Memphis - September 2022 by Contemporary Media

KEDARIUS ”KD“ DAVIS of CXFFEEBLACK BURKSFOXJUSTINBYPHOTOGRAPH VOL XLVII NO 6 | SEPTEMBER 2022MAGAZINE USA $5.99 DISPLAY UNTIL OCTOBER 10, 2022 Three coffee shops are brewing up community in their neighborhoods. BIGFOOT FESTIVAL | HABITATS | EXCHANGE BUILDING | REMODEL MEMPHIS | 901 HEALTH

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LAWHEADJAKE NICHOLSJORDAN 5860 Ridgeway Center Parkway, Suite 100 Memphis, TN 38120 ♦ 901-682-1868 LUCIUSJERRY DIANEMALKINBENSON MURPHREETHOMAS MALLORYHUGH ♦ Agents of Exceptional Character ♦ Distinctly Professional ♦ Local Company. Global Connections. ♦ Steady in Unsteady Times ♦ You’ll Profit from Our Experience Find YOUR NEW HOME at www.Marx-Bensdorf.com PERLBERGBARBY ROSENGARTENSHELDON MATHISMARCYSEIDEL JIMMYOWNERREED DAVIDOWNERTESTERWAGERMANOKEONMINDY WESTJOHNWALTHALWARDVERGOSJENNYSTREETANGIESAINMELONIESIMPSON SIMPSONJIMSIMPSONALTASHEDDANMYRA ELIZABETHKUHLOKELLYERBANDERSONCARRIE CATHLEENBLACK ASHLEYBONDS BOURELLMELODYBLAKENEYMELANIE NICHOLSKATIECOOKBLAKENEYJEFF FAUSERROBIN LAURENCE KENNER GLOBAL RELOCATION DIRECTORHURSTON-REEDLITA HANEYRIPFRANKLANDGOLDAHOLLYJAMES ANDREAHAYESLOPEZ

Originally Memphis Agency, Union Central Life 2 National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA)

The UCL Financial Group is proud of its 100-year history in Memphis and the Mid-South. Throughout our history1 we have demonstrated our competency in Insurance, Investments*, and Employee Benefits.

Now, in our second century, we are expanding our focus into comprehensive Financial Planning and Wealth Management. We will offer these services to the many clients we have served in Life Insurance Plans and Employee Benefits. The philosophy and best practices for client focused outcomes we have employed throughout our history will be brought to bear in this new focus.

“Reliable for Generations”

Heading up the Wealth Management & Financial Planning Division will be Partner & Financial Planner, Rebecca Brown Schulter. Rebecca has packed many achievements & accomplishments into her 9-year career including being selected one of NAIFA’S2 4 under 40 recipient-honorees for 2021. She is the current President of the NAIFA Memphis chapter and was elected NAIFA Tennessee secretary and will succeed to the Presidency in 2023. She also serves her community on the Finance Committee of Lausanne Collegiate School Board of Trustees and is a member of the Le Bonheur Club (conditional class). She is a native Memphian and graduate of NYU.

Please feel welcome to reach out to Rebecca or any of our Advisors at UCL Financial Group, LLC., Tim Moran, C. Robert Brown, Mark Miller, Sheryl Klehr-Ottinger

When was the last time your personal financial or business succession plans were reviewed? A structural flaw undetected could cause a calamity for your family or business.

Remember when the I-40 Bridge in Memphis closed May 2021 due to structural deficiency? Had it remained undetected, the bridge would have failed. Thank goodness a second inspector found the flaw. Immediate measures were taken to close and repair the bridge, avoiding what surely could have been a calamity.

UCL Financial Group, LLC 1755 N. Kirby Parkway Suite 300, Memphis, Tennessee 38120 • (901) 758-1500 • www.uclfinancial.com Wealth Management / Financial Planning *Representatives offer products and services using the following business names: UCL Financial Group, LLC – insurance and financial services | Ameritas Investment Company, LLC (AIC), Member FINRA/SIPC – securities and investments | Ameritas Advisory Services (AAS) – investment advisory services. AIC and AAS are not affiliated with UCL Financial Group, LLC.

If you believe a fresh look and a new perspective could benefit your existing plans, contact any of our Advisors.

Rebecca Brown Schulter Tim Moran C. Robert Brown, Sr. Mark Miller Sheryl Klehr-Ottinger

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at methodisthealth.org/thankyou . MAGGIE

When you’re a mother in crisis, you don’t think about the state-of-the-art technology or the decades of training that will save you. You think about your children. When Maggie began hemorrhaging at home, she thought she may never see them again. But her outlook changed as soon as she arrived at Methodist. From the front desk receptionist to the operating room staff, each Associate eased her fears with their quick responses, skilled treatment and individually focused care. At Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, we don’t just provide exceptional healthcare, we give every patient the comfort, support and care they deserve. thanks LEWIS put my mind at ease.

Thank you .”

Read Maggie’s story of

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UP FRONT 10 IN THE BEGINNING ~ by anna traverse fogle 12 CLASSIC DINING ~ by michael donahue 14 SIPS ~ by bruce vanwyngarden FEATURES 16 Weaving New Life into a Landmark The dramatic story of two survivors — the Umarov Family and the Exchange Building. ~ by stephanie painter and susan madonia klein 24 Coﬀee Grind City Three local coffee purveyors are brewing up fresh cups and fresh ideas. ~ by samuel x. cicci 28 HABITATS A Room with a View A 40-year garden project offers beauty, comfort, and life. ~ by jane schneider 32 Stomping in Memphis Let me introduce you to my buddy, Bigfoot. ~ by toby sells 37 901 HEALTH Growing Pains A decade-by-decade approach to a long and limber life. ~ by allison binning 41 Remodel Memphis Your 2022 guide to renovation and modernization. ~ by samuel x. cicci 70 ASK VANCE The Civic Center Fountain Our history expert solves local mysteries of who, what, when, where, why, and why not. ~ by vance lauderdale 72 CITY DINING The City’s Most Extensive Dining Listings 80 FLASHBACK J.C. Levy This entrepreneur made Memphians “Dial ’n’ Smile.” ~ by vance lauderdale SPECIAL SECTIONS 49 2022 MAIS GUIDE 68 GO RED FOR WOMEN Memphis (ISSN 1622-820x) is published monthly for $18 per year by Contemporary Media, Inc., 65 Union Avenue, 2nd Floor, Memphis, TN 38103 © 2022. Telephone: 901-521-9000. For subscription info, please call 901-521-9000. Subscription customer service mailing address is Memphis magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. All rights reserved. • Periodicals Postage Paid at Memphis, TN. Postmasters: send address changes to Memphis, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. 3216 28 on the cover: KeDarius “KD” Davis of Cxffeeblack PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTIN FOX BURKS VOL XLVII NO 6 | SEPTEMBER 2022 49 24 SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 7

THE POWELL FAMILY FRIENDS OF THE PINK PALACE PRESENTED BYDEMONSTRATIONSACTIVITIESKIDSMUSICFOODPOTTERYCRAFTSARTS AUDUBON PARK•SEPT 23-25 DEMONSTRATIONSACTIVITIESKIDSMUSICFOODPOTTERYCRAFTSARTSCRAFTS FAIR PPCF.50TH.Mem.Mag.AD.2022.indd 2 8/9/22 10:27 AM STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1950 repairs reweaving handwash/cleaning appraisals sales color run restoration pet and other stain removals disinfecting padding moth damage odor removal storage and much more 3554 Park Ave., Memphis, TN • 901.327.5033 • taghavirugs.com • Like us on Facebook Spread love, not germs by having your rugs disinfected. Call us for disinfecting and cleaning of your rugs. Memphis Magazine's THE FACE2022OFORIENTALRUGS 8 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 CEO AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF anna traverse fogle EXECUTIVE EDITOR michael finger MANAGING EDITOR frank murtaugh SENIOR EDITORS samuel x. cicci, shara clark, jon w. sparks ASSOCIATE EDITOR abigail morici EDITORIAL INTERN allison binning CONTRIBUTORS michael donahue, alex greene, vance lauderdale, chris mccoy, stephanie painter, jane schneider, toby sells, bruce vanwyngarden 4 EDITOR samuel x. cicci SENIOR EDITOR jon w. sparks 4 CREATIVE DIRECTOR brian groppe ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR christopher myers GRAPHIC DESIGNER neil williams PHOTOGRAPHERS justin fox burks, michael donahue, hannah joyce, susan madonia klein, clair pennell, wes pennell, john pickle, jane schneider, walker taylor, sardor umarov, bruce vanwyngarden 4 SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE sloane patteson taylor ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES kelli dewitt, chip googe, michelle musolf, hailey thomas 4 published by contemporary media, inc. memphis, tennessee 901-521-9000 p • 901-521-0129 f subscriptions: 901-521-9000 4 CONTROLLER lynn sparagowski CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER jeffrey a. goldberg CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER margie neal DIGITAL SERVICES DIRECTOR kristin pawlowski MARKETING COORDINATOR kalena mckinney ACCOUNTING AND CIRCULATION COORDINATOR mariah mccabe NEWSSTAND CONSULTANT joe luca SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR molly willmott 4 PUBLISHER EMERITUS kenneth neill september 2022 member: City and Regional Magazine Association member: Circulation Veriﬁcation Council

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One does not always wish to conduct spontaneous business meetings and grade-school reunions at the grocery store.)

I love our florid sunsets, even though I sometimes wonder, in the golden light, how many of those dazzling hues were painted by air pollution. I believe that Memphis and the surrounding South can be, and sometimes are, models for what’s possible when people work together toward progress, and that this is true in large part because of our troubled history and (let’s be honest) troubled present.

Memphis, I Love You, But … | BY ANNA TRAVERSE

Last year in Memphis, 346 people — a record number that broke the previous year’s record number — died by homicide. So far, this year appears to be tracking marginally lower, but only marginally. Rev. Eason-Willis and Dr. Nelson were but two of the several hundred people who will die by homicide in Memphis in 2022. Very likely, by December 31st, the number of homicides in our city will nearly match the number of days in the year.

IN THE BEGINNING

FOGLE

(The former, admittedly, can be delightful and harrowing in equal measure.

Where do we go from here? Well, what do you do when you love someone, but they also break your heart? Maybe you leave. Plenty of people choose to leave Memphis. Or maybe you decide to stay and help the person — or city — you love to heal. I don’t have the answers for you, but I be lieve (most of the time) that we can work towards them together.

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I love Memphis. I do. I love this city for her soul, her audacity, and yes, her grit and grind. I love that in Memphis, everybody seems to know everybody else, and no one’s ever very difficult to reach.

Several weeks later, another community leader, another mother, another teacher, Dr. Yvonne Nelson, 60, was shot and killed in Whitehaven. The circumstances surrounding her death are not entirely clear — originally reported as a carjacking, the latest updates indicate perhaps an argument about money precipitated the shooting, this time committed by another woman.

A good first step would be acknowledging what troubles us about our community and what we love. Too often here, we limit ourselves either to blinkered boosterism or unmitigated trash-talk. Neither is very productive. If we’re choosing to live here, we would do well to follow the examples set by the lives and works of Dr. Nelson and Rev. Eason-Williams, and pour as much of our talent, faith, fight, and love into this community as our days allow.

If I were explaining to Facebook (c. 2007) the status of my enduring love for Memphis, I would say that the two of us are in a relationship — and it’s complicated. I don’t choose to believe that every terrible thing that happens in Memphis is the fault of “Memphis” writ large. Terrible things happen everywhere, right? That’s what we tell ourselves, and it’s true — to a degree. But I confess that when I returned home at the end of July after nearly two weeks on the road, I found myself grimacing. A heat wave roared on and on, like someone had left the oven door open, then cranked up the dial. Even at night, the air hung thick and gummy. It seemed to me that there was more garbage festering on the sidewalks than I remembered. Folks were driving in a particularly Memphis way — when did we decide it was okay to turn right from the left turn lane ? A whiff of the renegade spirit can be charming — but not when your renegade spirit collides head-on with another motorist. Recklessness is one thing. Active disregard for human life is quite another, and we have our share of that, too. In a horrific and heartbreakingly unnecessary act, the Reverend Autura Eason-Williams, 52, a pastor and United Methodist Church leader, was killed in a carjacking on July 18th. She had just pulled into her own driveway in Whitehaven, and several teenagers — teenagers! — rushed in, shot Eason-Williams dead, and stole her vehicle. Doubtless she would have handed over the keys had she been given the chance. Instead, a 15-year-old boy is charged with first-degree murder. Too young to obtain a driver’s license, but old enough to carjack and murder a community leader. His older associate, the other individual who’s been charged in the case — with theft of property — is all of 16. My stepson will be 15 in a few weeks. He’s a sophisticated kid, possessed of all manner of arcane knowledge, but he is a kid, as he ought to be. I mostly cannot stop thinking about how devastating it is that a leader, mother, wife, friend, pastor, and teacher was taken, But also, I cannot stop thinking about how very, very young these boys are, how very young they always are.

CAVIAR COLLECTIONS MY LAGOS MY WAY

Taylor learned to barbecue by watching their old pit master, T. Allen, who cooked the meat in barrels before the pit was built. “ ey’d sit back there and babysit those shoulders, putting some vinegar water with some peppers and garlic on it.” After he graduated from then-Memphis State University, Taylor moved to Atlanta and worked for Union Carbide for two years. But, he says, “I wasn’t cut out to be a corporate Constructionguy.”work moved toward Forest Hill Irene Road. Other stores similar to Germantown Commissary opened up and took their business. “My dad was kind of taking his eye oﬀ the ball and tired of messing with it.” Taylor bought out his father in 1981. He decided to open Germantown Commissary as a restaurant instead of a grocery store, but still keep a meat counter, where, like today, they cut meat.

CLASSIC DINING

“Lunch meat, souse, hoop cheese, liver cheese, sardines, cans of beanie weenies,” says owner Walker Taylor. It had been a country store under various owners when his dad bought it in 1973 as “something to do. He just thought it would be Taylor’sfun.”father kept it strictly as a country store at first. “About that time, the construction boom took off out here,” he says. “ ey built houses in Farmington and Germantown Park, DogwoodWorkersCreek.”bought lunch at the store, he remembers. “They’d come in and get a Nehi peach or strawberry drink and get 50 cents’ worth of rag bologna and crackers and a Hostess cupcake and spend about $1.25.” Taylor came up with the name “Germantown Commissary” at 15 while at a family reunion at Centennial Island. “ ere was this old store sitting out in the middle of a bean field. It was called ‘ e Commissary.’ And I said, ‘Dad, that’s what you need to name theAtstore.’’’first,they carried the typical general store items. “We sold snuff, of course,” Taylor says. “Rope chewing tobacco, fl ints for lighters, gloves. It was just a little sundry store.” Barbecue was an accident. “My parents were supposed to go to someone’s house to have dinner and my dad was going to cook a Boston butt in his backyard.” But his dad ended up working at the store because another employee didn’t show up. So, his father cooked that meal at the store. A customer saw what he was doing and asked him if they sold barbecue, and he said it was for somebody else. She wanted to buy it, but he told her he couldn’t cook any until the next weekend.” at next weekend, his dad cooked six Boston butts. “And sold them all. We added that G ermantown Commissary went by several names before it became an iconic barbecue restaurant. e cuisine was different, too.

Germantown Commissary

12 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

“It was pretty simple then,” he says. “Just shoulders, ribs, beans, and slaw.” Taylor added Brunswick stew, a “tomato-based barbecue stew” that he liked to eat when he lived in Atlanta. He also decided to renovate the store, “do some major renovations because the old building was 100 years old.” But the structure was basically destroyed after a pit ﬁre in 1984. Taylor then had an exact replica of the building constructed. The menu “progressed over the years.” He added barbecue nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, pies, and other items. On Valentine’s Day 2019, he opened a second YouFrenchservingslicingsays.typesFrenchcessingisthingapartonethebarbecueColliervilelocation;Com-missaryoﬀersthesamemenu.“There’sgreatallovercity,butIthinkthingthatsetsusisthatalmostevery-wehaveintherestauranthomemade.Theonlypro-thingweusearethefries.”Customerswantthecrunchyoffast-foodfries,Taylor“Ifitwasuptome,I’dbemyownpotatoesandhearty,limp,greasyfries.Ilovethosekind.knowthekind.”

left: Commissary owner Walker Taylor with a hefty barbecue sandwich platter, which always includes beans, slaw, and deviled eggs.

Germantown Commissary is located at 2290 South Germantown Road. Collierville Commissary is located at 3573 South Houston Levee Road.

MAIN BY MICHAEL DONAHUE; AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPH BY WALKER TAYLOR

It used to be a general store, but it evolved into a restaurant that serves mouth-watering barbecue, among other items.

PHOTOGRAPH

BY MICHAEL DONAHUE to the lunch menu — a barbecue sandwich. He started running two or three butts during theHisweek.”dad soon began cooking shoulders instead of butts. “He had a big pit built and everything got cooked in the pit — beans, shoulders, ribs.” He also added four outside picnic tables for his customers, which still included the construction workers.

e original barbecue recipe, which was a family recipe, had “more of a vinegar base.” e recipe changed after they hired a commercial food processor to make their sauce. “We had to change some things,” says Taylor. “We put preservatives in it and stuﬀ like that. Cut down the vinegar. Upped the sugar.”

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Dipping into Inkwell

14 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

BY BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

I stroll into Inkwell at five o’clock sharp on a recent Friday. e place is just opening and I’m hoping to get a few minutes with some of the staﬀ before the crowd arrives. I want to learn more about the Black-owned bar in the Edge District that’s getting so much buzz. VANWYNGARDEN from across the room. Mission accomplished.Iturnback to Sam and she asks me what I’ll have. I scan the menu on my phone and decide to try “Danielle’s Ballad,” a concoction of sloe gin, St. Germain liqueur, soda, and lemon simple syrup. “It’s very light,” says Sam. And it’s very good, says I, as she watches me take a sip. “Refreshing” is the word that comes to mind. I ask about the tile ﬂoor and learn that this building was formerly a custom tile shop, with detailed tile work in several spots in the building. “ at’s another reason I like this place,” Sam says. “It has so much character. I’m a visual artist and this place has such an interesting atmosphere. When I came here for a drink with a friend in May, I looked around and immediately wondered if they were hiring. And they were!”

The Edge District bar may be new, but it’s wonderfully old-school.

I’m down, I say, or all in, so to I’mspeak.soon looking at a cocktail glass filled with three layers of liqueur (and liquor) nestled around a large square cube of ice. This drink looks like it

Sam Reeves Hill and “Danielle’s Ballad.” Inkwell manager Joe Beasley. The elaborate tile ﬂoor adds to the bar’s classic ambiance. The “All in All” is a cocktail with an aperitif called Bonal. “The Bonal is floated with mezcal and limoncello. It’s a little complex but good.”

— Sam Reeves Hill e fi rst thing I notice is the interior light, a diff use illumination that enters from the storefront windows along Madison Avenue. e next thing I notice is the floor of the bar area, which is inset with a charming and apparently ancient tile pattern. Behind the bar is Sam Reeves Hill, who’s been making drinks at Inkwell since June, a month after entrepreneur and ad agency owner Ben Colar opened it. Sam’s a big fan of her workplace. “I worked at Paramount, and at Alchemy — where I learned a lot about making specialty cocktails,” she says, “but this place is special. e atmosphere, the customers, the vibe — it’s all good. And everyone who works here likes being here, which is rare in thisAsbusiness.”ifoncue, co-worker Khi Eckles appears. He’s about to craft a “New York Sour” for a customer at a nearby table. “What’s the difference between a regular sour and a ‘New York Sour,’” I ask. “It has a red-wine float on top,” he says, smiling. “I like the oohs and ahhs I get when I bring it to theOfftable.”hegoes, and within a couple seconds, I hear a couple oohs

A few minutes later, Inkwell general manager Joe Beasley enters the scene behind the bar, carrying fruit, lots of it, ready to be sliced and prepped for a busy weekend ahead. After introductions, I mention that I might stay and try another drink and have a bite to eat. He suggests the grilled cheese, which I’d spotted earlier, and I take him up on it. Now for that second drink. After perusing the menu again, I ask Sam about the “All in All,” a cocktail with an aperitif called Bonal that I’m unfamiliar with. “ e Bonal is ﬂoated with mezcal and limoncello,” she says. “It’s a little complex but good.”

SIPS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 15 means business. And it does. There’s an initial smoky mezcal taste, followed by a lemon tang, and then a slight, pleasant bitterness on the back of the tongue. I’ll need to savor this one for a while.

“This feels kind of old-school,” I say to Sam. “Yeah,” she says, “we have some classic recipes we can do — unusual drinks or variations that you don’t see as much anymore.”

Joe arrives with my grilled cheese, just in time. It’s a simple plate — a sandwich sliced into four squares, with hues of yellow and orange melty goodness oozing out. Lawd. I comment about the flavors of the “All in All” and he says the Bonal is a wine-based aperitif, which is probably the flavor that’s lingering. I take him at his word and have another sip as he hustles off. It’s a stellar drink.

As I eat and sip and enjoy the conversations around me, I savor again the light and feel and ambiance of this place. And it’s all good. Really good. I’ll be back. Inkwell is located at 631 Madison Avenue. Khi Eckles making a “New York Sour.”

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THE DRAMATIC STORY OF TWO SURVIVORS — THE UMAROV FAMILY AND THE EXCHANGE BUILDING.

riving downtown one afternoon 12 years ago, Sardor Umarov took a second look at a 19-story historic Beaux-Arts skyscraper and noticed an “Under New Management” sign in the window. “At the time, I dreamed of owning something of that grandeur within a decade,” says the 36-year-old. Intuition told him that his family’s ﬁnancial future would involve the stoic, copper-roofed grande dame that still stood on North Second Street.

WeavingLIFE into a LANDMARK

Not long after, his older brother, Gulam, learned of an opportunity to purchase the Exchange Building, a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. ey consulted with their parents, Drs. Sanjar and Indira Umarov, who soon bought the building and started restorations. For this close-knit family, the joint project oﬀered a way to rebuild personally and professionally after a tumultuous period in their lives. e new mural painted by Michael “Birdcap” Roy on the building’s west side, titled Grow N Grind, gives a fresh spin to the Memphis Grizzlies’ beloved mantra, and the Umarovs live out its message of persevering through obstacles. Street art may not seem a natural match for a historic building, but its inclusive accessibility and power to stir dialogue about social and political issues calls to the family members, who have some experience speaking out.

16 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 PHOTOGRAPHS BY SARDOR UMAROV AND SUSAN M. KLEIN

BY STEPHANIE PAINTER AND SUSAN MADONIA KLEIN above: The Exchange Building has been a Downtown landmark since 1910. Historic items from its past include a 1947 postcard, a brass lion from the Grand Stair Rail, and an old utility bill for $15.12 — the monthly utility cost for the entire building in 1928.

NEW

S E PTEMB E R 20 22 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 17

HOW “THE WORLD’S LARGEST NFTFORGENERATESMURAL”FUNDSST.JUDE

Painted in the Mississippi native’s signature cartoon mosaic style, Grow N Grind shares an encouraging message with the city, while providing funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Sardor nested the mural with $100,000 in cryptocurrency, and the interest generated is channeled to St. Jude through the website giving block. The average cryptocurrency contribution is 82 percent higher than the average cash donation, according to Evan Mann, a local NFT educator. Mann hosts the social platform Conversations with Evan and radio show Crypto Radio Network

Sardor organized Blockchain901 in Memphis, a group that encourages dialogue about distributed ledger technologies within the business and legal communities. “What I hope,” he says, “is for people to learn more about the technology that can have a tremendous impact on their lives.” With a Rainbow wallet app, visitors to the mural can scan an RFID sticker on the building’s south side to receive a Proof of Attendance Protocol token, a digital “I was there!” souvenir.

While Indira, with a doctoral degree in art history, focuses on restoring features such as the mosaic tile, her youngest son, Sardor, explores technology applications. An NFT (non-fungible token) art collector, the Exchange’s owner-operator acquired an illustration by Michael “Birdcap” Roy called Grow N Grind and asked him to enlarge it as a mural for the building’s exterior. Sardor describes the 66-by-50-foot mural as “the world’s largest NFT mural.” Digital tokens can be attached to art, music, and other digital formats, designating work as provably unique and exchangeable. For creators, NFTs provide a blockchain record of provenance and allow engagement with a broad online audience. While murals can be painted over, NFT art has a permanent place in the blockchain. Birdcap’s provocative work transformed a discolored brick wall, exposed when an adjacent building was demolished, into a work of art and conversation piece. “This area of Downtown needed brightening up by an artist who really cared about Memphis,” says Sardor. Brenda Barnes, who has lived and worked in the Exchange for 22 years, notes that the mural fosters community spirit. “People have different opinions about what it means and talk to one another about it,” she says.

I n 2005, Sanjar paid a price for challenging the oppressive government in his homeland of Uzbekistan and was arrested by the Uzbek secret police. U.S. Congressional legislators declared him a Prisoner of Conscience and coordinated his release and return to Memphis four years later. Sanjar was tortured in prison and his case was reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which found numerous human and civil rights violations against the Nation of Uzbekistan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY

a base for overseas tourists, aﬀordable residences for hourly-wage workers, and luxury apartments for doctors in the medical district and investors who support burgeoning new businesses in the Bluﬀ City.

KLEIN

A central character in the G ROW N Grind mural rises over figures lost in twenty-first-century distractions, and a Spider Man character is poised to fly away from problems. Birdcap portrays Memphis’ soul as more powerful than its problems, and the art reflects personal grief and challenges.

Sanjar continues to testify in Congress as an expert on international aﬀairs. Meanwhile, family members concentrate on running the Exchange Building. e property provides Artist Michael “Birdcap” Roy and Sardor Umarov credit each other for the unique canvas and creativity that marry the old with the new while generating funds for St. Jude. SUSAN M.

“I’m impressed by the way they came to America and took on a diﬃcult task in a different culture,” says longtime Downtown developer Henry Turley, founder of the Henry Turley Company. “I admire the family for taking on such a big complex for their ﬁrst apartment endeavor.”

“My mother had died, and someone said, ‘You don’t get rid of grief, you grow to hold it,’” says the artist. “But the mural is about more than grief. ere are lots of things we wish we could be better about, whether it’s having a hot temper, codependency, smartphone addiction, or being on social media too much. It’s not necessarily something that you stop overnight but something that you grow around.” His mother is memorialized, and the mural is the last work he had an opportunity to share with his father before his death. e names of slain rapper Young Dolph and deceased bandleader Omar Higgins form parts of the Birdcap’smosaic.message resonates with the Umarovs. After moving his family to America in 1995, Sanjar focused on strengthening U.S.-Uzbek business relations in the agricultural, petrol, and natural gas sectors, forming businesses with American partners and supporting Central Asian Seed Company, an Alabama-Uzbekistan cotton seed company. en he returned home to found the pro-Western democracy party, Sunshine Coalition, with goals of normalizing free trade relations, ending child labor in the cotton industry, and advocating for free speech and a free press. In 2005, he decided to challenge President Islam Karimov in an election. at endeavor led to his politically motivated arrest by Uzbek secret police.

18 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

“While my dad was taking a walk, plain-clothed men whisked him away in an unmarked car, injected him with a psychotropic drug, and basically tried to make him disappear. Only after several days of international uproar, through the European Parliament and U.S. Congress, the Uzbek government revealed they had him in custody and presented fabricated charges,” says Sardor. Led by their petite but indomitable

“Because cryptocurrency is a global payment network, it allows us to expand our community of supporters and accept donations from anywhere in the world,” says Julia DiGeronimo, a St. Jude public relations specialist. Supporters donate at stjude.org/crypto where funds are converted through a leading cryptocurrency exchange into U.S. dollars. St. Jude’s cryptocurrency donations are increasing, though these donations still account for a small percentage of total donations.

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20 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

PHOTOGRAPHS BY

S oon after it opened in 1910, the Cotton and Merchants Exchange Building buzzed with commerce. Visiting the second floor, Sanjar pictures a scene with men on ladders recording market changes on blackboards four times daily as traders shout price calls. The state of commerce was vastly different at the time in Uzbekistan. Most cotton was exTHE

The Umarov family (standing L to R): Gulam, Naira, Zarina, Sardor, Alida, Emina, Diora, and Arslan. Sitting are Adham, Kamilla, Sanjar, Indira, Leyla, and Aysel.

mother, he and his brothers, Gulam and Arslan, worked full-time for four years to gain their father’s freedom. Sanjar was granted unconditional amnesty, and Indira hosted a homecoming party just before Thanksgiving in 2009. Reflecting on those difficult years, when their much younger daughters, Zarina and Emina, attended elementary school, Indira folds her elegant, manicured fingers to demonstrate their family’s rallying symbol.

“God meant for us to have five children. My fingers represent each of my children. One finger can be easily broken, but together, they are strong, like a fist,” she says.

In addition to costing Sanjar his freedom and health, political opposition to post-Soviet Uzbekistan’s President Karimov also cost the physicist-turned-entrepreneur 95 percent of the family’s Uzbek and Central Asian holdings in cotton, transportation operations, logistics businesses, and telecommunications. With a nest egg the family had brought to America 14 years earlier, the young Umarovs needed new Gulamcareers.andSardor had both graduated from the University of Memphis, while Arslan, the middle brother, graduated from Texas Tech School of Law and lives in New Mexico. “Our father’s release came on the heels of the Great Recession, and we needed to go to work,” says Gulam, smiling at the irony. They sought to invest in and improve commercial buildings, and after completing several smaller projects, the tall beauty Downtown called to them. Then the Umarovs realized they had a link — cotton.

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The 112-year-old Exchange Building reigns elegantly over newer buildings on the Downtown skyline and is still the 12th tallest building in Memphis.

“I think it is the most handsome old building Downtown,” says Turley. Evolutions over the years included the exit of the Cotton Exchange to a different building several blocks away. During urban renewal in the mid-1980s, plans for affordable housing resulted in the gutting of interior offices, but a tax law halted development. “Unfortunately, due to removal of some low-income tax incentives, the building stood vacant for years,” says Sardor. “In 1995, the previous developers worked out their business deals and started converting the empty shell into a multi-family, cookie-cutter apartment complex.” In 2009, the project fell victim to foreclosure due to mismanagement and market conditions. That’s when the Umarovs decided to take on the difficult rehabilitation project. Unlocking the doors of the newly acquired property on December 23, 2010, Indira was overwhelmed. “I cried,” she recalls. “Garbage was everywhere!” Guided by their matriarch, the family launched into restoring and redecorating their passion project. Inside, plenty of grit and grind

ported to Russia for pennies on the ruble, and poor farmers relinquished crops to creditors at fixed prices. “We chose to move to Memphis because it was the cotton capital, and the chance to buy the Exchange Building was miraculous,” he says. A joint venture of the Memphis Merchants Exchange and the Memphis Cotton Exchange, the building replaced the former four-story structure of the original Memphis Cotton Exchange, which opened on the same site in 1885. Both organizations formed to develop an organized center of trade after the Civil War. Many traders and local merchants, such as Halle Brothers Clothing, which evolved into Oak Hall stores, had offices in Memphis’ first skyscraper. The building now ranks as the 12th-tallest in Memphis. Designed by Memphian Neander M. Woods Jr., it still dominates the block at Second and Madison on the south side of Court Square.

A product of Central Asia for hundreds of years, the origin of ikat fabric is a legend spun through time, and recounted by the Umarov family’s patriarch as his wife models an ikat coat. “It says that many years ago, a man in Siberia saw the Northern Lights, reached up and caught some and brought them back to his love. But there are two endings to the story. In one, the man gives the heavenly design to his love and is killed. Then, she spends the rest of her life weaving cloth from designs.”

22 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

“Now we’re looking at the next 20 years with exterior renovation and returning to systems upgrades,” adds Gulam. “Our challenge is that we have to do it without closing down the building, which is our income.” In addition to continuing cosmetic changes, the Umarovs have plans to showcase cotton again by displaying ikat fabric.

Together, the Umarov family is choosing the happy ending, moving past the grind of their difficulties and growing as a business and a family. Developer Henry Turley, considered a mentor by the Umarov Brothers, stands with Gulam on the roof of the Cotton Exchange Building at Front and Union.

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“That’s the sad one,” says Indira. “But there’s another ending,” adds Sanjar with a glint in his eye. “It says that she weaves the design into her wedding robe, and they live happy, long lives together.”

still takes place. All family members help, including the couples’ college-age daughters and daughters-in-law, Naira, Diora, and Alida, who concentrate on social media and Airbnb Accordingwork.toSardor, the project might have been easier if a wedge of Downtown had been included in the Opportunity Zones that pour designated capital gains into appointed areas — but not the core of the city, bordered by the river on the West, Poplar on the North, Third on the East, and extending south of McLemore. “This inclusion might also have attracted more investors to refurbish the 15 vacant buildings in close proximity to us which present additional challenges.”

Longtime flagbearers like Ugly Mug and J. Brooks have led the charge since the early 2000s, while boutique shops with a special spin seem to pop up every year. ere’s Boycott Coffee, which places an emphasis on a bean’s point of origin and the strength of its native community. City & State on Broad Ave. combines caffeine with local retail, jazzy renditions of video game soundtracks playing in the background all the while. Downtown’s Vice & Virtue stands out with bourbon barrel-aged blends. And perennial favorites like Otherlands Coffee Shop will always be there for moments of respite. Each and every Mid-South coffeehouse puts its own stamp on the industry, and merits a visit and further attention. We’ll focus here on three relatively young local coffee institutions embracing a spirit of innovation and creativity, and offering different approaches to what might once have seemed like a standard cup of joe. But for these shops, it’s about more than just coffee. eir work, and their passion, is all in service of elevating our communities, providing a caffeine kick, and helping other roasters succeed.

BY SAMUEL X. CICCI I PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTIN FOX BURKS

Three local coffee purveyors are brewing up fresh cups and fresh ideas.

COFFEE GRIND CITY

A welcoming aura greets anyone who steps into a coffee shop. The whirring of machines, the loud grinding of beans, and a smoky, nutty aroma that floats in the air invite you to “sit, take a load off, and stay a while.” Behind the counter, roasters brew cups all day long, eagerly sharing their recommendations and talking up their favorite blends. Each and every mug of freshly brewed coffee that scoots across the counter is the culmination of the roaster’s hard work, and the many others who help with the journey from bean to brew.

24 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

We all know that Memphis is Grind City. But Memphis is also grind city. Look past the barbecue, the blues, the beer, and even the Grizzlies, and you might be pleasantly surprised to discover that the Bluﬀ City’s burgeoning coﬀee scene is plenty strong on its own merits — and deserves plenty of buzz.

But alongside their donations, Jones and Henderson are doing their part to promote their partners in caﬀeine. While the money certainly helps, many of the coﬀee farmers have appreciated the partnership’s ability to grow their brands.

But those nagging doubts never deterred Jones, who spent a decade as an educator before launching his music and coffee careers. e history of coffee, as he learned, was a very relevant metaphor for the Black experience globally and historically. “You get a lot of people who don’t like their coffee black,” he remarks, “and that got me thinking about themes of anti-Blackness and the history of colonialism, and it became an easy metaphor to explain my music.” Diving into that history inspired Jones to finally launch Cxffeeblack. And yes, you read that correctly: e “x” in Cxffeeblack isn’t a typo. e name is a tribute to Malcolm X, with the human rights activist replacing his surname with the letter X as a way of reclaiming his identity, and casting off the name given to his ancestors duringAfterslavery.initially working with Arlington’s Ethnos Coffee Roasters as their roaster, Jones and his wife, Renata Henderson, decided they would try their hands at it. Henderson took on that responsibility, becoming Memphis’ first professional Black female roaster in the process. At the same time, her new role allowed Cxffeeblack to pay tribute to the history of coffee. Jones’ and Henderson’s Guji Mane blend combines a whiff of Memphis culture with an homage to the Guji zone in Ethiopia where they source those beans. Roasting coffee is a tradition that Black women do there, according to Jones, and Henderson wanted to continue that culture. But the connection to Ethiopia goes beyond just supporting that tradition. Cxffeeblack is supported by an all-Black supply chain that sees the beans travel from rural Guji to the shelves at the Anti Gentrification Coffee Club here. And when a bag of Guji Mane is sold, $1 goes back to the community in Guji, and another $1 is dedicated to the community in Memphis. “Coffee is a $460 billion industry,” says Jones, “and only $2 billion of that goes to the producing countries.” Legend has it, according to Jones, that two Dutch spies entered Yemen to steal coffee seeds. “Slaves were

CXFFEEBLACK

Jones is happy to share his knowledge of coffee history through e Cxffeeblack Podcast (available on platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts), or Cxffeeblack to Africa, a documentary covering Jones’ recent trip to Africa that’s currently available on his Patreon page. In the meantime, all of his success is a good sign for a venture that wants Black entrepreneurs and creatives to reclaim their part of coffee history.

“I’d go to coﬀee shops when I started my music career, and a lot of times I’d be the only Black person in there,” he says. “Back when I was a teacher, I was a rapper teaching English to kids. Every time I would enter one of these new spaces, there would be a lingering thought like, ‘Do I belong here?’”

Over the last couple of years, the multitalented Jones, who grew up in Whitehaven, has received national attention for both the Cxﬀeeblack brand he founded in 2018 as an entrepreneurial and a social venture, and for the shop that brews some damn good coﬀee.

“We’re approaching a point where it will hopefully be normal to see more Black people in coffee shops, and we’ll start moving beyond just even the conversation of race, the specific neighborhood cultures, specific music cultures. But for now, we’re starting the conversation, and people are responding to it.”

Part of the driving force behind Cxﬀeeblack is Jones’ sense of belonging. Or a lack thereof, in some places.

Bartholomew Jones, founder of Cxffeeblack, opened the Anti Gentriﬁcation Coffee Club in his home neighborhood of The Heights. Cxffeeblack aims to reconnect coffee with its Black history. used to move this product,” he says. “By building this pipeline now, and getting money back to those communities, that’s our way of making coﬀee Black again.”

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 25 S omething is brewing down at 761 National Street. At the Anti Gentrification Coffee Club, Cxffeeblack founder Bartholomew Jones serves up cups of his Guji Mane blend, sells six-packs of snapchilled coffee, and invites folks from e Heights neighborhood to kick back for a spell.

“ ey said the most important thing is that people recognize their brand and see the work that they’re doing,” says Jones. “ is is marketing for them. We’re trying to put Guji at the forefront of the global coﬀee conversation.”

Back home in Memphis, Jones continues to push the club as a place for his neighbors in e Heights to spend time and ﬂourish. “We have someone here, Omar, who I met when he was a ﬁfth-grader,” says Jones. “Now, he’s our longest standing employee. We intentionally built this club as a foundation for the community that we’re in.”

“We partnered with them to do the roasting, since we didn’t have the capacity for that at the time,” she says. “We still partner with them today, and they’ve been fantastic. It’s not just the roasting. It’s the coﬀee education they provide, helping us with connections, sharing their contacts. [Co-owner] John [Pitman] has been an excellent mentor to us as we got started.”

e majority of workers staﬃng Muggin are drawn from the Whitehaven area. Ken estimates that 80 percent of their workforce is local to the neighborhood. And that platform has helped the coﬀee shop move past the survival stage and into thrive mode. Later this fall, the Olds plan to open up a second Muggin location in Uptown’s Malone Park Commons mixed-development area. The Olds are also eyeing the broader Southeast region, like Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. But that’s still a ways off. The focus remains to serve their neighborhood and their community as they continue to expand their coffee knowledge. Eventually, that means roasting their own beans and continuing to expand. For Ken and Mary, there’s no better place to be starting out.

“We were the new kids on the block,” says Mary. “ ere were a few shops who were a wealth of knowledge and helped us get started, like Vice & Virtue, the team at Cxﬀeeblack, and again, J. Brooks. e coﬀee community is encouraging and helpful. We give each other ideas. It’s a nice space to be in, especially when you’re in a competitive kind of environment like hospitality.”

“Memphis is synonymous with the word ‘mane,’” laughs Mary. “So we came up with the Muggin’ Mane, which has a couple diﬀerent ﬂavors: cheesecake, caramel, steamed milk, and espresso. at’s one of our most popular drinks. It’ll change your life.”

MUGGIN COFFEEHOUSE

e Olds thought about working with established companies to bring their brands to Whitehaven. But when that quest hit a dead end, they brainstormed what kind of solution they could provide. e answer? Open up their own shop. ey embraced the idea very quickly, and with conﬁdence. And the name is a testament to that, the “muggin” term of phrase used to indicate bravado and conﬁdence.

26 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

efore they moved back to Memphis several years ago, Mary and Ken Olds struggled to find a decent coffee shop during visits to their family. Staying in Whitehaven usually meant a trek across state lines down to Southaven, Mississippi. Not a long journey, by any means, but not always an ideal way to spend their time. When they made the move home to Whitehaven and started working there again, they took matters into their own hands and opened what is currently the community’s only local coffee shop, Muggin Coffeehouse.

“It’s bringing the community back to the community,” he continues. “ e neighborhood understands we’re authentic in what we’re doing: We’re from here, this is our home. e community has really rallied around Muggin, and it’s crazy. People from farther away and the outskirts of Memphis have come out too.”

“Growing up in Whitehaven as well, we never had that coﬀee shop to hang out at,” says Mary. “I really started drinking it a lot in college, and whenever we came back, those coﬀee runs were a bit of a pain. And when we returned from Chattanooga four years ago, we thought we could either keep complaining, or tackle this ourselves.”

Was Whitehaven ready for its very own coﬀeeshop? Absolutely, according to Ken. “We didn’t know if people would come out. But I kept calling Mary, panicked, like, ‘ ere’s a line stretching down the sidewalk!’” Building that community magnet, though, was exactly what they were going for when opening the doors to their ﬁrst shop.

Pulling the trigger on the idea in 2020 was a no-brainer. “Coﬀee, I think, is just one of those things that should be available in any community,” says Mary. But to get the ball rolling, they needed to learn more about the coﬀee industry and how to Ken and Mary Olds launched Muggin Coffeehouse in Whitehaven, the neighborhood they grew up in.

At Muggin’s location at 1139 Brownlee Rd., the Olds want their menu to be authentic to Memphis and the era of their formative years here. Glancing over the list of specialty drinks, customers ﬁ nd references to Libertyland, the Zippin Pippin, and plenty of ‘Manes.’

The community response has been huge, and a second location in Uptown is on the way.

succeed in that space. e Olds approached J. Brooks Coﬀee Roasters, which has been operating since 2010 out of Memphis, to work with them.

T he doctor is in. And the prescription? One cup of joe (repeat as needed). Dr. Bean’s Coffee and Tea Emporium has been roasting for almost a decade now and shows no signs of slowing down. e duo behind Dr. Bean’s has been brewing some of the best coffee (and tea) around, and currently operates out of Downtown’s Stock & Belle building at 387 S. Main. e twist behind this business is the meeting of creative and scientific minds. Coffee shop owner by day and emergency medicine nocturnist for Baptist and Methodist hospitals by night, Dr. Albert Bean is one half of the brains behind the venture. Born in Naples, Italy, Bean moved around a lot as a kid and became accustomed to coffee and tea varieties from all over the world. He’d always had the idea to open a coffee shop since his days in medical school, but that dream went on the backburner to focus on medicine. Enter hospitality veteran Charles Billings, who was Bean’s neighbor in Cooper-Young and has spent most of the last 20 years working in restaurants.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 27

“He worked overnight, and I did night shifts at my restaurants,” says Billings. “So we’d always kind of operated on similar schedules, and over the years we talked about doing something together.”

Billings points to Dr. Bean’s house espresso as an example of their ethos. Currently a blend of HonduDr. Albert Bean (left) and Charles Billings began roasting almost a decade ago. But Dr. Bean’s Coffee & Tea Emporium is the result of a friendship that extends all the way back to the early 2000s.

DR. BEAN’S COFFEE & TEA EMPORIUM

One component to maintaining consistency is reliable access to Memphis’ high-quality water supply, thanks to the Memphis Sands Aquifer. “Water attaches to coffee on a molecular level,” he says. “And you need certain mineral deposits to aid in that process, which Memphis has in abundance. It makes your coffee more flavorful by having those minerals in the water, being able to attach and adhere to the coffee and build those flavors out.”

And if keeping high-quality water is important, Memphis’ coffee community has certainly rallied around it. Billings praises Daniel Lynn, founder of the Grind City Coffee Xpo, a now-annual event that celebrates coffee roasters in the city and donates proceeds to the water-advocacy nonprofit Protect Our Aquifer. at task is much simpler when all the city’s roasters are pulling together.

“We’ve got plenty of great roasters out here doing really cool things,” says Billings. “It’s amazing to be partnered with them and connected with them, and everyone really wants to see each other succeed.”

en in 2009, Bean vacationed in Panama, where he toured the Lamastus family’s prestigious Elida Estate coffee farms, known for producing world-renowned beans that have auctioned for up to a staggering $1,029 per pound. at trip reignited an idea Bean had to open his own coffee shop, and he approached Billings in 2012. e two trained together at Bellissimo Coffee Advisors in Oregon to sync up their skill sets, and began carving out their own niche in what was then Memphis’ young coffee community.

“At the time, it was really just J. Brooks and Ugly Mug,” says Billings. “Bruce Milletto, who owns Water Avenue Coffee in Portland and runs Bellissimo, came to Memphis and said we should start as a roaster.” e two focused on farm-direct bean pipelines, starting with Elida Estate, and have grown from there. Bean and Billings’ separate backgrounds have meshed well when it comes to creating the perfect cup of coffee. Bean takes a scientific approach, looking for consistency and finding new information that will help steer the artistic side of things. Billings, meanwhile, handles the visual side as he strives to make every cup he pours look its best, all the while using Bean’s research to push him in the right direction. Finding that balance is key, says Billings. “You see it in the best chefs in the world; when cooking a steak, you have your thermometer in there the entire time to know what temperature it’s at, but it’s also about the look, and the feel, of the meat. ere’s a little bit of science and a little bit of art. Food has to be beautiful; coffee has to be beautiful and consistent at the same time.”

ran and natural Ethiopian beans, it has changed forms over the years, jumping between Ethiopian and other Central American sources. “It’s the best of both worlds, the boldness of coffee with a nice sweet finish to it,” he says. “And as we mix and match, find new styles and flavors to use, we’ve been consistent in maintaining our standards.”

ROOMAWITHAVIEW

28 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

A comfort,offersgarden40-yearprojectbeauty,andlife. HABITATS PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN PICKLE & JANE SCHNEIDER BY JANE SCHNEIDER

top left: Homeowner Deborah Pittman. top right: A garden with four seasons of color. Early summer is when lacecap hydrangeas and virtex shine. below: The idea for the elegant lap pool came from a garden visit in southern France. Pittman preferred the simplicity of the narrow stone edge to concrete skirting. The effect is stunning.

D eborah Pittman’s favorite view of her garden is from the back brick patio off the den. From here, 15 feet above the backyard, she has a bird’s-eye view of the expansive urban oasis she and her husband, Arnold Hay Pittman, spent 40 years creating. What began as a blank canvas of grass and aging shrubs is today a lush display of hostas, ferns, hydrangeas and azaleas, roses and lilies, ponds, and a cutting garden. There’s even a pet cemetery on a shady back hill, a whimsical resting place for the family’s beloved corgis. As with any well-conceived garden, numerous rooms beckon visitors to rest and listen as the songbirds call or watch the dragonﬂies dart among the pickerel rushes in the pond. Her one-acre lot boasts 189 different species of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. The garden fairly shimmers with life.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 29

Other challenges arose, like how to keep still ponds healthy.

asus,cameorclassical‘Do“IPittmantoduringingaboutconversationsgarden-tookplaceavisitVersailles.says,askedArnie,youlikegardensromanticones?’”Whiletheynevertoaconsen-theirgardenreﬂectsharmoniousblendingof both styles. Stroll along the pine straw paths and you’ll encounter shady enclaves of camellias and magnolias before spying classical classical gardens or romantic ones?’” While they never came to a consensus, their garden reﬂects

A Blank Slate T he couple’s journey began in 1980, when the Pittmans purchased their home in the Hedgemoor neighborhood off Walnut Grove in Memphis. At the time, Deborah was a loan administrator at Union Planters National Bank, while Arnie was busy launching Pittman and Associates, an employee benefits firm. One of their first

“The ponds and brick walls, all of the structural additions, were Arnie’s ideas,” says Pittman. “He loved doing that.”

HABITATS right: The family pet cemetery and limelight hydrangeas. below left: Looking towards the house from the pond. below right: Classical statuary adds interest to sitting areas.

30 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 statues of maidens that gaze out over the rim of a pond. “He had the artistic eye,” observes Pittman. “I’m more about how you fill the space with plants. You have to be able to manage that since it’s an undertaking.” Given their busy careers, they needed plants that didn’t require much tending. So in shade beds they chose Lenten roses and shrubsvoluminousPittmanthespotsandhostasJapa-nesepaint-edferns;insunniernearhouse,preferslikethestriking purple vitex as well as oakleaf and Annabelle hydrangeas that extend the seasons of color. As with any garden, there were challenges: The yard had a significant slope and the back of the property (which borders a busy street) was barren and noisy. “So we had to prioritize how we would solve those problems,” she says. Remarkably, they did so without the help of a landscape architect. They began by adding a fence, then planting a multitude of trees and shrubs, slowly creating an arboretum to dampen the thrum of traffic. The slope was addressed with the repaving of the driveway. During that project, “We took the opportunity to ask the bobcat driver to please push the dirt up on the north side of the backyard, and down on the south side, and create a level lawn in the middle,” she says. “This created a large commons area for activities in the center, with an upper terrace and a lower terrace on each side. It only took a couple of hours. The brick mason returned and added low terrace walls to divide the backyard into three distinct spaces. This changed everything!” That transformation gave the couple a jumping-off point for

implementing new ideas, often sparked by visits to The Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis — horticulturist Dale Skaggs was a huge help there — as well as other gardens here and abroad. The planting of a gracious allée of crepe myrtles lining either side of the common soon followed. It was Pittman’s nod to plane trees, the leafy canopy she remembered shading the boulevards of Aix-en-Provence in France. The trees provide a lush bower that arches over the lawn — where she frequently entertains — while directing the eye back to the garden’s focal point, a commanding 80-foot bur oak. A low spot in front of the oak proved to be the perfect location for a pond, enhanced by an elegant bridge that leads to the woodlands.

Another product Pittman swears by is Mosquito Dunk, which creates a harmless glaze on the water’s surface that kills mosquito eggs. “I advise people to put a piece of Dunk in their birdbaths as well,” she says.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 31

“She loves hugging the frog statue; it’s just her height,” says Pittman. “I appreciate the garden — it’s an extension of my home. When I look out my window, I see my own park.”

Recently, Joelle and her family returned to Memphis. So Deborah is making new discoveries with her 17-month-old granddaughter, Isabelle.

above: Maidens on a pond. A long shot of the backyard, with its leafy canopy of crepe myrtles. Alan Bender with Classic Lawns keeps the grass healthy. Granddaughter Isabelle’s favorite frog statue. far left: Pink cleome add delicate height and volume to the sunny cutting garden. left: A basin of ferns and caladiums gives a focal point to a still pond.

Pittman’s favorite plants include a pair of lush lia,sasanquaanofcedarsJapanese(Cryp-tomeriah)thatformahuge,softhedgealongthenorthsidetheyardand80-year-oldcamel-whichproduces a deep, mauve-blue ﬂower in the fall. She frequently experiments with growing new specimens but those that don’t do well get moved just once. If they remain unhappy, off to another gardener they go.

A room with a view indeed.

Nichol’s go-to guide? Not the local nursery. “It was a single huge book on horticulture,” says Pittman with pride. In fact, she still tends the peonies her father transplanted from his garden for her many years ago. Once the couple’s daughter, Joelle, entered school in 1991, Pittman began teaching finance at Rhodes College. She retired in 2011 to care for her husband, who died in 2012. Today, she continues to find comfort in their garden. Pittman recently decided to fill in one of the ponds to Ingram’sPittmansoonIngram,helper,timeherthelocation.ofadvantagetakeitssunnyWithaidoflong-gardenJohnitwastransformed.pointstodedication and hard work over the past 20 years as a vital part of the garden’s success. Now, the cutting garden is a kaleidoscope of color in summer as zinnias, day lilies, and sunflowers unfold.

Grow Where You’re Planted

P ittman credits her father, Dr. William K. Nichol, for inspiring her love of gardening. He was a dentist as well as a plantsman whose interest in propagating specimens led him to do “fun things” like grafting together a pink and white flowering dogwood so the new hybrid would produce blossoms of both colors. He’d also dig up unfamiliar wildflowers from the side of the road to transplant into his own wildflower garden.

Pittman became a Master Gardener in 2011 via The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension program. This year, hers was one of six gardens featured by the Memphis Area Master Gardeners for their annual Through Our Garden Gates public tour held each June. soon Ingram’sPittmantransformed.pointstodedication and

A trip to Calloway Gardens in Georgia introduced the couple to non-toxic black pond dye, which reduces sunlight penetration, thus slowing the growth of algae. The garden’s three ponds operate naturally, without the use of filters or pumps, which in turn provides a habitat for frogs, goldfish, and birdlife, a benefit Pittman values. She uses compost to feed plants and worm castings to add microbes back into the soil. In addition, a product called Microbe Lift fosters decomposition in the pond. “I never have to drain and clean the ponds due to Microbe Lift, since it provides microbes that eat the fish waste and decayed plants. I love to say the pond is ecologically balanced,” she says.

met Bigfoot in third grade.

You can’t take yourself seriously as a “Bigfoot person” without knowing these were crucial scenes from the 1972 docudrama, e Legend of Boggy Creek.

BY TOBY SELLS

He scared a kitten to death. He lifted two 100-pound hogs over a barbedwire fence and carried them oﬀ down the creek. He menaced three teen girls during a sleepover, hulking in the twilight outside their trailer. He attacked Bobby White, breaking the bathroom window and thrashing around inside while Bobby sat on the toilet.

32 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 PHOTOGRAPH BY RAGGED STONE DESIGN / DREAMSTIME Stomping Memphisin LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY BUDDY, Bigfoot

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 33

Toby Sells (left) and Bigfoot share a beer and a laugh at Bigfoot’s place in the woods.

34 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 at’s where I met Bigfoot. As the movie’s narrator says, “It scared me then; it scares me now.” I grew up in a small Tennessee town and a good friend grew up in the sticks around that town. Mom drove me to a sleepover at his house one night. e house hunched at the bottom of a rocky hill among a stand of tall pines that was dense and dark even by daylight. Planted near the woodshop was one of those massive old satellite dishes, faded and stained by time. To my third-grade mind, this all looked friendly enough in the daytime. In the dark, to that same third-grade mind, it would change into a hellish nightscape with death promised somewhere — everywhere. Pizza eaten and pallets made on the floor, my buddy and I settled in front of his massive television. He fiddled with the satellite buttons on the control box. rough blizzards of confusing static, he paused on a swampy scene with weird music. e movie was old, soft-focused, and orangey-brown, like the pictures in Granny’s scrapbook. To my surprise, he whooped with joy, and stopped on the swampy scene. I didn’t know how to work the control box. So, my dreams of watching some R-rated, non-Mom-approved, alien blast-’em-up were crushed. Boggy Creek invited me into the little town of Fouke, Arkansas, “a right beautiful place to live, until the sun goes down.” As the film rolled, I had no idea what to expect. I’m not even sure I knew what a Bigfoot was back then. But when I first caught sight of “the

monster,” sweat beaded on my upper lip and that pizza grumbled in my gut. e Fouke Monster screamed through the woods, stole chickens, and staggered ominously through Boggy Creek. By the time they drove poor Bobby White (in shock after his toileted Bigfoot attack) to a Texarkana hospital, the creature was burned into my brain. I was afraid of a thing I didn’t even know existed when I woke up that morning. As the credits rolled, my friend casually opened his front door, motioned me to it, and said he wanted to show me something outside. Bigfoot lived out there, I knew then. I stepped out the door thinking we were going to have some spooky fun together. Nope. Instead, he shoved me over the threshold, slammed the door behind me, locked the door, and turned oﬀ the porch light. I beat on the door and hurled third-grade profanities at my friend. But once I settled down, I backed up to the door, took a deep breath, and looked to the stars, so bright that far outside of even our tiny town. Crickets. at was good. Wildlife hushed when the creature was around. That’s what the movie said. e smell of pines. at was good, too. e creature smelled like skunk, garbage, and wet dog. Still, my knees knocked, just like Ichabod Crane in “ e Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” I cried, as emotions and fears boiled up inside my hot face and burned my eyes. Wipe those away. Hand in front of my face: nothing. I hadn’t peed my pajamas and that … What was that?! I whimpered at the sound of a large limb breaking somewhere in the woods. I bit my lip. I turned, rattled the doorknob, and heard my friend horse-laughing behind the door. Something bumped against something and … did a dark shadow race across the pitch-black darkness? I began beating on the door again, this time screaming a long, hoarse cry much like that of the movie creature. Bigfoot stomped toward me, I was sure, and my head was going to … The door flung open and I burst through it, collapsing in a heap on the floor but stealing one last glance at the darkness shrinking as the door closed. The porch lights came on. No Bigfoot. Shame and relief washed over me in equal measure. I checked and I still hadn’t peed my pajamas. Score at least that one for me. If the film burned Bigfoot into my brain, this experience seared Bigfoot down deeper somehow, into my psyche. The movie creature was plainly fake. But the fear was real, a visceral, physical fear I’d never experienced before.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 35

IT TURNED OUT, I WANTED MORE. I n the weeks after my experience, Bigfoot dominated my searches through our tiny library’s card catalog. With all the Bigfoot (and Sasquatch and Yeti and Yowie) books read, I moved on to the Loch Ness monster, Mothman, werewolves, ghosts, psychics, UFOs, and so much more. I didn’t know this topic was called “paranormal” until I heard show host Robert Stack use the term on the 1990s TV series Unsolved Mysteries. But I knew paranormal was not Scooby Doo. (I mean, remember Stack’s trench coat? That man was telling the truth.) Real people around the globe witnessed things and described them the same way for generations. Unless the whole thing — everything paranormal — was an international hoax carried out by millions of attention-seekers, something real was happening. This mystery was the hook for me; it still is. Later, I dabbled in more grown-up mysteries, mostly conspiracy theories from the CIA’s very-real MK Ultra project to the whoknows-what JFK assassination. But I always came back to Bigfoot. Bigfoot was deadly and dead simple, a killer monster in the woods. That third-grade fear of the original boogey man haunted me. I found out later, it haunted many others, too.

I get two questions when people see me in a Memphis Bigfoot Festival T-shirt. It’s really the same question, meant two ways: “Is that real?” Me: Bigfoot? TheM : The festival. Me: Yes. TheM : And Bigfoot? Around Memphis? Me: Not much. (There is another, longer answer. But I’m not trying to bore anybody in the Target checkout line.)

When this happens, I still cannot believe I started such a weird thing, nor can I believe it began way back in 2017.

Owners Andy Ashby and Drew Barton, my friends at Memphis Made, didn’t think it was dumb, exactly. They weren’t sure what to think, but they agreed to host the event. In the beginning, I was sure it would be only me and a dozen flannel-clad dudes sitting around, nerding out on the Big Man. But an hour after the doors opened, the taproom was uncomfortably (and joyously) packed with hundreds of beer-drinking Bigfoot friends.

Another friend, Stephen Guenther (owner of The Broom Closet and Historical Haunts of Memphis), hosted a crazy-interesting discussion about a Bigfoot encounter with local thriller author Steve Bradshaw. Beers flowed. I showed some evidence clips and ran through “The Year in Bigfoot,” a rundown of the previous year’s biggest Bigfoot stories. (There are more than you might think.) Our costume contest brought the tallest, most realistic Bigfoot costume and the tiniest, weirdest Bigfoot baby doll I’d ever seen. The first year ended with what has become my favorite part of the Bigfoot Festival. I turn on the microphone and open the floor to anyone in the crowd who wants to tell their Bigfoot encounter story. No laughter or jeers are allowed, but this rule has never been needed. When a story begins, the room goes quiet, eyes are up, and storytellers take as long as they like. Some of the stories are clearly hogwash. Some of them still send shivers down my spine. With the last tale finished and that first Bigfoot Festival drawn to a close, I stepped offstage to wobbly knees, just like stupid, old Ichabod Crane. But I was electrified. I’d done it and everybody had fun, even those who showed up ironically to gawk and point at the “Bigfoot people.” My Memphis Made friends were elated and immediately welcomed me to do a Ghost Festival or UFO Festival anytime I wanted. They were joking, but the thing was a success for them. And they didn’t know what that meant to me.

B igfoot has stomped into Memphis Made every year since then, except for 2020 because … you know why. In those years, we’ve had some well-known and serious Bigfoot researchers come and speak. The festival takes Bigfoot seriously, too. We just don’t take ourselves very seriously. So, I try to have something for just about anyone who would even consider attending something called a Bigfoot Festival. Details of this year’s Bigfoot Festival have not yet been finalized. We’ve always done it around the Halloween spooky season. But this year we may do it a few weeks after, when the Memphis event calendar is a bit roomier. This year I hope to have the Big Four: beer, barbecue, bluegrass, and Bigfoot, and make it a down-home-fun fall event. We’ll see. Bigfoot and the paranormal have been positive influences in my life. I’m constantly curious and these mysteries won’t (likely) ever be solved. I love stories and, maybe, without Bigfoot early in my life (sending me ravenously through the library’s card catalog) I would not have sought them out all my life. Without that, I — maybe — would never have become a journalist. Lots of maybes there; who knows? It’s easier simply to thank Bigfoot and move on. I never got a chance to thank my third-grade buddy for the Bigfoot introduction. I never will. He passed away recently, and he probably never knew that I grew up to be a “Bigfoot person” after his terrifying stunt all those many spooky nights ago. He might’ve thought my love of the paranormal and the festival were weird. But somehow, I don’t think so. He’d met Bigfoot before I did and wanted to show him around, to me at least. So, I think he, like me, would have agreed with the Boggy Creek movie narrator who said the creature “scared me then, it scares me now.”

THE MEMPHIS BIGFOOT FESTIVAL IS BORN

SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

Toby Sells is news editor for the Memphis Flyer and founder of the Memphis Bigfoot Festival.

The Patterson-Gimlin Film is the undisputed best piece of Bigfoot video evidence in existence. You’ve seen it, even if you’re not a “Bigfoot person.” It’s brown and grainy and shows a large, dark, human-shaped animal walking on two legs. As the creature lurches away from the camera, it gives a heart-stopping glance back at the lens before stomping off into the wilderness. The (allegedly) real footage reinforced what I wanted to believe in the fictional Boggy Creek movie. A big, hairy monster — unknown to science — really did live out in the woods. That film turned 50 in 2017. Huge celebrations were planned for the California town near the film site and I wanted to go. A quick internet search for plane tickets, lodging, and everything else poured cold water on my pilgrimage to the heart of the Bigfoot fringe. Disheartened, I considered my options over a pint at Memphis Made Brewing Co. There, I had the dumbest idea ever. I’d just hold my own Bigfoot festival, right there at the Cooper-Young brewery.

Campbell Clinic has kept the Mid-South healthy for more than 100 years. Wherever you are, we’ve got a convenient clinic nearby. Midtown | East Memphis | Germantown | Wolf River Arlington | Collierville | Southaven | Olive Branch The region’s top orthopaedic specialists are available near you when you need them most. • Break, sprain, and injury care • Outpatient hip, shoulder, ankle, and knee surgery • Physical therapy • Entire musculoskeletalfamily care Find walk-in and after-hours availability at campbellclinic.com. POPLARAVE SAM COOPER BLVD SGERMANTOWNRD 40 240 385 COLLIERVILLE SOUTHAVEN WOLF GERMANTOWNRIVERMIDTOWN EAST (MENDENHALLMEMPHIS&POPLAR) ARLINGTON OLIVE BRANCH POPLARAVE SAM COOPER BLVD SGERMANTOWNRD 40 240 385 COLLIERVILLE SOUTHAVEN WOLF GERMANTOWNRIVERMIDTOWN EAST (MENDENHALLMEMPHIS&POPLAR) ARLINGTON OLIVE BRANCH When you’re hurt, we’re there.

Dr. Judith Lee-Sigler, an orthopaedic specialist at OrthoSouth, says, “Your cartilage

A decade-by-decade approach to a long and limber life.

e good news is we’re much better oﬀ now than we were even 30 years ago. “Joint replace-

Growing Pains

BY ALLISON BINNING

Dr. Marcus Ford, a total joint repair specialist at Campbell Clinic, says that I have a few more years of healthy joints before I should begin developing any aches or pains. “I usually see young patients due to trauma, or they were genetically predisposed to abnormal hip sockets that led to severe deterioration,” Ford says, adding that “certain childhood deformities can cause a deteriorating socket.”

A s I recently reached the ripe age of 20, my annual existential crisis took on a new tone as I entered another decade of life. Someday I won’t be young enough to be immune to almost any tumble or tear in my body. I’ll actually break something. In high school, I was the top powerlifter in my weight class. Nowadays, I’m still young and lucky enough to be able to squat twice my bodyweight without thinking twice about tearing a muscle or causing a lasting ache in my body. But eventually my youth will fade. One day, my joints will falter under the weight of 180 pounds balanced on my back. I’d like to prevent that day from coming too soon and be prepared for its eventual, inevitable arrival. So I decided to consult with the experts. begins to decrease after age thirty, and continues to decrease. Your muscle mass also decreases, particularly if you’re not exercising. And often people’s weight begins to increase.”

Wearing down the same joint through repeated movements often causes health issues in this age group — like tennis elbow.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 37ILLUSTRATION BY RUDZHAN NAGIEV / DREAMSTIME

Along with less muscle mass, “ e ligaments and tendons around the joints are no longer as pliable as they used to be,” says Lee-Sigler. “ ere isn’t as much fluid in the joint.” Without this fluid, the joints aren’t as lubricated and cushioned and there can be more friction between the bones when they move. As we approach our fifties, arthritis often begins to occur. “Arthritis is the big thing that leads to joint deterioration when we age,” says Ford. “It is multifactorial. Some of it is anatomy, and a lot of it is genetic.” After symptoms of arthritis or other joint problems begin, they will often continue to affect a patient’s life in more ways as they enter their sixties, seventies, and eighties.

It’s not until patients reach their thirties and forties that they really begin to experience the results of wear-and-tear on their joints. “We see a lot of patients in their thirties and forties with overuse injuries,” says Ford. “When we’re teenagers, our bodies can handle all that. As we age, the things that we used to do as teens lead to ligament tears and ruptured tendons.”

But, to ease my dread of aging, I wanted to know how to keep my body in the best condition for as long as possible. Both Lee-Sigler and Ford help patients of all ages every year — from teens to those who have been RUDZHAN DOCTOR PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY CAMPBELL CLINIC AND ORTHOSOUTH

“Your cartilage begins to decrease after age thirty, and continues to decrease. Your muscle mass also decreases, particularly if you’re not working on it [with exercise]. And often people’s weight begins to increase.”

At Campbell Clinic, hip preservation tactics include arthroscopy, where a tiny camera is inserted through a small incision. Rather than an open surgery to see inside the joint, which requires a longer post-surgical recovery time, the camera oﬀers a high-resolution view of the joint through a minimally invasive procedure.

“

“It’s all a risk-beneﬁt. If it’s what you love and it gets you “We see a lot of patients in their thirties and forties with overuse injuries. When we’re teenagers, our bodies can handle all that. As we age, the things that we used to do as teens lead to ligament tears and ruptured tendons.”

At the end of the day, however, Ford recommends that we ﬁnd any exercise that motivates us to be active.

ILLUSTRATION BY

retired for 20 years. And for each stage of their patients’ lives, they have similar advice. When anyone asks them how to avoid joint problems, or avoid exacerbating their existing issues, they recommend a balanced diet and staying“Obesityactive. isabig driver of degenerative joint diseases,” Ford says. Of course, he also notes the eﬀect of genetics and the development of one’s body in the womb as factors for joint issues, especially in younger patients.

toradiofrequencysays.procedures,”radiofrequencyadures“TherecomparedmorenologyAdvancementsthirties.”intech-haveallowedforrefinedtechniquesto20yearsago.aresomeproce-wedidn’treallydolongtimeago,suchasablationLee-SiglerOrthoSouthoffersablationrelievespinalpainfor

Lee-Sigler also notes, “Doctors recently started to use orthobiologics as part of what they may do for a patient.” Orthobiologic medicines utilize the body’s natural healing processes to help rehabilitate injured joints. For example, stem cell or plasma injections can speed up the healing process after an injury or if a patient has a degenerative disease. Because they are organic and the injections are minimally invasive, orthobiologic medicines tend to cause fewer side eﬀects than steroids and surgery.

Dr. Judith Lee-Sigler

In recent years, the world of orthopaedics has also seen significant improvements in biologic medicines for inflammatory diseases. “Even though we still use steroids, we additionally use Hyalgan supplementation for the knees,’’ Lee-Sigler says. Hyalgan (a brand name for what is essentially hyaluronic acid) lubricates the knee joint with a gel-like fluid and helps it move more smoothly, which can ease knee pain caused by arthritis.

38 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 ment in itself has gotten so much better,” Ford says. “I’m often taking on very challenging situations with teenagers by trying to salvage their hips with a hip preservation or joint preservation.” Despite the challenge, Ford says, “It’s nice to see a teenager get a hip surgery that lasts them into their sixties or seventies rather than having to get another joint replacement in their

NAGIEV / DREAMSTIME;

ings happen that we’re not aware of when we move,” she says. “We’re not supposed to be aware of them because the muscles and joints and nerves are working in harmony.” With functional exercises, we can continue doing everyday activities such as lifting something heavy oﬀ the ground or getting in and out of a chair.

— Dr. Lee-Sigler Orthopaedic specialist at OrthoSouth

months at a time. e treatment is minimally invasive and uses radiofrequency waves to heat the tip of a needle that the surgeon uses to “burn” the nerve that is causing pain.

— Dr. Marcus Ford Total Joint Repair Specialist at Campbell Clinic

ough certainly not the only factor, obesity is one that we may have more control over. Lee-Sigler agrees, saying, “Keeping your weight within a healthy range is the number one, two, and three things you can do.”

“ ere are some exercises that are very good for joints, like tai chi and water exercises,” says Lee-Sigler. She explains that these exercises allow for muscle growth and full movement of the joints while simultaneously protecting the joints from damage. She also says that Pilates is a great workout that often offers low-impact modifications for certain moves that may be too difficult for older High-impactjoints.sports that involve lots of running and jumping can be harder as we get older and cause more strain on your joints. “As we age, basketball is pretty rough. We’re not meant to jump around on a wooden floor,” says Ford. Lee-Sigler and Ford highlight functional exercises to take care of your joints while simultaneously building muscle. Functional exercises, which activate multiple muscle groups at once that are commonly used in daily life, are full-body exercises such as push-ups, squats, and jumping jacks. ey help keep your body working as a single unit, Lee-Sigler explains.

Dr. Marcus Ford

901 HEALTH continued on page 66

To maintain a healthy weight, staying active and eating healthy are the two basic approaches that we can follow. “One of the best exercises you can do for knee health is cycling. It helps circulate the fluid in the knee and moderate inflammatory markers,” Ford says. “Swimming is a wonderful exercise because you’re weightless. Even people with terrible joint problems can still swim for cardio benefits.” Both swimming and cycling are low-impact activities accessible to those with existing joint problems or who are concerned about developing them.

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Our Remodel Memphis section frequently spotlights ways to renovate a new or existing home. But sometimes, a temporary vacation home out in the country needs some sprucing up too. In this issue, we dive into the renovation of a longstanding Arkansas duck hunting club. The building had stood on acres of land in St. Francis County for decades, and with the help of RKA Construction, the owner transformed it from a serviceable stopover in duck hunting season into a modernized lodge that continues to preserve the club’s history.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 41

MEMPHIS Your 2022 Guide to Renovation

REmodelModernizationand

PHOTOGRAPHS BY HANNAH JOYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

An old Arkansas farmhouse transforms into a cozy, modern escape.

An old hunting club in the Arkansas Delta has long been a place of respite for those heading out for duck season. Located on around 2,000 acres in St. Francis County, the traditional farmhouse was a serviceable, if dated, resting spot for members of the club. But several years ago, the property owner decided that the time was right to spruce things up. They approached architectural designer Wil Hunt, who introduced them to RKANow,Construction.thefullyupdated hunting club has been transformed; no longer just a place to lie down for the night, the clubhouse is now a place where members and their families can cook, hang out, party, and create new memories every duckTheseason.original 1,888-square-foot layout had stood on the property for decades, and had acted as a reliable resting spot for club members. But there wasn’t too much to the old interior. Three sparse bedrooms offered sleeping quarters on the sides of the house, and a very small kitchen, laundry room, and foyer were outside the central living room. But the owner had a vision to increase the space and spruce up the outdated amenities. “They had this old farmhouse on the property, which was ﬁne, but it was pretty old and not the greatest place to hang out,” says RKA’s Hans Bauer. “They wanted to upgrade it to a place where they could stay for the weekend, come in and play cards, and have a glass of wine or cook a nice dinner together. And that’s what sparked the desire to improve this place.”

To help with the remodeling project, the homeowner initially brought in Hunt, who runs J. Wilson Hunt Architecture. After the design work, he helped bring in RKA Construction and interior designer Julie Wunderlich of Driscoll Design & Decoration. “While we were updating the space, it was important to incorporate the owner’s tradition and sentimental value of existing furniture, art, and decor,” says Wunderlich. “They wanted to keep that character in the building, so that was a big part of our planning process, instead of doing a teardown,” adds Hunt. “The house was built back in the late ’50s or early ’60s, so that meant accounting for some of the weaknesses in the original house. We replaced a lot of the mechanical systems like heat and air, wiring, redid the plumbing. Plus, we had to shore up the foundation. But the framing of the original house was very good.”

Arkansas Hunting Lodge

BEFOREBEFORE AFTERAFTER

“On the left side of the house, you had two bedrooms, one with a tiny half bath, and the other with a really small full bath,” says Bauer. “On the other side, you had a sort of master bedroom with a full bath, more closet space, and then a sunroom next to that.”

Changing the current interior wouldn’t do much to expand the room issue, so the owner had RKA build out an entirely new wing to accommodate guests. The addition, set up like a classic lodge

hallway, extends out from the current structure and holds six bedrooms, each with a full bath included. “We used what’s now called shiplap in a lot of the bathrooms, if you look at the horizontal tiling,” says Hunt. “It’s similar to what would have been used to build a house out in the country like this a long time ago, so it was an appropriate choice.” But these aren’t just simple rooms.

And while the team set their sights on improving the current structure, another big issue was the matter of sleeping space. The original farmhouse had very limited options, making large groups difﬁcult to accommodate.

By Samuel X. Cicci

ABOVE: The club was greatly expanded during renovations, jumping from 1,888 to a whopping 5,465 square feet. And in the main central room, the owner wanted to make sure that any changes preserved the property’s legacy. Many of the decorations were kept, but in came altered ceilings, new furniture, and a reworked ﬁreplace.

“A few of the members requested my input,” says Wunderlich. “They just wanted slight changes to incorporate things they owned, room color, or bathroom design.” Four of the bedrooms were completely new additions,

PHOTOGRAPHS BY HANNAH JOYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

42 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

“As members bring their kids and grandkids, that’s likely the place where they’ll stay,” says Bauer. “The beds are really comfortable, and it’s also a space where all the kids can go to hang out too.” And if there are even more young guests than anticipated, there’s plenty of space upstairs to throw down some blowup mattresses or sleeping bags. When it came to redesigning the exterior, RKA found that they couldn’t procure some materials due to supply chain issues. That required some smart improvisation from the team. For the exterior, “that’s all hardie board on the outside, since we couldn’t get the right height materials at first,” says Hunt. The only exposed wood outside are the timbers; everything else is a synthetic material that is designed to look like wood when painted.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 43 901-853-2200MaximusBuildingSupply.comSERVINGTHEMID-SOUTH,NORTHMISSISSIPPI, & OXFORD SINCE 1984. THRIFTY BUILDING SUPPLY IS NOW MAXIMUS BUILDING SUPPLY EXPERIENCE THE MAXIMUS DIFFERENCE WE OURCHANGEDNAME–BUT NOT COMMITMENTOUR TO OUR LUMBERCUSTOMERS.•WINDOWSDOORS•MILLWORK

“One of the members owned an old farmhouse which was torn down, and we reused some of the metal to create the bar ceiling,” says Hunt. “We also used it in the ceiling in the den and card room, and that member used it in his bedroom as well.” Much of the furniture populating the central room, den, and card room was also donated by “Amembers.lotofthe decor you see has some connection to the club,” adds Hunt. “We’ve got lots of photographs tracing the history of the club, the taxidermy that you see on the walls, some rugs, lots of antique furniture. They all have special significance to the club and the members.”Oneofthe other big features of the project is a large addition comprising a new entryway, a mud room, a locker room and gun safe for members to store their hunting gear, and a larger laundry area.“A lot of what we did here is in service of what happens post-hunting,” says Hunt. “There are lockers, benches, and hooks for the members to store equipment like their waders; the floor in there is concrete, which is easier to clean after being out in the mud, and there are plenty of hooks to hang things to dry. Right off that front entryway, we’ve also added a half bathroom, and another half bath at the back of the mud room, too.”

RKA added a fresh coat of paint and maintained the original fireplace. “It’s got wood walls and hardwood floors,” says Bauer. “They really wanted to have that old-school feel. And you’ve got a big dining room table in there where everyone can sit down.” The old, tiny kitchen was redone into a more modern galley style. “It’s much more modern and comfortable,” he continues. “Not modern in the sense of the design necessarily, but that it’s an updated space that’s comfortable to cook in, and veryOffelegant.”totheside of the central room, RKA remade an old bedroom and mudroom into extra leisure space. The mud room was transformed into the new card room, which holds a bar and an extra table to allow for either leisure activities or extra dining space. Beyond the card room lies the remodeled den, which is intended to be a slightly quieter space.

When arriving through the new entryway, members will also spy a new staircase. The original property was only one story, but the builders added an upstairs “bunkroom” for extra guests. There are six beds upstairs, plus a bathroom with two toilets, two sinks, and two showers. While they aren’t stacked like a traditional bunk bed, each bed is built into its own little nook. It’s a perfect arrangement for young guests to have their own little hidey-holes, or a place to stick any unruly kids.

while two of the original spaces had a complete facelift to match the rest. “And they’ve set themselves up to potentially expand the bedroom wing, if they want to do that,” says Bauer. “If they want to build that out to eight or ten bedrooms, they could do that in the future.” And the extension offers a quiet place where the members can retreat after a long day, or prepare for an early rise before hunting. Back in the main central room, maintaining the original aesthetic feel of pecky cypress was crucial,and preserving that central space was the main reason why they didn’t do a full tear-down.

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MessageChairman’s By Hunter Cooper with Thrifty Building Supply

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Remodeling your home has many benefits. A home improvement can modernize your living space, enhance your comfort level, and add to the resale value of your Withhome.increased home values, a growing number of homeowners are flush with home equity and are eager to re-invest in home improvements. Covid-19 sparked a demand for remodeling projects (e.g., home offices, gyms, and outdoor living spaces) and those trends have continued even as the pandemic subsides. If you have collected photos of your dream kitchen, drafted a general budget, and talked with friends about how you wish your home was more comfortable or modern, you may be ready to hire a professional remodeler to get the job done right! Here’s a helpful guide on how to get started: Gather your ideas. Get inspired by searching your favorite Pinterest boards and home improvement sites and save ideas in a folder or vision board as you research to help develop your remodeling plans. Identify the fixtures, textures, and materials you like. Consider how space will function and whether your new design will fit within the existing floor plan. Determine your budget. While it’s tough to determine precisely how much a renovation will cost this early in the process, establishing a budget ceiling will allow you to start getting in touch with professionals. Find an expert. Go to www.westtnhba.com and hover over ‘Find an Expert’ then click ‘Getting Started’ and fill out a request for proposal for the easiest and fastest way to find the right person for your project. Scan the QR code below to search our member directory of home building industry professionals.

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The West Tennessee Home Builders Association represents licensed and insured remodelers who will get your job done correctly the ﬁrst time. To ﬁnd a list of remodelers, go to www. westtnhba.com

Is it time to freshen up your home? Did the pandemic force you to spend more time in your home and you are just tired of the way it looks? Maybe you want to add more space or upgrade the cabinets, counters, appliances, and ﬁxtures. Or maybe you simply want to increase the resale value of your home.

HANNAH

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Have you considered the possibility that you may actually decrease the value of your house if the result isn’t up to a professional standard? If you decide that a remodeling project might be too much for you, consider hiring a professional remodeler. They offer years of experience, the right tools, a network of suppliers and subcontractors, and in-depth understanding of legal regulations, cost estimating, scheduling, and the latest construction techniques and materials. And if you need some inspiration for your next remodeling project, then visit the Vesta Home Show from November 11th to December 4th at the Belfair subdivision in Collierville, TN.

AFTERAFTERBEFOREBEFORE BY JOYCE PHOTOGRAPHY Mark Miesse with Memphis Title Company

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LetterPresident’s By

RKA originally started the remodeling project just before duck season in 2020, but the process was structured in such a way that construction would pause during duck season so members could use the property. Then, once duck season ﬁnished, construction would resume.

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PHOTOGRAPHS

When considering a DIY project, the ﬁrst question to ask is whether it’s more cost-effective to do it yourself or hire a professional. Ask yourself the following questions: Have you ever undertaken a project like this before? Do you have the tools you’ll need to complete the project? Do you know where to obtain the necessary materials? Are you familiar with the applicable building codes and permits? Do you enjoy physical labor? Do you have the time and resources to learn the skills needed? Should the project take longer than expected, are you and your family prepared to handle the inconvenience? Do you have the necessary insurance? Do you understand all the safety issues (i.e., lead paint, asbestos, or jobsite dangers)? What are the risks of injury? Are you familiar with the architecture and structural makeup of your home (i.e., how knocking down one wall will affect the rest of the structure)?

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Throughout the project, the remodeling team worked hard to salvage as much as they could to reuse in the new club. Hunt located antique bricks that were compatible with the brick from the original construction, and used that in the entry hall. Some of the siding from the original exterior was also reincorporated into the kitchen, and that same material is also being used to fabricate furniture that should be ready by duck season of this year. Hunt’s favorite example is the club’s original fireplace mantle. “It was an enormous timber that we thought was too big,” he says, “but we actually split it down the middle, refinished it, and used each piece as a new mantle for the fireplaces we have in the main room and the new den.”

ABOVE: The original property had three serviceable bedrooms. The updated club holds six completely revamped bedrooms, with a couple featuring personal touches that reﬂect the members’ needs. Each bedroom also contains its own modernized full bathroom. Upstairs in the bunkroom, young visitors and extra guests have their own separate bathroom.

“It made it a bit stop-start to accommodate for duck season, but we’re always ﬂexible to the client’s needs,” says Bauer. “So we followed that process, and then put in the ﬁnishing touches earlier this year when duck season ended.”

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The biggest challenge, unsurprisingly, was being able to quickly procure all the right materials for a project that began in the early days of Covid, when supply chain and logistics issues became the norm. Throw in the I-40 bridge shutdown, and that just added yet another transportation wrinkle. “Through all of that, the members were really patient with us and RKA,” says Hunt. “What could have been a tricky process ended up being pretty smooth.” With the club entering into a new phase of its life, the property should

84 N. Main | Collierville, TN 38017 | 901.861.7111 | www.FirstFruitCollection.com

expect to welcome even more visitors. While the remodeling project is finished, there are still opportunities to give the property an extra boost. “I’d say the next project would likely be landscaping,” says Hunt. “I’m thinking a new outbuilding to store tools, a more nicely landscaped parking apron. In ten years the site will look very different after decorating the outdoor space, but it will always preserve the character that’s already here.”

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 47 2022 Supplier List BRICK AND MASONRY MATERIALS: Christie Cut Stone 901-382-6242 CABINETS, CLOSETS, AND TRIM: Wyatt Construction 901-491-0402 COUNTER FABRICATORS: Countertops of Memphis 901-614-0200 DRYWALL: MW Construction 901-233-5142 EXTERIOR DOORS AND WINDOWS: Gates Lumber 901-942-3201 FIREPLACES: Christie Cut Stone 901-382-6242 FLOORING/HARDWOOD: Mid-South Flooring 901-494-2030 HVAC: Landrum Heating and Air 901-494-6285 LUMBER AND MILLWORK: Thrifty Building Supply 901-853-2200 LIGHT FIXTURES AND DOOR HARDWARE: Graham’s Lighting 901-274-6780 PLUMBING FIXTURES: Ferguson 901-759-3820 PLUMBING: East Arkansas Plumbing 870-295-1500 It’s time to CASH IN on your Home Equity With 0 % APR* for the first 6 months firstsouth.com • 901-380-7400 *See FirstSouth.com for details. Plus, up to $500 cash back! 901-465-3400 | rka.buildCUSTOM HOMES | RENOVATIONS l ADDITIONS @rkaconstruction ARCHITECTSLANDSCAPE DESIGN PEOPLE PLACES Blair Parker Design, LLC. Landscape 901.767.6555Architects

ABOVE: The original small kitchen space was expanded into a much more comfortable layout, full of new appliances and an outlook into the main room.

www.memphismagazine.com Visit at }us 48 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 WTNHBA 2022 Remodelers Council Members List Jennifer Allen — Sunrise Builder Supply jallen@sunrisebuilderssupply.com. 901-431-3630 Ryan Anderson — RKA Construction ryan@rka.build. 901-465-3400 Mark Beck — Designer Millworx mark.capitalconstruction@gmail.com. 901-610-8226 Kristin Bobo — Lowe’s Home Centers kristin.m.bobo@store.lowes.com. 901-481-1059 Tommy Byrnes — Byrnes Ostner Investments tommy@byrnesostner.com. 901-681-0499 Eric Catmur, Immediate Past Chair — Catmur Development Co. eric.catmur@gmail.com. 901-680-8200 John Catmur — Catmur Development Company catmurdc@comcast.net. 901-680-8200 Lynda Climer — Capital Investments lyndaclimer@yahoo.com. 731-217-3827 Hunter Cooper, Chair — Thrifty Building Supply hcooper@thriftybuilding.com. 901-598-4868 Joseph Coster — Iron Crafters joseph@ironcrafterusa.com. 662-224-6658 Joel Enochs — JA Contractors joel@jacontractors.net. 901-522-5235 Adam Fonseca — Fonseca Construction fonseca.built@gmail.com. 901-496-8403 Art Gettings — Art Gettings Construction artgettings@gmail.com. 901-605-9178 Kip Gordon — RKA Construction kip@rka.build. 901-465-3400 Alan Hargett — Central Woodwork ahargett@cenwood.com. 901-605-9178 Chris Hatcher — Hatcher Homes hatcherhomesgc@gmail.com. 901-831-0975 John Heard — John Heard Company jheardhomes@gmail.com. 901-756-6167 Destiny Herter Designer Wholesale Kitchen Bath and Floors destiny.designerwholesalefloor@gmail.com. 901-563-8989 LD Humphreys — Riverhaus Properties LD@humphreysbuilders.com. 901-870-3374 Drew Kimberlin, Vice Chair — Williamsburg Home Services dkimberlin@williamsburg.build. 901-614-3100 Patrick Mahoney, Past Presidents Advisor — Remodeling Consultants Inc. pat@remodelingconsultants.com. 901-870-5471 Robert McCage — Rapid Roofing and Construction rapidroofingandconstruction@gmail.com. 731-617-0249 Dave Moore — Dave Moore Companies dave@davemoorcompanies.com. 901-870-7372 Tommy Peeler — Midtown Cabinetry & Millwork tommy@midtownmill.com. 901-485-3316 Phillip Qualls — CrewPros phillip@crewpros.com. 901-221-4033 Mindy Rackham — Lowe’s Home Centers mindy.a.rackham@lowes.com. 901-573-7505 Mike Reilly — Southern Screen/Phantom Screens mike@midsouthphantom.com. 901-758-2121 Ned Savage — Savage Tile Company savagetileco@bellsouth.net. 901-363-9607 Grace Shaw — Countertops of Memphis grace@countertopsofmemphis.com. 901-614-0200 Evan Tinder — Williamsburg Home Services evan@williamsburg.build. 901-614-3100 Scott Trimble — Revival Restoration Services info@revivalrestore.com. 901-401-8500 Nate Wade — Pinnacle Blue nwade@pinnacleblue.org. 901-422-5378 Cory Wheat — Colonial Electric Company cory@colonialelectriccompany.com. 901-356-1026 Robert Edward Whitsitt Sr. — EZRA52 bob@ezra52.org. 901-848-4033 DESIGN + BUILD | REMODEL | RENOVATION KITCHEN • BATH • HOME MINIMAXKitchen&Bath home remodeling has never been easier! 901-386-6868 | www.minimaxdesign.com Memphis Magazine’s THE FACE2022 OF KITCHEN&BATH

DREAMSTIME/OKSIMAGBYPHOTOGRAPH 2022INDEPENDENTMEMPHISAREASCHOOLSGUIDE

In the Mid-South, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of high-quality educational opportunities — public, charter, and independent. Independent schools in the Memphis area are numerous and varied. Parents inquiring at these schools generally are interested in strong academics, small class sizes, and innovative approaches to education that will best prepare their children for college. What does “independent” mean? Each MAIS member school is guided by its own mission, maps its own curriculum, develops its own programs, creates its own educational environment, and is governed by its own board. We are independent in our educational offerings and in whom we serve. Among our members, you will find a variety of schools designed for specific ages, genders, religious affiliations, and special needs. Our teaching and learning environments range from traditional to progressive.

Dr. Kristen Ring MAIS Secretary Head of HutchisonSchool,School

COLLEGERHODESCOURTESYPHOTOGRAPH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 2022 MAIS GUIDE

Rabbi Benjy Owen MAIS Treasurer Head of MargolinSchool,Hebrew Academy

Albert L. Throckmorton MAIS Past President Head of School, St. Mary’s Episcopal School

Dr. Bryan Williams MAIS President Head of School, Christ Methodist Day School

The Memphis Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) represents 33 of the region’s ﬁnest private schools, each of which is unique, and all of which share a commitment to setting educational excellence, meeting the needs of individual students, and building a stronger community.

Dr. Bryan Williams President, Memphis Association of Independent Schools Head of ChristianSchool,Methodist Day School

All MAIS schools nurture intellectual curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and promote personalStudentsgrowth.fromall socioeconomic backgrounds attend independent schools, and many schools work with families to help meet the costs associated with an independent school education. Some offer monthly payment options, while many offer ﬁnancial aid grants, which are discounts on tuition. Many of our independent schools are also considering participation in the new Education Savings Account program the Tennessee Department of Education is planning to offer. With the autonomy to implement programs free from state mandates, independent schools are able to create innovative curricula that meet the ever-changing needs of students. Individual attention is a hallmark of independent schools, where smaller class sizes enable them to foster a variety of learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Teachers at independent schools develop an understanding of their students’ learning styles and potential, expect all students to succeed, and encourage students to value perseverance and achievement. In this environment, students form relationships with their teachers, which frequently lead to greater academic success and often transcend the school day as teachers become life mentors for Independentstudents.schools not only nurture students’ intellectual ability and curiosity but also their social growth and civic conscience. Opportunities extend well beyond the classroom for athletic competitions, artistic pursuits, and leadership experiences. Students and teachers of independent schools are engaged citizens, volunteering throughout the Mid-South. Community service, whether required or voluntary, is a core component of MAIS schools. When choosing a school, parents are wise to seek out one whose mission, values, and teaching philosophy are right for their family and to consider the community, curriculum, and extracurriculars that answer the essential question, “Is this school a good ﬁt for my child?” As you read through this publication, we hope you will want to learn more about the outstanding educational opportunities that exist in the schools that comprise the Memphis Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Memphis magazine in presenting this information. MAIS is proud to represent the families of the nearly 18,000 students who attend independent schools in the Mid-South. We invite you to schedule visits and tour MAIS campuses. We will welcome you!

Lionel Cable MAIS Vice President Head of School, New Hope Christian Academy

President’s Letter September 2022 DREAMSTIME|LTDWAVEBREAKMEDIABYPHOTOGRAPH

1381 West Massey Road, Memphis, TN 901.474.1030 | admission@lausanneschool.com | lausanneschool.com Lausanne develops the individual talents, intellects, creativity and character of boys and girls through innovative teaching strategies and passionate and engaged learning within our diverse PK2 through 12th grade International Baccalaureate setting. Rigorous academics for the individual student help us build confident leaders ready to make the world a better place. Learn more at lausanneschool.com . SCHOOL CULTUREA positive and unifying

How can students receive financial assistance? Are there different types of financial assistance, and when should students start applying for assistance? Most independent schools offer some sort of financial assistance to families. Usually the financial aid application process begins at the time that the admission process begins. Most schools complete financial aid in the spring of the year before the child starts the next grade. Parents will have to complete an application process. Depending on which schools the family is applying to, there might be different application processes. Parents will receive an answer from the school indicating how much aid they qualify for. Families generally do not need to accept enrollment before receiving notice of aid, and the aid is an award, not a loan. The new education savings accounts ( ESAs) coming into the picture will likely change a lot in the financial aid world for independent schools. Many schools are still trying to understand the process and implications, but the picture for ESAs will become much clearer. Many independent schools also participate in the Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust or MOST. This is a great program that families who need financial assistance should consider.

When parents ﬁnd schools that align with their values, what factors should inﬂuence which school they choose? Families should select a school because they feel like their values and beliefs align closely with the mission of the school. Many schools offer programs far and beyond the academic program of the school. After doing their research, schools want parents to select their school because they want to become an engaged part of the school community. What makes independent schools strong is an engaged community that is fully committed to the mission of the school and wants to become contributors to the overall success of the school.

Tipton Rosemark Academy Trinity Christian Academy Westminster Academy Woodland Presbyterian School

Margolin Hebrew Academy Memphis University School

New Hope Christian Academy Northpoint Christian School

What are some of the different values and beliefs that parents can look for at a MAIS school? How do these different missions beneﬁt parents and students? MAIS schools can vary largely. We have a number of schools that originate from a religious background such as Christianity, Catholicism, and Judaism. There are also many schools that come from a secular approach. Each school’s purpose is clearly stated in their mission statement.

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President of the Memphis Association of Independent Schools ALLISON BINNING

A Conversation with Dr. Bryan Williams

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Presbyterian Day School

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MadonnaLausanneLamplighterHutchisonHardingGrace-St.FirstFayetteEvangelicalConcordCollegiateChristianChristChristBriarcrestBornblumSchoolJewishCommunitySchoolChristianSchoolMethodistDaySchooltheKingLutheranSchoolBrothersHighSchoolSchoolofMemphisAcademyChristianSchoolAcademyAssemblyChristianSchoolLuke’sEpiscopalSchoolAcademySchoolMontessoriSchoolCollegiateSchoolLearningCenter MAIS

Parents beneﬁt from more choice in how they would like to see their children educated and the ability to choose the values and beliefs of that organization.

What is the benefit of creating an independent school organization? How do independent schools benefit from being in the MAIS? The Memphis Association of Independent Schools seeks to create a collegial organization where schools can work together to discuss best practices and combine resources to help each other meet our own independent missions. This was best seen recently as we all worked together through the Covid-19 pandemic to advocate for our schools with local and state government entities, procure vaccinations for our teachers and students, and determine policies to benefit our schools and families. MAIS has recently created a strategic plan that includes goals around professional development for schools and playing a role in the greater Memphis community with service.

What is an independent school? How do the goals of independent schools differ from other types of schools? An independent school is by its very nature and definition independent. That means it is governed by its own individualized mission. It is governed by a Board of Trustees or Directors, and it has the freedom to set policies and goals specific to its own school community. While many independent schools may instruct in similar ways, we are all unique in our missions. This mission-centered approach provides independent schools with great flexibility and ability to pivot and create our own paths for our students. As smaller schools, we are not weighed down by the bureaucracy of large public school districts. This allows children in independent schools to receive instruction in a much more personalized environment where many times the administration and teachers are able to differentiate for the student’s needs.

Rossville Christian Academy St. Agnes Academy / St. Dominic School St. Benedict at Auburndale High School St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School St. George’s Independent School St. Mary’s Episcopal School

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MEMBERS

Bodine

Join us for Concord Community Day! Meet our staff and students and learn more about our exceptional school!

Concord Academy is a place for students with learning differences to belong and succeed. Many schools are not equipped to support the unique needs of students with learning differences. At Concord Academy, our specialized teachers and staff work with students to foster success in the classroom, support socialemotional growth, and set students up for success after highCombiningschool. our expertise with a culture of understanding, belonging, and support, we see Concord students blossom in learning, building friendships, and being appreciated for what makes them unique. Concord Academy equips students with learning differences with the skills they need for lifelong success. Concord Academy is an independent, state-approved, special education middle and high school serving students with learning disabilities, Autism, ADD/ADHD, anxiety/ depression, and other diverse learning needs.

Learn Differently Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School 246 S. Belvedere Blvd., Memphis, TN 38104 901.278.0200 • gslschool.org An Anchor for Life Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School is a coed, independent school for children age 2 through grade 8. Founded in 1947 in the heart of Midtown’s beautiful Central Gardens neighborhood, GSL prepares boys and girls to become creative problem solvers, confident lifelong learners, and responsible citizens in their communities and the world. We are celebrating our 75th anniversary this year and look forward to further enhancing our program and strengthening our community ties under the leadership of new Head of School Dr. Andy Surber. GSL’s ongoing success is driven by an excellent academic program and our long tradition of educating the whole child. Our Episcopal identity as a welcoming, inclusive community is foundational to our philosophy and reinforced by the school’s Formative Five character education program, which emphasizes the importance of empathy, self-control, embracing diversity, integrity, and grit. With a lively play-based Preschool program, a thoughtful and inspiring Lower School curriculum, and an outstanding, challenging Middle School experience, we create bright, kind-hearted, wellrounded graduates who are sought after by high schools throughout the region. Come see firsthand why so many Mid-South families choose GSL for their children’s educational foundation!

Concord Academy 4942 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN 38117 901.682.3115 • concord-academy.org • info@concord-academy.org Concord Community Day October 4

Preschool Open House: Saturday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. Tours are also available year-round for applicants. To schedule a visit, contact Enrollment Director Shelly McGuire at 901-278-0200 or email gslschool.orglearnmore@today.

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6 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 2022 MAIS GUIDE

At Harding Academy, want students not only to gain knowledge, but to understand how that knowledge can transform their lives for the glory of God. How does studying biology lead them to care for themselves and others? How does reading literature create empathy and broaden their perspectives? How can studying the life of Ida B. Wells help them to seek justice today? Our Teaching for Transformation framework ensures all of our learning serves a deeper purpose. We also understand how busy life can be, and we want to make scheduling easier for families. Our Little Harding program begins at just 6 weeks old and offers flexible options to meet your needs. Once your child graduates Jr. K, they move just a few streets over to our combined campus for Sr. K–grade 12. If you have multiple children across lower, middle, and high school, that means only one location for drop-off and pick-up. Schedule a tour today to explore how we can partner together in helping your child grow. Hope Christian Academy 3000 University Street, Memphis, TN 38127 901.358.3183 admissions@newhopememphis.org newhopememphis.org

New Hope Christian Academy is an urban, college-preparatory elementary school providing students with a challenging, intellectual, and Christ-centered education. Serving over 400 students from three years old to 6th grade, New Hope is rooted in the heart of the Frayser community of Memphis, and built upon the core pillars of teaching, learning, and discipleship. Through teaching, hands-on learning, and Christ-centered discipleship, we strive to equip each child with the necessary tools to pursue a college education and serve as God’s image-bearers. We place a unique emphasis on the immediate community in which the school is located and develop long-lasting relationships with students, families, partner schools, and churches. Almost 90 percent of the school’s operational budget is donation-funded, and community partners help us provide students with an educational opportunity unlike any other. From our Urban Farm to our STEM SmartLab, New Hope provides unique hands-on academic experiences and opportunities for students. The Alumni & Scholarship Office supports New Hope graduates as they transition to middle school, high school, and beyond. ASO seeks to maintain and strengthen relationships with graduates by extending the vision of New Hope – equipping students with the tools necessary to serve as God’s image-bearers, while effectively pursuing high school graduation, college education, and the vocation to which the Lord leads them. Open enrollment begins in November and limited spots are available. ESA vouchers will be accepted for all K-6 applicants.

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Harding Academy 1100 Cherry Road, Memphis, TN 38117 • LITTLE HARDING: 1106 Colonial Road, Memphis, TN 38117 901.767.4494 • admissions@hardinglions.org • hardinglions.org

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Boys are curious, thrive when they are active, and learn best through experiential approaches. At PDS, we let boys move, inquire, and think out loud. This isn’t just a boys school. It’s a school built for boys — and all the ways they learn, grow, and do. Boys, two years old through sixth grade, learn how to become better thinkers, problem solvers, and citizens. With the launch of our new Cultural Expeditions program, we are expanding opportunities to experience the world. A focus on global learning allows for a safe environment where our boys connect to the wider world, opening the door to deeper empathy and respect for diverse individuals, cultures, andPDSbeliefs.iscommitted to the whole boy; nurturing the heart, soul, mind, and body. Our character education program offers age-appropriate lessons on the virtues of manhood and small-group meetings with mentors on campus. Knowing boys are more comfortable embracing multiple roles in an all-boy setting, we offer art, choral, and instrumental music, competitive sports, our own intramural league, robotics, and more. At PDS, each boy can develop his own interests with the love and support of his teachers, mentors, coaches, parents, and classmates. No one reaches boys better.

Presbyterian Day School 4025 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111 901.842.4695 (o) • 901.842.4620 (f) • pdsmemphis.org

After nearly 75 years of teaching boys, PDS knows they wiggle and squirm, they delight in getting their hands dirty, and their minds sometimes wander. (That’s okay!)

At Presbyterian Day School, we know how to reach boys, teach them, and channel their energies in the most positive and productive ways.

Girls Are. Remarkable. For more than 175 years, we have provided girls in Memphis with the finest education possible. Our story includes some of the earliest female leaders in Memphis, the Episcopal sisters of St. Mary, who at their own peril cared for the Memphis community during the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. Their legacy of service and commitment to principles continue to inspire generations of St. Mary’s girls to grow into young women of integrity, compassion, and confidence. We are a community of individuals from different neighborhoods, ethnic backgrounds, and faiths who respect one another’s differences and honor our shared values. Our students are creative, collaborative, motivated, empathetic, and inspiring. We enjoy relationships based on trust, we encourage each other through challenges, and we take joy in one another’s accomplishments. Every teacher, every lesson, and every resource is dedicated to how girls learn best. In an all-girls setting, students feel comfortable articulating their thoughts and beliefs, and faculty and administrators make it clear that what students say is heard, considered, and valued. St. Mary’s provides a supportive, nurturing environment where girls are encouraged to take healthy risks and explore the boundaries of what is possible. Each girl learns to recognize her own talents and strengths so that she may pursue her interests, discover new opportunities, and reach her individual potential. Whatever her interests, she can be herself here and take advantage of all St. Mary’s has to offer.

St. Mary’s Episcopal School 60 Perkins Extended, Memphis, TN 38117 901.537.1405 • admissions@stmarysschool.org stmarysschool.org

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ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 220/5:1

STUDENT BODY: male GRADES: 9th–12th TUITION: $15,250 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 830/12:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Roman Catholic BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: no Collegiate School of Memphis 3353 Faxon Ave., 38122 591-8200 collegiatememphis.org

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 540/9:1

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: Age 2–8th TUITION: $6,185–$19,980 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 450/8:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Episcopal BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Harding Academy of BODY: co-ed GRADES: 6 weeks–Jr. K $10,700–$16,495 680 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10:1 Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Hutchison School 1740 Ridgeway Rd., 38119 761-2220 hutchisonschool.org BODY: female GRADES: PK2–12th grade $5,700–$24,760

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: 18 months–8th TUITION: $8,500–$8,950

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: none/dyslexia and dyslexia-re lated reading differences BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Bornblum Jewish Community School 6641 Humphreys Blvd., 38120 747-2665 bornblum.org

ENROLLMENT:

TUITION:

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: 6th–12th TUITION: $12,950–$13,100 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 365/12:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nondenominational Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: after-school only Concord Academy 4942 Walnut Grove Rd., 38117 682-3115 concord-academy.org GRADES: 6th–12th TUITION: $12,473–$13,140 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 54/6:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: none/learning and social disabilities BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Evangelical Christian School SHELBY FARMS MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL CAMPUS 7600 Macon Rd., 38018 754-7217 ecseagles.com

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: K2–12th TUITION: $5,200–$17,550

Memphis SchoolsIndependentArea

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Methodist/Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Christ the King Lutheran School 5296 Park Ave., 38119 682-8405 ctkschool.com

STUDENT

Memphis K–12 CAMPUS 1100 Cherry Rd., 38117 901-767-4494 hardinglions.org STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: Sr. K–12th TUITION: $12,095–$16,795 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 650/7.5:1 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes LITTLE HARDING EAST MEMPHIS CAMPUS 1106 Colonial Rd., 38117 901-767-2093 STUDENT

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: K-8th TUITION: Kindergarten – $9,500; 1st-8th – $11,750

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 83/10:1

Christian Brothers High School 5900 Walnut Grove Rd., 38120 261-4900 cbhs.org

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Pluralistic Judaism BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Briarcrest Christian School 76 S. Houston Levee Rd., Eads, TN 38028 765-4600 briarcrest.com

Bodine School 2432 Yester Oaks Dr., Germantown, TN 38139 754-1800 bodineschool.org GRADES: 1st–6th TUITION: check with office; financial aid available

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: 2K–6th TUITION: $2,705–$14,400

8 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 2022 MAIS GUIDE 2022 Guide to

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Lutheran BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 600/15:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nondenominational Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes First Assembly Christian School 8650 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, 38018 458-5543 facsmemphis.org STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: PK3–12th

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: 6th–12th TUITION: $14,990–$16,800 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 510 students RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS 1920 Forest Hill-Irene Rd. 754-4420 STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: Little Eagles (age 2)–5th TUITION: $6,200–$13,250 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 412 students RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Fayette Academy 15090 Hwy. 64, Somerville, TN 38068 465-3241 www.fayetteacademy.org

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nondenominational Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Christ Methodist Day School 411 S. Grove Park, 38117 683-6873 choosecmds.org

ENROLLMENT: 825; early childhood, 9:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nonsectarian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Lamplighter Montessori School 8563 Fay Rd., 38018 751-2000 lamplighterschool.org STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: Age 18 mos.–8th TUITION: $8,100–$16,300 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 140/5:1/12:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nonsectarian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Lausanne Collegiate School 1381 W. Massey Rd., 38120 474-1000 lausanneschool.com STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: PK2–12th TUITION: $12,690–$25,565 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 900/7:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nonsectarian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes

TUITION: $6,192–$12,144 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 550/11:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: interdenominational Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School 246 S. Belvedere, 38104 278-0200 gslschool.org

TUITION:

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 115/6:1

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 1,750/10:1

RELIGION/SPECIALTY:

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: PK3–12th TUITION: $3,975–$8,325

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 1,050/15:1

731-668-8500 tcalions.com STUDENT

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: 6th–12th GERMANTOWN CAMPUS 8250 Poplar Ave., Germantown, TN 38138 261-2300 GRADES: PK–5th

Presbyterian Day School 4025 Poplar Ave., 38111 842-4600 pdsmemphis.org

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Episcopal

STUDENT BODY: St. Agnes, female; St. Dominic, male GRADES: 2K–12th (girls), 2K-8th (boys) TUITION: $4,510–$18,475 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 775 (com bined)/10:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Catholic BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes St. Benedict at Auburndale High School 8250 Varnavas at Germantown Pkwy., Cordova, 38016 260-2840 sbaeagles.org

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Roman Catholic BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes

RELIGION/SPECIALTY:

Madonna Learning Center 7007 Poplar Ave., Germantown, TN 38138 752-5767 madonna-learning.org

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: Preschool–12th TUITION: $5,650–$8,350 (financial aid available)

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: PK3–12th TUITION: $7,125–$10,575

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: Age 3 years–6th TUITION: $12,500 (financial assistance available and need-based on a sliding scale)

STUDENT BODY: male GRADES: 7th–12th TUITION: $22,900 (need-based assistance available)

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Our Lady of Perpetual Help 8151 Poplar Ave., Germantown, 38138 753-1181 olphowls.org

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: none/special needs, includ ing Down syndrome, developmental and learning disabilities, sensory processing disorders, and other learning challenges BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Margolin Hebrew Academy 390 S. White Station Rd., 38117 682-2400 mhafyos.org

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 655/7:1

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 318/14:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: interdenominational Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes St. Agnes Academy / St. Dominic School 4830 Walnut Grove Rd., 38117 767-1356 saa-sds.org

co-ed GRADES:

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 400+/116:1

RELIGION/SPECIALTY:

Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes (including holidays) Westminster Academy 2520 Ridgeway Rd., 38119 380-9192 wamemphis.com STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: JK–12th TUITION: $7,435–$14,615 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 445/6:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Classical Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Woodland Presbyterian School 5217 Park Ave., 38119 685-0976 woodlandschool.org STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: Age 2–8th TUITION: $4,300–$15,700 (tuition assistance available) ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 340/7:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Presbyterian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nondenominational Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: after only, K-6th Northpoint Christian School 7400 Getwell Rd., Southaven, MS, 38672 662-349-3096 ncstrojans.com

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Jewish BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: after only Memphis University School 6191 Park Ave., 38119 260-1300 musowls.org

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: PK–8th TUITION: $3,300–$8,600

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: 9th–12th TUITION: $13,325–$21,600 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 500/16:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Catholic BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: no St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School 2100 N. Germantown Pkwy., Cordova, 38016 388-7321 sfawolves.org

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY

STUDENT BODY: co-ed GRADES: 2K–8th TUITION: $5,450–$10,675 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 400/14:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Catholic BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes St. George’s Independent School COLLIERVILLE CAMPUS 1880 Wolf River Blvd., Collierville, TN 38017 457-2000 sgis.org

GRADES: flexible levels, ungraded classrooms (ages 4–30) TUITION: $13,800, financial aid available

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 43/6:1

GRADES: PK-12th/co-ed (PK3–8th), female (9th–12th), male (9th–12th) TUITION: $7,376–$19,533

STUDENT BODY: male GRADES: Age 2–6th TUITION: $5,700–$21,920 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 500/9:1

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 215/4:1

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Presbyterian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Rossville Christian Academy 280 High St., Rossville, TN 38066 853-0200 rossvillechristian.com

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 235/11:1

MEMPHIS CAMPUS 3749 Kimball Ave., 38111 261-3920 GRADES: PK–5th TUITION: $9,935–$22,925

RATIO:

CARE: after only Tipton-Rosemark Academy 8696 Rosemark Rd., Millington, TN 38053 829-6536 tiptonrosemarkacademy.net STUDENT

RELIGION/SPECIALTY: nondenominational BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: after only New Hope Christian Academy 3000 University St., 38127 358-3183 newhopememphis.org

2022 MAIS GUIDE • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 9

ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 1,115 (all locations)/9:1 RELIGION/SPECIALTY: Episcopal BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes (PK-8th) St. Mary’s Episcopal School 60 S. Perkins Extd., 38117 537-1405 stmarysschool.org STUDENT BODY: female GRADES: Age 2–12th TUITION: $4,000–$24,475 ENROLLMENT/STUDENT-FACULTY 825/8:1 BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL BODY: K2–12th TUITION: $5,238–$10,275 RATIO: 550/15:1 nondenominational Christian BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: yes Trinity Christian Academy 10 Windy City Rd., Jackson, TN 38305 BODY: co-ed GRADES: Age 6 weeks–12th TUITION: $6,470–$11,183 (PK-12th); $804–$911/month (infants and toddlers) RATIO: 650/9:1 interdenominational

#5.happen.Affordability:

Why do families choose CTK School? Our parents will tell you… Christ the King (CTK) School 5296 Park Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 901.682.8405 • ctkschool.com

Top 10 Reasons Families Choose Christ the King: #10. Great Reputation: Has served Memphis & the Mid-South for 60+ #9.years.Location: On Park Ave. in 2 make it CTK is the most reasonably-priced Christian, private-school education around. #4. Safe & Environment:ComfortableJobtheComfort Dog makes sure of it! #3. Diversity: Students of color comprise 34 percent of the student #2.body.Small Class Sizes: Means personalized attention. Your child will not just be a number at CTK. #1. It Feels like a Family: Everyone knows and cares about each other, creating a beautiful Christian community.CallTODAY to learn more!

the heart of East Memphis. Easy to get to! #8. Friends and Family attend #7.together.Educational Excellence: Children perform

10 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 2022 MAIS GUIDE

Open House, October 18, 2022, 5:00-7:00 pm St. Francis of Assisi School 2100 Germantown Pkwy • Cordova, TN 38016 901.381.2548 • sfawolves.org

For more than 25 years, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School has opened its doors each fall to serve students in the heart of Germantown. The co-educational, PreK-8 Catholic School provides an accredited, childcentered, developmentally appropriate program, serving all qualified children of any race, creed, national or ethnic origin. In addition to the robust academic offerings, Our Lady offers various extracurricular and extended day offerings for all age levels. Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is firmly rooted in Christian values and provides an environment designed for the optimal development of the whole child emphasized throughout the school program. Our Lady’s mission is to instill in our students the fundamental beliefs of the Roman Catholic faith, ensuring quality learning experiences with the highest regard for individual differences while preparing them to live in a changing world as selfdirected, caring, responsible citizens. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School 8151 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, TN, 38138 901.753.1181 • fax 901.754.1475 • olphowls.org advertise September 2022 Memphis Area Independent Schools Guide please contact Margie Neal at: 901.521.9000 or margie@memphismagazine.com

levels above grade, on #6.average.Extracurricular Activities: If your child wants to do it, we can

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School educates students, grades 2K through 8, and has built a reputation of producing academic leaders and preparing students for the top high schools in Memphis. Since founded in 2004, SFA has produced 16 Valedictorians, 10 Salutatorians, 15 National Merit Finalists and 20 National Merit Commended Scholars. SFA has been on the leading edge of integrating technology into the classroom to promote interaction, collaboration, and engagement. We provide all students with 1:1 Apple devices and all classrooms are equipped with Promethean Boards or Apple TVs. With Project Lead the Way STEM Courses, students become problem solvers and effective communicators for a complex and challenging world. Why join SFA School? High standards, a moral foundation and compassion that our children and society need right now. We have a place for your child to grow in mind and spirit.

in the

Finding purposeintruth. briarcrest.com | 901.765.4600 Min d . Bod y . Spiri t OPEN HOUSE: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 @ 9AM MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 @ 6PM We believe God’s Word is true, so we learn academics from a biblical perspective. Whether in academics, athletics, science or the arts, we can help your child find their unique purpose.

DISCOVER THE BROTHERHOOD AT CBHS.ORG • JOIN US FOR OPEN HOUSE: SUNDAY, 11/6 AT 2PM You’ll ﬁnd where you ﬁt in. We’ll show you how you can stand out.

FINDING YOUR FORTE THISIS S A INTAGN E S ACADE M Y for girls PK2 12TH EST. 1851 S A INTDOMI NIC SCHO O L for b oys PK2 8TH EST. 1956 S A INTAGN E S ACADE M Y for girls PK2 12TH EST. 1851 S A INTDOMI NICSCHO O L for boys PK2 8TH EST. 1956 HighSeptemberHouseOpen17,2022SchoolGirlsGrades9-12September24,2022Boys&GirlsGradesPK2-8 FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.SAA-SDS.ORG

We have a full calendar of admission events this fall. RSVP for an OPEN HOUSE on November 9, 11 or 17 at sgis.org/visit or schedule a campus tour anytime! At St. George’s, the way we weave it all together is what sets your child apart. Visit sgis.org

THEY AREN’T LITTLE FOR A LIFETIME. But while they are, Westminster Academy prepares them for the future. At Westminster, our teachers care about their students growing not just academically, but also, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our small class sizes, unique curriculum, and emphasis on exploration will develop your child into a life-long learner. THE EDUCATION FOR A LIFETIME JK-12 | CLASSICAL | CHRISTIAN | INDEPENDENT 901.380.9192 | WAMEMPHIS.COM

Friday | September 16 Herb Alpert & Lani Hall Friday | November 4 Charles Lloyd Ocean Trio Saturday | February 11 PilobolusOPENINGNIGHT! Saturday | October 1 An Evening with Jessica Vosk Saturday | October 8 Mavis Staples Saturday | October 15 Joey Alexander Saturday | October 22 Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience with Special Guest Marcella Simien Saturday | November 19 Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra Saturday | January 14 Stacey Kent Saturday | January 21 The Milk Carton Kids Thursday | February 9 Cécile McLorin Salvant Sunday | March 5 Step Afrika! Saturday | April 15 Marc Cohn & Shawn Colvin Friday | April 21 Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer with Rakesh Chaurasia Saturday | April 22 Acoustic Music ConcertProject: 1801 Exeter Rd. Germantown, TN 38138 901-751-7500 | boxoffice@gpacweb.com gpacweb.com

Alongside a good exercise routine, both Ford and Lee-Sigler agree that eating balanced, nutritious foods is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. “Food is medicine, too,” Lee-Sigler says, adding that “certain foods have natural inﬂammatory properties.” Green leafy vegetables, dark berries, and other foods that are high in antioxidants are beneﬁcial because they prevent free radicals from affecting your joints. But Lee-Sigler says a good diet isn’t just the foods you choose. “I tell people that they have to stop the fried and fatty food and go with things that are natural, but they also need to 901 Health from 38 774-7400

Lee-Sigler recommends that when deciding what types of exercises to do, we ensure that it’s a balanced routine. “A lot of times people who want to lose weight start running,” she says. “They’re not runners, they don’t stretch, and they don’t properly strengthen their other muscles. They’re pounding just because they want to lose weight.” This leads to a higher risk of injury and puts our joint health at risk. When we skip our stretches, our muscles tighten and can cause joint problems.

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“Many muscles cross a joint,” she says. “When the muscles are short or tight, then they don’t easily allow the joint to go through its full range of motion. Also, when the muscles are tight, you don’t get maximum strength from them to protect [the joint].” She strongly recommends that we choose balanced workouts and practice good form to prevent any injuries.

page

66 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 outside, then go do it,” he says. “As you age, it’s easy to get stuck in a chair.” He suggests ﬁ nding alternatives to our favorite sport to stay active. Pickleball — a sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton — is becoming increasingly popular for all ages. It’s a low-impact, social game that still requires a competitive spirit, making it great for those with deteriorating joints.

continued

Memphis is #1 in senior hunger.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 67 learn what the correct portion is for healthy foods.” She says that learning the correct portion sizes for your age, weight, and activity level prevents overeating. Her ﬁ nal piece of advice for a long and healthy life is to never smoke or vape, or to quit as soon as possible. “Smoking and vaping increase free radicals, which impact almost every part of your body,” she says. “In your joints, they increase the inﬂammatory potential and decrease the hydration status of your joints.”

She adds that exercising, stretching, and warming up are important, but they aren’t as eﬀective if you smoke. “It can be really hard to do, but if you’re only going to make two changes to your life for your health, those two things should be to get your weight under control and stop smoking,” she says. Luckily, I never caved into the peer pressure of vaping, so that’s one fewer problem I have to worry about as I stress over my future.So,as I complete my yearly existential crisis, I will rest easy knowing that I can celebrate a few more birthdays while I continue picking up big weights. Maybe when I celebrate my ﬁftieth I’ll start cycling. And when I turn 80, my fellow 80-year-olds and I will play pickleball to stay active and social. I’ll happily follow Lee-Sigler’s suggestion of a Mediterranean diet as a basis for my healthy eating, and I’ll get my daily dose of vegetables and berries that are high in antioxidants. And Ford’s advice of “stretching, staying strong, staying active” will ring through my ears as I take care of my body for many birthdays to come.

Allison Binning is a sophomore at Rhodes College. She is majoring in English and spent her summer as an editorial intern for Memphis magazine.

you looked at your trees 901-363-3539robinsontree.netlately?WEKNOWMEMPHISTREES!MakeSureYourTreesAreHealthyandSafeGiveyourtreesapreventativecheckuptomakesuretheycanweatherthestormsahead.Calltodayforafreeestimate.

Help us change that. Learn more at community.mifa.org.

”Maybe when I celebrate my fiftieth I’ll start cycling. And when I turn 80, my 80-year-oldsfellowandI will play pickleball to stay active and social.“

— Allison Binning

Have

Memphis movement reconnects women in person to fight heart disease and stroke.

he American Heart Association will host their 2022 Mid-South Go Red for Women Luncheon on ursday, September 29, at the Hilton Memphis. e annual event designed to raise awareness of the No. 1 killer of American women — heart disease — is chaired by Carolyn Hardy, a lifelong Memphian and business entrepreneur with a passion for pursuing change and growth for her city.

“It is not lost on me that I was extremely fortunate to have my mother, and not everyone has that type of role model in their lives. is is one of the many reasons why I chose to support the American Heart Association by joining the Go Red for Women Movement,” Carolyn said proudly.

Pat Kerr Tigrett

68 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 GO RED FOR WOMEN

SPONSORED CONTENT

Kate Staggs and Carolyn Hardy 2021 AHA Luncheon

The Go Red for Women luncheon is a signature event that catalyzes change to improve the lives of women by issuing an urgent call to raise awareness — globally, and right here in the Mid-South. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. with a health and wellness expo, CPR training, blood pressure screenings, financial literacy information, and booths from local and national lifestyle brands. The luncheon will commence at 11:45 with heartfelt testimonies from local heart and stroke survivors, followed by the long-awaited survivor fashion show, sponsored by Dillard’s. e event will also honor 19 local women nominated for their leadership and commitment to making a positive impact in their community. Committed to educating women to recognize the signs of cardiovascular disease and advocating for women’s heart health, the 2022 Women of Impact class has helped raise over $57,000 towards building longer and healthier lives across the MidSouthCarolyncommunity.mentioned the beneﬁts of volunteering at AHA: “ ere are many ways to give back to your community by choosing to either invest your money or your time, but with the American Heart Association, we have the opportunity to do both. Not only are they committed to funding the research and resources to help build healthier communities throughout the Mid-South and West Tennessee, but they are providing women, like myself, with the education and training we need to go out and be ambassadors within our local community.”

“Issues such as high blood pressure and monitoring your heart health have always been important to my family, especially after losing both my father and my brother to heart attacks. ankfully, my mother, although she also suﬀered heart problems throughout her life, lived to be 93. However, she taught me early on that you need to live right to be able to do that by educating me about my risks and the healthy lifestyle choices I would need to make to improve them,” Carolyn reﬂected during the recent Women of Impact Celebration held this July. When it comes to risks, women, especially African Americans and Hispanics, remain disproportionally impacted by heart disease and stroke. About 90 percent of all U.S. women have one or more factors for developing heart disease, which include cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity, and Heartdiabetes.disease and stroke also impact the lives of one in three women — or a third of mothers, sisters, and friends — and cardiac events are on the rise in young women in their 20s. Exacerbating this, reports indicate our youngest and most diverse women to be the least aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke.

The focus of the Go Red for Women movement remains on closing the gender and ethnicity gaps in research and access to healthcare by ensuring more women are at the forefront of developing solutions. In the Spring of 2022, the American Heart Association launched a new program designed to provide young girls with insights

◗ Coronary heart disease accounted for approximately 13% of deaths in the United States in 2017, causing 365,914 deaths.

◗ Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds on average.

Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS, and locally by Methodist, Verizon, Encompass Health, Ring Container Technologies, First Horizon Foundation, Regional One Health, St. Francis Hospital, Baptist Memorial Healthcare, City of Memphis, First Student, Inc., Lori Evans, MOGA, Paragon Bank, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Stern Cardiovascular, Turner Construction, and the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing.

◗ Here in Shelby County, nearly 20 percent of all deaths are due to heart disease.

◗

In 2017, stroke accounted for about one of every 19 deaths in the United States.

The STEM Goes Red event was aimed to inspire local middle-school girls to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) outside the classroom and learn how to take charge of their health and well-being. Students, mentors, and professional attendees were given the opportunity to learn from leading innovators on industry trends, network and make memorable connections with others, and fight the #1 killer of women — heart disease.

◗ When considered separately from other cardiovascular diseases, stroke ranks number ﬁve among all causes of death in the US, causing 146,383 deaths in 2017.

Now, more than ever, it is important to realize that cardiovascular disease knows no borders. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading global cause of death with nearly 18.6 million deaths in 2019. That number is expected to rise to more than 23.6 million by 2030. Since 2004, Go Red for Women has had a profound impact on women’s health. As the trusted, enthusiastic, and relevant force to eradicate heart disease and stroke, through the Go Red for Women movement, the American Heart Association remains steadfast and committed to meeting the comprehensive health needs of women — at every life stage.

◗ Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds on average.

Research shows heart attacks are on the rise in younger women and new data from a study published in Circulation suggests younger generations of women, Gen Z and Millennials, are less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes. That is why it’s important for all women to take charge of their heart health and encourage others to do the same.

◗

◗ Coronary heart disease accounted for approximately 13% of deaths in the United States in 2017, causing 365,914 deaths.

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SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 69 into the possibilities and potential they possess to make a real impact on the world around them.

◗

◗ When considered separately from other cardiovascular diseases, stroke ranks number ﬁve among all causes of death in the US, causing 146,383 deaths in 2017. In 2017, stroke accounted for about one of every 19 deaths in the United States.

BECAUSE ONE IS TOO MANY

For more information and to register to attend the Go Red for Women Luncheon, contact kate.staggs@heart.org or visit memphisgored.heart.org

Official Go Red for Women media sponsors include ABC24, FM100, 4Memphis magazine, La Prensa Latina Media, and author and national brand inﬂuencer Alexandra Nicole.

For additional information, charts, and tables, see Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics - 2020 Update.

◗

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer of women. It claims more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined.

Heart disease remains the number-one cause of death in the United States.

◗

The American Heart Association recently noted an alarming decline in awareness that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women — and too many women, particularly our youngest and most diverse women, remain unaware. The price of cardiovascular disease is high and 1 in 3 women will pay that price with their life. Exacerbating this, our youngest, most diverse women are the least aware that CVD is the No. 1 killer of women.

AMERICAN HEART MONTH GO RED FOR WOMEN ® QUICK STATS & FACTS WOMEN AND CVD

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70 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 Adams. Within two decades, though, it was gone. A little history here. Ever since Memphis became a city, Main Street was the main commercial artery. Just about every major department store, movie theater, bank, and important business was located up and down Main Street. But Memphis didn’t escape the problems that affected other American cities in the 1960s and ’70s. As the suburbs developed, and giant shopping centers and indoor malls opened, residents lost interest in the “old-fashioned” establishments. Giant single-screen movie palaces couldn’t compete with the “multiplex” theaters, and why pay to park and visit one store, when a modern mall offered dozens — if not hundreds — of shopping experiences, complete with food courts? Downtowns across America were dying, so city planners came up with a novel idea: Let’s take Main Street, eliminate the cars and traffic, and turn it into an outdoor version of the shopping mall. And so, in the early 1970s, Memphis unveiled plans for the Mid-America Mall. What came down first breaks my heart: Construction crews “decluttered” Main Street by removing all the wonderful old store signs mounted on the buildings; many of them were outstanding examples of neon art. Look at then-and-now pictures of Main Street, and you’ll see what I mean. Next, they closed off Main Street itself, scraped away the sidewalks, curbs, and asphalt, and laid down bricks. This wasn’t a good plan, at least not at first. The pavers weren’t always laid completely flat, causing tripping hazards, and the gaps between the bricks were traps for anyone wearing high-heeled shoes. So let’s just say the new mall was a “work in progress.” When artwork in the form of sculptures, banners, and murals was added, it began to look a whole lot better. The real showcase of the mall, though, was the fountain. Shortly after noon on October 12, 1976, as part of the Oktoberfest celebrations along the new mall, The Commercial Appeal reported, “Mayor Wyeth Chandler threw a big red, white, and blue switch activating the new fountain in Civic Center Plaza. A crowd estimated by police at 6,000 to 8,000 was on hand when the fountain’s first 60-foot spray arched skyward and splashed back into the just-finished reflecting pool.” The water collected into a shallow, 120-foot circular stone basin, and then overflowed over a low, curved wall into drains around the edge, where pumps cycled it back into the fountain. As a Lauderdale, who appreciates fine things, I always thought it was beautiful. So did Carol Coletta, who — then and now, it seems — has played a major role in changing the face of Downtown. Back then, as director of promotions for the Mid-America Mall, she told reporters that day, “With this fountain and this tremendous expanse, this plaza is going to be a great civic space — a great people space. I think the fountain will

Seemingly built to last forever, the fountain was the centerpiece of the new Civic Center Plaza, the cluster of modern-looking city, county, state, and federal buildings erected in the 1960s and ’70s at Main and DEAR VANCE: What happened to the huge fountain that was located outside City Hall in the 1980s?

VANCE

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

DEAR K.B.: I always thought the Civic Center Fountain, as it was called, was a magnificent addition to Downtown. As you can see from the photograph and post card, it was a shallow, circular pool, and in the center, a powerful jet sent a plume of water high into the air. It was an impressive sight, and on sunny days, the mist from the fountain created its own rainbow.

The Civic Center Fountain

Well, sometimes. BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

— K.B., MEMPHIS.

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Got a question for Vance?

Now here’s where I confess to a crime. One summer day, I stopped to admire the fountain on a rare public outing, and I studied the design of that giant plume. The water didn’t gush from one massive nozzle; instead, it came from perhaps a dozen smaller jets, arranged in a tight circle in the middle of the pool. Could a Lauderdale, I wondered, squeeze between them, and if I was successful, what would it be like inside?

Minerva Johnican, a member of the Memphis City Council, didn’t think much of this plan. She formed a “Save Our Fountain” committee and urged her fellow politicians to “realize its grandeur and beauty.”

Space prevents me from reporting all the back-andforth that went on over the years, with reporters announcing, “The fountain will stay” and then just weeks later telling readers, “The fountain will stay, but will be rebuilt in a narrow, oval shape.” By this time, the city was considering other vehicles instead of buses — at first going with shuttles, but eventually (as we know) deciding on the old-timey trolley system.

No matter what they used, though, the fountain stood where the trolley designers hoped to build a station, complete with a clock tower. In 1988, consultants with the Memphis Area Transit Authority announced major revisions to the mall. Among them: “The Civic Center Fountain is eliminated.”

Problems quickly developed with the fountain. It tended to leak, clog, and collect debris, and a newspaper headline from 1978 complained, “Fountain Maintenance Takes up Half of Work Time on Mall.” Those leaks sent water trickling into a parking garage below, as well as the basement of City Hall. The fountain became such a constant headache, as I recall, that it was often shut down for weeks at a time, while workers tried to seal and clean it. What really caused its destruction, however, was the fountain’s prominent location. In 1986, city planners decided to return buses to the mall, and the fountain stood in the way. When these plans become public, the CA — while still reporting its maintenance problems — seemingly changed their minds about the fountain, strongly objecting to the bus plan: “Why on earth sacrifice so dramatic and popular an eye-catcher as the Civic Center Fountain, which is an anchor at the mall’s north end, and why couldn’t a fleet of smaller vehicles shuttle people up and down the mall, instead of those noisy, bulky buses?”

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 71 become the new symbol of the city.” I thought so, too. Downtown workers, who used the new mall on a regular basis, didn’t agree. On a windy day, that plume of water sprayed anyone walking nearby, so people avoided the fountain — or carried an umbrella. “Couples sitting on the steps around the fountain quickly learned what happens to a 60-foot column of water when the wind shifts. You get wet,” reported the CA, two weeks after the new plaza opened. “As she emerged from the spray, one woman said, ‘I don’t know what I’ll tell them when I get back to the office, all wet.’”

EMAIL: zine.comaskvance@memphismagaMAIL: Vance Lauderdale, Memphis magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101

You’d think the demolition of such a landmark would have made front-page news, but if it did I was never able to find a story or photo about it. Perhaps the novelty of the big fountain had worn off. Sometime after 1991 — without a lot of fanfare, really — construction workers removed it from the mall.

Well, we know how it turned out. On August 21, 1986, the daily paper, noting that “Battle Lines Are Being Drawn,” began its story in this way: “It’s the buses versus the shuttles on the Mid-America Mall, but either way, the Civic Center Fountain should go.”

ONLINE: Orask-vancememphismagazine.com/visithimonFacebook.

OPPOSITE AND LEFT: Some type of “water feature” first showed up on plans for a completely revamped Main Street in the early 1960s, but the Civic Center Fountain didn’t appear until 1976, as one of the most striking elements of the new Mid-America Mall.

In a flash, still wearing my dress pants and spats, I hopped into the pool and waded across it. When I reached the center I managed to fit (barely) between the nozzles. This was tricky, because they were so powerful that if I had slipped, and my head fell into the full blast of that spray, anyone in City Hall that day might have noticed a human skull blown high into the sky, leaving a headless body floating in the fountain. That would have been the end of Vance — but a memorable day for everyone else! Instead, I found myself inside a solid cone of water. I couldn’t see through it — but looking upward, I could glimpse the sky. It was like standing inside a tube of water, and the roar was deafening. There I was in the heart of Downtown, and yet I felt completely isolated. It was really quite eerie. After enjoying this experience for a few minutes, I decided to leave, so once again I squeezed between the nozzles and clambered out of the water — where two policemen were waiting for me. My adventure might have resulted in a trip to the hoosegow, but of course as soon as they recognized me as a Lauderdale, they apologized, and even offered to dry me off (I declined).

For many Memphians, the Civic Center Fountain is today only a vague memory. Many people I’ve talked with don’t recall it at all. Of course, they didn’t venture inside it. That was definitely an experience to remember.

(This guide, compiled

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, $-$$$ McEWEN’S—Southern/American cuisine with international flavors; specialties include steak and seafood, sweet potato-crusted catfish with macaroni and cheese, and more. Closed Sun., Monroe location. 120 Monroe. 5277085; 1110 Van Buren (Oxford). 662-234-7003. L, D, SB (Oxford only), X, MRA, $$-$$$ MESQUITE CHOP HOUSE—The focus here is on steaks, including prime fillet, rib-eyes, and prime-aged New York strip; also, some seafood options. 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-890-2467; 88 Union. 527-5337; 3165 Forest Hill-Irene (Germantown). 249-5661. D, SB (Germantown), X, $$-$$$ catfish, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, burgers, and more. Closed Mon.-Thurs. 141 E. Carolina. 321-5553. L, D, WB, $-$$ 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, $-$$$ CHEF TAM’S UNDERGROUND CAFE—Serves Southern staples with a Cajun twist. Menu items include totchoes, jerk wings, fried chicken, and “muddy” mac and cheese. Closed Sun. and Mon. 668 Union Ave. 207-6182. L, D, $ CHEZ PHILIPPE—Classical/contemporary French cuisine presented in a luxurious atmosphere with a seasonal menu focused on local/regional cuisine. The crown jewel of The Peabody for 35 years. Afternoon tea served Wed.Sat., 1-3:30 p.m. (reservations required). Closed Sun.-Tues. The Peabody, 149 Union. 529-4188. D, X MRA, $$$$ CIMAS—It’s breakfast tacos, shrimp and grits, chilaquiles verdes, and plenty of other Southern and Latin-American twists at the Hyatt Centric. 33 Beale St. 444-3232. B, L, D, $-$$$ THE CLOVER CLUB Southern fusion and internationally-inspired small plates at Hotel Indigo. 22 N. B.B. King. COZY CORNER—Serving up ribs, pork sandwiches, chicken, spaghetti, and more; also homemade banana pudding. Closed Mon. 745 N. Parkway and Manassas. 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, $-$$ EVELYN & OLIVE—Jamaican/Southern fusion cuisine includes such dishes as Kingston stew ﬁsh, Rasta Pasta, and jerk rib-eye. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun.-Mon. 630 Madison. 748-5422. L, D, X , $ FAM—Casual Asian restaurant serves sushi rice bowls, noodle bowls, sushi rolls, and spring rolls. Closed Sun. 149 Madison; 521 S. Highland. 701-6666. L, D, X, $ FANCY’S FISH HOUSE—Serving chef-inspired favorites at One Beale, including fresh, daily-caught fish and seafood, a raw bar, and signature dishes from the grill, with fabulous river views from the dining room and patio. 1 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. #1. 589-3474. L, D, $$-$$$$ FEAST & GRAZE—Whipped goat toast, open faced grilled cheese, and other local pantry snacks and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun./ Mon. 55 S. Main. 654-5926. L, $ FELICIA SUZANNE’S—Southern cuisine with low-country, Creole, and Delta influences, using regional fresh seafood, local beef, and locally grown foods. Entrees include shrimp and grits. Closed Sun. and Mon. A Downtown staple at Brinkley Plaza, 383 S. Main. 523-0877. L (Fri. only), D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ FERRARO’S PIZZERIA & PUB—Rigatoni and tortellini are among the pasta entrees here, along with pizzas (whole or by the slice) with a variety of toppings. 111 Jackson. 522-2033. L, D, X, $ FISHBOWL AT THE PYRAMID—Burgers, fish dishes, sandwiches, and more served in a unique “underwater” setting. Bass Pro, 1 Bass Pro Drive, 291-8000. B, L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $-$$$ FLYING FISH—Serves up fried and grilled versions of shrimp, crab, oysters, fish tacos, and catfish; also chicken and burgers. 105 S. Second. 522-8228. L, D, X, $-$$

Memphis Dining Guide

GOOD FORTUNE CO.—Authentic handcrafted noodles, ramen, and dumplings. 361 S. Main. 561-306-4711. L, D, $-$$ THE GENRE—Burgers, tenders, catfish, and plenty of vegan options made to order at this music-themed restaurant/lounge. 200 Poplar, Suite 105. 410-8169. B, L, D, $-$$ THE GRAY CANARY—The sixth restaurant from chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, offering small plates and entrees cooked on an open flame. Oysters, octopus, and hearty steaks are among the menu options at this eatery in Old Dominick Distillery. Closed Mon. 301 S. Front. 466-6324. D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ GRECIAN GOURMET TAVERNA—Serves traditional favorites like spanakopita, pastitso, moussaka, and hand-rolled dolmathes, as well as lamb sliders and pita nachos. Closed Mon. 412 S. Main. 249-6626. 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). 853-6005; 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. 6830000; 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, $ 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, $ INKWELL—Unique craft concoctions, charcuterie plates, flatbreads, and sandwiches at this dope cocktail bar. Closed Mon.-Tue. 631 Madison Ave. 334-9411. D, $-$$

Suggestions from

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

at scicci@contemporary-media.com. B — breakfast L — lunch D — dinner SB — Sunday brunch WB — weekend brunch X— wheelchair accessible MRA — member, RestaurantMemphisAssociation $ — under $15 per person without drinks or desserts $$ — under $25 $$$ — $26-$50 $$$$ — over $50 DINING SYMBOLS We celebrate our city’s community table and the people who grow, cook, and eat the best Memphis food at MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM/FOOD

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 $-$$$

welcome; please contact Samuel

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, $-$$

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, $-$$$ ALDO’S PIZZA PIES—Serving gourmet pizzas — including Mr. T Rex — salads, and more. Also 30 beers, bottled or on tap. 100 S. Main. 5777743; 752 S. Cooper. 725-7437. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $-$$$ BACKLOT SANDWICH SHOP—Big sandwiches, breakfast bowls, and build-yourown-biscuits for breakfast, lunch, and an early supper. 265 S. Front St. 509-8612. B, L, D, $ BARDOG TAVERN—Classic American grill with Italian influence, Bardog offers pasta specialties such as Grandma’s NJ Meatballs, as well as salads, sliders, sandwiches, and daily specials. 73 Monroe. 275-8752. B (Mon.-Fri.), L, D, WB, X MRA, $-$$ 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, $-$$ BELLE TAVERN—Serving elevated bar food, including a butcher board with a variety of meats and cheeses, as well as daily specials. 117 Barboro Alley. 249-6580. L (Sun.), D, MRA, $ BEN YAY’S GUMBO SHOP—Spiritual successor to DejaVu, offering fresh and authentic Creole staples. 51 S. Main St., 779-4125. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $$-$$$ BLEU—This eclectic restaurant features American food with global influences and local ingredients. Among the specialties are a 14-oz. bone-in ribeye and several seafood dishes. 221 S. Third, in the Westin Memphis Beale St. Hotel. 334-5950. B, L, D, WB, X, MRA, $$-$$$ 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, $-$$ BRASS DOOR IRISH PUB—Irish and NewAmerican cuisine includes such entrees as fish and chips, burgers, shepherd’s pie, all-day Irish breakfast, and more. 152 Madison. 572-1813. L, D, SB, $-$$ 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, $-$$$$ CAROLINA WATERSHED—This indoor/outdoor eatery, set around silos, features reimagined down-home classics, including fried green tomatoes with smoked M emphis magazine 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 Memphis magazine; those that operate in multiple locations are listed under the neighborhood of their original location. is guide is updated regularly, but recommend that you call ahead check on hours, prices, or other details. readers are X. Cicci

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

A Curated Guide to Eating Out by our

LOFLIN YARD—Beer garden and restaurant serves vegetarian fare and smokedmeat 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, $-$$

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, $-$$

editors, includes editorial picks and advertisers.)72 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

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 Andrew-Michael team at Wiseacre’s Downtown location. 398 S. B.B. King Blvd. 334-9411. L, D, $-$$

—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 hot and crispy fried chicken wings, among other solid bar food options. Temporarily closed. 855 Kentucky. 207-5111. L, D, MRA, $ NEW WING ORDER

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SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 73

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, $-$$ THE PARAMOUNT—Fried green tomato and crab beignet small plates to grilled lamb loin, cowboy ribeye, and an extensive cocktail list. Closed Sun/ Mon. 265 S. Front. 410-8169. D, $-$$$$ PAULETTE’S—Presents fine dining with a Continental flair, including such entrees as filet Paulette with butter cream sauce and crabmeat and spinach crepes; also changing daily specials and great views. River Inn. 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3300. B, L, D, WB, X MRA, $-$$$ 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, $-$$$ PONTOTOC LOUNGE—Upscale restaurant and jazz bar serves such starters as alligator filet fritters; entrees include Mississippi pot roast with jalapeño cornbread and tagliatelle with braised beef. 314 S. Main. 207-7576. D, X, $-$$ 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, $-$$ REGINA’S—New Orleans-inspired eatery offering po’boys, Cajun nachos topped with crawfish tails, catfish platters, oysters, and more. Closed Mon. 60 N. Main. 730-0384. B, L, D, SB, X, $-$$ 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 , $-$$ SOUTH POINT GROCERY—Fresh and delicious sandwiches made to order at Downtown’s new grocery market. 136 Webster Ave. B, L, D, $ SUGAR GRITS—Who said breakfast has to be in the morning? The Westmorelands offer grits and other breakfast goodness all day long, in addition to other Southernstyle lunch and dinner options. 150 Peabody Pl., Suite 111. 249-5206. B, L, D, $-$$ SUNRISE MEMPHIS—Serves breakfast all day, including house-made biscuits, frittatas, kielbasa or boudin plates, and breakfast platters. 670 Jefferson. 552-3144. B, L, X, MRA, $ 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, $-$$ TERRACE—Creative American and Continental cuisine includes such dishes as filet mignon, beef or lamb sliders, chicken satay, and mushroom pizzetta. Rooftop, River Inn of Harbor Town, 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3366. D, X, MRA, $$ 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, SB, 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, $-$$ WAHLBURGERS WILD—Wahlburgers brings its classic menu, but with a few gamey twists at the Bass Pro Pyramid. 1 Bass Pro Drive. B, L, D, $-$$ 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, $-$$ ABYSSINIA RESTAURANT—Ethiopian/Mediterranean menu includes beef, chicken, lamb, fish entrees, and vegetarian dishes; also a lunch buffet. 2600 Poplar. 321-0082. L, D, X, $-$$ HP Painting

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, $-$$

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

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, $

PIZZERIA TRASIMENO—Small pizzas baked in wood-fired clay ovens along with a selection of small salads. Menu is soon to include desserts, local beer on tap, and Umbrian wine. 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 181. 308-1113. L, D. $

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

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

THE LIQUOR STORE—Renovated liquor store turned diner serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, and entrees such as Salisbury steak and smothered pork chops. Closed for dinner Sun.-Mon. 2655 Broad. 405-5477. B, L, D, X, $-$$

ALCHEMY—Southern fusion, locally grown cuisine features small and large plates; among the offerings are pan-seared hanger steak, quail, and lamb chops; also handcrafted cocktails and local craft beers. 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, $$ BAIN BARBECUE & BAKERY—Brian Bain’s popular Texas-style barbecue is back, alongside an assortment of baked goods. 993 S. Cooper. 310-4141. B, L, $-$$ 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 Cooper-Young 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. 4547930; 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 BROOKS BY CITY & STATE—Serving grab-and-go pastries, as well as lunch items. Menu includes soups, salads, and sandwiches, such as the Modern Reuben and Grown-Up Grilled Cheese. 1934 Poplar (Memphis Brooks Museum of Art). 544-6200. B, L, X, $ 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. 417-7962. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$

74 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

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, $ 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, $-$$

COMPLICATED PILGRIM—Quick serve coffee shop, bar, and restaurant all in one at The Memphian hotel. 21 S. Cooper St. 601-909-5820. 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, $

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, $-$$ COLETTA’S—Longtime eatery serves such specialties as homemade ravioli, lasagna, and pizza with barbecue or traditional toppings. 1063 S. Parkway E. 9487652; 2850 Appling Rd. (Bartlett). 383-1122. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $-$$$ DWJ KOREAN BARBECUE—This authentic Korean eatery serves kimbap, barbecued beef short ribs, rice and noodles dishes, and hot pots and stews. 3750 Hacks Cross Rd., Suite 101. 746-8057; 2156 Young. 207-6204. L, D, $-$$

THE FARMER AT RAILGARTEN—Mac Edwards comes out of retirement with classics including pan-seared catfish, gulf shrimp and grits, or a Gibson donut bread pudding. Closed Mon./Tue. 2166 Central. 313-0087. D, $-$$ FINO’S ITALIAN DELI & CATERING—The newly revived Fino’s offers the old favorites such as the Acquisto as well as a new breakfast menu. 1853 Madison. 272-FINO. B, L, D, X, $ FLAME RAMEN—Traditional Japanese ramen restaurant serving up bowls of noodles in Midtown. 1838 Union Ave. 779-8666. D, $-$$ 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, $-$$ FRIDA’S—Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex standards, including chimichangas, enchiladas, and fajitas; seafood includes shrimp and tilapia. 1718 Madison. 2446196. L, D, X $-$$ 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, $-$$

PANTÀ—Small, Catalan-inspired plates by Kelly English in the former Restaurant Iris space. 2146 Monroe Ave. Closed Mon.-Wed. 590-2828. L, D, $-$$. PARISH GROCERY—Shrimp? Roast beef? Oysters? Whatever type of po’boy you want, the New Orleans-themed eatery has got it. Closed Monday. 916 S. Cooper St. 207-4347. L, D, X, $-$$

MEMPHIS DINING GUIDE

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, $

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, $-$$ SALT|SOY—Nick Scott and Brac McCarley team up to provide Southern and Asian-inspired dishes at this Japanese Izakaya. Closed Sunday, Monday. 2583 Broad Ave. 726-4444. D, $$ 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, $$

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, $-$$

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, $-$$$

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, $-$$ STICKEM—Brick and mortar location for the popular food truck, which offers grilled meat on a stick. 1788 Madison. Closed Sunday. 474-7214. L, D, X, $ TAMBOLI’S PASTA & PIZZA—Pasta-maker Miles Tamboli whips up Italian soul food with seasonal menus featuring dishes like crispy fried chicken or creamy bucatini with pecorino cheese. Serves dinner Tues.-Sat. 1761 Madison. 410-8866. D, X, $-$$

LITTLE ITALY—Serving New York-style pizza as well as subs and pasta dishes. 1495 Union. 725-0280; 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, $-$$ MEMPHIS WHISTLE—Cocktails, cocktails, and even more delicious cocktails alongside burgers, sandwiches, and other tasty snacks. 2299 Young Ave. Closed Mon.-Tue. 236-7136. D, $-$$ 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, $-$$

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

FABULOUS FLAVORS & FRIENDS

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. 3473569. 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 $

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, $-$$ AMERIGO—Traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine includes pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks, and cedarwood-roasted fish. 1239 Ridgeway, Park Place Mall. 7614000. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$

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, $-$$$

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

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, $-$$

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, $

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, $-$$

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 $-$$$

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, $$$-$$$$ FOLK’S FOLLY ORIGINAL PRIME STEAK HOUSE—Specializes in prime steaks, as well as lobster, grilled Scottish salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, rack of lamb, and weekly specials. 551 S. Mendenhall. 762-8200. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$ FORMOSA—Offers Mandarin cuisine, including broccoli beef, hot-and-sour soup, and spring rolls. Closed Mon. 6685 Quince. 753-9898. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $

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, $-$$

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, $-$$ DAN MCGUINNESS PUB—Serves fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, burgers, and other Irish and American fare; also lunch and dinner specials. 4694 Spottswood. 761-3711; 3964 Goodman Rd. 662-890-7611. L, D, X, $ DORY—Chef David Krog whips up Southern specialties with classic French techniques and locally sourced ingredients. Current specialties include pork tenderloin, beef bourguignon, or cocoa-dusted chocolate truffles, with new weekly additions. 716 W. Brookhaven Circle. 310-4290. L, D, X, $$-$$$

EAST MEMPHIS (INCLUDES POPLAR/I-240)

ACRE—Features seasonal modern American cuisine in an avante-garde 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 $$-$$$

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, $-$$ LOST PIZZA—Offering pizzas (with dough made from scratch), pasta, salads, sandwiches, tamales, and more. 2855 Poplar. 572-1803; 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-892-8684. L, D, X, $-$$ LYNCHBURG LEGENDS—This restaurant with a Jack Daniels’ theme and Southern cuisine serves such entrees as Bourbon Street salmon, buttermilk-fried chicken, and grilled steak and wild mushroom salad. DoubleTree Hotel, 5069 Sanderlin. 969-7777. B, L, D, X, $-$$$ MAGNOLIA & MAY—The family behind Grove Grill cooks up Southerninspired casual dining at this country brasserie, with popular menu items like peach gazpacho, low country shrimp n’ grits, and plenty of weekend brunch options. Closed Mon. 718 Mt. Moriah Rd. 676-8100. D, SB, MRA. $$-$$$. MAHOGANY MEMPHIS—Upscale Southern restaurant offers such dishes as coffee-rubbed lamb chops and baked Cajun Cornish hen. Closed for dinner Sun. and all day Mon.-Tues. 3092 Poplar, Suite 11. 623-7977. L, D, SB, X, $-$$$ 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, $-$$ MAYURI INDIAN CUISINE—Serves tandoori chicken, masala dosa, tikka masala, as well as lamb and shrimp entrees; also a daily lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Fri.-Sat. 6524 Quince Rd. 753-8755. L, D, X $-$$

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, $-$$$

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

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, $-$$$

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, $-$$ CAPITAL GRILLE—Known for its dry-aged, hand-carved steaks; among the specialties are bone-in sirloin, and porcini-rubbed Delmonico; also seafood entrees and seasonal lunch plates. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. Crescent Center, 6065 Poplar. 683-9291. L, D, X, $$$-$$$$ CASABLANCA—Lamb shawarma is one of the fresh, homemade specialties served at this Mediterranean/Moroccan restaurant; fish entrees and vegetarian options also available. 5030 Poplar. 725-8557 ; 7609 Poplar Pike (Germantown). 425-5908; 1707 Madison. 421-6949. L, D, X, $-$$ CIAO BELLA—Among the Italian and Greek specialties are lasagna, seafood pasta, gourmet pizzas, and vegetarian options. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 565 Erin Dr., Erin Way Shopping Center. 205-2500. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ CITY SILO TABLE + PANTRY—With a focus on clean eating, this establishment offers fresh juices, as well as comfort foods re-imagined with wholesome ingredients. 5101 Sanderlin. 729-7687. Germantown: 7605 W. Farmington Blvd., Suite 2. 236-7223. B, L, D, X, $ COASTAL FISH COMPANY—Upscale offerings of international fish varieties utilizing styles ranging from Carribbean, East Coast, West Coast, Chinese, to Filipino, and more. 415 Great View Dr. E., Suite 101. 266-9000. D, X, $$-$$$

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. 3324159. D, X, MRA, $-$$ UNCLE LOU’S FRIED CHICKEN—Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for good reason: fried chicken (mild, hot, or home-style); jumbo burgers four patties high; strawberry shortcake, and assorted fruit pies. 3633 Millbranch. 332-2367. L, D, X, MRA, $ RALEIGH/BARTLETTSUMMER/BERCLAIR/ ASIAN PALACE—Chinese eatery serves seafood, vegetarian items, dim sum, and more. 5266 Summer Ave. 766-0831. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $ 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 bona-fide Memphis institution. 4818 Summer. 685-6857; 5848 Winchester. 365-4992. L, D, $ 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. 761-9321. 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, $-$$ PANDA GARDEN—Sesame chicken and broccoli beef are among the Mandarin and Cantonese entrees; also seafood specials and fried rice. Closed for lunch Saturday. 3735 Summer. 323-4819. L, D, X, $-$$ 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. Temporarily closed. 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, $-$$ BROTHER JUNIPER’S—This little cottage is a breakfast mecca, offering specialty omelets, including the open-faced San Diegan omelet; also daily specials, and homemade breads and pastries. Closed Mon. 3519 Walker. 324-0144. B, X, $ CHAR RESTAURANT—Specializing in modern Southern cuisine, this eatery offers homestyle sides, charbroiled steaks, and fresh seafood. 431 S. Highland, Suite 120. 249-3533. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$

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

76 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022

”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, $

MEMPHIS DINING GUIDE

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, $-$$. STAKS—Offering pancakes, including birthday cake and lemon ricotta. Menu includes other breakfast items such as beignets and French toast, as well as soups and sandwiches for lunch. 4615 Poplar. 509-2367; 7704 Poplar (Germantown). 800-1951; 2902 May Blvd. (Southaven). B, L, WB, X, $ SWANKY’S TACO SHOP—Taco-centric eatery offers tortas, flatbreads, quesadillas, chimichangas, burgers, and more. 4770 Poplar. 730-0763; 6641 Poplar (Germantown). 737-2088; 272 S. Main. 779-3499. L, D, X, $ TENERO CAFÉ & BUTCHER—A chef-driven menu offering breakfast and lunch classics, plus Sunday dinner, accompanied by a full-service butcher bar. 669 S. Mendenhall. 646-5698. B, L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $ 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, $-$$

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, $-$$

78 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 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, $-$$ SAKURA—Sushi, tempura, and teriyaki are Japanese specialties here. 2060 West St. 758-8181; 4840 Poplar. 572-1002. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, $-$$$ TAZIKI’S—Mediterranean-inspired dishes all made from scratch. 7850 Poplar Ave., Suite 26. 612-2713. East Memphis: 540 S. Mendenhall Rd. 290-1091. Bartlett: 7974 US-64. 203-0083. L, D, $ UNCLE GOYO’S—More than 30 dishes with a focus on authentic Mexican cuisine, from the brains behind TacoNganas. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. L, D, $-$$ 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. 779-2796. 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, $-$$ COLLIERVILLE PIZZA COMPANY—Family-friendly and locally owned pizza company featuring live music and other events. 144 US 72. L, D, $-$$

GERMANTOWN

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, $-$$

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, $-$$ FIREBIRDS—Specialties are hand-cut steaks, slow-roasted prime rib, and woodgrilled salmon and other seafood, as well as seasonal entrees. 4600 Merchants Circle, Carriage Crossing. 850-1637; 8470 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 379-1300. L, D, X, $-$$$ 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, $-$$

BLUE HONEY BISTRO—Entrees at this upscale eatery include brown butter scallops served with Mississippi blue rice and herb-crusted beef tenderloin with vegetables and truffle butter. Closed Sun. 9155 Poplar, Suite 17. 552-3041. D, X, $-$$$

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, $-$$

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, $-$$

FOREST HILL GRILL—A variety of standard pub fare and a selection of mac-andcheese dishes are featured on the menu. Specialties include Chicken Newport and a barbecue salmon BLT. 9102 Poplar Pike. 624-6001. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$

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, $-$$$

WOMAN’S EXCHANGE TEA ROOM—Chicken-salad plate, beef tenderloin, soups-and-sandwiches, and vegetable plates are specialties; meal includes drink and dessert. Closed Sat.-Sun. 88 Racine. 327-5681. L, X, $ ZAYDE’S AT THE J—Kosher options at the Memphis Jewish Community Center cafe include traditional New York-style dishes and Israeli fusion. 6560 Poplar Ave. 208-3495. L, D, $-$$

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, $-$$ 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

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 $$-$$$

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 ParmigianoReggiano. Closed Sun. 684 W. Poplar (Sheffield Antiques Mall). 861-1777. L, D (Thurs.-Sat.), 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). 417-6026. 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, $ RED HOOK CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Cajun-style array of seafood including shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and oysters. 3295 Poplar. 207-1960. L, D, X, $-$$ RED KOI—Classic Japanese cuisine offered at this family-run restaurant; hibachi steaks, sushi, seafood, chicken, and vegetables. 5847 Poplar. 767-3456. L, D, X $-$$ RED PIER CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Owners of Red Hook bring more cajun-style seafood dishes. 5901 Poplar Ave. 512-5923. L, D, $-$$$ RESTAURANT IRIS—French Creole-inspired classics, such as Gulf shrimp and rice grits congee served with lap chong sausage and boiled peanuts, are served at this newly remodeled restaurant owned by Chef Kelly English, a Food and Wine “Top Ten.” Opening soon at 4550 Poplar. 590-2828. D, X, $$-$$$ RIVER OAKS—Chef Jose Gutierrez’s French-style bistro serves seafood and steaks, with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5871 Poplar Ave. 683-9305. L, D, X, $$$ 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, $-$$$ ROTOLO’S CRAFT & CRUST—Louisiana-based pizza company’s first Memphis location, whipping up pizza pies with homemade sauces and fresh ingredients, pasta, wings, and other shareables. 681 S. White Station. 454-3352. L, D, $-$$ 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, $$-$$$

SEPTEMBER 2022 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • 79

CHICAGO STEAKHOUSE AT THE GOLDSTRIKE Dr., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-24KSTAY /662-357-1225

FAIRBANKS AT THE HOLLYWOOD—1150 Casino Strip Blvd., Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-871-0711

JACK BINION’S STEAK HOUSE AT HORSESHOE 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 Blvd., West Memphis, AR, 1-800-467-6182

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, $-$$ ZOPITA’S ON THE SQUARE—Cafe offers sandwiches, including smoked salmon and pork tenderloin, as well as salads and desserts. Closed Sun. 114 N. Main. 457-7526. L, D, X, $ OUT-OF-TOWN BOZO’S HOT PIT BAR-B-Q—Barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, and subs. 342 Highway 70 (Mason, TN). 901-294-3400. L, D, $-$$ 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, $$-$$$ 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). 662-5269529. D, X, $-$$$ ELFO GRISANTI’S NORTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE—Grisanti family classics like lasagna, homemade ravioli, garlic bread, and Northern Italian pizza. Closed Sun. 5627 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-470-4497. L, D, X LONG ROAD CIDER CO.—Specializes in hard apple ciders made with traditional methods. Cafe-style entrees include black-eyed peas with cornbread and greens, chicken Gorgonzola pockets, cider-steamed sausage, and housemade ice creams. Closed Sun.-Wed. 9053 Barret Road. (Barretville, TN). 352-0962. D, MANILA FILIPINO RESTAURANT—Entrees include pork belly cutlet with lechon sauce, and shrimp and vegetables in tamarind broth; also daily combos, rice dishes, and chef specials. Closed Sun.-Mon. 7849 Rockford (Millington, TN). 209-8525. L, D, X $ MARSHALL STEAKHOUSE—Rustic steakhouse serves premium Angus beef steaks, seafood dishes, rack of lamb, and more. 2379 Highway 178 (Holly Springs, MS). 628-3556. B, L, D, X, $-$$$ MEMPHIS BARBECUE COMPANY—Offers spare ribs, baby backs, and pulled pork and brisket. 709 Desoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662-536-3762. L, D, 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 $-$$$ PIG-N-WHISTLE—Offers pork shoulder sandwiches, wet and dry ribs, catfish, nachos, and stuffed barbecue potatoes. 6084 Kerr-Rosemark Rd. (Millington, TN). 872-2455. L, D, X, $ RAVINE—Serves contemporary Southern cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, locally grown foods and a menu that changes weekly. Closed Mon.-Tues. 53 Pea Ridge/ County Rd. 321 (Oxford, MS). 662-234-4555. D, SB, X, $$-$$$ SAINT LEO’S—Offering sophisticated pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and salads. A James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant in 2017. 1101 Jackson (Oxford, MS). 662-234-4555. D, L, WB, $-$$ 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). 662-2366363. D, $-$$$ TEKILA MODERN MEXICAN—Modern interpretations of classic dishes from all over Mexico. 6343 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-510-5734. B, L, D, $-$$ 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). 870-655-0222. L, D, WB, $-$$$ CASINO TABLES

Sun Sept 18 7PM MEMPHIS DINING GUIDE

IGNITE STEAKHOUSE AT SOUTHLAND CASINO RACING 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 Strip Resorts Boulevard, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-456-0711

One day, sitting in his oﬃce on South Cox, Levy left a funny message on his answering machine while he went to lunch. When he got back, he discovered dozens of people had called — just to hear his message — and Levy began Dial ’n’ Smile. Anyone calling 278-2370 heard a cute poem, funny story, weird sounds — whatever struck his fancy. “Little things pop into my head,” Levy told the Memphis Press-Scimitar in 1980. “I like the odd sort of things. Some people call them poems, some call them rhymes, and some just call them terrible.”

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J oe Crockett Levy — everyone called him “J.C.” — enjoyed making people happy. Born in Amory, Mississippi, in 1906, when he moved to Memphis he set up a kiddie-sized “amusement park” at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, with a miniature Ferris wheel, merry-go-round with tiny cars and motorcycles, and motorboats puttering around a shallow pool. He later relocated everything to the Memphis Zoo, where the rides were a popular attraction for almost 40 years.

Just one example: “Once I met a bullfrog down by the pond. e bullfrog said, ‘I wonder what’s in the beyond?’ And then he jumped, and he jumped, and he jumped away. And now he must know what’s in the beyond. Because I heard he croaked today!”

80 • MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER 2022 J.C. Levy Made Memphians “Dial ’n’ Smile.” BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

Levy never made a dime oﬀ Dial ’n’ Smile, and estimated his phone bills were $5,000 a year, with 25 answering machines in his home. He eventually recorded more than 2,000 messages, many of them accompanied by roars, bellows, shrieks, and other sounds made by the animals at the zoo (such as the baby elephant here).

“I write a lot of my poems or verses late at night,” he told the Press-Scimitar. “Often I wake up with an idea and write it down. en I try them out on my wife at the breakfast table. If she runs for the bucket, I think maybe I have a good one.” He once estimated he had received more than 20 million calls. His wife, Hazel, told reporters, “He wanted it to go on forever,” but Levy died in 1997 at the age of 91. Don’t even bother calling 278-2370 today. A recording says, “The number you have reached is no longer in service.”

FLASHBACK

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