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Everyday choices of Downtown’s 100,000 daily population determine the strength of the area’s vibrancy.
PHOTO: BUDDY JONES Peace Out, Summer!
Appreciating the quiet gi s of this summer season. p31
PHOTO: PATRICIA LOCKHART
Mended Therapy
Combining mental health with a love of fashion, creativity, and sustainability, Mended Therapy was born. Ashley wants to show that although things may seem like they cannot get better, there is hope. Just like a mended piece of clothing is brought new life, the same can be said of us. She is here to walk with you through this journey with laughter, creativity, and challenging your beliefs about yourself. She is MENDED (and constantly mending). She hopes you will let her join you as you MEND.
Ashley specializes in working with LGBTQ+ populations and mood disorders.
For more information or to book an appointment, visit mendedtherapypllc.com.
She currently accepts most insurance plans. Self-pay is $125 for individual sessions
PHOTO: LENSMAN PHOTOGRAPHY | MEMPHIS TOURISM
THE fly-by
MEM ernet
Memphis on the internet.
CITY HALL COFFINS
“Four men, Tyrin Johnson, Darrin Pigram, Jonah Neal and Alfonso Ivy were killed by the Memphis Safe Task Force in the span of two months,” Hunter Demster said on Facebook about photos and texts he received. “Co ns, painted with their names and dates of death, were placed in front of the City Hall to remember Tyrin, Darrin, Alfonso and Jonah and bring awareness to the lack of response and accountability from city o cials regarding the shootings.”
NOT AMERICA?
{
WEEK THAT WAS
By Flyer staff
Questions, Answers + Attitude
Edited by Toby Sells
SpaceXAI, Education, & Pornhub
Turbines removed, more education in Klondike/Smokey City, and an adult site on the o ensive.
SPACEXAI TURBINES
SpaceXAI announced last week it plans to begin removal of all 69 temporary mobile turbines from its Southaven location as early as August. e company said it is transitioning to permanent power from a plant it is building.
e decades-long hollowing out of Memphis got a deep dive last month in a faceless YouTube video likely written by AI.
e founding on the blu . Yellow fever. e big annexation plan a er Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and the white ight that followed. It also looks at Memphis 3.0, which the channel called “shrinking on purpose.”
e “no America” part is just that Memphis grew in landmass and lost population, unlike most American cities.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
“Hey, y’all,” EducationalShare-63 posted in the Memphis subreddit last week. “Just tapping in to say Society Memphis has a Jookin Room. So if you wanna build a dance community let’s do that. @memphisdancecommunity”
“ e 1.2 GW permanent power plant currently under construction will consist of 41 permanent turbines authorized under a Clean Air Act permit, granted to SpaceXAI in March 2026,” the company said.
SpaceXAI’s compliance with the Clean Air Act has been regularly called into question by environmental and advocacy groups.
In addition to emission-control technologies, the company is also investing in sound walls, silencers, and “next-generation turbines with advanced quieting technologies.”
“We care deeply about being good neighbors and we regularly recon gure power operations to reduce noise from the facility and minimize our impact on the local Southaven community,” SpaceXAI said.
ANSWERS ON DATA CENTERS
U.S. House Democrats demanded answers from Elon Musk last week about the e ects of his data centers on Tennessee and Mississippi communities.
House Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), a ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent those questions in a letter to Musk. Pallone wanted a list of all turbines powering Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, communications between company employees and representatives pertaining to the data centers, and other documentation and analysis regarding emissions, power consumption, and water usage at the sites.
“ e Trump Administration has essentially claimed that it alone decides whether SpaceXAI and other companies get a free pass to pollute unimpeded,” Pallone said.
e letter comes a er Democrats met with AI companies over the past few months to discuss energy consumption, environmental impacts, and promises to community members.
CLASS IN KLONDIKE/SMOKEY CITY
An expansion in the North Memphis community hopes to restore education as a staple in local neighborhoods. Schools of Perea, located at 1250 Vollintine Avenue, announced the addition of a seventh grade class last week. e school, located in the historic Klondike/Smokey City neighborhood, increased its capacity from 305 students to 507 with this move. e nonpro t charter school hopes to add an eighth grade by 2028.
Memphis Shelby County Schools approved the expansion, and school o cials said this would provide “more enrollment opportunities for North Memphis families.”
PORNHUB FIGHTS RESTRICTIONS
Pornhub asked Tennessee lawmakers to end its age veri cation laws, saying they don’t work and push minors to “riskier, irresponsible sites.”
e Protect Tennessee Minors Act was passed in 2024. Tennesseans must now show ID, like a driver’s license, to prove their age if they want to watch porn on sites like Pornhub. Pornhub’s letter last week was sent to 300 lawmakers across the U.S., including 12 leaders in Tennessee. “ ese laws demonstrably do not work and, as a result, have put your constituents’ children and adults’ personal data at risk,” the letter reads. “If you truly intend to protect minors online, you must acknowledge the facts and introduce a real solution.”
Visit the News Blog at memphis yer.com for fuller versions of these stories and more local news.
PHOTO: HAROLD MENDOZA | UNSPLASH
One U.S. congressman said the Trump Administration has decided “it alone decides whether SpaceXAI and other companies get a free pass to pollute unimpeded.”
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For a full list of events and tickets – ElvisWeek.com
{ EDUCATION
By Nandini Kondisetti
AI at the U of M
Arti cial intelligence is alive across campus, but students’ experiences vary widely.
Arti cial intelligence is no longer con ned to computer science labs at the University of Memphis (U of M).
It now appears in syllabi, classroom policies, and student conversations, and the university has rolled out an AI concentration in its information systems master’s degree program to meet the demands of rapid technological change.
Yet students across majors experience AI unevenly. Some encounter it as a banned tool, others as an unspoken presence, and still others refuse to use it on principle. Interviews with students, faculty, and a recent U of M graduate reveal how AI is reshaping classrooms and what students believe the university is missing.
“AI Comes Up Only as a Warning”
For many students, AI appears less as a resource and more as a caution sign.
Raven Collins, a music therapy major, says AI is discussed frequently in her classes, but only as something to avoid.
in the university,” he said.
Sta ord said these concerns are addressed through committees, acceptable-use policies, and the cyber-ethics course.
AI Isn’t Just a Classroom Issue. It’s a Memphis Issue.
Richard Massey, a recent U of M graduate and environmental advocate from West Memphis, said he chose not to use AI at all during college.
“I saw rsthand … the e ect that generative AI and AI infrastructure has on vulnerable communities,” Massey said. “So, I … abstain from using AI.” Massey has helped organize student e orts challenging xAI’s data center expansion in Memphis. He describes residents in Boxtown, Whitehaven, Westwood, and Walker Homes reporting asthma attacks, breathing di culties, and noise from methane-powered hyperscale data centers.
“AI comes up o en in my classes but it’s only to tell us not to use generative AI for our assignments or group work,” she said.
She regularly uses longstanding AI-driven tools — mixing so ware, studio programs, digital audio technology — but says classroom messaging treats all AI as the same, ignoring distinctions between traditional assistive tools and newer generative systems.
Her experience highlights a broader gap: Students already live with AI in their disciplines, but classroom conversations o en reduce it to a single prohibited category.
“We’re Building a Foundation” — e Department Chair’s Perspective omas Sta ord, chair of the U of M’s department of management information systems, frames the new AI curriculum as a response to industry needs.
“Our Applied AI concept … is to prepare our graduates for the emerging AI-enabled workforce,” Sta ord said. e program includes courses in prompt engineering, AI-assisted application development, analytics, database management, and cyber-ethics. Sta ord said students appreciate hands-on work and permission to use AI tools.
“ ere is a minority … who are concerned about the environmental and ethical impacts of AI use in society and
Balancing environmental concerns and career realities
“Communities that have existed since the 1860s … are now being told they have to accept the conditions of these massive hyperscale data centers … churning out carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, and worsening their quality of life,” Massey said.
He points to a recent report showing xAI as one of the largest polluters in the Tennessee Valley region.
For Massey, AI education cannot be separated from these realities.
“Are we equipping students with an understanding that the use of these tools … has implications?” he asked.
For Memphis, the question is not whether AI will shape the city’s future. It already has. e question is whether institutions like the U of M will teach students not only how to use AI, but how to understand it, question it, and protect their communities from its harms.
PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
By Bruce VanWyngarden
Why Settle For Less When You Can Go For Gold!
Minor Crimes
Next they came for the children …
It didn’t cause much of a news ripple when it was announced last week that Mid-South Immigration Advocates (MIA) will close its doors in September. But it should have. It’s a development that especially impacts the least of us: unaccompanied immigrant minors. These are children under 18 who have no family support and who are often living in group homes run by nonprofit organizations that help them with shelter, healthcare, and, equally important, attorneys to represent them and negotiate their cases in immigration court.
Mid-South Immigration Advocates has performed those functions and others while serving immigrant communities in Nashville and Memphis for the past 13 years, so why are they closing their doors? Because the federal government has reneged on its obligation to fund the group for the $500,000 it has owed them for the past seven months’ work. Shocker, I know.
Here’s MIA director Sally Joyner, as quoted in the Daily Memphian: “The federal government has refused to pay the legal service providers on its unaccompanied minors contract for the past seven months. We’ve had to spend our reserves in order to pay staff and continue our work. And we just cannot do that anymore.”
It’s the local angle on a development that is having a similar impact all over the United States. And it’s not an accident. It’s the latest manifestation of the Trump administration’s war on immigrants, and this time they’re going after the most vulnerable population group in the country: the 26,000 immigrant children who are on their own — or in legal terminology, “unaccompanied.”
Here’s what happened: In March 2025, the Trump administration cancelled a $65 million contract that had provided funding to the nonprofit organization Acacia Center for Justice, which would have dispersed the money to nonprofits around the country like Mid-South Immigration Advocates for the specific purpose of providing attorneys to represent unaccompanied minors in their immigration cases. The contract officially ended July 31st, but in a particularly mean-spirited twist, the feds never paid the $65 million they owed Acacia for the work done since spring of 2025, meaning many attorneys won’t be paid, and that there is almost no funding for legal help for these children.
Now, quite literally, an abandoned 8-year-old child will be forced to go to court to present their asylum case to a judge. How well do you think that kid will
fare against a government attorney intent on fulfilling the Trump/Stephen Miller “quota” for deportations?
The administration is also beginning to send unaccompanied minors from all over the country to holding facilities in Texas — away from their local support organizations and their attorneys, to a state that is set up with Trump-friendly judges who will quickly deport minors.
Let this sink in: The government that represents you and me will be dumping unaccompanied children into another country to fend for themselves — exposing them to hunger, homelessness, sex traffickers, and other exploiters. This is who we are now. This is the new American way.
And there’s more. The administration is also sending pregnant unaccompanied minors from around the country to a single group shelter in the small border town of San Benito, Texas. According to a report from Houston PBS affiliate KUHT, the decision was made over objections from health and child welfare officials, who say the facility lacks the specialized care the girls need. Some are as young as 13, and at least half of them became pregnant as a result of rape, PBS sources said. Migrant advocates and civil rights attorneys suspect the administration is putting children at the San Benito shelter to deny them access to abortion by locating them in a state where it’s virtually banned.
The administration is sending pregnant unaccompanied minors to a single group shelter.
Here’s Melissa Lopez, director of Estrella El Paso, an unaccompanied-minor support facility, as quoted by the AP: “We have no understanding of what’s going to happen to those children come next week. … The government is trying to eliminate our work in this program because they know that without attorneys these children will be deported.” Precisely the point.
On a personal note, my wife is an immigration attorney who represents unaccompanied minors. She has seen firsthand every day the impacts of this administration’s cruel policies on children. I’ve heard her stories about the trauma caused by this policy. It is inhumane. It is un-American. People, we have to pay attention to this stuff. We have to do better.
The Hot Tamale Capital of the World invites you to
an eclectic collection
» MAY « Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Festival, including Frog Fest and Leland Craw sh Festival LelandChamber.com
Future Tour Golf Championship
» JUNE « Delta Soul & Celebrity Golf Event facebook.com/DeltaSoulGolf
Lake Washington’s “Straight O The Lake” Music Festival
» AUGUST « MS Delta Duck Boat Races at Lake Washington
» SEPTEMBER « Delta Blues & Heritage Festival deltabluesms.org
Gumbo Nationals greenvillespeedway.net
Sam Chatmon Blues Fest facebook.com/SamChatmonBlues
Stephone Hughes Old Time Gospel Fest
» OCTOBER « Delta Hot Tamale Fest mainstreetgreenville.com/ delta-hot-tamale-festival
Highway 61 Blues Festival highway61blues.com
Monuments on Main Street Historic Greenville Cemetery Tour deltacenterstage.org/events
YMCA Cotton Classic 10K/5K Run racesonline.com/ymca-cotton-classic
» NOVEMBER « Roll’n on the River Car Show facebook.com/redwinecarshow
» DECEMBER « Christmas on Deer Creek LelandChamber.com
COVER STORY By Toby Sells
THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT:
RETAIL & RESTAURANTS
Everyday choices of Downtown’s 100,000 daily population determine the
strength of the area’s vibrancy.
Welcome to the Downtown Project. is is a four-part series on the part of our city that makes Memphis Memphis.
We started this series with one simple question: How is Downtown doing? at question became important because perceptions of Downtown Memphis — and downtowns everywhere, we discovered — were not exactly positive.
Narratives emerged: Covid drained the o ce workers from Downtown Memphis. e downstream e ects of that hit restaurants, events, stores, and more. Another narrative held that violent crime had gotten so bad in Downtown Memphis that people — especially tourists — just refused to go there anymore. e trouble with these narratives was that they were only partly true. But these same narratives have been partly true in almost every downtown in America, according to the Brookings Institution.
Yet crime continues to recede across Memphis and the country. Turns out the bulk of those tourists never really le . And while downtown o ce markets remain so er than pre-pandemic levels, they — and the money they involve — are making a slow, slight, frustrating comeback.
But Brookings suggests that the downtowns we remember may never return. “ ere is no going back in time to 2019,” the think tank says in a report.
Instead, Brookings says downtowns need to adapt. But how?
e Downtown Project will focus on these issues, examining the above questions and the general health of the neighborhood in terms of its o ce and residential sectors, as well as tourism, retail, and restaurants. And we’ll unpack the Downtown Memphis Commission’s three-year plan for Downtown’s next chapter.
— Toby Sells
The health of Downtown’s retail and restaurant sectors seems to be, uh …umm, okay? So, now that I have your complete and utter con dence in my reporting, allow me to explain.
In the previous two installments of this series, I’ve been able to give a de nitive thumbs up or down on the health of Downtown. at’s because I had data to back us up.
How much o ce space is vacant? How many Downtown homes were empty? How many visitors stay in Downtown hotel rooms each night? How much is all of this compared to Birmingham, AL, and Louisville, KY? ese are the peer cities, approved by the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC), that we’ve used for comparisons throughout this series.
I stood these data next to one another, measured them against each other, and could see that — among peer cities — Downtown Memphis was doing just ne. (And it is, too. Check our previous stories on Downtown’s tourism and real estate markets.) Backed by such numbers, I could begin each of the previous stories with something like, “When it comes to tourism, Downtown Memphis is … ” is time, though, our Magic 8 Ball returned “reply hazy, try again” every time we asked it about the health of retail and restaurants. No pure numbers exist. How are restaurant sales Downtown? How often do stores open and close there? Cities
collect this data di erently, if they do at all. Hazy, yes. But I dug up enough numbers and a few perfectly positioned experts to at least give us a sense of its health.
With those, I can say that when it comes to restaurants and retail, Downtown Memphis is healthy. More than 180 restaurants. More than 75 stores. Also, Downtown Memphis is full of people, even if they don’t teem the streets.
On a typical day, more than 100,000 people work, live in, or visit Downtown. e DMC says foot tra c has recovered to about 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
One thing that makes this story different from the others is the nature of the businesses themselves. O ce workers go where their jobs are. Tourists can only choose from a limited number of hotels. Downtown residents commit to a home for months or years at a time. ose decisions are pretty xed.
Restaurants and stores are not xed decisions, and half the fun is in the choosing. Every meal out is a choice. Every shopping trip is a choice. ese are o en made on a whim. A family decides to spend a Saturday a ernoon Downtown and pops into A. Schwab. A couple decides to try a new restaurant. Friends stop for a nightcap a er a show at the Orpheum. Downtown businesses depend on people making choices like these every day.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR SHAWN MASSEY ON DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS’ RETAIL AND RESTAURANT MARKET
Memphis Flyer: How would you describe the current health of Downtown Memphis’ retail and restaurant sectors?
Shawn Massey: e last couple of years, basically back to Covid, were somewhat of a challenge in the Downtown retail and restaurant market. We did not recover well. It was not really bad, but not as good as pre-Covid. Some restaurateurs told me they were down as much as 30 percent.
for the consumer dollar. Retail has a lot of demand but not a lot of space at the macro level. Although Downtown retail is still in slow recovery.
What would help Downtown Memphis’ restaurants and retailers succeed?
Shawn Massey is a principal with The Shopping Center Group and one of Memphis’ best-known commercial real estate brokers. He shared his perspective on the current state of Downtown Memphis’ retail and restaurant market. PHOTOS
2026 is proving to be a pivotal year and a comeback. Some restaurants closed, and that shi ed tra c to others and provided a rebound. Vacant restaurants are now starting to lease slowly and cautiously. I am optimistic that this will continue through the second half of the year and into 2027.
Are these sectors healthy? Growing?
Overall, I would say that the restaurant industry is healthy, but a bifurcation has taken place. e [quick service restaurants] and fast casuals are doing extremely well, and the higher-end restaurants seem to be strong. It is the middle casual dining segment that has struggled.
Restaurants need to create an experience
Restaurants, Bars & Food Businesses:
A better dining experience. We need creative concepts and not just food, and we need more foot tra c. I know the city of Memphis and Downtown Memphis Commission are working toward that goal.
Bustling Downtown; Birdie’s Bar
What is Downtown Memphis’ greatest advantage?
Some people might not like the next comment, but we need to stop thinking of Downtown Memphis as the Central Business District. at has moved east. We need to think of Downtown as our coolest suburb, with walkability, sports, and entertainment, great food, parks, and festivals. Will some businesses locate Downtown? e answer is absolutely — the same way they locate in the eastern suburbs.
Downtown is and will continue to be what other neighborhoods cannot achieve. at is where our success will come from.
Looking ahead, are you optimistic?
I believe we are at a pivotal point Downtown and moving in the right direction with great leadership in place. Will there be challenges? e answer is yes, but we will rise to meet them.
How Big Is Downtown?
Downtown Memphis covers more than twice the land area of downtown Louisville and Birmingham, making business concentration as important as raw totals. (Sources: Downtown Memphis Commission, Downtown Louisville Partnership, REV Birmingham)
is makes restaurants and retail one of the clearest measures of Downtown’s vitality. ey succeed only when people choose to come, stay a little longer, and enjoy themselves.
However, this vitality is uneven across what we call “Downtown.” It’s a huge neighborhood of neighborhoods. It’s about six-and-a-half square miles. You could t ve Gracelands in it, six University of Memphis campuses, and 12 Overton Parks.
Downtown’s many neighborhoods serve di erent audiences. So it doesn’t make sense that every corner of Downtown should be jamming with the vitality of tourists and locals enjoying themselves.
Civic Square and the nearby courthouses serve employees, citizens, lawyers, jurors, and people with court business. Beale Street is for tourists, concerts, big sporting events, and nightlife. South Main is the walkable collection of shops and restaurants. Mud Island, Uptown, South End, and the like are primarily about residents. e real challenge for Downtown isn’t just making each neighborhood successful. It may be getting people to move between neighborhoods. Read more on this in a sidebar here from Tom Jones, editor of Smart City Memphis.
See also our Q&A with this story’s real estate expert, Shawn Massey, a retail dealmaker and partner at e Shopping Center Group (TSCG). He challenges Memphians to stop thinking about Downtown as the city’s central business district at all.
Restaurants
e DMC lists roughly 182 food and drink establishments on its website. While Birmingham lists more and Louisville fewer, raw totals tell only part of the story.
Remember Memphis’ Downtown covers about 6.5 square miles — roughly twice the size of Birmingham’s and more than three times the size of Louisville’s. So Memphis restaurants are spread across a much larger area and serve di erent audiences. at helps explain why Downtown can sometimes feel quieter than the numbers suggest.
“We’re doing better,” said Je rey Zepatos, the fourth-generation owner and operator of e Arcade Restaurant on South Main. “Post-Covid was a tough time for everybody. It seems like folks are starting to come Downtown a little bit more.”
e Arcade is a destination restaurant, a reason people travel to Downtown. Zepatos would like to give people more reasons. He said he’d like to see more family-friendly events that would draw suburban residents Downtown.
Retail
e DMC lists roughly 77 retail businesses on its website. So it’s rmly in the middle compared to the 127 in downtown Louisville and 45 in downtown Birmingham.
Again, though, Downtown Memphis is double and triple the size of these, making shops here feel few and far between.
Vacant storefronts are plentiful Downtown. e DMC says about 17 percent of all property (not just stores) are empty. ese facts are visible to anyone who has walked the Main Street Mall or South Main.
“I’d like to see the Downtown Memphis Commission put even more emphasis on lling empty storefronts,” said Stephen Guenther, co-owner of e Broom Closet and Historical Haunts Memphis. “ ey have programs like Open on Main with pop-ups, but I don’t think enough attention is being paid to all the vacant buildings. If you go from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue south to where we are, there are a lot of empty spaces, and that’s not good.
“I don’t know if it’s subsidizing landlords or nding other incentives, but we need to attract more businesses because the businesses that are here can do well in a good economy. We could all do so much better if there were simply more places open.”
So many empty storefronts can dim a neighborhood’s imagined vibrancy in the minds of tourists and locals alike. e DMC’s Open on Main battles this directly. It pairs emerging retailers with vacant storefronts in and around the Main Street Mall for a lower cost up to a year. Since 2016, the program has placed 50 small business owners in these spaces.
Guenther said existing retailers, though, are struggling. e economy has stolen disposable income. Tourism is down, he said.
Like Zepatos, Guenther said he’d like to see more family-friendly events Downtown — something akin to the CooperYoung Festival — with live music, art, and vendors.
DMC supports
Foot tra c is the lifeblood of Downtown’s restaurant and retail businesses, said Milton Howery, DMC’s chief marketing o cer. To encourage that, the agency pushes activities like those Zepatos and Guenther mentioned, speci cally Trolley Night, the July 4th celebration, New Year’s Eve, and Downtown Alley Dayz. Last year, Howery said the DMC produced more than 300 events that attracted more than 300,000 people.
Furthermore, the DMC supports existing retailers by encouraging the growth and development of all Downtown businesses — old and new — with nancial incentives and a host of other programs to keep the area clean, safe, and welcoming, Howery said.
“All of these e orts work together,” Howery said. “From development and business support to marketing, events, cleanliness, and safety, our goal is to strengthen the overall Downtown experience, increase visitation, and create an environment where businesses and restaurants can thrive.”
CONNECTING ISLANDS DOWNTOWN
Downtown has an embarrassment of riches. Let’s connect them. by
Tom Jones, editor of Smart City Memphis
Memphis has an enviable mix of Downtown assets. e challenge doesn’t seem to be building them. Memphis does that. e problem is how little these assets connect to each other.
It seems that when Memphis builds a major new asset, its focus is on the project and its footprint. What’s o en missing is at the same time considering how that project seamlessly ts into the fabric of Downtown. is is one of Downtown’s greatest strategic challenges. It’s also one of its greatest opportunities.
Consider what already exists. e riverfront stretches for ve miles, anchored by nationally important Tom Lee Park. Nearby are Beale Street, FedExForum, AutoZone Park, the South Main Arts District, historic Cotton Row, Court Square, the Pinch District, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, the Renasant Convention Center, the National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Orpheum eatre, Blues Hall of Fame, e Peabody, Baron von Opperbean and the River of Time, and more.
It’s an embarrassment of riches. Each has its own identity, patrons, and purpose. Each sits on its own island. If connected, they would collectively make Memphis one of the South’s great downtown experiences. And that does happen.
Economists have observed that the value of a place increases as its connections increase. e challenge is making sure these assets reinforce each other. It’s making 2+2 equal more than 4. Today, 2+2 o en equals less than 4. ink of Downtown as a network. Consider each asset a node. Every connection between nodes should create opportunities for restaurants, retail, housing, public art, entertainment, and spontaneous surprises. e equation is simple: e more connected the network becomes, the stronger every individual destination becomes. at’s the multiplier e ect that makes great downtowns work.
Successful cities focus on making streets themselves destinations. Wide sidewalks, shade trees, and attractive landscaping, outdoor dining, public art, frequent events, comfortable lighting, protected bike facilities, inviting storefronts, places to sit and watch the world go by, street musicians, and things that make people slow down so they spend more time downtown. Most of all, it’s about a downtown built for walking.
Downtown does not need more islands. When people experience Downtown as one connected place instead of a collection of separate destinations, every investment works harder, every business bene ts more, and nally, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its outstanding parts.
It can be said that Downtown Memphis has recognizable districts. Each developed independently over time. e next chapter of Downtown’s evolution should focus less on strengthening individual districts and more on stitching them together.
At a time when talent, tourism, conventions, and investment increasingly ow to cities o ering rich urban experiences, connectivity becomes an economic development strategy rather than just an urban design principle.
PHOTO (ABOVE): TOM JONES | FACEBOOK
Tom Jones
(BELOW): LENSMAN PHOTOGRAPHY | MEMPHIS TOURISM
South Main Arts District
steppin’ out
We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews
The Space Between
By Kimberly Ham
For artist Susan Maakestad, the horizon is more than a line separating earth from sky — it’s a place of possibility.
at sense of expansiveness anchors “Land and Sky” — her newest exhibition at ShapeShi er Art School & Gallery, on view through August 15th. rough luminous abstract landscapes inspired by highway webcams, wide-open vistas, and years of artistic exploration, Maakestad invites viewers to slow down and experience the quiet beauty hidden within everyday scenes.
“ e horizon line represents optimism,” she says. “I think my attraction to that expansiveness stems from growing up in Illinois, where I could see the sky and horizon just outside of town.”
MAKE YOUR CLOSET HAPPY, MANE.
Maakestad has long found inspiration in unexpected places. While tra c cameras were designed for practical purposes, she saw something more. “I’m always on the lookout for the extraordinary within the ordinary,” she says. Following the same webcams through changing seasons and weather, she discovered ever-shi ing landscapes that became the starting point for her paintings. e resulting works balance recognizable landforms with abstraction, encouraging viewers to linger between reality and imagination. Maakestad continually edits away unnecessary details, searching for what she calls the “essence” of a landscape while preserving its emotional resonance. “ e space in my paintings is believable, but it’s not real,” she says. “You think you’re looking at a landscape, but then the abstraction attens the space.”
Another in uence arrived during the pandemic, when she immersed herself in the work of 19th-century British painter John Constable. By creating hundreds of watercolor studies based on his landscapes, she absorbed new approaches to light, atmosphere, and color that continue to shape this latest body of work.
Many Memphians know Maakestad as a longtime painting professor at Memphis College of Art, where she taught for more than two decades. Today she continues teaching at ShapeShi er and through Creative Aging while expanding her own studio practice.
Visitors have already described the paintings in the show at ShapeShi er as “calm” and “peaceful” — responses that surprised the artist but now feel tting. In a world lled with uncertainty, Maakestad hopes her work encourages people to reconnect with nature’s enduring rhythms and perhaps notice the landscape around them a little di erently.
“LAND AND SKY,” SHAPESHIFTER ART SCHOOL & GALLERY, 680 OAKLEAF OFFICE LANE, THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 15.
VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES August 6th - 12th
Iris’ Big Birthday Show
Dru’s Bar, Saturday, August 8, 10 p.m.
Celebrate Iris LeFluer’s birthday with a night of dazzling drag performances. Featuring Iris LeFluer alongside an all-star lineup of Memphis drag entertainers, including Zoey Adams, Zolo , Wednesday Moss, Aubrey “Boom Boom” Ombre, Kaiyla JonVier Dickerson, and Brenda Newport. e show honors our local talent that helps make the city’s drag scene thrive.
Nashoba Amateur Radio
Germantown Community Library, ursday, August 6, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
e Germantown Community Library is partnering with the Nashoba Amateur Radio Club to o er a free introductory amateur radio operator course beginning August 6th. Designed for beginners,
the class covers the fundamentals of amateur radio, electronics, and radio operation, culminating in the opportunity to take the FCC licensing exam. e class is free, but participatns are responsible for purchasing the required study book and testing fee.
Gopal Murti with Dr. Scott Morris: Art of Gopal Murti
Novel, Saturday, August 8, 2 p.m.
Celebrate the release of Art of Gopal Murti with an a ernoon conversation between Memphis artist and former St. Jude researcher Gopal Murti and Church Health founder Dr. Scott Morris. Murti will discuss his new hardcover book, which showcases more than 30 watercolor paintings alongside re ections on his remarkable journey from rural India to a distinguished scienti c career and, ultimately, a celebrated
life in art. e event o ers a unique opportunity to hear the inspiring story behind Murti’s work and creative evolution.
Tomb Talks
Elmwood Cemetery, Friday, August 7, 6-7:30 p.m.
Step inside Elmwood Cemetery a er hours for Tomb Talks, a fascinating evening exploring Memphis history through the lens of one of its most storied landmarks. Executive Director Kim Bearden presents “When Death Came to Memphis,” examining the devastating 1878 yellow fever epidemic and its lasting impact on the city. e program is followed by an optional guided walk to Elmwood’s yellow fever section at dusk, with wine and snacks included. Space is limited, and advance tickets are recommended.
PHOTO: COURTESY SUSAN MAAKESTAD Hollows, oil on canvas
MUSIC By Alex Greene
Cooper-Young Fest’s Musical Kaleidoscope
e beloved community bash announces its most eclectic band lineup ever.
We expect the music featured every year at the Cooper-Young Festival to be very extremely “Memphis,” but since 2024, when the festival handed its music curation duties to John Miller and Je Hulett, the neighborhood festival has truly leaned into presenting the crème de la crème of local performers. is year’s 38th Guaranty Bank Cooper-Young Festival, happening on Saturday, September 19th, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., will be no di erent. e Guaranty Bank Stage will feature, in reverse order, the Afrikan Jazz Ensemble, Eillo, the Joe Restivo 4, Degenerate Breakfast, Massey Lane, Twin Fiction, and Raneem Imam, starting at 11 a.m., while Impala, Yesse Yavis (aka Jesse Davis), Mama Honey, e Narrows, and San Salida will grace the Mempho Stage, starting at 12:30 p.m. A more inclusive cross-section of beautifully cra ed Memphis music would be hard to imagine. And while ageism is rampant elsewhere, that can’t be said of these 12 bands, whose members range from teenagers to some very spry examples of “the elderly.” Here, we present two groups on either end of that spectrum.
e Narrows
Now approaching their third year as a band, e Narrows are already poised to release their nely honed debut album featuring the original lineup of twentysomethings Owen Traw, Bella Frandsen, Aidan Smith, and Chris Daniels. And, as singer, songwriter, and guitarist Traw points out, much of the album’s drive comes down to Daniels’ powerful drumming.
“Matt Qualls at Easley-McCain Studios said that a er our session, he had to replace the kick drum head. Chris was loud, man.” Traw emphasizes “how
important his drumming was to the feel of the music. He didn’t come from a rock music background. When we rst started jamming, he was like, ‘I don’t know anything about rock,’ so he was basically playing straight-up gospel beats.
“He’s a pretty singular drummer,” Traw continues. “ ose are all his drums on the album. By coincidence, we had nished all his stu before he started getting sick.” at, for e Narrows, not to mention the School of Rock community and Daniels’ family, was when tragedy struck. is April, Daniels passed away due to the sudden advance of a chronic health issue diagnosed years before. “He’d had lung
(top)
issues for as long as I knew him,” muses Traw, but no one thought they’d be deadly. “It was just a total shock. Like, what??” Accordingly, the band has dubbed their new album Chris, and they’ll make its release a celebration of his memory. at will start well before Cooper-Young Fest, rst when they host a listening session at Memphis Listening Lab on August 26th, then at the album release show at Growler’s on Saturday, August 29th, which will also serve as a fundraiser.
“We want to make sure his family keeps getting help, and we’re going to keep supporting them as much as we can,” says a choked-up Traw. “Even in death, Chris is entitled to his cut.”
Afrikan Jazz Ensemble
Re ecting on his 34 years of playing jazz and soul with a decidedly African bent, Ekpe Abioto agrees that one phrase sums it up: “Playing the long game!” he chuckles.
All the while, the virtuoso kalimba, ute, saxophone, and African percussion player has crusaded to remind listeners of the centrality of African music to the culture of North America. And, judging by how they light up a festival crowd, his Afrikan Jazz Ensemble does it with style, grace, and an infectious sense of fun.
Abioto has been playing professionally since at least the early ’70s, when he was with the band Exotic Movement. In more recent decades, he’s led a uid ensemble of those who share his love of straight up African innovators like Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Fela Kuti, or more obscure acts like Osibisa, a London-based Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro rock band of the ’60s. e speci c music of any gig depends on the context. “If we perform at a Juneteenth celebration, we play songs like ‘Freedom Day’ by Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln,” Abioto o ers as an example.
Yet, as a kalimba player, he also embraces ’70s pop, a veritable golden age of the kalimba on American radio — thanks to Memphis native Maurice White. “Maurice played kalimba on every Earth, Wind & Fire album,” Abioto o ers. So don’t be surprised if you hear the one song that ts the timing of the Cooper-Young Fest better than any other. “We’ll play ‘September,’ as a matter of fact!” exclaims Abioto. “We love Earth, Wind & Fire!”
PHOTOS: (TOP) CARLISLE JONES; (ABOVE) EKPE ABIOTO
e Narrows; (above) Afrikan Jazz Ensemble
AFTER DARK: Live Music Schedule August 6 - 12
Wendell Wells
Sunday, Aug. 9, 9 p.m. | Monday, Aug. 10, 9 p.m.
NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM
Deep Roots Duo
Saturday, Aug. 8, 6 p.m.
CENTRAL STATION
Sydney Carty
Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m.
MEMPHIS FARMERS MARKET
Tequila Mockingbird
Sunday, Aug. 9, 3 p.m.
HUEY’S DOWNTOWN
Third Coast
ursday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m.
THE PEABODY ROOFTOP
The Debbie Jamison Band
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 6 p.m.
NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM
Deep Purple & Kansas
Two giants of classic rock.
ursday, Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m.
RADIANS AMPHITHEATER
Elmo & the Shades
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m.
NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM
John Williams & the A440 Band
ursday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m.
NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM
T. Jarrod Bonta Quartet
Sunday, Aug. 9, 3 p.m.
HUEYS’ EAST
Abigail & the Starlings
With Local Brand and Dinosauria. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 8 p.m.
THE HI-TONE CAFE
Alexis Jade
Sunday, Aug. 9, 5 p.m.
LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM
Alice Hasen
With Mama Honey and Victim of a Dog. Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 p.m.
B-SIDE
Almost Elton John
Friday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m.
LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM
Aquanet
Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 p.m.
LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM
Basketcase
Saturday, Aug. 8, 5 p.m.
LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM
The Comfort Zone
With Steel Waves, Squib Kick. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 8 p.m.
GROWLERS
Devil Train
ursday, Aug. 6, 9 p.m.
B-SIDE
Fire in the Blood
With Unreal City, Rotten
Luck, and others. Friday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m.
THE HI-TONE CAFE
Heartbreak Hill
Sunday, Aug. 9, 3 p.m.
HUEY’S MIDTOWN
Hotseat BRB DJ Sets
With Brilli, Jayxavaire, DJ Livin, DJ Rhinestone. Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 p.m.
BAR DKDC
JD Westmoreland Band
Monday, Aug. 10, 10 p.m.
B-SIDE
Keelyn Ellis
Sunday, Aug. 9, 12 p.m.
LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM
Memphis Snake Doctors Friday, Aug. 7, 6:30 p.m. B-SIDE
Mystrio
Sunday, Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m.
B-SIDE
New Dream
With Mis t Media, Von Storm, Phonk Around and Find Out, and others. Saturday, Aug. 8, 7:30 p.m.
GROWLERS
Southern Grind Sessions
ursday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m.
LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM
Struggle Jennings ursday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m.
GROWLERS
Sunfo
With Stay Fashionable, Boss Fight, and Updog. ursday, Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.
LAMPLIGHTER LOUNGE
Sunny Side New Orleans Jazz Band
Sunny Side New Orleans
Jazz Band
Music inspired by the jazz age.
Friday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.
THE GREEN ROOM
SWEAT!
Techno, and jungle music. Friday, Aug. 7, 9 p.m.
LAMPLIGHTER LOUNGE
WYXR Stereo Sessions: Snowglobe
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6 p.m.
MEMPHIS LISTENING LAB
Zoso (Led Zeppelin Tribute)
Friday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m.
MINGLEWOOD HALL
Dean Z (Elvis Tribute)
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m.
GRACELAND SOUNDSTAGE
Robert Washington Dinner Show
Washington, aka Black Elvis, delivers an authentic performance. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 5 p.m. | Wednesday, Aug. 12, 5 p.m.
HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY
Jason D. Williams is pianist is a master of rock and roll. Sunday, Aug. 9, 5:30 p.m.
HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY
Jonathan Plevyak & The Jukebox Boys Classics of the ’50s. Saturday, Aug. 8, 8 p.m.
HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY
Massey Tate Americana, country, and folk. ursday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m.
HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY
Victor Trevino Jr. With Maxlee James, Radney Pennington, and e Alex Wells Band. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 9:30 p.m.
HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY
Ronnie McDowell McDowell has had 50 country hits. Friday, Aug. 7, 4 p.m. | Friday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m.
HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY
JOHN LEGEND
PHOTO: COURTESY CROSSTOWN ARTS
CALENDAR of EVENTS: August 6 - 12, 2026
ARTS AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS
“A Bend in the River”
With a focus on the early history of Memphis, when it was viewed as a frontier atboat town, this show explores the founding of Memphis in 1819 up to the “ atboat rebellion” of 1842. rough Oct. 25.
PINK PALACE MUSEUM & MANSION
“The Art of
Community: 90 Years of Service”
rough an array of archival milestones and stories of service, this display honors the Collierville Contemporary Club’s 90-year commitment to ensuring that this town remains a vibrant, supportive place for every neighbor to call home. rough Sept. 5.
TOWN OF COLLIERVILLE MORTON MUSEUM
“Between Two Kingdoms” e work of Kate Roberts, which explores the liminal space between earth, sky, and all that is in between. rough Aug. 15.
SHAPESHIFTER ART SCHOOL & GALLERY
“Black Joy, In Spite of ... ”
Curated by Memphis native Brigette Janea Jones, the exhibition brings together 25 historical photographs and contemporary artworks exploring how Black Tennesseans have created lives of joy, connection, and purpose across generations of adversity. rough Aug. 14.
NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM
“Blues Power!
Celebrating the Legacy of Albert King”
A limited-time photo exhibit honoring one of the most inuential voices in blues history. rough Aug. 6.
STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC
“Café Society: Art and Sociability in Paris, 1855 – 1914” is exhibition examines the development of the French café, a crucial and accessible site for artistic discussion, and, ultimately, how cafés became the subject of works of art themselves. rough Sept. 6.
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
David Uzochukwu: “Bodies of Water”
In this show, 22 photographs present hybrid beings, part human and part animal, who inhabit surreal, dreamlike landscapes. Adorned with ns, scales, and other features, these gures are equipped to survive and thrive in challenging waters. rough Sept. 27.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM
Deanna Mullins Art
Exhibit
Deanna Mullins is a native
Memphian working primarily in acrylic, water-color and mixed media. She is known for her bright colors, bold use of shapes and patterns, and o en whimsical paintings. Free. rough Aug. 31.
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
Don Estes: “Bluff Walk”
Using layered pigments, textured surfaces, and subtle horizon lines, Estes transforms the landscape of Memphis blu s into contemplative works that evoke memory, movement, and the changing light along the Mississippi River. rough Aug. 22.
DAVID LUSK GALLERY
“Floral Infusion”
New works by Vera Feldman and Bobo Huettel on exhibit in the Levy Gallery. rough Sept. 21.
BUCKMAN ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
“Illuminate”
While stained glass is o en associated with sunlight and windows, Suzy Hendrix’s work demonstrates how glass transforms under changing light conditions, creating rich re ections, color shi s, and visual depth. rough Aug. 20.
ANF ARCHITECTS
Jennifer Stanford: “Piecework”
Stanford creates her own pieces for collage using a variety of printmaking techniques, while simultaneously amassing a (too) large collection of curated papers and books which frequently nd their way into her work. rough Sept. 19.
TOWN OF COLLIERVILLE MORTON MUSEUM
Kim Jorgensen Art Exhibit
Kim Jorgensen has been painting for more than 10 years, working primarily in acrylic and mixed media. Largely selftaught, she is drawn to color, texture, and the ways visual art can communicate ideas and stories. Free. rough Sept. 30.
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
“Land and Sky”
Susan Maakestad utilizes her decades-long fascination with highway webcams alongside a passion for vast landscapes to create compelling abstract paintings. rough Aug. 15.
SHAPESHIFTER ART SCHOOL & GALLERY
“Living in Layers”
Enjoy art by Debbie Likley Pacheco. She works in mixed media, combining digital and analog methods to create layered images that straddle a line between naturalism and abstraction. rough Sept. 27.
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
Made in Dixon | Hecho en Dixon
Celebrating a half-century
designs. rough Sept. 27.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM
A Quiet Day on the Lake, by Linda Clark, on display at WKNO Digital Media Center
of growth and learning, this year’s exhibition o ers an intimate look at the programs that have inspired the Dixon’s onsite visitors and reached deep into the heart of the Memphis community. rough Sept. 6.
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
“Memphis College of Art, 1936-2020: An Enduring Legacy” rough this exhibition of 90 faculty, administrators, and graduates, this show re ects on the school’s historical impact and celebrates its continued legacy regionally and beyond. rough Sept. 30.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM
“Navigating Knowledge” is exhibition explores vessels and navigation as metaphors for the containment and transmission of knowledge. rough Oct. 7.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM
“Nurses and Doctors” Margaret Coleman made these drawings of Memphis healthcare workers in the late 1990’s. Coleman is a selftaught artist whose drawings and paintings are inspired by her life experience and surroundings. rough Sept. 2.
TOPS GALLERY
Summer Art Garden: “Wax Print Wonderland”
Samilia Pelshak presents an enchanting installation of her vibrant African wax print
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.
see Linda’s works and meet her at this artist’s reception.
Free. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 p.m. WKNO GALLERY
Chelsea Wall Community Celebration is celebration is a free public art dedication celebrating the completion of a major mural project along the Chelsea Floodwall in North Memphis.
Free. Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. 71 CHELSEA AVENUE
BOOK EVENTS
Gopal Murti with Dr. Scott Morris: Art of Gopal Murti is hardback features three dozen handsome plates and detailed descriptions of Murti’s artwork. e art re ects his fascinating life. e introductory section about his early life, career, mentors, and introduction to art adds meaningful context. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 p.m.
NOVEL
Mindy Merrell & RB Quinn with Kat Gordon: Self-Rising
Summer Exhibition ree summer exhibitions at Crosstown Arts, featuring works by Barbara Penn, George Edward Walker, and Romain Collin in collaboration with lmmaker Matthew Palmer. rough Sept. 6.
CROSSTOWN ARTS GALLERIES
Works by Linda Clark
Linda Clark developed an interest in painting when a friend asked her to help with an art class she was teaching, basically acting as a gopher. Now she has been painting in oils for over a decade. Free. rough Aug. 27.
WKNO DIGITAL MEDIA CENTER
ART HAPPENINGS
Artist’s Reception: Works by Linda Clark
Helping a friend with her art class led Linda Clark to becoming an artist herself. Come
Self-Rising: e Magic Rise Behind Biscuit and Cornbread Culture reveals how a combination of simple ingredients sparked a quiet culinary and cultural revolution. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 6 p.m.
NOVEL
Novel Classics Club:
The Princess De Clèves e story follows a young noblewoman, Mademoiselle de Chartres, who is raised by her mother to value virtue and honesty above all else. She marries the respectable but older Prince de Clèves, even
PHOTO: COURTESY NOVEL
Painter Gopal Murti will talk about his new book, Art of Gopal Murti, on August 8th.
though she does not truly love him. ursday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m.
NOVEL
COMMUNITY
August Chakra Balancing Group Session
Join Roy for this monthly chakra balancing, healing and alignment group. Roy will perform a chakra balancing for the group, while o ering any advice, tips of tricks you might need. $25. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2 p.m.
THE BROOM CLOSET
Cars & Coffee by Memphis Classic Chevy Club
Memphis Classic Chevy Club has been part of the Memphis car community for many years, bringing together classic car owners, families, and enthusiasts who share a passion for preserving and enjoying classic Chevrolets and the history behind them. Saturday, Aug. 8, 8 a.m.
FREEMAN PARK
Celestial Sound Bath: Solar Heart rough Taj Chander’s collection of sacred instruments including crystal bowls, planetary gongs, and subtle mantras, this sound bath will strengthen the heart, calm the nervous system, and prepare the inner landscape for the powerful shi s ahead. Monday, Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m.
THE BROOM CLOSET
Coffee & Color: Morning Session
Kick o your day with a warm cup of co ee, lively conversation, and the joy of adult coloring pages. ursday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m.
GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Cooper-Young Night Out
Businesses and restaurants in Cooper-Young kick up the fun a notch with music at the gazebo, discounts on food and drinks, two for ones, sidewalk sales, retail bargains and events, trivia games, happy hours, open houses and art shows. ursday, Aug. 6, 5 p.m.
BURKE’S BOOK STORE
Junk Journal: Open Craft Hour
Enjoy a relaxing hour of craing while working on your junk journal or scrapbook pages. Bring your own supplies or use materials provided by the library. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 3 p.m.
GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Like Really Creative
MUSE: Speed Portrait Swap
Come play Speed Portrait Swap, a laughter-inducing
continued on page 18
PHOTO: LINDA CLARK
CALENDAR: AUGUST 6 - 12, 2026
continued from page 17
art game — led by artist and musician Justin Williams — where everybody takes turns drawing each other in a limited amount of time. Monday, Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m.
BAR DKDC
CLASS/WORKSHOP
Country Swing Dance Lessons
It’s never too late to start and a partner is not required to join the class. Friday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.
WHISKEY JILL’S
Lit at the Library: The Influence of the Past William Faulkner once warned us that “the past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
Tomb Talks participants explore the hidden stories among graves.
interruption while listening to meditative music. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m.
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
COMEDY
Grasa100: Old Folks Tour
Darrell Daniels, aka comedian GRASA100, was born and raised in Baton Rouge, and known for his viral skit video Crispy Chicken and Red Bean with Corn Bread from Scratch. Saturday, Aug. 8, 8 p.m.
My Big Backyard Jam Session
Families will enjoy live local music from the Fun Studio Band. Plus hands-on activities, community partners, and an evening of outdoor fun designed to spark creativity, movement, and play. $20.
Saturday, Aug. 8, 6 p.m.
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
Novels After Naps
Have your kids, from babies to 5 years old, enjoy a calm and cozy story session that fuels imaginations and encourages active time together. Saturday, Aug. 8, 4 p.m.
GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Project Grow
Come to the gardens for a hands-on activity for kids of all ages. Saturday, Aug. 8, 1 p.m.
HALLORAN CENTRE
In this course, participants will explore fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that examine how the past continues to shape our lives. Thursday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m.
BENJAMIN L. HOOKS CENTRAL LIBRARY
Nashoba Amateur Radio Club
A free amateur radio operator class. Participants will also gain knowledge about electronics and radios in general. Thursday, Aug. 6, 5:30 p.m.
GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Plant Parties
Discover where creativity meets houseplants at this hands-on gardening event. Guests will create a plantbased décor piece to take home and enjoy. 21+. Friday, Aug. 7, 6 p.m.
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
Studio Courses with Creative Aging: Fabric Collage with Cari
Participants explore personal memories through fabric in this hands-on textile art course. 65+. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1 p.m.
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
The Tingey Painting with Parkinsons Program (TINCAN™)
This free art therapy program helps support people living with Parkinson’s. The weekly sessions encourage participants to freely explore art materials and work without
Open Mic Comedy Night
Come for the laughs, stay for the laughs. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 8 p.m.
THE HI-TONE CAFE
Who Wrote That?! Comedy Show
Comedians are paired together to write each other’s jokes, then forced to perform them live. Friday, Aug. 7, 9:30 p.m.
BAR DKDC
FAMILY
Brick Brigade
Do you have what it takes to be a Master Builder? Join this event to build, create, and imagine with Lego. For ages 5 to 7. Friday, Aug. 7, 4:30 p.m.
GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Fun at the Park with Bluey and Bingo
Gather at Shelby Farms Park for a chance to meet your favorite cartoon characters. There will also be tasty treats and bouncy houses. Free. Sunday, Aug. 9, 3 p.m.
SHELBY FARMS PARK
Kaleidoscope Club
Kids ages 5 to 9 will enjoy an art or horticulture project that sparks creativity.
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 4 p.m.
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
Ready for Geometry
This class is designed for students who will be entering geometry this fall. Twenty skills and topics will be reviewed. Thursday, Aug. 6, 4:30 p.m.
BARTLETT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Rhythm & Roots
Students explore drumming, dance, teamwork, and creative expression in a safe and inspiring environment led by experienced instructors and mentors. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6 p.m.
MEMPHIS YOUTH ARTS INITIATIVE CENTER
Special Story Time
Recommended for children up to 5 years, Story Time at Novel includes songs and stories, featuring brand-new books in addition to wellloved favorites. Saturday, Aug. 8, 10:30 a.m. NOVEL
Summer Splash on the Greensward
Overton Park Conservancy is popping up waterslides on the Greensward, next to Veterans Plaza. Bring the kids to cool off this summer. Free.
Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m.
OVERTON PARK CONSERVANCY
Super SaturdayMonet’s Water Lillies Have the kiddos dive into the vibrant and iconic world of mixed media, inspired by the legendary Claude Monet.
PHOTO: KIM BEARDEN
Participants will use markers, watercolor, and cupcake liners to create their own masterpiece, just like Monet’s iconic Water Lilies. Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM
Toddler Time
Bring your toddlers ages 1 to 3 to read and do crafts. Thursday, Aug. 6, 1 p.m. | Wednesday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m. | Wednesday, Aug. 12, 11 a.m.
BARTLETT LIBRARY
FESTIVAL
Free Family Day
This Family Day is a back-to-school celebration, featuring an afternoon of free activities, live entertainment, and community resources. Free. Saturday, Aug. 8, 1 p.m.
STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC
Memphis Black Family Reunion
Activities include live music and performances, local vendors, family activities, community conversations, and art showcases. Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. | Sunday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m.
MLK JR. RIVERSIDE PARK
FILM
CatVideoFest
CatVideoFest is a curated collection of the internet’s best and most entertaining cat videos, bringing together playful kittens, clever cats, surprising friendships, and plenty of laughout-loud moments on the big screen. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2:30 p.m.
PINK PALACE MUSEUM & MANSION
Slowdown Cinema Club: The Warriors
Members of a street gang known as the Warriors must fight their way from the Bronx to their home turf on Coney Island when they are falsely accused of assassinating a respected gang leader. Thursday, Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.
CTI 3D GIANT SCREEN
Toy Story 5
When Bonnie receives a tablet device that distracts her from playtime, Jessie and the toys embark on a mission to save Bonnie from digital isolation and remind her of the joy of imaginative play. Thursday, Aug. 6-Wednesday, Aug. 12, 3 p.m. Closed Mondays.
CTI 3D GIANT SCREEN
FOOD AND DRINK
Dinner & Music Cruise
Come enjoy a two-hour cruise on Ol’ Man River featuring live entertainment (blues & jazz) and a meal. $57. Thursday, Aug. 6-Sunday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m.
MEMPHIS RIVERBOATS
“Papa Bear Trivia” with Shawn Bring your brainpower and your crew for a night of free trivia. Thursday, Aug. 6, 7 p.m.
DRU’S BAR
Sunday Trivia
Gather your team and put your collective knowledge to the test in downtown’s most engaging battle of wits. Sunday, Aug. 9, 5 p.m.
MFS BREWING
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Bubble Run
It’s time to run, walk, dance, and make a splash! The Bubble Run is heading back to town for another unforgettable day of foamfilled fun. Free. Saturday, Aug. 8, 8 a.m.
SHELBY FARMS PARK
Get Outside Fitness: Yoga Sculpt
A creative blend of yoga-inspired flows, short cardio bursts, balance sequences, and bodyweight strength training, all set to crazy fun music. Free. Thursday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m.
SHELBY FARMS PARK
Get Outside Fitness: Mat Pilates
Pilates will lengthen and strengthen your core muscles, build body awareness and balance, and create space for mental clarity. Free. Friday, Aug. 7, 4:30 p.m.
SHELBY FARMS PARK
Hustle & Flow HIIT
Step up your fitness routine with Hustle & Flow HIIT with Coach Cy at Tyre Nichols
Sunset Canopy. Free. Saturday, Aug. 8, 6 p.m.
TOM LEE PARK
Open Water Swim
Build confidence and improve your open water skills at Shelby Farms Park’s Open Water Swim Program. Sunday, Aug. 9, 7 a.m.
SHELBY FARMS PARK
LECTURE
Munch and Learn - Crafting a Vision: Building a Boutique Brewery in Memphis
Travis Wiseman, PhD, is the owner and head brewer of Cooper House Project in Memphis. He will talk about combining his academic background with a passion for crafting smallbatch, traditional, and experimental beer. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 12 p.m.
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
PERFORMING ARTS
Iris’ Big Birthday Show
Join an unforgettable evening featuring some of Memphis’ finest drag entertainers. This show is more than a birthday celebration — it’s a celebration of the incredible hometown talent that keeps our local drag community thriv-
ing week after week. Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 p.m.
DRU’S BAR
Memphis Magic Night
The Bluff City’s favorite evening of magic, mentalism, and comedy, at a rotating selection of Memphis performance venues. Friday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.
BAR DKDC
SPECIAL EVENTS
Elvis Week
Elvis Week is the largest Elvis fan gathering in the world, bringing fans from across the globe to Graceland each August to celebrate the life, music, and legacy of Elvis Presley. Friday, Aug. 7, 4 p.m.
GRACELAND
Sightseeing Cruise
The sightseeing cruise is a 90-minute tour that takes you down the Mighty Mississippi with a live historical commentary. This is a great way to see and learn a bit of Mississippi River history while visiting Memphis, Tennessee. Thursday, Aug. 6-Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2:30 p.m.
MEMPHIS RIVERBOATS
Tomb Talks
Step inside Elmwood Cemetery after hours for Tomb Talks, a three-evening series exploring the stories, symbolism, and secrets of one
Crossword
ACROSS
1 “No, thanks”
6 Rapper’s release
10 Activity that might elicit stares, for short
13 Singer/actress Janelle
14 Theater option
15 Couleur du chocolat
16 “___ Ever” (Elvis song from “G.I. Blues”)
17 Yamaha purchase
19 Hazmat regulator
20 USA competitor
21 Construction piece that describes what happens when you compliment me?
22 Kashyyyk denizen, in sci-fi
24 Contents of some sleeves
26 Olympic runner?
27 Up and a little to the left, for short
28 One who might be diagnosed with a polysomnogram
31 Cellist with a Presidential Medal of Freedom
32 Like some legal judgments
33 Singer seen annually on David Letterman’s Christmas show
2 One of the nine weapons in 2008’s expanded version of Clue
3 “That, in spades!”
4 See 8-Down
5 Lead-in to cow, horse or dog
6 Footwear with a tree logo
7 Who said “The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem”
8 With 4-Down, someone who might repossess your car when you go bankrupt?
9 Prefix with thermic
10 Like some vestments
1980s presidential candidate
Weak
Conquers
English breakfast, for example
of Memphis’s most historic landscapes. Friday, Aug. 7, 6 p.m.
ELMWOOD CEMETERY
SPORTS
Memphis Redbirds vs. Nashville
Sounds Sunday, Aug. 9, 1 p.m.
AUTOZONE PARK
THEATER
Dragysty
The air conditioning is broken. The wine is open. And the Cross family of Texas, a quicklube empire with too many rooms and even more secrets, has gathered for a will reading that will change everything. Friday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m. | Saturday, Aug. 8, 8 p.m. | Sunday, Aug. 9, 2 p.m.
THEATREWORKS @ THE EVERGREEN
The Heat of Southside
South Memphis got HEAT, and it ain’t in the kitchen. Set in the heart of South Memphis, The Heat of Southside is a fiery urban stage play about family, betrayal, love, and ambition. Thursday, Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m. | Friday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m. | Saturday, Aug. 8, 2:30 p.m. | Saturday, Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m. | Sunday, Aug. 9, 2:00 p.m.
THEATREWORKS @ THE SQUARE
Edited by Will Shortz No.
Mayoralty, e.g.
Close … but not that close
Unseeded?
Trim
French homophone of 30-Down
Stand-up comedian with the 2005 doubleplatinum album “Retaliation”
Companies known for their net profit
“Enough already!” 35 Many a Univision viewer, in modern usage
Armpit
Poet with the 1967 Pulitzer-
PUZZLE BY ERIK AGARD
AWe Saw You.
ctor/playwright and Memphian Princeton James hosted The Princeton James Project 10th anniversary with events that included a red-carpet gala held July 18th, at Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Concourse.
As part of the project, which includes his Soulful Murder Mystery stage plays, James designed the Kooler Kids program in which children are trained in musical theater, dance, film, television, and acting, as well as creative writing, leadership development, and entrepreneurship.
Actor Jimmy Smits was one of the special guests at the gala. Smits and James appeared in TV’s Bluff City Law, which was filmed in Memphis.
“When we were shooting here we were talking a lot about mentorship, how important it is to try to give back to the younger people,” said Smits as he took a break from greeting guests at the gala. And, he added, “I’m just coming here to support them on their 10th anniversary.”
PHOTOS: MICHAEL DONAHUE
top row: (left to right) Kandie Ibaka, JS Tate; Jimmy Smitts, Princeton James circle: Gail Jones Carson
left: (left to right) Brandon Cunning, Randi Yaffa; Joy Doss bottom row: (left to right) Shirley Pruitt, Cynthia Murrell; Winter and Everett Anderson; Anasa Troutman, Linn Sitler
with michael donahue
The roving iPhone found people on the street as well as inside buildings, including three people in Olive Branch, Mississippi.
Photo subjects were at the Hotel Pontotoc, e Peabody, Zio Matto Gelato, Cooper-Young, Dino’s Grill, and Tops Bar-B-Q & Burgers in Olive Branch.
PHOTOS: MICHAEL DONAHUE
top row: (le to right) Andrew Geraci, Justin Tanner, Evan Robison; Kathy and Jerry Brown
right: (le to right) Gabe McCarthy; Canyon Williams circle: Julia Weber
below: (le to right) Wesley Long, Sandra Long, Je Long; Khari Wynn; Pam Parker Branham bottom middle: Landon Abernathy, Myles Nail Gab
By Buddy Jones
We’ll Drink to That
Polls show people are imbibing less. (Not us.)
rom sand in an hourglass, to a sundial, to the early morning cock-a-doodle-doo, as the times have changed, so have our methods of tracking it. Recently, discussions of unplugging the clock on daylight savings time have become a popular debate. No matter which side you’re on, the big hand or the little hand, we should all sound the alarm on a time worth saving: “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.” It’s our answer to the age-old question, “Is it too early to drink?” We used to say it when we used to drink.
Yes, we used to drink. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, the percentage of U.S. adults who say they consume alcohol has fallen to 54 percent, the lowest in Gallup’s nearly 90-year history. Gallup has tracked Americans’ drinking habits since 1939, the same year Gone with the Wind and e Wizard of Oz premiered in theaters. It used to be, “ ere’s no place like home, especially if there’s a six-pack in the fridge.” Now it’s a horse of a di erent color.
liver to stop being a whiny little toddler, but is moderate drinking really bad for you? Life is rough. People need something to take the stress o . A er an hour a day avoiding death on the I-240 Motor Speedway, two glasses of wine should be mandatory self-therapy.
Bars and restaurants have had to adjust drink selections to include mocktails and non-alcoholic beer to meet the demand of the surge of the sober-curious crowd. Sometimes, you just crave that irresistible palatable beer taste without the buzz. Shirley Temples, Mock Mules, Phony Negronis, Virgin Mojitos, Virgin Marys (basically, ketchup on the rocks), and non-alcoholic pilsners, IPAs, stouts, and hefeweizens used to be unheard of. Now they’ve been seen in more bars than Judge Karen Sanders (allegedly).
PHOTO: BUDDY JONES
Non-alcoholic pilsners, IPAs, stouts, and hefeweizens are now common.
Gallup also reported that even Americans who still drink are drinking less. e average number of drinks consumed in a week dropped to 2.8, the lowest since 1996. e highest average number of adult beverages drank happened in 2003 at 5 per week. at was before Uber and Ly were available. In 2003, a er a night of drinking your options were an expensive cab, a designated driver, or your most sober friend at the time. An old friend once told me, “You’re too drunk to drive when you can’t remember how to spell your name backwards.” I miss my old friend Bob.
Moderate drinkers are beginning to get hammered by health concerns over drinking. According to the same poll, the belief that a few drinks a week is bad for health also rose to a new high of 53 percent. No one is suggesting you tell your
An argument can be made that the decline in American alcohol consumption is just a trend. We do live in a monkey see, monkey do environment. In 1939, the national gold sh swallowing competition spread quickly across college campuses. In 1975, we saw the pet rock sell for $4 during the holiday season. In the 1980s, the most popular hairstyle consisted of short hair on the head with a thin strand of hair hanging down the back of the neck, appropriately called the rat tail. In 1993, pellet- lled plush toys called Beanie Babies became a collectible phenomenon. Hopefully, the sober phase will one day soon fall o the wagon. I’ll drink to that. Millions of Americans struggle with alcoholism. If someone is a recovering alcoholic, their health is on the decline, or every time they pass out drunk their buddies draw male genitals on their face, being sober is probably the best bet for them. e world needs sober people. Somebody has to drive the rest of us home.
As the ad says, “Drink responsibly.” ere’s no need to walk around smelling and looking like you fell in the Mississippi River and Bill Dance didn’t sh you out until six weeks later. Avoid pressing the send button to message you-know-who. Passing out on the kitchen oor should happen no more than two to three times a week, maybe a few more times during the holidays. Don’t be a dead drunk, but do drink until you die. Enjoy your booze, because no cool story ever started with, “Hold my non-alcoholic beer.”
Buddy Jones is a longtime Memphis bartender and comedian who hosts a weekly comedy night at Peoples on Beale.
GET ONE 2 PC DARK DINNER
FOOD By Michael Donahue
Getting a Leg Up
Red’s Turkey Legs taking o .
hristopher “FreeSol” Anderson’s legs have a lot of miles on them — his turkey legs, that is. Anderson, a celebrated hip-hop artist, and omas Brownlee, a veteran nightclub/restaurant owner, recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of their restaurant, Uncle Red’s Turkey Legs, at 2583 Broad Avenue.
Before the brick-and-mortar business, Anderson sold his turkey legs at the old Carolina Watershed, beginning in 2021. He has described them as “fall-o -thebone” turkey legs, which can be eaten by themselves or avored with sauces, including Bu alo, garlic Parmesan, Cajun cream, or Tennessee whiskey, and stu ed with dirty rice, mac and cheese, or mac and cheese and greens.
People can now sit down and enjoy the legs and other fare as well as a cocktail or beer at the restaurant, which previously housed Salt/Soy, Lucky Cat Ramen, and Red Zone Sports & Cigar Bar.
Anderson, lead singer of the alternative band also called FreeSol, formerly signed to Interscope Records, got the idea to do a restaurant while living in Southern California, where he was inspired by the late rapper/entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle.
Anderson’s grandmother was a celebrated chef in her neighborhood, and his uncle was a pitmaster who participated in the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. “Uncle Red’s” refers to his late uncle, Michael “Uncle Red Bone” Anderson, who worked at WLOK. People knew him as “DJ Red Bone” or “Bone,” says Anderson, who believes his late uncle guided him through the whole turkey leg business process.
Anderson pitched his turkey leg business idea to Andy “Kaz” Westmoreland at Carolina Watershed, who introduced him to Tony Westmoreland, one of the owners, who later became Anderson’s business partner. Westmoreland let him use his smoker and sell his turkey legs at Carolina Watershed.
Over the years, Anderson tried to open a “Uncle Red’s Turkey Legs” brickand-mortar restaurant, but plans for those locations, speci cally one in the University of Memphis area, fell through. “I could not get the building to work out,” Anderson says, adding, “We threw a lot of money in there.”
Brownlee, who worked with Anderson at Carolina Watershed, was intrigued when he saw Anderson’s building and heard his plans. “I love the location on
(above) Christopher “FreeSol” Anderson; (inset) e OG Turkey Leg
Anderson compares Brownlee to Superman. “He came in with his hands on his hips … with a cape.”
Broad,” Brownlee says. “ e location is perfect. And I came in and asked if he would be interested in me being a partner. And he said, ‘Yes, of course.’ I’ve already worked with Chris before. I understood what his vision was. What his plan was. I wanted to be a part of it.”
A Memphis native, Brownlee, who’s been called “Big Brownlee” since his days as a defensive end and o ensive tackle at Fairley High School, has been managing clubs and restaurants for 30 years. He and his wife are owners of SERV Restaurant & Bar at 6635 Quince Road.
All that experience was just what he was looking for to get Uncle Red’s o the ground, says Anderson, who compares Brownlee to Superman. “He came in with his hands on his hips,” Anderson says. “He came in with a cape.”
In addition to turkey legs, Uncle Red’s also sells smoked wings, sliders, and salads. ey also sell beignets. eir chef, Jerome Ladd, worked downtown at the
old Ben Yay’s.
Uncle Red’s Turkey Legs features an extensive cocktail and beer list. Asked what you should drink with a turkey leg, Brownlee says, “You can have a whiskey sour with a turkey leg. Anything goes with a turkey leg.”
“I’m a beer and a shot kind of a guy,” Anderson says.
e restaurant features R&B Patio Wednesdays with deejays and/or live music, and “Hip Hop & R&B Bingo” from 3 to 7 p.m. every third Sunday of the month. “Once people get ‘bingo,’ we may give them a free meal, give them a drink. It’s really just a fun gimmick for us to get together,” says Anderson.
Now that Uncle Red’s Turkey Legs has a brick-and-mortar home, Brownlee would like to eventually expand the restaurant to di erent cities. “ e turkey legs, the menu, the recipes — the food is fantastic,” he says. “And I think the world should be able to enjoy it.”
PHOTOS: MICHAEL DONAHUE
Sun Magic
Harness the season’s vibrant energy.
A
s summer settles in and the days stretch long under the heat of the sun, many naturally feel drawn to movement, creativity, and transformation. In magical and spiritual traditions across the world, the sun is associated with vitality, success, healing, and personal power.
Solar magic is one of the oldest and most accessible forms of spiritual practice because every one of us experiences the sun’s presence daily. We feel it warming our skin, nourishing gardens, illuminating shadows, and marking the rhythms of our lives. Spiritually speaking, the sun reminds us to shine, grow, and take up space. At its core, solar magic is about empowerment.
While lunar magic o en focuses on intuition, dreams, and inner re ection, solar energy tends to emphasize action, strength, motivation, and manifestation. e sun encourages outward movement. It pushes us toward condence and clarity.
One of the simplest ways to work with solar energy is by making sun water. Many are familiar with moon water, charged in lunar light, but sun water carries a very di erent energy. To make sun water, place a clean jar or container of water in direct sunlight for several hours while focusing on a speci c intention.
Solar-charged water is associated with joy, abundance, creativity, and courage. Some use it to anoint candles, add to ritual baths, cleanse magical tools, water plants connected to prosperity work, or keep on an altar as a symbol of empowerment. ere is something deeply grounding about intentionally sitting with sunlight and allowing yourself to absorb its warmth and energy. In a world where many of us spend our lives overstimulated, disconnected, or rushing from task to task, solar practices invite us back into presence.
and bravery, then speaking a rmations aloud while visualizing yourself radiating strength and self-assurance.
Speaking con dence into existence may sound easy, but it can be incredibly transformative. Many of us spend years repeating self-criticisms without realizing how those thoughts shape our reality. Solar magic asks us to replace fear with courage.
Solar correspondences can also strengthen magical work. Colors commonly associated with solar energy include gold, yellow, orange, and white. Herbs like sun ower, cinnamon, calendula, rosemary, St. John’s wort, and chamomile are frequently connected to the sun because of their warmth, protective qualities, or association with vigor.
Crystals o en linked to solar energy include citrine, sunstone, tiger’s eye, amber, and pyrite. ese stones are commonly used in con dence work, prosperity spells, creativity rituals, and energy restoration.
Sunday is traditionally considered the day most connected to solar magic, making it an ideal time for rituals involving healing, leadership, or growth.
Tarot also re ects solar symbolism beautifully. e Sun card itself is one of the clearest representations of joy, truth, and illumination within the tarot. It represents clarity a er confusion, warmth a er hardship, and the freedom that comes from living openly and authentically.
Perhaps one reason solar magic resonates so deeply is because it reminds us we are meant to shine. at doesn’t mean performing happiness or pretending life is easy. Real empowerment is not about perfection. Solar energy teaches us to remain connected to our inner light even in di cult seasons.
SATURDAY AUGUST 22
GET TICKETS NOW SEE A COMEDY LEGEND LIVE IN MEMPHIS
e sun is also connected to condence magic and personal empowerment spells. Many spiritual practitioners struggle with self-doubt, fear of visibility, or the di culty of recognizing their own strengths. Solar magic can help shi that energy.
A simple con dence ritual might involve dressing a gold or yellow candle with oils or herbs associated with success
Working with solar energy can be as elaborate or simple as you wish. It may involve meditation at sunrise, wearing colors that make you feel empowered, tending a garden, or standing outside for a few quiet moments in the warmth of the day.
Magic isn’t always mysterious or complicated. It can be as simple as remembering that you, too, are allowed to glow. Emily Guenther is a co-owner of e Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.
PHOTO: ROZUM | DREAMSTIME.COM
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
By the editors at Andrews McMeel Syndication
Nature Gone Wild
• You’ve probably heard of iguanas falling out of trees when it gets cold in Florida, but how about bats stuck on the ground when it’s too hot in Kansas? According to a July 2nd report from KWCH, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says that hot spells stress bats, and they fall, unable to take flight in the intense heat. Experts say not to try picking up the bats without protective gear. “They will try to bite you if you pick them up,” Blake Nash, an animal control technician, said. “They’re just going to be scared and try to defend themselves.” He also says to be wary of bats that appear dead. “Even if they’re alive, they can sit there and almost seem like they’re dead, so they may not make any sounds or move until you touch them,” he said. If the bat must be moved, he advises wearing thick, protective gloves and using a bucket or blanket to cover the nocturnal creatures. [KWCH, 7/2/26]
‘Bear!’ And I looked up from my phone, and the bear was walking into the barber shop right in front of me,” barber Kory Godbout said. “And we all ran into the break room and shut the door behind us.” Conservation Law Enforcement officers were able to herd the bear into the woods, away from the mall. [KTUU, 7/7/26]
• Shanghai Daily posted hallway security camera footage of a July 4th incident in Tibet in which a brown bear broke into a locked hotel room that had two guests inside. The guests reported that the bear engaged in a staring contest with them before walking away, and the hotel owner was able to chase it out of the building using a flashlight and other tools. [UPI, 7/6/26]
I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up
visit
• A different kind of Tasmanian devil is wreaking havoc on the island. Neil, a 2,200-pound elephant seal, has visited Tasmania every year for the last five years, causing destruction to personal property and even stopping traffic in southern towns, UPI reported on July 2nd. “At the moment, we don’t have a complete understanding of the damage Neil has caused to public infrastructure, but he has obviously knocked over a number of poles and bollards,” one mayor, Brendan Blomeley, said. “He’s broken fences, he’s harassing people’s cars — that’s just a function of his size,” seal expert Jane Younger added. Neil has become a bit of a local celebrity, but officials urge the public to give the seal his space. “I understand that until he completes his molting process, he’ll continue to scratch up against things to help shed his old fur,” Blomeley said. “Until then, I encourage everyone to please give Neil the space he needs and not to attempt to visit him. While he is of great interest, he is also potentially dangerous and does pose a risk to the community.” [UPI, 7/2/26]
• Customers and employees at a shopping mall at Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson in Anchorage, Alaska, were surprised when a black bear triggered the automatic doors and wandered in, stole a peach, and defecated on the floor before leaving, KTUU reported on July 7th. “My coworker, who is cutting hair in front of me, she yelled,
An 82-year-old widow is regaining her strength after surviving nine days stuck in her bathtub. On June 1st, Joan Rivet of North Carolina was getting ready for bed in the bathroom of her home, where she lives by herself, when she “tripped over [her] own two feet” and fell backward into the bathtub, People reported. The fall rendered her mostly immobile, though she was eventually able to use her toes to manipulate the faucet and her hand to bring water to her mouth. The shower rod had come down during the fall, and she used it to drag her robe to herself for warmth. Eventually, her brother, Bill Lesko, 79, of Georgia, called police for a wellness check when he hadn’t heard from her for a few days. “I was unconscious and barely had a pulse when the rescuers arrived,” Rivet said. “I don’t remember being rescued by them at all, to be honest with you.” She was brought to Haywood Regional Medical Center before being transferred to a nearby rehabilitation center. “I think several more hours or another day, she would have died,” Lesko said. Rivet is undergoing physical therapy and preparing to move to Georgia to be closer to her family. [People, 7/14/26]
Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the early days of aviation, navigation instruments were rudimentary, and the skies were often a blur of clouds, darkness, or featureless horizons. Pilots sometimes relied on a technique called “dead reckoning”: good instinct bolstered by simple instruments like compasses and stopwatches. I suspect you will benefit from practicing a metaphorical version of dead reckoning in the coming weeks. You may not have all the data you would like, and the path ahead might be less than clear, but you already possess enough hints and inklings to make thoughtful approximations. If you’re alert and flexible, listening to subtle signals within you and around you, your evolving estimates will guide you uncannily close to the right destination.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Nineteenthcentury poet Emily Dickinson rarely left her comfortable home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her favorite activity was to sit in her bedroom and compose her odd, unique, brilliant poems. Eventually, she wrote 1,800 of them, though few were published during her lifetime. Today she is renowned as one of America’s great literary geniuses. Her story reminds us that magnificent growth may emerge from simple and humble circumstances. I suspect you will thrive if you borrow her strategy during the coming weeks. You don’t need a hubbub of flashy events to evoke your beauty. A period of creative stillness could amplify your imagination and inspire your dazzle.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Renaissance workshops, apprentice painters learned their craft by assisting masters with small tasks. They mixed pigments, prepared canvases, and cleaned up. There was a valuable trade-off for this humble work. Being in proximity to mature brilliance often spurred the fledgling artists to harness their own creative powers. I suspect this dynamic is relevant for you, Gemini. Now is a favorable time to be alert for unexpected teachers and lessons. Be ready to apprentice yourself to captivating experiences where you might learn what you didn’t even realize you needed to know. Your willingness to be a curious, gracious student is your superpower.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): If you knew you were going to live to 95 in reasonably good health, what additional careers or adventures might you pursue? Visualize your lifespan stretching out before you like a wide winding road, where you will have plenty of time not just to survive, but to experiment, wander, and reinvent yourself. Would you train for a new craft or profession? Would you move to another country for a while and apprentice yourself to a language, landscape, or tradition that has always piqued your curiosity? I invite you to take a concrete step that moves you in
By Rob Brezsny
the direction of interesting future fun.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo biologist Stephen Jay Gould argued that evolution isn’t a ladder of progress but a branching bush of experimentation. Most species that ever existed are extinct, but they weren’t failures. For a very long time, they were successful experiments in being alive, well adapted to their environment. When conditions changed, they ended. That’s how evolution works. Let’s apply this lesson to your life, Virgo. If a part of your world is concluding, celebrate and thank it, then bid it a fond farewell. Feel grateful that it succeeded completely at what it was meant to do and gave you all it had to give.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your sense of purpose is intensifying. Your people need you more than ever, and your gifts are ripening just as they are most valuable to your community. But I must add that the road ahead will not be frictionless. You will have to outmaneuver diversionary tactics and dispel pockets of confusion. To serve as a shimmering catalyst of beauty and truth for your allies — and a shrewd strategist in the presence of deflections — lean into the paradoxical counsel attributed to Jesus: Be gentle and pure like a dove, yet keenly perceptive and discerning like a serpent.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Concrete continues to cure beyond the time when it’s first poured. After seven days, it has 70 percent of its ultimate strength, and after 14 days, 90 percent. It usually keeps getting sturdier for a few months, even years. I propose that we use this as a metaphor for what you’re working on, Scorpio. The foundations you established a while back are still solidifying. Projects that are working pretty well are still developing potency. This is a good thing! Everything is slowly improving through processes you’re not actively managing.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Here’s your assignment: Find yourself a pair of enchanted pants that will bring you good luck and stir up fun. How will you know that they’re authentically charmed? Because when you put them on, you will instinctively wander toward adventures that expand your understandings about life. They may also lead you to explore places and situations that aren’t truly forbidden or taboo, but which you have oddly avoided as if they were forbidden or taboo. Finally, your enchanted pants are likely to inspire you to dream up a few crazy good ideas that will turn out not to be mostly good and not at all crazy.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In classical music, a “fermata” is a symbol on the sheet music that instructs the instrumentalist to hold a note longer
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Within most galaxies are dense clouds of gas and dust that astronomers call “star factories.” Here and there, the magic of gravity gradually gathers together diffuse material into concentrated clusters until nuclear fusion ignites, creating brilliant new suns. I suspect you will be operating a metaphorical star factory in the coming weeks and months, Leo. Small ideas, fragments of plans, or tentative experiments could coalesce in productive ways. Through your patient attention and care, luminous concentrations of useful beauty will emerge.
than its written duration. How long? It’s unpredictable. The musician decides. I think your life would benefit from a metaphorical fermata or two, Capricorn — maybe even more. You won’t come to a protracted pause, but you will engage in strategic prolonging, extending certain notes beyond their expected duration. Examples? Lingering longer in a conversation from which you’re inclined to exit early; staying with an ambiguous emotion rather than rushing to resolution; allowing a project to develop more leisurely than you might if you were simply pushing for sheer efficiency. Opt for what’s soulful instead of what’s crisp and neat.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Fate is subtly but insistently pressuring you to stop squandering energy on half-hearted, hand-me-down desires. Why? So your real, holy obsessions can move to the center of your attention. The tepid wishes and lukewarm yearnings are being exposed for what they are: distractions that nibble away at your time and passion without fully feeding your soul. As these mediocre drives fade in importance, you’ll be exultant to see how much more fire, clarity, and juice you have available for the few burning, churning yearnings that truly belong to you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is so deep that if Mount Everest were located at the bottom, its peak would be over a mile underwater. The deepest point in the ocean could swallow the highest point on land with room to spare. The world holds more below than above. Please meditate on this fun fact, Pisces. I hope it inspires you to understand that your most interesting power often lies in the depths, not the peaks. While others are summiting, you’re descending into the mysterious, fathomless interiors. Your explorations may not photograph well because they happen in darkness. But they are the source of your strength.
FILM By Chris McCoy
Spider-Meh
Spider-Man: Brand New Day made box o ce history. Is it any good?
W
TF just happened? Since the dawn of the streaming era, conventional wisdom has been that people didn’t want to go to the movie theater anymore. For a while, that argument seemed to be backed by numbers. e mid-budget movie was disappearing, you couldn’t give away tickets to comedies, and all of the box o ce action was concentrated in a small constellation of mega-franchises. at era came to a head in 2019, when Avengers: Endgame grossed $357 million in North America on its opening weekend, making April 26-29, 2019, the busiest weekend in the history of the movie business. A year later, the pandemic shut down theaters for almost two years. Even a er the theaters reopened, the crowds did not return right away, and the SAG/ AFTRA strikes put a serious dent in the Hollywood production schedules, thus adding to the streamers’ triumphalism, and causing much angst in cinephile circles. Sure, Barbenheimer put some asses in seats, but Endgame Weekend would never be equaled.
But beginning around the middle of 2025, attendance started to tick up again — but not for the franchises. Avatar: Fire and Ash put some big numbers on the board, but not big enough to justify its astronomical budget. e Fantastic Four: First Steps, a lm whose title sounds less like a comic book and more like a corporate onboarding video, was a break-even proposition, while e Mandalorian & Grogu was the worst performing Star Wars lm of all time, and Supergirl crashed to Earth. Instead, the biggest unexpected hits of 2026 were Backrooms, a mid-budget horror lm based on an internet meme, and Obsession, an original horror story which recently became the most pro table lm ever, with a budget of less than $1 million, beating a record held for 53 years by Bruce Lee’s Enter e Dragon. Christopher Nolan’s e Odyssey, an old-fashioned, sword-andsandals epic, opened big and showed staying power.
PHOTOS: COURTESY SONY PICTURES
Zendaya and Tom Holland star in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
en came Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Since previews started last ursday, the $225 million Marvel/ Sony co-production has grossed $360 million domestically, and $932 million worldwide. And once you add in
e Odyssey’s seemingly unstoppable
IMAX run, July 27-31, 2026, is now the busiest weekend in lmgoing history, topping $400 million for the rst time. So, WTF just happened? I have some theories. First of all, Marvel/ Sony put up a record $302 million to promote the lm, and that investment paid o .
Second, the conventional wisdom that people — particularly young people — just want to sit at home and stare at their phones is no longer operative. Being on social media in the second Trump era means being bombarded by propaganda and insipid in uencers who are constantly reminding you that the world is on re. Rather than doomscroll to watch what the worst people in American history are up to, we’d rather go to the movies and escape for a couple of hours.
ird, people love Spider-Man more than any other superhero. Sorry, Batman, but the writing’s on the wall. Peter Parker is not an alien with godlike powers, or a rich-guy vigilante, but instead an ordinary high school science nerd who is accidentally imbued with
superpowers. e most relatable superhero doesn’t even care about saving the world like his comic book peers. As Black Widow (Florence Pugh) reminds him in Brand New Day, e Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s New York beat is “small potatoes,” while the Avengers handle the “big potatoes.” Spidey is proof that stakes in ation won’t help if your characters aren’t compelling. He’s the everyman superhero, the hard worker who never gets the respect he deserves.
e fourth thing that TF happened was Tom Holland and Zendaya. ey are an acting power couple on the level of Bogart and Bacall, Hepburn and Tracy, or Taylor and Burton. e newlyweds are part of the ensemble in e Odyssey, and here, they’re the main attraction. Holland holds the screen with a leading man’s con dence, even when he’s wearing only the mask and a towel. It’s almost too much con dence for Spider-Man, who always wears his insecurities on his sleeve. But this Peter Parker has been through a lot. Since he asked Dr. Strange to erase his memory from the world, he’s thrown himself into superheroing, working closely with the mayor (Zabryna Guevara) to take down criminals in the Big Apple. He’s well into a 48 Hoursstyle buddy comedy with e Punisher
(Jon Bernthal) when he runs into MJ (Zendaya), who no longer remembers him. It’s a painful reminder that SpiderMan sometimes has to do things that will break Peter Parker’s heart. As the mayor reminds him, being married to the job never ends well.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton realized that what the world really wants and needs right now is to hang out with Spider-Man. e alleged plot, which involves Sadie Sink as a certain well-known rogue telepath from an adjacent IP, is secondary to watching MJ and Peter circle each other. Peter changed the universe to protect her, but, as she points out, he didn’t ask her if she needed protecting that badly. e not-really romance is by far the most compelling part of the picture. e pacing is languid, especially for a summer blockbuster action picture; the set pieces feel perfunctory, especially compared to the animated reworks of Across the Spider-Verse; and the attempts to connect to the moribund MCU are annoying. In the end, Holland and Zendaya carry the day through sheer star power. It’s not e Amazing Spider-Man. It’s more like e Adequate Spider-Man. But that’s enough to make history.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Now playing Multiple locations
Our critic picks the best films in theaters.
Super Troopers 3 Copaganda meets comedy as Jay Chandrasekhar and the Broken Lizard comedy troupe return to patrol the wild roads of Vermont. Trooper Rod Farva (Kevin Heffernan) is getting married to Sarita (Hannah Simone), the sister of his commanding officer Thorny Ramathorn (Chandrasekhar). Meanwhile, there’s a new drug ring in town that our bumbling troopers need to bust up. Will the super troopers save the day and also the wedding?
One Night Only
Remember The Purge, the horror film series where all crime becomes legal for one night a year, so people go out
and start killing folks for fun? One Night Only is like that, but for sex. Allie (Monica Barbaro) and Owen (Callum Turner) search for real connection on the one night when everyone’s connecting. Look for cameos by Maya Hawke, Molly Ringwald, LeVar Burton, and King Princess as people who are just looking for regular sex.
Ice Cream Man
Director Eli Roth introduces his studio, The Horror Section, with a grindhouse slasher. One idyllic American small town is looking for relief from the heat. Their prayers are answered when a new ice cream man (Ari Millen) arrives with a truckload of frozen treats. But surprise! The treats contain a drug that turns children into homicidal maniacs.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026 5:30pm - 8:30pm ■ Loflin Yard
HOUSING
BUY, SELL, TRADE
THE LAST WORD By
Patricia Lockhart
Peace Out, Summer!
Appreciating the quiet gi s of this summer season.
is summer has been one for the books. I’ve spent time bar-hopping and co ee-hopping with friends, attended Poetry in the Park, joined Silent Book Clubs, heard live music at the Shell, and even paddled through Cocktails and Canoes at Shelby Farms. It’s been full in the very best way. But as summer winds down and I prepare for school to start back, I’ve found myself craving something di erent. As much as I love spending time with other people, I genuinely enjoy spending time alone. I love my own company. Some of my favorite Memphis memories aren’t made in a crowd — they’re made with a good book, a cup of co ee, or a quiet walk through the park. Sometimes, the best dates I’ve ever been on have been the ones I’ve taken myself on.
Second Helpings Front Porch
Have you ever woken up and immediately felt like the day was already too much? Your eyes open, your body aches, and you’re exhausted … even though you haven’t gotten out of bed yet. If you haven’t, thank goodness. But if you’re anything like me, you de nitely have. Sometimes it’s because I’ve been working too hard and haven’t given myself the rest I need. Waking up to my Garmin telling me my Body Battery is 35 out of 100 and my sleep was “non-restorative” isn’t exactly the morning report I’m hoping for. But sometimes, it’s the truth. On mornings like that, I make time for e Front Porch. Not my front porch, the one at Second Helpings Café, located at 4688 Walnut Grove. It’s my little slice of heaven. I order a Butter Cookie Chai Latte, settle into one of the rocking chairs outside, and simply exist for a while. I rock back and forth, pausing only to take a deep breath or another sip of chai. irty minutes later, something has changed. Maybe it’s the quiet. Maybe it’s the fresh air. Maybe it’s the chai. Whatever it is, I leave feeling rested, restored, and ready to take on the day.
Belltower Co eehouse
I love a solo date. Just me, myself, and my book! And my favorite place for one is Belltower Co eehouse on Highland. ey have a delicious, simple breakfast of eggs, toast, and bacon. And of course, there’s co ee and tea galore. e atmosphere is so chill. I’m surrounded by people studying, reading, or quietly catching up with friends. It’s the best lo- breakfast in the city. ere are times when I crack open my laptop and get a little work done, but for the most part, I just read. No rushing. No noti cations. No agenda. Just me, a hot cup of co ee, a good book, and sunlight pouring across the table. It’s one of the few places where I never feel guilty for lingering. Sometimes the best part of breakfast isn’t the bacon or the co ee. It’s having nowhere else you need to be.
Overton Park
On an early Saturday morning, I love taking a walk through Overton Park. e birds are chirping, the trees are dancing, and the shade is absolutely perfect. I simply enjoy it, all of it. People always say, “I can’t believe you’re walking in this heat.” I know. I get it. But while the pavement around Memphis is baking at a crisp 97 degrees, the tree canopy at Overton Park makes it feel 10 degrees cooler. It’s my own little oasis. Some mornings, I just listen to the birds. Occasionally, I’ll pull out my phone and open my bird app to gure out who’s serenading me. Other times, I’ll listen to an audiobook or a little ’90s music. And then there are the mornings when I don’t listen to anything at all. Just ears open. Heart open. Letting the peace wash over me. If it’s raining, I’m walking. If it’s sunny, I’m walking. And if it’s overcast? Oh, I’m walking for a long, long time.
An Ode to Summer’s End e days grew long, the pace grew slow, With peaceful places le to know.
A cup of co ee, a shaded tree,
A little more time for simply me.
A book in hand, the morning still,
A quiet porch upon a hill. e birds would sing, the trees would sway, And somehow worries slip away.
No grand nale, no grand parade, Just gentle memories summer made.
A walk, a latte, a rocking chair,
A moment to breathe the Memphis air.
Soon school bells ring and calendars ll, Life picks up against my will.
But summer leaves this gi behind:
A quieter heart. A rested mind.
So here’s to mornings so and bright,
To simple joys that feel just right.
Until next summer, I’ll smile and say, anks for the peace along the way.
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s a librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep.
PHOTOS: PATRICIA LOCKHART (le to right) Second Helpings Front Porch, Belltower Co eehouse, Overton Park
