4 Memphis March/April 2022 by 4Memphis

MARCH/ APRIL 2022

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CONTENTS MARCH / APRIL 2022

F E AT U R E S 30 Building Momentum: Overton Park Conservancy

48 Soup Sunday

32 Beauty in the Blink of an Eye: Cherry Blossoms at the Garden

50 Memphis Jookin Community Class

36 Retail in Retrospect: Julius Lewis

50 Oak Hall Piercing Party

40 4Memphis Reads 42 Celebrating the Wedding of Hunter Blesdoe & Megan Kingsley 44 Sustainable Style with Cameron Silver

50 The Evergreens 51 Race For Reconciliation 64 Winter Carnival Celebration 65 Grand Krewe of Luxor Coronation

52 Ken Hall's March / April Art Events 54 Mixing it Up with Strangeways Cordials 56 Fashion: Seeing Double 62 Fashion: Spring Must-Haves

O U T TA K E S 26 Katie Diley Art Show 28 Bluff City Fire & Ice 38 Centennial Celebration 46 President's Gala 48 Soup Sunday

About the Cover: Dresses and earrings from Kittie Kyle; shoes from Joseph. Both in Laurelwood.

AMI AUSTIN - BABCOCK GIFTS - BLU D’OR INTERIORS CHERYL PESCE - CHICO’S - COTTON TAILS - DINSTUHL’S EAST MEMPHIS ATHLETIC CLUB - FLEET FEET SPORTS FROST BAKE SHOP - HEATHER - HOT YOGA PLUS - IBERIA BANK J MC LAUGHLIN - JAMES DAVIS - J JILL - JOSEPH - JOSEPH MEN KING FURS AND FINE JEWELRY - KITTIE KYLE - LIBRO - LORI JAMES NICOLE BARRÉ BRIDAL BOUTIQUE - NOVEL - ORVIS PANERA BREAD - PAVO SALON - PIGTAILS AND CREWCUTS - SACHI SISSY’S LOG CABIN - STOVALL COLLECTION - TALBOTS VIGNETTES INTERIORS - ZÜPMED RESTAURANT IRIS COMING SOON!

MARCH APRIL 2022

March / April 2022 Volume XIII • Number 2 PUBLISHER

Jim Walker jim@4memphis.com MANAGING EDITOR

Sandi Butler Hughes sandi@4memphis.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lesley Harris Colvett lesley@4memphis.com ART DIRECTOR

McKendree Walker mckendree@4memphis.com ADVERTISING

Mark O. Ramirez mark@4memphis.com

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Katie Diley Art Show "Ricochet" Photography by Spencer Johnson Katie Diley - The Edge Artist - recently held "Ricochet," a sold-out art showing on February 11. Her beautiful abstract art was displayed in her newly expanded studio space in Uptown, and guests enjoyed the festivities on the wintry evening. Follow Katie on Instagram to see her paintings and find out about upcoming shows.

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Bluff City Fire & Ice Polar Bear Plunge & Chili Cook-off Photography by Mark Ramirez This year’s Bluff City Fire & Ice Polar Bear Plunge & Chili Cook-off benefiting Special Olympics Greater Memphis lived up to the “Ice” and welcomed the “Fire” of the theme, as Memphis was experiencing cold temps and ice on the event’s date, February 5. Guests enjoyed the festivities held at Tiger Lane, which featured the exciting Polar Plunge and the yummy Chili Cook-Off, which is in its 15th year. specialolympicsmem.org

1. Patricia Parker, Capt. Marvel & Mr. Pickle 2. Susan & Jay Cain 3. Daniel McBride, Cedrick Banks, Chris Cret, Jill McBride & Jason Sandusky 4. John & Kelly Mathewson, Ejan & Jessica Jones 5. Lea Lawrence, Carol Ann & Steven Entwisle 6. Darnel Alexander & Will Dorothy 7. Dorothy Bell, Chrystal Deeken & Eddie Duncan 8. Vivienne, Amy & Charlotte Hess 9. Brian Cofer & Caitlyn McGinnis 28

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Unmatched High Risk Care As a consultative high-risk obstetrical practice* for over 18 years, Dr. Roy Bors-Koefoed and the team at Midsouth Maternal-Fetal Medicine, P.C. have been providing unmatched care throughout our community. MSMFM is the only local practice with accreditation in Obstetric Ultrasound, Adjunct Detailed Fetal Anatomic Ultrasound and Fetal Echocardiography from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. He and his team put you first, so you can feel safe and comfortable throughout your pregnancy and beyond. MSMFM PROVIDES:

• Multidisciplinary approach to care • State-of-the-art equipment • Accomplished providers and staff • Accommodating scheduling • Certainty in the quality and consistency of your care!

*Appointments made by obstetrician referral only

The Best Care For You and Your Greatest Blessing

Dr. BK Dr. Roy Bors-Koefoed or “Dr. BK” as he is frequently called, is the founder of Mid-South Maternal Fetal Medicine, P.C. He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology with a sub-specialty certification in Maternal Fetal Medicine.

msmfm.com

Building Momentum: Overton Park Conservancy Photo by Melissa McMasters

Mission: Overton Park Conservancy’s vision is to foster a beautiful, welcoming, and safe park that encourages our diverse community to explore, learn, create, socialize, and play. Our mission is to protect, preserve, and improve Overton Park. Year founded: 2012 Website: overtonpark.org Number of people served: Overton Park welcomes the population of Memphis as well as our out-of-town visitors. In 2021, the park welcomed more than 1.1 million visitors. Annual budget: $1.1 million

Overton Park has been a Memphis treasure since 1906, and its storied history includes Supreme Court battles, William Faulkner short stories, and Elvis performances. The park hosts some of Memphis’ best attractions, from the Memphis Zoo to the Brooks Museum of Art, but the park itself is its own major attraction. From the bongo drummers playing on the weekend to the cavalcade of pets roaming the dog park to the leisurely strolls through the forest, the park is an oasis in the middle of the bustling city. The magic of this park doesn’t happen without a little help from Overton Park Conservancy, which has truly created a community space that brings people together. You may have forgotten the days when the conditions in Overton Park were less than stellar. More than a decade ago, the park had become a victim of underfunding and deferred maintenance, and a groundswell of community support led to the formation of Overton Park Conservancy. In 2012, the City of Memphis entered into a management agreement with the Conservancy, giving the Conservancy responsibility for maintaining the open and forested areas of Overton Park. The Conservancy is now able to leverage a modest, annual allocation from the city to raise funds that make the park beautiful and welcoming, a far cry from the park’s past decay. As the Conservancy improved conditions in the park in its first years, many more people came to the park, which has now become an epicenter of activity in Midtown. At the heart and soul of the Conservancy’s work is caring for the Old Forest State Natural Area, a 126-acre wooded area that is the only old-

growth forest in an urban setting in the southeastern United States. The old-growth forest provides habitat for wildlife, more than 8 miles of walking trails, and a glimpse of what our ecosystem looked like before European settlement. While many nonprofits were stalled by the pandemic, Overton Park has been busier than ever. The park became a true refuge for the community in 2020, when it was one of the few places where it felt safe to gather with people. Visitorship continued to increase in 2021. Though the organization was forced to halt most in-person events for over a year, Overton Park Conservancy found new ways to engage park visitors virtually through their ongoing NatureZen blog series and through other upcoming events. On April 2, Overton Park Conservancy will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that saved Overton Park from being destroyed by Interstate 40. The Center of a Century celebration will honor attorney Charlie Newman and others who have advocated for the park over its lifespan. This summer, the renovated Overton Park 9 golf course will reopen, along with the Overton Park Junior Open tournament. This year, the organization is also working to complete a comprehensive plan for the park, which will outline a vision for the park's next few decades and a slate of improvement projects. If you haven’t been to Overton Park lately, now is the time. Spring has sprung, and the park will be a gorgeous place to spend your free time after a chilly winter. See you there! By Kevin Dean Kevin Dean is CEO of the Momentum Nonprofit Partners. He received his Ed.D in Organizational Learning and Leadership from Vanderbilt University in 2021.

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

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Beauty in the Blink of an Eye:

Cherry Blossoms at the Garden By Bo Kelley, Arborist, Memphis Botanic Garden Photography by McKendree Walker The Memphis area plays host to a remarkable number of natural attractions. From massive city parks to old-growth forests, riverside bluffs to densely forested swamplands, West Tennessee offers a surprising number of destinations for rest and relaxation in the great outdoors. Most of these attractions offer year-round enjoyment for Memphians, although one, in particular, will pass you by in the blink of an eye! It’s a spectacular event that lasts for a little over one week but offers arguably the most beautiful setting in all of the Midsouth. It is the blooming of the cherry trees at the Memphis Botanic Garden. In the 1950s, the City of Memphis envisioned a public park space in the heart of a growing suburban area (what is now East Memphis). The park, starting as an arboretum and collection of specialized garden spaces (the Iris Garden, the Woodlands, and the Rose Garden), developed into the Memphis Botanic Garden, a collection of native and exotic plants that showcased the magnificent diversity of the plant kingdom. To supplement the collection, the Little Garden Club of Memphis generously donated the first set of cherry trees, running from Southern Avenue to Park Avenue along the appropriately named Cherry Road. This gift would create one of the most spectacular settings in Memphis! Each spring, as trees are coming out of winter dormancy, noticeable changes take place. The tree begins to show enlarging buds, now filled with food and energy, ready to burst. The buds may become leaves, allowing the tree to harvest sunlight for energy, which it will use to produce flowers and fruit later in the year. Some trees, however, alter this sequence. When the buds enlarge, ready to spring open, flowers, not leaves, are presented to the world. This striking explosion changes the entire tree in a matter of days for some species, transforming the plant from a bare framework of limbs and twigs to a tree adorned with delicate flowers and extraordinary colors. No other tree is famed for its dramatic procession through this process like the Japanese flowering cherry. Almost instantly, the tree will be covered with blooms, where yesterday there were none. Blooms of a soft pink, glowing into a brilliant white. As quickly as they emerge, they begin to disappear. Within a

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

week, the young leaves begin to emerge, and the flowers begin to drop. The tree becomes noticeably greener until the blooms are nothing more than a memory and the tree is coated in green, ready to ramp up photosynthesis. It is within this time period that Memphians flock to Cherry Road to bask in the processional and the arrival of spring. The cherry trees are a special kind called Yoshino cherries (scientific name Prunus x yedoensis), a hybrid cultivar between two Japanese cherry species. The Yoshino inherits traits from both the mother and father species, such as blooming all at once before the leaves emerge, growing into a fully-formed tree, and showcasing delicate pinkishwhite flowers. Taken together, these traits create a tree that offers show-stopping beauty. Its beauty hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. The Yoshino cherry is one of the most popular ornamental trees in the entire world! Some of the more familiar Yoshino cherries are growing in Washington D.C. around the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial. A gift from the country of Japan to the United States in the early 1910s, roughly 2,000 trees were planted around the reservoir and can be seen to this day. The lifespan of the Yoshino cherry is roughly 40 years, so the original trees have been replaced as needed over time, but their continued presence is a testament to their impact. So it is also with the cherry trees at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Around 1980, the original trees were nearing the end of their lifespan and began to show signs of decline. The Little Garden Club stepped in once more and replaced the declining trees to allow Cherry Road to maintain its splendor. Yet again, just last year, a major replacement initiative was conducted to replace the aging trees (planted in 1980) in order to preserve the vision of the original donation. Trees have been replaced along the way as needed, but generally speaking, the current young crop of cherry trees represents the third generation of Yoshino cherries. Memphis Botanic Garden, along with the generosity of the Little Garden Club, remains committed to preserving the iconic landscaping along Cherry Road. Their fleeting blossoms may leave you wanting more, yet this trait only adds to their beauty. As we celebrate our successful emergence from winter, entering into the promising realm of spring, the synchronized blooming of the Yoshino cherries represents our unified delight. A joyous leap in the air, only to fall back rapidly to the ground, personified in the trees. Celebrate spring with a hanami or Cherry Blossom Picnic at the Garden on March 19 from 10 am - 4 pm. Attendees will enjoy Asianinspired food trucks, a guided tour through the Japanese Garden, and traditional crafts and games during one of the most beautiful times at the Garden. The event is free with Garden admission. Join us April 21-23 and 26-29 for the Spring Plant Sale!

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Retail in Retrospect Julius Lewis By Sandi Butler Hughes For most of us Memphis shoppers of a certain age, Julius Lewis is remembered for the stunning mid-century modern building on Union Avenue as well as their array of fashions and accessories. However, like many of the locally-owned retail shops and stores, their origins are downtown on Main Street. A German immigrant by the name of Moses Lewis journeyed to Memphis in the late 1800s and opened a dry goods store on North Main Street in the Pinch District. The business relocated to Beale Street as Lewis & Sons, and they began to focus on fine apparel. Eventually, the sons opened a larger store at 145 South Main, which had originally been a 1000-seat silent movie palace, The Majestic. It was in 1951 when Julius Lewis expanded east to their flagship location at 1460 Union Avenue, and the retailer became a true fashion destination for Mid-South shoppers. It was also in the ‘50s that Charles Chandler graduated from Memphis Academy of Art (Memphis College of Art). He was quickly hired by Julius Lewis as their fashion illustrator and art director. Before photography was the norm in advertising, his illustrations and ad designs showcased the “foremost in apparel” for shoppers. The business grew farther east, and additional stores were opened in Eastgate Shopping Center and Hickory Ridge Mall. All of the Julius Lewis stores closed permanently in 1983, and Charles was at his drawing table until the end. Through the years, his thousands of miniature works of advertising art represented a lifestyle of beauty and elegance for Julius Lewis. He took his creativity to a former competitor where I had the honor of working with him in advertising at Goldsmith’s. His decades of experience and knowledge was a gift for this young copywriter. Babbie Lovett, a Memphis fashion icon, recalls Julius Lewis as a wonderful place to shop. “One of the best things about maturity is having so

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

many memories, and I remember Julius Lewis was a destination department store. They had a fine ladies department, a fabulous men’s store, and gifts were upstairs on the mezzanine,” she said of the Union Avenue location. Babbie also modeled frequently for Bobbye Weinberger, fashion coordinator for Julius Lewis. “Her fashion shows were always at the Holiday Inn Rivermont, and she loved using dogs in her shows. I remember for one show I walked down the runway with a Great Dane,” she laughed. Much like the original Brodnax Jewelers (featured in “Retail In Retrospect” in our January/February 2022 issue) that transformed to Flight Restaurant, the OG downtown Julius Lewis can now be experienced as The Majestic Grille. The Union Avenue store survived for many years as an OfficeMax location, and work is progressing on the Gordon Food Service that will be the new occupant. While a wholesale food distributor does not have the same panache as Julius Lewis, at least the building remains and hints at a bygone era of mid-century style and grace.

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Centennial Celebration The Junior League of Memphis Photography by Carter Strickland The Junior League of Memphis is celebrating a milestone - their 100 year anniversary of serving Memphis and the surrounding communities through active voluntarism. The Centennial Celebration was held January 25, 2022, where the women’s organization received multiple resolutions, recognitions, and a proclamation presented by Mayor Jim Strickland. JLM President Tabitha Glenn said, “It is an honor to be a part of this organization that is empowering women to make a difference in their homes, professions and communities. I am inspired daily by our members' volunteerism, leadership, and dedication. I look forward to many more years to come of impactful work from this wonderful group of women."

1. Carolyn Danley, Erica Stiff Coopwood, Tabitha Glenn, Mayor Jim Strickland, Traci Strickland & Stephanie Simpson 2. Dominque Gates, SunAh Laybourn & Yumiko Jones 3. Michelle Nixon, Karimeh McDaniel & Erica Stiff Coopwood 4. Jennifer Stripay & Lindsey Bray 5. Jasmine Carman & Stephanie Moore 6. Shamikia Adkins, Commissioner Michael Whaley, Tabitha Glenn, Tracy Carter, Lindsey Bray & Traci Strickland 7. Mary Haizlip & Jessie Wiley 8. Bri Wilson & Jennifer Brown 38

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Elect C H A N C E R Y

C O U R T

P A R T

August 4, 2022

www.MTJ4chancery1.com Vote for Experience Vote for Integrity Vote for Justice

Paid for by Committee to Elect Melanie Taylor Jefferson for Chancellor, Tondra Davis, Treasurer

4Memphis Reads: New releases from local and regional authors available at Novel. Follow us at @4memphismag on Instagram and Facebook for more 4Memphis reads.

TROUBLE THE WATERS: TALES FROM THE DEEP BLUE Editors/contributors include Memphians Sheree Renee Thomas, Troy L. Wiggins, Danian Darrell Jerry, Jamey Hatley, and Elle L. Littlefield. Sheree Renee Thomas's recent rise in the realm of sci-fi/ afrofuturism has been meteoric!

MEMPHIS BY TARA STRINGFELLOW Available April 5; Novel will host an in-person launch party on Tuesday, April 5 at 6 pm. This novel is getting a lot of pre-publication buzz from national outlets... ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022—Oprah Daily, Essence, Glamour, Business Insider, Marie Claire, The Millions, She Reads, Book Riot, and Bad Form. A spellbinding debut novel tracing three generations of a Southern Black family and one daughter’s discovery that she has the power to change her family’s legacy. Summer 1995: Ten-year-old Joan, her mother, and her younger sister flee her father’s explosive temper and seek refuge at her mother’s ancestral home in Memphis. This is not the first time violence has altered the course of the family’s trajectory. Half a century earlier, Joan’s grandfather built this majestic house in the historic Black neighborhood of Douglass—only to be lynched days after becoming the first Black detective in the city. Joan tries to settle into her new life, but family secrets cast a longer shadow than any of them expected. As she grows up, Joan finds relief in her artwork, painting portraits of the community in Memphis. One of her subjects is their enigmatic neighbor Miss Dawn, who claims to know something about curses, and whose stories about the past help Joan see how her passion, imagination, and relentless hope are, in fact, the continuation of a long matrilineal tradition. Joan begins to understand that her mother, her mother’s mother, and the mothers before them persevered, made impossible choices, and put their dreams on hold so that her life would not have to be defined by loss and anger—that the sole instrument she needs for healing is her paintbrush. Unfolding over seventy years through a chorus of unforgettable voices that move back and forth in time, Memphis paints an indelible portrait of inheritance, celebrating the full complexity of what we pass down, in a family and as a country: brutality and justice, faith and forgiveness, sacrifice and love.

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Trouble the Waters gathers the tidal force of bestselling, renowned writers from Lagos to New Orleans, Memphis to Copenhagen, Northern Ireland and London, offering extraordinary speculative fiction tales of ancient waters in all its myriad forms. Meet techno savvy water spirits, bayou saints and sirens, robots and river rootwomen, a pod of joyful space whales, and a castle of water-born terrors and mysteries. Including work by Nalo Hopkinson, Jaquira Diaz, Andrea Hairston, Linda D. Addison, Rion Amilcar Scott, Marie Vibbert, Maurice Broaddus, and other breakout beautiful voices, these stories and poems celebrate the most vital of elemental forces, water.

SIERRA SIX BY MARK GREANEY (GRAY MAN #11) It's been years since the Gray Man's first mission, but the trouble's just getting started in the latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Before he was the Gray Man, Court Gentry was Sierra Six, the junior member of a CIA action team. In their first mission they took out a terrorist leader, at a terrible price. Years have passed. The Gray Man is on a simple mission when he sees a ghost: the long-dead terrorist, but he's remarkably energetic for a dead man. A decade of time hasn't changed the Gray Man. He isn't one to leave a job unfinished or a blood debt unpaid. Netflix is set to release The Gray Man movie, starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, in July 2022.

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

Hunter Bledsoe & Megan Kingsley OCTOBER 2, 2021

Hunter and I had the most magical engagement on June 20, 2020, and we were so excited to plan a wedding and get married. After just a few weeks, we decided on a venue and got started on planning our dream day. I got my dream dress, picked the most amazing vendors, and before we knew it October 2, 2021, was going to be here. I was going to be a bride and marry the love of my life - I couldn’t believe it! Fast forward to just 59 days before the wedding when we found out that we had to change venues. At that moment, I felt my entire world fall apart. My now mother-in-law let the vendors know what was going on, and within 24 hours she, my coordinator and my photographers had a list for me to look through of available venues for our day. After looking and figuring out what would work with our theme, Hunter and I, along with my parents, spent an entire Saturday going to three venues and weighing out our options. Long story short, The Peabody is where we decided to have our wedding. It was more than we could have ever hoped for. What would be every bride’s nightmare became our fairytale in the end. Thank you so much to our parents for lifting us back up when we were down; The Peabody Hotel for having us; Ansley Smith at The Peabody who went above and beyond for us; Kelly and John Ginn who took time out of their busy schedules to send alternative venues; and last but not least, Michael Doyle who was my right-hand man through it all. You guys were our lifesavers, and we love you all so much! - Megan Kingsley Bledsoe

Location: The Peabody Hotel Photographer: Kelly Ginn Photography Videographer: John Ginn Florist: Lynn Doyle Flowers & Events Coordinator: Michael Doyle Caterer: The Peabody Hotel Wedding Cake and Groom’s Cake: The Flour Garden

Wedding Gown: Low’s Bridal Hair: Annie Shackelford and Allie Faith Pollan Bride’s Makeup: Beauty By Bledsoe Bridesmaid’s and Mom’s Makeup: Kendrick Simpson Music: DeepBlu Photo Booth: Photo Booth Bling MARCH / APRIL 2022

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Sustainable Style with Cameron Silver By Sandi Butler Hughes Photo courtesy of Cameron Silver

n an era of disposable goods, Cameron Silver is reworking the conversation as it applies to fashion. As a celebrity stylist, bestselling author, successful boutique owner, and also one of Time Magazine's "25 Most Influential Names and Faces in Fashion,” he is an authority on classic style regardless of when it was created. It is the ultimate intersection of recycling and vintage fashion, where “upcycling” meets “luxury design.” Cameron recognized early the significance of beautiful garments. He translated that appreciation into a store-front, and in 1997 he opened Decades, a pre-loved fashion boutique on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. His boutique has set the industry standard for giving new life to vintage, neo-vintage and contemporary designer clothing and accessories. He is an expert at taking the finest clothing from the past and giving it a second life. "My mantra is it’s chic to repeat," Cameron said recently. "The idea is that we need to consume in a more intelligent manner and dress the way and consume in the way our grandmothers did. They bought something and it gestated in their wardrobes.” He encourages today’s shoppers to invest in timeless pieces that will not be discarded after a few months. "There were moments when vintage was popular, but now it’s really how chic people dress," he said. Cameron has also published a best-selling book, Decades: A Century of Fashion. The book is a beautiful retrospect of the past 100 years of style, decade by decade, and dating back as far as the 1900s. There are rare and previously unpublished images, as well as work by legendary fashion photographers. Fashion stereotypes are turned upside-down in Decades.

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

“The Edwardians weren't all buttoned up, the ubiquitous Audrey Hepburn wasn't the only fashion icon of the fifties, and yes, it was actually possible to dress with elegance in the eighties,” Cameron states. In addition to owning the most chic repeat-boutique in LA and writing a best-selling book, Cameron is the Fashion Director of H Halston and H by Halston. These iconic fashion brands are continuing to make history with his talent and leadership. He also regularly appears on shows such as Good Morning America and CBS This Morning as a fashion expert; he starred in the Bravo television show Dukes of Melrose which profiled his store, Decades; and he styles celebrities for major red carpet appearances including the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Not only is Cameron an extraordinarily busy, creative entrepreneur and internationally renowned fashion expert, he is also a much sought-after guest speaker who will make his debut appearance in the Bluff City in late April at Social: A Shop for Gracious Living. Janie Lowery, Social U coordinator and “Socialite,” is a long time friend of Cameron, and he had also met Social owner Carmen Bond several years ago. The trio reconnected last fall, and after hearing about Carmen’s shop, her story, and the concept of Social U, he graciously offered to come to Memphis for a week of inspiring and incredible events. While the schedule was not available at press time, details will be announced on all social media forums on March 8 - stay tuned for ticket information for this very unique opportunity. In order to be good stewards of our planet, we all must be conscious consumers. Cameron Silver helps us to learn how to do just that while still being fashionable.

6375 Swan Nest Cove Blue Heron Subdivision |Memphis, TN This stunning Cape Cod style home rests in exclusive Blue Heron Subdivision and boasts five bedrooms, five full baths and two half baths. The home features a Formal Living Room, Formal Dining, Family Room off Kitchen, Renovated Kitchen, Huge Playroom, Large Master Suite on main level, gorgeous hardwood floors and fresh paint throughout. The Second Master and all remaining bedrooms with full baths are on the second floor. There is no lack of privacy and space with Gated Drive, three car Garage and Fenced Grounds. Centrally located and within walking distance to Greenline, Temple and Lausanne!

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President’s Gala Liberty Bowl 2021 The President's Gala is a festive tradition held at The Peabody Hotel the eve of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. This year’s gala was held December 27, 2021, and featured a cocktail reception, dinner, and dancing to Andy Childs and Sixwire. Andy, a Memphis native, was also presented with the Bowl’s Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of his excellence in music and entertainment. The next day, a huge turnout showed up at the Liberty Bowl as Texas Tech University played and defeated Mississippi State. Libertybowl.org.

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

Awadgin

Pratt piano

Plus works from Prokofiev, Beethoven, and two Iris-commissioned works

Sat, April 23 | 7:30pm | GPAC

Individual tickets start at $45 Masks recommended

901.751.7500 | irisorchestra.org

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Iris at the

Brooks

Featuring Iris Musicians in an intimate setting for Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat Major, op. 20

Sun, April 24 | 3pm | Brooks Museum of Art

Soup Sunday Youth Villages Photography by Mark Ramirez A fundraising-favorite, Soup Sunday has been supporting Youth Villages for over 30 years. Memphians were so glad to have it back this year, and it was quickly a sold-out event! Lucky attendees sampled soups from Huey’s, Rizzo’s, and Hog Wild, just to name a few. Held in a new location at The Keel in the Snuff District, Soup Sunday featured signature-crafted cocktails from Old Dominick Distillery along with the great food. It was definitely a “souper” Sunday! youthvillages.org.

1. Chris Lallo, Shawna Herring, Melody & Ben Alumbaugh 2. Alexandra Nolan & Joelle Elliott 3. Aline Christion, Linda Campbell & Ava Steward 4. James & Linda Gattas, Michael Donahue 5. Karley Horton, Cindy, Jeff & Judy Debardelaben 6. Detric & Mickela Stanciel 7. Dwana Huffstutter, Meribeth LaBarreare & Katie Jones 8. Jan Palmer & Susie Gregory 9. Nick Blancett, Kendall, Tammye & Mark Christian

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

Soup Sunday continued

10. Anne Ross & Kahtina Morton 11. Emma Kate, Ryan & Sarah Trimm, Caleb Crangle & Trace Vescovo 12. Alaine VanDedentr & Jennifer Burnham 13. Delaine Noe, Kristine Getman & Jevonte Porter 14. Molly & Charlotte Doss 15. Amanda & Brian Vinson 16. Pearson, Kelly & Anna Crutcher

Sunday, April 24th 6:00-9:00 p.m. at 409 South Main Live Auction | Cocktail Casual Attire | Open Bar 100% of proceeds beneﬁt:

For more information call (901) 692-9513 PRESENTED BY:

Bass Berry Sims • The Judy Mac Team • Marathon Management Kirby and Glenn Floyd • Fleming & Associates Restoration Rooﬁng • TASCO • TopRx

MARCH / APRIL 2022

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Memphis Jookin Community Class Orpheum Theatre Group Mid-South community members of all ages gathered at the Halloran Centre on Saturday, February 5, for a free class led by Memphis Jookin legends Dr. Rico, Dra'em, and Surf ahead of the world premiere of Memphis Jookin The Show at the Orpheum. Attendees explored this street dance phenomenon in the city where it was created, learned about the evolution of varying styles, and expressed themselves through movement. To explore all of the Orpheum’s upcoming education and community engagement programming, visit orpheum-memphis.com.

The Evergreens

Oak Hall

Holiday Suprise

Fun Piercing Party

Photography by Joe Lackie Residents of The Evergreens gathered for a holiday party at the home of Sissie and Walton Griffin on December 21. Hospitality Chair Patty Dietrich and her committee planned the event, including a surprise performance by opera soprano Kallen Esperian and her accompanist, Gary Beard, on the piano.

Photography by McKendree Walker EF Collection recently held a piercing party at Oak Hall. A complimentary piercing was offered with the purchase of a stud earring from the EF Collection. Levy Dermatology provided the piercing, and Cara Greenstein of Caramelized created specialty cocktails for the piercing party.

1 1. Walton Griffin, Bobby Plyler, Geri Pitts, Mark Dietrich, Gary Beard & Kallen Esperian 50

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

1 1. Cara Greenstein, Sophie Williamson & Susannah Cash

" You rest while we clean."

Home and Office Cleaning

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Race For Reconciliation Photography by Creation Studios The Race for Reconciliation was held on MLK Day, January 17, 2022, so that the community could partake together and all walks of life could share goodwill and love for their fellow neighbors, reflecting the dream of unity. The run/walk featured something for everyone participants could jog, walk or stroll in the 5K or 1 mile course. Raceroster.com.

MARCH / APRIL 2022

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March / April

Art events

“Waiting for Hope” by David Mah “Times Like These” exhibit The Medicine Factory

Spring is getting a jump on all things art and there are many options awaiting. In addition to the sheer volume of events, what is particularly exciting is the return of things that we have missed for a year or two – Opera Memphis at Playhouse on the Square, Kafe Kirk jazz at the Crosstown Theater, and more. I want to emphasize that this monthly column is not comprehensive; try as I will, there is simply not enough room and also I don’t always hear about happenings in time for deadlines. I encourage readers to dive a tad deeper on their own. For instance, I have listed a few events taking place at Crosstown or as part of the University of Memphis Music Department; you will find that each of these have many more events on their respective websites. Also, there is a great deal more information about these events on the websites of the hosting organizations. Think of this column as a sampler platter. That said, go sample! -Ken Hall

3/1

march events Memphis Jazz Week This annual offering from the University of Memphis includes several events on campus and some off. Of particular note this year is the Faculty Jazz Concert on March 1 at Harris Concert Hall, Jazz Combo Nation on March 2 at The Bluff on Highland, and the Southern Comfort Orchestra on March 5 at the Crosstown Green Room. This latter will feature guitarist Charlton Johnson who played with the County Basie Band for many years. Through 3/5 Art by Sam Red Jay Etkin Gallery, 942 S. Cooper, through 3/30

3/12

Pygmalion 2.0, Opera Memphis Playhouse on the Square Additional performances 3/13, 3/18 and 3/19

3/13

Cezanne Quartet with Jonathan Tsay Crosstown Green Room, 6-7:30pm Performing Brahms, Schumann, and Prokofiev.

3/15

Merz Trio Concerts International, Harris Concert Hall, University of Memphis, 7:30pm

Memphis Camera Club group show Gallery Ten Ninety-One, WKNO, online only, through 3/31

3/2

“Another Way of Looking at Love” art by Janelle Lynch Memphis Botanic Garden, 4-6pm

3/4

La Cage aux Folles Theatre Memphis, through 3/27

“One Part of My Small Story” art by Hamlett Dobbins David Lusk Gallery, through 4/16

3/16 3/17

Albrecht Durer: The Small Passion Brooks Museum, through 6/5 Kerry Peeples art exhibit Ruleman Gallery at Church Health Opening reception March 4 from 5:30-7pm Peeples’ works in oil and encaustic are widely collected and this show of new works will resonate with recipients of the 2021 Church Health holiday card, which featured one of her paintings. Through 4/28

3/5

Scenes from Broadway and Opera Rhodes College - McNeill Hall, 7:30pm Pianists Inon Barnatan and Alon Goldstein Iris Orchestra, GPAC/Crosstown, 7:30/3:00pm, additional performance 3/6

Imago Dei photography exhibit St. Mary’s Cathedral, 692 Poplar, Artist’s talk by Cindy McMillion at 12:30pm on March 6, through 4/10 “Learning to Live More Equitably: Early Modern” lecture by Susan James of Birbeck College Marcus Orr Center, University of Memphis, UC 350, 4pm

3/8

3/18 3/22 3/23

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

Mid-South Sober Living Art Auction Memphis Botanic Garden, 6pm

Cats Orpheum Theatre, through 3/27 Lunch & Learn: Storyboard Memphis Dixon Gallery & Gardens, noon Pilobolus GPAC, 7pm Meghan O'Gieblyn author talk Rhodes College – Blount Auditorium, 5pm

3/24

Fairytales on Ice Buckman Arts Center 60 Perkins Ext’d, 4pm and 7pm Ice skaters, music, dance, and more – and two shows!

3/25

“Times Like These” David Mah art opening The Medicine Factory For his first show in Memphis in over 10 years, Mah recalls time spent in a third story NYC apartment and envisions what that experience would be like during the pandemic. An opening reception will be held on March 25, 6-8pm, through 4/9

Adam Higgins TOPS Gallery, 400 S. Front-lower level, through 3/30

“Love in the Club” photography exhibit Stax Museum, 6-8pm An exhibit of 1970s Chicago nightclub photos. Through 9/4

Miracles in Milan film screening Crosstown Arthouse Film series, 7:30pm

A Doll’s House/A Doll’s House - Part 2 Circuit Playhouse, through 4/10

Russian Ballet Theatre Cannon Center, 7:30pm

3/11

“The Japanese Garden” art by Carol Adamec L Ross Gallery

Outside Mullingar Germantown Community Theatre 3037 Forest Hill-Irene, through 3/27

“Mother Nature’s Daughter” art by Jaleeca Yancy Urevbu Contemporary, 410 S. Main, 5:30-7:30pm

3/6

ChalkFest 2022 Brooks Museum, 10am

Beyond Van Gogh Graceland Exhibition Center The immersive experience everyone is talking about! Through 5/25

3/26

Beethoven’s 9th Symphony Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Cannon Center, 7:30/2:30pm, additional performance 3/27

3/27

Amongst the Stars of Jesmyn Ward Tennessee Shakespeare Company 7950 Trinity, 3pm

3/31

“Waves of Change: Fused Glass” art by Christie Stratton Moody Levy Gallery Buckman Arts Center 60 Perkins Ext’d, 5-7pm

4/1

april events Cicada Theatre Memphis, through 4/16 Selections from Nokes Collection of African Tribal Art Flow Museum of Art & Culture 942 S. Cooper, through 4/30 Katie Jones art Gallery Ten Nintey-One, WKNO, online only, through 4/30

4/2

The Music of Jennifer Higdon Rhodes Master Singers & Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Rhodes College - McNeill Hall, 7:30pm One of America’s most performed living composers, Higdon will offer a lecture on campus on March 31.

4/3

Kafe Kirk with Avery Sunshine Crosstown Theater Kafe Kirk is back as Kirk Whalum brings his band and various guest artists for unique, high energy, soul enriching performances.

4/7

Barry Greene Jazz In The Box, GPAC, 7pm Orchestra Unplugged; The Secret of Strings Halloran Centre, 7:30pm, additional performance on 4/8

4/8

The Marriage of Figaro University of Memphis Opera Harris Concert Hall, 7:30/3:00pm, additional performance on 4/10

4/9

Memphis Flower Show 2022 Dixon Gallery & Gardens Springloaded New Ballet Ensemble, Halloran Centre, 7:30/2:30pm, additional performance on 4/10

4/12

The Band's Visit Orpheum Theatre, through 4/17 Ailey II dance Buckman Arts Center, 60 Perkins Ext’d, 7pm

4/18 4/19 4/20 4/22 4/23

Soul Cinema: Three the Hard Way film screening Stax Museum, 7pm Facing Down Storms: Memphis and the Making of Ida B. Wells film screen Hooks Institute, University of Memphis, 7pm Annabelle Meacham art L Ross Gallery, through 5/21

Cherish every Lilly moment Everyday is special when wearing something from The Pink Door. With the midsouth’s largest selection of Lilly Pulitzer, there’s no better way to brighten your day.

Bright Star Germantown Community Theatre, through 5/11 Where Past & Future Gather GPAC/ Brooks, Iris Orchestra 7:30/3:00pm, additional performance 4/24 44th annual Original Art Auction Playhouse on the Square

4/26

Leslie Holt David Lusk Gallery, through 5/28 Mean Girls Orpheum Theatre, through 5/1

4/29 4/30

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Kalena Bovell Conducts Beethoven Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Crosstown Theater Smokey Joe’s Cafe Playhouse on the Square, through 5/29

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Mixing It Up with

Strangeways Cordials By Lesley Harris Colvett Photography by Phillip Murphy; set direction Strangeways Solutions

he colorful, fresh, concoctions known as Strangeways Cordials have hit the shelves across the country, and the burning question I had when interviewing award-winning Mixologist Christian Sanders, owner of Strangeways Cordials / founder of Strangeways Solutions, LLC, was this: Why the name Strangeways? What could this possibly mean? “I was having a candid conversation with a friend about what direction I wanted to go with my branding, and I said, ‘It’s been a really strange journey getting to where I am, my career journey and business journey had gone up and down, sideways and literally flipped on its back due to unforeseen bumps in the road like Hurricane Sandy, and it’s been a really strange way getting to where I’m at now' and then I said ‘Strangeways - that sounds great.’ We think outside the box, we are eclectic, and we go about things in a different way than most. I want Strangeways to stand for a way of thinking in life, thinking outside of the box, getting out of your comfort zone and opening your mind to explore other ways of fulfilling your life, which in return is fun. We all need to not forget to have a little fun, run wild, and be free. It's important for the health of minds and how we treat others. Being strange can help you live better and have a more open mind to what the world is going to throw at us next,” Christian says about the name of the brand he has created. Christian is a sixth-generation Memphian, has won national competitions, and currently consults for bars and restaurants about their cocktail programs, utilizing his “strange flavors” as Christian refers to them. “It’s an old method from around the 1700s that I have balanced to appeal to the modern-day palate for cocktail drinkers, tweaked by adding layers of subtle spices in order to give it a back bone, and modernized with proprietary methods in order to maximize its shelf stability,” Christian says of his glass-bottled cordials. There are 7 flavors: Lemon, lime, mint, ginger lime, lemon turmeric, pineapple jalapeno and grapefruit hibiscus. He says that the core 4: lemon, lime, mint and ginger lime are the backbone of any cocktail program and make up the majority of the cocktails ordered by consumers. “The world is your oyster…with these 7 flavors you can make at least up to 100 cocktails.” Any of these could be mixed with club soda to make a

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

mocktail. “There’s only around 11 grams of sugar and 45 calories per cocktail, and the mixtures have some health properties. They all have pink himalayan salt, which promotes a number of health benefits including digestion, balancing your pH, sleep quality, regulating blood sugars, and more. The addition of the all-natural spices not only lend to subtle layers in flavor but also have health properties in order to provide what could be the healthiest mixer for a cocktail,” Christian says. He says the pineapple jalapeno is the most popular in Memphis. He also customizes flavors for bars and restaurants. As for how Strangeways cordials began, “I came up with the product literally out of devastation,” says Christian. “In 2012, I opened my first cocktail bar, Evelyn Drinkery in New York, and 5 weeks after we opened we got hit with Hurricane Sandy.” At that time, Christian initially thought they may not even open again. They lost two brand new ice machines, their walk-in cooler, and a bunch of inventory. They were even featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams about powering through the hurricane damage. Within a day, the water was cleared out and they moved forward by borrowing ice, etc. Christian borrowed a generator, and since the bar was decorated Parisian/New Orleans style they had lots of candles that gave plenty of light. They were the only place open within 10 blocks. “We were giving away food and drinks to the neighbors. We trucked on, and became very busy,” Christian says. Evelyn Drinkery got nominated as one of the best cocktail bars in New York in 2012 by Time Out. Christian recalls at this time, everyone in New York was drinking Old Fashioned cocktails, because Mad Men had made the Old Fashioned popular to the average consumer. “So I am sitting there with 30 or more scored oranges at the end of a weekend and I didn’t want to be wasteful so I started making flavored cordials.” So, Christian made “lemonade out of lemons”, or quite literally cordials out of oranges. Orange thai basil lime, spiced orange, earl gray yuzu orange were a few flavors Christian created, and he used these flavors in his cocktails and syrups to avoid waste and to be sustainable as well as save money. Christian started thinking about the methods of soda fountain shops from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and so he started making all

these different cordials to be the base of his spirited phosphates. When he opened his bar, he wanted the program to pay homage to old-school drink concoctions with the addition of alcohol: spirited phosphates out of a soda canister, egg creams (with and without alcohol), soda jerks, and punches on tap. As time went on, Christian started using more flavors, such as lime, to make cordials, and used the lime to make his Gimlets and Daiquiris. Next, Christian decided to incorporate orange bitters with blanco tequila, and he said it made one of the best Margaritas he’s ever had. “It was like if a classic and a Tommy’s Margarita had a baby.” Over the years, Christian has worked with bars utilizing his cordials concept - showcasing the efficiency of using 2 bottles to create a cocktail rather than using 4-6 ingredients. This allows bar programs to spend less time juicing, having to throw away juice that is out of date, speed up ticket times, create more consistent drinks in a timely fashion, and leaves less room for error. Citrus prices have soared over the years and with the increased demand for handcrafted cocktails that call for premium spirits, if you are not careful when building a cocktail you can really cut into your bottom line in more ways than one: spillage, over pouring, returned drinks, or just a simple loss of revenue due to slow service. Furthermore, with the lack of seasoned bartenders and high turnover rate in hospitality, Strangeways allows bar and restaurant owners to have a consistent cocktail menu that is easily executable with very little training. Christian moved back to Memphis in January 2020, and is expanding Strangeways every day. These beautifully bottled cordials are found in bars and liquor stores across the country, and soon to be around the world, as Strangeways is expanding globally. Follow them on Instagram @strangewayscordials, and their website that is due to launch by mid-March. www.strangewayssolutions.com #staystrange.

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