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The Grizzlies’ New Grind WES HALE

A YOUNG, NEW CORE TAKES SHAPE IN MEMPHIS.

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OUR 1964TH ISSUE 10.15.26

The Grizzlies’ New Grind A young, new core takes shape in Memphis. PHOTO: WES HALE

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Pike, Immigration, & Data Centers

COUNCIL CHAOS

Unprecedented recovery after botched execution, immigration arrests spike, and vote delayed.

A vote to hold action on a number of data center-related items, including a proposed moratorium, caused several residents to protest during the Tuesday, October 6th, meeting of the Memphis City Council. The meeting went into recess, but this didn’t stop the footage from going viral on social media (and being shared by TMZ). BILLBOARDS A photo of a billboard paid for by Indivisible Memphis calling out the seven Memphis City Council members who voted to postpone the vote on PHOTO: POSTED TO the proposed INSTAGRAM BY @ INDIVISIBLEMEMPHIS data center moratorium was posted to the group’s Instagram page. “I am so here for the public citywide shaming of billionaire sellouts!” one netizen commented. October 15-21, 2026

Edited by Kailynn Johnson

Memphis on the internet.

PHOTO: POSTED TO YOUTUBE VIA MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL

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Questions, Answers + Attitude

WATERMANE Memphians took to Reddit, Facebook, and other platforms expressing shock over the arrest of street vendor DeMarcus Dickerson. Dickerson, PHOTO: POSTED known fondly TO FACEBOOK BY BEN OWEN as the Watermane, was arrested on Tuesday, October 6th, for obstructing the roadway. Dickerson’s charges were dropped, and he returned to his usual intersection on October 8th.

CHRISTA PIKE RECOVERY Christa Pike, 50, is back at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center after surviving an execution attempt on September 30th. Pike received two injections of pentobarbital, and received medical care after the botched execution, which her lawyers called “cruel and torturous.” Attorneys for Pike said that on Monday, October 5th, they understood Pike to be brain dead, with staff planning to take her off life support the following day. Instead, Pike woke up and spoke on PHOTO: JOHN PARTIPILO | TENNESSEE LOOKOUT Tuesday. Attorneys were Federal immigration agents prepare to enter a South Nashville apartment on not present when she April 28, 2026. Immigration detentions have surged across the nation awoke, but understood and in Tennessee in President Donald Trump’s second term. her first words to be “where am I?” and “who are you?” Trump’s immigration policies. Sexton said the state would not Pike’s team said she was aware of the state’s execution “become a sanctuary state for illegal immigration.” attempt, and they expected a long recovery “at a minimum.” As arrests grow, immigrant advocates and community They called her recovery “unprecedented.” When speaking leaders have provided legal services and aid, organized prowith reporters on Wednesday, October 7th, Randy Spivey, tests, and engaged the public to monitor and document acan attorney from the Tennessee Office of the Post Convictions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). tion Defender, said Pike had pneumonia, a blood clot in one of her arms, and was unable to swallow or move her arms. DATA CENTER LEGISLATION Attorneys said they are continuing to ask Gov. Bill Lee to Memphis City Council Vice Chairman Chase Carlisle commute Pike’s sentence. moved to delay voting on a slew of data center-related items, In the aftermath of the failed attempt, Lee said the state including a proposed data center moratorium ordinance, would not carry out any more executions and called for a until the body’s October 20th meeting. Carlisle said the thorough third-party review. Frank Strada, commissioner council needed to work through the items “quickly” and of the Department of Correction, announced he would step said asking for a vote during the October 6th meeting would down from his role later this month. signify an incomplete process. Councilors voted 7-5 in favor of postponement, while IMMIGRATION ARRESTS agreeing to work through remaining issues during a ThursSince the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second day, October 8th, work session. term, immigration arrests have soared nationally and stateAttendees instantly erupted in protests and berated the wide. Memphis leads the state in immigration arrests and council for delaying the vote again. Protesters could be detentions, with Nashville/Davidson County, Knox County, seen with bullhorns and signs, while audience members and Rutherford County trailing behind. berated council members for their actions. The chaos A significant spike in immigration arrests in Tennessee eventually led to chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington coincided with the formation of the Memphis Safe Task calling for a recess. Force. Researchers from the Deportation Data Project found The meeting resumed following the council’s session that two-thirds of immigrants detained had no prior crimion Thursday. nal charges or “faced pending charges.” Tennessee Lookout contributed to this report. State Republicans such as Tennessee House Speaker CamVisit the News Blog at memphisflyer.com for fuller versions of eron Sexton (R-Crossville) have vowed an alignment with these stories and more local news.

A week of debates over data center regulations in the city ended with action from Memphis’ mayor.

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emphis Mayor Paul Young called for a 90day study of data center regulations as the city continues to develop policy on tech expansions. On Friday, October 9th, Young issued an executive order initiating a 90-day policy review to help the city formulate data center protocols. He said experts on air quality, neighborhoods, water resources, and more will be involved in the process. The study will address land use and neighborhood protections, infrastructure, air quality, water and aquifer protections, energy and utility costs, and noise.

PHOTO: PAUL YOUNG | FACEBOOK

Paul Young Young plans to appoint experts — demonstrating pertinent knowledge — to the study group. Appointees will develop a written report of the findings incorporating recommendations and potential guardrails. This report will be submitted to Young within 90 days of the order being signed, and the group will be required to present its findings to the public. The mayor affirmed a commitment to community engagement, with the order requiring a minimum of three community education sessions. The public will also have a chance to take part in a public comment period. Young said he was responsible for protecting residents and making sure Memphis thrives as a result of these investments. “From day one, we’ve worked to address the impact of data centers on our energy, water, and infrastructure,” Young said. “Our residents deserve answers and strong protections. This executive order brings the right experts and agencies

together to establish clear guardrails and make sure growth works for Memphis.” The order outlines the formation of this group of subject-matter experts who will then make recommendations to governmental bodies such as the Memphis City Council, Shelby County Health Department, and Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW). “The study will proceed concurrently with the Memphis City Council’s ongoing consideration of data center legislation,” Young said. “The executive order does not suspend, delay, restrict, or interfere with council action.” Both Young and other governing bodies have emphasized that data center regulation encompasses multiple agencies — not just those the city operates. He called on everyone to exercise their power to protect the city. “This work is about taking deliberate action,” Young added. “We are listening to our residents, bringing the right people to the table, and moving with urgency to put strong, enforceable guardrails in place.” Young said the order is not meant to “delay governmental decision-making.” This announcement comes as several data center-related ordinances are being considered by the Memphis City Council. A data center moratorium is included among those. During the regular meeting of the council on Tuesday, council member and Vice Chairman Chase Carlisle moved to delay voting on several of the ordinances until the October 20th meeting. Carlisle said more time was needed for the council to work through the ordinances. The council voted 7-5 in favor of holding off on voting, while agreeing to meet on Thursday to work through remaining issues. During the Thursday work session, councilors discussed proposals which came from members JB Smiley, Rhonda Logan, Philip Spinosa, and Jeff Warren. Spinosa said the meeting was also for the council to review “existing zoning framework.” Council attorney Allan Wade spoke about potential legal troubles associated with a moratorium, as well as what the body has the authority to regulate. Wade said some of the proposals detailed things that were outside the council’s control. “If we’re going to be talking about what to do, we need to stay in our lane, in my opinion,” Wade said.

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CITY REPORTER By Kailynn Johnson

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C O M M U N I T Y B y K r y s t i o n Pe g u e s

For the Girls Building community and celebrating girlhood, one market at a time.

October 15-21, 2026

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aria De La Rosa and Gabriela Toledo, best friends and co-owners of The Found Vintage Co., hosted the first For the Girls market in May. The idea was to create space for women-owned businesses to showcase their work, build clientele, and befriend other women who understand the highs and lows of owning a small business. After experiencing these types of community events in other cities, De La Rosa and Toledo sought to create a similar space here. “Our mission is the same,” De La Rosa says, “to provide community in a safe place for women to connect, meet new people, support one another. There are a lot of woman-owned small businesses in Memphis, so we wanted a place where they could be showcased.” The markets feature many vendors offering a variety of goods, along with DJs, food trucks, henna, photo ops, and more. Planning the monthly markets has been a group effort that has highlighted many allies. “It’s not just women who support women. It’s a community. It’s men, it’s kids. It’s older people,” De La Rosa says. “Seeing so many people behind that has been a blessing.” The two women say they owe their grit to their parents for setting examples of how to build livelihoods from the ground up as immigrants. “A lot of my entrepreneurship and taking a little bit of a step of faith in doing this with Maria has been from seeing my parents take a big step of faith,” Toledo says, “leaving their countries and coming here and building something.” Smiling, she adds, “I feel like I’m literally taking a page out of their book … to have seen what my parents have done, and to learn from that, and build something, and then have them be a part of it, too.” From starting small, having a market at De La Rosa’s house with about 50 people, to hosting For the Girls at Crosstown Brewery with about 1,000 attendees, the journey so far has been rewarding. They’re proud of the growth, and of how they’re able to help women from all walks of life. Creating third spaces for women to feel safe, celebrated, and respected for the work they put into their businesses is one of the Collective’s many goals. Each vendor is given the chance to share a piece of themselves with the public and make connections. It has created priceless moments where everyone’s work can be in the spotlight and shared with the masses. Celebrating girlhood has proven to be bigger than having 11.4K Instagram followers. It’s also been about bridging the

gap between generations and recognizing everyone’s similarities, rather than emphasizing superficial differences. Through music, photos, picnics, and more, women, girls, and allies can connect based on their shared interests, which can blur the lines that sometimes discourage people from starting new friendships.

PHOTO: GABRIELA TOLEDO

De La Rosa describes a vendor and how they’re “the same at heart … there’s a big age difference,” she says, “but we have the same wants and dreams. We’re just living them at different stages of our lives. It is so beautiful to see our platform be an opportunity, not just for Gen Z or any specific generation, but for everybody.” Toledo adds, “What’s really been meaningful is … when I get a chance to talk to the vendors and encourage them and pour back into them.” The importance of women encouraging one another in spaces geared toward their growth is pivotal for not only the women participating, but also the individuals who attend and bring their loved ones. So what’s next for De La Rosa, Toledo, and For the Girls Collective? Their goal is to continue to grow “community-wise, event-wise, and womanhood-wise.” They’ve mentioned doing community outreach events and donating items and services to those in need if the greater Memphis community is receptive. They’ve recognized the power of the initiative and how much more it can grow. Giving back to the community that has given them so much has always been the goal. “The whole point of our market is to honor the hard work, the sacrifice, the dedication, the care, and the effort of every vendor,” says De La Rosa. The next market is Saturday, October 31st at Shelby Farms Park, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

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NEWS & OPINION

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

COVER STORY By Sharon Brown and Aimee Stiegemeyer PHOTOGRAPHS By Wes Hale

The Grizzlies’ New Grind

A YOUNG, NEW CORE TAKES SHAPE IN MEMPHIS.

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October 15-21, 2026

ew beginnings are difficult, but change is inevitable. For the Memphis Grizzlies, that change has arrived all at once. This season begins a new era without Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., or Desmond Bane, the three players once expected to keep Memphis among the Western Conference’s best teams. For a while, it seemed possible. The Grizzlies won consecutive Southwest Division titles, brought postseason basketball back to FedExForum, and gave the city reason to believe something special was taking shape. Those teams were young, loud, and fearless, and for a time they made the franchise feel close to breaking through. However, the bigger moment never came. Injuries became a constant part of the story. Memphis never made it beyond the second round of the playoffs and eventually, the front office stopped waiting for everything to come together. Bane was traded to Orlando in 2025. Jackson went to play for Utah in a deal that sent the Grizzlies Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, and three future first-round picks. Morant 8 followed in June, going to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. A core

that once looked set for years is now gone.

Cameron Boozer charges in for a layup.

The Reset Could No Longer Be Avoided It is fair to mourn what the previous era might have become. It is also fair to admit that starting over was necessary. Memphis spent too many seasons planning around the healthiest possible version of its roster. Morant, Jackson, and Bane were good enough to make patience feel reasonable. But patience

eventually became an excuse to postpone a difficult decision. The team kept waiting for the injuries to stop, the rotation to settle, and the postseason breakthrough to arrive. None of it came to fruition. The Grizzlies finished 25-57 last season and used 33 players. Only Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Cam

Spencer appeared in more than 55 games. The front office can’t be blamed for every injury, but it must build a roster that can survive them. And that never happened. Now Memphis has draft picks, financial flexibility, and a collection of players who should develop on a similar timeline. That is a reasonable place to begin, but tearing down a roster is the easy part. The people who dismantled the old core must show they can build a better one. That distinction matters because the organization has asked fans to invest in a core before. The city will give players time, but patience is not the same as blind faith. Supporters have watched the franchise rise, stumble, and start over before. They know development is rarely linear. They also know when a team competes with purpose and when it merely collects losses. The Grizzlies don’t owe anyone playoff contention, but they do owe fans a clear plan, an honest evaluation, and month-tomonth progress. No one knows yet where this new beginning will lead. That is what makes this season worth watching closely. The previous era is over; however, the next one has to earn the city’s belief.

Cameron Boozer Steps Into the Spotlight Ready or not, Boozer enters the season as the new face of the franchise, whether the title is fair to a 19-year-old rookie or not. He was one of the most productive players in college basketball, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists during his only season at Duke. He is strong, skilled, and unusually composed for a teenager. He processes the game quickly, which should help him contribute even when his shot is not falling. The question now is: How much of that game will translate immediately to the NBA? If Boozer can become a dependable 20-point, 10-rebound presence, he will change the direction of the organization. Memphis has not had a big man who could deliver that kind of production since Zach Randolph anchored the Grit and Grind teams. Boozer does not play exactly like Randolph, nor should anyone ask him to. But being able to score and rebound reliably from the frontcourt would give this young team a place to go when the offense stalls. The big man may have difficult nights. NBA defenders are stronger, faster, and far less forgiving than the players Boozer faced in college. He will have to learn where his advantages are and which shots are no longer available. The Grizzlies must give him room to make those mistakes without treating every bad game as evidence that the rebuild is failing. Memphis should not treat him like a finished product. He shouldn’t be expected to carry the offense or replace the excitement Morant brought to FedExForum. Boozer’s progress should be measured by whether he improves, competes, and shows that Memphis can eventually build its team around him. In short, Boozer will face stronger and faster competitors and needs room to struggle without every mistake becoming a referendum on the rebuild.

Everything Changes if Zach Edey Stays Healthy The most important number attached to Zach Edey this season may not be points or rebounds. It may simply be games played. His presence may determine whether the Grizzlies are interested in being competitive sooner than expected as the long season unfolds. While limited to just 11 games in the 25-26 season, the Purdue alum averaged 13.6 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 63 percent from the field. Even in that small sample, his size changed the way opponents approached the paint. Standing 7-foot-3 and weighing over 300 pounds, he gives Memphis a unique asset no one else on the roster can replicate. The third-year center can set hard screens, finish near the rim, and create second chances. Boozer can operate from the perimeter or high post when the defense collapses. Their rebounding could become a reliable advantage. If the pairing works on both ends, Memphis could have its frontcourt in place for years. The second preseason game marked his first appearance since December 2025, and, as expected, Memphis limited his minutes. The brief outing didn’t provide enough evidence to declare him fully recovered. It was encouraging to see him back, but it didn’t answer the larger question. Edey has undergone two procedures on the same ankle since his rookie season. Memphis will likely manage his minutes early and may sit him during some back-to-backs. That caution is justified. The Grizzlies need him for years to come more than they need him to prove anything in October. When Edey plays, his fit with Boozer is clear. He can set punishing screens, finish around the rim, protect the paint, and create second chances. Boozer can work from the high post or

pull defenders away from the basket. Together, they could give Memphis a frontcourt with size, skill and rebounding. That possibility only matters if both players are available. Memphis needs as close to 82 games as it can get from Edey, Boozer, and Coward. After several seasons derailed by major injuries, health is not a footnote to this rebuild. It is one of its foundations. Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post offer valuable insurance if Edey can’t play. Stewart brings physicality and rebounding, while Post’s shooting can pull centers away from the rim.

Ty Jerome Is More Than a Placeholder Morant’s departure left an obvious hole at point guard. Can Ty Jerome be an NBA-caliber starting point guard? The Grizzlies will soon find out. Jerome is in a new role as the first option. He played only 15 games for Memphis last season, but he started in all of them. Those 15 starts were more than he had made in all his previous NBA seasons combined. Now he is being asked to run the offense, steady a young roster, and handle the pressure of replacing Morant at point guard. Those are significant expectations to meet. Jerome gave Memphis reason to believe he can handle a larger role. He averaged 19.7 points and 5.7 assists in 22.6 minutes last season, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. The sample was small, but his control and efficiency were difficult to ignore. He is not a temporary name penciled into the lineup until someone younger is ready. Jerome is key to what the Grizzlies are trying to establish. His ability to work with or without the ball makes him a natural fit beside Boozer. He can organize the offense, create late in the shot clock, and space the floor when Boozer draws attention. The pressure will be different now and opponents will prepare for him as a starter, and a productive 15-game stretch does not guarantee success over a full season. Jerome must show he can manage games when his shot isn’t falling and keep the offense going during difficult stretches. That does not make Scotty Pippen Jr. expendable. He worked his way from a two-way contract into a legitimate rotation role, pressures the ball, and gets into the paint. His defense and pace can change games, whether he starts or leads the second unit. Javon Small and Clayton should have development minutes, but the continued on page 10

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

(left) Standing 7-foot-3 and weighing over 300 pounds, Zach Edey gives Memphis a unique asset; (right) Ty Jerome must replace Morant as point guard; (below) Jaylen Wells played more than 55 games last year.

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continued from page 9 backcourt cannot become a nightly audition. Jerome gives Memphis its clearest answer now.

October 15-21, 2026

The Rest of the Young Core Must Grow Coward may be the Grizzlies player most likely to take a major step forward. He averaged 13.6 points and nearly five rebounds as a rookie, earned All-Rookie First Team honors, and often looked composed during a season when little around him was stable. This year, he will see more defensive attention and carry greater offensive responsibility. The next step is not an occasional 30-point game. It is dependable production, better decisions, and the ability to contribute when opponents take away his preferred spots. Wells remains valuable because the offense doesn’t need to be built around him. He can defend, move the ball, and make open shots. GG Jackson II may be the most naturally gifted scorer in the group, but he must defend more consistently and make faster decisions. Spencer’s shooting should earn him opportunities when the floor needs space. Veterans Grant, Stewart, and Jerome will be responsible for more than their statistics. A roster this young needs

players willing to settle a possession, correct mistakes, and hold teammates accountable when the game starts to drift. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo also has choices to make. Hendricks, Murray, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and the other young players cannot all receive extended minutes. Development matters, but so does establishing a rotation. The Grizzlies cannot spend the entire season looking as if everyone is still auditioning. Other Changes The year will carry Brandon Clarke’s memory. On September 19th, what would have been his 30th birthday, the Grizzlies announced plans for a pregame tribute and moment of silence on opening night. Players will wear a “BC” patch throughout the season. Clarke’s death in May left a hurt much larger than basketball, and he will be deeply missed by the organization and the city that embraced him. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game returns to Memphis after last season’s event was displaced by the Grizzlies’ two games against Orlando in Germany. The game belongs in the city most closely connected to Dr. King’s final days. Moving it should never become routine. Watching the Grizzlies will

require an adjustment, too. DAZN (pronounced “Da Zone”) is the team’s new broadcast home and will stream the 78 locally available regular-season games. Plans begin at $19.99 per month. Early preseason broadcasts look noticeably better than last season’s FanDuel Sports Network production, but requiring another subscription still asks more of fans. The positive news is that DAZN and ABC24 will simulcast 15 games over the air for free, the most since the franchise moved from Vancouver in 2001. It is a meaningful concession in a season when access could easily have become another source of frustration. Success Must Be Visible, Even During a Rebuild The Western Conference remains unforgiving, and Memphis is not built to contend immediately. San Antonio reached the NBA Finals last season; Houston won 52 games and several teams with established stars will be fighting just to reach the Play-In. There is a non-zero chance this season will be rough. Some nights may be downright ugly. That is the reality of handing a team to young players in a Western Conference that rarely gives them time to learn. Still, rebuilding cannot become an excuse for aimless basketball. The

Grizzlies should be more organized in March than they are in October. Boozer should look more comfortable. Coward should become more consistent. Edey should be healthy enough to establish a rhythm. The bench should have a steady presence. Jerome should provide an answer at point guard, even if it’s not the one Memphis hopes for, and the Grizzlies need to rediscover some of the defensive toughness Memphis basketball has always been known for. The record matters, but it is not the only measure. Around 30 wins would represent progress. A Play-In appearance would require good health and faster-than-expected development. Forward movement from the new core, along with a signed lease renewal securing the franchise’s future in Memphis, would make the season feel worthwhile even without a postseason berth. Fans understand growing pains. They won’t accept uncertainty or premature declarations forever. What players say about identity, humility, and growth must eventually match what happens on the court. No one should expect this team to replace the previous era overnight. It does need to show that the next one has direction. If the young core stays healthy and improves, that will give Memphis a reason to believe again.

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S P O R T S B y Fr a n k M u r t a u g h

HEY YA’LL IT’S PANSY PLANTING TIME AND

Tigers Flexing Memphis football is thriving under its first-year coach.

A prove-it culture Following Saturday’s victory, Huff fielded a question about lifting the massive trophy of barbecue ribs that goes to the game’s winner. His response was spirited: “I came here for one trophy,” he said. “Until I get it, I’m not touching any other trophy. It may take me 10 years to get it, but I didn’t come here for the bones trophy. This is a new day. We are closing the gap. It could take us 100 years to do it, but that’s got to be the focus.” For a Memphis football coach to speak so directly — and defensively — about winning a national championship is, indeed, a new day in these parts. It could get gloriously awkward if the Tigers manage to win the American Conference title and Huff is offered, yes, a lesser trophy for the achievement. Win on a bad day But there’s no ambivalence about the The Tigers entered the UAB game aver- standard expected of Huff ’s players and aging 541 yards of offense per contest. staff. It’s the kind of culture that tends to They had 139 in the first half against be immune to long losing streaks. As for the second half of the season, all six of the Tigers’ remaining foes have at least two losses. But Tulane (this Friday in New Orleans) is never a picnic. Nor is traveling to play Navy (November 21st). But goals are within reach, including a coveted spot representing the “Group of Six” conferences in the College Football Playoff. You know, the tournament that includes that “one trophy” for the winner. Temperatures in Memphis seem to finally be cooling down. Just as the mercury for Tiger football PHOTO: WES HALE appears to be rising. Quarterback Marcus Stokes Stars have emerged Defensive end J’Mond Tapp draws double teams on virtually every snap of the ball, but he still forced a fumble and recovered another in the win over the Blazers. Hunter Tipton (19 catches for 367 yards) is among the best tight ends in the country and managed to score a touchdown last weekend (a one-yard rush) without catching a pass. Quarterback Marcus Stokes has proven to be a steady force, averaging 256 yards per game while tossing 16 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. Running back Jaylin Carter is averaging 107 yards per game on the ground and has reached the end zone nine times. It’s hard to imagine this group suffering a collective stumble.

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HALLORAN CENTRE LIVE MUSIC

THE ORCHESTRA UNPLUGGED: THE PLANETS

In the intimate setting of the Halloran Centre, Robert Moody uncovers the fascinating ideas and musical storytelling that make this work truly out of this world. Join Maestro Moody and members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in the lobby of the Halloran Centre to finish your evening with a coda of cocktails at the cash bar. Specialty cocktails, wine, and beer will be available as you extend your evening with the artists! OCTOBER 30 - 7:30 PM HALLORAN CENTRE

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the Blazers and trailed, 13-10. They didn’t look like the best team in the American Conference. They didn’t look like the best team in the Mid-South. Then they outscored UAB, 28-0. Coach Charles Huff emphasized the lack of “competitive discipline” Saturday night, sloppy penalties like running into the punter and spiking the football after a touchdown. He noted that such behavior catches up to a team when a strong opponent is on the opposite sideline. The Tigers didn’t play well in last year’s “Battle for the Bones” in Birmingham, and UAB won the game. Not this year.

NEWS & OPINION

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o far, so good. The University of Memphis football team reached the midpoint of its season with a win over UAB last Saturday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The Tigers are 5-1 and tied atop the American Conference (2-0) with North Texas and UTSA (teams Memphis will not play unless they meet in the league’s championship game on December 5th). Rewind 12 months, and Memphis was 6-0 halfway through the 2025 campaign before wobbling to an 8-5 finish. There are three reasons to believe such a late-fall faceplant is unlikely to happen again.

TICKETS AT

ORPHEUM-MEMPHIS.COM

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We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

A Festival for Creativity By Kimberly Ham

October 15-21, 2026

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. Now taking clients for Mended Therapy Group. Please go to the website for more details.

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She currently accepts most insurance plans. Self-pay is $125 for individual sessions

What if creativity weren’t something you had to be “good” at — but something you simply made time to explore? That’s the idea behind the inaugural Memphis Creativity Fest, taking place Saturday, October 17th, at Cossitt Library. Hosted by Memphis creative-community organization Like Really Creative in collaboration with the Memphis Public Library, the noon-to-3 p.m. festival is part of Like Really Creative’s CHARGED UP Creative Wellness Gathering series. The event is also part of Memphis’ inaugural Creativity Month, celebrated PHOTO: COURTESY ZACK ORSBORN throughout October. Zack Orsborn “Creativity is for Every Body” is the festival’s tagline, and founder Zack Orsborn wants attendees to take it literally. A former journalist who also writes fiction, Orsborn created the festival to bring Memphis’ many creative disciplines together while encouraging people to see creativity as part of their everyday well-being. “Creative wellness is inspiring people to internalize that everyone is creative, and that it is not a luxury but central to our health,” Orsborn says. Visitors can contribute to a community poem led by Memphis Poet Laureate Bria Saulsberry, add to a collaborative collage with Memphis artist Mary Jo Karimnia, try Creative Embodiment Yoga with Stephanie Gonzalez, or bring clothing to Cari’s Closet’s upcycling station. Something 2 Chew On, led by Meghan Tsitsuashvili, will offer mini art-play stations designed to encourage experimentation and laughter. The festival will also feature local art vendors, a collaborative playlist, and food and drinks from Wapos, Sabadito Café, and Comeback Coffee. For Orsborn, the goal isn’t to leave with a perfect finished product. It’s to make something, play, connect, and perhaps discover a new creative outlet along the way. “I try to create spaces where the creative process is highlighted rather than saying, ‘I need to have a finished product,’” he says. That makes Cossitt Library a fitting home for the festival. Orsborn credits libraries with providing him with a safe place to be creative while growing up in Mississippi, and he sees Memphis’ libraries as natural gathering places for experimentation and community. Whether you’re a longtime artist or someone who hasn’t made anything since elementary school, no skills are required. Come curious, try something new, and leave — Orsborn hopes — feeling a little more energized, alive, and willing to create. MEMPHIS CREATIVITY FEST 2026, COSSITT LIBRARY, 33 S. FRONT. ST., SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, NOON-3 P.M.

VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES October 15th - 21st Brittney Spencer Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center, Saturday, October 17, 7:30-9:15 p.m. Nashville singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer brings her soulful, genredefying sound to the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center. Known for her powerful vocals and vivid storytelling, Spencer blends country, soul, R&B, and rock on her critically acclaimed debut album, My Stupid Life. A seasoned touring musician who has performed alongside Willie Nelson, Brandi Carlile, and Jason Isbell, Spencer also made her Billboard Hot 100 debut as a featured artist on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. Comedian Lamon Flyway Brewing Co., Thursday, October 15, 8 p.m. Lamon, a Zanies Nashville regular

who got his start in stand-up in Memphis, brings his unique blend of disgruntled observations and folksy humor to The Pit Comedy Club at Flyway Brewing Co. Part of The Pit’s weekly Thursday-night comedy series featuring nationally touring and local comedians, Lamon has spent the past five years developing a relatable style that connects with audiences who are ready to laugh about life’s everyday annoyances. Memphis Mushroom Festival 2026 Overton Park Greensward, Saturday, October 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This festival returns for a free, community-powered celebration of mycology, sustainability, and reconnecting with nature. The festival brings together local cultivators, nature lovers, educators, and community members for a day of work-

shops, guided walks, cooking classes and tastings, drinks, shopping, and more. With a focus on sustainability, food freedom, and green wisdom, the event offers opportunities to learn about mushrooms and explore their role in a more connected, sustainable lifestyle. Halloween Hike 2026 Memphis Botanic Garden, Saturday, October 17, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Halloween Hike 2026 brings familyfriendly Halloween fun to Memphis Botanic Garden. Families can explore the Garden’s “Memphis Bootanic Garden” with not-so-spooky characters, hands-on activities, treats, and plenty of opportunities for kids to enjoy Halloween during the daytime. Costumes are encouraged, and food trucks will be on-site for a picnic lunch.

MUSIC By Alex Greene

‘I’m Full of Contradictions’ On Miss Melancholia!, Cyrena Wages flaunts her inner paradoxes.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

the self-empowerment of that homecoming epiphany and casting a wiser eye on both herself and those around her, in an intriguing voice somewhere between Lana Del Rey, Marianne Faithfull, and Patsy Cline. “I wrote this [album] as sort of my own armor,” she says. “And I also think in its most cynical moments, it kind of tells on itself. Like, maybe that’s where I’m also the most tender, you know? And both of those things are true for me.” Part of finding her more vulnerableyet-savvy voice involved experimenting with some new songwriting partners. “I didn’t necessarily think, ‘Okay, it’s time to make another record.’ I just think of it as, ‘I’ve got to keep writing.’ “So, when I lived in Nashville, I bartended for a long time with one of the girls in the band Boys Club for Girls, Amie Miriello, and after they opened for us one night, she was like, ‘I really want to write some stuff with you. I know this guy who I think would really get your sonic space. Why don’t you come meet him?’ That was Johnny Black. And, not even really knowing anything about Johnny, the first song we wrote, we all just had this moment of like, ‘Oh shit, this is something special.’” Moving quickly, Wages, Miriello, and Black began crafting demos, which ended up becoming the album’s master tracks. As Wages puts it, “We chased it down. Johnny was creating these insane tracks while we were writing, and then I was cutting the vocals that day, assuming I would go back later and redo them. And then he convinced me to just let them be raw, in the tone of where I was the day we wrote the song. And then the record just kind of made itself that way.” Cyrena Wages and band (Pat Fusco, Landon Moore, Joe Restivo, Jeremy Stanfill, and Shawn Zorn) celebrate her new album with a show at Hernando’s Hide-A-Way on Saturday, November 14th at 8 p.m.

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he cover of Cyrena Wages’ second album could be straight out of a grainy Brian De Palma B-movie from the ’70s: She stands before us in lacy nightclothes, arms uplifted as if drawn by some mesmerizing force, compelled to move inexorably toward it. Even the title, Miss Melancholia!, could be lifted straight from B-movie hell. It’s a perfect distillation of the album’s mood, ranging from foreboding, cinematic ballads, and anthems at the top to her earthier, Americana-tinged material by the end, like her classic, golden-age country ballad, “FAFO.” All are united by Wages’ clear-eyed look at people’s compulsions, blind spots, and obsessions as they blunder through the world. At the same time, it may well be that the various characters in Wages’ latest batch of songs are all different facets of herself. Indeed, she says, “Miss Melancholia!, I think, reflects an acceptance of not being what people bargained for. I think the truest thing I’ve figured out about myself is that I’m full of contradictions. In my first record, I was trying to resolve that, and in my second record I have realized I’m no longer interested in resolving that, and that contradiction is just my human experience.” Or, as she sings on the opening track “Wildflower,” “They’ll call me crazy, unhinged, fucking wild, but they keep calling me/When you’re finally alone with yourself, you’ll miss the chaos of my company.” And, she hints, with that chaos comes unpredictability: “You laid me down in a bed of roses/You’re waking up with a wildflower.” The song continues Wages’ knack for portraying relationships and solitary soul-searching alike in deft lyrical strokes, but this time around she has a newfound confidence. It’s now been over two years since she debuted with Vanity Project, the mood of which was dominated by Wages confronting her teen years spent competing on the Tennessee beauty pageant circuit, as she said at the time, “Walking around in a swimsuit with a number on your waist like a show horse, all while a bunch of weird old guys give you a score of one to 10.” If her debut summed up Wages’ rejection of that world, it also captured her rediscovery of the back roads around Millington, where she grew up, as the pageant world’s perfect foil. The new album finds her relaxing into

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CALENDAR of EVENTS: Oct. 15 - 21 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.

ARTS A N D S P EC I A L E X H I BI TS

C LASS/ WOR KSH OP

“Blues Power! Celebrating the Legacy of Albert King”

A limited-time photo exhibit honoring one of the most influential voices in blues history. Through Oct. 19.

Join farmer-florist Marisa MenderFranklin for a 90-minute workshop where you will learn the basics of wreath making and create your own dried wreath. Thursday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m.

STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC

MIDTOWN BRAMBLE & BLOOM

ART HA P P E N I N G S

COM EDY

“Monster Market X”: Opening Night Party

Mojo Brookzz - Outta Pocket Tour

Wild & Foraged Wreaths

The curated 2026 collection will feature art, decor, apparel, novelties, oddities, collectibles, and more from a carefully chosen list of 100+ spooky makers and strange artists. Friday, Oct. 16, 5 p.m.

PHOTO: COURTESY HOLTERMONSTER

Monster Market is back! This annual spooky pop-up experience is celebrating 10 years.

THE MEDICINE FACTORY

Get ready for a night of non-stop laughter! From the internet to the stage, Mojo Brookzz is a rising superstar taking comedy by storm. Saturday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 p.m. THE ORPHEUM THEATRE

DAN C E

B O O K E V E N TS

Memphis Sounds and Etowah Dinner Experience

COMM UN I T Y

Sheree Renee Thomas with Robert Gordon: The Tongue I Dream In

Hot Off the Wall Art Sale

This book of poems, stories, and essays draws together examples illustrating a mind immersed in Black legends and white myths, in the growing realization of our place in the world, and in the irresistible pull of the future. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m.

Discover and purchase original works by nationally celebrated and emerging artists during Hot Off the Wall, the Dixon’s annual art sale. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. | Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m.

DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS The NewNOVEL York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, August 22, 2019

Ballet Memphis presents Memphis Sounds, a celebration of the music and the creative energy of Memphis. Tickets include a performance at Playhouse on the Square and dinner at Ballet Memphis’ Midtown studios. Saturday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m. | Monday, Oct. 19, 2:00 p.m. PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE

FEST I VAL

Memphis Creativity Fest 2026

October 15-21, 2026

Crossword

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ACROSS 1 Gift from Jacob to Joseph, in the Bible 5 Projecting arm of a crane 8 Metropolitan address abbr. 13 Prefix with conservative 14 ___ Tesfaye, real name of singer The Weeknd 16 Sun deck? 17 Pet-friendly org. 18 They’re usually caught lying down 19 Hurdles for would-be G.P.s 20 Bouncer who can always spot a fake? 23 “Wicked cool!” 24 Cinephile’s channel 25 Fall of Troy escapee 28 Low-scoring soccer win

30 Backstory for TV’s Magnum?

59 Churchill’s successor in 1955 32 Egyptian 60 Hankering protector of tombs 61 Kazakhstan range 34 Go (for) 62 It’s nice when it’s 35 Advice for how forgiven the pope can reach out online? 63 Cold, cold drink 64 Surrealist Max 39 Nick or ding 65 Part of GPS: 41 Churchill’s Abbr. successor in 66 “One From the 1945 Heart” actress, 42 Statement before 1982 “… and that’s Canada!”? DOWN 46 Recruit 1 Democratic 50 Hindu protector politico Julián of the universe 2 Harry Potter, e.g. 51 Triage pro, for 3 Consent (to) short 4 Détente 52 French 101 5 Where cats play? pronoun 6 Letter-shaped 53 Certain people construction prefer their piece computer specialists to be 7 “Hold my ___” attractive? (words before a foolish act) 57 Bean harvested 8 Money paid to by the Aztecs get more money 9 Hollywood star ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE whose birth name is Alfredo F O U R M A T S P H A S E C O N E E M I T H O L L A 10 Acquire midseason, as C H O C O L A T E D R I E R a sports team P I T S L R S A B E L might R E P R E S E N T A T I V E 11 What “!” N I N E A M A R I S E can mean in computer A C E S E A T I N T O programming B E D E R R A N D S E E K 12 Post-regulation T E A M U S A S Y N E periods, for short Y O U L L R A T E D G 15 Pitcher Dock P E N N Y D R E A D F U L S Ellis claimed to have used this E L S E S U V S A P E before throwing a A L I S T L A N D R O V E R no-hitter in 1970 R A D I O E D E N R E P O 21 1986 music S T E N O S E R A S L A W memoir

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RiverArtsFest: Celebrating 20 Years

RiverArtsFest returns to the Memphis riverfront, celebrating its 20th anniversary with a weekend of art, music, and interactive experiences. Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. | Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.

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A free day to make, create, and play. Enjoy the inaugural Memphis Creativity Fest that celebrates creativity in all shapes and forms. Free. Saturday, Oct. 17, 12 p.m.

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Directed by Robert Eggers, The Witch draws upon period accounts and colonial folklore to create a meticulously crafted tale of religious terror, repression, and supernatural evil. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.

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The Heart & Soul of Magic

Featuring an all-African American cast, this show is a blend of magic, comedy, and psychological illusions that create an immersive experience for all ages. Saturday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m. HALLORAN CENTRE

PUZZLE BY MATTHEW SEWELL

22 Lummox 26 Whats next? 27 Canine command 29 Service site for many a vet 30 Light airs 31 Doubter’s question 33 One looking for a match? 35 Biometric reading 36 What B and C (but not A) may represent 37 Starbucks size

38 Long-bodied predator 39 Sister channel of VH1 40 Yellowfin tuna 43 Nautical chart markings 44 Deepest, as feelings 45 Refuse to settle 47 College town located, appropriately, near Ulysses, N.Y. 48 Oklahoma athlete

49 Half-laugh 51 Just make it 54 Showed the way 55 Shakespearean warning word 56 Bit of kindling 57 “That’s my ___!” 58 Abbr. on a music score

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

T H EAT ER

Eureka Day

A critically acclaimed comedy-satire stage play written by playwright Jonathan Spector. Friday, Oct. 16, 8 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m. | Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m. THEATREWORKS

Soul of the City: Elmwood Obscura Elmwood’s residents rise once more to tell their stories. Some may leave you pondering history, legend, and what’s lurking just beyond the veil. Friday, Oct. 16, 5 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 17, 5 p.m. ELMWOOD CEMETERY

Thom Pain (based on nothing)

This is a one-man show starring Tony Isbell, a 2018 recipient of the Eugart W. Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award. Friday, Oct. 16, 8 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m. | Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m. EVERGREEN THEATER

Saturday, November 7th 10am-4pm Crosstown Concourse PRESENTED BY

FEATURING

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Discover one-of-a-kind gifts from a curated collection of the very best local artists & makers, sip craft brews, and soak up the holiday spirit in the heart of Midtown.

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* t E K R A M Y A D I L O *H

FOR MORE INFO: MEMPHISCRAFTSANDDRAFTS.COM 15

MEMPH IS’S Raising the Bar

BES TE

FOOD By Michael Donahue

Chef Erik Waldkirch gets to work.

rik Waldkirch wants to help raise the bar at Bar Keough. The recently-hired executive chef at the bar/restaurant at 247 Cooper Street is working with manager Chris Hawkins, bartender/cook Colleen Couch, and the staff to “add a level of greatness to Memphis, food wise.” This isn’t about “me coming in guns blazing,” Waldkirch says. “We’re all meeting each other where we are, and growing together.” Waldkirch, 54, is impressed with owner Kevin Keough. “I really like his attitude. I really like his outlook on some things,” says Waldkirch. “I told him, ‘Hey, look. If I can come here and make a difference, help push more food out of here, get you on the map a little bit more, then let’s just do it.’” Growing up with his German parents in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Waldkirch ate a lot of latkes and other potato and sauerkraut dishes. But he was particularly fascinated with his mother’s bread-making skills. “I’d sit in front of the oven and watch bread bake. And I’d learn how to bake bread from her. “It was just a thing for me. I was a very visual kind of hands-on type of person. It was more interesting to me to go learn how to tie a fishing knot than to go read a book. Let’s go build something.” As a latchkey kid, Waldkirch “built” what he wanted to eat. Like making a sandwich “out of condiments.” When he was 15, Waldkirch got his first job loading and unloading trucks at a big catering company. “I was always in and out of the kitchen. Maybe in a year or so they started having me do things like peeling potatoes.” And he always kept an eye on what the chefs were cooking. After a year of college, Waldkirch moved to Silverthorne, Colorado, where he got a job in the lodge restaurant at Keystone Ski Resort. “I was pretty much clueless when it came to working in a restaurant,” he says. “They put me in this pantry. So, I started doing cold food stuff.” Later, while working at The Accomac Inn in York, Pennsylvania, Waldkirch noticed that the chefs had gone to prestigious culinary schools. So, he enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in New York. “I went there with so many questions, and a lack of awareness of so much.” But, he says, “I actually loved being in a school that made sense to me.” And, he adds, “My interest in what I was doing

BA O RESTAUR ANT

TOA N THAN KS

October 15-21, 2026

YO U COME VISIT US AT CROSSTO WN CONCOUR SE

1350 Concours e Ave Ste 165, Memphis , TN 38104 (901) 695-1265

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@BAOTO ANMEMP HIS

really drove my ability to learn. I was talking to the chefs and I was interested in what they were talking about. And I wanted to learn more.” Waldkirch got to “observe and assist” when he staged at the now-closed Lespinasse in the St. Regis Hotel in New York. “The rubber started hitting the road just watching bones fly, doing stuff that was being built on 1,000-degree flat tops in one-quart copper saucepans at light speed.” When he worked under a French chef for the first time at Old Drovers Inn in upstate New York, his cooking career “really started to take hold.” He then moved to Chicago, where he worked at the Four Seasons restaurant. Waldkirch moved to Memphis, where his ex-wife is from, 24 years ago. He was a chef at Caritas Village before opening up his own catering business, Maximillian’s, and then becoming executive chef at The Half Shell.

PHOTO: MICHAEL DONAHUE

Chris Hawkins, Colleen Couch, Erik Waldkirch He moved to Bar Keough a month ago. “These are food people,” he says. “So there’s building excitement. Lots of conversations about food are happening.” Couch develops a menu around the music she features every other week at “Mixtape Mondays.” She and Waldkirch recently featured New Orleans-themed food, including duck gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets with Bananas Foster cream. Waldkirch also did the food for Bar Keough’s recent Oktoberfest. Harking back to his childhood, the fare included potato pancakes with apple cranberry compote as well as bratwurst with German potato salad and braised red cabbage. He wants Bar Keough to offer food that will delight the customers. “Once the door opens, that’s showtime: great service, great appearance, great specials, attention to customers, attention to details.”

SPIRITS By Andria Lisle and Kathleen Murray

Hard Cider, Soft Fall

PHOTO: COURTESY SHACKSBURY CIDER

We cracked open Shacksbury Rosé Cider (5.5% ABV) first. Made in Vermont with organic apples and wine grapes, it’s tart, dry, and pleasantly funky, with enough apple character to keep it from becoming merely a pretty pour. Original Sin’s Original Apple Cider (6% ABV) takes the straight-and-narrow approach. Made in New York state, it’s unapologetically apple-forward, crisp, and refreshing, without bells and whistles. If you want your cider to taste unmistakably like fermented apples, this gets you there. We found Shacksbury Classic (5.2% ABV) hits the spot. Dry but approachable, it strikes a nice balance between acidity and fruit, making a convincing case for cider as a dinner drink rather than merely

the autumnal cousin of flavored seltzer. Diskin’s Lil’ Blondie (5.6% ABV), a semi-sweet Southern cider, is made in Nashville. We felt obligated to give it a fair trial. It leans sweeter without becoming cloying, with enough acidity to keep things in check. It’s a good choice if you like your cider with a little less bite. And then there was Wölffer No. 139 Dry Rosé Cider (6.9% ABV). Crisp, dry, and polished enough to feel at home at a dinner party. Made in the Hamptons with dessert apples and wine yeast, it arrives in a pink-striped bottle that practically demands a place setting. How fancy! The biggest takeaway from our tasting: Cider doesn’t have to be intensely sweet or aggressively flavored to be interesting. The best examples occupy a useful middle ground: enough apple taste to be recognizable, enough acidity to keep things lively, and enough dryness to make you want another sip. That balance also makes cider surprisingly food-friendly. It can handle salty snacks, cheese, sandwiches, and the sort of vaguely autumnal dinner you might make when temps finally drop below 70. We only sampled five out of hundreds of ciders, so we won’t pretend there was a definitive winner. Our conclusion: What works on a hot afternoon isn’t necessarily what you want with dinner. Cider doesn’t need to replace beer, wine, or cocktails. But it’s useful when you want something lighter, fruitier, and seasonal without tasting like the candle aisle at Target. Especially in Memphis, where fall may mean 82 degrees and a slight breeze. In other words: Cider is the denim jacket of booze. It goes with just about everything. Our Shopping List for Fall Ciders • The Dry Cider: Shacksbury Classic For drinkers who’d rather taste apples than sweetness. Crisp, dry, and lively. • Most Likely to Get You in Trouble: Diskin’s Lil’ Blondie A little sweeter without going completely candy-apple. So easy to drink you can forget it’s alcoholic. • Most Likely to Be Served at a Soccer Mom Tailgate: Wölffer Dry Rosé Pretty in the twist-off bottle, but more importantly, actually interesting to drink. • Most Likely to Drink Again: Shacksbury Rosé Tart, dry, funky, and the one that made us reach for another pour. • Most Likely to Pound on the Porch: Original Sin Uncomplicated and eminently drinkable. For when you’re having guests and don’t need to make a production out of it.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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all in Memphis is mostly a matter of faith. The calendar says October, but the thermometer may still hover around 80, and “sweater weather” can mean turning the air conditioner down a couple of degrees. That makes hard cider a particularly good fall drink here. Cider works just as well on an 80-degree afternoon as it does on an actual cool evening. Up north, hard-cider descriptors tend to involve flannel shirts, wool blankets, and nights beside a roaring fire. Down here, cider is more like a denim jacket: dependable, versatile, and best enjoyed when the heat index remains in double digits. So as soon as October rolled around (with highs around 93°F that week), we hit a few liquor stores, rounded up some hard ciders, and tasted our way through them. Most were crisp and dry; others were considerably sweeter. In the interest of fairness, we’ll acknowledge that cider comes in flavors beyond apple. As purists, however, we reserve the right not to care.

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Drinking the season, when October comes with air conditioning.

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MIDGET WRESTLING E WARRIORS

Spooky Psychology

October allows us to immerse ourselves in the mysterious.

NOVEMBER 7 | 7PM

October 15-21, 2026

TICKETS:

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very October, something curious happens. People who spend most of the year grounded firmly in the practical suddenly find themselves drawn to the mysterious. Haunted houses fill up, ghost tours sell out, and even the most skeptical among us pause when the wind rattles a windowpane. We call it “spooky season,” but beneath the costumes and candy lies a deeper truth: October awakens our fascination with the unknown. This pull toward mystery isn’t new. Humans have always been storytellers, and some of our oldest stories revolve around things we can’t explain. Long before science could illuminate the world, people used imagination to fill the gaps. Even now, with all our modern knowledge, we still crave that sense of wonder. October simply gives us permission to indulge it. Part of the appeal is psychological. As the days shorten and evenings cool, our environment shifts in ways we can feel but can’t control. The natural world becomes a little quieter, a little darker, a little more dramatic. That change stirs something ancient in us. We’re wired to notice transitions, and autumn is one of the year’s most striking. The atmosphere itself becomes a storyteller, whispering that the world is not as predictable as we pretend. Spooky season also taps into a very human desire: the thrill of safe fear. Most people don’t actually want danger, but they do enjoy the rush that comes from flirting with it. A scary movie, a ghost story, or a walk through a haunted attraction lets us explore fear without real risk. It’s a controlled environment where our hearts race, our senses sharpen, and we feel vividly alive. In a world where so much of our daily routine is predictable, that jolt of adrenaline can feel refreshing. But there’s more to it than excitement. The unknown invites us to stretch our imagination. When we listen to a ghost story or wonder what might be hiding in the shadows, we’re engaging with possibility. Not necessarily belief — just possibility. What if? What else? What lies beyond what we can measure or prove? These questions aren’t about superstition; they’re about curiosity. And curiosity is one of the most powerful forces in human nature. October also gives us space to explore the parts of ourselves we usually keep tucked away. The themes of spooky season — mystery, darkness, transformation — mirror the inner work many people begin as the year winds down. We start reflecting on what we’ve experienced, what we’ve avoided, and what we still hope to understand. The unknown becomes

a metaphor for the unexplored corners of our own minds. When we lean into spooky season, we’re not just confronting imaginary ghosts; we’re acknowledging the real uncertainties that shape our lives. There’s a communal aspect, too. Spooky season is one of the few times when people openly share their strange experiences — those odd moments, eerie coincidences, or unexplained feelings that they might not mention in July. Whether or not we interpret those moments the same way, the act of sharing them builds connection. It reminds us that everyone, at some point, has brushed up against something they can’t quite explain. The unknown becomes a shared language.

PHOTO: DANIIL USTINOV | UNSPLASH

Perhaps that’s the heart of it. The unknown is universal. You don’t have to believe in ghosts to appreciate a good ghost story. You don’t have to think the veil is thin to enjoy the feeling of mystery in the air. It’s simply about allowing ourselves to step outside the ordinary and remember that life still holds surprises. In a world that often demands certainty, October suggests uncertainty has its own kind of magic. The unknown isn’t something to fear but something to explore. So as the season settles in, enjoy the thrill, the stories, the shiver that runs down your spine when the wind catches just right. It’s not just about being scared. It’s about remembering that the world is bigger, stranger, and more wondrous than we sometimes allow ourselves to believe. Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here’s a hypothesis worth entertaining: You don’t fully know everything you want. Not yet. Not at the core, where desire isn’t well-behaved but turns wild and intense. Your fluency with surface desire can sometimes keep you from excavating the mysteries that live below it. The familiar longings override the stranger, stronger ones that haven’t found their bearings. So there are aspects of your primal yearnings that remain unexamined, simply because they require a particular stillness and courage to unearth completely. The good news: Now is an unusually favorable time to go looking. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Is your mental agility a gift or curse? It depends on whether you use it to avoid taking a stand or else deepen your understanding. In the coming weeks, Gemini, I hope you will practice the cagey skill of holding multiple truths simultaneously without letting that multiplicity become an excuse for never choosing or never committing. The goal is to encourage your magnificent mind to serve your heart rather than to override its tender wisdom. I love it when you unleash your clever analysis and it doesn’t devolve into sophisticated evasion. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Astronomers searching for planets around distant stars rarely see the planets directly. Instead, they notice tiny wobbles in the stars or faint dips in their brightness as the planets pass in front of them. You can and should practice a similar art now. Dramatic evidence may be unavailable, so watch for subtle shifts in mood, timing, synchronicity, and atmosphere. Small disturbances may reveal important hidden influences. Your most useful discoveries won’t come from looking harder but from noticing more gently. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Glassblowers repeatedly place molten glass into blazing furnaces as they shape it. They don’t heat it once and expect it to stay pliable

forever. Again and again, they return it to the fire so new possibilities become available. This reminds me of the current chapter of your life story, Leo. Emotional intensity keeps recurring, repeatedly returning you to the heart of the heat and pressure. This may sometimes feel like a test or ordeal, but I think it’s the best way for you to master the crucial lessons and ensure the healing transformations. Be patient as you forge your masterpiece. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Master storytellers know that memorable heroes are admired because they continue moving despite uncertainty. Courage entails a resilient and affectionate partnership with doubt. I hope you’ll remember this if your confidence temporarily flickers in the coming weeks. There’s no need to waste precious energy trying to eliminate every hesitation before taking your next meaningful step. Let your questions accompany your convictions. They may sharpen your judgment. The coming weeks favor brave, thoughtful action, not flawless self-assurance. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Not so long ago, you got hints and clues that you were on the verge of getting a taste of tantalizing and off-limits treats. Weren’t you ready to accept when the invitation suddenly dissolved? And by now, haven’t you nearly stopped expecting to enjoy another chance? Then imagine your surprise if that temptation winds its way back to you soon. When you finally take a bite, it may taste and feel nothing like you anticipated. The wisest move will be to let go of your old assumptions and welcome the experience as it is. My prediction: You’ll be delightedly surprised by how deeply and sweetly it alters the way you understand reality — even if at first it feels disorienting. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your upcoming challenges call to mind a feat once accomplished by conservationist and entertainer Steve Irwin. No, you won’t, as he did, feed a huge crocodile by hand while holding an infant in your other arm. But you may need to bring together qualities that seem at odds: fierceness and tenderness, a wild spirit and a protective instinct, boldness and love. Luckily, I am very sure you will summon the power and flair to do that. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ecologists have found that transition zones, like where forests meet meadows or where land meets water, can support high biodiversity. They may include species from both neighboring habitats as well as species adapted to the distinctive conditions in the boundary zone. I propose we make these places your power metaphor for

the coming weeks, Capricorn. You, too, can flourish in edge habitats. Instead of feeling compelled to choose one identity, community, philosophy, or style, appreciate your role as a translator between worlds. Your greatest gifts may emerge because you refuse to belong exclusively to any single camp. Revel in your fertile in-between-ness. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): After pondering what might bring fresh vigor to your love life, I’ve arrived at an audacious suggestion: Offer a smoldering prayer while making love to a saintly soul in a place you regard as sacred. If that combination proves impractical, try just one or two parts of it: Pray wildly during an intimate encounter; flirt with or even seduce a person of uncommon goodness; kiss and hug and cuddle in a setting that feels holy to you; or speak to the divine in a titillating language you wouldn’t use in a formal religious service. The point is to let sensual delight and spiritual longing meet rather than keeping them apart. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You sometimes regard pleasure like a reward you have to earn through suffering, as if joy were a luxury item requiring payment in pain. But I have an alternate theory: Relaxed glee and earthy enjoyments are essential nutrients that are key to your health. So in my view, denying yourself beauty and comfort depletes you. I hope you will heed my guidance in the coming weeks, which is to treat yourself to almost more fun, happiness, bliss, and amusement than is allowed by law. See if you can break all previous records for rejuvenating delectation. New law of your universe, at least for the next four weeks: The quest for jovial gusto and zesty zeal are mandatory aspirations.

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Before Aries-born Maya Angelou became a celebrated author, she was San Francisco’s first Black female streetcar conductor, a calypso dancer, a cook, a journalist in Ghana, and an actress. She didn’t publish her first memoir until she was 41. She spoke six languages and refused to believe that any single identity could contain her. I offer her as your role model in the coming weeks, Aries. It’s time to celebrate the wondrous truth that you don’t have to be just one thing. In fact, the astrological omens suggest you’ll thrive by rejoicing in the many disparate selves you are and have been and imagining new ones you might like to add. How kaleidoscopic do you dare to be?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): One morning soon, I predict you will open your inner eyes as well as your outer eyes and discover that you feel freer than you have in ages. Old specters that once pestered you will seem strangely powerless. Worn-out customs will have loosened their hold, and an ancient obligation will finally be settled. By some grace that neither you nor I can quite explain, at least some of the chains you fashioned in your own mind will have fallen away. What then? Celebrate! Host a personal “Out of Captivity” party, and give yourself a day or two to revel in your newfound liberty. Once you’re ready to make purposeful use of that delightful independence, ask yourself: “Where in my life do I most need a clean beginning?”

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TV By Kailynn Johnson

High School Hell Mike Flanagan’s Carrie transforms high school into the ultimate house of horror.

W

ithin minutes of meeting Summer H. Howell as Carrietta “Carrie” White, I was telling my friends how adorable she is. I might’ve even deemed her a “cutie patootie.” But at the same time, I realized this Amazon Prime limited series likely won’t be the “faithful” adaptation fans have longed for. At the crux of Stephen King’s novel is a bullied and conventionally unattractive high school girl. Some purists even took issue with Sissy Spacek’s iconic performance as Carrie in Brian De Palma’s 1976 film adaptation. But as the credits rolled on the last episode of Mike Flanagan’s (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep) miniseries, I reached my own conclusion: I didn’t care. I loved every minute of it. Does the quality of an adaptation rest solely on how faithful it is to its original work? I don’t think so. Flanagan has successfully reimagined a text from 1974 for a 2026 audience. He modernizes the story, emphasizing one of the

PHOTO: COURTESY AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

most horrific deSummer H. Howell as Carrie White cisions in recent history: allowing smartphones in high schools. Carrie’s main story beats are still there. She’s still an overly sheltered teenager. She’s taunted and pelted with tampons when she gets her mother. With the intervention of social first period in gym class. And she is, of services looming over the two, Carrie is course, telekinetic. Unfortunately for thrust into the treachery of high school. her, this is all documented by a sinister social media page under the name “CarThe perils of adolescent life can be rieRed.” The page taunts not only Carrie, hard to portray without turning key but everyone at Ewen High School. players into caricatures. The cartoonishCarrie and her mother, Margaret (Saly evil nature of King’s characters could mantha Sloyan), are discovered hiding in lead to high camp. Carrie succeeds a prayer closet after the death of patriarch where shows like Riverdale faltered — Ralph White (Tahmoh Penikett). The imagining a world plagued by the perils Whites, up until Ralph’s death, lived off the of adolescence with a supernatural flair. Flanagan’s art doesn’t lean into soapy grid, and were known as a “cult of three.” teen dramas, nor does it make way for Carrie had been homeschooled by her

cartoonish or camp villains. This Carrie features a villain more evil than any movie monster, Christine “Chris” Hargensen (Alison Thornton). Where Carrie’s stress and anger are released through telekinesis, Chris finds release in cruelty. Unbeknownst to her peers, a onceaffluent Chris is dealing with her parents’ pending divorce. Her father, an influential lawyer, is also facing financial woes — which threatens the possibility of Chris going to Duke University with her

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TV By Kailynn Johnson is the catalyst for Carrie’s infamous breakdown, you ultimately yearn for the reckoning — somewhat siding with Margaret despite her flaws. Her shortcomings are still evident, and at times glaring. But Sloyan brings such depth to Margaret that she can’t easily be written off as solely antagonistic. Flanagan’s miniseries is a great October treat. Carrie asks the viewer to reckon with new and at times confusing emotions that no previous iterations sparked. But the central question of whether Carrie is a monster or hero still remains. Is her revenge a self-serving act of vengeance, or is it the result of a powerful telepath having a garden variety teenage meltdown? That’s up to you to decide. Carrie is streaming on Amazon Prime.

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best friend Sue Snell (Siena Agudong). Sue, asked by her mother to watch out for and be kind to Carrie, is meant to be the more compassionate and endearing one of the pair, but she’s quite passive, and even a bit annoying at times. That’s the beauty of Flanagan’s Carrie, though. Eight episodes open the door for nuance, with more fleshed-out characters. Margaret White is probably the best example of this. She is the most obvious villain, being solely defined by religious fundamentalism. Sloyan’s Margaret still shudders at the thought of sexual immorality (and now aspartame), but her inclination to protect her daughter from the world can sometimes be endearing. Margaret becomes an integral part in Chris’ takedown, which culminates in her ban from prom. Though this

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THE LAST WORD By Michael Donahue

Beifuss Retires The veteran journalist has left The Commercial Appeal. After a 45-year newspaper career in Memphis, John Beifuss retired October 1st from The Commercial Appeal (CA), where he worked most of those years. He covered everything, but he was mostly known for his movie coverage, which included reviews of commercial films as well as Indie Memphis and other local and area film-related events. For many years, CA readers tried to out-predict him on who was going to win the Academy Awards that year for the “Beat Beifuss at the Oscars” annual feature. Beifuss loves horror and gory movies. Like, really gory movies. I accompanied him to many previews of some of the most grisly films I’ve ever seen. Some still stick in my mind, dammit. Beifuss was the recipient of the 2016 Indie Memphis Vision Award. He was also in a movie, playing a dad who drank a pureed dead-fish milkshake in the PHOTO (ABOVE): COURTESY PEGGY BURCH independent film, What I Love About Concrete. Michael Donahue and John Beifuss I met Beifuss, a journalism graduate of with the late Deborah Dubois Northwestern University, at the old afternoon paper, at the Memphis Press-Scimitar;; the Memphis Press-Scimitar, where he began working (RIGHT): COURTESY JOHN BEIFUSS in 1981. I still regard Beifuss, who I consider one John Beifuss of my closest friends, to be one of the best daily newspaper writers in Memphis. He could do everything from brilliant, colorful feature stories, including human interest pieces, to “hard news,” which included fires, murders, car accidents, and other topics. While most of us resorted to tape recorders at some point, Beifuss rarely used one. He usually just interviewed everybody and wrote it down on those narrow newspaper notepads. He could just get it right doing it that way. Why resort to technology? He also wrote a children’s book, Armadillo Ray, which was published by Chronicle Books. It was illustrated by Peggy Turley, who created the character. I asked Beifuss to tell me some of the most memorable stories he had to write. These included the Shannon Street Massacre, the St. Jude hostage crisis in the 1980s, the Sundance Film Festival premieres of Craig Brewer and Ira Sachs, and area productions of films by Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, and Alejandro Iñárritu. He also wrote beautiful obituaries for my brother and my father — a very special bond we share. I remember at one point at the Press-Scimitar when Beifuss was going to quit and go traveling in Paris, France. I let him know what I’d heard about the paper’s plans for him. They loved him. He ended up staying. I hope he doesn’t hold that against me. Beifuss has been telling people, “I’ll show you how to do retirement.” So, stay tuned. I have a feeling he’s going to continue doing some writing. He bought his own laptop (no longer using one that belonged to the CA) this week. Michael Donahue, a veteran journalist who every Flyer reader should be familiar with by now, worked alongside John Beifuss for several years.

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“I still regard Beifuss ... to be one of the best daily newspaper writers in Memphis.”

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