MEET THE STAFF
EDITORIAL BOARD
REPORTERS
EVE PAI • KIM HUANG • STELLA PITZER
EMILY COLE • FARAH ARSHAD • GEMMA FERGUSON
LOUISE LAWHEAD • MIA FRIEDMAN • RUBA ELABIAD
ADDIE PHILLIPS • LYLA FURLONG • MAYRA ARSHAD
ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS
MARY ELIZABETH AUTRY • MARGARET FORE • JILLIAN DOBBINS
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS
ELLA TOWNSEND • BELLA CONNELL • CALLA HENTON
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE 3: VOTING HERE OR THERE
PAGE 4: IN DEFENSE OF THE MEMPHIS MUSIC SCENE
PAGE 5: WASTING LESS TO HELP MORE
PAGE 6/7: THE COOL BEANS OF MEMPHIS
PAGE 8/9: THESE MEMPHIANS HAVE PAWS AND A TAIL
PAGE 10/11: SPACED OUT
PAGE 12/13: ONE STEP AT A TIME
PAGE 14/15: WHY MEMPHIS?
PAGE 16: A VISIT FROM THE MAYOR
WEBSITE INSTAGRAM
MISSION STATEMENT
Tatler is a student-run news publication dedicated to sharing school, local and national news with the St. Mary’s Upper School with integrity, honesty and accountability. We work to deliver unbiased and impartial information. For any questions related to our policies, please contact the email below.
CONTACT US
Connect with our Editor-in-Chief, Wallis Rogin, and the Tatler advisor, Margaret Robertson, at wrogin@stmarysmemphis.net and mrobertson@stmarysschool.org.
COVER ART BY TRACY ZHANG
WALLIS ROGIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MC HITT MANAGING EDITOR
TRACY ZHANG ART EDITOR
VOTING HERE OR THERE
IN COLLEGE, WE WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE WHERE WE CAST OUR BALLOTS
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Four years from now the vast majority of current upper school students at St. Mary’s will be 18 years old, most will be enrolled in college, and consequently, many will be living somewhere that is not Memphis, Tenn. Those of us who leave Memphis in the next four years will have to make a choice: we must decide between voting where we went to high school or where we are attending college.
National voting laws allow college students to choose where they will cast their votes. They can vote in person in their college town or cast an absentee ballot in their hometown (presuming that they continue to have a permanent address there).
But making that choice means asking yourself a lot of questions. Where is your community? Do you care more about federal or state and local elections? What issues do you care most about? Is your college town in a swing state that will affect the electoral college? Where will you have the most impact?
During the years that we are in college, there will be local, state, midterm and primary elections in addition to another presidential election in 2028. Each of these is an opportunity for us to exercise our right to vote if we are eligible.
Historically, there is low voter turnout for people ages 18 to 29. Less than half of eligible youth show up to the polls, unlike older voters who have the highest voter turnout. Younger voters also tend to differ from older voters on the issues they care about most. According to a poll conducted by researchers at Tufts University, young voters care most about the economy, climate change and guns in the 2024 election.
Because presidential elections are decided not by popular vote, but by the electoral college, a vote in a swing state can potentially have more of an impact.
In the vast majority of states, electors cast ballots on behalf of their constituents for whoever wins the popular vote in their state. In short, this is a winnertake-all system. Most states are solidly Republican or Democrat, and a vote cast there is not likely to change the outcome due to the electoral college.
But in a few “swing” states, where it is closer to 50-50, individual voters have a
not know the community as well as permanent residents, who may be more invested in that particular area.
Is it fair to cast a vote there?
Our answer is yes, vote where you can maximize your impact.
Because we come from Tennessee, a state where federal elections are not competitive, voting in another state — specifically a swing state — can increase
larger influence on the election.
So let’s say the college you choose is in a swing state. Should you vote in a place where you don’t permanently live?
If you leave the Memphis area for college, then you are joining a new community, but one you may only live in for around eight or nine months out of the year. College students also might
our impact on the huge elections that will determine the course of our nation’s future.
How do you go about it?
Depending on the state, there are different voting requirements, which can complicate the process for college students. Some states, like North Carolina and Pennsylvania, allow students to
use their student IDs to vote, but others, like Arizona, do not. If you want to vote there, you’ll need to have an approved state or federal ID and in some cases other supporting documents. Colleges often have student organizations that help students register to vote wherever they choose, but some states have more complicated processes than others.
But, what if you move to a state that also has noncompetitive federal elections, like, say, Mississippi or Louisiana?
Then we say vote where you are from. You already know this community and have connections and interests here. Also, it’s generally a bit easier to request an absentee ballot here than to change your registration to your new state.
If you plan to vote absentee in your first Tennessee election, there is one thing you should know that is surprisingly hard to figure out. It took an unhelpful Google search, emails to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office and a contact within Shelby County’s election commission to understand the specific laws that govern first-time voters who are voting absentee.
As a Tennessee voter, if you register to vote online or by mail, you must vote in person for your first election, not absentee. However, if you register in person, then you are eligible to absentee vote if you meet the other requirements — one of which is being a college student attending school outside your county.
In short, try to register in person. If you register online or by mail and want to vote absentee in your first election, you’ll need to go to the Election Commission office either in your current county or your college town county and bring your ID to prove your identity. But this process only applies if you want to vote absentee in Tennessee. Where you vote is up to you, but the most important thing is to get out there and vote. Women fought hard for the 19th Amendment, so let’s head to the polls.
OPINIONS
LIN DEFENSE OF THE MEMPHIS MUSIC SCENE
et’s face it, when people mention Memphis and music, people think of the history but often disregard the current scene. I think that’s a mistake.
It’s true that Memphis often doesn’t get the big names in music. Many of the top artists in the country according to Billboard have never performed on a Memphis stage.
Having Nashville — also known as Music City — as our in-state neighbor, means the most popular musicians of the moment rarely add the Bluff City as a stop on their tours.
If you want to see Sabrina Carpenter in Memphis, I guess that’s frustrating. But when I hear people complain about how no one comes here, I think about the ignored musicians that don’t require a three-hour drive to Nashville to see. They are here. In Memphis.
Memphis is one of seven cities that reshaped American music. It is the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, thank you very much.
Some of the nation’s most popular jazz and blues music emerged from Memphis, and the city is home to seven music-related museums: Graceland, the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, Sun Studios, the Rock and Soul Museum, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis Music Hall
WALLIS ROGIN I EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
of Fame and the W.C. Handy Home and Museum.
Names like Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Al Green and Johnny Cash are featured on street signs, historical markers and museums all over the city.
MEMPHIS WOULDN’T BE THE SAME CULTURALLY OR EVEN ECONOMICALLY WITHOUT ITS MUSIC.”
Memphis wouldn’t be the same culturally or even economically without its music. There are over 10 active recording studios — some with a notable history — and at least seven record stores. (My personal favorites: Shangri-La Records on Madison and Goner Records on Young Avenue).
Justin Timberlake, Three 6 Mafia and GloRilla – who just received the key to the city — all called Memphis home.
Beyond big Memphis music names, several highly recognizable stars have performed in Memphis many times over the past few years. The FedEx Forum and the Orpheum have had some pretty great lineups these past few years.
I have been lucky enough to see Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire
and Bob Dylan each on a Memphis stage. I swear, Memphis gets the big names too.
And of course, our festival scene is great. Memphis has nine fabulous music festivals that offer perfect opportunities to hear the music you love and find some new favorites. I’ve only been to Mempho Music Festival, RiverBeat Music Festival and some of the shows at the Overton Park Shell, but at these, I have been introduced to some of the best tunes.
But, it’s the smaller venues that make this a special place.
Not only are they much cheaper — the best concerts I’ve been to in Memphis were under $30 — but the experience is much more personal. The crowds are smaller, which allows for a more individual and interactive experience. Especially on a weekday, Memphians don’t normally show up in swarms, so it is easy to squeeze into the front. During a Rayland Baxter concert at Minglewood Hall — with 50 people, tops — I managed to enjoy the show up close, and it became a completely different experience. Not only could I see better, but everyone was singing along and dancing together. The front is often more energetic no matter the concert.
You’ve never heard of the musician? So
what. You do not need to know the music by heart to go to a concert. Local shows are the best way to encounter new music and artists. I have found and even met some of my favorite artists in Memphis because of the smaller crowds.
I aim to be part of the reason artists come back to Memphis as their fame grows, and we all should.
Memphis has the music, we just have to go listening for it.
MY MEMPHIS MUSIC VENUE RECOMMENDATIONS
RADIANS AMPHITHEATRE
Located at the Memphis Botanic Garden. It is where Mempho Music Festival is hosted.
MINGLEWOOD HALL
This venue has three different stages, and I personally think they have the best music.
OVERTON PARK SHELL
They host a completely free concert series every year, which is an easy option for midtowners.
GROWLERS AND RAILGARTEN
These midtown spots have lesser-known acts and are places to discover new music.
THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN
This is an almost hidden spot in Crosstown Concourse with fresh new artists.
THE GROVE
This Germantown venue is a family-friendly spot next to the Germantown Performing Arts Center.
TOM LEE PARK
this newly renovated riverside park hosts the annual RiverBeat Music Festival.
THE ORPHEUM AND FEDEX FORUM
These Downtown spots have the better-known musicians and the steeper prices.
LISTEN TO THIS PLAYLIST FOR MUSIC MADE IN MEMPHIS
Ruthie Foster takes the stage on Oct. 12 for the Memphis Country Blues Festival at the Overton Park Shell. The Shell hosts a free concert series each year. WALLIS ROGIN I EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
WASTING LESS TO HELP MORE
Project Green Fork shows Memphis how to curb food waste
BY MC HITT: MANAGING EDITOR
Like many other cities, Memphis struggles with the twin problems of food waste and food insecurity, but one giant green fork and a dedicated team are taking a stab at solving the issue.
According to their website, Project Green Fork is a Memphis-based non-profit that “contributes to a more sustainable mid-south by helping reduce environmental impacts.”
For Leann Edwards, a Project Green Fork team member, this means working to create a “sustainable food system for all Memphians.”
“We do that through reducing food waste, connecting local partners and promoting green dining practices,” she said. “Our overall goal is a 50% reduction in food waste in Memphis by 2030.”
Considering the state of food insecurity in Memphis, Project Green Fork is taking steps to address one of Memphis’s sizable challenges.
“The national average for food insecurity is about one in nine [people],” she said. “And here [in Memphis] it’s one in five, and when we’re talking about school-aged children, it’s actually one in four.”
Numbers can differ – the Mid South Food Bank estimates that about 15% of people in Shelby County are food insecure – but it’s safe to say a lot of people in this region don’t have enough to eat. In the total Mid-South area, 30.2% of children are food insecure, and 12% of Memphis residents live in a food desert, which makes
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF OUR HOMETOWN
One million people, countless hardworking citizens and a closeknit community, but the majority of national news features one thing about Memphis: crime. This paints a negative picture of the city to the rest of the country, but even worse, it can shade our own perception of Memphis.
In 2024, new Memphis Mayor Paul Young called on Memphians to collectively add to the story and initiate positive conversations about the city.
“Our talk, our narrative, our dialogue drives the reality that we’re seeing in our city, so in order for us to turn it around… all of us have to change the way we are perceiving our city,” he said.
In an effort to try to change this story, Tatler started a regular column to highlight the amazing people, businesses and changemakers in our community and to generate positive talk about the city we call home. So, welcome to Memphis in Motion.
Memphis home to the largest number of people living in a food desert in the nation compared to other large metro areas.
One of Project Green Fork’s major operations is their food-saving program. Through this, they take leftover food from restaurants that would otherwise be thrown away and donate it to food-insecure Memphians.
“We have moved 20,696 pounds of donatable food through the system, and we’re focused on prepared foods,” Edwards said. “We have 38 food donors and 25 rescue organizations.”
Project Green Fork also encourages individuals to reduce their food waste.
Between restaurants and homes, the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that there are about 5,000 tons of rescue-appropriate food in Memphis every year. In other words, Memphians throw away 5,000 tons of food that is safe to eat every year.
“We will never capture all of that [food],” Edwards said.
However, 43 restaurants are reducing their food waste because of Project Green Fork.
Before a restaurant can donate food through Project Green Fork, they must first become certified.
“[To] become Project Green Fork certified, [restaurants] take on six steps of waste reduction, waste diversion, using sustainable packaging, maintaining their spaces using green cleaners and reducing their water and energy consumption,” Edwards said.
Project Green Fork Certified restau-
rants within a ten-minute drive of St. Mary’s include City Silo Table & Pantry, Huey’s, Libro, Napa Café, Inspire Community Café, LuLu’s and Muddy’s Bake Shop.
Since Project Green Fork began, Edwards said she feels great change has been made.
“Memphis is kind of an exciting place to be to me, because in broader terms, there’s not as much action around food-waste reduction in the southeast,” Edwards said. “There will be [more] as we learn more and more about its impact on the environment.”
RubaElabiadcontributedtothisstory.
CITY SILO TABLE & PANTRY
HUEY’S
LIBRO
NAPA CAFÉ
INSPIRE COMMUNITY CAFÉ
LULU’S
MUDDY’S BAKE SHOP
Project Green Fork team member Leanne Edwards stands next to giant green fork.
MC HITT MANAGING EDITOR
THE COOL BEANS OF MEMPHIS
We reviewed six coffee shops to bring you our top picks
STELLA PITZER ELLA TOWNSEND BELLA CONNELL STAFF REPORTER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Over the summer, Tatler visited six of the most popular Memphis coffee shops to bring you a specialized list of the best local spots. At each shop, we tried a classic iced vanilla latte with oat milk and a specialty drink item. The shops were rated on three categories: quality of coffee, location in proximity to St. Mary’s and study environment. Each shop has been given an overall rating out of five, with a summary of each shop explaining the ranking. We hope this coffee guide helps you find something new.
* Prices include a 20% tip.
THE HUB 1
Though The Hub was not the highest rated in terms of coffee quality, overall it’s the most well-rounded place on the list. The coffee is good, with an average 7.5/10 score between the two coffees. Their specialty latte, the wildflower latte with honey lavender and oat milk (not an easy order!), scored an 8/10 in terms of taste. The coffee shop itself is cozy, the perfect environment for all your pre-exam study sessions. Also, the shop is located in East Memphis, which makes it that much easier to stop in after school if you need a change of scenery or just consistent coffee. It is on the more expensive side, with two coffees running you $16, but depending on what you value, that might be a reasonable price to pay for the perks. It’s convenient, reliable and delicious. Overall, you couldn’t ask for a better stop-in shop.
Overall: 5/5 good coffee, great environment for studying and location close to school, but price can be a bit high
COMEBACK COFFEE 2
This is a personal favorite of ours, and the review reflects the quality. We tried the vanilla latte and the blueberry pancake latte, and we gave them both high scores. We gave the vanilla latte an 8/10 as it was on a similar level to the coffee we tried from JoJo’s Espresso. Their specialty drink, the blueberry pancake latte, was an 8/10. Additionally, the study vibes are really good. There’s room to spread out, and it’s never too busy, so you can usually get work done while enjoying some delicious coffee. The downside to this place is that it’s located downtown, which is an inconvenient area for an after-school study session unless you live out that way. The two coffees cost $12, which is reasonable for the quality and area. Overall, this coffee shop is definitely worth checking out.
Overall: 4/5 highly rated good coffee and good study spot, minus one due to location
The Hub’s oat milk vanilla latte.
The Hub’s wildflower latte with honey, lavender and oat milk.
MARY ELIZABETH AUTRY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Comeback Coffee’s blueberry pancake oat milk latte.
Comeback Coffee’s oat milk vanilla latte.
MARY ELIZABETH AUTRY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MARY ELIZABETH AUTRY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MARY ELIZABETH AUTRY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
3
JOJO’S ESPRESSO
REVIEWS
This shop had by far the best coffee of all the places we tried. We drank the vanilla latte and the cookie butter latte, which we gave an 8.5/10 and 9.5/10, respectively. JoJo’s vanilla latte was the highest-rated of all vanilla coffees, and the cookie butter was our highest-rated drink overall. The two drinks together were about $15, which is not cheap, but certainly on par with the quality of the coffee. The shop itself is a little small and can feel cramped at some times of day. The only other potential downside is the fact that it’s in Germantown (around a 20-minute drive
from school). If you are stopping in after school, it is not a problem, but for Midtowners it is not exactly a quick trip. Either way, make sure to add this shop to your list of places to try.
Overall: 4/5 really good coffee, best of the bunch, minus one for location
FRENCH TRUCK COFFEE
One of our lowest-ranked shops and the one to which we gave the most mixed reviews of the bunch. We visited the East Memphis location, so nothing can be said about the location inside Crosstown, a frequent stop for Midtowners. This was the most expensive coffee shop, with the two coffees ordered totaling $19. The vanilla latte was the second-best, only behind Jojo’s. It was not too sweet or too milky, with just the right amount of coffee flavor. However, the orange creamsicle special was horrible, and the only coffee below a five, receiving a shocking 1/10. The seating is fine, but it’s more like
CITY AND STATE 4
This was the only Midtown coffee shop we rated. As for the two coffees tried, they were both sub-par. The vanilla latte was too milky with not enough vanilla, and the smoky caramel latte tasted indistinguishable from the vanilla latte. The overall rating was a 6/10 for the two coffees, which is not bad but nothing special. City and State was the cheapest coffee in terms of base price at $12 for two drinks, but in relation to their size and their quality, they were pretty overpriced. On the upside, there’s a gift shop attached and a good amount of room in the actual coffee
6
CONGREGATION COFFEE
shop. Unfortunately, it’s usually pretty busy. The less-than-good coffee and its distance from St. Mary’s (a 10-minute drive) makes it a lower-ranked spot. If you’re in the area and in need of caffeine, we recommend you give it a try. Overall: 3/5 okay coffee, great store vibes, midtown location
a restaurant than a study spot, so the environment doesn’t give it any points. The shop is about a seven-minute drive from St. Mary’s, but between the price and the inconsistency in quality of the coffee, it’s the second-least recommended shop on the list.
Overall: 2/5 expensive, okay coffee and not great study vibes
Thiscoffee shop was the weakest of the bunch. The coffee was nothing exceptional, fetching just a 6.5/10 in terms of quality and taste. The vanilla latte seemed watered down and did not taste noticeably different from their brown sugar shaken espresso, which we rated a 7/10. Also, it is in Germantown, which is a 25-minute drive from school. The price is about the same as the rest of the shops we reviewed, at $13 for two regular iced coffees, but the quality of the coffee makes the price feel inflated. It does have some redeeming qualities: it has a really good study space and boasts fresh pastries from the local
The atmosphere is cozy and breeds productivity, but unless you live in Germantown, there’s no need to rush to this shop.
Overall : 1/5 weak coffee, inconvenient area, high price, but plus one for good studying environment
JoJo’s Espresso’s oat milk cookie butter latte.
City and State’s vanilla oat milk latte.
Congregation Coffee’s brown sugar shaken oat milk expresso.
bakery Sweet Lala’s.
THESE MEMPHIANS HAVE PAWS AND A TAIL
Cat rescuer and Upper School history teacher Emily Metz recently saved a kitten stuck in a tree.
“I saw [the kitten], and it was up a tree across a 12-foot concrete drainage ditch in my neighbor’s yard, and I couldn’t reach it,” Metz said. “I called the Germantown [police] … [and] they decided to go around the block to my neighbor’s house, go through their backyard and the kitten jumped right into the cop’s arms.”
Once the kitten was in safe hands, Metz searched for the perfect home for it. Freshman MG Jones took in the kitten with open arms, giving it a loving family.
Memphis is home to many different people with diverse backgrounds, but there is another group that can also be considered Memphians: pets.
Of the 84 St. Mary’s students who responded to a survey, 97.3% said they
MAYRA ARSHAD I STAFF REPORTER
own a pet. Out of these students, 82.7% own one or more dogs, while 40.7% own one or more cats.
According to a study conducted by The University of New Mexico, levels of dopamine, a hormone that results in feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation, as well as serotonin, which plays a part in increasing satisfaction and happiness, are raised by playing with a cat or a dog.
Jones found her pet from the kindness of Metz, but there are many other ways Memphians give animals in the community loving homes.
Finding a friend
For Carmen McGhee, fostering was the right choice.
Fostering provides temporary housing for animals awaiting adoption. Animal shelters and facilities such as Memphis Animal Services and the Memphis Humane Society of Memphis
and Shelby County look for families and individuals who enjoy helping animals and having an animal companion but may not be exactly committed or able to own a pet long-term.
But in McGhee’s case, Moose became a permanent addition.
I FEEL LIKE HE’S BECOME KIND OF OUR DOG, AND HE JUST KINDA FITS OUR FAMILY SUPER WELL.”
CARMEN MCGHEE ST. MARY’S SOPHOMORE
“We fostered for a little bit, and we ended up adopting him,” she said. “I feel like he’s become kind of our dog, and he just kinda fits our family super well.”
Memphis Animal Services and the
Humane Society also take in rescue animals — animals that do not have homes.
At the Humane Society specifically, anyone looking to adopt an animal is required to have a screening done to gauge if the home and family are a good fit for the animal.
Alternatively, buying an animal from a breeder is an option for anyone looking for a specific breed of dog or cat. Breeders selectively choose animals to produce specific breeds and traits. Freshman Zofia Ross adopted her dog Coco from a breeder and found the process simple.
“You just go on Facebook or any other social media and you can find dog breeders, get into contact with them and ask them when their next litter is,” she said.
Sophomore Esme Larschan, whose family breeds border collies, said it helps to be in the know about local breeders.
MARGARET FORE I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
“There’s a lot of networking involved, and someone has to reach out to [us],” she said “They have to know that we’re breeding dogs, and we don’t advertise it usually, but you have to be a friend of a friend kind of thing.”
Providing for our pets
Bringing a pet home is only the first step in the pet-owning process. For dog owners, taking them outside to parks or other pet-friendly establishments is crucial in order for dogs to receive the stimulation they naturally crave.
In Memphis, there are pet-friendly green spaces including Shelby Farms Park, Overton Park, Mud Island Dog Park, The Barking Lot and Bartlett Dog Park. As for pet-friendly restaurants, Aldo’s Pizza, Central BBQ Midtown, Babalu’s Tacos and Tapas and Celtic Crossing all welcome both humans and pets.
Freshman Stella Scobey takes her dog Bruno to open green spaces and other pet-friendly areas around the city.
“We’ve taken [Bruno] to dog parks,” Scobey said. “I think he’s been to Shelby Farms. He’s been to a couple lakes.”
But not everyone believes Memphis is fit for the pets that consider it home.
Ross said she believes both East Memphis and Downtown are not safe for animals, unlike Cordova.
“In Downtown Memphis, it’s really only buildings, no grassy areas [and] a ton of traffic, same thing goes for [East] Memphis, Cordova just has a lot of grass,” she said.
Metz agrees that the city can be unsafe for animals, especially cats.
THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE A CAT VERY HAPPY INDOORS. THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE OUTSIDE. OUTSIDE HAS CARS AND HAWKS AND FLEAS AND DISEASES. KEEP YOUR CATS INSIDE.”
EMILY METZ UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER
“Outside cats make me so sad. I want to take all of them and put them inside,” she said. “There are ways to make a cat very happy indoors. They do not need to be outside. Outside has cars and hawks and fleas and diseases. Keep your cats inside.”
Sophomore Jilly Ramser has concerns about the safety of her cat, Teddy.
“Teddy gets bitten up by mosquitoes a lot, and so that’s a concern, but mostly
FEATURES
I’m just scared that he’ll get hit by a car,” she said.
From street to shelter
If an animal is hurt or lost, the Humane Society has the resources to help. The facility has already received 624 pets this year, in a variety of conditions.
Joscelyne Thompson, the Intake Manager of the Humane Society, said that for the most part, the animals that are taken in are relatively healthy.
“Most of the time, a lot of the dogs we take in are in fairly good condition,” Thompson said. “There have been a few that have come in that are on the emaciated side, you can tell they haven’t had enough food.”
Dr. Kimberly Gaddis, a veterinarian at the Humane Society, often treats malnourished, injured and poorly treated animals.
TYPICALLY, IF THERE’S A STRAY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IT’S NOT ACTUALLY A STRAY.”
JOSCELYNE THOMPSON INTAKE MANAGER OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY
“We’ve had a couple hit by cars since I’ve been here that needed immediate pain management,” she said. “Most of the time it’s some kind of trauma that we have to attend to, which is relatively common.”
Thompson said she aims to increase the Humane Society’s intake of strays.
“[The number of stray intakes] has been increasing because that’s my main goal: to take in more strays, or not just surrenders,” she said.
Upon seeing a stray, Thompson advised checking to see if the animal is lost or owned by a neighbor.
“Typically, if there’s a stray in your neighborhood it’s not actually a stray,” she said. “People have a tendency of just letting their dog wander. Have them scanned for a microchip.”
If the animal is not owned, Thompson recommends taking the animal to a local municipal shelter.
Or try Metz’s approach by asking everyone if they have room for a furry family member.
“I immediately started texting everybody I could think of,” Metz said, “Every person I walked by I was like, ‘Do you want a kitten? Do you want a kitten? Do you want a kitten?’ and MG said ‘Yes!’”
PARKS AND GREEN SPACES
PET-FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENTS IN MEMPHIS MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS
• SHELBY FARMS PARK
• OVERTON PARK
• MUD ISLAND DOG PARK
• THE BARKING LOT
• BARTLETT DOG PARK
• ALDO’S PIZZA
• CENTRAL BBQ
• BABALU’S TACOS AND TAPAS
• CELTIC CROSSING
A kitten from the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County reaches up to say hello. The Humane Society has recieved 624 pets this year .
MARGARET FORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PLACES TO HANG PROVE HARD TO FIND IN MEMPHIS SPACED
Central Perk. Luke’s. The Krusty Krab. JJ’s Diner. All iconic spaces that can be identified from some of America’s most popular sitcoms. They are what’s called “third spaces.”
Third spaces are places to hang out and meet people besides home and work. Public parks, libraries, malls, coffee shops, museums, gyms and restaurants are all third spaces. And lately, they have been disappearing across the country.
Josh Poag, president and CEO of Poag Development Group (and husband to Director of Counseling Amy Poag), recalls the importance of malls as third spaces when he grew up. The group recently acquired Oak Court Mall and plans to renovate the space.
“We would go to Hickory Ridge Mall and Oak Court [Mall] and Mall of Memphis. There were malls all over the place, and then eventually Wolfchase [Galleria] opened up, and it was a place for us to go,” he said. “As teenagers, our parents would drop us off there, and we would spend hours there meeting people and seeing friends.”
Third spaces like the malls Poag grew up going to have been on the decline for over a decade. According to Capital One, the number of malls nationwide has declined 16.7% from 2017 to 2022. The Mall of Memphis closed in 2003, and Oak Court’s struggles are well known.
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help, as it prompted a change in behavior
for many Americans, including English teacher Caroline Goodman.
“In a way, I feel like there was a shift for me with Covid, where I’m still hyper aware of spaces that are being crowded, and I just don’t love them anymore,” she said. “We kind of learned that we don’t have to go out as much, and we’ve learned to enjoy our second spaces more than we did before Covid. I spend a lot more time at home than I did before.”
But the shift to staying home more came at a cost for businesses like malls and restaurants.
In 2019 there were about 703,000 restaurants nationally, but since COVID-19, around 72,000 have closed. In the past year, around two dozen restaurants and food trucks have shut
down in Memphis, including favorites like Edge Alley, Belly Acres in Overton Square and Buckley’s.
Those that remain are charging more, making it harder for people to spend time there without blowing their budget.
Senior Emily Larkins said she believes that free things to do are hard to find.
“I can think of places I could go, but not many that I actually go [to] frequently … It doesn’t come to mind,” Larkins said. “I mostly think of hanging out at my house or going somewhere like a coffee shop, or somewhere where you do have to spend money”
Coffee shops are a growing third space, but they aren’t free. While
GEMMA FERGUSON I STAFF REPORTER
MARY ELIZABETH AUTRY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
many coffee shops let people sit for free, there is a mutual understanding between the cafe and customers that if a person is going to be there awhile they should be purchasing off the menu.
When faced with fewer third spaces and rising costs, many people turn to going outside.
Public parks are free spots where people can meet up with friends, get exercise and take a break. For Goodman, spending time in outdoor spaces with her dog is her favorite activity when she is not at work or home.
“Most of the time, if I’m not at home, I am taking [my dog] somewhere,” she said. “We do a lot of outdoorsy things, so we do a lot of walking the [Greater Memphis] Greenline. We do some Shelby Farms.”
Like Goodman, sophomore Anna Kay Bell has started spending more time at free or low-cost third spaces such as parks.
SAFETY IS FIRST ON EVERYBODY’S MIND. IF YOU DON’T FEEL SAFE, YOU’RE NOT GOING THERE… BUT WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE ON THE SECURITY SIDE.”
JOSH POAG PRESIDENT AND CEO OF POAG DVELOPMENT GROUP
“I kind of just walk around, a lot of times I’ll go with my dad, and then we’ll bring my dog, and we’ll let him play at the dog park,” Bell said. “At parks, it’s fun to walk around and talk.”
Spending time outside is a great way to save money. However, Memphis weather and ever-present mosquitoes make this a less appealing option for many months of the year.
While many people struggle to come up with ideas for free third spaces to spend time at, there are actually quite a few in Memphis.
In 2023, Memphis was named one of the Best U.S. Destinations on a Budget, with Shelby Farms, Tom Lee Park, the Greenline, watching the Peabody Duck March and the Memphis Bridge lighting up every night as free things people can do.
FEATURES
Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, the Memphis Botanic Garden and the Memphis Zoo also offer special days where anyone who lives in Memphis is welcome to visit for free between certain times.
But for those still hoping for the mall experience, Poag is working on it.
In November 2023, Poag Development Group bought Oak Court Mall following its bankruptcy in 2022. This September his company also purchased the Macy’s at Oak Court Mall for $7 million.
The group has plans to deal with the challenges that location has faced in the past. Safety is one of the most important factors in a third space. Poag recognizes the safety problems that have plagued Oak Court and is working to make it a safer environment.
“Safety is first on everybody’s mind. If you don’t feel safe, you’re not going there… but we have been
IT’S [THE] EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY, AND THEN IT’LL BECOME THAT THIRD PLACE.”
JOSH POAG PRESIDENT AND CEO OF POAG DVELOPMENT GROUP
very active on the security side to provide that safe and secure environment,” Poag said. “As a Memphian, I knew that there was a security issue, and we went in there and we’ve addressed it, and it’s not perfect… but that’s a lot of what we’re focusing on right now.”
Poag hired a new security team, which aims to help reduce the crime risks. He also added more security cars in the parking lots, a better monitoring system during mall hours and overnight security.
Ultimately Poag would like to see something more like the Poag fami-
ly’s other project: the Shops at Saddle Creek in Germantown.
“One of the main things that my dad focused on from the beginning was creating experience. And that’s the basis of our company,” Poag said. “When he built Saddle Creek, it was about creating alcoves where there were fountains and places to sit, and there were restaurants in those alcoves, so it gave places for people to congregate.”
Creating spaces like those in Saddle Creek, where people can sit and socialize between shopping or eating at a restaurant, adds a free element to an area where people usually are spending money.
“It’s [the] experience that we want people to enjoy,” Poag said. “And then it’ll become that third place…when they’re not at school or the office or at home. This is a place we want them to come [to], and naturally, they’ll go shop there, they’ll go eat there, they’ll spend money.”
Or maybe they’ll just have a new place to hang out.
Oak Court mall sits on Poplar Ave. in East Memphis. The mall was purchased by Poag Developent group in 2023.
FEATURES
ONE STEP AT A TIME
WALKING IN MEMPHIS ISN’T ALWAYS EASY, BUT CHANGE IS ON THE WAY
LYLA FURLONG EVE PAI STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER
Are people really walking with their feet 10 feet off of Beale? According to Walk Score, a website dedicated to promoting more walkable communities, Memphis has the highest average walkability scores in Tennessee. But that may come as a surprise to some people who live here.
Amongst other factors, Walk
Score studies nearby walking routes to available resources, like grocery stores and medical offices, and awards points. The more that is available within a walking distance the more points are awarded.
While Memphis’s score may be the highest in Tennessee, compared to other cities of its size the score is less impressive. Memphis
scores a 35 out of 100. Austin, Tex., while still considered a car-dependent city, has a walkability score of 42. However, Philadelphia is known as very walkable with a score of 75 out of 100.
Senior Maya Iyengar, who lives in East Memphis, said she is surprised that Memphis holds the top spot in terms of walkability.
“I [thought] suburbs would have
high scores… because people can just walk around their neighborhood,” she said. “Or even Nashville because it’s a big city, and there’s a lot of things to do. I just wouldn’t expect Memphis.”
Even though she lives close to school, Iyengar drives to school instead of walking.
And she’s not alone. But the city does have some pockets of walk-
PHOTO BY MARGARET FORE: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Memphis’s walkability score is 35 out of 100, ranking the city the highest in the state. Compared to other cities of a similar size, Memphis’s walkability is less meaningful.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WALLIS ROGIN: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ability.
Junior Maggie Taylor said she loves living in Midtown, an area east of downtown that is home to the zoo, parks and multiple cultural institutions.
“I live really close to Overton Park, Overton Square and Crosstown Concourse,” she said. “If you’re trying to get somewhere in Midtown, it’s normally pretty walkable.”
Out in the suburb of Germantown, Upper School history teacher Emily Metz has a similar experience. She said she enjoys walking around her neighborhood on a regular basis.
“I CAN WALK TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT GROCERY
STORES, THE LIBRARY, THE GYM, SEVERAL RESTAURANTS, AND IT’S REALLY NICE BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET IN THE CAR AND GO SOMEWHERE.”
EMILY METZ UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER
“Oh, it’s wonderful. I can walk to several different grocery stores, the library, the gym, several restaurants, and it’s really nice be-
FEATURES
cause you don’t have to get in the car and go somewhere,” she said. “You can just take a little stroll up to Trader Joe’s and get what you need for dinner and then walk home. It’s delightful.”
If you go even further out, other walkable communities exist. Sophomore Louise Cole lives in Eads, Tenn., which is 30 minutes away Cole loves to bike and walk around her neighborhood, especially since there are plenty of private parks.
“There’s less crime [in my neighborhood] than there is in Memphis,” she said, which makes it feel safer than walking in the city.
Even right here in East Memphis, some students find walking a good choice.
Freshman Molly Jacobs walks to school. For her, walkability is a part of her daily routine.
“I walk with my friend, and it’s a nice start to the day,” she said, “I’m 15 and can’t drive, so it’s either walking or getting a ride from my parents.”
Despite these walkable areas, Memphis still struggles.
Walk Score ratings are calculated based on intersection density, residential density and accessibility of grocery stores, parks and restaurants. According to a
parking study, the large quantity of parking lots in Memphis, especially downtown, leads to loss of space for safe and direct pedestrian crossings, good public transport access and wide, well-lit, treelined walkways and footpaths.
However, there are people working on the problem.
In an email, Dewayne Williams, Director of Park Operations for Shelby Farms, explained some ways Memphis is increasing its walkability, such as through the construction of a new connector trail between the Chickasaw Trail and the exit road.
“This makes it possible for an additional certified 5K route that is wheelchair and stroller-friendly,” Williams wrote.
Williams also helps oversee the Shelby Farms Greenline, a rails-totrails project that transformed an unused railroad line into a 10.65 miles long, paved trail and connects pedestrians and cyclists in Midtown Memphis through Shelby Farms Park to Cordova. He was pleased that the Greenline will be expanding again.
“We are excited that construction is expected to begin soon to extend the Shelby Farms Greenline,” he wrote.
The Lenow Greenline Extension will extend the Greenline by
approximately two miles from its current eastern end at the old train depot in Cordova to Lenow Road.
In June, the City of Memphis also completed construction on improvements to the pedestrian and cyclist crosswalk at the intersection of Walnut Grove Road and Farm Road. This includes new guard rails, raised crosswalks, barriers and bollards.
“We appreciate the city making these safety improvements,” Williams wrote.
Williams is not the only one excited to see Memphis become more walkable in the future.
I’M GLAD THERE’S A BIG INITIATIVE IN MEMPHIS RIGHT NOW TO MAKE IT AN EVEN MORE WALKABLE CITY.”
MAGGIE TAYLOR ST. MARY’S JUNIOR
“I’m glad there’s a big initiative in Memphis right now to make it an even more walkable city,” Taylor said. “Like adding lots and lots of bike lanes, adding to the Greenline and all sorts of things to make
The Shelby Farms Greenline stretches 10.65 miles from Midtown to Cordova and is often filled with bikers, runners and pedestrians. The path will undergo a two-mile expansion
WHY MEMPHIS?
LYLA FURLONG & ADDIE PHILLIPS | STAFF REPORTERS
While Memphis isn’t considered a trendy city right now, according to YouTuber Geography King, soon enough it will be. He listed Memphis as one of eight cities that are not cool now but will be in the near future. There are just under 615,000 people living in Memphis alone, and many of them come from varying backgrounds and cultures. Memphis is home to over 380,000 African Americans, 62,000 Hispanic or Latino people, and just under 30,000 people who are two or more races. Many people within St. Mary’s community have lived in Memphis for the entirety of their lives, but there are few that have joined the community from other places. Whether it’s new opportunities, family or community ties, SMS has gained newcomers in recent years. We got curi ous about how our friends, teachers and administrators landed in Memphis. So we asked them: Why Memphis?
VOICES
SARAH KERST
What was your impression of Memphis before you moved here?
CITY
I was excited for new adventures, and I thought Memphis had a lot to offer. I remember being like, “I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it.” Especially, I love live music, so going to [see that]. But there’s a lot of activities and they’re constantly advertising things to do. It’s really accessible. It’s like, “I’m new here, what can I do this weekend?” and they have lists and things to do, which is awesome. What stood out to you about Memphis? Everything is so spread out, but also very close at the same time. And the people are very hospitable and very friendly.
ALEESHA AWAN
When did you move to Memphis? I moved when I was three and a half. Where did you move from?
I was born in North Carolina, and then I moved to Pakistan, and then I moved back to North Carolina, and now I’m here, since I was three and a half.
Do you think Memphis is an easy place to find community?
I would say so because there’s so many people, so many different types of people. Everyone can find their group that they want to like, you know, connect with or whatever.
SELIN HEPVAR
What surprised you the most when you moved here?
I expected it expected a more urban place. I’m from Istanbul, a city of 18 million, and I kind of knew [Memphis] was going to be sort of smaller. But I thought it would be around like three million or something, but it [is] 600,000. So that kind of shocked me. And generally the landscape, too, because in Istanbul, we have more taller buildings because there’s not as much open space to build more. But here was really, you know, not many tall buildings, just a little suburban.
CRYSTAL HOGAN
What was the main reason that you were led to Memphis?
I was looking for a new job and was open to moving anywhere, so I started looking around for openings and talking to different schools. And when I interviewed with the assistant head of school from St Mary’s, everything that he said about it made it sound like a place I wanted to work. I’d gone to a school a lot like St. Mary’s in Washington, D.C., called [the] National Cathedral School, and it’s also an all-girls Episcopal, highly academic school. And so when I came and actually spent a day here interviewing, I just felt like I’d come home.
MG JONES
Where are you from?
Originally? I was born in Charlottesville, Va. Was that the only other place you’ve lived? I lived in Virginia right after I was born, about six months, and then I moved to Texas, that was really short, also for a little less than a year. Then I moved to New York. I lived there for about eight years, and I moved to Memphis four years ago.
Why did you move here?
My dad retired out of the Army, and both my parents are from here, so we moved back to be closer to the rest of our family.
LAUREN ROGERS
Where are you from originally?
I am from rural South Carolina. Did you move here after that, or was there somewhere in between?
I have lived in New York City, and I’ve lived in Orlando, Fla. I’ve lived in Athens, Ga. I’ve lived in Charleston, S.C. I’ve lived in Winston-Salem, N.C., and now I live in Memphis, Tenn. You’ve lived in many different places. What was there anything about Memphis that was initially enticing to you?
Well, St. Mary’s, of course. But Memphis is a really great city. It has an incredible history. I think it’s got lovely people who are incredibly warm and welcoming. And, you know, I think I might be taking a tagline from some marketing slogan, but it’s a city with soul.
A VISIT FROM THE MAYOR
GEMMA FERGUSON STAFF REPORTER
Memphis Mayor Paul Young wants St. Mary’s girls to stick around.
In his wide-ranging chapel talk on Nov. 14, he discussed his own upbringing in the city, his early career and how he decided to get involved in public service.
“It was like a light bulb clicked through me at that moment, and I decided that I wanted to spend my life figuring out how to rebuild neighborhoods in Memphis,” Young said. “I saw my neighborhood, our neighborhood, and the decline from the time that I was born to where we are.”
He kept his remarks brief, however, and opened the mic up to students who had questions.
Asked about what most excites him about the direction the city is headed, Young mentioned using his time as mayor to create the Office of Cultural and Creative Economy, which
MEMPHIS MAYOR PAUL YOUNG
SPEAKS AT ST. MARY’S CHAPEL
will lean more into the city’s arts and culture.
“If you look at movies and TV shows, you’re going to see a producer, [an] actor, a dancer, somebody from Memphis is on the show, just because we’ve had talent,” Young said. “What we’re beginning to do now is lean into that and find ways, even from our government seats, on how we can amplify and grow [that].”
Young said he is interested in focusing on Memphis’s distinct culture.
“In Memphis, there’s just a natural gift of cool,” Young said. “It’s kind of hard to articulate in words, but it’s like the spirit of the city and the energy of interacting with people. And I mean, all across the city, no matter what community you’re in, you can feel it. And I think that’s a special thing.”
According to Young, celebrating this unique culture is one of the most
important things students can do to help change the narrative around Memphis.
“The number one thing you can do as students is be passionate about Memphis,” he said. “You probably know that the narrative around the city over the past couple of years has been tough…[so] speak about the positive things that you like about this city. As you go to college and you go to cities across this country, when you interact with kids from all over the country, talk positively about our city, because that matters.”
Mayor Young closed his talk by asking students to come home after college to live in Memphis.
“You may live in other cities for a while, but I want you to know that Memphis is where home is,” he said. “Atlanta does not need you, New York does not need you, Nashville does not need you. Memphis needs you. We need your talent. We need your heart. We need you here to serve and live and thrive because you are the ones that are going to make Memphis the city that we want it to be… I want you to remember that Memphis is where the heart is.”
RUBA ELABIAD: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
RUBA ELABIAD: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
RUBA ELABIAD: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
RUBA ELABIAD: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
RUBA ELABIAD: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Memphis Mayor Paul Young wants students to remember “Memphis is where the heart is.”
During his chapel speech, Memphis Mayor Paul Young answers questions from the students.
Senior Charlotte Stakem asks Mayor Young what he thinks is one of Memphis’s defining qualities.
Jada Lin, an eighth-grade student, asks the mayor about Memphis gun policies.
During chapel on Nov. 14, the Mayor Paul Young speaks to the entire middle and upper school.