this story.
Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, residential real estate, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via emailOmer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.comor followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.
