JANICE GRISSOM ELLISON, KAREN MILAM, DON MYNATT, TAMMY NASH, RANDY ROTZ, LEWIS TAYLOR, WILLIAM WIDEMAN Distribution
KENNETH NEILL Founding Publisher
THE MEMPHIS FLYER is published weekly by Contemporary Media, Inc., P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 Phone: (901) 521-9000 Fax: (901) 521-0129 memphisflyer.com
CONTEMPORARY MEDIA, INC.
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JEFFREY GOLDBERG Chief Revenue Officer
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KRISTIN PAWLOWSKI Digital Services Director
What is Love?
A deep dive into Gen Z’s evolving ideas of Valentine’s Day,
PHOTO: KRYSTION PEGUES
The Taming of the Shrew
Roles are flipped in this modern vision of the Shakespeare classic. p18
PHOTO: JOEY MILLER, COURTESY TENNESSEE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Mother/Daughter Obsessions
Tea, food, dance, and fitness — what we’re loving right now. p23
PHOTO: COURTESY PATRICIA LOCKHART
fly-by
MEM ernet
Memphis on the internet.
POOR DOG
You just can’t kick a dog, a small dog at that. But that’s just what a U.S. marshal did in Memphis last week, serving a warrant as a part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
e video spread like wild re across social media. e act crossed a line for many in the comments. Amid everything else the Task Force has done here, many people thought kicking a small, seemingly harmless dog was low down.
SUPER BOWL MVP
Memphis native Kenneth Walker III was named MVP of Super Bowl LX. e former Arlington High School standout and now Seattle Seahawks running back led his team to a 2913 victory over the New England Patriots.
TSUNAMI
“Rising costs across the board and a gradual decline in business has led me to the conclusion that this is no longer a sustainable business model for Tsunami restaurant,” owner and chef Ben Smith said in a Facebook message last week. “A er much deep introspection and consultation with my attorney and accountant, I’ve decided to close the restaurant permanently.”
{WEEK THAT WAS
By Flyer staff
Questions, Answers + Attitude
Edited by Toby Sells
Ford, Guns, & Voting
A county commissioner resigns, a permit bill fails, and a state website snafu worries pols.
GUN PERMIT BILL FAILS
Legislation that would have allowed local governments to decide if gun owners need a permit failed in the Tennessee Senate.
On Tuesday, the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee voted down the idea. e bill, introduced by Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) would have given county governments the authority “not to permit” people from carrying handguns without the proper permit through the passage of a resolution.
e legislation would’ve required the appropriate body to notify residents of the resolution by postings in “conspicuous public locations throughout the county.”
“In counties experiencing certain challenges, we would like them to decide if they require a carry permit within those counties through resolution to try to mitigate many of the gun violence and gun deaths we’re seeing in the state of Tennessee,” Lamar said.
Lamar said her proposed legislation was in response to the rise in gun violence across the state.
LYNCHING SITES REVIEW
Lynching sites in the Memphis area will be evaluated by the National Park Service (NPS) for potential inclusion in the National Park System.
Memphis Rep. Steve Cohen (D-9) introduced the legislation to start the review in 2022. His o ce worked closely with the Lynching Sites Project of Memphis and the Tennessee Historical Commission to determine the sites listed in the bill.
Congress authorized the review in 2023. From there, the park system had three years to deliver a report on the sites. e report will guide federal lawmakers as they decide whether the lynching sites should be added to the National Park System. If so, those same lawmakers would decide how to proceed — a new park, a historical site, designated with historic markers, no action, or other choices.
Seven of the lynchings under review occurred in Memphis and Shelby County. Another took place in Brownsville. e NPS is also searching a 100-mile radius around Memphis for other lynching sitesnot yet listed in the project.
FORD RESIGNS COMMISSION SEAT
Edmund Ford Jr. formally resigned his seat on the Shelby County Commission, the board announced last week, a er he pled guilty in federal court on charges of tax evasion. e resignation is part of Ford’s plea related to a scheme in which he used his commission seat to push for grants for nonpro ts. He would then contract with those nonpro ts through his tech company. e board said it received Ford’s resignation last Monday.
“In accordance with Shelby County procedures and state law, the board will take the necessary steps to appoint a new representative to serve the residents of District 9,” reads a statement from the commission.
VOTING SITE FIXED
An issue preventing voters from verifying their registration status on a state website Tuesday was caused by human error and has been xed, according to a spokesperson from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Elections Division.
Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer raised concerns over the issue in a social media post last week. Dozens of people reported that they too checked their voter registration status on the state’s tnmap. tn.gov lookup form and received a troubling message: “No record was found.”
Tennessee Lookout contributed to this report. Visit the News Blog at memphis yer.com for fuller versions of these stories and more local news.
PHOTOS: (ABOVE) KAREN PULFER FOCHT |TENNESSEE LOOKOUT; (BELOW) SHELBY COUNTY COMMISSION (above) Human error made it impossible to verify one’s voter registration status on a state website; (below) Edmund Ford Jr.
Rise of Dot the Bot? {
Robots could soon deliver your DoorDash.
Tennessee DoorDash customers could soon have their orders delivered by robots.
e Tennessee Senate’s Transportation and Safety committee voted last week to advance a bill that would allow “autonomous delivery robots” on sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, parking lots, and roadways.
As introduced, the bill allows for these personal delivery devices to operate at up to 20 miles per hour.
ese devices are de ned as those being powered by electric motors, operating primarily on sidewalks and crosswalks with the purpose of delivering goods, and having autonomous control.
“[ e bill] does not mandate deployment into any community, but it leverages autonomous technology for short distance deliveries, and can help merchants meet rising demand while serving customers better and creating new opportunities for everyone,” Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) said.
STATE WATCH
By Kailynn Johnson
Current law allows these devices to move in pedestrian areas up to 10 miles per hour, however local governments can decide if they are allowed in the interest of public safety. Local governments would still be able to regulate the devices if passed.
Massey explained that local governments may exercise a “yes, but” policy, saying the devices can operate, but may exercise discretion on any roads or streets that may be prohibited.
To be operable, the device would have to meet requirements such as yielding or not obstructing the rightof-way to all other tra c, including pedestrians, not interfering with tra c or pedestrians, and having lighting on both the front and rear.
e devices would not be able to operate on interstates.
Food delivery service DoorDash is a proponent of the bill, as the company seeks to integrate its new delivery service, Dot, into the state.
“Dot is the rst commercial autonomous delivery robot to seamlessly navigate bike lanes, roads,
CHANGE STARTS TODAY.
and sidewalks, and is purpose-built for local commerce,” DoorDash said.
Brent Westcott, director of public policy development at DoorDash, was present at the hearing to speak in support of the bill. He said demand for local delivery has grown in the state with nearly 12,000 Tennessee-based businesses on the app as of December 2024.
He said Dot was introduced as a way to address increasing demand.
“Safety is, and will remain, our top priority as we deploy this technology,” Westcott said. “Dot uses leading autonomous technology to ensure it can safely navigate neighborhood streets.”
DoorDash said nearly 12,000 Tennessee restaurants use the app.
e director added that Dot is also subject to human monitoring and intervention. He a rmed the company’s commitment to working with state and local governments to ensure the responsible deployment of Dot.
Westcott said the company had not encountered any “safety critical incidents” in the states that Dot currently operates in.
IT STARTS WITH
Ready To Join The Movement?
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PHOTO: DOORDASH Dot can navigate streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
VIEWPOINT By Sharon Brown
Farewell, Jaren
A look back on his impact, growth, and legacy beyond basketball.
Memphis does not rush its goodbyes. It sits with them — letting the feeling settle before deciding what it means.
So when Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to the Utah Jazz, the reaction across the city was not outrage or disbelief. It was quieter. Heavier. The kind of pause that comes when a place understands it is losing more than a player, even if it understands the business well enough to know why.
Jackson did not simply play for the Memphis Grizzlies. Over time, he became part of the city’s rhythm. Familiar. Dependable. Present. His absence will eventually be measured in defensive schemes and lineup adjustments, but it will first be felt in subtler ways, the routines fans did not realize they had come to expect.
He arrived in Memphis young, immensely talented, and unfinished. A teenager drafted on the assumption that growth would come quickly. Instead, his early years unfolded unevenly. Foul trouble interrupted flow. Injuries disrupted momentum. Development refused to follow a straight line. Memphis watched all of it, often impatiently, but always closely.
This city understands pressure. It understands what it feels like to be judged before being understood. Jackson did not resist that environment. He stayed inside it. He worked through it. Over time, that choice earned him something that cannot be demanded or rushed. Trust.
On the court, the 26-year-old’s evolution reshaped the franchise. The Grizzlies’ defensive identity became inseparable from Jackson’s timing and instincts. He altered shots without touching them. He influenced decisions before they were fully formed. Opponents felt his presence even when his name never appeared in a highlight package. He did the work that does not always announce itself.
The league eventually caught up. Jackson became the second Grizzlies player to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, joining Marc Gasol in franchise history. He earned multiple NBA All Defensive Team selections and was named a two-time NBA All Star, recognition that reflected his growth into a complete twoway force rather than a specialist anchored to one end of the floor.
But Memphis never needed trophies to validate him. What fans remember most did not always happen in the box score, but often the moments in between. The brief stops for photos. The autographs when time allowed. The way he never carried himself like someone too important to acknowledge the people who supported
him. Not every interaction was documented, and not every story can be traced, but the pattern became familiar. Jackson was present in a way fans noticed, and that presence mattered.
That understanding extended beyond basketball. Jackson called Memphis home, not as a slogan, but as a truth. He spoke openly about how the city shaped his career and how that connection carried responsibility. Hosting his basketball camps, including his third in Memphis, he described them as part of a commitment to a community that embraced him. The camps were not framed as charity. They were framed as continuity, a way to pour back into the city that poured into him.
The Michigan State alum’s approach to giving was rooted in a principle passed down through family. “To whom much is given, much is required.” Through his Much Required campaign, Jackson donated personally and used his platform to support Memphis organizations focused on youth, education, and opportunity. Groups like Girls Inc. of Memphis, LITE Memphis, and the Man Up Teacher Fellowship felt that impact directly.
Some of his influence never came with a headline. Around the city, people spoke about how he helped quietly. How his involvement opened doors. How his willingness to invest locally created opportunities and, in some cases, jobs. His generosity did not announce itself. It showed up. Memphis noticed.
At one point, Jackson spoke about how he hoped to be remembered in Memphis. He did not mention awards or numbers. He said he wanted to be remembered the way Zach Randolph is remembered — someone who embraced the city fully and was embraced right back.
In Memphis, that’s not a casual comparison. It’s a standard. Now, as we move forward, the absence will surface slowly. In the way fans still look for a familiar presence. In the small expectations built over years. In the quiet understanding that some habits are gone for good.
The Grizzlies will adjust. Systems will evolve. New players will arrive. That is the business of the league, and Memphis knows it well. What does not move as easily is the imprint someone leaves behind.
Jaren Jackson Jr. leaves Memphis as a two-time All Star, a Defensive Player of the Year, and one of the most impactful defenders in franchise history. More importantly, he leaves as someone who understood the weight of belonging and carried it with care.
Memphis does not rush its goodbyes. It remembers.
Prepping for Adulthood
From HIPAA to insurance, ready your child for the future.
Once your child turns 18, you no longer have the same parental authority in the eyes of the law. It’s important to make sure your adult child has the necessary legal and financial protections in place and is ready to make informed decisions about the future. The following tips can help.
Prepare the Necessary Estate Planning Documents
You may be surprised to learn that even 18-year-olds need estate planning documents in place to protect their interests and prepare for the future. Estate planning for your young adult should include the following documents.
•Financial power of attorney
A financial power of attorney allows your child to designate an individual to manage his or her financial affairs in the event of injury or incapacitation. Without this document in place, you may have trouble accessing your child’s accounts, paying bills and loans, etc.
• Healthcare power of attorney
A healthcare power of attorney allows your child to designate a trusted individual to make medical decisions on his or her behalf. This is an important protection to have in place in case an accident or injury renders your child unable to communicate. Without a healthcare power of attorney, you may not be able to make medical decisions on behalf of your child.
• HIPAA authorization
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects the privacy of patients by restricting the medical information healthcare providers are authorized to share with unauthorized persons. To grant permission for you to receive medical updates, your child will need to sign a HIPAA authorization designating you as an authorized individual.
Update Your Insurance
Consider how your child’s status as an adult may impact your risk exposure and take steps to help ensure you have the proper insurance in place.
• Health insurance
Children can typically stay on their parents’ health insurance policy until they reach age 26. If you choose to continue covering your child under your current plan, it’s important to make sure your child has access to in-network coverage, especially if your child moves out of state for college or work. It may be more cost effective to explore other options, such as an employer-sponsored health insurance plan (if your child is employed), a student
health plan (if your child is attending college) or an individual plan purchased on the health insurance marketplace.
• Homeowners/renters insurance
If your child is living in a dorm, you may need to reevaluate your homeowners insurance policy to make sure your child’s property remains covered. If your child resides in an apartment, he or she may need to purchase renters insurance.
• Car insurance
Consider whether your current car insurance remains adequate to cover your adult child’s needs. In many cases, keeping an 18-year-old on the family’s auto insurance policy is more cost effective than purchasing an individual policy. If your child attends college and doesn’t bring a car, you may be eligible for a distant driver discount, which has the potential to significantly reduce your rates.
Help Your Child Register to Vote
In addition to achieving personal independence, turning 18 marks a milestone in your child’s civic development. Encourage your young adult to register to vote, and share your values regarding civic responsibility.
Have Your Child Authorize the Sharing of Academic Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects students’ educational records. Without express written permission, you won’t be able to access your adult child’s academic records — even if you’re cutting the tuition checks. Make sure your child signs a FERPA release to grant permission to you and/or another trusted individual to access his or her academic records.
AJ Kratz, CFA, CFP is a Private Wealth Manager and Partner with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest registered investment advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.
This commentary is provided for general information purposes only, should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice, and does not constitute an attorney/client relationship. Past performance of any market results is no assurance of future performance. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.
Refinancing your vehicle loan could give you more cash in your pocket this winter. Plus, no payments for up to 90 days. Apply in branch, over the phone, or online.
Saturday, February 14th
2316 S Germantown Rd. Germantown 6779 Stage Rd. Bartlett 1149 Union Ave. Downtown/Midtown 901.753.2400 • hollidayflowers.com
CROSSTOWN ARTS FILM SERIES
ZAPPA
directed by ALEX WINTER 2020 | NR | 129 MINUTES in collaboration with MEMPHIS LISTENING LAB
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12 7:00 PM | CROSSTOWN THEATER | $5
NATCHEZ
directed by SUZANNAH HERBERT 2025 | NR | 86 MINUTES
Both screenings will feature a conversation with director SUZANNAH HERBERT , CRAIG BREWER, and a special guest..
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19 + FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20 7:00 PM | CROSSTOWN THEATER | $10
CROSSTOWN ARTS
AT LARGE By Bruce VanWyngarden
Internet 101
Bad Bunny and “Sleet-Crete.”
Last Sunday, in the nal hours before the kicko to one of the most boring Super Bowls ever, a scandal arose: Bad Bunny, the popular Puerto Rican reggaeton star who was slated to perform at half-time, was seen in a scandalous photo that ooded social media. He was wearing a strappy, low-cut dress and burning an American ag! e horror!
I saw it on Facebook and thought, no way in hell this is real. It took me about 30 seconds of googling to determine that the photo was AI-generated and even labeled as such, having originated on a “satire” website. at didn’t stop the usual outrage machine from jumping all over it and reposting the picture. It was on the internet, so it’s got to be real, right? Plus, he’s not even American (yes, he is)! Long live Kid Rock! And so on.
Con rmation bias is a powerful drug. And getting thousands of hits on a social media post is pure dopamine — and o en pro table. Which brings me to another social media brouhaha last week, one that provided a lot of much-needed entertainment for Memphis during its recent “sleet-crete” era — and a lot of dopamine to the Memphis Flyer website.
For those of you who didn’t spend any part of the past three weeks in Memphis, let me bring you up to speed: Winter Storm Fern hit the city with a strange combination of sleet, freezing rain, and snow that formed a three- or four-inch layer of slippery, rock-hard white stu . Snow in these parts usually lasts a couple of days. is impermeable coating lasted almost 10 days. It would not go away, and Memphis, a city with no discernible snow-removal equipment, was brought to its knees (and ass). Driving was terrifying and so was walking. And most places weren’t open, anyway, so people stayed home. And that’s when the real crazy stu started.
stu outside still ain’t snow!!!!” In the video, she wondered aloud why the snow wasn’t dripping water and why it was turning black.
To be fair, those are interesting questions. So I googled, “Why doesn’t snow melt when you put a lighter under it?” and immediately got “actually-ed,” as in, “Actually, the snow is melting — it just doesn’t look like it. If you’ve seen those viral videos of ‘fake snow’ turning black and not dripping, here is the real science behind it: Under the high heat of a lighter, some of the snow skips the liquid phase entirely and turns straight into water vapor. is process, called sublimation, makes the snow ‘disappear’ into the air rather than drip.”
A second click took me to a video of scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson doing the same demo as the young woman, and explaining it, step by step. Unsurprisingly, “that stu was snow.”
But the fun was just beginning, as two Memphis City Council members got in on the fun. I will not name them here, but they were mentioned in a story on the Flyer website that went viral, so … you know, google if you want.
One of them posted a slowmotion video of her husband doing the lighter-underthe snowball thing. “It’s not melting,” she said. “It stinks when you set re to it! OMG, Jesus Christ, what is happening!!!” As the video rolls, a dramatic slow song plays: “ e Tragedy of Ignorance” by Simon Daum. Ouch. e other councilperson simply commented, “Man made.”
A young woman (who shall remain nameless here) posted a video of herself holding a grill-lighter under a block of the “sleet-crete,” as it not-so-lovingly came to be called. Here’s what her caption said:“Idc idc…. What y’all learned in science class in grade school… at
But there is a point to all of this, besides getting a chuckle or two: e Bad Bunny AI photo and the “fake snow” videos are both Rorschach tests of a sort. How we respond to things on the internet that seem amazing or impossible or fantastic says a lot about who we are. I’ve been fooled enough times to know the rst thing to do when presented with something that seems a little too good to be true is to “research” it with a click or two. It’s a class that needs to be taught in every school in this country: How Not to be a Sucker 101.
PHOTO: KIZZY DUNLAP JONES | FACEBOOK
Holding lighters to snow was all the rage.
Love? What is
A DEEP DIVE INTO GEN Z’S EVOLVING IDEAS OF VALENTINE’S DAY, ROMANCE, AND COMMUNITY.
Generational generalizations are a slippery slope — we all know that by now, don’t we? Yet we can’t resist thinking in those terms, because popular attitudes do indeed morph over the decades. From the Greatest Generation to the Boomers to Gen X to Millennials to Gen Z to Gen
“Go back to the basics. Let’s bump into people at shows. Let’s get coffee with people.”
Alpha, technology and social upheavals have made for stark contrasts in the aesthetics and mores of each successive wave of babies, all exposed to radically di erent worlds from their parents’ as they grow into adulthood.
We’re all trying to gure out how Gen Z ts in, even Gen Z. With
our heads whipping back and forth between screens as that generation has grown up, born roughly between 1997 and 2012 (as some de ne it), we’re all le with that feeling of “what just happened?” Perhaps e Economist got it right with the 2018 headline, “Teenagers are better behaved and
less hedonistic nowadays — but they are also lonelier and more isolated.”
Put more poignantly, we can quote Millennial poet Dylan Krieger, who writes in “internal internet”: if you see something, say something. tell the devil on your shoulder, despite his wi- whiz kid wishing well you nd yourself googling: how to not feel so alone
Perhaps reacting to that paradox of loneliness in the age of connection, Gen Z, by and large, is adapting, and taking the rest of us along with them, not content with the pronouncements of glib headlines. Follow us, then, as we follow them and all the myriad ways they’re answering the timeless question, “What is Love?”
“The theme of this Valentine’s Day: resistance”
Mia Atoms (our rst subject’s nom de internet) has seen a lot of changes in her 26 years, and not all for the good. At the older end of the Gen Z spectrum, she’s almost nostalgic for
continued on page 10
PHOTO: SAGE BEASLEY Marilyn and Mia Atoms
the era of ip phones and Blockbuster video rentals. “It’s a paradox,” she says. “I feel very lucky, but also disgusted by the society I am an adult in. I spend a lot of time online, and sometimes I feel grossed out by it. I think about ‘the time before,’ because I did get to experience that — before the screens took over our lives, and AI and all that. Oh my God, now people are falling in love with AI chat bots! We’re in this era of, like, social media psychosis.”
Yet in the next breath, she sees the value of those screens. “Now you can have connections with people in places that you never imagined, you know? Like, I have friends in Australia, friends in Kentucky. I’ve never been to Kentucky! So that’s a positive part.” And for Atoms, the key to making the most of such connections boils down to one word: friendship.
“I know it’s going to be Valentine’s Day, you know, but I have personally been messaging my best friends about things like our book club. Like, ‘Let’s do this for Valentine’s Day.’ Because me and my best friend have been dating people, but we’ve come to this realization, and now we’re trying to decenter the romantic relationship.”
With dating apps, she says, “you can just swipe, swipe, swipe, and receive all this validation from all these people that you match with. But in the end, I don’t actually know you, right? All I know is these pictures and quotes that you’ve curated of yourself. I feel like we need to scrap it all. Go back to the basics. Let’s bump into people at shows. Let’s get co ee with people, you know, compliment people, tell someone in person. at’s my new ethos of meeting people, whether it be for relationships or friendships or anything. Let’s make 2026 a year of friendship. I’m focusing on myself and my family and my friendships, and then from that, I’ll have a better foundation for when I want to be in a relationship.”
For Atoms, a very politically aware Gen Z’er, that friendship has value beyond desire or romance. “ ere’s too much other shit to worry about right now. You know, we’ve got a whack job President, we have ICE. It’s love in the time of war. And we’ve grown up watching all of this. I was a junior in high school during the 2016 elections, watching it in real time, and I turned 21 in the pandemic. So I think just building community is one of the most important things we could do right now, in response to everything that’s going on. I talk about this with people my age all the time.”
e answers they arrive at, Atoms says, don’t necessarily need traditional romance. “People are nding ful llment and love in their friendships and themselves. You know? ere’s a
She’s “Pooh” and “Boo Boo,” he’s “Tigger” and “Sugar Babe.”
big uptick in that, and that’s also why the birth rates are going down. People aren’t getting married. at’s also scaring the old-ass Republicans that we have in o ce, right? Which is why they’re peddling all this ‘tradwife’ stu . We’re not falling in line.
“Just being a single woman of childbearing age, in and of itself, is an act of resistance. Focusing on your friendships, living in a big house with your friends, having a community with your friends, is an act of resistance. Growing a garden and sharing your fruits and vegetables with your neighbors is an act of resistance. rough friendship and community, through trust, that is how organization happens.
“ at’s the theme of this Valentine’s Day: resistance. So, like, me and my girls, we’re gonna go to the casino to have fun — yeah — and to win. I’m gonna win it big!” — Alex Greene
Want a cookie?
Sometimes things are just meant to happen. Like the meeting of Krystion Pegues, 25, and Jerry Parker, 27. ey met two days a er Valentine’s Day, 2024 at Oasis Hookah Bar on Highland Street. Parker saw Pegues sitting next to one of her friends at the bar. She wasn’t looking at him. “She was sitting there just scrolling on her
Parker says. “ at’s the way I do things. I didn’t want to do too much.”
But that was enough. at hit home with Pegues. “He was very responsible,” she says, adding, “I could tell he was genuinely trying to make sure I got home safe.”
She had also liked Parker’s demeanor when she met him. “I liked how nervous he was. I feel like some men approach and they’re very bold or very ashy.” And she says, “I feel like some guys play it cool.” But with Parker she felt, “I can trust this guy and see where things go.”
ey began dating. And they’ve been together ever since. Now they have nicknames for each other — she’s “Pooh” and “Boo Boo,” he’s “Tigger” and “Sugar Babe.”
Asked how they were going to celebrate this coming Valentine’s Day, Pegues says, “We are getting massages and I want to go to the museum. Just take the day as it comes. e museum, massage, and dinner. We’re thinking about e Pink Palace.” It might not be a cookie, but Parker will probably show up with something sweet, maybe in a heart-shaped box. “I always make sure I show up with something,” he says. “Because I know she deserves it. Because I know I’d do anything for her — literally — in this world.”
— Michael Donahue
“I’m blessed to have the friends that I do.”
phone,” Parker says. “She was beautiful. I felt like I had a slight connection with her.” She wasn’t like other women there who were “very raunchy, loud, and wanted to be seen.”
It looked as if Pegues was about to leave, so Parker acted quickly. He walked over to the bar and “in a slick manner” asked a “stupid question” of his friend who works in the kitchen. “So I could kind of bump into her. I did that on purpose,” Parker says, “I think I asked, ‘Hey, what time do you close tonight?’”
He and Pegues talked a bit. en Pegues said she and her friend were leaving. She said, “Yeah, we’re going home.” As they le , Parker went out to the parking lot to get his lighter out of his car. He discovered he was parked next to Pegues and thought, “Oh, like this is lining up.”
He walked over to their car and they began talking. at’s when Pegues o ered Parker one of the cookies she’d bought from Insomnia. “I knew she was a sweetheart when she o ered me a cookie,” Parker says. Pegues also gave him her Instagram address when he asked her for it. “I texted her that night to make sure she got home safely,”
Meghan Moody’s earliest celebrations of Valentine’s Day began when she was a child. She credits her parents for shaping her view of the holiday, as they were always her Valentines. e 27-year-old Memphis native likened the occasion to that of Christmas or Easter, as she would come downstairs to see displays of love symbolized through candy and gi s from her parents. e day was made even sweeter by her granddad, who would buy her a Valentine’s Day stu ed animal adorned with the corresponding year and a heart. “[Valentine’s Day] is just about letting the people around you know you love them,” Moody says. “I’ve always gotten my mom owers, my granddaddy and my dad owers.”
Her inclination towards celebrating love wasn’t just reserved for her family, though. In high school she remembers lling Mason jars with her friends’ names and lling them with candy and a special note detailing how much they meant to her. “ at was something that turned into — over the years — making sure there was time etched out for me and my friends,” Moody says. ese gestures were a further extension of an idea her parents instilled in her. She knew that if she wanted community, she would have to show up for them as well. Even when it’s not Valentine’s Day she likes to
PHOTO: KRYSTION PEGUES
Krystion Pegues and Jerry Parker
send thoughtful messages to her circle. However, the 14th of February allows her to put an extra sparkle on her signature acts of a rmation.
As she and her circle grew into adults, they found themselves being more intentional about celebrating their friendship. Moody says her and her friends’ iteration of Galentine’s Day popped up in their late-teens/earlytwenties, manifesting as gatherings and activities celebrated before or a er Valentine’s Day. She says this was because she didn’t view friendship or platonic love as an “either/or” when paired with romantic relationships. Moody is a rm believer that one is not a replacement for the other.
“While romantic partners are important, I don’t think you should abandon any friendships,” Moody says. “Asking your romantic partner to be everything in your life — your best friend, con dant, therapist, XYZ— can be a heavy burden.”
Moody says she’s been single for a while, and it doesn’t bother her. In fact, when she was recently asked by a friend about her bout of singledom, she noted that her life was “extremely full,” thanks to the love her parents and friends have cultivated. “My parents made sure that I felt loved inside the house and they had already formed a community I felt supported in, so I never really had to go further than home to nd security,” Moody says. “ en you add on the fact that I’m blessed to have the friends that I do. I feel like they really model what healthy friendships look like. I feel seen and accepted there.”
She’s especially grateful for the vulnerability this has a orded her. Moody feels her most authentic when she’s with her friends and family. is, paired with her hobbies, makes her content, saying that a romantic interest would have to add onto this.
At this point in her life, she’s unsure of what they might look like, but feels like it may be surplus, since she does have so much love in her life.
But, she says, there’s always room for more. — Kailynn Johnson
Sex doesn’t sell?
Sex closed the Downtown Hooters. OK, new attitudes toward sex closed the Downtown Hooters. OK, new attitudes towards sex, in ation, food costs, labor costs, consumer spending, online porn, DoorDash, mounting debt, and a lot of other things closed the Downtown Hooters. But that list still includes sex, or titillation, a tentpole of its business.
Hooters at large isn’t going anywhere. e owners ordered a “ReHooteriziation,” a process that sought to scrub Hooters’ raunchy image with something a bit more family friendly. Many kids can still eat free at many locations on Monday Fundays, for
example. e company also launched a fast-casual, no-hot-pants brand called Hoots.
Still, the chain led for bankruptcy and has shed dozens of locations over the past few years. is included the high-pro le corner spot at Peabody Place and B.B. King Boulevard, just a stone’s throw from Beale Street. at’s the kind of location that makes you wonder, “If Hooters can’t make it there, can it make it anywhere?”
Markets move for many reasons. For Hooters, not to mention strip clubs and other sex-adjacent venues everywhere, it was partly due to Millennials’ and Gen Z’s changing attitudes toward sex.
Proof is hard to come by, especially for Hooters. But for strip clubs, marketwatcher IBIS World said the strip club industry has “been falling out of favor,” especially as “U.S. culture has evolved and people, particularly young adults, have become more aware of misogyny and exploitation.” at dropped the $4.2 billion industry by 1.1 percent in 2025. No small change, especially a er terrible drags during the pandemic.
What is also true is that sexual activity among adolescents fell from 2013 to 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey, from 47 percent in 2013 to 32 percent in 2023.
Why? Researchers tried to explain in a separate 2023 study. Young people are having fewer boyfriends, girlfriends, and partners than they used to, the researchers from Rutgers University and the State University of New York said. ey’re also drinking less alcohol. ey’re not making as much money and sometimes still live with their parents. Finally, the researchers suggested that spending more money on computer games meant less money for going out, which lowers the chances of relationships and then sex.
Younger folks, too, ask for sexual consent more o en now, according to the CDC. Males asked more frequently than females that study found. ese data points can’t ever prove there’s less objecti cation — less ogling — happening. But they may o er a glimpse of changes in attitudes towards respect for women.
And that could be bad news for the titillation industry. Sex alone cannot be blamed for stumbles at “breasteraunts” and strip clubs. But the writing is on the wall, especially on the darkened doors of Memphis’ venerable Downtown Hooters. — Toby Sells
PHOTO: MEGHAN MOODY
Meghan Moody honors Valentine’s by cra ing for her friends.
PHOTO: TOBY SELLS e shuttered Downtown Hooters
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We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews
Roses are Copper, Rosé is Pink
By Kimberly Ham
Love is in the air — and at the Metal Museum, it’s taking shape in copper, color, and a splash of rosé. Roses and Rosé: A Valentine’s Day Copper Rose Workshop invites Memphians to spend Valentine’s Day doing something a little di erent: making art by hand, sipping wine, and walking away with a one-of-a-kind keepsake. e workshop is part of the Metal Museum’s Fine Metals & Jewelry class o erings, which are designed for all skill levels. No experience is required, and all tools and materials are provided. e result? A handcra ed copper rose, decorated with vibrant alcohol inks — perfect as a gi , a date-night souvenir, or a personal token of self-love.
Francesca Manard, the Metal Museum’s Youth Programs and Tours Manager, organized and will lead the workshop. She says the idea grew out of an existing copper rose class, with the rosé added “to spice things up” and create a more relaxed, celebratory atmosphere. “We wanted to o er an opportunity for community members to celebrate a special day with us,” Manard says.
“Participants will leave with a unique memento of their day.” For rst-timers, the class is intentionally approachable. e thin copper sheets can be cut with scissors, and the roses are assembled using wire and jewelry pliers — tools many people already recognize. Participants follow a basic petal pattern, then take creative control: shaping petals by hand, layering alcohol inks, and using heat guns to speed up the drying process. “No two copper roses are ever the same,” Manard says, making the experience engaging for beginners and seasoned makers alike.
Copper itself adds a layer of romance, so enough to work with but durable enough to last — and a material with mythological roots. Copper is traditionally associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, making it a tting medium for a Valentine’s Day rose. Meanwhile, sipping rosé while creating art gives the workshop a low-pressure vibe, more like a creative gathering than a formal class. And it works for everyone: couples, friends, and solo participants looking for a meaningful creative escape.
Adding to the magic is the setting. Students work surrounded by metal art, active studios, and views of the Mississippi River — an experience that’s especially poignant as the Metal Museum prepares to expand from its blu campus to Overton Park later this year.
In a digital-heavy world, Manard believes hands-on experiences resonate because they produce something tangible. “People always leave with a smile and a sense of pride,” she says. at alone might be reason enough to step out.
ROSES AND ROSÉ: A VALENTINE’S DAY COPPER ROSE WORKSHOP, METAL MUSEUM, 374 METAL MUSEUM DRIVE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 3-4:30 P.M. $30.
VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES February 12th - 18th
Love Wild
Memphis Zoo, ursday, February 12-14, 6-8 p.m. $250/couple
Ditch the usual Valentine’s Day dinner rush and treat your special someone to an unforgettable night at the Memphis Zoo. Love Wild o ers an elegant evening with a carefully cra ed multi-course dinner and optional wine pairings, set to the smooth sounds of live jazz by the Logan Hanna Trio. Delight in a surprise animal encounter and conclude the evening with a unique dessert trail through Teton Trek.
Each couple receives a custom treat box to savor. A premium cash bar will be open for cocktail purchases. Best of all, every ticket helps support vital Zoo conservation e orts, making your date night meaningful as well as magical.
One ticket admits two guests on the date of your choice. Tickets are
non-refundable, must be purchased online, and are not available at the gate. Ages 21+.
Love & Wellness: A Valentine’s Experience
Hickory Hill Community Center ursday, February 12, 5-7 p.m. Free Celebrate Valentine’s season with an evening dedicated to relaxation, movement, and connection at this free event hosted by Memphis Parks Health and Wellness Department. No registration needed — just bring your yoga mat!
is intimate wellness gathering features a gentle couples yoga class (individuals are welcome, too), guided partner stretching and mobility session, on-site therapeutic massage, and light refreshments to help you unwind and recharge, whether attending solo or with a partner.
Winter Mix
Ballet Memphis, Friday, February 13, 7:30 p.m. | Saturday, February 14, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, February 15, 2 p.m. $40 Experience an evening of alloriginal works in Ballet Memphis’ annual signature repertory event. is season’s program showcases choreographers pushing the boundaries of storytelling through diverse choreographic styles and aesthetics. Returning audience favorite Fingers of Your oughts by Julia Adam, commissioned in 2009, uses hands as metaphors for life’s stages. Company dancer Emilia Sandoval continues to evolve her choreographic voice by blending poetry and spoken word into fresh dance narratives. Artistic Director Steven McMahon completes the lineup with a new piece inspired by Greek mythology.
PHOTO: COURTESY LUCY GARRETT Francesca Manard
MUSIC By Alex Greene
Gales at the Grammys
“I’m just a little old cat from Memphis, Tennessee, mane.”
It was tting that the Grammy Awards’ televised ceremony took place on February 1st, the rst day of Black History Month, with both the Best Compilation Soundtrack and Best Score Soundtrack going to music from Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. Evocative of Black history on many levels, albeit with extra vampires, and set in Depression-era Clarksdale, Mississippi, this lm about enterprising twins, evil, and the blues scored an auspicious double-win from the Recording Academy that night.
As the Flyer noted last year, Boo Mitchell of Royal Studios was the lm’s music consultant, bringing Mississippi’s best and the brightest to the project. So when he took the stage to accept the Best Compilation Grammy, he did it on behalf of artists as diverse as Bobby Rush, Sharde omas-Mallory, Tierinii Jackson, Cedric Burnside, and Alvin Youngblood Hart, all of whom participated in the soundtrack. And when the award for Best Score fell to Sinners’ twin release, with composer Ludwig Göransson receiving it, that moment too had Memphis reverberations.
Two titles on Göransson’s score, “Grand Closin’” and “Elijah,” are tagged with those telltale words: “feat. Eric Gales.”
You can’t get more Blu City than Gales, the guitar wunderkind of the ’90s whose playing has only grown more soulful and nuanced with age. As Gales stood side by side with Mitchell to help accept the rst Grammy, he quipped, “I’m just a little old cat from Memphis, Tennessee, mane … I’m so thankful.”
A er Göransson joined Gales and Mitchell, all three remained onstage to accept the award for Best Score together.
“It was just amazing,” says Gales, recalling that night as we spoke on the
phone. “It was mesmerizing to experience not only being a nominee, but to be the recipient of not one, but two awards, connected to an iconic movie that’s shattering records right now. One could not make this up!”
And yet accepting the Grammys with Mitchell and Göransson was arguably not even the most emotional moment for Gales that night, compared to his playing in Lauryn Hill’s tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. e memorial performance also included Lucky Daye, Leon omas, Bilal, Jon Batiste, Leon Bridges, October London, Lalah Hathaway, John Legend, and Chaka Khan, with Wyclef Jean joining the ensemble for “Killing Me So ly with His Song,” the grand nale.
“It was an amazing coming together of people to honor the legacy of two great, grand individuals, as well as giving homage to others that passed away last year,” says Gales. “It was just highly emotional — a very beautiful encounter to be a part of.”
It was also a reunion of sorts. “I was Lauryn Hill’s guitar player for four years. And so she hit me up prior to the Grammys, before even knowing that I was going to be there, and asked if I would be a part of this tribute thing. And I said yes, of course.”
Gales would have been at the ceremony even without Hill’s tribute or Sinners, as his most recent album, A Tribute to LJK, was nominated in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category, his second such nomination a er 2022’s Crown. ough Robert Randolph’s Preacher Kids ultimately took the prize, Gales was delighted to see his own work recognized, as it’s a tribute to his late older brother, Manuel, aka Little Jimmy King, also a le -handed blues guitarist. In 1996, Eric, Eugene, and Manuel even released Le Hand Brand as the Gales Brothers.
e Gales, like the Mitchells, remain one of the great musical families of Memphis.
“My brother had a style of his own,” says Gales. “He lived it, had his own career. It was just great to be in a family of brothers and a bloodline that was blessed with a gi from the big man upstairs to play music. My brother passed away in 2002 and a er all these years, I decided to do a record honoring him. He was a very powerful, powerhouse blues player who worked his way from one end of Beale to the next and earned his note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. Many years later, I got one of those brass notes myself, and it’s right beside my brother’s. It was very emotional.”
FEB 13–15
EVENINGS 7:30 PM FEB 13, FEB 14
MATINEES 2 PM FEB 14, FEB 15
STORIES UNFOLD
All original Ballet Memphis works, all in one night, Winter Mix is our annual signature repertory event in our intimate studio space. This season, three choreographers— Julia Adam, company artist Emilia Sandoval, and Artistic Director Steven McMahon—explore a wide range of storytelling, with nods to children’s games, Greek mythology, and the 1950s Golden Age of Hollywood. Accompanied by songs you’ll know and love from Rufus Wainwright, Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams, Doris Day, and so much more. Bring your Valentine for this special night out in Midtown. Seating is limited!
Tickets starting at $40 at balletmemphis.org/winter-mix
PHOTO: COURTESY ERIC GALES Eric Gales
CALENDAR of EVENTS: February 12 - 18, 2026
ART AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS
“A Memphis of Hope” Art Show
An exhibit focused on messages of what is “right” about where we live, through the eyes of its artists. Free. rough Feb. 26.
WKNO DIGITAL MEDIA CENTER
Anna Gregor, Chris Peckham, Bobby Smith
Works by these three artists share a certain harmony. rough Mar. 28.
TOPS GALLERY
Ann Brown Thomason
Art Exhibition
omason is a retired physician who is also an artist. On view in the Grand Hallway. rough Feb. 27.
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
“Bettye’s Bin: The Personal Archives of Stax Songwriter Bettye Crutcher”
Discover the story of a woman who transformed poetry into platinum hits, whose words echoed from South Memphis to the world, and whose rediscovered archives now return home. Free. rough March 31.
STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC
Black Artists in America: “From the Bicentennial to September 11”
A series showcasing styles and viewpoints within African American art during the last quarter of the 20th century. rough March 25.
THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
“Food: Science, Culture, and Cuisine”
An exhibition that engages you in new ways to think about food through sight, taste, smell, touch, and sound. $21. rough May 24.
PINK PALACE MUSEUM & MANSION
“From 200 to 250: America’s Bicentennial Bash of 1976”
Explore Bicentennial memorabilia from when Collierville came together to honor the past. Free. rough April 18.
MORTON MUSEUM OF COLLIERVILLE HISTORY
Keiko Gonzalez and Leanna Hicks Carey
Featuring Gonzalez’s “Indoor Games” and Carey’s “ e Dark Country.” rough Feb. 28.
SHEET CAKE
“Last Whistle: Steamboat Stories of Memphis”
Featuring detailed model boats and original steamboat artifacts. rough June 26.
PINK PALACE MUSEUM & MANSION
“Meet the Dixons”
Learn how the Dixon Gallery & Gardens began with Marga-
ret and Hugo Dixon’s vision. rough May 31.
THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
MGAL 2026 Winter
Juried Exhibition
Memphis/Germantown
Art League’s juried exhibit includes a variety of paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, oil on silk, and mixed media by over 40 area artists. rough Feb. 27.
ST. GEORGE’S ART GALLERY AT ST. GEORGE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
“Navigating Knowledge” is exhibition explores vessels and navigation as metaphors for the containment and transmission of knowledge. rough Oct. 31.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
“Painting and Her Woman: A Feminist Palette Show” e artists in the exhibition engage materiality as a method of inquiry. rough Feb. 21.
DAVID LUSK GALLERY
Pinkney Herbert: “In Between”
Known for his expressive abstraction in oil and acrylic, Herbert translates energy, place, and sound into gesture, color, and form. rough March 14.
DAVID LUSK GALLERY
“Redemption of a Delta Bluesman: Robert Johnson”
A series of 29 paintings dedicated to reimagining the mythical crossroads where the bluesman purportedly made a deal. rough June 30.
GALLERY ALBERTINE
“River Coral”: New Works by Anthony Lee Depictions of fantastic, uid gures and shapes. rough March 30.
BUCKMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Roger Allan Cleaves: “A World on Fire” Cleaves’ Forget Me Nots Land series is a complex Afrofuturist fantasy that resists easy explanations. “A World on Fire” is the most recent chapter of this ongoing epic narrative. rough April 12.
THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
Town Beautiful Commission’s “Unofficial Town Flower”
Residents and students depict what they would nominate as Collierville’s uno cial town ower. rough March 14.
MORTON MUSEUM OF COLLIERVILLE HISTORY
Tributaries: Kat Cole’s “Meditations” Cole captures ephemeral gestures in glass, enamel and steel, resulting in gleaming puddles of light and color. rough March 8.
METAL MUSEUM
PHOTO: COURTESY DAVID LUSK GALLERY Pinkney Herbert presents oil and acrylic abstracts in his “In Between” exhibit.
ART HAPPENINGS
Pinkney Herbert: “In Between” Opening Known for his expressive abstraction in oil and acrylic, Herbert translates energy, place, and sound into gesture, color, and form. Friday, Feb. 13, 5-7 p.m.
DAVID LUSK GALLERY
Victorian Mourning Customs & Jewelry
Memphis-based mourning jewelry expert Virginia Shelton will share her personal archive. $15. Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m.
ELMWOOD CEMETERY
The Art Now Collective Party
An evening bringing together local artists, collectors, and members of the wider community who are passionate about supporting local art. Free. ursday, Feb. 12, 6-8 p.m.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
BOOK EVENTS
A Novel Book Club: Water Moon
Discuss Samantha Sotto Yambao’s novel. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.
NOVEL
Saucy Bits: Conversation with Keegon Schuett Schuett will talk about their play, which aims to provide nourishment to those hiding in the shadows and create
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.
Into the Framework: Technology in Art Intensive
In this two-day intensive workshop, artists and technology enthusiasts are invited to explore the intersection of art and embedded technology.
Saturday, Feb. 14, noon-3 p.m.
| Sunday, Feb. 15, noon-3 p.m.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
Intro to Watercolor Botanicals
Local artist and instructor
Barrie Foster will lead you through lessons on color theory, using tracing paper, painting with watercolors, and detailing with ne line pens.
Bring your Valentine and make a collaborative picture frame that re ects your relationship. $240. Saturday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
METAL MUSEUM
a space of recognition and magic for all. ursday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m.
NOVEL
CLASS / WORKSHOP
Adult Tap Class
No experience need, just bring your tap shoes and a smile! $20/general admission. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10-11 a.m.
GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Birds & Seeds
On National Seed Swap Day, swap seeds, learn about native and backyard gardening, and celebrate the upcoming spring with birding and more. Saturday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
LICHTERMAN NATURE CENTER
Creative Customs: Artistry in Bead Making
Experience a joyful beading experience where bright colors, fresh designs, and good vibes come together. ursday, Feb. 12, 3:30 p.m.
ORANGE MOUND LIBRARY
Get a Job: Teen Job Readiness Workshop
Learn strategies for job searching, applying for jobs, nailing job interviews and more.
ursday, Feb. 12, 4-5 p.m.
OFFICER GEOFFREY REDD LIBRARY BRANCH
Rhythm & Roots
Presented by Memphis Youth Arts Initiative, this is a free community program o ering high-energy music and dance lessons for youth ages 6–17.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 6 p.m.
MEMPHIS YOUTH ARTS INITIATIVE
CENTER
Super Saturday - Lunar New Year
Make drums, used in Lunar New Year celebrations to scare away bad spirits. Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-noon
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
COMEDY
Gary Owen: No Hard Feelings Tour
Owens’ material draws from his personal life, time in the military, and the everyday absurdities that connect people across backgrounds. Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m.
THE ORPHEUM
PHOTO: COURTESY DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS e Chinese martial art of taijiquan promotes relaxation and balance.
John Mulaney Mulaney brings his Mister Whatever Tour to Memphis. $96.25/reserved seating. ursday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
GRACELAND SOUNDSTAGE
Open Mic Comedy Night
Enjoy unpredictable hilarity in the small room downstairs. Free. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. HI TONE
Rickey Smiley and Friends Valentine Comedy Show
Smiley is known for his quick wit, hilarious characters, and real-life humor. Friday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
THE ORPHEUM
COMMUNITY
Culture and Cocktails:
Black Artists in America
Enjoy a relaxed culture hour featuring beer, wine, and a signature cocktail. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5:30-7 p.m.
THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
Great Backyard Bird Count
Assist with recording and counting birds, enjoy a selfguided bird scavenger hunt, and more. Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kids in kindergarten through 6th grade can explore history, try out science experiments, and make characters and machines. $75/non-members. Friday, Feb. 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Monday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
PINK PALACE MUSEUM & MANSION
Family Day
Experience the arts and learn about Memphis history and the powerful legacy of Stax Records. Free. Saturday, Feb. 14, 1-4 p.m.
STAX MUSEUM
Poetry-Palooza: Writing Workshop
Students grades 4-12 can enjoy silly sonnets, ha-hahaikus, and light-hearted limericks. Saturday, Feb. 14, 1-4 p.m.
PINK PALACE MUSEUM & MANSION
FILM
Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels
Superhuman Body shows the extraordinary ways our bodies work and how science and
technology help us to intervene when things go wrong. Saturday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. | Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2 p.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m.
CTI 3D GIANT THEATER
The Morris and Mollye Fogelman
International Jewish Film Festival
Featuring eight films in a diverse mix of genres. $10/Community, $8/MJCC Memphis, $56/Community Series Pass - All 8 Movies, $45/MJCC Member Series Pass - All 8 Movies. Thursday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
MEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Zappa
An expansive portrait of one of the most fiercely independent and uncompromising artists of the 20th century. Thursday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
CROSSTOWN THEATER
HEALTH AND FITNESS
New Moon Sound Bath: Fire Horse
Portal
Taj Chander leads this sound bath, timed with a rare confluence of celestial events. Monday, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m.
THE BROOM CLOSET
Taijiquan with Milan Vigil
This Chinese martial art promotes relaxation and balance. 16+. Free. Saturday, Feb. 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
HOLIDAY EVENTS
Dinner on Stage
A special evening celebrating love, great food, and the magic of the Orpheum. Thursday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m.
THE ORPHEUM
Galentine’s Day Cocktail Mixer
Grab your girls and meet at this Galentine’s Day mixer. $40/mixer ticket. Friday, Feb. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
BABALU
Gothic Valentine’s Day Market & More
An event for anyone looking for a fun, mysterious alternative Valentine’s experience. Saturday, Feb. 14, noon-6 p.m.
HI TONE
Love & Wellness: A Valentine’s Experience
This Valentine’s wellness event blends gentle yoga, guided partner stretching, therapeutic massage, and light refreshments. Thursday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m.
HICKORY HILL COMMUNITY CENTER
Love Wild
Featuring a multi-course dinner, drinks, live jazz, and a surprise encounter. 21+ $250/two guests. Thursday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m. | Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 6 p.m. MEMPHIS ZOO
Mardi Gras Bash
A family-friendly Mardi Gras Bash, bringing the streets of New Orleans to Memphis. $21/ general admission. Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MEMPHIS
Meet Cute: Valentine’s Day Speed Dating
Celebrate Valentine’s Day and come for three rounds of speed dating. $15/ticket. Saturday, Feb. 14, 1-5 p.m. NOVEL
Roses and Rosé: A Valentine’s Day Copper Rose Workshop
Create a copper rose while you sip on a refreshing glass of rosé. 21+ $30. Saturday, Feb. 14, 3-4:30 p.m.
METAL MUSEUM
Rosé Wine Dinner
Celebrate love, friendship, and all things rosé. $80/tickets. Thursday, Feb. 12, 7-9 p.m.
BOG & BARLEY
Tell Your Boo I Melt for You
Celebrate love as you scrape gooey raclette cheese over your plate. $150/per couple. Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 6 p.m.
Valentine’s Night at the Gallery with Duck Club Bourbon
A curated champagne and bourbon tasting, with hors d’oeuvres. Saturday, Feb. 14, 5-7 p.m.
GOETZE ART & DESIGN
LECTURE
Munch and Learn: Update on Memphis Sand Aquifer Developments
Hear from Sarah Houston, executive director of Protect Our Aquifer. Free. Wednesday, Feb. 18, noon-1 p.m.
THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
PERFORMING ARTS
A Soulful Murder Mystery
Behind the champagne toasts and blackjack
tables of the Rellik Hotel & Casino lies betrayal. 18+. $87.45. Sunday, Feb. 15, 3-5 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 7-9 p.m.
HALLORAN CENTRE
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
See the unique theatrics of Moscow-born Gregory Popovich with the extraordinary talents of his furry all-stars. Thursday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m. | Friday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 5 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m. | Monday, Feb. 16, 5 p.m. | Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5 p.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 18, 5 p.m.
BUCKMAN ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
THEATER
Dreamgirls
Follow an all-girl singing group on the path to superstardom. Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m. | Friday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.
HATTILOO THEATRE
Jagged Little Pill
A musical inspired by Alanis Morisette’s 1995 album of the same name. Thursday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. | Friday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m.
PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE
Ibsen
Nickname in early jazz piano
Mining target 14 “Is there anything else I can help with?”
Rocker, perhaps 17 “I’d really appreciate this favor”
18 Of no value
19 “___ mess”
20 They fall apart when the stakes are raised
21 Flat screen?
22 John ___, secret identity of the Lone Ranger
24 Assembly
25 Outline in the Arby’s logo
26 What “Mac” means 28 United Christendom movement
To a tee
of
Western city that shares its name with a tree
Kind of replication
One of the friends on “Friends”
Kotb on morning TV
Key presenter
54 Baseball’s Buck
56 Track advantage
57 Dr. Seuss’s “And to Think That ___ It on Mulberry Street”
58 All-comers’ discussion
60 Popular assistant
61 One who’s seen but not heard? Just the opposite!
62 Delicacy
63 Sleep ___ 64 “Boy Meets World” boy
1 Depths 2 Famous play call?
3 One side in the Brexit vote 4 Answer to one’s mate
5 Became one 6 Great pains
7 Early Nahuatl speaker
8 Elevate, redundantly 9 Mention as an afterthought 10 Stiff a
Job
A psychological thriller delving into mental health, social media, and generational divides. Friday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m.
CIRCUIT PLAYHOUSE
The Revolutionists
A playwright, an assassin, former queen Marie Antoinette, and a Haitian rebel try to beat back the insanity $25/adult, $20/senior and student. Friday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m.
THEATREWORKS
The Sound of Music
The cherished musical is touring the country. $46.70, $163.25. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7:30-10:15 p.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7:30-10:15 p.m. ORPHEUM THEATRE
The Taming of the Shrew Shakespeare’s story reimagined as a 1940s radio play. Friday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 3 p.m.
TENNESSEE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
This Dry Spell
Developed in the Voices of the South writers’ workshop. Thursday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. | Friday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. | Sunday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m. VOICES OF THE SOUTH THEATER
PUZZLE BY MICHAEL HAWKINS
We Saw You.
with MICHAEL DONAHUE
Here’s another edition of men and women on the street captured by the eyes of We Saw You.
A common thread is eating. Many of these photos were taken at Pete & Sam’s a couple of nights before the big snow lockdown.
Others were taken at McEwen’s, Marshall Steakhouse, and e Dame Bar at Hotel Pontotoc.
MICHAEL DONAHUE
above: (le to right) Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell and Lina Beach; Amy Mann circle: John Michael Leach
below: (le to right) Andrew Turner, Garrett Frazier, Will Taylor; Steven Murphy, Garrett Frazier; Dena Nance, Sammy Bomarito bottom row: (le to right) Anna Catron Lee, Gabe Roberts, Laurie Roberts, Stephen Roberts; Jim Boyd and Paul Lane and Brenda and Bobby Cooke
PHOTOS:
FOOD By Michael Donahue
What’s on the Menu
Chefs share new restaurant items.
Writing this story was an exercise in torture.
Part of it, at least.
I began working on this while I was still snowbound for two weeks at home. I thought discovering new menu items or even just popular ones at Memphis restaurants would be a good idea. But a er half a month of a canned tuna sh/pasta diet, culinary terms from the chefs I spoke with were sounding painfully delicious.
So, for those who had to endure a snow lockdown and are ready to hit the restaurants now that spring-like temperatures have returned, here are some tempting selections to make your mouth water instead of waiting on the ice in your yard to turn to water.
Kelly English, Iris: “Sweetbreads and dumplings just hit the menu at restaurant Iris. Crispy fried sweetbreads with ricotta gnocchi, sherry roasted mushrooms, fresh herbs, and a jus from roasted chickens and onion.
“ e new mu uletta roasted bone marrow at Iris is a fun little appetizer. All of the avor pro le elements of a traditional mu uletta exist with salami spice on the marrow, giardiniera on top, and fresh olive and provolone focaccia to eat it with.”
Felicia Willett, Felicia Suzanne’s: “Classic cheesecake [with] cookie crust, citrus marmalade, Chantilly cream. A recipe I’ve carried with me since I was 15, rst served with my mom’s praline sauce and later, a fan favorite, with fresh coconut and strawberries, now reimagined for citrus season. Sweet marmalade and gentle acidity balance the richness of the cream cheese. oughtfully updated and plated by our pastry chef Inga eeke. Some recipes just grow up with you.”
favorites, currently. What makes ours di erent … since we are veggie-forward and that’s what everybody’s come to expect from us, ours is not meat. So, we take kohlrabi, we slow cook it with miso and brown butter and let that go for 12 hours, then come back and compress it to let the vegetables set back up. A er that, we let it sit overnight, then come back in and slice it paper-thin on the slicer. So you get that initial texture that you would get from esh. But there’s a little bit of bite, to the point where you almost identify it as not meat, but it’s very interesting. We top that with a little lemon zest, Maldon [sea salt], smoked walnuts, and then basil oil around the side.”
Nate Hensley, Amelia Gene’s:
“Item number one: Iceberg, roasted sunchokes, blue cheese, buttermilk dressing. is is my version of the classic iceberg salad, which I nd always reliable, especially this time of year. Instead of using bacon, we roast
David Lorrison, owner of the old Rumble Fish restaurant, is planning another pop-up dinner in mid-to late March. One of the items: “Crispy Chinese rice-paper-wrapped salmon ceviche with coriander and mango crème fraîche.”
Jimmy Gentry, e Lobbyist: “Our crudo is newer and probably one of my
Karen Carrier, Beauty Shop Restaurant: “Sugar & Spice Crispy Peking Duck with almond skordalia, pomegranate red wine butter, roasted black grapes and gs, sugar snap shiso petite herb salad, grilled corn, cotija aioli, and cayenne salt.”
More items include the “Ode to Chef Susana Trilling,” with cast iron mole chicken, ai green coconut curry, jasmine rice, and Oaxacan mole sauce, with sesame, queso fresco, red onion, avocado, and cilantro.
A beef tenderloin carpaccio features shallot oil, crisp capers, Vietnamese mint, lime, roasted peanuts, and Ms. Cindy’s vinaigrette. And the Hawaiian Tuna Agua Chile includes tomato, lime, sesame seeds, cucumbers, jalapeño, cocoa spice dust, shiso, and prosciutto crisp.
sunchokes with balsamic vinegar, topped with sunchoke chips and Dunbarton blue cheese, a cellar-cured English-style cheddar with blue veins, by Roelli Cheese Haus.
“Item number two: Bone marrow ravioli, tomato sauce, brown butter, toasted garlic. I really enjoy making this pasta. Bone marrow is brined, lightly cooked, and removed from the bone. en we combine it with ground short rib, caramelized onions, toasted breadcrumbs, and some fresh herbs. We make a dark tomato sauce, which gets nished with brown butter that has garlic toasted to order. e end result of the sauce is something like a butter chicken curry sauce, only garlicky.”
Chip Dunham, Magnolia & May: “Jerk Home Place Pastures pork belly, coconut grits, braising liquid, Jamaican apple compote.”
eresa Schuenke, Fawn: “A new weekly thing is burger night every Tuesday. It features house-ground Home Place Pastures beef. Every week has di erent fun xings to showcase what’s in season, what the kitchen is obsessed with or craving. Keep an eye on the Fawn Instagram every Tuesday to see what it will be.”
Jimmy “Sushi Jimmi” Sinh, Poke Paradise: One of his popular items is “Ahi tuna, own in from Hawaii to Memphis, diced, marinated in chef’s special shoyu sauce and sweet onion. Comes with sides of edamame, cucumber, seaweed salad, and avocado.”
(le to right) Bone marrow ravioli, Amelia Gene’s; Mu uletta roasted bone marrow, Iris; Crudo, e Lobbyist; (above) Sweetbreads and dumplings, Iris
The Taming of the Shrew
Roles are ipped in this modern vision of the Shakespeare classic.
Last weekend, I had the unique experience of attending a play with someone who has undoubtedly seen more theater than I have. Joining me at the Tennessee Shakespeare Company was my dear friend Elen Wroten, a cellist who has toured with theatrical companies for decades. As such, her reaction to e Taming of the Shrew was something I held in higher esteem than my own, opinionated though I may be. Well, Ms. Wroten laughed, cried, and made time in between to declare “I hate men! … But when he started singing that song …” I suspect even the most inexperienced theatergoer could expect to run through a similar gamut of emotions during this charming production.
a live radio broadcast during World War II, which allows a Shakespearean classic to be harmoniously interwoven with Big Band Americana. e result is a musical, but not one like I’ve ever seen before. While show-stopping numbers belted out in true Broadway fashion might be what the term “musical” usually alludes to, this setting allows for something so er, though no less alluring.
I will admit I have a bias here — my own singalong playlists feature several of the numbers folded into this production, and I have always favored the crooner style of singing. My own sensibilities aside, hearing the rich and buttery quality evoked by ’40s music is a rare treat in live theater, one that could so easily clash with Elizabethan language. But thanks to the mastery of the performers, these elements blend seamlessly.
Mended Therapy
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e man is the “shrew” in this production.
If you’re unfamiliar with this particular Shakespearean romantic comedy, I could try explaining it to you, but as is typical of old William, the plot quickly becomes so convoluted and harebrained that things would probably go faster if I point out that the story has been adapted into several modern works that can be called classics in their own right. Musical-lovers are surely as familiar with Kiss Me Kate as Millennials are with Heath Ledger’s iconic bad-boy persona in 10 ings I Hate About You. Both are, of course, retellings of e Taming of the Shrew, and it’s an ongoing testament to Shakespeare’s work that the story can live just as happily in a 1990s rom-com as in a 1940s radio broadcast, as it is presented in this production.
is show cleverly redirects the classic “play within a play” that’s essential to e Taming of the Shrew by setting the show in
When it comes to Elizabethan language, I would be loath to leave out that the company here clearly understands that Shakespeare is funny. Every actor has their moment, something that as an audience member is delightfully satisfying. As the show points out, comedy is hard. Making it look easy takes real skill, and I would o er my congratulations to everyone in this production for making it look e ortless.
My one gripe, which I had preconceived years ago upon my rst viewing of e Taming of the Shrew, was mitigated by the presentation of the play within the play. As I alluded to previously, it’s practically impossible to watch e Taming of the Shrew as a feminist without feeling some ire towards men as a whole. e notion of instilling psychological torment in order to make a wife less “di cult,” is … well, distasteful, to say the absolute least, even if in Shakespeare’s time it was revolutionary to leave out physical violence in such a show. However, this production turns the notion of the shrew neatly on its head by having the 1940s storyline ip roles. e man is the “shrew” here, and in the end, he makes the e ort, in a tidy inversion of the end of the Shakespearean storyline. ere, Petruchio summons Kate in a showy demonstration of her obedience. But in the WWII version … well, I don’t want to spoil it for you. But a more modern, more equitable ending is what we’re le with. If you’re anything like my friend Elen, this is the part where you’ll cry.
e Taming of the Shrew runs at Tennessee Shakespeare Co. through February 15th.
PHOTO: JOEY MILLER, COURTESY TENNESSEE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them,” wrote Ernest Hemingway. This Valentine season, I propose you experiment with his approach. Take a smart risk with people who have shown glimmers of reliability but whom you haven’t fully welcomed. Don’t indulge in reckless credulity, just courageous and discerning openness. Be vulnerable enough to discover what further connection might bloom if you lead with faith rather than suspicion. Your willingness to believe in someone’s better nature may help bring it forth.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus singer Barbra Streisand addressed her legendary perfectionism. She said that truly interesting intimacy became available for her only after she showed her dear allies her full array of selves, not just her shiny, polished side. In alignment with astrological omens, I encourage you to experiment with the daring art of unfinished revelation. Let the people you care for witness you in the midst of becoming. Share your uncertainties, your half-formed thoughts, and your works in progress. Surprise! Your flaws may prove as endearing as your achievements.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Author Anaïs Nin wrote, “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” I believe this understanding of camaraderie should be at the heart of most Geminis’ destinies. It’s your birthright and your potential superpower to seek connections with people who inspire you to think thoughts and feel feelings you would never summon by yourself. You have an uncanny knack for finding allies and colleagues who help you unveil and express more of your total self. Now is a good time to tap further into these blessings.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Poet David Whyte said that “heartbreak is unpreventable.” It’s “the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control.” But here’s the redemptive twist: Your capacity to feel heartbreak proves you have loved well. Your shaky aches are emblems of your courageous readiness to risk closeness and be deeply affected. So let’s celebrate your tender heart not despite its vulnerability but because of it. You should brandish your sensitivity as a superpower.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Choreographer Twyla Tharp said she fell in love with her husband partly because “he was the only person who didn’t seem impressed by me.” I will extrapolate from that to draw this conclusion: Our most valuable allies might show their most rigorous respect by seeing us clearly. This Valen-
Rob Brezsny
tine season, Leo, I invite you to test the hypothesis that being thoroughly known and understood is more crucial than being regularly praised and flattered. Enrich your connections with the perceptive souls who love you not for your highlight reel but for your raw, genuine self.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The famously kind and caring author Anne Lamott confessed, “I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish.” That’s a liberating insight. She revealed that even kind, caring people like her harbor messy internal chaos. This Valentine season, Virgo, I dare you to share a few of your less-thannoble thoughts with soulful characters whom you trust will love you no matter what. Let them see that your goodness coexists with your salty imperfections. Maybe you could even playfully highlight the rough and rugged parts of you for their entertainment value. What’s the goal? To deepen spirited togetherness.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): How do we eagerly and daringly merge our fortunes with another person while maintaining our sovereign selfhood? How do we cultivate interesting togetherness without suppressing or diluting our idiosyncratic beauty? In some respects, this is a heroic experiment that seems almost impossible. In other respects, it’s the best work on the planet for anyone who’s brave enough to attempt it. Luckily for you Libras, this is potentially one of your superpowers. And now is an excellent time to take your efforts to the next level of heartful grittiness.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here’s a quote by the character Carrie Bradshaw from the TV show Sex and the City: “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love, that’s fabulous.” I invite you to make this a prime meditation, Scorpio. To begin, get extra inspired by your own mysterious beauty: captivated by your own depths, fascinated by your mysterious contradictions, and delighted by your urge for continual transformation. The next step is to identify allies and potential allies who appreciate the strange magnificence you treasure in yourself. Who devoutly wants you to fulfill your genuine, idiosyncratic soul’s code? Spend the coming weeks enriching your connections with these people.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
This Valentine season, I propose that you infuse your intimate life with a fun dose of playful curiosity. Visualize your beloved allies, both current and potential, as unfolding mysteries rather than solved puzzles. Ask them provocative questions you’ve never thought to ask before. Won-
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Poet Mary Oliver asked her readers, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” This Valentine season, I propose a collaborative version of this prod: Ask those you care for to help you answer Oliver’s question, and offer to help them answer it for themselves. Now is an excellent time to act on the truth that vibrant intimacy involves the two of you inspiring each other to fulfill your highest callings. Do whatever it takes to make both of you braver and bolder as you learn more about who you are meant to be.
der aloud about their simmering dreams and evolving philosophies. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #1: When you think you’ve figured someone out completely, the relationship withers.) In fact, let’s make this one of your assignments for the next five months: Heighten and nurture your nosiness about the beautiful people you love. Treat each conversation as an expedition into unexplored territory. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #2: A great way to stoke their passion for you and your passion for them is to believe there’s always more to discover about each other.)
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Ecologists studying symbiosis know that successful partnerships aren’t always between similar organisms. Some bonds link the fortunes of radically different creatures, like clownfish and sea anemones or oxpeckers and buffalo. Each supplies resources or protection the other lacks, often assuring they live more successfully together than they would on their own. This is useful information for you right now. At least one of the allies you need looks nothing like you. Their genius is orthogonal to yours, or they have skills you don’t. The blend may not be comfortable, but I bet it’s the precise intelligence you need to achieve what you can’t accomplish alone.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Can you care for stressed people without making it your duty to rescue them? Can you offer support without being taken advantage of? I hope so, Pisces. Life is inviting you to be more skilled about expressing your love without compromising your own interests. How? First, offer affection without signing up for endless service. Second, don’t let your empathy blur into entanglement. Third, monitor your urge to care so it doesn’t weaken your sovereignty. Your gift for soothing others’ struggles evokes my deep respect, but it’s most effective when it’s subtle and relaxed. Give people room to carry out their own necessary work.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
PUBLIC NOTICE
As required by Tennessee Code
Annotated Section 67-5-903, the Shelby County Assessor will be mailing Tangible Personal Property Schedules to all active businesses Within Shelby County by Friday, January 9, 2026. The filing Deadline is March 2, 2026. Please call the Shelby County Assessor’s office at 901-222-7002, if you needassistance.
TV By Chris McCoy
The Agony of Defeat at the Winter Olympics
e opening weekend of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics was a wild ride.
very two years or so, I pay attention to sports, because that’s when the Olympics roll around. Having long ago lost all interest in mainstream American ball fondling, the opening weekend of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics had everything a casual spectacle hound like myself could want from the games: Stadiumspanning production numbers, humanist values, extreme speed, heartbreak, and lame commentary.
I view the Olympic opening ceremonies as one of the premiere outlets for avant garde theater and dance, and while it’s impossible to top the 2024 Paris summer games for sheer unhinged weirdness, the Italians did not disappoint. When I saw the dancers dressed as espresso makers, I made the chef’s kiss gesture towards my TV.
e summer games have the longest pedigree and the most accessible events: Who can run the fastest? Who can jump the highest? Who can throw a heavy metal frisbee the farthest? e winter
games have a harder edge: Who can survive this icy death plunge? Take this gun on your cross-country ski trip and see how many targets you can hit. Here are all the ways your whimsical ice dance is inadequate.
e brutality was evident during the opening weekend. During the qualifying round of the women’s freeski slopestyle, a newish event heavily in uenced by skateboarding, most of the competitors couldn’t complete the course upright.
the American a medal in the big air event; Martin later revealed that he was competing with a broken arm.
e skiathlon competitors repeatedly climbed a snowy slope the size of a 10-story building. e rst luge runs were so close, 0.8 seconds separated the leader from 15th place. In the speed skating arena, records were falling le and right.
Italian skater Francesca Lollobrigida came from behind to set an Olympic record in front of a delirious hometown crowd. It was her 35th birthday. In
the men’s 5000m speed skating event, Norwegian Sander Eitrem demolished the previous Olympic record. His Italian opponent also beat the previous Olympic record, but didn’t even win his own race. A split screen showed the elation of snowboarder Su Yiming and the pain of snowboarder Ollie Martin as the Chinese athlete denied
e saga of American skier Lindsey Vonn produced the most gutwrenching moments of opening weekend. e 41-year-old was going to retire a er a distinguished career that included ve World Cup titles and becoming the rst American woman to win a gold medal in the downhill event, but she decided to return for one more Olympics to ski the historic Cortina course. Despite tearing an ACL in training, she was in third place a er the qualifying run. On race day, American Breezy Johnson opened with a run that one of NBC’s commentators called the best he had ever seen. With the broadcast team hyping her return, Vonn looked sti in warmups. At race time she roared out of the gate, only to wipe out seconds into
PHOTO: COURTESY IOC
A lone cross country skier tests the Olympic track at Val di Fiemme near Milan, Italy.
TV By Chris McCoy
her run. NBC’s state-of-the-art highspeed cameras captured her pinwheeling down the mountain from multiple angles. The crowd gasped and grew silent as Vonn’s screams of agony echoed across the mountainside. She ended her skiing career being airlifted from the slope with a broken leg.
Broadcasting the Olympics is the most gargantuan feat in television production, and the games have never looked better. The Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy are spectacular from every angle, and the addition of high-speed camera drones, derived from weapons refined on Ukrainian battlefields, have brought breathtaking new depth to the skiing and snowboarding events.
Unfortunately, NBC’s editorial
choices have not lived up to the operation’s technical perfection. When Vice President JD Vance was roundly booed during the opening ceremonies, NBC cut the footage from their primetime coverage. After freestyle skier Hunter Hess said he only represented “the things that I believe are good about the U.S.,” President Trump called him a “loser.” Snowboarders Chloe Kim and Eileen Gu spoke up to defend Hess. The Olympics aims to unite humanity, but even high in the snowy Dolomites, there’s no escape from America’s national meltdown.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics is broadcasting on NBC and streaming on Peacock through February 22nd.
SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 28TH
Mother/Daughter Obsessions
Tea, food, dance, and tness — what we’re loving right now.
My daughter and I are quite di erent people, but we also have basic things in common. For example, we’re both young. She’s 12 years young and I’m 42 years young. See? Same but di erent. She has endless energy and strong opinions. I have a bedtime and a heating pad. Yet, somehow, we manage to obsess over a few of the same things. And every once in a while, we like to take a moment to indulge in a couple of obsessions.
One place we are both obsessing over is Prince Tea House on Germantown Parkway in Cordova. is place is amazing and has the best customer service ever. When you rst walk in, be ready to be wowed with the decor and ambience. It’s the prettiest and most elegant place. And the tea pots! ose and the tea cups are so dainty and pretty.
Prince Tea House has the best tea I have ever tasted in my life. My current crush is the English To ee Milk Tea. I get it at 100 percent sweetness and sub the milk with oat milk. It is so yummy! My daughter loves the Prince Brown Sugar Boba Milk. She literally relaxes into her soul with every sip. I was able to get a tiny taste and trust me, it’s just that good. Her go-to meal is curly fries and Bu alo wings. I’m in love with the smoked salmon sandwich, or the katsu chicken sandwich. Oh! And the ginger salad dressing is the perfect consistency. It’s not too runny and lays well on the side salad. We’re chatty-catties until the food shows up. en all you hear is low yums of satisfaction.
Nevertheless, my daughter and I always make the same mistake. We order and eat so much food that we never leave room for dessert. I know their dessert is good. ere’s always a dessert on somebody’s table being devoured with the most satis ed-looking faces. But a full stomach never stops my daughter from ordering her dessert to go. And she always orders the New York-style cheesecake.
Pro-Tips:
• Evenings are pleasant and quiet. Since they don’t close until 9 p.m., you can enjoy a nice night.
• If you plan on going on a Saturday, try between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., a er the morning rush, but before the lunch rush.
• Order all the things you want! You can always take it to go.
We both enjoy being active with group exercise. My current obsession is GRIT Fitness and hers is Collage Dance Collective, more speci cally their ballet program. GRIT Fitness is located on Poplar Avenue across from East High School. I friggin’ love this place. e workouts are not too hard but they’re de nitely not easy! My favorite classes are Body Attack and Body Pump. Body Attack is your cardio workout that has a few strength and core components too. What I love most about Body Attack is that those who can’t do the move the instructor’s doing are encouraged to modify it or do something else completely di erent. I can’t tell you how many times my rhythm dissipated, leaving my ancestors laughing in their graves. So what did I do? I improvised! I just moved my body however it wanted to move. Nobody batted an eye or looked at me like I was crazy. Body Pump, on the other hand, is strength training. Ladies, listen! You will not bulk up from li ing weights, but you will get stronger. If you’ve never li ed before, this class is perfect. But, full transparency: I was sore for two days a er this class. Yet I did not give up, I just leaned (literally) in. ere will never be any pictures of this productive struggle!
My daughter is obsessed with ballet. She has been doing ballet since she was 5 years old. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were dancing at the Overton Park (then Levitt) Shell when she told me, “Mom, you have to put me in ballet!” Fast-forward seven years later and she’s still crazy about ballet. She practices at Collage Dance Collective three days a week for one and a half to two hours per class. And she loves every minute of it. is year is particularly special — she began her en pointe training. Do her toes hurt? Yes. Does she complain? Yes. Does she ever want to stop? Never! ey recently had Observation Week where parents could come and see a class. e level at which these young girls practice is unreal and impressive. ey learn so many French terms, positions, and movements. And at Collage, excellence is the expectation.
At 12 and 42, we are very much the same … and very di erent. Di erent obsessions, di erent stages, di erent shoes — pointe shoes for her, sneakers for me. But we meet in the middle over some good tea and boba. And as long as there’s tea to sip and cheesecake waiting somewhere down the line, I’ll happily keep indulging in this season of mother-daughter obsessions.
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: COURTESY PATRICIA LOCKHART Cheesecake and tea at Prince Tea House
