Memphis - October 2023

TOM LEE

THREE CHEERS (AND A FEW JEERS) FOR THE REVAMPED RIVERFRONT

YOUR GETAWAY YOUR HOMECOMING

South Walton’s turquoise water, 26 miles of sugar-white sand, and 16 beach neighborhoods in Northwest Florida effortlessly blend natural beauty, modern amenities, world class cuisine, and small town charm that draw generations together year after year.

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WHERE PERFECT MEMORIES GROW

South Walton has a way of bringing people together. Annual traditions are born and special moments are handed down through generations. Find your perfect beach at VisitSouthWalton.com.

Every day, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni focus on the improving the health of Tennessee. We are training the health care workforce for the future. We are providing care at major hospitals across Tennessee today. Our researchers are seeking out the cures of tomorrow.

Spread love, not germs by having your rugs disinfected.

Here at Taghavi’s, we would like to do our part to help stop the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus. Recent studies have shown that the virus can be brought into your home, by your shoes and can live on surfaces like your rugs and floors anywhere from two to nine days. In order to help curb the spread, we at Taghavi’s, recommend that you stop wearing your outdoor shoes into your homes and to have your rugs cleaned and disinfected. Quality rug cleaning can only be accomplished by in-store professional rug cleaners. Call us for disinfecting and cleaning of your rugs.

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Morning Rock-and-Roll

On a recent Saturday morning, a very polite crowd gathered at Crosstown Concourse. Folks stood around with coffee cups, sat cross-legged on the floor with breakfast pastries, and caught up with pals. Some had been waiting for an hour or more, but no one seemed particularly put out. We were about to see singer-songwriter Jason Isbell, and we weren’t paying a dime for the pleasure. And afterwards, we would go about our weekends free from hangovers, from stiff knees, from the smell of cigarette or pot smoke in our hair. This is morning rock-and-roll, and I want more of it.

In fairness, Isbell was primarily in town to play an evening show that same day, complete with a band, tickets, drink vendors, the whole usual deal. But beforehand, he had agreed to an abbreviated set (and an interview) with WYXR 91.7, the still-newish nonprofit community radio station operating out of Crosstown Concourse. The radio set was slated for 10 a.m.; Isbell rolled in closer to 11. (He’s talked publicly about giving up certain vices, but showing up at the first double-digit time of the day was still a big ask. If morning concerts became more prevalent, though, I bet musicians would adjust.)

Don’t get me wrong: I adore live music, love the feeling of bass resonating in my chest and the energy of a crowd pulsing in unison. I just want that experience in the morning! I don’t know about you, but evening commitments have felt more demanding as I’ve grown older (and since I gave up drinking, in 2010). Saying yes to a morning engagement is easy; if it starts after 8 p.m., I’m gritting my teeth.

After the Isbell experience, I flashed a bat signal on Instagram to other boring middle-aged people who love music but also love being home in the evening. I wrote: Relatedly, I would like to submit a request to the powers that be for more morning/midday concerts. I would show up at so! many! more! shows! if there were, like, late Saturday morning coffee-sipping shows. Maybe it would conflict with the rock-and-roll lifestyle. But then again, plenty of rockers have gotten clean/sober too. C’mon folks. MORNING CONCERTS.

I recognize that my modestly sized group of Instagram followers do not a representative sample make. I will say, though, that this idea got more traction than anything else I’ve shared lately.

Some practical thoughts for any musicians or bookers or managers out there:

Morning shows needn’t mean the absence of evening shows. If anything, artists would draw in different audiences for morning and evening shows, increasing revenues for all involved. And if the same venue is used twice in a day, overhead costs involved in set-up and

tear-down would barely change.

If drink sales are a concern, sell coffee at a morning show. Sell mimosas and Bloody Marys. Sell hot chocolate, sell popsicles, sell whatever you like! It’s still a party.

Think of how much more relaxed and, frankly, well-behaved a morning crowd is liable to be. The security and clean-up expenses would be vastly reduced!

Kids would be able to experience live music without being kept up past their bedtimes, creating a whole new generation of concert-goers. In fact, at WYXR, kids flocked to the recording booth windows and rocked out.

For much of the year in this part of the country, the only time of day that’s not sweltering is the morning. Wouldn’t it be nice to attend an outdoor concert without feeling like you’ve been slow-roasted?

When I was a single woman, I skipped plenty of concerts I would have liked to attend because I felt uncomfortable being out late and alone. From a safety standpoint, fewer shenanigans take place before lunch.

Morning shows wouldn’t work on weekdays, thanks to school and work. But what a brilliant way to begin a Saturday or Sunday morning, full of inspiration and community for the week ahead.

Speaking of community, it’s easier to see and chat with those around you at a daylight concert. Connections can be formed or strengthened, conversations can be fostered, and people might just feel as though they’re part of — a feeling we all crave.

Not every musician would adapt well to getting on stage in the morning. But I bet that plenty are not natural night owls and would relish the chance to do their work in the daytime, to sync their schedules with those of family and friends.

If you would love to see a few more morning and midday shows crop up around town, let me know! If we get good feedback on this idea, we’ll compile your responses and share them with local venues. Email me ( anna@ memphismagazine.com ) if you, too, love both live music and evenings on your couch.

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The Rendezvous

Revisiting a classic among classics on the occasion of its 75th birthday.

BY MICHAEL DONAHUE

I’ve spent more hours than I would care to count at a table at the Rendezvous — or at the bar. ere’s an old-school, easy sophistication about the place, which is still in the family of Charlie Vergos, whose name remains on the sign. Now, it’s owned by John Vergos, his sister, Tina Jennings, and family members of their late brother, Nick Vergos.

Diners enter through an alley off Union, across from e Peabody. To find the dining room, descend the stairs from the street level and travel a few steps back in time. e walls are almost entirely covered with photos, posters, banners, ads, and a hodgepodge of memorabilia. ink New York’s Sardi’s restaurant with all the framed celebrity caricatures. Same vibe, but in subterranean Memphis.

Framed copies of a story I wrote long ago, about long-time Rendezvous servers, hang on two walls at the Rendezvous. My editor, the late Angus McEachran, gave me that assignment when I was at e Commercial Appeal. Later, he walked into the newsroom to tell me I did a great job after the story appeared on the cover of the Sunday features section.

at was a big deal (and a rare occurrence) when he did that.

Legendary servers over the years include the great Jack

Dyson. When I showed up, he always called out, “Red BANKS!,” which is where I live.

e also-great Albert “Red” Hurt sang out, “Do-na-HUE!” whenever he saw me.

Always the best place to socialize, I remember double-dating at the Rendezvous in the 1970s. I was with a woman I’d never been out with. We all laughed and ate. Later that week, I called to ask her out again for the next weekend. She said, “I thought I made it perfectly clear last time I saw you that I never want to go out with you again.” I was stunned. But it wasn’t the restaurant’s fault.

e place attracted its share of celebrities. In 1988, John Kennedy Jr. attended Paul Tudor Jones’ wedding at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Memphis.

e night before, I was assigned to wait at e Peabody until he checked in. After he arrived, Rebecca Dinstuhl and I followed Kennedy and his

party to the Rendezvous. John Vergos seated us at a table next to his. We didn’t bother him, but at one point his server, the legendary Percy Norris, told Kennedy I was paying for his dinner. Norris was kidding, but I would have gladly paid for the meal of JFK Jr.

I always ordered the barbecued pork loin, because it wasn’t as messy to eat as ribs when you’re out with somebody you want to impress (but who never wants to see you again). Now I order just about everything, though they no longer offer the pork loin.

Outside of the women who seat customers, people don’t see many women working at the Rendezvous. But, actually, several women hold key roles there now.

“A lot of the men around here have these bigger-than-life personalities,” says Anna Vergos Blair, daughter of John Vergos. e servers, whom everybody

knows by name, are “the personalities of this place.”

But, she says, “It’s always been women who worked really hard pushing this restaurant forward and doing different kinds of behind-the-scenes aspects of the business.”

She mentions Cheron Allbright, who has booked “every big catering event for over 20 years.” Kelly Rhea is responsible for “making sure all our sauces and seasoning get where they’re supposed to be. She helps in the shipping side of the business.” Another key person is Emily Garrison, who takes care of accounts payable and scheduling.

And Blair’s sister, Katherine Vergos Riederer, is involved with marketing, merchandising, and their digital business. She also helped their grandmother, Tsia Vergos, and Jennings create the Greek salad and add it to the menu.

As for herself, Blair says, “I help handle any business decisions, any accounting, marketing, legal, insurance.”

Blair began working at the restaurant when she was 14. She worked in shipping, bartended, and “did any job I could.”

She then worked as a publicist for congressman Harold Ford Jr. After graduating from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, she worked at the Burch, Porter & Johnson law firm for a few years before returning to the Rendezvous in 2015.

“I love being here,” she says. “I saw a need — and I think Dad and Nick and Tina also saw the need — for someone from the next generation to really understand the business.”

Blair was instrumental in getting the alley cleaned up and murals painted for the restaurant’s outdoor eating area. She was also responsible for adding vegetarian options to the menu, like the meatless red beans and rice.

A classic? No doubt. But midway through its eighth decade, the Rendezvous isn’t resting on its laurels. Or its charcoal briquettes.

left: Katherine Vergos Riederer, John Vergos, and Anna Vergos Blair. right: The author takes a bite. below: Nick Vergos, Michael Donahue, and restaurant founder Charles Vergos at an early “Rendezvous at the Zoo.” PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL DONAHUE, AUTHOR

The Rendezvous is located at 22 S. Second.

Shakey’s Pizza

Our history expert solves local mysteries: who, what, when, where, why, and why not. Well, sometimes.

BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

acquired his “Shakey” nickname because of a nervous disorder he developed while serving in the Navy, but that seems cruel to me, so I won’t go into it. His partner in the new venture was longtime friend Ed Plummer, and the two most expensive items on the menu were the “Shakey’s Special” (every ingredient we had) and the “Big Ed Special” (every ingredient except olives). Johnson and Plummer soon opened other stores along the West Coast, and then went nationwide. By the mid-1960s, they had expanded to 250 stores, and by the 1970s, Shakey’s had more than 500 locations across America.

Shakey’s served all the standard pizzas — cheese, sausage, pepperoni — but also offered such oddities as shrimp, oysters, and anchovies. Even though Coletta’s gets credit for inventing it, Shakey’s also served barbecue pizza. On Saturdays, diners could enjoy fried chicken, and for a few years, Shakey’s on Summer even operated an oldtimey ice-cream parlor.

e buildings were distinctive, low-slung structures with an overhanging shingled roof and a huge neon sign announcing “Shakey’s Pizza Parlor and Ye Public House.” I wish I could share a photo of the exterior (or the sign), but I’ve never found a good one. e pictures you see here, all interiors, were culled from ads in local yearbooks, and an old matchbook cover.

Let’s look inside. Pulling open a heavy front door with a stained-glass panel, diners found themselves in a large, dark, low-ceilinged dining hall. Apparently, the designers of Shakey’s thought “Ye Public House” meant plenty of dark wood, rows of heavy wooden picnic-style tables, and long benches or heavy square stools. A log-burning fireplace was a nice touch, but if you were seeking an intimate dinner, or for that matter, comfortable chairs, Shakey’s was not for you.

DEAR VANCE: What happened to all the Shakey’s pizza parlors in Memphis? Did the Lauderdales ever dine there?

— E.G., GERMANTOWN

above: Students from Westside High School show that the slogan on the old matchbook was true. This photo ran in the school’s 1970 yearbook. Recognize anybody?

DEAR E.G.: e Lauderdales not only dined there, but for a year, I worked at the Shakey’s located at Summer and Mendenhall. Mother and Father, you see, developed a curious notion that menial labor built character. What they didn’t realize, however, was that I didn’t consider this particular job “labor” at all; in fact, as a certified old man looking back at a lifetime of various employers, Shakey’s was the best — meaning, most fun — place I ever worked. e whole story of my employment there will be told in my forthcoming book, Bound for Glory: e Marvelous Saga of the Lauderdales in America, but I’ll give you a glimpse of my Shakey’s days here.

First of all, Shakey was a real person. The founder of the chain, which opened in Sacramento, California, in 1954, was Sherwood Johnson. He

It seemed to me, from the day I started, that Shakey’s had an identity problem. Quaint old painted signs and lots of paneling conveyed the “English pub” atmosphere, but most Shakey’s also included unique entertainment. Settled into a corner of the dining hall at the Shakey’s on Summer were a banjo player and pianist, who performed ragtime or “barbershop quartet” songs. When I worked there, the piano player was an elderly blind gentleman named Ray Martin, but I’ve forgotten the banjo fellow’s name. I wish I had a dollar, though, for everybody who has told me their father or grandfather played the banjo (or piano) at Shakey’s.

Shakey’s was a popular destination for high school baseball and football teams after games, and when it was packed it was an incredibly noisy place. While the musicians took breaks, we plugged in a loud jukebox, and on top of that din, we also played classic W.C. Fields films with a 16mm projector suspended from the ceiling. Some nights, with a rowdy crowd and people who had too much to drink dancing on the tables (it’s true), it was a sensory overload. Did I love it? Oh, you bet.

All the employees, including the musicians, wore red-and-white striped shirts, a black clip-on bow tie, and an old-style wide-brimmed “boater” hat made of Styrofoam. ese hats clamped to your head with flimsy

rubber bands, but they often dropped into the pizza when you leaned over. Being a Lauderdale, I wouldn’t put up with such nonsense. After my first week, I drove Downtown to A. Schwab and bought a real straw boater and wore that. In fact, I still have it.

Another part of the Shakey’s experience was the chance for customers to watch their pizzas being prepared. A row of windows separated the kitchen from the dining hall, and there I was, slapping pizza sauce on a “skin” (that’s what we called the circular dough), covering it with handfuls of mozzarella cheese, adding the toppings, and then sliding the raw pizza into a bank of massive gas-fired ovens. It was quite a production, especially when we pulled the steaming-hot pies from the ovens and used an 18-inch knife to chop them into slices. Working that heavy blade required skill, let me tell you. We weren’t as flashy as the chefs at Benihana, but we flipped that knife — more of a cleaver, really — with flair.

morning cleaning up and replenishing all the ingredients. We made our own sauce, blended and kneaded our own dough, even ground our own sausage — and then we’d just start all over again the next day.

When I worked there in the early 1970s, Memphis had only three Shakey’s: Summer at Mendenhall (which the managers told us — and we didn’t doubt it — was the busiest one east of the Mississippi), 1674 Poplar, and 1134 Brooks Road. A few years later, when the Mall of Memphis opened, a fourth Shakey’s opened at 2707 South Perkins to catch the shopping crowds.

I wish I had a dollar, though, for everybody who has told me their father or grandfather played the banjo (or piano) at Shakey’s.

Some nights, I worked as a “beertender.” Drink choices were limited: colas, tea, coffee, and either Miller or Falstaff served in a heavy glass stein (35 cents) or goblet (65 cents). I still have one of those mugs as well; it’s on my desk now, filled with pens. We also served something that at the time — this was the early 1970s — everyone considered exotic: Löwenbräu beer (promoted as “dark German ale”) served in bottles. ese cost a dollar.

Most nights, the place was a madhouse, but I loved the energy and excitement, and to this day, I believe I can still recite every line of those W.C. Fields movies. By closing time — midnight, I recall — the place was such a wreck that we often worked until 2 or 3 in the

ey all seemed to shut down here around the same time. I wasn’t able (meaning: I didn’t bother) tracking down the exact date, but by the late 1980s, I believe Shakey’s had left Memphis. e Shakey’s on Poplar at Evergreen became home to Pierotti’s Pizza, but the building was later torn down for a Taco Bell. ere is no trace today of the Brooks Road or South Perkins locations. And “my” Shakey’s at Summer and Mendenhall has for years been home to the Lampshade House. One time, I visited the place and told the owner I had toiled there when it had been Shakey’s. He went into a back storeroom and gave me an old beer pitcher that had survived all these years later. Nice fellow!

Shakey’s endured in other states for several more years, and even went international, opening branches in Japan, the Philippines, Mexico, and other parts of the globe. I believe there are fewer than 50 of the “Public Houses” today in the United States, all of them along the West Coast.

Shakey’s motto was “We serve fun … and also pizza.” ey certainly did both, as far as I was concerned. I can still recall the names and faces of most of my co-workers. As you can tell, however, I never developed the “character” that Mother and Father intended. But who needs that? Surely, simply being a Lauderdale is enough.

below: Another yearbook photo, this one from Hillcrest, shows how popular Shakey’s was with the younger crowd. The ad (bottom) listed only two Memphis locations in 1968.

FREEDOM AWARDS

Since 1991 the Freedom Award has served as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for rights both in America and worldwide. With this annual event, the National Civil Rights Museum has honored world dignitaries, past presidents, media luminaries, athletic legends, and more. e award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions in civil rights and who have laid the foundation for present and future leaders in the battle for human rights.

In 1991, the first recipients of the Freedom Awards were genuine American icons who dedicated their lives to the causes of human and civil rights: James Farmer, Coretta Scott King, and Rosa Parks. Since then, the awards have recognized the life-changing work of such inspirations as Jimmy Carter, Colin Powell, Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, and the Dalai Lama. is year’s recipients, who will be honored October 19th at e Orpheum, are civil rights activist, political leader, and author Stacey Abrams; Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights; and Dr. Clayborne Carson, the Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor of History at Stanford University.

STACEY ABRAMS

2023 Freedom Award Recipient

BY ANNA TRAVERSE FOGLE

Stacey Abrams is a voting rights advocate, a bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction, an entrepreneur, and a political trailblazer. She’s launched organizations including Fair Fight Action, Fair Count, and the Southern Economic Advancement Project. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, including as minority leader from 2011 to 2017. Her efforts have expanded voter participation in Georgia and elsewhere, and she has been a candidate for Georgia governor twice. Last month, Memphis Magazine spoke with her about her vision, her experience, and her motivation.

NOTE: These interviews have been edited for length.

Congratulations on the Freedom Award.

It is an extraordinary honor and people say I’m very humbled. I truly mean it. I’ve been placed in exceptional company.

Much of your work has been in the areas of registering and turning out voters. Voter registration and voter turnout are enormously complex and have many layers, historical significances, and so on. But is there one piece of advice that you would give to Memphians to help improve voter participation in a relatively short order?

People vote because they see a connection to the act of casting a ballot and the change in their lives. And for communities that are satisfied with their lives, they often see voting as a way to improve their status. For those who have faced economic or other forms of marginalization or disadvantage, they are often disconnected from the act of voting because they have not seen in their lifetime a meaningful change. And there’s a cost to voting for a very significant portion of the community. It’s time that you have to take, but it’s also a psychic toll. It hurts to hope, and voting is an act of hope.

The other piece is that people don’t often know whose job it is and whose fault it is. And so one of the most e ective ways to increase voter turnout is to tell people whose job it is to make their lives better. We spend billions of dollars as a country explaining what the presidency is. We spend pennies by comparison explaining local government.

And you have to do it outside of an election year, because when it’s an election year, people only hear, ‘Give me your vote,’ meaning ‘Help me out. You haven’t seen me for four years, but help me now.’ If you do it in between elections, people start to understand because they’ve got space to both under-

stand and to observe. And so that’s a very long way of getting to the fact that the best way to improve voter participation is to talk to people about voting when there isn’t an election.

You are someone who has done work in so many di erent spaces. I wonder about your drive. I imagine that must be grounded in some sense of forward momentum or what we would call optimism. And I wonder, given all of the challenges that you have faced, and that we face as a country, that we face here in the South, how do you maintain optimism, if you do?

I do not subscribe to optimism or pessimism as a personal approach. I believe in determination.

Optimism means that you have to believe in the better angels. Pessimism means you believe that the demons are winning. But determination means that you believe that things have to be done regardless of other people’s behavior. That’s where I enter. I can’t control anyone except myself, and I can only invest my e orts. As long as my e orts are being invested, and I am, each day, doing the most I can for the greatest good, then I’m doing my part. This is not to say that there aren’t moments of disappointment and moments of excitement, but they’re not [what] drives me.

You’re an advocate for community, a politician, and a storyteller. I wonder if you could say a bit about the through line between your work as a storyteller, as a novelist, and your work in politics and organizing. I would expand the aperture a bit and add in my work as an entrepreneur. Because whether you’re writing, running for o ce, or organizing, if you’re a policy maker, or if you are building a business, it’s all about: What’s the vision for

what is next? And that’s what a story is. Story is painting a vision, explaining why people should care and telling them what the consequences of that vision can be.

And so as a storyteller, I use fiction and nonfiction to craft a vision and to craft a narrative that says, this is where we are and this is where we should be. If you travel along the pages with me, you’ll get to that outcome. If I am pitching a business idea and asking for investors, I’m telling them that here’s the story of your money. Here’s what your money will do, and here’s what it will yield, and here’s what will come. If I’m talking to a voter, here is what your vote will invest in.

And so to your underlying question, it’s all the same thing. It’s just a di erent medium for telling the story of what should be.

You are a role model for women and girls, and I wonder whether you think about yourself as a woman leader per se. Are there hopes or frustrations that you think about on a regular basis having to do with being not just a powerful human being, but a powerful woman?

I enter spaces as a woman, as a Black woman, as a Black person, as a Southerner, and I carry all of those pieces with me. No matter who or where I am, I cannot control how people process what they understand when they see me.

What I can control is how I present myself. As a Black woman, I have a very specific set of understandings. As a black person, there are things I understand and know and experiences I have that are di erent. And so across those indelible traits that I have are these truths that come with it. I don’t shy away from them because they inform how I understand the world, how I engage, and how I think.

When it comes to leadership, people learn from what they see.

I’m sure that you’ve been following the incredible breakdown that we have seen Tennessee State House. If you were serving in Tennessee, as someone who’s spent time in state politics, what steps would you take to let people hear each other?

As someone who served in the role of Minority Leader [in the Georgia General Assembly] with a very strong Speaker, my job was to negotiate the voice, negotiate access to a voice. What I learned from Speaker [David] Ralston was that having the power to silence means that your real power is shown when you don’t use it. My job was to work with someone who had the absolute authority to deny access, and he refused to use it for that purpose. That’s the mark of true leadership: not what you do for those who share your power, but what you do for those who do not have your power. I fi nd it very troubling that we have entered a time when silencing others is seen as not only legitimate, but is lauded. This is a narrative that goes beyond the State House; it is a national dynamic. Lifting your voice should not mean silencing access for others.

Lastly, what’s bringing you joy lately?

My 17-year-old niece and my parents are living with me. And I’m watching her navigate this last year of high school. She came home from school the other day having aced an exam, but she also did something interesting in the class that she was just so happy about. That moment of discovery, of your own capacity. People may say you’re smart or may say you’re good at something, but those moments where you know it for yourself — watching her have those experiences is just one of the most fun things I’ve ever gotten to do in my life.

FREEDOM AWARDS

KERRY KENNEDY

The 2023 Freedom Award winner is a member of one of America’s most well-known families.

BY FRANK MURTAUGH

Kerry Kennedy will be the first member of her famous family to be honored with the National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Award. As president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, she has carried forth and expanded much of her father’s mission with a focus on child labor, women’s rights, and environmental justice. Kennedy is the seventh child (third daughter) of Robert and Ethel Kennedy. In 1968, Bobby Kennedy died in Los Angeles — the victim of a gun-wielding assassin — just two months after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was slain in Memphis.

Congratulations on the Freedom Award. You’re in great company. What does the honor mean to you?

This is an award for all of my colleagues. I’m the spokesperson for them, but they do all the hard work, both domestically and internationally. Creating change, not just through process, but through concrete progress. One of our proudest moments was when we supported Memphians and their grassroots campaign for political reform by exposing racial discriminatory practices in a former district attorney.

Our work on anti-black violence in the United States by the criminal legal system has been cross-cutting, and created change. It’s what we aim to do. And our work on women’s rights is something I’m very proud of.

The human-rights mission changes as the world changes. How do you see the struggle today, with factors like the climate crisis or legal matters like the overturning of Roe v. Wade?

This organization was founded in 1968. They had a choice of building a monument to Robert Kennedy, erecting a statue, or naming a building after him. They decided to create an organization that would carry forward his unfi nished work, and address issues of the time, so we evolve with the evolving times. Our human-rights work started in the 1980s and we focused primarily on Latin America and somewhat Korea. Political rights: free expression, the targeting of dissidents, voting. Today, we focus on both political and economic rights.

We do a lot of litigation. Domestically, we’re focused on the crucible of race poverty and criminalization. Internationally, we focus on free expression

generally, and the targeting of people who use free expression and are from marginalized groups. Indigenous groups who are trying to stop mining in their territory. Or LGBTQ organizations. Last year in Honduras, we became the fi rst organization to hold a government accountable for the assassination of a transgender woman. About five years ago, we were the fi rst organization to hold a Latin American country accountable for the assassination of a journalist. In Zimbabwe, we held a government accountable for the persecution of nonviolent protesters, the fi rst case successfully won in all of Africa. That involved persecuting women activists.

We also work with the investment community — Wall Street — to put down more pressure on corporations to comply with human rights work.

Do you see gun violence in America as a human-rights issue? What can be done to reduce random murder?

Absolutely. The right to life. Gun control and abortion: If you’re on social media, your perspective is that our country is completely divided. But we’re not. Seventy to 80 percent of the people in our

country believe we should have more access to abortion. And that there should be further gun controls. We’re not really divided on those issues. I don’t want to say they’re the most important issues, necessarily, but they’re top of the news.

Congress is not motivated by what the country, as a whole, is looking for. It’s the way the House of Representatives was created. So each district would have its voice heard. Because of gerrymandering, [legislators] are motivated by what their district likes, what will keep them in power. Districts aren’t just gerrymandered to give a constituency a voice, but to make sure another constituency does not have a voice.

Women in leadership positions are changing the world. You’re one of them. How do you view the growing impact women are making?

That’s been a dramatic change since I began working in human rights. As of January 2023, there were 31 countries where women served as heads of state or government. According to the American Psychological Association, “Decades of study show women leaders help increase productivity,

enhance collaboration, inspire organizational education, and improve fairness.”

I grew up in a super-competitive family, and there’s a lot to be said for that, as it drives people to be better. What’s far more important than competition, though, is cooperation. Women leaders, in general, are more about collaboration. If you’re running a dictatorship, that’s one thing. If you’re trying to create a democracy, it’s about cooperation and collaboration. Finding a way forward, where you’re not talking about one person, but about all people.

Memphis is a city heavy with poverty. What message would you send our city leaders for ongoing e orts to reduce systemic poverty?

The biggest issue we face as a country is racism. It still reverberates in all our decision-making, all our institutions, whether we’re aware of it or not. Of course, poverty goes right beside racism. The United Nations established Sustainable Development Goals, 17 things we need to do to address global poverty and global warming. You can’t do one of these and expect the rest of them to work. You have to do all of them at once. If you want to address poverty, you have to address global warming. You can’t address poverty and not have girls going to school. You can’t address girls not going to school without addressing domestic violence. You can’t address domestic violence if you don’t have voting rights. You can’t address voting rights if you don’t have a fair judicial system. You can’t have a fair judicial system if the police system is targeting Black women.

It’s good to have organizations that focus on one area at a time. But you have to address everything all at once. Collaboration.

“

W omen leaders, in general, are more about collaboration. … F inding a way forward, where you’re not talking about one person, but about all people.”

— KERRY KENNEDY

Clean and sober for nearly 27 years, L Cool reclaimed her life and reconnected with her daughters. Now, she recovers broken and blemished furniture.

Salvation Orange Mound

Rescuing old furniture has restored a soul.

BY DAVID WATERS

L Coolworks in a small shop in Orange Mound. She repairs, refinishes, and resells wood furniture that has been worn by time, nicked, cracked, and broken by place and circumstance. She retrieves it from the trash or the curb, receives it from the arms of someone who is giving it away or giving it to her. “I like bringing furniture back to life,” the diminutive 61-year-old woman says as she looks at a chair without a seat. “Taking something that’s not wanted and turning it into something that is wanted.”

L Cool’s shop is filled with tools of reclamation — saws and screwdrivers, sandpaper and wood filler, rags and brushes, stains, and sealants. It sits inside a gated corner yard behind a beautifully restored Victorian house. For nearly a decade, the house has been home to My Cup of Tea, a faith-based nonprofit organization, a social enterprise that helps women develop enterprising ways to earn a living. Cool not only restores old furniture. She works with a dozen or more women to weigh and package teas and “tea accessories.” She also makes deliveries and helps maintain the house and yard. “When I got here, I watched guys cut the grass,” Cool says. “I thought, I can do a better job, so I asked to do it. I keep the yard up now.”

The two-story house with the well-kept yard and a wide and welcoming porch was built in 1902 on a plat subdivided from a plantation dotted with orange scrubs. e house rose and declined with the

neighborhood. It was a home, then a rooming house, then a brothel. It was scarred by fi re, stripped by thieves, soiled by pigeons and rats.

“ is was a crack house when I was in high school,” L Cool says. “I used to get high right here on this porch.” L is short for Lisa. McCl ain is her last name, but Cool was how she played basketball for Melrose High School back in the day before she ruined her knee and began laying waste to her life. “Drinking and drugging,” she says. “It was the thing to do. I started out dibble-dabbling, smoking some weed, drinking. en I went overboard and crossed the line to using crack cocaine. It was over then.”

Cool, whose mother was a nurse, and who met her father only once, had her fi rst daughter right after high school. She had her second daughter right after that. She was in and out of the maternity ward and in and out of jail.

“Credit card fraud, mostly,” she says. “I got the cards from

friends, so-called. Guys I know would break into houses and bring back credit cards. I took them to stores and used them.” Sometimes she got caught. e last time a judge sentenced her to 21 months at the old Penal Farm. She was pregnant with her third daughter. “I was nervous but all you can do is pray,” she says. “I had her in jail. en I had to give her up. All my girls.”

Cool gave other family custody of her three girls. She served her sentence, then turned herself over to a small, private recovery ministry in Arkansas. “It was run by this little old lady,” she says. “She did it all on her own. No government. Only her and God. She told me there’s a crack house right across the street and if I want to get high just go on. I chose to stay inside.”

L Cool says she has chosen to be clean and sober for nearly 27 years. She got her daughters back. She moved back to Orange Mound and moved from job to job. Over the many years, she has worked for a fish market, a Waffle House, a paper company, a telemarketing company, a cleaning company, a hotel, a discount store, and a railroad, which raised her hourly pay 20 cents over 7 years.

Lashall McClain, or La La, and her mother, L Cool, at My Cup of Tea, the nonprofit social enterprise in Orange Mound.

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She came to My Cup of Tea six years ago. Her youngest daughter, Lashall, the child she had while she was in prison, had been working at My Cup of Tea for a while. Her mother calls her La La. “I’d drop La La off. She’d tell me I should come in with her,” L Cool says. “I’d say, ‘Nah, I don’t want to work with you. en I’d laugh. When she left, I took her place. Now she’s laughing.” Lashall McClain, or La La, who earned a degree in psychology from the University of Memphis in 2014, went on to work for two other faith-based nonprofits, Streets Ministry and Neighborhood Christian Centers. “I worked with kids who were scared to walk to school,” McClain says. “Kids who slept on the floor because they were hearing so many gunshots. e number-one concern in those neighborhoods is safety. It brought my passion back.”

In June, McClain graduated from the Memphis Police Department Training Academy and began her new career as a police officer. She says she has wanted to be a police officer since she was a small child at Hanley Elementary. “One day we had a career day,” McClain says. “Parents came and talked about their jobs. My mother wasn’t around then. One of the adults who spoke was a police officer. He told us, ‘If you don’t have a parent here with you today, I’m here to represent you.’ at won me over.”

“I worked with kids who were scared to walk to school. Kids who slept on the floor because they were hearing so many gunshots. The number-one concern in those neighborhoods is safety. It brought my passion back.”

— Lashall McClain (La La)

L Cool smiles and shakes her head. “I had her in jail, now she’s on the opposite side,” she says. “ at’s a God thing. Can’t be anything else.”

When Cool was a child, God was a distant, demanding figure, difficult to reach, impossible to trust. Since she started working with the women at My Cup of Tea, God is with her all the time, encouraging and supporting her, loving her unconditionally. “Back then I was looking for Him just to give me [whatever I wanted],” L Cool says. “Now I wake up praying, thankful. I love it here. ese are my sisters.”

e women at My Cup of Tea, employees who earn up to $15 an hour, cook and eat together, garden and sew and package tea together, learn job skills and life skills together, study scripture and pray together. “ e women who work here call it a sanctuary,” says Carey Moore, who founded the ministry with

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her husband, Rick. Debbie Hert is operations manager. Volunteers from Second Presbyterian Church and other congregations work, eat, and pray with the women. “Many of the volunteers have discovered loving their neighbor is not a command but a pleasure,” Moore says.

e Moores bought the house on the corner of Semmes and Carnes in 2013. It was restored to its turn-of-the-century glory by Dwayne Jones, owner of Dwayne Jones Construction and a leader of Orange Mound’s restoration. My Cup of Tea is working with Jones and United Housing to build four single-family homes on Semmes. L Cool is in line to purchase one. “Who could be a better neighbor?” says Moore. “She is a guardian of all that is good.”

L Cool’s own restoration has been years in the making. Her mother lives with her. Her daughters brought eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren into her life. Her sisters at My Cup of Tea helped her find stability and community. “Recovery is a God thing,” she says as she works to smooth a troubled tabletop. “I’m just here to do the work. I’ve already been forgiven. I had to forgive myself. Make amends to people I did wrong, like my granny. She forgave me. She said, ‘It’s okay, Boo.’”

L Cool has restored coffee tables, chairs and cabinets, dining room tables, desks, dressers, even doors. Shelley Hill, a volunteer, helped L Cool learn how to repair and restore blemished and broken furniture, and how to discern the difference between old and antique. With Hill’s help, she has recovered hundreds of pieces of broken and forsaken wood furniture over the years.

Not long ago, someone brought her a 100-year-old door. L Cool didn’t see an old, useless, worthless piece of wood. She saw a vintage tabletop. She removed the rusted handle and hinges, cleaned and smoothed the surface, but kept the time-worn wounds in place. en she put legs under it, and a panel of clear glass on top of it. e women of My Cup of Tea use it as a study table.

For L Cool, restoring old, wood furniture isn’t her job. It’s her vocation now. She’s in the recovery business and wood is very forgiving. “I haven’t found one yet I couldn’t save,” she says.

“Many of the volunteers have discovered loving their neighbor is not a command but a pleasure.”

— Cary Moore

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TOM LEE

Renewed x

The day before Tom Lee Park officially opened in September after a complete makeover, Carol Coletta met with the media on the site, poised and prepared. After decades of being in the public eye and being no stranger to controversy, helming an event or facing reporters was not daunting.

But this was a different occasion. e stakes were high, the results dramatic, and the road to realization bumpy. For several years she’d been pushing to get the 31-acre riverfront park changed from a flat pasture to a vibrant destination with attractions galore.

BY JON W. SPARKS

In the past, Tom Lee Park brought in huge crowds two weekends every year as the Memphis in May International Festival (MIM) presented the Beale Street Music Festival and, several days later, the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. e wide-open space was ideal for those events. But before and after the month of May, public access was limited due to preparation and cleanup. And the nearly treeless park wasn’t much of a draw when the weather got particularly unpleasant, as it will do in Memphis. ere was general agreement that the park could be improved, but alarm bells began ringing when it looked like MIM’s popular activities might be adversely affected. Public reaction was decidedly mixed, but there was hope that differences could be resolved.

MIM officials, however, continue to feel disrespected and have some things to say about the situation. (More on that in the pages ahead.)

Meanwhile, Coletta pressed ahead with developing the park’s concept, working the political angles, and raising the target of $61 million to make it happen.

She brought on Studio Gang from Chicago, headed by Jeanne Gang as the master planner and architect, to come up with a concept of not only changing Tom Lee Park, but also connecting several parks along the riverfront. And Kate Orff of SCAPE, based in New York City, was named landscape architect and park designer. e result was the planting of more than 1,000 trees, new topography, ADA access, public pavilions, playgrounds, and art installations. e Tom Lee sculpture remains in the park and acclaimed Chicago artist easter Gates created A Monument to Listening, a permanent grouping of 32 sculptures.

CAROL COLETTA’S RIVERFRONT VISION

Last month, the city’s front yard reopened after a major redesign. We caught up with proponents and opponents of the big-ticket project.

The reimagined Tom Lee Park’s 31 acres now has new trees, a rolling topography, pavilions, playgrounds, and art installations.

TOM LEE

River Parks Partnership. Coletta, who by now had accumulated significant expertise in urban issues, took over as president in April 2018. at expertise accumulated through a series of jobs and initiatives.

ey included her Smart City radio project in 2001 where her interviews with urban experts were widely distributed on National Public Radio.

She would also become executive director of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, head of the public-private collaboration ArtPlace, president and CEO of CEOs for Cities, vice president of Community and National Initiatives for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and a senior fellow at the Kresge Foundation.

Coletta was working for much of that time in Chicago but always maintained her Memphis residence. And Memphis was often a beneficiary of the projects she worked on.

“I can’t ever remember a moment where I was not looking at whatever I was doing through the lens of how would that work in Memphis,” she says. “So even when we were doing things at a research level, I was always thinking about it too from a practical level.”

And her work with the Knight and Kresge foundations that was focused on bettering the urban experience further shaped her view of how a city could rise to the occasion.

Ibelieve very strongly that place matters,” Coletta says. “It matters to low-income families because they need the proximity to people and the assets that people at higher incomes demand. I also saw that if you were trying to attract and keep talented people — people who could live anywhere — you needed great place.”

Coletta’s foundation work included cities with significant waterfronts, including Detroit, Philadelphia, and Chicago. A trip funded by Kresge was put together in 2016 to tour those waterfronts and included various local officials, including the RDC board (of which Coletta was a member) and staff. At the end of the four-day trip, Coletta says, the group was asking itself why more couldn’t be done with the Memphis riverfront. How ambitious could Memphis be?

As Coletta looked around at the park, with just a few last-minute elements being installed, she was pleased and reflected on her long connection with Downtown.

“I grew up in Longview Heights in South Memphis,” she says. “I took a 13 Lauderdale bus by myself at age 12 to come Downtown. I fell in love with Downtown as an adolescent, and in a lot of ways the love affair never stopped.”

She bought a building in the neighborhood in 1976 — many years before the area’s later revitalization — and she still lives there.

Coletta was drawn to Downtown not only to make her home, but to work as well. Early on, she participated in the Court Square Task Force, which led to further involvement with Downtown development under Mayor Wyeth Chandler. It wasn’t always smooth. She had the idea of installing a sculpture exhibit with abstract pieces by a young local artist. “We put them on the mall,” she says, “and the mayor was quoted as saying it looked like something had fallen off the building.” at bit of mayoral art criticism didn’t slow her down, however. In fact, as Coletta sees it, “I’ve been cooking up controversy for decades just trying to make things interesting and better.”

After that, she continued working with the city and would become the fi rst employee of the Center City Commission, now called the Downtown Memphis Commission.

She later was involved when the Riverfront Development Corporation was formed in 2000 during the administration of Mayor W.W. Herenton with Benny Lendermon as founding president. She was a consultant with RDC in those early years, and, as she always does, observed carefully. “I went on to do other things, but I always saw the potential in what the riverfront could become,” she says.

In 2017, Lendermon retired and the RDC morphed into the Memphis

Talks were held and Mayor Jim Strickland appointed attorney Alan Crone, who has long been involved in civic affairs, to helm a task force. Coletta knew about Studio Gang, the Chicago-based architecture and urban design firm, and commissioned the group to research all the past proposals, stretching over several decades, and determine what could be done.

In 2017, Studio Gang delivered its concept. Coletta hastens to note that it wasn’t a plan, per se, knowing that the only sure thing would have to be flexibility to meet the inevitable changes and adjustments. Part of the concept was to connect several existing zones along a sixmile riverfront stretch with bike trails, playgrounds, parks and plazas.

But MRPP had to prioritize. e reimagining of Tom Lee Park was not necessarily a given. Mud Island was considered as it was clearly — and remains — in need of upgrading. But three factors pointed to Tom Lee Park.

“One, it’s the most visible piece of real estate in town,” Coletta says. “It’s right at the city’s front door. Number two, it does not have the access issues that Mud Island has. It has more opportunity to leverage activity Downtown. And the third thing was that Mud Island is a property designed in the 1970s and was out of date 10 years after it opened. It’s a wildly expensive project to run with elevators, escalators, a monorail; it had a museum, water, water, and water. You would’ve had to make a lot of decisions there quickly because you couldn’t bring back a 1982 program that was dated when it was unveiled and deal with all the access issues that remain.”

So, it was decided to put the focus on Tom Lee Park. at being determined, the work then turned to community engagement.

Studio Gang and MRPP spent considerable effort talking to the community about what it wanted. Some 5,000 people were surveyed, mostly locals but also visitors. e design to reshape the sprawling park was developed and presented. And it was met with varying degrees of delight and outrage.

Tyree Daniels, chair of the Memphis River Parks Partnership board, and Carol Coletta, MRPP CEO and president.

“ ere was some very organized opposition from the Memphis in May International Festival,” she says. “Of course, when you could animate that blank canvas with the festival, it worked. But what didn’t work was the other 355 days a year when it looked like kind of a sleepy river town. Where are the people? I’ve been asked that more times than I can count by visitors. I get totally why it worked really well for the festival. I think it’s fair to say, though, it worked pretty miserably the rest of the year.”

Memphis in May officials felt the redo of Tom Lee Park would limit performing areas, cut into precious parking space, and result in diminished attendance for the long-popular Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. “We went to mediation to resolve those tensions,” Coletta says. “We did come out with an agreement after about six months of mediation required by Mayor Strickland.” MIM was asked to provide its specifications: how many lawns were needed, how big they had to be, how many linear feet needed for the barbecue event.

“ ose would then become new constraints, new challenges for the design team,” Coletta says. “But that was okay — we were working with lots of constraints. For example, the [U.S. Army] Corps of Engineers said no cut, no fill on the west side of the property, no cuts on the east side of the property. We thought we had a good agreement.”

MIM officials signed the agreement, but didn’t like it. Jim Holt, president and CEO of MIM, says, “MRPP officials have often repeated that the park was built to our specifications. at is not true. … ey built the park they wanted to build, whether or not it was suitable for large-scale public events. And based on the damage bill we got this year, it looks like it isn’t.” (A lawsuit filed by MRPP in September seeks $675,000 in damages done to Tom Lee Park after this year’s music festival and barbecue contest. Part of the $1.425 million bill was covered by a damage deposit paid in advance from MIM and the City of Memphis.)

Nonetheless, the parties had struck an agreement in 2019’s mediation, and the revised design was to be unveiled in April 2020. But then came Covid.

Presenting a plan for a significant change to a local institution was always going to be a tough sell. e situation wrought by the pandemic made it even more difficult.

“During Covid, people were tense, they were mad, they were confused, they were scared,” Coletta says. “All of that converged on social media. Some people saw that something was changing and that it couldn’t be good. ey might not like the status quo, but they liked change even less.”

But she and the advocates for the new park weren’t surprised by the opposition. “We’ve always said we’re playing a long game and we understand that change doesn’t come easy,” she says. “We knew FedExForum — and everything ever built that is of a civic nature — gets debated and debated vociferously, and you’ve got people on both sides. I think people don’t know what they don’t know. ey don’t know what they haven’t seen.”

And Coletta says that’s entirely understandable. “ ere are lots of people, particularly those who’ve intimately used the park in such joyous and emotional ways during the festival. A lot of people came of age during the festival. ere were such powerful connections to what it was, that it’s easy to understand why people wanted to hold onto that.”

e next crucial step for MRPP was to get a better sense of what people wanted beyond kneejerk social media posts. e team decided to do a statistically valid poll that would dig deeper into attitudes toward a newly redesigned park.

“We had, like, a 90-plus approval rating,” Coletta says. “ e most positive responses were from African Americans, which is good because we’re a majority African-American town; and young people who want a future and are not as invested in what’s here today as trying to see the potential. ey loved it. People in distressed neighborhoods

around Downtown were very supportive, as were women. e most negative group were older white men, but even they were in the high sixties in terms of approval. So that gave us the confidence to say we were on the right track and wouldn’t be distracted by the noise.”

Fundraising, Coletta says, always takes longer than you expect. e challenges were already significant; the fundraising effort was taking place in the middle of design development and construction. Add to that an uncertain global financial market, and the pandemic-related job losses. But there were contributions large and small.

At the beginning, the key support for the revamp of Tom Lee Park came from J.R. “Pitt” and Barbara Hyde, who contributed $5 million from the Hyde Family Foundation. In the past they had supported such Memphis landmarks as the National Civil Rights Museum and FedExForum. “ ey do ambitious things,” Coletta says. “And if they had not thought this was an important project, I don’t think it would’ve happened.

ey really made the first substantial commitment. And then the city came on, thanks to Jim Strickland. We got a commitment of TDZ [Tourism Development Zones] funds very early.” Governor Bill Lee was encouraged to push for the project in part because of members of the Shelby County delegation in the General Assembly such as Rep. Antonio Parkinson and Sen. Raumesh Akbari. at resulted in a check for $10 million. Additional involvement by the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission smoothed the way.

On that day in September before the park officially opened, University of Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway took a few media-friendly free throws under the 20,000-square-foot Sunset Canopy, an open structure that offers protection against the elements. He marveled at the park and said he couldn’t believe it was happening in Memphis.

It’s something Coletta has heard many times from many people, boosters and cynics alike. “We have to show ourselves,” she says. “ is is not an extraordinary project. It turned out to be an extraordinary place, but it’s not an extraordinary project.” She is quick to recite the hotels going up all around Downtown, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art project along the riverfront, the cranes sprouting up.

She is clear about the good and the bad: “We’ve got problems. Guess what? Every other city has problems,” she says. “It’s almost as if we believe that we’re stuck in place. But no, we’re not. Who makes Memphis is us. It’s what we do every day, it’s what we choose to do, what we choose to say, where we choose to invest. We’re persistent, we’re determined, we’re bold. We’re not going to let anyone turn us around.” at was the approach she had in mind when taking on duties at MRPP. e organization is more than Tom Lee Park. She says that what came before was a series of parks here and there but without having a sense of being a riverfront. ere was no particular riverfront destination.

“Now we’re creating a new river district, which leaps into Downtown. And all of a sudden you park once and you’ve got 20 restaurants to choose from. You’ve got 20 things to do to entertain you. You park once and go discovering. at’s what visitors want and I think increasingly that’s what locals want. You can see it all coming together, but we need a lot more people in Memphis to believe in that, to see the possibilities and believe in the possibilities.”

TOM LEE

park system, particularly Tom Lee Park, which included the various ambitious plans that had been written over the decades. Studio Gang had been creating in the urban space for a good while and she had long observed that one of the issues with master planning was that the plan might well sit on a shelf for years until it was forgotten. So she knew her work was cut out for her.

“I was hoping to inject architecture design into the master plan, because you need that spark, something that will draw people in,” Gang says. “ at’s what the idea was with our practice, and it’s got an ecological focus and a focus on communities. So, when Carol called about Memphis, I was so excited because it’s exactly the kind of city that I can understand. It’s a city I loved already and the river is the best river in the world, so it just had all the ingredients.”

For her, the well-designed project reflects the community. “ ey can really make people engaged and feel agency and feel part of it,” she says. “And so now in all my work, I always try to bring that community center spirit to the project, even if it’s like a museum or an airport.  is project has the perfect ingredients of when you do architecture, you have a chance to set up relationships between people. It really sets the stage for conversations and activities that can make people come together or invite them to come together.”

JEANNE GANG: FROM VISION TO REALITY

To understand the park, it’s helpful to see it through the eyes of the woman who turned all those possibilities into an actual design. Acclaimed architect Jeanne Gang and her architecture and urban design fi rm, Studio Gang, were hired by MRPP’s predecessor, the Riverfront Development Corporation, six years ago. e Studio Gang team created a concept that would connect five distinct zones along the Memphis riverfront with bike trails, playgrounds, parks, performance areas, and plazas. e major component was a makeover of Tom Lee Park.

Coletta observes: “Jeanne is a different kind of animal. Every time she comes to something, she’s questioning it. It’s all about curiosity.”

Gang’s list of accolades is lengthy, but these few provide a sense of how influential she has become: She is a MacArthur Fellow, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has been named one of 2019’s most influential people in the world by Time magazine, was named WSJ Magazine ’s 2022 Architecture Innovator of the Year, and was selected as Architectural Review ’s Architect of the Year.

Coletta had noticed Studio Gang’s work to make publicly owned buildings more dynamic and integral parts of the community. “Carol saw that and thought it was interesting to take a civic asset and try to refocus it,” Gang says. “She was thinking about this master plan for the whole riverfront, and that’s when she called us up.”

Gang was clearly a good fit for a reimagined riverfront park. In 2016, she had given a TED Talk and said: “My team and I have been applying insights from ecology to architecture to see how physical space can help build stronger relationships.”

Her team got to work studying the past and present of Memphis’s

And the ecological consideration is essential, because it, too, is about relationships. “It’s about creating these relationships between us, and us and other creatures, and other living things,” she says. “And to do that, they need to interact with other, they have to be working together. Even here, the soils are an important detail because soils are alive, actually. You would not get trees to grow if you didn’t completely revamp these soils and amend them so that they can house life. What I really like is that I think people could come here for one reason and then they might be turned on by something else.”

Gang is mindful of the currents that make up a city and understands that there are always issues large and small that must be dealt with to move forward.

“Memphis is probably the epitome of the city on the rise, and it makes me feel good to be part of it,” she says. “It’s been at the forefront of re-envisioning the future that you want and putting away these things that are divisive. We can’t forget about the past, but we have to move forward.  ere are tensions and conflicts, but that’s also why it’s interesting. If it was all perfect, it wouldn’t be as interesting. ere’s some work to be done here.”

Jeanne Gang, architect and head of the urban design firm Studio Gang, which came up with the concept for the new Tom Lee Park.

The 16,000-square-foot Sunset Canopy, named in memory of Tyre Nichols, is an open air space with sun and rain protection.

MEMPHIS IN MAY REACTS

Speaking of “tensions and conflicts,” one cannot tell the story of Tom Lee Park without mentioning the annual Memphis in May International Festival (MIM), which has long been held there. And while the immediate reaction to the reopening of the revamped Tom Lee Park has been generally enthusiastic and upbeat, the impact on MIM remains unresolved.

e wide-open park was where MIM staged the Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest soon after those signature events began in the late 1970s. And for many years, until 2015, MIM presented the Sunset Symphony in the park in late May with a pop concert by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and fi reworks typically following a performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

Tom Lee Park was inextricably linked to those events through the years. As plans for reconfiguring the park were being made, it was determined that the MIM events planned for 2020 would have to be held elsewhere due to construction of the park. en the pandemic happened and the festival — along with most of the world — went into hibernation.

e music festival would not return until 2022, when it was held at the Fairgrounds in Liberty Park due to construction at Tom Lee Park.

e 2023 event was held at Tom Lee Park, which was not finished but was able to accommodate the festival. e 2021 barbecue contest was held at Tom Lee Park and the 2022 event at the Fairgrounds. is year’s iteration was back at Tom Lee Park, but smaller than before. Jim Holt, MIM president and CEO, says there were some 148 teams at this year’s barbecue contest, compared to around 230 in past years, resulting in fewer competitors and a loss in revenue.

Holt wouldn’t discuss specific plans for 2024 but did speak with Memphis Magazine about the rocky developments since the plans for redoing the park were announced. He was joined in a Zoom conversation with MIM board members Ron Coleman and Howard Robertson. Coleman is CEO of Driven Racing Oil and Robertson is president and CEO of Trust Marketing & Communications.

e organization has commented occasionally but not extensively on the issues with the Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP). Our interview in September was the first where the leadership has addressed what’s been going on and what it sees as the future of Memphis in May. eir comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Memphis Magazine: How does Memphis in May feel about how the changes in Tom Lee Park have been handled?

Ron Coleman: I’m one of the people who believes that we should do some development in the park. In the fi rst plans I saw, it was obvious that whoever made them didn’t have an idea what they were dealing with. The thought of putting $60 million in that small park and doing nothing to Mud Island, I thought, was way overdone. I thought they were going to end up having to over-program a park to the extent that we’re going to have the same problem with this park as we currently have with Mud Island, which is basically abandoned.

And the reason is that the maintenance is just too expensive. We’re going to run out of money to take care of it, and it’s going to go the way of every project that we have that we don’t watch out for continuing maintenance, and it’s going to go downhill. They do have some kind of arrangement with the contractor to take care of it for the fi rst two years, and that’s good. But when that same burden falls on the group that is left, I don’t think they’re going to have the money to do it.

The fi rst time I went to a meeting with [the MRPP], they showed me the plan. It showed a 16-foot cut in the bank in one spot of the park and an eight-foot cut in the other for drainage. I said, ‘Have you guys ever talked to the Corps of Engineers? They’re not going to let you cut that bank.’ The park is actually there as a stabilization project for the billions of dollars of commerce and tra c that goes by it. Interestingly enough, two years later, the Corps of Engineers told them not only can they not touch the bank, they can’t touch anything within a hundred feet of the bank. It was ill-planned to begin with.

We had a mediation with them to get minimum standards and as far as I can tell, they probably

were met, but they didn’t carry it all through. The best example is we had to have mountable curbs to get to the stages and get trucks on and o . But that’s where they put sprinkler heads and sprinkler systems. Well, that’s where the trucks are going to come across. It’s either poorly designed or intentionally designed for damage.

Howard Robertson: Memphis in May for many years has taken Memphis around the world and has brought the world to Memphis. It is an international festival. There are so many distinguishing characteristics and achievements for Memphis in May over these many years that no other city, no other festival, no other place, anywhere else can begin to claim. And I’m very proud of that. I’m not alone, because the board, the supporters, the volunteers, the attendees, the fans — everybody that is and has been associated with Memphis in May I would submit to you would feel the same way.

But I think I can speak on behalf of the board and the sta of Memphis in May that, in a word, we feel disrespected. We would think that for an organization that has been in that space for all of these years and has done so much on behalf of the spirit and character and economic development of this city, I would’ve expected to be treated with a lot more regard during the whole process. I think it has not been transparent. I think it’s been misleading in that we were told that Tom Lee Park is being customized to the specs of Memphis in May.

We were told that the space would be fi nished and ready to host our event. The space was unfi nished and not ready. As a matter of fact, according to some of the things that they’re claiming, apparently it was in such a fragile state that it could not stand very much of anything, and certainly not the number of people that we had coming to the space.

continued on page 71

A river-themed area at the heart of the park features sports, fitness, and playground attractions.

TO

FROM Hatred Hope

The Brooks exhibit “Black American Portraits” embraces Black and

POWER JOY LOVE

W hy not capture it instead of doing the ‘norm’ and writing it down or speaking it?”

— TYRE NICHOLS

BY ABIGAIL MORICI

In January, a photo of Tyre Nichols, bloodied and bruised in a hospital bed, surfaced across the internet, stirring a national outcry. Weeks later, local officials released bodycam and surveillance videos of five Memphis police officers beating Nichols to death, and in the months following, those haunting moments linger in our collective memory — images of pain, suffering, and desperation, images that have become all too common. Trayvon, Breonna, Ahmaud, George, now Tyre — their sorrow weighs heavy on the Black American experience.

From news stations to social media, these moments of pain and suffering persevere in an endless and instantaneous scroll, with nothing preventing them from resurfacing at any given moment. Yet these images are hardly representative of the entire Black American experience, and in 2020, in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) sought to intervene and inject into the mainstream consciousness images of Black joy, power, and love.

Full of portraits of Black sitters, spaces,

and subjects, the exhibit, “Black American Portraits,” has made its way to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, having opened in August. As a majority-Black city, Memphis needs this, says Brooks executive director Zoe Kahr. “It’s so important to see every Memphian reflected back in the museum.”

ough this exhibition originated in Los Angeles, the Brooks has included additional pieces to lend the experience a Memphis touch. An Augusta Savage sculpture is on loan from e Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and works by Jarvis Boyland, Derek Fordjour,

ABOVE: Sargent Claude Johnson, Chester, 1930, painted terracotta, 11 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 4 3/4 in., Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Gift of Mrs. William J. Robertson in memory of her father Adolph Loewi, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA.

“

P eople have a story to tell.

Catherine Elizabeth Patton, Jared Small, Ernest Withers, and the Hooks Brothers Photography Studio punctuate the gallery walls. “We wanted to highlight talent in Memphis and show it in a national context,” Kahr says. With 129 pieces of art in total, the sheer number of works, encompassing a variety of media and spanning over 200 years in history, is in itself a feat. “One of the things that struck me about this show and taking it here is just this idea of abundance,” says Patricia Daigle, the Brooks’ curator of modern and contemporary art. “So there’s this idea about being prolific, and the impact of what it means to see this many portraits of Black people in one space.”

The gallery itself is divided into three themed sections: power, love, and joy. “For me, those three terms are broad enough and open-ended enough that I think you could really explore it further with the works in the exhibition,” Daigle says. “I didn’t want to focus on something really specific, but I wanted to ground visitors in the visual experience. … A lot of us think we understand what power looks like or what love feels like, but one thing you’ll see in this exhibition is that these are really complicated concepts and emotions. And they’re presented through a Black lens.”

“We’re not trying to present an image that’s like a rose-colored-glasses view of the past,” adds Efe Igor Coleman, Blackmon Perry assistant curator of African-American art and art of the African Diaspora at the Brooks. “But it’s important to see that [power, love, and joy] existed and still exists, … [that] people are able to find joy and love and power in periods of incredible difficulty or suffering.”

POWER

From a circa 1800 portrait of an unknown sailor by an unknown painter to a painting completed this year by Calida Rawles, the works in this exhibition bring the past, present, and future into conversation with each other. Tintypes from nineteenth-century studio photography harken to the abolitionist period, when Frederick Douglass — the most photographed person of his generation — championed photography for its accessibility and its ability to allow the sitter to control their own portrayal, especially in a time when negative stereotypes and caricatures proliferated.

“There’s great power that you can have when having control over how you’re presented,” Coleman says. “Something that’s exciting for me about that is also that you own your own image, which for Black folks, owning yourself, owning your own presentation, like literally being able to hang an image of yourself, is really important.”

With the works culled from numerous moments in history, Daigle adds that the viewer is able to witness the full scope of this meaning of ownership, a fraught term in American history. “Thinking about the Civil Rights Movement, the abolition movement, our present day with the Black Lives Matter movement, and other civil rights movements that are of our time, [the ‘Power’ gallery space, in particular] deals a lot with images of self-possession and knowing, claiming one’s identity.”

The exhibition itself presents very little text; Daigle says this decision encourages the viewer to embrace the visual experience fully and allows the portraits to speak for themselves. “Just having such a rich visual history,” she says, “really conveys the importance of image-making, which I think is at the core of this show. That’s really where this power lies, in that legacy of having these images that artists are still continuing to make or reusing or reimagining contemporary issues using historical images.”

Renee Cox’s The Signing, for instance, reimagines the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with a completely Black cast. Genevieve Gaignard’s photograph, Trailblazer (A Dream Deferred), features a biracial woman in an antebellum dress, carrying a painting of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. The contemporary photograph

ABOVE: Cat Patton, Unveil I from Study I: Sexuality, Sensuality, and Self series, Collection of a Friend of the Brooks Catherine Patton.

BELOW: Jarvis Boyland, Expectations, 2019, Collection of a Friend of the Brooks Jarvis Boyland.

hangs beside a set of antique tintypes. The juxtaposition of the modern and the antique is intentional. The exhibit was hung in the “salon style,” where works are placed in groups of different sizes, next to and above one another, rather than in a linear procession. The salon style originated in Paris in the seventeenth century, and with portrait-making also having Eurocentric ties, the original LACMA curators made sure to include sculptures that reference African art. “It’s an interesting and wonderful celebration,” Coleman says, a celebration that is as diverse as the Black American experience.

LOVE

The salon style also makes the gallery space feel more domestic, Daigle says, as if the works are arranged in a way one might decorate their own house. As it happens, she says, portraits also “have a root in the domestic space, and that’s something several of the artists are looking at in their work. … There is some degree of feeling like you’re entering this kind of space where people seem familiar or you might feel this kind of connection in a way you might with, like, a family photo album.”

After all, Daigle says, “Images help to really make us feel like we know someone. Things like Instagram make us feel like we actually know people, but this isn’t anything new and I hope that this exhibition shows us that we still live with those legacies today of how we consume images, but this is not a new history.”

In the “Love” gallery space, especially, images of heroes who have since passed — like Chadwick Boseman and Kobe Bryant — remind the viewer of those whom we hold in high regard without really knowing them. Other images in this space offer intimate insight into families, both chosen and biological, granting the viewer access into private moments shared by loved ones.

Memphis-born Jarvis Boyland’s painting, Expectations, is one such piece, a portrait of himself with close friends Cameron Clayborn and D’Angelo Lovell Williams, whose piece Daddy Issues happens to be in the exhibit as well. The three completed a residency in

Skowhegan, Maine, together, Boyland explains, and all are either from Memphis or have a relation to the city.

“I was thinking about the complicated tensions that I have been imbued with growing up in Memphis,” Boyland says of the piece, “and the different gazes in that painting, I think, indicate something about community or the difficulty to communicate among a group or between two or more individuals.”

Completed in 2019, Expectations is now a part of the Brooks’ permanent collection. Rich

jewel tones luxuriate on the canvas, melting the tension among the three figures into an intimate yet beautiful moment. “‘Black’ just can’t even begin to describe all of the many shades and hues that I see when I look at Black flesh,” Boyland told Tre’vell Anderson of Out magazine in 2019. “So, I try to render the flesh [by] sort of really looking at it, really feeling it, and really making it all a compliment, complimenting the people [pictured].”

Since 2019, Boyland, now based in L.A. where he saw the original LACMA exhibit, says his perception of his work has shifted, but then as now, he aims to reflect his reality, even as it shifts to accommodate his personal growth. “That’s really the nature of my work, that it’s subject to change,” Boyland says. When he arrived in L.A., for instance, he says, “I was refusing to paint people [his typical subject matter]. But ultimately, I’ve returned back to dealing with figurative matters. It’s because I care about people, period, and more so I care about queer Black men.”

Similarly, Memphis photographer Catherine Elizabeth Patton tends to shoot portraits because, as she says, “people are compelling subjects. … People come with human experiences that inform the way they show up in front of the lens.” For her piece within this exhibition, though, she was the subject. Unveil I, she explains, is part of a series of self-portraits, wherein a veil obstructs Patton’s face before eventually being removed “as a representation of the transition from hiding from

ABOVE: Derek Fordjour, Highstep Double, 2019, oil pastel on newspaper, mounted on canvas, 64 × 84 in. Collection of a Friend of the Brooks, © Derek Fordjour.

TOP: Renee Cox, The Signing, 2017, digital chromogenic print, 36 1/2 × 99 1/4 × 3 in., Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Gift of Amar Singh, © Renee Cox, digital image courtesy of the artist.

Dr. Clayborne Carson

Stacey Abrams

Kerry Kennedy

vulnerability to embracing it.

“This was the first time I had ever been my own sitter,” Patton says, “but I felt that the subject matter was so personal to me that I couldn’t ask anyone else to embody what I felt was my sole responsibility to express at the time.”

Like Boyland, Patton had seen the exhibit at LACMA. “I had only seen these works on computer screens and in books, so at that point I was just taking everything in,” she says, and now that her work is on display in her hometown, “it feels so good. I’m honored to share space with so many outstanding artists I look up to. Deana Lawson and Carrie Mae Weems are both women I admire in this space, so to see their work and take a few steps to find my portrait nearby [is] really gratifying.”

JOY

While curating the exhibit, Daigle and Coleman knew they wanted to put their own Memphis flair on the traveling show, not just to represent and reflect Memphis faces, like those of Patton and Boyland, back to viewers, but to remind Memphians “that there is this really long, rich history right here,” says Daigle. As complex as that history is, Memphis has always nurtured Black power, love, and joy.

“So [the exhibition’s] banking on that legacy and showing off that legacy, especially as we’re part of this monumental national tour,” Coleman adds. “[That joy] is historical because it’s not just seen in contemporary work. We’re seeing older works. So that’s a greater kind of subtle intervention that I think [Daigle] is doing with our additions, is [to show that]

Memphis has always been popping. But her biggest intervention that I really enjoyed was this shedding light on the extraordinary ordinary, like graduations, things we take for granted … how much joy there is in the quiet moments.“

A selection of photographs by the Hooks Brothers Photography Studio illustrates just this in the “Joy” gallery space. Established in 1907 by Robert and Henry Brooks, Hooks Brothers captured images of notable leaders like Booker T. Washington and Mahalia Jackson for the better part of the twentieth century, but perhaps more importantly, they captured ordinary life and the events that accompany it, from ballet performances to weddings to family portraits.

“Joy is such an expansive word,” Coleman says, “and I think we usually associate it just with happiness, but it’s complicated and it allows for so much nuance. … Like, yes, having pain and sorrow is this kind of foil to experiencing joy.”

When speaking about his Highstep Double that is featured prominently in the “Joy” space, Memphis-born Derek Fordjour recognizes a similar phenomenon. “I like to create works that walk the line between comfort and discomfort,” he says. “You know, this is a jubilant work at first glance, but there’s also strenuous effort and extreme athleticism. And I think that attraction to the pageantry of life rituals in the Black community, especially, is very compelling, but often it’s informed by a certain level of desperation or resistance.”

For the piece featuring two marching band performers in a back-bending high-step, Fordjour employed an equally arduous process of layering, gluing, and tearing thousands of small newspaper clippings, creating a “rich terrain” upon the canvas for painting.

JEFFREY B. MOORE

Crye-Leike’s Top Commercial Producer 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Former Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver

MEMBER:

Rams 1980 Super Bowl Team Wide Receiver

University of Tennessee Vols Football 1975 – 1979

AUTHOR:

GRADUATE:

Graduate of Leadership Memphis Class of 2001

Member of Leadership Memphis Class of 2024

Barkley Leonnard Hendricks, Self Portrait, 1977, © Barkley L. Hendricks. Courtesy of the Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

“I’m really interested in the notion of reuse and discarded elements,” the artist says of his materials. “I started working this way when I was an impoverished artist. I had very little supplies and that’s why newspaper was initially attractive, but as I continued to work, I enjoyed how sort of shabby the works are. That they could occupy a space as pristine as a museum felt very honest to me — how I show up personally but also that larger cultural experience of starting from an under-resourced place and trying to add up to more, to sort of compete at life’s game.”

Today, Fordjour, who resides in New York City, serves on the Brooks’ board and operates Contemporary Arts Memphis, a nonprofit that offers local high school students a no-cost summer arts-intensive fellowship and year-round mentorship. “I attribute my success to having grown up in Memphis,” he says. Though he has shown internationally, this will be the first time his work is on display at the Brooks.

“With this show, now is probably the best time in history to have ever shown at the Brooks,” Fordjour adds. “I think it’s a really simple concept that is also very profound when you consider the history of representation for Black people, in any culture, but more specifically in art.”

For Memphis, at large, this exhibition comes to the arts scene at a pivotal moment, as the Dixon will open its “Black Artists in America: From Civil Rights to

David C. Driskell, Jazz Singer (Lady of Leisure, Fox), 1974, oil and collage on canvas, 52 × 44 in. Jointly acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, with funds provided by the Ford Foundation in honor of David Driskell and Christine Y. Kim on the occasion of Black American Portraits; and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Museum Purchase, Los Angeles, © Estate of David C. Driskell, courtesy of DC Moore Gallery, New York.

NEIL DIAMOND

Legacy Concert Tribute

OCT. 7 / 3:00 & 7:30P.M.

Jay White brings the look & sound of Neil Diamond with: SWEET CAROLINE – AMERICA – I AM… I SAID –SONG SUNG BLUE – CRACKLIN’ ROSIE. The quintessential Neil Diamond Show!

25TH ANNIVERSARY 2023-2024 SEASON

MORGAN MYLES & JAY ALLEN

Hot New Country

OCT. 28 / 7:30P.M.

Enjoy two acts in one night with country musicians Morgan Myles & Jay Allen from Season 2022 of The Voice, performing their own songs, & ending the show together.

Folk Icon CRYSTAL

GAYLE

NOV. 3 / 7:30P.M.

Here’s your chance to experience Crystal Gayle! Savor Cyrstal’s hits like DON’T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE – TOO MANY LOVERS – TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP – & more.

An Evening With HENRY CHO

NOV. 11 / 7:30P.M.

Henry Cho’s clean comedy about southern living leaves crowds in stitches! Heard on SiriusXM Radio, seen in Vince Gill & Amy Grant’s SAVING FAITH, & a Grand Ole Opry member, Cho will tickle your funny bone!

THE DILLARDS

Launched Country Rock

NOV. 17 / 7:30P.M.

From The Darlings on the Andy Griffi th Show to the pioneers of Country Rock. The Dillards inspired bands like The Byrds & Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Glenn Frey credits the Eagles iconic sound to The Dillards!

Live On Stage

IT’S A WONDERFUL

DEC. 1, 2 / 7:30P.M. & DEC. 2, 3 / 2:00P.M.

LIFE

LIVE THEATRE — Watch an angel get his wings as he reminds a down-on-his-luck George Bailey of all things that make his a truly wonderful life. Don’t miss this heart-felt holiday classic.

Up & Coming Country CHAPEL HART

JAN. 26 / 7:30P.M.

From small town Mississippi, Chapel Hart grabs your heart! Got a Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent, & played Grand Ol’ Opry. You’ll love their clever lyrics, playful energy, & beautiful three-part harmony.

PETER PAN

Broadway’s Timeless Musical

MAR. 8, 9 / 7:30P.M. & MAR. 10 / 2:00P.M.

Fly with Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, & the Darling children to Neverland for a timeless adventure. With songs like I’M FLYING – I’VE GOTTA CROW –NEVER NEVER LAND…Make memories with Peter Pan!

OTHER OUTSTANDING SHOWS

Not to be Missed LEIGH NASH

APR. 6 / 7:30P.M.

Lead singer of the alternative Christian band Sixpence None the Richer, with hit songs like KISS ME – THERE SHE GOES. Solo career includes mega hits like GOOD TROUBLE. For a memorable concert, experience Leigh Nash!

ABBA REVISITED — EVERLY BROTHERS HOLIDAY SHOW — DINOSAUR QUEST — HOTEL CALIFORNIA — MARK NIZER’S 4D THEATER — THE NUTCRACKER — THE TEMPEST — BARTLETT COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND — TOM WOPAT BUY 5 OR MORESAVESHOWS

25%

29

the Bicentennial” on October 22nd and the Clough-Hanson Gallery at Rhodes College has its “Young, Gifted and Black” on display through December 9th. “It is a really wonderful moment to sort of celebrate Memphis,” Daigle says, adding that the Brooks and Rhodes have cross-programmed events planned for the fall, with 10 artists overlapping in their respective exhibits.

In the meantime, “ e excitement level for this opening is probably unparalleled,” Fordjour reflects. “Just watching many of my friends who still live [in Memphis] on social media, people that have never previously gone to the Brooks, or known much about their programming, they’re engaged for the

show. So I think it’s a compliment to all the artists and their work, but also the Brooks. e museum should feel like the city, and it should be a resource for the city, and this show feels like a step in the right direction.”

“ e fi rst iteration of this show, which I did see at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in L.A., I was not included,” Fordjour adds. “And for the show to come to Memphis and for the Brooks curatorial team to decide that they are going to include local Memphis artists and Memphis-adjacent artists like me, I think points right back to why I do service work in Memphis and why I love Memphis. When everything is working right, we cheer for each other, and it’s not common that, for a show that you weren’t originally included in, a museum makes a decision to include you, but they did. I think that’s special.”

“Black American Portraits” is on display through January 7th. For more information about the exhibition and its related programming, visit brooksmuseum.org.

Artist not recorded, Untitled, late 19th century, tintype, 3 7/8 × 3 1/2 × 3/4 in., Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Ralph M. Parsons Fund, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA.

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Playing Favorites at BPACC

Bartlett celebrates 25 years of bringing entertainment to the stage.

BY JON W. SPARKS

The Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center (BPACC) opened in 1999 as a natural extension of a growing Memphis suburb that wanted to make its mark in culture and commerce.

Ron Jewell was there even before the beginning. e notion of Bartlett having its own facility that could host entertainment and civic events was around, but not fully formed. He’d been working in arts management and in the 1980s and 1990s was director of marketing for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He lived in Bartlett and saw firsthand the need. Plus, he sensed the community would be behind the idea, so he wrote to then-mayor Bobby Flaherty to offer his services.

Jewell jokes that he felt a little bit like Harold Hill, referring to the notorious protagonist in e Music Man who had a scheme to sell band instruments to the good people of River City, Iowa. “I had that kind of feeling, but there was such an interest from a core set of people that it just felt like a great opportunity.”

So, his efforts got underway in earnest around 1995, the year after Germantown opened its own performing arts center, and with growing support, fundraising increased. Soon appeared the shell of the building on Appling Road near U.S. 79. It was, Jewell felt, a good time to boost enthusiasm in the project even further, and though the structure wasn’t complete — even the “stage” was just a set of concrete blocks — it was an opportunity to put on a show. “We put a brass quintet in there from the Bartlett Community Band,” he says, “so they were officially the first performers to play on the BPACC

stage, even before it was finished.”

In 1999, the building was completed with the backing of Flaherty, incoming mayor Ken Fulmer, and a city ready to see what a 350-seat theater could do.

e main area is the auditorium and stage, but other spaces of varying sizes are available for meetings, classes, luncheons, seminars, training, and perfor-

“I wanted the theater to be upscale, but still very casual and welcoming. There had to be a ‘cool‘ factor.”

— Ron Jewell

mances. e facility also offers youth theater camps and several family-oriented performances.

Jewell was named director of the facility and it was on him to figure out what programming would work best. He landed Art Garfunkel as the first engagement for the completed facility.

“I was looking everywhere all the time and turning over stones,” he says. “I got a sense of what was out there.”

Another of his early acts was banjo virtuoso Alison Brown, whose bluegrass/jazz act, Jewell says, “set a mood for what I wanted the theater to be: upscale, but still very casual and welcoming.”

It was working, although, he says, “I began getting much more attendance from within the Parkways than I was getting in Bartlett initially. I think that was because there were [media] vehicles like the newspaper and WKNO, which had a large following in the Midtown area.”

Programming was the key, and Jewell, via conferences and contacts developed over the years, made it work. “It’s not an exact science, but it’s numbers and it’s dates,” he says. “And for me, there had to be that ‘cool’ factor.”

Jewell also got the popular Pickin’ Picnic Bluegrass Festival going that featured the former bluegrass group Lucy Opry. e free two-day event was held outdoors except for the ticketed finale on the second evening.

While the Lucy Opry is long gone, BPACC still has its Music by the Lake event in the summer.

After 21 years at the helm, Jewell left to work at the Halloran Centre as vice president of operations. But he has fond memories of his time at BPACC. “I felt the rewards every night as the people left the theater, letting me know what a

“It makes me feel good that people are liking what we’re doing,” Bollinger says. “And it helps the city when people travel here and stay at a hotel and go to restaurants and shop. It shows people what Bartlett can be.”

As BPACC looks to its 25th year, Bollinger touts the upcoming season’s acts that, as usual, offer a variety of entertainment. October starts the 2023-2024 term with

good job I’d done,” he says. “I think we accomplished building a little, intimate mom-and-pop organization [into something] big-time.”

e City of Bartlett then began looking for a new director and liked what it saw in Michael Bollinger. He came aboard in 2016 and brought long experience as an artistic director at venues in Missouri, Virginia, and New York City.

a Neil Diamond tribute concert, a performance of e Tempest by the Tennessee Shakespeare Company, and country musicians Morgan Myles and Jay Allen.

Bollinger is especially pleased to have Grammy-winning singer Crystal Gayle coming in November. Later in the month is comedian Henry Cho, the bluegrass group the Dillards, and what’s called the 4D experience of juggler and comedian Mark Nizer.

Holiday-themed December will see a live radio play It’s a Wonderful Life, the Everly Brothers Experience holiday show, and performances of e Nutcracker ballet by the local Esprit de Corps Dance Company.

In January, BPACC will offer ABBA Revisited and the country/gospel trio Chapel Hart. February will see Dinosaur Quest of Dr. T-Rex and then Hotel California, a salute to the Eagles.

“There are different faces in the audience, and that’s what it’s about. Probably about 60 percent of our audience comes from Bartlett proper, and the rest come from around the Mid-South.”

— Michael Bollinger

For Bollinger, it was a chance to continue doing what he loved, in a fine facility, and in a town he liked. “Here, even if you sit in the back row, it’s like being in a big living room,” he says. “And since I’ve been here, we’ve put in new sound and got the room rebalanced, and new lights and a new lightboard that’s all LED now. It’s a really good facility and there’s even a lake right there.”

He has continued the programming that has worked in the past. “I may very well sell out for a country show, and then the next night I sell out a classic rock show,” he says. “ ere are different faces in the audience, and that’s what it’s about. Probably about 60 percent of our audience comes from Bartlett proper, and the rest come from around the Mid-South.”

March will bring performances of a Peter Pan musical, and a concert by the Bartlett Community Concert Band. And April will have singer Leigh Nash, and actor/musician Tom Wopat, who has done plenty of Broadway since his days on e Dukes of Hazzard

“I am really pleased to be a part of the arts community here in the land of Elvis,” Bollinger says. “And for people who like the performing arts, there are lots of choices between ballet, between symphony orchestras, between free outdoor concerts and live theater. ere are some world-class artists coming to the Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center. Sometimes I’ll give myself a reality check and think that I am getting paid to run a live theater and to work with all these artists. What a blessing.”

top, left to right: Neil Diamond The Legacy Concert Tribute; The Tempest; Morgan Myles & Jay Allen; Crystal Gayle; Henry Cho; The Dillards; Mark Nizer 4D; It’s a Wonderful Life: The Live Radio Play; Chapel Hart; Everly Brothers Experience Holiday Show.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY BPACC.

Your 2023 Guide to Renovation and Modernization

REmodelMEMPHIS

A BOO-TIFUL NIGHT TO END CANCER

A fundraiser of the American Cancer Society

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023

Shelby Farms Park - Great Lawn

3:30 PM Survivor Dinner

4:30 PM - 8:00 PM Dinner & Live Entertainment

www.relayforlife.org/memphis

MAKING STRIDES OF MEMPHIS

SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2023

Tom Lee Park Event Opens 1:30 PM Walk 3:00 PM

www.makingstrideswalk.org/memphis

President’s Message

By David McLemore with West Tennessee Home Builders Association

People are living in their homes longer today than they have for many years. And they’re doing it for a variety of reasons: high interest rates, the shortage of homes on the market, the rising cost of homes, growing families, and people wanting to “age in place” rather than move to a retirement community.

These are just some of the reasons more people are deciding now is the time to renovate or remodel their homes. But be careful! Most TV home shows make a total makeover of your older home — turning it into a beautiful, state-of-the-art modern masterpiece — look simple. Simple enough to tempt you into trying the DIY Method. Knock out a wall? Easy. Put up a little drywall? Simple. Tile a bathroom? Only takes a couple of hours. Unfortunately, more times than not this turns into the DIY Nightmare Method!

Remodeling your home can produce amazing results. It can turn your current home into the home of your dreams. But it is a process better left to professionals. Why? It’s not simple or easy. It requires skill, experience, and knowledge of building codes and legal regulations. And when done incorrectly it can result in serious financial and safety consequences.

It’s right to be careful, but don’t be afraid to remodel your home. An experienced, licensed, and bonded professional will have the resources needed to produce the results you’re expecting and looking forward to in your newly renovated home.

The West Tennessee Home Builders Association is the largest home building association in Tennessee and represents all areas of the home building industry. Its special Remodelers Council has members highly skilled and experienced in the unique issues and situations that can arise when transforming older homes into dream homes. Let that be your first step in your remodeling projects. For a complete list of Remodeler members go to www. westtnhba.com.

Chairman’s Message

By Hunter Cooper with Maximus Building Supply

So, you’ve lived in your home for years and you need to buy something new, but you just don’t want to do that right now. Interest rates are too high because you refinanced when rates were 3.5 percent. Home prices are too high. You can’t find what you really want. So, what is the solution?

Remodel your home and turn it into what you want.

It sounds simple, but it’s not. There are a lot of decisions to make. Every remodeling project doesn’t automatically increase the value of your home. Adding a pool doesn’t. Upgrading a garage doesn’t. Neither do luxury upgrades like adding marble countertops. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do them. They can be just what you want, but don’t expect a great jump in value. On the other hand, a major or minor kitchen renovation, a remodeled or added bathroom, or adding a new master suite will almost certainly add value to your home. So will finishing an attic or basement, adding a deck, upgrading an entry door, replacing windows, and even improving your home’s energy efficiency. If you’re making improvements for added resale value, refinished hardwood floors can return as much as 147 percent of the investment.

Home renovations are one of the few investments that can improve the quality of life in your living space and increase the value of your home for the future.

Once you’ve decided just what — and why — you want to remodel, it’s time to determine how much you want to spend on your remodeling project. You won’t be able to establish an accurate budget at this point, but you should be able to set a ceiling for how much you will invest. When you have that done, find that expert remodeler!

The members of the West Tennessee Home Builders Association’s Remodelers Council are some of the best in the business! Your first step should be going to www.westtnhba.com, hover over “Find an Expert,” and click on “Getting Started”. That’s the easiest and fastest way to find the right person for your project.

CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE PLAZA

Taking Steps

How a single solution transformed a South Bluff home from good to great.

BY CHRIS MCCOY

T he line of homes that cozy up to the South Bluffs all have one great asset in common: The panoramic view of the Mississippi River. But not all of these homes take full advantage of their location, says Brad Shapiro of Shapiro & Company Architects. In 2020, he was called by a couple who were considering purchasing a home on the bluff, and he immediately noticed mistakes made when the property was designed.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The original staircase connecting the three floors of this South Bluff home “looked like an office building,” says architect Brad Shapiro. He replaced it with a steel-based stair by Viewrail, which opened up the home’s views of the Mississippi River and provided plenty of new space for art.

ABOVE: The view through the front door of the renovated home reveals the new staircase’s visually open footprint. BELOW: The renovation expanded access to the home’s front deck, connecting it with the rest of the house.

RIGHT: The home’s glass corner provides the upstairs spaces with spectacular views.

“I think a lot of people walked through this house and didn’t buy it,” he says, “because of obstacles blocked views. It was not capturing the river view.”

Shapiro’s firm is focused on residential architecture, both new construction and renovation. “I walk through a lot of houses. As I say, you have to kiss a lot of toads before you find the prince or the princess,” he says. “It’s often hard for a client to see past what’s right in front of them. It’s hard for them to visualize what could be.”

When he walks in, he immediately recognizes the potential. “When I see a wall, I can see right past it, almost like x-ray vision, if you will. I see all the possibilities. I don’t see the constraints. I’m very optimistic to begin with. What are the assets and how do we magnify and amplify those assets? In this case, being right on the bluff, the view was the immediately obvious asset. However, I don’t know that the first homeowner understood the opportunities they had — I don’t think they recognized they were on the river! There were walls in locations that shouldn’t have walls.”

He says getting to know the client’s needs is the most important early step in the process. “Clients always tell me later, ‘I had no idea why you were asking so many questions about me, and my family, and my life.’ Who visits, and who doesn’t visit? How long do they stay when they visit? All this stuff. But they know why I was asking those questions after we finished the project.”

In this case, “What was there did not suit them at all.“

Going Up

The biggest problem was immediately evident. The original lots offered on the South Bluff were small, so builders went up. This home is three stories tall, with a garage taking up much of the ground floor. Access to the living areas was via a long staircase. “If [the clients had] started talking

about their knee surgeries and their hip replacements, I would’ve said, ‘I don’t think this house is for you,’” says Shapiro.

Even though the garage is built into the house, anyone parking there would have had to go outside and re-enter through the front entrance. Two small flights of stairs, one from the front door and one from a small porch facing the river, converged on a landing leading to the second floor. A small bedroom on the first floor lacked any windows at all.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SELAVIE PHOTOGRAPHY

CENTER

As for the staircase itself, “It looked like an office building,” says Shapiro. “It was bulky. It had sheet rock, low walls, and just a little top pipe handrail. And it blocked the views, so when you walked in that front door, you were immediately hit in the face with this bulky, obtrusive looking stair. Other than going up and down the house, it provided no interest at all.”

Shapiro’s solution to the staircase problem would become the centerpiece of the remodeling project. Instead of a bulky and conventional staircase, “We wanted it light and transparent, sculptural and floating. Then it would allow views through to the river.”

The redesign simplified the space with a steel-based staircase by Viewrail. “The steel is lightweight, and it carries a lot more load than wood does,” says Shaprio. “We were able to make the stairs almost float.”

The floating staircase, with its barely-there glass railing, is instantly striking. “It became the focal point coming in, the very first front-door impression,” he says. “The stairs became not only a functional way to get to all three floors, but a sculptural element, an art element in the house that lacked such a strong feature.”

Interior designer Janice Reed used the stairs as a jumping-off point for her work in the house.

“Janice understood well the opportunity,” says Shapiro. “She was able to continue the architectural theme in the interior design, which is that transparency and that openness, a more modern feel. She developed the concept we had established in the architecture, so it wasn’t fighting agendas.”

Reed is an acclaimed Memphis-area designer with decades of experience in highend homes. “I felt like this was an incredible opportunity to create something special, because it is such a unique riverfront setting,” she says. “When you hit that entry, it’s all about the stairwell. It’s like it’s floating.”

Once she noticed how the stairs meshed with the existing metal and the glass, she began her work. “I started picking out materials, like in the dining room, and the stone that we picked out for the counter-

Making the View

Rethinking the staircase design was only the first step, says Shapiro. The second floor required its own radical rethink. “When you came up the stairs, you were looking right at a wall,” he says. “It had a kitchen, dining and living room, but they were clearly three separate spaces.”

The living room ceiling soars up two stories, providing more vertical space for the windows overlooking the river. The kitchen in particular posed challenges. A wall separated it from the rest of the floor,

tops,” she says. “Then that turned into black cabinets. Once we had this white, black, and metal, I started trying to keep those things going throughout that second floor to not distract from the view.”

Clearing the stairwell of visual clutter meant opening new wall space for art — and created new challenges for the designers and builders. “You would not believe how hard a time we had getting furniture up to the second and third floors,” says Reed. “The artwork that’s in the entry weighed a ton. We had to use mobile scaffolding to raise it up so that we could get between the staircase. It was pretty bizarre.”

and the dining room to which it connected was built on a slightly raised platform.

“Not only visually was it blocked off from the river, but physically you had to literally step up into the dining room and step back down into the living room,” says Shapiro. “The way a lot of people live these days, the kitchen is not an isolated space. It needs to be part of the whole living area.”

But in this home, the kitchen was a separate room. “Very little natural light was getting into that kitchen area,” he says, “and the kitchen was a peninsula-type design, almost like a cul-de-sac. We removed the floor platform, opened up the walls, and completely

ABOVE: The renovation added a new, larger window to the third-floor bedroom. Designer Janice Reed used color to connect with the natural world outside. BELOW: The new tub and backsplash bring elegance to the bathroom.

RIGHT: The original second-floor kitchen space had a high ceiling. Shapiro lowered the ceiling and used it as the floor for this new lounge space, which has a view of Downtown Memphis.

reconfigured the kitchen into more of a big island-shaped kitchen area, which provided circulation and flow. You could be at the kitchen sink looking out and be able to see the river, the sky, and the sunset.”

Reed added a unique glass feature on the wall of the dining room area. “That glass is absolutely gorgeous on that back wall. It looks like diamond, but it actually is cut so each little facet has light bouncing off of it.”

Getting the cavernous living room just right meant a little trial and error. “I have worked with builders for over 40 years, so I’ve learned that they’ve got to have everything up front,” says Reed. “You don’t wait till the last minute. You pick everything out and hope that everything works, because it’s only going to make it hard for everybody if we don’t have the materials there.”

Reed began purchasing furniture, trying to figure out how to provide the best view looking towards the windows. “I wanted a sofa right there, but it would not line up across the way in the corner,” she says. “So we kind of reshaped the ceiling so that sofa could look directly towards the corner and be centered. It was really interesting, and was one of those things that I

was so glad I called about, because if I hadn’t, the furniture would have never placed correctly.”

Reid selected hanging light fixtures for opposite corners of the room. “I knew somehow I’ve got to pull these ceilings down, so that’s why I went to both corners,” she says. “One corner has one large fixture and the other corner has two small fixtures offset from a big window in the master bedroom. They wanted to have a view up there, so we had to be careful because you didn’t want a huge chandelier plopping down right in

Living Larger

“It’s a nice-sized house, but it’s not a huge house,“ says Shapiro. “By opening it up, the house not only lives bigger, but with more natural light coming in, it just feels more uplifting. It lives larger than it actually is.”

On the third floor, the redesign added new space in a creative way. Even though the kitchen had been walled off from the living room, it still had a two-story ceiling. A window on the third floor only allowed a little light into the kitchen, but Shapiro says he noticed it provided a distinctive view of Downtown. “The two-story space in the living room was great. What an asset! But the two-story space in the kitchen was not an asset.”

ABOVE: Originally, a blank wall greeted anyone using the stairs on the second floor. The new layout opens up views from the dining and living rooms.

BELOW: The light fixture in the living room brings the ceiling down without interfering with the views from the third floor. The couch faces the home’s most stunning views.

the middle of it.”

The dark color palette in the kitchen and dining room contrasts with the wide-open spaces of the living room. “You can get away with using a lot of black when you have a lot of light,” she says, “and black is very elegant.”

But using a lot of black is tricky, says Reed. “I’m one of those people that can do any type of room. If you want me to do French Country, I get into it. I love the challenge of change. But when I do contemporary, I do try to make it warm. I cannot stand a cold contemporary house. I try my best to always make people try to go the warm way instead of the cool way. You will get very tired of a cold house.”

By lowering the ceiling over the kitchen, Shapiro created the floor for a third-story lounge where the homeowners can watch TV or take their morning coffee. “Not only did it increase the livability of the home and the enjoyment of the home, but the appraised value went up tremendously,” he says.

The new space added approximately 500 square feet of living space. “You fairly inexpensively add a floor to it, and you furnish it, and you’ve got a view of Downtown. They probably spent $25,000 in construction, but we were able to capture $200,000 worth of value.”

Reed says that, while she, Shapiro, and the builders were radically transforming the house, the homeowners rolled with the punches. “We had a lot of fun,” she says. “We all came together and we created a beautiful home.”

WTNHBA 2023 Remodelers Council Members List

Hunter Cooper—901-598-4868

Maximus Building Supply - hcooper@thriftybuilding.com

Julia Bey—901-614-3100

Williamsburg Home Services - julia@williamsburg.build

Eric Catmur—901-680-8200

Catmur Development - eric.catmur@gmail.com

Patrick Mahoney—901-870-5471

Remodeling Consultants Inc. - Pat@RemodelingConsultantsInc.com

Art Gettings—901-605-9178

Art Gettings Construction - artgettings@gmail.com

Tommy Byrnes—901-681-0499

Byrnes Ostner Investments - tommy@byrnesostner.com

John Catmur—901-680-8200

Catmur Development Company - catmurdc@comcast.net

Alan Hargett—901-363-4141

Central Woodwork - ahargett@cenwood.com

Cory Wheat—901-356-1026

Colonial Electric Company - cory@colonialelectriccompany.com

Dave Moore—901 870-7372

Dave Moore Companies - dave@davemoorecompanies.com

Mark Beck—901-610-8226

Designer Millworx - mark.capitalconstruction@gmail.com

Destiny Herter—901-563-8989

Designer Wholesale Kitchen Bath and Floors - destiny. designerwholesalefloor@gmail.com

John Heard—901-756-6167

John Heard Company - jheardhomes@gmail.com

Ryan Anderson—901-465-3400

RKA Construction - ryan@rka.build

Ned Savage—901-363-9607

Savage Tile Company - savagetileco@bellsouth.net

Todd Becker—901-297-3158

PPG Paints - tmbecker@ppg.com

Tommy Peeler—901-485-3316

Midtown Cabinetry & Millwork - tommy@midtownmill.com

Joel Enochs—901-522-5235

JA Contractors LLC - joel@jacontractors.net

Scott Trimble—901-401-8500

Revival Restoration Services - info@revivalrestore.com

Adam Fonseca—901-496-8403

Fonseca Construction LLC - fonseca.built@gmail.com

Robert Edward Whitsitt Sr.—901-848-4033

EZRA52, LLC - Bob@ezra52.org

Phillip Qualls—901-221-4033

CrewPros - phillip@crewpros.com

Mr. Joseph Coster—662-224-6658

Iron Crafters - joseph@ironcraftersusa.com

Lynda Climer—731-217-3827

Capital Investments - lyndaclimer@yahoo.com

Grace Shaw—901-614-0200

Countertops of Memphis - grace@countertopsofmemphis.com

Kip Gordon—901-465-3400

RKA Construction - kip@rka.build

Chris Hatcher—901-831-0975

Hatcher Homes - hatcherhomesgc@gmail.com

Robert McCage—1-731-617-0249

Rapid Roofing and Construction LLC - Rapidroofingandconstruction@ gmail.com

Dewayne Gammel—901-300-6805

Renovate Memphis, LLC - info@renovatememphis.com

Thomas Sheddan—901-553-0349

McLemore Home Builders - thomas@mclemorehomes.com

Richard Gregory—901-372-3690

Crye Leike Realtors - wrgreg3@gmail.com

Patrick Gardner—901-205-8305

Gardner Construction Solutions - patrick@gardnermemphis.com sharon fuller—404-543-7546

Ethos Solutions - sharonpfuller@hotmail.com

Jordan Mayo—901-620-0888

Guaranty Bank & Trust - jordon.mayo@gbtonline.com

Christopher Kelly—901-907-0431

C & B Counter Solutions, LLC - Mycountersolutions@yahoo.com

Hope and Support for Women

Ivy Trails at Parkwood

• Major depression

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Anxiety and obsessive disorders

• Mental health issues related to pregnancy loss, fertility and postpartum depression

For no-cost, 24-hour assessments or more information, call 662-895-4900 or visit parkwoodbhs.com.

A W A R D S

INNOVATION 2023

HONORING THE VERY BEST IN LOCAL INNOVATION.

There are always plenty of new and exciting ventures to be found in Memphis. e Bluff City has become something of a hub for innovation, daring creators and dreamers to discover new breakthroughs that move our community forward. In 2023, for our eleventh annual Innovation Awards, Memphis Magazine features five progress-focused individuals and organizations who are showcasing Memphis’ continued evolution through innovation. is year, we recognize UTHSC ’s state-of-theart center for healthcare improvement and patient simulation, Dr. Stephen Haynes and Rhodes College’s curated curriculum that bring the liberal arts to incarcerated students, Dr. Ernö Lindner’s fastacting drug detection technology which improves medical response time for overdose patients, Tennis Memphis and its commitment to making the sport accessible to all, and the Overton Park Shell’s mobile “Shell on Wheels” that brings live music to every corner of Memphis. ey’re all worthy winners in their own right, and are doing their utmost to move Memphis forward. — Samuel

X. Cicci

UTHSC prepares the next generation of medical professionals with cutting-edge simulation training.

BY JON W. SPARKS

How does a doctor become a doctor? Easy, just go to med school. All you have to do is go through the grind of classes and lectures and research for years.

But that’s not enough.

It takes a good dose of practical experience before a student in the health sciences can truly master the art of healing. As it happens, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has one of the top programs in the country that delivers cutting-edge methods of teaching: practical simulations.

The Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS) gives students experience in dealing with realistic situations in a sophisticated and controlled environment.

The use of simulation in healthcare training was highlighted in a 1999 Institute of Medicine report that acknowledged that healthcare failures led to unnecessary deaths and excessive medical costs. That prompted more widespread use of simulation training for healthcare workers who could learn crucial clinical skills, communication, decision-making, crisis resource management, teamwork, and critical thinking — all before meeting a patient.

The center at UTHSC operates out of a 45,000-squarefoot building for healthcare simulation and interprofessional education. Tara Lemoine, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, is the executive director of CHIPS. She says, “In the application of recreating

CHIPS CENTER FOR HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND PATIENT SIMULATION

realistic events and situations, learning occurs in a controlled environment with the highest degree of technical, physical, and psychological realism possible.”

But what does that entail, exactly?

The building, which opened in 2018, is full of simulation equipment that can resemble heart rates, pulses, heart sounds, and breathing sounds. There are manikins — which can run from $15,000 to $220,000 — that closely replicate the responses, physiology, and anatomy of a real patient.

Students can make mistakes without hurting a soul and with faculty at hand to make sure procedures are done correctly.

Further, the training is not just for the students. The CHIPS team also provides professional development for clinical providers in the community to spread up-to-date training.

Each floor of the three-story building is dedicated to a different aspect of simulation training. The first floor includes bed-skill

stations for preclinical skills and assessments. A virtual-reality room allows students to practice simulated procedures, including endoscopies, ultrasounds, and robotic surgeries. There is also a simulated home environment, where students can practice delivering inhome patient care.

The second floor houses a simulated acute-care setting resembling a hospital environment with patient rooms and a variety of manikins that can replicate situations from surgery to labor and delivery. Some manikins are so sophisticated they allow students to “deliver” a baby (also a manikin), while carefully monitoring both the “mother” and her “child” during the entire procedure. The simulations are even programmed to express pain and discomfort.

The third floor houses the standardized patient program, which uses actors to portray patients. It includes 24 patient exam rooms, as well as a community pharmacy setting. A typical

encounter between a student and a standardized patient might have the student enter the examining room and ask the patient to talk about what brought them in for the examination. The actor/patient will answer but without much elaboration so that the student can learn to ask the right questions.

The impact of simulation training affects healthcare outcomes in real life, Lemoine says. “Obstetric simulation has been successfully used to improve maternal and infant morbidity. Simulation activities at local area hospitals and critical access facilities in rural and underserved areas, focusing on delivering value-based care, have demonstrated decreased cost and improved health care outcomes.”

In other words, it saves lives and saves money.

CHIPS says it has welcomed 19,410 learners through simulation events, accounting for 33,543 learner hours in 2022. That number is expected to grow to more than 38,000 hours by

left: Dr. Tara Lemoine opposite, top to bottom: CHIPS is one of the few healthcare centers in the country that provides comprehensive training via practical simulations for both students and clinical providers.

the end of the 2023 academic year. The building is the only one of its kind in Tennessee and one of only a handful in the country built for and totally dedicated to simulation training.

“The changing world of healthcare education demands the incorporation of innovative strategies, and access to simulation can transform individuals into competent professionals,” Lemoine says. “By harnessing technology, we can create competent healthcare providers that change our community’s health now and into the future.”

Rice Law

For three generations, the Rices have handled divorce and family law matters in Memphis and across Tennessee. Their co-authored book, “The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice,” published by the American Bar Association, is recognized across the country as the national standard. After rigorous examination, contested case reviews, and recommendations from judges and fellow attorneys, both of the Rices are Board Certified in Family Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

The Rices bring over 75 years of experience combined with up-to-date technology, including 128 bit encryption of client information and communication. Rice Law handles your family law matter with depth of experience including a team of nationally recognized attorneys and Advanced Certified Paralegals. Rice Law’s Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediators provide valuable insight into resolving your matter quickly.

Whether you find yourself dealing with divorce, mediation, custody, child support, domestic violence or any other matter involving family law, For more information on divorce, visit aboutdivorce.com or scan the code.

BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

In the mid 2010s, Dr. Stephen Haynes found himself at a bit of a crossroads. The professor of religious studies at Rhodes College and ordained Presbyterian minister had been thinking about his future in academia, mulling over whether to stay in Memphis or accept an offer from another college, when a colleague from Lipscomb University in Nashville reached out. The colleague asked about higher education programs in West Tennessee correctional facilities, and Haynes started researching. When that didn’t turn up much, he started thinking about what a Rhodes curriculum might offer incarcerated individuals. Immediately, he’d found his reason to stay in Memphis. Now every Monday and Thursday during the semester, Haynes, alongside several student volunteers and guest faculty, makes the hour-plus drive to the West Tennessee State Penitentiary (WTSP) in Henning, Tennessee, a women’s facility. There, they meet with classes of around 20 incarcerated people, all officially enrolled as Rhodes students, in the Women’s Therapeutic Residential Center, an institution that aids in career development and reentry services. “Our program started in the fall of 2016 as the Great Books Reading Program,” says Haynes. The curriculum saw students read classics ranging from Paradise

LIBERAL ARTS IN PRISON

Lost to The Epic of Gilgamesh.

“Our first class had around 25 students, and there were a lot of our faculty interested in participating,” recalls Haynes, “so we featured books from just about every academic discipline.”

However, it quickly became clear that his new students sought a program that would allow them to earn college credits. Haynes petitioned Rhodes to implement an undergraduate certificate of liberal arts, which would be given to incarcerated students upon graduation from the program. In 2019, he launched the Liberal Arts in Prison program: a four-class, 12-credit program modeled after Rhodes’ SEARCH seminar program, a “three-semester sequence of humanities courses

that focuses on major works that have formed the Western tradition,” which has been the foundation of the school’s liberal arts foundation since 1946. The new credit-bearing program is the only one of its kind in West Tennessee.

“The two-year curriculum, and a slightly slower pace, works better when we’re working within the parameters of the federal prison program, and all the challenges that entails,” says Haynes. “Issues arise that are out of anybody’s control, so there’s a certain degree of flexibility involved.” In the inaugural class, for example, a supervisor forgot to notify one student that class had started. If there’s a medical emergency, patients are transferred to Nashville, where proto-

col may leave students for weeks, or even months, without access to their books. But Haynes, faculty, and student volunteers are up for the challenge. “It’s the same texts, taught by the same professors, that students will experience on campus,” he says.

Haynes is adamant that all of the classes will remain in-person. Federal funding is available again for the first time for prison education programs, but most institutions plan to stick with online classes. “A lot of prison education programs are done over the internet,” he says. “Some professors might have Zoom office hours, but students aren’t really

Dr. Stephen Haynes brings a foundational Rhodes College curriculum to the West Tennessee State Penitentiary.

above: Dr. Stephen Haynes

building a relationship with their instructors. There isn’t room for interaction and discussion.”

Since Haynes began the fourcourse program, 63 women have enrolled and earned a cumulative 550 credit hours. The certificate, once acquired, can be used to apply credits to degree programs at partner schools such as Lane College and Dyersburg State College. “Our program is pretty distinctive because it’s quintessentially Rhodes,” says Haynes. “It’s the liberal arts foundational program that forms the basis of what we do as an institution, and a curriculum that every student who enrolls partakes in.”

Having worked in the women’s prison at WTSP, Haynes hopes to begin a program for the men’s side in the future. “We haven’t been approached about starting a program there just yet, but we have the track record to show that it can work,” he says. “A lot of inmates simply don’t have access to educational programming, and because of their situation, going to college isn’t even something that’s on their radar. But this program allows them to take that first step, and a tangible one, towards getting a degree.”

Looking ahead, Haynes hopes to build a bridge between the Liberal Arts in Prison program and the campus proper. “We encounter a lot of students who are very bright, very smart, and would do very well at Rhodes,” says Haynes. “It’s been in development for a long time, and there are a lot of challenges involved in making that happen, but we’re looking at a way for graduates of the program to become students on campus.”

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We are dedicated to providing excellent care to all age groups.

QUICK RESULTS FROM SLOW SCIENCE

Science can be thrilling and lucrative, but Dr. Ernő Lindner’s drug-detection technology supports his belief in a careful approach.

BY TOBY SELLS

When lives are on the line, science matters. Take it slow. Do it right. Be careful.

That’s innovation advice from Dr. Ernő Lindner, professor emeritus of biomedical engineering and a retired professor of chemistry at the University of Memphis. The United States Patent Office recently awarded him and his research partner, Dr. Edward Chaum, a professor at Vanderbilt University, a patent for a method and device that could streamline medicine and save lives from fentanyl overdoses.

The idea also shows commercial promise. But for Lindner, it’s more important to get it right slowly than to get rich quickly. Lindner was recently asked about this by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. (He immigrated from Hungary to the U.S. at the age of 50.) The group wanted to know what science should work quickly and efficiently to fix.

“I wrote that science never works quickly and efficiently,” says Lindner. “It is a painstakingly slow process. That’s why this company, InfuSense, needed such a long time. Because at the very end — the area where [the technology] will be applied — those are people. That means that you really cannot make

a mistake, because if you do, it might have terrible consequences.”

His patience shows. The road to the patent took more than 10 years. That road began at a seminar at the University of Memphis and with one question: “Can you measure propofol?”

Chaum, then working for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, had a contact in the U.S. Army interested in making battlefield medicine more efficient. Propofol is an anesthetic that works quickly and with few side effects. But it can be lethal. So, caregivers must closely monitor patient doses.

Lindner says Michael Jackson’s doctor started the singer on

propofol, left him to take a nap, and returned to find him dead. Entertainer Joan Rivers also died of a propofol overdose, he says.

So, if Chaum and Lindner could devise a way to measure the drug with technology, that meant nurses and doctors could be freed to treat more patients, instead of hovering around to administer a drug.

The professors started a company to support funding efforts for ongoing research to help broaden the technology’s application. If the sensor was good at quickly detecting propofol, what else could it find?

InfuSense, now based in Nashville, recently won a $1 million grant from the National Science

Foundation to find fentanyl in blood samples faster. The drug is lethal even in small doses, and fentanyl has found its way into many recreational drugs sold in the U.S. — leaving thousands of overdose deaths in its wake.

Using an InfuSense sensor in the emergency room could cut the time for a fentanyl drug test by hours. The sensor is about the size of a matchbox and plugs directly into a smart phone. With a blood or saliva sample, doctors can detect drugs like fentanyl within two to five minutes.

“If somebody is overdosing

above: Dr. Ernő Lindner

and shows up at the clinic, it’s a very complicated measurement,” Lindner says. “You have to send the blood down to the laboratory and it comes back in two hours. In the two hours the patient has probably passed away.”

Linder, Chaum, and the InfuSense team are also researching the tech’s possible usage in the cannabis industry. Testing THC levels in products like gummies is difficult and expensive, Lindner says. He hopes their sensor can be used to streamline this process, too, adding yet another practical (and commercial) opportunity for the science.

Dr. Bill Hardgrave, president of the University of Memphis, lauds the patent, the company, and the project as a whole. “This recently issued patent is a great example of a much-needed collaboration between clinicians and biomedical engineers in order to advance biomedical technologies,” Hardgrave says. “I look forward to seeing the commercialization of this licensed technology that will help physicians improve patient care and clinical outcomes in the near future.”

But, again, for Lindner, the timing of commercialization will be guided by science.

“It is tempting to tell the very best results,” he says. “But over here we have to make measurements, which will always be reproducible. It is not enough to have a wonderful response one time. We have to have it tomorrow and the next day. It means you have to be careful.”

The state-of-the-art Leftwich Tennis Center provides a fresh sporting opportunity to Memphis’ underserved communities.

SAMUEL X. CICCI

TENNIS MEMPHIS HITS AN ACE

Imagine a young tennis player hitting their first successful return over the net. Beaming with pride, they turn to see the members of the University of Memphis tennis teams sharpening their skills on a nearby court. There aren’t many places in the United States where aspiring young athletes can play on the same courts as Division 1 college athletes. But through the revamped Leftwich Tennis Center, at Southern and Goodlett, creating that inclusive space is simply the next step of Tennis Memphis’ goal of building a better community through racquets and nets.

“You aren’t going to find many facilities like this,” says Tennis Memphis CEO Scott Mitchell,

who has a background managing tennis facilities nationally and joined the organization in August. The scale alone makes it one of the largest tennis facilities in the country, with 12 indoor and 24 outdoor courts. “And it’s laid out differently from other large facilities. Those are set up for playing and spectating. Here, we can do that but also perform all of Tennis Memphis’ programming alongside that, like lessons, summer camps, community events.”

The Leftwich Tennis Center,

tentatively slated to open in midto late October, is the product of a large public-private partnership, which includes Tennis Memphis, the University of Memphis, the City of Memphis, and private donors. The U of M team will play their regular-season matches at Leftwich, and have locker rooms, training rooms, lounge spaces, and dedicated offices. “It’s huge that we can get kids out there to see high-level university games,” says Mitchell. “Either just to watch a game, or if they’ve just finished

up a lesson nearby.” Longtime U of M tennis coach Paul Goebbel recently joined the organization as director of tennis, and will act as the liaison between the nonprofit and the university.

The new center will be the crown jewel for Tennis Memphis, but it’s just one of their many locations in Memphis; they were already serving in Raleigh, Frayser, East Memphis, and Parkway Village. Each complex is next to a neighborhood community center, making access easy for kids who are looking to get involved in the sport.

“The main program we offer is called Tennis & Tutoring,” says Melinda Hoehn, director of business operations for Tennis Memphis. “We offer kids an hour of tutoring in whatever subject they might need help with, along with a snack and a drink, and then an hour of tennis. The tennis portion focuses on imparting life skills and physical fitness, or health and well-being, over just being able to hit a good forehand. Overall, it’s about teaching good life skills and building their ability to provide peer tutoring for others who might need help.”

Tennis Memphis also offers summer camps in every neighborhood where they’re present. That, according to Hoehn, is how most participants develop their love for tennis. “Eighty percent of the kids join our camps at a

left: Melinda Hoehn, director of business operations for Tennis Memphis

Right: Scott Mitchell, CEO of Tennis Memphis

greatly reduced rate, or for free. A lot of people look at tennis as a country club sport that might not even be on their radar. This is how we foster a love for the sport in communities that might not have access to it.”

Plenty of studies have shown that students who participate in athletics enjoy improved physical and mental health, as well as improved grades. But tennis players stand to gain even more benefits than those from other sports.

“We see from research that the structure of tennis itself builds more self-confidence,” says Mitchell. “It’s on-the-fly problem solving, and kids in our programs do it as part of a team. Kids who play tennis have better grades, and people who play tennis a couple times a week live up to ten years longer. This sport impacts them from so many different directions, and we want to help as many kids reap those benefits as possible.”

Beyond a community-building standpoint, the revamped Leftwich is poised to provide an economic stimulus for Memphis. Hoehn says they’ve consistently been fielding requests to host large tennis tournaments and other events. “We spoke with one group that had an event which would bring in 600 people for a weekend,” she says. “And we look forward to bringing in groups like that, which will have a big boost to hotels and restaurants.”

“We’re getting calls from people outside the tennis sphere too,” adds Mitchell. “They see the community work we do, and they want to be a part of it any way they can. And that’s only a good thing for Memphis.”

EAST MEMPHIS: 4953 Black Road (near Poplar & Mendenhall) 901.767.1187 memphis@browndoglodge.com

GERMANTOWN: 426 S. Germantown Pkwy (next to Lowe’s) 901.266.9100 germantown@browndoglodge.com BrowndogLodge.com

9765 US-64 Arlington, TN 38002 901.382.0330 info@browndogvet.com https://www.browndogvet.com

BY ABIGAIL MORICI

Since its construction in 1936 as part of the Works Progress Administration, the Overton Park Shell has been Memphis’ stage, its legacy as a cultural icon persevering even in the face of name changes and the occasional threat of demolition. Today, it stands as one of a few Depression-era bandshells still active in the country, staying true to its mission to build community through the performing arts, making it free and accessible to everyone.

But in 2019, Natalie Wilson, executive director of the Overton Park Shell, received a call that would make her reexamine just how accessible the Shell and its

SHELL ON WHEELS

programming were. A woman and her two children had ridden the bus to the Shell for a concert, and while they enjoyed their time, the concert ran past the bus route’s schedule, making it difficult to get back home afterward.

“It changed my life,” Wilson says of the phone call. “What we found was we could not just throw money in marketing into communities and say, ‘You’re

welcome, come to the show. This is your place,’ when we have people truly marginalized, who don’t have access to the core opportunity that the arts give.

“You know, Overton Park Shell sits in an affluent neighborhood in the middle of a park,” she continues. “But we have no parking lot. We have no easy accessibility with our transit system. There are so many communities here that literally have no access to

the show. And we believe the arts, simply, are as vital as food. People need it. We need the joy of music. We need laughter, we need the unity, we need the hope that comes with music and the performing arts.”

So, Wilson thought, if people couldn’t come to the Shell, the next best thing would be to bring the Shell to them — literally. “We wanted to create a complete replica of the Overton Park Shell on wheels that could go to any community,” Wilson says. “There’s nothing more beautiful than Memphis’ stage. The Shell is loved by everyone, and everyone feels connected to it. We all own it. So, we wanted not only to replicate that beautiful, magical experience [that the Shell’s unique architecture offers], but to bring that to anyone.”

Thus, the Shell on Wheels initiative was born, and plans for the centerpiece, the Mo-

bile Shell, commenced. While this won’t be the first time an organization will offer “mobile” performances to different areas in Memphis to boost accessibility to the arts — Opera Memphis has their 30 Days of Opera and the Tennessee Shakespeare Company has their Shout-Out Shakespeare Series — this will be the first time for an organization to do that with a mobile stage of this caliber.

The Mobile Shell, which debuted in July, is a turnkey experience, Wilson says, with the mini-Shell unfolding hydraulically, almost like a Transformer. At 48 feet long, it’s exactly half the size of the original and fits on a tractor-trailer rig. It took about a year and $350,000 to build, and was designed by Tom Edwards,

The Overton Park Shell boosts accessibility with a miniature mobile version.

above: The Overton Park Shell can take the stage anywhere thanks to its Shell on Wheels initiative.

who helped turn Sears Crosstown into Crosstown Concourse. “We have a patent for the design,” Wilson says. “It’s never been done, so it is a revolution.”

Not only will the replica Shell bring the “magic” of an experience at the Shell anywhere it goes; it will also fill a need for nonprofits who often face financial barriers when it comes to putting on free community events. Yolanda Kelly, outreach manager for Shell on Wheels, explains the initiative partners with nonprofits by taking care of all that typically comes with programming events by providing lighting, speakers, set up, breakdown, and more, including reaching out to other local businesses like food trucks that will help make an event successful.

“Shell on Wheels is where you bring your ideas and your dreams, and we listen to them,” Kelly says. “It’s important that we’re able to meet the needs of the community, and we want to make sure the [performances at community events] are free.”

Kelly adds that the mobile stage can be rented for private events, helping to offset the cost for the nonprofit events. Already, Shell on Wheels has programming scheduled through the end of the year and has partnered with two dozen nonprofits, from Memphis Public Libraries to Frayser Connect.

No matter the event, though, Memphis artists are the only ones who can perform on the stage. “There are so many amazing musicians in the city, we don’t need to look any further,” Kelly says. After all, this is a vision conceived by and executed by Memphians on behalf of Memphis.

“We want to showcase how special and vibrant our city is and how talented our city is,” Wilson says. “We hope to inspire other cities to want to do what we’ve done and to purchase our design one day, but right now, we definitely want to keep it Memphis. Memphis and Shelby County need this. This is about our wonderful city, and we’re going to wrap our arms around it.”

children’s Halloween movie night basket with Halloween movie popcorn, candy, gift card for Memphis Pizza Cafe and a cozy blanket.

presented by

TOM LEE

continued from page 33

These [visitors] are Memphians, these are our fellow citizens. These are not destructive people who came into this space looking to damage it in any way. They came into this space looking to enjoy it, and they did. We had some tremendously positive response and they liked what they saw, but according to the damage reported by MRPP, they were highly destructive. We just don’t believe that that’s transparent or truthful. And now there’s a lawsuit as if we were going to not honor whatever our bill is or whatever our expenses end up being. We could not have thrived, not just survived, but thrived these many years if we ducked out on our obligations. That’s disrespectful and insulting to me personally as well.

MEDIATION

MM: Mayor Jim Strickland had both MIM and MRPP participate in mediation and announced at the end of 2019 that the e ort was successful. But problems persisted. Why is that?

Ron Coleman: The mediation was an attempt to fi nd at least minimum standards. MRPP has always acted as if they were doing us some kind of big favor when all we were trying to do is arrange a minimum. Originally, they had planned the stages so close together, there was a lot of sound bleed. We had to do sound studies to show that it wouldn’t work. We did a number of things to help them. They went in that direction because they were forced to, and that’s kind of been the way this whole thing’s worked.

Jim Holt: MRPP o cials have often repeated that the park was built to our specifications. That is not true. That is not true at all. We had extensive meetings, provided a tremendous amount of resources. They had an opportunity to design and build the park to our

specifications so that the festival would work well there. They took certain elements and said it was more than what we’d asked for, but in doing so, if you look back at their preliminary design elements, they built the park they wanted to build, whether or not it was suitable for large-scale public events. And based on the damage bill we got this year, it looks like it isn’t.

MM: What do you see as the future of Memphis in May?

Jim Holt: Memphis in May is going to be a much smaller festival, as I’ve been saying for years. When the mayor appointed the Riverfront Task Force, which I served on in 2016 and 2017, the design was to improve the overall riverfront and it very quickly moved to Tom Lee Park, which I suspected it might and we were hoping for. We knew that we’d have a loss of space as a result of any development. I had told Carol Coletta back in 2017 before she took over the Riverfront Development Corporation, that we could probably withstand a 15 percent space loss. Anything beyond that could very likely undermine the fi nancial viability of the festival. We estimated this year that we su ered about a 40 percent space loss in the park. So, whether or not the park really is a viable park for large-scale public events is a question. You can play basketball there. You can slide down a Danish otter or go to a playground and climb through hills and trees and bushes and plants, and it’s very pretty.

We made it clear to City Hall as well that festivals operate in a very, very narrow margin, which is subject to weather conditions and economic conditions, and too much of a space loss would severely impact the organization. And there’s been a lot of civic festivals that have gone under throughout the country. It’s a very delicate balance, and it’s tough.

Memphis in May has done well. In fact, in 2019 before the pandemic hit, we had one of our largest

festivals ever. I think our economic impact was close to $149 million. We had Facebook in one of the rare times that they’ve come in and sponsored events. It came in and sponsored the Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and launched a national media campaign, and two years later we’re pushed out of the park for the landscape redesign.

Howard Robertson: My business is 32 years old this year. For 31 of those 32 years, we have been in Downtown Memphis. There were years that Downtown was a wasteland. It looked like Beirut on a good day. And Memphis in May was the fi rst and only festival at that time to believe in Downtown enough to host an event down here. And the funniest thing happened. It grew and it grew and it grew. Memphis’s self-esteem grew and grew and grew. We had very, very little back then. We were still dealing with what happened on April 4, 1968, and we didn’t think much of ourselves at all.

Now, Downtown is all the rage and all the people living Downtown and the young people walking their dogs and the events and the concerts and all of the things. It began with Memphis in May hosting its event and growing its event in Downtown Memphis. There’s something awfully wrong if the city leadership does not recognize and appreciate that.

The reason we are where we are now is because it was a journey. And Memphis in May was a major, major part of that journey and driver of that journey. But it is like the organization did something wrong.

We’re Memphis in May, not Michigan in May, not Minnesota in May, not Mississippi in May. We’re Memphis in May. And part of our DNA, as you well know, is grit and grind. Nothing is ever easy for us. Add this to the list. So, we’re going to be all right. We’re going to

be fi ne. And we’re going to keep going. We’re going to keep it rolling.

Ron Coleman: It doesn’t have to be that way. We’re in the top 10 music festivals. We have all these accolades. We’ve always been a good mark on the city of Memphis. And to be treated like a stepchild, it kind of does hurt your feelings. And what they’ve done is they’ve basically foreclosed the ability of Memphis in May to function in that park.

I don’t see any possible way to be able to continue to function in the park with the climate and the way we’re being handled and what they’ve done with the park. I mean, there were certainly ways to get this accomplished and make everybody happy. But the choice has been from the very start, that we were in their way. They’d accommodate what they had to, but otherwise they really didn’t want us there. That’s the feeling we’ve all had.

Howard Robertson: I want Memphis in May, volunteers, attendees, fans, anybody that’s ever been to a Memphis in May event and all supporters to know clearly, whatever we do, we cannot do it successfully without your ongoing support. We need Memphians more than ever.

To a certain degree, we might have to reinvent ourselves a bit di erently from our footprint and what we have been in the past. But I assure you it will continue to be an event that will make Memphis proud and something that people will want to attend and continue the experience that they have had. We don’t need people to think that we are going away. So stay tuned. Understand that we probably have the most vulnerable event, subject to either almost abject failure or literally blue skies and sunshine and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow if the weather holds out. And that we have been able to not just survive, but to

PREMIERES

Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m.

thrive for lo these many years is due in no small part to Jim Holt’s knowledge and his ability and his commitment and dedication. That’s why he’s going into the Hall of Fame and it is very well deserved. [Holt will be inducted into the International Festivals & Events Association Hall of Fame this month.]

This is a tremendous event and I’m totally proud to be associated and a liated with it for these many years and was proud to lead it back in 2007.

A WALK IN THE PARK

n a recent sunny Sunday morning, unseasonably autumnal for mid-September, Tom Lee Park was busy. Small children and their parents cavorted on the imaginative play structures, including, yes, the giant river otter. Teens and adults alike shot hoops on the vast, shaded basketball courts. Dogs on leashes greeted each other with tail wags. Sleepy folks moseyed up to the new outpost of Vice & Virtue Coffee within the park. e river looked peaceful, belying its power, its magnetism to draw all this life to its banks.

Come festival season, next May, the park may look very different. Or not. It’s too soon to say what the parties will decide. It’s too soon, also, to know how Tom Lee Park will age. Will Memphians continue to use the space like our collective front porch and front yard? Will the newly planted trees take happy root and grow into shade-givers for the next generations? Will the courts and playgrounds fall into disrepair after two years, or be kept vibrant and healthy? Opinions, clearly, differ. But regardless, we will all be paying attention.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT

Kathryn Clark is the Principal Builder for K. Clark Homes and has been part of the building community in Memphis, for over 13 years. She has been a longstanding member with the West Tennessee Home Builders Association, National Association of Home Builders, Urban Land Institute, Professional Women in Building and the Memphis Area Association of Realtors. She holds the Certified Graduate Builder and Certified Aging in Place Designations from the National Association of Home Builders as well as an OSHA certification and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Memphis.

Kathryn currently serves on the Board of Directors for the West Tennessee Home Builders Association and the Professional Women in Building.

Susan Akil Ewing is Founder and Chief Navigator of Ewing Marketing Partners, a boutique marketing firm that helps organizations grow through practical, effective marketing strategies. Susan’s specialty is developing streamlined solutions for even the most complex marketing problems by using innovative thinking, extraordinary attention to detail, and more than two decades’ worth of experience.

Her business acumen, strategic expertise and collaborative relationships enable her to help clients build brands, increase visibility, and achieve sales growth while increasing market share.

EWING MARKETING PARTNERS

Susan@EwingMarketingPartners.com

901.517.4634

EwingMarketingPartners.com

Magnolia Homes Founder and President

Karen Garner has been a staple in custom home-building in the Memphis area for over 36 years! Her hard-work and determination has brought about a detailed and personalized experience that is displayed throughout every Magnolia Home! The upcoming 13th Annual Live Life Well ® Showcase of Homes in late October will display the latest in design as well as the distinguished trademark of Karen and Magnolia Homes.

Karen is also very committed to serving Memphis, supporting numerous local causes and charities while also actively participating as a member on the board of the Methodist Healthcare Foundation.

MAGNOLIA HOMES

193 Cartwright Farm Lane, Collierville, TN 38017 901.309.0710

Dr. Garrett has been building strong relationships through dental healthcare in the Memphis area since 2002. Her patient focused practice is a relaxing space with a rush-free experience. She continues to invest in cutting-edge technology, like Same Day Crowns, so she can offer the most comprehensive and comfortable care. Dr. Garrett provides full service dental care including smile reconstruction, replacing missing teeth, and comprehensive dental care for children and adults. She also helps improve your appearance by providing Botox and Juvederm services.

9045 Forest Centre Way, Suite 101 Germantown, TN 38138 901. 347.3527 • gtownsmiles.com

Dr. Gupta is an endocrinologist with a special interest in solid tumor endocrinology, especially thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary and adrenal disease. She serves on several national endocrine committees and speaks world-wide on endocrine issues. She is the only endocrinologist in the MidSouth with the ECNU distinction, and she performs ultrasound, fine needle aspiration, and radiofrequency ablation in her office. She has served on the Governing Board of St. Francis Hospital, and is also known internationally as an artist. She is the 2022 recipient of the AACE Excellence in the Humanities Award in Endocrinology.

G2ENDO G2Endo.com

Bronia Jenkins, an MIT graduate, mathematician and educator, was recently named the first female executive director of the American Contract Bridge League. Based in Horn Lake, the ACBL is the largest bridge organization in the world with 135,000 members. Believing bridge can be fun no matter one’s age or experience level, she uses her position to promote, grow and sustain the game. A competitor herself, Bronia holds the rank of Sapphire Life Master.

Dr. McCulley has been serving the Memphis Metro Area since 1999 and is board certified in Allergy & Immunology, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. She started her own practice in 2016, and has now grown to offer care at five convenient locations: Germantown, East Memphis, Southaven, Bartlett, and Arlington.

Dr. McCulley and her compassionate team treat both adult and pediatric patients for a variety of conditions including environmental allergies (pollen, pet dander, grasses, dust mites, mold, etc.), asthma, recurring infections (ears, sinus, chest), eczema, contact dermatitis, food allergies, drug allergies, insect allergies, and hives.

Abbey Garner Miesse has been selling homes for over 27 years! Abbey has already earned the following designations: Broker, ABR, GRI, SREC, New Home Specialist. She’s also a Lifetime Member of the Multi Million Dollar Club for over 22 years. She has served three years on the Board of Governors of the Multi Million Dollar Club.

Abbey was featured in At Home magazine in the fall of 2022. Abbey was also featured as One of the Top “Women To Watch” (fall of 2022).

Abbey was Ranked #82 out of all 4,700 Memphis Realtors for 2022.

Abbey was in the top 17 Residential Realtors and Rewarded BREDD 2023: Best Real Estate Deal Maker Winner with MemphisBusinessJournal.

6575 Windchase Blvd., Horn Lake, MS 38637 662.253.3100

MCCULLEY ALLERGY, SINUS & ASTHMA CENTER www.mcculleyallergy.com 901.623.3323

SUSAN AKIL EWING Marketing Consultant

KAREN GARNER Homebuilder

K. CLARK HOMES LLC kclarkhomes.com

KATHRYN CLARK Principal Builder

TAMMY MCCULLEY, M.D. Allergy & Immunology, Adults and Pediatrics

ABBEY GARNER MIESSE Broker

ALEXANDRA GARRETT DDS Dentist

BRONIA JENKINS Executive Director

MALINI GUPTA Endocrinologist & Artist

Molly is a seasoned real estate professional that has been working with buyers and sellers throughout the Mid-South since 1996. She is a licensed broker in both TN and MS, has been a managing TN broker for a local franchise and is currently the managing MS broker for Berkshire Hathaway Mclemore Realty. Her accomplishments include: Multi-Million Dollar Club member, Centennial Task Force member, MAAR Ambassadors, Fair & Affordable Housing committee member, and Scholarship committee member. Molly loves selling new construction and has worked with residential mass production builders and high-end custom builders as well. Molly would love to help assist you with all your real estate needs in TN & MS!

Pershell is the Clinical Supervisor at AM Diabetes Center and a 11-year breast cancer survivor. “My family history of diabetes inspired me to choose a career in endocrinology. I graduated from Remington College with honors and started my career in healthcare at AM Diabetes Center. I am currently enrolled at Southwest Community College studying to obtain my degree as a Registered Nurse. My role as Clinical Supervisor ensures excellence in patient care.”

Christine embodies unwavering dedication to service. With 11 years in nonprofit management and 14 years practicing law, she has dedicated her work to empowering others. As Executive Director of the Memphis Library Foundation, she raises awareness and funds that help Memphis Public Libraries provide Memphians with the resources they need to thrive. Christine also serves on the board of the Memphis Rotary Club and supports nonprofits assisting immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those facing housing challenges.

PERSHELL WALKER-BURNS Clinical Supervisor BHHS

MOLLY PHILLIPS Broker

MEMPHIS LIBRARY FOUNDATION

CHRISTINE WEINREICH Executive Director

Think pink! Schedule your mammogram today.

Baptist Medical Group wants to remind you that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the perfect time to schedule your annual mammogram, especially if you skipped it last year or have never had one. Early detection is the best protection, so don’t put it o any longer. It’s time to get back to caring for yourself.

We are accepting new patients, and can assist new and existing patients with scheduling their mammogram. For more information and to make your appointment, call one of our convenient clinics.

Baptist Medical Group-Memphis Breast Care

7205 Wolf River Blvd, Suite 200 Germantown, TN 38138

901-227-8950

Baptist Medical Group-Maternal Fetal Medicine

6215 Humphreys Blvd, Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120

901-227-9580

Baptist Medical Group-Memphis Women’s Consultants

6215 Humphreys Blvd, Suite 300

Memphis, TN 38120 901-757-0229

Baptist Medical Group-Women’s Consultants

401 Southcrest Cir, Suite 104

Southaven, MS 38671

662-349-1112

WHY MEN WEAR PINK

T he American Cancer Society’s Men Wear Pink campaign was created to engage and empower community leaders in the fight to end breast cancer. Each Men Wear Pink ambassador accepts a fundraising challenge and competes to be the top fundraiser among his peers by the end of the campaign.

While this campaign is a fundraising initiative, it also provides strong awareness efforts in the local community for the American Cancer Society and its efforts to save lives from breast cancer. Breast cancer alone accounts for 30 percent of newly diagnosed invasive cancers in women. But we know breast cancer can affect anyone — both women and men. An estimated 290,560 people will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year — 287,850 women and 2,710 men. Men Wear Pink was designed to engage more male community

Andrew and Sarah Grace Dinstuhl

Men Wear Pink

leaders and influencers in the American Cancer Society’s vision to end breast cancer as we know it, for everyone.

The Men Wear Pink in Memphis campaign began in 2015 with 26 candidates and raised over $71,000. Since then, more than 200 ambassadors from around the Greater Memphis Area have come together to raise over $1 million for breast cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. Last year, 30 men in Memphis sported their pink ties, coats, pants — whatever they wished to wear — engaged their networks, and raised over $100,000 to support these efforts. In 2023, their goal is to raise over $150,000.

This year’s chairman, Dave Moore, owner of Dave Moore Companies, raised more than $30,000 during last year’s campaign, and hopes to outdo himself this year. When asked why this campaign is so important to him, he

said, “I am taking part in this campaign because breast cancer is not only the second leading cause of death among women, but it has struck my family and countless friends as well.

“My sister is a two-time survivor of breast cancer. Several members of my wife’s family, including her mother, have battled this cancer twice. My wife and her sister both have the BRCA-1 gene and have undergone preventative surgeries. My office manager lost her grandmother to cancer before the many advancements in treatment were available years ago. And most recently, a dear friend and coworker in the homebuilding community was diagnosed with triple negative and is currently undergoing treatment. As you can see, this cause is close to my heart. Seeing the families that I know and love struggle with the battle against cancer, I want to do whatever I can to fight this battle with them.”

Michael Scruggs Phil Glass

While October is officially Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Memphis campaign began in late August with an “Eat, Drink & Party Pink” event at the Memphis Museum of Science and History (MoSH) to kick off all things pink, including the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on October 15, 2023. The walk is at a new venue this year — the newly revamped Tom Lee Park — and is expected to be even bigger than last year’s event, which drew 2,800 people in a sea of pink to raise awareness and more than $350,000 in funds. For more information, visit makingstrideswalk.org/memphistn.

The American Cancer Society is still looking for more ambassadors to join this year’s cohort. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a 2023 Men Wear Pink ambassador, please contact Marissa Lima, senior development manager, at marissa.lima@cancer.org today.

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AMBASSADORS 2023

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BRANDON TOLBERT FEDEX EXPRESS

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FEDEX EXPRESS

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CURTIS PETTIS

AMAZON

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DANE WILLIAMS

SHOEMAKER INSURANCE SOLUTIONS

Insurance Advisor (4)

DARRELL GREENE

FOX NEWS 13 Anchor (1)

DAVE MOORE

THE DAVE MOORE COMPANIES Owner (2)

[ CONTINUED ON PAGE 83 ]

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[ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 80 ]

DOUG MCGOWEN

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ERIC GOULD

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ERNIE FREEMAN

FOX NEWS 13

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HOPPER SEELY

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JAY MATHIS

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JON SHIVERS

BEALE STREET MANAGEMENT GROUP

Director of Beale Street (2)

KENDALL ROBERTSON

ALFRED’S DOWNTOWN

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MATT RICH

SAYLE OIL

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MICHAEL SCRUGGS

AGAPE FAMILY SERVICES

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PHIL GLASS

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TED TOWNSEND

GREATER MEMPHIS CHAMBER

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Weekend at Bjarni’s

Max’s Sports Bar draws fans of every stripe to the South Main district.

BY BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

After settling in on a barstool at Max’s Sports Bar with manager Bjarni Rozen, I go to the obvious question first:

Rozen smiles. is probably isn’t the first time he’s been asked that question. “My parents owned a sailboat and liked to sail around the Caribbean,” he says. “I was conceived on the sailboat and they named me after the Norwegian explorer Bjarni Herjolfsson, who sailed to Newfoundland from Iceland years before Leif Erikson. e ‘j’ is pronounced like in Bjork.”

Rozen’s Mai Tai is a blend of Kraken Spiced Dark Rum, amaretto, and fresh orange, cranberry, and pineapple juices. It’s quite delish. The man knows his way around a cocktail.

worked in the front of the house were making more money and having a way better time than I was in the kitchen,” he says.

Rozen grew up on St. Simons Island, Georgia, where he got an early start in the restaurant trade. “I started working in a restaurant on the Frederica River when I was 14,” he says. “I was a dessert maker. During high school, I continued to work in restaurants, and after high school, I moved to Charleston, South Carolina, with my dad. I had no interest in going to school, so I just took off and did a lot of traveling.”

In 2002, Rozen was living in Kansas City and fell for a woman who was moving to Memphis, so he came with her. e relationship didn’t last, but the love affair with Memphis did. “ ere’s something about Memphis,” Rozen says. “I’ve tried to leave a few times but I always found myself back here.”

He began working for Memphis uber-restaurateur Karen Carrier — of the Beauty Shop, Molly Fontaine’s, and Automatic Slim’s — and soon decided to make a slight career realignment. “I noticed that the people who

Rozen put in a few years as a server with Carrier before landing his first bartending gig at Automatic Slim’s in 2008. “Karen gave me a shot and I just ran with it,” he says. “I’ve been doing it ever since. It suits my needs and my eight-year-old son’s needs. e hours are flexible and Max [owner Max Lawhon] has been great to work for.”

Rozen has managed the bar at Max’s since 2016, which means he’s seen a lot of football games.

ere are 10 screens in the smallish bar area, plus three more on the back deck, each with a schedule of the weekend’s contests to be shown on that TV taped to it.

“Customers can plan to get a spot near their game,” Rozen says. “Weekends during football season are packed. We serve a lot of pizza, house-made meatballs, and pulled-pork nachos. And a lot of beer.”

He points out a photo on the wall that was taken last fall. All the customers from inside the bar are posed on the sidewalk out front. Looking around the interior, it seems impossible that such a crowd would fit inside, but they do.

Most of Max’s customers are beer-drinkers, but when I remind Rozen that part of the schtick for this column is that he has to mix me a drink, he’s well prepared.

“I’ve got one in mind,” he says.

“It’s called ‘Mad Max’s Mai Tai.’ If you want a nice cocktail at Max’s, we can gladly make you one. I’ve got some martini drinkers and bourbon drinkers among my regulars, and we get a lot of tourists who want a mixed drink.”

Rozen’s Mai Tai is a blend of Kraken Spiced Dark Rum, amaretto, and fresh orange, cranberry, and pineapple juices. It’s quite delish. e man knows his way around a cocktail.

I take a couple more sips and ask, “So, with all the crazy crowds, the thousands of people you’ve seen in the past seven years, is there one moment that stands out?”

Rozen pauses, thinking it over. “ ere’s this one guy,” he says. “He drives around in a golf cart. One day he drops in here for a couple drinks, then drives across the street to the Vault (a now-de-

funct bar), parks, and goes inside. A couple hours later I notice him and a friend arguing on the sidewalk. en the guy jumps into his golf cart and stomps on the gas.

e thing takes off backwards, spins around, zips across two lanes of traffic, jumps the curb, and runs into the wall of our building, almost hitting three people seated on the sidewalk.

e crazy thing is, the guy gets out of the golf cart and just acts casual, like nothing is wrong. at was pretty memorable.”

Indeed. I’m glad I asked. Anyway, do yourself a favor and go see Bjarni down at Max’s, have a beer (or a Mai Tai), and cheer on your favorite team. Thirteen TVs. No waiting. Tell ’em Bjruce sent you.

“How did you get that name?”

Max’s Sports Bar is located at 115 G.E. Patterson Ave.

above: Bjarni Rozen serves a “Mad Max’s Mai Tai.”

Chez Philippe

Keith

BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

still gaze up at the palatial masquerade murals adorning the walls. e reimagined restaurant changed in more ways than appearance, too, placing new emphasis on its seven-course tasting menu. Working within those parameters has been exhilarating for Clinton.

“A tasting menu gives people a lot of room to explore, and it gives me an opportunity to incorporate new ideas, so it’s a win-win,” he says. “My focus was to come in and add to this concept. You sit down, and we promise to give you something that’s seasonal, something with red meat, something you’ve never seen before, and a bunch of extra little things.”

“I know what we can do. I know what our farmers can do. I’ve got a really good beat on the best local ingredients in the area, and that’s something I love to share with diners, especially those from out of town.”

available. Indeed, in the two weeks between my visit to Chez Philippe and our interview, some of the menu items had already been replaced, and courses may even change day to day. “I don’t want two visits to be the same,” says Clinton. “I each guest to have a unique experience when they come in.”

Every day for over eight decades now, e Peabody ducks march from the elevator to their private fountain in the stately hotel’s lobby. With nearly the same regularity, Memphians and their guests over the years, looking to impress, relax, do business, or celebrate, have walked through the doors and headed straight for the fine-dining comforts of Chez Philippe. e four-star restaurant has long been the hotel’s standard bearer for classy, almost nostalgic food and service. Now, after a brief hiatus, Chez Philippe has a renewed focus on its local roots thanks to new chef de cuisine Keith Clinton, the first Memphis native to helm the kitchen.

Clinton had been working as a private chef when a representative from e Peabody first reached out to his wife, Meredith, the current sous chef at Bog & Barley, about joining the Chez Philippe culinary team. “ at wasn’t quite what she was looking for, so she passed the phone to me. I missed service, being part of the line, and just

general experimentation in the kitchen.”

Clinton had some catching up to do; Chez Philippe closed in March 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, and after a two-and-a-half-year break, reopened in late 2022. During its closure, the hotel redesigned the interior with a more open, airy aesthetic, but guests can

Diners might recognize Clinton thanks to his years at Erling Jensen: e Restaurant (or his appearance on the Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games in 2019). With a background at one of Memphis’ most respected restaurants, he was a natural fit for Chez Philippe. But he also wanted to make sure that e Peabody would allow him room to experiment.

“I have that French culinary background, but they also allow me to explore other types of cuisines,” he says. “I’ve always been looking for a place to research and develop dishes, spend time going to markets and foraging for ingredients, and really home in on certain things that maybe I wasn’t super comfortable with and work at it.”

Rather than take a quarterly seasonal approach, he plans to switch up selections as soon as new ingredients become

During my visit, Clinton successfully fused several disparate ingredients for the first course, a tuna crudo dish. e bright pink color and meatier texture of the tuna cuts popped when contrasted with the soft bites of green avocado. But the exclamation marks of the dish were several slices of glistening grapefruit; expecting a bitter bite, I was pleasantly surprised to find only sweetness. Is this sorcery?

“I actually used to hate grapefruit,” remarked Clinton as he approached the table and poured a cherry blossom shoyu glaze over the opener, adding a sweeter umami to the collection of flavors. “I’d overlooked this citrus for a long time, but challenged myself to start incorporating it more into my cooking.”

As for how he removes the bitter acidity? “Salt,” says Clinton. “We segment the grapefruit, press what’s left of it, and then let the slices marinate in the juice with a little bit of salt. It refines the flavor, and really intensifies it.” After gobbling it up, the leftover jus in the bowl makes for its own delectable kind of digestif.

In addition to the seven-course prix-fixe menu, Clinton has put together a smaller,

Clinton brings a taste of Memphis to The Peabody’s French fine dining restaurant.

Chez Philippe chef de cuisine Keith Clinton

and

Beef tenderloin with blue cheese espuma, almond tuille, and buttermilk crumb

four-course menu. And rather than four fixed courses, each section offers diners multiple options. With slight changes to the menu coming so frequently, guests should embrace the surprise when booking a reservation. And ordering the four- or seven-course menu with the curated wine pairing adds a nice buzz to proceedings. Our server, Chris Brown, talked us through each pour and explained how it meshed with the dish.

Yes, The Peabody’s 150th anniversary burger is back on the menu, as well. For $150, guests can get the royal wagyu truffle burger on a brioche bun with butter poached lobster, caramelized onions, St. André cheese, huckleberry aioli, parmesan black truffle fries, and half a bottle of Caymus Vineyards’ cabernet sauvignon. Whew.

Some of the surprises on Clinton’s menu take advantage of ideas he’s picked up from his fine-dining history. The ‘risotto’ on our tasting menu did away with rice as a base, instead offering steamed sunflower seeds that offer a similar texture, but with (unsurprisingly) a nuttier taste in every bite. There’s a simplicity to the dish thanks to a topping of shaved porcini mushrooms mixed with butter, but Clinton felt it needed a bit more. His sous chef recommended they add Green Goddess dressing, giving a bit of heft and tang to the risotto. “I started working on this recipe back at Erling Jensen,” says Clinton. “And it’s evolved a lot, but I really like the idea of having this old dish combined with new ideas I’ve come across.”

As Chez Philippe’s first Memphis-raised chef, Clinton looks at his local roots as an advantage. “I know what we can do. I know what our farmers can do,” says Clinton. “I’ve got a really good beat on the best local ingredients in the area, and that’s something I love to share with diners, especially those from out of town. For the locals, I can say, ‘These tomatoes come from Marla’s Farm from the Cooper-Young Farmers Market, or

these apples come from Jones Orchard,’ and it gives them a point of reference.”

Scouting high-quality ingredients is one of Clinton’s favorite parts of the job. One of his sourcing secrets is the Viet Hoa Market on Cleveland, which he calls a “hidden gem” for its robust produce selection. His team also frequents every farmers market in the city to build connections with local growers.

“Once you have those relationships, they’ll start to set aside things for you,” says Clinton. “One farmer put aside a super small batch of peppers we couldn’t find in Memphis. The menu reflects those little creative additions.”

Clinton is a frequent presence in the dining room, walking around and chatting with guests. Since his arrival, the Chez Philippe team also researches their guests ahead of time. I received a text the morning of my reservation asking about dietary restrictions. My allergy to all nuts and peanuts was no issue; Clinton prepared individual substitutes just for me whenever a course

involved nuts.

Creating a personalized experience is the crux of Clinton’s mission at Chez Philippe. “I had one guest who we found out loved cotton candy,” he says. “We have a cotton candy machine at The Peabody, so as they were leaving, we presented them with some we’d made for them. We found out another person was fond of Moose Tracks ice cream.”

That’s not on the menu, but Clinton knew how to make ice cream and prepared the treat as their dessert. “We want to engage with our diners, learn their stories and what brings them to Memphis, and find out exactly what they want in a meal,” he says. “Giving something that is hyper-personalized to a guest is a challenge that we’re happy to take on.”

Chez Philippe is open for dinner Thursday – Sunday, 5:30pm – 10pm. 149 Peabody Ave. peabodymemphis.com/dine

top left to bottom right: The Peabody’s 150th anniversary royal Wagyu truffle burger; an amuse bouche topped with fingerlime caviar; tomato salad accented with yuzu and flowers; the Teresa cocktail is the Peabody’s take on a margarita, with reposado tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, and spicy serrano pepper undertones that slowly build up over the course of the drink; and tuna crudo with avocado, cherry blossoms, and grapefruit.

Memphis Dining Guide

A Curated Guide to Eating Out

MemphisMagazine offers this curated restaurant listing as a service to our readers. Broken down alphabetically by neighborhoods, this directory does not list every restaurant in town. It does, however, include the magazine’s “Top 50” choices of must-try restaurants in Memphis, a group that is updated every August. Establishments open less than a year are not eligible for “Top 50” but are noted as “New.” is guide also includes a representative sampling of other Bluff City eating establishments. No fast-food facilities or cafeterias are listed. Restaurants are included regardless of whether they advertise in MemphisMagazine; those that operate in multiple locations are listed under the neighborhood of their original location. is guide is updated regularly, but we recommend that you call ahead to check on hours, prices, or other details. Suggestions from readers are welcome; please contact Samuel X. Cicci at scicci@contemporary-media.com.

DOWNTOWN

117 PRIME—Restaurateurs Craig Blondis and Roger Sapp team up with Chef Ryan Trimm to recreate the traditional American steakhouse. Serving oysters on the half shell and a variety of surf and turf options. 117 Union. 433-9851. L, D, WB, X, $-$$$

ALDO’S PIZZA PIES—Serving gourmet pizzas — including Mr. T Rex — salads, and more. Also 30 beers, bottled or on tap. 100 S. Main. 577-7743; 752 S. Cooper. 725-7437. L, D, X, $-$$

THE ARCADE—Possibly Memphis’ oldest cafe. Specialties include sweet potato pancakes, a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, and breakfast served all day. 540 S. Main. 526-5757. B, L, D (Thurs.-Sat.), X, MRA, $

AUTOMATIC SLIM’S—Longtime Downtown favorite specializes in contemporary American cuisine emphasizing local ingredients; also extensive martini list. 83 S. Second. 525-7948. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$

BACKLOT SANDWICH SHOP—Big sandwiches, breakfast bowls, and build-your-own-biscuits for breakfast, lunch, and an early supper. 265 S. Front St. 509-8612. B, L, D, $

BARDOG TAVERN—Classic American grill with Italian influence, Bardog offers pasta specialties such as Grandma’s NJ Meatballs, as well as salads, sliders, sandwiches, and daily specials. 73 Monroe. 275-8752.

B (Mon.-Fri.), L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$

BEDROCK EATS & SWEETS—Memphis’ only Paleo-centric restaurant, offering such dishes as pot roast, waffles, enchiladas, chicken salad, omelets, and more. Closed for dinner Sun. 327 S. Main. 409-6433.

B, L, D, X, $-$$

BELLE TAVERN—Serving elevated bar food, including a butcher board with a variety of meats and cheeses, as well as daily specials. 117 Barboro Alley. 249-6580.

L (Sun.), D, MRA, $

CAROLINA WATERSHED—This indoor/outdoor eatery, set around silos, features reimagined down-home classics, including fried green tomatoes with smoked catfish, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, burgers, and more. Closed Mon.-Thurs. 141 E. Carolina. 321-5553. L, D, WB, $-$$

CATHERINE & MARY’S—A variety of pastas, grilled quail, pâté, razor clams, and monkfish are among the dishes served at this Italian restaurant in the Chisca. 272 S. Main. 254-8600. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

CHEF TAM’S UNDERGROUND CAFE—Serves Southern staples with a Cajun twist. Menu items include totchoes, jerk wings, fried chicken, and “muddy” mac and cheese. Closed Sun. and Mon. 668 Union Ave. 207-6182. L, D, X, $-$$

DINING SYMBOLS

B — breakfast

L — lunch

D — dinner

SB — Sunday brunch

CHEZ PHILIPPE—Classical/contemporary French cuisine with Asian and Nordic influences, presented in a luxurious atmosphere with seasonal tasting menus. Afternoon tea served Thu-Sun., noon-3:30 p.m. (reservations required). Closed Sun.-Tues. The Peabody, 149 Union. 529-4188. D, X, MRA, $$$$ CIMAS—It’s breakfast tacos, shrimp and grits, chilaquiles verdes, and plenty of other Southern and Latin-American twists at the Hyatt Centric. 33 Beale St. 444-3232. B, L, D, X, $-$$$

WB — weekend brunch

X— wheelchair accessible

MRA — member, Memphis Restaurant Association

$ — under $15 per person without drinks or desserts

$$ — under $25

$$$ — $26-$50

$$$$ — over $50

BEN YAY’S GUMBO SHOP—Spiritual successor to DejaVu, offering fresh and authentic Creole staples. 51 S. Main St., 779-4125. L, D, X, $-$$

BISHOP—Ticer and Hudman’s newest venture at the Central Station Hotel features upscale dishes in a French brasserie style. 545 S. Main St., 524-5247. L, D, X, $$-$$$

BLUEFIN RESTAURANT & SUSHI LOUNGE—Serves Japanese fusion cuisine featuring seafood and steak, with seasonally changing menu; also a sushi bar. 135 S. Main. 528-1010. L, D, X, $-$$

BRASS DOOR IRISH PUB—Irish and New-American cuisine includes such entrees as fish and chips, burgers, shepherd’s pie, all-day Irish breakfast, and more. 152 Madison. 572-1813. L, D, SB, $-$$

BY THE BREWERY—Breakfast and lunch café, with a focus on Southern-style biscuits, salads, and soups. 496 Tennessee St. 310-4341. B, L, $

CAFE KEOUGH—European-style cafe serving quiche, paninis, salads, and more. 12 S. Main. 509-2469. B, L, D, X, $

CAPRICCIO GRILL ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE—Offers prime steaks, fresh seafood (lobster tails, grouper, mahi mahi), pasta, and several Northern Italian specialties. 149 Union, The Peabody. 529-4199. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$$

THE CLOVER CLUB Southern fusion and internationally-inspired small plates at Hotel Indigo. 22 N. B.B. King. B, L, D, X, $-$$

COCOZZA AMERICAN ITALIAN—”The red sauce joint of your dreams” serves up classic Italian-American fare from the owners of Majestic Grille. Closed Sun. 110 Harbor Town Sq. 609-1111. D, X, $-$$

COZY CORNER—Serving up ribs, pork sandwiches, chicken, spaghetti, and more; also homemade banana pudding. Closed Mon. 735 N. Parkway. 527-9158. L, D, $

CURFEW—An elevated sports bar/American tavern concept by Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani at the Canopy Memphis Downtown hotel. 164 Union Ave. B, L, D, X, $-$$

DOS HERMANOS KITCHEN—Breakfast and lunch concept by Eli Townsend in the renovated Cossitt Library. 33 S. Front. B, L, $ EVELYN & OLIVE—Jamaican/Southern fusion cuisine includes such dishes as Kingston stew fish, Rasta Pasta, and jerk rib-eye. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun.-Mon. 630 Madison. 748-5422. L, D, X , $ FAM—Casual Asian restaurant serves sushi rice bowls, noodle bowls, sushi rolls, and spring rolls. Closed Sun. 149 Madison. 701-6666; 521 S. Highland. 249-2636. L, D, X, $

FANCY’S FISH HOUSE—Serving chef-inspired favorites at One Beale, including fresh, daily-caught fish and seafood, a raw bar, and signature dishes from the grill, with fabulous river views from the dining room and patio. 1 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. #1. 589-3474. L, D, X, $$-$$$$ FEAST & GRAZE—Whipped goat toast, open faced grilled cheese, and other local pantry snacks and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun./Mon. 55 S. Main. 654-5926. L, X, $

FELICIA SUZANNE’S—Southern cuisine with low-country, Creole, and Delta influences, using regional fresh seafood, local beef, and locally grown foods. Entrees include shrimp and grits. Closed

Sun. and Mon. A Downtown staple at Brinkley Plaza, 383 S. Main. 5230877. L (Fri. only), D, X, MRA, $$-$$$

FERRARO’S CHEESY CORNER & PIZZERIA—Plenty of pizzas, along with a whole new cheese-inspired menu (fancy grilled cheeses and buildyour-own mac and cheese bowls). 111 Jackson. 522-2033. L, D, X, $ FISHBOWL AT THE PYRAMID—Burgers, fish dishes, sandwiches, and more served in a unique “underwater” setting. Bass Pro, 1 Bass Pro Drive, 291-8000. B, L, D, X, $-$$

FLIGHT RESTAURANT & WINE BAR—Serves steaks and seafood, along with such specialties as bison ribeye and Muscovy duck, all matched with appropriate wines. 39 S. Main. 521-8005. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

FLYING FISH—Serves up fried and grilled versions of shrimp, crab, oysters, fish tacos, and catfish; also chicken and burgers. 105 S. Second. 522-8228. L, D, X, $-$$

GARDEN BRUNCH CAFÉ—Fish and grits, steak and eggs, and other upscale takes on Southern brunch classics. 492 S. Main St. 249-7450. B, L, $$

GOOD FORTUNE CO.—Authentic handcrafted noodles, ramen, and dumplings. 361 S. Main. 561-306-4711. L, D, X, $-$$

THE GENRE—Burgers, tenders, catfish, and plenty of vegan options made to order at this music-themed restaurant/lounge. 200 Poplar, Suite 105. 410-8169. B, L, D, X, $-$$

GUS’S WORLD FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN—Serves chicken with signature spicy batter, along with homemade beans, slaw, and pies. 310 S. Front. 527-4877; 3100 Forest Hill Irene (Germantown). 8536005; 2965 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 373-9111; 730 S. Mendenhall. 767-2323; 505 Highway 70 W., Mason, TN. 901-294-2028. L, D, X, MRA, $

HAPPY MEXICAN—Serves quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, vegetable and seafood dishes, and more. 385 S. Second. 529-9991; 6080 Primacy Pkwy. 683-0000; 7935 Winchester. 751-5353. L, D, X, $

HU. ROOF—Rooftop cocktail bar with superb city views serves toasts with a variety of toppings including beef tartare with cured egg, cognac, and capers or riced cauliflower with yellow curry, currants, and almonds. Also salads, fish tacos, and boiled peanut hummus. 79 Madison. 333-1229. D, X, $

HUSTLE & DOUGH BAKERY & CAFE—Flaky, baked breakfast goodness every day with fresh pastries, sandwiches, and more at Arrive Hotel. 477 S. Main St., 701-7577. B, L, X, $

IBIS—Upscale cocktail bar serving sharable small plates, including lobster rolls, crab cakes, and lamb meatballs, alongside select larger entrees. Closed Mon.-Wed. 314 S. Main. 748-5187. D, X, $-$$

INKWELL—Unique craft concoctions, charcuterie plates, flatbreads, and sandwiches at this dope cocktail bar. Closed Mon.-Tue. 631 Madison Ave. 334-9411. D, X, $-$$

ITTA BENA—Southern and Cajun-American cuisine served here, conveniently located above B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale St.; specialties are duck and waffles and shrimp and grits, along with steaks, chops, seafood, and pasta. 145 Beale St. 578-3031. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$

KING & UNION BAR GROCERY—Classic Southern favorites including catfish plate, pimento cheese, po-boys, chicken & waffles. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with cocktails served with flair and favorite Memphis beers. Locally made confections available in the grocery. 185 Union Ave. 523-8500. B, L, D, $-$$

KOOKY CANUCK—Offers prime rib, catfish, and burgers, including the 4-lb. “Kookamonga”; also late-night menu. 87 S. Second. 578-9800; 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. 1-800-2453 L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$

LITTLE BETTIE—New Haven-style pizzas and snacks from the AndrewMichael team at Wiseacre’s Downtown location. 398 S. B.B. King Blvd. 334-9411. L, D, $-$$

THE LITTLE TEA SHOP—Downtown institution serves up Southern comfort cooking, including meatloaf and such veggies as turnip greens, yams, okra, and tomatoes. Closed until further notice. 69 Monroe. 525-6000, L, X, $

THE LOBBYIST AT THE CHISCA—Chef Jimmy Gentry brings his farm-to-table ideas Downtown, with seasonal, and sometimes weekly, new menus, and an emphasis on creative vegetable dishes. Closed Sun. 272 S. Main St., Suite 101. 249-2170. D, $$-$$$$

LOCAL—Entrees with a focus on locally sourced products include lobster mac-and-cheese and rib-eye patty melt; menu differs by location. 95 S. Main. 473-9573; 2126 Madison. 725-1845. L, D, WB, X, $-$$

LOFLIN YARD—Beer garden and restaurant serves vegetarian fare and smoked-meat dishes, including beef brisket and pork tenderloin, cooked on a custom-made grill. Closed Mon.-Tues. 7 W. Carolina. 249-3046. L (Sat. and Sun.), D, MRA, X, $-$$

We celebrate our city’s community table and the people who grow, cook, and eat the best Memphis food at MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM/FOOD

LONGSHOT—Chef David Todd has something for everyone with a wide variety of international fusion dishes, and a side of shuffleboard. 477 S. Main. D, $-$$

THE LOOKOUT AT THE PYRAMID—Serves seafood and Southern fare, including cornmeal-fried oysters, sweet tea brined chicken, and elk chops. 1 Bass Pro Dr. 620-4600/291-8200. L, D, X, $-$$$

LUCY’S—Hu. Hotel’s downstairs diner serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Start your day with a Hu. breakfast burrito, or Lucy’s Burger for a late-night bite 3 S. Main. 333-1200. B, L, D, X, $-$$

LUNA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE—Serving a limited menu of breakfast and lunch items. Dinner entrees include citrus glaze salmon and Cajun stuffed chicken. 179 Madison (Hotel Napoleon). 526-0002. B, D (Mon.-Sat.), X, $-$$$

MACIEL’S—Entrees include tortas, fried taco plates, quesadillas, chorizo and pastor soft tacos, salads, and more. Downtown closed Sun. 45 S. Main. 526-0037, X, MRA, $

THE MAJESTIC GRILLE—Features aged steaks, fresh seafood, and such specialties as roasted chicken and grilled pork tenderloin; offers a pre-theater menu and classic cocktails. Well-stocked bar. 145 S. Main. 522-8555. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$

McEWEN’S—Southern/American cuisine with international flavors; specialties include steak and seafood, sweet potato-crusted catfish with macaroni and cheese, and more. Closed Sun., Monroe location. 120 Monroe. 527-7085; 1110 Van Buren (Oxford). 662-234-7003. L, D, SB (Oxford only), X, MRA, $$-$$$

MESQUITE CHOP HOUSE—The focus here is on steaks, including prime fillet, rib-eyes, and prime-aged New York strip; also, some seafood options. 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-890-2467; 88 Union. 527-5337; 3165 Forest Hill-Irene (Germantown). 249-5661. D, SB (Germantown), X, $$-$$$

MOLLIE FONTAINE LOUNGE—Specializes in tapas (small plates) featuring global cuisine. Closed Sun.-Tues. 679 Adams Ave. 524-1886. D, X, MRA, $

MOMMA’S ROADHOUSE—This diner and dive at Highway 55 serves up smoked wings, burgers, and beer, among other solid bar food options 855 Kentucky. 207-5111. L, D, MRA, $

NEW WING ORDER

The award-winning food truck cooks up its signature hot wings at its first physical location, at Ghost River on Beale. Closed Mon/Tue. 341 Beale. L, D, $-$$

THE NINE THAI & SUSHI—Serving authentic Thai dishes, including curries, as well as a variety of sushi rolls. Closed for lunch Sat. and Sun. 121 Union. 208-8347. L, D, X, $-$$

PAULETTE’S—Presents fine dining with a Continental flair, including such entrees as filet Paulette with butter cream sauce and crabmeat and spinach crepes; also changing daily specials and great views. River Inn. 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3300. B, L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$

PEARL’S OYSTER HOUSE—Downtown eatery serving seafood, including oysters, crawfish, and stuffed butterfly shrimp, as well as beef, chicken, and pasta dishes. 299 S. Main. 522-9070; 8106 Cordova Center Dr. (Cordova). 425-4797. L, D, SB, X, $-$$$

PENNY’S NITTY GRITTY—Coach Penny Hardaway brings plenty of Southern flavors and lots of customizable grits. 220 S. B.B. King Blvd. 334-5950. B, L, D, $$-$$$

PRETTY TACO Fast casual tacos with a Memphis twist, like the Soul Burger tacos. Closed Sun./Mon. 265 S. Front St. 509-8120. L, D, $-$$

RAW GIRLS—Raw and hot plant-based food alongside cold-pressed juices made from seasonal, locally grown sources. Closed Sun. 150 Peabody Pl., Suite 118. 207-5463. B, L, D, $-$$

RENDEZVOUS, CHARLES VERGOS’—Menu items include barbecued ribs, cheese plates, skillet shrimp, red beans and rice, and Greek salads. Closed Sun.-Mon. 52 S. Second. 523-2746. L (Fri.-Sat.), D, X, $-$$

SABOR CARIBE—Serving up “Caribbean flavors” with dishes from Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Closed Sunday. 662 Madison. 949-8100. L, D, X, $

SAGE—Restaurant and lounge features daily lunch specials and tapas with such dishes as braised short ribs, teriyaki pulled pork, and the Sage burger made with Angus beef, avocado mash, fried egg, and flash-fried sage. 94 S. Main. 672-7902. L, D, WB, X, $-$$

SILLY GOOSE LOUNGE—Gourmet, wood-fired pizzas and hand-crafted cocktails at this Downtown restaurant and lounge. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 111. 435-6915. L, D, X, $

SOUTH MAIN SUSHI & GRILL—Serving sushi, nigiri, and more. 520 S. Main. 249-2194. L, D, X, $

SOB—Elevated gastropub that serves favorites like general Tso’s cauliflower or duck fried rice. 345 S. Main. 526-0388. L, D, WB, X , $-$$

SOUTH POINT GROCERY—Fresh and delicious sandwiches made to order at Downtown’s new grocery market. 136 Webster Ave. B, L, D, X, $

SUGAR GRITS—Who said breakfast has to be in the morning? The Westmorelands offer grits and other breakfast goodness all day long, in addition to other Southern-style lunch and dinner options. 150 Peabody Pl., Suite 111. 249-5206. B, L, D, X, $-$$

SUNRISE MEMPHIS—Serves breakfast all day, including house-made biscuits, frittatas, kielbasa or boudin plates, and breakfast platters. 670 Jefferson. 552-3144; 5469 Poplar Ave. (East Memphis). 844-6117. B, L, X, MRA, $

SUPPER CLUB ON 2ND—Fine dining and urban bistro styles collide at this snazzy, chic restaurant, featuring gold-encrusted tomahawk steaks, a deep sea lobster dawg, fancy cocktails, and plenty of other elevated goodies. 85 S. 2nd St. 453-6334. D, WB, X, $$-$$$

TALK SHOP—Southern-style cuisine, a breakfast bar, and plenty of other cool dishes and drinks at the Caption by Hyatt. 245 S. Front St. B, L, D, X, $-$$

TERRACE—Creative American and Continental cuisine includes such dishes as filet mignon, beef or lamb sliders, chicken satay, and mushroom pizzetta. Rooftop, River Inn of Harbor Town, 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3366. D, X, MRA, $$

TEXAS DE BRAZIL—Serves beef, pork, lamb, and chicken dishes, and Brazilian sausage; also a salad bar with extensive toppings. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 103. 526-7600. L (Wed.-Fri.), D, WB, X, $$-$$$

TUG’S—Famous for New Orleans gumbo, fabulous burgers, fried thin catfish, and specialty pancakes. Now serving Grisanti Crafted Pizza. 51 Harbor Town Square. 260-3344. B, L, D, WB, X, $$-$$$

THE VAULT—Oysters, shrimp beignets, flatbreads, stuffed cornish hen, and Smash Burger featured on “Late Nite Eats” are among the dishes offered at this Creole/Italian fusion eatery. 124 G.E. Patterson. 591-8000. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$

WAHLBURGERS WILD—Wahlburgers brings its classic menu, but with a few gamey twists at the Bass Pro Pyramid. 1 Bass Pro Drive. B, L, D, X, $-$$

WESTY’S—Extensive menu includes a variety of wild rice dishes, sandwiches, plate lunches, and hot fudge pie. 346 N. Main. 543-3278.

L, D, X, $

MIDTOWN (INCLUDES THE MEDICAL CENTER)

ABNER’S FAMOUS CHICKEN—Fried chicken tenders and dipping sauces galore at this Mid-South staple. 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 137. 425-2597; (East Memphis) 1591 Poplar Ave. 509-3351; (Cordova) 1100 N. Germantown Pkwy. 754-5355. L, D, $-$$

ABYSSINIA RESTAURANT—Ethiopian/Mediterranean menu includes beef, chicken, lamb, fish entrees, and vegetarian dishes; also a lunch buffet. 2600 Poplar. 321-0082. L, D, X, $-$$

ALCHEMY—Handcrafted cocktails and local craft beers with the Asian fusion dining concept from Salt | Soy. 940 S. Cooper. 726-4444. D, SB, X, $-$$

ART BAR—Inventive cocktails feature locally foraged ingredients; snacks include house-cured salt & vinegar potato chips and herb-roasted olives. Closed Mon. 1350 Concourse Avenue #280. 507-8030. D, X, $

BABALU TACOS & TAPAS—This eatery dishes up Spanish-style tapas with Southern flair; also taco and enchilada of the day; specials change daily. 2115 Madison. 274-0100; 6450 Poplar, 410-8909. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$

BACK DO / MI YARD—A revamped patio space behind The Beauty Shop features rotisserie meats and fishes via Brazilian-style outdoor grill. Dinner Wed.-Sat., weather permitting. 966 S. Cooper, 272-7111. D, X, $$

BAIN BARBECUE & BAKERY—Brian Bain’s popular Texas-style barbecue is back, alongside an assortment of baked goods. 993 S. Cooper. 310-4141. B, L, X, $-$$

BAR DKDC—Features an ever-changing menu of international “street food,” from Thai to Mexican, Israeli to Indian, along with specialty cocktails. 964 S. Cooper. 272-0830. D, X , MRA, $

BAR KEOUGH—It’s old-school eats and cocktails at the new CooperYoung neighborhood corner bar by Kevin Keough. 247 Cooper St. D, X , $

BAR-B-Q SHOP—Dishes up barbecued ribs, spaghetti, bologna, other classics. Closed Sun. 1782 Madison. 272-1277. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

BARI RISTORANTE ENOTECA—Authentic Southeastern Italian cuisine (Puglia) emphasizes lighter entrees. Serves fresh fish and beef dishes and a homemade soup of the day. 524 S. Cooper. 722-2244. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

BARKSDALE RESTAURANT—Old-school diner serving breakfast and Southern plate lunches. 237 S. Cooper. 722-2193. B, L, D, X, $

BAYOU BAR & GRILL—New Orleans fare at this Overton Square eatery includes jambalaya, gumbo, catfish Acadian, shrimp dishes, red

beans and rice, and muffalettas. 2094 Madison. 278-8626. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$

BEAUTY SHOP—Modern American cuisine with international flair served in a former beauty shop. Serves steaks, salads, pasta, and seafood, including pecan-crusted golden sea bass. Perennial “Best Brunch” winner. Closed for dinner Sunday. 966 S. Cooper. 272-7111. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

BELLY ACRES—At this festive Overton Square eatery, milkshakes, floats, and burgers rule. Burgers are updated with contemporary toppings like grilled leeks, braised tomatoes, and sourdough or brioche buns. 2102 Trimble Pl. 529-7017. L, D, X, $ BOSCOS—Tennessee’s first craft brewery serves a variety of freshly brewed beers as well as wood-fired oven pizzas, pasta, seafood, steaks, and sandwiches. 2120 Madison. 432-2222. L, D, SB (with live jazz), X, MRA, $-$$

BOUNTY ON BROAD—Offering family-style dining, Bounty serves small plates and family-sized platters, with such specialties as chicken-fried quail and braised pork shank. 2519 Broad. 410-8131. L (Sat. and Sun.), D (Mon.-Sat.), SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ BROADWAY PIZZA—Serving a variety of pizzas, including the Broadway Special, as well as sandwiches, salads, wings, and soul-food specials. 2581 Broad. 454-7930; 627 S. Mendenhall. 207-1546. L, D, X, $-$$

CAFE 1912—French/American bistro owned by culinary pioneer Glenn Hays serving such seafood entrees as seared sea scallops with charred cauliflower purée and chorizo cumin sauce; also crepes, salads, and onion soup gratinée. 243 S. Cooper. 722-2700. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

CAFE ECLECTIC—Omelets and chicken and waffles are among menu items, along with quesadillas, sandwiches, wraps, and burgers. Menu varies by location. 603 N. McLean. 725-1718; 111 Harbor Town Square. 590-4645. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $ CAFE OLÉ—This eatery specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine; one specialty is the build-your-own quesadilla. 959 S. Cooper. 343-0103. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$

CAFE PALLADIO—Serves gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches, and desserts in a tea room inside the antiques shop. Closed Sun. 2169 Central. 278-0129. L, X, $

CAFE SOCIETY—With Belgian and classic French influences, serves Wagyu beef, chicken, and seafood dishes, including bacon-wrapped shrimp, along with daily specials and vegetarian entrees. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 212 N. Evergreen. 722-2177. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

CAMEO—Three longtime Memphis bartenders join forces for creative cocktails, cheese boards, snacks, and Sunday brunch. 1835 Union Ave., Suite 3. 305-6511. D, SB, $-$$

CELTIC CROSSING—Specializes in Irish and American pub fare. Entrees include shepherd’s pie, shrimp and sausage coddle, and fish and chips. 903 S. Cooper. 274-5151. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$

CENTRAL BBQ—Serves ribs, smoked hot wings, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, turkey, nachos, and portobello sandwiches. Offers both pork and beef barbecue. 2249 Central Ave. 272-9377; 4375 Summer Ave. 767-4672; 147 E. Butler. 672-7760 ; 6201 Poplar. 4177962. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

COMPLICATED PILGRIM—Quick serve coffee shop, bar, and restaurant all in one at The Memphian hotel. 21 S. Cooper St. 601-9095820. B, L, D, $-$$

THE COVE—Nautical-themed restaurant and bar serving oysters, pizzas, and more. The Stoner Pie, with tamales and fritos, is a popular dish. 2559 Broad. 730-0719. L, D, $

THE CRAZY NOODLE—Korean noodle dishes range from bibam beef noodle with cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables, to curry chicken noodle; also rice cakes served in a flavorful sauce. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 2015 Madison. 272-0928. L, D, X, $

EAT AT BLACK LODGE—High-end breakfasts, like waffle grilled cheese sandwiches, nacho and tater-tot “tot-chos,” and other entrees like sweet spicy thai pork at the longtime video store. Closed Mon./Tue. 405 N. Cleveland. 672-7905. L, D, X, $-$$

ECCO—Mediterranean-inspired specialties range from rib-eye steak to seared scallops to housemade pastas and a grilled vegetable plate; also a Saturday brunch. Closed Sun.-Mon. 1585 Overton Park. 410-8200. B, L, D, X, $-$$

FABIOLA’S KITCHEN—Longtime caterer Fabiola Francis serves up burgers, tacos, fish, and much more. 1353 Jackson Ave. B, L, $ FARM BURGER—Serves grass-fed, freshly ground, locally sourced burgers; also available with chicken, pork, or veggie quinoa patties, with such toppings as aged white cheddar, kale coleslaw, and roasted beets. 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 175. 800-1851. L, D, X, $

THE FARMER AT RAILGARTEN—Farmer classics include pan-seared catfish, gulf shrimp and grits, or a Gibson donut bread pudding. Closed Mon./ Tue. 2166 Central. 313-0087. D, X, $-$$

FINO’S FROM THE HILL—Italian deli offers old favorites such as the Acquisto as well as a new breakfast menu Germantown location paired with Happy Glaze Donuts. 1853 Madison. 272-FINO; 7781 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). B, L, D, X, $

FLAME RAMEN—Traditional Japanese ramen restaurant serving up bowls of noodles in Midtown. 1838 Union Ave. 779-8666. D, $-$$

FLIP SIDE—Pinball meets pub in the Crosstown neighborhood, with plenty of games alongside a Caribbean- and Latin-inspired menu. Closed Mon. 1349 Autumn Ave. L, D, X, $-$$

FRIDA’S—Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex standards, including chimichangas, enchiladas, and fajitas; seafood includes shrimp and tilapia. 1718 Madison. 244-6196. L, D, X, $-$$

GLOBAL CAFÉ—This international food hall hosts three immigrant/refugee food entrepreneurs serving Venezuelan, Sudanese, and Syrian cuisines. Samosas, shawarma, and kabobs are among the menu items. Closed Mon. 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 157. L, D, X, MRA, $

GOLDEN INDIA—Northern Indian specialties include tandoori chicken as well as lamb, beef, shrimp, and vegetarian dishes. 2097 Madison. 728-5111. L, D, X, $-$$

GROWLERS—Sports bar and eatery serves standard bar fare in addition to pasta, tacos, chicken and waffles, and light options. 1911 Poplar. 244-7904. L, D, X, $-$$

HATTIE B’S—Fried chicken spot features “hot chicken” with a variety of heat levels; from no heat to “shut the cluck up” sauce. Sides include greens, pimento mac-and-cheese, and black-eyed pea salad. 596 S. Cooper. 424-5900. L, D, X, $

HUEY’S—This family-friendly restaurant offers 13 different burgers, a variety of sandwiches, and delicious soups and salads. 1927 Madison. 726-4372; 1771 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 754-3885; 77 S. Second (Downtown). 527-2700; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-4455; 7090 Malco Blvd. (Southaven). 662-349-7097; 7825 Winchester. 624-8911; 4872 Poplar. 682-7729; 7677 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). 318-3030; 8570 Highway 51 N. (Millington). 873-5025. L, D, X, MRA, $

IMAGINE VEGAN CAFE—Dishes at this fully vegan restaurant range from salads and sandwiches to full dinners, including eggplant parmesan and “beef” tips and rice; breakfast all day Sat. and Sun. 2158 Young. 654-3455. L, D, WB, X, $

INDIA PALACE—Tandoori chicken, lamb shish kabobs, and chicken tikka masala are among the entrees; also, vegetarian options and a daily all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. 1720 Poplar. 278-1199. L, D, X, $-$$

INSPIRE COMMUNITY CAFE—Serving breakfast all day, in addition to quesadillas, rice bowls, and more for lunch and dinner. 510 Tillman, Suite 110. 509-8640. B, L, D, X, $

KNIFEBIRD—Neighborhood wine bar boasts plenty of flights, cocktails, and mocktails alongside bruschetta and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun. 2155 Central Ave. 748-5425. D, $-$$$

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM—Serves such Southern cuisine as po’boys, shrimp and grits, and wood-fired pizzas. 2119 Madison. 207-5097. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$

LBOE—Gourmet burger joint serves locally sourced ground beef burgers, with options like the Mac-N-Cheese Burger and Caprese. Black bean and turkey patties available. 2021 Madison. 725-0770. L, D, X, $

THE LIQUOR STORE—Renovated liquor store turned diner serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, and entrees such as Salisbury steak and smothered pork chops. 2655 Broad. 405-5477; 669 S. Mendenhall Rd. (East Memphis). B, L, D, X, $-$$

LOAF—Former food truck owner Kale Carm’s take on modern Memphis and deep South cuisine. Closed Sun.-Tue. 1934 Poplar (Memphis Brooks Museum of Art). 300-0103. L, D, X, $

MAXIMO’S ON BROAD—Serving a tapas menu that features creative fusion cuisine; entrees include veggie paella and fish of the day. Closed Mon. 2617 Broad Ave. 452-1111. D, SB, X, $-$$

MEMPHIS PIZZA CAFE—Homemade pizzas are specialties; also serves sandwiches, calzones, and salads. 2087 Madison. 726-5343; 5061 Park Ave. 684-1306; 7604 W. Farmington (Germantown). 753-2218; 797 W. Poplar (Collierville). 861-7800; 5627 Getwell (Southaven). 662-536-1364. L, D, X, $-$$

MEMPHIS WHISTLE—Cocktails, cocktails, and even more delicious cocktails alongside burgers, sandwiches, and other tasty snacks. 2299 Young Ave. Closed Mon.-Tue. 236-7136. D, X, $-$$

MIDPOINTE FROM EDGE ALLEY—Edge Alley’s sister cafe at the Ballet Memphis headquarters focuses on freshness for its breakfast, lunch, and happy hour tapas. Closed Sun.-Mon. 2144 Madison Ave. 425-2605. B, L, X, $

MOLLY’S LA CASITA—Homemade tamales, fish tacos, a vegetarian combo, and bacon-wrapped shrimp are a few of the specialties. 2006 Madison. 726-1873. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

PANTÀ—Small, Catalan-inspired plates by Kelly English in the former Restaurant Iris space. 2146 Monroe Ave. Closed Mon.-Wed. 590-2828.

L, D, X, $-$$.

PARISH GROCERY—Shrimp? Roast beef? Oysters? Whatever type of po’boy you want, the New Orleans-themed eatery has got it. Closed Monday. 916 S. Cooper St. 207-4347. L, D, X, $-$$

PAYNE’S BAR-B-QUE—Opened in 1972, this family-owned barbecue joint serves ribs, smoked sausage, and chopped pork sandwiches with a standout mustard slaw and homemade sauce. About as down-to-earth as it gets. 1762 Lamar. 272-1523. L, D, $-$$

PHO BINH—Vietnamese, vegetarian, and Cantonese specialties include lemon tofu and spring rolls. Closed Sunday. 1615 Madison. 276-0006.

L, D, $

RED FISH ASIAN BISTRO—In the former Nineteenth Century Club building, serves sushi, teriyaki, and hibachi. Specialties include yuzu filet mignon and Chilean sea bass. 1433 Union. 454-3926; 9915 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 729-7581; 6518 Goodman (Olive Branch). 662-874-5254. L, D, X, $-$$$

ROBATA RAMEN & YAKITORI BAR—Serves ramen noodle bowls and Yakitori skewers as well as rice and noodle dishes. 2116 Madison. 410-8290. L, D, X, $

SABROSURA—Serves Mexican and Cuban fare, including arroz tapada de pollo and steak Mexican. Closed Sun. 782 Washington. 421-8180. L, D, X, $-$$

SALTWATER CRAB—Offers an array of seafood dishes including boils with blue crab, crab legs, lobster tails, and more, and specialty sushi like the Dynamite or Royal King rolls, in addition to signature sangrias and cocktails. 2059 Madison Ave. 922-5202. L, D, X, $$

THE SECOND LINE—Kelly English brings “relaxed Creole cuisine” to his newest eatery; serves a variety of po’boys and such specialties as barbecue shrimp, andouille shrimp, and pimento cheese fries. 2144 Monroe. 590-2829. L, D, WB, X, $-$$

SEKISUI—Japanese fusion cuisine, fresh sushi bar, grilled meats and seafood, California rolls, and vegetarian entrees. Poplar/ Perkins location’s emphasis is on Pacific Rim cuisine. Menu and hours vary at each location. 25 Belvedere. 725-0005; 1884 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 309-8800; 4724 Poplar. 767-7770; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-0622; 2990 Kirby-Whitten (Bartlett). 377-2727; 6696 Poplar. 747-0001. L, D, X, $-$$$

SLICE MIDTOWN—Serving New York-style pizza as well as subs and pasta dishes (formerly known as Little Italy). 1495 Union. 725-0280; L, D, X, $-$$

SOUL FISH CAFE—Serving Southern-style soul food, tacos, and po’boys, including catfish, crawfish, oyster, shrimp, chicken, and smoked pork tenderloin. 862 S. Cooper. 725-0722; 3160 Village Shops Dr. (Germantown). 755-6988; 4720 Poplar. 590-0323. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

STICKEM—Brick and mortar location for the popular food truck, which offers grilled meat on a stick. 1788 Madison. Closed Sunday. 474-7214.

L, D, X, $

TAMBOLI’S PASTA & PIZZA—Pasta-maker Miles Tamboli whips up Italian soul food with seasonal menus featuring dishes like crispy fried chicken or creamy bucatini with pecorino cheese. Serves dinner Tues.-Sat. 1761 Madison. 410-8866. D, X, $-$$

TAKASHI BISTRO—Fusion restaurant with an open kitchen that lets customers watch chefs prepare a variety of Japanese and Thai cuisine. 1680 Union Ave., Suite 109. 800-2936. L, D, $-$$.

TONICA—Paella and other Spanish-inspired dishes with an Italian touch, alongside an extensive list of gin and tonics. 1545 Overton Park. Closed Mon.-Wed. D, X, $-$$

TSUNAMI—Features Pacific Rim cuisine (Asia, Australia, South Pacific, etc.); also a changing “small plate” menu. Chef Ben Smith is a Cooper-Young pioneer. Specialties include Asian nachos and roasted sea bass. Closed Sunday. 928 S. Cooper. 274-2556. D, X,, MRA, $$-$$$

TUYEN’S ASIAN BISTRO—A variety of Asian dishes from the minds and chefs behind Saigon Le. Closed Sun. 288 N. Cleveland. L, D, X, $-$$

ZINNIE’S—Dive bar classic reopens with a makeover and signature Zinnaloni sandwich. 1688 Madison. 726-5004. L, D, X, $

SOUTH MEMPHIS (INCLUDES PARKWAY VILLAGE, FOX MEADOWS, SOUTH MEMPHIS, WINCHESTER, AND WHITEHAVEN)

BALA’S BISTRO—Authentic West African cuisine available to order or by the pound, alongside traditional American dishes and an extensive vegan menu. 4571 Elvis Presley Blvd. 509-3024. L, D, $-$$

CACHE 42 KITCHEN & COCKTAILS—Elevated fine dining (think golden rack of lamb or lobster queso) and cocktail lounge at MoneyBagg Yo’s restaurant; menu by chef Daris Leatherwood. Brunch and lunch options coming soon. 4202 Hacks Cross Rd., Suite 121. 4945458. D, $-$$

COLETTA’S—Longtime eatery serves such specialties as homemade ravioli, lasagna, and pizza with barbecue or traditional toppings. 1063 S. Parkway E. 948-7652; 2850 Appling Rd. (Bartlett). 383-1122. L, D, X, $-$$

CURRY BOWL—Specializes in Southern Indian cuisine, serving Tandoori chicken, biryani, tikka masala, and more. Weekend buffet. 4141 Hacks Cross Rd. 207-6051. L, D, $

DELTA’S KITCHEN—The premier restaurant at The Guest House at Graceland serves Elvis-inspired dishes — like Nutella and Peanut Butter Crepes for breakfast — and upscale Southern cuisine — including lamb chops and shrimp and grits — for dinner. 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd. 443-3000. B, D, X, $-$$$

DWJ KOREAN BARBECUE—This authentic Korean eatery serves kimbap, barbecued beef short ribs, rice and noodles dishes, and hot pots and stews. 3750 Hacks Cross Rd., Suite 101. 746-8057; 2156 Young. 207-6204. L, D, $-$$

FABULOUS FLAVORS & FRIENDS ”The Candy Lady” Precious Thompson Jones comes up with a little bit of everything: omelettes, quesadillas, t-bones and waffles, and plenty of soul food. 2063 E. Brooks Rd. 314-0735. L, D, $

THE FOUR WAY—Legendary soul-food establishment dishing up such entrees as fried and baked catfish, chicken, and turkey and dressing, along with a host of vegetables and desserts. Around the corner from the legendary Stax Studio. Closed Mon. 998 Mississippi Blvd. 507-1519. L, D, $

HERNANDO’S HIDEAWAY–No one cares how late it gets; not at Hernando’s Hideaway. Live music, killer happy hour, and plenty of bar fare at this South Memphis hang. 3210 Old Hernando Rd. 917-982-1829. L, D, $

INTERSTATE BAR-B-Q—Specialties include chopped pork-shoulder sandwiches, ribs, hot wings, spaghetti, chicken, and turkey. 2265 S. Third. 775-2304; 150 W. Stateline Rd. (Southaven). 662-393-5699. L, D, X, $-$$

JIM & SAMELLA’S—It’s a revolving menu of soul food delight from Chef Talbert Fleming, with anything from Southern ribs to fried tamales. 841 Bullington Ave. 265-8761. L, D, X, $

LEONARD’S—Serves wet and dry ribs, barbecue sandwiches, spaghetti, catfish, homemade onion rings, and lemon icebox pie; also a lunch buffet. 5465 Fox Plaza. 360-1963. L, X, $-$$

MARLOWE’S—In addition to its signature barbecue and ribs, Marlowe’s serves Southern-style steaks, chops, lasagna, and more. 4381 Elvis Presley Blvd. 332-4159. D, X, MRA, $-$$

UNCLE LOU’S FRIED CHICKEN—Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for good reason: fried chicken (mild, hot, or home-style); jumbo burgers four patties high; strawberry shortcake, and assorted fruit pies. 3633 Millbranch. 332-2367. L, D, X, MRA, $ SUMMER/BERCLAIR/ RALEIGH/BARTLETT

901 HOT POT & KOREAN BBQ—All-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean BBQ, from short ribs to garlic shrimp. 2965 N. Germantown Pkwy. 512-4963. L, D, X, $$-$$$

BISCUITS & JAMS—Biscuits, waffles, French toast, and plenty of sharables at this Bartlett breakfast spot. Closed Mon./Tue. 5806 Stage Rd. 672-7905. B, L, X, $

BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Slingin’ famous biscuits, plate lunches, chicken fried steak, and other breakfast classics since 1968. 3965 Summer Ave. 324-7494. B, L, $

CEVICHERIA AND GRILL CHILEMON—Ceviche, of course, but also plenty of other postres, aperitivos, and mixed grilled meat and seafood feasts. Closed Sun. 4509 Summer Ave. 672-7905. L, D, $ CHEF FLAVAS AND BARTLETT BREAKFAST FACTORY

”Flavaful” sandwiches, soups, pastas, and more from the makers of the popular local spinach artichoke dip. Traditional breakfast options served by Bartlett Breakfast Factory. Closed Sun./Mon. 6301 Stage Rd. 779-2200. B, L, D, X, $-$$

DIM SUM KING—All the best from a selection of authentic Chinese dishes: roasted duck, sizzling hot plate, Cantonese BBQ, and plenty more. 5266 Summer Ave. #65. 766-0831. L, D, X, $-$$

ELWOOD’S SHACK—Casual comfort food includes tacos, pizza, and sandwiches. Specialties include meats smoked in-house (chicken, turkey, brisket, pork), barbecue pizza, and steelhead trout tacos. 4523 Summer. 761-9898. B, L, D, X, $

EXLINES’ BEST PIZZA—Serves pizza, Italian dinners, sandwiches, and salads. 6250 Stage Rd. 382-3433; 2935 Austin Peay.

388-4711; 2801 Kirby Parkway. 754-0202; 7730 Wolf River Blvd. (Germantown). 753-4545; 531 W. Stateline Rd. 662-342-4544. L, D, X , MRA, $

LA TAQUERIA GUADALUPANA—Fajitas and quesadillas are just a few of the authentic Mexican entrees offered here. A bonafide Memphis institution. 4818 Summer. 685-6857; 5848 Winchester. 365-4992. L, D, X, $

LOTUS—Authentic Vietnamese-Asian fare, including lemon-grass chicken and shrimp, egg rolls, Pho soup, and spicy Vietnamese vermicelli. 4970 Summer. 682-1151. D, X, $

MORTIMER’S—Contemporary American entrees include trout almondine, chicken dishes, and hand-cut steaks; also sandwiches, salads, and daily/nightly specials. A Memphis landmark since the Knickerbocker closed. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 590 N. Perkins. 7619321. L, D, X, $-$$

NAGASAKI INN—Chicken, steak, and lobster are among the main courses; meal is cooked at your table. 3951 Summer. 454-0320. D, X, $$

NAM KING—General Tso’s chicken, hot and sour soup, and homemade chicken wings are back at the longtime Raleigh Chinese eatery. 3624 Austin Peay Highway, #3. 373-4411. L, D, $-$$

ÓRALE TACOS & BAKERY—Tacos, enchiladas, and other traditional Southern Mexican dishes alongside baked pan dulces. 2204 Whitten Rd. 571-1786. B, L, D, $-$$

PANDA GARDEN—Sesame chicken and broccoli beef are among the Mandarin and Cantonese entrees; also seafood specials and fried rice. Closed for lunch Saturday. 3735 Summer. 323-4819. L, D, X, $-$$

QUEEN OF SHEBA—Featuring Middle Eastern favorites and Yemeni dishes such as lamb haneeth and saltah. 4792 Summer. 207-4174. L, D, $

SIDE PORCH STEAK HOUSE—In addition to steak, the menu includes chicken, pork chops, and fish entrees; homemade rolls are a specialty. Closed Sun./Mon. 5689 Stage Rd. 377-2484. D, X, $-$$

TORTILLERIA LA UNICA—Individual helping of Mexican street food, including hefty tamales, burritos, tortas, and sopes. 5015 Summer Ave. 685-0097. B, L, D, X, $

UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT (INCLUDES CHICKASAW GARDENS AND HIGHLAND STRIP)

A-TAN—Serves Chinese and Japanese hibachi cuisine, complete with sushi bar. A specialty is Four Treasures with garlic sauce. 3445 Poplar, Suite 17, University Center. 452-4477. L, D, X, $-$$$

THE BLUFF—New Orleans-inspired menu includes alligator bites, nachos topped with crawfish and andouille, gumbo, po’boys, and fried seafood platters. 535 S. Highland. 454-7771. L, D, X, $-$$

BROTHER JUNIPER’S—This little cottage is a breakfast mecca, offering specialty omelets, including the open-faced San Diegan omelet; also daily specials, and homemade breads and pastries. Closed Mon. 3519 Walker. 324-0144. B, X, $

CELEBRITY’S SOUL FOOD—Classic soul food dishes coupled with a Hollywood-esque VIP experience. 431 S. Highland St., Ste 105. L, D, X, $$

CHAR RESTAURANT—Specializing in modern Southern cuisine, this eatery offers homestyle sides, charbroiled steaks, and fresh seafood. 431 S. Highland, Suite 120. 249-3533. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$

DERAE RESTAURANT Ethiopian and Mediterranean fare includes fuul, or fava beans in spices and yogurt, goat meat and rice, and garlic chicken over basmati rice with cilantro chutney; also salmon and tilapia. Closed Monday. 923 S. Highland. 552-3992. B, L, D, $-$$

EL PORTON—Fajitas, quesadillas, and steak ranchero are just a few of the menu items. 2095 Merchants Row (Germantown). 754-4268; 8361 Highway 64. 380-7877; 3448 Poplar (Poplar Plaza). 452-7330; 1805 N. Germantown Parkway (Cordova). 624-9358; 1016 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-5770. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

MEDALLION—Offers steaks, seafood, chicken, and pasta entrees. Closed for dinner Sunday. 3700 Central, Holiday Inn (Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality). 678-1030. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

OPEN FLAME—This authentic Persian and Mediterranean eatery specializes in shish kebabs as well as kosher and halal fare. 3445 Poplar. 207-4995. L, D, X, $

PLANT BASED HEAT All of your favorite Southern-style recipes, but deliciously transformed into a vegan format. Specialties include the spicy fye junt burger, or the chopped ‘n’ smoked bbq jackfruit sandwich. Closed Sun. 669 S. Highland St. L, D, $

SAM’S DELI—Everything from sandwiches to bibimbap bowls at this local favorite. Closed Mon./Tue. 643 S. Highland St. 454-5582. L, D, $

EAST

MEMPHIS (INCLUDES POPLAR/I-240)

ACRE—Features seasonal modern American cuisine in an avantegarde setting using locally sourced products; also small plates and enclosed garden patio. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 690 S. Perkins. 818-2273. L, D, X, $$-$$$

AGAVOS COCINA & TEQUILA—Camaron de Tequila, tamales, kabobs, and burgers made with a blend of beef and chorizo are among the offerings at this tequila-centric restaurant and bar. 2924 Walnut Grove. 433-9345. L, D, X, $-$$

AMERIGO—Traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine includes pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks, and cedarwood-roasted fish. 1239 Ridgeway, Park Place Mall. 761-4000. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

ANDALUSIA— Authentic Moroccan cuisine, including tagines, brochettes, and briouates. 5101 Sanderlin Ave., Suite 103. 236-7784. L, D, $-$$

ANDREW MICHAEL ITALIAN KITCHEN—Traditional Italian cuisine with a menu from two of the city’s top chefs that changes seasonally with such entrees as Maw Maw’s ravioli. Closed Sun.-Mon. 712 W. Brookhaven Circle. 347-3569. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE—Offering several varieties of eggs Benedict, waffles, omelets, pancakes, beignets, and other breakfast fare; also burgers, sandwiches, and salads. 6063 Park Ave. 729-7020; 65 S. Highland. 623-7122. B, L, WB, X, $

ANTIGUA MEXICAN BAR & GRILL—Tortas, tacos, and other authentic Mexican cuisine alongside freshly-made salsa, guacamole, and white queso dip. 717 N. White Station Rd. 761-1374. L, D, $-$$

BANGKOK ALLEY—Thai fusion cuisine includes noodle and curry dishes, chef-specialty sushi rolls, coconut soup, and duck and seafood entrees. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. at Brookhaven location; call for hours. 715 W. Brookhaven Circle. 590-2585; 2150 W. Poplar at Houston Levee (Collierville). 854-8748. L, D, X, $-$$

BELLE MEADE SOCIAL—Upscale Americana cuisine including lamb lollipops, spicy tuna stack, and steak & noodle salad. 518 Perkins Extd. 480-7054. L, D, $-$$$

BELMONT GRILL—Burgers, steak sandwiches, and other classic American fare at one of Memphis’ longstanding bars. 4970 Poplar. 767-0305. L, D, X, $-$$

BENIHANA—This Japanese steakhouse serves beef, chicken, and seafood grilled at the table; some menu items change monthly; sushi bar also featured. 912 Ridge Lake Blvd. 767-8980. L, D, X, $$-$$$

BIG BAD BREAKFAST—Fresh biscuits, house-made cured meats, jams, jellies, and more for the most important meal of the day. 6450 Poplar. 881-3346. B, L, X, $-$$

BOG & BARLEY—An all-Irish fine dining experience by the owners of Celtic Crossing, and a full bar with plenty of beer and 25-year-old Mccallan. 6150 Poplar, Suite 124. 805-2262. L, D, WB, X, $-$$

BROOKLYN BRIDGE ITALIAN RESTAURANT—Specializing in such homemade entrees as spinach lasagna and lobster ravioli; a seafood specialty is horseradish-crusted salmon. Closed Sun. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 755-7413. D, X, $-$$$

BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Three-egg omelets, pancakes, and The Sampler Platter are among the popular entrees here. Possibly the best biscuits in town. Closed Mon. and Tues. 3965 Summer. 324-7494. B, L, X, $

BUCKLEY’S FINE FILET GRILL—Specializes in steaks, seafood, and pasta. (Lunchbox serves entree salads, burgers, and more.) 5355 Poplar. 683-4538; 919 S. Yates (Buckley’s Lunchbox), 682-0570. L (Yates only, M-F), D, X, $-$$

CAPITAL GRILLE—Known for its dry-aged, hand-carved steaks; among the specialties are bone-in sirloin, and porcini-rubbed Delmonico; also seafood entrees and seasonal lunch plates. Closed for lunch Sat.Sun. Crescent Center, 6065 Poplar. 683-9291. L, D, X, $$$-$$$$

CASABLANCA—Lamb shawarma is one of the fresh, homemade specialties served at this Mediterranean/Moroccan restaurant; fish entrees and vegetarian options also available. 5030 Poplar. 725-8557; 1707 Madison. 421-6949. L, D, X, $-$$

CIAO BELLA—Among the Italian and Greek specialties are lasagna, seafood pasta, gourmet pizzas, and vegetarian options. 5101 Sanderlin Ave. 205-2500. D, X, MRA, $-$$$

CITY SILO TABLE + PANTRY—With a focus on clean eating, this establishment offers fresh juices, as well as comfort foods re-imagined with wholesome ingredients. 5101 Sanderlin. 729-7687. Germantown: 7605 W. Farmington Blvd., Suite 2. 236-7223. B, L, D, X, $

COASTAL FISH COMPANY—Upscale offerings of international fish varieties utilizing styles ranging from Carribbean, East Coast, West Coast, Chinese, to Filipino, and more. 415 Great View Dr. E., Suite 101. 266-9000. D, X, $$-$$$

CORKY’S—Popular barbecue emporium offers both wet and dry ribs, plus a full menu of other barbecue entrees. Wed. lunch buffets, Cordova and Collierville. 5259 Poplar. 685-9744; 1740 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 737-1911; 743 W. Poplar (Collierville). 405-4999; 6434 Goodman Rd., Olive Branch. 662-893-3663. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

DAN MCGUINNESS PUB—Serves fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, burgers, and other Irish and American fare; also lunch and dinner specials. 4694 Spottswood. 761-3711; 3964 Goodman Rd. 662-8907611. L, D, X, $

DORY—Chef David Krog whips up Southern specialties with classic French techniques and locally sourced ingredients. Current specialties include pork tenderloin, beef bourguignon, or cocoa-dusted chocolate truffles, with new weekly additions. 716 W. Brookhaven Circle. 310-4290. L, D, X, $$-$$$

ERLING JENSEN—For decades, has presented “globally inspired” cuisine to die for. Specialties are rack of lamb, big game entrees, and fresh fish dishes. 1044 S. Yates. 763-3700. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$

ERLING JENSEN SMALL BITES—Enjoy Erling Jensen’s specialty dishes in a sharable, small plate format alongside TopGolf Swing suites. 5069 Sanderlin Ave. 587-9464. L, D, X, $-$$$

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE—Serves wet-aged and dry-aged steaks, prime beef, chops, and seafood, including salmon, Australian lobster tails, and a catch of the day. 6245 Poplar. 761-6200. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$

FOLK’S FOLLY ORIGINAL PRIME STEAK HOUSE Specializes in prime steaks, as well as lobster, grilled Scottish salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, rack of lamb, and weekly specials. 551 S. Mendenhall. 762-8200. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$

FORMOSA—Offers Mandarin cuisine, including broccoli beef, hot-andsour soup, and spring rolls. Closed Mon. 6685 Quince. 753-9898. L, D, X, $-$$

FOX RIDGE PIZZA & GRILL—Pizzas, calzones, sub sandwiches, burgers, and meat-and-two plate lunches are among the dishes served at this eatery, which opened in 1979. 711 W. Brookhaven Circle. 758-6500. L, D, X, $

FRATELLI’S—Serves hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts, all with an Italian/Mediterranean flair. Closed Sun. 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis Botanic Garden. 766-9900. L, X, $

FRANK GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT—Northern Italian favorites include pasta with jumbo shrimp and mushrooms; also seafood, filet mignon, and daily lunch specials. Closed for lunch Sun. Embassy Suites Hotel, 1022 S. Shady Grove. 761-9462. L, D, X, $-$$$

HALF SHELL—Specializes in seafood, such as king crab legs; also serves steaks, chicken, pastas, salads, sandwiches, a ”voodoo menu”; oyster bar at Winchester location. 688 S. Mendenhall. 682-3966; 7825 Winchester. 737-6755. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$

HEN HOUSE—Hybrid wine/cocktail bar and tasting room with plenty of cosmopolitan eats. Closed Sun. 679 S. Mendenhall. 499-5436. D, $-$$$

HIGH POINT PIZZA—Serves a variety of pizzas, subs, salads, and sides. Closed Mon. A neighborhood fixture. 477 High Point Terrace. 452-3339. L, D, X, $-$$

HOG & HOMINY—The casual sister to Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen serves brick-oven-baked pizzas, including the Red-Eye with pork belly, and small plates with everything from meatballs to beef and cheddar hot dogs; and local veggies. And with a few surprises this time around. Closed for lunch Mon. 707 W. Brookhaven Cir. 207-7396. L, D, SB, X, MRA. $-$$$

HOUSTON’S—Serves steaks, seafood, pork chops, chicken dishes, sandwiches, salads, and Chicago-style spinach dip. Famous for first-class service. 5000 Poplar. 683-0915. L, D, X $-$$$

LA BAGUETTE—An almond croissant and chicken salad are among specialties at this French-style bistro. Closed for dinner Sun. 3088 Poplar. 458-0900. B, L, D (closes at 7), X, MRA, $

LAS DELICIAS—Popular for its guacamole, house-made tortilla chips, and margaritas, this restaurant draws diners with its chicken enchiladas, meat-stuffed flautas, and Cuban torta with spicy pork. Closed Sun. 4002 Park Ave. 458-9264; 5689 Quince. 800-2873. L, D, X, $ LIBRO AT LAURELWOOD—Bookstore eatery features a variety of sandwiches, salads, and homemade pasta dishes, with Italian-inspired options such as carbonara and potato gnocchi. Closed for dinner Sun. 387 Perkins Ext. (Novel). 800-2656. B, L, D, SB, X, $-$$

LITTLE ITALY EAST—New York-style pizzas galore and homemade pasta. Closed Sun. 6300 Poplar Ave., Ste. 113. 729-7432. L, $-$$

LOST PIZZA—Offering pizzas (with dough made from scratch), pasta, salads, sandwiches, tamales, and more. 2855 Poplar. 572-1803; 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-892-8684. L, D, X, $-$$

MAGNOLIA & MAY—Southern-inspired, family-owned, casual dining restaurant serving up a variety of sandwiches, chef-inspired dishes, and craft cocktails. Popular items include shrimp and grits and the double cheeseburger. Closed Mon. 718 Mt. Moriah Rd. 676-8100. L, D, WB, X, MRA. $$-$$$.

MAHOGANY MEMPHIS—Upscale Southern restaurant offers such dishes as coffee-rubbed lamb chops and baked Cajun Cornish hen. Closed for dinner Sun. and all day Mon.-Tues. 3092 Poplar, Suite 11. 623-7977. L, D, SB, X, $-$$$

MARCIANO MEDITERRANEAN AND ITALIAN CUISINE—Veal Saltimbocca with angel-hair pasta and white wine sauce is among the entrees; also steaks, seafood, and gourmet pizza. 780 E. Brookhaven Cir. 682-1660. D, X, $-$$

MAYURI INDIAN CUISINE—Serves tandoori chicken, masala dosa, tikka masala, as well as lamb and shrimp entrees; also a daily lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Fri.-Sat. 6524 Quince Rd. 753-8755. L, D, X, $-$$

MELLOW MUSHROOM—Large menu includes assortment of pizzas, salads, calzones, hoagies, vegetarian options, and 50 beers on tap. 5138 Park Ave. 562-1211; 9155 Poplar, Shops of Forest Hill (Germantown). 907-0243. L, D, X, $-$$

MOSA ASIAN BISTRO—Specialties include sesame chicken, Thai calamari, rainbow panang curry with grouper fish, and other Pan Asian/fusion entrees. Closed Mon. 850 S. White Station Rd. 683-8889. L, D, X, MRA, $ NAM KING—Offers luncheon and dinner buffets, dim sum, and such specialties as fried dumplings, pepper steak, and orange chicken. 4594 Yale. 373-4411. L, D, X, $

NAPA CAFE—Among the specialties are miso-marinated salmon over black rice with garlic spinach and shiitake mushrooms. Closed Sun. 5101 Sanderlin, Suite 122. 683-0441. L, D, X, MRA, $$-$$$

NEW HUNAN—Chinese eatery with more than 80 entrees; also lunch/ dinner buffets. 5052 Park. 766-1622. L, D, X, $

ONE & ONLY BBQ—On the menu are pork barbecue sandwiches, platters, wet and dry ribs, smoked chicken and turkey platters, a smoked meat salad, barbecue quesadillas, Brunswick Stew, and Millie’s homemade desserts. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 751-3615; 567 Perkins Extd. 249-4227. L, D, X, $

ONO POKÉ—This eatery specializes in poké — a Hawaiian dish of fresh fish salad served over rice. Menu includes a variety of poké bowls, like the Kimchi Tuna bowl, or customers can build their own by choosing a base, protein, veggies, and toppings. 3145 Poplar. 618-2955. L, D, X , $

OWEN BRENNAN’S—New Orleans-style menu of beef, chicken, pasta, and seafood; jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and crawfish etouffee are specialties. Closed for dinner Sun. The Regalia, 6150 Poplar. 761-0990. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

PARK + CHERRY—The Dixon offers casual dining within the museum. Seasonal menu features sandwiches, like rustic chicken salad on croissant, as well as salads, snacks, and sweets. Closed for breakfast Sun. and all day Mon. 4339 Park (Dixon Gallery and Gardens). 761-5250. L, X, $ PATRICK’S—Serves barbecue nachos, burgers, and entrees such as fish and chips; also plate lunches and daily specials. 4972 Park. 682-2852. L, D, X, MRA, $

PETE & SAM’S—Serving Memphis for 60-plus years; offers steaks, seafood, and traditional Italian dishes, including homemade ravioli, lasagna, and chicken marsala. 3886 Park. 458-0694. D, X, $-$$$

PF CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO—Specialties are orange peel shrimp, Mongolian beef, and chicken in lettuce wraps; also vegetarian dishes, including spicy eggplant. 1181 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Centre. 818-3889. L, D, X, $-$$

PHO SAIGON—Vietnamese fare includes beef teriyaki, roasted quail, curry ginger chicken, vegetarian options, and a variety of soups. 2946 Poplar. 458-1644. L, D, $

PIMENTO’S KITCHEN + MARKET—Fresh sandwiches, soups, salads, and plenty of pimento cheese at this family-owned restaurant. 6540 Poplar Ave. 602-5488 (Collierville: 3751 S. Houston Levee. 453-6283). L, D, X, $

PYRO’S FIRE-FRESH PIZZA—Serving gourmet pizzas cooked in an open-fire oven, wide choice of toppings, and large local and craft beer selection. 1199 Ridgeway. 379-8294; 2035 Union Ave. 208-8857; 2286 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 207-1198; 3592 S. Houston Levee (Collierville). 221-8109. L, D, X, MRA, $

THE READY ROOM—Duck wontons, bananas “Oscar,” and plenty of other bar snacks and entrees at Hook Point Brewing Co.’s taproom. Closed Mon./Tues. 715 W. Brookhaven Cir. 487-6931. L, D, WB, X, $-$$

RED HOOK CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Cajun-style array of seafood including shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and oysters. 3295 Poplar. 207-1960. L, D, X, $-$$

RED KOI—Classic Japanese cuisine offered at this family-run restaurant; hibachi steaks, sushi, seafood, chicken, and vegetables. 5847 Poplar. 767-3456. L, D, X $-$$

NATIONALLY RANKED LOCALLY INVESTED

Rhodes College is consistently recognized as an exceptional place to learn, work, and live, making this year’s rankings no surprise.

U.S. News & World Report

2022-2023 Best Colleges

#23 Most Innovative among liberal arts colleges

#29 Best Undergraduate Teaching among liberal arts colleges

Forbes America’s Top Colleges for 2022

The Princeton Review

2023 Best Value College

#20 Most Beautiful Campus Green Colleges list for commitment to environment

Money’s Best Colleges in America 2022 Quality, affordability, and student outcomes

DegreeChoices

#13 among liberal arts colleges for economic return

Stacker Best Colleges in Big U.S. Cities

Architectural Digest Among the Prettiest College Campuses in America

Best Degree Programs

#10 nationally and #1 in Tennessee among Most Beautiful Best Small Colleges

Billboard Magazine

2022 Top Music Business School

rhodes.edu

RED PIER CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Owners of Red Hook bring more cajun-style seafood dishes. 5901 Poplar Ave. 512-5923. L, D, X, $-$$$

RESTAURANT IRIS—French Creole-inspired classics, such as Gulf shrimp and rice grits congee served with lap chong sausage and boiled peanuts, are served at this newly remodeled restaurant owned by Chef Kelly English, a Food and Wine “Top Ten.” 4550 Poplar. 590-2828. L, D, X, $$-$$$

RIVER OAKS—Chef Jose Gutierrez’s French-style bistro serves seafood and steaks, with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5871 Poplar Ave. 683-9305. L, D, X, $$$

RONNIE GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT— This Memphis institution serves some family classics such as Elfo’s Special and handmade ravioli, along with house-made pizza and fresh oysters. Closed Sun. 6150 Poplar, Suite 122. 850-0191. D, X, $-$$$

ROTOLO’S CRAFT & CRUST—Louisiana-based pizza company’s first Memphis location, whipping up pizza pies with homemade sauces and fresh ingredients, pasta, wings, and other shareables. 681 S. White Station. 454-3352. L, D, X, $-$$

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE—Offers prime steaks cut and aged in-house, as well as lamb, chicken, and fresh seafood, including lobster. 6120 Poplar. 761-0055. D, X, $$$-$$$$

SALSA—Mexican-Southern California specialties include carnitas, enchiladas verde, and fajitas; also Southwestern seafood dishes such as snapper verde. Closed Sun. Regalia Shopping Center, 6150 Poplar, Suite 129. 683-6325. L, D, X, $-$$

SAUCY CHICKEN—Specializes in antibiotic-free chicken dishes with locally sourced ingredients, with such items as hot wings and the Crosstown Chicken Sandwich, and a variety of house-made dipping sauces; also, seafood, salads, and daily specials. Closed Sun. 4715 Poplar. 907-0741. L, D, $

SEASONS 52—This elegant fresh grill and wine bar offers a seasonally changing menu using fresh ingredients, wood-fire grilling, and brick-oven cooking; also a large international wine list and nightly piano bar. Crescent Center, 6085 Poplar. 682-9952. L, D, X, $$-$$$

SOBEAST—Eastern branch of the popular South of Beale, featuring the restaurant’s traditional staples, as well as rotating special menu items. 5040 Sanderlin. 818-0821. L, D, SB, X, $-$$.

STAKS—Offering pancakes, including birthday cake and lemon ricotta. Menu includes other breakfast items such as beignets and French toast, as well as soups and sandwiches for lunch. 4615 Poplar. 509-2367; 3660

S. Houston Levee Road, Ste 104 (Collierville). 286-4335; 7704 Poplar (Germantown). 800-1951; 2902 May Blvd. (Southaven). B, L, WB, X, $

SWANKY’S TACO SHOP—Taco-centric eatery offers tortas, flatbreads, quesadillas, chimichangas, burgers, and more. 4770 Poplar. 730-0763; 6641 Poplar (Germantown). 737-2088; 272 S. Main. 779-3499. L, D, X, $

THREE LITTLE PIGS—Pork-shoulder-style barbecue with tangy mild or hot sauce, freshly made coleslaw, and baked beans. 5145 Quince Rd. 685-7094. B, L, D, X, $

TOPS BAR-B-Q—Specializes in pork barbecue sandwiches and sandwich plates with beans and slaw; also serves ribs, beef brisket, and burgers. 1286 Union. 725-7527; 4183 Summer. 324-4325; 5391 Winchester. 794-7936; 3970 Rhodes. 323-9865; 6130 Macon. 371-0580. For more locations, go online. L, D, X, $

TORCHY’S TACOS—Plenty of Tex-Mex variety, with creative monthly special tacos. 719 S. Mendenhall. 343-8880. B, L, D, X, $

VENICE KITCHEN—Specializes in “eclectic Italian” and Southern Creole, from pastas, including the “Godfather,” to hand-tossed pizzas, including the “John Wayne”; choose from 50 toppings. 368 Perkins Ext. 767-6872. L, D, SB, X, $-$$

WANG’S MANDARIN HOUSE—Offers Mandarin, Cantonese, Szechuan, and spicy Hunan entrees, including the golden-sesame chicken; next door is East Tapas, serving small plates with an Asian twist. 6065 Park Ave., Park Place Mall. 763-0676. L, D, X, $-$$

WASABI—Serving traditional Japanese offerings, hibachi, sashimi, and sushi. The Sweet Heart roll, wrapped — in the shape of a heart — with tuna and filled with spicy salmon, yellowtail, and avocado, is a specialty. 5101 Sanderlin Rd., Suite 105. 421-6399. L, D, X, $-$$

THE WING GURU—A staple of the Memphis wing scene, featuring everything from classic buffalo to exquisite lemon pepper. 5699 Mt. Moriah Rd. 509-2405; 875 W. Poplar Ave., Ste. 6 (Collierville). 221-7488; 8253 Highway 51, North Suite #103 (Millington). 872-0849; 4130 Elvis Presley Blvd (Whitehaven). 791-4726). L, D, X, $-$$

WOMAN’S EXCHANGE TEA ROOM—Chicken-salad plate, beef tenderloin, soups-and-sandwiches, vegetable plates, and homemade desserts are specialties. Closed Sat.-Sun. 88 Racine. 327-5681. L, X, $

CORDOVA

BOMBAY HOUSE—Indian fare includes lamb korma and chicken tikka; also, a daily luncheon buffet. 1727 N. Germantown Pkwy. 755-4114. L, D, X, $-$$

THE BUTCHER SHOP—Serves steaks ranging from 8-oz. filets to a 20-oz. porterhouse; also chicken, pork chops, fresh seafood. 107 S. Germantown Rd. 757-4244. L (Fri. and Sun.), D, X, $$-$$$

GREEN BAMBOO—Pineapple tilapia, pork vermicelli, and the soft egg noodle combo are Vietnamese specialties here. 990 N. Germantown Parkway, Suite 104. 753-5488. L, D, $-$$

JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q—Serves barbecued pork, ribs, chicken, brisket, and fish, along with other homemade Southern specialties. 2359 N. Germantown Pkwy. 388-0998. L, D, X, $-$$

EL MERO TACO—This food truck turned restaurant serves up Mexican and Southern-style fusion dishes, including fried chicken tacos, chorizo con papas tacos, and brisket quesadillas. 8100 Macon Station, Suite 102. 308-1661. Closed Sun.-Mon. L, D, WB, X, $

POKÉ WORLD—Serves up Hawaiian poké bowls filled with rice and diced, raw fish. Also offers Taiwanese bubble tea and rolled ice cream for dessert. 1605 N. Germantown Pkwy., Suite 111. 623-7986. East Memphis: 575 Erin Dr. 779-4971. L, D, $

SHOGUN JAPANESE RESTAURANT—Entrees include tempura, teriyaki, and sushi, as well as grilled fish and chicken entrees. 2324 N. Germantown Pkwy. 384-4122. L, D, X, $-$$

TANNOOR GRILL—Brazilian-style steakhouse with skewers served tableside, along with Middle Eastern specialties; vegetarian options also available. 830 N. Germantown Pkwy. 443-5222. L, D, X, $-$$$

GERMANTOWN

BLUE HONEY BISTRO—Entrees at this upscale eatery include brown butter scallops served with Mississippi blue rice and herbcrusted beef tenderloin with vegetables and truffle butter. Closed Sun. 9155 Poplar, Suite 17. 552-3041. D, X, $-$$$

THE CRAZY COOP—Plenty of hot wings and sauces, plus sandwiches and other dinner plates. 1315 Ridgeway Rd. 748-5325; 7199 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 433-9212. L, D, $-$$

GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches; Mon.-night all-you-can-eat ribs. 2290 S. Germantown Rd. S. 754-5540. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

LAS TORTUGAS DELI MEXICANA—Authentic Mexican food prepared from local food sources; specializes in tortugas — grilled bread scooped out to hold such powerfully popular fillings as brisket, pork, and shrimp; also tingas, tostados. Closed Sun. 1215 S. Germantown Rd. 751-1200; 6300 Poplar. 623-3882. L, D, X, $-$$

LIMELIGHT—Wolf River Hospitality Group brings Wagyu beef, duck gnocchi, and other fine dining dishes on a rotating seasonal menu. Closed Mon./Tue. 7724 Poplar Pike. 791-2328. D, X, $-$$$

MOONDANCE GRILL—From the owners of Itta Bena and Lafayette’s. Serves steak cooked sous vide and seafood dishes including Abita-barbecued shrimp and pan-seared sand dab, in addition to an extensive wine and cocktail list. 1730 S. Germantown Road, Suite 117. 755-1471. L, D, X, $$-$$$

NOODLES ASIAN BISTRO—Serves a variety of traditional Asian cuisine, with emphasis on noodle dishes, such as Singapore Street Noodles and Hong Kong Chow Fun. 7850 Poplar, Suite 12. 755-1117. L, D, X, $

PETRA CAFÉ—Serves Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern sandwiches, gyros, and entrees. Hours vary; call. 6641 Poplar. 754-4440; 547 S. Highland. 323-3050. L, D, X, $-$$

ROCK’N DOUGH PIZZA CO.—Specialty and custom pizzas made from fresh ingredients; wide variety of toppings. 7850 Poplar, Suite 6. 779-2008. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $$

ROYAL PANDA—Hunan fish, Peking duck, Royal Panda chicken and shrimp, and a seafood combo are among the specialties. 3120 Village Shops Dr. 756-9697. L, D, X, $-$$

SAKURA—Sushi, tempura, and teriyaki are Japanese specialties here. 2060 West St. 758-8181; 4840 Poplar. 572-1002; 255 New Byhalia Rd. 316-5638. L, D, X, $-$$

SOUTHERN SOCIAL—Shrimp and grits, stuffed quail, and Aunt Thelma’s Fried Chicken are among the dishes served at this upscale Southern establishment. 2285 S. Germantown Rd. 754-5555. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

STONEY RIVER STEAKHOUSE AND GRILL—Specializes in hand-cut steaks, a fresh seafood selection, and plenty of house specials. 7515 Poplar Ave., Suite 101. 207-1100. L, D, X, $$-$$$$

SUFI’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL & BAR—Offers authentic Mediterranean and Persian cuisine, from hummus shawarma to traditional moussaka. Closed Mon.. 7609 Poplar Pike. 779-2200. L, D, X, $-$$$

TAZIKI’S—Mediterranean-inspired dishes all made from scratch. 7850 Poplar Ave., Suite 26. 612-2713. East Memphis: 540 S. Mendenhall Rd. 290-1091. Bartlett: 7974 US-64. 203-0083. L, D, $

THE TOASTED YOLK CAFE—Churro donuts, signature Eggs Benedict, and plenty other boozy brunch options at this franchise’s first Tennessee location. 9087 Poplar Ave., Ste. 11. B, L, X, $-$$

UNCLE GOYO’S—More than 30 dishes with a focus on authentic Mexican cuisine, from the brains behind TacoNganas. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. L, D, X, $-$$

WEST STREET DINER—This home-style eatery offers breakfast, burgers, po’boys, and more. 2076 West St. 757-2191. B, L, D (Mon.-Fri.), X, $

ZEN JAPANESE FINE CUISINE—A full sushi bar and plenty of authentic Japanese dishes, like Hibachi or Wagyu beef. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. 7792796. L, D, X, X, $-$$$

COLLIERVILLE

CAFE EUROPE—From Italian chef Michele D’oto, the French, Spanish, and Italian fusion cuisine includes a variety of dishes like Rosette al Forno, fish ceviche, and sole meuniere. Closed Sun. 4610 Merchants Park Circle, Suite 571. 286-4199. L, D, X, $$-$$$$

CAFE PIAZZA BY PAT LUCCHESI—Specializes in gourmet pizzas (including create-your-own), panini sandwiches, and pasta. Closed Sun. 139 S. Rowlett St. 861-1999. L, D, X, $-$$

CIAO BABY—Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza made in a wood-fired oven. Also serves house-made mozzarella, pasta, appetizers, and salads. 890 W. Poplar, Suite 1. 457-7457. L, D, X, $

COLLIERVILLE COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches. 3573 S. Houston Levee Rd. 979-5540. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

COLLIERVILLE PIZZA COMPANY—Family-friendly and locally owned pizza company featuring live music and other events. 144 US 72. L, D, X, $-$$

DAVID GRISANTI’S—Serving Northern Italian cuisine and traditional family recipes, like the Elfo Special, shrimp sauteed in garlic and butter, tossed with white button mushrooms and white pepper, and served over vermicelli with Parmigiano-Reggiano. Closed Sun. 684 W. Poplar (Sheffield Antiques Mall). 861-1777. L, D (Thurs.-Sat.), X, $-$$$

DYER’S CAFE—Juicy hamburgers, split dogs, and milkshakes at the historic Collierville restaurant. 101 N. Center St. 850-7750. L, D, X, $-$$

EL MEZCAL—Serves burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, and other Mexican cuisine, as well as shrimp dinners and steak. 9947 Wolf River, 853-7922; 402 Perkins Extd. 761-7710; 694 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 755-1447; 1492 Union. 274-4264; 11615 Airline Rd. (Arlington). 867-1883; 9045 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 383-4219; 7164 Hacks Cross Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-3337; 8834 Hwy. 51 N. (Millington). 872-3220; 7424 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 4176026. L, D, X, $

EMERALD THAI RESTAURANT—Spicy shrimp, pad khing, lemongrass chicken, and several noodle, rice, and vegetarian dishes are offered at this family restaurant. Closed Sunday. 8950 Highway 64 (Lakeland, TN). 384-0540. L, D, X, $-$$

FIREBIRDS—Specialties are hand-cut steaks, slow-roasted prime rib, and wood-grilled salmon and other seafood, as well as seasonal entrees. 4600 Merchants Circle, Carriage Crossing. 850-1637; 8470 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 379-1300. L, D, X, $-$$$

JIM’S PLACE GRILLE—Features American, Greek, and Continental cuisine. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 3660 Houston Levee. 861-5000. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$

MULAN ASIAN BISTRO—Hunan Chicken, tofu dishes, and orange beef served here; sushi and Thai food, too. 2059 Houston Levee. 850-5288; 2149 Young. 347-3965; 4698 Spottswood. 609-8680. L, D, X, $-$$

OSAKA JAPANESE CUISINE—Featuring an extensive sushi menu as well as traditional Japanese and hibachi dining. Hours vary for lunch; call. 3670 Houston Levee. 861-4309; 3402 Poplar. 249-4690; 7164 Hacks Cross (Olive Branch). 662-890-9312; 2200 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 425-4901. L, D, X, $-$$$

RAVEN & LILY—Eatery offers innovative Southern-inspired cuisine with such dishes as crispy shrimp and cauliflower salad, spiced lamb sausage and parmesan risotto, and bananas foster pain perdu. Closed Mon. 120 E. Mulberry. 286-4575. L, D, SB, X, $-$$

STIX—Hibachi steakhouse with Asian cuisine features steak, chicken, and a fillet and lobster combination, also sushi. A specialty is Dynamite Chicken with fried rice. 4680 Merchants Park Circle, Avenue Carriage Crossing. 854-3399. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 115 (Downtown). 207-7638 L, D, X, $-$$

WOLF RIVER BRISKET CO.—From the owners of Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza, highlights include house-smoked meats: prime beef brisket, chicken, and salmon. Closed Sun. 9947 Wolf River Boulevard, Suite 101. 316-5590; 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 165. 791-4389 L, D, X, $-$$

ZOPITA’S ON THE SQUARE—Cafe offers sandwiches, including smoked salmon and pork tenderloin, as well as salads and desserts. Closed Sun. 114 N. Main. 457-7526. L, D, X, $

OUT-OF-TOWN

BOZO’S HOT PIT BAR-B-Q—Barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, and subs. 342 Highway 70 (Mason, TN). 901-294-3400. L, D, X, $-$$

CATFISH BLUES—Serving Delta-raised catfish and Cajun- and Southern-inspired dishes, including gumbo and fried green tomatoes. 210 E. Commerce (Hernando, MS). 662-298-3814. L, D, $

CITY GROCERY—Southern eclectic cuisine; shrimp and grits is a specialty. Closed for dinner Sun. 152 Courthouse Square (Oxford, MS). 662-232-8080. L, D, SB, X, $$-$$$

COMO STEAKHOUSE—Steaks cooked on a hickory charcoal grill are a specialty here. Upstairs is an oyster bar. Closed Sun. 203 Main St. (Como, MS). 662-526-9529. D, X, $-$$$

ELFO GRISANTI’S NORTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE—Grisanti family classics like lasagna, homemade ravioli, garlic bread, and Northern Italian pizza. Closed Sun. 5627 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-470-4497. L, D, X, $-$$

CASINO TABLES

CHICAGO STEAKHOUSE AT THE GOLDSTRIKE—1010 Casino Center Dr., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-24KSTAY /662-357-1225

FAIRBANKS AT THE HOLLYWOOD—1150 Casino Strip Blvd., Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-871-0711

IGNITE STEAKHOUSE AT SOUTHLAND CASINO RACING—1550 N. Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR, 1-800-467-6182

JACK BINION’S STEAK HOUSE AT HORSESHOE—1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-303-SHOE

LUCKY 8 ASIAN BISTRO AT HORSESHOE—1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-303-SHOE

SOUTHLAND CASINO HOTEL'S THE KITCHENS—1550 N. Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR, 1-800-467-6182

THE STEAKHOUSE AT THE FITZ—711 Lucky Ln., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-766-LUCK, ext 8213

TWAIN’S STEAKHOUSE AT SAM’S TOWN TUNICA—1477 Casino Strip Resorts Boulevard, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-456-0711

LONG ROAD CIDER CO.—Specializes in hard apple ciders made with traditional methods. Cafe-style entrees include black-eyed peas with cornbread and greens, chicken Gorgonzola pockets, cider-steamed sausage, and housemade ice creams. Closed Sun.-Wed. 9053 Barret Road. (Barretville, TN). 352-0962. D, X, $

MANILA FILIPINO RESTAURANT—Entrees include pork belly cutlet with lechon sauce, and shrimp and vegetables in tamarind broth; also daily combos, rice dishes, and chef specials. Closed Sun.-Mon. 7849 Rockford (Millington, TN). 209-8525. L, D, X, $

MARSHALL STEAKHOUSE—Rustic steakhouse serves premium Angus beef steaks, seafood dishes, rack of lamb, and more. 2379 Highway 178 (Holly Springs, MS). 628-3556. B, L, D, X, $-$$$

MEMPHIS BARBECUE COMPANY—Offers spare ribs, baby backs, and pulled pork and brisket. 709 Desoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662-5363762. L, D, X, $-$$

NAGOYA—Offers traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi bar; specialties are teriyaki and tempura dishes. 7075 Malco Blvd., Suite 101 (Southaven, MS). 662-349-8788. L, D, X, $-$$$

PIG-N-WHISTLE—Offers pork shoulder sandwiches, wet and dry ribs, catfish, nachos, and stuffed barbecue potatoes. 6084 Kerr-Rosemark Rd. (Millington, TN). 872-2455. L, D, X, $

RAVINE—Serves contemporary Southern cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, locally grown foods and a menu that changes weekly. Closed Mon.-Tues. 53 Pea Ridge/County Rd. 321 (Oxford, MS). 662-234-4555. D, SB, X, $$-$$$

SAINT LEO’S—Offering sophisticated pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and salads. A James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant in 2017. 1101 Jackson (Oxford, MS). 662-234-4555. D, L, WB, X, $-$$

SNACKBAR—An intriguing mix of “French Bistro with North Mississippi Cafe.” Serving a confit duck Croque Monsieur, watermelon-cucumber chaat, pan-fried quail, plus a daily plate special and a raw bar. 721 N. Lamar (Oxford, MS). 662-236-6363. D, X, $-$$$

TEKILA MODERN MEXICAN—Modern interpretations of classic dishes from all over Mexico. 6343 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-510-5734. B, L, D, X, $-$$

WILSON CAFE— An impressive culinary destination in the heart of the Arkansas Delta. Serving jambalaya, Waygu flatiron, butternut ravioli, swordfish & shrimp kabobs, burgers. 2 N. Jefferson (Wilson, AR). 870655-0222. L, D, WB, $-$$$

Riverside Drive and Tom Lee Park

BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

In the early 1900s, riverboat passengers on the Mississippi knew they were drawing near Memphis by the smell. Although the city’s founders had laid out a well-organized community, with parks and a public promenade, they made little provision for the bluffs themselves. Over the years, as late as the 1920s, businesses and houses along the riverfront were perched atop a huge landfill, a mountain of garbage constantly dumped into the water below.

It wasn’t just unsightly, but unsafe. In 1922, the earth dropped out from under a Frisco Railroad train. e locomotive tumbled into the river, carrying the track and freight cars with it, with the crew leaping out just in time. Four years later, it happened again. In 1926, workers at the Tennessee Brewery discovered deep fissures in the bluffs behind their building and heard ominous rumbling noises from deep underground. Everyone in the area rushed to evacuate, when suddenly, a chunk of the bluffs almost three blocks long plunged 50 feet into the river, taking with it houses and the entire West Kentucky Coal Company. Clearly something had to be done to solve two problems: How to reinforce the bluffs at

Memphis, and how to introduce a major new north-south traffic artery into Downtown. e solution was a complicated project that linked private land owners, the city and federal governments, several railroads, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was in charge of maintaining the river channel. Construction finally began in 1930 on what became known as “the world’s most expensive highway.”

While workers stabilized and graded the bluffs to form a gentle slope to prevent more landslides, others created a berm for the new roadway, using dirt from the excavation from the foundation of the 29-story Sterick Building (see our July issue for a complete story of “ e Queen of Memphis”).

e plan, officials explained, was

like reinforcing a shelf in a china cabinet, so the plate — in this case, the bluff itself — wouldn’t slide down. e result was the new Riverside Drive, and two new riverfront parks: Astor Park and, farther north, Jefferson Davis Park.

In 1925, river worker Tom Lee had become a national hero when he rescued 30 passengers after the steamboat M.E. Norman sank near Memphis. In gratitude, the city of Memphis purchased Lee and his wife a house (still standing) on North Mansfield. Two years after Lee’s death in 1952, they renamed Astor Park in his honor.

e 30 acres of Tom Lee Park became a new “front door” for the city.

that caused an alarming number of accidents over the years. Various “Band-Aid” solutions were applied, but it wasn’t until 1990 when the city decided to invest $2 million to rebuild and realign the entire roadway.

is comprehensive plan included filling in the low-lying John B. Edgar Point, an often-flooded area south of Tom Lee Park, which would add 20 acres to the riverfront. City Engineer James Collins announced other improvements to Tom Lee Park: “We’ll add 20 feet of topsoil, dress it up, and turn it into a park area, with walkways.” Plans also included public parking, “but we don’t want a sea of asphalt.”

But that was the extent of it — Tom Lee Park was now higher (making it less prone to flooding) and larger, with walkways and benches, but it basically remained an open field. It had become home to Memphis in May’s most popular events — the barbecue contest, the music festival, and until recent years the Sunset Symphony.

In 2014, Beale Street Landing opened, a hard-to-miss sloping building roofed with grass, designed by the RTN firm of Buenos Aires, Argentina. e new facility including docking for American Queen Line riverboats and other passenger vessels, a restaurant, and gift shop. In 2006, a life-sized bronze memorial crafted by Colorado sculptor David Clark, depicting an accurate portrayal of Tom Lee pulled a drowning victim into his boat, replaced an outdated stone monument.

Construction finally began in 1930 on what became known as “the world’s most expensive highway.”

Unfortunately, a distinctive feature of Riverside Drive made its appearance about this time — its undulating “roller coaster” ride. e section south of Beale had been laid on a landfill, prone to shifting and sinking. Other problems with the road included a dangerous curve

It wasn’t until 2019, however, that a full reconstruction of the entire riverfront, under the direction of the newly formed Memphis River Parks Partnership, began. e group’s stated goal was to “create a connected, catalytic, and fun riverfront for all.” e sweeping redesign of Tom Lee Park pitted the needs of Memphis in May with other uses for the park, and every phase of the project was discussed, debated, and even temporarily derailed by the Covid pandemic.

is September, the new park was officially unveiled, and on pages TK-TK, Jon W. Sparks tells the latest chapters of the story.

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