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OUR 1720TH ISSUE 02.10.22

JERRY D. SWIFT Advertising Director Emeritus KELLI DEWITT, CHIP GOOGE, HAILEY THOMAS Senior Account Executives MICHELLE MUSOLF Account Executive ROBBIE FRENCH Warehouse and Delivery Manager JANICE GRISSOM ELLISON, KAREN MILAM, DON MYNATT, TAMMY NASH, RANDY ROTZ, LEWIS TAYLOR, WILLIAM WIDEMAN Distribution THE MEMPHIS FLYER is published weekly by Contemporary Media, Inc., P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 Phone: (901) 521-9000 Fax: (901) 521-0129 memphisflyer.com CONTEMPORARY MEDIA, INC. ANNA TRAVERSE FOGLE Chief Executive Officer LYNN SPARAGOWSKI Controller/Circulation Manager JEFFREY GOLDBERG Chief Revenue Officer MARGIE NEAL Chief Operating Officer KRISTIN PAWLOWSKI Digital Services Director MARIAH MCCABE Circulation and Accounting Assistant KALENA MATTHEWS Marketing Coordinator

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CONTENTS

JESSE DAVIS Editor SHARA CLARK Managing Editor JACKSON BAKER, BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN Senior Editors TOBY SELLS Associate Editor CHRIS MCCOY Film and TV Editor ALEX GREENE Music Editor SAMUEL X. CICCI, MICHAEL DONAHUE, JON W. SPARKS Staff Writers ABIGAIL MORICI Copy Editor, Calendar Editor LORNA FIELD, RANDY HASPEL, RICHARD MURFF, FRANK MURTAUGH, MEGHAN STUTHARD Contributing Columnists AIMEE STIEGEMEYER, SHARON BROWN Grizzlies Reporters ANDREA FENISE Fashion Editor KENNETH NEILL Founding Publisher

In 1994, Memphis was hit with an ice storm — the Ice Storm, as many people remember it — that left many without power or a means to communicate. I was just a kid at the time, but I remember it well. My sister, my dad, and I spent most of the time huddled together under stacks of blankets and quilts. My dad told us stories and generally tried to seem as though he was unfazed, in an effort, I’m sure, to keep the kids from worrying. I mention this so the reader knows this is not my first ice storm rodeo.

Last Thursday, Memphis was hit with another ice storm. Tree limbs froze, strained, and broke, taking out power lines as they fell. Nearly 140,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers were left without power. (And remember, a “customer” is a household or business, so we’re talking about far more than 140,000 people.)

I watched through a window as a sapling-sized limb gave up the ghost, shedding twinkling diamond-like shards of ice, and hit a power line. The lights went out. My fiancée had the heat turned up so that, when the power inevitably gave out, the house would be able to lose some warmth before it got unbearable. We hung blankets over the already-curtained windows to help trap our body heat. I dutifully texted the Flyer team to let them know the situation. But in an hour or so, the temperature dropped by about 12 degrees. I worried about our cats, about getting work done. It occurred to me, as limbs fell, pinging and thudding off our roof, that we live in a house with thin walls, many windows, and surrounded by trees. What if one came through the window?

So we grabbed the cats, some food, and our laptops and made for Sydnie’s mother’s house, which thankfully still had power. I had to swerve to dodge a falling limb that hit the road in front of our car. Our orange cat, Calcifer, meowed incessantly for the entire journey.

I sang to him — Neil Young’s “Don’t Cry No Tears” — and told stories of winter storms past. Less than a minute before we pulled into the driveway, Cal pooped in his pet carrier.

That pretty much set the tone for the next six days.

My sister lost power as well, but they have a fireplace and tried to soldier on. After a night with her sick and puking four-year-old son, dropping temperatures, and a panicked dog, I convinced her to make the trip to Syd’s mom’s place. At that point, we had seven humans, five big dogs, and three cats crammed into this house. It’s been a circus, and because I made distracting my nephew a top priority, it wasn’t long before I caught his cold. So I’m feverish and going on day two without sleep as I write this. I hope it makes some sense.

The amazingly resilient Flyer team put out this week’s issue, though nearly everyone lost power or internet. We pulled together work on the ice storm and managed to put out the stories we had already planned. I’m proud of the Flyer folks.

I recognize that I’m incredibly fortunate — I had somewhere warm to go! Not everyone in Memphis can say that. I know many have made tough choices just to get through this.

But as I write this, I am roughly 118 hours and 25 minutes into a power outage, and the MLGW website says that we are still “waiting on damage assessment.” Please understand that I can be in absolute awe of the MLGW linemen who are doing the dangerous and cold work of restoring power, while also frustrated that we have been blindsided by weather two years in a row. After last year’s freak February snowstorm, which led to frozen and ruptured water mains, a decrease in water pressure, and a boil water advisory, I’m beginning to think we really aren’t that great at weathering February here in the Bluff City.

So how do we fix that? As you peruse this issue, be sure to check out page 4, which is devoted to still more spurious bills targeting Tennessee’s LGBTQ community. If passed, the bills will be challenged in court, as they always are. So will the GOP’s gerrymandered redistricting plan, which splits Davidson County into three districts and which Governor Bill Lee signed on Sunday. One wonders what N E WS & O P I N I O N THE FLY-BY - 4 we would be able to afford if we didn’t spend NY TIMES CROSSWORD - 6 state dollars on this crap.

POLITICS - 7 What could we do with state and federal AT LARGE - 8 funding and a small MLGW rate increase?

FINANCE - 9 I believe MLGW president and CEO J.T. COVER STORY Young when he says the pandemic has ham“HEARTWARMING”

BY DAPHNE MAYSONET - 10 pered the utility’s efforts to work to prevent SPECIAL FEATURE - 13 these kinds of disasters. But Memphis needs WE RECOMMEND - 14 more warming centers, better tree-trimDANCE - 18 ming, and work to bury or otherwise protect MUSIC - 19 power lines.

CALENDAR - 20 We can’t expect not to be hit with winter CARS - 24 FOOD - 25 weather. Isn’t being prepared for the worst FILM - 27 the best thing about community?

C LAS S I F I E D S - 30 Jesse Davis LAST WORD - 31 jesse@memphisflyer.com

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THE

fly-by

MEMernet Memphis on the internet. #C O LD HAR D CAS H

POSTED TO TWITTER BY RIC CHETTER

Last week’s icy blast dominated the MEMernet. Exhibit A: the Johnny Cash statue in Cooper-Young.

“It’s so cold out there, ol’ Johnny has a frozen booger hangin,’” tweeted Ric Chetter. “#ColdHardCash.”

H O N EST WEATH E R MAP

POSTED TO TWITTER FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS

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M LGWO R D LE

POSTED TO TWITTER BY KATIE BARBER

DRONE ZEN

POSTED TO YOUTUBE BY GO PLACES PRO

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Grab a zen moment with this stunning drone video of Memphis posted recently from YouTuber Go Places Pro.

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Questions, Answers + Attitude Edited by Toby Sells

S TAT E W AT C H B y To b y S e l l s

Annual Targets Another year, another chance for state lawmakers to target the LGBTQ community.

A number of bills filed in the Tennessee General Assembly’s current session target the LGBTQ community.

The current session kicked off two weeks ago and is off to a slow start. Usually, lawmakers start the session in a flurry of filing bills and getting them before their appropriate committees. However, this year committee schedules have been light, likely due to the fact that lawmakers went to Nashville for three special sessions, the most in Tennessee history.

Though slow, the session is proving there’s no shortage of anti-LGBTQ sentiment among the many members of the Tennessee legislature. Here are four bills worth watching this session: TE XTB O O K BAN PHOTO: SHARON MCCUTCHEON | UNSPLASH House Bill 800 by state Rep. Bruce Bills target trangender athletes, textbooks that mention “LGBT lifestyles,” Griffey (R-Paris) — The bill would pronouns, and healthcare for kids. ban textbooks and instruction mapronoun does not align with the student’s biological sex.” terials that “promote, normalize, support, or address controversial It would also insulate school teachers and employees from social issues, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawsuits or being fired for “referring to a student using the lifestyles.” The bill deems these “lifestyles” as “inappropriate.”

“The promotion of [LGBTQ] issues and lifestyles in public pronoun aligned with the student’s biological sex instead of the student’s preferred pronoun.” schools offends a significant portion of students, parents, and Ten“In other words, this bill protects school personnel who nessee residents with Christian values,” reads the bill. “The promodiscriminate against transgender and non-binary students,” tion of [LGBTQ] issues and lifestyles should be subject to the same said Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equalrestrictions and limitations placed on the teaching of religion in ity Project. “Research shows that school policies that affirm public schools.” a student’s gender identity yield better health and academic This bill was filed last year but did not make it to the floors of outcomes.” neither the House nor Senate.

TR AN S G E N D E R ATH LETES Senate Bill 2153 by state Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) — The bill “prohibits males from participating in public higher education sports that are designated for females.” It also creates a process “for violations that deprive a student of an athletic opportunity or that cause direct or indirect harm to a student at the middle school, high school, or postsecondary level.”

TE AC H E R S AN D P R O N O U N S House Bill 2633 by state Rep. Mark Cochran (R-Engelwood) — This would allow school teachers or employees to use whatever pronouns they want for students “if the [student’s preferred]

TR AN S K I D S H EALTH CAR E House Bill 578 by state Rep. John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) — This bill was filed but not passed in last year’s session. It would ban sex identity change therapy to “prepubescent minors,” unless parents have permission from three doctors. It punishes violations as child abuse.

About 3.5 percent of Tennessee adults identify as LGBTQ, according to the latest data from the Movement Advancement Project. The state’s LGBTQ population is about 223,000.

Visit the News Blog at memphisflyer.com for even more local news.

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The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, November 15, 2018

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New bill would legalize cannabis across the board in Tennessee.

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Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Cannabis could be legal in Tennessee for medical and recreational uses, and those jailed on cannabis-only charges could be freed should lawmakers pass a new bill.

State Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) filed the Free All Cannabis for Tennessee (FACT) Act for consideration this year by the Tennessee General Assembly. The cannabis bill is certainly one of the most expansive ever filed in Tennessee, as it would make cannabis legal for all uses for those 21 and older.

The 33-page bill is also meticulously detailed. It outlines who would be able to use cannabis, where it could be consumed (and where it couldn’t), who could grow it, who could sell it, edibles, plants, concentrates, resin, hemp, research, the pathway to release from jail, and more.

For the bill, Freeman worked with the Tennessee Growers Coalition, a hemp and cannabis advocacy group for Tennessee growers.

“The Tennessee Growers Coalition and Tennesseans are tired of waiting for federal action on cannabis legalization and plan to take matters into their own hands,” reads a statement from the group. “Tennessee has a rich history of cannabis cultivation but misinformation and negative stigmatization have left our state behind the times.”

The bill would allow Tennesseans to possess, use, and transport up to 60 grams of cannabis. Though, no more than 15 grams of that amount could be in the form of concentrate.

The bill would also allow Tennesseans to grow their own cannabis. It would allow

PHOTO: TOBY SELLS

Cannabis would be legal for medical and recreational purposes. for the cultivation of up to 12 plants for personal use. However, those plants could only be grown on personal, residential property, out of view from the public, and locked with security devices.

Minors could be given cannabis (in a non-smokeable form) for medical purposes by parents or guardians. The Tennessee Department of Health would be notified in these instances to ensure minor patients do have medical conditions.

The FACT Act would allow cannabis use statewide. However, cities and counties could opt out. They could do so with a two-thirds vote by a legislative body.

Under the act, cannabis sales would be taxed at 15 percent. Half of all cannabis sales taxes collected would go to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to manage the state’s cannabis program.

The Tennessee Department of Safety would get 20 percent of cannabis sales taxes. Another 20 percent of sales taxes would go to the state pension fund. The remaining 5 percent of the funds would go to the Tennessee Department of Education.

If approved, the FACT Act would direct the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) to review the records of those incarcerated on cannabis charges. Inmates locked up for cannabis-only offenses and not also serving sentences for violent offenses would be immediately eligible for release.

POLITICS By Jackson Baker

Snarled in Knots

PHOTO: COURTESY THE TENNESSEE JOURNAL

Katrina Robinson after Senate expulsion Subsequently, although Robinson’s attorney Larry Laurenzi, citing an accountant’s figures, would argue strenuously that Robinson’s personal expenditures came from her school’s profits and not from federal sources, a jury convened in Memphis would convict Robinson on four of five remaining charges, finding her not guilty of one.

What remained, as Robinson and Laurenzi meditated on various appeals, were two questions: What would be the ultimate legal consequences for Robinson

of the four convictions? And what would be the reaction of the state Senate, which has rules requiring the expulsion of a member convicted of a felony?

A partial answer to the first question is that in January Judge Lipman, in a move that caught most observers by surprise, chose to acquit Robinson of two of the guilty verdicts found by the jury.

And what the state Senate did was debate expulsion of Robinson from the body, which voted 25-7 on party lines last week to do so. Democrats in both the Senate and the House objected to what Robinson, an African American, called a “procedural lynching.” She had sought a delay in any action on expulsion until after the Senator’s formal sentencing on March 3.

Attorney Laurenzi was quoted as saying, “At this time we are considering every option we have to try to get those last two counts removed or dismissed. And we will continue doing that up until March 3.” As of press time, however, no such option had yet been acted on.

But meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney’s office, in a motion filed Friday by acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., is appealing Judge Lipman’s acquittal action on the two jury convictions that were removed.

Given the political context of the situation, it is relevant that Murphy’s ascension to his temporary position was a civil service matter, absent any identifiable political affiliation on his part. Former U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant, who resigned last year, had been appointed by President Donald Trump on the basis of recommendations from the state’s two Republican senators.

Dunavant’s permanent replacement will be made by President Joe Biden, who will lean strongly on advice from Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen, the state’s ranking Democratic federal official. That’s how the federal appointments process works.

In his motion, Murphy objected to Robinson’s “defiant refusal to accept responsibility” and her “extended campaign … to paint herself as the victim [of] racial animus on the part of anyone who dares call her to account.”

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NEWS & OPINION

The Katrina Robinson case, involving the conviction of a Democratic state senator from Memphis on charges of wire fraud, has taken several unanticipated leaps since federal authorities first began their investigation of her last year.

Robinson first came under suspicion for misuse for personal purposes of some $600,000 in federal funding intended solely for a nursing school she was operating. It was on that basis that she was originally charged on 15 counts of fraud. U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman dismissed 11 of those charges — an action that raised a few eyebrows, since it seemed to make sense in the name of case consolidation.

m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

The Katrina Robinson case gets tied up in legal and political complications.

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o doubt, many of you are Latin show-tune written by Lin-Manuel familiar with Ray Bradbury’s Miranda (of Hamilton fame) from the Dis1953 novel Fahrenheit 451. ney film, Encanto. It’s sung by six different, It was on the recommended mostly unknown, people and it’s been No. reading list in one of my high school Eng1 for five weeks and counting. lish classes, and I loved it.

How is it possible that this is the No. 1 For those not familiar with the book, song in America? Sure, it’s sort of catchy, the title references the autoignition in a classic Broadway musical sense, but temperature of paper, which is relevant be- according to those who track such things, cause the novel is set in a future America that’s not why “We Don’t Talk About where books are outlawed. Any that are Bruno” has reached the top. Nope. “WDdiscovered are taken and burned by the TAB” is No. 1 because it’s being streamed “firemen,” who also burn down the houses millions of times a week by elementary of those who possess books. school-age kids, who love the film and the Bradley’s tale is weirdly predictive: song and listen to it repeatedly. Stream Everyone in “future” America spends counters don’t care who’s listening. Age their evenings watching insipid melodradoesn’t matter. Everyone’s just a number. mas and sports on their “parlor walls,” You and I may not talk about Bruno, but i.e. home screens. No one reads because American kids sure do. books have been deemed by the nation’s Speaking of streaming … A lot of rulers as too dangerous for the people. people smirked a couple weeks ago, when Cut to Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, last week, septuagenarian rocker Neil Young pulled where an evangelical pastor and rabid his music from Spotify in protest of broTrump supporter named magnon talker Joe Rogan’s Greg Locke held a bookpodcast. It’s me or Rogan, burning — a bonfire of the said Young. Rogan is Spoinanities, so to speak. The tify’s primary cash cow, so blaze targeted Harry Potter Spotify said, “See ya, Neil.” books and the Twilight Young’s protest was a series, but other books were meaningless, empty gesture, also burned, including a people said. Oops. Turns copy of Fahrenheit 451. The out Young’s protest spurred irony was lost, obviously. other content providers Still, you can’t be too careful. to pull their work from Some sexy demon vampire Spotify. Then, oops again, it freedom stuff might leak was discovered that Rogan PHOTO: WIRESTOCK | DREAMSTIME.COM out into young impressionwas not just an ivermectinNeil Young able brains. clogged dumbass spreading On the surface, such Covid misinformation, he activity seems scary, but in 2022, burning was also a racist who casually used the “nbooks to stop someone from reading them word” in more than 70 podcast episodes. is about as useful as trying to stop someSpotify quickly pulled the episodes in one from listening to a particular musician question, plus others of questionable taste by burning his CDs. Two hundred years and accuracy, and apologized to its users ago, torching tomes might have kept the and to its employees. locals in a village from reading a particular Rogan’s supporters immediately began book, but that horse is now out of the barn complaining about their hero being a vicand on Pixar. In 2022, you can listen to tim of “cancel culture.” Which is different, anything, read anything, or see anything somehow, from burning books or pulling you want with a few keystrokes. Burning them from school libraries, I guess. books or records is a purely performative Anyway, ol’ Neil got the last word. And exercise, Kabuki theater for the gullible we should recognize that none of this rubes. Nobody can “ban” anything, least of would have happened if one man hadn’t all from tech-savvy young people. taken a conscientious stand on principle.

Speaking of … Do you know what the Rogan’s racist crap would still be on SpoNo. 1 song on the Billboard 100 chart is tify. Now it’s not. right now? I’m gonna guess you probably You might say that Joe Rogan got don’t. It’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” a burned.

FINANCE By Gene Gard

Go off road!

A Crypto Lesson Mainstream investors need not worry that comprehending crypto is too cryptic.

“Hmmm … $1.40 a day isn’t very much, but it also doesn’t really involve any work or new fixed costs. It’s paid in Bitcoin, so actually it’s not like I’m earning $1.40 a day, I’m earning Bitcoin.

Crypto prices are down significantly right now, so if Bitcoin were to double it would actually be as though I retroactively earned $2.80 a day for all the days I mined. If it went 10x, as unlikely as that is, I would have really been earning $14 a day, all along. Mining is probably much less competitive at these lower prices, so I’ll probably be more effective now than if I wait until later. Wow, I can’t afford not to start mining!”

Upon reflection, the pragmatist in me would say that my line of thinking there is very naïve. Money is fungible and crypto is priced in dollars, so if I was so sure Bitcoin will double or 10x (which I don’t know at all, by the way), I

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should forego the mining, sell the cards, and simply buy more Bitcoin as soon as possible, right?

The more I thought about it though, I realized my naivety is not only useful, but perhaps contains a profound truth of behavioral finance. My usual notion about financial assets is that they’re all priced in dollars, but here, I really was mentally pricing dollars in Bitcoin. By acquiring Bitcoin when it’s easier (aka at low dollar prices), I’m anchoring on the idea that a Bitcoin is a Bitcoin and the dollar price will eventually catch up. That’s actually a very sophisticated investment mindset that is not easy to cultivate for most new investors.

Let’s apply that to “real” investments now — investments in companies that earn money and grow earnings. Just as someone might aspire to own one whole Bitcoin someday, I could aspire to own 1,000 shares of my favorite fund or ETF, irrespective of price. If I had $1,000 a month to invest and my favorite ETF is priced at $10, I could buy 100 shares a month.

But if it declines to $8, then I would be able to buy 125 shares with the same number of dollars and reach my 1,000 share goal much sooner.

I wouldn’t be buying the fund unless I thought its long-term prospects were great, so I should be happy to cheaply acquire as many shares as possible, as soon as possible.

Buying when markets are “on sale” is easier said than done because market downturns are scary. There might be more volatility ahead in 2022, and if it happens, I’ll be thinking about how many extra shares I can acquire rather than the lower prices showing up on my statement.

Gene Gard is Chief Investment Officer at Telarray, a Memphis-based wealth management firm that helps families navigate investment, tax, estate, and retirement decisions. Ask him your question at ggard@telarrayadvisors.com or sign up for the next free online seminar on the Events tab at telarrayadvisors.com.

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y kids decided they wanted to build gaming PCs for their Christmas and a birthday, and I jumped on the chance to spend some time with them on the project. Once we finished, I realized I had two older but still relevant graphics cards on hand from their old builds, and as a cryptocurious person, I couldn’t help but look into how effective they might be for crypto mining.

Looking at one prominent mining pool’s info, it appears that after energy costs I could earn approximately $1.40 a day using these cards to mine various cryptocurrencies, paid in Bitcoin. I was considering this, and actually had this conversation in my head:

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Heartwarming COVER STORY BY DAPHNE MAYSONET / PHOTOS BY JUSTIN FOX BURKS

Fe b r u a r y 1 0 - 1 6 , 2 0 2 2

In our annual Love Issue, we look at the stories of Memphians growing and learning and loving together.

I

Sheree Renée Thomas and Danian Darrell Jerry found each other through their shared love of writing.

Sheree Renée Thomas + Danian Darrell Jerry

on the Earth, Arthur Flowers, author of Another Good Loving Blues … one of my favorite love stories, which is a blues story and a tribute to Memphis. Then he introduces me, in his way, to a person who would become not only one of my best friends, one of my dream partners and brainstormer of insane ideas and adventures, but also just an amazing person and a person I fell in love with!”

But the courtship wasn’t without a bit of conflict. Sheree admits she was apprehensive about a romantic relationship with Danian at first meeting and gently tried to keep a discerning distance despite initial attraction on both sides. “I tried to steer clear of dating writers. Part of it is because my younger years as a writer were in New York and I saw a bunch of nightmare stories about that. Especially for women writers,” she says. “A lot of times I would see the women’s careers — their writing

t’s been a cold week in Memphis.

For many of us, ice storm 2022 brings back not-so-fond memories of 1994’s monster of a storm. But, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner and many of us (your editor included) in need of a distraction, we’re checking in with some of the Bluff City’s romantics.

If these stories of love don’t warm your heart on a frigid February day, we’re not sure what will.

❤

“The night that I met Sheree, it was for a book-signing for Memphis Noir.

And what had happened is that I had submitted a story to Memphis Noir, right? But my story didn’t get accepted, so I really didn’t wanna go to the booksigning,” says writer Danian Darrell Jerry 10 on the fateful event that introduced him to Sheree Renée Thomas, a writer who

had returned to her hometown after more than a decade in New York City and a stay at Millay Arts residency.

Lucky for both writers, Danian decided to attend the party at Crosstown’s StoryBoard space to support the writers included.

“You know when I met Sheree … I don’t think she was really feelin’ me,” but Danian had an in. He had graduated from the creative writing MFA program at the University of Memphis, where he’d studied with fiction writer Cary

Holladay. Holladay, who had mentored Danian and encouraged his literary pursuit, also introduced him to another writer, Arthur Flowers, a longtime mentor and friend to Sheree.

Danian’s connection to Flowers — and his striking looks — first caught her attention. “So he came, and I saw him.

And he’s so sweet and so handsome. He has the most gorgeous eyes, right? So I was like, ‘Hmm, who is this? Who is this fine man comin’ in here?’ And then he mentioned one of my favorite people

Kori Coley noticed the yellow specks in Allyson’s eyes when she first met her as a co-worker. Now, the two are married.

was a bit nervous to present a piece she’d never read publicly before, and Danian sat in the front row, expressing his confidence in her.

“So we did this reading, and I did this story. And Danian was in the front row, and he has such a peaceful face. There’s just something about — he made us all feel like he was there just for us, and he was rooting for us. It was just a magical time. I think that successful experience, the adrenaline rush of him driving like Batman all the way down there, and then us just vibing about books and art and music and the crazy publishing industry and the weird politics in Memphis … all the things that we were talking about, I think that just kind of set it off. And we’ve been inseparable ever since!”

These days, the compatible two can be found creating together on a number of present and upcoming projects.

“We do a lot of things together, but

I’ll say this, it’s good to be with someone who just gets you. We watched the last season of Game of Thrones together. …

It’s good to have someone very close to you to share those kinds of moments,” says Danian.

Sheree adds, “It’s a big difference when you feel like you are where you’re supposed to be.”

❤ Allyson Blair Coley + Kori Coley When the stars aligned the second time for Allyson and Kori Coley, Kori recalls, “And I walk into Garibaldi’s, and I see her at the cash register, and I’m like, ‘Oh, god, it’s that young girl that has a crush on me.’”

This was the second time workplaces had brought them together — the first when Kori and Allyson worked at neighboring establishments in CooperYoung. The two had a brief introduction through a mutual friend, when Kori noticed the unusual yellow of Allyson’s eyes and Allyson spotted the film roll tattoo on Kori’s arm — an image she’d wanted herself but didn’t have. After learning of their seven-year age gap, Kori withdrew, and the two didn’t see each other again until Kori walked into the pizza joint to work.

“And I was just having none of her at all, but everybody there who I had been friends with loved her,” says Kori of the chance encounter. Despite their age difference, the two became friends on the job and spent two years growing closer. Allyson ended things with her long-distance boyfriend back home in Arizona. Kori quit her job and headed elsewhere so that they could resume a serious romantic relationship without the secrecy or allure of an illicit workplace fling.

The two continued to compromise.

Kori says, “I was 30 at the time that we got together, and she was 23. So I had this, like, timeline of how a relationship should go. I had a clear idea of what I wanted out of a relationship, and I was very honest about it.”

Allyson admits to being less clear on what she wanted and how to articulate it at that point in life. Deep-feeling but reticent, she says, “I don’t necessarily know how to talk about my feelings and communicate them. I didn’t do that a lot as a kid. But Kori loves communication, and it’s aggravating, but it’s made us stronger in the way she makes me talk about my feelings. If I’m not ready to, she’s patient, and she’s like, ‘Well, here’s all of mine.’”

The two laugh at their differences: Allyson wielding power tools and Kori melting at romance stories. Kori loving technology and Allyson prizing her old cameras, with which she shoots on film. Regardless of who kills the spiders (it’s Allyson), the pair agrees on the big pictures as a unified front: “We’re opposite, but in the ways that we are the same, it’s all the important, meaningful core values,” says Allyson.

Kori adds, “I love that we’re opposite on so many things because that makes us our own thing — something we can put our passion into without having this competitiveness of ‘Are you better at this one thing than I am?’ We love different things, so we don’t have that at all. And I think it’s been very magical for us.” continued on page 12

COVER STORY m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

— would get put aside. Sometimes it’s by choice, right? Like we’re on the outside looking in. But other times, it’s just male ego, and stuff, right? And it didn’t usually seem to work out.”

Protective of her fruitful and wellearned writing and editorial career, Sheree decided not to pursue a romantic relationship. The healthy skepticism kept the two from dating, but it didn’t keep them from seeing each other again at Memphis literary events, where their exchanges blossomed into friendship.

When Sheree decided to organize the first Memphis Afrofuturism festival, Black to the Future, in 2018, Danian was beside her, offering positive feedback that fueled her community-building vision. The readings and panels saw them working side-by-side to smooth any ruffles in programming logistics, both running to find cables and empower emerging writers wherever necessary. The rush and success of the event, says Sheree, replanted “the seed,” demonstrating Danian’s optimism and reliability.

Over the course of three years, they fortified the bond through creative projects and a sincere mutual support that surprised them both.

“He was very mature and very whole. … When things would go well for me, he would be rooting for me — one of my biggest cheerleaders,” says Sheree.

Danian’s ability to be helpful and happy for her successes and understanding of her losses in the writing industry was unlike the competitive, egoistic male writer stereotype that caused her apprehension.

Likewise, Danian was amazed.

“She just has this air about her that’s kind of, like, regal. So when I first met her, I didn’t think that — I thought she was kind of out of my league. I was surprised that she was interested in me,” Danian says. “She lifted me up so much.

It shocked me when she looked at me like I was on her level.” Sheree found this easy to do as a fan of Danian’s writing and a crusader for the exceptionally talented yet humble Memphis creative community — a unique complex that often keeps deserving artists from taking leaps of faith into publishing and other career-building chances.

Finally, a partnership beyond book business was born — where else? The Southern Festival of Books. Sheree was scheduled to speak on a panel, and Danian made the three-hour drive “like Batman,” says Sheree. “I was calling him the Transporter” because she was worried about running late. They filled the trip with conversation and adrenaline, leaving them newly close on arrival. When it was time to read, Sheree

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continued from page 11

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Allyson: “You encourage me to do all the things I don’t think I can do.”

Kori: “Yep, you do the same for me.”

Perhaps most central to the Coley couple’s shared beliefs is their dedication to family — both their own and each other’s. Kori describes the first serious talk the two had with a glimpse into the future most couples don’t have early on.

“We’re both the children of single mothers. Our mothers are very important to us, and one of the first conversations we had when we got together was that our mothers will probably live with us someday.”

Both Allyson and Kori have grown into strongly directing their energy into a loving family they both can enjoy. For Allyson, the impulse didn’t always come naturally — largely because it wasn’t always possible. Allyson grew up in Arizona with few family members around.

In moving to Memphis, she was taken underwing by her aunt who was openly gay and active in the community as a board member for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and as the owner of feminist bookstore Meristem. Her loving influence touched and inspired Allyson.

Then both her parents moved to town, her

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father remarrying in his late 60s.

“My dad being the Southern man that he is, I didn’t really know how he would take it,” Allyson says. “So, yeah, for a while it was hard when he would say, ‘This is her friend’ when he would introduce us. Now my dad — like this is his daughter, and Kori didn’t have a father around at all, so it’s just beautiful [to see him] accept Kori and call her and sing her happy birthday on her birthday. He came to our wedding.

It meant a lot, and it means a lot for him to accept us,” says Allyson, adding that her newish stepmom also wholeheartedly supports the coupling, having both over to their home in Covington to watch football

“You encourage me to do all the things I don’t think I can do." with her and her twin sister, the four women discussing plays while dad scrolls his cell phone.

Of Allyson’s mom, Kori says, “Her mom was resistant at first toward us because she’s a Christian and she’s had this idea. But I was like, ‘No, this woman

is about to be my best friend.’ I love her like she’s my own mother.”

Allyson and Kori’s mom are also considerably close, despite Kori’s mom’s shyness. Allyson shares a sweet illustration of their bond: “I had an art show for my 30th birthday at Otherlands.

Kori’s mom showed up to my art show in, like, an alien mask and walked around. … She wanted to support me but didn’t want to meet anybody or have to have to talk to anybody, and Kori walked her around and she left. And it was the most beautiful, absurd, ridiculous, heartwarming [thing].”

After 10 years together, Allyson popped the question, and the union was a no-brainer. By their wedding, Allyson and Kori had everyone’s blessing, including Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer, who agreed to officiate their wedding when the two reached out with interest in her beliefs and care for the city.

Today, volleying life philosophies from different lenses, the two somehow can’t help but finish each other’s sentences.

“I needed to know that we could get through things that change in our lives,” says Kori.

“So we could change together and grow together,” says Allyson.

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

B y To b y S e l l s

Ice Storm 2022 Last Thursday’s ice left thousands of Memphians in the cold.

PHOTO: ROWAN GRATZ

PHOTOS ABOVE AND BELOW (LEFT): HILLARY LUCAS

PHOTOS ABOVE AND BELOW (RIGHT): ANNA TRAVERSE FOGLE

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COVER STORY m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

Warmth, light, and power have come back to most of the Memphis area, but only after a brutal ice storm added a layer of turmoil and anxiety to a frustrated city already wracked by both.

Early last week, the National Weather Service warned that the Memphis atmosphere had the ingredients — lots of precipitation and freezing temperatures — for a nasty February ice storm. It proved a successful recipe that delivered power outages to nearly 140,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) customers in temperatures that barely peaked above freezing.

The ice locked many inside their homes where they listened anxiously to a seemingly never-ending series of cracks, booms, and thuds from tree limbs breaking and falling under the weight of sheets of ice nearly a quarter of an inch thick. City of Memphis crews responded to more than 270 calls from citizens to remove trees from roads and other public rights of way. Huge piles of wood are still visible along city streets.

As of press time, local government officials were working with state and local governments to declare a state of emergency to unlock more government funds to help with clean-up and recovery.

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steppin’ out (& stayin’ in)

We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

Be Mine

PHOTO: GARRETT SWEET

By Abigail Morici

That time of the year is here yet again — that time when you celebrate your valentines, galentines, and palentines.

Sometimes, it’s just too difficult to keep track of all the loves in your lives, but to ease the burden of curating the perfect charcuterie board or finding the perfect romantic setting to toast to Cupid, Hu Hotel is hosting a Lovers and Friends Party.

“The whole purpose of it is just to have a fun party and give people a reason to dress up,” says Faith Pool, Hu’s director of lifestyle and the mastermind behind this event. Guests are encouraged to don their best in shades of red, pink, and black to add to the rosy atmosphere on the rooftop, where the views of the Mississippi and the Mighty Lights show are stunning.

To start off the night, Hu is hosting a special speed-dating round, and who knows, you might just find the love of your life. Sign up at Hu’s Instagram, Pool says.

The rest of the night will be complete with dancing to music by DJ Babo while guests munch on small bites and sip on cocktails from the hotel’s rooftop bar. The cover fee upon entry is $20.

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Memphis Jookin’ premieres at Orpheum before embarking on a national tour.

Dance, p. 18

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MICHAEL DONAHUE

LOUIS ‘ZIGGY’ TUCKER

LOVERS AND FRIENDS PARTY, HU HOTEL, 79 MADISON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, 8 P.M.-1 A.M., $20.

Half a loaf of Daniel Blanchard’s bread is better than none.

Food, p. 25

VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES February 10th - February 16th Art: The Play TheatreWorks, 2085 Monroe, Friday, Feb. 11, 8-10 p.m., $15-$20 One of Marie’s best friends, Serge, has just bought a very expensive painting. It’s about five feet by four, all white with white diagonal lines.

To Marie, the painting is a joke, but Serge insists Marie doesn’t have the proper standard to judge the work.

Another friend, Yvan allows himself to be pulled into this disagreement. As their arguments evolve, they border on destroying their friendships.

Performances run through February 27th.

Valentine’s Day Dance Blue Suede Ballroom Dance Studio, 3675 Southwind Park Cove, SaturdayMonday, Feb. 12-14, various times, $50 Bring your special someone and celebrate Valentine’s Day in style at the Blue Suede Ballroom Dance Studio. Learn the rumba, tango, or salsa in these 45-minute, beginnerlevel classes.

Check bluesuedeballroom.com for a full schedule of class offerings.

Memphis Jookin’: The Show The Orpheum, 203 S. Main, FridaySaturday, Feb. 11-12, 8 p.m., $25-$55 Renowned dance artist Lil Buck stars in a new show called Memphis Jookin’: The Show — an ode to his hometown of Memphis, birthplace of the singular dance style known as Memphis jookin’. The stage show will take you on a journey through the fabled city to chronicle how the art form emerged from local street dance to international phenomenon.

Memphis Jookin’: The Show will premiere at the Orpheum Theatre.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Duo Day at TONE Memphis TONE, 2234 Lamar, Saturday, Feb. 12, 1-6 p.m., $60-$100 This is a day dedicated to all the dynamic duos in your life, whether friend or lover. Do you a need a new “This is Us” picture? Or a tattoo to lock your loved one down for life?

Duo Day has both! A photo session with your duo is $60 and includes five digital images and two polaroids, and photos plus tattoo is $100.

Tattoos are first come, first served, and you will be able to choose the placement for your choice of a red or black heart.

Live music at

PHOTO: COURTESY MAS

Vincent, Sweet Face, and Wilderness are all available for adoption.

Puppy Love

By Abigail Morici

Looking for a special someone to spend Valentine’s Day with? Well, look no further than Memphis Animal Services’ (MAS) Valentine Sleepovers, where you can take a dog home for the weekend and spoil them as the great valentine they are. MAS will send you home with all the supplies you need.

“It’s a great opportunity for people who have been interested in the idea of fostering but aren’t sure if it is right for them,” says Alexis Pugh, MAS director. “Any time we can get an animal out of the shelter, even if it’s to go out on a day trip, it’s a benefit for the animals. It reduces their stress levels, and we get to see how they interact with the real world.”

On Thursday or Friday between noon and 4 p.m., sleepover fosters will be able to pick up a dog that will fit best in their household. Think speed-dating: You’ll be able to meet your potential suitors and check out their needs/personalities before committing to a sleepover. Drop-off will be on Sunday or even Monday if you’d prefer, or if you can’t imagine your life without your new pal, you will be able to adopt for $20, Pugh says.

During the weekend, what you and your canine valentine do is up to you — whether that’s walking in the park, rolling through the Starbucks drive-through for a puppuccino, or curling up on the couch and watching a movie. “Just simple stuff like that will make a dog happy,” Pugh says. “Ultimately, just the relaxation of being in a home is what these guys are looking for. … Fostering is so critical to life-saving, and it’s so much better for pets than being in the shelter. ” To sign up, check the shelter’s socials, @Memphis Animal Services on Facebook and @adoptmas on Instagram.

VALENTINE SLEEPOVERS, MEMPHIS ANIMAL SERVICES, THURSDAY-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH-FEBRUARY 13TH.

February 11th - 7:00pm Lucky 7 Brass Band

February 12th - 8:00pm Marcella Simien

Meet the Authors: The Ashes Have Voices Novel, 387 Perkins Ext., Saturday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m., free Join M. Antoinette Walker, Cynthia “CJ” Jones, Ericka Loynes, Nichole Woods, and Celeste Jona, the authors of The Ashes Have Voices: Stories to Motivate, Inspire, and Ignite Healing, as they celebrate the launch of their collection of stories. These women came together to share life’s lessons of their personal experiences with younger women, but along the journey, each woman traded in her pains of the past and chose beauty for ashes.

Louise Page Valentine’s Celebration!

Black Lodge, 405 N. Cleveland, Saturday, Feb. 12, $15 Join Black Lodge for an exuberant night of live music as they present a Valentine’s celebration and welcome the incredible Louise Page back to the Lodge stage, with opening performances by Mama Honey and Raneem & Better in Color.

A Valentine’s photo booth will be available to immortalize the moment.

And guests are encouraged to stick around after the live performances to dance the night away. 18 and up.

Shoot & Splice: Case Study of “The Devil Will Run” with Noah Glenn and IMAKEMADBEATS Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m., free Join writer/director Noah Glenn and producer IMAKEMADBEATS as they share insights and stories from each stage of the production process — from receiving an Indie Grant in 2019 all the way through production and into festival distribution.

The case study will also feature a screening of the 10-minute film, “The Devil Will Run.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

February 18th - 7:00pm Memphis All Stars

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Jackass Forever, with its phallocentric pranks, has somehow become the No. 1 movie in America.

Film, p. 27

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m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

February 17th - 8:00pm

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Fe b r u a r y 1 0 - 1 6 , 2 0 2 2

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Dance Revolution Lil Buck brings Memphis jookin’ to the Orpheum.

W

ith the success of musicals like Hamilton, it may not seem unusual that the Orpheum Theatre will premiere an important slice of Memphis African-American history this Friday and Saturday, focused on a turnof-the-century music and dance craze that rose from the streets to take the world by storm. The star of the show is a dancer who is still making that history: Memphis’ own Lil Buck.

By now, most locals have heard of Lil Buck, aka Charles Riley, as he’s rightfully become a global ambassador of sorts for the style of dance originally known as “gangsta walking,” “choppin’,” or “buckin’,” now known over the world as “Memphis jookin’.” As he says now, “Ever since I first saw Memphis jookin’, I’ve always been intrigued by it, and I always had such a deep love and passion for it. Because it helped me find who I am as a person, through the dance and through the movement.”

Even as he’s famously combined jookin’ with elements of ballet and other styles, the original approach to dance he learned growing up here remains at the heart of his practice. And with this week’s premiere of Memphis Jookin’: The Show, he wants to let the world know that jookin’ is about more than just him. “It’s a show about the culture in general, Memphis dance and Memphis music. This show was inspired by a lot of the pivotal people that helped elevate Memphis jookin’ to the place that it is now.

People who came before us. What we like to call the OGs. From DJs to OG dancers to people who were recording music at the time, who were very pivotal to us. You see the whole development through our lens.”

Speaking before leading the show’s cast through rehearsals at the Collage Dance Center, Riley uses one word again and again: community. “A show like this has always been on my mind, and something I wanted to do for the community,” he says.

“We’re paying homage. There were a lot of OGs before who didn’t have these kinds of opportunities and had to handle things in a different way in their era, who grew up in an era when Memphis was really rough to live in. We want to give a glimpse of what they had to go through. It’s really storytelling through movement. So you can understand what it feels like to grow up in Memphis as a street dancer.”

For Riley, the local dance community is

a living, breathing thing; the entire cast of about a dozen dancers is from Memphis. “I love being able to provide an opportunity like this for other jookers to gain some professional experience as dancers, doing what they’ve grown up doing. In Memphis, we have almost no platforms for Memphis street culture to be able to really shine.” Yet soon, the dancers will shine from coast to coast, as the ensemble prepares to take the show on the road starting February 25th.

“It’s definitely a story, a through line from beginning to end, with dialogue.

It’s a Broadway-style show,” says Riley. “It

PHOTO: LOUIS ‘ZIGGY’ TUCKER

Lil Buck features original instrumental music by the Mulherin brothers. Being from Memphis, they understand Memphis music on all levels. They’ve been studying tracks by DJ Squeeky, DJ Spanish Fly, and others.”

The show was co-created with some theatrical heavy hitters. “The idea came from myself and the co-producers of this show, CAMI Music group and Young Jai. Young Jai played a big role in capturing Memphis jookin’ on camera early on. He’s always been around as part of the community. And we have these amazing writers, Malcolm Barrett and Ameenah Kaplan.

Ameenah is the director of The Lion King tour, and she suggested Amy Campion, the director of our show.”

For his part, Riley is excited to bring raw street culture to the stage. “It’s one thing to watch it being performed to classical music, but it’s another thing to see it performed to the music it was actually born from.

That Memphis underground rap music.

That grit. That’s where it came from. I want people to get a dose of that and be able to say, ‘Wow, this is incredible.’”

MUSIC By Gus Carrington

Hippie-Man Homecoming Blvck Hippie on representing Memphis and “punching people in the face” with what’s next.

“We really want to come out to every show punching people in the face with our sound.”

Celest Farmer, joining Shaw on guitar, and the talented bassist Tyrell Williams.

“During tour, we really came into our own as a band, and we really want to come out to every show punching people in the face with our sound,” Shaw says.

That description may not be far off from what listeners can expect from the next Blvck Hippie record. “We’re going to get angrier and more aggressive with

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PHOTO: PHEN HILDRETH

Blvck Hippie’s Josh Shaw at Black Lodge

our music,” Shaw says. “While on tour I saw Black people in a ton of different cities headbanging to my songs. That affirmed that what I’m doing matters and is reaching people. It gives me the confidence to be myself more and make the music I want to make.”

This confidence has enabled Shaw to elevate not just one voice, but to increase representation for POC in indie/alternative music in general. When it came time to fill the bill for Blvck Hippie’s first show of the year, Shaw made sure to provide a platform for Black out-of-town artists, the surfy Bluphoria and math-rock-inspired Rest Ashore.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Rest Ashore for two years so it was amazing to get to play with them,” Shaw says. “It’s important to me that when Black bands come to Memphis we give them a reason to want to come back. It’s important to put on a safe welcoming show for them.”

Shaw says that they felt the safest they’ve ever felt in a musical space during Blvck Hippie’s past tour at a Black-run DIY venue in Cleveland.

While Josh cites Black bands like Bartees Strange and Enumclaw rising to mainstream prominence since summer of 2020, the singer says more Black-owned and Black-run venues are necessary to inspire representation in the scene.

“Through touring and the internet, especially TikTok, we’ve been able to reach new audiences and a lot of times we’ve been the first band people have seen that look like us,” Shaw says. “We get comments all the time from Black people that it’s nice to see people that look like them making indie rock, and this is amazing to hear.”

As for their own group’s recent success, Shaw says things have been “wild” since the Audiotree performance. The band hasn’t processed everything yet.

“It’s very humbling to be able to represent Memphis in all the places we’re getting to play,” Shaw says. “Playing shows in Memphis solidifies that for me — I wouldn’t want to be doing this for any other city.”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 • 7 PM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

J

ust seconds into the song “Art School” during Blvck Hippie’s first hometown show following a six-week tour in support of their album If You Feel Alone at Parties, singer/guitarist Josh Shaw’s mic stand dipped downward, seemingly of its own volition. As I watched the musician follow a rapidly descending microphone (while still singing into it) I thought to myself, “This is what Josh does — roll with the punches.”

But the latest Memphian musician to sing on the popular indie music platform Audiotree Live later described this mic stand snafu as simply “hilarious.”

“I was like ‘Oh god, I need to bend down,’” Shaw said. “And then ‘Oh god, my knees.’”

Making light of a moment like this illustrates something essential about the singer/guitarist: What has been accomplished with the band is other-worldly, but Shaw is still as endearing a person as ever.

Still, the band’s success is undeniable. Blvck Hippie sits at just over 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

On January 26th it was announced that Blvck Hippie will be joining the South by Southwest official festival lineup this year in Austin, Texas.

Admittedly, I have a history with Shaw that’s getting more and more difficult not to brag about. In 2017, I shared the bill with him in what was his first live performance fronting a band (then going by St.John). In 2018, we were tourmates, and 2019 saw us become roommates. I remember when he burst out of his room with an unplugged electric guitar and the opening riff to “Bunkbed” — “You gotta hear this thing I came up with today!”

All this to say that catching Blvck Hippie at Black Lodge was far from my first rodeo with Shaw, drummer Casey Rittinger, and their brand of self-proclaimed “sad-boy indie rock.”

Shaw says, if he had to guess, the band’s big sound comes from the group maturing, as well as an improvement in the way he writes his guitar parts. The current lineup is composed of “really great artists who have their own things to add.” Undoubtedly this includes the suave

19

CALENDAR of EVENTS:

February 10 - 16

ART AN D S P EC I A L E X H I B ITS

“From Shadow to Radiance: Jeannine Paul Art Exhibit”

Exhibition of work by Jeannine Paul. Through March 15.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

“I Remember Mayfair”

Virtual exhibition of work by Mary “Mayfair” Matthews.

Through Feb. 28.

WKNO

“Janelle Lynch: Another Way of Looking at Love”

An exhibition of large-format color photographs that invites viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of all life forms.

Through March 3 MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

“John Leslie Breck: American Impressionist”

Exhibition of work by John Leslie Breck. Through March 27.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

“Moment After”

A solo exhibition by Birminghambased Alex McClurg. Through Feb. 28.

FLICKER STREET STUDIO

“Remembering”

Exhibition of paintings by artist Michael Crespo. Through March 12.

DAVID LUSK GALLERY

Savages and Princesses: The Persistence of Native American Stereotypes

Exhibition that brings together 12 contemporary Native American visual artists.Through March 16.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY

“The 12 Months of Memphis”

Original oil paintings depicting one favorite Memphis landmark per month by local artist Jane M. Croy. Through March 2.

PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE

“Vanitas”

Exhibition of recent paintings

by Juan Rojo. Through March 1.

JAY ETKIN GALLERY

Send the date, time, place, cost, info, phone number, a brief description, and photos — two weeks in advance — to calendar@memphisflyer.com.

DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS WILL APPEAR IN THE FLYER’S ONLINE CALENDAR ONLY. FOR COMPREHENSIVE EVENTS LISTING, VISIT EVENTS.MEMPHISFLYER.COM/CAL.

“From Shadow to Radiance” features colorful and joyful paintings by Jeannine Paul.

“Waves of Change”

Exhibition of fused glass by Christie Stratton Moody.

Through April 2.

BUCKMAN ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL

A R T HA P P E N I N G S

Munch and Learn

Grab lunch and join Munch and Learn at the Dixon! The lecture series features presentations by local artists, scholars, and Dixon staff sharing their knowledge on a variety of topics. Wednesday, Feb. 16, noon-1 p.m.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

Senior Studio: Mosaics for the Gardens

Learn the basic steps and techniques of mosaic art, then design and create your own piece! Tuesday, Feb. 15, 1-3 p.m.

B O O K EVE NTS

Meet the Authors: The Ashes Have Voices

Join the authors of The Ashes Have Voices: Stories to Motivate, Inspire, and Ignite Healing as they celebrate the launch of their collection of stories. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m.

NOVEL

C LAS S / WO R KS H O P

5-week Painting Series with Marilyn Wannamaker Drawing and painting classes for those with beginner skills through advanced levels of experience. $250-$290. Saturday, Feb. 12, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

Birdie Bistro Workshop with Becky Zee

Spend a playful afternoon making and decorating your very own Birdie Bistro. $65. Sunday, Feb. 13, 1-4 p.m.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

Savages & Princesses: The Persistence of Native American Stereotypes

WWW.MOSHMEMPHIS.COM

Exhibit Opens Jan. 28

Fe b r u a r y 1 0 - 1 6 , 2 0 2 2

A Program of

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and The National Endowment for the Arts

C A L E N DA R: F E B R UA RY 1 0 - 1 6 Collections and Displays of Miniatures for Flower Shows

Collections of plants vs. displays of miniature plants will be discussed and demonstrated. $10. Monday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m.noon.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

Herbal Work Study: Herbs for Love

Learn how herbs have been used to show and encourage love, while weeding, grooming, thinning, planting, or whatever else needs doing in the garden.

Saturday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m.-noon.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

Preparing for Different Phases of Life with Your Pet

Hollywood Feed University invites you to attend an upcoming free, virtual course. Thursday, Feb. 10, 8-9:30 a.m.; noon-1:30 p.m.; 5-6:30 p.m.

HOLLYWOODFEED.COM

The Life and Legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer

In this workshop, awardwinning historian Dr. Keisha N. Blain discusses Fannie Lou Hamer’s extraordinary life and legacy and offers valuable tools and strategies for teachers.

Saturday, Feb. 12, 9-11 a.m.

In “Moment After,” Alex McClurg uses a geometric visual language to challenge the notion of tradition.

C O M E DY

Cast Together: Love Edition

A comedy gameshow. Saturday, Feb. 12, 9 p.m.

HI TONE

Shoot & Splice Case: Study of “The Devil Will Run” with Noah Glenn & IMAKEMADBEATS

Open Mic Comedy

Sign up at 7:30. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

A case study of the 2021 Indie Memphis Film Festival Jury & Audience award-winning short film, “The Devil Will Run.” Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.

Top Comic

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m.

B-SIDE

COM M U N ITY

CROSSTOWN THEATER

Cradle Gardening Orientation

Cemetery gardening? You bet.

Help bring flowers back to the oldest active garden-style cemetery in Memphis in this volunteer-based program.

Saturday, Feb. 12, noon ELMWOOD CEMETERY

Saturday Brunch at Park+Cherry FI LM

Crosstown Arthouse presents The Apartment

FA M I LY

Carnaval Family Day

It’s Carnaval time, celebrated all over the world and now at the Dixon! Enjoy live performances, art demonstrations, activities, and more. Free! Saturday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

FO O D A N D D R I N K

C.C. Baxter is an office clerk who courts favor with the executives in his office by giving them the key to his small apartment for their extramarital flings.

Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.

CROSSTOWN THEATER

Into America’s Wild 3D — Movie Premiere Into America’s Wild 3D leads audiences across North

America on a breathtaking adventure to explore the hidden wonders of nature. Saturday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY

Morris and Mollye Fogelman International Jewish Film Festival

The 10 featured films include a wide variety of award-winning national and international Jewish-themed films. $10-$130.

Through Feb. 24.

MEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Attend a special brunch at Park + Cherry by Chef Phillip Dewayne. Seating is limited; reservations are highly encouraged. Saturday, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

H EA LT H A N D F IT N ES S

Crosstown 10K/5K

This race benefits Church Health. Registrants may sign up for a single race or register for the whole series. Saturday, Feb. 12, 8 a.m.

CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE

Taijiquan

Led by Milan Vigil, this Chinese martial art promotes relaxation, improves balance, and provides no-impact aerobic benefits. Thursday, Feb. 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

Yoga

Strengthen your yoga practice and enjoy the health benefits of light exercise with a certified yoga instructor. Thursday, Feb. 10, 6-6:45 p.m.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

VA LE NT I N E’S EVE NTS

25th St. Valentine’s Virtual Run

Run with your loved ones for a good cause — Bartlett Parks & Recreation Department.

Complete your run at your leisure, on a course that you choose, and during the week of the 6th-13th. $25-$40. Through Feb. 13.

BARTLETT BAPTIST CHURCH

Duo Day at TONE Memphis

Come toast champagne, take photos, and get tattooed with your partner in crime! $60, $100. Saturday, Feb. 12, 1-6 p.m.

TONE

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A Very Tasteful Food Blog

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C A L E N DA R: F E B R UA RY 1 0 - 1 6 continued from page 21 Galentine’s Day

Get together with your best gal pals and celebrate each other!

Enjoy great music and good vibes from the one and only DJ AD. Sunday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m.

LOFLIN YARD

Louise Page Valentine’s Celebration!

Black Lodge welcomes the incredible Louise Page back to the stage. Stick around for dancing and a Valentine’s photo booth. $15. Saturday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

Lovers and Friends Party Live music, speed dating, small bites, and fun for all. Friday, Feb. 11, 8-11:59 p.m.

HU HOTEL

Love Is in the Air: MarieStephane Bernard and Germantown Symphony Orchestra

Join GPAC on the eve of Valentine’s Day for a very special concert with Germantown Symphony Orchestra and opera singer/current Memphian Marie-Stephane Bernard. $30.

Sunday, Feb. 13, 5-6:30 p.m.

“Palentine’s” Day Cherry Heart Cookies

Learn the secrets of cheerful cherry heart cookies! With your buddy, make tender, crumbly butter cookies and barely cherry cream cheese icing from scratch ... and take home what you make! $75. Friday, Feb. 11, 5-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 12, 1:30-4 p.m.

MUDDY’S BAKE SHOP

Poleluminati Valentine’s Spectacular 2022

Prepare to be dazzled by the most Mystical and Magikal variety show in Memphis. Friday, Feb. 11, 6-9 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

The Sweetheart Ball

Step back into your wholesome Valentine’s Day dance fantasies at the Sweetheart Ball with your hosts Stacy’s Dad and Moth Moth Moth! $15. Sunday, Feb. 13, 4:30 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

Valentine’s Day Concert Featuring Kelly Herrmann, Delara Hashemi, Jonathan Webber, and Brian Ray. Free.

Monday, Feb. 14, 5 p.m.

BEETHOVEN CLUB

Valentine’s Day Dance

Bring your special someone and celebrate Valentine’s Day in style. Learn the rumba, tango, and salsa. Check online for class times. $50. Saturday, Feb. 12-Feb. 14.

BLUE SUEDE BALLROOM DANCE STUDIO

Valentine’s Day Dinner & Music Cruise

An unforgettable cruise down the Mississippi on Valentine’s Weekend. Grab your favorite person for a celebration of love. $65. Friday, Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m.

MEMPHIS RIVERBOATS

Valentine Sleepovers

Take an adoptable dog home on Thursday/Friday and bring them back on Sunday. You get a Valentine’s Day date who really appreciates you; the dog gets a lovely little vacation for a few days. Thursday, Feb. 10, noon.

MEMPHIS ANIMAL SERVICES

Valentine’s Themed Adult Cookie Class with Frost Bake Shop

Bake something made with love for the special someone of your life. $50. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2 p.m.

FROST BAKE SHOP

GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

May We All

L E CT U R E

S PO R TS

Memphis Street Names Part 2: An Indoor Presentation

Memphis Grizzlies vs.

Portland Trail Blazers

Uncover the history of these Memphis Street Names in this hour-long presentation in the Chapel at Elmwood Cemetery $20. Saturday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m.

ELMWOOD CEMETERY

P E R F O R M I N G A RTS

Memphis Jookin’: The Show featuring Lil Buck Renowned dance artist Lil Buck stars in a new show that chronicles the history of Memphis Jookin. Friday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m.

THE ORPHEUM

S P E C IA L E V E N TS

Fab Fridays — Laser Motown in the Planetarium

Featuring some of the most iconic songs in American music, Laser Motown is a 46-minute celebration of legendary Motown tunes. Friday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m.

FEDEXFORUM

Professional Bull Riders Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

Some of the best bull riders in the world will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events. $15$103. Saturday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.

FEDEXFORUM

T H EAT E R

American Son

As a summer storm rages outside a Miami police station, inside there is a squall involving an interracial couple awaiting news of their missing son. $25.

Friday, Feb. 4-Feb. 20 THEATRE MEMPHIS

Art: The Play

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PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE

The Mountaintop

A gripping reimagination of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. $30. Through Feb. 13.

HATTILOO THEATRE

Tootsie

Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor, struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime. $29-$125.

Tuesday, Feb. 15-Feb. 20 ORPHEUM THEATRE

Torch Song

Arnold Beckoff is on an odyssey to find happiness in New York.

All he wants is a husband, a child, and a pair of bunny slippers that fit.Through Feb. 20.

PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE

One of Marie’s best friends, Serge, bought a very expensive white painting with white lines.

Is it art? $20/adult, $15/senior, student, military. Friday, Feb. 11, 8-10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 12, 8-10 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 13, 2-4 p.m.

THEATREWORKS

Jenna Coates, a small-town girl whose big-city singing career is over before it even begins, returns to the people and the places of her past. Through Feb. 20.

TO U R S

Tours at Two

Meet in the Catmur Foyer for a tour of a current exhibition with a Dixon docent or staff member. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2-3 p.m.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

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PBR’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour returns to FedExForum with the PBR Bluff City Classic.

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Film star and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias brings his Back on Tour show to FedExForum.

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Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live returns to FedExForum for three epic performances.

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MARCH 19 & 20

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MAR. 13 / 2PM

This Broadway musical comes alive at BPACC. Wednesday Addams, princess of darkness, has fallen in love with a sweet man from a nice family — her family’s worst nightmare! With Morticia. Gomez, Uncle Fester, Pugsley, Lurch & Thing nothing is guaranteed to go smoothly.

Great family fun!

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CARRY NARCAN

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CARS By Jon Luke Cave

Flying Lotus The Lotus Elise is built for speed over comfort.

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otus is a brand that everyone has heard of, but most people know nothing about. I just spent two weeks daily driving two awesome and very different Loti, and I’m going to tell you all about them.

My first week was with Lotus’ iconic Elise. This particular Elise is a 2011 Elise R, and it’s one of 77 on Earth. Lotus was founded by Colin Chapman, whose most famous quote is: “Simplify, then add lightness.” That’s the philosophy behind the entire brand, and it’s especially evident in the Elise. It’s a bare-bones, mid-engined sports car that is entirely focused on handling above all else. The one I drove has the most deluxe interior available, which comes with such luxuries as floor mats, the world’s worst radio, heat, AC, and electric windows/door locks. That’s it. You know it’s basic when you count floor mats as an option. The reason this car lacks so many features is because it’s built to be — wait for it — simple and lightweight.

The car is powered by a Toyota 1.8 liter 4-cylinder mounted behind the driver that makes a whopping 189 horsepower and some torque, probably. A manual transmission is the only option. Sounds like a boring drivetrain, eh?

Nope! This revvy little engine zings up to 8,000 rpm and makes a glorious sound as it propels the 2,000-pound car to 60 in less than five seconds! I was expecting this car to be a miserable car to commute in, but it really wasn’t bad. Yeah, it makes a Miata feel like a Bentley by comparison, but it’s really not that rough. Aside from commuting, I also got the chance to take it on the twisty road I grew up on and it was a joy.

No surprise there. The Elise has nearly zero storage other than the small trunk behind the engine, which is big enough for some groceries and maybe a duffel bag. If you want comfort, space, and storage, don’t buy a Lotus. Although, the Evora GT is a completely different experience.

I loved my time with the Elise R, but my week with the Evora GT was much better.

This car has two more cylinders, one more supercharger, much more space, tons more power, better storage, modern radio, amazing suspension tuning, and a far superior shifter. The second I sat down in the Evora after getting out of the Elise, I was shocked at how high up and comfy the seats were.

It’s low compared to a normal car, but everything is high compared to an Elise.

I turned on my heated seats, plugged my phone in, and drove away in comfort. Daily driving an Elise is possible, but not pleasant.

Daily driving the Evora GT is awesome.

Supercar looks, killer exhaust note, cruise control, a back seat area, and decent-sized trunk to keep junk — it’s great! I have a few gripes for a $100K car, though. There is nowhere to put stuff between the driver and passenger, which means you have to put your phone in the passenger seat or behind you in the weird cup holder. The Evora also uses an Alpine head unit. Apple CarPlay works well, but the backup camera quality is comparable to a Game Boy Color.

Still, much better than having no backup camera. Very small complaints overall.

Absolutely amazing car!

PHOTO: NICK UMSTED

Lotus Elise R and Lotus Evora GT

Lotus has been purchased by Geely Auto, and with the influx of money comes a whole new line of Loti including the rangetopping $2M all-electric Evija. This change in ownership also means all Loti we know now will go away. This 2011 Elise was the final year that the Elise was offered in the USA, and 2021 is the last year for the Evora ever. They are being replaced by the Type 131 and Emira respectively. All signs point toward the Emira being improved in every way compared to the Evora, and I imagine the Type 131 will be excellent as well. I’ll be spending some time with the Emira, and I hope to try out a Type 131, too. Lotus is a unique manufacturer making hyper-focused sports cars in a world of egg-shaped crossovers. As their lineup expands, they’ll lose some of that focus, but they will always offer their bread and butter: lightweight drivers’ cars.

Massive thanks to Scott Grady for allowing me to spend time with his awesome cars! It’s an honor to be trusted with other people’s toys.

Jon Luke Cave runs Cars on Main Memphis, Memphis Driven Exotics, and Memphis Offroad Excursions. Find him on Facebook and Instagram @jlc.on.cars.

FOOD By Michael Donahue

Dancing With Bread Baked goods sales are rising like yeast.

PHOTO: MICHAEL DONAHUE

Daniel Blanchard Blanchard’s first “real yeast bread” was a king cake. “I really wanted a king cake and I baked it.”

Bread baking “really kicked in” during the pandemic when he was out of work.

“I had a little stimulus money and I invested it in a lot of tools and ingredients to cook with,” he says.

Blanchard bakes organically. “To provide people with not just nutritious food but stuff that’s good for the environment and good for agriculture, that means a lot to me,” he says. “I’ve always gone out of my way to shop and eat organically in my home as much as I can.”

He sells his bread on social media @blanchardsorganicbreads. “I generally will post on Wednesday what I’m baking for the

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“I’ve always had a big nostalgia for bread and all things bread, so to speak,” says Blanchard, owner of Blanchard’s Organic Breads. “So, if I can’t find something locally that I like, I try to make it myself. Through my experiences of eating and working in restaurants, I always leaned toward the bread rather than the meat.

“I worked in a Philly cheese place in Arizona a couple of years ago. It had the most amazing bread. And before any of the meats or anything like that, I remember the bread and the baker bringing it in. These huge 24-inch long baguettes.”

A native of Atlanta, Blanchard says, “I grew up with a baker in my neighborhood who was really influential and left a lot of memories of focaccias, brioches, and stuff like that.”

weekend. So, that gives me time to feed my starter and get it built up.”

Sourdough is “definitely a scheduling thing and a dance at the same time. It’s a symbiotic dance you have to do to make sure everything comes out the time you’re expecting it to come out.”

Blanchard rotates from the American style to French style of sourdough bread.

The French bread has “a little bit more wheat in it. A little heartier. Tighter crumb.

And stays fresher for a week. American has bigger bubbles in it. The French is tighter and denser, but still very delicious.”

Blanchard also makes and sells French pastries, including éclairs and canelés, a baked custard with vanilla and rum. As a cottage baker, he only makes “things that are able to not be refrigerated.”

He uses the “traditional cream cheese” in his king cakes, but his are “so much more different” than the New Orleans king cakes he grew up with, Blanchard says.

His king cake is “a traditional French brioche. I roll it with cream cheese, cinnamon, and cardamom. And then I top it with a whipped cream icing, naturally dyed sugars, and Jacobsen finishing sea salt, which adds a slightly salty aspect to the overly sweet topping. You can tell by the colors that mine are not something you get at the grocery. A little duller, but natural looking.”

Blanchard recently began making galette de rois, a French king cake. “It’s more savory than sweet because of the puff pastry. The frangipane has sweetness, but the almond and butter that go into it have the subtle sweetness I like.”

Blanchard bought a 1970s International Truck, which he plans to convert into a “mobile bakery.”

“A brick-and-mortar and all that is just such a huge investment. I want to start small and grow at a good pace. I’m not trying to expand too fast.

“I still consider myself an amateur. But I’m working toward being a professional.

I think my bread is definitely on a professional level. My pastries are getting there.”

Baking is therapy, Blanchard says. “It gives you a chance to block out all the other things that are going on in your life and just focus on something that isn’t just serving you but serving other families and children.

I’m creating memories that I cherish from growing up for other people.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

H

alf a loaf of Daniel Blanchard’s bread is better than none. But it’s even better when you get a whole loaf.

25

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FILM By Chris McCoy

The Decline of Western Civilization Jackass Forever. So it’s come to this.

(above) Johnny Knoxville gleefully provokes bees into stinging Steve-O’s nether bits. (below) Understandably upset by the prankster, a bull throws Knoxville. attacks a miniature city with a kaiju dingus. When gonads are pummeled with tiny boxing gloves, he brings you every detail at 1,000 frames per second. A guy named Danger gets a nut shot from MMA fighter Francis Ngannou, who holds the record for the hardest punch ever recorded. Two goombas smush their manhood in transparent acrylic dong presses and use them as ping pong paddles.

Fortunately, Jackass Forever is more than just elaborate genital torture schemes. They also shock each other with tasers, concuss their friends with thrown soccer balls, and terrorize innocent civilians with scatalogical pranks. The team enlists MythBusters’ Tory Belleci to bring science to bear on their 14-year quest to light a fart underwater. Gallons of pig semen are put to nonreproductive use. Tyler, The Creator wears a tuxedo to get his testicles tased. Snakes bite, tarantulas crawl, and a vulture bites a dwarf ’s bulging package. I continued on page 28

Fridays Nights

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in the planetarium

m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

Virginia is afraid his coal stocks will take a hit?

Malco Powerhouse is open, so which movie should I see to escape this little sneak preview of my future as a climate change refugee? Should it be Roland Emmerich’s latest epic, Moonfall, where I presume a ragtag team tries to prevent the moon from crashing into the Earth, in defiance of all laws of physics and principles of good cinema?

Do I want to slog through disaster porn in the midst of an actual disaster?

No, I choose Jackass Forever.

It’s been 20 years since Jackass, that unholy mutation of skater culture that marked the final debasement of MTV, spawned its first feature film. Johnny Knoxville, who, like many East Tennesseans, punches way above his weight in the “destroying Western culture” category, now has five feature films to add to the hundreds of hours of “reality” television he has produced.

How bad could it be?

I’m living through William Gibson’s jackpot apocalypse.

What could the Jackass crew show me that I haven’t seen?

The answer is: their dicks.

Johnsons. Penises. Pricks.

Nuts. The full buffalo. Jackass Forever breaks new ground in the field of high-speed photography of the human testicle. In the opening sequence, director Jeff Tremaine channels Ishirō Honda and

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

I

t’s Sunday afternoon, 72 hours after an omegalevel ice storm knocked out the power to roughly half of Memphis, when I realize I need to see a movie to review for this week’s Flyer. After two nights spent in a heatless house, the wife and I have decamped to the climate-controlled refuge of a friend’s home office/guest bedroom. Outside, chainsaws roar through downed trees, and MLGW crews struggle to reconnect the power grid. “Maybe you’ll get power back today,” says our host, trying to be encouraging.

Oh, you sweet summer child. I was here for Ice Storm ’94 and Hurricane Elvis. I know that, when Mother Nature gets really pissed off, it can take weeks to get back to normal. And just what “normal” do we want to get back to? An uncontrolled spread of a mutant virus? The death toll reached 900,000 while we were preoccupied with arctic survival. A fascist movement called the Republican party that has already tried to violently overthrow American democracy and has now graduated to the book-burning phase? An attorney general who refuses to prosecute the traitorous Donald Trump while “very serious people” cluck-cluck about decorum? A rapidly deteriorating planetary climate that we apparently can’t do anything about because a Maserati-driving Senator from West fucking

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FILM By Chris McCoy continued from page 27 tapped out when Steve-O’s ding dong was attacked by a swarm of bees.

And here we are, back to recreational penile trauma. Was there a meeting at Paramount where someone said, “Even if it tanks at the box office, we’ll still make a fortune from the ball torture fetish community”? I’m probably not the first person to say this, but Jackass is the most repressed homoerotic franchise in film history. Seriously, y’all, just fuck and get it over with already!

I sit in the Powerhouse and let the

joystick slapstick wash over me like a shock wave of shit from an exploding porta potty, just happy to be in a room with working climate control. “We’re not NASA scientists,” says comedian and Jackass fanboy Eric André. “This isn’t Mensa. We get down and dirty.”

Jackass Forever is currently the No. 1 film in America.

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T H E L A S T W O R D B y Fr a n k M u r t a u g h

My Beijing Spurred by this year’s Winter Olympics, Memphis magazine’s managing editor reflects on a long-ago trip to China.

A point of emphasis: I share these sentiments with the same aversion to China’s human-rights atrocities that has the United States boycotting the Beijing Olympics on a government level. A place and its people can be appreciated without endorsing a nation’s restrictive, to say nothing of racist, policies.

PHOTO: COURTESY FRANK MURTAUGH

m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

Frank Murtaugh along the Great Wall of China

THE LAST WORD

I feel a kinship to the Winter Olympics in Beijing. I feel this connection despite being unable to perform virtually every athletic feat we’ll witness over the next two weeks. The Summer Olympics are easy for imagining a personal place in competition: We can all run, most of us can swim, and lots of us can dribble a basketball (if not guarded by a defender). But luge? Biathlon? Aerial skiing, for crying out loud? Yet, I feel closer than usual with these Winter Games.

I visited China, you see, in October 1994. Part of a press junket organized by the Wonders Series, I immersed myself in a land, quite literally, “on the other side of the globe,” and it was one of my life’s grand adventures. Sharing stories of the 1995 Wonders exhibition — “Imperial Tombs of China” — was my glorious obligation, but the return on my journalistic investment has been a monumental profit of spirit.

Our group spent some time in Hong Kong (then still a British colony) and Xi’an (site of the famed Terracotta Army, buried more than 2,000 years ago to protect the afterlife of emperor Qin Shi Huang). But Beijing and its surroundings are as colorful in my mind’s eye today as they were 28 years ago. Tiananmen Square, where pro-democracy demonstrators were massacred merely five years before my trip. The Forbidden City, home to Chinese royalty in the way Disney likes to dream of palaces and such. Then there was the Great Wall, a short bus ride northwest of Beijing. You spend your youth nodding your head when told how big — how long! — the Great Wall of China is, then one day you find yourself climbing stairs. Lots of stairs. And feeling like this structure just might be visible from the moon.

These memories danced in my head when Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 (the Michael Phelps Games).

But another decade and my life’s first pandemic have a way of refocusing the moments that have truly mattered on my journey.

And being part of Beijing — part of China — for two weeks is among those moments for me.

A college friend (who lived in Tokyo at the time) joined me for part of our time in Beijing. A singular experience: dining like princes (if not kings) in a small Beijing restaurant for a total cost of ten American dollars. If you want to measure the difference between “east and west,” start with economics. My buddy told me something wise near the end of his visit: “You’ll never read or hear about China again without feeling like it’s part of you.”

So, here we are in 2022. Chloe Kim is primed to dominate her snowboard competition while Mikaela Shiffrin makes the alpine slopes her own. I’ve never been on a snowboard, and the one day I spent on a mountain with skis strapped to my feet can hardly be described as “skiing.” (I scored points with my future wife.

Another investment in spirit.) But yes, I feel like Beijing is a part of me. Still. And maybe forever. I’ll enjoy cheering the world’s finest winter athletes, but it will have less to do with gold medals than the gleam — across decades now — of a gorgeous, history-rich place I wish we all could call our own.

Frank Murtaugh is the managing editor of Memphis magazine. He writes the columns “From My Seat” and “Tiger Blue” for the Flyer.

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