In my business, aesthetics are everything. We believe that how you represent yourself says a lot about who you are. We chose i-bank because they are a visible and positive representative of Memphis. Now–seven years later–that choice has paid dividends in the form of convenient loans, personal service, and above all, a relationship that we’re proud to show off. Thanks i-bank, we couldn’t have done it without you.
Start your story with i-bank today, and find out why being proudly independent is the most rewarding way to bank.
i-bankonline.com
Bizzy Walker Eden Spa & Laser
May is for Ladies
May is a perfect time to recognize and celebrate the special women in our lives. From mothers and wives to sisters and friends, women exhibit a special balance of strength, compassion and resilience. In Memphis this is on full display.
In our Ladies’ issue, we highlight a few of the women and female-owned or managed businesses that are assets to our city. Founded in 1885, the Woman’s Exchange provides an opportunity for seamstresses and other artisans to showcase and sell their wares, including hand-smocked baptism gowns and hand-painted note cards. Make time to eat lunch at the Woman’s Exchange Tea Room after you shop and enjoy some genuine Southern cooking served by a team of gracious volunteers.
Nikki McVean, owner of Danes Road Antiques, shows us that hard work pays off. Alongside her three daughters, Nikki pores through booths at antique markets looking for unique finds to help customers create the right statement piece for themselves or their daughters and granddaughters.
Audrey Taylor Gonzales -- writer, priest, volunteer, theater sponsor and art collector -- is living life to its fullest and displaying resilience and empathy at every step. She served as chaplain in an Uruguayan prison, helping each inmate “be treated like human beings and children of God”.
Establishing strong bonds and building communities can start at any age. Whitney Wieck, co-owner of RSVP Stationers, recently threw her daughter Virginia a three year old birthday party complete with cookie decorating and special sunglasses for all attendees. Whitney and the team at RSVP have a wide variety of napkins, cups and invitations that can be personalized to make any event feel special.
With Mother’s Day and graduation ceremonies filling the month, we offer some ideas to make sure your gift giving is “spot on”.
Take time this month to appreciate the many women who have had an impact on your life. Thank them for their special ability to show strength and compassion. Make an extra effort to frequent the many women-owned businesses in Memphis and see the difference they are making.
Sarah Voigt, Uday Sripathi, Annabella Charles Photography
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto
LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Learn
Proverbs 3:5-6
inside the issue
Lindley Martens
An
Kong Wee Pang
From
Jewelry with Meaning
Nikki
The Reverend Audrey Taylor Gonzalez shares inspiring experiences from her distinguished life as a writer, priest, volunteer, theater sponsor and collector of fine art, including this beautiful Mary Sims portrait of her.
Dr. Cannon is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic specialist in hand and upper extremity orthopaedics. He also focuses on general orthopaedics and is a member of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Dr. Cannon received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He is a member of the volunteer faculty at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and enjoys working with patients at the Church Health Center.
Areas of focus:
Elbow • Hand & Wrist • Sports Medicine • General Orthopedics
Dr. Cannon possesses a 4.9/5.0-star rating based on 516 reviews
BY JEFF MCMILLEN
A peek inside a three-year-old’s tea party, where custom paper and thoughtful details made all the magic
PAPER PERFECT
When it comes to custom-designed paper goods, no one does it quite like Curry Blanton and her sister Whitney Wieck. The pair behind RSVP Stationers know precisely how to help clients wow their guests through all things custom-made and personalized. When Whitney started planning her daughter Virginia’s third birthday, she knew exactly how to create those extra-special details that make a party unforgettable, even for a three-year-old and her friends.
Virginia’s tea party was every little girl’s dream: sweet, whimsical and filled with charming personal touches. The theme? Join us for tea; Virginia is three! From paper cups designed to look like fine china to a strawberry cake—her absolute favorite—every detail reflected the birthday girl’s personality.
Of course, the custom invitations and napkins set the tone. “The invitation is the first impression,” Whitney says. “If it’s cool and interesting, your guests won’t forget the party—it gets them excited before the event even starts!” Her other pro tip? Always order extra personalized items like napkins and cups so you can keep using them long after the party is over. Whitney takes it one step further: “If you don’t include identifiers like the date of the party, then you will have personalized cocktail napkins to break out anytime you’re hosting!” A gift that keeps on giving. Lush florals from Le Fleur brought the tables to life, and a cookie decorating station was a hit. Three-tiered stands overflowed with flower-shaped sugar cookies, bowls of bright sprinkles and piping bags filled with
colorful icing. And for a final special touch, sunglasses and friendship bracelet party favors added a bit of spunk to the day for a birthday girl who loves to accessorize!
As a creative force behind RSVP Stationers, Whitney knows that personalization makes all the difference—whether for a child’s birthday or a wedding. “Etiquette is important, but so is making sure the invitation feels like you ,” she says. “If you really listen, it’s easy to tell when a client wants your opinion, and when they just want guidance.”
From the pink invitation to the last bite of strawberry cake, Virginia’s tea party was a celebration filled with fun, creativity and thoughtful details—proof that a little personalization goes a long way in making memories that last.
REID WESSON
Reid Wesson, CFA and CFP®, has served as a financial analyst and advisor at Reliant for 15 years. Reid has intentionally built a career and home for his growing family in the River City—he and his wife recently welcomed their third child. He is a diehard Grizzlies and Cubs fan and actively supports his alma maters MUS and Ole Miss.
People are a priority for Reid. His ability to meet each individual client where they are and give sound advice empowers them to manage their financial process with confidence and, in turn, enjoy a full life.
AUDREY TAYLOR GONZALEZ
ARTICLE BY MORGAN ZANONE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY UDAY SRIPATHI
THE REVEREND SHARES INSPIRING EXPERIENCES FROM HER DISTINGUISHED LIFE OF SERVICE
“I am absolutely happy with my life,” says Audrey Taylor Gonzalez. And to say Audrey has lived her life to the fullest is an understatement. A writer, priest, volunteer, theater sponsor and art collector, Audrey has taken her many talents to every corner of the globe, filling many different roles and fulfilling the needs of others. In addition to her time in Memphis, she has lived in Tanzania, Wyoming, California, Uruguay and England, where she studied seminary. Her love of travel and learning go hand in glove with her adventurous and open-minded approach to life.
Raised on a horse farm in Germantown, Audrey began her writing career at Hollins College (now Hollins University) in Virginia. In addition to founding a magazine at Hollins, she wrote for The Commercial Appeal during in the summers and full-time after college. During her time at the newspaper, she traveled throughout Africa while on assignment, settling in Tanzania (Tanganyika, at the time) for two years.
In 1976, wanting to write an article about local barbecue joints, Audrey visited and rated 60 barbecue pits. This resulting article, published in Memphis Magazine, inspired the first Memphis in May International Barbecue Cooking Contest in 1978. She was asked to judge that inaugural contest and continued to judge for several more years.
In 1986, Audrey moved to Montevideo, Uruguay, from California. During that time, she fell in love with the area and became involved with the Anglican church. After some locals vandalized the cathedral, she became inspired to volunteer there. Audrey initiated and operated a soup kitchen out of the basement at Holy Trinity to support the under-resourced community of Montevideo. With encouragement from the head priest, Audrey felt called to explore the prospect of ordained ministry. In 1995, after earning a certificate in theology from St. John’s College in Nottingham, England, Audrey became the first female Anglican priest in South America.
After returning to Holy Trinity as an ordained priest, she began volunteering in the Uruguayan prisons. This was when the real passion of her life began to take root. Audrey served as chaplain to the prisoners there. “I needed them to know what it is like to be treated like human beings and children of God,” she explains. She donated children’s toys and candy to the prisoners during the holidays so that they would have gifts to give their children. For many of these prisoners, it was the first time they had ever been able to give their children presents. Audrey also founded a theater troupe at the prison in Montevideo to perform a play written by a Uruguayan author. She convinced authorities to allow these prisoners, some convicted of violent crimes, to leave the premises to perform in a public theater. Many local dignitaries attended the performance, and all considered it a huge success. This rewarding program took hold at other prisons throughout the area. When asked about this groundbreaking volunteer work, Audrey humbly stated, “I wanted to introduce the prisoners to options that would help them lead meaningful and productive lives upon release.”
In 2004, Audrey moved back to Memphis and continued her ministry here. She joined the staff at Calvary Episcopal Church, a downtown church known for its outreach to the underserved downtown community. She served as chaplain for the Juvenile Court. Because of her work there, Audrey was recently featured in the Tony Allen: The Grindfather | Memphis Grizzlies Documentary where she brought Tony in as a motivational speaker for incarcerated youth. Audrey describes her work in the Memphis prison system by saying, “My true love is the Memphis Police Department – always has been!”
Throughout all the chapters in Audrey’s life, she has nurtured a love of art. She covered the arts for The Commercial Appeal and The Memphis Press-Scimitar. She opened an art gallery for a couple of years, although she admits it wasn’t very successful. She counts many well-known local artists as dear friends, including Mary Sims, Jack Robinson and Terry Twyman. In her early works, Mary Sims was known for her portraits, which were comprised of flat forms using bold colors. Standing before her own portrait, Audrey giggles, “Because we were friends, I modeled all the time for Mary when she painted these portraits. She used my face over and over. I can’t imagine how many homes my portrait hangs in now!”
Audrey’s home is brimming with a lifetime collection of paintings, sculptures and photographs, including a photo of her audience with Pope Francis. Most paintings reflect her priesthood and her family, whom she dearly loves. It’s unmistakable that Audrey is happy with her life!
Audrey received most of these handmade clergy stoles as gifts from parishioners. She collected the others from local artisans while traveling.
Photography by Annabella Charles Photography
Photography by Annabella Charles Photography
Photography by Sarah Voigt
LINDLEY Martens
In the world of interior design, where trends can shift as swiftly as the seasons, Lindley Martens is a beacon for timeless elegance. With a philosophy grounded in classical principles, she approaches her projects with a reverence for history that transforms spaces into true narratives.
“I have a classical perspective regarding design,” Lindley says. “I feel that good design is inherently timeless, and when a client wants to do something too ‘of the moment’ in regards to anything beyond a pillow or a throw, I swear them away,” she adds with a smile.
She seamlessly integrates antiques and classical architectural elements into her work, creating interiors that are both sophisticated and inviting. “I believe art and antiques can really set the mood for the room. When I think about creating a space, it’s just like dressing a person. Where are you going, how do you want to feel, what’s the story you want to tell? Certain elements and decorative objects really convey those feelings. That’s a part of my process that truly matters,” she explains, emphasizing how even a small vignette of vintage treasures infuses character and meaning into a room.
CONTINUED >
An Interior Designer with a Classical Perspective and Contemporary Vision
ARTICLE BY AMY BIRDSONG GOLDEN
Photography by Annabella Charles Photography
Photography by Annabella Charles Photography
When working on new builds or renovations, a client can be overwhelmed by the numerous selections. Lindley stresses the importance of utilizing historical precedent, specifically in architectural elements. “In design, I view historical precedent as informed rule following - or breaking. It’s like if you know what good manners are, you know when it’s ok to bend or break them,” she explains. “This also applies to designing or selecting hardware, crown moulding profiles or architectural details such as the shape of an arch.” By harmonizing historical elements with modern lines, she achieves a delicate balance that feels both striking and serene.
Lindley credits light, vistas and order as guiding principles in her work. “Light creates an emotional resonance,” she observes. She envisions spaces where furniture placement and architectural elements allow for visual flow, creating focal points that invite the eye to wander from one room to the next.
“Ideally, there are windows on more than one wall. If there isn’t a vista naturally, from one room to the next or if you can’t see outside – you need a beautiful place for your eye to land. I want your eye to see something lovely, beyond just the room that you are in,” she notes. With order comes balance. Lindley’s meticulous attention to order ensures that every piece, every texture and every hue contribute to a cohesiveness, resulting in spaces that feel curated but approachable.
Lately, Lindley has been busy working with the children and grandchildren of longtime clients. “It’s been really special to understand their experience of growing up in the spaces that I helped create. And they want to recreate a sense of them. They aren’t trying to replicate their mother’s or grandmother’s house, but rather capture the essence and feeling of the homes they grew up in. A favorite antique of their mother’s or a painting that was placed in a living room that I designed, may now land with the next generation. That’s a legacy I am so moved to be a part of my business,” says Lindley.
Lindley has personally curated an international collection of antique, midcentury, classical and modern treasures for her interiors boutique, Laurel Rd. Antiques & Modern, at 680 South Perkins (@laurelrdantiquesandmodern).
Photography by Annabella Charles Photography
Kong Wee Pang
FROM MALAYSIA TO MEMPHIS, SHE TRANSFORMS PUBLIC SPACES, BRANDS AND EVERYDAY MOMENTS INTO VIBRANT EXPERIENCES
ARTICLE BY KIT GARROTT
Brooks Museum - 2023
Kong Wee Pang is a creative force who has called Memphis home since 2001. “I’m a little bit of everything,” she says with a laugh, and that’s exactly what makes her work stand out. Kong Wee moved to the U.S. from Malaysia in 2001 after graduating from the Singapore Nanyang Academy of Fine Art. Since then, she’s earned a degree in Fine Art and Design and an MFA from the Memphis College of Art, co-founded the design powerhouse Taropop Studio and left her mark on projects from New York to Spain and her beloved Memphis, a city she calls “great for designers and artists.”
Her work — design and illustration, public art and fine art — is anything but predictable. From wrapping the Dixon’s van in vibrant, dreamlike patterns to transforming the Brooks Museum patio into a summer wonderland with color- drenched umbrellas, Kong Wee doesn’t just make art; she builds sensory-rich experiences. Her Overton Park sequin bird glimmers in the sunlight, while a rabbit sculpture at the Scheidt Family
Performing Arts Center holds court with a playful yet powerful 700-pound presence.
Kong Wee’s fluid style cannot be put into one box — a rebellion against the clean, cold lines of an increasingly digital world. “Not everything has to be perfect. We have to appreciate the imperfections as humans,” she says. Her designs pulse with layered textures, bold color and movement, as if the art itself is mid-dance. Take her Wiseacre Brewing Co. ‘Mikx Tape’ design: a vivid homage to Miami’s neon nightlife, complete with cassette tapes, alligators and palm trees — a mashup with palpable personality.
Public art is where she’s flexed her creative muscles and her project management chops since 2014. Her I-40 underpass project, a win from a national competition, proves that art can light up even the most mundane spaces — literally — with LED lights cutting through the darkness. “I like the challenge that public art poses. You are working with and against the elements, creating something to last.”
CONTINUED >
Her public art enhances a daily commute to work or walk in the park.
ArcherMalmo Advertising - 2010
Beyond public art, Kong Wee and her husband (another Memphis College of Art alum) run Taropop Studio in Midtown. Now specializing in design and branding for clients as diverse as Sephora, Hilton, FedEx and St. Jude, their journey started with selling $25 prints from a tiny booth at Cooper-Young Fest. “We never thought we’d start a studio, but here we are,” she laughs. “It’s crazy to think we went from selling prints on the street to working with global brands.”
For Kong Wee, art is a personal evolution. “You have to inject your inner self and emotion to stand apart these days. People change, emotions change. If you force yourself to stay within a certain style, it’s hard to let yourself be refreshed by new inspiration.”
about the artist:
“We don’t need to compare. We need to remind ourselves we can create at our own pace. I must ground myself in what’s real to make something new. Compete with yourself because you want to improve!
The fine art is about myself. I’m my own boss, and there’s more emotion. It gives me freedom with commissions because I know they like my work. It’s a way for me to show people how I think. You will find your people who appreciate your work.”
Brooks Museum - 2023
Store Credit
For the second Sunday in May, make sure you gift... like a mother. Make it thoughtful, make it fun. Don’t forget to write a card. Elevate your gifting game by sourcing local antiques or vintage wares—because what mom doesn’t love a beautiful thing with a backstory? Heirloom House in Chickasaw Oaks has a beautiful selection of Chinoiserie. These hand-painted porcelain pieces are adorned with an array of florals, fruit, birds and intricate, colorful patterns. Bonus points if you take the vase to your favorite local florist for an arrangement.
Heirloom House
MOTHER’S DAY
For mothers of fur babies and children alike, who are left to question the smells in their home. Not just any candle will do. The fancy candle algorithm is like finding the perfect shade of lipstick – transformative! Ménage Fine Stationery & Gifts carries the Linnea line and our favorite scents: Lilac, Heirloom Tomato and Crushed Mint. CONTINUED >
Ménage Fine Stationery & Gifts
What a way to elevate her everyday tee. Mimi of Amulet by Brave Design designs these burning hearts, a symbol of never-ending love. Handcarved by artisans in Bali, the base is natural ebony, and the flame is abalone shell. A reminder that love is the thread that weaves us all together.
Amulet by Brave Design
Babies don’t keep, and neither do the chances to sport a mommy-and-me look. Matching Lilly Pulitzer dresses are the perfect solution— delightfully vibrant and effortlessly chic but not too saccharine. The Pink Door can take care of the style. And you? You’ve given her the gift of a memory with her daughter because she is nailing this motherhood thing.
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The Pink Door
Is she headed west for the summer? Kittie Kyle will get her ready with a complete look. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Mojave Desert in California, these jewelry pieces are designed by former sculptor Mikal Winn. A nod to her adventurous spirit. A unique mix of rugged nature and urban sparkle - it’s cowgirl chic without the dust!
Kittie Kyle
MIDTOWN 3050 Walnut Grove Rd. Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 458-8000
Nikki McVean transforms antique finds into modern heirlooms, creating one-of-a kind jewelry
ARTICLE BY JEANNIE TABOR
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH VOIGT
McVean is a local jewelry designer and owner of Danes Road Antiques, through which she sells her specialty pieces largely at local home shows. Her one-of-a-kind jewelry reflects a keen eye for beauty and a willingness to work hard to source her items. She specializes in creating and selling antique rings, necklaces, pins and bracelets that can be passed down for generations.
Nikki
“Mainly, I purchase jewelry and antique items that I am drawn to and that I would want to wear myself.”
Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE JEWELRY BUSINESS?
A: My father took an early retirement and began a second career selling antique jewelry when I was young. I truly grew up going to every flea market we saw on our travels.
Q: WHERE DO YOU FIND THE ANTIQUE JEWELRY YOU USE IN YOUR CREATIONS?
A: I love going on buying trips to Brimfield, Massachusetts, where I purchase a majority of the jewelry I sell. I have met some amazing people in the business and they have become dear friends. They will reach out throughout the year to sell me special pieces that they know I would like. Brimfield is divided into fields and I go to every one each day that I am there because you never know if there are new dealers. The weather
can be 30 degrees and raining or it can be 90 - or both all in one day. It’s a place of comfortable shoes, layers and a good attitude!
Q: YOUR JEWELRY IS BEAUTIFUL AND SPECIAL. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHAT TO PURCHASE?
A: Ahead of the trips, I never know what I am going to buy. Mainly, I purchase jewelry and antique items that I am drawn to and that I would want to wear myself. I will always buy starburst pins to turn into pendants because I absolutely love them. I think they are the perfect mix of antique jewelry that is also somehow modern in design. I also buy antique items that are unusual or interesting, like men’s pocket watches, and repurpose them into necklaces. I put all of the chains together, but any soldering is done by an amazing bench jeweler.
Q: ARE THERE CERTAIN PIECES OF JEWELRY THAT YOU GET THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
A: My personal favorite look is a mix of different types of jewelry worn all together. My love of turquoise is a problem and there really isn’t a piece of snake jewelry that I don’t like. I hate snakes but I love the idea of new life, wisdom and reinvention. Who doesn’t need that! I’m loving bird jewelry right now. The Victorians saw birds as a message of love and loyalty, and then the more recent pieces symbolize freedom and hope. And a butterfly is deeply personal to me because I love the idea of the creation of something so beautiful coming out of a period of darkness.
Q: WHERE DO YOU DERIVE THE MOST SATISFACTION IN YOUR BUSINESS?
A: I really love the process of working with my customers to put all of the pieces together, creating beautiful jewelry that has meaning. I had a grandmother from Illinois drive to my house with her granddaughter and her bag of inherited jewelry. We sat at my dining room table and put these antique watch chains together and the resulting necklace became a piece that united four generations! It’s really the core of what I do. It may not always be inherited jewelry, but I really want each and every piece to mean something and to be an expression of the individual. There’s just something special about creating the right piece for each person.
Q: YOU HAVE THREE WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN VARIOUS STAGES OF YOUR BUSINESS. HOW HAS THIS EVOLVED?
A: I love having my girls (and their friends) help me with Danes Road! They all have a great eye and truly know how to mix their antique jewelry with their Amazon finds. And to me, that is what I want. They really love a “stack” of rings, bracelets and necklaces and have created their own lines at Danes Road. I have brought all of my girls with me to Brimfield. It allows me to see antique jewelry through their eyes. Each daughter has a specific style and an opinion on what I should buy. I have no idea if they will follow me into this business, but I love that they appreciate antiques and are not afraid to hustle.
“I really love the process of working with my customers to put all of the pieces together, creating beautiful jewelry that has meaning.”
Q: WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
A: I have loved expanding my business and having Danes Road hit the road to stores and homes outside of Memphis. I don’t know if others feel this way, but I get overwhelmed by imposter syndrome before traveling to these shows. I worry about whether my jewelry will translate to these new places. But I feel like it has been such
a great area of growth for my business and for me personally. I have loved being in homes and businesses throughout the South and the Midwest. I am currently working on new locations!
Follow Nikki on Instagram @danes_road_antiques or online danesroadantiques.com
Memphis’ marketplace for handmade goods, fine dining and iconic charm
ARTICLE BY MARGARET LEDBETTER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY UDAY SRIPATHI
Celebrating Memphis craft, community and service, the Woman’s Exchange of Memphis endures as a proud reminder of the power of women working together to create and serve others.
On a recent Tuesday at the Woman’s Exchange, tucked back on Racine Street in the heart of midtown, the sewing room was buzzing, families were gathering for lunch in the iconic Tea Room and multiple generations of women were shopping for hand-sewn infant and children’s clothes, blankets, bonnets and gifts.
Training in the Sewing Room - Sewing Room Manager and Apprentice Cari Harris
Since its founding in 1885, the Woman’s Exchange of Memphis has been an integral part of the River City and remains committed to its mission of “helping others help themselves” by showcasing and selling the handiwork of hundreds of consignors and by training and employing highly skilled seamstresses.
In its early days, the Exchange operated in a remote corner of The Peabody Hotel. Women would contribute their handcrafted goods and, in return, the Exchange would sell these items to benefit both the artisans and the community at large. This spirit of service and empowerment quickly gained traction, attracting women who were passionate about supporting one another and their city. The combination of philanthropic endeavors and the promotion of Southern craftsmanship has remained at the heart of the Exchange.
Woman’s Exchange Volunteers and Executive Director Dena Nance
The Tea Room is open for lunch four days a week
Over the years, it has evolved from a small, informal operation into one of the city’s most cherished institutions run by a handful of employees and a dedicated team of 125 volunteers currently led by President Denise Stewart.
“We are not a pop-up shop,” says Executive Director Dena Nance. “We are mentoring consignors to develop and sell their crafts and build their brands.” All proceeds are reinvested into the nonprofit organization which also coordinates two major fundraisers each year including the WE Consign Treasure Shop to kick off the new year and the popular Christmas Shop, open from late October through December.
Families across the country collect the delicate handmade batiste gowns sewn with love in the storied sewing room. Sewing Room Manager Sandy Moore sources the finest fabrics, threads and details to make each gown an heirloom. Many of her creations are passed down through generations. “That is what makes us special,” says Barbara McKinnon, past president of the Exchange. “These gowns stay in families, and they bring them back to Memphis. We have clients all over the country who appreciate the kind of craftsmanship and hospitality we offer.”
There are no fancy machines in the sewing room, just a vintage sewing table with a few machines, delicate fabrics and lace, hand-carved mother of pearl buttons, a rainbow of threads and handcut patterns as well as committed artisans. The designs are enduring – as most any Memphis mom or grandmother can identify the “Ne m’embrasse pas ” (embrace me not) dress, the iconic “left/right” gown or the pom pom sweater.
“We are not a pop-up shop,” says Executive Director Dena Nance.
“We are mentoring consignors to develop and sell their crafts and build their brands.”
Also integral to the Woman’s Exchange experience is the Tea Room which opened in 1962. Chef Rev Bailey and his staff offer a unique lunch menu five days a week, the most popular being “Tenderloin Tuesdays” and “Catfish Fridays.” Every Tuesday the culinary team recruits an up-and-coming chef to sample their goods at “Tasting Tuesday” events.
Consistent with the women’s mission to coach and mentor Memphis youth, the Tea Room provides internships to high school students who learn practical work skills like preparing food and serving customers. It is a safe environment for training and interacting with diners.
Through its continued focus on craft, community and service, the Women’s Exchange of Memphis stands as a proud reminder of the power of women coming together to create, empower and support one another.
Tea Room Chef Rev Bailey
Pimm’s Cup
ARTICLE BY KIT GARROTT
The perfect pitcher for a Mother’s Day brunch, graduation lunch or afternoon of Mahjong
The Pimm’s Cup is a classic English gin cocktail. This refreshing drink provides a sip and a snack with a generous amount of fruit in each serving. Use ginger beer or ginger ale if you want that spicy ginger taste. Muddle jalapeño in lemon juice and add to your pitcher to add some kick. Add any seasonal fruits to your pitcher - the more the merrier!
Serves 4 -
Double the recipe for a pitcher!
ingredients:
• 2 cans Sanpellegrino Limonataor your choice of clear citrus soda
• 1 cup Pimm’s No. 1
• ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
• 8 strawberries, quartered
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 8 fresh, torn basil leaves
• For Garnish:
• 1 lemon, sliced
• Mint Leaves
directions:
Step 1. Add sliced and diced fruit, Pimm’s and lemon juice to the pitcher. Stir to combine thoroughly.
Step 2. When ready to serve, add ice, pour the soda of choice into the pitcher and stir.
Step 3. Serve over ice in a highball glass. Be sure to get a healthy amount of fruit in each glass. Top each glass with a splash of dry gin if you’re looking for a stronger cocktail.
Step 4. Garnish with mint and lemon - cheers!
DAVID LUSK GALLERY
97 Tillman . Memphis
Twenty-Three Insects: Hercules Beetles , watercolor on paper, 20 x 20”, 2024
